Home/Evangelize/Article
Trending Articles
There are instances in our lives when we are confused about which path to take or which decision to make; for big and small matters. Every moment of our lives involves decisions, from choosing to sleep or pray, to what toothpaste to buy, what food to eat, what clothes to wear, or what words to say—all of these are daily, moment-to-moment decisions. Knowledge, wisdom, past experiences, and future goals are some of that factors which influence our decision making.
Bad decisions are sometimes the reason why we face failures in our lives. For every decision there is a positive or a negative consequence. How will we know which is the right decision? It is important that we realize the will of God in every circumstance we are experiencing. God will reveal His will to people who genuinely seek it and believe that God’s will is the best option in their lives.
There are faithful who take decisions without seeking the will of God or who make the wrong decision knowing that it is not God’s will. When problems arise, those people go to their spiritual directors or people with the gift of the Holy Spirit to know the will of God. This may not always be because of their desire to fulfill the will of God, but because of their fear of the consequences which can result from their wrong decisions. For example, a person who is dishonest in his job because he is stealing money from his company does not seek the will of God about his job; but if he is sick, he prays and seeks the will of God about the doctor he is going to see.
Through sin we do not make the right decisions. Jesus Christ taught that a person who sins is a slave to sin. A slave is unable to freely make decisions. The things that make the heart lose its freedom is sin. One of the greatest gifts God gave humanity is free will. To sustain free will we need to avoid all factors of sinfulness. Otherwise the darkness in our minds will lead us to bad decisions. In other words, it is through contrition and repentance that we gain the grace to make good decisions.
Our decisions impact our future. Therefore, before making any decision, think to yourself: “Is this the will of God? Will this bring me closer to or further away from God?” When we hold tight our own desires and make our goal luxurious lives for ourselves, we are unable to seek the will of God. The main reason that a person makes the wrong decision is because his or her ultimate goal is not eternal life. Scripture says, “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
My Lord God, many times, in my quest to fulfill my own desires, I have not sought out Your will. I regret making wrong decisions in the past. Lord, give me the grace to seek Your will and make the right decisions. Amen.
Chevalier Benny Punnathara has authored many books on the faith life which have been translated into several languages. In 2012, then Pope Benedict XVI awarded the title of ‘Chevalier’ to Punnathara for his outstanding contributions to the Catholic Church and society. In addition to being the founder of Shalom ministries, Punnathara serves as the Chairman of Shalom Media. He and his wife, Stella, an author and speaker, live in India along with their two children.
Every day people drive their cars and there is nothing unusual about it. But if anyone meets with an accident, it turns into a matter for the news. Headlines appear in newspapers, posts in social media instigate discussions, and everyone talks about it. It is quite ordinary when a husband and wife live together. But once they get divorced, it becomes the talk of the town. Soon enough, this news becomes a subject of gossip within the community. Nowadays, we often find the news of murder, violence, fraud, corruption, and other vices getting more attention than anything that showcases the virtues of humanity. A disproportionate importance is given to the actions of evil in news media and even in our conversations. All this has a negative effect. The one who is constantly fed disturbing stories of evil will unknowingly slip into the thought that the world is full of evil and that most of the people in it are wicked. This thought can destroy every desire to grow in virtue and disappointment can sink deep in the mind. This disappointment turns into hopelessness in life and with the world, and may eventually cause one to surrender to evil without ever putting up a fight. Make no mistake—this is the well thought out strategy of satan. He cunningly twists that which is virtuous and projects only evil, and thereby makes the world seem to think that he has the upper hand. But the truth is, there are still lots of virtues in the world and we are surrounded by virtuous individuals. Even though satan has conquered many hearts, the Kingdom of God is growing fast. Many people around us shed His light of holiness, love, and truth. We are not alone. The Lord is doing everything for us to rejoice and hope in. We should open our eyes to His great works, we should speak about them and write about them. By doing this, our joy and the joy of the world will only increase. Virtues which lay hidden will be shown to the whole world. Gossip is a sin which hinders the light of God. With fear we should remember the fact that each gossipmonger is a soldier in the empire of satan. “Let all your conversation be about the law of the Lord” (Sirach 9:15). “Cursed be gossips and the double tongued, for they destroy the peace of many” (Sirach 28:13). Prayer Lord, I understand that those who see evil in others will be unable to love and rejoice fully. Teach me to realize that I fail to see virtues in the world because I fail to live a virtuous life. Help me, dear Lord, to recognize the evil of gossip as the sting of hatred from the terrible serpent in my heart. O Jesus, sanctify my heart in the fire of Your love. Let my heart be filled with Your virtues and let me become Your witness as I grow in virtue. Amen.
By: Chevalier Benny Punnathara
MoreYou may be familiar with the story of a father and son who traveled with a donkey. Shortly after they began their journey, a bystander commented, “What kind of people are they! They have a perfectly fine donkey, but instead of riding him, they are simply walking beside him!” When they heard this, the father and son thought that it was a good idea. The father said to his son, “You should ride the donkey. Why tire yourself?” The son jumped on the donkey and they continued on their journey. After going only a short distance, another bystander said, “What an arrogant son this is! See how he is having his aged father walk while he is comfortably riding on a donkey!” As soon as he heard this, the son jumped down from the donkey and made his father ride instead. But they had not gotten far when the next set of comments came, “What a hard-hearted father! He has his son walk while he proudly rides on the donkey!” The father then encouraged his son as well to ride on the donkey. While they rode together, an onlooker saw them and cried out, “What cruelty toward an animal! Look at that poor, silent donkey, unable to bear the weight of both of these people. Surely that donkey will collapse and fall down any time now! The father and son thought that this may be true and immediately got off the donkey. They discussed the situation amongst themselves. “Now what should we do? No matter what we do, people don’t seem to agree with what we have decided.” After much discussion, they came up with an idea. They tied the donkey on bamboo poles and carried the poles on their shoulders. When people saw them next, they ridiculed them, “Here are two donkeys hauling another donkey!” Does the story of this father and son resonate in your life? When we direct the path of our lives based on what other people say, our lives will be wasted. Humans have the capacity to turn any positive action into a seemingly negative one, and to turn any harmful decision into a seemingly helpful one. So, do not give undue importance to what people think of you and your decisions. Rather, concern yourself with another question, “What is God thinking of me?” One reason behind our hurts, weaknesses, and frustrations is the opinions of others. When we give extensive attention to the talk of the world, we become lethargic. But when we turn to the Word of God, His words fortify us. When we aim for what pleases God, we can grow as a Christian. “Am I now currying favor with human beings or God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). Prayer Lord, reveal to me the time and energy I spent pleasing people. Give me the grace to do only what pleases You. Fill me with fear of You so that I may never be fearful of the hurtful words and aversions of others. Lord God, grant me the wisdom to discern what it is that You are trying to tell me. Let your Word rule upon me. Amen.
By: Chevalier Benny Punnathara
MoreOnce Alexander the Great was asked by a scholar, “Your excellency, once you capture Babylon, what will be your next goal?” “Well, Edessa is next. It is easy to capture that city. So, capturing Edessa and making it my own, would be my next target,” replied Alexander. “Once you capture Edessa, what then?” the scholar continued. “I will then turn towards Alexandria and defeat them.” “Well, what about after you capture Alexandria?” “Cilicia would be my next target for attack” The scholar, curious, continued, “Your highness, please do not feel bad that I am questioning you. Can you please tell me what benefit you will obtain by winning all these battles?” “After conquering the cities, I will rest peacefully and enjoy life,” replied Alexander the Great. To this reply, the scholar raised yet another question, “Your excellency, then why is that you are not able to enjoy life right now?” Even before he could enjoy his life, Alexander bid goodbye to the world. All his hard work was worthless, because after his death, everything that he captured was divided among other nations. And at the end, it was all just history. Alexander’s tragedy is felt even today by those who desire to get more than what they need, those who are greedy, and those who solely focus on making a name for themselves. It is not just our accomplishments or busy lives that make our lives enjoyable. Rather, to be happy in life, we do not need new things. There is a persistent notion of “If I could only earn much more money, or gain more wisdom, or get another job—then my life would be so much happier!” However, these are all worldly ideas! A peaceful heart is what is necessary for an enjoyable life. And how can we best obtain a peaceful heart? By believing and trusting in God. If you are in a car traveling 100 miles per hour, you feel that the roadside trees and people on sidewalk vanish quickly. However, when going slow, you can easily see roadside scenery really well. In the same way, only when we keep our mind calm and peaceful, can we enjoy the beauty of flowers, the tranquility of dusk, and the sweetness of relationships. Only then can we truly enjoy life. Prayer Lord, teach me to enjoy every day that You give me. Grant pardon to my weak mind that does not find happiness in this great pasture that You have gifted me. Please teach me that the one who can conquer his own heart is much stronger than the one who conquers the world. Oh Lord God, please steer this fast-paced life of mine. Grant me the grace to acknowledge the beautiful life that you have given me! Amen.
By: Chevalier Benny Punnathara
MoreQueen Isabel, the empress of Spain died unexpectedly. The people of the nation grieved greatly at the death of such a smart and beautiful thirty-six year old queen. It took almost seventeen days for her body to be brought, with great pomp, from the city of Toledo where she had died, to the capital city of Granada. Before her burial, the coffin had to be opened up in order to officially declare her dead. The Viceroy of Catalonia, Francis Borgia, was the one designated for this task. At the appointed time, Borgia opened the royal coffin. What he saw was the most beautiful face of the queen decomposed and very much disfigured. This made Borgia ponder deeply. He realized that beauty and royalty do not last beyond death. He took a pledge that he would no longer set aside his life to serve mortal kings, but instead he would serve the immortal God. This was none other than Saint Francis Borgia who later became the third Superior General of the Society of Jesus. Bruce Lee was once a man who greatly influenced the youth. He, who was well known for his skill in the martial arts of Karate and Kung Fu, had spent his entire life training and strengthening his body intensely. But alas! One day he suddenly passed away. Rumors and theories were rife about the cause of his death. His body that was made fit by years of training, lay motionless within a few hours, and decomposed into soil within a few days. We worry and labor hard for bodies that eventually turn into dust; but how much do we care to strengthen our soul? Unnecessary concern about our body will lead us astray. Undue concerns about our body—its weight, height, color, beauty, health, physical handicaps, etc.—can lead us to wrong behaviors and an unhealthy outlook towards life; whereas more concern towards the state of our soul will lead us to prosperity and salvation. Let us examine ourselves: in a day, how much time do we spend thinking about our soul? Is it not true that we are greatly concerned about the health and look of our body, but are often not in the least bit concerned about our soul! One who is not concerned about the soul will not even be aware of heaven and hell! Let these words of our Lord inspire us to ponder and meditate on this question, “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mark 8:36). Prayer: Lord our God, Who has shaped man from the dust, help us to realize that one day we are to return to dust. Give us the desire to want to be with You in eternity. Teach us to direct our labors towards gaining eternal life instead of living for things that perish. Amen.
By: Chevalier Benny Punnathara
MoreWilliam Sydney Porter was a bank teller at the First National Bank in Austin, Texas. The bank had a provision for its business customers that allowed them to count and take the money they needed on their own, at the counter, provided they sign off in the register with their name and amount withdrawn. It was Porter’s job to oversee this. Once when the bank officials did a random check on this, they found a deficit of three thousand dollars. Porter had absolutely no clue how this could have happened; however, the bank went ahead and filed a case of bank theft against him. Having been falsely accused of this crime, arrested and jailed, Porter was at first devastated and extremely depressed. Gradually, as days passed, Porter felt more at ease and spent the free time he got in jail very fruitfully—he began writing. As his stories started getting published, Porter strived to write more. Finally, when his jail time was done and he was a free man, he became a renowned writer with the pen name of O. Henry. The O. Henry short stories became the carrier of the sweet-smelling aroma of human goodness and have touched the hearts of many. We may also undergo situations in our lives where we are faced with tragedy, pain and injustice. It is of no use wasting our lives thinking about our sufferings and being sad and heavy-laden about them. During any circumstance, we should strive to make our lives meaningful and beneficial. Another great example is that of Saint Paul the Apostle—it was because he was held captive in prison that we received many of the letters in the New Testament. During his imprisonment—be it the thoughts of the death sentence that awaited him or thoughts of his captors—nothing bothered Saint Paul. Instead, he concentrated on completing his long letters for the spiritual growth and strengthening of the people of the Church. In the same way, whether situations are favorable or not, our lives must be fruitful. Even if our body is weary, our mind must be working. We must fill our surroundings with good thoughts. We must spread blessings to the world with prayers. Our years of life are valuable. We should not waste them being sad, disappointed and anxious. We can always do things that are useful and beneficial. Some of our dreams may have been shattered, but we can weave new ones. The life of O. Henry teaches us that losses can turn into gains. “For everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’ Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord” (Ephesians 5:14-17). Prayer Lord Jesus, I am deeply saddened by the times I wasted. I remember now the hours I wasted taking part in unnecessary gossip, the hours I wasted twisting and turning in my bed, or flipping through TV channels, or surfing the Internet. Had I used that valuable time for study and prayer and hard work, my life today would have turned out so much better. My Lord, please teach me to fruitfully live the rest of my life. Free my mind of anxieties and sluggishness, O Lord Almighty. Amen.
By: Chevalier Benny Punnathara
MoreMy dog enjoys going for walks, but he wants to be in control. He doesn’t pay attention to my cues. He doesn’t care where I want to go; instead, he goes wherever he wants to. I keep him on a short leash because he tends to chase after cars. If I allowed him to do whatever he wanted, he would get hurt. My dog is stubborn. He pulls and tugs with all his strength. He doesn’t understand that I am only trying to protect him. I wonder if I am as unyielding as my dog. The Lord guides me along the best pathway for my life. He advises and watches over me. Yet, sometimes, I am like a senseless animal that needs a bit and bridle to be kept in check. I feel I know what is best for me. I don’t want to wait for God’s timing. I want to chase my desires and follow my impulses. I am reluctant to stay calmly by God’s side and seek His will in all things. Lord, train me to yield to You. Teach me to trust that You know what is best although it may not be what I want. Help me want to please You more than anything else. May I enjoy walking by Your side faithfully and attentively as You lead me along the best pathway for my life.
By: Nisha Peters
MoreAdulthood is scary, but with the right company, you can learn to thrive in grace and strength! Jesus treasured friendship and hand-picked 12 men to walk closely with Him and learn from Him. Of course, there were also women friends. Remember the sisters, Mary and Martha? And Mary Magdalene? The fact that the Gospels mention these friendships reveals that the people in the fabric of our lives are very important. Jesus even called His disciples friends! “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15) It is an honor and elevation to be called a friend of His! In the same way, it’s important for us to recognize that being a friend to one another is an honor. It is a role to be taken seriously. As Jesus reminds us: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”(Matthew 25:40) Your presence, or lack of it, is impactful to another. Your actions, support, and prayers can make an immense imprint on the life of another person. It is a role to steward well, as with any of the roles we have been entrusted. A Gift Par Excellence In adulthood, many lament at the lack of friendship or the difficulty of making friends. The ache of a heart longing for dear friends is very real. Friendship is truly a gift, a gift that one should most definitely pray for. The impact of true Christian friendship on a person’s life is very deep. So it is important to carefully ‘choose’ the people with whom you entrust this title. A friend who does not share the same values can be closer to an enemy. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” The lives of the Saints are a constant encouragement as we often hear about one Saint being friends with another! Saint Francis and Saint Clare are often talked about as friends who partnered in purpose and spirituality, enriching one another's lives. So were Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint John of the Cross. Saint John Paul II and Mother Teresa are 20th-century models. True friends will spur us on to become the best versions of ourselves. Led by Faith I attribute much of my growth and life successes to being surrounded by the right friends. The people closest to me have a clear spiritual vision. They have provided encouragement right on time, and I know that they are always available for prayer support, whether that be interceding for me in their own time or dropping everything to pray with me. A Christ-focused friend will often know when you need prayers. I have a friend who can sense the area of my life that I need prayers for. She often shares what the Holy Spirit has told her in prayer. Conversations with her are always encouraging and they provide me with strength and confirmation. I can recall numerous times when a friend sent a Scripture verse right on time or a word from the Holy Spirit that resonated perfectly with me. On too many occasions to count, I’ve had a text message from a friend letting me know that they felt led to pray for me. These mostly come when I am in the midst of making very large life decisions or facing some huge internal struggle. There was a time when I felt very stuck in life; it seemed that I was making no progress. A dear friend sent me a Word that they believed God was doing something very special behind the scenes in my life. I felt the strength to go on and realized that God was up to something, even though I was feeling discouraged. Days after that, things started clicking into place–desires that I had prayed for over many years began to manifest in my life! A true friend will be willing to intercede with and for you as you fight your battles. They will celebrate the victories of God in your life and be concerned for your spiritual welfare more than any other aspects of your life. But remember, there are also times when you will need to let a friend know that you are in need of prayers. I know that my life would look very different if it were not for my friends who are in tune with the Holy Spirit. Walking with others on the same journey of surrendering to Christ has had clear benefits. A shared vision of aiming for Eternal life and holiness in this life is valuable in friendship. I’ve had the honor of being helped and helping friends carry their crosses in life, sharing joys, and praising God together. Enrich Your Life Are you in a period of life where you are longing for more friends? Pray to meet them! Keep your eyes open for the unexpected ways they come into your life. If you’re in a season of life where you have friends, but feel distant, start by sending a message or calling a friend who has been in your thoughts lately. Open your heart to friendship. Too many friendships have withered and never had a chance to fully blossom due to the busyness of one or both parties. Friendship, like any other relationship, requires sacrifices. It will look different in different seasons. Yet, it is a tremendous blessing and gift from God. Building and maintaining friendships is an investment. Enduring friendships can add so much enrichment and value to your life. Cherish the gift of a good friend, and treasure greatly the title of a friend when it is bestowed upon you. Jesus, please help us to be true and faithful friends to others. Send us the friends with whom we can walk steadily toward You. Amen!
By: Lianna Mueller
MoreChristmas is not just a day but a season of celebrating joy and hope. Hanging lights, stars, and Christmas trees make the occasion colorful, but it is undoubtedly incomplete without a nativity scene. Have you ever wondered how the tradition of staging the nativity scene began? Greccio, a small town in Italy, was home to peasants who led a peaceful agricultural life. More than 800 years ago, Brother Francis, returning from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, obtained permission from Pope Honorius III to re-enact the birth of Jesus, the scene of which he had just visited. So on Christmas Eve of 1223, inside a cave in Greccio, villagers disguised as Saint Joseph and Mother Mary acted out the historical event that only Bethlehem had seen. Francis welcomed more life to the holy night act with a rag doll representing the Christ Child; he even brought an ox and a donkey, giving the villagers a visual treat. He then stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, his face bathed in tears and radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was chanted, and he preached about the nativity of the poor King. Unable to even utter His name for the tenderness of His love, Francis called Him the Babe of Bethlehem. Master John of Greccio, a valiant soldier and a dear friend of Brother Francis, who, for the love of Christ, had left the worldly affairs, witnessed Francis cradling a beautiful infant in his arms so gently as if he feared the baby might wake up. Doubtless, the baby was the Christ Child Himself because a trail of miracles followed the scene. It is said that the hay of that manger, being preserved by the people, miraculously cured the cattle of many diseases and other pestilences! Brother Francis turned out to be none other than Saint Francis of Assisi, one of the most famous Saints in the Church’s history, whose very name excites every heart with the compassionate love of Christ!
By: Shalom Tidings
MoreI told my best friend: “The Church could really use someone like you in this broken world…” Somewhere, it resonated deep. My best friend and I met three years ago. We didn't become very close right away because, for starters, Dave takes a good while to warm up to people, and more importantly, people here in prison are a lot more guarded than those on the outside. Over time, however, that all changed, and Dave has since become my closest ally. Not long after I met Dave, it became clear to him that I was very serious about my Catholic faith. I had a Crucifix and pictures of Saints hanging on the wall of my cell. I watched and participated in Mass on television, and to be honest, I brought the topic up quite frequently. At first, Dave didn't make any comments or show much interest in my faith; he would just politely nod his head and move on, but something was telling me that I shouldn't let that hinder me from sharing all about what I believed and telling stories about the miracles and peace that I'd received directly from being Catholic. Returning to the Roots As time progressed and I became closer to Dave, he began to open up a little bit more about his own faith. He told me he was a Christian but he hadn't really been to services in years, partly because he had been locked in a cell for so long, unable to move around the prison compound. But as I dug deeper, I found out, to my astonishment, that Dave was actually raised as a Catholic. Not only that, but he had received all three Rites of Initiation! I immediately began to ask him question after question and learned a lot more about him and his faith journey. Of the many things I discovered, one really stood out. To this very day, Dave has had a fascination with the Catholic knights of old. Because of that, the favorite church he had ever attended was a Catholic church that was round in shape, reminiscent of the Knights Templar churches. I could sense through this fascination that there was still some interest in the Church, even if it was just a small one. Talking to Dave about a possible return to his roots was not as promising, however. Let me be clear—he was never rude or aggressive, but he didn't seem to have any desire for the Sacraments. He was resigned to his habits, and they didn't include Catholicism, and unfortunately, the Church had all but forgotten about him. A Glimmer of Hope As the months went on, Dave would ask little questions about the Church. Nothing big, just showing a bit more interest as time ticked by. Of course, I didn't want to make him feel pressured, so I patiently and prayerfully continued my mission to bring him back to the Church. I could sense that there was more of a glimmer of hope than before and I would sometimes say to him: "You know Dave, the Church could really use someone like you in this broken world." He never would answer me, only musing over my words silently, but for Dave, a lot is said in his silence. A few weeks ago, a group of Catholic deacons came to visit with us in our cells. They brought Communion for Catholics, and literature for everyone, and went from cell to cell asking if people would like to pray with them. Sometime after they left, Dave came to my cell and told me about how one of the men had surprised him because they spoke about a particular round shaped church the man was a parishioner of. This happened to be the very same one Dave had gone to as a kid. He said the man had told him he hoped to see him there one day. The next thing Dave told me was a big surprise: "You know, I've been thinking about it, and I might like to go back to the Catholic Church." I was dumbfounded. I'd been waiting for this type of interest for literally three years, and I knew it was possible it would never come. I’d prayed for it time and again. I didn't know what to say. After a prolonged silence, I asked him: "Would you be interested in receiving Communion again?" He said he was. The Open Door At 15, Dave was charged as an adult and sentenced to life in prison. He is now 48. When he went to prison as a mere child, he tried to fit into a world of adult criminals. There's been plenty of violence and bloodshed in his story. Most people who go down his road are so jaded in the end that it seems nothing can bring them back, but now, Dave was interested. Praise God! Last week, Dave received Communion for the first time in 33 years. He had never once received Jesus in prison, though it had been available all the time. He had been forgotten in the system. Due to the impossibility of receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, he did not go to Confession first but was allowed to receive Communion circumstantially. He is in a maximum-security cell block and has the highest security risk rating, so they have trouble allowing a priest to visit one-on-one. So, he made a thorough examination of conscience and an act of contrition and will make a Confession at the first opportunity. Never Forgotten There are innumerable forgotten people all over the world. There are men, women, and even children in your own community who need someone to just be a friend and share their love and the faith Christ has given us in His Church. Let's continue to spread the Good News. If you have been away from the Church and Her life-giving Sacraments, there is an open invitation for healing starting with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The first step back into fellowship with God and His Church is confessing our sins, but remember, while we are certainly confessing our sins to God, even more so, God is using this time to confess to us in a very special way, His forgiveness and love. Nothing is too big to be forgiven, and nothing is too great to stand in the way of God's healing; the door is always open to forgiveness and mercy. Contact a local church or parish priest and make plans to attend the next scheduled Sacrament of Reconciliation. Be sure to show up a little early in case others are waiting as well. You'll be glad you've made this step, and the Angels and Saints in Heaven will rejoice at your homecoming.
By: Jon Blanco
More