March 1, 2009
My children are a constant source of wisdom and clarity for me. Our sons are ages 8 and 11, and keenly interested in what’s going on in the world. We share openly and candidly the current state of politics, the economy and world news in a way they will understand. This past Saturday, my wife…
March 1, 2009
When I speak to audiences about teamwork, one of the most frequently asked questions I get has to do with managing groups of people who are geographically dispersed, a.k.a. virtual teams. This surprises me a little because the topic, as well as the solution for addressing it, is certainly not very sexy. But with so…
March 1, 2009
“Tolerance Is Not a Christian Virtue” TORONTO, FEB. 24, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of an address delivered Monday by Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Colorado, at the University of Toronto. The archbishop’s presentation was sponsored by the Archdiocese of Toronto, the Salt and Light Catholic Television Network, the Toronto Legatus Chapter, and the…
February 23, 2009
U.S. ECONOMY With prospects unclear for when a rebound in consumer activity may materialize, corporations are working hard to recalibrate their future plans while strengthening their balance sheets through tighter cash management and de-leveraging. Until such time as the stimulus efforts of the U. S. Treasury bear fruit, such financially conservative behavior is warranted and…
I went to the Sacrament of Reconciliation a few days ago with a lot on my mind. I have been weighted down for the last few months with work stress, concerns about money and a myriad of other issues big and small. As I went through my examination of conscience, I couldn’t get past the…
February 5, 2009
Throughout human history, there has never been a shortage of men and women willing to point humanity along the right path. Nor have the needs of the human family ever been a secret: food, shelter, purposeful work, companionship, freedom, forgiveness, acceptance, and love.
February 2, 2009
Ed. note: This article was co-written by Chris Findley. As converts to the Catholic Church in the last few years, we have both written and addressed groups about our conversion stories and what led us to the True Faith. We maintain that being Catholic is so much more than knowing the Catechism, the bible, attending…
February 2, 2009
Last weekend, my wife and I went to the Danville Town Green to participate in a Hero’s Welcome for one of our own, Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger. “Sully” became known to the world on a cold January 15th afternoon several weeks ago when he set his US Air Airbus A-320 safely and spectacularly down on…
It seems like we’ve been preparing for this current recession for the past two or three years, constantly predicting it and staving it off as long as we could, all the while listening to the media tell us that it was just around the corner. And now that it is here—and it is here—we’re witnessing…
December 29, 2008
I would like you to join me in a different kind of commitment for next year. This is the kind of commitment that will cost us something for sure, but the reward is great. In the coming year let’s make every effort to acknowledge Christ before others and defend (as well as follow!) in a…
December 23, 2008
I lit a candle today and prayed during Eucharistic Adoration in our parish chapel for a man I know who was hospitalized yesterday for the second time in two weeks. He is suffering from emphysema and an infection after recent surgery. The candle burned brightly, more brightly than the others, for the hour I was…
December 23, 2008
For some reason, I haven’t directly addressed this topic in any of my writings over the years. It’s not because I’m afraid to or that I find it uninteresting. I think it has more to do with having such mixed feelings. On the one hand, I think the amount of money paid to so many…
December 23, 2008
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December 17, 2008
I was in Rome last week and I had to catch a bus, but in Italy you can’t buy a ticket on the bus. You have to buy the ticket before you get on the bus. Only I didn’t have time to buy a ticket, and I didn’t have time to wait for the next…
December 5, 2008
It should come as no surprise to us that, in this modern environment, the relevance of Jesus is being seriously questioned. The reason is simple. The philosophy of Christ is very different from the prevailing philosophies of our modern culture. In fact, they are completely opposed to each other. And yet, the teachings of Christ…
In these difficult times, it can be very challenging to think of others and not just ourselves. Our personal struggles often keep our focus inward and not outward towards our brothers and sisters in Christ. If these words resonate with you, I would like to provide some encouragement to break out of this inward focus…
November 22, 2008
Ed. note: This piece is co-authored by Ron Young. Have you ever known someone who had a meteoric rise up the corporate ladder, but seemed to lose himself along the way? Sadly, there are many who fit that bill. Quite possibly, you may even see yourself this way. How did it happen? Was the career…
November 22, 2008
I‘m sure it‘s natural for people to be fascinated with acquiring new things. Whether we‘re talking about physical possessions like homes or cars or toys, or more conceptual assets like knowledge or technology or business strategies, we seem to highly value what we don‘t have, especially when it is novel. I suppose this is understandable—even…
November 10, 2008
It is a gross understatement to say that we live in very trying times. Our country is at war, our economy is a mess, atheists are one of the fastest growing groups in our country and our families are under siege. My intent is not to depress you, but get your attention on the reality…
I am sending this message to large group of people who I know to be Catholic/Christian. I must confess that there are parts of me that don’t want to send it, because I don’t want to offend anyone or make them uncomfortable. However, sometimes in life we are called to stand up for something we…