69°F raining E10mph SR0457CST SS1920CST

Morning Offering given

Village waking and wet

Coffee exceptional

The weekend… visiting with old friends… am glad to be home… we are very fortunate to be healthy and mobile… for this I give thanks. My thanks to those who put up with me.

Allergies have kicked in… stuffy nose, watery eyes, oh the joys of post-nasal drip.

Let’s talk about Jesus. Is he a close personal friend of yours? Have you spoken to him lately about your life? Have you been reading about him and his life? The Bible is a great book to do that with.

In the Catholic Tradition let’s talk about Sacred Images. For those who are confronted by the no graven image group Ex 20:4-5… this scripture speaks to false gods/idols, not the real God and his saints. Ex 25:18, Num 21:8 Ps 113:16, Council of Trent, Session 25, and the historian Eusebius talk about adorned symbols and veneration images indicating the presence of God. From the beginning they wore halos, thus they were venerated and you knew of God. This is not a novelty invented by the Catholic church. We must remember not to be excessive in our homage our preference should always be Christ/God/Holy Spirit first.

Know you are prayed for.

The priest left the alter as the table was being prepared to hand out children’s bulletins.  Then instead of using the liturgy book he pulls out a book he calls the kiddie liturgy and proceeds to consecrate.

Appalled

Scandalized

The man says the homily “H.A.L.T.”came straight out of the AA Book Book

No more church in Cascade IA for me.

68°F SSW8mph SR0500CST SS1919CST

Morning Offering given

Cascade is peaceful

No coffee

Very nice memorial service yesterday for our friend Larry (bestman at our wedding in ’74) Another of our groomsmen was present as well along with his brother, and a couple of old high school friends. It was good to see them.

Today the Hogan reunion.

Know you are prayed for.

65⁰F  NNW4mph. SR0454CST. SS1923CST

Morning Offering given

Village peaceful

The sky is filled with stars this morning. The coolness of the front porch is welcoming. The hanging plants welcomed the water given to them. A car passes by as the driver makes his way to work.  The street light at the corner of the front yard is out, casting everything into darkness. Hope they never replace it.  The humm of AC units is present. As is the boom of bass from the radio unit of a passing car.  One could almost talk themselves into believing all is well with the world.  Yet a feeling of insidious darkness prevails.

The Olympics’ disgusting open blatantly mocking of the Last Supper, the Vatican’s war on traditional priests and the Latin mass, the decimation of traditional families, the corruption of morals,  and the decline of work ethics are but a few things pointing to the evils lurking in the background.

Know you are prayed for.

65°F NNW8mph SR0453CST SS1924CST

Morning Offering given

Village waking

Coffee good

My day to pray for the Cmom community

Looks like another warm one for us today

1 copy job to do

Need to gather my box of items that go to Iowa sometime today. The house needs attention as well.

In the Catholic Tradition… How to remain in the presence of God… Scripture Jer 23:24, 1 Cor 3:16, 2 Cor 6:16. Develop a way to have constant and effective awareness of the presence of God. Develop a lively faith life with frequent prayer and recognition of God in the moments of your day. Contemplate God and His presence in your life. Seek him out.

Know you are prayed for.

72°F sprinkling WSW7mph SR0452CST SS1925CST

Morning Offering given
“My God, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Son’s Sacred Heart, for the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of Christians. Amen”

Village quiet but filled with humm of AC units

Coffee good

New month
New chance to begin again

Plants on porch watered. They were thirsty after the heat we’ve had the past couple of days.

In the Catholic Tradition let us begin our day with the awareness of the presence of God. Doing this encourages us to do our best to acquire all the virtues. It enlivens our faith and increases our love for God.

Good and gracious God,
As I prepare to walk into this new work day,
lead me into Your presence and unfailing love.
You who are Immanuel, God with us,
have promised to be with me always.
As the Psalmist asks,
“Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?” (Ps. 139:7).
You, O God, are the One in whom my soul finds refuge.
On this day, filled with its own to-do lists
and tasks that require my efforts and attention,
grant me the grace of sensing your nearness.
You desire to dwell with me all the days of my life.
Open my soul to become more aware
of Your presence throughout the day,
and help me trust that You are with me,
even when I struggle to feel so.
Teach me to see this day
not as an obstacle in the way of experiencing
intimacy with You,
but rather as holy ground
that You will stand with me on.
Help me see this day
as another opportunity to commune with You.
Slow my spirit to walk in step with You.
Amen.

Know you are prayed for.

65°F SE4mph SR0451 SS1927

Morning Offering given

Village awake and moving

Coffee good

Good sleep, overslept Short run this morning free to do office work in afternoon.

Happy Birthday, Greg! Happy Anniversary, Joe & Donna!

Meet Olivia
https://youtu.be/S-lQOooYAs8?si=H5ZdqIkKyhQGgcJN

Know you are prayed for

63°F S8mph SR0450CST SS1928CST

Morning Offering given

Village wakes

Coffee ok

The man left early

The 2007 Expedition has been sold

1 copy project to do, 1 lax run to do, I still need a haircut, the office is still a mess, the houlihan and hogan fam his still needs copying, however, the printer is out of toner, story of my life.

Of course it is also that time to collect one’s thoughts and examine the past month. Time to find a confessional and get that job done… let’s talk about that. Why has it now become something, a job, to get done? Why isn’t there a burning in the soul because of fear of hell? Why is it suddenly just a job and not a passion. This unburdening of ones soul. This list of wrongs that need righting. This numerated list of defects that need correcting. Where is the anguish that used to be associated with wrongdoing? If it is not present, you haven’t finished making the list. https://spiritualdirection.com/exam
https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

In the Catholic Tradition… Ways of Resisting Temptation…
Prayer-
Be humble, work on humility-
Avoid Occasions of sin-
Flee temptation-

Scripture to peruse:
2 Cor 3:5, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5, Phil 4:13, 1 Cor 4:7, Ecclus 3:27

Keep in mind this will not be easy. It will take time, patience, and perseverance on your part.

Know you are prayed for.

67°F rainy ENE4mph SR0449CST SS1929CST

Morning Offering given

Village wet

Coffee ok

Great time at the Houlihan Reunion yesterday in Pinicon Ridge Park. Very nice gathering spot. Good to catch up with everyone, dismally losing at Shit on Your Neighbor, and in general good food… Tom’s cinnamon rolls were to die for. Promised to dig out all the fam history I have and make copies.

In the Catholic Tradition… Conquering Temptation… 1 Cor 10:13 “Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human. And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.” If you are discouraged by you frequent falls into sin ask god for help, he knows our weaknesses. Ps102:14″ “For he knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are dust: ” Do not resign yourself to the slavery of sin, there is a way out, God is good and merciful he will help you. Satan loves to trick us into believing we are so sinful nothing can help us. Jesus tells us to watch and pray so that we do not fall into temptation (Mat 26:41) St Jerome advises us to “slay the enemy while it is small” St Francis de Sales tells us to “fly into the arms of Jesus and Mary as soon as we spy the wolf”. As long as the temptation lasts we should persevere in prayer. Without prayer it is impossible to overcome temptation.

Know you are prayed for.

On August 13!! stop Evers out of control spending of federal $$