Alive and Kicking for 2009!

After several times of thinking about updating my blog, it is only now that I have finally moved myself to write something. So many great things had happened to me in more than a month of being silent here. Somehow I regretted that I didn't push myself enough to share my thoughts and yet I'm happy that I enjoyed my moments of silence. I enjoyed the holiday season. I celebrated christmas in its real essence and I was excited to face new year with great surprises from God.

For now, I just want to let you know my dear readers, friends, co-bloggers and co-soulcare lovers that I'm still alive and kicking! I had bid goodbye to 2008 well and had enthusiastically welcomed 2009!

Let's continue to enjoy our blogging adventure together!

Breaking the Silence

It's been a while that I have not updated my blog. So may be it's about time to "break the silence" by simply sharing my thoughts and reflections. I'd like to focus my sharing on how I had experienced breakthroughs lately. I would say that these breakthroughs are also forms of "breaking the silence", in the sense that I was able to go back and do things I used to do before but had not been doing;

1. I used to jog early in the morning but had stopped doing it since I went through a spiritual discipline. I always wanted to go back to that habit but had failed many times. But Lately, I'm glad that I'm beginning to push myself again. In fact I just had my jogging this morning. Added to that, I found myself really getting interested in fitness. May be I'm just being pushed by friends and people around who'd been telling me from time to time that I am increasingly gaining wait.

2.  I used to enjoy visiting to our home place, refreshing myself and connecting back with people especially during fruits season. But I have not been there for almost two years because of busy schedules. But just this weekend, I was able to visit my parents' place and refreshed my memories of innocence and simplicity. It feels good to look back and reflect how the Lord brought me to where I am right now

3. I had started to have my driving practice two years ago but I have not really seen progress with my confidence. I got my first SP expired since I didn't want to have my license for the sake of having it. I got my second SP last May and I had been planning to really get back to my driving practice and face my fears. But months had passed and I have not done anything about my plan yet. However, last friday, I had finally pushed myself to start my driving practice again since it's offered for free. In fact, I had my driving session this afternoon. My instructor (who is my friend) let me drive home from our practice area. Wow that was scary I know he was scared too but I made it. We arrived home alive and kicking. Thank you Lord.

I know there still a lot to break in my life but may be not silence anymore but noise (hehe). That needs another page of reflection. Until next time. Thanks for reading.

No to Bitterness; Yes to Forgiveness

In our radio program today, one listener inquired on the issue of forgiveness. Specifically, the inquiry centered on the right timing of releasing forgiveness and the right way of relating back to the offender. 

These are very interesting questions. Many of us are really confused on when to forgive. A lot of us want the pain to linger and kept our hearts bitter. Of course we should be hurt when we are offended, that makes us human. It is alright to feel the pain of betrayal, disappointments and all forms of abuse. In fact, it is only when we recognize the pain that we could begin to experience the process of healing. Forgiveness is real and more meaningful when we are able to forgive despite of the pain. 

It is not easy to forgive, it is not our nature. We want revenge in the name of justice. We want vengeance in our hands. We may not necessarily do it but we certainly think about it. Worst when we make plans on how to go about it and end up doing it only to realize that it's not worth it.

It's not worth our time to delay forgiveness when we can do it now. It's not worth to lost the joy peace and serenity that a forgiving heart could bring. It's worth to free yourself from the heaviness of bitterness and experience the lightness of kindness. It is worth to make it a lifestyle to enjoy God's grace and forgiveness and passed it on to others. Because it's only when we experience God's forgiveness that we are able to forgive others.

 

However forgiveness is not necessarily taking away the consequences of the action of the offender. The person needs to face the consequences of his or her choice. Forgiveness is not necessarily trusting again the person right away. Forgiveness can be done right away but trust needs to be earned through time. Forgiveness is not also forgetting because we can't really forget things. In fact it is when remembering the offense and not feeling its pain anymore that we have actually experience healing.

Seems difficult, right? Yes it is! That's why, we need God's grace and help to maintain healthy relationships and to make it a habit not just to say no to bitterness and yes to forgiveness but, to live by it with our whole hearts.

My Work Out Experience

When my friends had started working out, they'd been pushing me to go with them to the gym and start to work out as well. Since it wasn't really my priority, I always have reasons for not going. But this morning, I finally was able to try it.

Since it was my first official work out experience, I didn't care much with the necessary things to bring. When we got to the locker, I was informed that I need to have my sports shoes, so we had to go back to the apartment and get it.(hehe)

We started our work out with 20 minutes on the cardio stepper equipment to regulate our heartbeat rate (I hope I'm right). It was a fun thing to do while watching cable TV. After that, my friend looked for an instructor for me only to find out that I have to fill up a form for guest users first.

After a while, I was finally introduced to my instructor. The instructor was helpful in directing me to the appropriate equipment for a starter like me. I enjoyed the tension and relief of lifting, pushing and stretching my body parts. ( I hope I won't suffer muscle pain tomorrow).

We ended our work out by jogging in their 200-meter area while talking about possibility of my coming back again. I think I will come back and try to make it regular. Finally, we went home after taking shower in their nice bathroom. Actually they have jacuzzi and sauna inclusive of the package.

Thanks to my friend who diligently invited me to do something with my body. (hehe) This is necessary for my wellness inside out. It's my turn to encourage you to try it too. (hehe)

Manage Your Stress Well

The series of workshop on stress management I facilitated had finally been completed. For the month of September, I conducted 8 sessions among college students and 1 session among christian leaders studying in the graduate seminary. It's funny how I felt so stressed out after my first day of workshop. I went home so tired. Although, I received two invitations to go out that night, I decided to stay home and relax to regain my strength for the next day.

 I felt good for my decision because I was able to take responsibility for my actions-basically applying what I was teaching. I was able to say no without the feeling of guilt. The next series of sessions were manageable. I had adjusted well and probably had started to master the flow of the workshop.

Two of the highlight activities in these workshops are the relaxation techniques and the guided meditation I facilitated. When I started doing research on these, I felt inadequate to facilitate. I was not sure if I can do it effectively. However, in my experience with the participants, I can now attest to its effectivity in relieving stress. In fact I'm aiming to practice these regularly.

There are still pending invitations for me to conduct the workshop and I'm excited about it. If you feel that your group can benefit from this kind of workshop, let me know and will see how we can help one another and work together.

Becoming a Brother's Keeper

More than an hour had passed since we ended our men's network meeting in our church office but my mind still lingers on what had transpired in that meeting. It's amazing how God handpicked each one of us to be a part in this team of strugglers, adventurers and conquerors. It's amazing how the Lord provided me a lot of "brother's keeper" who are committed to journey with me in this battle of life.

Being in the battle alone can be very difficult. In fact it was never God's intention. He wants us to guard one another, to keep watching after our brother's safety. In other words, God simply wants us to be our brother's keeper.

There are great benefits of being under the cover of brother's protection. However it takes great courage for us to admit that we need each other. We are naturally independent and less relational. Nonetheless, we need to recognize and welcome the opportunities of being connected and accountable to one another.

To become a good brother's keeper, I suggest the following;

1. Be true to yourself and others. Share both your strengths and weaknesses. Don't pretend that your life is well when it's not. Share your

 own experiences of success and failure. People will appreciate more when we are true and honest.

2. Be a good encourager. The best way to be an encouragement to your brothers is of assuring them of your unconditional acceptance. Don't be quick to pass on judgment but instead be a good listener. Assure them of your support and your prayer for them.

3. Be a true friend. Don't assert your authority over them but instead offer true friendship. Enjoy their company and incorporate humor. People will recognize it whether your intention is sincere or is only out of brotherly obligation. Cultivate joy in your heart and it will overflow through your conversation and connections with them.

Enjoy the blessings of being a brother's keeper!

A Half-year Adventure Across the Distance

Exactly six months had passed since Pamela and I had our relationship official. As I looked back, I’m still amazed of how the Lord had brought as together last march 17 of this year.

The adventure is pretty challenging. Yes, it brought comfort and joy to my heart knowing that someone had entrusted her heart to mine. However, it also brought some uncomfortable feelings especially in those moments that I have to teach myself to guard and take care of this precious heart entrusted to me.

This half-year adventure marks an important point in our relationship. I would call it as a celebration of love and life because my life had grown as I enjoyed her love.

Six things I would like to thank God for this love and life adventure with my dear Pamela across the distance.

1. I thank God for giving me the best woman who loves me and makes me feel special 

2. I thank God for giving me the best woman who believes on me and my dreams.

3. I thank God for giving me the best woman who seeks to understand and partners with me in God’s calling.

4. I thank God for entrusting to me a great woman whom I can share my love and care.

5. I thank God for entrusting to me a great woman whom I can share my hopes and my dreams.

6. I thank God for entrusting to me a great woman whom I can journey with in seasons of grace, pain and healing.

In all these things, I continue to trust God as we wait for the right time for us to be together 

 (i wrote this yesterday as my gift for pam)