you got the stomach for it?

Cause Way Thursday
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Every generation, it seems to me, has its own set of musical stars - singers, musicians, you name it. It also seems to me that each generation doesn't like the music of the generation coming behind them. Occasionally we'll be 'big' enough to look back to the generation before us and appreciate some of what they idolized.

For more years than I care to admit, my wife and I have been involved with kids - raising our own, and working in youth ministry at almost all levels, though primarily with teen agers. Up until more recently, I tried to stay in touch with the music and artists of the day on a regular basis - now it is less often as I get even older, but I still do more often than most of you who are over 30. It is a good way to stay in touch with the culture in which the kids are living.

Can you name even one of the current top 10 songs? Can you name the artist? Can you tell me what the song is about? Can you tell me to which genre of popular music it belongs [rock, rb hip-hop, rap, etc.]?

You can stop asking your kids, now. I'll give you a little help. The following is from the current e-zine newsletter from Youth Pastor Jonathan McKee. He provides tons of FREE youth ministry material that users from all Christian backgrounds can use and adapt to their particular need. I encourage you to go to his site [here] and subscribe to the weekly newsletter - it is FREE.

Here's the list for the
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TOP 10 SONGS December 1, 2007
No One - Alicia Keys
There is no one else for her in life.
RB Hip Hop

Apologize - Timbaland
It is now too late for her to apologize.
RB Hip Hop

Kiss Kiss - Chris Brown
One guy's resume on why he's qualified to kiss kiss the girl that wants it so bad.
RB Hip Hop

Low - Flo Rida
Describing a girl's very provocative dance. Very provocative!
RB Hip Hop

Crank That - Soula Boy
Describing sexual moves with a girl.
RB Hip Hop

Bubbly - Colbie Cailat
Singer describes the feeling her significant other gives her.

Clumsy - Fergie
Singer describes the powerful effect her significant other has on her.
RB Hip Hop

Good Life - Kanye West
Singer describes the life of a star, including materialism, alcohol use, and sex.
RB Hip Hop

Hate That I Love You - Rihanna
Singer laments her strong feelings for her lover that overcome her hatred for him.
RB Hip Hop

Cyclone - Baby Bash
Singer describes the way his girlfriend dances. Very sexual in overtones.
RB Hip Hop
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Whatever your current involvement is with young people, I encourage you to be familiar with their music. It will enlighten you - and may even give you some credibility with the teens around you. I cannot think of many better causes than to work with our youth.

you got the stomach for it?
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On this date

Little Richard, Rock singer and Hall of Famer, musician, is 75
. . . . .
in 2006, just one year ago today, New York became the first city in the nation to ban artery-clogging trans fats at restaurants.

a little good news goes a long way

The Way Wednesday
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excerpts from:

End this Scandalous Charade

“Good Catholic” Nancy Pelosi presents an unavoidable test for the U.S. bishops.

By George Neumayr [George Neumayr is editor of Catholic World Report. ]

Seeking to soften her image as a champion of San Francisco libertinism, Nancy Pelosi, the new speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, assumed her position in January under the reassuring cloak of Catholicism. She quoted at length the prayer of St. Francis in her maiden speech, invoked repeatedly in interviews her Italian “Catholic” upbringing, and attended a well-publicized mass at her alma mater, Trinity Washington University.

On the day after the mass, she then tossed her Catholic cloak off. Heading up her list of legislative priorities during what she called the “first 100 hours” was a bill expanding federal funding for destructive experimentation on human embryos.

...if ever there was an obvious occasion for the American bishops to end the appalling charade of politicians exploiting their Catholicism while betraying it on the most crucial issues, Nancy Pelosi provides them with it.

Shirking or delaying this confrontation will just embolden the Pelosis and Kennedys, and make possible yet another generation of Catholic politicians willing to use then abuse their religion. If Church officials continue to sit on their hands, secularists will continue to accumulate victories, not in spite of Catholic politicians but because of them.

[you may read the entire article here]

. . . . .
a little good news

According to the Vatican's statistical yearbook, there were 63,882 major seminarians worldwide when John Paul II began his pontificate in 1978; by the end of 2005, that number had grown to 114,439 - an increase of 79.1 percent.
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On this date

Tyra Banks, Model, TV host ("America's Next Top Model") is 34
. . . . .
in 1978 Dianne Feinstein became San Francisco's first woman mayor when she was named to replace George Moscone, who had been assassinated.

Hey, guys ... lighten up!

Vid Way Tuesday
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Oil and water, gasoline and matches, men and women - combinations that usually result in differing responses. While God intended us to be 'opposites' He also intended us to be complementary to one another. I sometimes wonder why it is so difficult.

'CLICK' on the above > and enjoy the humor
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Life is serious!
Did you find that funny? You must be a woman.
If you started nodding your head in agreement, you must be a man.
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MIGHT be getting going again

I've been involved in an annual 'audit' for last 4 days.
Just about consumed me for 4 days - no spare time hardly at all.
Now I'll try to catch up as I can.

On this date

Britney Spears, Singer, is 26
. . . . .
in 1961 Cuban leader Fidel Castro declared himself a Marxist-Leninist who would lead Cuba to Communism.

be attitudes

My Way Sunday
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reflections on being a Christian man, part 5

How do I get my attitude straightened out?

Do I sign-up for a class at the local Community College?

Do I go to the local public library and read twenty self-help books?

Do I go to the Bible and read the gospels?

How about this - read a specific part of a specific gospel. Read the first eleven verses of the 5th chapter of the gospel written by St. Matthew. [Mt 5:1-11] The passage is about the beatitudes.

As a Christian man, I need these attitudes. I need my life to be marked by poverty of spirit, detachment, generosity, mercy, meekness, purity of heart, seeking righteousness, making peace, etc.

Will it be easy? As easy as changing any other habit I have.

Will it be radical? Probably so ... and what is wrong with that?
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strike two

maybe sometime on Sunday

couldn't get 'er done today

maybe tomorrow?

On this day

Brian Baumgartner, Actor ("The Office"), is 35
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in 1947, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution calling for Palestine to be partitioned between Arabs and Jews. (Go to article.)

JP2 - a special cause

Cause Way Thursday
. . . . .

There are many holy people in the world. The vast majority of them we will never hear about. A few are thought to be extraordinary and catch attention. When that happens, the Church tries to find out more about them. If the evidence is overwhelming, it may declare that person is indeed in the presence of God, in heaven, and worthy of being listed in the official canon of saints.

Such an investigation is underway into the life and practices of Karol Jozef Wojtyla - Pope John-Paul II. The following 'trailer' [abbreviated video advertisement] promotes a DVD being released soon in his honor.

His is a 'cause' worthy of our attention.

On this date

Jon Stewart, Comedian ("The Daily Show") is 45
. . . . .
2001 Enron Corp., once the world's largest energy trader, collapsed after would-be rescuer Dynegy Inc. backed out of an $8.4 billion deal to take it over.

Not a hair on your head will be destroyed

The Way Wednesday
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Even if we die at sea, even if we are scattered on the ground, even if we are torn apart by savage beasts or birds of prey, he will raise us up by his power, for the whole universe is held in the hand of God. “Not a hair of your head,” he says, “will be destroyed.” That is why he urges us in these words: “It is by your perseverance that you will gain life.” [from The Apostolic Constitutions (380), a canonical and liturgical collection. A resumption of the Didascalia of the Apostles, text of the first half of the 3rd century (cf SC 329)]
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Fear? Uncertainty? Despair?

Joy! Certitude! Hope!

Opposite sides of the same coin? or totally different coins?

Today, the universal church celebrates the life of St. James of the Marches [late 14th through middle 15th centuries] - born in Ancona Italy along the Adriatic Sea. He held doctorates in canon and civil law. He fasted nine months of the year; he slept three hours a night. St. Bernardine of Siena told him to moderate his penances.

This extremely popular preacher converted many people (250,000 at one estimate). His sermons prompted numerous Catholics to reform their lives. Many men joined him as Franciscans.

He was not afraid to be martyred, although God did not asked that of him. Twice assassins lost their nerve when they came face to face with him.

His life belonged to God. He is a model many can follow. I bear the name James, and pray the grace to aspire to service as he. Reading the lives of saints can inspire to greatness - who will tomorrow's saints be?
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On this date

Bill Nye, TV personality [the 'Science Guy'], is 52
. . . . .
in 1973, the Senate voted 92-3 to confirm Gerald R. Ford as vice president, succeeding Spiro T. Agnew, who'd resigned. (Go to article.)

the Classifieds - Help Wanted - Experience required

Vid Way Tuesday
. . . . .

Discernment is sometimes a bit tricky. Sometimes trying to find just what it is that God is asking me to do becomes confusing. Have you ever been in the position of trying find a job? Every ad in the newspaper requires 'prior experience'. How do I get the experience without a job? It usually meant I had to start at the bottom and work my way up. Working my way up may be exactly what God had in mind for me.

Some years ago I thought I had discerned that I was to become a 'Permanent Deacon' in the Roman Catholic Church. I applied for and was accepted into the program. After a year, my employer transferred me to another Diocese in another state. They didn't even have a program for Permanent Deacons. Well, so much for that.

I was troubled by what I thought must have been a faulty discernment on my part. Fortunately, a spiritual director told me that was not necessarily so. He taught me that discernment doesn't mean I will figure out the 'end' in mind, but only the 'next step'. He gave me several examples that set my mind and heart at ease. Now, I recognize that God uses my next step as a prerequisite for HIS next step, and that may not be anything at all like what I was imagining.
. . . . .

'CLICK' on the > above and watch this clip from the "Make Room for Daddy" TV show from the early 1960's. The star of the show was actor and comedian Danny Thomas [who, as a philanthropist, founded the St. Jude's Childrens' Hospital in Memphis TN]. In this scene his very young son and daughter are trying to find a job.
. . . . .
When trying to find God's will, prayer and fasting goes a long way to clear out my spiritual senses so I can hear God's voice.
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On this date

Tina Turner, Rock singer, is 68
. . . . .
in 1942, President Roosevelt ordered nationwide gasoline rationing, beginning December 1. (Go to article.)

From the com-boxes of earlier posts

Your Way Monday

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MJ said...

OK Jim here goes one 2nd chance (I have several more).

I was headed to church last Sat. to be sacristan for 5:00 mass. I was stopped at a red light when I heard kablunk behind me. I looked in my rear view mirror just in time to see a red pickup truck swerving over the curb onto the tree lawn and stopping right beside me (I turned and looked at his face).

If he had not swerved, my car and I would have been toast !!!

I thanked God and said once again, "You have a purpose for me." Please show me what it is so I can follow. That is the scariest thing for me - how do I know?

(November 21, 2007 11:27 PM

. . . . .

...from uncle jim

Here's a close call story from another friend.

She was in the left turn lane of a 5-lane intersection. She thought the traffic had cleared and started her left turn. As she entered the more left part of the intersection she saw a semi tractor-trailer barreling towards her just yards away. She knew she was 'dead'. She recalls closing her eyes, gripping the steering wheel, and in panic, hitting the brakes, and screaming as an expletive the name of Our Lord, as she awaited the impact [and all of this was in a split-second, as you might imagine]. When she opened her eyes, she was through the intersection, there was no semi in sight, and she was fine. She assures there was no physical way it could have ended like it did. She claims some supernatural suspension of time by her guardian angel moved her through supernaturally fast, or somebody [who might that have been] moved the truck around her, which she says could not have happened naturally. I commented to her there is supernatural power in the name of Jesus ... and she had screamed out to him, albeit perhaps in a manner not exactly reverential. She is more careful now how she uses His name.

I've had close calls of many kinds, I'm sure. How many have I counted as 'a second chance' ?
. . . . .
Adrienne said...

My favorite teacher was Sister St. Philomena. She was a small woman and wore glasses that were thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis thick. Sister would sit on her desk and tell us stories about when she was our age. I’m sure that was frowned upon by her superiors. But the best of all was her story about some sneaky nun who used to leave the room and sneak back, holding her rosary beads to keep them quiet, so she could catch the kids who were talking. Sister St. Philomena vowed she would never do anything so nasty. When she returned to the room after an absence we could hear her coming down the hall, swinging her beads to make a huge clatter, giving us plenty of time to compose ourselves. Gotta love her!!!

(November 22, 2007)

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Stories of God's protection are faith builders to others. Tell us one of yours, please. - right here in this comment box. I look forward to your story. I'll share your 'second chance' with others in a future post.
. . . . .

On this date

Jenna Bush, President George W. Bush's daughter, is 26
. . . . .
2002 President George W. Bush signed legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security and appointed Tom Ridge to be its head

to be the best I can be...

My Way Sunday
. . . . .
reflections on being a Christian man, part 4

Bad habits are not easy to break. Repetitive sinful behavior become bad habits. Repetitive bad habits become vice. Vice can be replaced with repetitive good behavior, which become good habits, which become virtue. A good Christian man must necessarily become a man of virtue.

Saint Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians in chapter 4 verse 13,

13

I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. [NAB]

Every day I encounter situations that call for a decision on my part. Some are small - some are big. Every one of them requires I act like a man - a Christian man.

Can a non-Christian man respond the same way? Not exactly. While any person can respond with the same words and actions, only a Christian man can respond with the mind of Christ. Only a Christian man can say, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives - in me." [Gal 2:20 - rsv]

There are some virtues that a man needs to play his role in society and in the family. Relying on God's power, on God's grace, on God's wisdom is a virtue - an invaluable virtue. St Paul makes this use of the power of God a theme several times in his letters. Another instance of St. Paul reminding his readers of this is found in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians in chapter 12, verses 9-10.

9

...he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.

10

Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. [NAB]

Paul had been begging God to remove a particular 'thorn in the flesh'. God's response denied that request. God reminded Paul that by using the grace granted, the power of God is made perfect. It is in overcoming my difficulties, with God's help, that I give glory to God. I am virtuous when I manifest the power of God by pushing through a difficulty - by gutting it out.
. . . . .
(to be continued next Sunday)