My Personal BIG TEN of 2011

Last year, I’ve listed down my top 10 in 2010. And I liked it – remembering the best highlights of the year and having a look back on the things you’ve done the whole year gave me a good head start for the next year. So I’ve decided to do the same for this year (gusto ko sanang Top 11 for 2011… kaso pano kung forever ko na tong gagawin? Baka humaba ng humaba na upto my Top 50 for 2050. HAHA).

Again, another AWESOME YEAR has passed. It has been a year since I’ve encountered Him, and still He never ceases to move mountains for me, and always backs me up in every endeavor I take. He never fails. Never will.

  

1      10.   Back to Manila! At last! Touchdown Manila! After spending some time in Zamboanga, I then decided to come back to Manila. I missed everyone here, especially my parents and my troops in Batangas. I miss home. There really is no place like home. I can still remember the night before I leave Zamboanga when my whole KADAWEDS group blessed me with their prayers that I may continue searching for Christ and touch others’ lives as well. I will never ever forget what was tasked for me to do. I will continue carrying His name no matter where I go, and will never cease to proclaim His existence.

9.        9.    4 jobs for the year! HAHA. Seriously. Femace Enterprises. MacroAsia Airport Services. Phillipine Airlines. Skylogistics Philippines Incorporated. ANG BILIS NG PALITAN! HAHA. From being a nurse, to an Airport Staff. I never would have imagined that I’ll be a part of this industry. It was never included in my plans; it’s as if Zeus and friends came down from Olympus to help Theseus who’s about to face near death with **** (can’t remember the name of that monster) from the movie Immortals. What happened was totally God’s doing. Imagine, I was all good with what I have, working as a company nurse, and preparing for abroad for the next months. Unfortunately, AND fortunately though, it never turned out that way. I was told by my Tita to just pass my resume to this certain company and try my luck there. Soon enough, I got the job as a Customer Service Agent in MacroAsia, and went training under their company, only to find out that I was going to be deployed at Philippine Airlines. Then it never stopped there, after a few months, the company went Outsourcing all of a sudden, dissolving all of its regular employees. A lot of people were affected by this controversial move. Conspiracy theories emerged; strikes, boycotts, rallies were all over the place. A lot of passengers/customers were also dragged into this whole sordid business. I was made to believe that the change was inevitable. It just so happened that I was one of the few that were caught in the middle of it. I was then offered by the other company a job, and it was fair enough for me to accept it. Thus, I ended up working still here at Philippine Airlines but with a new set of bosses. From here, I can clearly see how God weaved all of the events for me to end up on the upper hand. Just like what the bible says, everything has its own time and season. His timing is always perfect. And I’m so much thankful for witnessing another of His epic works.

8.        8.   New House! I fasted for this one last year. I was given a sign that this thing will happen. Thanks to you Lord, you made my family happy. We didn’t have a huge house. It was good enough for a family of four. But it was old, and needed a serious overhauling. We had two choices back then – to have it repaired but would take a lot of money, or just sell the house and relocate. But Papabear didn’t want to leave Batangas; probably because my grandparents were our neighbors, and he felt like they still needed us. So we decided to just have our house renovated. However, we don’t have that enough money to push through the process so my parents thought of maybe postponing the renovation for a while. I was in Zamboanga back then, so I was not fully aware and only knew quite a bit of the details regarding the situation. When I knew about what was going to be their plan. I then decided to include our house in my Prayer and Fasting. Then Terris Lee, one of my friends in KADAWEDS, shared me the story of his humongous house. He told me, “It is a gift from God.” I said, “Whoa?! Really (thinking that I was experiencing the same situation back then)?!” Then his story continues… They never planned to build a huge house, but his mother had a strong faith with God, so she asked for a much bigger house for them. They don’t have that enough money. A couple of hundred thousand’s won’t give you a Mansion nowadays. But they never lost faith in Him. All throughout the building process, God never left them; He provided money with the help of Terris’s Tito’s and Tita’s. Now, they’re living at their dream house. With that, I was given a new hope.  A clear sign that God is telling me to pursue this house-renovation thing. So I decided to talk to my parents, and I was so touched by the message Papabear sent me:

“How are you son? Itinuloy na natin yung renovation, bahala na. Pag di nagkasya yun pera, edi uunti-untiin natin. Anyway, as what you’ve said, GOD is always there ready to help. Yun na plano mo ang sundin natin; pinaghirapan mo na yun kaya ipagawa na natin.”

Those words came from a man who seldom talks about God. A man who surrendered everything and let Christ do the job. Yung lang naman importante eh – to have faith in Christ and let Him do His thing. May 2011, the renovation of our house was already finished. And even until now, when I go home from work every weekend, I still couldn’t believe that we have a new house. Always saying, “Ang ganda, kaninong bahay toh?” LOL. God really is the ultimate provider… and much more awesome than Santa Claus.

WAAAA. Stop muna! I would love to continue with the rest of my list, but I have to report to work right now. HAHA. Until next time! Happy New Year! Enjoy the rest of the day!

My Top 10 New Year's Resolutions

1. Let LOVE be our guide. - proverbs 3:3

2. Trust God. - proverbs 3:5-6

3. Be health conscious. - proverbs 3:7-8

4. Be faithful and generous. - proverbs 3:9

5. Have a good attitute. - proverbs 3:1

6. Search for wisdom. - proverbs 3:13

7. Have NO FEAR. - proverbs 3:25-26

8. Be fair. - proverbs 3:27-28

9. Be good. - proverbs 3:29

10. Find role models. - proverbs 3:31-32

I say thanks to YOU Proverbs 3! And thank you God for giving me awesome ways to start 2012 right! :)

This one's quite a challenge though; yung number 1 lang nga ata ang kaya ko eh. HOHO JK. But I know there's nothing I can't do with God by my side. The most omnipotent, omnipresent andomniscious one.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path"

- Psalm 119:105

One step at a time. With every word from You, I know I will never go wrong. You put me into where I am right now, and I will surrender the next coming years to You.

2011's one heck of a rollercoaster ride. Didn't expect most of the things that's happened... but heck yeah, stood fast and am now ready for tuuuweeenie'o'twelve! :)

How about you?

What's yer New Year's Resolution? :)

Bakit sOslOw?

Bakit SOSLOW?

Actually, ang dami daming nagtatanong kung bakit. Well, nasagot ko naman na yung iba. Pero mas madami yung sinagot ko nang, “Long story” at “Di mo maiintindihan”. LOL. Some people say it was derived from a song by Freestyle, while some just think that this name best describes myself – SLOW. Kaya eto na; for the sake of those who’re still puzzled by my awkward, and yes, corny name… this post is for you.

I AM NOT WHO I WAS BEFORE.

I am a changed man. Di ako proud sa buhay ko noon. Isang taong iniisip lang ang sarap at sarili. Hindi naging mabuting kaibigan, boyfriend, at anak. And again – di  ako proud sa dating ako. Pero di ko niexpect na magiging sobrang dali ng transition ng buhay ko, from being a selfish nonsense, to becoming a man with a purpose. I was saved… in an instant. God never let me drown from my miseries; instead, He picked me up from trash and gave me a reason to live. Kaya ayun, when I met God, He changed the direction of my life – as in I went on a 180-degree turn. Like an innocent sheep, He guides/ leads me to greener pastures. Just like what Pastor Alex told me, “Parang lumalambitin ka lang sa isang monkey bar, if you move forward, nakatingin ka lang sa harap, di mo na kailangan pang tumingin sa likod. Andun yun focus mo – moving forward; moving Godward.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17

When Jesus Christ comes to us He says, "It is time for something new." He does not say that it is time to shed certain practices from your life or to add religion to your life. It is time for a totally new beginning, new life, new hope, new strength and a new vision. It is time to be made a new creation. That is what the gospel says. So ayun nga, for me to remind myself always that all these changes were all because of Him, I decided to think of a name – a name that would best fit my journey with Him.

It doesn’t matter how slow you go, so long as you do not stop. – Confucius

                I was an impulsive type of person before. Since birth, ganun na talaga ako. Una palagi matapos sa kainan, palaging nagmamadali as if laging may lakad. And because of that, ang dami-dami ko nang nakakalimutan, ang daming nakakaligtaan. SAYANG.  Papunta nako ng school, nakalimutan ko pa bag ko. Pumasok pako. Paalis nako papunta sa work, nakalimutan ko pa susi ko sa loob ng bahay. Pano nako makakapasok ng bahay ulit? Pupunta ako sa date, nakalimutan ko pera ko. Diba? ang saya. LOL. Back then, I kept on telling them that I was just an absent minded person, nothing more; but there came a time when my dad already confronted me that all these things happen because I was always in a hurry. He said, “Bago ka umalis ng bahay, stop then think for a couple of seconds. Isipin mo kung may nakalimutan ka pa ba sa bahay. Make it a habit, makakatulong yan sayo.” Those exact words helped me become more patient, more organized and calm. This time, ayoko na mangyari ulit yun. Ayoko na may makaligtaan pa ulit ako or makalimutan pa. This is no ordinary journey; it is a journey with the BEST. Besides hindi lahat madali, hindi lahat masaya, given the fact that temptations will always be around. Kaya I’d rather take it slow, diba nga sabi nila, “slowly but surely.”

                Right now, I still have lots to accomplish, a lot of things to do. My Life Purpose is to love Christ, Act like Christ, Share my experiences with Christ and spread His word to the world. I want to be Best Friends with God. I want Him to know that I know He’s always with me. I will use every grace, wisdom, encouragement He gives to help and touch other people’s lives. I will defeat temptation and use every hurt, pain and suffering to help others. At hindi ganon kadali ang lahat ng yan. But I will never get tired; I will never get bored. For I know that I AM A WORK IN PROGRESS. I shall never be in a hurry. Just as long as I pursue His will. I know I will be alright.

So that’s the story behind that corny name. I don't intend to defraud or deceive anyone. Jacob became Israel, Simon became Peter, and Saul became Paul. Wala lang. All of these people who changed their names for religious reasons did so because they felt God was calling them to a new life and a new identity. And so do I.

Testimony: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Life Lesson: Only God can change our hearts.

Godly Passion: Spread the word.

Good News: Change.

His Offer of Peace

There is only one way to Love yourself as you deserve

And that is when it is Christ Jesus you come to serve.

For Christ is the example of how life is to be

He laid down His life for the whole world to see.

If you live a life different from the one He has set

It will be other than His Love you will get.

God knew we would need help as we walked this Earth

Because we entered here through an unclean birth.

Christ alone holds the power to wash us clean

So that by Our Father we can be seen.

To serve as Christ did should become our goal

This will manifest His Love and Beauty in our soul.

Seek His help and our Love will increase

We will begin to experience His offer of “Peace”.

When His Peace does enter into your heart

There before you a whole new world will start.

Born again into the life God did create for you

Able to live and Love your whole life through.

Then at life’s end you will receive your reward

To see the face of our Loving and merciful Lord.

- Robert S. Breaux

Rewind

Just the other night, my cousin Danyl and I played Madden ’11 up until sunrise. It brought back old memories when I used to beat his ass in this game. Well, he won this time but the score was tight. Given the fact that I had no practice at all for years, it was an expected result. LOL. Anyway, I noticed and was quite amazed on the added feature of the game called, “REWIND”. It’s an option that allows you to rewind your last plays if in any case you’re not satisfied with them – giving a better chance for you to change or improve your game. Then it made me think for a second that it would be better if we can also have the ability to rewind things in real life, so we can make things better or perhaps, right in our own perception. I just recently experienced a setback in my life, and the feeling sucks. I truly believe in the saying that everything happens for a reason, that’s why I have always been ready for whatever. However, who likes failures? Who loves disappointments? Even though I already knew what to do, there’s still something inside of me that made me feel depressed. But then, I never let it eat me. I went back to my purpose – to live to please God… not myself; not others, only Him. These things have to happen. I have to experience pain, guilt, regret, disappointments, and failures – in order for me to understand how life works.

I pray that the God of peace will give you everything you need so you can do what He wants. – Hebrews 13:20

Life is not easy; it is a chock-full of challenges. You cannot do it on your own, so let Him take over for He knows what’s in store for you. No matter how vague your future may be, always remember that you are destined for greatness. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. God is in control… always in control.

3 Persons + 1 God = Church

3 persons + 1 God = CHURCH

Pastor Romel Insular

            Yes, that’s absolutely right. However, it is not just a church that I’ve found in this group of young guns; but a FAMILY… a strong and bonded family. I will forever be thankful for that moment when Pastor Romel asked me, “Do you want to join our life group?” I was like, “Of course!” since that was my goal in the first place. So I grabbed the opportunity and since then, I never had any regrets… at all.

It was a Wednesday evening; at exactly 7:00pm I went to the center and looked for Pastor Romel’s group. At first, I was kind of uncomfortable, thinking that it is my first time to join in such activity. I was never into sharing and stuff, so I was a little doubtful in every word that I said. But that feeling didn’t last long, for these people were like Walking Smileys! They always wear a smile like they never get tired of it. These total strangers made me feel at home in just a couple of minutes. Then I realized that it was God who never left me. He guided me all the way on that day and made me feel that everything’s going to be alright just as long as I follow Him. So it was already set. Wednesdays, 7:00pm, Center. I was always so excited to go to our Life Group meeting, ‘coz every individual has their share of stories to tell. Experiences, feelings, problems that definitely help each other improve their faith in God.

Kiel Lorrence – Teacher who preaches. I really admire this guy. He has this passion of preaching God’s existence in every way he could. He inspired me to do well in my blogging, ‘coz he’s one hell of a blogger too! Though we didn’t have enough time to finish my one2one due to our conflicting schedules, I am still thankful for everything that we’ve accomplished by far. He is in a relationship with God, and I’m so happy with him.

Teris Lee – Man of Conviction. Teris was the first person I became close with from the group. If you’d be judging him according to his appearance, you’d be surprised if I tell you that he’s super-duper kind and friendly. But what I liked the most about him was his conviction; he’s full of it. He seeks for the path to righteousness and never wants to get off track. He is blessed with a good heart and I am proud to witness that goodness in him.

Alex Lorenzo – PNP (Pulis na Pastor). Haha. Yes, I know; when he reads this he’d be surprised ‘coz he’s actually not a pastor (yet). But I prefer calling him one, for he acts like one. He’s like a Big Brother to us. Whenever Pas Romel’s not around, he’s the one leading our life group meetings and he never fails to share a wonderful insight. I am really fond of Pas Lex, since the time when he told us that he doesn’t bring any firearms during his duty. I mean, he has that utmost confidence in God to the point that he no longer needed the use of a gun on a job as risky and dangerous as his. He is really a blessing to many people. And that’s why I can truly say that God never looks at your resume to do His works; whether you’re a dentist, painter or a police, He has plans for you in advancing His kingdom and save lives.

Rector Nodado – Rectified Soul. I was really amazed on how God made his way back into him. He is the man who found comfort in God; a living proof that God never leaves us. Well, aside from his testimonies about life and God being so wonderful and inspiring, he was the Organizer of the group. Actually, I really appreciate his efforts especially during the time when he organized a farewell party for me. I am really privileged to be his friend, and I believe that God will use him for the greater glory of His name.

Ryan Abutazil – One of God’s Doctors. This man is AWESOME. We’ve been together at the Singles’ Retreat and I had the chance to know him much better there. He is a true gentleman and a follower of Jesus. I can still remember him telling me stories about his life and some of his experiences with God and love (The Love Doctor). I learned a lot from this guy, I can say that he really made an impact in my life.

Francis and Raymond Ng Thoe ­– Chinese Representatives of God. They are the ones who never fail to bring food every meeting. But what I like about these guys is their ultimate trust in God, especially in their business. It is from them that I really understood the truth when they say “What you sow is what you reap.” They are business tycoons that have a humble personality. You see, that’s what I like about this group; we all are from different levels – age, race, culture, etc. But we all have been gathered because of just one reason, Christ. We all honor Him and rejoice in His presence.

Paul, Dar, Jeff, Rommel, Jusy, Joey – The Mainstays. Yes, these are the faces that I always see in life our group meetings; always present and always pumped up! They all share stories about their jobs/business and how God makes a way in helping them overcome every obstacle they encounter. I just want to thank Paul for the funny comments; you’re one of the reasons why our group never became so serious. Thank you Dar for the inspiring words and prayers that always makes me feel that I’m not alone. Thank you Jeff for being so kind and humble; you have a pure heart, take good care of it. Thank you Jusy for being so transparent and righteous; I wish you well on your job, and always stay strong and courageous. Lastly, thank you Joey for your prayers; I know you will do great on your job just as long as you continue honoring Him and making disciples.

Pastor Romel Insular – Role Model. He really is to each and every one us. If it weren’t for him, it could’ve been difficult for me to get along in such an environment. He made me feel that ease when I’m with the group. Well, since idolatry is a sin, all I can say is that I really really really admire this man. I mean his conviction, his self-discipline, his love and faith for God; I can see all of them in him. He was God’s instrument in drawing me much closer to God. He is an inspiration to me, his encouraging words that pierces through my heart always gives me a reason to continue pursuing God whatever it takes. He’s my first “Pastor Friend”, and I will forever be thankful to be one of his friends.

And for those who I haven’t mentioned – it’s not like you weren’t important at all, it’s just that I’m worst in remembering names, but surely I do remember you by your face. Still, thank you for all the shared memories and experiences. I learned a lot of things from you.

There is certainly a different depth of connection with our spiritual family. We are blood relatives, because we are bound together by the blood of the Lord Jesus, Who bought us for Himself. We share spiritual DNA and the privilege of being family as well as friends (http://blogs.bible.org/tapestry/sue_bohlin/spiritual_family_gatherings). When I hang out with them, important conversations can happen simply because we’re together. I always feel that immense satisfaction with these guys. It is only to them that I can easily exercise the real me, the NEW me, without hearing any side comments, and they are the only people who call me by the name, "SOSLOW", which is totally awesome. They became my family here in Zamboanga and I will never ever forget them. I believe everything was not a coincidence, having read the Purpose Driven Life telling me to find a small group, stepping inside the center, attending a Sunday service, getting noticed by Pastor Romel who offered me to join his life group, and being a part of KADAWEDZ group. They wrote a Chapter in my life with a permanent marker – with inerasable, bold letters that will surely be worth remembering.

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. – Proverbs13:20. Life group is FREE for ALL. That’s why I strongly encourage you to have one. You will surely benefit from them and they will make you become a better person. These are your spiritual people. They have nursed you and built you up. They are cheering for you when you are not around. They will join their prayers to yours and hope the best for you comes to bloom. These are your people and a few of them are also related to you (http://www.christchurchsummit.org/Sermons-2005/050424-TheBlendedSpiritualFamily.html).

Testimony: Other things may change us, but we start and end with family. – Anthony Brandt

Life Lesson: God never leaves you.

Godly Passion: Rejoice in the Lord, and He will give the desires of your heart.

Good News: Church.

A...B...C...D...E...Efs... :))

                Dave, my nephew just memorized his Alphabet! I was so happy for him, that at 3 years of age, he learned a lot of things already. I mean, I taught him couple of tricks already when he was young; like when I say,“Nasan ako?” He’d answer back with, “Nasa puso mo.” He calls me, “Tito Batista”, “Pare”, and now “Daddy”. But this one’s different. It’s English Alphabet! I mean, for a 3 year old, it’s like naming 26 strange lines and curves for the first time, that’s not easy. At age three, your child has the capacity to recognize letters on sight. By age four, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 43 percent of children are proficient in recognizing letters by their shape (http://www.livestrong.com/article/105819-literacy-skills-3yearold/#ixzz1CMyjhmQx). Well, he recognized their shapes and memorized all of them in a short span of time! Even though he’s like the usual 3-year-old kid that you see at your neighbor's house – oftentimes makulit, matigas ulo, makulit, and… super makulit; he can be cute and sweet din naman. I am, and will always be so proud of him. Probably because, I became a part of his success, that’s why it made me feel as if it was also my success. In all fairness to my cousins and Tita, they never gave up teaching Dave; props to Kevin Macrohon, for teaching Dave all-day long. To think that the only thing we used for teaching was a pen and paper, no fancy books and alphabet songs; man he's quite amazing. It became even funnier the other night, when we saw Dave reciting his alphabet while still asleep! Haha!

It is always an accomplishment to see our loved ones attain success. They say once you felt happy for a person, that’s joy flowing unto you. So I encourage you to continue inspiring people and bring joy to each and every person that you know. Not only has it satisfied their hearts, but also yours.

Testimony:  Joy is far better than Happiness.

Life Lesson: Patience is a virtue.

Godly passion: Inspire people. Share a word of love.

Good news: There are so many things in life to be thankful for.