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The Real Joy

2009-10-21T15:00:00.000+08:00

, vaklJohn and Simon are friends because they are neighbors. Even though they are raised in the same community, lifestyles separate one from the other.

One night, coming from a party some distance from home, John and Simon drove together in John's car. Unfortunately John was drunk and lost control of the wheels as they approached a curved side of the road and they rammed crushing into a brick wall.

Instantly, John woke up and realized he was walking with Simon.

"Are we dead?" He asked Simon with melancholy in his voice.

"I suppose we are" was his quick reply. He sounded like an angel, with no tint of worries in his voice.

John panicked upon knowing death. He must be going to hell then. John is an easy-go-lucky guy. Women were like a piece of garment for him, he changes as he wishes. Gambling, wines, and other vices are his pastimes. He felt an overwhelming joy once he indulges of these things. He can afford it anyway with stable job and rich parents. But despite all the vices, he maintained his good social standing. No criminal records whatsoever. In short, he is a good man. His being a man of the world made him think he qualified for "hell".

But he was surprised further realizing he was with his religious friend. "But, why are we together?" He asked.

"I don't understand either." Simon replied.

'It must have been a mistake if Simon is also in hell',John thought to himself.

Simon is a real good man in his own sense. No vices at all, with good job, with good parents as well. But the joy he experienced which he kept on telling John is about his life in a religious group. He felt great happiness when he solemnly bond with friends together in worship. He sensed fulfillment when singing praises to God, serving his brethren in blood and faith, joining other religious activities, and doing good things all the time.

"There's no heaven or hell after all!" John concluded.

Simon didn't understand too but whatever is true he was still happy to be with his longtime friend. He turned to John and said "If this is heaven then you are not a sinner. but if you are indeed a sinner Jesus must have saved you."

When a door of light opened ahead and an angel welcomed them, John was convinced they are in heaven. And it was confirmed when the angel said, "Welcome to Heaven."

When they entered the hall, all they can see are angels shouting and singing praises to someone setting on the throne. They were really joyful in what they are doing.

Excited, Simon rushed to join the signing and praising as he was used to it. His garments glowed like the angels.

But John was left behind feeling alienated. Then the angel approached him and said. "Why not join with your friend?"

With a shame in his voice he said, "I don't feel comfortable here. Besides, I don't understand what they are singing and how they do it."

"My friend, what do you enjoy to do?" The angel asked.

"I love wines, girls, gambling, and others." He replied.

The angel smiled and said, "but there's no place in heaven like that."

"I am not worthy to be here, therefore". Simon answered sadly.

"But of course you are. Jesus' blood has redeemed every sinners on earth", the angel explained.

"But why I am still sad?" he asked.

"Joy is your own choice. You are indeed in heaven but you are bound and haunted by how you created joy in your heart. When you are on earth you immersed yourself to the joy the temporal world can offer. You never bothered to practice the joy that your Savior has told you that will last forever in heaven. Now that you are here you could not maximize the joy of heaven because your heart is used to the world. There's no hell for sinners, but the torment is you long for the things on earth and do not get them forever."

John's eyes were filled with tears as he watched his friend Simon enjoying every moment in his new abode.

In desperation, he rushed to the place where the door opened and closed behind them. Then the heavenly light broke out and was replaced by electrical lights.

John's eyes wandered and he found himself lying in the ICU.

As he rolled himself to his side he asked the nurse, "where is my friend?"

"He didn't make it sir." The nurse replied sadly.

Thinking of what he just experienced he whispered. "No, you are wrong... He made it home joyfully!"

Discerning

2009-10-07T08:35:00.003+08:00

A story had been told and retold about a religious family that lived on the bank of a river.

A flood came and when the house begun to submerge in the rising water the family prayed for God's help.

The neighbors came and told them they were leaving their homes and they too had to do the same. But they were confident God would spare them.

When the waters continued to rise they moved to the roof top and continued praying God for help.

The village officials came to rescue them with a rubber boat. But the father was insistent they are not leaving their only home and he was certain God would answer their prayers. And so the rescuers left them.

Then a sudden blow of turbulent water wiped them away and they were all dead.

In front of God, the family asked, "Lord, why did you not help us?"

Then God answered "I have. But you did not listen. I sent your neighbors. You neglected them. I sent you rubber boats. But you never cared."

image from http://www.christianexaminer.com

Parable of the Open Field

2009-07-30T14:02:00.003+08:00

A man can be likened to an open field.

At first, the field is barren without any grass nor useful plants. God made the fields clean. Then, God planted seeds on it while the devil also sowed seeds of its own. The owner of the field saw that there are good and there are bad crops, so he chooses to nurture what pleases him. In the process, he looks at the other nearby fields to see what has given more benefits to the owner. There are others who really try to focus on their own and made good.

The seeds that the devil planted grow easily and fast. So the field owners are tempted to nurture this seed. But the fruits of the devil's plants are short lived and have some negative effects on the eaters.

The seeds that God sows grow slowly and only those who are patient and persevering survived in rearing the trees. In the end it is God's plants that provide abundant fruits that never ends and the satisfaction is never ending.

Keep watch and be vigilant of the seeds that grow in your field.

The lost coin

2009-06-29T09:21:00.001+08:00

Johny, is a generous and kind man who lived in a small neighborhood. People know him of being helpful to the needy. He gives when it is necessary. He gives food to the poor, and gives alms to the beggars without thinking whether they use the money for good. In other words, all he care is to give when a person needs it. But he is limited to what he only has being a simple farmer, so some people would think bad about him at times when he is short of resources, and could not give when asked.

One day, by God's grace, Johny won the lottery's Jackpot price. And I assume that was lots of money. And as a rich man Johny bought a wide area of land in the village where he constructed a small house. He invested in a good business which would make money coming in throughout the rest of his life. With the continuous flow of fortune, Johny set aside a sum from his coffers to be given to anyone who would drop by his house and ask for help. Then Johny never realized "he was giving his neighbors fish instead of teaching them how to fish." But he never cared, because he has the blessings.

One day again, when he was about to leave the house he noticed a little boy in the yard looking for something in the uncut grasses of the vast lawns. The boy looked like one of those homeless wanderers of the city streets.

Curious, Johny asked the boy, "what are you looking for?"

He told him he was looking for a coin that was thrown into the yard by another boy the other day.

"Don't bother about finding it, I'll just give you money if you need it." Johny offered with honesty.

"But I need that coin!" The boy insisted never sensing the compassion Johny has tried to show to him. Then he tried once more looking under the grasses.

Johny took some money from his wallet and gave it to the kid. "Here, you can replace that lost coin you have." He knew, the amount he offered him was hundred times larger than the highest valued coin in town.

Gazing back at him, the boy said, "No!" With his eyes hiding a cloud of tears.

Sensing there must be some thing on that coin, or perhaps it was a gold coin, or an antique, or whatever priceless artifact it might be, Johny joined the boy in looking for the lost coin just to satisfy him. While searching together, Johny kept on asking the boy what value the coin had to him.

"It was the most precious coin, I ever had," the boy said with drops of tears rolled down his face. "My lost father gave it to me."

A remembrance with sentimental value. Johny thought. His kindness and desire to help overshadowed reasons, so Johny continued to help in the search. But almost half the day had passed and they found no coin. He asked the boy the exact place it was thrown but he wasn't sure since it was thrown from afar. Johny made up his mind to help the sad boy so he asked the neighbors to join the search while paying them for the days work. He told the neighbors to pull out every grass and scan the soil to find the coin.

But the day's search turned out to be more days until the whole of his land was totally searched, but still to no avail. By the end of each day, Johny paid the neighbors. He let the boy stay at his home and fed him. After a week of searching Johny realized he had a vast field cleared from grasses yet he didn't find the coin. He was definitely sure, the coin was not thrown in his lot so he bought the adjacent lot and started to search there. As a farmer's heart, Johny paid some of his neighbors to plant crops in the cleared field while the search in the other area was going on.

A month has passed but they never found the coin in the other fields too. Johny was desperate.

One morning, he decided to see the boy and tell him the absolute truth that he had to let go of the memories of the coin in order to be happy. As he was about to go to the boy's room he found him standing by the window and noticed a smile on his face. The boy's curly blond hair looks like gold as the sunlight hits them.

Noticing his approach the Boy turned his face to him and said, "I found it!"

Johny didn't understand what he meant and puzzled, he asked, "What do you mean?"

The boy pointed out on the field while saying. "I found the coin."

"Where?" He asked excitedly. He ran quickly to the window and peeped on what he was pointing at. In the field he saw his neighbors working and tilling the land. The green and healthy crops are almost on its fruiting time. The fields are green and are ready to show the fruits of their labors.
But he could not find the coin. "Where is it?" He asked again.

The boy led him to the front yard and found a new crop that sprouted from the ground with a little coin stacked on the cotyledons. "Here it is." When Johny looked at it he found out it was the lowest valued coin of their money.

Johny laughed!

But the boy said, "Sir, the coin is a small portion of your reason." He said calmly which made Johny stunned and speechless. "When you help without reasons, you teach this people to be lazy. But now look at them they work for a fruit. You give them money for their hard work and the money you pay them are of more value. And above all, you teach them how to fish."

Johny could not say a word.

The boy continued, "My father has taught you to be generous and kind but with love and love is manifested by caring for both their material and spiritual character. And now I found the lost coin in what you have done."

Johny wandered his sight around the vast farm he created out of the search from the lost coin. And he made good workers out of his neighbors.

From then on, every man who wanted help has to help others too through Johny's field. If you ask me where the boy goes? I guess you know.

Do unto others...

2009-04-17T08:25:00.000+08:00

I want to share to you another funny but good story from thisistheway.org with a great lesson and good idea...

There’s an old story about a farmer who sold butter to a baker. The baker complained that the farmer was selling his one-pound blocks of butter an ounce short. He measured the next shipment and, sure enough, each block was off an ounce. The baker sued the farmer.

The judge asked the farmer if he had accurate weights to measure his butter. The farmer replied that he didn’t.

“Then how do you weigh your butter?” the judge asked.

“Easy,” replied the farmer. “I just buy a one-pound loaf of bread from the baker and use it on my scales.”

Oftentimes people complain on the shortcomings of others only to find out that they have them too. Worst is the things you hate is sometimes what you are doing. When you do things, expect that there are corresponding consequences tied on it. In doing good you will gain good things. And when you sow the wind, you reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). In science, there's a Newton's Law that says - "in every action there's always an equal and opposite reaction"

Looking for Treasure? Here's a clue...

2009-03-26T09:20:00.002+08:00

Hey, wait! Before you close the page I promise I have something you are looking for and I wanna share it with you. I have this story from an e-mail. I think you should read this carefully.

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen...

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
"I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.
Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people?
Would there be abandoned children?

If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.
I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.
He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:
"You know what? Barbers do not exist."
"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber.
"I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"
"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because
if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" affirmed the customer... "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!
That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help.
That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Whoever is the author, thank you so much for sharing this.

I Sing Praises

2009-02-20T10:25:00.003+08:00

We were having our family bonding time last night after dinner. We were watching the local TV show, "May Bukas Pa," a story of a miracle Boy who heals many types of illnesses in the village because he is helped by Jesus whom the boy can personally talk with.

As we exchange comments, my wife asked me about the lyrics of a song which she didn't know the title and neither do I. So we asked Edu, our 5 year old boy who is also fond of "Santino," the TV show hero, to sing the song. There were three songs he sang but the clearest one is named "I Sing Praises," which I later know from the net. These songs however don't have connections with the TV show, what make them relevant is that they are matters of praises to the Lord.

I have posted here the video of the song with Edu singing and I added some lyrics on it. It seems he is trying hard, but I am fascinated by his effort. I guess he practiced in school for their regular monthly Eucharistic celebration (mass).

My Angels saved me

2009-01-27T08:53:00.002+08:00

I was spared by an almost fatal accident yesterday by of course no other than my Angels. And I thanked and praised God so much for that.

I was returning to office from home after lunch driving my old Kawasaki HDIX motorcycle, actually its the office service bike, when the near accident happened. The 2 lane concrete road that lead to my office was declared one-way road by the local government to give way to the growing number of motorists. I was moving at a speed of about 30-40 kph because there was few vehicles on the road moving in the same direction, obviously because it's one-way traffic. About 60-70 meters ahead in the next corner I noticed another motorcycle turned in the left lane of one-way road and moved opposite our direction. "Another hard headed violator," I thought. Then he stopped almost by the center of the left lane while turning his back from where he came from, I guess sensing if some traffic enforcer had seen him. I was moving by the left lane so I slowly shifted to the right. I continued driving thinking he would just stop there but to my surprise he turned and moved slowly directly across my path without looking for incoming traffic. I was then less than 50 meters from him so I tried to apply my rear brakes not intending to stop but slow down in order not to hit him but let him pass through. Noticing however too late and in panic that I was coming, he stopped just in front of my path. I did not know what to do so applied full brakes. By the distance of about 10 meters or less and moving 20-30kph I was desperate and believe I would really hit him hard.

At that instance, nothing came to my mind but the scenario of a fatal accident. In split seconds I was thinking where do I gonna find the money to pay for my hospitalization and the other person as well. I am in financial trouble so an accident would be an added burden.

Something happened suddenly I could not understand. I did not apply my front brakes because if I do so there's a chance I would be thrown off from the bike by my inertia. To my surprise the rear wheel skid and moved faster than the front which made the bike twirled and my rear turned almost 90 degrees from where I was heading. By the time I was about to hit the other biker our bikes were parallel each other sparing me from the dangerous hit. My right arm was hit by the other bike's right end of the handle bar. But it was not that hard. His right leg was also hit softly by my front wheel as we moved in opposite direction avoiding the collision.

The bystanders was astounded by what happened as if they have witness a choreographed stunt scene in a movie.

I was really thankful there was not even a single scar. I know it was the work of the spirit that spared me from the mess. And I learned some lesson from here that, "No matter how we are watchful of our actions, Satan is working to make us fall. Therefore let us always ask God to be with us all the time."

Angels in the midst of my home

2008-10-29T08:20:00.007+08:00

My Conversion Story: Final Part

I have been out of town for almost two weeks and I miss my blog. Checking the site this morning, I realized I have a very important matter yet to write and that is the final part of my conversion story. I'm sure a lot of you are waiting to know what happened next, so this is it.

I had moved to different places since the beginning of my journey as "God myself." I have established my family and at the time before my conversion I have four children. By that time my eldest, a girl, was aged 14; the second-a boy, 12; the third-another girl, 9; and the youngest-another boy was 2. I was fresh from another dose of educational achievement having just finished my Master's degree and another degree of arrogance.

While I was standing firm on my belief and finding ways to get proof about God's non-existence. God Himself is doing a remarkable job by setting up an "Angel" within my household through my eldest child. Never did I expected that within two years of my full time graduate study, which I was out weekdays, something had changed in my daughter's character. She has a group of friends I was not familiar with, she joined a lot of activities I don't understand what. Every time they came to the house I felt the bonding among them was so intense, they laughed, they sang, they talked together. I was afraid my daughter was into some sort of fraternity/sorority. But she was in high school so "I must do something," I told myself. Later I knew the group she joined was called "Youth for Christ." What is it?

I heard about Couples for Christ several years back when we were still in Ormoc City as some friends, a couple, convinced us to join their Christian group. I remembered having a debate with the husband and even almost convinced him of my atheistic principles. They never tried to invite us again,since then. Then in my current home, my close friend, who was another gambler, womanizer, and drunkard convinced me to join the same group. He told me it changed his life and his family. I laughed at him and I told him I have my own belief and I could live a peaceful life without having God. He too, never tried to convinced me again.

I realized this YFC is a young ministry of the CFC so I hardened my heart unto my daughter. I scolded her every time she joined their group. I even hit her several times just to stop her from attending camps and conferences. I didn't know if her mother told her what were the reasons. But I told my children they could be good if they just follow me and my teachings. But she insisted. Every time I hit her with a belt she would not cry, instead I heard her sing some kind of religious song, or something. Tears would fall from her eyes yet she was determined to get involved in the community. Every time she asked me to join an activity it would end into a scolding session but she was persistent until she was granted or even sneaked out when not permitted.

Then one time, coming home from an out-of town conference I saw her posting a sticker on the wall of the sala which read "Conquer All." I don't understand what it meant but I thought in my mind, my child had became a missionary. I love my daughter and inflicting her pain just to stop her from joining the group also hurt me. I realized that no matter how hard I hit her she kept strong in her own commitment to her new found God. I felt weak I don't know how to deal with it. If she meant to conquer all, that would mean including us. Now if I continue to hurt her I knew it would have an effect on her future. So instead, I planned to penetrate her circle with the intent of just closely monitoring her activity. This move proved to be the turning point in our lives.

Perhaps, God was really there orchestrating His master plan, an invitation to join a Christian Life Program (CLP) orientation came into our home. But later it came to my knowledge that it was my daughter who kept on telling the elder couples to invite us into the orientation session. Upon learning that CLP needed 12 sessions I doubted I could make it considering the hectic schedules and my lifestyle. But God really intended us to gather with his people, we completed the program with my wife not having missed any of the sessions while I missed one because of an important office assignment.

Since then my life had made a 360 degrees turn to God. I was humiliated by the fact that it is I who was evangelized by my own child. And I felt ashamed realizing I was actually a stubborn man trying to scape from the gentle embrace of my Father in heaven. Yet I was thankful God sent me an angel to make me realize His plan. And going back to my dream, I posed a moment and thought this was God meant when He said that my time is yet to come. In the CFC community I felt a chance to be part of the sheep's flock and hopefully share the banquet prepared in heaven for those who follow Him.

You can read of my early post about my community life and the difference from my old life. Please click Community Life.

A fight that could never be won

2008-10-17T09:17:00.003+08:00

My Conversion Story: Part 2

Man against God is a fight that could never be won. As an atheist for about fifteen (15) or so years I entered into such battle.

My exposure to theories in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and other fields of science brought me a large heap of knowledge I thought, at least from my own perspective, to have been enough I could consider myself as another God. Yes, I was so arrogant to tell others there's no God at all. I joined casual argumentation standing in the side to prove the non-existence of a supreme being. What I believed was Darwin's theory of evolution. I was convinced matter is what everyone is made of. And I try to convince others from my family circle, friends, peers, and everybody of my stand based on the information I have. The worst thing, I gained disciples out of my ideas. My wife, who was born of a religious family was even carried by my principles and even ceased going to church and to pray. I laughed at religious people and consider their works a waste of time.

Well, so many people say 'there is no real atheist' because they call God in times of desperation. I do call God several times in the past in blasphemous ways asking Him to prove His existence. Challenging Him to manifest His power if He is indeed true. Despite being atheist, however, I succumb to the requirements of the church where I was baptized. I was wed by a Catholic priests and my three children was baptized in a Catholic church as well. I allowed them as documents are important. I could even remember when my son (Enrico) who was in 3rd grade then, missed a scheduled "first communion" because he insisted he was not catholic. My attendance to church rites are purely ceremonial, no spiritual significance at all.

But life without a God is so chaotic, based on my experience. Since I carry everything as a God myself, I blame me for all the failures at home, at work, and every aspect of life. In times of problems, I quarrel violently with my spouse. I spank my kids. I was a chain smoker, a gambler, and a drunkard, if I may consider drinking almost daily after work as drunkenness. The saddest experience I had was when I lost respect with my parents because of the principles that they are just biological materials who carried me in this world. What a stupid idea then. Because of that it didn't matter to me hurting then both emotionally and physically. (God forgive me for I didn't know what I'd done!).

The fight with God did not end there. As an atheist looking to convince other people I collected materials to disprove the the presence of Jesus Christ. I have materials that questioned the authenticity of the Scriptures. I have learned principles to prove and explain scientifically every events in the Bible considered as Divinely assisted, like the acts of Moses in Egypt and in the wilderness. I have my own version of the events in the New Testament. Versions that prove God was not working as those things unfolded. Meaning, everything happened without God. And I wrote many things in line with my anti-Christ principles.

As years progressed, I tried to assess myself how far I had been in my fight with God. I haven't gained an edge. For fifteen years despite having a good paying job, a very supportive, industrious, and caring wife I ended up with nothing to boast. No house, no money, bad relationship with my parents, a not so good relations with my children, and I have less friends and community circle.

Although, I have no major financial problems yet I felt there is something I longed I could not understand what. I was feeling there was an empty space in me. But I could not accept I was experiencing a Spiritual vacuum within me. Never did I thought of submitting myself to a non existent God.

But God works in mysterious ways. He does not work in conventional ways. I was converted in a very humiliating manner and I was convinced my fight with Him could never be won. He used a very influential instrument and I will share to you the story in my next post.

PS: Thank you, by the way, to those who follwed my blog and this story. God bless you!

A call from a dream

2008-10-15T14:07:00.008+08:00

My Conversion Story: Part 1

Many Christians have their own conversion stories to cherish. As I promised Brod Willy earlier, I am sharing my own story piece by piece. This Personal Christian story of mine may not be unique as many people are receiving the same calls I received even before the time of my conversion.

The first message came to me when I was in high school, back in the 1980's. It was in a form of a dream. A dream which only later in my college life that I understood. And only later in my adult life that I took seriously.

I was born a Roman Catholic and raised in Catholic community. My parents are Catholics but seldom did I see them attend mass in fact if I may recall I can count with my fingers the time I saw my father attended mass. Worse, not even a single time I remembered that my mother brought me to church. Well, maybe perhaps she was already tired of going to church at the time when I was young because she had gone through it for eleven (11)other elder siblings of mine. I was the twelfth of a dozen pack and at the time I was born my mother was already 42, yet I found her still active. The only signs I knew she was a Catholic was that she prayed the Rosary regularly.

My exposure of the church doctrines was my primary school catechism where we were taught basic prayers and the sacraments. I have never seen or read a Bible by that time. My first encounter of the Bible was when my elder brother let me join a prayer meeting for youth in a society named "Kristohanon Katilingban (Christian Community)or KRISKA" organized by missionary Franciscan brothers in our place. We were made to listen to some verse and share our feeling about the message.

Then in high school I had this very strange dream. It was more than twenty years ago yet I can picture the scene clearly. I saw a man sitting in a big wooden chair in front of me. I was standing behind him. He was wearing a white long gown and I can't figure out his face because it is shining like a sun's glow. In front he was sorting out a multitude of goats and sheep. I could not remember where did he put one from the other but he grouped the sheep in one side and the goats in another. As every animal was sorted out, I felt weary. Although I was neither a sheep nor a goat I asked the man. "Where should you put me?" Then the beam of light from his face turned on me as a voice said. "Wait, your time hasn't come."

This dream kept coming back into my wind until I went to college. To make the long story short I found a friend who gave me a New Testament and in one curious time I read from Matthew Chapter 25 (from verse 33) the same story I dreamed years earlier. What a message for me then yet I hardened my heart and never listened.

And you can't imagine what I became as I gained eduction further. The worst thing, despite the constant reminder and calling, finally I became an ATHEIST believing everything about God as fiction. And even worst I became anti-Christ from then on.

I think this post has become long enough so I promise to tell you next time what I did as an ATHEIST and how I fought God with my "Wisdom."

(Photo is from http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/bosch/judge/)

A Generous story

2008-07-20T11:04:00.010+08:00

I kept telling my children and even members of my Christian support group that no other value that could bring material and spiritual soundness to those who believe in Jesus Christ and God. I have made the illustration of such idea in a short story. I hope you have read The Christmas Ring. This is the free online version of the story I want to share.

The story inculcates on good values of generosity and kindness. It is a short fictional drama about a man who promised to buy a fortune ring for his wife. The rings seems to be out of reach since it is so expensive and produced from a foreign land. After ten years of hardships and savings he got the opportunity of having it directly from the foreign land where it was produced when he was sent by his employer to train in that land. Fortune was on his side as he was able to buy two more rings for his two kids. But fate really played him as he lost the three rings through some very unusual ways as he was returning home.

The problem was that his wife's obsession made her an absurd plan of breaking off from him if he lost that final chance of having the ring which he promised even during their wedding day ten years past. The man loved the woman so much that he needed to do something. Find out how the fortune rings really brough fortune upon the main characters of the story.

It's a simple story in very formal tone. If you haven't read it I have placed the link to the other blog I made especially for it. Please leave your comments.

Here is the link again, just click http://www.xmasring.blogspot.com

A story for my kids

2007-10-22T11:50:00.001+08:00

I usually treat my kids stories before going to bed. We sleep on the same mat covered floor. I find it good for them to have this little fantastic events play their mind as they enter the twilight zones of their subconscious mind.

Then as Christmas approaches, if I can recall several Christmases already, I thought of giving them a book I would write myself. Why not, now I have come up with The Christmas Ring. It was about 3 years or so in the making. It's quiet a long span of time for a beginner.

Anyway, they finally have it in advance for Christmas 2007. I am also posting here the original unedited version of the story by Chapter. Catch it if you like. Read the story

The Perfect Sculptor

2007-10-16T14:08:00.001+08:00

Robert Parishu was a great known sculptor of his time in a small village in Greece. Artists of his field admired the unique style he demonstrated in his works. Everyone in the rural area must have known him personally without minding to be known by him in return. In other words, he was popular.

People can't hide their admiration to Robert's arts as everyone in the village were also benefited by it. Since his works are so popular, they were priced high that ordinary buyers could not afford to have the original. Robert allowed other local sculptors to copy his design and sell them at a lower price. Of course, he partook from the proceeds of their sales. A win-win situation.

One day as he leisurely traveled with his horse around the next village hoping to find new subject to work on he came across a small settlement of three houses. He noticed the largest of them having fine carvings on its structure. He was convinced a sculptor must have lived the house.

He was tempted to have a look at the dweller's works so he decided to approach the house. The stone walls, the doors, the windows are full of sculptures. His eyes wandered around looking for the workshop. Abstract geometric arts scatter around. In the east side of the building he found several carved images of human and animal subjects. Finally he noticed a man working in a wide stone table. He was busy that he didn't even turn a face to him even though it was obvious that he felt his presence.

"Good day!" Robert said to take his attention.
"Yes, good day!" He replied not turning his head to him.

Robert finally noticed the human figure the man was working. It looked familiar but he can't recall where and when he'd seen it. Somethings caught his perfectionist attention though which made him eager to comment and gave his unsolicited advise.

He told the man he needed to improve on the details of his work. The proportions of the body parts, details of the eyes, the folds and cleavages of the garments, the muscles, and other minute details.

Hearing all the comments the man turned his head and looked directly on his eyes and said.

"Tell it to yourself! I just need to remind your that this work was bought by my wife from you last month." Then he showed him his personal trademark under the artwork's base.

Robert was shocked and with a humiliated ego departed from the house full of things to further reflect on.

By this experience of Robert it came to me that sometimes a perfect action and work may still need further refinement if it is viewed from another perspective. To improve oneself we need to evaluate even the perfect moments of our lives. Some wrongs might have been hidden the first time we made them.