The Church and New Media - A Review

When I first began this blog a few years ago, it was my hope that the posts that I would write would inspire others to get out there and lend a helping hand. Hence, the name of my blog. I began by posting about opportunities to volunteer and charities to volunteer for. My blog has since evolved into something of a family chronicle with, what I hope to be, an authentic Catholic tone. In The Church and New Media, Brian Vogt has brought together 11 of the most forward thinking and acting Catholic internet users to show us that we can use this "new media" not just to rant about the current political situation or show off family photos. We can use this "new media" to spread the Gospel in a highly effective way. We can reach thousands..even millions of people with just one blog post.

Your post, tweet or status update can travel around the world in seconds. Your words can literally bring the living water of Christ to people you will never see or meet. What's even better is that today, you might get to meet them! Blogger conventions and facebook has enabled us to connect with other Catholics in unprecedented ways.

Jesus told his disciples to cast their nets wide..that he would make them fishers of me. We too, are his disciples and we too must heed that call.

If you blog, facebook or tweet. If you Youtube or Vimeo. It is your choice to use them to glorify yourself or to glorify God. This book can help you discover new ways to use them to glorify God! To fill your nets for Christ and to increase your faith and the faith of others. Get it. Read it. Pass it to your priest. Tell everyone you know about it..tweet it. Facebook it. Youtube it. Blog it.

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 The Church and New Media. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

A Biblical Walk Through The Mass - A Review

A few months ago I was sent this book to review for The Catholic Company. I've been reading and re-reading it since.

Dr. Edward Sri has brought the Mass home to me. In an easy to read format, using references from Scripture and The Church Fathers, he has opened the door to the Mass in a new and enlightening way.

With the new Roman Missal heading our way this Advent, I wanted to try to understand how the changes would affect me and my family and our worship. This book has shed new light on how we pray the Mass. It is a prayer, the Greatest prayer, and for far too long I was just reciting the prayers without much thought. The words were coming out but my heart was not in it and, here's the thing, I didn't even know it!

Dr. Sri's book has helped me find the meaning in the prayer. I've discovered a richer, fuller participation in the Mass than I have ever had and I don't even have to leave my pew.

This book will open your eyes and your heart to the way you pray the Mass. Pick it up today at The Catholic Company.

Books, Movies, Music & My Life

Not necessarily in that order.

We've had a busy week around here! What about you? It's not like it's Christmas or anything.

Trying to keep the meaning of the season and the commercialism at bay has not been very easy. The weather has not helped..it's been super cold in the morning..hot in the afternoon and then cool again or windy. Just when you want to start singing "White Christmas" the yard starts turning green in weird patches. So much for feeling like winter.

We did accomplish our school work for the week. This makes me very happy and quite proud of myself. Last year we took an extended Christmas break and felt the backlash long into the new year. This year we worked until yesterday. Since Christmas falls on a Saturday this year, we I didn't really see a reason to have more than 2 days off.

Anyhow, it's done and I didn't even cave when Mr. Pinch only completed half of her History assignment. We worked on it at 5:30 pm last night. Ya know what!!!?? It's Done! Hallelujah. Score one for mom! Mr. Pinch almost cried. Almost. But she kept it together and we got through the discovery and establishment of Jamestown. Whew.

This morning I am letting the dough rise for cinnamon rolls and downloading some FREE music from Amazon.com..check it out here:Believe In Christmas - Holiday Sampler"..

Don't forget to check out the 25 days of Christmas free MP3's here:
25 Days of Christmas FREE MP3's

I also just finished reading C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold. I've carried this book around for years and have picked it up, dismissed it, picked it up again..and this time it stuck. Great Story. I loved it. It's the myth of Cupid & Psyche retold. Lewis brings an entirely new story and heroine to you. It's an amazing read and if you haven't yet, I highly recommend you add it to your winter book list.
Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold

On the movie forefront, hubby and I picked up an old favorite The Toy, with Richard Pryor.

I really needed this laugh. It has it's oops, get the kids out, moment, but well worth the watch if you have the clearplay filters in place. A few cuss words, a few cleavage shots and one scene where a naked woman's body is displayed in a painting.

Overall a great story about love and friendship. Just close your eyes when you see Fancy. :)

The Toy

And of course, It wouldn't be right without Charlie Brown.
Love this one.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Remastered Deluxe Edition)

So, if you've done all your shopping, trimmed up your tree, baked a thousand cookies, given gifts to all your neighbors..treat yourself to a good book, some free music and a belly full of laughs.

Merry Christmas Ya'll!

Hope For Hard Times - A Review

Just finished the 30 minute read "Hope For Hard Times" by Scott Hahn. What a gem!
It is definitely a quick read, but not without serious impact. From the Babylonian Exile to the Crucifixion, Dr. Hahn offers us an opportunity to understand our sufferings and trials here on Earth by relating them to the Biblical trials and ultimately uniting them to the Cross of Christ who bears all for our sake.

Love hurts. At least true love does. We are required to live unselfishly if we are living in love. We must have hope that our treasure is in Heaven. We must trust in our Heavenly Father, that He does know what's best for us.

We must relinquish our hold on our own tragedy and, as the saying goes, offer it up. Don't concentrate on the negative, but rather keep your eye on the prize, Heaven. Thank God for the suffering He has seen fit to bestow upon you. It just might be the answer to your prayers.

Grab some coffee, sit back and enjoy this little gem of Catholic teaching. You can find Hope for Hard Times at the Catholic Company.

Also be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts.


This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company.

Resisting The Devil - A Review

I wasn't sure what lead me to choose Resisting the Devil by Neal Lozano to review. When I received the book I actually became a bit apprehensive about reading it. The title threw me off and I got stuck on that work "Devil". I started to wonder why I had chosen this one and put off reading it for a week.

It sat on the counter, reminding me each day of my choice to review it. So I took it with me to Adoration. I figured that's a great place to start resisting. Right?

It turned out to be excellent. Both Adoration and the book. Mr. Lozano lays out a plan of healing in Resisting The Devil. His is a healing ministry. Not necessarily physical healing, but spiritual ones, and that we, the laypeople of The Church are called to this healing ministry. He explains how the Catholic Church has always encouraged this type of ministry, even though it fell out of fashion in society, along with the devil and sin.

He offers a method of deliverance prayer, that is rooted in scripture and reliant on the sacramental life of The Church. Mr. Lozano clearly defines the rite of exorcism in The Church and explains the difference between exorcism and deliverance ministry.

I highly recommend this book for those who feel they may be called to deliverance ministry. To spiritual healing.

A few weeks later, just after I had finished this book, I attended Adoration and one of our Deacons was leading. He spoke about his healing ministry and prayer group that meets weekly at our church. I realized at that moment why I had chosen Mr. Lozano's book. It was not for me, but for me to pass along. So I did, to our Deacon.

You can find Resisting the Devil at The Catholic Company. Click here for more info.

I am a reviewer for The Catholic Company and received this book free of charge to review.

What Ticks You Off - A Review

I recently had the opportunity to listen to Jeff Cavins' new CD What Ticks You Off And How To Deal With It. Jeff makes use of the Epistle of James to help us understand that our dissatisfaction here on Earth is due to our endless search for happiness in people, places and things that are of this Earth and not in God where true peace and happiness are found.

Detailing the four levels of happiness - immediate gratification, personal achievement, serving others, and infinite love - Jeff helps us to recognize that only when we turn our earthly desires into heavenly ones, will we find the satisfaction and contentment we are searching for.

Using funny stories, real-life experiences and scripture, Jeff engages the listener and invites you to take a closer look at how you handle your passions and reactions to situations that you wish to avoid. It is too easy to fall prey to our desires for things of this world and we must always remember that our reward is not in this world but in the eternal realities of the next.

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 What Ticks You Off (CD) .

Sharing Christ's Priesthood - A Review

Mike Aquilina's Bible Study, Sharing Christ's Priesthood, opens the eye and the heart to how we are called to live out our common priesthood. In this study he explains the different levels of the Priesthood; The Priesthood of Christ, the common priesthood and the ordained priesthood.

Mike makes full use of the Scriptures to help us understand what it means to share in Christ's Priesthood. Starting with Genesis and ending in the New Testament with Jesus' exhortation to "go into the world and make disciples of all nations."

At the beginning of each chapter we read Scripture and answer questions to help us gain insight into the meaning of the Scripture. Mike then examines the meaning of the Scripture passage and guides us to a fuller understanding of our role in the Priesthood of Christ. At the conclusion of each chapter we are given questions to think about and pray on during the week or time until the next study gathering.

I found the section on Jesus, the Great High Priest, to be the most interesting. The discussion on Hebrews 7 opened up a door that I had been searching to find and offered a much deeper understanding of the verse "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek".

I worked on this study alone and found that it would have been more helpful to have a group to discuss and exchange ideas and thoughts with. Mike offers useful tips on leading a study and includes a list of resources at the end of the book for further study and research.

Mike Aquilina's study is easy to read and an excellent resource for those who want to understand more fully our role as priest in Christ's Kingdom.

Pick up a copy at the Catholic Company!

Catholic Company Book Review: JP2 High: Trespass Against Us

John Paul 2 High: Trespasses Against Us
The Catholic Company

This review was submitted to me by my oldest. He really enjoys the series and is waiting patiently for the next book to come out.

After the recent events in book one, George Peterson in still recovering from the incident with Allie Weaver’s ex-boyfriend, Tyler Getz. George’s conflict with Tyler is far from over, and when Allie starts getting threatening text messages on her cell phone, George immediately ties Tyler to them. But! All is now what it seems! George is stuck between his feelings of revenge and the knowledge that he should forgive his enemies.
This book is full of suspense and mystery. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire read. It left me hungry for the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book to teens! You won't be disappointed.

You can find this book at The Catholic Company.

It's all His Fault! (Or is it?)

I just finished reading The Temperament God Gave my Spouse by Art and Laraine Bennett. What an eye opener! I hadn't read anything previously relating to the temperaments, choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, and melancholic, and this book forced me to look further into myself, do some research and figure out my own temperament before I could see how it works with my husbands.

I discovered that I am a mix of choleric and sanguine. While my hubby is more sanguine-phlegmatic. How we work together and respond to one another directly corresponds to our temperaments.

Art and Laraine use real marriage experiences of their own and other couples to illustrate how couples with different temperaments are able to better their marriages by realizing how their temperaments work and how they can make very small changes in how each spouse responds to the different characteristics of each temperament. Most of the changes come from within as we discover our own temperaments.

Of course we can't change our spouse. We can only change how we respond to our spouse. I highly recommend this book for all married couples and for those who are in pre-cana or preparing for Marriage.

You can get it at The Catholic Company!

Daily Prayer: The Magnificat

Would you like to know the Mass readings for the day? Have the Daily Gospel at your fingertips? Daily reflections on Saints and inspirational art tucked neatly in your purse, ready at a moment's notice? The Magnificat is for you!

Pray along with the Church in Morning and Evening Prayer. The Liturgy of the Hours is no small book. It fills volumes! The Magnificat is a compact version that fits nicely in your purse or your back pocket! The Magnificat makes a lovely gift for friend or family member.

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 Magnificat.

A Generous Serving of Love at Grace Cafe

Donna Marie Cooper-O'Boyle has given us just that in her beautiful book Grace Cafe.

She fills you up with truths from Church documents, encyclicals and inspiring words from such saints as Therese of Lisieux and St. Joseph. She truly shines her light on Christian motherhood.

Donna Marie shows us mothers how to turn our everyday lives into one constant prayer and offering to the Lord. Beginning our day with prayer for our families. Asking Our Lord to bless our families and our husbands.

As wives and mothers we are placed by God as specially appointed keepers of our domestic churches. The opportunities to holiness are endless. Holiness is found in the teaching of prayers to your children, in fixing supper for your husband and even in the laundry piled high.

I highly recommend this book for those occasions when you feel overwhelmed by it all. This book ends with some beautiful prayers and poems that will renew and refresh you.

Check it out at The Catholic Company.