Church-y Stuff – Fr. Mike Seiler

On the Slaying of Dragons

May 6, 2026Fr. MikeChurch-y Stuff, Ecclesiology, Homilies, Things I Read SomewhereCharacter, Church, Community, Faith in Action, Holy, Holy Spirit, Martyrdom, Outreach, Priorities, Sacrifice, Saints, Self-Awareness, Self-Examination

In The Little Flowers of St. Francis, a collection of stories about St. Francis, his brothers, and the people whose lives he touched, we find a little story about how St. Clare had desired to eat with St. Francis. But St. Francis kept refusing to eat with her. His brothers finally came to him and said, “St. Clare converted at your preaching, and not eating with her seems a bit stiff and lacking in charity.” So St. Francis replied, “Does it seem right to all of you that I should consent to eat with her?” And all the brothers gave a resounding Yes! And so, St. Francis agreed to meet her and her companions with his own brothers at the chapel of St. Mary and the Angels, where St. Clare had performed her religious vows. As they ate, they began to talk about God, and, we are told, the glory of God descended upon all those present to such a degree that they were all in a state of ecstasy.

Liars, Antichrists, and Blasphemers, Oh My!

May 1, 2026Fr. MikeRandom Thoughts, Social Commentary, Theology, Things I Read SomewhereAntichrist, Blasphemy, End Times, Faith, Fear, Humility, Judgment, Lying, Sin

Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. – 1 John 2:18 When I was growing up, one of the things that seemed to be on everyone’s mind was this notion of the Antichrist, since, according to some big names, Jesus was coming…

Is Anything Sacred? (2)

Dec 1, 2025Fr. MikeChurch-y Stuff, EcclesiologyBlessings, Church, Eucharist, Faith in Action, God, Judging, Prayer, Sacred, Sacrifice, Self-Importance

Charles Spurgeon is quoted as saying, “If I had never joined a church till I had found one that was perfect, I should never have joined one at all.”

In a quote that is complementary to Spurgeon’s quote, Billy Graham is credited with saying, “If you find a perfect church, don’t join it: you’d spoil it.”

Is Anything Sacred?

Nov 1, 2025Fr. MikeChurch-y Stuff, EcclesiologyChurch, Church Buildings, Clergy, Eucharist, God, Holy, Jesus, Mundane, Secular, Spirituality

Part 1 of 2 What do you think of when you hear the word “sacred?” Does it make you think of temples, idols, revered objects of some kind? Or does it make you think of people? People you know, people you respect, people you love? Sacred Spaces The truth is, the word “sacred” can apply…

I am a Rock? I am an Island?

Oct 13, 2023Fr. Mike1 CommentChurch-y Stuff, Ecclesiology, Social CommentaryAnger, Church, Culture, Faith in Action, Gospel, Loneliness, Relevance, Self-Examination

As adults we often don’t realize just how many of our decisions are based on similar attempts at fitting in, at defining our identity, at finding our role within our social context. Did I come to this church because it provides the best theological teaching, or because it offers the best programs, or the best adult groups? Did I take this job because I love doing it, or because this type of job pays more money than one that I love to do – and by extrapolation, more money will allow me to get what I really crave?

(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Nov 22, 2021Fr. MikeChurch-y Stuff, Ecclesiology, Random Thoughts, Things I Read SomewhereFear, God, Jesus, Judging, Judgment, Power, Power Struggle, Self-Examination

“Too many of you are competing to sit at a table that Jesus would have flipped over.” Some random meme Recently, that meme popped up on my Facebook feed, and I had to pause for a minute to reflect on it. It wasn’t funny enough to chuckle at and maybe share; it wasn’t stupid enough…

lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi

Feb 19, 2021Fr. MikeChurch-y Stuff, Random Thoughts, Theology, Things I Read SomewhereConspiracy Theory, Core Beliefs, Faith, Faith in Action, False Teachers, Justification, Prayer, Self-Justification, Violence

Many of us, in the days following the riot and attack on the capitol building on January 6th of this year, have come to wonder how people who claim to know Jesus could have ended up storming the capitol with the intent of causing harm to those within its walls. Causing harm, when the Jesus they claim to follow expresses the mandate to “love your neighbor,” and “pray for your enemies.” Nowhere does Christ seem to indicate that violently beating your enemies with a flagpole is the way of love, nor even something he wants his followers to do.

The Hand Of God

Dec 21, 2020Fr. MikeChurch-y Stuff, Daily Office Reflections, EcclesiologyChurch, God, Jesus, Power, Religion, Self-Examination

Some people attend charismatic or pentecostal churches because they need to see the miraculous to understand a God that provides healing, or understands them deeply, beyond what they share of themselves with the world. Some people attend churches that focus on social justice because they need to see a God that serves up justice and cares for the oppressed. Some attend legalistic churches because they need to experience order and clear cut rules amidst an otherwise chaotic life. And each of these churches provides an aspect of God to the world.