How to Win Every Time: God Wants His Church Alive
Relationships break — 1,500 of us gathered to heal, grow and go...
“Boys think of themselves — men think of others,” — Father Burke Masters.
“…the very word ‘Son’ implies a ‘Father.’… If we hate our brother, if we refuse to forgive, if we hold on to bitterness and resentment, then we are not in the truth,’’ — Father Michael Gaitley.
The first broken relationship was between a father and his children. It continues. More than 1,500 of us came together— because we want more.
“The more you know He’s in you, the more He can do through you,’’ Father Mathias Thelen explained.
“Because God wants His Church to be alive… Don’t try to get it done yourself: Your job is to receive… Christian Life is more about letting go.’’
Letting go? Surrendering? Not “manning up’’ — doing it ourselves?
From the beginning, the question has been: Which way? A father asks something and even explains why. A child goes a different way. A lifelong struggle begins.
We let down our parents, our spouses and kids. We crush each other. We dwell on the slights. Or bury them until something else happens, bringing every emotion back at once.
We keep letting each other down…
One of my heroes was torn apart: His 54-year-old wife died. We watched him pray soon after, marveling at his faith, his generosity, gentleness and greatness. He confessed something unimaginable:
“About two weeks ago, it was a real low point. Because at that point, your family starts to turn against you as a single dad. And I’m told they can’t wait till I die so they can … on my grave.”
Stinging from those words, he got a call — from another man he saved, who told him: “the real reason I wanted to call you that night is to let you know I had a gun in my hand and if you hadn’t called me back I wouldn’t be here now.’’
Men hate losing, want to win — here’s how:
My dearest friends are some of the most competitive and accomplished guys I know. From the billionaire to the homeless, every one of them wants something more.
Our friend Butch took over sales for Audi when they were so low he was told to hit a certain number or the company would leave the U.S. market. He not only turned around sales: his team made Audi one of the most coveted, desirable brands in the world.
When the biggest goals were won, he wanted even more. He gave us a book called “Lead Like Jesus’’ and we started working on the only way you can guarantee never-ending victory.
Because the whole world is not enough…
Too many modern men are “chameleons,’’ taught to “blend in and not stick out, Dan DeMatte, author of “Holiness Revolution” told us. We’re made for more.
Imagine being a little child in the back of a crowded elevator where you literally can’t see anything but the pants and legs of people around you, Bart Schucts added. Then imagine your father picking you up and putting you on your shoulders so you can see everything from above.
“When you’re dead, what do you want people to say about you?’’ Father Larry Richards asked. “Some of your kids don’t go to church because of you — you know that… We Catholics are great judgers but we’re not so good as lovers… Dorothy Day said, ‘We love God as much as the person we love least.’’’
“If the world sees Jesus in us, we make an eternal difference.’’
The world tries to bury God — but fails because God always wins. The world tells us to do it our own way and we do so — until something blows up.
The only way to guarantee victory every time?
Pray “Thy Will Be Done.’’ Because God always wins no matter what. And if you’re going the Way He wants? You’ll win too. Father Larry added: “You have one purpose in life: to do His Will.’’ And become saints.
Rory Clark, our friend and brother who brought us together, arranged the use of an altar built for St. John Paul the Great’s 1987 Mass at the Pontiac Silverdome. It was used again for the beatification Mass of Blessed Solanus Casey in Detroit.
“The first man who celebrated Mass at this altar? He’s now a canonized saint,’’ Clark said. “Then the second time it was used at the beatification Mass of a man who was becoming a saint. And now here it is today: This is a saint maker altar.’’
“So who’s the saint today? Is it you?”
