A Different Fellowship

I really enjoyed with our selected deaconess last time, so its time for the deacons naman.  I was so excited for the fellowship expecting the same result.  But, though not disappointing, I realized in tonight's fellowship, guys are totally different with women.

Unlike the women, the mall is already closed and asking us to leave and yet they are not done with their stories.  For men, we have nothing to discuss - all about work, business, scenarios.  There was nothing even about appreciative on how God has been blessing their life.

Men are not expressive and definitely passive in terms of fellowship.  We need a new strategy in our next meeting.  Though I believe, in one way or another, we were able to get to know more one another.  At least, this is a start.  hehehe

Friends in Scouting

I was so privilege to have friends in Scouting who have pushed for my participation in the upcoming Advance Training for Troop Leaders.  At least, I get to go there and teach in two sessions and finish my required services as Course Leader in Training (CLIT) for two days.

I still believe, God is in control of my schedule because God knows what is best.  Because May is a busy month for Scouting and I cannot always be out of the office.  After this course, I still have to see the Basic Training Course in Chang Kai Sek College and then off to Tagaytay for the Annual Council Meeting, where I need to represent the council since I am the first vice chairman in the absence of our chairman who is scheduled to go to China.  Then, maybe off to another training in Scouting on the last week of May.

Still God is faithful... Praise Him.

Politics in Scouting

Politics is everywhere including in church and even in Scouting.  Of all the places, Scouting should be a place where we help in the formation of the young minds.  To prepare these young people for the challenges of life and the future.  I believe Scouting has the potential to reach out to the 40 million out of school youth in our country.

I was already informed to take part as a discussant in the upcoming Advance Training Course for Troop Leaders next coming week.  I was given my assignments and has prepared all the lesson plans and materials for the different activities.  I always prepare in advance because this is Scouting.  I wanted to give my best as a commitment for being part of the Training Team.

Unfortuately, I got a phone call awhile ago that my name has been removed from the staff list for the reason that the staff has overflowed and since Manila has no representatives, they are removing training team members from Manila to accommodate other councils.  But how about last year, when we have more than ten representatives to the course and we were not tapped to serve.  It is obviously a lame reason.

Politics, politics - it destroys the organization and the sprit of volunteers.  Anyway, will just do our best in Manila to produce representatives for one whole course next year.

Youth Rally

I praise God that more than 200 of our young people responded to join our youth walk.  The walk started 430pm and ended 545pm.  We walked around Chinatown for an hour praying for the needs of the people we met.

I have been living in Chinatown all my life and today was different because I was asked to be cautious especially with the people I meet as I passed through the different residence, establishments, and businesses.  I met different kinds of people - rich, poor, young, old, Filipinos, and Chinese.  Actually, I have been passing through these people everyday for the past 30 years of my life in chinatown and had never actually prayed for anyone.

The exercise has helped me developed the burden for these people.  They need Christ since Christ is in me.  It was an uplifting experience as I prayed for the people I met through the walk.  In a couple of minutes from now, we gather once again to praise God for such an experience and hope to continually challenge each one of us including me to develop the passion for the loss.

Fellowship Dinner with Lilibeth

I was wonderful whenever friends meet, especially when you have worked in a ministry before.  The original performers' circle team met tonight for dinner throught the kindness of Lilibeth who came home for a visit.  Lilibeth has been our stage manager for so many years she has been working in Taiwan for two or three years now.

Recalling wonderful times together when we were serving in PC sure puts a lot of smiles and laughs throughout the fellowship dinner at Emerald Garden.  It was also good, as I was able to catch up with some of them whom I have neglected for quite some time now.

Fellowship is really important.  I is really a good means to rekindle friendship and encourgage one another in our Lord.

Funniest moment for tonight was Jaspher mistaken our youth activity for tomorrow as a youth riot instead of a youth rally... hehehehe. And Jay stiffed because we thought he was afraid to breathe freely because he might cause someone to fall in love... hehehe

Welcome home Lilibeth and thanks for dinner and fellowship.

Deaconess Fellowship

I have been thinking about this since last year.  The idea was to help develop bonding among our church leaders.  It seems whenever our church leaders meet its always about ministry, meeting or problems.  It also seems that the leaders has not enjoyed serving God because there is lack of joy, love and fellowship among them.

I have been thinking of calling some meetings with church leaders composed of different age groups.  Hopefully the younger leaders can glean on the wisdom of the seasoned leaders while the seasoned leaders can catch fresh ideas from the new ones.

Calling ten deaconnesses for fellowship, only six came.  But is was a good composition and we really enjoyed sharing God's goodness and teachings as we journey through life.  We talked about personal stuff and eat - just plain simple and yet meaningful fellowship.

I really praise God because I learned so many things from each participant.  I was able to gain renewed perpectives on how God is working in each of their lives.  I also came to know the more about them.

I praise God for such an idea.  I believe, it worked.  There was bonding and able to get to know more about each other on another new level.

Those who attended were Belen chi, Tita K, Sirene chi, Peggy chi, Elaine chi, and Ruthie chi.  Next week, all deacons naman.  It was intentional that not all were invited so that a mix of deacons can meet and keep the discussion intimate.  We did not have enough time... so many things were not discussed but till next time as the group agreed.

The Big Rush

It was really hell running after time.  It was a record breaking experience for me this morning.  I was in La Salle to check on my papers if has been approved.  Praise God, it was already accepted, this means I could graduate this June if I would meet the deadline.

To meet the deadline I have to rush and gather signature so that I can submit my paper to the English and Literature Department for APA editing.  From DLSU, I took my paper and rushed to Sienna College where the chair of my panel was hosting a seminar.  After she have signed my approval and editing sheets.  I was in a rush going to Hope Christian to meet Dr. Divina for her signature on grammar editing.  Then, off to La Salle again to the English and Literature Department submit my paper for APA editing.  I need to submit my paper to the department before it closes for lunch break.  Afterwards I went to a clinic near Metropolitan Hospital to have my left ear check because of an infection and rushed again to my house for my third hilot session for my aching back and leg in Escolta.

I was rushing central (Escolta) to south (DLSU), to north (Sienna College), to central (Hope Christian) to south (DLSU) and back to central (Clinic near Metropoiltan hospital) and then home (Escolta) again.  These rushing was done from 9:30 am to 12:30 am.

It was a big rush.  My deadline to graduate is actually May 8 but since I am leaving for the Woodbadge training in May 4.  I need to submit everything by May 2.  APA editing is too unpredictable when the editors can finish editing my paper - the earlier you submit to them of course the better.

It seems done but it is still a long shot away.  After the APA editing, I still need to update my paper and submit the final document for graduation.  I am still left hanging whether to graduate this June or October.  God's timing is still the best.

Preaching Theologically

I was so challenged with my message preparation and really wonder how our church members took the message home.  It was my first theologically intense message.  Even I was having so much reservation in preparing such sermon.  But come to think of it, our church has not heard such theological messages for the past years.  It might also be good for our church members to have such exposure but still don't know if some people's faith has been shaken by my revelation.  I just pray that the Holy Spirit would be able to speak to the hearts of our members to move them for Gospel Fever.

Every new experience is a new learning experience.  It seems in all three services, I was not so intensed with my message delivery as before.  I believe God is teaching me to strike a balance between touching both mind and heart.  So that the Spirit can move the people to action.

I did my share in prepareing, praying and delivering God's message, and I extremely believe d God will do the rest for members to experience transformation.  Praise the Lord for His love endures forever!

Reflection: The Best Andragogy

Last week, I decided not to pursue my graduation this June since it seems my revision is taking longer than I planned.  So, why stress myself if I already passed my oral defense and still graduate this October?  But the Lord is good.  As I put aside my pressure to finish this June, I was able to progress just spending only an hour a day to make the revisions on my paper.

The secret is reflection, I spend more time reflecting on my paper than writing it.  It has helped me gained more insights and synthesized my work.  I once read that reflection is the key method for adult learners and I am experiencing it now.

Submitted my revisions this morning... I just hope it get approved.

A Perfect Picture of Friendship

This picture was taken during our Joint Camp Staff retreat after the joint camp last holy week taken by Jon Christian Bomping... truly a picture speaks a thousand words.

Letting Go...

I was very disappointed that I could not take part in the first advanced training course for outfit advisors. After all the preparations and excitement, I was not allowed by my dissertation adviser to attend because I have to meet him the following week for advising to finalized my paper.

 My position as Scribe cannot be compromised since I have to attend and document every single moment of the course especially it is a pilot course. The place also was too far to come and go since it is being conducted in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija. If only it was conducted in Makiling, it would be totally different since I can be a discussant of the course or counselor of a crew.

 Sige na lang... God knows best!

Really Fast!

Putting God first, really pays.  The Bible has kept reminding us that when we glorify Him, He will in turn glorify us.  This promise is true to me today.  I started writing my sermon around 5pm and finished the whole thing at 10:30pm.  This was the first time, I was able to write a sermon such fast.
Now, I have to move to the next - translating it to Chinese and recontextualizing it to the Chinese congregation.  God is good, there was no pressure and He really guided me all the way through my sermon preparation.

Praise the Lord, as He continue to reveal Himself to me in many amazing ways…

Massuer - Hilot Pala

I have fever for the past few days... this was awful since I am in the middle of my revisions.

Judy chi recommended this masseur but it was actually hilot pala... hehehe. I was impressed by her capability. She started massaging my head and all of a sudden she was asking me if I am experiencing any problem with my ulcer because she has sensed it when massaging my head. I said. "Yes, for several days now, I cannot sit up straight because of the pain along my upper abdomen." I thought is was dengue or something. And she was even able to get to my veins in my left leg that has been numbed when I had my slip-disc problem for four years way back during the late 90's.

All is well since after the massage, I really felt better and my ulcer pain has left me totally. Praise God for sending someone to relieve my pains.

First Things First...

I just learned that I am preaching in three services next Sunday. All the while I thought I will be preaching only in the second service. I have been praying about my message for awhile but has not really put anything down in writing.

The worse was that I need to preach in Chinese, since I also learned that the last two weeks, the messages in the Chinese congregations were in English translated to Chinese. That was really bad, old folks listening to a language they do not understand, and translations were not always accurate. I should preach in Chinese to be able to minister to them.

This is really a big pressure for me since I am revising my dissertation. My congregation is first since this was the vocation I had chosen. I have to let go of my revisions, focused on my sermon preparation - my sheeps' spiritual needs must be my first priority!

 Finally, I decided not to graduate this June, since it will be next to impossible to submit on time due to conflict of interest.

Revisions are Worse

I never imagined revisions in dissertation is much worse than writing it. In my previous experience in thesis writing, revision were quick and easy. But I agree that this is a new learning experience for me as I developed my research skills. The need for the paper to be excellent is unquestionnable. Maybe it was also caused by the intensed writing of the paper that there was less time to really reflect and synthesized.

Revisions has actually shaped my mind and focused especially on the area of developing the research framework to heart and mind. Also the sharpening of synthesis skills has brought my new learning to another level.

Research is really fun!

First Advance Training Course for Outfit Advisors

I am so excited to be invited to join the staff in the first ever Advance Training Course for Outfit Advisors of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. This will be pilot project headed by my friend Sir Efren. I was assigned to be the Scribe.

The Scribe is the most taxing yet the most important position because the Scribe has every opportunity to observe every discussant and learn from them, and learn how to really run the course as he records every details for documentation and future references of other courses.

I am fully prepared for this new challenge. Praise God for this opportunity.