Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The myth of the war between science and religion
An interesting article that debunks the notion that believers and scientists have always been on opposite ends of the spectrum.
A good summary of why Roe should be overturned...
...Regardless of one's stance on abortion. An excerpt:
Read the rest here.
via the Cynical Christian
Like few other Supreme Court cases in our nation’s history, Roe is not merely patently wrong but also fundamentally hostile to core precepts of American government and citizenship. Roe is a lawless power grab by the Supreme Court, an unconstitutional act of aggression by the Court against the political branches and the American people. Roe prevents all Americans from working together, through an ongoing process of peaceful and vigorous persuasion, to establish and revise the policies on abortion governing our respective states.
Read the rest here.
via the Cynical Christian
Laundry problems start with the clothes
A mom of seven reminds us to use feelings of being overwhelmed with laundry to ask ourselves how many clothes our families really need. More thoughts here. An excerpt:
Our family actually got by for several years when the kids were little purely on bags left on my porch by kind neighbors. Yet, this posed a problem. Anxious to keep anything with any possible use, I was actually making a lot of work for myself and preventing my children from helping me effectively.
The truth is, children will only end up wearing a few outfits on a daily basis. They don't like change; they like predictability. Not only is it no use fighting this trait, it's counterproductive. Their drawers and closets are so full of things they don't wear, they actually live out of their laundry baskets most of the time. They simply can't put things away.
In addition, they function within a paradox: they only want to wear a few things, but the knowledge they have many things gives them implicit permission to overuse the laundry system. Clothing doesn't fit in drawers, so it ends up on the floor, or if you are lucky, in a hamper. A garment on the floor is by definition dirty! So you are overwhelmed.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Small Treasures is back!
For those of you who were fan of the blog Small Treasures that blogger Kristen recently shut down, I'm glad to report that she's back!
For those of you who aren't familiar with the site, Kristen's post about her failed adoption and her post called They Paused are two of the best blog posts I've ever read.
via The Family-Centered Life
For those of you who aren't familiar with the site, Kristen's post about her failed adoption and her post called They Paused are two of the best blog posts I've ever read.
via The Family-Centered Life
Warning: people might actually read your Twitter updates
Wow, this guy learned a hard lesson about the dangers of mixing Twitter with business.
via Rachelle Gardner (Twitter)
via Rachelle Gardner (Twitter)
52 zoos in 52 weeks
A family is attempting to visit 52 zoos in 52 weeks, and blogging about it. Neat idea!
"The most heroic thing I have ever witnessed"
A priest dying of cancer summons all his strength to celebrate the Mass for a final time. (The priest whom this article is about, Fr. Tom Kraft, passed away yesterday. Please pray for the repose of his soul.)
A football player jumps over a 66" pole!
230-lb. football player Adrian Wilson jumps over a five-and-a-half-foot pole as if it's no sweat. Amazing. (According to ESPN, it is not fake.) You may want to mute your speakers if there are children around because one of the bystanders exclaims some mild profanity.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
New strategies for the pro-life movement
A good article with a lot of practical tips. An excerpt:
Read the rest here.
Tip O'Neill's old argument that "all politics is local" may seem clichéd, but it is vital to the future of the pro-life movement.
First, we should treat every election like a presidential election. If pro-life voters were to show up to the polls for every election, as they already do for the presidential races, we could have a huge impact on the number of pro-life delegates, state senators, and U.S. representatives. These positions are often stepping stones to higher offices, like governor and U.S. senator.
Read the rest here.
The success of Fireproof
The WSJ has an interesting article about the success of Fireproof and other Christian movies.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
"Lord, thank you for what just happened to me."
A great post from Dr. Bob about when a devastating injury derailed his medical and music career.
Cheering for the other team
A very touching story about some football fans who cheered for another team who had no one to cheer for them.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Some modern updates to Monopoly cards
With a new bailout card, of course. (The longer source post is here.)
Economic Troubles and the Economy of God
What a great post. Loved this quote: "The realist is the one who recognizes the Word of God, in this apparently weak reality, as the foundation of all things."
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Gluttony and the misguided search for good
An excellent article:
Read the rest here.
I’ve been stressed lately...I’m trying to be my family's sole provider on a salary that doesn't go as far as it used to...my wife and I are expecting our third child. As I reflected on my episodes of gluttony, I realized they were preceded by a fear that if I denied myself the chocolate I would be missing out on life. I may not know what the future holds, but I knew I held that chocolate in my hand. It was mine, and no one was going to deny me the pleasure of eating it. I had chosen the lesser good of solace over the greater good of trust in God’s providence. I had traded the Holy Comforter for comfort food.
Read the rest here.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Focus on just doing the minimum well
Must-read advice for busy moms who feel overwhelmed with all they have to do.
In order to be patient we must be grateful
A great post from Elizabeth Foss, reflecting on this post at Holy Experience.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
How to build neighborhood connections
A great list from Elizabeth Esther, who along with her neighbors has built a great little community in her area.
Extensive online art gallery
Wow, what a great resource:
Check out the site here.
via Mommy Life
The Web Gallery of Art is a virtual museum and searchable database of European painting and sculpture of the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism, Romanticism and Realism periods (1100-1850), currently containing over 21.300 reproductions. Picture commentaries, artist biographies are available. Guided tours, period music, catalogue, free postcard and other services are provided.
Check out the site here.
via Mommy Life
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Republic vs. Democracy
An interesting video detailing the different types of government and pointing out that the Founding Fathers intended America to be a Republic, not a Democracy.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Thoughts on going to daily Mass (with three young children!)
Abigail has an inspiring post about the benefits her family has seen from attending daily Mass with their three kids under age six, as well as some tips for those who might be considering it. She writes:
Be sure to read the rest. Great post.
If I'm asked why I drag a pack of restless young children to Mass each day, my simple answer is "because I need it." I need Mass. I need the Eucharist. I need that daily dose to get myself through the laundry washing, and the naughty chair enforcement, and the finding of the missing buckle shoes. I go to Mass nearly daily because I need Christ.
Be sure to read the rest. Great post.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Faith in the loss of a son
Bloggers Brendan and Molly share the deeply personal story of the way God moved in their life in the month's before their baby's passing. They share it in the hopes that it will "increase the faith of many others who, like all of us, wonder at times whether God is really in control and whether He really does work all things together for the good of those who love Him."
Roman battlefield with great historical significance found
For history buffs:
Read the rest here.
via DarwinCatholic
The find adds a wrinkle to Roman history. Romans appear to have made a few tentative forays into Germany, but in 9 C.E., three Roman legions were annihilated by barbarians. Scholars have long believed that defeat--known as the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest--was enough to make the Romans stay out of Germany for good. The existence of the battlefield implies that Romans were conducting significant military operations long after historians assumed they gave up on German conquest, the archaeologists say.
Read the rest here.
via DarwinCatholic
Monday, January 5, 2009
Personal jet packs for sale -- FINALLY
Those of you who have been waiting for this ever since watching 1980's movies set in "the future" can now relax.
"I forgive you, brother! With all my heart!"
The amazing story of the moment that Corrie Ten Boom chose to forgive a guard who worked in the concentration camp where she had been sent (and her sister died).
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Musings on family size
A nice post:
Read the rest here.
What I have found is this: it's all about faith. It's all about trust. It's all about listening. I don't know how many children people should have. I do know we should pray a whole lot more about it. I don't think that big families are somehow more 'spiritual'. I do know that the process of family building is holy ground, whether by biological or adoptive or foster or mentoring means. I don't have the answers to all things reproduction. I do think we need to quit thinking in terms of 'what can I handle' and think instead 'how can I be stretched.' We tend to make decisions in this arena based in fear, not in faith.
Read the rest here.
Longest flight records
Someone once stayed in a plane for 64 days straight. Wow! Now that's a long flight.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
"The only cost is surrender"
Barbara Curtis shares the story of her 80+ lb. weight loss and offers encouragement to anyone who's trying to make big changes in their lives.
A new way to look at "joy"
A touching article by a mom of young children who had terminal cancer (she passed away just before Christmas):
Read the rest here.
via Just Another Catholic Mom
From [cancer patients] I have learned a new definition of the word 'joy.' I had thought joy to be rather synonymous with happiness, but it seems now to be far less vulnerable than happiness. Joy seems to be a part of an unconditional will to live, not holding back because life may not meet our preferences and expectations. Joy seems to be a function of the willingness to accept the whole, and to show up to meet with whatever is there. It has a kind of invincibility that attachment to any particular outcome would deny us. Rather than the warrior who fights toward a specific outcome and therefore is haunted by the specter of failure and disappointment, it is the lover drunk with the opportunity to love despite the possibility of love, the player for whom playing has become more important than winning or losing.
Read the rest here.
via Just Another Catholic Mom
"What I learned in 2008"
A collection of 2008 reflections that I've come across:
I'm sure I missed tons of good ones -- these were just some I've seen recently that I thought I'd share.
I'm sure I missed tons of good ones -- these were just some I've seen recently that I thought I'd share.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)