“I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams.” Aunt May from the movie 'Spiderman 2'

To give up the thing that we want the most must be a very difficult choice. What could substitute such a thing that we should be willing to give it up? There are instances that we do not have any choice at all. And oftentimes, what are taken are the things that we want the most. What do we do then? Shall we blame God, or fate or fortune?

I believe that we should face reality, that tragedy happens. So that when the inevitable comes, we are at least prepared to confront it head on.

I notice "Christians" with the same rough attitude, if not worst, than those who are “non-believers.” The sad thing about it is when we brush it aside, if not totally ignore it, because we are already "forgiven." Isn't there still such a thing as ethics? And doesn't ethics apply to Christianity as well? Or is it just "morals" that Christians should be on guard with?

What is sadder is when we show double standards with these. What do I mean? There are instances that we show compassion towards other people, but contempt towards our brothers. We often hear our pastors talk about words such as love, grace and mercy. But words such as gentleness, humility, kindness are often also emphasized. Are these even neglected? Should we show these attitude only to those whom we "share" the gospel to, and the opposite to fellow believers?

Perhaps it is because we take for granted our brothers. Since we know that fellow believers would understand us when we are not careful with our actions, it may already be a license for abuse. We might think that "since I and my brother both know the love, and mercy of Christ, he will already understand me if I will be less careful and show my rude side." But what if we're wrong and they won’t understand?

"People need stories more than bread itself. They tell us how to live, and why." - the storyteller from Hallmark's Arabian Nights

This morning, instead of listening to the Pastor preach on a Sunday, I decided to attend the Sunday school. The Sunday school was located in a rented movie house. I sat there watching about a hundred kids, toddlers to their near teens, listening keenly to a teacher. She was enthusiastically telling her “teletubby” version of bible stories. She keeps repeating words over and over again to put emphasis on the lessons. From time to time, she mentions words like “grace” and “mercy”, which was foreign to me until I was in my high school.

During a lull, the children started going around in their own way. Some of them were running to and fro, inside and around the theater. Others were crawling behind the seats, trying to hide from their teacher and from other kids as if it would mean their life or death if found. Some just sat there, eating cookies, completely detached from what is happening around them.

Similary, adults often act in almost the same manner, completely frenzied, mostly nonchalant about the trouble going around in society. We thread on our own, indifferent about others, for as long as we have our “cookies.”

We live in a disarrayed society we try so hard to control. This sometimes result in an orderly or organized chaos, or to put in the other way around, in a chaotic order. Perhaps our only difference from them is our years of existence? The dangerous and sad thing about it is when we commit the mistake of equating age to maturity.

"Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life." - Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)

What a long day it was. In the morning, we had to practice songs for the church service tomorrow. By afternoon, we had to practice for the choir's songs for the anniversarry on August. By the early weeks of August, we shall have to practice daily, after office in order to learn the songs. To serve is costly. And that cost sometimes bring people into conflict against their own schedule and against relationship towards others. The ministry, although it has its so called "glamour" certainly requires devotion of one's time. And when someone is unable to manage his time, that is when conflict comes in... and the pressure and tension builds up.

It is quite ironic that in a christian ministry devoted to music, it is so difficult to get people into harmony.

Puraran Island, Catanduanes

Creation declares the greatness of God. Nature reflects or displays how awesome His power is.

Sitting in front of the beach in Puraran, I am awed by the vastness of the ocean. Yesterday, as we rode a boat for Gigmoto, I was afraid of the enormous waves that seemed to greet us with ecstacy, like a child excited and eager for the arrival of his dad from the office. One, just one of those countless waves crashing into our path is enough to capsize our boat. The power of those waves even created cave-like entrance to the large rock formations we passed by.

From the beach of Gigmoto, we trekked to a waterfall. The place was simply amazing. Waters were falling from the top of the mountain with such enormous force.

God not only created nature enormous. He also created it beautiful.