& nbsp;   Yesterday was picnic day for our church.  We planned on meeting at a public park called Willow Pond Park.  The park have excellent facilities: two basketball courts, a sand volleyball court, a fishing pond, two wading pools for children and two swing and slide sets.  The plan is to meet there right after worship service, eat lunch, play some games, socialize, the works.  The weather was gloomy during the service so we have some brethren concerned whether the activity will be spoiled.  Some of them worried that there would be too many people and we would run out of tables and barbecue grills (there are two available).  These concerns are not unfounded.  Nobody likes to do a picnic even with a slight drizzle.  The other concern was based on the park being featured in a local morning show as a great spot to do picnics.

    & nbsp;   But the day turned out to be perfect.  It remained cloudy all day but it didn’t rain at all.  The temperature was perfect for outdoor games, and we had a lot of fun playing basketball and volleyball (yes I played too, I’m not a complete geek after all).  There weren’t too many people who I bet were afraid to come out because of the possible rain.  In other words, we could have saved ourselves from worrying if we had only trusted God.  He’s the one who control the weather.  He knew what we needed long before we planned this activity.  He is in control.

    & nbsp;   In Mark 10:15 Jesus Christ said “I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”  In this saying it is not so much the simplicity or humility of little children that our Lord is commending, but their total dependence.  This is the attitude that God wants in those who wish to enter His kingdom.  But what do these rather puzzling words mean?  Where or what is the Kingdom of God?  Is it something that we can enter now or something that lies in the future?  Part of our difficulty is that we think of a kingdom as territory – the kingdom of Norway, the United Kingdom, and so on.  But the word translated “kingdom” really means “sovereignty” or “kingly rule”, so the kingdom of God means the sovereignty of God.  And to enter the kingdom of God means to accept the sovereignty of God over our lives, and that is something we can begin to do here and now.

    & nbsp;   A small child is wholly dependent on his mother.  When he takes his first toddling steps he knows that he will not fall and hurt himself since his mother is waiting to catch him.  This, says Jesus, ought to be our relationship to God.  We must cast aside our pride and our reliance on our own efforts, and accept God’s help and guidance as a gift, recognizing that we are wholly dependent on Him.  It has nothing to do with a child’s innocence.  In any case, what child is innocent after it leaves its cradle?  Jesus knew enough about children – and men and women – not to think of innocence as a possible qualification for a right relationship to God.  It was after all sinners that Christ came to save.  Rather He wants dependence, trust, and receptiveness, and tells us that if we approach God in such a spirit, we can experience that proper relationship here and now.

(Last two paragraphs are excerpts from The Difficult Sayings of Jesus by William Neil)

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Ten things (humor)

I decided to do these Ten Things every Friday.

Ten dog breeds I'd like to own (Click breed name to view images.  My comments are in parentheses)
 

Akita

The Akita is large, powerful, alert, with much substance and heavy bone. It has a deep muzzle, small eyes and erect ears, and a large curled tail. Renown for its fierce love, loyalty and obedience to his owner. It is the largest of the Japanese Spitz-type breeds. Akitas have webbed feet and are very strong swimmers. Akitas need space and should not be confined. (How can you not like a dog that fiercely loves its owner?)

Beagle

The Beagle has soft brown eyes that convey its warm personality but do not reveal its admirable courage and stamina. A truly trustworthy friend, it makes a great family pet as it is eager to romp and play. A good watchdog that can be trained to hunt.  Known as the "singing Beagle," it has a sweet hunting voice, but if left alone may howl.  Training will alleviate this problem.  It will adapt well to a home or kennel environment, but new owners should be aware of its natural hunting instincts and it should not be left alone for long periods of time. (Translation: If you own a beagle, don’t own a parakeet or hamster)

English Bulldog

Known as the national symbol of Great Britain. The characteristics of a perfect Bulldog are medium size, smooth coat, heavy, thick-set, low-swung body, massive short-faced head, wide shoulders and sturdy limbs. An ideal pet as he loves to be in the company of his family.  He adores children and makes an excellent companion to them because of his gentle, sometimes stubborn nature.  He is a laid-back, loyal good natured and undemanding companion who would make a great companion for the elderly who do not want to feel guilty for not walking him or the "couch potato" family. Contrary to popular belief he does not drool, but he may snore.  (I would have a blast just watching this dog sleep).

Spaniel

The Field Spaniel is a combination of beauty and utility, well-balanced, substantial hunter-companion of medium size.  Built for activity and endurance in heavy cover and water.  A noble carriage, proud but docile attitude, sound and free-moving.  He is a docile, affectionate, intelligent breed who is eager to please. Suited for family life, he is also willing to work and is suited for hunting in open terrain. (The combination of beauty and utility is something to be desired, specially of humans)

Gordon Setter

A good-sized, sturdily built, black and tan dog, well muscled, with plenty of bone and substance. The Gordon Setter is a tireless worker and enjoys abundant exercise and attention. (Translation: this is not a dog for old folks and for people like me.  I enjoy exercise too, but I tire easily) He is a better watchdog than the other setters, making him a loyal and protective pet.  A lovable, friendly, intelligent dog that is sensitive and gentle. 

Old English Sheepdog

Affectionately called the "Bobtail", so named because of his lack of a tail. He is an affectionately loyal dog, protective of those it loves. A natural protector, it was originally the guardian of flocks and this instinct is displayed in its tendency to adopt young animals and children. Known as the "nanny dog" from Peter Pan, it does not make a good guard dog.

Basenji

The Basenji is a handsome, muscular dog, which is also known as the African Barkless Dog.  It does not bark but is not mute. Its repertoire of sounds range from a pleasing throaty crow to a keening wail made when it is lonely or unhappy.  One of the oldest breeds of dogs native to Africa where he is used to assist beaters in flushing game, which is then driven into nets strung up against trees.  The Basenji will make a good pet as long as it is handled on a regular basis from an early age.  (Do you see a pattern here?  Tailless dogs, barkless dogs….I love unique dogs!  Like the way I love unique people.)

Bloodhound

The Bloodhound is a powerful dog that stands over more ground than is usual with hounds of other breeds.  Their skins are thin to the touch and extremely lose.  It is powerful, yet graceful. The Bloodhound is good with children and other animals with its gentle nature.  It has a tendency to drool, but is otherwise a very clean dog.  It has an outstanding ability as a scent hound, superior to other hound, which makes it very useful in police investigations. (Some of you know already, but I love this dog because I have the same mutant power: extremely sensitive sense of smell, hehe)


The Newfie

The Newfoundland is a large, strong, heavy-coated, active dog equally at home in the water and on land.  It is a multipurpose dog, capable of heavy work. Its unique gentleness, even temper and devotion make it an ideal companion for children or adults.  (I love a versatile dog)


St. Bernard
Known worldwide as "the dog that rescues people," the St. Bernard is much loved as a gentle family companion, perhaps somewhat clumsy in the confines of a suburban home, but with a big heart and friendly demeanor that reflects his origin as a hospice dog in the Swiss Alps. The St. Bernard's fame originated at a travelers' way-station nestled in St. Bernard Pass, more than 8000 feet into the mountains and one of the highest spots inhabited year-round in Europe.  The dog, the hospice, and the pass take their names from Bernard de Menthon, an 11th Century monk who established the station as a haven for weary travelers on the treacherous route from Italy to Switzerland. Robbers, avalanches, mountainous terrain, and fierce storms imperiled bold adventurers, and the hospice was the only shelter on the journey. (I loooooooove this dog!)

Some of my Scrabble club mates have interesting jobs.  Well, at least in my opinion.  If not interesting, they’re certainly uncommon.  One of them is a mortician, another a swimming coach, another a location scout for the Utah Film Commission and one works with blind people for the Utah Blind and Deaf Commission.  The last one is Kate (I changed the name) and I got a chance to squeeze in a little interview with her on what she actually do in her line of work.  She said she teaches Braille to those who are visually impaired.  Then she talked about blind and deaf people and how she helps them.  My mouth was agape as she narrates blind and deaf couples living like normal people.  I was expecting them to have a stay-in help but she said they have learned to live independently.  They have taught them how to cook with the stove and oven.  They also taught them how to use a special pager that vibrates and tell them if someone is pressing the doorbell or the smoke detector is going off!  She also narrated a funny story about a blind and deaf couple that met by literally bumping to each other in a hallway.  They said “Many people experience love at first sight, but we experienced love at first bump!”

    & nbsp;   Then I told her about Ed, a blind guy I know who rent out Filipino videos.  One time I absent-mindedly asked him what good movies can he recommend for me to rent.  Without missing a beat he said, “How would I know?  I’ve never seen any of them!”   Thank goodness he couldn’t see my wife trying hard to stifle her laughter while I shake my beet red face :oops:  Then when I handed him a twenty for the payment, he pretended to examine the bill under the light and exclaimed “This is fake!”
  
    & nbsp;   These people’s attitude inspire me for they seem to ignore the disability they have, and still manage to maintain a healthy, sunny attitude towards life.

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Successful Intelligence (Philosophy)

Successfully intelligent people motivate themselves.  It scarcely matters what talents people have if they are not motivated to use them.  In many if not most environments, motivation counts at least as much as intellectual skills in the attainment of success.

Successfully intelligent people translate thought into action.  Some people are very adept at coming up with solutions to the problems in their lives as well as the lives of others, but they seem unable to translate their thoughts into action.  In the words of the psychologist E.R. Guthrie, they become “buried in thought”.  No matter how good their ideas, they rarely seem to be able to do anything about them.  Successfully intelligent people, on the other hand, not only have good ideas but also have the ability to act on those ideas.

Successfully intelligent people have a product orientation.  Some people seem more concerned about the process by which things are done than about the resulting product.  Yet it is primarily on the basis of what we produce that our accomplishments are judged, whether in school or later in life.  Successfully intelligent people are concerned in process, but their ultimate focus is on product; they want results.  Process without product is like a beautifully designed car without an engine.  It may take intelligence to build, but it will never get you where you want to go.

Successfully intelligent people have a reasonable level of self-confidence and a belief in their ability to accomplish their goals.  Everyone needs a hefty measure of self-confidence to get through life.  There can be so many blows to our self-esteem and so many setbacks that without self-confidence, we may never achieve our goals.  Lack of self-confidence can gnaw away at our ability to get things done well because self-doubts become self-fulfilling prophecies.  Self-confidence is often essential for success.  After all, if people do not have confidence in themselves, how can they expect others to have confidence in them?

Successfully intelligent people balance analytical, creative, and practical thinking.  There are times in life when we need to be analytical; times when we need to be creative; and still other times when we need to be practical.  Successfully intelligent people learn what kind of thinking is expected of them in different situations and then bring to those situations the appropriate intellectual skill.

(Excerpts from the book Successful Intelligence by Robert J. Sternberg)

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Do you possess the mark? (religion)

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   Revelations 13: 16 – 17

Some say this mark would be a microchip imbedded in either the right hand or forehead and it will serve like a credit card, hence if you don’t have it, then you cannot buy or sell products or services.  Some say this is not a physical mark but a figurative representation of the submission (forehead) and obedience (right hand) to the beast instead of our submission and obedience to God.  Still others have asserted that the mark is Sunday worship contrasting it with  Saturday worsh ip (which they believe is equivalent of the Sabbath day instituted by God).  I also heard some pointing to the sign of the cross, which is done with the right hand and starts at the forehead.
 

    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   The myriad of interpretations and speculations regarding this mark of the beast is certainly confusing for a Christian who is seeking for the truth.  But I believe that this truth will be eventually revealed to us, in due time.  The question I constantly ask myself is not whether I have the mark of the beast, but whether I have the mark of our Lord Jesus Christ:
 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   John 13:34 – 35

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Ten things I love about our Main Library (besides having 4 floors full of books I can borrow)

1. Its location.  It’s just across our favorite restaurant Boondocks Grill (a Filipino owned restaurant offering fine Filipino cuisine).


2. Its world-class architecture.


3. I can also borrow magazines, CDs and DVDs.


4. They dedicated a whole floor for the kids’ library, complete with a waterfall; computer terminals and three play areas.


5. The cool shops: flower shop, comic book shop, coffee shop, and more.


6. It has a cool fountain outside where my baby loves to play.


7. It has more than 30 high-speed internet terminals that you can use for free.


8. The self check-out terminals that you can use so you don’t have to fall in line.


9. You can extend due dates of checked-out items online.


10. It provides me blog fodder, LOL.  You can find more pictures in a slideshow I added on the left panel of my blog:  The City Library Pictures.
    
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    The talking donkey and Noah's ark (religion)

Here are two interesting questions about some Bible facts: 

Q. Was Noah’s ark big enough to hold all the animals?

A.  It was more than big enough!  A description of the ark can be found in Genesis 6:13 – 16.  The verses tell us that the ark was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high and it had 3 decks.  Hebrew scholars have estimated that a cubit is roughly equivalent to 18 inches.  So the deck area of the ark is 450 ft   X  75 ft  X   3 decks or 101,250 sq. ft.  The volume of the ark is 450 ft   X   75 ft   X   45 ft or 1,518,750 cubic ft.  Many writers on the subject of Noah’s ark have different estimates for the amount of animals that the ark would have to contain.  But the highest number that came up was 35,000 by Doctors Morris and Whitcomb in their book The Genesis Flood.  For the computation, an allowance of 5,000 more animals had been added.  Now for the average size of the animals, many biologists state that the average size of most vertebrates is the size of a sheep. Other sources state that the average size is about the size of a small rabbit.  For the computation, we will take the larger size, which is roughly 11.125 cubic ft.  So the total volume of the animals we have 40,000 X   11.125 cubic ft. or 445,000 cubic ft.  If we compare this to the total volume of the ark, it would only occupy 29% of it!  Of course the animals are not squished together, but these calculations show the ark’s capability to carry all those animals.  For more detailed calculations, read this

Q.  Was there really a talking donkey in the Bible?

A.  That is true.  Shrek's talking donkey wasn’t an original idea.  Numbers 22:28 – 30 document a conversation  between a man named Balaam and his donkey:  Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”  And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me.  I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!”  So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day?  Was I ever disposed to do this to you?”  And he said, “No.” Balaam is again mentioned in Revelations 2:14 as teaching a false doctrine.  For more on this false doctrine, read this

P.S.  I updated my last post with the answer.  Thanks to everyone who commented.

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Guess where my baby is (games)

Clue:  We usually go there every Saturday
Post your guesses on the comment section first before looking at the answer.

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Idiot-matic expressions (humor)

I guess English is not too easy to learn.  
My comments in parentheses..............
"Well, well, well.  Look do we have here!"
"Let's give them a big hand of applause."
"The more the many-er."
"It's a no-win-win situation."
"Burn the bridge when you get there."
"Anulled and void." (Amusing but confusing)
"Mute and academic." 
"C'mon let's join us!" (No thanks.)
"If worse comes to shove."
"It's not my problem anymore, 
     it's your problem anymore." 

"What are friends are for?" 
     (Friends correct you when you're wrong)
"Been there, been that." (Been where?)


"Forget it about it." 
    (If my memory serves me right, I will forget about you.)
"It's a blessing in the sky." (Its a bird, its a plane....)
"Right there and right then."
"Take things first at a time."
"You're barking at the wrong dog."
"You want to have your cake and bake it too."
"First and for all."
"I'm only human nature."
"One of these days is not like the other."
"So far, so good, so far."
"Time is of the elements."
"The feeling is actual."
"For all intense and purposes." 
     (Your purpose is very intense)
"I ran into some errands." (Must have been difficult)
"What is the world is coming to?"
"Get the most of both worlds."
"Whatever you say so."
"Base-to-base casis."
"My answers have been prayered."
"Please me alone!"
"It's as brand as new."
"So... what's a beautiful girl like you?...."
"I can't take it anymore of this!"
"Can't you just cut me some slacks?" 
     (What brand, Dockers or CK?)
“I couldn't care a damn!” (Me too)
“Nothing in this world is perfect except the word change"
“Can you repeat that for the second time around once” 
    (Again?)
“I'm very iterated!” (Umm, did you mean irritated? Me too!)
“Hello, my boss is out of town. Would you like to wait?”
“Don't touch me not!” (I won't, promise)

“I'm the world champion of the World!” 
     (World champion of what? Stupidity?)
“Beneath the Belt!”
Rule of Hand... 
   (This must be a firmer rule than the rule of thumb)

“Hello?... For a while, please hang yourself...” (Grrrrr.)

"Are you joking my leg?" (No, I'm choking your neck!)

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Kids.  Don't underestimate their intelligence. My 3-year-old daughter calls my PDA "bubbles" because she plays a game called Bubblet where you pop same colored bubbles adjacent to each other.  The more connecting bubbles you pop, the more you score.  I thought she was just tapping randomly at the PDA's screen till my wife discovered that she was really playing the game, and finishing one game after another!

Then I vaguely remembered her "playing" the chess game in that PDA so I asked her to show mom how she plays chess.  Sure enough, she tapped the games menu and brought up the chess game!

I am one proud daddy tonight :D

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    & nbsp;  Do you like my new header?  I got it from the second chapter of Proverbs, which discusses the value of wisdom and the reasons why we need to seek for it.

    My son, if you receive my words,
    And treasure my commands within you,
    So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
    And apply your heart to understanding;
    Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
    And lift up your voice for understanding;
    If you seek her as silver,
    And search for her as for hidden treasures;
    Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
    And find the knowledge of God.
    & nbsp;     & nbsp;   &n bsp;   vv. 1 – 5 

    & nbsp;   &n bsp;These are just some of the verses that encourage me to strive to gain understanding of the Father, what He wants for me to do, how He wants me to conduct my life.  I find these verses useful whenever I’m too busy with my work, whenever I’m swamped with the concerns of life, whenever I’m tempted to commit a sin.  One inspiring example of using the words of God to avoid sinning is how our Lord Jesus Christ rebuked the Devil when the latter tried to tempt Him to sin.  For every temptation that Satan laid before Him, our Lord quoted a verse from the Bible, preceding the quote with “It is written”.  In this event, our Lord demonstrated the importance of keeping God’s words in our hearts and minds, using it as the “sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17) to fight evil.    & nbsp;   &n bsp;  

    With my whole heart I have sought You;
    Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
    Your word I have hidden in my heart,
    T hat I might not sin against You.
    & nbsp;      & nbsp;   &n bsp; Psalms 119: 10 – 11 

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    & nbsp;  

     So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief: for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 17:20

    & nbsp;  By describing things that are impossible or incredible in this way Jesus arrested the attention of his Palestinian audience and made them think of the essential meaning behind his exaggeration and overstatement.  So in this saying it would be quite clear to the listeners that Jesus was not really talking about mountains or, for that matter, about mustard seeds, which were proverbially the smallest of all seeds.  He was talking about faith and impressing on the audience that even the tiniest particle of faith could achieve results that are comparable to shifting mountains.

    & nbsp;  Moving mountains is a thing which is obviously absurd and impossible.  But, says Jesus, men with faith can do things which look just as absurd and impossible.  In the great eleventh chapter of the letter to the Hebrews we find a recital of what men of Israel were able to accomplish by their faith. 
  
    & nbsp;  But what is faith?  Someone complained once that the word is a marvelous out for preachers.  When there is something or other in Christian teaching which is difficult to understand - or perhaps when the parson does not understand it himself - he tends to say: "This is a matter of having faith," as if faith were a magic ingredient which we throw into a mixture of reason, experience, tradition, and Scripture in order to make sense out of life.  But this is not at all what the author of the letter to the Hebrews says about faith.  He says faith means trusting in God despite all opposition and discouragement, venturing forward into the unknown future believing that God has a purpose for us and for the world.

    & nbsp;  The author of Hebrews in his catalog in chapter 11 of Old Testament heroes who had the kind of faith that can move mountains, after mentioning great names like Abraham, Moses, and David, lists those nameless heroes who maintained their loyalty to God through hardship, persecution, and torture.  He pictures them as taking part with us in the great race of life and together with us looking to Jesus, who himself has run the same race and reached the goal toward which we all strive, eternal life in the presence of God.  But the story by no means ends with the Bible.  Christian history highlights names like those of Francis of Assisi, William Booth, Wilberforce, Shaftesbury, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa - social reformers, campaigners for racial equality, protectors of the underpriveleged - who by their faith have moved mountains of hostility, indifference, antagonism, and hatred.

   (Excerpts from The Difficult Sayings of Jesus by William Neil)

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War is kinder than a godless peace (religion)

     These are the words of Studdert Kennedy.  He was speaking about the kinds of peace that are not worth having - peace at any price, peace that perpetuates injustice, peace that exists under tyranny.  In other words, false peace.  But how can real peace be achieved?  Our lord Jesus Christ enlightens us in a very ironic saying:

    & nbsp;  You must not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth: I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.  (Matthew 10:34).  Here Jesus appears to be saying that his mission was not to bring peace to the world but a sword, almost as if he were proclaiming a holy war.  But Christ certainly came to bring peace, as every page of the New Testament confirms.  What He stood for though is real peace and not a bogus peace.  His peace must be fought for;  and that involves conflict and division.

    & nbsp;  As followers of Christ we are committed to fight against the evil in ourselves and in our society in the light of the guidance we have been given.  It is a battle against greed and selfishness, against cruelty and oppression, against injustice and indifference, wherever they may be found.

    & nbsp;  The gospel is a gospel of peace through strife, not peace through apathy or evasion of responsibility.  Peace in the home, the office, the factory, and in society at large is not achieved by everyone agreeing with everyone else but by everyone standing up for what he believes to be true and right.  Of course this will mean disagreement and discord, opposition, and often bitterness.  But the peace that Christ came to bring can only be realized by striving to reconcile our differences in charity but with honesty, or as Paul puts it in Eph. 4:15, by speaking the truth in love.

     & nbsp;   &n bsp;  (Excerpts from The Difficult Sayings of Jesus by William Neil)

I called my stock broker yesterday and told him to put all my money in companies that manufacture fortune cookies  :D

Here's the reason: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/11/nyregion/1 1fortune.html?ex=1116043200&" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/11/nyregion/1 1fortune.html?ex=1116043200&" target="_blank"http://www.nytimes.com/2005/0...;en=b19abad5dd1c686b& ei=5070

But seriously speaking, here's my view about lotteries and gambling: http://www.biblestudy.org/question/lottery.html" title="http://www.biblestudy.org/question/lottery.html" target="_blank"http://www.biblestudy.org/que...

So some of my tblog friends didn't believe the pictures of the Philippine Jeepneys I posted.  Such skeptical people, tsk, tsk, tsk :)

Maybe these pictures will convince you.

Enjoy.....and believe!

So Jacob for boys and Emily for girls topped the most popular baby names for 2004, according to the Social Security Administration.  With Jacob, you can kinda guess why:  the man is a prominent bible figure.  "Jacob is number one because of a long tradition", offers Cleveland Evans, president of the American Name Society.  (Whoa, is this society for real?  I wonder what they do, besides comment on the most popular name list every year :wink: )

Anyway, for Emily, Evan s explained: "The images of Emily are such that you can think easily of a woman who is both beautiful and smart."  If you want to read the whole story: [ http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-05-0 6-baby-names_x.htm" title="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-05-0 6-baby-names_x.htm" target="_blank"http://www.usatoday.com/news/...]

Also, check out the link they provide: Index on Social Security Data on baby names.  I did and found out my name is in the 300's this year.  Have fun.

P.S.  Congratulations to Uchenna (hey, there's a unique name) and Joyce for winning the Amazing Race, 1 million dollars, the respect of their competitors and last but not the least, the admiration of grateful fans for not letting Rob and Amber win.  Read the full story here: http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/ 2005-05-11-amazing-race_x .htm" title="http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/ 2005-05-11-amazing-race_x .htm" target="_blank"http://www.usatoday.com/life/...

I'm afraid the last (and first) time I blogged about the Philippine jeepneys, I might have left a bad impression about them.  Actually, they are really fun to ride and relatively safe compared to most modes of transportation.  We Filipinos are proud of them as one of the symbols of our people's creativity.  Here are some photos:

Also, if you want to immerse yourself in more of the Filipinos' culture, please check out a collection of Filipino bloggers in Filipinoblogs [http://filipinoblogs.tblog.co...]

Dear Mom,

    & nbsp;  It’s been a while since I’ve written you a letter.  This doesn’t mean that I don’t miss you, because I miss you a lot.  You know I’ve been thinking lately what to say to you on this very special occasion.  I’ve been thinking of the things we went through together.  The happy times we have shared, and the trials we had endured together.  Along the way, I can’t help but notice the similarities between you and my wife.

    & nbsp;  You both love to travel.  I still vividly remember the time when we went to the Hundred Islands in Pangasinan.  Do you remember I asked you if they really counted the islands, and if they totaled exactly 100?  You patiently explained to me that they were really about 107 – 150, depending on the one counting.  If he’s sober or not (sense of humor is one of your best traits).  How about the time we went to Villa Escudero, a premiere resort?  I remember the two adjoining pools, where a natural hot spring is flowing.  And guests dine their hearts out with freshly cooked seafood while they soak their feet in warm water from the hot springs. 

    & nbsp;  You are both very capable of taking care of your children by yourselves.  Maybe I haven’t told you this before, but I admire your courage and stamina when you took care of me and my sister (our youngest sister wasn’t born yet) all by yourself when dad was imprisoned during the martial law years.  I remember you braved the rain and heat of the city to peddle wallets and belts to earn money for the whole family.  All the while remaining loyal and providing moral support for your husband. 

    & nbsp;  You are both generous to your mother and to your siblings.  I remember the times dad complained about your letting your sisters abuse you because you never turned them down when they needed financial support.  You provided for grandma most of her twilight years.  You increased your support when she suffered a stroke, even ignoring the fact that you suffered multiple strokes yourself.

    & nbsp;  You both take good care of your husbands.  You always ask dad if he has a handkerchief handy, because he perspires a lot and his mucus membrane is overactive.  You always make sure his luggage is ready during the numerous times he traveled abroad.  You supplemented his income by working, without neglecting your children.  I think it is no coincidence that I married a fellow computer programmer and both you and dad are teachers.

    & nbsp; 
    & nbsp;  People say lucky is the woman who finds herself a man who treats his mother right.  I say I am the lucky guy for finding a woman like my mother.  I know when we got married I promised my wife that I will love her more than any woman in the world.  But I think she will understand me if I make an exception today.  Just for today, I love both of you equally.  Happy mothers’ day mom.

Sincerely,

Your Son

We had been watching old tapes of parties.  Our baby’s first birthday party, and my wife’s 3 baby shower parties.  Yes, three baby showers.  One from her coworkers and friends.  One from church members and another one from neighbors.  We literally filled a whole room with all the gifts we received.  The one we used quite a bit was a car seat bought by several people.  We registered at Target and this turned out to be a great idea.  For those of you not familiar with the practice, you register at a chosen store and you “shop” for things you want to buy for your baby.  You don’t actually buy the items but you scan them and it goes on a computer list under your name.  Then friends go to the same store and searches your name from a computer terminal, and the list is printed for them so they know what you wanted.  When someone buys an item from the list, it will be scratched off so there won’t be any duplication of gifts.  We are very thankful for all the gifts, but besides the car seat, here’s a list of gifts that we appreciate the most:

1.    & nbsp; Unpurchased gifts:  prayers, friends who let their homes be used for the party, friends who helped in cooking the food

2.    & nbsp; Cash or gift checks (we can delay purchasing things until when we need them, these came in handy for diapers and baby formulas)

3.    & nbsp; Books (my baby’s favorites are Goodnight Moon and The Velveteen Rabbit, she still calls cows “jumping the moon”, because there’s a line there that goes “And a picture of a cow jumping over the moon”.)

4.    & nbsp; Clothes that are larger for my baby’s size.  These are actually thoughtful gifts because they know by the time we go through all the clothes that were given, our baby has grown already and they will be perfect for her by then.

5.    & nbsp; Honorable mention:  Plate set (with spoons and sippy cups), Barney videos, baby monitor, stroller

    & nbsp;Have you ever been in a situation where you want to tell the truth to someone, but you’re afraid it might be construed as arrogance or rudeness?  Here are my problems.

I attended Scrabble club tonight and we had a pretty good turnout.  We usually have 4 – 6 people attending, but tonight there were 12 of us!  I got matched up with Mike for my first game.  Not the Mike I talked about last Wednesday, but Mike the expert.  I actually squeaked by: 388 – 363, playing DIMLY for 40 points as my last play.  Then I got matched up with Kent, another expert.  I lost this one 330 – 361.  My high scoring plays were HAFIZ (46), FRONTIER (65), and VUGGS (30).  His are GITANOS (75), LIMPER (30) and TRANQ (26).  So everything’s going smoothly.

Then I got matched up against Minnie (I changed the name).  Minnie’s a newcomer.  She has been coming for about 2 months now and looks like she enjoys playing although she loses every one of her games.  And that is acceptable...up to a certain point.  Although we love to get new members, we also expect our members to try to improve their game.  It is evident if someone is because your scores are getting closer and closer, until eventually they beat you or one of the experts.  And then they continue to improve until they meet the 70 – 30 rule.  This rule states that an ideal sparring partner should at least win 30% of your games.  I think this rule makes sense because if you are playing someone who you know has an almost null chance of beating you, you won’t get challenged.  And being challenged, in my opinion, is an integral part of having fun in playing Scrabble, or any other game for that matter.  Fortunately, of the 6 newcomers we have, only two are not showing any progress.  The other 4 already beat me or an expert at least once and are showing marked improvement.  So my problem is how to communicate this expectation with these two without offending them, which might result in them not attending anymore.



    & nbsp;  My other problem is a more sticky one.  Or if I may be direct, a more stinky one.  We have some members who attend just occasionally, maybe once a month.  And that’s just fine with us, except for one.  K lives in an elderly home and is confined in a wheelchair.  His wife takes him to the club when he decides to attend.  The problem with K is that, umm, he reeks.  He smell like his carrying a dead rat in his pocket and his diet consists mainly of onion and garlic. His smell is so pungent that you can smell him a block away.  Ok I exaggerated there a little bit but you get the idea.  Is it too much for us to expect someone to smell decently when attending club?  This is a social setting after all.  What’s worse, K’s wife leaves after dropping him off and she expects one of us to take him back to the nursing home when the session finishes.  I think this is not only rude, but its becoming an abusive behavior that needs to be addressed.  So what do you think?  How should we approach these situations?

But I tell you not to resist an evil person.  But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

    & nbsp;   Matthew 5:39

    & nbsp;  A very honest response of someone who is just starting to study the Bible and stumbles on this verse is: “Huh?”  And this confused reaction is very understandable because this verse can be easily taken out of context. Does this mean that if a burglar woke us up, we’re not supposed to dial 9-1-1?  What if the police caught him, are we not supposed to file a case against him?

    & nbsp;  This is just one of the often misunderstood verses that biblical scholar William Neil seeks to clarify in his book The Difficult Sayings of Jesus.  In the first chapter of the book, the author explained that Jesus was just contrasting the Old Testament principle of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Exod. 21:23 – 25), the law of retaliation (Matt. 5:38), with the new principle by which his followers must be guided, the desire for reconciliation.

    & nbsp;  How about the questions regarding the burglar?  The author further explained: “This saying has nothing to do with arguments for or against violence or nonviolence, or indeed political, military, or police action of any kind.  Jesus is dealing purely with personal relationships.”  “A slap on the face is merely a picturesque way of describing a personal insult, and in this event, turning the other cheek means refusing to return the insult but rather ignoring it.”

    & nbsp;  He continued:  Jesus crystallizes his teaching on this aspect of the Christian life in the memorable words: “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44).  Like the saying about “turning the other cheek,” this has proved a happy hunting ground for those who scoff at the remoteness of Christian teaching from everyday life.  Let us once more see these words of Jesus in their proper context.  He is still talking about personal relationships and not about nations at war or enemies of the state.  More important, when he says “love” he does not mean “like”.  How could we possibly be asked to like someone who is bent on breaking up our home life, destroying our marriage, leading our children into bad habits, spreading malicious gossip about us, or making trouble for us in our jobs?  Yet Jesus tells us we should love such people.  What does he mean?

    & nbsp;  Clearly he does not expect his followers to love those who do them an injury in the same way as they love their wives and families, their parents, and their best friends.  He urges us, however, to take as our example God, who sends the blessing of rain and sunshine on all alike, good and bad, honest and dishonest.  We must show alike goodwill in our own circle to all and sundry, whether we like them or not, helping where our help is needed in the spirit of the Good Samaritan.  St. Paul grasps the sense of our Lord’s words when he says:  “Do not let evil conquer you, but use good to defeat evil” (Rom. 12:21).  Disregard of personal insults, forgiveness of wrongs done to us, generosity of spirit to friends and enemies alike – these are the marks of Christian discipleship.

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Please read the article above.  This is the very reason I'm opposed to the war in Iraq.

Let’s say I send out a survey to all Christians with the following questions:

What day should we worship God, Sunday or Saturday?  Everyday?

Is Jesus Christ God or Man, is He both?

Do you believe the saved will go to heaven or to a new earth?

Do you believe in purgatory?

Do you believe people who will be cast out in hell will burn forever or they will just burn up?

Should women be allowed to be priests or ministers?

Do you believe in the rapture?

Do you believe people will have a chance to be saved after this life, or this life is the only chance we got?

Should Christians celebrate Christmas, Valentines Day, or Halloween?

Is contraception prohibited by the bible?

Who is the antichrist?

Does the bible prohibit us to eat certain foods?

    & nbsp;  In a Christian’s quest to know God by studying the Scriptures, it is inevitable that he will come across these questions.  It is also not surprising if the answers he will get from different denominations will be contrasting. And this fact can confuse the Bible student, or worse discourage him to continue.  How do I overcome this dilemma?  Obviously there is a correct answer for each question, and no, I am not 100% certain that my answers are the correct ones.  But I do know that time will come that all truths significant to our salvation will be revealed by God.  For now, I take comfort in my faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, my Lord and Savior.  For now I get my strength to persevere in my belief that God had raised Him from the dead and He will come again to reward His servants with eternal life.  For now I choose to focus on what I believe are more important questions.  Do I love my fellowmen as the Lord loves me?  Do I have the humility and courage to love my enemies?  Do I repent from my sins, and seek to follow all of Jesus’ teachings?  Do I forgive those who had wronged me?  Do I help the poor and comfort those who are weakening in their faith?   Do I hunger for God’s words and wisdom?