Yes, we do need bold and brilliant leadership to guide us toward the great Spiritual North Star. Where are we going to find them? We cannot let the church be paralyzed by fear. Pray nourishes our lives. Prayerful leaders are courageous leaders. The kind that we need in the Catholic Church. The rebuilding of the Catholic Church needs to be done in the spiritual sense by all of us. As a Catholic School teacher it is our responsibility to teach our students as witnesses to the Gospel. Each of us is committed to living a sacramental life as an example to our students. Prayer nourishes our lives. We are each being the best-version-of-ourselves that we can possibly be at this time in our life. As I was reading Rediscovering Catholicism it gave me a very good feeling. This book will help me think, change, and grow as I become the best-version-of-myself that I can be.
Fear- it is written about so many times! There are self help books, medicines, and groups out there for people searching. The Bible, God's word, is the only true help! This simple truth is so nice, yet so many don't know it. Hopefully we, teachers of our faith, can help others know this truth in Christ! Great book!
"Be not afraid." Do I have the courage to move beyond my fear? People tend to follow and lean toward those who have courage. We need someone who has great leadership qualities, but are we looking at the right qualities for leadership or authentic qualities? If you can inspire people to do things that are difficult, but good for them and their community, then and only then can you be an authentic leader. I had to smile at the last part when he said he had a sticky note that read "Something wonderful is about to happen!" Isn't it great to know that we have something to hope for as hope is a good thing just like dreams. They are two things that you can't buy and is one thing people cannot live without. What are you hoping for and what wonderful thing is about to happen to you?
I thought Matthew Kelly made a profound statement when he asked what the leaders of the world would do if the Catholic Church ceased to exist. We've often thought of that when people criticize and put down Catholic schools. What would happen to the public system and to taxpayers if we ceased to exist? The same really is true of the world. Who would feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked? From the way our politicians vote and allocate money, it is clear that these concerns are not high priorities on their lists. We desperately need the Catholic Church and people who are willing to be the best version of themselves they can be!
This entire book made me think about the kind of Catholic I am and how I teach the students each day about their faith. I love the "best version of ourselves" and think of it often. I know that the Lord puts challenges in our lives each day and I wonder how people are able to cope without thinking that the Lord is right there helping each step of the way. As I mentioned earlier, it was devastating to get the news a few years ago that dad had cancer in his iver, it was advanced and that they gave him six weeks to live. We were devastated and a good friend reminded me if I change my thinking to realize that dad would soon be with the Lord that I could be more at peace with the whole situation. Dad was a firm believer in the rosary and we prayed it often as a family during the three weeks from the diagnosis to his death. Because we believe in heaven, we all stood around his bed with Fr. Cain and told him that it was OK to let go and go to God because we would take care of mom and would take care of each other. And we have kept our promise to him.
I am just not sure how I would have handle that and many other situations without the help and the faith I have in God.
Often we forget about the Bible as our helper during those tough times. But the Bible is our best source of help(medication). Often when we get bad news we turn against God but instead we need to turn towards him and use him as help during these tough times. I agree with Deanne's last comment about having God to handle situations. With God, we always have that person to talk to not matter how mad we are or what time of the night it is.
When I read the twentieth chapter, the section that discussed fear and courage made an impact on me. I thought about all of the fears I have. Thinking about some of my fears made me realize and agree that “fear has the tendency to imprison us.” Some of my fears hold me back from living life to its fullest. I like the point Kelly brought up about Jesus being a leader. He was a wonderful leader because he wanted to serve others; he was a selfless leader. I also agree with the definition of a leader that Kelly relates, “If you can inspire people to do things that are difficult, but good for them and their community, then you are a leader.”
When I read the twenty-first chapter, the part that stuck out to me was the section that discussed the importance of the Church in the world. It offers many people around the world better lives. We would be lost without the Church.
Overall, this book made me think about my faith and my life. It made me want to better myself and become a more spiritual person. As discussed in the last chapter, by living a virtuous life, we will be able to reach the ultimate goal: to become the-best-version-of-ourselves.
I would have to agree that I forget about the Bible as something that can help me in times when I am worried or scared. I often think I forget about it because it is sometimes difficult to understand. I think that is something that I need to work on - trying harder to read the Bible in times of need and working hard and asking questions to make sure I understand it.
As I read chapter 20, I marked the section about how fear is the most dominate emotion in our society, but at the same time, there are over 1,000 times that the bible has the words "be not afraid." For me, this is a sign that when I am afraid and worried, I need to turn to the bible and let God's word fill my heart and mind. Who could think that something so simple, could really have such an impact in one's life, but over and over again it has for many.
I have commented to my husband quite often how the media turns the knife in the back of Catholicism as often as possible. There are problems and issues that need to be addressed and healed, but what faith doesn't have problems? The Catholic church has been around for 2,000 years and I think that some people are afraid of that or want to be that, and so they knock the church. Like Sandy said, where would our world be without all the good the church has done and continues to do?
Yes, we do need bold and brilliant leadership to guide us toward the great Spiritual North Star. Where are we going to find them? We cannot let the church be paralyzed by fear.
ReplyDeletePray nourishes our lives. Prayerful leaders are courageous leaders. The kind that we need in the Catholic Church. The rebuilding of the Catholic Church needs to be done in the spiritual sense by all of us.
As a Catholic School teacher it is our responsibility to teach our students as witnesses to the Gospel. Each of us is committed to living a sacramental life as an example to our students. Prayer nourishes our lives. We are each being the best-version-of-ourselves that we can possibly be at this time in our life.
As I was reading Rediscovering Catholicism it gave me a very good feeling. This book will help me think, change, and grow as I become the best-version-of-myself that I can be.
Fear- it is written about so many times! There are self help books, medicines, and groups out there for people searching. The Bible, God's word, is the only true help! This simple truth is so nice, yet so many don't know it. Hopefully we, teachers of our faith, can help others know this truth in Christ! Great book!
ReplyDelete"Be not afraid." Do I have the courage to move beyond my fear? People tend to follow and lean toward those who have courage. We need someone who has great leadership qualities, but are we looking at the right qualities for leadership or authentic qualities? If you can inspire people to do things that are difficult, but good for them and their community, then and only then can you be an authentic leader.
ReplyDeleteI had to smile at the last part when he said he had a sticky note that read "Something wonderful is about to happen!" Isn't it great to know that we have something to hope for as hope is a good thing just like dreams. They are two things that you can't buy and is one thing people cannot live without. What are you hoping for and what wonderful thing is about to happen to you?
I thought Matthew Kelly made a profound statement when he asked what the leaders of the world would do if the Catholic Church ceased to exist. We've often thought of that when people criticize and put down Catholic schools. What would happen to the public system and to taxpayers if we ceased to exist? The same really is true of the world. Who would feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked? From the way our politicians vote and allocate money, it is clear that these concerns are not high priorities on their lists. We desperately need the Catholic Church and people who are willing to be the best version of themselves they can be!
ReplyDeleteThis entire book made me think about the kind of Catholic I am and how I teach the students each day about their faith. I love the "best version of ourselves" and think of it often. I know that the Lord puts challenges in our lives each day and I wonder how people are able to cope without thinking that the Lord is right there helping each step of the way. As I mentioned earlier, it was devastating to get the news a few years ago that dad had cancer in his iver, it was advanced and that they gave him six weeks to live. We were devastated and a good friend reminded me if I change my thinking to realize that dad would soon be with the Lord that I could be more at peace with the whole situation. Dad was a firm believer in the rosary and we prayed it often as a family during the three weeks from the diagnosis to his death. Because we believe in heaven, we all stood around his bed with Fr. Cain and told him that it was OK to let go and go to God because we would take care of mom and would take care of each other. And we have kept our promise to him.
ReplyDeleteI am just not sure how I would have handle that and many other situations without the help and the faith I have in God.
Often we forget about the Bible as our helper during those tough times. But the Bible is our best source of help(medication). Often when we get bad news we turn against God but instead we need to turn towards him and use him as help during these tough times. I agree with Deanne's last comment about having God to handle situations. With God, we always have that person to talk to not matter how mad we are or what time of the night it is.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the twentieth chapter, the section that discussed fear and courage made an impact on me. I thought about all of the fears I have. Thinking about some of my fears made me realize and agree that “fear has the tendency to imprison us.” Some of my fears hold me back from living life to its fullest.
ReplyDeleteI like the point Kelly brought up about Jesus being a leader. He was a wonderful leader because he wanted to serve others; he was a selfless leader. I also agree with the definition of a leader that Kelly relates, “If you can inspire people to do things that are difficult, but good for them and their community, then you are a leader.”
When I read the twenty-first chapter, the part that stuck out to me was the section that discussed the importance of the Church in the world. It offers many people around the world better lives. We would be lost without the Church.
Overall, this book made me think about my faith and my life. It made me want to better myself and become a more spiritual person. As discussed in the last chapter, by living a virtuous life, we will be able to reach the ultimate goal: to become the-best-version-of-ourselves.
I would have to agree that I forget about the Bible as something that can help me in times when I am worried or scared. I often think I forget about it because it is sometimes difficult to understand. I think that is something that I need to work on - trying harder to read the Bible in times of need and working hard and asking questions to make sure I understand it.
ReplyDeleteAs I read chapter 20, I marked the section about how fear is the most dominate emotion in our society, but at the same time, there are over 1,000 times that the bible has the words "be not afraid." For me, this is a sign that when I am afraid and worried, I need to turn to the bible and let God's word fill my heart and mind. Who could think that something so simple, could really have such an impact in one's life, but over and over again it has for many.
ReplyDeleteI have commented to my husband quite often how the media turns the knife in the back of Catholicism as often as possible. There are problems and issues that need to be addressed and healed, but what faith doesn't have problems? The Catholic church has been around for 2,000 years and I think that some people are afraid of that or want to be that, and so they knock the church. Like Sandy said, where would our world be without all the good the church has done and continues to do?