Here comes the New Year

As we approach the new year 2011, it is time to reflect once again what the year has been to us.

If you are the type of person who writes goals every new year, take stock of the previous year, jot down which goal was achieved and which task was unmet.

Write your new goals for the new year and include the failed goals during the past year.

It is easy to write down goals. The problem is implementing it.

The solution is to remind ourselves regularly about our goals. Only then we can gauge our seriousness with each and every goal.

God does not expect us to be successful... only faithful.

In the same manner, if we set personal goals, we have to be faithful to what we set out to accomplish.

For whatever action we take, it will determine our direction. And when we know where to go, it will lead us to our destination.

Christ's Commission Fellowship » » Q&A: Purgatory and the Purpose of Jesus' Second Coming

Christ's Commission Fellowship » » Q&A: Purgatory and the Purpose of Jesus' Second Coming

Psalm 51

Is man basically good or evil?

Psalm 51 (New International Version, ©2010)

Psalm 51

Psalm 51^[a]

    For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

 ¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
   according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
   blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
   and cleanse me from my sin.
 ³ For I know my transgressions,
   and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
   and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
   and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
   sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
   you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
 ⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
   wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
   let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
   and blot out all my iniquity.
 ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
   or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
 ¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
   so that sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
   you who are God my Savior,
   and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord,
   and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
   you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is^[b] a broken spirit;
   a broken and contrite heart
   you, God, will not despise.
 ¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion,
   to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
   in burnt offerings offered whole;
   then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Basking in the Sun

I love the morning sun and stand up for minutes, not hours. I know it's healthy, this bathing in the sun. It's vitamin D. good for the health. I read somewhere that lots of Vitamin D in the body will prevent you from having cancer.
Yes, it kills cancer cells.

And not only that. Basking in the sun helps you have a positive outlook in life. A positive mindset to start the day will more or less end your day on a positive note.

Lastly, the sunlight will also help you lose some excess pounds. Of course, it doesn't stop there. After sweating in the morning heat, you have to do your part to shed that cellulites. Do some cardio and weights.

This is part of my biggest loser program.

That's the way to do it boy.

At your own pace but with some discipline.

That's more like it.

The Pacquiao Effect

As of this writing, there is a study being made to determine the Pacquiao effect on Filipinos. It hopes to link Pacquiao to the Filipinos' sense of pride or nationalism or something to that effect.

I remember when Michael Jordan was in his prime. He was the cover story once in a business magazine. The magazine analyzes Jordan's impact on the US economy hence the cover title, The Jordan Effect. Jordan at that time was nearing retirement but was obviously still in his prime. The magazine concluded that the Jordan effect  pumps $10 Billion on the economy and still counting.

Now going back to the PH setting mode. Can the same effect be said on Manny Pacquiao?

For sure, Pacquiao's effect on the country is more cultural than economical. Cultural, in the sense that whenever Pacquiao has a fight, the crime rate in the whole country posted an almost zero crime rate. Other aspects make all Filipinos proud, wherever they are, here or abroad. More so, now that Pacquiao is a global sports icon. Therefore, his following is not limited locally.

Pinoys love the rags to riches story and the underdog tag and Pacquiao can claim both labels having come from humble beginnings.

I cannot quantify Pacquiao's effect on the economy but I'm sure it's a lot. Just to cite for instance, most moviehouses feature Pacquiao's fight and when people go to watch his fight live in cinemas, after watching, they would surely eat and drink and go malling after. Also, now that Pacquiao is a congressman, a hospital will soon be built in his district, Sarangani.

Pacquiao is a hero. A one of a kind sports icon that the country had. There have been many great athletes before him who have also brought glory and honor to the country but none can equal what Pacquiao did for the country and his impact globally as a Filipino.

I am glad I live to see the day, to witness Pacquiao in his prime.

Diet and Exercise

Diet and Exercise. Ideally, they should go together. It is so difficult if you will try to lose weight by diet alone. The same with exercise.

And it has to be a habit, a healthy lifestyle.

This is the antidote to diabetes.

Here's my own "Biggest Loser" program:

1. No rice.
2. Burn at least 100 calories a day.
3. Drink plenty of water.
4. Eat lots of fiber and oats.
5. Drink hot tea.
6. Drink pineapple juice.
7. Eat fruits.
8. Eat veggies.

In everything, moderation is the key.

Women

Women! What do they want?, asked the eminent psychologist William James.

Since time immemorial, women have had great impact in the lives of men. The world is full of histories depicting women as the great influencer. Even wars were fought over a woman and that's the only time, a war was borne out because of the goddess, Helen of Troy.

John Lennon, in his beautiful song, Woman, expressed his thankfulness for this woman's impact in his life. But here's the drawback. Indeed, because of Yoko Ono, the Beatles disbanded.

The danger with some women is they tend to control the lives of some men. And when men become victims, life takes a beating at the man's expense.

I, myself, was not spared from this deception.