Points Of View

I received a message from one of my friendster friend and requesting me to make a blog concerning the bible since she forgot hers back in the Philippines.

I don’t know if this blog will inspire her but I know that God’s words will. I forgot where I got the italicized portion but I just have to give credit to whom credit is due. It inspires me so I hope it would also inspire you.

So, here is my favorite chapter in the Bible.

PSALM 23

The Lord is my Shepherd
That’s Relationship!

I shall not want
That’s Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
That’s Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters
That’s Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul
That’s Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
That’s Guidance!

For His name sake
That’s Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
That’s Testing!

I will fear no evil
That’s Protection!

For Thou art with me
That’s Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me
That’s Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
That’s Hope!

Thou anointest my head with oil
That’s Consecration!

My cup runneth over
That’s Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
That’s Blessing!

And I will dwell inthe house of the Lord
That’s Security!

Forever
That’s Eternity!

Happy Lord’s Day everyone!

Like us, fish need to breathe oxygen — so how do they do it underwater?  It’s a good trick, but evolution has a lot to do if we’re ever to manage it.

As you’ve probably guessed, it has to do with gills, which fish have developed in order to avoid inconvenient trips to the surface. (Marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins, need to visit the surface regularly for air.)

Water contains some oxygen, but not nearly so much as the air.

Here’s how fish use their gills to take the oxygen they need out of the water.

1. The fish opens and closes its mouth to pump water through its gills.  (Some fish don’t have a very good pumping system, which means they have to move constantly to keep water flowing through their gills.)

2.  Water moves through the fish’s mouth and into its gill filter system, called gill rakers, to strain out anything floating in the water.

3. The water continues through the gills, which contain tiny membranes.  These membranes take the oxygen from the water and release carbon dioxide (just as our lungs take oxygen from the air when we breathe in and expel carbon dioxide when we breathe out.)

Gills are very efficient at taking oxygen from water and into the fish’s bloodstreams.  But they don’t work on land, because the gills collapse without the buoyancy of the water and the oxygen-rich air is too much for them.

I got this topic from the book, "101 things you need to know".  And hoping that it will satisfy our curiosity.

"It was your will and purpose to do this; you have done all these great things in order to instruct me.  How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is none like you; we have always known that you alone are God." (2 Samuel 7:21-22)

Landing a fish:  Some fish can breathe on land.  The walking catfish can move about on land, taking in air through specialised air-breathing structures attached to its gills.  These are spines on its side fins that help it to ‘walk’ — well, wriggle — along.

One of the favorite things that I always love to do… is to eat.  Eating has been a part of us since we were born.  And in our family, I guess, it plays a major role.

My father have always been a chef and my mother is also a good cook.  My brothers also cook.  I also play a major role, I am the one who is giving them all good praises for their cooking. 

Eating is good but if we are not careful, it can also harm our bodies.

The food we eat does more than provide energy.  It can also have a dramatic effect on our body’s ability to fight off diseases.  Here are some suggestions that we can have and use food as a medicine.

HEADACHE? EAT FISH!
Eat plenty of fish — fish oil helps prevent headaches.
So does ginger, which reduces inflammation and pain.

HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT!
Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season.
Also-eat honey from your area (local region) daily.

TO PREVENT STROKE DRINK TEA!
Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of tea. (actually, tea suppresses appetite and keeps the pounds from invading….Green tea is great for our immune system)!

INSOMNIA (CAN’T SLEEP?) HONEY!
Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.

ASTHMA? EAT ONIONS!!!!
Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes.

ARTHRITIS? EAT FISH, TOO!!
Salmon, tuna, mackerel an d sardines actually prevent arthritis. (fish has omega oils, good for our immune system)

UPSET STOMACH?  BANANAS - GINGER!!!!!
Bananas will settle an upset stomach.
Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.

BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!!
High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!!!
Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple.

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME? EAT CORNFLAKES!!!!
Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help reduce depression, anxiety and fatigue.

MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS!
Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.

COLDS? EAT GARLIC!
Clear up that stuffy head with garlic. (remember, garlic lowers cholesterol, too.)

COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS!!
A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate your tummy.

BREAST CANCER?  EAT WHEAT, BRAN and CABBAGE
Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES!!!
A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.

ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE ALSO!!!
Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers.

DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES!
Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition.  (Bananas are good for this ailment)

CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO!
Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!!!
Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure.
Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure too.

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!!
The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

I got all these suggestions from an email sent to me by a friend.  I just thought of sharing them to everyone.

"There is nothing that goes into you from the outside which can make you unclean.  Rather, it is what comes out of you that makes you unclean."  (Mark 7:15)

God bless you all!

What is a mantra anyway?

Mantra is a Sanskrit word consisting of the root man- "manas or mind" and the suffix -tra meaning, tool or protection; hence a literal translation would be "mind tool" or “mind protection”.

Recently, I’ve heard that the term “mantra” is now used much more in the business context and is called “guiding principle” which inspires a person to do whatever special things he needs to do.

Basically for me, a mantra is a powerful word or phrase that may or may not have meaning used in the same way as a sentence.   Some interpret it as spells, incantations, insights, creative ideas or prayer formulas.

Some time ago, we call it “motto” or “words of wisdom”, but today, we just call it mantra.  So, here are my own:

1. Ask.
2. Do it now.
3. No regrets.
4. If they can do it, so can I.
5. Start learning and you’ll start earning.
6. Share your knowledge.  It’s a way to achieve immortality.
7. One step at a time.
8. Do not be disgusted, be amused.
9. If you don’t know what to do, do something.
10. This too, shall pass.
11. Life is short, enjoy it!
12. Be a traveller, not a tourist.
13. Do what you love, love what you do.
14. If you can’t make them think, make them wonder.
15. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
16. The most beautiful flower is one that grows from adversity.
17. Simplify, simplify.
18. Learn from your mistakes.
19. Learn from other’s mistakes.
20. Live long, laugh often and love much!

POINT OF VIEW:
We may have different mantras in life but what matters is that you have one.  If you don’t, maybe you should start making now.

“My child, hold on to your wisdom and insight.  Never let them get away from you.  They will provide you with life — a pleasant and happy life.” (Proverbs 3:21-22)

A blessed Sunday everyone!

You say: "It’s impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: "I’m too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:16 & John 3:34)

You say: "I can’t go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can’t figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can’t do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I’m not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It’s not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28)

You say: "I can’t forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can’t manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I’m afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I’m always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares upon ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I’m not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

It seems that this was too good of a life lesson not to share along!

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee… You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up.  She was tired of fighting and struggling.  It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.  Soon the pots came to boil.

In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans.  She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.  She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.  She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.  Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.  She did and noted that they were soft.

The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it.  After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee.  The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.  The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water.  Each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting.  However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile.  Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however.  After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter.  "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?  Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"

THINK OF THIS: WHICH AM I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?  Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a break-up, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?  Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean?  The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain.  When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?  How do you handle adversity?  Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

I received an email from a pastor friend and I was just blessed of the content and wanted to let you all see it too.

I know all of us love the game where you need to find the difference between two pictures.  We may even try to challenge our spouse, siblings and friends who can find the most number of difference.

Same principle is what we are going to do here because I know that the more you look at this picture the more you will see.  So, get your gears up and try if you can find it too.

Have you seen it?

Look at the lines the artist used to draw this picture of Christ.

It is of scenes from Christ’s life.

POINT OF VIEW:
Who God Uses — God, grant me the Serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the Courage to change the one I can, and the Wisdom to know it’s me.

Today is Sunday and I would just like to speak my mind and impart something.  In bible times, Jesus was known to be a good speaker because He can always make complex matters become easy.

One of His ways in doing this is speaking in parables so that His disciples and listeners can understand simply what He was saying.  By the way, parables are earthly stories with heavenly meaning.

This time, I would also like to share to you a story which you may also call a parable.  It’s about having a donkey attitude.

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well.  The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.  Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him.  They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.  At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.  Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well.  He was astonished at what he saw.  With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.  He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer’s neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.  Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

POINTS OF VIEW:
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.  The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.  Each of our troubles is a steppingstone.  We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!  Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred — Forgive.

2. Free your mind from worries — Most never happen.

3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

You have two choices… smile and ignore this blog, or, share this along to someone else to spread the fun.  Happy Lord’s Day everyone!

What a wonderful day it is.  I woke up just feeling I wanted to read a book, and guess what?  I saw the book that my wife (She) always wanted me to read and haven’t found the time to do so or just making an excuse doing something for me not to be able to read it.

Well, I’ve now read the first part of the book (by the way, it’s a marriage book that talks about questions couples ask) and the topic is about communication.  No wonder she wanted me to read it!  I should have known!  Grrrr!

Anyways, it is a fact that each time we read a book, we are the ones who dictates if we want to benefit from it or not.  I chose the former and will include my readers to also learn from it in the process.

Too many people have said that listening is the most important part of good communication not only in marriage but also in the way we communicate with others.

So, here are five things that I think we should know about listening:

1. Listening is basic to learning.
— In fact, listening consumes more time than reading, speaking, and writing combined.  When you consider this fact, it should come as a surprise to realize that good listening is a “must” for every successful communication.  I always like the quotation, “go back to the basics.”  If you want to start learning then you should start listening.

2. Listening is love in action.
— Nowhere is it more appropriate than in marriage, or, if you are not married yet, it is telling someone that you care about him or her.  Yet, many of us never truly listen.  Maybe this is the best time to express our love to others through listening.

3. Listening is a sign of affirmation.
— When we truly listen, we contribute to each other’s self-esteem.  When we don’t, the interpretation is frequently negative.  Be honest.  How do you feel when you sense that someone is not listening to you?  Without being listened to, feelings of rejection are almost inevitable.

4. Listening requires you to set aside preconceived ideas or judgments and convey a message of acceptance of the messenger.
— Try to think about this, when you are listened to, genuinely listened to, you feel that that person is someone with whom you can fully know and share all of your inner thoughts, weakness, and foibles—because he or she accepts you.

5. Listening opens up another’s spirit.
— When someone is speaking and you are not preoccupied or distracted, you are, in effect, saying, “You are very important to me, and I am interested in you.” This taps into his or her deepest need to be understood, and in return he or she will open up all the more.  The truth is — if we really want to know someone then we should really learn how to listen and understand.

I know that there are so many things that you can add to this list but here is just my point of view — every conflict and misunderstanding can be resolved if each of us will just seek to understand before being understood — in other words, if each of us would learn to listen.

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.

I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.

My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease…..

All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.

No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They’d laugh at me I’d fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,

No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.

For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.

I once was going to write it down…
But never found the time."

Now, do you have the time?