Man’s attempt to cure himself of his miseries

“It is in vain, 0 men, that you seek within yourselves the cure for your miseries. All your insight only leads you to the knowledge that it is not in yourselves that you will discover the true and the good. The philosophers promised them to you, and have not been able to keep their promises… Your principal maladies are pride, which cuts you off from God, and sensuality, which binds you to the earth; and they have done nothing but foster at least one of these maladies. If they have given you God for your object, it has only been to pander to your pride; they have made you think that you were like Him and resembled Him by your nature. And those who have grasped the vanity of such a pretension have cast you down into the other abyss by making you believe that your nature was like that of the beasts of the field, and have led you to seek your good in lust, which is the lot of animals.” Blaise Pascal

Quote ’em

Compiled by: Gabriela Yareliz

1] For the scientist and skeptic

David Berlinski (Who responded to Richard Dawkin’s book, The God Delusion, with his own book called, The Devil’s Delusion):

“Has anyone provided a proof of God’s inexistence?
Not even close.

Has quantum cosmology explained the emergence of the universe or why it is here?
Not even close.

Have the sciences explained why our universe seems to be fine-tuned to allow for the existence of life?
Not even close.

Are physicists and biologists willing to believe in anything so long as it is not religious thought?
Close enough.

Has rationalism in moral thought provided us with an understanding of what is good, what is right, and what is moral?
Not close enough.

Has secularism in the terrible twentieth century been a force for good?
Not even close to being close.

Is there a narrow and oppressive orthodoxy of thought and opinion within the sciences?
Close enough.

Does anything in the sciences or in their philosophy justify the claim that religious belief is irrational?
Not even ballpark.

Is scientific atheism a frivolous exercise in intellectual contempt?
Dead on.”

2] For the world thinker and philosopher

“And I promise you I say this to you very sincerely, the more I know of Him, the more I read the Gospels, the epistles and letters, the more I read in the scriptures, the more I understand that the other world views are not even close to being close. That in Christ you have this comprehensive explanation for the four deepest questions of life. Do you know what those four questions are? Origin, meaning, morality and destiny. How did I come to be? What point of reference  do I find for meaning? How do I differentiate between good and evil? What happens to a human being when he or she dies? He answers to those four questions, when you find answers that are correspondingly true to the individual questions; and when all of the questions are put together, you have a coherent set of answers.” -Thoughts from Ravi Zacharias, apologetic, evangelist and philosopher (Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, RZIM)

3] For the woman who needs relationship advice

Love Letters to Kellie-Kidd Kraddick in the Morning

“This is what I have learned the older I get: I don’t want a man who I have to beg to go out with me, and be nice to me and call me. When a man wants you; a man lets you know he wants you. He pursues you, he chases you, and he buys you laptops. And that is what happens when a man likes you, so don’t try to make something happen when it’s not there.”-Kellie Rasberry

Beautiful

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I should be reading my outlines furiously… but I wanted to say…

I am disgusted in how women change themselves. I know it is a personal choice, but I feel it is a cycle. For example, I always knew there was something off about Katrina Kaif’s face… how about the fact that she got a nose job and lip enhancement? So many women are so fake; it is frustrating.

(That includes pretty much every woman in an American, Latin American or Indian movie.)

People get nose jobs, lip fillers, restructure their faces, wear color contacts– why are people so unhappy with themselves?

I really like European actresses… many of them aren’t afraid of looking natural. They are not afraid of frizzy hair, imperfect teeth, and looking like they just woke up.

Why have we dreamt up the perfect woman, or made one kind the ideal? It is an illusion that will not be ours, and women feel the pressure to be her.

The street of ideal proportions. (Les Poupees Russes)

I know, people rant about this all the time– I am not going to say obesity and the other extremes are okay, I just want to say:

Girls out there, you are beautiful. Don’t change your nose, your lips, your chin, your breasts. Maybe, I am just strange, and I love what is not perfect.

This reminds me of a great scene:

It isn’t just about women. Here in New York you see this genre of men who wear tight clothes, they look like  girls, they wear oversized glasses–what is this image people are buying into? The store sells skinny jeans, so now automatically everyone has to wear them and look good in them. They are probably one of the most universally unflattering articles of clothing.

Leave the pressure of what everyone wants you to be, and be you.

Live.your.life.

People who feel they need to fix themselves to be perfected are sending the wrong message.

This season find that thing; what makes you extraordinary. Follow no one-be purely you.

My friend Joonas

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Today, I talked to my friend Joonas. It left me feeling bubbly and happy. Totally made my day; he usually does. Law school is approaching its most intense weeks, but talking to him reminded me what life is all about. Have someone: who inspires you; leaves you speechless; is brilliant; is kind; has a golden heart; you have amazing memories with? Tell them.

I have been blessed with some extraordinary people in my life.

Joonas (center) and me in La Rochelle, France, summer of 2009.

This Week’s Picks: Nov. 26, 2012

By: Gabriela Yareliz

1]

Dec. 1 THIS SABBATH (SATURDAY): DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER

Adventist leaders call for December 1 day of prayer for two church members imprisoned in Togo

“Join the Seventh-day Adventist world church in a day of prayer and fasting for two Adventists imprisoned in Togo. Pastor Antonio Monteiro and church member Bruno Amah have been falsely detained for eight months. Even though there is no evidence of guilt, the men have been held without hope of bail or a trial. On December 1, Adventists around the world are gathering for a day of prayer and fasting for the safety of the men and their families and a speedy release from prison.”
I have been following this case for months now. Please join a body of believers in prayer for these falsely imprisoned ministers.

2] “It is more important for us to talk about people to God [in prayer], than for us to talk to people about God.”-Ravi Zacharias

3] “Prendre la route et rouler…”/ J’ai trouve le sens de la vie….

Tal is a fabulous French Israeli-born singer. I adore her voice. She does great songs featuring Arab/French rappers.

/I found the reason for my life…/ (song title translation)

4] Angus T. Jones spoke out against his show and has said to have joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I thought I’d mention it. People have been outraged, some saying he is a hypocrit because he is still working under the contract, others say the church is exploiting him and it is a cult, others say he did the right thing.

I will say this: People have a right to walk in life and grow. They have the right to choose their ways even if they weren’t on that track always; that doesn’t make them hypocrits. I don’t judge. If something bothers you, perhaps you should flat out quit, whatever. That is between him and God. The truth is the show, ‘Two and a Half Men’ is trash; everyone seems to agree on that point.

Also, don’t judge a church by its people. Some may be extreme, others crazy, but you find this everywhere. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is not a cult. It is a humanitarian church that educates, helps people live healthier lives and is Biblical (If other churches criticize it for its Sabbath keeping–that is just anti-semetic convenience going way back into history). If someone takes advantage of him, tells him untrue things, again, that is between that person and God. He is an intelligent being who can reason and make choices.

Ravi Zacharias always says: Don’t judge a movement or religion by its flaws. Each one will have its flaws. Religion is a shallow term. When you have religion you arrive to a place, when you find a Savior you arrive to a person.

If Jones found what he was looking for, then that is wonderful. We all should be studying, searching, growing and changing. No judgement. I understand, I am biased.

I am a Seventh-day Adventist. Note, I am never afraid to explore things I don’t know about or things I disagree with. I think leaving a comfort zone is important. One must not be afraid to question. God provides enough for us to believe but never takes away the opportunity to question and doubt, but by this we can grow. I belong to this church despite the flaws of the people and the church itself. It isn’t perfect, but at the same time, Biblically, Christians view the church as a symbol of the bride of Christ, that which He will return for. Therefore, the church deserves respect, and it must be valued.

I realized my condition as a selfish human being who is broken. I think every human being is broken somehow and we all make mistakes and hurt; we are all looking for that person who will put us back together. Someone who will be an advocate for us; pardon us for our mistakes and take us higher; Someone who will love us so much He will show us through each breath we take in life.

Anyway, no sermon here. Just know, people can belong to something because they really believe in it. It doesn’t mean they are brainwashed.

Happy Thanksgiving

By: Gabriela Yareliz

We have so much to be thankful for! I hope that as you spend the holiday with family and friends you meditate on the great blessings God has bestowed on you. Take nothing for granted. Safety, health, family, friends, intelligence, opportunity, work– even in the bad times, we must always praise God for what we have.

I am so grateful for my family and for a place to call home.

Florida, I have missed you. Yes, my family, my bunny, my church, your sunshine, , my cricket team guys, your friendliness, the fact that you have less creeps than New York City, your pride, your RTS buses, 34th Street, the mall, Taco Bell, Weimer Hall, walking barefoot in the grass, laying lying on benches, the color green, protests and activism, awesome speakers and meeting famous people, tan skin, moist skin, the engineering building, CiCi’s Pizza (the pizza here sucks, I don’t care what they say–death in a slice), long country roads, actual houses, warm showers, a heater that works when it is needed–But thank God; Home is always home.

Thank you God, because my home is amazing, so amazing I might take the Florida Bar and bask in sunshine forever more– unless Shahid Kapoor finds me.

He just might–Then, plan B.

Have an amazing holiday filled with relaxing, laughter, memories, new faces, old faces, sunshine, good food, engaging  conversation, no school work or work of any kind and Love.

XoXoXo,

Yours truly–

GY

UF cricket team steps it up – The Independent Florida Alligator: Campus

UF cricket team steps it up – The Independent Florida Alligator: Campus.

Yay! They did the article! So exciting! 🙂

READ IT 🙂 and donations to the team are welcome… it needs that pitch.

It is a good day! 🙂