Sugar Rush

I am a magazine addict. I can spend almost half of my allowance on magazines alone and I am not exactly proud of that. I love magazines. I love the fresh-from-the-press smell it gives off when I open the plastic, the beautiful photographs that fill its pages, the well-written articles about art, fashion, and travel, and just the sheer joy that I get from holding a bunch of glorified, glossy papers bound in an attractive cover.

When I got to watch The Devil Wears Prada, my fascination for magazines and the amount of work that goes behind it increased. Although it was a lot of hard work, it looked like it was fun. But the most interesting part in that movie was when Andi (played by Anne Hathaway) transformed from plain Jane to fashionable Amazona. I realized that my attraction to these expensive books is not just limited to the published work. It was the lifestyle, so different from what could have been if not for these magazines.

The first time I laid my eyes on a copy of Candy was when I was a high school freshman. The cover alone suggested everything that an awkward 11-year-old could ever ask for—fun, fashion, and with the tagline “The best-est friend you’ll ever have,” a friend that can give advice that none of your real friends can even think of. I thought that it was my ticket to escaping the ordinary life that I suddenly found myself in.

When I entered college, I started reading Seventeen just because it claimed to be ‘Your ultimate college life guide.’ I thought that college won’t be fun, memorable, and worthy without Seventeen. Last April, Seventeen released its last issue. But I must say that I lived through almost five months without it. Although it’s sad because I won’t be seeing a new issue every month anymore, it also got me thinking that I can live my life without the tips and advices, whether in fashion, school, or relationships, that Seventeen gave me for the past three years. Also, the absence of an “official life guide” led me to the scary truth—my identity was based on what these magazines told me.

Beauty, fashion, and relationships, wrapped up in a heavy dose of advertising, have long been the staple of women’s magazines. For over 300 years, titles have been directed toward the female sex. The first recorded woman’s magazine, the London-based Ladies Mercury, which was launched in 1693, promised to provide answers to all “the most nice and curious questions concerning love, marriage, behaviour, dress and humour of the female sex,” which set a pattern for all women’s magazines for centuries.

Fast forward to 2009, lifestyle magazines still claim to have a special and sacred knowledge of things that are beautiful and acceptable. They set the standard and with that standard, they sell an identity that each of us can put on. It seems that through the photographs and text, the magazine pleads with us to experience both pleasure in consuming idealized lifestyles and a sense of failure and guilt if we can’t apply such representations to our lives.

To have is to be. That’s the basic message these magazines tell you. So if you can’t achieve what these magazines represent, you can’t be the “fun, fearless female” of Cosmopolitan? You’re clingy and needy because you’re not the “independent woman” of Metro? You’re uninteresting because you’re not the “Because You’re Not Just Another Girl” G! magazine caters to?

I’ve read somewhere that “music and newspapers were once lodestones of both daily life and collective experience.” Since the rise of lifestyle magazines, I’m sure that it’s a part of the foundation of mass culture that we adhere to today. But I’m scared to see the day when all of us would be walking around looking and acting exactly like the girls in those magazines.

I don’t want to hinge my identity on those publications because my identity cannot, and should never, be bought. So when I strip myself of all the characteristics I possess due to immersing myself in the lifestyle that they promote, who am I really?

We live in a dark world. Everyone who has watched the nightly news or read the newspapers knows this fact. But have you ever wondered who the people in the news are? Have you stopped to consider what’s really going on in their hearts? Or are they only names to you? Names that are then forgotten the moment another evil deed is exposed?

All of us have been wronged, betrayed, or violated at least once in our lives. Some would blow their whistle and demand justice no matter how delayed it is. But once justice has been served, they still have that bruise in their hearts for the rest of their lives. Others wouldn’t get the justice that they wanted and would only be another number in the ever-growing list (or statistics) of victims of heinous crimes. But a number would choose to stay quiet, overcome by shame, hoping that time will heal their wounds.

I met Frances (not her real name) in one of my classes last school year. She’s a good student, participative in extracurricular activities, and she has a lot of friends. You won’t even see her walking around campus without a smile on her face. On the outside, you’d think she’s fine. In fact, she looks like she’s just having the time of her life. And that’s exactly what she wants you to think.

Deep inside, she’s crying for help but she can’t trust anyone. For 14 years, she’s built a great wall around her, a wall composed not of mortar and bricks but of anger, bitterness, shame, and self-sufficiency. She figured that time will heal her wounds and while she’s waiting for time to do its job, she’s working on hardening her heart so she can no longer feel hurt or pain.

Contrary to popular belief, time doesn’t heal wounds. It only buries them for a while but they have a way of catching up with you in the end. And it’s catching up with Frances right now.

Despite all that, Frances is not just another hopeless case. In fact, it’s when we’re broken that we realize we have nothing to lose and we discover something we should have known all along—we are loved and God is the healer. There is nothing too great for Him to restore. All your hurts, burdens, and sorrows can be healed by the Great Healer. No wall is too strong or hard for His grace, mercy, and love to break through.

Find it hard to believe? Isaiah 61:1 says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (emphasis mine). Jesus is the only one that can set us free. He heals even the deep places if only you’ll let Him.

Isn’t it ironic that the things that we work so hard to keep away from Jesus are the very things we should give up to Him? Why are we so focused on holding on to our bruises and wounds? Why do we choose to hold on to our ashes? What exactly are we protecting ourselves from? If God be with us, who can be against us?

I’ve always wondered why this world is so full of hurting people. Maybe it’s because we prefer to close our hearts so there’s no way anyone can ever hurt us. Yes we can no longer feel hurt or pain, but we can also no longer hear God when He speaks to us or love others when they’re crying out for love or receive love when someone wants to love us. It’s a cycle that’s been going on since the beginning of time. But God offers a beautiful exchange. The passage goes on in verse 2: “…to give a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit…”

He’s offering this to you right now. Will you take it?

            The Twilight craze has elicited varied reactions from different people. Some like it to death that they would defend their addiction to just about anyone who criticizes Stephenie Meyer’s masterpiece. While others hate it to the point that they would pick a fight with just about anyone who admits to like this “lousy series.”

            Honestly, I didn’t know which side I was on. I can read a book in the Twilight series until four in the morning and talk with just anyone who’s willing to admit that they like it. While I can also point out what I don’t like about the series to anyone who’s bashing it. But I’m through pretending that I am caught in the middle.

            I admit that I love the series so much that I finished reading all four books in the series in a span of two weeks. During that time, my daily schedule consisted of my classes and staying in my room to read the books. Obviously, I don’t bring the books to school because my addiction puts me in danger of not paying attention to the lessons. Yes, I am that addicted to it.

            I decided to read the Twilight to satiate my curiosity. I was wondering why a lot of people, mostly girls, are talking about it. I have never seen such a phenomenon since Harry Potter. But I am not going to compare the Twilight to Harry Potter or to any other story, so chill.

            The first time I heard of Twilight was around this time last year from a friend who really loved it. She kept on telling me to read it but vampire and love stories never really appealed to me so I was content with listening to her tell me the story. The next thing I knew was that everyone was talking about it. I told myself that I would never get infected with this new craze so I stayed away from the books as much as I could. I was even one of those people who would proclaim their hatred towards the series. But curiosity got to me in the end and I just had to know what made the story so famous that people would actually take the time to read the book just so they can criticize it properly.

            Ever heard of the saying that goes something like, “Huwag magsalita ng tapos”? I had to eat my words after reading the first book. Yes, it’s really nothing great. The words are simple and, more often than not, you have to stop reading once in a while to roll your eyes because of its cheesiness. The writing style is not rave material. I feel like I’m reading a Baby-Sitters’ Club book that I collected when I was 10 years old. But we have to understand that the book was intended for tweens in the first place. Why compare it to something Shakespeare wrote? And, of course, you can’t expect all the guys to appreciate it in all its cheesiness. People have different tastes that are determined by the longings of their hearts.

            I like the series because it’s an easy read. After reading heavy stuff in newspapers or books, wouldn’t it be nice to read something really simple and light once in a while? I don’t have to pretend to be all-intellectual and force myself to read more “worthwhile” books just to keep my brain cells working. I appreciate an effortless story to truly relax and just dive into the fantasy world where vampires are good-looking statues who have special abilities. After all, a little wonder doesn’t hurt. 

            Another reason why I like the series is that Meyer gave a new angle to the mythical creatures. The vampires don’t melt under the sun, sleep in coffins, or die when a stake is driven into their hearts. I admit that I have never read a vampire story before so I’m no expert when it comes to these creatures. But where else can you read about vampires glittering under the sun? Obviously, this is a work of fiction and the author is given full control over the world he/she creates.

            Because of its readability and the I-just-can’t-put-it-down factor, the Twilight saga has made it to my list of guilty pleasures. You may love it or you may hate it, you’re entitled to your own opinion. But for those who are quick to judge, give it a little credit. It’s written in a particular genre that you may not like. You don’t have to like it if you really don’t like it. But some of the harshest critics are those who are just reacting to the craze in order to be different. Myself included. 

We see the star of David almost everywhere. It is found on the flag of Israel and a lot of people wear them as jewelry. I have always wondered what that symbol on the flag of Israel really means and I’m thankful that this article helped me a lot. It’s definitely more than a symbol, it’s one of the best symbols I have ever known. –emarrah

by Rabbi Shraga Simmons

In
modern times, the Star of David has become a premier Jewish symbol.
This six-pointed star (hexagram), made of two interlocking triangles,
can be found on mezuzahs, menorahs, tallis bags, and kipot. Ambulances
in Israel bear the sign of the "Red Star of David," and the flag of
Israel has a blue Star of David planted squarely in the center.

What is the origin of this six-pointed symbol?

The six points symbolize God’s rule over the universe in all six directions.

Through
the Jewish people’s long and often difficult history, we have come to
the realization that our only hope is to place our trust in God. The
six points of the Star of David symbolize God’s rule over the universe
in all six directions: north, south, east, west, up and down.

Originally, the Hebrew name Magen David
– literally "Shield of David" — poetically referred to God. It
acknowledges that our military hero, King David, did not win by his own
might, but by the support of the Almighty. This is also alluded to in
the third blessing after the Haftorah reading on Shabbat: "Blessed are
you God, Shield of David."

Various other explanations exist on the meaning behind the Star of David.

One idea is that a six-pointed star receives
form and substance from its solid center. This inner core represents
the spiritual dimension, surrounded by the six universal directions. (A
similar idea applies to Shabbat — the seventh day which gives balance
and perspective to the six weekdays.)

In Kabbalah, the two triangles represent the dichotomies inherent in man.

In
Kabbalah, the two triangles represent the dichotomies inherent in man:
good vs. evil, spiritual vs. physical, etc. The two triangles may also
represent the reciprocal relationship between the Jewish people and
God. The triangle pointing "up" symbolizes our good deeds which go up
to heaven, and then activate a flow of goodness back down to the world,
symbolized by the triangle pointing down.

A more practical theory is that during the Bar
Kochba rebellion (first century), a new technology was developed for
shields using the inherent stability of the triangle. Behind the shield
were two interlocking triangles, forming a hexagonal pattern of support
points. (Buckminster Fuller showed how strong triangle-based designs
are with his geodesics.)

One cynical suggestion is that the Star of David
is an appropriate symbol for the internal strife that often afflicts
Jewish nation: two triangles pointing in opposite directions!

The Star of David was also a sad symbol of the Holocaust.

The
Star of David was a sad symbol of the Holocaust, when the Nazis forced
Jews to wear an identifying yellow star. Actually, Jews were forced to
wear special badges during the Middle Ages, both by Muslim and
Christian authorities, and even in Israel under the Ottoman Empire.

So whether it is a blue star waving proudly on a
flag, or a gold star adorning a synagogue’s entrance, the Star of David
stands as a reminder that for the Jewish people… in God we trust.

http://www.aish.com/literacy/concepts/Star_of_David.asp

In a world where all the lines are blurred, it’s normal that people, especially the young ones, get lost, confused, and disappointed by this fallen world. And I’m writing this to tell you that there is hope. We just have to have vision. The Bible says that without vision, "we perish" (Proverbs29:18). Unfortunately, this world has cast off restraint is dying by degrees. We lack vision to do a lot of things. For students, we lack vision in our education that a lot of people have thrown caution to the wind, destroyed their lives and are now running around, aimlessly. They smile but there smiles are empty. They laugh but deep inside they don’t feel as happy as they look. Without vision, we lose ourselves. Without vision, we are empty. Without vision, we are walking but not seeing.

Just want to share a really good poem by Pete Greig entitled The Vision.
It has touched millions of lives from a single room in England to Washington D.C., Sydney, Australia, and the underground Church of China. These words have stirred artists, DJs, filmmakers, and countless ordinary people to live "dangerously, obsessively, and undeniably" for Jesus. (words borrowed from Pete Greig’s book The Vision and The Vow)

The Vision - by Pete Greig

The vision is JESUS – obsessively, dangerously, undeniably Jesus.

The vision is an army of young people.
You see bones? I see an army.
And they are FREE from materialism.

They laugh at 9-5 little prisons.
They could eat caviar on Monday and crusts on Tuesday.
They wouldn’t even notice.
They know the meaning of the Matrix, the way the west was won.

They are mobile like the wind, they belong to the nations.
They need no passport.
People write their addresses in pencil and wonder at their strange existence.
They are free yet they are slaves of the hurting and dirty and dying.

What is the vision ?

The vision is holiness that hurts the eyes.
It makes children laugh and adults angry.
It gave up the game of minimum integrity long ago to reach for the stars.
It scorns the good and strains for the best.
It is dangerously pure.

Light flickers from every secret motive, every private conversation.
It loves people away from their suicide leaps, their Satan games.
This is an army that will lay down its life for the cause.
A million times a day its soldiers choose to loose,
that they might one day win
the great ‘Well done’ of faithful sons and daughters.

Such
heroes are as radical on Monday morning as Sunday night. They don’t
need fame from names. Instead they grin quietly upwards and hear the
crowds chanting again and again: “COME ON!”

And this is the sound of the underground
The whisper of history in the making
Foundations shaking
Revolutionaries dreaming once again
Mystery is scheming in whispers
Conspiracy is breathing…
This is the sound of the underground

And the army is discipl(in)ed.
Young people who beat their bodies into submission.
Every soldier would take a bullet for his comrade at arms.
The tattoo on their back boasts “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”.

Sacrifice fuels the fire of victory in their upward eyes.
Winners. Martyrs.
Who can stop them ?
Can hormones hold them back?
Can failure succeed?
Can fear scare them or death kill them ?

And the generation prays

I just read a very powerful statement in Passion and Purity. It talks about why we should surrender everything to God. Before, it wasn’t clear why I should surrender everything to Him. I kept on thinking, “why?” And God was just kept on asking me to surrender. Now I know why.

He gave all.

He asks for all.

Because of His great love, He gave His only son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for all our sins. He saved us from the punishment we were due. And because He didn’t hold anything back from us, He asks us to do the same.

I am bought with a price. And God paid for me. Now He asks me for my life. To give everything to Him. And when I really think about it, my life is worth nothing. Yet He asks for it. And the best thing that I can do is to give it to Him. To let Him use me for His glory and for His great plan. I have received the best from Him. Now all I have to do is to surrender my all.

Oh Child by Nevertheless

I want to come closer
But you are so distant
Lately your thoughts are so far
And I want to show you all that you’re missing
I’ll meet you right where you are

Oh love, I’ve always known you
Oh love, you’ve always been mine
Oh love, I’m only asking you for your life

Say that you need me
I know what you’re feeling
You cannot do this alone
I gave my word and I gave you my life
So you’ll never be on your own

Oh love, I’ve always known you
Oh love, you’ve always been mine
Oh love, I’m only asking you for your life

Is this what you wanted?
Is this what you needed?
(You’re waiting for this life to be what you’ve been waiting for…)

Oh love, I’ve always known you
Oh love, you’ve always been mine
Oh love, I’m only asking you for your life
Oh love, I’ve always known you
Oh love, you’ve always been mine
Oh child, I’m only asking you for your life

Have you ever tried looking for something, like a watch, your keys, or your favorite book? You searched for it everywhere and chances are, you’re still searching for a lost item until now. What about the times when you found something when you’re not looking for it? Have you ever wondered why it’s like this?

It’s the same with God. When I found Him, I wasn’t looking for Him. I was looking for something else. I was wondering what on earth I am here for. I needed an explanation and I was looking for answers in magazines, the wrong source.

When I was a freshman in college, I was looking for a purpose yet I didn’t know that I was searching. But the great thing is God allowed me to find Him without me seeking for Him. Isn’t that great? I got the best answer and I can find it in the Bible.

My life has been great since I started my walk with my Maker. Sure there were days when I felt that life is conspiring against me. But the purpose of finding God is realizing the value of what you found. And now that I found Him, I will continue seeking Him.

Luke 15 has great stories on finding and seeking. There’s the shepherd who lost one sheep and left the 99 others to search for the lost one. The woman who lost a one coin searched for it in her home. And the popular story of the prodigal son. Notice that all parables ended in a celebration.

What’s amazing about this is that God chose you even before you were born. I didn’t choose God yet He chose me. He looked for me. That’s how precious we are to Him.

Our Daddy in heaven loves us so much. =)

The
MDG summit was a very informational event. I definitely learned a lot from the
opening ceremony. It was informational in a way that I suddenly became aware of
everything that’s happening around me. Yes, I knew there was poverty. I knew
that a lot of kids are working instead of being in school.

Having
enough and being in school myself, I tend to be absorbed by everything that’s
happening in school and in my own life. I thought that the poor people should
be helped by the government but I never took steps to helping them myself. The
speeches of Dr. Francis J. Kong and Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson made me realize that
there is more to the MDG goals than just paperwork and words. People actually
need to work for it and that doesn’t exclude me.

 Dr. Kong’s “transformational talk”
made me see the real problem of the country. The root cause of everything that’s
happening in the country is the “poorness and the smallness of thinking” of the
people. It actually “keeps people poor”. Poverty is not only limited to the economic
aspect but there is also the “poverty of spirit, discipline, and integrity.”

 Dr. Kong also pointed out the mistake
of most people. “Very few people invest in the culminating of the mindset.” If
the poverty of the mindset is not addressed, people will always be “imprisoned
with the smallness of their thinking”.

 “I never believed that the Filipino
was poor,” Kong said in his speech. “But people are products of choices they
make from day-to-day.”

 With his speech, I realized that a
lot of people lose hope easily. Most of the students sometimes take their
education for granted and dodge through school requirements without really learning.
He also pointed out that a person’s attitude is more important than his/her
skills. A person can achieve a lot from diligence and skill combined than skill
alone.

 At present, a lot of celebrities are
publicly supporting a cause. As a result, a lot of people seem to support
causes because it’s popular or because it’s what celebrities are into. But Kong
breaks this “hype” by encouraging everyone “not to take a stand because it’s
popular, but because it’s the truth.” This goes to show that the right motives
would achieve a lot because you know what you are fighting for. You understand its
nature and the urgency of the matter. With that understanding comes hard work
and commitment which are important ingredients to success.

 The inspirational talk by Dr. Kong was
perfectly supplemented by Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s speech that definitely opened
my eyes to the shocking truth. The statistics presented was alarming and it’s
not dull at all. It made me realize that I didn’t look hard enough and that I
need to step out from my comfort zone. Before the summit, I was aware but I
didn’t really see. Now I am fully aware and am raring to see more of the world
and do as much as I can to help.

 I admit that Sen. Lacson’s speech
was not as inspiring as Dr. Kong’s. But he presented the stark truth I kept on
hiding from. So inspiration plus harsh facts did a lot of good my mindset.