BoringYetGraceful

I'm used to traveling long bus ride back when I was a kid during summer vacations. Back then it was cutting trip (3 bus ride), but through the years, the transportation here improved somehow and now its only one bus ride point to point.

Most people suggest traveling is fun. If you're a Filipino, it would be pain in the pocket unless you have a silver spoon in your tongue or you're really eager to do it. Me, I'm not. Google maps is fine.

Life is a journey even if you stay years in a one place. Embrace the boringness of life and be a minimalist, and spark some joy. Looks easy but for the majority who run back and forth in the rat race it is not.

Once we done everything under the sun, it is only death for sure but would there be life after death? My stand as a Christian is: there is. World travel is nice but our life journey won't end here on earth and eternity awaits...

And it's start with Jesus.

Everyone of us have the same 24 hours and yet some ask for more, especially for those who are chasing their dead lines and everything in between in regards of life.

For a voracious or for an addicted reader the back log of “to read” compiled already against the time needed to read them can be a quite hurdle and I'm already hitting on it so loud.

Beginnings

Years ago I do randomly read books. You can count it on your fingers, some I'd finish, some doesn't but in the end I do forget them whether its non-fiction or fiction. One of my memorable read was the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, I sided loaded it in my Kobo Glo while reading in the hospital and able to finish it with tears in my eyes.

I also read some Makoto Shinkai's novel based from his animated movies from the past years, I just got curious if there's a difference between the movie and the novel.

Self-Help Me

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a good read, the writer put spicy words to pitch his message but all I can say it's just the same message overall like the other self-help or personal development authors.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth. I already forgot but it's already in the word itself. Hard workers with better alignment in their goal can achieve things.

Knowing God and the Sweetness of Christ

Around 2019, I did a change of menu to Christian authors, was able to read some books of Ravi Zacharias, Paul David Tripp, Jerry Bridges, Timothy Keller, Max Lucado and many more. This was my start again to burn my kilay to some Christian authors which I also did back in highschool.

That continue when the pandemic was started by some people during 2020. I did pick up and read, Paul Washer, J. C. Ryle, J. I. Packer and Michael Horton. Some are heavy book, some are heavy booklets. When I say heavy because of their theological content. I loved Thomas Watson's All Things For Good but not able to finish it.

I'm Turning Japanese, Watashi-desuka?

Then half-way of 2020, the weeb was reborn. I don't regret it, it just fuel the fire for me to read more. The author change to a Japanese menu. Reki Kawahara, Nisioisin, Tappei Nagatsuki and a ton of JP light novel author. The current series I was able to finish is A Certain Magical Index that have 22 volumes. It was a 6-month read. Most of Japanese light novel are still on-going (50+ volumes), running since 2009. By the end 2021, I read 104 volumes for about of 30+ titles. As of writing I'm on a 50+ LN volumes read. It's a quite feat. Someone buy me those Banner of Truth multiple volumes!

The manga is not included here.

A Change of Seasoning with Multiple Flavors

As of writing, I'm reading some titles from those different flavors above but no self-help one, I'm thinking Atomic Habits would be good but I'll read it for another day as I want to plan things to read for next year. My interest to read classics and fantasy books (not light novels but novels) is getting high, but I would not touch the known ones that already had their box office in the motion picture media.

Any book recommendation?

#weblog

A Progress

Look at that! I'm now in the 20th chapter and I don't know if things still make sense ever since the genesis of this blog. I hope you did enjoy those love advise that made you cringe and ask what this guy is talking about better to seek help from doctors, whatever.

One thing I was thinking about while running this tiny world is the financial aspect. Should I continue or not? Am I being creative or not? I want to write continuously per day para naman masulit ko yung $9 pero mukhang di ko talaga kaya once my creative mind passed out in the gutter.

This would be the last time I'll use the #weblog title and doing a sub-title para mas epic sakin anong iisipin ko na title, pambihira. The long titles are inspired by some Japanese light novels series that have almost a paragraph title and it's already the plot of the series itself.

One good example is my favorite, since I picked it up last December 2020. The series titled “The Cursed Prince Wants To Marry The Immortal Witch – She Can't Lift My Curse So Now I Have One Year To Make Her Fall For Me?!”, also known as Unnamed Memory which is the real title. It has 6 volumes of novel, already read 5 of it and currently running 3 manga volumes. The weeb mode was turned-on, I'm sorry, gomenasai!...but it's worth checking if you're into fantasy romance, yung My Happy Marriage maganda din! The novel series is now adapted to manga, anime, and live-action drama! STOP

That would be enough for the day, but it's already midnight as of writing and it's raining. I hope for all those who read my stuff. I hope you well and have blessed day. Thanks!

The Weeb Inside?

Weeb means a derisive term for a non-Japanese person who is so obsessed with Japanese culture that they wish they were actually Japanese. Arigato Google-san.

History

I started watching anime during my childhood days, thanks to the local TV networks. Back then there was no Netflix, Bilibili, Funimation, Crunchyroll or Youtube but they landed here. Voltes V became part of the Filipino culture.

The latter years of my grades school was the peak of it's time, like Ghost Fighter and Flame of Recca...as well Pokemon too, pero hindi ako gaano na-addict doon. I also skip church when Let's and Go was aired during Sundays. The anime consumption ended when I graduated and entered high school.

I also used to draw a lot back then, it also stopped due to frustration of I can't draw what I see...and I shifted the interested in other things. I don't regret it.

Revival

2020 lockdowns triggered to watched again some shows instead of endless boring K-dramas which I also did from the past years. It all started with Haruhi Suzumiya and the rest is history. That year, I still read some good books, and the focus shifted to light novels and mangas. I also tried reading visual novels but it was not for me.

Different Paths

It's really a different path but part of it is my interest in the JP culture and I already decide not to study Japanese. I cannot find the joy and lately medyo nauumay na ako and searching for a new path that supposed to be I was there.

This is just a quick log.

#weblog

Handling Misplaced Emotion

Misplaced items are easily forgotten but misplaced emotions are a different set of story to deal with. When the former is found, joy can surely spark while on the latter, something is taken away but it gave a different spark but it wasn't joy, it is pain.

The meaning of misplaced emotion I'll talked here is, you invest an emotion in a certain someone which not supposed to be for that person. That person returned it somehow, but in the end it's like divorcing the two that became one in front of the altar. I won't talk about divorce here but it's younger version before the vows happen.

This is dedicated for the sailors (Pinoy Christian singles) that struggle to take part of that certain journey.

Beautiful Memory Lane of Regrets

Regret is bitter and also beautiful if you look from a different point of view. Don't just look at it from your own eyes, do also try to look it from others as well. See and feel the pain coming from others. It's like a beautiful painting worth staring for a certain period of time but the time already came to dispatch it out from your view.

They are like unwanted storms on your journey that will make you suffer in pain and it's up to you if you'll move forward or return from the comfort of the known paths you have taken before. Surely these kind of things will come to pass and you will be prepare on the next one that will come.

The Cultivation of One Self

Forget yourself and continue. It depends on how you handle regrets but the best cure for that is trust God on the process of cultivating you. This part is not about love yourself thing, but it's about growing in beauty for the Lord. He never misplaced an emotion to us. It was fully given before He created us. His eyes are already set upon us.

I will not expand this, but how to grow in beauty for God? Meditate in His Word, prayer, devotion, and fellowship with other sailors who also pursue to grow in beauty for Him.

The Flight Through the Next Storm

Face the future with utmost care as you grow. Ships don't fly but lets just think of it that it will. The next storm will be rough for sure but you're not already the captain of the ship, only a sailor that was hit by something, but now you're ready to take flight and face that certain journey.

The sailors responsibility (you and me) and the captain's will go together, God, go hand in hand in the journey. He knows the best things for you and for your good but its not always walk in the park. Soon once Jesus return, it will be a walk in the streets of gold. How romantic is that?

One thing I can say is, trust the Captain of your ship.

Related post

Chapter 14 – A Piece of Romantic Love Advice, Part 1 Chapter 14.25 – A Web Log, A Background

#article #loveadvice

Cough And Cupcakes

written in Taglish

There was a time in my life after eating the well known Filipino brand cupcake for kids as a baon in school. I had a cough because of it. Due to my poor immune system the cough had a phlegm and it's a green one.

Nabilaukan lang naman ako, walang tubig na nabigay sakin agad, kasi naglalaro kami noon sa kalsada. How can I forgot that one. After recovering from a fever, I was able to go to school. Guess what? I have no voice due to the phlegm.

By the way, this cycle happened except there's no cupcakes involved. I was force to have a physical exertion, to train my lungs.

I still remember I had a fever during highschool, and I hate it. What I did is I go to a ride. Weared the normal cycling outfit like what you see in LeTour except no helmets and out I go to the road. During that steep climb at Daang Kuba, something dripping from my nose to the handle bar and got stick to my hand gloves.

I'm laughing, coughing and exhausted once I got home. The next few days, the cough is gone.

#weblog

Sa Kabilang Dako

Ang buhay ng tao parang gulong. Minsan nasa taas, minsan nasa baba. Yung iba, walang gulong, kaya nagulungan na lang. Yung gulong ng palad naging nagulungang palad na. Tapos traksikel pa nakadali, eh plat pa? Nadali na.

Ano ba pakiramdam ng kaning lamig na naitsapwera na, kasi may bagong saing na eh? Sinong ba titira ng bahaw na matigas? Kasi pag nilagay mo naman sa ibabaw ng bagong saing baka mapanis agad. Di bale na lang kung yung bahaw eh kagabi o kanina lang sinaing at naka-fridge siya.

Unang baitang pa lang yung kaning lamig. Susunod doon eh yung para ka na lang hangin. Trahedya sa lahat yun. Pinilit mong makarating, dumaong ka naman pero walang tauspusong tumanggap sayo. Hangin ka nga.

Siguro maglokohan na lang ta'yo ne?

#weblog

Thoughts In My Devotion

For those who read the suppose to be ch.15, gomenasai-desu. Writer's block hit me on that one but I hope part 1 somehow helps.

Thoughts on my devotion today. It's about dealing with uncertainties in life. Part of me already abandoned planning because I'm not good dealing with uncertainties. They're pain in the head and heart, but the other half of me is striving to deal with it. Only by the grace of God.

So it came about, when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed; but when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun set. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. — Exodus 17:11-13

The devotion talks about what can we do during times of uncertainty that we must acknowledge our limitations. Given the fact we are sinners, we cannot save ourselves in the first place. Though by world standards we can be like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos but this world cannot offer what God can do, never. If ma-chugi yung dalawa tapos na. Lalo kung walang Kristo sa puso nila.

The verse above talks about what Moses did during their battle with the Amalekites. The devotion had 2 points.

Cling to the One who knows your future

So true naman, Jeff and Elon future is...we dont know, si Lord lang nakakaalam but for a Christian dapat clingy ka dapat kay Lord (hindi sa jowa). Like that old pastoral joke when they do child dedication (not christening), “idinidikit natin sila kay Lord from the start”. Moses in that verse lifts his hand to call unto God. Same with Jehoshaphat when Judah was in trouble and they call in prayer:

and he said, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? — 2 Chronicles 20:6-7

Well many men cling to God during their time of uncertainty. Please check Hebrews 11. Yung iba nag quit na, then sa sobrang tahimik narinig nya boses ni Lord. And also God has a better plan for our good for those who trust Him and follow His will.

‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. — Jeremiah 29:11

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. — Romans 8:28

Allow trusted people to come alongside you

God gave us people to support us in times of need. As well yung mga tao na toxic sa buhay natin. Syempre nangalay si Moses kakataas ng braso nya, then Aaron and Hur came to the rescue to support him and they achieved victory. Job is a different story.

I'm a slightly introvert and I only have a couple of persons I can really run to in times of need. I think it's not about the quantity but the qualities of the person you can run to.

Some suggest to get away from toxic person, others suggest to find some gurus and coaches but what if that toxic person pala ang tunay na support? Like that time a Samaritan helped a Jew. Also insert Jonathan during David's critical time with Saul.

Uncertainties surely fuels us to run to our Maker.

From the devotional:

The victories achieved in uncertain seasons are rarely due to our own strength—they’re a result of clinging to God and relying on others to support us. It is the faithfulness of God that sees us through the storms of life, and when we acknowledge that, we create space for God to show up and show off in our weaknesses.

#devotion

Today

Finished Part 1 of When God Writes Your Love Story. Back when I read this book when I was 15 y/o, it's an eye opener. Ang cool lang. Big bro even wrote his thesis titled “Teenage Romance, A Premature Intimacy” back in his Bible school days. Wala pa BWPH, nananampal na sya ng cactus noon.

Fast forward, here I am 32 y/o, things in romance and stuff got modernized. I only find out recently the meaning of ghosting. Then BWPH call More Than Friends, Less Than Lover...a ninja. There was a chapter about that in the book but not doing ninja moves as far as I know.

If you really want to pursue and be faithful with God in context in the center of everything, that includes romance. Magloloko ka ba kung naranasan mo ng madapa at bumagsak una mukha once?

#weblog

The Current Situation

written in Tagalog-English

When problem comes, they come like an unknown extended family barging your home and leaving you shock, didn't even know what happened.

While writing this, a typhoon is hitting our precious country. Please pray for the Philippines, we already have casualties and the livelihood of our countrymen is damaged again.

I'm writing this one using my phone, at the comfort of my room with a sibol in the floor. Epic lang, buti nasa isang sulok lang.

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. Psalms 57:1 NIV

The bottom line of this current situation is humble our selves and take heart to take refuge in Him. The verse above is written by David when he was in trouble and his life is at stake.

I know the situation now compare to David is different, yet it points to the one who is worth entrusting our lives. The life giver Himself, God.

Like what happeed today. As I prepare for the day, umulan ng malakas nung papasok na ako, pambihira! Part of me is naiinis na, but on the other hand, I choose to be grateful kasi may work ako at Saturday work pa nga. Unfortunately due to the pandemic, some lost their jobs.

Kahit basang sisiw pagdating sa opis. My heart is glad running to Him in moments na, alam nyo na. “Lord bakit na naman umuulan! Long weekend ah!”

#weblog