Rescued

Throwline rescue,
originally uploaded by Southern Area Paddling Team.

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10
God, who is rich in mercy, . . . made us alive together with Christ. —Ephesians 2:4-5


Lauren nervously yet excitedly hopped into a one-person kayak for a white-water rafting experience. After strapping herself in, she headed down the river with a group of kayakers and guides.

Lauren became even more nervous when she laid eyes on the falls ahead. Suddenly, as the kayak tossed and turned in the white water, it flipped over. She had been instructed on how to get out quickly if this were to happen. But she became disoriented as she hung upside-down in the water and couldn’t find the release bar to get out. She knew she couldn’t hold her breath much longer and thought she would soon be in the Lord’s presence. Then help came just in time and she was saved. Lauren was very grateful for her rescue from physical death.

An even greater rescue has been provided for us—rescue from spiritual death has come in the Person of Jesus Christ. While we were drowning in sin, God sent His Son Jesus to bring life through His own death and resurrection (Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:5). He did so because He is “rich in mercy” and because of “His great love” (Eph. 2:4).

Out of gratefulness, we can help others by telling them of the Rescuer they so desperately need.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. —Crosby

Those who’ve been rescued should be ready and willing to help in the rescue of others.

Common Language

Read: Acts 17:22-32

As I was . . . considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: To The Unknown God. —Acts 17:23

During the high schoolers’ spring ministry trip to Jamaica, they visited a home for troubled teens who had run afoul of the law or whose families could not handle them.
This was not a comfortable situation for the kids from either culture. What would they say? How would they connect?
It didn’t take long to find out. Minutes after they arrived, a soccer match began as a number of the US students engaged some of the Jamaican teens in spirited competition.
The soccer match was a great icebreaker as the kids kicked the ball around and got to know each other. After the game, conversation was easier and friendships were established more quickly because of a common interest.
In Acts 17, the apostle Paul demonstrated how to break through barriers and establish dialogue. He talked with the Athenians about something of common interest—worship. In a similar way, we can use sports talk with a co-worker or lawn conversation with a neighbor. The possibilities are endless.
To reach out to people who need to hear about God’s love, look for common language—and watch the barriers fall.

The Spirit of God can reach my neighbor,
Providing the gift of salvation,
If I am ready to open the way
By starting a good conversation. —Hess

God’s love can break down barriers.

Older Or Better?

Age Is No Barrier,
originally uploaded by ajpscs.

Read: 2 Cor. 4:16-18
Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. —2 Corinthians 4:16

We know we’re getting older when we say things like, “Can you believe how young those professional baseball players are?” And it’s a sure sign of aging when we no longer ask, “How are you?” but say, “Hey, you look terrific”—as if we’re surprised.

Aging is inevitable. Unfortunately, society has taught us to fear advancing age and to disguise its reality as much as possible. But aging can actually be a wonderful thing. Followers of Jesus have the capacity to get significantly better with age. As Paul put it: “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16).

Just as there are physical signs that reveal we’re getting older, there are signs that show we are getting better. Rather than becoming more crotchety, intolerant, and unloving, the maturing follower of Jesus grows better at forgiving, loving, and caring. Growing older is a continuation of the journey to become more like Jesus, which means that as time goes on our heart and attitudes should increasingly resonate with and reflect the compelling character and winsome ways of our Savior.

So as we grow older, let’s embrace the opportunity to become spiritually more like Jesus. Our friends will notice that we look better with age.

The seeds of aging sprout in youth,
As weeds or grain they’re sure to grow;
But if we sow with love and truth,
A golden harvest we can know. —D. De Haan

Don’t just grow older— grow better as a follower of Jesus.

Sunshine Chaser

I Am The Sun Chaser,
originally uploaded by lorenzodom.

Read: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure. —Ecclesiastes 2:10


Diana and Dave love to ride their jet skis on the lake, skimming across the water on warm sunny days. But one morning the weather was cool and mostly cloudy, and Diana couldn’t convince Dave to go out. So she went on her own. It was so cold that she flitted back and forth across the lake, trying to keep herself in the sunshine for some needed warmth. But every time she reached a sunny area, the clouds moved and it quickly turned to shade. Realizing the futility and silliness of chasing the sunshine, she finally gave up because it didn’t bring her what she wanted.

King Solomon did another kind of chasing that couldn’t bring him satisfaction (Eccl. 2:1). In the first 11 verses of Ecclesiastes 2 alone, he mentions that he chased after pleasure, laughter, wine, wisdom, houses, gardens, money, possessions, and music. But his evaluation was that “all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun” (2:11). Those pursuits were empty—“vanity of vanities” (1:2). He wisely concluded: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (12:13).

Are you chasing after some of the same things that Solomon was? It’s a vain pursuit. Purpose and satisfaction come only from knowing and obeying God.

Chasing after empty pleasure
Will not satisfy one’s heart;
But to those who follow Jesus,
Life’s fulfillment He’ll impart. —Sper

Only God can fill an empty heart.

Contentment

originally uploaded by ideals.creatives.

Read: Philippians 4:4-13
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. —1 Thessalonians 5:18

A poet once wrote: “As a rule, man’s a fool. When it’s hot, he wants it cool. And when it’s cool, he wants it hot. Always wanting what is not.”

What an insightful observation on human nature! So when we read in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” we wonder, Can this be possible?

For Paul it was. Philippians 4:12-13 describes Paul’s response to life: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (NIV). Paul’s relationship with God superseded whatever he did or did not have. His contentment was not based on his circumstances, but on his relationship with Christ.

Paul reminds us that contentment doesn’t happen overnight. It’s something that we learn. As our relationship with God develops over time and through experiences, we learn to trust God more and ourselves less. Paul knew that Christ would give him the strength to persevere in whatever situation he encountered (v.13).

No matter what you’re facing today, through prayer you can receive the strength to be content.

The world is filled with so much good
That brings us joy and pleasure,
But true fulfillment only comes
When Christ we love and treasure. —Sper

We find contentment at the same place we find salvation—in Christ.

Starting Young

Child Praying,
originally uploaded by earlb.com.

Read: Proverbs 2
My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, . . . you will understand the fear of the Lordz. —Proverbs 2:1,5

Addie was a bit worried. Before we all sat down for Sunday dinner, someone had started eating. That’s when our 3-year-old granddaughter said, “We haven’t prayed yet.” She was concerned that we might forget to give thanks.

Her concern was a good sign. It showed that at her young age, Addie was beginning to form one of those good habits that parents teach their children as part of their instructions for life. This little routine, for instance, helps her see the value of prayer and thanksgiving, which can be a powerful resource for her in the years ahead.

Raising children in an age of hostility toward the Christian faith is not easy. Parents wonder how best to help their little ones learn to trust the Savior and live to please Him. Proverbs indicates that a key to directing children is through purposeful instruction by parents (Prov. 1:8) on such things as listening to wisdom (2:2), seeking discernment (2:3), understanding the fear of the Lord (2:5), recalling parents’ teaching (3:1), and gaining insight (4:1). These become habitual when parents give instruction and when children “retain” those words of teaching (4:1-4).

Got kids or grandkids? It’s never too early to begin instructing them in wise living.

God gives us children for a time
To teach them how to love the Lord,
To train them in His righteous ways,
To follow and obey His Word. —Sper

The character of your children tomorrow depends on what you put into their hearts today.

Mozart’s Pet Bird

originally uploaded by - Ariful H Bhuiyan | ahbphotos.com -.

Lifted from Our Daily Bread

Read: Psalm 104:1-13
The birds of the heavens . . . sing among the branches. —Psalm 104:12

Mozart is revered as a genius of musical composition. In one instance, he was even inspired by the melody of a bird. Mozart had a pet starling whose song so fascinated him that some say he wrote a piece of music based on the melody he heard in the bird’s chirps.

Birds were also an inspiration to the psalmist. In Psalm 104, he praises God for caring for the living creatures He put on the earth. Included in his observations are birds who fly in the heavens above, perch in the branches of trees, and sing songs of heartfelt joy: “The birds of the heavens have their home; they sing among the branches” (v.12). Nature filled the psalmist’s heart with praise to God, and I think that must have included the musical sounds of the birds.

Often the marvels we see in creation prompt us to worship. This theme is repeated throughout Scripture: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Ps. 19:1). Creation’s stimulus to praise need not be limited to the visual. It can also be widened to include hearing nature’s songs. As we go about our daily routine, we can tune our hearts to the melodies God has placed in His creatures and let them serve as an added springboard of praise to the Creator.

As Mozart added the song of a bird
To a musical innovation,
Let’s all add our voice to the worldwide song
Of praise to the God of creation. —F. Hess
All of nature is a grand symphony conducted by the Creator.

Ruts And Routines

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.,
originally uploaded by Spencer Finnley.

Read: Daniel 6:1-10
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust. —Psalm 143:8

Summer is my favorite season. I love the leisurely days when I can set aside some of my routines without feeling guilty. Doing new things, seeing new places, and allowing myself the time to take “the scenic route” revive my spirit and renew my enthusiasm for life and work.

But summer can also be a dangerous time of breaking good habits. Certain routines are good. They increase our efficiency and ensure that important things get done. After all, we need to have fixed times and places for certain things or the world would be chaotic. Creation is designed to operate on schedule, and, as part of it, so are we. We need food and sleep at regular intervals.

We sometimes hear legitimate warnings about allowing routines to turn into ruts. But the Bible indicates that having set times for certain things is good. David indicated that morning was the right time for him to praise God and ask for His direction (Ps. 5:3; 143:8). And Daniel prayed three times a day, and not even the threat of death made him change his routine (Dan. 6:10).

While enjoying carefree days, we must not become careless about spending time with God. Savoring spiritual sustenance is a routine for all seasons.

You’ll go forth a little stronger
With a fresh supply of grace,
If each day you meet the Savior
In a secret, quiet place. —Adams
Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. —Isaiah 40:31

True Prosperity

,
originally uploaded by Osvaldo_Zoom.

Read: Mark 10:17-23

Lifted from Our Daily Bread

How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! —Mark 10:23

A few years ago, the banking empire Citicorp ran a series of billboards about money: “Money changes hands—just be sure it doesn’t change the rest of you!” and “If people say you’re made of money, you should work on your personality!” These ads gave a refreshingly new perspective on riches.

God also has a surprising spin on wealth. From His perspective, you can be “well off” when it comes to worldly treasures and yet be in dire poverty in your soul. Or you can be poor in terms of earthside stuff and be lavishly rich by God’s standards.

The distorting power of wealth reminds me of the story of the rich young ruler. After a discussion about eternal life, Jesus asked him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. Unfortunately, the man “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22). This prompted Jesus’ lesson to the disciples: “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (v.23).

It’s not that Jesus is against wealth. It’s just that He is grieved by anything that we value more than Him. We can work hard and make money, but when those things are the main pursuit of life, then Jesus isn’t. Placing Him first and foremost in our lives is the key to true prosperity.

He possessed all the world had to give him,
He had reached every coveted goal;
But, alas, his life was a failure,
For he had forgotten his soul. —Denison

Don’t let riches—or the pursuit of riches— derail your pursuit of Jesus.

Running Every Day

As my soul begin to run...,
originally uploaded by elsakawai™.

Lifted from Our Daily Bread

Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Run in such a way that you may obtain the prize. - 1 Corinthians 9:24

In Corinthians 9, Paul uses running as a picture of his own discipline as a Christian in the race of life.  He ran with purpose and discipline to win an eternal crown, and he encouraged others to do the same.  "Run in such a way that you may obtain the prize". (v.24)

The word temperate in verse 25 carries the meaning of self-control practiced by athletes who train to win the prize .  As a consistent habit of life, regular discipline is of far greater value to any athlete than last minute preparation.

Are we approaching the "race that was set before us" (Heb. 12:1) with a hit or miss spiritual regime or with a purpose and discipline born from a desire to please God?

The key to going the distance is the discipline if running every day - David McCasland

Running the Christian race takes dedication and discipline.

The Deadliest Disease

originally uploaded by karin8700.

Lifted from Our Daily Bread

Read Joshua 7:1, 19-26

(Jesus) was wounded from our transgressions, ...and by His stripes we are healed. - Isaiah 53:5

An even more dangerous disease on the loose in our world is "sin". It too is difficult to bring under control because many people do not recognize its deadliness. And many dispute the Bible's diagnosis of sin.

In Joshua 7, we read the tragic story of Achan. We may recoil at the extreme way God dealt with him. Against God's command, he had taken some of the spoils from Jericho and hid them in his tent (v. 21). He and his family paid with their lives (v.25) Thankfully God does not deal with us in that way. If He did, none of us would remain alive. Yet we must never underestimate sin's deadliness. It sent Christ to the cross for us.

Like a disease, the first step to deal with sin is to recognize it for what it is. Receive with gratitude the gift of eternal life.  Then "put to death your members which are on earth" - the selfish things that displease God  (Col. 3:5).  That's the way  to deal with our deadliest disease - C.P. Hia

The Remedy For Sin
Have you received Christ's gift for salvation?
He died for your sins and rose from the dead.
He offers forgiveness to all who believe in Him (Rom.10:9)

The Love of Rules

Ten Commandments,
originally uploaded by Jordan Chan.

Lifted from Our Daily Bread

Read Romans: 13:1-10

Love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10

God had a relationship with Adam and Eve that was based on loving trust. The only rule that was necessary was one that protected them from knowledge that would end in death. But when disobedience broke the trusting relationship, God added more rules to protect the wayward couple and their offspring.

In Christ, God proclaimed once more that the good life He wants for us is not about rules but a relationship. As Paul wrote, all the commandments can be summarized in one word: love. Because we are "in Christ," we can enjoy peace with God and others-not because there's a rule but because there is love. - Julie Ackerman Link.

The greatest force on earth is not the compulsion of law but the compassion of love.

Easy Pizza Anyone Can Make

Pizzas are a favorite gourmet most Filipinos love to eat.  You can almost find one pizza stand in every corner  of the street. Pizzas in the Philippines can be classified into 3 categories;  the high end, the middle end and the low end.  In the high end are pizzas you get from expensive hotels and  restaurants.. The middle end are pizzas from fast food restaurants and franchise businesses.  And the low ends are those that one can buy from the corner of the street  that come in those home made carton boxes.  Either way pizza remains to be a popular food throughout the world.

But did you know that pizzas are actually easy to make  and can be done by just about anyone?  Here's a link that can show you how its done.    http://notecook.com/main-course/easy-pizza-anyone-can-make/

You can even turn your cooking hobby into a business for that matter.

My Lot

I've been wandering around the internet and not paying much attention to my blog for the last couple of days in search of ideas and what have you.  I came across MyLot.com and its a good decent community where people share their views and opinions through thread like forums.  I've been trying it out and I do kind of enjoy it because you get instant reactions to any questions you post.  You can also share your views on many different questions posted by others.   On top of this you also earn while participating.  Not that I'm promoting the site but if you'd like to enjoy a casual exchange of ideas, you might want to try it.  Here's a link thats been tagged as my referral: http://www.mylot.com/?ref=bryeunade 

You can make it as an extension to your blog too and get more traffic from it.

He is Enough

Read Mathew 14:22-23

Lifted from Our Daily Bread

Jesus spoke to them saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." Mathew 14:27

Sometimes we are overwhelmed by life.  The crushing waves of disappointment, endless debt, debilitating illness, or trouble with people can cause hopelessness, depression or despair.  It happened to Jesus' disciples and it has happened to me.

Three statements by the Lord beginning with the words "It is..."  offer us comfort, reassurance and hope that Jesus is enough.  The first is in Mathew 4 and is repeated three times;  "It is written" (vv.4,7,10).  In responding to the three temptations of satan,  Jesus gave us proof enough that the Word of God is true and overcomes the most powerful forms of temptation and pressure.

The second statement, "It is I" (Matt.14:27), was spoken when Jesus told his terrified disciples that He Himself was presence enough to stop the howling storm and calm the raging seas.

Jesus spoke the third "It is" from the cross:  "It is finished!" (John 19:30).  He assured us that His death was provision enough to pay the debt for our sins and set us free.

Whatever our circumstances,  Jesus is present with His love, compassion, and Grace.  He is proof, presence, and provision enough to carry us safely through - Dave Egner

When trials overwhelm our souls
And tempt us to despair
We need to reach out to the Lord
And trust his tender care - Sper

God's love does not keep us from trials;  it helps us get through them.

Gad or God

Read Peter 5: 6-11

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Lifted from the Daily Bread

Are you a chronic worrier?  Do you worry about bills, the future, health, debt, marriage issues?  Has worry so consumed you that you have become a "fret machine"?   If this describes you,  perhaps you have generalized anxiety disorder or GAD - a condition marked by a perpetual state of worry about most aspects of life.  According to David Barlow, professor of psychology at Boston University, "the key feature of GAD is a state of chronic, uncontrollable  worry". A little anxiety is normal, but constant worry is not.

Overwhelmed by suffering and persecution, the first century Christians were driven  out of Jerusalem and scattered throughout Asia(1 Peter 1:1-7).  Many of these Jesus followers were experiencing feelings of distress because of possible danger or misfortune.  Peter encouraged his believers not to be filled with anxiety but to cast their worries upon God (5:7).  He wanted them to realize that it made very little sense fro them to carry their worries when they could cast them on God who cared deeply about what happened to them.

Are you a chronic worrier?  Let God be responsible for your anxieties.  Stop worrying and start trusting Him completely. - Marvin Williams.

Worry is a burden God never intended us to bear.

The Heart of the Gospel

Read 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord, are being transformed. 2 Corinthians 3:18

As messengers of God's love, we are to be human mirrors who reflect without distortion a growing likeness to our Lord. We are not to walk in "craftiness" (2 Cor. 4:2) If our lives reflect an image that is spiritually blurred, the truth of saving grace may not be clearly communicated (vv.3-5).

We are also to share the Biblical essentials of faith clearly. We must not handle the Word of God "deceitfully" (v.2) and our lives are to be marked by love for God an others
(1 John 5: 1-2).

Lets be sure that we reflect a clear image of Jesus" likeness, the truth of God, and love - Vernon Grounds

Called to be salt and light in this world,
Called to preserve and shine,
Called to reflect the Glory of God,
Oh what a calling is mine - Fitzhugh

The primary reason for living in this world is to reflect the likeness of Christ

Paid Review Ethics

I know a lot of people are into blogging simply because they  want to make money out of it whether be it from ReviewMe, Blogvertise or PayPerPost or from any other blog paying site.  There's nothing wrong with this if one can earn a few dollars on the side while doing what they love to do.  But how far should one go if the question of ethics is taken into consideration. 

Advertsisers  such as those I mentioned offer bloggers money for marketing review and PR messages. Doesn't matter if its a positive or a negative review since it offers  advertisers an expanded  market niche from a lot of readers. Bloggers meanwhile take advantage   since they are being paid for this. 

Bloggers have the responsibility to inform the readers the truth and not just write an article for the sake of earning.    So the question is to write a paid review or not?  In my opinion, you should tell your readers that you have been paid for the review and try to make a truthful and balanced review rather than making an effort to sell what you may not necessarily believe in.

Yes, But...

Read 2 Timothy 4:1-8


They will turn their ears away from the truth.  2 Timothy 4:4

It's dangerous and the worst kind of arrogance to think we know more about an issue than God does.  Scripture predicted this kind of thinking.  Paul said in 2 Timothy 4: "They will not endure sound doctrine,  but according to their own desires.. they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth" (vv.3-4)  This points to people who set aside the inspired Word of God(3:16) in order to accept teaching they think is "ok".

When the Bible clearly spells out a principle, we honor God by obeying Him.  For believers, there is no room for "Yes, but..." responses to Scripture - Dave Branon

The Bible: Read it, believe it, obey it!

Granville Sharp

Read James 1:19-27

Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  James 1:22

Lifted from Our Daily Bread:

When I was a Bible College Student,  a name occasionally mentioned in Greek class   was that of Granville Sharp.  He was a renowned Greek scholar (1735-1813) whose studies resulted in principles  of Biblical interpretation that continue to guide our understanding of the original language of the New Testament.

To study the scriptures and learn the powerful truths they contain is a noble exercise but, no matter how deeply we study, it is not enough.  James challenged us to understand this when he wrote: "Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in  a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of a man he was" (James 1:22-24).

Granville Sharp understood this and put his faith into practice.  In addition to being a Biblical scholar, he also fought to eradicate slavery in England.  Sharp said "A toleration of slavery is, in effect, a toleration of inhumanity."  His Biblical understanding of the worth of human soul and  the justice of a holy God compelled him to act on his beliefs.

We can benefit from Sharp's passion for the Word and for living out the truth that Word contain-Bill Crowder.

We don't really know the Bible unless we obey the Bible..  

Subtle Wisdom

Read Mark 8:34-38

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. John 12:26

Lifted from our Daily Bread:
When I was in college, my co-worker Bud, a fork truck driver, often enriched my life with his pithy wisdom.  We were eating lunch one day,  when I announced that I was transferring to another school.  "Why?" he asked. "All my friends are transferring" I answered..  Bud chewed his sandwich for a moment and then replied quietly and with subtle irony, "I guess that's one way to pick as school."

His words struck me with rare force.  Of course I thought.  But is this the only way to choose a school?  Will I follow my friends for the rest of my days, or will I follow Jesus?  Will I seek His face and His will and go where He wants me to go?

Twenty Five times in the New Testament, Jesus said to his disciples, "Follow Me".  In Mark 8:34, He said "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." No matter what others do or what direction their lives may take, we must do what He asks us to do.

In the words of an old song come to mind:  "My Lords knows the way through the wilderness;  All I have to do is follow"-David Roper

To Find your way through life, follow Jesus..

Consortium and Aggregate Buying

I'd like to share information on a project that I was working on before but never really took off due to political reasons. It's basically a concept in maximizing profit through cutting cost which is what most company's are going through these days. The project is called Consortium and Aggregate Buying. This project was intended for large companies, nevertheless I wish to see this being used by small and medium enterprises (SME's) because of the tremendous benefits it can offer.

Ok so the idea goes like this, based from what it's called "Consortium and Aggregate Buying" it's exactly what it says. The gathering of resources or volume before buying. If your into a business then you must be selling some sort of product or services. In this case we'll focus on products. To sell a product one must manufacture it first and this entails purchasing raw materials (unless your a middle man in the supply chain).

Normally a manufacturing company buys their needed raw materials from whoever offers the lowest cost that's within their standard of quality. Big companies usually get a good price because of their huge volume compared to smaller companies who have minimal volume of the same item. Hence, small companies don't enjoy what big companies do in terms of their buying power is concerned. But what if we can level the playing field to the benefit of everyone. That means for the benefit of the buyer which is the manufacturing company and the seller which is the supplier. How do we exactly do this you might ask? Right, by means of Consortium and Aggregate Buying.

The idea is to pull in all the volumes of a particular item that is needed by these manufacturing companies and have the suppliers bid on them according to the volume that is required. Believe me the figures would be staggering. Now what would this mean to all the players, read further..

1. For large buyers that have enjoyed a good price from their existing volume, the cost can even be brought further down due to the added volumes from other smaller buyers.

2. For small buyers they can enjoy the benefits of what large buyers are enjoying. Imagine the saving they would be getting.

3. For the seller or bidder, an increase in market due to large amount of required volume.

To illustrate this click on the following link: Consortium Buying

Now there are a few drawbacks to this, first of which is the information of volume and current buying price that would be shared. Most buyers do not want to divulge this information due to competition reasons. Second is that this method breaks away from the traditional procedure of procurement that many are still reluctant to grasp change. Nevertheless, the benefit of this far out weights these problems. In all, this would be much easier to implement within a group of company that are associated with one another. All it takes is political will from top management.

Viewing the idea as big as it may seem, I believe this can be achieved in a much smaller scale even to the level of an owner of a sari-sari store. Say if you have about 10 sari-sari stores in your neighborhood all selling similar products, all of them can cut cost by pooling in their resources together. All it takes is cooperation and trust. It can also promote friendly competition. I know there are others that are already doing this through cooperatives and other grass root associations and I salute them for their efforts.

So there, I hope I have provided some valuable insights to those who are looking for ways to improve their business operation.

Oh by the way, the whole process of this idea can also be carried out online.

Thanks for reading...

China's Dong Feng 21 missile, a serious concern for the US Navy

Reports of China's new anti-ship missiles capable of penetrating US Carrier battle group defense and hitting aircraft carriers at moving speed with an estimated range in excess of 1,500 kilometers is a serious concern for the US Government.

While the US Navy maintains superiority over the Pacific, China now seems to be in a position to seriously challenge this role.

Lets all hope things don't get any worst. All for world peace..

recommended reading,

US-China-EU Relations: Managing the New World Order


US-China-EU Relations: Managing the New World Order (Asian Security Studies)

Breath Mint Anyone?

Read Galatians 6:1-5

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

It's understandable that we're cautious in talking to others about something that bothers us. But when it comes to confronting fellow believers about their sin, that's serious. We might wish we could do it anonymously, yet we have to do it face to face.

Galatians 6:1-5 offers some guidelines for confronting a fellow Christian who is living a sinful lifestyle. The first requirement is that we're close to the Lord ourselves, and that we don't exalt ourselves as superior to the one who is sinning. Then we are to look at the situation as restoring the person, not bringing condemnation. We're to have "a spirit of gentleness" all the while keeping in mind that we too maybe be tempted. Jesus also gave instructions that can help us with issues of sin against us personally (Matt. 7:1-5; 18:15-20).

With God's enablement we can courageously and sensitively confront and restore others-Anne Cetas.

To help people get back on the right path, walk with them and show them the way..

PBA: North wins All-Star vs South

The North team – small but quick - outran, outhustled and outgunned the South squad to score a 133-130 win in the 2010 PBA All-Star Game at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here last night.

Gabe Norwood best typified the effort shown by his team, putting in 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block as he bagged the Handy Fix All-Star Game MVP.

The flamboyant Fil-Am guard-forward went on a dunking spree as the North team outplayed the South at the finish, coming out victorious in the fun, exciting and thrilling match watched by a sellout crowd.

Macmac Cardona, Arwind Santos, Ranidel de Ocampo, Willie Miller and JC Intal also scored in double figures for the North All Stars who avenged their loss in Bacolod in 2008.

“We used our quickness to the hilt. Knowing they have extreme height advantage, the only way to win is to push the ball and score on fast break. Luckily, the effort was enough,” said North coach Ryan Gregorio.

Also calling the shots for the North team, Gregorio won over Joel Banal in 2005 and lost to Boyet Fernandez in 2008.

Push the ball and score on fast break the North team did as they overcame the South’s domination off the boards.

Asi Taulava and Kelly Washington hauled down 11 rebounds each and the South team totaled 69 as against the North’s 57.

The South team towered in the rebounding battle but couldn’t score at endgame.

Norwood, Cardona and De Ocampo combined for a decisive 6-0 run as the North put the game beyond reach at 133-125 with less than a minute left to play.

Earlier, active players Jeff Chan, Mark Macapagal and Yousif Aljamal humbled old stars Alvin Patrimonio, Kenneth Duremdes and Rhoel Gomez, 51-29, in the Legends Shootout.

source: philippine_sports_source_news_update

Chrono Trigger: Short Action Scene

P-Noy gets first paycheck of P63,002

While most of us opt to keep our earnings a secret, P-Noy is more than happy to show his paycheck to the public. The amount may be miniscule for a person holding the highest office in land. But for the average Filipino, its a lot.

A photo of P-Noy holding his paycheck was released by the Malacañang Photo Bureau on Wednesday. The check was dated July 30 but was released on Monday, August 2. Aquino's salary is pegged at over P90,000, equivalent to Salary Grade 33 (SG 33), which is accorded to the highest position in the Philippine government, according to Republic Act 6758 or the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989.

However, the Chief Executive gets a 35% pay cut from his monthly salary due to mandatory deductions such as withholding tax, Pag-IBIG, Philhealth and GSIS.

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Learning to Blog

I've been doing a lot of reading and research about blogging and how to get the most out of one's blogsite. There are tons of articles written out there that it can spin your mind into oblivion. But what does it really mean for a dummie like me who's just into passive blogging and just wanting to share his views to the world and of course maybe earn a little along the way. Well this article is meant for passive bloggers and newbies since this is where I consider myself to be. So for those advanced bloggers, your still welcome to read this post.

First and foremost, the term blog actually came from the word weblog. It is a website where various entries are created and made similar to a diary or a journal, but they are displayed in a chronological yet reverse order digitally. People blog because they like to share whats on their mind. Its not really something new since even before the internet people were writing things about themselves in a diary or journal. The only big difference in today's blogging is that the information is now being shared to the rest of the world.

So what makes a blog successful? Its when a lot of people start to visit and read your blogs. Though I haven't yet reached that point, I'm hoping that it will eventually.

There are many things to consider to attract people to visit one's blog. On top of the list is content. Not just any content but quality content. That means articles that would be of interest to others such as technology, product reviews, cars, guns, etc. People don't just want to read personal journals unless your well known or popular. So try to limit on that. If you have an interest on a certain niche, my advise is to focus on that. But if your a wide reader and have knowledge on many other interesting topics, you can also write about them too provided that you properly label your posts so that it would be easier for the reader to search what they would be interested for in your blog. Remember, a good blog is just like a convenient or a sari-sari store. To attract customers, you got to fill it up.

The next thing you want to consider after creating your blog is to promote this on the web so that others may know you even exist. You see being able to create a good blog is one thing, promoting it is another. You have what many call SEO or Search Engine Optimization which I will be giving tips about in my next post. But basically SEO is the process of improving the visibility of a web site or a web page in search engines such as yahoo or google. There are many other ways to promote a site, but SEO seem to be the most basic way to do this.

As traffic increases in you blog, the next thing you want to do is to earn from it (who wouldn't). Of course everyone is familiar with Adsense, question is when should you add Adsense to your blog? Many opt to add Adsense during the early stages of their blog where no traffic is yet to be generated. Adsense will not reply with any ad least not for the moment since its to early for this. This is something which I am guilty of, so please pardon me. Anyway, it isn't only Adsense that offers you the opportunity to earn, there are many others. I'll have a separate post for this.

So far this is what I gathered. There's no specific formula for one's success in blogging. It all depends how you make of your blog. What works for others may not necessarily work for you or vice-versa. They key is perseverance, patience and the willingness to learn..

Happy blogging!

Recommended reading,

Blogging All-in-One For Dummies


Google Blogger For Dummies


Professional Blogging For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))


Recommended viewing,


Blogging for Fun and Profit Volume 1


Blogging for Fun and Profit Volume 2


"Quick and Dirty Video Blogging: How To Get Video Up On Your Blog FAST!"

Matters of the Heart

Read Mathew 13:10-15

The hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes have closed. Mathew 13:15

How is your heart?

When Jesus told a story to illustrate how people receive and respond to his teaching (Matt.13:1-9), his disciples asked "why do you speak to them in parables?" (v.10). In reply Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah "For the hearts of his people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them" (v. 15; Isa.6:10)

How dangerously easy it is to neglect our hearts. If we become callous, we find no joy in living or serving; and life seems hollow. But when our hearts are tender toward God, understanding and gratefulness through to others.. So Hows is your heart?-McCasland

We become so busy doing good that we lose our heart for God.

Our Moral Compass

2 Chronicles: 7:1-14

If my people turn from their wicked ways, then I will forgive their sin and heal their land.. 2 Chron. 7:14

As a Christian community, we should first take an inventory of our own personal lives. As we humbly seek God in our prayer and repentance of sin, changes begin in our lives. God may then use us to change a nation's moral compas-Fisher

Revive us again, Fill each heart with thy love;
May each soul be rekindled, With fire from Above - Mackay

PAL cancels more flights, braces for long impasse

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has canceled six of its flights until November due to the resignation of more than 20 of its pilots.

PAL is contacting all the affected passengers to help them rebook their flights. In a Balitanghali report on Tuesday, PAL spokesman Jonathan Gesmundo said from August 2 to November 30, these flights are canceled:

PR 143 Manila - Iloilo
PR 148 Iloilo - Manila
PR 135 Manila - Bacolod
PR 136 Bacolod - Manila
PR 181 Manila - Cagayan
PR 182 Cagayan - Manila

PAL has reduced its Iloilo and Cagayan flights from four to three and its Bacolod flights from five to four. However, PR 181, the 4:45 am flight from Manila - Cagayan will still be available every Thursday.

PAL hopes to hire new pilots by November 30. For inquiries and other concerns, the PAL hotline numbers are: 855-8888 and 777-4800.

source: inquirer.net