Straight from the Heart

Here’s the introduction to this video that was sent to me by a friend:

A friend of the couple who founded Home Instead Senior Care, Mary Maxwell, was asked to give the invocation at the company’s 2009 Convention. Initially it seemed like a normal prayer, but it soon took a very funny turn.   Her deadpan delivery and lines like … “This is the first time I’ve ever been old… and it just sort of crept up on me … “ had everyone rolling in the aisles. With the timing of a professional comedian, Mary shines a very funny light on the foibles of aging, to the delight of this audience of senior-care experts. 

Enjoy.
 
Peace friends,

Chuck

I didn’t understand a word that was spoken; yet I understood everything I heard.  You’ll be amazed too.  Just beautiful.  Thanks for sharing this, Michelle. 

Peace friends,

Chuck

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Thank you for sharing your comments.

A long time ago, I read a book by one of my favorite authors – Bill Hybels.  Bill is the pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois.  He and his wife Lynn, along with family and friends, birthed and now pastor a great church that has had a positive influence, quite literally around the world.  (read more…)

Enjoy this one, Dads. 

Peace friends,

Chuck

A few years ago, a dear friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Even now as I write this blog post I find myself sort of paralyzed as to what to write beyond those introductory words – “A few years ago, my dear friend Pat was diagnosed with breast cancer.”  (read more…)

             Image by Hyku (Flickr Creative Commons)

I have to confess that I was secretly digging the positive press Steven Slater received after he told a belligerent passenger on a jetBlue flight where to get off!  In the process, Steven decided after 20 years of serving as a flight attendant he’d had just about enough with such customers.  (read more…)

My friend Brother Sean sent me this video with this message attached:

The Dash 
In July 2006, a short 3-minute movie was launched on the Internet called The Dash.

(read more…)

                  Image by Loughborough University Library (Flickr, Creative Commons)

The Summer 2010 edition of our parish newsletter, The Shepherd’s Watch, was recently published.  I wanted to share with all of you this article, “Reflections from our pastor” about friendship … and reaching out to make that first invitation.   Enjoy.

I was probably about 20 years of age, in college at George Mason University studying Social Work and working at Giant Food to pay my way through college. Out of the blue two other students in my English class, Jeff and Kathy, invited me to join them in a study group.  (read more…)

I started listening to country music when I was living in Kentucky during my years serving in Appalachia.  Country music wasn’t exactly my first choice of music; after all, I grew up here in Northern Virginia.  (read more…)

I hope your summer is going well.  How it is August 2nd already is a mystery to me; where has the time gone?  I hope you’ve had some extra family time, some extra down time, some extra time to sit and perhaps read, or do something else which is life-giving for you.  My friend, Bishop Joe Estabrook sent me this youtube video clip just now, and I wanted to share it with you.  I’m not sure what the people are singing, but I love the looks on the faces of the crowd in the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia this past April.  Enjoy.
 
Peace friends,

Chuck