Im in Las Vegas!!
I'm in Vegas now...just to let know all my friends out there!! anybody in my friendster list near from here??? have a great day!!
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I'm in Vegas now...just to let know all my friends out there!! anybody in my friendster list near from here??? have a great day!!
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (UPI) -- Choline, a nutrient found in foods such as
eggs, is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer, U.S.
researchers said.
The study of 3,000 adult women found the risk of developing breast
cancer was 24 percent lower among women with the highest intake of
choline compared to women with the lowest intake.
Women who consumed the most choline had a daily average of 455 mg of
choline or more -- mostly from coffee, eggs and skim milk. Women with
the lowest intake consumed a daily average of 196 milligrams or less.
"Choline is needed for the normal functioning of cells, no matter your
age or gender," study
author Dr. Steven H. Zeisel of the University of North Carolina in
Chapel Hill said in a statement. "Increasing evidence shows that it
may be particularly important for women, particularly those of
child-bearing age."
Most Americans don't meet the recommended intake for choline. The
Institute of Medicine says adequate choline intake is 550 milligrams
per day for men and breastfeeding women, 425 milligrams per day for
women and 450 milligrams per day for pregnant women.
The findings are published in the June issue of The Journal of the
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
www.arcamax.com
"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failures."
Colin Powell
WiSE iNVESTMENT
“He
will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory above all the
other nations He has made and you will be sacred to the Lord, your God,
as He promised.” – Deuteronomy 26:19
The
financial crisis at the close of the millennium took its toll on our
company. Our company closed down and I lost my job. My income was
reduced considerably but the costs in our prayer outreach to the
provinces were increasing. My retirement money and savings, which were
the principal source of the outreach operating funds, was now
dwindling. I was bothered but I didn’t fear. For months, we continued
with our outreach activities. I placed my trust in God, calling Him
Jehovah-Jireh, my God who supplies.
Not long after, the foreclosed properties that I used to manage were
offered back to me to rehabilitate and operate on a personal capacity.
The markets recovered and the operations made money. I had invested
money into the Father’s business; now the Father gave back the money
many times over.
Two years after reopening the business, the regional BIR office honored
us as the best individual taxpayer in the province! Rolly España
REFLECTION:
“My God will fully supply whatever you need according to His riches and glory.” (Philippians 4:19)
Heavenly Father, You are the God who does not fail to supply our needs!
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| SABBATH | ||||||||||||
love your eneMy
One
time, I asked a group of church workers in my parish what for them is
the most difficult command of Jesus. The response was almost unanimous
— it is about Jesus’ teaching on loving one’s enemies. Who of us do not
really have a hard time living out this very difficult precept?
It is hard to do, perhaps, for several reasons. Once we are hurt we
focus on the pain that we are nursing inside. This sometimes makes it
difficult to see beyond the self. So we lick our wounds and engage in
self-pity.
Another reason also is our desire to get even. We sometimes feel that
unless our enemies suffer just as we have suffered, we won’t really be
at peace. So we engage in different tactics just so we can exact
vengeance.
But allowing ourselves to hate our enemy will only prove one thing—that
the enemy is already taking control of our life. Hence, even our most
private moments are invaded by the thought of them. And when it happens
we are physically affected—just the thought of our enemies makes our
heart beat faster or we lose our good mood. I know of people who, while
lying in bed getting ready to sleep at night, suddenly think of an
enemy. As quickly as the unexpected thought comes, his fist clenches
and he gnashes his teeth. What a way to spend the night before
sleeping.
Jesus offers an excellent solution in today’s gospel: instead of hating
them, love them, pray for them in all humility. Once you are able to
lift them up to God, you know that you can never remain that person’s
enemy. You cannot go on hating a person in the presence of God. Hence,
when you pray for your enemy, the resentment in you dies. And once this
happens, your attitude towards the enemy changes. And even if the
thought of him comes, you’llnever be agitated. Fr. Sandy Enhaynes
Reflection Question:
Can you sincerely love your enemy?
Jesus,
Your commandment to love our enemies is difficult but doable by Your
grace. Pour upon us all the good we need and enable us to accept and
love those who offend us.
St. Onesimus, martyr, pray for us.
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| COMPANION | ||||||||||||
1st READING
We
have a covenant relationship with God as expressed in the Sacrament of
Baptism where we are marked forever with the seal of the Lord — marked
as His own possession. The Sacrament of the Eucharist also celebrates
this covenant in that it is the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross,
remembered and made present in the Eucharist that is the basis of the
covenant of love God has made with us, His people. Covenants are all
about reciprocal commitments. We know God’s commitment to us will not
waver. What about our commitment to Him?
Deuteronomy 26:16-19
16 “This
day the LORD, your God, commands you to observe these statutes and
decrees. Be careful, then, to observe them with all your heart and with
all your soul. 17 Today
you are making this agreement with the LORD he is to be your God and
you are to walk in his ways and observe his statutes, commandments and
decrees, and to hearken to his voice. 18 And
today the LORD is making this agreement with you: you are to be a
people peculiarly his own, as he promised you; and provided you keep
all his commandments, 19 he
will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory above all other
nations he has made, and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your
God, as he promised.”
P S A L M
Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
R: Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
1 Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart. (R) 4 You have commanded that your precepts be
diligently kept. 5 Oh, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes! (R) 7 I will give you thanks with an upright heart, when I have learned your just ordinances. 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me. (R)
G O S P E L
We
are called to live a perfect life in imitation of Christ and as a
witness to the world. This is no easy task but it must be possible or
else God would not place it before us as His will. It is a lifelong
task that will require our constant attention and effort. However, in
the common parlance of today’s generation, the benefits are simply “out
of this world!” If you believe this, you will have no problem in giving
your life over to the pursuit of perfection in Christ.
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and
causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? 48 So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
my reflections
think:We know God’s commitment to us will not waiver. What about our commitment to Him? | ||||||||||||
Can you select the pronunciations preferred by most (but not all) pronunciation experts?:
1. demur (to object, take exception to) -- a. di-MYOOR; b. di-MUR
2. forte (a person's strength) -- a. FOR-tay; b. FORT
3. grievous (causing grief, dire) -- a. GREE-vus; b. GREE-vee-us
4. Realtor (a member of the National Association of Realtors) -- a. REEL-tur; b. REE-luh-tur
5. niche (a cranny; a suitable area of talent or comfort, or a segment of a market) -- a. NITCH; b. NEESH
6. conch (a marine gastropod mollusk or its shell) -- a. KAHNCH; b. CONK
7. pastoral (of or relating to rural life, or being a church pastor) -- a. pa-STOR-ul; b. PAS-tur-ul
8. sorbet (frozen dessert) -- a. SOR-bit; b. sor-BAY
----
Answers and explanations:
1. b. di-MUR. Here "mur" is pronounced as in "murky," not as in "mural." The adjective "demure" (shy, reserved) is pronounced "di-MYOOR."
2. b. FORT. The musical direction "forte," an Italian word meaning "loudly," is pronounced "FOR-tay," but "forte," meaning "strength," is derived from the French word "fort," meaning "strong."
3. a. GREE-vus. "Grievous" has two syllables, not three.
4. a. REEL-tur. I mispronounced this word for many years.
5. a. NITCH. While both pronunciations are common and acceptable, most authorities prefer "NITCH." Because "niche" entered English from French during the 1600s, they say, its pronunciation has been fully Anglicized.
6. b. CONK. Purists want to conk people over the head for saying "KAHNCH."
7. b. PAS-tur-ul. "Do pastures have stores in them?" the purists angrily ask. "Then don't put a 'store' in 'pastoral'"?
8. a. SOR-bit. The fact that "sorbet" shares the same Turkish root as "sherbet" provides a clue to its historically accurate pronunciation. But because "sorbet" entered English through French, it acquired the fancified "ay" pronunciation that has been adopted by just about everyone. Just as sorbet cleanses the palate, pronunciation experts have tried for decades to cleanse "sor-BAY" from English-speaking palates. Nice try.
EMbRACED bY THE LigHT OF THE WORLD
“… seized with mortal anguish…” – Esther C:12 (or Esther 4:28)
She was the first contestant in the famous TV show American Idol. She entered the room full of confidence that she was going to move on to Hollywood.
Unfortunately, her self-ssurance way exceeded the quality of her voice.
She didn’t make the cut. She stood there flabbergasted before the
judges then broke down and cried uncontrollably. She left the audition
room and ran to the arms of her mom. She was inconsolable. I felt her
pain.
Then I watched her mom. I could feel her anguish as I saw it etched on
her face. It almost read, “Can I take this pain for you?”
I’ve been there. When my husband and I came home from the funeral of
our 11-monthold son, we just hugged each other as we entered our
bedroom. No words could speak of our anguish. And right at that moment,
it felt like a group hug. No words. Just God embracing us. It was so
real, we could almost see it etched in His Son’s hands: “I can take this pain for you.” Ronna Ledesma
REFLECTION:
Have you allowed yourself to feel the hug of the Lord in the midst of your crisis? This Valentine’s Day, let Him embrace you.
Lord, use my arms whenever You want to hug some people who are grieving silently.
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| SABBATH | ||||||||||||
God’s Way, not ours There was a movie starring Jim Carrey entitled, “Bruce Almighty.”
It was an instant hit, perhaps because it gave the people a glimpse of
how it is to be God. There were so many scenes that made “being God” so
exciting: breezing through a long road clogged with cars; pulling the
moon closer to set a more romantic mood for the wife, walking on water,
being in splendid locations in an instant, manipulating astonishing
life situations to make the climb to the corporate ladder swift.
Towards the end of the movie, the main character, Bruce, discovered
being God was not that cool. This was shown when he started to hear
voices of people raising their petitions to God. He thought what seemed
a brilliant solution—answer ‘yes’ to all the prayers through email.
What resulted was mayhem. The movie captures a very effective point to
illustrate that God’s way in dealing with our prayers is not in the
same way we think. Who of us would not go by what Bruce did and agree
to always say “yes” to everything we ask God in prayer? It would really
be amusing to make a petition to God and get a
positive response in return. But will it be beneficial to us? Will it
be helpful for man to get anything he wants, every time and anywhere he
wants it? Bruce discovered it is not. And surely those who saw the film
can say that it is rightly so.
If our father on earth
will weigh our requests first before giving in, so as not to spoil us,
certainly our Father in heaven would manifest His benevolence in far
better ways. He will listen to and answer all our prayers, but not in
the way we see fit. He’ll do it in His time and in His terms, knowing
what is really best for us. Fr. Sandy Enhaynes
Reflection Question:
Have you accepted that God’s ways are not our ways?
Lord,
give me the wisdom to understand and accept that You answer our prayers
differently from what we expect but always in a way that is best for us.
Sts. Cyril and Methodius, monk and bishop, pray for us.
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| COMPANION | ||||||||||||
1st READING Esther
knows that she is about to enter into a situation where there are no
guarantees for her life. It is a moment of life and death for her just
as it is a moment of life and death for her people. Esther is not
hesitating — she is doing what any wise and faith-filled person would
do in her situation – place her welfare in the hands of God. It is God
alone who can move the heart of the king to accede to Esther’s request
and she knows it.
Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25 (or Esther 4:28, 30-32, 39-41)
28 [C:12] Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, likewise had recourse to the Lord. 30 [C:14] Then she prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, saying “My Lord, our King, you alone are God. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, 31 [C:15] for I am taking my life in my hand.
32 [C:16] As a child I was wont to hear from the people of the land of my forefathers that you, O Lord, chose Israel
from among all peoples, and our fathers from among all their ancestors,
as a lasting heritage, and that you fulfilled all your promises to
them. 39 [C:23] Be
mindful of us, O Lord. Manifest yourself in the time of our distress
and give me courage, King of gods and Ruler of every power. 40 [C:24]
Put in my mouth
persuasive words in the presence of the lion, and turn his heart to
hatred for our enemy, so that he and those who are in league with him
may perish. 41 [C:25] Save us by your power, and help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O Lord. You know all things.”
P S A L M
Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8
R: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
1 I
will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard
the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your
praise; 2 I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name. (R) Because of your kindness and your truth; for you have made
great above all things your name and your promise. 3 When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. (R) 7 Your right hand saves me. 8 The LORD will complete what he has done for me; your kindness, O LORD, endures forever; forsake not
the work of your hands. (R)
G O S P E L
Esther
gives an example of the willingness to seek the Lord and to request His
aid in the task she is about to perform. There is never anything lost
in commending to the Lord our needs and hopes. If they are within the
ambit of His will for our lives, it will confirm God’s intention to
work with us in that way. If they are not, then at least we will have a
sign that we need to rethink our desires in life if the Lord is not
responding to our repeated requests.
Matthew 7:7-12
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf
of bread, 10 or a snake when he asks for a fish? 11 If
you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who
ask him. 12 “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”
my reflections
think:Esther
is not hesitating — she is doing what any wise and faith- filled person
would do in her situation — place her welfare in the hands of God. Do
we do this when we’re in a fix?
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Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.
The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.
Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.
The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavoured to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for the celebration of this new feaSt. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way.
Jesus is back in Nazareth and attends the Sabbath service in the synagogue. He is asked to read one of the readings. Was it accidental or intentional that He read the 66 long chapters of Isaiah? Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit who appeared upon Him during baptism. Jesus was so Spirit-filled that nothing was accidental in His life.
The passage Jesus reads contains the program of His ministry. In His life and ministry, Jesus fulfills what the prophet wrote centuries ago. Luke answers our question about Jesus clearly: He is the fulfillment of the prophecies of old. He did not come without having been announced centuries ago. The prophets actually spoke about their time and the imminent future; they did not think of Jesus Christ yet. But they were inspired by God's Spirit so that the oracles they uttered turned out to have a much more profound meaning and would be fully fulfilled only in Christ.
Jesus came to proclaim the Good News. He came to free us from the captivity of sin. He opened our eyes and freed us from our spiritual blindness. He saw to it that people would be reminded of Isaiah's prophecy and recognize Him as the One mankind was waiting for. Jesus started the fulfillment with His ministry.
As Jesus' disciples, we are challenged to continue proclaiming the Good News. He needs us to open the eyes of those who are spiritually blind. He needs us to bring those bound by sin into His presence to liberate them. This effort even goes beyond spiritual liberation. In Latin America, the Church has contributed much to a social and political liberation of the poor and oppressed.
The Holy Spirit we received in baptism and confirmation is upon us. St. Paul goes a step further and speaks of us Christians as temples of the Holy Spirit, meaning the Spirit is in us. This enables us to continue the great work of Jesus. His program has become ours. Fr. Rudy Horst
Reflection Question: Am I aware that I am called to make Christ's program my program in life? How can I do this effectively? Lord, You have given us a great task, the task to continue Your work on earth. With the Holy Spirit in us, we are able to do this. Make us more aware of this great responsibility and enlighten us to make Your program our own.
St. William of Bourges, bishop,pray for us.
the Good shepherd offers spiritual nourishMent A week before Christmas, I went to Makati and walked through Glorietta. How I wished to be out of the chaos as soon as possible! All those rushing and running people, some doing window-shopping, others with heavy shopping bags
and all the restaurants so full that I could not find a place for a cup
of coffee. I began to think about whether these people are really
happy. Some looked so tired, so stressed while others rushed aimlessly
through the mall. Suddenly, the first sentence of the Gospel of Mark
today flashed through my mind: “Jesus saw a large crowd, and He took
pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.†Jesus came into the world because He knows how pressured and
stressed we are. He knows how aimlessly we often rush through life. He
knows that many have lost track of their goals in life. He knows that
many of us are “like sheep without a shepherd.†Jesus
is the Good Shepherd who wants to give us rest and nourishment, and to
lead us safely through the confusing times and periods of life. Adoration
chapels in churches are wonderful places of rest where you can come in
the presence of the Good Shepherd Who knows how harassed you are by the
worries and problems at home or at work. Mark
also tells us that Jesus nourished the crowd — He took the loaves,
praised God, broke them and satisfied the hunger of all. This event
foreshadowed the Eucharist. Today, priests continue to do what Jesus
did then in the Consecration during Mass. The Second Vatican Council
proclaimed: “The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian
life.†It is here that Christ enters our very being and strengthens
us. It is here that the Good Shepherd, continues to lead us through the
turmoil and frenzy of daily life towards our goal: eternal life in the
presence of His Father forever. Fr. Rudy Horst Reflection Question: What can I do this year to find more peace and strength in the Lord who offers me all this for free? Lord,
in our hectic life You offer rest. Why do I not make more use of it?
Lord, often I feel spiritually dry, empty and hungry – why do I not
accept You, Who are present in the Eucharist? You are there for me, for
all of us. Thank You, Lord. St. Thorfinn, bishop, pray for us.
1 John 3:7-10 Generally
speaking, it is easy to know the difference between what is right and
wrong. Sometimes, though, we do have doubts. I wonder why, then, do we
find ourselves so often in a state of sin rather than in a state of
grace? It seems that we often choose the wrong course of action. 7 Children, let no one deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 Whoever
sins belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the
beginning. Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of
the devil. 9 No one who is begotten by God commits sin,
because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. 10 In
this way, the children of God and the children of the devil are made
plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor
anyone who does not love his brother.
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