Tim Bongard
Detailed Models
and
Building Projects
Life is a scratchbuilding project
Build On &
Build Boldly!
WEB & BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
INSPIRATION INDEX
Steady. Rock solid. Oozing integrity in all that you do. Radiating wisdom. Quietly confident. Focused and razor sharp.Wouldn’t it be great to be known for these things? When people saw you or spoke with you that these things would be readily apparent? Being a man or woman of character is what we all aspire to, but how do we get there? If you read the Old Testament, you will discover that many of the patriarchs and our biblical heroes were folks like that. Most didn’t start that way, but grew into being people of character - but how exactly did that happen? Certainly, circumstances and the things that God led them through helped shape those qualities, but there is one common thread that sticks out for all of them – they all cried to the Lord. Prayer - conversation with our Heavenly Father – is the essential building material God uses to shape and build people of faith and of quality character. Period. Full stop. Ya gotta have those conversations, heart-felt and infused with your full self, as if you were either desperate for Him or savoring the experience with Him like it was a fine steak, but fully engaged, nevertheless. Desperate or savoring is good. Blank or absent, not so much. So, How is your relationship with your Heavenly Father? Why am I harping on this you may ask? Jesus told us that we should ABIDE in Him and I’ve given that a lot of thought lately. How, exactly, do you do that? I’ve come to the conclusion that one of the most obvious and key ways to abide in Christ is to Pray. I mean really communicate, from the heart type, fully engaged Prayer. Seek His face type stuff. That’s what the scriptures communicate. It becomes truly meaningful when you dig for the relationship and show God you really WANT Him and His companionship. Everything else is just playing at religion. So, make your faith walk more than that. Make it a conversation, and a good one at that. Want to know more? Read about Joseph in Genesis or Daniel in the book of Daniel. Or coincidentally, Father Dave Pivonka’s Daily Holy Spirit on Hallow with the title “Lead By the Spirit” underscores what I’ve said here (You can find it at https://hallow.com/prayers/1043143/ ). Quality Character and abiding in Christ are both built on Prayer. Pray on, Be Impassioned, and Pray Boldly!
Believe it or not, my favorite model is not one that I built, but one my dad built for me when I was on the Ogdensburg Fire Department. It's a constant reminder to keep going and keep trying...
What follows is a list of resources you can use to help you grow and be encouraged in your faith. This is quite a variety of offerings, so be sure to check them out and use the ones that you find inspirational and helpful. This is not a comprehensive list, so if you find a resource that has blessed you, please share it with me so I can pass it on.
Online Resources
Hallow.Com and the Hallow App – Hallow has a wide variety of features ranging from Daily Mass Readings and devotionals to guided Rosaries and Novenas, to Bible readings and seasonal studies. The site can be experienced for free for the first 30 Days, but I think you will find that it is well worth the fee.
AscensionPress.Com (especially the APP & Media tab) - Ascension is a Catholic publisher, but their website and phone app have a number of additional resources that go hand in hand with their publications witch include a Bible and several volumes of companion books to go with their Bible-in-a-Year program, and a Catechism-in-a-Year guide and program.
WordOnFire,Org - This website is an educational website that focuses on Evangelism and issues relating to our culture and how to reach those around us for Christ. Their monthly Journal focuses on a specific topic or aspect and is beautifully produced with articles that are engaging and educational. In a nutshell, it’s like National Geographic for Catholic Evangelism.
Great Books for Personal Development and Encouragement
33 Days to Eucharistic Glory by Matthew Kelly – ISBN-13 978-1635825329
Publisher’s summary: “A Spiritual Pilgrimage: 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory is the first ever Eucharistic Consecration. This unprecedented spiritual resource presents profound truths, astonishing historical facts, powerful practical examples, a daily virtue to adopt, extraordinary prayers, and inspiring stories—all in an easy-to-follow daily format”.
A quick, easy read that will bless you with a far deeper understanding of the Eucharist and how powerful it can be in your life.
Holy Moments by Matthew Kelly – ISBN-13 978-1635821352
Publisher’s summary: “Some ideas are so powerful that simply becoming aware of them changes our lives forever. Holy Moments is such an idea. It is profoundly simple, astonishingly practical, and once you discover it,your life will finally makes sense. It's time to let Holy Moments show you what is possible. It is time to explore your soul-potential”. Another of Kelly’s short little books that is a powerful encouragement in making choices at every opportunity to turn ordinary living into a saintly walk.
Meer Christianity by CS Lewis – ISBN-13 978-0060652920
Narnia’s author was also one of our faith’s more powerful defenders having been an atheist who found the Savior and then shared many profound thoughts on why he came to believe in Christ with such conviction.
The Servant Leader by Ken Blanchard & Phil Hodges – ISBN-13 978-0849996597
This is another quick read, and this one will give you a set of tools to not only understand how Christ led, but how we as His followers should follow His example. If you are a leader of any kind (and we all are; a point they clearly make), this is a must read.
Unshakable: Building a Life of Virtue in a World of Chaos by Fr. Mike Schmitz - ISBN-13 979-8892760669
Publisher’s summary: Fr. Mike shows how cultivating virtues like humility, loyalty, and joy can transform your relationships, decisions, and outlook on life. You’ll also discover how the timeless cardinal virtues—prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude—and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love offer a roadmap for navigating today’s challenges with courage and clarity. Another excellent book in either print or on Audible, this one narrated by Fr. Mike.
GREAT QUOTES
I’ve gotten into the habit of using a prayer journal to write prayers or copy great ones I’ve seen or heard, all for use in my daily prayer times. I've transcribed a number of them and included them on the HANDY PRAYERS page. I hope you find them useful!
HANDY PRAYERS
DEVINE PROVIDENCE INTERVIEW
MY FAVORITE MODEL
Conversations that change your Character
When something REALLY speaks to my heart or when the vitriol on Facebook seems to spin out of control, those are the times I'll jump in with the intension and hope that what I post may actually help bring calm and reason or at least give everyone some thoughts to ponder.
COMFORTING SCRIPTURES
A Handbook for Leading Volunteers
Volunteer Groups and their Leaders finally have a practical and realistic handbook designed specifically for the congregations, leagues, clubs, troops, and fellowships that make up the backbone of our communities. TWEAKS is written in my usual familiar, hands-on, and folksy style that will give you an immediate handle and understanding of the complex issues and demands needed to lead your volunteer ORG to greater levels of performance regardless of the condition it may be in now. Complete overhaul, addressing serious problems, or just some fine tuning, TWEAKS will be a guide you will turn to again and again. If your organization is in trouble, struggling or just needs a tune-up, TWEAKS can give you the tools and practical knowledge needed to reset the trajectory of your organization no matter how large or small it may be. TWEAKS can have a profound effect on how you lead your group so that it can deliver on the very reasons people volunteered to join in the first place.
My dad, Gunther Bongard...
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The Determination to Improvise and never quit...
When life hands you Lemons, Make Lemonade. When it hands you more lemons, Make Hard Lemonade, and more of it.