go to church better

1. Go to Church.
2. Read the Scripture before the Mass. The readings are here.
3. Pray for the priest, sermon, and listening to it prayerfully.
4. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you and all those present through the service.
5. Arrive a few minutes early - please get there early, not just for a good pew place, but for a moment to collect, quiet, and pray for yourself before you pray with everyone else.
6. Turn off the phone. Do not text, email, surf, or anything with your phone. Only exception: pray apps like Magnificat or Divine Office
7. Take notes from the homily and mass, if not during than after the service. A note card and pen are your welcome companions for worship time. You will hear words, write down those words.
8. After the service, discuss with family and friends your takeaway.
9. If possible, listen to a homily via podcast on the day's readings. Recommendation: Word on Fire Ministry.
10. Do not compare your priest to your favorite famous priest.
11. Do not come to church as a critic seeking fault with the litrugy, homily, priest, or congregation. Grace is everywhere, don't close the door.
12. Respond generously with whatever the Holy Spirit asks of you. Because the Holy Spirit will always move upon you.

Bonus: Pray a Hail Mary and the end of the Mass to accept the Word of God with an unconditional Yes.

in the arena - easter sunday interview

On March 27, 2015, I was interviewed on the current events show In the Arena with Monsignor Kieran Harrington. You can watch the full interview here. We talk about Easter Sunday, Resurrection, and Joy in the Lord. It was a wonderful interview and graced with the Lord's presence. Please watch and share this Easter message.

in the arena interview

On March 20, 2015, I was interviewed on the current events show In the Arena with Monsignor Kieran Harrington. You can watch the full interview here (start at minute 26:00). We talk about Palm Sunday, Holy Week, sadness, and hope. It was a wonderful interview and graced with the Lord's presence.

history of the millennium falcon →

Here’s a wonderful article about the History of the Millennium Falcon

It all starts with the Adventures of Luke Starkiller up to the present. Fascinating and thankful that Lucas’ first drawing of the Rebel Blockade Runner did not come to pass and we received the great burger shape that can do the Kessel Run in twelve parsecs.

"And if you want my theory, that's where the myth of the design being based off of a burger Lucas was eating got started. ..."

art + compassion →

A wonderful presentation by my friend and priest, Fr. Paul Anel, whose mission is to bring friendship to artists.

First posted on Be a Heart.

barth basically

Karl Barth’s Basic Bibliography:

• Romans commentary (early 1920s): God judges
• Göttingen dogmatics (mid 1920s): God speaks
• Anselm book (1930): God knows
• Church Dogmatics I (1930s): God gives
• Church Dogmatics II (1940s): God loves
• Church Dogmatics III (1940s-50s): God blesses
• Church Dogmatics IV (1950s-60s): God befriends
• Church Dogmatics V (never written): God heals

from Ben Myers - Faith and Theology

unreasonable

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” - George Bernard Shaw

read intelligently

Here is my secret to teaching reading to my students. Reading intelligently means answering these five questions:

1. What is the question the writing is trying to answer?

2. What is the thesis / answer / main theme of the writing?

3. What is the supporting argument for the thesis?

4. What is the context of the writing?

5. Is the argument compellingly successful? How so?

mars marathon

The Opportunity rover on Mars has completed a marthon. Here you can see a fascinating time-laspe of the 26.2 miles martian landscape. Our universe is so beautiful.

would you please share my book

Heaven Opens: The Trinitarian Mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr, my book is available.

“Sutton’s deep penetration into Adrienne’s mystical gifts offers an excellent introduction to her unique vision and also helps hit the ‘reveal codes’ button for von Balthasar’s theology.” - Rev. Raymond Gawronski, S.J.

I don’t write here to sell books, but do share what I create in my writing and teaching. My newest book captures the foundation of my theological and spiritual work as I develop the profound mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr. You can find out more about it here.

If you’ve read my book, would you please considering sharing it with others by reviewing it in journals or online?

“In this significant monograph, Sutton brings expositional clarity and conceptual rigor to the extensive textual legacy of Adrienne von Speyr. It is a real accomplishment.” Dr. Paul Nimmo

All your help sharing my book gives me support to work on the next book, which will be available soon. I can’t wait to share this new one with you.

“This book has the potential to do for Adrienne von Speyr’s theology what Father Edward Oakes’ Pattern of Redemption did for Hans Urs von Balthasar’s in the mid-1990s, in this case by accessibly introducing Adrienne to a generation of students and scholars.” Dr. Matthew Levering

Please read and share my book. You can find it in print and as an ebook. Thank you for caring to share these ideas.