we all need this…

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

RISE.

Came across this last year, and came across it again today. Reread and realized how great it was. Wake up men (including me), and grow a pair. 

‘I was shooting a scene in my new film, No Strings Attached, in which I say to Natalie Portman, “If you miss me … you can’t text, you can’t e-mail, you can’t post it on my [Facebook] wall. If you really miss me, you come and see me.” I began to think of all of the billions of intimate exchanges sent daily via fingers and screens, bouncing between satellites and servers. With all this texting, e-mailing, and social networking, I started wondering, are we all becoming so in touch with one another that we are in danger of losing touch?

It used to be that boy met girl and they exchanged phone numbers. Anticipation built. They imagined the entire relationship before a call ever happened. The phone rang. Hearts pounded. “Hello?” Followed by a conversation that lasted two hours but felt like two minutes and would be examined with friends for two weeks. If all went well, a date was arranged. That was then.

Now we exchange numbers but text instead of calling because it mitigates the risks of early failure and eliminates those deafening moments of silence. Now anticipation builds. Bdoop. “It was NICE meeting u.” Both sides overanalyze every word. We talk to a friend, an impromptu Cyrano: “He wrote nice in all caps. What does that mean? What do I write back?” Then we write a response and delete it 10 times before sending a message that will appear 2 care, but not 2 much. If all goes well, a date will be arranged.

Whether you like it or not, the digital age has produced a new format for modern romance, and natural selection may be favoring the quick-thumbed quip peddler over the confident, ice-breaking alpha male. Or maybe we are hiding behind the cloak of digital text and spell-check to present superior versions of ourselves while using these less intimate forms of communication to accelerate the courting process. So what’s it really good for?

There is some argument about who actually invented text messaging, but I think it’s safe to say it was a man. Multiple studies have shown that the average man uses about half as many words per day as women, thus text messaging. It eliminates hellos and goodbyes and cuts right to the chase. Now, if that’s not male behavior, I don’t know what is. It’s also great for passing notes. There is something fun about sharing secrets with your date while in the company of others. Think of texting as a modern whisper in your lover’s ear.

Sending sweet nothings on Twitter or Facebook is also fun. In some ways, it’s no different than sending flowers to the office: You are declaring your love for everyone to see. Who doesn’t like to be publicly adored? Just remember that what you post is out there and there’s some stuff you can’t unsee.

But the reality is that we communicate with every part of our being, and there are times when we must use it all. When someone needs us, he or she needs all of us. There’s no text that can replace a loving touch when someone we love is hurting.

We haven’t lost romance in the digital age, but we may be neglecting it. In doing so, antiquated art forms are taking on new importance. The power of a handwritten letter is greater than ever. It’s personal and deliberate and means more than an e-mail or text ever will. It has a unique scent. It requires deciphering. But, most important, it’s flawed. There are errors in handwriting, punctuation, grammar, and spelling that show our vulnerability. And vulnerability is the essence of romance. It’s the art of being uncalculated, the willingness to look foolish, the courage to say, “This is me, and I’m interested in you enough to show you my flaws with the hope that you may embrace me for all that I am but, more important, all that I am not.”

Ended my tumblr break  to share this speech by the great comedian charlie chaplain.  I heard this speech in 5th grade but never made much out of it.  Now that I am older i can appreciate it fully.    I wonder if mankind will ever learn. I urge you to take 3 minutes out of your day to watch and listen.  Read along with the video - - - -

I’m sorry but I don’t want to be an Emperor, that’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that. We all want to live by each other’s happiness, not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

The way of life can be free and beautiful. But we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate;
has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.

We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in:
machinery that gives abundance has left us in want.
Our knowledge has made us cynical,
our cleverness hard and unkind.
We think too much and feel too little:
More than machinery we need humanity;
More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness.

Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say “Do not despair”.

The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people, will return to the people and so long as men die [now] liberty will never perish…

Soldiers: don’t give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you, who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder.

Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don’t hate, only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers: don’t fight for slavery, fight for liberty.

In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written:
“The kingdom of God is within man”
Not one man, nor a group of men, but in all men; in you, the people.

You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let’s use that power, let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness.

Soldiers! In the name of democracy, let us all unite!

…

Look up! Look up! The clouds are lifting, the sun is breaking through. We are coming out of the darkness into the light. We are coming into a new world. A kind new world where men will rise above their hate and brutality.

The soul of man has been given wings, and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow, into the light of hope, into the future, that glorious future that belongs to you, to me and to all of us. Look up. Look up.

Our Pilgramage in 1:34.  Props to Kevin Aquilo

“Jesus Christ wishes to make you firm in faith through the Church. The decision to believe in Jesus Christ and to follow him is not an easy one. It is hindered by our personal failures and by the many voices that point us towards easier paths. Do not be discouraged. Rather, look for the support of the Christian community, the support of the Church, the Church depends on you, She needs your lively faith, your creative charity and the energy of your hope.” -Papa Ben

Where to start. For one thing it has been a while since I have wrote in this blog. So too my many many fans around the world, i am truly sorry..sike

JMJ 2011 was the craziest experiences of my life, and though I would like to focus on what I did and everything that happened, I would like this blog to be focused on the message.

Firm in the Faith

I grew up catholic, born and raised. I’ve been an active participant in the church and a strong believer in Jesus Christ since I can remember.  So does that mean I was “Firm” in the Faith? In my eyes, yes.  But as World Youth Day kicked off I found myself at battle with myself.  Was my life really reflecting the life of a believer? If I can take away three things from this pilgramage it would be 

1.  Don’t say, DO.  As Papa Ben mentioned earlier, the church depends on US. There is no need for us to take the passenger seat.  Become the driver, let go and let God.  He will guide you to a destination that may be difficult, but the end result will be fufilling.  ”God makes all things work together for my/your good”  I found myself spectating a lot, and not praying enough.  I relied solely on the fact that I was a believer, but to believe means also to follow.  Follow the life of Jesus, follow the teachings of the church, and follow the call of God in your heart.  Take Courage, don’t doubt and serve with all you have. Because Jesus gave us all He had. There really is no excuse. I was really inspired by the youth who went on this trip.  It reminded me of when I was a youth eager to serve and eager to learn.  Be Child-Like in faith. Seek forigiveness and forgive.

2. Prayer.  Pray Pray Pray.  On the pilgrimage I found myself praying 7-10 times a day.  Whether it be mass, the rosary, reflection, or journaling.  Pray without ceasing.  I realized that prayer was a essential part that I was missing in my faith journey.  I forgot to pray before worships, pray before talks, and those little things turned into big things.  Never underestimate the power of prayer.  God won’t grant you what you want right away, but He will put you in a position to give you what you need.  Prayer strengthens yourself and sets you up to do better.

3. Being a Man of God.  I can’t help but stress this enough.  Like I said, I talked the big game, but didn’t walk it.  I was a believer and not a do-er.  This is the lesson I hold close to my heart.  Because I’ve always realized what I was capable off and I never put the time and effort to reach that potential.  I began to blame myself for every little mistake I made, or everything I did wrong.  I have baggage, and I have a history that I would love to forget, and have forgotten.  But what good is it to forget if you don’t fix the problem.  I struggle with sin, I struggle with temptation.  But like father raymond said “we must learn to control our senses, we must learn to be selfless”  I realized I am never going to change, but I can fix what is wrong with my life for the better of me. Pastuer, Provide, Protect.  Treat your family with love, treat ladies right, be a gentleman and first and foremost, follow God.

Before taking a bath in the Holy Water at Lourdes I made a couple of promises to myself as I prayed in the water. I won’t share all of them but one of them was to smile, and enjoy life more.  God has surrounded me with many blessings that I take for granted. God has given me the opportunity to serve Him and serve others.  Which means he doesn’t deserve my 70 or 95 percent. He deserves my all.  All in the church, all in relationships, all in family, and most importantly all in how I live my life.  No BSing who I am, this is me. A person who is willing to improve.  A sinner, ready to serve.

“⁷ rooted and built up in Christ, firm in the faith” -Colossians 2:7

Forever Cover

Cuties for sure (Taken with instagram)