..lebanon..

i got this email from a friend.. and i would like to share it with everyone.. i realized that i can't reach that much people through email because, first and foremost, i don't have everyone's address.. next, some people might think of my message as a spam and just disregard it.. but this blog is published all over the world.. and i know, many people could somehow have a glimpse of this particular post..

so what about Lebanon? why did i chose to share these facts with you? well, just read on.. i swear its a good one.. read 'til the end.. you would find out my purpose.. =) have a good day!

LEBANON FACTS
1. Lebanon has 18 religious communities
2. It has 40 daily newspapers
3. It has 42 universities
4. It has over 100 banks (that is banks and not branches of a bank)
5. 70% of the students are in private schools
6. 40% of the Lebanese people are Christians (this is the highest percent all the Arab countries)
7. There's 1 doctor per 10 people in Lebanon (In Europe & America, there's 1 doctor per 100 people).
8. The name LEBANON appears 75 times in the Old Testament
9. The name CEDAR (Lebanon's tree) appears 75 times too in the Old Testament!!
10. Beirut was destroyed and rebuilt 7 times (this is why it's compared to The Phoenix).
11. There are 3.5 Million Lebanese in Lebanon
12. There are around 10 Million Lebanese outside Lebanon!

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS:
1. Lebanon, the country, was occupied by over 16 countries: Egyptians-Hittites-Assyrians- Babylonians- Persians- Alexander the greats Army- the Roman Empire Byzantine- the Arabian Peninsula-The Crusaders-the Ottoman Empire- Britain-France- Israel- Syria.

2. Byblos (city in Lebanon) is the oldest, continuously living city in the world.

3. Lebanon's name has been around for 4,000 yrs non- stop (it's the oldest country/ nation's name in the world!)

4. Lebanon is the only Asian/African country that doesn't have a desert.

5. There are 15 rivers in Lebanon (all of them coming from its own mountains)

6. Lebanon is one of the most populated countries in its archeological sites, in the world!!!

7. The first alphabet was created in Byblos (city in Lebanon)

8. The only remaining temple of Jupiter (the main Roman god) is in Baalbeck, Lebanon (The City of the Sun)

9. The name of BYBLOS comes from the BIBLE!!!

10. Lebanon is the country that has the most books written about it.

11. Lebanon is the only non-dictatorial country in the Arab world (it has a President!)

12. According to Christianity Jesus Christ made his 1st miracle in Lebanon, in Sidon (The miracle of turning water into wine).

13. The Phoenicians (Original People of Lebanon) built the 1st boat, and they were the first to sail ever!

14. Phoenicians also reached America long before Christopher Columbus did.

15. The 1st law school in the world was built in Lebanon, in Downtown Beirut.

16. People say that the cedars were planted by God's own hands (This is why they're called "The Cedars of God", and this is why Lebanon is called "God's Country on Earth."

Is it not a real Crime against Humanity to destroy a country with such history?

>>yes, it's a crime against humanity.. and its a crime against God.. why do we need to destroy one another? why do we need to hurt each other? is it our purpose to cause pain and suffering to our fellow humans? are we not created to love and to help one another? don't we realize that we are all created in the image of God? we are God's children, we are one family..
its so unfortunate that the world doesn't seem to recognize God anymore.. its like we're living in a world without God.. "heal the world, make it a better place.." this sounds so good but it doesn't happen anymore.. i am still hoping though, that someday.. one day, there would be heaven on Earth..

i don't mean to preach or anything.. i am not perfect.. i am also a sinner, i am human.. and i am strongly against inhumane practices..

honestly speaking, i get hurt everytime someone tells me that i am being idealistic.. i feel bad when people tell me to live in the real world.. i am living in the real world.. i am not living in fantasies and illusions.. yes, life is cruel, life is unkind, but that doesn't mean there's no more hope.. God doesn't want this kind of life for us.. He wants us to be happy.. He wants us to have peace, to have prosperity.. He loves us and He doesn't want to us to suffer.. We are His children and He cares so much for us.. the problem lies in our hearts..we make problems.. WE are the problem!

i don't wanna sound like a priest giving a homily.. but i know i can't prevent some people from thinking that way.. again, i would like to point out that i am not perfect.. and i am not a saint.. i am just speaking my thoughts.. and i don't mean to offend anybody.. i was just moved by the above email message and that inspired me to speak my mind, once and for all..

this is the problem of the world: we don't know the virtue of humility.. pride, lust, power, wealth - these are the things we focus on.. ever heard of the saying "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth"? that's the mentality.. and i believe, a wrong one..

however, if you try to keep quiet, if you don't fight back when mean people hurt you, you would be thought of as a 'martyr', a 'saint', a 'fool'..

they say that one has to be clever in order to survive in this harsh world.. but being clever isn't being wise.. and a wise person applies God's words & teachings in his journey.. a wise person has wisdom, not just knowledge.. and wisdom is all we need..

i believe that if people would just follow God's footsteps, if people would read the Bible and reflect on each message, and practice what is being preached, then, we wouldn't have to suffer this much..

if people would just learn how to respect what others believe, then there would be better understanding among different religions and culture.. yes, there is biodiversity, but we must all remember that all of us belongs to only one father, and that is God.. Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, whatever faith you have, whatever church you belong to - we are all God's family..
why don't we just accept each other's differences? why don't we give up our pride and just be humble enough to accept failures and imperfections?

stop the bombings! stop the killings! stop discrimination and harassment!

start spreading the Good News! start spreading love! start making a difference!

if people are unkind, be kind anyway.. in the end, its not going to be between you and them.. its going to be between you and God!

its not always true that majority wins.. but it is always true that good triumphs over evil, right triumphs over wrong..

not because the world does it, its already righteous.. seek God.. know God.. follow Him.. you will never go wrong..

God has never forsaken us.. He has never left us.. It's not true that He's doing nothing.. He did something! He sent us! Let us be a blessing to others! We were created for a purpose.. and that purpose is to spread God's love to others..

Israel vs Lebanon.. what good would it bring? - destruction- deaths- pain & suffering- trauma..
is that how you treat your brother? is that the proper way of letting a family member know that you care for him? think again..

it is never wrong to be called a martyr.. as long as you are a martyr for God..

- Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. - Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.. let this be our prayer too..