Steak. Just the mere mention of the word causes many people’s stomachs to rumble and their mouths to water. Now, imagine you’re starving and a chef walks in the room with a steak still sizzling on the cast iron skillet. He places it on a table in the middle of…
Searching for God
This month, millions and millions of children, teens, and young adults are back in the swing of another school year. They have a fresh supply of #2 pencils, a new backpack, and likely some new back to school shoes and clothes. It’s always a time of year full of energy,…
Where is God?
Sherman, set the Wayback Machine to 8:00 a.m., November 1st, 1755. Destination: Lisbon, Portugal. A bustling port city and capital of Portugal, Lisbon was one of the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. It boasted one of the biggest ports on the Atlantic Ocean, and for 250 years the city…
A Message for My Daughter
Thank you for coming. To those who have come from near and far to be with our family, we thank you. And to those from other faiths, or for those who haven’t been here in a while, welcome to St. Michael’s. Finally, from both my heart and Jessica’s, thank you…
Truth
Imagine one day that there’s a knock on your door, and when you answer there’s a little boy in a cub scout uniform. He’s pulling a wagon that has little paper cups with dirt in them. He says he’s giving away free tree plants and wondered if you’d like one.…
Flames
In southern Germany, a few miles from both the Austrian and Swiss borders, there is a hamlet by the name of Wigratzbad. The tiny little town became a Marian pilgrimage site in the early 20th Century after a series of Marian apparitions began in 1918 and continued to 1936. The…
Drama
How often has this happened to you: You’re watching a movie, and all of a sudden you get this feeling like you know what’s going to happen next. And then, you’re right. “Ha! Called it!” And if it happens often enough, you start to feel like you have some sort…
Extra-ordinary
We take it for granted that earth is uniquely created to sustain life. More than just the right mix of gases in the air we breathe, but even just the change of seasons that are necessary for the cycle of life is something we almost never think about. The earth’s…
Alarm Clocks
There are two kinds of people in the world: the kind who need alarm clocks in the morning, and the kind who don’t. Those of you who need an alarm clock start your day with an annoying, unwelcome interruption to your sleep. You groggily hit the snooze button as many…
Stand Fast
In 315 BC, King Cassander of Macedon established the capital of Macedonia in the ancient Greek port town of Therma. As was popular among conquering rulers, he renamed it, in his case he renamed it for his wife who was the half-sister of Alexander the Great. Its inhabitants adapted to…