So how've you been?

Car talk: my daughter and I checked out the Geely Panda Philippines showroom along North EDSA yesterday. Natuwa kami... okay, ako. It's such a cute car. Will now seriously think about selling my Getz. :)

All is rooted in love

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

I read out of Ephesians 4 today as part of the devotions I'm doing for the church in Greenhills. Verse 2 in particular struck me because it contains three character traits that I strive to have but really don't have naturally, and thus I rely on and need the grace of God to make it happen.

Lord, I need you.

Bothered

It's been almost a week since my main website took a major hit from Google. I'm working now on building community, but it gets me down because it's not showing up at all on Google. *hay*

Listening to Planetshakers You Are God

Aww, crap

It looks like Google did something to me again. lol The hits on the other website are down 60%. Sucks to be me right now, with my son battling the mumps and my site's traffic down, 83% of which is search engine driven. Ah, I need to build me some community!

Listening to The Museum

Daniel Fast Day #8

Today, I'm on the eighth day of my Daniel fast. It hasn't been as difficult as I thought it would be, primarily because I love vegetables to begin with. I'm trying to get more creative with my food choices, even as I wait on God to heal three people of their cancers. They're so strong; it's the least I can do to help support them.

Listening to: Casting Crowns, Courageous

Craving the word

The past week, I've been participating in the Crave devotionals of the church in Greenhills that I work for. I'm enjoying myself immensely; I feel God is speaking to me and preparing me for the next season. Exciting stuff.

Listening to Luminate Innocent

Humbled

God is teaching me a thing or two about humility. I praise Him for His mercy.

Listening to: Francesca Battistelli Motion of Mercy

As a Christian blogger, I find it important that fellowship with other people who operate their own Christian blog can be quite helpful. If you'd like to join a fellowship of Filipino-Christian bloggers, you can join this Facebook group here.

Listening to: Tenth Avenue North Strong Enough to Save

Wedding day!

Today is the wedding day of two of my friends, Bojo and Ronna. So happy for the two of them! Because of the wedding, I may have to miss the Japan: Kingdom of Characters exhibit at the Met today, but it continues until August, so I'll bring Nicki and Nathan there another time.

Listening to Shawn McDonald Rise

Rebuking disease

Too many people in my circle of influence are ill. This morning, I was just overwhelmed by it all, but you know what? God is a healing God. He is Jehovah Rophe, the God Who heals. And He will heal us in His timing, His perfect timing, according to His perfect will. I am claiming healing for hundreds, thousands, millions, and God will take the glory and credit because He loves us.

Listening to Sidewalk Prophets You Love Me Anyway

Productive day

Got four items on my to-do list, and I'm looking forward to accomplishing all of them before the day is through! Come on now!

Listening to Francesca Battistelli Motion of Mercy

Rats!

Yesterday, I fixed a leaking faucet, paid two bills, met up with an accountability partner, and set rat traps. Caught three mice. Yesz!

Listening to Montell Jordan Shake Heaven

Rainy days

Tropical storm Falcon - yeah, that's its name - has dumped a lot of rain on Manila, turning our city into a virtual swimming pool. I've been home the entire time, but one of my tweets about Araneta Avenue being chest-deep for former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo was picked up by a feed on GMA News. Surreal.

Listening to: 2NE1 I Am The Best

Find rest o my soul

Today, I really cried out to God. I was demoralized, discouraged, and depressed. I have yet another sore throat - starting to wonder if there's really something wrong with me, I get this on a regular basis - and God just spoke to me in my devotion, reminding me about how I can rest in Him.

"Find rest, o my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him." Ps 62:5

I was so encouraged.

Listening to: Casting Crowns Courageous

My laptop crashed!

... and I am inconsolable.

Listening to: Casting Crowns Courageous

Long day ahead

But it's going to be good. I love Sundays. They give me an opportunity to really rely on God. And those opportunities are the best kind, because you know He won't fail you. You may not get what you always want, but you know you'll get what's best for you.

Listening to: Third Day Trust in Jesus

Happy birthday, Nicola!

It's my four-year-old's birthday today. I love you, Nicola! You're such a blessing to Mommy and Daddy!

Listening to: Trin-i-tee 5:7 I Am Not Alone

No longer a single parent

My wife is back after two days in Subic (Anvaya) as part of her team-building efforts with her staff. I've had difficulty sleeping the past two days, mainly because my kids were sleeping with me. Now that she's home, I'll bet I'll sleep like a baby.

Listening to: Ryan Stevenson We Got the Light

Birdie bank

I recently purchased three small Angry Birds coin banks. The red one I gave to Nathan, the black one went to Caths, and I kept the speedy yellow one, whose slot is unfortunately smaller than the others. The Php10 and Php5 coins are difficult to insert. But isn't that what saving is about? Sometimes, saving money is difficult, and sometimes, it hurts. But when the time comes, you'll literally feel better when you "break the bank." Praise God for coin blessings!

Listening to: Laura Story Blessings

Remix City

After five remixes, I gotta admit I'm dry. I still have about five more songs to remix, but I'm running out of creativity. Hopefully, it'll get better by tomorrow.

Listening to: Group 1 Crew Let's Go

Remix!

After butchering Grace Aiyedogbon's "Banquet Table of the Lord" message at EN2010, the folks at Every Nation Philippines thought it would be a hoot for me to remix the messages of the speakers at the Ignite Conference. I'm apparently the resident remixer. You can download my remixes of the preachers - yesterday, it was Joseph Bonifacio and Robert Gonzales - here.

Listening to: Selah Hope of the Broken World

Ignite starts tomorrow!

The biggest Christian youth gathering in the Philippines for 2011 starts tomorrow! Ignite, baby! 6,000 young (and not-so-young) people in the Cuneta AstroDome. It's gonna be WILD!!!

Listening to: Phillips Craig and Dean From the Inside Out

Staff meetings are fun. Bojo says his head hurts. Those two sentences don't quite go together.

Listening to: Dara MacLean Suitcases

Sobering

I just arrived from the Manila Memorial Park, a cemetery in which my wife's grandfather and grandmother are interred. Sobered up by the fact that on this earth, we're mere blips on a radar screen. Life's too short to be insignificant.

Listening to: Laura Story Blessings

What did I do?

The past two days, none of my blog entries have been showing up on Google. This bothers me. I wonder why this is happening. I'm bothered immensely.

Listening to: Royal Tailor Hold Me Together

Lovin' my Suze

I've been listening to Suze Orman's podcast for about two years now. I've followed the American finance and personal wealth management guru since she came out on Oprah, and well, I'm really learning a lot from her. Whether it's actually coming true, however, is a different story, but you know little victories add up. :D

Listening to: Downhere Let Me Rediscover You

The diva brows

Yesterday, I got my eyebrows threaded again. The Lay It Bare salon in SM Mall of Asia has this woman by the name of Rose who apparently is an eyebrow threading architect genius. She spun her way through my brows and threaded them clean, gave them a shape that is clean and masculine yet stylish... Gah, I love it.

Listening to: Worth Dying For Through Your Eyes

Boo!

I heart me some Christian music

Fresh off last Saturday's Switchfoot concert, I have tickets to the upcoming Hillsong United Live in Manila 2011 concert in promotion of their Aftermath CD. Just like Switchfoot, these tickets were a gift to me. Thank You, God, for Your blessings!

Listening to: Owl City Galaxies

Productive week

It's been a good week. Collateral produced, materials percolating, creative juices flowing. Looking forward to an even more productive weekend. But today... AGH! It's 2AM!!

Listening to: Kristian Stanfill Always

Planning to plan

Today, I was assigned a few tasks that are right up my alley. The challenge? I don't have any of the information that I need to produce the collateral I need to produce. Oi vey, I need to plan just to ensure they plan.

Listening to: David Cook The Last Goodbye

Back running

This morning, I ran for the first time in months. Well, not quite run. A 32-minute brisk walk. I would've gone an hour, but I was so surprised that by 5:45am, it was bright out! What happened to the days when 6:15 was around and it was still dark out? I was too embarrassed by my fatness to keep at it, so I stopped at 32mins. 9"24 clip, not bad.

Listening to: Owl City Galaxies

It's never the same

Tomorrow's service is going to be challenging. We've got sound effects, mannequins, and, heck, even a tomb for next week that we're building as early as now. It's going to be fun.

Next week, for Holy Week, we're going to Anvaya for a couple of days. I'm leaving my laptop on purpose. Gah, I hope I'll survive.

Listening to: Barbie Almalbis Goodbye My Shadow

Thank You, Jesus

Last Saturday, we had a Leaders' Convergence for the church in Greenhills that I work for. We started the convergence with a one-hour prayer meeting that included about 30 to 45 minutes of praise and worship. Our team for that month met for the first time at 8:00am - we were scheduled to go onstage at 9:30am - and we soundchecked like headless chickens.

But this is grace! We relied more on God than ever before, and the Holy Spirit was thick in that place. We saw healing, we saw restoration, prophecies were delivered, and pledges to our building fund topped Php5,000,000. Praise the Lord.

Listening to: Christy Nockels Waiting Here For You

Down but not out

I was given a dressing down yesterday that I deserved. Felt really bad about it, but I'm glad I managed to pretty much take it in stride and not take it personally. One thing I realize, though, is the church will continue to run, with or without me. So we do our best and try to multiply ourselves to ensure it really does run efficiently without us, because if ever God - or someone else - takes us away, well...

Listening to: Mary Mary Are You Ready

Enjoying the new look

It's been a little more than a week since I redid my look. I'm so happy; people are telling me it looks great. Far be it from me to indulge my personal vanity, but thank You, God, You're motivating me in all sorts of ways!

Listening to: The Afters Lift Me Up

I dare you to move!

I am watching Switchfoot Live in Manila! Someone blessed me with tickets, and I can't wait. I also have a copy of Hello Hurricane, which I am dying to rip open! (I'll do it tonight, so I can focus, lol.)

So I lay my head back down and I lift my hands and pray
To be only Yours I pray
To be only Yours
I know now You're my only hope

Whee! Switchfoot!

Listening to: Matthew West Strong Enough

New look

I had a makeover. lol

Got a haircut at Tony & Jackey's near Robinson's Manila; the stylist, Belle, was terrific. It was radically different from my previous hairstyle.

Got my eyebrows threaded at Lay Bare, a waxing salon; the threader, Rose, exceeded my expectations.

Bought a pair of black denim jeans that hug my tree-trunk thighs like anything.

Grew my goatee out.

The end result:

I love it, and people love it. I've never been happier and more motivated to lose weight!

Listening to: Matthew West Strong Enough

Head is swimming

I'm helping my wife out with her paper by being her cheerleader and sweat-wiper. I wish I could be of further assistance, but I'm a total idiot when it comes to psychological chorva.

Listening to: Casting Crowns Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)

Feeling better, but...

The good news is the sore throat's gone, along with most of the congestion. The not-so-good news is my wife's dissertation is stressing her out big-time, and I'm at a loss on how to help her. So what I'm offering is constant attention and the chance to make life a little easier by ensuring the kids are okay.

Listening to: Peter Furler Reach

iServe images

I started a new campaign at the church in Greenhills where I now work to match the Metro Manila-wide iServe volunteer recruitment campaign. The campaign was a Facebook icon campaign which featured images from our volunteers. It is extremely time consuming, but sooooo worth it. I'm glad it's going well. I have about 200 more images to make. Plus I'm sick. But it's okay. I am loved.

Listening to: Sidewalk Prophets You Love Me Anyway

Sick again

I'm down with a viral bug that's got me hacking up phlegm and feeling generally miserable. This morning, I was searching - at 3am! - for my meds, but I couldn't find them, and I was congested and achy and ready to cry. God then revealed to me that for all my pain, I was still better off than most, especially the folks in Japan. Man, was I convicted.

Listening to: Point of Grace He Holds Everything

Weight loss

I'm excited. This morning, I did some walking around, then I'm going to do some major walking while my daughter's at school. Bring on the weight loss!

Listening to: Sidewalk Prophets You Love Me Anyway

Woohoo for piracy?

I loved Tangled. I loved it so much I've been waiting for the DVD for too long. I'll still buy the original DVD, but meanwhile... *holds pirated DVD in grubby little fingers*

And at least I see the light... hahahaha!

Listening to: Song Jieun Going Crazy

Happy birthday to me

I love my birthday. Not because of presents. (Because I don't get much.) Not because of food. (Because I get that all the time anyway.) Not because I'm a year closer to death. (Who wants that?)

I love my birthday because for one day, people who I've run into in the course of my life say Hi and Hello. For someone who values the connections and friendships I've made through the years, this is the most valuable present of all.

Happy birthday to me!

Listening to: Jaime Grace Hold Me

Car won't start

This morning, my car wouldn't start. A good Samaritan eventually came by and jumpstarted it; that's how I knew it was my battery. Afterwards, I bought a new one... to the tune of Php4,600. Now I'm praying for provision. My birthday's coming up on Saturday. Lord, who will You be using to bless me? I wanna pray blessings for him or her as early as now, lol.

Listening to: Shonlock Something in Your Eyes

Gotta be more "confrontational"?

I finally had a sit-down with the boss last week, who said he was generally happy with my work. He suggested I be a little more "confrontational" with my work style, and that I can afford to be "makulit." All right, I told him, I'll do my best. It's not going to be easy, because it's really not in my nature to be a micro-manager when it comes to certain things in my job. It's almost a little ironic that I have to micro-manage when I'm being told that I have to be more macro, but, hey, I'm flexible. Let's see what happens.

Listening to: Building 429 Listen to the Sound

Bad dream

Had a truly awful dream last night. Didn't wake up like in the movies, no sudden sitting up in bed, drenched in sweat and stuff like that, but I did wake up with an overwhelming sense of disturbance and a general feeling of depression. Lord, what was that?

Listening to: Jonny Diaz Beauty of the Cross

Daddy Date

I've been trying to convince my son to watch Disney's Tangled with me. He's totally not into it, so instead we went and played at TimeZone TriNoma to the tune of Php200. Not bad for an hour's joy. Lunch at Slammer Burger made the daddy date even more enjoyable. Gotta love these times because the time'll soon come when he may not want to have anything to do with me.

Listening to: Ashmont Hill Your Masterpiece and Brandon Heath Your Love

New songs

In the past few days, I've been creating lower and higher harmonies for some of the worship songs of the Greenhills church for which I work. Days like these make me miss people like Archie Castillo and Teri Sambajon; music-minded individuals who work with you full-time can be such a blessing. Here, it's pretty much just me, which I don't mind. I just miss 'em.

Listening to: Brandon Heath Your Love

Good word

God gave me a special word today, preparing me for something that I need to do. I brought myself to this place; now God's going to help me out. Thank You, Lord.

Listening to Hillsong United Search My Heart

I want the Lifan 320

The other week, I passed by Lifan Motors Philippines along West Avenue in Quezon City. The line of Philippine Lifan 320s caught my eye because they were arranged so neatly in a row, like a row of Mini-Coopers. That actually was the reason these China-made cars caught my attention.

"Look at that, honey," I said to my wife, "Mini-Coopers!"

"Those aren't Mini-Coopers," she replied.

I took a second look and realized she was right. But they looked so similar, so I told her I wanted to stop the car and go down; she gave in and allowed me to, so I walked into the Quezon City Lifan dealership to inquire about the Lifan 320, which is their Mini-Cooper doppelganger.

I was surprised by how similar the Lifan 320 looked to the Mini-Cooper. Of course, getting a Chinese car that looks precisely like the Mini-Cooper but is not the Mini-Cooper is kinda like buying a fake Rolex and expecting people to believe that it's a genuine Rolex. Several comments in this Philippine car forum make a lot of sense, methinks, noting that Chinese cars have yet to prove their mettle for long-term durability and reliability.

Having said this, though, I have to admit I wasn't taken aback by the Lifan 320; if anything, I was rather impressed. Comparing the car to my Getz, it had smaller leg room in the driver's area, and slightly smaller trunk space. It also had a rather comical looking dashboard that I think has probably earned the car more jeers than cheers. I mean, come on, look at that dashboard! Two round airconditioning vents, a red hazard light, and a radio display in the shape of a semi-circle? It looks like the 1930s Mickey Mouse!

On the plus side, its 1.3 engine means it has more power than my 1.1 Getz does. The Philippine Lifan 320 has ABS, which my Hyundai Getz does not, and four speakers compared to my Hyundai Getz's two. Its engine looked very impressive - of course, I wouldn't know the first thing about engines! There really should be a class! - and, well, let's face it, even if the Lifan 320 is a rip-off of the Mini-Cooper, it still is remarkably cute!

The 1.3 model begins to retail for Php498,000, which was the same price we paid for our 1.1 Hyundai Getz three years ago. I honestly would like to test-drive it, but we're not in the financial place for a second car, so I want to avoid that temptation. (If I do, you'll bet I'll write about it.)

However, I gotta admit, I am believing God for a second car, and my God is a God of miracles, so who knows? Maybe the Lord will pave the way for me to somehow, someday, own a Lifan 320. (Heads up: my dream car is the Volkswagen New Beetle in classic yellow or beautiful bold red. I like small cars.

Lifan 320 Dashboard photo lifted off BigBigCar.com; no copyright infringement intended.

Listening to: Aaron Gillespie We Were Made For You

Blessing!

I'm starting 2011 with a lot of hope. Cathy and I have one relatively lucrative sideline each, and we're believing this is the year when we can finally lift ourselves and start that nest egg that our family deserves to have. I'm so encouraged! Thank You Lord!

Listening to Brandon Heath Your Love

Gearing up for Prayer and Fasting

At the start of every year, Victory Greenhills, a church in Greenhills, joins the rest of the Victory family across the Philippines, in consecrating itself and its congregants in a seven-day prayer and fasting activity. I've been participating in this for several years now, but this year I am particularly determined to get the fullest, richest experience of my participation thus far. I have witnessed for myself the incredible power of God these past three months, and I'm waiting in joyful anticipation of what God is going to do this year.

If God gives me particularly rich revelation, I expect to share it on this blog. Luckily, no one visits, so I'm not too worried about turning the world upside down. LOL

Listening to: Francesca Battistelli This is the Stuff