Here we go again. It’s time for those promises we make to ourselves or others to do this, do that, don’t do this, don’t do that, in the upcoming year. You know, resolutions. Do you even make them heading into a new year? If not, why not? If so, how often do you keep them? Can you honestly say that you continue to this day a resolution you made going into a previous new year? How long ago did you make that resolution? What benefits have you enjoyed by making it a permanent part of your life? Let’s talk about this on Monday, the last day to make resolutions before the start of 2019!

We live in a media-driven world. No matter what happens, no matter where it happens, no matter when it happens, it can make global headlines in a matter of seconds or minutes. We’re inundated with news sources and information about local, national and global events. As we prepare to enter a new year, if you could determine what one media headline would say, what would it be? Let’s get a little imaginative and creative, and let the world know what we’re hoping and praying for next year.

We as Christians must remember that we are in the Christmas season now. The lights should stay up and the celebration of our Lord’s birth must continue. But how many of us give in to the world, and the day after Christmas we start packing away the ornaments? The world would like us to make Christmas one big commercial day (following, of course, several weeks [months?] of trying to get you to buy anything and everything under the sun). But for us, Jesus’ birth changes everything for all of eternity.  Let’s stay in the season and enjoy every moment telling the world that a Savior is Born!

Next Tuesday is Christmas Day. Over the course of our lives, we get accustomed to celebrating this blessed holiday in certain ways, and with certain people. But the circumstances of life can alter who we are with. A spouse, parent or loved one may be deployed and away from home at Christmas. Perhaps you’ve recently lost someone dear to you, and this will be your first Christmas without them. Maybe you recently moved to a different part of the country, and won’t be able to make it home to be with family and good friends. If you will be missing the company of important people this year at Christmas, take this opportunity to share how much they mean to you, and how much you wish they were with you to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Even though Jesus admonishes us that we can’t change a single thing by worrying, it’s a part of everyone’s life. Some worry more, others less. And, of course, there are things we all face that cause us to worry more than other things. Invariably, we all experience times when we’ve fretted over something that ended up going very well. A medical report. A job interview. An exam in high school or college. A meeting with the boss. A work review. A loved one’s travels. The list is endless of the things we may have lost sleep over, which turned out much better than we had feared. Share when this has happened to you. Your experience could save many others a lot of wasted worrying.

Generations of us have grown up believing that an overweight, white-bearded man slid down our chimney (even if our house didn’t have one) and delivered all the toys that were under the tree on Christmas morning. Eventually, we reached an age where we knew the truth about Santa Claus. When did this happen for you? How did you react when you got the news? When you became a parent, how did you handle the “Santa” situation in your family? Did you bypass the jolly old man and simply teach your kids about St. Nicholas instead? Should Christians even perpetuate the myth of Santa Claus? Isn’t it just another way that the world has hijacked something sacred and made it profane? Let us hear from you Wednesday on this sometimes-controversial topic.

It’s sure to happen to everyone. Maybe even multiple times in your life. And we usually experience it for the first time at a very young age. We face the dilemma of either telling the truth, which could cost us something, or lying or making excuses in order to avoid such a loss. Of course, as we mature and – God-willing – grow in virtue, we want to always tell the truth. But human nature being what it is, when we do something wrong the temptation can easily arise to try to wiggle our way out of it by being less than forthright. This could include things like being found out that you lied on your resume, facing an audit by the IRS, being asked by a teacher if you cheated on an exam, and many others. There’s something refreshing about telling the truth in such circumstances, even if it costs us something we may have dearly wanted. Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever managed to “come clean” when it would have been much easier to take the soft road? Let’s talk about this on Monday.

We are over half way through Advent. How is it going for you? Are you preparing for the birth of our Lord and Savior? What are you doing in your home that shows that you are definitely in the season of Advent? This is an exciting time for us as Christians. But how many of us use this time for profound spiritual growth? On Friday, let’s talk about how we can still make the most of Advent.

Wednesday is the Feast of Our Lady Of Guadalupe. Our Blessed Mother is so special that each of us develops a unique understanding and relationship with her. Describe for us your personal journey with Mary, and how it has grown over the years. Maybe you are not sure where to place her in your spiritual life. Share that as well, and let’s see if we can learn about our Blessed Mother together.

Times have changed dramatically since the Internet entered our lives. Some people still find love the old-fashioned way – by meeting their spouse in Church, at work, or through an introduction by a family member or friend. In recent decades, however, online dating websites have proliferated. These include many reputable sites that emphasize a strong adherence to Catholic teachings and practices. Have you looked for a potential marital relationship online? Maybe you found the love of your life in cyberspace. Perhaps you’re of a mind that lifelong love should only be discovered and cultivated in a more traditional manner. Do you believe there are too many risks involved in seeking love or a relationship on a website? On Tuesday, let’s talk about “love at first site.”