The Sheepfold and the Voice of the Shepherd

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Stone sheepfold John 10:22-30 Recently my boys have been spending a great deal of time outside in the area that will soon be transformed into our garden. They spend endless hours digging in the dirt for worms. They then promptly take those worms and throw them to the chickens. It amazes me how even chickens can learn to recognize sounds or voices. My oldest makes this funny high-pitched sound when he comes out of the house and heads toward the coop. The chickens practically fall over themselves running toward the fence or out of the coop when they hear him making his sound. They know there is food to follow! In Sunday's Gospel Jesus tells us that, "My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me." and "I am the gate for the sheep." Today, again, Jesus mentions that His sheep know His voice and follow Him.  In these few verses we learn that Jesus is both gate and shepherd for the sheep. In those days and even today in some places, a sheepfold w
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The 7 Habits of Holy Catholic Families

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In 1989 Stephen Covey introduced the world to The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.  Something must have struck a collective nerve for it to have sold 15 million copies in 38 languages.  In 1998 Stephen's son Sean wrote wrote a teen version which has become my favorite for it's language, style, and readability.

I was introduced to the Seven Habits in 2009 by my brother, Fr. William Hahn, and began studying the habits in depth.  At the time I was working as the Director of Religious Education for a large parish in Columbus, OH and as luck would have it, the school wanted to implement the habits into the curriculum.  It was my task to make them "Catholic".  I spent months of study and meditation and found that just as Stephen Covey says, "these habits are universal and timeless."

However, I did meet with not a little opposition from parents.  Many complained that these didn't belong in a Catholic school because Covey is Mormon.  Others complained that the habits are designed only for business, not for "real life".  I made it a personal mission to help these parents and parishioners see that the habits could be found in everyday "real life" and most especially in our Catholic Faith.

I have since left the parish and school to follow other pursuits but the habits and that work have stuck with me.  Recently I noticed some bad habits rearing their ugly heads in my own children, their school work (we homeschool), and their attitudes.  I decided it was time to introduce them to The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Catholic Edition.

Over the next few blog posts I'll share with you the habits, how we've been teaching them to our children, but most especially how we can find them in every aspect of our Catholic Faith.  I invite you to join us on this journey.  I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of either book if you are not already familiar with the habits.  There's also a book for the much younger children.

Here is the list of habits, our little memory device, and how we tie it to the faith.  The blog posts will be more in-depth (blog post available when highlighted):

1. Be Proactive - URNCtrl - Exercise your free will.
2. Begin with the End in Mind - STEPS - The ultimate goal is Heaven.
3. Put First Things First - Prioritize - PWP - Pray, Work, Play
4. Think Win-Win - Pi (an endless Pi(e)) - You can't outdo the generosity of God.
5. Seek 1st to Understand, then to be Understood - L3S (Listen, Listen, Listen, Speak) - JOY (Jesus, Others, You)
6. Synergize - 1+1>2 - Help each other to Heaven
7. Sharpen the Saw - SUNDAY - On the seventh day, God rested.


Click here to read more from James M. Hahn - Blog - Books 

Check out his ongoing memoir about life with his special-needs daughter.

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Your support is greatly appreciated and any gift is welcome. I'll be sure to add you to my prayer list and let you know when new books, series, and deals are available.  Thank you!

VENMO




PAYPAL

God bless you - Jim Hahn


* Contains affiliate links. No, that doesn't mean that the kids should leave the room. Rather, it means that if you click on a link, and if you purchase something, I may get some financial remuneration for that click and buy. All that means is that my kids will finally get to eat, just kidding but I may get something, just so you know...

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