January 2023 Edition

Argentina wins as Messi, Mbappé create World Cup final for the ages

With 11 minutes remaining in regulation, only one question hung over an otherwise seemingly decided World Cup final Sunday.

Pele? Or Maradona? Or Messi?

The final result a forgone conclusion, the closing minutes of Qatar 2022’s dream final between Argentina and France were shaping up as a victory lap for Argentine genius Lionel Messi around Lusail Stadium, his closing — or opening — argument to claim the title as the sport’s greatest ever.

And then in 133 breathtaking seconds, 133 clicks where on plazas and boulevards in Buenos Aires and Paris, around TV sets at millions points in between and far and wide, inside the glittering sports palace glowing in the darkness of Qatar’s moral and physical desert, the world’s soccer fans turned to each other in stunned disbelief as France’s Kylian Mbappé turned the final, this World Cup upside down with the biggest “holy (expletive)” moment this tournament has ever seen.

A pair of Mbappé goals barely a minute

and a half apart squared the final at 2-2, launching this World Cup, the planet onto the wildest of rides.

By the end of a match decided only after two hours by a penalty kick shootout, secured by a goalkeeper who had spent nearly a decade on loan to teams in England’s lower divisions, the world had witnessed Messi and Argentina and arguably the best World Cup in history crowned by the greatest final ever played.

When the planet has finally caught its breath, after we’ve turned to each other and asked, “Did we really see that?”, after we’ve been assured that indeed we had, we can fully appreciate the masterpiece created on Qatar’s barren canvas by Messi and Mbappé, two wouldbe kings, lifting their nations, and their game to a place only a few even dare to dream of.

Messi, 35 and playing in his fifth World Cup, struck first, sending a penalty past France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the 23rd minute. Thirteen minutes later he also played a key role in the build up to an Angel DiMaria goal strung together by

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a string of one touch artistry. Messi was discovered as a young boy in Rosario. But his promising career was nearly derailed before he even reached his teens. Small in stature, he was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. His family’s insurance would cover only two years of growth hormone therapy. Two of Argentina’s top clubs refused to pay for the treatment. It was only after moving in with relatives near Barcelona that Messi blossomed. He won a record seven Ballon d’Or awards, given annually to the world’s top player, en route to leading Barcelona to four UEFA Champions League and 10 La Liga titles before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

But success had eluded him in four previous World Cups, Argentina’s loss to Germany in the 2014 final following quarter-final exits at the 2006 and 2010 tournaments. Messi and Co. were sent packing in the Round of 16 four years ago in Russia.

Through a first half dominated by Argentina, past an hour, sport’s greatest prize finally seemed to be within his reach in his final World Cup match.

And then Argentina defender Nicholas Otamendi fouled France’s Randal Kolo Muani in the penalty area. Mbappé, 23, converted the penalty kick. France’s celebration had barely ended when Kingsley Coman stripped Messi of the ball at midfield, found Adrien Rabiot who floated a pass to Mbappé breaking down the left side of the pitch. Mbappé centered the ball to Marcus Thurman who sent it back to Mbappé, who drilled a firsttime, right-footed volley goal of the tournament into the

back of the net to deadlock the match at 2-2.

Another hero of Rosario, the revolutionary Che Guevera, once wrote, “This is not a story of heroic feats, or merely the narrative of a cynic; at least I do not mean it to be. It is a glimpse of two lives running parallel for a time, with similar hopes and convergent dreams.”

And the remainder of the final would be an epic race between Messi and Mbappé, club teammates at PSG, to claim the World Cup.

Messi put Argentina up 3-2 after a chaotic goalmouth scramble in the 109th minute, his seventh strike of the tournament. Mbappé sent the final to the shoot-out with a second penalty kick goal, giving him the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966, and only the second in tournament history.

Up first in the penalty-kick shoot-up, Mbappé again con-

verted from the spot. Messi was up next. He also converted.

The final was now in the hands of mere mortals.

Next up for France was Coman. He faced Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Signed by Arsenal in 2012, Martinez couldn’t crack the starting lineup for the Gunners and spent the next seven seasons on loan to five different teams in England’s lower divisions as well as Spanish bottom dweller Getafe before moving to Aston Villa in 2020.

Sunday, light years from Oxford United, Martinez provided the match’s decisive moment, diving to his right to stop Coman’s penalty. France’s Aurelia Tchouameni shot wide in the next round and the World Cup was finally Messi and Argentina’s.

Whether Sunday — not to mention scoring in all four of Argentina’s elimination matches — was enough to lift Messi above Pele, winner of

three World Cups, or Maradona, the tormented genius, remains a debate for the ages. It is a conversation that could very well include Mbappé in four years time. Mbappé claimed the tournament’s Golden Boot award, given to the leading scorer, with eight goals. With his goal in the Russia 2018 final and Sunday’s hat-trick, Mbappé became the first player to score four goals in World Cup title matches.

And as Mbappé enters the prime years of his career he will be backed by a supporting cast of young stars on the way to the 2026 tournament.

Messi and Argentina weren’t the only big winners Sunday. The brilliance of Messi and Mbappé, the emergence of young stars like England midfielder Jude Bellingham, the level of excellence from the tournament’s opening whistle to the last penalty kick Sunday, gave FIFA and their Qatari hosts just what they wanted: a month-long, can’t take your eyes off it diversion from the corruption that led to Qatar’s selection, the thousands of workers who died building stadium and other venues, and Qatar’s abysmal human rights record.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Sheik Tamin bid Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, were all smiles as they stepped onto a stage for Sunday’s awards presentation. The sheik placed a black robe with gold trim on a confused Messi. At first Messi looked like he had gotten lost on his way to Hogwarts. But the robe is a bisht, worn by royalty and at special occasions.

And so it was fitting dress for a man who in lifting sport’s greatest prize into an electric night was finally king of the world. ◙

INTRODUCTION

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world. Practiced in hundreds of countries, this sport arouses so much interest due to its attractive form of dispute.

ORIGIN OF SOCCER:

While Soccer's beginnings are uncertain, historians have discovered traces of ball games in several ancient cultures.

These ball games were not Soccer yet, as there was no definition of rules as there are today, but they demonstrate

man's interest in this type of sport since ancient times.

Soccer has become so popular thanks to its simple way of playing. Just a ball, teams of players and goalposts, so that, in any space, children and adults can have fun with football.

On the street, at school, at the club, in the neighborhood field or even in the backyard, young people from various corners of the world start playing football from an early age.

ORIGINS OF SOCCER IN ANCIENT CHINA

In Ancient China, around

3000 BC, the Chinese military played a game that was military training.

After wars, they formed teams to kick enemy soldiers in the head. Over time, the enemies' heads were replaced by leather balls covered in hair. Two teams were formed with eight players and the objective was to pass the ball standing on end without letting it fall to the ground, taking it into two stakes stuck in the field. These stakes were connected by a wax thread.

ORIGINS OF FOOTBALL IN ANCIENT JAPAN

In Ancient Japan, a sport was created very similar to today's football, but it was called Kemari. Practiced by members of the court of the Japanese emperor, kemari took place in a field of approximately 200 square meters. The ball was made of bamboo fibers and among the rules, physical contact was prohibited between the 16 players (8 for each team).

Football historians have found reports that confirm the occurrence of games be-

tween Chinese and Japanese teams in antiquity.

ORIGINS OF SOCCER IN GREECE AND ROME

The Greeks created a game around the 1st century BC called Episkiros. In this game, Greek soldiers were divided into two teams of nine players each and played on a rectangular-shaped terrain. In the Greek city of Sparta, players, also military, used a ball made from an ox bladder filled with sand or earth. The field where the matches were held, in Sparta, was quite large, as the teams were formed by fifteen players.

1950 World Cup Final: Brazil loses to Uruguay in the final

CONTINUING FROM PAGE 4

When the Romans dominated Greece, they encountered Greek culture and ended up assimilating Episkiros, but the game became much more violent.

SOCCER IN THE MIDDLE AGES

There are reports of a sport very similar to Soccer, although violence was used a lot.

Soule or Harpastum was practiced in the Middle Ages by soldiers who were divided into two teams: attackers and defenders.

Punches, kicks, sweeps and other violent blows were allowed. There are reports that show the death of some players during the match.

Each team consisted of 27 players, where groups had different roles in the team: runners, forwards, servers, and goalkeepers.

In Medieval Italy, a game called gioco del calcio appeared.

It was practiced in squares and the 27 players of each team had to take the ball to the two posts that were in the two extreme corners of the square.

Violence was very common, as the participants took to the field their problems caused, mainly by social issues typical of the medieval period.

The noise, disorganization and violence were so great that King Edward II had to enact a law forbidding the practice of the game, condemning the practitioners to prison.

However, the game did not end, as members of the nobility created a new version of it with rules that did not allow violence.

In this new version, around twelve judges had to enforce the rules of the game.

SOCCER COMES TO ENGLAND

Researchers concluded that Gioco de calcio left Italy and arrived in England around the 17th century.

In England, the game gained different rules and was organized and systematized. The field should measure 120 by 180 meters and two rectangular arches called goal would be installed at both ends. The ball was leather and filled with air.

With clear and objective rules, Soccer began to be played by students and children of the English nobility.

Gradually it became popular. In 1848, at a conference in Cambridge, a single code of rules for football was established.

In 1871, the figure of the goalkeeper (goalkeeper) was created, who would be the only one who could put his hands on the ball and should stay close to the goal to avoid the entry of the ball.

In 1875, the 90-minute time rule was established and in 1891 the penalty kick was established, to punish fouls inside the area. Only in 1907 was the rule of impediment established.

Professionalism in Soccer started only in 1885 and the following year the International Board would be created in England, an entity whose main objective was to establish and change the rules of Soccer when necessary.

In 1897, an English football team called Corinthians made an excursion outside Europe, helping to spread football in different parts of the world.

In 1888, the Soccer League was founded with the aim of organizing international tournaments and championships.

In 1904, FIFA (Federation International of Football Association) was created, which organizes Soccer around the world to this day.

It is FIFA that organizes the major national team championships (World Cup) every four years.

In 2006, the World Cup in Germany took place, with Italy as champion and France as runner-up.

FIFA also organizes club championships, such as the Copa Libertadores da América, UEFA Cup, European Champions League, Copa Sudamericana, among others.

lish companies operating in São Paulo.

Employees also were of English origin. This game was between EMPLOYEES OF THE GAS COMPANY X CIA. SÃO PAULO RAILWAY.

The first team to form in Brazil was SÃO PAULO ATHLETIC, founded on May 13, 1888.

In the beginning, Soccer was played only by elite people, and blacks were prohibited from participating in football teams.

In 1950, the World Cup was held in Brazil, and the Brazilian team lost the title, in Maracanã, to the Uruguayan team (Uruguay 2 x Brazil 1).

Soccer ball: late 19th century

HISTORY OF SOCCER IN BRAZIL

Born in the São Paulo neighborhood of Brás, Charles Miller traveled to England at the age of nine to study.

There he came into contact with Soccer and, upon returning to Brazil in 1894, he brought in his luggage the first Soccer and a set of rules.

We can consider Charles Miller as the precursor of Soccer in Brazil.

The first soccer game in Brazil was held on April 15, 1895, between employees of Eng-

DID YOU KNOW?

- National Football Day is celebrated on July 19th. The date was established by the former CBD (Brazilian Sports Confederation) in honor of the oldest team in Brazil.

Sport Club Rio Grande, from the city of Rio Grande (RS), was founded on July 19, 1900. ◙

Source: PESQUISA.COM

Pelé, who passed away recently, is considered the world's best soccer player of all time

know that Jesus spoke more about money and material goods than faith and prayer?

Gilson Bifano

One of the great challenges of life as a couple is knowing how to deal with money.

It doesn't matter how much a person earns, a lot or a lit tle. If you don't know how to set principles in dealing with money, the problem will cer tainly affect your marriage and family.

We have listed, among many, 10 pieces of advice to deal with this very important topic for married and family life.

1 – FIND OUT WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT MONEY AND MATERIAL GOODS

Did you know that the Bible has over three thousand quotes about money and material possessions? Did you

So, try to study the biblical teachings on this topic. Read the book of Proverbs, the Gospels and the Pauline letters and you will find rich lessons.

2 – BE REALISTIC ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION

Face your finances with reality. Take a paper and list your actual entries and your fixed commitments and commitments made.

It doesn't matter how much a person earns, a lot or a little. If you don't know how to set principles in dealing with money, the problem will certainly affect your marriage and family.

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See how the result is. There's no point in deluding yourself about it. Your financial inflows cannot be less than your outflows.

Do not be alarmed by the result if it is negative. The important thing is that you become aware of reality. Now let's move on to the next steps.

3 – CUT YOUR EXPENSES

It's no use, cutting expenses requires sacrifice and it hurts to do it.

If the bathroom has three light bulbs, loosen two and leave only one.

See what is basic to survival. Talk about it with your spouse and family and make them aware of the need to save money on the phone, water, electricity, and other items.

5 – INCREASE YOUR EARNINGS

Try to increase your earnings. I know people who, despite having a steady job, have managed to increase their income by selling clothes, handicrafts, perfumes, etc.

See who in your family can contribute their share to increase the family income.

Write in a visible place so that everyone in your home can follow the victories.

installments gets out of control, when they exceed 20% of your income or when you only pay the minimum amount on your credit card. But the best thing is to always buy in cash. Buying in cash you always get a discount and are free from future commitments.

4 – NEGOTIATE YOUR DEBTS

If you have credit card debt, this should be the first to be paid off, even if you need to borrow money from a bank, if the interest rate is much lower, which it usually is.

Eliminate debts that have higher interest rates. Never pay credit card charges for the minimum amount.

6 – SET DEADLINES TO GET OUT OF THE CRISIS

Stipulate, with your family, personal and family deadlines to get out of the crisis.

Monthly follow-up of inputs and outputs. Set short-, medium- and long-term goals.

7 – SAVE 10% OF MONTHLY ENTRIES

After you get out of the crisis, make some decisions in your financial life.

One is to save 10% of what you earn each month. This will help you a lot in future business or in an emergency case.

9 – NEVER BORROW MONEY FROM A LOAN SHARK

The loan shark is very nice to you when you're in a tight spot. You know those little pieces of paper from finance companies that they hand out on the streets? Stay away from them. They are scamming financial loan sharks.

8 – BUY THE INSTALLMENT OR USE THE CREDIT CARD VERY CAREFULLY

It is not a sin to buy the installment or use the credit card. The problem becomes serious when the volume of

10 – BE FAITHFUL TO GOD

Always keep in mind and in your heart that all your money and material possessions belong to God.

Nothing is ours! Therefore, we are only stewards of what He has placed in our hands. Be sure to be faithful in delivering your tithe to your church, in addition to contributing to some serious Christian institution.

God will honor your liberality. God helps those who want to carry out his will, even when it comes to money. ◙

Your financial inflows cannot be less than your outflows.

The new year challenges us to consciously live in the light of eternity, not allowing any thing to divert our focus.

A new year is before us, with all its challenges, insecurities, and questions.

For many it looks like an immense and threatening mountain that impedes the vision and produces a sensation of fear. For others, the new year is more like a rough sea that threatens to wreck

the ship of their lives. We feel small and powerless in the face of the events that befall us.

As children of God, we should remember the promises of our heavenly Father, we should bring them to our mind every day, leaning on and trusting in them, as David said: “... you are the God of my salvation, in whom I wait all day” (Psalm 25:5).

As a young man, David had already experienced the help of his God in his fight against the Philistine Goliath.

He had already enjoyed this same help when he defended his flock from the attacks of a lion and a bear.

The goliaths, lions and bears we face have other names. Maybe they're called illness, unemployment, family or marital problems, financial squeezes, relationship conflicts, complicated neigh-

Dr. Dieter Steiger Chamada.com

The new year challenges us to consciously live in the light of eternity, not allowing anything to divert our focus.

CONTINUING FROM PAGE 8

bors or annoying colleagues who take away our peace.

David did not expect help from men, did not trust his armor or his experience; he only trusted the God of Israel!

Idols don't help, nor do talismans hanging from the car, much less the fortune teller or the horoscope, or any other source of luck the world uses to assuage the pressures of life.

How many things people do to be lucky in the new year!

And how fortunate are we who follow the Lord Jesus Christ! We have a Father in heaven, a God who helps, who cares about his children, who takes care of them and will certainly be with each one of them in this new year! Knowing this caring God, David testified that he waited on him daily!

There are 365 more days ahead of us, and with each new dawn we can count on the Lord's help!

In 1965, when we traveled to Brazil for the first time, sailing from the Italian port of Genoa to Santos, my wife and I leaned on God's promises, especially in this same psalm of David: "To the man who fears the Lord, he will instruct you in the way you should choose” (verse 12).

The psalms often speak of instructing, teaching, showing, leading.

Like David, we should pray repeatedly, "Teach me, Lord!" Especially on the threshold of a new year, we can look to our Lord to instruct us and direct our choices.

There are 365 more days ahead of us, and with each

new dawn we can count on the Lord's help! We can learn one more thing from David: how he experienced, in practice, the leading of the Lord.

In the same psalm he says, “My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he alone brings my feet out of the snare” (verse 15). From experience we know how easy it is to take our eyes off the Lord and how easy it is to look at other things.

But I'm aware that it's critical to keep my eyes always steady and fixed solely on my Lord, even though that's easier said than done.

The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “So we fix our eyes, not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is transient, but what is unseen is eternal.”

The visible world around us is temporal and fleeting, and we are reminded of that too often. Therefore, the new year challenges us to consciously live in the light of eternity, Happy New Year! ◙

As children of God, we should remember the promises of our heavenly Father, we should bring them to our mind every day, leaning on and trusting in them

Like David, we should pray repeatedly, "Teach me, Lord!" Especially on the threshold of a new year.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question as it really depends on your spe cific goals and circumstances.

Both Florida and New York are popular states with a lot to offer, so it's worth con sidering a variety of factors when making your decision.

Here are a few things to consider:

Cost: Real estate prices vary significantly from one location to another, and it's worth taking the time to research the current market conditions in both states before deciding.

In general, real estate in Florida tends to be less expensive than in New York, especially in certain parts of the state like the Miami metropolitan

area.

Lifestyle: Both Florida and New York offer a diverse range of lifestyles, so it's worth considering what type of environment you would be most comfortable in.

If you enjoy warm weather, outdoor activities, and a laidback lifestyle, Florida may be a good fit.

If you prefer a more urban environment with a wide range of cultural and entertainment options, New York could be a

better choice.

Job market: If you are planning to relocate for work, it's worth considering the job market in both states.

New York City is home to many Fortune 500 companies and is a major center for finance, media, and other industries.

Florida, on the other hand, has a more diverse economy with strong industries in tourism, healthcare, and technol-

Ultimately, the decision of where to buy real estate will depend on your individual circumstances and priorities.

It may be helpful to speak with a real estate agent or financial advisor to get a better understanding of the pros and cons of each location. ◙

Ebe Becker

Both Florida and New York are popular states with a lot to offer

(In

Memorian)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

This was the wise answer of a doctor of the law, to whom Jesus asked what was written in the law and what should be done by

those who wanted to inherit eternal life.

Jesus approved the answer and then said to him: "Do this and you will live". But the lawyer, wanting to justify himself, asked again: “And who is my neighbor?”

The meaning of the words, in the original, reveals that the doctor wanted to know what act he should perform just one, at once, to inherit eternal life.

Jesus answered him, do this, not just at once, but continue to do this, and you will live.

The word “it” links the two commandments into one. It shows that “the fulfillment of the law is love” (Romans 13:10).

“the fulfillment of the law is love.”

(Romans 13:10)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan was uttered to answer the new question of the doctor of the law.

All of it tells us about love. It presents us with a life lacking in love, in the man who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and who fell among thieves.

He was left in such a condition that, if he were not helped, he would soon die.

He portrayed suffering humanity: hands that reach out begging for help, afflicted hearts that yearn for peace, insecure souls that do not know salvation. All this immense procession of sufferers constitutes a challenge to what we understand of Christian love.

They represent lives lacking in love, waiting for a friendly heart to meet their needs.

The priest and the Levite passed by on the other side. They did not sympathize with the condition of the victim of the robbers.

They typify lives devoid of love. If our love for God is not manifested in active love for our fellow man in need, our service and our religion are of little value.

The Samaritan exemplifies the sublime lesson of love. It shows what a life guided by the law of love is.

He was not afraid of danger. His love manifested itself in generous succor. His availability was not great, but he helped with what he could, at the right time.

Solidarity is the Christian expression of relationship. It is opposed to selfishness, which is an essentially pagan and materialistic manifestation. ◙

Hands that reach out begging for help, afflicted hearts that yearn for peace, insecure souls that do not know salvation.

The Samaritan exemplifies the sublime lesson of love.

It shows what a life guided by the law of love is.

Most people are familiar with the story of David and Goliath.

He was a giant warrior who came against the armies of Israel and the soldiers were terrified to fight him (see 1 Samuel 17).

But David, who was a young shepherd at this point in his life, came up and asked, "What do you say they will give to anyone who kills that, Philistine?"

Now, that was a bold move on David's part.

In fact, his older brother, Eliab, started making fun of him, basically saying, “What are you doing here? You are not a soldier. Don't you have some sheep to look after?"

But David was used to that kind of attitude coming from his brothers, and he already knew who he was in his relationship with God.

So how did you respond? He

Joyce Meyer

says in 1 Samuel 17:30 that "David departed from Eliab."  In other words, he kept doing what he was doing. That is exactly what we need to learn to do!

See, when we think we have an assignment from God, a dream, a goal, a plan, or a vision, we need to stop thinking about what everyone else says we can't do... and just focus on what God says about us and what we can do.

ADVANCED TOWARDS GOD'S GOOD PLAN

Have you ever been in a room full of people who seemed smarter or more talented than you and started to feel less and insignificant?

I can vividly remember years ago, in the early days of this ministry, when I was invited to speak at a large conference with many renowned speakers.

At one point, the host called all the speakers up on stage to give a brief synopsis of what they planned to teach in their individual workshops.

I was petrified! As I stood on that stage, the enemy began to attack my mind with thoughts like: You don't belong here! You're a nobody from Fenton, Missouri, whom no one knows!

In that moment, I had a choice: I could run from that stage and go home…or I could ignore the lies of the enemy and choose to move forward, knowing who God says I am and doing what He told me to do.

Well, even though I was shaking, I managed to say a few things and talk about my workshop.

Later that day, more people attended my session than any other! The enemy simply wanted to prevent Him from succeeding.

You see, when you feel that feeling of "smallness" taking over you, it is Satan trying to diminish you.

But the Bible clearly says that Satan is a liar and "the accuser of the brethren" (see Revelation 12:10).

When he comes at you with his lies, don't bother entertaining those thoughts or even trying to argue with him. The best you can do is turn around and go about your business.

You don't have to be intimidated by anything or anyone because your value is not in what you do, but in who you are in Christ, who God says you are.

And here's something else to think about: If you really want to do something for God, you better get used to people telling you what you can't do because the enemy wants you to think it's impossible.

You need to know in your heart that God is always with you!

It's amazing what God will do if you keep putting one foot in front of the other and refuse to give up.

I encourage you to get up every day and move on. Keep studying God's Word and ask Him to direct and guide you in everything you do.

Because as you continue to seek God and learn what He says about you in His Word, it will open your eyes to the greatness that He has put within you, and no man can take that away from you. ◙

When you feel that feeling of "smallness" taking over you, it is Satan trying to diminish you.

You don't have to be intimidated by anything or anyone because your value is not in what you do, but in who you are in Christ, who God says you are.

to start entering the wonderful world of consumption through the right door, that is, knowing that the budget is limited.

But some pitfalls must be avoided, so that the experience is not frustrating for both sides (parents and children).

1. MAKE IT VERY CLEAR WHAT IS COVERED AND WHAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE ALLOWANCE:

School lunches, field trips, comics, CDs, cell phone credits, etc. There must be a "contract" between parents and children determining what must be paid out of allowance, and what remains to be paid by parents.

There is no single recipe, but the older the child, the more things and activities should be covered by the allowance.

Of course, it is always very difficult to determine every-

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Giving your children an allowance is a very smart way to educate them financially.

Marcelo Guterman

CONTINUING FROM PAGE

thing as a priori.

Unspecified cases must be decided on a case-by-case basis with care, as they will serve as case law from then on.

2. THE AMOUNT OF THE ALLOWANCE WILL DEPEND ON ITEM 1:

The more coverage, the greater it must be. But don't get a bad conscience if your child's blanket is short, and they start complaining that their allowance is too small. The child or young person should start "practicing" the salary game that doesn't reach the end of the month as soon as possible.

4. FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SIZE OF THEIR ALLOWANCE, ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SOMETHING TO EARN MORE MONEY: Provide some service, give private lessons, do odd jobs in stores. They will notice, in practice, how sweaty it is to earn money.

3. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES FORWARD ALLOWANCE.

They must know how to exercise patience, which will be useful to them throughout their lives, and manage to save up to buy something more expensive.

Advancing the allowance is giving credit and getting them used to it from an early age can be very dangerous.

5. LET THEM SPEND THEIR ALLOWANCE MONEY AS THEY SEE FIT.

Sometimes we see that they are going to spend the money on nonsense, and we are tempted to interfere. If it doesn't involve something that can be harmful to their lives (drugs, drinks) we should let the children make mistakes, so that they learn from their own mistakes.

The parents' task is then to help the child to reason and conclude where the error

6. NEVER SPENDING ANYTHING IS AS BAD AS SPENDING IT ALL AT ONCE.

There are kids who just don't spend money on anything. You need to encourage them to spend their money on good things that they like.

A trip to a bookstore, for example, can be a good place to spend some of your accumulated cash.

7. BE PUNCTUAL IN PAYMENT.

Remember, this is a contract and must be respected by both parties, under penalty of loss of credibility. ◙

A trip to a bookstore, for example, can be a good place to spend some of your accumulated cash.

Marcelo Guterman is CFA (Chartered Financial Analyse), Engineer, Financial market executive, Professor of the MBA in Finance at IBMEC – Brazil

M.D.

Only when this foundation is built can you be secure in the education you have been given.

Otherwise, educating becomes something confusing

and quite frustrating. That love acts as a guiding light to know where you stand with your child.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, FOR YOUR TEEN MEANS:

• It doesn't matter what they look like.

• No matter what their qualities, responsibilities and deficiencies are.

• It doesn't matter how he acts.

PARENTS NEED TO REMEMBER THAT:

• Teenagers are children.

• Teenagers will generally act like teenagers.

• Much of adolescent behavior is unpleasant.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 18

Ross Capmbell,

Raising your children through the teen years can be a challenging and often dangerous adventure.

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If you love your teen only when it pleases you (conditional love) and communicate your love only at those times, he/she won't feel genuinely loved.

This will make him/her feel insecure, with a damaged self-image, and in fact will make it impossible for him/ her to develop more mature behavior.

If you love your teen unconditionally, he/she will feel good about himself/herself.

They will be able to control their anxiety, and in turn their behavior as they become an adult.

Teenagers are always asking "Do you love me?" This question is primarily asked through behavior, and through words.

Your answer to this question is important. If your answer is no, your child will not be or do his or her best.

Few parents answer yes because they don't know how.

Adults speak with words, while teenagers, like small children, express themselves

through behavior and not through the words that are spoken.

You need to love them through what you do and not through what you say.

Teenagers usually respond to love, but love doesn't take the initiative. If they are given love, they will respond. If nothing is given to them, they also give nothing back.

Teenagers are always holding back. No matter how much

they say they don't like their parents, they need your emotional support to move forward.

They desperately need to fill their emotional tank to gain the security and self-confidence needed to deal with peer pressure and other demands of adolescent society.

Without this confidence, teens tend to succumb to pressure from the dominant influence group and then experience difficulties main-

taining healthy ethical values.

Your teen will test you. Usually this will be through inappropriate behavior in the quest for independence. Do not react in a moment of anger.

This does not mean approving of bad behavior. You need to express your feelings honestly but appropriately, without anger, yelling, foul language, lashing out at the child verbally, or getting out of your mind. ◙

Ross Campbell is an adjunct professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. One of his books includes How to Really Love Your Child. Article taken from the book How to Really Love Your Teenager

by Ross Campbell

If you love your teen only when it pleases you (conditional love) and communicate your love only at those times, he/ she won't feel genuinely loved. If you love your teen unconditionally, he/ she will feel good about himself/herself.

Asthma is a respiratory disease of a chronic inflammatory nature, characterized by obstruction of airway flow due to bronchial hypereactivity.

Several factors are related to triggering crises: exposure to allergens such as dust, soot, humidity, mites; through the flu process, viral and bacterial infectious states.

Considered a chronic disease, repeated attacks can lead to a vicious cycle with inflammation, obstruction, and infection, generating chronic bronchitis. That's why the sooner adequate treatment is started, the greater the chances of patients having a practically normal life.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

The symptoms are more frequent at night and in the early morning - Shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness (vigilance), Cough, Pulmonary secretion, general malaise.

WHAT TO DO IN CRISES?

Crises may begin with symptoms of tiredness, restless-

irritating substances

ness, wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing and a feeling of tightness in the chest.

To abort the crises in this phase, it is necessary to follow the medical recommendations using the prescribed medication and strictly observing the established dosages.

It is convenient to place the person in a calm environment to relax, try to neutralize the triggering agent and hydrate. If the patient does not show

improvement after these initial measures, it will be necessary to go to an Emergency Room.

CHRONIC BRONCHITIS

It affects more the elderly and people exposed to irritating substances (for example, smokers), it worsens over time, maintaining the symptoms for long and recurrent periods.

Inflammation increases the production of lung secre-

tions (phlegm) which causes coughing, wheezing, snoring, and wheezing. Excess secretion favors infection, feeding the vicious cycle of crises.

EMPHYSEMA

It is the most serious chronic respiratory disease due to the destruction of bronchioles and alveoli (area where gas exchange occurs with impaired oxygenation).

Again it mainly affects the elderly exposed to irritating substances in general (eg, heavy smokers), and is progressive over time due to inflammation and repeated infections.

Symptoms are shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, short and rapid breathing, and weight loss. With the worsening of the condition, the patient evolves to dependence on the oxygen bag.

Control of these respiratory diseases depends on adherence to treatment, avoiding triggering factors, treating all relapses, following medical recommendations, using prophylactic medication in the intervals between crises. ◙

Collaboration: CansNational Agency of Supplemental Health

chronic bronchitis affects more the elderly and people exposed to

Lord God Almighty, I understand that I can do nothing without Your help, so I ask that You allow me, by Your grace, to fulfill Your will.

Give me grace to do whatever it is that will bring you the greatest glory and honor, pleasure and profit for me, and life and love for others.

Help me count my days, spend my time wisely, live my life to the fullest while I still have breath.

Humble me in the knowledge that I am the chief of sinners; when I hear of others' sins, help me not to look upon them with pride, but to look upon myself with shame, confessing my own sins to You.

When I go through difficulties and trials, remind me of the pains of hell from which You have already delivered me. Put people in my path who need my help and give me a compassionate and generous spirit.

Fill my heart with such a love that I would never do anything in a spirit of revenge, nor lose my temper with those around me. Hold my tongue when I am tempted to speak ill of others.

Thank you for the Gospel and the hope of glory. Help me to live considering these truths every day of my life, so that when the time of my death comes, I will rest securely in You, and You will be more glorified in me.

In the name of Christ! ◙