You may also click here:
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/03/29/yep-hes-gay-ricky-martin-comes-out-of-the-closet/
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
RICKY MARTIN says he's Gay
Ricky Martin finally admitted that he's gay which has been a subject of speculation for a long time. On his website http://rickymartinmusic.com/portal/news/n%20ews.asp?item=114532 he said."I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am."
You may also click here:
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/03/29/yep-hes-gay-ricky-martin-comes-out-of-the-closet/
You may also click here:
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/03/29/yep-hes-gay-ricky-martin-comes-out-of-the-closet/
Monday, March 29, 2010
Visita Iglesia Online
Too tired or don't have enough time for traditinal Visita Iglesia this Holy Week?
Click http://cbcponline.net/visitaiglesia/ to access the website.
Among the churches featured in the portal include the Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church in Intramuros; Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo; San Lorenzo Ruiz Church and Santo Nino de Tondo Parish in Tondo, Manila; Nuestra Senora de Remedios in Malate, Manila; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine in Parañaque City.
Here are the links and contact information of 7 Catholic churches in UAE.
http://www.stmichaelssharjah.org/en/index.html
http://www.saintmarysdubai.com/
http://www.stfrancisjebelali.ae/
http://www.stjosephsabudhabi.org/
http://www.stmarysalain.com/
Church Of Mother Of Perpetual Help, Fujairah
Fujairah,U.A.E.
Tel: 00971 9 2231377
Fax: 00971 9 2223238
St. Anthony Of Padua Roman Catholic Church –Ras Al Khaimah
There are 2 viable route in UAE to visit at least 5 Catholic churches: 1. Sharjah-Dubai-Jebel Ali-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi,total of 5 churches and approximately 380 km. (distance based on Google Map) 2. Sharjah-Dubai-Jebel Ali-Fujairah-Ras Al Khaimah total of 5 churches and approximately 700 km. (actual distance travelled). It is a must to start early as parking will be very difficult especially in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Happy Easter to all!
Click http://cbcponline.net/visitaiglesia/ to access the website.
 |
| Cross of Sacrifice |
I may not suggest online Visita Iglesia unless you are either sick or OFW working in non-christian country like Saudi Arabia. In UAE and neighboring country where Christian faith is tolerated, Visita Iglesia is a way of reflecting the sacrifices of Jesus Christ.
Among the churches featured in the portal include the Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church in Intramuros; Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo; San Lorenzo Ruiz Church and Santo Nino de Tondo Parish in Tondo, Manila; Nuestra Senora de Remedios in Malate, Manila; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine in Parañaque City.
Here are the links and contact information of 7 Catholic churches in UAE.
http://www.stmichaelssharjah.org/en/index.html
http://www.saintmarysdubai.com/
http://www.stfrancisjebelali.ae/
http://www.stjosephsabudhabi.org/
http://www.stmarysalain.com/
Church Of Mother Of Perpetual Help, Fujairah
Fujairah,U.A.E.
Tel: 00971 9 2231377
Fax: 00971 9 2223238
St. Anthony Of Padua Roman Catholic Church –Ras Al Khaimah
There are 2 viable route in UAE to visit at least 5 Catholic churches: 1. Sharjah-Dubai-Jebel Ali-Al Ain-Abu Dhabi,total of 5 churches and approximately 380 km. (distance based on Google Map) 2. Sharjah-Dubai-Jebel Ali-Fujairah-Ras Al Khaimah total of 5 churches and approximately 700 km. (actual distance travelled). It is a must to start early as parking will be very difficult especially in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Happy Easter to all!
*MONEY AND CHRISTIANITY*
Re-posting of an article shared by Lino Nabong...
*MONEY AND CHRISTIANITY*
A Holy Week Reflection on Maundy Thursday (March 25, 2005)
By: Lino Nabong
IS WEALTH GOOD OR BAD?
Money is not evil. It is the LOVE OF money that is the root of all
evil. When money becomes your god or master and begin to trust in
it, that's wrong. But when money becomes your slave and you make
and manage it to benefit others and use it for God's purpose in your
life, it becomes a good thing. Not only is it a good thing but it
becomes an act of personal worship. Through it you are
demonstrating that you are not the owner of the wealth but is a
faithful steward of it.
In the first book of Chronicles we find that wealth comes from God.
In Deuteronomy, it says that it is God who gives us the ability to
produce wealth. In Psalms we read that the earth is the Lord's and
everything in it. God is therefore the source of all wealth.
There's absolutely nothing wrong about wealth. It becomes good or
bad depending on how we use it. Just like a knife, it is a useful
tool in the hands of a cook but it is a destructive tool in the
hands of a murderer.
There are several Bible characters who were both wealthy and close
to God - Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Job, David, Solomon, Nicodemus, etc
Do you want to help the poor? Do you want your church to grow?
Do you want to feed the people dying of hunger in other poor
countries? Do you want to send missionaries to the ends of the
earth and win them for Jesus? Do you want to help your own needy
brothers and sisters who are not as fortunate as you are? Folks,
all these will involve money in one way or another. Wealthy people
do have an opportunity for a very special ministry. That is the
ministry of giving. I like what Andrew Carnegie said: "The life of
a wealthy person should have two periods: a time of acquiring wealth
and one of redistributing it." When you receive something, you have
to give it out. You can't keep it to yourselves. It will surely
feel like constipating. (Pardon the word used here but I find it
appropriate in order to drive the point.)
As long as wealth is acquired in a Godly manner, by being fair and
honest, and that you have really worked for it, you should not feel
guilty about having and enjoying it. Work is valued very much. The
Bible said that "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." One has
to earn his keep. Of course, the only exception to that is if the
person is too young, too old or too sick to work. Then we must be
responsible to care for them. Jesus said that we've got to love
others as we love ourselves – the second greatest commandment.
IS JESUS ANTI-RICH?
Jesus was never anti-rich. When he told the rich young man to sell
his possessions and give it to the poor, it was because Jesus knew
that the rich young man's god was his possessions. He was tested and
it was clear he didn't want to part with his great wealth. A person
cannot both serve God and Money. Abraham himself was tested when
God asked him to offer his own son.
When Jesus said "Blessed are the poor in spirit" he meant to
underscore the dependency on God's saving power. In simple terms,
it means that we cannot be self-sufficient without God. Alone, we
are not complete. There will always be that missing piece. Once you
have found that PIECE, you will have the PEACE. You will find true
contentment. God is the missing piece, my friend.
If you're very wealthy today and tomorrow all that wealth is wiped
away because of a great misfortune, and you are still able to praise
God in spite of what happened, then I am sure that wealth is not
your god. God will probably give the wealth back to you a hundred
fold, just like what He did to His faithful servant Job after losing
all his possessions and children.
Is money your God? This question is between you and God.
IS FUTURE PLANNING BAD? IS INVESTMENT UN-CHRISTIAN?
Planning is good. Worrying is bad. Jesus said that we should not
worry about things in life such as clothes and food. We cannot add a
single hour to our lives by worrying, He continued. Planning is NOT
the same as worrying. You can do both at the same time but they are
not the same.
Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
No one can serve two masters." Again, as in the example of the rich
young man, just don't make wealth or money your god such that you
become fully dependent on it. Don't make it get in the way of
serving God. Wealth or money has to be used according to God's
purpose in your life.
Wealth accumulation is not bad per se especially if you want to save
for the rainy days. We are asked in the book of Proverbs to
consider the ways of the ants because they (the ants) store
provisions during summer and gather their food at harvest. They
save and accumulate for future use! Unless God specifically tells
you "not to save manna for the next day or else it will just spoil"
then save for the future by all means.
Is gambling bad? I say yes. But isn't a stock market play a form
of gambling also? Well, not really. Gambling is that which where
you leave it solely to chance to win or not. You win at the expense
of those who will lose. In the stock market, there's some work or
investment analysis efforts involved. That means you are not
leaving it to chance or pure luck alone. There are investors who
really do some due diligence before they invest in something. They
look at the financial statements, market trends, factors affecting
investment psychology, political and economic outlook, laws,
government policies, etc before they invest. They look at different
options. It's not the same thing as simply playing the LOTTO,
folks!
In the parable of talents, Jesus gave an investment example. The
application is spiritual but it can also be used for whatever you
have - talents, gifts, money, etc. What you have, you must use and
multiply. That's why the master was mad at that servant having one
talent who just hid the talent and didn't even care to invest it
with the bankers where it could have earned some interest. But the
man with the five talents went at once and put his money to work and
gained five more and was later recognized with the words "Well done,
good and faithful servant!" Are you using your gifts and talents
properly? Again, that's between you and God.
A DIFFERENT FINANCIAL FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
For engineers like me, the two formulas below are mathematically
equal.
a) Income - Expenses = Savings
b) Income - Savings = Expenses
But in terms of financial planning perspective, they are not.
The first one is about an expense-driven mindset. And instant
gratification. Like a play now and pay later scheme. Savings is
what's left after all the expenses.
The second formula is about a savings-driven and delayed
gratification mentality. Like a pay now and play later scheme.
After setting aside the forced savings, the remaining is budgeted
and used for expenses. The second formula is much better than the
first formula.
But a more meaningful and powerful financial formula (call it the LN
formula) is this:
c) Income - Tithes/Offerings/Charity - Savings/Investments =
Expenses
This third formula is an acknowledgment that your money came from
God and you have to give back part of it to support your own church
and to help others in accordance with your burden or passion. You
are not the owner of the wealth. You are a steward of it. . If one
of your passions is helping the street children, reserve some money
for that. Increase your income so you can give and save more! Your
working harder and smarter will become more meaningful as a result.
Just be responsible in giving though. You don't want to be helping
someone that will destroy himself in the process - like himself
becoming dependent on you and will not work anymore or use your
money for the wrong reasons. Will you give alms to a beggar when
you know that a syndicate is behind them? Will you give money to
your own brother when you know he's going to use it for drugs,
alcohol or cigarettes? Absolutely not! Jesus said, "Be innocent
as a dove but be wise as a serpent."
WHAT SHOULD YOU ASK FOR? WHAT'S YOUR LIMIT? WHAT IS APPROPRIATE?
Will you pray and work towards a P1 million or for a P100 million?
It depends. The follow-up questions will be: Are you ready? Can you
handle it? Where will you use it? Will it be for your own good?
Is it God's will for you? Let's take a look at the prayers of Agur
and Jabez. One was content in praying for just his daily bread, the
other prayed for abundance.
Jabez said "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!"
God granted his request. But Agur prayed "Give me neither poverty
nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have
too much and disown you and say,'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become
poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."
Who prayed correctly? I say that both of them. The prayer was
appropriate for each. Jabez is most likely someone who can handle
success and big projects well. Maybe he's good in finances and
management. Agur is probably the very opposite and won't be able to
handle great success well. I'm just guessing here of course. Just
like in the work environment, you don't want to promote someone to
his level of incompetence. If you do, you are designing that person
for failure. God will not give it to you if it will destroy you.
His wisdom is higher than yours, no matter how bright you are.
What is appropriate is important to consider. A business executive
may not be considered excessive in driving a luxury car if he can
well afford it and the kind of car is necessary for business
purposes. But someone who can use public transportation and barely
afford a car but even use credit to finance it, is not acting
wisely. He could be considered worldly or materialistic.
THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER
Go ahead and make money. Work hard but not wear yourself out
getting rich. Have balance. Enjoy life. Every human activity,
except sin, can be used for God's pleasure. Do find out what is
God's purpose in your life so you can be aligned and be blessed.
Proverbs 19:21 says "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is
the Lord's purpose that prevails." According to the wise King
Solomon, this whole life (achievements, wealth, pleasure,
discoveries, etc) is meaningless unless you put God in it and
remember Him. In the book of Mark, it said "What good is it for a
man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"
Borrowing from what I once heard from Ed Lapiz, we must live morally
and uprightly as if the end of the world is today. But enjoy life
and be productive as if the end of the world won't come yet for
another thousand years...
Let me end with this verse. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 states "Command those
who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put
their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope
in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be
generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure
for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they
may take hold of the life that is truly life."
Holy Week Reflection: Our sins demand payment by way of death.
Simply, justice must be served. Jesus died once and for all of our
sins so we can have an eternal life with God, who is the source of
all wealth. Now, that's what you call the ultimate eternal wealth.
Nothing in this world compares to that! It's entirely up to you to
accept either Jesus or money as your master. You can't serve both.
HAPPY EASTER!
- End of article
BIBLE REFERENCES USED:
Wealth comes from God - 1 Chronicles 29:12
It is God who gives us the ability to produce wealth - Deuteronomy
8:18
The earth is the Lord's - Psalm 24:1
Honor the Lord with your wealth - Prov 3:9-10
Honesty - Prov 13:11, 16:11, 16:8, 20:17, 20:23, 21:6; 23:10, 28:20,
Luke 16:10
Bible characters who are wealthy - Gen 24:34-35, 26:12
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine - Haggai 2:8
Ants storing provisions in summer - Proverbs 6:6
Not being dependent on somebody or becoming idle (If a man will not
work, he shall not eat) - 1 Thessalonians 3:11-12, 2 Thessalonians
3:6-10
Have balance and not wear yourself out to get rich - Prov 23:4
Enjoy life - Ecclesiastes 3:22, 4:8, 5:18-19
Love others as we love ourselves - Matthew 22:37-38
One has to earn his keep (and not be lazy) - Prov 6:10, 10:4, 12:24,
14:23;, 20:13, 28:19
Helping others, giving to the poor - Deuteronomy 15:7, Prov 10:24, 1)
25, 19:17a, 21:13, 22:2, 22:9, 22:16, 22:22, 28:8, 28:22, 28:27; Gal
2:10, 1 John 3:17-18
Cannot serve both God and Money, seeking His kingdom first -
Matthew 6:19, 24, 33; Luke 16:13
Parable of talents (investing) - Matthew 25:14-30
Life is meaningless unless you put God in it - whole book of
Ecclesiastes (conclusion is at Chapter 12)
*MONEY AND CHRISTIANITY*
A Holy Week Reflection on Maundy Thursday (March 25, 2005)
By: Lino Nabong
IS WEALTH GOOD OR BAD?
Money is not evil. It is the LOVE OF money that is the root of all
evil. When money becomes your god or master and begin to trust in
it, that's wrong. But when money becomes your slave and you make
and manage it to benefit others and use it for God's purpose in your
life, it becomes a good thing. Not only is it a good thing but it
becomes an act of personal worship. Through it you are
demonstrating that you are not the owner of the wealth but is a
faithful steward of it.
In the first book of Chronicles we find that wealth comes from God.
In Deuteronomy, it says that it is God who gives us the ability to
produce wealth. In Psalms we read that the earth is the Lord's and
everything in it. God is therefore the source of all wealth.
There's absolutely nothing wrong about wealth. It becomes good or
bad depending on how we use it. Just like a knife, it is a useful
tool in the hands of a cook but it is a destructive tool in the
hands of a murderer.
There are several Bible characters who were both wealthy and close
to God - Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Job, David, Solomon, Nicodemus, etc
Do you want to help the poor? Do you want your church to grow?
Do you want to feed the people dying of hunger in other poor
countries? Do you want to send missionaries to the ends of the
earth and win them for Jesus? Do you want to help your own needy
brothers and sisters who are not as fortunate as you are? Folks,
all these will involve money in one way or another. Wealthy people
do have an opportunity for a very special ministry. That is the
ministry of giving. I like what Andrew Carnegie said: "The life of
a wealthy person should have two periods: a time of acquiring wealth
and one of redistributing it." When you receive something, you have
to give it out. You can't keep it to yourselves. It will surely
feel like constipating. (Pardon the word used here but I find it
appropriate in order to drive the point.)
As long as wealth is acquired in a Godly manner, by being fair and
honest, and that you have really worked for it, you should not feel
guilty about having and enjoying it. Work is valued very much. The
Bible said that "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." One has
to earn his keep. Of course, the only exception to that is if the
person is too young, too old or too sick to work. Then we must be
responsible to care for them. Jesus said that we've got to love
others as we love ourselves – the second greatest commandment.
IS JESUS ANTI-RICH?
Jesus was never anti-rich. When he told the rich young man to sell
his possessions and give it to the poor, it was because Jesus knew
that the rich young man's god was his possessions. He was tested and
it was clear he didn't want to part with his great wealth. A person
cannot both serve God and Money. Abraham himself was tested when
God asked him to offer his own son.
When Jesus said "Blessed are the poor in spirit" he meant to
underscore the dependency on God's saving power. In simple terms,
it means that we cannot be self-sufficient without God. Alone, we
are not complete. There will always be that missing piece. Once you
have found that PIECE, you will have the PEACE. You will find true
contentment. God is the missing piece, my friend.
If you're very wealthy today and tomorrow all that wealth is wiped
away because of a great misfortune, and you are still able to praise
God in spite of what happened, then I am sure that wealth is not
your god. God will probably give the wealth back to you a hundred
fold, just like what He did to His faithful servant Job after losing
all his possessions and children.
Is money your God? This question is between you and God.
IS FUTURE PLANNING BAD? IS INVESTMENT UN-CHRISTIAN?
Planning is good. Worrying is bad. Jesus said that we should not
worry about things in life such as clothes and food. We cannot add a
single hour to our lives by worrying, He continued. Planning is NOT
the same as worrying. You can do both at the same time but they are
not the same.
Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
No one can serve two masters." Again, as in the example of the rich
young man, just don't make wealth or money your god such that you
become fully dependent on it. Don't make it get in the way of
serving God. Wealth or money has to be used according to God's
purpose in your life.
Wealth accumulation is not bad per se especially if you want to save
for the rainy days. We are asked in the book of Proverbs to
consider the ways of the ants because they (the ants) store
provisions during summer and gather their food at harvest. They
save and accumulate for future use! Unless God specifically tells
you "not to save manna for the next day or else it will just spoil"
then save for the future by all means.
Is gambling bad? I say yes. But isn't a stock market play a form
of gambling also? Well, not really. Gambling is that which where
you leave it solely to chance to win or not. You win at the expense
of those who will lose. In the stock market, there's some work or
investment analysis efforts involved. That means you are not
leaving it to chance or pure luck alone. There are investors who
really do some due diligence before they invest in something. They
look at the financial statements, market trends, factors affecting
investment psychology, political and economic outlook, laws,
government policies, etc before they invest. They look at different
options. It's not the same thing as simply playing the LOTTO,
folks!
In the parable of talents, Jesus gave an investment example. The
application is spiritual but it can also be used for whatever you
have - talents, gifts, money, etc. What you have, you must use and
multiply. That's why the master was mad at that servant having one
talent who just hid the talent and didn't even care to invest it
with the bankers where it could have earned some interest. But the
man with the five talents went at once and put his money to work and
gained five more and was later recognized with the words "Well done,
good and faithful servant!" Are you using your gifts and talents
properly? Again, that's between you and God.
A DIFFERENT FINANCIAL FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
For engineers like me, the two formulas below are mathematically
equal.
a) Income - Expenses = Savings
b) Income - Savings = Expenses
But in terms of financial planning perspective, they are not.
The first one is about an expense-driven mindset. And instant
gratification. Like a play now and pay later scheme. Savings is
what's left after all the expenses.
The second formula is about a savings-driven and delayed
gratification mentality. Like a pay now and play later scheme.
After setting aside the forced savings, the remaining is budgeted
and used for expenses. The second formula is much better than the
first formula.
But a more meaningful and powerful financial formula (call it the LN
formula) is this:
c) Income - Tithes/Offerings/Charity - Savings/Investments =
Expenses
This third formula is an acknowledgment that your money came from
God and you have to give back part of it to support your own church
and to help others in accordance with your burden or passion. You
are not the owner of the wealth. You are a steward of it. . If one
of your passions is helping the street children, reserve some money
for that. Increase your income so you can give and save more! Your
working harder and smarter will become more meaningful as a result.
Just be responsible in giving though. You don't want to be helping
someone that will destroy himself in the process - like himself
becoming dependent on you and will not work anymore or use your
money for the wrong reasons. Will you give alms to a beggar when
you know that a syndicate is behind them? Will you give money to
your own brother when you know he's going to use it for drugs,
alcohol or cigarettes? Absolutely not! Jesus said, "Be innocent
as a dove but be wise as a serpent."
WHAT SHOULD YOU ASK FOR? WHAT'S YOUR LIMIT? WHAT IS APPROPRIATE?
Will you pray and work towards a P1 million or for a P100 million?
It depends. The follow-up questions will be: Are you ready? Can you
handle it? Where will you use it? Will it be for your own good?
Is it God's will for you? Let's take a look at the prayers of Agur
and Jabez. One was content in praying for just his daily bread, the
other prayed for abundance.
Jabez said "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!"
God granted his request. But Agur prayed "Give me neither poverty
nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have
too much and disown you and say,'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become
poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."
Who prayed correctly? I say that both of them. The prayer was
appropriate for each. Jabez is most likely someone who can handle
success and big projects well. Maybe he's good in finances and
management. Agur is probably the very opposite and won't be able to
handle great success well. I'm just guessing here of course. Just
like in the work environment, you don't want to promote someone to
his level of incompetence. If you do, you are designing that person
for failure. God will not give it to you if it will destroy you.
His wisdom is higher than yours, no matter how bright you are.
What is appropriate is important to consider. A business executive
may not be considered excessive in driving a luxury car if he can
well afford it and the kind of car is necessary for business
purposes. But someone who can use public transportation and barely
afford a car but even use credit to finance it, is not acting
wisely. He could be considered worldly or materialistic.
THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER
Go ahead and make money. Work hard but not wear yourself out
getting rich. Have balance. Enjoy life. Every human activity,
except sin, can be used for God's pleasure. Do find out what is
God's purpose in your life so you can be aligned and be blessed.
Proverbs 19:21 says "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is
the Lord's purpose that prevails." According to the wise King
Solomon, this whole life (achievements, wealth, pleasure,
discoveries, etc) is meaningless unless you put God in it and
remember Him. In the book of Mark, it said "What good is it for a
man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"
Borrowing from what I once heard from Ed Lapiz, we must live morally
and uprightly as if the end of the world is today. But enjoy life
and be productive as if the end of the world won't come yet for
another thousand years...
Let me end with this verse. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 states "Command those
who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put
their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope
in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be
generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure
for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they
may take hold of the life that is truly life."
Holy Week Reflection: Our sins demand payment by way of death.
Simply, justice must be served. Jesus died once and for all of our
sins so we can have an eternal life with God, who is the source of
all wealth. Now, that's what you call the ultimate eternal wealth.
Nothing in this world compares to that! It's entirely up to you to
accept either Jesus or money as your master. You can't serve both.
HAPPY EASTER!
- End of article
BIBLE REFERENCES USED:
Wealth comes from God - 1 Chronicles 29:12
It is God who gives us the ability to produce wealth - Deuteronomy
8:18
The earth is the Lord's - Psalm 24:1
Honor the Lord with your wealth - Prov 3:9-10
Honesty - Prov 13:11, 16:11, 16:8, 20:17, 20:23, 21:6; 23:10, 28:20,
Luke 16:10
Bible characters who are wealthy - Gen 24:34-35, 26:12
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine - Haggai 2:8
Ants storing provisions in summer - Proverbs 6:6
Not being dependent on somebody or becoming idle (If a man will not
work, he shall not eat) - 1 Thessalonians 3:11-12, 2 Thessalonians
3:6-10
Have balance and not wear yourself out to get rich - Prov 23:4
Enjoy life - Ecclesiastes 3:22, 4:8, 5:18-19
Love others as we love ourselves - Matthew 22:37-38
One has to earn his keep (and not be lazy) - Prov 6:10, 10:4, 12:24,
14:23;, 20:13, 28:19
Helping others, giving to the poor - Deuteronomy 15:7, Prov 10:24, 1)
25, 19:17a, 21:13, 22:2, 22:9, 22:16, 22:22, 28:8, 28:22, 28:27; Gal
2:10, 1 John 3:17-18
Cannot serve both God and Money, seeking His kingdom first -
Matthew 6:19, 24, 33; Luke 16:13
Parable of talents (investing) - Matthew 25:14-30
Life is meaningless unless you put God in it - whole book of
Ecclesiastes (conclusion is at Chapter 12)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
How To Avoid Illegal Recruitment
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has come up with some tips on how to prevent illegal recruitment:
1. Do not apply at recruitment agencies not licensed by POEA;
2. Do not deal with licensed agencies without job orders;
3. Do not deal with any person who is not an authorized representative of a licensed agency;
4. Do not transact business outside the registered address of the agency. If recruitment is conducted in the province, check if the agency has a provincial recruitment authority;
5. Do not pay more than the allowed placement fee. It should be equivalent to one-month salary, exclusive of documentation and processing costs;
6. Do not pay any placement fee unless you have a valid employment contract and an official receipt;
7. Do not be enticed by ads or brochures requiring you to reply to a Post Office (P.O.) Box, and to enclose payment for processing of papers;
8. Do not deal with training centers and travel agencies, which promise overseas employment;
9. Do not accept a tourist visa;
10. Do not deal with fixers.
1. Do not apply at recruitment agencies not licensed by POEA;
2. Do not deal with licensed agencies without job orders;
3. Do not deal with any person who is not an authorized representative of a licensed agency;
4. Do not transact business outside the registered address of the agency. If recruitment is conducted in the province, check if the agency has a provincial recruitment authority;
5. Do not pay more than the allowed placement fee. It should be equivalent to one-month salary, exclusive of documentation and processing costs;
6. Do not pay any placement fee unless you have a valid employment contract and an official receipt;
7. Do not be enticed by ads or brochures requiring you to reply to a Post Office (P.O.) Box, and to enclose payment for processing of papers;
8. Do not deal with training centers and travel agencies, which promise overseas employment;
9. Do not accept a tourist visa;
10. Do not deal with fixers.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of 'SixthSense' technology
At TEDIndia, Pranav Mistry demos several tools that help the physical world interact with the world of data -- including a deep look at his SixthSense device and a new, paradigm-shifting paper "laptop".
In an onstage Q&A, Mistry says he'll open-source the software behind SixthSense, to open its possibilities to all.
In an onstage Q&A, Mistry says he'll open-source the software behind SixthSense, to open its possibilities to all.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Top 10 Scariest Filipino Monster
10 Aswang
9 Matruculan
The Matruculan is one of many Filipino creatures who attack pregnant women. This particular creature first impregnates a virgin before coming back later to kill the woman and eat the fetus (although some stories say that both mom and baby are eaten). Some stories claim that the woman is not a virgin but rather married and already pregnant. To protect the mother and child, the husband must swing a balisong (pictured above), or butterfly knife, above the woman’s belly while she is in labor. This leads one to wonder: which is scarier, an invisible mythological creature, or the father of your unborn child brandishing a knife above your abdomen?
8 Kapre
These are hairy giants with glowing eyes and a cigar that never burns out. They can usually be found sitting atop of trees waiting for nightfall to scare naughty children who are outside of their homes late at night. The Kapre is a unique Filipino monster because he doesn’t steal fetuses, eat people or cut them up. The Kapre simply enjoys scaring children… and I suppose laughing at them for being scared. Some stories claim they are actually very friendly beings who can grant wishes if you find their magical white stone. One can assume a Kapre is nearby when trees sway while there is no breeze or you see faint smoke from high above, probably from the Kapre‘s cigar..
7 Duwende
6 Tiyanak
5 Sigbin
4 Tikbalang
3 Kumakatok
In the middle of the night, a knock will sound at the door and outside are three hooded figures, one a pretty, young woman and two elderly men. There are no stories of how the group was formed or where they originated but tales about them have popped up all over the Philippines and with more frequency around the time of outbreaks. Legend has it that a visit from them is an omen that someone in the family will soon die. There are no paintings or hangings that can keep them at bay. Leaving the door unanswered does not help either. They simply knock and leave and then someone would still die shortly thereafter.
2 The White Lady / Kaperosa
1 Manananggal
The Manananggal is sometimes considered to be a special breed of the aswangs. They are sometimes referred to as “Tik-tik” because of the sound it makes while in flight. To confuse its victims, the tik-tik sound becomes fainter as she nears. These creatures generally take on the form of a beautiful woman with large, leathery bat wings. The lower half of her body takes root to the ground while the upper part detaches as she flies in search of food. The manananggal has a taste for human blood and a particular craving for the hearts of human fetuses which it retrieves with its long, proboscis-like tongue. Like the Western culture’s vampire, the manananggals hate garlic and salt so hanging garlic or placing a bowl of salt near the window is the best way to keep them away. To kill a manananggal, one must find the lower body and spread salt or ashes on the open wound. That prevents the two halves from joining and transforming back to human form when daylight breaks.
The aswang is probably the most common of Filipino monsters since there are so many different kinds. In general, they are shape shifters who are human by day and then at night turn into a dog, a pig, a bat, cat, snake… the type of animal depends on the regional lore. They break into funeral homes and steal recent corpses. They are also known to enter homes to drink human blood and can turn people into aswang by tricking the human to bite them in return. The aswang are especially hungry for human fetus so some of the more superstitious stories include neighborhoods patrols set up in front of the home of a pregnant woman to protect her from wandering stray animals in case they are the aswang in disguise.
9 Matruculan
The Matruculan is one of many Filipino creatures who attack pregnant women. This particular creature first impregnates a virgin before coming back later to kill the woman and eat the fetus (although some stories say that both mom and baby are eaten). Some stories claim that the woman is not a virgin but rather married and already pregnant. To protect the mother and child, the husband must swing a balisong (pictured above), or butterfly knife, above the woman’s belly while she is in labor. This leads one to wonder: which is scarier, an invisible mythological creature, or the father of your unborn child brandishing a knife above your abdomen?
8 Kapre
These are hairy giants with glowing eyes and a cigar that never burns out. They can usually be found sitting atop of trees waiting for nightfall to scare naughty children who are outside of their homes late at night. The Kapre is a unique Filipino monster because he doesn’t steal fetuses, eat people or cut them up. The Kapre simply enjoys scaring children… and I suppose laughing at them for being scared. Some stories claim they are actually very friendly beings who can grant wishes if you find their magical white stone. One can assume a Kapre is nearby when trees sway while there is no breeze or you see faint smoke from high above, probably from the Kapre‘s cigar..
7 Duwende
These are tiny human-like creatures that live underground. There are two main types of Duwende: the duwende puti who are supposedly kind creatures who bring about good luck, or the duwende itim who are mean folk that like to play pranks on humans. They generally keep to themselves and only interact with humans when their homes are disturbed. For example, a kindly farmer who takes care of his plot may be rewarded by the duwende puti with a greater abundance of crops than usual. However, someone who kicks an anthill on or near the home of a duwendi itim will be punished with a myriad of ailments from twisted mouth to swollen testicles. The best way to avoid Duwende of any kind is to say “Tabi-tabi po” aloud before entering what might be their space.
6 Tiyanak
The tiyanak is similar to the Greek mythological siren in that it lures its prey with its voice. A person hears a baby cry from deep in the woods and then follows the sound to rescue the baby. Some stories say the person wanders aimlessly in search for the baby and becomes hopelessly lost. Other stories claim that the person eventually finds a baby in the middle of the woods. When it is picked up, the baby then shape-shifts into a monster with large, sharp teeth. It then eats the person and transforms back to a baby to await its next victim. With either version, the story ends with “… and he was never found again.”
5 Sigbin
Depending on region and storyteller, the sigbin resembles either a hornless goat, a reptilian crow, or something vaguely along the lines of the Chupacabra. What is most common with all accounts is that its head hangs between its forelegs which are much shorter than its hindlegs. Whether because of physiology or because it makes the sigbin seem scarier, it is also known to crabwalk backwards. The sigbin also has a long whip-like tail that emit’s a foul stench and two grasshopper-like legs on its neck that enable it to jump far distances. They wander around at night in search of children to devour but they keep the hearts to make amulets. Most stories and sightings originate from the Cebu region. However, although it is some distance away, in 2005 scientists in Borneo discovered a “cat-fox-like carnivore” with hind legs longer than forelegs giving it an awkward gait and physical appearance that somewhat fits many of the descriptions of the sigbin (e.g. long tail, short forearms, can jump far distances, carnivorous). No conclusive evidence has been found yet to link the two together.
4 Tikbalang
The tikbalang is described as having the head of a horse, the body of a man and the hooves of a horse where human feet would be. In northern regions, the tikbalang is considered a nuisance but generally harmless. They enjoy disorienting weary travelers and making them imagine things that don’t exist. Travelers can easily stop the pranks by turning their own shirt inside out and asking the tikbalang to stop bothering them. The stories of tikbalang from southern regions paint the creature as a much more sinister monster. He has glowing red eyes, a large cigar and smells of the stench of burning hair. When angered (and he angers easily), the tikbalang will stamp you to death. To tame the beast, the person must pluck the one of three unusually long hairs found in its mane. After that, the tikbalang is your slave. Folklore states that when the sun shines through the clouds while it is raining, a pair of Tikbalang are getting married.
3 Kumakatok
In the middle of the night, a knock will sound at the door and outside are three hooded figures, one a pretty, young woman and two elderly men. There are no stories of how the group was formed or where they originated but tales about them have popped up all over the Philippines and with more frequency around the time of outbreaks. Legend has it that a visit from them is an omen that someone in the family will soon die. There are no paintings or hangings that can keep them at bay. Leaving the door unanswered does not help either. They simply knock and leave and then someone would still die shortly thereafter.
2 The White Lady / Kaperosa
The White Lady is a specific kind of Multo, or ghost. Most multo tend to be family members who come back to certain relatives to take care of unfinished business but the White Lady is unique in that she doesn’t appear to only her relatives or even to specific people she knew when alive. Many sightings have reported her in empty buildings, near forests and on cliffs. However, she is most commonly reported seen along Balete Drive in Quezon City. She was a young lady who was raped and killed by two Japanese soldiers during WWII. While there haven’t been stories of the White Lady being a purposefully malicious being, she has been the reported as the cause of more than a few car accidents by drivers who look in their rearview mirror and see a young lady in the backseat wearing a white dress. Sure, some strange, unknown lady sitting in your backseat is bad enough but the White Lady is also said to have no face or a face covered in blood.
1 Manananggal
The Manananggal is sometimes considered to be a special breed of the aswangs. They are sometimes referred to as “Tik-tik” because of the sound it makes while in flight. To confuse its victims, the tik-tik sound becomes fainter as she nears. These creatures generally take on the form of a beautiful woman with large, leathery bat wings. The lower half of her body takes root to the ground while the upper part detaches as she flies in search of food. The manananggal has a taste for human blood and a particular craving for the hearts of human fetuses which it retrieves with its long, proboscis-like tongue. Like the Western culture’s vampire, the manananggals hate garlic and salt so hanging garlic or placing a bowl of salt near the window is the best way to keep them away. To kill a manananggal, one must find the lower body and spread salt or ashes on the open wound. That prevents the two halves from joining and transforming back to human form when daylight breaks.
source http://listverse.com
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Daddy.. 'la ..na..
Ajman to Sheik Zayed Rd. in 30 Minutes!!
I was surprised to find Emirates road empty on monday morning around 9am when I left Ajman to Sheik Zayed Rd. The usual congested traffic in National Paint flyover was gone.
I got a client call around 6 in the morning and asked me if it was possible me at 9am but I beg to move the meeting around 10 am considering that I have to go to shower and fix breakfast for my family before I go.
Daddy ...'la na traffic!
I was surprised to find Emirates road empty on monday morning around 9am when I left Ajman to Sheik Zayed Rd. The usual congested traffic in National Paint flyover was gone.
I got a client call around 6 in the morning and asked me if it was possible me at 9am but I beg to move the meeting around 10 am considering that I have to go to shower and fix breakfast for my family before I go.
Daddy ...'la na traffic!
Hoy!! Tawa ka naman Dyan
CONTEMPLATE
kuLang ang plato
PUNCTUATION
pera pang enroll..
CALCULATOR
tawagan kita mamaya
TENACIOUS
sapatos pang tennis
DEVASTATION
ung station ng bus..
DEDICATE
patay ang pusa
ASPECT
pantusok ng yeLo
DEDUCT
ang pato
Defeat
ang paa
DETAIL
ang buntot
CITY
bago mag utso
STATUE
Kaw b yAn?
PERSUADING
unang kasal
DEPRESSED
ang nag kasal sa PERSUADING
TISSUE
ikaw nga?
kuLang ang plato
PUNCTUATION
pera pang enroll..
CALCULATOR
tawagan kita mamaya
TENACIOUS
sapatos pang tennis
DEVASTATION
ung station ng bus..
DEDICATE
patay ang pusa
ASPECT
pantusok ng yeLo
DEDUCT
ang pato
Defeat
ang paa
DETAIL
ang buntot
CITY
bago mag utso
STATUE
Kaw b yAn?
PERSUADING
unang kasal
DEPRESSED
ang nag kasal sa PERSUADING
TISSUE
ikaw nga?
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