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Monday, March 30, 2020

From the Desk: 3-29

As of this writing the world is in the grip of the dreaded Covid-19 virus. Many places are shut down. Public attendance of Mass has been suspended for the time being. With no clear information of when that will change. For the first time in a generation, in many places in the world, their will be no public celebration of Easter. It is a time of great worry. Some are upset with the Bishops decisions in all of this. I for, one, feel that they are guided by the Holy Spirit. Below is a personal reflection of my thoughts on things.

Many people feel that with the suspension of Mass that this will be the end of the church. They question the logic of the Bishops and the reasoning of various leaders. Both in the secular and of the religious. Even in the last few days I've been trying to reflect on the events of this virus and how it impacts my own life. When this crisis first started I was like many who questioned the reasoning of our leadership with in the Catholic church. As I've learned more about how evil this virus is. Along with a healthy dose of personal prayer and reflection. I come to see better what it is the Bishops are doing. The reality is that the Bishops have a burden of leadership that far outweighs the understanding that I would ever hope to have. It is a realization that what is going on is more than my own desires and wants. Rather the entire world is facing a global issue that unless contained. It will destroy all that we hope to gain.

Even if we don't like the decisions being made with in the church. No matter how we look at things. God is in control and He has His reasons for all of this. What I have come to understand is while we wait for the return to the Mass. God is calling each of us to grow deeper in the faith. To develop a passion and craving for what is important vs our own desires. I personally feel this call in my own heart. A reawakening of sorts. A desire to stand firm in the face of the storm and to take on the sacrifice that God has asked of us. Many of us have grown stagnate in our walk with Christ and our relationship with God. We sometimes get too comfortable and go though the motions when we are at Mass. I see hope that this crisis will be a wake up call the church really needs. If current events have shown us. We can no longer afford to take things for granted. With in my own life I have faced many trials that God has put me though. To test and to temper my own understanding. What separates this challenge from the others is that this is one that we are all facing together. Soon the darkness will lift and we will see things return. Till that time we just have to ride out the storm.

-

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Tuesday, March 24, 2020

From The Desk: 3/23

Many people right now feel that any time we have some kind of crisis that is it in some way God's anger being given to us. I'm not sure that is the best way to look at things. Given all that is going on right now. While indeed in the old Testament God's anger was well known. Sending His only son, Jesus Christ, changed a lot of how the world looks at God and how He guides us. So instead of seeing this as God being angry. Perhaps we need to focus more on what we can do during any kind of crisis. We can use this to draw closer to God. We need to repent of our own sins for starters. To come before God with a contrite heart. If anything that these events do is that it does break our spirits down. It reminds us of how much we need God even in the good times of our lives. We must open up our hearts and truly embrace Christ. The more we look about the world the more we realize that we, as a society, have taken far too much for granted. For the most part we live a life of total convenience while at the same time we often look down on those who are not well off. Justifying our reasons for treating people poorly. By and large we do not treat people fairly on any level. So to have our life of convenience ripped from us. That is a true wake up call that something is not right with in our hearts. This is a time for us to pause, reflect, and above all else to pray with out ceasing! We must take the extra time to come before the Lord and seek out His profound wisdom for our lives. For the entire world right now. This is an epic trial. While it feels like all hope is lost. We must use this to our own spiritual advantage. So that when the storm passes we can become stronger. That we can do more to show mercy and compassion that Christ asked of us.
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Twitter: @kc8wzm


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Tuesday, March 17, 2020

What we take for granted




I think many of us, and at times myself included, have taken the Eucharist for granted. We expect to be able to receive it by going to Mass every Sunday. On the rare times when we miss we expect it when we return because it was our choice not to go. Yet to have that taken away from us. It can be soul crushing. To be denied the source and summit of the Catholic life. For some of us it can be one of the most painful things that we have ever had to take on. The problem comes from the fact that in this generation we have never had to face such a crisis before. Other than the random snow storm, for the most part, we have always had access to the Mass and to other sacraments. The other important issue that we have is that for many of us. We have lost sight or no longer believe in what the Eucharist truly is. The words of the Gospels make it clear when Christ tells us when he holds up the bread "This IS My Body!" and when he holds up the chalice "This IS My Blood!". Those words should always echo in our hearts. But for many those words and their meaning no longer make a connection. They no longer believe that the Eucharist is Christ. It is something we can work on though prayer and evangelizing. If their is any good that come out of this current storm. Is that it can allow us to open our hearts more fully to God. To help and encourage one another as to how important the Mass should be in our lives. After this storm passes we should no longer take the Mass, and by extension, the Eucharist granted. Because in this current age this could very well happen again.
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Twitter: @kc8wzm


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Friday, March 13, 2020

Reflection 3-12 (2)

Rare or me to write more than one item in a day. However last night this was on my heart.

   I say this often. But it is something that I truly believe. "Surrender to Christ ALL things." Their have been many moments recently where this has become a reminder of that. The evil one will use every tool around to try and ruin our souls. The most vicious of ways to chip at the foundations of why we believe in Christ. We give into the fear, the anxiety, and the panic and we, for a moment, forget that God is with us always. We begin to second guess our own motivations for doing things because when we are afraid we react in ways we otherwise would not. Which is why we need to keep our faith in Christ as strong as we are able. It will temper that fear and allow us to not give into the panic. Let's face it. The world is a scary place. People and groups will use events to further their own agendas. Yet no matter what happens we must be reminded: Christ has already won the victory! He was the one who calmed seas. Surrender does not mean give up in the sense that we have failed. Surrender for me means putting total faith in Christ to give us the wisdom that can cut though the chaos of the world. To help ease the storms of panic, fear, and anxiety of world events. It is easy to give in to what the evil one wants: a total rejection of God. Yet when we "Surrender to Christ ALL things" we are also saying: Jesus I Trust In You! Amen?

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Thursday, March 12, 2020

Reflection 3-12


God allows storms to come into our lives to temper our strength and resolve. We can either let these storms draw us closer to the faith or we can allow it to destroy it. Many of our hearts are weak. Doubts set in and we question if God is even real. Yet though it all God always remains with us. While we may wander away. God never leaves and is always waiting for us to return home. One of the most evil things that can be done is to allow fear to derail us in our walk with Christ. To start to create internal excuses as to why we can't do something. Even going to Mass. As followers of Christ we cannot allow that to happen. We must stand firm in an ever changing world. No matter what storms go on around us. No matter what temporary sacrifices we must make. Our faith in God *must* remain strong. We must also be a light to others who will see our faith with in. Soon the storms will pass and a new day will begin. Till then we must have the courage to ride the storm out.
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Twitter: @kc8wzm


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Thursday, January 16, 2020

Thoughts on the Tear Down

This is a short little reflection about one of the more important elements of what I do with "The Project".  

 Tear down. A yearly tradition that marks the end of the season and is the prelude to the next one. It is a much needed step in the Project cycle. From a building stand point LEGO while they are very durable undergo a lot of stresses during the season. So tear down is needed to inspect and replace damaged or worn out parts. From a creative stand point it also gives me a chance to review the build brick by brick. To see what ideas worked rather well. But also a chance to see what I can do to improve on for the next build. It really is not unlike how we should live our lives as Christians. A chance to review what is going on with us spiritually. Is sin weighing us down. How much time we spend before God in prayer. Or even how we take part in our parish communities. Sometimes we have to tear away the bad things in our hearts and replace them with something good. Perhaps this is an overly simple way of seeing things. But for me it is a good starting point. While the season may be finished and another one is in the works. The journey is always on going. It is a much needed chance to pause, reflect, and rebuild if needed.
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Twitter: @kc8wzm


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Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Reflection 1/13/20

I wrote this one last night. Sometimes I get days when I'm dealing with the chronic stuff more than others. This is a personal reflection on that. 

 Their are days when we all struggle with our own set of challenges. The days which seem to be the most darkest. Perhaps due to them we did not get anything on our own agendas finished. Distracted and overwhelmed by our own internal struggles. Those are the days when we wonder "Where is God in all of this?" The answer for me has been "I never left you." With in the lives of the Saints you see this answer. You see it in reflected in their stories. Many of the Saints had to suffer greatly. Often times with limitations that would surprise us in this current age. Yet though their unrelenting faith in Christ they are still able to teach us. It is deeply profound how though the suffering that we can learn how to be humble and to truly embrace God for all that the Father is. God is always willing to give us strength though our challenges and does not abandon us when it seems like all hope is lost. We endure though our struggles because God has made it clear: He loves us. On days when it seems like my own struggles reach that breaking point. I am reminded of how strong God can be. If we allow him fully and unquestionably into our hearts. It is a total surrender that the Saints often lived and lessons we can still learn from. In my own struggles they give me hope even on the days when I feel my own challenges getting the better of me. Knowing that though all that we face. God never leaves us.
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Twitter: @kc8wzm


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Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Reflection Jan 4th 2020

Sometimes I don't always post things the same day I write them. This is one of those posts.

 The news cycles in this world become more and more troubling. Many people are looking to the Bible and wondering if Christ is going to return any time now. They see the trouble with Iran and look to see if something is being fulfilled. The reality is that we simply do not know when the hour will be when Christ returns to this Earth. It may very well be in our generation or it may not. The fact is we (as the world) will never know because Christ himself told us we wouldn't.

When our spirit is troubled over worldly events it is a reminder of how much our Faith in Christ should mean to us. That we should live our lives fully and not fear about what may or may not come. The path of a Christian is about being ready. Being prepared on a spiritual level. To make sure that we are living our lives as best as we are able to. We can read the Bible and look to see what may come. But we must also be reminded that everything is in God's time. Not ours. Look to the generations of past. Many of them saw the same things that we see today. We do not know the day nor the hour. Do not let your heart be troubled. Many have predicted the end of the world. Many have looked to Bible and have tried to "connect the dots." But at the end of the day we will never know. Only God knows.

Important Links!

Twitter: @kc8wzm
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Sunday, December 29, 2019

Reflection 12-29-19




Sometimes we can reach a point where our own mind becomes the distraction when it comes to matters of the spiritual. We can spend our entire lives obsessing and over thinking about what awaits us at the end of this journey and at the same time to forget to live that journey. If we truly believe in Christ then we have nothing worry about providing that we live our lives as best as we can according to our faith. God understands our strengths and our internal struggles. We don't have to obsess and worry because God is with us always. Many times the evil one will use fear and doubt as a way to get at us. Those are the times when prayer becomes even more important because it allows us to put things into proper perspective. Allows us to turn our eyes to God and away from our fears and our obsessions. Bringing us an internal peace in this rather crazy world we reside in.
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Twitter: @kc8wzm


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Saturday, December 21, 2019

Reflection 12-20-19




Recently I went to a funeral for a young child. One of the most heart breaking things I have ever done. We often wonder why such things happen to the young. However sometimes we are just not simply meant to know. Christ himself told us we would not know the day nor the hour. For me I'm using the time as a sobering reminder of how I live my life and how I interact with others. A reminder that sometimes the endless "social media arguments" are just simply not worth it. The petty bickering and constant fighting the world has these days is a distraction from the major problems that we face. Both in the world and with in our own hearts. Perhaps instead we can turn our "righteous anger" into something more productive and profound. We can put that energy into building the faith in a creative way. The internal bickering and nitpicking is a distraction that the evil one overly enjoys. Because it takes away from God's love and mercy. We are called to live better lives. If we proclaim that we believe in Jesus Christ than we should live our faith to the fullest with no compromises that the world demands of us. One of my goals for this coming year is to not get into too many debates unless their are specific reasons for me to do so. Life is way to short to get bogged down in constant fighting over social media. I would rather spend my time evangelizing by sharing my talents. Sharing my faith by being a witness to all God has done for me. So that way I can take what I have learned and do what I can to be a better person.
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Twitter: @kc8wzm
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Sunday, December 1, 2019

I could use some help



Once in a while I get asked by people how can they help me out with my ministry. The reason being is that I am on an extremely fixed income and LEGO even on the secondary market is not cheap. I have a lot of practical suggestions  on how you can support my efforts. However looking forward to the Season 21 build in Feb. I've noticed that I will need to secure some parts. If you would like to help me via a donation you can either use the paypal link or drop me an email to kc8wzm@gmail.com so we can work out the details. Use the e-mail link if you want to buy the items yourself and have them sent to me. 

 Here are a few things I'm looking at:

 Tabernacle: While it is rare for me to go into a build with any clear cut idea as to what I want to do. Their are some ideas that will be present. The Tabernacle from this season became a story on it's own thank to the suggestions from people. The goal is to modify the existing design and hopefully expand it. To do that I will need to secure more parts in pearl gold so I can offer up something in terms of overall size and detail. With donations that can help cover the costs.

 Windows: I have found that I will need to replace more than a few windows. They will not be easy given the number I use. Below are a few of the panels that I either need or want to use for Season 21.

Panel 1x2x2 : This is my go to window. The panel has served me well over the years and are over all effective in making sure people can see inside. However with age they do tend to get marked up a bit. Needless to say I will have to replace a few.



Panel 1x4x3: I've used a few of these on the inside. But would like to get almost 30 or so in Translucent Clear to be used as windows. That way I can have more options in creative walls inside the project.



Panel 1x6x5: I use a few of these in the Season 20 Project and would like to get a few more. Mainly to be used on the Alter sections so people can have a much better look inside. They are not easy to come by and are not always cost effective.



Along with panels I want to expand my collection of various bricks in the translucent colors such as Blue and Red. People really love the effects and they work out for a number of things with in the build. So I want to be able to use more of those parts where I can. 

In terms of the base plates (what the project sits on). I'm not fully sure on the condition of those are just yet. I haven't noticed any major issues so far but I won't even know about those until I do the tear down. If they are in rough shape I will have to replace those as well. But praying that won't the case. 

The Wish list! I also have a wish list of items up on Amazon. The selection of sets have mini-figures and other stuff that can be used for the project. Such as bricks and such. Some of this stuff is hard to get even on the secondary markets. 

This list will be modified and expanded later depending on how much feed back I get. To those who help you have my deepest of thanks. 

-JM






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Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Faith and Mountains



Believing in Christ is not as easy as it sounds. If anything it can be one of the most difficult journeys anyone can undertake. It requires a level of faith that is almost like the mountain in how strong it has to be. The challenges we face are not unlike the storms those mountains endure season after season. At times the ground becomes unstable and erodes away. Not unlike our faith during times of challenge. It is only normal for us to face that kind of doubt. To feel like God has abandoned us. Or worse to feel like the very church we believe in is full of evil people with no hope of any kind of redemption. That kind of doubt seeps into the soul and wears us away like the storms battering the mountain side until the entire cliff gives way. With in the Gospels their is no mention of the journey being an easy one. If anything it is often said the journey will be extremely difficult. We see that in our daily lives when their are moments when our faith is tested to the near breaking point. Often times leaving us questioning more than believing. Yet with in our moments of doubt. God is more than willing to listen to our prayers. For He is with us even when we cannot feel it. We all have our moments when we question our faith. However much like the storms the batter the mountains these can often be but a moment. Pray even in those moments. Pray for others who are also struggling. Be a light to those around you and a beacon of hope. So that way when the storms pass our faith will remain as strong as the mountains.
Important Links!

Twitter: @kc8wzm
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Saturday, November 9, 2019

What It means to me.



Disability Awareness. Two words that I often use in discussions about The Project. For me it is about changing the views people have on those of us who face various challenges in our lives. The idea that those who have disabilities are suffering greatly for the way we were born. Recently someone commented that some parishes cannot afford to add wheel chair ramps or even guard rails. To think that being disabled is something that has to be easily seen is a pure misunderstanding of what disability is. Many of us face challenges with our health. Many times we keep those challenges private. Awareness is showing that no matter what you face you should feel welcome with in the parish you attend Mass. For me it starts with attitude that we are not any kind of inconvenience on someone. That we are still children of God and that we have just as much of a desire to live a full life with in our parish communities. Some of us have chosen to take a more public effort in sharing our Catholic faith with others. I am one of those people. I hope that as you read my posts and see The Project you get a sense of understanding that while I do have a disability, I have a deep desire to serve Christ and I pray always for the opportunities to do so.


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Twitter: @kc8wzm


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Friday, November 8, 2019

Reflection 11-7



The old and those who have disabilities are the ones who are often overlooked in our society. Some people feel that because of the limits we sometimes have that we have nothing to offer in terms of what we can teach to others. Yet we have way more to offer than people realize if were are given that chance. True wisdom is timeless and can come from anyone. That wisdom can carry over into the future generations and give insight into the problems that we face. History is often that endless cycle that moves us from one crisis to the next. Yet true wisdom can be our guide. That guide is the Holy Spirit. It can direct us and come forth. So even those who are often over looked can have something to offer if you are willing to give them a chance to share it.
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Twitter: @kc8wzm


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Tuesday, November 5, 2019

We have not seen yet we believe!





"Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." This comes from the Gospel of John. (John 20:29) and it really does a good job of starting the discussion about why we believe in Christ. It really is a lot to take in when you consider all that happens. Four different Gospels share various accounts of the birth, the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ. It takes a lot of faith to believe in something that we have not seen with our own two eyes. Given that the events themselves take place far into our past. Dealing with things of the mystic and miraculous. Given what we know of the world today it is way too easy to dismiss things as some kind of false belief. Something that took place in the past and has no relevance in our future. Yet given all that has taken place the Passion of Christ is still very important to our lives.
As a Catholic I believe that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God. For me it is something that I feel with in my heart and my soul. An acceptance of something deep and profound. A pure mystery that science can never explain. With in my own heart I Know it is truth. Once again however I find myself in seeking understanding from the lives of the Saints. They lived and died for Christ. Some of them becoming martyrs for the faith. Their history having a deep impact and even today. It is a reminder that for all that goes on Christ is indeed with us. When we chose to follow Christ the road does not get any easier. Of the many things written in the Gospels. "This will be easy" is not a phrase that is mentioned. To accept the Gospels requires us to believe in something that we will never see with our own eyes. Yet we are blessed by God for that. I know while some areas of my life have not been easy. I know that because of my faith in Christ I have been deeply blessed. Which takes us back to the scripture I quoted at the start from John 20:29. Amen?




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Twitter: @kc8wzm



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Sunday, November 3, 2019

Saints and Nature




There are many reasons why I believe in God. One of those reasons is with the Saints. Those Holy men and women we honor for their commitment to Christ. Even when that faith was tested. They are examples of what it means to pick up that cross and follow Christ. They never lost sight of the church. Even when the world around them was changing. Going further The Bible is filled the lessons that are still relevant to this modern time. The Saints are in many way a small level of proof that all that has taken place is true. This is because of all they sacrificed to live a higher calling. We should look more closely at their lives and see the reality that God exists. Even if you choose to ignore the miracles and that which science can never fully explain and instead focus on the nature around. You find God at the center of the great mysteries. You see the inner beauty of life. Created in such majestic perfection. Take some time and look at the world around you. Look for the things that stand out and find the small joys. Look into the lives of those who have gone on before us and see what they saw. The truth that God is indeed with us and we are all of His children.
Important Links!

Twitter: @kc8wzm


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Monday, October 21, 2019

The Empty Church: Transportation Revisited



I have been deeply blessed in the fact that for the most part I have been able to find a ride to Mass. However not everyone is as lucky as I've been. Over a year ago I wrote a blog post that touched on the issue of transportation titled "Who Do I Ask?" Since that time I've been praying and pondering on what kind of practical solutions could be done. I believe with all my heart that something should be done to make things easier. I think the solutions can be very simple. With the over all goal helping people establish connections with in a parish so they can go to Mass.

I know from my own experience that being able to take part in the Mass and being able to get a ride makes me feel like I truly am a part of the parish community. That I belong to something greater than myself. If we truly want to be welcoming as parish communities then we should make every effort to make getting to Mass easier for those who do not drive such as the elderly or the disabled. It is a chance to evangelize that is often over looked or at worse out right ignored. However it is also something that we can change. By being more mindful of the needs of the faithful with in our parishes. I believe that solutions can be found to any problem that we face. Sometimes that means we have to get creative about it. For my own part I'm starting to reach out to people in other parishes to see what is already being done. In fact if you know of a program drop me a note. I would love to hear about it. I have a deep desire to see this issue looked at more closely. The issue of transportation to Mass (and to other parish events) has been on my mind a lot lately. The question for myself is: What Can I do to help solve this problem?

Important Links!

Twitter: @kc8wzm



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Monday, October 14, 2019

Those of us...




The blog has always been about collecting my various writings. In this case the post was from something I wrote on FB several years ago as a comment on a group. I have now added it to the collection. 


Those of us who have some kind of disability have challenges most people do not fully realize. It is hard for us to be accepted in a society that paints us as people who should not be allowed to exist. It hard for people to take the time to understand or to even get to know someone who has any kind of challenge. I know in my own walk in the shadow of disability that I have seen this first hand. I have been told that I am a burden on society. I've been told that I would never do some things that others take for granted. Like driving. Or even living on my own. This notion that because we have challenges. That we do not have something to offer society is flawed thinking at best. We are not given the chance to shine because often times we are dismissed or worse overlooked. With me their is a frustration that I feel with trying to be accepted for who I am. That yes, I have a mild case of cerebral palsy. That yes I several challenges related to that. In how I talk. In how I move. In how I relate to social situations. I see this all the time when I am at Mass. I see this many times when I'm doing one of my Lego Church Project displays. Which it's core message is disability awareness. I've had some people get a little uncomfortable when I bring up that issue. They see the big guy with his big LEGO church. But they don't always want to know the full story. Many times it is out of fear. Because people are afraid of what they don't fully understand. I don't expect people to understand all that I deal with. But I want people to know that just because you have a disability or challenge. That God can and many times will use your talents. Often it is in very unexpected ways.
Important Links!

Twitter: @kc8wzm


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