The days between Christmas and the New Year often are days of reflection. If you have some time off from school or work you can take time to recharge yourself and prepare for the next year. You can get refreshed and re-motivated.

Unfortunately, too many of us spend the time in a blitz of shopping, bustling, and partying. This can cause us to miss the very message of Jesus' birth. The incarnation is God's entry into a time and place in history that is both specific, real and endless.<< MORE >>

Any well written action thriller has fully developed characters, plot twists and some unusual event as the hook to the story. Such is the case with the fine debut by Gerard Webster. IN-SIGHT revolves primarily around Ward McNulty, a syndicated columnist who seems to have what he wants in life - fame, a beautiful woman and some powerful friends. He lives to please himself, but as the story unfolds he discovers he is caught up in something frightening. There's corruption, drugs, alcoholism, egotism and people hurting from the lack of meaning in their life.

There's danger when money, power, sex, drugs and corruption mix. The plot weaves these variables into a tight and tingling storyline. There's redemption ahead - but also loss. Webster writes with deep care for his characters and paints them as real humans, faults and all. But he has a message in the story that is positive without being preachy.

IN-SIGHT was released in 2009 and has earned recognition as the 2nd place winner from the Creative Arts Council 2009 book awards. << MORE >>

Going to church is something many people do. But in order for your life to be full you need to do more than just attend. You have to get involved. One of the best lines I've ever heard related to this has to do with how we create real change in our lives. The expression is "You can't think yourself into right living; you have to live your life into right thinking."<< MORE >>

It was about a month ago that Judy Valente in Portland, Oregon did an interview with noted Franciscan author and speaker Richard Rohr that has been featured on the PBS Religion and Ethics program. I am always interested in Richard Rohr's new books and any interviews or coverage he receives. This PBS interview is one of the best I've come across. It shares in a short amount of time many of the profound points that Father Rohr often shares through his talks and books.<< MORE >>

One of the more profound lessons I have learned in life is that gratitude is not simply a feeling. Many miss that. A warm feeling when you are grateful is good. I'm not discounting that. But feeling grateful is not the fullness of gratitude. Gratitude is a state of being and it is best expressed in action.

How we carry that tradition of being grateful on one day - Thanksgiving - into our lives each and every day is the key to both an attitude of gratitude and gratitude in action.<< MORE >>

There is a difference between being in the world and of the world. In the Gospel of John (Chapter 17) Jesus prays for us. He knows we will face evils, hardships and seductions of the world, but he still wants us to be here so that we can be his agents of love, his hands and feet. Yet we so easily can get lost in a life that is all about our own interests. What can life do for me? That’s often our motto.<< MORE >>

St. Therese of Lisieux is often referred to as the Little Flower. She was a very devout young woman who became a Carmelite nun at an early age and during her time there she wasn't famous. But she was drawn deeply to the heart of Jesus and her prayer life was rich and intense. She put up with disdain and mean-spirited actions from some of the other sisters and she had to learn to let go of her self centered thoughts and behavior. Her little way has inspired countless others and her wonderful autobiography, The Story of a Soul, is a great account of her love for God and her spiritual growth.<< MORE >>

On September 11, 2011 - this year's 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy - I was informed of the untimely death of the son of a friend I work with at a hospital. Ian was only 27, far too young for his life to end. I don't know the cause of death, but it was sudden and the shock to his mother is severe. As you might imagine it would be. << MORE >>

Ten years later. It's hard to believe that a decade has passed since that fateful day when we awoke to a September morning that forever changed our world. 9/11 is a day when many lives were lost in horrific terrorist attacks on U.S. soil - mainly the collapse of the World Trade Centers in New York City when hijacked airliners were flown into the buildings. What I want to remember is how people - many of them ordinary citizens - turned into heroes through acts of courage and kindness. A beautiful memorial is about to be dedicated at the former site of the World Trade Centers. On 9-11-11 two reflection ponds built on the footprint of the two iconic buildings that collapsed will open to the public.<< MORE >>

It is now ten years since 9/11. I wrote this review back in 2002 and I post it, the tale of Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage, to remind us to always remember and to find ways to face tragedy with faith in God and love for others.

September 11, 2001 will be forever etched into the history of America as a day of infamy. It was a defining moment in our lives as we watched the World Trade Centers collapse in New York City along with the destruction and death at the Pentagon, both the result of terrorist acts by religious extremists. The hijacking of commercial airliners and turning them into weapons of mass destruction flown into buildings was both shocking and horrific.

In the wake of the 9/11 tragedy his wife, Lisa Beamer, wrote a book. Let's Roll! Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage (written with Ken Abraham and published in August 2002 by Tyndale Publisher) became a national bestseller. << MORE >>