You're Invited to a Tea Party

Reminiscent of the original Tea Party in Boston in 1773, many cities around the country are holding Tea Parties today for like minded individuals to gather to protest the out of control government spending, responsible citizens footing the bill for freeloaders, and this new generational debt created by Congress.

While many people have been feeling this way since passage of the first TARP bill under Bush in Fall 08, it has only been compounded by the recent Stimulus Bill passed earlier this month, and the President's new proposed Budget. Last week, Rick Santelli, a reporter, caught the attention of the masses when he spoke his mind on CNBC. His rant lit a fire under all of us who felt the same way but didn't think anyone was listening. If you haven't seen it, it is a must watch!

Rick Santelli's rant on CNBC became a rallying cry. He said there needed to be a new Tea Party and many others agreed. These national Tea Parties are in over 50 cities today, Friday, February 27th, with the goal to notify Congress, politicians and the media that we are fed up and want some accountability back in government.

Taken from the Nationwide Chicago Tea Party website...

"We're done with your "Do as I Say Not as I Do" arrogance. You pretend to oppose earmarks, then stuff Porkulus with them. You pretend to be transparent, then hide your pork earmarks and force a vote on a 1400 page bill no one has been allowed to read. You pretend to be for fiscal responsibility, and then pass the most fiscally irresponsible bill in American history. Repeal the Pork or Retire!"

If you agree with Santelli and the Nationwide Chicago Tea Party talking points, check to see if there is a Tea Party near you today or in the near future at the lists and links below. Show your support for common sense, for fiscal responsibility and personal responsibility - Go to your local Tea Party! Help send a message to Washington - Repeal the Pork or Retire!

Comprehensive list of Tea Parties

List of Facebook sites for local Tea Parties

New American Tea Party

Lent is Here

Lent, in current times, is observed by many Protestants as well as Catholics. Obvious outward signs such as ashes on the forehead, fasting, abstinence from meat on Fridays have evolved into a deeper meaning of a time of reflection, sacrifice and conversion.

While listening to a Lenten CatholicMoments podcast last year, I heard a great list of 40 Lenten Resolutions. If you are like me and tend to stick with the same resolutions year after year, this list might open your eyes to the possibilities during this period of preparation. The list incoporates both the idea of self -sacrifice and positive sacrifice with adding extra spiritual time as a way to celebrate this time of preparation.

Forty Lenten Resolutions by Sherry Antonetti 
With the season right around the corner, here are a few ideas for how to begin the spiritual journey into the desert to prepare for the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord.

40. Going to Mass an extra time or two a week.

39. Giving up caffeine.

38. Volunteering in the Soup Kitchen or a Hospital for a few hours a week.

37. Surrendering credit cards.

36. Saying a daily Rosary.

35. Sharing the daily readings at Dinner.

34. Fasting from all fast food.

33. Taking on a Novena or devotional.

32. Adding an hour of adoration to your weekly regimen.

31. Becoming a lector, usher or Eucharistic Minister.

30. Writing to friends and representatives about one’s faith.

29. Going to the gym or exercising daily.

28. Abstaining from a favorite food.

27. Refraining from unpleasant, catty or snarky comments.

26. Saying I love you daily to all of your family.

25. Offering up the most hated chore you have, performing it with a cheerful heart.

24. Receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation and trying to avoid the near occasion of sin.

23. Becoming more educated on the catechism of the Church or it’s history.

22. Matching all extra spending in charity giving.

21. Eliminating television.

20. Banning the cell phone, or blackberry, or computer when not at work.

19. Visiting the sick, the elderly or the imprisoned.

18. Pray for the souls in Purgatory.

17. Seeking reconciliation with estranged family and friends.

16. Giving up a time fritterer –surfing the net, shopping, television, telephone, etc.

15. Having meatless meals all 40 days.

14. Inviting others to mass with you.

13. Clearing out the closets of excessive toys and clothes that can be donated to charity.

12. Comfort the mourning with food, presence and prayer.

11. Contributing to Catholic Charities or an Order.

10. Give masses as gifts for the year.

9. Witnessing to Life via a protest of the abortion, writing letters or participating in a prayerful witness.

8. Host families for dinner on Friday. Discuss your faith.

7. Resolve to sing loudly if not well, at mass, with joy and reverence.

6. Help with the Catechism program of your Church, become a witness for your Faith.

5. Get more involved in the parish and Diocese, find out where help is needed and become that help.

4. Give up any unhealthy habit that keeps you from becoming closer to Christ . (addictions).

3. Spend time discovering a Saint’s faith through their writings.

2. Ask for the graces you lack, daily.

1. Spend time every day, thanking God for His Son.

Have a joy filled Lent!


If you are helping your children celebrate Lent, 2 great places to look for assistance are:

Lent is for Children by Julie Kelemen
Lenten Adventure by Holy Heros - A free web & email based adventure through Lent


How are you choosing to observe Lent? Share with us in the comments section.

News to Know

Houston City Council proposes “Credit Score Enhancement Program” If passed, Houston will give up to $3,000 in grants to individuals who are trying to qualify for mortgages through the city’s homebuyers assistance program. This money will be given to individuals to pay off their credit cards, car loans, or other debts to improve their credit score by 10-20 points, allowing them to qualify for another city grant.

The city has three programs that provide grants for down payments and closing costs for qualified homebuyers. The most generous one offers a $37,500 grant tobuy a home that costs $135,000 or less, but only in certain disadvantaged Houston neighborhoods the city is trying to revitalize. The city made 130 grants to homebuyers last year and hopes to raise that to 540 in 2009, according to Juan Chavez, manager of the city’s Homebuyers Assistance Program.

The money for this grant would come out of the $440K left over from $1.5 million allocated for emergency home and roof repairs after Hurricane Ike. I didn't realize there were any monies still available. There are two houses with blue tarps on my street... in the city of Houston.

News to Know

Texas Republic News has a post about states reaffirming their US Constitutional rights under the 10th Amendment, which states "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Rep. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) has filed HCR 50 (see text here) to make a symbolic declaration to the U.S. Congress that Texas believes the federal government has overstepped its bounds in violating state sovereignty.

Read their article to see which other states are standing up for themselves under the US Constitution.

Getting involved

Friends,

Tonight I'm asking you join me in supporting the Texas State Library & Archives Commission (TSLAC). Those of you who live in Texas know that our state legislature meets biannually, setting the budget for two fiscal years. Each state agency is required to turn in their projected budget and then ask for "exceptional items" - one time requests.

The Texas State Archives archival storage facility has been full since 1992 and has been forced to store archival records in less than ideal locations. They desparately need a new facility that will house the overflow and provide them with another twenty years worth of growth. The TSLAC recognizes this need as Exceptional Item Priority #1.

Wednesday, February 25, the Texas House Appropriations General Government Subcommittee will hear testimony on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s budget.

It would be so helpful if you could take a brief moment on Tuesday, February 24 to contact the chair of the House Appropriations, Rep. John Otto (512) 463-0570 and let him know that you are in full support of the Library & Archives Commission's request for appropriations to construct a facility to properly store and preserve state archival records for future generations.

I have learned that the Texas Library Association (TLA) is fighting strong for TSLAC exceptional items that are lower on the budget priority list, yet TLA is not asking their 7000+ members to support Priority #1. The TLA is very well organized, with a government affairs committee and sponsors for their "Legislative Day" where their members meet in Austin, attend delegate trainings, and then spend the day meeting with representatives.

Therefore it is up to the rest of us to get the word out that we support the TSLAC Priority #1.

Please contact your state representative to express your support fir TSLAC Exceptional Item Priority 1, the expansion of archival storage space.

There are many issues facing the Texas Legislature this year and we are all aware of the present economic state. However, expansion for the Archives records storage area is necessary if they are going to be able to continue their work preserving essential state records. Without phone calls from Texas citizens across the state, this issue may be buried and forgotten.

If you have the time and inclination to contact every member of the House Appropriations General Government Subcommittee, that would be wonderful.

The General Government Subcommittee Members are:
Fred Brown, (512) 463-0698; fred.brown@house.state.tx.us
Brandon Creighton, (512) 463-0726; brandon.creighton@house.state.tx.us
Kino Flores, (512) 463-0704; kino.flores@house.state.tx.us
Abel Herrero (Vice Chair), (512) 463-0462; abel.herrero@house.state.tx.us
John Otto (Chair), (512) 463-0570; john.otto@house.state.tx.us

Thank you very much for your time on this issue.

Life: Imagine the Potential

Such a powerful, yet simple message. While I don’t believe this is a controversial message, some believe it is. See the video at the center of this controversy and decide for yourself.

This is an inspirational message packaged in a beautiful way. It is a celebration of every life, every baby waiting to be born into this world.

CatholicVote.org is the organization behind the video. Their first video was the most watched political commercial on the internet with almost 4 million views during the 2008 Presidential Campaign. You can see it here. It is equally as moving and eloquent in its presentation.

This current ad ran during the Inauguration on BET and was to air again during the Super Bowl last month on NBC. Even being a new organization, they managed to raise the enormous sum required to purchase a coveted ad spot during the big game only to have the ad rejected by NBC because it involved “political advocacy or issues.” At the same time, NBC rejected PETA’s new ad, not for “political advocacy or issues” but due to the sexual nature of the ad. PETA was advised if they cleaned up the ad, NBC would air it.

Not to be deterred, CatholicVote.com attempted to purchase ad time from CNN to run during the President’s first State of the Union Address this week. CNN has now also turned down CatholicVote.com’s money and refused to air the ad. A representative from CNN wrote: "Thank you for your patience. We have decided to pass on this creative. CNN doesn't accept advocacy ads that portray personal decisions in a manner that suggests a position in favor of the advocacy message, without having permission of the persons involved." I'm not even sure how to interpret that comment. The ad isn't saying anything about Obama's personal decisions or beliefs. The ad celebrates the potential of all human life, including President Obama's.

In contrast, a NARAL ad from 2005 that suggested Supreme Court Nominee at the time, John Roberts, supported violence against abortion-clinics was accepted by CNN to run on their network. You can bet money that NARAL didn’t get the permission of John Roberts to suggest he was pro-violence. Despite the patent falsehoods in the ad, at the time CNN issued a statement saying: "CNN accepts advocacy advertising from responsible groups from across the political spectrum who wish to express their views and their opinions about issues of public importance." The ad was eventually pulled off the air by NARAL themselves due to public pressure, not by CNN.

In my opinion, the networks are scared of the simplicity of the message. CatholicVote.com has found a beautiful way to reach out to the masses without making them uncomfortable, without mentioning the elephant in the room. I love this approach to speaking about Life, celebrating Life. They aren’t taking the easy route to get their ad on the air by going with stations they know would air it, but are going for the largest audience who isn’t already fighting for Life. I ask you to join with me in prayer for the determined souls at CatholicVote.com and for their continued success at spreading this beautifully positive message.

Life: Imagine the Potential.

News Junkie

Hi, my name is Lisa... and I'm an addict... I'm addicted to news. Not celebrity, Hollywood star stuff, but real news. This affliction probably started during high school due to my favorite class, Current World Affairs. Our great teacher, Mrs. Robinson, required us to subscribe and read Newsweek every week. In college, as a Political Science major, I subscribed to the Houston Chronicle, the New York Times, Time Magazine, US News and World Report and Newsweek. And to top it off, I actually read them! My roommates and parents thought I was insane. Maybe so, but it got worse when the internet became a part of normal life. I no longer had to subscribe to specific magazines, but could access the web for so much more information! It is amazing how quick and easy you can find more than you ever wanted to know on the internet!

If you are interested in reading more news online, there are lists on the right to some of mine & Shelly's favorite sites that we read routinely. These are great places to find things NBC, CNN, CBS, ABC, MSNBC or the major newspapers, those commonly known as Mainstream Media (MSM), won't talk about or report on.

Checking news online has become such a habit, such a part of my everyday routine, that I feel lost if my day doesn't allow it. I know most people don't have the time or inclination to be addicted to the news like me, so I would love to pass on, from time to time, stories that I find interesting that aren't widely reported. Watch for these articles under the title "News to Know" here on the blog.

Semantics

How important are words? We learn language from our parents, our teachers, our peers. Our vocabulary grows as we are exposed to new words through reading or listening. When we don’t know the definition of a word, we may look it up in a dictionary for its proper meaning, but more likely we look at context—how the word is being used in the sentence—to discern the intended meaning.

What about the word abort?

If I say “Abort mission!” it brings to mind the word stop, as in the Disney movie "The Incredibles" ElastiGirl cries out "Mayday! Mayday! India-Golf Niner-Niner is buddyspiked! Abort-abort, there are children aboard this airplane! Abort-abort-abort! Abort-abort!!"

Abort means to terminate, or end, prematurely, as in before the intended time.

To one of Oklahoma City’s men in blue, the word “abort” meant “kill”, and this misunderstanding could have had serious consequences for a local resident expressing his First Amendment Rights to disagree with the president’s pro-abortion record.

Chip Harrison chose to express his First Amendment Rights by displaying a sign on the back of his car that reads “Abort Obama, not the unborn.” After being followed by the police, he was pulled over. Despite explaining that his sign was a play on words meaning "impeach" Obama not kill him, the officer confiscated the sign and reported Mr. Harrison to the Secret Service as a threat.

Meanwhile, the Secret Service arrived at his home and searched it in front of Mr. Harrison, his wife, and their two year old child. They interviewed him for about 30 minutes and then left, not finding any evidence Harrison was a threat to the president.

You can hear the story in the video below and judge for yourself whether the officer overreacted and violated Mr. Harrison’s First Amendment Rights because of his misinterpretation.

Catholic Politicians Must Protect Life

Did you hear that Nancy Pelosi, U.S. House speaker and a Catholic, had a private meeting with Pope Benedict today? Read the AP report ...

"VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI received Nancy Pelosi, one of the most prominent abortion rights politicians in America, and told her Wednesday that Catholic politicians have a duty to protect life "at all stages of its development." ....

While I recognize that Ms. Pelosi’s mind will not be changed, even by the leader of her professed faith, the Pope’s message is there for all of us members of the Catholic Church. It reflects the importance of Life, in an age where Catholics in the public eye flaunt the hypocrisy between their actions and professed membership in our Faith. Most recently, Ms. Pelosi and others, such as Joe Biden and John Kerry, remind the public they are ardent, practicing Catholics when it is advantageous, but then speak against and publically misrepresent Church beliefs and precepts when it suits them. The Church has been quiet about this type of hypocrisy for far too long. The USCCB and many American Bishops have begun to publically fight back when “Catholic” politicians misstate Church position and doctrine. Their strong voice is long overdue. It is necessary for them to continually stand up for the Church, make their presence known, and lead the way for the priests and the faithful. American Catholics are starved for a strong consistent voice in addition to the Pope, representing issues American Catholics face day to day. We are assaulted daily by negative societal trends that suggest the church teachings are irrelevant and inapplicable today. It is refreshing and welcoming to witness the Pope reminding and warning all Catholics, through his discussion with Ms. Pelosi, of our dedication to protecting and respecting Life.

Another article on the meeting http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/18/pelosi-pope-meeting-minds/

On this topic
Bishops Respond to House Speaker Pelosi’s Misrepresentation of Church Teaching Against Abortion
http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2008/08-120.shtml
http://www.archden.org/images/ArchbishopCorner/ByTopic/onseparationofsense%26state_openlettercjc8.25.08.pdf
A Summary with links to many of the Bishops' statements who spoke out about Ms. Pelosi’s statements
http://www.faithandfamilylive.com/blog/the_bishops_speak/
http://www.faithandfamilylive.com/blog/the_bishops_keep_speaking/

A great website to keep up with US Catholic Politicians and our faith in Public Life
http://www.onenationundergod.org/

Introduction

Welcome to Of Sound Mind and Spirit

During the last election year, Lisa and I traded emails, news links, and musings on the myriad of issues facing our world. We debated, we reasoned, we traded quips and sarcasm. Although we both keep family blogs, those weren't really the place to share our thoughts with others. Facebook has allowed us to reconnect with friends of all backgrounds, but it's not really the place to do more than link to news items that capture our attention. Here we hope to fill that gap we feel is missing.

A few things about us: we're both Catholic, raised during the late 70s, early 80's era of "lost Catholics". After 12 years of CCE we can't recite the cathecism and we may not be able to discern the difference between a mortal and venial sin, but we know that "God Loves Us. " It has been as adults, as mothers, raising our children in the Catholic church, that we are experiencing a return to our faith, a need to delve more deeply into what it means to us. Our Spirit of Love.

We were raised to respect authority, but to reason and think for ourselves. Throughout our lives we were told to be independent, but as grown women with families and children we both call ourselves conservative. We respect life, individuality, and personal responsibility. We believe in education, as both of us have upper level degrees - in History and in the Law. Our Spirit of Power.

So here is our place to contemplate the changes facing our society today. We hope that you will follow us as we discuss issues important to our lives.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.