Just an old man out standing in his field.

    Bishop Daniel E. Thomas celebrates the Ritual Mass for the Ordination of Several Priests on June 27, 2020 at Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral in Toledo, Ohio. Photography By: © Scott W. Grau

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    The Necessity of Continuous Conversion

    After 45+ years of ministry, in a variety of different Christian traditions, I’ve come to the deep conviction that every single person needs continuous conversion—especially when it comes to me. The core of this post I first penned twenty years ago, but I believe it now even more, given the rise of spiritual counterfeits, running unchecked on the digital blogosphere, bombarding us, our children, and our grandchildren. My spiritual background, which was an ever-evolving mixture of Lutheran, Congregationalist, Calvinist, Charismatic, and evangelical tenants, pretty much ignored the need for any kind of continuous conversion. From my first attendance at…

    Marcus Grodi's avatar by Marcus Grodi

    Latest Posts

    • A Blessing, Not a Burden

      Maybe only older folk like me can relate to this article, but frankly, I wish I would have taken this more seriously much earlier in life. Seriously, I can’t put any of this off any more; now is the time. It’s time for me to really listen. What I’m talking about is the need to Continue reading

      A Blessing, Not a Burden

    • Mystery Solved

      Disconcerting is the only word for it. This past Sunday was a fine, relaxing, normal day out here in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Well, not exactly normal. My wife, Marilyn, was away up north visiting the grandkids, so I was alone taking care of the cats, chickens, birds, raccoons, squirrels, and deer. When Continue reading

      Mystery Solved

    • Another Warning Ignored

      I suppose there’s some similarity between the photos of this past weekend’s downing of the Chinese Spy Balloon and that of the Challenger disaster. But, of course, there are no true similarities, and so any implied comparison is insensitive and shallow. I suppose there’s a chance this recent incident could be one more precursor to Continue reading

      Another Warning Ignored

    • God Looks on the Heart

      Saint Paul issued special warnings to the Christians at both Rome and Corinth. To the Romans he wrote: For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4) To the Corinthians he went into more detail: Now Continue reading

      God Looks on the Heart

    • Poverty of Spirit

      As they do every third year, the Beatitudes sneak up upon us as the Gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. And everyone, especially my age, has heard or read the Beatitudes and the rest of the Sermon on the Mount not just once but at least a bazilion times. But have we Continue reading

      Poverty of Spirit

    • A Warning Ignored

      Thirty-seven years ago this weekend, seven astronauts suffered a horrendous death as the space shuttle Challenger exploded in mid-air seventy-three seconds after takeoff. Almost anyone, at least in America, who was alive at that moment has the visual image of that explosion etched in our memories.  Where were you when it happened? I was just Continue reading

      A Warning Ignored

    • How to Handle Your Grandchildren

      I’m a grandfather. I didn’t just become one—I’ve been one for eleven years. And I’ve got six wonderful grandchildren. Actually, I should say Marilyn and I are grandparents. Marilyn is the good grandparent, the cuddly one, the one to whom the grandchildren naturally gravitate. I’m the old grouchy guy in the corner. One of the Continue reading

      How to Handle Your Grandchildren

    • “An old Farmer’s Rant” Revisited

      A year or so ago I posted about the visit of a friend, an aging “wanted-to-be” farmer. He and I were relaxing in front of our hearthstone wood stove, when he started to rant. “You know, there was a time when my contentment was being shattered by bitterness. From scratch I had developed our farm Continue reading

      “An old Farmer’s Rant” Revisited

    • “Life From Our Land” Revisited

      Seven years ago, it was a great honor and humble surprise to be asked to speak on of all things Agrarian Distributism. For me to do this square on would truly have been a clear example of the Peter Principal, for being by far the worst farmer who ever lived, and mostly inept in economics, Continue reading

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      “Life From Our Land” Revisited

    • Count It All Joy

      Have you ever received a gift, that wasn’t, well, what you were expecting? Maybe it was a bit of a disappointment. Maybe you had your heart set on something else, or you had in your mind something a bit more appealing? Your taste buds were all set for something really, really sweet, only to discover Continue reading

      Count It All Joy