SCANNS: Straight from the Heartland!

Chicken Salad Sandwich

2010-01-11T19:11:00.000+08:00

By choice, I stopped eating red meat (pork & beef) since early 1993. From that time on, the only thing I could order from the menu is either seafood or chicken. So I'm usually scouting around for really delicious but healthier alternatives. I've found several, one in particular is the "Chicken Salad sandwich" from "The Sandwich Guy" which I got to taste this January. All their sandwiches are made with whole-wheat bread. And I noticed that out of the 11 kinds of sandwiches, I can actually try 7 (veggie, egg, seafood, chicken, etc.). Most of the time, I only have a couple of choices from other restos. :)

from www.thesandwichguy.com

May the Lord Jesus bless you!

2009-06-05T22:06:00.009+08:00

Hello my dear friends! It's been a year... Yoyang & I saw each other a few weeks back. Belated b-day greetings to Bingle & Atinnafay! And thanks, Jayred, for your greetings & visit here in spite of my long long absence. Miss na miss ko na rin kayong lahat! I'm in Il Terrazzo habang bumabagyo sa labas. After I post this, pauwi na ako, buti nakalusot itong post ko. God bless you all! :) I'm praying for you all (& your health too).
Labs, Moi

Tag of Atinnapay

2008-03-06T22:05:00.000+08:00

Hello everyboody! Nope, I didn't become a real-life modern-day Rip Van Winkle, but my old PC did a Van Winkle. After a long hiatus from the blogging world, first let me greet you happy birthday, happy thanksgiving, happy Christmas, happy new year, happy Chinese new year, happy Valentine's day,... Good thing, before my next happy boithday, I was finally able to revive this blog. Anyhoo, the "magazine cover" below (of another cute niece) is a result of Atinnapay's tag to Cacof & Yoyang (my three krang-krang "not numerically" old prends). I liked it too much so I joined in. Isn't she cute?! Before you think otherwise, she's not the baby on my last entry... Nope, it didn't take me eight years to update this blog, although it kinda feels like that. :)

Boithday!

2007-06-25T22:15:00.000+08:00

Say what? Oh, she's gweeting me on my boithday today...thank you! Time to write here again, I've missed ya... Thank You Jesus for all your blessings and for a fruitful year! May the good Lord continue to bless us all and shower us with His love! :)

I have 5 nieces & 2 nephews; C is the youngest (now 6-months old).
This cutie not-so-itty-bitty-little baby (as you can see) was just
3 months old in these pictures.

O Singing CHRISTmas Tree!

2006-12-31T08:00:00.000+08:00

GCFCC Christmas cantata 2006: The Singing CHRISTmas Tree!

Indeed, that's a photo I took of a singing Christmas tree! As a choir alumna, I've been blessed to sing for God in last year's Christmas Reunion Concert (and in other special reunion events). But a few Sundays back (10th of December), I was likewise blessed to joyfully and worshipfully celebrate the Lord Jesus' birth while watching the Christmas cantata. And much as I love to vocally sing for Him, I also love to silently sing in my heart as part of the audience/congregation. Yet to our delight, we (the congregation) were asked to sing our favorite Christmas carols with the singing Christmas tree at the grand finale.

The poem below spoke to me and reminded me about the Christ of CHRISTmas, Who is the Reason for the season. Hope it inspires you too. To everyone,
Merry CHRISTmas & a Happy New Year!

DON’T FORGET JESUS

Christmas is a special time
To reflect on Jesus Christ
The wonder of His lowly birth
Brings meaning to our lives

There really is no other reason
We celebrate this day
The birth of God’s precious son
And the life He willingly gave

But so much seems to distract us
In the busy-ness of our lives
We lose our focus in all the happenings
Not knowing, we leave out Christ

We lose sight of the true meaning
As we endlessly rush about
Trying to find that perfect gift
Seems to cloud our Saviour out

We need to stop and reflect awhile
Remembering our precious Lord
His birth, His life and sacrifice
And all that He stands for

For though the world may celebrate
It seems though for other reasons
Let’s keep in mind that Jesus Christ
Is the true meaning of the season

© By M. S. Lowndes
poem from www.heavensinspirations.com

It inspires me!

2006-09-26T22:05:00.000+08:00

Around this time of the year, high school seniors take their college entrance exams. A particular senior showed me an essay she wrote for her college application, where she mentioned me. Since she is one of my students, it's heartwarming and inspiring for me to see that I made an impact in her life. I believe that my ultimate Master is God, and God gives us gifts to serve our fellowmen for His glory. I've been quite busy with work and other matters. And her essay is a real boost and motivation from God, giving me so much fulfillment. Thanks to her. And thank You, Lord! :) As a reminder to me, I quoted the essay below (verbatim).

how i see the mentor-mentee relationship
from www.allposters.com

One of Life's Lessons

I was just a typical high school freshman who was excited to get into high school. The reason is that I would be considered more mature and independent. But like most teenagers, I would just do okay in academics and focus more on my social life. This means going to the mall with friends, watching movies, attending concerts, and basically not paying a lot of attention to school work. In other words, I took my studies for granted.

Then one day, I just woke up and realized that I have to put a stop to it. I figured out that I just could not go on that way. I needed to do better in my studies, so that I could reach my goals. I have to do well in high school in order to get into a good college. Of course I knew that a good college is the best stepping-stone for a good future, because college is where you are molded for the real world. To do that, I prayed to God, got help from my mentor and close friend _____ (a.k.a. scanns, who is the best motivator for will power you could ever have), and from my family (through their unconditional love and support). And most important of all, I gave my best in everything that I needed to do.

After that phase, I am proud to say that I have been through a lot, and it was all worth it. This was all a learning experience in life for me. I became a stronger person, and I am happy to say that I am graduating this March. Now I am ready for the next level, which is college, and I am hoping for that to be _____.

CHRISTmas Always Shines, more concert pics (part 2 of 2)

2006-07-07T07:00:00.002+08:00

a peek into the rehearsals: stage chorus centerstage,
taking instructions from choreographer Rene H.

Ate Rose holding the baby who played Baby Jesus in the cantata,
this cutie baby's actually a girl!

Indeed, it's such a joy to sing for the Lord!

my students/friends...

after the cantata, with the pit chorus...

reunion of former officemates...

Aren't they cute? They played the international kids in the cantata.

Aren't we cute? hehe... :-)

Just like the good old days!

CHRISTmas Always Shines, even on my birthday month! (part 1 of 2)

2006-06-01T00:05:00.002+08:00

Since I opened this blog and it became my main personal website, I haven't been visiting my geocities webpage as much. So imagine my (pleasant) surprise when I recently saw this comment on my geocities guestbook from t'nils. This was her comment:

"Enjoyed your blog on the GCFCC--your recollections of past activities under my directorship and the current ones (25th anniv of GCF and reunion concert). Would you disclose your identity to me by e-mailing me a personal note? I need to know whom I'm thanking for a job well done."

She was our choir director, my discipler, and will always be my friend. Thank you, t'nils, for your very kind words and appreciation, and for blessing me with your life, ministry, and friendship. I'll email you after posting this blog entry (on updates and pictures of our reunion concert), so you'll know who I am and about this new post.

What she chanced upon (while surfing the net) was the blog entry which I posted last December, entitled CHRISTmas Still Shines!!! (You may click on the preceding underscored words if you want to read it.) In it, I reminisced (using words and pictures) about my love for singing, singing for the Lord, and singing in the choir. And it was an invitation to the "GCF Chancel Choir Reunion Concert" (circa 1985 to present) with my fellow alumni and current members of the GCFCC, plus the Praise Factory (kids). More than that, this concert was also a reunion with t'nils, who is actually our beloved Ate Nila (concert conductor), and her husband Kuya Ed D. (cantata overture composer, arranger and pianist), together with Rev. David (GCF founding pastor) and Patty Jo Y., who were all "home for Christmas" from abroad.

The reunion concert was just like old times and more... In the thick of the preparation, practices and performances, it's such a joy that we not just rekindled old friendships, but also built new friendships. There was an overflow of laughter, tears of joy, heartwarming memories, inspiring messages, and bittersweet goodbyes. It's always great to celebrate the birth of the Reason for the season (the Christ of CHRISTmas) with family. During performances, sometimes memories would surge that we'd get goosebumps. Sometimes we were overwhelmed with emotion that we almost choked while singing.

Some of the GCFCC alumni who joined did not sing with us in the concert, but served as narrators, cast members, and production staff. And we acknowledged our fellow alumni who were part of the audience. I'm so glad I was able to take these pictures to preserve our new memories. And I posted the pictures here to share this momentous occasion with you all, whether you were there or not, whether you are here or abroad (as the cybernet knows no geographic boundaries). So let's look at the pictures and reminisce... hope you all enjoy this trip down memory lane. May God continue to bless, guide, strengthen and inspire us all, wherever we may be!

backstage, while waiting for our cue...

onstage, while closing in prayer... all glory to Jesus!

the audience, on their feet to join us in prayer...

stage-left with the pit chorus, right after the concert...

We lingered on to capture more memories. The cute kids on the photos are Ofie's younger daughter, and my nephew and niece.

Such a great picture from Jean R., thanks a lot for sharing your photos with me!

The Colors of Summer

2006-05-10T21:00:00.000+08:00

fruits galore...

That's the resto, with my pamangkin (nephew) & company waiting for the meal... and the first of those yummy dishes, sinabawang halaan.

more of those delectable dishes... crabs in sauce with spices and calamares

some more yum-yum dishes... baked tahong with garlic & cheese,
and pinaputok na pampano stuffed with veggies & spices

more fruits, and savoring the cold "special halo-halo" of Iceberg by the seaside (just perfect for the hot summer)...

oh, the seaside...

why do we greet each other "Happy Easter"...

2006-04-21T17:15:00.000+08:00

At 9pm onwards last Friday (Good Friday), I watched on cable TV the movie "The Passion of the CHRIST" for the first time. Heart-rending...I really cried buckets! Up until now, scenes still flash inside my head sometimes, which explains this entry. I heard before that a man actually surrendered to the police for his crime after he saw this movie, now I understand why... Seeing this movie so deeply reminded me how much Jesus loves us! "Being God Himself" (John 1:1-5, 10-14, 17) and "sinless" (Hebrews 4:14-16), Jesus is the only one who can, and did, sacrifice Himself on the cross to offer each of us salvation (Philippians 2:5-11). If we (who are not sinless) can pay for our sins by good works or sacrifice, then why did Jesus (the holy Son of God) have to die for us on the cross? Good works cannot buy us Heaven, but being a citizen of Heaven (by faith in Jesus) results to our good works out of love for Jesus! As Ephesians 2:8-10 clearly says: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

I thank Jesus so much that He has given me eternal life in Heaven--since I committed my life to Him and invited Him by faith to be my own personal Savior & Lord on that day some years ago! And by the end of the movie, when I saw Jesus' resurrection, the empty tomb, and His nail-scarred hands, my tears were replaced by reverential awe, overflowing peace, comforting love, unspeakable joy, and infinite hope... What a reminder that more than 2000 years ago, Jesus won the battle over sin, death, hell and the enemy! And if we are in Christ, we already have the victory! May God bless every person who reads this, so that he (she) too will commit his (her) life to Jesus by faith--which is the only way he (she) will be 100% sure of eternal life in Heaven and a victorious life on earth! Jesus' resurrection is why we greet each other Happy Easter! :)

Below are two very enlightening articles based on God's Word, the Bible: the first one is on the crucifixion (Lenten Season); and the second one is on the resurrection (Easter). These articles are actually two tracts quoted from http://www.gnpcb.org

The Cross
by: Lindsay Terry

picture of the crucifixion from http://www.thepassionofthechrist.com

There have been few methods of execution more torturous or more excruciatingly painful than crucifixion--and the Romans mastered it.

By design, death on a cross was not quick. No vital organs were damaged, so it was a slow, agonizing demise. Soldiers would first whip the victim with a scourge and then force him to carry his own crossbeam to the execution site. Once suspended on a cross, the hours in a strained position took its toll on the individual's body, causing difficulty in breathing--and often suffocation. Some victims died of heart failure. And sometimes a person would hang alive for days, finally succumbing to death as a welcomed relief.

It wasn't until A.D. 337 that crucifixion was banned in Rome by the first Christian emperor, Constantine the Great. But by then thousands had been tortured on a cross--including one named Jesus Christ. Interestingly enough, it was out of reverence for this very Jesus that Constantine outlawed this method of execution three centuries later.

When Jesus was crucified He voluntarily took the guilt of your sins and mine to the cross with Him. As death drew near, the Son of God summoned all of His human strength and said, "It is finished!"

What did that mean?--"It is finished!" It meant that there was no more need for bloodshed. Never again would innocent lambs have to be sacrificed to atone for man's sins as had been done in Old Testament times. The blood flow was finished. Our salvation had been paid for in full!

A famous preacher of yesteryear explained it in this fashion: As Jesus' blood--the blood of God--coursed down the crude Roman cross and into the sand, it was as if the sand whispered to a blade of grass, "It is finished." The blade of grass leaned toward a tree and said, "It is finished!" The tree lifted its leafy limbs heavenward and shouted to an eagle, "It is finished!" The soaring eagle rose higher and higher and screamed to the whole earth, "IT IS FINISHED!"

And so it was--finished! My sin and yours were paid for with the precious blood of Christ.

Though there were thousands of men who were crucified, only the crucifixion of the sinless Son of God was worthy to be part of God's eternal plan for man's salvation. The cross should be a constant reminder to each of us of the goodness of God in allowing His only Son to die in that manner and, especially, to die in our place. There is only one reason . . .YOU! He gave His life for YOU--and for me. So each of us is personally responsible for receiving or rejecting God's offer of cleansing from our sins.

The thing that makes Jesus' experience with crucifixion so unique and supreme is that He was taken from the cross, placed in a sealed tomb, and after three days ROSE FROM THE DEAD! He ever lives to be our Savior and Lord. Thus, God's plan for our salvation was made complete.

Although it cost Jesus everything to pay for your sins and mine, He makes it very easy for us to know Him personally and to be saved. We are the sinners; He is the sacrifice. We have the problem; He is the provider. Here is God's plan of salvation for you and me, according to the Bible.

First, admit that you are lost and need a Savior.
"For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

Second, realize that a heavy penalty is on your sin.
"Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
"Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Romans 5:12)

Third, acknowledge that God made a way for you to be saved.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
"He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:8)

Fourth, accept God's plan for your salvation . . .today!
"He [Jesus] is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)
"But as many as received him [Jesus], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12)

Read the following prayer several times and then earnestly pray that prayer, accepting Christ personally, and God will forgive your sins and make you one of His own:
"Dear Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a guilty sinner and that I need to be saved. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay my sin debt. Please forgive my sins, come into my heart, and save my soul. I turn my life over to You. Help me to live for You from now on. Amen."

If you have received Christ as your personal Savior, welcome to the family of God! Please send your name and address to the address below, and additional literature will be sent to you to help you in your new life with Christ.

Good News / Crossway
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
or email: info@gnpcb.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jesus Is Alive!
Easter--Breaking Through the Barrier

picture of the resurrection from http://www.calderdale-online.org/cards/create.php?f=christian_celebrations/easter_resurrection.jpg&template=

The good news of Easter is that Jesus Christ is alive! His empty tomb, the newfound confidence of His disciples after His resurrection, and His presence in the lives of believers today all testify to the fact that the Savior of mankind has literally risen from the dead and is alive!

But the fact of the resurrection alone--amazing as it is--doesn’t tell the whole story. The significance of the resurrection is that Jesus Christ has broken through the death-barrier for you and me. The most solemn fact of all human consciousness is the certainty of death. And it’s God’s book, the Bible, that tells us that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Such death not only means the end of physical life, but the separation of the soul from God--a barrier between us and God: "Your iniquities [sins] have made a separation between you and your God" (Isaiah 59:2).

The death of Jesus was a very public event, yet it was in no way the result of any sin of His own, for He had no sin. But in a mysterious and wonderful way that only God could arrange, Jesus was dying for you and me. By taking the punishment for all our sins, Jesus "suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). The Lord "laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). By being our substitute, Jesus can thereby save us from the consequences of our sins.

Therefore, when Jesus was raised from the dead, it meant more than restoration of physical life. It meant that He had paid our full punishment, and He had broken through the spiritual death-barrier for sinful people. The payment for our sins had been paid to God, and the resurrection proved that God had accepted the payment. The fact that Jesus is alive today assures an eternal destiny in heaven to those who believe that what Jesus did was done on their behalf.

When you put your faith in the risen Jesus Christ, God will first save you from spiritual death. Though we are all spiritually "dead in trespasses," the Bible says that God will make us "alive together with Christ," (Ephesians 2:5) when we trust in Him for salvation from sin. Those who trust in Jesus Christ are forgiven, accepted by God, and made spiritually alive by Him.

The time is coming when the physical death-barrier will be smashed for those who have died trusting in Jesus Christ. At a future time that only God knows, He will transform the perishable bodies of believers who have died into imperishable bodies like Christ’s resurrection body (1 Corinthians 15:35-57). They will then be truly ready to enjoy living in God’s heaven!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ can mean spiritual life to you now and life in heaven with God after life on earth. Eternal life can be yours if you believe that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, died for your sins, and that God raised Him from the dead. You have Jesus’ word on it from the Bible: "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:40).

Why Worry?

2006-04-06T09:12:00.000+08:00

Holy Week (Lenten Season and Easter) is approaching. What are your plans for next week? By the way, what is the significance of this season to you? In the meantime, I want to share this (an email I got some time ago) with you, friends...

There are only two things in life to worry about:

Whether you are well
or whether you are sick.

If you are well,

then there is nothing to worry about.

But if you are sick,

there are only two things to worry about:

Whether you are going to get well

or whether you are going to die.

If you get well,

then there is nothing to worry about.

But if you die,

there are only two things to worry about:

Whether you are going to go to heaven
or whether you are going to go to hell.

If you'll go to heaven,

then you have nothing to worry about.

But if you'll go to hell,

then you should be worried!

But instead of worrying,
go to the Bible so you'll know
how you can be sure of Heaven!

*Do not cry if the Sun sets at the end of the day,
because the tears will not let you enjoy the beauty of the Stars.

Simple Joys and Deep Thoughts

2006-03-27T09:15:00.000+08:00

simple joys in life... these are for you, my friends!

breakfast in bed: home-made "bangus" (milkfish) belly sardines,
whole wheat bread, "ponkan" (orange) & a mug of piping hot green tea...

a closer look at the "bangus" belly sardines, yum! (esp. the "taba")

dessert: have a bowl of cold & sweet "ice-saba" so you'll be refreshed this summer... i love this even more when the "saba" (banana) is so ripe & "malambot" (soft)!

snack: mainit-init pang bagong lagang mani (still warm newly boiled peanuts)... before (still intact) & after the fact ("matapos kong lantakan"), hehe :-)

deep thoughts on Bible truth...

I was enjoying these yummy, yet nutritious and relatively inexpensive treats, when I had random thoughts:

We can buy or cook the most complicated, exotic and expensive food, but not a hearty appetite nor the sense of taste. I remember how I took this sense for granted, until I lost it when I got sick recently. I had to struggle to regain it. Thank God, He restored it to me after a day!

We can buy a luxurious and comfortable bed with the softest sheets and fluffiest pillows, but not sound sleep. I'm quite sure a lot of us have experienced some sort of "insomnia" at least once in our lives. But what if "insomnia" visits us every night? Indeed, we realize the value of one thing the most, when we lose it...

We can't buy peace, love, joy... get the drift. We don't have to spend so much money to enjoy life. Then I pondered about these trying times. Our nation and our people have been through a lot all these years.

Soon after, Jesus reminded me how He assured us "not to worry" in Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV). Thank You Jesus, we'll trust You! May God bless our nation and us all! :-)

25"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? 26Look 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? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If 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? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

what good does it do...

2006-02-18T13:15:00.000+08:00

picture from http://www.goyalindia.com/coal-basket.html

The Coal Basket

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson.

Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?"

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You will have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.

This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was "impossible to carry water in a basket," and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got very far. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.

Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's useless!" "So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean. "Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out. That is the work of God in our lives. To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the image of His son."

- Author Unknown
_______________________________________________________________

A friend went through a lot lately, then there was light at the end of the tunnel! After that experience, my friend forwarded this inspiring story to me. Thanks to you! The story reminds me of what God says about His Word, the Bible.

Jesus is the Living Word: (John 1:1-5, 10-14, 17 NIV)
vv.1-5 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."
vv.10-14 "He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
v.17 "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

He is The Way, the Truth and the Life:
"Jesus answered, 'I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " (John 14:6 NIV)

The Word is God-breathed:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)

The Word of God is Perfect, Pure & True: (Psalms 19:7-14 NIV)
7The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
11By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
13Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

The Word is Living and is the Sword of the Spirit:
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

The Word Endures Forever:
"I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:18-19 NIV)

Do Not Add Words to or Take Away from this Book:
"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19 NIV)

Valentine, Anniversary & Silent Praise!

2006-02-14T08:00:00.000+08:00

I took these pictures below on a seminar for women last Dec. 2005, when the GCF Silent Praise performed. This group has blessed us for quite some time, had been on a hiatus for a while, and now are back ministering to people! Believe me, they actually interpret songs in the dark, with just their illuminated gloves (plain and/or multi-colored, as seen below).

A friend sent our e-group an email forwarded to her. Thought I'd share it here today! Happy Valentine's to all! And Happy Wedding Anniversary, Mom & Dad! May God bless us all!
________________________________________

For God so loVed the world,
That He gAve
His onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whosoever
Believeth In Him
Should Not perish,
But have Everlasting life."

John 3:16
________________________________________

Spread this word around the world:
"There is no better Valentine than Jesus!"

Reminiscing with Friends on a Sunny Afternoon

2006-02-07T07:00:00.000+08:00

first, the "clamored for" caesar salad!

close-up, the caesar salad's oh-so-scrumptious!

ang tsarap, busog na kami!

through a looking glass... new hairdo... at nanalamin pa!

with J's sis J, sa kanila ang aming frating "pretty" tambayan!

A Joyous and GOD-filled New Year!

2006-01-10T22:40:00.000+08:00

"Father, we surrender this past year and give it up to You. We give You our failures, our regrets, and our disappointments, for we have no more use for them. Make us now a new people, forgetting what lies behind and pressing on toward that which lies ahead of us.

"We give You all our hopes and dreams for the future. Purify them by Your Spirit so that our wills shall truly reflect Your will for us.

"As we stand on the threshold of another year, encourage us by our successes of the past, challenge us by the power of Your Word, and guide us by the presence of Your Holy Spirit."

- This is a church's annual New Year's Eve Communion service congregational prayer, quoted from Our Daily Bread: A Daily Devotional (January 1, 2005).
http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

As the sun rises on this new year, I wish us all a Joyous and GOD-filled 2006! God bless!!!

Sunrise at Bandon Beach from www.allposters.com
____________________

Another year is dawning,
Dear Master, let it be,
In working, or in waiting,
Another year with Thee.

Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness
In the shining of Thy face.

Another year of progress,
Another year of praise,
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days.

Another year of service,
Of witness of Thy love,
Another year of training
For holier work above.

Another year is dawning,
Dear Master, let it be
On earth, or else in heaven
Another year for Thee.

- Francis Ridley Havergal

A Blessed CHRISTmas to All!

2005-12-24T00:00:00.000+08:00

"For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV)
___________________________________________________________

As we celebrate the birth of the Christ of CHRISTmas, Who is the Reason for the season, I wish you a Meaningful CHRISTmas! May He bless you with love in your heart, warmth in your soul, contentment in your life, and peace in your home. Hope you'll be inspired by this poem as it has inspired me!

What do you see?
___________________________________________________________

"Christmas is a Time for Loving"

Christmas is more than a day at the end of the year,
More than a season of joy and good cheer.
Christmas is really God's pattern for giving,
When He showed His unlimited love to all living.

For the holiday season awakens good cheer
And draws us closer to those we hold dear,
And we open our hearts and find it is good
To be kind to all men as we know that we should.

But as soon as the tinsel is stripped from the tree
The spirit of Christmas fades silently
Into the background of daily routine
And is lost in the whirl of life's busy scene.

All unaware, we then miss and forego
The greatest blessings that mankind can know.
For if we kept Christmas love strong in our heart,
We'd keep giving and loving each day from the start.

We'd find the lost key to meaningful living,
That comes not from getting, but from unselfish giving.
And we'd know the great joy of peace upon Earth
Which was the real purpose of our Savior's birth.

So let's sing the glad song of the first Christmas night,
Then let's live in His love and stay in His light.

- Adapted from Helen Steiner Rice

CHRISTmas Still Shines!!!

2005-12-04T22:05:00.006+08:00

http://www.gcf.org.ph

I like to sing.
Moreso, I love to sing for the Lord.
And it brings me immense joy to sing in celebration of His birth!

I began with my mom's love for music & singing. I was exposed to hit tunes at that time, classical music, musicals (Broadway), even oldies, etc. Soon I discovered the acoustics of the shower room. And in family reunions, we kids were given (by the oldies) a gift per song, kaya paiksian (para makarami) at paramihan talaga kami ng kanta. I remember a 2nd cousin finish all the 12 days in the song "12 Days of Christmas"! We thought she'd get 12 times the gift, but then she only got one gift for her lengthy song! :-)

When I was 5 years old, in Kinder 1, a few batchmates & I were picked from each of our class to sing (in the Marcos years) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Little did I know, that the awesome experience was a foretaste of what is yet to come! I actually experienced singing for the Lord at 13, when I joined the high school glee club. In the tryout, I was classified as a mezzosoprano. I still remember discovering how beautiful it is to lead people to sing their hearts to Him in our cantatas/concerts!

Then I joined the Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF) Chancel Choir in my teens & some years after. We sang church anthems, in Christmas & Easter cantatas/concerts (in church & at the Meralco Theater), in "Concert at the Park" (Christmas & Easter) & other tv shows, did Christmas carolling, joined 1000-voice choirs in crusades & conferences, in recitals for music degrees, in charities, in parties, in weddings, in hospital visitations, in wakes, etc. Some of us even recorded the theme of another church... I guess we sang everywhere & in all occasions. But most importantly, we sang our hearts to the Lord! What inexplicable joy! Post-GCFCC, I still sing, but I'll always cherish our memories! One lovely memory is singing a cappella under the moonlit night sorrounded by fireflies in an out-of-town choir retreat.

Our Easter Cantata in "Concert at the Park"

So the songs continue... Last February 2003, we celebrated at the PhilSports Arena (formerly ULTRA) the 25th anniversary of GCF. It was a joint celebration of the GCF Center & its satellite churches (South Metro, East, San Fernando, Batangas, North, Cebu, Naga, Malolos, now we have Marikina Valley & Legaspi). Rev. David Y., GCF founding pastor, and his wife Patty Jo were brought back to address GCF at this momentous occasion. Our hearts swelled with joy & our eyes welled up as we celebrated God's blessings & faithfulness to us. There were presentations from all GCF music groups - adults, teens & kids. I sang with the joint choir of the GCF Center (dressed in white) & satellites (dressed in the other rainbow colors). It was overwhelming! I guess the pictures below will speak for themselves! (Pictures below are from http://www.gcf.org.ph)

GCF's 25th anniversary celebration at the PhilSports Arena in Feb. 2003

The Praise Factory (kids), singing & dancing!

Rev. David Y., GCF founding pastor, and his wife Patty Jo were brought back to address GCF at our 25th anniversary.

I sang with the joint choir of the GCF Center (in white) & satellites (in the other rainbow colors)!

And on & on... In the next two weekends of December, my fellow alumni & the current members of the GCFCC will convey through songs, at the "GCF Chancel Choir Reunion Concert" (circa 1985 to present), that Christmas still shines! The GCFCC & the Praise Factory (kids) will join our voices to celebrate the birth of the Reason for the season: the Christ of CHRISTmas! This is also a reunion with our beloved Ate Nila (concert conductor) & Kuya Ed D. (composer, arranger & pianist of the "Christmas Still Shines Overture"), who are "home for Christmas" from abroad. And just like old times, dear Pastor Dave & PJ are back & will celebrate Christmas with us (on the 1st weekend performances)! For those in the Philippines, join us in celebrating the real meaning of CHRISTmas, bring your friends & loved ones. For those abroad, you can spread the word to your friends & loved ones here that "Christmas Still Shines"!!!
___

Christmas Still Shines: A GCF Chancel Choir Reunion Concert

Join the GCF Chancel Choir with the Praise Factory in a reunion concert this Christmas.

The concert is directed and choreographed by Rene Hofileña, with Janet Sabas-Aracama as musical director and conducted by Leonila Velasco-Dimangondayao.

Performance Dates:
Sat, December 10 (3pm and 8pm)
Sun, December 11 (8pm)
Sat, December 17 (3pm and 8pm)
Sun, December 18 (8pm)

Ticket Price: P100.00
Venue: GCF Ortigas Worship Center, Ruby corner Garnet Rds., Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila

For inquiries, please contact Ms. Louella Chua, 6321354 loc. 115 or 0920-9612603.
This concert is for the benefit of the GCF VM711 Project.
___

This post is also entered in Lasang Pinoy (LP) 4.5. Lasang Pinoy is "a monthly food blogging event to promote Filipino food" (as described by Karen of The Pilgrim’s Pots and Pans). LP 4.5 is a special edition LP with the theme "No to Plagiarism" - hosted by Stef at Beyond Adobo. Reflecting on this LP theme, I fondly remembered the yummy pancit. Sponsors have generously provided food for our choir rehearsals. We usually had oodles of delicious noodles, all types of noodles: canton guisado, bihon guisado, mixed canton-bihon, pancit palabok, even pasta carbonara, pad thai, etc. I wasn't fast enough to get a picture of the ever-so-popular canton guisado before it was consumed. So in keeping with the LP 4.5 theme, I asked Karen if I could borrow a picture for this entry. Since her picture is not yet posted online, she referred me to Mike of lafang. He kindly offered to lend me (from his LP 4 entry on the theme "Soul Food") all three (3) photos of his own home-made pancit (canton, bihon & lomi). Thanks Mike, I borrowed your photo of the scrumptious canton guisado, which is posted below. Now, doesn't this picture really whet your appetite?! And thanks Karen! :-)

pancit canton guisado from http://www.mikemina.com/index.php/2005/11/26/lasang-pinoy-4-pancit-guisado/

LasangPinoy4.5

Boracay (part 3 of 3), sa wakas eto na ang kabanata...

2005-11-09T07:04:00.000+08:00

Some more pictures I took in beautiful Boracay!
How I marvel at God's wondrous creation!!!
Nature (creation) testifies about its Creator, Almighty God!
Indeed, there is no denying! Just look at the skies...

As God's Word says in Romans 1:20
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

And in Psalm 19:1-6
"For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat."

Ever Been This Tired?

2005-09-01T23:00:00.000+08:00

My sister just sent me an email forwarded to her by a friend. Thought I'd share the pictures here! Aren't they just so adorable & really tired?

The Key to Real Rest:
Jesus said: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

I Miss My Time With You!

2005-08-31T08:00:00.000+08:00

This is a favorite song of mine.
It never fails to move me everytime I hear it!
This song is a dialogue between God & a person.
The person speaks in the 1st & 2nd stanzas.
God speaks in the chorus.

God says in His Word:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

I Miss My Time With You!
by Larnelle Harris

There He was just waiting
In our old familiar place
An empty spot beside Him
Where once I used to wait
To be filled with strength and wisdom
For the battles of the day
I would have passed Him by again
If I didn't hear Him say...

CHORUS:
I miss My time with you
Those moments together
I need to be with you each day
But it hurts Me when you say
You're too busy
Too busy trying to serve Me
But how can you serve Me
When your spirit's empty
There's a longing in My heart
Wanting more than just a part of you
It's true
I miss My time with you

What will I have to offer
How can I truly care
My efforts have no meaning
When Your presence isn't there
But You'll provide the power
If I take time to pray
I'll stay right here beside You
And You'll never have to say...

(Repeat CHORUS 2x)
It's true
I miss My time with you

EDSA, Protest Rallies & Healing!

2005-08-20T22:34:00.002+08:00

A day in EDSA:
I was a very young student then. I went to UP in the morning to go to class. Then I met there one of my close college friends, Cacofonix. We found out that our classes were suspended because of the EDSA revolution! The day before this, I was not allowed by my parents to go to EDSA for my safety. So this was the perfect opportunity for me to go to EDSA, coz they thought I was just in class! That was such an unforgettable & incomparable experience! People from all walks poured into the streets! We had to walk from way before EDSA-Cubao all the way to EDSA-Ortigas! But while walking, people in cars were giving us different free food! I vaguely remember what kind of food, except for one food item that I still remember: pandesal! There were plain pandesal & pandesal with different "palaman" (the photos are posted below)!

http://www.valeriosbakery.com/breadpastries/pandesal.html

"Hot Pan de Sal" (Filipino wheat-flour buns) is a staple in the traditional Filipino breakfast that goes with the morning cup of coffee. It's delicious when eaten plain as well as with any "palaman" (filling).

http://www.figarocoffee.com/news2.htm

Atinna, also a close college friend, recounted on her blog her experience in EDSA. Incidentally, she was one of those people in cars who gave food, her contribution: Ludy's peanut butter on "Tasty" (a brand name of bread). She needed to come up with a reason to go there, coz she also was not allowed by her dad to go there. At that time, there were no cellular phones or even pagers yet. It was almost impossible that Cacof and I would be able to meet Atinna with the large number of people all over EDSA, but we were able to meet her. It was such great timing that Atinna went to EDSA the same day Cacof and I went there too! Strange, it was like a big fiesta, and yet scary for me at one point... only when a government military chopper hovered over my head! Amazing, there was this unity among us to topple the regime... but miraculously & ultimately, it was God who toppled the leader peacefully! Thank God, that by His grace, we three, and everyone there, were kept safe from harm, even from the chopper!
*******************************************************

Another story worth telling (among others), which happened before EDSA:
Cacof & I saw student activists converging in UP to go to Liwasang Bonifacio (in Manila) for a protest rally. We decided to go and protest against the regime (I didn't know then that Cacof had one other agenda). We still had classes, so we just had to catch up with them. I said, I didn't know where Liwasan is. Cacof said, she knew coz she grew up & lived in Manila (while I'm from Quezon City). Guess what? She brought me to where there's a monument of Andres BONIFACIO! When we asked around, people laughingly said, that place was MONUMENTO in Caloocan. After I wanted to strangle Cacof, did that deter us? NO!

Imagine this: We were just catching up, we lost our way coz Cacof misled me (literally), but we were still determined to go! Then we asked how to "really" get to Liwasan, so we finally got there! Since it was a big group, we lost track of the activist-schoolmates we were supposed to go with. So we just joined the group to protest against the government. After a few minutes, it started to drizzle, we were supposed to get umbrellas from our bags until somebody said (in Tagalog): "Only Imelda uses an umbrella." So we just endured the (good thing, short) drizzle, not wanting to be likened to Imelda. Then, as if all those deterrents to our stints as activists were not enough, the sole of one of Cacof's shoe came off! For a while there, Cacof still wanted to stay, until the atmosphere started to be chaotic, so we finally decided to board a jeepney for home! Inside the jeepney, some rallyists, who didn't know that the two of us actually came from the rally, convinced all of us passengers to get down the jeepney to join their cause. But we just stayed on the jeepney and went home!
*******************************************************

After all these years, how many presidents have we elected and/or ejected? I'm seriously pondering about it... our country's problem is systemic. Whoever the political leaders will be, if their selfish attitude & the corrupt system remain the same, we will just get stuck in this vicious cycle! We need to break this cycle! We need a different kind of revolution, a heart revolution! What should change is each person's attitude, emanating from a heart in tune with Jesus! That way, our people (and government officials) will:
1) Love God above all; and 2) Love their neighbors as they love themselves!

This is what Jesus said in the Bible:
"One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'
Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.' " (Matthew 22:35-40)

Hence, they will have the conscience and the heart to "do unto others what they want others to do unto them" (the Golden Rule)! Some would say: easier said than done... But that's the only way! And it's well worth it! As Jesus said (in John 14:6), "I am the way & the truth & the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." So Jesus is our only HOPE for change, coz He works from within our hearts! And when people's hearts change, the system (made up of people) will also change, thus the healing of our land! Activism: been there, done that, still lurking but my paradigm has shifted! Vigilance, that's still important! Although now I march to a different tune, God's tune! May God bless us all!!!

So here's a song inspired by a Bible verse:
"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

HEAL OUR LAND

If My people will humble themselves
Humble themselves and pray
If they seek My face and humble themselves
And turn from their wicked ways
I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin
I will hear from heaven and heal their land

CHORUS:
Lord, heal our land
Father, heal our land
Hear our cry and turn our nation back to You
Lord, heal our land
hear us O Lord, and heal our land,
Forgive our sins and heal our broken land

Lord, we bow our knees, we humble ourselves
Humble ourselves and pray
Lord, we seek Your face, we humble ourselves
And turn from our wicked ways
Father, in Your mercy, forgive our sins
Father, in Your mercy, come heal our land

(Repeat chorus twice)

Boracay (part 2 of 3), abangan ulit ang susunod pang kabanata...

2005-08-14T22:15:00.000+08:00

the pristine secluded beach... ang ganda!

swimming on a pristine secluded beach... sarap mag-swimming!

morning... on a boat, going island hopping all around Boracay!

Boracay (part 1 of 3), abangan ang susunod na kabanata...

2005-08-03T13:15:00.000+08:00

here we were, strolling by the beach on a late afternoon...

Red Coconut in Boracay: Is this water ballet, synchronized swimming or simply kalukringan?!

Boracay, here we come!

the view from our boat ride on the way to Boracay!

Don't Ever Go Swimming/Boating in Boracay w/o Putting Sunblock!

2005-07-03T21:15:00.001+08:00

I'm missing my wonderful vacation in Boracay (w/Joyful, Atinafay & Cacofifay), even if I suffered from 2nd degree (sun)burn below the knees when we were on our way home! Why? Coz I forgot to put sunblock when we went swimming & boating! Thank God, He answered my & others' prayers, so I'm recovering! I just need to avoid getting infected while it's healing. During this hiatus, I had mixed emotions, and usually, was physically hurting, aauie! Good thing that on one of my introspective moments, I chanced upon this article from http://www.cbn.com/family/familyadvice/hardaway_alone.asp

Thank you Lord Jesus! Because You're here with me, on moments like these, I might be alone, but I amazingly do not feel alone or lonely. What a 'paradox' (a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true)! I have actually experienced this: "For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Do You Ever Feel Alone?
By Kathleen Hardaway
Author and Precept Ministries Staffer

CBN.com – Are you married with children and still feel alone? You may be single and feel desperately alone. The great epidemics in our society are not only HIV/aids, diabetes, or cancer, but the enormous increase of people feeling alone. What changed? What happened to a society that once related to programs such as Father Knows Best and Leave It to Beaver? The ideal marriage, friendships with your neighbors, or walking on sidewalks where you feel safe, secure, and not alone seems to be difficult to find.

The heart of every person longs for a sense of community, a sense of belonging, a strong desire to simply love and be loved. If you’re married and your mate is not meeting these needs in your life or if you’re single and you have no one, what do you do? Be miserable? Have an affair? Find someone on the internet? Many seem to be running to drugs, alcohol, food, and, even to the television set, to anything that will help fill this void in their lives that is so painful.

There are no simple answers for this plague of feeling lonely. Most everyone desires companionship, friendship, and courtship. "I Will Always Love You," (written by Dolly Parton, sung by Whitney Houston) is one of the top selling singles of all time. Not only is the music to this song fabulous, but so many can relate to it. Not only do we desire to be loved, but we desire for someone to always love us. Always. Not just some of the time, but always and forever.

Women enjoy a good love story. The knight in shining armor, the long awaited prince finally speaks the words that he will always love his princess. But what do you do when your life has not turned out like a Hollywood movie, or the ideal romance novel? One thing that you can know for sure, your Heavenly Father is the only One Who has perfect love. It’s eternal, it will never end. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He formed you in your mother’s womb. He knows you better than anyone. He desires your very best.

In your loneliness, turn to Him. In your hurt and frustration tell Him how badly it hurts. You may desperately desire someone to hold you, someone to comfort you, someone simply to just be with you. I understand. When the difficulties of singleness come, I choose to believe this is God’s plan for my life today.

Do not believe a lie from the enemy that says, “Life will always be this way!” It’s not God’s plan for you to be miserable feeling alone, but it is His plan that in your loneliness you run to Him, cling to Him, and give your life completely to Him.

Tell Him what you‘re feeling. Everything. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you (I Peter 5:7). Never give up. Don’t lose heart. Don’t believe that you will always be lonely. Live each day being the best mother, wife, friend, husband, father, brother, sister you possibly can be. If you’re walking and living in Christ you are not alone. "…I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

Kathleen Hardaway is on staff at Precept Ministries International and has produced and directed Kay Arthur's TV show How Can I Live? for more than 17 years. A single herself, Hardaway is transparent and humorous in her first book, I Kissed a Lot of Frogs: But the Prince Hasn't Come (Moody, 2002).

My Birthday Dinner, the Golden Wedding Anniversary, then Off to Boracay We Go! God Bless Our Trip!!!

2005-06-27T22:00:00.000+08:00

I spent the whole Saturday (my birthday) working, then I had a scrumptious dinner w/my family to celebrate my birthday! I was too busy that I had to catch up w/them in the restaurant, but I really enjoyed their company.

Then yesterday (Sun.), I went to the beautiful, solemn, touching, festive & joyous occasion, that is the golden wedding anniversary of Cacof's parents. Aside from the delectable buffet, my friends & I really enjoyed that reunion w/her family & w/each other! After the party, we stayed overnight at the Sulo Hotel (where her family also happened to stay), and had more bonding.

Today (Mon.), I went home, went to work, then I had to pack up my things. Coz tomorrow (Tues.), I'll fly to boracay w/three long-time dear college friends: Atinna, Cacof & Joyacs. I'm certain that it will be a grand & riotous (long overdue) reunion indeed! And this will definitely be a much-needed break for me! I guess the pictures will really speak for themselves, I can't wait! So I'll surely post the pictures as soon as I can! Mis amigas, vamos a la playa! God bless our trip!

We watched Cacof's parents dancing "The Tennessee Waltz" on their beautiful golden wedding anniversary at Fernwood Gardens!

Blaise Pascal

2005-06-26T21:00:00.000+08:00

As a fitting tribute to my Creator, Savior & Lord Jesus, I pondered on the testimony of BLAISE PASCAL (French scientist, mathematician, physicist, philosopher, moralist & writer). The article cited below is found on this website: http://poptop.hypermart.net/testbp.html

These testimones are not stories of "role models". Jesus is the role model! These are lives wonderfully touched & changed by Jesus!

His Life Before Jesus Came In:
Blaise Pascal [1623-1662] (the French genius who in his brief lifetime made numerous world-changing discoveries) knew there was much, much more [last name sometimes carried as paschal...a word meaning of or pertaining to the Passover or Easter].

His namesake may have been St. Blaise, a Jesus follower & probably a bishop of Sebastea in Armenia who was martyred under the reign of Licinius in the early fourth century. Many Catholics might remember Saint Blaise's feast day because of the Blessing of the Throats that took place on this day. Two candles are blessed, held slightly open, and pressed against the throat as the blessing is said. Saint Blaise's protection of those with throat troubles apparently comes from a legend that a boy was brought to him who had a fishbone stuck in his throat. The boy was about to die when Saint Blaise healed him.

Blaise Pascal grew up in Paris, schooled at home by his father. He showed early promise: at age eight he wrote his first scientific paper; at 16 he wrote a mathematical essay that broke new ground in the field of geometry.
When he was 19, Pascal invented a calculating "machine", a forerunner of modern computers. At 23, he made major discoveries in physics and proved the existence of the vacuum. This paved the way for hypodermic syringes, barometers, and hydraulic devices. Pascal also came up with the mathematical theory of probability and helped shape the field of calculus.

From his teens, he often suffered great pain in his legs; as an adult he became partially crippled. One night, unable to sleep due to the pain, he arose and wrote down the solution to a problem that advanced a very difficult area of mathematics.

Yet, though Pascal knew very well the power of the mind and the potential of human reason, he also knew that people cannot solve the deepest mysteries and needs of life with their minds alone. He understood that mankind is at the same time very great and very flawed.

Through various personal trials, Pascal became more and more a religious man. He was much affected when his niece was miraculously healed of a tumor. After he was nearly killed in a carriage accident, he was converted in 1654 (age 31) to a deep relationship with Jesus Christ.

His Life Since Jesus Came In:
The day on which he found peace with God was so important to him that he wrote a reminder of it on parchment and sewed it into the lining of his coat. He kept this coat for the rest of his life, and the note was found there when he died at age 39.

In it he told how he had come to know "the God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob." He ended by writing, "I will not forget thy word."

In 1662, from the room where he lay painfully dying, Pascal observed the plight of the poor in the streets, having to trudge long distances while the rich comfortably rode. One of his last great ideas was the bus--public transportation. Among the many quotable quotes of this greatest of all French thinkers is, "There is a God-shaped vacuum in every heart."

He also constructed a wager as to the truth of God & Christianity called Pascal's wager: Either Christianity is true or it's false. If you bet that it's true, and you believe in God and submit to Him, then if it IS true, you've gained God, heaven, and everything else. If it's false, you've lost nothing, but you've had a good life marked by peace and the illusion that ultimately, everything makes sense. If you bet that Christianity is not true, and it's false, you've lost nothing. But if you bet that it's false, and it turns out to be true, you've lost everything and you get to spend eternity in hell.

His wager is an attempt to say to doubters that belief in Jesus is a can't lose situation...if Jesus is a lie (the "bet" for Jesus is lost), yet you live according to His teaching, you can't help but live a "good" present life; and whatever atheists believe will come to pass eternally. If the bet for Jesus is won (Jesus believers/followers actually do have hold of THE TRUTH), then you get the "good" current life AND eternal dwelling with God when you die. Since you get a good current life by following Jesus (whether the facts of Jesus are true or false), then it only make sense to follow Jesus.

Then I would add: the only true power in life comes with true Jesus belief as Savior which causes the incoming of the Holy Spirit to empower the truly fulfilled & peace-filled life of the true Jesus believer.

Musings on My Birthday! And What Do You See on This Picture?

2005-06-25T21:30:00.000+08:00

Today is my birthday! Especially today, I am reminded of what's most important to me! Thus, I remember the picture that was emailed to me by a good friend a few years back (file name: whatdoyousee.jpg). After a few minutes of looking at this picture, you will see something indeed!

What do you see?

And here's an article I received by email (from http://www.chickensoup.com/) on my birthday a few years ago. Talk about perfect timing, and it really struck a chord in me! I hope it will inspire others, as it has inspired me. God bless!

"Who Is the Tutor? Who Is the Student?"
By: Nancy Waller

I helped a fellow student learn to read when we were in fifth grade, and I've wanted to do it again ever since. Well, some thirty years later, through a long series of events that had to be more divine intervention than coincidental, I finally had my chance. I took a tutoring course through Literacy Volunteers of America. As I neared completion of the course, the local student/tutor coordinator called me and asked very hesitantly, "You wouldn't be interested in tutoring a prisoner down at the jail, would you?" I paused for a moment, thinking of my busy schedule and the requirement to meet away from the student's or tutor's home. By teaching a prisoner, I'd only need to consider one person's schedule - mine. The prisoner should be available virtually any time, and we'd have a perfect place to meet - the jail. So, I agreed to take on a convicted felon as a student.

Being a self-righteous, Miss Goody Two-shoes, I thought, "What a great opportunity. Not only will I have a chance to teach someone to read, but I can also set a good example for this guy and let him know someone cares about him. Maybe all this would make the difference in turning his life around. Wow!"

A few weeks later we met and began to work on his reading. At the end of the second lesson, he asked me if I would teach him to read his Bible. I had to stop myself from laughing out loud. I hadn't been to church except for weddings and funerals in more than twenty years. Furthermore, did he really think I was going to be suckered into believing he had had a jailhouse conversion? I told him, "I'm not sure that's something we could work on just yet. The Bible is a hard book to read with a lot of big words, but I'll see what I can do."

While I wasn't convinced he really wanted to know God's word, he had expressed an interest. I had been taught in the course to use material the student was interested in learning, so I located some Bible study material designed for adults at a low reading level. Near the end of each lesson, we'd turn to the Bible study material, and surprisingly, he would read it consistently with greater accuracy that the easier material we worked on earlier.

After many weeks of working together, occasionally I began to take him things such as brownies, cookies and pens. I always brought small amounts because I heard prisoners will use most anything for trading purposes. The next session after receiving these tokens, he would always thank me, tell me how much he had enjoyed them and who he had shared them with. Shared? I thought. I brought barely enough for one person, much less two or three. But, regardless of how little I brought, he told me how he shared. This prisoner who had so little shared it all.

After we had completed several of the Bible studies, he asked me where I went to church. When I told him I hadn't attended since I was a teenager, he scolded me and told me I ought to go. Interestingly during that same time period, several people invited me to visit their church. As we studied the Bible lessons, we read one section on making choices, and we talked about the poor choices he made in his life that resulted in his incarceration. More was going on in my head than what he was saying. I had made choices, too, most of them good, but one in particular wasn't. I had consciously decided not to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior. I was a good person and could get by on that very well, thank you very much.

Fortunately, more and more "coincidences" happened over the next few months, and I began to attend church. Through working with this young man, in whom I could see Christ's qualities, I saw the need to rethink my previous decision. I feel very blessed to have had this prisoner touch my life and bring Christ into it. Who do you think was the tutor and who the student?