Keepin' It Real...Catholic

Revival

2009-02-03T23:14:00.001-05:00

Hey all, not sure many read this anymore because of my laxity in
posting, but man my heart is burning with the love of Christ & a
desire for him to be known! Seriously, I wish people knew the Jesus I
know. I wish that they were not fettered by the teachings of their
lukewarm CCD and sunday school teachers! I wish they knew the un-
watered down, completely overwhelming love of of God's Son, Jesus of
Nazareth! His character and person is different than you've known in
most cases! Not something new, not some self help Jesus, but a Jesus
ever-ancient, ever-new! Lean in! Learn from Him! He is meek & humble
of heart!
Most of you know my heart & where I have been. So please see in that
the hope for your fears, questions & and all out rebellions! Wrestle
with Him! Look up the story of Jacob in the old testament & find hope!

In Christ,
John E. Leyendecker
Team Director
Colorado State University
FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students)

God is good

2009-02-01T23:39:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to give some encouragement to all of you & say that God
truly is good. Wherever you are at right now, whatever you feel, you
have a Heavenly Father that is so good and is not hindered in His love
for you by your sin or regret. It's nuts! He shouldn't, but He loves
you. He desires you. He longs to walk with you. Seriously. I know it
can sound like religious hooey, but He really does! It's a Gospel of
freedom he cones to share (Galatians 5:1), not a Gospel of
condemnation (John 3:16). I hope you find rest & peace in that. I hope
that I abide in that. It is easy for me to go somewhere else. The
place where I am a piece of crap, that I'm not good enough, that I'll
never do it right, that's where evil one wants me to go. I'm tired of
going there and I'm going to cast my cares on Him. I'm letting Him
Father me & that's is where I have found rest. Let's abide together!

In Christ,
John E. Leyendecker
Team Director
Colorado State University
FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students)

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-29T11:24:00.000-05:00

Cool Solanus

2008-12-28T21:09:00.001-05:00

Grocery Store Nap

2008-12-28T19:16:00.001-05:00

Solanus is growing up to be such a little man, but when he is tired,
it's time to sleep : ) merry Christmas to you all.

Test post

2008-12-28T19:06:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to test out emailing blog posts so that I might be more
inclined to post!

In Christ,
John E. Leyendecker
Team Director
Colorado State University
FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students)

Scott Hahn: Eucharistic Kingdom

2008-06-15T08:32:00.001-05:00

This is a good example of why we need to be knowledgeable about God's word-New and OLD Testament-why we need to soak in it daily. Pray for renewal with me. Pray for us to live as He lived, to give a witness with our lives. Pray for me.

2008-04-30T15:56:00.009-05:00

Hey All, may Christ give you His peace!

So there has been alot going on!!! (What else is new right?) I am sure we have all been a little crazy, especially since most of you are starting to get a little itch to get outdoors as the days and nights get nicer. So what have we been busy

with? Well, where do I begin.....

First, so I have been doing a little bit of sharing about Jesus from this stump-platform on campus, street preaching if you will. This all developed out of a real distaste for a guy who gets up and preaches solely about damnation and refers to girls walking by as whores if they are dressed immodestly. It's pretty intense! So anyway, this is exactly what I thought Christianity was all about for so long, that I get really sad anytime I hear him. Sometimes people even enga

ge him in questions and his responses make me even more sad. I've spoken with him and some of his friends, but it doesn't get to go to far. Yet, it was a nice concession after him questioning me for a bit, that he did in fact believe that I was probably a Christian. Huh, imagine that, me, a Christian : ) So anyway, here is a shot of me on the stump.

So, the preaching on the stump attracted

alot of people, maybe 40-50, which I think is a lot to stop in the middle of campus and listen to this chubby bearded guy. It was sweet because afterwards 3 young men prayed with me and gave me their info! Also, a bunch of our students who are already are involved were there and they were engaging people in conversation about what they thought about what I was saying. It was awesome!!! Christ was being shared, people's prejudices were being dismantled and thirsty people were receiving water. Seriously, one young lady had some serious issues with Christianity, or at least her perceptions of it and God gave me grace to speak into those places and bless them. Man, what a good Father!

So I thought it would be good to go back last week on wednesday. So, I am freaked out as i approach the stump. You can imagine how intimidating it is to just jump up and start talking about Jesus to people who aren't listening. This is the stump:

Just like the week before, I go to hop up on the stump, and well, there's a problem. My baggy shorts get caught on my knee, and oops, i slip and catch my leg on that metal corner you see above : ( So here is a shot of what that looks like

But, there is an upside. I go to the emergency room and my nurse is a fallen away Catholic, so we start talking. Long story short, she is going to check out RCIA and is in the process of checking out an annulment. Can you believe how God uses us? It is pretty insane. More to come......

2008-04-24T18:51:00.002-05:00

2008-04-17T22:48:00.002-05:00

Snow Angel!

2008-04-17T22:34:00.003-05:00

It is such a blessing how are family has become the family of our students. We had 4 girls from one of our freshman bible studies which is lead by an amazing senior who's name is Tara. She is such a blessing! She comes over frequently to play with our kids and just love on them and has been hungry to here from Lisa about marriage and family. We are so blessed, so i thought you should hear it from Max : )

2008-04-15T22:45:00.002-05:00

Hey all, I hope this works and the family and i can begin publishing a bit in video format so we can have some face time : )

2008-03-02T12:48:00.004-05:00

Hey All, sorry for the long time in between posts ( I find myself saying that alot), but its hard to steal the time, to give some serious attention to putting down some thoughts about life on the internet. Yet, I know I need to, maybe even I am supposed to. I seriously want to share our lives with you all who read this. Our lives are blessed. Being in Colorado, doing this work with college students is pretty overwhelming, pretty humbling, and most of the time just an overall blast. I mean real joy in my heart. It's hard to express all that I have been feeling. Last night, it was about 70 degrees here in Fort Collins. We saw this heat coming, so we did what we should do. We had a Bar-b-que! We bought some burgers, some cheesecake, had a ton of chips leftover from another event, had some grapes (college students love fruit, when they see it, its like they have never eaten it before and will never have the opportunity again ; ) and told everyone they could bring their own steaks or whatever and we would grill them up. So we passed by word of mouth that all were invited- no one was not to be told. It was so good. I don't know for sure, but at one point I think there were easily 40 people. It was so cool. There were a ton of college students, our family, another family that we love dearly who work for FOCUS, an ex-missionary, current missionaries, and of course the honored guest, Jesus. I say that because it seemed like every conversation I passed by and overheard, He was dwelling in. I mean, seriously, different kinds of people that usually wouldn't hang out, talking about some things that matter most in life with each other. A real sharing of life, a small glimpse of the Kingdom. We had two girls here who we just met last week at our large group event, Janelle and Kristen. What a blessing. They had been away from their Father along time, but have started running home. So beautiful to watch! They came to the Bar-B-Que and commented to one of ladies here that they couldn't believe how loving we are, how open and welcoming. Lord, let it be true and us be your witnesses.

Earlier in the day, Lisa and I got to teach a marriage class for the Church which we are based out of. 7 couples and us. The topic was "Covenant". So we were able to share about all the covenants and most especially about the new covenant and most of all about how our marriages are microcosms of the macrocosm of Salvation History. We got into all kinds of stuff. It was a real blessing to get to teach with Lisa. We had a great time and got to talk to a few of the couples in depth afterward. One of the guys, Damien, was raised an atheist, but was really struck by some of the things that Lisa and I were saying. So he gave me a call after the Bar-B-Que last night and he and I got to hook up for a little bit and talk about Life, about Him who is the Life. Damien is super humble, a man's man and I was just blessed to get some time with him and get to share about what God has done with me.

Please pray for Damien, Janelle, and Kristen. Please pray for us. Even when things seem so great we need prayer to persevere and continue to love Jesus more, a fraction of how he loves us.

2007-12-25T11:32:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

Seriously, I pray that whoever is reading this is having a genuinely joyful and blessed Christmas! What a time! Don't get me wrong, I love the lights, I love the snow, I love ridiculous Christmas movies like ELF. Even more than this, I love the time with my family. It is so good to be with them, especially Lisa and the kids. We have had a tremendous time traveling across the country, hanging with those we love. It was great to be in Cincy,

and now we are in Ft. Wayne, which is equally as awesome. But, most of all, it is just awesome to meditate on and think about God sending His son in the flesh! Incarnatus est! Think about it. Midnight mass is always tremendous for me.

So overwhelming.

God sent His son to be born in a stable, with animals, in poverty. God the Father let a humble, but holy carpenter be responsible for protecting Him. God chose a lowly handmaiden, probably around 15 years of age to nurse Him. HE REALLY CAME IN THE FLESH!!! Try to wrap your mind around God being a newborn, His smallness, His weakness, His dependency. See what your God has done. He has wrecked everything. He has turned it all upside down. He didn't tell the priests and scribes. He sent myriads of Angels to shepherds to tell them. Think about it, Shepherds? I mean, come on, are you kidding me? These are rough dudes. Not exactly the "Church" going type.

This is all the proof we should need that God wants to draw close to us. He didn't come as a JUST JUDGE reigning down fire and judgment. He didn't even come with an army. He came as a baby, not so that we would fear Him, but so that we would love Him, cherish Him, grow with Him. He did everything exactly the opposite of what we would think He would do.

He still does this. He comes differently than we think. He seeks us. He goes to the lowest places. He lets us discard Him, not pay attention. He continues to let us send Him to the stable while we hang out in the Inn. During this GREAT OCTAVE of Christmas (CHRISTMAS lasts 8 days!) try to go out into the stable. Hang out with Jesus and His family. Talk to our Lady about her Son, her humility. Ask her to hold him. Do it! Pray. Talk to them. Men, ask Joseph what he is planning to do with Jesus, what you should do with your kids. You have been at the Inn all month-office parties, family gatherings, shopping in chaos, worshipping material and not God. Now take advantage of the real Christmas season- 8 days of tremendous grace. Go to the stable. He waits, not as a judge, but as a baby, longing to be loved and held.

Help us to be faithful Lord. Help me to be faithful.

I pray that you all are blessed. Have a Joyful and Holy Christmas.

2007-11-23T13:35:00.000-05:00

It was a god time in prayer this morning, even though i intended to do it earlier. My plan was to get up and go to Confession at 7am, Mass at 8am, and spend an hour with Jesus just after that. But my plan was thwarted by all the tofurkey I ate last night : ) It was still great though. I arrived at the Church where we serve around 9:30 and found it to be locked. Even though this has happened to me several times, I am still baffled when a Church is locked. So I don't sweat it, just jump back in the van and proceed to the next Church, St. Joe's down the street.

So when I get in, the Lord begins to speak deeply to some things that are happening and about what He wants to see happen. The word comes- Spirit Lead Equipping, Encouraging, & Teaching. It seems so simple, so basic and fundamental. Then the vision came of people gathered around our fire place, praying for God's fire to burn in them. Letting the Scriptures speak deeply to us through the Holy Spirit. Sharing what God places on our hearts, letting God's biblical word's drip from our mouths. Praying over and for one another. Letting hearts be healed, letting wounds be re-opened, cauterized, and letting Jesus slather balm all over it. Letting Jesus challenge us, giving us tools to love one another, to reach out to and befriend one another.

The Spirit shared scriptures in this time about "Having plans for welfare, and not for Evil" (Jer. 29:11), about filling the waste and desolation with Shepherds resting their flocks (Jer. 33:12), He brought 1 Corinthians 12 into the picture, showing the importance of using the gifts- not generically, but speaking about our need to be informed, about allowing the gifts of the Spirit to work among us. Speaking just after about how we need one another and how the body is many parts.

How people long to see the Spirit move gain, they long to drink deeply. Christians want to see His face. Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Working of Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues- all these need to be common place. We want solids Lord. While many speak of simply being nice or humane works. Let us speak boldly about your Name, about your Peace. Father, only now am I beginning to understand how your son felt constrained, how He wanted to see the whole Earth ablaze. Let us burn Lord, Let us Shine!

2007-11-21T13:41:00.000-05:00

So this is Solanus Joseph, our newest little guy at almost 3 months. He is as charming as his picture, but is a bit fussy at times. He likes to be held ALOT, and likes his carseat NOT AT ALL. But Lisa is an amazing mom. She is so patient and loving with him. This picture was taken on the couch of the house we stayed at this past couple days in Breckenridge (Ski Town). It sounds foo-foo, but we are so blessed to have friends that bless us with amazing opportunities. One our student's parents own this house and it was such a blessing to slow down and get face time with one another. And what cute faces to look at!

2007-03-05T13:09:00.000-05:00

Lately…

Sorry about the length in between posts, but sometimes the Leyendecker’s, in particular me, get busy with moving at what we affectionately call the speed of life. Oh, and with what speed does it move!

Lately the family has been doing pretty well. I am humbled by the blessing I have received in Lisa, max, ana, and our little one on the way. We don’t deserve what we have, we didn’t earn it, and God continues to bless us in spite of our unfaithfulness. But man, does God ever father us!

Lisa is just coming off being the head coach of McNicholas H.S.’s swim team. She is a great coach and her kids really liked her, except for how she kicked their butts in practice. She had three of her kids go to Districts which is just one level below State. I was unofficially the Asst. Coach as I had to learn some crazy swimming softwear in order to enter her swimmers in meets. I am beginning to think this Lisa woman and I make a great team : )

Our family doesn’t always get the most down time together. Youth Ministry is busy and blessed which means I am gone a lot, particularly at night. Plus, on top of a normal overloaded schedule, I just got back from a 3 ½ day retreat, was home for 2 days which were jammed pack because of being on retreat and having youth group on Tues and Wed. and then left for another 2 day retreat. Crazy! Oh and I didn’t even mention that I am now on a plane to go to Denver, CO for 3 days. So in just a little over two weeks time I will have been gone almost 9 days. Please pray for us during this season. We have a seriously good time when we are together, but it is definitely challenging. Lisa is left to do a number of things on her own, the kids miss their dad, and I don’t get to do the things for Lisa that build her up and bless her.

Last night we had an awesome time out together with our good family friend, Chris Padgett. If you haven’t heard of Chris, he is an annointed musician, gifted speaker, and all around funny shaped guy : ) http://www.chris-padgett.com/ But the kids and us went out to dinner at Arthur’s, a local burger/bar place. It was awesome to have time together, share table, and talk about how God is bringing about His Kingdom using broken instruments like us. It was a real blessing!

Yet the best part was when max leaned over and put his arm around me and said, “I am having a really great time with you dad, I really like being with you, I love you.” Talk about OVERWHELMING. I just hope he says the same thing in 10, 15, or 20 years. I want to be a father to him the way God has been a Father to me.

So now I am off to talk to FOCUS Ministries about what God can do with us together. If you haven’t heard of FOCUS, check’em out http://www.focusonline.org/ They are on the frontier of the New Evangelization and will continue to do great things.

Please pray for us, our family, and for me as Christ continues to use me to reach His kids in spite of my attempts to mess it up.

Aslan is on the move….

2006-12-08T16:29:00.000-05:00

What's Been Happening:

So here is a little update stretching all the way back to October. This photo is of Max trying to put the moves on the older flower girl at the wedding of our friends Shane and Erin. I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree : ) We are very blessed that he is much more innocent than his Dad. Lord, I pray you preserve him in Your Grace!

This picture on the right is an amazing example of how God has been fathering both Max and I lately. I have been wanting to go to a bengals game with Max all year. In fact, someone at church actually gave me tickets one sunday, but I wasn't able to go, so I gave them to some friends of mine. Needless to say, I was a little bummed for Max and I, but God is more amazing and His plans are even better than mine.

So my Grandma and Step-dad decide out of nowhere that they are both not going to go to the first ever Bengal's game on a Thursday night against the number one team in the division! So Max and I roll out in the pouring rain to enjoy the game. It was amazing!!! Max had the time of his life. The picture above is of him saying the Bengal mantra " WHO-DEY" Oh, and did I mention that our seats are some of the only seats in the stadium that are under cover? What a Father Max and I have.

Then here is our beautiful Ana! What a number this girl is already doing on my heart. She is absolutely precious. Just look at her! And Lisa is such an AWESOME mom. I am so blessed that my daughter will have my wife to imitate as she grows up. Thank you Lord!

So here is the report:

God is good!

I am blessed

I am also broken

God is bringing balm to the wounds

Lisa is awesome.....and patient as she waits for her Man to emerge from boyhood

I'm in!

2006-10-11T16:19:00.000-05:00

"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Matthew 7:13-14 Click for the whole chpt.

Sitting at Starbuck's today, contemplating the quote written on the coffee cup, the the following thoughts hit me:

Middle of the road is often portrayed as some soft peddled version of the truth, but where I am at in the "middle of the road" does not have this taste to it. This phrase "Middle of the road" is not only moderation and tolerance, but it it seems that it is where one must be to enter the Narrow Gate. So I hear, or am told, about BALANCE and the need for it, but what I need isn't balance, or rather it is what I need, but what gives one blance is the weight applied to both sides, wait on both sides of the spectrum. Liberal and conservative, orthodox and heretical. Yet what is found in this middle is not "either/or" it is more akin to a "Liberal Orthodoxy" or a "Heretical Conservatism". What is found here then is not liberal or conservative, nor is it some compromised state, but the middle of the Narrow Way/Gate. This is where Authenticity is found. Only here can be found a complete love of the social gospel (Jesus' glad tiding to the poor/orphaned/imprisoned) with a complete love of the moral gospel (the new law written on our fleshly hearts after having our stony ones removed).

This place cannot be found by our attempt to BALANCE, but only by completely abandoning ourselves to Christ. Abandonment is not BALANCED or SENSIBLE. It is RECKLESS and UNREASONABLE. No moderation, no tolerance of, no openess to, only complete and total abandonment to Christ.

2006-10-05T15:04:00.000-05:00

God is up to things!

My soul has really been blessed as of late by what God is stirring in my heart! Our family is enjoying a season of great blessing. Lisa and I really get along. I mean, she is awesome. There is no nonsense or unclarity. It is just us, lovin' one another, shepherding our kids, lovin' on them, and letting God be God. Translated: we stumble through marriage and parenting with our weaknesses, but we keep turning to Him, and He is glorified. Don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean we live in a little eden over on Grace Ave. Yet, we do enjoy some benefits that Adam and Eve didn't have. For example, when we sin, no hiding. It is brought to the Father, is repented of, and we move on. God is so good to me, my wife is so patient, and everyday I am letting my kids know that I am not perfect, both in explanation and action.
My biggest struggle that I constantly bring before the Lord is laziness. Ugh! I said it. You know what I mean though? It is that kind of laziness that looks at things that need to be done and says, "I'll just keep doin' what I am doin', cause it feels better". Lord, Have Mercy! Kyrie, Eleison! Pray for me that I do more to plow and keep my garden. Remember Genesis? God gives Adam a job, "Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it" (Gen 2:15) Lord let me keep and cultivate, helping my wife to grow, pruning my faults, and raising up children for the Kingdom. Maranatha!

What else has happened? Well, we got some cell phones. AAAHHAHHAHAHAHA!!!!! I didn't like the idea, but it will serve the kingdom and the safety of the family. I can be in better touch with the youth, I can send my wife cute notes and texts, and get alot of stuff done. I went high tech in order to do it right. Some of you will fault me. Please pray for me. Yet, I like the phone and what it brings (except the bill) so let it serve the lord!

Last but not least, God has brought me a brother and sister in youth ministry! I am so grateful Lord. They bless me with really great words and say that I am helping them grow, but Lord they are growing me. It is going to be so good seeing what you are going to do with us broken instruments. Keep movin' in us Aslan

2006-09-28T16:02:00.000-05:00

Who Dey, Ya Whooo, and Who's Jesus

And I'm back! Sorry for all those who are faithful to checking this site, but God has been doing some things with the Leyendecker's that just didn't involve blogging. I can't even begin to recap it all, but I will throw my thoughts out about some stuff that has happened. This picture of myself and my friend Russ with the Matt Maher Band. These guys are seriously talented, spirit-filled and absolutely love Jesus. What a blessing to hang with them.
First, if you look at a way earlier post about our financial situation and how we were just going to go sit in the Father's lap and let him take care of us (I know many of you were thinking,"That is so irresponsible" "They should be concerned about.......blah,blah) No disrespect to anyone who thought that, but God has continually showed us that He is our Father, we are His kids, and that He will be doing the "taking care of" portion of life. I know, it sounds ridiculous, and it is ridiculous to anyone who hasn't met the King (no, not Elvis). So the end result was is that God provided for our negative balance every month, in fact we weren't late on a single bill, and as you can tell, none of us are going hungry. While we didn't indulg in some of the things that others can't live without. We did indulge in some family time with reckless abandon. Also, we became really revolutionary and talked to each other more. Last, but not least, we actually prayed more together. We actually had time to start praying for and over our children more. Man, I hope we keep doing this. Nothing would please me more as a Father, than for my children to know that God not only loves them, but He actually likes them. And in the midst of all this, Christ started putting the building blocks together for our youth ministry. IT IS FREAKIN' AMAZING! Not because of me, but because of what HE is doing among our kids. Thank you Jesus! There will be more on His amazingness later.
But then it happened.........I got a raise!!!! And yes the money will be great, but it was about more for me and the family. It was about the Church steppin' up and saying they valued youth ministry and that they did valued me. What a blessing! So we are not rich, not even close, but we have more than many. So this is definitely the Ya WHOOO portion.
On a different note, Maximillian and I have been leaving the women alone on Sundays to go in hunt of a Super Bowl hunt with the Bengals. And before everyone starts, YES, I do hate the consumerism, I don't like alot of what is associated with Football Sundays, especially when men neglect their families. But, here is the part that I like. I like watching football with my son and most of all, I like where we watch it. Max and I journey to my friend Joe's house in Clifton to enjoy some fellowship and football. So what happens is, Max and I get there and Joe's dog bites at Max's feet because it is a herding dog and the dog thinks my son is a little sheep or something. So we knock that off and Max tells the dog to get off of him and isn't phased. Then the real gift happens....about ten of the men I hang around are there and they greet my son and they love him. Like I am talking real love! My friends pick max up and talk to him and welcome him there even though he is the only kid. It may not sound like much, but it brings tears to my eyes how my friends love my family....Thanks Joe, Ryan, Sean, Darrin, Tom, Mike, Jerry, Don, and everyone else. Even greater is the fact that everyone stops swearing, they help max get pizza, and they even give him the best seat when he wants it. Lord thank you for the men in my life! And believe it or not, Max at 2 1/2 years old doesn't even miss a beat of the game and he is convinced that he is going to play footbal for St. X High School. So, Who Dey!!!!!!!
Lastly, and this will only be mentioned in part for now, but who do I say Jesus is? Who is this Homeless Gallilean that has wrecked my life and filled me up, where I used to be so empty. This guy is really wrecking my life I hope some of you will join the collision. Many of you are already apart of it, whether you know it or not. Please keep us in prayer and as another friend's blog said:

Stay Posted, Aslan is on the move

2006-05-05T14:52:00.000-05:00

So I came across this article today about Catholic Universities, and in particular Jesuit Univ.'s, losing, and not caring, about their Catholic Identity. It is a shame. So much lukewarmness (in my own heart as well), so much that holds us back, because we forget that Jesus has broken the bonds. I thought the last paragraph wrapped up the whole article and the poor state Jesuit Universities are in today. This quote speaks of wealth and what it does to us.

"I found myself thinking as I left Georgetown that the great problem besetting not just the Jesuits but the Catholic Church in America and the Western world more generally is wealth. Penury provides its own discipline, prosperity undermines it. The great challenge for the Jesuits, for Georgetown, and for many other Catholic institutions will be to find a way to preserve the Faith in the hazardous milieu of material abundance. Opus Dei grapples with the problem. The Jesuits may have been overcome by it. They warn us of the material hazards of poverty, as though the real problem with Dewar's and single-malt whiskey is that not everyone can afford it. Jesus warned us of the spiritual hazards of wealth. It's a message we should heed."

Doesn't that say alot? Particularly the second to last line. I know some older Jesuits that rant and rave about Justice and about the rights of men and women to practice homosexual lifestyles, all the while sipping their scotch forgetting that they too have need of repentance and discipleship. Let us follow. Fiat voluntas tua!

The kids

2006-04-28T08:26:00.000-05:00

The kids
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

This is to curtail some of the animosity that could be expressed at the previous post ; ) Who can be mad when there are cute kids like these? Read the next post and listen to the link...be changed.

2006-04-28T07:43:00.000-05:00

One Thing You Lack...
(Click the Above to Listen)

As of late, in praying about what our family is called to do while we are exiles here in this world, this present darkness, I have been doing some serious marinating on the scriptures and what they say. Most of you know that I work two jobs (teaching in the morning for a few hours and youth ministry full time) and this is demanding on my family, my prayer time, and my dedication to either job. While youth ministry is going really well (because it is the Lord's work through the intercession of Our Lady), I find it is hard to serve two masters-teaching in a school and ministering for the Lord. So it seems that I will not work a second job next year. This will of course be very difficult for our family, as this second income is equal to about 35% of our full time income. So as you can quickly gather, times will be tough next year- Oh wait, that statement is totally not true. With our current bills (Student loans, 1 car payment, mortgage, gas and electric, food, gas, and medical expenses) it will be mathmatically impossible to make our ends meet. Yet, I am overjoyed! I know this sounds crazy, but I am entirely confident that God, in His providence will provide, and we will be given the opportunity to live even more simply, to look at what we need- You know, Kingdom Living, Following Jesus, giving up all for His sake. The link that is posted above is a powerful 6 minute compilation of clips from the "Jesus" film, mixed with some music and some preaching on God's telling us that if you feel like you are following Him, if you feel like there is still something yet to do, if there is still something holding you back- It is the One thing that you lack that is keeping you from really walking in freedom. I know many will say this is too hard core, or it is not possible, or what about....., or any other host of things, fears, and concerns that we will put up. But these are Jesus' words, not mine. They are what He asks, not me. These are hard words. They speak of suffering, giving up all, and wallowing in all the joy you find when you have done this. Yep, I said it. Repent, sell, give, follow. Oh wait, I didn't say it, He did. I hope we listen. I hope we follow. I hope we seek. We shall find. Please click the link above and let's use the comment section as a way to talk about the audio. Many won't comment because it will be giving more time to an already uncomfortable subject. Many will scream and argue (as much as you can on a computer, and definitely in face to face conversations) and will dismiss His truths. These are hard words. These are life giving words. Please drop some comments and dialogue about this....

2006-04-19T16:12:00.000-05:00

Resurrexit Sicut Dixit!!!

The Lord has risen indeed! Man, this Holy Pasch is an amzing time. It is a time when all things are made new. It is not as if Jesus wasn't raised during Lent, or that He is not risen during Christmas, but this is that special time of year, coinciding with the Passover of the Jews, when we really focus on His rising from the dead. This is usually especially powerful after the journey of Lent in which we are trying to experience death-death of our sins, our selfishness, our habits that are blocking us from knowing Him more fully. So here we are at Easter when we exalt Him again with the Alleleuia, we give praise with the Gloria. We have just walked with Him in the desert and we have recalled that He left us His very presence in the Eucharist on Holy Thursday, we traced the footsteps of His Passion and Death on Good Friday, we sat in the darkness and silence of the tomb on Holy Saturday, and we exalted His fulfillment of our redemption when he rose early on the first day of the week, Easter Sunday. I pray that we might be found knowing Him, wanting to grow ever closer to Him. I pray that we realize what has happened and the freedom that we live in now, the grace we have been given. I pray all these things for myself and for all of you. I pray that after we have suffered with Him, we might also rise with Him. I don't know how many of you read this, but I pray for all those who do that you come to know more fully the glory of the resurrection.

2006-03-30T09:49:00.000-05:00

The youth ministry went to a retreat this weekend called Cincinnati 2000. This retreat is modeled after Youth 2000 with some improvs to mix it up, and we hope, build an even better foundation. This retreat was amazing, not just because of I was apart of the planning : ) But because of number of my youth and others around us really met Jesus for the first time this weekend. We had kids that hadn't been to confession in a couple years that were set free this weekend from the bondage of their sins. One youth in particular, a girl that is close to my heart, went to confession for the first time in two years (since confirmation) and was not only given the sweet tears of repentance, but I was given the gift of being able to pray with her afterward and speak words of blessing in the Spirit that she really needed to hear. She commented to her Mom afterward about the experience, about the liberation in confession, and about what came over her when we prayed together. So powerful was this story, that her mom sought me out first thing monday morning. Thanks be to God that her mom was grateful and amazed, because I have found that if you go introducing Church workers kids to Jesus, it doesn't always go so well. I don't say this in any way to build Me up, but I say this as a way of encouragement for all of us to pray with each other more and invoke the Holy Spirit. HE is powerful and Faithful. Christ's dying gift to us was His Spirit, that Third and blessed person of the Trinity. This young woman was a blessing and she wasn't the only one. I have at least five other stories of transformation which might come up later.
Also this weekend I met a real brother in the Lord. This guy was amazing! I had only just met him, but it felt like he and I had been hanging out for years. This man, Steve Camilli, was amazing. This guy, through the grace of God, started the first food bank in Argentina right before their terrible economic downturn. He had a very gentle spirit about him, but what was amazing, was the fact that he, a speaker at the retreat of over 500 kids, took the time to write a note to one of my kids that suffers from alot of difficulty in school, severe ADD, and is just not well adjusted. But, he wrote him a note and gave him some things. What a blessing. Steve may never know how he changed that young man's life out of his obedience to Christ.
Repentance, Lives Changed, People comforted...sounds like the Gospel. May He continued to praised and may we persevere!

Heading to the Airport

2006-03-14T08:23:00.000-05:00

Heading to the Airport
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

Recently in the Catholic Churches around the world, there was read the gospel passage about the Transfiguration. Recall it? It is amazing how, by God's grace, we are called up the mountain, to the heights, to see Him. This is quite different from Moses bringing the Law down to us. Now, in salvation history, we do not bear the burden of the Law, but we have been given new hearts and freedom in Christ Jesus. But we squander it. We don't love like Him. We don't teach like Him. We still burden people down instead of setting captives free. Or we do the converse by trying to liberate people at the expense of the truth, His truth. May we teach Lord. May we Love Lord. May we give Lord. Maranatha, Come Jesus.

Dinner with the Friars-Lisa, Ana, Fr. Peter, Br. James, and just barely Br. Benedict

2006-03-13T09:33:00.000-05:00

Dinner with the Friars-Lisa, Ana, Fr. Peter, Br. James, and just barely Br. Benedict
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

So we went to Nicaragua. Random, eh? It was a very blessed time and we are very grateful to have had the experience. We have always thought that we were called to be missionaries in some sense, but always thought of ourselves as being missionaries to a wounded Church right here in America. Who knows, this might bring us either one step closer to making that crazy leap and going for it down there, or it will make us that much more firm in our resolve right here.
This is a picture of us joined around the table with some men that have radically committed their lives to Jesus and loving Him in the poor, not just by kindness or deeds, but by becoming poor for the kingdom. Their example is a real blessing. They live in a wooden friary they put together in the middle of a coffee plantation and beg all their meals from those around them. Their only thing they have to return is the love of God. Let us be conformed to you Lord in this season of purification. Help us to draw closer to you and further away from those things that separate us from you.

2006-03-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

The words in this image come from the Holy Gospel according to St. John, chapter 2, verse 5, I believe or somewhere near there. This scripture and this image are perfect to dwell on as we enter this Holy Season of Lent. I pray that we all might truly do whatever Christ tells us and may we remain to ask always for the intercession of that first and most perfect disciple, Mary, our Mother. Check back frequently for thoughts during these forty days and please be in prayer for our family as we prepare to travel to Nicaragua. May He reign in our hearts and rule our minds. Come Lord!

2006-02-17T10:04:00.000-05:00

O sweet and blessed country

Shall I ever see thy face?

O sweet and blessed country,

Shall I ever win thy grace?

Exult, O dust and ashes,

The Lord shall be thy part:

His only, His forever

Thou shalt be, and thou art.

-St. Bernard of Cluny

100_4016

2006-01-27T08:08:00.000-05:00

100_4016
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

These passages come from the Prophet Jeremiah(Thanks Lew) and they speak to an earlier post I had...

10 To whom can I speak and give warning?
Who will listen to me?
Their ears are closed [a]
so they cannot hear.
The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.

How true is this last line! Many people say that the Bible and the teachings of the Church are intolerant and offensive. God's word is being fulfilled even today

14 They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
'Peace, peace,' they say,
when there is no peace.

Think for one second about how we do this to one another. "Oh, don't worry about that, it is no big deal, everyone does that." There is so much that is serious today, and so much we say is ok. Christ, o sweet and precious Christ, give us a spirit of worship, a spirit of repentance, Your Spirit Lord, Come!

Max in the Leaves

2006-01-26T08:03:00.001-05:00

Max in the Leaves
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

Man, I hope there are leaves in heaven!

Happy Ana

2006-01-26T08:03:00.000-05:00

Happy Ana
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

This humbles me...

2006-01-25T07:33:00.000-05:00

Maranatha!
I do want Him to come so badly. Not like end times scenario, just as St. Peter said in his letter to count His waiting as patience, I certainly do, but I am speaking more about coming into hearts, coming as a bridegroom for His bride.
I went on a High School Kairos this weekend that was sponsored by our parish. For those who don't know, it is a cursillo type retreat for High School Seniors. The leaders of the retreat are students that have been on a prior Kairos and give talks about certain preset subjects. Yet the powerful thing about thetalks are that they are usually laced with some personal/ very personal things about the person giving the talk. This part certainly proves St. Paul's point that Christ dwells in weakness, because when these kids start sharing their own weakness is when something powerful happens. So overall it was a very powerful weekend for the youth and for me. It is a complete blessing that I could even be apart of someone's life in this way. One youth in particular I definitely connected with. This guys is so much like me in his sin and his personality. He is using marijuana like it is oxygen, loves to snowboard, likes girls for all the wrong reasons, and was none too hip on the whole God idea (even less into the Jesus thing). But, I give my talk on the retreat, sharing my story about all that has gone wrong and how God has put it right. I can tell that this guy is trackin' when I'm talking and it ends up he really relates and we have some good conversations about life and the Lord. It is a definite blessing to my heart everytime God uses my weakness to strengthen someone else. Thank you Lord!
The rest of the youth were equally as amazing in their openess and struggle and I had the opportunity to have some sidebars with them that were equally as blessed.
But, I guess what amazes me is the sin. Our priest on the retreat at the end said that if the world is left in the hands of these young men and women, it will be a great world. I think I know what he was trying to say, it was still off, because it was at this comment that I found myself disagreeing. I thought to myself of all the conversations I had had with the youth and I couldn't help but think what a broken world we would have, just like we have now. These kids weren't evil, but they were certainly empty, certainly selfish, which leads to all the other stuff-drugs, promiscuity, relativism, cutting themselves, etc. So I couldn't help but think that we would be left with the same world or worse. Sure the kids wanted to talk about God, but the world has always wanted to talk about God, but no one wants to invite Him into the conversation. So it is the same story. Without serious repentance, it will remain. And, without the Lord, nothing will be repented of. So in the end, we don't need what the world calls good people. We needs saints who have radically embraced the Gospel, who touch the poor, love the orphan, heal the broken, and follow Him. These youth have begun to taste His goodness, may they remain to drink fully. Maranatha! Come Lord!

Max and Dad

2005-11-28T16:45:00.000-05:00

Max, Dad, and Dog
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

It is hard to believe sometimes the goodness of God. It is often hardest in times of trial, but I find myself, underneath the noise and bussle,completely overwhelmed by His goodness. Max has definitely taught me alot, mostly about God, His love, and His faithfulness. This is not to say that Lisa and Ana have lacked in their teaching, because they haven't, but there is something about a father and a son. There is something about a daughter and her father, but Max is blazing the trail of breaking me in as a Dad, but even more as one who desires to follow Christ. We have had some teaching moments lately. These are moments when he and I both have a chance to teach one another something. Just this past Saturday we all were walking into the YMCA as a family. Max is usually ecstatic to go to the Y, except when he finds out he is going into the play room, instead of traveling to the pool. Max is definitely in that stage of life (2yrs) where he does not understand why he cannot do something he wants to do. And I am confronted with a toddler tantrum of grand proportion, but Max is growing. He and I have had the opportunity to talk thru a couple of tantrums and take some deep breaths. You should see me in action, it is quite amusing: Max is about to break down, Dad scrambles to explain the situation in words he can understand. Its like trying to communicate to someone who speaks spanish with my broken spanish, except Max knows english, but doesn't grasp it all, so I keep throwing out words he understands. In this particular case I was promising him that he and I would go swimming after Lisa and I worked out. So I was excited because he totally understood and when to the play room happily enough. Yet, when I was about to spring him from there, I saw the pool was occupied by the swim club. So I inquired when they would be done: Not for 3hrs! AHHHHH! So here I am about to confront the fact that I lied to my son. So I bail him out and the first words out of his mouth are Wa-Wa and Sweeem (Translation: Water and Swim). So I explain to him what happened(He doesn't understand) and we go hit the showers together. Its at least some water, not exactly swimming though. When we walk out, he is pretty content, but I get an idea. He had been pretty excited about watching football on Thanksgiving and kept saying "Futball" and "Tutdown". So I do what any Dad would do. We hit KMART on the way home and I let him pick out a football. Man, you should have seen his face when I handed him the box! He lit up like a bonfire started to exclaim "Futball",Futball! As we walked the aisles to the cash register. It felt amazing to be able to give him that joy, especially after I couldn't give him the original gift, but I think he was much happier with this. It is like what the Father did for us after Adam dropped the ball, He gave His Son. Something far greater than His first gift. I know Jesus wasn't a back up plan like the football was for me, but what a teaching moment. Max learns that Dad will come through, maybe not the way he would have liked initially, but with something better. I learned that God follows through in more amazing ways than I could plan. I hope my attempts to imitate God let max know how much He loves him, because if I can love him like this, Christ can do so much more. Let me be a father as You are a Father! Come Lord!

Yes, she is Beautiful

2005-10-27T15:19:00.000-05:00

Yes, she is Beautiful
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

So this is her. The woman that God has entrusted with aiding me on my journey to seeing Him face to face. She is absolutely amazing. She tells me that I have helped her as much as she has helped me in her relationship with Christ. Lord let it be so. I would gladly give my life for her, and I try to on a daily basis through serving her, but I fall short. I want to build her up, and then I ask why she hasn't finished something around the house. I want to make her feel honored, and then I am absent to her needs. I want her to know how much she means to me, and I forget to tell her.
Through our marriage Christ is teaching me so much. Most of all, He is teaching me how He cares for His body the Church. He is faithful in all His desires for His Bride. Let me walk as He walks with His Spouse so that my bride and our kids might one day gaze on Him with unveiled faces. Come Lord Jesus!

Max hookin' Kunos up

2005-10-10T12:55:00.000-05:00

Max hookin' Kunos up
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

So my son knows how to share, most of the time. Yet, often he chooses not to share. Or, like most of us, he shares what he wants to share, meaning the things, food, or toys he doesn't want. He doesn't give what he likes the most, tastes the best, or gives the most joy.
I was thinking about this because I was asked today to provide a quote about my experience in Nicarafua this past summer. I was trying to think of a three line quote that sums it up. Am I supposed to say' "Wow, it is really great that the center we visited offers alot of secular help, but little for the eternal, but that is ok because missionaries are supposed to be social workers." Or should I comment on the fact that they are preached a skewed gospel of liberation when they are taught anything of God's Word. Or should I comment that the parish that I work for has an obscene amount of wealth , but it is so nice that we throw some bones to those poor people down there in Nicaragua.
We do alot of good in alot of places. I know a woman that does a tremendous amount for the people in Nica by way of her efforts up here, but her own daughter languishes under the weight of a priviledged upbringing, a desire for things that keep the material machine moving, and the idea that she chose to have sex before marriage, was informed enough to make that decision and continues to do it because of her enjoyment. It is sad.
Shouldn't we first know Christ so that the fire in our hearts might warm others? Shouldn't we be reproached for how we live and what we keep for ourselves? But that last thought is communistic, it is radical, doesn't he know that I worked for what I have?
In short, yes it is communal, it does go back to the root (radix in latin is "root"), but even more it goes back to the stump or root of Jesse, who is Jesus. And yes, I know many of us work very hard, but we forget who it all comes from, who it belongs to, and that we are stewards.
So it seems many of us know Christ and have some goods, and are quick to share goods with others, but not Christ in our families. While still others are poor, but are quick to proclaim all Christ has done for them. Who is really rich? Who is poor?
1)Share what I want for myself
2)Give what I want to keep for myself
3)Immerse myself in the mercy I have been given and share it with others, instead of simply giving bread, give hope that lasts.

This year

2005-10-04T17:30:00.000-05:00

100_4025
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

So what do you think? Is the family looking better this year or last year? This year we have our own home, Anastasia has joined our ranks, Max grows evermore entertaining by the second, we have met so many more people in the body of Christ, we live in Cincinnati, and have been given so much grace in the past year. Yet, last year I had time for naps, saw my wife and max quite a bit more, had only one job, were just moving back to Cincinnati after a very annointed year in Lexington, KY. Man this year has gone by fast! I hope I slow down to catch some of it. Some people ask why Lisa and I don't get an antenna so that the TV in the basement could get some channels, but I can't imagine how much less I would talk to Lisa, how much less I would play with Max, and how much less I would read. Lisa and I are now on three years without TV channels and the thought bringds a smile to my face. I think about all the comments we've gotten over the years, how we should really get an antenna, or basic cable or something that would normalize or better yet help us to keep up on "news". Yet, I think about all the times I simply looked at Lisa and watched her smile as she read or studied her thoughtful glance at our children. Or all the times I simply stared at our children, smiled, made funny faces, or just plain reflected on things. Come to think of it, it has been a great year. I thought I have been really busy, and I have been, but this is the kind of busy my heart was meant for. Thank you Lord.

Lisa, Max, and me '04

2005-10-04T17:12:00.000-05:00

Lisa, Max, and me '04
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

He is calling you

2005-09-29T07:12:00.000-05:00

He is calling you
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

Who is Christ calling...the other guy, you know the religious one, that guy who is always nice, who doesn't talk back, who when left to his own devices he fares just fine... oh no, wait, that is totally wrong, he came for the irreligious one, the one who is not good at following rules, who smarts off when spoken to, smarts at authority, who becomes a complete wreck when he guides his own life. That's me, an undisciplined one, but now always willing to have God discipline me. Not because its a good idea (but it is), but because He has adopted me and this is an adoption that my heart has longed for all my life. I was talking to a brother in the Lord last night after our youth gathering (hey Russ)and I was thinking about the fact that if you would have asked me 10 years ago whether I would ever find great joy in giving myself away, doing things against my own desires, and hanging with the empty, broken, and outsiders of the times, I would have thought it crazy. I would have thought to myself, "I am on the inside, I am happy because I seek what I desire, and that desire is based on comfort and feeling good." Drugs make me feel good, drinking, women, the drama of selling drugs.
Now I am completely upside down. Totally into giving stuff away, into loving only my wife and serving her, into welcoming as many kids as the Lord gives us, totally into having no drama only gospel moments, which can be dramatic, but not a drama with a sad ending, moments that are part of God's Dramatik. I have found what I desire because I have found Him who desired me.
Sound crazy? It is. It is completely foreign to this age, as it has been in every age. But I am strenghthened by my brothers and siters who walk with me. Walk with me to the gallows, to the colliseum, in front of the death squads, into laughter and dismissal by their peers, but most of all that walk into the narrow way that leads to life...put on the path by their failings, their tiredness, their absolute rejection of the idea that what the world gave to them was all life had to offer.
There is joy here that no eye has seen, no ear has heard. I used to hang out at the inn while Jesus, Mary and Joseph were in the stable. Now I am content to lean on the rocks in the hay and look on God made man in a manger, the gentleness of Mary, the one who bore God, Joseph the one who provided for God. Kids remind me of this, my own children overwhelm me with this. It is quiet in the stable, my heart is quiet.

Lisa, Ana, and me

2005-09-27T14:16:00.000-05:00

100_4025
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

Man, these ladies are awesome! We just got back from a retreat in Rhode Island. What an amazing time Fr. John, Fr. Francis. our friends in the third order. How can a heart not rejoice mingling among gospel people. Not nice Christians, not sunday attending Catholics, but dedicated radical, impoverished, penitential, joy filled followers of Jesus Christ who have been given the Grace to know that His Church subsists in the Roman Catholic Church. This is not to alienate friends, but to invite them in. All who read this know my heart. Peace

More on Fear of the Lord

2005-09-27T14:10:00.000-05:00

Max and Ana chillin'
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

What Grace in these two! Thank you Jesus for giving me what I don't deserve!

Fr. John and Mary

2005-09-27T14:09:00.000-05:00

100_4071
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

This is Fr. John Maria, FPO with the lady he loves!

100_3962

2005-09-20T13:53:00.000-05:00

100_3962
Originally uploaded by leyendecker2004.

Man, I understand more about the fear of God as a result of my totally amazing family! It is writeen that "To whom much is given, much is expected." I got alot, alot is expected! I thank Him for His Grace and kindness to a kid like me who isn't worthy, but He keeps giving none the less. Not cause I'm special, not a health and wealth gospel, but simply because I'm His. Simply because even though I mess up, I still turn to Him. Not because I'm virtuous (just ask my wife), but because I have run my life into the ground so many times relying on myself and going after what I want. This picture is proof that He has a better plan that I would miss out on if I kept doing what I wanted. Alot of Grace, and man is this the understatement of all ages!

2005-08-22T14:19:00.000-05:00

What's been up?

Hey all, some sabbatical from blogging, but I'm back as a result of reading some of my friends' blogs and the desire to share some my thoughts with y'all.
So what's happening?
Lisa and I are about to have our second child any day now. In fact, we took a trip to the hospital yesterday on a false alarm, but it was good to spend some time with the wife just talking and laughing. I am so blessed by her love. We were probably disturbing other triage patients with our laughs and commotion. I am really grateful for our kind of laid back approach to the whole thing.
Second, I had a really blessed time of prayer with my buddy and brother in Christ, Lew Ross. God has given me a gift in that guy. Two things about our time that struck me, well maybe three. The first thing is always a given. I think real healing takes place in the body when a radical home pastor and an authentically catholic youth minister get together to pray in His name, rejoicing with one another, sharing struggles, praising His name in song (yes, even in the Spirit) and breaking open the scriptures. Yes, real and visible healing.
So in prayer yesterday with Lewman I get this hardcore image of the prodigal son and hits me again, the recklessness of our God. The father leaves the home to meet the son while he is still yet far off. None of that "where you been?" none of that "man he smells, or he is dirty" Nope, not even a little. Just to remind you, the story is that of a well to do landowner who isn't thinking about how he looks, or what should happen to his son. The father sees his son, breaks out running after him and before the son says a word the father has him in his arms, wraps him with a mantle, puts a ring on his finger, and is making plans for a banquet. Sorry to all the disappointed folks who wanted him to be punished or have some Jerry Springer-type scene. Not even a hint. I know, its not just, its unfair, and it is totally reckless. What's that father doing? Doesn't he know that his son needs to learn a lesson. I say to that, "Don't you remember he was tending swine (bad jewish move) and eating their food? Don't you remember that he couldn't fill the emptiness in his heart with prostitutes?" Yep, just shameful the way that father just welcomed him back in. Shame on God for letting us back in so easily. All I had to do was to waste my life to a point of desperation and ask for His help. Do not be confused, I am not talking about life being all rosy forever and always after. I am not talking about some medicine I got for my problem. I am talking about a cure! So as in the beginning, if I would stop with the "he is dirty","he needs punishment", "he should be cut-off" and start with the "oh man, he is back, he needs food, he needs cleaned up, he needs love, he needs discipleship" So there it is, A reckless father and a dirty kid. Here I am, adopted son of a Reckless Father.
So, that hit me pretty hard as you can read. The next thing was that we were in the middle of an amazing song, you know the one, it goes " Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts...Oh God of Jacob" It was awesome, and lew breaks some strings, two to be exact and keeps jamming a bit and we were authoritatively disrupted by his son's need for some play-dough assistance. And it hits me again, broken strings that get to go help with play-dough. If you don't get it, that's o.k. because you will. He will meet ya, while you still might be yet far off. He does it with me all the time. My first time I met Him and every time since.

2005-08-22T12:20:00.000-05:00

Hey all, may the Lord give you His peace! This is the maiden post for my new blog, just to get it going.