When Everything is Stacked Against You, Can You Beat the Odds?

By Daxx Bondoc

Most of us feel like the odds are against us. Life seems to be one wave of trial to the next. We fight so hard not to get swept away. But there are times we are so tired, that the easiest way to end it all is just to drown.

It is easy to give in to despair in this world we live in. Hope seems to be just an imagination to some of us.

Is there are reason to hope?

Can we beat the odds?

Yes!

There was a man who beat the greatest odds of all, death! And He wants to share this victory to us as well. In Him we can do everything. He Himself will be our strength.

His name is Jesus.

In Christ, there is hope. In Him there is victory. No matter how big our problems, He is always infinitely bigger.

Our victory over our trials might not be the way we envision it, but it will still be a real victory. The crucifixion of Christ was the greatest defeat by the standards of the world. But it was the greatest victory the world ever saw. Christ defeated death by dying… and rising again.

The grace to overcome our trials, pain and suffering is always available and always sufficient.

Let Christ live in you and be a good cheer!

He has conquered the world.

… and your problems as well.

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Do You Let Others Step On You?

By Daxx Bondoc

Have you ever been bullied? Most of us have been bullied one way or the other. Once in our life someone had tried to dominate us and step on our self respect.

Bullying happens when someone tries to dominate another person with the use of force. Are not we all guilty of trying to dominate others? Our “force” might take different shapes and forms, but it is still a “force” to take down others.

Those who try to dominate are actually small insecure people. They bully others to feel big. It is a way to cover up their smallness. They prey on the weak because they are to coward to pick somebody their own size.

I have seen this kind of bullying not only in school, but in relationships as well. It is always the insecure partner who does the bullying. The first part of the bullying starts by demoralizing his partner. After the partner is in a weakened state he can then proceed to dominating her. One of the most popular weapons of choice is blame. He will blame his partner with everything. And leaves himself immaculate. His partner will believe all his blames and thus she will submit herself to him.

These bullies typically target their partner’s self respect. Once they are able to step on that, it is a free reign for them. They now feel big knowing they are the ruler of the relationship.

Unfortunately, a lot of people let themselves get bullied in their relationships. They typically say, “I have accepted the good and the bad of my partner”. But what if the bad goes to worse? To worst? Would you still accept it? Why?

If a person loves you, or at least respects you, he will not try to dominate you. Love does not dominate, it serves. Love does not step on others but it lifts. Love’s hand is not open to grab and pull but to reach out and help.

If your partner is stepping down on you, it is time to step out.

You are not a door mat.

Do deserve a lot more.

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Are You A Person of Substance or Pretense?

Do you value style more than substance? Are you just loud and no melody?

Most people these days have devoted their time, energy and money in showing off. Their lives revolve on being someone who they are not. They become so absorbed trying to live the lifestyle to which they do not belong. They love to be seen even though there is nothing to see (in them).

They love to be shocking to get attention. They are like colorful balloons. They look pretty on the outside but all air in the inside.

These people seem to have everything except themselves. In their pretending they have forgotten who they really are. They have come to be ashamed of their past life, friends and mostly their past selves. They will desperately protect their status quo even if their actual status is a big K.O.

But these pretenders cannot escape themselves in the end. Their shallow ways of life will soon evaporate. And then, they will only be left with themselves, their real selves. They will have to look at the man in the mirror whom they hate and deny.

On the contrary, a person of substance is a person who does not pretend. He knows who he is, no more no less. He is joyful of his strengths and aware of his weakness. He tries to improve himself, but he does it based on reality. He does not change his “acting”, but he changes his being. The more he changes himself for the better, the more people respect him. He does not need to pretend to be someone who is not because he knows it is useless.

A person of substance does not try to win the approval of others. But others try to win his approval. He does not have the desire to shock and awe others. He knows that silent waters run deep.

Stop pretending.

Be yourself.

Be your better self.

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Queens Bus Driver Works Tirelessly to Feed Homeless

An inspirational story of one ordinary guy with an extraordinary heart.

We believe that a small group of person or even a single individual can make a difference. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead.

Watch this video and be inspired to make a difference as well!

Pope Offers Test to See If God Is Within

Reflects on Experience of Symeon the New Theologian

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 16, 2009 (Zenit.org).- There is a way to find out if God is dwelling and working within us, says Benedict XVI: We can ask if we respond to offenses by forgiving and to hatred with love.

The Pope offered this discernment criterion today when he dedicated the general audience in Paul VI Hall to a reflection on Symeon the New Theologian.

The Holy Father said that the 11th-century monk "calls us all to attention to the spiritual life, to the hidden presence of God in us, to honesty of conscience and purification, to conversion of heart, so that the Holy Spirit will be present in us and guide us."

The Pope proposed that attention to our interior growth is "even more important" than the "just" preoccupation with our physical growth.

And interior growth, he explained, consists in "knowledge of God, in true knowledge, not only taken from books, but interior, and in communion with God, to experience his help at all times and in every circumstance."

Confirming Christ

Benedict XVI pointed to something Symeon experienced that confirmed for the monk that God was within him.

He recounted: "[Symeon] began to feel like 'a poor man who loves his brothers.' [...] He saw around him many enemies that wanted to set snares for him and harm him but despite this he felt in himself an intense movement of love for them. How to explain this?

"Obviously, such love could not come from himself, but must spring from another source. Symeon understood that it came from Christ present in him and all was clarified for him: He had the sure proof that the source of love in him was the presence of Christ and that to have in oneself a love that goes beyond one's personal intentions indicates that the source of love is within."

The Pope affirmed that Symeon's experience is important for us today, "to find the criteria that will indicate to us if we are really close to God, if God exists and lives in us."

"God's love grows in us if we are really united to him in prayer and in listening to his word, with openness of heart," the Holy Father explained. "Only divine love makes us open our hearts to others and makes us sensitive to their needs, making us regard everyone as brothers and sisters and inviting us to respond with love to hatred, and with forgiveness to offense."

Being Christian Is No Easy Task, Admits Pope

Says Christ's Teachings Still Cause Scandal

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 23, 2009 (Zenit.org).- It's not easy being a Christian today, just as it wasn't in Christ's time, since the Lord asks believers to swim against the current in following his teachings, says Benedict XVI.

The Pope affirmed this today in an address to crowds gathered at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo for the praying of the midday Angelus.

The Holy Father was reflecting on the Gospel reading from St. John for today's Mass, which describes how many of Christ's followers abandoned him because of his affirmation, "If you do not eat of the flesh of the Son of man or drink of his blood, you shall not have life within you."

"Jesus, however, does not soften his statements," the Pontiff noted. "[I]ndeed, he turns to the Twelve directly and asks: 'Do you also wish to leave?'"

Benedict XVI contended that this "provocative question" is not just for the Apostles, but also for the believers "of every age."

"Today too," he said, "not a few are scandalized by the paradox of the Christian faith. Jesus' teaching seems 'hard,' too difficult to put into practice. There are thus those who reject it and abandon Christ; there are those who try to 'adapt' the word to the fashions of the times, distorting its meaning and value.

"'Do you also wish to leave?' This disturbing provocation resounds in our hearts and awaits a personal response from each person."

Following Peter

The Holy Father went on to say that Jesus is "not satisfied with a superficial and formal following," but rather calls believers to participate "'in his thinking and in his willing' all of our lives."

This following "fills the heart with joy and gives complete meaning to our existence," the Pope added. But, he also said, "it brings difficulties and renunciations because very often we must go against the current."

Pointing to Peter, who as the first Pope, reiterated his adhesion to Christ in the name of the Apostles, Benedict XVI said that "we too can repeat Peter's answer, aware of course of our human fragility, but confident in the power of the Holy Spirit, who expresses himself and manifests himself in communion with Jesus."

"Faith is a gift of God to man and it is, at the same time, man's free and total entrusting of himself to God," he added. "Faith is the docile listening to the word of the Lord, that is the 'lamp' for our steps and the 'light' on our way.

"If we open our hearts to Christ with confidence, if we let ourselves be conquered by him, we too can experience, together with the Cur� d'Ars, 'that our only happiness on this earth is to love God and to know that he loves us.'"

"Let us ask the Virgin Mary," the Pope concluded, "always to keep alive in us this faith impregnated by love, which made her, the humble girl of Nazareth, Mother of God and model for all believers."

Pope Urges Selflessness Faced to Economic Crisis

Challenges Youth to Find Right Road to Life

ROMANO CANAVESE, Italy, JULY 19, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is affirming that even in the midst of economic difficulty, strength comes from living Gospel values such as respect for human life and the family.

The Pope stated this today while addressing the crowd gathered to pray the midday Angelus in the Ruggia plaza of Romano Canavese, close to Les Combes in the Aosta Valley, northern Italy, where he is spending some vacation days.

He acknowledged the region's Christian roots, a land that "was bathed in the blood of martyrs at an early date."

Among them was St. Solutore, the Pontiff noted, admitting that "until now I did not know his name but I am always grateful to discover new saint intercessors."

Despite the town's "long history of faith" and hardworking inhabitants, the Holy Father recognized that "many families are experiencing a difficult economic situation because of the scarcity of jobs."

He affirmed that he tried to address this widespread problem in his latest encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate," which was released to the public July 7.

"I hope that it will be able to mobilize forces to renew the world!" Benedict XVI added.

Building the future

He continued: "Dear friends, do not be discouraged!

"Providence always helps those who do good and dedicate themselves to justice; it helps those who do not think only of themselves but of those who are worse off."

The Pope reminded his listeners of how their ancestors once had to emigrate to find work, but then the tables turned and economic development brought jobs back to the region.

He explained, "The fundamental values of the family and respect for human life, sensibility for social justice, the capacity to endure toil and sacrifice, the strong link to Christian faith through parish life and especially through participation at Holy Mass, have been your strength over the centuries."

"These same values," the Pontiff said, "will permit today's generations to build their future with hope, giving life to a true solidarity and a fraternal society, in which all the various spheres, institutions and economy are permeated by an evangelical spirit."

He challenged the young people in a particular way, to analyze "what sort of culture is emerging around you."

The Holy Father encouraged them to look at the proposed examples and models around them, and "determine whether they are such as to encourage you to follow the ways of the Gospel and authentic freedom."

He continued, "Youth is full of resources, but it must be helped to overcome the temptation of easy and illusory ways, to find the road of true and abundant life."

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On ZENIT's Web page:

Full text: http://zenit.org/article-26496?l=english