hey

4/25/2008
12:46am

nakakaantok na parang hindi. hindi pa nga ako nakakapag-empake eh. pero the good news is ilang oras na lang ay makikita ko na uli ang aking mga mahal sa buhay…ang aking wife na si Diane and of course ang aking nag iisang anak na si Patricia. wow. ang sarap ng pakiramdam. corny siguro pakinggan, hahahaha, pero it is what it is. hindi ko na rin ma -explain sa words eh. ang takot ko lang siguro eh yung hindi na ako maalala ng anak ko. sino ba itong mamang ito? at hindi nya na ako tuluyang makilala. oo, aaminin ko…bad trip talaga ang maging malayo sa pamilya. minsan hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit kailangan maging ganito. don’t get me wrong. excited talaga ako umuwi. pero alam nyo ba ang nasa isip ko ngayon? pagkatapos ng dalawang linggo, balik na naman ako dito. mag isa. ang angal ko ano? hehehe. i realized na blessed talaga ang buhay ko, pero cguro ganun talaga na hindi talaga pwede sa buhay na lahat ng gusto mo at lahat ng plano mo eh masusunod. wala talagang dapat gawin kung hindi magdasal na lang, at huming ng tulong sa Diyos, ng direksyon kung ano ba ang dapat gawin. Siguro ang mahalaga talaga eh yung ngayon. So sa ngayon, malapit na ako magbakasyon, at makikita ko na mamayang gabi ang asawa’t anak ko. Sa sabado naman, magkikita kami ng tatay ko at kapatid. Sarap talaga ng pakiramdam ng uuwi. Sana kung pwede lang na pagbalik sa Japan, kasama ko na rin silang lahat. Wala naman sigurong masama kung managinip di ba?

Tricia…Daddy’s coming home. See you soon anak!

April 14, 2008 4:00 am

Reflections for the past few weeks
As you may have heard, our church, Tokyo Baptist Church (www.tokyobaptist.org)  has an ongoing campaign called "Journey to Freedom". In this campaign, our pastor speaks on different issues that affect us in our everyday life. The past weeks, topics such as unforgiveness, depression, worry and lust have been discussed. Needless to say, I have found these messages to be very helpful and practical.

depression
hmmm. I do not consider myself depressed. Although when Ramiele Malubay was eliminated at American Idol, I found myself telling anyone who would listen "I am soooo depressed Ramiele is gone!". I do not think that qualifies since I was just making a joke. (insert peace sign here). ha ha ha.
But seriously speaking, I learned in this message that when things in life go rough, we are prone to be depressed. It is quite a difficult situation to get out off, and this is the reason we need God to save us. We really REALLY need the Lord to help us. Here in Japan, we hear so many people commit suicide because they became depressed after losing their job, or getting divorced etc. It is quite alarming. I think that this has a big correlation to many people here not knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. People need the Lord. They really do.
Worry
Worry is a failure to trust God. What if? What if? This message had a big impact on me as I am a big worrier. When my wife gets sick, or when my daughter gets sick, I worry. A lot. And my immediate reaction was to try to find ways to help or to alleviate the problem at hand. But I learned that the best way to deal with any crisis in life is by doing one thing: PRAY.

Here is a good memory verse:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Phil 4: 6-7)

Amazing is’nt it? Indeed,  God’s word is truly wonderful and comforting. The power of prayer is really something.

(to be continued…)

april 14, 2008
3:14am

92-51

Yun un score ng laro namin kahapon, sa Saitama. Sumali kasi kami ng "one-day basketball tournament". Yung tournament na kung talo ka, tanggal ka na. Well, gusto ko sana sabihin na yung team namin yung 92. At tinambakan namin un kalaban ng 41 points. Kaso hindi ganun ang nangyari. It was a massacre. Pretty pathetic. Pero may napansin lang ako. Ok lang sa akin. Hindi ako ganun ka-apektado. Seriously. I think this is progress, when you can learn to accept losing and take defeat graciously. Kung may regret lang ako, is Sunday kasi kahapon. So na-miss ko na pumunta sa church, although nag service na ako nung Saturday night. Wala lang, parang nasanay lang ako na Sunday sa church lang tumambay. To chat and hang out with my friends there.
I really felt I missed out on something. Hmmmm.
Although 4pm na kami natapos, (we played at 2:30), I was tired enough na I felt mas ok kung umuwi na lang ako ang magpahinga. Aga ko nga natulog, kaya heto ang aga ko na rin nagising. hahaha

SALAMAT
Nagkasakit yung wife ko ng tonsilitis, so I asked my friends at church to pray. She was under intense pain, for almost a week, pero I praise God na she is feeling better now. I spoke to her last night, and she sounded like her old self again. Inasar asar na nga nya uli ako eh, so I guess everything is ok na. So salamat sa mga prayer warriors! Thank you for all of you who prayed. Much appreciated.

BABY TALK
Nakausap ko din yung aking 2 year old daughter. Grabe, ang daldal na. She actually said "see….you…soon….Daddy". Now THAT is just amazing. Sobrang nakakatuwa. I’ll see you and mommy very very soon sweetheart! Two weeks to go!!!