farm bandwagon

I just got hooked in this farming frenzy. Quite entertaining but definitely time-consuming, I must say.

Fun Fun Fun

Andre's exhibit

Andre's artwork at 4 years old

With Manong Braveheart (His artwork is the one at the right side)

With Teacher Mitzi

With Lola Nene Lungay

With Manong Bravey, Ate Nicole and fave classmate John Rey

Way to comfort

"No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was."
-- Job 2:13b (NIV)


This passage refers to Job, suffering painful sores all over his body. His friends came to sympathize with him for 7 days and 7 nights. And they did so by not saying anything. Instead they just stayed with him. Making themselves available to his aid if ever he needed help. They knew Job was experiencing great pain and they did not pretend they knew how he felt. They acted on one simple truth -- he was suffering so much.

Sometimes in life, we try to comfort other people by saying things to them or giving them advices that we thought would benefit them. Although we have the best interest when doing so, it may not be the best approach after all. For a suffering friend, the utmost comfort we can safely give may be the most silent approach there is. Let's just be there when they need us. No need to say anything. It works better this way. This I've learned from Job's friends.

Chilling with Lolo

:-)

After my quiet time, got a pleasant surprise from bana when he gave me red carnations for our anniversary. Thanks tay. :-)

Not beneficial?

I'm trying hard to make my quiet time more regular now. I miss writing my thoughts on it. Here's my insight on the passage I've read.

"Everything is permissible for me -- but not everything is beneficial." (1 Cor 6:12)

In life, we have our own choice . . . our volition that allows us to choose. Whatever inclinations we have shape our decisions. We are free to choose. Yes we are. But that does not mean we will not suffer the consequences of those decisions that are sometimes so bad we will not know how to fix them . . . that does not mean we are doing the right thing (or the wrong one). The bible says we have in us the freedom to choose, but there's a catch. Not everything will be good for us.

Often times than not, we make bad decisions because we rely solely on our own selfish wants and capabilities. We pursue wrong things that we want so bad we are making it right. All of us have been guilty of this at some point in our lives.

It is because we forget that God has laid the foundation for us to choose wisely. We forget that He gave us guidelines through His book so we can be more upright and successful in life.This kind of success is more fulfilling than any purely man-assisted success. Be assured that this will store up treasures in heaven under your name.

Remember, this world is only temporary. You have to utilize it for a bigger gain . . . for a much more crucial gain -- the after life. It would be extremely sad that you would be rich in this life but poor on the other side because you lacked focus on what's important. Don't get me wrong. you can be rich in this life and rich on the other. We just have to use what we have here to achieve goals for the other life. We must gear our wealth towards the achievement of a godly path.

Let's always consult God with our life plans. He is the dominant stakeholder in our lives. He will never fail us. Trust Him wholeheartedly.

Forgiveness and Pardon

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
- Luke 23:34 (NIV)

We can view forgiveness at two planes. At one plane, it is forgiveness in situ, in the actual situation when and where it happened wherein Jesus forgave those who nailed Him to the cross, those who mocked Him, whipped Him and caused Him so much physical suffering. We can even extend it further to mean that He forgave those who shouted for Him to be crucified.

In a higher place, we can view forgiveness as the central theme of Christ’s ministry.

The Bible says that “all men have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God” but yet God forgave us that we might be saved.

Throughout Christ’s ministry, while here on earth, He urged us, by word and by example to be forgiving. He forgave the Samaritan woman of her grievous sin which in semitic law merits death. He told us to turn the other cheek when someone slaps us, He told us not to throw back the stone but instead broad. And He told us to do good to those who wish us harm.

Furthermore, He said that if you have an offering to the Lord but harbors a grudge against your brother, leave your offering at the altar and make peace first with your brother. And let not the sun set upon your anger.

When Jesus taught us to pray, he emphasized forgiveness. “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Yes, forgiveness and pardon is the central theme of Christ’s ministry.

When Jesus was asked how many times we should forgive He said “seventy” times seven.” It does not mean we shouldn’t forgive at the 491th times although this is an awful lot of numbers but it means that the number of times we shall forgive should be unlimited. Because the number 7 in Jewish cabala represents infinity. The message of forgiveness that Jesus preached baffled the Jews whose Jehovah as an exacting God, who will wipe out even an entire generation for their sins of disobedience.

But just what is forgiveness?

Stripped of all verbiage, forgiveness is the conscious condonation of any wrong done. It is nor just failing to take revenge or retribution but wiping out the wrong done.

In natural law there is no concept of forgiveness or pardon. Natural law insists that the balance of justice must be maintained at all times and if any wrong is committed the balance must be restored by exacting punishment for the wrongdoer.

“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”

This the Mosaic law in the Old Testament and the Roman Law of the “lex taliones.”

But Jesus wants us to rise above this natural law and partake of divine law that conceives of forgiveness and pardon. For although we are governed by natural law, yet we are called “sons of God” and have the spark of divinity within us.

But our human nature makes it hard for us to forgive. When President Arroyo pardoned one too many of those who have committed brutal crimes our sense of justice rebels and thinks that Arroyo is abusing her powers, no matter how legitimate it may be.

Yes, sometimes we say that we have forgiven but deep inside the rancour still hurts. We find it hard to wipe out the memory of the wrong done.

In fact in the history of the world, among the causes of violence and strife is the desire to take revenge for the wrong done. This is the culture of vendetta in the western world which is even taken farther in the oriental world in exacting revenge over and above the wrong done. “Way sukod sa baws” is not only a Filipino cultural aspect but is prevalent in the oriental culture.

Thus, violence begets violence and the cycle is endless.

And so, when Jesus urged us by word and example to practice forgiveness, He was laying out the foundation and path towards peace and tranquility. Because only when men can learn to forgive, will there be no more strife nor even wars.

Interestingly, psychologists have learned that harboring a grudge is not only emotionally unhealthy but physically unhealthy as well. It eats us inside and causes anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, depression and even skin disease. Only when you let go and set aside the grudge will you be free from the grip of these which cause you unhappiness.

And why does Jesus wants to be forgiving? Is it only for the physical and emotional rewards that we knew to be?

Above all else, Jesus wants us to be forgiving to be able to partake of the divine plan He has for us.

Remember, and I quote again, no amount of suffering will be acceptable to God if we do not forgive and make peace with our brother.

Let us try to emulate Jesus Christ who pronounced pardon and forgiveness even when He was in the last gasps of His human existence, when He said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

(Written by my father-in-law for Good Friday service. He is an elder in our church.)

My boys

ANDRE:

Andre with his monkey trail, courtesy of Manong Manghod.

Waking up

Playing hide and seek with tatay

ARMIS:

One fine day in a stroller

Happy times!

Andre's accident

Yesterday while playing at home, Andre tripped and hit his head on solid concrete. This made him weak (he couldn't even stand) and gave him a bad headache. After sometime he vomited a couple of times which led us to the hospital. His auntie doctor, Manang Mutya, recommended admission and that's what we did. It was his first time to be admitted in a hospital.

His head was examined through ct scan to check any abnormalities. Auntie doctor said it was essential since that kind of head trauma is a candidate for subdural hemorrhage. The word "hemorrhage" in itself scared me. Thank God the result was ok but he was still vomiting so we had to stay to observe him. With his dextrose intact, he was advised by the doctor not to drink or eat anything.

Night came and Andre was crying and complaining about his right hand. It was starting to numb (because of the dextrose) and it was hurting him. Then he asked for water and he cried again when we told him he couldn't drink nor eat. He was asking us what to do when he was reaaallly thirsty. He cried helplessly. He couldn't sleep because he usually drinks milk before retiring to bed. Plus he couldn't touch his "miming" properly because he usually uses his right hand for that. He was definitely way out of his comfort zone. He asked for hugs every now and then. It was sooooo hard for us to see him like that.

Thank God everything went well. We have so much people praying for him and we're so grateful for that. The next day, he was checked by Dr. Epe and he was discharged.

I felt helpless when Andre was in the hospital. I kept on praying to God about him and the message He wants me to have through the experience. I honestly submitted to His will and prayed that I may continue to have fellowship with my kid. I realized I have not done much in exposing Andre to the church and with this experience, I have renewed my commitment to bring my child closer to Him. Thank you Lord for keeping my Andre safe.