qoheleth

weluckywefew: aka-nightingale: So many good scenes in this...

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:50:53 -0400

weluckywefew:

aka-nightingale:

So many good scenes in this movie.

YES! Ian and Daniel!

I did a photoshoot with my cousin a while back. This was one of...

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:30:07 -0400

I did a photoshoot with my cousin a while back. This was one of the products.

A little video I created about prayer. Hope you all enjoy!

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:53:18 -0500

A little video I created about prayer. Hope you all enjoy!

Because it's What I Want

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:46:36 -0500

So this whole fasting from secular media has left me a ton of time to think. I usually think a lot but it’s been a while since I’ve had this much time to think. I think the last time I had this much time to think was back when I went on my road trip. If you don’t remember it you can read about it here.

I got to thinking about love and what I wanted from love. I didn’t think about what I wanted in another person, I already have a list of attributes I want. I got to thinking what i wanted while I was in love. Mind you I’m single so I’m guessing that this might change, but I kinda hope not.

I want to share my life with a person, and I want them to share theirs with me. Not just the big stuff but all the little stuff too, also the bad stuff. I wondered what it was like in the beginning, with Adam and Eve. If you believe in the Bible then maybe you can follow me, if not than please bear with me for the next few paragraphs. The Bible says that Adam and Eve were both naked and were not ashamed.

Can you imagine being naked in front of someone and not being ashamed at all? That’s what I want. Too many of us have secrets too dark and deep to share with anyone, even those closest to us.

I want her to know that I see all of her, everything. Everything that makes her beautiful and special. I want her to know that I see her mistakes, her faults, all of it, anything that she can possible be ashamed of, and that I accept her. I want her to know that she doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of when it comes to me, because love is a choice and I choose her despite of everything she might feel makes her feel unworthy. I want to tell her “I love you” because I really do. This is what I want, partly because I want her to do the same with me.

And also because it’ll help me affirm my faith, because isn’t that what God does with us? He sees everything that makes us horrible, unworthy, and unlovable, and loves us anyway. I guess I just want that chance to be that someone for somebody else.

Long Time Blessing

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:58:56 -0500

I’m not sure how much I can actually share of this story but I’ll try to do it as anonymously as possible. For the past few months there has been a certain woman calling in. She would sound depressed and all of us chaplains at work knew her because of this. We would try and encourage her, we encouraged her to seek professional help, and we prayed for her. As the months went by it seemed as though nothing worked.

The last two times that I got a call from her I realized something different. She was complaining and being discouraged about the same stuff but there was a noticeable difference in her voice. She had strength. I am blessed to know that she is getting better. It’s very encouraging to know that someone you know, even anonymously, is feeling better. Some of you might say that it’s because of this or that and not the fact that I and my colleagues prayed. At the end I’m still blessed that this person is getting better.

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

I'll make a man out of you

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:01:00 -0500

A few days ago I posted something about being a good father. One of the reasons I enjoy watching men being good fathers is because it gives me a visual of what a real man is supposed to look like. I haven’t seen too many examples of good fatherhood. You might ask what about my own father? Well, it’s not that my father hasn’t been around, it’s me who hasn’t been around. I went to boarding academy when I was thirteen and haven’t been home for long periods of time since then. I remember spending time with my father before then but being sent away from school really challenged and changed the dynamic between my father and I.

I feel this has really effected my development. I’m 24 and not really near the man I hoped to become or planned to be. Sometimes when I look at other guys I feel as though they know something about being a man that I don’t. I appreciate my parents sending me to boarding school but I can’t help but feel that maybe my father didn’t show me all there was to being a man. How can he? He only had thirteen years to work with. a couple of days ago I was taking with one of my friends about who we want to be vs. what we think God wants us to be vs. what God actually wants us to be. For me this journey of trying to be a man coincides with what God wants me to be.

I am looking to God to give me the answer. It might sound silly to you but I feel figuring all this out by myself is nonsense. I need God to help me out, after all He created us, He should know what we’re supposed to be like. I’ll be asking my dad and other men that I look up to what they think about the subject.

My Cookies

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:11:23 -0500

So I’m chowing down on Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies. I didn’t get to enjoy them too much when I was little because my sister would hog them all and wouldn’t share them with me because she said they were for girls only. Now I have my own box and I don’t have to share them. Mwahaha! but there’s no fun in eating them alone. I wish my sister was here so I can share them with her. I should give her a call.

What are you willing to give up?

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:40:00 -0500

My church is doing a 40-day fast. We’re not fasting from food for that long, but we are fasting from secular media. It’s only the second day and I’m already feeling some withdrawal effects. I have a lot of free time, time that I usually spend either watching tv, movies, our playing video games. The point isn’t to take away but replace with more wholesome things.

It just so happens that our fast sort if coincides with lent. Maybe you usually don’t observe lent but this year I urge you to try giving something up. Not for the sake of simply giving something up but to replace it with something wholesome, something that God would want you to do.

What will you replace it with? You decide, use philippians 4:8 as a guide. Share with me what you want to give up, I’d love for us to have some tumblr accountability.

First, I want to thank all of those following my blogs. You guys make me feel like my voice is...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:16:29 -0500

First, I want to thank all of those following my blogs. You guys make me feel like my voice is heard. Even though I do not always update my blog I know that there are people reading. I didn’t start this blog in order to get the most followers but it really does make me feel appreciated when people follow me.

Second, these next few weeks are going to be a time of growing. I can just feel it. I want to update my blog more regularly so I hope that I can actually do that.

Third, I would love to start some actual conversations with my followers, so please leave a message or ask ask a question. I’ve only had a handful of conversations but I really feel closer to those who actually interact with me.

"But what we really need is God. What we really need is somebody who loves us so much we don’t worry..."

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:35:44 -0500

“But what we really need is God. What we really need is somebody who loves us so much we don’t worry about death, about our hair thinning, about other drivers pulling in front of us on the road, about whether people are poor or rich, good-looking or ugly, about whether we feel lonely or about whether or not we are wearing clothes. We need this; we need this so we can love other people purely and not for selfish gain, we need this so we can see everybody as equals, we need this so our relationships can be sincere, we need this so we can stop kicking ourselves around, we need this so we can lose all self-awareness and find ourselves for the first time, not by realizing some dream, but by being told who we are by the only Being who has the authority to know, by that I mean the Creator.”

- Donald Miller, Searching for God Knows What (via favoredgrace)

Father

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:13:03 -0500

As I left work today I saw a father and his two children running across the parking lot to their car. The son was racing ahead giggling while his sister grasped onto her father’s hand while squealing “look, daddy, I’m running.” It wasn’t the most extravagant expression of a father’s love for his kids but this simple act brought a smile to my face.

I like seeing men being good father’s, it’s not something you I get to see very often. Granted I’m not always see fathers with their children, but it seems as though good fathers are becoming rare. I do appreciate spotting one every once in a while. Maybe it’s just media portrayal, but I doubt it. It’s not just girls who have “daddy” issue, boys have them too. The issue with boys is that it manifests itself so differently from girls.

Whenever I see a good father I follow a string of thoughts that meander through my mind. Some of these thoughts include “that’s one more girl that will value herself properly” and “that’s one more boy that will grow up to be a man, not just an adult child.” I’m not saying that these are not impossible without a good father and not having a good father excludes you from having these qualities, but it absolutely makes it more possible.

I am thankful for good fathers, because I know they make the world a better place. One of these days, I hope to be a good father myself.

Apologies for some inappropriateness in my last post

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:24:31 -0500

You're Off a Bit

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:30:06 -0500

I just came from work and it was mostly normal as usual. Except I got a call that really shook me. The caller, let’s name him Jimmy, wanted to discuss things of the Bible, so we did. The conversation seemed normal, we did some debating. We disagreed on some points, which is normal when you have people of separate speaking with each other, but we both made valid points. It seemed as though it was going to end cordially with each agreeing to disagree, then his last words were spoken and he hung up. ”You’re off a bit.” I really didn’t know how to think after that but it really got to me.

Maybe because he was right, maybe not in the sense that he thought, but he was right. Because of my job I’ve become accustomed to defending my faith, encouraging those who are down, and giving impromptu Bible studies; all fairly easily out of practice. But lately, the only time I’ve picked up my Bible was to do all that. I haven’t really read the Bible for myself in a while; It’s been too long. Looking back now, I think he meant to say I was a bit off on my argument, which I might have been, but it hit me where I knew I was lacking; whether he knew it or not.

I had to spend some time in deep prayer after that. I’m not where I used to be spiritually and I’m not where I want to be. It just makes me realize how much I need God. Maybe I just felt that my lack of communion with God recently has been overly apparent, even to strangers on the phone. I need God and I need to do something about it. I’m going to try going back to daily devotions, and wouldn’t mind a bit of accountability from my followers. God is good, I know it. I just need to get back and knowing Him.

Thankful

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:00:32 -0500

I’m constantly reminded by how thankful I should be and I many blessings I do have. I was in a slump not too long ago and I kinda got out of it. I’m by no means cheerful all the time but I’m definitely down in the dumps all the time. Although recently it’s been kind of hard seeing where my life looks up. I’m in a point of my life where most other people my age have already started a new career and working. I’m not quite. I feel like I’m behind the curve, something that’s hard to swallow when you have as much pride as I do. I do have a job though, and I’m thankful for that. But it’s this job that’s making me realize how thankful I really should be. I answer telephone call after telephone call with people wanting to pray. The things that some of them pray about really puts my life into perspective, especially when a person who has more problems than me still praises God. I’m thankful and I’m going to start counting my blessings more often. It just seems right when I know that there’s a God out there who loves me.

Psalm 107:1 “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

haru5109: I’m at Student Missions vespers. I just used the...

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:57:31 -0500

haru5109:

I’m at Student Missions vespers. I just used the popular Thumb app on my phone to take an instant poll. About 71% of respondents don’t even know what vespers is. Even that number might be skewed because half the comments are asking if I’m referring to a Vespa scooter. -_- I think I agree with the speakers. We have a huge mission field to reach before Jesus comes.

Story behind one of my favorite texts

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:05:55 -0500

In my second year in academy my Bible teacher was big on having us memorize verses. One of the verse that we were assigned was Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” I very comforting and uplifting verse for sure but to help me remember I likened it to an experience I had earlier in life.

Back when I was in 6^th grade I was played little league football. That experience has been some of the best in my life. Looking at me now you might be able to picture it but I was actually one of the bigger kids back in 6^th grade. I’m pretty much the same height now as I was back then so I towered over most all others in my grade. Because of this the coaches decided to put me with 7^th and 8^th graders. They placed me at middle linebacker, which for those of you who may not know American football all that well, is like the quarterback or leader of the defense. This caused a problem because I was the youngest one on my squad and 8^th graders didn’t like having 7^th graders on their team and definitely did not enjoy having a 6^th grader lead the defense. When it came to the first game I got nervous.

I remember the first play very clearly. I read the offense and figured it was a run, which back in little league that’s the case almost 80% of the time, and I even figured where they were going to run the ball, which was up the middle right through me. My teammates fully expected me to make the tackle since I told them the play was going towards me. Unfortunately, I was blocked and I missed the tackle, not the best way to prove that you belong as the leader of the defense. The coach called me to the sideline real quick between plays. He yelled “Don’t forget what I taught you!” and put me back out there. The very next play I calmed myself down and did my job. I read the offense a second time and interestingly enough, they decided to run it right by me again. This time I shed my block and I tackled the runningback. It was a good feeling.

I need to trust in God more because He’s definitely there for me more than my old coach ever was. He’s taught me and if I just listen to Him than I’ll do alright. Once I made the connection between this experience and Joshua 1:9 it became one of my favorite verses.

pinoyance: My parents never taught me. :(

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:29:53 -0500

pinoyance:

My parents never taught me. :(

Merry Christmas

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 23:24:26 -0500

It’s almost Christmas for my friends back on the east coast of America. I guess I should wish you all a Merry Christmas. It’s been Christmas for me for over 12 hours. I woke up at 4:30 this morning, but not because I was excited for Christmas, that doesn’t really happen for me anymore. If you remember from last year I’m sort of a grinch. I woke up that early because I’m still jet-lagged from the wicked long flight.

This is my third Christmas in the Philippines. It’s a pretty big deal here. Last night I was on the roof with my cousins on top of their house chatting and watching fireworks over the city. It was nice. I’m getting to spend Christmas with family that I haven’t been with for many years.

Right now I have tons of things on my mind. I’m preaching this coming Sabbath, I have a play that I need to finish writing, I’m looking for a job, and there’s this girl that I’ve been thinking about. I miss the days when I was too young to have these problems and could just enjoy Christmas. But then again, maybe I’m missing the point of Christmas. It’s about remembering what Christ did for us. I’ll try to focus on that today, that should give me some enjoyment of this holiday. Merry Christmas guys!

For some reason I didn't know easter island heads had bodies

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:11:21 -0500

For some reason I didn't know easter island heads had bodies

"Writers don’t make any money at all. We make about a dollar. It is terrible. But then again we..."

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:37:56 -0500

““Writers don’t make any money at all. We make about a dollar. It is terrible. But then again we don’t work either. We sit around in our underwear until noon then go downstairs and make coffee, fry some eggs, read the paper, read part of a book, smell the book, wonder if perhaps we ourselves should work on our book, smell the book again, throw the book across the room because we are quite jealous that any other person wrote a book, feel terribly guilty about throwing the schmuck’s book across the room because we secretly wonder if God in heaven noticed our evil jealousy, or worse, our laziness. We then lie across the couch facedown and mumble to God to forgive us because we are secretly afraid He is going to dry up all our words because we envied another man’s stupid words. And for this, as I said, we are paid a dollar. We are worth so much more.””

- Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz