"Do whatever He tells you."

So for the past seven days I have seen this quote at least once a day. Since last Tuesday. I have read some book, opened the Bible, prepared for a Bible study and there it is, John 2:5

"Do whatever He tells you."

The first few days, I just thought, "Okay, God I will put my complete trust in you." I am not sure where FOCUS is going to place me, but you have never failed me my first year. Actually it has been a true blessing in disguise many times.

Day 3, and I found out my placement and my thoughts were, "Okay, God I will put my complete trust in you." It's funny how I received the answer I was searching for, but my thoughts didn't change one bit. I have been called to be a Campus Director for the University Missouri Kansas City. Yes, that means more responsibility and closer to home. Am I prepared to take on such a glorious challenge?

This is what our faith has called us to do each morning when we rise in morning from our cozy bed, "Do whatever He tells you." There are times where I wish I could stay in bed all day and be content with life. But we are called for greatness not for comfort. [quote from St. Benedict] There is no doubt that Mary was the first disciple. She said YES, ran to assist to others, and commanded us the greatest gift we could ever hear...."Do whatever He tells you." Yes, this is a gift because God knows us before the foundations of the world [Ephesians 1:3-6], He knows all the hairs on our head [Matthew 10:29-31 ], He knows the plan of our future full of hope [Jeremiah 29:11-12]. He loves us with an intimate love.

So could I not be excited for next year. GOD I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU TELL ME. What is stopping you for making that big step for our Lord?

A little FOCUS UNO Goodbye

So it's end of the year and we have had a great time in Omaha. Here is a little video showing some of our rock star students.

I am going to miss this place, but it has been a true blessing the past 9 months.

Tennis is like life

the explaination coming later

Why colleges need FOCUS

When a local tragedy becomes national news, as in the Virginia Tech massacre, America responds first with compassion and then with courage. It's the way we work. News teams descend upon ground zero and begin to narrate the story. We pry them for every detail. Who did it? How? Where? Why?

Our obsession with the latest bit of news is not morbid curiosity, like useless rubbernecking at the site of a highway crash. No. It's our way of tapping into and sharing someone else's misfortune. From our couches and our cars, we mourn for others who are mourning.

That's compassion, and it's a good thing.

(Story continues below)

to never, ever allow anything like this to happen again, we set our attention upon fixing the problem once and for all. We review structures and revamp laws.

We could call this American hands-on courage, and it too, I think, is a good thing.

At least it's well-intentioned.

In the upcoming weeks, when the shock waves emanating from the rolling hills of Virginia begin to taper off, we will see a national conversation about school security, gun laws, psychiatric medicine and immigration policy unfold around us. Politicians at every level will propose bills that promise to keep our children safe or safer. Universities will roll out their revised programs for freshman orientation weekend. Police forces will outline new and improved first-response strategies.

But will it make any difference? Will any of these practical solutions get to the heart of the problem? I don't think so, because in this case, the heart of the problem is the human heart itself.

The Virginia Tech gunman, Cho Seung-Hui, was a man whose heart and mind had rotted from within.

We can be sure it didn't happen overnight. For whatever set of complicated reasons, life — his own and everyone else's — lost all meaning. It had no sense. It had no value. In fact, for Cho, life became an anti-value; it got in the way of relief.

Raised in America since he was eight-years-old, Cho Seung-Hui was almost as American as the next guy. His parents owned a home and a business. His sister went to Princeton. He would soon be a college grad.

For now, we can only speculate about what may have been the cause of a life gone wrong. Cho Seung-Hui's writings reveal a heart full of hate, anger and violence. The characters in his plays were victims of abuse. They hated authority and they wanted revenge. So did Cho.

Unfortunately, while Cho Seung-Hui may have been a loner, I don't think he was alone in his loneliness.

I've worked in a university campus ministry. I know there are a countless number of young men and women whose hearts and minds — at least bits and pieces of them — are rotting from within, just like Cho's. They look desperately and silently for love, to love and to be loved. Carrying emotional baggage from home and with no compelling guides in their newfound world of absolute freedom, they end up looking for happiness in all the wrong places.

The prevailing culture on most college campuses looks a bit like MTV. It's the world of hooking up, one-night stands, beer funnels and the search for the perfect group of friends. For some, and for a time, this satisfies. And when it doesn't…? Well, most bounce back. They grow and mature.

But as we've seen, some don't. For whatever reason, there are an increasing number of young people who are missing the internal mechanisms to deal rationally with life's pains. Of these sad cases we usually don't hear much at all. Even in their pain, they manage to hold things together. They keep up appearances. They struggle on. And all the time they wonder why they are so different. They wonder why life is losing meaning. Eventually, they look for an out.

Of course, this bleak scenario of meaninglessness isn't just a college thing; it's a human thing. What's gone wrong and what's the answer?

This I know for sure: better security, more laws and revamped structures are not going to get to the heart of the problem.

The only way to deal with the heart is on a one-to-one basis. The work begins in the home and it continues in every human contact that follows — at work, school and the local gym.

The good news is all of us can make a difference. Are we aware of the suffering around us? Are we willing to reach beyond our comfort level and be love for the loveless? If we have found why life is worth living, are we willing to share that good news with others?

That sounds like a national conversation worth having.

God Bless, Father Jonathan

P.S. On Friday I will post some of your responses to this article. I look forward to hearing from you.

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This article is part of a regular blog hosted by Father Jonathan Morris on FOXNews.com . You can invite new readers by forwarding this URL:www.foxnews.com/fatherjonathan.

River of Glory

30 Degrees; Feels like 16

So when its 30 degrees and it feels like 16, what better way than to watch some baseball. I wanted to watch some baseball tonight; Lincoln vs. Creighton. I found some girls to go with me and yeah ummm way too cold. What kind of genius decides to do this? That would be me.

A lot ask why do you love baseball so much. It's because when I am sitting there at the game, I feel like baseball is the story of my life and the way I choose to pursue my relationship with our Lord. These are just some questions I ponder and there are so much more. I wish at times that my energy and zeal of baseball would translate into my relationship and commitment to our Lord.

• Why is it I leave home early to be at the game on time? But when it comes to attending mass, I leave home right in time in the morning for the first reading?
  
• Why is it in baseball, when the score is 1-9, and its the top of the second, you wait til the end because you still have hope. But when it comes to life, and we are thrown some fastballs and curves, we automatically quit.
  
• Why is it when we are planning on buying tickets you try to get the best seat you can afford? But when it comes to mass, we sit in the back and watch the greatest show on earth from a distance.
• Why is it we are willing to buy the 3.00 hot dogs and the 4.00 drinks? But when it comes to tithing we cannot bare to give a little extra that week?

Anne is a little cold.

Irene and Beth are trying to warm themselves up.

Lord, I ask for faith like baseball.

Spring is in the air

How do I know this? Because since Friday, I have been surrounded with the beautiful game of baseball. I am spell it already, fresh cut grass, peanuts, hot dogs...seriously I cannot stop but smile.

Friday afternoon, I went to my first ever Creighton game. To tell you the truth, it was a lot smaller than I thought it would be, but it was perfect weather. I was a UNO student leader and friend, Josie, watching some baseball, talking about God, and eating some sunflower seeds. Now that is a perfect Friday afternoon. Some of the best conversations are those that are one-on-one and when they include baseball, they are that much sweeter.


Not sure if you can tell but that is me hitting the ball on a Sunday afternoon intramural softball game. My first time on bat since 5th grade and I hit the ball and made it to first safe. Yeah, I love my God. You know I am a theory, God loves the underdogs and well He must have a special place in His heart for me, because I am just that.


Here is TEAM FOCUSS [Fellowship of Catholic University Softball Students]. They might not all be involved with FOCUS, but I am sure they all love God and this is a good start.

LASTLY...I am not sure you are ready for this....THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS WON. Yes, that is right, the Home Opener against Boston and THEY WON! The score 1-7. This is going to be a good year, I can just feel it.

Life on the Rock #488-11/12

Great video of a MLB player talk about Catholicism. How could you not fall in love with baseball and Catholicism.

I am tired of saying that phrase!

You might be wondering, "What phrase is she talking about?"

So it's Palm Sunday which only means one thing; its the long mass reading day. Let's face it, that is first thing that crosses your mind when you get to mass. You see those palms and you are thinking, "Schucks, I am not in the mood to stand for that long today."

Well, it's the least you could do. I am not sure if you were paying attention when the long Gospel reading was going on, but Jesus died for you. Yup, not just me, He died for you as well.

Ever wonder why the crowd is the one year after year saying, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him." Isn't it funny that we are the ones chosen to speak that phrase because we are the ones that "Crucify Him" day after day when we sin. His death on the cross was a free selfless gift He made of us. Grace was out poured when he was crucified. He gave us all He had at the cross, even His mother, Mary.

But we are so selfish and cannot take the time to even thank him for his gift for our salvation. When we sin, we say, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him." To be honest I am tired of saying that phrase! Think about next time....

Your grace is more than enough for me Lord.