Lent

Lent is a 40-day liturgical season that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with the Mass on Holy Thursday. The word “lent” comes from an anglo-word meaning “spring.” It is a special time of renewal and preparation for Easter.

Three reasons I love this Season

1. Time to renew
It is time to renew my prayer life. Renew my relationship with God. Renew my spiritual life.

2. Time to refocus
It is easy to lose sight of my priorities. So I try to refocus my gaze on who needs to come first – Jesus.

3. Time to remember
This season helps me to remember what matters most – my relationship with God, with my wife, with family, my health. While I pray to be open to the new, I also look forward to the traditions of my family.

Fasting, almsgiving and prayer are important practices.

Fasting – Only one full meal is permitted on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Two small meals are permitted but cannot be the size of a full meal. Abstinence from meat is required on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of lent.

Also we try to fast from favorite foods or activities during Lent. Even fasting from activities or attitudes. Like fasting from complaining!

Trying to learn more about our faith is a great positive things to do.

Almsgiving – giving of time, talent and treasure.
Suggestions: donating money to charity, working at a soup kitchen, doing ministry, cultivating an attitude of generosity and concern for others. Hospitality comes to mind also.

Prayer – devotions, spiritual reading, going on retreat, read scripture, Stations of the Cross.

Confession and baptism are important parts of this season. Many people join the church at the Easter Vigil. They spend this time praying and learning and preparing for entry into the church.

All I have to say if WOW! Every person in America and especially every Catholic should hear this.

The is a homily from St John the Evangelist parish in ST. John Indiana. The priest was a lawyer – the parish is middle class, northern Indiana, blue collar, likely democratic. It is incredibly clear, direct and created a fire of activity.

How mold enter your home and grow in your home? This is a very interesting question that everyone would like to know.

Mold spreads or grows in the foam of spores. When spores are released into the air, they can simply drift in through open doors and windows, with the help of winds. They can also come in via a vent or air conditioning system. Mold spores that settled on clothing, shoes or even pets are another way for them to enter your home. They constantly find their way into your home whenever there is a chance.

Mold spores that get into your home may stay dormant until they find the right condition that can provide water, air and food, they reproduces and grow. Basically, mold requires 4 items to grow: water, air, food and ideal temperature. Without any one of them, it cannot grow.

Molds are most commonly found in wet or damp areas such as bathroom, basement, kitchen, leaky pipes and roofs. Areas with high humidity levels also promote mold growth. It is recommended to keep the indoor humidity level between 30 – 50 percent and below 60 percent during winter.

Mold dusts can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled or ingested on our food. Some people may react strongly to its presence while some may be unaffected at all under the same environment. This is called allergic response, the way our body fights off the invading molecules. Children, the elderly and the sick are particularly more susceptible to illnesses connected to mold exposure.

Common effects from molds include respiratory irritation, eye irritation, stuffy or runny nose, headaches, dry cough, joint aches, asthma, stomach upset, skin rashes, fatigue.

Toxic molds release toxic substance, severe exposure to toxic mold can bring greater health risks such as internal bleeding, pulmonary emphysema, kidney and liver failure.

by Samantha Oliver

Behind every success story there is always a teacher – a visionary teacher who has inspired, molded and created our best doctors, writers, artist and model citizens. Through his/hers unselfish commitment and educational expertise, the teachers generates and revitalizers the excitement in learning that is necessary to produce exceptional performances.

Ted Fattoross, a professional speaker and workshop leader brings this important message to schools, government agencies and corporations throughout America. Ted Fattoross leads over 300 programs each year on a variety of topics which include self-esteem, conflict resolution, teamwork and leadership. His clients include Principals and Supervisors Association, Phi Delta Kappa, National Education Association, Parent Teachers Association, Middle Level Educators Association, as well as the Department of Education and many Fortune 500 companies. Ted has been featured on national TV, radio and in newspapers.

We offer workshops and speaking seminars that promote core values… positive influences, self-esteem and self-confidence in personal development. We have extensive experience in personal, radio and television presentations designed to reinforce these values and ethics through confidence building, communication and leadership programs. These presentations have instilled in children the necessity of being positive and proactive in their own lives.

more info… info@battleforthesoul.com

Do It Anyway

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-This version is credited to Mother Teresa

About the song “Where’s the Line to See Jesus?” performed by Becky Kelley.

While at the mall a couple of years ago, my then four year old nephew, Spencer, saw kids lined up to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, he asked his mom, “where’s the line to see Jesus”? My sister mentioned this to my dad, who immediately became inspired and jotted words down to a song in just a few minutes. After putting music to the words, and doing a quick recording at home, he received a great response from friends. He sent the song off to Nashville without much response, except for a Christian song writer who suggested adding a bridge at the end of the first chorus. My dad then asked if I wanted to record the song to see what we could do with it. I listened to the song, made a few changes to the words to make it flow better, and we headed to Shock City Studios. It was at the studio where Chris, owner and producer, rewrote the 2nd verse and part of the chorus… With goose bumps and emotions high, we were all hopeful and felt like we had something special. The demo was recorded in just under 2 hours and sent off again to Nashville … Still no response. Then 2 weeks before Christmas last year, my cousins Greg and Robbie decided to do a video to see what we could accomplish on YouTube. The first day we had 3000 hits and it soared from there. We received e-mails, phone calls, Facebook messages from people all over asking for the music, CD’s, iTunes, anything… We had nothing’. After a couple of meetings with Chris following the amazing response, we got serious. We headed back into the studio this past spring… This time with guitars, drums, bass, pianos, choirs… The real deal…. And here we are today. Getting iTunes set up, a website put together, and loving that thousands upon thousands of Christians have come to gather… Remembering the true meaning of Christmas. Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults cannot understand. Hopefully Spencer’s observation will cause people all over to reflect on the love of Jesus, and that one day we will all stand in line to see Him. We are most thankful to our Heavenly Father to have this chance to share our music with you.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Yogi Runner Wellness: Make any Place a Sacred Space for Wellness…

Yogi Runner Wellness, our mission is to “Bring Yoga to EVERY BODY”.   The vision of the Yogi Runner Wellness Company started when Donna Gowdy began leading yoga poses at a local 5k road race to help the runners stretch.   An avid distance runner herself, Donna wanted to share the benefits of yoga, which was the perfect complimented to her own running routine.

Yogi Runner Wellness strives to bring the many benefits of yoga and wellness no matter your physical fitness level or hectic schedule.  Offering private or small-group lessons, as well as services at corporate locations, sporting events, schools, and retirement communities.

Whether you are new to yoga, or looking for a yoga routine to supplement your current exercise routine, Yogi Runner Wellness offers a variety of yoga styles and levels to complement your daily routine.

“Warrior Pose battles inner weakness and wins focus.  You see that there is no war within you.  You’re on your own side, and you are your own strength.”