Happy new year!
Taken at Mississippi Building
Resurgence 2.5
Jesus' follower. Joyce' lover. Johann's and Arwen's playmate. Team Sparrow leader. LifeChurch Makati's servant.
Have a wonderful new year!
Every new year brings hope, new beginnings and promises. My prayer is for all of us to experience the same. It's the new year! And it brings optimism and excitement! I AM excited for 2011!
With the new year also comes the typical practices of luck (bring out the rounded fruits!), feng sui and other similar beliefs. Let's be reminded that our life is first and foremost a gift from God. He has a great plan for our lives and so, instead of trusting your "luck" or some eastern practices, let's pursue God's plan for our lives. That's the surest way to living a life of blessings and joyfulness.
With that said, I wish everyone a Happy New Year! Come on, 2011 -- bring it on!
Quote: Greed
Greed is not defined by what something costs, but by what it costs you. If anything costs your faith or your family, the price is too high. -Max Lucado Sent from my iPhone
No more holiday economics!
President Aquino declared today that for 2011, there's no more holiday economics!
Holiday economics is a program started by the Arroyo administration. What it does is to move holidays that landed on a weekend to the next working day. For some holidays that landed on the middle of the work week, it is pushed or pulled to either Monday or Friday.
I've long been a critic of this program, for two simple reasons:
1. As an entrepreneur, I know how it feels to pay extra for overtime that's supposed to be NOT an overtime. Employees sing praises to this, and I know I will be hanged for this critic. But really, as far as the general economy is concerned, does it do us any good if there is less work, more expenses? It kills productivity. It kills momentum. It kills the pockets of small time entrepreneurs.
2. Holiday economics also destroys the real meaning of the holiday. For instance, we celebrate our independence day June 12. In the past, June 12 landed on a Thursday. Because of the holiday economics, the "holiday" -- meaning the day with no work is pushed on Friday, while the "holiday", the actual celebration is still done on Thursday. While the country is supposed to be celebrating our independence, everyone else is working -- for the sake of having a long weekend. Where's our patriotism in all that? Looking at the big picture, it's really not something to cheer about.
So, next year, no more holiday economics. That's something to cheer about!
A Christmas message for you
Do any of these words describe you? Hurried. Scattered. Stuffed. Forgetful. Busy. Packing. Behind. Broke. If they do, you aren't alone. Christmas is our annual reminder of why Santa takes the sleigh rather than the interstate and how the mall got its name.
For some, however, this time of year brings more than hassle...for some it brings heartache. Many use words like these to capture their Christmas feelings: alone, discouraged, depressed, angry, hurt. For some, the sight of happy children is a reminder of a vacant crib. The busy social schedule of some only highlights the empty calendar of others. Images of families together reinforces the pain of families apart.
This season can be challenging. If you're looking forward to December 26th more than December 25th, then I've got a story for you to consider. I'd like you to consider God’s invitation to one of the key characters of Christmas: Mary.
“Do not be afraid,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.” …Mary said to the angel, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy child shall be called the Son of God.” (Lk. 1:30, 31, 34, 35)
Mary could have spun and run, but she didn’t. Here is what she did. Perhaps with a prayer, no doubt with a gulp, she replied, “Behold the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word. (Lk. 1:38)
And so it was.
And so Christ was born.
And so we have to wonder. What was that like? To have God within you. To have the Maker of the Universe reside inside you. To sense his moving, nudging and elbowing and think, “Divinity is stirring within me!” What was it like?
The answer is closer than you might imagine.
God gives you the same offer He gave Mary: the supernatural deposit of His son in your life. Scripture declares: Jesus lives in His children.
“Christ in you the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27)
“Those who obey His commands live in Him and He in them.” (I Jn. 3:24)
Take note of the precious preposition “in.” Christ isn’t just near you or for you or with you; he longs to be in you. God offers you the same Christmas gift he gave Mary-- the indwelling Christ. Christ grew in her until he came out. Christ will grow in you until the same occurs. Christ will come out in your speech, in your actions, in your decisions. Every place you live will be a Bethlehem and everyday you live will be a Christmas. You, like Mary, will deliver Christ into the world.
A fetus in Mary, a force in you. He will do what you cannot do. Wasn’t this the promise of Jesus?
The same hand that pushed the rock from the tomb can shove away your discouragement. The same power that stirred the still heart of Christ, can stir your flagging faith. The same strength that put Satan on his heels can, and will, defeat Satan in your life. The same power which brought Christ into Mary’s world, will bring Christ into your world.
Taken from Max Lucado's email list (December 18, 2010)
Awesome movies 2010 in review - 270 movies in one trailer!
If you love movies, you're going to love this. A summary of this years 270 movies in one trailer! The dude that did this is a genius. And a movie freak! I'm interested to know how much time was used in compiling these scenes. :D
