Proclaim to the nations - Mass version

Rock of Faith performing one of my songs as a Mass prelude.




Pax et bonum

Proclaim to the nations

A demo song - I was recorded solo (singing and guitar), the engineer (our bass player) overdubbed my voice, then added bass later. The song was to teach the group.




Pax et bonum

"Will Wilder" ... Nice try, but

Raymond Arroyo of EWTN has been endlessly self-promoting his children/young teens book Will Wilder: The Relic of Perilous Falls. I spotted a copy at our local Catholic shop and wanting to give him some support I bought it.

It was a quick read. That's good.

Second, let me say that it's wonderful Arroyo tells his children original stories.

Third, let me compliment him on actually finishing the writing of a novel. I certainly didn't finish that one I've been working on off and on for years.

As for the book, though, while it is not awful, it certainly is not very good.

There are plot holes. Some of the characters' actions seem hard to believe. (I'm not talking here about fantasy elements;  I'd be fine with that. But some characters simply act in ways that ring false even in a fantasy novel.) The secondary characters are too flat. The dialogue at times seems silly and forced. The forces of evil are simply not evil or threatening enough. The fantasy and adventure elements don't always work.

Some examples: There's a hidden pagan temple that no one seems to explore or even know about except for the "informed"? How did a pagan temple get built there in the first place? There's an underground entrance to the Keep that no one seems to notice, yet three boys are able to enter it easily? Will's friends are trapped in chambers filling with water, and he just deserts them? What kind of hero is that? Will's dad sees all kinds of monsters, yet continues to try to ignore them even though they nearly killed his wife and children?

Were this written in the 1920s or 30s Arroyo might be able to get away with some of these things - and some of the dialogue and characters - but not in 2016.

I finished the book, but quickly added it to the pile of books to be donated to the library.

Again, let me say this is not an awful book. I've read worse - including a number of books aimed at Catholic or Christian audiences. And the underlying idea is an interesting one. And some young, less discerning readers might enjoy it.

But, sorry Mr. Arroyo. You might be a great dad and you have served EWTN well, but this effort falls short.

Pax et bonum

Tom Russell-Who's Gonna Build Your Wall

Another song to learn!




Pax et bonum

A Southern Gospel Revival - Jamie Wilson - Ain't No Grave

Gotta learn this song.




Pax et bonum

More Spiritual Focus

Met with my spiritual director last week, and went to the cathedral last night for Mass and confession as part of the Year of Mercy Plenary Indulgence.

From both spiritual moments it became clear that if I am going to grow spiritually I need to focus more on what is good, and spend less time on what is not.

Among the bad habits -

Watching too much trashy television
Wasting too much time on social media
Getting caught up in pointless debates online
Playing too many computer/online games

These things in and of themselves are not bad, but spending too much time on them is.

So ...

I'm going to leave the television off as much as possible. I don't need to watch mindless sitcoms and crime shows and horror movies and movies that have questionable content.

I'm going cold turkey on computer games.

I'm going to avoid arguments online, and avoid spending much time on social media - just tune in to get updates, and lightly post (and try to keep it positive).

Instead, I will focus on spiritual reading, prayer time, writing, and getting my school work and chores done.

I already avoided turning on the television today, and haven't played a computer game. I might watch something with the wife later, but not any of the usual programs or movies I watch. (Sorry scifi and horror channels!) 

As soon as I finish posting this, I will get back to grading papers.

Lord, please give me the strength I need to resist temptation.

Pax et bonum

More Scifaiku

coming back to find
he no longer existed -
time travel mishap

robot's Valentine
card bears the image of a
mechanical heart

hearing aide, false teeth,
prosthetic limbs on the shelf -
bed time ritual

Pax et bonum