Chance to Donate to America's Second Harvest

Here is a free chance to donate $1 to America's second harvest.

Here is how , its very simple:

Visit the website below

www.celebritypastalovers.com

The page will be redirected to www.barillaus.com

On the bottom right corner you will see

>>Click here

to download the celebrity pasta lovers cookbook & Barilla will donate $1 on your behalf to America's Second Harvest.

Most of us don't have the time & heart to donate to the needy. Here you are not donating a penny from your pocket but Barilla will do it on your behalf and you get a great pasta cookbook.

So click on the link and you will have to provide your first name, last name and email address and you are ready to download.

For each download Barilla will donate $1.

Thanks for supporting a good cause and enjoy some good pasta.

Best Regards,

Sucharitha.

Thought for the Day - Eat for Your Health

The foods you eat every day can have a tremendous effect on your health. Decades of research have produced study after study showing links between diet and serious illness. A healthy diet has the power to prevent heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, some forms of cancer, blindness, and birth defects.

It does matter whether your breakfast is a doughnut or a bowl of oatmeal, whether your sandwich is ham and cheese or hummus and tomato, and whether dinner is steak or salmon. Dozens of other food choices you make can affect how long — and how well — you live. The influence of diet on heart disease and some forms of cancer is well-known. But determining which foods have the greatest effects has not been easy.

The search for the diet-heart connection has been fruitful, but attempts to establish links between cancer and diet have had less success. For example, pooling of data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study showed that a diet high in fruits and vegetables has strong benefits for the heart but no significant benefits for cancer prevention. This doesn’t mean that certain nutrients, vitamins, or types of food don’t have an effect, but rather that the specifics have been more difficult to pin down than expected.

Courtesy - Health magazine.

Weight Loss - Part 4

Treatment

The good news is that losing even modest amounts of weight can lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, improve glucose control in diabetes, improve signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and sleep apnea, and lower your risk of cancer.
The amount of weight you need to lose to improve your health may be much less than what you feel you need to lose. The first goal in dealing with obesity is to achieve and maintain a healthier weight.

That usually requires reducing your weight by approximately 5 percent to 10 percent. That means that if you weigh 200 pounds and are obese by BMI standards, you would need to lose at least 10 to 20 pounds. That doesn't mean you should stop there. But it's a place to start. Slow and steady weight loss of 1 or 2 pounds a week is considered the safest way to lose weight and the best way to keep it off.

In many cases, losing weight can be accomplished by committing to eating a healthier diet, exercising and changing behaviors. Other treatments for obesity include prescription medications and surgery.

Over Weight - Part 3

Complications:

If you're obese, you're more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems. These may include:

High blood pressure. As you put on weight, you gain mostly fatty tissue. Just like other parts of the body, this tissue relies on oxygen and nutrients in your blood to survive. As demand for oxygen and nutrients increases, the amount of blood circulating through your body also increases. More blood traveling through your arteries means added pressure on your artery walls.

Weight gain also typically increases the level of insulin, a blood-sugar-controlling hormone, in your blood. The increase in insulin is associated with retention of sodium and water, which increases blood volume. In addition, excess weight often is associated with an increase in your heart rate and a reduction in the capacity of your blood vessels to transport blood. All of these factors can increase blood pressure.

Diabetes. Obesity is a leading cause of type 2 diabetes. Excess fat makes your body resistant to insulin, the hormone that helps your body maintain a proper level of a sugar (glucose) in your blood. If your body is resistant to insulin, your blood sugar is high — which isn't good — and leads to negative health effects. Abnormal blood fats. A diet high in saturated fats — red meat and fried foods, for example — can lead to obesity as well as elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein ("bad") cholesterol. Obesity is also associated with low levels of high-density lipoprotein ("good") cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides. Triglycerides are the form in which most fat exists in food as well as in your body. Over time, abnormal blood fats can contribute to atherosclerosis — the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries throughout your body.

Atherosclerosis puts you at risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. Coronary artery disease. This is a form of cardiovascular disease. It results from the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries that supply your heart. Over time these deposits can narrow your heart's arteries, so less blood flows to your heart. Diminished blood flow to your heart can cause chest pain (angina). Complete blockage can lead to a heart attack. Stroke. Obesity is associated with atherosclerosis — the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries throughout your body, including arteries in your brain. If a blood clot forms in a narrowed artery in your brain, it can block blood flow to an area of your brain. The result is a stroke. Being obese raises your risk of a stroke.

Osteoarthritis. This joint disorder most often affects the knees, hips and lower back. Excess weight puts extra pressure on these joints and wears away the cartilage that protects them, resulting in joint pain and stiffness. Sleep apnea. This serious condition causes a person to stop breathing for short periods during sleep and to snore heavily. The upper airway is blocked during sleep, which results in frequent awakening at night and subsequent drowsiness during the day.

Most people with sleep apnea are overweight, which contributes to a large neck and narrowed airways. Cancer. Many types of cancer are associated with being overweight. In women, these include cancers of the breast, uterus, cervix, ovaries and gallbladder. Overweight men have a particularly higher risk of cancers of the colon, rectum and the prostate.

Fatty liver disease. When you're obese, fats can build up in your liver. This fatty accumulation can lead to inflammation and scarring of the liver. Such scarring can cause cirrhosis of the liver, even if you're not a heavy alcohol drinker.

Gallbladder disease. Because overweight people may produce more cholesterol, which can be deposited in the gallbladder, the risk of gallstones is higher in obese people. Fast weight loss — more than 3 pounds a week — also can increase the risk of gallstones. Obesity can also contribute to gout, a joint disorder.

Do you weigh more than you should - Part 2

When to seek medical advice:

How do you know whether you need to lose weight for medical reasons? These evaluations can help provide the answer:
Body mass index (BMI). The BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat and health risks. If your BMI is between 19 and 24, you're considered in a healthy weight range for your height. If your BMI is between 25 and 29, you're considered overweight. And, if the figure is 30 or greater, you're considered obese and should talk to your doctor about losing weight for your health. Waist circumference. If you carry most of your fat around your waist or upper body, you may be referred to as apple shaped. If you carry most of your fat around your hips and thighs or lower body, you may be referred to as pear shaped. Generally, when it comes to your health, it's better to have the shape of a pear than the shape of an apple. If you have an apple shape — a potbelly or spare tire — you carry more fat in and around your abdominal organs. Abdominal fat increases your risk of many of the serious conditions associated with obesity. Women's waist measurements should be less than 35 inches. Men's should be less than 40 inches. If you have a large waist circumference, talk to your doctor about weight loss. Talking to your doctor openly and honestly about your weight is one of the best things you can do for your health. The more your weight increases, the more medical problems you may face.
Also, talk to your doctor if you have weight-related medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes and arthritis. These health conditions may improve if you're able to lose weight.

Screening and diagnosis:

Your doctor can help you determine whether you need to lose weight and, if so, how much.
In addition to evaluating your BMI and waist circumference, your doctor can review your medical history, which helps reveal how dangerous excess fat is to your health. Do you smoke, drink alcohol or live with a high level of stress? In combination with these behaviors, excess weight can have even greater health implications.

Your doctor can also assess your current health. You may have a health problem that would improve if you lost weight or that requires treatment beyond weight loss.

India's 1994 Miss World

I am most amazed to know that Aishwarya Rai is the most popular star searched on the internet

Aishwarya Rai's striking beauty might make her seem an obvious fit as a model, but the truth is that India's 1994 Miss World winner originally took up modeling as a part-time job to get her through school. She was studying to be an architect, but due to her obvious talent on-stage and in front of the camera, -- most notably in a wildly popular Pepsi campaign -- the starlet began accepting the movie offers that had been pouring in. Rai began her reign as Bollywood's favorite leading lady in the film Iruvar, following it up that same year with ...Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya. They both earned her critical praise and the latter brought her a Best Female Debutante Award. More awards would follow, including Best Actress by Filmfare and Zee Cine for 2000s Straight from the Heart. As the actress put more and more films under her belt, her position as India's darling cemented. Her role in 2002's Devdas was especially auspicious; the movie was the most successful in Bollywood history and received a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival -- the first Bollywood film to receive such an honor. The next year found Rai making still more headway for Bollywood when she became the first Indian member of the grand jury at Cannes.

By 2004, Rai had appeared in well over 20 films in just seven years, and it was finally time for her to star in her first English-language film. The Hollywood/Bollywood crossover hit Bride and Prejudice reworked Jane Austen's classic love story Pride and Prejudice with the Bollywood film style, bringing together Eastern and Western actors, as well as themes. The film proved to be yet another successful example in Rai's history of helping to bring India's culture and film into the world spotlight, delighting fans all over the globe. Having sampled Hollywood, Rai was now ready to make a serious foray into American films. She signed on to star with Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley in 2007's historical epic The Last Legion as well as French director Coline Serreau's remake of her 2001 film Chaos, which would cast Rai alongside Meryl Streep. The actress had no intention of abandoning the cinema of her heritage, however, and simultaneously jumped on board with Indian movies like the The Heart of India and the historical romance Jodha-Akbar -- in which she would play the title role of Mungal king Emperor Akbar's Hindu wife and queen.

By this time, Rai's success as an actress unwilling to compromise her love and devotion to her national background had made her the highest paid actress in Bollywood history. Her fame had also buffered her image as the face of India, helping bring the art of her home country into the world-consciousness through countless magazine covers in multiple countries, a listing in Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World Today," as well as Hello Magazine's "Most Attractive Women in the World" and Rolling Stone's "Hot List." Rai even joined actresses Catherine Deneuve and Andie MacDowell as a member of L'Oréal Cosmetics' Dream Team, acting as an ambassador around the world. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide

Born: on 11/01/1973 Milestones2005 Made her U.S. film debut in Gurinder Chadha's "Bride and Prejudice" a Bollywood update of Jane Austen's classic tale

AishwaryaWorld.com - Official site of the Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai, with pictures, wallpapers, news, personal information, filmography, and more.

Aishwariya Rai Fan Site - Offers wallpapers and picture gallery.

Aishwarya Rai Forever - Fan site dedicated to Indian actress Aishwarya Rai features an extensive photo gallery, news, multimedia, and more.

Aishwarya Rai Site - Fan page, includes biography, films, and photo galleries. Aishwarya Rai's Ultimate Website - Includes profile, filmography, and downloads.

Aishwarya Rai's World - Features filmography, news, wallpapers, screen savers, music, picture gallery, and more.

Aishwarya Rai: Beauty Incarnate - Offers biography and image galleries.

Aishwarya.info - Fan site for the Indian actor Aishwarya Rai includes biography, filmography, and pictures.

ApunKaChoice.Com: Aishwarya Rai - Profile of the Indian actress Aishwarya Rai, with a filmography, news updates, and pictures.

AskMen.com: Aishwarya Rai - Profile of the Indian actress Aishwarya Rai, with a commentary and ratings on her personality, sexiness, natural beauty, and style.

CBS News: The World's Most Beautiful Woman? - Article about how Indian actress Aishwarya Rai is considered by many to be the most beautiful woman in the world. Features a video clip of an Aishwarya interview with the TV news program 60 Minutes.

ChooseIndia: Aishwarya Rai - Features portfolio and image gallery.

Go 4 Wallpapers: Aishwarya Rai - Offers a picture gallery of Aishwarya Rai wallpapers for windows desktop, and mobile phones.

IMDb: Aishwarya Rai - Offers pictures, biography, and filmography of the Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai.

ThePlaCe.ru: Aishwarya Rai Photos - Over 50 high-resolution pictures of the Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai that can be used as desktop wallpapers.

To See some Aishwarya Pictures go the website below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/sucharithat/AishwaryaRai

What is the Apple iPhone?

Image courtesy Apple/ ©2006 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.

Iphone as soon as the iphone release talk came to the media...Japan probably laughed ...phones with similar and/or better enhanced features were available in Japan a while ago...but inspite that we who live in the US believe and think that technology has taken birth in the US and we get all excited when we hear about products that are almost a decade old in Japan--->Sucharitha.
Read along for what the media and Apple have to say about this New Apple iphone...

For several years, Apple enthusiasts have been asking each other the question, "Does it exist? Is Apple really making a cell phone?" Rumors came and went, but Apple, a company known for its secrecy about products in development, said nothing. In the last six months, those rumors began to take on a life of their own as industry analysts joined the blogosphere in predicting that Apple would produce a phone sometime in the first half of 2007. In mid-November, news broke that Apple had placed an order with Hon Hai Precision Industry, Co., a longtime Taiwanese manufacturing partner, for 12 million units of a new device believed to be the fabled "iPhone" [Forbes]. That news sent the rumor mill into overdrive, but Apple and Steve Jobs, the company's chief executive officer, again said nothing. Analysts began issuing predictions of cost, features and when the phone would be available, with many of them claiming to have inside information. Given Apple's extraordinary track record with the iPod and its recent innovations in desktop and laptop design, expectations were very high, perhaps impossibly so. On January 9, at Apple's annual product showcase, Macworld Expo, Jobs finally revealed the already legendary phone, and it's beyond what anyone expected. Jobs briefly tricked his audience during his Macworld Expo keynote address, announcing three new Apple products: a widescreen iPod, a cell phone and an "Internet communicator." Each announcement drew thunderous applause from the crowd, but what Jobs then revealed was that these three products were actually all part of one device -- the Apple iPhone.

Touted as a "revolutionary mobile phone," the iPhone can make calls, play music, navigate the Web, edit photos, play movies and text message, among many other capabilities. Although many of the iPhone's functions can be found in other devices, the iPhone appears to be unique in that it seamlessly blends these abilities together, while also throwing a bevy of innovations into the mix.

Jobs demonstrated many of the iPhone's features for the audience. One sequence began with a call from Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. Jobs answered the call on his iPhone, added Schiller to his address book, and when Schiller asked for a photo, Jobs emailed it to him -- all while continuing the call. Later Jobs showed off the phone's ability to integrate multiple applications by using the integrated Google maps application, which knew his location, and typing in a search for Starbucks. Every Starbucks location in San Francisco showed up on screen. Jobs chose one and in a few minutes he was on the phone with Starbucks, ordering 4,000 lattes before abruptly hanging up.

In order to seamlessly integrate Web, phone, media and messaging features, the iPhone employs remarkable, groundbreaking technology. Unlike traditional smartphones that have small, finger-cramping keyboards, the iPhone has only one button for "home." Instead, its 3.5-inch high resolution, color screen, which occupies most of the phone's face, doubles as a "multi-touch" display. The display shows different controls based on what you're doing. If you're typing a text message or e-mail, a keyboard appears at the bottom of the screen, and you can easily type a message and send it to someone from your address book. The multi-touch technology also has an auto-corrective feature that accounts for unintentional taps and corrects misspellings. For music and video, volume and playback controls appear on the screen, and so on for other applications.

The iPhone's multi-touch interface also allows the opportunity for innovative uses of the touch display. When viewing a photo or surfing the Web, simply perform a pinching motion with two fingers, and the photo or Web page zooms in. Spread two fingers apart, and the display zooms out. Scrolling in any application is done by just brushing a finger up or down on the screen.

An intriguing innovation in the phone is what Apple calls visual voicemail. No longer will you have to listen to all of your voicemails if you don't want to. Instead, they will appear in a list, much like an e-mail inbox, and you can simply point to the voicemail you want to play.

Apple has also integrated three sensors into its phone. One is an accelerometer, and it senses when you turn the phone on its side, automatically shifting the display to a landscape mode. This feature is incredibly useful for viewing panoramic pictures, videos or shuffling through your albums, which you view by their cover art. A second sensor detects ambient light and adjusts the screen's brightness accordingly in order to save power. The third sensor deactivates the screen when you bring the phone towards your face, so you won't be dialing with your cheek while talking on the device.

Like many of Apple's products, iPhone syncs easily with a Mac or PC. The phone runs a version of Apple's reliable OSX operating system, and its programs and iPod connector (located on the bottom of the phone) will be familiar to many Mac users. Use the iPod connector or a docking station to connect the phone to your computer, the iPhone will automatically sync your address book, photos, movies, music and bookmarks between the computer and the phone.

Now, all of this may sound great, but there are a few catches. First, the iPhone isn't available until June -- Apple needs to get FCC approval before the iPhone can start using a radio band. Second, Apple has an exclusive contract with Cingular through 2009, so if you want a iPhone, you'll have to be a Cingular customer. And third, it's not cheap. A 4 GB iPhone will set you back $499 with a two year service plan, while an 8 GB iPhone will cost $599 with a two year plan. Still, when compared to other high end smartphones, you're getting a lot. This is essentially a small, powerful computer in the palm of your hand, and of course it has Apple's famous sleek, stylish, minimalist design.

Here's a quick rundown of some of the iPhone's other features:
802.11 b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0 wireless capabilities Quad-band GSM and Cingular EDGE network 3.5-inch high resolution screen with 160 ppi (pixels per inch) 2.0 megapixel digital camera Battery life: 5 hours talk/video/browsing, 16 hours audio playback 11.6 mm thin, 4.8 ounces IMAP and POP email support, with integrated Yahoo! e-mail client Text messages are displayed like instant message conversations, making keeping track of many messages much easier Speaker and standard headphone jack

So will the iPhone change the cell phone industry forever? That depends on who you ask. Keep in mind that very few people have even used the iPhone.( hahahhha you know thats not true...Sucharitha) But given Jobs' impressive demonstration and Apple's recent track record -- over 100 million iPods and 3 billion songs sold -- it's difficult to doubt that this is an extraordinary and important product. Apple's stock surged 7 percent on the day of Jobs' announcement and appears headed for record prices.

In other news, Cisco has filed suit against Apple for infringing on Cisco's trademarked "iPhone" name. Apparently, Apple and Cisco were in talks to negotiate the licensing of the name "iPhone" for Apple's product, but they had not yet reached an agreement when Jobs announced the product at CES.

Stay tuned to my blog for a full article on How iPhone Works closer to its June release date.

For more information on iPhone and related topics, check out the following links:

Apple iPhone Engadget: Macworld

CNET: Cisco sues Apple over iPhone name - Jan. 10, 2007

Sources
Grossman, Lev. "Apple's New Calling: The iPhone." Time Magazine. Jan. 10, 2007. Markoff, John. "Apple Introduces Innovative Cell Phone." The New York Times. Jan. 10, 2007. Thomas, Owen. "Apple's Steve Jobs unveils new iPhone." CNNMoney.com. Jan. 9, 2007. "Taiwan's Hon Hai wins Apple orders for mobile handsets, notebook PCs." Forbes.com. Nov. 14, 2006. "Apple - iPhone - High Technology - Tech Specs." "MacWorld San Francisco 2007 Keynote Live Coverage."

How We Behave During Our Times of Affliction Has Everything to Do With the Results!

Let's say you're a dedicated believer who has laid down his life for Jesus. You have a burden for a dying world, you weep for the lost -- and you have a clear command to take the good news and win souls. So you tell all your friends you're going to a certain city to testify of God's grace.

Yet after you arrive, your friends back home receive word that you're not being used of God at all. There is no congregation as planned; in fact, your ministry is dead. You have nothing to show for your efforts. And rather than stirring the city up for Christ, you've landed in jail!

How would you react if all you had to show for your dedication, labors and sacrifice was utter failure? How would you behave if God shut you down, bound your hands and left you helpless?
Some Christians would pout. They would doubt God's word to them and question the Spirit's leading. They would give Jesus the silent treatment -- whimpering, doubting, complaining to their friends. And the whole trial of their faith -- the affliction meant to throw them into Jesus' arms -- would be wasted, with no effect whatsoever.

Yet others Christians would respond as Paul did -- rejoicing that they'd been counted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake. Paul did not try to figure out his afflictions. He responded with joy, faith and hope -- because he knew he was in training as God's witness! He wrote to his friends from jail, "My situation is the topic of Caesar's palace. Everyone in Rome is talking about what's happening to me. I'm in jail for Jesus!" He must have been quite a sight in that prison cell -- a scrawny Jew encouraging everyone around him, "Rejoice in your afflictions. God is faithful!"
Paul didn't waste any of his afflictions. He knew each of them had a divine purpose. And the Lord is watching how we behave during our trials as well. Let me give you three ways our afflictions are wasted:

1. We waste afflictions by whiny, murmuring, complaining behavior. This kind of behavior disturbs the Lord. It was the reason every test and affliction Israel experienced in the wilderness was lost on them!

The book of Numbers contains a sad example of wasted afflictions. The five daughters of a man called Zelophehad came to Moses asking for a share in the possession of the Promised Land. They told Moses, "Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and had no sons" (Numbers 27:3). These women were saying, "When all the others rose up against you with Korah, our father wasn't one of them. He wasn't in rebellion. He died in his own sin."

This last phrase struck me as I read it: "He died in his own sin." This meant that although their father had seen incredible miracles -- deliverance out of Egypt, water flowing from a rock, manna coming from heaven -- he died in unbelief with the rest of his generation. Of that generation, only faithful Joshua and Caleb survived the wilderness.

Obviously, these five daughters were born in the wilderness -- and they grew up in a family full of anger toward God. All of Israel's testings and trials produced only hardened unbelief in their father. And all these young women heard growing up was murmuring, complaining and bitterness. At breakfast, lunch and supper, there was constant bellyaching, with never a word of faith or trust in God. Now these women had to tell Moses, "Our father left us with nothing -- no hope, no possession, no testimony. He spent those forty years whining and in bitterness, because life was hard. He died in sin, his life a total waste!"

What a horrible thing to have to say of one's parents. Yet I must warn all parents reading this: Your children are watching you as you're under affliction! And they are being influenced for life by your behavior. So, how are you behaving? Are you wasting your affliction -- not only for yourself, but for the generations that follow? Or, are your heirs being established in Christ as they hear you say, "I don't like this affliction -- but blessed be the name of the Lord. He always delivers!"

I know many Christians who have become more bitter and grumpy with every new affliction. You would think their God is dead. They even look sour; over the years they've become prune- faced. The very afflictions meant to train and sweeten them -- trials designed by God to reveal his faithfulness -- instead turn them into habitual bellyachers, sourpusses, meanies. I wonder as I see them, "Where is their faith, their trust in the Lord? What must their children think?"

I've buried a lot of people in my lifetime, and in that time I've discovered something tragic: Those who become sour and bitter watch helplessly as their loved ones gradually pull away from them. Their children pull away, along with their grandchildren and friends. And those sourpusses end up dying alone. I've conducted some funerals where only one person attended. The deceased were forgotten almost entirely. God allowed them to go out with nobody!

Beloved, don't waste your afflictions! Let them produce in you the sweet aroma of trust and faith in your Lord. All your trials are intended to throw you into his arms, to cause you to say, "I am his, and he is mine. And he will bring me through this affliction!"

2. We waste afflictions when we face new ones without remembering our deliverances from old ones. We have a tendency to forget every good thing God has done for us!
When David stood before Goliath, he rehearsed his past victories in order to build up his faith. He recounted, "When a lion came toward me, I tore it apart. And when a bear came after me, I killed it too. Now the same God who delivered me from the roaring lion and the ferocious bear will deliver me from this giant!"

Moses reminded Israel of all their past deliverances. Then he warned them: "Take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons" (Deuteronomy 4:9).

Sadly, the Bible says of Israel: "They kept not the covenant of God...and forgot his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them" (Psalm 78:10-11). Like the Israelites, we have the same tendency whenever we face a new trial or affliction. We say, "Oh, God, this time it's too much for me to face." But God answers, "Simply look back, and remember me!"

If need be, keep a journal to remind yourself of God's great deliverances in your life. Jot down a few notes at night before going to bed. Do whatever it takes to remind yourself of all the things he has done for you -- all the heartaches you've been through, from which he has delivered you. Then, when your next affliction arises, open your notebook and say to the devil, "You're not going to deceive me this time. My God brought me out before, and he will do it again!"

3. We waste our afflictions when we refuse to see that God brings us through them in order to teach others. We are to share our experiences with our brothers and sisters to prove God's faithfulness to them. We are to stand and say, "Thank God, I'm a veteran. And I can tell you by experience -- he is faithful!" Paul actually boasted of his afflictions: "...I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" (Galatians 6:17). He knew each scar bore an eternal purpose!

Let me give you the key to understanding your afflictions

Every Affliction We Suffer Is an Investment God Is Making in Us!
When a parent sends a child to college, it requires a great investment. And that parent hopes his child will apply herself to the rigors of her training. Why? Does he hope she will graduate, come home, hang her diploma on the wall, then sit around the house watching television? No! That parent hopes his child will make his investment pay off by starting a good career.

Likewise, when the U.S. military offers a free education to an enlisted soldier, those years of education are considered an investment. The soldier is told, "After you're educated, your nation and government want a certain amount of your time." That trained soldier is expected to serve in the armed forces for a number of years, to justify the investment.

So it is with the Lord and our afflictions! Everything you go through as a Christian is a training exercise, behind which God has a divine purpose. He did not save you to allow you to cruise into paradise on a luxury liner; he saved you to prepare you to be of use in his kingdom. The moment you were born again, he enrolled you in his school of suffering. And every affliction, every trial, is another lesson in the curriculum!

Some Christians are in kindergarten. Their afflictions are not difficult to understand, and their tests are much easier to endure. Others are in grade school, and they quickly learn that their tests have become a little tougher to face and harder to understand. Others are in college, and their afflictions are much more severe and more difficult to figure out. Still others are in postgraduate school, with years of hard affliction behind them and many difficult tests looming before them. Their afflictions are the toughest of their lives, and they realize they need Holy-Ghost strength to deal with them all.

My point is, God wants veterans of spiritual warfare -- people who have been through many afflictions -- to prove to the next generation his faithfulness. And our every affliction is an investment he is making in us as his veterans!

So, you ask, does that mean God afflicts his own children? Listen to the psalmist's answer: "For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place" (Psalm 66:10-12).

Where does the psalmist say his affliction came from? It came directly from the hand of God! He's saying, "Lord, you put me in waters that rushed over my head, so I thought I would drown. You put me into the fire, to try me as silver is tried. You brought me into a net, laid affliction on my loins, caused men to trounce on me!"

Why did God allow such afflictions? It was because he was bringing his beloved child into a "wealthy place." In the original Hebrew this phrase means, "a place of abundant fruitfulness." God is saying, "I'm taking you through all these hard places to make you fruitful for my kingdom!"

Yet not all afflictions are from the hand of God. Many troubles come from the devil himself, straight from the pits of hell. "For he [God] doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men" (Lamentations 3:33). God says, "I get no joy out of afflicting my children. That is not my purpose in allowing troubles." No -- the Lord allows our afflictions only for his holy, eternal purposes. It is to bring us into a "wealthy place"!

Now, I am no apostle; I'm only a novice compared to Paul. But I'm old enough in the Lord to consider myself a veteran in the faith. And as I look back over the years, I can tell you it has been a lifetime of trouble, affliction, hardship and disappointment. I've written some books about it, but those books only touch on the highlights.

I cringe with amazement as I remember all the sorrows, trials, deep waters, flaming fires and powerful afflictions. And usually when afflictions came, they came not just one at a time, but in bundles. Many times I thought, "There's no way I can make it through this." Even the memories of afflictions are painful -- memories of slander, chastenings of the Lord, ministry trials, personal buffetings, family problems, bodily pains and aches. Yet, as I recall those years of suffering, I can say with assurance, "God's word is true! He brought me out of every affliction that came upon me. I praise him!"

Almost any Christian reading this message could write a book about all the troubles and afflictions he or she has experienced. If you have served the Lord for any amount of time, I know you have a story to tell. Yet, what would that story sound like? Maybe it would go something like this: "I always have the peace and rest of the Holy Ghost. And I have wonderful fellowship with Jesus. But in this daily walk -- in this flesh I wear -- there has been such incredible pain, rejection, suffering, tears. It has been a lifetime of affliction!"

If you love Jesus with all your heart, your testimony will be, "God has always brought me out. I never went under. I'm still here, and I'm praising the Lord. Those afflictions are behind me now. I may be in the midst of another one, but all the others are under the blood. I am victorious, because Jesus brought me through!"

Perhaps there were times you almost fainted. You may have been so weak and weary you thought you couldn't go another step. But now, from where you stand, you can say, "No, I never want to go through that again -- but God brought me out of it. He has been faithful. Praise the Lord!"

Yet God is not satisfied with a heartfelt "thank you" from us. Rather, he says, "Wait just a moment, my child. I did not bring you through all these troubles and afflictions just to make you a grateful overcomer. No -- I have a big investment in you. I've spent years training you, putting you through all these things for a purpose. And I'm not going to let you waste them now. I fully intend that my investment pay off. I tell you, your best work is ahead of you!"

Now, as you emerge from your college-level afflictions, God opens your eyes to your struggling friends in kindergarten. These beloved ones don't think they can make it. So, what do you do with your affliction experiences? God whispers to you, "I need seasoned, tested veterans -- people who have survived deep waters and awful fires, who have been refined through suffering. I want people who will prove my faithfulness to this generation!"

The psalmist writes: "...that ye may tell it to the generation following" (Psalm 48:13). "Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come..." (71:18).

Paul sums it all up beautifully: "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel..." (Philippians 1:12). That is saying something! When Paul wrote this, he was an older man with years of experience -- and he was in the midst of one of the worst trials of his life. He spoke to his friends from his heart:

"It would be the most wonderful thing right now if I could go home and be with my Lord. That is my greatest desire. But I'm a veteran -- I've been through afflictions and trials -- and I know I'm needed here. This generation needs to see a sufferer who survives and rejoices in any affliction. My son Timothy is going to face all that I've faced, and he needs to know that God will bring him through. So, it is best that I stay and endure these deep afflictions. Look at me -- not only have I survived, but I have true hope. I'm not down or depressed. I rejoice in the Lord for all he has brought me through!"

"...I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith" (verse 25). Paul is saying, "You know I've been through fires, infirmities, robberies, shipwrecks. At times I've even despaired of life. But God has delivered me from it all. And now I'm going to abide and continue with you for the furtherance and joy of your faith. I want to teach you that you don't have to be terrified of any adversary!"

Beloved, I have a question for you: No matter how long you've been walking with Jesus, you surely have known pains, trials, afflictions. So, how have you behaved in them? What has been the outcome, the result of your experiences? Have your afflictions all been in vain? Or have you learned of God's love and faithfulness in the midst of them?

Don't Waste Your Afflictions!

David WilkersonJan 16, 2007
"I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out [turned out] rather unto the furtherance of the gospel" (Philippians 1:12).

In this verse, Paul tells the Christians in Philippi not to worry about all the things they'd heard had befallen him. And those "things" included great afflictions and infirmities!

Paul wrote this epistle while bound in a Roman prison. At that point he was a seasoned warrior of the gospel, having endured every conceivable hardship and human affliction. If you've studied Paul's life, you know the kinds of things he'd faced: shipwrecks, beatings, buffetings, revilings, mockings, persecutions, hunger, thirst, nakedness, defamation of character.

Paul's worst afflictions came at the hands of those who called themselves born-again believers. Some of his opponents were envious church leaders who turned entire congregations against him. They ridiculed his lifestyle, mocked his preaching, misrepresented his message, questioned his authority. Everywhere Paul went, it seemed, he was met by affliction, trouble and sorrow.
Yet Paul said, "...none of these things move me..." (Acts 20:24). Furthermore, he added, "No man should be moved [troubled] by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto....we told you before that we would suffer tribulation..." (1 Thessalonians 3:3-4).

Paul was reassuring these believers, saying, "I've told you all along -- if you're going to walk with Jesus, you'll face afflictions. So, now that these afflictions have come upon me, why are you so surprised? This is our appointed lot in life."

Paul repeated this even more bluntly to the Philippians: "For unto you it is given [assigned] in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake" (Philippians 1:29).
There is a certain theology in the American church today that says, "If you have your faith worked out correctly, you won't suffer. You'll be prosperous and won't have to worry about having troubles." No -- those words don't appear in the Bible! On the contrary, Paul says we have been assigned to suffer for the sake of Christ.

Moreover, Paul wrote that every day he woke up "...not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth [solemnly testifies to me] in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide [await] me" (Acts 20:22- 23).

Try to get this picture in your mind: Here was a holy man, called by God to take the gospel to the nations. And on every holy assignment, the Holy Spirit whispered to him, "Paul, the next stop isn't going to be easy. You're going to face opposition again. You'll find more afflictions, more testings."
I find this man's life absolutely amazing. Can you imagine it? Paul faced troubles and afflictions at every turn. The Holy Spirit told him to take a certain ship for a missions trip -- and the vessel ended up sinking; Paul had to swim for his life. The apostle then set out for his next appointment on foot -- and he was robbed along the way. Finally, Paul reached his next mission stop -- and instead of hearing his message, the people mocked him, beat him and cast him into prison.
God delivered Paul from that jail cell. And when he was released, he shook the dust from his feet and started out for his next assignment. That's when the Holy Spirit told him, "Get ready, Paul -- because you're going back to jail. And then you're going to be stoned. I know you've been through a lot, but there are more afflictions ahead. Rejoice, Paul -- for you have been counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ!"

Paul continued on to the next place -- and sure enough, he was stoned and left for dead. Yet God brought him back to life. Then, leaning on the handful of people who had accompanied him, he hobbled onward to his next appointment.

His next mission stop was a church he had raised up. Yet when he arrived, he found that Alexander the coppersmith was now their leader. Alexander told him, "You're no longer needed, Paul." This man had turned the whole church against Paul, their founder, a shepherd who had hobbled for miles just to see them.

So Paul went to his next assignment -- and again the Holy Ghost told him, "That's not all, Paul. There are more afflictions ahead."

At this point you may be saying, "Wait a minute -- you're talking about Paul's life, not mine. He was appointed by God to suffer afflictions. I haven't been called to such a life." Wrong! The Bible says: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19).

The phrase "many are the afflictions" applies not just to Paul, but to us as well. And I believe the more righteous we are, the more afflictions we will face. We love to hear the last part of that verse: "...the Lord delivereth him out of them all..." But do we rejoice in the first part as well? "Many are the afflictions of the righteous..."

I say with Paul: Why are we so surprised when we one affliction after another comes upon us? We have been told to expect them, even many of them. Yet often we cry out in the midst of them, "Oh, God -- I've had enough! I don't understand why I have to endure all these things. You know I love you, that I've been faithful to you. So why am I having to take this? You said you wouldn't give me more than I could bear, and I can't bear any more. Please, cut these troubles short!"

We want quick-and-easy deliverance. But our afflictions serve no purpose whatsoever if we do not understand why God permits them. The truth is that every affliction, trial, trouble, difficulty and disappointment in our life is allowed by the Lord. And he has a specific purpose behind all of them. Why? It is because he is taking us somewhere -- trying to accomplish something in us and through us!

We all know it would be just as easy for God to keep us out of all afflictions. Jesus implied this when he asked the Pharisees, "Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?" (Luke 5:23). He was saying, "I have the power to do both." So, wouldn't it be just as easy for him to shield us from afflictions as it would to let us go through them? He could deliver us with one spoken word! But he doesn't; instead, he allows us to go through our afflictions -- all for a divine purpose.

If the Lord did not permit troubles in our life, that would represent the worst form of rejection. It would mean God is saying, "I have no special work for this believer, no plans for his life being set apart as a testimony. Therefore, I don't need to produce anything in him. Let him remain untrained, untutored, a man with a child's mind. Let him not abound in grace. Let him not learn through affliction so that he might teach others. Let him just exist and die in his childishness."

I know Christians who refuse to learn from their afflictions. After a while, when God sees there is no purpose in allowing their troubles, he withdraws the afflictions. These Christians simply float through life, seeming not to have a problem in the world. But it is because they are not going anywhere! There is no future for them in God's plan. They are like the children of Israel, who floated through the wilderness for forty years. God tried the Israelites time after time -- but he finally gave up!

Why Do You Think God Has Delivered You From All Your Past Afflictions?

David wrote: "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears....He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented [came upon] me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me" (Psalm 18:6, 16-19).

Dear saint, rest assured -- if you're being afflicted, it is because God delights in you. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth..." (Hebrews 12:6). Your afflictions are a sign of his love!
You must also remember that whatever you're going through will pass. Recently, I read a passage in one of my journals, which I wrote while going through a great trial. Three months' worth of entries all ended with the same phrase: "Oh, God, when will this nightmare end?" Then, finally, these words appeared across a page in huge letters: "IT'S OVER -- HE HAS DELIVERED!"

I can honestly say I have learned more in my afflictions than I ever did in good times. Prosperity doesn't teach us; afflictions do. The humanitarian Albert Schweitzer said, "Happiness is good health and a bad memory." No -- happiness is remembering all the ways God has brought us through!
I ask you again: How are you reacting to your afflictions? Are you wasting them, becoming a doubter and complainer? Or are you building up your faith, knowing that your God delivers?
There is only one way to endure your present troubles: Remember that your heavenly father delights in you! He has a plan at work, a great investment in you. And "...he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Your father is preparing you to be a veteran of spiritual warfare -- an example of faith and trust to this generation. Hallelujah!

Do you weigh more than you should?

Introduction

Do you weigh more than you should? If so, you're like the two-thirds of can adults who are overweight. About one in three American adults is considered to be obese. And childhood
obesity is at an all-time high.Obesity is more than a cosmetic concern. Being seriously overweight puts you at greater risk of developing high blood pressure and many other
serious health risks. Ultimately, obesity can even be life-threatening. Annually in the United States, more than 300,000 deaths are linked to obesity.The good news is that even a modest weight loss can bring health improvements. In many cases, you can accomplish this by eating healthier, exercising and changing behaviors. For people who don't respond to lifestyle changes, prescription medications and surgical techniques are available to enhance the weight-loss process.

Causes
Obesity involves having an abnormally high proportion of body fat. Doctors define obesity as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher and overweight as having a BMI of 25 or
higher.Weight is largely determined by how you balance your intake of calories from food with the energy you use in everyday activities. If you consume more calories than you use, you gain
weight. Your body stores calories that you don't need for energy as fat.Fat is important for storing energy and insulating your body, among other functions. The human body can handle
carrying some extra fat, but beyond a certain point, body fat can begin to interfere with your health.Eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activity are the main causes of obesity, especially in combination. But many factors can contribute to obesity.

Risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of being obese include:
Diet. Regular consumption of high-calorie foods, such as fast foods, contributes to weight gain. High-fat foods are dense in calories. Loading up on soft drinks, candy and desserts also promotes weight gain. Foods and beverages like these are high in sugar and calories. Inactivity. Sedentary people are more likely to gain weight because they don't burn calories through physical activities. Psychological factors. Some people overeat to cope with problems or deal with emotions, such as stress or boredom. Genetics. If one or both of your parents are obese, your chances of being overweight are greater. Your genes may affect the amount of body fat you store and where that fat is distributed. But, your genetic makeup doesn't guarantee that you'll be obese. Age. As you get older, you tend to be less active. In addition, the amount of muscle in your body tends to decrease with age. This lower muscle mass leads to a decrease in metabolism. These changes also reduce calorie needs. If you don't decrease your caloric intake
as you age, you'll likely gain weight. Cigarette smoking. Smokers tend to gain weight after quitting. This weight gain may be partially due to nicotine's ability to raise the rate at which your body burns calories (metabolic rate). When smokers stop, they burn fewer calories. Smoking also affects taste; quitting smoking makes food taste and smell better. Former smokers often gain weight because they eat more after they quit. However, cigarette smoking is still considered a greater threat to your health than is extra weight. Pregnancy. During pregnancy a woman's weight necessarily increases. Some women find this weight difficult to lose after the baby is born. This weight gain may contribute to the development of obesity in women. Medications. Corticosteroids and tricyclic antidepressants, in particular, can lead to weight gain. So can some high blood pressure and antipsychotic medications. Medical problems. Uncommonly, obesity can be traced to a medical cause, suchas low thyroid function, excess
production of hormones by the adrenal glands (Cushing's syndrome) or other hormonal imbalances, such as polycystic ovary syndrome. A low metabolic rate is rarely a cause of obesity. A medical problem, such as arthritis, can also lead to decreased activity, which can result in weight gain. Alcohol. Drinking alcohol adds calories to your diet — just one regular beer is about 150 calories. If you don't cut back somewhere else, adding just one beer daily could cause a weight gain of more than one pound a month. Additionally, excessive drinking can stimulate your appetite and make you less likely to control portion sizes.

Health & Cities !!!

Top 10 fittest cities

1. Baltimore, Maryland
2. Honolulu, Hawaii
3. Virginia Beach, Virginia
4. Tucson, Arizona
5. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
6. Colorado Springs, Colorado
7. San Francisco, California
8. Seattle, Washington
9. Louisville, Kentucky
10. Boston, Massachusetts

Top 10 fattest cities

1. Chicago, Illinois
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Los Angeles, California
4. Dallas, Texas5. Houston, Texas
6. Memphis, Tennessee
7. Long Beach, California
8. El Paso, Texas
9. Kansas City, Missouri
10. Mesa, Arizona

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

I just learned today that MLK has been good friends with M. Gandhi ...he learned philosophy from a lot of great people Gandhi happens to be one of them...

Read More about Dr.King

http://www.thekingcenter.org/

Excerpt from Martin Luther King's “I Have a Dream” Speech

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered this speech on August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Washington, D.C., Lincoln Memorial during the march on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. For the full text, see the Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers project at Stanford University, www.stanford.edu/group/king .
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

Odor In New York City

As I reached New york Penn Station ... I was feeling weird cause of this odor...didnt realise what it was ..

here is a developing story from CNN.com

NEW YORK (AP) -- Authorities were investigating the source of a mysterious gas-like odor Monday that stretched across a large part of Manhattan, including Rockefeller Center.
"One thing we are very confident of, it's not dangerous," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference.
The Fire Department began getting calls about the odor around 9 a.m. Monday, said spokesman Tim Hinchey. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey temporarily suspended some of its PATH commuter train service between New Jersey and Manhattan as a precaution.
Bloomberg said the city's air sensors had not detected an elevated level of natural gas.
Bloomberg said there was a small gas leak at Bleecker Street and Sixth Avenue, but the odor from that leak would not account for the pervasive smell.
Utility crews from Consolidated Edison were investigating, but they had found no abnormal changes in the gas flow with in its transmission system, said spokesman Chris Olert. "If there was a big leak, we would see a change in the gas flow," he said.
Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said there was no indication of terrorism and no credible intelligence to suggest any imminent threat to the city. He said the agency is closely monitoring the situation.
In some areas, office buildings and apartment buildings were evacuated as a precaution.
The mayor advised people affected by the smell to open windows and turn on fans to ventilate rooms.
Across the Hudson River, Jersey City, New Jersey, mayor's spokeswoman Maria Pignataro said when she left her downtown apartment Monday morning she was immediately hit with gas fumes.
"If you were in a gas station, [the odor] would be magnified 1,000 times," she told CNN.
"The smell was very strong. It was very scary," said Yolanda Van Gemd, an administrator at ASA, a business school near the Empire State Building that was evacuated as a precaution.
In August, seven people were treated at hospitals after a gaseous smell in the boroughs of Queens and Staten Island.

Happy New Year

H old fast to your faith (Hebrews 4:14)
A ssemble with the saints (Hebrews 10:25)
P ray earnestly every day (1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18)
P ray for great blessings (Malachi 3:10)
Y ield not to temptation (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

N eglect not your talents and opportunities (Galat 6:10)
E xamine yourself daily (2 Corinthians 13:5)
W ork diligently for the Lord (Corinthians 15:58)

Y ield your members to rightiousness (Romans 6:11, 16)
E xercise yourself in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7)
A im at sinless perfection (Hebrews 6:1)
R edeem the time (Ephesians 5:15, 16)

I can only Imagine - Mercyme

"I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...

I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!

I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?

Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!

I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!! Only imagine!!!I can only imagine.
I can only imagine, when all I do is forever, forever worship You!I can only imagine."

www.tinkerddb.net/ICanOnlyImagine/ --> You can hear the above song by using this link.

New Year

Wish you a Happy New Year - 2007

May God Bless you

Best Regards

Sucharitha