Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Art project ideas for kids
An art teacher shares her ideas for cool projects for kids. For example, here's her 3rd Grade category.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Excellent thoughts on spiritual warfare and sin
What an excellent collection of wisdom, and perfect for Lent. Some gems:
- Discernment is at the source of all the virtues.
- The devil is never so happy as when he has succeeded in robbing one of God's servants of the joy in his or her soul.
- Hate your defects, yes, but quietly, without excitement or anxiety. It is necessary to be patient with them and to benefit from them through holy humility. For if you lack patience, your imperfections, instead of disappearing, will only grow. Because there is nothing which strengthens our defects as much anxiety and obsession to be rid of them.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Skepticism and faith
Amy Welborn's post called Yes is wonderful for so many reasons, but one of them is her eloquent description of how someone can both have faith yet feel skeptical sometimes:
Read the rest here.
It was sort of a joke between us - him calling me to task for my skepticism, for my overthinking. A skepticism which is not a desire that these things be false or a seeking to disprove, but a yearning for definitiveness, for the experience of certainty that touches more than my intellect. I have experienced this certainty at times - rare times - but I will freely admit that while I actually find the intellectual claims of theism and Christianity convincing, something always still nags. A hunger, I suppose, for a full embrace of Love.
Read the rest here.
The 40 Trash Bag Challenge
I just got an email with this great idea for Lent: remove a trash bag full of clutter/trash from your house every day during Lent (or smaller-sized bags for those with small houses):
Here's a post from a mom who tried it.
Every day during Lent this year, empty one bag of 'stuff' that is no longer needed from your house, totaling a loss of forty bags of stuff!
1.) Taking a look at the size of your family and household, with an acknowledgement of how much 'stuff' is present, make a prudential choice on the size of bag to be employed during this challenge. Bag size should be small enough that the goal of 40 bags during the season of Lent is able to be accomplished, while not being too big that you are left with nothing. We must still live in the world, after all!
2.) If smaller children are a part of your family, a 'gauge' may be helpful to keep them engaged and help them keep track of progress. As part of your preparations, make a 'paper chain' of forty numbered links. As each new bag is started, place a new link in the bottom of the bag. This way, as the chain gets smaller, there is a greater sense of accomplishment.
3.) This challenge necessarily involves sacrifice. Each member of the family should be encouraged to give something to each bag, or there could be designated bags for each member of the family.
4.) Instead of just throwing things away, recycling is a great way to encourage good stewardship of the gifts we have been given, as it symbolizes that we are passing along our gifts to others. Families with children are encouraged to pass along clothes that no longer fit or toys that sit dormant in a closet to families in need instead of just throwing them away.
5.) Units of count need not necessarily be trash bags, either; however they should be equivalent. For example, a box of gently used toys or clothes could equate one bag off the chain. A stack of books donated to the parish library is another easy equivalent.
As the family accepts this challenge together, bonds will be created that will last a lifetime. Lessons are also learned not just by saying, but by putting it into practice. Here, the simple lesson will last throughout life that having fewer things can lead to a greater contentment in life.
(Credit due to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for this handout on vocations and family faith formation)
Here's a post from a mom who tried it.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Dear Birth Mom
Anne Marie shares a beautiful letter she wrote to a birth mother considering placing her child for adoption.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
How Apple's "App Store" is helping small-time programmers make big bucks
One dude make $600,000 in one month from a little iPhone game he wrote. (Computer nerds and their spouses will find this especially inspiring.)
via Geekpress
via Geekpress
Stimulus watch
A list of local programs that are candidates for federal funding as a result of the stimulus bill. You can sort by city or state to find the ones near you.
The case for life beginning at conception
A great summary of the strictly scientific case that life begins at conception -- some helpful thoughts for discussing the subject with friends who are not religious.:
Read the whole thing here.
The point where a life begins is the point where we can say, by reasonable and not arbitrary criteria, that a new organism has begun to exist. We identify it not by looking for the point where the organism can survive on its own, or the point where it no longer needs protection and nutrients. We don't even look for the point where we find unique genetic codes, although that may be a clue. Rather, we identify it by looking for the point where an independent being exists that is innately structured and ordered toward development as a member of the species.
Read the whole thing here.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Oxford Junior Dictionary Drops Christian Words
The latest edition of the Oxford Junior Dictionary has dropped many words associated with Christianity and British history that were found in earlier versions.
via Salvo Magazine
via Salvo Magazine
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Want to change the world? Here's how.
A must-read post from Aimee Cooper:
Take the time to read the rest of the post here.
A year or so ago I attended a seminar given by a friend of mine...in which she showed how the great saints in history generally did not become saints all by themselves. They were part of a small group of friends who all pursued holiness, and who spurred and encouraged each other on to holiness. The small things we do – even the friendships we have – can help or hinder us from becoming saints. And it is only by becoming saints, what we are all called to do in this world, that we will be able to have the kind of impact on culture that Christ wills us to have.
Take the time to read the rest of the post here.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
It is Enough
A beautiful reflection on trusting God's will for our lives, even when we don't get what we want, and on finding joy in the blessings of our neighbors.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
How to get kids to behave at church
I thought this was a helpful, insightful article with some good practical tips.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
"Wingsuits" that let you fly
I've seen a similar video before, but this is just amazing every time I see it.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
I suppose someone was going to do this eventually
Pride and Prejudice...and Zombies:
via Lissla
As our story opens...feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers -- and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead.
via Lissla
Exhibit A in "The fall of Western Civilization is just about complete"
Monday, February 2, 2009
Some great frugal tips!
This is a great list of WalletPop reader tips about ways to save money. (The format is a little annoying -- click on the arrows at the bottom right of the main photo to open a popup window with all the tips -- but it's worth it to scan through them. There are some really good ones.)
An incredibly inspiring story of overcoming obstacles
One of the most inspiring things I've seen in a long time. (Note: I linked to this once before but heard that the video was unavailable shortly after I posted it...so here it is again!)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
A prayer list for those who have lost faith
Abbot Joseph has felt called to start a ministry to pray daily for the "last hours" of those who have completely fallen away from God and show no interest changing their ways, praying that they will have a change of heart at least in their final moments. He is accepting names for this prayer list if you know anyone whose names you'd like to include (his email is listed in the post).
Joy Crosses The Placenta
Some inspiring thoughts on pregnancy from Antique Mommy. (For those of you who aren't familiar, the amazing story of her own miraculous pregnancy is here.)
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.
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