Dive into the extraordinary life of St. Peter—an apostle whose journey was forever changed by Jesus, both before and after His death and Resurrection that first Easter. Witness how an ordinary fisherman became a true ‘Fisher of Men,’ leading others to God.
My Dream of Owning a Home: A Path to Independence
Owning a home is a milestone many dream of achieving, and for me, it’s about more than just having a place to call my own. It’s about security, independence, and creating a space that truly reflects who I am. In this post, I want to share why I aspire to own a home someday and why it feels like the right path for me compared to renting or buying a condo.
Security is one of the most important reasons I want to own my own home. Having my own set of keys—and knowing no one else has access—would give me peace of mind. Although I’d have to take full responsibility for addressing issues, I believe the sense of safety and control is worth the extra effort. Unlike renting or condo living, owning a home means I don’t have to worry about others entering my space without my permission.
Another reason is maintenance and pest control. As a homeowner, I could tackle repairs and problems right away, without having to rely on a landlord. Waiting months for a mouse issue to be addressed, as I’ve experienced in the past, would be a thing of the past! Taking charge of my living environment is not just practical—it’s empowering.
Then there’s the matter of laundry convenience. While owning a home comes with water and electricity bills, it would save me from the frustrations of shared laundry facilities. No more waiting for machines or refilling laundry cards—I’d have the freedom to do laundry on my own schedule, in my own space.
Soundproofing is another appeal of homeownership. My current apartment doesn’t offer much insulation from noisy neighbors, which often disrupts my peace. With my own home, I could enjoy better soundproofing and the quiet necessary to focus on hobbies like recording videos and podcasts. It’s about reclaiming my space—and my time.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, owning a home would contribute to my financial stability and net worth. Paying a mortgage invests in my future, whereas renting only builds someone else’s wealth. Even though I don’t focus on my net worth as a number, it provides a cushion for hard times—a source of long-term security.
Owning a home is not just a practical choice; it’s a step toward independence and stability. It’s about creating a space that’s uniquely mine, where I can thrive and take pride in everything I’ve built. Thank you for taking the time to hear my thoughts—I’d love to hear any support, suggestions, or advice you have as I work toward this goal. May God bless you all!
Creative Engineering E18: Automated Stone Bricks & Supporter Stats!
In this episode, Swag first automates stone bricks and explains how the detector from Refined Storage works with the clutch to control production. He then builds a display board to show the number of subscribers, Twitch follows, and total supporters using the Create mod. Tune in to see all the fun and derps this episode has in store for you!
Ending Twitch Livestreams: Why and What’s Next for Me
Swag Plays Factorio S2 E31: Logistics Science Headaches!
In this extra-long episode, Swag dives into preparing his logistics system for robots! He works to ensure that parts can move seamlessly across the factory once the system is ready. Prioritizing progress, he reshuffles his research queue, delaying the rocket control module to fast-track logistics research. However, it turns out the research needs more than expected! Swag pivots to green circuit production, ensuring it has the copper coils required to craft efficiently. Tune in to see all the problem-solving, tweaks, and frustrations as Swag pushes toward his factory goals!
Swag Plays Banished S2 E24 | Winter Hardships and a Shortage of Stone
In this episode, tragedy strikes Otterview as some settlers succumb to the harsh winter, battling starvation and the bitter cold. Despite the losses, the resilient community pushes through, determined to thrive. A new storage barn is constructed to support the growing production of finished goods, and work resumes on a much-needed house for a young family. With many homes occupied by an aging population beyond childbearing years, the future of Otterview depends on this crucial step toward renewal.
Episode 36: St. Benedict of Nursia
In this episode, Swag dives into the life of St. Benedict of Nursia. Learn about the man who is considered the Father of Western Monasticism and what he went through in his life.
Jedi Mantra vs. Catholic and Biblical Teachings – The Truth of the False Hope of the Jedi
In the fictional Star Wars universe, the Jedi mantra is the heart and soul of the Jedi Code, by which the Jedi are supposed to live their lives. Some people have taken it as a code to live by their lives, but I strongly believe that the Bible and Catholic teachings show it to be a false road to live your life by. In this blog post, I am going to examine the mantra line by line and compare it to what the Bible and Catholic teaching has to say on each topic.
Let’s begin with the first line of the mantra: “There is no emotion, there is peace.” The Bible makes it very clear that emotions are part of human nature and should NOT be suppressed – managed, yes but never suppressed. Many Psalms express many different emotions, and even Jesus who is both God and man (100% of each) expressed many different emotions during his time on earth. Many of the church fathers also wrote about emotions stating that we need to control and deal with them and not suppress them to truly live a life worthy of God. Anakin’s fall during the third movie shows what happens when we try to suppress them, and why it’s such a bad idea to do so!
Now let’s examine the next line: “There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.” Once again, the Bible makes it clear that learning is key to overcoming ignorance, and that the fear of God leads to true wisdom. In the letters of the New Testament, the writers made it perfectly clear that knowledge was gained by studying under wise teachers and obeying them was the will of God. Philosophy can only take you so far, you need to be grounded in real-world knowledge and God’s ageless wisdom to truly see the path for your life!
Onto the next line in the mantra: “There is no passion, there is serenity.” Just from reading this, I am laughing with sadness like I have for every other line so far! Passion is part of human existence and the Bible and Catholic teaching makes it clear that harnessing your passions will take you farther than ignoring them! Many Catholic saints were driven by the passion for their faith to become the people they are remembered as today. I’ve been doing a series on Catholic saints for my podcast over on Spotify, and I can say for certain that passion for Christ was a part of every saint’s life story!
The second last line of the mantra is just as bad: “There is no chaos, there is harmony.” I hate to break the news to you, but life is full of chaos and the Bible makes it clear that trying to live in harmony is something to be obtained for here on Earth, but is ultimately a part of Heaven. Only by living your life for God can you start to use the chaos in your life for something good and start to manage it effectively.
In my humble opinion the last line of the mantra is the worst: “There is no death, there is the Force.” The Bible makes it pretty clear that death will come and after it comes judgement. Also, the dead can not come back and warn the living to change their ways, as the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in the Gospels makes very clear! Repent today and turn to God before it’s too late!
Let me be quite clear – the Force is completely a work of fiction by George Lucas and should not be taken seriously! Force ghosts do not exist (I won’t say if real ghosts exist – that’s why the Church has cleansing rites for places.) and you should not hope to become one after your death! It is final and you will pass on to either judgement in hell for rejecting God or eventual eternal rest in Heaven after being cleansed in Purgatory. There is no third option!
Take a good look at what the Bible and the Catholic Church teaches today – both offer real truths about our world and the way to live life in harmony with God and your fellow humans and nature. Don’t be caught by the false promises of this mantra – I’ve shown you earlier how false each line is! Turn to God today and accept his free gift of salvation – all you need to do is accept!
In this exploration, we’ve seen how the Jedi mantra falls short of offering true hope and guidance compared to the profound truths found in the Bible and Catholic teachings. By turning to God, we can find real peace, wisdom, and purpose—gifts that go far beyond the false promises of fiction. May this post inspire you to seek the ultimate truth and embrace the salvation freely offered through faith in Him.
Creative Engineering E17: Taking Refined Storage to the Next Level!
In this episode, Swag takes a deep dive into Refined Storage, starting with the creation of a Crafting Grid and a Pattern Grid. He then crafts an external storage unit to connect his main storage area to his processing factory. To top it off, Swag encounters a Wandering Trader—find out what exciting items he manages to snag! Don’t miss the action!
Swag Plays Factorio S2 E30: Laying the Foundation for Processing Circuits!
In this episode, Swag gears up for advanced circuit production by creating an area to produce more complex circuits and sulfuric acid—key components for crafting the new circuit type. As the episode wraps up, Swag selects his next research project, taking another step closer to unlocking the rocket base and securing victory for the season. Don’t miss the action—tune in to see it all unfold!