A Temple of the Holy Spirit

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Daniel & Catherine ready for Confirmation I had the privilege of witnessing my son and daughter receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this past Tuesday at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Lancaster, OH. It was a wonderful Mass with a full choir, trumpets, and all the rest. During his remarks, Bishop Earl K. Fernandes mentioned that we too, like the Basilica, are temples of the Lord. It caused me to reflect on this idea. Although I've mostly seen only pictures of the great cathedrals and basilicas in the world, I have seen some amazing churches even in our own diocese. These structures are a testament to the Church's love for God (read the entire Church - Militant, Suffering, Triumphant). They represent great skill, sacrifice, and passion for Our Lord and often times His Mother.  Yet the words of Christ always echo in my mind when contemplating the beauty that surrounds me in those places; “ Do you see these great buildings? There will not be one stone left u
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My 2022 Book List

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I'm not just a writer but also a reader / listener. I just checked my Audible library and there are 275 titles listed there. I've spent a total of 3 Months, 3 Days, 16 Hours, and 28 Minutes listening to those books. Unfortunately, I don't track my reading in that way.

People often ask for book recommendations and so I thought I share some of my favorite books and audible books from 2022. Let me know your favorite books from 2022 in the comment section!

Discernment of Spirits

I gave up alcohol for good in February of 2022. I wanted to begin working on our marriage and improving our relationship. I found this book, Discernment of Spirits in Marriage: Ignatian Wisdom for Husbands and Wives at our local Catholic Bookstore. This book gave us great insight into our own prayer lives. It follows a fictional couple and their marriage as they learn about St. Ignatius' 14 Rules of Discernment. Don't worry, this isn't about casting out demons or exorcisms. It's about looking deeper at our spiritual life and seeing why we do the things we do. We would read a chapter on our own and then come together once or twice a week to discuss and answer the questions provided in the book. I highly recommend this book to any couple seeking to grow closer in their prayer life and support one another on their spiritual journey. Available on Audible, Kindle, and Paperback.


The Ghost of King Leopold II

It's been a while since a book broke my heart like King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa. This tragic story of the Congo will leave you heartbroken, angry, and hopeful. Growing up in the US, I was taught that the visitors to the New World came in peace and lived in harmony with the natives; think of the traditional Thanksgiving images. Yet, I later learned that often slaughter and dishonesty were the order of the day, though not always. However, I'd never heard of how the so-called "Catholic" king of Belgium worked diligently to create his own colonial kingdom in the Congo by commanding the slaughter of anyone who stood in his way. The stories are horrifying but the lesson needs to be learned. This book is not for the faint of heart but it is another powerful story of how power and greed can corrupt absolutely and I am glad that I read it. Available on Audible, Kindle, and Paperback.


Always Faithful

Most of the "war" books I've read have been about blowing things up, killing bad guys, and surviving the ordeal. This one is a bit different. Always Faithful: A Story of the War in Afghanistan, the Fall of Kabul, and the Unshakable Bond Between a Marine and an Interpreter is a bit different. It has all the above elements but it really focuses on the human cost of war and it shows how deep down, good people all want to live in peace. This book is a fantastic true story of a bond that formed between Major Tom Schueman and his Afghanistan interpreter. This bond became a true brotherhood over time and distance. This story tells how Major Schueman has worked tirelessly to help Zak escape the Taliban threats against him and his. The story ends well but it is not the end of the story. Just yesterday I read that Zak is facing deportation back to Afghanistan. Read the book and if you can help, contact your representatives. Available on Audible, Kindle, and Paperback.


Project Hail Mary

Andy Weir, author of The Martian and Artemis, has become one of my favorite authors. I tend to be a little nerdy at times and so Weir's attention to details, creativity with science, and great story telling make his books a thrill to read. In Project Hail Mary, Ryland Grace awakes from a chemically induced coma to find that he is the only crewmate to survive a trip deep into space. The reason for the trip? To find out how to stop an organism that is eating the sun, Astrophage. It's an exciting adventure in deep space with a race against time to save humanity and an extremely unlikely friendship. If you like science or science fiction, this is a must read. Available on Audible, Kindle, and Paperback.


Notable Mentions

Loved - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Okay - Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad


My new book of poetry, The Last Dragon and Other Poems is available now.
 
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God bless you - Jim Hahn


* Contains affiliate links. No, that doesn't mean that the kids should leave the room. Rather, it means that if you click on a link, and if you purchase something, I may get some financial remuneration for that click and buy. All that means is that my kids will finally get to eat, just kidding but I may get something, just so you know...

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