What a weekend!

Just a quick note today.

I have a huge weekend ahead of me. First, I have to prepare for tomorrow's Large Group Hosting. It's "Moving Up" Day, so no lesson, just a lot of songs and fun. Not quite easy if you think about, owing to the fact that I don't get much time to rehearse because of j-o-b. Not that I'm complaining. My Saturday morning will be spent trying to learn the dance steps, and hopefully not in vain.

Saturday afternoon today, I will go to Palm Tower B because my friend and now agent, Dene Gomez, is sending me to a VTR, the second one I'm going to this year. I know. If I wanted more acting assignments I should put myself more out there. Hopefully I nail this one and this relationship with Dene's List Talent Agency works. It will be the first time I am handled by an agent. I'm no longer freelance. Wow.

I've work still tonight. I have to tally a team game we're holding at work. My manager will be on a much-deserved vacation leave and so it's up to me to tally the scores and send them out. I know they'll all be eager to find out who sunk who. It's a Battleship game with a twist. Have to be very thorough with this so I won't mess it up.

Sunday morning, right after shift, which is July 01 already, I just realized! A new month! Just like that. Sunday morning will be spent at church, worshiping, recuperating, I must say--finding rest in my Shepherd.

Sunday afternoon is show time! We ought to be prepared. I'm not sure if we can come in costumes, but I hope our songs for the kids would be fun enough and get them to keep coming back to Kids' Church. This new batch of Nursery level Sunday schoolers will experience Large Group for the first time and we want to make a great impression and whet their appetites for the Bible.

Sunday evening, finally! It's not rest, I'm sorry. I still have work. But I'll be going to the office to party!  JAMawockeez, that's our office's team, will be holding a bash. After tonight we'll be moved to separate teams and we're celebrating six months of joys, pains, and growing together in this crazy company I want to nickname The Firm.

It's been wonderful working with you all, Jamawockeez! Thanks for the support. From the bottom of my heart! Not just on carpeted areas, but moreso when I'm on stage. Your suppost is wonderfully felt and cherished! Cheers!

Psalm 23 taught me how to pray

If there's another thing I learned from David's 23rd Psalm, it's how to pray in the Name of Jesus. I mean, how to really pray.

Think about it. Ever since Sunday School when I was a tee weeny bit of a young boy, we were taught to end all our prayers with, "In Jesus' Name, Amen!"

We were also taught strange superstitions like, if there's a ghost, yell out loud: "In Jesus' Name!" and that was supposed to scare the devil away. (Who's to say that a quiet prayer for divine protection isn't enough for our Dad to rush to His kids' side?)

Now knowing that what basically David did was sing or pray God's names when he wrote Psalm 23 gives me a clue as to how I should pray in Jesus' name.

YHWH-Rapha, I AM Healer, is translated to "He restores my soul." YHWH-Tsidkenu, I AM your Righteousness, is translated to "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

The point is, when I know more and more about Jesus, when I get to be very intimate with Him and know Him personally, then I see facets of His personality as revealed in the Bible and in our daily personal encounters. Then I can begin praying in accordance to Jesus' character. That is, I realize, what it really means to pray in Jesus' name.

Jesus is our Shepherd, the True Vine, the Messiah, the Prince of Peace. In times of confusion, I can pray to hear His voice so I can follow Him. In times of loss and disconnection, I can pray to the True Vine and renew my relationship with God my Father. When I've fallen, I can call on Jesus my Messiah. And when I'm rattled, afraid, shaken, I have Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

So, thanks, David. You taught me how to pray in the name of the Son of David. The One who said, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

Wishes

Someone once told me that one powerful way to make your wishes come true is to write them down.

So, in no particular order, here goes:

1. I want a new toilet seat cover.
2. I want to have Dana's bike fixed.
3. Get bicep muscles.
4. Get cut abs.
5. Write a novel and get it published.
6. Act in a play before this year ends.
7. Tour the Holy Land with my family.
8. Start and grow a savings account.
9. Get a new Blackberry phone.
10. Get a new iPod.
11. Homeschool Dana, and make sure she gets in a good university (UP, where else?).
12. Learn to drive.
13. Watch shows on Broadway.
14. Get to originate a role again.
15. Bring Veck and Dana to Disneyland.

The hidden code in Psalm 23

When I was in fourth grade, my grandmother gave me a Good News Bible. The version is, although bulky, easy to read. I carried it around my school backpack.

Whenever I got bored in history classes, I would hide the Bible between the covers of our textbook and read it. More than once I got caught. The teacher was probably expecting a comic book. Archie or X-Men. Surprise! I was reading Deuteronomy and the history of the people of Israel.

When I got to the Psalms I fell in love with Hebrew poetry. I mean, I absolutely went wild with it. I thought, this is how I am supposed to pray.

The first psalm I memorized was Psalm 23. I would recite, "Yea though I woke through the valley of the shadow of death..." whenever the lights are turned out in my room and I begin to fear bogeymen and ghosts and aswangs that threaten to appear. I guess it was that silly childhood superstition that forced me to memorize a prayer. It begins with "The Lord is my shepherd" and goes all the way to "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Who wouldn't find comfort in that poem? After saying the words, I'd drift to sleep.

As I got older, the patina of familiarity took over my love of the Psalm. It felt old to me, over-rated, even childish. I get knocked over with problems, bills to pay, unemployment, egotistic actors ganging up on me backstage, whatever... I try to recite Psalm 23 but it didn't work its magic on me anymore. It felt staid, hackneyed, impotent. I didn't believe in the words anymore.

Our family goes to Christ's Commission Fellowship to worship on Sundays. The message last Sunday was about Psalm 23 and the hidden names of God in it. My eyes and heart were opened. I fell in love again this time not with the psalm but with the Shepherd.

Listen to the message in full at http://bit.ly/MGwCZ9.

"The LORD" is the English translation for God's proper personal name YHWH, which is "I AM WHO I AM." The I AM is our Shepherd.

Here is the 23rd Psalm.

23 ¹The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

If we go through each statement, we find how David, the psalm's author, put in God's names in the psalm, highlighting a certain aspect or attribute of His character.

"I shall not want."
YHWH-Jireh
which means "The LORD will provide."
also at Genesis 22:14

"still waters"
YHWH-Shalom
which means "The LORD our peace"
also at Judges 6:24

"restores my soul"
YHWH-Rapha
which means "The LORD who heals"
also at Exodus 15:26

"paths of righteousness"
YHWH-Tsidkenu
which means "The LORD our righteousness"
also at Jeremiah 33:16

"I fear no evil for you are with me"
YHWH-Shammah
which means "The LORD is there"
also at Ezekiel 48:35

"in the presence of my enemies"
YHWH-Nissi
which means "The LORD our banner"
also at Exodus 17:15

"anoint my head with oil"
YHWH-M'Kaddesh
which means "The LORD who sanctifies"
also at Leviticus 20:8

And then the most wonderful thing. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is called:

The Good Shepherd in John 10:11
The Great Shepherd Hebrews 13:20
The Chief Shepherd 1 Peter 5:4

Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is our Shepherd. The last verse which says "Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..." carries the idea of not just following, but pursuing, and overcoming. Imagine goodness and mercy racing after you and catching after you and enveloping you all the days of your life just because Jesus is your Shepherd.

In John 10, Jesus said about himself, "The sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.

"I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.

"I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd."

That's an invitation for us all to be part of His flock. Imagine the Lion of Judah as your Shepherd. You certainly have nothing to fear!

Bullying

In 2011 I played a young teenager in the play "William" by Ron Capinding named Tj Domingo. Tj is a bully and has a troubled domestic life.

Personally, I am against all forms of bullying. It damages both the bullied and the bully. In cases of bullying, both parties are victims. Parents and teachers should take responsibility in creating a safer school environment for children and teenagers.

Just today I came across the following incident of bullying in a school bus. This was reported by ABC News.

Students apoligize to bullied bus monitor
School bus monitor abused by students says she won't quit her job

I cannot believe that Karen Klein endured this taunting for 20 years and nothing so far has been done to stop it. The parents should take full responsibility for their children's behavior. It should not stop with just the apology. What kind of home do these kids live in? Why do they misbehave?

In "William", it is revealed that the fictional character Tj Domingo is both physically and verbally abused by his father. This is why I raise these questions.

I am now a father of a three-year-old girl. My wife and I are committed to do everything in our power to keep our girl both from being bullied and bullying others. It begins at home.

If you are bullied, tell someone you trust. If you know someone being bullied, don't just stand there. Do something! Tell an adult. Speak out. Create awareness. There are lots of positive things you can do. Or do like I did: I went up onstage and showed what bullying is, what drives a young man to bully others, and, through the words of William Shakespeare, express a humble apology.

Dana's Games: Cocoon

I have been meaning to start a series called "Games Dana plays." So here's the first entry!"

I wanted to chronicle the games that Dana invented, detail the rules, and share the fun with all of you. Dana is very creative when it comes to coming up with games, and she has been playing these games with Mommy and Daddy since... oh, I don't know, even before she turned one. The rules vary as time goes by and I'll try to recall them as faithfully as possible.

Am I a proud Dad for having a creative daughter? You bet! (I have a suspicion that's how our Daddy Up There feels, too, when we play with our creativity energies and let our creative spirits free.)

Cocoon
For this game, you will need:
- a blanket
- some pillows (optional)

The game starts rather arbitrarily. Dana received a fluffy Hello Kitty™ blanket from her Ninang Jel for her first birthday. We saved and saved this blanket from use for the first six months, afraid that Dana might wet her bed and only ruin it. When Dana got a little bit older, we brought it out for her. She immediately loved it and called it "Hello Pretty."

This is one of Dana's favorite games. We still play it a lot. Dana calls out: "Cocoon! Cocoon!" and wherever I am, I rush to her and we hide under the covers of her blanket. The rule is that all parts or our bodies are under the blanket and all its edges are safely tucked underneath body parts (wherever we can manage). We can even set up pillows to use as pillars to make the "cocoon" more like a tent.

It does get stuffy but under the cocoon Dana pretends to whisper secrets to me (she still can't talk yet, only in babbles). And I get to be close to my daughter! When she gets older, I know she won't want to play with her old man anymore (*sentimental).

Writing this now I can't help but think of prayer. It's been a while that I called to God for a one-on-one meeting, a solo time with God-Dad, a cocoon where I hide under the sheets and whisper my heart's secrets, pains and shame to Him.

"Cocoon! Cocoon!" God may call, waiting for me to rush to His side and be intimate with Him.

Just breathe!

Okay, this is it. Schedule bidding. It's make or break. It's the difference between the rest of the year being exciting or a drone. Let me explain something first.

To make ends meet, I took on a call centering job. I have been at it since November last year, and this has greatly limited my theater involvements. Naturally, I need to work hard, and I want to do good at my job, as well as get regularized (which I did last month, kudos to Rico). But my employer has many policies surrounding outside-of-work-activities.

So far, the only theater I did was the REP Fringe class last summer, which I enjoyed very much, thoroughly enjoyed, and learned a lot from. For the first time I am beginning to understand in a practical, visceral way what Patsy Rodenburg's exercises were as detailed in her book The Actor Speaks, and I work on the exercises every day on my own as if I'm a beginning actor.

It's always good to have a beginner's mind. A Zen mind.

Ego is knocking a lot at my door lately. Gawad Buhay 2012 nominations are out now and my name is not on the list. Puh! I thought I did rather well last year but I didn't get noticed.

But I do know that a lot of the actors whom I admire and respect for their work, professionalism, and sheer courage are not on this year's list as well. So what does that say?

How often have I told myself that I do theatre to serve, not for fame. (Although an acting recognition would be nice.) Still, I shouldn't stop trying to be a better actor. I should go on--breathing. Yes, simply breathing, just as Patsy Rodenburg teaches. I want to be a breathing actor.

But back to the subject at hand. I need to get a good work schedule so I can slip rehearsals in and shows when I can. Here's praying for special favor from God so I can go out on auditions again. I miss the theatre. I have illusions that the theatre misses me, too. Whether that's true or not doesn't matter. In the meantime, breathe, breathe, breathe!

Gary Oldman

One of my favorite actors is Gary Oldman. I think he has that rare gift of what I call "saktong timpla." Neither over or under. He just concocts his performance right. I wish I can see him onstage, but onscreen, I come to watch him with an intent to make mental notes of how it's supposed to be done, only to be carried away by the life of his character.

I want to be like Gary Oldman. Who cares if year after year the Oscar's snubbed him and he got his first nomination only this year? What do award-giving bodies know anyway?

Here's a toast to Gary Oldman! For your truthfulness, your professionalism, your craft. I want to grow into a master actor like you!

I'm excited to see the new Batman movie because Gary Oldman will be there.

Yesterday, for Veck's birthday, we went to the Cabanas Cinemas. We saw Kimmy Dora 2. That was a riot of fun! The funniest scenes are between Uge and Uge. Just frolicking fun!

Veck seemed to like the dozen white roses and the chichacorn I gave her for her birthday. I'm still trying to learn how to be more romantic, so if you've better ideas, feel free to post. On this note, I am reading Nelson T Dy's book The Honeymoon Never Ends. Load of advice in that book! And it's perfect for Filipino husbands because it's written by a Pinoy!

Finally, I do want to act onstage this year. It seems the only audition notices I see are for musicals. I want to do more straight plays, if I can. I miss acting. I'm learning a lot, and I think God is dealing with me on this aspect. Has theatre become my idol? Yikes. Theatre should be an altar of worship, not god itself.

In the meantime, while I'm waiting for my next acting assignment, I ought to be learning breath and being more organic. Whatever it takes to be as good as Gary Oldman!

Learning new things in REP Fringe class

Eric Morris is big on sense memory (something I confess I never really learned to use on stage) and in his books he teaches a preparatory instrumental exercise called Sensitizing. You go through your senses: tactile, olfactory, gustatory, auditory and visual, and gently become aware of and awaken each one. It's an experiential exercise and sort of hard to describe. You have to go through it and discover it for yourself.

The best sensitizing workshop, if I may, that I enrolled in was Vipassana Meditation. We sit and observe and become aware of all the sensations happening at the moment in the body. Each time I sit down now to try to sensitize, I do a vipassana meditation instead. It's difficult, but the results are amazing. I feel more alert and open and available and compassionate. Or, I feel whatever I feel at the moment. Sometimes I'm just sleepy so that tells me my body needs rest. I learn to listen to my body.

Now, in the REP Fringe workshop, we were supposed to create Space around us. It's supposed to be a real space, and we can determine it's shape, size, attributes. We did this by imaging it, sometimes as honey, sometimes as if we're digging a tunnel for ourselves in thick mud. Then you expand this shape around you and know that it is there to hold you and support you and it's a safe place you can expand and let others into.

So I'm assigning myself a little homework. I'm going to experiment with space and sensitizing. I will do sensitizing exercise first via vipassana meditation, and then after some time, try to use the available sensations I feel at the moment and use that to create my space. Wouldn't that be exciting? I wonder what I'll discover.

I feel miles away from being Giles Corey. I'm hoping that is the role that's finally assigned to me for the recital. We're doing "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller. Our recital is on June 1. Hope you can come and watch.

God is forever with us

I was reading Genesis 21 tonight and observed a few things I thought I'd like to share with you.

Genesis 21:22 "God is obviously with you in everything you do."

That was King Abimelech talking to Abraham. I realize when God is truly with you, it is obvious. Even the pagans notice, and they bring glory to God. I know that Jesus wants me to abide with Him because He is Immanuel, "God with us." God does want to be with me--Jesus died and rose again to prove it! So, what could be the practical application for me? It can be "practicing the presence" of God. I heard this talked about in K-love. Simply behaving as if God is with you in the room you are in, in your car, wherever. It can instantly change how you think and feel. And God is ever-present!

Father, I thank You that You are always present. Help me to know You are always near. Please be involved in my life. I ask that You be with me in everything I do. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.


Genesis 21:25-26 Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech's servants had taken by force from Abraham's servants... "This is the first I've heard of it," Abimelech answered. "I have no idea who is responsible. You have never complained about this before."

There is a right way and time to "complain." When I live knowing that God is always with me, well, then He's the one I talk to first when I have something to complain about. I can go to Him right away. I think that God Himself arranged this meeting between Abraham and Abimelech. Maybe Abraham prayed about the well situation. It's possible. So, godly people don't complain. They pray. So when I have stuff at work, I go to God.

Dear Jesus, I thank You that You are always with me. I pray that the next time I see occasion to complain, that I go to You first, Jesus, lover of my soul, who has the power to take care of the situation. I thank You for the freedom to bare my soul's secrets and heart's pains to You. I bask in Your love and unconditional acceptance. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.


Genesis 22:33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he worshiped the LORD, the Eternal God.

The Lord Jesus is the Eternal God. If God promises to be with me, and He is the Eternal God, then our togetherness is forever. So, even when things are uncertain, even in difficult times, even when I feel like He's abandoned me, always remember what He whispered to my heart's ear: "Never alone." I am never alone. God is forever with me. The Lord Jesus is the Eternal God.

I worship You, my Lord Jesus, the Eternal God of Abraham.

Going through a lot

I'm going through a lot in life lately and I was taught the best thing to do when things get tough and life wears you thin is to count your blessings. So here I am doing just that. The list would go on forever so I'll limit it to the first 50 that enters my mind.

Praise God with me for:

1. my wife Veck
2. my daughter Dana
3. my salvation in Jesus
4. my dGroup
5. Dana's toys and joys and antics
6. my family's laughter
7. my NLT Life Application Bible
8. the air I breathe
9. the evening breeze
10. the sun streaming through the kitchen window
11. poetry and words
12. my books
13. my job
14. being recognized by my peers as someone who leads by example, contributes to team success and acts with integrity
15. my creative spirit
16. my creative mentors
17. K-Love.com
18. my loyal, close friendships
19. my small home
20. my pen and notebook and the freedom to write my thoughts
21. our spaghetti dinner tonight
22. free soda at the office
23. the Theatre! THE THEATRE!!
24. the Theater Actors Guild of the Philippines
25. having a bed to sleep 8 hours in
26. my life
27. green apples
28. Dana's prayers to God
29. family devotions
30. Issey Miyake perfume
31. my blog
32. my BlackBerry
33. my pumpkins Cheska, Chelsea, Cholo, Chanel and Cheyenne
34. my parents
35. my "fans"
36. the practice of meditation
37. my wife finishing residency training
38. God's grace and truth in Jesus
39. the Holy Spirit in my life
40. NxtGen Kids' Church
41. writing for the Chronicle
42. Christ's Commission Fellowship
43. surviving Ondoy, and Mayami bus accident
44. my CDs and DVDs
45. some money in the bank
46. the privilege of being on stage
47. the forgiveness of my many sins
48. my Artist's Way cluster of friends
49. God's constant presence in my life
50. Job, Bezalel, Oholiab, Ezra, Philip Yancey, Pak Iwan and many other heroes of my faith

Pursue intimacy through solitude

Take a moment each day to withdraw from the busyness of life and spend time alone with God. Just you and your Savior, getting intimate with each other. This is the spiritual discipline of solitude.

The 21st Century Christian finds this notoriously difficult. He is constantly distracted by an immense number of entertainments that gnaw at his consciousness. James 4:4-7 identifies three major obstacles to getting closer to God: love for the ways of the world, pride that makes us believe we don't need God, and the Devil who deceives us into thinking God does not love us. Nothing can be further from the truth. God longs to draw near to us. James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

God's grace allows us to see our sinfulness—wherever and whenever we aligned ourselves with the values of the world. God's grace allows us to humble ourselves and ask God for forgiveness. God's grace allows us to draw near to Him. God promised, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). God knows your heart. If you sincerely long for Him, you will have intimacy with Him. It takes grace.

Many times in Jesus' earthly life He practiced solitude. He withdrew from the crowds to spend time alone with God. He spent the very first hours of His day in prayer alone with His Father (Mark 1:32-38). He directed His life according to His Father's commands.

"In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice. In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch" (Psalm 5:3). Susanna Wesley, mother of more than ten children, found a creative way to find solitude of life. In the midst of motherhood and housework, she retreats into the kitchen, pulls her apron over head, and spends time with God! Knowing God intimately is eternal life (John 17:3). In Hosea 6:6, it's as if God intimates a secret Himself: "For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea rallies us in verse 3: "So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD." Make intimacy with God your primary goal in life.

There are many benefits to practising solitude. Any trial brings you closer to God and becomes a blessing. And you recognize that any blessing that might draw you farther away from God becomes a curse. In 1 Samuel 30, David faced a difficult trial. He clung to God and found strength in Him. He found the strength to ask God for directions, to carry them out, and to lead his band of soldiers to do the same. "The people who know their God will display strength and take action" (Daniel 11:32). People who know their God become strong because they are dependent upon the Lord. Quiet time is not a luxury. It is their means of survival.

Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). God longs to spend time with you. To sit down you, sip a little wine, and talk about anything and everything about life. Will you let Him in your heart?

Safety on the bus

Two Sundays ago going home from church, we figured in a vehicular accident. Veck, Dana and I were on the Mayamy Transit Bus UVB-203 bound to Fairview, when we hit a parked bus in front of the Gate 3 of AFP in Santolan. Read news here.

Veck suffered a minor laceration to her forehead. Dana, who was sitting on my lap, was unharmed. Many other co-passengers were gravely hurt. Many suffered injuries along their jaws causing them to loose teeth. Others had wounds on their shins. Others on other parts of their faces. It was a bloody mess.

After that incident, I became more cautious when taking public utility vehicles. I mostly take the MRT when I can help it. As a word of precaution, here are some safety measures you can take while on-board a bus.

• Remain alert. It is important not to fall asleep or be drowsy. This can be difficult for some people so make sure you get enough 8 hours of sleep at home and not when traveling. You are in a better position to help yourself in an accident if you are awake then when asleep.
• Keep your cellphones fully loaded and charged. It is at emergency situations that you would need to contact a friend or family member for help. Also, ICE your phones. Label emergency contacts in your phones with I.C.E. so paramedics and other rescue professionals know who to contact in a case of emergency.
• Maintain proper posture. Whether sitting or standing in a bus, maintaining good posture allows your body to reflex into a more self-protective position when a split-second accident happens. Slouching is not advisable. It makes you more prone to injuries should a mishap occur.
• Speak up. As soon as you notice the bus driver over-speeding or swerving lanes where these are prohibited, notify the conductor or the driver right away. It is important to make them aware that there may be elderly, children or pregnant mothers on board and that it is their social responsibility to observe traffic rules for the safety of everyone.
  
  
• Inform your family. Especially for minors, let your parents know where you are at all times. Before leaving home, it is good to let them know what route you plan to take, and what time it takes for you to commute. Inform them once you've reached your destination. If there are changes in your itinerary, for example, you and your friends wish to stay at a Starbucks after you see the play, let them know as well. Make this a habit so they know immediately if something is wrong if this routine is broken.
• Know the nearest government hospitals in your area. When involved in an accident, it may be better to go to a government emergency hospital because of the medico-legal services they have. If you go to a private hospital, they will patch you up and ask you to go to public hospital because most private hospitals don't have medico-legals. You need a medico-legal report when you file a complaint at the Land Transportation Office.
• Pray. Ultimately, it is God who is our Mighty Protector. He is able to keep us safe from all harm. Psalm 16:1 says, "Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge."

Travel on safe paths, my friends!

A chronological Bible study guide I return to

There are many ways to read through the Holy Bible and one that I personally favor is a chronological study. That means you don't read the book from Genesis to Revelation, going through the books as they are listed in the Table of Contents. (I tried to do that when I was in 5th Grade. When I came to the Chronicles I read about events that were already described in Kings. I thought, "Oh. History repeats itself.")

Selwin Hughes and Trevor J. Partridge's Cover to Cover: The acclaimed plan to read the Bible through in one year as it actually happened has helped me read through the Bible once years ago. I plan to go through it again, this time in a slower pace, not compulsively speeding through the day's prescribed reading, but conscientiously chewing and digesting God's words as I go.

So, I begin not on 1 January 2012 but several days late, and I try to mull on the pages. I hit upon an idea. Read the Bible. Stop when a passage or verse jumps at me. Go to my notebook and dive deep into a timed writing practice.

I haven't exactly been able to do that, but tonight, since Veck and Dana are on a much belated vacation trip to the in-laws in Malolos, I am going to BGC hours earlier than my work shift to do just that. I've some chores to do (bring the Blackberry to the store for needed repairs, pick up a book order, etc.) that I really need to get going.

Finally, here I am, opening to page one of the daily reading plan.There is a slight dread. I've read every word of the Bible before. Is there anything new I will find? Shall I switch to a different version for a fresher perspective? The King James Version, maybe, and reconstruct my English syntax? I might walk around the office and ask people, "Where art thou having supper?" or recite "Thy payment shalt be applied unto thy account within two to-morrows of to-day." That would be a riot. I was not exactly looking forward to reading the Bible.

Then bam! Right there, I see something I missed when I first went through. Hughes and Partridge cover not just Creation on Day 1, but also Satan's pride and fall (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:13-19). That's what got me racing to my notebook. So early on, at the onset of 2012, God is warning me of the danger of pride. I better take heed.

Pride is when I convince myself I don't need God and do things my way. That my ways are better. That I'm always right. Nothing can be further from the truth. I am helpless, vulnerable, doomed and in desperate need of a Savior. Pride blinds me to that truth.

So I list the ways I can be full of pride.

"I already know this" ... when listening to a Sunday sermon.

"Some people are born slow so I'll just need to be patient" ... when people or colleagues seem to not get what I am trying to say.

"I can't be wrong" ... when someone disagrees with me.

"It's not my fault" ... when convicted of sin, or when Veck tells me how I can be a better husband and father.

"Let's try it my way" ... when God shows me the right path to take.

"Maybe later" ... when God tells me to do something.

The list goes on.

I bring this list to Jesus and wonder what He'll do with it. I suspect He'll put a blood-colored stamp mark on it: "Already Taken Care Of 2000 Years Ago."

O Jesus, I need a Savior! I need a King! I need You.

Pursue intimacy with God

What is your life's pursuit? To answer that question, examine your schedule. What activity do you devote more time to than anything else? David's pursuit is intimacy with the Lord. In Psalm 27, amidst war and many troubles, he wrote, "One thing I have asked from the Lord: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple." The reward David longed for was God Himself.

David knew this truth: when you have God, you have everything. The opposite is also true: when you don't have God, you have nothing. Are you scrambling up the corporate ladder? Are you bent on the pursuit of your career goals? The apostle Paul once pursued the top of the religious positions, until he learned that nothing was more important than intimacy with God (Philippians 3:8).

Inside each person is an emptiness—a soul appetite. You will want to fill that emptiness, but instead of asking God to satisfy you, you tend to grab at the "good things of life" like riches, busy-ness, relationships, (Luke 14:18-20, Mark 4:19). But these won't be enough. Only God can fully satisfy. "This is eternal life," asserts John 17:3, "that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

True Christianity is knowing God intimately. The result is a deep and growing trust in God; a transformation where everything the Christian does flows out of his love for the Lord Jesus. The evidence that you are indeed a true Christian is a hunger and passion for God. The Christian knows that life is all about God, and not about him (Colossians 1:16).

Man's chief aim is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. God loves you. He wants to hold hands with you as you walk together through the journey of life. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). Pursue intimacy with God.

One way we pursue intimacy with God is through prayer and fasting. But why fast and pray? First Timothy 4:7 tells us, "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness." We do not fast or pray for the sake of fasting and praying, but for godliness. Richard Foster pointed out, "More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us." We realize what our compulsions are. And we realize our deep need of God.

This is seen in the life of King Jehoshaphat. When he was surrounded by his enemies, he cried out to God (2 Chronicles 20). In his helplessness, he sought the Lord. "Prayer and helplessness are inseparable," said O. Hallesby. "Only the one who is helpless can truly pray. Your helplessness is your best prayer. It calls from your heart to the heart of God with greater effect than all your uttered pleas."

God spoke to Jehoshaphat. "Do not fear... for the battle is not yours but God's" (v. 15). Don't fight. Stand and see my salvation. I AM with you. God does not speak louder when we fast. But we begin to hear Him better.

"O taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" the 34th Psalm sings with a promise. "They who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing."

When we pray and fast to draw near to God, He draws nearer to us, and we enjoy our fellowship with Him. Soon your heart will testify: "Thou will make known to me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever" (Psalms 16:11).

Fired!

We had to fire Dana's nanny whom she had for quite a while. The teenage girl was having attitude problems, and that's the most difficult thing. She was referred to us by Joan, my best friend. She's the niece of their nanny.

We have very little expectations, actually. All we ask is that she can be trusted with money. She can, check! She doesn't hurt Dana when we're away, check! She does chores without complaint, check! We pay her dues on time.

Where she fails is day-offs. She goes away on day-offs and we can't rely on her to come back when she promises to. It's terrible. Reliability is a major issue, and although it hurts to fire someone early in the year during a time when jobs are hard to come by, it is harder to entrust the care of your daughter to someone you can't fully trust when you're away on work.

I propose that a Nanny Network be put up online. On the Nanny Network, parents get to put the names of ex-nannys and give recommendations. Name, photo, age and contact information will be there. Then previous employers can put comments like trustworthy, or solicitous, or great cook. They can also say, "demands three days off a week" or "refuses to do laundry" or stuff. That way it's easier for us to look up info when we're looking for nannies.

But we're not looking for one just yet. Ever since Veck finished her Residency at National Children's Hospital and been taking care of Dana personally, I've noticed Dana become more respectful, obedient, vivacious and joyful. My wife's a super mom!

This reminds me that I need to be reliable with work, too. When my employer expects me to be working at a certain time, I should be there working. A passage comes to mind: "Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ." And I've nothing more to add to that!

The books I read this year

I wanted to list the books I read this year. So far, these are books I've read before. It's January. I'm putting toe to water before I plunge into reading books I haven't read before.

So, in chronological order of how I read them, my list is:

Writing down the bones, by Natalie Goldberg, nonfiction
Wild Mind: Living the writer's life, by Natalie Goldberg, nonfiction
The unpleasant profession of Jonathan Hoag, by Robert A. Heinlein, fiction
Ecclesiastes, Old Testament, nonfiction
Thunder and lightning: Cracking open the writer's craft: by Natalie Goldberg, nonfiction
Magic, Inc., by Robert A. Heinlein, fiction
And he built a crooked house, by Robert A. Heinlein, fiction

I am currently reading:

Job, Old Testament, poetry
The diary of a professional experiencer, by Eric Morris, nonfiction
Freeing the actor, by Eric Morris, nonfiction

I am looking forward to reading:


The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, fiction
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien

My life will be meaningless if I don't pass on three things to the next generation; a tragedy if I don't pass on four. One, my love for literature and reading. Two, my love for honesty and writing. Three, my love for truth and the theater. And the fourth, most important of all: God's love.

So much for resolutions!

On 31 December 2011 I decided to say good-bye to the year by writing. At about 7:00 A.M. I was already prowling the streets of Ortigas Center for a cafe that's open and will accommodate my simple wish with a table, a chair, and enough time to fill pages with writing practice.

But I was to be denied. There were no Starbucks or Seattle's Best that was open. So I hunkered down and settled myself in McDonald's El Pueblo to write. The counter person was Marvin (his name tag showed it was so), and he was as friendly as a croc that hasn't eaten for days. I asked for a double-cheeseburger meal--yeah I figured once a year is a good time to eat beef--and he shooed me off like a fly by saying, "Come back 10:30. We only serve breakfast."

I ordered a Big Breakfast meal and Marvin wasn't paying enough focus as he counted my change bill-by-bill, coin-by-coin onto my palm so that my money slipped from my hand onto the food tray. I said, "Never mind. I'll count it myself." Then he just stood there waiting for me to leave. "Is everything ready?" I asked. He pushed the tray in front of me. It carried a small cup of iced tea, and an unappetizing styro package. I asked if he could put a lid on my drink and he made a face.

I decided the food wasn't celebratory enough so I decided I wanted a bag of large fries. He got my P100 bill but didn't give my change back. Instead he gave me one of those numbers and said it'll take two minutes and my fries will just be served at my table. I asked if he can put a lid on my drink, please, and he did. I asked if he gave me my change already. He gave a confused look on his face and said, determinedly, yes.

Whilst I took my tray, my spilled money, my number, and the unappetizing food away to find a desk, I found none empty to my dismay. I approached the counter again and asked the manager if they'd open the upstairs because there wasn't anywhere one can eat. She said, "No, but I'll have someone find a place for you." It ended up that she herself found a spot for me: the desk where they have they entertain reservations for birthday parties. Naturally it carried all sorts advertising paraphernalia for the birthday reservations. She merely nudged them to the edge of the desk and asked me to sit down there and eat.

I said, "I hope you can put them away because I've some stuff of my own to put on the desk aside from the food." I meant my notebook. I wasn't there to eat. I was there to write. What she did was entirely genius it made me think she was the reincarnation of Albert Einstein. She shoved all of the advertising paraphernalia off the desk and onto one of the plastic seats. How perfect!

I started to write and thought I couldn't, because I felt I have just been served the worst service of my life. To top it off, the food was terrible. I asked Luis, one of the crew, to follow-up on my fries. It's been over the delivery time Marvin promised. As Luis went behind the counter to fetch my delayed order, I counted my money. I was sure of it. Marvin did not give me my change for the fries.

When the fries arrived, they were old. I told Luis, "Why was I made to wait for fries that are old anyway? I wouldn't mind waiting for freshly-cooked fries." He went away with my tray. After three minutes the manager came back with hot fries. I said, "What did you do?"

She said, "I made you new ones." No apologies offered. Nothing. Just plain curt and efficient. I made you new ones. Be thankful. Eat them.

The "new fries" went cold in two minutes. Which led me into thinking they were the same old fries only dunked into the frier to heat them up. Terrible service. I didn't even finish my Big Breakfast Meal. It didn't look edible at all.

To add insult, Luis and the manager began setting up desks and tables all over the restaurant to accommodate more guests... Neither bothered to ask if I'd be more comfortable in one of those desks than in the one I was in, with McDonald's Birthday Party advertising paraphernalia right beside my seat.

So my new year's resolution? Never to eat at McDonald's ever again.

*

That resolution was broken the same day. Before going home I bought my wife and daughter a McDonald's meal from the nearest one in our area. So much for resolutions!

Anyhow, I realized that being in the customer service business myself, I should be conscientious of how my customer feels. So that's the lesson why I received bad service from McDonald's. So I would know to treat all customers without prejudice with decent human courtesy.

All that happened December 31st, 2011. It's January 1st. I will never eat at a McDonald's ever again.

Veck and Dana just brought me home some pizza! Yum!

Things I want to invent

"I"
I am not sure if there's a non-doctrinal non-sectarian inspirational magazine here in the Philippines. I envision the articles to be full of encouraging anecdotes and insights from key people. It'll be a daily dose of positivity and good spirit! I'll call it I-Magazine. It'll be online but if it hits big, it'll be on print some day.

I'll start collecting stories, snippets, and experiences so when I'm ready to launch, it'll all be there. I'm so excited!

"Non-stick Price Tags"
The next thing I want to invent is a little more high-tech. You know how much pain it is to peel off a sticky price tag from a book you bought? You use your fingernail and try to take it off then it tears. It is a test of patience. And if you're successful you'll be dismayed to find there's a sticky spot where the tag used to be. It'll attract lint, dust, hair, and other scary stuff to stick to it. Ugly! So...

I propose a bookstore solution. No more price tags! What bookshoppers simply need to do is to scan the barcode of the book under a device and it flashes the book title, author and price. Then the person can decide if he wants to buy the book. He simply carries it to the counter and pays for it. No more sticky mess.

I hereby claim to be the originator of these ideas so no one dare steal them!

A free dinner at Alba

My wife, Veck, is a pediatrician, and every once in a while pharmaceutical companies would like to promote their products to doctors usually by holding seminar talks introducing their brand milk or vitamins. Usually, these events include a free buffet dinner.

Two nights ago, MeadJohnson got together pediatricians from National Children's Hospital (where Veck is taking up her residency training) and Jose Reyes Hospital to promote their new milk brand: Smart10. The chosen venue was Alba, a Spanish restaurant along Tomas Morato.

Veck got me to tag along and the initial plan was that I'll wait for her at Figaro, just across the corner. I have my book to read and she'll give me a ring once the presentation/dinner was over. I was feeling a bit hungry, so I said I might as well wait in Alba and pay for my own meal.

Now if you're thinking that I went in, pretended to be a doctor, mingled with my wife's colleagues, enjoyed myself to the free dinner and actually sat in during the presentation, well, that's exactly what happened. I had my fill of canonigno, paella, mushrooms, enselada.

During the lecture, with nothing much to do, I thought I might as well listen. Dr Gacheco talked about the importance of proper nutrition and nurture. I learned that young children are rapid learners as their brains are developing, especially up to two years old. It is then very important to engage them in play and put them in sensorially stimulating environment. Play Mozart, put colorful mobiles and pictures, have a baby handle a rattle.

I thought a lot about Dana and how I need to expose her to more learning-inducive environments; read books to her; play music and dance with her. The important thing is these activities have to be fun.

I thought artist dates ought to be that way, too. Fun and sensorially stimulating.

Now at the end of the lecture the speaker gave out a Survivors Quiz. The winner takes home Spanish sardines. I got eight out of nine answers right, besting the doctors in the room. Ha! How's that for someone who was just pretending to be a doctor!