Sunday, December 15, 2013

Forgiveness: Overcoming the Impossible by Mathew West | Book Review

Jeff
This book by Matthew West is not just another book on forgiveness. This book encompasses different aspects of forgiveness like, forgiving others, asking for forgiveness, forgiveness one's self, and embracing God's forgiveness. With Matthew West's experience in his musical career, he shares stories of forgiveness and how it impacts the person needing to experience or give it. I like the stories best because they go beyond sharing of principles of forgiveness but to the real and practical part of forgiveness.

"Forgiveness: Overcoming the Impossible" book cover

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Weekend Projects

Jeff
Weekend are the best part of my week. It is precious because it is the chance to spend time with my wife and my son - it's family time. Sometimes, family time is spent going out but sometimes we do errands and even stay home to do household chores like wash the car, arrange aico bedroom furniture and do some projects.

Our latest project, after setting up Christmas decors was working on the gallery at our stairwell.  It seemed an impossible task because the wall was so high but with some team work, we were able to finish the project.


Thursday, November 28, 2013

Christmas Decors for the Best Christmas Ever!

Jeff
It wasn't too early, and wasn't too late either. Setting up the Christmas tree or creating a Christmas atmosphere here in the Philippines usually comes as early as September and December would be quite late. So last Saturday as my family and I took out the stocked Christmas tree, decors, scissors, the medical grade adhesive and other tools we needed to make it Christmasy at home, we were right on time.

 
Above are some of the Christmas decors we have kept from last year.


 
Setting up Christmas decors was also an opportunity to bond with family - my son helping me out (he enjoys playing with water) and my wife taking photos (all photos are from Jennie's Instagram - follow her @jenaspacio).
 
 
After washing the Christmas tree, we proceeded to set it up in our family room and below is the end result.


 
 
But, a Christmas tree isn't complete without the Christmas lights. It's effect? See below.

 
 
I am looking forward to this year's Christmas as the best ever for our family!
 
 
 
 

Friday, November 8, 2013

Company Christmas Party Preparations

Jeff
My team at work and I need to prepare for our Christmas party presentation and do it for the win. The other departments in our company are making their own preparations to take the stage and face the led pinspots. I feel that we are behind other teams because we still haven't agreed on what we will be doing. We haven't really sat down to brainstorm and together come up with an idea. This coming week, this will be one of our goals so we can start practicing because the Christmas party is just a month away.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Secure Blogging with Avira

Jeff
Ever since I started blogging and earned my first few dollars and invested on my first laptop I determined to set up an Anti Virus software to protect my files. I have used a couple of antivirus software but became settled and satisfied with Avira Free Antivirus. Although a few years ago, I purchased and upgraded for three units, I was fairly satisfied with the free version. I’m pretty sure that if I used Avira Business Security Suite the security would be higher but for now, using the free version is enough. You should try it in your own laptop or desktop.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

"Organic Outreach for Families: Turning Your Home into a Lighthouse" by Kevin and Sherry Harney | Book Review

Jeff

There is nothing more effective than listening to someone who share from experience and the book "Organic Outreach for Families: Turning Your Home into a Lighthouse" by Kevin and Sherry Harney is just that.  The couple share through their book one of the purposes of the family and that is to testify to the amazing grace of God and share the faith we have in Him in a natural way.

 


Saturday, September 21, 2013

Being Blameless not Perfect

Jeff
Psalm 26:1-12 "Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. [2] Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; [3] for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. [4] I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites; [5] I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. [6] I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord, [7] proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. [8] I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells. [9] Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men, [10] in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. [11] But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me. [12] My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord." ( click here to read in another version)

 This was one of the prayers of the psalmist David. David did not live a perfect life, thus, he used the term "blameless" to describe his walk with God.

 That is the same challenge for me and for all believers. None of us are perfect in our ways, but by God's grace, we can all lead a blameless life with the constant habit of recognizing God's grace, our sinfulness(confessing specific sins to God and to people we trust to be accountable to).

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Learning Microsoft Dynamics NAV

Jeff
I'm in the process now of learning about Microsoft Dynamics NAV. This is because this is something that I see myself making a career from and a college friend is helping me out and introducing me to this stuff. Hopefully, soon, I would get a break and shift to this new line of career and maybe establish a new name and office in this line of business. I plan to learn this quickly and proficiently so I can provide better for my family, without necessarily getting a water fountain for office or a new gadget but to just have a steady source of income and even see growth in the long term.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Car Tint Removal along Katipunan St, Marikina City

Jeff
Just this morning, I had the tint of our Nissan California removed. The recent rains have made the old tint on its windshield and windows pretty stained that it makes it difficult to see the road when I drive in the rain.  I went to Katipunan St. in Marikina City and got different quotations on tint removal. There was one who charged P500 but I found one that charged only P300. I watched as the workers in tyvek suits worked on removing the tint. It was easy. The hard part was cleaning the glass. But they used a few simple tools and I am glad to be able to watch them. I think, with some practice I could pretty much remove a tint of a car easily next time.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Waiting for a Vehicle for Sunday Afternoon Use

Jeff
These past month, we have been starting late in our church service in Makati at L & B Suites. This is because there is no vehicle available to get us to Makati on time every Sunday after lunch. We are waiting for the first available vehicle so we could transport our Electro-Voice PA Speakers, musical instruments, microphones, cables, and other stuff and equipment we need for the church service. We are thankful that a generous family from the US gave funds so Sumulong Baptist Church could buy an additional vehicle and we are just waiting for one to be purchased soon.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Coffee Your Way

Jeff
Let’s face it – you probably know exactly how you want your coffee each morning but more often than not it’s a game of chance – some days it will be too weak, other days too strong, too bitter or even stale. It would be nice to be able to have something simple you could really count on to get each and every day off to the right start; an on demand coffee maker with my K-Cup® reusable coffee filter is one sure way to get it right. 

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Praying for the Young Man in Vietnam

Jeff
It was such a great blessing to hear what God has done through last year's camp in Vietnam. I met a young man last year who surrendered his life to serve God full-time.  He was the top translator of one of the pastors we met last year and was sent out after he made a decision to go and start his own work. When we went back to HCMC for the second year of summer youth camp last week, we were sad to not see the young man in the camp but, at the same time, were excited to hear that the reason was because he has already started a ministry outside the city.



We were informed that he is living in a small apartment that contains nothing much but only things necessary for daily living - no chairs, no tables or even a refrigerator. I am praying that our church in Makati can send some money for him to buy some other things he needs that can also help him focus in his work there - just a little bit of funds to help him buy racks and stands and other things like a bed or cooking and eating utensils. We are glad that he went where many of us could not go.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Mekong Delta River Tour | A Comparison of TNK Tours and Sinh Tours

Jeff
During my last visit to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I had another opportunity to try the Mekong Delta River Boat Trip. It was a slightly different tour from what my family went to when we visited Vietnam in march of 2012 for a couple of reasons - it was from a different tour company, so it was cheaper (like half the price) and the destinations/offering were a bit different, too.

Both trips went to the bee farm, fruit village, coconut village, had free lunch that came with it, showcased a performance of traditional Vietnamese music played using instruments like native instruments maschine at musicians friend and the mini-boat ride. The previous trip included a stop at a temple where there was the laughing Buddha statue but did not have the horse carriage ride like the one we had in the latest tour.

The previous tour was from TNK travels along De Tham and cost us $25 per person while the other one was from  Sinh Tours (formerly known as Sinh Cafe) and cost only aroung $10-$11.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

MyPhone A618 TV Duo: Our 8 Year Old's Android Smartphone

J.
It was when our son started reading eBooks that we decided to get him a smartphone of his own. That said, we make sure as much as we can to limit him at any gadget, including the telly and consoles, an hour every day and only when he finishes his PACE goals for the day. Now with eBook reading, our son has recently finished the third installment of Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, through the Fabrik app installed in his MyPhone A618 TV Duo.


We shared this photo of our kid reading his eBook via his A618 on IG (Caption: Woke up to this boy reading his #fellowshipOfTheRing #eBook . I asked what part of the book he's at -- out of the mines of Moria at Dimrill Dale)

The Jollitown Kids Show Season 6 Airs this coming July 20, 2013

J.
The Jollitown Kids Show makes a comeback for its Season 6 as it airs its first of 13 episodes on Saturday, starting July 20, 2013 on GMA. We are one thrilled family even as our little guy gets to join the fun in one of the episodes. This is what makes this Jollitown season more fun as kid audiences themselves get to experience how its like to be in Jollitown. :-)


Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Moonleaf hosts Moonleaf Beats in Celebration of Makati branch anniversary

J.
Moonleaf Tea Shop located at The Columns, Tower 1 in Ayala Avenue celebrated its first anniversary as it hosts Moonleaf Beats last Friday, July 5, 2013. Tea Enthusiasts were serenaded by former Sugarfree vocalist, Ebe Dancel and other budding local artists, LM Cancio, Ai dela Cruz and Anyo.


Moonleaf has gone a long way since its first branch was put up in 2010 located along Magiting Street in UP Teacher's Village in Diliman, Quezon City. It has now multiplied to over 30 branches nationwide.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Two Breaking Point Presentations this Week

Jeff
This week is another of those busy weeks as another batch of a foreign missions team will be visiting and going with us in our church's outreaches and ministries. There are two Breaking Point programs scheduled this week, all to support SBC East, one of our church's locations in the upper part of Antipolo.

Today is the first of two program this week and we have prepared the equipment, the volunteers and their food and drinks using a kgrs505xss kitchen aid. We ask for your prayers as we share to grade 7 students how to have a "change of heart" to help them deal with challenges and their breaking points.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

An Open Letter to My Father | Father's Day 2013

Jeff
As a father, one of the first passages from the Bible I taught my son was the first verse of Ephesians 6:1-3. The whole passage says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"-which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."“

I taught it so that my son would learn obedience -  the heart of which is giving honor to parents, imperfect as they may be. As father’s day approaches, I remember that even as an adult, I am still a child of my father, so the heart of that passage still applies to me and I want to honor my father with this open letter.



Dear Papa,


Having my own son has taught me a different kind of love that I have never felt before I became a father. I have taught other kids as a Sunday school teacher, interacted and shown kindness to little children during outreaches and have dedicated very cute babies – but I have never felt so much fondness and love that does not expect any reciprocation until I held my own baby in my arms. It was a unique kind of love which also gave me a glimpse of God’s unconditional love for his children.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Exploring and Overcoming

Jeff
During our free getaway at Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, my son overcame his fear of water. I have always encouraged him, almost to the point of forcing, to learn how to swim. I would teach him how to paddle, do some bubbles, and hold his breath underwater but when I would tell him to try paddling with a floater, he would always say no. He wants me around always.


But this past week, my brave son overcame this. And I remember that I was around the same age when I first explored swimming on my own. I was so glad to see him do the same. We were at the Kilimanjaro Freshwater swimming pool which seems to be equipped with ecomatic salt cell and after a few minutes of lessons, which he also refused, I just let him be. I allowed him to do what he wanted in the pool on his own, just with his goggles.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Brigada Eskwela 2013 at Gen. Pio Del Pilar National High School

Jeff
This year, Breaking Point Foundation Philippines was given another opportunity to conduct pre enrolment seminars for parents and their children enroling in Gen. Pio Del Pilar National High School. Earlier today, we conducted the seminar for the first batch of parents and students. The seminar is required by the school for students who had academic and behavioral problems in the past year. We tackle the topic of 'Avoiding Financial Tension' with the understanding that most of the students who had problems had family conflicts as its root and that finances is the number one source of conflicts among families.

The other topic is 'Building Strong Families' and it is geared towards reminding parents how they can improve expressing love to their spouse and children. Building homes is more than having financial needs met or having broken plastic handles replaced but to fill each other's hearts with love knowing that the family was designed by God for this purpose.

During this morning's seminar, we also shared about having a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and 17 made professions of faith, 4 of which were parents. Tomorrow, we will be having our second batch of parents and students. We ask for prayers as we impart God's principles and share the gospel to them.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Pamora Farm Free Range Chicken

J.
Truth be told, good ol' free-range chickens, I only get to have a taste of whenever we visit the province.     There is a huge difference in its taste than our usual commercial chicken. Some weeks back, we got introduced to Pamora Farm's free-range chicken and met with its founders Gerard Pappillon and his Filipina wife, Tina Morados.

 

Pamora Farm is located in Abra. It was interesting how a French businessman would choose the hard road of breeding free-range chicken than the easy route of importing them like every other brand would. Good for us that we get to have that better alternative to a healthier diet. We all know too well how commercial brand chicken get their doses of antibiotics and growth-boosting medications. It would really be nice for our family to go to Abra sometime and swing by Pamora Farm. 

Some questions I had answered during our introduction to Pamora Farm products:

What is Free-range Chicken? 
Free-range chickens are slow growth chickens that are grown using the method of farming husbandry where the birds are permitted to roam freely instead of being contained in any manner. Its principle is to allow the chickens to as much freedom as possible to live out their instinctual behaviors in a reasonably natural way. 

How long it takes to raise a free-range chicken? 

Free-range chickens are grown for longer period, minimum 81 days, in a range or barnyard in the farm. These chickens are set out of their shelter to live freely to roam around the field, foraging for natural foods, scratching the ground for insects and whatever vegetation are available for them. 

What are the differences between commercial chicken and the free-range chicken? 

The difference is the quality. Free-range chickens are not confined and crammed together in cages. They are grown the natural way chicken should be, not forced to grow super-fast, so the meat of Free-range chicken is of better quality, firm and lean meat.

 
Preservative-free Pamora Farm Pate Variants

I have always loved pates for bread spreads. I think Filipinos have a special knack for this. My favorites from amongst this bunch are the Chicken Breast Pate and the Chicken, Liver & Gizzard Pate. 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Robert Smith's 20,000 Days and Counting | Book Review

Jeff

A book that is designed to be a quick read, “20,000 Days and Counting: The Crash Course for Mastering Your Life Right Now” by Robert Smith is worth all the short time you spend reading it. It is not a motivational book because, first and foremost, it shares that motivation is a myth we really all have only two choices in life – to say yes or no. It is, as self-described, a crash course on leading your own life and helping its readers become decisive right at the moment of reading.




Thursday, April 18, 2013

Growing and Developing in My Blogging Journey with SKY Broadband

Jeff

Blogging since the latter part of 2007 has taken me to different experiences and I would describe my blogging journey as filled with growth and development. The progression I went through in blogging paralleled the growth of my family. It was a necessary adjustment to the growing needs of my household.
  
I have learned so much from my time spent online, visiting other blogs and developing my own blogs that I went from just having less than five blogs to maintaining more than ten and acquiring domains for different online endeavors. Aside from the online properties I’ve acquired I also increased in knowledge about how to set up, promote, drive traffic and monetize them in different ways.

With these advancements I also had to find the appropriate internet connection to help me sustain my online presence. Our family started from using dial-up internet connection to wireless broadband connection, to wired and finally settling with a SKY Broadband connection.  With the expanding needs to go online, particularly using more devices, we also had to think about the best service that suited our lifestyle.



I like that SKY Broadband offers the most number of packages and they provide a variety of options for their subscribers, depending on their internet needs.

They have four consumable plans where users can enjoy internet speeds from up to 5mbps or up to 10mbps, starting at PHP 999/month for a monthly usage of 15GB to PHP 2,299/month for 35GB monthly usage. 






To give you an idea what 15GB worth of usage is, it is equivalent to downloading about 6,140 songs, 43 movies, 100 hours of non-stop video streaming or 875 hours of VoIP talk time and unlimited access to popular social networking and blogging sites like FB, Twitter, Blogger and WordPress.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Maximizing the Holy Week for Music, Stage and Drama Preparations for Camp

Jeff
Summer youth camp is just a few weeks away and preparations like, stage and backdrop set up, lighting installations, musicians and singers practices and the drama run throughs are on going and these Holy Week holidays are also being maximized by the teams to make sure everything will be ready for camp on April 16 to 19.

This year's summer youth camp theme is "Total Recall". With the contant changes happening all around including the change in young people's  values and beliefs about God, the camp hopes to remind the youth ofmthis generation to go back to God's Word as the standard, particularly in areas mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:12. This target for this year's camp is 940 campers from areas like Antipolo City, Pasig City, Vigan, Bulacan, Makati City, Quezon City and other parts of Rizal. We request prayers from our brothers and sisters in Christ for this endeaor.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Jesus Christ Fulfilled Around 300 Prophecies in the Old Testament About the Messiah: Was that Coincidence?

Jeff
Christianity's beliefs rests primarily on the the person of Jesus Christ who, historically, walked this earth more than 2,000 years ago, claimed to be God, both directly and indirectly, whose life was written and accounted for in the gospels and whose birth and other details of His life were prophecied hundreds of years before His arrival (there are around 300 references or prophecies throughout the Old Testament, which was written over a thousand-year period, about Jesus)


Many years ago, the Christian Victory Publishing company offered a $1,000 reward for anyone who found, other than Jesus, a person, living or dead, who was able to fulfill half of the predictions concerning the Messiah as listed in the book Messiah in Both Testaments by Fred John Meldau. The reward still remains unclaimed. 

Now, for Jesus, a real and historical figure, to have fulfilled those 300 prophecies from the Old Testament - how unlikely was that? Was it pure coincidental? Was it an accident? 

There was a computation made on the probability of Jesus fulfilling just 8 chosen prophecies below.

Eight of around 300 prophecies concerning the Messiah in the Old Testament: 

1-Born in Bethlehem from Micah 5:2

Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Songs for Meditation on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday

Jeff
I have been searching in my music library for some music appropriate for playing during this Holy Week, from Maundy Thursday to Good Friday, and came up with 3 songs that would be perfect for listening as you meditate this Holy Week. Some are not as orchestral and not played with strings or the clarinet but the lyrics are great. 

The first song is "Thank You for the Cross", written and composed by Mark Altrogge. This is from the album "Chosen Treasure" and below are its lyrics.



Thank You For The Cross 

Verse:
Thank you for the cross the mighty cross
That God Himself should die for such as us
And everyday we’re changed into Your image more and more
Yes by the cross we’ve truly been transformed

Chorus:
And we’re so amazed
And we give You praise
That You would save us at such a cost
We’re so amazed
And we give You praise
For the power of the cross
For the power of the cross


The second song is "Redeemer, Savior, Friend" by Darrell Evans. I first heard this from the album "The Smithton Outpouring."



Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Teaching My Sister to Drive

Jeff
The car my family had during my adult life was a 1992 Toyota Corolla XE. That was the first car I drove as officially ours. I have take that car to Baguio City, to Iba, Zambales and to Tagaytay.

With my sister now in the process of selecting a car to buy, I initially recommended a Toyota because majority of the practical people I know suggest this as very economical in maintenance as toyota parts oem are very much available and inexpensive and performance has always been consistent.



But, with those recommendations, she has opted to go for a different brand and a smaller body type - a hatch back instead of a sedan. I am excited for her, none the less, and I hope that her company makes a decision soon on how the purchase will be made. I still need to give her a few lessons on driving so she can get her non-professional driver's license from LTO.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Group E Schedule of the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 Qualifiers

Jeff
The Philippines is hosting the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Challenge Cup 2014 Qualifiers. If you're not aware, the Azkals placed 3rd in the 2012 tournament that is usually participated in by countries categorized as emerging countries in the "Vision Asia" program created by a former AFC president which is a plan for a continent-wide program to raise the standards of football in Asia in all levels.

The participating countries in Group E where the Philippines belong to are Brunei, Cambodia and Turkmenistan. Below is the Group E schedule of the AFC challenge Cup 2014 Qualifiers which will all be held at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium from March 22 to 26, 2013.



March 22 (Friday)

Thursday, March 7, 2013

An Electric Guitar is Up Next

Jeff
It was two years ago when I downloaded the Amplitube app and purchased an iRig connector so I can use the app with my acoustic guitar. Since then I have been able to use my Ibanez acoustic guitar in our music ministry and it has allowed me to do more than what I can do with an acoustic guitar. 

But I also planned on buying an electric guitar then. Why? Well, because the feel of the electric guitar is different from the acoustic one and it is less stressful on my fingers when I play it. I thought about buying another Ibanez model but now am considering getting a Strat or even a fender starcaster. Maybe I would do this after our second floor is done and as soon as we’ve settled.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Book Review: Just Like Jesus Devotional by Max Lucado

Jeff
Here is my book review of Max Lucado's Just Like Jesus Devotional, a handy partner to his book Just Like Jesus (see my Just Like Jesus book review here). Since this is a devotional, you do not go through this book in one sitting. It is divided into 30 days of reading designed to be read daily for 30 days. 




There is a format to each day’s reading, starting out with the part where you read writings and explanations of Max Lucado. Next is the “Thinking” part. I think this part can be best appreciated if thoughts or answers to questions are written in a journal. It is then followed by the “Hearing” part where a passage from scripture is prescribed as a reading for the particular day.  If one's mind is like a tote bag, you get your fill of your custom tote bags heree. “Reflecting” which is similar to the “Thinking” portion except that the questions here are totally about the passage given in the “Hearing” part. The last portion for each day’s reading is the “Speaking” part. This is the part where a reader can pray the suggested prayer in the book. 

I like how basic the format of each day’s reading is. This is perfect for new believers and even for those who’ve been in the faith for a long time and are starting back into the routine of daily devotion. This also will be a great support as you read the Just Like Jesus book by Max Lucado.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Civil Registry Authority to Solemnize Marriage (CRASM) Renewal

Jeff
After days and weeks of going back and forth to National Statistics Office (NSO) Makati City and following up at the Civil Registrar Information Management Division (CRIMD) located at Philippine Bible Society along Aurora Boulevard, my Civil Registry Authority to Solemnize Marriage (CRASM) was finally renewed. Although I haven't claimed the documents yet, it can already be verified online at the NSO's site, particularly on their Solemnizing Officers Information System (SOIS) page.



My renewed CRASM is effective from January 3, 2013 to December 31, 2015. I've learned my lesson to renew at least 4 months before its expiration so I can have allowance to complete renewal requirements and wait for its processing and release.

My CRASM can be viewed at the SOIS website by searching for my surname or it can be viewed directly here.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Book Review: Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado

J.
Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado starts off with a confession of the author on some things in his life that he has started that never got to finish. Good things like books on speed reading, power abs and a health supplement. Max Lucado clearly got the message across through this confession that it is not uncommon for us, imperfect human beings, to not always finish what we start. We are not alone. The book further encouraged me to press on reading when Max said, "My desire is to encourage you to finish the right thing. Certain races are option - like washboard abs and speed reading. Other races are essential - like the race of faith. Consider this admonition from the author of Hebrews: "Let us run the race that is before us and never give up." Hebrews 12:1

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Choosing Music for Total Recall Summer Youth Camp 2013

Jeff
This year's summer youth camp is scheduled for April 16-19, 2013 and the theme is Total Recall, which is thrust to encourage the youth to the fundamentals of their relationship with God as encouraged by Paul in 1 Timothy 4:12 which says, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."


Sunday, January 13, 2013

Back to Insanity Workout

Jeff
After about two months of no exercise I finally got back to my Insanity workout routine. Well, it isn't a routine yet, because I just got back to day 1 two days ago. Leg and arm muscles are still sore, so like what I did when I first got into this workout three months ago, I will take it easy during the first week and let my muscles recover first.


Thursday, January 10, 2013

"Surfing for God: Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggle" by Michael Cusick | Book Review

Jeff
One of the best books I read last year was "Surfing for God: Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggle" by Michael Cusick, thus, this book review.  The subtitle describes the book so well, because the book will help its readers understand sexual or porn addiction, and struggles by digging deeper and seeing sexual brokenness as more than "seeking and experiencing pleasure" but reaching "toward something we cannot see, touch, or comprehend on the physical level", (Chapter 2). It moves from merely understanding the inner struggle towards breaking free from the bondage of pornography and sexual sin.