UAAP Final Four Men's Basketball

A normal day in the office wouldn't be complete without the basketball updates especially during the UAAP season. Some people take a leave to watch games. Some people would vigilantly wait to hear updates from outside (maybe from friends who are watching live or from other sources.) Some people in the office would tell friendly jokes to another co-worker especially if he knew the other guy came from an opposing university (which lost their respective match). It's is funny actually from a personal point of view, but at least it brings some life in the office.

The UAAP basketball actually would not be so much different from the professional basketball. We know that players from the UAAP are potentially eligible to apply for the professional basketball. We can say that both basketball leagues generally fosters comeraderie, teamwork and unity as basketball is a team sport. For the viewers, it brings us entertainment. And yet we cannot discount the possibility that it may encourage gambling or even fighting (not only the players but the fans as well).

My point is UAAP season stirs a lot of things, but hopefully it does not eventually lead to school rivalry. It is good if we continue to have friendly competition because it fosters an atmosphere of self improvement and more teamwork and hardwork. But when it crosses the line of friendly competition, I think we should evaluate again if this is the kind of models we would want our brothers and sisters to look up to.

By the way, check out these new flavors from Krispy Kreme. I encourage you to buy all four flavors (not just the color of your team). Hehe. I know I will and so will Krispy Kreme lovers.

Strengths Finder

Below are my top five themes of talent, ranked in the order revealed by my responses to the Clifton StrengthsFinder.

As you may know, the Clifton StrengthsFinder measures the 34 themes of talent determined by The Gallup Organization as those that most consistently predict outstanding performance. The greater the presence of a theme of talent within a person, the more likely that person is to spontaneously exhibit those talents in day-to-day behaviors.

Focusing on natural talents helps people build them into strengths and enjoy personal, academic, and career success through consistent, near-perfect performance.

How well do you think these themes describe me?

Relator

Relator describes your attitude toward your relationships. In simple terms, the Relator theme pulls you toward people you already know. You do not necessarily shy away from meeting new people—in fact, you may have other themes that cause you to enjoy the thrill of turning strangers into friends—but you do derive a great deal of pleasure and strength from being around your close friends. You are comfortable with intimacy. Once the initial connection has been made, you deliberately encourage a deepening of the relationship. You want to understand their feelings, their goals, their fears, and their dreams; and you want them to understand yours. You know that this kind of closeness implies a certain amount of risk—you might be taken advantage of—but you are willing to accept that risk. For you a relationship has value only if it is genuine. And the only way to know that is to entrust yourself to the other person. The more you share with each other, the more you risk together. The more you risk together, the more each of you proves your caring is genuine. These are your steps toward real friendship, and you take them willingly.

Belief

If you possess a strong Belief theme, you have certain core values that are enduring. These values vary from one person to another, but ordinarily your Belief theme causes you to be family-oriented, altruistic, even spiritual, and to value responsibility and high ethics—both in yourself and others. These core values affect your behavior in many ways. They give your life meaning and satisfaction; in your view, success is more than money and prestige. They provide you with direction, guiding you through the temptations and distractions of life toward a consistent set of priorities. This consistency is the foundation for all your relationships. Your friends call you dependable. “I know where you stand,” they say. Your Belief makes you easy to trust. It also demands that you find work that meshes with your values. Your work must be meaningful; it must matter to you. And guided by your Belief theme it will matter only if it gives you a chance to live out your values.

Empathy

You can sense the emotions of those around you. You can feel what they are feeling as though their feelings are your own. Intuitively, you are able to see the world through their eyes and share their perspective. You do not necessarily agree with each person’s perspective. You do not necessarily feel pity for each person’s predicament—this would be sympathy, not Empathy. You do not necessarily condone the choices each person makes, but you do understand. This instinctive ability to understand is powerful. You hear the unvoiced questions. You anticipate the need. Where others grapple for words, you seem to find the right words and the right tone. You help people find the right phrases to express their feelings—to themselves as well as to others. You help them give voice to their emotional life. For all these reasons other people are drawn to you.

Responsibility

Your Responsibility theme forces you to take psychological ownership for anything you commit to, and whether large or small, you feel emotionally bound to follow it through to completion. Your good name depends on it. If for some reason you cannot deliver, you automatically start to look for ways to make it up to the other person. Apologies are not enough. Excuses and rationalizations are totally unacceptable. You will not quite be able to live with yourself until you have made restitution. This conscientiousness, this near obsession for doing things right, and your impeccable ethics, combine to create your reputation: utterly dependable. When assigning new responsibilities, people will look to you first because they know it will get done. When people come to you for help—and they soon will—you must be selective. Your willingness to volunteer may sometimes lead you to take on more than you should.

Deliberative

You are careful. You are vigilant. You are a private person. You know that the world is an unpredictable place. Everything may seem in order, but beneath the surface you sense the many risks. Rather than denying these risks, you draw each one out into the open. Then each risk can be identified, assessed, and ultimately reduced. Thus, you are a fairly serious person who approaches life with a certain reserve. For example, you like to plan ahead so as to anticipate what might go wrong. You select your friends cautiously and keep your own counsel when the conversation turns to personal matters. You are careful not to give too much praise and recognition, lest it be misconstrued. If some people don’t like you because you are not as effusive as others, then so be it. For you, life is not a popularity contest. Life is something of a minefield. Others can run through it recklessly if they so choose, but you take a different approach. You identify the dangers, weigh their relative impact, and then place your feet deliberately. You walk with care.

God's Leading

Have you ever imagined how your life would be 5 to 10 years from now? Well, I'm sure every person have dreamed of having their own car or house or even family with kids. I think this is the ideal picture that most people have in their minds when somebody ask them this question. But I ask you again, "How do you see yourself 5 to 10 years from now?"

Indeed it is a hard question because it not only touches the physical senses but transcends and delves deeper inside a person - his values, priorities and beliefs. Somehow this question has been lingering in my mind as I end up late alone inside my office space these past few weeks. This new assignment truly was a shock not just physically but also emotionally. It was as if this assignment was testing how long i could hold on ... as if trying how far I could go ... And I did. I tried my best. I even stayed up late just to cover up lost time for understanding things.

But as I drive home, I ask myself why do I do these things. I try to reason within myself that it's ok because I am not doing anything wrong. In the end I see a person who is proud to admit that he needs help. A person who cannot do things alone and needs to learn to ask for help. This is the lesson that I've learned this week.

I try to see this change as God's leading in my life. For many years now, I've tried avoiding work / subject related to Finance. I guess I don't want people to see me having a hard time or see me weak. But in the end, God is glorified in my weekness. During those lonely nights, he would allow 1 to 2 people to stay behind also. Those people that I thought I couldn't get along were really friendly after all. I also now have the opportunity to grasp more knowledge in this subject. He even provided people who I can ask for help. I'm glad that God didn't allow me to back down at first mention of my new assignment. He gave me the strength to say "I'll try and do my best." And that's what I'm going to do!

I believe God has a plan for each of us. It only matters how you see it. Don't be so blinded by the world's distraction, but keep your eyes, ears and heart open for His leading. 5 to 10 years from now, I see myself a better person because I know and trust that Christ is leading my life.

Everyday Missions

We are celebrating Missions Month at our church this August.

"What! Missions again? I've heard of this before, so what's new?" "I'm not part of the Missions Team. Let's leave it to them to do that." These are few of the things that we might hear from a regular Christian who doesn't understand the importance of Evangelism.

Many times when people talk about missions, we think we've heard enought o last a lifetime. Many times we think we know too much or that we did too much already for other ministries that we need not get involved in this kind of ministry.

I beg to differ. As a praise leader, I must admit that the temptation is great to focus on the songs, self, immediate congregation and be boxed in to that cast. But this is not what the Bible clearly tells.

From the fellowship last Friday, it is clear that everyone has this mission. (I guess everyone knew that too.) But what they might not know is that thousands of people are dying every minute without being able to even hear of their Saviour.

I'm not saying here that everyone needs to be a "sent" or the one actually preaching. In this minitsry, "senders" also play an important part in that they are the ones who are supporting the "sent" ones. Both are equally necessary.

It is a sad thing that although we have the right message and the right resources, we just couldn't obey God's command because we are not committed to His call. I pray that in this ministry, everyday is a personal commitment to His mission - an opportunity to share your own testimony, an intimate relationship with God full of prayers for the lost.

What we can do:
1) Pray for God's guidance that He'll enlighten you whether to be "sent" or to be a "sender"
2) Be committed to obey His mission (MISSION, SUBMISSION, COMMISSION)
3) Be updated on what is happening around you! You never know when God wants you to go!
4) Be informed on what God is telling you through the pastors and the Bible
5) Make every month a Missions Month.

Advice For A Friend: Have Faith!

I have a friend who is moving to Stamford for her next rotation. Although it is a big break for her, she is hesitant because she doesn't know what to expect afterwards. The rotation is for six months but after that she is afraid that she'll get so engrossed with work or that she might not get a chance to return home.

I told her to grab the opportunity. Because if she stayed here, she does not know either what will happen afterwards. At least there, she'll get trained under the best of the best; I'm sure she'll experience a totally different kind of world, but I told her that she need not worry because knowing her, she can surely do it. I also told her that as long as you are enjoying yourself, you're not stepping on any body's shoes, you know you're doing the right thing, you can somehow be sure that you're on the right track!

But there's a warning. If the time comes when caring people like friends and family are telling you that you have gone astray, then don't try to act like you don't hear the words we speak. People may view things differently from your perspective, but they may be seeing what you truly are doing. Also, don't be afraid to tell us what you truly are feeling, because this eases the burden and can be a source of encouragement.

Lastly, enjoy life! God gave us a chance to live another day is a sign that He wants us to continue to do His work. It might not be an easy road, but God's mercies strengthens us to go on. Live life positively and never forget to constantly evaluate your life. Someone said "if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail."

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” That's the Bible Verse for the Day in my other blog. And I see it perfectly fitting in this situation. "Sure" and "Certain" are words that should be said with full conviction. A certain slur or a slight hesitation can give away that a person is not firm in what he's saying. "What we hope for" and "What we do not see" may pertain to God or, in this case, the future. People are limited and cannot predict what will happen in the future at the exact moment of time. That's where faith comes in.

Although we don't know what's going to happen, we can fully trust that God knows what is best for us. When we make a major decision in our lives, we should include Him. Only then can we have the peace of mind and the peace of heart that everything will work out the way that He planned it and not how we planned. So the best way is to put our plans coinciding with God's plan. When we do this, we can be sure that we are doing the right thing and we will be happy!

Put On A Happy Face! Ü

As I look into the emptiness of the office cubicles, one poster strucked me always. As my company move to a new site, I'm sure that poster will be left behind. So I'm copying it to my blog so that it will always inspire me to do it daily and so that it could inspire other people to do it as well.

A SMILE costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give.

A SMILE creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in the business and is the countersign of friendship.

A SMILE brings rests to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and is nature's best antidote for trouble.

Yet a SMILE cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.

Some people are too tired to give you a SMILE. Give them one of yours, as none needs a SMILE so much as he who has no more to give :-)

Surely if only everybody smile at each other sincerely, everybody will feel better and get along better. It starts with me. I must not be a passive receiver always, sometimes I have to be a proactive giver! As the short saying tells us, a smile is free so don't be a scrooge! Who knows, your smile may make someone's day complete (I know who makes mine...) or make someone's day start right! hehe.

The Ant and the Contact Lens

Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking abreather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens. "Great," she thought, "Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry."She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there.

She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found.

Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains. She thought of the bible verse "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know everystone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me." Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff they met another party ofclimbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"

Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it! The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."

I think it would do all of us some good to say, "God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will."

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Yes, I do love GOD. He is my source of existence and my Savior. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him.....I can do all things throughChrist which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

* Elisabeth Elliot published The story above in her 1995 book, "Keep A Quiet Heart" (Servant Publications, Ann Arbor Michigan). She says the story is a first-person account given to her from Brenda Foltz of Princeton, Minnesota.

The Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a woodenbowl! When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little wooden bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work .

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tableclothsoiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a"life.."

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn!

Bugging Thoughts

I'm not sure if this has happened to you before or you are experiencing this now.

Currently, it seems everybody is pushing me to do something. I know that it is important because time is of the essence, but sometimes I try to avoid such conversations or situations. I try so bad to avoid it or keep silent that it only brings out people's curiosity (even to the point of nagging me everyday).

This 'something' is not a sinful act nor is it harmful words but it really would be a big step for me. It makes me think and think and think. And this makes me want to go for it but after realizing the responsibility and pressure makes me worried, makes me uneasy. I guess soon I must face it. Every guy must face it.

I guess what I can do now is to hope for the best and press on towards the goal one step at a time and not barge in without being prepared physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Yup, I'll leave it up to God in His timing when I am prepared.

One Year at GE Money

My Thoughts:

Has it been really one year already? June 27, 2006 was last year... Today is June 27, 2007... What? I didn't even realized it today... not by myself... someone only reminded me...

One year ago, I was a fledgling fresh graduate who was out to look for work. I didn't know what I liked. I didn't know either what to look for. I just thought that any work would do or any work will be alright except for work in the bank.

Who could blame me. I have had my ups and downs in that field. Yet no matter how hard I shied away from it, it seems the Lord wants me to be there. Isn't funny how God sometimes deliberately puts you in a place where you really didn't want to be. Maybe because that place brings out bad memories or maybe because it is not your comfort zone or maybe because you just don't feel like to be in that place.

Whatever the reason, God still knows what is best for us. We might not see it. We might not understand it. Yet somehow I feel that God is truly leading my life into some place I've never imagined. When I look back and see how pieces are starting to gel in, I see God's work in it.

I had my OJT at PLDT's quality department where my project was about comparing the actual and theoretical process of the Collections Department. Who would have thought that in GE Money Bank, after more than two years, I'll be able to go back again to working with the Collections group? I know I couldn't have especially in a bank.

My only response today is in humbleness. I've only started and have a long way to go. I'm not sure where God will lead me, but as long as I do my part and trust in Him, I know everything will be as it should be.

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My Prayer:

Lord, I know You have plans for my life. I have plans too, but may my plans be according to Your will. Help me to truly love You and trust in You. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to love and enjoy the work that you gave me. Help me to learn more and to gain experience more in this field. Help me to overcome my fears and be a good Christian example to my colleagues. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

On Covenants, Promises and Prayers...

Last week for me was a constant reminder on learning how to keep my promises and vows.

The first time was Friday when we had a Bible Study on the book of Judges. Achi Hensie wasn't around so we had to split into groups of four to be headed by an assigned facilitator. The topic was a continuation of the story of Jephthah. He swore to the Lord that if the Lord gives him the victory, he would offer to God the first living thing to greet him upon his arrival. Sadly, his daughter was the first one to greet him. Of course, it was his own folly that lead to that consequence. Jephthah didn't completely trust that God would deliver even after God assured him of victory. In the end, Jephthah did what he had promised to the Lord.

* This made me think. Many times we do tend to treat God as a genie. Our wishes may go something like "I would do service if you grant me this..." or "I will tell that person about You, but first You have to..." I am reminded once again that God has His own purposes and plans and he gives us what is best for us in His own perfect will and time. I tend to believe that most of the promises that we make to God are selfish and "gut-feel" promises. Sometimes, out of the blue, we just say it without thinking, without it really coming from the heart.

Another point is that when God does provide or give your request, do we do our part of the promise? We can see daily that God has been and will always be true and faithful to His Word. How about us?

Another question might be "What is the motive for asking such a request?" May we learn to please God in our promises and may God helps us to ask for the right things.

The second reminder was last Sunday in the worship sermon. Ahia Harg was talking about having the successful life using God's standard. He's saying that we should have love that is faithful and faithfulness that has love. An example of love that is true is a family that is eating together (love) vegetables as against a person eating fattended calf by himself . An example of faithfulness that has love is a couple who dearly love each other (who truly treasure each other's wedding vows) as against a couple who do not even sleep on the same bed or do not talk with each other.

* This made me think of my future wedding vows. Maybe God doesn't want me to have "someone special" yet is because I am not ready yet to a commitment. According to the discipleship material, when God doesn't give you your request, it may be that He wants you to learn faith and perseverance. That's why I'll wait, I'll wait... and I need to learn faithful love and loving truth.

The last reminder was unexpected actually and a little related to Ahia Harg's sermon. My mom was watching a Koreanovela entitled "To Marry a Millionaire". I just happen to catch up the last few episodes, but something between the heroine and the hero struck me. I think because it was chezed kind of love! In the end, the guy said to the girl that he'll surely keep his promise to wait for her and that everday will be better. The girl said to the guy that he'll never be able to keep that promise because today (being with the guy) is best! (of course, they got back together after the hardships that tried to separate them.)

* It is romantic and somehow realistic. Oftentimes, we are afraid to tell someone we love of our problems and state because we think that we will encumber them or that we will shame them. But as the series pointed out, if we truly love that person, we are willing to share the pain and bear together the burden. I guess this is the kind of commitment that is at par to the chezed kind of love and faithfulness!

Till next time! Ü

Review on "Care for Christmas?"

While searching for the website of our Church, I stumbled upon this interesting review of our Christian Christmas play, "Care for Christmas?". I just want to share it with you.

A Review of Two Musical Plays

Dec 28, 2006
- Kathy C. Uykiat
"Tsinoy: Chopsuey"

Care for Christmas?

The Chancellor has prepared a Christmas musical for all members of United Evangelical Church of Malabon. I admire the originality of the playwright, Tim Benedicion. His target viewers are the busy people who do not care about Christmas. Hensie Reyes and Wenselyn Reyes are responsible for the lyrics and music while Nenel Arcayan, a Chancellor repertory directed the musical play.

This story tells about the life of the Pilgrims. Richard Pilgrim is the head of the family. He is a corporate businessman who makes himself so busy during Christmas season and neglects his family because of his work schedule. Sarah, Richard's wife is a rich woman who does not stop to bother about her children even during the Christmas season. Peter Pilgrim is their eldest son who is relatively quiet but more mature than his siblings. Tracy Pilgrim is their second child and the eldest sister who holds her own opinion higher than anyone else. Henry Pilgrim is their third son and actor wannabe. He overemphasizes everything he says and does. Malcolm Pilgrim is their fourth child, a bit mischievous and the narrator of the story. Sandy Pilgrim is their fifth child but she acts more like a child and wants everyone to be done her way. Their youngest child Alice Pilgrim is sweet, adorable, and innocent. She may hold insights unknown to other family members.

Other characters that are significant to this play are Jack Dawson, Richard's right hand man and Kim Clark, Richard's secretary. The white clothed man represents Jesus Christ who is interested to see how different characters interact with Him and how people treat him during this time of the year.

The conflict of this drama starts when Tracy and Sandy had a fight over a small matter, and then Alice tried to stop them both but she was accidentally pushed away by Tracy. Alice lost her consciousness and needed to be brought in the hospital. This incident happened on Christmas eve. There is a 50 percent possibility for her to live. Richard blamed God for what happened as he lost his hope. On the other hand, his sons reminded him that God never leave them. They cited some examples such as the materials blessings that they possess to show that God is powerful and He had always blessed them from the start. The tragedy brought a good outcome because the whole family commit themselves to Christ, followed by the positive changes in their lives.

This musical play simply teaches us that we must hold on to the promises of God. He is always there for us but we have to surrender ourselves to Him first before we attain His wonderful grace, His salvation. Remember that the purpose of this Christmas is to commemorate His wonderful gift to us. God gave us His Son to save us from our sins.

The message is very apt even if it is not Christmas season. We are about halfway through the year, so it is a good time to evaluate again our lives, to really search where is God in our lives.

Nahum: Chapter 1 Part 2

After describing in verse 8 about God's wrath as an engulfing flood and darkness so that Nineveh would not escape it, Nahum continued on with how God would actually overthrow Nineveh and restore Judah's joy.

Verse 9-15 :
Here it obviously states that no conspiracy would topple down God's kingship and authority. (But as humans, why do we constantly think we can? Why did Jonah run away if he knew God would find him? Why would we choose to constantly sin even if we know God is not happy with our actions?) We see here a resolved God who just wants to say to the Ninevites or anyone who opposes him for that matter that all attempts would be futile. Tangled in thorns? Drunken like drunkards? I think this is suppossed to somehow illustrate the futility of Nineveh's plots against the Lord. (This is like saying "You brought this upon yourselves!")

Verse 11 mentions a wicked counselor. It is interesting to note that this may refer to Ashurbanipal or Sennacherib (kings of Assyria). This makes a lot of sense. Most of the time, a king should be the representation of the state of the country. If you have a wicked king, naturally/generally you have a wicked country who would do wicked practices. But this time, they picked on the wrong country to bully - Judah. (Remember vengeance is of the Lord's)

Verse 12 is like the Lord talking to Nineveh (they) and Judah (you). It is a statement of comfort for Judah because although 1) Nineveh has walls to protect them (safe) 2) Nineveh has a lot of people (many), God will cut them down. It is as if a yoke has been lifted from the backs of Judah. Picture chains and bonds being broken just like that. Imagine that these were the chains that you wore for almost your whole life, now God is saying let me break them for you. What a nice relief!

Verse 14 is the ultimatum for no other than the king, the gods and the people of Nineveh themselves. First, we see that the king's name shall perpetuate no more. (We know that the king represents his kingdom so this means that Nineveh and its inhabotants will be no more.) Secondly, this concerns the gods in the temple of Nineveh. God will destroy all these man-made idols. And lastly, the Lord has passed judgment on the king of Nineveh that he will be put to death.

Verse 15 is the result of what happens in verse 14. After the destruction of Nineveh, Judah will once again be able to hear the good news and do their feasts. (Not sure what this mountains and the feet and the feasts pertain to.) But rest assured that the summary of this second part of chapter 1 was to see the judgment on Nineveh by the Lord. As these have been foretold by Lord through Nahum, so shall it pass.

Notes and Questions:
1) Actually, the cross reference of this book runs through some parts of the book of Isaiah and some scattered verses from Micah, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah. It may be wise to also look at those verses. (Is. 10:5, 24-27, 14:24-25, 30:31-33, 31:8-9 and many more!)

2) Acording to the study Bible, feet on the mountains signify the feet of those who would announce the deliverance from Babylon (Is. 52:7). So is it used here because being free from Nineveh would also be a good news?

3) The feasts, on the other hand, represents the original feasts that they had when they were free. Of course, Nineveh and its people prevented the people of God in celebreating their annual feasts. That is why God here is reminding that His people should perform the vows the they made when they were in slavery and to observe the annual feasts.

Color Quiz

Haha... Is this true kaya? This test is a kind of personality test which determines your attitude and your possible problem. It is similar to the one I had undergone during the choir's outing - the DISC test, which determines your strength and weakness. But it is different in its method. It made me understand myself and others a little more.

Well, some of the statements sometimes reflect my inner thoughts. Well, let's just say that the results are not always reflective. People change so these statements will definitely change. But it is still fun to know, right? Hehe Ü Enjoy!

Byron took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "His need to feel more causative and to have a wide..." Click here to read the rest of the results.

Singing in the Storm

Have you ever been so scared and frightened in your life? Have you been in a situation where you felt so alone and so helpless? Have you felt your heart skip a beat or two because of being trapped? Well last night, I somehow experienced all of these...

Yesterday was a hard day for me. I somehow experienced someone say to my baby that he's ugly. Haha. You probably might wonder at this illustration if you hadn't heard Ahia Harg's sermon on positive criticism. Well, I have a project that I really worked on until the end or its final stage only to find out that my boss thinks its too complicated. He had already approved of it during its initial stages so it was hard for me to somehow accept his explanations (which makes sense by the way). So I had no complaints and agreed to adjust and make ammendments. But somehow my actions and my heart are not in sync.

I went home late yesterday around 7 pm. I knew it was raining then, but as I stepped in front of the main gate, I knew that getting home was going to be harder. As I was driving, I said to myself, "This is the first time I've experienced rain so fine that I couldn't see much where I was going." I really depended on the tail lights and blinkers of the other cars.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar sound from the brakes. Uh-Oh. I knew I should have stayed away from flooded areas. "I would have if only I could see where I was going" I thought. But still I pressed on and went home the way I used to know... only to find out that the road gets flooded during heavy rains. Traffic was really building up because small cars couldn't pass through the flooded areas. But still I continued until such a time that I was stuck in the traffic itself.

While being stranded in the traffic, I could hear the rain splashing on the wind shield. I could see the lightning as if it were reaching to me. I could hear the thunder roaring. I could feel the gushing waters beneath my car. I could see and hear it all and yet I was unable to do anything. I was really stuck with another car in front and the waters at my back. I had to make a choice - go to another road which I am not familiar or stay stucked in there. I prayed to God to protect and guide me in this situation and to also be with my loved ones and friends.

I backed up against the current to a new road that is not that flooded and followed a car which did the same. I followed the car while trying to balance speeding and braking. Then I found myself singing to songs like "I Know Who Holds the Future","My God Is So Big","Cares Chorus" and many others (that I couldn't remember now). I was singing until I found a familiar billboard that signalled me I was close a familair road - the way to home. I was so overjoyed that I practically was singing and thanking Him until I was home.

I don't know what you are going through today, but may this encourage you to let God control your lives. As Jesus has calmed the storms during His time, so can He calm the storm in this age and the ages to come. This is a lesson that I've learned while in the translation class (Eccl. 9:1,7-10) Accept the realities of life with a happy heart because all is in the plan/hands of God, be able to share it with someone you love and continue to fully live and mightily do the work which God has allowed you to do. Glory to God!

Elections and the Fear of God

Have you ever thought how life would be easier if everybody would just get along, if everybody would love and care for each other, if everyone would just be nice to one another without thinking that he or she might get something out of being nice... what a world that would have been!

And yet God chose to place us in this world where, most of the time, people do things out of selfishness, pride, jealousy, foolishness and many other reasons. The sad thing is, most of the time, people are not unaware of what they are doing. It is the same as a person who puts shades while doing these horrible things. They know it is bad enough to even think about these things (they see through their shades), but they still do it (pretending not to see it). The recent Philippine election was a testament to this fact. We see people deliberately killing each other for the position - no wonder they say that in the Philippines, "People would even kill just to serve." Actually, we should add a follow-up question "They serve who?"

The Bible accounts in Judges the many errors of God's people so that we could learn from their mistakes. I agree with what my Bible Study leader has been repeatedly saying in the Bible Study..."Not only did the Israelites went through the cycle of forsaking God, but they (this includes the judges) also became worst and worst than before." The Israleites knew what they were doing was wrong and yet they chose to do it out of convenience, practicality, and fear of others.

The manner of forsaking God maybe different from that time to this generation, but one way or another if we are not careful, we will relive the mistakes of the Israelites because the root is basically the same - convenience, practicality and fear of others. I must confess that I find myself struggling in this battle arena. How many times have I said I'm sorry because I hurt others? How many times have I made wrong decisions in my life? How many times have I tried to people please than to please my God?

I could still remember a story from when I was a youth. What if God was a guest in your house, would you let him in your living room only where you show off the finest materials, furniture, and household wares? What if He asks you to let Him enter your bedroom or your closet? Would you bring Him to where you go, where you work, where you hang out? Will you let Him in your secrets? I'm sure that if it is someone special, you wouldn't dare to show off your bad traits or the bad side of you! Why? Because there is an element of embarrassment or a hint of fear.

When we come before our God, let us strip ourselves of all these things. He is a holy God, therefore we should also strive to be holy. It is a fact that we cannot be perfect in this world, but God is glorified when we strive to be like Him in this ungodly world. Let us not wait until that time when we don't even feel the shame of doing evil things or when we blatantly (in the open without the shades) do these things. I pray that we will all be men and women who fear God more than we fear circumstances and people.

A Fishy Week!

It all strated last Friday when our YoungPro fellowship decided to have book reading on the minor prophet Jonah. Well, at first I thought to myself, "What Jonah again? I know that story! Can we have something else." But as you will see later, I'm glad I went last Friday.

I observed we did not start with the usual singspiration. We started with the announcements and Bible verse memorization. (This time it's tough, memorizing James 1:21 in three languages) After the LCD was set-up, then we had the singspiration. ("For the Sake of the Call" and a new song song... forgot the title) I knew then that this fellowship would not be just an ordinary Jonah story. I was right! We delved into the book of Jonah through some games - not only one but three!

The first game was family feud (a group game). We were divided into three teams. We used the piano as buzzer (low, medium, and high notes... hehe) The game basically has the same mechanics as the original except the sole basis of answers is found in the book. "Woah... and to think this was easy... i was very wrong!" This game showed me how much details I've left out when reading this book and how much time I've spent on being contented with what I know and not seeking the deeper meaning of the details.

The second game was weakest link. Two representatives from each team is needed to play the game. Each player needs to answer a series of questions that will add up to the "jackpot". At the end of each round, the players vote off who they like to leave. Sadly, I was one of those who left first not because my answers were wrong, but because I'm a threat. hehe. But as I was sat out and listened to the other questions... I began to see a newer side of Jonah that I haven't seen before.

The last game was actually challenging... summarizing the book of Jonah and giving a moral lesson in as few words as possible. My group came up with a short poem. It was kind of a children's poem so we decided to act out some of the words.

God said "Go!"; Jonah said "No!",
boarded boat to Tarshish, swallowed by a fish,
prayed for forgiveness, was spat ashore,
He preached in Nineveh so judgment no more!
'Cause people repented; Jonah resented...
Poeple hide, God will find... He forgives!

We won that evening... Actually all of us, because we learned so much!

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Yesterday, we went to the Mall of Asia. Guess who we hooked up with unexpectedly... Ahia Harg and his family, my aunt and her children and grandchildren (father's side), my mom and dad's friend (who also had a child taking up music). Well, that's rather funny 'cause it is as if we were thinking of the same thing and to meet up in such a huge place - truly amazing!

Then we ate dinner... guess where? Fish and Co. It was really sumptuous. It was the first time my family and I ate there so we didn't know the taste. Luckily we liked it especially their fish and chips. hehe (getting hungry)

Lastly, guess what was playing on Fish and Co.'s screen that night! Finding Nemo. I really liked this animation picture because of the rich characters and the adventure. Of course, it wouldn't be complete without my favorite charcter from that movie - Dorie!

I guess in all these, what I'm trying to say is that God's ways are higher than ours. Even though things or events might seem fishy to us, to Him all is planned and worked out! He has purposes why things happen. The only thing we can do is to live each day for Him and be thankful for the things/people/events that might come along our way!

Imitating Dorie's whale talk.... "TtHaNnKk YyOoUu FfOoRr RrEeAaDdIiNnGg!"

Nahum: Chapter 1 Part 1

Let's continue on with Nahum...

Verse 1:
This is an interesting title to a book, "Vision of Nahum". Does this mean that the Lord showed all of this to Nahum? Does Nahum have any connection with Nineveh like Jonah did (Jonah hated the Ninevites)?

Verse 2 - 8:
It is interesting to note how God is described in these verses. Our God avenges... revenges... reserves wrath... on who? His enemies... adversaries... those who has characteristics of making Him jealous and furious. This verse reminds me of another verse wherein it says something like "Do not take revenge because revenge is of the Lord's." Putting these two together, it seems Nineveh has done something terrible to someone (maybe His people) that is why God is unhappy and will take revenge for those who are oppressed.

Nahum goes on to be specific that the Lord will not acquit the wicked. (If God can punish a group of people for not following him or making him jealous, what can stop this God from punishing me?) Even the clouds, whirlwind and storm, mountains and seas and hills are but dust of His feet. (He has power over these since He is the Creator) Anyhow, God here is pictured to be supreme and powerful, able to take vengeance for Himself and His people. He continues by asking, "Who can stand His indignation?"(Indignation means righteous anger; It is not that God goes around being angry for nothing, but when He gets angry, surely there must be a reason.) No one can possibly endure it or stand against it.

But He is also pictured to be good and a stronghold for those who trust in Him. In verse 3, He is slow to anger. (This might probably mean that He forgave freely again and again, but the people still insist on having their own ways up to a point where He gave His judgment on Nineveh.) We see a God who is good/gracious yet great/mighty - able to forgive and save yet also able to bring judgment and revenge.

Questions:
1) Is this part of the vision of Nahum or just stating a fact that God is this kind of person/God who can do these things? Is this a warning to Nineveh before their destruction?

2) What do you mean by "The earth heaves at His presence, yes, the world and all who dwell in it"?

3) What are Bashan and Carmel? Are they rivers? What does the flower of Lebanon symbolize?

4) Since there is poetry in Nahum, are there any other things that are with hidden meaning? (Stuructures? repetitions?)

Nahum: Background

I'll try something that my friend "Ahia Elliott" is doing with his blog, because I find it more productive and more exciting. I'll also post my learnings from a book from the Bible that I'm reading right now. For starters, I'll also try the book of Nahum because it interests me to find out what happened to Nineveh after the book of Jonah... hehe. Let's start!

Author
The book contains the “vision of Nahum” (1:1), whose name means “comfort” and is related to the name Nehemiah, meaning “The Lord comforts” or “comfort of the Lord.” (Nineveh’s fall, which is Nahum’s theme, would bring comfort to Judah.) Nothing is known about him except his hometown (Elkosh), and even its general location is uncertain.

Date
In 3:8–10 the author speaks of the fall of Thebes, which happened in 663 b.c., as already past. In all three chapters Nahum prophesied Nineveh’s fall, which was fulfilled in 612. Nahum therefore uttered this oracle between 663 and 612, perhaps near the end of this period since he represents the fall of Nineveh as imminent (2:1; 3:14,19). This would place him during the reign of Josiah and make him a contemporary of Zephaniah and the young Jeremiah.

Background
Assyria (represented by Nineveh, 1:1) had already destroyed Samaria (722–721 b.c.), resulting in the captivity of the northern kingdom of Israel, and posed a present threat to Judah. The Assyrians were brutally cruel, their kings often being depicted as gloating over the gruesome punishments inflicted on conquered peoples. They conducted their wars with shocking ferocity, uprooted whole populations as state policy and deported them to other parts of their empire. The leaders of conquered cities were tortured and horribly mutilated before being executed (see note on 3:3). No wonder the dread of Assyria fell on all her neighbors!

About 700 b.c. King Sennacherib made Nineveh the capital of the Assyrian empire, and it remained the capital until it was destroyed in 612. Jonah had announced its destruction earlier (Jnh 3:4), but the people put on at least a show of repentance and the destruction was temporarily averted (see Jnh 3:10 and note). Not long after that, however, Nineveh reverted to its extreme wickedness, cruelty and pride. The brutality reached its peak under Ashurbanipal (669–627), the last great ruler of the Assyrian empire. After his death, Assyria’s influence and power waned rapidly until 612, when Nineveh was overthrown (see notes on 1:14; 2:1). (Further historical information is given in notes throughout the book.)

Recipients
Some words are addressed to Judah (see 1:12–13,15), but most are addressed to Nineveh (see 1:11,14; 2:1,13; 3:5–17,19) or its king (3:18). The book, however, was meant for Israelite readers living in Judah.

Literary Style
The contents are primarily made up of judgment oracles, with appropriate descriptions and vocabulary, expressing intense moods, sights and sounds. The language is poetic, with frequent use of metaphors and similes, vivid word pictures, repetition and many short—often staccato—phrases (see, e.g., 3:1–3). Rhetorical questions punctuate the flow of thought, which has a marked stress on moral indignation toward injustice.

Theological Themes
The focal point of the entire book is the Lord’s judgment on Nineveh for her oppression, cruelty, idolatry and wickedness. The book ends with the destruction of the city.
According to Ro 11:22, God is not only kind but also stern. In Nahum, God is not only “slow to anger” (1:3) and “a refuge . . . for those who trust in him” (1:7), but also one who “will not leave the guilty unpunished” (1:3). God’s righteous and just kingdom will ultimately triumph, for kingdoms built on wickedness and tyranny must eventually fall, as Assyria did.
In addition, Nahum declares the universal sovereignty of God. God is Lord of history and of all nations; as such, he controls their destinies.

Outline
I. Title (1:1)
II. Nineveh’s Judge (1:2–15)
A. The Lord’s Kindness and Sternness (1:2–8)
B. Nineveh’s Overthrow and Judah’s Joy (1:9–15)
III. Nineveh’s Judgment (ch. 2)
A. Nineveh Besieged (2:1–10)
B. Nineveh’s Desolation Contrasted with Her Former Glory (2:11–13)
IV. Nineveh’s Total Destruction (ch. 3)
A. Nineveh’s Sins (3:1–4)
B. Nineveh’s Doom (3:5–19)

International Bible Society (IBS) © 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Accessed May 11, 2007. http://www.ibs.org/niv/studybible/nahum.php

Dazed Amid the Blaze

My thoughts:

Last night was a very scary night for the people in Caloocan specifically 8th Ave. (I live a street away from the main street of 8th Ave. where the real blaze is happening). Although my family were a street away, I could still feel the heat, the fire burning. As I go up to the 5th floor terrace, I could see a small shanty and several others around it being swallowed in flames.

As I recall, I've been in this situation before when my neighbors house got burned also. Back then, I really had no idea what was happening. As a small child, I couldn't do anything as I was being taken care of by my mom. All I remember was being held by my mom as we went out of the house to a nearby relative's house for safety. This time around as an adult, I suddenly felt dazed/confused in all the commotion.

Suddenly,...
1) Priorities are tested (What should I bring if ever the flames get near - what I need or what I want?)
2) True care is measured (As I look into the burning house, I thought of the people who lived in that shanty. I also thought about the adjacent house which sold gas tanks for the stove. I thought to myself "what if the fire gets into that house?" - selfish or for others)
3) Tensions arise (I told my brothers to quickly pack something - maybe 3 sets of clothes and to just stay put),
4) Lessons are learned (Is this a reminder from God to cherish what He has given me? What is God saying in all this?)

I said a little prayer in the midst of this that went something liek this.

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My prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, I may not know what is your purpose in doing this. I may not know what is to happen to me or anyone. I may not know of many things, but this i know - that You, o Lord, are a great and good God. I know in your perfect will and timing that You have planned all things to happen. Yes, I am finite and You are infinite. I pray that You are still glorified in the midst of this. Help me not to be too concerned of myself. Help me to be a person who gives praise and thanks always even in the midst of suffering and sadness. I pray for comfort to those who have lost their homes in this blaze. Be with us tonight! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.