"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Jeepney Story #1

photo courtesy of http://astig.ph/tungangang-jeepney-christwin-felix/

a typical jeepney ride scenario..

i was seated in the middle like the blue guy beside Lola (grandmother)... In the middle of the ride, the driver suddenly said, "O sinsilyo daw diha sa mga wala pa kabayad kay ipangkambyo nato." (Loose change for those who have not paid their fare yet, we'll use it give others their change.) The driver's voice was only slightly audible from my position, so i was not wondering if those farther away from him did not hear his pleading. i thought of echoing the driver's words to tell other passengers.. but then i thought to myself, "that's just a waste of time, some will pay their fares sooner or later; it's not like it's something so urgent and a quick response is needed." A moment later, i noticed a person seated just at the back of the driver looking for coins in her purse to pay the driver. Surely, she would hear the driver's request - she was just at the back of the driver. But then again, what if the coins she paid were less than what the driver needed? What if the passenger was reaching her destination and not yet receiving the change for the cash she paid? Then i thought that it would have been better if the driver's voice was more audible.. but it would have been also helpful if there were cooperative passengers to relay the driver's message...

okay, so that was something so common.. you witness it everyday.. either some people speak up, or drivers make their voices be heard by everyone in the jeep, or the person who needs the change would just wait for her to be given the change... as i have told you, it is not something to be solved, it is not something you have to ponder, it is not something so important.. that is how lots of people also view Christianity - it is not urgent, you can survive with or without it, it is a choice for you whether you take it seriously or not, it is NOT A PRESSING ISSUE!! But then again, there are others who hear the good news of salvation and share it... there are others who preach... there are others who preach widely and loudly so that a good number of audience hears the message... there are others who preach calmly but repeatedly, somehow implying that the message is important... there are also others who hear the message and echo it to others.. there are others, however, who hear the message and let it die in them - like what i did in the jeepney ride.. However, when you knew about Christ, when you heard about Him, most especially when you encountered Him and you had your heart touched by Him and you realized how you are loved deeply and widely by Him for like the longest time, you really have to do something to tell the world that God's love is the answer to everything. and THIS, you'd have to agree, is something VERY PRESSING! it cannot wait any second longer.. this is urgent news! there is a God-shaped hole in everyone's heart and not money nor fame nor career can fit in there.

Then again, the fact is that, you could still choose to be a Christian or not.. God, in His immense and incomprehensible love for us, gave us free will.. ...Yet you can never deny who you are - sons and daughters of one Father.. You may only act as if you are not a son/daughter of God.. But only when you embrace your identity will you truly find that peace and joy that nobody can steal away from you.. :) God bless you! and know that you are loved. ;)

little ideas..

i was just thinking about ways of waste reduction when something came into my mind.. how about, asking ballpen industries to produce refills instead of the whole ballpen assembly... so that they do not need that much material to produce the whole ballpens because this time only refills are produced.. of course they'd still produce the entire pen, but this time less numbers of it.. how about that?

#Greenpeace

One afternoon in Cafe Demitasse

 i love the CR floor design... so serene.. so peaceful...

texture splash in the comfort room 

such pretty lights.. they add charm to the cafe..

too bad my camera cannot capture the stained-glass-like details in them..

so these are for good luck, eh?

these frogs, i'd have to say, have some real dramatic talent in them.. ;)

thanks to ate Kars and Jessbert for giving Quenny and i this lovely cake.. ;)

although i love wooden chimes more than metal chimes,

i'd have to admit that this is a charming wind-chime

#Creations #CelebrateBeauty

POst 1 of #CelebrateGoodness

i was with my sister buying something at a plaza the other day.. after paying for the item we bought, i hurriedly and carelessly put the change in the pocket of my bag when my sister blurted, "keep your money securely"...

Later that day, i was at the mall buying some pens.. i paid them at the counter and again hurriedly kept my change inside my bag when the cashier lady advised me to count my change... i counted the change, mindlessly placed them in my bag and thanked her.. i immediately waited for a ride home... i was just going into the jeepney when somebody was touching me.. i thought it was just another impatient passenger trying to ride the jeepney i am about to board.. i looked behind me to see a middle-aged, thin man asking me if something was mine.. i looked at what he was holding and realized that he was holding the 450peso-change the cashier gave me just a moment ago.. i was shocked but i was able to let out a little thank you and a little smile... i hurriedly went inside the jeep and took a seat while the man went on waiting for his ride... i was embarrassed at him, at the people who witnessed my carelessness... then i realized, i haven't even thanked him enough... thinking again about the incident.. i was more and more amazed by what that man has done.. that was easy money, you know.. the "finders, keepers" philosophy... but he chose to go a little out of his way to return something that belonged to me.. he chose to shove away temptation.. he chose to be honest... he deserved my salutation even if i didn't deserve his kindness...

i realized that even though God is generous, He wants to tell me to take care of even these money matters... more importantly, through my sister, the cashier lady and the honest man, God tells me that He is watching over me.. :)

i hope i have learned my lesson..  thank You, Father for teaching me in the sweet way.. :)

i am not that busy, i admit, even though i've already got a beautiful job...

and so i try to make proper use of my not-so-productively used extra time...

and i am so happy to announce that i already know how to do Adobe Photoshop..

yes, my brother taught me about months ago the basics.. but it is really helpful to do some kind of homework and experiment on your own....

here is one project..

and thanks to this tutorial.. How to Quickly Create a Stylish Retro Text Effect...i actually learned a lot, yeah? :P

P.S. i know.. it looks a lot like a newbie work.. but don't worry, i'll be patient with myself.. :)

F for JasonFernandez ;)

Meet Jason Fernandez and his tattoos.. .:)

Jason smiling at Coach Sarah's comments on his performance

Okay, so you might be thinking i am so liking him because of his looks... and so that is a big no! it wasn't really him who caught my attention, but his and Bradley Holmes' performance of I Would Do Anything for Love in the Battle Rounds of the Voice of the Philippines.. it was one of those performances wherein the two contenders are not really competing against each other but actually complementing each other... they delivered the song with a beautiful, unforgettable impact... as in wow.. now that's how you play music and rock the world..  yeah? ;) 

But i was specifically rooting for Jason because of the way he sings.. you could really feel his emotions.. his spirit is so into the song he is singing.. as in there's a whole kind of flavor he is putting into the song, as what Bradley commented about Jason.. He doesn't need to hit oh-so-high notes… he doesn’t have to scream… he doesn’t need to burst my eardrums just to catch my attention.. and that’s what amazes me, given that he is into rock music.. his style is simply wonderful..

his good looks are just a consolation for me.. :) yeah, seriously.. :)

One of the coaches in the show, by the way, is coach Bamboo.. both of them were former vocalists of Rivermaya.. and i would just like to point out their similarities in the show.. like the design and color of their clothing... #red #thunder!

below is Jason singing Ang Huling El Bimbo by the Eraserheads
i really love the part where he sings the chorus and spreads out his left arm... it feels like he's flying.. he's reaching out to something, for something.. and he is so into the song.. gosh.. i'd have loved to see this live and to think the coaches were able to endure missing this once-in-a-lifetime performance! ha!

this was during his blind audition.. nobody actually turned until the last part of the song.. it was coach Apl.de.ap who turned and i really have a strong feeling that at the very beginning of the song he would be turning for Jason but he waited instead for the right timing.. hihihi... and i am so thankful for him... because Jason was really an amazing singer and performer.. without him turning, Jason would never have gotten this far in the competition.. Jason was later on stolen by coach Sarah, but it was all for the best.. :)

i also made up a little storyline about Coach Sarah & Jason.. hihihi... 

entitled: "Stage Mother",... este... "Stage Coach"

 Coach Sarah: Ganito, Jason.. Follow me...

Jason: Ok, coach. Copy! ;)

this was when coach Sarah was dancing while Jason was performing Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5

And just so you know,... Both Jason Fernandez & Adam Levine trended during this performance..  hihihi... :)

Unfortunately, Moves Like Jagger would be his last performance as a contestant on the Voice ... and it really broke my heart when he was out of the competition... but really.. the Lord surprised me.. :) you know...

here is his Fb post after leaving the competition:

and here is my reply... hihihi... :)

na-break talaga yung heart ko kagabi... nevertheless, tama ka sir Jason, the Lord had been blessing you much much.... thankful kami that you have a very grateul heart.. more blessings to come for you and your loved ones!! and tama din yung mga nagcomment dito, napangiti ako sa post mo... waaa!! di na ako broken-hearted..  #GodisGood!! Psalm 147: Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted!!!  ---> 

hay naku... basta.. positive vibes tayo all the way!! :) 

i thank God for this blessing.. :)

#rockstar

#F #FortheLord

what's the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word "servant"?

The Profile of a Servant of God (highlights)from CYA Christian Service Series

Work, labor, job... they're all part of our life... it''s what they all tell us.. we study so we could be secure in the future,  much better, get rich... but did anyone ever tell you that our ultimate purpose is to serve others? 

There are lots of ways to serve others.. but let's talk about how Jesus would serve others...

Number 1. Truly serving others does not require your excellent, pure human effort. You do not have to do it all on your own. God is here to help you. Pure human effort means that you do your task without regard of what God really wants you to do and without acknowledgement of His help. In God-man team effort, there is a recognition of the big support God is giving you. You do what you can do, you give your best, and God will take care of the things that are beyond your control. Isn't it cooler and smoother this way? ;)

Number 2. To a person who wants nothing more but to help, any service, even the smallest, most humbling one, is welcome to his booklet of activities. It doesn't matter if he would be working backstage, restoring the order of the venue after an event, or just capturing photographs, he would be ready to serve with a cheerful heart. It's okay even if he can't put it in his résumé.. ;)

Number 3. No reward is better than the fulfillment brought about by serving others with God and with your whole heart.. So whether he is given a trophy or be given a word of "thanks".. it won't matter a bit.. to him these are just consolation prizes. ;)

Number 4. Some people get so caught up in their service that they're willing to do what it takes to get their job done.. to win the prize.. to achieve they're goal.. They forget that they are in this service to serve others (that includes your co-servants)... Exactly, right? Whether the job is done or not, every step of the process is an opportunity to serve. So they are not in a rush to finish it on time or way before time.. Of course, they follow the sked, do the best they can, but more than that, they keep in mind that it is their relationship with others that matters.

Number 5. People serve because they need to and not because they are feeling good or they're feeling good about themselves. They recognize that need for service and they put this above what they are feeling at the moment. 

(from Matthew 14:12-14)

Then they went and told Jesus what had happened. As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

What do you think Jesus felt when He heard about His cousin's beheading? He might have wanted to grieve He went to a remote area alone... but because He knew He had a mission to accomplish, and because people were seeking Him, He chose to teach first than to grieve. He thought about others before Himself. Now, that's something real divine. :)

Number 6. Servants also have limitations. For personal reasons and for other reasons, they may not be able to perform or finish the task assigned to them. Instead of forcing what's been planned to happen, a real servant must instead be flexible - willing to adapt to changes most importantly when a co-servant needs his support. 

now that's deep.. :)

thanks, Lolo Kiko.. :)
read more

‪#‎endFGM‬

FGM is concentrated in 27 African countries, Yemen and Iraqi Kurdistan, and found elsewhere in Asia, the Middle East, and among diaspora communities around the world ‪#‎endFGM‬

Wikipedia discussion

i am beginning to think how stupid this ritual is... being a girl, i couldn't even comprehend the pain caused by that circumcision.. common sense would tell us FGM isn't right.. but then again it is part of their culture.. people in authority, hopefully would help reach out to these people who are still following the tradition while upholding respect towards their culture.. i hope these people's eyes and hearts would be opened.. justice for the girls!!

currently reading...

will update you afterwards... :)

#keeppraying

is there a book on finding out if you're one of the clueless? ;)

This was a birthday gift from my dear friend, Donna. :)

Prayertime

amidst all the commotions around you.. find that inner peace..

don't forget to #pray.. :)

Practicality v. me

i am in this part of my life where one choice would determine my life.. what lies ahead... my happiness or loneliness...

or am i just being too dramatic?

in the less serious sense.. i realized that to work immediately after passing the board exam is what is normal... what everybody expects of me... what usually should be done... "the normal pattern"...   now to my way of thinking, if i'd want things to change, i'd have to do things i've never done before.. things that deviate from what's normal.. and in a way, is not practical... i've decided, therefore to work as a youth worker... not much salary offered compared to when i work using the degree i got in college. i knew at the start that this would be hard... there would be many oppositions... but that's what adventure is all about right? ;)

further into the matter.. my family and relatives are against this decision of mine.. i believe they are too worried about financial matters that they forget to realize how blessed they are. they fail to realize that this decision of mine is actually a very big blessing, not only for me, but also for the people i'll be serving and most especially for them... i don't know but they seem to be so focused on the short-term problems that they tend to overlook the recurring problems in our society today.. Reaching out to youth, my job, in a way, is actually repairing our damaged society.. these youth will be the leaders of the next generation.. because one of the most important points life has taught me is that life is more than just survival.. life is about "have you really lived life according to how you were designed?" now people may think that i am only saying this because i have no family of my own, i have no children who depend on me and my salary or whatever.. but i am saying this because the things that are not obvious are actually the things that should be practiced and should be done... selflessness... love... service... the "others-first" mentality...

sometimes, we need to shake things up a bit to really see the things that truly matter... i doubt if they're even "things"

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