Small Groups

I like being a part of the small group.

This is an all-male singles group studying the Word of God, praying together, and sharing each other's life stories.

Age is not limited. Some are in the 20s, 30s, 40s and a few in the 50s.

This is more than group therapy or counseling.

This is being accountable to one another for the purpose of straightening your walk with God.

I'm so blessed to be a part of this small group.

What this country needs

So much is to be desired in this country.

Filipinos are not insurance conscious. A large market is still untapped and it's hard to penetrate this unbelieving market. Oftentimes, the no. of life insurance bought is among repeat buyers, that is, those who believe in it and have bought before are the same ones who adds up to the statistic.

But I'll get to the point now. I don't really mean to talk about insurance.

It's just one area that the majority in this country does not subscribe to insurance, be it life or non-life insurance.

What I feel that this country needs is spiritual awakening.

Corruption has breeded political families and dynasties. Indeed, power corrupts.

Now it has been passed on to the mainstream. It is not only in the government that you see these things. Corrupt practices have been a way of life even in private companies dealing with government agencies.

And yet, we wonder when will corruption end when we too, ourselves, can be called accomplice to this grand scheme of things.

The culture of corruption has been so entrenched in our way of life that it will take another generation to curb it.

But with God, nothing is impossible.

It should begin with ourselves. We need to declutter all our life's excess baggage.

We can start with the physical baggage followed by the mental aspect. When both aspects are clear, we look into our heart (emotional aspect) because the heart knows everything the brain processes.

When our heart is attuned with God, we can now walk by faith.

De cluttering

There are so many junk in the house. So many unnecessary knick knacks. But before I throw them away, I consider selling them at Ebay.

Fortunately, most of the time, they get sold.

There is beauty in de cluttering. You get to have a fresh start sort of. 

I guess I'm a minimalist.

But it's not only the junk that we have to de clutter in our homes. 

We also need to de clutter the "garbage" in our minds and heart.

And the best way to start is to confess our sins to God. I know I am getting spiritual again.

But you can't go wrong with God. So for this year, 2011, I strive to go back to him.

I feel like a prodigal son actually. 

But it's better late than never.

Start Early

Nothing beats going for the early ride. Because when you start early, you gain a head start.

Such is life.

Whether you wake up early and head for the office, invest early in life whether in real estate or stocks or mutual funds, when you view it as a long term goal, or even train for a sports competition, you would appreciate the results when it's time to reap what you have sown early.

For example, if you are always early in the office, your work ethic would reflect favorably in the eyes of the management. When you invest in stocks or equity-laced fund, you would appreciate the gains when you look back at how low the rates were back then when you started investing in that stock or share.

So start early. Perservere and be patient. For in the long haul, it will pay off. That's for sure.

Here comes the New Year

As we approach the new year 2011, it is time to reflect once again what the year has been to us.

If you are the type of person who writes goals every new year, take stock of the previous year, jot down which goal was achieved and which task was unmet.

Write your new goals for the new year and include the failed goals during the past year.

It is easy to write down goals. The problem is implementing it.

The solution is to remind ourselves regularly about our goals. Only then we can gauge our seriousness with each and every goal.

God does not expect us to be successful... only faithful.

In the same manner, if we set personal goals, we have to be faithful to what we set out to accomplish.

For whatever action we take, it will determine our direction. And when we know where to go, it will lead us to our destination.

Christ's Commission Fellowship » » Q&A: Purgatory and the Purpose of Jesus' Second Coming

Christ's Commission Fellowship » » Q&A: Purgatory and the Purpose of Jesus' Second Coming

Psalm 51

Is man basically good or evil?

Psalm 51 (New International Version, ©2010)

Psalm 51

Psalm 51^[a]

    For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

 ¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
   according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
   blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
   and cleanse me from my sin.
 ³ For I know my transgressions,
   and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
   and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
   and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
   sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
   you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
 ⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
   wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
   let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
   and blot out all my iniquity.
 ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
   or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
 ¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
   so that sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
   you who are God my Savior,
   and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord,
   and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
   you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is^[b] a broken spirit;
   a broken and contrite heart
   you, God, will not despise.
 ¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion,
   to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
   in burnt offerings offered whole;
   then bulls will be offered on your altar.