"God is a farmer, and if He abandons man, man becomes a desert. Man is also a farmer and if he leaves God, he turns himself into a desert as well." St. Augustine For Reflection: How have I seen the truth of these words? Am I contemplating "abandoning God" in any way? I will pray for the virtue of patience to remain steadfast lest my soul become a wasteland.

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Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist An article appearing in this Sunday's edition of the New York Times (NYT) celebrates columnist Dan Savage, a homosexual sex-advice guru who claims faithfulness "destroys more marriages than it saves."

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CL writes: "A couple of people I know are considering a session with a gentleman (Yefim Shubentsov) known as the 'Mad Russian' (hypnotist?) in Brookline, MA to help quit smoking (bioenergetics?).  I wanted to know how this stands in the eyes of the Catholic Church."

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Six years ago, I had a heart attack due to stress, not blockage.  Though my recovery was complete, I felt brokenness within my heart. Looking back, I can see God's hand during my recovery. His tenderness was felt in the eyes of my husband, Ken.  His strength was experienced in the hands of the cardiac rehab staff. While recuperating, I became an EWTN junkie.  I watched The Abundant Life and later began watching the Women of Grace® TV programs and learned much from Johnnette, Fr. Ed and their guests.  Johnnette's enthusiasm made me yearn for peace and purpose. One day, after prayer, I asked myself, "Could I become a woman of grace?" At daily Mass, a hunger for Scripture began to grow in my heart.  I signed up for my first bible study at St. Timothy's Church, on Revelation, and realized that I had jumped into deep waters.  My table leader encouraged me to be persistent and watch the Holy Spirit work through the study.  A few months into the study, Scripture began to come alive for me.  The following year, I was asked to be a table leader.  Though I had my doubts, prayer once again opened my heart and I gave a reluctant "yes." Immersing myself in the lessons, I sensed that God wanted me to have a more active faith.  I began volunteering at St. Joseph's Hospital and there I met a pastoral care volunteer who had a deep Marian devotion and an interior radiance.  "Now there's a woman of grace," I thought.  Little did I know, that only a few short years later, I would volunteer as a Eucharistic Minister at the same hospital where I went through cardiac rehab. Last year, a bible study facilitator gave me a flier for the Women of Grace® study series at St. Lawrence Church in Tampa.  I wasn't sure what was involved, but knew I needed to attend.  Once again, God was calling my name.  The facilitators, Isabelle and Amy, modeled a spirit of receptivity, trust, and surrender.  Through the study, I began to pray more before the Blessed Sacrament, to say the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  As a result, I experienced Our Lady as my spiritual mother and a deeper sense of peace and healing in my heart.  It seemed that the Women of Grace study ended too soon but I knew it was time for me to leave the upper room and become an "apostle" for Jesus and Mary. Spiritually transformed and energized, I was inspired to serve God as a Women of Grace facilitator.  In May, I co-facilitated a small group in my home.  At times it felt like I was on training wheels, yet the Holy Spirit worked through my imperfections and it was a blessing to bond with my spiritual sisters.  In June, I co-facilitated a larger group at St. Mark the Evangelist.  The scripture passage "And Jesus said to His disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life....Instead, seek His kingdom...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'" As a former corporate trainer, I learned that facilitating a spiritual study, like Women of Grace, is propelled by the Holy Spirit.  When I surrender to God's love, He does the rest. I am grateful to Our Lady for the gift of a holy boldness.  God truly qualifies the unqualified.  How blessed I feel to play a small part in the anointed work of Women of Grace®.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist International outrage is growing over booklets distributed by a subsidiary of the German government that encourage parents to sexually massage children as young as one year and to allow "unlimited masturbation."

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist Thanks to intense lobbying on Capitol Hill, the office of "Safe School Czar" Kevin Jennings, a radical homosexual activist who was devoted to introducing homosexuality into the nation's public schools, has been eliminated along with nearly three-quarters of its funding.

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"Grandma," called my almost five-year old granddaughter from the backseat of the car. "Yes, Julia," I replied. "Grandma, do you know Jesus' phone number?" "No darling, I don't. But sometimes I sure wish I did!" "Well, how do we talk to Him?" "Oh," I said, "we just have to pray -- even in our hearts -- and He hears us." "How do we know what He says back?" "Julia, Jesus always answers us.  But we hear His answers in our heart. We have to listen very carefully." Things were quiet for a few minutes. "Julia, what are you doing?" I asked. "Shhhh -- Grandma. I'm listening." Are you listening today? "And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. "  -- 1 Kings 19: 11-12

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"My chosen shall not labor in vain." Isaiah 65:23 For Reflection: How do these words bring me hope and faith today? To what extent do they instill the ability to remain patient "until the coming of the Lord?"

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Happy Independence Day! Blessed John Paul II said, "Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought."  Today, this holy concept of freedom is being challenged from Supreme Court decisions to decisions made in our local schools and communities. In the face of it all, we can become discouraged, beleagured, and sick at heart. Let me offer a bit of encouragement I received this morning as I offered a prayer for our country. These words are given to us by the prophet Isaiah in chapter 35. May we find in them hope for our day and time, and direction for our actions:

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"An indispensable requirement in the apostolate is faith, which is often shown by constancy in speaking about God, even though the fruits are slow to appear." St. Josemaria Escriva For Reflection: To what extent do I give in to discouragement? Does it cause me to give up? Am I willing to "stay the course" for the sake of souls?

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