Do to others as you would have them do to you. [Luke 6:31]
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. [Proverbs 3:5]
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. [Hebrews 11:1]
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. [Proverbs 3:5]
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. [Hebrews 11:1]
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
It's August...
Friday, July 27, 2007
One ARK at a time...
God: How do we change the world?
Evan: One single act of random kindness at a time.
God: [spoken while writing A-R-K on ground with a stick] One Act, of, Random, Kindness.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Under the Weather...
>> Outstanding Drama Series
* Boston Legal
* Grey's Anatomy
* Heroes
* House
* The Sopranos
[I don't watch The Sopranos and Boston Legal, I still have to start on Heroes, Grey's Anatomy has too much drama going on, I love HOUSE, 4 episodes more and I'm finished with Season3.]
>> Outstanding Comedy Series
* 30 Rock
* Entourage
* The Office
* Two and a Half Men
* Ugly Betty
[I only got to watch the pilot of Ugly Betty, must get it on dvd soon, I liked it. 30 Rock is funny as well as Entourage.]
>> Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
* Denis Leary - Rescue Me
* Hugh Laurie - House [yay for Doc Greg...]
* James Gandolfini - The Sopranos
* James Spader - Boston Legal
* Kiefer Sutherland - 24
>> Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
* Edie Falco - The Sopranos
* Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer
* Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
* Minnie Driver - The Riches
* Patricia Arquette - Medium
* Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters
[I don't watch any of the shows in this category so I don't really have a bet. I was hoping Lauren Graham would be nominated and win for Gilmore Girls. Oh well.]
>> Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
* Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock
* Charlie Sheen - Two and a Half Men
* Ricky Gervais - Extras
* Steve Carrell - The Office
* Tony Shalhoub - Monk
[Why is Zach Braff (Scrubs) or Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl) not nominated???]
>> Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
* America Ferrera - Ugly Betty
* Felicity Huffman - Desperate Housewives
* Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures of Old Christine
* Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds
* Tina Fey - 30 Rock
[Tina Fey or America Ferrera for me...]
>> Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
* Masi Oka - Heroes
* Michael Emerson - Lost
* Michael Imperioli - The Sopranos
* T.R. Knight - Grey's Anatomy
* Terry O'Quinn - Lost
* William Shatner - Boston Legal
[T.R. Knight or Masi Oka...]
>> Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
* Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy
* Katherine Heigl - Grey's Anatomy
* Rachel Griffiths - Brothers & Sisters
* Aida Turturro - The Sopranos
* Lorraine Bracco - The Sopranos
* Sandra Oh - Grey's Anatomy
[The odds are in favor of the Grey's Anatomy women, hmmm...if I remember it right, Chandra won last year, so, could be her again or Heigl for me.]
>> Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
* Kevin Dillon - Entourage
* Jeremy Piven - Entourage
* Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother
* Rainn Wilson - The Office
* Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men
[I just finished the first season of How I Met Your Mother and I have to say, Neil Patrick is a delight to watch. Tough competition but we never know.]
>> Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
* Jaime Pressly - My Name is Earl
* Jenna Fischer - The Office
* Holland Taylor - Two And A Half Men
* Conchata Ferrell - Two And A Half Men
* Vanessa Williams - Ugly Betty
* Elizabeth Perkins - Weeds
[Jaime Pressly should win me feels...didn't know she could be funny.]
>> Outstanding Reality Program
* Antiques Roadshow
* The Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan
* Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
* Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List
* Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
[Extreme Makeover come to the Philippines...hee. I love this show!!!]
>> Outstanding Reality/Competition Program
* The Amazing Race
* American Idol
* Dancing with the Stars
* Project Runway
* Top Chef
[Still the Amazing Race, though, next year, the new reality show ON THE LOT might get a nod, me likey that show.]
They were supposed to be here back in September 2005 but that didn't happen. Now, I think, it's going to happen. I hope so. I am gonna watch with a few people I met via the Stephen Speaks Yahoo group [which is not active anymore] some years back. NG was supposed to watch this band a few months back, he had his ticket but he overslept and didn't make it to the gig. It's for charity nonetheless, his $20 went to a good cause nonetheless. For more info about this gig you may go to switchfootmanila.blogspot.com. Any of my other friends interested to go?
Elliott Yamin will have a series of mall tours in September as well, here's the sched from his Myspace:
Sep 21 2007 8:00P Trinoma
Sep 22 2007 8:00P Glorietta
Sep 23 2007 8:00P Market! Market! Mall
Sep 26 2007 8:00P Ayala Mall Cebu
Sep 29 2007 8:00P Alabang Town Center
Trinoma is near my area, I'm gonna make sure to go see the guy. Would be nice to hear him live.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
T-Shirt Day...
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Queen is 29...
I'm not late, you're just early...
Friday, July 13, 2007
Music Video[s] Break...
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Say Yes To God...
Ten Prayers God Says Yes To
Haven't you ever wondered, "Why are some of my prayers answered while some are not? How do I get God's attention? How do I get the divine 'Yes'?" Even the most faithful believers are discouraged by dry seasons, when it seems as though God doesn't really care about them or their needs.
"Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To" is the result of author Anthony DeStefano's journey through scripture to find those prayers that God always answers, and promises to always say yes to. Not sometimes. Not maybe. But all of the time.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. (Rev. 3:20)
God is just waiting for honest doubters to cry out for a little revelation! In fact, he is knocking at their doors, eager to oblige. The door to the human heart can be opened only from the inside. God will never force his way in. All we have to do is open.
Even if we already know that God exists and promises to be there for us, sometimes we don't feel his presence or see him moving in our lives. Then even strong believers experience doubts. They, too, need fresh reminders that he is there, aware and listening--and that he promises to respond:
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (Luke 11:9)
God invites us to knock at his door so he can reveal himself to us. The interesting thing about Jesus' use of the word "knock" is that it means "to keep on knocking"--persistently, confidently, trusting in the love and faithfulness of God to answer us.
Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)
Quite literally one of the oldest Christian prayers in the Book, the request that God make you an instrument is the one that God will answer fastest.
Jesus is making an important promise: When two or three (or more) of us are together in his name, we have an opportunity to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is real love, not some mushy feeling or hormonal rush: It is allowing God to make us his "instruments" and live his life through us.
Volunteering to become God's instrument sounds like a happy, innocent request, doesn't it? But it can be risky because God may need to shape us up first. For one thing, he will require us to rethink the importance of the thing that concerns us most: ourselves.
And then some of us may not be sure we're really equipped to be God's instruments. What if we're not wise enough or brave enough or spiritual enough? Well, God has promised divine help. Just remember this verse: God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him and then helping you do what he wants (Philippians 2:13 TLB). Imagine, God living within you, working within you. You can't get any closer to him than that!
Give and it will be given to you, full measure, pressed down, overflowing. (Luke 6:38)
God will never be outdone in generosity!
Here's how it works: As you give generously to people in need, God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others....Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously (see II Corinthians 9:8-13).
When God finds a giving heart, he will pour out generously too, because he knows he has found someone who will help him fix our broken world; someone who will become the Gospel in action and bring honor and thanks to God.
God will not let you be tested beyond your strength. With your trial, he will also provide you with a means of escape, so that you will be able to endure it. (I Corinthians 10:13)
This prayer is not a way out of suffering itself, but a reminder that we can count on being consoled and fortified by God--if we ask for help. That shoulder you cried on, the understanding hug, the cup of tea--all are little gifts of comfort from God.
Jesus, our high priest, understands our struggles with suffering and temptation, because he faced those things himself! So, if we ask, he will meet us with grace to help us in our time of testing (Hebrews 4:16).
You may not need this prayer right now if things are going well in your life, but never forget it. Keep it fresh in your heart, ready to use when sorrow and pain afflict your life.
He is faithful and just to forgive our sins. (I John 1:9)
God is so gracious. But while we're rejoicing in his grace, it's a good idea to remember that there are rules, and there are consequences in our lives here and now. For instance: If I regard sin in my heart, the Lord will not hear me (Psalm 66:18).
Confession is our route around a big roadblock to answered prayer. Sin is such a serious matter to God that he gave the life of his son to set us free from it, so it pays to keep short accounts with him. He has not made that difficult to do.
Repentance isn't a time for dread. God isn't waiting to beat us up, but to set us free into his forgiveness. As we grow in Christ, and he grows in us, we won't need to repent as often, because his Holy Spirit living in us won't let us sin as comfortably as we once did. Isn't that good news?
Right now you can get honest and remove those "sin-roadblocks" to answered prayer. You can be sure you're connecting with God because he never, never turns away from a contrite heart.
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV)
Real, inner peace goes beyond emotions; it comes from focusing on God. Jesus said, "I leave you peace....My peace I give to you."
Without him we won't have the peace that takes us unshaken through life's physical and emotional earthquakes. We need the peace of faith that knows God is there, walking alongside, whispering, Trust me; I have a plan and you are going to be okay. Just keep on going.
The requirements for peace depend upon "being right" with God. That means:
>> Confession of sin so we can start over (and over) without negative baggage.
>> Forgiveness of others that frees us from the ugly stress of resentment.
Then we're ready for God to move in our lives and bring peace into our chaos.
The Lord... delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)
The great Christian writer C.S. Lewis once said that "courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at its testing point, which means at the point of highest reality." Even honesty, self-control, patience and chastity take courage.
You need courage to persevere through life's difficulties, to endure suffering, to take risks, to give witness to the truth, to dare to do great things. Every time we admit our weakness and our dependency on God, we're ripe for his grace and help.
If we rely on our own courage, we're in trouble. But God's Spirit can take us triumphantly through whatever we face.
Courage is the cornerstone of the entire moral order. God is willing to distribute massive doses of supernatural grace to those of his children who are rightly disposed to him, and who ask for courage.
If anyone lacks in wisdom, let him ask God, who is always ready to give. (James 1:5)
We face lots of challenges in our world today. Just turn on the television and there they are: war, an unpredictable economy, spiraling fuel prices, new pandemic diseases. What next?
Being smart isn't enough to handle all this; we need wisdom. We need direction from someone who sees our whole life at a glance, the big picture and the intricate details, someone who knows what's coming down the road.
But wisdom isn't just knowing what God has to say; wisdom is obeying him (James 1:22). With that as our focus, we avoid pitfalls that bring us to the end of our lives realizing we've lived the whole thing "the wrong way!" God's word shows us the "right way"--the way of unselfishness that will save us and those we love a lifetime of hurt.
Do you really want to study at the school of hard knocks? You don't have to make a million mistakes or live to be 100 to learn life's great lessons. Wisdom is available to everyone, free of charge.
All things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
That's a wonderful Bible verse to quote and feel comforted by--except, of course, when you feel crushed by some impossible situation. Then what do you do? Quote it anyway. Tuck it into your mind and let it take root there. Then wait on God to work his redemptive purpose out of the circumstances that threaten to overwhelm you.
Sometimes God allows suffering in order to get our attention: to divert us from wrong paths; to build our faith and our courage, to help us grow strong and resilient; to make us wiser. Or to turn our bad situations into good ones.
Remember the darkest time of all: Jesus' crucifixion. In one amazing stroke of genius and grace, God turned all that suffering around--he redeemed mankind and made it possible for sins to be forgiven. In I Corinthians 2:7-8, Paul reminds us that God had a secret plan before time began: our own redemption. As Paul says, the rulers of this age--the devil and his demons--engineered the crucifixion, believing they could get rid of the Savior and foil God's plan. But their scheme backfired! They never dreamed that Jesus' death would be followed by his resurrection.
Remember, whatever you're going through, God has a "resurrection" plan for your life, too.
Before you were born, I consecrated you. (Jeremiah 1:5)
You came into this world a champion! Special, unique you; a miracle predetermined by God. It follows, then, that you have a unique destiny.
Your destiny is not the same as your dream. Dreams can lead you away from the destiny God has planned for you. He knows where you fit and what you can accomplish.
We're not just human beings but keys that God has individually crafted to fit certain locks. In fact, in all the world and in all of time, there has been only one that has the ability to open one particular lock. That's you.
The lock you've been designed to open is your destiny. What's important to remember is that the person who achieves greater in heaven is the one with a servant's heart (Mark 10:34-45). That takes selflessness and love, the most God-like traits of all. So ask God to live his love out through you by the Holy Spirit within you. He'll be glad to answer that one.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Memory Loss?...
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