"Paint?" check.
"Cardboard?" check.
"Newspapers?" check.
"He-Man?" check.
"GI-Joes?" check.
"Wait what about the Transformers?"
"No! they're robots."
"So what? Let's add them and we'll see who wins."

When I was five years old, playing with action figures was the best pastime for me and my brothers and sister before playing videogames. We envied the beautiful action figure sets we saw on TV: Lush greenery and trees surrounded GI-Joe, while mountainous cliffs and mysterious caves surrounded He-Man, and a futuristic, metallic set surrounded the Transformers.

One day, my oldest brother Jay decided we should create something like what we saw on TV. Our 'base' was a regular box on top of the living room coffee table with the action figures positioned around the edges of the box. We had three-action figure "races": The He-Man figures, The G.I.-Joe figures, and The Transformers figures.

We stuffed a wide cardboard box with newspapers to create a landscape. We created foxholes, trenches, tunnels and a tall volcano at the center. We glued together newspapers paper maché style, and painted it jungle colors of green, brown, and black. Lava spilled out of the volcano in little streams of red paint. When everything dried, we positioned all of our action figures in different sections of the fortress. We took a picture of our efforts and the 'war zone' remained on top of the coffee table for a few weeks until visitors came.

Building the action figure fortress was pretty memorable to me because we created an exciting place that allowed us to escape reality for a short moment. All four of us got to spend time with each other working towards the same goal.

Now, a lifetime after we built the fortress, everything has changed. All four of us got caught up in grown up things such as personal finances and lovelives. It seems we aren't as united like before and it's something that I miss very much. Given a chance to go back to my childhood, I'd pick this moment to relive again.

Paolo Gatchalian
YFC-Maryland/Virginia
Oct. 22, 2001

posted by yfcillinois theword at 29.10.01

so i don't know about you, but from the beginning of this year and this school year, i just felt that 2001-2002 were going to be filled with surprises. and what'dya know?! for me, it's been filled with a butt load of them "good and bad" already..

so in the light of all the tragic events, which have occurred this past month, i'd like to share with you a few words of sentiment from me... ok i wrote this for my english teacher, sorry it's long, pls. read it anyway

enjoy...

Nine months from now, I will reach the end of one of the most important roads in my life; I will finally graduate from high school with the class of 2002.As I reminisce on years passed, tears of sorrow and joy well up while remembering the wise words of William Wordsworth: "Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower; We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind" (Intimations on Immortality).These words remind me that as I proudly walk across that stage and receive my diploma with my head held high, there is no more looking back.

The carefree days and innocence of elementary school have long been gone.The first crushes and cliques of middle school have disappeared in the midst of all the memories.Finally, the success and stress, romance and heartbreak, cars and accidents, and the laughter and tears of high school will soon be added to the never-ending collection of memorable moments.The days of youth and innocence the days of "splendor in the grass" will soon be over.

These memories remain in the past as if they were scenes in a play, which I can no longer act out. I will no longer be able to depend on the support and love of friends as we part our separate ways. My parents will no longer be able to bail me out of car accidents, speeding tickets, and bills. Now, it is a reality to depend on myself and be my own person, "to choose the road less traveled." However, it is because of those memories I have experienced and those people I have encountered that I am able to go on. Because of my experiences and loved ones, I will not grieve and I do have the strength and faith to see where this road will lead me.

No matter what has happened in the past, each experience has affected me in a positive way and achieved to make me a better person. My first crush taught me that I should be more confident and secure with myself,while the first guy to break my heart taught me that I should not leave myself vulnerable too soon. Receiving my driver's license and my first car taught me responsibility, while my first accident taught me that I still have plenty to learn.It is because of these things and many more that I "find strength in what remains behind."

Even with all the fear and confusion tearing at my brain, my future is a step away, and I am confident that I will experience the same glory and splendor as I did before.

Kristine Pipit
YFC-Dallas
09/22/01

posted by yfcillinois theword at 2.10.01

We know scientific research has gone bad when it resembles a science fiction horror film. Human cloning is like a B-movie sci-fi horror film.

Experts define cloning as the manufacture of a living organism by replacing an embryo's DNA with the DNA of another organism, and then implanting that embryo in a female organism's womb.

In other words, the shell (embryo) of a life form is stuffed with the life (DNA) of another.

Science has not yet proven to successfully clone a human, but it has successfully cloned sheep (remember Dolly?), frogs, and other smaller animals. Creative scientists soon wondered, "Could humans be cloned? We're living beings too. ..."

No surprise that the Vatican deems human cloning offensive. They claim human cloning "views the human being as an industrial product."

If people view children as manufactured products rather than creations of love, then how will people treat them with the love and dignity they deserve?

Like the arguments against invitro fertilization, the Vatican thinks that cloning disregards the truth that children are created as products of love between two people.

The film "Gattaca" shows an alternate Earth wherein cloning a baby is legal. It tells the story of an older son who was created the natural way, and his younger, genetically-modified brother. The elder son was given 30,000 heartbeats to live, but outlived that prediction by "10,000 beats."

Even if the world of "Gattaca" were to come true, the same questions about the dignity of a human being will surface.

Summary of an English research paper
Mel Puzon III
YFC-Norcal

posted by yfcillinois theword at 27.9.01

to know and follow hard after You
to grow as Your disciple in Your truth
'coz the world is empty, pale and poor
compared to knowing You my Lord,
lead me on, and i will run after You
lead me on, and i will run after You. ...

performed by passion worship band
i forgot the title of this song :-)

posted by yfcillinois theword at 26.9.01

"We'll be faithfull"

Hi guys it's me zants =D !!! How are all yalls doin???? I haven't seen you guys in like what ???? forever ???? and i miss you guys like CRAZY ..haha.. But ooOOOoOoo HEY ... mass was awsome today wasen't it (i hope =D)!!!... i wanted to share with you guys a little bit about what strucked me with the readings today!!!!! ...i don't know about you guys ... but i was truly touched. it was in the 2nd reading where i finally paid attention ... hahah ... i know i'm bad ... but it was on Hebrews 12:1-4. it says........

"As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne. Think of what he went through; how he put up with so much hatred from sinners! So do not let yourselves become discouraged and give up. For in your struggle against sin you have not yet had to resist to the point of being killed."

when i heard that i was like "OH BOY"!!!hahah like robbie... but seriously i was in awe of what the 2nd reading said. It's so true. The christian life is the hardest to live because God gives us challanges that we have fight for within our faith. I know that confernce was 3 weeks ago ?right? ... and maybe the "flame" has maybe somewhat died down a little. But brothers and sisters it's so amazing to wake up everyday and say thank you Lord!!!! Thank you for another day with You and for the many blessings to come, because we all have challanges that we have to deal with, but if he fix our eyes, and remain faithfull with God... everything we encounter will be simple!!! I also thought of that song "We'll be faithfull" because that's where it came from =D !!! you know ... "we'll be faithfull, to our calling, for You are able to keep us from falling. And in your promise we will trust, that we'll be faithfull to finish the work you began in us..."and i thought about how US as YOUTH ... being the young children of Godwe are, can have so much faith... and so much of His love, to live life a little bit happier as long as we focus on HIM ... AMEN!!!! SO bro's and sistahs i encourage you guys to fight strong and run that race with me finishing all the way to the end .... !!!! and if anyone of us fall we'll pick eachother up!!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS ... take care and God's blessings be with us always .....

<3ZANTE #4
Michelle Zante
YFC-Washington

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." -Phil.4:13

posted by yfcillinois theword at 26.9.01

lux mundi

i've always dreaded public speaking and public emailing until i learned about my faith. there is so much to share, and just like yesterday's gospel that says "No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel or hide under a bed but puts it on a stand so that those who enter may see the light."and what a joy it gives me to have been able to go to daily Mass this past summer. although on some days i struggled to get up early to attend 9am Mass. such joy to have the body of Christ so close to my heart--like literally. i am so convinced that the eucharist is Christ himself that during Bridge practice this weekend it was my nature to the describe the eucharist as walking.

thanks to a friend who shared with me the story of 20th century St. Maria Goretti who at the age of like 10(?)was raped and killed by Alessandro Serenelli. She was able to forgive him. Alessandro on the other hand spent his whole life repenting after seeing Maria Goretti in his dream giving him fourteen lilies as an act of forgiveness. and he even joined the Franciscan Friars later in his life. St. Maria Goretti was canonized in 1950. St. Maria loved going to Mass. during her first communion, the priest asked each and every child of her class what they asked Jesus now that He was so close to them. most of them asked for things but with her spiritual maturity, st. maria asked that she receives Jesus again next week. she was so elated that she could not think of anything else to ask the Lord. she truly loved our Lord in the Eucharist that she even walked 7miles to go to Mass. and here i am like 2 blocks away from church with a car, i even struggle to go to daily Mass. but the story of St. Maria Goretti made me realize how i need to be. how i need to love the Mass, how i need to be awake and excited to receive the Lord in communion. how i need to preserve my state of grace so that my Lord would make me His dwelling place--holy and undefiled, pure and clean.

this summer had been another wonderful journey to God and i hope it doesn't end even tho i have another quarter studying philosophy from a secular perspective. even on our vacation in NorCal jus last week, my friends and i were able to attend daily Mass and pray the angelus, the divine mercy, the rosary, throughout our trip.

the Mass is something i truly enjoy...it's heaven on earth(as Scott Hahn would call it). and if heaven is like that, just like in the book of revelation, then i shouldn't be falling asleep, then i should be awake and excited and never bored, that my whole heart and mind be there waiting with joy, that the rest of my body be not tainted with sin so that i be like a clean tabernacle for our Lord. notice how the chalice and the tabernacle are always made clean for the host... i too would like to be always made clean to receive Jesus anytime. to be always in communion with Him. who am i that i should receive Him? i should be made humble in the sight of the Lord for i am just an unworthy sinner. (and even if a funny picture taken during the trip suppresses my pride then i'm jus thankful for the gift of humility is at hand..hehe...) and reading Mere Christianity by CS Lewis one more time this summer made me realize how blessed we are as Christians. to have Christ become man to actually show us the way, the truth and the life. and that same Christ is still with us in the Eucharist, humbly waiting for each of us, knocking on the door of our hearts. "behold I stand at the door and knock, and if anyone hears, and opens the door, will come in and I WILL SUP WITH HIM AND HE WILL SUP WITH ME."(Rev3:20) and wow!! how wonderful it is and i'm forever thankful that our obedient disciples and church fathers preserved the Last Supper in memory of Him so that even us in the 21st century have this supper with Christ. Praise be Jesus Christ now and forever!!

in Christ through Mama Mary,
berwyn gonzalvo
yfc-washington

posted by yfcillinois theword at 25.9.01