Welcome To My World!

What Is Your Favorite Fruit?

>Pick a fruit and forward it with what fruit you chose on the subject line.
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>Which fruit will you pick if you were handed these:
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>1. Orange
>2. Apple
>3. Banana
>4. Coconut
>5. Pineapple
>6. Papaya
>7. Mango
>8. Cherry
>9. Black Grapes
>10. Peach
>11. Custard Apple
>12. Pear
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>What did you pick?
>(Pick before you scroll down .... Do Not CHEAT!!!)
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>ORANGE: If orange is your favorite fruit, it speaks of a person who has
>enduring patience and willpower. You like to do things slowly, but very
>thoroughly and are completely undaunted by hardwork. You tend to be shy,
>but are reliable and trustworthy friend. You have an aesthetic bent of
>mind. You select your partner with care and you love with all your heart,
>and not in for just a fling. You avoid conflict at all costs.
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>APPLE: If apple is your favorite fruit, you are an extravagant,
>impulsive and outspoken person, often with a bit of a temper. While you may
>not be the best organizer yourself, you make a good team leader and are
>good at taking things forward. You can take quick action in most
>situations. You enjoy travel immensely. You ooze with charm when you are
>with your partner. You have an enthusiasm for life, unmatched by most.
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>BANANA: You are a softie, Loving, gentle, warm and sympathetic by nature is
>the banana lover. You often lack in self-confidence and are quite timid by
>nature. People often take advantage of your sweet temperedness, and sheer
>vulnerability to a situation. You adore your partner in every which way,
>both for their mental and physical beauty! Because of the way you are, your
>relationship is always very much in harmony!
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>COCONUT: The coconut lover is a serious, very thoughtful and
>contemplative person. Though you enjoy socializing, you are particular
>about the company you keep. You tend to be stubborn but not necessarily
>foolhardy. Shrewd, quick-witted and alert, you ensure that you are right on
>top of any given scenario, especially at work. You need a partner with
>brains, and while passion is important it certainly isn't verything for
>you.
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>PINEAPPLE: You are quick to decide and even quicker to act. You are brave
>in asking career changes, if that is what is to your advantage. You have
>exceptional organizing abilities and are undaunted by the size of the task
>at hand. You tend to be self reliant, sincere and honest in your dealings
>with others. Though you are not given to making friend very quickly, but
>once you do, it is for life. You rarely, if ever, make romantic overtures.
>Your partner is often impressed with your sterling qualities but
>disappointed in your ability to show affection.
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>PAPAYA: You are truly fearless and take much that happens in life in your
>stride. You give considerable thought to things you do. You have a sense of
>humor that, along with your generous nature, keeps you in most people's
>good books. You are a go-getter in your professional life, and have a knack
>for being in the right place at the right time. You enjoy meeting new
>people and seeing new sights whenever you can. Your sense of humor is what
>attracts members of the opposite sex to you more than
>anything else. It is simply charming!
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>MANGO: A mango lover is a personality to reckoned with; quite often, you
>are a person who has quite fixed ideas, and influencing you is not an easy
>task. You tend to be an extremist with strong likes and dislikes, and at
>times even like to control a situation. You enjoy getting involved in
>something that presents mental challenge. Strong as you may be, you are
>like a kitten when you are with your partner. You accommodate the love of
>your life, and make up for all the strong will elsewhere!
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>CHERRY: If cherry is your favorite fruit, life isn't always as sweet for
>you. You often face ups and downs, particularly rofessionally, and find
>that you make small sums of $$$, instead of a lump sum. You have a fertile
>imagination and are often involved in creative pursuits. You are a very
>sincere and loyal partner, but find that expressing your feelings is not
>very easy. Your home is your haven, and you love nothing more than being
>surrounded by close family and your beloved partner.
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>BLACK GRAPES: You are a polite person in general, but do have quick
>flare-ups of temper that cool down just as quickly. You enjoy beauty in all
>forms, including beautiful people. You are very popular because of your
>warm , gregarious nature. You have a zest for life, you enjoy everything
>you do, right from the way you dress, to your style and your day-to-day
>life. Your partner must share your zeal and zing for life to enjoy all you
>have to offer!
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>PEACH: Like a peach, you enjoy the juice of life & all its lush
>ripeness! You are the friendly sort, and are quite frank and outspoken,
>which adds to your charm. You are quick to forgive and forget; and value
>your friendships highly. You have an independent and ambitious streak in
>you that makes you a realgo-getter. You are the ideal lover, fiery and
>passionate but sincere and faithful in love. You don't, however, like to
>display all that passion in public.
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>CUSTARD APPLE: You are a modest and conservative person who can be quite
>sensitive at times. You tend to be thoughtful and contemplative,and
>therefore are rarely rash In doing things. You are quite ambitious and are
>good at anything that requires much detailing or working with numbers. You
>are quick at finding fault with others. While looking for a partner, you
>value a person's intellect far above their looks or good old passion. You
>are quite shy and not very comfortable demonstrating affection.
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>PEAR: If you put your mind to something you can do it successfully, but by
>and large you tend to be fickle and have trouble completing a task with the
>enthusiasm you started it with. You need to know the results of your
>efforts almost immediately. You enjoy mental stimulation and love to get
>into a good discussion! You tend to be a restless and high-strung
>person, and are easily excited Being happy doesn't mean everything's
>perfect! It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections

The Christian Way to Fight Stress

An Angel says: "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen; you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus!"

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can.

31. Be kind to unkind people they probably need it the most.

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

Are You Busy?

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.

In his opening address he said,

"We can't keep Christians from going to church."

"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth."

"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with
their Saviour."

"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is
broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish
dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a
relationship with Jesus Christ."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:

"Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that
vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable
schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to
work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their
empty lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with their children."

"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape
from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small
voice."

"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive."
"To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home
and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays
non-biblical music constantly."

"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."

"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."

"Invade their driving moments with billboards."

"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs,
sweepstakes,
and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products,
services and false hopes."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their
husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and
they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "

"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."

Give them headaches too!

"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin
to look elsewhere."

"That will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Clause to distract them from teaching their children
the real meaning of Christmas."

"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection
and power over sin and death."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."

"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."

"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation.
Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and
movies instead. "Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip
and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."

"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek
power from Jesus."

"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their
health and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work!" "It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians
everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.

Having little time for their God or their families.

Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!!!!!

Does "BUSY" mean:

B-eing

U-nder

S-atan's

Y-oke?

Useless Killings

The recent news of bombings and other atrocities that have been reported in various parts of the world drew more angers than sympathies to its perpetrators.

What they are trying to prove? It is necessary to sacrifice the lives of hundreds of innocent lives just to gain worldwide attention or recognition?

Why do they just resort to other peaceful means to attain their objectives, their demands or their recognition?

We are all brothers in the eyes of our own God, whoever He is in accordance with our belief and religion. We have no right to take the lives of our brothers to gain publicity, which in return becomes notoriety for such inhuman acts.

Let peace lives in every heart of us all! There is nothing wonderful in this life but to live in peace and harmony with our family, with our neighbors and with our community.

Let us stop all these useless killings!

Sulu - Land Of Treasures And Farers Of The Sea

Description
Far-flung Sulu is the southernmost part of the Philippines, lying between the Sulu Sea on the north and the Celebes Sea on the south. With fishing as its most important industry, it is classified as a First Class Province in terms of income.

The glorious Sulu Sea is dotted with coral reefs, such as the pearl farm at Marungas Island, and provides some of the world's best dive spots. Tubbataha Reef is its best known site, a 33,200-hectare underwater splendor drawing divers from all over the world with its marvelous marine wilderness and special ecosystem. Because of its fabulous beauty, the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park was honored by UNESCO in December 1993 as the first natural site in the Philippines to be inscribed in the prestigious World Heritage List.

The provincial capital is Jolo. Its walled city is the smallest in the world, with its historic brick walls that lay proof to the city’s historic and continuous strife. At the entrance of the city are four gates that were used as watch towers and several mounds that were the burial grounds of Spanish and American soldiers who died in the hands of the Muslim warriors. Another attraction of the city is the Provincial Capitol with its moorish-inspired architectural design.

The province nurtures a harmonious coexistence of the two most dominant religions in the Philippines, Catholicism and Islam. There are Muslim mosques situated in each barangay, most notable being the Tulay Mosque. The existing churches of Christian faith in the province are the Jolo Parish Church, Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel, and Jolo Evangelical Church.

Geography
The Sulu Archipelago is the southernmost part of the Philippines. It lies between the Sulu Sea on the north and the Celebes Sea on the south.

The province consists of over 400 scattered and almost isolated islands, stretching from the tip of Zamboanga southwestward towards Borneo. It forms one of the three connections of the Philipines with Borneo.

Climate
Sulu is outside of the typhoon belt. Its climate is warm, humidity is generally moist, but precipitation is constant throughout the year. February is considered the coldest month while May to August are the hottest, with mean relative humidity of 86%, one of the hottest in the country. January to April is considered the dry period, with a monthly average of 7 to 9 inches of rainfall. The mean annual temperature is 26 degrees centigrade and the maximum is 27 degrees centigrade.

Language / Dialect
The principal dialect of the natives of Jolo is Tausug. The rest speak Samal, Cebuano, Chavacano, Tagalog, and other dialects. English is widely spoken.

Major Industries
Far-flung Sulu is surprisingly a first-class province by income classification. While there is an absence of mineral deposits, Sulu nevertheless abounds in timber resources. Lying outside the typhoon belt, it is blessed with a year-round bounty from both land and sea.

Due to the character of the soil and climate, the province of Sulu grows a greater variety of products than any other part of the country. In addition to all the crops of the islands, which are abaca, coconut, and fruits like oranges, lanzones, and jacks, other fruits that do not grow in the northern islands are harvested here, such as the mangosteen and durian.

Fishing is the most important industry. Trepang and pearls are extensively gathered. Sea turtles and fish of all kinds are caught. Otherwise the people engage in the industries of boat building, mat weaving, coffee processing, and fruit preservation (durian and mangosteen).

Tawi-Tawi - Wildlife Mecca Of Muslim Mindanao

Description
Wild cattle, wild hogs, and monkeys of the brown and white variety are just some of the many exotic fauna that abound in the forests of mainland Tawi-Tawi. Lying at the southwestern tip of the Philippines, accessible in only a matter of hours from Sabah in Malaysia, Tawi-Tawi is a province to visit for its natural zoos and a world all its own.

At Sibutu, wild hogs come in rampaging bands of black, reddish brown, white, and spotted black and white. A hunter's paradise, Sibutu also boasts of the sleek and rare "labuyo" or wild rooster, birds of the edible variety – the balud, tabon, kingfisher, orioles, dandunay of the peacock variety, and more – as well as pet birds such as green, gold, and white parrots, canaries, lovebirds, and so much more.

Seagulls, known to the natives as “tallah-tallah,” have settled by the thousands at Gusong Reef in Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi to lay their eggs there. Gusong Reef is a top producer of the delicious turtle eggs, ranking second to the Turtle Islands. Bongao Peak is a veritable monkey sanctuary, which also provides a view of the expanse of sea and the necklace of islands for miles around.

Tawi-Tawi can easily transport one to a whole other world. Eye-catching Sitangkai is considered the “Venice of Tawi-Tawi.” The Royal "Kupunga" rises straight out of an Arabian setting. The Malay influences as well as tribal arts and crafts are very much visible in the province. Here, it is not uncommon to see folks dressed in colorful malongs, the women adorned in beads and brass trinkets.

Bongao, the provincial capital, is the only place in the province where simple amenities can be availed of. Lodging is spartan. Bazaars and small cafes crowd the commercial center. At the marketplace, foodstalls serve seafare and native delicacies like the "tapa" or cured boar's meat.

Geography
Tawi-Tawi lies at the southwestern tip of the country. Irregular in shape, with splashes of white sandy beaches and rock-bound coasts, the province has 107 islands and islets with a combined land area of 462 square miles.

Political Subdivisions
The province is composed of ten municipalities: Balimbing, Bongao, Cagayan de Tawi- Tawi, Simunul, Sitangkai, South Ubian, Tandubas, Turtle Island, Languyan and Sapa-Sapa. There are from ten to more than thirty barangays in each municipality. Each barangay is administered by a Barangay Captain.

Climate
Tawi-Tawi has two seasons: dry and wet The climate is generally moderate. The wettest months are from August to November. The other months of the year are generally dry with occasional rain showers.

Language / Dialect
The prevailing dialect is Samal, which is widely used in varied tones and accents. The Tausug dialect is also spoken, as are English and Filipino (Tagalog). Many local traders can speak Malay and Indonesian.

Major Industries
Agriculture, fishing, and agar-agar farming are the leading source of livelihood of the people of Tawi- Tawi, with quite a number engaged in the barter trade business. Copra is the top agricultural produce, followed by root crops, fruits, and vegetables.

JULY 14
BLESSED KATERI TEKAKWITHA

Between the years 1642 and 1649, St. Isaac Jogues and the North American martyrs came from France. They were killed while evangelizing the Indians. Ten years after the death of St. Isaac Jogues, Kateri Tekakwitha was born in the same village where he had died. (We celebrate the feast of St. Isaac and the North American Martyrs on October 19.)

Kateri means Katherine. Kateri was born in Auriesville, New York, in 1656. Her mother was a Christian Algonquin. Her father was a non-Christian Mohawk chief. Kateri's parents died of smallpox when the girl was fourteen. A Mohawk uncle raised her. This is how Kateri met the missionaries. On one occasion, her uncle had three Jesuit missionaries as his guests. Kateri began to receive instructions in the faith. She was baptized on Easter Sunday, 1676. That is when she took the name Kateri.

The village in which she lived was not Christian. In fact, in her lodge there was not one other Christian. The Indians did not appreciate her choice to remain unmarried. They insulted her and some resented that she did not work on Sunday. But Kateri held her ground. She prayed her Rosary every day, even when others made fun of her. She practiced patience and suffered quietly. Kateri's life grew harder. Some people were so harsh that their treatment was a persecution. She fled to a Christian village near Montreal. There on Christmas Day, 1677, she received her First Communion. It was a wonderful day. Father Pierre Cholonec, a Jesuit, guided her spiritual life for the next three years. She and an older Iroquois woman named Anastasia lived as joyful, generous Christians. Kateri made a private vow of virginity on March 25, 1679.

She was just twenty-four when she died on April 17, 1680. Exactly three hundred years later, on June 22, 1980, Kateri Tekakwitha was declared "blessed" by Pope John Paul II.

Daily Reading & Meditation

Friday (7/14): "I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves”

Scripture: Matthew 10:16-23

16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.

Meditation: What does Jesus mean when he says his disciples must be sheep in the midst of wolves? The prophet Isaiah foretold a time when wolves and lambs will dwell in peace (Isaiah 11:6 and 65:25). This certainly refers to the second coming of Christ when all will be united under the Lordship of Jesus after he has put down his enemies and established the reign of God over the heavens and the earth. In the meantime, the disciples must expect opposition and persecution from those who oppose the gospel. Jesus never hesitated to tell his disciples what they might expect if they followed him. Here Jesus says to his disciples: This is my task for you at its grimmest and worst; do you accept it? This is not the world's way of offering a job. After the defeat at Dunkirk, Churchill offered his country blood, toil, sweat, and tears. This is not the message we prefer to hear when the Lord commissions us in his service. Nonetheless, our privilege is to follow in the footsteps of the Master who laid down his life for us. Are you willing to accept hardship and suffering in following after the Lord?