SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS
Psalm 103, Verse 13
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who FEAR him.
Does God derive anything from having us fear Him?
His only wish is to see us truly growing and fruitful. He made us and as a loving father, he knows our needs both physical and spiritual. If we have a loving fear of our father we are compelled by the Holy Spirit into spiritual leadership, avoiding sloth which often comes as a result of being stuck in a victim mentality or not letting go of rage by forgiving the offender.
Today seek the Father’s compassion by going to confession then arise and grow in spiritual leadership.
As we grow in our spiritual leadership[1] we tend to be:
·
Confident in God
·
Know God
·
Seek God’s will
·
Self-sacrifice
·
Serve all
·
Motivated by love
·
Trust the Holy Spirit
· Lead others
Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops[2]
St.
Timothy, born in Galatia in Asia Minor, was baptized and later ordained to the
priesthood by St. Paul. The young Galatian became Paul's missionary companion
and his most beloved spiritual son. St. Paul showed his trust in this disciple
by consecrating him bishop of the great city of Ephesus. St. Timothy was stoned
to death thirty years after St. Paul's martyrdom for having denounced the
worship of the goddess Diana.
St.
Titus, a convert from paganism, was a fellow laborer of St. Paul on many
apostolic missions. St. Paul later made him bishop of Crete, a difficult charge
because of the character of the inhabitants and the spread of erroneous
doctrines on that island. St. Paul's writings tell us that St. Titus rejoiced
to discover what was good in others and drew the hearts of men by his wide and
affectionate sympathy.
Australia
Day[3]
Australia
Day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from
Britain. On this day in 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip first raised the
British flag at Sydney Cove, marking the British occupation of Australia which
has been claimed 8 years earlier by the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1770.
Australia Day is observed annually on January 26th each year with barbeques and
fireworks. Today, the day gives Australians the opportunity to reflect upon
what it means to be Australian, the history that shaped the nation and the
brighter future that the country has to look forward to.
Australia Day Facts & Quotes
·
In
2015 Australia day coincided with 150th anniversary of Colac's Botanic Gardens.
·
Australia
was originally designed as a penal colony - a place used to exile convicts and
criminals. The first was named the Colony of New South Wales.
·
The
Australian Flag is flown to commemorate this holiday. The flag includes:
The Union Jack, representing historical ties to Great Britain; a large white
seven-tipped star representing the 7 provinces making up the Commonwealth of
Australia; and five white stars in the Southern Cross constellation pattern, a
reminder of their Southern Hemisphere location.
·
The
entire population of Australia (22.3 million) is less than the population of
Texas (26 Million).
·
There's
an expression in Australia that's called 'Go Bush,' which means to get out of
the city and relax. I try and 'go bush' to places where there's no cell
reception. But I don't get to do that often, so for the most part, it's just a
state of mind. - Cate Blanchett, actress
Australia Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Watch
fireworks displays. Some of the grander displays are at Sydney harbor,
Rooty Hill and the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
·
Watch
or attend the Oz Day 10km race in Sydney, Australia.
·
Visit
Hyde Park in Sidney where many Australia day events take place.
·
Attend
flag raising and citizenship ceremonies in Canberra and Perth.
Fitness Friday[4]
Is Chocolate Good for You? The Health Benefits of Chocolate
Theobroma Cacao, the Latin name for chocolate, means “Food of the Gods”
for a reason. It’s a heavenly way to lift your performance. There are also some
major health benefits of chocolate.
We’re not talking about junk chocolate in candy bars and sweet desserts;
dark chocolate has a long history as a healing plant, a mood enhancer, and even
an aphrodisiac. So, you’re in luck: you can indeed use high-quality chocolate
to take delicious control of your biology.
7 health benefits of
chocolate
You’ve probably read that chocolate affects your brain by causing the
release of the “happiness neurotransmitters” serotonin, dopamine, and
endorphins. Like coffee, chocolate is also a potent source of polyphenol
antioxidants, which can fight damaging free radicals and protect your
mitochondria.
But experienced chocolate hackers also know chocolate to be a useful tool
for improving performance in lesser-known ways. In fact, cacao exerts a
systemic effect on the body, with benefits ranging from improved blood flow and
cognition to beneficial alterations in gut bacteria! Here are some of the most
important benefits of chocolate (besides taste…).
1. Chocolate
for a better mood
Chocolate can improve your mood, especially in high-pressure or stressful
situations. Participants were asked to complete serial subtraction tasks of
threes and sevens (counting down by 3s and 7s), and a rapid visual
information-processing task to test sustained attention. Those who consumed
cocoa flavanol drinks prior to the trial had overall better cognitive
performance and reported less mental fatigue than the control group.
2. Chocolate
makes you eat less
One of my favorite effects of chocolate consumption is a reduction in
appetite. One study quantified this by giving participants a 100 g serving of
either milk or dark chocolate two hours before being served an all-you-can-eat
lunch. Ingestion of dark chocolate was correlated with a 17% lower calorie
intake at the following meal, compared to the milk chocolate group. (I’d
imagine that it’s because the casein in milk binds to the polyphenols in
chocolate, making them unavailable to your body.)
Chocolate may also have a significant effect on mood, as one double-blind
study recorded that subjects were able to subjectively discriminate the effects
of theobromine at doses as low as 100-560 mg.
3. Chocolate
for a healthy heart
Regular chocolate consumption can improve your cardiovascular health.
Notably, the polyphenols in cacao increase HDL cholesterol (often thought of as
the protective kind of cholesterol), which in turns leads to decreased oxidized
LDL cholesterol. Other effects include higher levels of circulating nitric
oxide, and reduced platelet adhesion,, resulting in improved circulation benefits
of chocolate
One study even found the cacao flavanol epicatechin to be responsible for
the rise in nitric oxide, which is essential for vascular health. Bioavailability
of nitric oxide is an essential determinate of vascular health as it regulates
dilation tone, signals cell growth and inflammatory response, and protects
blood vessels from clotting.
Vascular function is also really important for insulin-regulated glucose
uptake. That’s why dark chocolate can also improve/ “Healthy levels of insulin
sensitivity.
4. Chocolate
for glowing skin and sun protection
Chocolate can help you maintain healthy skin by modulating healthy blood
flow. In one study, two groups of women consumed either a high flavanol or low
flavanol cocoa powder for a period of 12 weeks. While the low flavanol group
showed no change in markers of skin health, subjects in the high flavanol group
had on average 25% reduction in UV-induced erythema (sunburn) after exposure to
a solar simulator.
The high flavanol group also recorded increased skin density and
thickness, as well as better hydration and less transepidermal water loss.
5. Chocolate
may lower inflammation
Chocolate has inflammation-modulating properties. In one study, obese
mice supplemented with cocoa powder had healthier levels of inflammation and
insulin. These mice also had a 30% reduction in plasma levels of the major
pro-inflammatory mediator interleukin 6. Additionally, a cross-sectional study
of an Italian cohort discovered an inverse relationship between dark chocolate
consumption and serum C-reactive protein.
6. Chocolate
is a prebiotic
While many studies assume that it is the cacao polyphenols acting
directly to modulate biomarkers, it is most likely the case that at least some
of the effect is indirect, and works through interaction with our gut
microbiome. Research suggests that low molecular weight cocoa flavanols such as
epicatechin and catechin can be absorbed directly into blood circulation,
(unless you mix them with milk) but this is not so for the larger polyphenols.
In this case, microflora in the colon work to break down high molecular weight
polyphenols, so that the smaller secondary metabolites may circulate throughout
the body. Cocoa flavanols are processed by gut microbiota, and secondary
metabolites can enter circulation.
benefits of chocolate and effects of cocoa on the immune system
If gut bacteria are feeding on the larger cocoa polyphenols, then it
follows that they can also change the composition of the intestinal microbiome.
In fact, one study did discover a beneficial prebiotic effect of high flavanol
chocolate consumption. After a period of 4 weeks of consuming a high flavanol
cocoa powder, subjects had a significant increase in bifidobacteria and
lactobacilli populations, as well as significantly decreased clostridia levels.
This was accompanied by significantly decreased C-reactive protein (which
correlates to inflammation reduction in the body), which was associated
particularly with changes in lactobacilli.
7. Chocolate
for anti-aging
Last, but certainly not least, cacao can enhance mitochondrial
biogenesis, or, the creation of new mitochondria! If you’ve read about Unfair
Advantage, you know how important it is to have healthy mitochondria, and more
of them. It is the flavanol epicatechin in chocolate which is responsible for
mitogenesis. In one study, oral administration of epicatechin to senile mice
shifted numerous biomarkers towards those of young mice, including sirtuin 1, a
well-recognized regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. In another mouse study,
treatment with epicatechin improved exercise performance by ~50% compared to
controls, and enhanced muscle fatigue resistance by ~30%. The epicatechin group
also recorded significant increases in mitochondrial volume in hindlimb and
cardiac muscles.
Does chocolate have caffeine?
Yes, but in much smaller amounts than coffee. So
much less, you could probably eat a square or two of dark chocolate before bed
without any trouble falling asleep. The really cool energy-giving molecule in
coffee is called theobromine. Theobromin is the primary alkaloid found in cocoa
that is responsible for multiple positive effects, one of which is similar to
the effects of caffeine. Although theobromine is present in other plants,
there’s a high contentration in dark chocolate, with measures between 237-519
mg per 50g.
The benefits of theobromine
Promotes steady energy: Due to the molecular makeup of theobromine, while
it promotes energy in the body, it doesn’t exert its effects on the central
nervous system – so its effects are a more gentle, feel-good type of energy.
Also, due to its molecular makeup, theobromine takes longer to clear from your
body, which means this calm energy lasts longer.
Better cognitive function: The immediate cognitive effects of chocolate
are primarily accounted for by caffeine and theobromine. A study comparing the
effects of cocoa powder versus an equivalent caffeine and theobromine powder
found equivalent improvements in cognitive and mood assessments.
Addictive taste: It is said that dark chocolate is an “acquired taste,”
and research suggests that theobromine may be the component responsible for our
attraction to dark chocolate. One study demonstrated an increased liking for a
‘novel’ drink when it was mixed with theobromine.
The pitfalls of chocolate
Most chocolate contains sugar
By now you may be interested in picking up some chocolate, but be sure to
choose one with as little sugar as possible or even none.
While research shows that cocoa can have a beneficial effect with regards
to maintaining healthy vascular tone and insulin sensitivity, the reverse is
true for sugar. Eating sweetened chocolate is still not good for you. Beware of
chocolate marketed as “sugar-free” that may contain unhealthy artificial
sweeteners, which are found in the “kryptonite” zone of the Bulletproof Diet
Roadmap. The only recommended sweeteners are Stevia, erythritol from non-GMO
corn, and xylitol from hardwood.
In one study, rats fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet for 4 weeks
displayed insulin resistance, and decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase
(eNOS), which is responsible for creating nitric oxide in blood vessels. Other
studies have demonstrated that the detrimental effect of sugar on vascular
function is independent of obesity and insulin resistance, so sugar is bad for
you even if you are in otherwise good health.
Chocolate can contain mold
Unfortunately, due to intensive farming techniques and poor agricultural,
processing, and storage practices, much of the world’s chocolate supply is
contaminated with meaningful levels of mold toxins. One of the more insidious
and dangerous forms of mycotoxin, ochratoxin A, was present in 98% of samples
tested in one study. Of those contaminated with ochratoxin, the study found an
80% co-occurrence of aflatoxin as well. Mycotoxins amplify each other when more
than one is present.
Cacao trees are a tropical crop, making them highly susceptible to fungus
and mold. Roasting moldy beans destroys the actual fungi, but it doesn’t
destroy the fungi’s byproduct: harmful mold toxins. Beans aren’t just
susceptible when they’re on the tree. They can become host to mold and fungi
during pre-processing, so it’s important not to let them sit for long periods
of time. The good news is that one study found that the processing of cocoa
beans into a finished product resulted in a 93.6% decrease in ochratoxin A. My
experience is that mold toxins vary greatly from batch to batch and from brand
to brand, and a brand with “clean” chocolate this month may not be clean the
following month.
Keep the following in mind while selecting and eating chocolate:
Make sure your chocolate is at
least 85 percent dark chocolate.
European chocolate tends to be
lower in mold toxins, as they have stricter government limits than the US.
Take activated coconut charcoal
with chocolate to bind some of the mold toxins like I always do.
How to get more chocolate into your day
Your options are almost limitless. Try these unique options to get more
chocolate into your diet:
Drink cacao tea
Make a Bulletproof Mocha: add
some high-quality chocolate powder to your morning BP coffee.
Make Bulletproof Get Some Ice
Cream
Check out The Bulletproof Diet
book for Bulletproof dessert AND dinner recipes that use high-quality chocolate.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION ONE-MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE
SPIRIT
CHAPTER THREE-GOD'S SALVATION: LAW AND
GRACE
Article 1-THE MORAL LAW
II. The Old Law
1961 God, our Creator and Redeemer,
chose Israel for himself to be his people and revealed his Law to them, thus
preparing for the coming of Christ. The Law of Moses expresses many truths
naturally accessible to reason. These are stated and authenticated within the
covenant of salvation.
1962 The Old Law is the first stage
of revealed Law. Its moral prescriptions are summed up in the Ten Commandments.
The precepts of the Decalogue lay the foundations for the vocation of man
fashioned in the image of God; they prohibit what is contrary to the love of
God and neighbor and prescribe what is essential to it. the Decalogue is a
light offered to the conscience of every man to make God's call and ways known
to him and to protect him against evil:
God wrote on the tables of the Law
what men did not read in their hearts.
1963 According to Christian
tradition, the Law is holy, spiritual, and good, yet still imperfect. Like
a tutor it shows what must be done, but does not of itself give the
strength, the grace of the Spirit, to fulfill it. Because of sin, which it
cannot remove, it remains a law of bondage. According to St. Paul, its special
function is to denounce and disclose sin, which constitutes a "law of
concupiscence" in the human heart. However, the Law remains the first
stage on the way to the kingdom. It prepares and disposes the chosen people and
each Christian for conversion and faith in the Savior God. It provides a
teaching which endures forever, like the Word of God.
1964 The Old Law is a preparation
for the Gospel. "The Law is a pedagogy and a prophecy of things to
come." It prophesies and presages the work of liberation from sin
which will be fulfilled in Christ: it provides the New Testament with images,
"types," and symbols for expressing the life according to the Spirit.
Finally, the Law is completed by the teaching of the sapiential books and the
prophets which set its course toward the New Covenant and the Kingdom of
heaven.
There were . . . under the regimen
of the Old Covenant, people who possessed the charity and grace of the Holy
Spirit and longed above all for the spiritual and eternal promises by which
they were associated with the New Law. Conversely, there exist carnal men under
the New Covenant still distanced from the perfection of the New Law: the fear
of punishment and certain temporal promises have been necessary, even under the
New Covenant, to incite them to virtuous works. In any case, even though the
Old Law prescribed charity, it did not give the Holy Spirit, through whom
"God's charity has been poured into our hearts."
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Protection
of Life from Conception until natural death.
·
Litany of the Most
Precious Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
No comments:
Post a Comment