Talk about abstraction!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Lord, could You be more specific?
/blush
(*)
with special thanks to my blog adviser:
UnlimitedSoftz
Adaptavist
><>
/blush
(*)
with special thanks to my blog adviser:
UnlimitedSoftz
Adaptavist
><>
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Parang kailan lang...
Could you imagine fragile, little children lying on cold cement like that - looking at you with eyes asking if that's the best you could do?
i digress...
You scared of me, li'l darling? :(
Ilang mga linggo lang ang nakalipas, heto na sila... parang teenager cats na... :) nakakatuwa nga kasi bago pa sila tumanda ng ganito, kumakain na sila nga malalaking daga... At least noh hindi sila nagnanakaw ng isda sa bahay-bahay... :D
CYA tarpaulin
Made in Microsoft Powerpoint!! :D
Inspired by the Microsoft PPT Template used by my classmate Quenie!!! :D
To God be the glory! :D
Friday, August 9, 2013
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
the miracle that you are - be aware of that!
Every day starts with a magic spark
i've got my hopes high with a second start
we are miracles
every breath is magic
so you give yourself away with your miracle heart
Just to be alive is a magic art
we a re miracles
every breath is magic
~ Switchfoot
Monday, July 29, 2013
.xCrushcrushcrushx.
"No more crushes!!" i remember telling myself this a few years ago and just recently. i advised myself that if i want to focus on my priorities, i should get stupid admiration out of my mind. i feel so much happiness and i am filled with so much inspiration when they're around.. but when i see them with their girl friends - that's just enough to let my moment down.. in other words, having crushes gets me off balance. on one second i am this high, and on the next,i am back on my feet -to reality. i couldn't just afford to lose my focus.. it was inevitable, however, for me to have crushes. somebody just comes up and then suddenly, i have a new crush already! Wow... : | .. So this cycle would go on and on.. inspiration to sadness then back to inspiration.. i felt once again so defeated.. what's annoying however is that there are times when i don't want to remember my crush anymore and then suddenly, he shows up.. what, is this some sort of a joke? this ups and downs continued on for some time until something happened... :)
Monday, July 22, 2013
Modern Day Gideon and the 300
Remember Gideon? :)
i don't usually think of him. But now, i can't help but feel absolutely blessed and overwhelmed like him..
In the old testament, Gideon was used by God as an instrument to save the Israelites. But he wasn't supposed to do the job of a prophet or a preacher to proclaim the God's messages. Instead, he is to lead a battle against the Midianites, their oppressors. Gideon, was unbelieving that it was he who was chosen by the Lord. But after several signs shown by God, he finally accepted God's assignment.
i actually never planned it all. Upon entering college, all i dreamed and wanted was to be an honor student. So i have to keep my grades up, limit or exclude myself from participating in extracurricular activities, and always be focused with my studies and requirements. When i joined CYA, everything changed.
CYA is unlike most of the clubs in our school. It doesn't contain lots of members. It isn't very much recognized and popular. It doesn't even look or sound cool. But amazingly, lots of lives have been changed through it.
CYA is a nationwide movement of young Filipinos who wants to evangelize the youth and proclaim the Good News! In so doing, they themselves grow to become more mature Christians, more radical, wiser, stronger, and more faithful.
i joined CYA in the second semester of my first year in college. i was shy and unsociable. every time i joined an activity, i was always in an awkward situation because i really am not a very people-person and i am not very good at making friends. Somehow, i got hooked up. There were lots of games - fun games - and i looove games! i kept coming back joining their activities. it provided me with a new and different environment apart from my academic life. i actually found life there. i started singing and practicing songs. i met new friends. i was able to share a little of myself. i even invited my classmates because i found the club really life giving! i started reaching small yet new heights. With my co-CYAers, we did random evangelizations on parks, malls, in schools - we invited total strangers! Now, that is something for a shy girl like me!
On the third year, i had a hard time balancing my academic life and my nonacademic life. i actually almost flunked my subjects. Sometimes, i felt like, "why on Earth didn't i stick to plan A????" Perhaps there's no turning back now. Because we just had few club members in school, our club president kept asking help and support from us. These events coming and going were killing me every time i helped and was not able to help. When will things get better? At the end of the year, i was even disturbed and somehow honored when our Chapter head told me that it had been decided that i would be the next CYA club president. Well, honestly, i somehow saw that coming because there were very few of us left. However when the moment comes when it actually is handed on to you, it was really unbelievable. i mean, who am i? i don't even think i'm meant to lead. i don't even know what will happen in my fourth year in school. Will the subjects be more demanding and more challenging? How would my family react to my commitments? Yet, beyond all these doubts, it is as if something tells me i should accept it for it is the right thing.
i attended club presidents' meetings, received letters inviting our club to be involved in different activities. With my co-servants, we kept the club moving, we tried to hold the club together. there were really few members. They were so few that almost all of the active members were already our appointed officers. it was so draining and discouraging to see really few participants in our club activities. There are times when i really needed to sacrifice my studies just to meet a club requirement. i felt like i could really give no more. i'm tired and yet much is still asked of me. These are the times, the critical times, when surrendering everything to God's Will leads me to the manifestation of God's greatness. Whenever it seems like there is no hope left, something comes up and keeps all of us going. The year eventually came to an end with the club gaining a small but considerable number of committed members.
Now i'm on my final year in college. And by God's grace, i have not failed any of my subjects from the previous year. i am not anymore the club president because it is another person's time to assume the role. ☺
But this story will not end just like this. Like Gideon whom God had given only 300 men to help him defeat a whole lot of Midianite armies, i was also a leader who had been given few co-servants. And yet once again, like Gideon and the 300, we won the fight for the Lord. You see, we recently received a letter congratulating Christ's Youth in Action for being recognized as a club and receiving a really cooool grade - 92.33!
Indeed, God is an expert in dealing with the unlikely and the impossible!
To God be all glory! ♥
Kay Kristo Buong Buhay, Habambuhay!
i don't usually think of him. But now, i can't help but feel absolutely blessed and overwhelmed like him..
In the old testament, Gideon was used by God as an instrument to save the Israelites. But he wasn't supposed to do the job of a prophet or a preacher to proclaim the God's messages. Instead, he is to lead a battle against the Midianites, their oppressors. Gideon, was unbelieving that it was he who was chosen by the Lord. But after several signs shown by God, he finally accepted God's assignment.
i actually never planned it all. Upon entering college, all i dreamed and wanted was to be an honor student. So i have to keep my grades up, limit or exclude myself from participating in extracurricular activities, and always be focused with my studies and requirements. When i joined CYA, everything changed.
CYA is unlike most of the clubs in our school. It doesn't contain lots of members. It isn't very much recognized and popular. It doesn't even look or sound cool. But amazingly, lots of lives have been changed through it.
CYA is a nationwide movement of young Filipinos who wants to evangelize the youth and proclaim the Good News! In so doing, they themselves grow to become more mature Christians, more radical, wiser, stronger, and more faithful.
i joined CYA in the second semester of my first year in college. i was shy and unsociable. every time i joined an activity, i was always in an awkward situation because i really am not a very people-person and i am not very good at making friends. Somehow, i got hooked up. There were lots of games - fun games - and i looove games! i kept coming back joining their activities. it provided me with a new and different environment apart from my academic life. i actually found life there. i started singing and practicing songs. i met new friends. i was able to share a little of myself. i even invited my classmates because i found the club really life giving! i started reaching small yet new heights. With my co-CYAers, we did random evangelizations on parks, malls, in schools - we invited total strangers! Now, that is something for a shy girl like me!
On the third year, i had a hard time balancing my academic life and my nonacademic life. i actually almost flunked my subjects. Sometimes, i felt like, "why on Earth didn't i stick to plan A????" Perhaps there's no turning back now. Because we just had few club members in school, our club president kept asking help and support from us. These events coming and going were killing me every time i helped and was not able to help. When will things get better? At the end of the year, i was even disturbed and somehow honored when our Chapter head told me that it had been decided that i would be the next CYA club president. Well, honestly, i somehow saw that coming because there were very few of us left. However when the moment comes when it actually is handed on to you, it was really unbelievable. i mean, who am i? i don't even think i'm meant to lead. i don't even know what will happen in my fourth year in school. Will the subjects be more demanding and more challenging? How would my family react to my commitments? Yet, beyond all these doubts, it is as if something tells me i should accept it for it is the right thing.
i attended club presidents' meetings, received letters inviting our club to be involved in different activities. With my co-servants, we kept the club moving, we tried to hold the club together. there were really few members. They were so few that almost all of the active members were already our appointed officers. it was so draining and discouraging to see really few participants in our club activities. There are times when i really needed to sacrifice my studies just to meet a club requirement. i felt like i could really give no more. i'm tired and yet much is still asked of me. These are the times, the critical times, when surrendering everything to God's Will leads me to the manifestation of God's greatness. Whenever it seems like there is no hope left, something comes up and keeps all of us going. The year eventually came to an end with the club gaining a small but considerable number of committed members.
Now i'm on my final year in college. And by God's grace, i have not failed any of my subjects from the previous year. i am not anymore the club president because it is another person's time to assume the role. ☺
But this story will not end just like this. Like Gideon whom God had given only 300 men to help him defeat a whole lot of Midianite armies, i was also a leader who had been given few co-servants. And yet once again, like Gideon and the 300, we won the fight for the Lord. You see, we recently received a letter congratulating Christ's Youth in Action for being recognized as a club and receiving a really cooool grade - 92.33!
Indeed, God is an expert in dealing with the unlikely and the impossible!
To God be all glory! ♥
Kay Kristo Buong Buhay, Habambuhay!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
The CYA Bonding Clock! :D
guess what.. i made this using only Microsoft Powerpoint.. :) Pretty cool for me..
i hope i could do better though.. especially in inviting more people to CYA.. You know, i have never experienced anything like this, i've found so much meaning... and in knowing God, i found me (partially)..
if there's one thing i'd really wish for - it is for all people to see what i saw.. for all of them to realize how beautiful life can be with God in your life.
Join us, i pray.
P.S. We've already moved from F705 to C303! B)
About Giving :)
7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7
This is about a woman who is about to come home riding a bus. Let us call her Badet. But before going home, she went first to a shop near the bus station to buy Rosquillos for pasalubong. She bought two packs, one for herself to eat and the other for her siblings. While waiting for her trip, she sat on the waiting benches. She placed her bag on her left onto an empty seat. One Rosquillos was on her right. She noticed an old man, sitting next to her Rosquillos. She checked her bus tickets when suddenly the old man opened the Rosquillos. She unbelievingly watched the man as he got one piece of the biscuit and ate it. So she also got one piece to get even with the man and he saw the man smiling a mysterious smile, not showing his teeth, actually. The man got one again and she also did the same, and Badet could only tell herself, “What a thick-faced old man, huh”. Until finally, only one piece was left and the man smiled, got the last piece, broke it and gave the half to Badet. Badet, still not believing what just happened, went on her way, quite mad. She went into a bus, placed her bag into the placement above her seat. She got her phone inside her bag and guess what she saw – 2 packs of Rosquillos, unopened and definitely uneaten.
So what was the morale of the story? Many of us are like Badet. Generous but only to a certain point. We hold back in giving just to save some things for our self. The old man is like our God. Sometimes, we hear Him inviting us to help others, to be good to our friends, to be a neighbor to strangers. The Gospel says “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you”. We sometimes think that a lot of things are taken from us and that we still are asked for more – our money, time, service, love. We often forget that in giving, it is us who actually receives. To think, that what the old man asks is just her sweet “Thank you”.
Above all our seemingly heroic giving and generosity, we must remember the ultimate gift of God. That is, the gift of love. For God so loved the world, He gave us His only Son, Jesus Christ our Savior, His most precious One. This generosity can also be seen in Jesus' total surrender to His Father's will - to give His life as a ransom for many. He did not spend His time dreaming of His ambitions in life. He did not dream to be a scholar and be the wisest man on the planet. He did not dream any of the stuff we usually dream of today. Imagine yourself not dreaming to be a successful engineer. He let go of His human desires. In a way, He actually let go of His life. That, for me, is the greatest act of generosity - to give your life to somebody who isn't even worth it.
The Gospel reminds us that because our Father is generous, we should ask Him. We don’t own anything and we definitely do not know everything. We are so focused on the practical details of life, we are thinking, "oh, i'll just give money to this beggar, he could probably get through the day". But more than money, all we need is love. And when we think we don't have enough, let us remember that we have a generous Father who gives us good things when we ask Him of it. We think we ought to be generous, but most of the time, we have to be humble first and ask the Father for help and guidance. Because before we could truly give, we must first receive Him in our lives.
So, let us ask, and it will be given to us; seek, and we will find; knock, and it will be opened to us.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
Catching Fire (young and loving it!)
This girl was and will be on fire.
Have you ever been so excited about an event you are sure to happen that you could no longer sleep at night nor spend any minute without thinking about it?
Well, i have not.
i am a member of a Catholic movement aiming to evangelize the youth, specifically, college students... and i just joined one of this movement's conferences. i wasn't exactly looking forward to attending this five-day event, given that our place (chapter) would be the one hosting the event, i would definitely be one of the involved persons preparing for the event. what i was expecting were days full of dance practices, accounting stuffs, meetings, reports, etc.
now.... the awaited day came... i am so excited T___T
okay... i actually don't know what to expect.. and again, i am not excited (period)
the first day was okay. we get to meet new friends. not just friends, but real brothers and sisters in Christ. weee! :) we were taught to really greet them with a beautiful and welcoming aura. as i've said, we're brothers and sisters. we really have to get out of our way, swallow our shyness and be the first to greet them.. bitter work for a shy person like me! and i WASN'T really doing any good nor feeling any better until....... i met some friends i've already met before. i began to chat with them easily and more spontaneously. i asked them how they're doing, what's new, and the like. and so the first day was okay.
now, tell me, am i really excited about the second day? i don't even think i slept at all. But that wasn't because i'm excited! i just had had a hard time acquainting my body with the bed! all i knew was that it was already morning (about 4 am) and that i am fully awaken by the sound of a phone's alarm... (ba-na-na-ba-na-na-na....).. Good morning, huh? at about 7 am, i finished bath and breakfast. my morning duty then officially started. i had a worship session to attend, however, i cannot leave a certain assignment yet.. i therefore came to the worship meeting late. as i entered the hall, a worship song was played..everyone was feeling the music and the atmosphere of the event.. i had a hunch that the worship was almost over.. and i was proven right... i tried to make the most out of the last moments of the worship session and there was a last song played... and it was quite familiar to me...
http://www.inspiritandtruth.ucoweb.org/lyrics_chords.html#9
i ... actually like that song.. then, suddenly, unexpectedly, as the lyrics went on... "There is a love stronger than death, passion deeper than this life" Something caught me.. my heart was moved, pricked perhaps...and suddenly tears effortlessly began wetting my cheeks.. i can't stop crying.. feeling how unworthy i am..
now you might be thinking what we have here is some sort of a drama...
Well, you may say.. but this drama sure is real to me.. :)
i felt God's presence.. i somehow got a sense of His very deep love conquering even death.. As in, all i can say is WOW!! [i remembered Coco now! ;) ]
i was in the midst of a worship session expecting nothing, getting excited over nothing, feeling plain.. when suddenly truth is washed up over my face! it was so refreshing and it gives me full of hope that amidst the blandness of what i was feeling, there is a passion deeper than life!
Now tell me, how can i never be this excited? :)
Have you ever been so excited about an event you are sure to happen that you could no longer sleep at night nor spend any minute without thinking about it?
Well, i have not.
i am a member of a Catholic movement aiming to evangelize the youth, specifically, college students... and i just joined one of this movement's conferences. i wasn't exactly looking forward to attending this five-day event, given that our place (chapter) would be the one hosting the event, i would definitely be one of the involved persons preparing for the event. what i was expecting were days full of dance practices, accounting stuffs, meetings, reports, etc.
now.... the awaited day came... i am so excited
okay... i actually don't know what to expect.. and again, i am not excited (period)
the first day was okay. we get to meet new friends. not just friends, but real brothers and sisters in Christ. weee! :) we were taught to really greet them with a beautiful and welcoming aura. as i've said, we're brothers and sisters. we really have to get out of our way, swallow our shyness and be the first to greet them.. bitter work for a shy person like me! and i WASN'T really doing any good nor feeling any better until....... i met some friends i've already met before. i began to chat with them easily and more spontaneously. i asked them how they're doing, what's new, and the like. and so the first day was okay.
now, tell me, am i really excited about the second day? i don't even think i slept at all. But that wasn't because i'm excited! i just had had a hard time acquainting my body with the bed! all i knew was that it was already morning (about 4 am) and that i am fully awaken by the sound of a phone's alarm... (ba-na-na-ba-na-na-na....).. Good morning, huh? at about 7 am, i finished bath and breakfast. my morning duty then officially started. i had a worship session to attend, however, i cannot leave a certain assignment yet.. i therefore came to the worship meeting late. as i entered the hall, a worship song was played..everyone was feeling the music and the atmosphere of the event.. i had a hunch that the worship was almost over.. and i was proven right... i tried to make the most out of the last moments of the worship session and there was a last song played... and it was quite familiar to me...
Behold the eyes of the Lord search the face of the earth
To find hearts that are given, seeking souls to make pure.
To enflame this world's darkness, to warm cold hearts with grace.
Am I here, Lord, for such a time, for such a place?
Here is my life, Lord: heart, mind and body.
My soul's surrender, take it for your own.
And you will lead, I know, where only love can go.
Here is my life, O Lord, my life for you.
There is a love stronger than death, passion deeper than this life
In the heart's purest longing lies the pearl of great price.
One love all loves surpassing, true surrender the cost.
Am I here, Lord, to bear this love and share its cross?
i ... actually like that song.. then, suddenly, unexpectedly, as the lyrics went on... "There is a love stronger than death, passion deeper than this life" Something caught me.. my heart was moved, pricked perhaps...and suddenly tears effortlessly began wetting my cheeks.. i can't stop crying.. feeling how unworthy i am..
now you might be thinking what we have here is some sort of a drama...
Well, you may say.. but this drama sure is real to me.. :)
i felt God's presence.. i somehow got a sense of His very deep love conquering even death.. As in, all i can say is WOW!! [i remembered Coco now! ;) ]
i was in the midst of a worship session expecting nothing, getting excited over nothing, feeling plain.. when suddenly truth is washed up over my face! it was so refreshing and it gives me full of hope that amidst the blandness of what i was feeling, there is a passion deeper than life!
Now tell me, how can i never be this excited? :)
i'm dumped!
oh boy!
i certainly believe that there's a right time for everything.
i've also trained and conditioned my mind to think rationally.
however, there are just some things i could not control.
i am a girl.
i have been amazed a lot of times about how stuffs work, how beautiful concepts become, how wonderful the creations were made..
but most importantly, i have also been amazed and inspired by a lot of people..
some of these beautiful people are my crushes..
i am the kind of girl who is attracted by the kind of guy who's smart, a gentleman and maybe a bit handsome.
i had a lot of crushes, most of them i have gotten over with.. haha..
okay, so this is part of an evaluation of myself..
let's look back a bit..
here are my crushes:
- R (grade 1)
- G (grade 1)
- C (grade 3)
- A (grade 4)
- I (grade 5 or 6)
- J (high school)
- A (high school)
- DS (3rd yr high school)
- N (1st yr college)
- L (1st yr college)
- L.. (1st yr college)
- R (1st yr college)
- R (1st yr college)
- Jeepney driver (2nd yr college)
- P (2nd yr college)
- G (2nd yr college)
- Kyouhei (2nd yr college)
- V (2nd yr college)
- MR (3rd yr college)
- A (3rd yr college)
- R (3rd yr college)
- Jeepney seatmate (4th yr college)
- T (4th year college)
- J (4th year college)
- J (2013 summer)
- T (2013 summer)
- J (2013 summer)
- L (2013 summer)
- V (2013 summer)
so here i am.. thinking about that one person i haven't gotten over with yet..
sometimes .. alright, it's weird to ask, but.. sometimes i ask why can't we be at least..friends?
okaaay.. i know that would be quite impossible.. especially when most of my crushes aren't my friends..
i just don't know why i always feel so defeated whenever i have a new crush..
in the first place, it's just a crush!
oh great!
29 and couunting?
Monday, April 22, 2013
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NASB)
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NASB)
Sunday, March 31, 2013
to follow pa
Blessings ni Lord
i would just want to tell you.. i'm not a comedienne so don't expect anything funny
The Lord has been the most faithful friend i have ever had.. He has always been patient with me even though i revert to my selfish acts..
He had been very thoughtful..so as i look back towards Hi
these are the blessings..
1. passing grades
although not all of our teachers have uploaded the final grades, i thank God that i have confidence in assuming i passed all my subjects last sem.. i am not the most diligent student in the planet (maybe not even top 10 in Buhangin) but having been given the opportunity to learn and study is indeed a big gift for me..
in studying, i have found a lot of confusions and challenges.. but somehow, these all led me to the realization of the greatness of our God... That is why the greatest lesson i learned is that grades are just numbers... i know that God is the greatest mathematician above all others.. so whether i pass or fail.. i know that He has calculated everything ahead of me.. and His plans are way better than mine.. hope you got it
2. beauty of different views
i have recently joined the Yahoo! Flickr society... it is an online photo sharing and photo management application.. i have decided to join the club because i think i would love to exchange ideas w/ people who could most likely understand me based on the photos i've captured.. these are people who share common interests with me.. this made me realize that the Lord created us with different likes and dislikes, different talents and skills, but on top of all that, He created us humans.. even though we are diverse, we share something in common, like all of us gathered here today celebrating God's victory over death.. w/ God's grace, i realized that being heard is as important as hearing others out.. because it is in a healthy communication that we could appreciate each others views and differences and make a better world out of the dialogue
3. life
the most important blessing i've received, and perhaps a lot of you might not guess , is life.. before i prepared this reflection, i have thought a bit about what are the highlights of God's blessings for me. and i actually almost missed life.. i don't know, maybe because it's just so common, i have missed it. .but life
i would just want to tell you.. i'm not a comedienne so don't expect anything funny
The Lord has been the most faithful friend i have ever had.. He has always been patient with me even though i revert to my selfish acts..
He had been very thoughtful..so as i look back towards Hi
these are the blessings..
1. passing grades
although not all of our teachers have uploaded the final grades, i thank God that i have confidence in assuming i passed all my subjects last sem.. i am not the most diligent student in the planet (maybe not even top 10 in Buhangin) but having been given the opportunity to learn and study is indeed a big gift for me..
in studying, i have found a lot of confusions and challenges.. but somehow, these all led me to the realization of the greatness of our God... That is why the greatest lesson i learned is that grades are just numbers... i know that God is the greatest mathematician above all others.. so whether i pass or fail.. i know that He has calculated everything ahead of me.. and His plans are way better than mine.. hope you got it
2. beauty of different views
i have recently joined the Yahoo! Flickr society... it is an online photo sharing and photo management application.. i have decided to join the club because i think i would love to exchange ideas w/ people who could most likely understand me based on the photos i've captured.. these are people who share common interests with me.. this made me realize that the Lord created us with different likes and dislikes, different talents and skills, but on top of all that, He created us humans.. even though we are diverse, we share something in common, like all of us gathered here today celebrating God's victory over death.. w/ God's grace, i realized that being heard is as important as hearing others out.. because it is in a healthy communication that we could appreciate each others views and differences and make a better world out of the dialogue
3. life
the most important blessing i've received, and perhaps a lot of you might not guess , is life.. before i prepared this reflection, i have thought a bit about what are the highlights of God's blessings for me. and i actually almost missed life.. i don't know, maybe because it's just so common, i have missed it. .but life
Friday, March 22, 2013
THE WORKS
“If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me!” – John 10:37
I’ve seen miracles greater than the dancing sun, the blind regaining sight and the dead rising to life. The greatest miracles for me are changed lives!
Behold my miracle list: A drug addict transformed into a person spiritually “high” in the Lord. A person who sold his soul to the devil transformed into an evangelist. A bloodthirsty man transformed into a godly peacemaker. A near-zombie, passive bum of a man transformed into an enthusiastic Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. A suicidal transformed into an all-out servant leader of a big community. A homosexual transformed into a living spiritual refuge for people struggling with same-sex-attraction. A gambler transformed into an all-out fulltime missionary of the Pearl of Great Price.
You may ask, how did these miracles come to be? Because of one hard-hitting influence. One life-changingwitnessing. One story of transformation.
Because your personal history is His Story.
You were changed by One.
Now, go into the whole world and change another one.
~Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)
Reflection: Are you swayed by “worldly” history? Be His Story! Witness about God with your very own life!
Lord, let my life be a testament to Your amazing grace.
from http://kerygmafamily.com/
I’ve seen miracles greater than the dancing sun, the blind regaining sight and the dead rising to life. The greatest miracles for me are changed lives!
Behold my miracle list: A drug addict transformed into a person spiritually “high” in the Lord. A person who sold his soul to the devil transformed into an evangelist. A bloodthirsty man transformed into a godly peacemaker. A near-zombie, passive bum of a man transformed into an enthusiastic Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. A suicidal transformed into an all-out servant leader of a big community. A homosexual transformed into a living spiritual refuge for people struggling with same-sex-attraction. A gambler transformed into an all-out fulltime missionary of the Pearl of Great Price.
You may ask, how did these miracles come to be? Because of one hard-hitting influence. One life-changingwitnessing. One story of transformation.
Because your personal history is His Story.
You were changed by One.
Now, go into the whole world and change another one.
~Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)
Reflection: Are you swayed by “worldly” history? Be His Story! Witness about God with your very own life!
Lord, let my life be a testament to Your amazing grace.
from http://kerygmafamily.com/
Monday, March 18, 2013
A reflection on The Socius and the Neighbor by Paul Ricœur
This reflection talks mainly about the insight
presented by Paul Ricœur in his article the Socius and the Neighbor, “..the depth of human relationships often
appears only through the failures within the social realm: there is a
technocratic or an institutional slumber, in the sense in which Kant spoke of a
dogmatic slumber, from which man is awakened only when he is socially stripped,
be it by war, revolution, or great historical disasters.” The discussion talks about
the observed pattern appearing and recurring in human history which could be
explained by the statement Ricœur has made. In the midst of
disasters, be it war, revolution, or tragedies, the depth of human relationships
are seen and emphasized; in a way, he is moved and awakened. There is a certain
tendency in a human person where he defies his social function and moves toward
becoming available for another whenever there is a drive pushing him to do so.
Thus, from taking the role of the socius, he becomes someone's neighbor.
Along with
the civilization of mankind was the emergence of human relationships. These
relationships may start coldly and purely functional between two Neanderthals
seeking to survive, but would eventually grow into a partnership and
interdependence on each other. The concept of these relationships could have
originated from one common goal which is to survive, which would then evolve
into something much deeper as eras go by. Thus, relationships as such may be
classified according to how deep the individual goes relating with another.
The evolution and progress of human
society has resulted into innovations in day to day activities. In the hope of
improving lives, man finds himself in the midst of a reality where everything
is seemingly complex and has highly evolved. Man gained new and specific roles.
Institutions and organizations were founded. Environment has changed and new challenges
and demands spring up keeping human brains thinking and asking. With the
appearance of new roles come new interactions between human encounters.
Compared to eras ago, communication, generally, interactions among people today
are made easier and faster. Transactions and tasks are accomplished more
efficiently because of technological advancements. Thus lots of activities may
be inserted into anyone’s schedule, making a lot of people “busier”. Each one
has his own business and each one has his own role to play. With these, it is
normal for anyone to be absorbed in his role and concentrate with his job.
Doing otherwise may result into chaos and disorder in systems and institutions,
giving a chance for failures to spring up in the social realm. These are
inevitable, however, but should be solved right away for man to achieve a
specific task. Solutions to failures are attended to by “troubleshooters”. They
are the ones who fix errors and try to make everything back to normal. Since disorders
stop a certain system from functioning, there is an event of halt. Events
unplanned happen during the break in the system. The worker encounters the
troubleshooter as the troubleshooter helps the worker. A certain degree of
uniqueness and importance is seen in this situation because it is unlike any
normal day in the worker’s life where he does his monotonous job. In the
instance, the worker is given the chance to deal and encounter the
troubleshooter. The worker gives importance to the troubleshooter because of
the help he has given in fixing the errors in the system. Without the failure,
the importance of the troubleshooter would not be realized. The idea of
somebody who would get out of the way to help a person would then not be made
real. The relationship of the worker to the troubleshooter may in a way be
deeper as compared to the relationships dealt by the worker in chiefly doing
his job – the encounter he has with co-workers or clients.
Going deeper into our analysis, deep
relationships are not those which are purely functional. They are something
beyond that. Examples of such relationships are mother-daughter relationships,
relationship as lovers, relationship as best friends, etc. Persons involved in
these relationships are accountable to each other. Using the example of the
relationship of lovers, the other would not be called a lover without the
presence of the other lover. Connections and relationships such as these are
hard to break and difficult to forget. Unlike those relationships which are
generally functional, like worker to worker relationships, the other worker may
go on to find his place and role even in the absence of another worker. But it
is important to note that deep relationships are the results of the failures in
the social realm. Assuming that everybody could just go on living to do purely
functional stuffs, there is no need for the longing of deep human relationships
to be filled because it does not exist in the first place. For instance, if a
child could grow fully and strongly without a mother figure, then that is a
manifestation that human relationships need not be deep enough. In other words,
if love is not needed, we could just go on doing functional tasks.
Even in the presence of families and
friends, interactions among them may sometimes become functional. Only in the
presence of trials and problems may their love and compassion be witnessed.
During these events can their availability be seen as to what they can offer,
how much weight can they carry, and how much farther they can carry it for the
other who is in need. In times like these can we see how love of the neighbor
is much more profound than that of functional ties.
Seeing how love can be abstract
could we also see how it is concretized. We might want to wonder how society
came to be what it is now. Somehow, man has an end point in mind when he
thought of continuous innovation, series of experiments and research studies.
Man wanted to make life as easy as possible where it is better everyday and
everything is comfortable and manageable. Somehow, we could infer that in
people’s being absorbed to tasks and work, they are showing their love to
everyone who benefits from their work and efforts. This is how they love a
multitude. Somehow, the love is not shown anymore and is not manifested because
it is the task which they are focusing about and not the beneficiaries. Thus,
exists an institutional slumber where people tend to forget the essence of
human relationships over human roles and tasks. This love however is awakened
by disasters and unfortunate events that happen. In a way, people are shaken
and stirred to think about what is left after disasters occur. They tend to
realize what it is that matters most, not their jobs nor their social roles,
but their relationships to other people. That is why in calamities, heroes
appear, compassion is shown, and people suddenly become available for other
people they don’t even know.
It is important to note the significant
realizations acquired from Ricœur's statement. Man has always tried to
make things better for him and his society. It is also in this way that man's
concern and love for another is shown. However, man gets quite absorbed in his
role. The tendency to become functional sets in. In his functionality can we
see man's skills and abilities. He is highly honored and respected whenever he
discovers or invents something, or finds a solution for a global problem.
However, man's subjectivity and ability to love is shown strikingly when he is
socially stripped. More than that, the love he gives is given much value. Somehow,
his being human is much more appreciated in this context of facing challenges,
problems and being pushed in the idea of sacrifice. Man could either offer his
availability to another or be the one who accepts help from another. This
implies that in being socially involved, man is able to fill in a certain level
of need in another person. For man, therefore, to be truly human, he needs to
exercise his talents and abilities without disregarding the love he could give
to another.
In the imperfect world, people could
not afford to be purely functional. Man is above animals. There is more to just
survival. Because of the imperfect world and society, the acts of love and
compassion are even magnified. It is then that together we strive to improve
everything, and in improving everything, the tendency to be functional shows up,
leading us to be surprised by historical tragedies driving the cycle of love
and functionality.
*** feel free to criticize me respectfully.. i'd love to start a philosophical conversation
*** thanks to my philosophy 104 teacher, Mr. Ian, for requiring the class a reflection paper
***i claim nothing. my understanding and wisdom is all from the Lord
*** feel free to criticize me respectfully.. i'd love to start a philosophical conversation
*** thanks to my philosophy 104 teacher, Mr. Ian, for requiring the class a reflection paper
***i claim nothing. my understanding and wisdom is all from the Lord
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Another.. :) thank GOD! :)
POSITIVE FASTING
“This, rather, is the fasting that I wish.” – Isaiah 58:6
I have personally found fasting a truly effective way of spiritual discipline. In fact, it is also a very practical way to detoxify the body.
Yet, I discovered long before that real fasting should lead you to love and serve more. I believe that fasting is depriving yourself so that others may gain more. Otherwise, you may simply be going on a cleansing diet.
Read how the verse above continues:
At the start of this Season of Lent, complete your “negative action” of denying yourself with “positive acts” of charity, mercy and love for others, especially those who are truly deprived.
~Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)
Reflection: Are others gaining from your denying of yourself? Love and serve someone today.
“This, rather, is the fasting that I wish.” – Isaiah 58:6
I have personally found fasting a truly effective way of spiritual discipline. In fact, it is also a very practical way to detoxify the body.
Yet, I discovered long before that real fasting should lead you to love and serve more. I believe that fasting is depriving yourself so that others may gain more. Otherwise, you may simply be going on a cleansing diet.
Read how the verse above continues:
“… releasing those bound unjustly…
Setting free the oppressed….
Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry,
bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own flesh?”
At the start of this Season of Lent, complete your “negative action” of denying yourself with “positive acts” of charity, mercy and love for others, especially those who are truly deprived.
~Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)
Reflection: Are others gaining from your denying of yourself? Love and serve someone today.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Ang aking Lolo
here's a new year and its's time to celebrate! :)
Looks like a celebration is also celebrated in the photograph! :) i remember the days...
Looking back, i could recall valued people in my life. Unfortunately, some of those i recall are not with me to celebrate the new year anymore. Among them is my Lolo Fermin - the one with the wacky face in the photo.
My Lolo had been an important part of my growth and character development. He served as my second father, along with my Lola Lita (still alive! thanks God!) as my second mother. As their first grandchild, i had been given the privilege of time and opportunity to bond and live with them. It was really very fun because our houses were only a walking distance apart from each other, but even so, i really still miss them often.
My Lolo, although very strict, is very fun to be with. i could even imagine a Santa Claus out of him because of his big tummy! i could remember him listening to the radio one afternoon and when a dancey oldy song is played, he takes Lola to dance on the floor. They really were very funny to look at because of the expressions on their faces - Lola who seemed a little embarrassed &Lolo who was making silly faces! There is also something in the way i talked to him on the phone. Everytime we say good bye, he always said, "Baboy" instead of "Ba-bye".
He was also man full of skills! He is a fire fighter by profession. He is also an expert in repairing things. He sure does utilizes stuffs to their optimum capabilities. He is also a very wise chess player and i never remembered a game where i beat him. He seems to know everything; he even taught me how to make and fly a kite on the roof! He also has a very loyal fried, Tiger, their pet dog. Tiger was also trained and taken very well cared of.
A trivia you may want to know - he is a very big fan and supporter of Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ (a famous action star in the Philippines). He really likes watching his movies. It's sad to see him sad though when news told him that FPJ died.
Sometimes, Lolo may not always be jolly and happy. i could sometimes see him alone, slowly fanning himself and thinking deeply about some thing. i never really bothered about his thoughts. As a child, maybe i just thought grown ups are just serious. But somehow, i could see in his eyes fear of the future, maybe.
Even if we were not always together, he showed his deep love and concern for his grandchildren. He teaches us the value of food, education and discipline. And i miss him so much for everything that he was. He died just before i could march for my elementary graduation, giving me just 12 years of being with him. It really is too bad he couldn't have waited for me to finish college... ;( Even so, i thank God for the gift of a friend, a mentor, and a father. i'll always miss him. But his love will not die with his body, because it can be seen and experienced in the people he has left behind.
Lo, happy new year! :)
But, let me just sing you one song.. by Owl City
When violet eyes get brighter
And heavy wings grow lighter
i'll taste the sky and feel alive again
And i'll forget the world that i knew
But i swear i won't forget you
Oh, if my voice could reach back to the past i'd whisper in your ear...
Oh, Darling, i wish you were here..
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