Lost Nation, New CD, Health Update

My camera fell into the fire pit at the last KOA. How did that happen? I was jumping up to keep Therese from running or falling into the fire. A good reason to lose a camera and all the images on it. Since the camera was replaced just yesterday, I have NO photos of Lost Nation, Iowa...

The photo you see here is an old one taken on my yearly drive to sing for the confirmation candidates at a retreat facility in Tucson, Arizona. It sort of has a 'lost nation' feel to it though, doesn't it? Of course, after visiting Lost Nation, and several surrounding communities, I know first hand that this looks nothing like that area of our country. Cornfields, small towns, old houses, and faithful men and women paint a better picture. The faith is alive and well in Lost Nation.

Fr. Bill asked years ago if I would consider visiting his small community. After many delays and postponements, I am very glad to have finally had the chance to visit. The first order of the day was to see Fr Bill's greenhouse next to the rectory where he gathered vegetables right off the vine to include with our breakfast that day. Healthy, simple living. God has to smile.

Pray for Fr Bill as he continues to divide his time between Lost Nation and Iraq - where he serves as a chaplain. It was odd to see photos of him taken in Iraq wearing his military outfit. Talk about two extremes! He really has a lot of love for those people entrusted to him. This guy is praying all the time! It is no surprise to see how much they love him.

Mary and I are drawn to these smaller communities partly because it refreshes us to experience the sanity of a slower pace of life. The faster we humans go; the crazier life gets. While we expect the financial side of the equation to be lower in smaller communities - we don't expect the kind generosity of those in the more affluent areas of the country to help us the way they do. Thanks be to God for the way He makes it all balance out. It helps us continue visiting these places the rest of the world seems to pass over. I am so glad to have seen first hand the strong faith amid the cornfields and small towns. What struck me in one town was the involvement of so many men in the faith life of the parish.

A great example is Charlie. A retired dairy farmer who continues a prayer effort he began years ago when he had to get up with the cows (or is it before the cows?) In any case, Charlie still opens the church every morning at 4:30AM to pray a rosary. I thought of joining him one of the mornings but I whimped out and slept in.

New CD
Last week I flew to Northern California for my 30 year high school reunion and to record a new Live CD. Approximately four hours live recordings are being reviewed now to see what might be included in a new CD. (YES the song "You are Beautiful to Me" is one of the songs we want on the new CD)

Health Update:
The tumor in the right eye continues to show signs of scarring each time it is examined. This is a good thing. Yesterday I was supposed to be in Atlanta, GA for a routine Cat Scan of lungs and liver - but the trip was cancelled. I will reschedule soon and let you know so you can join me in prayers for good test results. No reason to think otherwise. My vision at times is still 20/20 but there are more times when it is a little less clear in the right eye - as expected. They told me to expect to lose vision in that eye by now - but the only thing I expect is for God's will to be done. The best way I can help THAT happen is to keep out of the way. Thank you for the prayers!

MJP

Living Faith

Little Blaise is in need of our prayers. Her father and mother and brothers need our prayers as well. Blaise was born without a developed lymphatic system. Doctor's said she would not live this long. A miracle would be perfect right now.

Whatever suffering you are enduring at this moment, please offer up a bit of it on behalf of this family. Special needs children bring two things (among many) to a family. 1) They bring a whole dimension of beauty and appreciation of life that families without special needs children have a very hard time grasping. 2) The medical side of the cross these children carry can be a huge drain on emotional energy.

So we pray: "Dear God bless this family right now as Blaise and her father travel to Stanford, California for more tests and/or treatment. Please heal, sustain, give peace, renew, calm, lift up, and hold together this family as they walk the path each of us is called to walk - only they have been given a greater blessing and a heavier cross than most of us.

We entrust little Blaise (our big inspiration) to you and ask you to send your angels to encourage her and her family. We ask all things in Jesus' name. Amen.

"Non-Concerts" in Texas and Oklahoma

Here is a picture of those who came to the "non-concert" at St. Elizabeth Parish in Pflugerville, Texas.

We have found that if I sing for the whole communion time and share a one minute testimony at the end of mass, people tend to come out for an evening like this. Otherwise they have no idea who the bald-headed singer is or why he is at their parish and the idea of a concert... well... if you have attended one of the evenings I present, you already KNOW it is not a concert.

This is why as I give the one minute testimony and invitation I make sure and say something like, "This is really not a concert..."

Does that sound odd to you? Odd but true. I am not interested in developing a music career. A music career is not my 'calling'. After being a husband and father, my calling is to invite you and remind myself that one of the most important decisions I can make is this:

"For the rest of my life I will be about the conversion of my heart, my mind, my opinions, my dreams, my plans, my attitude, my motives.... etc. Everything must slowly but surely be conformed to the will of God."

Otherwise everything is slowly but surely being conformed to my will or someone else's or some cultural norm.

There is no neutral ground here. We are changing whether we want to or not -we are getting stronger or weaker in faith. We are growing closer to or farther apart from our spouse. We are becoming a closer family or becoming more and more estranged from one another. Okay 'nuff rambling on that! Now onto the World Youth Day event held in San Antonio for those who were not able to fly to Australia.

The day was a scorcher. So hot that for my hour, instead of being up on stage, I stood beside the stage at ground level under a big umbrella for shade. Knowing how peaceful my stuff is, it was a pretty mellow time - my favorite part of the day, other than the mass, was having a chance to lead music before the Bread of Life. It is really all about an ongoing conversion of heart - and that is not the last time you will see that in print here!




Here is a snapshot of the night time portion of the World Youth Day Event held in San Antonio, Texas

Earlier in the day, a friend invited me to sing at Sunday morning mass at the Oblate Grotto where he is the music leader. Afterwards the pastor invited me to sing a few songs so after mass about 30 people remained. The fact that we had just received Jesus in the Eucharist inspired the following sung meditation: (since this was spontaneous, I will try to get as close to the actual wording as possible)

"Help me to adore your Presence here within me. Now that we've received you in the form of bread and wine.... Help us cherish your mercy within us now. Your majesty fills the heavens, let it transform us from the inside. Help us honor your presence in one another... draw us closer to being one mind, one body, one community in you. By the power of your presence within us, pull us together until we forgive... until we love... until we are truly one in you as you are in the Father... "



The Oblates Grotto in San Antonio.

A gathering of Catholic home schooling families in San Antonio. Here is a link to learn about their "TORCH" chapter. After sharing a potluck dinner at a local Retreat House we headed to the chapel where I offered a brief time of music and prayer. Here is another example of Catholic families pulling together to encourage, strengthen, and accompany one another along the path of holiness.

Families of the "Two Hearts" Chapter of Torch.

OKLAHOMA VISIT

I FINALLY got to sing at the masses at St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. I've been wanting to do this for years and it was wonderful to be so kindly and warmly welcomed by this community. The great turn out meant I was able to enjoy the beautiful voices of those who sang along - especially during the adoration portion of the evening. This Friday we leave for Fayette, Missouri then on toward Lost Nation Iowa. I will post again as time allows.