Month: August 2010

Want To Get Healthy?

This weekend will mark the end of the summer. Even though school started today in my area, I’ve always felt like summer hangs on until Labor Day. After that, the leaves start falling, cool weather returns, and I start thinking about soups, stews, and heartier fare. I can’t wait! Don’t get me wrong, I love summer. But fall is my favorite time of the year.

About this time last year, I learned about a great program called the 21 Day Vegan Kickstart. Produced by a team of experts led by Dr. Neal Barnard, the kickstart is a great way to explore changing your diet. There are on-line cooking demonstrations, meal plans, recipes, and basic health tips that will change the way you look at food. I participated last year, and I continue to reap the benefits of this new way of eating. Please look around their website.

Inspiration Mind

Discipline

The other day, I jumped on the scale and realized that I’m starting to pick up a few pounds. Nothing major, but I made a commitment to myself to never get back where I was. I had promised myself that, when I got five pounds heavier, I’d cut back on what I was eating and exercise a bit more. Five pounds quickly turned to seven, and seven became nine. Sound familiar?

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The Legacy

I guess it’s always a little tricky to talk about someone’s legacy. As I was thinking about my pastor’s legacy today, many things came to mind. Of course, there is the big, beautiful church building. There’s the perpetual adoration chapel. No one on the finance committee would want to forget that, despite these tough times, we remain in the black. The list could go on and on. But, I don’t think any of these are keys to his legacy. Well, if not them, then what?

Inspiration Prayer Spirit

Brendan’s Prayer

I was doing some cleaning this morning and had to put away one of my travel bags that had been sitting around for couple of weeks. It seems like I always leave a thing or two inside, so I checked and found a folded up scrap of paper.

Instead of throwing the paper away immediately, I unfolded it. Printed inside was a prayer entitled “Brendan’s Prayer”. I don’t know where I got this, and I don’t know how long it’s been in this bag, which I’ve had a long time. As I read the words, I realized that the message was very timely, and should to be shared, not later, but today. I don’t know exactly who this is for, but I know it’s meant for someone who reads my blog. Maybe it’s you?

Catholic Church Inspiration Prayer Spirit

A.S.A.P.

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 08/27/2010
1 Comment on A.S.A.P.

I’ve been in a reflective mood the past couple of days. If you follow my blog, you know that our long-time pastor is leaving our parish this weekend. Change is always hard, and he will be terribly missed. But the rhythm of parish life will keep moving. School starts Tuesday. There will be masses, baptisms, funerals, reconciliations and weddings, among a myriad of other things. The beat goes on, just as it always has, but that doesn’t mean it has to be easy.

Catholic Church Inspiration Prayer Spirit

Saint of the Gutters

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta was born one hundred years ago today. Her model of humble service continues to touch literally tens of thousands of people throughout the world each day, thanks to the sisters of the religious order she founded, the Missionaries of Charity.

“Today there is so much suffering – and I feel that the passion of Christ is being relived all over again – are we there to share that passion, to share that suffering of people?

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Do Not Be Afraid

This Annunciation is one of my favorite pieces of art. Painted between 1433-34 by Fra Angelico, it hangs in the Diocesan Museum in Cortona, Italy. I have had the gift of visiting Cortona several times, and I love to stand in front of this painting, viewing the scene taken from the Gospel of Luke (1:26-38). The strikingly beautiful Gabriel has a message for Mary. Before he makes the announcement, the most important ever made, he has a more simple message. “Do not be afraid.”

Inspiration

A Simple Message

What does God say to us?

He says: “I have called you by your

name, you are mine; water will not

drown you, fire will not burn you,

I will give up nations for you,

you are precious to me,

I love you. Even if a

mother could forget her child,

I will not forget you. I have carved

you in the palm of my hand.”

So also, the people who come in

contact with you are precious to

Him. Help them to grow in holiness

because holiness is not a luxury

reserved for a few.

It is a simple duty for you and

for me and for all.

–B lessed Teresa of Calcutta

What does holiness mean to you? How is it lived out in your life?

Inspiration Mind Prayer

Get Up And Get Going

In John’s Gospel (5:1-18), there’s a great story about a man who has waited for nearly a lifetime for healing. The guy had been crippled for thirty-eight years, and he spent his days lying on a mat by the pool of Bethesda, longing for a miracle. This man lived in agony, struggling with his condition.

Many people today struggle with their conditions. Some may have serious health issues, like the man lying by the pool. Others struggle with emotional issues, which can also be very painful and debilitating.

Gardening Main Course Vegan Vegetarian

Try Something New

Over the last couple of trips to the local Farmer’s Market, I’ve been eyeing they array of tomatoes at the various tables. Yesterday, I decided to take the plunge and bought two pounds of the heirloom variety known as Yellow Brandywine. The farmer told me that they were slightly sweet and less acidic compared to the red varieties. Since Yellow Pear tomatoes are one of my all time favorites, I was pretty sure I would like these too. I was right.

When I got home, I jumped on-line to find out a bit more about heirloom tomatoes. I bet you didn’t know that over 80% of the tomato varieties that were around in the 1940’s are now extinct. Thankfully, a few wise tomato lovers started saving seeds, and now we get the juicy benefit of their forethought.