My Faith

My Catholic faith is the center of who I am as a person. It is the foundation of what makes me whole. It has guided me though some of the the most trying times of my existence. It has helped me celebrate when times have gone well. It also gives me the proper foundation on my own political views. Putting Christ first allows me to put elements of my life into proper perspective and is not some kind of "cop-out". Rather to surrender to Christ is one of the most hardest things an human can do. Because of our nature we want to be in complete control. In fact I would challenge more to do what I have chosen to do. It also gives me much needed wisdom and understanding of what goes on. I don't consider myself blinded by the single political party mentality that has gripped our nation as of late. My reasons for not supporting a single party are long and deep. But at the core of those reasons is how important my Catholic faith is to me and the values that they hold. So I gladly put my faith in Christ above all else. Because nations will come and they will go. But in the end Christ will always remain.

-JM

Poetry

Back in the day I use to be way more of a writer than I am now. Part of me would like to get back into it. I found it was a creative release and another way to explore some issues. The following is a brand new poem that I wrote the other day.

A Father's Shadow

JM Kraemer

At the time of my birth,

I was held in his arms.

Resting in my father's shadow.

As I grow and as I learn

Lessons that he has passed to me.

I crawl in my father's shadow

As a teen I am one to test limits,

Yet the lessons still remain,

I walk in my father's shadow.

As an adult I still have much to learn,

Passing along the wisdom he has gained

I still am in my father's shadow.

As I grow older with wisdom of my own,

The thoughts and words that I use.

I am passing my father's shadow.

At this I now fully understand,

What all those lessons have prepared me for.

I have left my father's shadow.

As I age with the passing of time.

It dawns on me this simple reality,

I have become my father's shadow.

Displays

One of the neat aspects of the Lego Church Project is that I do take this on the road. My feeling is that this project is a work of God. He is using my talents in an amazing and very creative way. This project isn't something that should be hidden. But something that needs to be shared with others. To show people that even if you have a disability or other challenge that God can and will use your talents in amazing and very creative ways.

One of those challenges for me is that I do not drive. I need help with transport for any display that I want to do. This means that any host site would need to provide transport for the project and in most cases myself so I can be there to over see things. This post is about the types of displays I can do. What kind of set up I need. What my transportation requirements are.

Types of Displays

Most of the time my displays fall into one of two types:

Single event: These are the Bazaars, craft shows, special events or functions. Set up could be the night before with the event happening the next day. Project would go home after the event was finished. I would be present so I can keep and eye on things and answer any questions that people might have.

Multi week/weekend run: Several of my parish displays (Christ the Good Shepherd, St. John XXIII, All Saints Parish) are multi weekend runs. This is where I set up the project up and then check it out once a week. Usually before and after the Mass(es) at the parish. How many weeks/weekend the project stays at the location is at the site's request. Personally I find that two weekends is a decent run. Though it can be longer if needed.

Setup needs

For the displays I need a folding/card table and access to an electrical outlet. Table needs to be medium sized but something that can support something that is about 47x25x25 inches. In most cases I will have my own extension cord. 

Transportation needs

The hardest part of any project season is not the build. It's finding locations to display my work and figuring out how to get the project and me out to the site. So for this season I am asking for help in this part. That way I can do more displays.


Project needs: The project sits on a 48x26in plywood board. Height is about 25 inches give or take. In most cases the project will fit in a normal SUV/mini van/small pickup truck. Just need to make sure the project is protected from sliding off the board. 

As far as moving the project. This project weighs about 40lbs or so. Because of it's size it does require two people to move it. If you have a cart that would also make things easier.


For the builder: Single event displays I will need to be picked up before the event starts and taken to the site. After the event is finished we will need to take the project back to my home location. 

For parish displays I would like to be around for the Saturday and Sunday Morning Mass. So I would need a ride there and back. If your parish has more than one Sunday Mass, need to be there for the earliest service and then be taken home after the last Mass. If your parish has a Sunday evening Mass. I don't need to be present for that. 

If anyone is interested in hosting or can help with transport, just drop me an e-mail to kc8wzm@gmail.com and we can work out the finer details.

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those who hate us

“There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.”
― Fulton J. Sheen

In this life their will always be those who look down on you for what you have chosen to believe. This is not the usual level of disagreement. But rather profound and rather venomous contempt for the very core values that you practice. If anything social media has done much to make such hatred more apparent.

Lately I've had more than a few encounters with some members of various "Christian" groups. With one fellow specifically saying he "hates the Roman Catholic Church". He feels justified in his hate because he claims he use to be Catholic. The ones that I have encountered all use the same one track mind. Quote the Bible chapter and verse and then ignore any counter points that you may have to offer. Even if you offer up a Biblical explanation for the Catholic faith. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Pretty much the same debate over and over.

I have to openly wonder if these people truly believe on their own that the Catholic faith is evil. Or have they been mislead by some powerful and out right dangerous element that they don't realize. Even those who have left the faith and then go on to attack us. As if doing so just adds more validity to their arguments. No matter what the reasons for their dislike of us. Those who go on the attack have bigger issues than what they believe the Catholic faith to be.

Some time ago I made a decision that I would stop engaging these people unless it could not be avoided. Even then I would not stoop to their level and go on the attack. I will of course point out things that need to be shown. But instead I would rather put my efforts into praying for them. Even the fellow I mentioned above. The reality is that many people attack what they think the Catholic faith is. However what they are attacking is an illusion that they themselves have created. They have allowed their hearts to be corrupted and have decided to twist the Bible to serve their own personal agendas. To justify their hate of anything that does not conform to their world view. These are the people I pray for the most. Because unless you have chosen to walk in the path that is the Catholic Church. To embrace it completely. Then you really have no idea what it means to be Catholic.

-JM