Got this from Sari's blogs. All I can say is, "Amen!"

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Risks in Faith: God Multiplies
by Rick Warren

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

- 2 Corinthians 9:10 (NIV)

If you give God your time, he multiplies it. If you give him your money or energy, he multiplies those too. It’s like planting seeds. Farmers know that seeds must be given away – sacrificed by being buried in the ground – to do any good. If you keep a seed in a sack, it does no good, but if you plant it, it multiplies. For example, when you plant just one watermelon seed, you get a bunch of watermelons with hundreds of seeds in them. In the same way, God multiplies whatever you give him.

What’s the key ingredient in this seed planting? Faith. But we have to understand the difference between faith and bargaining. Bargaining is when you say, “God, help me close this deal and I’ll give you part of it.” But God doesn’t work that way. God asks for faith – he wants us to sacrifice in advance, not knowing that we’ll get anything in return – then he wants us to let him figure out how to repay us.

One of the great lessons that Kay and I have learned is that you cannot out-give God. Whatever you give him, he multiplies. Three different times in our marriage, God told us to give away our entire savings. Each time we obeyed, and each time God restored our finances in greater ways than ever before.

I’ll never forget one of our church building campaigns. Kay and I prayed about how much to give, and God told us to give an amount equal to one year’s salary. I didn’t know how we would live for an entire year without a salary, but we obeyed God.

About a month later, we saw God’s plan when a publisher asked me to write a book and offered an advance of $100,000. That book became The Purpose Driven Church.

Jesus makes us this promise in Luke 18:29-30: “I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life” (NIV).

And 1 Corinthians 15:58 says: “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (NIV).
Remember, when you give a seed in faith to God, he will multiply it.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.

Baa... Baa... Black sheep, have you any good?  Yes sir, yes sir!  Two bags full!  Affirmation bags, they're the best!

It's not far down to paradise, at least it's not for me.  And if the wind is right you can sail away and find tranquility...

It's not far to never never land. No reason to pretend. And if the wind is right you can find the joy of innocence again...

It's not far back to sanity, at least it's not for me. And when the wind is right you can sail away and find serenity
The canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see. Believe me

Sailing, takes me away to where I've always heard it could be. Just a dream and the wind to carry me and soon I will be free.


Photo by Billydakid96
Waterfront Park, Martinez, CA.
February 2008

An excerpt from Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse's article published by National Catholic Register in their January 6-12, 2008 issue.

"That is when it struck me what was so remarkable about this abstinence conference. It didn’t talk about avoiding pregnancy or STDs. Instead, the Singles for Christ conference talked about marriage: how to prepare for marriage, and how to choose a partner wisely.

The very first presentation of the conference was by a young married couple with three small children. They talked about meeting at a Singles for Christ event and about their courtship. They didn’t have to say they loved each other and their children. Anyone could see that for themselves.

But it was more than the presentations that convinced me there was something special going on here. It was also watching the young people interacting among themselves. They were singing, laughing and teasing each other. No downcast up-tight virgins here. These kids were obviously having a blast.

I thought to myself: I bet this program “succeeds” in all the measures that Congress expects of federally funded sex-ed programs: a lower rate of non-marital births, a later age at sexual debut and fewer STDs.

The genius of the Singles for Christ program is that the young people are brought up within a social network of shared expectations. Most of the Singles for Christ were probably Kids for Christ or Youth for Christ. They probably have married parents who are Couples for Christ or widowed grandmothers who are Handmaidens for Christ [Editor's Note: Handmaids of the Lord]. When they were teenagers, probably very few went home to empty houses, turned on a TV porn channel, and had unsupervised afternoons after school.

This abstinence program is more than a classroom experience. This is a full way of life that provides young people with an appealing future as part of a married couple."

For her full article, click here or visit ncregister.com

"The people I meet on each flight -- they're single-serving friends. Between take-off and landing, we have our time together, but that's all we get" -Narrator, Fight Club

Southwest Airlines.
Leaving Los Angeles, CA.
Stopover at El Paso, TX.
Final Destination: Austin, TX.

That was my itinerary.  My flight to Austin, TX was supposedly a non-stop flight, but it had a layover in El Paso, TX to drop off and board people.  There were two ladies seated one row up front of where  I was sitting.  They talked so loud that even with my headphones on, I can still hear them speaking.  "Blah, blah blah, tambien," was the sound ringing in my ears simultaneously with the worship music I was listening to.  I was thinking of the others who didn't have anything on their ears at that time.  I also prayed to God, "Please, let them get off the plane at El Paso."

We landed at El Paso, TX, an hour and a half later.  My prayers have been answered!  Indeed, both of them got off the plane.  My seatmate gave up his aisle seat (I was sitting by the window) for two passengers who were siblings.  I just smiled at them.  This time they were more quiet than the other two who got off.  I put on my headphones again as soon as the flight steward announced that it was fine to do so.  I noticed that my new seatmates communicated with added gestures a lot.  I was still looking outside the window most of the time to really notice anything different.  I guess it was just my headphones causing all the quietness and giving me a very rich music quality.  I put my earphones aside for a while.  It was my seatmate, the one seated in the middle seat, who was mute.  A cold chill ran up my spine.  How can I be so ungrateful?  This guy seated beside me must be deaf as well, because he was not even uttering any blab at all which means that, he could probably speak had he gotten the gift of hearing as well.

It dawned on me that I look down upon myself at times because of many reasons.  I see myself as someone who needs to shed a few [a lot!] pounds.  A person who can use a little more height.  Someone who also needs a perfect set of pearly whites.  Not to mention, a better vision.  Now, I just really thank the Lord for creating me complete with all five senses.  I thank Him for creating me as someone who can enjoy music to the fullest.  I praise Him for making me perfectly imperfect.

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ"

- Colossians 2:8


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Wherever we are,
Whatever we do,
We are called.
To do His will
To follow His commands.
To choose good over evil.
To show everyone
That the Spirit lives on.
Within us, and around us.

-Captain Billydee


Photo taken by Billydakid96
C28 Store, Valley Fair Mall, Santa Clara, CA. October 2007

	Who is This?

NW7Unplugged.jpg (800x300)

Team NW7 invites you to an evening of fun, relaxation, and to listen to the sounds of your fellow SFC and CFCY members =)


We are looking for all rock stars to come jam with us and show us what you got! Bring your guitars, song-hits, Glory books, and friends! This night is specially dedicated to raise awareness of NW7 "A New World in 7 Years" and to help raise funds for our Latin American Missions. Oh, and if you're not a rock star... come by and be a fan!

Date: Friday, September 21st, 2007
Location: Casa Princesa - 4527 York Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90041
Time 7:00pm (We promise to end early so we can all help out at the GK Hero's Training Run the next day!)
Donation $7
Coffee and snacks available

God bless!



Please email Arlene @ goodtimesmyfriend@ gmail.com if you're interested in a 10-15 minute set. Any songs are welcome (covers, original, praise). Acoustic/Keyboards/ Cajon/Didgeridoo /Rice shaker/music stand provided =) Spread the word!

Wow, what a week! Been to Canada for three days, now I'm doing my laundry for this weekend's mission trip to Colorado!

Please pray for the mission!

6:40PM, Mountain Time
27 June 2007
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada


So I got to Seattle/Tacoma International Airport in two and a half hours.  Not really bad except that my connect flight to Edmonton was delayed by 30 minutes.  I was really happy for that because it gave me time to have a bathroom break.  Yeah, I'm so shallow.  I hate going to the restrooms mid-flight because there are a lot of people using the restrooms.  I thought I would not get the chance because the downtime between planes was less than an hour, and boarding time was 30 minutes prior departure.  So, I really thanked Him for that.  Oh, I forgot to acknowledge some of the text messages I received that morning:

He [God] has prepared us and equipped us to be wherever we are right now and the promise of where He will lead us next makes me look forward to every day some more.

She got the inspiration from 1 Corinthians 10:31.  I really needed to hear that message because I felt I forgot some things because I woke up at 3am just to get to LAX two hours early.  I forgot to pack my Bible.  I thought I forgot to pack my In His Steps.  All is well, since He will equip me wherever I will go.

Got to Edmonton International Airport (YEG) around 1pm Mountain Time.  The Canadian Customs person was very helpful.  He checked my passport and pointed me to the Canadian Immigration Services.  Canadian Immigration was very friendly.  And funny too.  There were two open booths that time.  I handed all my documents to the Immigration officer to secure my work visa.  The other officer was giving the other guy a hard time.  She said to the other person, "I'm not telling you to do things but I will need the PO agreement between your company and University of Alberta."  She was referring to the guy's situation.  Anyway, I found it funny because the other guy, a Latin American, was avoiding to call his company, saying that he has been to Canada and all he needed were the paperwork which he handed over to the officer.  The officer just replied, "Well, I'm telling you right now that you will need the PO to enter Canada."  The immigration officer who was handling my case just said sorry.  I replied that I needed a little humor after all the things that happened.

To be continued...

8:30PM, Mountain Time
26 June 2007
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada


What a day! Had to get up at 3am to get dressed and leave Sue at some airport parking.  When I got to LAX, I was not able to check in my luggage using the self-serve kiosks.  It advised me to see a customer representative.  I didn't like that. Why? Because I have to fall in line with at least 10 customers in front of me and my departure flight was just an hour and a half away.  So I got my boarding pass from them, after 30 minutes.  I thought everything would be smooth sailing after that.  But no, my boarding pass was marked SSSS, meaning I have to undergo a routine check by the TSA.  Argh, I felt discriminated.  I'm going to Canada! I'm a US permanent resident. But I still have a luntian pasaporte (green passport).  Crap. Thorough body search was required.  They scrutinized my laptop like it was a bomb of some sort.

Anyway, I got to my gate with thirty minutes to spare.  This was the first leg of my flight.  I have to change planes in SEA (Seattle/Tacoma International Airport) to get out of USA.


to be continued...

This is the reason why I wanna go back to the Philippines.  I got a very low score when I tried this quick test.  Argh, No blue mark in Palawan or Mindanao! Wait, I've been to Cagayan de Oro for a conference! Oh well, it won't affect my low rating one bit.

My Lakbayan grade is C-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

5:20PM, Eastern Time
20 June 2007
Ada, MI

A few more minutes and I'm off to see a lighthouse in Grand Haven!  I haven't been to a beach where there's a lighthouse... So, this is it!  I'll finally get to have that American Pie feeling! Hahaha!

See you in a bit!

9:12PM, Eastern Time
19 June 2007
Grand Rapids, MI

A colleague said that Michigan is the armpit of USA.  I don't know what he meant by that, though.  I was here for two days last week, and now a full five-day stay. So, what is here to see at Michigan?

Covered Bridges! Just like what was featured in Bridges of Madison County.  I went to see one thanks to my faraway GPS stationed in California named SARI, short for Surface Area Relay Interface.  Hehehehe!  The sight of the bridge was amazing!  Pictures to follow.

Argh, my body is still working using Pacific Time.  Help!

12:20AM, Eastern Daylight Time
19 June 2007
Grand Rapids, MI

It was my first time to get back to jogging in five days.  I always get on the pedal-pushers (this is what I call the machine where in you step on some pedals and push some handlebars) but tonight was my first time on a treadmill for it is the only equipment the hotel has for cardio training.  In my opinion, treadmills are more difficult than the pedal-pushers because you have to keep up with your set pace.  Using a pedal-pusher, you can control the speed easily, by slowing down on your step.  Treadmills, you have to click really fast on the touch screen to go down on speed.

Anyway, I was running out of breath when I hit the 20-minute mark.  I was listening to my iPod playing worship songs, and I psyched myself that I have only ten minutes left.  When I reached the 25-minute mark, I was dead tired, probably due to the fact that it was my first time to use a treadmill.  I fast-forwarded my iPod and behold, Now That You're Near burst from it!  Hurray, for fast worship songs!  They give me the extra boost I always need.  After that was my all-time fave worship song! Great back-to-back worship songs.  Really, I felt renewed.  Got my second wind.  I was really about to give up, until the music energized me.

Realization: The mind is willing, the flesh is weak.

I'm running that 26.2 mile marathon no matter what.  Can't make it to Latin America Conference because of this. So, I shall see you in Long Beach this 14 October 2007.  If not, can you be my lucky Gawad Kalinga Hero Partner by donating to its cause?

Yeah, I have a very big problem right now.  So big that you can't comprehend the situation.  Tummy rumbling.  It's 8:30PM right now.  Here's the dilemma:

Where's a good place to eat?

Seven.
Seven miles.
Seven gruelling, excruciating miles!

That was the length of what we ran last Saturday. I never imagined running seven miles in my whole life.  Here are seven lessons I learned from that Gawad Kalinga Heroes seven-mile practice run.

1. Start taking baby steps.  First it was three miles. Then four.  Four became five. Last week was six. And now it was seven.  Soon it will be 26.2 miles!
2. Running alone is a very difficult task.  Find a running partner.  It makes life easier.
   
3. Happiness shared is happiness doubled.  Problems shared is problems halved.  This stemmed from Number 2.  Talk! Share! Time goes by so much faster when you are doing everything together.  You won't even notice that you are running at a faster pace!
4. Low gear on uphill, high gear on downhill.  This is taken from the law of motion. When you drive your car, you put it on low gear when you are going up a steep slope, and on high gear rolling down the hill.  Walk going uphill!  Less effort, saves your stamina.  Get back to your normal pace downhill or a little faster.  Your strides will be longer and you'll make up for the lost ground when you were going uphill.
5. Challenge yourself.  What better way to push yourself to the limit than by giving yourself small challenges!  This can be anything from beating your previous time to keeping within eyesight the fastest runner.
6. Worship songs can be your pacemaker. Some may call it a distraction, others say that it adds excess weight.  I disagree.  Nothing is more fun than running those miles listening to worship songs!  Keeps me entertained and acts as my pacemaker.  Upbeat praise songs make me run at faster pace.  Worship or reflection songs have me slow down to catch some breath.
   
7. Reward yourself.  After a good seven-mile run, treat yourself to chicken & waffles! Or something to that effect.
   

That's it for now.  I have to rest.  Re-living those seven miles makes me tired and hungry! Hope to run with you some time!

Bo Sanchez was here in Southern California and I feel fortunate to be able to hear him speak in person.  I have read his columns in Kerygma before but this is the first time I've heard him up front.

Here's my notes on what he said last week.  Very mind-opening indeed.

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Four Reasons Why We Don't Feel Blessed:

1. We do not ask.  Say to self: "God has prepared a buffet of blessings for you and I."  But still we keep on eating crackers.
2. We do not know what to ask for. Because we do not know what we want.
3. We do not think you deserve to ask or to receive.
4. We think God will not give us what we ask for.
   

What should we do when we are suffering: Trust and Love.

If God did not intend to make us suffer, why are we suffering?  It is because when we love [unconditionally], we suffer.

So I went directly to Appendix B since he was referring to younger audience such as myself in his Author's Note #2.  And this is what was written in Appendix B:

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For Younger Singles Reading This Book:
Teens, Don't Have Exclusive Relationships
Until You're Ready For Marriage
I know.
This is Difficult.

Three reasons:

1. Your world becomes very small.
2. You miss out on great experiences to mature as a whole person.
3. You open yourself to a lot of sexual temptations.

If you are not going to date and have a boyfriend (or a girlfriend), what should you do?
What else: Enjoy the single life!


For the full content, grab a copy of Bo Sanchez's little red book entitled How To Find Your One True Love.

Last of the series.  Very touching indeed. Inspires me to keep myself pushing for the Gawad Kalinga Heroes Run this October.  Please note that the realizations made between paragraphs are from the email writer himself.  He experienced Gawad Kalinga firsthand, through another friend who brought him to one of the GK (Gawad Kalinga) Builds.

-Captain Billydee

For previous entries click here:
Experiencing Gawad Kalinga, Part 1 of 4
Experiencing Gawad Kalinga, Part 2 of 4
Experiencing Gawad Kalinga, Part 3 of 4

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PART 4 of 4

QUESTION: “YUNG MGA BATA PO ANO NG GINAGAWA? What are the kids now doing?”

“Nagbaitan ang mga anak ko. Tapos naging mas magalang. They became behaved.  And more polite.”

 

QUESTION: “PAPAANO PONG NAGING MAS MAGALANG? How are they more polite?”

 

“Nasanay silang may bisita. Magalang sila sa mga dumadaan dito at kinakamusta sila. They got used to visitors.  They are polite to the passers-by and ask them how they are doing.”

 

(REALIZATION 5 – THAT YOU ONLY GET FROM DIRECT INTERACTION-- Indirectly, social graces are taught by GK. The children are civilized and educated on how to act in society. But they are not taught graces by the family nor the parents, but with their visitors whom they consider practically as “nobility,” which in effect makes them feel part of nobility as well-- the mere fact that they are being visited and people come and ask about themselves and their lives. It makes them feel very special and gives them a sense of self-respect they wouldn’t get in any other setting, most especially in the shanties they used to live in.

 

In reflection, this is quite true. In my two weeks back, I’ve had kids come up to me begging with their sad puppy dog looks on, but as soon as I have my back turned, they run towards the other children and shout: “P.I. mo! Ako nauna jan! P.I. ka akin yan! *Expletive!* I saw that first! *Expletive* that's mine!” Not even considering the fact that I hadn’t even left. The kids not in a GK setting would have a hard time being accepted into society because they do not have the social graces to be take seriously in life.)

 

QUESTION: “ANO PA PO ANG MGA PAGBABAGO SA MGA BATA?  What are the other changes in the children?”

 

“Busy sila parati. May SAGIP, SIBOL, SIGA. Mga programs ng GK kung saan may mga competition sa arts, lettering, olympics at kung anu-ano pa. Sa umaga, nasa simbahan sila, sa tanghali aral na sila sa SAGIP. Tapos sa weekends darating na ang mga SFC at maraming silang activities gaya ng tutoring, field trips, sports Olympics, sinasama sa ibang build. Madami.  They are very busy.  There's SAGIP, SIBOL, SIGA.  These are GK Programs wherein there are competitions in the [world of] arts, lettering, olympics, and others.  In the morning, they go to church, by noon, they learn thru SAGIP.  During weekends SFC people come here and they have a lot of activities like tutoring, field trips, sports Olympics, bringing [the kids] to other [GK] builds. A lot.”

 

QUESTION: “E KAYO PO ANO ANG PAGBABAGO NYO SA GK PUERA SA BAHAY?  What are the changes in yourself  besides the [acquisition of a] house?”

 

“Sa Handmaids of the Lord marami tayong natutunan. We learn a lot from Handmaids of the Lord.”

 

QUESTION: “MADALAS PO KAYO MAG HOUSEHOLD?  How often do you attend your household [meetings]?”

 

“Mga once a week. Busy kasi tayo ngayon sa pag-volunteer at pag-build. Roughly once a week.  I keep myself busy through volunteering and joining [GK] builds."

 

THE PERKS OF BEING A GK VOLUNTEER:

 

“Nung empleyado ako na squatter, wala akong naikot at narating dito si Manila . Mula nung nag-GK ako, ang dami ko nang napuntahan. When I was still a slums employee, I have never gone around Manila.  Ever since I joined GK, I have been to a lot of different places.”

 

CONCLUSION:

NOT HAVING A DECENT HOUSE IS COMPARED TO TRYING TO FILL  UP A BATHTUB WITHOUT THE PLUG: IT DOESN’T END. LIKE THE WATER IN THE TUB, YOUR MONEY GO IN CIRCLES AND ARE EVETUALLY DRAINED IN THE VICIOUS CYCLE. YOU WILL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH TO FEED, EDUCATE AND RAISE YOUR FAMILY, MUCH LESS SAVE, IF YOUR HOME IS IN RUINS. YOU CAN NEVER GET AHEAD IN LIFE. 

 

EXAMPLE 2: LIKE BUYING A CHEAP CAR BECAUSE THAT’S ALL YOU COULD AFFORD: it will get you to where you want to go temporarily; but eventually you spend half your time and money getting it fixed. And then finally the car dies on you and all your savings has been wasted. The worst part: you need to buy a new car. But your expenses not only remain, but increase the whole time this is happening. Life doesn’t care if your car is broken or not. It goes on.

 

GK in a way, gives them a TOYOTA COROLLA: reliable, cheap in gas, quality, and gets them to where they need to be in life. It “moves them forward.” If yo    u think about GK, that is truly what it does for the Filipino poor: moving them forward. As the famous saying goes: “Move any which way you want, as long as it’s not backward.”

(end of series).