Love's Journal

The Seven E's of Love

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 09:26:00 -0700

Hi, allow me to share to you what I've think are the positive effects of being in a truly healthy relationship, of really being in love. Let's call theme the Seven E's.

The Seven E's

1. Energy . . . Truly being in love will energize you physically, mentally, and emotionally.
2. Enthusiasm . . . A healthy relationship creates a healthy and enthusiastic attitude toward life.
3. Excitement and optimism for the future . . . When you are happy and in love today, you look forward to tomorrow with excitement.
4. Esteem and self-confidence . . . A good relationship will support you in feeling high self-esteem.
5. Emotional Generosity . . . When you feel loved, it is easy to share that fullness of heart with those around you, and to become very loving and giving.
6. Ease in being oneself . . . When a relationship is supportive, you will find it easy to be yourself around your partner, your friends, and in all circumstances.
7. Emotional Relaxation . . . When you feel well loved, your whole being relaxes, filling you with a deep sense of peace of heart and mind.

Base on my experience, the Seven E's will develope overtime in a truly healthy and growing relationship. Yet love thrives only under certain conditions. I've learned that, in order to stay in love, you must consciously create those conditions necessary for love to grow. Then you will naturally behave in ways to stay in love.

Now tell me, are you in love?

Treating the Symptoms and Ignoring the Disease?

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:21:00 -0700

Many couples had been together for seven or more long years, wherein the first few years were exciting, loving, and full of growth. Then their relationship seemed to stagnate. They become ~~bored~~ with each other and accumulated deep feelings of ~~resentment and anger~~. They both felt the other person had let them down, because they weren't fulfilled.

Yet some couples decided that their relationship is/was worth saving, so they'll went on a campaign to fix it. They may bought every book they could find on making love work and tried everything the books recommended. Some may even tried taking separate vacations, and more even tried starting a hobbies together. Much even worst is, some tried having affairs with other partners. Yet, nothing worked, and they ended up right back where they had started, only a lot more frustrated. You may say, "we must have a dead relationship," "we love each other, but we're not in love anymore."

A lot of book about relationships will tell you that in order to stay in love you should practice certain activities or behaviors the book tells you. All these actions are possible effects of being in love. But love is more than giving the appearance of love. What the books tells you then, is creating the symptoms of being in love. You weren't feeling the real thing - they / you were acting as if they / you were feeling it. That is why all the efforts failed.

I Hope that You will not experience what this song is telling you...

the big question is:
Are You Treating the Symptoms and Ignoring the Disease in Your Relationship?

My Digital Scrap Creations

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:06:00 -0700

I love making scrapbook and making some touches on our photos. So, I did some digital scrap pages and touches on some of our old pics online.

How and where did I do it:
1. Edit your photos first @ picnik.com. Just make some touches as you like.
2. If you love to make a digital scrap pages or album. Go to CropMom.com. You can design your own scrap pages there. Don't worry, the scrap kits and papers are for free.

Original photos:

Here are some of my creations:

From picnik

From picnik + cropmom:

BE CREATIVE AND EXPLORE THE ARTIST IN YOU

Your Odds of Finding Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:38:00 -0700

It is easy to fall in love. But it's a lot harder to stay in love.

We all want love to work. No one plans to fall out of love. But it happens. And when it happens, it hurts.

It seemed so easy to love the other person, didn't it? Your lover's faults seemed "cute." So what if he didn't always express how he felt - it showed what a deep thinker he was. So what if she kept you waiting for an hour while she dressed - it showed she really cared about how she looked. Remember how proud you were to be seen with your partner, and how eager you were to tell everyone about him? No, you could never get tired of this person.

Love is probably the greatest high you can experience with another human being. The sense of separation between yourself and the other person dissolves, and what you experience is beyond pleasure, beyond closeness. it is the experience of oneness. Suddenly the universe makes sense.

But there is another side of the dream: the rejection of reaching out of that person; the frustration of being too busy to find time to spend with each other; the fear of not knowing what's going on inside the other person; the pain of the shutting down and the turning off; the lying, the letting down. the leaving.

What happened to that magic? When did "cute" characteristics suddenly become irritating? How did excitement and attraction turn into boredom and disinterest? Why did trust and respect turn into hurt and resentment?

Why do we fall out of LOVE?

Secret:
If you never learn how to use love constructively, then love ends up using you!

When you don't know how to use love consciously to create the results you want, you end up making the same mistakes over and over again.

Imagine sitting down to operate a computer for the first time, when no one has taught you how to use one. After a while, you would probably be frustrated, because the computer wouldn't do what you wanted it to do. So you might say, "this computer is defective - bring me another. No one ever told you it would be difficult to operate a computer, so naturally you assume it must be the computer's fault. You try the second computer, but it doesn't do what you want to, either. So you go on to a third, and a fourth. After a while, you either conclude that computers are no good, or that you are no good at working with computers. Both conclusions are wrong. The real problem is that you don't know how to use computers constructively.

You can master relationships the same way you would try to master a computer, perfect your game of tennis, or develop any skill. The first thing you should remember is:

Until you are aware of what you have been doing, you have no choice but to continue doing it.

Scrapbook Tips and Techniques

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Mon, 4 Jul 2011 00:01:00 -0700

1.Get Organized

Get scrapbook tips and techniques to help document family history, baby and childhood keepsakes, and your most memorable moments, whether you're a beginner or an avid scrapbooker.

Edit your backlog of photos in chunks, starting with your most recent roll of film or photocard. Toss out any obvious bloopers first, and then pick out photos that illustrate some compelling moments.

2.Pick a Theme

Narrow down your theme to one event, era, or celebration you'd like to immortalize. For each related photo, jot down how you felt at the time it was taken -- and how you feel now. Use white or decorative paper, handwriting your thoughts or printing them out in your favorite font.

3.Accordion Pages

Accordion pages are great for travel scrapbooks, and easy enough for your kids to make. You use out-of-date travel books from the cities you visited, take them apart, and then reassemble using the original covers, a few of the pages, and maps.

4.Mini Travel Photo Pages

Add mini travel photo pages to your scrapbook by slipping a piece of heavy card stock into airmail envelopes, inserting photos, and stacking them on a page.

5.Scrapbook Pockets

Give your scrapbook pages pockets that you can fill with memorable items, like tickets or other memorabilia, by taping, folding, and sewing two pieces of paper to secure.

6.Postcard Pages

With pages from a post- or ring-bound scrapbook, colored paper, and our border template, you can create postcard pages for your scrapbook.

7.Wedding Scrapbook

Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings, recommends taking proof sheets from your photographer, color-copying them, cutting them up, and glueing them onto the pages of your scrapbook. You can also glue in all your letters, cards, and even emails from well-wishers.

8.Use Archiving Sleeves

Instead of collaging a lot of photos, Darcy uses clear archival sleeves, which she pastes into the book. They come in all different sizes, so you can print out several of your favorite photos and then slip them into the sleeves.

Another trick: Instead of writing on the page of your actual scrapbook, write on a card and paste a picture in the middle, and slip that into an archival sleeve.

9.Capture Current Events

Make a color photocopy of the front page of the newspaper for the day you're scrapbooking about, and then shrink it down. On the opposite page, you can write things that were relevant on that day, such as popular songs and movies, world events, and trends.

10.Page Titles

You can make titles for pages by punching photographs of letters or using chipboard letters.

11.Photo Tips

Avoid using magnetic pages whose glue can ruin photos over time. Light combined with humidity and temperature fluctuations can ruin photos too.

12.Affixing Photographs

When affixing photographs, avoid placing an adhesive in the center, as it can warp the surface and create craters. Try an invisible vellum tape, which adheres very well and barely shows behind sheer paper. If you do any writing, use a pigment ink rather than a dye ink, as it lasts far longer.

13.Be Careful with Metals

According to Joe Callahan, chairman of the Scrapbook Preservation Society, bare metals on scrapbooks, like wires used as embellishments, can corrode and turn to oxides; cover any exposed metals and trim wire ends that can puncture or scratch any adjacent items.

Metals should be separate from paper, and if you have an object like a dog tag, make sure it isn't placed directly opposite original photos or documents that can be harmed.

Japan's Computer Generated Pop Star

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:13:00 -0700

By Joanna Douglas, Shine staff

Remember that 2002 movie called “S1m0ne” with Al Pacino where he created a computer generated actress and fooled people into thinking she was real? The plot seemed very far fetched at the time, but now a similar thing has actually happened! Japans famous 61-member pop group AKB48 (they hold the Guinness World Record for being the "Pop group with the greatest number of members) recently introduced a new member, a 16-year-old girl named Aimi Eguchi, who starred in a new Japanese candy commercial. Only it turns out she wasn't real. PC Mag is reporting that she was created by using the “best” features of her band mates—the eyes of one girl, nose of another, and so on—and digitally constructing her on a computer.

The girl in this video is 100% computer generated. Seriously

Girls loved Aimi Eguchi and guys even developed crushes on her. But some folks in Japan got suspicious when they realized Eguchi’s name was derived from the candy brand’s name, Ezaki Gilco, and that she and the candy company shared the same birthday February 11. With Japanese fans feeling very confused, Aimi Equchi’s creators made a video explaining that she was not a real girl, but a creation they made.

Now we see how they did it, but we still have a few questions. In a band of 61 girls, why create a fake one to promote a product? Clearly for the gimmick and publicity (see, it’s working right now!). But with airbrushing tools already “perfecting” real women in photos, the concept of “perfect” computer generated ladies really freaks us out! It was a cool experiment, but let’s hope these artificially made ladies don’t catch on and start putting real actors out of work.

Now that you see how she was made, watch Aimi Eguchi's candy ad below.

ENJOY...

from: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/japan-s-latest-pop-star-is-computer-generated-video-2501358/

Real Gift for Great Service

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:23:00 -0700

"Once in a while someone gets a real gift in honor of great service."

I bump into this article from yahoo just now. Hope you'll get inspired by this without getting jealous, especially to all nurses. LOL

Reclusive copper heiress leaves $38 million to nurse
By Liz Goodwin

A reclusive copper heiress who spent the past decades living in New York City hospitals has left most of her $400 million fortune to charity--and a nurse who was randomly assigned to care for her 20 years ago.

The New York Post reports that Huguette Clark did not leave a penny to her family members. The lion's share of her fortune will go to a foundation to promote the arts. She left the biggest chunk of the remaining inheritance--a testament worth about $38 million--to her private nurse, Hadassah Peri. She also left Peri her collection of dolls and dollhouses, which The New York Times says could be worth millions.

Clark, who died last month at 104, divided up the rest of her assets among her accountant, her lawyer, a physician and a goddaughter. Authorities are investigating whether the lawyer, Wallace Bock, and her accountant, Irving Kamsler, inappropriately influenced how Clark handled her money. (According to the Post, Kamsler pleaded guilty in 2008 of attempting to send indecent images to underage girls online.)
For her part, Peri says she will cherish her inheritance in honor of her friendship with Clark--and give a substantial portion of it away, in emulation of Clark's own will. "I saw Madame Clark virtually every day for the 20 years. I was her private duty nurse but also her close friend. I knew her as a kind and generous person, with whom I shared many wonderful moments and whom I loved very much," the nurse said in a statement to the Post.

Clark was the daughter of Montana Sen. William Clark, who was once the second-richest man in the country. According to Clark's will, her nurse spent more time with her than anyone else and became a "friend and loyal companion," The Post reported. Clark had no children, and specified in her will that she had no interest in leaving money to theÂ descendantsÂ of her half-siblings or other relatives.
She is also donating a painting in Claude Monet's famous Water Lillies series to the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. It has not been publicly seen since the 1920s.

So many elderly people are left in nursing homes and not a family member ever shows up to see how they're doing and care about them. They don't care about them at all when they're alive and want nothing to do with them. But the minute they die and money is to be had, they're all right there, suddenly acting like they care.

5 years and 1 month with you

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:43:00 -0700

It's our 61st monthsary. Surely our love story is like a pyramid passing through whirlwinds and all. So, Happy monthsary to you GANG. I Love You and Im always here for you.

Though we're MILES apart . . . You're always HERE in my HEART

I love Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:03:00 -0700

I really really love dogs. I actually treat them as a baby, someone who's part of the family. Im proud to say that we have the cutest dog ever. A female pappilon and a male shitzu, namely betty and armand. We've named them from ABS-CBNs tv series I Love Betty La Fia.

The news is we've put their photos at ILoveDogTV facebook account. It's the new show for dog lovers at GMA news tv / channel 25 here in the Philippines. The screening of the show is on saturdays @ 10am which runs for half an hour. They've been showing photos of cute dogs on the show. These are chosen photos from their facebook account wall. So, we post some photos of armand and betty there and walla... the've added it on there account photos.

armand and betty (first 5 photos)

Were so excited to see our pets photo this saturday. Hope you'll see them too. Or better post your pets' photo at http://www.facebook.com/ilovedogTV.

these were old photos of armand and betty

more photos HERE

All About Skin

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Wed, 8 Jun 2011 07:10:00 -0700

Tips to Look Younger
By Jessica Prince

1. CHOOSE LIGHTER LIPSTICK
Dark shades can be unflattering on mature skin because lips get thinner with age, explains makeup artist Matin Maulawizada, who works with celebrities like Angelina Jolie. To keep lipstick from looking too severe, choose rosy reds or flesh-colored shades, and stay away from peaches and oranges, which can make teeth appear yellow. We like Lancôme Color Design Lipcolor in Natural Beauty ($22). And remember, swiping on lipstick without other makeup can make you look older than if you wear no makeup at all.

2. BRUSH BLUSH ABOVE YOUR APPLES
For an instant cheek lift, place your blush brush at the highest point of your cheekbone and apply color in a circular motion, advises makeup artist Sandy Linter, who works with Elizabeth Hurley. Go for warm pinks, apricots, or bronzes since they create less contrast and make you look younger. A great option is Kevyn Aucoin Pure Powder Glow in Myracle or Neolita ($37 each).

3. LIFT YOUR EYES WITH PENCIL
Use an eye pencil. Its softness enlarges the eyes more than liquid liners do. To reverse droopy-looking lids, blend liner up at the outer corners with a Q-tip. We like L'Oréal Paris Le Kohl Pencil Smooth Defining Eyeliner in Onyx ($8.49).

4. INVEST IN THE RIGHT CONCEALER
Cover-up can be tricky to apply; many formulas sink into crevices, emphasizing every fine line. To get the most coverage with the least product, try "camouflage," a dryer form of concealer that can take years off of your face, says Maulawizada. It doesn't contain as much oil as regular concealer, so it won't move, and it's better at hiding sun spots. Try Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage ($28).

5. SUPERSIZE YOUR SUNGLASSES
By now you know how damaging the sun can be, so besides coating on sunscreen, shield yourself with chic accessories. Swap your thinly rimmed aviators for oversize frames and you'll get more protection around your eyes, which wrinkle first, says Boston dermatologist Ranella Hirsch. And don't forget a hat: "Buying a five-dollar fedora now will save you $10,000 with me later," adds Hirsch. Throwing on a scarf can also help prevent sun spots in the décolleté area.

6. STOCK UP ON OLIVE OIL
Extra-virgin olive oil contains fatty acids similar to those found in our skin and is an incredibly gentle moisturizer. If you have skin that's dry and sensitive from overloading on harsh face and eye antiagers, bring your skin-care regimen to a halt, says Jessica Wu, an L.A.-based cosmetic dermatologist, and slather on a thin layer of unflavored oil at night instead.

7. BABY YOUR HANDS
Derms agree that hands are a dead age giveaway. To keep them young, apply the same retinoid from your face to your hands and add a layer of Vaseline, says New York dermatologist Heidi Waldorf. Wear cotton gloves to bed to keep the treatment in place overnight. Skin looks suppler, and cuticles will benefit too. ä

8. TREAT YOUR FEET
Rough, dry feet make you look older, even in the sexiest shoes. Before working out, apply a thin layer of over-the-counter salicylic acid Keralyt Gel ($20) and a dollop of Vaseline to areas where your skin is thick or scaly, then put on your socks, says Waldorf. The combo keeps calluses and blisters at bay for instantly prettier, younger-looking feet, and it rinses off in the shower.

9. SCHEDULE AN EYE EXAM
When you can't see properly, you squint, overcompensating for the work your eyes should be doing and deepening frown lines, says Hirsch. She adds, "Ninety percent of the time when women in their 30s come in for Botox, I send them to the ophthalmologist because they need a stronger prescription."

10. SHIELD YOUR WINDOWS
Did you know the average commuter gets almost 200 hours of sun exposure each year just driving? And, Hirsch says, "Eighty percent of all sun exposure is through windows." To ward off sun spots, wrinkles, or worse — skin cancer — derms recommend investing in a clear window film such as Solar Gard, which blocks 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays with SPF 285 in your home or car.

11. USE SELF-TANNER WITH CAUTION
Applying self-tanner brings out a glow on even the pastiest skin, but it can also darken and emphasize your sun spots, says Linter. If you have a lot of damage, use a warm foundation shade instead. Makeup artists love Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($59).

12. REVERSE BROWN SPOTS
Lemon juice diluted with water helps fade sun spots on all skin tones, says New York dermatologist Jessica Krant. Since acids can be irritating, apply it before bed with a Q-tip, and gradually increase to twice daily. Stop if your skin gets too light.

13. REFRIGERATE SKIN-CARE PRODUCTS AFTER OPENING THEM
"You'll get more of a lifting effect from your products if they're cold," says New York cosmetic dermatologist Patricia Wexler. A room-temperature depuffing cream can take up to two hours to work versus only 10 minutes when it's been in the fridge. Plus, this technique keeps products fresher longer. Try Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology Fastscription Instant De-Puff Eye Gel ($19.50).

14. WEAR ANTIOXIDANT-INFUSED SUNSCREENS
You know SPF 30 is a must. But a formula that contains antioxidants will also reduce oxidative damage and does not need to be reapplied as often. Derms recommend La Roche-Posay Anthelios 45 Ultra Light Fluid for Face ($27.90).

15. REMOVE MAKEUP BEFORE BED
Duh, right? But this is about more than just avoiding clogged pores. It's extremely important to rid your skin of the environmental pollution you've been exposed to throughout the day and wash away free radicals to avoid the breakdown of collagen and elastic tissue, says Wexler. We like St. Ives Fresh Skin Make-up Remover & Facial Cleanser ($3.99).

16. BEEF UP YOUR BROWS
Thick brows are a sign of youth, so filling them in correctly is crucial. Draw in hairs with a ticking motion from bottom to top using a neutral shade. Try Benefit Brow Zings shaping kit ($30). Products like RevitaLash RevitaBrow Conditioner ($110) can also help by boosting brow growth with peptides and botanicals.

17. RETHINK FROWNIES
These adhesive patches really do work, says Wu. Before you go to bed, apply them to areas where you'd get Botox. They keep your facial muscles from contracting and lines from becoming deeper. Try Frownies Facial Pads ($19.95).

Why do we celebrate Christmas?

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 19:11:00 -0800

I was searching about Christmas on the net and I stumble on this site, giving us reason not to celebrate Christmas. The following article is in fact biblically true, but still I can't let myself indulged on the said article.

Do not worry for those who love Christmas like me. I did some search too, about the history why we celebrate Christmas on December 25.

The Top 10 Reasons Why I Don't Celebrate Christmas

1. Christmas is driven by commercialism.

It's not that difficult to recognize what really drives the holiday in our age. Cal Thomas, an American syndicated columnist who often writes from a Christian perspective, acknowledged uncomfortable truths about Christmas in a December 2003 column.

"I'm not sure it's worth keeping Christmas anymore," he began, lamenting that the holiday has become a "road show of reindeer, winter scenes, elves and the God substitute, Santa Claus, who serves as a front for merchants seeking to play on the guilt some parents bear for ignoring their kids the rest of the year."

He asks a great question: "Why participate any longer in this charade where the focal point of worship has shifted from a babe in a manger to a babe in the Victoria 's Secret window? . . . No room in the inn has been replaced by no room in the mall parking lot."

But perhaps his most insightful statement is this: "It's instructive how just one season away from lusting after material things can break the habit. It's something like liberation from an addiction or lifestyle choice. Being away from it can cause one to realize the behavior is neither missed nor needed for fulfillment and enjoyment."

Having said good-bye to the Christmas habit several decades ago, I couldn't have said it better myself!

2. Christmas is nowhere mentioned in the Bible.

This is rather obvious, but most people never give it a second thought. The books of the New Testament cover 30+ years of Jesus Christ's life, then another 30+ years of the early Church following His death and resurrection, but nowhere do we find any hint of a Christmas celebration or anything remotely like it.

Yes, the Bible does give us quite a few details of His birth—the angelic appearance to Mary and then Joseph, the conditions surrounding His birth in a stable in Bethlehem, the heavenly choir's performance for the shepherds in the fields outside the town. But nowhere in the Bible is there any record of anyone observing Christmas or any hint that God the Father or Jesus Christ expects us to do so.

3. Jesus wasn't born on or near Dec. 25.

Surprising but true! Remember those shepherds who were "living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night"? (Luke 2:8). December weather around Bethlehem is often miserably cold, wet and rainy. No shepherd in his right mind would have kept his flocks outside at night at that time of year!

The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary says this passage argues "against the birth [of Christ] occurring on Dec. 25 since the weather would not have permitted" shepherds to be out in the fields with their flocks then.

And Celebrations: The Complete Book of American Holidays tells us that Luke's account of Christ's birth "suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night" (p. 309) rather than keeping them outdoors.

Also, Luke 2:1-4 tells us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem because his parents came to that town to register in a Roman census. The Romans were well known as highly efficient administrators. It would have made no sense to have conducted a census in the dead of winter, when temperatures often dropped below freezing and traveling was difficult due to poor road conditions. Taking a census under such conditions would have been self-defeating!

4. The Christmas holiday is largely a recycled pagan celebration.

Again, surprising but true! Read it for yourself in just about any encyclopedia.

Consider the customs associated with Christmas. What do decorated evergreen trees, holly, mistletoe, yule logs, a jolly plump man in a fur-lined red suit, sleighs and flying reindeer have to do with the birth of Jesus Christ?

None of these things have anything to do with Him, but they have a lot to do with ancient pagan festivals. (Read the eye-opening details in our free booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep?)

And what about the date of Dec. 25? How did it come to be assigned as the supposed date of Jesus Christ's birth? Historians Gerard and Patricia Del Re explain:

"The tradition of celebrating December 25 as Christ's birthday came to the Romans from Persia. Mithra, the Persian god of light and sacred contracts, was born out of a rock on December 25. Rome was famous for its flirtations with strange gods and cults, and in the third century the unchristian emperor Aurelian established the festival of Dies Invicti Solis, the Day of the Invincible Sun, on December 25.

"Mithra was an embodiment of the sun, so this period of its rebirth was a major day in Mithraism, which had become Rome's latest official religion . . . It is believed that the emperor Constantine adhered to Mithraism up to the time of his conversion to Christianity. He was probably instrumental in seeing that the major feast of his old religion was carried over to his new faith" (The Christmas Almanac, 1979, p. 17).

It's difficult to determine the first time anyone celebrated Dec. 25 as Christmas, but historians generally agree that it was sometime during the fourth century—some 300 years after Christ's death. And then a contrived date was chosen because it was already a popular pagan holiday celebrating the birth of the sun god!

Similarly, virtually all of the customs associated with Christmas are recycled from ancient pagan festivals honoring other gods.

5. God condemns using pagan customs to worship Him.

Since Christmas is supposedly a day to worship and celebrate God the Father and Jesus Christ, wouldn't it be a good idea to look into the Bible to see what it says about how we should worship God?

The answer is quite clear. God gives specific instruction about using pagan practices to worship Him—the exact thing Christmas does! Notice what He says in Deuteronomy 12:30-32: ". . . Do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way . . . Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (emphasis added throughout).

And lest some think this is simply an Old Testament command that no longer applies, the apostle Paul makes the same point in 2 Corinthians 6, where he addresses whether unbiblical religious customs and practices have any place in the worship of God's people:

"What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial [the devil and/or demons]? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God . . .

"Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.' 'I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.' Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 7:1).

Rather than relabeling pagan customs as Christian, or allowing members of the Church to continue their old pagan practices, the apostle Paul told them in no uncertain terms to leave behind all these forms of worship and worship God in true holiness as He commands. Jesus likewise says His true followers "must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24)—not revel in recycled pagan customs and symbolism.

6. Christmas is worshipping God in vain.

Since Christmas is a jumble of ancient pagan customs invented by men, and a holiday found nowhere in the Bible, does God honor or accept such worship?

Jesus provides the answer in His stern rebuke of the religious teachers of His day, men who had substitutedhuman traditions and teachings for God's divine truths and commands: "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites . . . 'in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' . . . All too well youreject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition" (Mark 7:6-9).

In the 17th century Christmas was actually outlawed in England and some parts of the American colonies because of its unbiblical and pagan origins. They knew something most people today have forgotten or have never known!

7. You can't put Christ back into something He was never in.

Some people admit the many problems with Christmas. But rather than face up to those problems, some assert that we should "put Christ back in Christmas."

However, it's impossible to "put Christ back in Christmas" since He never was in Christmas in the first place! He never so much as heard the word "Christmas" during His lifetime on earth, nor did His apostles after Him. You can search the Bible cover to cover but you won't find the words "Christmas," "Christmas tree," "mistletoe," "holly," "Santa Claus" or "flying reindeer."

Putting Christ back in Christmas may sound like a nice sentiment, but it's really only a misguided effort to try to justify a long-standing human tradition rather than what the Bible tells us we should do.

8. The Bible nowhere tells us to observe a holiday celebrating Jesus Christ's birth—but it clearly does tell us to commemorate His death.

As noted earlier, the Bible nowhere mentions Christmas or tells us to celebrate Christ's birth.

This is not to say that the Bible doesn't tell us to commemorate a highly significant event in Jesus Christ's life on earth. It does—but that event is His death, not His birth.

Notice what the apostle Paul, conveying the instructions of Jesus Himself, tells Christians: "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'

"In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes . . . Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Corinthians 11:23-28).

And yes, many believers do what they consider a form of this today in taking communion or "the Lord's supper." They fail to realize, however, the full significance of these acts, or that what Paul is actually describing here isthe Passover — which is what Jesus Himself called this observance (Matthew 26:18-19; Mark 14:14-16; Luke 22:8-13, 15).

And many have no idea of the real date of Christ's death and the annual Passover observance, but that's an issue for another time. (Hint: It isn't "Good Friday" prior to Easter as so many mistakenly believe. See our bookletHolidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep? for details.) The point is: Jesus clearly expects His true followers to commemorate His death—not His birth—by observing the Passover.

9. Christmas obscures God's plan for mankind.

Passover, mentioned above, has enormous significance in God's plan for humanity. The Old Testament Passover, described in Exodus 12, was symbolic of Jesus Christ's future role and sacrifice. As the blood of the slain Passover lambs on the Israelites' houses spared them while the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain, so does Jesus Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf spare us from death— eternal death.

Paul alluded to this great truth when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 5:7 that "Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." Similarly John the Baptist, speaking under divine inspiration, said of Jesus, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).

Peter wrote that we are redeemed "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19)—a clear reference to the Passover lambs (Exodus 12:5).

A central key to God's plan for humanity is Jesus Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf. He is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8)—meaning His death for our sins was planned before the first human beings were ever created (1 Peter 1:18-20). Only through His death to pay the penalty for our sins can human beings receive God's gift of eternal life (John 3:14-17; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22).

Christmas, in contrast, teaches us none of this. Regrettably, because it is a hodgepodge of unbiblical customs and beliefs thrown together with a few elements of biblical truth, it only obscures the incredible purpose of Jesus Christ's coming—as well as why He must return to earth a second time! (For more details, request our free booklets Jesus Christ: The Real Story and The Gospel of the Kingdom.)

10. I'd rather celebrate the Holy Days Jesus Christ and the apostles observed.

God in His Word sets out many choices for us. Will we do things His way or our own? Will we worship Him as Hetells us to, or expect Him to honor whatever religious practices we choose regardless of what His Word says?

It's always good to ask the question, What would Jesus do? The answer, from the Scriptures, is quite clear as to what Jesus did. Jesus didn't allow His followers the option of adopting pagan practices in their worship. He and the apostles plainly kept God's Holy Days and festivals that we find recorded in Leviticus 23.

As noted above, they kept the Passover (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Scripture shows they also observed the Days of Unleavened Bread (Acts 20:6; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8). The New Testament Church itself was founded on the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), another biblical festival they clearly observed (Acts 20:16). They likewise kept the Day of Atonement (called "the Fast" in Acts 27:9) and the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2,

10).Christmas, meanwhile, is totally missing from the biblical record.

Most people don't know that the Bible includes a whole list of festivals that God commanded, that Jesus Himself observed and that the apostles and early Church were still keeping decades after Christ's death and resurrection. And unlike Christmas, these reveal a great deal about Jesus Christ's role and mission.

Each one teaches us a vital lesson in what Jesus has done, is doing and will yet do in carrying out God's great plan for humankind. The differences between these and the tired old paganism and crass commercialism of Christmas is truly like the difference between day and night. Why not look into them for yourself?

I've given you my top 10 reasons for not celebrating Christmas. What do you suppose God thinks of your reasons for continuing to observe it?

From: http://www.gnmagazine.org

Why Do Christians Celebrate Christmas on December 25?

A reader asks:

When is our Savior's real birthday? Is it December 25? If not, why do we celebrate his birth on Christmas?

The date of Christ's actual birth is unknown. It is not recorded in the Bible. However, Christians of all denominations and faith groups, aside from the Church of Armenia, celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25.

Answer:

The History of ChristmasIt is believed that the first celebrations of Christ's birth were originally grouped together withEpiphany, one of the earliest feasts of the Christian church observed on January 6. This holiday recognized the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles by remembering the visit of the Magi(wise men) to Bethlehem and, in some traditions, the baptism of Jesus and his miracle of turning water into wine. Today the feast of Epiphany is observed predominately in liturgical denominations such as Eastern Orthodox, Anglican andCatholic.

Even as far back as the second and third centuries, we know church leaders disagreed about the appropriateness of birthday celebrations within the Christian church. Some men like Origen, felt birthdays were pagan rituals for pagan gods. And since the date of Christ's actual birth had not been recorded, these early leaders speculated and argued about the date.

Some sources report that Theophilus of Antioch (ca. 171-183) was the first to identify December 25 as the birth date of Christ. Others say that Hippolytus (ca. 170-236) was the first to claim that Jesus was born on December 25. A strong theory suggests that this date was eventually chosen by the church because it aligned closely with a major pagan festival,dies natalis solis invicti (birth of the invincible sun god), therefore, allowing the church to claim a new celebration for Christianity.

Ultimately, December 25 was chosen, perhaps as early as 273 AD. By 336 AD the Roman church calender definitively records a nativity celebration by Western Christians on this date. Eastern churches maintained the January 6 commemoration together with Epiphany until sometime in the fifth or sixth centuries when the 25th day of December became the widely accepted holiday. Only the Armenian church maintained the original celebration of Christ's birth with Epiphany on January 6.

Why Do We Celebrate Christ's Birthday?The same reader posed this question:

God didn't tell us to celebrate Christmas, so why are Christians doing this?

I am compelled to respond with a simple question: Why do we celebrate a child's birthday? Why do we celebrate a loved one's birthday? Is it not to remember and cherish the significance of the event? What other event throughout all time is more significant than the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ? It marks the arrival of Immanuel, God With Us, the Word Become Flesh, the Savior of the World—his is the most significant birth ever. It is the central event in all of history. Time chronicles backward and forward from this moment. I find myself wanting to ask, how can we fail to remember this day with great joy and reverence? How can we not celebrate Christmas?

From:http://christianity.about.com/od/christmas/f/christmashistor.htm

So, thats all about Christmas and our reasons for celebration. I hope that whatever your stand or belief, wherever you are and whatever situation you are facing in, you will always put in your heart that a Saviour was born and died on the cross for you, because He loves you more than you love Him.

Rejoice and be glad for Christ the Saviour is born.... Merry Christmas

My Christmas countdown

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Tue, 7 Dec 2010 01:07:00 -0800

Hello, so I've been ~~busy~~ lately? I never had a chance to update my post here. Anyway, this post is just a preview of my Christmas thing countdown. It's all about the few things i do before Christmas. I will try to update this as possible.I will try to recall and post here all my activities this month of LOVE, my fave time of the year: December...:)
I hope you will enjoy your day and the rest of December. Advance Happy Holidays everyone.

Personalized your FB URL

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 08:58:00 -0800

Click image to enlarge

It's hard to admit my ~~ignorance~~ in the so called "networking site". You see, facebook is not my favorite "book"!:) So that explains why...

I just found out how to change facebook URL. So, I update my FB url and I splice on my real name to my FaceBook url to personalized my page.

If your one of me, who don not know the said action, just visit the link below and pimp your page URL. Enjoy.:)click this to change your URL

Eat Pray Love

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 06:33:00 -0800

Eat, Pray, Love is a comedy-drama which stars Julia Roberts as a divorcee who embarks on a quest, to rediscover herself after she realizes that her marriage has failed, and her life is crumbling down. Julia Roberts first goes to Italy to eat and the purpose is to taste good food, she then goes to India to pray in an ashram and then her last destination is Bali to look for love.The movie is based on a book by the same name, which is written by Elizabeth Gilbert.

I've watched the movie with my eyes and ears widely open, plus a watery eyes and nose, and a tissue at hand. Since I don't have the book version, I make sure that I get the point and understood the lines well to fully appreciate the movie. Movies like this is by far worth to watch than...tsssk!? : )

I think that these three: to eat, to pray, to love, are the basic needs that an individual should value more than anything. To eat, is to gave importance to your health and/or your physical well being. Eating what you love or loving what you eat: signifies that your enjoying life or is trying to enjoy life even if it is not. To pray, symbolizes one's soul or faith. Accepting the fact that we can not control everything, and we are not capable to do everything in our lives. To love, symbolizes your heart and mind.Love is a commitment and a beautiful emotion an individual should share and experience.

Anyway, I tried to reflect myself, my life, my love life, after watching the movie. Here are a few quotes from Eat, Pray, Love:

Note: I place the lines according to category.

Eat:
"I want to go some place where I can marvel at something."

“In a world of disorder and disaster and fraud, sometimes only beauty can be trusted. The appreciation of pleasure can be an anchor to one’s humanity.”

“Learning how to discipline your speech is a way of preventing your energies from spilling out of you through the rupture of your mouth, exhausting you and filling the world with words, words, words instead of serenity, peace and bliss.”

"I am having a relationship with my pizza."

"This is my no carb left behind experience."

Pray:

‎"Faith is belief in what you cannot see or prove or touch. Faith is walking face-first and full-speed into the dark.If we truly knew all the answers in advance as to the meaning of life and the nature of God and the destiny of our souls, our belief would not be a leap of faith and it would not be a courageous act of humanity; it would just be... a prudent insurance policy."

"To find the balance you want, this is what you must become. You must keep your feet grounded so firmly on the earth that it's like you have 4 legs instead of 2. That way, you can stay in the world. But you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead. That way, you will know God."

"When a man who looks like Yoda hands you a prophecy, you have to respond."

"If you clear out all of that space in mind you would have a door way."

“You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That’s the only thing you should be trying to control.”

"I used to have an appetite for my life, but now it is gone."

“Look for God. Look for God like a man with his head on fire looks for water.”

“We’re miserable because we think that we are mere individuals, alone with our fears and flaws and resentment and mortality.”

“Your treasure – your perfection – is within you already. But to claim it, you must leave the busy commotion of the mind and abandon the desires of the ego and enter into the silence of the heart.”

“There is a reason they call God a presence – because God is right here, right now. In the present is the only place to find Him, and now is the only time.”

‎"The resting place of the mind is the heart. The only thing the mind hears all day is clanging bells and noise and argument, and all it wants is quietude. The only place the mind will ever find peace is inside the silence of the heart. That's where you need to go."

Love:
" we can stay in this relationship together being miserable, happy that were not apart"

"The only thing more impossible than staying, is leaving."

‎"I thought I'm really over him, but I love him, and I miss him."

"This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something. "

‎"How could two people who were so in love NOT end up happily ever after? it HAD to work. Didn't it?"
“God is an experience of supreme love.”

"People start resembling, I used to look like Stevens, now I look like David."

“People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. “

"He has just folded my delicate."

"Your underwear my queen."

"Mom when did you accept the life that you had?"

P.S: My reflections and insights will be on my next post. I hope this inspires and enlightens your vague mind and life. Do not forget to enjoy eating, to pray, and to love....

Keeping a happy relationship

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 23:52:00 -0700

I MISS HIM

Most of us have at some point in our life came across fairy tales, be it in the form of childhood fairy tales, where the prince and princess lived happily ever after, or the plethora of romantic comedies and dramas from Hollywood. They both have one thing in common – an idealistic view on relationships. A fantasy for a “happily ever after” romance.

Maybe not always with the sugary glazing, but definitely a long lasting partnership is what many people crave for.However, being in a relationship is pretty much a full time job. Sometimes, it feels like you are taking care of a baby.But what do you do when you feel that your significant other may be losing interest in you?

Well you can rejoice for one thing, as although it seems elusive true love and a strong life-long relationship is achievable if you try to be realistic.Here’s some tips that may be helpful to keep your relationship were you want it to be.

#1: Catch romance where you can
You may start out with chocolates and roses, but the likelihood of being able to sustain that feeling with a busy schedule is pretty unlikely. Successful couples learn to build a scent of romance at unexpected times — during their daily commute, while doing laundry — and in low-impact ways, whether that be a long, lingering smooch or just holding hands. In other words, the next time you hear yourself say “Oh, look, we’ve got 15 minutes to ourselves,” make use of it — that’s what keeps the spark alive.

#2:Fight fair
Believe it or not, learning to fight right is an important part of keeping chemistry alive. Why? Because if you are constantly cutting each other down, it’s hard to feel mutually amorous. There is no such thing as a relationship without disagreements. But if there is an understanding that your partner can come to you with any dissension without being attacked, you will have an honest relationship comprised of ‘open discussions’ rather than ‘~~fights~~. Learn to listen to each other when you're upset and admit when you’re wrong.Furthermore, make a rule of never, ever saying ‘~~I told you so~~’ no matter how much you might want to say it. The result is that, the chemistry doesn’t wane because you'll never let those arguments escalate to a personal level. Focus on the issue at hand instead of throwing verbal punches.

#3:Nurture your separate selves
Going off to your book club when your sweetie’s out golfing isn’t a sign you two are ~~drifting apart~~. On the contrary, developing individual interests allows for a richer life as a couple. By taking little “couple breaks,” you gain a greater appreciation of the gifts your partner brings to your life and you have more to offer as well. It’s very attractive to be independent sometimes. You feel better about yourself and you’re less demanding of your partner when you’re together. After all, taking some personal responsibility for your own well-being relieves the other person of the pressure to “provide” happiness — so go ahead and nurture some solo adventures. That will also keep each of you stocked with plenty of adventures to chat about, which also builds your bond.

#4:Take on a project together
Separate interests aside, exploring new ground together is also important since it strengthens your history of shared experiences. It will brought a whole new level of closeness to your relationship because of the time you spent learning as a duo during any endeavor. Couples who take on adventures together get a sense of daring and accomplishment that can really kick up their chemistry!

#5:Don’t let your physical attraction for each other dwindle
No doubt about it, couples with healthy libidos have no problem keeping chemistry cooking. (That whole “couples’ desire for each other naturally fades over time” excuse? Not true.) The trick to injecting more electricity into a lagging love life has to do with trying new things — sure, it can be easy to work on tricks and techniques when you first meet, but people’s preferences can, and do, change over time. Couples who were the most satisfied were also the ones who were open to some experimentation. This isn’t to say you suddenly have to become a wild thing, though. Even returning to the basics you may have abandoned along the way — lots of kissing and eye contact, for example — can make the usual encounter feel very different… and much more intimate.

#6:Engage in some mutual admiration
In order for chemistry between two people to thrive, there needs to be mutual respect. It’s about putting yourself in the role of an observer of your partner. “Watch them ‘perform’ — I’m not saying they need to do a song and dance for you — just pay attention to the everyday things that remind you why you find them so special.” Then, make it a point to lob compliments their way. An example of this is to occasionally create a mental list of the qualities you dig about your partner, and to occasionally share one of your thoughts with the one you love. The reality is, you’ll always want to be around someone who thinks you’re fantastic.

P.S:
Now I have to keep our relationship burning. I hope you've learned something from it and will keep your relationship in track. Stay in love, it will make life more easy. Till then....

From the one I love

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Mon, 4 Oct 2010 21:54:00 -0700

LOVE

In our life together you've given me so much...
smile and laughter, help and encouragement,
and more happy memories
than I can begin to count.

In our life together
you've given me all I really need...
your tenderness, trust,
understanding and love.

You're a wonderful partner,
and no matter what happens
in our life otgether,
one thing will never change...

You'll always be
the most important person
in the world to me.

You'll always be the one I love.

Freaking Out

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 05:08:00 -0700

I made this new blog to control my ~~stress and anxiety~~. All I can say is that I can't handle much of my ~~anxiety~~ today. That is why I'm trying to divert myself as possible to set things in place.

My .... exam is upcoming and I can't back out anymore. I have to take it this time or I'll be prolonging my agony more than ever.

Anyway I have to give my best shot since I can't take the worries no more. This leads saying goodbye for my blog for the main time.

I have to practice my writing skills more and do my best in the said day.

I'm expecting God's favor for this. I cant afford to fail and wait longer.... So, I'll Let God do HIS part on that very day.

A breath of fresh air

noreply@blogger.com (LOVE) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 06:41:00 -0700

Truly everyone needs a breath of fresh air. Every one is bond to change, it can either be for the better or for worse. Though not every individual tries to do such change. Some may want to play safe and be neutral at all times. Afraid to make a risk in love and life.:)

So what is store for those individual who hinder change? Nothing for sure, it will be a sure dull life for them.

I am not trying to be judge mental here as it may sound. I'm trying to inspire everyone that change is fun and good. It will give you a change to explore and know yourself better. to be continue...