I saw this today on the Platentizen blog –
A two-seater hybrid between a segway and a traditional car. In reality, think two segways fused together, add seats and a little weather shield.
See more on Segway’s website.
April 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment
April 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The Final Week
Now that we’ve celebrated the Sixth Sunday of Lent, which is actually Palm Sunday, so now past almost all of Lenten journey toward Easter. I pray that it was a beneficial one for you. Mine… well… let’s say that it started with me enjoying a homemade pizza on the First Friday of Lent, complete with turkey pepperoni. It wasn’t until that night that I realized my error.
Sometimes, Lent is “productive” from this first day. We pray more, we give more, we examine ourselves more. We choose wisely what to give up and what extra to do. Not only do we have the best of intentions, but we practice it to the closest thing to perfection on this side of heaven.
But of course, sometimes, Lent is a struggle. We want to pray more, but it never quite happens. Most of Lent passes us by before we remember we’re supposed to be using this holy season to prepare ourselves for the celebration of Easter. Our practice leaves much to be desired.
For me, this Lent was more of the latter. I spoke with Vanessa at great length about various practices and why I felt those things would help me prepare for Easter, but never settled on any of them, much less practice them well. Prayer did come, but I’d like to do it more.
Now, the season is nearly over.
The silver lining on this Lent-that-should-have-been-more is that it still brings the awareness that I’m far from where I should be. The need for Christ is all the more present. If I was already perfect, why would I need salvation? No, I need salvation. I need the healing of Christ. I need the love of God to touch me. I need.
By the accounts of this world, if I were to receive a report card on Easter Sunday, I would rather not look at my Lenten grade. The beauty of this grade report is that it is not permanent. I have the full glory of God before me and am able to ask for something quite amazing. Being able to ask and receive the forgiveness of God, being able to ask and receive the grace of God, being able to ask and receive faith. As we enter into these last days, my lack of fully entering into the season has reminded me of my need for the reason of the season–Jesus Christ.
Perhaps this Lent has been much more successful that what appeared at first glance.
April 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Whale Beached on South 1st
Today, I was planning to pick up a friend on South 1st (an arterial route south from downtown) near Barton Springs when he called telling me to “look out for the beached whale on South 1st”. Since Austin, much less South 1st, is 200 miles away from the Gulf of Mexico, yet he told me to trust him and I’d understand later.
Sure enough, as I’m driving to pick him up, at about 800 South 1st Street at a steep driveway, there was a Blue Whale Moving Company truck stuck, partly blocking the southbound lanes of South 1st. The driveway was too steep for them to make it up, but the back grill of the truck prevented them from reversing out of the driveway.
From the time my friend told me about it until the last time I drove by the beached whale was three hours and it didn’t seem like it was going to be moving anytime soon.
April 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Prayers Requested – Fr. Jesse Euresti
Details are sketchy, but pray for Fr. Jesse Euresti, pastor of Cristo Rey parish in Austin, who is scheduled to retire in May.
His family via KXAN are reporting that his home in Nuevo Laredo (newly purchased and where he plans to live in retirement) was found with his alarm off, garage door open, knife in view, mattress missing and blood throughout the home. While those details do not sound too good, let’s pray first that he’s alive and well.
Please keep Cristo Rey, his family and Fr. Jesse Euresti in your prayers.
UPDATE: 3:02 pm CDT- The Diocese via the Statesman confirm that Fr. Euresti is missing and reports that Mexican authorities are treating this as a missing-persons case currently. (Thanks to the Montopolis Neighborhood Association newsfeed for the tip).
UPDATE: 4:45 pm CDT: KXAN is now reporting that Mexican authorities are now treating this as a murder investigation and is looking for the home’s caretaker to learn more. APD and Laredo police are investigating as well.
UPDATE: 12:30 pm CDT 4/6/2009: The Diocese of Austin announced that Mexican authorities confirmed that the body found last night was Fr. Jesse Euresti. Please keep his soul, his family and his parish in your prayers. Former San Juan Diego President and Cristo Rey’s current Associate Pastor, Fr. Jayme Mathias, will be appointed pastor later today.
April 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Pope Benedict XVI’s Prayer Intentions for April
His general intention is “That the Lord may bless the farmers with an
abundant harvest and sensitise the richer populations to the drama
of hunger in the world.”
His mission intension is “That the Christians who work in areas where the
conditions of the poor, the weak and the women and children are most
tragic, may be signs of hope, thanks to their courageous testimony
to the Gospel of solidarity and love.”
