David Ancell / Wednesday, November 24, 2004 / Comments(0)
I just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers. I know I haven’t been around much lately, and I hope to change that before too long. My work has been crazy. I don’t even know how to explain it.
I plan to see my family over the weekend. I haven’t seen my parents since July. It’s been longer than that since I’ve seen my sister. She’s a fourth-year medical student, so she doesn’t have a lot of spare time.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Monday, November 08, 2004 / Comments(0)
I spent some time going through my library today trying to figure out which book I’d recommend to someone who wanted to learn the basics of the Catholic faith. After searching, I came up with The Faith Explained as my top choice. If you’ve never read it, you’ve missed out. I have not made it all the way through the book, but I have found the parts that I have read to be clear and engaging.
One of these days I’m going to have to come up with a recommended reading list. I am planning on redoing my home page soon, and I may add this.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Sunday, November 07, 2004 / Comments(0)
After the massive media campaign to get George W. Bush out of office, he still won. I wondered if he would, but I hoped and prayed it would be so. There has never been a candidate whom I didn’t want in office more than John Kerry for the simple reason that he pretends to be Catholic.
The media continually bombarded us with propaganda, but the majority of Americans who voted didn’t listen. Now, they are all upset because things didn’t turn out their way. I just loved the pictures on MSNBC that displayed W with a scowl on his face right next to a headline saying that he was victorious. For some undefined period of time, watch for more and more columnists spin their wheels talking about “What went wrong?” At least part of the answer is that they and their camp aren’t as important as they think they are. Another part could be answered by saying “nothing went wrong.”
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Monday, November 01, 2004 / Comments(0)
Effective immediately, all comments will have to be approved before they will be visible to the public. I am implementing this policy because I have received a truckload of comment spam lately. I don’t know why these guys would waste resources on spamming my site since it is the only one using this software, but they have. At least this way I can keep them from showing up on my blog.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Monday, November 01, 2004 / Comments(0)
I was just at a meeting last night where I found that they had nearly 600 people sign up for Perpetual Adoration. Granted, not all of them will end up participating, but that’s still a great-sized group to work with. However, a designated chapel is not available yet. This may fall into place when our pastor sees the number of sign-ups.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Monday, November 01, 2004 / Comments(0)
On the way home from lunch today, a Cadillac with Bush/Cheney bumper stickers sped by me. At the stoplight, I saw that this car had a bumper sticker that read “Flush the Johns in 2004.” I like it.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Sunday, October 31, 2004 / Comments(0)
As the election day approaches, I want to rant share a few thoughts.
We have a lot of people who have weighed in on the election saying that organizations like Catholic Answers and their voting guide advocate “single-issue voting.” This argument is not true, and it wouldn’t have a lot of merit if it were. Really, we just see some issues as of paramount importance.
With that being said, we do have an obligation to care for the poor and to work towards ensuring people are able to have a roof over their heads, a means to support their families, and affordable health care. These things are really important. We know this.
However, why do we believe this? We believe this because human beings are not disposable objects. This is so whether they have been born or not, even if they are only tiny embyros. All of the rights and the “other issues” must have their basis in the sanctity of human life. By realizing our moral obligation to allow people their unalienable right to life, we force ourselves to deal with those other questions.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Sunday, October 31, 2004 / Comments(0)
I am still alive even though I am running on fumes. If you’re in the Memphis area, my parish is having a Perpetual Adoration Mission by a priest named Fr. Larry Villone who goes and tries to help parishes get this started. He gave the homily at Mass this morning, and he made a point to tell us that there is more Perpetual Adoration going on in the United States than in any other country in the world.
I am excited by the prospect of having a mission on Eucharistic Adoration. Parishes often hold missions, but few are of good quality. I’ve already heard enough from this priest to know that this one will be great.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Sunday, October 17, 2004 / Comments(0)
I, and many other bloggers, have written much about how those in leadership positions have not done their jobs. I am convinced that a reform of the Church will not come at the hands of the hierarch. Even when the good men like Archbishop Burke speak out, we don’t see mass conversions but rather a manifestation of the mass confusion that is present in the Church today. This is not to say that our bishops shouldn’t speak out, but it does say that their words are not a miracle cure for the problems in the Church.
Holy lay people are going to do more for the Church than our hierarchy can do. The reason I experienced a reconversion about five years ago is that I met people who actually believe what the Church teaches. Before then, I was unaware that there were such people above the underside of heavy rocks. Conversion is very, very difficult when one hasn’t seen a real, live Catholic. For example, I can talk to you about dispensing medication in a pharmacy all I want. It won’t mean much to you unless you come in and see what we do. The same is true of having a living faith in Christ.
So, what does this have to do with the title of my post, the RCIA. I’m an RCIA team member. Today, I got to talk with a few of our candidates (and others who are there to learn). I’ve had the privilege of hearing how they came to their conversion. They remind me that there are people out there who can and will come to acceptance of Our Lord and His Church despite what the media will tell us. They remind me that the Holy Spirit is still working in people to bring them to a living faith. I know that I need them as much as they need me.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Sunday, October 10, 2004 / Comments(0)
I haven’t been too faithful a blogger lately. In fact, I haven’t even finished writing all the stuff I need to write to make my new site administration operative. I can blog and edit my blog, but that’s about it. I’ve been on call all week, and I’ve been having to spend longer hours at work otherwise. It has been very difficult to do anything fun.
There is a church near where I work that now has Eucharistic Adoration for about 12 hours a day three days a week. I have had a bit of time to go there. I really need it. It could not have come at a better time.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized