Boy Scout Camp

by JM, 9 yrs.

The government of the province of Henan decreed that the sanctuary dedicated to our Lady of Mount Carmel be blown up with a dynamite , issued a complete ban for Catholics to hold their annual pilgrimage there and a complete ban to hold any religious gathering and function in the area. Read 100  Year Old Sanctuary to be Destroyed in China for the complete article.

Beijing issued a list of “unwanted” who are to be investigated and may be barred from the 2008 Olympic Games. On the list are ” all religious groups not sanctioned by the state including underground Catholic and other Christian churches. Will Catholics be Banned from the 2008 Olympics in China ?

A word we no longer hear from today’s Roman Catholic churchmen is PROSELYTIZE. What is the reason we don’t hear it or read it in the church today ? Find out from this article, Why Don’t We Proselytize ?

School Opens Today

by JM, 9 yrs.

How do we motivate our children to read ?

1. Think Outside the Book

Your goal is to get your child to think of reading as a useful, fun activity, not a chore.  If you have a comic-book lover, introduce him to graphic novels. Books that combine illustrations and text, often with sophisticated visuals and storylines motivates reading in children. Other ideas: Print out interesting articles from Web sites or share movie reviews — as long as it’s a sustained reading experience, it counts.

2. Get the Card

“Rediscover your local library,” If you haven’t been in a library recently yourself, you might be surprised: Today’s libraries are vibrant places. Many have special programs for children , offer lists of recommended books, and are staffed by specialists who are just as invested in getting a great book into your kid’s hands as you are. And remember, it’s totally appropriate for 9- to 12-year-olds to select their own reading material.

3. Create a Reading-Rich Home

“Choose a specific time — after dinner, on a Sunday morning, or before bed — when everyone in the family reads. “  If you don’t put reading on the schedule, it will get lost in the shuffle of your busy life. And reading should be for everyone, not just the kids. Keep in mind, however, that this doesn’t have to be quiet time. “One sad fact is that once kids learn to read independently, parents usually stop reading to them,” Buck that trend by starting a family book night. Vote on a book (or rotate who gets to choose) , then take turns reading it aloud by paragraphs, pages, or chapters. Finally, make sure books, magazines, and newspapers are available throughout your house.

4. Write a Happy Ending

If your child reads four or five books on his school break , chances are when he returns to school he’ll be reading on grade level . If, as a family, you make reading an integral and valued part of your daily life, you’ll increase the chances of having an avid, passionate reader.

Effectively conveying your blessing on your child opens up a world of satisfying relationships, accomplishments, and joy. Borrowing from biblical example, five elements of blessing can be incorporated  into your relationship with your child :

1.  Meaningful touch. Most sacramental moments involve significant touch that conveys a transfer of power, energy, healing, or strengthening for a mission. At the same time, meaningful touch communicates love and personal acceptance. In the home this can take the form of hugs, a firm, prolonged handshake, walking down the street arm in arm, or even tracing the sign of the cross on your child’s head.

2.  A spoken message. Our kids desperately need to hear from us, and not just nagging. They need to hear why we believe in them and what we value. Too often kids get silence or distraction from us. Overactivity robs children of our presence and robs us of the chance to know them well enough to speak a language that touches their hearts. Children who get only silence from their parents interpret that to mean they are unworthy of attention, that something’s wrong with them. It can set them on a lifelong search for approval.

3.  Attaching high value to the one being blessed. Speak about one of your child’s specific positive traits. Express your appreciation for his or her potential. This shouldn’t be a prediction . Rather it should reflect awareness that this child is a work in progress, someone developing with mighty potential for good.

4.  Picturing a special future for the one being blessed. Our kids need hope that the world holds a place for them. You can illuminate a path of promise for them based on their true gifts.

5.  An active commitment. This means you are declaring your intention and willingness to do whatever it takes to fulfill this blessing for your child. You promise to be there to guide, support, coach, and do whatever it takes to help your child achieve a worthy future. You vow to tend to his or her best interests, which you will discover by becoming a student of your child.

Here are seven essential health lessons I teach  my son and all parents should teach their kids :

1.  Safety comes  first - always.

2.  Fitness feels good.

3.  Healthy foods fuel the body.

4.  Washing your hands regularly keep sick days away.

5.  A well-rested child equals a happy child.

6.  Smoking ,  drinking  and drugs are bad for you.

7.  Your body is private.

This is how our front door looks like in a late afternoon at the start of the dry, cool season. It’s  too early to turn on the evening lights, so I sit in one corner and watch the sunlight at the days end illuminate our front door. I love doing this when I’m not busy, it gives me a feeling of calm and peace , and not too soon , darkness will take the place of the beautiful light illuminating my door.

What are impurities of the soul ? How do we get rid of impurities in our souls ? What does it mean to have impurities inside the soul ?  Answers to these questions and others  in the article Spiritual Progress Through Purity.

” Be persistent in your prayers “

The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.  Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?  I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Luke 18: 6-8

 Enjoying the remaining week of his one month school break. How time flies ! His school holiday is nearly over.