Christian Living
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The Heavenly Rock Tumbler
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in ReflectionsAlthough I’ve never had one, rock tumblers have always fascinated me. If you didn’t know, a rock tumbler is a hobbyist machine that turns rough, unpolished stones into smooth, gleaming gemstones by simulating the natural tumbling action of rivers and oceans. It works by continually rotating a barrel filled with rocks, water, and progressively finer abrasive “grit” over several…
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Who’s The Idiot in the Rearview Mirror?
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in ReflectionsOh, wait, that would be me. The more we know about ourselves and who God made us to be, the more effective we will be in fulfilling our call and becoming saints. St. Teresa of Avila was a big proponent of striving to make progress in this area. In Interior Castle, she wrote, “Self-knowledge is so…
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The Little Flower and the Big Lesson
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I’m writing a new book. Or rather, I am redoing an old one. (I shared a little bit about that in this video.) I spent six days in a very old monastery overlooking the rolling hills of Wisconsin. The kitchen was dark and creepy, but the weather and views were spectacular. I made great progress…
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Weed Killer for the Soul
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in ReflectionsWeed season is here. We’re barely into spring here in Sheboygan, and already a dang thistle has popped up in the middle of our fire pit. The thistles annoy me the most because the little jerks spread so quickly and are difficult to uproot with your bare hands. The guys who installed our fire pit…
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Thank God for the Struggle
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in ReflectionsWith Holy Week upon us, we’re nearing the end of Lent. Perhaps your prayer time was not as prevalent (or fruitful) as you’d hoped. Perhaps the sacrifices you committed to were more difficult than you expected, let alone the challenge of actually keeping them. Lent is a slow slog, filled with struggle. Lent is hard.…
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Drawing Near to God
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in SaintsIn this uplifting and lighthearted presentation, artist, author, and national speaker Jason Kotecki shares simple ways we can follow in the footsteps of our spiritual heroes, the Saints. This talk was given on March 17, 2026, at St. Clement’s Church, as part of the Sheboygan North Catholic Parish Lenten Soup Supper Series.
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The Boring Road to a Magical Life
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in ReflectionsI am not a natural-born rule breaker. This may come as a surprise, coming from someone who wrote a book about breaking rules. The obvious question for anyone who knew me as a child is, “How did you go from being a shy boy who was afraid of new situations and spent an eternity in swimming lessons to a guy…
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Training Wheels
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in ReflectionsJesus is many things. He is our Lord, Savior, Teacher, Brother, and Friend. You know what He isn’t? Training wheels. At least not in the way we normally use them. I’ve been working on the virtue of fortitude for the past few years. I’ve mistakenly assumed that it involves me sucking it up and becoming…
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Pretty Tricky, Devil
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in ReflectionsLast week, I spent time exploring the idea of being a general in Satan’s army. Good times. I’ve got one more helpful tip for using the devil’s actions against him. (Then maybe we’ll turn our attention to cute lambs and good shepherds.) I think it’s safe to say that, for most of us, our lives…
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Stealing The Devil’s Playbook
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in ReflectionsHere’s a fun exercise: Pretend you’re a general in Satan’s army. (Stay with me here…) Just for a moment, imagine you’re one of the bad guys. Now, ask yourself a question: “How would YOU defeat you if you were on the devil’s side?” I once described my spiritual life as feeling like I am falling into…