Category: Reflections

I’ve been a songwriter and composer for most of my life, and I’m remarkably blessed because of the gift of music that God gave me. I say that because music comes naturally to me, and I had very little in terms of formal training. To take it a step further, I’ve also felt obligated to…

The intent of a liturgical calendar is designed to draw us into a richer, fuller walk with God and promote a sense of unity within the broader Christian universe. Yet, I often wonder if we’re selling ourselves short by focusing on a timetable instead of letting the Holy Spirit do what it wants to do…

I’ve always been fascinated with science- especially natural science. Looking at the stars at night, clouds in the day, or how nature does its thing constantly reminds me that God is present and active everywhere. Yet, I frequently encounter Christians who get nervous, don’t know quite what to say, or immediately bring up controversial issues…

Sometimes it takes a long time for God to make himself known to us. Sometimes we must suffer in order to enjoy the rainbows. Sometimes our tears borne from seasons of emptiness are necessary to appreciate the fullness of grace that God lavishes on us. To those of you who are in the wilderness, going…

Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I don’t believe for a second that it’s “just for kids”. Christmas is a celebration of the greatest gift that has been given to ALL of us, and the holiday season is the perfect time to pause and reflect on how that gift unfolds in our lives every single…

Being a disciple of Jesus has its good days and bad days. Sometimes walking with him is smooth like butter while other days involve resisting the urge to pull our hair out and scream in frustration. There are times when we question our faith and times we doubt it altogether. The highs, lows, ebbs and…

I returned to the Church a couple of years ago after a long, winding, painfully-horrific journey into the wilderness and back. My sins cost me more than a decade of my life, and I have to live with the consequences of that every single day. When I came home, I was expecting to make my…

Cooking the perfect steak involves a few key elements: Quality meat, good seasoning, the right amount of fat, stable heat and perfect timing. It also needs to rest for a few minutes, and believe it or not, resting the steak is the most-important step. Anthony Bourdain once said that the best way to screw up…

I’ve always had a conviction that the Catholic Church in the West isn’t relegated to the malaise it is experiencing today. I’ve always held that our tomorrows could be much better than our present if we just live out the hope that our faith inherently allows us to freely do. We are followers of Jesus,…

I grew up under the wing of a grandmother with an indomitable spirit and a deep, rich understanding of the Catholic faith. She was also an inventive cook, which meant that we never really knew what to expect until the food ended up on our plates. Sometimes it was delicious, sometimes it was awful. Despite…