Weary, I come


Weary I come,
Eyes Stinging, Head's turning
Unfamiliar place and unfriendly strangers
Making fun, make it hard for you
Bombarded with work in front of a lifeless viewtube.

Weary I come,
Got to lunch,
Listened to senseless filthy talks
Remembering a selfish dream I've given up
Afraid to linger on it again
Over a cup of coffee.

Weary I come,
On a laboratory's chair,
Head lolled from side to side
An angelic voice woke me up
Funny, "Andy you can't sleep here"

Weary I come,
To face the lifeless viewtube
Another being is facing it and he is weary too
I can't finish the thing
It's time for a break

Weary I come,
Got home early, had a haircut
Made a report, maybe eat later
In this dingy room, I sat all too weary
Listening to Rob Thomas sing an angry song

Weary I come,
I look forward at this moment
I'll rest in your arms and hear your voice
I'll cast my burdens upon you cause I'm weary
And I'll rest, you'll give me rest.

Throwing the Baby with the Bathwater


Philippines is the only Christian country in South-east Asia. That is what we claim to be, yet the 2nd most corrupt country in the world. See the irony here? Several days ago I saw a magazine whose headline says that Filipinos nowadays do not take on faith as a way of living. Personally, I have known people who do not profess only that they do not believe in God but by looking on the way they act or the way they behave, it seems that you cannot see God in their lives. Unbelievers including Christians who they say they are but in real sense are not make fun when they see Christians raising their hands while singing praises to God. It has become their favorite joke discussion over idle times, over beer while enjoying the endless parody of this world.

Sadly, I just thought that Christians today unconsciously submitted unto themselves into the ways of the world. Some who were brought in a Christians families like we all are, turn back from Him. Friends, we have thrown the baby with the bathwater as M. Scott Peck would say it. We have disregard the truth amidst the lies that surround it. Take Christianity for example - of all religions, I think Christianity has the ugliest history. In the past, the Catholic church have burned witches, killed pagans, destroyed lives in the name of the Christianity. At present, Christianity is dressed with stereotypes - the Vatican, cardinals and priests in an ornately complicated politics, dogmas and doctrines, evangelists gathering a mass of people to gain wealth, church condemning homosexuals, priests molesting children. When we think of these things, it will be easy not to believe in God. In one way or another from our respective churches, our parents, our teachers and even in our life experiences we have a disorted our view of God. These things surround the real nature of God. The baby underneath is not seen because of the murky, filthy bathwater. God is more than all of those things. Do not throw Him away with the bathwater.

A Great Story of Some Famous People


His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while
trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming
from a nearby ! bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.

There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming
and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what
could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse
surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced
himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."
"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer
replied
waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the
door of the family hovel.

"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.

"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.

"I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education
my
own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no
doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of." And that he did.

Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time,
graduated from St Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on
to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander
Fleming,
the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was
stricken with pneumonia.

What saved his life this time? Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name?

Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said: What goes around comes around.

Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Encatadia Premieres Today at GMA 7


I was at the library reading today's newspaper until I saw GMA's newest fantaserye, Encantadia which will premiere tonight. It is full-page poster, very beautifully done. Not the usual Pinoy movie poster with crappy feel. It's world-class comparable to Lord of the Rings! You could almost feel the excitement of the story by just looking at it.



Ynang Reyna (Dawn Zulueta) and Daughters Alena, Danaya, Pirena and Amihan

Encantadia revolves around the Filipino culture local gods and goddesses, of encanrados and encantadas (earth-bound fairies), of ancient Filipino myths and legends, and of great heroes like Bernardo Carpio and Lam-Ang.

By the way, taken from Encantadia's official site, here is the synopsis of what it is all about.

Prepare to enter and journey through the enchanting realm of Encantadia—a magical world divided into four kingdoms: Adamya, home of the Adamyans; Sapiro, land of the Sapiryans; Lireo, realm of the Diwatas; and Hathoria, domain of the Hathors. The peace and balance in Encantadia rest on the power of four precious stones—the gemstones of water, earth, wind, and fire.

It is my hope that they will be using "alibata", the Filipino original alphabet in whatever form of literature in the series and I do hope someday, Regine will have a cameo appearance as, uh, Ibong Adarna? Why not?

I Have A Story Tell


Today was the culimination of the 1-month, 8-session meeting for healing in sexuality and relationships. For almost a month, God has richly blessed me with his wonderful revelations to me. There are areas in my life that need healing, pains that needed to be brought up, confessed, and face with. The most difficult of it all is to accept the fact that I'm broken and to forgive those whi might have neglected, rejected and abused me in the past. And it is by God's grace alone to lay all of these at the foot of cross of His Jesus, who died on the cross to bear them all. With the testimonies of my brothers and sisters in Christ whose pasts are even murkier than I have and it's so amazing just how God transformed their lives 180^o. I have made friends who are so sincere and who did not condemn me inspite of my brokenness. I dedicate these short messages to all of them:

CC Team - I praise God for your ministry of healing to those who badly need it. May God continue to bless you. Kudos to bros. Judd and Andy.

Bros. Tony and Ted - my small group leaders and my advisor. Thanks for giving your insights and for further actions I can do. I am richly blessed by your personal testimonies. I am inspired not to think of myself too much but for others for God's greater glory.

Bro. Jomari and Sis. Divine - a very "cute" couple. I can see how God truly mold you as a couple for His work in your church. Thanks for the rides every CC session. I hope I could worship with you in your church in La Union.

Bro. Alvin - maganda sa Maldives! Hehehe. Have fun there while doing your ministry. Being in God's work, we are not doomed for failure. He who has done a good work in you will bring it in FULL COMPLETION till the day Christ comes.

Sis. Franz - thanks for the accomodation and for your warm hospitality.

Carol, Leonor, Ashley, Rhea, Joanna - see! I got all your names right! Ashley is not Paula okay... I have to correct myself. Thanks for the times we have this little chit chat... Carol and Leonor, I pray that I could worship with you next time.

LTPF - thanks for having this program.

Bro. Roy - thanks for referring me to CC.

Someday I have a story to tell and it would be a great story to tell. The story of my salavation. The story of how God changed my life. Have a blessed Sunday everyone.