Why There Is Pain And Suffering?

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen...


A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
"I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.
Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people?
Would there be abandoned children?

If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.
I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.
He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:
"You know what? Barbers do not exist."
"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber.
"I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because
if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!
That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help.
That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Invest In Bonds

One of the things I really want to do if I have a good amount of capital is invest in bonds. My Financial Accounting Professor has shared to us how profitable it had been for her because bonds typically have a predictable stream of payments and repayment of principal and it also yields a good interest income. It is far more dependable in maintaining your capital compared to stocks and equity securities now that economy is unpredictably fluctuating.
Anyway, this blog post is not intended to persuade you to invest in such, I'm referring to other bond investment. How about investing your time to bond with your family?
I really appreciate my husband for taking me out every week to eat out, stroll in the mall, do shopping together. I know he is investing so much time doing it, instead of staying in the house after a long day of work. So, if you notice he wasn't able to post much as he does sometimes, he is investing time on us. It can be a good option for your 'Monday, Family Home Evening Day'.
We keep this habit of investing bonds with family members and hope to make this traditional to our family/ posterity. It helps a lot to strengthen the family, continues the courtship for mom and dad too.
Not a bad investment, in fact we consider it the best investment. And I assure there is no loss here. David O. McKay said "No success can compensate for failure in the home," and we do know this is true. While we work, we do this for our family for their comfort and security, but there are times we forget the real reason. Isn't it all for our family? Should they be in mercy of the time you have for other things?

Here are some of the things we can do with our loved ones.

• Family Home Evening- A once a week time to play with your family members, share some life's lesson with them, and counsel together about decisions and other family matters.
• Dinner with them- a simple yet good investment of your time. You may be too busy with business meetings, but aren't your family as important as your business associates or whoever. There are things talked in the dinner table you might also miss out.
• Bring your family to the mall or anywhere each family member enjoys to be. Why would I forget going to mall, I love shopping or window shopping. Its our weekly date.
• Camp with your kids or family- it provides opportunity to teach them and bond with them. It's wholesome, and fun too.
• Whatever you enjoy doing together as family, do it!
  

I really love to invest in bonds, it is profitable and eternally rewarding. The payoffs start now and continues to eternity....

(click for larger view)

Heavenne Laughs!

Does anybody notice that today in Saudi Arabia and in all the world, is

8-8-8

08 August, 2008?

Record some memorable things that will happen today.

for us, we would like to share to you Heavenne, our 3 months old baby's hysterical laugh uploaded in Youtube.

How's Your Battery?

My dh is always annoyed with my cellphone. Its just that the battery is always dead, and most of the times the battery dies at the middle of a phone conversation, or sometimes even before I answer it. Now, he decided he has to buy me a new one instead of just changing the battery. Hmmm, now I know what to do if I want to change my cellphone's unit model, lol. Do you recommend any particular brand and model? I think I like the pink i-phone above.
Anyway, our conversation regarding to buy or not to buy a new cellphone has brought me to reflect something about batteries and cellphones.
A friend of mine always reminds me, "there is no battery needed to pray, there is no such thing as no signal or out of network coverage area,". That may be true at a point. But today I want to emphasize, there needs to be a battery in our prayers, just like in our cellphones.
Without the battery, there will be no such thing called miracle, no such thing as answered prayer, no such thing as conversation with the Lord, not even a thing called prayer. Of course! Can you ever imagine yourself using a cellphone that has run out of battery? It can't be used to call nor to answer a call.
Some batteries may not be really dead, some are just weak, and some are really good.
There are batteries that can allow you to call for a short time, but will not allow you to furthermore hear the person on the other line because by the time he/she is about to answer the call, the cellphone's battery already run out.
Some batteries are good, it allows you to call, to complete the call, and for friends to call you too.
Some batteries just don't work anymore and needed to be recharged. It won't allow you to call or do anything with your cellphone.
Our faith is comparable to batteries. You will never intend to use your cellphone when the battery is already dead nor will a person pray when there is no faith. Some do have faith and do pray but when it comes to hearing the answer to their prayers they become deaf, and wouldn't hear it. All prayers are answered, it requires faith, an ear to hear and a long life battery to wait for the answer at times. At times, the signal is not good even though the battery is good. And at that point, maybe its time to move, look for a place where there is a good signal to tune us to the Holy Ghost, maybe we need to cleanse ourselves and make ourselves ready to hear the Lord.
Even if our battery is low, or dead, or the signal is bad; we can always recharge it, look for a place where the signal is good. And for sure the conversation will be clear, enough for us to ask, hear the answer and know what to do.
Before I end this post, I have a good news; it doesn't and wouldn't cost you anything to have a good battery for prayer. I agree, one of the best things in life and in the eternities are free, and if we don't have faith; even a desire to have faith will be enough. The testimony of others may initiate and nourish the desire for faith and testimony, but eventually every individual must find out for himself.
I personally know that miracles do happen, and all prayers are answered and it is through the power of faith.
Have to go and work out the i-phone with my dh....

7 Habits of Really Effective Shopper

Are you one amongst those who really takes the time shopping? Or one who gets bored with your companion who spends too much time shopping? I remember how my dh complains about how long it takes for me to shop for something. But no matter how he complains I don't intend to change the way it is. Why? I think its part of being a good shopper. So here are some reasons why you should really take time shopping.


1. If you really want to save money for your grocery, you have to be familiar and aware how prices of products ranges from different grocery stores or super markets. There are products that are cheaper here than there. If you don't need it now, why not wait when you come to the other store or super market so you can save.



2. Be smart and consider your health, you've got to know what's in the food you are taking/eating. It's a habbit I got from my dear aunt and mother. Check out the ingredients and take time to compare each brand. The "nutrition facts" are great facts/ information for your calories and nutritional intake.




3. Shopping for clothes, shoes and accessories gives me a chance to tour the entire mall or malls in the area. Why should you spend too much when other boutiques have on sale items. And why hurry buying your clothes if other stores have better designs at cheaper price. Some expensive brands/lines of clothing put items on sale so customers can afford it- be aware and be the first to come!



4. Don't be an impulse buyer. Not all things on sale are cheap, some stores put mark up on prices before going on sale, and it doesn't make the price low. Be smart and know what's expensive and where you can save. And did you ever buy a good brand of dress which they put on sale but later found out you wouldn't want to wear it? Or did you ever bought a last pair of shoe on sale? And found out, it doesn't fit nicely because its only close to your real size.


5. Take time to ask the sales person about the product. If its an electronic, know where it was made, is the spare parts available in case you need it? Warranty? Is there a service center for it? Not all things are written in the user's manual. If you are buying bags, know the quality of what you buy. Is it leather or synthetic, if you don't know why not ask. Some bags are too expensive simply because of style and brand name but are nothing when you talk of quality. We should never compromise quality over fashion.



6. Brands does matter. Sometimes it can make your item expensive, but some brands are consumer tested and the quality is superb compared to other brands. It is better to spend a little more on something that would last longer. So take time investigating which brand is preffered by the consumers. I don't mean that you have to make a feasibility study, but you can ask friends. An electrician friend for electronics, or someone good in computers for computers and laptops, a fashionable friend for your fashion items and so forth....


7. Sometimes it really takes more than one- store- visit to decide which one to buy, specially if you are buying something that costs a lot of money. Product reviews are helpful so why not take time to check it online too.





Hmmm... I thinks that's all I can suggest. Do you have other shopping tips to add on this?

I hope you take the time, be smart and enjoy your shopping!

Good luck and hope these ease your shopping dilemma.