2012

We're more than half way through our trip to Mexico. Time to reflect on the events and feelings associated with a week spent in "paradise." The quotes are there because it's a secular paradise. To make any meaningful comparisons to our…
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Hi folks. It's our 2nd Annual Johnson County Christmas Light Tour. We're back in our own vehicle this year after taking our inaugural tour in a rental car. Tonight's goal? See how many times we can hear Christmas in Sarajevo by…
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By Todd Marsha Why am I never around when all the drama happens on my street? I’m told things were different before we arrived in our current neighborhood. The children were all younger and relegated to play indoors or in the backyard.…
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#God had a plan. Oh yes he did. So many things to accomplish, so many things to be learned through living them. The chain of events was perfect – what else could we expect from our Lord. I needed to become present in my family’s lives.…
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by Todd Marsha I would love to say our neighbors in each city we've lived in have been welcoming, accommodating, and genuinely nice people from the moment we moved in but, sadly, that's not been the case. Unfortunately we've lived places…
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I admit I’ve never been good at switching gears right in the middle of something but now I had no choice. I applied for FMLA and dedicated myself to taking care of Jenny and Jack. For the next 2 weeks I was no longer the dad who left for…
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Brothers and sisters, I've heard this song quite a few times on K-LOVE but never stopped to give the lyrics a close listen. Tonight I did and WOW! It's like this song was written for me. I've felt like I just couldn't it right. I've felt…
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I am an addict. Neither booze nor pills are my crutch. Sex is not what I seek at all hours of the day and night. What I’m addicted to is…sugar. I eat sugar because it’s there. I eat it because I can afford it. I eat it when I'm happy,…
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Brothers and Sisters: How powerful is it to know that no matter what we do, no matter what happens to us, and no matter how desperate or hopeless a situation may seem, the love God has for us will always remain? How comforting is…
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Brothers and Sisters, I heard this song the other day and told myself, "Ok, remember how it goes so you can look it up online later." Wouldn't you know when I tried to remember the song the next day...nuthin'. I asked God to give me a…
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Brothers and Sisters, The truth will set us free. Admitting you have a problem is half the battle. Understanding why you behave a certain way is the key to changing your behavior. Sound familiar? Above are some of the pillars…
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One of the things that has been paralyzing me during this journey to becoming a writer is the idea of earning great wealth from my work. If I should be blessed enough to write a bestseller, will the money I earn preclude me from living my…
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For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.  Romans 7:15 As I begin to write this post, I have just finished practicing what St. Paul refers to…
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I recently discovered Ignitum Today, a social network of younger Catholic writers. Too bad I’m a little too old to share my writings with them (the age limit for contributors is 39) but I can enjoy what their fine authors have to offer…
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Brothers and sisters, Here's Mac Powell at it again. This is an older song, originally released in 2000 as part of the City on a Hill compilation. I heard the praise band at Holy Trinity play this during LifeTeen Mass one Sunday,…
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Brothers and Sisters, I like to kid with my wife about Josh Groban's voice. It's a marvelous singing voice but my personal opinion is he overdoes the vibrato (I haven't been a musician since 7th grade so my use of terminology may be…
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I guess we were all overdue for a test – a big one. We'd planned everything out pretty darn well. #Jennifer knew when she was going to shop and which groceries she'd buy for the whole month. She wanted to go to a haunted house with her…
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What an amazing 3 weeks it's been. Tonight I truly believed I could get some serious writing done but just a few minutes ago I was falling asleep sitting in front of this computer screen waiting for a document to print. I'll be turning in…
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I recently read this article...Five Ways to Show Catholic Courage at Work...and it reminded me of a friend who embodied what Randy Hain so eloquently wrote about. I will not reveal his name or his employer’s but I will reveal two examples…
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The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ - Matthew 25:40 I don't like working with "difficult customers" any…
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