Politically Correct

Last November 15, 2006, the Department of Agrarian Reform Christian Fellowship (DAR Christian Fellowship) celebrated its 22^nd Anniversary of God’s goodness and faithfulness. We had Ptr. Jun Camcam (son of the historical figure, Gen. Fabian Ver, the Chief of Staff during Marcos’ regime) from Victory Christian Fellowship. We also had Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta who graciously shared her testimony.

Who would have thought that an opposition member of the government will suddenly turn the tables around and transfer to the side of administration? I mean in God's administration. Yes, former Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta is now a (Born-Again) Christian (actually since 2001, it's only now that she has finally decided to be vocal and serious about it). Whew!

Former Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta giving her inspirational testimony and message.

I’m glad that despite the ultra-religious background of the Aquino clan, former Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta managed to firmly stand up for Jesus. She is attending regular Sunday Services at Victory Christian Fellowship-The Fort (Main). I’m humbled by her testimony and her conviction to fight for her faith despite the strong opposition of her family and career. I believe that God is continuously moving towards the total reformation of our political system through Christian political leaders.

Other photos taken during the service:

DAR Christian Fellowship during the Praise and Worship.

Ptr. Jun Camcam from Victory Christian Fellowship talks about salvation and faith in God.

Ptr. Jun Camcam leads the prayer of thanksgiving for the 22 years of DAR Christian Fellowship.

Photos taken after the service:

Rubbing elbows with former Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta and DAR Christian Fellowship Leaders.

I pray that God will continue to move mightily in our government, and that every politician will come to the point of accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord and become a part of His family.

Truly, to be a CHRISTIAN POLITICAL LEADER is
to be POLITICALLY CORRECT.

CONGRATULATIONS!! To God be the glory!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’ve been the worship leader in DAR Christian Fellowship since 2004 (not sure or maybe 2003). It has been a special church for me since I’m always there every Thursday for the regular midweek fellowship/service/Bible study. I love their warmth and dedication to God’s work. Every Thursday, there is an assigned pastor to preach. Sometimes, I get to preach also if there are no pastors available (or every 5th Thursday of the month). And I really praise God for that break even though I’m not a graduate of any Bible school. I’m so thankful to God for giving me DAR Christian Fellowship. I love the experiences and the lessons that I’m learning from this fellowship. I pray that God may continue His work in DAR and also to other government agencies. Thank God for DAR Christian Fellowship. Thank God for them.

Freakonomics----The Hidden Side Of Everything

I learned to love reading.

Reading has been a part of my life, and most probably, for the rest of my life. I’ve been immersed and will still be immersed (as a law student) with many thick and stress-embedded law books, codals, case digest and cases. They have been a part of my system (gradually). Honestly, I don’t like to read much. I just read when I need and want to read something. I’m not a bookworm----probably a late-bloomer-in-denial. (Hehehe…). I hate reading out of compulsion. I read to satisfy my curiosity and nurture my interests.

I don’t like reading long stories, especially novels (To hell with the long narrative cases! Hehe…). I’m so lazy when it comes to reading books with fictional themes. I rarely enjoy them. I like books with non-fiction matters or subjects. I appreciate them so much.

Upon browsing the pages of our newspaper, (I can’t remember if it’s Philippine Star or Philippine Daily Inquirer.) I saw different reviews/critiques about the latest and best-selling books in town. As I read each review, a certain book struck my attention and triggered me to buy it as soon as it becomes available (Thank God for National Bookstore, I thought I needed to order the book through the Internet, but National Bookstore helped me to get it hassle-free.). That book was “The Freakonomics” by two weird economists yet highly respected and deeply honored by the geniuses of Harvard School of Economics, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. I don’t know about the background of these two guys. One thing I know is that, they are ultimately weird that they reminded me of my highschool classmates, and their weird questions during our class discussions.

Discover and learn life.

Anyway, they did a great job in writing this book. It’s not just educational, it’s entertaining as well. Reality and the wisdom of practical living is the soul theme of this book. I enjoyed reading it rather than those boring and bloody cases and codals. Every page is filled with different information not only to serve as a stored knowledge but also as a practical approach or perspective on daily living.

Geniuses of the Modern Economics
(The Authors)

I just finished reading it last sembreak.

I strongly recommend this book to everybody.

Enough with those tear-jerking, egoistic, hyper-analytical, highfaluting, ultra-dramatic, overly emotional, narcissistic, fantasy-based, ostentatious, controversial, and gender warfare-based books, it’s time for a radical shift.

It’s time to be practical and rational.
Truth hurts. Reality bites.
Reason mends. Faith heals.

Check it out! Enjoy life.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the website: www.freakonomics.com
Take note, the professors of Harvard School of Economics are planning to include, "Freakonomics" as a part of the Economics 101.

Part Two: Sembreak Fever

Whew! As I continue exposing my activities during the past semestral break, I noticed that I was able to achieve almost 90% of the pre-planned activities that I’ve scheduled before the break starts. Hence, God has been so great that He gave me the chance to accomplish almost all of the things I wanted to do before the second semester begins. Moreover, I learned many things about the essence of time management, discipline and perseverance in achieving the goals, whether it will have short-term or long-term effects.

For a two-week semestral break, every activity or appointment must be strategically scheduled. Time is of the essence. And every minute that passes by should be spent for remarkable and highly-valuable tasks or pursuits.

Here is a quick yet extensive preview of what I did for the second and ‘almost’ last week of the semestral break:

WEEK TWO: THE MARATHON

Sunday, October 29, 2006: INCOMPLETE YET COMPLETED

• Ate Joy’s family went to their ‘usual’ family reunion. (It has become ‘usual’ because it seems that they have it many times as they want in a year. I don’t know why. Let’s leave it up to them. Hehehe…) Plus, Haydee has not been attending in the church for a couple of weeks. (I don’t know her reasons, but we hope she can go back again. She and her boyfriend have been rumored with so many issues. I hope by the time she comes back, she’ll be ready to answer them. Hehehe…) Hence, we have to do some abrupt changes in order to make the regular Sunday Service possible. (Connection? Our regular afternoon Sunday Services are usually held at their house. Gets?!) Thank God, Bro. Roland, the head of their family, did not join the family reunion instead he helped us in fixing and preparing for the afternoon Sunday Service.
• Long before this Sunday comes, I already sent messages to both Jerry and PJ (our former churchmates/friends) to help us out because our drummer will not be around. Jerry did not reply, but thank God, PJ did. Surprisingly, they came together that Sunday. Jerry yielded to PJ, so PJ became our drummer. We also had Ptr. Manuel as our guest speaker. His message/testimony was so inspiring. We learned so many things about God’s providence and church-planting. Check it out: www.ccc-sm.blogspot.com
• That Sunday was a miracle. The whole story testified to that statement.

Monday, October 30, 2006: SORTING OUT

• I woke up late. (And there’s nothing new about it. Hehehe..) I stayed at home and tried sorting out different documents that I have since I began going to school. Bulks of papers are cluttered in my room for a long time; and I badly needed to sort them properly---an inevitable task in the life of a student.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006: UNEXPECTED BLESSING

• I stayed at home. I was writing a blog entry when my Mom called and asked me if I can preach in our Midweek Service at Cornerstone Christian Church-San Mateo. She had this idea because she knew that I have been preaching at DAR Christian Fellowship many times, especially when there are no pastors around. At first, I was surprised, but then I gave in. I prepared my message for our Midweek Service. I asked God for anointing and supernatural wisdom and revelation. God responded actively. And I had my message about assessing one’s net worth and using it for God’s glory. In fact, you can read my message outline in my previous blog entry: “Don’t Just Live, Get A Life!”.
• Dad and Mom went home very early. I invited them to watch the movie, “Laws of Attraction” of which they enjoyed very much. Then we went to our Midweek Service afterwards.
• During the Midweek Service, I was bit nervous because it’s my first time to preach to a familiar congregation, unlike at DAR Christian Fellowship, of which I don’t know most of them personally. Then, I started preaching God’s word for our church. The whole Midweek Service went well. Everybody was blessed. And I gave all the credit to God for He alone deserves to be glorified in what I did.

Wednesday, November 1, 2006:
HEAT STROKE IN CHRISTMAS SEASON/WHOLE DAY OUT

• It’s All Saints’ Day. It’s a holiday as declared by Malacanang.
• Dad, Mom, Ate and I went to Paco, Manila to attend the wake of one of our relatives---my Mom’s cousin. (I forgot his name.) He died due to heat stroke. He had three wives. He had children to each of them. But the most active or “punong-abala” during the wake was his second wife. Surprising!! We were shocked upon knowing his story. He is not a Muslim, but he managed to have three wives all at the same time. To be technically correct, one legal wife and two paramours. (That’s the effect of taking up Criminal Law. Hehehe….) Upon hearing the story of the second wife, I remembered the Pinoy movie, ‘Ako Legal Wife’. The whole story is almost the same, of course, minus the wealth. I don’t know what to feel upon hearing his story. All I understand is that after all he is accepted and greatly loved by his three wives, who were present during the wake, and also his children, even at the point of death.
• Then we went to Market! Market! (Again! This place has become a part of us, because of Aling Nene’s Sinigang sa Miso. Try it. Hehehe..) to eat dinner. Of course, we ate at Aling Nene’s again, with the same food order. Then, we went over the tiangges to check out for new arrivals. We bought few articles and accessories, as usual. My Dad initiated to go home, as always, so we can’t help but to obey. Actually, it’s already late in the evening that’s why we agreed to go home.

Thursday, November 2, 2006: FAMILY-BONDING

• All Souls’ Day. It’s not a holiday anymore.
• Dad, Mom, Ate, Joshua and I went to the Department of Foreign Affairs to have our passport renewed. The renewal of passports is usually done every five years. So early in the morning, we hurried to DFA and started the bureaucratic process (Again!) of renewing our passports. Except for my Dad (He has been traveling all his life that’s why his passport is always active.), we all went through the process needed for the renewal. We almost got into the deceitful schemes of the fixers outside the premises of DFA. Praise God, we discerned early that the man, who initiated to lead us through the process, was leading us to the wrong direction. Therefore, we concluded that he is one of those fixers loitering around. By the grace of God, we were led by an official from the DFA and we finished the whole process less than an hour. (Of course, legally and take note, with no long queues?! That’s amazing! Hehehe…) We were really grateful that God led us through the right direction----legal, fast, and logical.
• Then we were choosing either to go to Rockwell, to Mall of Asia, or to Market! Market! to eat lunch. We ended up eating at Market! Market!. (Again. I told you this is the place to be this sembreak. Hehehe..) Then after eating lunch and a little bit of strolling, we went to Cubao. My Dad, Mom and Joshua went to Farmers Market, while Ate and I went to LTO Driver’s License Renewal Center. I left Ate and Joshua at LTO and I joined my Mom and Dad strolling and shopping functional items there. (Of course. Parents are parents. Everything needs to be functional. Hehehe…) When we met Ate and Joshua, Ate told us that she saw Jonathan, our former churchmate/church drummer. She told us that Jonathan didn’t notice my Ate’s presence even though the place is so small that only blind people can have mistakes for not identifying everybody in the room. However, we didn’t take it as a big deal. Anyway, everything’s fine with us. We just don’t know about them. After waiting for a long period of the release of my Ate’s renewed driver’s license, we peacefully agreed to go home because obviously, we’re all tired after the long day out.
• The sad part of this day, I wasn’t able to come to DAR Christian Fellowship. I don’t know what happened to them. I just hope that Bro. Romy did relay my message that I will not be able to come.

Friday, November 3, 2006: CALLING FAMILIES

• Ate and I went to Barrientos’s house. I drove and we stayed there. Surprisingly, the Gallana family was also there. They had a lunch out there. When we arrived, they were just about to go home.
• Ate and I had dinner with Sis. Elena (the matriarch), Maan and Jen. I love the ‘Dinuguan’. I’m very choosy on eating it especially if I don’t know who made it. I also love the commercialized ‘Sisig’ that Sis. Elena was selling. Jennifer showed us some of her pictures during her pictorials in John Robert Powers (JRP) taken by no less than the socialite professional photographer Dominic James. The pictures are great. Jen looks gorgeous and elegant.

Saturday, November 4, 2006: SURFED THE WORLD

• I had a business meeting with RJ. I proposed another business opportunity to him of which I hope he would gladly accept. Then, I had my regular haircut back at Bench Fix- Sta. Lucia, and not in Robinson’s Metro East because my stylist there is absent when I went there. Then I hurried going home.
• I went home early because it was raining. I just did the usual routine of surfing the net and getting updates from different sites. I was very happy to explore Daphne Osena-Paez’s photo album site in Flicker.com. I enjoyed looking at her pictures and reading her stories. Daphne is such an admirable woman for me. Honestly, I want a wife like her, if possible. She’s very smart yet very candid, beautiful yet very simple, elegant yet very low-profile, very independent, yet very submissive to her husband, very career-focused but very family-oriented, and a lot more outstanding traits that are very unique. How I wish I could be Patrick Paez and marry someone like her.

Whew!
That was a great sembreak.

Life has many things to offer.
Thank God I’m alive.

Part One: Sembreak Fever

Thank God! I relatively had the busiest and most sensible semestral break in my whole life. (O.A.?! Hehehe..) Instead of having the ordinary indoor routine that I had before like sleeping, eating, surfing the net, watching TV and DVDs; and of course, sleeping, eating, surfing the net and watching TV and DVDs. (Actually it’s cyclical, but it’s not obvious on my part. Hehehe…) I believe God heard my fervent prayers; or maybe He read my previous blog entry and realized that I badly needed one. (Hehehe...) It has been pre-programmed long before the semestral break starts. (I noticed this part after reflecting on the things that I’ve done. Hehehe)

But hey, this time, I assured myself that it would be a different one. And it SHOULD be different this time. I wanted to have a dynamic outdoor routine. (Wow! Flexible?!) Hence, I had to strategically fix my schedules and appointments so that everything will be organized and balanced. (Hehehe.. That’s the real show business, in other words the‘Star Complex’.)

Here is a quick yet extensive preview of what I did last semestral break:

WEEK ONE: THE BREATHING PERIOD

Sunday, October 22, 2006: AN ANSWERED PRAYER

• Our whole family went to the regular Sunday Service at Robinsons Novaliches. I just can’t imagine how thankful I was for an answered prayer---the semestral break. I can still remember how I felt during the Praise and Worship part. I lifted my both hands as high as I can just to show to God how grateful I am for answering my-pretty-obvious-prayer-request.
• I was so happy that I bought the book that I really wanted to read and that intrigued me with its subject. I bought FREAKONOMICS by Levitt and Dubner. I will talk more about this in a separate blog entry.
• Then we went home to prepare for our next Sunday Service at Cornerstone Christian Church-San Mateo. I was ultra-excited to have our Praise and Worship practice (1:30pm-3:00pm) and the Ministers’ Bible Study (3:00pm-4:00pm). I was so blessed and enjoyed hearing the Preaching/Message part because I know that I don’t have to worry about any recitations or assigned cases that we need to digest for the next day. Whew! For me, it literally felt like ‘Heaven on Earth’. (As in!)

Monday, October 23, 2006: THE GENESIS

• I woke up late. (As usual! Hehehe…) Before the semestral break starts, I already planned to restore my ‘Work-Out’ routines like lifting weights and do some crunches in our home-based fitness gym. (Actually, it’s a room filled with different fitness equipment that my Mom bought through the Home TV Shopping. They’re getting rusty; and cobwebs covered most of them. So I should clean them first before I can use them. But my body wanted to rest more, so I decided to have a brunch (breakfast and lunch) first, then I’ll get back to it. Unfortunately, I forgot to clean and use them because I was hooked on watching a noontime variety show. (Of course, Eat Bulaga’s Bulagaan time! Hehehe…) In short, I decided to do those tasks the next day.
• Evening time came, I strategically (Take note of the word: strategically… Hehehe..) fixed my schedules and appointments for the whole week. I’m such an O.C.! Then, I prepared the (line-up) songs for the Midweek Service.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006: SIBLINGS DAY-OUT

• Last Sunday (October 22, 2006) for some uncertain reasons, My sister, Maan and Jen planned to go out and check out for some new tiangges/ bargains. They invited me to join them. Of course, the main purpose was to have a bonding with the whole star-studded cast (long lost friends), but for some usual reasons, we ended up having a ‘siblings-day out’. My Ate, Maan , Jen, Owa, and I went to Market! Market!
• Upon arriving at Market! Market!, we went directly to the food court/food district. (Hmm…Wow! Newly coined term. Hehehe..) It was lunch time then so instinctively we need to look for a place where we can eat. We opted to buy our food from one of the ‘lutong bahay’ stalls there. We chose Aling Nene’s for that matter. Jen highly recommended it. We had Sinigang sa Miso (Tanigue) and barbeques from Ineng’s Barbeque (Daughter of Aling Nene) with several cups of rice. We’re admitted to be fish-haters. I don’t eat fish generally speaking. I choose different kinds of fish to eat like tuna and all boneless fish. But that time was so different, we were able to eat the Sinigang sa Miso even if there are chops of Tanigue with it. Super delicious.
• Then we started roaming around and checking out the bargains/tiangges. I bought a sling bag/messenger bag and some accessories. They too have their own share of shopping items. Then we watched World Trade Center. I’ll talk more about it as a separate blog entry.
• Then my Dad sent a text message to my Ate telling us to go home early because we still have to attend the Midweek Service. My Ate is our church pianist/keyboardist; and I’m the assigned worship leader at that time. So we hurried going home. We left Market! Market! at 7:00pm; and we arrived at the church by 8:00pm. Imagine a 30-minute ride from Fort Bonifacio to San Mateo, Rizal. Amazing!

Wednesday, October 25, 2006:
ENROLMENT HORROR/STRESS OUTLET

• I woke up early. (Something different! Hehehe..) I needed to pass my paper for my Legal research subject. It’s reaction/proposal paper about the best way to amend the 1987 Constitution. I went to school at around 9:00 am. (Wow! I can’t believe this. I’m in the school at 9:00 am? I usually wake up at 9:00am. How can it be? Hehehe…) Then, after I passed my paper to our beadle. I rushed to the Dean’s office to start the whole bureaucratic enrolment procedure. I hate bureaucracy. (I’ll talk more about this in a separate blog entry) But thank God! It’s a miracle. There were no long and uneasy queues. I went through the enrolment process without the need to line-up because there was none. Maybe I came too early, that’s why. The only sad part was when I need the signature of our Dean for the approval of my scholarship. They said that Dean arrives in the afternoon, so I get to have my scholarship done in the afternoon. I just left the scholarship form and decided to go home. They’re wasting my time. This is not included in my schedule: to wait for the Dean’s arrival. Anyway, I can continue it some other time.
• Then I went to my Mom’s office and told her about the whole bureaucratic process of enrolment and the horror that it brings. Moreover, I told her that I get to have the discount for my tuition fee only that I need to secure Dean’s signature in my form. Then, to calm myself I get to go back reading the book that I bought, FREAKONOMICS while waiting for my Mom. We waited for my sister, and then we went home.

Thursday, October 26, 2006:
MIDWEEK AGAIN. (THREE MIDWEEKS IN A ROW?!)

• I went to DAR Christian Fellowship at 11:45am for their regular Thursday Service. The assigned speaker was Ptr. Jun Cam-Cam from the Victory Christian Fellowship (Main). He talked about the fruit of the Holy Spirit. I was extremely blessed for God anointed the whole preaching. Then, he discussed about the anniversary of DAR Christian Fellowship. He told us that he had a meeting with former Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta. He informed us that she already accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior; and is now a Born-Again/Christian. He told us that she will be our speaker to our upcoming DAR Christian Fellowship Anniversary. We’re really excited about that. Thank God. Now, there is a clear and miraculous permeation of God’s Word in our government through our Christian political leaders.

Friday , October 27, 2006:
A SHORT WEDDING, A SHORT WAKE AND A LONG DAY

• Ate Chel and Kuya Richard had their court wedding. Maan and I were gate-crushers then because we only came at the wedding reception. At least we're not late! We saw Ptr. Bill Cadiang, our former pastor in our former church. Thank God. He took the initiative to greet us (Go, Ate Mhel, Maan and me) inspite and despite of what happened among us. It's so nice to see them again. I believe that this short wedding of Ate Chel and Kuya Richard paved the way for us (Pastor and the groups who transferred to other churches) to cross each other's paths, shake hands with him, and let forgiveness heal our longest longing.
• I checked my emails the other day. I read Jaja’s message about the death of Hutch’s Dad. I was surprised upon receiving that news. I buzzed at Andrei through the Yahoo Messenger. I asked what happened to Hutch’s Dad. He confirmed that Hutch’s Dad is already dead due to heat stroke. So some of the Pasteurites came to the wake of Hutch’s Dad. It was really sad though we filled the place with a touch reality and laughter.
• Then the whole group went to Tropical Hut at Concepcion, Marikina City because the Tropical Hut in Ampid was already closed at that time. We shared different stories that lightened up the whole evening. We went home laughing and laughing because of different jokes and rumors that has been spreading through a tread in our Yahoo Groups. I’ll talk more about it in a separate blog entry.

Saturday, October 28, 2006:
GENERAL CLEANING DAY

• Tons of photocopied cases are cluttered in my room. I barely recognize my personal things because of those stress-embedded papers. So I decided to clean and organize my things. I threw all the papers that has nothing to do with my previous and present status as a law student.

Whew!

Watch out for the Part Two: Sembreak Fever. More stories. More life!

Thanks. God bless.

Don't Just Live, Get A Life!

Preaching No.: 2
Key Scriptures: Matthew 25:14-28
Other Verses: John 10:10
Date: 10-31-06

Assessing Your Net Worth for God’s Kingdom

• What is your NET WORTH?
• How much do you value the life that God has given you?
• Do you know your NET WORTH?
• Do you really value your NET WORTH?
• Do you take advantage and maximize your NET WORTH for God’s glory?

TRIVIA:
Bill Clinton (1st) : $ 53 Billion
Warren Buffett (2nd) : $ 46 Billion
Carlos Slim Helu (3rd) : $ 30 Billion
Lucio Tan (451) : $ 1.7 Billion
Manny Villar : P 531.2 Million
Juan Flavier : P 1.2 Million
Eddie Gil : $ 10 Billion (?)

VM: Magkano ang net worth nyo?
EG: Yun nga, papaunlarin natin ang Pilipinas.
VM: Hmm, yung net worth nyo po. Magkano?
EG: Yun nga yung una kong gagawin, aayusin ang Pilipinas.
VM: Yung net worth po.
EG: Ano'ng net worth?
VM: (nanlumo sa sagot): Hmm.. yung halaga po ninyo, yung halaga ng mga ari-arian nyo?
EG: Ah, hindi ko masasabi kung magkano ang halaga ko.


Definition:

NET WORTH

• The financial claim by owners on the total assets of a business, calculated as total assets minus total liabilities equals net worth. Also called equity capital and ownership equity.
• Assets minus liabilities. Total assets less total liabilities.
• The worth of a person or company based on the difference between total assets and liabilities.

ASSETS

• Fixed assets include land, machines and buildings; current assets consist of cash, money owed, stock, investments and work in progress; intangible assets are goodwill, trade marks, patents, etc; liquid assets are funds kept in cash or in a form that can be quickly and easily turned into cash.
• Everything owned by a person or corporation which can be used for the payment of debts. Any possession that has value in an exchange.

LIABILITIES

• Anything that is owed to someone else. In the most general sense, a liability is anything that is a hindrance, or puts one at a disadvantage.
• Liabilities are debts.

For us to know our real NET WORTH, must check first what are our ASSETS and LIABILITIES. Your assets may not only refer to your money, not just your cash at hand, cash in the bank, checks and properties. Your liabilities are not just your debts and loans. We’re talking here about you can share and give to the Lord; on how God can use you in the advancement of His Kingdom.

What are your ASSETS?

1. Money/Wealth/Power

• Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
• No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13)
• For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10)
• Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

2. Health/Body

• My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. (Proverbs 4:20-22)
• Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
• Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. (Roman 6:13)

3. Time/Effort

• There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-9)

4. Knowledge/Talents/Skills

• Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
• But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God." (Isaiah 49:4)
• Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

5. Relationships

• They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." (Acts 16:31)
• He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church? (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
• But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. (1 Timothy 5:4)

What are your LIABILITIES?

1. Pain/Sorrows

• To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. (Genesis 3:16-17)
• Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." (1 Chronicles 4:9)
• Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4)

2. Worries

• Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:25-30)

3. Procrastination

• "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' “‘I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.”Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Matthew 21:28-32)
• For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. (Deuteronomy 30:16)

4. Mediocrity/Average

• At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, first fruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. (Nehemiah 12:44)
• Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. (Exodus 34:26)
• You must present as the Lord's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you. (Numbers 18:29)

5. Selfishness (Me, Myself and I Syndrome)

• A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live. (Proverbs 15:27)
• A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. (Proverbs 28:25)
• Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. (Matthew 23:25)

SELF-ANAYLSIS:

• If you have lived on earth for 20 years, 30 years, 40 years, 50 years and above and assess your NET WORTH, how much will your value be?
• How much of your life have you spent in serving God? Or you spent most of your life in earning money for yourself and for your family?

• It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. (Luke 12:38)

• How much of your time/effort/talents have you given to the Lord?

• Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

• Have you entrusted and charged to the Cross all your liabilities?

• Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4)

• How much increase of NET WORTH did you have this year? Are there any losses?
• Are you willing to surrender your whole NET WORTH to God?
  
• Are you just living for yourself?
• Are you an asset to God‘s Kingdom or a liability, instead?
• Do you enjoy what have? Or do you just plan to save it forever?

• The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

• After assessing your life, what is now your Net Worth that you can offer to God?
• What can God find to us when comes?

• "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew (25:23)

THREE KINDS OF STEWARDS:

1. Good Steward (Matthew 25:18)
2. Better Steward (Matthew 25: 17)
3. Best Steward (Matthew 25:16)

What kind of stewards are we?

Make a life, not just a living.
Don’t just live, get a life!

God bless.
To God be the glory!

Toddler's Creed

Elisa Morgan, president of MOPS International (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers), shared this insight into a child's view of the world:

TODDLER'S CREED

If I want it, it's mine.
If I give it to you and change my mind later, it's mine.
If I can take it away from you, it's mine.
If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
If it's mine, it will never belong to anyone else,
no matter what.
If we are building something together,
all the pieces are mine.
If it looks just like mine, it is mine.

Anyone who has ever known a toddler knows the truth of that creed.
We expect to see this trait in toddlers, but we despise it when it's seen in adults.
It's called covetousness.

Are you allowing the Lord Jesus Christ to create in you a new, giving heart?
Or are you still following the "Toddler's Creed"?


Source: Our Daily Bread, 2006 , 102706

Gusto Ko Ng Mag-Sembreak

Haayy!!

Sa mahigit 16 years kong pag-aaral, parang ngayon ko lang hiniling na magkaroon ng sembreak. Nung college pa ako (Hmm… Parang mahabang panahon na ang nakalipas.. Hehehe..), mga 7 buwan na ang nakakalipas, hindi ko inaantabayanan na mag-sembreak na. Sa totoo lang, parang regular Saturday at Sunday lang siya sa akin. Kasi parang wala rin naman siyang epekto sa sobrang ikli at bilis ng panahon. Pero ngayong nasa law school na ako, parang very special holiday siya sa akin. Para siyang pinagsama-samang Christmas, New Year, Valentines Day at Birthday ko. Nakaka-excite na sa wakas makapagpapahinga na rin ako kahit isang saglit. (Wow! Title yun ng kanta ha… Hehehe..) Sa sobrang daming ng ginagawa at kailangang gawin dito sa law school, panigurado na hindi lang ako ang naghihintay na mag-sembreak na.

Nung pumasok ako sa law school, akala ko tulad ng mga Post Graduate Studies, eh wala masyadong pressure at stress. Yun pala, dumoble at trumiple pa. Para siyang pinaghalong Highschool, College at Post Graduate Studies. Bakit?

Para siyang Highschool kasi:

1. Laging may assignment na binibigay. Walang palya sa pagbibigay ang mga law professors ng mga bulto-bultong babasahin. Parang walang normal na tao ang makakatapos sa pagbabasa nito. Kulang ang 24 oras sa pagbabasa sa patung-patong na mga kaso at babasahin. Parang malapit ko na ngang maging motto ang philosophy ni Kuya Germs na “Walang tulugan!!” Syempre pa, kasama pa ang Monday hanggang Saturday Group ng ‘That’s Entertainment’. Hehehe.. By the way, Monday hanggang Saturday pasok naming at walang rest day. Wala na nga ata akong sense of time eh.
2. Syempre pa, napaka-importante ng attendance. No more, no less.
3. Kailangan mong hintayin ang law professor, kahit 15 minutes na lang ang natitira sa time niya at mag-uuwian na. Kasi paghindi ka naghintay at dumating siya, lugi ka pa. Ganun din ang mararamdaman mo kahit hindi man siya dumating. Haay.. The key word is: kailangang sulitin ang tuition fee.
4. Eto pa, siyempre dahil kailangan sulitin ang tuition fee, edi magtiis ka dahil sinusulit ng din ng law professor ang panahong inilalaan niya sa pagpunta sa klase kaya sasagarin niya ang time niyo hanggang sa mapapansin mong pinapatayan na kayo ng ilaw ng security guard nung school. In other words, kayo na lang hinihintay para magsara na sila.
5. Siyempre pa ulit, ang grading system, 1-100, hindi 1.0-5.0. Kaya parang sa sobrang lawak at precise nung grade na matatanggap mo ay hihimatayin ka at walang poknat ang kaka-compare ng grades mo sa iba. Di tulad nung college, at least kapag 88 ka, alam mong 2.0 ka na kahit 90 yung grade nung pinakamataas niyo, magka-level lang kayo. Hehehe.. Edi mas favorable sa’yo yun. Pero sa law school, kalimutan mo na yun.

Para siyang College kasi:

1. Present lagi ang class cards. Pero nung college kami, 1^st year lang kami nag-class cards, the rest of our stay ay through the internet na ang grades namin. Mas high-tech. Ngayon, back to basics and antiquity kami, depende ata sa school yun eh.
2. Syempre, pwede pa ring hindi pumasok sa isa sa mga subjects mo sa araw na iyon. Pero, siguraduhin mo na hindi ka lugi kasi tuso rin ang mga law professors mas tuso kesa sa mga college professors. Andyan yung mag-quiquiz kasi wala ka o magbibigay ng bonus, na once-in-a-bluemoon lang ata mangyari yun, o di kaya tatawagin ka sa recitation at dahil wala ka edi double 50 ang grade mo for that day.
3. Naku, napaka-simple rin ang pagcompute ng grades dito: 1/3 midterms, 1/3 recit/quiz after midterms at 1/3 finals. Syempre, subject to change yan depende kung ka-fraternity or ka-sorority mo yung prof or kung tamad magcompute yung professor mo edi anu pa ba, ang ancient grading system, Madam Auring kaw bay an?! Hehehe..
4. Halos sa gabi lahat ng klase mo. Yung tipong fresh na fresh ka na papasok tapos yung mga nakakasalubong amoy araw na. At ikaw na lang ang nag-aabang sa kabilang side ng kalye samantalang nasa kabilang side na ang lahat na nag-aabang. Tsaka yung buong pamilya mo nasa bahay na, tapos ikaw papasok pa lang. Ang ganda ng schedule mo di ba. Bakit ganito ang schedule? Simple, kasi yung law professors ay nagtatrabaho sa umaga at sa gabi lang sila pwedeng magturo. Yung iba nga ‘hobby’ na lang nila eh. Hobby meaning, pwedeng papasukan nila kung kelan nila gusto parang nag-gogolf, naggagantsilyo o nag-crocross-stitch lang sila.
5. Syempre may sembreak, pero ang sembreak ay parang umihi ka lang sa bahay niyo from school, tapos babalik na kayo. Haay.. At least pina-ihi ka pa, sa bahay niyo nga lang. Sorry na lang kung malapit ang bahay mo.

Para siyang Post Graduate Studies kasi:

1. Post Graduate Studies talaga siya kung tutuusin, pero mixed with Highschool at College lifestyle. Eto lang post-graduate studies with a twist, kasi two occasions in one event.
2. Kasi ina-assume na nung mga law professors na alam mo na ang lahat kahit ang pre-law course mo eh B.S. Biology, B.S. Civil Engineering, B.S. Meteorology, B.S. Agriculture major in Feeds and Breeds (Hehehe.. meron ba nun?!) at kung anu-ano pang course na napakalayo sa field of law. Ganyan talaga, graduate ka na eh.
3. Pwede ka pa rin naman mag-work habang nag-aarala, yun eh kung kakayanin ng powers mo ang bulto-bultong mga readings at cases.
4. Walang pakialamanan, except kung may frat or soro ka. Kanya-kanya, yun lang.
5. They’ll say na mature individuals na kayo, pero ang approach nila sa inyo ay parang kahapon lang kayo ipinanganak, lalo na sa recitation. Degrading at excruciatingly embarassing everyday. Parang nagbayad ka para pahiyain at yurakan. Malapit na nga ito sa pagiging masokista. Well, they’ll say that it’s a part of the training. Hmm.. Sige na, training to be ferocious animals?!

And many more reasons to ask for a sembreak.
Pero bago muna magsembreak, kailangan munang dumaan sa apoy ng finals.

Thank God for such an overwhelming journey.
At the end of the day, it’s not only the learning that counts;
Neither the prestige and riches, neither fame and brilliance..

It’s the greatest reward that you can have----
the GODLY CHARACTER, that will spell the big difference after all.

No Comments Here Please

Thank you for giving me a chance to know you more,

even if we don't see each other everyday.

Thank you for spending time with me,

even if both of us are ultra-busy.

Thank you for the "11pm-3am" calls,

even if most of time we're both silent.

Thank you for sending sweet thoughtful text messages,

even if that's a "send to all" message.

Thank you for going out with me,

even if we had only twice or thrice I think.

Thank you for sharing your stories,

even if most of them are your bad experiences.

Thank you for introducing me to your friends,

even if I don't always remember their names.

Thank you for frittering almost 8 years with me,

even if you're not counting it.

Thank you for the "silent" moments,

even if you let me speak most of the time.

Thank you for always texting "Stil up? Bc?",

even if I don't always reply to most of them.

Thank you for always telling me "Ganun naman eh.",

even if I'm sincerely repentant for not calling you.

Thank you for always taunting "Best Actor ka talaga!" and"Dramahan?!",

even if I really mean them.

Thank you for sending a reply to my SMART,

even if I always text you with your GLOBE.

Thank you for always asking me things that I consider as rhetorical questions,

even if honestly I don't know how to answer those questions.

Thank you for being defensive everytime I answer back,

even if I just love it when you're sweetly pissed off.

Thank you for "sungit" days,

even if I'm not doing anything.

Thank you for believing me everytime I say "I'll call you in a while.",

even if most of the time I forget to do it.

Thank you for not knowing this site ,

even if I don't really intend to let you know about this.

Thank you for teaching me how to wait and be patient,

even if things are uncertain.

Thank you for letting me believe about "love",

even if it sounds strange to me sometimes.

Thank you being my princess,

even if I'm just praying to be your prince.

Thank you for everything you've done,

even if I hope this is not yet the end.

Happy Birthday!!!! Take care.
Thank you for giving me more reasons to "thank" you.
God bless.

(Thank your for not reading this. )

Bedtime Story #1

Do you love "bedtime stories"?
Do you miss your childhood days?

Well, stop thinking about them!!
It's because...

Whoala!!
THEY'RE BACK!!
And this time, the stories are far better than before.
You'll know what I'm talking about.

Here's our Bedtime Story # 1:

Title: "THE GIVING TREE"
Author: Shel Silverstein
Lesson: "In giving, it's either you loved or you loved, nothing in between."
Downloaded from: www.youtube.com

Enjoy and watch the video:

Learned something new?
'Til the next bedtime story!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Do you agree that bedtime stories are just for kids? Well, they're not. Things have changed. Thanks to creative storytellers/writers like Shel Silverstein. Good news!! I have decided to have a special series on "bedtime stories" or at least share a story once a month. This is to awaken our complex senses through the simple stories filled with wit, plain and unfussy themes. It's good once in a while to get away from a ultra-busy and complicated life; and start appreciating little things that we often take for granted.

As Ptr. Joyce Meyer said, "it's time to start enjoying everyday life!" (couched in the words of Jesus Christ in John 10:10)

Do not just exist.
Live!

Enjoy! God bless.

For Your Eyes Only

Let’s have a break for a while. (Whoohoo!!)

I love Optical Illusions. They seem to tell something new indirectly.

Here are some of them:

Is it "illusion" or "optical"?
Or is it "optical illusion" or "illusion optical"?

Who's wrong is it "me" or "you"?
I know it's "you". No, it's "me"?

What can you see: the "good" or the "evil"?
Who do you think will prevail?

Which is the hardest thing to do----to "teach" or to "learn"?

Easy? Hard?
Happy? Sad?
Bored? Encouraged?
Worn-out? Energized?

I may not have a 20-20 vision,
but I can see them clearly.
How about you?

Do you know why I love them?
Actually, it's just like LIFE.
It's a matter of perspective!

GOT IT?
(Can you see them clearly?)