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.

Lemon and Honey

I read in my 1801 Home Remedies produced my Readers' Digest that lemon juice mixed with honey and cayenne powder is very effective for loss of voice.

I bought lemons last Sunday afternoon and prepared lemon drink with honey as my water for the last three days and there my voice has totally recovered. I was not able to put cayenne powder since I was so lazy to go to the store.

I used three lemons with ten tablespoon of honey mixed with one and a half liter of water. Then every time I would pour on a glass to drink I add 1/4 hot water. It's really effective. I am ready for choir practice again this Saturday.

Praise the Lord! Maybe the lesson here was really God wanted me to sing with my heart to honor and worship Him... :D

Seated Together

I was so happy seeing more and more groups from the joint camp to be seated together as a group during worship service. The essence of community has started to emerge among our young people. Praise God that all the work has paid off for some of our groups. Still other groups I believe will catch up soon.

The cell group seating together as a group is an opportunity for the cell group members to be together besides cell group meeting. It creates a special bond because worshipping together as a body is establishing a connection with God as a group thereby establishing connection with each other through the Spirit. Second, it also creates an opportunity to actively invite other young people to join their group. Third, the collective idea of seating together builds up the confidence of group members in talking with individuals (whom they wanted to invite to their cell group) as a group rather than just one person inviting another which connotes some strangeness on both parties.

SEAT WITH YOUR CELL GROUP DURING WORSHIP SERVICE!