The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse

For countless years,
personality differences in marriage
have baffled, frustrated, and often
angered even the happiest couples.

In less happy marriages, they've
caused painful --- though
completely unnecessary --- fights,
and sometimes even divorce.

Now comes The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse,
the long-awaited sequel to Art and Laraine Bennett's
bestselling book, The Temperament God Gave You.

In that earlier work, the Bennetts re-introduced the
age-old concept of the four classic temperaments,
and showed how to use them to understand yourself, get
along with others, and grow closer to God.

Now they're back with temperament wisdom designed
specially for couples and guaranteed to improve your
marital communication, intimacy, and happiness:

The Temperament God
Gave Your Spouse.

*
You see, the ancients knew (and too many of us have
forgotten) that each of us has fundamental personality
traits hard-wired into us at birth, traits that affect the
way we respond to the world around us.

And in no other human relationship is knowledge
of these temperaments so critical --- and so helpful ---
as in Christian marriage.

For it's only through mutual understanding of our own
patterns of reaction, and those of our spouse, that we
can motivate, nurture, respect, and above all, love
each other with the selfless patience to which Christ
calls us in the sacrament.

In The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse,
Art and Laraine Bennett provide an accessible
synthesis of classical wisdom, modern counseling
science, and Catholic spirituality: a rich understanding
of the temperaments and what they mean for you
and for your spouse.

Drawing on decades of study, prayer, and practical,
clinical experience, they explain:

* The four kinds of spouses — which kind did you marry?

* How temperament affects the way you and your spouse work, pray, argue, socialize, and show affection

* Tips for developing the communication skills that your temperament needs most, and for nurturing them in your spouse

* All the possible temperament combinations in marriage, and how to handle the unique challenges that yours creates

* Proven ways to figure out what really makes your spouse tick!

*
So often we wish we could make our spouses different
(because they're not just like us); yet the Bennetts
show that true marital contentment lies not in
changing the way God made our loved ones, but in
appreciating it --- and helping them to perfect it.

Read The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse
and discover a new world of understanding
and respect for the person you married.

The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse
Improving Your Marriage by Understanding Your Spouse
by Art and Laraine Bennett

208 pgs ppbk $16.95

ORDER ONLINE
or call:
1-800-888-9344
Sophia Institute Press
PO Box 5284
Manchester, NH 03108
www.sophiainstitute.com

(Please forward this e-mail to others
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CALLING ALL FAMILIES TO DEFEND LIFE!!!

CALLING ALL FAMILIES TO DEFEND LIFE!!!*


The Reproductive "Health" Bills in the Philippines

Reproductive Health Bills are pushed by the PLCPD (Phil. Legislative Committee for Population and Development), a foreign funded NGO with offices questionably located in Congress, precisely where our laws are made. This is in complete violation of our national sovereignty and our pro-family and pro-life Constitution. With formidable financial resources (including the P2 billion budget this year, and backed by a powerful conglomerate of NGO's), they further promote:

* Contraceptive pills, which have side-effects on women (cancer, premature hypertension, heart disease, etc.);
* IUD's, which are abortifacient and may cause intrauterine trauma, pelvic infections and ectopic pregnancy;
* Condoms, as "safe sex" when in fact they have high failure rate even against pregnancy and thus do not protect against AIDS and other STD's;
* Tubal ligation and vasectomy especially targetting the poor, leaving them without the chance to have more children (for example, in case of improved economic situation, or death of their present children) and no support in their old age;
* Value-free sex education that will weaken parental authority and incite adolescents to early sexual activity.

We would rather call them the "reproductive death" bills. They are totally silent on the aforementioned ills which will bring DEATH not only on the body, but to the person, family and society as well: D-ivorce, E-uthanasia, A-bortion, T-yrranical population control, and H-omosexual unions.


A Call to Defend the Filipino Family Against these Bills

We call on all Filipino Families to defend ourselves by defending life. We have so far succeeded in foiling many of the attempts of our lawmakers to enact reproductive health statutes. We believe they are being enticed by monetary and other compensations, but we hope that they will see the grim reality behind reproductive "health." But now could be our last chance. Many countries have fallen into the subtle and the blatant attacks against their families. It is time to organize ourselves better and pressure our leaders to come up with pro-family and pro-life legislation and programs.

We call all men and women of good will, of all creeds, social standing, and political affiliations, to further promote the family. Let us patronize family-safe establishments, and complain to our civil authorities against those offering drugs, gambling, pornography and prostitution, especially those surrounding our homes and our children's schools. Let us BOYCOTT products and services that degrade sex and women in their advertisements. Let us review the textbooks used by our children for promiscuous and anti-parental content. Let us make TV stations know that we want wholesome family entertainment.

Recovering the Family's True Nature

We hope that in the end, children may see their parents as role models of family warmth and citizenship, and that parents and grandparents may experience the appreciation and respect of their children whom they have truly loved and guided. Humane Vitae prophetically warned that we could lose our values if we go against God's design on the responsible transmission of life within the family.

May the Filipino Family, which is the sanctuary of life and love, rediscover and reclaim the peace and joy that rightly belong to us.


[* Flyers available /taken from Sto. Nino de Paz Community, Greenbelt Chapel]

An Awesome Labor of Love

Located about 70 miles from Amarillo, a town called Groom, TX

(An awesome labor of love.)

Read message at the end of pictures!

These are the pictures of the crucifixion of Christ

Sculpted from metal by a man near Amarillo , TX .
The crosses are made of metal also. The man did

this out of the kindness of his heart.

Someone donated the land

On which to erect them.

Who is Jesus?
HE IS JESUS
WHO IS HE?

IN CHEMISTRY, HE TURNED WATER TO WINE.

IN BIOLOGY, HE WAS BORN WITHOUT THE
NORMAL CONCEPTION;

IN PHYSICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF
GRAVITY WHEN HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN;

IN ECONOMICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW
OF DIMINISHING RETURN BY FEEDING 5000 MEN

WITH TWO FISHES & 5 LOAVES OF BREAD;

IN MEDICINE, HE CURED THE SICK AND THE
BLIND WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A SINGLE

DOSE OF DRUGS,

IN HISTORY, HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END;

IN GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THAT HE SHALL
BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR,

PRINCE OF PEACE

IN RELIGION, HE SAID NO ONE COMES TO
THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM;

SO, WHO IS HE?
HE IS JESUS!

JOIN ME AND LET'S CELEBRATE HIM;

HE IS WORTHY.

THE EYES BEHOLDING THIS MESSAGE

SHALL NOT BEHOLD EVIL,

THE HAND THAT WILL
SEND THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYBODY SHALL
NOT LABOR IN VAIN,

AND THE MOUTH SAYING AMEN

TO THIS PRAYER SHALL SMILE FOREVER.

REMAIN IN GOD AND SEEK HIS FACE ALWAYS.
AMEN.

IN GOD I'VE FOUND EVERYTHING!

The Greatest Man in History
Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer

He had no army, yet kings feared Him..

He won no military battles, yet

He conquered the world.
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

The RAIN

Stop at the picture for a second, and watch the Rain... then read on...

One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets
of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the
roads are wet and slick.

Suddenly, my daughter, Aspen,
spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat. "Dad, I'm
thinking of something."

This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some
fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all
that her six-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear.

"What are you thinking?" I asked.

"The rain!" she began, "is like sin, and the windshield
wipers are like God wiping our sins away."

After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond.
"That's really good, Aspen."

Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take
this revelation? So I asked... "Do you notice how the rain
keeps on coming? What does that tell you?"

Aspen didn't hesitate one moment with her answer:
"We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us."

I will always remember this whenever I turn my wipers on.

Isn't it distressing to know that when you forward this message
you will not send it to many on your address list because
you're not sure what they believe, or what they
will think of you for sending it to them.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think
of us than what God thinks of us.

In order to see the Rainbow, you must first endure some Rain.

READ THE FIRST LINE CAREFULLY.

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.

This is a Thomas Kinkade painting. It's rumored to carry a miracle!

They say if you pass this on, you will receive a miracle.
I am passing this on because I thought it was really pretty,and besides, who couldn't use a miracle?!

Saints Calendar

Click to view this email via your browser.

Here's your opportunity to help Catholic Relief Services. A contribution will be made to CRS when your purchase our 2009 Saints Calendar.

Call right now at 1-866-217-8131 or visit our website to purchase online

Copyright © 2008 Cross Marketing, LLC

A True Story Worth Reading. . .

Received this story as a forwared email and found it inspiring. God is good!

Isaiah 65:24 "Before they call, I will answer"

This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa ...

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in Spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby, and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).

We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that
the baby would be wrapped in.

Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm." The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon." While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say,"Amen". I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water Bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door.

By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.

From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be?

I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle.

I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, Beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."

"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24) This awesome prayer takes less than a minute. When you receive this, say the prayer, that's all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but
do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.

Let's continue praying for one another:

Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them
the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask you to do these things in Jesus' name.

P.S. Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both. Passing this on to one not considered a friend is something Christ would do.

"Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move Your feet."

Catholic politician executed for his Faith

"By the age of fifty-five, as a lawyer, officer of the realm, husband, father, popular citizen, speaker, and writer, he had achieved as much fame, wealth, professional success, and genuine affection as any person could desire."

Barack Obama?

Joe Biden?

"Nevertheless, for what most called a foolish scruple of conscience, he threw all that away and died three years later -- alone -- in broken health. His closest political colleagues abandoned him; he was condemned as a traitor, beheaded, and his head placed on a spike on a bridge."

These days, faithful Catholics lose elections; in Thomas More's day, they lost their lives. Thomas More knew that. He knew that the lustful Henry VIII might kill him for his fidelity to the Church. . . . which is why More constantly asked, "How much evil can I tolerate? Where must I take my stand?" Those were dangerous questions in a dangerous time, yet as a politician --- a Catholic politician --- fear never caused Thomas More to waver: "In a storm," he said, "you don't abandon ship just because you can't control the wind." * Today, winds of a fierce new anti-Catholicism buffet us. Just last week, the most powerful political party in America declared the following: "The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right." That's you and me they oppose . . . and any Catholic politician who agrees with the Church that abortion is murder. * When that threatening clause was debated, did a new Thomas More risk his life by rising to denounce it? Did even one major Catholic Democrat risk the displeasure of his party by staying faithful to the Church? * Far from it! Indeed, the Party's nominee for Vice-President (a position equivalent in power to Thomas More's) is a Mass-going Catholic whose support for so-called "abortion rights" was just declared "seriously wrong" by the Archbishop of Denver, Charles Chaput. So wrong, says the Archbishop, that "I presume his integrity will lead him to refrain from presenting himself for Communion." Henry VIII was also once a Mass-going Catholic . . . . . . a politician with faith so strong he wrote A Defense of the Seven Sacraments, one of the most successful works of Catholic apologetics that had yet been produced. Indeed, Pope Leo X personally bestowed on Henry the title, Defender of the Faith, never guessing that a short decade later, Henry would be the mortal enemy of the Faith he had just so ably defended. * Our fathers' generation also saw Catholic politicians repudiate the Faith they once held dear. Before World War II, in the pews, pubs, and union halls of America's cities, millions of poor European immigrants and their children pledged allegiance to the Church of Rome and the party of FDR: the blue-collar, pro-family, pro-life Democratic Party that strongly identified itself with Catholic social teachings. Born in among these people was Catholic author David Carlin, who grew up in working-class Rhode Island in that time when Catholic Faith and the Democratic Party seemed almost synonymous. For four decades Carlin faithfully served the party he loved --- twelve years as a state senator and once as the Democratic candidate for Congress. Then the betrayal! As Thomas More watched helplessly as Henry abandoned his wife and took up with enemies of the Church, so David Carlin watched helplessly as his Party's leaders abandoned their blue-collar, pro-life, and religious constituencies and took up with NOW, Hollywood, and the abortion lobby. * You know, Thomas More was a Catholic, not a partisan. With the ax that would kill him hovering near, his last words saluted the very politician who had condemned him to death: "I die the King's good servant, but God's first." Like Thomas More, David Carlin is a Catholic, not a partisan --- a 21st Century Catholic who yearns to be his Party's good servant, but God's first. Which is why three years ago, his anguish drove him to determine which principles and policies you and I as Catholics are bound in conscience to support, and which we cannot abide if we choose to remain Catholic. Armed with that knowledge, and proceeding with the patience and clear-sightedness of a lifelong Catholic knowing that he may soon be called to account by God, Carlin then evaluated the many policies of his Party that trouble him (policies that some would now have the Republican Party embrace, too). The result is Can a Catholic Be a Democrat?, the most lucid, informative, even-handed Catholic evaluation of the Democratic Party available today. With great sorrow, Carlin concludes that, on issues concerned with human life, sex, faith, morality, suffering --- and the public policies that stem from them --- his once beloved Democratic Party has become, like Henry VIII, the enemy of the Catholic Faith. * As did St. Thomas More before him, Carlin then asks, "As a believing Catholic, how much can I tolerate?" "Where must I take my stand?" * What about you? As politicians in both Parties embrace ever more positions that attack central teachings of our Church, can you stay silent . . . or even vote for them? And if you do, will you, at the end of the day, be able to face God and say, "I die my Party's good servant, but God's first"? * "In a storm," Thomas More said, "don't abandon ship just because you can't control the wind." You and I can't control the anti-Catholic winds blowing through the major political parties today, but, with David Carlin's help, we can learn what, as Catholics, we can do --- nay, must do --- if, as did St. Thomas More, we are to stay engaged in politics and faithful to God and His Church. * Can a Catholic Be a Democrat? will: Clarify your understanding of the issues in this election, and help you see just what is (and is not) at stake; Show you which political positions you as a Catholic can live with, and which require you, like Thomas More, finally to take a stand; Help you explain even non-negotiable Catholic positions to your friends, relatives, and fellow party members; Equip you to make your own party less hostile to your Catholic Faith; And, as you vote in November, ensure that the choices you make there will leave you able finally to say, "I was my Party's good servant, but God's first." May St. Thomas More pray for us, and for all Catholic politicians! John Barger Publisher

Can a Catholic Be a Democrat? by David Carlin $14.95 paperback 256 pages ORDER ONLINE or call: 1-800-888-9344 1-603-641-9344 (Please forward this e-mail to others who might be interested in it.) Sophia Institute Press PO Box 5284 Manchester, NH 03108 www.sophiainstitute.com 1-800-888-9344 I don't want to purchase a book today, but please keep me informed about future books from Sophia Institute Press.