Why are you looking for the living among the dead?

Dear readers!! I know it has been a while since i wrote but now i'm back for good.
Easter is around the corner. On TV and everywhere there are advertisements about easter bunny giving out candies for kids, where to get the best deals on candies and chocolates in Easter eggs and clothing, etc,.... although all those things seem to be fun we need to acknowledge what easter is truly about. There is more to Easter than just gathering with family and friends but sadly slowly the meaning of Easter is being forgotten.

1. WHAT IS EASTER?

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ after he has been crucified. Easter is a joyful celebration for Christian because Jesus's death commemorates his mission on Earth. Jesus has been sent to wash away all humans sins by dying on the cross. His death wasn't a pleasant one but rather painful and cruel. Imagine yourself being beaten, spit on, dragged, forced to carry the cross you'll be nailed on, humiliated, crowns with thorns which get deep into your head with your blood shedding all along the way and being nailed alive on a cross feeling the nails piercing through your hands and feet. Yet Jesus took on Himself to go through all that so mankind will be saved. That's how much He loves us. Who can give his/her life to a friend not to talk about a stranger? But for Jesus even though He didn't meet us personally He considers us as His brothers and sisters.

2.WHY DO CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE EASTER?

The New Testament teaches that the resurrection of Jesus, which Easter celebrates, is a foundation of the Christian faith.1 Corinthians 15:12 The resurrection established Jesus as the powerful Son of God Romans 1:4 and is cited as proof that God will judge the world in righteousness.Acts 17:31 God has given Christians "a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead".1 Peter 1:3 Christians, through faith in the working of God Colossians 2:12 are spiritually resurrected with Jesus so that they may walk in a new way of life.Romans 6:4
Easter is linked to the Passover and Exodus from Egypt recorded in the Old Testament through the Last Supper and crucifixion that preceded the resurrection. According to the New Testament, Jesus gave the Passover meal a new meaning, as he prepared himself and his disciples for his death in the upper room during the Last Supper. He identified the loaf of bread and cup of wine as symbolizing His body soon to be sacrificed and His blood soon to be shed. 1 Corinthians 5:7 states, "Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed"; this refers to the Passover requirement to have no yeast in the house and to the allegory of Jesus as the Paschal lamb.
For that reason Easter is a celebration because Jesus has conquered death. He died in order for us to be saved and to have a new life.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE AND REMEMBER THE KEY TO HEAVEN HAS BEEN NAILED TO THE CROSS AND IS CHRIST JESUS!!! THE LORD WILL SOON BE RESURRECTED... HALLELUJAH!! 

I love this song for some reason..... Enjoy!!!

Ask Gaelenna Day.....

I greet you all my followers, hope you had a great night!! Well today is ask Gaelenna Day...You can feel free to ask me any question you like and i'll reply in my best abilities. Just drop your questions as a comment on this post..Have a blessed day!!!

New Living...

As i was on my way home this evening, this song was being played on the radio. What caught my attention is the lyrics because it kind of reflects the new me if i can put it that way. See i use to be a church goer if i can put it that way, going to church every Sunday because it was the routine even though i believe in the existence of God and i know that some things are not good to do. But recently i can say that i have been saved. Not only i believe that there is God but i also know that He is there for me if i'm there for Him and i also believe in the death of Jesus Christ. He is not asking a lot from me but just me to walk in His ways and trust Him with all my soul. 

God is not difficult to please you know. Some surgeons while performing a surgery to heal or to save someone's life, they like listening to inspirational songs or any kind of song that keep them going and concentrate. God is the same way, while healing us or while moving in our life, He likes listening to worships and praises to keep Him going. As for me i rely a lot on songs to praise Him and this song is going to be for sure one of my favorite because when i was listening to it i felt fulfilled in a way and happy too for some reason. But i know it's because my soul knows that my God is pleased with me liking and meditating and trying to learn it as it was playing. I hope that you will like it too.

Happy New Year 2011

Here we are, it's 1-1-11!!!! I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone of you and your family a Happy New Year!! I'm asking for health, blessings, prosperity, and success for you and your family. I also want to thank you for making this blog moving by reading it, commenting, following me, helping with the design and my friend (You know yourself) who gave me the idea to create one, a BIG thank you to all of you.


I don't know about you but for me and those who know me personally, 2010 was a memorable year, it marked me as 2007 did. Some events happened that i will not wish to anyone even my worst enemy, if someone consider himself/herself as such, because i don't think i have any enemy except Satan. But 2010 was also good because i have rediscovered myself spiritually, i recognize i lost communication with God for a while but He is a merciful God. I can say that i have reconnected with God in a way i never did. Don't get me wrong i have always been a "Christian" but now i know what it's really like. All glory be to God because i was able to make it through 2010 and i can do way better, 2011 is my breakthrough year, 2011 is my year, Philippians 4:13 " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I know that like a father if i go to God and ask Him he will always answer i don't have to worry about anything God got it made for me already Philippians 4:6 says: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.".


What is your resolution for this year? My resolution is to get closer and closer to God. I want to be in perfect harmony and communication with the Most High because God's peace surpasses every understanding. Oh and NO MORE fast food for 2011 lol :-). Share your resolution with me....What's your resolution? And may the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guards your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus..Amen!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! STAY BLESSED EVERYONE!!!

The Present is The Future

Here we are again, it's this time of the year when everyone wishes "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas". The time we buy gifts for our loved ones and people in need. For some family it's at this time of the year that they all sit together and meet every year. It's like a tradition, everyone has to be there either you like it or not.


Joshua is an accomplished 32 years old man, he is a pediatrician, married and has a son named Jacob. It's December 25th 2009, Jacob ran to his parents' room as he does every Christmas morning after making sure that Santa has brought them gift and the milk and cookies were also gone, he is 5 years old. So Joshua and his wife followed him to the living room, his eyes were filled with joy and excitement. Jacob dragged his mom to help him find his gifts while Joshua sat in his armchair looking at them with a smile on his face. This sight reminds him of his life story every year and he can remember his story as if it happened yesterday.....


 Joshua is an only child and has been so spoiled. His parents used to buy him as many gifts as he wished for. But his 5th Christmas was one of a kind.When he woke up that morning and ran to their Christmas tree to see his many gifts as usual, he was surprised to see only one wrapped gift, kind of small too. When he opened it, he saw a Bible, since he was just a kid then he was really disappointed, angry, and sad because it wasn't what he wished for. His parents understood his pain, they tried to calm him down but he wanted a gift at all cost. So his parents promised him that they'll take him to a toy store the next day for him to pick a gift but he has to promise them that he will cherish the Bible more than anything he ever has and he accepted. On the next day as promised, they all went to the store to get Joshua some toys but on their way back home the unfortunate happened. A drunk driver ran into their car, his parents died on their way to the hospital and Joshua as the only survivor. Since then Joshua's life has been turned, he became bitter because he was blaming himself for his parents' death and also because he has been put into foster care, going from one home to another. At a point he decided to lock all the souvenirs from his parents in a box including the Bible that he never opened because he was angry at God because He took his parents away, Joshua was 17 years at that time. One day he met a Pastor, Pastor Alex, Joshua told him his story and the Pastor promised him that he will adopt him and make sure he won't lack of anything. Joshua was still bitter because many of his foster parents said the same thing but gave up on him. Pastor Alex eventually went through the paperworks and officially adopted Joshua he trained him as his own child and showed him the ways of God. He helped him reconcile with God and regain faith. Joshua eventually got baptized at 19, on the day of his baptism, he decided to open the box. Old and painful memories came back, he even forgot about the Bible his parents gave him, but then he understood that it was the best gift ever. They gave him the gift of eternal life, Joshua then understood that  God gave us His only son Jesus Christ so that we will be saved and have have eternal life and that his parents wanted him to be aware of that. He then understood that it was the most wonderful gift his parents could ever gave him. He got on his knees and prayed and made the promise to himself that he will succeed in life which he did.


Looking at his son, he can't wait for the day he will sit him down and share his story with him. All he wish and pray for is that God grant him life so that he may live until that day when he can tell him and Jacob will actually understand him.


See, during this period when we run all over the places to buy gifts, organize parties and getting ready for Christmas let's not forget about the true meaning of this day. The Present is The Future, The Present as gift is Christ Jesus who God gave us to save our souls, that gift if we accept it, will give us eternal life in the future; The Present as time space determine in a way our future, what we do today leads to what we will be tomorrow. 

             MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!!!!
                           AND REMEMBER
               THE PRESENT IS THE FUTURE!!!

Man Officially Cured of HIV : A Step Forward, Miracle, or Luck

For the first time, a man has been declared officially cured of HIV. The remedy may nearly have killed him, but it opens a door—just a crack—to hope that we may someday kill off the scourge for good.

Strangely enough, the diagnosis that most concerned Timothy Ray Brown in 2007 was acute myeloid leukemia. HIV has been increasingly thought of as a manageable disease, though certainly a terribly burdensome one. What brought the 42-year old Brown under the care of Germany's Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin hospital was the more immediate threat his cancer posed.

The treatment Brown underwent was aggressive: chemotherapy that destroyed the majority of his immune cells. Total body irradiation. Finally, a risky stem-cell transplant that nearly a third of patients don't survive—but that appears to have completely cured Brown of HIV.

Doctors were savvy when they chose a stem cell donor for Brown. The man whose bone marrow they used has a particular genetic mutation, present in an incredibly small percentage of people, that makes him almost invulnerable to HIV. With Brown's own defenses decimated by treatments, the healthy, HIV-resistant donor cells repopulated his immune system. The initial indications that the virus had abated were promising. But only just now, having taken no antiretroviral drugs since the transplant, and following extensive testing shows no signs whatsoever of HIV, have his doctors given the official word:

He's cured.

What does this mean for the future of treatment? It's not as though every HIV patient can or would want to go through the tremendous suffering that was prelude to Brown's recovery, or be able to afford the procedure if they could or did. But for the first time, we know that HIV can be cured, not just managed. It opens new avenues of research—gene therapy, stem cell treatments—that may otherwise have been thought dead ends.

World AIDS Day Awareness

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe the event, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune systemcaused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This condition progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors. HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk. This transmission can involve anal, vaginal or oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby duringpregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other exposure to one of the above bodily fluids.

AIDS is now a pandemic. In 2007, it was estimated that 33.2 million people lived with the disease worldwide, and that AIDS killed an estimated 2.1 million people, including 330,000 children. Over three-quarters of these deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. According to UNAIDS 2009 report, worldwide some 60 million people have been infected, with some 25 million deaths, and 14 million orphaned children in southern Africa alone since the epidemic began.

Genetic research indicates that HIV originated in west-central Africa during the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. AIDS was first recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1981 and its cause, HIV, identified in the early 1980s.

Although treatments for AIDS and HIV can slow the course of the disease, there is no known cure or vaccine. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but these drugs are expensive and routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries. Due to the difficulty in treating HIV infection, preventing infection is a key aim in controlling the AIDS pandemic, with health organizations promoting safe sex and needle-exchange programmes in attempts to slow the spread of the virus.

HISTORY

World AIDS Day was first conceived in August 1987 by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Bunn and Netter took their idea to Dr. Jonathan Mann, Director of the Global Programme on AIDS (now known as UNAIDS). Dr. Mann liked the concept, approved it, and agreed with the recommendation that the first observance of World AIDS Day should be 1 December, 1988.

Bunn, a broadcast journalist on a leave-of-absence from his reporting duties at KPIX-TV in San Francisco, recommended the date of 1 December believing it would maximize coverage by western news media. Since 1988 was an election year in the U.S., Bunn suggested that media outlets would be weary of their post-election coverage and eager to find a fresh story to cover. Bunn and Netter determined that 1 December was long enough after the election and soon enough before the Christmas holidays that it was, in effect, a dead spot in the news calendar and thus perfect timing for World AIDS Day.

On 18 June, 1986 KPIX'S “AIDS Lifeline," a community education project, was honored with a Presidential Citation for Private Sector Initiatives presented by President Ronald Reagan. Because of his role as a co-creator of "AIDS Lifeline" Bunn was asked by Dr. Mann, on behalf of the U.S. government, to take a two-year leave-of-absence to join Dr. Mann, an epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control, and assist in the creation of the Global Programme on AIDS for the United Nations' World Health Organization. Mr. Bunn accepted and was named the first Public Information Officer for the Global Programme on AIDS. Along with Mr. Netter Bunn conceived, designed, and implemented the inaugural World AIDS Day observance – now the longest-running disease awareness and prevention initiative of its kind in the history of public health.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) became operational in 1996, and it took over the planning and promotion of World AIDS Day. Rather than focus on a single day, UNAIDS created the World AIDS Campaign in 1997 to focus on year-round communications, prevention and education.

In its first two years, the theme of World AIDS Day focused on children and young people. These themes were strongly criticized at the time for ignoring the fact that people of all ages may become infected with HIV and suffer from AIDS. But the themes drew attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, helped alleviate some of the stigma surrounding the disease, and helped boost recognition of the problem as a family disease.

In 2004, the World AIDS Campaign became an independent organization.

The Campaign Theme for 2010 is Universal Access and Human Rights. Help save AIDS infected people by taking action http://www.worldaidsday.org/

                                                                                                    Souce: http://www.wikipedia.org/

Origin of the Character Uncle Sam: Nickname of The United States Of America

Uncle Sam Recruiting Poster

The image above presents a rousing illustration of the venerable "Uncle Sam", as he appeared in a World War I Army Recruiting poster.  We will examine how this popular image came about, and how "Uncle Sam" became the popular symbol of the United States.

Uncle Sam, is a popular name for the government of the United States. Its origin was as follows: Samuel Wilson, commonly called "Uncle Sam," was an inspector of beef and pork, in Troy, N. Y. He inspected the meat purchased for the government after the declaration of war against England in 1812. A contractor named Elbert Anderson purchased a quantity of provisions, and the barrels were marked "E. A.," the initials of his name, and "U. S.," for United States. The latter initials were not familiar to Wilson's workmen, who inquired what they meant. A facetious fellow answered, "I don't know, unless they mean 'Uncle Sam.' " A vast amount of property afterwards passed through Wilson's hands, marked in the same way, and he was rallied on the extent of his possessions. The joke spread, and it was not long before the initials of the United States were regarded as "Uncle Sam," which name has been in popular parlance ever since. Even a popular song says: "Uncle Sam is rich enough to give us all a farm."

Prior to the Civil War, Brother Jonathan Was the Popular Icon of the United States

So, by 1820, Uncle Sam was sometimes used as a term for the United States.  The popular image of Uncle Sam did not emerge until some time later.  In fact, prior to the Civil War, another character was much more commonly used as a symbol for our country; Brother Jonathan. The Cartoon above is from an original 1862 Harper's Weekly newspaper.  The cartoon deals with the controversial Trent Affair, in which US naval officers boarded a British Ship, and arrested Confederate Commissioners Mason and Slidell. In the cartoon, the figure representing the United States is Brother Jonathan.  It can be seen that Brother Jonathan has many of the features we have come to associate with Uncle Sam . . . striped pants, a coat with tails, and a tall top hat. At the start of the Civil War, Brother Jonathan was almost always used as the symbol of the United States. 

To the left we present one of the first ever published images of Uncle Sam. Again, he is dressed in patriotic attire, with stars on his hat, and stripes on his shirt.  The image is a cartoon from the December 21, 1861 edition of Harper's Weekly. The cartoon is captioned, "Chief Cook CAMERON divides the VIRGINIA GOOSE between MARYLAND and DELAWARE. " This cartoon appeared shortly after the start of the Civil War, and is dealing with the issue of Virginia being split into two states.

By 1864, Uncle Sam had become the more pervasive symbol of the United States in newspapers and other publications, as Brother Jonathan gradually faded away.  

Our popular image of Uncle Sam (As seen in the image on the top of this page) was defined in large part by Thomas Nast, who was one of the most popular artists of the 1800's.  Nast was also responsible for our popular images of Santa Claus, the Republican Elephant, and the Democratic Donkey. Nast's first illustration of Uncle Sam appeared in the November 20, 1869 edition of Harper's Weekly.

Thomas Nast's First Image of Uncle Sam, "Uncle Sam's Thanksgiving Dinner"

While Uncle Sam does not show the top hat and striped pants that we have come to associate with him, he shows something much more important in this image.  In this image, Uncle Sam is a symbol of unity and equality. The image shows many people welcomed at Uncle Sam's Thanksgiving table . . . Black, White, Chinese, and Indian, as wall as many others are seen sitting around the table.   The image is captioned, "Uncle Sam's Thanksgiving Dinner; Come One, Come All, Free and Equal." The image clearly shows that Uncle Sam was originally a symbol of freedom, and equality.  Uncle Sam was a unifying symbol.

By 1876, Nast's Image of Uncle Sam had evolved into one that we would recognize today.  The image to the left is the cover of the November 24, 1876 Harper's Weekly. The image features Uncle Sam with striped pants, a long overcoat, and a top hat. In this image, the top hat also has feathers.  This image deals with Reform of the Civil Service System.

While the exact image of Uncle Sam has evolved over the years, one thing remains constant.  He is a symbol of the best ideals of the United States.  From the earliest days until today, he has stood for Freedom, Equality, and Justice. While as a Nation, we do not always perfectly achieve these ideals, Uncle Sam remains a poignant symbol and reminder of the goal and objective . . . One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.

                                                     SOURCE: http://www.sonofthesouth.net/uncle-sam/

Phenomenal Woman By Maya Angelou

PHENOMENAL WOMAN

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies. I say, It's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. I walk into a room Just as cool as you please, And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees. Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees. I say, It's the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. Men themselves have wondered What they see in me. They try so much But they can't touch My inner mystery. When I try to show them They say they still can't see. I say, It's in the arch of my back, The sun of my smile, The ride of my breasts, The grace of my style. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. Now you understand Just why my head's not bowed. I don't shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing It ought to make you proud. I say, It's in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need of my care, 'Cause I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. I AM A PHENOMENAL WOMAN