tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80703640643611314962012-02-16T05:23:55.834-08:00Outdoors, hiking and nature. Raising children and kids. Religion, Catholic Pope Benedict XVI Christianity light theology. History, economics. Mostly my own overinflated opinions.Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-77341875948820372472010-02-22T21:42:00.000-08:002010-02-22T21:42:49.961-08:00

I have been teaching religious education this year.  Specifically I am teaching a combined class of older (beyond 3rd grade) students who have not been catechized.  Half of my 8 students were baptized Catholic as infants and are preparing for First Communion.  The other Half are either unbaptized or were baptized Protestant and are planning to enter the Church at Easter.  We call the second group

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-83741518241702028212010-02-19T17:59:00.000-08:002010-02-19T17:59:59.431-08:00

Addiction is UGLY and Vicious and is a very nasty disease in what ever form it takes.  Ultimately addiction will take everything an addict has away.  Dignity, pride, family, self-respect, career, money are likely to be lost along the way, and finally addiction takes our lives.  I've watched hundred of men and women try to recover from addictions to get their families back.  I myself have tried to

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-39883983162557569042010-02-19T01:36:00.000-08:002010-02-19T01:36:03.156-08:00

Priestblock 25487 by Jean Bernard is the auto-biographical account of Fr. Jean Bernard a Priest from Luxembourg who was arrested and imprisoned by Nazi Germans at Dachau from January 1941 until August 1942.  The book is an incredibly lucid and detailed account of his 20 months of imprisonment, torture and deprivation.   Fr. Bernard leaves us a great gift with his observation and insight into the

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-55666680565485189812010-02-17T16:49:00.000-08:002010-02-17T16:49:36.400-08:00

When I finished my last post I realized as I was writing that I didn't have a good answer for the natural follow-up questions. "What 'hermeneutics' and framework do I use for understanding the Bible now?" At first I had to start thinking because I don't use anything consciously which is probably very similar to most Protestants. We are seldom as conscious as we should be about what we are

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-46990601708072875782010-02-15T22:55:00.000-08:002010-02-16T01:41:41.379-08:00

intro: I have been interested in improving communication and reducing confusion between Protestants and Catholics for some time. My pet theory is that we often misunderstand and talk at cross purposes because we have different 'culture' and language, and that even when we use the same words, we may not understand them the same way. So this series is not meant to be apologetic so much as it is

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-81063262284119309902010-02-15T00:11:00.000-08:002010-02-15T00:20:30.234-08:00

So last night I blogged about Why Catholics Don't Know the Bible. So today it's time to approach the Bible study question from the Catholic Perspective. Okay, these are my observations and they don't apply universally, and I mean to make them in charity. Please feel free to offer corrections and clarifications. I recognize that a couple of points are going to be controversial for many

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-88644250761785181402010-02-14T02:03:00.000-08:002010-02-14T08:55:18.676-08:00

Intro: I have been interested in improving communication and reducing confusion between Protestants and Catholics for some time. My pet theory is that we often misunderstand and talk at cross purposes because we have different 'culture' and language, and that even when we use the same words, we may not understand them the same way. So this series is not meant to be apologetic so much as it is

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-83065514530194285522010-01-29T07:49:00.000-08:002010-01-29T09:47:00.312-08:00

One Catholic controversy this week has been the news that Pope John Paul the Great practiced physical mortification in the form of flagellation, striking himself with leather thongs or a belt. Many Catholics as well as members of the general public have reacted with shock that such practices might be allowed or encouraged for Catholics. I am not shocked or surprised. During his last years,

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-8444682430439832652010-01-08T01:30:00.000-08:002010-01-08T01:36:45.913-08:00

SO to translate the title of this post: A Miscellaneous Ramble Through Paul's Thoughts Today. I should probably start with St. Therese - But I'm going to make you read to the bottom for that. You can probably just skim though. So here is the deal. I'm pretty good at looking and acting like a decent sort of chap, at least for short engagements, or especially over the internet (my wife and

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-39129022744208102642010-01-07T10:27:00.000-08:002010-01-07T10:27:26.135-08:00

Hi, Sorry to leave you all hanging. It looks like my readers have been here more than I have the last few months. I am finally going through and doing some needed editing on the existing posts, so I hope you won't be too inconvenienced by having these old posts show up in your RSS feed again. I've been mentally composing a couple of new posts anyway and today I hit upon this blog

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-34970637822187157002009-06-09T00:58:00.000-07:002010-01-07T10:13:41.807-08:00

Catholic Family Life - In the Bedroom - Part 3 Catholic Family Life - In the Bedroom - Part 2 Catholic Family Life - In the Bedroom - Part 1 If you start talking about NFP in a group of active young Catholic couples, it won't be long before the discussion starts getting heated. Even spouses seem to get worked up defending their particular take on how and when to use NFP. Sex is a pretty

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-33292279941184609432009-06-06T03:13:00.000-07:002009-06-06T03:15:41.505-07:00

Catholic Family Life - In the Bedroom - Part 1 Catholic Family Life - In the Bedroom - Part 2 Living out God's plan for me and my wife in marriage is the most difficult thing I have ever attempted and stuck with. Practicing NFP isn't an easy thing, and it hasn't been easy in my marriage from day -120 the beginning of our 4 month engagement when we started learning the Creighton Method.

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-28043569515801757142009-06-05T00:05:00.000-07:002009-06-05T00:06:47.548-07:00

Catholic Family Life - in the Bedroom - Part 1 Another interesting blog post by Boettger I need to make clear that I am using the term "Natural Family Planning" or NFP very loosely and some will probably object to that. People who know will point out that NFP is 99.7% effective when followed and that NFP is based on observations and the couple communicating and deciding whether they wish to

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-17134086029163155102009-06-03T00:42:00.000-07:002009-06-03T00:43:20.920-07:00

It's not exactly a trend and certainly not a "fad" but by my impression starting about 20 years ago, the modern Natural Family Planning movement began to break back into the mainstream of Catholicism - okay we're still working on that. Anyway, that's when people I know started using NFP. Now, after 12 years of NFP marriage myself I want to begin sharing some of my thoughts and experience and

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-44368414101690630352009-06-01T00:11:00.001-07:002009-06-01T09:49:22.270-07:00

In a despicable and cowardly attack a man named Scott Roemer shot and killed Dr. George Tiller inside his Lutheran Church in Kansas City, KS. It was murder, pure and simple. People are right to condemn Roemer's actions. They are right to condemn this violence. I pray for the family of the victim and for his soul. This is front page Head line, top of the hour news but not because it was a

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-83815930144670523742009-01-30T22:37:00.000-08:002009-01-31T22:01:30.022-08:00

Fixed two broken links to Kepha When I've allowed myself the time to visit with Mormon (Later Day Saints) missionaries part of their approach is always "Read the 'Book of Mormon' and you will know the truth of it in your heart." I usually don't get much further than that with them, because I launch into "the truth is just what I feel?" etc.. I firmly reject the idea that I personally have the

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-8879411977273790762009-01-28T22:21:00.000-08:002009-01-28T23:38:53.503-08:00

I am one who looks for signs. Signs that I am on the right track; that I am following God's will. Actually, that's a distortion. When I am paying attention to signs, I am actually projecting that God will make this endeavor (whatever it is) succeed. When I was just out of college, and looking for that first job, I was out shopping resumes, praying before going into each business. When one

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-44753427783940465472009-01-28T20:47:00.000-08:002009-01-28T21:58:34.179-08:00

I've been doing Twitter for about 3 weeks now. I like it. What's it good for? Connecting with people I'd otherwise never connect with. M*A*S*H Col. Potter: Cigar Radar? Radar: No Sir, My Ma says they're habit forming. Col. Potter: I've been smoking 3 cigars a day for 40 years and I've never developed a habit. Radar, taking a cigar: That's good to know Sir. In that vein: I've been

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-62667661952795218972009-01-27T22:53:00.000-08:002009-01-28T00:01:26.523-08:00

I'd like to get something up tonight. I've been working on a substantial post, but it isn't coming together - needs more prayer as much as anything. I didn't put enough time into prayer today. The kind of posts I want to write must come from a place firmly rooted in prayer and focused on Jesus Christ through our Blessed Mother. I'm just not there today. I am a little overwhelmed by the

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-40276110916734180432009-01-26T00:52:00.000-08:002009-01-28T00:39:35.766-08:00

{note: I've revised this a little. I'm not too proud of how strident, and uncharitable it sounded after I read it a few days later. I toned it down.} If you are thinking about following me on Twitter, Great. Here is a little about me. I care about having people follow me who are interested in what I am saying, or the same people I am listening to.  I don't care if I have 20 or 20,000

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-14440900019419991612009-01-23T23:54:00.000-08:002009-01-28T09:32:47.431-08:00

Prolouge: Although I am a cradle Catholic, and have never completely lapsed, I have a 'conversion' story that isn't over yet. My relationship with God, Jesus, The Holy Ghost, Mary and the Catholic Church has been quite a Journey. Along the way, I've been associated, at least briefly, with everything from outright Sedi Vacantists (The Chair is empty - code for Pius the XII was the last Pope and

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-44030090370864118402009-01-14T22:52:00.000-08:002009-01-15T00:23:45.604-08:00

Conservative, Liberal, Traditional, devout, cafeteria, dissident, ... There seem to be plenty of labels. None of them seem to communicate who the people I know are as Catholics. A few years ago I was meeting with the veteran priest newly assigned to my parish. Fr. Clay Meyer was a very erudite academic. Observing his art collection and library I thoughtlessly asked if he was conservative,

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070364064361131496.post-23921738856914701702009-01-08T13:32:00.000-08:002009-01-08T14:37:05.152-08:00

Charles de Foucauld is a somewhat less well known figure in the Church. He has not been canonized a saint yet. I find him interesting because of his squandered youth. He is also informally considered a patron of failures, because he was a failure in everything during his lifetime. I stumbled upon his Prayer of Abandonment probably 20 years ago, and have been a devotee ever since. Father, I

Paul in the GNWnoreply@blogger.com4