Written On Our Hearts

During the Advent season there are many people, events, causes and activities that demand our attention. Amidst the many distractions, we mostly spend our time and money this season in a worthwhile way. We tolerate the long lines, big crowds and an abundance of junk email in an effort to find something special that demonstrates our affection and love to those closest to us. Many of us also seek out ways brighten and warm the hearts of the poor, hungry and lonely as the days grow darker and colder by donating our time and resources to bring souls in need joy. Although our schedules become increasingly hectic, we are in some ways living with more purpose and direction as we prepare to welcome friends and family into our homes and show our love. Throughout this time of preparation, we grow both in joy and grace as we anticipate the coming celebrations and gatherings. While it is very important to enjoy these special moments with family, friends and serve the poor, they should not be ...

“Jim Snyder, You Did It. You’re An Ironman Jim” are the words that rang out over the PA system amidst the cheers from our family and his friends as my 6 foot 2 inch “little brother” crossed the finish line of the Ironman competition at the base of Capitol Square in Madison, Wisconsin a few weeks ago. He finished a triathlon that consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run. That is 140.6 miles, for those of you keeping score at home. He accomplished this test of both skill and will in just under 15 hours. Let me say that again 140.6 miles in less than 15 hours. Incredible. Unbelievable. Amazing. Simply, there aren’t enough adjectives in the English language to describe watching someone you love complete this triathlon, but I’m sure if my little brother had a pen right now he could add a few more adjectives to the list. In my opinion this is the most physically and mentally demanding sporting event in which one can participate. After a “leisurely” 2.4 mile ...

As I write this article I'm on a plane headed for the Jersey Shore. I'm 30,000 feet above sea level, soon hoping to be swimming in the sea. But as I cruise at 450 miles an hour toward the shore I've been thinking...where has my summer gone? In April, I made a resolution, I'm going it slow down relax and enjoy the summer. There are less than 8 weeks left to the summer and haven't really slowed down or taken a deep breath. Sure, I've taken a number of lakeside walks and gone on a few weekend trips, but I really haven't slowed down and enjoyed God's creation. I get wrapped up thinking about and planning all the fun things I am going to do then when the time comes to enjoy them, I'm thinking about what's next. In some respects, I feel like I've been bouncing from Ice Cream Cone to Ice Cream Cone this summer. As much as I like my double scoop of Chocolate Peanut Butter, the sugar highs just don't cut it. I'm in need of something more prof...

It was a warm summer day, before cell phones took over the universe, and my little brother and I were playing a game of home run derby in the backyard of our childhood home in Malvern, PA. I was about 13 years old, he was about 10. He was an athlete (and still is an athlete), I...well I just wandered around on little league fields (I’ve stopped wandering around...well at least on baseball diamonds). But this day there weren’t any scoreboards...or umpires just two brothers having fun pitching tennis balls at a cut off hockey stick trying to hit them into our neighbors pool (over the years we tried to hit lots of items in their pool...but I’ll save the story of “Pete Sampras mad at his neighbors” for another occasion). Home run derby was our favorite summer game - we played it often and we had a dirt spot in my father’s otherwise pristinely manicured lawn to prove it. We would always stand in the same place to hit baseballs. We played it so often that we wore out the grass down to t...

In late March, one of my favorite TV shows, “How I Met Your Mother”, wrapped up it’s 9 year run on CBS. The series finale, like most things of this world, came to an end, albeit with much fanfare and debate by it’s devoted fan base about how Ted Mosby finally met his true love under a yellow umbrella. Debating how the writers concluded the show is not my focus, nor will you find my opinion about it here; like most things of this world it is inconsequential. But as I watched the final episodes I found myself rewinding and replaying the following line, by protagonist Ted Mosby, from the second to last episode entitled “The End of the Aisle”. “Love doesn’t make sense. You can’t logic your way into or out of it. Love is totally nonsensical but we have to keep doing it or else we’re lost and love is dead and humanity should just pack it in… Because love is the best thing we do.” This quote from the show contains much truth. It reminds us that the perfect love of God runs deeper...

Last week, I had the privilege of interviewing Michael Stark, the Executive Producer of The Truth and Life Audio Bible and App. The audio bible is a dramatized reading, complete with original soundtrack and sound effects of the Catholic Edition of the NRSV Bible. It is brought to life by critically acclaimed hollywood actors like Neal McDonough (Jesus), Sean Astin, Kristen Bell, Stacy Keach, Julia Ormond, Malcolm McDowell, Blair Underwood, Michael York, Brian Cox, John Rhys-Davies and many more . It has a Vatican Imprimatur and endorsed with a foreword by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The smartphone and tablet app which is available on all major carriers has additional components like direct access to Word on Fire, Word Made Clear, the Archdioceses of Chicago, Catholic News Agency and daily readings for the Mass. First and foremost, let me say that in my opinion, as a 28 year-old tech geek who consumes a lot of Catholic media, this is the best Catholic Audio Bible and App on the market. ...

You know, I think the first Commandment doesn’t get enough attention. We find ways to gloss over this commandment as a “given” in our prayer life. Most Catholics I know, myself included say “I know that one...I am the Lord your God, you shall not make any graven image of me...yadda, yadda, yadda...good I’ve done that...now moving on to the more interesting things I’ve done or not done on the list of ten.” I mean after all, even if we wanted to do so, most of us don’t have enough precious metal laying around the house to make a molten calf. It is a pretty safe bet though that God didn’t deliver the first commandment to Moses and his chosen people with a “Seinfeld-esque” attitude, therefore we too shouldn’t approach it lackadaisically, but we at times can be lazy and fall into this trap. I think the issue is two fold. First, we believers take God’s love, power and grace for granted (I mean He is always present and knows everything...maybe if He wasn’t constantly hanging around with us we...