Michael's Random Thoughts and Photos on Spirituality

Good Friday 2016 “Well, I don’t know why I came here tonight, I got a feelin something ain’t right…, Clowns to the left of me — jokers to the right — Here I am — stuck in the middle with you…”  Steelers Wheel — from the movie Reservoir Dogs — captures the mood of our service this evening. Being stuck in the middle is not a comfortable place to be, just think of getting the middle seat on an overbooked airplane.  Or think of being at a stand still, idling on I-5.  We are often stuck in the middle, between yesterday and tomorrow, between yes and no, between going forward or retreating. The words of this song aptly describe the position of Jesus at this moment; stuck between two thieves, stuck between a jeering mob and people who love Him, stuck between earth and heaven. What to do?  There were many moments in the Passion Story where Jesus might have opted out to change the ending of the story, but He didn’t.  Jesus believed in His mission, maintained ...

Not sure why I like this photo but I do.

https://www.facebook.com/PBMBCurry/videos/918634208252279/

Third Sunday of Advent C, 2015 Get to wear my favorite color only twice a year.  This is Gaudete Sunday, we are to rejoice and be glad.  Happy happy.  But, how can we rejoice and be glad amid so much terror and violence?  There is a decided edge to our celebration of Advent and Christmas this year.  Well, let’s see if there isn’t a way through all that we are experiencing.  I would like to wish you a very DEFIANT Christmas. Our defiance is not born of fear, hatred, jealously or anger but is born out of the Love and compassion that brought about Emmanuel, God with us, the Incarnation God in the flesh of Jesus Christ.  We need to do more than just feeling holy one day of the week, or for a few minutes we spend saying our daily prayers.  It isn’t enough just to feel holy here, we must be holy out there all of the time, 24/7.  We need to be rooted in a spirituality that prevents us from being tossed about by the ill winds that are blowing ...

October 11-2015 It is estimated that there are about three hundred million guns in the United States.  How in the world do we keep track of three hundred million of anything?  I use to own guns.  I liked the workmanship, the detail and precision.  I enjoyed going out to Red Rock Canyon in the Mojave Desert to shoot at targets.  I never once killed anything, nor did I ever see my guns as a solution to any of my problems.  There are millions of people just like me.  I have never understood hunting except when absolutely necessary for survival.  When I lived in West Virginia a school bus or two per year always seem to be the accidental targets during hunting season.  With gun violence on the rise in the 1960’s and 70’s I got rid of my guns; yes as a statement but mostly because I didn’t need something lethal to have fun.  There were other avenues.  Now, I shoot photographs. Banning guns won’t work.  Prohibition didn’t work ...

THE LUMMI NATION Members of the Lummi Nation will be blessing a new totem at St. Philip Neri Parish on Monday, August 24 from 5:30pm to 8pm The Lummi People. are the original inhabitants of Washington's northernmost coast and southern British Columbia. For thousands of years, they worked, struggled and celebrated life on the shores and waters of Puget Sound. All are welcome to this spirit filled event at 16th and Division in SE Portand.  There is lots of parking and we are on the Number 4 Bus line… Come and join us…

Lummi  Nation Members of the Lummi Nation will be blessing a new totem at St. Philip Neri Parish on Monday, August 24 from 6pm to 8pm The Lummi People. are the original inhabitants of Washington's northernmost coast and southern British Columbia. For thousands of years, they worked, struggled and celebrated life on the shores and waters of Puget Sound. All are welcome to this spirit filled event at 16th and Division in SE Portand.  There is lots of parking and we are on the Number 4 Bus line. Come and join us…