“HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION WITH LOTS OF FUN”

    So many people could hardly figure out ways to really celebrate a nice Christmas, happiness is not expensive as so many believe, just have an ideal of something from the ordinary. All you have to do to have a real exciting x-mass is simple; the tips are not complex but crucial. So without wasting any time lets us figure out some of those tips out alighted below:
Make someone happy: to have a low cost Christmas fun with fun, you have to cultivate the habit of sharing meaning: make it a duty to make someone happy it could be a lover, family or friend or taking a kid or kids out, make then live to tell the tales. Making someone happy you too will be happy I bet you. Just focus more on then, it like what you do to others affects you.
Sharing: So to say:  in ancient times they had this habits or culture of sharing sheep or other kinds of animals, or gift of food; this was almost like a fun to them. Also in some local parts of Africa the people share foods to their neighbours on Christmas and on New Year days, while in civilized western countries they share gifts, gather them under the x-mass tree, and opened them on boxing day; a day after x-mass. Some people visit the orphanage homes on this day and some are happier than those who spend their resources parting. The more you share the bigger and better it will be. The king birth-day whom we are celebrating on Christmas day, had gifts from the three wise men. This was indeed the very first Christmas and of course the Holy Bible called them wise men. So we should learn from the wise to share out gifts both to men of God and to our fellow neighbours. It is a season to be merry, giving gifts and receiving gifts are all parts of it.
Surprises: almost everyone like surprises, give out gifts. Surprise someone and you would be surprised. You should not give with the mind set of receiving. Just give, although if you give you are likely to receive, but don’t make it compulsory. Other ways to surprise whomsoever you are taking out on that special day; is to take him/her to unusual spot avoid one going all Christmas to one particular park. Or give out items, which ever you’d prefers. My friends always want to hang out with me because I am full of surprises.
Reunite: call your friends both those you have not seen for long and those intimate to you, hang out to some park and have fun. Christmas is not a season you go out all by yourself, it is not the way of it, you have to celebrate it with your love once. I personally recommend you been with your love once rather than been alone. Some families don’t go out all they just do is to reunite both nuclear and extended family member and some friends’ have launch together, everyone would be happy seeing those long time folks.
Avoid where is too quiet: most people would take their spouse out to a sort of cool and low key place, some they will get bored. Nothing like you seeing other people looking colourful and happy; this on its own caused for happiness.
Avoid the usual: I have seen people doing the usual thing on Christmas day, some would go to place they always go on daily basics, some would be at home etc. some people were brought up indoors so they are comfortable sleeping that day, so find no reason to celebrate. Well I have found a so many reasons to celebrate the LORD nativity. I have a sort of friend who was not interested in celebrating Christmas, he had not gone out on this day before not for once, because of the way he was brought up, maybe his parents were also brought up this way and soon he too, would make his own children detest Christmas day celebration. All have to do was to just take him out, just one day, he met so many of his old folks, the whole place look colourful and people were happy as though it was their very last. And he would do anything to celebrate Christmas and this has made some of his family member to want to give it a try.
 Photo Pictures: like the guy I used as an example earlier on avoid the usual; he would always remember that first Christmas with the help of a photo- picture. For as long as I can remember the old saying ‘picture bring back old memories’ I found picture with your love once on this day crucial, it would link you mind back on those old good Christmas days. Most time I take children to zoom and I made them to have a picture with horse, camel, donkey etc they will have treasure it, and show it to their friends who in turns would want me to take them out.
Pick nicking: I am the type of person who gets bored easily by a annual routine, sometime I go out pick nick all this are not expensive as people might think, go with a mat or material spread. Be with your family or friends, go with food, wine or beverage etc. have a good time, there after go swimming. I have never gone out for swimming before; I first did this on Christmas day with my friends so you could imagine the excitement.

Parks: going to parks you would hardly get bored, if you go out with children they will love you forever. They have colourful cartoons customs i.e. Ben10, Mickey Mouse etc.  Let them have a picture with then, parks always contain fun more than any other places, you can ride on a horse. Sometimes some artistes organize concepts, or if you are an artiste you should talk to the park official and discuss are you can organize your own. If not you could tour the museum in it.
Feel it: to really enjoy Christmas you should start feel it by participating in the Christmas activities like: going with your church or with your band for carol night. I remember the year I first went out with some of the youth in my church for carols it was marvelous. It lasted for about three weeks; we would go from homes to homes to those who invited us, we would play drums and sing some nice carols. We made money having fun; you should start feeling it before the D- day, play Christmas song at home, decorate your home, you should never forget Christmas tree, remember that old words of Kelvin in home alone; how can you celebrate a Christmas without a Christmas tree, also give out season greetings cards, visit the child Jesus merger in the church and give him a gift.
Romantic Christmas: if you are that sort of shy type then you should take your spouse to the cinema and have a great time together. This is so because you don’t have to talk much to entertain your spouse, still he/her will be lively and comfortable. The movie would be the entertainer, go for a good romantic Christmas movie, and not some sort of a tragedy movie were you both would be sharing tears together. Thereafter have a table for two and have a snaps together, take a walk together and if you know the place better than your spouse then show he/her around if not vice-versa. If you are bold enough to have a dance it will be very good.
How to fun with children: these I have learnt about children, when you take them out to a park or Christmas shopping plaza whichever the case might be, getting there you should not start spending on games or snaps or food etc, though they would want you to. Because of the attraction of the place but don’t because; if you start spending immediately, you might ended up spending too much than you should, since children hardly get satisfied. First, you should tour with them; show them around and do some nice talking along; they should have fun in watching those playing games and with those having fun. Thereafter you could spend on game or games as you can afford after then you ought to relax with then with some snaps. Actually if you start spending on games earlier you will get exhausted while some might just get started, and this would make them feel like you could have done better not knowing money is the easiest to spend and the hardest to have this days.
By STEPHEN OMERE
So now enjoy your Christmas!

LOOK YOUNG EVEN AT YOUR OLD-AGE

These days, age is only a number, as you can see people in their late 70s still looking smooth and attractive. Stop filling your head up with terrible things, some people believe that old age brings ache and all of that; indeed this is what it brings to such people, your believe can go a long way on this. Look at the leaders in the world, majority of them are old people, yet doing great. How old you are really? Is the answer more complicated than counting the numbers of candles you blew out in your birthday’s cake? Below are simple tips that can make you look good look and flexible.
EASE STRESS
Chronic stress make you long old-and actually ages us: in a 2012 study, Austrian researchers found that work-related tension harms DNA in our cells, speeding up the shortening of telomeres- which protect the ends of our chromosomes and which may indicate our life expectancy. Of course, it’s impossible to completely obliterate stress. ‘What’s important is how you manage it. Practice yoga, pray, meditate, relax in the shower or do whatever else chills you out.
LOSE WEIGHT
Being obese increase the risk of diabetes; cancer and heart disease, possibly shaving up to 12 years off your life, per and analysis in the journal Obesity. But being too thing can hike your immune function. So aim to stay at a weight that’s healthy for you. Exercise is a plays a vital role here, start slightly for some minute before going hard and deep; for starting hard could strain a muscle. During exercise you termed to sweat out waste water (sweat) from your skin, thus, it should be replaced. Most people don’t know water is life, it importance is magical, incredible drink a full glass of water early morning to start your day, and then after do some exercise to get your body muscle wakened again drink more water to replace the once lost as a result of the exercise.
KEEP LEARNING
Having more education lengthens your life span, According to a study in the journal Health Affairs, for a number of reasons. Extra schooling may help you become better informed about how to live a healthy life. And educated folks, as a group, have a higher income, which means greater access to good health care and insurance. If you are not educated, you won’t even be able to read this script. Really education is like a certificate earned after serious study, now you got it, it’s in your drawer will it do anything for you? No! You will be the one to do something with it.
MIND SET
This one is highly powerful if you work hard on it. You can work hard on your mind set first; do you want to look young? If yes, then behave young, do what young folks do, with your mind set you can recreate yourself, as to build in you a new person, which ever your desire. Pick up your mirror, if you look old, don’t admit it; that is how you work on your mind set. See things that you want to see, and believe in then eventually, it is only a matter of time it will work for you.
REDUCE ALCOHOL
Regularly exceeding of alcoholic drink do more harm than good, likewise cigarette they, damage the lungs and the immune system and increase the risk of cancer. You hardly find smokers and drunkards looking young it is natural, and it is also a choice: if you want to look young regulate your take in.

IS TIWA SAVAGE EXPECTING A BABY?

Fans of Nigeria’s queen of pop, Tiwa Savage Balogun were filled with joy during the week when news hit the internet that their idol is expecting her first baby.
Tiwa got married to her manager- turned-husband, Tee Billz last year 2013; unfortunately they are now divorce just this year 2014. Reports of her pregnancy went viral online after she showed up at DJ jimmy Jatt’s 25th years on stage celebration which held last Sunday at intercontinental hotel, Victoria Island. The songstress obviously looked glamorous in blue free gown which many suspected was meant to hide her growing baby bump.
Meanwhile, her tweets further fuel speculations that she may be pregnant. ‘Official Tiwa Savage, the spirit of a mother. Mrs. Tee Billz, married and taken, ‘she tweeted.

JIM IYKE, NOW PURE WATER SELLER

Controversial Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke has concluded to go into pure water business. The actor who escaped recently from Liberia, of fear of the Ebola virus in that country, now has a pure water company better known as Burgeonwater. He disclosed this development, via his Instagram account during the week. ‘Henry and I; partners in quiet revolution coming soon. Burgeonwater, committed to wealth, so grateful to the Lord, countdown begins. Supreme hustle mode activated, ‘Jim Iyke announced.

JAY Z, KIM KARDASHIAN INGNORED EACH OTHER IN PUBLIC

A chance of friendship between Jay Z- Beyonce household and kim Kardashian seems slimmer than ever, especially after the rapper reportedly ignored the curvy reality TV star recently in public.

Jay Z was at a popular restaurant in Malibu, California, with friends and allegedly ignored the Kardashian family when they entered the eatery.

An eyewitness said, ‘it was really awkward. Jay Z had been quite low-key having meal with pals. But then everybody noticed the entire Kardashian family when they came in. jay Z was heading out when Kim was right in front of him but they completely ignore one and another.’

Recall that ever since Jay Z and Beyonce skipped Kardashian’s wedding to Kanye West on May in Italy, there have been reports that the couple no longer like each other. 

BEYONCE’S SUIT FOR HER DAUGHTER

It seems things are beginning to get on the negative for Beyonce and jay z these days. As report has it that a woman named Tina Seals has filled a maternity suit in Manhattan against Beyonce and Jay z, claiming that Blue Ivy is her daughter.
Seals even points out in the document that she was ‘previously associated’ with the couple.
Beyonce’s lawyers have not responded to the suit, as we gathered! Beyonce is currently dealing with rumours concerning her marriage to Jay Z and this just seems to make it worse.

WHAT BRA DOES TO WOMEN

Hundreds of millions of women wear brassiere why? This was the subject of discussion at a function recently. In the course of finding an answer to this knotty question, I discovered that, many women wear bras without ever asking why. Interestingly, bra wearing is not a necessity for most women for their breasts’ sake; rather, it is worn more for cultural reasons.
The modern bra with its two separate cups dates back to the corset in the early 20th century, in an attempt to manufacture a more comfortable underwear piece and has evolved from simple underwear into an actual sexual garment that emphasizes the sexual nature of breasts.
This can be readily seen, for example, by the terminology used to advertise bras: enticing, hot, ravishing, seducing, etc. For most purposes however, wearing a bra is feminine and rather strangely, going braless is sometimes also connected with feminism.
So why wear, or not wear a bra?
    According to experts, women’s breasts change sizes an average of five times over their life. That means that the bra size you wore when you are 20 now will no longer fit you properly; and there is a good chance that the bra you are now wearing will no longer fit you in a few years time. Skin, no muscle actually supports the breasts, and skin stretches with movement. Wearing a good support bra is essential to minimize this stretching. To wear or not to wear, would depend, first of all, on the breast size, and secondly, on the woman’s habits. I gather that very large and heavy breasted women usually need to wear bras for support, and they feel pain and discomfort if they don’t wear bras. For women with small-to-medium size breasts, if they are used to wearing bras, say they feel a little uncomfortable without them.
    However, this is more a psychological issue and a question of habit: women tend to feel awkward or self-conscious without bras if they are used to wearing them. in fact, when a person gets used to automatically wearing bras, it’s possible to not even notice of pay any attention to the sight discomfort from bras.
Why you DO need a bra
Your breast has no muscle. When gravity pulls your breast down, it also stretches your throat and face tissue. Your breast depends on an outside source of support to keep its shape and the shape of your breast is determined by the bras you wear. Ordinary bras on the market today are only covers. The woman’s breast must be lifted to allow for proper circulation. Without proper support, lymphatic drainage is impeded, which interferes with cellular health. Breast disease such as cancer is more likely when there is no circulation and lymphatic drainage.
Why you DON’T need a bra
Several medical experts argue that there is no evidence that wearing bra brings any medical benefit. They say you could be putting your health at risk by wearing bras, researchers have warned. Surgeons found women are more likely to suffer regular breast pain, which has been linked to breast cancer. Across the world, breast cancer is a problem only in cultures where women wear bras. There is already international evidence that cultures where women do not wear bras are free from breast cancer. Tight bras cause congestion in the lymph nodes- a vital part of immune system and the body’s first line of defense against the spreads of cancer. Repeated inflammation from constricting bras are implicated in painful breast cysts and lumps, scar tissue develops, and milk ducts become plugged, all of which is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.
    In one study, 100 premenopausal women who went braless for three months and then returned to wearing one for another three months found that, on average, the number of totally pain-free days went up by 7 percent when the women stopped wearing a bras. Several separate studies have shown a link between breast pain and breast cancer. It is estimated that two in five women suffer from breast pain, with some also having cysts. The pain can leave breasts feeling extremely tender, and restrict movement. Breast pain is very common but very hard to treat.
Evidence in the body
    The figures are numbing. Of 4,000 women interviewed in a major study lasting over two years, half the women had been diagnosed with breast cancer; 75 percent of women who splet in their bras developed breast cancer; 1 in 7 who wore their bras for 12 or more hours per day developed breast cancer.
    Within one month of ditching their bras, women with cysts, breast pain, or tenderness found their symptoms disappeared.
    A study published in the European Journal of Cancer found that premenopausal women who do not wear bras had half the risk of breast cancer compared with bra users. More interestingly, Japanese Fijians, and women from other cultures tend to have a significantly higher likelihood of developing breast cancer when they began wearing bras. Japanese researchers found bras can lower melatonin by 60 percent. Melatonin has anti-cancer properties. And Spanish researchers wrote about the use of melatonin in breast cancer prevention and treatment.
Go braless as much as possible
    Most women agree it’s actually easier to do this. When these muscles and ligaments are forced to bear the weight of breast, muscle tone returns. The more you wear a bra. Chest muscles and breast ligament atrophy, which then makes it feel uncomfortable to go braless.
    A study found that ‘medically, physiologically, and anatomically, breasts gained no benefit from their weight being supported in a bra.’ There was some evidence that eliminating bra use helped ease back pain. Some say bra wearing is a ‘false need.’
    A female medical doctor summed up this way: Remove your bra when you get home. Don’t wear a bra to bed. And if you’re self-conscious when going out, try wearing camisoles, thicker material, or nipple pads. However, it does make sense to wear a support bra while exercising.
Wear loose bras in softer materials
    Tight bras and under wires promote congestion and stagnation of toxic waste materials that are supposed to be flowing out for excretion. Further, the closing of lymphatic vessels reduces the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells.
    There’s no need to toss your expensive underwire bras. If you cut a small opening at one end of the wire, you can manually remove it from each cup. You’ll probably find that your bra supports you nearly as well without them. If you still need the support, you can buy and insert plastic wires.

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

             

· One day a monkey woke up, and saw all the trees in the forest cut down. He said to himself ‘one day the trees would grow again’.
·    A tree was loosening its flowering leaves, and soon birds no longer nest in it. It became a laughing stock. He prayed and cried bitterly, the tears kept on watering and floating down. From stem to the roots, it continues. Soon the tree became strong at first, and then sprouted flowering leaves, and the bird soon made their nest and sang in it. Feeding on the ripe fruits it bears and animals soon took shelters in it covering. ‘Only action makes it work’.
·    A bird had an accident and he was injured, lose a wing. Thus, couldn’t fly anymore. He saw the younger birds flying, singing happily, he missed those good days he could do the same and even more, he’d fly far away forget its problem, fed on long, big tree’s fruits…
He said to itself; ‘one day I will fly again’.

A LIVING ROCK

      At opportune time Jesus tested his disciples with a crucial question: ‘who do the people say that I am and who do you say that I am?’ (Mt 16:13). Jesus was widely recognized in Israel as a mighty man of God, even being compared with the greatest of the prophets, John the Baptist, and Jeremiah, peter, always quick to respond, exclaimed that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living God.
The gift of faith
What enable peter to recognize that Jesus was more than a man of flesh and blood? Through the gift of faith, peter recognized that Jesus was the ‘Anointed One’ – called the messiah in Hebrew and the Christ in Greek – and the only begotten Son except through the gift of revelation which God gives to those who seek him. Jesus then conferred on peter authority to govern the church that Jesus would build, a church that no powers could overcome. Jesus played on peter’s name which is the same word for ‘rock’ in both Arabic and Greek.
Spiritual rock and living stones
To call someone a ‘rock’ is one of the greatest of compliments. The ancient rabbis had a saying that when God saw Abraham, he exclaimed: ‘I have discovered a rock to found the world upon. ‘Abraham put his trust in God and made God’s word the foundation of his life and the bedrock of his faith. Through Abraham, God established a nation for himself. Through faith, peter grasped who Jesus truly was. He was the first apostle to proclaim the Jesus was truly the Anointed One and the only begotten son of God.
Church as a spiritual house
The New Testament describes the church, the people of God, as a spiritual house and temple of the Holy Spirit with each member joined as living stones (1Pet 2:5). That means that each member of the church is a living stone. This is because faith in Jesus Christ makes us into rocks – spiritual stones. The lord Jesus tests each of us personally with the same question: who do you say that I am? Let us end this quote from Epiphanius the Latin, 5th century AD church father; did the lord not know what people called him? But questioning he brought forth the conviction of the apostle peter and left for us in the future a strong affirmation of faith. For the lord questioned not only peter but all the apostles when he asked, ‘who do people say that I am? Yet one on behalf of all answered the king, who is in due time to judge the whole world. He is God, both God and man. How miserable does this make those who are false teachers and strangers now, and to be judged in eternity. If Christ is the Son of God. By all means he is also God. If he is not God, he is not the Son of God. But since he himself is the Son, and as the Son takes up all things from the father, let us hold this same one inseparably in our heart because there is no one who escapes his hand.’ May God strengthen your faith in him and grant you all the blessings you need to drew you closer
Shalom!

THE FIRST AND LAST

The house of Israel is the vine of God - who planted and watered it, preparing the Israelites to bear fruits of righteousness (Isaiah 5:7; 2-5). Israel failed to yield good fruits and the lord allowed his vineyard, Israel’s kingdom, to be overrun by conquerors (psalm 80:9-20). But God promise that one day he would replant his vineyard and its shoots would blossom to the end of the earth (Amos 9:15; Hosea 14:5-10).
This is the biblical backdrop to Jesus’ parable of salvation history in today’s Gospel. The landowner is God. The vineyard is the kingdom. The workers hired at down are the Israelite’s, to whom he first offered his covenant. Those hired later in the day are the gentiles, the non-Israelites, who, until the coming of Christ, were strangers to the covenants of promise (Ephesians 2:11-13). In the lord’s great generosity, the same wages, the same blessings promised to the first called, the Israelites, will be paid to those called last, the rest of the nations.
This provokes grumbling; doesn’t the complaint of those first laborers sound like that of the older brother in Jesus’ parable (Luke 15:29-30)? God’s ways, however, are far from our ways.
Like the gentiles, many will be allowed to enter the kingdom late- after having spent most of their days idling in sin. But even these call upon him near, as we sing in psalm. We should rejoice that God has compassion on all whom he has created. This should console us, too, especially if we have loved ones who remain far from the vineyard.
Our task is to continue laboring in his vineyard. As Paul says; let us conduct ourselves worthily, struggling to bring all men and women to the praise of his name amen.
REV FR. CYRIL UDOM, OCD

THE MEANING OF ‘LAST SHALL BE FIRST’ (MT 20:1-16)

If you read the passage with the intervention of the Holy Ghost, then you would see things others couldn’t see, and understand what others couldn’t understand. Especially the meaning of ‘last shall be first’.
 Three set of workers were used by Christ. The first set of workers who had started working since morning they were hired, by the vine owner. This first set represents those who have been in right with God almighty, right from the beginning (the Israelites). They have not hesitated, or ignore the call to work in God’s vine yard.
The second set are those, though were not in right with God right from the start, but were later called. And they too, obeyed.
The last set, were those who had gone round wasting their time, they did not hear or accept the truth or acknowledged Christ Jesus to be their God, and source of  everything that is good. Doing all such of immoral things, and soon realized that, they have been wasting their time (the gentiles). He said to then why are you there wasting your time, anything that is outside God is really a waste of time. But God is always waiting to welcome anyone who wants to surrender to him. And he gave them also the right to be called sons and children of God.
The vine yard, is the service of God. We are all called to honour.
The copper coin is the wage or gift of God to those who work in his vine yard which is eternal life’. Whether big or small, insofar we are right with God, on that last day it is eternal life. This ideal really sounds unfair to the first set, forgetting that there is nothing better than eternal life of God. Only the best God gives. It was a bargain that a day’s job is a copper coin. We are told that God is not happy seeing sinners perishing, he would rather like to see them repent and be saved (EZ 18:23). He is compassionate, we too should be. We should be happy to see sinners repent. The principle is this: if a righteous man stops doing good, and starts doing evil. God said in his word that none of his good will be remembered (EZ 18:24). Also if a sinner stops doing evil and does what is right he will saved (EZ 18:21). Note, the ending is better than the beginning. This since very unfair to the first workers, (the Israelites) and the complained bitterly that isn’t right (EZ 18:25-32). One thing we should all know as true follower of Christ is that as the scripture says: the way of God is not the way of man (). As far as the heaven from the earth, is God’s thought from man’s.
Most Christians would rather be jealous, and envy than to rejoice and celebrate when a lost ship (sinners) is found by the owner (creator). Some always criticized and condemn, doing the work of God, Christ Jesus is and he alone should be the judge. Christ say to such people; be there criticizing while the so called prostitutes and thieves are making their way to heaven.
We are all on the same move but different routes, so let’s help one another to get there. You have nothing to lose only something to gain. God bless you as you always do what is right Amen!
STEPHEN OMERE

SOCRATES GREAT PHILOSOPHER (427-399 BC)

He was the teacher of Plato and was born in Athens. He was a moral teacher and sought truth by asking questions. He enriched science with the tools of universal definitions and inductive reasoning.
SOME OF HIS QUOTES:
·    Worthless people live only to eat and drink, people of worth eat and drink only to live.
·    The greatest way to live with honour in this world is to be what is to be what you pretend to be.
·    The way to gain a good reputation is to Endeavour to be what you desire to appear.
·    True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand life. Ourselves and the world around us.
·    It is not living that matters but living rightly.
·    Let him that will move the world first move himself.
·    An honest man is always a child.

LOVE TEXT

·    You got all a man needs in a woman, if you don’t have it then it doesn’t exist.
·    I never realize how much I love till I missed you.
·    I need a woman who can tell what I am thinking when I think of love, with good sense of judgment and virtues. You are such a woman and I will be my best to you.
·    I’m glad that I made you feel glad.
·    You have more than a thousand things I love.
·    I’d give everything just to hug and kiss you, for as long as I have you I have nothing to lose.
·    Your warmth skin is good for my body. You are good for my health.
·    You’re the brightest side of love. There is always more about you.
·    You are my queen, I adore you and I am glad that I make you feel glad.
·     You are a sunny sky. A sky full of birds and a sky full of stars.
·    My love will always stay alive and awake for you.
·    You are my sweetest reality.
·    Your love is better than red wine, and close to you, is close to happiness.
·    Your love has imprisoned me, and I love the prison.
·    Please tell me, am I enchanted? I yes, please don’t let it fade.

by stephen omere

HERNIA

Hernia occurs in an individual when part of the intestines pushes through the wall of the abdomen and appears as a bulge at the site. There are many sites where hernia can occur, although the commonly encountered type is that found in the groin. This type of hernia is known as femoral or inguinal hernia. Hernia may occur on the navel of near it. The hernia which occurs on the navel is called umbilical hernia, while that which occurs close to it is known as paraumbilical hernia.  These two types of hernia are less common than the femoral type. Sometimes, hernia occurs at former sites of operation on the abdomen, particularly where the operation wound was not well closed or the wound did not heal properly. This type of hernia is called incisional hernia.
Groin hernia occurs more commonly in males, but can also occurs in females in o few cases, in this kind of hernia, there is a weakness in the abdominal wall in the groin region about midway across the groin. It may appears on the either side or, sometimes, on both sides.
SIGNS:
The early signs are swelling in the groin which initially may not be noticeable but, later on, the bulge starts to grow in size and becomes quite conspicuous. A good check is to give a deep cough and the swelling will increase in size. In some cases, especially in males, the protrusion may move into the scrotum.
As the swelling increase, initially, it can be pushed back manually into the body. Later on, it gets bigger still and lies almost permanently outside the body, especially when the patient stand up, but if the patient lies on his back this complications later on. These complications, which often give rise to pain, usually include obstruction and strangulation. In obstruction, the bulge refuses to be pushed back. In this state, the intestines are blocked and the passage of food is prevented. If this persists, the blood supply to the trapped intestine is cut off. This blocking of the intestines causes swelling in the abdomen. The patient wriggles in pain and May, at this stage, vomits. In such cases becomes an emergency which must be promptly attended to in hospitals by surgeons.
TREATMENT:
In some cases of obstruction, the bulge can be pushed back successfully and a surgical operation can be arranged later for the patient. Obstruction which cannot be pushed back requires an immediate surgical operation called herniorrhaphy. Herniorrhaphy may involve the repair of the weak abdominal walls, or the cutting off and the removal of the damaged parts of the intestines. It is important that the operation is carried out by a trained surgeon. Once a hernia is recognized, surgical repair should be arranged to avoid complications.
CAUSE IN CHILDREN:   
Children also suffer from groin hernia. Groin hernia in children is usually due to a hole in the abdomen which ought to have closed at birth but did not. In such cases the intestines protrude into the scrotum.
The only effective treatment for all cases of hernia is surgical operation.

DIABETES

More than one million people in the United States have type 1diabetes mellitus, according to the Nation institute of Diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases (NIDDK)
BACK GROUND
This type of diabetes, also known as juvenile –onset or insulin-dependent diabetes, develops when the pancreas does not produce enough of the hormone insulin. Insulin helps transport sugar to the body’s cell; without it, dangerously high levels of sugar remain in the bloodstream, and cells are starved of energy. To control their disease, Type 1 diabetics typically test their blood-sugar levels and inject insulin once or twice a day. Even with this treatment, however, many diabetics develop blindness and suffer vascular damage that results in amputations, and thousands more die each year from other complications of the disease such as kidney failure, heart disease, and stroke.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
A 10- year study conducted by the NIDDK has shown that diabetics can significantly reduce their risk of long-term complications by monitoring their blood sugar and injection insulin more frequently. The study compared the conventional treatment method with an ‘intensive’ program in which patients received three to four insulin injections a day doses were adjusted according to a patient’s daily diet, exercise, and blood sugar, which was tested at least four times a day.
Among the study’s 1, 4441 participants, those who followed the intensive protocol showed greatly improved control of their blood sugar. As a result, diabetic eye disease decreased by 76 percent, and the progression of eye disease in patients who were already afflicted was slowed.
However, patients following the intensive protocol were also more likely to suffer episodes of low blood sugar if they failed to comply with recommendation, concerning diet and exercise. Most experts agree that full compliance would eliminate the increased risk of hypoglycemia. According to Phillip Gorden, M.D., director of the NIDDK, the intensive treatment program might be appropriate for Type 11 diabetics as well. Although the cause of this ‘adult onset’ diabetes is unknown, about a third of the 13 million Americans who have it also take insulin.

THE MYSTERY OF BUTTERFLY

In order to reduce mankind’s dependence on fossil fuel, scientists are eager to improve the light-harvesting efficiency of solar collectors. ‘The solution to this problem, ‘said a scientist’ may have been… fluttering right in front of our eyes.’
Facts: to keep themselves warm during cold weather, butterflies spread their wing in the sun. The wings of some species of swallowtail are remarkably efficient at trapping and absorbing sunlight. The insect’ secret lies not just in their dark pigment but also in the structure of microscopic, overlapping scales coating their wings. The scales, in turn, contain rows of honeycomb like holes separated in inverse v-shape ridges that funnel light into the holes. This ingenious traps incoming sunlight, making the wing to be extremely black and warming with amazing efficiency.
‘butterfly wings may rank among the most delicate structure in nature, ‘says science daily‘, but they have given researchers powerful inspiration for a new technology that doubles the production of hydrogen gas-a green fuel of the future from water and sunlight. ‘Other promising applications include optical instrument and solar cells. Also scales of the butterfly’s wing have honeycomb like holes.  

THE SECRET OF WIDOWHOOD

Widowhood, which in many studies women feared even more than an illness that might cause their own deaths, was also ‘surprising’ in its actual effects on women compared to men. When Helena Lopata started her ground- breaking study of Chicago windows of that generation had many ’complaints’ about the problems of widowhood: ‘a feeling of incompetence and incompleteness as persons, being shunned by others and experiences of strain in social interaction…’ But, - after the ‘initial grief work is completed’- the overwhelming majority became ‘more independent and competent now than while their husbands where living’ (63 percent); in addition, many became ‘freer and more active’ (47 percent). Lopata concluded: the overwhelming proportion of widows who recognize or admit change in their personalities, previously restricted or limited as a result of marriage. This does not mean necessarily that they had bad marriages, as these are the very same individuals who list loneliness, rather than money or other troubles, as the worst problem of widowhood and miss their husbands most as a person or a partner, rather than as a breadwinner.
New research has revealed that older women ‘adjust’ to the death of a spouse and, with whatever grief or pain, move on to new strengths afterward, with less apparent difficulty than younger women- and than men at any age. It is striking that if a man’s wife dies, he is much more likely to become sick and die himself within the next two years, from any number of diseases, than other men at his age. This vulnerability disappears only if he remarries- or after he survives five years alone. No such drastic toll on women’s lives takes place with widowhood, whether or not they remarry.  ­­­­

WHY WOMEN AGE LONGER AND BETTER THAN MEN

At the turn of the century, life expectancy for both men and women was roughly the same-45 years for men, one year more for women. By 1930, deaths of women in childbearing had been basically eliminated, but the age gap between women and men at death continued to increase-by 1950 it was five years; now it is eight. If this trend continues, it is estimated that by 2020 there will be a 12-year difference in the life expectancy of women and men. The difference is so striking that one wonders why there hasn’t been a major public outcry as to why men are dying younger than women.
Sex difference were until recently ‘expected and unquestioned in all aspect of life,’ gerontologist Lois Verbrugge has pointed out. Statistics revealed such differences increasing over the century but were taken for granted ‘and not given further scrutiny.’
At first there seemed to be a contradiction in these statistics- men die younger, but women report more illnesses, thus, women appear sicker in the short run, but are less likely to die when ill. Further, women are ‘much more active in personal hygiene or health care.’ The fact that women seemed to get sick more often actually hid a basic and increasing male disadvantage. Examining mortality data from the National Centre for Health Statistics (1958-72), Verbrugge found that all causes of death combined, female rates were only 56 to 64 percent of male rates. Males showed increasingly higher death rates than females for most leading causes of death period 1958-72-heart diseases, cancer, cardiovascular problems, accidents, pneumonia, arterioscleroses, which women once seemed to suffer more frequently, now render a far higher number of men unable to carry on major activities. The difference widens for every successive age group-some 28 percent of all men 65 and over were so disabled that they could not do strenuous work of any kind, compared to only eight percent of women were diagnosed more often for cancer. Evidently women are more likely to report symptoms of cancer and hypertension in time for them to be treated.
Lately, psychologists have been investigating why women seem to report more illnesses and go to doctors. They speculate that women are more sensitive to changed in their own health and body signals, that women may be more willing than men to report illness, that girls are more socialized than boys to take caring measures when ill, and that women have more flexible roles and fewer time constraints than men. Even in conditions where women seem to report more sickness, their strikingly lower mortality rates highlight a worsening situation for men. However, until 1970, women certainly seemed certainly sicker than men. Some of that evident sickness was surely caused by women’s narrow sex role and inequality. In famous essay written in the 1940s, the eminent anthropologist Ruth Benedict blamed women’s greater psychological impairment on the discontinuities of women’s lives. A girl grows up going to school, playing games with boys, competing for good grades. She goes to college, starts a job, and abruptly, in her twenties, has to put ambition aside for the isolation of her own home and her role as wife and mother. And then suddenly, at 45 or 50, her role is finished as she experience menopause and the ‘empty nest.’ It was not really questioned, during those years, why a great preponderance of beds in mental hospitals were filled with women suffering ‘involutional melancholia.’
But the studies done since the 1960s on women aging in America are full of new contradictions, paradoxes-surprises. In the years that women have been breaking through the feminine mystique. They have apparently stopped suffering a lot of those symptoms of impaired mental health and even physical distress that obscured their survivors’ strengths. In fact, the actual experience of women in the last 25 years who continued developing after their childbearing years has defiled the expected traumas of empty nest, menopause, even widowhood.
For example, when researchers went researchers when back 20 years has later to follow up the groundbreaking Midtown Manhattan Longitudinal Study, originally done in 1954, they were surprised to discover that mental health of women had shown increase impairment each decade after 20, and drastic decline after 40, compared to men. In the later years, the percentage of women suffering Impaired mental health after 40 had been cut more than half-from 21 to eight percent-whereas men’s impaired at nine percent.
In the 1980s, Resalind Barnett and Grace Baruch of the Wellesley Centre for research on women compared women aged35 to 55 in all sorts of compared combinations of roles and found, instead of the expected decline of mental health with age, that most great women experienced a sense of resurgence, of revitalization, a new self and sense-worth in midlife that gave them confidence. By the 1980s, what asked about age, these women, at 55, said, ‘well, I’ve lived through all this change and my life is so much better now, so the next change is not a great fear for me. Why should I be afraid of it?’
The entrance of increasing millions-by now a majority-of women into jobs and professions and decision-making roles in society was, of course, the most striking of the last 25 years. But in the national studies, housewives as well as working women experienced the same dramatic improvement in mental health after mid-life. In the Baruch and Barnett study. I was struck by the fact that the sense of self-worth and openness  to change was found most strongly not among lifelong professional women with the highest status, but among women who combined marriage, motherhood, and work were in the greatest state of psychological well being. The combination seemed to give them greater control over and more pleasure in their lives, buffering the more burdensome part of either role.

ARISTOTLE A GREAT PHILOSOPHER (384-322 BC)

He was the most accomplished of Plato’s pupils. He was born at Stagira in Macedonia. He was a tutor of Alexander the Great. He wrote books on almost all the areas of knowledge – biology, botany, anatomy, physics, metaphysics, astronomy, mathematics, logic, economics, politics, psychology, etc. His influence on subsequent development of science and philosophy was enormous. In particular, his views on physics and astronomy controlled the view. Most men had of the universe for two thousand years.
Howe ever, to him, the proper means of investigation was observation.
In conclusion, Greek science was said to be more of a speculative and theoretical activity rather than experimental and practical.

SOME OF HIS QUOTES ARE:
·    Men are good in one way but bad in many ways.
·    Of in the varieties of virtues liberalism is the most beloved.
·    Youth are easily deceived because they are quick to hope.
·    What lies in our power to do, lies in our power not to do.
·    We make war that we may live in peace.
·    Personal beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of reference.

               

WAYS TO REWARD CHILDREN-WITH NO COST

Hugs, kisses, and compliments are worth more than anything money can buy.
It’s easy to reach for cash or candy to honour a child for a good grade or extra effort. But it may leave your young achiever shortchanged or overloaded on sugar.
Educators say some of the sweetest incentives don’t cost a cent-but keep paying off for years. Instead of material prizes or presents, consider hugs or pats on the extra attention. Reading together is a great gift you don’t have to wrap, not only because it brings you close to your child but because studies show it kindles interest in books. Give compliment face to face, or say good things about your child to others-loud enough so he or she can hear.
Find rewards that show how learning itself can be rewarding, says Sara Wilford, M.Ed., director of the Sarah Lawrence College early childhood. Development center in Bronxville, N.Y. if the child has finished a history report, Wilford suggests going to a museum together-a kind of intellectual dessert. Throw testimonial dinners for children as a fun reward the whole family will enjoy.
Rebecca Simmons, Ed.D, a research associate at project Zero at Harvard Graduate school of Education, suggests a once-a-month pizza celebration to mark success. ‘Maybe one child was able to be a ‘hot shot’ in maths’ to deserve special attention around the family table. Simmons says. It’s important for children to enjoy the satisfaction of achieving goals they set for themselves.





   

SMOKING IS A RELENTLESS KILLER

SMOKING A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC
Authorities estimate that if current trends persist, by 2030, the annual death toll smoking will climb to more than 8,000,000. And they predict that smoking will have taken 1,000,000,000 lives by the end of the 21st century.
Tobacco’s victims are not just the smokers. Included are the surviving family members, who suffer emotional and financial loss, as well as the 600,000, nonsmokers who die each year from breathing secondhand smoke. The burden spreads to everyone in the form of rising healthcare costs.
Unlike epidemics that send doctors racing to discover a cure, this scourge is eminently curable; the solution is well-known. Dr. Margaret Chan, director-stated: ‘the tobacco epidemic is entirely man-made, and it can be turned around through the concerted efforts of governments and civil society’.
International response to combat this health crisis has been unprecedented. As of august 2012, some 175 countries have agreed to take measures to curb tobacco use. This measure include educating people about the dangers of smoking, resting tobacco-industry marking, raising tobacco taxes, and establishing programs to help people quit smoking.  However, powerful forces keep the pandemic raging. Each year, the tobacco industry spends billions of dollars on advertising to attract new customers, especially among women and young adults living in the developing countries. The addictive keep many trapped in a habit they wish they could break. That was the experiences of a young lady named ‘Laura blit’ copying the way the habit was portrayed in the media made her feel sophisticated. Despite seeing both of her parents died from lung cancer, she continued smoking, even while raising her two children. ‘I was concerned about getting lung cancer and worried about my children’s health’. She admits, ‘but I still couldn’t quit. I thought I would never stop smoking’.
Yet she could stop. She found the motivation to overcome her smoking habit in the same source that has helped millions remain free of tobacco. Laura Blit first made up her mind that wants to stop it, this first step is crucial. Then she made her move, by relying in the one person that never fails ‘God’. If you let him in he won’t disappoints you, I promise you.
SMOKING IS ADDICTIVE
Tobacco contains one of the most addictive drugs known-nicotine. It acts as a stimulant as well as a depressant. Smoking delivers nicotine to the brain quickly and repeatedly. Since each puff supplies a single doses a day, a higher dosage than in any other drug use. Such frequent dosing makes nicotine uniquely addictive. Once hooked, a smoker experiences withdrawal symptoms if his craving for nicotine is not satisfied.
The Bible helps us to have the correct view of the matter when it says: ’do you not know that if you present yourself to anymore as obedient slave, you are slaves of the one you obey’ (Romans 6:16) when an individual’s thinking and actions are dominated by a craving for tobacco, he soon becomes a slave to a degrading practice. However, God wants us to be free, not only from things that harm our body but also from those that corrupt our spirit, that is, our dominate mental inclination. (psalm 83:18; 2 Corinthians 7:1) thus, a person grows in appreciation and respect for God, realizes that God deserves his best and that he cannot give God his best while remaining enslaved to a lethal habit. That realization helps to give a person the will to resist hurtful desires.
SMOKING DAMAGES THE BODY
‘Smoking cigarettes . . . has been scientifically proven to harm nearly every organ in the body and to increase morbidity,’ says the tobacco atlas. It is well-known that smoking causes noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and lung ailments. But according to the world health organization (WHO), smoking is also a major cause of death from communicable disease, such as tuberculosis. God wants us to treat our body with respect; the desire to please God should motivate you to quit smoking.
SMOKING HARMS OTHERS
Exhaled smoke and smoke that comes from smoldering tobacco are toxic. Inhaling such secondhand smoke can cause cancer and other disease, and each year it kills 600, 00 non-smokers, mostly women and children, avoid where people smoke it is as deadly as a poison.
A report by the WHO warns: ‘there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke’.
QUICK SCARING FACTS ABOUT SMOKING
It killed 100,000,000 people during the last century.
It takes about 6,000,000 lives a year.
On average, it kills one person every six seconds.
It kills slowly by passing nicotine to the victim’s system, thus. Exposes you to all kinds of disease.

   

THE CROSS: OUR SALVATION AND LIFE

Many are people are repelled by the cross. This is because such people see the cross as a means of punishment, rejection suffering, the fruitfulness and the riches that the cross reveals. Blinded by their wrong conception of the cross, they see only the pain and the weight of the cross but not the salvation, the means and hope of salvation. The cross is Christ’s glory. As we celebrate the exaltation of the cross, we are raised up with the crucified one, who promised: ‘and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself’ (John 12:32). Jesus fulfills this promise by drawing us to the cross, where he is the priest, prophet and king. With Jesus on the cross, ‘we are more the conqueror’s (Rom 8:37); we are ‘triumphant and victorious’ (Ps 118:15); we leave behind sin and death. It more precious than anything on earth, in fact it is indeed a treasure, for in it and through it and for it, all the riches of our salvation are restored to us.’
The church, our redemption, our forgiveness of sin, the destruction of the power of hell (Satan) are but some of the fruit and effect of the cross of Christ. That is to say that participating in the sacraments and in programs and activity of the church is to participate in the power of the cross of Christ: The sources of life of the church. That is why we can confidently say: ‘no cross: no crown, no salvation, no redemption, no love, no peace, no prosperity, no hope, ‘therefore, we are not ashamed of the cross, or rather. We , who know the power of the cross and believe in it, have reason to celebrate it, exalt it, embrace it, wear or carry it on our body, and sign or bless ourselves with the sign of the cross.
God told Moses to ‘make a fiery serpent’ so that those bitten out of their stubbornness of heart and disobedience and ‘looks at it’ (Num 21:8) would be saved. Looking at the cross or beholding the wood of cross on which hung the savior or the world (as we do on Good Friday) is to contemplate on the beauty and vicarious nature of the cross. He offers us his body, which is the fruit of the cross, to eat, as our spiritual food. He also offers us his blood, to drink as our spiritual drink. Jesus clearly linked Moses’ act of deliverance in the wilderness which only resulted in temporary relief for the people, Jesus ‘ atoning death on the cross brought decisive victory over sin, Satan, and death. Jesus victory in the cross cancels the debt of our sin, and releases us from guilt and condemnation. In the church, we use the cross in different ways, it is used as a form of prayer and for blessing people and objects. As a form of devotion, people devoutly kiss it. Making the sign of the cross is an utmost sign of our faith in the cross of Christ. Kissing the cross is a holy act that has worked innumerable miracles in the lives of those who practice it. Many sick people have received their healing and comfort from the lord. People bless themselves by making the ‘sign of the cross’ at times with holy water. At mass, the ‘small sign of the cross’ is made in which a small cross is traced with the thumb on the forehead, the lips, and the breast of the individual while whispering the words: may Christ be in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart’
May God help us to understand the meaning of the cross.
Shalom