Happy New Year 2010 ( Joy & Optimism of St. John Bosco)

As the year begins, I wish everyone conservative and liberals alike to fill their hearts with joy and optimism.  "Let nothing bother you,"  St. John Bosco used to say.  The Salesian Spirituality focuses in God's Providence and refuses to be discouraged by hardships and set backs.  It is also based on St. Francis de Sales optimistic humanism that believes in the innate goodness of people without ignoring his weaknesses.  As St. Paul exhorts, "Rejoice in the Lord always" (Phil 4:4) because the "fruit of God's spirit is love, joy, peace..."( Gal 5:22 ) and this is the foundation of our hope.

video: 16 & pregnant

Documentary on teen pregnancy.  All the episodes are in YouTube. Here's the trailer.  'nuf said.

















source for trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLiXS02Mj7U or click here

Best episode click here or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzCSckoIWuI
Content: Soon-to-be teen parents, Catelynn and Tyler, think adoption is best for their baby, but question if they'll be strong enough to let go.




Get all the episodes here or type http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mtv+16+and+pregnant+full+episodes&search_type=&aq=2&oq=mtv+16

How to Overcome Procastination

Fix the root cause:

1. Procrastination due to dislike of an activity

If you procrastinate because you don’t like a task, look for ways to increase task appeal such as:

• Make it into a game, and keep score.
• Make it into a game, competing with others.
• Listen to upbeat music while doing it.  Schedule a reward immediately after you complete it.

2. Procrastination due to overwhelm
If you’re avoiding a task because it is lengthy and overwhelming, then “divide and conquer”:

• Break the large task into separate, short-term segments.
• Then check off each segment as an accomplished short-term task.

 3. Procrastination due to inertia
If you procrastinate because you have difficulty initiating a task, create something to react to. Tasks that can be reacted to are easier to begin than those that you must initiate yourself.

• Work on the task with others – then you can react to their questions, emails, etc.
• Establish a deadline with your supervisor.

 4. Procrastination due to lack of organization
Sometimes we procrastinate on beginning a large project because we haven’t organized the task and don’t know where to start. If you can’t seem to get a project organized:

• Think through the task.
• Talk with your supervisor or collaborators to plan it.
• Break the larger task into do-able segments.
• Create a list of resources and supplies needed to accomplish the task. 
• Create a timeline for the task.
• Then schedule the first segment of the task.
• Create an email or text reminder for this segment.

 5. Procrastination on difficult tasks
Not all tasks can be made easy, but if you find a task particularly difficult, you must analyze how it can become easier.

• Do you need help?
• More training?
• More practice?
• More assistance from other?
• Analyze what is making the task so difficult, and then get the help you need to succeed.

 6. Procrastination at certain times of day
More challenging tasks should be done at whatever time of day you seem to feel more focused and energetic. Take note of your daily rhythms, and then try to schedule the most avoided tasks for the time of day when you’ll have more energy to tackle them.

from http://skoach.com/blog/6-ways-to-combat-procrastination.html?utm_source=Constant&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL30Dec09

It's really Christmas for 12 days and the symbols in that song.

In the Catholic Church, the Christmas season starts on the evening before Christmas Day and lasts until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - celebrated on the Sunday after the Feast of the Ephany (January 6th).

This is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus hence the song "Twelve Days of Christmas".  The gifts are symbolic as follows:

A Partridge in a Pear Tree: Jesus Christ
Two Turtle Doves: The Old and New Testaments
Three French Hens: The Theological Virtues (Faith, Hope, and Charity)
Four Calling Birds: The Four Gospels / The Four Evangelists
Five Golden Rings: The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”
Six Geese a-Laying: The Six Days of Creation
Seven Swans a-Swimming: The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit or the Seven Sacraments
Eight Maids a-Milking: The Eight Beatitudes
Nine Ladies Dancing: The Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Ten Lords a-Leaping: The Ten Commandments
Eleven Pipers Piping: The Eleven Faithful Apostles
Twelve Drummers Drumming: The Twelve Points of Doctrine in the Apostle's Creed



H/T to A Roman Catholic Cop

Video: Rick Warren on Obama, Jobs, Healthcare, Abortion, Holocaust

Rick Warren discusses Obama's responsibility and the current challenges in America today.


source http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=1c9822d6706c63a33256
Excerpts:
I am neither left nor right wing; I am for the whole bird - America.
What stewardship of influence is for those without a voice.
Any 16 year old boy who bought a condom knows when life begins.
46 million Americans are not here; that's a holocaust.
I am not pro-life; I am whole life. We need to expand the agenda after the child is born.

(updated) Terrorist peed on the fuse; Bullies and wuss; Getting ready to die in DC

Underwear terrorist peed on the fuse.

I think the underwear terrorist could have done a lot of damage if his bomb worked.  He must have peed on the fuse.  But now I see posts blaming Bush for that.  While Bush was in office, nothing of the sort happened since 9/11;  and the man has been away for a year now.  So, how can he or his administration be responsible for this?  Oh and get this, Janet Napolitano said that "The system worked."  I don't think it was the system that caused the wardrobe  malfunction.  So, I beg to differ.

Bullies Respect Only Power.

Character and personality studies have determined that the aggressive type understand and respect courage and power.  A bully will stop pushing  someone around only if he knows that he can and will be pushed back.  He does not respond to the nice guy approach because he thinks that is acquiescence and cowardice.  Would there still be an Israel today if they apologized to their neighbors and bowed to every sovereign king around them?

Exercise for a Happy Death

St. John Bosco had this practice with his students.  It consisted of a monthly recollection of the 4 last things:  Death, Judgment, Heaven & Hell and the sacrament of confession.  Death, than which nothing is more certain; Judgement, than which nothing is more strict; Hell, than which nothing is more horrible; and Heaven, than which nothing is more beautiful!"  The idea is to be ready to die anytime.  Back in the 19th century, death was more common than today.  Living in the outskirts of the nations capital, I somehow feel the need to get ready now more than ever.

Update:

Israeli Airport Security Screens:
It's good, cheap & fast.
Relatively low tech but high touch (not what you think)
Details here:  http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/744426--what-israel-can-teach-us-about-security

Recommendations Given By St. John Bosco To His First Missionaries (Still good & applicable to military & public servants too)

St. John Bosco (front row 2nd left) with his first missionaries

Winning hearts and minds

One in heart and soul

Recommendations Given By St. John Bosco To His First Missionaries

1.        Seek souls and not money, honor or dignities.

2.       Be charitable and most courteous towards all, but avoid conversations and familiarity with persons of the other sex or with persons whose conduct is open to suspicion.

3.       Do not go visiting, except for motives of charity or necessity.

4.       Do not accept invitations to dinner, except for very grave reasons.  In such cases arrange for a confrere to accompany you.

5.       Take special care of the sick, of the young, of the old and of the poor; and you will win the blessing of God and the goodwill of men.

6.       Show respect towards all persons in authority whether civil or religious.

7.       On meeting a person in authority, take care to salute him with due respect.

8.       Do the same towards ecclesiastics and persons belonging to religious institutes.

9.       Shun idleness and disputes, and observe great moderation in eating, drinking and sleeping.

10.   Love, reverence and respect other religious orders and always speak well of them.  In this way you will be esteemed by all, and will promote the good of our congregation.

11.   Take care of your health.  Work well, but only do as much as your strength will allow.

12.   Let the world know that you are poor in clothing, food and abode, and you will be rich in the sight of God, and will win the hearts of men.

13.   Love one another, advise one another, correct one another, and do not be carried away be either envy or rancor.  Let the good of one become the good of all, and let the troubles and sufferings of one be regarded as the troubles and sufferings of all, and let each one strive to banish or at least to mitigate the sorrows of others.

14.   Observe your rules, and never forget the monthly Exercise for a Happy Death.

15.   Every morning commend to God the occupations of the day, especially lessons, religious instructions and sermons.

16.   Constantly promote devotion to Mary Help of Christians, and to the Blessed Sacrament.

17.   Recommend to the boys frequent confessions and communion.

18.   In order to cultivate ecclesiastical vocations, constantly inculcate: (a) love of chastity; (b) horror of the opposite vice; (c) avoidance of bad companions; and (d) frequent communion.  Always be charitable, gentle and kindly towards the boys.

19.   Hear both sides before making up your mind regarding reports and matters in dispute.

20.   In time of fatigue and suffering do not forget that we have a great reward prepared for us in heaven.  Amen