Near Death and Rawhide

Our trip to Arizona was originally meant to include a jaunt to Los Angeles, but that got scrapped. In the end, it turned out to be a good thing as, after the Canyon and Sedona, we were pretty tired of driving long distances. We spent Saturday morning heading to a place called Rawhide, which is a recreation of a Western town.

On the way there we almost got into a very serious accident. We were heading down the interstate and were starting down a one laned exit ramp when another car cut in front of us. At first, I noticed the car, but did not realize how slow they were going. Dea gasped and only then did I see that we were a second away from plowing into this car in front of us with 70 miles per hour impact.

I slammed on the brakes, the tires screeched and rubber smoked.

Funny what goes through your mind in a millisecond. I remember thinking, "Wow, we're going to really plow into this car!" and I could see the damage we were about to inflict. Dea said the thought that crossed her mind was "I should have gotten that rental car insurance." Funny, huh?

Anyway, as the tires screeched and smoked, the car in front of us moved to the right slightly and our car veered ever so slightly left toward the cement wall of the exit ramp. When the car stopped skidding we found ourselves with literally less than an inch on either side between the wall on the left and the opposing car on the right. The car in front of us continued down the road, apparently oblivious to the event and I sat, my heart racing and my legs feeling like rubber.

I continued down the road and the tires had a minor, rythmic thump in it from the flattened surface that was left in our skid marks on the ramp. When we got to the western town I got out of the car and confirmed my suspicion that, other than the burned rubber, the car was unscathed... nary a scratch. We all grabbed hands and thank God and our guardian angels for their divine protection.

With that we headed into the western town. It was a very cool place. We saw a quick draw show, had our picture taken in western gear and ate at an old fashioned saloon.

After the excitement from the drive to the town, the slowed pace of the western town made for a very relaxing morning.

The quiet western store.

Some scary cowpokes.

Gabe and DC take a ride.

Trick shooting behind him using a mirror.

Bang.

Dem der varmits are busted.

Gabe as a prospector.

Bang... again.

The Reception

The reception was held at a place called The Wright House, which has a large, elaborate courtyard that resembles an Italian courtyard. There were numerous levels, with tables spread about. We were greeted by four musicians playing classical music.

The reception was also the first time I had actually met Candyce in person. She seems to be such a loving and genuine person. Matt is a very lucky man. Both the families are very faithful and honest people. One could rarely see a better fit between man and wife as well as between in-laws.

Peter Smith gave a wonderful, heartfelt toast and we all enjoyed the celebration, food and family. Still suffering from east coast time, we were all pretty punchy and laughing quite a bit. By the end of the night, we were downright goofy.

We had a great time.

Greeted by music.

Sarah and Luke.

KT and Father Tim.

The happy couple.

The cake.

We're full of hot air.

The goof balls.

The Wedding

Matt and Candyce's wedding was held at St. Timothy's church, where the Lifeteen Mass originated. Behind the altar at this influential church is a large mural that represents the mass itself, where all of the Saints and Angels join us during the celebration of Jesus in the Eucharist. It was awe-inspiring artwork that really brought home what we take for granted every Sunday.

The ceremony itself was truly blessed. There were five priests in attendance (two for Candyce, two for Matt and the pastor of St. Timothy's)... I have never seen so many priests at a wedding before :) Emotions ran high during the wedding and we felt so honored to have been there. Matt Maher lead the touching music and the various other Lifeteen personalities, including Mark Hart who leads a teen bible study through Lifeteen called T3, was one of the readers as well.

We had such a wonderful time and, after the celebration, DC and Gabe were finally able to meet Matt M in person. We listen to his music everyday and they know most of his songs by heart. It was a big thrill to get to finally see him in person. He is truly a gift and a humble, warm gentleman.

After the wedding we hung around while the pictures were taken, joking and laughing with the family and then headed over to the reception...

The stunning, immense mural behind the altar.

We clean up real gooood.

Matt Maher leads the music during the wedding.

Matt and Candyce become one.

Gabe and DC get a picture taken
with Matt Maher, our favorite musician.

Matt's Bachelor Party

Matt asked me to join him at his bachelor party, for which I was honored. The plan was to go to this place called The Monastery, where we were to enjoy outdoor fun, such as volleyball, horse shoes, billiards, etc, but, as fate would have it, a cold front came through the desert and stuck us with an intense rain.

We huddled inside the small, smoke filled bar, which happened to be open mic night. So, Matt Maher, a roommate of Matt S., decided to celebrate the bachelor party by singing a few cover songs as well as a wonderful song he had written less that two days earlier.

In a previous post I had mentioned how much I had loved Matt Maher's music. It inspires me and lifts me up. I came across his music from my brother Charles. When I found out that Matt M and Matt S were roomies, I told Charles that I would pay Matt M. for his music if I ever got to see him in person. When I was introduced to him at the bachelor party, I pulled out the $50 I had specifically been saving for him and gladly handed it over, complimenting him on his wonderful musical gifts.

Despite everyone's exhaustion from the long day, we all had a wonderful time. Matt S has a great group of friends that were all impressive in their own ways. I was very happy to have been able to participate in the evening.

Hanging at the Smiths

We drove down from Sedona Thursday morning and went straight to the house the Smith family was renting. Staying at the house were Mary and Steve, Brian and KT and fam, Robbie and Kristi and fam, Peter, Paul, Andrew and Laura. Father Tim, from Atlanta, also came in for the wedding and was staying at the same Hampton Inn as us.

One of the greatest blessings we have is that our extended family loves being together. We spent all of Thursday morning over at the house, eating, laughing, joking, enjoying each others company. What a great trip this is turning out to be.

DC and Laura

Andrew and Paul on the couch, surfing the net.

Brian and Father Tim.

Dea and Kristi

Matt, DC and Dea.

Pete and Laura.

Stunning Views at Sedona

On our way from the Grand Canyon to Phoenix for Matt's wedding, before our vacation, our friend back in Florida, Cathy Ross, was pretty adamant that we stop and see Sedona. I was not too excited to add another stop on our already busy schedule, but since it is directly between the Canyon and Phoenix, we decided to stay overnight.

Being out west, yet still on east coast time, is a great benefit on vacation. We get up early, do our sight seeing and are usually on to our next destination by lunch. The same held true for today. We left the Canyon and hit Sedona around lunch time. Even though I could have slept a billion hours (suffering from a quite intense head cold), we all ate lunch and headed out to see the sights.

Sedona is one impressive city. The beauty of the landscape is quite unbelievable. It not only impresses you in beauty alone, but it also gives you a better appreciation of the size of the Grand Canyon.

Many thanks to Cathy for suggesting this place.

CLICK ON THE PICS FOR LARGER IMAGES.

Picturesque Sedona

More Pics of Sedona

Cathedral Rock

Chapel of the Cross

View from the Chapel of the Cross

The family at the top of Chapel of the Cross.

The view over Sedona from the
scenic overview near the airport.

Hanging out above Sedona.

The family and I watching the sunset atop
Sedona. It's the only time I've watched
a sunset where the setting sun wasn't the
focus, but instead the light against the rocks.

Grand Views at the Canyon

We arrived around 8 PM at the Grand Canyon Hotel and collapsed as it was 11 PM EST for us. The next day we went and took in the grandure of the Grand Canyon, took a hike, then headed for our stay in Sedona.

Back in Bedrock

Nineteen years ago my best friend Tim and I drove across the country, stopping at a campground called Bedrock City outside of the Grand Canyon.

As my family and I left the Canyon and headed south toward Sedona, we found Bedrock City still standing, better than ever. It brought back a flood of memories. I called Tim from our approximate camping spot 19 years older and said "you'll never guess where I'm standing."

He couldn't believe it.

After my round trip down memory lane, we hopped back into the car and headed toward Sedona, a destination strongly recommended by Cathy Ross, the music director of our Lifeteen Mass at home.

Calling Tim from the Bedrock City.

The proof is in the signage.

On the Drive to the Canyon

We landed successfully in Phoenix, hopped into our rental car and headed for the four hour drive to the Grand Canyon. We're all very tired, but we gained three hours of sunlight out here, so we feel pretty good.

At Atlanta Airport

We're sitting and waiting for our flight to Phoenix. Gabe was nervous on the flight to Atlanta, as it was his first time in a plane. But we made it safe and sound and are sitting patiently, eating Krystal burgers during our two hour layover...

On the flight to ATL.

Relaxing in Atlanta as we wait for our flight
to Phoenix.

At the Airport

It's 8:33 a.m. and we're at the airport, heading to Atlanta, then off to Phoenix for Matt's wedding. It should be a VERY long day, but we're all excited.

Boarding should begin shortly. Guardian angels protect us...

Easter and the Eucharist

As we enter the last phase of Lent and ready ourselves for Easter, a thought occurred to me last night.

Non-Catholics struggle mightily with the idea of the Eucharist, of Jesus being truly present in the bread and wine turned body and blood. Non-Catholics believe it to be a symbol, not a real sacrifice.

In Exodus, at the original Passover, the Jews had to sacrifice and eat the lamb in order to overcome death. If they sacrificed the lamb but ate only a symbolic lamb, for example lamb shaped cookies as Scott Hahn equates in his book The Lambs Supper, then their firstborns died. Consumption of the lamb was required to be freed from death.

So, Jesus, as the Lamb of God, understood this and is why, Catholics believe, told the apostles during the last supper that the bread was his body and the wine was his blood and to continue this tradition "in memory" of him. Like the original Passover lamb, consuming Jesus would allow us to be freed from death caused by sin.

But, all that aside, Catholics also turn to the Gospel of John for validation of the Eucharist. In this Gospel, prior to his passion, Jesus told thousands of followers that he was the "bread of life" and his "flesh was true food" and his "blood true drink." Non-Catholics believe that Jesus was speaking figuratively, not literally, even though he offers no further explanation to Peter and the Apostles.

The apostles apparently believed Jesus was speaking literally because within one generation of Jesus resurrection what is equivalent to the Catholic mass was already in place (see St. Justin's letter to Antonio Pius).

So, what was the thought that occurred to me last night?

Let's say Jesus WANTED to speak literally, then I would ask Non-Catholics, what SHOULD he have said to communicate his wish other than what he says in John...

I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert,
but they died;this is the bread that comes down from
heaven so that one may eat it and not die.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give is
my flesh for the life of the world."

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
"How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?"

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man
and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.

For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him.

Just as the living Father sent me and I have life
because of the Father, so also the one who
feeds on me will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.

Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever."

If Jesus wanted his flesh and blood to be consumed as a paschal sacrifice, then how else could he have communicated it, what more could he have said? What words was he missing?

Anyway... that's what I was thinking about last night.

Sonlight's Forgiven

As my master plan to kick off Sonlight Pictures evolves I've been steadily tweaking my approach. I've recently been inspired to write a short, intense film called Forgiven about a young woman on her way to join a convent who ends up caught in an brutal hostage situation. During her struggles she must decide whether to follow Jesus' example and forgive her attackers, no matter how abusive they become.

I'm hoping to shoot the short film this year and use it as a "calling card" to raise the necessary capital to shoot the other feature scripts. There are some very interesting web influenced money raising methods that have been gaining traction in the independent film world and I may be able to utilize one of them to help us raise our money for Sonlight's features.

As for the short film, the writing of Forgiven has not been a pleasant one, but it has been inspired. After writing one particularly disturbing scene I threw the notepad onto my desk, looked up to heaven and said angrily, "there, I hope you're happy!" I was not a happy camper.

The story was partially inspired by a missing element in the feature script Severed. Severed, as an action film about martyrdom, requires gun play and the lethal defending of one's life, but the missing Christian element is that of loving your enemy. Try as I did, I could not fit that layer into that popcorn action flick, so I decided to focus that element into the short Forgiven.

As I said, it hasn't been a fun writing experience, but it is apparently a necessary one.

Gators Champs... Again

Congratulations to the Florida Gators for beating another Ohio State team for another National Championship. The Gators beat the Buckeyes 84-75 last night to win the NCAA Championship for the second year in a row.

Once again, it's "great to be a Florida Gator!"

The Illusionist (2006)

The Illusionist is an intriguing and satisfying film about star-crossed lovers, monarchical politics and whether a magician called Eisenheim the Illusionist is just a gifted magician or someone truly conjuring up the darker side of the spiritual realm.

The film stars a group of very talented actors, including Edward Norton as Eisenheim, Paul Giamatti as Inspector Uhl, Jessica Biel as Sophie and Rufus Sewell as Crown Prince Leopold. The story revolves around the troubled love story between Eisenheim and Sophie. Eisenheim is a peasant, Sophie, an aristocrat. Their childhood romance ends badly and Eisenheim disappears for 15 years, only to return possessing with what appears to be supernatural powers.

Sophie's and Eisenheim's paths once again cross and it begins a dangerous and interesting journey full of magic, misdirection, conspiracies and royal abuses of power. The Illusionist is an enjoyable movie filled with strong performances and an intricate, interweaving plot.

And What of Lazarus?

"And What of Lazarus?" is actually the title of an old Star Trek episode that was on television a few days ago, but it seemed fitting this weekend as well. At mass on Sunday they had the RCIA group there so they read from the alternate readings, the Gospel of which was the story of Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life. As I listened and read from the Gospel, the title of the Star Trek episode popped into my mind. In John 11:3-4 Jesus hears of Lazarus' declining health...

So the sisters sent word to him, saying, "Master, the one you love is ill."

When Jesus heard this he said, "This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

And for the first time I thought of Lazarus. What about his declining health, his pain, his suffering, his angst, his weakness. Even though he was to be raised from the dead "for the glory of God" he still had to endure the illness and death.

And it occurred to me that we too may be asked to suffer, to face challenges, to face turmoil for the glory of God. If such a fate was acceptable to Lazarus, someone whom Jesus knew and loved to the point of weeping at his death, then should we not be surprised if we are expected to face our own challenges for our faith?

Over and over again in the bible people are healed due to their faith, but it never means they did not have to suffer prior to that miraculous moment.

Just a thought...

Prayers for the Freshours

Last night Arnold Freshour died suddenly from a massive heart attack. He was 72 years old and in tremendous physical shape, which makes the events even harder to phathom. He was my wife's, sister's father-in-law and grandfather to three of my nieces. He was a faithful, gentle and warm man who held himself to the highest of standards.

My wife and her parents are driving up to Atlanta today. Please keep the entire Freshour and Koehler families in your prayers during this very, very tough time.

UPDATE: It appears it was not a heart attack, but more than likely an aneurysm. They won't be performing an autopsy, so they won't know for sure, but Arnold's cardiologist told them he had no heart issues.

The viewing will be tonight from 6 - 8 p.m. and the funeral tomorrow.

Again, keep them in their prayers. This has been especially hard on the grand kids.

Happy God Children Day

A few years ago I started my own tradition of celebrating my God Children by saying a Novena for them starting on the Feast of St. Joseph, which falls on March 19th. Sometimes I'll send gifts as well, sometimes just the novena.

This year, due to a lot of events going on in our lives, it's just a novena. So, Matthew, Jonathan, Chaz, Aislinn, Laura and Sarah, I celebrate your life as part of the body of Christ by saying a novena for you starting today. I hope the Holy Spirit inspires you to follow God's path and that you make Him proud in all you do.

Casino Royale (2006)

Daniel Craig takes over the James Bond reigns in the latest Bond flick, Casino Royale. Craig is brilliant as 007... rugged, handsome, muscular, tough and ruthless. Gone are the light quips from Roger Moore and the ultra suave of Pierce Brosnan. Craig hearkens back to the original Sean Connery version of Bond, but the new Bond is even better, stronger and more menacing.

The story involves the introduction of James Bond to his 007 role, starting out in Uganda and including an amazing opening chase scene involving "free running" where people can jump from sides of buildings to other floors or structures, through holes slightly larger than the human body, etc., all done without nets, wires or special effects. It's amazing stuff.

Bond follows terrorist money from Uganda to the Bahamas to Montenegro where he battles wits and cards against a terrorist banker named Le Chiffre, played with an appropriate amount of sadistic smugness by Mads Mikkelsen. The Bond girls include Eva Green, as Bond associate Vesper Lynd, Ivana Milicevic as Le Chiffre's main squeeze and Caterina Murino as a Solange. Missing in this film are some of the standard expected moments, such as "shaken, not stirred" and the typical Bond girl with a name referencing female genitalia. The perks, however, far outweigh these changes.

Craig actually feels dangerous and is probably the best Bond in the series. When he plans to kill someone it is driven by an inner rage that is unleashed for King and Country. The film is over two hours long, but moves at a quick pace. The action scenes are excellent, the acting on target and the story weaves and intricate and satisfying story. With Casino Royale it's a good bet that Bond is back in the best way possible.

Rays Alternate Slogans

My poor hapless Tampa Bay Devil Rays (soon to be just 'Rays') are just so very, very bad.

• You know it's bad when you're one of the cheapest teams in the league last year and your payroll actually decreases this year.
• You know it's bad when management says they're shooting for 2008... and it's 2007.
• You know it's bad when your team is 1-12... in Spring Training!

So, in accordance with the team's expectations, I'm offering, free of charge, slogans which better signify their low expectations.

Here's the current team slogan:

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Here are a couple of suggestions:

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Here's my personal favorite:

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I've gone to at least one DRays game a year since their inception and it hasn't been easy. I've watched better games at the little league field. Oh well, there's always 2008.