Friday, January 30, 2009

Like a shadow

O Lord, who are we that You should notice us,
     mere mortals that You should care for us?
For we are like a breath of air;
     our days are like a passing shadow.
Psalm 144: 3 - 4

* from www.outfitinspirations.com

Thursday, January 29, 2009

The original 300

Who were they?

It took place, not in 480 B.C, but in 12th century B.C.

Not in Thermopylae Greece, but in the land near Gaza.

They were not courageous and willing to die. 

In fact, among 32,000 men, only 10,000 remained when those trembling in fear left.

They were not full of wisdom. 

Only 300 knew that they must be alert even when drinking from a body of water.

The battle was not more than 7 days.
 
The enemy was defeated the night they blew the trumpets and broke the jars.

No, they did not all die. They all lived to praise the God they serve.

They were not all strong. 

Their leader was the least in a family from the weakest clan.

But Gideon had the faith in a God who turns zeroes to heroes.

Learn from the original heroes. They put their faith in God.


Monday, January 26, 2009

Patience is a virtue

Repeat that a hundred times...

and maybe...

just maybe...

it would come true...


hay... the impatient me... : )

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Health advisory

Very important health advice for you

PLEASE DO NOT EAT

pizza
pasta
congee
noodles
chocolates
halo-halo
dimsum 
ice cream
burger

WITHOUT ME! : ) 

Thursday, January 22, 2009

I wish I could...

... get some more sleep each night
... find and eat delicious strawberries
... eat a lot and not gain additional weight in the wrong places
... have more time to go to the  gym
... gain a little more patience for the crazy world I live in
... watch a funny movie, an action movie, just any movie
... formulate the content of the draft paper I must submit on Tuesday
... pass by Prague but it's off the list... for now
... eat out and disregard the passing of time
... have sent pictures for the "Now, what?" church theme
... write the words that are swirling in my head

Friday, January 16, 2009

I Am Learning: Choose Your Consequences

I AM LEARNING: Choose your Consequences


The year 2009 started as I finished reading another book: How To Ruin Your Life By 40 by Steve Ferrar. Its assertion is quite simple and surely familiar to us: The decisions we make now will define the rest of our lives. I wonder, however, if we actually realize the gravity of that statement.


What hit me most in the book is the statement of a certain Dr. Paul Beck to his future son-in-law John Bisagno that only one out of ten men who started with Christ in their twenties would finish strong. Bisagno knew this firsthand because among the 24 of his group who graduated from Bible College, only 3 remained standing. The lives of the rest were ruined by the age of forty. The author gave another example: three evangelists in their mid-twenties were preaching and changing lives across America in 1945. But by 1950, Chuck Templeton lost his belief in Jesus Christ, by 1954 Bron Clifford lost his ministry, family and health and later on his life. The only one who remained in the faith is Billy Graham.


I have seen how friends I grew up with and leaders whom I followed made some wrong decisions. Some fell away - one to drugs, a few to their choices on love, some to matters related to work and many because they let the cares in life direct their paths.


What about passive choices? I saw this pattern in the life of a former colleague. More than ten years in the same job, she was constantly complaining about her salary, bosses, co-workers, yet when possible changes were suggested, there was no action or reaction. Her indecision was in fact a passive choice that was eating away her life.


We can also fall into another kind of trap. We can get in the habit of praying but never acting or doing anything about our prayer items. The author said we sometimes assume that faith means sitting passively and believing that God will make everything happen. I believe that it doesn’t work that way. If we are within the circle of God’s will and we are listening to His commands, then we can make decisions and He will bless those choices. He is just waiting for us to take a step of faith.


I was in my teens when I decided to stay with CrosslinC, ICS’ youth fellowship. Later on, I gingerly accepted to co-coordinate the young adults fellowship. And guess what? The things I learned and the responsibilities I bore in those days paved the way for my growth. Accepting to lead a small group was not an easy task. But it literally forced me to try to seriously walk my talk.  When I became a little older, I decided to join a professionals ministry in Makati for I knew I needed support in the marketplace. My experience there continues to make me a better person each day.


What is my point here? It is so easy to have been that friend or leader who has lost faith in God and is now walking the easy road to hell. But by the grace of God, the decisions I made - and am making still - are keeping me continually running the Race of Faith. It is not easy. It requires a daily decision of dying to oneself. I am sure it was not easy for Billy Graham, not even when he was in his 40s, 50, 60s or even 70s.


2009 has just started. It’s time to make that choice that will change your life. Choose to control your appetite and you may live to see your grandchildren. Choose to say “No” to that guy who doesn’t share your faith and see how God will surprise you with the love of your life. Choose to forgive, forget and move on and discover new joys in your existence. Choose to pursue that dream that God has planted in your heart and you may help change lives. Most importantly, choose to serve God and find fulfillment as you live out God’s purpose for your life.


We have a lifetime of choices to make. Make the choice now and choose your consequences well. 


Monday, January 05, 2009

Abnormal Manila

The air is crisp and cool. Weird.

The traffic isn't so bad. A bit weird.

I am sleepy already at around 8pm. Completely weird.

In a few more days, Manila will be normal again.

Hot. Terrible traffic. And late nights for me.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

2008 in pictures

Sige na nga, ako na din. :- ) 
Here goes my 2008 in pictures (it is still 2008 here in the US)

January : Declared 2008 as the year of learning. And part of learning is facing fears. Chase the lion! 
February: Challenges at work abounded. I got the  flowers for helping organize a
 seminar.
February: Hercules left the family. It was the beginning that left me on my own in Manila. : -) 
March: Operation Samaria with Influencers International. My other family who keeps me sane. 
April: I saw more of my country. I went up Mt. Pinatubo.
April: ... and discovered the treats of Bicol.
May: ... on my own. My brother went his merry way to play music on a cruise ship.
June: last summer outing to Laguna with my colleagues 
June: ... writing... translating...
         ... funny days... crazy day
July: Ate carri got married! 
August: celebrated another birthday with great friends. And also went to enjoy Davao!

September: Got my copy of the Wild Goose  Chase. That was great!!!
October: Training in France. And blessed with visiting other European cities as well!

October: Came back home and learned that what I submitted to Philstar was chosen! 
November: Celebrated my niece's birthday
December: My first Convergence! Yo for marketplace ministry! 
December: My first white Christmas! Spent with friends and family!

Lion Chaser Manifesto

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

Chase the lion.

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson (www.evotional.com)