God Loves You

I wanted to wait until Dec 5 but this piece from an American Pastor by the name of James MacDonald is very much worth breaking the wait. Enjoy and may it inspire you!

God Loves You

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? . . . Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? - Romans 8:31-35

It took me a long time to learn that God wants to bless our lives. I always pictured Him as somewhat reluctant to pour out His blessing. As in, "Okay, I guess you can have a little more." But I was so wrong. God wants to lavish all the fullness of heaven on us. He doesn't promise that everything will always be perfect or that He won't sometimes allow difficulty, but He does promise to be the Giver of good gifts to His children. He did absolutely everything He could to find us, to reach us, and to forgive us. Why? Because He loves us, as the following verses tell us.

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son."
Romans 5:8 says, "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

First John 4:8 says, "God is love."

Romans 8:31-32 says, "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all."

If you've ever wondered if God cares about you, look at what He did for you in His Son, Jesus Christ. God "did not spare his own Son." Question: Did not spare Him what?

Because God loves you, He did not spare His Son the humiliation of becoming a man. Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, Creator of the universe, became a human being. Imagine the downgrade.

Because God loves you, He did not spare His Son the degradation of His atoning work. The mocking, the torture, the crown of thorns were all laid on the precious Son of God because your heavenly Father loves you.

And because God loves you, He did not spare His Son crucifixion. Jesus became "obedient to the point of death," Philippians 2:8 says, "even death on a cross the most humiliating, torturous way for a person to die. But why did God not spare His own Son?

Because He loves you. He gave the best for the worst. He gave the highest for the lowest. He did the most for the least. That is God's message of love to you and me!

Estimate Your Brain's Age

The game instruction is in Japanese, so read below!

http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html

1. Click 'START'

2. Wait as the screen counts down - 3, 2, 1

3. Memorize the numbers' positions on the screen

4. Click the circles in order from the smallest to the biggest number

5. At the end of game, it will calculate your brain's age...neat ! ! !

http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html

A Little Humor With A Good Moral

The Pastor's Ass

The pastor entered his donkey in a race
and it won.

The pastor was so pleased with the donkey
that he entered it in the race again,
and it won again.

The local paper read:

PASTOR'S ASS OUT FRONT.

The Bishop was so upset with this kind of
Publicity that he ordered the Pastor not to
enter the donkey in another race.

The next day, the local paper headline Read:

BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S ASS.

This was too much for the bishop, so he Ordered
the pastor to get Rid Of the donkey.

The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a
Nearby convent.

The local paper, hearing of the news, posted
The following headline the next day:

NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN.

The bishop fainted.

He informed the nun that she would have to
Get rid of the donkey, so she sold it
to a farmer for $10.

The next day the paper read:

NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10.

This was too much for the bishop, so he
Ordered the nun to buy back the Donkey
and lead it to the plains where it could run wild.

The next day the headlines read:

NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE.

The bishop was buried the next day.

The moral of the story is ....
Being Concerned about public opinion
can bring you much grief and misery
& even shorten your Life.

So be yourself and enjoy life.

Stop worrying about everyone else's ass and
You'll be a lot happier and live longer!

Josephine's

The souplalo was superb kahit na month-end nakahigop. Grave naman ang schedules nyo mga brader and sister. Sa susunod, paki book naman ng maaga.

Nevertheless, quality time was well spent for that recollection cum team-building.

Now that we have struck the bulalo craving, I think we better plan properly for the lechon festival. This is such a definite date that if we miss it, well, we miss it. And, mind you, this is rain or shine, flooded or dry, must- attend event.

Love and peace to all of you.

Bulalo Time Na Ba?

To my kulaspira and amigos, If you would be able to read this blog on time, please let me know thru txt if we are green and go to Yatyagat. I tried reaching Norms but all I get is her voicemail box. Rodney is still out-of-town (as usual, just-in-time na naman ang dating ng damuho.) Nasaan ang mga cel nyo? I cannot connect to anyone, why o why? My bags are packed but I still have to pick-up a couple of stuff from mamang. And I will be coming from office so, off-the-way subra. If we are deferring the walk, I'll have to defer the trip to mamang.

Whew, can't really take-off early for all these paper works! Bakit kasi nag-maternity leave agad si Carms e. He he he, jokes lang Carms, I know you read this too. Wish mo maka-higop ng byulalu ano? Don cha worry, we will higop double for you. Include our trip to your household prayer meeting, ok? High five to Zander. Miss nya kami? Let him go with us then. Nyakyakyak.

I can smell the boiling bulalo mga amigos.

Mabuhay Marikina!

Yahoow! Please forgive my excitement. It is because of the Marikina that adopted me as a 1960's migrant is now the latest site of SM! As expected, babad lang kami doon ng mga barkadahan. Simula ng magbukas. Just like the olden days when we used to walk from Sto. Nino to Calumpang. Ganun pa rin ang mga ungas kung maglakad. Kala mo malalaki ang ...

There is, of course, a sense that you feel your age group because of the teeners "malling" around. Unlike when we were strolling in the older Rustan's, Fiesta Carnival, SM Cubao and Ali Mall,, in that order.

Ooops!... teka, kain muna kami ng goto ni Panyo.

A "Feel Good" Lesson To Learn, Delivered Brilliantly

I was searching for an English expression with a string of 4 words ("my mother's little kid") and Google gave me a gamut of websites with one of them having this entry. I copied the whole blog and pasted it here (in the hope that the article is public) to share with you dear prancer and prowler. My own Tagalog/Pilipino to English translations in bold blue text were very rough, I apologize.

Dear Bro Dan,

Don't worry. You have not provoked me to negative thoughts. If anything, your words provoked a certain sadness, a kind of longing that says, how I wish my brother Dan would not see himself so small. Even now I hesitate to post a response for fear of starting a painful thread. But I was taught that CFCs see Christ in each other and I cannot accept that the Christ in you is as small as you have judged it to be. I believe you are an immensely greater person than how you see yourself. Let's just say that I may have a greater faith in you than you do yourself and that faith won and convinced me to post this. If I were to be a witness to you, then I offer you my testimony.

There was a time when I was convinced I was small. Being my own worst critic made it easy for me to look down on myself. I projected my own inadequacies and looked down on others, making them small and judging myself to be better than they were. During those times I was struggling with building a career in a foreign country and I had friends who would regularly tell me to lower my goals. They told me I was a dreamer and I would never achieve what I set out to achieve. Like Don Quixote they told me all I had were windmills turning in the wind. Their words only spurned me on to strive more. I told myself that I would be better than what they thought of me. I would show them. Later in the process I started to feel superior towards them. But inside of me, every failure, every step that did not turn out as I wanted it to became frustration.

And I castigated myself for it. I worked myself up to the point where I could not accept making errors. And I complained against life, railing at my limitations and many times blaming others why things were not working out for me. I did not realize I was in a downward spiral of judgment that was doomed to failure. Every time I berated myself I lowered my own image of who I was. Before long I found myself feeling small, acutely aware of my limitations yet still having those big dreams. I was lost and needed to be found.

I do not know how God did it. But one day I found myself reading the Book of Proverbs. 23:7 starts with "for as he thinks in his heart, so is he...". These words somehow stuck and I found myself poring over books and articles and even poems. One book pointed out that over the centuries poets and wise men have tried to teach us that "as a man thinketh, so will he be." And of course, as I thought myself small, I was. Small and petty. And I justified it by saying na humble yung magpakumbaba (that disparaging myself is being humble.) I used to say, anong magagawa ko?(what can I do?) Ganito lang ako. (I am meant to be like this.) Ito lang yung naabot ko. (This is my stature) On rare occasions when someone would give me a compliment I would deny it thinking myself showing humility. Every time someone said I did something really well my reaction was invariably "'di naman. Nasuwertehan ko lang." ("not really, I just got lucky.")

But slowly I began to understand that those words from Proverbs also meant that if I thought myself great then I will be, that it also works in the other direction. Perhaps I was not that powerless, after all.

Our Lord Himself said that the works that He did we will do also, and even greater ones besides. He also taught us to seek first the kingdom of heaven and all the rest will be added unto us. And Luke 17:21 says "for indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you."

How could I continue to belittle myself after that? Should I insult the kingdom of God within me by judging it to be just maliit? Isn't it arrogance on our part to judge what God has created to be small and limited? And Christ, who is God Himself, is in each of us. In you, too, brother Dan. How can we belittle others and look down on them when God Himself resides in the other? How dare I judge what God has made?

The paradox of this whole story was that, the things I was striving so hard to achieve started to come in adequate amounts when I gave up running after them and started to focus on God. Don't get me wrong, I am not that perfect. I lose focus on Him as often as anybody else. I still make errors and fall just like everyone else. I feel pain and shed tears just like you. It's just that I've noticed that I can somehow keep my balance better inspite of the failures and mistakes. I found that I could rise up again after I fell where I used to be reduced to a despairing wreck. I do not feel so driven to achieve things as much as I used to. But I do feel it is important that I bring the spirituality I've found into whatever it is I decide to do.

I looked back on those dark days of despair when I used to raise my fists against life and found myself asking: "How did I come to have this quarrel with life?" When did I start trading hope for despair? When did I start seeing only the bad things that people did. Was I not the little kid my mother used to praise for the schoolwork I brought home and held high hopes for? What happened to that child who never knew how to question life but was so sure that he was going to be somebody when he grew up?

The child has grown. The child has realized he cannot have a quarrel with life. The child has realized life is a gift from his Creator. This child has learned some simple lessons with far reaching impacts. I have ceased to quarrel with life and am learning to accept it as God gives it. It means that, even though I don't know them, I accept that God has His reasons for giving me limitations. But it also means that I accept the talents He gave, develop them and use them in service.

Kapatid, (Brother,) we all know that each of us is unique. There is only one of
you as there is only one of me. God wanted only one version of each of us. Though that is a very good reason for me not to force others to become like me, that statement has a much deeper meaning. Like a work of art, each of us are rare examples of God's work. And because He is God, His work cannot be less than masterpieces. Each of us is a masterpiece He made for a reason. I believe that each of us has a purpose. And that purpose includes the specific mix of limitations and talents that God has given us. Each of us is this fabulous work of art that God decided to create. We cannot glorify God if we would not accept His creation, if we would rather relegate ourselves to this small powerless creature. I believe that our life should be an unfolding of this work of art. We glorify God by fulfilling our purpose, developing and using the talents that He gave. Perhaps that is one of the things He meant when He said that we are the light of the world and that we should not hide our light in a basket but put it up for all the world to see.

Bro Dan, you are greater than you think. We have not seen each other but I know that in you lives that spark of the divine, the immense power of God, wholly perfect and beautiful, capable of moving mountains and raising the dead. You are a child of God. You are not maliit (small.)

- TE

September 10, 2008 12:35 AM

Community Peace Has Come To India

It has been awhile since these partings ruckus befallen the group have been going on day in and day out. Now one country is blowing the trumpet of joy. CFC India has taken a valiant stand to bring peace and unity in the community. She has declared her independence from the governing authority of CFCGMFI. I am smiling because no matter how hard this guy Anthony has been terribly criticized as an associate of Frank like a second skin, he has nevertheless brought the pipe of peace to the servants of the vineyard. That's how faith works, my friends. Prayers, faithfulness and walking the talk. The interplay of these ingredients makes the eurekish formula.

Now as a tribute for a dear friend who has been recalled for an everlasting life. Let me share the lyrics of the song he sang in Quebec, Canada in 2004 as part of his testimonial. May his soul rest in peace...

When I am down and, oh my soul's so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh

Welcome to Beijing 2008 Olympics

Was it ever told that the Beijing olympics pale in comparison with the one going-on in this arena?

Peat peat an numb yeah aaargh!

Peat ick say long!

Coup rot sash sing it!

Bow nut an boo hook sah key lay key lay!

Mourning Into Dancing

Cutie Pie Pikachu!

 

Our mind dictates, our body translates, our friend gyrates.

 

Stop it hussain, it is not worth doing it.

Midnight @ Rocksbarrie

It is once again being disputed that no man is an island and no man can stand alone. That, my friend, is a no-brainer. I believe that everyone will agree with you.

You see, several years ago...yada...yada....yada...(cloud of smoke comes in and face of narrator fades in the background) (music: chime generated followed by constant plucking of harp) (lights fade off)

(Lightning flashes twice) (Enter the magnificent Utoy, all caped and masked with the matching leotards and fabric boots) (LED "U" flashes in his chest) (music: tadaaa!)

And what have you got? A limping eegol, not bald though.

What a funny way to end the weekend. Cheers dazed peeps! And, by the way, keep scratching your heads. It is just the way it is. Simple pun.

Goodness Gracious Great Ball Of Fire

Sun worshippers, rejoice! The joy has come to everyone. Where the joy never stops, the fun part seems here to stay.

It was joyful, joyful and a grand celebration of "ligaya sa Panginoon." I could not help but shed a bucket of tears of joy. I guess it goes with what you call "tumatanda." No one was spared from getting infected with the infectious smiletous and laugheous strain of joy.

On the other side, there are still some unpacified dogs barking at every tree it sees and smells. I wanted to throw a bone or two to calm it but I decided not to. I would rather concentrate my effort in ushering the guest of my heart.

Have you told Him lately that you love Him? Have you told Him there's no one else above Him? He fills your heart with gladness, takes away all your sadness. Eases your troubles, that's what He does.

Don't wait till your picture fades.

Meritorious Commentism

As usual, my being able to connect in the internet allows me to swing by this favorite hat spot.

I greet all of you with thunderstorm and shower yet peaceful happiness.

Just to let everyone know, the wifey and I are planning to opt out of the grouppie called vox populi. It has been a while since we have been men beers of this grouppie. It is a joyful joyful experience. But I would be terribly lying if I would say it's all fun and fun. There are lots of down moments that are wregrettably wrecking the grouppies but , hey, the bard has spoken "sheeteth happeneth!" And so, my friend and friends of my friend, I would like to start bidding "adieu" to you. If I see anything worthwhile to post before the final goodbuy, then I shall still return. Otherwise, this blog sill sit still for a long time.

I cannot bring out the news as of yet, but let us see and wait for the next chapter to come.

A Little Savvy Savvy

Being a member of the north bridge configuration, it made me a real happy person to hear that calmness and sobriety still prevails among the body. You celebrate there, I celebrate here is still a debatable issue because, everyone dreams of having just one. The article just gave my flesh a little steroids to keep myself working in the vineyard.

I pay deep respect and pray for the souls of our dearly departed claimed by the storm. Let the souls of these brethren be welcomed by You. Forgive them of their earthly sins and let Your perpetual light shine on them.

I am off again to an assignment far away from the hustle and bustle and tussle of an electronic world. Hope everyone enjoyed their respective anniversaries.

Back to Mindanao Mission/ Phee Phay Pho Pham

Have been gettting a lot of assignments to go to the South. It is a mission vested to me. I should always be obedient. Eventhought the price I pay is missing a lot to connect with you guys. Anyway, I am glad that fighting the fight of faith is again in existence.

And have been reading a lot of fuss about the name game! wooo hoooo!

Isn't this exciting that your EYESEE had also decided to join the brouhaha? And your FURTERS is in wide grin ready to gobbledycook.

Who will see the light at the end of the tunnel?

Finesse is still a factor for winning the art of war. Mockery may have stolen the limelight but the "x factor" remains to be the etiquette.

Mastering the Data

There had been a lot of exchanges....wait...I would like to greet everyone a big HELLO first as I just arrived from a Mindanao mission...ok, back to monkey business. The exchanges I am mentioning is between texters and bloggers alike. Both are hurling mud cakes to each other that they can all be considered mud hurlers generation. These two people prefer to have the bar tips they are getting to be as massive at it can be. In the process, or should I say, in fear of losing foothold of these followers, they sing the song "I Would Do Anything."

Grumble....grumble....should this be happening? Do not answer now. I do not need your answer at this moment.

What I would like the members to know is that in their effort to protect their group names for whatever sake, both of them become losers. It is an effing lose lose situation, I say. The only winner is non other than the BadOne.

So I respectfully suggest that exclude the mud hurling activity from their mission list. Resources are going to waste land instead of going to the love land. As one blogger said, In the end, every single creation is accountable for his/her own deeds.

Ciao

How's your involvement in your parish?

Our community had just been asked to participate in our local parish's activity. Everyone is excited to participate because the parish priest is a hard-to-please one and never allowed evangelization program in his parish. But now winds have changed and I hope that's for good.

Cheers to every reader.

Little Children - humble, teachable and free from selfish ambition

The Holy Sprit just prodded me to post this passage from St. Matthew. I am awe struck in relating this passage to what is happening among us. I hope you could also feel the same as you read.

Take extra reflection on verse 3. Cross references are provided below.

Matthew 18
The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven 1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Cross References
Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Mark 10:15 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."
Luke 18:17 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."
1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
1 Peter 2:2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

There's rage and rage endlessly on the other side

Wala na ba kayong alam gawain kundi umangal nang umangal, using the name, poaching the members, bad si ganon bad si ganire. Aba sa palagay ko pinapalagay mo na na Bathala ka. Lahat ng defense mo mentions that you are just doing what to be done. Entries in your comments portions are edited, selected and deleted and yet you keep on saying that you are an advocate of the freedom of speech. Pare ko, ang pagsasama ng tapat ay pagsasama ng maluwat. Be honest to yourself and make a real peace na iniwan sa yo ng Titser ko. Hindi ako sing-talino mo pero marami ang nagkukumento na marunong sa computer that you are just stirring the hornet's nest. Your leaders are already pacifying you and yet here you are barking endlessly. As if the "righteousness" can only be found at your helm. Pasalamat ka at marami sa mga friends natin ang walang access sa computer. Kung nagkataon, the "fire" that you started may have "burned" you down.

Terrible...just terrible

There had been a news circulating the community that this person is behaving like a mad dog, hounding the people in the other fence. I say this is another form of harrassment that needs to be addressed. It makes me wonder why is it that after all the learnings and good behaviors he was given (and mind you, he even made the mentors to believe that he did absorb everything!) he had metamorphosed into a creature with a really nasty behavior towards others.