How then shall I live?

I think December is the month of the year when most people are in their most emotional and reflective mood.

I remember this scenario when I heard Steven Curtis Chapman's Last Day On Earth song...
One morning while I was driving to work, I heard the sound of a siren. And when I looked on the center rearview mirror, there was an approaching ambulance. Cars on both lanes were making way for the ambulance. As I was maneuvering my car to the left to create ample space for the approaching ambulance, I suddenly glanced at the billboard for the "now showing" movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still". The ambulance had passed by and as I was going back to my previous lane, thoughts were racing in my mind. What if I was the one in that ambulance?

Last Day on Earth
by Steven Curtis Chapman

I pull over to the side of the road and I watch the cars pass me by
The headlights and a black limousine tell me someone is saying goodbye
I bow my head and I whisper a prayer, "Father, comfort their broken hearts"
And as I drive away there's a thought that I
I cannot escape, No I, I cannot escape this thought
I can't get away

Oh, if this should be my last day on this earth
How then shall I live?
Oh, if this should be the last day that I have
Before I breathe the air of heaven
Let me live it with abandon to
The only thing that remains
After my last day, here on earth

If this should be my last day here on earth
If this should be my last day here on earth
If this should be my last, last day here on earth

And if tomorrow comes to find me
Looking in the face of Jesus
Will I hear Him say the words "well done"?

Oh, if this should be my last day on this earth
How then shall I live?
Oh, if this should be the last day that I have
Before I breathe the air of heaven
Let me live it with abandon to
The only One that remains
After my last day
Here on earth

If this should be my last day here on earth
If this should be my last, my last day here on earth

Cause this could be my last, this could be my last
This could be my last day

*Last Day on Earth is the 4th track in the album All Things New. You can listen to it for free at Steven's website. Here's the link for the said album.

Want to be a blessing?

Christmas is just around the corner. Want to be a blessing to others? How?
The Edge Radio Manila plans to decorate an orphanage this Christmas!!! Just donate your still pretty and use-able Christmas decors! If you'd like to donate your decor or help out in any other way, please contact The Edge office at 339-0140 or 0918.959.3343. :)

The Edge Radio's first

The Edge Radio is doing its first live remote video webcast at Acel Bisa Van Ommen's album launch at Eastwood tonight, Nov. 6, 2008 6-10PM.
Watch it live at http://www.theedgeradio.net/edgetvpage/manila/

Rainbow

Monday morning rush. I was having temper spurts while driving. I was quite annoyed by the jeeps and cars that were cutting my lane. When I was making the U-turn along Marcos Highway, a jeep tried to cut my lane again. I managed to make that U-turn safely. I was trying to keep my cool and stretch my patience. After making the U-turn, a rainbow greeted me. Whoa, I haven't seen a rainbow for a long time. It was so clear you can see the ROYGBIV colors. If I could just stop the car and stare at the rainbow for some time.hehe. I just managed to drive while glancing at the rainbow once in a while.

How great thou art!

Grace [period]

It's all because of grace [period]

Just when you thought you were invincible, God would always remind you that you cannot do anything without Him.

We're living under grace [period] Nothing more, nothing less.

Half filled or half empty?

Oil price hike every week. Traffic jam every morning. Annoying circumstance.
Perspective in life is really important.
I'm trying to be more thankful.
Oil price hike every week -- I'm thankful I have a car.
Traffic jam every morning -- I'm thankful I could take some pictures and patience level is being put to test.
Annoying circumstance -- I'm thankful because it's a test of my character.
This morning, a passenger jeep cut my lane (as in sharp cut). I was in shock but then my shock became anger. After a few seconds of state of anger I reminded myself to be thankful. Thankful that no accident happened. Suzuki (my car) wasn't hurt. I wasn't hurt. No extra expenses in case Suzuki and I got hurt. Test of patience indeed.

Borrowed time

We were on our way to church earlier this morning when we encountered a traffic jam along Amang Rodriguez Avenue. I was quite irritated by the traffic. My irritation was turned to mixed emotions when I was able to catch a glimpse of the cause of the traffic jam. What I saw is a woman lying on the ground beside a motorcycle. Then men were trying to carry the woman to a car and I supposed they will bring the woman to a nearby hospital.

When I saw that situation, my mind was filled with flashback images. I also had a street accident about 3 years ago. I realized I was living on a "borrowed time" for almost 3 years now. I suddenly have a quick evaluation of my so-called "borrowed life". God reminded me once again that I don't have complete control over my life. He's the boss. He could take it away anytime so I should live a meaningful life.

Unique story 2

Remember my "Unique story" blog entry about two months ago? Well, few weeks ago I was able to buy a new pair of sneakers. We just went to the mall that day to stroll but I ended up with new pair of shoes. It was my mom who noticed the sneakers. I tried fitting the shoes and surprisingly it fits. The salesman said it's the last pair already. I really appreciate the shoes because it's comfortable and has simple design. And the best thing was the price is 50% off! Woohoo! It's only now that I realized that almost all of my shoes were bought at a discounted price ha! Thanks to the unique size of my feet! I knew God has a purpose for everything. :)

Trapped in an "I-land"?

It's mid-year already. For the past weeks I've been "evaluating" my "progress" in this life of mine. Am I more loving... more patient... more generous... more joyful... more serving... or am I trapped in an "I-land"?

Driving here in the Philippines is very challenging. It takes a lot of courage. You try to drive safely but it seems that others don't care about it. I've noticed lately that I'm driving faster than I used to be. Maybe it's because I'm always in a hurry? Well, maybe it's because others are driving pretty fast and I thought I'll be left behind in the "race". Hehe. I guess I should have a sort of "metronome"(in music, it is a device to help you have a steady tempo) in my car. I'm keeping myself aware of my driving speed now... be more giving and patient and especially not to go with the flow of fast driving but not to the other extreme of driving too slow just like a funeral car! Hehe.

God is so thoughtful he remembers even our crazy little requests. Years ago I've been wanting to try other things like being an elevator operator, photocopying machine attendant and (school bus or private) driver. God made my little crazy requests into reality few weeks ago on different occasions. At first I was sort of complaining, but when I realized my requests were granted I had a wide smile. I realized that God is giving me opportunities to be of service to other people. :)

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4 NIV)

Benefit of the doubt

Before, I thought it's negative to doubt. When I was in college, my professor in Humanities would always comment when we're unsure of our answers -- "It's good when you're doubting. It means you're thinking." One of the things I could still remember from the devotional book "If the Pasta Wiggles, Don't Eat It..." by Martha Bolton is the "bumper sticker for the day" that says, "Sometimes the best gift you can give a friend is the benefit of the doubt."

I realized that the "benefit of the doubt" lesson is also applicable when driving. This "benefit of the doubt" had saved me several times from accident. You cannot really always trust what you're seeing. Some of my experiences were... The intersection might look open but when I'm about to cross it, another vehicle will pop out. I look at the side mirror and the lane seems to be open but when I'm about to change lane, a man riding a motorcycle is suddenly in the lane. I look at the rear red lights of the vehicle I'm trailing as a guide if I have to step on the brakes, more often than not, most vehicles on the road have busted rear red lights. Most drivers do not flash signal lights when they are turning right or left and this annoys me sometimes. Oh well, I took note of these things and try to be aware of the possibilities.

I think we could learn life's lessons while driving. :)

Thanks for the lemonade!

Lemonade is not my favorite but we should be thankful for everything.

If life gives you lemons, make lemonade! :)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (KJV)

Spectacles and HipHop/RnB

During my elementary days, I envied my classmates who wear eyeglasses. They looked like geniuses and smart kids. I could still remember I was asking my mom to buy me eyeglasses even when I have 20/20 vision. I would interview my classmates how does it feel to wear eyeglasses. One classmate of mine said, "Mahirap ang naka-eyeglasses!"

Two to three years ago, results of my eye checkup was my eyes are "astig" (as in astigmatic). I was advised to wear corrective eyeglasses. I was excited to wear eyeglasses. As I was wearing eyeglasses more often, I found out that eyeglasses are sort of obstruction on the face. I now fully understand my classmate's statement before. I hope and pray that my eyes won't be "astig" anymore. Funny me! I wonder if God is nodding his head and would scold me, "'Kala ko ba gusto mo ang naka-eyeglasses?!" I remember a Henry Blackaby's quote, "Oh God, if I ever give You a request and You have more to give me than I am asking, cancel my request!" :)

My brother likes hiphop/rnb sounds while driving. He would put down the car's windows plus have the audio's volume up plus matching wearing sunglasses equals 100 pogi points! My mom and I are quite annoyed with this style of his. I observed teenagers and young adults on the road and most of them have this style also. I guess this is just the trend. Recently, one sunny day while I was driving along traffic-free Katipunan Ave., a hiphop/rnb sound was played on the radio. I put down my car's windows plus have the audio's volume up. I said to myself, "Ah, ganito pala ang feeling!" I found out that hiphop/rnb is a good background music while driving. Hehe. I've learned that you'll never really know how it feels until you experience it yourself.

In life, sometimes we may feel that nobody really understands how we feel. We just have to remember that we have a God who understands us and He experienced it all. Hebrews 4:14-16 (The Message) says, "Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help."

Cinderella

Cinderella
by Steven Curtis Chapman

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I danced with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I danced with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of her dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I danced with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I danced with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I danced with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I danced with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

For a sample audio of Cinderella, visit SCC's site.

---------------------------------------------------------

I guess this song became more important than ever to SCC.

I've been hurry-sick for the past weeks and this song reminds me to cherish and savor each moment all the more. It's difficult to chase time. :)

God has a unique way of getting our attention. While driving along our street going home, a big frog popped up and blocked my way. I stepped on the brakes. I have second thoughts of honking my car's horn because I've been training myself to just honk my car's horn if really necessary. While the big frog was sitting pretty and blocking my way, I smiled. I said to God, "You got me!" He knows I can't run over a frog so I need to stop. (I was so sorry then for all the frogs I've dissected during my Bio 2 class when I was in college.) I stopped for a while and then geared my car to reverse to avoid the frog. When I was parking my car in our garage, I suddenly thought, "God, was that my frog prince?" :)

Trying times

I've read about Maria's death early yesterday morning. May the God of all comfort comforts the Chapman family in this time of grief. (Click here for more details)

There are just some things we will not understand in this side of life.

Just this 12:01AM, there's another PhP1.00-1.50 increase in oil petroleum products. Sometimes it's just so depressing.

I thank God for songs of comfort and hope:

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
- Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
- Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, All fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives
- Because He Lives (hymn)

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart
- Trust His Heart by Ray Boltz

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Hurry-Sick Tin

I'm fascinated in observing and monitoring things (e.g. weather, traffic, etc.). Lately I've been monitoring myself.hehe. And I noticed I have hurry sickness (hehe self-diagnosed disease).

My Symptoms:
- Honking my car's horn more often (esp. when there's a slow moving vehicle in front)
- Disliking red traffic light
- Eating fast
- Talking fast
- Walking fast or running more often
- Always looking at my watch or my PC's clock

I'm not saying that doing things faster is bad. But there is a time for everything. I'm forgetting to cherish the moment and enjoy the ride. God is too wise to catch my attention by giving me pain last week. It is as if He was saying, "Slow down, Tin." Now that I'm aware of it, I'll be monitoring myself again and hope I will make progress this week. :)

Unique story

Thoughts of being a "generic" human being keep on bugging my mind lately. I thought I have a generic name and a generic face. (Hehe. Just in my low self-esteem mood.) I asked God, "Is there something special about me?" (Just wanting to have some affirmation and assurance.)

Last night, my mom and I came early for the Black Gospel Music Celebration Worship Concert. We decided to eat and stroll inside the St. Francis Square while waiting. My mom suggested that I should buy a new pair of shoes (as an alternate to my fave sneakers). There were lots of shoes on different stalls. There were many choices of design and color. "I want a unique one!", I said to my mom. After going around the stalls for some time, we saw a cute sneaker-like-girly-looking pair of slip-on shoes. We asked for the price and it was reasonable. The salesman encouraged me to try the shoes. The shoes on display looked big. My mom asked for the smallest size. The salesman said the smallest size is 35. "Oh yeah, 35 is my size!" (I remembered I bought a pair of shoes years ago with size 35 and it fitted my feet.) But when I tried the shoes, it was one size bigger than my size. Too bad. The salesman encouraged me to look for other designs. I saw my second choice but then the smallest size is not my size again. Too bad again. I was quite disappointed because I wasn't able to buy a pair of shoes. But I felt that God just want to say something to me, "Tin, you have a unique size of feet! You see, with all the pairs of shoes available in all these stalls, nothing fits your feet -- because you're unique!" Hehe, God has a good sense of humor. "Yeah, I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made!" :)

Balinguynguy, atbp.

Naaaliw ako sa mga terms and trivia. Di ko alam kung bakit. Nung college ako, nagbibigay-aliw ang mga terms na natututunan ko sa human physiology at nutrition subjects.hehe. Kamakailan lang nalaman ko na ang tagalog pala ng nosebleed ay balinguynguy. Kaaliw! Tunog ethnic. Parang pangalan ng isang ethnic instrument - e.g. kudyapi, kulintang, kubing, at bungkaka. Nauso pa man din ang expression na "nakaka-nosebleed" kapag may mga bagay na mahirap maintindihan. Ang medical term naman para sa nosebleed ay epistaxis.

Ako ay nagbalik-tanaw sa mga terms na nagbigay aliw sa akin sa nakalipas na mga taon:

1. Angina pectoris or angina for short - ito ang medical term for chest pain. "Wag kang magalit baka magka-angina ka!"
2. Borborygmy - ito ang medical term para sa growling sound ng stomach. Alam ko lang sa tagalog ito ang sinasabi..."kumukurokok na ang tyan ko!"
3. Dysgeusia - medical term sa pagkawala ng sense of taste. Naaalala ko pa kwento ng teacher ko nung college pambiro nila itong term na ito sa mga classmates nila na walang taste sa pagpili ng boyfriend or girlfriend. Sa pagkakatanda ko kulang sa zinc kaya nagkaka-dysgeusia.
4. Cardiomegaly - medical term sa enlargement of the heart. Basta kapag may suffix na -megaly ang ibig sabihin ay enlargement or swelling ng size - e.g. hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), renomegaly (enlarged kidney). O-megaly = enlarged letter O?hehe.
5. Steatorrhea - medical term for fatty stool. Ito raw ang karaniwang side effect ng pag-inom ng diet pill.
6. Allium Cepa - scientific name ng onion. Pano kung may pagka-scientist yung nagtuturo sa mga cooking shows... "Sauté the Allium Cepa..."
7. Moringa Oleifera - scientific name ng malunggay. Herbal plant ang malunggay. Naalala ko yung isang pinsan ko nung bata pa sya tuwing nagkakasugat sya ang sinisigaw nya ay "Magdikdik kayo ng malunggay!"
8. Y'ami - ito ang pangalan ng island na nasa pinakataas ng Pilipinas. Sa pagkakaalam ko ito ay kasama sa Batanes group of islands.
9. Bundok Buntis - pangalan ng bundok sa may Maragondon, Cavite kung saan pinatay si Andres Bonifacio. Sabi sa mga history books may mga haka-haka na si Emilio Aguinaldo raw ang nagpapatay kay Andres dahil sa pulitika. Tsk, tsk, tsk... pulitika talaga.
10. Ubuntu - pangalan ng isang Linux operating system (free and open source software). Ang "ubuntu" pala ay isang ancient African word na ang ibig sabihin ay "humanity to others". Ang nakalagay sa jacket ng installer CD ay "Ubuntu is software libre. You are encouraged and legally entitled to copy, reinstall, modify, and redistribute this CD for yourself and your friends. Share the spirit of Ubuntu!" Great, di ba? Not your typical "illegal copying and distribution of this CD is punishable by law!"

Yan lang muna ang mga naalala ko sa ngayon.

P.S.
Ah, sa nickname ko rin may naisip na ako na nakakaaliw na terms:
- Patpat Tin = payat si Tin
- Sakit Tin = masama ang pakiramdam ni Tin
- Taba Tintin = kapag tumaba na si Tin
- Kulit Tin = hyper-mode si Tin
- Mainit Tin = kapag may bad temper si Tin

Epekto lang ata ito ng global warming kay Tin. Hehe. :)

Tour Of the Fireflies 2008

My brother and I decided to join the Tour Of the Fireflies this year.
Here's the route (as far as I can remember):

1. Tiendesitas - Starting Point
2. J. Vargas Ave.
3. San Miguel Ave.
4. Shaw Blvd.
5. Pioneer St.
6. Boni Ave.
7. Maysilo
8. San Francisco St.
9. Coronado St.
10. Makati-Mandaluyong Boundary Bridge
11. P. Burgos Ext.
12. Makati Ave.
13. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. (Buendia Ave.)
14. Roxas Blvd.
15. South Blvd.
16. Parade Ave.
17. Quirino Grandstand - Stopover
18. Katigbak Drive
19. Padre Burgos Ave.
20. Ayala Blvd.
21. P. Casal
22. Legarda
23. Nicanor Reyes
24. España
25. Quezon Ave.
26. Timog Ave.
27. East Ave.
28. Quezon City Hall - Stopover
29. Kalayaan Ave.
30. Kamias Road
31. Anonas
32. Aurora Blvd.
33. A. Bonifacio
34. Riverbanks Mall parking street
35. C5 Marikina
36. E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. (C5)
37. Tiendesitas - End Point

Most of the participants used mountain bikes. We only have Japan-surplus bikes. I personally enjoyed the bike tour. I couldn't believe that we were biking in the major streets in the metro. The roads where I enjoyed the tour most were Boni underpass, Buendia Ave., Roxas Blvd., and flyover going to Marikina. Though I was just a bit shocked by the uphill climb in J. Vargas at the start of the tour, I managed to finish the route by God's grace. It was tiring especially for the not-so-athletic people like me. Towards the last leg of the tour, my leg muscles were tired already and there were still several uphill roads along the way. It was just a sort of "mind" game for me. I saw some people taking their own stopovers. I was tempted to make a stop also but I think I would be having a difficult time going back to the track again. I just keep telling to myself Walt Disney's quote, "Keep moving forward".

I realized the importance of training. I need more practice. Practice, practice, practice. Practice makes permanent. :)

Attitude Is Everything

Just want to share this transcript of Francis Kong's Business Matters episode about attitude aired last March 7 over 98.7FM.

This is an old story but worth repeating.

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?" So she did and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
"H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?" So she did and she had a grand day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."
So she did and she had a fun, fun day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"
Attitude is everything.

I remember respected businessman Andrew Liuson tell this story.

One day an old lady who seems to be cheerful all the time got into the nerves of a wealthy businessman who seems to be miserable all the time. This old lady is not only poor, due to poor oral hygiene she has practically lost all of her teeth except 2.

The businessman could not understand. And so he approached the happy toothless old woman and asked, “I can’t seem to understand why you are happy all the time. Tell me. Why are you happy?”

The old woman looked at the businessman and said, “I am happy because although I only have 2 teeth left at least they are still aligned.”

Attitude is such a huge thing.

There are many people today who cannot attain the success they are looking for in life not because they are lacking in talent or skill but simply because they have an attitude problem.

Your attitude would either make you or break you.

Sales guru Jeffrey Gittomer says:

"Several national tests have revealed the following startling statistics about why salespeople fail...
15% Improper training both product and sales skills.
20% Poor verbal and written communication skills.
15% Poor or problematic boss or management.
50% Attitude."

I’ve known of people who are extra-ordinarily gifted. They are skilled. They are intelligent. They are highly educated. And they are getting nowhere in life simply because they have a lousy attitude.

Famous author and speaker Charles R. Swindoll says: “This may shock you, but I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude is that `single string' that keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there's no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.”

This is why if there is anything that is important for me to develop, it is to from in me a Christ like attitude.

To give thanks in everything and in anything appreciate God and His love for me.

This gives me the ability to understand and accept other people.

So let me offer you a piece of advice.

Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly.......

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

God bless you.

Just When I Thought I Was Over 'You'

First of all, let's define the 'You'. I just notice 'him' about two years ago when I started driving a car. He's been bugging me from time to time. At first I'm not aware of 'his' presence but now I'm always cautious because of 'him'. He'll just pop up any time. Sometimes I could contain 'him' but there were times that I just let 'him' go. Just this morning, I said to myself, "Just when I thought I was over 'you'..."

Alright, enough of this guessing game. I'm talking about my 'bad temper'. I thought I was over with it recently. Now I know why I thought I was over with bad temper... because I haven't encountered traffic jam for the past few days and I had achieved my greatest victory so far last weekend (i.e. enduring the traffic jam from Bicutan to Alabang). Oh well, I always tell 'patience'... "and you left me, just when I needed you most" hehe. Errr... "don't rest on your laurels" so they say. I've learned that dealing with bad temper is not just a one-time shot. Sometimes I'm thinking if I could only take a pill (just like Bonamine for dizziness) to prevent bad temper. Most of the time I tend to like shortcuts. But life is not like that. There are just some things in life that we have to endure to help us grow and build our character. We need God's amazing grace to do that.

Feel The Nails

Feel The Nails
by Ray Boltz

1st verse
They tell me Jesus died
For my transgressions
That he paid that price a long, long time ago
When he gave his life for me
On a hill called Calvary
But there's something else I want to know

Chorus
Does he still feel the nails
Every time I fail
Can he hear the crowd cry "Crucify" again
Am I causing him pain
Then I know I've got to change
I just can't bear the thought of hurting him.

2nd verse
It seems that I'm so good at breaking promises
And I treat his precious grace so carelessly
But each time he forgives
What if he re-lives
The agony He felt on that tree

(Repeat Chorus)

Holy, Holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy Holy
Holy is the Lord

Do you still feel the nails
Every time I fail
Have I crucified you Jesus with my sins
Oh I'm tired of playing games
I really want to change
I never want to hurt you again

Holy, Holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, Holy
Holy is the Lord

Redeem The Airwaves 3.0 : Upload

What: Redeem The Airwaves 3.0 : Upload
When: April 10-12
Where: Lighthouse Christian Community Alabang, Muntinlupa
For more info, visit www.theedgeradio.net

Nakakapagpangiti

May mga bagay na nakakapagpangiti.

Isang umaga na papunta sa office, trapik at medyo inaantok-antok pa.hehe. Medyo naiirita na naman ako sa trapik nang mapatingin ako sa mga signboards. Yung isang signboard ang sabi, "GENERAL BODY REPAIR & PAINTING WE FIX BANGGA, DENTS, ETC. MECHANIC ON DUTY". Binasa ko lang yung signboard, tapos bigla ako napaisip kung anong ibig sabihin ng "bangga". Nakailang banggit ako sa sarili ko ng salitang "bangga" (in American accent!hehe). Akala ko English word! Grabe, hindi lang ako napangiti, natawa ako sa sarili ko. Hindi maalis ang ngiti sa mukha ko habang nagda-drive hanggang makarating ako sa UP. Hanggang ngayon sinisilip-silip ko yung signboard na yon tuwing nadadaan ako at napapangiti pa rin ako.


Na-appreciate ko ang trapik pa-minsan-minsan kasi nagkakaroon ng pagkakataon na kumuha ng mga pics, parang "Slice of Life" ni Larry Alcala. Matagal ko na gustong dalhin ang Japan-surplus bike ko sa UP. Pero di kasya sa likod ni Suzuki. Sabi ng mom ko bibilhan na lang raw nya ako ng foldable bike para magkasya. Nung nakita ko ito, napangiti ako at nagkaroon ng idea. Tanggalin ko na lang kaya yung spare tire sa likod ni Suzuki at isabit si Japan-surplus bike?! :)

Di ko alam kung bakit naaaliw ako sa Volkswagen Beetle Bug. Napapangiti talaga ako! Nakatabi namin ito sa Podium parking nung nakaraang Sunday.

Nakakapagpangiti itong sight na ito. Pababa ito sa stairs. Inaabangan ko ang cloud formations at effect ng sunset sa clouds dito kapag uuwi na ako. :)

Ang sweet ni God dahil binibigyan nya ako ng pagkakataon na ma-appreciate ang mga bagay-bagay at mapangiti sa mga ito. :)

Walking Her Home

Broken & Beautiful
by Mark Schultz

Looking back
He sees it all
It was her first date the night he came to call

Her dad said son
Have her home on time
And promise me you’ll never leave her side
He took her to a show in town
And he was ten feet off the ground

(Chorus)
He was walking her home
And holding her hand
Oh the way she smiled it stole the breath right out of him
Down that old road
With the stars up above
He remembers where he was the night he fell in love
He was walking her home

Ten more years and a waiting room
At half past one
And the doctor said come in and meet your son

His knees went weak
When he saw his wife
She was smiling as she said he’s got your eyes

And as she slept he held her tight
His mind went back to that first night

(Chorus)

He walked her through the best days of her life
Sixty years together and he never left her side

A nursing home
At eighty-five
And the doctor said it could be her last night
And the nurse said Oh
Should we tell him now
Or should he wait until the morning to find out

But when they checked her room that night
He was laying by her side

Oh he was walking her home
And holding her hand
Oh the way she smiled when he said this is not the end
And just for a while they were eighteen
And she was still more beautiful to him than anything
He was walking her home
He was walking her home

Looking back
He sees it all
It was her first date the night he came to call

====================================

This song lyrics seems like a story plot of a movie. :) Actually, I was supposed to post this for valentines. Time flies so fast I didn't notice it's almost the end of the month. Anyway, it's still February...better late than never.hehe.

One Step At A Time [Full lyrics]

When something seems
Too hard to handle
Too big to conquer
Too far away to touch

When all your dreams
Begin to shatter
And deep inside you
You're hurtin', oh, so much
That's when it's time to say

Refrain:
I'm climbing my mountain, step by step
I'm climbing my mountain, day by day
I'm climbing my mountain, all the way
I'm climbing my mountain
I'm gonna make it

Chorus:
One step at a time
One step at a time
One step at a time
With Jesus by my side
One step at a time
One step at a time
I'm climbing my mountain
One step at at time

Even though you might grow weary
Don't be discouraged
In our weakness God is strong

Remember this, He'll never leave you
He won't forsake you
He's your strength and He's your song
So sing and start to say...
(Refrain then Chorus)

================================

Can't really remember the second verse and Mr. Google can't help me this time. I asked my mom and my brother if they remember the second verse. They made me sing first (1st verse and chorus) so they could remember the tune and hopefully the lyrics. Unfortunately, they could only remember the chorus. But my mom remembered she wrote the lyrics in her small notebook. (We had the album in cassette tape but unfortunately the album cover was lost already.) Good thing my mom still have that small notebook. :)

Thoughts I've realized... it's good to take notes and remember where you put the notebook (hehe!), and I'm just amazed how God designed our memory! :)

One Step At A Time

When something seems
Too hard to handle
Too big to conquer
Too far away to touch

When all your dreams
Begin to shatter
And deep inside you
You're hurting, oh so much

And now it's time to say
I'm climbing my mountain, step by step
I'm climbing my mountain, day by day
I'm climbing my mountain, all the way
I'm climbing my mountain
I'm gonna make it

One step at a time
One step at a time
One step at a time
With Jesus by my side
One step at a time
One step at a time
I'm climbing my mountain
One step at a time

=========================================

This is just the most I could extract from my memory bank. hehe. I can't remember the 2nd verse. Anyway, it takes moment-by-moment discipline to shake off worry. And it's really amazing how God brings encouragement during those weary times. Now my mind is not filled with worry anymore. It's busy trying to remember the 2nd verse. hehe.

Comforting line... One step at a time, with Jesus by my side

Unfortunately...

I'm reading the Astronomical Diary of PAGASA and unfortunately....


"An annular eclipse of the Sun will occur on February 7. Unfortunately, it will not be visible in the Philippines. The Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun. It will be seen from most of Antarctica, New Zealand, the south-eastern part of Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and Western Samoa.

On February 21, a Total Lunar eclipse will occur. However, it will not be visible in the Philippines. It can be observed in the Arctic, western part of Russia, most of Arabia, Africa except Madagascar, Europe and America."

Read more >>

Blue Lone Star

I've been noticing this certain blue lone star for about 3 times in a row already. And I notice it every time I'm driving. It just pops up in my point of view when driving.hehe. Tonight when I arrived at our house I decided to take quite a long look at it and I noticed that it's really color blue. I wonder what star it is and what's its name. I don't want to leave questions hanging on my mind. I called up UP Observatory (FYI: It's operational 24 hours a day) and inquired if they know what is the name of the blue lone star. After some describing negotiations (hehe!)... I just described the star as blue and bright-looking star. The Observatory personnel asked if it has companion stars and if they form an equilateral triangle. (Oh no, is this geometry class?!hehe) Anyway, I noticed that the blue star has two other companion and they really form a triangle so I said yes. And the star name is.... Sirius! It is the brightest star. Also known as Canis Majoris. Sirius is commonly called the "Dog Star". Now I know! :) I browsed in the internet to verify the information and yes it's the Dog Star! (See wiki info.)

When somebody claims he/she is the brightest star... I will ask him/her, "Are you Sirius?" :)

Oh Worry

Just a few weeks after the New Year and worries seem to be piling up. God has perfect timing and a good sense of humor. I stumbled upon this cartoon recently. Check this link. God is gracious because every time worry seems knocking on my door, He is quick to remind me of His promises. One of my fave verses is 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Worry, worry, go away
Don't come everyday
Busy Tin wants to pray

Crazy Ideas

I just want to share some...

To avoid car collisions, I'm thinking if cars could have that ala-"bump car" setup... or an electromagnetic shield feature where once you enter your car you will just push a button (just like the hazard button) and voila you're 99% collision-safe... or the roads have a certain system which could detect where the cars are and it's programmed in such a way that no two cars should occupy the same space, well something like that.

For those who don't like to use overpass or footbridge... I understand that it's quite tiring to climb the stairs.hehe. I'm thinking if there is ala-trampoline device which you could set the projectile angle. People could just "ride" in the trampoline device, set the destination they want to go and they will just be "thrown" to the other side of the road.

Oil price is getting higher, I'm thinking if I could have my car's engine converted to a water-enabled one... or if it could be solar powered one... or a rechargeable one. Lately I've been observing my "driving techniques". I'd like to know which technique would save me some gas.hehe kuripot. There's a downhill portion from Katipunan to Marcos Highway. I don't step on the gas pedal on that downhill part. I think it's effective. It's like hitting two birds with one stone. I save on gas and I build my "patience" muscles. I'm always tempted to step on the gas and speed up on that part. But I always remind myself that I'm in a real-life driving and not on a Need for Speed video game.hehe. "Continue" option/button is not always available in real-life accident. I might get a "game over" or should I say "life's over".hehe.

New year is here again. Making resolutions is a fad. We want to change for the better. Well that's good. I just don't know what to feel when people say that I'm getting thinner. I don't know if it's a compliment or an indirect suggestion to eat some more.haha. I'm confused! :)

I think my brain is reaching almost "90% CPU usage" these days.hehe. Out of the blue, I was just thinking if a person driving is called a "driver", what do you call a person waiting? A "waiter"? What if the person waiting is a female? Will "waitress" be a correct term?

Oh well, enough of this craziness. I may just be a little hypoglycemic or a little "hyper". By the way, my most mentioned word these days is "weird" but I'm not a "weirdo".haha.

Goodbye SAD days...

January is here. I think the SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) days are gone. Though we're in a tropical country, season of December just brings a gloomy feel.

Before the end of the previous year, the "board of family members" decided to name our puppies (drum roll please)... Blackie and Brownie! hehe it was so hard to think of those names... unique names, eh?! :)

Something I like about new year is the concept of "starting over". It's like "forget the past and move on" idea. The gloomy feel is just replaced by feeling of hope. One of my comfort songs during SAD days is... Because He lives / I can face tomorrow / Because He lives / All fear is gone / And because I know He holds the future / And life is worth the living just Because He lives. :)