Tonight, my family will be attending a celebration for our deacon who just passed 25 years of service. What a wonderful vocation being a deacon is. I'm sure it has been a blessing to him and his wife, however I actually think of all the blessings he has bestowed on others all those years. Deacon Carl is an excellent homilist and we constantly ask him for copies of his talk. My dad came into the Church in 1998 and his formation was led by a deacon. And, in the parish my wife works at, the long-time deacon, Deacon Jim, has been a fixture in the lives of parishioners and students for years and is dearly loved.
Regardless of duty, whether it be a wedding funeral, or other ministry, deacons are a vital pat of the success of a parish and diocese. The month of November marks the ordination of many new deacons, so hats off and prayers to all of them. I know I've been guilty of taking them for granted by just assuming they are always just there. Celebrations like tonight remind me about the time, effort, and sacrifice they make. Next time you see your deacon, thank them for their service...they deserve it!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Register online for Teresa Tomeo interview in January
You are now able to register for my interview with Teresa Tomeo on January 23, 2008 at 6:00 pm PST (9:00 pm EST). Teresa will be discussing her book, Noise, which illustrates the issues of how the secular media is corrupting our children and the impact on our faith. If you have children or grandchildren, this is a must read and hear. Teresa will answer YOUR questions as you have the opportunity to e-mail me questions before and during the event. As soon as you register, you will be sent a link to a web site to get instructions for the teleconference and can immediately send me your questions. I will do my very best to get them all answered, even if it means less time for me to ask!
Your investment is only $29.95. What a great opportunity to hear this great Catholic radio personality and author LIVE. Special Bonus: The first 50 people to register will receive a FREE MP3 copy of the interview, that's right FREE. Everyone else will have to pay $29.95 so you will get to take part in the interview AND get the audio. Is that a great deal or what?
To register, click here. Don't miss this exciting event.
Dan
More about Teresa Tomeo:
Teresa Tomeo is an author, syndicated Catholic talk show host, and motivational speaker with more than 26 years of experience in broadcasting as a talk show host, radio and TV news woman, and newspaper columnist primarily in the Detroit area.
Teresa left the secular media in 2000 to start her own speaking and communications company. Teresa’s daily morning program, “Catholic Connection”, is heard on over 120 Catholic stations through EWTN Global Catholic Radio.
Teresa is a regular contributor to “Our Sunday Visitor”, a national Catholic newspaper. She has also appeared frequently on EWTN TV and has also been featured on “The O’Reilly Factor” and Fox News.
As a speaker Teresa travels around the country addressing the topic of media awareness and activism, as well as sharing her faith journey and providing concerned citizens with the tools needed to stand up against today’s culture. Her book, “Noise-How Our Media Saturated Culture Dominates Lives and Dismantles Families” was published in February by Ascension Press.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Big Ouch: Blondie’s Best Lesson Saved for Last
“She’s gone.”
Simple words spoken by Dr. Monica as the shot laced with an overdose of anesthesia gently ended the life of our family dog Blondie at 5:15 pm on November 19. We had scheduled this time because we brought Blondie home as a 6-week old puppy on Monday, June 1, 1991 at 5:00 pm. Sort of a fitting end. The 6,016 days in between were full of love, loyalty, and friendship.
I’ve been compiling for some time lessons I’ve learned from Blondie. Maybe I’ll write a book on them because they are lessons we humans can use at any stage of our lives.
The final lesson she taught me through this process is this – we are blessed with gifts and in some cases there is a time to give them back. The reality of letting go and helping a loved one through the dying process is a fact of life. No matter how well you prepare, until you go through it there is a huge unknown. Now, even though every death in our family will be painful and different, Blondie has taught me that it can be done with dignity, courage and love.
Yes, I know she was a dog, not a human. She was also a binding member of our family for 16 years; a common bond of love for not only our immediate family, but our extended one as well. Parents, siblings, and friends have all shared their sorrow with us. In fact, one of my daughters close friends left a bouquet of flowers on our doorstep last night. That’s one of the many gifts pets bring. They can be the “glue” that brings people more closely together Giving back the gifts are painful, yet always with a lesson to be learned. I want to thank all of my friends and family who have wished us their condolences. Each one is special and appreciated.
Finally, I want to especially thank the wonderful people at Poulsbo Animal Clinic, especially Dr. Monica and her assistant. The opportunity to say farewell to your pet in the privacy of your own home is something I can’t say enough about. Blondie hated going to the vet and this way it was just like having visitors to the house. No other people, no sterile environment; just peacefully passing away at home with your family by your side. Isn’t that the way we would all want to go?
Dan
Simple words spoken by Dr. Monica as the shot laced with an overdose of anesthesia gently ended the life of our family dog Blondie at 5:15 pm on November 19. We had scheduled this time because we brought Blondie home as a 6-week old puppy on Monday, June 1, 1991 at 5:00 pm. Sort of a fitting end. The 6,016 days in between were full of love, loyalty, and friendship.
I’ve been compiling for some time lessons I’ve learned from Blondie. Maybe I’ll write a book on them because they are lessons we humans can use at any stage of our lives.
The final lesson she taught me through this process is this – we are blessed with gifts and in some cases there is a time to give them back. The reality of letting go and helping a loved one through the dying process is a fact of life. No matter how well you prepare, until you go through it there is a huge unknown. Now, even though every death in our family will be painful and different, Blondie has taught me that it can be done with dignity, courage and love.
Yes, I know she was a dog, not a human. She was also a binding member of our family for 16 years; a common bond of love for not only our immediate family, but our extended one as well. Parents, siblings, and friends have all shared their sorrow with us. In fact, one of my daughters close friends left a bouquet of flowers on our doorstep last night. That’s one of the many gifts pets bring. They can be the “glue” that brings people more closely together Giving back the gifts are painful, yet always with a lesson to be learned. I want to thank all of my friends and family who have wished us their condolences. Each one is special and appreciated.
Finally, I want to especially thank the wonderful people at Poulsbo Animal Clinic, especially Dr. Monica and her assistant. The opportunity to say farewell to your pet in the privacy of your own home is something I can’t say enough about. Blondie hated going to the vet and this way it was just like having visitors to the house. No other people, no sterile environment; just peacefully passing away at home with your family by your side. Isn’t that the way we would all want to go?
Dan
Monday, November 19, 2007
The Gettysburg Address - November 19, 1863
Today is the 144th anniversary of one of the greatest, if not greatest, speeches ever delivered. It's short...for you fellow Toastmasters, it's about the length of a Table Topics. But its powerful. In honor of this day, please see the text below. You will also see the only known photograph of President Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg per the Library of Congress.
Dan
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that "all men are created equal".
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety do. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow, this ground -- The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here.
It is rather for us, the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
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