Welcome To My World!

How to make the Olympic Games even more interesting in 2008?
(Part 4)

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call a doctor) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE:
Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK . to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE
(Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today)

R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call a doctor or the nearest hospital immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

This is a Thomas Kinkade painting. It's rumored to carry a miracle!

The water is supposed to be running, so if it's not moving then the picture
didn't come through entirely.

Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.

Kapampangan Cuisine
Pampanga is populated by resourceful hardy folk who are justifiably proud of their famous Kapampangan cuisine. Sisig is pork cheek, grilled to a crunchy perfection, chopped and mixed with chicken liver, onions, calamansi and fresh sili. Kamaru are mole crickets sautéed in garlic and onion. Other must-taste fare are pindang babi or damulag, which is sweet cured pork or carabeef; burung talangka, which comes from the fat of salt-preserved little crabs; buro, or fermented rice with small shrimps; and betute, or stuffed frog.

Christmas Lanterns
Every third of December, the City of San Fernando mounts the very popular Giant Lantern Festival. It is a parade of ornate and cleverly illuminated giant lanterns, some of which reach up to 40 feet in diameter and make use of as many as 1,600 light bulbs.

Cutud Lenten Rites
The City of San Fernando is world-famous for the Cutud Lenten Rites, which are held every Good Friday, or the Friday before Easter. The rites are a re-enactment of Christ's Passion and Death, complete with a passion play, culminating with the actual nailing of at least three flagellants to a wooden cross atop the makeshift Calvary.

Mt. Arayat
Located in Arayat, it is a dormant volcano with an area of 3, 715.28 hectares. Legend says it is the home of Mariang Sinukwan, a fairy who protects the mountain's vegetation and wildlife. At the foot of the mountain is Mt. Arayat National Park, a picnic site with lush foliage, natural waterfalls, two swimming pools, and a countless variety of unique and interesting flora and fauna.

Mt. Pinatubo / Lahar Area
The world-famous eruption of Mt. Pinatubo was heralded the world over as the biggest geologic upheaval of the 20th century. The Mt. Pinatubo Sky Tour takes visitors to a breathtaking view of the volcano that once ravaged Central Luzon. An annual Pinatubo trek, known as "A March to Peace and Tranquility," is held every November 30 to commemorate the great eruption. An ecumenical worship highlights the annual sojourn.

Kalinangan (formerly Paskuhan Village)
Envisioned to be the showcase of North Philippines' history and culture, it boasts of an array of colorful festivals, street performances, indigenous arts and crafts, food and delicacies. Located in the City of San Fernando, Kalinangan is the venue for the region's cultural exhibits, trading post, and center for culinary arts.

Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ)
It is home to the popular Fontana and Mimosa Leisure Park, Mimosa Casino, duty free shops, and world-class golf courses. The Clark-Arayat Ecoutour is an exciting tour of Clark Ecozone coupled with a nature trip to Arayat National Park, in addition to a tour of Gardens of the World in Pampanga.

Hot Air Balloon Festival
It is an annual tournament of balloonists from various countries held in Clarkfield during the month of February.

Angeles City Aerial Sports
The City of the Angels has long been the principal aviation center of the Philippines, first as the site of the Clark Air Force Base and more recently as home to some exceptional opportunities for personal flights of fancy. The Clark Special Economic Zone hosts one of the largest annual hot-air balloon festivals in Asia, and Angeles is targeted to become an international center for hot-air ballooning. But the real excitement here are the ultralights – tiny, fragile-looking aircraft made of steel tubing, covered with Dacron, and held together with wire. Ultralights are tougher than they look, and have a commendable safety record. What’s more, they put the pilot right out in the open air – you really experience the sensation of flight.

AUGUST 15
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

This feast of Mary celebrates a special privilege of Mary, our Mother. The Assumption means that she entered into the glory of heaven not only with her soul, but also with her body. The Son of God took his body from Mary's pure womb. It was fitting, then, that her body should be glorified as soon as her life here on earth was ended.

Now Mary is in heaven. She is queen of heaven and earth. She is the Mother of Jesus' Church and queen of apostles. Every time Mary asks Jesus to give us graces, he listens to her request.

After the resurrection from the dead, we, too, can go to heaven with our bodies. If we use our bodies now to do good, those bodies will share in our heavenly reward.

After the resurrection, our bodies will be perfect. They will not be subject to illness anymore. They will not need any more food and drink to keep alive. They will be able to go every place without time or effort. They will be beautiful and splendid!

Mary's Assumption body and soul into heaven is a dogma of faith. This wonderful truth was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950.

Daily Reading & Meditation

Monday (8/15): "His mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation"

Scripture: Luke 1:39-56

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." 46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever." 56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.

Meditation: How strong is your hope in the promises of God? Mary is a model of faith and hope for us. And she is among "the first-fruits" of "all those who belong to Jesus" and who share in his triumph (1 Cor.15:20-24). What enabled Mary to grow in faith and to persevere in hope in the face of obstacles and trials? The Gospel of Luke reveals the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in Mary's life. When Elizabeth and Mary greeted one another they were filled with the Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfilment of God's promise to give a Savior. John the Baptist, even before the birth of the Messiah, pointed to his coming and leapt for joy in the womb of his mother as the Holy Spirit revealed to him the presence of the King to be born. The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us to enable us to know and experience the indwelling presence of God and the power of his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the way in which God reigns within each of us. Mary accepted her mission with uncompromising faith and obedience. She acted with unwavering trust and faith because she believed that God would fulfill the word he had spoken. Her great hymn of praise echoes the song of Hannah (see 1 Samuel 2:1-10) and proclaims the favor of the Lord: God exalts the lowly and he fills the hungry. The Holy Spirit is ever ready to renew your faith and hope in God's promises and to make you strong in love for God and your neighbor.