Here’s a wrap-up of of August’s top posts of the month…

The Wordle on the left is a “word cloud” generated from all the text over the past month.  (click on the image to enlarge.) This is a great tool to see of what you are writing (or scripting for a presentation) are on target for what you want to emphasize.  A quick look, and, yes, that looks like August!

What a month that was!
 

“Yea, but you can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“ ‘Cause it’s freaking me out.”

Thus concludes the maps scene from the Big Block of Cheese episode of West Wing.

Nonetheless, at the 2011 Collegeville National Symposium on Lay Ecclesial Ministry held recently, Bob McCarty of the NFCYM revisits a familiar theme in suggesting that we need to consider the changing territory of our ministry.

“One of the things that has become really clear in this symposium on lay ecclesial ministry is that the territory in which we do ministry is changing rapidly… What this is going to require of us in ministry is that we need to change our ministerial maps.”

The video provides a brief 15 minute in-service on reconfiguring the maps on our ministry.  Don’t allow yourself to be freaked out.

What a weekend – - There have been many challenges:

> I’m recovering from my WYD hangover.  I wake every morning at 7:30am Madrid time… which is nice but it is also 1:30am Baltimore time.  My last few days have involved me with a head cold and a zombie-ish pallor and nature.

> Hurricane Irene came and went but the residual affects were left behind.  Power went out at my place at 5:00am-ish Sunday morning and has remained out for over 48 hours.  I found projects to do during the day, but off-kilter sleep and darkness are not a happy marriage. My dream life, which is usually non-existent, has kicked in with convoluted disturbing scenarios that leave me restless wondering what the heck triggered that sub-conscious thought??? (Are these called nightmares?)

> I’ve been aware of a change-over brewing atop the ArchBalt since before the storm really kicked in.

(more…)

Yesterday, I called attention to slant33.com, acknowledging that I had a vested interest in the web-site.  Yesterday, they also published my first posting on the site.   (I knew it was coming, just not when…)

Along with Adam Mclane and Tiffanie Shanks, I was asked to respond to the question How do you determine the line between vulnerability and over sharing?  Below is my take, please check the site for Adam’s and Tiffanie’s responses

Saint Francis of Assisi is often credited with the saying, Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words. As Christians, we probably cannot really be too vulnerable or even over share—except when we begin to unnecessarily speak aloud.

(more…)

BREAKING NEWS- We re-tweeted the advance report, but this morning brings news from  many credible different sources that Baltimore’s Archbishop O’Brien has been named as Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Formal announcement seems scheduled for 10 am.

<This post was also published on Life Teen’s CatholicYouthMinistry.com’s blog>

I’m writing this Friday morning because who knows what Monday morning and Hurricane Irene will bring… Will there be power? Will there be cell phone coverage? Will there be internet connectivity?

Anyway, it occurs to me that the same steps involved in emergency preparedness are good steps to also be taken to ensure making it through any storm of life – emotional, professional, etc.

1. What is the Plan? – Some “storms” you cannot see coming, but often you can sense the change in the environment and/or hear reports of its approach. What is your plan regarding supplies and needs in time of crisis?  What will be your limits regarding “hunkering down” and the proper time for evacuation?

(more…)

There are three more blogs worth adding to your list. (Conflict of interest declaration – - I’m involved in two of the three)

> slant33.com which offers three voices, three views on various questions and is designed to challenge, inspire and equip youth workers through thoughtful dialogue and varied expression from youth ministry’s leading thinkers and doers.

> StickyFaith.org is a site set by Fuller Youth Institute to support young people’s faith that is both internalized and externalized; personal and communal; and mature and maturing,

> RebuildMyChurch.org is setting up a free on-line youth ministry training on November 3rd. Be there!

<<UPDATED We’ve added two more blogs for Sunday and Monday, update some previous blogs to cross reference Matt Palmer provided content, and added some more links below.>>

Here’s a recap of links to other articles of note:

That’s it, folks! As indicated Saturday, we are now on our annual bloggiversary blogcation

And Monday, instead of heading home right way, we continued our pilgrimage with a visit to Avila.  We celebrated Mass in a chapel there and learned more about Doctor of the Church Saint Teresa.

After our return and separate dinners out, we gathered back up, waiting for one group to return, and then walked over to a near-by park for prayer.  We reflected on our travels and what was the “take-away” regarding the pilgrimage. We were reminded that Saint Teresa once encountered a stranger in interior searching for the Lord.  He asked her “Who are you?”  She responded with the name that she had taken with her religious vows, “I am Teresa of Jesus” and then asked in kind to the stranger “Who are you?”  He responded “I am Jesus of Teresa”

We were reminded that as disciples we, too, can respond that “I am Keisha of Jesus;” “I am Aric of Jesus;” or “I am Scott of Jesus and adjust our lives accordingly to suit that answer.  We know that the Lord is ready to respond “I am Jesus of Meghan,” “I am Jesus of Marty” or “I am Jesus of Betty”

We went out for ice cream afterwards and danced a little (yes, there is video evidence  of me dancing.)

Tuesday, we flew home.