As I recommenced blogging at deaconchris, it seemed appropriate to freshen the design and look of this site.
WordPress makes it very easy to blog, and has dozens of ready-to-go designs that are very easy to use. As such I selected a new one that features a larger header. I also loaded a new header photo that is discussed on the tab above entitled “About the Header Photo.”
How blest we are to behold the beauty of God’s Temple.
This weekend we took a quick road trip to North Platte. As we often do, we stopped in Grand Island for dinner. This time we stopped at Bosselman’s Truck Stop. As we sat down I noticed the man in the next booth.
He must have been hungry, because there were three plates on his table, and he was dining alone.Our waitress, Shayla, was quite busy, taking care of a large section by herself, and seemed a little frazzled. After taking our drink order, she hustled off and the gentleman got up to leave. He said to me, “I’ve got to run, but would you tell the waitress ‘Merry Christmas’ for me?” I said, “sure,” and he left. He also left a $50 bill on top of his ticket. It had to be at least a $30 tip, maybe even more.
God bless the quiet generosity in our world.
The other day I was skipping around the radio dial and happened onto the song Christmas Canon Rock, by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
The song is a cover / reworking of Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major, with Christmas lyrics. The lyrics are beutifully delivered by the talented Jennifer Cella with gusto and feeling.
Here’s a link to a YouTube video of the song – Christmas Canon Rock
It’s delightful to see a rock band incorporate so much of their faith into their music. Three of their four albums CDs feature a Christmas theme.
Thanks to Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Jennifer Cella, and all artisans who glorify God with their gifts. May God bless your work abundantly.
The other day I picked up a pamphlet about a Novena to St. Jude in the back pew of Church. To those who work for the Church this is a regular occurance.
It’s a sort of chain-letter kind of thing:
Lots of church vestibules constantly see these sorts of things, sometimes with stern warnings to not remove the novena material and so forth.
Why do some Catholics do such a thing? Well, in a word, superstition. There are lots of superstitious things that well-meaning (although mistaken) Catholics do.
For example, even more popular than the St. Jude Novena (NEVER KNOWN TO FAIL, BY THE WAY!) is the goofy practice of burying a statue of St. Joseph in order to sell your home (HE WORKS FASTER IF YOU BURY HIM UPSIDE DOWN!).
And, of course, often enough the home is sold, or the novena request is granted, thus reinforcing through lived experience and the resulting word-of-mouth how effective such activities are.
Thankfully Joseph and Jude are both Jewish; so they can smile when I say, oy vey!
Leave the propaganda at home and just pray the novena, people. And for God’s sake quit burying St. Joseph in the ground – not only disrespectful, but a violation of the First Commandment for sure, and likely the Fourth Commandment to boot.
Enjoyed a WINDY day on Memorial Day.
Lots of wind to irritate my Weber Smoker.
Lots of “hot wind” stories told by George and Dad. . .
Smoked beef (back) ribs were enjoyed by all guests. The bone remnants were enjoyed by Sophie.
Nothing would taste sweeter than to see Big XII Commissioner Dan Beebe have to swallow his pride and present NU with the Big XII championship trophy to be hauled off to the new and improved Big Ten next year.
By the way, throughout antiquity it was very common to take artifacts from those defeated in battle, or from conquered sites. The Romans were very proficient at this. Shown here is a closeup detail from the Arch of Titus, one of the triumphal arches found in the Roman Forum.
The relief shows Roman soldiers taking the candelabra (menorah, in Hebrew) [מְנוֹרָה] after destroying the Temple in the year 70. We know that this depicts the menorah from the Temple, because it is seven-branched, unlike the nine-branched menorah used during Hanukkah.
And, before any of you share your smart-alec remarks — I know, I know, only Deacon Chris would mix Husker football with a teaching-aside regarding menorahs.
Deacon Chris 
Thoughtful Sentiments, But . . .
I’ve been pondering recently things people say to make others (or themselves) feel better, yet are not necessarily true.
For example:
Thus endeth my current rant on thoughtful sentiments.