My desk’s new look

What do you think?

The Lord’s Espresso

Ok. The event sounds like its a Hipster event, whatsoever. It is actually for young professionals, married couples and those who are below 40 years old (but everybody is welcome of course). Since we all love coffee, the theme of the event is a coffee shop. We did our best to make it look like a coffee shop. Thanks to the volunteers who helped us organize the place.

We are happy (Thank God!) that the event was a success given the fact that we only have less than 2 weeks to prepare, not to mention that we have work and businesses to attend to.

This is a worship event but not the usual one. It is not contemporary. We did not make it cool. We just made it relevant. And that’s what I like about it.

ALSO, after how many months, I was able to lead the praise and worship again. No practice. No band. Just me, Hannah, Elijah and some minus one I got from my uncle’s album. It was impromptu to be more specific. Admittedly, worship leading is NOT really for me. I did not mess up but it doesn’t feel right. I just want to sing to glorify the God who hardwired me to sing.

Our guest speaker’s testimony was also inspiring. He left his $7,000 monthly salary as a VP of a Multinational bank to enter the ministry as a preacher . That was a brave move. His faith is remarkable.

If you earn that amount of money, will you leave your company for a full time ministry?  I have a heart for mission works and I know that God already added that in my genome. So probably I’ll be doing the same thing because I love to travel and help people. And I would leave everything behind to pursue the things that I love. I do not call it “calling” though.

Anyway, below are the pictures of our event:

Tear Jerker #1: These guys are workers from a machine shop. They prepared a song for us.

Tear Jerker #2: Prayer for Aunt Genna who was diagnosed with Stage 2 Cancer. Why this made me cry? Because the people who were praying for her in this picture are her friends in the church. Goosebumps.

Innocence

I took this photo last Monday during a field work. I like the simplicity and innocence of the picture. What do you think?

My Need to Create: People Need The Lord – Cover

Here’s one of my favorite Steve Greeen/Gary Valenciano songs. The quality of my instrumental is not that good, so please bear with me.

Youtube Clips to Inspire You

1. Go International TV Promo Video. This is a very inspiring video about ministry and travel. “Ministry is not confined in the church”

2. This video is very hilarious but very informative. This is an intro of 26 music genre in just 3 minutes. Watch this crazy duo as they introduce 26 music genre in just 3 minutes. I didn’t know that Chiptune, Dubstep, Horrorcore are actual (and legal) music genres.

3. The Gospel in Four Minutes will always be one of the not-cheesy clips that is truly a tearjerker. I have posted this before, but I would put an emphasis to it. This is really a stuff worth watching!

Mail’s Here Part 9

Here are my received postcards for the past 2 weeks:

1. Bali, Indonesia. This card was sent by Darren Lim, my couchsurfing guest last October 2012. Thanks Darren!

2. A card from France

3. Yehey! I just received an Indian Map from Ukraine.

4. My first card from Africa (and my first 3D stamp).

5. A card from Germany

6. My second tiled postcard from Portugal.

7. A card from Poland

You love, but a…

You love, but are not inflamed with passion; you are jealous yet free from care; you repent, but do not sorrow; you grow angry but remain tranquil. You change your works, but do not change your plan; you take back what you find, although you never lost it; you are never in want, but you rejoice in gain; you are never covetous, yet you exact usury. Excessive payments are made to you, so that you may be our debtor–yet who has anything that is not yours? You pay debts, although you owe no man anything; you cancel debts, and lose nothing.

St. Augustine of Hippo, “The Confessions of Saint Augustine”

Translated with an Introduction, and notes by John K. Ryan

 

June Meetups

I am an introvert (sort of). Even though I am loud at times, I will always come back to the reality that I prefer to be the quiet guy than being the life of the party. This is a paradox that I face everyday.

Despite this messed up temperament, I realized that meeting people is a productive guilty pleasure. Last month I have met amazing people whose stories of faith and one of a kind adventures made me realize a lot of things. Meeting strangers is a step out of a comfort zone experience; you deviate from your routine, you get a little sleep, you speak straight English (especially if the stranger is from a foreign land).

I want to recall Jerry See Toh from Malaysia who travel to Philippines from time to time for short term mission trips. Conversations with Jerry ignited my passion for mission works.

I also met Xia (or Chris), a shy expat from China. She is more local than I am even though she just moved here a year ago.

There’s something about stories that excites me. Probably it’s because at the end of the day, no matter how diverse we are (and I am speaking in general), we are still connected with each other.

Have you learned something new from a stranger? If yes, please feel free to write it down.

A constant constant

No matter what we do in our lives, there will always be something inside us that is connected to God. Regardless of our background, religion, past experiences, there will always be a desire to know and to seek God. And even though we ignore this human longing, the fact that He is constant in our lives will never change. He is a constant constant.

My Need to Create: Without Love Cover

Hey, here’s another cover from one of my favorite musicals, HAIRSPRAY.