You can’t unsee this.
In 2010 I was part of a video project called “CateQUIZ’em!” where we created a number of short films about chastity. This is one of them. To be honest, I had forgotten it existed! But that is the power of recorded stuff. It always comes back to haunt you. This has to be one of the strangest videos on chastity ever produced. See what I looked like before glasses and bow-ties.
Cool Catholic Graphic Novel
I was doing a gig in Venice, Florida where I met this amazing guy named Andrea Molinari (yes, it’s a guy’s name). We have a lot of things in common: we love Jesus, Catholicism, our family, role-playing games, and comic books, just to name a few.
Well, he just got a set of comic books published and they are really incredible. Here’s the synopsis:
After Professor Lawrence Miller’s teenage son Val’s tragic death from a drug overdose, he cannot shake the sense that his son’s soul is lost and wandering between heaven and earth. Grieving and deeply disturbed, he commits suicide, pursuing his son into the afterlife. Lawrence’s soul awakens and immediately encounters his deceased father who has arrived in order to help him transition. Lawrence rejects his father’s offer, choosing instead to stay in the ‘seam,’ the middle ground between heaven and earth, so that he can find his son and seek retribution. Lawrence embarks on his search for Val, beginning at his son’s grave. Lawrence begins to wage a brutal campaign of retribution against those responsible for the drugs that killed Val. His existence becomes a terrifying conflict between his unchecked anger… and his instinctive knowledge that he has lost his way.
It is daring story-telling, certainly dark. I love the supernatural element of it. Sometimes I feel that Catholic (or Protestant) story tellers aren’t willing to play with the supernatural genre which is so popular with audiences today. For example, from a theological perspective, can a person have supernatural powers and encounter living people from the afterlife? Yeah, probably not 🙂 But the “Catholic” elements of the story lie not in the narrative details but in the themes the story brings forth: redemption, forgiveness, and hope in the face of despair. Really great stuff.
I’ve included links below to check it out. Might not be your “cup of tea” as my British friends say, but if you are into this kind of stuff it is certainly worth your support. We need more of this out there!
Amazon. Comixology. Drive-Thru Comics.
Discerning God’s Will
Would you like to hear how you might better discern God’s will in your life with a bunch of 80’s references thrown in? Of course you would. Check out this podcast hosted by my good friend, Matt Leonard:
http://matthewsleonard.com/the-gospel-accordion-to-bob-rice/
Where in the World is Bob Rice?
Well, you know you are too busy when “blog about summer” stays on your to-do list until you realize it is October already! Hard to believe time has flown by.
If you’ve been watching my tweets and Instagram, you might have amused yourself playing the game, “Where in the world is Bob Rice?” Since last May, I’ve gone coast to coast in Canada (Vancouver and Halifax), Southwest, Northwest, Northeast, and Southeast in the United States (Phoenix, Spokane, New Hampshire, and Florida), lots of singing in Steubenville (played 8 summer conferences) and even got to do a gig in Glasgow (Scotland). I have some fun trips coming up, too.
I know that sounds like a lot. Okay, it is a lot. People often ask how I do it all. My honest answer is that I’m not sure what I’m doing! I’m humbled and grateful for the opportunity to share the Gospel in so many places. I’m energized by seeing great ministry done in so many places in the world—these are experiences I bring back to the classroom and teach from. And I’m blessed the extra income supports my ever growing family and lets my wife be a stay at home mom.
Looking back on the past few months, the word that comes to mind is gratitude. Sometimes I am just plain stunned that I get to do what I do.
If you could spare any prayers, I’d appreciate them toward finishing my doctorate. It is probably the most difficult thing I have ever done, and even more challenging with a busy teaching and travel schedule. If you have wondered why the blogs have been more infrequent this past year or so, that’s the culprit.
If I got to see you this summer (or September), know that I pray for all those I get to share my gifts with every day! I hope something I said (or sung) might have helped you grow closer to Jesus Christ.
(The attached picture is the summer conference band, an amazing group of men and women that I was blessed to be with! From left to right is Catherine McManamon—lyrics projection, Nick Scanlan—vocal and rhythm guitar, Andrew “Alob” Laubacher—vocals and lead guitar, me, Taylor Tripodi—vocals, Dan Bozek—bass, Katy Blythe—vocals. On the bottom are James Roman—drums, and Andre Villeneuve—piano, sax, and flute. Though Andrew and Nick have moved on to “life”, hopefully the rest will be back to make music next summer!)
Steubenville Northwest
My most popular book!
Deacon Bob Rice 