Monday, August 23, 2010

"How to Reach Your Full Potential for God" by Dr. Charles Stanley: Book Review

Jeff
I finally finished reading the book "How to Reach Your Full Potential for God" written by Dr. Charles Stanley and here is a brief book review. In this book which I would say is perfect for those who want to get more out of life and for Christians who feel dry, Dr. Stanley shares the key elements a person must have in his or her life life to become who God has called him or her to be and fulfill all that God has planned for his or her life. He calls these key elements as “essentials” that can point a person in the direction of a life that is full of peace, joy, love, and abundance.



The essentials he wrote in "How to Reach Your Full Potential for God" about are having a clean heart, a clear mind, discovering the gifts God has equipped a person with and how to use them. Dr. Stanley also shares practical life applications like eating healthy, exercise and time management. This book deals with important aspects of life: the spirit, soul, and body and explains that all 3 must be congruent and balanced so that a person can reach his full potential for God.

I highly recommend this book to seekers, those who are uncertain about God's calling for their life. Dr. Charles Stanley addresses how a person is created for a purpose, and that purpose is only found in functioning in this life the way our Creator designed he or she is to function.

I like the very practical and encouraging approach of Dr. Charles Stanley in his book "How to Reach Your Full Potential for God."

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Using Gifts and Talents for God

Jeff
I am very happy and proud of our church members who voluntarily use their talents, abilities and skills to help improve anything in our church. Lately, many have been noticing the tarpaulin banners in our church in Makati, the ones we use to show members of upcoming message topics. The one who designs these tarps is a young professional who is considerably skilled with using Adobe Photoshop.


October and Novemeber 2009 series


July Series


Made for one of our youth events

I just want to share some of the things she has made for our church and also introduce her blog (Just About Anything) as she has also started blogging while in a job transition. I believe so much in her that I am encouraging her to start her own tarpaulin or poster printing business sensing also the entrepreneurial attitude she has.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Birthday Treat: Family Trip to KL

Jeff
In just a few weeks my family and I are going to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. This trip was booked almost a year ago when Air Asia had a promotion. We booked the round trip tickets (for me, my wife and our son) for less than PHP 3,500 pesos – not for each but for the three of us.

This was our birthday treat to each other as my wife and I both celebrate birthdays in the same month. I did consider other gifts like lingerie and perfume but we both agreed that the trip will be our only birthday gift to each other.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Max's Restaurant Introduces Two Dishes to Serve: Pork Binagoongan and Chicken Caldereta

Jeff
It has been more than two weeks since our last visit to Max's Restaurant and tonight was a special night, not for the family, but for bloggers in particular as they launched new dishes to serve. We got invited to their bloggers' thanksgiving night for the success of their Chicken-All-You-Can campaign and the introduction of Max's Pork Binaoongan and Chicken Caldereta.

Max's Chicken Caldereta


Max's Pork Binagoongan

In relation to Max's Restaurant's new Pork Binagoongan and Chicken Caldereta, they launched a nationwide promo which starts today until October 15, 2010. Anyone who tries out their new dishes during the promo period will receive a complementary serving of white rice and a Pepsi softdrink for free (dine-in only). This is available per order of one of their two new dishes (per person).

You can check out their official website at www.maxschicken.com and become a fan of Max's Chicken's Facebook page.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Moving by Faith As We Seek to Improve Facilities in our Ministry

Jeff
I have been quite busy lately because I have been spending most of my time now in our church in Makati. I have been looking at things that we can improve in the church both the tangible and intangible things. With the help of our church lay leaders we identified things that we can improve in our service, our Sunday school, our youth service and our small groups.

This brain storming and evaluation has let us make simple improvements like planning for teaching curriculum in different ministries, having tarpaulins printed and placed inside the church auditorium so that attendees can see upcoming message topics (and this also added some decors in the church), having some facilities that are broken fixed and some other things.

A few of the next improvements or upgrades we’re looking at are setting up an office for me in the church where we will be needing a desktop computer, an office desk which is big enough to hold the computer screen and leave some space to do desk work, getting the office door’s lock fixed so as not to have the door chime always making noise, and a ventilation unit. This will also allow us to open our church as a youth center and that will mean we’ll be needing board games, tables for students to study, and more electric fans.

We know that all these improvements will require some funds for them to be realized but we are moving by faith and trust that even as church budget is becoming tighter and tighter, God will provide like He has done in the past.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Halal Food Guide and Products Now Available Online and on Facebook

Jeff
My wife has always considered herself vigilant especially when it comes to our family’s health. She always comes up with a lot of self-concocted, non-traditional solution to random health issues like the camote tops juice, lemon grass juice, kefir and many others.


She tries her best to serve our family things that she has looked into beforehand. From the sweet potato juice that she makes to help boost our immune system, the lemongrass juice that takes care of colds and respiratory issues (this is my favorite among all), the probiotic kefir shake, the propolis ointment for burns, cuts and skin issues and just recently wheatgrass juice (something that I don’t think I will get used to), et. al. But, in all fairness, they do wonders to the things she needed taken cared of.

Lately, my wife also finds herself picking up Halal certified food items from the supermarket whenever we do grocery shopping. It gives her a sense of confidence that she’s not giving our family second rate food stuff specifically because from what we have learned, Halal certified products have passed strict dietary guidelines. Now, consumers like us can get hold of a list of products that are Halal certified via the internet through this Halal food guide at HalalCertifiedFood.com. Through their Facebook page, we can now get updated on Halal certified food and products in Facebook. Now it is easier to identify products during my replenishing-the-pantry errand days through the Halal products guide on the web. Thanks to my wife, we have been considerably healthier since we have started doing these health choices.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning Rains

Jeff
It is a rainy night and I'm glad that we won't have to turn on airconditioning and it will save us a great deal of electricity. But I am a bit concerned about its effect on church services tomorrow all throughout Metro Manila.

Yes, it wil be cooler in churches even without Casablanca ceiling fans but by experience, many decide to no go church when it rains. I guess this applies to those who haven't really made going to church a priority.

I admire those who minister in churches as volunteers despite heavy rains on Sunday mornings. I guess the rains help reveal who the really committed ones are. I'm just praying for a nice sunny weather tomorrow morning.