Work with joy.
Live with love.
Dream from your heart.
Share what you have.
Care deeply.
Be thankful always.
http://www.2000greetings.com/mycard.htm?c=700
Sunday, December 07, 2003
Friday, November 21, 2003
Why Women Cry
A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?"
"Because I'm a woman," she told him. "I don't
understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and
said, "And you never will."
Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does
mother seem to cry for no reason?" "All women cry for
no reason," was all his dad could say.
The little boy grew up and became a man, still
wondering why women cry. Finally he put in a call to
God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do
women cry so easily?" God said: "When I made the
woman, she had to be special. I made her shoulders
strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet
gentle enough to give comfort.
I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and
the rejection that many times comes from her children.
I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep
going when everyone else gives up, and take care of
her family through sickness and fatigue without
complaining.
I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under
any and all circumstances, even when her child has
hurt her very badly. I gave her strength to carry her
husband through his faults and fashioned her from his
rib to protect his heart. I gave her wisdom to know
that a good husband never hurts his wife, but
sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand
beside him unfalteringly.
And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers
exclusively to use whenever it is needed."
"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is
not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she
carries, or the way she combs her hair. The
beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because
that is the doorway to her heart -- the place where
love resides."
"Because I'm a woman," she told him. "I don't
understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and
said, "And you never will."
Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does
mother seem to cry for no reason?" "All women cry for
no reason," was all his dad could say.
The little boy grew up and became a man, still
wondering why women cry. Finally he put in a call to
God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do
women cry so easily?" God said: "When I made the
woman, she had to be special. I made her shoulders
strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet
gentle enough to give comfort.
I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and
the rejection that many times comes from her children.
I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep
going when everyone else gives up, and take care of
her family through sickness and fatigue without
complaining.
I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under
any and all circumstances, even when her child has
hurt her very badly. I gave her strength to carry her
husband through his faults and fashioned her from his
rib to protect his heart. I gave her wisdom to know
that a good husband never hurts his wife, but
sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand
beside him unfalteringly.
And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers
exclusively to use whenever it is needed."
"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is
not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she
carries, or the way she combs her hair. The
beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because
that is the doorway to her heart -- the place where
love resides."
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Aaaaaw
Marty wakes up at home with a huge hangover. He forces himself to open his
eyes, and the first thing he sees is a couple ofaspirins and a glass of
water on the side table. He sits down and sees his clothing in front of
him, all clean and pressed. Marty looks around the room and sees that it
is in a perfect order, spotless, clean. So's the rest of the house. He
takes the aspirins and notices a note on the table "Honey, breakfast is on
the stove, I left early to go shopping. Love you." So he goes to the
kitchen and sure enough there is a hot break-fast and the morning
newspaper. His son is also at the table, eating. Marty asks, "Son, what
happened last night?" His son says, "Well, you came home after 3 A.M.,
drunk and delirious. Broke some furniture, puked in the hallway, and gave
yourself a black eye when you stumbled into the door." Confused, Marty
asks, "So, why is everything in order and so clean, and breakfast is on
the table waiting for me?" His son replies, "Oh that! Mom dragged you to
the bedroom, and when she tried to take your pants off, you said, "Lady,
leave me alone, I'm married'!"
eyes, and the first thing he sees is a couple ofaspirins and a glass of
water on the side table. He sits down and sees his clothing in front of
him, all clean and pressed. Marty looks around the room and sees that it
is in a perfect order, spotless, clean. So's the rest of the house. He
takes the aspirins and notices a note on the table "Honey, breakfast is on
the stove, I left early to go shopping. Love you." So he goes to the
kitchen and sure enough there is a hot break-fast and the morning
newspaper. His son is also at the table, eating. Marty asks, "Son, what
happened last night?" His son says, "Well, you came home after 3 A.M.,
drunk and delirious. Broke some furniture, puked in the hallway, and gave
yourself a black eye when you stumbled into the door." Confused, Marty
asks, "So, why is everything in order and so clean, and breakfast is on
the table waiting for me?" His son replies, "Oh that! Mom dragged you to
the bedroom, and when she tried to take your pants off, you said, "Lady,
leave me alone, I'm married'!"
Monday, November 10, 2003
The Power of the Human Spirit
>
> > > Sometimes when you know that what you do matters to people, you
end up
> > > accomplishing the most challenging task. Excellent material.
Take time
> > > to read...
> > >
> > > Please take time to read this, and share with our Pinoy friends.
> > > It> '> s not just I-me-myself, career and making money that
counts.
> > >
> > > Just want to share with you the very inspiring speech of our
guest
> > > speaker, > > Dr. Josette Biyo, during San Miguel> '> s Best
Practices Forum held at
> > > the > > Edsa Shangrila last Friday. Dr. Biyo is a public school
teacher from
> > > Iloilo who won the Intel Excellence in Teaching award in the US,
> > besting
> > > 4,000 candidates from all around the world. When asked by the
judges
> > > why > > a Phd holder like her opted to teach in a public school
in Iloilo,
> > > her > > response was, > "> And who would teach the kids?> ">
> > >
> > > The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in
Boston
> > >> > named a minor planet in her honor. Read the rest of her
story below.
>
> > >
> > > > "> The Power of the Human Spirit> ">
> > > Dr. Josette T. Biyo
> > > 24 October 2003
> > > Edsa Shangrila, Manila
> > >
> > > Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. For a high school
teacher to
> > > speak > > before a large group of business executives for
the first
> > > time is > > overwhelming. But it is indeed a great honor and
a privilege to
> > > speak to > > the group of people who is responsible for
making San Miguel
> > > Corporation > > the top food and beverage company in the
country, and on its
> > > way to > > becoming one of the top companies in the
Asia-Pacific. I am here to
> > > talk > > about > "> The Power of the Human Spirit.> ">
Indeed, the human spirit
> > > has no > > limits. If you dream big, and you have the
determination and the
> > > will to > > pursue your dream, it will become a reality. I
dreamt of making
> > > stars; > > I was given a planet.
> > >
> > > A few months ago, I was featured in the local, national and
> > > international > > newspapers. I caused a stir to be the
first Asian teacher to
> > > win the > > > "> Intel Excellence in Teaching Award> "> in an
international competition
> > > held > > in the U.S. Since its inception in 1997, no Asian
teacher has
> > > received > > this award. But I think what created waves was,
I am a Filipino,
> > > and I > > defeated 4,000 other teachers from around the world,
including the
> > > American > > finalists in their hometown. Because of this, the
Massachusetts
> > > Institute > > of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Boston
named a Minor Planet
> > > in my > > honor. There is now a Planet Biyo rotating
around the sun
> > > which is > > located between Mars and Jupiter.
> > >
> > > What made me win in this international competition? What made
me
> > > stand out > > from among the best teachers in the world?
My road to attaining
> > > this > > international recognition is a very long 23
years of
> > > improving and > > harnessing my craft as a teacher. I
consistently study and
> > > learn new > > skills to improve my method of teaching. I
want my methods
> > > to be > > interesting, relevant, and fun for students. For
just like any
> > > product, > > the measure of teaching success is clientele
satisfaction.
> > >
> > > I finished a B.S. Biology degree from U.P. in the Visayas
hoping to
> > > be a > > medical doctor. For lack of financial resources
however, I took the>
> > > first > > job opportunity available- teaching. Never did I
regret this
> > > twist of > > fate. The day I entered the classroom, I knew
I would be an
> > > excellent > > teacher.
> > >
> > > My first eight years of teaching were spent in a rural school.
For
> > > lack > > of teachers in proportion to the number of
students, I taught not
> > > only > > biology, but also other subjects outside my field
such as English,
> > > Music, > > and Physical .Education. The materials, equipment,
and facilities
> > > for the > > type of effective teaching I had in mind were
absent. These
> > > challenges > > however did not dampen my enthusiasm for the
job. In fact, I became
> > > more > > creative and innovative.
> > >
> > > I believe that teaching and learning should not be confined
> > > within the > > classroom. Even during those first few years of
teaching, I see to it
> > > that > > the science concepts I discuss inside the class
would have
> > > social > > dimensions. Thus, I took an active role in
school as moderator
> > > of the > > Rural Health and Science Education Committee. I
designed outreach
> > > programs > > for students and teachers. Through these
programs, students were
> > > trained > > to teach primary health care to the people in
the barangays. They
> > > also > > taught barrio folks how to make cough syrup from
plant extracts and
> > > soap > > from coconut oil. Students also gave lectures on
environmental
> > > protection > > and conservation.
> > >
> > > Those eight years of teaching in a rural school has prepared me
for
> > > greater > > challenges ahead. Working with the children of
the poor has
> > > instilled in > > me the importance of service, compassion, and
respect for human
> > > dignity. I > > have learned to love teaching, and I see
it as an
> > > instrument for > > transforming the person and the community.
> > >
> > > After eight years of teaching however, I felt I had nothing more
to
> > > give to > > my students. I resigned from my teaching job and
enrolled as a full
> > > time > > M.S. in Biology student at De La Salle University in
Manila. I was
> > > lucky > > to get a scholarship which included free tuition and a
monthly
> > > stipend.
> > >
> > > To augment my stipend, I taught as part-time lecturer in
the
> > > Biology > > department and worked as research assistant
by one of the
> > > senior > > researchers in the university. This I did on top of
my full-time MS
> > > load. > > I was so engrossed with my studies however, that I
finished my M.S.
> > > degree > > in one year and five months only, after which,
DLSU took me in as a
> > > full > > time assistant professor.
> > >
> > > Teaching college students at De La Salle University was an
> > > entirely new > > experience. With modern and sophisticated
equipment at my
> > > disposal, my > > world opened to the wonders of scientific
research. However, I still
> > > value > > the importance of nature as a big laboratory
such that in my
> > > ecology > > classes, I would bring my students to the seas of
Batangas, the
> > > rivers of > > Rizal, and the lahar-affected areas of Pampanga
to conduct field
> > > studies. > > Pursuing my Ph. D. while teaching also enabled
me to conduct
> > > researches > > which were presented in the country and abroad.
> > >
> > > Research is very exciting. It means sleepless nights,
> > > disappointments, > > physical and mental exhaustion. But the
joy of discovering
> > > something new > > in nature makes it all worthwhile.
> > >
> > > While Manila has provided me with opportunities for
professional
> > > growth, I > > still feel that my heart is in Iloilo. Thus, with
an additional
> > > degree and > > one additional son, I brought back my family to
Iloilo in summer of>
> > > 1995.
> > >
> > > In June 1995, Philippine Science High School Western Visayas
hired me
> > > as a > > Special Science Teacher. Only on its third year of
existence, the
> > > school > > welcomed my suggestions and expertise. I
helped develop its
> > > Science > > Research curriculum and introduced some
innovations for
> > > teaching the > > course.
> > >
> > > Barely a year of teaching at Pisay, I realized that my role was
not
> > > only to > > teach students but to train teachers as well.
This I do by
> > > organizing > > workshops for teachers in the region.
> > >
> > > One day, I received a letter from the students. The letter
said,
> > > > "> Dear > > Ma> '> am Josette, we know you are being
groomed for directorship
> > > of the > > school, and you would want to be the director
someday, given the
> > > chance. > > The thing is, we don> '> t want you to be the
director. We just want you
> > > to be > > a teacher. Pisay needs teachers like you. The
Philippines needs
> > > teachers > > like you.> "> Their letter touched me deeply.
> > >
> > > When I won the Metrobank Foundation Award in 1997 as one of the
> > > outstanding > > teachers in the country, the Pisay community
gave me a poster. The
> > > poster > > was a white cartolina filled with signatures of
students, teachers,
> > > and the > > non-teaching staff. In the center was a
painting of a rose,
> > > and the > > message which says, > "> You are the song that
plays so softly in our
> > > hearts; > > that gives us inspiration to aim for greater
heights and bigger
> > > dreams. > > Congratulations. We are so proud of you.> ">
> > >
> > > In 1998, I won another national award as one of > "> The
Outstanding
> > > Young > > Filipino> "> formerly known as the TOYM in the
field of Secondary
> > > Education. > > Last year, I won the > "> 2002 Intel
Excellence in Teaching Award> ">
> > > in an > > international competition held at Louisville, Kentucky
from May 10-17.
> > >
> > > In Kentucky, I presented to the panel of judges and to about
150
> > > teachers > > from all over the world my method of teaching
Science Research
> > > to my > > students in Iloilo. I told them that the
Philippines is a third
> > > world > > country blessed with abundant natural resources.
However, we face
> > > problems > > such as the rapidly declining environment and
the lack of
> > > equipment and > > facilities for scientific endeavors.
Faced with this
> > > situation, I > > introduced innovations and strategies for
teaching the course.
> > > These > > innovations included: a) building a scientific
library, b)
> > > conducting > > field studies, c) establishing linkages with
research institutions
> > > in the > > country, d) holding science forums in school, and
e) teaching
> > > students > > laboratory and field techniques which would
help them in the
> > > conduct of > > their research work.
> > >
> > > The judges and teachers from different parts of the world were
amazed
> > > that > > even in the absence of sophisticated equipment, my
students were
> > > able to > > produce quality research outputs beyond their
expectations.
> > >
> > > At this point in time, let me show to you what we do in
our
> > > Science > > Research class? ( a five minute power point
presentation of my
> > > class > > activities).
> > >
> > > I went to Kentucky with three high school students from the
Manila
> > > Science > > High School, and one student from the Mindanao
State
> > > University-Iligan > > Institute of Technology. These
students competed in the
> > > International > > Science and Engineering Fair which was held
back to back with the
> > > teaching > > competition. The students from Manila Science
competed for a team
> > > > project > > in Physics, while the student from Iligan
competed for the
> > > individual > > category in the field of Microbiology. These
students were competing
> > > with > > 1,200 other students from around the world.
> > >
> > > May 17, 2002 was a glorious moment for the Philippine
delegation
> > > in the > > U.S. When it was announced that the student from
Iligan won second
> > > place > > grand award for Microbiology, our delegation was
ecstatic. When
> > > it was > > announced that the students from Manila Science won
first place grand
> > > award > > for Physics, our group was delirious. When the grand
award for
> > > > "> Excellence > > Teaching> "> was announced, and for
the first time in the history
> > > of the > > event an Asian teacher won, and a Filipino, there
was a standing
> > > ovation > > from the crowd as the Philippine flag was waved in
the air.
> > >
> > > The Philippine delegation> '> s road to success in
Kentucky was far
> > > from > > smooth. We almost never made it to the U.S.
Our visa
> > > interview was > > scheduled on May 29 when we were supposed
to be competing in the
> > > U.S. by > > May 10. Almost desperate, we went to the Department
of Foreign
> > > Affairs for > > help, only to be told that the Office cannot
give us an endorsement
> > > letter > > to the U.S. Embassy because they cannot guarantee
that we are coming
> > > back.
> > >
> > > It was a painful experience for me and the students. Anyway,
we were
> > > able > > to get our visa on the last minute the most
unconventional way, and
> > > brought > > glory to this country.
> > >
> > > Let me show to you the scenario during the first day of
the
> > > teaching > > competition?.
> > >
> > > When I entered the judging area, one table in front was
occupied
> > > by the > > board of judges. At the right side of the room, the
table was
> > > occupied by > > the finalist from China and her supporters.
The table at the left
> > > side > > was occupied by the finalists from U.S.. and their
supporters. The
> > > center > > table for the Filipino finalist was empty. I sat
there alone.
> > >
> > > I went to the U.S. bringing a CD for my presentation. I also
brought
> > > some > > transparencies and a white board pen in case my CD won>
'> t work. Coming
> > > from > > a third world country, I was prepared for the worst.
It turned out,
> > > I was > > the only finalist without a notebook computer.
Luckily, one
> > > American > > finalist lend me his computer; but before
doing so, he gave me a
> > > brief > > lecture on the parts of the computer and its use.
> > >
> > > I was the fourth presenter. When it was my turn to present, a
panel
> > > member > > asked if I needed an interpreter. I said, > "> No
thanks.> "> A personnel
> > > from > > Intel volunteered to run my presentation. I said, >
"> I can do it.> ">
> > > After > > my presentation, they said, > "> Wow, you> '> re so
cool. You know more than
> > > us!> ">
> > >
> > > What am I telling you? That despite our country> '> s
limited
> > > resources, > > Filipinos can compete globally given the
proper training,
> > > support and > > exposure. Our winning at the international
scene may not
> > > reflect the > > general condition of science education in
the country. But
> > > with our > > concerted efforts, my dear fellowmen, we can move
this country
> > > forward and > > show the world that we are a globally
competitive race.
> > >
> > > Last May, I was in Cleveland, Ohio to present my methods of
> > > teaching to > > 150 teachers from 17 countries. I also served
as the team
> > > facilitator for > > the Spanish-speaking teachers from Brazil,
Costa Rica and Argentina..
> > > Last > > August, I gave a demonstration lesson to educators
from the third>
> > > world > > countries of Laos and Cambodia.
> > >
> > > Filipinos are indeed talented and will excel at the
international
> > > level in > > their individual capacity. But as a country,
we lag behind.
> > > This is > > because we lack the spirit of community
which is very strong
> > > among > > progressive nations.
> > >
> > > When I went home to Iloilo after the competition in the
U.S., my
> > > school > > gave me a very warm welcome. During the convocation,
students and
> > > teachers > > expressed how proud they are of me. I told them,
> "> I am very proud
> > > of you > > too. It is you who has brought me to where I am
now. Our
> > > experiences > > together has brought world attention to
the fact that hey,
> > > there> '> s a > > world-class school out there in Iloilo; a
school with world-class
> > > teachers > > and students. I told the teachers and I quote
Mr. De Quiros that
> > > > "> being > > world-class doesn> '> t mean going
internationally and showing our
> > > best out > > there. Being world-class is passion and
commitment to our
> > > profession. > > Being world-class is giving our best to
teaching. Being world-class
> > > starts > > right inside the classroom.> ">
> > >
> > > In winning this international award, I do not claim to be the
best
> > > teacher > > of the land. There are thousands of best
teachers out there,
> > > working > > silently, giving their hearts to teaching, without
thinking of
> > > benefits or > > rewards. I salute these teachers. In winning
this award, I believe
> > > I was > > just commissioned by somebody up there to deliver the
message that
> > > indeed, > > Filipino teachers can be world-class teachers.
In winning this
> > > award, I > > have shown to the world that Filipinos can be
world-class if they
> > > choose to > > be. And more importantly, I have shown to my
fellow Filipinos that
> > > they > > can be world-class if they choose to be. That if we
do our best,
> > > we can > > conquer the world.
> > >
> > > During the panel interview in the U.S., one judge asked me,
> "> You
> > > have a > > Ph.D. in Biology, why do you teach in high school?>
"> I answered,
> > > > "> And who > > will teach these kids?> "> Another judge
asked if how much am I paid
> > > for all > > my pains. They were shocked when I told them that
I am getting a
> > > net pay > > of not more than $300. a month.
> > >
> > > When your job becomes your mission, your primary concern is
giving
> > > your > > best in everything you do. Knowing that you have
contributed
> > > significantly > > towards the creation of a product which
can make a difference in
> > > your > > company and the larger community is reward in itself.
> > >
> > > Believe in what you are doing. Believe that you can make a
> > > difference. > > Believing however doesn> '> t mean you have
to stop from where you are
> > > now. > > Believing is improving your skills and maximizing
your potential.
> > > With > > determination and the will to win, your company can
conquer the world.
> > >
> > > As members of the San Miguel Family, you are lucky to take
part
> > > in the > > production of high quality and accessible
consumer products that
> > > can be > > found in every Filipino home. Your skills do not
only contribute
> > > to the > > development of the country> '> s economy, but you
also bring out the
> > > spirit > > of fun, joy, and laughter into the lives of the
people; thus helping
> > > make > > everyday life a celebration. Your capable hands can
paint a true
> > > image of > > the Filipino as a people- intelligent,
hard-working,
> > > passionate, > > fun-loving, creative, innovative, > ">
magaling!.> ">
> > >
> > > You could paint one bright picture of this country and its
people
> > > > - by > > your achievements in the workplace, your teamwork,
integrity,
> > > passion for > > success, and your discharge of civic
responsibilities. You can
> > > show the > > world that you are the new technocrats, capable
and willing to
> > > meet the > > challenges of the new order of market
globalization. You can show the
> > > world > > that you are the new citizenry, capable of making
this country a
> > > worthy > > member of the league of peace-loving nations.
> > >
> > > Be proud!
> > >
> > > Thank you very much.
> > > Sometimes when you know that what you do matters to people, you
end up
> > > accomplishing the most challenging task. Excellent material.
Take time
> > > to read...
> > >
> > > Please take time to read this, and share with our Pinoy friends.
> > > It> '> s not just I-me-myself, career and making money that
counts.
> > >
> > > Just want to share with you the very inspiring speech of our
guest
> > > speaker, > > Dr. Josette Biyo, during San Miguel> '> s Best
Practices Forum held at
> > > the > > Edsa Shangrila last Friday. Dr. Biyo is a public school
teacher from
> > > Iloilo who won the Intel Excellence in Teaching award in the US,
> > besting
> > > 4,000 candidates from all around the world. When asked by the
judges
> > > why > > a Phd holder like her opted to teach in a public school
in Iloilo,
> > > her > > response was, > "> And who would teach the kids?> ">
> > >
> > > The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in
Boston
> > >> > named a minor planet in her honor. Read the rest of her
story below.
>
> > >
> > > > "> The Power of the Human Spirit> ">
> > > Dr. Josette T. Biyo
> > > 24 October 2003
> > > Edsa Shangrila, Manila
> > >
> > > Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. For a high school
teacher to
> > > speak > > before a large group of business executives for
the first
> > > time is > > overwhelming. But it is indeed a great honor and
a privilege to
> > > speak to > > the group of people who is responsible for
making San Miguel
> > > Corporation > > the top food and beverage company in the
country, and on its
> > > way to > > becoming one of the top companies in the
Asia-Pacific. I am here to
> > > talk > > about > "> The Power of the Human Spirit.> ">
Indeed, the human spirit
> > > has no > > limits. If you dream big, and you have the
determination and the
> > > will to > > pursue your dream, it will become a reality. I
dreamt of making
> > > stars; > > I was given a planet.
> > >
> > > A few months ago, I was featured in the local, national and
> > > international > > newspapers. I caused a stir to be the
first Asian teacher to
> > > win the > > > "> Intel Excellence in Teaching Award> "> in an
international competition
> > > held > > in the U.S. Since its inception in 1997, no Asian
teacher has
> > > received > > this award. But I think what created waves was,
I am a Filipino,
> > > and I > > defeated 4,000 other teachers from around the world,
including the
> > > American > > finalists in their hometown. Because of this, the
Massachusetts
> > > Institute > > of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Boston
named a Minor Planet
> > > in my > > honor. There is now a Planet Biyo rotating
around the sun
> > > which is > > located between Mars and Jupiter.
> > >
> > > What made me win in this international competition? What made
me
> > > stand out > > from among the best teachers in the world?
My road to attaining
> > > this > > international recognition is a very long 23
years of
> > > improving and > > harnessing my craft as a teacher. I
consistently study and
> > > learn new > > skills to improve my method of teaching. I
want my methods
> > > to be > > interesting, relevant, and fun for students. For
just like any
> > > product, > > the measure of teaching success is clientele
satisfaction.
> > >
> > > I finished a B.S. Biology degree from U.P. in the Visayas
hoping to
> > > be a > > medical doctor. For lack of financial resources
however, I took the>
> > > first > > job opportunity available- teaching. Never did I
regret this
> > > twist of > > fate. The day I entered the classroom, I knew
I would be an
> > > excellent > > teacher.
> > >
> > > My first eight years of teaching were spent in a rural school.
For
> > > lack > > of teachers in proportion to the number of
students, I taught not
> > > only > > biology, but also other subjects outside my field
such as English,
> > > Music, > > and Physical .Education. The materials, equipment,
and facilities
> > > for the > > type of effective teaching I had in mind were
absent. These
> > > challenges > > however did not dampen my enthusiasm for the
job. In fact, I became
> > > more > > creative and innovative.
> > >
> > > I believe that teaching and learning should not be confined
> > > within the > > classroom. Even during those first few years of
teaching, I see to it
> > > that > > the science concepts I discuss inside the class
would have
> > > social > > dimensions. Thus, I took an active role in
school as moderator
> > > of the > > Rural Health and Science Education Committee. I
designed outreach
> > > programs > > for students and teachers. Through these
programs, students were
> > > trained > > to teach primary health care to the people in
the barangays. They
> > > also > > taught barrio folks how to make cough syrup from
plant extracts and
> > > soap > > from coconut oil. Students also gave lectures on
environmental
> > > protection > > and conservation.
> > >
> > > Those eight years of teaching in a rural school has prepared me
for
> > > greater > > challenges ahead. Working with the children of
the poor has
> > > instilled in > > me the importance of service, compassion, and
respect for human
> > > dignity. I > > have learned to love teaching, and I see
it as an
> > > instrument for > > transforming the person and the community.
> > >
> > > After eight years of teaching however, I felt I had nothing more
to
> > > give to > > my students. I resigned from my teaching job and
enrolled as a full
> > > time > > M.S. in Biology student at De La Salle University in
Manila. I was
> > > lucky > > to get a scholarship which included free tuition and a
monthly
> > > stipend.
> > >
> > > To augment my stipend, I taught as part-time lecturer in
the
> > > Biology > > department and worked as research assistant
by one of the
> > > senior > > researchers in the university. This I did on top of
my full-time MS
> > > load. > > I was so engrossed with my studies however, that I
finished my M.S.
> > > degree > > in one year and five months only, after which,
DLSU took me in as a
> > > full > > time assistant professor.
> > >
> > > Teaching college students at De La Salle University was an
> > > entirely new > > experience. With modern and sophisticated
equipment at my
> > > disposal, my > > world opened to the wonders of scientific
research. However, I still
> > > value > > the importance of nature as a big laboratory
such that in my
> > > ecology > > classes, I would bring my students to the seas of
Batangas, the
> > > rivers of > > Rizal, and the lahar-affected areas of Pampanga
to conduct field
> > > studies. > > Pursuing my Ph. D. while teaching also enabled
me to conduct
> > > researches > > which were presented in the country and abroad.
> > >
> > > Research is very exciting. It means sleepless nights,
> > > disappointments, > > physical and mental exhaustion. But the
joy of discovering
> > > something new > > in nature makes it all worthwhile.
> > >
> > > While Manila has provided me with opportunities for
professional
> > > growth, I > > still feel that my heart is in Iloilo. Thus, with
an additional
> > > degree and > > one additional son, I brought back my family to
Iloilo in summer of>
> > > 1995.
> > >
> > > In June 1995, Philippine Science High School Western Visayas
hired me
> > > as a > > Special Science Teacher. Only on its third year of
existence, the
> > > school > > welcomed my suggestions and expertise. I
helped develop its
> > > Science > > Research curriculum and introduced some
innovations for
> > > teaching the > > course.
> > >
> > > Barely a year of teaching at Pisay, I realized that my role was
not
> > > only to > > teach students but to train teachers as well.
This I do by
> > > organizing > > workshops for teachers in the region.
> > >
> > > One day, I received a letter from the students. The letter
said,
> > > > "> Dear > > Ma> '> am Josette, we know you are being
groomed for directorship
> > > of the > > school, and you would want to be the director
someday, given the
> > > chance. > > The thing is, we don> '> t want you to be the
director. We just want you
> > > to be > > a teacher. Pisay needs teachers like you. The
Philippines needs
> > > teachers > > like you.> "> Their letter touched me deeply.
> > >
> > > When I won the Metrobank Foundation Award in 1997 as one of the
> > > outstanding > > teachers in the country, the Pisay community
gave me a poster. The
> > > poster > > was a white cartolina filled with signatures of
students, teachers,
> > > and the > > non-teaching staff. In the center was a
painting of a rose,
> > > and the > > message which says, > "> You are the song that
plays so softly in our
> > > hearts; > > that gives us inspiration to aim for greater
heights and bigger
> > > dreams. > > Congratulations. We are so proud of you.> ">
> > >
> > > In 1998, I won another national award as one of > "> The
Outstanding
> > > Young > > Filipino> "> formerly known as the TOYM in the
field of Secondary
> > > Education. > > Last year, I won the > "> 2002 Intel
Excellence in Teaching Award> ">
> > > in an > > international competition held at Louisville, Kentucky
from May 10-17.
> > >
> > > In Kentucky, I presented to the panel of judges and to about
150
> > > teachers > > from all over the world my method of teaching
Science Research
> > > to my > > students in Iloilo. I told them that the
Philippines is a third
> > > world > > country blessed with abundant natural resources.
However, we face
> > > problems > > such as the rapidly declining environment and
the lack of
> > > equipment and > > facilities for scientific endeavors.
Faced with this
> > > situation, I > > introduced innovations and strategies for
teaching the course.
> > > These > > innovations included: a) building a scientific
library, b)
> > > conducting > > field studies, c) establishing linkages with
research institutions
> > > in the > > country, d) holding science forums in school, and
e) teaching
> > > students > > laboratory and field techniques which would
help them in the
> > > conduct of > > their research work.
> > >
> > > The judges and teachers from different parts of the world were
amazed
> > > that > > even in the absence of sophisticated equipment, my
students were
> > > able to > > produce quality research outputs beyond their
expectations.
> > >
> > > At this point in time, let me show to you what we do in
our
> > > Science > > Research class? ( a five minute power point
presentation of my
> > > class > > activities).
> > >
> > > I went to Kentucky with three high school students from the
Manila
> > > Science > > High School, and one student from the Mindanao
State
> > > University-Iligan > > Institute of Technology. These
students competed in the
> > > International > > Science and Engineering Fair which was held
back to back with the
> > > teaching > > competition. The students from Manila Science
competed for a team
> > > > project > > in Physics, while the student from Iligan
competed for the
> > > individual > > category in the field of Microbiology. These
students were competing
> > > with > > 1,200 other students from around the world.
> > >
> > > May 17, 2002 was a glorious moment for the Philippine
delegation
> > > in the > > U.S. When it was announced that the student from
Iligan won second
> > > place > > grand award for Microbiology, our delegation was
ecstatic. When
> > > it was > > announced that the students from Manila Science won
first place grand
> > > award > > for Physics, our group was delirious. When the grand
award for
> > > > "> Excellence > > Teaching> "> was announced, and for
the first time in the history
> > > of the > > event an Asian teacher won, and a Filipino, there
was a standing
> > > ovation > > from the crowd as the Philippine flag was waved in
the air.
> > >
> > > The Philippine delegation> '> s road to success in
Kentucky was far
> > > from > > smooth. We almost never made it to the U.S.
Our visa
> > > interview was > > scheduled on May 29 when we were supposed
to be competing in the
> > > U.S. by > > May 10. Almost desperate, we went to the Department
of Foreign
> > > Affairs for > > help, only to be told that the Office cannot
give us an endorsement
> > > letter > > to the U.S. Embassy because they cannot guarantee
that we are coming
> > > back.
> > >
> > > It was a painful experience for me and the students. Anyway,
we were
> > > able > > to get our visa on the last minute the most
unconventional way, and
> > > brought > > glory to this country.
> > >
> > > Let me show to you the scenario during the first day of
the
> > > teaching > > competition?.
> > >
> > > When I entered the judging area, one table in front was
occupied
> > > by the > > board of judges. At the right side of the room, the
table was
> > > occupied by > > the finalist from China and her supporters.
The table at the left
> > > side > > was occupied by the finalists from U.S.. and their
supporters. The
> > > center > > table for the Filipino finalist was empty. I sat
there alone.
> > >
> > > I went to the U.S. bringing a CD for my presentation. I also
brought
> > > some > > transparencies and a white board pen in case my CD won>
'> t work. Coming
> > > from > > a third world country, I was prepared for the worst.
It turned out,
> > > I was > > the only finalist without a notebook computer.
Luckily, one
> > > American > > finalist lend me his computer; but before
doing so, he gave me a
> > > brief > > lecture on the parts of the computer and its use.
> > >
> > > I was the fourth presenter. When it was my turn to present, a
panel
> > > member > > asked if I needed an interpreter. I said, > "> No
thanks.> "> A personnel
> > > from > > Intel volunteered to run my presentation. I said, >
"> I can do it.> ">
> > > After > > my presentation, they said, > "> Wow, you> '> re so
cool. You know more than
> > > us!> ">
> > >
> > > What am I telling you? That despite our country> '> s
limited
> > > resources, > > Filipinos can compete globally given the
proper training,
> > > support and > > exposure. Our winning at the international
scene may not
> > > reflect the > > general condition of science education in
the country. But
> > > with our > > concerted efforts, my dear fellowmen, we can move
this country
> > > forward and > > show the world that we are a globally
competitive race.
> > >
> > > Last May, I was in Cleveland, Ohio to present my methods of
> > > teaching to > > 150 teachers from 17 countries. I also served
as the team
> > > facilitator for > > the Spanish-speaking teachers from Brazil,
Costa Rica and Argentina..
> > > Last > > August, I gave a demonstration lesson to educators
from the third>
> > > world > > countries of Laos and Cambodia.
> > >
> > > Filipinos are indeed talented and will excel at the
international
> > > level in > > their individual capacity. But as a country,
we lag behind.
> > > This is > > because we lack the spirit of community
which is very strong
> > > among > > progressive nations.
> > >
> > > When I went home to Iloilo after the competition in the
U.S., my
> > > school > > gave me a very warm welcome. During the convocation,
students and
> > > teachers > > expressed how proud they are of me. I told them,
> "> I am very proud
> > > of you > > too. It is you who has brought me to where I am
now. Our
> > > experiences > > together has brought world attention to
the fact that hey,
> > > there> '> s a > > world-class school out there in Iloilo; a
school with world-class
> > > teachers > > and students. I told the teachers and I quote
Mr. De Quiros that
> > > > "> being > > world-class doesn> '> t mean going
internationally and showing our
> > > best out > > there. Being world-class is passion and
commitment to our
> > > profession. > > Being world-class is giving our best to
teaching. Being world-class
> > > starts > > right inside the classroom.> ">
> > >
> > > In winning this international award, I do not claim to be the
best
> > > teacher > > of the land. There are thousands of best
teachers out there,
> > > working > > silently, giving their hearts to teaching, without
thinking of
> > > benefits or > > rewards. I salute these teachers. In winning
this award, I believe
> > > I was > > just commissioned by somebody up there to deliver the
message that
> > > indeed, > > Filipino teachers can be world-class teachers.
In winning this
> > > award, I > > have shown to the world that Filipinos can be
world-class if they
> > > choose to > > be. And more importantly, I have shown to my
fellow Filipinos that
> > > they > > can be world-class if they choose to be. That if we
do our best,
> > > we can > > conquer the world.
> > >
> > > During the panel interview in the U.S., one judge asked me,
> "> You
> > > have a > > Ph.D. in Biology, why do you teach in high school?>
"> I answered,
> > > > "> And who > > will teach these kids?> "> Another judge
asked if how much am I paid
> > > for all > > my pains. They were shocked when I told them that
I am getting a
> > > net pay > > of not more than $300. a month.
> > >
> > > When your job becomes your mission, your primary concern is
giving
> > > your > > best in everything you do. Knowing that you have
contributed
> > > significantly > > towards the creation of a product which
can make a difference in
> > > your > > company and the larger community is reward in itself.
> > >
> > > Believe in what you are doing. Believe that you can make a
> > > difference. > > Believing however doesn> '> t mean you have
to stop from where you are
> > > now. > > Believing is improving your skills and maximizing
your potential.
> > > With > > determination and the will to win, your company can
conquer the world.
> > >
> > > As members of the San Miguel Family, you are lucky to take
part
> > > in the > > production of high quality and accessible
consumer products that
> > > can be > > found in every Filipino home. Your skills do not
only contribute
> > > to the > > development of the country> '> s economy, but you
also bring out the
> > > spirit > > of fun, joy, and laughter into the lives of the
people; thus helping
> > > make > > everyday life a celebration. Your capable hands can
paint a true
> > > image of > > the Filipino as a people- intelligent,
hard-working,
> > > passionate, > > fun-loving, creative, innovative, > ">
magaling!.> ">
> > >
> > > You could paint one bright picture of this country and its
people
> > > > - by > > your achievements in the workplace, your teamwork,
integrity,
> > > passion for > > success, and your discharge of civic
responsibilities. You can
> > > show the > > world that you are the new technocrats, capable
and willing to
> > > meet the > > challenges of the new order of market
globalization. You can show the
> > > world > > that you are the new citizenry, capable of making
this country a
> > > worthy > > member of the league of peace-loving nations.
> > >
> > > Be proud!
> > >
> > > Thank you very much.
Saturday, September 27, 2003
OPEN ONLY IF YOU HAVE TIME FOR GOD
> >
> > God, when I received this e-mail I thought I don't
> > have time for this.
> >
> > And this is really inappropriate during work. Then I
> > realized that this kind of thinking is exactly what
> > has caused a lot of the problems in our world today.
> >
> > We try to keep God in church on Sunday morning, maybe
> > Sunday night, and the unlikely event of a midweek
> > service.
> >
> > We do like to have Him around during sickness and, of
> > course, at funerals.
> >
> > However, we don't have time or room for Him during
> > work or play because that's the part of our lives we
> > think we can, and should, handle on our own.
> >
> > May God forgive me for ever thinking that there is a
> > time or place where He is not to be FIRST in my life.
> > We should always have time to remember all He has done
> > for us.
> >
> > If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the
> > directions.
> >
> > Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me, I will be
> > ashamed of you before my Father."
> >
> > Not ashamed. Pass this on only if you mean it!
> >
> > Yes, I do Love God. He is my source of existence and
> > Savior. He keeps me functioning each and everyday.
> > Without Him, I will be nothing. Without Him, I am
> > nothing. But with Him, I can do all things through
> > Christ that strengthens me. Phil 4:13.
> >
> > This is the simplest test. If you Love God, and are
> > not ashamed of all the marvelous things he has done
> > for you, send this to ten people!
> >
> > Just a Short Story for All!
> >
> > A young and successful executive was traveling down a
> > neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new
> > Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from
> > between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he
> > saw something.
> >
> > As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a
> > brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on
> > the brakes and drove the Jag back to the spot where
> > the brick had been thrown.
> >
> > The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed
> > the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car
> > shouting, "What was that all about and who are you?
> >
> > Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and
> > that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money.
> > Why did you do it?"
> >
> > The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...
> > please, I'm sorry...I didn't know what else to do," He
> > pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else
> > would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and
> > off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around
> > a
> > parked car. "It's my brother," he said. "He rolled
> > off
> > the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't
> > lift him up."
> >
> > Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive,
> > "Would you please help me get him back into his
> > wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."
> >
> > Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the
> > rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly
> > lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair,
> > then took out his fancy handkerchief and dabbed at the
> > fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him
> > everything was going to be okay.
> >
> > "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child
> > told the stranger.
> >
> > Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy
> > push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk
> > toward their home.
> >
> > It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The
> > damage was very noticeable, but the driver never
> > bothered to repair the dented side door.
> >
> > He kept the dent there to remind him of this message
> > "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to
> > throw a brick at you to get your attention!"
> >
> > God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts.
> > Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to
> > throw a brick at us.
> >
> > It's our choice.
> >
> > Thought for the Day:
> >
> > If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on
> > it.
> >
> > If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
> >
> > He sends you flowers every spring.
> >
> > He sends you a sunrise every morning.
> >
> > Whenever you want to talk, He listens.
> >
> > He can live anywhere in the universe, but He chose ...
> > your heart.
> >
> > Face it, friend -- He is crazy about you!
> >
> > Send this to every "beautiful person" you wish to
> > bless, and return it to the person who sent it to you.
> >
> > God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without
> > sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength
> > for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the
> > way.
> >
> > God, when I received this e-mail I thought I don't
> > have time for this.
> >
> > And this is really inappropriate during work. Then I
> > realized that this kind of thinking is exactly what
> > has caused a lot of the problems in our world today.
> >
> > We try to keep God in church on Sunday morning, maybe
> > Sunday night, and the unlikely event of a midweek
> > service.
> >
> > We do like to have Him around during sickness and, of
> > course, at funerals.
> >
> > However, we don't have time or room for Him during
> > work or play because that's the part of our lives we
> > think we can, and should, handle on our own.
> >
> > May God forgive me for ever thinking that there is a
> > time or place where He is not to be FIRST in my life.
> > We should always have time to remember all He has done
> > for us.
> >
> > If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the
> > directions.
> >
> > Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me, I will be
> > ashamed of you before my Father."
> >
> > Not ashamed. Pass this on only if you mean it!
> >
> > Yes, I do Love God. He is my source of existence and
> > Savior. He keeps me functioning each and everyday.
> > Without Him, I will be nothing. Without Him, I am
> > nothing. But with Him, I can do all things through
> > Christ that strengthens me. Phil 4:13.
> >
> > This is the simplest test. If you Love God, and are
> > not ashamed of all the marvelous things he has done
> > for you, send this to ten people!
> >
> > Just a Short Story for All!
> >
> > A young and successful executive was traveling down a
> > neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new
> > Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from
> > between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he
> > saw something.
> >
> > As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a
> > brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on
> > the brakes and drove the Jag back to the spot where
> > the brick had been thrown.
> >
> > The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed
> > the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car
> > shouting, "What was that all about and who are you?
> >
> > Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and
> > that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money.
> > Why did you do it?"
> >
> > The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...
> > please, I'm sorry...I didn't know what else to do," He
> > pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else
> > would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and
> > off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around
> > a
> > parked car. "It's my brother," he said. "He rolled
> > off
> > the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't
> > lift him up."
> >
> > Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive,
> > "Would you please help me get him back into his
> > wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."
> >
> > Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the
> > rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly
> > lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair,
> > then took out his fancy handkerchief and dabbed at the
> > fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him
> > everything was going to be okay.
> >
> > "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child
> > told the stranger.
> >
> > Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy
> > push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk
> > toward their home.
> >
> > It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The
> > damage was very noticeable, but the driver never
> > bothered to repair the dented side door.
> >
> > He kept the dent there to remind him of this message
> > "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to
> > throw a brick at you to get your attention!"
> >
> > God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts.
> > Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to
> > throw a brick at us.
> >
> > It's our choice.
> >
> > Thought for the Day:
> >
> > If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on
> > it.
> >
> > If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
> >
> > He sends you flowers every spring.
> >
> > He sends you a sunrise every morning.
> >
> > Whenever you want to talk, He listens.
> >
> > He can live anywhere in the universe, but He chose ...
> > your heart.
> >
> > Face it, friend -- He is crazy about you!
> >
> > Send this to every "beautiful person" you wish to
> > bless, and return it to the person who sent it to you.
> >
> > God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without
> > sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength
> > for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the
> > way.
VERSE FOR TODAY:
"Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact
you are doing."
--1 Thessalonians 5:11
THOUGHT:
While Paul's exhortation here is excellent, it is the style
of the exhortation we should especially notice. We live in an
age where we are constantly pressured to emphasize the novel,
new, or improved versions of things. But in our lives as
Christians, we need to remind each other of what we are doing
right and just simply say, "Hey, you're doing well, just keep
doing what you're doing!"
PRAYER:
Faithful Father, thank You for noticing and keeping record
of the things I've done that are good and pleasing to You.
Please help me to keep doing those things that please You, only
do them better, that You may be pleased and glorified. In Jesus'
name. Amen.
"Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact
you are doing."
--1 Thessalonians 5:11
THOUGHT:
While Paul's exhortation here is excellent, it is the style
of the exhortation we should especially notice. We live in an
age where we are constantly pressured to emphasize the novel,
new, or improved versions of things. But in our lives as
Christians, we need to remind each other of what we are doing
right and just simply say, "Hey, you're doing well, just keep
doing what you're doing!"
PRAYER:
Faithful Father, thank You for noticing and keeping record
of the things I've done that are good and pleasing to You.
Please help me to keep doing those things that please You, only
do them better, that You may be pleased and glorified. In Jesus'
name. Amen.
VERSE FOR TODAY:
"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there
may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly
united in mind and thought."
--1 Corinthians 1:10
THOUGHT:
For churches to get along, sometimes their leaders must
remind them about unity, using the authority of the One who
made his dying prayer a prayer for unity. We must work
together or perish.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, You have presented so many of my prayers to our
Father, but today, I want to thank You for loving me so. I
promise that I will do all I can, to the glory of our Father,
to live at peace and serve those who belong to You. By Your
name and through the blessed Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.
"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there
may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly
united in mind and thought."
--1 Corinthians 1:10
THOUGHT:
For churches to get along, sometimes their leaders must
remind them about unity, using the authority of the One who
made his dying prayer a prayer for unity. We must work
together or perish.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, You have presented so many of my prayers to our
Father, but today, I want to thank You for loving me so. I
promise that I will do all I can, to the glory of our Father,
to live at peace and serve those who belong to You. By Your
name and through the blessed Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.
The Higher Standard of Love
VERSE:
"When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well."
--Matthew 5:39
LIFE APPLICATION:
Jesus begins this teaching by quoting from the Book of Leviticus (24:20), which says, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." Leviticus did not forbid vengeance, but rather tried to moderate it. Retaliation was allowed, but only in propertion to the injury received. To many of us, this law makes sense. It seems fair.
But Jesus turns everything upside down by forbidding all retaliation--even a proportionate one. If someone strikes you on the cheek, He says, offer the other cheek. If someone steals your tunic, hand over your cloak also. To many of us, this command doesn't make any sense. It's not fair! What was Jesus thinking?
Perhaps he was thinking that by refusing to retaliate, we challenge the method of the wrongdoer. When we refuse to return evil for evil, we invite the conversion of the enemy. To refuse to respond with violence, we take a small step toward lasting peace. Jesus' hard words remind us that the only standard worth measuring ourselves against is not the standard of fairness, but the standard of love.
May God bless you with his love
"When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well."
--Matthew 5:39
LIFE APPLICATION:
Jesus begins this teaching by quoting from the Book of Leviticus (24:20), which says, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." Leviticus did not forbid vengeance, but rather tried to moderate it. Retaliation was allowed, but only in propertion to the injury received. To many of us, this law makes sense. It seems fair.
But Jesus turns everything upside down by forbidding all retaliation--even a proportionate one. If someone strikes you on the cheek, He says, offer the other cheek. If someone steals your tunic, hand over your cloak also. To many of us, this command doesn't make any sense. It's not fair! What was Jesus thinking?
Perhaps he was thinking that by refusing to retaliate, we challenge the method of the wrongdoer. When we refuse to return evil for evil, we invite the conversion of the enemy. To refuse to respond with violence, we take a small step toward lasting peace. Jesus' hard words remind us that the only standard worth measuring ourselves against is not the standard of fairness, but the standard of love.
May God bless you with his love
Just Listen
by: Rachel Naomi Remen, Kitchen Table Wisdom
I suspect that the most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. And especially if it's given from the heart. When people are talking, there's no need to do anything but receive them. Just take them in. Listen to what they're saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than understanding it. Most of us don't value ourselves or our love enough to know this. It has taken me along time to believe in the power of simple saying, "I'm so sorry," when someone is in pain. And meaning it.
One of my patients told me that when she tried to tell her story people often interrupted to tell her that they once had something just like that happen to them. Subtly her pain became a story about themselves. Eventually she stopped talking to most people. It was just too lonely. We connect through listening. When we interrupt what someone is saying to let them know that we understand, we move the focus of attention to ourselves. When we listen, they know we care. Many people with cancer can talk about the relief of having someone just listen.
I have even learned to respond to someone crying by just listening. In the old days I used to reach for the tissues, until I realized that passing a person a tissue may be just another way to shut them down, to take them out of their experience of sadness and grief. Now I just listen. When they have cried all they need to cry, they find me there with them.
This simple thing has not been that easy to learn. It certainly went against everything I had been taught since I was very young. I thought people listened only because they were too timid to speak or did not know the answer. A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well intentioned words.
I suspect that the most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. And especially if it's given from the heart. When people are talking, there's no need to do anything but receive them. Just take them in. Listen to what they're saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than understanding it. Most of us don't value ourselves or our love enough to know this. It has taken me along time to believe in the power of simple saying, "I'm so sorry," when someone is in pain. And meaning it.
One of my patients told me that when she tried to tell her story people often interrupted to tell her that they once had something just like that happen to them. Subtly her pain became a story about themselves. Eventually she stopped talking to most people. It was just too lonely. We connect through listening. When we interrupt what someone is saying to let them know that we understand, we move the focus of attention to ourselves. When we listen, they know we care. Many people with cancer can talk about the relief of having someone just listen.
I have even learned to respond to someone crying by just listening. In the old days I used to reach for the tissues, until I realized that passing a person a tissue may be just another way to shut them down, to take them out of their experience of sadness and grief. Now I just listen. When they have cried all they need to cry, they find me there with them.
This simple thing has not been that easy to learn. It certainly went against everything I had been taught since I was very young. I thought people listened only because they were too timid to speak or did not know the answer. A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well intentioned words.
"Keep your fork..."
>
> > A Woman and a Fork
> >
> > There was a young woman who had been diagnosed
> with
> > a
> > terminal illness and had been given three months
> to
> > live.
> > So as she was getting her things "in order," she
> > contacted
> > her Rabbi and had him come to her house to discuss
> > certain
> > aspects of her final wishes.
> >
> > She told him which songs she wanted sung at the
> > service,
> > what scriptures she would like read, and what
> outfit
> > she
> > wanted to be buried in.
> >
> > Everything was in order and the Rabbi was
> preparing
> > to
> > leave when the young woman suddenly remembered
> > something
> > very important to her.
> >
> > "There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
> > "What' that?" came the Rabbi's reply.
> > "This is very important," the young woman
> continued.
> > "I
> > want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
> > The Rabbi stood looking at the young woman, not
> > knowing
> > quite what to say.
> >
> > That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman
> > asked.
> > "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,"
> > said the
> > Rabbi.
> >
> > The young woman explained. "My grandmother once
> told
> > me
> > this story, and from there on out, I have always
> > done so.
> > I have also, always tried to pass along its
> message
> > to
> > those I love and those who are in need of
> > encouragement.
> > In all my years of attending socials and dinners,
> I
> > always
> > remember that when the dishes of the main course
> > were
> > being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over
> > and say,
> > 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because
> I
> > knew
> > that something better was coming...like velvety
> > chocolate
> > cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful,
> > and with
> > substance!'
> >
> > So, I just want people to see me there in that
> > casket with
> > a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder
> "What's
> > with
> > the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep
> your
> > fork
> > ..the best is yet to come."
> >
> > The Rabbi's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he
> > hugged
> > the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be
> one
> > of the
> > last times he would see her before her death. But
> he
> > also
> > knew that the young woman had a better grasp of
> > heaven
> > than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven
> > would
> > be like than many people twice her age, with twice
> > as much
> > experience and knowledge.
> >
> > She KNEW that something better was coming.
> >
> > At the funeral people were walking by the young
> > woman's
> > casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and
> > the fork
> > placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Rabbi
> > heard
> > the question "What's with the fork?" And over and
> > over he
> > smiled.
> >
> > During his message, the Rabbi told the people of
> the
> >
> > conversation he had with the young woman shortly
> > before
> > she died. He also told them about the fork and
> about
> > what
> > it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people
> how
> > he
> > could not stop thinking about the fork and told
> them
> > that
> > they probably would not be able to stop thinking
> > about it
> > either.
> >
> > He was right. So the next time you reach down for
> > your
> > fork, let it remind you ever so gently, that the
> > best is
> > yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel,
> indeed.
> > They
> > make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They
> > lend an
> > ear, they share a word of praise, and they always
> > want to
> > open their hearts to us. Show your friends how
> much
> > you
> > care. Remember to always be there for them, even
> > when you
> > need them more. For you never know when it may be
> > their
> > time to "Keep your fork."
> >
> > Cherish the time you have, and the memories you
> > share...
> > being friends with someone is not an opportunity
> but
> > a
> > sweet responsibility.
> >
> > Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND even
> if
> > it
> > means sending back to the person who sent it to
> you.
> >
> > And keep your fork.
> > A Woman and a Fork
> >
> > There was a young woman who had been diagnosed
> with
> > a
> > terminal illness and had been given three months
> to
> > live.
> > So as she was getting her things "in order," she
> > contacted
> > her Rabbi and had him come to her house to discuss
> > certain
> > aspects of her final wishes.
> >
> > She told him which songs she wanted sung at the
> > service,
> > what scriptures she would like read, and what
> outfit
> > she
> > wanted to be buried in.
> >
> > Everything was in order and the Rabbi was
> preparing
> > to
> > leave when the young woman suddenly remembered
> > something
> > very important to her.
> >
> > "There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
> > "What' that?" came the Rabbi's reply.
> > "This is very important," the young woman
> continued.
> > "I
> > want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
> > The Rabbi stood looking at the young woman, not
> > knowing
> > quite what to say.
> >
> > That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman
> > asked.
> > "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,"
> > said the
> > Rabbi.
> >
> > The young woman explained. "My grandmother once
> told
> > me
> > this story, and from there on out, I have always
> > done so.
> > I have also, always tried to pass along its
> message
> > to
> > those I love and those who are in need of
> > encouragement.
> > In all my years of attending socials and dinners,
> I
> > always
> > remember that when the dishes of the main course
> > were
> > being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over
> > and say,
> > 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because
> I
> > knew
> > that something better was coming...like velvety
> > chocolate
> > cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful,
> > and with
> > substance!'
> >
> > So, I just want people to see me there in that
> > casket with
> > a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder
> "What's
> > with
> > the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep
> your
> > fork
> > ..the best is yet to come."
> >
> > The Rabbi's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he
> > hugged
> > the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be
> one
> > of the
> > last times he would see her before her death. But
> he
> > also
> > knew that the young woman had a better grasp of
> > heaven
> > than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven
> > would
> > be like than many people twice her age, with twice
> > as much
> > experience and knowledge.
> >
> > She KNEW that something better was coming.
> >
> > At the funeral people were walking by the young
> > woman's
> > casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and
> > the fork
> > placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Rabbi
> > heard
> > the question "What's with the fork?" And over and
> > over he
> > smiled.
> >
> > During his message, the Rabbi told the people of
> the
> >
> > conversation he had with the young woman shortly
> > before
> > she died. He also told them about the fork and
> about
> > what
> > it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people
> how
> > he
> > could not stop thinking about the fork and told
> them
> > that
> > they probably would not be able to stop thinking
> > about it
> > either.
> >
> > He was right. So the next time you reach down for
> > your
> > fork, let it remind you ever so gently, that the
> > best is
> > yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel,
> indeed.
> > They
> > make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They
> > lend an
> > ear, they share a word of praise, and they always
> > want to
> > open their hearts to us. Show your friends how
> much
> > you
> > care. Remember to always be there for them, even
> > when you
> > need them more. For you never know when it may be
> > their
> > time to "Keep your fork."
> >
> > Cherish the time you have, and the memories you
> > share...
> > being friends with someone is not an opportunity
> but
> > a
> > sweet responsibility.
> >
> > Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND even
> if
> > it
> > means sending back to the person who sent it to
> you.
> >
> > And keep your fork.
VERSE:
"My command to you is: love your enemies, pray for your persecutors."
--Matthew 5:44
REFLECTIION. We must show love for those who do evil to us and pray for them.
Nothing is dearer or more pleasing to God than this.
--St. Bridget
PRAYER. God of love, grant me the great grace to show love and forgiveness for those who do evil to me. Let me at least be able to pray for their salvation, won for them by Jesus.
"My command to you is: love your enemies, pray for your persecutors."
--Matthew 5:44
REFLECTIION. We must show love for those who do evil to us and pray for them.
Nothing is dearer or more pleasing to God than this.
--St. Bridget
PRAYER. God of love, grant me the great grace to show love and forgiveness for those who do evil to me. Let me at least be able to pray for their salvation, won for them by Jesus.
HE STANDS ABOVE ALL
Socrates taught for 40 years. Plato for 50. Aristotle
for 40 and Jesus Christ for only 3. Yet the influences
of christ's three-year ministry infinitely transcends
the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching
from these men who were among the greatest
philosophers of all antiquity.
Jesus painted no pictures, yet some of the finest
paintings of Raphael, Michaelangelo and Leonardo da
Vinci received their inspiration from Him.
Jesus wrote no poetry but Dante, Milton, and scores of
the world's greatest poets were inspired by Him.
Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel,
Beethoven, Bach and Mendelssohn reached their highest
perfection of melody in the humns, symphonies and
oratorios they composed in His praise.
Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by
this humbloe carpenter of Nazareth.
His unique contribution to the human race is the
salvation of the soul. Philosophy could not accomplish
that. Nor art. Nor literature. Nor music. Only Jesus
Christ can break the enslaving chains of sin and
satan.He alone can speak peace to the human heart,
strengthen the weak and give life to those who are
spiritually dead.
INSIGHT:
Christ is the hinge of history.
Charles Malik
former UN Sec. General
Alexander, Caesar and Hannibal conquered the
world but they had no friends. JEsus foudned His
empire upon love and at this hour, millions would die
for Him. He has won the hearts of men, a task a
conqueror cannot do.
Napoleon Bonaparte
French General
REFELCTION: Therefore God exalted him to the highest
place and gave HIM the name that is above every name.
Philippians 2:9
for 40 and Jesus Christ for only 3. Yet the influences
of christ's three-year ministry infinitely transcends
the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching
from these men who were among the greatest
philosophers of all antiquity.
Jesus painted no pictures, yet some of the finest
paintings of Raphael, Michaelangelo and Leonardo da
Vinci received their inspiration from Him.
Jesus wrote no poetry but Dante, Milton, and scores of
the world's greatest poets were inspired by Him.
Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel,
Beethoven, Bach and Mendelssohn reached their highest
perfection of melody in the humns, symphonies and
oratorios they composed in His praise.
Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by
this humbloe carpenter of Nazareth.
His unique contribution to the human race is the
salvation of the soul. Philosophy could not accomplish
that. Nor art. Nor literature. Nor music. Only Jesus
Christ can break the enslaving chains of sin and
satan.He alone can speak peace to the human heart,
strengthen the weak and give life to those who are
spiritually dead.
INSIGHT:
Christ is the hinge of history.
Charles Malik
former UN Sec. General
Alexander, Caesar and Hannibal conquered the
world but they had no friends. JEsus foudned His
empire upon love and at this hour, millions would die
for Him. He has won the hearts of men, a task a
conqueror cannot do.
Napoleon Bonaparte
French General
REFELCTION: Therefore God exalted him to the highest
place and gave HIM the name that is above every name.
Philippians 2:9
AWESOME
This is almost overwhelming when you think about it.
You MUST read to the end: (smile)
Moses and the people were in the desert, but what was he going to do with
them? They had to be fed, and feeding 2 or 3 million people requires a lot
of food.
According to the Quartermaster General in the Army, it is reported that
Moses would have to have had 1500 tons of food each day. Do you know that
to bring that much food each day, two freight trains, each at least a mile
long, would be required!
Besides you must remember, they were out in the desert, so they would have
to have firewood to use in cooking the food. This would take 4000 tons of
wood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long, just for one day. And
just think, they were forty years in transit.
And oh yes! They would have to have water. If they only had enough to drink
and wash a few dishes, it would take 11,000,000 gallons each day and a
freight train with tank cars, 1800 miles long, just to bring water!
And then another thing! They had to get across the Red Sea at night. Now,
if they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles
long and would require 35 days and nights to get through. So there had to
be a space in the Red Sea, 3 miles wide so that they could walk 5000
abreast to get over in one night.
But then, there is another problem... each time they camped at the end of
the day, a campground two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island was
required, or a total of 750 square miles long... think of it! This much
space for camping.
Do you think Moses figured all this out before he left Egypt? I think not!
You see, Moses believed in God. God took care of these things for him.
Now do you think God has any problem taking care of all your needs?
I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today. To guide you and
protect you as you go along your way... His love is always with you,
His promises are true, And when we give Him all our cares, You know He will
see us through.
Our God is an Awesome God!!
So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best, just remember
I'm praying and God will do the rest.
You MUST read to the end: (smile)
Moses and the people were in the desert, but what was he going to do with
them? They had to be fed, and feeding 2 or 3 million people requires a lot
of food.
According to the Quartermaster General in the Army, it is reported that
Moses would have to have had 1500 tons of food each day. Do you know that
to bring that much food each day, two freight trains, each at least a mile
long, would be required!
Besides you must remember, they were out in the desert, so they would have
to have firewood to use in cooking the food. This would take 4000 tons of
wood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long, just for one day. And
just think, they were forty years in transit.
And oh yes! They would have to have water. If they only had enough to drink
and wash a few dishes, it would take 11,000,000 gallons each day and a
freight train with tank cars, 1800 miles long, just to bring water!
And then another thing! They had to get across the Red Sea at night. Now,
if they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles
long and would require 35 days and nights to get through. So there had to
be a space in the Red Sea, 3 miles wide so that they could walk 5000
abreast to get over in one night.
But then, there is another problem... each time they camped at the end of
the day, a campground two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island was
required, or a total of 750 square miles long... think of it! This much
space for camping.
Do you think Moses figured all this out before he left Egypt? I think not!
You see, Moses believed in God. God took care of these things for him.
Now do you think God has any problem taking care of all your needs?
I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today. To guide you and
protect you as you go along your way... His love is always with you,
His promises are true, And when we give Him all our cares, You know He will
see us through.
Our God is an Awesome God!!
So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best, just remember
I'm praying and God will do the rest.
SATAN'S MEETING
Satan's meeting (read even if you're busy) Satan called a worldwide
convention of demons. In his opening address he said, "We can't keep
Christians from going to church." "We can't keep them from reading
their
Bibles and knowing the truth." "We can't even keep them from forming an
intimate relationship with their savior."
"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is
broken." "So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered
dish dinners, but steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a
relationship with Jesus Christ." "This is what I want you to do,"
said
the devil. "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and
maintaining
that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted. "Keep them busy in the
non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their
minds," he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow,
borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the
husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so
they can afford their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time
with
their children .
As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from
the pressures of work! Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot
hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette
player
whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going
constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant
in
the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their
minds
and break that union with Christ. Fill the coffee tables with magazines
and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day.
Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes
with
junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of
newsletter
and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands
will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll
become
dissatisfied with their wives. Keep the wives too tired to love their
husbands at night. Give them headaches too! If they don't give their
husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere.
That will fragment their families quickly! Give them Santa Claus to
distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of
Christmas.
Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection
and
power over sin and death. Even in their recreation, let them be
excessive.
Have them return from their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy
to
go out to nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to
amusement
parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. Keep them
busy,
busy, and busy! And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve
them
in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences.
Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek
power
from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength,
sacrificing
their health and family for the good of the cause.
It will work! It will work!"
It was quite a plan! The demons went eagerly to their assignments
causing
Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and
there.
Having little time for their God or their families. Having no time to
tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
Has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge!
Does "busy"
mean:
B-eing
U-nder
S-atan's
Y-oke?
convention of demons. In his opening address he said, "We can't keep
Christians from going to church." "We can't keep them from reading
their
Bibles and knowing the truth." "We can't even keep them from forming an
intimate relationship with their savior."
"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is
broken." "So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered
dish dinners, but steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a
relationship with Jesus Christ." "This is what I want you to do,"
said
the devil. "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and
maintaining
that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted. "Keep them busy in the
non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their
minds," he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow,
borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the
husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so
they can afford their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time
with
their children .
As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from
the pressures of work! Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot
hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette
player
whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going
constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant
in
the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their
minds
and break that union with Christ. Fill the coffee tables with magazines
and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day.
Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes
with
junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of
newsletter
and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands
will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll
become
dissatisfied with their wives. Keep the wives too tired to love their
husbands at night. Give them headaches too! If they don't give their
husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere.
That will fragment their families quickly! Give them Santa Claus to
distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of
Christmas.
Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection
and
power over sin and death. Even in their recreation, let them be
excessive.
Have them return from their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy
to
go out to nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to
amusement
parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. Keep them
busy,
busy, and busy! And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve
them
in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences.
Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek
power
from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength,
sacrificing
their health and family for the good of the cause.
It will work! It will work!"
It was quite a plan! The demons went eagerly to their assignments
causing
Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and
there.
Having little time for their God or their families. Having no time to
tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
Has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge!
Does "busy"
mean:
B-eing
U-nder
S-atan's
Y-oke?
I've learned
I've learned.... That the best
> > classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly
> > person.
> >
> > I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.
> >
> >
> > I've learned.... That just one person saying to me,
> > "You've made my day!" makes my day.
> >
> > I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in
> > your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in
> > the world.
> >
> > I've learned.... That being kind is more important
> > than being right.
> >
> > I've learned.... That you should never say no to a
> > gift from a child.
> >
> > I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone
> > when I don't have the strength to help him in some
> > other way.
> >
> > I've learned.... That no matter how serious your
> > life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to
> > act goofy with.
> >
> > I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs
> > is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
> >
> > I've learned.... That simple walks with my father
> > around the block on summer nights when I was a child
> > did wonders for me as an adult.
> >
> > I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet
> > paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it
> > goes.
> >
> > I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't
> > give us everything we ask for.
> >
> > I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.
> >
> > I've learned.... That it's those small daily
> > happenings that make life so spectacular.
> >
> > I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is
> > someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
> >
> > I've learned.... That the Lord didn't do it all in
> > one day. What makes me think I can?
> >
> > I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not
> > change the facts.
> >
> > I've learned.... That when you plan to get even with
> > someone, you are only letting that person continue
> > to hurt you.
> >
> > I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all
> > wounds.
> >
> > I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow
> > as a person is to surround myself with people
> > smarter than I am.
> >
> > I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to
> > be greeted with a smile.
> >
> > I've learned.... That there's nothing sweeter than
> > sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath
> > on your cheeks.
> >
> > I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you
> > fall in love with them.
> >
> > I've learned.... That life is tough, but I'm
> > tougher.
> >
> > I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost;
> > someone will take the ones you miss.
> >
> > I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness,
> > happiness will dock elsewhere.
> >
> > I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my
> > Dad that I love him one more time before he passed
> > away.
> >
> > I've learned.... That one should keep his words both
> > soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat
> > them.
> >
> > I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way
> > to improve your looks.
> >
> > I've learned.... That I can't choose how I feel, but
> > I can choose what I do about it.
> >
> > I've learned.... That when your newly born
> > grandchild holds your little finger in his/her
> > little fist, that you're hooked for life.
> >
> > I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top
> > of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth
> > occurs while you're climbing it.
> >
> > I've learned ... That it is best to give advice in
> > only two circumstances; when it is requested and
> > when it is a life threatening situation.
> >
> > I've learned.... That the less time I have to work
> > with, the more things I get done.
> >
> > To all of you.... Make sure you read all the way
> > down to the last sentence.
> >
> > It's National Friendship Week. Show your friends how
> > much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a
> > FRIEND, even if it means sending it back to the
> > person who sent it to you. If it comes back to you,
> > then you'll know you have a circle of friends. HAPPY
> > FRIENDSHIP WEEK TO YOU!!!!!! YOU ARE MY FRIEND AND I
> > AM HONORED! Now send this to every friend you have!!
> > And to your family. This was sent to me!
> >
> > classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly
> > person.
> >
> > I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.
> >
> >
> > I've learned.... That just one person saying to me,
> > "You've made my day!" makes my day.
> >
> > I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in
> > your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in
> > the world.
> >
> > I've learned.... That being kind is more important
> > than being right.
> >
> > I've learned.... That you should never say no to a
> > gift from a child.
> >
> > I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone
> > when I don't have the strength to help him in some
> > other way.
> >
> > I've learned.... That no matter how serious your
> > life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to
> > act goofy with.
> >
> > I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs
> > is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
> >
> > I've learned.... That simple walks with my father
> > around the block on summer nights when I was a child
> > did wonders for me as an adult.
> >
> > I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet
> > paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it
> > goes.
> >
> > I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't
> > give us everything we ask for.
> >
> > I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.
> >
> > I've learned.... That it's those small daily
> > happenings that make life so spectacular.
> >
> > I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is
> > someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
> >
> > I've learned.... That the Lord didn't do it all in
> > one day. What makes me think I can?
> >
> > I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not
> > change the facts.
> >
> > I've learned.... That when you plan to get even with
> > someone, you are only letting that person continue
> > to hurt you.
> >
> > I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all
> > wounds.
> >
> > I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow
> > as a person is to surround myself with people
> > smarter than I am.
> >
> > I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to
> > be greeted with a smile.
> >
> > I've learned.... That there's nothing sweeter than
> > sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath
> > on your cheeks.
> >
> > I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you
> > fall in love with them.
> >
> > I've learned.... That life is tough, but I'm
> > tougher.
> >
> > I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost;
> > someone will take the ones you miss.
> >
> > I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness,
> > happiness will dock elsewhere.
> >
> > I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my
> > Dad that I love him one more time before he passed
> > away.
> >
> > I've learned.... That one should keep his words both
> > soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat
> > them.
> >
> > I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way
> > to improve your looks.
> >
> > I've learned.... That I can't choose how I feel, but
> > I can choose what I do about it.
> >
> > I've learned.... That when your newly born
> > grandchild holds your little finger in his/her
> > little fist, that you're hooked for life.
> >
> > I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top
> > of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth
> > occurs while you're climbing it.
> >
> > I've learned ... That it is best to give advice in
> > only two circumstances; when it is requested and
> > when it is a life threatening situation.
> >
> > I've learned.... That the less time I have to work
> > with, the more things I get done.
> >
> > To all of you.... Make sure you read all the way
> > down to the last sentence.
> >
> > It's National Friendship Week. Show your friends how
> > much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a
> > FRIEND, even if it means sending it back to the
> > person who sent it to you. If it comes back to you,
> > then you'll know you have a circle of friends. HAPPY
> > FRIENDSHIP WEEK TO YOU!!!!!! YOU ARE MY FRIEND AND I
> > AM HONORED! Now send this to every friend you have!!
> > And to your family. This was sent to me!
> >
Don't Grow Old
An article from Sun-Star daily newspaper
By Melanie T. Lim June 2, 1999
Many people are afraid of growing old. I'm afraid of growing old
and boring. Many people are afraid of growing old, alone. I'm
afraid of growing old, insane. Many people are
afraid of losing their looks. I'm afraid of losing my dreams.
Many people are afraid
of losing their youth. I'm afraid of losing my
soul.
When you're 15, 35 seems ancient. When you're
35, 15 seems
juvenile. A turnaround in a split second - two
decades zoom past
and before you know it, it's only a mile to the
next millenium.
Don't' fear age- it's a right of personhood.
Don't fear death- it's
God's greatest jest. Don't grow old - you don't
have to.
Don't date because you're desperate. Don't marry
because you're
miserable. Don't have kids because you think
your genes are
superior. Don't separate because you think it's
fashionable. Don't
drink because you have troubles. Don't gamble
because you think
winning is inevitable. Don't philander because
you think you're
irresistible. Most likely, you're not.
Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat. Don't lie.
Don't pretend. Don't try to buy your way into
the kingdom of God.
Don't dictate because you're smarter. Don't
demand because you're
stronger. Don't sleep around because you think
you're old enough and
know better. Don't hurt your kids because loving
them is harder.
Don't sell your self, your family or your
ideals.
Don't stagnate. Don't regress. Learn a new
skill. Find a new
friend. Start a new career. Don't live in the
past. Time can't
bring anything or anyone back. Don't put your
life on hold for
possibly Mr. Right. Don't throw your life away
on absolutely Mr.
Wrong because your biological clock is ticking
and you can't afford
to have your eggs harvested before the new
millenium.
There's always a mad rush to something,
somewhere but victory does
not always belong to those who finish first.
Sometimes, there is no
race to be won only a price to be paid for some
of life's more
hasty decisions. You can't always go with the
throng who could be
wrong. Sometimes, you have to be alone to be
enlightened.
To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the
homeless. To feed
your nurturing instincts, care for the needy. To
fulfill your
parenting fantasies, get a puppy. Don't bring
another life into
this world for all the wrong reasons. To keep
yourself warm, buy a
jacket. In the long-run, it will be less
complicated and less
costly. To make yourself happy, pursue your
passions and be the
best of what you can be.
Simplify your life. Take away the clutter. Get
rid of destructive
elements - abusive friends, nasty habits and
dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't
overdose on duty.
Don't live life recklessly without thought and
feeling for your
family. Be true to yourself. Don't commit when
you're not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly. Fall in
love - it's the
greatest thing on earth. But take care and
remember, after the fall
must come the rise.
Go on that trip. Don't postpone it. Say those
words. Don't let the
moment pass. Do what you must even at society's
scorn. Write
poetry. Love deeply. Walk barefoot. Hold hands.
Dance with wild
abandon. Cry at the movies. Take care of
yourself. Don't wait for
someone to take care of you. You light up your
life. You drive
yourself to your destination. No one completes
you - except you.
It is true that life doesn't get easier with
age. It only gets more
challenging. Don't be afraid. Don't lose your
capacity to love.
Pursue your passions. Live your dreams. Don't
lose faith in God.
Don't grow old. Just grow-up.
By Melanie T. Lim June 2, 1999
Many people are afraid of growing old. I'm afraid of growing old
and boring. Many people are afraid of growing old, alone. I'm
afraid of growing old, insane. Many people are
afraid of losing their looks. I'm afraid of losing my dreams.
Many people are afraid
of losing their youth. I'm afraid of losing my
soul.
When you're 15, 35 seems ancient. When you're
35, 15 seems
juvenile. A turnaround in a split second - two
decades zoom past
and before you know it, it's only a mile to the
next millenium.
Don't' fear age- it's a right of personhood.
Don't fear death- it's
God's greatest jest. Don't grow old - you don't
have to.
Don't date because you're desperate. Don't marry
because you're
miserable. Don't have kids because you think
your genes are
superior. Don't separate because you think it's
fashionable. Don't
drink because you have troubles. Don't gamble
because you think
winning is inevitable. Don't philander because
you think you're
irresistible. Most likely, you're not.
Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat. Don't lie.
Don't pretend. Don't try to buy your way into
the kingdom of God.
Don't dictate because you're smarter. Don't
demand because you're
stronger. Don't sleep around because you think
you're old enough and
know better. Don't hurt your kids because loving
them is harder.
Don't sell your self, your family or your
ideals.
Don't stagnate. Don't regress. Learn a new
skill. Find a new
friend. Start a new career. Don't live in the
past. Time can't
bring anything or anyone back. Don't put your
life on hold for
possibly Mr. Right. Don't throw your life away
on absolutely Mr.
Wrong because your biological clock is ticking
and you can't afford
to have your eggs harvested before the new
millenium.
There's always a mad rush to something,
somewhere but victory does
not always belong to those who finish first.
Sometimes, there is no
race to be won only a price to be paid for some
of life's more
hasty decisions. You can't always go with the
throng who could be
wrong. Sometimes, you have to be alone to be
enlightened.
To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the
homeless. To feed
your nurturing instincts, care for the needy. To
fulfill your
parenting fantasies, get a puppy. Don't bring
another life into
this world for all the wrong reasons. To keep
yourself warm, buy a
jacket. In the long-run, it will be less
complicated and less
costly. To make yourself happy, pursue your
passions and be the
best of what you can be.
Simplify your life. Take away the clutter. Get
rid of destructive
elements - abusive friends, nasty habits and
dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't
overdose on duty.
Don't live life recklessly without thought and
feeling for your
family. Be true to yourself. Don't commit when
you're not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly. Fall in
love - it's the
greatest thing on earth. But take care and
remember, after the fall
must come the rise.
Go on that trip. Don't postpone it. Say those
words. Don't let the
moment pass. Do what you must even at society's
scorn. Write
poetry. Love deeply. Walk barefoot. Hold hands.
Dance with wild
abandon. Cry at the movies. Take care of
yourself. Don't wait for
someone to take care of you. You light up your
life. You drive
yourself to your destination. No one completes
you - except you.
It is true that life doesn't get easier with
age. It only gets more
challenging. Don't be afraid. Don't lose your
capacity to love.
Pursue your passions. Live your dreams. Don't
lose faith in God.
Don't grow old. Just grow-up.
TEN SECRETS TO BE A BETTER PERSON
1st Secret - THE POWER OF THOUGHT
Love begins with our thoughts. We become what we think about.
Loving thoughts create loving experiences and loving relationships.
Affirmations can change our beliefs and thoughts about theirs and
ourselves. If we want to love someone, we need to consider his/her
needs and desires. Thinking about your ideal partner will help you
recognize him/her when you meet him/her.
2nd Secret - THE POWER OF RESPECT
You cannot love anyone or anything unless you first respect them.
The first person you need to respect is yourself. To begin to gain
self-respect, ask yourself, what do I respect about myself? To gain
respect for others, even those you may dislike ask yourself, what
do I respect about them?
3rd Secret - THE POWER OF GIVING
If you want to receive love, all you have to do is give it. The
more love you give, the more you will receive. To love is to give
of you, freely and unconditionally. Practice random acts of
kindness. Before committing to a relationship, ask not what the
other person will be able to give you but rather what will you are
able to give them. The secret formula of a happy, lifelong and
loving relationship is to always focus on what you can give instead
of what you can take.
4th Secret - THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP
To find a true love, you must first find a true friend. Love does
not consist of gazing into each other's eyes but rather looking
outward together in the same direction. To love someone completely
you must first love him/her for who they are and not what they look
like. Friendship is the soil through which love's seeds grow. If
you want to bring love into a relationship, you must first bring
friendship.
5th Secret - THE POWER OF TOUCH
Touch is one of the most powerful statements of love, breaking down
barriers and bonding relationships. Touch changes our physical and
emotional states and makes us more receptive to love.
6th Secret - THE POWER OF LETTING GO
If you love something, let it free. If it comes back to you, then
it's yours. If it does not, it never was. Even in a loving
relationship, people need their own space. If we want to learn to
love, we must first learn to forgive and let go of past hurts and
grievances. Love means letting go of our fears, prejudices, ego and
conditions. Today I let go of all my fears, the past has no power
over me-today is the beginning of a new life!
7th Secret - THE POWER OF COMMUNICATION
When we learn to communicate openly and honestly, life changes. To
love someone is to communicate with them. Let the people you love
know that you love them and appreciate them. Never let an
opportunity pass to praise someone. Always leave someone you love
with a loving word, as it could be the last time you see him/her.
If you were about to die but could make telephone calls to the
people you love, who would you call, what would you say and....why
are you waiting?
8th Secret - THE POWER OF COMMITMENT
If you want to have love in abundance, you must be committed to it
and that commitment will be reflected in your thoughts and actions.
Commitment is the true test of love. If you want to have loving
relationships, you must be committed to loving relationships. When
you are committed to someone or something, quitting is never an
option. Commitment distinguishes a fragile relationship from a
strong one.
9th Secret - THE POWER OF PASSION
Passion ignites love and keeps it alive. Lasting passion does not
come through physical attraction alone; it comes from deep
commitment, enthusiasm, interest and excitement. Passion can be
recreated by recreating past experiences. When you feel passionate,
spontaneity and surprises produce passion. The essence of love and
happiness are the same-all we need to do is to live each day with
passion.
10th Secret - THE POWER OF TRUST
Trust is essential in all loving relationships. Without it one
person becomes suspicious, envious and fearful and the other person
feels trapped and emotionally suffocated. You cannot love someone
completely unless you trust him/her completely. Act as if your
relationship with the person you love will never end. One of the
ways you can tell whether a person is right for you is to ask
yourself, do I trust them completely and unreservedly? If the
answer is no, then think carefully before making a commitment. We
are born with two eyes in front because we must not always look
behind but see what lies ahead beyond ourselves. We are born with
two ears, one left and one right; so that we can hear both sides,
collect both the compliments and criticisms. We are born with a
brain concealed in a skull, and then no matter how poor we are, we
are still rich and no one can steal what our brain contains. We are
born with two eyes, two ears but one mouth for the mouth is a sharp
weapon. It can hurt, flirt and kill: remember our motto-talk less,
listen and see more. We are born with only one heart, deep in our
ribs and it reminds us to appreciate and give love from deep
within. "Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in
the heart. Real treasure lies not in what that can be seen, but
what that cannot be seen. Real love lies not in what is done and
known, but in what that is done but not known."
Love begins with our thoughts. We become what we think about.
Loving thoughts create loving experiences and loving relationships.
Affirmations can change our beliefs and thoughts about theirs and
ourselves. If we want to love someone, we need to consider his/her
needs and desires. Thinking about your ideal partner will help you
recognize him/her when you meet him/her.
2nd Secret - THE POWER OF RESPECT
You cannot love anyone or anything unless you first respect them.
The first person you need to respect is yourself. To begin to gain
self-respect, ask yourself, what do I respect about myself? To gain
respect for others, even those you may dislike ask yourself, what
do I respect about them?
3rd Secret - THE POWER OF GIVING
If you want to receive love, all you have to do is give it. The
more love you give, the more you will receive. To love is to give
of you, freely and unconditionally. Practice random acts of
kindness. Before committing to a relationship, ask not what the
other person will be able to give you but rather what will you are
able to give them. The secret formula of a happy, lifelong and
loving relationship is to always focus on what you can give instead
of what you can take.
4th Secret - THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP
To find a true love, you must first find a true friend. Love does
not consist of gazing into each other's eyes but rather looking
outward together in the same direction. To love someone completely
you must first love him/her for who they are and not what they look
like. Friendship is the soil through which love's seeds grow. If
you want to bring love into a relationship, you must first bring
friendship.
5th Secret - THE POWER OF TOUCH
Touch is one of the most powerful statements of love, breaking down
barriers and bonding relationships. Touch changes our physical and
emotional states and makes us more receptive to love.
6th Secret - THE POWER OF LETTING GO
If you love something, let it free. If it comes back to you, then
it's yours. If it does not, it never was. Even in a loving
relationship, people need their own space. If we want to learn to
love, we must first learn to forgive and let go of past hurts and
grievances. Love means letting go of our fears, prejudices, ego and
conditions. Today I let go of all my fears, the past has no power
over me-today is the beginning of a new life!
7th Secret - THE POWER OF COMMUNICATION
When we learn to communicate openly and honestly, life changes. To
love someone is to communicate with them. Let the people you love
know that you love them and appreciate them. Never let an
opportunity pass to praise someone. Always leave someone you love
with a loving word, as it could be the last time you see him/her.
If you were about to die but could make telephone calls to the
people you love, who would you call, what would you say and....why
are you waiting?
8th Secret - THE POWER OF COMMITMENT
If you want to have love in abundance, you must be committed to it
and that commitment will be reflected in your thoughts and actions.
Commitment is the true test of love. If you want to have loving
relationships, you must be committed to loving relationships. When
you are committed to someone or something, quitting is never an
option. Commitment distinguishes a fragile relationship from a
strong one.
9th Secret - THE POWER OF PASSION
Passion ignites love and keeps it alive. Lasting passion does not
come through physical attraction alone; it comes from deep
commitment, enthusiasm, interest and excitement. Passion can be
recreated by recreating past experiences. When you feel passionate,
spontaneity and surprises produce passion. The essence of love and
happiness are the same-all we need to do is to live each day with
passion.
10th Secret - THE POWER OF TRUST
Trust is essential in all loving relationships. Without it one
person becomes suspicious, envious and fearful and the other person
feels trapped and emotionally suffocated. You cannot love someone
completely unless you trust him/her completely. Act as if your
relationship with the person you love will never end. One of the
ways you can tell whether a person is right for you is to ask
yourself, do I trust them completely and unreservedly? If the
answer is no, then think carefully before making a commitment. We
are born with two eyes in front because we must not always look
behind but see what lies ahead beyond ourselves. We are born with
two ears, one left and one right; so that we can hear both sides,
collect both the compliments and criticisms. We are born with a
brain concealed in a skull, and then no matter how poor we are, we
are still rich and no one can steal what our brain contains. We are
born with two eyes, two ears but one mouth for the mouth is a sharp
weapon. It can hurt, flirt and kill: remember our motto-talk less,
listen and see more. We are born with only one heart, deep in our
ribs and it reminds us to appreciate and give love from deep
within. "Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in
the heart. Real treasure lies not in what that can be seen, but
what that cannot be seen. Real love lies not in what is done and
known, but in what that is done but not known."
Thursday, September 25, 2003
>Smile
>
>A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that
>morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily
>trek to the elementary school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds
>whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little
>girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked
>home from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might
>harm her child. Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming
>sword, would cut through the sky. Full of concern, the mother quickly
>got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. As she
>did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of
>lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another
>were to follow quickly and with each the little girl would look at the
>streak of light and smile. When the mother's car drew up beside the
>child she lowered the window and called to her, "What are you doing? Why
>do you keep stopping?" The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty.
>God keeps taking my picture." May God bless you today as you face the
>storms that come your way.
>
>A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that
>morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily
>trek to the elementary school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds
>whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little
>girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked
>home from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might
>harm her child. Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming
>sword, would cut through the sky. Full of concern, the mother quickly
>got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. As she
>did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of
>lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another
>were to follow quickly and with each the little girl would look at the
>streak of light and smile. When the mother's car drew up beside the
>child she lowered the window and called to her, "What are you doing? Why
>do you keep stopping?" The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty.
>God keeps taking my picture." May God bless you today as you face the
>storms that come your way.
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
WHO PACKED YOUR PARACHUTE?
Charles Plumb was a U.S. Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat
missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb
ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6
years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now
lectures on lessons learned from that experience. One day, when Plumb
and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came
up and said, "You' re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the
aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did
you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied.
Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and
said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your
chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."
Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I
kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat, a
bib in the back, and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I
might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or
anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a
sailor."
Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden
table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and
folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate
of someone he didn't know.
Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone
has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. He
also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane
was shot down over enemy territory - he needed his physical parachute,
his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual
parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.
Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is
really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you,
congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them,
give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. As you go
through this week, this month, this year, recognize people who pack your
parachutes.
I am sending you this as my way of thanking you for your part in packing
my parachute! And I hope you will send it on to those who have helped
pack yours!
Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to us without
writing a word, maybe this could explain it: When you are very busy, but
still want to keep in touch, guess what you do---you forward jokes. And
to let you know that you are still remembered, you are still important,
you are still loved, you are still cared for, guess what you get? A
forwarded joke.
So my friend, next time when you get a joke, don't think that you've
been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of
today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send
you a smile, just helping you pack your parachute.
Charles Plumb was a U.S. Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat
missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb
ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6
years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now
lectures on lessons learned from that experience. One day, when Plumb
and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came
up and said, "You' re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the
aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did
you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied.
Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and
said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your
chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."
Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I
kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat, a
bib in the back, and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I
might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or
anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a
sailor."
Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden
table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and
folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate
of someone he didn't know.
Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone
has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. He
also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane
was shot down over enemy territory - he needed his physical parachute,
his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual
parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.
Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is
really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you,
congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them,
give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. As you go
through this week, this month, this year, recognize people who pack your
parachutes.
I am sending you this as my way of thanking you for your part in packing
my parachute! And I hope you will send it on to those who have helped
pack yours!
Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to us without
writing a word, maybe this could explain it: When you are very busy, but
still want to keep in touch, guess what you do---you forward jokes. And
to let you know that you are still remembered, you are still important,
you are still loved, you are still cared for, guess what you get? A
forwarded joke.
So my friend, next time when you get a joke, don't think that you've
been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of
today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send
you a smile, just helping you pack your parachute.
The Choice
AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS,
THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP,
WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND,
BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,
BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.
IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT
THE GUEST MINISTER WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS
AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH
AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE.
WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.
"A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST,"
HE BEGAN, "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT
TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE. THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH,
THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR,
HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT
AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."
THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT,
MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE,
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN,
LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY.
THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, "GRABBING A RESCUE LINE,
THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE:
TO WHICH BOY HE WOULD THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE.
HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION.
THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN
AND HE ALSO KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT.
THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES. "
"AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!'
HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND.
BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT,
HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT.
HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED."
BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW,
ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH.
"THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS
AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND
STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS...
THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND.
HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR US.
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED.
I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU
AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE."
WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE
FILLED THE ROOM. THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT
AND DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END.
HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.
WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED,
THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE.
"THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED ONE OF THE BOYS,
"BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE
IN HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN."
"WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED,
GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE.
A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE,
HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS AND SAID,
"IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT?
BUT I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU
THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE
FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME.
YOU SEE --- I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND."
-----------
THE BUSIER YOU ARE
The busier you are, the more important it is to stop and read this story.
One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget.
As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers, he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." He then pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth mason jar and set it on the table in front of him.
Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one by one, into the jar.
When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"
Everyone in the class said, "Yes."
Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar, causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the big rocks.
Then he asked the group once more. "Is this jar full?"
By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered.
"Good!" he replied.
He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.
Once more he asked the question. "Is this jar full?"
"No!" the class shouted.
Once again, he said, "Good!".
Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim.
Then the expert in time-management looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"
One eager Beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it."
"No", the speaker replied, "That's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is this: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all."
What are the big rocks in your life? Your children. Your spouse. Your loved ones. Your friendships. Your education. Your dreams. A worthy cause. Teaching or mentoring others. Doing things that you love. Time for yourself. Your health. Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first, or you'll never get them in at all.
"If you sweat the little stuff (i.e. gravel, the sand) then you'll fill your life with little things you will never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks).
* Beyond all, remember that the biggest Rock of life is Jesus Christ, the Rock in whom we take refuge. Spend more time with Him and see for yourself how everything in your life perfectly fits in. Do this no matter how busy you are.*
--------------
Subject: Gokongwei Speech
>
>A Business Education Partnership
>
>Good morning.
>
>I am John Gokongwei, Jr. I am not an Atenean but I feel at home with you.
>Today, at least. Sixty-two years ago, I could not have dreamt of appearing
>before the Jesuits and their students to tell the story of MY life. I was
>no
>more than a student then, at San Carlos University in Cebu, when my father
>dies suddenly. It left me, the eldest, the responsibility of taking care
of
>my mother and five siblings. That was tough for someone who was 13.
>Creditors had just seized our home and business and I had no experience
>with
>earning a living.
>
>But here I am-not all on account of my good looks or charming
>personality-but because I somehow survived. And when I look back, I know
>now
>that I did so because I recognized CHANGE when I saw it.
>
>The first change was war. I had turned 15. My mother had already sent my
>brothers and sister to China where the cost of living was lower. From
Cebu,
>she and I had to make money to send to them.
>
>I turned to peddling. My day began at 5 in the morning. I would load my
>bicycle with soap, thread, and candles, and then bike to neighboring towns
>to sell my goods. On market days, I would rent a stall, lay out the goods
>from the bike, and make about 20 pesos a day, enough for me to survive and
>to buy even more goods for next time. Those days, you might call my
BICYCLE
>AGE.
>
>After two years of biking and peddling at, 17, I entered my BATEL AGE. The
>batel was a small very utilitarian boat that defied the open sea and would
>take me farther from Cebu and all the way to Lucena, from where I would
>take
>a truck to Manila, with companions twice or thrice my age. The sea trips
>could take two to three weeks depending on the weather, and the land trips
>another five to six hours. (I was lighter then, you can imagine.)
>
>On the batel, I read books like "Gone with the Wind" under the great blue
>sky to pass away the time-even if we traders were always in fear of sea
>pirates and the bad weather.
>
>Once, our batel hit a rock and sank. Thank heavens for my rubber tires!
>Those were the goods I had with me to sell in Manila. Well, we all held on
>to those tires, which meant I saved all those traders and those traders
>saved all my tires.
>
>At that time, the War was still going on. Ironically, I look back at the
>War
>with the fondest of memories. It was the great equalizer. Almost everyone
I
>knew had lost big and small fortunes at the time. This meant we all
started
>at ground zero. Ground zero
>
>When the war ended, I was 19. Because of the war, the economy was more
>dependent than ever on imports. So when I set up Amasia, my first company,
>it was to import textile remnants, fruit, old newspaper and magazines, and
>used clothing from the U.S.
>
>There was a side benefit to this. I would wear some of my own stock, so I
>would have different clothes to wear when I went courting Elizabeth, the
>woman who would be my wife. But at the end of it, I made some money.
>
>The Bicycle Age was over. The TRADING AGE began.
>
>By then, my brothers and sister returned from China. Together, we worked
in
>the trading business I had begun-as bodegeros, clerks, warehousemen,
>cashiers, and collectors. And all this while they were all still going to
>school; me, I stopped schooling. Like most Chinese-Filipino families, we
>worked where we lived, and times, we had to endure the stench of rotten
>oranges and potatoes filling our two-story apartment.
>
>By the early '50s, we were importing cigarettes and whiskey as well.
>Business was good. But two factors made me change strategies again. First,
>I
>saw that trading would in time become a low-margin business BECAUSE we
were
>at the mercy of our suppliers and buyers. Second, I saw that the
government
>was working on import-substitution policies to encourage local business.
>President Quirino wanted to shore up the country's foreign exchange
>reserves
>that had been depleted as a result of the high importation of the post-war
>years.
>
>So I decided to enter the AGE of MANUFACTURING. In 1957, I started a corn
>milling plant producing glucose and cornstarch. Why cornstarch? Because I
>thought-and it turned out, correctly-that the unglamorous cornstarch would
>be in great demand from better known businesses like textiles, paper, ice
>cream, pharmaceuticals, and beer.
>
>But there was one problem: I needed capital. This was not easy. I was 30,
>had no big company success to back me up, and I didn't know any bankers.
>
>Thankfully, Dr. Albino Sycip, then chairman of China Bank, and DK Chiong,
>then president, gave me a clean loan of P500,000 to start my business. He
>would be asked later why he did that and he said something about knowing a
>good man when he saw one. (Maybe he knew something I didn't.) Anyway, from
>there Universal Corn Products, the predecessor of Universal Robina
>Corporation, was born.
>
>Of course, the bigger cornstarch players did not give us an easy time.
They
>engage us in a price war. That is a nice way of saying they tried to kill
>us
>by selling low.
>
>But we prevailed, and started to get clients like San Miguel Corporation.
>It
>was my first real taste of competition. And I liked it. I think THAT first
>experience prepared me for the bigger tougher competitors in my future.
>
>By 1961, cornstarch was becoming a commodity, and I saw that there was no
>future in a business where we had to keep lowering margins to survive.
>
>It was time to get into bigger, and riskier, game played by big
>multinationals like Procter and Gamble and Nestl? I saw that all they did
>to capture the market was to brand their products, for instance their
>coffee
>and their toothpaste. That is, give their coffee and toothpaste a name, a
>face, and an image that customer would instantly recognize-and identify
>with
>quality. Me, I dreamt that one day I would be the Philippine Nestle or
>General Foods. So the Manufacturing Age for me was giving way to the AGE
of
>BRANDS.
>
>So, we out up CFC, and our first successful product was Blend 45, an
>instant
>coffee we put out to directly compete with Nestle's Nescafe. We positioned
>it as "the poor man's coffee," hired top movie star Susan Roces to endorse
>it, and employed Procter-and-Gamble veterans to sell it. Basically, we
took
>a page out of the multinational book and applied it to our business. We
>gave
>our coffee, snack food, candy, and chocolates a name, a face, an image.
>Today, Jack and Jill, Max candy, and Cloud 9 have become household names.
>
>It was also at this time that I returned to school for an MBA-with all due
>respect to the Jesuits, at De La Salle University-and a decade later for a
>14-week advanced management program at Harvard. Going back to the
>university
>for studies which war had interrupted gave me an appreciation, believe me,
>for the beauty and the breadth of business life. This is something I
>believe
>I would never have gained if I had chosen to stop my education.
>
>The success of URC opened up many opportunities for our group. We had the
>choice to focus on food where we were very successful-or to pursue other
>businesses. We decided that there were too many good opportunities to pass
>up, and that remaining in our comfort zone would stunt our growth. So we
>got
>into the Age of Expansion.
>
>For the next two decades, we pursued businesses that answered positive on
>FOUR CRUCIAL QUESTIONS.
>
>First: Is there a market? Second: Could we compete against both local and
>foreign players? Third: Could we find the right people for the job and did
>we have enough capital to pursue the business? Last and most important:
Did
>we have the stomach for it? That is, could we take the sleepless nights,
>the
>cutthroat competition?
>
>We went into textiles, retail, real estate, telecommunications, aviation,
>banking, and petrochemicals because we said YES to all those questions.
>Still, in all those industries, we were faced with tough and worthy
>competitors-the mighty SM Department Stores and Malls, the unbeatable
PLDT,
>the entrenched Philippine Airlines and the powerful San Miguel
Corporation.
>Most pundits expected us to fail. They were wrong. Robinsons Stores and
>Mall, Digitel, Cebu Pacific Air and Universal Robina Corporation are now
>market leaders in their respective fields.
>
>That's because they offered the public a choice.
>
>Remember the story of David and Goliath? Every industry has its Goliath.
>But
>every David knows that all giants have their weaknesses. Every weakness is
>an opportunity.
>
>In a few months, we will launch our mobile services to compete with two
>giants, Globe and Smart. Our stomachs are churning for sure-but we know
>that
>we faced similar challenges before, and we are hopeful we can prove the
>pundits wrong again.
>
>In the past decade, which is one-sixth of my entire business life, the
>company has tripled in size. This was the decade when our companies raised
>money from the global equity and debt markets, brought our companies
>public,
>and hired the best professionals to run them. In six decades, we grew from
>a
>one-man team to a group with 30,000 employees.
>
>Now I am in what you can probably call the AGE of GLOBALIZATION. I am
>always
>asked where I stand on this issue. I say that it does NOT matter where I
>stand because as sure as the Ateneo Basketball Team will win next year's
>UAAP championship, global barriers will come crashing down, and we have no
>choice but to prepare ourselves for that.
>
>Still our company will not take globalization sitting down-OUR future and
>the country's depend on how we act now. JG operates branded food concerns
>in
>Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Hongkong, China, and soon,
>Vietnam. We also sell our snack foods in India, Korea, and Taiwan-one of
>the
>few ASEAN companies to do so.
>
>In a few years, when foreign products find their way into OUR shopping
>carts
>as they already have, we want Piattos and Chippy to find their way into
>THEIR shopping carts as well. Our dream is to be the first group to plant
>the Philippine flag throughout Asia.
>
>As I look back, I ask myself, "What if I had stopped at cornstarch?" I
>would
>probably be the owner of the biggest cornstarch group in the country today
>or just as possibly, be broke.
>
>But I chose to live my life unafraid even during times when I WAS afraid.
I
>discovered that opportunities don't find you. You find your opportunities.
>I
>found those opportunities when MY FATHER PASSED AWAY, WHEN WAR CAME,
>THROUGH
>CHANGES IN PRESIDENTS AND THEIR POLICIES, DURING MARTIAL LAW, DESPITE THE
>COUP DE ETATS, PAST ECONOMIC BOOMS AND BUSTS, AND IN THE MIDST OF MARKET
>SHIFTS AND MOVEMENTS.
>
>Now I 'm 75 and retired. And funny, but I often wonder what even happened
>to
>my first bike! The bike that was my companion during those first years
when
>my family had lost everything. I wonder where it is now? That bike reminds
>that success is not necessarily about connections, or cutting corners, or
>chamba-the three Cs of bad business.
>
>Call it trite-but, believe me, success CAN BE ACHIEVED through hard work,
>frugality, integrity, responsiveness to change-and most of all boldness to
>dream. These have never been just easy slogans for me. I have lived by
>them.
>
>I hope that many of you in this room will some day choose to be
>entrepreneurs. Choose to be entrepreneur because then YOU create value.
>Choose to be an entrepreneur because the products, services, and jobs you
>create then become the lifeblood of our nation. But most of all, choose to
>be an entrepreneur because then you desire a life of adventure, endless
>challenge, and the opportunity to be your BEST SELF.
>
>Thank you.
>
---------------------
Paid in Full
After living a "decent" life, my time on earth came to an end.
The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting
room of what I thought to be a court house.
The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat
by
the defense table. As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor".
He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me.
He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.
I sat down and looked to my left and there sat my lawyer, a kind
and
gentle looking man whose appearance seemed familiar to me.
The corner door flew open and there appeared the judge in full
flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as he
moved across the room. I couldn't take my eyes off of him.
As he took his seat behind the bench, he said, "Let us begin".
The prosecutor rose and said, "My name is satan and I am here to
show you why this man belongs in hell".
He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole,
and in the past when I cheated others.
Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life
and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.
I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone,
even my own lawyer, as the devil told of
sins that even I had completely forgotten about.
As upset as I was at satan for telling all these things about me,
I was equally upset at my representative who sat there silently not
offering any form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of
those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that
at least equal out part of the harm I've done?
Satan finished with a fury and said, "This man belongs in hell, he
is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who
can prove otherwise".
When it was his turn, my lawyer first asked if he might approach the
bench. The judge allowed this over the strong objection of satan,
and beckoned Him to come forward.
As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His
full Splendor and Majesty. I realized why He seemed so familiar.
This was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior.
He stopped at the bench and softly said to the judge, "Hi Dad",
and then He turned to address the court.
"satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned,
I won't deny any of these allegations.
And yes the wage of sin is death,
and this man deserves to be punished".
Jesus took a deep breath and turned to his Father with out stretched
arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this
person might have eternal life and he has accepted me as his
Savior, so he is mine".
My Lord continued with, "His name is written in the book of life
and no one can snatch him from me. Satan still does not understand
yet. This man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy".
As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and
replied, "There is nothing else that needs to be done.
I've done it all".
The judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down.
The following words bellowed from His lips...
"This man is free. The penalty for him
has already been paid in full. Case dismissed".
As my Lord led me away, I could hear satan
ranting and raving, "I won't give up,
I'll win the next one".
I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where
to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?"
Christ lovingly smiled and said,
"Everyone that has come to Me and asked
Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you,
Paid in Full".
----------------------
Please make sure you forward this back to me.......you'll see why at the
end! Think about them one at a time BEFORE going on to the next
one.........IT DOES MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD specially the thought at the end.
1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket
5. A special glance.
6. Getting mail
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favourite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price.
12. Chocolate milkshake. (or vanilla!) (or strawberry)
13. A long distance phone call.
14. A bubble bath.
15. Giggling.
16. A good conversation.
17. The beach
18. Finding a 20 note in your coat from last winter.
19. Laughing at yourself.
20. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
21. Running through sprinklers.
22. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
23. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
24. Laughing at an inside joke.
25. Friends.
26. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
27. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
28. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
29. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
30. Playing with a new puppy.
31. Having someone play with your hair.
32. Sweet dreams.
33. Hot chocolate.
34. Road trips with friends.
35. Swinging on swings.
36. Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies and
drinking your favourite tipple.
37. Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without
feeling stupid.
38. Going to a really good concert.
39. Making eye contact with a cute stranger
40. Winning a really competitive game.
41. Making chocolate chip cookies.
42. Having your friends send you home-made cookies.
43. Spending time with close friends.
44. Seeing smiles and hearing laughter from your friends.
45. Holding hands with someone you care about.
46. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or
bad) never change
47. Riding the best roller coasters over and over.
48. Watching the _expression on someone's face as they open a much desired
present from you.
49. Watching the sunrise.
50. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another
beautiful day.
PASS ON THESE NATURAL HIGHS TO AT
LEAST 7 PEOPLE IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR AND SOMETHING FANTASTIC WILL HAPPEN
TO YOU IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. Be sure to send it back to the person who
sent it to you!
Friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have
trouble remembering how to fly.
Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to
us without writing a word, maybe this could explain:
When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you
do? - you forward jokes.
When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep in contact, you
forward jokes.
When you have something to say, but don't know what, and don't know how,
you forward jokes.
To let you know that: you are still remembered, you are still important,
you are still loved, you are still cared for, you are still wanted, guess
what you get? A forwarded joke from me.
So my friend, next time ! if you get a joke, don't think that I have sent
you just a joke, but that...
I Have Thought of You Today!
Send This To Your Friends And Let Them Know You're Always Thinking About
Them And Don't Forget To Send It Back To Your Friend Who Sent It To
You...Let Them Know You're Thinking About Them
>Subject: A Story With Three Morals
>A Story With Three Morals
>A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold, the bird
froze
>and fell to the ground in a large field. While it was lying there, a cow
came
>by and dropped some dung on it. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile
of
>cow dung, it began to realize how warm it was. The dung was actually
thawing
>him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A
>passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the
>sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and
promptly
>dug him out and ate him!
>The morals of this story:
>1 - Not everyone who drops crap on you is your enemy.
>2 - Not everyone who gets you out of crap is your friend.
>3 - And when you sit in deep shit, keep your mouth shut.
---------
A ninety-one year old woman died after living a long dignified life. When
she met God she asked him something that had long bothered her. If Man was
created in God's image, and if all men are created equal, why do people
treat each other so badly?
God replied that each person who enters our life has a unique lesson to
teach us. And it is only through these lessons that we learn about life,
people, relationships and God. This confused the woman, so God began to
explain.
When someone lies to you it teaches you that things are not always as they
seem.The truth is often far beneath the surface. Look beyond the masks
people
wear if you want to know their heart. And remove your own masks to let
people know yours.
When someone steals from you it teaches you that nothing is forever.
Always appreciate what you have, for you never know when you might lose
it. And never,
ever take your friends and family for granted because today is the only
guarantee you have.
When someone inflicts an injury upon you it teaches you that the human
state is a fragile one. Protect and take care of your body as best you
can, it's
the only thing you are sure to have forever.
When someone mocks you it teaches you that no two people are alike. When
you encounter people who are different from you, don't judge them by how
they look
or act; instead base your opinion on the contents of their heart.
When someone breaks your heart it teaches you that loving someone does not
always mean that person will love you back. But don't turn your back on
love because when you find the right person, the joy that one person
brings will make up for all the past hurts put together. Times ten.
When someone holds a grudge against you it teaches you that everyone makes
mistakes.
When you are wronged, the most virtuous thing you can do is forgive the
offender without pretense. Forgiving those who have hurt us is the most
difficult and courageous thing Man can do.
When a loved one is unfaithful to you it teaches you that resisting
temptation is Man's greatest challenge. Be vigilant in your resistance
against all temptation. By doing so you will be rewarded with an enduring
sense of satisfaction far greater than the temporary pleasure by which you
were tempted.
When someone cheats you, it teaches you that being greedy is evil.
Aspire to make your dreams come true, no matter how lofty they may
be. Do not feel guilty about your success, but never let an obsession with
achieving your goals lead you to engage in malevolent activities.
When someone ridicules you it teaches you that nobody is perfect. Accept
people for their merits and be tolerant of their flaws. Do not ever reject
someone for imperfections over which they have no control.
Upon hearing the Lord's wisdom, the old woman became concerned that there
were no lessons to be learned from Man's good deeds.
God replied that Man's
capacity to love is the greatest gift he has. At the root of all kindness
is love, and each act of love also teaches us a lesson. The woman's
curiosity deepening, God once again began to explain.
When someone loves us it teaches us that love, kindness, charity,
honesty,humility, forgiveness and acceptance can counteract all the evil
in the world.
For every good deed, there is one less evil deed. Man alone has the power
to control the balance between good and evil, but because the lessons of
love
are not taught often enough, the power is too often abused.
When you enter someone's life, whether by plan, chance or coincidence,
consider what your lesson will be. Will you teach love or a harsh lesson
of reality?
When you die will your life have resulted in more loving or hurting? More
comfort or pain? More joy or sadness? Each one of us has power over the
balance of
love in the world. Use it wisely. Don't miss an opportunity to nudge the
world's scale in the right direction.
Pass this lesson of love on to those you love and to those you have hurt.
For each person who receives this, there will be a little less evil in the
world and a little more love.
"True Love can not be found were it doesn't truly exist nor can it be
hidden where it truely does."
-----------------
MEMO FROM GOD
To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: THE BOSS
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE
I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help.
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.
If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.
Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has been out of work for years.
Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.
Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.
Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.
Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.
Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.
Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; Remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!
Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you, you may have touched their life in ways you will never know!
---------------
During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave
us a pop
> > quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed
through the
questions,
> > until I read the last one: "What is the first name of
the woman who
cleans
> > the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had
seen the cleaning
> > woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in
her 50s, but how
> > would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the
last question
> > blank.
> >
> > Just before class ended, one student asked if the last
question would
> > count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the
professor. "In your
> > careers, you will meet many people. All are significant.
They deserve
your
> > attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say
"hello". "I've
> > never forgotten that lesson". I also learned her name
was Dorothy.
> >
________________________________________________________________________
> >
> > Second Important Lesson ~ Pick-up in the Rain
> > One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman
was standing on
> > the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a
lashing rain storm.
Her
> > car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.
Soaking wet, she
> > decided to flag down the next car. A young white man
stopped to help
her,
> > generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s.
> > The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance
and put her into a
> > taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote
down his address
and
> > thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the
man's door. To
his
> > surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his
home.
> > A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much
for assisting
me
> > on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not
only my clothes,
but
> > also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I
was able to make
> > it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed
away. God bless
you
> > for helping me and unselfishly serving others."
> > Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.
> >
> >
________________________________________________________________________
> >
> > Third Important Lesson ~ Always remember those who serve
you.
> > In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a
10 year old boy
> > entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A
waitress put a glass
of
> > water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream
sundae?" he asked.
"Fifty
> > cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his
hand out of his
> > pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a
plain dish of
ice
> > cream?" he inquired.
> > By now more people were waiting for a table and the
waitress was growing
> > impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied."
The little boy
> > again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice
cream," he said. The
> > waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the
table and walked
away.
> > The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and
left.
> > When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she
wiped down the
table.
> > There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two
nickels and five
> > pennies... You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because
he had to have
> > enough left to leave her a tip.
> >
________________________________________________________________________
> >
> > Fourth Important Lesson ~ The Obstacle in Our Path
> > In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
roadway. Then he hid
> > himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the
huge rock. Some of
> > the King's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
and simply walked
> > around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping
the roads clear,
> > but none did anything about getting the stone out of the
way.
> > Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables.
Upon
approaching
> > the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried
to move the
stone
> > to the side of the road. After much pushing and
straining, he finally
> > succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of
vegetables, he
noticed
> > a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been.
The purse
contained
> > many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that
the gold was
for
> > the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The
peasant learned
> > what many of us never understand. Every obstacle
presents an opportunity
> > to improve our condition.
> >
________________________________________________________________________
> > Fifth Important Lesson ~ Giving When it Counts
> > Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to
know
> > a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare
and serious
disease.
> > Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her
> > 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the
same disease and
had
> > developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.
> > The doctor explained the situation to her little
brother, and asked the
> > little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to
his sister. I saw
> > him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep
breath and saying,
> > "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."
> > As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his
sister and
> > smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her
cheeks. Then
his
> > face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the
doctor and asked
> > with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right
away?" Being young,
the
> > little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he
was going to have
> > to give his sister all of his blood in order to save
her. You see
> > understanding and attitude, after all, is everything.
> >
________________________________________________________________________
> >
> > You have 2 choices now: 1.. Delete this email, or 2.
Forward it to
people
> > you care about.
> >
> > I hope that you will choose No. 2 and remember to: "Work
like you don't
> > need the money." "Love like you've never been hurt", and
"Dance like you
> > do when nobody's watching."
> >
> > Practice the art of unexpected kindness.
--------------------
12 Days of Christmas
There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.
What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and
especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do
with Christmas?
Today I found out, thanks to the Internet.
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted
to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol
as a catechism song for young Catholics.
It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden
meaning known only to members of their church.
Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality
which the children could remember.
The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark,
Luke & John
The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five
books of the Old Testament.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy
Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution,
Leadership, and Mercy.
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit:
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,
Gentleness, and Self Control.
The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief
in the Apostles' Creed.
So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with
me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that
strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.
---------------
PUDDLES AND DANDELIONS
When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are
going to take over my yard. My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white
fluff you can wish on.
When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a person who
probably wants money and I look away. My kids see someone smiling at them
and they smile back.
When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much
rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen. My kids feel the beat and move
to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their
own.
When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing
up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My kids close their eyes, spread
their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.
When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that. My kids
say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams
away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy
and Daddy."
When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty
carpets. My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross and
worms to play with.
I wonder if we are given children to teach or to learn from? No wonder God
loves the little children!!
"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and
realize they were the big things. Just a reminder about the important things
in life.
I wish you mud puddles and dandelions.
-------
Twenty occasions when it might be best NOT TO TALK. <<...OLE_Obj...>>
1. In the heat of anger
(Proverbs 14:17) He that is quick to anger will commit foolishness, but the
man of thinking abilities is hated.
2. When you don't have all the facts
(Proverbs 18:13) When anyone is replying to a matter before he hears [it],
that is foolishness on his part and a humiliation.
3. When you haven't verified the story
(Deuteronomy 17:6) At the mouth of two witnesses or of three witnesses the
one dying should be put to death. He will not be put to death at them mouth
of one witness.
4. If your words will offend a weaker person
(1 Corinthians 8:11) Really, by your knowledge, the man that is weak is
being ruined, [your] brother for whose sake Christ died.
5. When it is time to listen
(Proverbs 13:1) A son is wise where there is a father's discipline, but the
ridiculer is one that has not heard rebuke.
6. When you are tempted to make light of holy things
(Ecclesiastes 5:2) Do not hurry yourself as regards your mouth; and as for
your heart, let it not be hasty to bring forth a word before the [true] God.
For the [true] God is in the heavens but you are on the earth. That is why
your words should prove to be few.
7. When you are tempted to joke about sin
(Proverbs 14:9) Foolish are those who make a derision of guilt, but among
the upright ones there is agreement.
8. If you would be ashamed of your words later
(Proverbs 8:8) All the sayings of my mouth are in righteousness. Among them
there is nothing twisted or crooked.
9. If your words would convey the wrong impression
(Proverbs 17:27) Anyone holding back his sayings is possessed of knowledge,
and a man of discernment is cool of spirit.
10. If the issue is none of your business
(Proverbs 14:10) The heart is aware of the bitterness of one's soul, and
with its rejoicing no stranger will intermeddle.
11. When you are tempted to tell an outright lie
(Proverbs 4:24) Remove from yourself the crookedness of speech; and the
deviousness of lips put far away from yourself.
12. If your words will damage someone else's reputation
(Proverbs 16:27) A good-for-nothing man is digging up what is bad, and upon
his lips there is, as it were, a scorching fire.
13. If your words will damage a friendship
(Proverbs 16:28) A man of intrigues keeps sending forth contention, and a
slanderer is separating those familiar with one another.
14. When you are feeling critical
(James 3:9) With it we bless Jehovah, even [the] Father, and yet with it we
curse men who have come into existence "in the likeness of God."
15. If you can't say it without screaming it
(Proverbs 25:28) As a city broken through, without a wall, is the man that
has no restraint for his spirit.
16. If your words will be a poor reflection of Christ or your friends and
family
(1 Peter 2:21-23) In fact, to this [course] YOU were called, because even
Christ suffered for YOU, leaving YOU a model for YOU to follow his steps
closely. 22 He committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth. 23
When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was
suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing himself to the
one who judges righteously.
17. If you may have to eat your words later
(Proverbs 18:21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and he that
is loving it will eat its fruitage.
18. If you have already said it more than one time
(Proverbs 19:13) A stupid son means adversities to his father, and the
contentions of a wife are as a leaking roof that drives one away.
19. When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person
(Proverbs 24:24) He that is saying to the wicked one: "You are righteous,"
the peoples will execrate him, national groups will denounce him.
20. When you are suppose to be working instead
(Proverbs 14:23) By every kind of toil there comes to be an advantage, but
merely the word of the lips [tends] to want. And a good final reminder:
<<...OLE_Obj...>> (Proverbs 21:23) He that is keeping his mouth and his
tongue is keeping his soul from distresses. <<...OLE_Obj...>>
-----------------
A lthough things are not perfect
> B ecause of trial or pain
> C ontinue in thanksgiving
> D o not begin to blame
> E ven when the times are hard
> F ierce winds are bound to blow
> G od is forever able
> H old on to what you know
> I magine life without His love
> J oy would cease to be
> K eep thanking Him for all the things
> L ove imparts to thee
> M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
> N o weapon that is known
> O n earth can yield the power
> P raise can do alone
> Q uit looking at the future
> R edeem the time at hand
> S tart every day with worship
> T o "thank" is a command
> U ntil we see Him coming
> V ictorious in the sky
> W e'll run the race with gratitude
> X alting God most high
> Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be
bad, but...
> Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
>
> "I AM Too blessed to be stressed!" The shortest
distance between a problem
> and a solution is the distance between your knees
and the floor.
> The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to
anything. Love and peace be
> with you forever, Amen.
--------
The positive side of life...
Living on earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year.
How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.
Birthdays are good for you;the more you have, the longer you live.
Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
Ever notice that the people who are late
are often much jollier
than the people who have to wait for them?
Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us.
If WalMart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing is free yet?
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.
We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names,and all are different colors...but they all exist very nicely in the same box.
A truly happy person is one whocan enjoy the scenery on a detour.
------------------------
BEING TWENTY - SOMETHING
They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis." It is when you
stop going along with the crowd and start realizing
that there are many things about yourself that you
didn't know and may not like. You start feeling
insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or
two, but then get scared because you barely know where
you are now.
You start realizing that people are selfish and that,
maybe, those friends that you thought you were so
close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have
ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are
some of the most important ones. What you don't
recognize is that they are realizing that too, and
aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that
they are as confused as you.
You look at your job... and it is not even close to
what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are
looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to
start at the bottom and that scares you.
Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what
others are doing and find yourself judging more than
usual because suddenly you realize that you have
certain boundaries in your life and are constantly
adding things to your list of what is acceptable and
what isn't. One minute, you are insecure and then the
next, secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest
force of your life. You feel alone and scared and
confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try
and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon
realize that the past is drifting further and further
away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you
are or move forward.
You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you
loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed
and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough
that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love
someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why
you are doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person.
One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap.
Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic.
You go through the same emotions and questions over
and over, and talk with your friends about the same
topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You
worry about loans, money, the future and making a life
for yourself... and while winning the race would be
great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!
What you may not realize is that everyone reading this
relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of
times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.
Send this to your twenty-something friends...maybe it
will help someone feel like they aren't alone in their
state of confusion........
-------------------------------------------
An "Aussie" Story
>By Rhomaine Grace
>
>Years ago a hardworking man took his family from New York State to Australia
>to take advantage of a work opportunity there. Part of this man's family was
>a handsome young son who had aspirations of joining the circus as a trapeze
>artist or an actor. This young fellow, biding his time until a circus job or
>even one as a stagehand came along, worked at the local shipyards which
>bordered on the worse section of town.
>
>Walking home from work one evening this young man was attacked by five thugs
>who wanted to rob him. Instead of just giving up his money the young fellow
>resisted. However they bested him easily and proceeded to beat him to a
>pulp. They mashed his face with their boots, and kicked and beat his body
>brutally with clubs, leaving him for dead. When the police happened to find
>him lying in the road they assumed he was dead and called for the Morgue
>Wagon.
>
>On the way to the morgue a policeman heard him gasp for air, and they
>immediately took him to the emergency unit at the hospital. When he was
>placed on a gurney a nurse remarked to her horror, that this young man no
>longer had a face. Each eye socket was smashed, his skull, legs, and arms
>fractured, his nose literally hanging from his face, all is teeth were gone,
>and his jaw was almost completely torn from his skull.
>
>Although his life was spared, he spent over a year in the hospital. When he
>finally left, his body may have healed but his face was disgusting to look
>at. He was no longer the handsome youth that everyone admired.
>
>When the young man started to look for work again he was turned down by
>everyone just on account of the way he looked. One potential employer
>suggested to him that he join the freak show at the circus as The Man Who
>Had No Face. And he did this for a while. He was still rejected by everyone
>and no one wanted to be seen in his company. He had thoughts of suicide.
>
>This went on for five years. One day he passed a church and sought some
>solace there. Entering the church he encountered a priest who saw him
>sobbing while kneeling in a pew. The priest took pity on him and took him to
>the rectory where they talked at length. The priest was impressed with him
>to such a degree that he said that he would do everything possible for him
>that could be done to restore his dignity and life, if the young man would
>promise to be the best Catholic he could be, and trust in God's mercy to
>free him from his torturous life. The young man went to Mass and communion
>every day, and after thanking God for saving his life, asked God to only
>give him peace of mind and the grace to be the best man he could ever be in
>His eyes.
>
>The priest, through his personal contacts was able to secure the services of
>the best plastic surgeon in Australia. There would be no cost to the young
>man, as the doctor was the priest's best friend. The doctor too was so
>impressed by the young man. Whose outlook now on life, even though he had
>experienced the worst, was filled with good humor and love. The surgery was
>a miraculous success. All the best dental work was also done for him.
>
>The young man became everything he promised God he would be. He was also
>blessed with a wonderful, beautiful wife, many children, and success in an
>industry which would have been the furthest thing from his mind as a career,
>if not for the goodness of God and the love of the people who cared for him.
>
>This he acknowledges publicly.
>
>The young man's name is... Mel Gibson.
-------------------------
The Verse:
Mark 9:35 ë°ªitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
The Voice:
An old tablecloth...
The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.
They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc. and on Dec. 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On Dec 19, a terrible tempest, a driving rainstorm - hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in.
One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church. By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry.
The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. "Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that
tablecloth?" The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria. The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth.
The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. She was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again.
The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job. What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike?
He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety, and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between. The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.
True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid, New York, NY.
Comments:
So many times in situations where we feel like we have no hope we tend to dwell on ourselves and how we are going to fix OUR problems. But in every situation we can either see the best in it or see the worst. When we choose to see the best in the situation, God can bless us tremendously. One if not the greatest blessing of all is to see other people experience joy in their lives. I urge you in all situations to see the best and to find ways to help other people experience joy. It is in those times that we ourselves become great, when we are the least.
Prayer:
Praise God for being our Peace and our Joy.
Confess to Him the times when you have chosen to see only the worst in a situation and not the best as He sees it.
Thank Him for allowing you to have His vision and to allow it to change your life.
Ask Him to help you to see things the way He sees them more and more everyday and to see the ways He can use it to glorify Himself and spread the Good News to others.
// Xristovox.com // ((((() the voice of Christ ()))))
www.xristovox.com
---------------------
Rules from God
1. Wake Up !! ÿ
Decide to have a good day.
"Today is the day the Lord hath made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up !! ÿ
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at outward appearance;
but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7
3. Shut Up!!
Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant
for us to do twice as much listening as talking.
"He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3
4. Stand Up!!...
For what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time,
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."
Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up !!...ÿ
To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me".
Philippians 4:13
6. Reach Up !!... ÿ
For something higher.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Lift Up !!...ÿ
Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT
EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6
A POSITIVE THOUGHT
-If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
-If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring, and a sunrise every morning.
-Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
-He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
-What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem; not to mention that Friday at Calvary. Face it, He's crazy
about you.
Send this to the people you care about.
I thought this was mighty special, just like you. Pass this on and brighten someone's day, and remember:
God answers Knee-Mail.
---------------------------------
1. Pursue Achievable Goals
2. Keep Genuine Smiles
3. Share with Others
4. Help Thy Neighbours
5. Maintain Youthful Spirit
6. Get Along with the Rich, the Poor,
the Beautiful, & the Ugly
7. Keep Cool Under Pressure
8 . Lighten the Atmosphere with Humor
9. Forgive the Annoyance of Others
10. Have a Few Pals
11. Cooperate and Reap Greater Rewards
12. Treasure Every Moment
with Your Love Ones
13. Have High Confidence in Yourself
14. Respect the Disadvantaged
15. Indulge Yourself Occasionally
16. Surf the Net at Leisure
17. Take Calculated Risks
18. Understand "Money Isn't Everything"
And Have a nice day!
--------------------
AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS,
THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP,
WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND,
BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,
BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.
IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT
THE GUEST MINISTER WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS
AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH
AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE.
WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.
"A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST,"
HE BEGAN, "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT
TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE. THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH,
THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR,
HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT
AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."
THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT,
MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE,
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN,
LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY.
THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, "GRABBING A RESCUE LINE,
THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE:
TO WHICH BOY HE WOULD THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE.
HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION.
THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN
AND HE ALSO KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT.
THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES. "
"AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!'
HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND.
BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT,
HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT.
HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED."
BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW,
ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH.
"THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS
AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND
STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS...
THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND.
HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR US.
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED.
I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU
AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE."
WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE
FILLED THE ROOM. THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT
AND DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END.
HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.
WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED,
THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE.
"THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED ONE OF THE BOYS,
"BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE
IN HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN."
"WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED,
GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE.
A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE,
HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS AND SAID,
"IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT?
BUT I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU
THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE
FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME.
YOU SEE --- I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND."
-----------
THE BUSIER YOU ARE
The busier you are, the more important it is to stop and read this story.
One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget.
As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers, he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." He then pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth mason jar and set it on the table in front of him.
Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one by one, into the jar.
When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"
Everyone in the class said, "Yes."
Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar, causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the big rocks.
Then he asked the group once more. "Is this jar full?"
By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered.
"Good!" he replied.
He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.
Once more he asked the question. "Is this jar full?"
"No!" the class shouted.
Once again, he said, "Good!".
Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim.
Then the expert in time-management looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"
One eager Beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it."
"No", the speaker replied, "That's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is this: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all."
What are the big rocks in your life? Your children. Your spouse. Your loved ones. Your friendships. Your education. Your dreams. A worthy cause. Teaching or mentoring others. Doing things that you love. Time for yourself. Your health. Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first, or you'll never get them in at all.
"If you sweat the little stuff (i.e. gravel, the sand) then you'll fill your life with little things you will never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks).
* Beyond all, remember that the biggest Rock of life is Jesus Christ, the Rock in whom we take refuge. Spend more time with Him and see for yourself how everything in your life perfectly fits in. Do this no matter how busy you are.*
--------------
Subject: Gokongwei Speech
>
>A Business Education Partnership
>
>Good morning.
>
>I am John Gokongwei, Jr. I am not an Atenean but I feel at home with you.
>Today, at least. Sixty-two years ago, I could not have dreamt of appearing
>before the Jesuits and their students to tell the story of MY life. I was
>no
>more than a student then, at San Carlos University in Cebu, when my father
>dies suddenly. It left me, the eldest, the responsibility of taking care
of
>my mother and five siblings. That was tough for someone who was 13.
>Creditors had just seized our home and business and I had no experience
>with
>earning a living.
>
>But here I am-not all on account of my good looks or charming
>personality-but because I somehow survived. And when I look back, I know
>now
>that I did so because I recognized CHANGE when I saw it.
>
>The first change was war. I had turned 15. My mother had already sent my
>brothers and sister to China where the cost of living was lower. From
Cebu,
>she and I had to make money to send to them.
>
>I turned to peddling. My day began at 5 in the morning. I would load my
>bicycle with soap, thread, and candles, and then bike to neighboring towns
>to sell my goods. On market days, I would rent a stall, lay out the goods
>from the bike, and make about 20 pesos a day, enough for me to survive and
>to buy even more goods for next time. Those days, you might call my
BICYCLE
>AGE.
>
>After two years of biking and peddling at, 17, I entered my BATEL AGE. The
>batel was a small very utilitarian boat that defied the open sea and would
>take me farther from Cebu and all the way to Lucena, from where I would
>take
>a truck to Manila, with companions twice or thrice my age. The sea trips
>could take two to three weeks depending on the weather, and the land trips
>another five to six hours. (I was lighter then, you can imagine.)
>
>On the batel, I read books like "Gone with the Wind" under the great blue
>sky to pass away the time-even if we traders were always in fear of sea
>pirates and the bad weather.
>
>Once, our batel hit a rock and sank. Thank heavens for my rubber tires!
>Those were the goods I had with me to sell in Manila. Well, we all held on
>to those tires, which meant I saved all those traders and those traders
>saved all my tires.
>
>At that time, the War was still going on. Ironically, I look back at the
>War
>with the fondest of memories. It was the great equalizer. Almost everyone
I
>knew had lost big and small fortunes at the time. This meant we all
started
>at ground zero. Ground zero
>
>When the war ended, I was 19. Because of the war, the economy was more
>dependent than ever on imports. So when I set up Amasia, my first company,
>it was to import textile remnants, fruit, old newspaper and magazines, and
>used clothing from the U.S.
>
>There was a side benefit to this. I would wear some of my own stock, so I
>would have different clothes to wear when I went courting Elizabeth, the
>woman who would be my wife. But at the end of it, I made some money.
>
>The Bicycle Age was over. The TRADING AGE began.
>
>By then, my brothers and sister returned from China. Together, we worked
in
>the trading business I had begun-as bodegeros, clerks, warehousemen,
>cashiers, and collectors. And all this while they were all still going to
>school; me, I stopped schooling. Like most Chinese-Filipino families, we
>worked where we lived, and times, we had to endure the stench of rotten
>oranges and potatoes filling our two-story apartment.
>
>By the early '50s, we were importing cigarettes and whiskey as well.
>Business was good. But two factors made me change strategies again. First,
>I
>saw that trading would in time become a low-margin business BECAUSE we
were
>at the mercy of our suppliers and buyers. Second, I saw that the
government
>was working on import-substitution policies to encourage local business.
>President Quirino wanted to shore up the country's foreign exchange
>reserves
>that had been depleted as a result of the high importation of the post-war
>years.
>
>So I decided to enter the AGE of MANUFACTURING. In 1957, I started a corn
>milling plant producing glucose and cornstarch. Why cornstarch? Because I
>thought-and it turned out, correctly-that the unglamorous cornstarch would
>be in great demand from better known businesses like textiles, paper, ice
>cream, pharmaceuticals, and beer.
>
>But there was one problem: I needed capital. This was not easy. I was 30,
>had no big company success to back me up, and I didn't know any bankers.
>
>Thankfully, Dr. Albino Sycip, then chairman of China Bank, and DK Chiong,
>then president, gave me a clean loan of P500,000 to start my business. He
>would be asked later why he did that and he said something about knowing a
>good man when he saw one. (Maybe he knew something I didn't.) Anyway, from
>there Universal Corn Products, the predecessor of Universal Robina
>Corporation, was born.
>
>Of course, the bigger cornstarch players did not give us an easy time.
They
>engage us in a price war. That is a nice way of saying they tried to kill
>us
>by selling low.
>
>But we prevailed, and started to get clients like San Miguel Corporation.
>It
>was my first real taste of competition. And I liked it. I think THAT first
>experience prepared me for the bigger tougher competitors in my future.
>
>By 1961, cornstarch was becoming a commodity, and I saw that there was no
>future in a business where we had to keep lowering margins to survive.
>
>It was time to get into bigger, and riskier, game played by big
>multinationals like Procter and Gamble and Nestl? I saw that all they did
>to capture the market was to brand their products, for instance their
>coffee
>and their toothpaste. That is, give their coffee and toothpaste a name, a
>face, and an image that customer would instantly recognize-and identify
>with
>quality. Me, I dreamt that one day I would be the Philippine Nestle or
>General Foods. So the Manufacturing Age for me was giving way to the AGE
of
>BRANDS.
>
>So, we out up CFC, and our first successful product was Blend 45, an
>instant
>coffee we put out to directly compete with Nestle's Nescafe. We positioned
>it as "the poor man's coffee," hired top movie star Susan Roces to endorse
>it, and employed Procter-and-Gamble veterans to sell it. Basically, we
took
>a page out of the multinational book and applied it to our business. We
>gave
>our coffee, snack food, candy, and chocolates a name, a face, an image.
>Today, Jack and Jill, Max candy, and Cloud 9 have become household names.
>
>It was also at this time that I returned to school for an MBA-with all due
>respect to the Jesuits, at De La Salle University-and a decade later for a
>14-week advanced management program at Harvard. Going back to the
>university
>for studies which war had interrupted gave me an appreciation, believe me,
>for the beauty and the breadth of business life. This is something I
>believe
>I would never have gained if I had chosen to stop my education.
>
>The success of URC opened up many opportunities for our group. We had the
>choice to focus on food where we were very successful-or to pursue other
>businesses. We decided that there were too many good opportunities to pass
>up, and that remaining in our comfort zone would stunt our growth. So we
>got
>into the Age of Expansion.
>
>For the next two decades, we pursued businesses that answered positive on
>FOUR CRUCIAL QUESTIONS.
>
>First: Is there a market? Second: Could we compete against both local and
>foreign players? Third: Could we find the right people for the job and did
>we have enough capital to pursue the business? Last and most important:
Did
>we have the stomach for it? That is, could we take the sleepless nights,
>the
>cutthroat competition?
>
>We went into textiles, retail, real estate, telecommunications, aviation,
>banking, and petrochemicals because we said YES to all those questions.
>Still, in all those industries, we were faced with tough and worthy
>competitors-the mighty SM Department Stores and Malls, the unbeatable
PLDT,
>the entrenched Philippine Airlines and the powerful San Miguel
Corporation.
>Most pundits expected us to fail. They were wrong. Robinsons Stores and
>Mall, Digitel, Cebu Pacific Air and Universal Robina Corporation are now
>market leaders in their respective fields.
>
>That's because they offered the public a choice.
>
>Remember the story of David and Goliath? Every industry has its Goliath.
>But
>every David knows that all giants have their weaknesses. Every weakness is
>an opportunity.
>
>In a few months, we will launch our mobile services to compete with two
>giants, Globe and Smart. Our stomachs are churning for sure-but we know
>that
>we faced similar challenges before, and we are hopeful we can prove the
>pundits wrong again.
>
>In the past decade, which is one-sixth of my entire business life, the
>company has tripled in size. This was the decade when our companies raised
>money from the global equity and debt markets, brought our companies
>public,
>and hired the best professionals to run them. In six decades, we grew from
>a
>one-man team to a group with 30,000 employees.
>
>Now I am in what you can probably call the AGE of GLOBALIZATION. I am
>always
>asked where I stand on this issue. I say that it does NOT matter where I
>stand because as sure as the Ateneo Basketball Team will win next year's
>UAAP championship, global barriers will come crashing down, and we have no
>choice but to prepare ourselves for that.
>
>Still our company will not take globalization sitting down-OUR future and
>the country's depend on how we act now. JG operates branded food concerns
>in
>Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Hongkong, China, and soon,
>Vietnam. We also sell our snack foods in India, Korea, and Taiwan-one of
>the
>few ASEAN companies to do so.
>
>In a few years, when foreign products find their way into OUR shopping
>carts
>as they already have, we want Piattos and Chippy to find their way into
>THEIR shopping carts as well. Our dream is to be the first group to plant
>the Philippine flag throughout Asia.
>
>As I look back, I ask myself, "What if I had stopped at cornstarch?" I
>would
>probably be the owner of the biggest cornstarch group in the country today
>or just as possibly, be broke.
>
>But I chose to live my life unafraid even during times when I WAS afraid.
I
>discovered that opportunities don't find you. You find your opportunities.
>I
>found those opportunities when MY FATHER PASSED AWAY, WHEN WAR CAME,
>THROUGH
>CHANGES IN PRESIDENTS AND THEIR POLICIES, DURING MARTIAL LAW, DESPITE THE
>COUP DE ETATS, PAST ECONOMIC BOOMS AND BUSTS, AND IN THE MIDST OF MARKET
>SHIFTS AND MOVEMENTS.
>
>Now I 'm 75 and retired. And funny, but I often wonder what even happened
>to
>my first bike! The bike that was my companion during those first years
when
>my family had lost everything. I wonder where it is now? That bike reminds
>that success is not necessarily about connections, or cutting corners, or
>chamba-the three Cs of bad business.
>
>Call it trite-but, believe me, success CAN BE ACHIEVED through hard work,
>frugality, integrity, responsiveness to change-and most of all boldness to
>dream. These have never been just easy slogans for me. I have lived by
>them.
>
>I hope that many of you in this room will some day choose to be
>entrepreneurs. Choose to be entrepreneur because then YOU create value.
>Choose to be an entrepreneur because the products, services, and jobs you
>create then become the lifeblood of our nation. But most of all, choose to
>be an entrepreneur because then you desire a life of adventure, endless
>challenge, and the opportunity to be your BEST SELF.
>
>Thank you.
>
---------------------
Paid in Full
After living a "decent" life, my time on earth came to an end.
The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting
room of what I thought to be a court house.
The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat
by
the defense table. As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor".
He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me.
He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.
I sat down and looked to my left and there sat my lawyer, a kind
and
gentle looking man whose appearance seemed familiar to me.
The corner door flew open and there appeared the judge in full
flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as he
moved across the room. I couldn't take my eyes off of him.
As he took his seat behind the bench, he said, "Let us begin".
The prosecutor rose and said, "My name is satan and I am here to
show you why this man belongs in hell".
He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole,
and in the past when I cheated others.
Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life
and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.
I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone,
even my own lawyer, as the devil told of
sins that even I had completely forgotten about.
As upset as I was at satan for telling all these things about me,
I was equally upset at my representative who sat there silently not
offering any form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of
those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that
at least equal out part of the harm I've done?
Satan finished with a fury and said, "This man belongs in hell, he
is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who
can prove otherwise".
When it was his turn, my lawyer first asked if he might approach the
bench. The judge allowed this over the strong objection of satan,
and beckoned Him to come forward.
As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His
full Splendor and Majesty. I realized why He seemed so familiar.
This was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior.
He stopped at the bench and softly said to the judge, "Hi Dad",
and then He turned to address the court.
"satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned,
I won't deny any of these allegations.
And yes the wage of sin is death,
and this man deserves to be punished".
Jesus took a deep breath and turned to his Father with out stretched
arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this
person might have eternal life and he has accepted me as his
Savior, so he is mine".
My Lord continued with, "His name is written in the book of life
and no one can snatch him from me. Satan still does not understand
yet. This man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy".
As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and
replied, "There is nothing else that needs to be done.
I've done it all".
The judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down.
The following words bellowed from His lips...
"This man is free. The penalty for him
has already been paid in full. Case dismissed".
As my Lord led me away, I could hear satan
ranting and raving, "I won't give up,
I'll win the next one".
I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where
to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?"
Christ lovingly smiled and said,
"Everyone that has come to Me and asked
Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you,
Paid in Full".
----------------------
Please make sure you forward this back to me.......you'll see why at the
end! Think about them one at a time BEFORE going on to the next
one.........IT DOES MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD specially the thought at the end.
1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket
5. A special glance.
6. Getting mail
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favourite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price.
12. Chocolate milkshake. (or vanilla!) (or strawberry)
13. A long distance phone call.
14. A bubble bath.
15. Giggling.
16. A good conversation.
17. The beach
18. Finding a 20 note in your coat from last winter.
19. Laughing at yourself.
20. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
21. Running through sprinklers.
22. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
23. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
24. Laughing at an inside joke.
25. Friends.
26. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
27. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
28. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
29. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
30. Playing with a new puppy.
31. Having someone play with your hair.
32. Sweet dreams.
33. Hot chocolate.
34. Road trips with friends.
35. Swinging on swings.
36. Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies and
drinking your favourite tipple.
37. Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without
feeling stupid.
38. Going to a really good concert.
39. Making eye contact with a cute stranger
40. Winning a really competitive game.
41. Making chocolate chip cookies.
42. Having your friends send you home-made cookies.
43. Spending time with close friends.
44. Seeing smiles and hearing laughter from your friends.
45. Holding hands with someone you care about.
46. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or
bad) never change
47. Riding the best roller coasters over and over.
48. Watching the _expression on someone's face as they open a much desired
present from you.
49. Watching the sunrise.
50. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another
beautiful day.
PASS ON THESE NATURAL HIGHS TO AT
LEAST 7 PEOPLE IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR AND SOMETHING FANTASTIC WILL HAPPEN
TO YOU IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. Be sure to send it back to the person who
sent it to you!
Friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have
trouble remembering how to fly.
Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to
us without writing a word, maybe this could explain:
When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you
do? - you forward jokes.
When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep in contact, you
forward jokes.
When you have something to say, but don't know what, and don't know how,
you forward jokes.
To let you know that: you are still remembered, you are still important,
you are still loved, you are still cared for, you are still wanted, guess
what you get? A forwarded joke from me.
So my friend, next time ! if you get a joke, don't think that I have sent
you just a joke, but that...
I Have Thought of You Today!
Send This To Your Friends And Let Them Know You're Always Thinking About
Them And Don't Forget To Send It Back To Your Friend Who Sent It To
You...Let Them Know You're Thinking About Them
>Subject: A Story With Three Morals
>A Story With Three Morals
>A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold, the bird
froze
>and fell to the ground in a large field. While it was lying there, a cow
came
>by and dropped some dung on it. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile
of
>cow dung, it began to realize how warm it was. The dung was actually
thawing
>him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A
>passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the
>sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and
promptly
>dug him out and ate him!
>The morals of this story:
>1 - Not everyone who drops crap on you is your enemy.
>2 - Not everyone who gets you out of crap is your friend.
>3 - And when you sit in deep shit, keep your mouth shut.
---------
A ninety-one year old woman died after living a long dignified life. When
she met God she asked him something that had long bothered her. If Man was
created in God's image, and if all men are created equal, why do people
treat each other so badly?
God replied that each person who enters our life has a unique lesson to
teach us. And it is only through these lessons that we learn about life,
people, relationships and God. This confused the woman, so God began to
explain.
When someone lies to you it teaches you that things are not always as they
seem.The truth is often far beneath the surface. Look beyond the masks
people
wear if you want to know their heart. And remove your own masks to let
people know yours.
When someone steals from you it teaches you that nothing is forever.
Always appreciate what you have, for you never know when you might lose
it. And never,
ever take your friends and family for granted because today is the only
guarantee you have.
When someone inflicts an injury upon you it teaches you that the human
state is a fragile one. Protect and take care of your body as best you
can, it's
the only thing you are sure to have forever.
When someone mocks you it teaches you that no two people are alike. When
you encounter people who are different from you, don't judge them by how
they look
or act; instead base your opinion on the contents of their heart.
When someone breaks your heart it teaches you that loving someone does not
always mean that person will love you back. But don't turn your back on
love because when you find the right person, the joy that one person
brings will make up for all the past hurts put together. Times ten.
When someone holds a grudge against you it teaches you that everyone makes
mistakes.
When you are wronged, the most virtuous thing you can do is forgive the
offender without pretense. Forgiving those who have hurt us is the most
difficult and courageous thing Man can do.
When a loved one is unfaithful to you it teaches you that resisting
temptation is Man's greatest challenge. Be vigilant in your resistance
against all temptation. By doing so you will be rewarded with an enduring
sense of satisfaction far greater than the temporary pleasure by which you
were tempted.
When someone cheats you, it teaches you that being greedy is evil.
Aspire to make your dreams come true, no matter how lofty they may
be. Do not feel guilty about your success, but never let an obsession with
achieving your goals lead you to engage in malevolent activities.
When someone ridicules you it teaches you that nobody is perfect. Accept
people for their merits and be tolerant of their flaws. Do not ever reject
someone for imperfections over which they have no control.
Upon hearing the Lord's wisdom, the old woman became concerned that there
were no lessons to be learned from Man's good deeds.
God replied that Man's
capacity to love is the greatest gift he has. At the root of all kindness
is love, and each act of love also teaches us a lesson. The woman's
curiosity deepening, God once again began to explain.
When someone loves us it teaches us that love, kindness, charity,
honesty,humility, forgiveness and acceptance can counteract all the evil
in the world.
For every good deed, there is one less evil deed. Man alone has the power
to control the balance between good and evil, but because the lessons of
love
are not taught often enough, the power is too often abused.
When you enter someone's life, whether by plan, chance or coincidence,
consider what your lesson will be. Will you teach love or a harsh lesson
of reality?
When you die will your life have resulted in more loving or hurting? More
comfort or pain? More joy or sadness? Each one of us has power over the
balance of
love in the world. Use it wisely. Don't miss an opportunity to nudge the
world's scale in the right direction.
Pass this lesson of love on to those you love and to those you have hurt.
For each person who receives this, there will be a little less evil in the
world and a little more love.
"True Love can not be found were it doesn't truly exist nor can it be
hidden where it truely does."
-----------------
MEMO FROM GOD
To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: THE BOSS
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE
I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help.
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.
If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.
Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has been out of work for years.
Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.
Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.
Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.
Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.
Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.
Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; Remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!
Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you, you may have touched their life in ways you will never know!
---------------
During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave
us a pop
> > quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed
through the
questions,
> > until I read the last one: "What is the first name of
the woman who
cleans
> > the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had
seen the cleaning
> > woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in
her 50s, but how
> > would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the
last question
> > blank.
> >
> > Just before class ended, one student asked if the last
question would
> > count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the
professor. "In your
> > careers, you will meet many people. All are significant.
They deserve
your
> > attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say
"hello". "I've
> > never forgotten that lesson". I also learned her name
was Dorothy.
> >
________________________________________________________________________
> >
> > Second Important Lesson ~ Pick-up in the Rain
> > One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman
was standing on
> > the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a
lashing rain storm.
Her
> > car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.
Soaking wet, she
> > decided to flag down the next car. A young white man
stopped to help
her,
> > generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s.
> > The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance
and put her into a
> > taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote
down his address
and
> > thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the
man's door. To
his
> > surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his
home.
> > A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much
for assisting
me
> > on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not
only my clothes,
but
> > also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I
was able to make
> > it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed
away. God bless
you
> > for helping me and unselfishly serving others."
> > Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.
> >
> >
________________________________________________________________________
> >
> > Third Important Lesson ~ Always remember those who serve
you.
> > In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a
10 year old boy
> > entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A
waitress put a glass
of
> > water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream
sundae?" he asked.
"Fifty
> > cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his
hand out of his
> > pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a
plain dish of
ice
> > cream?" he inquired.
> > By now more people were waiting for a table and the
waitress was growing
> > impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied."
The little boy
> > again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice
cream," he said. The
> > waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the
table and walked
away.
> > The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and
left.
> > When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she
wiped down the
table.
> > There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two
nickels and five
> > pennies... You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because
he had to have
> > enough left to leave her a tip.
> >
________________________________________________________________________
> >
> > Fourth Important Lesson ~ The Obstacle in Our Path
> > In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
roadway. Then he hid
> > himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the
huge rock. Some of
> > the King's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
and simply walked
> > around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping
the roads clear,
> > but none did anything about getting the stone out of the
way.
> > Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables.
Upon
approaching
> > the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried
to move the
stone
> > to the side of the road. After much pushing and
straining, he finally
> > succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of
vegetables, he
noticed
> > a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been.
The purse
contained
> > many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that
the gold was
for
> > the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The
peasant learned
> > what many of us never understand. Every obstacle
presents an opportunity
> > to improve our condition.
> >
________________________________________________________________________
> > Fifth Important Lesson ~ Giving When it Counts
> > Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to
know
> > a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare
and serious
disease.
> > Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her
> > 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the
same disease and
had
> > developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.
> > The doctor explained the situation to her little
brother, and asked the
> > little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to
his sister. I saw
> > him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep
breath and saying,
> > "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."
> > As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his
sister and
> > smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her
cheeks. Then
his
> > face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the
doctor and asked
> > with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right
away?" Being young,
the
> > little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he
was going to have
> > to give his sister all of his blood in order to save
her. You see
> > understanding and attitude, after all, is everything.
> >
________________________________________________________________________
> >
> > You have 2 choices now: 1.. Delete this email, or 2.
Forward it to
people
> > you care about.
> >
> > I hope that you will choose No. 2 and remember to: "Work
like you don't
> > need the money." "Love like you've never been hurt", and
"Dance like you
> > do when nobody's watching."
> >
> > Practice the art of unexpected kindness.
--------------------
12 Days of Christmas
There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.
What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and
especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do
with Christmas?
Today I found out, thanks to the Internet.
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted
to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol
as a catechism song for young Catholics.
It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden
meaning known only to members of their church.
Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality
which the children could remember.
The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark,
Luke & John
The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five
books of the Old Testament.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy
Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution,
Leadership, and Mercy.
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit:
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,
Gentleness, and Self Control.
The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief
in the Apostles' Creed.
So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with
me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that
strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.
---------------
PUDDLES AND DANDELIONS
When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are
going to take over my yard. My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white
fluff you can wish on.
When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a person who
probably wants money and I look away. My kids see someone smiling at them
and they smile back.
When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much
rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen. My kids feel the beat and move
to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their
own.
When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing
up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My kids close their eyes, spread
their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.
When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that. My kids
say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams
away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy
and Daddy."
When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty
carpets. My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross and
worms to play with.
I wonder if we are given children to teach or to learn from? No wonder God
loves the little children!!
"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and
realize they were the big things. Just a reminder about the important things
in life.
I wish you mud puddles and dandelions.
-------
Twenty occasions when it might be best NOT TO TALK. <<...OLE_Obj...>>
1. In the heat of anger
(Proverbs 14:17) He that is quick to anger will commit foolishness, but the
man of thinking abilities is hated.
2. When you don't have all the facts
(Proverbs 18:13) When anyone is replying to a matter before he hears [it],
that is foolishness on his part and a humiliation.
3. When you haven't verified the story
(Deuteronomy 17:6) At the mouth of two witnesses or of three witnesses the
one dying should be put to death. He will not be put to death at them mouth
of one witness.
4. If your words will offend a weaker person
(1 Corinthians 8:11) Really, by your knowledge, the man that is weak is
being ruined, [your] brother for whose sake Christ died.
5. When it is time to listen
(Proverbs 13:1) A son is wise where there is a father's discipline, but the
ridiculer is one that has not heard rebuke.
6. When you are tempted to make light of holy things
(Ecclesiastes 5:2) Do not hurry yourself as regards your mouth; and as for
your heart, let it not be hasty to bring forth a word before the [true] God.
For the [true] God is in the heavens but you are on the earth. That is why
your words should prove to be few.
7. When you are tempted to joke about sin
(Proverbs 14:9) Foolish are those who make a derision of guilt, but among
the upright ones there is agreement.
8. If you would be ashamed of your words later
(Proverbs 8:8) All the sayings of my mouth are in righteousness. Among them
there is nothing twisted or crooked.
9. If your words would convey the wrong impression
(Proverbs 17:27) Anyone holding back his sayings is possessed of knowledge,
and a man of discernment is cool of spirit.
10. If the issue is none of your business
(Proverbs 14:10) The heart is aware of the bitterness of one's soul, and
with its rejoicing no stranger will intermeddle.
11. When you are tempted to tell an outright lie
(Proverbs 4:24) Remove from yourself the crookedness of speech; and the
deviousness of lips put far away from yourself.
12. If your words will damage someone else's reputation
(Proverbs 16:27) A good-for-nothing man is digging up what is bad, and upon
his lips there is, as it were, a scorching fire.
13. If your words will damage a friendship
(Proverbs 16:28) A man of intrigues keeps sending forth contention, and a
slanderer is separating those familiar with one another.
14. When you are feeling critical
(James 3:9) With it we bless Jehovah, even [the] Father, and yet with it we
curse men who have come into existence "in the likeness of God."
15. If you can't say it without screaming it
(Proverbs 25:28) As a city broken through, without a wall, is the man that
has no restraint for his spirit.
16. If your words will be a poor reflection of Christ or your friends and
family
(1 Peter 2:21-23) In fact, to this [course] YOU were called, because even
Christ suffered for YOU, leaving YOU a model for YOU to follow his steps
closely. 22 He committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth. 23
When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was
suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing himself to the
one who judges righteously.
17. If you may have to eat your words later
(Proverbs 18:21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and he that
is loving it will eat its fruitage.
18. If you have already said it more than one time
(Proverbs 19:13) A stupid son means adversities to his father, and the
contentions of a wife are as a leaking roof that drives one away.
19. When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person
(Proverbs 24:24) He that is saying to the wicked one: "You are righteous,"
the peoples will execrate him, national groups will denounce him.
20. When you are suppose to be working instead
(Proverbs 14:23) By every kind of toil there comes to be an advantage, but
merely the word of the lips [tends] to want. And a good final reminder:
<<...OLE_Obj...>> (Proverbs 21:23) He that is keeping his mouth and his
tongue is keeping his soul from distresses. <<...OLE_Obj...>>
-----------------
A lthough things are not perfect
> B ecause of trial or pain
> C ontinue in thanksgiving
> D o not begin to blame
> E ven when the times are hard
> F ierce winds are bound to blow
> G od is forever able
> H old on to what you know
> I magine life without His love
> J oy would cease to be
> K eep thanking Him for all the things
> L ove imparts to thee
> M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
> N o weapon that is known
> O n earth can yield the power
> P raise can do alone
> Q uit looking at the future
> R edeem the time at hand
> S tart every day with worship
> T o "thank" is a command
> U ntil we see Him coming
> V ictorious in the sky
> W e'll run the race with gratitude
> X alting God most high
> Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be
bad, but...
> Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
>
> "I AM Too blessed to be stressed!" The shortest
distance between a problem
> and a solution is the distance between your knees
and the floor.
> The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to
anything. Love and peace be
> with you forever, Amen.
--------
The positive side of life...
Living on earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year.
How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.
Birthdays are good for you;the more you have, the longer you live.
Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
Ever notice that the people who are late
are often much jollier
than the people who have to wait for them?
Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us.
If WalMart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing is free yet?
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.
We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names,and all are different colors...but they all exist very nicely in the same box.
A truly happy person is one whocan enjoy the scenery on a detour.
------------------------
BEING TWENTY - SOMETHING
They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis." It is when you
stop going along with the crowd and start realizing
that there are many things about yourself that you
didn't know and may not like. You start feeling
insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or
two, but then get scared because you barely know where
you are now.
You start realizing that people are selfish and that,
maybe, those friends that you thought you were so
close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have
ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are
some of the most important ones. What you don't
recognize is that they are realizing that too, and
aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that
they are as confused as you.
You look at your job... and it is not even close to
what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are
looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to
start at the bottom and that scares you.
Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what
others are doing and find yourself judging more than
usual because suddenly you realize that you have
certain boundaries in your life and are constantly
adding things to your list of what is acceptable and
what isn't. One minute, you are insecure and then the
next, secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest
force of your life. You feel alone and scared and
confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try
and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon
realize that the past is drifting further and further
away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you
are or move forward.
You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you
loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed
and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough
that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love
someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why
you are doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person.
One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap.
Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic.
You go through the same emotions and questions over
and over, and talk with your friends about the same
topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You
worry about loans, money, the future and making a life
for yourself... and while winning the race would be
great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!
What you may not realize is that everyone reading this
relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of
times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.
Send this to your twenty-something friends...maybe it
will help someone feel like they aren't alone in their
state of confusion........
-------------------------------------------
An "Aussie" Story
>By Rhomaine Grace
>
>Years ago a hardworking man took his family from New York State to Australia
>to take advantage of a work opportunity there. Part of this man's family was
>a handsome young son who had aspirations of joining the circus as a trapeze
>artist or an actor. This young fellow, biding his time until a circus job or
>even one as a stagehand came along, worked at the local shipyards which
>bordered on the worse section of town.
>
>Walking home from work one evening this young man was attacked by five thugs
>who wanted to rob him. Instead of just giving up his money the young fellow
>resisted. However they bested him easily and proceeded to beat him to a
>pulp. They mashed his face with their boots, and kicked and beat his body
>brutally with clubs, leaving him for dead. When the police happened to find
>him lying in the road they assumed he was dead and called for the Morgue
>Wagon.
>
>On the way to the morgue a policeman heard him gasp for air, and they
>immediately took him to the emergency unit at the hospital. When he was
>placed on a gurney a nurse remarked to her horror, that this young man no
>longer had a face. Each eye socket was smashed, his skull, legs, and arms
>fractured, his nose literally hanging from his face, all is teeth were gone,
>and his jaw was almost completely torn from his skull.
>
>Although his life was spared, he spent over a year in the hospital. When he
>finally left, his body may have healed but his face was disgusting to look
>at. He was no longer the handsome youth that everyone admired.
>
>When the young man started to look for work again he was turned down by
>everyone just on account of the way he looked. One potential employer
>suggested to him that he join the freak show at the circus as The Man Who
>Had No Face. And he did this for a while. He was still rejected by everyone
>and no one wanted to be seen in his company. He had thoughts of suicide.
>
>This went on for five years. One day he passed a church and sought some
>solace there. Entering the church he encountered a priest who saw him
>sobbing while kneeling in a pew. The priest took pity on him and took him to
>the rectory where they talked at length. The priest was impressed with him
>to such a degree that he said that he would do everything possible for him
>that could be done to restore his dignity and life, if the young man would
>promise to be the best Catholic he could be, and trust in God's mercy to
>free him from his torturous life. The young man went to Mass and communion
>every day, and after thanking God for saving his life, asked God to only
>give him peace of mind and the grace to be the best man he could ever be in
>His eyes.
>
>The priest, through his personal contacts was able to secure the services of
>the best plastic surgeon in Australia. There would be no cost to the young
>man, as the doctor was the priest's best friend. The doctor too was so
>impressed by the young man. Whose outlook now on life, even though he had
>experienced the worst, was filled with good humor and love. The surgery was
>a miraculous success. All the best dental work was also done for him.
>
>The young man became everything he promised God he would be. He was also
>blessed with a wonderful, beautiful wife, many children, and success in an
>industry which would have been the furthest thing from his mind as a career,
>if not for the goodness of God and the love of the people who cared for him.
>
>This he acknowledges publicly.
>
>The young man's name is... Mel Gibson.
-------------------------
The Verse:
Mark 9:35 ë°ªitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
The Voice:
An old tablecloth...
The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.
They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc. and on Dec. 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On Dec 19, a terrible tempest, a driving rainstorm - hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in.
One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church. By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry.
The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. "Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that
tablecloth?" The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria. The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth.
The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. She was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again.
The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job. What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike?
He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety, and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between. The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.
True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid, New York, NY.
Comments:
So many times in situations where we feel like we have no hope we tend to dwell on ourselves and how we are going to fix OUR problems. But in every situation we can either see the best in it or see the worst. When we choose to see the best in the situation, God can bless us tremendously. One if not the greatest blessing of all is to see other people experience joy in their lives. I urge you in all situations to see the best and to find ways to help other people experience joy. It is in those times that we ourselves become great, when we are the least.
Prayer:
Praise God for being our Peace and our Joy.
Confess to Him the times when you have chosen to see only the worst in a situation and not the best as He sees it.
Thank Him for allowing you to have His vision and to allow it to change your life.
Ask Him to help you to see things the way He sees them more and more everyday and to see the ways He can use it to glorify Himself and spread the Good News to others.
// Xristovox.com // ((((() the voice of Christ ()))))
www.xristovox.com
---------------------
Rules from God
1. Wake Up !! ÿ
Decide to have a good day.
"Today is the day the Lord hath made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up !! ÿ
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at outward appearance;
but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7
3. Shut Up!!
Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant
for us to do twice as much listening as talking.
"He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3
4. Stand Up!!...
For what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time,
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."
Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up !!...ÿ
To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me".
Philippians 4:13
6. Reach Up !!... ÿ
For something higher.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Lift Up !!...ÿ
Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT
EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6
A POSITIVE THOUGHT
-If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
-If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring, and a sunrise every morning.
-Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
-He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
-What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem; not to mention that Friday at Calvary. Face it, He's crazy
about you.
Send this to the people you care about.
I thought this was mighty special, just like you. Pass this on and brighten someone's day, and remember:
God answers Knee-Mail.
---------------------------------
1. Pursue Achievable Goals
2. Keep Genuine Smiles
3. Share with Others
4. Help Thy Neighbours
5. Maintain Youthful Spirit
6. Get Along with the Rich, the Poor,
the Beautiful, & the Ugly
7. Keep Cool Under Pressure
8 . Lighten the Atmosphere with Humor
9. Forgive the Annoyance of Others
10. Have a Few Pals
11. Cooperate and Reap Greater Rewards
12. Treasure Every Moment
with Your Love Ones
13. Have High Confidence in Yourself
14. Respect the Disadvantaged
15. Indulge Yourself Occasionally
16. Surf the Net at Leisure
17. Take Calculated Risks
18. Understand "Money Isn't Everything"
And Have a nice day!
--------------------
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