Thankful For The THORNS

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her crocs when she pulled open the florist shop door, against a November gust of wind. Her life had been as sweet as a spring breeze and then, in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a "minor" automobile accident stole her joy. This was Thanksgiving week and the time she should have delivered their infant son. She grieved over their loss. Troubles had multiplied. Her husband's company "threatened" to transfer his job to a new location. 

Her sister had called to say that she could not come for her long awaited holiday visit. What's worse,
Sandra's friend suggested that Sandra's grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to
empathize with others who suffer. "She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder.
"Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?" she wondered. "For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life, but took her child's?" 

"Good afternoon, can I help you?" Sandra was startled by the approach of the shop clerk. 

"I... I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra. 

"For Thanksgiving? Do you want the beautiful, but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a
customer favorite I call the 'Thanksgiving Special'? I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued.
"Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this Thanksgiving?" 

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong."
Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for
you." 

Then the bell on the door rang, and the clerk greeted the new customer, "Hi, Barbara... let me get your
order." She excused herself and walked back to a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an
arrangement of greenery, bows, and what appeared to be long-stemmed, thorny roses - except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped. There were no flowers. 

"Do you want these in a box?" asked the clerk. Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed. "Yes, please," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again.", she said, as she gently tapped her chest. 

Sandra stammered, "Uh, that lady just left with, uh... she left with no flowers!" 

"That's right," said the clerk. "I cut off the flowers. That's the 'Special'. I call it the Thanksgiving
Thorns Bouquet." 

"Oh, come on! You can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that!" exclaimed Sandra. 

"Barbara came into the shop three years ago, feeling much as you do, today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had just lost her father to cancer; the family business was
failing; her son had gotten into drugs; and she was facing major surgery." 

"That same year, I had lost my husband," continued the clerk. "For the first time in my life, I had to spend
the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too much debt to allow any travel." 

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra. "I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've
always thanked God for the good things in my life and I NEVER questioned Him why those GOOD things happened to
me. But when the bad stuff hit, I cried out, "WHY? WHY Me?" It took time for me to learn that the dark times are important to our faith! I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of my life, but it took the thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort! You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others." 

Sandra sucked in her breath, as she thought about the thought that her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess
the truth is, I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God." 

Just then someone else walked in the shop. "Hey, Phil!" the clerk greeted the balding, rotund man. 
"My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement... twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator. 

"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind telling me why she wants a bouquet that looks like that?" 

"No... I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago, my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years,
we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we trudged through problem after problem. The Lord rescued our marriage. Jenny, here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she had learned from "thorny" times. That was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us." As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!" 

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too...
fresh." 

"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that the thorns make the roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember that it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns." 

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on her
resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out. 

"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute." 

"Thank you. What do I owe you?" 

"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on
me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first." 

It read: 
My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant." 

Praise Him for the roses; thank Him for the thorns.

Experiences Of An EXORCIST

From my friend, Caesar Liza.

Beautiful Reasons for Praying the Rosary Even More Often Father Gabriel Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican writes:  One day a colleague of mine heard the devil say during an exorcism,  "Every Hail Mary is like a blow on my head.  If Christians knew how powerful the Rosary was, it would be my end." The secret that makes this prayer so effective is that the Rosary is  both prayer and meditation.  It is addressed to the Father, to the Blessed Virgin, and to the Holy Trinity, and is a meditation centered on Christ.  I write in addition to the above:  Please enunciate each word of the Rosary clearly and distinctly.  Do not trample on the heels of the words of anyone with your words.  Do not speak over the leader if you are following or the respondent if you are leading the Rosary.  Remember that they also are having a conversation with Mary Our Mother and it is not polite to speak when someone else is speaking. In the case of the public Rosary there are only two people speaking: the Leader and the respondents.  Each is speaking to the Blessed Mother and listening carefully to her response within their hearts as they meditate on the scene before them in their consideration of the mystery being spoken of and interpreted and translated into their lives. Spread this powerful prayer of exorcism, the Rosary, which contains the Our Father, the Perfect Prayer, prayed five times in the recitation of each set of the Rosary's Mysteries, backed up by the powerful prayers of Our Mother who prays with us as we pray 53 Hail Mary's. The Eternal Father described to a group of us, through a Visionary Friend of mine, what happens when we pray the Rosary, saying, "When you pray Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now....., the Blessed Mother comes instantly to your side to pray with you.  And she does not come alone.  She brings angels with her.  And not just one or two for she is the Queen of Angels, so choirs of angels come with her.  And she and Jesus are joined at the heart and cannot be separated so she brings Jesus with her.  And Jesus cannot be separated from the Trinity so He  brings the Father and the Holy Spirit with Him. And where the Holy Trinity is, all of creation is, and you are surrounded by such beauty and light as you cannot imagine in this life.  Your Mother comes as Our Lady of Grace with her hands outstretched.  Rays of light emit from her hands piercing your body, healing you and filling you with graces.  This is your inheritance which was poured out from the heart of Jesus on the Cross, when the centurion pierced His Heart with the spear, into the only pure vessel ready to receive such graces at that time, Your Mother. Now as you pray the Rosary, or even just recite one Hail Mary, you receive your portion of these graces.  He also said at this time, "Anyone who goes to Mary and prays the Rosary cannot be touched by Satan.  "Is it any wonder that anyone who prays the Rosary from the heart is so blessed and protected and powerful in their prayers for  others?

Vir pro aliis ad maiorem DEI gloriam..

Bobby Mendiola

Advise For Dangerous Times

Passing this from classmate Nick Isip.  Worth the time reading, specially for U.S. based family and friends.

Advice from an Israeli Agent  
 
 Juval Aviv was the Israeli Agent upon whom the movie '  Munich   ' was based. He was Golda Meir's bodyguard, and she appointed him to track down and bring to justice the Palestinian terrorists who took the Israeli athletes hostage and killed them during the  Munich Olympic Games.

In a lecture in  New York City he shared information that EVERY American needs to know -- but that our government has not yet shared with us.
 
He predicted the London subway bombing on the Bill O'Reilly show on Fox News, stating publicly that it would happen within a week. At the time, O'Reilly laughed, and mocked him saying that in a week he wanted him back on the show. Unfortunately, within a week the terrorist attack had occurred.

Juval Aviv gave intelligence (via what he had gathered in  Israel   and the  Middle East   ) to the Bush Administration about 9/11, a month before it occurred. His report specifically said they would use planes as bombs and target high profile buildings and monuments. Congress has since hired him as a security consultant.

Now for his future predictions. He predicts the next terrorist attack on the  U.S.   Will occur within the next few months.

Forget hijacking airplanes, because he says terrorists will NEVER try and hijack a plane again as they know the people onboard will never go down quietly again. Aviv believes our airport security is a joke -- that we have been reactionary rather than proactive in developing strategies that are truly effective. 
 
For example: 
 
1) Our airport technology is outdated. We look for metal, and the new explosives are made of plastic. 
 
2) He talked about how some idiot tried to light his shoe on fire. Because of that, now everyone has to take off their shoes. A group of idiots tried to bring aboard liquid explosives. Now we can't bring liquids on board. He says he's waiting for some suicidal maniac to pour liquid explosive on his underwear; at which point, security will have us all traveling naked!
Every strategy we have is reactionary. 
 
3) We only focus on security when people are heading to the gates. 
 
Aviv says that if a terrorist attack targets airports in the future, they will target busy times on the front end of the airport when/where people are checking in. It would be easy for someone to take two suitcases of explosives, walk up to a busy check-in line, ask a person next to them to watch their bags for a minute while they run to the restroom or get a drink, and then detonate the bags BEFORE security even gets involved. InIsrael , security checks bags BEFORE people can even ENTER the airport.

Aviv says the next terrorist attack here in  America is imminent and will involve suicide bombers and non-suicide bombers in places where large groups of people congregate. (i.e., Disneyland, Las Vegas casinos, big cities ( New York , San Francisco , Chicago , etc.) and that it will also include shopping malls, subways in rush hour, train stations, etc., as well as rural America this time.. The interlands ( Wyoming , Montana , etc.). 
 
The attack will be characterized by simultaneous detonations around the country (terrorists like big impact), involving at least 5-8 cities, including rural areas. 
 
Aviv says terrorists won't need to use suicide bombers in many of the larger cities, because at places like the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, they can simply valet park a car loaded with explosives and walk away.


Aviv says all of the above is well known in intelligence circles, but that our U. S.. Government does not want to 'alarm American citizens' with the facts. The world is quickly going to become 'a different place', and issues like 'global warming' and political correctness will become totally irrelevant. 
 
On an encouraging note, he says that Americans don't have to be concerned about being nuked. Aviv says the terrorists who want to destroy America will not use sophisticated weapons. They like to use suicide as a front-line approach. It's cheap, it's easy, it's effective; and they have an infinite abundance of young militants more than willing to 'meet their destiny'. 
 

He also says the next level of terrorists, over which  America   should be most concerned, will not be coming from abroad.  But will be, instead, 'homegrown', having attended and been educated in our own schools and universities right here in the  U.S.   He says to look for 'students' who frequently travel back and forth to the  Middle East   . These young terrorists will be most dangerous because they will know our language and will fully understand the habits of Americans; but that we Americans won't know/understand a thing about them. 
 
Aviv says that, as a people, Americans are unaware and uneducated about the terrorist threats we will inevitably face.  America still has only a handful of Arabic and Farsi speaking people in our intelligence networks, and Aviv says it is critical that we change that fact SOON.

So, what can  America   do to protect itself? From an intelligence perspective, Aviv says the  U.S.   needs to stop relying on satellites and technology for intelligence. We need to, instead, follow  Israel 's,  Ireland 's and  England 's hands-on examples of human intelligence, both from an infiltration perspective as well as to pay attention to, and trust 'aware' citizens to help. We need to engage and educate ourselves as citizens; however, our U. S. government continues to treat us, its citizens, 'like babies'. Our government thinks we 'can't handle the truth' and are concerned that we'll panic if we understand the realities of terrorism. Aviv says this is a deadly mistake. 
 
Aviv recently created/executed a security test for our Congress, by placing an empty briefcase in five well-traveled spots in five major cities. The results? Not one person called 911 or sought a policeman to check it out. In fact, in  Chicago , someone tried to steal the briefcase!
 

In comparison, Aviv says that citizens of  Israel   are so well 'trained' that an unattended bag or package would be reported in seconds by citizen(s) who know to publicly shout, 'Unattended Bag!' The area would be quickly & calmly cleared by the citizens themselves.
 

Unfortunately,  America    hasn't been yet 'hurt enough' by terrorism for their government to fully understand the need to educate its citizens or for the government to understand that it's their citizens who are, inevitably, the best first-line of defense against terrorism.
 
Aviv also was concerned about the high number of children here in America who were in preschool and kindergarten after 9/11, who were 'lost' without parents being able to pick them up, and about our schools that had no plan in place to best care for the students until parents could get there. (In  New York City , this was days, in some cases!)
 
He stresses the importance of having a plan, that's agreed upon within your family, of how to respond in the event of a terrorist emergency. He urges parents to contact their children's schools and demand that the schools too, develop plans of actions, just as they do in  Israel . 
 
Does your family know what to do if you can't contact one another by phone? Where would you gather in an emergency? He says we should all have a plan that is easy enough for even our youngest children to remember and follow. 
 
Aviv says that the U. S. government has in force a plan, that in the event of another terrorist attack, EVERYONE'sability to use cell phones, blackberries, etc., will immediately be cut-off, as this is the preferred communication source used by terrorists and is often the way that their bombs are detonated. 
 
How will you communicate with your loved ones in the event you cannot speak to each other? You need to have a plan.
 
If you understand, and believe what you have just read, then you must feel compelled to send this to every concerned parent, guardian, grandparents, uncles, aunts, whomever. Don't stop there. In addition to sharing this via e-mail, contact and discuss this information with whomever it makes sense to. Make contingency plans with those you care about. Better that you have plans in place, and never have to use them, then to have no plans in place, and find you needed them.

Vir pro aliis ad maiorem DEI gloriam..

Bobby Mendiola

Child's Great FAITH

Felt this is worth reading again.

Thank you.

Vir pro aliis ad maiorem DEI gloriam..

Bobby Mendiola

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: jansen <jansen124@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 21, 2011 at 18:53
Subject: Fw: Isaiah 65:24
To:

This is a story shared by a doctor who worked in Africa.

 
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). 

We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. 

Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates).. 'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in   Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways. 

'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.'

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. 

During prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.' 

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?' 

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen?' I just did not believe that God could do this. 

Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in  Africa  for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home. 

Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! 

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. 

Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. 

Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!'

Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! 

Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?' 'Of course,' I replied! 

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. 

And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.' 

'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24) 

When you receive this, say the prayer. That's all I ask. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on. 

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another.  

This awesome prayer takes less than a minute. 

Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this. I ask You to minister to their spirit. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength. Where there is fear, reveal our love and release to them Your courage. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them.  I ask You to do these things in Jesus' name. Amen 

P. S. Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both. Passing this on to one not considered a friend is something Christ would do.

Hail Mary

MARY, the mother of our Savior Jesus Christ, IS human like us.  Our Faith is that Mary didn't die and was assumed to Heaven, from where She constantly intercedes for us and motivates us to live our life as exemplified by Jesus Christ.  Many times, Mary comes back to our world as GOD'S messenger.  Two of Mary's apparitions, Lourdes & Fatima, were authenticated and declared as official DOGMA of our Catholic Faith, worthy of our devotion.

Attached is an artist's rendition of Mary's beautiful and docile human face.  Hoping the photo motivates us to say a devout "Hail Mary" for our well being and for others as well.

Thank you.

Vir pro aliis ad maiorem DEI gloriam..

Bobby Mendiola

Different / Amusing Opinion RE Diet & Exercise

Got this email from classmate Tano Filart.

======================================

Q: Doctor,  I've heard that  cardiovascular exercise can prolong life.  Is this true? 

A: Your heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise.  Everything wear out eventually.  Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster.  Want to live longer?  Take nap.  

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?  

A:  No, not at all.  Wine made from fruit.  Brandy is distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way.  Beer also made of grain.  Bottom up!

Q: How  can I calculate my body/fat ratio? 

A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one.  If you have two bodies, your ratio two to one, etc.

Q: What  are some of  the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program? 

A: Can't think of single one, sorry.  My philosophy is: No pain...good! 

          

Q:  Aren't fried foods bad for you?  

A:  YOU NOT LISTENING!  Food are fried these day in vegetable oil.  In fact, they permeated by it.  How could getting more vegetable be bad for you?!?  

Q:  Will  sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle? 

A: Definitely not!  When you exercise muscle, it get bigger.  You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.  

Q:  Is chocolate bad for me?  

A:  Are you crazy?!?  HEL-LO-O!!  Cocoa bean!  Another vegetable!  It best feel-good food around!

Q:  Is swimming good for your figure?  

A:  If swimming good for your figure, explain whale to me..

Q:  Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?  

A:  Hey!  'Round' is shape!  

 

Well... I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And  remember:  

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!!" 

    

AND.....

For  those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health.  It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.   

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans..  

5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

 

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Vir pro aliis ad maiorem DEI gloriam..

Bobby Mendiola

Thought SOLIDARITY

Life grinds to slow motion this Holy Week in the Philippines.

Many of us are getting ready for a vacation trip, while others are already enjoying the vacation.  Do have fun, but be safe everybody.

Where ever we are, Good Friday becomes such a slow day, and almost everyone is on a reflection mode.  Friends who make beach resorts a regular Holy Week vacation spot attest that the sea is not as inviting or they just do not have the individual motivation to enjoy the waters.  Common observation is that even those who play card games and "mahjong" would stop playing within the hours of 1:00 - 3:30 PM on Good Friday.

May I suggest an activity for everyone, preferably as a FAMILY, to spend 15 minutes to a half an hour, within the hours of 1:00 - 3:00 PM on Good Friday, to REFLECT on only the POSITIVE.

Praying the Rosary, as many emails are propagating, is another great activity.  Reflecting on the objective of Jesus' passion and death, may be more appropriate at that time.

It must amount to something really good and long lasting when a huge number of people just think POSITIVE for them selves, and more importantly for everyone else.

Let us reflect on the good things we now enjoy.  Let us reflect on the love and caring we receive.  Let us reflect on our experience of good feeling when ever we freely give love and care to family and friends.  Let us endorse to GOD'S blessings and providence our family and friends who have less than what we have and enjoy.

A blessed and fulfilling Holy Week, everybody.

GOD Loves us.

Vir pro aliis ad maiorem DEI gloriam..

Bobby Mendiola