Monday, April 28, 2008

THE WALLS

I've been trying to write a new blog for several nights now but it seemed nothing really emanates a good topic from my mind to jot down. The last time I published a blog was almost three weeks ago. I wrote this one at spur- of- the moment but with brilliance and creativity . Openly, after this last blog I was struck with some personal drawbacks and life's questions . I simply not willing to live with questions for it leave me vulnerable . It caused my enthusiasm and energy for blogging to fall off. Last night thinking I have given fairly enough time for myself to pull through from strains and emotional angsts, I switched on my PC ready to make up something new for my readers . But no matter how I tried , my wits just does not want to verbalize anything my fingers can encrypt into the keyboard to put it into writing. My mind was totally empty and torpid. I bent my head down , sealed my eyes off and slowly as I lift my head up I gaped at the wall in front of me without flickering my eyes.

I took a deep breath, turned my head and look around the walls. . . I asked myself " How can these walls withstand the weight of my home?" The roof, the beams , trusses, the floor, and everything?" Can this house stands alone without these walls? The walls are intricately, basically attached to the foundations. The walls can sustain the weight of my home because of these solid groundworks. For a moment I had an unfathomable contemplation . . . I felt a prick in my heart as if I was hit by a lightning from the blue sky. Why do I have to worry?. Why do I let anxieties jolt and petrify me where there is nothing I can do about it? How can I have less faith that God wont give me anything I cant handle when He evidently lay these simple signs of assurance in my own dwelling ? Will I sustain the weight of my problems, my adversities and my tribulations if I will not connect my life to the rock? Life is a question but asking can put us back on track with Him.Then clearly I realized that God sometimes answers us in questions.

God gave me walls in my life it would not be a sustaining walls unless I connect it inextricably to Him . But then I created my own middle wall ... it is there because doubt is there ...animosity dwells there...stress and worries are there. I can move this middle wall and my home will still stand but how am I going to have these broken down ? I know I am not more than anyone else and that there is nothing to conceal and no middle wall can secure and fortify me. Lord let me acknowledge my humanity so that this middle wall be broken down. Make me as confident in Your power as You are in Your own. I do not want these middle wall crash my life. I know You will never leave me inside. It has door and please help me open it up so I may be liberated from every burden, anxiety, torture that afflicts my whole being.


For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 3:11

Monday, April 7, 2008

MGA LATANG WALANG LAMAN

Lata. . . yari sa manipis na yero, mayroong may laman ay mayroon ding wala. Latang walang laman,pagulungin mo sa lansangan mas maingay pa daw sa batingaw . Sipatin mo ng iyong mga mata , puso man at utak ay wala kang makita. Latang may laman nahihiya at ayaw kumibo, ayaw ipakita at isiwalat talino niyang itinatago. Kaibigan , ano ka ba dito sa dalawang ito? Kanino ka ba pwedeng ihalintulad? Sa latang may laman ba o sa wala?

Ang galing mong magsalita, hindi ka nauubusan ng kwento, napapabilib mo ang mga tao - doble kara pala ang etiketa mo. Maingay kung tuktukin ka, waring nagmamalaki tuwina, ngunit pag ikaw ay sinalat na , butas pala ay iyong bituka. Para kang isang laruan, sa isang paslit ay pang- aliw, sandaling kasiyahan na pahiram mo ay isang malaking hiwa ang dulot mo. Ganyan din ang ibang tao akala mo kung sinong matalino, ngunit kung iisipin mo ang mga sinsabi , wala naman kwenta at silbi. Ang ingay ingay nila, akala mo ay lagi silang bida. Lahat ng pakinabang gusto nilang kamkamin ni ayaw magtira kahit kaunti sa amin. Para kayong mga latang walang laman! Nasa labas at wala sa taguan! Lungayngay ang inyong mga takip,matalim at nakakasakit. Kayong mga latang walang laman, naubos na ang pakinabang, ano’t nakakalat pa rin at naghahari-harian ? Bakit hindi ninyo tularang itong mga latang may laman? Nakakubli sa kanilang taguan, tuktukin man o alugin ay hindi pa rin umiimik? Ayaw nilang kumibo at baka sila ay makasakit, pag sumabog nga naman ang galit matatapon ang laman nilang kipkip. Sasayangin ba nila ang laman na matagal ng iniingatan sa mga latang walang laman lamang? O patuloy na iingatan at sarili’y bubuksan lamang para sa mga taong nangangailangan? Tunog nila ay karimpot tuktukin man ng kutsara ay hindi masakit sa tenga at buong-buo kung uulinigin. Katulad din ng isang tao, na makatuwiran at may talino,madalang man kung umusal may laman at katuturan. Pakikipagkapwa tao ang iniingatan niyang laman, makasakit ng damdamin kanya laging iniiwasan. Alin ka ba dito kaibigan? Sa meron ba o sa wala? Mag-isip ka at tignang mabuti baka dindaya mo pati ang iyong sarili. Kung lata kang may laman ikaw ay biyaya ng langit. Kumakalam naming sikmura, sa gutom at uhaw ay palalayain. Baka naman ikaw ay kabaligtaran? Isang taong nagdudunung-dunungan. Katulad mo ay isang latang walang laman, perwisyo sa kapwa ang nalalaman. Hayyyy..... Ano ba talaga ang iyong pakinabang? Talian kaya kita ng pisi at ipahila sa sasakyan? Tapakan ,sipain at ihulog sa imburnal? O akin kitang pipitpitin at itatapon sa basurahan?


Ang inyong mga kayamanan ay mga bulok, at ang inyong mga damit ay nginangatngat ng mga tanga.
Santiago 5:2

Sunday, April 6, 2008

ARE MARRIAGES MADE IN HEAVEN?

One time I had a brief but worthy of note conversation with Emy, one of my friendsters and schoolmates from MHS. The talk was casual and relaxed until we turned up to love life discussion. The happy tête-à-tête suddenly altered its mood and tone, for a moment I felt apologetic for asking the trigger question? How is your husband? It all fired up here and off-the-cuff, uninterruptedly she spoke about without any qualms as if we were best of friends her love and marriage life torments and trials . She talked more than I as if she really wanted to squeeze out everything hurting her inside , not minding giving me a chance to respond. I understand . She said..." I really need someone to talk to".... I replied : "go on... I am listening".. .

In a relationship women are usually the "little guys" and end up the losers. Men's infidelity and irresponsibilty are the primary culprit in a relationship split up. I am not saying that men are responsible and are to to be condemned for all the relationship break ups nor am I am saying that women are perfect and impeccable . Men and women are human beings with chinks in their armors and capable of making mistakes. And because the world is imperfect too, we cannot survive without it. Men easily get lured and tempted with these imperfections than women. Women experienced rage when their sense of rights are disregarded. They will feel aggrieved and offended at the persons who have violated their trusts. These wrongful doings create sticking points between couples and their relationships are ruptured. Women cant go on living even if desired to live as if the sins are not perpetrated .They call for justice. When husbands treat their wives unjustly, the pain and anger pull a longing for fairness and a desire for compassion. Justice does not typically fix up relationship although for a moment it may bring satisfaction. Temporary relief from pain and miseries that infidelity, incompatibilities, dominance, physical and mental abuse, and disrespect brought into their hearts. And what justness do they expect? . . . It's a simple " I am Sorry". They say the more intimate the relationship, the more the longing for reconciliation is. The reason most marriages are bitter and aloof is because we have failed to ask for forgiveness. Men's sincere apology makes a genuine reconciliation possible. It can even change the sad outcome of a bitter separation. Without apologies resentment builds up and pushes on to claim justice or take matters onto their wives' hands and seek retribution. Wrath intensifies and end up in violence or self destruction. Apology enables forgiveness and reconciliation. Wife can forgive her husband without apology but it darkens the chance of reconciliation. The problem is most erring husbands do not bother to make apologies for their misconducts and seek behavioral corrections for their offended wives. Apology and forgiving is a two party deal towards settlement and reconciliation.

My stand is unyielding that men cheat more than women. They are innately polygamous. But God gave them the power choice and self control. I believe that we all have the sense of morality and conscience that God has imprinted in the hearts of every human being. Apology can appease a guilty conscience. The only way to relieve effectively our fell and disgraced conscience is to apologize to God and to the ones we offended. But if apology is no where to be found to attain reconciliation we can do nothing less than to forgive. Forgive even apologies do not have to be at stake. Remember, the person who gets the benefit of forgiving is always the person who does the forgiving. Why do we have to put our future and happiness in the hands of those who hurt us? When you forgive you have to forget to be healed of the rotten memories and the pain we never should have felt in the first place.When you forgive you set a PRISONER free and then you discover that the prisoner you set free is YOU!

They say marriages are in from heaven and unholy to break it, while others say that it's easy to walk out of a marriage than actually dealing with it and working it out. But a simple "I am sorry" and "I forgive you" can lead a way towards restoring marriages and goodwill. These are "magic words" that have made reconciliation always possible. When these words are uttered, we can look God in the face, look ourselves in the mirror, or look the other person in their eyes . . . straightly without a blink; not because we are faultless but because we have been willing to take accountability for our limitations and failures.


Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

(Colossians 3:19)

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

KAPAG SAGAD NA ANG SALOP

Bigas – "staple food" ng Pilipinas, sa mga nagdaang araw laman ng mga diyaryo at balita sa television at radio man ang napipintong global rice crisis at isa tayo sa mga apektado . Nakakatawang isipin ang mga pangyayaring ganito. Iniisip ko tuloy sino ba talaga ang may kasalanan tao ba? gobyerno ? o ang kalikasan? Nuong araw natatandaan ko pa ang mura ng bigas, nuong mga panahong namamayagpag tayo bilang pangunahing producer at exporter nito. Hindi pa kinikilo ang bigas noon , salop ang panukat at supot na papel ang lalagyan. Makabibili ka nuon sa halagang 25 centavos kapalit ng isang salop at may dagdag pang isang dakot kung madaling pakiusapan ang binibilan. May mga nagdaang krisis din nuong mga panahon na yaon at natatandaan ko pa nga na inirarasyon pa ang bigas para mapag-abot lang ang supply. Pero pag dumarating ang ganitong problema mabilis ang aksiyong ng gobyerno . Ngayon P30-P35 at aabot pa raw ng P45 a kilo susmaryosep! Excuse me po!. Kawawa naman tayong mga mahihirap lalo na yung mga walang hanap buhay. Kanin na nga lang ang kinakain nila kahit idildil sa asin o toyo na may mantika at kamatis mawawala pa? Palubog ng palubog na nga ba tayo sa kahirapan? Ang mga magsasaka natin ayaw na kasing magtanim kulang daw ang supportang ibinibigay ng gobyerno. Ang mga lupang sakahan lalo na sa Central at Southern Luzon ay paliit na ng paliit dahil gingawang residential subdivisions at commercial districts ng mga kapitalista. Kulang din tayo sa irigasyon at post harvest facilities. Malaking impact din ang trade liberalization policy ng gobyerno sa ating mga magsasaka. Isa ring dahilan ay ang kawalan ng mga Pinoy ng disiplina sa pagkain. Ilagay lang natin sa ating plato ang kaya nating ubusin. Kung ano lang ang kaya nating kainin yung lang ang orderin natin sa Jolibbe man o Mcdonald. Sayang ang mga kaning naitatapon lang sa basurahan. Nakakalungkot isipin na naungusan na nga tayo ng mga kapitbahay nating mga bansa sa larangan ng pagsasaka ng bigas. Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar - - hindi ba dito sa Los Baños Laguna nagpakadulabhasa ang mga iyan? Tayo pa nga ang mga nagturo? At ngayon tayo ang nagmamakawa sa mga bansang ito na makaangkat ng bigas na ating isasaing? Tsk!Tsk!Tsk! Kawawa naman tayo. Kailan tayo matuto? Kailan tayo magbabago?

Oo nga pala inaanyayahan ko kayo na muling panoorin ang “Kapag Puno Na Ang Salop” ni Da King. Medyo may pagbabago nga lang dahil pinalitan na yung title siguro nabasa mo na? Yung mga famous lines ni FPJ at Eddie Garcia inedit na din:

Eddie Garcia: “Marami ka pang kakaining bigas”

FPJ: “ Di na ako kumakain ng bigas” “ Mahal na kasi” “ Kaya ikaw Judge...mag-noodles ka na lang!”

THE POWER OF CHOICE

Men are sexual beings and it has long been disputed if they are really polygamous or not. Although some people to a certain extent believed both men and women are polygamist, men in general desire more sexual partners as possible. This is why males' double-dealing rate is far higher than that of the females'. Secondly , the difference between reproductive mechanisms of each sex why most women would be likely to prefer a commitment to specific sex partner. Men can permeate as many women at the same time without having troubled about pregnancy. Men can love one person but their "inborn sexual impulses" drive them to seek newness elsewhere even though love does not have to be involved.

Since God at one time called us to multiply, polygamy has its historical evidences in biblical era. Moses had two wives , Zipporah and an Ethiopian woman, Abraham got three, Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah while David at least had 18 wives - Michal, Abigail, Ahinoam of Jezreel, Maacah, Abital, Haggith, Bathsheba and ten women/concubines. Other biblical polygamists were Abdon 70 wives, Abijah 14, Gideon 70, Jair 30, Rehoboam 18 and King Solomon 700!. It has also traces in other faiths such as Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Mormon.

Christianity have a great impact on the transformation of men's sexual activities and morality. It changed the rules. And most of us are trying to conform ever since. What limits man's sexual tendency is morality. A person with little or no ethical values or who supports the belief of " moral relativity" has little to ward them off from acting on urges. All that thwart them from cheating is the apprehension of getting caught. While a truly moral person does the right thing even no one is looking. Not all achieves this echelon of maturity and a lot of people still continue to hop from one bed to another . Sex is gratifying and stimulating and a lot of people get addicted to it and keep on jumping from one lover to another seeking new pleasure and excitement. My two pennies worth , men are naturally polygamous. If one tells me he never bothers to look at other women , it's a complete duplicity( its ok to look at unless you do not act). We have animalistic instincts, when God called us to multiply He made sex as a medium for the purpose for any animal's life including mankind to ensure the continued existence of every species. But do not get me wrong , I am not advocating polygamy in this article. When God gave the divine gift of sex it was integrated with the "power of choice". Some people are easily satisfied and gratified while some are not.We were given choice and the capacity to control.There are hundreds of thousands or more men who have the ability and power to stay monogamous. That what makes us superior beings. We can opt to be polygamous or choose not to have multiple sex partners or choose not to let our eyes and mind run wild whe we see someone kindles our urge. Contentment is all in the attitude of the person. Both men and women have urges . We have choices. To do what is right or to do what is wrong. If you opt for the latter, the price is to be paid - broken hearts,broken marriages, broken families and broken children. Men are capable of being monogamous but it does not come innately. It takes a lot of courage to be faithful. A lot of personal reminders to oneself, a constant practice of discipline and self control ,developing good relationship with the ones we love and above all - a personal relationship with the Lord.

God has designed sex for us, for procreation and expression of affection and dashed it with the "power of choice" . Rules and laws has been made for the protection of rights and goodness of all. Sex is like a fire, burns vivid and hot, it starts that way but then as the fire calms down then we start to think if we have really made the right choice. Human beings were crafted as the highest form of life. Capable of controlling ourselves but then if we do not know how to suppress our urges, we are nothing more than an animal. . .

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure,
for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
HEB 13:4

Stronger Than Impressions