Dean P. Johnson
Catholic365 Contributor

Dean P. Johnson

Latest Articles By Dean P. Johnson

Remember Christmas Well

Remember Christmas Well

When the last gift has been unwrapped with ribbons, bows and shredded paper strewn across the living room floor and the kids have identified their favorite new toy, I’ve taken to the habit of stopping them in mid play and making a statement: “We have been blessed with a wonderful Christmas. Remember this Christmas well, because not all Christmases may be this nice.”
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In Times of Plenty, Beware the Golden Calf

In Times of Plenty, Beware the Golden Calf

Often times we are so focused on the present moment that we can fail to see the bigger picture. I often like to step back and take a look at my spiritual journey to see not only how far I have come, but to look at how many diversions, detours, and dalliances I have taken.
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Contemplating God's Amazing Love, Compassion, and Forgiveness

Contemplating God's Amazing Love, Compassion, and Forgiveness

As we are made in God’s image, we are called to do the same. But what does this mean? As a parent, I have been upset with a child, but of course still tend to their needs, their comfort. That’s easy. But what of others outside of our families? Do we have compassion for those who have wronged us? And not just for those who may have wronged us personally, but those who we see on the news
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Sunday Dinner Reveals Graces of Family Crosses

Sunday Dinner Reveals Graces of Family Crosses

A couple of Sundays ago, I was sitting at the head of our dining room table. It was one of those moments when you can almost step out of yourself completely, step away from what is going on around you, away from the moment, just to peek back in from an entirely different point of view.
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God's Mutual Love

God's Mutual Love

Let us consider a major theme of the Bible: God loves and cares for his people. Consider Bible stories about God’s interaction with people both directly and indirectly. His walks in the Garden of Eden. The dreams of Joseph and Jacob. The fiery finger of God, chiseling his commandments for Moses. God’s messenger sent to Mary. And so on.
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Believing is seeing

Believing is seeing

Seeing isn’t believing; believing is seeing. Genesis 1:27 begins, “So God created mankind in his own image…” The word “image” often prompts thoughts of sight, a reflection of what we can see, what something physically looks like. Image, though, is multi-sensory, and, as is with God, extra-sensory.
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Brawling Brothers

Brawling Brothers

One thing that has constantly struck me about the Bible is the recurring idea of brothers fighting. We have Cain and Abel. We have Esau and Jacob. We have Joseph and…well, all the rest of his brothers! It is interesting that people who are supposed to love one another, who have significant commonalities, who have shared experiences, can be constantly and connivingly at each other’s throats.
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Something's Fishy on Fridays During Lent

Something's Fishy on Fridays During Lent

When I stepping through the backdoor a couple of Fridays ago, I smelled something delicious. I had no idea what it was, but I knew it wasn’t pizza, a Lenten Friday staple. “Fish?” I asked. A brilliant deduction if I say so myself given that every Friday on the calendar magnetically pinned to the refrigerator has a picture of a fish on it.
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A Devotion to Mary for the Middle of a Stressful Work Day

A Devotion to Mary for the Middle of a Stressful Work Day

On a particularly stressful day, when three people were lined up at my office door, when the phone was ringing and the voicemail light was flashing, and with deadlines fast approaching, I stopped myself for a brief moment, and thinking about the pressures and distractions a workplace has on our spiritual lives, I lifted my eyes to our Blessed Mother.
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You Can Get Here From There:  Part II -- CCD

You Can Get Here From There: Part II -- CCD

I hated CCD. I hated it when it was on Saturday mornings. While other kids were lounging late into the morning still clad in their pajamas, spooning down a second bowlful of Capt. Crunch with Crunchberries as they watched Scooby Doo or Josie and the Pussycats or Inch High Private Eye or Hong Kong Phooey, I was sitting slumped in some Catholic school kid’s desk.
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You Can Get Here From There (Part 1)

You Can Get Here From There (Part 1)

They say that hindsight is 20/20. Well, if that were true, we would all learn so clearly from our experiences and mistakes that there would be little need for ongoing growth, learning, formation. Hindsight is more 50/50: Sometimes you get it, and sometimes you don’t.
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