31, 2006
Dateline: Me
Started this little dateline conceit twelve days ago when I knew that I would be a little "hither and yon." (A phrase that Cardinal Keeler used to describe Pope Benedict’s travel before he is anticipated to arrive in Baltimore in 2007 - listen here.) Today is a rainy day (hello, Portland) and it seems as good as any to do a little apartment cleaning; laundry and ironing;  reflecting upon the State of the Union, the passing of Coretta Scott King, and the Academy Award nominations; web site cleaning, publicity, and possibly podcasting; and maybe. . . (if I’m really good) a nap. [blogging]
that sucker doesn’t even realize that i kept his coin
Everyone repeat after me:  These videos are meant to be "a satirical look at what some people think Jesus is like." With that in mind, put aside righteous charges of blasphemy, give yourself a break, and check out these short videos: You’ll find them in the media section on the second page of the videos section here. [funny stuff]
Coretta Scott King
"After my first semester in Boston in 1951, I met Martin Luther King, Jr. He was studying for his doctorate in systematic theology, and he was going to go back South and pastor a Baptist Church, and he was looking for a wife. I wasn’t looking for a husband, but he was a wonderful human being, and he made everyone feel special, and he made me feel very special as a woman. I still resisted his overtures, but after he persisted, I had to pray about it, because my parents were religious, I was brought up in the church, and I had a strong faith. I always believed that there was a purpose for my life, and that I had to seek that purpose, and that if I discovered that purpose, then I believed that I would be successful in what I was doing. And I thought I had found that purpose when I decided that music was going to be my career — concert singing. I was going to be trained as a concert singer at the New England Conservatory of Music. I studied voice the first year, and after I met Martin and prayed about whether or not I should open myself to that relationship, I had a dream, and in that dream, I was made to feel that I should allow myself to be open and stop fighting the relationship. And that’s what I did, and of course the rest is history." [culture]
alito Confirmed
Further change in the Supreme Court reminded me of the March for Life and the homilies of Cardinal Keeler and Fr. Gerry Francik gave. Both are available here. [church]

  Monday, January 30, 2006
48
<Dateline: home>  Yep, happy birthday to me! [blogging]

  Sunday, January 29, 2006
happy little dancing butterfly people
<Dateline: Atlanta airport>  Kristin Witte describes our office logo as "happy little dancing butterfly people." Yet. . . after days of travel together in shared quarters . . . a jammed pack summer and fall of other travel, programs, and otherwise just serving the diocese . . .  We find ourselves to be a weary little band of travelers, happy to be returning to homes and office (staff meeting tomorrow- what wacky idea was that??), and happy to be in the company of one another.  When you take a look around with this in mind - - in what other place could you possibly want to minister?  [work day]

Saturday, January 28, 2006
GAME ON!!!
<Dateline: Portland>  The presentation of the National Directory of Catechesis and its impact on adolescent catechesis is now done.  Loud music, youth ministers cheering NDC quotes and comments, and tough challenges.  If you missed this one. . .  Sorry for you! [youth ministry]

Friday, January 27, 2006
True love waited
<Dateline: Portland>  Just discovered that the long awaited True Love Waits web-based resource was been published by the NFCYM. Whew!  [youth ministry]

Thursday, January 26, 2006
Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord
<Dateline: Portland>  Sr. Eileen and Rick McCord from the USCCB presented on the new bishops’ document on Lay Ecclesial Ministry. The power point can be found here. [church]

Wednesday, January 25, 2006
God is Love
<Dateline: Portland>  Am out for the NFCYM’s annual membership meeting which is always a delightful time to spend with some of the best in the field- God bless each and everyone one of ‘em.  Took a few moments out yesterday (as I am NOT attending much meetings) to review the new encyclical. It seems like the headlines might be that erotic love is indicative of our urgency to be with one another which is sanctified through agape  love and diminished if it is only flesh-driven or exploitive. A worthy reminder. [pope]

Tuesday, January 24, 2006
must love
<Dateline: Somewhere over Aspen, Colorado>  Spending most of the early part of the day traveling from BWI to Houston to Portland.  You’re right, flying Continental does not offer the most direct routes. It’s a time for napping, reading (picked up a library book that I’ve already read- YIKES,) and power point editing (some things never seem to change.) My seat-mate, Georgina, is sitting back watching Must Love Dogs and laughing throughout it. An occasional glance outside at the Rockies reminds of the majesty of nature and the Creator. All is at peace and right with the world. [blogging]i

Monday, January 23, 2006
who is for choice?
<Dateline: Washington, D.C.>  Rev. Gerry Francik started off his homily in the overflowing MCI Center for the March for Life mass on a strong note- "Who is for choice?" God blesses us with the ability to choose. The reading for the mass also reflected choices.  Sometimes, our society codifies what we perceive as good choices (ie, let avoid drinking and  driving) into law.  Fr. Gerry, as the ArchBalt directed of Vocations, slated all those who have made life choices for vocations, especially the rows and rows of seminarians sitting up front. [church]

  Sunday, January 22, 2006
New Mexico is a very powerful place
<Dateline: Off the Map>  Had a chance to watch this movie at the Sundance Film Festive.  It’s a quiet little movie which deals with redemption.  It was my video rental for the day.  What a blessing to have a life which gets me to places like Sundance.  What a blessing to have friends all over the map- in Portland awaiting our arrivals later this week, off doing trainings and retreats, and ski trips. [friends & family]

  Saturday, January 21, 2006
Deep in our souls
<Dateline: Ocean City, MD>  Out here doing workshops for the Diocese of Wilmington’s Ministries Weekend. this was yet another opportunity to continue to outline this discipleship perspective that I’ve be suggesting our field needs to recollect. The evening prayer prater service reminded us of the disciples that went before us. "Saints of God, your memory dwells deep in our hearts, deep in our souls." (Ricky Manalo, OCP) [church]

  Friday, January 20, 2006
in your dreams
<Dateline: The Land of Nod>  Dreams are defined in Webster’s Dictionary as a "sequence of sensations, images, thoughts, etc., passing through a sleeping person’s mind." Sometimes, dreams can be understood in the the context of repressed thoughts. Dreaming serves as an outlet for those thoughts and impulses we repress during the day. Which is all fine and good, but I don’t often dream; at least, I do not remember many dream. Probably less than a handful in my entire life. . . seriously.  Last night, I had a vivid nasty one. It really was the beginning of a wacky morning. [blogging]mi

  Thursday, January 19, 2006
Burning hearts
<Dateline: Pittsburgh, PA>  The Diocese of Pittsburgh is releasing a new middle school youth ministry implementation program and I went up to take a look-see.  It’s a good looking program designed for parish teams of young people and adults.  Sr. Ann Cassidy, as guest outside expert on all matters early adolescent, was, as always, delightful.  She relied heavily on the Time Magazine “13” special edition and on the NSYR report. I was appreciative of father Ed’s offer to bunk up at the rectory before an early flight back home for a staff meeting.  It was good to see Bob Sherwin and Deacon Vic as well. When Bob made a stink about me being from Baltimore, I reminded them that we were the most recent AFC North team to win the Super Bowl.  [youth ministry]

  Wednesday, January 18, 2006
participating fully in the ramp-up of ecclesial hype
from Zenit and other sources- Vatican Mum on Forthcoming Encyclical: Benedict XVI’s forthcoming encyclical has sparked unprecedented expectation in the media. Newspapers worldwide have reported alleged passages of the encyclical, leaked on Monday by ANSA, the Italian press agency. Anticipated release of this document is now January 25. The encyclical, the Pope’s first, seems to open with the words: "God is love; whoever is in love lives in God and God lives in him."  It reportedly goes on to indicate that God’s love is our love, and the state of Christian life is the state of peace in the world. It shows this concept of love in its different dimensions. [pope]
environmental issues
I decorated our office doors for Valentine’s Day yesterday in an attempt to be pro-actively festive rather than reactively as we had done for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I have just been informed from down the hall that I am now vying for the role of "Director of Ambiance" on the floor.  I’ve been called worse.  [funny business]

  Tuesday, January 17, 2006
its all about the Benjamins
Today is the tri-centennial celebration of the birth of Benjamin Franklin. There really should have been a larger ruckus about this (outside of Philadelphia.) He still speaks to us today-
About the Patriot Act: Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.
On war: All wars are follies, very expensive and very mischievous ones.
On your life: Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.
On love: If you would be loved, love and be lovable.
On joy: Some people die at 25 and aren’t buried until 75.
On happiness: The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.
On pride: A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.
On perception of your reality: I conceive that the great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by false estimates they have made of the value of things.
On secrecy: Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
On hospitality: Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.
On planning: By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
On faith: Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy. [blogging]min Franklin

  Monday, January 16, 2006
martin Luther king, jr
From King’s final sermon: "We need all of you. And you know what’s beautiful to me, is to see all of these ministers of the Gospel. It’s a marvelous picture. Who is it that is supposed to articulate the longings and aspirations of the people more than the preacher? Somehow the preacher must be an Amos, and say, "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." Somehow, the preacher must say with Jesus, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to deal with the problems of the poor." …"   (Thanks to Rocco for the text) [church]
more on "24"
I swear that the lead terrorist in the airport is Mandy Patinkin. I just have not be able to prove it.  [culture]
saving eros
From the Chicago Sun-Times: Pope Benedict XVI may try to "save eros," in the first encyclical of his papacy, Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George told the Chicago Sun-Times. George expects the new pope will try to explain that erotic love, eros, and unconditional love, agape, are both inherently good in God’s eyes in his encyclical titled "Deus, Caritas Est," Latin for "God is Love."  [pope]
jack’s back!!
Palmer’s dead. (I suspect a State Farm assassin.) Michele’s dead and Tony’s in surgery. Chloe is on the run and they gave a gun once again.  Edger is heartbroken that Chloe is getting a little some-some while he slaves away at CTU.  Meanwhile, Jack was turned down for day labor on an oil drill, kidnapped the son of a potential love interest, stole a helicopter, shot one man down, interrogated another before shooting him in cold blood. All in all, it was a quiet first hour last night for 24.  [culture]
I can’t believe i just read that…
From Group’s Youth Ministry website: "Let’s face it; being in youth ministry is a blast. Where else can you pig out on pizza, wash down your M&M’s with a Mountain Dew, and justify turning in a reimbursement for miniature golf?" SIGH…  [youth ministry]

  Sunday, January 15, 2006
the yes of faith
Last Sunday, Benedict offer a homily while celebrating Baptisms. Below is a portion (as quoted from the Vatican) regarding the "yes" and "no" of faith:
… The Christian "yes", from ancient times to our day, is a great "yes" to life. It is our "yes" to Christ, our "yes" to the Conqueror of death and the "yes" to life in time and in eternity.
Just as in this baptismal dialogue the "no" is expressed in three renunciations, so too the "yes" is expressed in three expressions of loyalty: "yes" to the living God, that is, a God Creator and a creating reason who gives meaning to the cosmos and to our lives; "yes" to Christ, that is, to a God who did not stay hidden but has a name, words, a body and blood; to a concrete God who gives us life and shows us the path of life; "yes" to the communion of the Church, in which Christ is the living God who enters our time, enters our profession, enters daily life.
We might also say that the Face of God, the content of this culture of life, the content of our great "yes", is expressed in the Ten Commandments, which are not a pack of prohibitions, of "no’s", but actually present a great vision of life.
They are a "yes" to a God who gives meaning to life (the first three Commandments); a "yes" to the family (Fourth Commandment); a "yes" to life (Fifth Commandment); a "yes" to responsible love (Sixth Commandment); a "yes" to solidarity, to social responsibility, to justice (Seventh Commandment); a "yes" to the truth (Eighth Commandment); a "yes" to respect for others and for their belongings (Ninth and 10th Commandments).
This is the philosophy of life, the culture of life that becomes concrete and practical and beautiful in communion with Christ, the living God, who walks with us in the companionship of his friends, in the great family of the Church. Baptism is a gift of life. [pope]
Well, if it was important enough to wear a red baseball HAT
Kimberly and Marshall, you know we all wish you nothing but the best. [culture]

  Saturday, January 14, 2006
AU Revior Raspas’s
The Baltimore area is commemorating a loss tonight… Paul and Sherry Raspa and their two kids (and their web sites) are up and movin’ to the Portland area as Paul takes an (on-site) position with Oregon Catholic Press.  So we threw a little shindig at Rocky Run in honor of all the many years that they would gather us there for Holy Thursday parties.  The crowd overflowed, seeming a good time was had by all, and I concluded the night with a "bar wench." (that’s the Rocky Run lite beer variation- Hi Cassandra!)  [friends and family]
reality checkhttp://www.closingalerts.com/
The President reports: "Folks around the county who are looking for a great place to have a convention, or a great place to visit, I’d suggest coming here to the great New Orleans." Oy vey! Read the MSNBC article here. [culture]

  Friday, January 13, 2006
surely too much information
I gotta say - I’m a fan of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.  It has got folks passionately working at a craft; except, of course, Master P. It has got some great old songs reinterpreted- I much rather listen to this than American idols straining on high notes. It has got movement, style, and grace; except, of course, Master P.  Ok, I’ll admit it- legs in heels, I could watch all night long. I’ll enjoy watching all the "stars" next week; except, of course, Master P.  [culture]
coming soon to a screen near you
Benedict’s first encyclical should be coming out soon. The website at the Vatican already has space reserved for it here.  The 46-page meditation is entitled "Deus Caritas Est" or "God Is Love". Its has been suggested that Pope is going to attempt  to make the distinction between agape and eros.  If so, it will be an important teaching just in time for the Feast of Saint Valentine.  [pope]

  Thursday, January 12, 2006
hardwired to connect
At the Association of Professional Youth Ministers’ meeting, Dr. Margaret McCarty took us through the results of the Hardwired to Connect survey. The punchline: Human beings are biologically primed to seek moral and spiritual meaning, and nurturing relationships are a central foundation for positive moral and spiritual development.    [youth ministry]

  Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Beating them to the punch
The folks at Youth Specialties just posted up a podcast.   Yes, they got quality and technique a little better (but for the background buzz of the exhibition hall) than I did, but that have computer whizzes on staff!  Furthermore, the first feature from our friendly (primarily protestant) non-denominational friends is regarding the Lectio Divina. It is an interesting world. [blogging]
Recommended Reading
I’m hitting the bookstore today and picking up Atlantic magazine to check out this article.  [pope]

  Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Seven
Just got back from the staff overnight with a side-trip to Glyndon.  We went away for a staff overnight.  We are field that wrongly gets the stereotype that we plan something 7 days or 7 hours, if that, before actually doing it.  We got into some very long range planning that had us all looking to changes that had implications for seven years down the road.  I have never before been a part of such long-range thinking.  It was exciting as it had implications that our team (and we were team) would be together for quite a while.  It was all cool.  (and no one called me "Sir") [work day]

  Monday, January 9, 2006
Why I love technology
Last night, I gave a presentation on the Creed. To offer the power point, all I needed to do was attach my memory stick and off we went. The stick was so much lighter than carrying the laptop.  Ahhh, I embrace the future. Just don’t call me "Sir!" [work day]

  Sunday, January 8, 2006
on getting older in the professional world
Yesterday, young adults at the WYD reunion were calling me "Sir." Even though I "Sir" and "Mame" to people thirty years younger than me, I still wince at another referring to me as "Sir." Bob Brody in his My Turn piece in this week’s Newsweek has a nice perspective on it all. Sir. . . geeesh! [blogging]

  Saturday, January 7, 2006
World Youth Day Revisited
From yesterday’s Angelus reflection on the Epiphany from Pope Benedict:
There comes to mind spontaneously today the memory of World Youth Day. This past August there was a gathering in Cologne of over a million young people, who took as their motto the words of the Magi referring to Jesus: “We have come to worship him (Matthew 2:2). How many times we have heard and repeated those words! Now we are not able to hear them without returning spiritually to that memorable event, that represented an authentic “epiphany”. In fact, the pilgrimage of youth, in its most profound dimension, can be seen as a journey guided by the light of a “star,” of the light of faith. And today I’d like to extend to the whole Church the message I proposed then to the young people gathered along Rhine: “Open wide your hearts to God – I said to them and I say it again to day to everyone – Let yourselves be surprised by Christ! Open the doors of your freedom to his merciful love! Share your joys and pains with Christ, and let him enlighten your minds with his light and touch your hearts with his grace” [pope/ wyd]
putting it together
Working on membership meeting presentation and matching these quotes together:
Renewing the Vision of Youth Ministry: All ministry with adolescents must be directed toward presenting young people with the Good News of Jesus Christ and inviting and challenging them to become his disciples.
General Directory for Catechesis: The fundamental task for catechesis is, therefore, to form disciples of Christ and to send them forth is mission. [youth ministry]

  Friday, January 6, 2006
Confirmation as graduation
The recent National Directory for Catechesis has identified that "a special concern in the catechesis of adolescents is catechesis for the Sacrament of Confirmation. . . The Church must make every effort through a revised and revitalized catechesis to ensure that adolescents do not view their preparation for and reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation as the end of their formal catechesis.  (GDC #48, D; page 200) [youth ministry]
the right sort of kids
Steve Case has written a biting satire on what are the right kind of kids for our churches.  Ouch!  Read it here. [youth ministry]

  Thursday, January 5, 2006
happy is what happens when all your dreams come true
It has been a long wait.  The tickets were very expensive. We sat in the very last row in the theater. It was a matinee performance jammed with little kiddies.  My own three young’ins might have been a tad skeptical of the old man taking them to see a retelling of the Wizard of Oz. So was it worth it?
Every damn cent, doubt, and moment. Wicked was excellent! Absolutely stunning.
The soundtrack centers in on the relationship between Elphaba, the green Witch, and Galinda - who becomes Glinda.  All the women in my life who adore this musical talk about the empowerment of "Defying Gravity" and knowingly nod at one another about the need to be "Popular."  But now that I have seen the whole show, it is interesting recognize the flawed steadfastness of the male characters:
• Doctor Dillamond who recognizes that "Under the surface, behind the scenes, something baaaaaaad…" is happening in Oz.
• The Wizard who as "a sentimental man who always longed to be a father" becomes a deceitful totalitarian and meets a tragically beautiful twist of fate.
• Boq who has such a heartless need to be present in another’s life, anyone else’s life, but not his own. And finally,
• Fiyero, who despite being unsure if "maybe I’m brainless, maybe I’m wise, but (at the end he is self-aware to know that) you’ve got me seeing through different eyes." Here is a character who has chosen to "not be just a nothin’ (with his) head all full of stuffin’, (his) heart all full of pain. Here is a character who has chosen "to dance and be merry, (as if) life would be a ding-a-derry, if (he) only had a brain." In a musical production that blurred the lines between what is wicked and what is for good, this was the one character that was wickedly good as he chose to be:

Dancing Through Life   Down at the Ozdust
If only because dust   Is what we come to
And the strange thing:   Your life could up changing
While you’re dancing   Through! [culture]

  Wednesday, January 4, 2006
risk recap
Five players, three hours, two pizzas, one definitive winner. Clark eliminated his father in Africa (suspiciously immediately after the delivery guy with the pizza had been paid) then wiped out Johanna in South America.  Nichole, from her base in North America, then took Clark out and finally claimed total world domination over Meghan in Asia. Congratulations to Nichole in what she claims is "her first Risk win ever." [friends & family]
web savvy church?
Before Poppa Ratzi became pope, there was a website updated regularly by the Ratzinger Fan Club. Now, on-line, here comes the Schönborn Site!. This website strives to provide up-to-date information on Christopher Schönborn, Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna and one of the youngest members of the college of cardinals. [church]
victory for beachgoers and plumbers
It turns out, because the indecent exposure law in Maryland is ambiguous that "mooning, while distasteful, is not illegal in Maryland."  Well, now we know!  See the MSNBC article here. [funny business]
blog stalking
Fellow Arkansasian ambassador Mike Patin e-mailed me with a spell check on a typo in the health report below, minutes after it was posted! High sensate that he is, he cited "a disturbance in the force which told me all was not right….that is how I knew to contact your website."  It seems that even Mike may also be indicating concerned about Grace Community Church. [[blogging]

  Tuesday, January 3, 2006
rationale for birth control
Clark and Meghan returned from Christmas in Florida with pretty serious head colds/ flu symptoms.  They lounged and sniffled and healed. As of Sunday evening, however, I have become a serious inventor investor in Vicks products. Now, we’ve had some fun- movies, Risk, meals - but, seesh, did we have to share germs as well??? [friends & family]
hmmmmmm? Authentic presentation?
The following is from an article (registration may be required) from the New York Times regarding teenagers in Colorado Springs, Colorado, who attend multiple churches each week:: The youth pastor, Brent Parsley, entered on a sleigh dressed as a hip-hop Santa. "I’m going to break it down for you, Clarence," Mr. Parsley told an actor in the Christmas play. "Christmas ain’t about presents, yo! The true meaning of Christmas is my main man: J.C." The crowd shrieked. At this unbuttoned church, teenagers channel the roiling passions typical of their age into devotion. And Mr. Parsley egged them on. He told them in an overcaffeinated tempo that God had much in store for them. Reading Biblical excerpts on his P.D.A., he reminded them that David was young when he slew Goliath and that Mary was probably quite young when she bore Jesus. He said: "God loves to use young people. I want all of us to live our lives as if God had something extraordinary planned for us." Whaddauthink? Too cool for catechesis? Anyone want to bet that Mr. Parsley’s church was closed Christmas day?? [youth ministry]
up to 28 more us Bishops could retire for age reasons in 2006
Catholic News Service – Following the Jan. 3 retirement of Ukrainian Bishop Basil H. Losten of Stamford, Conn., up to 28 other U.S. bishops, including five cardinals, could retire because of age this year. There are 14 still-active U.S. bishops, including three cardinals, who have already turned 75. Fourteen more, including two cardinals, will celebrate their 75th birthday in 2006. At age 75 bishops are requested to submit their resignation to the pope. Bishop Losten turned 75 last May 11. Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka, 78, who has been in Vatican service since 1990, has been the oldest active U.S. cardinal since July 2003. The former bishop of Gaylord, Mich., and former archbishop of Detroit turned 75 Sept. 14, 2002. In Vatican service since 1990, he is president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State. In 2005 Cardinals Adam J. Maida of Detroit and Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington turned 75. Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore will be 75 March 4, 2006. Cardinal Bernard F. Law, archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, will be 75 Nov. 4, 2006. [church]

  Monday, January 2, 2006
CUE The John Williams Soundtrack
Our parish community are a sweet, tranquil gathering of people - - - not unlike the peaceful world of Alderaan. Over the hill from our little church, we have watched the building and growth of Grace Community Church. (one of those megachurches that only offered services on Christmas Eve, closing on Christmas day.)  Every time that I passed by there, I would hum the Star Wars Storm Troopers theme.  Yesterday GCC opened, you could tell because traffic was a mess and over a third of our congregation arrived during the homily.  Our pastor addressed concerns of traffic and neighborliness at the end of his homily.  I hummed again. We have been reviewing the on-line blueprints and believe that we have found a  small ray-shielded thermal exhaust port that leads directly from the surface of the station into the heart of its colossal reactor.  Ahhh, we can only hope for just on well placed proton torpedo. [parish]
modern day martyrs
Zenit- A bishop, 20 priests, two men religious, two women religious and a layman were added to the list of pastoral mission agents who met violent deaths last year. Those 26 deaths compare with 15 recorded in 2004. The new figure appears in the "Martyrology of the Contemporary Church," published by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. See more here.  [church]

  Sunday, January 1, 2006 (New Year’s Day)
Avarice on parade
With the Rosa Bowl parade and the Mummers’ parade still many hours from kicking off, it was interesting to watch who the network executives decided to place before us to march in the new year. God bless Dick Clark in his recovery from stroke; but he probably executive produced himself into our living rooms and I, for one, am not sure we needed that. Regis was pissy in dealing with the sweatshirted Times Square crowd who couldn’t answer a simple question for a prize. (The third contestant read the answer off of Reeg’s notes.) Carson Daly is the Tinman looking for Dorothy and a heart. MTV was TRL in slightly better clothing. However, on ESPN (!!!), I do think I caught Stevie Van Zandt’s band doing a rock interpretation of Auld Lang Syne.  Ahhhh, there it is! Now, I can go to sleep. [culture]

True Love Waits — Abstinence Education for Young People January 17, 2006  NFCYM, EXCERPT: The Catholic Church places a high value on sexual intimacy and holds everyone to a high moral and spiritual standard in using God’s gift of sexuality. The church’s “purpose is not to make us nervous, to quench love with cautiousness, or to stifle spontaneity but to help us to be open and free.” It recognizes that sexual intercourse is a passionate, joyful, holy, and reconciling celebration of the person. (Scott contributed to the process and development of this article.) Read it here