Now That Is Good News!

Scott Nehring, of Nehring the Edge, has begun another blog, Good News Film Reviews: Discerning Christian Reviews. Take a look at his first articles, especially " The G-Rated Christian: Does God Call For Us to Become Ned Flanders? PART 1."

A Couple of Weekend Picks

World Trade Center (Widescreen Edition)
I was going for the patriotic build-up to the 4th of July with this movie last night. Ultimately it will remind you of the courage and goodness deep within the ordinary man, shown in the stalwart love of the husbands and wives for each other, the determination of the rescuers, and in support of the two trapped Port Authority partners for each other. You don't leave this necessarily uplifted as it takes you right back to those dreadful days but it does remind us that love for our country and our countrymen is more than skin deep and a wave of emotion. Highly Recommended. ****

The Book of Jane by Anne Dayton and Mary Vanderbilt
Light and fluffy, this is a retelling of the Book of Job as chick lit. Yep. You heard me. And you're right. It goes skin deep and no further. However, that doesn't mean it isn't an entertaining book. Jane Williams has a glamorous job in NYC, a perfect boyfriend, loving parents and friends, and a much loved dog. She thanks God for her many blessings and then is put to the test of whether she will still be thankful when all these things seemingly vanish as she realized that very little is as it seemed. The parallels to the Book of Job are tenuous once the book is halfway through as Jane's trials seem to dissipate very quickly. However, she does look at the world through new eyes, trying to apply the lessons she's learned. It would be nice if the Christian aspect went a bit deeper than a declared love for God with the occasional prayer of thanks and reference to going to church with the boyfriend, but those are more than you get from most books of this genre so we won't go for perfection on this round. Altogether an enjoyable book and one that won't embarrass you if others pick it up, which can't be said for all chick lit. I actually am going to check the library for the authors' other two books, "Emily Ever After" and "Consider Lily" as these make nice contrasts for all the heavier reading I have been doing lately. Recommended for easy summer reading. ***

Ratatouille Wins Over Even a Restaurant Critic's Heart

Was that chervil Remy was about to toss into the soup?

While a theater full of young kids giggled along with the slapstick hijinks of Ratatouille's animated rodent hero at a recent screening, I sat agog at the film's painstaking re-creations of culinary minutiae.

It wasn't just parsley in Remy's paws. It was, indeed, chervil, the less common herb with smaller leaves whose delicate flavor is ideal for exactly the sort of creamy potage Remy was scurrying to concoct. And he wasn't merely readying to hurl the sprig into the pot. He had crushed it, a technique used to release the herb's aromatic oils and more quickly absorb its flavor into the soup.

Boy, that's specific. But it illustrates the kinds of pains through which Pixar went to accurately mimic Ratatouille's world of French restaurants. And as someone who has spent most of his professional life either working in restaurants or reviewing them, I was mighty impressed. ...

Dallas Morning News

I have to say that I was impressed to see that the Dallas Morning News sent not only their movie critic but a restaurant critic as well to see Ratatouille.

Now I really can't wait ... except that we have opted to see it on the Fourth of July so I'll have to hold out for just a few more days.

To see what the movie critics say, check out Decent Films and Past the Popcorn.

Ratatouille is rated G. Yessiree. And no political mumbo-gumbo snuck into the recipe, either, unlike many other kids’ movies this year. Just good clean fun, and a sophisticated parable about the film business that will sail cleanly over even your teenagers’ heads.

Now, If Only I Ever Went to Starbucks, I'd Know What to Order

Caramel Frappuccino

Creative and expressive, you tend to match your Frappuccino flavor to your mood. And a flavored syrup is always a must!

What Flavor Frappuccino Are You?

Via the Mocha Frappachino at The Common Room.

Prayer Works

The Anchoress reports on the resolution to the situation that had an urgent prayer request echoing 'round the world.

Prayer works. At one point, yesterday, we got the kid who was hurting the most out of that house, knowing - of course - that we’d have to bring her back. We worried about the “bringing back” part - what would we be bringing her home to? Buster told me that he was saying to God, “c’mon now, we have people praying all over the world, here - we’ve got three monasteries praying - we’ve put St. Joseph in charge of the father and Mary in charge of the Mother - we’ve corralled prayers from everyone from St. Michael the Archangel to St. Thomas More to St. John Fisher to all the Saints and Blessed Theresa’s and Elizabeth’s and even Kateri Tekakwitha! We roped in Cardinal O’ Connor and JPII - do you really need me to pray, too? It’s not like you don’t know the need!”

At that point the phone rang, with the news that things were straightening out, that things were markedly better and points would be addressed, matters were being handled - that we could take the kid back home without fear.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Do go read it all.

I thought it was interesting that she also confessed:

I was going to shut down comments on this thread, because I know you people and that you’re too generous and you also think much too well of me, and I didn’t want to be reading comments about how “good” we were to help this family. I’m not good. I went kicking and screaming into this saying, “what the hell? Why is this on my plate?” But I’ll let the comments stay open, because you all should have your chance to praise God, from whom all blessings - and all clarity and healing - flow.

Sometimes we are called to cooperate with God's will in extreme circumstances and we are open and willing. Much more of the time though, I think that , like The Anchoress, we are kicking and screaming and howling all the way there. I agree that it would be nice if that wasn't the case. However, it is when we are unwilling and yet cooperate anyway that we are humbled and taught lessons and allowed to see grace in ways that would not happen otherwise. Isn't that called a "teachable moment?"

And I thank God for them ... He knows if he waited around for my willingness, darn little would get done.

Word Among Us Press: a Hidden Treasure

Word Among Us first came to my attention because of their daily devotional which I can highly recommend. However, despite the tempting descriptions/ads about their books always published on the devotional's back cover, I didn't think of looking into their books until I was looking for a Bible study that was based around subject, namely the Holy Spirit, rather than a book of the Bible. I was so pleased with their study that I then ventured on to try Praying with Teresa of Avila. Another winner. (By the way there are quite a few of the "Praying With..." series. If you have a favorite saint, check to see if there is one of these books about him or her.)

Now, I have been fortunate enough to have several review copies of their books sent to me. As I am going through a period of trying to slow down my reading ... and am immersed in Jesus of Nazareth, I have read a couple and the others are stacked by my bed. However, I am going to mention them all as I think they are really good resources should you be looking for something specific and I think that perhaps this press is often overlooked when seeking Catholic materials.

The Resilient Church: The Glory, the Shame, and the Hope for Tomorrow by Mike Aquilina: Quick overview of the trials of the Church and how they were overcome. A good reminder that the Church has always had sinners who drag her down and also the saints provided by God in his faithfulness ... who keep her going and provide our hope for the future. I have read three chapters and reluctantly put it to one side while trying not to read six books at once.

The Rosary Handbook: A Guide For Newcomers, Oldtimers And Those In Between by Mitch Finley: I got this some time ago and read the entire thing. A fairly good guide, especially in some of the ideas for meditation and who to pray for during various mysteries ... and should be helpful to most. I had a few quibbles such as why Finley didn't include any history on the "Fatima prayer" other than providing it and saying to do it if you want and otherwise to skip it. I had a more serious problem with his attitude toward meditation and reflection in the "how to" section.

... Theoretically, the idea is to meditate or reflect upon this mystery while praying an Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and a Glory Be. If you can do that, great. If not, don't worry about it. Personally, I suspect that the repetitive nature of the Rosary actually short-circuits conscious reflection reflection on anything -- let alone a mystery of faith -- and acts something like a mantra does in the meditation methods of Zen Buddhism. The Rosary gives the fingers and tongue something to do, so that your mind and heart can "go deep," as it were, in wordless prayer.

I don't know if this puts him behind me or ahead of me, but I find the meditative quality the most worthwhile part of the rosary, as did Pope John Paul II.

The Rosary, a contemplative prayer

12. The Rosary, precisely because it starts with Mary's own experience, is an exquisitely contemplative prayer. Without this contemplative dimension, it would lose its meaning, as Pope Paul VI clearly pointed out: “Without contemplation, the Rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation runs the risk of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas, in violation of the admonition of Christ: 'In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think they will be heard for their many words' (Mt 6:7). By its nature the recitation of the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord's life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord. In this way the unfathomable riches of these mysteries are disclosed”.(14)

It is worth pausing to consider this profound insight of Paul VI, in order to bring out certain aspects of the Rosary which show that it is really a form of Christocentric contemplation.

Remembering Christ with Mary

13. Mary's contemplation is above all a remembering. We need to understand this word in the biblical sense of remembrance (zakar) as a making present of the works brought about by God in the history of salvation. The Bible is an account of saving events culminating in Christ himself. These events not only belong to “yesterday”; they are also part of the “today” of salvation. This making present comes about above all in the Liturgy: what God accomplished centuries ago did not only affect the direct witnesses of those events; it continues to affect people in every age with its gift of grace. To some extent this is also true of every other devout approach to those events: to “remember” them in a spirit of faith and love is to be open to the grace which Christ won for us by the mysteries of his life, death and resurrection.

This is still a good book but for the reason above I think I'd give it to people who are beyond the "beginner" stage in the rosary. There is plenty of good material for contemplation and historical information that many practiced rosary sayers may not know or have considered.

The Words Of The Risen Christ: A Bible Study On Jesus' Resurrection by Rich Cleveland: A single subject Bible study and looks like a good 'un ... about Jesus final words after his resurrection, how they affected the disciples, and how we can incorporate them into our own lives. I have looked through this but not used it yet.

Food From Heaven: The Eucharist In Scripture by Jeanne Kun: Part of a different Bible study series called "Keys to the Bible" designed help "unlock" Scripture on various subjects. I have looked through this with great interest but, again, haven't had a chance to do it yet. Tom and I have talked about doing this together.

The Sacrament of Charity (Sacramentum Caritatas) by Pope Benedict XVI: we all know this one, right? A nice bound book of that document and it has been immensely helpful in following along with our parish's bulletin insert series on it (weekly from May 6 on).

Reading The Bible As God's Own Story: A Catholic Approach To Bringing Scripture To Life by William S. Kurz, SJ: The author examines the Bible as God's way of looking at the world ... drawing heavily on the writings of two church fathers, St. Irenaeus and St. Athanasius. Another one where I read the first two chapters and definitely will be coming back for more after finishing Jesus of Nazareth.

At any rate, this is surely enough of a sample to show how solid the Word Among Us Press is in selecting authors and subjects. Check it out.

Those Teachable Moments with Our Kids

52 SIMPLE WAYS TO TALK WITH YOUR KIDS ABOUT FAITH
by Jim Campbell

Relieving your child of too much pleasure

Faith Themes
God wants our faith, not sacrifice
Abraham's near sacrifice is a great lesson for us

Natural Teachable Moments

• After your child brings home a noticeably good or bad report card
• While driving your child to or from an athletic or artistic practice
• When your child shows interest in a hobby or discipline

The biblical story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac is a frightening one. How could God ask this of him? But the ultimate lesson of the story is that God did not want a child to be sacrificed. He stopped Abraham's sacrifice to show the surrounding culture's practice of sacrificing children was wrong.

This Scripture story points to issues that we, as parents, can consider today. Although our culture does not condone the physical sacrifice of children, it does require more and more from them in order that they are seen as valuable in the world. What expectations do we have of our children? Do we insist on academic or athletic excellence beyond their capacity or interest? Do we insist that our way of doing things is the only way our children should follow? ...

One of the things that I hear parents talk about over and over is how best to guide their children toward a personal relationship with God and how to love their faith, not to mention how to live well in the complicated world we face today. Just to add to the pressure, we'd all like to do this without "preaching" or being ponderous about it. We want those moments to arise naturally. Of course, much of the time these opportunities often arise when we least expect it ... a sudden question that we aren't prepared for, an experience that slips by that we look back on with regret as a "teachable moment" or just those times when we were more awkward at expressing things on the children's level.

Most of us get by just fine but we'd probably get along better if we'd have read a book like this one by Jim Campbell. I admit that when I saw the title I rolled my eyes and thought, "Great, another self-help book." However, this is far from falling into that typical category. It is a simple set of topics, each discussed in three pages following the outline:

• Faith themes
• Natural Teachable Moments
• Starting the Conversation
• To Help You Listen
• To Support You: Suggested Bible Reading, What the Church Says about This Topic
• A Prayer Moment with Your Child

The topics covered are thorough and include such diverse subjects as:

• Sharing another person's company
• Seeing prejudice for what it is
• Making memories
• Living with a sense of awe and mystery
• Setting priorities
• Developing childhood heroes

One of the things that I like best about this is that it almost could be used as a daily guide for parental contemplation. Campbell doesn't talk down to the parents but presents his points naturally and simply in a way that invites our contemplation of the point in our own lives. During that contemplation, we also may see where our own relationships within the family can be expanded beyond boundaries we previously hadn't recognized. As you can tell, I really liked this book.

I think I have just found my new baby shower gift for new parents ... now if the expectant mothers I know can just wait until the August publication date.

Two Urgent Prayer Requests

Little Charlie was born last weekend, three months early, weighing 2.5 pounds: Little Charlie is currently undergoing surgery to repair a hole in his stomach. If you have time, please say a little prayer for him to be strengthened so he can get through this.

The Anchoress and her family have been sent to help those in desperate need and she is asking for prayers.

How did we get involved? I have no idea, but there is no walking away from this. We’re storming heaven in prayer for them, trying to turn a Titanic around before it strikes a berg, and now I’m about to make phone calls to see if anything can be done to help. We’re begging God to send his angels, and Christ to stand between the parents and kids and each other as they try to survive one parent who has created a vortex of insanity and another too whipped to save the kids. If you are inclined to pray, please pray for for T and her family. And if you have a spare prayer, one for Diane, who is writhing in pain in an ER with no answers in sight.

More details are at her site.

Dream Date?

A couple of weeks ago, Hannah was going to dinner with a guy she met at a midnight movie (through mutual friends) and then bring him back to the house for a movie here ... before trekking off to another midnight movie. Was it a date? Mmmmm ... a maybe-date.

The movie?

Some guys might be dreading having to endure a chick flick but not this lucky guy ... it was that Russian vampire cult fave Nightwatch. Plenty of violence and heavy metal ...

Of course, they did meet at Shaun of the Dead, both dressed as vampires.

As for the date, no maybe about it these days ... they're an item.

Talk Backwards

Wow. Via Literary Compass.

Once again, I remember one of my favorite Steve Goodman songs.

Sdrawkcab Klat (Talk Backwards)

Hey everybody wherever you are
They've got a new way of talking and it's
Gonna go far; you take the letters in the
Words, turn 'em around; say the last one
First and check out the sound, Talk Backwards

I know what you're thinking; that it sure sound strange
You talked forward so long that it's hard to change
But it's just like metric once you get the drift
You twist your tongue and give your palate
A lift. You take your favorite phrase, read
It in the mirror, practice that about a half
A year, and then sdrawkcab gnikiat mi em ta kool
You're a regular talking bassackwards fool
Talk backwards

Talking backwards is the new sensation,
Talking backwards is sweeping the nation
You amaze your friends when you start to rap
Don't say pass the butter, say rettub eht ssap.
Rettub eht ssap? Rettub eht ssap
And if you're out with a girl and she's a
Little bit shy don't say I love you; say
Uoy evol I. uoy evol I and I always will, Now
See if that doesn't take off the chill
Talk Backwards

Just the otherday I was walking down the street
And there was this little girl I thought I'd
Like to meet. I said excuse me miss but
Sserd taht teg uoy erehw. thgin ta tuo emoc
Yeht srats eki I era hteet ruoy
And I said am I getting through to you yet
She said you're a gent in the first degree
And I love it when you talk backwards to me
Talk backwards

You never can tell, but one of the nights
Those who talk backwards will demand
Their rights. They'll rise up angry
And get a solution in the form of an amendment
To the constitution, that guarantees 'em freedom
Of reverse elocution; and then every T.V. show
That airs will have to be captioned
For the forward impaired
Talk backwards

I Looked for Happiness Everywhere ...

I was reading recently the story of the famous convert of the 19th century, Hermann Cohen,* a brilliant musician, idolized as a the young prodigy of his time in the salons of central Europe: a kind of modern version of the young Francis.

After his conversion he wrote to a friend: "I looked for happiness everywhere: in the elegant life of the salons, in the deafening noise of balls and parties, in accumulating money, in the excitement of gambling, in artistic glory, in friendship with famous people, in the pleasures of the senses. Now I have found happiness, I have an overflowing heart and I want to share it with you. ... You say, 'But I don't believe in Jesus Christ.' I say to you, 'Neither did I and that is why I was unhappy.'"

Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa

Reading Fr. Cantalamessa's homily a couple of weeks ago, this quote struck me immediately. It is exactly how I feel, have felt, since I found God. Can anyone explain it until it happens to them? Not really and it sometimes seems unrealistic, unworldly to those around us.

Sometimes people accuse me of not understanding the unhappiness, the sorrow, the rage that is going on in the world. Most recently, I was told to come out of my "trance." It is not a trance. I live in the world right along with everyone else. The news, the blogs, my friends, the daily prayer list ... it is impossible to ignore the evils and sorrows that daily life can bring.

Of course, I do not exude joy all the time ... only the saints are close enough to God to be able to do that and I am so far away from being a saint. But today ... today I feel that wonder and gratitude and joy once again for all I have been given ... for my happiness, a happiness that sustains me through the bad and good, the happiness that is Christ in my life.

I am not participating in our parish's CRHP retreats right now, but if I were giving a witness right now (and I suppose I am doing so right here) this is the song that I would play after speaking. My life has been changed. I have found that happiness.

So Far Away
by Staind

This is my life
Its not what it was before
All these feelings I’ve shared
And these are my dreams
That I’d never lived before
Somebody shake me
Cause I, I must be sleeping

(chorus)
Now that we're here,
It's so far away
All the struggle we thought was in vain
All the mistakes,
One life contained
They all finally start to go away
Now that we're here its so far away
And I feel like I can face the day
I can forgive and I’m not ashamed to be the person that I am today

These are my words
That I’ve never said before
I think I’m doing ok
And this is the smile
That I’ve never shown before

Somebody shake me
Cause I, I must be sleeping

(chorus)

I'm so afraid of waking
Please don't shake me
Afraid of waking
Please don't shake me

Photo by Hey Jules who also knows that joy.

*Read more about Hermann Cohen here.

Oy Veh, Who'd a Thunk It?

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:

• death (6x)
• dead (3x)
• kill (2x)
• murder (1x)

I had no idea I was that violent! Seen in and around various blogs.

Stream of iPod-ishness ... Boggling My Mind

"We forget how much Elvis wanted to be Dean ..."

Bob Dylan, Weather" show of the Theme Time Radio Hour

Dean Martin, that is. Most of us never knew that but I must say, "what good taste Elvis had!" Dylan then went on to play Dino singing "I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine" which Elvis also recorded.

Behind Blue Eyes ...

Tom loves music and passionate discussions happen around our house on the subject (with examples played for emphasis and instruction).

For at least a year he's been talking about having a music blog ... and now it is reality.

Behind Blue Eyes is up and running with:

• An article about The Who
• How Ella Fitzgerald's Cole Porter Songbook opened Tom's eyes to great, old music (with a sidebar about Frank Sinatra's class when it came out)
• A discussion of digital music sales versus hard copy (CD) sales and deep catalog ... this one has a nifty chart which Disputations ought to groove on. This is the subject that got him going enough to make the blog reality.

Stop by and say hello!

Giving and Receiving

I have come across three things that have stuck with me on this subject and am sharing them in the order related ... excerpts only, do go read all at the source.

Many women have told me that my husband’s advice, which I once quoted in a book, has been an eye-opener to them. He said that a wife, if she is very generous, may allow that her husband lives up to perhaps eighty percent of her expectations. There is always the other twenty percent that she would like to change, and she may chip away at it for the whole of their married life without reducing it by very much. She may, on the other hand, simply decide to enjoy the eighty percent, and both of them will be happy. It’s a down-to-earth illustration of a principle: Accept, positively and actively, what is given. Let thanksgiving be the habit of your life.

Elisabeth Elliott, via Quiet Life

--------------

If we are so contemptibly selfish that we can't radiate a little happiness and pass on a bit of honest appreciation without trying to screw something out of the other person in return—if our souls are no bigger than sour crab apples, we shall meet with the failure we so richly deserve.

Oh yes, I did want something out of that chap. I wanted something priceless. And I got it. I got the feeling that I had done something for him without his being able to do anything whatever in return for me. That is a feeling that glows and sings in your memory long after the incident has passed.

Dale Carnegie, via Eternity Road where he has much more to say about Christianity and salesmanship

--------------

How do you choose to receive what is around you? Do you make yourself a little vulnerable by taking a thing for what it appears to be, or do you immediately start to deconstruct a gift, or a compliment, or a speech, wondering about meanings, motives and manipulations?

We live in a mean, cynical age, and it is so easy to fall into the habit of suspicion and sneers. We don’t even realize, sometimes, that we are stuck there.

The Anchoress

Good Vibrations

A few podcasts you might enjoy ...

• History According to Bob: after a series about the papal Babylonian captivity (all that time in Avignon instead of Rome), Bob now has an episode about the Real Babylonian Captivity. That's right ... the Hebrews. Here's the iTunes link for his podcast. He doesn't leave these up for long and then they get put onto CDs which must be purchased so if you think you might want to listen, don't wait around too long.
• Premiere Opera Podcast: For everyone who loved Paul Potts, here is a spot with selections from classic operatic performances and stars.
• NPR's Jazz Profiles: Hosted by Nancy Wilson, this new series only has two episodes so far but both have been very good. The first featurd my favorite Ella Fitzgerald and the second profiled Art Tatum, who I had never heard of but really loved when I heard the songs.
• Pandora Podcast: Yep, this is by the Pandora who brought us our own personal radio stations with the Music Genome Project (and if you don't know what I mean, just go to their site). This is the nuts and bolts of the elements they used to match various songs and artists as part of the "genome." This is especially fascinating to me as I know so very little about music technique. Episode 1 won't download via iTunes because it is a zip file for some reason so you have to go to the site and download it there. However, you don't have to begin at the beginning. Try episodes 2 and 2 which are about drumming and electric guitars. You'll see what I mean. This is good stuff.
  

Do You Know a Priest Who is a Great Confessor?

I mean that in the current sense, of course, not in the old sense (as Tom would remind me) of Edward the Confessor, who these days would have been known as Edward the Testifier.

Upper Canada Catholic wants to "publish a list of the best confessors in our own dioceses. Please submit in the comments section the name, parish and (arch)diocese of any priest you feel possesses extraordinary pastoral capacity in the administration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance/Confession)."

Good idea! He has a list of criteria to consider so go and check it out. I have a couple that I'll be putting in there myself.

More Reaction to Bishop Trautman's Translation Complaints

George Wiegel weighs in with the aptly named article, We are not morons.

Are there clunkers in the new translations? Undoubtedly. But will ICEL’s attempt to restore the sacral vocabulary and linguistic rhythms of the Roman Rite to Catholic worship within the Anglosphere destroy our ability to pray as a community? Please; we’re not morons. I’d even venture the guess that prayers translated with far more fidelity to the Latin originals will be a step toward a deeper, more prayerful encounter with what Bishop Trautman rightly calls “the greatest gift of God, the Eucharist.”

Go read it all.

Will Wonders Never Cease?

Linked to by Open Book and Dawn Eden on the same day. What an honor ... welcome to their readers!

Open Book's dishing on Bishop Trautman's "John and Mary Catholic" article and Dawn's talking about "offering it up." If you haven't been by their places, do stop by and see what they're saying. Both are always a good read no matter what the subject.

And, if you're new here, do take a look around. Today we've got a few good words from the Pope in Assisi and some movie reviews (and one book review), as well as other varied items.

He's Got a Way with Words ...

This hit me just right today. The Pope was in Assisi (or he still may be, I'm never up to date on his travel plans ...) and gave a great talk.

The Pope added: "Assisi tells us that faithfulness to one's own religious conviction, faithfulness above all to Christ crucified and risen, is not expressed in violence and intolerance, but in sincere respect for the other, in dialogue, in a message that calls out for freedom and reason, in working for peace and for reconciliation.

"It would not be evangelical, nor Franciscan, to be unable to unite acceptance, dialogue and respect for all with the certainty of faith which each Christian, like the saint of Assisi, is called to cultivate, proclaiming Christ as the way, truth and life of mankind, the one and only savior of the world."