Valentine's Day Is Good for Your Health

Excerpt from Faith and Family Live! and Featured Articles

Posted by Danielle Bean in Health on Friday, February 12, 2010 12:00 PM

Here’s a bit of good news, just in time for the holiday this weekend:

Chocolate Lowers Risk of Stroke

A new review of recent research on chocolate and stroke risk found at least two large studies are suggestive of the health benefits of chocolate in lowering the risk of stroke. The results will be presented in April at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Toronto. The first study found 44,489 people who ate one serving of chocolate per week were 22% less likely to have a stroke than people who didn’t eat chocolate.

When you share the good stuff with your sweetie, be sure to share some physical affection as well:

Hugs Warm the Heart, and May Protect It

This is the latest of many studies suggesting humans are “hard-wired” to thrive as social animals, says Tiffany Field of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami Medical School. Field’s research shows touch lowers output of cortisol, a stress hormone. When cortisol dips, there’s a surge of two “feel good” brain chemicals, serotonin and dopamine.

So, during this Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day, as Jesus said, "do not be afraid" to eat as much chocolate as you can.- Linudus.

To my readers, Kong Hee Fatt Choy and Happy Valentine's Day. Linundus Kinabalu

Year End Vision - Could be vs Should be

Do you ever think about the differences between ‘What Could Be’ and ‘What Should Be’? Most people only see ‘What could be’. They say things like, "If our church did ___________ then it could be ____________." We spend way too much time talking about what could be. "Our church could be bigger. Our staff could be larger. Our congregants could be more giving, loving, caring" and the list goes on.

Could. It's almost a useless word to most of us. How much of our energy is focused on ‘What could be’.

Should. Now there is a word that "Should" be in the churches vocabulary. When one has a vision for something, there is no Could. There is only Should. Could presents an Idea. Should casts a vision. Where Could presents an opinion, Should shows a way.

Should does not say "If" or "If only". Should says, "Let's do it. Let's find a way. Whatever it takes." Could sits on the sidelines and complains about what could be, while Should carries the ball through obstacles and hurdles that most people would never consider approaching.

Should is passionate. Should is on fire. Should makes comfortable people uneasy. Should messes with the status queue. Should is Vision.

There is a significant difference between the outcome of Could and Should. When you begin to focus on Should, Could gets lost. Could cannot operate in the same realm as Should. When Should is in operation, Could grows silent.

Should is not what could be. Should is what must be. One man said "Give me liberty or give me death." Now there is Should. Could would say, we could have liberty if only this and that and you get the picture. Should however, says there is no other option. There is no other recourse. No backup plan. Do or die. Liberty or death.

What Should be for your church in the coming New Year? Many churches are going to spend much time in planning session focusing on Could in the coming weeks. How many though will focus on Should. "We could do _________ this year, but we really Should do __________.

Thank you to all of my readers who have assisted and plodded me to post articles of interest in this blog. You have made it possible for me of what I Should do. The messages and comments you have contributed have blessed my own heart to ‘What I Should do’ the least while enjoying my hard earned retirement, by blogging.

Have a great and Blessed Christmas and exciting New Year 2010. – LINUNDUS.

Send Christmas Card to Pope

Please take a moment to send a thoughtful holiday wish to Pope Benedict. In a time when the entire world is looking for truth and peace, and the demands on the church leadership is greater than ever, we must be mindful to support our bishops with our prayers and encouragement. Prepare your message, we will see that it is delivered before Christmas.

Send Christmas Card to Pope HERE

Selamat Hari Raya

Linundus wishes all his readers Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir Dan Batin.

WISHING ALL READERS A BLESSED EASTER 2009 

- From LINUNDUS