life. faithful.

 Right off the bat, I have to admit that this title is taken directly from Pop yesterday morning at church. I've been wanting to write about Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't quite wrap my mind around how to get started. When he started our discussion yesterday morning, though, the reminder to celebrate holy days while the world is celebrating holidays struck me. We all know that the holidays have been turned into something they were never intended to be. Christmas has been commercialized to the point that it is barely recognizable. What was intended as the "Mass of Christ" to commemorate and celebrate the birth of Yeshua Hamashiach ("Jesus the Anointed One") has become very little more than a time of getting more stuff. It starts on November 1st, and from that day until the 25th it seems like little more than a competition to show who can make it the biggest and best--the most lights, the most presents, the biggest and jolliest Santa, the most reindeer, the...

Veterans Day. Today is one of those days that are a bit hard for me. Today, we honor all those who have served. Today, we say thank you... ~to all those who have given of themselves for the sake of freedom. ~to all who give up their own precious time to serve and protect. ~to those who believe freedom is worth fighting for. ~to the strong. ~to the brave. ~to the courageous. ~to those who stand on the front lines to protect those they love--and those they've never met. ~to those who are scared, but who do the job anyways. ~to the faithful. ~to those who are tired, but know they'll rest when the job is done. ~to all those who choose to take a stand. ~to those who unselfishly take on an often thankless job. ~to the wounded, some with wounds that everyone notices and others with wounds the rest of us will never see. ~to the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marines.   We say thank you, but the words don't seem like enough to honor the sacrifices made b...