iced lemon tea

Well, it’s been raining lately and according to the Singapore’s meteorological authority (i don’t know their name hehehe), it will stay for the next two weeks. Just a few minutes ago, I was walking slow, checking out the dry pavement along my way. It’s been weeks that Singapore has been wet and thickly covered by clouds - and today was quite dry.

Just when I’m about to reach the block next to the plant am working at, grizzles of rain starts to fall. I did not run when people around me are trying to find shelter. Just when I reached the block, heavy rain fall began to echo in chorus.

Wowowow…. I really love rain. It makes me smile. It is the best moment to be alone… listening the symphony of drops. I have an option to wait for the rain to stop or run across under the rain. I choose the later.

Under the rain you can shout, you can sing… you can say anything you want at the top of your voice and i think no one would care. I forgot what I’m bubbling while running, but just when I reached the entrance and my officemate stood there in awe, I told her, "Wow… It’s nice!"

She can’t believe I’m dripping wet(no - not that am heavily soaked hahahaha). But I’m all-smile walking inside the work place. I’m just so happy with that quick rendezvous with the rain.

I remember the last time I play with the rain is when am about to walk for 200m under a heavy rain fall in the middle of the night. I have an option to stay and wait until it stops. But want to go home and so II wrapped my phone and wallet in a plastic bag and started walking. It’s just the normal walk. It’s really wonderful.

The experience is awesome, to say the least. Nothing beats the joy of walking without care, when you don’t worry for anything. When all you’re thinking are not the troubles of life but a life entertained and enchanted by rain.

Christianity is a continuous walk. There’s no slowing down in the Lord’s business as your testimony is always at stake. Your soul is eternally secured. But your testimony may falter. It is not the security of your soul that brings shame to the Lord’s name but your unfaithfulness to His Word and your infidelity in devotion to Him.

Surely along the road of your life you meet people. Some stay for a while, others stay for long. Either of this people leaves an impression on your life, just as your trail leaves an impression on their heart.

At any point of your walk, you’ve come to stop and ponder how you have been shaped by your past experiences. Then you realize some of the compromises you’ve committed along the way.

Consistency and Integrity matters. Unknown to you, your life have become a blessing to someone that to act insensitively may cause them to stumble. You have the spiritual responsibility of keeping your brother. You just don’t abandon them while you pursue your selfish end.

The world is a hostile place, full of temptation and vain opportunities. Yet this is not our home. We should act accordingly as citizens of our own country, where God is our King. In public and in private let our hearts burn for that yearning to God and to grow in the likeness of His Son. There’s no room for complacency as the enemy is like a roaring lion, always seeking whom he may devour.

Let’s not bring down our guard. If you think you’re lost and is venturing an inhospitable thoroughfare, now is the time to cross the road and continue your journey at the right track. When you’re back, have that presence of mind and never, ever give in to the enemy – not even an inch of your territory. Be warned: He is wiser than you think!

Usong-uso pa rin ang chain letter. Sumasabay sa agos ng technology. Sabagay, makakamura ka na ngayon kasi via e-mail na lng. mas makarami ka pa ng padadalhan. Maliban sa e-mail, pwede ka na rin mag forward sa pamamagitan ng friendster. Dati, kailangan mo pang bumili ng selyo at maghahanap ng padadalhan. Pwede ka maghanap ng biktima sa mga pen pal section ng mga komiks. Ang importante may mapag-padalhan ka.

Grade 5 ata ako nun ng may matanggap akong chain letter. 1st paragraph in 4 lines was a prayer to Mary. Sumunod ay mga talatang nanakot at nagkukwento ng mga "kamalasan" sa mga hindi sumusunod sa iniuutos ng sulat at "kaswertehan" naman ng mga sumunod.

Nakakatakot. Sa murang gulang ko, nauunawaan ko yung nakasulat. Kailangan gumawa daw ng dalawampu’t apat na kopya at kailangang maibahagi kaagad sa loob ng pitong araw. Mahirap. Mabagal ako sumulat at iilan lng ang alam kong pwedeng pagbigyan na  pwede ring makapagsulat ng ganun kabilis sa loob ng isang linggo.

Wala ka nang magagawa pa daw, dahil natanggap at nabasa mo yung sulat ng kabuuan. Sa pangalawang araw, napag-isip-isip ko. Ano ba ang mahalagang laman ng sulat na ‘yon at ganun na lng kahalaga ang maipasa sa iba?

Maliban sa unang talata, puro kwento ng pananakot na yung mga sumunod. Napag-isip-isip ko na ang kwento ay wala namang magagawang masama siguro sa ‘yo. Kwento lng yun ng mga pangyayari. Malabong magpadala ka ng kwento ng "kamalasan" at maisasama mo dun ang "kamalasan" mismo.

Sa unang talata, panalangin lamang ang laman at wala namang laman ng pananakot. Naging malinaw sa akin, na hindi nakakatakot ang laman ng sulat at hindi ito dapat katatakutan. Meron akong pagsaalang-alang sa kung ano ang gagawin sa papel na hawak-hawak ko.

Pag recess sa school, nagtatago sa likod ng puno na nakaharap sa bangin upang hindi ako makita ng mga kaklase ko. Sa loob ng kalahating oras, umaawit ako ng papuri sa Diyos at kumakausap sa Panginoon. Malinaw sa akin na mahal ako ng Diyos. Mahal niya ako at walang mangyayari sa buhay ko na hindi niya pinahihintulutan.  (Oo nga pala, hindi po ako relihiyoso ha, mahal ko lng ang Panginoon  ^^)

Pagkatapos ng klase, kinukulit at tinatakot na ako ng mga classmate ko, kasi hindi pa ako nagsisimula at halos lahat dun may kopya na ng sulat. Wala na akong mapagbigyan at baka di ko pa matapos yung dalawampu’t apat na kopya sa loob ng pitong araw.

Malakas ang tiwala ko na nasa panig ko ang Panginoon. Kaya pinunit ko sa harap nila ang sulat at ipinaliwanag ko na hindi ako natatakot dahil ang Diyos ang may hawak ng buhay ko.

Nagulat sila at parang natakot. Nagsumbong sila sa teacher namin, na sa hanggang ngayon at di ko maunawaan kung bakit gumawa din ng sulat na yun. Pinagalitan ako ng teacher namin at sinabihan na kung hindi man ako naniniwala sa laman ng sulat, dapat ibinalik ko na lng sa nagbigay o itinapon ko na lng. Pero sobrang mali daw na pinunit ko yun at sa harap pa ng maraming estudyante. Halos natakot silang lahat sa maaring mangyari sa akin.

Lumipas ang anim na araw, walang nangyari sa akin. Sabi ng iba, baka pagkatapos pa ng anim na linggo. Sabi naman ng iba, baka anim na buwan.

Pero lumipas kahit na ang anim na taon. Walang masamang nangyari sa buhay ko na maaring naging dulot ng pagpunit ko ng sulat na yon. Lalo itong nagpatibay ng aking pananampalataya na buhay ang Diyos, nakikinig at aktibong kasali sa mga mga pangyayari sa buhay ng mga anak niya.

Si Daniel at ang dalawang kaibigan niya, hindi yumuko sa mga nililok na diyos. Hindi siya natakot. Nang sinabihan siya ng hari na ang parusa ay ang pagsunog sa kanila, sinabi niyang hindi hahayaan ng Diyos niya na mangyari yun. At kahit hahayaan man daw, hindi pa rin daw siya yuyoko sa mga imahen na gawa ng tao.

Nagalit ang hari at pina-init ang apoy ng apat na beses bago pinapasok sila Daniel para masunog. Nagulat ang lahat dahil naging apat ang tao sa loob ng furnace at yung isa ay kamukha ng Anak ng Tao.

Sa pag pasok ng taong 2008, nawa’y makilala natin ng lubusan kung sino ang ating sinasamba. Kung siya ba yung Diyos na buhay at may kakayahan tayong iligtas, ilawan ang buhay natin at linisin tayo sa ating pagkakasala, o yung mga nililok na dios-diosan na hindi nakakakita o naririnig. Dios-diosan na nililinisan natin at iniilawan sa ating mga altar.

Mahalaga pong makilala natin kung kanino natin iniaalay ang ating pagsamba. Nawa’y maikalat natin sa buong mundo ang pag-ibig ng tunay na Diyos at ang kaligtasang inalay niya sa doon krus ng Kalbaryo, mahigit dalawang libong taon na ang nakakaraan.

Maligayang pagsalubong po sa bagong taon at sa bagong pag-asa na makilala ang tunay na Diyos.

Katatapos lng ng pasko, magbabagong taon na naman.

Pang-ilang Bagong Taon ko na ba to na wala sa bahay na kinagisnan ko? pang-apat na ata kung hindi ako nagkakamali. Una, noong nasa first job ko… 1998. Ayaw kong umuwi kasi 3 months pa lng ako sa pinapasukan ko at hindi pa ako regular… kaya sacrifice muna.

Pangalawa, 2005. Sa nilipatan kong kumpanya. Ganun din ang dahilan. First Christmas, sacrifice muna. priority na mag leave yung mga senior. Pangatlong taon, iba na ang dahilan. mahal na ang ticket. Hindi naman actually ganun ka kamahalan kung gusto mo talaga. Kasi pagdating ng  pasko at bagong taon, hindi rin matatawaran yung nawawalang saya ng bagong taon.

Hindi ganun kasaya dito. Sa probinsiya, January 1 tahimik ang kalye at lahat tulog hehehe… pano ba naman buong January 31 hanggang madaling araw ng January 1, buhay na buhay ang mga magkakapitbahay sa batian at yakapan. Pagsapit ng hating gabi, pagandahan at palakasan ng fireworks… pakapalan na rin ng usok ng mga paputok. pag di kita ang bahay niyo dahil sa usok, mas maganda.

Kinaumagahan, padamihan ng kalat ng rebentador. Meron na ring namumulot na mga bata para i-modify yung paputok… either paputukin ulit o sisindihan na lng ang pulbura.

Masagana sa handa. Tipong walang naghihirap basta bagong taon. Kahit saan ka bumisita, kailangan mong kumain kahit busog ka na galing sa inyo.

Masaya ang Pasko at Bagong Taon sa probinsiya. Dito maganda ang fire works… Umaabot ng 20min… o e ano naman.. .20min lng din na kasiyahan… after that, wala na.

Sana next year makauwi na kami. 

The Message of Christmas is salvation. Freedom from sin and its curse.

The manger points to

Calvary

. Just as the angels joyfully trumpeted the coming of the sweet baby, the earth and her people will later shout “Crucify Him”. The sinless Lamb will then be offered as a propitiation of our sins.

This Christmas, May we will be able to grasp the real message of

Bethlehem

. It wasn’t all about the star and the Magi it guides. It wasn’t all about the shepherds and the angel that sang his glory in that silent and holy night. It wasn’t all about gift giving without acknowledging the Gift and the Giver.

Jesus is the Gift. The Father is the Giver. The Sovereign Ruler of the universe came into flesh and dwelt among us. The Almighty Creator joins His creation. The God that we have alienated in our lives loved us this much that he will have to leave His throne and - by His death - purchase us from sin and the curse of eternal separation from Him.

Xmas is not Christmas. Santa Claus is not Christmas.

Christ and the salvation He brings is still the message of Christmas. May we will spend time in prayer thanking God of His Christmas gift as we start counting all our blessings - naming them one by one.

A Blessed Christmas!

Earthly riches won’t last. Just as everything we see will turn to dust and flown away by winds some day, so material wealth and our possessions here will also fade.

When Christ admonished the young wealthy man to sell all that he had and follow Him, the Lord is showing us that pursuing such is a lost cause.

We only need a bit of food daily, and a bit of water. Not even during our sleep that we need an area greater than our bed.

We need to redirect our quest to something that matter… something that would last for eternity… something that can’t be easily blown away.

We should be busy gathering spiritual crowns and riches, made up of pure, heavenly gold and precious stones. Something that when subjected to fire, won’t be burnt. So that, after it has been refined; it will be worthy to cast before the feet of the King of kings.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

The secret of giving is not the amount that goes out your hands, but the amount that goes out your heart. It is the sincerity and the willingness that goes with what you offer that count most.

When an old woman dropped her offering that costs less than a penny, Jesus concluded that she gave more compared to higher denomination offered by the rich people. He explained, “Here’s why: the rich people still have much money left. But this woman only had two coins. She did not have any more money. The rich people only gave part of what they had. She gave all of what she had.” (Mark 12:43-44)

In the same manner should our giving be. Our act of kindness, charity or expression of love must be measured by the same. Don’t give anything that would make your heart bleed. It is not giving. Being cheerful in giving means giving up on something with joy.. not just something that costs you nothing, but something that costs you probably, everything.

Bakit ang hirap mag upload ng pictures?

Bakit ang hirap mag approve ng pending messages ang friend’s request?

Bakit sa kadami-daming feature ng friendster, hindi mo naman maapreciate lahat?

Pati pag sign in mo sa madaling araw, laging may system maintenance?

no wonder facebook rules in the U.S.

GRRRRR…..

I’ve checked the “Who’s grabbed my photo” section of friendster. None.

My previous account has four. I have around 27 testimonials back then. Now they called it comments. Sometimes there’s nothing in it that says about the person itself. It became more of an e-mail and a public bulletin.

The previous number of photos you can upload is surely less than 50. Now you can upload a thousand. I don’t know who will browse a thousand pictures for one profile, unless of course they are the fans of the account holder. But that doesn’t make them friends, I suppose.

The numbers of friends back then are limited to 500. Who can limit your friends? But then, a lot questioned that figure. Can you really have 500 friends at one time? Is it the same with many “best friends” you think you have?

Friends are buddies that stays close you. They are that someone who are interested and concerned on the things that matters you. They usually check things out with you. They send their support and encouragement in tough times, cheer and celebration during the high times, and best wishes and prayers all the time.

They say that to found one in your lifetime is rare. If you found two, that makes you lucky enough. Three… four… and five, you must be a superhero.

I will not talk about customization and embedded music and videos. You surely know what I mean, when you experience to hear that big blast of music if you open your friends’ account. How about the “hang effect” because of too much graphics on the front page?

Unwritten rule of web page making says that the ideal size per page should no greater than 75kb for fast loading and easy navigation of your visitors. However, we feel the glitters, colors, graphics are too irresistible to ignore.

Anyway, we can never appreciate simplicity until we know how unpleasant it is to browse a convoluted page until we experience it first hand.

I know it’s just a matter of days when literally, i can no longer hold that high my baby Gabrielle. She’s getting heavier as the day passes by. Her laughter will never be as beautiful as it is today. Tomorrow she’ll set a new tone, probably a different melody. But never will she ever sing like the way she’s doing right now.

Six months were too fast. Surely years could never be slower. She looks so happy. She always smiles whenever she caught you looking at her.

I never regretted the moments we’ve shared when I fetch her from Negros and brought her to Singapore, alone. It is something I won’t dare to do again without my wife. hehehe… She literally gave me a treat of a lifetime. *lol*

Tomorrow, I’ll sit with her and show this photo. The color may fades through time, and papers can only preserve this much. But the moments we’ve shared will always be alive in my memory, well cherished and full of colors.