Vacation Reads

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A Home in Drayton Valley by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13 4- 7

       Love is the central message in, A Home in Drayton Valley, by Kim Vogel Sawyer. In an effort to help a dying friend Tarsie marries her friends widower in order to provide a loving presence in their lives. Her friend Mary had confided in Tarsie about her husband Joss’ abusive upbringing and her lifelong goal of showing her husband God’s love through her love and care of him. In her effort to follow her friend’s request she travels with Joss and the kids to Drayton Valley, Kansas where she witnesses the struggles of the African American community, the birth of prohibition, the power of love, and the wonder of God’s plan. I have read many of Sawyer’s books but this is the first one of her books that I wanted to read all the way through and not skip to the end.

    

 A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller also has an marriage of convenience at the center of its story. In an attempt to keep his children from being taken away from him Joshua marries Ingrid. Joshua and Ingrid have not only contend with being married without knowing each other but also with the circumstances of Joshua’s wife’s death and legacy, a veil of secrets. One learns that Diantha, Joshua’s wife, suffered from depression; a disease that continued to affect all of them even after her death. Amidst corruption and fire both Joshua and Ingrid learn how the truth can set one free.  I hope you have a blessed Advent and a Merry Christmas.

                         Have a good read, Nina

Murder in the Vatican...

If you like Sherlock Holmes, the Pope and a good murder mystery pick up Ann Margaret Lewis’ Murder in the Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes.

 The three stories written by Ann Margaret Lewis are based on mysteries that are actually mentioned in the original stories.  These stories of course have a distinctive Catholic flavor.  Leo XIII, who was the pontiff at the time, is very involved in these stories.  Pope Leo XIII, of course, is also the one who penned the St Michael prayer and prays it at Mass in the beginning of the first story. 

           These stories also bring to light some of the history of the persecution of the Catholic Church not only in England but also in Italy. The interplay of faith and reason is also touched on by Leo XIII, in his discussions with Sherlock, as Sherlock tries to solve the case. We also get to meet a young Fr. Brown prior to his ordination. When you meet him he is writing his thesis on the “role of habitual sin” in development of criminals. Have a happy Advent and a Merry Christmas

                                

                    Happy reading, Nina

With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin

      With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin tells the story of two people who exchange anonymous letters during WWII. Philomela Blake a flight nurse and Tom MacGilliver an engineer 908th Engineer Brigade both have backgrounds that prevent both of them from finding true friendship with others.  In many ways in today's world of electronic and social network we can develop these kinds of friendships, hiding behind the mask of the internet. But what one finds  as both Philomela and Tom open up more to each other and to those around them we see how God can use who they really are to reach their true potential and find joy in this life. To me this a reminder that the devil wants us to not trust God's craftsmanship. Because, God can only use us when we trust that He made no mistakes when He created each of us in our own unique way to mirror His image and likeness.
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       A couple of years ago I was given this poem called Paint Brush by Bettie B Youngs that describes this universal need to protect ourselves behind a veneer.
                                                    Paint Brush
                                     I keep my paint brush with
                                          wherever I may go,
                                     in case I need to cover up,
                                    So the real me doesn't show.
                
                                  I'm so afraid to show you me,
                                      afraid of what you'll do,
                           that you may laugh or say mean things,
                                 I'm afraid I might lose you.
                             I'd like to remove all my paint coats
                              to show you the real, true me,
                         But I want you to try and understand,
                             I need you to accept what you see.

                           So if you'll be patient and close your eyes,
                              I'll strip off all my coats real slow.
                            Please understand how much it hurts
                                  to let the real me show.
                              Now my coats are all stripped off,
                               I feel naked, bare and cold.
                           And if you still love me with all that you see,
                               you are my friend, pure as gold.
     
                           I need to save my paint brush, though,
                                   and hold it in my hand.
                                 I want to keep it handy
                           in case somebody does not understand.

                           So please protect me, my dear friend
                                 and thanks for loving me true.
                           But please let me keep my paint brush with me
                                    Until I love me too.

            
If you like old movies you might want to check out " The Shop around the Corner" with Jimmy Stewart. The idea to write anonymous letters in the book With Every Letter comes to one of the characters due to watching this movie. If you have an e-reader you might want to check out these free  e-books;  Gentleman  of Her Dreams by Jen Turano; Flame of Resistance by Tracey Groot; The Widow of Larkspur Inn by Lawana Blackwell; When Call the Heart by Janette Oke; Secrets by Kristen Heitzmann; and many more.Whether you have a nook, kindle or other e-reader search on the store you use to buy your e-books to download these books for free. Hurry because you never know when they stop being free.
                                               Have a good read, Nina
                        

An Allergorical Outlook

Allegory is defined in the dictionary as a "representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another"http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/allegory
     I ran across the book Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin recently and started reading it. What hit me right away was, when Temple described how her brain made sense of the world by "thinking in pictures" that I tend to look at the world as one large allegory.  I look for the traces of God in whatever I see, read, or experience looking for that deeper meaning.  I believe that is why some of my all time favorite books are fantasy and sci fi because it in looking past that fantasy that one can see the mechanism of truth and justice working themselves out as God has designed them to do. In fantasy and fairy tales we are able to step out of ourselves and put ourselves in situations that we do not find in the real world. Yet in them, is a precursor of what God us up to in our lives and in the world. We might not fight dragons or destroy the ring of power yet we fight against sin, relativism, and all the evil in the world that are wearing the disguise of freedom and modern day "knowledge".  But as Catholics we know that there is an actual happy ending, when good will triumph over evil and what God has planned for us is beyond even our greatest imaginings. I encourage you to read "Thinking in Pictures" by Temple Grandin or at least see the movie, which was excellent. Then think about how you yourself try to make sense of the world and how God has placed that in you to bring another unique outlook on the world God we live in.
                                                         Have a good read, Nina

Forgiveness

My prayers go out to the victims and the families of the victims of the horrific shooting in Colorado this last week. At the same time I feel a burden to pray for the shooter,  James Holmes. That he feel remorse for what he has done and the desire to seek God's mercy and forgiveness. I know that just as  every time I have sinned against God no matter how big and small the sorrow that overtakes God's heart is just as great. If I expect God to forgive me my sins how can I not hope for that same grace for others, no matter what they have done.
          This notion of no ones sin being unforgivable( except of course the sin against the Holy Spirit) is a theme in Tracy Groot's novel, The Flame of Resistance. Brigitte, a Germans only prostitute, experiences the hatred and disgust of others in her French town and even from those who are by no means saints themselves. Even her "customers" look down on her because of her occupation. It is only through the mercy and compassion of a few and her involvement with the resistance during WWII that she not only discovers her own worth in God's eyes, but also breaks free of prostitution. This admonition to hate the sin not the sinner is something I know I need to work on myself. Casting Crown's has new song out called Jesus Friend of Sinners also deals with this issue and is one of my new favorites to listen too.
                                          Have a good read, Nina

A movie for Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all dads, grandfathers, godfathers, and priests. The movie Courageous deals with the role of fathers and what God requires of them. It is the best movie so far by the company who brought us Fire Proof and Facing the Giants. If you have not seen it, rent it to watch with your father as you celebrate him today.
Have a blessed day, Nina

Recent Reads

Two books that I have read recently that I really enjoyed were Trauma Plan by Candace Calvert and Cherished by Kimberly Cash Tate.  Trauma Plan is the first in a new series and I liked it a lot better than her previous series as it focuses more on the characters as well as a mystery surrounding the daily events that begs to be solved. Cherished focuses on two women who have had a lot of anguish in their lives that can be traced to mistakes they made in their search for love that only God can provide. It also reminds me of the movie 16 Blocks. it carries the same message that people can change with the added benefit of God's mercy and our need to forgive others. It is a constant reminder that no sin is bigger than others and we all need God's mercy. That is why I really like being a Catholic, the sacrament of confession. We experience God's mercy in a tangible way in this sacrament.
                                  Enjoy the summer and have a good read, Nina

A biker who does needlepoint, a frusturated pastor's wife, a stubborn Amish widow...

The Half Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda Brunstetter was a fun read about a diverse group of people who join a quilting class taught by Emma Yoder. While Wanda is known for her Amish Fiction this book focuses more on our relationships with others and God. It is the character's lives and their struggles in their regular that draw the reader in. The only thing all these people have in common is the fact they are learning to quilt. But just as a quilt is stitched together their lives are quilted together by God as they are made stronger by sharing experiences and compassion. I really enjoyed this book it made me laugh, mourn, and cheer on the club's participants.
                                                     Have a great read, Nina

Submerged

Submerged by Dani Pettrey was a fun read. I learned more about Russia's presence in Alaska of which I was only peripherally aware of. Great suspense with a little romance and a couple of story lines which promise to be fulfilled in future books in the series. The main story surrounds a lost icon, a downed plane, and the subject of God's mercy. After reading the book which touches a little bit on the Russian orthodox church and icons I am reminded of the Blessed John Pau ll's comment on how the Eastern Rite Church and the Roman Rite Church our two different longs the Church uses to breath. How both have rites and traditions are integral to our understanding of God. There are some Eastern Rite Churches that are under the authority of the Pope including some Byzantine Rite churches were you receive Christ in leavened bread. Kiss an Icon of either Jesus or Mary upon entrance and confess your sins to a priest while looking at an Icon of Jesus. I was blessed to attend a couple of Masses in the Byzantine Rite a couple of years ago and I would like to go back some time. Be sure to learn more about the traditions in the Byzantine rite and about the "writing" of icons both fascinating subjects and very interesting for a Catholic who wants to learn about Church history and theology.
                          Have a good read, Nina

Why I like crime tv shows

Hello all, I know it has been a long time since I last wrote. I have been busy with many things happening within my family. As you can tell from the topic of the post I like crime tv shows. Not all of them of course but I watch NCIS, Person of Interest, Castle, Body of Proof and a few others. I know that there are some not so great elements to many of these tv shows but what I like most of all about these kind of shows is the whole good versus evil and the fact that justice is done. Also the fact that they treat the victim even in death as not just a corpse but, a human being, with dignity. I know that real crime and murder is not so neatly packaged up and it is something that is truly horrible but solved but for me this fictional world of the crime show we have an inkling of what God will do in the end when all of our questions will be answered and justice will be done.

"Death is only a comma between life, and the afterlife" (a quote from the movie "Wit" with Emma Thompson, great movie by the way)
Nina

Past Suspicion

Past Suspicion by Therese Heckenkamp was a very enjoyable read. The main character, Robin,an almost 18 year old girl finds herself wrapped up in a mystery in her mother's previously unknown hometown of Lorens, WI. A suspicious death, a lost treasure map, and the intentions of two young men lend themselves to create a great story. The book opens up with the event that holds the key to solving the whole mystery. What caused Robin's mother Tiffany to flee town? Why did her mother keep such a close eye on her daughter? Who can Robin trust Phillip or Justin? This and more is answered in the book as she searches for these answers and tries to figure out a way to live life with wisdom and not fear. You can find her book at Publish America. If you are looking for good book with a Catholic dimension please buy this book. Over the past few years I have read a variety of books by Catholic authors and have liked some but been disappointed by others but Past Suspicion is one of the books I highly recommend if your are looking for a young adult mystery.
Have a good read, Nina

"For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it our few..."

This verse from the book of Matthew 7: 14 to me represents one of the main messages in The Realms ThereUnder by Ross Lawhead. The two main characters our Freya and Daniel who we see go through two different adventures spanning both the past and present as they are drawn into a battle underground whose evil offspring cause problems on Earth. Now this book is full of legends, monsters, and faerie folk and therefore is not without its violence and evil.

Freya and Daniel represent two common human responses to God's will. Freya does not wish to be involved in the adventure and is reluctantly drawn along. Daniel who sees the adventure as finding his purpose in his life goes full steam ahead and sometimes needs Freya's timidity to draw him back. It is the bringing to gather of these two very different characters that God's will is accomplished despite their human flaws. One of the things I liked best about this book is that it was never quite clear how everything fit together until the end of book. Since this is the start of a trilogy I will have to wait for the next book to come out.

Have a good read, Nina

Forgiveness

During the seasons of Lent and Easter we see many examples of forgivness from the thief on the cross to St Peter. In opposition we have Judas Iscariot who despaired and took his own life instead of seeking and excepting God's forgiveness. In the novel, The Harvest of Grace, Cindy Woodsmall explores the necessesty of not only seeking forgiveness of God and others one must also forgive one's enemies and oneself. Sylvia Fisher finds herself in the same place as Judas not willing to accept God's forgiveness for a sin she thinks is so great that not even God can forgive her and she closes herself off to God's grace. Cara also finds herself in need of forgiving her father for his abandonment and protection when she needed it most. The resolution of these two stories follow these two women as they struggle with God's grace until they allow Him to work in them and there is a "harvest of a grace".
Have a good read, Nina

A Seminarian in the SS

While this seem like an impossibility this is part of story Fr Gereon Goldmann. In The Shadow of His Wings Fr Gereon tells the story of how he survived, thrived, and shared his faith in Hitler's Army during WWII. Fr Gereon credits this to God's grace, prayer, the sacraments, and the prayers of Sister Solana May and her community of sisters. Fr Gereon was one of many seminarians who were drafted into the German army and among those who were fellow seminarians of Gereon's only one lost his faith. Now Gereon had only finished his philosphical studies when he was drafted into the SS yet through the prayers of Sister Solana May he ended up being ordained during wartime and his work as a priest brought many souls back to the Catholic Faith of their childhood. Even some ferverent Nazi's reverted back to their faith. His story has many more suprises and I suggest you read the book to get his whole story which include meetings with Himmler, a near execution, and his involvment with the plot so assinate Hitler.

Have a good read, Nina

St Joseph's Feast Day

On St Joseph's Feast Day today I am reminded of the gift of faith and God's grace. When Mary is greeted by the angel Gabriel who told her she was full of grace. While St Joseph was told by an angel to not be afraid. He is not told like Mary that God's with him or that he is full of grace. All we are told is that "he was a righteous man". In some ways St Joseph is the most like us in the fact that he was not born without sin, like his wife Mary and he is not fully God and fully man. like his adopted son Christ. He was a lot like us. He had an important part to play in the plan of salvation. It was through him that Christ came to be in house of David, he protected Mary and Joseph from Herod's murderous rage. Without him Mary could have been stoned to death as she was pregnant out of wedlock. In addition, Mary and Jesus needed the protection and care of a man while, Jesus was growing up. In many ways the gift of faith and grace is displayed in St Joseph in the way it can be displayed in our lives. We might not acutally do much of note in our lives but, if we follow God's will our little acts of faith can be woven into the divine plan in ways we can never imagine.
Have a blessed day, Nina

Happy St Patrick's Day

Happy St Patrick's Day I hope you are enjoying this lovely feast day. While most people focus on the Irish side of St Patrick's Day he was quite a biblical scholar. During my senior year of high school I read St Patrick's Confessio in my Latin class. I remember being surprised at his use of scripture which is sprinkled liberally throughout his writings. While he never mentioned the book chapter and verse it was readily apparent that he viewed everything through the lens of the Scriptures and explained many things through scriptural references . I was luckily able to buy it as an ebook today so I can reacquaint myself with this great Saint.
Another book that is great for reading on St Patrick's Day is called The Secret of the Ruby Ring by Yvonne MacGrory it's a book I received as a child and I occasionally reread it. It is about a young Irish girl named Lucy who receives a ruby ring from her grandmother on her eleventh birthday. she finds out that night that it will grant two wishes and Lucy being the eleven year old she is wishes for a bigger house and the next this she knows she wakes up in 1885 and and finds herself a servant at a "big house". Lucy of course looses the ring accidentally and the fun that ensues helps her to grow up a little and appreciate the life she had.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

-Nina
Don't forget the Feast Day of St Joseph on Monday. He is the patron saint of fathers and is also known for his intercession on behalf of those seeking work.

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

People always talk about how you do not know what someone elses life is like until you walk a mile in their shoes. That is what Margaret Macy discovers as she is forced to become a maid in order to support herself until she reaches her majority. In The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen Margaret Macy is thrust into a position which gives her a different view of life from belowstairs. This gives her an appreciation for her previous servants as well as a former suitor she rejected. Add a pirate, an evil stepfather, and a bit of romance and you get a great story.
Have a good read, Nina

Movies with a message

This past year has been a boon of good Christian and Catholic movies such as There Be Dragons, The Mighty Macs, Of Gods and Men, The Way, and Courageous. The only movie I have not seen so far is The Might Macs. If you have not seen any of these yet go to your local redbox or Netflix and rent these movies we need to show Hollywood there is a market for these faith based films. Due to the nature of There Be Dragons, Of Gods and Men, and The Way these films should only be watched by mature audiences.
Two other movies I would like to recommend are Gran Torino and 16 Blocks two movies that have come out in the last few years while not stricly faith based have a message of redemption and change of heart that is appropriate for this season of Lent. Again both of these are rated R for violence and language but at least for me watching these movies with their pieces of truth gave me joy and peace.
May God watch your comings and your goings, Nina

Starlighter by Bryan Davis

"You will recognize love when you see someone sacrificing himself for the sake of a pauper".
Starlighter is the first book in a series by Bryan Davis called The Dragons of Starlight it follows three main characters, Jason, Koren, Elyssa,on two different planets connected by a secret passage. The planets of Starlight and Major 4. Both planets suffer under different types of oppression: slavery and a controlling government. Jason and Elyssa are trying to get over to Starlight to save, "the lost ones," humans who were enslaved by dragons long ago and brought to Starlight. They have to do this while running from their own government who consider it treason to mention "the gateway" to the dragon planet.
All three characters are fighting against overwhelming odds only hanging onto what they know is right. There only guide being a book entitled, the Code,which has been banned on both planets. The story is about bravery and self sacrifice in the face of great danger and certain death. If you like fantasy and scifi you will like this book.
Have a good read, Nina
click on like to watch an amusing youtube video

Save the Date by Jenny B Jones

Lucy Wiltshire, has one desire, to save, Saving Grace, a home for girls who have aged out of the foster care system and still need help. In Save the Date Lucy is the modern geek girl who participates a bimonthly group called the Hobbits. This aptly named groups watches everything from Lord of the Rings to Doctor Who. But in order to save the home she runs she is willing to play the girlfriend/ fiance to Alex Sinclair who is running for Congress. While both worthy goals the deception they both have to practice wreaks havoc on their lives and hearts.

I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Lucy Wiltshire as her love of all things scifi and fantasy mimics mine. Such aspects as the Star Wars theme playing during the proposal scene will please scifi lovers. Other themes found in this book include the message of self worth, and trusting God and not, man's machinations. This is great chick lit book with some beautiful gems of wisdom thrown in.
Have a good read, Nina

Silence by Shusaku Endo

Silence by Shusaku Endo asks the age old question, "Why does God let us suffer?". Silence follows two young priests Fr. Sebastião Rodrigues and Fr. Francisco Garrpe who journey to Japan in response to the story that their mentor, Fr. Cristovao Ferreira, had apostatized. Their journey takes nearly two years and is inhibited by the fact that Christianity has been outlawed and certain countries such as Portugal were therefore, forbidden to trade with Japan. Once there they depend on a Japanese man named Kichijiro to lead them to the Christians.

The faithful Christian waiting them in Japan our mostly found among the peasants whose desire for the sacraments and leadership of priests is great. The villagers lives are always under threat due to the governments persecution of the Christians and eventually the little village where the priests were working was informed on and from the three hostages that were taken one, Kichijiro apostatized. On the other hand Ichizo and Mokichi two of leaders of the church in that village suffer martyrdom while the priests look on. This event causes the priests to go off in two directions because the villagers are afraid and because they are the only two priests on the island they want to make it harder for the government find both of them. Their journeys eventually lead them to the choice, martyrdom or apostatize? Always before them is the martyrdom of Ichizo and Mokichi and the bravery of other Christian they have met on their journey through Japan. Their answer to this question reveals many truths. Kichijiro also continues to pop up in the book as he goes through a cycle of apostatizing and seeking forgiveness from Fr. Rodrigues. Kichijiro asks the priest, "why would God put a man as weak as him through this persecution when he would have happily been a Christian is whole life if he was never tortured"? Could we undergo such persecution and remain true to our faith? This is a question we will get to answer over the next few years as our consciences our being targeted by the health care bill. The message in the book is clear, God is never silent, we just need to keep listening.

I highly recommend this book as reading during this Lenten season as we seek to grow closer to God.

Have a good read and blessed Lent, Nina

Let Them Eat Cake!!

Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd is the first book in a series called the French Twist series. It will delight your tongue as well as tickle your sense of humor. You definitely have to read it with a eclair, tiramisu, or other french inspired pastry and your favorite coffee drink. Its protagonist Lexi Stuart is in the position many young people find themselves in today searching for God's will and a living wage. There are also some great recipes to try, including my favorite, "let them eat simply divine coconut cake".
Have a good read, Nina

Whatever is true...

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8

Although I like suspense, action, and books about war I have read a few "Christian" books recently that I feel have too much violence in them such as The Pawn, by Steven James. He opens the book with a gruesome murder which I felt could have been described in far less detail. I know there is evil in the world but an intimate understanding of it is not necessary especially, in "Christian" fiction. For once we get it into our minds it is something that one cannot remove.

When reading a book or watching a movie I think one needs to determine if things such as violence are not gratuitous but only what is necessary to get the point across. I much prefer Agatha Christie and many her contemporary authors way of dealing with evil. The focus of the story would be on solving the crime and not how it was committed. I believe that we do have to be able to recognize evil but we do not have to experience it ourselves. Just like Adam and Eve in the garden where the devil tempted them to eat of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Choosing to allow evil in our mind shows that we do not trust God to know what is good for us. We believe that we should have choice to decide.

On a much lighter note I would recommend The Matchmaker series by Kaye Dacus. It is cute chick-lit that focus's three friends and their grandparents search for their perfect match. There is one interesting note in the second book in the series The Art of Romance which has one of the main characters wondering about how the Roman Catholic Church would allow nudity in the paintings of artists such as Titian. I guess they are not familiar with Theology of the Body

Have a good read, Nina

Serendipity: "An aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident"

Serendipity: "An aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/serendipity

With Valentine's Day still a recent memory I thought it would be a good time to talk about what a real relationship requires. In Cathy Marie Hake's book, Serendipity, its two main characters, Todd and Maggie who marry a short time after meeting, learn through various troubles and scrapes the meaning of a God centered marriage. Their troubles range from personality quirks to cultural differences and a difficult mother-in-law. It also puts a different meaning to the word, serendipity, because with God, there is no accidents.

I also, saw The Vow yesterday alongside lots of couples holding hands and sharing popcorn. It was an interesting movie, it could have been better if it stayed true to the actual events that inspired it. There was also a lot of focus on the more physical aspects of their relationship and with any movies these days several scenes that could have gotten rid of. The positive aspects of the movie were embodied in Leo Collin's treatment of his wife after their accident. His focus on her well being and happiness is sharply juxtaposed by her parents and former fiance's relationship with Paige Collin's. If you want to get the story behind the movie read The Vow, by Kim and Krickitt Carpenter with Dana Wilkerson. The actual story shows how their faith played a vital part in their story.

Have a good read, Nina

Temple of the Holy Spirit

I have been watching the show Once upon a Time since it began and while there are definitely some things I would like to change about the show it was last nights episode that made me turn the show off. Two of the main protaganists Snow White and Prince James who are in the happily never after world of ours and have been separated from each other be an evil queen who does not wish either of them happiness. Prince James character in our world is married to another woman. And while Snow White's and Prince James's characters have respected the institution of marriage they have now chosen to disregard moral law in face of their own pleasure and search for "true love".
This concept of "true love" as promoted on the show follows what today's culture believes that relationships should always give pleasure and should be easy. Then when it stops being easy you leave and go find someone to make you happy. This is a sad reality and it made me cringe on the inside to see relatively "good people" make immoral decisions even if it is on a tv show. As Christian we realize that love is work and if we choose to follow Christ's example it leads to dying to ourselves and offering ourselves up for love of others.

In these past few weeks I was again reminded that my body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit and I need to be careful what I watch, and listen to because if I allow immoral thoughts and ideas to enter my head even if they are something I would never do, I am encouraging evil, and offending the Holy Spirit. I know this saying is so over used sometimes it feels trite but next time you pick up a book, listen to a song, or watch a tv show ask yourself if you would be comfortable watching it with Christ next to you.
Shalom, Nina
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

Choose your own adventure....

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Mathew 10:28
Poor Banished Children by Fiorella de Maria tells the story of a tortured soul, named Ursula. Her life is a circle of loss, despair, and hope. Disowned from her family, captured by slavers, forced into prostitution, and a choice between self-sacrifice or the weight of others suffering. The choice between right and wrong ever before her. She has only a few years of education and religious training to prepare her for this life of turmoil.
Her story is not a comfortable story. Her choices are not always the right one's. They do beg the question, what would you do in her position? I highly recommend this book as not only a good read but thought provoking and solid Catholic book.

Shalom, Nina