Saturdays

Lawns are mowed, To Do's are done, houses cleaned and kids shuttled around. Baseball is played, parties are attended, video games are conquered and toys are lost.

Skins are burned, pools are dipped, bikes are ridden and leftovers are served. Naps are induldged, official bed times ignored, sleepovers are slept in and friendships engaged.

Date nights are planned, movies are watched, memories recalled and a future is planned.

And these are just some of the great things about Saturdays.

Predictor Pete - Week Two

The Bucs held on to beat the Vikings last week in a surprising road win. This week, the Bucs have their season home opener against the Buffalo Bills, who beat the Houston Texans 22-7.

The Bills have a second-year quaterback, Losman, who was named the starter this year... a first in his career. The Bucs have a strong history against new quarterbacks and I expect the defense to throw in some schemes to confuse him. If they can keep the Bills running game in check, the Bucs should win.

My Heart: Bucs 21-10.
My Mind: Bucs 17-6.
My Colon: Bills 14-13.

My Pick: Bucs 20-13... The Bills have a pretty good defense, but I can't go against the Bucs on their home opener of the season.

My Record: 1 - 0.

Musical Pews

What is the role of music in the mass? What type of music is "appropriate?" Some think that Gregorian chants are the ideal musical accent. Others feel something more modern, more mainstream would hold a greater effect.

My wife fulfilled a life long dream and began singing in the Life Teen Band at our church. The music is pop/rock in nature and the band does an excellent job of incorporating that style of music with the reverance required in a mass. Every week the attendance at this mass has grown and last week it was near capacity.

But is that type of music appropriate?

In my opinion, all music is topical or "new" at some point. The first time some Gregorian monks got together and hummed a divine diddy, it was new and different. Granted, some music instills a more harmonious experience for most, but, in the end, does that necessarily make it better than other music. Is not the mass really a celebration? Should the music reflect that?

I remember in high school when the metal band Stryper first came out... it was great... a metal band singing about Jesus. What could be better? However, Stryper was eventually undone by the continued criticism within their own faith... not understanding that they were addressing their music to the people that needed to hear The Word the most.

Wasn't it David who said singing is like praying twice? How did David sing the Psalms? Is that the "right way?"

At the end of the day, if the music inspires the heart, moves the spirit, is both divine and reverant, can it not be entertaining as well? As long as it does not distract the focus of the mass on the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Word, isn't that acceptable?

Musical tastes are unique for each individual. But, if the growing attendance at the Life Teen mass is any indication, this latest flavor of music is the right choice for our growing Catholic youth.

Bill Clinton - The Immoral Moralist

While visiting China on September 11th, former President and intern lover Bill Clinton stated "I think it should be a cautionary tale for Americans, for Chinese, for people all across the world to remember what really caused this horrible act is that these people became gripped with the madness of believing that they were so right and the rest of us were so wrong that they could kill totally innocent people in pursuit of their political objectives."

Bill's biggest mistake is speaking on moral beliefs in the first place. He should really stay with subject matters for which he has some basic understanding. His second mistake is equating religious belief with a "political objective." Bill, terrorists aren't trying to win an election, they want us dead because they see us unholy, evil and worthy of their wrath. Do I agree with them? Not even close, but Bill, some people believe in things to the point that they are willing to die for them. If I equate you with Satan, no amount of focus groups, political correctness or multi-cultural education is going to change the fact that I think you're Satan. If its a religious belief, then the change must come from within the religion, not from an exterior, political stance. Its like fighting a naval battle with tanks... wrong weapons for the wrong battle.

Clinton continued further in his speech to dismiss the concept of an absolute truth. As a Catholic, I was offended by that dismissal. My faith is based on some absolute truths. All faiths are... these truths are not up for discussion or reinterpretation... some things are just morally wrong.

Unfortunately for Poor Ol' Bill, he's never believed in anything. He lives in a world without right and wrong, but of legal and illegal, of what you can get away with and what you can't. Its so transparent that he is incapable of comprehending a world where someone could believe in something so much that they would sacrifice their life for it. Such as God. Or your country. Or your family. Lets take a look at Clinton's record on these examples:

• God... sure, he visits churches during campaigning, states he's a believer, yet openly desecrates the sacremental vows of marriage by justifying infidelity. When faced with the sacriment of marriage, the man can't keep his fly zipped up.
• Country... This coming from a man who avoided Vietnam by going to England and then speaking out against the war. Enough said.
• Family.... Here's a man who justified cheating on his wife by having "non-sex" sex with an intern. Its obvious he only believes in himself and I don't know of anyone who would die for him... wait a minute, there are some Secret Service that would bite the bullet for the horny old man, but that's part of their job description.

In the future, I wish former President Clinton would excuse himself from speaking on faith, morals or values. He sounds like a blind man speaking on painted works of art. Leave the moral discussion to those who have them, Bill.

Mortality

This year there have been three funerals of people I know. It has forced me to revisit my mortality. As I have looked upon the coffins of my friends and family, I am forced to wonder how long before I end up there as well.

The one constant in life is that every living thing dies.

It made me realize how fervently our society avoids the inevitability of death. It is as if we are all a bunch of non-swimmers restfully picnicing on a beach while a massive tidal wave slowly approaches. Perhaps if we spent more time accepting the natural process of death, we would spend more effort in securing our place after we leave this planet. Instead, we blissfully ignore the ticking clock within all of us, certain that we will somehow know or control when the second hand stops moving.

I don't so much fear death as I don't want to miss my family's lives. I want to grow old with my wife, holding her hand in mine. I want to see my children grow and see their joy when they hold their own children for the first time. And, personally, I just want to feel like I've made a difference. Like my existence was important or memorable, even if only to God.

Yesterday I attended a beautiful service. It was touching and full of love and grace and acceptance and divine hope. It was a celebration of one's life, not the pain of one's death. And that's the way we should all approach the inevitable moment when we are called to leave here... with appreciation and joy and the certainty that we will all be together again... someday.

Monday Morning QB - 9/12

I'm wearing my cup and sweating like a Banshee... that's right, its football season! Every Monday, during the football season, I'll give my two cents on how the Bucs did this week.

The season opened with the Bucs taking on the Minnesota Vikings in the Metrodome. Minnesota is one of the sexy picks for making the NFL playoffs and, potentially, making it to the Super Bowl. The Bucs... well, no one thinks they'll do much of anything.

My prediction: Bucs 21, Vikes 17

Score: Bucs 24, Vikes 13

Overall, I feel lucky we won the game. It was a penalty filled, ugly win. But, at the end of the day, 1-0 is much better than 0-1.

Offense: C. Flashes of competence, but unable to put the other team away. Griese has to stop giving away points. Nice to see Cadillac break on to win the game. Only score 10 points off of 5 turnovers. Unacceptable. O Line needs to establish running game more effectively.

Defense: B+. Agressive and dominating. Made it closer than it should have been with bad penalities and unable to stop 3rd and Longs in the 3rd quarter.

Special Teams: B. Punting was very good. Kickoffs were very good. Coverage and tackling, excellent. No missed field goals.

Coaching: B. Dropped passes, bad penalties on both sides of the ball and turnovers by the offense limited the effectiveness of both the Offense and Defensive coaches.

Outstanding Players: Cadillac. A. Smith. Hovan. McFarland. Rice. Kelley.

Things That Drove Me Nuts: The Bucs inability to put the Vikes away. It almost cost them the game. Team needs the skill, discipline and a killer instinct.

Bucs Record: 1-0.

Next Opponent: Next week, the Bucs have their home opener agains the Buffalo Bills, who beat the Texans this week.

An ugly win, but I'll take it. Thank God for the defense.

9/11... Still at War

On this day, I offer prayers to the families of all of those impacted by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. In four short years, this terrible day has reshapen our countries path down a difficult, but necessary road.

The one thing we should never forget is that there are still a lot of people who would kill you, your family and all of your friends, without a second thought, simply because you are an American.

Until that threat is defeated, we will continue to be at War. It is a Holy War for our enemies. Unless it becomes a Holy War for us, they will have the advantage. In an increasingly secular society, I don't know if we have to moral clarity to all understand the sacrifice required to win a Holy War.

For the time being, we're left just being at War.