BASEBALL! Cardinals, Colby Rasmus, will he make the cut?

Ok, its been awhile since I posted something about Baseball.  One of my all time favorite topics.

I haven't been able to follow the Cardinals spring training season that much since I have been so busy with work.  But I am getting really excited that we will be seeing Colby Rasmus in the outfield.  Its looking like we (yes I am sorry Mark Patrick, I say we when I am talking about my team on MY blog!) will have 4 men for the outfield this year.  I am really excited to see what Colby's bat can do this year.  

Colby's stats for this spring training in the Grapefruit League are as follows (yes I am going to copy and paste them, sorry again, provided by MLB)

G    AB    R    H   2B  3B  HR   RBI    TB   BB  SO  SB   CS    OBP      SLG      AVG
20    6    12   17   6     1      0      5      25     7   19   3     0    0.358    0.417    0.283

BASEBALL! Cardinals, Colby Rasmus, will he make the cut?

Ok, its been awhile since I posted something about Baseball.  One of my all time favorite topics.

I haven't been able to follow the Cardinals spring training season that much since I have been so busy with work.  But I am getting really excited that we will be seeing Colby Rasmus in the outfield.  Its looking like we (yes I am sorry Mark Patrick, I say we when I am talking about my team on MY blog!) will have 4 men for the outfield this year.  I am really excited to see what Colby's bat can do this year.  

Colby's stats for this spring training in the Grapefruit League are as follows (yes I am going to copy and paste them, sorry again, provided by MLB)

G    AB    R    H   2B  3B  HR   RBI    TB   BB  SO  SB   CS    OBP      SLG      AVG
20    6    12   17   6     1      0      5      25     7   19   3     0    0.358    0.417    0.283

Emotions is a funny thing.

Human nature is odd.  Its funny how we react to things and what emotions surface.  I have a singles profile on Catholic Match dot com.  Its basically a singles and social network for Catholics.  But I have been trading emails with a woman in Kansas, I am in Indianapolis, Indiana.  She said in her last email that she is dating someone now exclusively but would like to still remain email friends.   The funny thing is that she is over 13 hours away, and only been talking a little, but I had a wave of sadness and hopeless feeling.

I have been single most of my life, and never have married.  In the past when relationships ended, I was totally crushed and paralyzed from it.  Also in the past, when I would get the feeling that I mentioned above, I would project that that feeling would be forever.  That I will always be alone, and always feel hopeless and sad.

But even thou that feeling and emotion was just a moment, I was taken back that I could be effected like that, even for a moment.  I have grown a lot spiritually and in my emotional being in the last year.  (leaps actually!) Before the old me would let that feeling take over.  Instead today I can feel it for a second recognize it and move on.  But I just really thought it was odd that I even felt that way.  I even had a slight feeling of rejection, even thou I had not been rejected, or had any real reason to feel that way.

We react in such funny ways to things.  I am just happy that today I don't have to let my human feelings and emotions crush me.  Through my connection with God and his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, I am more balance and have a better ideal of what true love is.

Its nice to feel good, but that's such a short lived feeling.  I will just have to continue to pray and grow in my relationship with Christ and hope that its God's will that I will share love in this existence with a mate.

Emotions is a funny thing.

Human nature is odd.  Its funny how we react to things and what emotions surface.  I have a singles profile on Catholic Match dot com.  Its basically a singles and social network for Catholics.  But I have been trading emails with a woman in Kansas, I am in Indianapolis, Indiana.  She said in her last email that she is dating someone now exclusively but would like to still remain email friends.   The funny thing is that she is over 13 hours away, and only been talking a little, but I had a wave of sadness and hopeless feeling.

I have been single most of my life, and never have married.  In the past when relationships ended, I was totally crushed and paralyzed from it.  Also in the past, when I would get the feeling that I mentioned above, I would project that that feeling would be forever.  That I will always be alone, and always feel hopeless and sad.

But even thou that feeling and emotion was just a moment, I was taken back that I could be effected like that, even for a moment.  I have grown a lot spiritually and in my emotional being in the last year.  (leaps actually!) Before the old me would let that feeling take over.  Instead today I can feel it for a second recognize it and move on.  But I just really thought it was odd that I even felt that way.  I even had a slight feeling of rejection, even thou I had not been rejected, or had any real reason to feel that way.

We react in such funny ways to things.  I am just happy that today I don't have to let my human feelings and emotions crush me.  Through my connection with God and his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, I am more balance and have a better ideal of what true love is.

Its nice to feel good, but that's such a short lived feeling.  I will just have to continue to pray and grow in my relationship with Christ and hope that its God's will that I will share love in this existence with a mate.

Ezekiel 18:30-32 (from today's morning Liturgy)

In today's Liturgy, Ezekiel 18:30-32, we hear God calling us to repent.  Today we are having Reconciliation Mass at St. Simon The Apostle.  I am looking forward to be able to deal with my sins.  The closer I get to our Lord, the more I see how wrong I have been living my life.  Things I never have considered sin, I am starting to see how destructive they were, and how they separated me from God.  

As my spiritual journey keeps trucking along, I see myself wanting to grow ever more closer to our Lord.  With the help of our Blessed Ever Virgin Mother, I am being lead to the Light of her Son.  I am also learning that most of my sins are do to desiring to be loved and or to feel love.  My sins are from doing things to "feel" love, and its easily confused with "feeling good".  The emptiness one has after doing something that feels good, is a true sign that we are actually desiring to feel love and to live within love.  Short cuts are not the answer and I am learning that.

This reading today calls us to repent, and stop living in death (separated from God) but to truly live, to live in the Love of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.

I pray as I continue to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life, that God will grace me with the Holy Spirit.  I long to feel complete, to feel loved, to live in love.  To love my fellow humans as we all should, the way Christ wants us to.

On a side note, if anyone is interested in reading the daily Liturgy, they may go here, this is my daily source.

Ezekiel 18:30-32 (from today's morning Liturgy)

In today's Liturgy, Ezekiel 18:30-32, we hear God calling us to repent.  Today we are having Reconciliation Mass at St. Simon The Apostle.  I am looking forward to be able to deal with my sins.  The closer I get to our Lord, the more I see how wrong I have been living my life.  Things I never have considered sin, I am starting to see how destructive they were, and how they separated me from God.  

As my spiritual journey keeps trucking along, I see myself wanting to grow ever more closer to our Lord.  With the help of our Blessed Ever Virgin Mother, I am being lead to the Light of her Son.  I am also learning that most of my sins are do to desiring to be loved and or to feel love.  My sins are from doing things to "feel" love, and its easily confused with "feeling good".  The emptiness one has after doing something that feels good, is a true sign that we are actually desiring to feel love and to live within love.  Short cuts are not the answer and I am learning that.

This reading today calls us to repent, and stop living in death (separated from God) but to truly live, to live in the Love of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.

I pray as I continue to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life, that God will grace me with the Holy Spirit.  I long to feel complete, to feel loved, to live in love.  To love my fellow humans as we all should, the way Christ wants us to.

On a side note, if anyone is interested in reading the daily Liturgy, they may go here, this is my daily source.

Father Corapi's Story

I was watching EWTN last Sunday night and heard basically Father Corapi's "Lead" or his story.  It really moved me.  I remember when I was down and out my mom said the same thing, why don't you try praying and she re-taught me the Hail Mary and gave me her Dad's Rosary.  This clip here is just about his conversion.  If you get a chance, watch

Father Corapi's Story

I was watching EWTN last Sunday night and heard basically Father Corapi's "Lead" or his story.  It really moved me.  I remember when I was down and out my mom said the same thing, why don't you try praying and she re-taught me the Hail Mary and gave me her Dad's Rosary.  This clip here is just about his conversion.  If you get a chance, watch

Catholicipod.com

Catholicipod.com is an awesome site I found.  It has audio files/podcasts you can download for free!

can download such stuff as

Mother Angelica's Holy Rosary

Father Corapi's story of conversion

Stations of the Cross

Chaplet of Divine Mercy

and many more!

Catholicipod.com

Catholicipod.com is an awesome site I found.  It has audio files/podcasts you can download for free!

can download such stuff as

Mother Angelica's Holy Rosary

Father Corapi's story of conversion

Stations of the Cross

Chaplet of Divine Mercy

and many more!

Debit card compromised

Well just got a call from my bank, someone compromised my debit card and drained my account.  With a bunch of overdrafts.  Looks like I have to pray from this person, whomever it is.  Hopefully that's not my future in the picture up there.  Thank God I am a musician, guess its time for me to buy that pirate outfit I always wanted.  (wait, I'm flat broke from bank fraud! jeez!)

Debit card compromised

Well just got a call from my bank, someone compromised my debit card and drained my account.  With a bunch of overdrafts.  Looks like I have to pray from this person, whomever it is.  Hopefully that's not my future in the picture up there.  Thank God I am a musician, guess its time for me to buy that pirate outfit I always wanted.  (wait, I'm flat broke from bank fraud! jeez!)

A friend asked "Why was Jesus Baptized"

A friend asked "Why was Jesus Baptized", I thought about this and meditated on this for awhile and made some notes.

Here is a summary of my notes:

The Trinity

First I think there is a major importance in Christ’s actual baptism.  This is the first time we see the Trinity completely.  We have in this scene of Jesus life, Christ (the man), The Holy Spirit (coming down as a dove), and God (his voice and words).  When you think about it, his baptism exposes who and what he is.  He is the word of God made flesh.  We actually have God's words in Matthew  3:17 , "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.".  This when combined with the Holy Spirit and Christ, we see all three persons of God.  We get the glimpse of the pure love that is in the Trinity.

 

To Imitate Christ.

With Jesus being baptized, he is showing us how to convert and be born again anew.  Even thou Christ has no sin, or knows no sin, his baptism shows us the way to repent and to anew ourselves and his baptism still marked a turning point in His life and ministry. Also to show humility to His Father as we should show humility to God's Will.

 

Fulfillment of Prophecy

John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?" Jesus said to him in reply, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him. (Matthew 3:14-15)  
To fulfill all righteousness: in this gospel to fulfill usually refers to fulfillment of prophecy, and righteousness to moral conduct in conformity with God's will. Here, however, as in Matthew 5:6;6:33, righteousness seems to mean the saving activity of God. To fulfill all righteousness is to submit to the plan of God for the salvation of the human race. This involves Jesus' identification with sinners; hence the propriety of his accepting John's baptism.  As well as his identification with sinners, along with Christ's baptism he makes the water Holy thru him and the Holy Spirit.

Noa’s story is a prophecy how God uses water to cleanse, when he saw the world in great sin. So it only makes sense that God would use baptism to cleanse his people. 

 

 Also in Zechariah 13:1 “On that day there shall be open to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness“                                                                                                                                                         

Another example of God using water to purify is Leviticus 14:6-8.  To summarize,  one is to slay a bird over spring water and the sprinkle the man to be purified from his leprosy.  In those days, leprosy was seen as God’s punishment for breaking God’s law

There are many more, but those are just a few of how the Old Testament used water to purify.

Actually after i wrote that I just noticed there were three points. Three in being the Trinity.

The Ah Ha moment (as my mom calls them) was on the Mystery of Christ.  I was thinking more about why love doesn’t stay.  Why it seems people stray, even if they truly love someone.  I think its because the mystery of love is lost or not seen anymore.  When we get involved with someone, there is this whole mystery of who they are, what they are like, how we are like together.  How our intimacy will be.  It seems that we need this mystery.  Something to keep us searching.  Our humanity needs this.  We are a combination of Heart, Mind and Soul and as humans we can not just feed one, if we do, we feel incomplete.   This leads us to cloud our minds and make poor decisions.   The relationships and marriages that seem to work are the ones that has God working in them.  Its as if the mystery of God works thu their relationship with each other and keeps them engaged, as well with our other relationships/friendships.

I was thinking, since God is all knowing and created us, he must have known the complexity it is for love to manifest for us.  To know God is to know true love.  To love like God, we must be open.  I do not have a child of my own, but I can only assume that the love a parent has for his or her child is just a glimpse of the love God has for us in his eyes.  So since he knew this, he must have known for us human to fully love him that he must stay a mystery, or we would stray.  

Maybe that is why Adam and Eve committed the original sin.  They knew God intimately.  They walked and talked to him in his garden of creation.  But they got bored, they searched for knowledge and ate from the tree of knowledge and defied God.  As a spouse does when they take a bit of the forbidden fruit of lust when they are bored in their relationship, Adam and Eve took a bite out of the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge. 

The mystery of the Trinity is needed for us to love God, to keep us from turning away from God.  To keep our hearts, mind and soul engaged in this journey of life and in our journey to love. 

To know God is to know love and to live in love.  That is what we strive for, that is what it is to imitate Christ.

A friend asked "Why was Jesus Baptized"

A friend asked "Why was Jesus Baptized", I thought about this and meditated on this for awhile and made some notes.

Here is a summary of my notes:

The Trinity

First I think there is a major importance in Christ’s actual baptism.  This is the first time we see the Trinity completely.  We have in this scene of Jesus life, Christ (the man), The Holy Spirit (coming down as a dove), and God (his voice and words).  When you think about it, his baptism exposes who and what he is.  He is the word of God made flesh.  We actually have God's words in Matthew  3:17 , "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.".  This when combined with the Holy Spirit and Christ, we see all three persons of God.  We get the glimpse of the pure love that is in the Trinity.

 

To Imitate Christ.

With Jesus being baptized, he is showing us how to convert and be born again anew.  Even thou Christ has no sin, or knows no sin, his baptism shows us the way to repent and to anew ourselves and his baptism still marked a turning point in His life and ministry. Also to show humility to His Father as we should show humility to God's Will.

 

Fulfillment of Prophecy

John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?" Jesus said to him in reply, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him. (Matthew 3:14-15)  
To fulfill all righteousness: in this gospel to fulfill usually refers to fulfillment of prophecy, and righteousness to moral conduct in conformity with God's will. Here, however, as in Matthew 5:6;6:33, righteousness seems to mean the saving activity of God. To fulfill all righteousness is to submit to the plan of God for the salvation of the human race. This involves Jesus' identification with sinners; hence the propriety of his accepting John's baptism.  As well as his identification with sinners, along with Christ's baptism he makes the water Holy thru him and the Holy Spirit.

Noa’s story is a prophecy how God uses water to cleanse, when he saw the world in great sin. So it only makes sense that God would use baptism to cleanse his people. 

 

 Also in Zechariah 13:1 “On that day there shall be open to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness“                                                                                                                                                         

Another example of God using water to purify is Leviticus 14:6-8.  To summarize,  one is to slay a bird over spring water and the sprinkle the man to be purified from his leprosy.  In those days, leprosy was seen as God’s punishment for breaking God’s law

There are many more, but those are just a few of how the Old Testament used water to purify.

Actually after i wrote that I just noticed there were three points. Three in being the Trinity.

The Ah Ha moment (as my mom calls them) was on the Mystery of Christ.  I was thinking more about why love doesn’t stay.  Why it seems people stray, even if they truly love someone.  I think its because the mystery of love is lost or not seen anymore.  When we get involved with someone, there is this whole mystery of who they are, what they are like, how we are like together.  How our intimacy will be.  It seems that we need this mystery.  Something to keep us searching.  Our humanity needs this.  We are a combination of Heart, Mind and Soul and as humans we can not just feed one, if we do, we feel incomplete.   This leads us to cloud our minds and make poor decisions.   The relationships and marriages that seem to work are the ones that has God working in them.  Its as if the mystery of God works thu their relationship with each other and keeps them engaged, as well with our other relationships/friendships.

I was thinking, since God is all knowing and created us, he must have known the complexity it is for love to manifest for us.  To know God is to know true love.  To love like God, we must be open.  I do not have a child of my own, but I can only assume that the love a parent has for his or her child is just a glimpse of the love God has for us in his eyes.  So since he knew this, he must have known for us human to fully love him that he must stay a mystery, or we would stray.  

Maybe that is why Adam and Eve committed the original sin.  They knew God intimately.  They walked and talked to him in his garden of creation.  But they got bored, they searched for knowledge and ate from the tree of knowledge and defied God.  As a spouse does when they take a bit of the forbidden fruit of lust when they are bored in their relationship, Adam and Eve took a bite out of the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge. 

The mystery of the Trinity is needed for us to love God, to keep us from turning away from God.  To keep our hearts, mind and soul engaged in this journey of life and in our journey to love. 

To know God is to know love and to live in love.  That is what we strive for, that is what it is to imitate Christ.

Three O'Clock Prayer to the Divine Mercy

You expired, O Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls and an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us. O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You. Amen 

Three O'Clock Prayer to the Divine Mercy

You expired, O Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls and an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us. O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You. Amen 

Stations of The Cross

Thought this was a good and useful tool for those who can't (like me) make it to church for the Stations of The Cross (click here) on Fridays, or would like to meditate on it on their own at home.  I found it on EWTN's webpage.

God Bless!

Stations of The Cross

Thought this was a good and useful tool for those who can't (like me) make it to church for the Stations of The Cross (click here) on Fridays, or would like to meditate on it on their own at home.  I found it on EWTN's webpage.

God Bless!

O clement, O loving, O Edge's-equipment-guarding Virgin Mary.

I saw this on U2 Sermon blog  and thought I would post this, TOTALY love this.  U2's guitarist, The Edge, has the Blessed Virgin on his pedal board.  Thats so awesome!

9.22.2003

 

Thanks to alert archive reader Edward, I can now link to an actual picture of something I mentioned on August 15: O clement, O loving, O Edge's-equipment-guarding Virgin Mary.

O clement, O loving, O Edge's-equipment-guarding Virgin Mary.

I saw this on U2 Sermon blog  and thought I would post this, TOTALY love this.  U2's guitarist, The Edge, has the Blessed Virgin on his pedal board.  Thats so awesome!

9.22.2003

 

Thanks to alert archive reader Edward, I can now link to an actual picture of something I mentioned on August 15: O clement, O loving, O Edge's-equipment-guarding Virgin Mary.

Isaiah 55:3

I am struggling with quieting myself these days.  I read this in this mornings liturgy and thought how perfect it was for my state of mind and being the last few days.

I am finding it hard to let go lately and un-clutter my mind.  As I stated in a previous blogs one of U2's new song "Unknown Caller" rings these sentiments:

"Escape yourself, and gravity 

Hear me, cease to speak that I may speak 

Shush now  ......

...Restart and re-boot yourself 

You’re free to go 

Oh, oh 

Shout for joy if you get the chance "

Isaiah 55:3

I am struggling with quieting myself these days.  I read this in this mornings liturgy and thought how perfect it was for my state of mind and being the last few days.

I am finding it hard to let go lately and un-clutter my mind.  As I stated in a previous blogs one of U2's new song "Unknown Caller" rings these sentiments:

"Escape yourself, and gravity 

Hear me, cease to speak that I may speak 

Shush now  ......

...Restart and re-boot yourself 

You’re free to go 

Oh, oh 

Shout for joy if you get the chance "

St Augustine - my favorite quote

"Give me chastity and continence, but not yet."

St Augustine - my favorite quote

"Give me chastity and continence, but not yet."

Prayer to St. Raphael

I saw this prayer this morning on Ave Maria Singles web page.  St. Raphael, was my Grandpa's (my Mom's Dad) Confirmation name.  Its actually a name I have toyed with for my Confirmation name.  As of now I am leaning towards St Agusustine.  But after reading this Prayer to St. Raphael, I thought I would post it.

O Raphael, lead us toward those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us: Raphael, Angel of happy meeting, lead us by the hand toward those we are looking for. May all our movements be guided by your Light and transfigured with your joy.

Angel, guide of Tobias, lay the request we now address to you at the feet of Him on whose unveiled Face you are privileged to gaze. Lonely and tired, crushed by the separations and sorrows of life, we feel the need of calling to you and of pleading for the protection of your wings, so that we may not be as strangers in the province of joy, all ignorant of the concerns of our country. Remember the weak, you who are strong, you whose home lies beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene and bright with the resplendent glory of God.

Prayer to St. Raphael

I saw this prayer this morning on Ave Maria Singles web page.  St. Raphael, was my Grandpa's (my Mom's Dad) Confirmation name.  Its actually a name I have toyed with for my Confirmation name.  As of now I am leaning towards St Agusustine.  But after reading this Prayer to St. Raphael, I thought I would post it.

O Raphael, lead us toward those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us: Raphael, Angel of happy meeting, lead us by the hand toward those we are looking for. May all our movements be guided by your Light and transfigured with your joy.

Angel, guide of Tobias, lay the request we now address to you at the feet of Him on whose unveiled Face you are privileged to gaze. Lonely and tired, crushed by the separations and sorrows of life, we feel the need of calling to you and of pleading for the protection of your wings, so that we may not be as strangers in the province of joy, all ignorant of the concerns of our country. Remember the weak, you who are strong, you whose home lies beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene and bright with the resplendent glory of God.

McLovin Da Funk

Ok a quick note.  At my last gig, I came up with a new alter ego as a bass player.

McLovin Da Funk! yup cause when i play that bass, you all be McLovin da funk!

McLovin Da Funk

Ok a quick note.  At my last gig, I came up with a new alter ego as a bass player.

McLovin Da Funk! yup cause when i play that bass, you all be McLovin da funk!