I opened my email and received this from my daily or weekly mail from the Bereans webmail...

God tells me something and I have to remind myself of this.....

Hebrews 10:26-29

(26) For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. (28) Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. (29) Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Bitter or Better

Today I went to see my facebook, looked at the updates of my friends and old classmates. Lots of pictures, new ones, their activities and different shout outs. One thing caught my attention, that was, a classmate of mine who achieved one of her dreams. I know she worked hard for it, and I know that she deserved it (if she got it she surely deserves it), I should be happy for her!! but what all I feel was envy. I know this is wrong, its the bitterness that is creeping in my heart. I compared myself to her. I felt that I was better than her and yet she was blessed more than I am. I felt that, compared to my abilities, I am much more deserving than her and yet I felt that she is more fortunate than I am.

What I am feeling right now is just pure depression. Why is it that I am bypassed by opportunities in life. I have the potential to be something and yet it seems that I would remain as such, just a potential. Will I ever get the realization of what I am fully capable of. I am already at the peak of my age, where most of batch mates already made it in their careers. This is the age where my dad already made his name. And yet as for me, i am still down here, it seems I never took off from my situation. I feel that I am a half baked person, jack of all trades master of none.

I just don't know right now what the will of God is for me. I plan things and it never happens. I thought I can finish my training and be a good surgeon but at near the end of the finishing line, I did not finish the race. I moved to the states dreaming of making it good for my family, and yet my partner in life was taken away. Hence, I moved back here in the Philippines with the dream of finishing what I have started and yet I feel that my opportunity is getting dim. Everything seems to be so near my reach and yet so far.

The only thing that keeps me going is that the Lord has given me a great gift of knowing HIM. And this should be thing that I should focus more and the rest will just follow. I have to ask myself right now...
- when I planned for things did I prayed for it?
- how often do I listen to HIM?
- how is my prayer life?
- how is my relationship to the Lord right now?
- do I really know my priorities, If I do what did I do about it?
- how much do I spend time for HIM, for my family, for my work and for my goals?
- do I read more and pray and know what the Lord wants me to do in this life?

Basic questions that I should answer. Simple and yet complicated. Answers can be answered easily and yet here I am right now, making some alibis. Here I am, trying to reason out for myself. Who am I fooling?

Got to wake up and read HIS words and remind myself on my priorities in life. Envy indeed is a sin, jealousy and pride is one of the biggest stumbling blocks in my life. Got to face it head on and come to a realization that I should am longer slave to such, this worldly things will pass away but the Glory of God stays forever. If I do things, in every way, whether in my career, work, home, friendship, socialization, I have to remember that I am an ambassador of the LORD and I have to respond as such. Its difficult, but who says being a disciple is easy. I never hear ed or read anything in the Bible that being a disciple is fine and dandy, that being a disciple is all bed and roses. Its far more different than that, and I am feeling the pressures right now. Its normal for a disciple to feel and what separates me from a non disciple is how I should respond to it.

To GOD be the glory, I pray that I will surpass this feeling, I should know better as a christian. going back to the heart of worship put hings in the proper perspective for what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but looses his own soul. Pity worldliness, share the word.

Preparing for July 10

I got an email from a brother in Gensan requesting me to talk in the men's forum this July 10. The topic is about men in the work place. Included in their request is for me to teach some MMA moves...haha kindah funny though. I am still in limbo in things that I am going to say and to speak about. Am still contemplating on what would be the most appropriate message during that time. Knowing, what should be the proper verses that I am going to share to encourage the disciples there. The things is I should take an extra time just to sit down and contemplate and pray for the spirit to guide me. With all the things that are going in my life I have listen to what the spirit is telling me to share. Well, I guess thats it for now. I hope and pray by next week I already have an outline...Amen amen to God be the glory!!

UNFAIR

What is Fair and what is Unfair?

FAIR
Being in accordance with relative merit or significance:
Consistent with rules, logic, or ethics.
Moderately good; acceptable or satisfactory.

SYNONYMS:
fair1, just1, equitable, impartial, unprejudiced, unbiased, objective, dispassionate

These adjectives mean free from favoritism, self-interest, or preference in judgment. Fair is the most general: a fair referee; a fair deal. Just stresses conformity with what is legally or ethically right or proper: "a just and lasting peace" (Abraham Lincoln).

Equitable implies justice dictated by reason, conscience, and a natural sense of what is fair: an equitable distribution of gifts among the children. Impartial emphasizes lack of favoritism: "the cold neutrality of an impartial judge" (Edmund Burke).

Unprejudiced means without preconceived opinions or judgments: an unprejudiced evaluation of the proposal. Unbiased implies absence of a preference or partiality: gave an unbiased account of her family problems.

Objective implies detachment that permits impersonal observation and judgment: an objective jury. Dispassionate means free from or unaffected by strong emotions: a dispassionate reporter.


UNFAIR.
Not just or evenhanded; biased: an unfair call by an umpire.
Contrary to laws or conventions, especially in commerce; unethical: unfair trading.

PREJUDICE
An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts.
A preconceived preference or idea.
The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions. See Synonyms at predilection.
Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion.
Detriment or injury caused to a person by the preconceived, unfavorable conviction of another or others.

DISCRIMINATE
To make a clear distinction; distinguish: discriminate among the options available.
To make sensible decisions; judge wisely.

To make distinctions on the basis of class or category without regard to individual merit; show preference or prejudice: was accused of discriminating against women; discriminated in favor of his cronies.



JUST THINKING
When somebody questions a Person with Authority his attitude towards fairness, equitability and being unprejudiced, His AUTHORITY, CREDIBILITY and MORAL JUDGMENT is also being questioned.

When a person is being accused or considered unfair, his moral judgment is being questioned and this would also subsequently question whether this person of authority is fit to make decisions and have the credibility to be in his current status.

These are the things that should be therefore considered before making a commentary, a remark or an opinion. I have been trying to discern these important and sensitive words; fair, unfair impartial, prejudice, unreasonable and discriminate, Words that were recently heard. It made me ponder and dig deeper to the recesses of my mind and remember this words were accurately used in defining a person considered to be unfair. I don’t have the answers yet but what I do have are tons and tons of questions….Questions for the person who thinks somebody is being unfair, whose opinions about being unreasonable and being unfair....


- when a person is being reprimanded after he had done several delinquency is that unreasonable?

- When reprimand is done in private and is not announced to everyone or every person involved is that unfair?

- Does it have to be an announced correction, everyone should be aware, to be called fair? Or it can be done in a personal one on one basis?



- When a person is frequently corrected of the same mistakes that he does, is that unreasonable?

- When an honest criticism is done for a person to grow is it unreasonable?

- When a commitment has been broken and you are being reminded is that irrational?

- When you are commanded by a senior not to perform a certain drill because your senior has his own personal reason will you question his judgment call?




- Is it reasonable that you do not attend to an important event of your students or your juniors?

- Do you know everything that happens objectively that you may be able to discern that one is being unfair or not?




- Is it logical to compare yourself to your seniors? If yes then talk to your seniors….

- Do you have the right to question your superior and brand him as being unfair?



IN CONCLUSION

We always think of ourselves. We are so self centered that we think life is catching up on us. We think that life is unfair that ” I cannot do what I want, I do not want others to correct me or reprimand me and Life wants to mess me up. Life is so unfair and is ganging up on me”.


Why don’t we look at it on the other side of the coin, a different point of view or another perspective. My attention is called because:
- they want me to grow,
- they want me to mature as a person,
- maybe they want me to have a good work ethics
- they are concerned about me
- They want to expose me to another culture which I am not familiar with
- Teach me to listen to people with authority
- They want to make me strong and not be overly sensitive
- They want to make me a better person


Well if you think that individual is really absurd, all wet, arbitrary, biased, capricious, contradictory, erratic, fallacious, far-fetched, incoherent, incongruous, inconsequential, inconsistent, invalid, irrational, nonsensical, off the wall, opinionated, preposterous, quirky, reasonless, senseless, and thoughtless. THEN he must be really unfair and unworthy of your respect, friendship, strata and company. If that’s the case, then stay away from him, his group, his company, his organization. If not, suck it in and grow up.


Yup we complain too much and do not see the other side of the fence....and yes we forget being grateful!

Well, thats my opinion and everyone is entitled to have one! PEACE!




almost all of the cartoons are copied from this website http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/c/comparing.asp

The Butuan Adventure

Butuan Adventure was one of the insanely cool road trips that I had. We were going to an mma event in Butuan. The funny thing about it is that I dont have any fighters who are going to compete. We just went there to support mma fighters from Davao. there were five of them and I only knew one and he is a veteran competitor. It was indeed a long trip, travelling to a long and winding road. At one time we approached two backhoes along the road.OMG.... A few meters of road was fixed and on both sides are these huge machines...Well after what happened in Maguindanao these huge heavy equipments have a negative effect on us...Naaahhh..Too much of that thing gives you nightmares and paranoia.. Nontheless, we pushed thru with the trip. Kay ngano man dili? :)

We arrived early and the first thing that we looked for was....FOOD. Indeed everyone was darn starving. I could even hear each others stomach growl, I guess louder than the words that we utter. Afterwhich we proceeded to the VEnue. From the outside it looks small however, inside it is fairly a nice size of a place to handle such event.
The dug out was way more different, it looks like a "bodega" a storage room..filled with fighters. The way I see it, others are so eager to fight that they want it to get over and done with, and others are there sitting on one corner, I guess they are having the first time jitters, meditating or just plainly being silent.


Well, we saw our local team fighters and the first thing we did was to help them wrap their hands...Unfortunately we ran out of tape. The organizers were not prepared for that. Hence, it is really prudent for fighters to bring their own stuff and not rely soley on the event people.



We watched the competition from the begining till the end. We were there to corner for the fighters and assist in coaching them. HOwever, this poses a big dilemma for the fighters and the one coaching..the fighters does not have the communication link between the corner people. WHY?...because they were not really our fighters, they were not the fighters that we trained. Basta, ang goal was to help them out and assist them to win the game. Walang coach-fighter relationship ala Roach-Paqcuiao tandem. Therefore, there was a big coaching problem. And this predicament manifested on the debut fighters..."SIT-UP" we shouted..and he answered "ANO?" he might be even thinking that we are telling him to set it up. "Ground and Pound" we yelled and the player responded "lagi" (alright), "head and body shots" and the fighter did a hammer fist on the body and the head (hhmmm, what an awkward manuever or maybe I am not just used to that kind of move). For the two veteran fighters we did not struggle. They won convincingly and impressively. The result turned out well, 4 fighters won and only one lost via TKO. Not bad.



Postfight was the best portion of the event. They had a good band who played non stop for almost 2 or 3 hours. They were able to jam the songs that we like. The best part is all teams from different places partied and had a blast. Others think that this might be odd, (they just fought awhile ago and afterwards they are partying)but this is the spirit of the sport. Its all about sportsmanship, fighters dont take it personaly (because after the fight I dont see whats next to settle the score, play chess? ahahaha). After the fight, the opponents become buddies, FB friends, txt mates...

Went home around 2 or 3am I really cannot remember, and they woke us up around 7 in the morning, Who are we referring to? they? the Organizers... for an early breakfast...WHAT???? BREAKFAST??? yup ...7AM....yeah....Eyes are still red...my head was very light......and we did not have time to take a bath..Crrrrrrrazzzzzzy.


Whats crazier, mental, berserk than this....is this guy brushing his teeth in front of the hotel..ahahah. Sobrang madali.

But we had to..off we go to the local carenderia and had our breakfast. We had a hot fish soup (it was more of 99% soup and 1% fish, I had to dive deep on the recesses of the bowl before I can scoop out a piece of fish), a ton of scrambled egg coupled with a bottle of COKE for breakfast. One thing I noticed with the owner of this establishment, he was also a fighter who particpated in the event and won. But that was not the real score, I noticed him drinking Tanduay rum early in the morning. uhhhh i dont think i can do that but yes he was drinking some, as if he was drinking gatorade after a heavy work out.



Going home was fun, in a way, as we would tell jokes and pick on each other. And in the middle of the travel again...the fighters were looking for food. After a couple of hours ride..I guess everyone should be hungry. The group almost ate up all the food that the eatery had and I think the carenderia ran out of rice.
Having this kind of activity is fun and exciting especially if everyone has the same mind set and share a common interest. For this, it was the love for the MMA sport. I hope for the winners, their head wont swell and be filled with ego. I hope they stay humble and be humble. For the defeated warrior, this will be a learning experience and a chance for him to strive hard more and standup after the fall. Sa mga gusto mag compete just train for the next event, for now ibog lang sa. And for us who did not fight...Support lang kami and we enjoyed what we are doing. This sport is a test of character and a test of attitude. Well, good things never last.

As what a famous warrior said:

"The Way of a Warrior is based on humanity, love, and sincerity; the heart of martial valor is true bravery, wisdom, love, and friendship. Emphasis on the physical aspects of warriorship is futile, for the power of the body is always limited."-
Ueshiba Morihei, The Art Of Peace

I guess thats it for now, nothing much to say anymore. Till next time!!

General Santos City Part 1

A southern part of the Country in the province of South Cotabato. It has a rich soil, good rainfall and typhoon-free climate, the area is the largest producer of corn, coconuts, copra, pineapples, asparagus and rice. The area also produces other high value crops such as exotic fruits, potatoes, vegetables, cut flowers and okra.

It accounts for the largest total daily fish landings in the country and is the leading producer of sashimi grade tuna. Residents boast that fish and seafood do not come fresher than in their city.

Most of all its the place where disciples with great, dynamic,stupendous,passionate hearts, settle. Its the place where we were going.

Several months ago a group of brothers with the leadership of the Davao minister planned to go and visit General Santos City. I was fortunate enough to be included in the planning with the brothers. The main concern during that time, was the goal of the travel. Was it for "la-ag, la-ag", was it just a visit, an outreach, etc...What was the purpose? There were several occasions where we often times discuss about it. We may have several things in mind but at least we should be united in our goals and objectives ...What came out? ....It was, indeed, doing it for Gods' Glory and to encourage the local church in Gen San.
Off we go...with the heart and mind to reach out and encourage our fellow disciples in Gensan.

3 fired-up families went with 6 kids plus myself included. Fitting 14 (7 adults, 1 teen, 6 kids)individuals itslef was an industrious accomplishment..Gi kamada gyud ug tarong para masakto..Whooaa.Fully packed, inside a toyota van, indeed it was an impressive feat (shout out to the driver/minister/leader/kamada king).
The Travel took 3 hours from Davao City to Gen Santos City with one or two stops in between (lunch and just going to the Rest room). Traveling to a long and winding road, seeing some stunning sceneries, having great organic food ( I guess, kasi native chicken eh) ..... only shows how a great and wonderful creator our God is.

Upon arriving at the area of destination we were met by the minister of Gensan. We were set in a nice, cozy and comfy place. Night time was the beginning of the fellowship ... I have witnessed a servants heart and loving heart of the church as they prepare the food for us the visitors.
A feast of local delicacies was just for starters. It was followed by short but meaningful talk by a brother. It was about building a house, a spiritual house, a house with a blue print of were Christ is the foundation; walled by love, commitment, forgiveness and communication; and a roof of Gods grace. We heard the sharing of 3 disciples and their response on how the short message affected their hearts. We ended the activity and head back to the inn, with hearts burned with God's word, filled and encouraged.

However, the night did not end with that, we just had the kids go to sleep and off we went...visit some sights and places and have some food. Actually, its not the sights and places but rather it was the food. Why? kasi yong food na hinahanap namin wala sa mga lugar na pinuntahan namin. Thats why we went to 2 or 3 differente places para maka kain lang ng "PANCIT" hehe..as if walang pancit sa Davao. Nonetheless, it was a fun bonding time...
Part 2...tatapusin...

"don't make me upset. You wouldn't like me when I'm upset"

did some circuit training on this gym. for almost seven months never have i heared any complaint. I did help train some people here, we grapple, we box, lift weights or even kick pads. Before we even use the ring we asked for permission from the instructors if we can hit some mitts or not, and most of the time its a yes, never did I ever experienced any problem. This time, for the very first time my attention was called indirectly by the manager/owner or watchama call him. He indirectly informed me not to use the boxing ring or boxing area since it is the schedule for boxing. This guy did not even looked at the area and see if there are clients boxing or hitting some mitts. Schedule for boxing? Indeed it was but, There was only one client in the ring and he was not even hitting the mitts. The other thing is I did not even climb up the ring and used it. Nonetheless, from what I heared somebody complained. HMMM..the client complained? Maybe the boxing instructor? NOOOOOOOOO...I did ask them, they were even kind enough to allow us to kick some pads inside the ring. Whats messed up about this, is that the manager/owner whoever that is, only talked to one of my trainees and asked him to inform me. If this person has a beef with me, then he could have approached me. As a manager/owner he should have the decency to talk to me. The fact is most of the people who trained with me are paying clients of the gym and I am also a client. The gym did not pay me to train those clients but rather I paid the gym for the usage of the facilities. This people approached me to train with them. Most of all, I did not ask for any payment. Dili ni pamugas..intawon...(doctor tawon ko....I dont want even to go to that level).It was done out of love for the sport. So, whats wrong with this picture? An effort was even done to set an appointment with this guy but he refused because he is busy. Hmmm customer or client should always be heared..but not to this part of the earth..kaya siguro hindi tayo umaasenso. Who complained? Why did they not talk to me directly? I really cannot understand how this happened and why this happened. Two sides of the coin does not apply in this side of the planet.
Clearly this an unproffessional way of handling clients/customers.
I am just really upset and I want to vent this out to get the steam out of my system. the ironic things is that I train for mma..and I cannot even use it at this moment. Hit the bags at the gym...NOOOO its boxing time even if there is nobody using it. Discipline and self control, even in the midst of being disrespected.... deep breathing and count 1 to ........
Mahirap dito sa Pinas dapat magpakita ka ng power and influence para respetohin ...
Well its a challenge always to be a disciple, its a test for self control and a test how, as a christian, should we approach this situations in life. For now sulat lang sa..before going to sleep will pray for it..when I wake up in the morning I will have to do something in a christian way to tell the truth and do what is right in a christly manner.