Only The Strong Survive
Just came across this video… found it pretty entertaining. If you can’t view the video, click HERE.
I Must Do These Things!
I’ve been dropping the ball in an area of my life… consistently and repeatedly. I’ve been neglecting the one thing that should be my number one priority. I recently wrote an article all about priorities, yet I wasn’t really heeding my own advice. I didn’t realize what I was doing, or how my actions and lack of thoughtfulness were really affecting the situation. What it all really comes down to is that I’m selfish. I acknowledge this shortcoming and desire to work on it. I know that if I don’t work on being selfless, as opposed to selfish, I will ruin the things that are most important to me. Words, as in most situations, mean nothing when unsubstantiated by actions. My actions have been speaking volumes, and I am not proud of what they have been saying.
I’m speaking about my wife. She should be my top priority, but I take her for granted. She should be my motivation, but I only give her whatever time is left over. She should be who I concentrate on when I’m making plans, but instead I think only of myself. I could continue on with a hundred more examples of what I should be doing, but that would just be talking. I must show my wife, consistently and repeatedly, that what I profess with my mouth is also, and most importantly, what I DO. My wife deserves better and I intend to make amends, right the ship and continue on. It’s never easy to admit that I am struggling with something, and quite difficult not to become defensive about what I’ve done… but I’m striving for TrueManhood and I MUST do these things! I must continue on, but I must strive to be like Christ. I’m far from Him and unworthy of being followed sometimes, yet there’s one person who I can’t lead astray, and that’s my wife.
I write all of this to show that we’re all on a journey and that each of us must continually strive to grow in TrueManhood and ultimately, in holiness. Never give up. Continue to strive for perfection, as our Heavenly Father is perfect.
Man up!
Cultural Manliness Catches Up With You
February 20, 2010 by admin
Filed under Blog, Fatherhood, Sports, Virtue
In this video, Tiger Woods issues a public apology for his actions. Tiger was living a life of cultural manliness, living for money, power, sex and stuff. It caught up with him, as it does every man who lives it. His words ring true… he must show his remorse and his changed way of life not by speaking, but by his actions. It appears to me, an untrained eye, that he is sincere. He appears nervous and timid, and obviously, when you read a speech from paper, your demeanor is different than when you speak from the heart. I don’t know that he’ll back up what he says, but I think that his tenacity and determination to be the best, which has made him so successful in golf and business, will aid him in succeeding in this journey towards being a leader, a role model, a good husband and an engaged, active and loving father.
Note: Tiger speaks about Buddhism towards the end of this clip. Buddhism doesn’t hold the answers to life, however, Tiger is grasping for truth and something to guide him in life. If I had the chance to speak with Tiger, I would challenge him to live a life for Christ, a life filled with joy, happiness and fulfillment. If you can’t view the clip, click HERE.
Wood’s words are merely words, yet, he’s right. He needs to live a life of integrity. He let people down, and must make amends. He led people, especially children, astray. He knows that he needs help, and seems intent to continue to seek guidance and counseling.
I wish Tiger all the best. “To whom much is given, much is expected.”
Man up!
A Dirty Conundrum
One of the mysteries of the Catholic faith is why Mass attendance on Ash Wednesday is so high. It truly baffles me. When attending Mass on Ash Wednesday, you see droves and droves of people coming to receive dirt on their foreheads. The dirt (actually ashes, created by burning last year’s palm leaves) signifies our mortality, and is a reminder of our sinfulness. Do people turn out in record number because they like dirt? Do they think it’s a holy day of obligation (opportunity)? Do they enjoy receiving something? Is there another reason? The baffling part about it is that they could faithfully receive the Eucharist each and every Sunday (an actual holy day), or everyday if they so desired… how much better is the Eucharist than Ash Wednesday ashes?!
Another element about the fair-weather crowds on Ash Wednesday is the assumption (or maybe ‘sense of entitlement’ is the better phrasing here) that they can receive the Eucharist. The Eucharist isn’t simply a snack, or a party favor. The Eucharist is Jesus Christ’s body, blood, soul and divinity! The Eucharist is reserved for Catholics, in the state of grace, who fully proclaim and live the truths of the Catholic faith.
Why do I bring this up? Partly to vent, because it’s frustrating to me. But, more importantly, because we need to realize the importance of catechesis and of witnessing to non-Catholics and others we come in contact with. We have to be reminded of what’s happening to our Church, and as men, step up and lead others to a deeper understanding of Christ and His Church.
Man up!
Ash Wednesday Parody
Although Ash Wednesday is rarely joked about, this video clip is pretty darn funny. A good laugh before we start 40 days of penance couldn’t hurt. Click HERE if the content has been removed.
Fighting for Manliness Video
February 14, 2010 by admin
Filed under Blog, Faith, Fatherhood, Virtue
I finally got some of the video edited from my talk at the 2010 FOCUS National Conference in Orlando, FL on New Year’s Eve 2009. The talk was titled “Fighting for Manliness” for the Men’s Impact Sessions. The crowd for the two sessions totaled around 1,500 college men.
The video below is only part 1 of the 50 minute video.
In this talk, I highlighted some major points, including: What is Manliness?, Manly Leadership, Living Virtue, Fighting the Giant of Pornography and more.
If your content is removed by your server, click HERE to view the video on YouTube.
Who Hates Mother Teresa?
Here’s an excerpt from an email I received this week from Brian Burch, President of CatholicVoteAction.org…
“The anti-religion crusaders are at it again. This time they want the Post Office to cancel a planned new stamp honoring Mother Teresa. I am continually shocked by the persistence of these activist groups. They seem to never give up! Any mention or reference of God must be wiped out. The Pledge of Allegiance, In God We Trust, you name it… they want it boarded up, whitewashed, and banished from our public life. But not this time. Not Mother Teresa.
Sign on to our group letter to the Postmaster General here – www.StampOutBigotry.com.
A group called the Freedom from Religion Foundation is now spreading lies about Blessed Mother Teresa accusing this holy nun of having a ‘darker side,’ and calling her a ‘polarizing Roman Catholic figurehead.’ That’s why we decided to act swiftly and make sure this anti-Mother Teresa campaign doesn’t gain any more momentum. The groups now protesting the new stamp never protested other stamps honoring Gandhi, or even Martin Luther King, Jr. who proudly understood his fight for civil rights to be rooted in his Christian faith. What is plain is that these groups not only dislike Mother Teresa, they despise the Catholic Church. They simply cannot stomach the thought of the United States Postal Service honoring a Catholic nun who spoke out against abortion, contraception, and against the atheistic materialism of the west.
In her famous 1994 speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, Mother Teresa closed with these words:
“From here, a sign of care for the weakest of the weak – the unborn child – must go out to the world. If you become a burning light of justice and peace in the world, then really you will be true to what the founders of this country stood for. God bless you!”
Please send this to your friends and family too. We need to push back against this ugly campaign, and stand up for this holy nun and all that she lived for. Mother Teresa stood up for the best of America’s ideals. Now it’s time we stand up for her.”
Man up!
