Unproductive Saturday

I woke up at around 11 in the morning today, and the sun was shining brightly already, after weeks of gloomy days here in Baguio. I missed the sun and that particular warmth it makes me feel.

Anyway, I was also supposed to study all day today, that's because there really are a lot to study for-- Math 11, Soc Anthropology 101, Soc Sci 10, and lots more. I've got tons of readings all from those subjects, and reading them takes most of my 24 hours from my day. Next to the time allotted on readings are sleep and Facebook, then the watching One Tree Hill. I get tend to get real timid when it comes to studying.

After eating lunch at around 12nn, I continued watching the second episode of One Tree Hill season 8. That took around 50 minutes. I took a bath after, then went to church to attend two meetings: LifeBox's "Pumped Up"  and The Service Coordinator's General Assembly. It was ate Alelli's first time to lead the latter meeting, and she did a pretty great job. :)) (Y)

Today was also Saturdate, another newly-opened, 6pm service here at Victory Baguio, and I served as the Service Coordinator today. Service Coordinators make sure that everything during the service will just flow spontaneously. From the sound system to the lights, from the number of seats to the actual number of attendees, and from the different ministries to the pastor. In other words, they're like back-stage or floor managers. (I won't be talking about this any further. hehe)

Lo, and Behold! Kuya Richmond!

After the 6pm service, we practiced for tomorrow's 6pm service again, that's on Sunday. (duh) I played the keyboards, and kuya Richmond (one of my awesome roommates) lead the practice, and ofcourse, he'll be leading tomorrow's 6pm Praise and Worship. He's a great singer, and I admire him of his humility, patience and character. I just hope that he'll  still be keeping the fire burning real hot in serving Him. Kuya Richmond's life testimony has been a great blessing to me.

Andok's Dokito Frito. Masarap 'to. maraming MSG

Kuya Richmond and I got home at around 11pm, and we were hungry. As in, REAL HUNGRY.
Our food: Dokito Frito (Andok's Fried Chicken); 2 cups of rice; and 1  Mais con Yelo. Take-out yan. 


It's 1:51 right now, and I'm about to sleep na. "I'll start studying tomorrow." I always keep promising myself. I just hope I'll have the discipline to read and study tomorrow.

BTW. We invited our neighbors to church tomorrow. Bale, kasabay ko sila sa 6pm Service. I hope and pray that they will come to know how much Christ loves them, tomorrow. (I mean later na pala) And that's why I'm excited for what God is about to do at our 6pm service tomorrow.

Tulog na'ko. Good night, Guys! :)









Goals on Sunday (June 24, 2012):
1. Wake up real early; wash clothes kapag hindi tinamad;
2. Study Readings esp. in Soc Anth; (prepare for quizzes)
3. Study song line-ups for 6pm service;
4. Make sure neighbors attend church service;
5. Watch Episode 4 of One Tree Hill


*all photos in this post are not mine, they are all credited to google images and facebook.

Hey Muse, I'm Glad Yer Back!

It seemed that I have lost my muse ever since I lost all my work after my laptop got reformatted. You see, I have been writing a series of amateurish short stories, poems and songs after I got into UP. It actually seemed to be my hobby--well, only when I'm at home. And since I am the type of guy who does not have the confidence to let the open world read them, I decided to publish only a few into my blog, most of which have been deleted shortly after realizing their risks of embarrassment.

Lesson learned: Upload all files to the internet. YAN KASI.

Now, just this summer, I got my laptop reformatted at my cousin's, doltishly forgetting to backup all the files I wanted to save. Those include the songs in my playlist, a set of horror movies, my school projects and written work. Everything's gone, after a series of clicks on the mouse, just like how Dr. Mendoza from Philosophy class described tabula rasa. I remember the frustrations, the regrets, the dashing hopes.I was grateful with what my cousin did for me, but since then, I lost my determination and purpose in writing just how  I lost my files.

Back to amateur writing. LOL

Lately, after months of my writing indolence, it gradually seemed that my fingers have gone frenzy onto the keyboard to write again. The act of opening Microsoft Word every time I open my laptop excites me, as if that I had a lot to type in. It seems to be really, really weird but i'm glad that I'm back on writing again. I'm glad that my muse is back. YAAAY!

LORD, I Remember You!

"Maalaala mo Kaya?" or "Will/Do You Still Remember?"(photo credit goes to google images)

THIS. IS. GOING. TO. BE. LOOOOOOOONG. Parang readings lang ng Soc-An. (Just like the readings of the Soc-An majors)

I AM PRETTY SURE that all of us Christians have experienced having these awfully, negative feelings such as depression, sorrow, grief, and even the simplest to the most complex form of anxiety in our lives. For students like me, these may be because of failing exams or grades, the occasional stress, family and/or roommate troubles, homesickness, the usual, heartbreaking 'love life,' fights with classmates and org-mates, blackmailing and so on. Name it, there are plenty more!  ∞

Now to begin with, I want you to consider the following questions: 

• Have you ever praised and thanked God for giving you failing grades, stress, homesickness and enemies?;
• Have you ever asked the question, "God! Why is this [insert problem here] happening to me!?"; 
• Have you ever felt like not going to church or rather dragged yourself there because you felt that no good thing was going to happen or change, anyway?; or
• Have you ever got mad at God for not giving you what you thought you needed or wanted?

Now, let me share to you two of my favorite verses in the Bible:

(5)Why am I discouraged? 

Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

I will praise Him again--

my Savior and (6) my God!

Now, I am deeply discouraged,

BUT I will remember You--

even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of Jordan,

from the land of Mount Mizar.

             -Psalms 42: 5-6 (NLT)

David, as he was writing this part of Psalms, obviously needed a Clinical Psychologist or a Physiologist, at least, to help him with is emotional drama. You would actually find countless numbers of rants and complaints if you would just read through the chapters of the Book. 

Anywaysss, that is not my point. David, at this time of his life, saw the troubles from God's wrath--and that discouraged him, a lot. There have been times in my life where it came to a point where I thought that God really didn't make sense. Trouble comes after trouble, until it all seems to be combining, causing our ruin--our defeat.

Well, David didn't need a Clinical Psychologist or a Psychiatrist after all, because he knew and did what he really would've done. He did two simple things, actually: He 1 Remembered the LORD [for His kindness] and 2 he praised Him despite all the trouble and sadness, and depression. 

THOSE, MY FRIEND, ARE TWO HARD THINGS TO DO in times of raging hell and misery. I myself have the tendency of ranting and complaining whenever things go wrong with my life, or even with others'. I kept on thinking, "Who in the entire world would actually thank God for a very tragic event to the least of the predicaments like, death, for instance, to the simple delay of your weekly allowance?" OR, "Who (again) in the entire world would be seen jumping and clapping in church like an ol', party boy while at the same time is undergoing through tons of homework, exams and STREESSSS?"

Well, David praised Him. David remembered Him, and then praised Him even more.

Another remarkable story related to this post is the story of the life of Job. (Read the tragedy at Job chapter1)

My challenge to you today is this: Always remember that tragedies in life are all appointed and overruled by the LORD. Instead of focusing on the lack of your allowance, or the terror of your teachers at school, focus on, and remember the goodness and kindness of God in YOUR life. To give you something to begin with, remember that He gave is One and Only Son to suffer, get humiliated and die a painful death just because of your unceasing wickedness, so that you could live with Him for eternity. He loves you so much, you know, that He even promised in Hebrews 3:5 and said that, "...I [the LORD] will never leave you nor forsake you."

Apply that promise to yourself, then plead it to God. 

REMEMBER HIS LOVE and GOODNESS, then PRAISE HIM--NO MATTER WHAT.