Truth is not subjective..

On this Martin Luther King Jr day as I finish watching The Judgement at Nuremberg in which an American tribunal is called to determine the sentence of several Nazi judges and their culpability in the horrors of the Third Reich. It provides much food for thought in its question of what should men do in the face of evil and for their own survival. The fact that every human life is precious is not a disputable fact. When we quibble over the whys and wherefores of their death we are demeaning the value of their life. Martin Luther King Jr is an example of someone who chose to not go quietly when those around him were suffering. We too must take a look inside ourselves and determine what we need to do to help those around us to show the world the value that every soul intrinsically possesses. What do we do? I can only pray that we might continue to strive always to make the world a better place.        

                                                       Shalom, Nina

Let it be done onto me according to thy word...

Today we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception. I have always counted strongly on Mary's intercession and on feast days like today's I know her intercession is particularly powerful. But tonight during Mass I was reminded that while I know of her powerful intercession I need to remind myself that like Mary it is more important to surrender myself to God's will no matter what. It is only in surrendering that the purpose of my life will be fulfilled for as the Archangel Gabriel says' nothing is impossible for God.
        If you are looking for some books to give as Christmas gifts I have a few recommendations. For families there is always the classic, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, which I read every year. If someone you know has a quirky sense of humour I enjoy the book Boo Humbug by Rene Gutteridge. For the Tolkien fan check out Letters from Father Christmas which include letter written by Tolkien to his children every Christmas full of stories and pictures.
                                                       May you continue to have a blessed Advent,
                                                                                 Nina

Honesty is always the best policy

Hi all,
      I just finished a book called The Girl from the Train, by Irma Joubert. It was originally written in Afrikaans. It tells the story of Gretl and her journey from a train bound for a concentration camp to life in South Africa. Her story has many turns as she moves from a Jewish ghetto, to Poland and a convent school, and finally to Protestant South Africa. As a young girl of 6 she meets Jacob takes responsiblity for her welfare bringing her to live with his family. Eventually his family can no longer keep her and Jacob hears of South Africans looking for pure Aryan orphans to adopt. Jacob tells her to not talk about her Jewish roots, being Polish, or the Catholic religion which had become a major part of her life during her time in Poland so she would be considered for the program. Since Gretl's father was an SS Officer and she was baptized in the Protestant church so she becomes eligible for the program. This secrecy becomes an essential part of her life as she hears about the Catholic threat and the Red threat two things that would be associated with her because she was coming from Poland. All these things affect her life and relationships as her story continues.
         I would recommend this book as not only is it a good read but it is very respectful of the Catholic faith.  I was saddened to learn about the call for pure Aryan orphans as they were still clinging to the Third Reichs idea of racial purity. I also learned more about communist Poland which was something I did not know much about.  I hope you all have a good start to the Advent season.
                                                                   Have a good read,
                                                                                 Nina

I feel like Snow White...

In the early hours of this morning I woke to a little squirrel running around my room. I was able to get help from the others to take care of it and am currently washing all my sheets because the squirrel crawled across my bed. This is the third random creature I have found in my room in the last few months. First I had a bat, then a frog, and now a squirrel. So it seems I have the Snow White syndrome.
    On a side note those with ereaders or ereader apps have a couple of good books they can get for free. Several are the first in the series like, With Every Letter, by Sarah Sundin, which I have written about previously. A Cast of Stones by Patrick Carr that has several Catholic elements in the book. The Centurion's Wife, by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke, looks at early Christianity right after Christ's resurrection definitely has a protestant lean but is still good. When the Smoke Clears, by Lynette Eason a good romantic suspense novel.  Lynn Austin's book, A Candle in the Darkness, about the southerner who joins the abolitionist movement during the Civil War. Janette Oke's book, Once Upon a Summer, the first in the seasons of the heart series is also free. Beverly Lewis also offers The Thorn, the first book the Rose Trilogy for free.
                                                                      Have a good read, Nina

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."George Santayana
     I know it has been quite some time since I last wrote and today I want to share a good book that I recently read.
               Maggie Bright, by Tracy Groot gives a bit of history lesson about Dunkirk with a lots of intrigue with a little bit of romance. The story follows Murray Vance, Jamie Elliot, Clare Childs, and William Percy as their lives intersect around a boat named Maggie Bright and a secret package that could shed light on Nazi plans for racial cleansing. This book is currently available as an ebook for $2.99. I would highly recommend it as I could not put it down after I started it.
                                                              Have a good read,
                                                                             Nina

For such a time as this...

Today, all over the world Jewish people will celebrate the feast of Purim in honor of Haman's plot against the Jewish people being foiled by Esther. Reading over the book of Esther this morning I came across a particular passage in which Esther is telling Mordecai the dangers she would be facing by approaching the King uninvited. Mordecai in response says "For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a times as this?' (Esther 13:14).  I had never noticed before Mordecai's assurance that God would rescue the Jewish people regardless of what Esther did but if she did not her family's name would be erased. For the Jewish people the continuation of family and a name with the death of a family name there is no one left to remember it and it disappears from the Earth.  This passage also reminds me that I have been placed on this Earth at this time and place for a reason.  My faith journey must include me seeking God's will in where I am right now and not just in the future.
                                                                              Have a Happy Purim,
                                                                                                   Nina

Happy Ash Wednesday!!

Happy Ash Wednesday to you all. It is the start of another Lenten season. I always find it amazing how the Ash Wednesday fast always brings my attention to food and how I treat it. I am not a regular eater and often I might eat less then what the Lenten fast requires yet today I am constantly craving food and have a strong desire to eat. Yet I will survive on this little food and be thankful for every bite.
   In addition, today I would like to talk about the monthly magazine the Magnificat which includes all the daily readings as well as essays on the readings and other appropriate topics.  I have found it very helpful in my faith life and would highly recommend it.
                                                           Have a great and prayerful day,
                                                                                        Nina