I Choose to be in a Good Mood

“Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out.” 

(Art Linkletter)

Each morning (expect most of Saturday morning and during camps) I wake up and say to myself, 

“Richard, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.”

I choose to be in a good mood. 

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Everytime someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life. After all, my friend, if you observed carefully and pessimistically, life, in part, is troublesome.

Now, I’m not suggesting you to ignore the evils, chaos, trouble etc. that happening in the world today, and choose to bother it all at once – No! That is the sin of ignorance! But, what I mean is this: You choose to see the bright side of life not because the dark side does not exist, but because the future is as bright as the promises of God. (I'm referring to the God of The Bible)

Leslie B. Flynn wisely observed, “The pessimist sees only the dark side of the clouds and moans; the philosopher sees both the dark and bright side of the clouds and shrugs; and the optimist doesn’t even see the clouds – he is walking on them.”

You have read this article, don’t you? Now, are you going to choose to apply it in your life? or choose to take no action about it? I choose to apply it.  

THINK BIG. GO DEEP. START SMALL.

  

Smuggle the Gospel by the Way we Walk

“A holy life will produce the deepest impression.
Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.” (D.L. Moody)

One lived should preach good sermons. According to the book Life of Francis d’Assisi, Francis once invited a young monk to join him on a trip to town to preach. Honored to be given the invitation, the monk readily accepted.

All day long he and Francis walked through the streets, byways, and alleys, and even into the suburbs. They rubbed shoulders with hundreds of people. At the day’s end, the two headed back home. Not even once had Francis addressed a crowd, nor had he talked to anyone about the gospel. Greatly disappointed, his young companion said,

“I thought we were going to town to preach.”

Francis responded, “My son, we have preached. We were preaching while we were walking. We were seen by many and our behavior was closely watched. It is of no use to walk anywhere to preach unless we preach everywhere as we walk!”

I think it was Francis d’Assisi that said, “Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.” (Some argue that he never said or writes this) Almost everyday I asked myself these question; am I living a manner of person a Christian should be? Do people see Christ in me? Do I help to paint my neighbor’s picture of God? By the end of the day the answer sometime discouraged me – overtime I’m sinning against Heaven, do what I shouldn’t do etc. But more than that, I’m encouraged by the grace of God, only by His Goodness – people can see Christ in me. Isn’t that is what we as a Christian should be? People can see Christ in us? Yes, people should see Christlikeness reign in us. 

In my opinion; the best evangelical tool, the greatest gospel ever preach and the most amazing love ever told is this: - to always strife to walk a Christian life*. It’s hard, very difficult and challenging but it is the most effective witness for God.

Frances Bacon observed very well when he writes,

“It is not what men eat, but what they digest that makes them strong;

not what we gain, but what we save that makes us rich;

not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned;

not what we preach or pray, but what we practice and believe that makes us Christians.”

In a country where the Message is banned from the lost, where the Word shut off from reaching to the ignorance, and where persecution is openly declared by the enemies of the Cross – “smuggle” His Gospel by the way we walk. Preach while we are walking. Preach His Everlasting Love everywhere as we walk! THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

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* I writes "to always strife" because none of us can really walk a Christian life, 'only Jesus can' said John MacArthur. 

Week 66: Unplugging - Leave the Virtual World of Technology

We often operate under the false assumption that being technological savvy means being a good communicator and that being in control over technology tools means being ‘interacted’ with one another. We sometime neglect the important of face-to-face communication with one another as a human being.

Virtual World of Technology

Phone calls, sms’es and hundreds of e-mails demand for your attention. In the midst of conversation, you wonder if there anyone writes comments on your Facebook status this morning. While doing a project, your mind anxious about dozen of unchecked e-mails for the past 3 hours. Your friends came to chat with you, but text messages bombard your inbox, so you ‘interact’ without even looking into anyone’s eyes.

For most of us, our normal life consists of hours of staring at a computer screen doing works, playing games and/or surfing the Internet. Today, people use the Internet an average of 30 hours a week and keep the TV or radio on 7.9 hours a day…  we need to get unplugged… you and I need to get unplugged from virtual reality and get out from these addiction of technology from our lives. I said about get rid of addiction from technology NOT get rid from technology. Unplug, and look into the eyes of another human face – see the beauty of God’s creation!*

Unplugging 

Adele Ahlberg Calhoun defines Unplugging as a ‘call to leave the virtual world of technology (computers, e-mail, Blackberries, cell phones, PDAs, iPods, etc.) in order become present to God and others.’ It is a practice that requires us to be fully present to and in the uninterrupted quiet with God. It intentionally seek to create space for face-to-face encounters with people and above all, it gives us freedom from addictions – to cell phones, video games, the Internet (especially from Facebook, YouTube and Twitters etc.)

Here are some practices of Unplugging that you may want to consider doing;

·        Unplugging electronic devices that interrupt relationships

·        Refraining from the use of e-mail or not checking e-mail on the weekend or have a no-e-mail workday (Saturday and Sunday are my no-e-mail days)

·        Abstaining from social networking for a day or two (or even a week)

·        If possible, communicating face-to-face rather than virtually

·        Devoting time and attention to others without interruption (Stop any electronic interruptions and look them in the eyes)

Personal Interaction by a Personal God

Unplugging recognizes that personal beings are created for personal interaction by a personal God. We need to be in the presence of each other… We need to be touched… We need nonverbal signals… We need uninterrupted spaces in our lives for the presence of God and the presence of others.

Do you want to unplug?

Do you long to be in full present with God?

Do you want to restore uninterrupted interactions with others?

Can you cut one hour a week from using your computer or any other digital connections and use that time to be in the presence of God or others?

I hope you do… I pray you will, and you know; all of us need to Unplugging sometime.

THINK BIG As a human being, we need a face-to-face interaction

START SMALL Choose to Unplug

GO DEEP Enjoy, touch and see the beauty of God’s creation!

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*I’m in dept with Adele Ahlberg Calhoun for his insights in Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us. Most of my materials for today’s article are from this book. Sell your bed and buy this book!

What attracts a guy? (For girls only)

While driving passed through The Spring shopping mall, a friend of mine asked me to slow down the car. He stared through my greenish tinted glass window. “Check it out,” he said excitedly. “Check what?” I curiously replied.

“Check the girls out~ Woohoo!” He was refreshed. 3 wonderful strangers had attracted a youthful passionate guy. It makes me to think; what attracts a guy?

………………

Manchester University found that men spend about half their time staring at girl’s perfect pout – especially if girl wearing red lipstick. (According to my Oxford Thesaurus dictionary, pout means ‘pull a long face’ or ‘knit one’s brows’) The color red appears to have proven potency to attract a guy. Red keeps guy mesmerized for an average of 7.3 seconds while pink pucker grabs him for 6.7 seconds. And for your information, my friend above was really mesmerized!

There are Top 3 Attractions that can meld a guy’s heart from a metal cylinder to ice-cream cone;

1)    Smile

Went I was a student, I met a beautiful girl in a campus library. She was so lovely that every man’s eyes will locked to her charm whenever they looked at her. I was one of them obviously. Well, my interest only lasted for a week – she rarely smiled, just a stone-faced most of the time. Pretty but pity. I don’t need any researched study to shows that smiling makes you more attractive. Just compare 2 person; one with stone-faced and the other with a smile – if you’re in the right mind, you’ll definitely attracted most with the later. Girls, smile…

2)    Laughter

Victor Borge observed, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people”. Allow me to modify this quote, “Laughter is the shortest distance between the lover of your life.” If you really learned the nature of men carefully, you’re well aware of the fact that men are attracted to women who laugh at their jokes. Maybe because we’re “praise hunger” or maybe because it’s your “cute” laughter (or both), I do not know, but a sincere-girlish laughter moderately express able to hooked many jokers out there. (P.s: If he is simply not funny, spare him the embarrassment will ya? Laugh a bit, can ka?)

3)    No tears

“My greatest weakness is her tears,” said my friend. Tissues and tears are the greatest weapons for girls. It can be use for good (share feelings etc.) or evil (manipulations etc.) Research recently published in Science Express indicates that men are less sexually attracted to women associated with the smell of tears. Maybe it just me, but I hope I can speak up for majority of men out there with this humble plea – tears should never come between you (girls) and I (guys)… save it for girl’s nights out.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

"The most exciting attractions are
between two opposites that never meet"
(Andy Warhol)

 P.s: I just want to write something different.

The Not-so-True Story finally Revealed

It’s fun to gossip, don’t you think? It makes us feel like we’re in the ‘know-it-all’ positions. This position is desirable by many – including, especially, if unmonitored: me. You see the one who holds ‘little secrets’ have the ‘power’. Well… the power to separate friends, reveals people’s secrets and causes much hurt – of course. The writer of Proverbs observed it very well, “A trouble maker plans seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.” (16:28)

Let me share with you an interesting story about the always-ugly side of gossip. I hope that it would be a good reminder for you and me to reconsider its consequences toward others and especially, ourselves. Let me check my quote file… em, let me check… G… G… G… Go… Gossip… aha! Here it is;

A woman repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbor, and within a short period of time the whole town knew the story. The person it concerned was hurt deeply and was very unhappy. Then one day the lady responsible for spreading the rumor learned it was completely untrue. She was very sorry and went to a wise old saga to find out what she could do to repair the damage. After listening to her problem, he said,

“Go to the marketplace, purchase a fowl, and have it killed. Then on your way home, pluck its feathers one by one and drop them along the path.”

Although surprised by this unusual advice, the woman did as she was told. The next day she returned and informed the man that she had done as he instructed.

“Now, go and collect all those feathers and bring them back to me,” he said.

The lady followed the same path, but to her dismay the wind had blown all the feathers away. After searching all day long, she returned with only two or three in her hand – all that could be found.

“You see,” said the old gentleman, “it’s easy to drop them, but impossible to bring them all back. So it is with gossip. It doesn’t take much to spread a false rumor, but you can never completely undo the wrong.”

Here are my 2 cents suggestions: You can stop gossip by changing the subject or by saying something kind about the person being targeted. If you know anyone that love to gossip, try to stay away from him or her. If you know anyone that love to gossip but you simply can’t get away from him or her, (example; family members) try to let that ‘little secrets’ go in one ear and out the other. I love the truth stated in the Bible that says, “Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.” (Proverbs 26:20) When you don’t add fuel to the fire, the fire will go out.

P.s: Spread this ‘gossip’ to gossipers around you. They’ll love it! Spread also this ‘gossip’ to non-gossipers around you. They should be reminded.

THINK BIG · START SMALL · GO DEEP