Through My "I"s

ACTS Summer Adventure GIVEAWAY!

2013-06-18T15:30:00.003-04:00

Children are spending more and more time in front of TVs, iPads, computers, and video games. That doesn’t leave much room for kids to dream up their own visual images—like the ones that fill their minds when they hear a great story! Rather than passively receiving images, kids actively engage in making images themselves when they hear a good story. Their imaginations are enriched and stimulated, and the material becomes more personal and memorable.

Adventures in Odyssey is all about great stories—and the power of the imagination. The beloved audio dramas are heard on over 700 radio stations, and AIO has recently expanded to books and devotionals—including The Imagination Station series, a fast-growing line of early chapter readers. You can check them out by downloading a FREE e-book of Imagination Station #1: Voyage with the Vikings!

This summer, Adventures in Odyssey encourages kids to write their OWN stories, as they join in ACTS: A Call to Serve! AIO is helping children use their imaginations to serve their family, community, and world this summer—maybe by sending a care package to a missionary or baking cookies for the local fire department. Check out www.whitsend.org/acts for details and a chance to win fabulous prizes, including a mission trip with a parent to Costa Rica!

More important than prizes are the stories your child will tell about the creative ways they served others, and how they grew as a result. And what they come up with really might change the world!

A Creative Story of Service

Fourteen-year-old Matthew, a dedicated Adventures in Odyssey fan and natural tech whiz, was inspired by a trip to the Apple store to create a smartphone app for his church. Since then, he has created 21 apps for different ministries, including his local pregnancy resource center, Joni and Friends (an international ministry for people with disabilities), and even an “Adventures in Odyssey Fan News” app! Matthew used his God-given talents and imagination to bless others through technology. Which of your kid’s unique gifts are waiting to be unleashed for God’s use?

The Giveaway

This month, Tyndale Publishing has given you the opportunity to win 3 new books! Imagination Station #1, #2, and #3! All you have to do is leave a comment with your email address on this post by July 1st!

"Anything" Bible Study- Week 3

2013-06-17T12:34:00.000-04:00

Anything Bible Study Week 3

Monday- Today's verse is one that should be very familiar to Catholics- It is Luke 1:37-38 where Mary accepts her mission to be the mother of God.

From the book: "The very thought of doing anything demands everything. We have to face our fears. If we believe he is real, if we believe he has an eternal heart, we have to face the fact that a God like that may mess with our temporary comfort..." (Jennie Allen, Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul, pg.53)

From the catechism: CCC#494 At the announcement that she would give birth to "The Son of the Most High" without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that "with God nothing will be impossible": "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word." Thus, giving her consent to God's word, Mary becomes the mother of Jesus. Espousing the divine will for salvation wholeheartedly, without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of her Son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with him and dependent on him, by God's grace..."

My observations: After reading today's verse, I looked online for the definition of a handmaid. Most of the dictionaries said that a handmaid is a female servant; a subservient person. Some of the synonyms for handmaid are house girl, housekeeper, and maidservant. When meditating on these words, I began thinking of the duties of a handmaid. She is to keep the house- cook, clean, and look after the house of the mistress. In the book of Genesis, the handmaid, Hagar, was used to produce a child for the barren Sarah.

Now, what did Mary offer to do for God when she proclaimed she is the "handmaid of the Lord"? I think she offered to perform all of the duties I mentioned above. Later in the Bible, we will learn that the Christian Church is the bride of God. Well, she cannot have children of her own so she used Mary to produce the child who would start it all. Mary looked after the Christian Church, serving it by raising Jesus from a boy so that he could save us all from sin. She later served the Church after the death and resurection of her son by proclaiming the Good News along with the disciples. Mary was most definitely a handmaid.

Now I wonder how I can become a handmaid? Well, I suppose I should follow Mary's example and serve the Christian Church as a slave to the will of God. Whatever he asks of me- anything- I should be ready, able, and willing to do it!

Come back tomorrow for more Week 3 Reflections!

Lawn Chair Catechism: Week 3

2013-06-12T10:06:00.001-04:00

This week at Catholicmom.com, we are reading a chapter of Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus
entitled, "We don't know what normal is". You can tell I have not been reading ahead because I kind of touched on this last week when I said that I think many cradle Catholics get overwhelmed because they don't know what to do.

When I first became Catholic, I became a Catholic mom of three boys, too. This means that I had to learn about my faith and then play "catch up" with my boys, especially my son who received his First Communion not too long after I became a Catholic. When I asked for suggestions of books to learn about this subject, everyone came up blank. When I looked online for information and ideas, there was little to be found (that's when I found Catholicmom.com, one of the few great resources!). No one seemed to know how to help me find normal. Now I know why...

I am not completely comfortable talking with others about my relationship with God. I am a fairly introverted person so talking about things of the heart doesn't come easily to me. I share things like books and facts that I learn in an attempt to share my relationship, though. I am also an avid Facebook evangelist, with tons of "shares" going on my timeline on any given day.

According to the book, the following actions are considered "normal" (there are more in the book!):

. . . It is NORMAL for lay Catholics to be excited Christian activists.
. . . It is NORMAL for lay Catholics to be knowledgeable of their faith, the Scriptures, the doctrinal and moral teachings of the Church, and the history of the Church.
. . . It is NORMAL for lay Catholics to have fellowship of other committed lay Catholics available to them, to encourage, nurture, and discern as they attempt to follow Jesus.
. . . It is NORMAL for the local parish to function consciously as a house for formation for lay Catholics . . ..

So, basically, it is normal to be Scott Hahn! Just kidding! But this does sound like a dubious list for us regular Cathy Catholics out there. If you look over the list and think about it, it isn't as bad as it looks.

Being excited should be easy, especially if you do all the other things listed.

Being knowledgeable includes being intentional during Mass and actually paying attention, reading good Christian/Catholic books, reading or at least referring to the Catechism, and learning about the lives of the Saints. I can say that I have most of this covered- for now. It is something we should always be watching to make sure we are not slacking in this area.

Having fellowship with other committed lay Catholics can include any fellowship opportunities at the parish level and also making friends with fellow parishioners. I have this one licked, too! I'm three for three!

The local parish should function as a house for formation of lay Catholics- our parish has a Bible study but I cannot attend because one is during the day when I work and the other is after Mass when I have three tired and hungry boys who have already attended Religious Ed and Mass. We used to have Bible study during Religious Ed and I attended then. I think my parish has a little work to do in this area...

How are you doing at being "normal"?

Book Review: Winning the Discipline Debates

2013-06-10T14:48:00.002-04:00

Dr. Ray is an awesome Catholic clinical psychologist who has his own TV show, radio show, and has written several books on parenting. I am a fan of all of the above so I was psyched to see that this book was up for review.

Winning the Discipline Debates is a book like no other. Dr Ray actually takes 25 different discipline scenarios and walks the reader through them, word for word. During each scenario, he inserts his advice and funny anecdotes that he is known for, making the book not only educational but fun as well. In one scenario, I thought that it was possible that Dr. Ray actually saw me with my boys in Wal-Mart one day and decided to use it for material because it was an exact reenactment of many of our trips to Wal-Mart.

So, as a mom to three boys ages 7-13, do I think this book is useful? Definitely! I think Dr. Ray covered a wide array of discipline debacles and showed parents a new way to settle disputes so that there are less in the future. Are all of the answers easy and what we want to do as parents? No, but they are what we need to do as parents in order to raise them well in a backward world. This book is written by a Catholic clinical psychologist but this book is not geared only to Catholic parents. Parents of all faiths (and none) would benefit from this book and enjoy it. Buy it today!

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Winning the Discipline Debates. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.

"Anything" Bible Study- Week 2

2013-06-10T14:03:00.001-04:00

Anything Bible Study Week 2

Monday- Today's reading was Psalm 118. The SOAP verse was Psalm 118:6- "The Lord is with me; I am not afraid; What can mortals do against me?"

From the Book: "I loved God, but I loved un-invisible people more. I worshipped them." (Jennie Allen, Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul, pg 35)

From the Catechism: CCC#154- Believing is possible only by grace and the interior helps of the Holy Spirit. But it is no less true that believing is an authentically human act. Trusting in God and cleaving to the truths he has revealed are contrary neither to human freedom nor human reason. Even in human relations it is not contrary to our dignity to believe what other persons tell us about themselves and their intentions or to trust their promises to share a communion of life with one another. If this is so, still less is it contrary to our dignity to "yield by faith the full submission of... intellect and will to God who reveals," and to share in an interior communion with him.

My Observations: Today's verse makes me think of all of the trust we put into other humans and that we lack to put in God. If we read Psalm 118:6, we know that God "has our backs" and we should fear no human- is that what we do? No. We fear failure, we fear hurting our loved ones, we fear letting people down. We don't fear failing God, hurting Him, or letting Him down- but we should. Even the catechism says that we naturally want to place our trust in God as much as we put it in other people so why don't we?

Tuesday- Today's verse was Deuteronomy 6:1-9. The SOAP verse is Deuteronomy 6:5- You shall love your Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.

From the book: "It's only God who moves my heart. He chases me down and lures me back to him; while I am running to everyone else, he runs after me. God brings me back to the place where it fares well with me; reminding me he is my husband. There is no spinning, no fear, only perfect acceptance and peace." (Jennie Allen, Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul, pg 38)

From the catechism: CCC#2093-Faith in God's love encompasses the call and the obligation to respond with sincere love to divine charity. The first commandment enjoins us to love God above everything and all creatures for him and because of him.

My Observations: Today's verse instructs us on how to love God. With all our heart, soul, and strength. To me, this means that when we don't feel like loving God, we should do it anyway. When we are too tired to love God, we should do it anyway. When we feel too far away from God, we should love Him anyway. Sometimes it will be easy and sometimes it'll be a conscious effort, but it is something that we are told we must do.

Wednesday- Today's verse is Hosea 1:2-11. This is when God tells Hosea to take a prostitute for his wife and God says that He feels sorry for the house of Judea so he will save them but not through man...

From the Book: "Money and a god latte protect us from a lot of things. It is to easy in this country for blessings to become rights, for stuff and money to become what calls the shots in our lives. And before we know it, God's gifts have replaced God himself." (Jennie Allen, Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul, pg 44)

From the Catechism: CCC#602- Consequently, St Peter can formulate the apostolic faith in the divine plan of salvation in this way: "You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers... with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake." Man's sins, following on original sin, are punishable by death. By sending his own son in the form of a slave, in the form of fallen humanity, on account of sin, God "made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God"

My Observations: God tried to save Israel in the Old Testament but they refused to be saved. Finally, He took it into His own hands and saved us through Jesus Christ. Israel chose false gods above the true God just as we do in America, putting wealth and notoriety above God.

Thursday- Today's verse is from the book of Hosea. Hosea 2:14-17 talks about how God wants to change the things that the harlot desires into things that repulse her.

From the book: "The ironic thing about believing in God and supernatural things is that the invisible stuff is actually the most trustworthy, the most stable. So the concrete things we can see and touch, they become the wind, they become the things we try to catch, and over and over, they pass through our fingers and souls, keeping us empty. But when I take my empty self to God, he feels familiar and stable and more like concrete than wind." (Jennie Allen, Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul, pg 46)

From the catechism: CCC#1428- Christ's call to conversion continues to resound in the lives of Christians. The second conversion is an uninterrupted task for the who Church who, "clasping sinners to her bosom, is at once holy and always in need of purification, and follows constantly the path of penance and renewal." This endeavor of conversion is not just a human work. It is the movement of a "contrite heart", drawn and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God who loved us first.

My observations: I chose these quotes to share with this verse because I believe that once we move to our second conversion, God makes many of those things that were once so desirable to us into "rank growth" that we no longer want to strive towards. We, along with God's merciful love, move towards those invisible things that are trustworthy and stable.

Friday- Today's verse, Proverbs 21:1, is a beautiful analogy of how we should make our will- "like a stream... in the hand of the Lord".

From the book: "Somehow I thought most of my life following God was not supposed to be too costly. Following God is flat costly. It always has been. It doesn't make sense to us, but since this life, these few years, are not the climax from God's perspective, he's okay throwing a little wrench into the short plans we have to be normal here." (Jennie Allen, Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul, pg 47)

From the catechism: CCC#2826- By prayer we can discern "what is the will of God" and obtain the endurance to do it. Jesus teaches us that the one enters the kingdom of heaven not by speaking words, but by doing "the will of my Father in heaven."

My observations: In order to make our will like a stream, moving and flowing along with the will of God, we must realize that following God is, indeed, costly and that we must pray, pray, pray. Prayer along with willingness should lead us to more peaceful lives (not necessarily easier, though) knowing that we are following the will of God, who knows where we are headed.

Check back Monday for Week 3 Observations!

Lawn Chair Catechism- Week 2

2013-06-05T16:02:00.000-04:00

This week at Catholicmom.com, we are discussing the statistics of Christians who leave the faith of their childhood and either convert to another faith or become a "none", someone who claims no religious affiliation. I chose to answer this week's discussion questions in a Q&A format in order to give you a better picture of who I am in the Catholic community.

Have you always been Catholic?

I joined the Church in 2007 after a life of yearning to be Catholic. I was one of the “nones” that the author talks about in Chapter 1. I was raised with no religious affiliation and my parents thought that this was best so that I can choose my faith when I grew up. Because of my “none” status growing up, I don’t consider myself a convert to the faith nor a cradle Catholic. I think those of us “nones” who become Catholic fit into a special category all to ourselves. We have no religious background to help us to connect with our Catholic faith but we also have no preconceived notions about what to expect.

How did the instruction and mentoring you received help you – or prevent you – from having a personal relationship with God?

I started RCIA classes not long after I began attending Mass regularly. The instruction offered there was the basics of the faith but they did not get into the practical application of the faith at all. I suppose they discussed a personal relationship with God but not in the way that most evangelicals approach it. A personal relationship in Catholic terms would be frequent reception of the Sacraments. How much more personal can you get then by ingesting the body and blood of our Lord?

What events among your friends and family seem to explain why some are Catholic, and others are not?

In my family, I am the only truly practicing Catholic although I actually have a few Catholic family members. My one cousin was baptized Catholic but never attended Mass. She now has a daughter who is baptized Catholic but has never been to a Mass. They know nothing about their faith and sometimes she mentions wanting to connect to her faith better but I think she gets overwhelmed with all she doesn’t know about her faith that she gives up on learning. This overwhelmed feeling may be one of the reasons that so many Catholics tend to drift away and feel disconnected.

How’s your “retention rate”? Do young adults in your parish stay in touch with their childhood faith community, or do they drift away to an unknown fate?

I don’t know what the retention rate is within our parish but I know that our priest makes the joke that the Confirmation youth should not do as the bats did in the house we use for religious education. He said he confirmed them all and they have not been seen again! I think this is an indication that many of the youth leave the Church after Confirmation.

Eagle Craft Re-Mix @ Catholicmom.com

2013-06-03T18:41:00.002-04:00

Today my Eagle craft from a few years ago found its way over to Catholic Mom. Click over and see how to make this cute craft along with free printable Bible Verse to memorize!

"Anything" Bible Study- Week 1

2013-06-03T09:46:00.003-04:00

Anything Bible Study Week 1

Monday- Today was the first day of the Anything Bible Study at Good Morning Girls. The first verse to read and SOAP is John 8:1-11. It is the story of the woman at the well.

From the book: "And to protect her from eternal judgement, he whispered the same thing that he whispers to us: Repent, because you are not good; you are not okay. Come back to me. You need me. He says, Go and sin no more, which is impossible apart from the righteousness Christ offers to those who come to him in faith. He is what makes us right" (Jennie Allen, Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul, pg 18)

From the catechism: CCC#1451: Among the penitent acts, contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."

My observations: In today's verse, God is calling the woman at the well to repentance. He says that we are all sinners and we must turn from our sin and live a life worthy of a child of God. As the author states, we are nothing without Him and we should always remember that. The catechism states that contrition is the most important part of penitent acts, meaning that in order to truly repent from our sins, we must be sorry and wish not to sin again.

Tuesday- Today's verses were John 1:5-10. It is about John the Baptist leading the way to the Lord.

From the book: "Sin becomes distasteful because it fights with who we are. God becomes our chief desire. These are marks that we are believers. Unless there is some craving for God and some distaste for sin in us, we should question if we are believers." (Jennie Allen, Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul, pg 27)

From the catechism: CCC#718: John is "Elijah [who] must come". The fire of the Spirit dwellls in him and makes him the forerunner of the coming of the Lord. In John, the precursor, the Holy Spirit completes the work of "[making] ready a people prepared for the Lord". (CCC#717-720 is all about John the Baptist)

My observations: In John 1:8, the SOAP passage for today, the Bible describes John the Baptist as "not the light but came to testify to the light". Many people mistakenly believed that John was the Messiah but he was just a prophet who pointed directly to Jesus as Messiah. From the moment he leapt in his mother's womb until the day he died, John pointed towards Jesus and proclaimed the importance of repentance and turning towards the Lord.

Wednesday- Today's verses were Mark 2:13-17. It is about Jesus eating with the sinners. He says that he did not come for the righteous but for the sinners.

From the book: "Jesus' first command after nearly every encounter with a needy person was for them to repent. He promised these broken people hope and healing. He promised to make a way for them. Often, after these encounters, he would turn to religious people who seemed to have it all together and confront their sin of pride and pretending. Yet with every opportunity, for the most part, they never repented. They thought they were fine without Jesus. They did not need him."

From the catechism: CCC#1484- "Individual, integral confession and absolution remain the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the Church, unless a physical or moral impossibility excuses from this kind of confession." There are profound reasons for this. Christ is at work in each of the Sacraments. He personally addresses every sinner: "My son, your sins are forgiven." He is the physician tending to each one of the sick who need him to cure them. He raises them up and reintegrates them into fraternal communion. Personal confession is thus the form most expressive of reconciliation with God and with the Church.

My observations: Today's message is one of my favorite verses in the Bible and is also the weekly memory verse this week. The most ironic part of all is that we are all sinners and Jesus came for all of us because no one under the son can truly call himself righteous although there are many that do. Jesus came to heal us and those of us that are under the most weight from our sin are the ones that he is constantly calling, wanting to give us that healing touch that we need. You see, sin is like leperacy. No matter how much we don't want it to, it affects (infects) everyone around us. We need healing and we need it often so that we don't get so sick that we make others as sick as we are. We need to be well in order to lead others to the healing hand of Jesus.

Thursday - Today's verse was from the book f Galatians. Paul is such a profound preacher- I sometimes wish I lived back then so I could hear him preach! I read Galatians 5:1-6. Today's SOAP entry was Galations 5:1.

From the book: "Stepping out wholly dependent on God to come through, stepping away from what is secure and comfortable exposes the holes in our faith. And then if God comes through, it expands our faith." (Jennie Allen, Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul, pg 10)

From the catechism: CCC#1741- Liberation and Salvation. By his glorious Cross Christ won salvation for all men. He redeemed them from the sin that held them in bondage. "For freedom Christ has set us free." In him we have communion with the "truth that makes us free." The Holy Spirit has been given to us and, as the Apostle teaches, "Where the spirit of the Lord it, there is freedom." Already we glory in the "liberty of the children of God."

My observations: This passage is about freedom, freedom from the bondage of ritual and superstition. I think that in modern times, Paul would tell us Christians that we need freedom from the bondage of consumerism and relativism. Instead of worrying about what others are doing, we should concern ourselves with what God wants from us.

Friday - Today's verse had me a little worried. I was afraid that we were going to get into the faith vs. works debate when I first read the entire reading (Romans 3:21-31) but relaxed when I saw that the SOAP verse was Romans 3:23- All have sinned and are deprived of the Glory of God.

From the book: "His presence is the only place where invisible weight is lifted. The only place where hidden, broken spaces are mended. The only place where we are defined apart from our successes and our failures."

From the catechism: CCC#402- All men are implicated in Adam's sin, as St. Paul affirms: "By one man's disobedience many [that is all men] were made sinners": "sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned..." The Apostle contrasts the universality of sin and death with the universality of salvation in Christ. "Then as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men.

My observations: We are all sinners. We are all tax collectors, prostitutes, and murderers. Not one of us is better than anyone else and not one of us deserves the love of God but we have it- through the sacrifice of Jesus. Praise be to God!

Check back next week for Week 2 Observations!

Read all of my "Anything" Bible Study notes here

Lawn Chair Catechism: Week 1

2013-05-29T11:20:00.001-04:00

This is the first week of Catholicmom.com’s Lawn Chair Catechism book study. You do not have to purchase the book to participate; they have a wonderful 13 page printable guide to study along with. Anyway, the first week gets into the introduction of the book where the author, Sherry Wedell, finds that most people that she interviewed in ministry positions in the parishes that she visited for her studies were not as spiritually developed as one would expect. Truthfully, this came as no surprise to me.

When I became a Catholic in 2006, I first attended Mass and was involved in a parish Bible study before attending RCIA classes. In a congregation of over 250 families, there were 3 people in the Bible study. I was amazed that all along I thought that Christian church-goers, especially Catholics were active in their spiritual walks, with all of the wonderful prayers and daily Mass available, I just couldn’t fathom that they were not uber spiritual and that I, the newbie in the field, was showing more motivation than most of them who were steeped in this beautiful tradition their whole lives!

How would I describe my lived relationship with God at this point in my life? Ooh, I must admit it is not what it was or what I want it to be. When I first became a Catholic, my children were small and stayed home on most Sundays so I was rushing to get to Mass and listen to the Word and bask in the peace. Now I have two boys who receive the Eucharist and one preparing to receive next year so I must take them with me to instill spiritual formation in them. I am the only church-going and Catholic parent of two ADHD boys, one with Autistic-like symptoms and an older son who tries to help but sometimes causes more harm than good. This makes for less peace during Mass and more time spent just getting through it. I would love to get to a point that I could have peace again. Also, our women’s ministry has broken up and I just don’t have the energy to be the one to re-start it.

What does the word “discipleship” mean to me? The official definition of disciple is “somebody who believes in and follows the teachings of a leader, a philosophy, or a religion”. In practical terms, I think this means following the teachings of the Church- Bible, Tradition, and Magesterium- in a way that enriches our own lives, spilling over into the lives of those we touch.

Do I perceive a need in the Church today to help lay Catholics become more fervent followers of Jesus Christ? I’m not sure what I think. There seems to be plenty within the Church for us lay followers to do, but many choose not to do it. Why is it that we cannot get kids to come to Religious Ed classes but their parents take great pains to make sure that they get to Scouts and sports and extra-curricular activities? I just don’t know if this is something that the “Big-C Church” needs to do or the “Little-c church” needs to do. I think the Church has offered so much to us that we just don’t take the initiative to get out and participate in.

How would I describe my parish’s current efforts at discipleship? A hotbed of discipleship? A weekly gathering of spiritual sleep-walkers? Or perhaps something in between? I would say that my parish in particular is a weekly gathering of spiritual sleep-walkers with a few great, energetic disciples who are fed up with trying to get others to come out and participate and seeing the same faces every time. We want a church with an active congregation. We are amid over 200 Protestant churches in our tiny town and we want to knock their socks off. We want the Catholics to come and enjoy their relationship with Jesus Christ and to see the beauty of the Fullness of the Faith but they are busy sleep-walking and not seeing the light-show that is happening in front of their faces. We disciples are tired and fed-up…

Please leave a comment if you have any ideas on how we can spice up our parish and awaken them to the beauty sitting under their noses!

Alicia

Book Review: Pope Francis

2013-05-27T00:30:00.000-04:00

When Jorge Mario Bergoglio was announced as the new Pope, St Peter’s square got eerily quiet for a moment as the world Catholic community tried to figure out who he was. The older, humble, quiet man from Argentina wasn’t on any of the media’s lists of “top candidates” for the appointment of the Vicar of Christ but he was #1 on God’s list, so he became Pope Francis, the first pope of the new world.

Who is Pope Francis? After his election as the new pope, everyone (including me!) was curious as to who he is. Thomas Craghwell’s newest book, Pope Francis: the Pope from the End of the Earth answers all of the questions I had and then some. The book not only includes information about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of Pope Francis, it also includes information about the early life of our new Holy Father and what is expected from him in the future. With over 60 full color, glossy photos, this book is packed with all of the information a curious Catholic (or non-Catholic) could possibly need!

My overall impression of this book is that it is something that all Catholics should check out. Although I haven’t read any of the other Pope Francis biographies out there, I know this is the only one that contains 60 photographs. I am a visual person and I enjoyed looking at the photographs almost like a family photo album, putting a face with the information presented. This book doesn’t go into great detail on any one subject but serves as an overview for those of us who want to know “Who is Pope Francis?”

I was provided a copy of this book free of charge from St. Benedict Press/TAN Books in exchange for my honest review. Please check out their site to order this book or other great books that are on your summer reading list like Candles in the Dark, Bilbo’s Journey, and If Aristotle’s Kid Had an iPod.

Lawn Chair Catechism Announcement!

2013-05-25T00:33:00.000-04:00

We're hosting the "Lawn Chair Catechism" at CatholicMom.com on Wednesdays this summer, beginning on May 29. We're using Forming Intentional Disciples, by Sherry Weddell, as the basis for our study.

We have put together a discussion guide that includes both the executive summary of each chapter and discussion questions, and a two-page discussion question-only download.We'd love to have you participate!

You do not have to read the book to participate.

Our Sunday Visitor is offering the book for the incredibly low price of $10 through June 8, with free shipping. After June 8 and through the conclusion of our study, they'll be offering free shipping.

You can find all the information on the Lawn Chair Catechism page at CatholicMom.com.

I will be participating and hope to see you there!
Alicia

Book Review: Encyclopedia of US Catholic History

2013-05-24T00:01:00.000-04:00

In my home, I have a shelf of Catholic reference books. On it I have a couple of different Bibles, my Catechism, the US Catechism for Catholic Adults, an Oxford Dictionary of Popes, a few books over viewing Catholic Saints, a bunch of spiritual books that I have read and decided I may need to read again, and now… an Encyclopedia of US Catholic History. This is something all US Catholics should have on their reference shelves at home.

What is inside the Encyclopedia? Well, for starters every single diocese in the US is in this book, along with the names and dates for every bishop who has led that diocese. Every American saint is also located in this work with a brief overview of information about him/her. Famous American Catholics like John F Kennedy and Flannery O’Connor have also been showcased. If that’s not enough, this book also includes some popes and how they influenced American history, many of the Catholic organizations that can be found in America, and an overview of each religious order found in the US. Almost 1,000 pages of information is presented, making this book a perfect reference tool for all Catholics in the US.

My personal feelings about this book are all positive. I love that this book can be read from cover to cover, with the reader finding out almost everything there is to know about the history of Catholicism in the US or you can pick this book up at any time and look up pertinent information. I think this book would be a great addition to a homeschooling history curriculum, using the information inside to connect secular US history to Catholic US history. I recommend that this book be the next one you buy for your Catholic resource shelf at home!

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Encyclopedia of U.S. Catholic History. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.

Book Review: A Woman's Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year

2013-05-22T00:01:00.000-04:00

I have never read the entire Bible. I have read bits and pieces but there are books of the Bible that I honestly have never even read the first verse from. I know it is a sad thing to admit but it is the truth and it is also the reason that I wanted to read A Woman’s Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year. I figured that I could review the book and then continue to follow along and journey through reading my entire Bible in the span of only 365 days.

Needless to say, my plans did not match up with my reality and I realized that for a mother of three who works full-time and attends school full-time and who writes online articles and book reviews and who enjoys recreational reading and is involved in other activities, that reading the Bible in a year is probably not a good goal for me. Reading the Bible in, say, three years, may be a more realistic goal.

With that all said, I suppose I should begin my actual review, huh? Well, this book has a beautiful cover and is a welcoming read, making you want to dive in and begin your study. The book is created to be a guide and also a journal to log your experiences as you read through your Bible. The book touts to be a good choice for individual and group study but after reviewing the book, I found that it would be better suited for group study although I do plan to use it for my own personal study as I attempt to read through my Bible at a slower pace.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Adventures in Odyssey FREE podcasts!

2013-05-20T22:22:00.000-04:00

Last week I posted about the ACTS challenge and the awesome giveaways that I will be participating in this summer but didn't have a chance to tell you about Adventures in Odyssey.

If you are unfamiliar with AIO, you are missing out. Adventures in Odyssey is a radio program for kids that teaches moral stories in a way that children will pay attention. The best part of all is that AIO is available for free in podcast form!

Just click here to head to the podcast page and start listening today!

Book Review: Candles in the Dark

2013-05-17T00:01:00.000-04:00

From the Reggae Priest to the Ghetto Priest, Father Richard Ho Lung's vocation has never been a boring one. He began his life in Jamaica, the son of two Chinese Buddhist immigrants. His parents later converted to Catholicism and, at the age of ten, Richard Ho Lung became a Catholic, too. He went on to become a priest, a list-topping pop music artist, and most importantly, the founder of the Missionaries of the Poor, a brotherhood that cares for the poorest of the poor in Jamaica and around the world. Fr. Ho Lung owns nothing yet his radiant smile proves that his work with the unwanted and unloved is all he needs to feel joyful in Christ.

Although Father Ho Lung has been referred to as a "male Mother Teresa", he considers his ministry different from the Missionaries of Charity. He wanted the brothers to build communities where the people cared for one another as opposed to Mother Teresa's ministry of caring for the sick and dying. He is also very adamant about evangelization, not shying away from telling people that they need to attend the Catholic Church.

Reading this book was tremendously inspirational to me. I have a special place in my heart for children with special needs so reading the stories about Father Ho Lung and the work he does with the handicapped children really touched my heart. Also, the humility of Father Ho Lung is inspirational as well. The Missionaries of the Poor own nothing. Everything they have is brought to them through donations and everything they buy goes to those that they serve. This is an amazing story.

Candles in the Dark by Joseph Pierce is the second book I've read by this author and I must admit that I plan to purchase more of his books in the future. He has a way with words where, as the reader, I am reading an intellectual piece of literature but feel as if I am reading a novel. The words flow and everything makes sense to me. I not only recommend Candles in the Dark but I recommend that you check out other work by this author as well.

For more information about Father Richard Ho Lung and the Missionaries of the Poor , watch this wonderful hour-long interview with Father Mitch Pacwa:

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review from Saint Benedict Press/ TAN books.

Summer of Service Launch Party Announcement

2013-05-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

I am really excited to announce to my readers that I will be participating in the Summer of Service ACTS blog tour this summer! Each month this summer I will have something exciting to share with you directly from Adventures in Odyssey and I will be hosting two giveaways that you will not want to miss!

What is the ACTS challenge?

ACTS stands for A Call To Service and it is a challenge to encourage kids to act selflessly and start serving others. Participants can stop by a participating Christian bookstore and pick up a service log, or if you’re like me and live too far away from a participating location, you can download a free printable service log at the ACTS site! At the end of summer, kids can record and upload a short video telling how they serve and why they’d like to become an Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.

Why should my family participate?

First, there are some awesome prizes: 100 winners will get the brand new AIO Album, and after online voting, 2 grand prize winners will get to travel on an exciting Good-Goers Mission Based Adventure trip to another country with a parent. The destination will be announced on a live podcast May 22!

Secondly and most importantly, serving is one of the most important things we can do as Christians and it is something we need to instill in our children at an early age. We should take to heart the words of Pope Francis in his homily on April 21, 2013: “Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd who came not to be served but to serve, and to seek out and save what was lost”. This ACTS challenge will be a great way to begin to reinforce the idea in our children this summer!

What can we do to get started?

First, check and see if there is a participating Christian bookstore near you and get a service log or print one from home. Next, check out these awesome summer service ideas for kids to see if there's anything that motivates you to get started and listen to this free mp3 download, "The Business of Busyness". Finally, get out and get started! Don't forget to listen on May 22 to the live podcast for more information about the mystery destination and check back here often for some great giveaways and more service ideas!

Have a wonderful day!

Alicia

Book Review and Giveaway!! This Little Light of Mine

2013-05-08T00:01:00.000-04:00

I’ve mentioned before that when I became a Catholic in 2006, I had no real religious foundation at all. I was completely new to “religion” in general so when I first became a Catholic mom, I immediately began searching for resources to help me to instill my new-found faith in my children.

Since then I have found a few good resources but useful sources are still hard to come by. When I started reading This Little Light of Mine: Living the Beatitudes, I knew instantly that this small book was going to be placed on my shelf with my other Catholic parenting books for future reference. As a matter of fact, I am planning to use it this summer with my boys to continue their faith formation while religious ed classes are out.

The title of this book is a little deceiving. This book not only covers the beatitudes but also covers all of the Ten Commandments. Also, you may be thinking this book is only for families with young children but, in fact, this book can be used for families with children of all ages or no children at all! Each chapter covers the specified subject for the adult first, then for children, and then there is a “just live it” section for adults and children to get out and use the information gained in a practical way.

This little book is jam-packed with information and ideas. I love that it is small and only takes a few minutes to complete a chapter, making it perfect for family use since children hate to sit still for too long. The practical ideas at the end of the chapters are perfect for my kinesthetic boys, two of whom have ADHD and learn better by doing.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in simple ways of increasing their faith. Whether you are a mom of several children or a single woman with no children, this book is for you!

You can also win your very own copy of This Little Light of Mine: Living the Beatitudes by leaving your email address or Facebook address below! I will use random.org to choose a name on May 15!

Book Review: An Unholy Communion

2013-04-26T00:01:00.000-04:00

I love a good mystery. Among my favorite mystery/suspense authors are Agatha Christie and Mary Higgins Clark because of their panache for placing twists in just the right spot so I never know who to suspect. There is something about ending a long day curled up with my light blanket and a good mystery that helps me to unwind from all the stress and to wrap my mind up in the make believe world inside the pages of the book I am reading and I am always on the lookout for a new great mystery/suspense author, especially one who writes wholesome fiction that is not riddled with sexual innuendos and foul language. In comes Donna Fletcher Crow.

An Unholy Communion is a Christian novel based on the Anglican religion and is set in Wales. The main character, Felicity, is an American country girl who is studying abroad and has a tendency to find herself involved in solving murders. This time, it is a Deliverance Minister who is visiting her college who finds his untimely death at her feet on Ascension morning. Although Felicity tries to flee from involvement, she finds herself mixed up in solving the murder along with her fiancé, Father Antony.

This book was truly a great mystery and had me guessing throughout the entire book. It was full of twists and turns and I learned a great deal of new information about the occult and spiritual warfare as well. The author most definitely did a lot of research and, although this book is a work of fiction, has included much fact in here so that it is not only a fun read but also a learning experience. I think this book would be a good choice for a teenager to adult because it is a clean and wholesome book. I highly recommend that you place this book on your summer reading list!

Links to visit:

Donna Fletcher Crow's Blog

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review!

Book Review: Rescuing Hope

2013-04-22T10:40:00.000-04:00

This book sucked me in within the first few paragraphs with the engaging nature of the plot. The book continued along this path, making me want to keep reading to see what happens to the dear main character, fourteen year old, Hope Ellis. First Hope is abandoned by her father, then she is raped, and then she is sucked in by a smooth-talking pimp. It seems like all hope is gone for a girl like Hope but true love in Christ never ends and Hope finds this out. I wish the author could have taken a little more time on the ending so that it was not so clean and easy and maybe made the book a bit longer so that she could add more detail to the ending. Other than that, this book was first rate and one that all teenage girls need to read this summer!

After reading this book it is no surprise that the author, Susan Norris is an international speaker who helps teens and women find freedom in the area of sexual purity and has worked directly with victims of sex trafficking. This book was well written and some of the information presented could only be known by someone who has been on the inside or who has spoken with someone who has. Overall, this book is an inspirational look at what we can accomplish if we work together to eradicate the evil of sex trafficking beginning in our own country and moving throughout the world.

For More Information:

Book Review: Lenten Reflections

2013-04-21T20:44:00.001-04:00

I know I am super late posting this review considering that Lent has passed but I have had some personal issues and am running a little behind in my posting. Also, I had planned to try using this book as my Lenten devotional this year so that I could give the review from the perspective of someone who was attempting to actually put it into practice.

I must begin by admitting that I am a die-hard Scot Hahn fan. Before I entered into the fullness of the Catholic Church, I began attending a Bible study in our parish after Mass on Sundays and we studied “The Lamb’s Supper”. I was not only new to the Catholic faith but new to religion in general so it was a really deep study for me but totally eye opening and has made me a fan of Dr. Hahn’s work. I have never read A Father Who Keeps His Promises so I thought this book would be a great choice in that it would serve as my Lenten devotional and also give me a taste of a Dr. Hahn book I haven’t read.

The book begins with an Ash Wednesday reflection- there are no dates so this book can be used during any liturgical cycle- and it begins with an overview of God’s Master Plan. This is followed by the Creation story, moving all the way through the Bible to Easter Week covering the covenant between God and his Bride, the Church. Each chapter has a Bible verse, a reflection from the book A Father Who Keeps His Promises, a question to encourage further reflection, and a prayer. All of this can be read and accomplished within five minutes or extended into a Holy Hour depending on how the reader uses the information presented, making this book a great option for almost anyone.

Are you interested to know how I did with keeping up with my devotional this year? Well, last year I gave up something for Lent and also completed a devotional but didn’t do as well with the devotional as I would have liked. This year, on the other hand, I didn’t give up something, per se, but decided to read as much as I could from the Vatican II documents as possible during Lent. Trying to read all of that information and also keep up with a devotional was too much, especially when I ended up in the hospital for stress related symptoms and now found out that my dad has cancer. So, I will keep this book on my shelf and read it again next Lent, hopefully sticking with it better than I did this year!

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Lenten Reflections. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.

Book Review: Lead Your Family Like Jesus

2013-04-06T20:52:00.000-04:00

Lead Your Family Like Jesus by well-known authors Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, and Tricia Goyer is a roadmap for parents who are unsure where to go next in the Christian parenting journey. Whether your children are young or old, you have probably come to a point at one time or another where you wanted to throw your hands up in frustration because you just didn't know where to turn. Well, turn to Jesus.

Using the New Testament portrayal of Jesus as the model, the three authors each take their own perspective of the four most important parts of the ministry of Jesus- the Heart, the Head, the Hands, and the Habits. Ranging from a once-teenage single mom to a father of non-believing children, the authors make up the range of parents that represent real parents like me and you. They are not picture perfect models of faith, standing in a pulpit preaching down to the reader. They are like a friend, a father, a favorite preacher, offering encouragement and letting the reader know that they were once in the trenches too.

This book was a joy to read. I love that there were many anecdotes and there was a lot of new material presented. Some of the information was things that I already knew but wished that I could share with other parents (like not allowing your child to control you!) and now I have a great way to share that information- by gifting a copy of this book!

Each chapter has at least one pause and reflect section, making this book ideal for group study. I think this would be a perfect choice for a parents book club. There are also some practical suggestions that I began implementing immediately. I think that you should grab a copy of this book, especially if you are looking for some help in the parenting department!

Some useful links:
Lead your Family Like Jesus Website
Tyndale Rewards

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and Tyndale Publishers for offering this book to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review!

Review: Band Angels

2013-03-21T19:59:00.000-04:00

The Band Angels story is a simple one. Grandparents Tim and Tami West were comforting their four year old granddaughter who had juvenile diabetes one night when they started talking about how they wished there were a way to teach her about the Promises of God through the bandages that she repeatedly used.

Now, we are blessed with the ability to share those very promises with our children through Band Angels!

Band Angels is a wonderful way to share God's word with children and also to comfort them when they are hurting. The little angels are adorable and the scripture verses are easy enough for children to memorize. These bandages also stick tightly to the skin so they do not fall off during regular play and routine hand washing but remove fairly painlessly. The quality is excellent!

I think that Band Angels should be added to your last-minute Easter basket gifts and are a definite must-have for those summer scrapes and cuts. Grab a box today!

Additional information:

http://www.bandangels.net

www.facebook.com/bandangels

I was given a box of Band Angels free of charge in exchange for my honest review!

Book Review: The Return Of Cassandra Todd

2013-03-09T17:16:00.000-05:00

Wow! Darrel Nelson is a prolific fiction writer and I am honored to have the chance to review his second book. His first book, The Anniversary Waltz, stuck with me for days and his newest release, The Return of Cassandra Todd was no different.

The book begins with a woman who is running away from some situation, what it is is not clear at the beginning. The plot then moves to a handyman college student, Turner Caldwell who is also running from something (or someone)- God.

The two end up meeting and Turner realizes that this woman is Cassandra Todd, a girl he had a crush on in high school. Her bully boyfriend used to relentlessly pick on Turner and he never really got over the pain. Seeing Cassandra brings back the pain of the past.

Soon the two find themselves becoming re-acquainted and both must face what they have been running from. In a twisting plot of unpredictable situations and realistic characters, Nelson keeps readers on the edge of their seats while entertaining them all the way through the book!

This book is a must-read! I love Nelson's literary style and the characters are so believable. The little boy in the book is so much like a real little boy that I sometimes had trouble remembering that this was a work of fiction. I also love that his books are Christian but are not so Christian that they would turn off a non-Christian reader. This allows the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of non-Christians who may just be reading the book for the wonderful story.

Book Review: Homegrown Faith

2013-03-01T17:31:00.000-05:00

When I read the title and synopsis of this book I was under the impression that it was a book of ideas and practical advice for raising a Catholic family. I was surprised to open the book and see that it is a devotional book of anecdotes. Although I am not particularly a fan of devotionals, this one had the workings of a good devotional but missed the mark. It was harder to navigate than it was worth. For example, the book is divided into liturgical seasons and begins with Advent. Instead of labeling the chapters "1st week of Advent... 2nd week of Advent... etc" they are just named after whatever topic they cover, leading it to be a confusing mess if you are like me and are planning to follow along with the liturgical calendar.

With all of that said, the book has some pleasant stories that are well-written and fun to read. The stories come from a mom who has definitely spent some time in the trenches and knows what it's like to raise up a Catholic family. I enjoyed the "Growing Spiritually This Week" section at the end of each chapter as well. This section has four practical ideas that you can implement immediately after reading the section of the week. I think it would make for a great mom book/ Bible study. As I said earlier, I love the idea of having a Catholic devotional that goes along with the liturgical calendar but I just didn't like the way this one was implemented. If the author could fix it so that there are dates or at least some benchmark feast days to kind of keep the reader on track, this book would be a perfect devotional. Overall, though, I think this book is worth putting out the cash to purchase for your Catholic home library.

I received this book free of charge from Tiberriver.com reviewer program in exchange for my honest review!

Book Review: Fear, Faith, and a Fistful of Chocolate

2013-02-15T16:45:00.002-05:00

Debora Coty has a writing personality that is rare to find in the world of Christian publishing. When reading her work, it is like your best friend is talking to you through the pages of a book. Fear, Faith, and a Fistful of Chocolate is a book like no other. Coty tackles the most common fears among Christian women in a way that makes the reader want to try whatever she suggests. She goes through each fear, citing scripture and telling wonderful stories to bring the point home, always leaving the reader feeling like she can overcome whatever comes her way.

I loved this book, from the pink pages to the convenient size. I had fun reading the stories and could relate to the anecdotes throughout the book. I was motivated to memorize some Scripture to have at the ready in case I ever have an emergency need. As much as I loved all of these things, my favorite part of the book is the acronyms that Coty uses to make her ideas easier to learn and apply. Who would think a Christian book would have an acronym BARF to teach anti-anxiety techniques? (by the way, BARF stands for back off, admit, redirect, and forgive). I think these acronyms are cute and memorable and only go to show that this author is fun, funny, and knowledgeable. I definitely recommend this book to all Christian women and I think it would be a fun choice for a book study.

I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review!