Halbrook.net
28Mar/090

Fr. Barron on Audacity of Hope

Fascinating. Now I at least have to give the book a read. But to say that the moral ends become a matter of debate? Frightening... Let's hope and pray that eventually Obama sees the right side of the "fault line" on today's slavery... Perhaps God is poising to surprise us all yet again...

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13Mar/090

Whisperings, Urgings, Promptings…

Something is happening, perhaps. Sure, the rally is tempting. And yesterday, the president declared that it was "not as bad as we think" and canceled our "dire emergency."

(This first clip via The Deacon's Bench)

"A friend in Florida told me the local bank was out of hundred-dollar bills on Wednesday because a man had come in the day before and withdrawn $90,000. Five weeks ago, when I asked a Wall Street titan what one should do to be safe in the future, he took me aback with the concreteness of his advice, and its bottom-line nature. Everyone should try to own a house, he said, no matter how big or small, but it has to have some land, on which you should learn how to grow things. He also recommended gold coins, such as American Eagles. I went to the U.S. Mint website the next day, but there was a six-week wait due to high demand. (I just went on the Web site again: Production of gold Eagle coins "has been temporarily suspended because of unprecedented demand" for bullion.)

In Manhattan, Catholic church attendance appears to be up. Everyone seems to agree that this is so, though the archdiocese says it won't have numbers until next fall. But yes, said Joseph Zwilling, the director of communications, 'from what I've heard anecdotally from various priests,' the pews have been fuller. The rector at St Patrick's told him Ash Wednesday was 'the busiest yet,' with 60,000 people coming for ashes. At my local church at noon mass one day this week, there were 40 people when normally there are roughly a dozen, and the communion line stretched to the back of the church. Something is happening."

Add to that reports this AM that China is expressing worry about where we are. Perhaps we won't get the latest stimulus anyhow; if they won't loan us the cash:
Add to that Illinois still not getting serious about its financial issues:
(PS: Here's a hint, Governor: When a household isn't making as much as it's spending, it cuts its spending first.)
Check out MARTHA at Holy Family. Join us for the Open Forum / Town Hall this Sunday after 10:30 Mass. Then for the monthly (3rd Saturday) Swap Meet next Saturday (Granite City parishes' parishioners only, and their guests.)
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12Mar/090

Stop Illinois’ FOCA

fig16baby8.jpg

Yesterday, the Illinois FOCA (HB 2354, the "Reproductive Health and Access Act") passed through committee with a 5-2 vote. Now it's time to take action before it goes to the entire IL General Assembly.
Here's what this dreadful act would do:
  1. Effectively disallow any regulation of abortion procedures or emergency contraceptives in Illinois.
  2. Potentially require public funding of these same abortion procedures and emergency contraceptive services
  3. Enact broad immunity protections for those involved in abortion procedures
  4. Mandate "comprehensive" sex education for every public school in the state
  5. Undermine the rights of conscience for health care professionals who refuse to participate in abortion or contraception.
Unfortunately, its prospects for passing are good.
Here's what you need to do NOW to help stop it.
  • Visit your representative's District Office.
  • Put real pressure on our state reps to oppose HB 2354. They are usually in their district offices on Fridays and Mondays. 
  • Pass this along. Rally your colleagues/friends/family to pay a personal visit to your state rep and express your disgust over HB 2354.
  • Call your state representative.
  • Tell everyone you know
We must ALL act now to make a difference. HB 2354 could be voted on as early as next Tuesday.
Here is a sample of what to say when you call:
-------------
House Bill 2354 seeks to: Make abortion a fundamental right, preventing any common-sense regulation such as parental notification; expand public funding of abortion through Medicaid and possibly state health insurance plans; undermine the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act protecting health care professionals and employers; and, mandate comprehensive sex education for all public schools.
The bill is extreme and a radical change from current law. Please vote NO.
-------------
Get more information and take more action here.
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11Mar/090

Sirach Catch-Up

Coming tomorrow night, we'll be back on track with our exploration of the book of Sirach.

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11Mar/090

Obviously not an idea from a married man

And if it was, he's likely still sleeping on the couch tonight...

laundry.jpg
As an aside, I did a ton of laundry at home last week, and even a bit here on the road this week. I'm actually quite good at the laundry, I think. It's the folding and putting away that's not my favorite.
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11Mar/090

Sesame Street Laying off 20%

UPDATE: Welcome! If you're coming here from a search on Google about Sesame Street's layoffs, I'd like to extend a warm welcome, invite you to read about my blog, and even subscribe via RSS. Or look through all of the connection options to the right.

sesamestreet.jpgWow... I was floored to read that Sesame Street is laying off 20% of its workforce - 67 of their 355 employees. It seems that they're just as touched by the current economy as everyone else out there.

I caught the news on the CNN Anderson Cooper 360 site with the clever title "'L' is for Layoff"- of course I would've never noticed it without a friend sharing it on facebook (since I never frequent CNN.com for my news.)
It sounds like all of the muppets are safe from this round of cuts, but all other departments in Sesame Workshop, the non-profit company that produces the popular children's educational show, are affected.
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3Mar/090

Pope’s Prayer Intentions – March 2009

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for March is: "That the role of women may be more appreciated and used to good advantage in every country in the world".
His mission intention is: "That, in the light of the Letter addressed to them by Pope Benedict XVI, the bishops, priests, consecrated persons and lay faithful of the Catholic Church in the Popular Republic of China may commit themselves to being the sign and instrument of unity, communion and peace".
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3Mar/090

Sirach 4-14

I'm back from a hiatus of an all-too-busy week, and owing you summaries of Sirach 4-14. Man, has it been that long? Well, here goes, charging back into the game...

Sirach 4:
- Give to the needy
- Help the orphan and widow
- Use your time well.
- Speak when the time is right - don't hold back when you know what should be said.
- "Even to the death fight for truth."
Sirach 5:
- "Be swift to hear, but slow to answer."
- Be judicious and rely only on the Lord.
Sirach 6:
LOVE this part:
Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant.
When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him
For one sort of friend is a friend when it suits him, but he will not be with you in time of distress.
Another is a friend who becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame.
Another is a friend, a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes.
When things go well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants;
But if you are brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you.
Keep away from your enemies; be on your guard with your friends.
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.
A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.
A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds;
For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself.
Sirach 7:
- Do no evil, be just and humble.
- LOVE 23-33:
If you have sons, chastise them; bend their necks from childhood.
If you have daughters, keep them chaste, and be not indulgent to them.
Giving your daughter in marriage ends a great task; but give her to a worthy man.
If you have a wife, let her not seem odious to you; but where there is ill-feeling, trust her not.
With your whole heart honor your father; your mother's birthpangs forget not.
Remember, of these parents you were born; what can you give them for all they gave you?
With all your soul, fear God, revere his priests.
With all your strength, love your Creator, forsake not his ministers.
Honor God and respect the priest; give him his portion as you have been commanded: First fruits and contributions, due sacrifices and holy offerings.
To the poor man also extend your hand, that your blessing may be complete;
Be generous to all the living, and withhold not your kindness from the dead.
Sirach 8: 
- Be careful in taking debt upon yourself.
- Avoid quarrels, and hold your cards.
Sirach 9:
This is a must read. 18 verses, 1/2 on avoiding "strange women" and "singing girls", half on dealing with friends. A sampling:
Give no woman power over you to trample upon your dignity.
Be not intimate with a strange woman, lest you fall into her snares.
With a singing girl be not familiar, lest you be caught in her wiles.
Entertain no thoughts against a virgin, lest you be enmeshed in damages for her.
Give not yourself to harlots, lest you surrender your inheritance.
Gaze not about the lanes of the city and wander not through its squares;
Avert your eyes from a comely woman; gaze not upon the beauty of another's wife-- Through woman's beauty many perish, for lust for it burns like fire.
Sirach 10:
This one gets into our duty to the government - to the judge and the executive, and their duty to God.
Sirach 11:
Use discretion in how you interact with other men, and recognize the power and purpose of Divine Providence working in your life.
Sirach 12:
- Do good to the just man, but not to the wicked.
- The more wealth we have, the harder it is to discern our enemies.
Sirach 13:
This one ends with some of my favorite words... and it reminds me of the back of the Life is Good shirt that I love to wear: "You never know the good a simple smile can do."
The heart of a man changes his countenance, either for good or for evil.
The sign of a good heart is a cheerful countenance;
 withdrawn and perplexed is the laborious schem
er.
Sirach 14:
This chapter reflects again on earthly possessions and proper use and treatment of them, then redirects our thoughts back to true value: Wisdom.
Whew. Caught up. Time for bed.
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This is the online home of Michael Halbrook, Suzanne Halbrook, and their growing family. We're a family of five living out our Catholic faith and vocation in the St. Louis, Missouri area.

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