6 Words

I have been tagged by Angela for a "My Life in Six Words" meme.

What is a meme? A meme is basically in two ways:
1. Meme--pronounced 'mem', a memory
2. Meme--rhymes with 'theme', a theme where I am tagged to answer questions about 'me' or myself... Here's my 6 words:

Life's obstacles are our life's lessons.

I tag the following people to do the "meme". :)

Brain Cheese (Linda)
Abbie
Nancie
whimsicalnbrainpan

Quotes of the Day

Bias and prejudice are attitudes to be kept in hand, not attitudes to be avoided. Charles Curtis

The theory of cultural bias... is the idea that a culture is based on a particular form of organization. It can't be transplanted except to another variant of that organization. Mary Douglas

"We must have strong minds, ready to accept facts as they are." - Harry S Truman (1884-1972)

"You laugh at me because I am different, but I laugh at you because you are all the same." - Unknown

"Men have become the tools of their tools."- Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

"If Stupidity got us into this mess, then why can’t it get us out?" - Will Rogers (1879-1935)

Proactive Quotes

For every difficulty that supposedly stops a person from succeeding there are thousands who have had it a lot worse and have succeeded anyway. So can you. ~ Brian Tracy

You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself.~ Jim Rohn

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. ~ George Bernard Shaw

Are you a “victim,” or are you taking responsibility for your life?~ Susan Jeffers

We are to be more "proactive", as opposed to "reactive". The word “reactive” implies that you don’t have the initiative. You let the events set the agenda. To be proactive, what you have to do is ask yourself what is likely to happen, and react to it before it happens.

Economic Band-aid

I have a strong respect for billionaire investor Warren Buffett and I agree with one of his quotes when he told his shareholders a few years ago: "If they insist on trying to time their participation in equities, they should try to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful." Investors, who at heart want to make money and make it as soon as they can, are the ones that can hurt the economy. The purpose of the corporation was and still is to generate profits for its investors (shareholders) which is not a problem for me because I am one of those "investors". Economic's chief purpose is to discover and refine just and means of creating, distributing, and consuming wealth to overcome poverty and to increase the material prosperity of people. In the United States, work ethic in form of stewardship and that economics are called for efficiency and productiveness of common sense and a strong sense of disiring to be a good steward of taking care of the country's citizens. America's attitudes towards money should be in their conviction that money is a social good, not a private possession and that the economic main purpose is the welfare of everyone in society, not the personal pleasure of the person who happens to have control over it.

At the same time, those who got greedy which lead them to trouble in the housing markets as well as subprime loans. I agree with John McCain's policy with his quote: "it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers."

In my own opinion, why should we reward bad investers and borrowers by bailing them out when the wiser investors and borrowers who gets no rewards other than being non-greedy and wiser? I will not count those who lost their jobs or their health caused them to spend more on their health care because they are not at fault. I am talking about those who invest and borrow unwisely. Also, we need to punish "predatory" lenders who lure people into borrowing out of their reach.

We live in a country that is "you're-on-your-own" situation as today's commentary by George F. Will: McCain's bailout minimalism is a maximum advantage. I will always remember Benjamin Franklin's quote “The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.” Throughout the Old Testament, there were lists of people who were wealthy and in fact the Book of Proverbs wrote who we use our wealth. Economic system is stewardship. In this country, people have equal opportunity to be successful but not everyone would be successful.

Whenever we face financial problems in this world, we need to understand that there is not one "economic system" that will solve anything. Even as much as they try, not one "Government system" will be able solve anything. My final thoughts on the political economic system: I have said before and I will say again, economic system is NOT the problem, its PEOPLE and their attitudes.

Last week, I have made some changes in my investments as well as my spending. I am taking the responsibility for my part of helping the United States economic situation.

I just can't do this alone.

Historians rates U.S. Presidents

George Bush, for example, is already being penciled in as a failure and will undoubtedly join the list when his administration is distinguished.

Of 415 historians who expressed a view of President Bush’s administration to this point as a success or failure, 338 classified it as a failure and 77 as a success.

Historical rankings of United States Presidents

Hang on Sloopy

"Hang on Sloopy" is a hit song by the pop group The McCoys which was #1 in America in October 1965 and is the official rock song of the state of Ohio and The Ohio State University.

116th Ohio General Assembly designated "Hang on Sloopy" the state rock song by House Concurrent Resolution 16 on November 20, 1985.

"WHEREAS, "Hang On Sloopy" is of particular relevance to members of the Baby Boom Generation, who were once dismissed as a bunch of long-haired, crazy kids, but who now are old enough and vote in sufficient numbers to be taken quite seriously"
and

"WHEREAS, Adoption of this resolution will not take too long, cost the state anything, or affect the quality of life in this state to any appreciable degree, and if we in the legislature just go ahead and pass the darn thing, we can get on with more important stuff."

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Hang On Sloopy: The Music of Ohio
Lyric and Songfacts

Pondering "Humor" when needed....................

PONDER: To weigh mentally; Think deeply about; Consider carefully Webster's New World Dictionary

Everyday, I ponder, contemplate, consider and thinking whatever that affects my daily moods, activities and life. Thinking back, I remember behaving childlike and actually enjoying life by being playfuln and enjoy the simplicity. I desire to have a day-by-day living of feeling carefree. This week, I am having struggles with my depression especially when my wife was asking me me if I was okay since we had not made love for a few weeks now and that she misses it. Last saturday, I was writing about Dealing with Disabilities and Depression because I was feeling it and today, I am still feeling it. I was reading somewhere that depressed mood in people with multiple sclerosis often changes more significantly over time than other stable depression symptoms. I am sure that is true. Sometimes, MS patients have every reason to be depressed when needed to.

I am taking prozac and it is working but what I need to do is to start having more "humor" in my life. I don't think I am doing it enough because experts says that humor is an excellent tool for combating depression. It is often known as a "Humor is a Natural Antidote for Depression". I might start having at least ONE post about "humor" and try to have a good laugh about "life".

I find this site very useful whenever I need humor. I have many bookmarks for humor. This is just one of them. You might like it too. Squiffy's House of Fun - Laughter for Multiple Sclerosis

Enjoy !!

I like this quote: Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them. Leo Tolstoy

Often, I am reminded by Christ's definition of Beatitudes (Matthew 5) which really contradicts the world’s definition of happiness. I have had a lifelong struggle with the question of being happy as a Christian.

A.W. Tozer is one of my favorite Christian authors who often reminds me of my relationahip with "life". "If there's anything necessary to your eternal happiness but God, you're not the kind of Christian that you ought to be. For only God is the true rest." Attributes of God,pg.30

Fretting..........

Today, I had a busy day at work. I had a few meetings and projects to do. I had a late lunch so that was the only free time I had to read some of the blogs. I am an accoutant and I have alot of projects. We have a new accounting system and I am in the spot light by being chosen to lead the "reporting projects". I had a meeting this morning and 3 other meetings this week. Also, I got a call today to make a presentation for the auditors in March. While at the same time, I need start planning my "workgroup" of 100 members that I have been neglecting to start meetings again after being on "hold" for a year due to changing the accounting system.

Last week, I got to meet my "big" boss (finally) and shook hands with him and chatted a bit. This boss is the Governor of Ohio so it was an interesting week for me.

I was thinking of what to talk about in my tonight's blog since I have too busy to think about it. It occurred to me, like Marja which I discovered her blog today and found that her thoughts are similar to mine (thanks to Merelyme for pointing her out to me). She talks about "worrying" and lately I have been worrying about a few things as well. That will be my topic today.

When I was younger, I was focusing on temporal happiness. I often ran ahead of God because to me simply because He didn't seem to be working fast enough for me. As a Christian, am I supposed to ignore my temporal situations in order to be happy and stop worrying?

Fretting and worrying about something. I have learned a long time ago that "worrying" is sin and that my HEART is revealing my weak FAITH in God. I understood that fretfulness can rob me of my peace and joy of Christ. In our sinful society, like all sinners, I am still a sinner (forgiven) but still an easy prey to fretfulness when my gaze is fixed circumstances rather than upon God.

I want to use a few tranlations for Philippians 4:6:

(The Message) Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.

(New Living Translation) Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

(NIV)Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

(KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

(NKVJ) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Reading that verse reminds me that I need to understand and remember is that Jesus is MY SHEPHERD that He will supply all my needs (Phil. 4:19) and that He knows everything about my life (Ps. 139:3), cares about me (1 Pet. 5:7), has the power for every difficulty (Ps. 62:11), is perfecting YOU to be like Christ (Phil. 1:6), and that nothing escapes Him (Ps. 147:5), that will lead me to be stable, not anxious living.

I always love this quote and I often refer to this when I need to remember:
Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives and God's plans, but God is not helpless among the ruins. God's love is still working. He comes in and takes the calamity and uses it victoriously, working out His wonderful plan of love. Eric Liddell

Faith is holding the practical belief is what we accept in reality that comes in our day-to-day living. We are to trust Jesus Christ completely (as Corrie ten Boom did) through the Holy Spirit and God's grace. I always admire Corrie ten Boom and listed her as one of my "Hall of Faiths". These are two of her famous quotes

Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.

Ever read a story about Corrie ten Boom? If you didn't, I recommend it. She was a Christian (died in the 1980's) who suffered through Nazi concentration camps while most of her family members died. Corrie was schedule to die in Nazi Camp like the rest of family did, but she came out of Nazi prison alive due to clerical error through God's divine intervention. Through Corrie ten Boom, God was glorified through Corrie's ministry through many years until the day she died. Her ministry is still alive even though she is no longer with us physically but she is in heaven.

Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you. Corrie ten Boom

Learning from great faiths in the Bible and Christians I learned through media and local churches, I saw that circumstances did not control them; it is their reaction to circumstances that determined what kind of people they were and most importantly, how faithful they were. They made decisions they felt it is God's will however, circumstances made them change directions. I went through many issues and they were not easy but once I put myself to where God wants me to be, I will be fine. Having faith and not worrying alot easier said than done.

I was making a comment in another blog and I want to repeat

a part of the quote I wrote which I thought worth keeping.

When I was growing up, I grew up in churches that teaches that gambling, smoking, drinking and dancing are sins. There is a fine balance between legalism and liberalism. Everything is allowable but not everything is allowable. Every Christian must decide whether they will us their liberty to decide on their moral decisions. We are free, but our freedom must prove a source of real temptation of this world. We are free from the chains of sin because by grace we are saved by Christ that we are forgiven. Spiritual liberty means the freedom to be all that we were designed to be, but this is not a freedom that is without restrictions or responsibilities.

As long as our conscience is clear and our heart is pure before God, don't be concerned with issues. That is GRACE. In Romans 14:5 "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." 1 Corinthians 10:28-29 "both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake, the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?"

Christian liberty means the power to do anything as long as we abide by God's enablement to produce fruit in accordance with the way the Holy Spirit works in us through Christ. When a Christian who is saved by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, this Christian is living in a new Creature with holy conscience rather than sinful conscience. If we didn't feel the conviction and didn't have the motivation to change from "within", then we should be concerned whether we are truly saved or not. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." The condition of the heart determines how receptive a person is to the gospel.

Hall of Faith: JOB

"Experience is the hardest teacher. It gives the test first and then the lesson."

Often it is known that suffering leads to eternal salvation. I like this quote by one of my favorite authors, "The devil, things and people being what they are, it is necessary for God to use the hammer, the file and the furnace in His holy work of preparing a saint for true sainthood. It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply." (A. W. Tozer, The Root of the Righteous, 157). Unbelief is the oldest of the many spiritual diseases by which fallen human nature is afflicted. From the Old Testament, I have been studying Job. Job reads like history. It talks about a man named Job. He lived in the land of Uz. It relates details about his family, his life, and his suffering. It communicates to us his friends' interest in his suffering, and the spiritual struggling with which Job dealt. What's interesting is that other biblical writers refer to Job as a real person. Ezekiel refers to Job along with Noah and Daniel (Ezekiel 14:14,20). And James draws upon the example of Job to comfort the suffering, proving the point that God is merciful. He commends the endurance of Job (Jas. 5:11).

How I learned about Job are as follows:

1. Job's example of Faith God made a point to the devil and to the whole world of people who have ever read that account. And the point is this, that true saving faith is not dependent on positive circumstances. God is making a point with Satan and to make the point He uses Job and the point is to show the strength and the continuity and the unwavering character of true saving faith, true love for God. The person who really loves God is not the person who loves God because of what he gets, but the person who loves God because of who he is.

2. Job versus Elphazs, Bildads, and Zophars (Job's friends)
In the beginning of the Book of Job, Job's innocence is established so that people won't interpret Job's friends opinions as judgemental. The very first verse explains that Job was blameless and a man of complete integrity. Job's faith was very strong and feared (loved) God. Job's friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, & Zophar) reminds me of some movements who believes that when Christians get sick, they blame on a Christian who have committed sin. There are many of those who believes such doctrines. There are so many Elphazs, Bildads, and Zophars. God allowed Satan to inflict Job (i.e. boil which is a skin disease). The fact of Job's story is that there are no answers when disaster strikes. We can't explain everything. Faith is to keep trusting God no matter what happens. Job had the strength, the continuity and the unwavering character of true saving faith, true love for God regardless what happened to him. Many of us have identified with him. Many of us also have identified some of our fellow Christians as Elphazs, Bildads, and Zophars. When when Christians face tribulations as Job did, what would their friends do?

3. Details of Job's friends treating Job during his trials Some have the attitude, "I have the knowledge and how God have blessed me with that knowledge. One of these days you will also come to know and have the same knowledge and that is when you will know the truth." Job's friends were obstacles to his relationship with God when they don't really know why things are happening to Job. Self-righteousness is terrible among Christian community because it is very naturally that we judge everyone by what/who we are because it is usually smug satisfaction with self. Self-righteousness also leads to self-satisfaction accompanied by unawareness of what is going on. I love this quote by C.S. Lewis: "You never know how much you really believe anything until truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you."

4. Job's friends persecuting Job..... Job knew in his own heart that his friends were wrong. Finally, after listening to his friends for so long (20 plus chapters), in Job 21:27, Job said, "Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me." In other words, "You know, I've had it with you guys. All you do is think what I lacked against God." And that their comments just proved that they didn't love him. “Oh, Job. You’ve got a lot of sin in your life. We know, we’ve got a good theology. Our theology is that if you’ve got problems, you’ve got sin.” Job's friends ran through weeks of his personal inventory and they came up with nothing. Job 32:2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. Job 37:14 "Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders.

The bad events are circumscribed by a loving providence and God promises to use them all for His ultimate good for HIS GLORY. There is a verse in the Bible that God promises that there won’t be anything so bad happen to me that I am not able to bear it. God does everything--He governs everything. Faith is accepting God's Will.

Job in the Old Testament is one of my Hall of Faiths.

Sunday Morning Thoughts

Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes (Old Testament) because he has learned the hard lesson from his pride. Solomon was the wisest man ever lived (other than Christ). Solomon was humbled by God and then he wrote from his experiences. Solomon explained to us the reality of life from God's point of view. If God is ALL good, then Solomon would not write the negative side of God in Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future. In Ephesians 1:11, "He works all things according to the purpose of His own will."

Reading Ecclesiastes helps alot. Hearing stories from my elders (old relatives and older Christians) reminded me that their experiences speaks the truth. As they say, "History repeats itself in every generation." Ecclesiastes 8:17 I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it. Reading Ecclesiastes have reminded me that people have been taking "life" for granted. There's a right time and way for everything. It's true that no one knows what's going to happen, or when. Life leads to death that life, while it lasts, will soon be over. There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth.

We all must remember that without these temptations and circumstances, our self-discovery of spiritual maturity will not be learned. Our greatest teachers are those circumstances of temptations we are facing because they are reminders that we are still sinners and we are to be trained into spiritual growth. When we most aware of our weaknesses, we are more inclined to collapse into God's strength and experience His amazing grace. "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9).

Since the Reformation, we have had many "Awakenings" which is another word for "revival". Luther was the famous who revived (restored). Revive means to "to restore". I like this quote by Richard Baxter, "Reformation is to many of us, as the Messiah was to the Jews. Before He came, they looked and longed for Him, and boasted of Him and rejoiced in hope of Him; but when He came they could not abide Him, but Hated him, and would not believe that He was indeed the person, and therefore persecuted and put Him to death...So it is with too many about reformation. They hoped for a reformation, that would bring them more wealth and honour with the people, and power to force men to do what they would have them: and now they see a reformation, that must put them to more condescension and pains than they were ever at before."

This quote explains better, "A lot of our activity often mistaken for revival is just the church turning over, but not waking up." Vance Havner

So, what then, did life teach me? What have I learned in this "life" have produce fruit in me.
Fruit of Patience: Hebrews 10:36, James 1:3
Fruit of Joy: Psalm 30:5, Psalm 126:6.
Fruit of Knowledge: Psalm 94:12
Fruit of Maturity: 1 Peter 5:10

Trials come to test the strength of our faith because they assist us in the knowledge of our own faith. (Genesis 22:1-18, Malachi 3:3-4, 1 Peter 1:6-9). Trials come to us to reveal what we really love. Regardless who they are, Christians' attitudes find their root in the heart (Jeremiah 17:9-10). In Proverbs 4:23 says, “...Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” My trials in my life were my "wake-up calls" trying to reform me to be a better Christian. I have learned that even though God does not always permit such serious life-changing situations in my life, but He did lead me into life-changing experiences that heighten my effectiveness as a Christian. I have learned that God uses people with the right life experiences by putting them through the right spiritual directions and teaching them the right spiritual lessons. Looking back, I discovered that God knows how to get results using people like me. Its amazing how God works in my life regardless what happened to me. I have seen what God has done for other people through my own life.

Trials (of all kinds) are often a two-sided coin. One side of the trials may be viewed as coming from God to bring out the BEST in us (See: Gen. 22:1-2, 15-18; Hebrews 11:17). On the other side of the coin (trials), Satan attempts to tempt us and problems to bring out the WORST in us (see: James 1:13-14). His destiny for us as Paul explains: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)

God works all things together for His purposes. Be willing to try whatever God wants us to try, trusting that He’ll help us along the way. Remember that nothing is impossible with God. We can experience a miracle as God’s love flows through us. Remember this quote I quoted a few times in this blog, "Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ." Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Romans 8:28-29 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them."

Quotes about Disabilities and Encouragement

Don't bother telling people your problems: 70% don't care, and the other 30% are happy you have them. When worst comes to worst...

"Don't give up. Don't lose hope. Don't sell out." -- Christopher Reeve

Rebellion against your handicaps gets you nowhere. Self-pity gets you nowhere. One must have the adventurous daring to accept oneself as a bundle of possibilities and undertake the most interesting game in the world - making the most of one's best. Harry Emerson Fosdick

There are two kinds of “disabled” persons: Those who dwell on what they have lost and those who concentrate on what they have left. Thomas S. Szasz

You know the hardest thing about having cerebral palsy and being a woman? It’s plucking your eyebrows. That’s how I originally got pierced ears. Geri Jewel

Although there are many barriers facing people with disabilities today, the single greatest obstacle we face as a community is our own sense of inferiority, internalized oppression and shame. Sarah Triano

Suicide prevention for you, but suicide enhancement for us. … Society wants the disabled community to have access to a dignified death when we want access to a dignified life. Gregor Wolbring

… if I have a bad day, it's all over. It's always because of my disability. "Oh, that poor girl, she's upset because she has a disability" and I'll say, "No, I'm upset because my boyfriend left me." "Oh, because he couldn't deal with the disability?" "No, because I slept with his best friend".."Oh, you slept with his best friend because you were feeling bad because you have a disability.” Ellen Stohl (first playboy playmate with a disability)

I like to shop at factory discount stores. Clothes marked irregular fit me fine. Brett Leake

I dropped a hammer on my foot. I said, ouch, I bet that hurt. J.D. England

I know it's not politically correct to call myself handicapped. I'm supposed to say physically challenged or developmentally disabled. But I don't have that kind of time. Chris Fonseca

On my income tax 1040 it says ‘Check this box if you are blind.’ I wanted to put a check mark about three inches away. Tom Lehrer

"I thank God for my handicaps, for through them I have found myself, my work and my God." Helen Keller

"God uses suffering to purge sin from our lives, strengthen our commitment to Him, force us to depend on grace, bind us together with other believers, produce discernment, foster sensitivity, discipline our minds, spend our time wisely, stretch our hope, cause us to know Christ better, make us long for truth, lead us to repentance of sin, teach us to give thanks in time of sorrow, increase faith, and strengthen character." Joni Eareckson Tada

One thing we may be sure of, however: For the believer all pain has meaning; all adversity is profitable. There is no question that adversity is difficult. It usually takes us by surprise and seems to strike where we are most vulnerable. To us it often appears completely senseless and irrational, but to God none of it is either senseless or irrational. He has a purpose in every pain He brings or allows in our lives. We can be sure that in some way He intends it for our profit and His glory. Jerry Bridges Navigators

"God's purpose in increasing our trials is to sensitize us to people we never would have been able to relate to otherwise." Joni Eareckson Tada

"God deliberately chooses weak, suffering and unlikely candidates to get His work done, so that in the end, the glory goes to God and not to the person." Joni Eareckson Tada

"Suffering drives us to our knees in weakness, where God wants us, so that His strength is most obvious, not ours." Joni Eareckson Tada

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you.... as by the attitude you bring to life. John Homer Mills

An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees calamity in every opportunity. Sir Winston Churchill

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal: nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. Thomas Jefferson

Life is 10% what you make it, and 90% how you take it. Irving Berlin

If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm. Vince Lombardi

The most handicapped person in the world is a negative thinker. Unknown

Life can only disappoint you if you let it. Mark Hopkins

You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try. Beverly Sills

If you do not believe in yourself, do NOT blame others for lacking faith in you. Brendan Frances

The Difference between the "impossible" and the "possible" lies in a person's determination. Tommy Larsorda

If you can't change your fate, change your attitude. Amy Tan

Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely. Karen Kaiser Clark

Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you. They're supposed to help you discover who you are. Bernice Johnson Reagan

If you want to be strong, know your weakness. Unknown He who conquers his anger has conquered an enemy. Unknown

Learning to live is learning to let go. Sogyal Rimpoche

Always forgive your enemies, nothing annoys them so much. Oscar Wilde

When you judge others, you define yourself. Unknown

"Moses spent 40 years thinking he was somebody; 40 years learning he was nobody; and 40 years discovering what God can do with a nobody." DL Moody

God has reserved to Himself the right to determine the end of life, because He alone knows the goal to which it is His will to lead it. It is for Him alone to justify a life or to cast it away. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never get your eyes on the obstacle or on the difficulty. Oswald Chambers- "My Utmost For His Highest" (p 250)

Most of the verses written about praise in God's Word were voiced by people faced with crushing heartaches, injustice, treachery, slander, and scores of other difficult situations. Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends

"God cannot use mightily the man whom he has not wounded deeply." AW Tozer

"Although our suffering is real and although our pain abides, we know that this is the way that God in His magnificent sovereignty has chosen to save the world." RC Sproul, Reason to Believe

"This is God's universal purpose for all Christian suffering - more contentment in God and less satisfaction with self." John Piper

Many Christians seem to understand the concept of being saved by grace, but they have missed the concept of being sustained by grace. James D. Mallory, Jr.

"Salvation is free, ... but discipleship will cost you your life." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

“I have been more service to God disabled than during my able-bodied years. This didn’t happen despite my disability but because of my disability.” Canadian Mark Pickup (disabled with multiple sclerosis)

Acknowledging Reality

All of us are born spiritual ignorant, not stupid. Through Adam, we are born spiritually dead. The nineteenth-century Scottish commentator John Eadie described it as a case of "death walking". Spiritually dead people are like zombies--they don't know they're dead and they're still going through the motions of living. We can be very smart and at the same time be very ignorant in certain areas. Paul said, "But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment" (1 Corinthians 11:31). We can escape the critical judgment of God by doing our own exercising of critical self-judgment. The only proper attitude for a Christian is humble self-distrust by saying: "I am ignorant," and "I am willing to be taught, even when I am wrong and I am willing to be corrected." It is better to judge ourselves before somebody else does it because the criticism of others is not always accurate but God sometimes WILL criticizes us through other people (believers and unbelievers). "Each one should test his own actions. . . ."(Galatians 6:4a).

1 Peter 2:15-16 says: "For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God."

"A man may be theologically knowing and spiritually ignorant" Charnock, Stephen

Poltical And Christianity Quotes

Politics are not the task of a Christian. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

All theology of the liberal type involves at some point - and involves throughout - the claim that the real behaviour and purpose and teaching of Christ came rapidly to be misunderstood and misrepresented by His followers, and has been recovered or exhumed only by modern scholars. C.S. Lewis

I have been suspected of being what is called a Fundamentalist. That is because I never regard any narrative as unhistorical simply on the ground that it includes the miraculous. C.S. Lewis

No matter how far back we may press our researches into the roots of the gospel story, no matter how we classify the gospel material, we never arrive at a non-supernatural Jesus. F.F. Bruce

The mind which asks for a non-miraculous Christianity is a mind in process of relapsing from Christianity into mere "religion." C.S. Lewis

Liberals insisted that the ultimate authority in theology must be man, either in his reason, his will or his feelings. Unknown

It has been observed thus far that liberalism differs from Christianity with regard to the presuppositions of the gospel (the view of God and the view of man), with regard to the Book in which the gospel is contained, and with regard to the Person whose work the gospel sets forth. It is not surprising then that it differs from Christianity in its account of the gospel itself; it is not surprising that it presents an entirely different account of the way of salvation. Liberalism finds salvation (so far as it is willing to speak at all of 'salvation') in man; Christianity finds it in an act of God. J. Gresham Machen

New year means new opportunities: Seize Them

To grasp suddenly and forcibly; take or grab; To grasp with the mind; apprehend; To possess oneself of (something).

Carpe diem is a phrase from a Latin poem by Quintus Horatius Flaccus (Horace) who was the leading Roman lyric Poet during the time of Augustus. It is popularly translated as "seize the day", although a more literal translation of carpe would be "pluck" ("pluck the day"), as in the plucking of fruit. The most common interpretation of the phrase is as an existential cautionary term with emphasis on making the most of current opportunities because life is short and time is fleeting. It is thematically related to several other expressions and phrases.

Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem to be more afraid of life than death. James F. Bymes

In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity. Albert Einstein

There is no security on this earth. Only opportunity. Douglas MacArthur

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. Winston Churchill

Deafness, Multiple Sclerosis and Life

I may have said this in the past and I will repeat for the sake of my own memory. I am legally deaf since birth (Hard of Hearing) and I have Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis. I find that my disabilities interesting because deafness caused by nerve damage, MS caused by nerve scars. I am not very smart even though I was born deaf and my education is not as great as I wanted. I shoulda worked harder when I was younger. However, professionally, I am an accountant and have been working in the same organization for over 26 years. My main duties are accounting, auditing, creating and enforcing policies and procedures. So, I am doing okay and I am very, very content. Through my disabilities, I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. In the course of a human life, tastes and outlook and temper may change radically. Everyone have their own definition of happiness. There are people who are not happy simply because they are not happy for whatever reasons since there are sources of "happiness" from within. Our heart is the place of conscience. Our heart is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. Many people forget and often try to do their own ways circumstances happens that they never stop and think. Their human minds often see doors closing when ignoring another door opening.

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved - loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves. Victor Hugo

The most handicapped person in the world is a negative thinker. Unknown

You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be. David Viscott

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you.... as by the attitude you bring to life. John Homer Mills

The Constitution only guarantees the American People the right to pursue happiness; you have to catch it yourself. Benjamin Franklin

An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees calamity in every opportunity. Sir Winston Churchill

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal: nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. Thomas Jefferson

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing. Abraham Lincoln

Life can only disappoint you if you let it. Mark Hopkins

You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try. Beverly Sills

If you do not believe in yourself, do NOT blame others for lacking faith in you. Brendan Frances

Making a success of something has nothing to do with luck. Care, thought, and study go into making something succeed; luck is something you get playing the lottery or roulette. Unknown

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. Colin L. Powell

The Difference between the "impossible" and the "possible" lies in a person's determination. Tommy Larsorda

If you can't change your fate, change your attitude. Amy Tan

Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely. Karen Kaiser Clark

Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you. They're supposed to help you discover who you are. Bernice Johnson Reagan

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly. Henri Bergson

Holding resentment is like eating poison and then waiting for the other person to keel over. Unknown

If you want to be strong, know your weakness. Unknown He who conquers his anger has conquered an enemy. Unknown

Learning to live is learning to let go. Sogyal Rimpoche

Always forgive your enemies, nothing annoys them so much. Oscar Wilde

Earlier, I posted my own New Year's Resolution regarding how I am going to live my life in 2008.

Reality Check Quotes

Sometimes we don't need another chance to express how we feel or to ask someone to understand our situation. Sometimes we just need a firm kick in the pants. An unsmiling expectation that if we mean all these wonderful things we talk about and sing about, then lets see something to prove it. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Divisions and separations are most objectionable in religion. They weaken the cause of true Christianity ...But before we blame people for them, we must be careful that we lay the blame where it is deserved. False doctrine and heresy are even worse than schism. If people separate themselves from teaching that is positively false and unscriptural, they ought to be praised rather than reproved. In such cases separation is a virtue and not a sin. J.C. RYLE

We all, therefore, have to face this ultimate and final question: Do we accept the Bible as the Word of God, as the sole Authority in all matters of faith and practice, or do we not? Is the whole of my thinking governed by Scripture, or do I come with my reason and pick and choose out of Scripture and sit in judgment upon it, putting myself and modern knowledge forward as the ultimate Standard and Authority? The issue is crystal-clear: Do I accept Scripture as the revelation from God, or do I trust to speculation, human knowledge, human learning, human understanding, and human reasons? Or, putting it still more simply, do I pin my faith to and subject all my thinking to what I read in the Bible? Or do I defer to modern knowledge, to modern learning, to what people think today, to what we know at this present time (which was not known in the past)? It is inevitable that we occupy one or the other of those two positions. D. Martin Lloyd-Jones

Pride leads to the "I can do it myself" approach. We think we're capable of anything. We don't need God, counselors, prayer partners, or friends. Truth be told, we've got too much pride to ask for help, so we struggle along and alone. David Jeremiah

"Our thoughts not only reveal what we are, they predict what we will become. We will soon be the sum total of our thoughts." A.W. Tozer

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. Corrie ten Boom

In a Christian community, everything depends upon whether each individual is an indispensable link in a chain. Only when even the smallest link is securely interlocked is the chain unbreakable. A community which allows unemployed members to exist within it will perish because of them. It will be well, therefore, if every member receives a definite task to perform for the community, that he may know in hours of doubt that he, too, is not useless and unusable. Every Christian community must realize that not only do the weak need the strong, but also that the strong cannot exist without the weak. The elimination of the weak is the death of the fellowship. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

What good would outward appearance be, if the soul were in hopeless darkness? To strive to keep our bodies fit and healthy is good, but a fit and healthy soul is even better. Anonymous

We fail to see the place of suffering in the broader scheme of things. We fail to see that suffering is an inevitable dimension of life. Because we have lost perspective, we fail to see that unless one is willing to accept suffering properly, he or she is really refusing to continue in the quest for maturity. To refuse suffering is to refuse personal growth. Henri J. M. Nouwen

In the history of humanity there are no civilizations or cultures which fail to manifest, in one or a thousand ways, this need for an absolute that is called heaven, freedom, a miracle, a lost paradise to be regained, peace, the going beyond History....There is no religion in which everyday life is not considered a prison; there is no philosophy or idealogy that does not think that we live in alienation....Humanity has always had a nostalgia for the freedom that is only beauty, that is only real life, plenitude and light. Philip Yancey

If false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis

When Jesus wore a crown of thorns, do you wish to wear a crown of gold?" Johann Arndt, True Christianity.

Condemn or Love?

"What would Jesus do?"

Matthew 5:26-28 (King James Version)
26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

In John
8 (King James Version), Jesus dealt with the the scribes and Pharisees of a woman committed adultery. Jesus wrote on the ground.9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

The love of Jesus is so inclusive that love knows no boundaries. We may be disgusted with other people's beliefs or their lifestyles. We are often ready to condemn and turn away from them. But not Jesus, He keeps on loving them. During all of 3 years of His ministry, Jesus helped an "unworthy" person more than worthy. The great spiritual needs around us should drive us back to the gospel records of the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus. The best thing we know about our Lord and Savior is that He loves all sinners. He has always love the outcast and for that we should be glad, for we, too, were once outcasts.

When we argue and disagree, we will know what kind of a Christian others are and what kind of a heart they have. We always argue over things that we love, or that we disagree. If you look back that Jesus rebuked religious leaders who had extreme doctrines that intimindated others who don't follow their rules. Christian faith is not to manipulate and intimidate people with doctrines but rather allow the Holy Spirit to do the work in convicting people's hearts. We are not to persuade people to follow certain extremist views of doctrines (that each of us hold) because only God can take care of that based on each individual as the Holy Spirit convicts their hearts. It is something of a paradox that while thoughts deeply affect a person's will and go far to determine a person's choices, a person's will on the other hand has the power to control the thoughts.

In the concept of God's forgiveness, this also contradicts. God loves us very much and has forgiven our sin (i.e. adultery & divorce) when we confessed it from our heart. He not only forgives our sins but rebuilds our lives from where we are. Love hopes all things (1 Corinth 13). Love refuses to take human failure as final. With Christ in me, my human failures are never final. Love never keeps a record of wrongs. Love forgives and love is unable to think about them anymore. Forget the past and move on. Focus on the future as I focus on Christ at the same time. Romans 4:8 (also Psalms 32:2) "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him". That if a local church forgive those who sinned (divorce), our heavenly Father will forgive us. But if we refuse to forgive others, our Father will not forgive our sins. Jesus is also saying that He cannot do our repenting for us. He died for our sins, now it is up to us to pick up the cross. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what as lost." Luke 19:10 (Many are called, but few are chosen.) The rest of mankind... still did not repent.

"Faith...comes only when the outward fact penetrates to the inner heart of man and takes possession of him there -- and this is the work of the Spirit." ------ George Hendry, The Holy Spirit in Christian Theology.

Love is an act of endless forgiveness. Jean Vanier

"God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede." ------ Oswald Chambers "Defend the Bible?

If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them, and this will lead us to prayer: Intercession is a way of loving others. Richard J. Foster

When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy. Corrie ten Boom

Christian Faith

Christians debating the differences in Christian beliefs and denominations. Faith in Jesus is not commitment to your church or denomination. It is total faith in Christ and not in a denomination or church, though you may love the church and respect and love your leaders and your denomination. But your commitment is to Christ. As Christian believers (assuming each of us are a believer), the Holy Spirit will lead each of us to the truth. Truth is often prevented if Christianity is known as a legalistic system which cause a delusion of eternal life. Martin Lloyd-Jones, one of my favorite theologians said: "It is perilously close to being sinful for any person to learn doctrine for doctrine's sake."

It is no use to deny that Christ was crucified by persons who would today be called fundamentalists. This prove distressing to us who pride ourselves on our orthodoxy.

All of us are born spiritual ignorant, not stupid. Through Adam, we are born spiritually dead. The nineteenth-century Scottish commentator John Eadie described it as a case of "death walking". Spiritually dead people are like zombies--they don't know they're dead and they're still going through the motions of living. God is a sovereign God and we have to understand that somehow, mysteriously, within the framework of predestination and within the framework of His sovereignty and the framework of election, which I believe in, there is a place for human freewill which is whether they respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Recognizing Jesus voice is like a sheep recognizing the shepherd's voice. Only the Holy Spirit can prick a person's heart to cause a person to hear Christ's voice. Jesus said in John 10:14-15 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

Not a priest nor any other pastor would know if a person's salvation is true. Am I, no matter what kind of belief I have, willing to change my mind and believe the truth, if it can be proved that I am mistaken? Is there anything more valuable to me than to be accepted by God? Or am I unwilling even to consider the possibility of I am wrong? The Bible warns, "They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:10b NIV)

"A man may be a heretic in the truth; and if he believe things only because his pastor says so, or the assembly so determines, without knowing other reason, though his belief be true, yet the very truth he holds becomes his heresy."
John Milton 1608-1674, British Poet

"I shall never be a heretic; I may err in dispute, but I do not wish to decide anything finally; on the other hand, I am not bound by the opinions of men."
Martin Luther 1483-1546, German Leader of the Protestant Reformation

I see things and I hear of things that Chistian people are doing, and as I watch them operate within the profession of Chrisitanity, I do raise the question of whether they have been truly converted. - A.W. Tozer, I Call it Heresy

"You never know how much you really believe anything until truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you." C.S. Lewis

Prosperity Gospel

Do "Prosperity Preachers" Prey On Hope?

The Truth about Tithing by Acton Institute for the Study of Religion & Liberty

In the last 30 years, prosperity teaching have referred to our ability to have wealth from God through our faith. There's alot of talk about "doctrine of Prosperity" coming from various teachers, especially from Word of Faith teachers. Their faith and prosperity teachings states that we can have the nice cars, big homes, and great lifestyle if we have faith in God and plant seeds. Jesus never preached how to be earthly prosperity. The Apostles surely didn't either. My main problem with Word of Faith preachers are using "prosperity" to attract people with itching ears so they will be motivated to do something for themselves rather than sound spiritual docrine. When I do, I am reminded of this verse: For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. — 2 Timothy 4:3. Word of Faith's effort to popularize the Christian faith has been extremely damaging to Christian faith. Such teachers only want your money. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money 2 Peter 2:3 (NLT).

My concept Prosperity Gospel (i.e. Word of Faith) is that they focuses on works in terms of "faith" towards health, wealth and prosperity. I don't view these as the essentials of Christian life and practice. Our motives in our Christian lives should be both holy and genuine. We are to present our bodies "as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" (see Romans 12:1-2).

I reject Prosperity Gospel (i.e. Word of Faith) doctrines for many reasons. Its a long list. If its a long list, then the doctrines they believe are not essentials for my relationship with God. Nothing wrong with prosperity but the desires and the dreams of prosperity ties to idolatry. When we accumulate our possessions for our own selfish sake--those possessions have become idols. Idols when a Christian have a selfish heart of greed is your master.

How much more should an average Christian have a clear understanding about the doctrine of prosperity? God is asking Christians to surrender their own selfish little kingdom and interests of their excessive lifestyle. People are so used to seeing everyone serving their own interests that no other kind of spiritual conduct is expected.

Get to know two things about a man- How he earns his money and how he spends it- and you have the clue to his character, for you have a search light that shows up the inmost recesses of his soul. You know all you need to know about his standards, his motives, his driving desires, and his real religion. Robert J. McCracken

We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God. (D.L. Moody)

Benjamin Franklin “The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.

There is nothing wrong with having a desire to prosper as long as our motives are correct. Christians' view of money and material possessions is an effective barometer of our spirituality. As Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). In Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do." (NLT) In Proverbs 21:2, "People may think they are doing what is right, but the Lord examines the heart." (NLT)

When Jesus wore a crown of thorns, do you wish to wear a crown of gold? Johann Arndt, *True Christianity*.