Sometimes a thread just runs through your day....(or your reading.)

Caleb and I were reading Claude Hamilton's book "Toughen Up" today.
In it, Claude speaks of people who honor their video games or TV more than their potential for real excellence. Claude sites an article entitled "Unsuper Mario" that was submitted to a letter to an editor,
Here it is:

     You're 31 years old, stop playing video games.  You don't have a job, you neglect your girlfriend
(my sister) and, more importantly, your son.  Be a man, take care of your responsibilities. Why is it today's males still act like children?  Your grandfather, who you brag about fighting the Germans in Holland, he did so at the age of 20.  He wasn't sitting on his @*# getting fat off chips, pop and playing......Call of Duty. - A Very Unhappy Sister

Claude adds "When I read this at seminars it usually gets a standing ovation."


This morning, I ran across an article regarding Bread and Circuses that opened my eyes to the damaging effects of the centuries the Roman Empire spent seeking entertainment.

"The complicated causes of Rome’s decline have long fascinated historians, and provide a lens through which to examine the vulnerability of other dominant cultures. Americans’ addiction to entertainment has been compared to the circuses of ancient Rome.  

When entertainment dominates a society, it changes more than the culture; it also reshapes the economy. You can see that circuses are where the money is from the rise of digital entertainment, which has steered enormous amounts of discretionary income toward digital content and the devices that run it: laptops, televisions, gaming consoles, smart phones. In the decade leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, the only major industry other than health care that consistently showed strong real growth was consumer electronics."

Then, I had Caleb randomly pick a poem to read to me. He picked
"The Way to God" by Helen Steiner Rice

Here is an excerpt:

If God sent no winter to freeze me with fear
would I yearn for the warmth of spring every year?
I asked myself this and the answer is plain;
If my life were all pleasure I would never know pain
I would seek God less often and need him much less
for God's sought more often in times of distress.
No one knows God or sees him as plain
as those who have met him on the pathway of pain.

I'm thankful for the messages I read that inspire me to
sacrifice because sacred things come from it.  I pray for
the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are required to be the best
version of myself. If we do the things we ought
through the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
we ought to never grow weary in our well doing.

In His Service
Debbie

Miracle, Healing and Deliverance

The Reflection for today

I enjoy reading the daily readings and reflections 

with the Laudate app.  Here is today's reflection.

TOUR GUIDES

  Jesus "got into the boat and his disciples followed Him." —Matthew 8:23  

After the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus decided to take the disciples on a tour with Him. It was a healing, miracle, and deliverance tour. The disciples saw a leper cleansed, the centurion's servant healed of paralysis, Peter's mother-in-law healed of a fever, a storm stopped, two men delivered from demons, a paralytic cured, the daughter of Jairus raised from the dead, a woman having hemorrhaged for twelve years cured, two blind men given sight, and a mute delivered of a demon and enabled to speak (Mt 8:1—9:34). What a tour!

The disciples were sightseers on this tour. At its conclusion, Jesus asked His disciples to pray for tour guides, that is, workers for the harvest (Mt 9:38). They became the answer to their own prayers and were given the authority to do what they had just seen Jesus do.

Jesus has given us "authority to expel unclean spirits and to cure sickness and disease of every kind" (Mt 10:1). Yet most Christians don't believe Him. We should first go on tour with Jesus and see His mighty works. Then we will believe His promises. Jesus is arranging a miracle, healing, and deliverance tour. Obey Him. Come, see, conquer.

In His Service,

Debbie

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Enjoy your Celebration today as we "respond to Him who has created all" The Virtue of Gratitude

By Romano Guardini

THURSDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2014

Let us attempt to obtain a view of this gradually disappearing virtue – gratitude. Let us ask what is necessary so that gratitude may become possible. 

Above all there is this: We can be grateful only to a person. Gratitude and petition are possible only between an “I” and a “Thou.” We cannot thank a law, a board, or a company. We may do so out of mere politeness when the proper sum is handed to us, in order to keep everything in the domain of good manners, but real gratitude does not enter into the matter, for gratitude is the expression of a personal encounter in human need. 

But two persons, one of whom is situated so that he has something or can do something, while the other has not or cannot – these stand face to face. The one asks and the other is ready; the one gives and the other thanks; and the two are united by a human tie. Here gratitude is possible and it becomes a basis for community. 

Furthermore, gratitude is possible only in the realm of freedom. For the fact that the sun rises in the morning or, to express it scientifically, that the earth comes into such a position in relation to the sun that it becomes visible: for this I am not grateful. It is certainly true that on a bright morning very lively sentiments of gratitude may arise because something so powerful and beautiful is taking place. But these are the responses of man to Him who has created all, or else they are the after-effects of a time in which the sun itself was revered as a divinity. . . . . 

Nor do I thank when I have a rightful claim upon something. If I have bought some article and it is delivered to me I do not thank, but I give a receipt: ”Such or such a thing received in good condition.” If I have made an agreement on the basis of which another person must perform some service, then I do not thank him afterwards but say: “It is right” – anything beyond this is mere politeness. 

        Giving thanks to God in Florida, 1585

True gratitude can exist only in the realm of the voluntary. The more our attitude toward human affairs approaches our attitude toward mechanical functions – this board regulates traffic, another the conditions of labor, one thing must be done according to the law at this time, another thing at another time – the less room there will be for the free response of the heart which says, “I thank you.” Its place is taken by the statement that says one has received his due. 

A third condition necessary for gratitude is this: he who gives must do so with reverence for the one who receives; otherwise, he wounds the receiver's self-respect. He must not give with indifference; neither must he play the part of one who condescends; neither must he desire to show his power by the gift. A danger for all in social service is the desire to feel their power, for the person in need is, as such, weaker than the one who helps, and when he thanks for the assistance, he admits his weakness thereby. 

All this makes gratitude difficult. If the one who helps lets the other feel his superiority, then gratitude dies and in its place we find humiliation and resentment. How many persons who receive would like to throw the gift into the giver’s face. 

So there are three important conditions. Gratitude can only exist between an “I” and a “thou.” As soon as the consciousness of the personal quality disappears and the idea of the apparatus prevails, gratitude dies. Gratitude can exist only in the realm of freedom. As soon as there is a “must” or a claim, gratitude loses its meaning. Gratitude can exist only with reverence. If there is no mutual respect, gratitude perishes and turns to resentment. Anyone who gives assistance to others should think about that. Only the assistance which makes gratitude possible really deserves the name. 

True asking and giving, true receiving and thanking are fine and are human in the deepest sense of the word. They are based upon the consciousness that we stand together in our need. Accidentally here and now one person has something, the other does not; one person can and the other cannot. Tomorrow it may be the other way around. . . .

Who knows how much of this can be referred to God? Who knows – if we may speak in this way – what God feels when we not merely perform our duty toward Him, but give Him love; when our littleness strives to be generous towards Him? Then there is something in God which we may faintly and distantly indicate by the wordgratitude, very briefly, then it plunges into mystery. But someday He will show us how He received our gift, and that will be a part of our blessedness.

 

Fr. Romano Guardini (1885–1968), author and academic, was one of the most important figures in Catholic intellectual life in 20th-century. His most famous book is The Lord (Gateway Editions). He was a mentor to such prominent theologians as Hans Urs von Balthasar and Joseph Ratzinger.

 

© 2014 The Catholic Thing. All rights reserved. For reprint rights, write to: info@frinstitute.org

 

The Catholic Thing is a forum for intelligent Catholic commentary. Opinions expressed by writers are solely their own.

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In a few days we will be recognizing All Saints Day on November 1st. The next day is All Souls Day November 2nd. What is the difference? In  the Apostles Creed we say "I believe in the communion of saints".  We believe a link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home and those who are expiating their sins in purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. Between these three there is an abundant exchange of all good things. When we are in heaven we will be called the church triumphant.  Everyone here is a saint because they are in the presence of God. In purgatory, we are called the church expectant because these souls will one day be saints after being purified. Here on earth we are called the church militant. We have souls and hope to one day be a saint. After all...what else is there that we can aspire to be? This Halloween, the Eve of All Saints, we can be reminded of those who have died and are in heaven and those who have died and are are in purgatory. Lets take time also to remember those saints and aspire to, like them, gain the right to go to heaven. It is not as simple as only believing in and proclaiming Jesus as the Savior.

Matthew 7:21 says:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

From this we can gather that not only are we to call on the Lord, but we must also do what the Lord wants .

So, be a saint...what else is there?

We took a trip to Chicago, Wisconsin and Michigan with our youngest son Caleb recently. We met up with some business associates and went to the Michigan lake house of our friends and mentors in business. We took a tour of the Notre Dame Stadium and rode bikes all over the campus. We also went on a pilgrimage to Queen of all Saints Basilica in Chicago where there were over 150 1st and 2nd class relics. They ranged from a piece of the crown of thorns to many of the apostles, a piece of the last supper table, and as many saints as you can think of. We were in awe. The Pope has designated many pilgrimage sites for this "Year of Faith". It lasts until November 24th. I recommend you find one near you LINK and make a pilgrimage. It is a wonderful thing to do as a family. Here in So Cal we have the missions. So come on pilgrims!

Below I have reposted a blog from www.curtisspolar.com.
Occasionally, my husband asks me to contribute to his blog.
I hope you like it.

The Blind Side

      Sometimes there can be some devestating blows that can originate from that mysterious place, that unknown territory that many refer to as our blind side.  We don't know what we dont know. For those of us who would like to think that we have it all figured out and we've got all the bases covered, let's set baseball aside and talk about another game....Football. In the 2013 NFL Draft, three out of the first four top picks were left tackles. A premier left tackle is a highly sought after asset on every roster. So much so, that they are generally the highest paid player after the quarterback. The left tackle's job is to protect that quarterback because as that quarter back is staring down the field he is in a vulnerable position and needs somebody protecting his blind side. Games can't be won with incompleted passes, lost yardage, or a sacked quarterback. The game of life is not much different.

Everyone has a blind side. Discovering what lurks there or what may be lacking there can mean the difference between victory and defeat in our relationships, that next job promotion, or any important endeavor we chose to take on.
Frequently, we are tackled by our own negative self-talk, baggage, and doubt and we are blind to the fact that our past is not our potential. Our potential exceeds our expectations. What we need is a means to draw out into the light the information needed to fill in the gaps. That 180 degree turn around can be found in little splashes of black ink on white pieces of paper that form words and are put into books. The Little bits of information that spark that life transformation can be found by reading. Make it a habit.
Another way to discover the unknown is by listening to audios because testimony is powerful and by hearing stories of others "aha" moments we may also find ours. When I listen, I like to think as if the speaker is my best friend trying to reveal a secret to me. The very best way to learn is to have these bits of information coming to us on an ongoing basis. Leadership subscriptions enable us to have these bits of life changing information spread out over time so we get an on going stream of books , CDs and seminars. Information taken in small pieces over time provide the best, most permanent results. The LIFE Leadership organization provides this life changing information and association.
Lastly, if we have the speed of trust with another person who is close to us they may hold the key to revealing things hidden there in those blind spots. A good mentor, like a good left tackle, is hard to find and valuable so when one is found cherish the time in that calendar. I want to make a shout out to Orrin and Laurie Woodward to say how much their time is appreciated and valued for revealing some of those blind spots in our lives and the vision they impart to us and the whole Life Leadership Organization. I want to share a different story about mentoring with you. My sister in law was one of the top real estate agents in the area a few years back. Her mentor charged $1000.00 a month and when the time came for the call, it was sometimes a short one. The mentor asked "Did you do what we agreed on last time?" If the answer was no then the call was over and the mentor replied."The advice is still the same." The next mentoring call was scheduled. My sister in law was hungry to be successful in her field so she was willing to do those things that stretched her and she trusted her mentor. This hunger and trust is what it will take for you and your mentor to not only tackle your blind spots, but also face the future and the unknown. I ran across a quote that said, "“Every age has its massive moral blind spots. We might not see them, but our children will.” - Bono, U2

Sometimes you may be the quarterback or somebody's left tackle. Whatever you do.....Play like a champion today.

Make sure you and your teammates get to the big playoff competition next month in Fresno, CA, Milwaukee, WI, or Ottawa, ON(Canada). Power Player Top Gun competition winners will be recognized. Who will get that cup?

God Bless,

Debbie Spolar

Many a cross we bear is of our own manufacture; we made it by our sins. But the cross which the Savior carried is not His, but ours. One beam in contradiction to another beam was the symbol of our will in contradiction to His own. To the women who met Him on the roadway, He said: "Weep not for me." To shed tears for the dying Savior is to lament the remedy; it were wiser to lament the sin that caused it. If innocence itself took a cross, then how shall we, who are guilty, complain against it?
---Fulton J. Sheen

When out of town recently, I heard a sermon about when Jesus asked the disciples,"Who do you say that I am?" St. Peter replies "You are the Christ, the son of the living God." Then in the next breath he takes control of the conversation to demand that they will defend Jesus and not let Jesus go to His cross.  In which Jesus replies,“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”The next thing you know is Jesus says" “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

The sermon I heard was a few days after a man walked a tightrope across a deep gorge at the Grand Canyon. What helps this man to keep from falling? A pole is held perpendicular to the body and grasped with both hands. This helps to decrease tipping and correct sway. The analogy is clear here. Let our hands be full full of the cross so we are more apt to stay on the straight and narrow and we are less tempted and less able to pick up the reins and steer ourselves in a direction away from the concerns of God and toward our merely human ones.

DISCIPLeINE

     This lenten season has been one that has been especially focused on discipline and on making more room for Jesus. My daughter, Jennifer, and I fasted for a week (liquids,juices) and she was a great inspiration and coach to me. I would like to say it was easy, but truth be told, I cried on day three! It got better from there.
     I have been reading the book "Lent and Easter Wisdom from Fulton J. Sheen" I have been sharing the daily reflections, scripture, prayers and spiritual-growth activities with the family at breakfast.  As a family, we have been going to daily mass Sunday through Friday). The discipline has been very good for me, as I usually don't get up until 9 or 10 and I have been wanting to get up earlier. Before Ash Wednesday, because of this wanting, I have set my alarm, but I hit snooze most of the time and justified that I stayed up late the night before, so I would just roll over and sometimes shut it off completely. This past six weeks has been especially easier to awaken and not to question if I feel like getting out of bed at 7 a.m. Although, I admit,  I am a little surprised at what a willing participant I have been, but then, I remember, I did pray for the Lord's help in leading a more disciplined life. Now, as I look back, my decision was made mid February and I can pat myself on the back, or I can see that He has made me a cheerful giver of this time reserved for Him. At the beginning of lent I heard a priest say that so many of us think of lent as a time of year we can't do this or we must give up something. We can choose to do it disinterested and mechanical or make it all about our will power or we can make it purposeful and intentional and re frame it as it should be and that is "Where is it that I am not living like you? and How do I not yet really know you?" Hence the purpose for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
     One more thing I am thankful for....The peaceful, willing, hearts of my children and grandson Frankie to get up and not complain. I, really, have not heard one complaint in six weeks. Wow! Them and me too? Believe in miracles!

Teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge; for I have believed thy commandments. Psalm 118:66

I pray for His grace to be the disciplined disciple he wishes me to be.

God Bless,

Debbie