Wild Tangents
Marc talks about life in Nashville, life as a Catholic and life as a geek.

I’d like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and leave you with a quote from the president that instituted the holiday.

“I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” – Abraham Lincoln

This is a message for anyone in the Galatin area with preschool age kids. There are openings in the pre-k class at the school for my church. This pre-k program, while sounding expensive at first, is actually cheaper than daycare when you add it up. Plus the kids there are actually learning something. Give the school a call and check it out. Here’s the link the for the school.

http://www.saintjohnvianney.org/school.html

Something really caught my attention in may pastor’s homily this past weekend. He started off by talking about the storm that recently came through the area. He mentioned how amazing it was how many branches there were on the ground and immediately compared them with the branches our Blessed Lord mentions in the gospel. Here’s the scripture (John 15:1-8):

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

His comparison got me to thinking. We often think that when God touches us in our lives, it is a “touchy feely” comfortable experience. But often times when He gives us a helping of His grace, it’s like we’re branches and there’s a storm trying to shake us loose from the tree. Our own concupiscent natures make us want to resist this infusion of grace. That’s because that change goes against that nature, our nature. Such a change is not something that comes easy. It’s a hard thing to go through, but it’s also a process that takes time. We have to work on it constantly and never let our guard down. One slip and we could undo untold amounts of time hanging on.

We have to weather the storm, no matter how hard it is to hang on.

A little bit of the British post-punk wave from The Jam for today I think…

A great song…..

I always figured FNM covered this song to let the whole world know they didn’t take themselves too seriously.  It worked.  As a matter of fact,it’s even more obvious in this clip from the Tonight Show.

Here’s hoping everyone’s Friday is “easy”.

This song was so cool when it first came out. Over the years since it came out, I’ve had friends whose musical taste was diversified across most every genre. But I can’t think of a single person who said they hated this song. Now thirty years after it was released, it’s still got a hook too it that just makes me love it.

The other day I was made aware of this conversation that went on between two co-workers. One tells the other what he’s giving up for for Lent.  I’m pretty sure it was something work related.  The other replies that he didn’t know Baptists observed Lent. Well, I guess anyone will observe Lent if it suits their purpose. But it got me to thinking that a lot folks out there might not understand what Lent is, why Catholic don’t eat meat on Fridays in Lent or why we get our foreheads dirty on Ash Wednesday. This idea was reinforced by a private message I got form someone who was curious about abstaining from meat on Fridays. A lot of people just don’t know what it’s all about.

So here I am, wanting to get back in the swing on blogging. I’m thinking that a post on Lent is great idea. I can explain it all! The problem is that I’d still be writing after Lent is over. Besides, why should I take on this task when Jimmy Akin (a man whose job it is to explain the Catholic faith) has already put together a page full of links explaining the observance of Lent. So if you’re curious, check out Jimmy’s page “Welcome to Lent”.

It’s been a long time since I posted one of these. Since we ar ein Lent now, I’m not really fond saying “feel good” and “Friday” in the same sentance. So, I’ll just start calling these posts “Music Video Friday” instead.

I hope you enjoy “Cannonball”….It’s one of my favorites. I always thought the Deal sisters were coolly odd in this video.

I love Clapton and following the theme the last few FGF posts, this was a recent guitar lesson for me.

Enjoy!

I couldn’t think of a better non-seasonal song to get played during the Christmas season.

Since I was too busy enjoying the holiday and celebrating the Incarnation of our Lord, I didn’t post anything yesterday.

So Merry Christmas!