This week: Some last minute shopping advice. A vocations video on religious life. Another short video promoting chapel veils. The biggest dog in Britain (really, a canine not a person). A look at the tireless work of Al Sharpton. A peek into Obamacare and how it was passed. Is radical Islam a stain upon the “true” religion of peace?

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Just 6 more days until Christmas! Do you have just a few more gifts to buy? Who will you support with your hard-earned cash? If it is not clear what season they mean when giving you their greetings or the holiday to which they refer when they wish you a happy one, then perhaps they hope to hide the true reason for the season. It is not like they don’t know. Let’s not support the deny Christ movement.

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St. Basil said “In this privileged state (religious life) there is a happy and wonderful exchange; for goods of this world are given up and in their place the goods of Heaven are received. Treasures that will pass away are surrendered in exchange for treasures that last forever. Articles of no value are swapped for articles of priceless value.”

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This is the second (first here) promotional video from St. Anne’s in San Diego (a Catholic FSSP parish) on the chapel veil:

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I like dogs, but big ones bring many special challenges. This is a very big one:

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Al Sharpton, champion of justice. Selfless leader of the oppressed. Shining the light of truth upon those who would mislead. A peacemaker, bringing understanding and unity wherever he travels. Yup, none of that is very close to reality!

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Jonathan Gruber (a very highly paid consultant to the Obama administration) has explained how Obamacare was passed.

• “It’s really a tax on people.”
• “This bill was written in a tortured way to make sure CBO (Congressional Budget Office) did not score the mandate as taxes. If CBO scored the mandate as taxes the bill dies.”
• “The healthy people will pay in, the sick people will get money.”
• “Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage.”
• “Call it the stupidity of the American people or whatever…[lack of transparency] was really critical to get it to pass.”

The most honest, transparent presidency in history — well, maybe not so much. No better refutation of that exists than Obamacare. Passed when the president’s party controlled both houses of congress, yet engineered through dishonesty to its core:

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There are so many examples of “radical Islam,” that many might believe that is representative of the entire religion of peace. Is moderate Islam a myth?

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was begun by Jennifer Fulwiler and is now continued by Kelly Mantoan. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Kelly for hosting this project!

This week: The latest issue of New Evangelists Monthly awaits your perusal with over 100 faithful Catholic contributing authors! Spirit Juice Studios has released a new vocations video. A promotional video from a FSSP parish on chapel veils is offered. A Jeff Harris cartoon, as usual, hits the “nail on the head.” An NFL star who sees a bigger picture. Tim Hawkins ponders what an “atheist camp” might be like. Snow, the final frontier for drone automation?

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Issue #24, December 2014, of New Evangelists Monthly is ready for your enjoyment! Scores of faithful Catholic bloggers have contributed their very best pieces from November. By “scores” I mean over 100 Catholic bloggers, including a dozen clergy and religious!

Contributing authors this month include: Niki Chris, Adam Crawford, David Torkington, Celeste Ciarallo, Melanie Jean Juneau, Ellen Gable Hrkach, Debbie Gaudino, Fr. Ben Hadrich, Ellen Kolb, John Schroeder, Jamie Jo, Chris Capolino, Christian LeBlanc, Sarah Therese, Lisa Laverty, Rick Becker, Laura Pearl, Michael Seagriff, Anthony Layne, David Wong, Tony Agnesi, Adam Shaivitz, Timothy McCormick, Dn. Scott Dodge, Cindy Hurla, Brantly Millegan, Anabelle Hazard, George Sipe, Margaret Felice, Nancy Shuman, Virginia Lieto, Vinny Carr, Rich Maffeo, Karee Santos, Devin Rose, Sr. Margaret Obrovac, Brian Gill, Rebecca Royse, Michele Chronister, Ruth Ann Pilney, Shannon Vandaveer, Nancy Ward, Michael Brandon, De Maria, Bartimaeus Timeo, Fr. Gerald Souza, Barbara Schoeneberger, Kathryn Cooper, Fr. Adrian Danker, Elizabeth Reardon, Sr. Maresa Lilley, Zoe Jumonville, Laura Christine, Mallory Hoffman, Tom Perna, Blythe Kaufman, Fr. Chori Jonathin Seraiah, Susan Fox, Fr. John Paul Shea, Stephen Korsman, Rose O’Donnell, Christina Sawchuk, Reese Cumming, Roxane Salonen, Dianna Kennedy, Elizabeth Kabacinski, Birgit Jones, Benny Trovato, Jennifer Hansen, Joyce, Lara Patangan, Dn. Jim Knipper, Rita Buettner, Ann C, Jeff Walker, Philip Kosloski, Bonnie Way, Emily Hartung, Fr. Errol Fernandes, Paul Fry, Larry T, Matthew Plese, Bethanie Ryan, Ashley Woleben, Julian Barkin, Nanette Carey, Billie Jo Stoltz, Dennis McGeehan, Leslie Klinger, John Donaghy, Barbara Hosbach, Lisa Ponchak, Ishmael Alighieri, Heidi Knofczynski, Steve Smith, Msgr. Charles Pope, Paul Smith, Tracy Smith, Fr. Ian Hellyer, Justin Soutar and Jenn Tatum.

This monthly “meta-magazine” showcases faithful Catholicism from theology to family life and “everything in between.” Enjoy it now at NewEvangelists.org.

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Spirit Juice Studios has just released this new vocations video on religious life:

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St. Anne’s in San Diego (a Catholic FSSP parish) has put together this brief promotional video on chapel veils:

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Jeff Harris at Sword of Peter has asks a good question:

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This is a wonderful video about an NFL star who re-thought his life. Meet Jason Brown:

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I find Tim Hawkins to be quite funny – and insightful. Here he proposes what atheist camp songs might be like:

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Soon, snow will be upon many of us (probably not me here in Atlanta). Most of you who deal with it will proceed, like every other year, to clear it the hard way. Not this dude:

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was begun by Jennifer Fulwiler and is now continued by Kelly Mantoan. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Kelly for hosting this project!

This week: In this first week of Advent, we continue to remember Christ the King while we await His arrival (videos from Chris Stefanick and Igniter Media). Thanksgiving, now just a memory, memorializes a fictional history…   a video correcting the record. Another great trailer from the upcoming Convinced movie, this time on the “Mary problem.” A short video on the priesthood. Blackstone Films has a short on an Indianapolis Catholic school. What is the “right” minimum wage?

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On these first few weeks in Advent, Christ the King remains in our hearts. Chris Stefanick produced this video last year:

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Christ is King! Yet, a baby is coming. HE is coming!!! This video by Igniter Media is also from last year:

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Last week was Thanksgiving and most folks still believe the historically false, politically corrected version of its genesis. It’s a shame that we can’t even be honest about historical fact. Future versions will probably have the Pilgrims coming to the new world in search of homosexual and reproductive freedom.

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A few weeks ago I featured aspect the upcoming Convinced movie as my lead 7QTF item. This movie will be released in 2015, but another great trailer is available, addressing the “Mary problem”:

“Storming heaven” with prayers is good – be it joined by your friends here and/or those already in heaven. God will hear those prayers and answer them, but as always that answer may be “later” or “I have a better plan.” On the other hand, as presented in this trailer, He may simply say “yes…” particularly when asked by His mother!

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Chris Stefanick has just released this excellent new (but quite short) video on the Priesthood:

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Blackstone Films has made a short film on Lumen Chrisi, an Indianapolis Catholic school:

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What is the “right” minimum wage? This video from Prager University may help:

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: The latest issue of New Evangelists Monthly awaits your perusal. A post-election look at racism. Another excellent video from the Chosen faith formation course. Jeff Harris illustrates the Catholic faith at Sword of Peter. A black bear in an unusual predicament. One neighborhood sees fighting break-out in the street (it’s not Ferguson).

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Issue #23, November 2014, of New Evangelists Monthly is ready for your enjoyment! Scores of faithful Catholic bloggers have contributed their very best pieces from October.

We are blessed this month with a record number of clergy and religious bloggers! Among the (excellent, all) contributing authors are 8 priests (including a monsignor of whom I am a HUGE fan), a deacon and 3 sisters. Thank you all: Phoebe Wise, Tracy Smith, Chris Capolino, Monica McConkey, Lawrence Fox, Adam Crawford, Christian LeBlanc, Dn. Scott Dodge, Kevin Shaw, Cindy Hurla, Fr. David Berger, Matthew Plese, Melanie Jean Juneau, Michael Seagriff, Sarah Thèrése, Lisa Ponchak, De Maria, Shannon Vandaveer, Virginia Lieto, Adam Shaivitz, Elizabeth Kabacinski, Rich Maffeo, Timothy McCormick, Tony Agnesi, David Torkington, Laura McAlister, Sr. Margaret Obrovac, Grace Pippin, Debbie Gaudino, Ishmael Alighieri, Fr. Denis Lemieux, Katie O’Keefe, Birgit Jones, Catherine Adair, Julian Barkin, Nancy Ward, Jim Curley, Fr. Chori Jonathin Seraiah, Barbara Hosbach, Fr. Ben Hadrich, Liana Eisenman-Wolford, Mary Beth Brummond, Mary Mendenharrell, Tom Perna, Bartimaeus Timeo, George Sipe, John Donaghy, Blythe Kaufman, Christina Sawchuk, Laura Pearl, Nancy Shuman, Ellen Gable Hrkach, Anabelle Hazard, Rick Becker, John Schroeder, Denise Hunnell, Katherine Scott, Roxane Salonen, Laura Kazlas, Jamie Jo, Steve Smith, Fr. Errol Fernandes, Matthew Rose, Margaret Felice, Stacy Cash, Mallory Hoffman, Billie Jo Stoltz, Barbara Szyszkiewicz, Paul Smith, Leslie Klinger, Brian Gill, Bonnie Way, Kathryn Cooper, Liam Ferguson, Fr. Ian Hellyer, Jennifer Lawrence, Rita Buettner, Brantly Millegan, Sr. Maresa Lilley, Dianna Kennedy, Heidi Knofczynski, Justin Soutar, Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Rose O’Donnell, Tonya Martin, Anita Moore, Jeff Walker, Sr. Marie Walsh, Christine, Allison DeWolf, Deanna Babineau, Daniel Ang, Msgr. Charles Pope, Annie Jeffries, Jenn Tatum, Kimberly Lynch and Tami Schuelke.

This monthly “meta-magazine” showcases faithful Catholicism from theology to family life and “everything in between.” Enjoy it now at NewEvangelists.org. (Past issues are online and also available as free eBook downloads.)

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RACIST. Now that the mid-term elections are over, let’s talk about this. To be honest, words fail me to adequately express how I feel about someone’s belief that others, fully equal in human dignity in the eyes of God, are lesser souls because of their skin color. It seems to me that to call someone a racist is to judge them in a most serious manner. What is more, upon a little reflection, those who do so – objectively viewed – may want to reflect a tad more upon themselves and their motives in this charge that should transcend politics.

Where I stand, liberals and conservatives are EQUAL in their intent toward humanity, all their brothers and sisters. They differ very deeply in how to achieve what, at the end of the day, is the same thing.

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Where are we going? What is our journey? What are we looking for? This is the introductory video for the Ascension Press Chosen faith formation course.

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Jeff Harris at Sword of Peter is a talented illustrator who presents Catholic life and issues with creativity. One beautiful example:

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Leo Wong has put together an extensive collection of quotations by well-known converts. It is inspiring stuff! Why would anybody join the Catholic Church??? Read it at From American Converts.

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This guy found a black bear in a cornfield, trapped in a milk can. Other than tranquilizing the bear, this was probably the safest way to help. The story is here.

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The futility of fighting – here, one breaks-out on a residential street between two locals. They punch and kick-box. Nothing is settled. It goes on and on and on.

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: A new movie asks “Why would anyone become Catholic?” Lauren Hill will soon play the game of her life, maybe. A good wrap-up report on the Synod of the Family. Planned Parenthood tries to hide how central abortions are to their business. Understanding vs. denying the facts and size of radical Islam. The work of a terminal cancer patient. A bicyclist literally caught in the middle of a truck and car collision.

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A new movie project asks “why would anyone become Catholic?” A good question, answered in part by many fellow bloggers linked on my Convert Stories page. Answered also in a new movie currently in development.

The movie is Convinced. They have an Indiegogo campaign to finish it, but what they have so far is already awesome. There are converts (including the likes of Scott Hahn, Francis Beckwith, Taylor Marshall, Holly Ordway, Abby Johnson, Jeff Cavins, Devin Rose, Matthew Leonard, Mark Regnerus, Jason Stellman, John Bergsma, Christian Smith, Kevin Vost, David Currie, Richard Cole, and Kenneth Howell) and other experts (such as Patrick Madrid and Donald Asci). Check-out the trailer:

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For Lauren Hill, the opening women’s basketball game at Mount St. Joseph University will be the “game of a lifetime…” if she lives that long.

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EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo has this good wrap-up segment on the Synod of the Family.

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You might think that people would see through the lies of Planned Parenthood, but a surprisingly large number of folks don’t. PP does their best to obscure the facts, but as LifeNews.com has pointed-out, the abortion numbers (number, total income, percent of all abortions, percent of revenue, etc.) is huge for PP. When you think abortion, think PP. Students for Life takes a look at PP’s manipulations to make abortion appear as only a tiny part of their business (exactly opposite of the truth):

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I take some issue with some of this guy’s (in the video below) numbers and broad definition of radical Islam. He overstates the case, but the overall point is valid. Yet, the PC crowd remains staunch deniers. Fr. George Rutler talks about that in his excellent piece for Crisis Magazine: Mad Intelligence: The Secularist Response to Islam.

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Greg Thomas lost his propane delivery job at 57…   after he was diagnosed with stage 4 head and throat cancer. He was nourished by a feeding tube. His family was told to prepare for the inevitable. One thing he could do in his final days is take walks, where he came upon a Catholic church in a bean field, abandoned for a hundred years. Read more here.

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Not his time. Watch this multi-vehicle accident unfold, with a bicyclist in the middle of it. The guy didn’t stand a chance…

He actually goes through the wreckage of the car, between the body and the bumper assembly. Then, the truck tilts off its left wheels just in time to miss him before rolling back over on that side.

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!