The Meaning of Peace

There was once a king who offered a prize to the artist who could paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried.The king looked at all the pictures, but there were only two that he really liked, and he had to choose between them.One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for the peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.The second picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, and in which lightening played.

Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.But when the king looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest.... a perfect picture of peace.Which of the pictures won the prize?The king chose the second picture.Do you know why?"Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work.Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart.

That is the real meaning of peace.

The Word Guy with Rob Kyff

This Column Is Just Dessert

Pop quiz! See whether you can select the correct word in each context:

1. At the end of the novel, the cruel villain got his just (deserts, desserts).
2. The two armadas engaged in a fierce (naval, navel) battle.
3. The threat of icebergs caused the ship to (shear, sheer) off course.
4. When the mayor announced the curfew, a loud (hew, hue) and cry arose from the crowd.
5. The stern teacher insisted that his students (toe, tow) the line.
6. The prosecutor portrayed the defendant as an (arrant, errant) liar.
7. Your figures don't seem to (gibe, jibe) with mine.
8. Tom's (principle, principal) concern was the enormous cost of the project.
9. Sally's friends considered her to be very (straight-laced, strait-laced).
10. Henry placed the golf trophy on his fireplace (mantel, mantle). ----

Answers:
1. deserts -- One meaning of "desert" is something deserved or merited. "Dessert" means sweet food eaten after a meal.
2. naval -- "Naval" means relating to ships or the Navy. "Navel" means the belly button.
3. sheer -- "Shear" means to cut through something as if with a sharp instrument. "Sheer" means to deviate from a course, swerve.
4. hue -- "Hew" means to cut down or shape. Today, "hue" means color, but an old meaning of "hue" -- outcry, uproar -- survives in the phrase "hue and cry."
5. toe (unless the teacher was ordering them to pull a rope) -- "Toe the line" means to adhere conscientiously to the rules. "Tow the line" means to haul a rope.
6. arrant -- "Arrant" means complete, thoroughgoing. "Errant" means roving, straying, wandering.
7. jibe -- "Jibe" means to be consistent with or in accord with. "Gibe" means a derisive remark or taunt.
8. principal -- "Principal" means chief or most important. "Principle" means a rule or standard. 9. strait-laced -- "Straight" means not bent, level, direct. "Strait" means tight, confining. 10. mantel -- A "mantel" is a shelf or other structure over or around a fireplace. A "mantle" is a cloak or something that covers, envelops or conceals.

Hello

Hi everyone!!! How are you doing?? Hope everything is doing fine especially to my friends in the web. Just to let you know that I'm still out of town. I will try to update my blog once I get home and maybe try to post some photos here.

Just sending my best regards!!! Enjoy the rest of your day!! Take care everybody!!

What's in A Name?

Names today are just labels. Parents give their children strange and unique names, names that the children later don't like to be called by. Nicknames often replace the given names to avoid using those embarrassing ones given at birth! And so we have many elderly men who are still called "Boy" and elderly matrons who are called "Baby".

During Jesus' time, a name expressed the child's future task in life. Today, the Church still urges Catholic parents to give their children the name of a saint. The life of this saint can become a model for the child. The child also has one to whom he can pray.
When Zechariah was told by Gabriel that he and his wife would have a son, he was told to name him John which means "God is gracious." John was to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah, telling them that God is gracious by sending the Savior. Mary and Joseph were also told to name their child Jesus which means "God saves." The name of Jesus contained the sole purpose for His birth: to save humankind.

The apostles first baptized and healed only in the name of Jesus. No wonder then that Jesus' name was soon considered to be holy and powerful. St. Paul wrote, "At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father" (Philippians 2:10).

St. Ignatius of Loyola was very inspired by the name of Jesus that he named his congregation the Society of Jesus. And what great things the Jesuits have done and are still doing for the Church. We know that Pope John Paul II often uttered the phrase, "Praise be Jesus Christ!"

T h e "J e s u s Prayer" from the Eastern churches is a prayer where Jesus' name is uttered slowly while inhaling and exhaling. This prayer calms and unites us with our Savior.
We could be stronger in our spiritual life if we rely on the power of Jesus' name. Fr. Rudy Horst

Reflection Question:
Do I have the habit of using the name of Jesus in vain? Why do I not use the powerful name of Jesus more often as a prayer?

Praised be Jesus Christ! May we who honor the holy name of Jesus enjoy His friendship in this life and be filled with eternal joy in His kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You!

St. Genevieve, virgin, pray for us.

adapted from Kyregma

Bible Verses

Seek Him in Prayer!

Delight yourself in Him and pray! Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
Job 22:26,27 NIV
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If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John 15:7,8 KJV
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If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Matthew 7:11 NASB
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Thanks be unto God for his wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

Am I in Ktown?

Did I said before that I am in Kaiserslautern now??? well anyway, my exact location is Ramstein-Miesenbach. It's one of the small town in Kaiserslautern. Today we went to the US Base but unfortunately only till the gate. You know why?? Simply because my friend cannot sign me in because my passport and German ID is still in process. What I only have is a driver's license and my Social Security ID. They don't honor it for Identification anyway. even I also have a copy of my German citizenship certificate.

So for those who have American friends who want to go inside the US Base, you must always have to have your Passport or Citizenship ID's so you can be signed in. So what we did instead was to drive around Kaiserslautern or Ktown, as being called by the Americans. We went a bit shopping in some German shops in Landstuhl. It's not too far anyway from Ktown and Ramstein.

Since it was already almost 6pm as we went home, we then ate our dinner with friends. So I guess today is a Good day!!! Hope you got the same!!! Wish you all a nice evening!!!

Bible Readings

New Year New Song!
"Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people. The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise." Isaiah 43:19-21 NASB