Not enough

SCHOOL UPDATES

2010-02-14T21:51:00.000-08:00

Schooling is going on. It is always a good thing to learn new things. The months I've spent of not doing anything on my blog made me think of missing it again. There many things I've learned from school not just academically but socially also. I've learned to go with other other people, friends and classmates. I used to quote "social interactions is very important to an individual" from our Psychology instructor last two years. The more I get involved with others the more chances that social relationships will be built. It's totally different last three years where I lived alone. Although I could talk my friends online but hanging out with friends has a different impact than being online.

So, go back about school...

I hate the Math subject still, but I started to overcome the pessimist character. I believe that I can do it, it just a matter of time. I used to blame that I don't have enough time for studying, which is true because, still, I have work during the day and school at night. There were some lessons in Math on high school that is still related to our present lessons today and I haven't learn if from high school. This is one of the reason that I can't absorb the lessons easily. In fact, I got low grades last mid term exam but I passed. Sometimes I have thought about quitting school and get a job somewhere but I need to finish at least 2 years in college. So, if I want to get a good job, I may get that next year. These are the options in my mind:

1. quit school and get a job

2. continue school and just wait another year

3. go to Manila and stay at my uncle, probably continue my studies

I really don't know yet but as of now I am doing the 2nd option. The contract of lease of the company where I am working will end this March 2010. Sell everything or transfer to other place are the options. This could affect my schooling because my financial support is dependent on the company. I hope I'll be at the company still until I finish my 2nd year in college. Well, time will change, ideas and thoughts of the people change. I could just used the living for today and minimize the long list for the future.

Just for today.

THINGS IN MY MIND

2009-07-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

When I started doing my school, I used to spend time thinking or focusing on it. But just recently when my friend shared to me their situation I started thinking several things. I always heard about the global crisis... economic status. I haven't felt about being affected to it, great companies and businessmans are. As long as I am getting my fixed salary every month and I have felt satisfied of my life at the moment if only there is no tomorrow. I have shared this to my friend two days ago and I got different ideas. Sometimes I am dreaming what would I become in the next few years but I still don't know what will happen in the next few hours. HE only knows. My friends have told me that "In his time, He makes all things beautiful". The thought stucks in my mind and I can't understand the statement. Perhaps I was not close to Him last few months. I know that what my have told me has a deeper meaning, I just can't fathom.

My family is struggling from financial problem ever since. Biblically, that's not problem but practically, it is. This could the one of the reason why I want something different in the next few years. It really takes several years if He'll let me get there. As of now I still have something to eat - the proof of His providence. My friend had shared me about this agnostic idea. Maybe I am in that.

(I hate the music right now-very distracting... I'm gonna write something more about this soon)

I HAVE MISSED SOMETHING

2009-06-30T06:45:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned in my previous post about the status of my life - work during the day and do school at night. Last two days, I got a phone call from the one I knew from Cebu City and asked me if I could visit their Computer Shop to do some troubleshooting job on Tuesday. It thought it was perfect; that was Tuesday and it's my day-off on the company where I am currently working. I still have classes at night that day but I was free during the day, so, I told her that I am coming. I was doing the maintenance in her shop 8 months ago. When I started school last 2nd semester last year, I resigned because I have thought that I couldn't handle it any longer with school. My schedules really bother me all the time. I have one subject in my class that Tuesday afternoon is the schedule. I thought it was perfect because it is day-off but I just got this another go-to-city every Tuesday for the job whom I rendered my resignation 8 months ago. At first, I have thought of my myself that I couldn't handle it anymore but the idea of grabbing the opportunity and do the simple job and get paid would help.... would really help. Here's what will be happening if I'll have to do decisions. It's either I drop my one subject and go to city every Tuesday or get my subject and don't go to city. So, I was there last Tuesday. 5 of 28 computers we're not working. I just completed 3 of 5, there's two left and I promised her of coming back next Tuesday which I am not really sure yet. (Whoever have read this, I really want your ideas, suggestions... etc. tia). I told her that I couldn't stay longer because I have classes on the night that day. I need to go back at 2:30. It's two hours bus ride. Sad thing I wasn't able to fulfill my plan. I left the shop at 4:00... and I have missed two (2) subjects. My plan's changed. We'll be having a quiz that night too at 7-9PM, so, I was really in a hurry. When I got in the room, the quiz has just started. Our quiz was really interesting. It was done by two ways - orally and written. Our instructor would choose five (5) student from us to do the quiz orally and the rest would do the written quiz. I was shocked when I entered the room, my instructor pointed me to do the oral quiz. I was not really comfortable that time. I am not really prepared but I still believed that I could do it. My instructor asked me how many question I want. I choose two. Good thing was I got the first question correctly but I wasn't really sure of my answer on the second question. It sounds strict but it's a great idea. Not just on doing quizzes but also on discipline and lots of rules: like turning your phone off when you are in class, wear name tags, bring with us the note our instructor provided, should be on time - if late for more than 10 minutes - it is equivalent of 1 absent and there's many more to mention. Well, it's not bad, in fact, I really like it. That's something that we need to learn even in just two hours but it could really help.

That's all for today.

I JUST APPRECIATE IT

2009-06-24T06:08:00.000-07:00

I'm back. I wasn't able to update my blog regularly. There's a lot of thing to be written in here and share it with you but I was too busy last few months. I just started school and it's almost a month already. That's was funny when I first entered my classroom because, in majority, I am 4 years older than them. Of course, I am not in their level, my age proves it. Most of them called me "kuya". When I hear that word, I always feel like... yeah I am older than them. But I did not put too much emphasis in my age. I am learning how could I be friendly to them. I know one who is very talkative... she's a girl, my classmate and has a baby. She kept on asking me a lot of questions. Most peope who already knew me being silent most of the time and I admit that I am the one but last few weeks I've learned to start any conversation. So, I having fun learning how to be close to other people.

Last semester, there were subjects that I really loved - the Logic, that's correct reasoning from incorrect reasoning. Math subject is not new to me, even though I felt that it's hard sometimes but I enjoy them. Filipino, Chemistry will follow the list. But one subject that urges my mind to think was the Psychology. I really appreciated how our instructor teach us. I found some similarities with this to Logic. I always loved the idea of learning something new.

More about me. Well, we just moved from our current residence where free lodging offered to us and that was almost 4 years. My sister just started her high school here and she use to stay with us with my brother. So, we decided to move to another boarding house where we pay an amount every month. I really don't like the idea of staying somebody's house, it's a blessing however but as long as we are able to pay the monthly obligation, then we go for it. I can't imagine how life would be going. We, three, wake up in the morning, getting ready for work and school. During the night, I go to school. It seems like "no time for conversation". Everything is fine so far - no misunderstanding -- yet. It's always comfortable living in a place where we are paying for the lodge.

I'll cut it here, 'til next time.

MULTI-TASKING

2009-03-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

I am have had trouble with my subjects last few days. I wonder what brought me this irritated thing. Two things that I am thinking right now - not motivated to study and laziness. I am not happy regarding the result of the test that we had last few days and I hate myself because of that. I always wanted to know new things but sometimes going back to the things that I've learned already is boring. There are some subjects that I got interested into but I can't put my mind studying the lesson - there is no PEACE in me; I am thinking so many things at one time. My mind is always in multi-tasking mode and that is very stressful. This is how I function in our workplace - as a cashier - our company is not fully organized yet, so we didn't assign individual to an specific responsibility; as a timer - responsible of taking records of time-in / time-out of customers' rentals; as an encoder or a typist - I think this is my main function but only few customers would let us do the typing jobs. Most people are learning to do the typing jobs by their own; as a computer technician - very interesting and I am still learning about it. I have attended training about PC troubleshooting but still, as the continuous innovation of technology, I need to upgrade my learning too - I called it a non-stop learning; as a graphic artist - I'm not an expert and still I am in the learning process. The abovementioned are enough proofs of multi-tasking. Of course, not all of those could be done at one time. Two or three could be done simultaneously.

I SHOULD POST SOMETHING

2008-11-05T20:21:00.000-08:00

I just visited my blog today and have noticed that I've posted my last post last February 25. It's almost a year. If this - blogging is my priority, then I'll be posting new posts daily but it's not like other people do.

I really missed blogging, although sometimes I don't have any ideas to post about. Well, my life is going well. A lot of changes took place in different aspects of life. I keep on thinking about learning something. I can't live with this world with no experiences - empty brain. There is always a privilege that I can fill up my brain and apply all of those in daily lives. I always refer my current life to a quote that goes "learn everything you can, from anyone you can and from anytime you can". This is really true. Every time I wake up, I can learn something through different circumstances, it's either in emotions or in academic.

As of now, I am doing something related to school requirements for college in our place. At first, I hesitate to pursue my plan but I thought it's the time. I can't wait until the next school year. I have referred my plans to other people so that I can have some ideas. Until now, I am thinking how things will work out - work during day and do school at night. I am thankful that I only have four (4) subjects in this semester. Saturday and Sunday has classes to night-students like me, for the major subject. But this time, I don't have my major yet. I'll be taking it next year. So, some of my old schedule on Saturday and Sunday will not be affected. Some people say, "why you need to go to school, while you have more". I know some people in the campus and they know where I am working. I have thought that before and yes I have more but nothing proves it. My skills and experiences? Yes! but I can do more with confident if I have both - degree or any certificate plus skills and experiences.

I'll be posting more soon.

HELP! MY IMPORTANT FILES ARE GONE

2008-02-25T03:25:00.000-08:00

My friend asked me to install some applications to his computer. So, I went to his house last Saturday. I have noticed that there's a lot error messages popped up and some files are corrupted. We have agreed about reformatting. So, we've reinstalled the new Windows XP. Then, we started installing the drivers and utilities. I got a 1G flash drive and important files, installers, etc. were in there. I need to insert that in so that I can access the applications to be installed. Bang! I've inserted in a wrong port and my flash drive stopped working, I mean, the computer cannot detect it. It works well on our computers. The bad port of my friend's computer embarrassed me. I just wanted to install just one application from my flash drive, just one, just one! I thought flash drives are reliable enough than CD's/DVD's. I've done just one move and my files are gone.

Creating back-up files is always a good idea. I'll do it, promise!

YOUTH GROUP

2008-02-10T04:31:00.000-08:00

I am glad that I finally found youth group in the place where I am staying. A pastor introduced me to the group last week. We were doing the same thing 4 years ago. It was called "youth challenge" where we invite young people to attend to our activity for at least 2 hours. I was in high school that time. So, some of my classmates are invited. It was so challenging for me. I've done teaching them some topical teachings from the Bible and have done the singing part. We're helping each other as a group. A lot of things had happened and I've learned at lot from those things. Hmm that was 4 years ago.

I just came from the church which is the venue for the meeting but nobody is there. Someone said that they're doing baptism recently and the're resting this time. So, the meeting is postponed. I don't think "meeting" would be the right term. For me, I call it "youth challenge" like what we've done 4 years ago. Ok, I'll go ask someone about that. So, this is about me and the youth group.

Last week I tried to search on the internet about some sites that teach english. I know there's a bunch of sites out there. You can't even decide what sites you gonna visit. Oh, I forgot the link but I was having fun taking the personality test. Words like cynical, egotistical, indecisive (I know this from the word decision), sophisticated... there's a lot more but I can't remember them. I seldom hear those words and I really don't know the meaning most of those words. I can only laugh myself. Well, those are some of the important things that I need to know :D.

LAST FEW MONTHS

2007-12-03T00:02:00.000-08:00

I miss blogging again.

A lot of things had happened last few months/weeks. I am still working in an Internet Cafe and I've learned to troubleshoot some common PC problems. It's almost a year that I am exposing myself about troubleshooting. In my previous posts, I mentioned about my school last summer. It was a computer technician course. It was a FREE training, however, you provide your own tools. After the training... there's what we call "Trade Test", an examination/evaluation about the training. If you can pass the examination, you'll be given a certificate that certifies you as a computer technician. Php 1200.00 is required for the examination. That time, my manager offered to pay the fee for me. I wasn't really sure to take the examination that time, so I gave the money back to my manager and I've decided to not take the examination. What I've learned during the training are not enough and I thought I need some hands-on experience. I was doing my training every morning and go to work at night. My main responsibility is to assist customers not to troubleshoot computers. Two months have passed after the training, our technician left us for some reasons. So, we were hiring new technicians that time. We got two technicians, few weeks later. They are doing computer maintenance not just in our own shop but also to others. So, they are always busy. In the shop where I am in, some computers have crashed... windows won't load, something like that. I tried fixing it by myself. Nobody told me to do so but "this is a great time to learn", I said to myself. The same problem occurs over and over again, and that challenged me. I am always visiting some sites whenever I am in trouble, the internet helps me all the way. So, in conclusion, I am doing the maintenance right now. I just only learned a bit about troubleshooting. I was in a forum one time, it's PC Troubleshooting Forum and I've found a lot of things that's new to me, something that I never learned before. Going to forums regularly would be a great help.

I am always thinking about getting a better job. I don't have any plan to stay where I am right now. I want some improvements. One time, somebody asked me if I am interested about the training for Call Center Agents. I was so excited about the training but I am thinking about the things that will going to happen if I am in a Call Center company. As I've mentioned earlier, I've only learned troubleshooting just a bit. So, I better use the opportunity to learn more and to gain more experiences about troubleshooting computers. I have thought about taking the training sometime, I'm waiting for a perfect timing.

09/26/07

2007-09-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

When I was at my town (Argao) we have a monthly fellowship with some other believers. We were sharing... experiencies, sharing thought/ideas about life. I left Argao 5 months ago and I wasn't able to be at the meeting-every third sunday of the month. Last Sunday I was there. I heard about how God works in theirs lives, it was so encouraging.

REAL SUCCESS

2007-09-24T03:26:00.000-07:00

I have thought about this recently. Well, it is not bad to work hard and get rich. I wonder why some people are rich and some are poor. I wonder why some people suffer and some are enjoying life. I am thinking about what my life would be in the next few years but I really don't know what's the plan of GOD for my life... only God knows. I have read this article few minutes ago.

Success
By J. Steven Lang

CBN.com -- Norman Vincent Peale defined success as "the development of a mature and constructive personality." This is certainly closer to the Bible's view than most people's. We usually define success in terms of money, power, influence -- and being envied, of course. This is not the view of the Bible. In fact, the New Testament assures Jesus' followers that they may endure hardship -- but not necessarily success in the usual sense.

Don't let this discourage you. Our Lord did not tell us to give up all the pleasures of the world. He merely told us that there were higher, better things -- things that would last forever, and things that make worldly success seem trivial. Jesus proved this at the beginning of his earthly ministry, when he was tempted to make himself a worldly success:

Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil.

The Devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. "I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will only kneel down and worship me."

"Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, `You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.'"

Matthew 4:1, 8-10

Jesus answered, "I am not an earthly king. My Kingdom is not of this world."

John 18:36

"How do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul?"

Matthew 16:26

Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away.

1 Corinthians 7:31

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

Romans 12:2

Where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

1 Corinthians 1:20

God purchased you at a high price. Don't be enslaved by the world.

1 Corinthians 7:23

God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world's interest in me is also long dead. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. May God's mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God.

Galatians 6:14-16

Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

1 Timothy 6:17

Don't you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can't be a friend of God.

James 4:4

Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.

1 John 2:15

"Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life."

John 12:25

WHERE AM I

2007-08-13T06:54:00.000-07:00

I think it's two months already since I've posted my last post. Some of my time was spent to myLot... (an online community forum). I am enjoying my stay their... meeting different people from different place with different culture... the way they live. I have mentioned on my previous post that I am studying the basic computer troubleshooting... I am focusing to it right now.

HOW'S MY BLOG

2007-07-24T23:23:00.001-07:00

For almost two months I wasn't able to be here... posting updates on my blog. Well, here I am again. I just can't think for a topic be posted in here.

Here's the highlight of my life for almost months.

On April 10, I started my school, it's a short term (just 6 months, 3 months training and 3 months OJT). I have met some other people out there. I talked some of them, just knowing each other... we're talking about plan in the future... and a lot more about life. Our class starts at 8 o'clock and I often came late. You know, I work from 4pm to 12 midnight, then wake up at 6:30, + travel and traffic. We're agreed that whoever comes late, he should sing, dance or push up... as a punishment. One time I came late... I chose to sing, I really don't like dancing at all and I don't like pushing up... I am really tired at my work plus that one. When I am about to sing, they're trying to suggest what they want me to sing. I still believe the fact that I am different from them. I am not like them... so, I sung the "enough" by Chris Tomlin. They heard something different and that helped them to think that I am different.

During my stay in school... I've learned something BUT I really don't like the way our Instructor treated us. I believe that the responsibility of teachers is to teach their students willingly. We felt that our Instructor is not willing to teach us. When you ask question to him he just answer you this phrase "go research and learn by yourself". I wonder if he is a teacher or not. I'd not say that he is bad enough, you know, we can never be perfect. We only want knowledge, and that's the only reason we've spent our time at that school. Any we're learning by ourselves! :)

We had our graduation last June 14. I felt happy, it's an accomplishment. I am planning to take another course, computer-related still, programming perhaps.

This is all about my school.

DISCUSSING DIFFERENT TOPICS ONLINE

2007-05-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

I really miss posting new topics here.

I have having fun participating discussion on the internet. A lot of different topics...http://www.mylot.com/?ref=jalbeos

I believe this would help me on how to deal different situations.

HOW TO PRACTICE UNITY

2007-03-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

This teaching is taken from Xenos.Org

Show love and respect for Christians outside your own church. This is not to imply that we need not show love and respect for non-Christians! It is to say that non-Christians need to also see a special kinship between Christians at work, etc.

We may have important differences with other true Christians over doctrine, how we do church, etc.--differences big enough that we are probably better off being committed to different churches. But we need to remember that what we have in common far outweighs our differences. I worry that many Xenos people do not do this enough. It's great to feel excited about your church, but don't become arrogant and view other Christians and Christian churches as enemies! Not only is this arrogant and cultic--it is also ugly for non-Christians to see.

Instead, we should be warm and affectionate when you run into Christians from other churches that you know. We should also show genuine interest in what God is teaching them and how he is working through them.

One of the best ways to demonstrate this unity is to work with Christians from other churches in some common ministry.

For 16 years I have been teaching a Bible study at a nursing home here in town. It has been great to see many people come to Christ in the last years of their lives. It has also been great to work with other Christians from different churches as we reach out to the people in the nursing home.

You can collaborate with other Christians in your neighborhood to pray for your neighbors and work together in reaching out to them. You can do the same with associates at work.

But as important as this is, the New Testament emphasizes another kind of unity far more. Be "in fellowship" instead of merely "going to church." I hate the phrase "going to church" because it implies the church is a building, when the Bible says the church is the people who know Christ. But even if we change "going to church" to "attending Central Teaching," there is still a big difference between this and being "in fellowship."

"Fellowship" means sharing something in common. To be in fellowship with other Christians means that you are regularly sharing your common relationship with Christ with other Christians: discussing what you are learning from his Word, sharing how he is changing your life, talking to Christ together, urging each other to stay faithful to Christ, working together to serve others, showing appropriate affection toward one another, etc.

If you come here very long, you'll hear this slogan: "Xenos is not a large meeting-based church that also has home-groups; it is home-group-based church that also has large meetings." The reason for this is simple: Christian fellowship flourishes in home groups in a way that can never happen at a meeting like this. If you know Christ, you should view this meeting as a complement to your involvement in home group, not a substitute for it. Being in fellowship will strengthen and feed your walk with Christ tremendously, and it will help you reach your non-Christian friends for Christ much more effectively.

Another way you know when you're "in fellowship" is when you get hurt, offended, disappointed, etc. When this happens, do you withdraw and dismiss--or do you work hard to maintain these relationships?

Consider this passage (read Eph. 4:1-3). You can hear Paul echoing Jesus is Jn. 17 as he reminds us of the importance of unity as we seek to represent Christ. He is utterly realistic about the difficulty of maintaining this kind of unity between sinful, fallen people--so he reminds us of what we need to cultivate to do this.

I need to ask God for the humility to see my own contribution to the conflict (and apologize for it), instead of just focusing on the other person's.

I need to ask God for the gentleness to treat my brother or sister as precious rather than brutally lashing out at or smashing him. And I need to apologize when I blow it here.

I need to ask God for patience and forbearance (and forgiveness) when they hurt me or don’t change as quickly as I want them to--just as I am thankful that God extends this to me.

For those of us who are "in fellowship," this is a constant challenge. I can't always restore every strained relationship, but I am responsible to do my part as God shows me. This is a great training ground for my own growth, and it safeguards the unity that intangibly affects and attracts non-Christians who interact with us.

THE MORE WE READ, THE BETTER WE KNOW JESUS

2007-03-07T21:47:00.000-08:00

I was reading about the secrets of "ABUNDANT LIFE". This is only a portion of an outline from ExecutableOutlines.Com

THE MORE WE READ, THE BETTER WE KNOW JESUS...

1. As simple as it sounds, Bible reading is the catalyst to the abundant life
By reading we come to know
By knowing we come to love
By loving we come to obey
By obeying we come to abide
By abiding we come to bear fruit
By bearing fruit we experience the abundant life

2. Yet many Christians neglect the Word of God
Even though its value in bearing fruit is seen even in Psa. 1:1-3
How sad when we now have the full revelation of the New Testament

-- Neglecting the Word of God is why many do not experience the abundant life!

HOLY IS THE LORD MUSIC VIDEO - Chris Tomlin's (Daniel Choo)

2007-03-01T07:07:00.000-08:00

Chris Tomlin's Song by: Daniel Choo

I REALLY MISS DON MOEN'S SONGS

2007-02-22T22:53:00.000-08:00

Three months ago, I got some christian songs from the internet from different bands; casting crowns, delirious, david crowder band, jars of clay etc. and listened them. Rock music is very popular now in our place. The most popular is the BisRock (Bisayan Rock). Everyday I hear those bisrock songs. Sometimes, when I hear a song, I start to sing, well, believe me or not, I really love singing, hehehe but there is something came into my mind. I am trying to not even sing a single word from any of those songs because of the following;

1. It won't please God: I have had Christ in me, and that, from the date I received Christ, the spirit now lives in me. Some verses from the Bible states that our body is a temple of God and we must glorify Him.

2. All those things are of this world: Colosians 3 and Romans 12, focus on the things above where Christ dwells, not on these things on earth. We are new creation, 2 Corinthians 5.

I think this two will summarize a lot reasons I have. You can give/tell me some points regarding this issue, that would be appreciated! :)

Yesterday, I heard a song, the voice is very familair to me. It was Don Moen, narrating, before he started to sing. I turned the volume up and said to myself "ops, I really miss his songs". The words are clear and I am pretty sure God will be pleased when He hear those songs.

SCHOOL - SHORT TERM COURSE

2007-02-14T22:06:00.000-08:00

We had a talk with my manager recently about my plans. They had a meeting yesterday about transferring me to the City. There are two internet cafes there and I was given options which of the two I choose. My manager told me the advantages and disadvantages of both i-cafes vice versa. Option A, I have exposure to our technicians, there's a possibility that I'll learn, I'll get a technician course at the same time at TESDA. There is a reserved room for me there, so there's no problem about house. Option B, I don't have exposure about troubleshooting, I'll do some risky job out there. They'll provide a motorcycle for me, but it is really, really risky. No problem about the house too! I'll go with Option A.

I am convinced to take a technician course/programming perhaps at TESDA with my own money, they promise to increase my salary a little bit.

This could be the final! Get the course, work at the same time!

WITH FRIENDS ON VALENTINES DAY

2007-02-14T15:39:00.000-08:00

I really don't care what is on Valentines Day, maybe I don't have someone to be with hehehe. Well, my friends invited me to go with them. It was my free time, so I decided to go with them. We usually communicate each other through cellphone, so suggested that we take a walk. We started talking about school, our classmates, plans, families etc. It was on Valentines Day, so, everywhere you'll see people by pair, hehehe. I was with two girls and one boy, we're all four and we're on stick-together-team, I mean we talk together and laugh together. It was their first time being with me since the time we're on High School and the same to me too. They already knew what my standards are, I told them three years ago and they were expecting from me that nothing has change about my standards. It was a great time with them! I don't how could I tell them what is in me, I mean, different from other people because I got Jesus. Perhaps, this is the first step bringing them to Christ.

SCHOOL - RIGHT DECISION

2007-02-10T00:48:00.000-08:00

I am thinking about going to school today. Someone told me to get some short term courses. I have had started programming but I didn't proceed. After then, I got interested in Web Designing. I read some Tutorials from the Internet and I got some ideas and tips about buildig a website. Since then, I've spent time building my own website but I've spent time to think the things to be in my website too. I like blogging for a couple of reason; easy to use, user-friendly, no need of any programming skills etc.

The idea of going to school was not in my mind three years ago. A guy gave me vission three years ago, a great help ever. I mean, in decision-making, you have to listen some experienced people about life. I still remember what he said three years ago. I consider it a fatherly-advice.

Well, let me tell you staight about school!
The company which I am currently working needs some individual who can work with less supervision and of course a little knowledge about computer, at least you know how to answer questions whenever costumers ask you. This company has branches. I am at the main right now. The company is thinking about pulling me out from the main and to be put on one of the branches, in the city, which is two hours bus-ride from my town. At first, I told them that I am thinking about going to school. Briefly, they told me to stay at the City, work still and at the same time, go to school. I really don't know how could this be, school at day and work at night? Financially? I didn't make a decision yet, I want to hear some experienced people about this. I was with some people last night. I told them about this and they started saying a lot of things to be considered. My confusion started last night and I am still confused 'til now. Someone told me to pray and pray. Talk to God, ask for wisdom.

I don't know what will happen in the next few days but I'll pray that God will show His greatness to me, that He can make great things more than I could imagine and that He will give me wisdom for making right decision.

YOU AND THE INTERNET

2007-02-06T03:43:00.000-08:00

I am thinking about what things I'll be getting being on the Internet. Sometimes, I think it is a total waste of time. You can have some important things rather than just on the computer. My friend and I were talking about this. A lot of people know about FRIENDSTER. It's like a dating site but there is something different. You can have your photos shared to some of your friends all over the world, sending messages, meeting people worldwide and there's more. Someone told me that Friendster is fun, I told her already that I seldom visit Friendster and she asked why. "It's a waste of time", I said. For her, it isn't. I saw a lot of people her who visit friendster and enjoy friendster and they were wasting their time. For my friend, her reason was, friendster is her way of communicating to her friends, sending messages, sharing photos. For that reason, I'll say that's right. While you are in friendster, you can do a lot more, rather than sending messages and sharing photos and it will eat your time. I've joined friendster, and I seldom visit there. I love blogging like this one rather than spending my time at friendster. I won't say it is bad, but you can have some good things done, some important things.

On the other side, you can get a lot of good things from the internet. It is a great resource for everything usually in school. You can get a lot of informations that some of the books can't give. It is really a great help where professional thinkers are spreading their ideas worldwide. Not just that, I mean, the most important is, does internet help me to know God more? You can get a lot of things about God, but, sometimes it is confusing because a lot people from different religion are doing things to reach other people, their beliefs. For me, I'll say, internet really help me, give me some teaching reasources whenever I need it.

Any comments, reactions, objections are welcome :)

HOW OFTEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THOMAS?

2007-02-04T03:36:00.000-08:00

I found it interesting reading this article about Thomas and I want to share it to you guys!

Thomas Our Brother
Rudolf Rijkeboer

Introduction
This study is about our brother Thomas. There is little we know about him, because not very much is written about him. It is true that he is generally known outside our own circles, in the world at large, but that is based largely on an undeserved reputation. Yet what little we know about him does give us a clear enough picture, if only we are prepared to take the trouble to see it. I am not of course referring to the brother Thomas of the 19th century, whom we generally view as the founder of our movement; I am referring to our brother of the 1st century, who was one of the chosen twelve who were privileged to walk with our Lord. Most of us are familiar with apostles like Peter, or John, or Paul. But Thomas? Thomas…?

The usual opinion about him
In your language, as in mine, he is known as ‘doubting Thomas’, a byword of unbelief. Commentators tend to describe him as a hypochondriac and a notorious pessimist. A textbook case of how not to be a Christian in fact. But is that correct? Let us see.

What do we know about him?
In the Bible we find the following list of references:
1. He is mentioned in the synoptic gospels in the lists of the 12 selected apostles.
2. He is mentioned again in the list of the 11 remaining apostles in Acts 1.
3. He occurs in a short list of 7 apostles in Galilee, in John 21.
4. There are three specific places in the gospel of John where he plays a part.

The places mentioned in 1-3
The lists of the synoptics only mention his name, Thomas, without any further details: he was only one of the twelve. Only one of the twelve? All twelve had been chosen by Jesus! After a full night spent in prayer, as you well know (Luke 6:12). All twelve (with the possible exception of Judas) must have been men of exceptional qualities. If we call him unworthy we are criticising Jesus, or in reality God Himself.

His name is Aramaic for ‘twin’. Where was his brother? Was he no longer alive? Or was he just not of a similar mind to Thomas? In any case Thomas was not just anybody. Acts 1:13 confirms that, with the exception of Judas, all to a man were still there, Thomas included. And the short list in John 21:2 shows him as one of the smaller circle of seven in Galilee, around Peter, waiting for Jesus.

The occurrences in the gospel of John
There are three passages in John’s gospel which give us an insight into the character of Thomas. In the first and third John gives us the translation of his name as Didymus (twin). Does he do that to lift him out of the relative obscurity of being just a name in a list? Or does he want to stress the fact that he had a twin brother who was nevertheless not selected? Is this a subtle echo of the principle that, even of seemingly identical pairs, only ‘the one shall be taken and the other left’? He is mentioned by name on three different occasions, although in the first two of these cases there seems to be no specific reason for doing so. Given the fact that nothing in the Bible is there without a reason, this must mean that John wants to draw our attention to something: watch this man. It is an open invitation to compare these three passages. So let’s do just that.

Thomas in John 11
In John 11 Jesus tells His disciples that He wants to visit Bethany because of Lazarus. The twelve (all twelve!) protest: it is too dangerous. Then Thomas is mentioned separately, by name: Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow-disciples: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” The emphasis is usually laid on the second half of his sentence to argue his ‘inborn pessimism’. But is this correct? It really was not safe; all twelve had said so (vs. 8). They point out the earlier attempts to stone Him (John 10:31, 39). And after Lazarus’ resurrection Jesus does indeed withdraw again, apparently for reasons of safety (John 11:54). In fact the authorities did not even hesitate to plan the murder of Lazarus, a man that God had brought back from death! They were prepared to fight God Himself. So the conclusion must be that it really was not safe. And that on that account Thomas was not a pessimist, but a realist.

Next, note what he does not say. He does not say: ‘if He wants to go, He can go alone; I will not join Him’. What he does say is: ‘let us go with Him and die with Him’. What does he mean by that?

An aside
Peter too was prepared to die with Jesus. He said so at the last supper (Matt. 26:31-35). But all were speaking like that; only Peter is singled out and mentioned by name. Why? Obviously because of what was going to happen later (his denial). Mentioning him here by name prepares us for what we are going to be told later. Likewise when John mentions Thomas by name, it prepares us for what he will show us later.

But there is more that may be said about Peter. Jesus tells Peter in the upper room that his faith will be put to the test, and that he has yet to come to repentance (Luke 22:31-32). Yet in the first instance Peter lives up to his words: against a complete cohort of Roman soldiers (500-600 men!) he draws a sword and starts fighting. He is really prepared to die, fighting for his Lord. But maybe this was only his usual impulsive reaction; maybe he had not considered the situation realistically? Later that night he could not resist the temptation to avoid an inconvenient problem by being a little ‘flexible’ with the truth: “I know not what thou sayest”. But once you have started on such a way, you cannot very easily go back (like: “well, in fact, on second thoughts, I do seem to remember him somewhat, as a matter of fact, after all”). And so the order of events is: 1) deny, 2) deny with an oath, and finally 3) deny with cursing and swearing (Matt. 26:69-74). Once he had chosen this road he was, not by accident of course, forced to follow it further only to realise the true nature of his choice. He did not mean to go that way when he made his first denial, but got into difficulties when ‘circumstances’ forced him to face the consequences of that initial choice. And by the time he realised where he had gone wrong it was too late. And the result was bitter remorse, but also the repentance that Jesus had announced, and as a consequence his return to his master; unlike e.g. Judas who, after a wrong choice, opted to depart and to accept the final consequences of that decision.

Back to Thomas
In the reactions given in John 11 Thomas too is ‘singled out’. Is this a similar case? No, or at least not fully so. For he does not propose to die fighting; he just wants to die when Jesus dies. Nor is this an impulsive reaction on the spur of the moment. What then does he mean? May I make the following suggestion? Thomas is fully convinced that life without Jesus is without purpose or hope. Without Him there is no way out of the death-trap of sin: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” In Isaiah (22:13) this sentence was an expression of the people’s lack of trust in their God. But for Paul (1 Cor. 15:32) it is the inevitable consequence of a rock hard reality: without the resurrection (i.e. without the Redemption) life is indeed without hope. So in that respect Thomas was fully right again; in that case you might just as well die today. He may not yet have seen the necessity for Jesus’ sacrificial death, or the unavoidable necessity of His resurrection, but his perception of the necessity of Jesus’ involvement in this Redemption was fully accurate. Maybe it was still too hazy to have a clear view, but his radar operated faultlessly: he could make an unfailing approach to the only correct reconnaissance buoy (for those of you who do not know what a reconnaissance buoy is: it is the first buoy you have to locate, when coming from sea, to navigate your way safely into the harbour). So he was not a born pessimist at all; he was a hard realist, who was perfectly right!

Which poses the question: do we have such an absolute perception of the necessity of Jesus’ presence? And if not, why not? In that case we’d better take a leaf out of Thomas’ navigation handbook.

In the upper room, John 14
In John’s account of the discussions in the upper room, Jesus tries to comfort his disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3). And He adds: “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know” (vs. 4). With the knowledge we now have about Thomas we can perhaps better understand his reaction: “Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how can we know the way?” (vs. 5). Jesus’ words unsettle him; he does not like what he hears. Is Jesus really going to leave them behind after all? Note that Jesus does not rebuke him even mildly (in contrast to e.g. Philip, in the very next incident: “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?). He must have appreciated Thomas’ attitude, although Thomas had yet more to learn. Thomas is still navigating in a fog, and now his radar image seems to disappear from his radar screen. But his appreciation of the importance of Jesus’ involvement is still undiminished. Again that is a lesson for us.

In the upper room again, John 20
In chapter 20 of his gospel John relates the early appearances of Jesus after His resurrection. At His first appearance to His disciples in the upper room Thomas had not been present (John 20:24-25). Why not? Apparently as he was the only one of the eleven missing? May I make another suggestion? He may have been the only one who fully appreciated the ‘disaster’ to its full extent: without Jesus they simply were ‘having no hope, and without God in the world’ (Eph. 2:12). The others were looking for support and comfort from each other in the loss of one exceptionally beloved, but Thomas seems to have realised that there was much more the matter than that. Maybe he felt that he had found insufficient appreciation of that view from the others. Anyway, he had decided to try and get to terms with his loss in isolation.

Seen in that context he refuses to be comforted at his return by what he sees to be a collective hallucination of the others; there is far too much at stake. He reacts like Ahithophel, who realised as clear as daylight that he had in fact rebelled against God and that without God there is no hope. Like Judas, Ahithophel stepped out. But where Judas acted out of desperation, Ahithophel acted with a full realisation of the situation, making all necessary arrangements for his house, and then drawing the inevitable consequences. Thomas seems to have had the same degree of realisation. But where Ahithophel had caused his own problem, Thomas was faced with a disaster beyond his own control, though with no less drastic consequences. Jesus had been ‘God (elohim) walking in their midst’. That was now an irrecoverable past, as it had been for Adam when he had been expelled from the Garden. What remained was: ‘dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return’.

And then suddenly, the next week, he is confronted with his Redeemer! When we realise the full extent of this situation we will also see the real meaning of his answer: “My Lord (adonai, the one to follow) and my God (elohim, the mediator between God and himself).” This is not the mathematical conclusion in the sense of Jesus = God, that some theologians want to see in it; this is the shout of joy by a man who sees his only hope in this life, the Jesus on whom it all depended, alive again. It proclaims his joy at the victory that had been won after all. He had not believed in what he had regarded as vain hope, but now he is convinced. Seeing was believing. John himself had come to believe when he had seen the empty grave, with the empty linen cloths (John 20:8). Thomas had to see Jesus Himself; but when that happened he actually had no further need to touch Him, as he had earlier proclaimed to be his condition for believing. When there had still been that fog, his radar had served him faultlessly; after the fog had lifted he had left it too late to switch back to visual navigation. But now he had made that switch nothing could shake his faith anymore. All the time there had been nothing wrong with his perception of Jesus, and hence with his faith in that. His only possible ‘shortcoming’ had been that he had been late in switching back from his ‘radar’ to navigation on visual observation.

In passing it is significant that the three synoptic gospels all include Peter’s ‘confession’, shortly before Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain. In John’s gospel it is lacking. Are we to assume that Thomas’ confession in chapter 20 is supposed to take its place?

The lesson
Jesus’ reply to Thomas’ reaction is, in my opinion, one of the outstanding statements of the New Testament: “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (vs. 29). That is a declaration that concerns (amongst others) us. We are among those that are asked to believe without seeing, to show a faith that is even greater than that of Thomas. So the lesson of the three incidents in John’s gospel involving Thomas is: take for an example the faith of Thomas in Jesus’ power to save, and add the testimony of John himself to convince us of the reality of his resurrection (‘the Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Thomas’). Then Thomas’ radar will be our radar, and his faith will stand there as a towering lighthouse for our navigation, so that we do not have to navigate in a fog. Then we will be able to take our bearing on the understanding he had before Jesus’ death, and upon his belief in the reality of His resurrection after that had occurred.

Thomas a hypochondriac? A born pessimist? A doubter and unbeliever? No way! Quite the contrary a shining example to us all!

This article is taken from Carelinks.Net

DOES GOD NOTICE?

2007-01-28T02:39:00.000-08:00

I have thought about what is happening to us a month ago. A 25 yrs. old man had passed last month. The good news is, he is saved and the bad news is, he has 2 kids and a wife and now who will shoulder their daily needs. Well, I really don't know how God works on this. He works in ways I cannot see.

A woman from Alambijud was in the hospital. She has a cyst in the ovary and needs operation. I knew that God knows all this. He has a plan for every situation. I have thought about Job. Job himself suffered but still he glorified God despite of the pains. My prayer is that may our faith grows, and may we glorifies God still. I have thought about how Mighty He is and started to say "God why don't you make our life easier", but a lot of verses from the Bible hit me. Our thoughts are not His thoughts.

Our old schedules are doing fine. I was obliged to lead the group that we have at Rehabilitation Center here in our place. I am glad meeting them again, singing songs, telling stories and sharing testimonies. I really want them to talk, so before we get in there, I have a plan to do whatever I could so that they will be my friends, I mean, I want them to talk freely to me as friends.

This is written two days ago. I have visited some of the blogs and I love to hear what other people say. I came to the point about posting, so here I am again.

WE FALL DOWN - MUSIC VIDEO

2007-01-16T07:23:00.000-08:00

We Fall Down - Music Video