Thursday, December 31, 2009

When will they learn?

I just read that the new movie Nine has not had the appeal they expected for a $64 million dollar movie.

I could tell by the previews that there was too much dirt in it for my liking.

We are just ready for clean, fun movies, aren't we?

I have a growing concern for how much they are slipping into PG-13 movies. Hopefully more people will vote with their money . . .

Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Thought for the Day (Holiness)

Am I trying to LOOK holy, or BE holy?

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Get in the Boat!

I've told my good friend for years, that when you are trying to solve a problem with someone with whom you have a disagreement, you need to get in the boat with them. Typically, you both have the same goal--whether it is helping your child succeed, or finishing a project--and if you want to get it done, you have to be the one to get in the boat and paddle with them.

What I mean is that you have to really focus on the end result you are both trying to achieve, and rather than focusing on your disagreement,try to bring them along with you. Good words to accomplish this are words such as "I know we both want the same thing, so let's try to see how we can make it happen," or verbally describe for them the goal, as a simple reminder of why it takes both of you to get it done.

This is particularly helpful when a parent and teacher are at odds. Sometimes parents have an idea about what they want for their child, but they have trouble understanding where the teacher is coming from with their ideas. Just remember, that teacher really does want the best for your child as well.

Little did I realize that this idea of getting in the boat with someone to reach them is scriptural.

Take a look at the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 5, verses 1-11. It is the retelling of Jesus along the Lake of Gennesaret with the fisherman. We usually focus on how he produced an abundance of fish, but look closer.

How did Jesus reach the people?

He got into the boat! He preached to them from where they were. He used language that was familiar to fisherman, and expanded it. "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch," he said, or, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."

We, too, as evangelizers must do the same thing. If you want to reach someone, and draw them in, speak their language, get into their boat, use examples and words they can relate to. I think one of the problems we have today is that we preach and teach from where we are rather than from where our audience is.

I would like to hear your thoughts and learn how you reach others and solve differences.

God bless,
Janet

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Martyrdom of John the Baptist

When Herod ordered John the Baptist to be beheaded,scripture tells us (Mark 6:26) that "The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word . . ."

You see, the daughter of Herodias had performed a dance for the king, and it so delighted all of his guests that he promised her anything. By her mother's prompting, she requested John's head on a platter. Unwilling to go back on his word,spoken in front of everyone, Herod ordered John's death. Scripture tells us that Herod was afraid of John because he knew him to be righteous and holy, so he had been keeping John in custody.

Looking at Herod's actions, we can see that, perhaps, his own pride caused him to order John's death. Not wanting to be embarrassed in front of his guests, he acted grievously. What would it have looked like if the king had gone back on his word?

This is a good lesson for all of us . . . When have I allowed my pride to be destructive to others?

Have I laughed at jokes created at the expense of others?
Have I spoken against someone so as to make myself look better?
Have I, out of a desire to please someone else, acted sinfully?

Sometimes when we read scripture, we think it isn't relevant to us today. We might be tempted to think that this is an old story about a king and a prophet. But when you look deeper at the human behavior, oftentimes we find ourselves in the account being told.

May scripture come alive for you, as you study and reflect on its message and its very real application to your own life. May it encourage you to make any changes that might draw you closer to God's way.

God bless,
Janet

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Assisted Suicide

I was reading in The Week about a British woman who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Upon learning about it, she and her husband said goodbye to their children and committed suicide together. They went to Switzerland to do it because it is legal there. Apparently, her husband felt that after living with her for fifty-four years, he could not live without her. The Week reported that this was troubling because her husband did not have any life-threatening problems. Although, they did say that the husband was frail and losing his sight and hearing.

I can only imagine the pain one would experience at the thought of losing one's spouse, especially after that many years. But where were the doctors and family members to help him with his feelings of hopelessness?

This is very, very sad. There is nothing romantic about this, as some have indicated.

Let us all pray for those who feel such deep pain that they cannot imagine continuing on. May God give them the strength to move forward, one day at a time, until the end of their natural life.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

I Could Have Told you This!!!

Bill Gates, Chairman (and Co-Founder)of Microsoft, while receiving Ghandi's Prize for Peace, reportedly said that although "the technology information revolution had been 'hugely beneficial'" he feels that 'All these tools of tech waste our time if we're not careful.'"

Thank you Mr. Gates. I feel the same way.

We must be VERY CAREFUL with technology so as not to ignore our families and friends by replacing our experiential social friendships with Internet communities of people. Communicating via the printed word--be it texting or typing--is not good for us if it is our primary source of interaction. Why? Because we lose out on the interpersonal skills that are so necessary to our humanity, and, as Bill Gates said so eloquently, we can waste our time.

I made a decision about a year ago that I wanted to live my REAL life, not just spend my days on the computer. Balance, balance, balance. Since I am a writer, I must be very careful to move away from my desk, go outside and get some sunshine and fresh air.

I could have told you long ago, be careful not to waste your life in front of a computer screen. Technology is great--I wouldn't want to be without it--but, we must not allow it to become our life.

God bless,
Janet
(http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gnLb87oFTj__G3tN4dQ7mc4oXE8A)

Monday, April 6, 2009

You knit me in my mother's womb

"How interesting!" I thought, as I reflected on these words of Psalm 139 . . .

"You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb . . . . When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth."

Are these words still relevant today, for a generation where so many are created in a petri dish? What will these words mean to them, knowing they were not "made in secret?"

There is, of course, still the mystery of life and our belief that God is the ultimate Creator, fashioning each of us in his way. But for those who might not be able to look beyond the laboratory, to the mystery of life, or who might think that man creates, these words will be empty.

I was watching a television show one day and was listening to a doctor talk about fertility treatments. In the discussion, he said something like, "We don't make twins as often today as we used to."

He stopped me dead in my tracks. "We" don't make twins? Since when does man create? I thought to myself.

We have simply gone too far. I will stick with the words of Scripture that emphasize that "God" has knit us so wonderfully!

God bless,
Janet
P.S. I have discontinued to CassidyComments for awhile . . .

Monday, March 2, 2009

CassidyComments, Issue #87, Infertility

I was listening to an interview with Liza Mundy on the National Public Radio show Fresh Air with Terry Gross. The discussion was based on Mundy’s book which takes up the current issues surrounding multiple births. She was well versed in the different procedures women use to conceive and the problems and extenuating circumstances that arise from assisted fertility. It was an interesting discussion, but, as often happens when I listen to these types of interviews, my blood begins to boil . . .

Mundy reasoned that if the embryonic research ban were lifted, parents would have less difficulty deciding what to do with their “extra” embryos. She rightly indicated that parents are not fully prepared for the emotional conflicts that result from having to make personal decisions about embryos they have created. From the very beginning, she said, parents have to make decisions about whether to keep, destroy or donate their embryos. Parents, once they have given birth, are often awakened to the reality that embryos will grow into human babies, and this makes their decision about what to do with their saved embryos very difficult.

What raised my ire was her rationale that the parents’ decision could be made easier if they could donate their embryos to science, as if donating an embryo to science changes the fact that a human life is being destroyed! Is it true that parents feel better if they can make their embryonic children martyrs for a scientific cause? When did martyrdom become something chosen for you? I believe all this truly does is massage the guilt of the parents. They have created a complex dilemma which lacks any real, moral solution.

A good read for anyone contemplating fertility treatments is Pope John Paul II’s The Gospel of Life. He warned us of the problems which are now being realized. Every time something comes up in the news about this, I ask myself, “Didn’t anybody listen to him?” If only they had.

Janet
Please visit my website at www.janetcassidy.com for more news and commentary.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Issue #86
February 13, 2009


Is it Time for You to Start Over?

Over the past couple of weeks, I have had computer problems. Big problems. Reformat-your-hard-drive type problems. I’ve never had to do that before, but I am here to say that it is not a fun experience. Back and forth I went, carrying my CPU to the store. Trust me, you never want to hear your IT guy say, “Hmm. That’s weird. Haven’t seen that before.”

I can proudly say I now appreciate the difference between losing your hard drive and having your Windows program corrupted. The latter, which apparently is preferable, was my case. So, I didn’t have to buy a new computer, but I did have to spend days learning how to re-install a printer driver, re-establish Internet security, re-set program preferences, re-this and re-that.

Typically, when something like this happens, I say things like, “Well, it’s a quick way to unburden myself.” because, in the end, I am released from the guilt of not having categorized, dated, or deleted the cluttered bookmarks and files I have been collecting.

How freeing it is, really, when—all of a sudden—you have a clean slate! I suppose it is not unlike the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where the sins that have been cluttering up your life are gone. Forgiven. History. It’s a beautiful thing.

Interestingly, I’ve noticed that I am a little more careful about what I hold onto now, since I have seen how wonderful starting over can truly be . . .

God bless,
Janet

Please visit my website at www.janetcassidy.com for more news and commentary, including my blog!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Cassidy Comments, January 14, 2009 Malaysia--how'd they do it?

I was reading about the singer Rihanna in the paper the other day. There was a report that she was going to do away with her skimpy clothes for her performance in Malaysia, where there are a majority of Muslims and strict rules about on-stage outfits. Apparently two other performers, Gwen Stefani and Avril Lavigne also ran into the same problem.

It was interesting to me that performers are willing, albeit unhappily, to alter their clothing because, as The Flint Journal reported, “Under government guidelines, a female performer must be covered from the top of her chest, including her shoulders, to her knees.”

Oh to be Malaysian.

I’m just kidding. I love the good ole' USA. Besides, they only have about 25 million people. But still, isn’t it amazing that they can get these performers to submit to their guidelines? It makes me wonder. If we held performers to a higher standard and refused to cooperate and attend concerts when they dressed inappropriately, could we have an impact as well? Would they listen if it affected ticket sales? Could enough like-minded people make such a difference in the United States?

Think about it the next time you put your money towards something you know has objectionable content. Who knows? Maybe some day, we, too, could be spared a little indecency.

God bless,

Janet