The Royce Files

Well it has finally arrived- Christmas 2009. It's been a busy run up for myself with the Radio Show fitted in with a talent show for work. I was just able to fit in a little caroling on Sunday which was a highlight for the season. I had not sung in chorus for years. As I have written before I especially enjoy the music of Christmas. I was the only male voice so I had a lot riding on my blending and harmonization. We did good. As I have pondered this holiday, I realize it tends to be about remembering. Remembering Christmases past and stuff. And even if the holiday was co-opted from previous celebrations at the start of winter, it certainly does fit the imagery of the old story. Yet, the imagery has certainly taken the driving wheel in this day so much so that it's lights, feasts, Santas, trees, gifts, and holly. The sacred has been watered down to be more pallible to those who consciously or unconsciously rather not remember the birth of Jesus. It can be a rare sight these day...

My 2nd foray into Blog Action Day is coming up. My entry for last year was tripe. Not very compelling commentary on the environment. But what can you do when you don't do the research? I guess you just make up things or as journalists might label it- spin it. Well my apologies to those who read it. Of course, Phil won't care. He's not that type of guy as I found out earlier today. But really, my contributions to help us become more sustainable are probably worthy to recount. So far I've been biking to work and almost everywhere in town. It cut down on the carbon as well as saves me money. Another factor in there could be that it keeps me healthier and doesn't tax the health care system. I enjoy biking too. Does been greener have to suck? Over the last year I have been cutting down on my plastic bag use by using a re-usable bag or recycling those darn plastic bags at the market. I wish they could extract oil from them bags to make some type of fuel. Finally, I re-us...

O nce again I have created a list of ideas to help individuals prayer for Ireland (Republic and North). I solicited input from the readers of Relevant Magazine Online message board and got a few response which I incorperated this year. So here it is: Irish youth to discover the real life in Christ. Grace given to Irish Christians to authentically represent Jesus. Peace that will bring healing from wrongs and injustices of the past in the Republic and Northern Ireland. Christian workers. Irish men and women to answer the call to service. For the Irish to rise up in the Holy Spirit to impact their nation and the world. Lord's prayer in Irish Gaelic: Ár n-Athair atá ar neamh, Go naofar d'ainim, Go dtagfadh do ríocht, Go ndéantar do thoil ar an talamh mar a dhéantar ar neamh. Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dúinn inniu,agus maith dúinn ár bhfiachamar a mhaithimidne dár bhféichiúna féin Ach ná lig sinn i gcathú, ach saor sinn ó olc Legend has it that Patrick went up a hill near Westpor...

Grim prospects for those without a father. Seems there's a bunch a research out there that studied effects of life without father. Nothing remotely positive: drugs, child abuse, poor school performance, emotional and behavioural problems. Looking at the blurbs from these father studies is a bit overwhelming. No doubt there are exceptions. Why there must be an amount of orphans out there who have succeeded like Dave Thomas of Wendy's fame. I am not about to bemoan fathers or mothers or whatever parental or lack of parental involvement that exists in one's life. Instead I am promoting intervention in the form of mentoring. No this isn't trying to get the father and mother back together again but intervention in the childrens' lives. It's like reducing those risks. Check out this short article about it in Relevant.

Has individualism created a weaker church? This of course is a yes and no answered. This article from Relevant Magazine Online and proffers the question-"did Paul have a home church?" People value salvation and grace and all those wonderful blessings but the church is the socks you get at Christmas from Aunt Ginny. That is a great analogy to the situation. Do you value socks? Probably not. We get Jesus but don't think the Church is essential. I don' think that aligns with the teachings in the Bible. So don't regard the Church as your pair of Christmas socks.

Good article on Relevant Magazine Online about church membership and how to determine it. Don't look for answers but the questions it raises of which I have pondered as well.