BoringYetGraceful

I don't like rainy days. I prefer the weather between October and February. Whenever I see girls and boys rolling in the street... How can I forget that song, when we sang it during Xmas party when I was in grade 1? It's a good song pero naging meme na sya these days. Yet it was a multiplatinum award-winning song.

Nito lang, I'm continuing to read a book by Elisabeth Elliot and also a manga titled “Kekkon suru tte, Hontou desu ka” or 365 Days to the Wedding in English. The manga has a TV drama adaptation via Amazon Prime and the anime adaptation soon.

I'm currently 70% progress at The Mark of a Man, it was a wonderful book, sobrang challenging lang ng mga statement ni Mrs. Elliot. Though the book was written back in the 1980s, everything still hits today (may amats pa din), the gender issues, and everything in between.

Why a Christian book and a Japanese manga? What am I talking about? Wala, gusto ko lang...

Hmmm... it's raining, so let's stop and talk for a while, lol, lamig na ng kape ko.

One of the main things in the book is that “man is the initiator and the woman is the responder”. It's like the blues, call, and response? Lol. Nope, better than that and reading the book is bewildering, buti na lang hindi Old English yung style nya.

If the husband plays the part of Christ in this drama, the wife plays the part of the Church. We’re back to the business of initiation and response. Christ, the Bridegroom, initiates. The Church, the Bride, responds.

The book talks a lot of stuff, better to pick it up from your local bookstore. Hehehe.

On the other hand, the manga. It's a seinen/office/romance/SoL manga. I won't give a spoiler but they are already in a trial dating, both families also involved except for..., they do the deeds w/o a ring red flag!!!...then around 90+ chapters, the main couple asks:

“Why do we need to marry?”

Funny it is, when you don't know the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, surely, the world can give its opinion pero hindi pa din shoot besh.

Lalo na yung context nya, some of the supporting characters have marriage problems. Iniwan, sinaktan, di binalikan, and divorce, and the bonus was the remarriage thing. Ngl, Japan and South Korea is like the USA when it comes to marriage.

Divorce is like death — From Walking With God through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller

The book talks about absolutes from the biblical perspective from singleness to marriage. The manga was a lost cause (I'm just waiting to get them married #sanaall)

I enjoy reading both book and manga. I also try to watch the drama, ang cute noong mga gumanap na artista, yet I prefer to read.

In conclusion, there is a lot to learn when you read stuff that is opposed to each other. Read it with an open mind and heart yet on guard. Bawal ang marupok dito.

-nml

I don't know if you watch anime but I assume yes, maybe. I'm just your casual viewer but back on 1998, I end up with a broken tibia due to a certain show. Ang weird lang bakit ko ginaya si BT'x that time para lang makaligo sa ilog.

I'll only cite 3 shows and the common thing about them, they are created by Kyoto Animation (Kyoani), my favorite animation studio. Sorry for being in a weeb mode at the moment, this'll be fast and short.

CLANNAD After Story

This show is based from a visual novel, and After Story is continuation CLANNAD, the first season. Genre is slice of life, romance and drama. Akala ko horror sya kasi mejo creepy yung doll na scene, nakalimutan ko na, lol. You can find in the Internet what scene that made the viewers of this shows, teary eyed. I though he'll be a single dad yet...

The OST of this show is top rated. The Japanese is very artistic in mix media things...hoping they can dedicated also there passion to the Lord of heavens and earth not just earthly ones.

Violet Evergarden

Love the OP (Opening Song) by TRUE, titled “Sincerely”. I did play it several times from Spotify before deciding to watch the show. This is based from a 2 volume light novel from Kyoani. Then they adapted it to an anime.

The story about a girl searching for the meaning of love, working in a post office. The setting is post war, and the girl is also an over powered soldier in her own right.

I did cry during the first episode OP, kasi ang ganda eh. Sorry naman sa pag-appreciate. Mas malala naman kung tumulo laway ko (there are instances like that too, it will be story to tell next time)

Kyoukai No Kanata

Another light novel adapted to anime by Kyoani. The bespectacled bishojo (beautiful girl) try to kill herself then the male MC try to saved her. Cringey lang na scene pero may tama.

Nakalimutan ko na yung plot, Google nyo na lang. The main heroine wanted to end up the life of the male MC, except he is immortal, something like that. I also like the OP song of this show.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalms 23:1

There was this Twitter poll before about what if your trap on an island what would you choose part of the Bible to be with you? Psalm 23, Romans 8, or cite your own favorite Bible chapter. I chose Psalm 23.

By the way, when I write, everything is upfront, and fewer edited unless Grammarly corrects me. Lol

Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved and gasgas na Bible passages, like Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28. Those passage are can be easily put out of context.

Unlike Psalm 23 the context is always there. You will be always a sheep, a dumb foolish sheep, like the sheep from Isaiah 53:6 and those random sheep videos getting trapped, saved, and trap again. Funny it is, but it almost represents who we are in front of a holy God.

Why did David come up with that one line? Even though he didn't watch those sheep videos? He's been there by experience, and gladly it was written those future sheep. Like you and me.

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. — John 10:11

And then a greater shepherd, Jesus came once and for all. Truly it is for those sheep, once they are into the hands of that shepherd, they can say:

I lack nothing.

Ps. Thank God for the safe travel

Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. — Psalm 25:4

While on my way to getting a 5 (fail) on both Differential and Integral Calculus, though I passed both subjects a second time. I did prepare myself. I review and cry. Prayed and cry. Lord, why does math exist?

If Jesus prayed on mountain tops, I prefer rest room or in front of a mirror (when no one is around) I still remember crying in front of our old mirror doon sa lumang tukador then epic yung 3 items na given sa Integral, kulang na lang ilagay ko. Jesus is the answer.

The verse above is one of the cherished Bible verses I claimed as a uni student of Sintang Paaralan, and I don't know if I'm a tanglaw ng bayan as of now, but in Christ, I know I'm one of the lights of this dying world. A literal salt too, once get sweaty.

The university years of late 2000s is different of the 2010s. Though the same battles but today tech crunch up higher. I'm grateful the school was on top of the mountain. Ang layo namin sa kabihasnan, sobra.

If you hold some of God's promises back then, and you're reflecting it now. Ang galing lang ni Lord, di ko alam paano ako naka-survive sa endless na math. Nakalimutan ko na silang lahat XD.

He is forever faithful, I didn't even know I'll graduate on time. Pero hindi ako umiyak nung graduation ko. Yet the gladness is overflowing. Thanks God.

God teaches us the hard way most of the time (we are in a battle against the pleasure of this world). As the song say “ masikip pala ang daan patungo Sayo, Panginoon” yet by His power and His grace, those who hold firmly into him, persevere.

This is a continuation of Chapter 33.

I enjoyed reading personal development blogs and articles years ago, which includes building habits. My first blog back in 2013 is about those kinds of things. That niche is saturated yet Atomic Habits became a best seller. I already follow that guy before he release that book. I got to know him because of Leo Babauta, who runs Zen Habits.

Bible reading is a habit that is a must for a Christian. Ngl, I only started reading around 2011, and it's a process. The good thing is God planted verses in me, through the years. Like this one

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. — John 15:13

My high-school self interprets it as “love your friends”, I do have close friends, and I cherished them, naalala ko pa yung nag-away kami nung besfren ko back in 6th grade, dahil sa picture ng kras, ako unang umiyak, kasi ayoko mag-away kami. Lol.

Back to the habit of Bible reading. I think one of the highest moments, once you get into reading God's Word is you will still read even if it doesn't make sense.

Never let that fire go off, rise into the ashes! Hahaha

One of my shallow reasons that I must read is: I read personal development books why not read a better book, the Bible? Kesa mag scroll ng Tiktok ne?

Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. — Jeremiah 15:16

A Christian must be like an ant, always prepared for rainy days to come. Read your Bible, it's better than Mang Inasal or Luk Yuen.

-nml

Dahil wala akong maiisip na content. I'll just reflect about the Sunday message from CCF.

At the moment, the sermon series is titled “Change Makers” and it talks about God-driven change, and how Christians can be an influence of change instead a victim of change.

The series will revolve around Bible characters and the changes they have done.

Last Sunday it kick off with Moises, his life, and its several turning points. His life is like from Budokan to the bedroom yet God became the bedrock of his life. The only thing is he didn't enter the physical bedroom itself, but Joshua and the dudes did. I hope you get the illustration.

Today, the Bible's character revolves around Josiah, king of Judah. 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34.

There are 4 points from the message (most of the time its 3 😁)

• Change starts with you, 2 Kings 22:2
• Commit to God's Word, 2 Kings 22:8-23:3
• Clean out idols, 2 Kings 23:4-20
• Celebrate God's grace, 2 Kings 23:21-27

The 4 points hit well about Christian living, ngl the congregation looks bored about the message, or it's just me, me trying to discern them kasi ang sakit e (tinamaan din ako e). Yung joke ni Ptr. Paul hindi ganun kabenta unlike nung mga nakaraang Sunday, parang POWER! Open-minded ka ba tara coffee tayo (conyotic accent)

My takeaway from the message is point no. 2, then kanina lang sakto Bible Project which talks about Psalm 1. Check that video!

The infinity verse lol

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. — Psalm 1:2

I'm bad at memorization, but when it comes to crunching the Word, it is like a candy that never melts in your mouth (not in your hands M&M's), it only becomes sweeter and sweeter the more you draw from it until it became part of you.

—nml

Definitely the month is both cold and hot. It started cold, yes! really freaking cold, I need to put kumot and turn off my electric fan during the endless night. On the other hand, it did rain on its last day, and the heat is on. Welcome to the everlasting summer, did you hear the sound of cicadas screaming? (EVA feels) For the other parts of the world, it is spring (tag-sibol). Though some trees here bloom during April they aren't Sakura though.

The last weeks of March is hot, but I still prefer hot coffee. Cold coffee is for the weak. Hot and disappointing it is, the videoke around the neighborhood is noisy as of writing, but not that kind of disappointment.

I didn't even know I have a scheduled appointment with my disappointment but surely they are on time, like this heat of summer.

Pambihira ang ingay.

Okay back to writing.

Due to the fact I dont have someone to talk to every night (a human), I did try the AI stuff, cool lang, yung init ng ulo binuhos ko sa kanila, the answer is always sorry. Yeah, they don't have any emotion. Should I ask them to write an emo song?

Using them feels like convenient but in times this convenience will take its effect to the human life.

What good does human do for itself? The list can go on but should it pass the absolute standard of God?

Only God is good.

Just loom how we are now. Especially in the US, and the Filipino dream is still to get out of the country.

Tapos mamimis mo kumaen ng tuyo at bagoong? Hypocrite.

Tech is good and bad, China is bully, as well US too, Russia is bad. Philippines are nice.

Sad.

That's the best word for March, there will be a time that the road is difficult to trek and the burden behind our back is aaggghhh! Can we go back to Egypt?

Taste and see.

The month itself is a holy bother too. But the Word tells, taste and see,

Can I lick you Lord? And the angel brought burning charcoal to my tongue.

Iyak tawa na lang...

Not worthy yet still He wants to cling to you.

Ang hirap lang.

Yerin Baek Square (2017) playing in the background...

Praying April will be good.

Grateful Now

The current situation is okay and I'm grateful on things that was given. Yet when you got complacent in the current life's journey, you don't know if there will a storm to come. And yes, it did come and it wasn't a storm, it was an earthquake.

You Need A Challenge

How can you see yourself 10 years from now? Maybe taking vacation in Somalia or Syria, having the best time of my life in Afghanistan or somewhere down in Chicago during winter. I'm not friends with cold weather or cold temperature but I won't be cold at you because I'm hot. A hot, tall, cappuccino, for here please, and the name is “Ehm”.

I know, I am?, somehow right with God, around 60% maybe or lesser or much lesser? yet the challenge did not stop. It's kind of...bothering me.

A holy bother, brother can I have a peanut butter.

Inspiration

Good thing there was an inspiration, and it would be enough for me to be inspired to move in this thing called jinsei. If that inspiration will be taken away by the another lead guitarist, that would be a trigger for me to have perspiration until my heart goes to its expiration.

Sometimes God's glory shine on the face of others even they're far far away. It's not lalaland, it's far far land. LDR looks difficult, locomotive direct repulsion of feelings.

Leaky Horizon

Maybe I'll just focus in eternity and not some cringey romantic love story, what do you think Dorothy who lives in Mary's dormitory?

Written in Fil-Eng

Fitness and health new year resolutions are hot among common people during the first quarter of the year. I, myself are included there, I even prepared during the first week of January, that controlled intake during dinner, strictly consuming quaker oats, yung arroz caldo. Then things happen which aren't included in the plan, why do odd things normally happen? (see Ch.28)

Inspiration

My old gal (my mom) used to walk early in the morning along with her old gal neighborhood pals. They started it, I think during the height of the pandemic 2020-2021. Elders getting stuck at home will physical difficulties, they need to move, and socialize.

During the winter break 2022, I tried to accompany her on one of those mornings. Kasi gusto ko din naman ng time alone with mudra, ang sweet ko diba? I cherished that moment even though we have another older gal with us, 10 yrs older that my mom. The usual path is the neighboring hill with its steep road, I don't know but it's around 20-30°, I used to cycle it up hill during elementary days.

Action

Thanks God, I can move my right elbow na, but I didn't yet push it to the max like doing push-ups. So I decide walking which I do a lot before and after work, bakit hindi na lang ako mag-walking at the meantime?. Growing up is a choice but growing old is given, I can here my body say, wala ka na sa kalendaryo oni-chan, hanggang feeling young and aspring ka na lang. I need to move it, move it.

I'm used to maxing myself during physical exercise, kapag mag-isa ako. Back in 2014 I passed out and puke following that certain HIIT video. My old man saw me that time, “nagpapapawis ka ba o nagpapakamatay?”. Then 2016, I passed out in Capitol Commons after doing burpees, buti na lang yung isang ka-boardmate ko andoon.

I never passed out when I bike. Once I got a fever and took a ride sa daang kuba (much steeper road), headache and chills, the road bike handle bar is full of mucous and puke. Sori naman po, alagain ako. Royal at Skyflakes, gagaling na po.

Future

The balik alindog program is a lifetime goal, even it takes eternity, think of it like, walking literally side by side with the Lord Jesus Christ, in the streets of gold. Nothing can compare one step taken there, to the thousand steps we've done here, and calories/fats we've shave off here while on earth.

Like physical exercise, spiritual exercise is important too. Consuming God's Word, prayer and fellowship with other believers. Physical exercise removes excess fat, while spiritual exercises does not shave off sin, it makes us sin less and turn away from it and turn to Jesus. I think walking in faith with Him is truly a walk to remember. You can find Him in all places and He knows our deep feelings within.

Yung physical na paglakad natin dito may hangganan pero yung spiritual na paglakad natin hindi lang naman sa puntod or urn nagtatapos...simula pa lang yun.

Like physical exercise, spiritual exercise is important too. Consuming God's Word, prayer and fellowship with other believers

Written in Filipino

The literal translation of the title is: paano muling malaglag sa kanal o kaya paano muling malaglag sa hagdan at wala namang may balak sumalo sa'yo, something like that.

It's February, ang malamig na simoy ng amihan ay patuloy pa ring nasa hangin. Yung iba nagdaragsa sa City of Pines, in fact nagsawa na ako doon, the place was better way back then at maraming memeries na..., okay tigil na.

Why not write something warm hearted not hotheaded? Yung tipo bang, mapapa-confess ako dito. Father, ako po ang may sala hindi po si Juan...ilang pirasong lumpiang shanghai lang naman yun, buhay na agad kapalit? Okay ibang confession to.

Sili at sibuyas ka ba?, lagi ka na lang nagmamahal, ako ba mahal mo? Sige ito ATM ko, ano? Gcash na lang? Forward mo na lang QR.

The original title of this one is “to the person I admired”, diba Boiling Waters PH lang ang peg. I did write something sa website nila, hanapin nyo na lang. Iniba ko ang title para click bait, loko lang tito nyo ne? La naman ako paki sa traffic. Siguro traffic lang din kaya di pa tayo nagkikita...hmmm.

His Brightness On Her

Minsan okay din naman i-extend ang emosyon sa salita tulad nito, yung iba tula or kanta, or sayaw then upload sa Tiktok. I prefer words, been doing it since HS. Emotion that flows from your finger tips become something worthwhile, expression sya, kaya sasabihin ko na, ano ba? Hype ba ako. Mejo. Puyat na kasi.

After that certain event in my life, it's a quite struggle. Thanks God kasi alam ko kasama ko sya doon sa epic memeries na yun which turn me around in a new page of this life.

And then I saw a light, wala ako sa Damascus road or disco-house ha, nasa bahay lang, browing IG, then I chatted that person.

This certain person I found something about them, this was back in 2019. Though I knew them in person due to youth camps and church events noong kolehiyo kami, hindi ko naman masabi na nalaglag ako sa kanal, kasi iba yung pakiramdam.

Patawad sa illustration pero pagbigyan nyo na, patunay na si Em ang nagsulat.

Mostly guys are like pag nahulog sa kanal, gusto mong salukin lahat ng tubig at buhangin at laman nito at sabihin na sayo na ito, at minsan babakuran mo pa, kahit hindi pa sayo, makikipag-puyatan, tapos hindi mo malagyan ng label...boom! saan ka punta? Sa ilalim ng buwan? (Gets?)

It's a different feeling that's all I can say. I was on recovery on that year too, hindi ko namalayan na, this person became an inspiration for me to move on further, not just in that aspect of life, but also in faith, and me, ending up being interested about church missions and things about it.

Minsan gagamit ng tao or pwede ring kanal, ang Diyos para mapakita nya ang liwanag Niya sayo.

Weighing The Heart

2019 was a good year at nakalimutan ko sya. I wrote a very short poem that time for them. Just check Walls. May picture ng tao nakatingin sa dagat.

Then the rest of 2019 was, I met a dozen of new faces (if isa ka doon pa-heart naman jan). The hand of God uses certain things to spark for our own good and it is up to us whether we will embrace it or not.

Higit pa sa kanal ang naiisin ni Lord sa layp.

Nakapagtataka lang bakit ko sya nakalimutan? Kasi si Lord nakita ko sa buhay ng tao na yun. Fast forward, does this admiration for that person grew? I think yes, but also not. I'm good about killing my joy and so pessimist when it comes to that aspect of life for myself. I did weight my feelings to them and I gained weight not feelings.

Eyes Set To Him

In my POV, she is only an inspiration I can view from afar (literal na far) and I'm already grateful for that. And yes I do pray for her, lalo na sa safety nya and mabing patuloy sya na blessing sa ibang tao.

Kung ano man ang kalooban ng Diyos sa buhay natin, tanggapin natin at magpasalamat, patuloy na magtiwala sa Kanya, kung ano man ang mga bagay na harapin natin sa layp, hold unto His mighty hands, hope, and persevere in faith.

Christ love is so freaking sweet for real.

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. — John 15:13