Sunday, December 30, 2007

My Confession by Ben Stein

Snopes.com call this forwarded mail a phoney but whether it's real or not, it is a worthwhile read. Father Mario Sobrejuanite used it on one of his homilies. It really delivers a provocative message regarding our relationship with God and its effect on our society.

"My Confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year.

It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?'(regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes'through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards.
"

Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Life Metaphors

I have amassed a collection of life metaphors. Some were personally authored by me, and some I obtained from the net and other sources. The comparisons of life to things and objects are very intersting to note and if you have other ideas please free to add one. Thanks. Have fun reading!

Life is like a seed. It will never grow unless planted and nourished.

Life is like a river. With all its bends and rapid falls, one must follow the right path or else you'll lost your way to the sea.

Life is like a box of chocolates. You'll never know what you're going to get.

Life is like a bagel. It's delicious when it's fresh and warm, but often it's just hard. The hole is the middle is its great mystery, and yet it wouldn't be a bagel without it.

Life is like eating grapefruit. First you have to break through the skin; then it takes a couple of bites to get used to the taste, and just as you begin to enjoy it, it squirts you in the eye.

Life is like a banana. You start out green and get soft and mushy with age. Some people want to be one of the bunch while others want to be top banana. You have to take care not to slip on externals. And, finally, you you have to strip off the outer coating to get at the meat.

Life is like cooking. It all depends on what you add and how you mix it. Sometimes you follow the recipe and at other times, you're creative.

Life is like a jigsaw puzzle, but you don't have the picture on the front of the box to know what it's supposed to look like. Sometimes, you're not even sure if you've got all the pieces.

Life is like a maze in which you try to avoid the exit.

Life is like riding an elevator. It has a lot of ups and downs and someone is always pushing your buttons. Sometimes you get the shaft, but what really bothers you are the jerks.

Life is like a room full of open doors that close as you get older.

Life is like a puppy dog always searching for a street full of fire hydrants.

Life is like a poker game. You deal or are dealt to. It includes skill and luck. You bet, check, bluff, and raise. You learn from those you play with. Sometimes you win with a pair or lose with a full house. But whatever happens, it's best to keep on shuffling along.

Life is like a novel. You are the author and everyday is a new page.

Life is like photography. We develop from negatives.

Life is like money. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.

Life is like an onion. You peel off layer after layer and sometimes you weep.

Life is like a whisper. If you only try and stop wailing you'll suddenly realize that it is there.

Life is like a pencil. You can be sharpened, you can correct mistakes, and you can leave a mark.

These last two are not really metaphors but kinda love including them in the list. I figured I don't have anywhere to post them but here. They are just spurt of the moment ideas...

Life is crazy, but only for those who have no plans for it.

Life is unfair if you don't have the wisdom to understand it.


Click here for more Life Metaphors...



Sunday, December 23, 2007

A Faithful Drunk

Jack wakes up with a huge hangover after attending his company's Christmas Party. Jack is not normally a drinker, but the drinks didn't taste like alcohol at all. He didn't even remember how he got home from the party. As bad as he was feeling, he wondered if he did something wrong.

Jack had to force himself to open his eyes, and the first thing he sees is a couple of aspirins next to a glass of water on the side table. And,next to them, a single red rose!

Jack sits up and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and pressed.

He looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotlessly clean. So is the rest of the house. He takes the aspirins, cringes when he sees a huge black eye staring back at him in the bathroom mirror.

Then he notices a note hanging on the corner of the mirror written in red with little hearts on it and a kiss mark from his wife in lipstick: "Honey, breakfast is on the stove, I left early to get groceries to make you your favorite dinner tonight. i love you, darling! Love, Jillian"

He stumbles to the kitchen and sure enough, there is hot breakfast,steaming hot coffee and the morning newspaper. His son is also at the table, eating.

Jack asks, "Son...what happened last night?"

"Well, you came home after 3 A.M., drunk and out of your mind. You fell over the coffee table and broke it, and then you puked in the hallway, and got that black eye when you ran into the door.

Confused, he asked his son, "So, why is everything in such perfect order and so clean? I have a rose, and breakfast is on the table waiting for me??"

His son replies, "Oh THAT!... Mom dragged you to the bedroom, and when she tried to take your pants off, you screamed, "Leave me alone bitch, I'm married!!"

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

A Moving Message




Monday, December 17, 2007

Everyday notes to enjoy life (10)

Today is our 3rd wedding anniversary. As one of my presents to my wife, I especially composed a poem for her. It's just a simple one but she holds it dearly to her heart because it came from mine.

I am not really much into poetry and maybe so are you. But if its for someone who is very special, someone you really care about and someone you love very much, you'd form the words and rhymes from your mind and heart right away.

So don't let those wonderful thoughts just linger in your minds and just drift away, write and mould them into beautiful poems. They are the perfect gifts for someone you care.

Dumbing down our kids

I got these 11 very provocative rules from an author, Charles J. Sykes who has this title for a book, Dumbing down our kids :Why America's children feel good about themselves but can't read, write or add. These rules really speak for themselves very well and are based on real life and not the usual mumbojumbo "who says so" type of advice. The list have been sometime attributed to Bill Gates but in reality, these are not his works.

Rule 1: Life is not fair; get used to it.

Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will not make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with a car phone until you "earn" both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger-flipping; they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you screw up, it's not your parents' fault so don't whine about your mistakes. Learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning your room, and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. So before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades, they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off, and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is not real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

What I've Learned from my Superheroes

Here are 17 items that I've learned from my superheroes.

1. You don't need to be super to become a real hero. You only need to care.

2. You don't need costumes or disguises to help anyone who is in need. You only need yourself.

3. A lost battle is not a lost war.

4. Revenge doesn't count but justice is.

5. Even if you can fly, keep your feet on the ground. Learn to be humble.

6. Everybody has a weakness. Learn it, outwit it.

7. Even a hero needs rescuing.

8. No matter how hard the task is, be committed to it and accept responsibility.

9. You can never please everyone.

10. You may be invulnerable to bullets and wrecking balls and laser beams, but not to harsh words. It's a good thing because that feels very human.

11. The bigger they are the harder they fall.

12. With great power comes great responsibility.

13. Sometimes your archenemy can be your greatest ally.

14. Never underestimate your enemy.

15. The real job of a hero is not to fight but to save and protect.

16. Strength is good but most of the time wit is better.

17. You can always learn from your enemies.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

The Paradoxical Commandments

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.


Mother Theresa is thought to have her own version of these commandments which were written on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Christmas in our Hearts

Christmas season is in the air. The weather is colder. Daylight is shorter. Carols are everywhere to be heard. And people has been thronging to malls causing the usual December traffic. In the Philippines, Christmas comes in very early. As early as September in fact. We call it the "ber months". As soon as September hits the calendar, Christmas carols can be heard from radio stations. And early bird customers go promptly to markets to avoid the bargain fever come November. This could last up to the early weeks of January the following year where the season ends with the celebration of the Three Kings. That's how we Filipinos love the season so dearly. And this is what our fellow Filipinos abroad miss. True, we will never experience the spectacle of a white Christmas but we surely don't want it to be blue either.

Our own celebration is so joyous that you can feel the warmth and spirit of true Christmas. The spirit is not only within our own homes and families but to total strangers. The beauty of it is that, we only not spend it with our families but also with our friends, officemates, godchildren and oftentimes the less fortunates, the sick and inmates. We do exchange gifts, kris kringles, visit the orphanages, hospitals and prisons and hand donations and gifts instead of spending it on lavish Christmas parties. It's a time of great spending. But most of the time it's not for ourselves but for others we care about. That has been part of our traditions ever since.

My former officemates, together with my wife and I are planning this simple event of sponsoring a Christmas party for street kids this season - a group of simple rank and file employees. If this pushes through, it would be a most heart felt celebration not only for us but for the kids.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Everyday notes to enjoy life (9)

Laughter is the best medicine so they say.

I envy the kids. They live in a world of games, and plays and laughter. A world virtually free of problems and stress. A world of fun and a world of dreams. How I miss my childhood days.

The world is full of irony. When we were young we want to grow fast and pretend to be adults. And now that we are all grown-ups, we want to go back being children. I never grew tired watching cartoons or playing games. It's fun being a kid at heart. Now that I have a child, I can play every kid's game that I want. And it's so much fun, fooling around specially with your own kid. True, stress and work have eaten up our adult life but never be ashamed to admit that we want to be children again. So be a kid again and be unmindful of the things around you, play around and laugh out loud.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Go Gently with the Flow

If the sky above seems cloudy,
And you're left out in the rain,
If you're searching for a rainbow,
But the colors bring you pain...

If your world is not revolving,
And there is no end in sight,
If you're looking for the sunshine,
But all you see is night...

If all around are smiling,
But all you can do is frown,
If you are tired of all this living,
When life just brings you down...

Then look beyond your teardrops,
At the wonders of this land,
The beauty of a flower,
Like velvet in your hand.

Feel the air around you,
The smell of new mown hay,
Laughing children in the park,
The innocence there at play.

Imagine floating with a butterfly,
As she flutters between the trees,
Or the whispers of the ocean,
On warm hot summer's breeze.

Think of the taste of candy floss,
As it melts upon your tongue,
Or the melody of morning birds,
As they greet each day with song.

Remember words of beauty,
Told in your mother's embrace.
Feel the gentleness of her touch,
As she softly kissed your face.

Seek the good within you,
Cast the Clouds out from your sky.
Don't look toward the pavement,
But hold your head up high.

Think not what life owes you,
But at all you have to give.
Forget about tomorrow,
Then you can start to live.

So Bless this age your are living,
With the gifts you can bestow.
Don't disregard the stream of life,
Go gently with the Flow!

~ Author Unknown

Be Free

If you are quick to take offense, then you'll be under the control of those who you find offensive.

If you are easily angered, then your actions will be dictated by those who anger you.

If you are obsessed by what other people think, then you will be imprisoned by their thoughts.

If you yearn for easy answers and quick solutions, you'll fall prey to people who offer you nothing but promises.

If you find the truth too difficult to bear, you'll be enslaved to those who tell you what you want to hear.

When you have the courage to think for yourself, the strength to accept what is, the commitment and discipline to make a difference, then you are free.

You are truly free to live with purpose, joy and fulfillment.

Let your life be defined, not by reactions to what others do, say, or think but rather your own unique vision.

Raise your eyes above the pettiness and follow the path of the greatness that is within you.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

The Final Exam

A professor stood before his class of 20 senior organic biology students, about to hand out the final exam.

"I want to say that it's been a pleasure teaching you this semester. I know you've all worked extremely hard and many of you are off to medical school after summer. So that no one gets their GP messed up because they might have been celebrating a bit too much this week, anyone who would like to opt out of the final exam today will receive a "B" for the course."

There was much rejoicing amongst the class as students got up, passed by the professor to thank him and sign out on his offer. As the last taker left the room, the professor looked out over the handful of remaining students and asked, "Any one else? This is your last chance."

One final student rose up and took the offer. The professor closed the door and took attendance of those students remaining. "I'm glad to see you believe in yourself." he said. "You all have A's."

Sunday, November 18, 2007

A quote on selfishness.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Everyday notes to enjoy life (8)

I love to eat. Who doesn't? But do you like to cook? I do. However I just am not that good at it without my good old recipe book or magazine for that matter. Cooking is fun just as blogging is. When I cook, sometimes I imagine myself as a scientist or chemist if you may. Concocting different ingredients, trying different formulas then experimenting the final result unto yourself, by tasting it. Now wasn't that fun?

Life is like cooking. You've got to try and experiment other recipes, methods and ingredients so as not to bore your taste buds. You may love the change or not. You may like the new recipe or not. But the sure thing is, you'll learn something new out of this experience. It may be an improvement or it may be a mistake. Either way it will add to your skill in cooking. Just like in life. No risk, no gain.

Monday, November 12, 2007

An innocent sacrifice

I heard of the sad news about a 12-year old girl named Mariannet Amper, who took her own life because of poverty. Her father went out of job several months before and her mother work part-time in a noodle factory earning a mere P50.00 ($1.00) a day. The night before she committed suicide, she asked her father P100.00 for her school project but her father coudn't give her any. The family is living in a shanty with no running water or electricity in Ma-a, Davao City. She took her life by hanging herself using a nylon cord.

Days before she died, she has plan of writing to Wish ko lang!, a local TV program that grants wishes to selected individual who would write them and relate their wishes. However, she never did finish her letter. In her letter, she wished for a new school bag, a new pair of shoes, a bicycle for her brother, and a better-paying job for her parents.

The sad plight of the little girl caught the nation in shock and disbelief that such a young age was so distraught about poverty. Many media personalities and bigwigs went to her tiny abode to condole with the family. The TV program Wish ko lang, dedicated a special segment for her and granting most of her wishes including a dozen goats for farming, and full college scholarships to her siblings. At the end of the segment the program appealed to viewers not to resort to drastic moves to get the network’s attention. I watched the program teary-eyed last Saturday afternoon.

Mariannet's family is just one of the many Filipino families living in harsh conditions due to poverty. It is very unfortunate that it will take the death of a young girl before people start moving and pointing fingers at each other. For Mariannet's family, her death didn't go in vain as several people and organizations have moved in to offer help and assistance. But to others who are also experiencing such difficulties, I hope the government would listen to a girl's plea so seriously and start doing something about the country's poverty problems. This has been one of those wake-up calls for them and I don't know when will they ever wake-up from a very very deep slumber.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Busy! Busy! Busy!

I didn't have the luxury of time to update my blogs this past few days. Our project in the office kickstarted just recently. As a result I'm so busy beating deadlines after deadlines and new work keeps on coming. It's like a landslide of rocks that keeps on rolling unto my desk. And to make matters worst, my teammate for the project has to take a sudden paternity leave. His wife recently delivered their third angel. That's double blessing for him and a double whammy for me. The balance will surely tilt every load to my side. I just hope I'll be able to manage everything till he comes back. Well, as my blog put it, (deep sigh) life's like that! Wish me luck....

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

An anecdote for the brainies...

A wonderful anecdote for the intellectuals. Read and decipher the lesson within.

A scientific convention was held at a lakeside resort. After the first day’s proceedings, a mathematician, a physicist, an astronomer and a molecular biologist hired a boatman to row them around on the lake. As they sat in the boat, they discussed string theory, bubble universes, the Gaea Hypothesis and other abstruse topics.

The biologist noticed the boatman looking at them from the corner of his eyes. He asked him, “What do you think of these ideas?”

The boatman replied, “I didn’t understand any of it.”

The astronomer asked him how far he had studied. He told them he couldn’t even read.

“I hate to say it,” said the physicist, “but you seem to have wasted a good part of your life.”

The boatman remained silent. By now they were out in the middle of the lake, far from shore. A sudden storm whipped up. The waves started churning and heaving. All of a sudden, the boat flipped over. The boatman started swimming for shore.

The scientists cried out, “Help! We can’t swim!”

The boatman called back, “I hate to say it, but you seem to have wasted your whole lives.”

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Everyday notes to enjoy life (7)

For a change, why not spread good news instead of the usual headlines bannered by newspapers everyday bearing all the attrocities, disasters, and miseries of the world. It's very sad to note that the dailies, sidetrack all the good news in just a narrow section of their pages. Well it's obvious that such headlines would not sell newspapers because people tend to read unsound news.

However if you happen to know a good news and relate it to anyone I'm sure they'll be glad to listen. Sometimes it's a breather to hear the better side of the world.


Thursday, October 25, 2007

Another Chance

by Helen Steiner Rice.

How often we wish for another chance
to make a fresh beginning.
A chance to blot out our mistakes
And change failure into winning.

It does not take a new day
To make a brand new start,
It only takes a deep desire
To try with all our heart.

To live a little better
And to always be forgiving
And to add a little sunshine
To the world in which we're living.

So never give up in despair
And think that you are through,
For there's always a tomorrow
And the hope of starting new.

A CUP OF COFFEE


A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university lecturer. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the lecturer went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and exquisite, telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the lecturer said:

"If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each other's cups."

"Now, if Life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of Life doesn't change."

"Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

So folks, don't let the cups drive you...enjoy the coffee instead.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The Pencil

The pencil is not just a writing tool. It has a deeper purpose. If you think and look closely enough, you'll realize that it has a strange resemblance to our way of living. Here are at least five important lessons to learn from a pencil...

1. It tells you that everything you do will always leave a Mark .

2. You can always correct your mistakes .

3. The important thing in life is what you are from inside and not from out side .

4. In life you will undergo painful sharpening which will make you better in whatever you do .

5. Finally, to be the best you can be, you must allow yourself to be held and be guided by the hand that holds you.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Everyday notes to enjoy life (6)

As we were shaken up by an unfortunate event recently, I think this Everyday Note is most appropriate at this very moment. But somehow our prayers are most needed now by those we really don't know. The people who were caught in the eye of the blast. The people who were innocently walking, passing thru or having a great time and were unaware of their fate.

The blast has taken 11 lives and hundreds of injured victims.

Hope you can spare a little moment for them too....


Friday, October 19, 2007

A terrifying moment

By now, probably everyone already heard of the tragic event that happened today in Glorietta, Makati City. I was astounded to realize that I was actually on my way to the mall at that moment but went instead to a nearby bookstore where I thought is a better place to buy some time as I was waiting for my colleague's call.



It was a very terrifying moment, being in there and hearing sirens everywhere. For two hours I stayed inside the bookstore, not wanting to leave fearing of another blast within the area.



I really felt sorry for those people who were caught in the explosion. But I felt no remorse to those whoever responsible for it though it wasn't yet confirmed as of this writing if it was a delibarate act of terrorism. I am very thankful to God for not experiencing such tragedy.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Life is not a box of chocolates.

As Featured On Ezine Articles

"Life is like a box of chocolates." Everyone probably knows the famous line by Tom Hanks from the movie Forrest Gump. However I have a different view. Life is not always a box of chocolates. It's not always full of surprises. Life is not always sweet, and tasty and good that somehow you may not want to savor it over and over and over again. Most of the time it's full of dissapointment, and anguish and hatred. All the things that make life sour.

Happiness is a hard-earned commodity in life. Sometimes you would find your luck, most of the time you won't. Life is not here for us to enjoy. Life is work and survival for us to continue living. For most of us then, life is like a box of sour grapes, and rotten eggs and spoiled cookies.

I wonder then how Forrest Gump came out with such an idea that life is like a box of chocolates. How is he different to us? And I came out with the very obvious answer. Forrest has a different outlook in life than most of us. He always think positively. He always think that everything will turn out the best, not good but best. He is very optimist on all the things that he do. Even when there's a storm, he is determined to have a good catch of shrimps. He thinks that a man without legs can be as rich as Bill Gates or perhaps even richer.

Forrest Gump has these: positive outlook, sheer determination and ignorance. Yup, he simply ignores all the things that put him down. He doesn't know failure. His total ignorance of all the bad things makes him invulnerable to failure. He is not focused on his success alone but on his will to succeed. Success comes in later.

If we can immitate his very positive outlook, then we can enjoy life so much we want to savor it again and again and again. If we are so determined to achieve what we want, there's a greater chance for us to win our long-sought happiness and success. And in the end, we'll realize that "Life is like a box of chocolates." afterall.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

The Main Difference

Here's a funny comparison. Hope nobody is offended.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Everyday notes to enjoy life (5)

Most of the time we are afraid to let ourselves get involved. We think of ourselves first before doing something. We first think of our own comfort. We ask so many "what if's" to preserve our own safety. I do heard of people getting hurt not because they wanted to be heroes or something but because they are concerned. Nobody asked us to be heroes. It's just a matter of choice. Either you step up to make a difference or you don't.

Reaching out to a streetkid makes a very big difference. Letting him know that you care means giving him hope. And giving him hope means creating an opportunity for him to grow up into a better person. That would mean lesser risk for him to grow up into someone you will regret later.

 

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Saturday, October 13, 2007

The Tale of Three Trees


Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.

The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: " I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be
the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"
The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on it's way to the ocean. " I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!"
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.

Years, passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall. One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall make a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said.

The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It's perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. " I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the wood cutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and awed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. " All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him." Her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. " This manger is beautiful." She said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.


One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and a thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She new she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awoke. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hand to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

The next time you feel down because you didn't get what you wanted, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Just a thought

I've been contemplating on my blog's title. I've chosen it as a title for I want to touch on the many aspects about life. Now it just occured to me that the statement somehow does not promote positive outlook at all as it limits someone's real perspective of life. "Life's like that! Just get over it. There's nothing you can do about it. It happens." Those sort of things.

For most of us who had been used to life's difficulties, it's not that encouraging. It's like being stuck in a cell wherein you think you can't do anything because well, life's like that! when in fact you can make a change and do something about it.

But then again, it wouldn't be appropriate to go over blogger and re-edit the whole thing right? Simply put, my blog's title isn't my basis for posting, but my thoughts, my ideas and anything that is worth sharing to touch my readers and make them feel more abundant and encouraged and thus keeping them from thinking that life is just like that.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Time

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400.
It carries over no balance from day to day.
Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to useduring the day.
What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!
Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.
Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failedto invest to good purpose.
It carries over no balance.
It allows no overdraft.
Each day it opens a new account for you.
Each night it burns the remains of the day.
If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.
There is no going back.
There is no drawing against the "tomorrow".
You must live in the present on today's deposits.
Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success!
The clock is running.
Make the most of today.
To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to apre-mature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask a daily wage laborer with kids to feed.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.
To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND, ask the person who won asilver medal in the Olympics.
Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because youshared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time.
And remember that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present! --Author Unknown

A dismal service

Have you ever felt neglected? Say in some restaurant where you can easily catch someone's attention because you are the customer and people are just not paying attention.

I just had that experience lately in a popular fastfood chain here in Manila. The place is not buzzing with people. Not so much customer and the crews were not that too busy to attend to some additional requests.

So I ordered my dinner and I thought it would be good to sip some soup perfect for the cold weather. The restaurant gives ordinary soup as complimentary so I requested one. The crew in his gentlest smile and eloquent voice said, "Okey sir your soup will be right over."

I thought it was best to wait for the soup before I began eating my meal. But no soup came. I didn't have any choice but too start my dinner. I tried to call somebody's attention but to no avail. I finished my dinner and not a single drop of soup came. Talking about a dismal service from a well-known food chain.

To my disgust, I pulled a copy of their survey sheet which they readily provide in the customer table, rated their service to the lowest grade and commented "CONCERN ONLY ON INCOMING CUSTOMERS, NEGLECT CUSTOMER REQUESTS, NEVER GO BACK TO THIS STORE" and sent it thru their text messaging system.

Apparently, a copy of the text feeds back to the store's manager such that after 30 minutes I received a call from the manager herself. I thought I could engage her to a very long discussion on her crew's behavior and proper respect to customers but I didn't have the heart. I just felt so neglected that time so I just said, "It's OK, no problem". The damage has been done and no amount of apology will going to make me go back to that restaurant ever.

Monday, October 08, 2007

The Parable of the Water Bearer

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on an end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the masters house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his masters house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your masters house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts." the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the masters house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the Pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pots side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."


Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In Gods great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws.

Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness your strength is made perfect.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." -2 Corinthians 12:9

Friday, October 05, 2007

Everyday notes to enjoy life (4)

Being shy as I am sometimes hamper my ability to make friends. It's a real deal of effort for me to reach out and talk to someone I've just met. I'm too conscious about what to say, how to act, what to talk about. It's something that I have been wanting to overcome for a long time.

I envy people who don't have this kind of "impairment". So if you're one of those I envy, heed this fourth installment. Make friends. Who knows, you may encounter some of "us" and may help us to reach out and make friends easily in the process.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

The Optimist Creed

The Optimist Creed was authored in 1912 by Chistian D. Larson, appearing in his book Your Forces and How to Use Them. It was adopted as Optimist International's creed in 1922. Many have found inspiration in The Optimist Creed. In hospitals, the creed has been used to help patients recover from illness. In locker rooms, coaches have used it to motivate their players.

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.

To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

by Christian D. Larson in 1912,
adopted by Optimist International in 1922

Monday, October 01, 2007

Tuesdays with Morrie

Tuesdays_with_Morrie

I read Mitch Albom's Tuesday's with Morrie. It's a decade old book which I was able to discover just recently. And I'm glad I did. It's a very inspiring story, full of valuable lessons and wisdom, about a student and his dying mentor.

Professor Morris "Morrie" Schwartz (1916-1995) is the teacher. He was afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), a fatal disease of the motor neuron. Morrie is a great counselor, full of wits and wisdom.


Morrie Schwartz

Mitch Albom, a sports columnist by profession was his student. He learned a great deal with his Tuesday meetings with Morrie. And he understood what he has to do in his life. Together they concocted an inspiring manuscript that widens people's perspective about life.


Here are some of the adorable quotes from the book.

Life is like a tension of opposites.
"Everybody knows they are going to die," he said again, "but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently."
So we kid ourselves about death, I said.

"Yes. But there's a better approach. To know you're going to die, and to be prepared for it at any time. That's better. That way you can actually be more involved in your life while you're living."

"The fact is, there is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may stand today if it isn't the family. It's become quite clear to me as I've been sick. If you don't have the support and love and caring and concern that you get from a family, you don't have much at all. Love is supremely important. As our great poet Aulden said, "Love each other or perish.'"
"Okay this is fear. Step away from it. Step away."

Tuesdays_with_Morrie_quotes
"The truth is, when our mothers held us, rocked us, stroked our heads-none of us ever got enough of that. We all yearn in some way to return to those days when we were completely taken care of-unconditional love, unconditional attention. Most of us didn't get enough."

"All this emphasis on youth-I don't buy it," he said. "Listen, I know what a misery being young can be, so don't tell me it's great. All these kids who came to me with their struggles, their strife, their feelings of inadequacy, their sense that life was miserable, so bad they wanted to kill themselves…"

Tuesdays_with_Morrie_quotes
"Wherever I went in my life, I met people wanting to gobble up something new. Gobble up a new car. Gobble up a new piece of property. Gobble up the latest toy. And then they wanted to tell you about it. Guess what I got? Guess what I got?"

"You know how I always interpreted that? These were people so hungry for love that they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material things and expecting sort of a hug back. But it never works. You can't substitute material things for love or for gentleness or for tenderness or for a sense of comradeship.”

"Part of the problem, Mitch, is that everyone is in such a hurry, " Morrie said. "People haven't found meaning in their lives, so they're running all the time looking for it. They think the next car, the next house, the next job. Then they find those things are empty, too, and they keep running." Once you start running it's hard to slow yourself down.

Tuesdays_with_Morrie_quotes
"Well I feel sorry for your generation," Morrie said. "In this culture, it's so important to find a loving relationship with someone because so much of the culture does not give you that. But the poor kids today, either they're too selfish to take part in a real loving relationship, or they rush into marriage and then six months later, they get divorced. They don't know what they want in a partner. They don't know who they are themselves-so how can they know who they are marrying?"

"I've learned this much about marriage," he said now. "You get tested. You find out who you are, who the other person is, and how you accommodate or don't."

Tuesdays_with_Morrie_quotes
"Still," he said, "there are few rules I know to be true about love and marriage: If you don't respect the other person, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. If you don't know how to compromise, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. And if you don't have a common set of values, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. Your values must be alike. And the biggest of those values is your belief in the importance of your marriage."


"People are only mean when they are threatened," he said later that day, "and that's what our culture does. That's what our economy does. Even people who have jobs in our economy are threatened, because they are worried about losing them. And when you get threatened, you start looking out only for yourself. You start making money a god."

Tuesdays_with_Morrie_quotes

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

The Cross in the Room

Here's a good story to reflect on. For those who are tired and weary. For those who feel that they have the worst of everything. Contemplate on this and be inspired.

The young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer.

"Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy a cross to bear."
The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."

The man was filled with relief. "Thank you, Lord," he sighed, and he did as he was told. Upon entering the other door, he saw many crosses, some so large the tops were not visible.

Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall. "I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered.

And the Lord replied, "My son, that is the cross you just brought in."



When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself far more fortunate than you imagined.

Whatever your cross,
whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine
after the rain.

Perhaps you may stumble,
perhaps even fall,
but God's always there
to help through it all
.

Everyday notes to enjoy life (3)

Lessons usually come from mistakes committed. Lessons in life usually from experiences. Nobody has the better conviction to impart better wisdom than they who have experienced life's intricacies.

I never had the chance to meet my grandfathers. They were long gone before I was born. But my grandmothers, they are the ones whom I was able to communicate with as I was growing up. They were great storytellers. I can imagine reliving their experiences on how they survived the war, how they raised my parents, how they lived the world without formal education. They were so metaphorical that sometimes I could not understand what they were talking about. But I've learned a lot from them. And I owe it to them, and my parents, everything that I am reaping now.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Little Things

I've just learned of this beautiful poem. It makes one realize the value of small things. It makes one appreciate the significance of every creation. It motivates all of us that whatever it is that we do, how little it may be, how insignificant you may think, all of it makes a difference.

Little Things
by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer

Little drops of water,
little grains of sand,
make the mighty ocean
and the pleasant land.

So the little moments,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity.

Little deeds of kindness,
little words of love,
Help to make earth happy
like the heaven above.

So our little errors
Lead the soul away
From the path of virtue,
Far in sin to stray.

Little seeds of mercy
sown by youthful hands,
grow to bless the nations
far in heathen lands.

Life according to liquids...

I found a nice picture here reflecting on life. There is actually a sense of reality in it. Most of it however I think is just a misnomer. One may grow old and spend a happy natural life. It's just a matter of choice. We have the power to choose. We can choose to live a life without boundaries or respect life as God's gift. Realizing life as a gift I think will not lead into the liquid dextrose. What do you think?

Mass Baptism

Last Saturday, I witnessed the mass baptism of more than a hundred kids. The 9-month-old daughter of my wife's cousin happens to be one of them and I was asked to be one of her godparents for which I obliged.The church was packed with people and the kids, 76 of them and the first of two batches, have to endure the weltering ceremony. Outside the church, 98 more kids were waiting for their turn.

The special occasion, I've learned is held every year coinciding with the barangay fiesta. Parents take this opportunity to spare themselves of expensive preparations for the baptismal celebration including the minimal fee often charged by the church.

The only presiding priest attending the ceremony referred to all the kids in general, all the parents and godparents. Then he has to go to every baby for the actual baptismal rites.

It was quite an experience however I just felt no solemnity at all. In most part, the priest was barely audible such that most of us couldn't respond well during the ceremony. Other people sometimes joke around in their responses. It wasn't at all that amusing.

For all its worth, more than 200 kids joined our Christian community in that single ceremony and I want to greet all of them specially my godchild - Happy Christening! May the Lord bless all of you as you grow up.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

INSIDE OUT

Ms. Cory Quirino is a health enthusiast and beauty expert here in the Philippines. She's an advocate of natural means to enhance one's well-being. She promotes alternative ways to obtain clean, healthy living by using the gifts of nature. She has written countless books about beauty and fitness, and discovering the fountain of youth. Thought I could share some of her tips on how to live life to the fullest.



Living for the present moment

By Cory Quirino
Inquirer

"No time like the present." -Mary Manley

A POPULAR text message being passed around goes something like this: "Don't fret over the past, it's gone. And worrying about the future makes today stressful. Instead, live for the moment. Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present."

Stress vs the present

Living for the present moment is not possible unless one loosens the grip of fear. Other blocks in one's psyche can freeze one in the past or paralyze a person to make him unable to focus on the future. World-renowned expert on holistic health Dr. Deepak Chopra says stress is not really about problems concerning today. "Instead we feel anxiety because we anticipate pain in the future or we feel depression, guilt or sorrow because we brood on pain from the past. Freeing yourself of past and future relieves you of stress."

Survival mode

The concept of living in the present is basic to human survival. To illustrate, here is a story:

Carla had fallen in love with Louie who lived in another country. Louie planned to move to be with Carla. But because he had business matters to clear up, the transfer was taking longer than expected. Meanwhile, Carla worried more as each day passed. Her fears slowly overcame her. Would their dream of being together ever happen? Would she have to be the one to move, give up her job? The questions never gave her peace until Louie told her, "Please do not forget that we are happy now. Things are okay between us."

This simple statement gave Carla her moment of enlightenment. She learned that if one could focus on the present moment, lives could be lived more happily.

Tips for living today

1. Do the best you can now in preparation for the future.

2. Put attention on tomorrow by planning things today.
3. Once you have prepared well, do not worry about what has to be done tomorrow because you have done all there is to do today.
4. Throw away your list of wrongs?a long list of who has hurt you and how many times. This will only weigh you down, says Jeff Davidson, author of "Breathing Space."
5. By doing so, you need not worry about losing your spouse, job, home, sanity, health, because you have already done your best.

Exercise one

Disintegrating worry:

Write a letter (which you will never send) to somebody whom you trust. Describe your concerns, hurts, etc. Just let the feelings flow. As you write, insights will surface to guide you.

Exercise two

Life themes:

List down 12 major turning points in your life. Write for 10 minutes about any one of them. Put away what you have written. Next day, write once more. After reading three episodes of your life, re-read them and see if there are any similarities in themes.

Life message

The only antidote for stress and its dramatic effects on our lives is harmony. This harmony can be achieved by being aware of grace in your life and how it is working in your life harmony that is both inner and outer.

For one cannot possibly exude outer harmony without inner peace and inner grace.

Calming facial mask

Drink a warm cup of water. Add a few mint leaves. Chew a sprig of mint. Slowly sip the mint water.

In a blender, add half a cucumber, 1 tablespoon of milk and mint leaves. Once well mixed, apply onto your clean face. Leave on for seven minutes. Relax and refresh!

Affirmation

"Today, I will live like never before."

Love and light!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Everyday notes to enjoy life (2)

Here's my second random everyday note to enjoy life, it's about simplicity. The problem with simplicity is that it opposes our very human nature to desire more. Some of us might be contented of what we already have but then again we also have the nature to get tired easily of the same thing that we have. But if we can heed such simple advice, I'm pretty sure we'll find out what Mr. Easwaran means.
everyday_notes_2

Monday, September 17, 2007

Who am I? -Casting Crowns

The following is a very beautifully rendered song from a popular Christian band, Casting Crowns. It's a very moving song, full of humility. I've attached the lyrics at the bottom so you may sing along. Enjoy and be touched.



Who Am I
by Casting Crowns
album: Casting Crowns (2003)
Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Bridge:
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Bridge&Chorus 2x

I am yours.

Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am yours.
I am yours.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Everyday notes to enjoy life (1)


Yesterday, as I was rummaging through some stuff in our cabinet, I found a tiny box. Inside it were wonderful notes of everyday good things to do to add more joy to life. This was a gift from my thoughtful wife way back when we were still dating when I was desperately looking for a better job. I thought that the theme is very perfect for this blog and that I have to share the notes to inspire others. So what I'll do is to pick random notes every now and then and I hope to lift some spirit on anyone who feels glum.

So here's the first one:

everyday_notes_1
You may also double your effort by adding a few ‘good day’ greetings to your smile. Some people may just smirk you off or may leave harsh remarks such as “What are you smiling at as#@$&?le!”. The important thing is that you’ve conveyed your message and it’s up to them if they reject it or receive it well.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

My 50th post and counting...

Yey, it's my 50th post. And why am I so ecstatic about it? It's because my sole motivation for trying out blogging back then was to get additional income. And how am I doing you may want to ask? I haven't even gotten close to earning $10. And yet here I am posting my 50th. Blogging surely is fun and it has inspired me to work out on my creativity in writing. Of course I'm not giving up on my first purpose and hope to earn my first $100 in the future. And while waiting for that, I'll try to be more innovative and resourceful in my posts and hopefully reach another milestone. Thanks for everyone who visited and appreciated my blogs! To cap it off, here's a lovely quote about life.


Thursday, August 23, 2007

Hold on to your cross...

They say that everyone of us has his own cross to bear. That is the reality of life. The cross that we carry is not meant to punish us. It is suppose to strengthen our faith. It's purpose is to mold us into a better person. So the best way to cope up with any problem is to face it head on. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not but whatever ones problem is, however heavy, it will have a purpose.