- Tommy Poovathur -

Someone who I admire told me this, "Stop Being a People Pleaser!"

2011-07-04T19:29:00.001-07:00

Is it wrong to not be a People Pleaser 24/7?? Nope, but it isn't the best game plan to follow either! Do you habitually give in to other people because you just can't stand the thought of upsetting them? Do you put your needs to one side because you get a buzz from someone else's happiness, only to find that he or she is not a bit grateful? If so, you are a classic "people pleaser," and you are, in all probability, not getting what you want out of life. It's time to shift the focus from others to yourself, and stop being a martyr. 9 steps and some thoughts for not being a full time people pleaser. 1st STEP: Think of five times when you did or said something that did not truly reflect your wants and needs, in order to please someone else. Write them down. For each of these occasions, imagine how you would have handled it differently to please yourself! What is the worst that could have happened? Write down your worst fears. 2nd Step: Look at your fears. Are they realistic? Are they truly terrible? You might be afraid that no one will like you, that someone will leave you, or that you will be left all alone if you don't say the right thing. That is a prison you have trapped yourself in, and it's time to unlock the doors and walk out! The people around you may be used to your compliance, but if they're not willing to accept that you have your own needs, are they really worth having in your life? 3rd STEP: Examine your ability to set limits on others. Examine your boundaries. Where are they? What is acceptable behavior for you and what is unacceptable? Do you tolerate the intolerable? Normalize the abnormal? Accept the unacceptable? Do you know what it feels like to be treated with dignity and respect? Learn how to identify and label unacceptable treatment from others and how to set limits on their behavior when they violate your boundaries. 4th STEP: Consider the source. Many people pleasers were raised in environments wherein their needs and feelings were pushed aside/not considered. Were you always expected to anticipate and mold yourself to everyone else's needs? Did you learn that the only way to receive a positive response was to do what others wanted you to do? If so, here's a newsflash -- not all the world wants a pushover. By focusing on pleasing others, you open yourself up to manipulation and abuse. You will never reach your potential as an individual if you constantly hide behind others' expectations. 5th Step: Stop basing your self-worth on how much you do for other people. It's noble to want to help others, but it's something you should do because you want to, not because you feel youhave to. The greatest acts of kindness are those done by choice, not out of fear or guilt. If you're doing things for others because you would feel bad if you didn't, is the action really genuine? Would you want others to help you under those terms? And, if you're helping others to such an extent that you are neglecting yourself, is that really wise? 6th STEP: Learn how to say "no." Don't make up excuses -- give your reasons for not wanting something. So your husband wants his entire family to come to Christmas dinner, and you just can't face it? "I'm sorry darling, I find the pressure of entertaining such a large number of people intolerable." Your best friend wants you to go with her or him to a party that will be full of people that you can't stand? "No thank you. It's just not my scene." Start small by finding something small to say "no" to, and say it firmly. Say it politely, but mean it! You'll be surprised -- the world will not collapse around your ears! People rarely take offense, and those that do aren't worth pleasing. 7th STEP: Ask for what you want. If everybody's going to the movies, and most people in the group want to see a particular movie, but you'd rather watch something else, speak up! There's nothing wrong with voicing your opinion, and it doesn't have to mean you're making a demand. Simply reminding people that you're an individual with your own preferences is a big step forward. Even asking someone to help you do something will help. Ultimately, you must remember that no one can read your mind. If you feel that you do so much for others, but they don't do anything for you, maybe it's because you don't express your needs or desires. It's not fair to make people pry an answer from you. If they ask you what you want, or if there's a decision being made, put in your opinion, and let that be that. 8th STEP: Do something for yourself. Do one thing you have been wanting to do, but are afraid someone else will not like. Dye your hair, get that new look, have a treat that you enjoy, go on holiday....whatever you do, do it for yourself, and practice not worrying what anyone else thinks about it. Don't get caught up in doing things just because no one else wants you to do them. Remember that there ought to be things that you truly want to do for yourself, regardless of what anyone else thinks, not in spite of it. Other people's opinions are a factor in our lives, but they should not be the determining factor. 9th STEP: Compromise. While it's not good to be a pushover, it's no better to be a manipulative bully or a reckless rebel. Don't become totally selfish. In fact, many people pleasers have low self-esteem. So do those who are selfish. It is best to develop good self-care skills which include healthy assertiveness skills. You can listen to others, but ultimately, what you do is your choice. Keep a balance! Sometimes the needs of other people should come first. Whenever there's a conflict of desires, try to come up with a solution that will meet both desires halfway, or better yet, a "win-win" situation where both sides get even more than they bargained for.

We praise Thee, O God of our Fathers, we hymn Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks unto thee for Thy great and tender mercy.

2011-05-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

O Lord our Savior and our Master, we, Thine unprofitable servants, with fear and trembling give thanks unto Thy loving goodness for all Thy benefits which Thou hast poured so abundantly upon us, Thy servants. We fall down in adoration before Thee and offer Thee, O god, our praises; with fervor we cry to Thee: O God, deliver us henceforth from all adversities and mercifully fulfill in us such of our desires as may be expedient for us. Hear us, we entreat Thee, and have mercy, for Thou art the Hope of all the ends of the earth, and unto Thee, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be ascribed glory, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. We praise Thee, O God of our Fathers, we hymn Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks unto thee for Thy great and tender mercy. To Thee we flee, O merciful and mighty God. Shine into our hearts with the True Sun of Thy righteousness. Enlighten our minds and keep all our senses, that henceforth we may walk uprightly and keep Thy commandments, and may finally attain unto eternal life, even to Thee, Who art the source of life, and be admitted to the glorious fruition of Thy inaccessible Light. For Thou art our God, and unto Thee, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be ascribed glory, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. With fear and trembling we give thanks unto Thy loving goodness for all Thy benefits which Thou hast poured so abundantly upon us.

No man can be confronted with a difficulty which he has not the strength to meet and subdue.

2010-12-26T21:07:00.001-08:00

Do not regard your difficulties and perplexities as portentous of ill; by so doing you will make them ill; but regard them as prophetic of good, which, indeed, they are. Do not persuade yourself that you can evade them; you cannot. Do not try to run away from them: this is impossible, for wherever you go they will still be there with you – but meet them calmly and bravely; confront them with all the dispassion and dignity which you can command; weigh up their proportions; measure their strength; understand them; attack them, and finally vanquish them. Thus will you develop strength and intelligence; thus will you enter one of those byways of blessedness which are hidden from the superficial gaze. There is no peace in sin, no rest in error, no final refuge but in Wisdom. These thoughts were brought to my attention by my guide Dr. A.R.K Pillai as he reflected on the works of James Allen. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

If a man is troubled, perplexed, sorrowful, or unhappy, let him ask:

2010-11-14T19:32:00.001-08:00

The following thoughts were brought to my attention by my guide Dr. A.R.K Pillai as he reflected on the works of James Allen.

If a man is troubled, perplexed, sorrowful, or unhappy, let him ask: “What mental seeds have I been sowing?” “What seeds am I sowing?” “What is my attitude towards others?” “What seeds of trouble and sorrow and unhappiness have I sown that I should thus reap these bitter weeds?” Let him seek within and find, and having found, let him abandon all the seeds of self, and sow, henceforth, only the seeds of Truth. Let him learn of the farmer the simple truths of wisdom, and sow broadcast the seeds of kindness, gentleness and love.

The way to obtain peace and blessedness is to scatter peaceful and blessed thoughts, words and deeds. Men reap that which they sow.

He who would be blessed, let him scatter blessings.

2010-11-12T21:33:00.001-08:00

He who would be blessed, let him scatter blessings. He who would be happy, let him consider the happiness of others.

These thoughts were brought to my attention by my guide Dr. A.R.K Pillai as he reflected on the works of James Allen. THE farmer must scatter all his seed upon the land, and then leave it to the elements. Were he to covetously hoard his seed, he would lose both it and his produce, for his seed would perish. It perishes when he sows it, but in perishing it brings forth a greater abundance. So is life, we get by giving; we grow rich by scattering. The man who says he is in possession of knowledge which he cannot give out because the world is incapable of receiving it either does not possess such knowledge, or if he does, will soon be deprived of it – if he is not already deprived of it. To hoard is to lose; to exclusively retain is to be dispossessed. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Dreams of Living Men

2010-07-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

"If there is one place on the face of this Earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest day when man began the dream of existence, it is India." - Romain Rolland (French Philosopher, 1886-1994)

James Allen said, "Man will be free when he is freed from self. Freedom is to the free!"

2010-07-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

All outward oppression is but the shadow and effect of the real oppression within. For ages the oppressed have cried for liberty, and a thousand man-made statues have failed to give it to them. They can give it only to themselves; they shall find it only in obedience to the Divine Statutes which are inscribed upon their hearts. Let them resort to the inward Freedom, and the shadow of oppression shall no more darken the earth. Let men cease to oppress themselves, and no man shall oppress his brother. Men legislate for an outward freedom, yet continue to render such freedom impossible of achievement by fostering an inward condition of enslavement. They thus pursue a shadow without, and ignore the substance within. All outward forms of bondage and oppression will cease to be when man ceases to be the willing bond-slave of passion, error and ignorance. -Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda said, "When by discrimination and right action man roasts all the seeds of evil tendencies stored in the mind, each microscopic brain cell becomes a throne for a brilliant king of wisdom, inspiration and health, who sings and preaches the glory of God to the intelligent body cells. Men who have attained this state are really free. Such liberated beings are untouched by karma in future incarnations, and reincarnate only in order to wipe away the tears of the karma-bound. These liberated masters are haloed in invisible healing light. Wherever they go, they scatter the light of prosperity and health." The above stated thoughts were brought to my attention by my Dr. Pillai

2010-07-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

By self-enlightenment is Perfect Freedom found. The Land of Perfect Freedom lies through the Gate of Knowledge. -James Allen-

THERE is no bondage in the Heavenly Life. There is Perfect Freedom. This is its great glory. This Supreme Freedom is gained only by obedience. He who obeys the Highest co-operates with the Highest, and so masters every force within himself and every condition without. A man may choose the lower and neglect the Higher, but the Higher is never overcome by the lower: herein lies the revealation of Freedom. Let a man choose the Higher and abandon the lower; he shall then establish himself as an overcomer, and shall realize Perfect Freedom. To give the reins to inclination is the only slavery; to conquer oneself is the only freedom. The slave to self loves his chains, and will not have one of them broken for fear he would be depriving himself of some cherished delight. He thus defeats and enslaves himself.

2010-07-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

To be able to do whatever one pleases is not the real meaning of freedom of action. You should understand to what degree you are free, and how much you are influenced by bad habits. To be good just because it has become a habit to be good is not freedom, either. To be tempted is not sinfulness, but to be able to resist and overcome temptation is greatness; this is freedom, for you are acting by free will and free choice only.

-Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda-

2010-07-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Some anecdotes about Albert Einstein, honored by Time Magazine as the "Man of the Century".

One day during a speaking tour, Albert Einstein's driver, who often sat at the back of the hall during his lectures, remarked that he could probably give the lecture himself, haveing heard it so many times. Sure enough, at the next stop on the tour, Einstein and the driver switched places. With Einstein sitting at the back in his driver's uniform. Having delivered a flawless lecture, the driver was asked a difficult question by a member of the audience. "Well, the answer to that question is quite simple," he casually replied. "I bet my driver, sitting up at the back there could answer it..."

Albert Einstein's wife often suggested that he dress more professionally when he headed off to work. "Why should I?" he would invariably argue. "Everyone knows me there." When the time came for Einstein to attend his first majot conference, she begged him to dress up a bit. "Why should I?" said Einstein. "No one knows me there!"

Albert Einstein was often asked to explain the general theory of relativity. "Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour," he once declared. "Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity!"

When Albert Einstein was working in Princeton university, one day he was going back home he forgot his home address. The driver of the cab did not recognise him. Einstein asked the driver if he knows Einstein's home. The driver said "Who does not know Einstein's address? Everyone in Princeton knows.Do you want to meet him?". Einstein replied "I am Einstein. I forgot my home address, can you take me there? "The driver reached him to his home and did not even collect his fare from him .

Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it. The conductor said, 'Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it.' Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back and said, 'Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one.' Einstein looked at him and said, 'Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.''

The soul is bound to the body...

2010-07-06T05:51:00.000-07:00

The soul is bound to the body by a chain of desires, temptations, troubles and worries and it is trying to free itself. If you keep tugging at that chain which is holding you to mortal consciousness, some day an invisible Divine Hand will intervene and snap it apart, and you will be free. ----Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

Only way to find oneself...

2009-08-02T17:55:00.000-07:00

This quote deserves thought:

"Mankind is notoriously too dense to read the signs that God sends from time to time. We require drums to be beaten into our ears, before we should wake from our trance and hear the warning and see that to lose oneself in all, is the only way to find oneself."

H.G.Alexios Mar Eusebius

2009-06-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

H.G. Alexios Mar Eusebius

Metropolitan of Diocese of Southwest America He is a member of St. George Orthodox Church, Puthoor of Kollam Diocese. He hails from Vattakkattu family, Puthoor. Late Fr. V.J. Jacob, Vattakkattu is his paternal uncle. He is the fourth son of Late. Y. Daniel and Smt.Chinnamma Daniel. He had his B.Sc (Kerala University), LL.B (Bangalore University), GST (Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam), BD (Serampore University), M.Th (St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute of Theology, Bangalore), Diploma in Biblical Geography (Tantur Ecumenical Institute, Jerusalem) and Research Study in Old Testament (Federich Alexander University Germany). He is pursuing Doctoral Research in O. T. (St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute of Theology, Bangalore). In 1995, H. H Baselious Mathews II ordained him to the priesthood. He was appointed as the faculty of Old Testament in St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary, Nagpur. He has served as: Warden, Director of Fieldwork, Bursar, Director of OVBS, Treasurer of School for Mentally Challenged Children, Nagpur, Treasurer, the Orthodox Sunday School Association of the East (Out Side Kerala Region) and Director of Akhila Malankara Orthodox Shushrushaka Sangam (Out Side Kerala Region). He has worked in various parishes in Bangalore, Germany, and Calcutta Diocese. Fr. Alex Daniel enrolled as an advocate in the High Court of Kerala in the year 1994 and practiced as a Civil Lawyer in the District Court, Kollam. He handled the regular columns in the Malankara Sabha, Sahayatra, Parish Mission Literatures of the Nagpur Seminary and in the Souvenirs and Magazines of various Churches. He has published a book in Malayalam named “Vachanathejas”, a compilation of Sunday Sermons for a complete year. He has participated in many conferences of SATHRI and ECC, Bangalore, VIth annual conference of CMAI, Schillong (2006), the Curriculum Revision Committee of Serampore University (2006), five-day conference for the youths of Orthodox – Lutheran Churches held at Greiswald, Germany (2005), works of NCCI and India Peace Center, Nagpur. The Malankara Syrian Christian Association met on 11 Sep 2008 at Pampakuda elected him as the bsihop along with six others. On 4 Dec 2008 His Holiness Baselius Marthoma Didymus I professed him as Ramban. On 19 feb 2009 he was ordained as bishop by H.H.Baselius Marthoma Didymus I, at St. George Orthodox Church, Puthupally.

2008-08-10T04:23:00.000-07:00

Abiding in God is to become one in the flow of His creation. It is a place of acceptance and surrender. Much like stillness and peace, living and moving in God is choosing to be one with the Creator.

2008-07-31T14:07:00.000-07:00

"God, grant me the power to Believe that I can, To Feel that I'm worthy, and to create a good plan."

Focus on God Instead of Your Fear

2008-07-19T04:27:00.000-07:00

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them; those who contended with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing. For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you.”
ISAIAH 41: 10,13

Notice this passage tells us not to look around in terror and be dismayed. When we look at our circumstances until we become afraid it is always a mistake - yet thats what many people do.

The more we focus our eyes and our mouth on the problem, the more fearful we become. Instead we should focus on God who is able to handle anything we will ever have to face. He has promised to strengthen us and to harden us to difficulties.

No matter how great and important or small and insignificant your fears may be, God is saying to you, "Fear not; I will help you!"

2008-07-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

A conversation with my Brother and another with a friend from awhile ago. Just a few words..a good few minutes...a good listener on the other end...thats all its taking for me to become a better man. Closer to the Lord...comforted by his presence. I am happy, I am eager to start on my way. Thank you Lord for showing me a way.

Blessed Assurance

2008-06-17T05:41:00.000-07:00

38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ROMANS 8:38-39

You cannot trust unless you believe you are loved. It's true. To grow in God and be changed we must trust Him. Often He will lead us in ways we cannot understand. During those times we must have a tight grip on His love for us. The apostle Paul was convinced that nothing would ever be able to seperate him from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We need to have that same absolute assurance of God's undying love for us.

Accept God's love for you and make that love the basis for your love for others. Receive His affirmation, knowing that you are changing and becoming all He desires you to be.

2008-06-06T06:10:00.000-07:00

Life goes on when we are ill. It is merely intensified. We tend to handle illness basically the way we handle everything else in life. We must avoid the temptation to see illness as a block to our capacity to find God, and instead use it as a springboard from which we soar into His arms. —Excerpted from A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

2008-05-16T06:02:00.000-07:00

Simplicity of character is the natural result of profound thought...

Our buddy, Freddy..

2008-05-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

This is Freddy, he's our buddy..(pet)

Uno

2008-05-15T18:53:00.001-07:00

A young inventor of the Uno from Canada, Ben Gulak who is 18 years of age, says that the Uno is equipped with a single switch to turn the machine on or off. Its speed and direction is controlled solely by the movement of one's body. The motorbike uses gyroscopic technology to stay balanced, and is equipped with two gyros, one meant for turning, and another for going forward and backward. Uno runs and accelerates as you lean forward into the bike, going at a maximum speed of 25mph; although Gulak says it can go faster with a bigger motor. Sure, the Uno has a couple of wheels, but they're right next to each other, creating an illusion of a unicycle. What's great about it being quite small though is that it's only 120 pounds, and you can actually carry it indoors to be recharged--a single charge is enough for 2.5 hours of transport. Let's just hope it's safe for actual usage if and when it's manufactured for public consumption.

Obesity

2008-05-15T18:39:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile.. obesity The rates of the overweight and of obesity have risen more than 30% since 1976-80 according to the NHANES II survey.

Overweight and Obesity Facts One in three or 58 million American adults aged 20 through 74 are overweight. According to data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), the number of overweight Americans increased from 25 to 33 percent between 1980 and 1991. The survey also shows that minority populations, specifically minority women, are disproportionately affected: approximately fifty percent of African American and Mexican American women are overweight. By a similar definition, more than one in five children and adolescents aged 6 through 17 are also overweight. Even using a more rigorous definition recommended for youths, 11 percent of children and adolescents are overweight, up from approximately 5 percent in the 1960s and 70s. Overweight and obesity is a known risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, arthritis, breathing problems, and some forms of cancer.

What Is Overweight and Obesity? Overweight is the excess amount of body weight that includes muscle, bone, fat, and water. Obesity is the excess accumulation of body fat. One can be overweight without being obese: a body builder who has a lot of muscle, for example. However, for practical purposes, most people who are overweight are also obese. How Is Obesity Measured? Doctors and scientists generally agree that men with more than 25 percent body fat and women with more than 30 percent body fat are obese. However, it is difficult to measure body fat precisely. The most accepted method has been to weigh a person underwater. But underwater weighing is a procedure limited to laboratories with special equipment. Two simpler methods for measuring body fat are skinfold thickness measurements and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Skinfold thicknesses are measures of the thickness of skin and subcutaneous (lying under the skin) fat at targeted sites of a person's body such as the triceps (the back of the upper arm). Measurements of skinfold thickness depend on the skill of the examiner, and may vary widely when measured by different examiners. BIA sends a harmless amount of an electrical current through the body, which estimates total body water. Generally, a higher percent body water indicates a larger amount of muscle and lean tissue. Mathematical equations can translate the percent body water measure into an indirect estimate of body fat and lean body mass. BIA may not be accurate in severely obese individuals, and is not useful for tracking short-term changes in body fat brought about by diet or exercise. In addition to skinfold thickness measures and BIA, doctors also use weight-for-height tables and body mass index measures (BMI) to determine if a person is at a desirable body weight. Doctors and obesity researchers prefer BMI to other measurements. Body mass index is found by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. When a man's BMI is over 27.8, or woman's exceeds 27.3, that person is considered overweight. The degree of obesity associated with a particular BMI ranges from mild obesity at a BMI near 27, moderate obesity at 30, severe obesity at 35, to very severe obesity at 40 or greater. An estimated 41 percent of the population has a BMI greater than 25. Like weight-for-height tables, BMI does not measure body fat. While limited, these measures nevertheless help doctors, patients, and the public assess a person's desirable body weight. The Prevalence of Overweight in the United States Total number of overweight adults: (20 through 74 years old) approximately one-third or 58 million Americans. (numbers derived from NHANES III, 1988-91, which defines overweight as a BMI value of 27.3 percent or more for women and 27.8 percent or more for men) Overweight adult females (20-74 years old): 32 million (1990) Overweight adult males (20-74 years old): 26 million (1990) Total number of overweight youths: 6 through 17 years old approximately 11 percent or 4.7 million children in this age group. (numbers derived from NHES II and III, which defines overweight by the 95th percentile of BMI) Other Overweight/Obesity-Related Statistics The percentage of dietary fat American adults eat.34 percent The percentage of saturated fat American adults eat.12 percent The number of extra calories a person must eat to gain a pound or burn to lose a pound.3,500 calories The percentage of adult American women trying to lose weight at any given time.33 to 40 percent The percentage of adult American men trying to lose weight at any given time.20 to 24 percent The average number of calories a person burns eating..023 kcal per minute/per kilogram of body weight The annual number of deaths attributable to poor diet and inactivity.300,000 deaths

Economic Costs of Chronic Conditions Linked to Overweight/Obesity Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) Nearly 80 percent of patients with NIDDM are obese. Much of the estimated $11.3 billion dollars spent each year to diagnose, treat, and manage NIDDM, including treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetic coma, diabetic eye disease, and diabetic kidney disease, stems from obesity. Gallbladder disease The incidence of symptomatic gallstones soars as a person's body mass index (BMI) goes beyond 29. Nearly $2.4 billion dollars or 30 percent of the total amount spent annually on gallbladder disease and gallbladder surgery are related to obesity. Heart disease Nearly 70 percent of the diagnosed cases of cardiovascular disease are related to obesity. Obesity Obesity accounts for $22.2 billion, or 19 percent, of the total cost of heart disease. High blood pressure Obesity more than doubles one's chances of developing high blood pressure, which affects approximately 26 percent of obese American men and women. The annual cost of obesity-related high blood pressure is close to $1.5 billion dollars. Breast and colon cancer Almost half of breast cancer cases are diagnosed among obese women; an estimated 42 percent of colon cancer cases are diagnosed among obese individuals. Obesity-related breast cancer and colon cancer account for 2.5 percent of the total costs of cancer, or $1.9 billion dollars, annually. Indirect costs: Americans spend an additional $33 billion dollars annually on weight-reduction products and services, including diet foods, products, and programs.

Tulip Update...

2008-04-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

This is a update pic of http://tommypoovathur.blogspot.com/2008/03/tulips-are-coming-tulips-are-coming.html

Jesus and Peter

2008-04-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

This morning while I was online..I completed my rounds of wishing everyone a very Happy Vishu! I made a few calls and looked at a few blogs, I came across a comment in one of the blogs that pointed towards a daily prayer meditation and reading schedule suggested by the MGOCSM. Today being April 13th 2008, the Bible Reading Chart set forth by the MGOCSM of India suggests reading & meditating on JOHN 21 15-19.

Scripture

John 21:15-19 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." 19 (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him,"Follow me."

Meditation

Does the fire of God’s love burn in your heart? John the evangelist tells us that God is love (1 John 4:16). His love is unconditional, without limit, and everlasting. It’s the beginning and the end; and it’s the essence of Christianity. It draws us to the heart of God and it compels us to give to him our full allegiance and our very lives. Paul the Apostle tells us that God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given us (Romans 5:5). What can quench such love? Certainly indifference, loss of hope, disbelief, or rejection of God's word. Why did Jesus question Peter’s love and fidelity three times in front of the other apostles? It must have caused Peter pain and sorrow since he had publicly denied Jesus three times. Now Peter, full of remorse and humility, unequivocally stated that he loved his master and was willing to serve him whatever it might cost. When Jesus asks him "do you love me more than these?" he may have pointed to the boats, nets and catch of fish. He may have challenged Peter to abandon his work for the task of shepherding God's people. Jesus also may have pointed to the other disciples and to Peter's previous boast: "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away" (Matthew 26:33). Peter now makes no boast or comparison but humbly responds: "You know I love you". The Lord calls us, even in our weakness and sin, to love him above all else. Augustine in his Confessions wrote: "Late have I loved you, O Beauty so ancient and so new. Late have I loved you! ...You shone your Self upon me to drive away my blindness. You breathed your fragrance upon me... and in astonishment I drew my breath...now I pant for you! I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst for you. You touched me! - and I burn to live within your peace. " (Confessions 10:27) Nothing but our sinful pride and wilfulness can keep us from the love of God. It is a free gift unmerited and beyond payment. We can never outmatch God in love. He loved us first and our love for him is a response to his exceeding graciousness and mercy. Do you allow God's love to change and transform your heart?

Prayer

"Lord inflame my heart with your love and remove everything that is unloving, unkind, ungrateful, unholy and not in accord with your will."

Funniest Joke In The World...

2008-03-27T19:58:00.000-07:00

I googled, "funniest joke in the world" and this is what I got.

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps, "My friend is dead! What can I do?". The operator says "Calm down. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says "OK, now what?"
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/10/03/joke.funniest/index.html

The tulips are coming, the tulips are growing...

2008-03-26T12:28:00.000-07:00

The tulips are coming, the tulips are growing... We are having fairly decent weather today and this morning on my way back from a long jog I noticed that there were small green sprouts growing from the ground in some gardens...and then I remembered something and quickened my pace to get home. I had remembered that I bought a few bags of tulip bulbs from the garden shop and had painstakingly planted them in the ground around the house...

(I went ahead and planted a couple of bags of the bulbs around my parents house while they where away on vacation. I hope they enjoy the little surprise.)

There were a few of them, just about a inch tall..And there they were, all green, crisp and brimming with the eagerness to push out of the ground..and bloom in the near future... "Grow little tulips, Grow..."

2008-03-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

"The philosophy of one century is the common sense of the next."

Chillen with Chillum..

2008-03-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

ahh..a recollection of simpler times... ahh to be in India...

Biblical prayers for certain occasions..

2008-03-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

Confession Ps 51/ Luke 18:10-24
Praise 1 Chr 29:10-13/ Luke 1:46-55
Thanksgiving Ps 105:1-7/ 1 Thess 5:16-18
Petition Gen 24:12-14/ Acts 1:24-26
Intercession Exod 32:11-13/ Phil 1:9-11
Commitment 1 Kgs 8:56-61/ Acts 4:24-30
Forgiveness Dan 9:4-19/ Acts 7:60
Confidence Ps 23/ Luke 2:29-32
Benediction Num 6:24-26/ Jude 24

The day after Easter..

2008-03-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

Reading...this has been my silent vice these few days..I wonder if indeed I should have read a portion while having this laptop close at hand. I should have jotted down the new thoughts that arose from those hours and hours of joyous reading. Could have and should have... Well, anew we will start...

773,692 Words...

2008-03-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

The Bible contains about 773, 692 words! It would take you approximately 70 hours to read the whole Bible out loud.

The Night of The Last Supper..

2008-03-20T17:41:00.000-07:00

This day, Maundy Thursday (also "Holy Thursday" or "Shire Thursday") commemorates Christ's Last Supper and the initiation of the Eucharist. Its name of "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning "command." This stems from Christ's words in John 13:34, "A new commandment I give unto you." It is the first of the three days known as the "Triduum," and after the Vigil tonight, and until the Vigil of Easter, a more profoundly somber attitude prevails (most especially during the hours between Noon and 3:00 PM on Good Friday). Raucous amusements should be set aside... The Last Supper took place in "the upper room" of the house believed to have been owned by John Mark and his mother, Mary (Acts 12:12). At the site of this place a basilica was built in the 4th century. It was destroyed by Muslims and later re-built by the Crusaders. Underneath the place is the tomb of David. After the Supper, He went outside the Old City of Jerusalem, crossed the Kidron Valley, and came to the Garden of Gethsemani, a place whose name means "Olive Press," and where olives still grow today. There He suffered in three ineffable ways: He knew exactly what would befall Him physically and mentally -- every stroke, every thorn in the crown He would wear, every labored breath He would try to take while hanging on the Cross, the pain in each glance at His mother; He knew that He was taking on all the sins of the world -- all the sins that had ever been or ever will be committed; and, finally, He knew that, for some people, this Sacrifice would not be fruitful because they would reject Him. Here He was let down by His Apostles when they fell asleep instead of keeping watch, here is where He was further betrayed by Judas with a kiss, and where He was siezed by "a great multitude with swords and clubs, sent from the chief Priests and the ancients of the people" and taken before Caiphas, the high priest, where he was accused of blasphemy, beaten, spat upon, and prepared to be taken to Pontius Pilate tomorrow morning.

Biblia

2008-03-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

The word Bible comes for the Greek word Biblia, which literally means "books." So, reading the Bible is like reading 66 books. Think about it...the Bible was written by over 40 different authors.

Holy Wednesday

2008-03-19T20:57:00.000-07:00

On Holy Wednesday the Church invites the faithful to focus their attention on two figures: the sinful woman who anointed the head of Jesus shortly before the passion (Matthew 26:6-13), and Judas, the disciple who betrayed the Lord. The former acknowledged Jesus as Lord, while the latter severed himself from the Master. The one was set free, while the other became a slave. The one inherited the kingdom, while the other fell into perdition. These two people bring before us concerns and issues related to freedom, sin, hell and repentance. The repentance of the sinful harlot is contrasted with the tragic fall of the chosen disciple. The Triodion make is clear that Judas perished, not simply because he betrayed his Master, but because, having fallen into the sin of betrayal, he then refused to believe in the possibility of forgiveness. If we deplore the actions of Judas, we do so not with vindictive self-righteousness but conscious always of our own guilt. In general, all the passages in the Triodion that seem to be directed against the Jews should be understood in this same way. When the Triodion denounces those who rejected Christ and delivered Him to death, we recognize that these words apply not only to others, but to ourselves: for have we not betrayed the Savior many times in our hearts and crucified Him anew? I have transgressed more than the harlot, O loving Lord, yet never have I offered You my flowing tears. But in silence I fall down before You and with love I kiss Your most pure feet, beseeching You as Master to grant me remission of sins; and I cry to You, O Savior: Deliver me from the filth of my works. While the sinful woman brought oil of myrrh, the disciple came to an agreement with the transgressors. She rejoiced to pour out what was very precious, he made haste to sell the One who is above all price. She acknowledged Christ as Lord, he severed himself from the Master. She was set free, but Judas became the slave of the enemy. Grievous was his lack of love. Great was her repentance. Grant such repentance also unto me, O Savior who has suffered for our sake, and save us.

"Behold the Bridgegroom cometh in the midst of the night...."

2008-03-18T05:41:00.000-07:00

Today we bring to mind the parable of the ten virgins, which our Saviour related as He was coming to His Passion. This parable teaches us that the accomplishment of the great work of virginity should not make us careless in other matters, especially in almsgiving, wherewith the lamp of virginity is made radiant. Furthermore, it teaches us that we should not be remiss about the end of our life, but should be prepared for it at every moment, like the wise virgins, so that we may meet the Bridegroom, lest He come suddenly and the doors of the heavenly bridechamber be shut, and we also, like the foolish virgins, hear that dread sentence: "Amen, I say unto you, I know you not" (Matt. 25:1-13).

Holy Monday

2008-03-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ has its beginning on this day it also commemorates the blessed and noble Joseph and the fig tree which was cursed and withered by the Lord.

On this Holy Monday let me dig deep to discover the impurities within me dear Lord through the cleansing power of Your Spirit. Having acknowledged them, let my actions and thoughts from now onwards be such that they can withstand Your penetrating Light. Amen.

The Sunday of Hosannas

2008-03-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

On this Palm Sunday...let the Palms remind us that Christ is the king of our families, that Christ is the king of our hearts, that Christ is the only true answer to happiness and meaning in our lives.

Here is a prayer by Fr. John Shaw. -

O Lord our God, Who didst accept and give ear to the weeping of the holy Myrrh-bearing Women, Martha and Mary, in Bethany, and, hearing that Lazarus was dead and buried, didst say to Thy holy Disciples and Apostles: Lazarus has died, and I rejoice for your sakes, since I go to awaken him! Thou , O Good Master, accept the prayer of those who call upon Thee with all their heart. For when the Jews believed not, Thou didst raise him up that was four days in the tomb, saying: Lazarus, come forth; and at once he that was dead dead came forth, bound hand and foot with burial cloths, and his face covered with a napkin; and again Thou didst command and say, Unbind him, and let him go. When Thou, O Lover of Mankind, our God, wast come to Bethsphage, to the Mount of Olives, which is close by Bethany, riding upon an ass's colt, the Hebrew children from Jerusalem met Thee carrying palm fronds in their hands, crying out and saying: Hosanna in the Highest; and the faithful people, with branches of trees, cried: Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is He that cometh and shall come again in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel. Wherefore we the faithful also, with fear and love, with the signs of victory, cry out in joy to Thee, Who alone art immortal and the Victor, Who hast dominion over life and death: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, He that is blest and maketh us all to live, who have been found worthy to partake of Thy holy, most pure, immortal, life-giving, heavenly and fearful Mysteries unto the remission of our sins. For to Thee belongeth all glory, honor and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Overcome Fear with Faith

2008-03-12T21:01:00.000-07:00

For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with the power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

I came across this passage in the bible this evening as I was trying to put myself to bed. A better phrase would be, “calming myself down for bed.” I had a slight jolt about an hour ago when I received a telephone call from a bussiness partner saying that out property taxes are past due and that he had just got the papers with the bill. For those of you who know about Chicago’s infamous property taxes and my current financial situation you can understand the impact of the jolt. For those of you who have no idea of what effect this would have on me, just think of it as a little painful and makes me abit fearful… Have you ever thought how great it would be if you could live without ever having to deal with fear? Of course, there are healthy fears that alert you to danger in time to avoid it…these are good because they protect you. But there are many other fears Satan tries to put on you that should not be legitimate concerns. They are False Evidence Appearing Real, and they are intented to keep you from having the power, love and sound mind God wants you to have. Fear is a spirit that must be confronted head on…it will not just go away. But God has given you the power to boldly confront your fear and break its hold on your life. So when fear knocks on your door, send faith to answer!

A Prayer For Bishop Thomas Mar Makarios

2008-02-24T17:11:00.000-08:00

Christ our eternal King and God, You have destroyed death and the devil by Your Cross and have restored man to life by Your Resurrection; give rest, Lord, to the soul of Your servant and our beloved Bishop Thomas Mar Makarios who has fallen asleep, in Your Kingdom, where there is no pain, sorrow or suffering. In Your goodness and love for all men, pardon all the sins he has committed in thought word or deed, for there is no man or woman who lives and sins not, You only are without sin. For You are the Resurrection, the Life, and Repose of Your servant Thomas Mar Makarios, departed this life, O Christ our God; and to You do we send up glory with Your Eternal Father and Your All-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit; both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen

2008-02-24T15:07:00.000-08:00

"Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause" I tend to forget that at times.

Thoughts of the Heart..

2008-02-16T19:14:00.000-08:00

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
Matthew 12:33

The Bible says a tree is known by its fruit, and the same can be held true of us. If we can have enough time with a person, we can certainly look at a person's attitude and know what kind of thinking is pervalent in his life. A sweet kind person does not have mean, vindictive thoughts. By the same token, a truly evil person does not have good, loving thoughts.

Our thoughts bear fruit. Think good thoughts and the fruit in your life will be good. Think bad thooughts and the fruit in your life will be bad. As I write this I am called upon to Proverbs 23:7 as it mentions

"...What he thinks is what he really is."

2 birthdays, 1 baptism, and our 4th wedding anniversary....

2008-01-28T10:38:00.000-08:00

Its been busy and enjoyable..I procrastinated and thought I'd post about the events of the past week when I was in the mood. As it's happened before, I wasn't suprised to find myself in a backlog of thoughts and ideas that i'd wished i'd posted on here...... All went well, and thank you all for your warm wishes. Please don't expect any pictures of the last week, we hardly touched the camera.

Prayer to St. Jude

2008-01-28T10:16:00.000-08:00

Most holy Apostle St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the name of the traitor who delivered the beloved Master into the hands of His enemies has caused you to be forgotten by many, but the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases, of things despaired of. Pray for me who am so miserable; make use, I implore you, of this particular privilege accorded to you, to bring visible and speedy help, where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need, that I may receive the consolations and succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly (make your request here), and that I may bless God with you and all the elect forever. I promise you, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, and I will never cease to honor you as my special and powerful patron and to do all in my power to encourage devotion to you. Amen.

How I'd describe India...

2008-01-28T10:05:00.000-08:00

I'd decribe it as 28 states, 1618 languages, 6400 castes, 6 religions, 6 ethnic groups, and 29 major festivals.

Here are some new ways to make money online..

2008-01-24T07:12:00.000-08:00

I came across an article on making money on the internet and thought it was worth sharing. I wanna describe the essence of it now, not in the blown out way that most writers tend to stray upon, but straight to it. I had biryani last night though I'm starving this morning...so I am gonna bug Tincy now..read on and let me know if you come across anything new... So first off I want to remind all my thallipolli's,

"these ideas are pretty much for you if you want to ditch your corporate ambitions and join the ranks of web workers? But how about those of you have a responsibilities, maybe a dependent or two, and a taste for whiskey from Ramashen Contractor’s bar every night? You can make money in the new economy, though it might not be as easy or cushy as keeping your old economy job."

I’m NOT talking about advertising or affiliate marketing or selling your junk on eBay. Those are so last millennium! I’m talking about the new new economy. 1. Offer your professional expertise in an online marketplace. These days, you can do more than just sell your old books via Amazon and your old video games via eBay—now you can sell your professional capabilities in a marketplace. No longer are you limited to looking for a permanent or contract job on Web 1.0 style job sites like Monster or CareerBuilder. The new breed of freelancing and project-oriented sites let companies needing help describe their projects. Then freelancers and small businesses offer bids or ideas or proposals from which those buyers can choose. Elance covers everything from programming and writing to consulting and design, while RentACoder focuses on software, natch. If you’re a graphic designer, check out options like Design Outpost or LogoWorks–you don’t have to find the customers, they’ll come to you. Wannabe industry analysts might sign up for TechDirt’s Insight Community, a marketplace for ideas about technology marketing. 2. Sell photos on stock photography sites. If people regularly oooo and aaaaah over your pics, maybe you’re destined for photographic greatness or maybe just for a few extra dollars. It’s easier than ever to get your photos out in front of the public, which of course means a tremendous amount of competition, but also means it might be an convenient way for you to build up a secondary income stream. Where can you upload and market your photos? Try Fotolia, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, and Big Stock Photo. 3. Blog for pay. Despite the explosion of blogs, it’s hard to find good writers who can turn around a solidly-written post on an interesting topic quickly. GigaOM is always looking for bloggers with great content ideas and solid writing skills. How do you get noticed? Comment and link to blogging network sites. Write blog posts that are polished and not overly personal (although showing some personality is a plus). 4. Or start your own blog network. If you like the business side of things–selling advertising, hiring and managing employees, attracting investors–and have the stomach to go up against the likes of Weblogs, Inc., GigaOmniMedia, b5media, maybe you should make an entire business out of blogs. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll get a lot of time to write yourself though. 5. Provide service and support for open source software. Just because the software is free doesn’t mean you can’t make money on it–just ask Red Hat, a well-known distributor of Linux that sports a market cap of more than four billion dollars. As a solo web worker, you might not want to jump in and compete with big companies offering Linux support, but how about offering support for web content management systems like WordPress or Drupal? After getting comfortable with your own installation, you can pretty easily jump into helping other people set them up and configure them. 6. Online life coaching. Who has time to go meet a personal coach at an office? And don’t the new generation of web workers need to be met by their coaches in the same way that they work: via email, IM, and VoIP? You could, of course, go through some life coaching certification program, but on the web, reputation is more important than credentials. I bet Tony Robbins isn’t certified as a life coach–and no one can argue with his success. For an example of someone building up their profile and business online as a coach, check out Pamela Slim of Ganas Consulting and the Escape from Cubicle Nation blog. 7. Virtually assist other web workers. Freelancers and small businesses desperately need help running their businesses, but they’re not about to hire a secretary to come sit in the family room and answer phone calls. As a virtual assistant, you might do anything from making travel reservations to handling expense reimbursements to paying bills to arranging for a dog sitter. And you do it all from your own home office, interacting with your clients online and by phone. You can make $20 and up an hour doing this sort of work, depending on your expertise. 8. Build services atop Amazon Web Services. Elastic computing on AWS is so cool… and so incredibly primitive right now. Did you know that you can’t even count on your virtual hard drive on EC2 to store your data permanently? That’s why people are making money right now by offering services on top of AWS. Make it easier for people to use Amazon’s scalability web infrastructure like Enomaly has with elasticlive, a scalable web hosting platform built on AWS. 9. Write reviews for pay or perks. If you blog for any length of time on a particular topic–parenting, mobile phones, or PCs, for example–you will likely be approached to do book or product reviews. You can get free stuff this way, but are you selling your soul? Is there any such thing as a free laptop? These are decisions you’ll have to make for yourself, because no one agrees upon what ethical rules apply to bloggers. Even less do people agree on services like PayPerPost that pay you to write reviews on your blog. Check out disclosure rules closely and see whether such a gig would meet your own personal standards or not. 10. Become a virtual gold farmer. A half million Chinese now earn income by acquiring and selling World of Warcraft gold to gamers in other countries. If you’re not a young person living in China, this probably isn’t a viable option for you. But what’s intriguing about it is the opportunity to make real money working in a virtual economy. People are making real-world money in Second Life too. What other new ways do you know of to make money online? Keep it realistic guys..I'd like to know if you have come across any new stuff....

10 Words...Just 10 Words...

2008-01-20T15:15:00.000-08:00

The most selfish 1 letter word "I"---Avoid It. Most Satisfactory 2 letters "WE"---Use It. Most Poisonous 3 letters "EGO"---Kill It. Most used 4 letters "LOVE"---Value It. Most Pleasing 5 letters "SMILE"---Keep It. Fastest Spreading 6 letters "RUMOUR"---Ignore It. Hard Working 7 letters "SUCCESS"---Achieve It. Most Enviable 8 letters "JEALOUSY"---Distance It. Most Essential 9 letters "PRINCIPLE"---Have It. Most Divine 10 Letters "FRIENDSHIP"---Maintain It.

It is freezing...

2008-01-17T19:12:00.000-08:00

The Chicago region is bracing for a frigid weekend, with temperatures predicted to plummet below zero for the first time in nearly a year. We're going to get hit really hard. An advisory issued by the National Weather Service warns of wind chills reaching minus 20 degrees between midnight Friday and noon Saturday. That should be interesting, I'm already wearing socks and 'chapels' on my hardwood floors since it seems like the cold is creeping in. As our wedding anniversary approaches...frigid weekends like these are at times welcomed by Tincy and I. My thoughts always lead me to think of "worst case scenarios" and I shudder to think that any time the city experiences multiple days of extreme weather it can cause additional health risks for the sick, elderly and people with disabilities. Lord please protect them one and all. Graciously hear us, O Lord, when we call upon You,and grant unto our supplications a calm atmosphere, that we, who are justly afflicted for our sins, may, by Your protecting mercy, experience pardon.

Am I prepared for life?

2008-01-15T17:47:00.000-08:00

Give me understanding, and I shall live. PSALM 119:144

I understand that life is a journey that can lead me to unexpected places. At times its an adventure with a penchant for hurling challenges and oppurtunities in my path. Am I equipped for the challenges ahead? Am I geared up to seize the opportunities? I would like to immerse myself in and anchor my life to the timeless wisdom and truth of God's Word. I would like to explore the sensible strategies that can help me take confident steps in my life's journey.

"Life is God's novel. Let him write it."

To Dwell in Peace..

2008-01-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart. PSALM 34:14 Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for and crave peace and pursue it! Depart from evil. Go away from it. Not merely take your hands off, but yourself off. Live not near the pest house. Avoid the lion's lair, leave the viper's nest. Set a distance between yourself and temptation. And do good. Be practical, active, energetic, persevering in good. Positive virtue promotes negative virtue; he who does good is sure to avoid evil. Seek peace. Not merely prefer it, but with zeal and care endeavour to promote it. Peace with God, with thine own heart, with thy fellow man, search after this as the merchantman after a precious pearl. Nothing can more effectually promote our own happiness than peace; strife awakens passions which eat into the heart with corroding power. Anger is murder to one's own self, as well as to its objects. And pursue it. Hunt after it, chase it with eager desire. It may soon be lost, indeed, nothing is harder to retain, but do your best, and if enmity should arise let it be no fault of yours. Follow after peace when it shuns you; be resolved not to be of a contentious spirit. The peace which you thus promote will be returned into your own bosom, and be a perennial spring of comfort to you. In our strife-torn world, we all long for a few peaceful moments? That is what God wants for us. He instructs us in His Word to live in unity and harmony and to pursue peace. Why then is it so difficult to get through a day without being invaded by the spirit of strife? Satan works through the weaknesses in our flesh to keep the atmosphere in our life and the attitudes of our hearts in continual turmoil. He seeks to draw us away from peace and into strife, which brings devastation and destruction. But God's power is greater than the devil's , and when you come against strife in the name of Jesus we render it powerless to rob us of the peace and joy that is our divine inheritance.

2008-01-14T05:59:00.001-08:00

Time is the wisest counselor

2008-01-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

For yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, But today well spent makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Prayer of Saint Ephraim

2008-01-13T10:26:00.000-08:00

O Lord and Master of my life, Grant not unto me a spirit of idleness, of discouragement, of lust for power, and of vain speaking. But bestow upon me, Thy servant,the spirit of chastity, of meekness, of patience, and of love. Yea, O Lord and King, grant that I may perceive my own transgressions, and judge not my brother, for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.

Please pray for a full recovery for His Grace Bishop Makarios.

2008-01-11T13:13:00.000-08:00

London, SVM News, January 06, 2008:

Canada, UK and Europe Bishop of the the Indian Orthodox Church Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios Metropolitan is in critical condition after a car crash in London.Bishop Makarios was held in a serios road traffic accident on January 5 (Saturday) on his way to New Castle airport.The injuries are multiple rib fractures and severe chest injuries. He is admitted in Newcastle general Hospital and is in critical condition. He undergone two major operations and currently on a ventilator.Bishop Thomas Mar Makarios is one of the senior bishops of Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church, residing at Episcopal Diocesan House in Buffalo in New York, USA.In 1979 he was appointed as the bishop of America and Canada. This diocese was devided in 1992 as two dioceses by name Diocese of America and Diocese of Canada, UK and Europe. Since then he was ruling the diocese of Canada, UK and Europe as its bishop.

Why be thankful?...

2008-01-07T15:44:00.000-08:00

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to? Be thankful when you don't know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn. Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow. Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement. Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons. Be thankful when you're tired and weary, because it means you've made a difference. It's easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings.

Rejoice Today..

2008-01-07T15:38:00.000-08:00

Be glad that we belong to him; let all who worship him rejoice! Go to the Lord for help, and worship him continually
1 Chronicles 16:10-11

Many people don’t realize how important the morning is, especially those first moments of time that we are awake. God calls the sun to rise for us. He is eager for us to wake up and talk to him again. David the psalmist talked a lot about mornings, saying

“This is the day that the Lord made; I will rejoice and be glad in it” Psalm 118:24
David didn’t always feel like rejoicing, but he decided to rejoice in God’s new day.
As soon as we get up, lets look at ourself in the mirror, smile and say, “I am going to have a good day because Jesus loves me.

Allow your own inner light to guide you...

2008-01-06T23:24:00.000-08:00

There comes a time when you must stand alone. You must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams. You must be willing to make sacrifices. You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities so that your final goal can be achieved. Sometimes, familiarity and comfort need to be challenged. There are times when you must take a few extra chances and create your own realities. Be strong enough to at least try to make your life better. Be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by. Appreciate yourself by allowing yourself the opportunities to grow, develop, and find your true sense of purpose in this life. Don't stand in someone else's shadow when it's your sunlight that should lead the way.

The past few days have been engaging...

2008-01-06T22:32:00.000-08:00

We have kept busy...saw a couple of movies...made sure we spent time outdoors...made it to the gym each day...ate till are heart's content...overall there were no complaints..just thanks to the one above and those around us.. "A hundred times a day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depends on the labor of other [people], living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving. I am strongly drawn to the simple life and am often oppressed by the feeling that I am engrossing an unnecessary amount of the labor of my fellow [people]. I regard class differences as contrary to justice and, in the last resort, based on force. I also consider that plain living is good for everybody, physically and mentally." Albert Einstein

Food and success...hmm..

2008-01-06T22:30:00.000-08:00

Do you believe that part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.

2008-01-04T18:31:00.000-08:00

I'M NOT FEELIN IT TODAY

Trust in the Power of Hope

2008-01-03T20:33:00.000-08:00

When hope is crushed, the heart is crushed, but a wish come true fills you with joy
Proverbs 13:12
I define hope as the happy anticipation of good things.

Learn how to celebrate and enjoy life। I certainly tend to celebrate and enjoy life more as I spend time thanking our Lord. Well, as I mentioned this morning, I went to the gym, and did some restocking. The afternoon was a waste of time. I should have managed my time better. Everything in life is a process in motion। Without movement and progression there is no life. As long as you live you are always heading somewhere, and you should enjoy yourself on the way. God created you to be a goal-oriented visionary. Without a vision you become bored and hopeless. There’s something about hope that makes people lighthearted and happy। Hope is a powerful spirtual force that is activated through your positive attitude. God is positive and He wants positive things to happen to you, but that probably won’t happen unless you have hope and faith. Expect God to bring good out of every circumstance in your life। Whatever happens, trust in the Lord….and trust in the power of hope! I constantly let go of the handles and assume the Lord has a plan for me. I thank him for all his blessings and all those small gifts at the perfect times.

Keep in Touch with God

2008-01-03T11:28:00.000-08:00

Happy are those who reject the advice of evil men, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night
Psalm 1:1-2 I wanted to post this addition to the blog earlier this morning, but I ran into a bit of a time constraint. I went to the gym this morning and ran 6.23 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes…I was energized and surprised to see that the old crowd was back in the gym. I did some restocking for P INC and had Popeye’s for lunch…it is so cold out today. They are forecasting that the weather will be much better by the weekend. I am kind of anxious to get some reading done today so I am going to get to it. Keep in touch with God today; stay tuned to his voice. You may have a plan for the day, but God may lead you to a totally different direction if you are sensitive to the Holy Ghost. Be brave enough to flow with what you feel in your heart God wants you to do. Today is going to be a good day. Listen for the voice of God to lead you. Be determined to walk in the Spirit and stay in the flow of God’s leading today.

Seek to Know God Better

2008-01-02T19:27:00.000-08:00

All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death… Philippians 3:10
This was the cry of the Apostle Paul's heart as he sought to have such a deep relationship with Christ that the trails of life would barely be noticeable. It was a horribly cold today. We thought this would be a total day at home again, but we mustered up enough energy to go to the gym today. I ran 5 miles in 1 hour and 5 mins. I took it a bit easy today and just people watched a bit. There were many more people at the gym than there usually is. I guess it was people getting a start to their New Year’s resolutions. We went out for lunch and took a nap in the afternoon. In the evening we visited a church and bought carry out food. Well, thank you Lord for this day and for Tincy. For my determined purpose is that I may know Him and that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly. At the beginning of this New Year, it is a wise thing for us to seek this also. There are plenty of problems in life that can weigh us down and cause us to become discouraged, but God wants to provide the strength and power we need to be victorious in every battle of life. Such a relationship requires that you seek God like never before. So let’s start this year right by becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with the One who has all power in heaven and earth.

Get Up and Get Going

2008-01-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

I am weary with my groaning; all night I soak my pillow with tears, I drench my couch with my weeping...Depart from me, all you workers of inquinity, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. Psalm 6:6, 8
Yesterday was January 1st. And we woke up to a thick layer of snow on the ground. Most of the stores were lacking in patrons. Today we woke up to a incredibly cold morning. It is currently 3 degrees outside...when you factor in the wind it is way into the negative digits. The gym was closed yesterday and I am anxious to get back to it. I gotta check my mail today..you wouldn't believe me if I told you about the mail nowadays. Anywayz, Good Morning..
Even before we are totally awake, Satan is bidding to deceive us and is ready to plant defeating thoughts in our mind. He wants us to be hopeless, faithless, and negative. He definitely doesn't want us to be positive when we get up. He wants us to have a bad attitude and be selfish and self centered, full of hatred, bitterness, resentment, doubt, unbelief, and fear..everything to be mad at everybody.
But thank God, through Jesus Christ, we have been redeemed from all of those negative patterns. We can resist the devil and trust God's power in order to live victoriously today.

As This New Year Begins, We Can Have a New Beginning

2008-01-01T19:14:00.000-08:00

Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Isaiah 43:18-19
God created us to need new beginnings
Beginning a change in my opnion should start with a statement saying, "This is a place of new beginnings for me, a place to have a fresh start." I also feel that the dawn of a new year is always a good time for a fresh start.
Everyone can experience a abundant life, bur it requires making a decision to let go of the past. Unless you refuse to go on the way you have been , no change will come. God wants to change things for you, but He is waiting for your total cooperation.
Seldom do our circumstances change without something first changing in us. So, if you want to experience God's "new thing" this year, release your faith right now and say, "This is the place of new beginnings for me." Then watch for the results.

Starting Our Day Right

2008-01-01T07:16:00.000-08:00

When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving kindness, O Lord, held me up.
Psalm 94:18

Last night, my wife and I celebrated New Years eve, with dinner and a show before the countdown. We took some time to think about how we'd start our day today. We enjoyed the evening and among my many resolutions..I decided on paying more attention to this blog.....
Some people seem to start their day on the "wrong foot." They feel all right when they wake up, but as soon as something goes wrong, they lose their footing and walk with a "loser's limp" the rest of the day. Once they are off to a bad start, it seems they never catch up.
If someone offends us early in the morning, our anger can keep us defensive all day. If we start the day rushing, it seems we never slow down. But today our feet can be firmly planted in God's Word. There will be no "bad day" when God's Word supports, strengthens, and directs us.

TODAY...

2007-12-27T18:30:00.000-08:00

I KEEP THINKING THAT I SHOULD SPEND AN HOUR A DAY ON THIS BLOG...IT COULDN'T HURT COULD IT?

Character

2007-11-26T07:34:00.000-08:00

char·ac·ter /ˈkærɪktər/[kar-ik-ter] noun the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.

I questioned my character..not of now but of the past…particularly while I was in India ...Even though at times I wish I had done things so differently. While there, I knew that I strongly believed that the best index to a person's character is how he treats people who can't do him any good, and how he treats people who can't fight back. I strived to always keep this as the basic principal to building my character all throughout my stay in India and even more now here while I’m in Chicago. But I sometimes look back in shame of my waste of such precious moments and times with so many people…blah… I often borrow quotes to get some parallel thoughts across…here are a few.. Character cannot be developed in effortlessness and silence. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, & ambition inspired . Every man is the architect of his own character. Everyone tries to define this thing called Character. It's not hard. Character is doing what's right when nobody's looking. Many a man's reputation would not know his character if they met on the street. Character develops itself in the stream of life. Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open. You can get everything money will buy without a lick of character, but you can't get any of the things money won't buy -- happiness, joy, peace of mind, winning relationships, etc. without character.

I haven't a care in the world in this pic

2007-11-15T19:24:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't been posting as much as I want to or should be. I'll get to it.

about a scrap I recieved..

2007-11-13T18:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had taken the time to leave a few scraps for some people on my friends list. The scraps were intended to inform them of my attempts to start a blog. I was hoping on receiving some constructive criticism to help me along the way. I of courser received responses and one of them struck me as needing immediate attention. My friend Faisal asked me why I copy and paste so many quotes for the answers to the questions on my profile, and that it would be better for me to answer them with my own words. It's true, "Guilty as charged"...when I was new to Orkut I thought it would be better if my answers sounded important and well thought out...so the easiest way was to use quotes..I'll fix that...just gotta find the time...

It's 9:33pm

2007-11-13T18:32:00.000-08:00

I'm watching 'The Departed'....its good so far, Jack Nicholson is great at what he does..the movie is jam packed with stars...went to Sam's Club, Elston, the Bank...and ran 5 miles... "Heavy Lies the Crown"...I like that quote...I'm gonna have Mexican food for dinner..gonna order as soon as Tincy gets back from class.

Life after a toke..7:04pm

2007-11-12T17:05:00.000-08:00

There are a few extra things that need to get done tomorrow. As for today, it calls for music lights & action. I got barbecue sauce all over my face, well at least over the places I couldn't lick.

It's 5:52pm

2007-11-12T15:53:00.000-08:00

The clouds receded and it was an unusually warm and pleasant day today. I even had a moment during the day where I did a "superman". Here it goes...

I had a slow day today as I had forwarned. I had those ribs though. Got a haircut and a shave and just woke up after a nap. The drive torwards Carson's was a breeze since I used my new GPS, but Tincy and I got off on the wrong foot torwards the beginning of lunch and there was a bit of innocent anger torwards each other throughout the meal. I love her. I hate when we disagree..anyway here she is; eating her way torwards happiness.

and then there was my meal....

It's Veteran's day {Holiday}

2007-11-12T07:35:00.000-08:00

Veterans Day is an American holiday honoring military veterans. Honors the 24.9 million military veterans in the United States. Both a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, it is celebrated on the same day as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, falling on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. So guess what...remember all the things I put off to do today...they have been pushed to tommorow. Well, it's time to toke up then.

In this photograph Joseph Ambrose, an 86-year-old World War I veteran, attends the dedication day parade for veterans holding the flag that covered the casket of his son, who had been killed in the Korean War.

Goodmorning...its 8:05am on 11/12/07

2007-11-12T06:05:00.000-08:00

I finally got some shut eye.

Its looks like its gonna be a cloudy day today. 57degrees. Hmm its been absurdly warm these few days. Its November and we are hovering around 60degrees? I guess people all around the world are noticing these changes in their own way. I woke up an hour ago and toked up. We had some dishes in the sink so I put em in the dishwasher. Turned on Asianet and heard some reporter say where he was talking from and his name and it cut to a commercial. Skip over to Amrita ...some pre-teen was listening to a judging panel made up of some Tamil lady and guy (both of whom I assume are big in their own right in their field) and there was also a Malayalam actor "bijukutten". I just saw a flick with him in it as a disabled guy. His sis in the movie is disabled too. Anyway you know what I mean. ("Alaverkum bijukuttenay vennam, samayam illa othiri pani ola-tha.") Eventually I screwed my head on straight and started listening to some music..I am listening to Fergie's Velvet from The Dutchess cd. I switched so many things I had to do yesterday to today so, I'll be on my toes for the better part of the day.

it's 11:50 pm on the 11/11/07

2007-11-11T21:51:00.000-08:00

I am really tired I mean extremely tired but I'm not sleepy. I don't feel like toking up..my bong needs a cleaning..I was pretty happy that I came across blogger.com today. I know there is so much more that I need to know about blogging. The site seems friendly and I'm sure those computer masterminds out there have designed add-ons. I have a lot to do tomorrow. Its all written down with a check box next to each one on my big calender on the wall. Yup that's right, I organize my whole month on this thing. I wake up walk to it and look at what is in store for the day.

Well I guess I'll try watching some tv in bed now..Till tommorow then..

We went green..

2007-11-11T18:35:00.000-08:00

Here we are selling our first major purchase our ML320. It gave me 15 miles to the gallon and I found it cumbersome to get around the city.

Yes, we decided to go green with the Prius.

No complaints yet. Around 35 miles to the gallon, that's only because I hit so many stop signs around here. When I get on the open roads on those rare occassions the milage is great. Let's see how it holds up in the winter. I know it'll be better than the jaguar but can it in anyway match my old ML320. I won't bet on it.

Chocolate

2007-11-11T17:59:00.000-08:00

This is the current box of chocolate I am working on..just how much chocolate is too much?

it's 7:37 pm on the 11/11/07

2007-11-11T17:37:00.000-08:00

alright I couldn't get that nap..I spent time enjoying my free time planning on what to do next..what a waste of time. By the end of a sleepless nap I had managed to rearrange the things I needed to do today so that I could lay back and relax. I went to our store at 5pm and managed to kick myself to the gym by 5:25 and climbed on a elliptical for a little over an hour. Got past 6 miles and 700 calories and thought I could keep going. But why I thought. The gym max time for the machine was 1 hour and an added 10 minutes as a cool down. I convinced myself that it was time to see if I could still walk on level ground. I got off and briskly walked to the plastic cylinder with the antibacterial wipe clothes...pulled a few out and wiped the machine's handles clean...shortly before deciding to finish the work out I noticed a somewhat familiar face. It was a older lady definitely south Indian. She seemed familiar. After wiping off the equipment I took a few moments to catch my breath. A few minutes later I decided to introduce myself to the elderly lady who seemed to be having some difficulty with the weight equipment she was working with. Upon meeting her, I realised that she was a stroke victim and quite a confident woman. My fingers are getting tired..i'll explain the rest later. laterz gatorz

Nappy time..

2007-11-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

I have a few things to do today..I am kinda bored and sleepy..I think I will most probably take a toke and a nap...First of all I should check my day's things-to-do list and see if there is anything I can't do if I take a nap... Checked it..and the only thing is getting to the gym around 5 since it closes at 7 today.. ...and for those who are curious as to what I had for breakfast..I had chicken biryani, mutton kurma, and half of a partha...I also had a whopper for lunch..well time for that nap..catch u's laterz.

2007-11-11T10:48:00.000-08:00

Contrary to what it says on my blog it's 12:48 pm here..anyway..still haven't gotten very much done yet. I can't seem to put a picture up on my profile. I put it in as a blog though. Let's see how this goes...

2007-11-11T10:33:00.000-08:00

It is what I thought it would be...

2007-11-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

It is what I thought it would be..but so different in so many ways so very different...It's Sunday morning now actually its 11:57...what is that...is it still morning or has noon or even yet afternoon snuck in. As it is Sunday, things have taken a extreme deviation and is now travelling at a meager speed in the slow Sunday drivers lane on this highway of ours. Right now, I am just checking out Blogger.com and looking at if its a useful tool for expression.