Greg's Blog

Blessed

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:12:56 GMT

Hello everybody,
it's amazing how much God can bless our lives if we only ask and then wait readily.
Right now Life Matters is at 262 members and growing. It is becoming an excellent wellspring of information on Life.

My new IT business is going very well in it's 2nd month, all my july bills are paid. God just keeps on helping me get the word around.
I am making new contacts almost everywhere I go and I don't even have a sign on my car yet lol.

Lately I've been experiencing a major boost of energy. I feel so energetic even as I type this! lol.

God bless you all and keep, may the wind always be at your back, may the road come up to meet you and may The Lord's face Shine upon you.

happy 4th of July

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:08:15 GMT

Hey everybody,
just wanted to say happy 4th of july!

Life Matters is doing well, infact we've just picked up a new partner. Her name is Bria and she just started a new website that she wants to use to help keep everybody informed as to what is going on out there in the pro life issue. I'd like to invite everyone reading this to check out her page and join if you feel compelled to join.

The URL is

http://prolife-stay-informed.webs.com

Well that's all for now! Until Next time, God Bless you and keep you safe from harm.

End of June

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:18:20 GMT

Well June is almost over my how the time flies.

I am going to be in Phoenix AZ for the 4th of July visiting family and hopefully a few friends too.

My Computer repair business is picking up little by little every day. I'm enjoying meeting new people.

I've started a new Twitter Account for my small community website that I'm working on. I'm up to 3 twitter accounts lol. I have yet to create one for my Pro life network. but that will come soon I'm sure lol.

thus far life is going good. I'm looking forward to the future.
God Bless,
Greg

Updates

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:20:59 GMT

Alright, Computer business is going so far so good, passed out 200 cards at an event I went to.

I did some work yesterday and I'm going to do some more today too.

Life Matters is up to 240 members, it's going awesome. if anybody out there wants to catch the buzz visit and join us at http://lifematters.ning.com

On my other network for my local area we had 5 or 6 new members there too so I'm pretty excited about that.

Life is going good I'm praying for everyone.
Greg

OH YEAH!

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:38:55 GMT

Alright Life Matters is up to 231 members, I'm super excited!

I'm doing great with my new Computer business I mentioned in my last post!

I took up a new hobby, stone sculpting.

I'm still excited about school!

A friend of mine Might be getting a job making $53K a year!

Things are going absolutely wonderful, I'm about to go drum up some more business right now but I wanted to post and show the love for all you out there following me. Thanks for following me!

And to all the people on Life Matters Keep doing what you're doing!

It's been a while

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:10:25 GMT

Hey everybody,
well it has been a while but I have some recent news that I'd like to post so here goes.

We're up to 214 members on Life Matters!
I'm going to be volunteering with the thrift shop at my church on tuesdays.
I'm going back to school to study social services in August, my paperwork is all done.
I'm starting a new IT consulting company called Kokopelli IT Solutions LLC! All the paperwork will be going in tomorrow.
I am starting my company with a long term goal in mind that ties in with my social service related ideas.
things are going great!

Greg

Tularosa Rose Festival and Parade

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:51:30 GMT

This year for the first time in several years Tularosa is about to bring back an old tradition. The Rose Festival. This is an event that used to draw enormous crowds from all over many years ago. It died out a number of years ago and this year, through the efforts of The Tularosa Shriners Club, and some of our members of the Tularosa Basin Community Action League, we are pleased to announce its revival! Please join us on May 2nd in Tularosa to celebrate with us!

Life Matters

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:21:37 GMT

I'm excited to have our very first abortion survivor join us on Life Matters!!
Her Name is Brandi. And she was aborted at 21 weeks and lived. She has physical challenges but she's just glad to be alive and does all sorts of public speaking. I'm very excited to have her join us on Life Matters!
=)

Other than that I am all registered for classes and I'm ready to get started in august.
God Bless!
Greg

April

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:20:54 GMT

I can't believe April is already here. Craaazy
I'm almost finished getting everything for school lined up. Just waiting on financial aid. I will be starting in the fall semester.
any way. I'm currently on the job hunt. It's pretty tough out there these days.
I just redesigned my Resume today.

I've been doing a lot of work on my Life Matters site lately, we now have 142 members. Things are going great.

I hope this post finds you in the best of times.
Greg

Been doing alot of thinking

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:52:01 GMT

I decided that a religious order is not where I need to be.
I appreciate the work they do and stuff like that but I don't feel that's where God needs me.
So I'm going back to school to major in social services.
Thanks for following me through this discernment process, and blogging about it was fun and helpful, I'll probably keep blogging, I'll just change the name =)
Take care!
Greg

My return from San Antonio

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:27:35 GMT

I am back from San Antonio. I had a great visit with the Franciscans and the other participants of the retreat, Shout outs to all the guys!
At some point in the retreat I decided that it is not the right time to put in an application to an order because I haven't really put very much thought into what schools offer what degrees and which orders would be the most supportive of my calling. I've decided then to take a step back and do some research into what ministries, degree programs, school, and order feels right.
Thanks for all the prayers everybody!
Greg

March 5th 2009

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:01:36 GMT

Well I'm headed off to San Antonio in the morning for the discernment retreat and to apply to the Conventual Franciscan Order.
I am feeling good about everything and am looking forward to seeing everybody again. Please pray for me if you're reading this thank you!

My Pro Life Network has grown to 68 members now. I've aligned with 2 different groups, Pro Life Unity which has spearheaded an effort to promote pro life bloggers and we are also going to be working with a group called America C2C which is a group that has over 2000 members and is registering as an official 527 organization which will give them the ability to find and support and make unlimited campaign contributions to pro life candidates running for office. I have a friend who is working on starting a Pro Life Democrats Group as well. I'm confident that we will be making quite a splash very soon around the world.

The other Network I've been working on for my local community is at 54 members now. A direct result of my efforts in this network is that we are now raising money to go toward the building of a brand new no kill animal shelter. Recently a family in my city had their house burn down too, so we are working on raising money to help them out a little bit too.

All in all I have to say that things are going really great.

The Pregnancy Disease

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:30:11 GMT

The problem with the contraception idea is that it is marketed in such a way to say "don't become a victim of the Pregnancy disease, use contraception at all times."

Does this look like a disease to you?

For those of you who have children, I want you to go home this evening and look at your beautiful children, and ask yourselves what your lives would be like if you had decided to "exercise your right to choose" and went through with an abortion and as a result went through the last however many years since they were born, without them. If you can honestly say your life would be 300 times better today had you had an abortion I feel great compassion for you and would like to recommend counseling to help you heal whatever it is that is wrong in your life. I'm not talking about the kind of treatment where it's like "take these pills and you'll feel better" I'm talking about discussing with a professional what is wrong in your life and receiving spiritual, psychological,and physical guidance and encouragement.

I'd also like you to think about this, I am 25 years old, and I've never had a serious girlfriend, or never had sex by my own choice. I chose abstinence because I was properly educated about what sex before marriage does to the soul of not just you but also the other person. I was properly educated about responsibility and the consequences of acting before thinking. I was also taught how to develop a moderate temper, how to love, and how to be compassionate and considerate.

Recently (October 2008) I decided to start my discernment process to become a Conventual Franciscan Brother. I am going to apply in March. This is not a project for my application process. I decided to voice my opinion openly because I have a real concern for not just unborn children, but also the greater good of all mankind.

God Bless
Greg

Right to life

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:41:51 GMT

Recently President Obama has launched the start of a barrage of pro choice legislation that could, if left unchallenged, lead to American Tax payer money being used to pay for women to have abortions.

I have answered the call and set up a brand new social network explicitly for the Culture of Life to form a world wide network that knows no boundaries. The goal is not to disband or dissolve any current groups out there. The goal is to unify and strengthen all the groups by giving everyone a common meeting place where information, ideas, discussions, and resources can be disseminated at a very rapid pace.

I want to start a 2 million+ man march for life in the near future.

Here's the URL: http://lifematters.ning.com - The International Life Matters Connection "All life is sacred"

God bless.
Greg

Thanks

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:30:12 GMT

Thanks for reading my blog. It feels good to write down my thoughts somewhere.

I bought 2 books on amazon.com last week and they arrived today!
I bought:
Sacred Space 2009 written by the Jesuits
The Threefold way of St Francis by Murray bodo OFM
I'll comment on them as I go to help me think about what I'm reading.

Tonight I went to the Right to Life Prayer vigil I felt like God was listening. I invited the group's president to my community service network.

Oh and my community service network is up to 40 members, and I'm going to be on the local news!
That's it for now God Bless!
Greg

I Feel Better

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 05:52:23 GMT

HI!
Just wanted to post and say I feel better. I was just really irritated by my friends when they called me the other night trying to talk me into that.
They've decided to leave me alone after I told them that this is my decision to make and I'm doing it my way, right or wrong, it's my right to choose. They finally left me alone after that.
so I feel a whole lot better. I can say that I do feel stronger and a lot more comfortable with the idea of celibacy after that whole ordeal now. I always find the positive somehow.

-Greg

My Thoughts on marriage and celibacy etc.

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:22:24 GMT

Ok so I'm writing this to vent a little steam I guess but I need to write down in a clear and concise way my thoughts and feelings in regards to marriage because I have 2 friends that are trying to argue with me and I am struggling to answer them in complete sentences.

OK so here Goes.

Over the past several years I had a plan for how I wanted my life to go. It was a plan that is similar to a lot of people's plans.
1. graduate high school... done
2. get a car... done
3. finish college...
4. start a successful career in computer security
5. find a wife....
6. raise a family....
7. Grow old with my wife...
8. die peacefully...

alright so I started my associates degree in computer networking right out of high school and got my car.
I got 98% of the way through my associates degree and I realized one day that I didn't want to work with computers for the rest of my career.
I realized that I am a people person, I enjoy working with people. Thus my customer service career began.
Customer service was ok because I got to talk to a lot of people but what I really didn't like about it was that it is not about actually helping people. It is about selling products. The non sales side of customer service they say is about solving problems. A better way to put that would be telling people no in a nice way.

Basically I am unhappy with corporate america as a whole. The corruption and scandal that runs rampant in corporate america everyday is sickening and maddening to me. I will never be successful in corporate america because in order to move up you have to become so competitive to the point it no longer matters who you step on as you climb to the top. it's terrible...

Any way I digress, next, find a wife... well I looked around and I prayed about this for many years. Yes you can argue that I'm still young. alright fine. But then consider this... So far my track record in corporate america has been one of jumping around job to job trying to find something that I can do and enjoy doing at least to some degree... the chances of me finding any kind of corporate job that I can do till I can retire are slim to none. My poor conscience can only take so much of a beating before I finally break down and quit.

For example I worked for a major credit card company as a customer service rep for 2 years and some change. It was a good paying job with good benefits, and a lot of perks. My day to day life was answering 100 calls a day. Some people were angry some where dissapointed, and some were happy and easy to talk to.

I had to tell my conscience to knock it off several times a day every day. The disservice I was forced to do to so many people made me feel so guilty! I finally got to the point where I was so miserable I didn't even want to get up and go to work in the mornings. I was late 3 out of 5 days a week most of the time because I was so miserable subconsciously. I stayed there in my miserable job because I didn't want to go looking for another job, I didn't want to give up the benefits I was getting I was comfortable around my coworkers for the most part, I even made some friends there that I still talk to. I Just could not do that to myself any longer after 2 years of it. So I quit.

The point is... I'm not going to be a very good provider for a family if I continue in the same direction I've been going the past several years. hopping from job to job. I don't intend to lock my conscience in a closet either so I guess in that aspect I'm a bit SOL as they say.

So what's a fellow to do if he can't get by in the corporate world?
Well let me answer that by saying the only times I ever feel true happiness in my life are when:

1) I am talking to God and I know I'm doing what he wants me to do.
2) I am helping someone
3) I am doing any kind of volunteer work or community service
4) I am singing my prayers to God.

Ok generally I can describe myself as someone who is usually happy, and has a positive outlook on life and doesn't have random mood swings. But what I'm talking about being at peace with myself and with God.

I've asked God to show me signs of what he wants me to do with my life and there have been many times where he's pointed in the direction of a religious vocation. I spent a lot of time living in denial, trying to use "logic" to come up with a reason why I could never be a religious because the burden of celibacy would be too hard to bear and I so very much want to get married and try to be a good husband and father and yadda yadda yadda.
Well I'm gonna be blunt about it... I was immature back then... I was suffering from what I call "raging hormones"... I wasn't really thinking with my brain.

Well I've grown up and I am able to face it with a much more open mind and heart now. I don't know exactly what God's plans for me are yet but this step that I am taking is the first step to finding out. I am putting in my application to see where it goes from there. ya never know till ya explore your options.

Over the last few months since I decided that I wanted to explore a religious vocation, I have witnessed quite a few changes in my attitude for the better. I've regained a lot of my inner peace, wisdom and insight. I've been working to strengthen my prayer life. and I'm just all around a lot more open to trying to hear what God is telling me.

so where do my friends come in on this? well they think I should have sex before I apply to a religious vocation. Their reasoning is that I might change my mind and decide to get married instead of live a life of celibacy. I guess I should mention they are not catholics.

I have told them several times that I do not want to do that and they can't understand why. I've tried to explain it to them and then they start arguing with me about it. I think a lot of catholics would say they are not being good friends. Their take on it is that they are just trying to look out for my best interests by making sure I don't give up on getting married and yadda yadda yadda before I have experienced what "love" is.
and then they think celibacy is ridiculous and leads to child abuse. Boy am I frustrated... Yea I know... Stop talking to them... I feel like that's an easy way out but I don't think it's going to solve anything...

well that's about all I care to write right now... there's still more to say but I'll say it later!

Greg

Happy New Year

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:09:41 GMT

Well the holidays are over and a new year has started. Things are looking good already.
The community action network I started for my community is growing little by little. I've got a project in the works to start recycling cans in my city to help benefit the Animal Shelter in my city.

I'm also working on a Go Green Group. I'm looking for some experts who are willing to help my community learn all about going Green.

In regards to my Franciscan discernment I'm all signed up for the march retreat and ready to go. I'm looking forward to putting in my application.
Well that's all I can think of for now,
Happy New Year and God Bless!
Greg G

Dec 18th updates

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:43:01 GMT

Hi,
Me again!
Everything's going good, am working a holiday job for The Popcorn Factory and doing well there.

My social network has reached 11 members now. I'm excited about getting in the double digits with that!

I'm really happy about life in general at the present time. You know how life has it's hills and valleys, this feels like I'm on the upwards trek again, which is where I like to be! I mean I'm working, I have another job lined up after the holiday job ends, and I've just about got all my december bills paid and am getting ready to start on january's bills =).

This year has been yet another year of confirmation of God's concern for me. I have not gone a single month without being able to pay my bills even if I had to pay them a few days late sometimes I still got em paid and I even managed to do a little traveling to visit the salesians and the franciscans. I mean how fortunate I am. Everything has just worked out pretty good this year, my mom and dad have been a big help with some of my bills this year as well. I probably don't thank them enough. My whole run in with diabetes this year too has gone relatively smoothly, thanks to my dad's know how when it comes to applying for help with getting the hospital bills paid (no insurance). Health wise I'm doing really well too, So all in all I've got a lot to be thankful for.

well that's all for right now,
thanks for your readership!
God Bless,
Greg

What's new with me.

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:35:36 GMT

Well it's been a while since I last posted.

I've been a little busy. I recently started a social network for my community, to help charities and volunteers get organized in my local area.
I started working at a new job,
and I have been working on various projects over at my grandma's house and spending time with grandma as well.

Thanksgiving was nice, missed grandpa though, he died on the 17th of november but we are all doing fine. we've always been a family of faith and nothing is going to mess that up. we know grandpa is okay, we just miss him sometimes.

So I had lunch the day after thanksgiving with the franciscans over in las cruces, it was nice visiting them again. and then I had dinner with them again last sunday, also a good visit.

well that's all for right now I'll write more later!
Greg

What I like about the Franciscans

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:50:39 GMT

Okay so somebody asked me what I like about the Franciscans the other day. I thought it was a good question so I am going to answer it here in the blog.

My most favorite thing about the Franciscan way of life is their dedication and commitment to the poor and the most vulnerable.

When I think of what I really want to do with my life, I think of helping all the people in the world like these kids who are born in places where there is not a lot of opportunities to succeed because of an oppressive government, or other unfortunate circumstances beyond their control.
Why do Americans, some of the richest people in the entire world sit around and let these poor people suffer? So we can have more stuff? I just don't get it.

Second I really love the fact that The Franciscans are Environmentalists. I'm not the most Eco-aware person I know, but I do have a desire to learn how I can lessen the impact I make on the environment.

Community Service

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:00:24 GMT

I have had many opportunities to do various kinds of community service over the years so far. I tell you I really enjoy doing community service. I am usually happiest when I'm doing something for someone who needs help. Lately my most recent project is helping my Grandma in the back yard pickup the pecans so that we can sell them to the pecan farm in town for a little extra spending money. The leaves have not yet completely fallen down just yet, but as it is 29 degrees F tonight I anticipate that a lot more will have fallen by the morning.

Another project I really enjoyed was going to New Orleans for spring break of 2007. 40 of us from ASU Newman Center (Tempe, AZ) flew down and helped out at our lady star of the sea in their Sunday School building. It was hard work but it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to really do something good. After a hard week of working on the sunday school we all got to hitch a ride on the Steamboat Natchez. Talk about relaxing! We toured the French Quarter too. I discovered Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and yelled out FORREST GUMP!! That was fun. :)

I believe that I would enjoy being a Franciscan because I will be doing some kind of community service or ministry as a job. I think job wise this would be ideal for me as all I really want to do in life is make a difference.

Well that's all I can think of at this moment please leave comments!
Peace!
Greg

Motivations

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:49:06 GMT

I thought I'd list my motivations in regards to why I want to join the religious life. Feel free to comment.

In my childhood years I experienced many trials and hardships. During that time, and even now, I've always had a very strong faith in God, and I've always known that he's taking care of me all the time. I've never had to deal with more than I can handle at any one time.

I can remember a time when I had a realization that God does so much for me everyday. The air I breathe, the sunshine, friends, family, and much more. Things we all take for granted every day too. I remember thinking man... how could I ever do something in thanksgiving that would even compare to what he does for me? It's been several years since then and I still haven't come up with anything.

I've always thought it would be cool to become a saint. Everyday I try to remember that I am not perfect but that shouldn't stop me from trying. The Prayer of St. Francis, is my absolute favorite prayer of all time, I try to pray it often. I am constantly asking God to make me a channel of his peace.

I am 25, single, and not happy working in Corporate America. I am a person that tries to treat other people how I would want them to treat me at all times. I have tried to use this principle in all of my previous job experience and time after time I've found myself in a meeting with my supervisor where I'm being told something like "Well you're very friendly to everyone which is really good, but you need to toughen up and remember that you work for the company and not the customer." "You can't be helping your coworkers out, you need to be selfish and look out for yourself only. It's a dog eat Dog world out there." Look at the current economy conditions... heh...

I have thought about a career for the last 7 years. I've thought about "what I want to be when I grow up" and every time I sit down to think about it I land on job titles like missionary, religious brother, minister, social worker.Peace,

Greg

Opening Thoughts

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:46:43 GMT

Hello! Thank you for visiting my new blog! I'm Greg and I've created this blog in order to help me write down my thoughts and inspirations to aid me in my discernment of possibly becoming a Franciscan brother.

So far I have visited the Franciscans for a come and see retreat weekend this October. I am planning on going to their next retreat in March. I am at the point where I am ready to apply and give it a try and see what happens from there. I just have to wait till after the march retreat so the friars can get to know me a little better. If you have any questions or comments please post them. I will be posting more as the days go by. Peace, Greg