Hi everyone - we're back from our travels - had a beautiful weekend in Temecula, CA - southern California's wine country (didn't see any fire). One of my best friends got married, and I was one of two "best men." I hope to post a photo or two, but now that I'm back and into 2025, I'm gonna get myself organized and soon I'll let you know what 2025 will look like here in the OC. (no, not Orange County, it's the Original Church community!)
In the meantime, I wish you a blessed feast of St. Sebastian - he's one of my patron saints, and my unofficial confirmation saint. I chose him because he's the closest we have to a patron of martial artists - as a soldier. He's also the patron saint of first responders, especially fire fighters and police.
St. Sebastian, pray with us for everyone fighting the fires in California!
More info coming soon...
Jim
Dear friends - Please take 10 minutes to watch this personal update from me:
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
I hope to have another installment of THE JOURNEY up this Saturday - here's the text for the rest of the chapter - I didn't bother with the colored text since this is all from the Gospel of John.
