I have been a pastoral musician now for about twenty-one years. Early on, when I was still learning what that meant, I was called upon quite often to lead music for Mass and for other prayer and retreat experiences. Among the songs I frequently played back then was Carey Landry’s, And The Father Will Dance.…
Category: scripture
bible, Jesus, JesusJusticeJoy, reflection, retreat, scripture
I See You
On Friday night, Orin and I and the band performed a concert to help kickoff a Luke:18 retreat for middle-schoolers in Belleville, IL. The show went really well, due in large part to the enthusiasm of the teens. To be honest, the leaders of this particular retreat program have invited us to do this very…
announcements, bible, catholicism, friends, GIA, iTunes, Jesus, JesusJusticeJoy, LCF, liturgy, ministry, music, NCCYM, OCP, odd, reflection, saints, scripture, technology, WLP
The Liturgical Composers Forum: Pointing to Jesus
Starting tonight, Orin (today’s blogger) will again be attending the 20th annual Liturgical Composers Forum in suburban St. Louis. This gathering was begun by Fr. John Foley, SJ two decades ago, at the time a program of the now largely non-existent Center for Liturgy at SLU. These few days bring together some of the most familiar…
bible, family, JesusJusticeJoy, Joy, ministry, reflection, scripture
Comparison is the Thief of Joy
One of the reasons I want to blog regularly is so that I can have a place to document my faith journey. All of us are called through our baptism to be ministers of the Gospel. I believe that in sharing my experience of trying to live Christ each and every day, I am in…
catholicism, family, JesusJusticeJoy, Justice, liturgy, ministry, oddwalkia, prayer, quote, reflection, scripture
Here I Am Lord
It’s my (Orin’s) turn again at Any Given Sunday Project to write a Sunday Scripture reflection, this one for this coming Sunday, January 14. The psalm of the weekend holds a special place in my heart, and is central to a story often told at Oddwalk appearances. Here’s an abbreviated version of what you may…
advent, bible, catholicism, christmas, Jesus, JesusJusticeJoy, prayer, reflection, scripture
Seeing in the Dark
I’d like to begin this week with the song, To Know Darkness, beautifully written by Orin and included on our 2007 album, Walk Away Different. Take a moment to listen to the song. I’ve included the lyrics here as well— God our Father, we long to see you as you are. If we seek you…
bible, catholicism, JesusJusticeJoy, Justice, prayer, reflection, scripture
A Matthew 25 Kind of Readiness
I don’t know about you, but when I think about Jesus, I prefer to think of sinner-pardonin’, loaves and fishes multiplyin’, ear-healin’ Jesus. It makes me uncomfortable to think about table-turnin’, Peter-scoldin’, Gehenna-throwin’-into Jesus. Jesus is supposed to be nice, right? Surely a God who loves us wouldn’t ever turn us away, right? RIGHT?! Well,…
Jesus, JesusJusticeJoy, prayer, reflection, saints, scripture
Dear Jesus, Change Our World…Except Me…Or Anything I Hold Dear. Amen.
I’m pretty lazy. It’s true. Ask around. I’ve been this way for a long time. If I can find a way to not do something or find a shortcut so I don’t have to work very hard, I’m in. I know this is a character flaw. I know it’s not good. I’m a work in…