Facts about Christmas

1. Did Mary ride a donkey to Bethlehem?
Perhaps, but there are various other possibilities. The Bible doesn't say how she got to Bethlehem. It only says that she came with Joseph.


2. Did Mary arrive in Bethlehem the night she gave birth?
The Bible does not suggest this. They could have arrived weeks earlier. God's Word simply states, "while they were there [in Bethlehem], the days were accomplished that she should be delivered" (Luke 2:6). Arriving in town well before her due date would make more sense.


3. Did Joseph or Mary talk to any innkeepers?
Perhaps, but there is no solid, biblical reason to believe that they did. Although innkeepers play a prominent part in many Christmas plays, no innkeeper is actually mentioned in the biblical record of Christ's birth. Furthermore, it is likely that Mary and Joseph actually stayed in a house with relatives, not behind some kind of Bible-times hotel.


4. Was Jesus born in a stable? Or a barn? Or a cave?
The Bible does not mention any of these three places in connection with Christ's birth, only a manger. Scripture simply reports that they laid Jesus in a manger because there was no room for him in the guest room. The Greek word used in Scripture is kataluma, and can mean guest chamber, lodging place or inn. The only other time this word was used in the New Testament, it means a furnished, large, upper story room within a private house. It is translated guest chamber, not inn (Mark 14:14-15). According to our Bible archaeology experts, Jesus was probably born in the house of relatives, but outside (under) the normal living and guest quarters.


5. "Away in a manger the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes." Although this is part of a beautiful song, we cannot be sure that Jesus did not cry. The Bible does not report this.


6. Did angels sing to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem?
Perhaps, but the Bible doesn't specifically say that the angels sang. It says that first an angel appeared and spoke, and then appeared "a multitude of the heavenly host praising God" (Luke 2:13).


7. Were angels present at the birth?
It seems logical to assume that they were, however, Scripture does not report it, and there is no evidence that angels were visible to Mary and Joseph at this time.


8. Did three kings riding camels come to Jesus' birth?

The Bible does not say that any kings or camels visited young Jesus.
Wise men riding camels.
It does report wise men ("magi") came, but it does not say how many. None of the early Church Fathers, suggested the magi were kings. Since the word "magi" used in the Bible is plural, there were apparently at least two, and there could have been more -- even several more. The Bible simply mentions three costly gifts they presented -- gold, frankincense and myrrh, but this does not necessarily indicate the number of magi. There is also no proof of what country these men came from.

Baby Jesus presented at Tempe.
Before the arrival of the magi in Bethlehem, Jesus traveled to and from Jerusalem for presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:21-22).

Also, the wise men clearly did not visit Jesus when he was still lying in the manger, as is commonly shown on greeting cards and in plays. The magi did not arrive until sometime after Christ's presentation in the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:22-39).
Child - Jesus Christ.
At this time, Scripture calls Jesus a "child," not a "baby." It is possible that little Jesus was walking and talking by then. Based on the calculations of King Herod and the magi (Matthew 2:16), Jesus could been two years old or under.


9. Was Jesus born on December 25, or in December at all?
Although it's not impossible, it seems unlikely. The Bible does not specify a date or month. One problem with December is that it would be unusual for shepherds to be "abiding in the field" at this cold time of year when fields were unproductive. The normal practice was to keep the flocks in the fields from Spring to Autumn. Also, winter would likely be an especially difficult time for pregnant Mary to travel the long distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem (70 miles).

White Cross

last monday, we went to white cross. it's a company sponsored charity work for an orphanage. grabe, kakaaliw ang mga bata! they're super cute and kulit :D we really had fun :D wawa nga lang, nagkakaroon sila ng rashes. maybe dahil marami sila and nagkakahawaan. or maybe dahil hindi ganun naaasikaso ang bawat isa sa kanila. kung pwede nga lang mag uwi ng bata, haaaaay..


after ofc, bambi, leth and i had girl bonding :D pagsasaayos ng ascii eb programme at syempre, lots of girl bonding :D sobrang nag enjoy nga, 12am na kami naghiwa-hiwalay, at 1am na ako nakarating ng bahay.. super antok tuloy sa ofc, hehehe :D

detox

i really need to detoxify myself, seems im so cluttered with stress and pressures.. haaaaaay...

it's my turn

nalipat kami ng pwesto and now im seated in front of my boss. e ang sakit ko, di ako tumatagal ng di kumakain. so di iilang beses na nakikita nya akong kumain, natural! at may instance pa na tinawag nya ako at saktong kakasubo ko lang! weheheh :D kahapon naman, halfday sya, di pa pala naglalunch. saktong pagpasok ko sa ofc nya e saktong subo naman nya, wehehe :D

color everywhere

the weather today was cloudy due to typhoon seniang. nakakatamad pumasok, as usual. so i decided to wear something colorful to brighten my day. pagpasok ko, halos lahat ng ofcmates ko e naka gray or blue or black. ako lang yung super kulay! grabe! pero at least, naiba daw ang tingin nila, naging makulay ang mundo, heheheh :D

wawa naman mga dolphins...

got this from an email, just can't help but post this. i'm really fond of watching dolphins, and was planning to watch this at MOA but this article is really an eye opener.



PAWS and EII (Earth Island Institute) had a meeting with the dolphin show organizer Movers and Shakers and SM Investments.

Here are a few things our representatives Trixie (EII) and Anna Cabrera (PAWS) observed in the travelling dolphin show facility:

1. The dolphins did not receive enough protection from the sun - the "roof" on top of the dolphin pool was just a net where the sun's rays passed through. At noontime and up to 3pm, it must be hell for these dolphins.
*At time this picture was taken (3.30pm), the heat wasn't so bad, as can be seen in photos

2. Dolphins swim in an 8ft by 12 meter tank. A size not even one ten thousandth of one percent of the marine mammals' normal habitat size

3. Sea lions were kept in pens only as big as their own body sizes. They were swimming around and around the small confined space. (at this point, Anna was told not to take anymore photos)

4. Dolphins and sea lions have five performances every single day. 11 am, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm. The organizer advised that they have very few attendance in the 11 am and 2 pm slots because it was too hot for the audience. To think that the audience area was amply covered, while the dolphin pool only had a transparent net for a roof.


DOLPHIN SHOW FACT SHEET : WHY YOUR COMPANY SHOULD NOT SUPPORT THIS CRUEL SHOW

1. Source of dolphins used in marine shows: dolphins were captured from the wild and their families were killed in Japanese drive fisheries. Parents of the dolphins usually 'interfere' when the hunters try to take the young (trainable) dolphins so they are killed. (We have video footage of this, pls PM me if you want a copy. If you have a copy of the documentary "Earthlings, " similar footage is shown.)

Owners of dolphin shows perpetuate this kind of cruel hunting in the wild because they serve as the market for these hunters. Hence, those who are patronizing dolphin shows are indirectly also contributing to this trade.

Help us stop the killing. Don't Watch Dolphin Shows.

2. Dolphin shows (whether temporary or permanent facilities) are inherently cruel as they shorten the lifespan of dolphins as shown by numerous scientific studies. Dolphins in the wild live up to 50 to 60 years while captive dolphins, if they are lucky, live up to only an average of 15 years.

In Ocean Adventure in Subic, four whales under the age of sexual maturity have already died.

3. Temporary facilities such as traveling dolphin-shows are much more stressful for aquatic animals such as dolphins because they have to be moved time and again after their they have finished their show in a particular area.

If it is stressful to move terrestrial animals such as elephants, tigers, and lions for circuses, it is much more stressful for a dolphin to be moved as they have to be immobilized for the duration of the trip from one location to another. As you all know, dolphins never stop moving in the wild, but when they are moved, they have to be taken out of the water and put into hammocks which is like putting a straightjacket over the animal.

4. Temporary facilities for dolphin shows usually use CHLORINATED water in their tanks which will BLIND the dolphins over time. Temporary facilities, usually smaller than permanent facilities, tend to save up on changing and cleaning the water the dolphins swim on, that is why they use chlorine. The dolphins will also be urinating and defecating in this small space. Over time, you can actually say that these animals will be swimming in their feces.

5. The size of the tank at the Dolphin Show in Mall of Asia is 8 feet by 12 feet (as reported in newspapers). This is not even one ten-thousandth of one percent of marine mammals' normal habitat size. Dolphins swim for hundreds of miles in the ocean No wonder a lot of dolphins are driven to insanity in these types of facilities. This is the worst type of life imprisonment that a living creature can ever be subjected to.

*Clarification that SM wishes to put forth: The dolphin show is not a mall event and is actually not even technically located within the mall grounds but in SM Bay City. However, the event posters clearly bear the SM Mall of Asia logo (an error, according to SM Investments) .

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ABUSE THAT DOLPHINS ENDURE IN SHOWS PLS GO TO http://www.pitstopi t.com/paws3/ campaign_ oa.htm. Or send us an email at philpaws@yahoo. com.

Thank you.
-The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
Earth Island Institute-Philippin es (EII-Phils)

Pls check out Karizma's site too: http://parc. agapeia.com/ news/dolphins- found-guilty/

The official PAWS announcement of the results of the EII-PAWS meeting with SM and dolphin show organizer people to follow.

Dolphins are DYING to amuse you.
If you care about dolphins, don't watch dolphin shows.

ok ka na ba tyan?

napapadalas ang pag absent ko :( i thought okay na yung tyan ko, tapos heto na naman :( di pa nga ako nagpapasaway na kumain ng maasim e.. haaaay... wag naman sana akong masisante :(

after 2 weeks

almost 2 weeks ko ng di na-update itong blog ko. was really busy with things. last thursday, after suffering from severe stomach pain that week, i went to the doctor and found out that i'm suffering from acid peptic disease. ang cause daw nito ay nagpapalipas ng gutom. e palakain nga ako e, pano nangyari yun? anyway, bawal sa akin ang maasim at maanghang. pati iced tea e bawal. so tiis tiis muna, haay buhay. wish lang e tumaba sana ako dito, hehehe.

kanina ay naglunch kami nina ivy at jon. finally, nakita ko rin si ivy! pano naman, magkalapit na nga lang kami ng ofc e di pa kami nagkikita. si jon? sige na nga, kahit pano e namiss ko rin ang mokong na ito, hehehe. ate seafoods pasta at delifrance, solb ang 2nd lunch ko :D

radar

didnt know why i was a bit thrilled about going to church last sat. was expecting nothing special. but when we went home, i saw him. was shocked to see him. tumaba sya, hiyang. good for him. and good for me too. bagong "rejuvinate" ang hair ko, kaya tulo laway na naman sya, hehehe

Fear

there are many things in this life
that brings fear to us

fear of the unknown
fear of what was expected to happen

fear of being alone
fear of being tied with someone

fear of being sick
fear of out-living loved-ones

but what does all this show us?
when we entrust ourselves with ourselves,
we can do nothing, we are nothing

and with this fear
we should replace this with faith
faith for what He can do for us
faith that He may not leave or forsake us

and this I pray,
"Lord, take all my fears away
leave in its place, a deep faith in You
a faith that may not waver
a divine fear that I may not wander
and Your light that may forever guide my path.
Amen."

21 - Earthquakes jolt Central Philippines

21 earthquakes on oct 21.. hmmm.. sana naman e magandang yanig ang dulot nito sa akin, hehehe

Saturday, October 21 2006 @ 06:58 PM BST Provincial Five earthquakes struck Central Philippines since Friday night, the latest of which was felt at around 11:45 a.m. Saturday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). A magnitude of 5.2 earthquake shook Boac, Marinduque at 10:30 p.m. Friday, followed by at least 41 minor aftershocks. No casualties or damages were reported. Phivolcs said the first four quakes -- 10:30 p.m. Friday, 1:27 a.m. Saturday, 6:09 a.m. Saturday, and 10:53 a.m. Saturday -- had epicenters in the vicinity of Boac, Marinduque while the latest tremor which was felt at 11:45 a.m. today, with a magnitude of 3.8, was placed at 32 kilometers southwest of Lucena City in Quezon province with a depth of five kilometers. Intensity 5 was also felt in Batangas City and Bauan, Batangas; intensity 4 in Manila, Lipa City, Batangas and San Pablo City, Laguna. Intensity 3 was felt in Makati City, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Talisay, Batangas and Lucban, Quezon while intensity 2 was felt in Quezon City, Tagaytay City and Guinayangan, Quezon. The earthquake was of tectonic origin and was traced from the movement along the eastern segment of Lubang Fault. Phivolcs however said it has not issued any tsunami warning in the coastal areas of Southern Luzon, as the recent earthquakes were not capable of generating destructive tsunamis. Tsunamis are usually generated by a quake magnitude of about 7.0, it said. Phivolcs expects aftershocks to continue in the next few days but not powerful enough to cause damage." The Philippines is part of the so-called "Ring of Fire" of volcanic islands along the western rim of the Pacific Ocean that sit on unstable earth plates and are prone to earthquakes. Phivolcs recorded at least 10 quakes everyday, but few are felt. (PNA) -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Balita MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

Back To Me

by Cueshe

Sometimes i feel like i'm all alone
Wondering of what have i done wrong.
Maybe i'm just missing you all along
When will you be coming home
Back to me?

There were times i felt like giving up.
Haunted by memories i can't give up.
Wish that i never let you go and slip away,
Had enough reasons for you to stay.

Can you feel me,
See me falling away.
Did you hear me,
I'm calling out your name.
'cause i'm barely hanging on
Baby, you need to come home
Back to me.

Sleepless nights,
'cause you're not here by my side
Cold as ice,
I feel deep down inside.
Maybe i'm just missing you all along
When will you be coming home

Can you feel me,
See me falling away
Did you hear me,
I'm calling out your name.
'cause i'm barely hanging on
Baby, you need to come home
When will you be coming home
Back to me.

alamang at kawali

havent eating alamang in a long time, kaya excited ako ng malamang alamang ang baon ko for lunch. after taking a bath e naaamoy ko na yung timpla ng mom ko, kaya lumapit ako. nabunggo nya yung kawali kaya tinry kong saluhin yun kesa sa kanya bumagsak. nasalo ko naman, este ng paa ko pala, hehehe :D lucky for me, di pa sya nasasalang, hehehe :D

sucker for men on white shirts

just discovered i was one... hmmmm

after 1 week

sept 28 nang dumating si Milenyo at nawala ang kuryente sa buong Metro Manila. kahapon, Oct 5 lang nagkaroon ng kuryente sa amin. swerte pa namin dahil may ilang bahagi pa rin sa aming lugar ang wala pa ring kuryente. haaaay buhay.. nagpapasalamat pa rin ako at hindi kami nahirapan sa pagtupad at pagsamba.

dito naman sa ofc e 2 days ng nagloloko ang power.. wed half day at kahapon whole day.. jurassic pa itong bldg namin kaya di kaya ng generator supplyan ang kanilang mga tenants.. hay life

kudos pag-asa! kutos to meralco!

manila was a direct hit by storm milenyo, and all praises to pag-asa. classes were suspended a day before. signal number 3 was raised in the metropolis. pag-asa's forecast that the storm will hit the metropolis at noon was accurate! hitech na ang weather forecasting ng pinas, sa wakas! but i couldn't say the same for meralco. unfortunately, 5 days after the storm, wala pa rin kaming kuryente. tama lang yung sabi ko na nasa ikapitong bundok kami ng tralala dahil walang signal, walang kuryente, walang phone lines, wala ring tubig (kakambal kasi ng kuryente ang tubig sa amin).. para tuloy kaming nasa liblib na probinsya, hehehe.. sana naman, magkaroon na ng kuryente sa amin within the day.

aside sa mga nasirang pagkain dahil walang ref, nagpapasalamat ako sa Ama dahil hindi Nya kami pinabayaan, at nakaligtas kami sa malakas na bagyong nagdaan. sa pagpasok ko sa office e nakita ko ang sangkaterbang billboards na nagbagsakan, ang iba ay sa mga bahay pa mismo bumagsak.

~~~~~~~~~~~

time tests true friendship. totoo ito, and in my case, sad to say, i had proven one of those that i call a true friend to be a mere acquaintance. sad to say din, na i proved twice na she's not that at all interested in me, but interested only in something that will be beneficial or will concern her. oh well, life's like that. at least, nakita ko na ang totoo nyang kulay.

draining week

i usually set aside at least one day of the week to attend to bible study sessions. but i'm usually able to attend 2-3 sessions per week. ito ang naging takbuhan ko sa mga panahong ito. but, because of my busy sched last week, i was only able to attend one session. then last saturday, dun ko muling naramdaman ang panghihina.. unti-unting nagbabalik ang lungkot at depression.. dun ko narealize ang kakulangan. at ang buting idinudulot ng pakikinig ng Kanyang katotohanan. totoo ngang hindi lang sa tinapay nabubuhay ang tao

brand new nokia 2310 for sale

baka may alam kayo naghahanap ng cellphone, im selling a brand new nokia 2310, may one year warranty pa, sim locked sa sun. P4500 lang po :D

isang linggo...one week.... one weak

one week delayed ang server namin, which means lost time for us. unfortunately, di nausog ang launch date ng project namin, since mismong CEO at COO ang nagpupush nito. so kayod to the max kami. more than one week na akong feeling tired. stressed kasi sa work, at di makabawi ng tulog since pati saturdays e may pasok kami. almost one week na rin na maaga ang pasok namin, 6am to be exact. sana pagtapos ng project na ito, pwedeng humirit ng one week na vacation :D

batch 2

may naalis na naman kahapon, isa sa amin, ewan ko kung meron pa sa kabila. kinausap din kami ng management dahil sa nangyayaring downsizing. napaka-assuring naman ng management sa status namin. may employment contract kaming hawak, na nakalagay na one month before kami iterminate ay iinform kami. then may makukuha kami, one month per year. karamihan sa amin ay wala pang 1 year. ira round off na daw yun to 1 year. stable nga (daw) ang company.