Fireproof

So I am at Blockbuster the other night returning some DVDs and the woman in front of me is holding Kirk Cameron's movie 'Fireproof'. I haven't seen it yet but I have heard so may great things about it. (For those of you who are unfamiliar it is a Christian based film about saving a marriage).

The woman was asking the clerk about it so I chimed in with my two cents. I told her that I had heard it was a great flick, that Kirk was a great Christian, and it was about the beauty of making a marriage work.

She looked at me, looked at the clerk and said, ' Alright, let me go find another movie then.'

I was floored. It really made me start thinking about our societal view of entertainment.

Did she put the movie back because it was about marriage and two people making it work? Did she put it back because she didn't want to watch a functional movie that highlights the strength and courage it takes to make a marriage work? Did she put it back because there was no violence, profanities or sex?

Overall I felt as if my perception of the 'world' shifted even more negatively as I watched her put the movie back and walk away. We are entertained by gore, violence, sex and dysfunction. Our television shows, music, and movies reflect one dysfunctional situation after another. Kirk Cameron makes a move that is realistic and functional and it gets put back on the shelf because it is not entertaining enough. What does that say about our society?

The only thing I could think was to pray hard that we can try to live IN this world but not OF this world.

I am so proud of Kirk Cameron for using his time and talents to make a movie that celebrates marriage. If you get a chance (you know I will!) go out and rent 'Fireproof'. Help support those individuals who are trying to spread the Gospel message anyway they can....

Endow

If you are looking for a great study to do rooted deeply in the catholic faith Endow is for you. Here is a bit about ENDOW in their own words.:

ENDOW is a Catholic educational program that brings women together to discover their God-given dignity and to understand their role in humanizing and transforming society. ENDOW utilizes small study groups, conferences and retreats to cultivate faith, fellowship and formation.

ENDOW is a growing Ecclesiastical organization, and the majority of the people involved in ENDOW are Catholic women in the pews of parishes across the country. Like dioceses or individual parishes, ENDOW is open to all spiritualities recognized by the Catholic Church. This is the distinctive charism of ENDOW: a blend of the many beautiful spiritualities within the Church working together to offer a program of study on Catholic feminism. ENDOW's leadership and participants include: members of the Third Order Carmelites, members of the Christian Life Movement, Third Order Dominicans, Third Order Franciscans, members of Neocatechumenal Way, cooperators of Opus Dei, members of Regnum Christi, Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan and Dominican Sisters of the Congregation of St. Cecilia of Nashville, Tennessee-among others!

Tara and I are currently doing John Paul II's Letter to Women and I am loving it. I feel like I am growing not only in my spiritual knowledge but in my knowledge of the faith as it reacts to the changing world. This study has no homework which I appreciate as a mom and is intellectually stimulating. I am currently being trained to lead my own groups and in that role I had to get a letter from my priest stating that I am practicing catholic in good standing. My mother went to Denver to become a trainer and in order to do that she had to get her Bishop's approval. I think this is great because it means they want the faith passed on in a true and honest form by people who love the church. People can be easily led astray by interpreting things how they think they are. This is not necessary when we have a church that teaches us what the true interpretation is.

I can not say enough about how great this study is and I look foreword to doing many more. All ENDOW groups are open to the public and are posted on their website. To see if their is a group in your area or to find out how to bring one to your area check out their website here.

Everyone must start with Letter To Women and then there are may other options such as
Mulieris Dignitatem ( On the dignity of women), Redemptoris Mater ( Mary mother of the Redeemer), Humane Vitae ( of Human Life) as well as a study for middle school and high school.

Look it's Jesus

As my second child begins to get older the task of teaching her about her faith is becoming more real. Hera are a few things I learned while teaching my older daughter about the faith.

1. Do not point to a crucifix at the front of church and say "look it's Jesus" during mass, your child will think the priest is Jesus from then on.

2. Try to distinguish between a priests clothes and dresses or your child will tell the priest how pretty they look in their dress.

3.Calling a priest Father can be very confusing so sometimes it is best to stick with Priest or Father so and so using their name specifically.

4. Try not to sit close to the Holy Water it is way too strong a temptation for kids to play in it during mass.

5. Explaining the mass is good, doing it during mass will bring on a never ending stream of questions.

What words of wisdom do you have from teaching your kids the faith?

Parenting by the Book

'Parenting by the Book' by John Rosemond has been a God send in our home! Dr. Rosemond is an "anti-psycho-babble" psychologist who has written a book based on Scriptural parenting. How cool is that? I have been devouring the book late at night after Liv is asleep and cannot put it down.

I love Dr. Rosemond's no nonsense approach to parenting. He talks a lot about all the lies psychology has fed us over the years that has contributed to our parenting. He lays it on the table when he speaks about how Scripture really has all the answers for parenting. I mean, the Bible is there for us in all other aspects of our life, why wouldn't parenting be one of them?

Part of the book that has really spoken to me is in regard to the sinful nature of mankind. Dr. Rosemond reminds the reader that we are part of a fallen race. (Thank you Jesus for our redemption) But alas, our children are born with original sin. He goes on to say that due to this fallen nature a child is prone to sin. What?! Not my child! Oh wait, you mean all the times that my sweet little two year old turns into a very demanding and self serving child is not my fault? Dr. Rosemonds writes that the minute a mother starts 'blaming' her actions for her child's actions is the minute that the child's behavior gets excused. He likes calling a spade a spade.... My two year old makes self serving choices because it is built into her human makeup. He recommends a no tolerance policy and setting a firm consequence. (So sitting down and trying to rationalize why little Suzy can't hit Bobby when he takes a toy does not work... I know.. I have tried... it's like talking to a two foot wall with very cute clothes).

This book provides questions for reflection and group discussion throughout the chapters and could be a great resource for a mom and dad together. In my situation, my husband does not have the time to sit down and read but I have highlighted all the things I feel that are relevant (um, a LOT of the book) and overtime I have been reading them to him so that we can discuss.

I enjoyed this book immensely and walked away from it feeling so much better about my parenting. It chilled me out a little and reminded me that God truly is our perfect parent who has provided us with a manual.... a parenting manual of all things! Overall I think we all want respectful, strong, independent, kind, generous, loving and holy children. This book definitely provides a realistic framework for heading in that direction. Check it out!

“John Rosemond is one of the few psychologists I’ve ever met who always makes sense. This is the best common-sense guide to parenting I’ve read in a long time.”—Dr. Kevin Leman, author of Making Children Mind without Losing Yours.

“If you think ‘new’ is always better, this is not the book for you. John does all parents a huge service by skillfully illuminating the timeless wisdom of Scripture that has served generations in raising healthy, happy, obedient human beings. I was struck, both as a parent and a professional, at how simply and practically John presents these biblical truths for mothers and fathers. Parenting by the Book could start a parenting revolution, and I pray it does for the sake of our children.”—Glenn T. Stanton, author of Marriage on Trial and My Crazy, Imperfect Christian Family

“Truly a masterpiece. John’s concepts are consistent with both biblical principles and the best parenting research. As such, they work! A must-read for parents and professionals who work with parents.”—DuBose Ravenel, MD, FAAP, pediatrician and emeritus member of Focus of the Family medical advisor team

--------------------Picture respectful, responsible, obedient children who entertain themselves without television or video games, do their own homework, and have impeccable manners. A pie-in-the-sky fantasy? Not so, says family psychologist and bestselling author John Rosemond. Any parent who so desires can grow children who fit that description—happy, emotionally-healthy children who honor their parents and their families with good behavior and do their best in school. In the 1960s, American parents stopped listening to their elders when it came to child rearing and began listening instead to professional experts. Since then, raising children has become fraught with anxiety, stress, and frustration. The solution, says John, lies in raising children according to biblical principles, the same principles that guided parents successfully for hundreds of years. They worked then, and they still work now!

Through his nationally-syndicated newspaper column and eleven books, John has been helping families raise happy, well-behaved children for more than thirty years. In Parenting by The Book, which John describes as both a “mission and a ministry,” he brings parents back to the uncomplicated basics. Herein find practical, Bible-based advice that will help you be the parent you want to be, with children who will be, as the Bible promises, “a delight to your soul” (Pro. 29-17). As a bonus, John also promises to make you laugh along the way.

Holy Baby DVD set Giveaway

Thanks for stopping by from the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival.

When I was pregnant with my first daughter my mother bought me the Holy Baby DVD set. This is a great set of DVD's based on the same principles as Baby Einstein yet centered around the Catholic faith. Volume 1 Seven Prayers in Seven Languages introduces your child to the Sign of the Cross, the Apostle's Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, O My Jesus and Hail Holy Queen in seven different languages including English, French, Spanish, Latin, Vietnamese, German and Portuguese. It is also full of vivid religious imagery and songs including Jesus Loves The Little Children, The Seven Joys of Mary, A Child's Morning Hymn and the Holy Baby theme song. Volume 2 Jesus Loves Me , He Is The Bread Of Life is full of upbeat faith filled songs, prayers of the mass and scripture passages.

My girls love their Holy Baby DVD's. They enjoy singing and dancing along with Volume 2 and find Volume 1 relaxing and peaceful as it teaches them prayers that are central to our Catholic faith. I highly recommend these videos to any catholic parent of children form birth to 7 years old. Holy Baby DVD's are available at many Catholic and Christian Book stores or at The Rosary Project online. I have 5 sets of the Holy Baby DVD collection to giveaway. To enter visit The Rosary Project and take a look at all of their great products. Come back here and in comment tell me what other product they make that caught your eye.

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Giveaway ends 2/7/09 at midnight, open to US residents.