NIC’s Corner
Agriculturalist Jethro Tull died 1741
oops wrong JethroFebruary 21 Friday
Daniel,
Chapter 3, Verse 40-42
40 So let our sacrifice be
in your presence today and find favor before you; for those who trust in you
cannot be put to shame. 41
And now we follow you with our whole heart, we FEAR you and we seek your face. Do not put us to shame, 42 but deal with us in your
kindness and great mercy.
Has
your way of living been less than you wanted?
Well?
Welcome
to the human condition. Emotions are what being human is about. Imagine the
emotions of Peter after the resurrection. If your emotions or sinfulness despite
your best efforts have left, you flat. You are human. Remember the disciples on
the road to Emmaus; they were at left flat at the loss of the Christ. Like
Peter they felt they could have done more. Today walk with our Lord tell Him
all.
In a
sermon by Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas she states:
“Put away the gods that your
ancestors served...” Joshua declares. Doing that requires an act of
self-examination. Spend at least five minutes with each question, even if all
you do is listen to your heart.
·
What
are the gods that I serve?
·
What
does my bank statement or my credit card statement say about my values?
·
What
does the way I spend my free time say about what matters most to me?
·
How
does the way that I treat family-members and co-workers, neighbors and friends
show which gods I serve?
·
To
what do I give my best, most focused attention and care?
·
What
do I Really care about?
·
What
motives really drive me?
·
What
goals really draw me forward?
·
Are
there compulsive patterns of thought or behavior to which I am excessively
attached?
You and I can go to church and say
very sincerely that we worship God, but in the hurly-burly of daily life there
are all kinds of lesser gods that tug at us and clamor for our attention and
our devotion.[1]
Aids in Battle[2]
The Devil fears those who pray
My
dear brothers and sisters, not only is prayer very powerful; even more, it’s of
the utmost necessity for overcoming the enemies of our salvation. Look at all
the saints: They weren’t content with watching and fighting to overcome the
enemies of their salvation and with keeping well away from all
that could offer them temptation. They passed their whole lives in prayer, not
only the day, but very often the whole night as well. Yes, my dear children, we
watch over ourselves and all the motions of our hearts in vain, and in vain we
avoid temptation, if we don’t pray. If we don’t continually resort to prayer,
all our other ways will be of no use at all to us, and we’ll be overcome. We
won’t find any sinner converted without turning to prayer. We won’t find one
persevering without depending heavily on prayer. Nor will we ever find a
Christian who ends up damned whose downfall didn’t begin with a lack of prayer.
We can see, too, how much the Devil fears those who pray, since there’s not a
moment of the day when he tempts us more than when we’re at prayer. He does
everything he possibly can to prevent us from praying. When the Devil wants to
make someone lose his soul, he starts out by inspiring in him a profound
distaste for prayer. However good a Christian he may be, if the Devil succeeds
in making him either say his prayers badly or neglect them altogether, he’s
certain to have that person for himself. Yes, my dear brothers and sisters,
from the moment that we neglect to pray, we move with big steps towards hell.
We’ll never return to God if we don’t resort to prayer.
ST. JOHN VIANNEY
10 habits of mentally
strong people[3]
Despite West Point Military Academy’s
rigorous selection process, one in five students drop out by graduation day. A
sizeable number leave the summer before freshman year, when cadets go through a
rigorous program called “Beast.” Beast consists of extreme physical, mental,
and social challenges that are designed to test candidates’ perseverance. University
of Pennsylvania psychologist Angela Duckworth conducted a study in which she
sought to determine which cadets would make it through the Beast program. The
rigorous interviews and testing that cadets went through to get into West Point
in the first place told Angela that IQ and talent weren’t the deciding factors.
So, Angela developed her own test to determine which cadets had the mental
strength to conquer the Beast. She called it the “Grit Scale,” and it was a
highly accurate predictor of cadet success. The Grit Scale measures mental
strength, which is that unique combination of passion, tenacity, and stamina
that enables you to stick with your goals until they become a reality. To
increase your mental strength, you simply need to change your outlook. When
hard times hit, people with mental strength suffer just as much as everyone
else. The difference is that they understand that life’s challenging moments
offer valuable lessons. In the end, it’s these tough lessons that build the
strength you need to succeed. Developing mental strength is all about
habitually doing the things that no one else is willing to do. If you aren’t
doing the following things on a regular basis, you should be, for these are the
habits that mentally strong people rely on.
- You
must fight when you already feel defeated. A reporter once asked
Muhammad Ali how many sit-ups he does every day. He responded, “I don’t
count my sit-ups, I only start counting when it starts hurting, when I
feel pain, cause that’s when it really matters.” The same applies to
success in the workplace. You always have two choices when things begin to
get tough: you can either overcome an obstacle and grow in the process or
let it beat you. Humans are creatures of habit. If you quit when things
get tough, it gets that much easier to quit the next time. On the other
hand, if you force yourself to push through a challenge, the strength
begins to grow in you.
- You
must delay gratification.
There was a famous Stanford experiment in which an administrator left a
child in a room with a marshmallow for 15 minutes. Before leaving, the
experimenter told the child that she was welcome to eat it, but if she
waited until he returned without eating it, she would get a second
marshmallow. The children that were able to wait until the experimenter
returned experienced better outcomes in life, including higher SAT scores,
greater career success, and even lower body mass indexes. The point is
that delay of gratification and patience are essential to success. People
with mental strength know that results only materialize when you put in
the time and forego instant gratification.
- You
must make mistakes, look like an idiot, and try again — without even
flinching. In a recent
study at the College of William and Mary, researchers interviewed over 800
entrepreneurs and found that the most successful among them tend to have
two critical things in common: they’re terrible at imagining failure and
they tend not to care what other people think of them. In other words, the
most successful entrepreneurs put no time or energy into stressing about
their failures as they see failure as a small and necessary step in the
process of reaching their goals.
- You
must keep your emotions in check. Negative emotions challenge your
mental strength every step of the way. While it’s impossible not to feel
your emotions, it’s completely under your power to manage them effectively
and to keep yourself in control of them. When you let your emotions overtake
your ability to think clearly, it’s easy to lose your resolve. A bad mood
can make you lash out or stray from your chosen direction just as easily
as a good mood can make you overconfident and impulsive.
- You
must make the calls you’re afraid to make. Sometimes we have to do
things we don’t want to do because we know they’re for the best in the
long-run: fire someone, cold-call a stranger, pull an all-nighter to get
the company server backup, or scrap a project and start over. It’s easy to
let the looming challenge paralyze you, but the most successful people
know that in these moments, the best thing they can do is to get started
right away. Every moment spent dreading the task subtracts time and energy
from actually getting it done. People that learn to habitually make the
tough calls stand out like flamingos in a flock of seagulls.
- You
must trust your gut. There’s a fine line between trusting your gut
and being impulsive. Trusting your gut is a matter of looking at decisions
from every possible angle, and when the facts don’t present a clear
alternative, you believe in your ability to make the right decision; you
go with what looks and feels right.
- You
must lead when no one else follows. It’s easy to set a direction and to believe in yourself when
you have support, but the true test of strength is how well you maintain
your resolve when nobody else believes in what you’re doing. People with
mental strength believe in themselves no matter what, and they stay the
course until they win people over to their ways of thinking.
- You
must focus on the details even when it makes your mind numb. Nothing tests your mental
strength like mind-numbing details, especially when you’re tired. The more
people with mental strength are challenged, the more they dig in and
welcome that challenge, and numbers and details are no exception to this.
- You
must be kind to people who are rude to you. When people treat you
poorly, it’s tempting to stoop to their level and return the favor. People
with mental strength don’t allow others to walk all over them, but that
doesn’t mean they’re rude to them, either. Instead, they treat rude and
cruel people with the same kindness they extend to everyone else, because
they don’t allow another person’s negativity to bring them down.
- You
must be accountable for your actions, no matter what. People are
far more likely to remember how you dealt with a problem than they are to
recall how you created it in the first place. By holding yourself
accountable, even when making excuses is an option, you show that you care
about results more than your image or ego.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
Day
251 1897-1904
PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION ONE-MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE
SPIRIT
CHAPTER TWO-THE HUMAN
COMMUNION
Article 2-PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL LIFE
I. Authority
1897
"Human society can be neither well-ordered nor prosperous unless it has
some people invested with legitimate authority to preserve its institutions and
to devote themselves as far as is necessary to work and care for the good of
all."
By "authority" one means the quality by virtue of which persons or
institutions make laws and give orders to men and expect obedience from them.
1898 Every
human community needs an authority to govern it. The foundation of such
authority lies in human nature. It is necessary for the unity of the state. Its
role is to ensure as far as possible the common good of the society.
1899 The
authority required by the moral order derives from God: "Let every person
be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from
God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, he who
resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist
will incur judgment."
1900 The duty of obedience requires all to give due honor to authority and to treat those who are charged to exercise it with respect, and, insofar as it is deserved, with gratitude and good-will.
Pope St.
Clement of Rome provides the Church's most ancient prayer for political
authorities: "Grant to them, Lord, health, peace, concord, and
stability, so that they may exercise without offense the sovereignty that you
have given them. Master, heavenly King of the ages, you give glory, honor, and
power over the things of earth to the sons of men. Direct, Lord, their counsel,
following what is pleasing and acceptable in your sight, so that by exercising
with devotion and in peace and gentleness the power that you have given to
them, they may find favor with you."
1901 If
authority belongs to the order established by God, "the choice of the
political regime and the appointment of rulers are left to the free decision of
the citizens."
The diversity of political regimes is morally acceptable, provided they serve
the legitimate good of the communities that adopt them. Regimes whose nature is
contrary to the natural law, to the public order, and to the fundamental rights
of persons cannot achieve the common good of the nations on which they have
been imposed.
1902 Authority
does not derive its moral legitimacy from itself. It must not behave in a
despotic manner, but must act for the common good as a "moral force based
on freedom and a sense of responsibility":
A human law
has the character of law to the extent that it accords with right reason, and
thus derives from the eternal law. Insofar as it falls short of right reason it
is said to be an unjust law, and thus has not so much the nature of law as of a
kind of violence.
1903 Authority
is exercised legitimately only when it seeks the common good of the group
concerned and if it employs morally licit means to attain it. If rulers were to
enact unjust laws or take measures contrary to the moral order, such
arrangements would not be binding in conscience. In such a case,
"authority breaks down completely and results in shameful abuse."
1904 "It
is preferable that each power be balanced by other powers and by other spheres
of responsibility which keep it within proper bounds. This is the principle of
the 'rule of law,' in which the law is sovereign and not the arbitrary will of
men."
Fitness
Friday[4]
Top 10 Health and Fitness Tips
from George Washington
George Washington was a man fit to be
king. In fact, he was offered the crown by the victorious Americans after the
cessation of the American War of Independence. He was one of the richest
men in colonial America and a successful general who commanded a great deal of
respect and followed the teachings of the Age of Enlightenment. While George
refused to rule as a king, he was less hesitant to share his insights on
matters relating to health, wealth, and politics. “I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I
consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.”
George Washington
·
Health Should Be a Top Priority
President George Washington believed
that our health should be one of the most important priorities in life.
President Washington really knew the value of health in our lives. Because
without our health, it’s almost impossible to live life to the fullest. In
order to enjoy and carry out day-to-day tasks, we need to be able to walk,
breathe on our own, lift objects, have fun and so much more. Shortly before his
passing, the former President wrote that “Health was amongst (if not the most)
precious gift of Heaven, and without it we are but little capable of business,
or enjoyment.”
·
Be An Active & Healthy Leader
Not many know that George
Washington was actively involved in the military, serving for a span of over 40
years. It was his heroic and strategic service in the United States
military where he became known as the Father of our Country. While in the
military, George Washington was constantly on his feet, leading his people
through battles, and persevering under pressure. Leadership is known to be
associated with improved relationships, increased mood, positive outlook,
increased self-confidence, and many more positive attributes. If you want to
impact the health of other people, as well as yourself, then it’s best to lead
by example. The types of social, emotional, and mental health benefits that
being a leader can bring are endless!
- Get
Fit for Life’s Battles
- Eat
A Variety of Healthy Foods
America’s
first President was able to enjoy many different cuisines because he
was so wealthy. He ate fish such as sturgeon, along with many
different fruits like cherries, and protein packed nuts. George Washington was
fortunate to own many farms and facilities that enabled him to consume plenty
of nutrient rich foods. Though you don’t have to be rich to be healthy! Fruits,
vegetables, and different sources of protein can be bought at reasonable
prices. These foods are jam-packed with nutrients that protect the heart
against certain diseases, cancers and even strokes. They also aid in muscle growth
and repair while strengthening the immune system.
- Get
Active Outside
- Adopt A
Furry Friend
Did you know that George
Washington loved dogs and bred them? His journals were infused with numerous
breeding accounts that included his own special “Virginia Hound” breed. Using
these dogs, he indulged sometimes two or three times a week in one of his favorite
pleasures: fox-hunting. Having a furry companion by your side greatly
influences your health in many ways from boosting the immune system to
increasing your quality of life. Take a look at all of the health and
fitness benefits of owning a furry friend here!
- Go
Dancing!
Not only did George
Washington like to move on the battlefield, but he liked to get down on the
ballroom floor too. During the American Revolution, balls were often held where
the General “danced upwards of three hours without once sitting down,” General
Greene stated in 1779. He was seen gracefully dancing with elation spread
across his face. It’s no wonder that he was so content since dancing is known
to boost mood and confidence! Dancing has many physical and mental health
benefits. Those include improved heart and lung function, muscle tone,
strength, endurance, as well as stronger bones, improved balance and social
skills. Learn how busting a move can be incredibly beneficial to your
health here!
- Read
A New Book
We all know the peaceful
effects that reading can have on us during a rainy day. But surprisingly, reading has a lot of other health benefits
for the average Joe. George Washington was an avid reader in his day. Owning
more than 1,200 books, he turned to them to improve his political,
militant, and agricultural prowess. You could say George Washington was
self-educated from all the time he spent gathering the important information
that made him so successful. According to York University researchers, reading
helps boost brain power and memory, reduce stress, increase longevity, and even
create feelings of empathy. So pick up a good book to expand your
knowledge and increase your imagination!
- Be
Social
We all know how much
healthy friendships benefit our mental health by keeping us happy and
healthy. Not only was George Washington great at running the country, but
he was an excellent communicator. He loved having company over for parties
as well as connecting with the ladies! Besides dancing, you could find him
engaging in meaningful conversations with his companions throughout
the night. Many studies show that having people to connect
with can keep your brain sharp and enrich your life by adding years to it!
Friends also reduce stress, decrease risk of stroke, and can help beat the
common cold!
- Always Persevere
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 Gehenna.
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: For
the intercession of the angels and saints
·
Rosary
[2] Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual
Warfare. TAN Books.
[4]https://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-fitness-tips-george-washington/
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