Sunday, February 26, 2012

A Cry of a Shattered Heart

     It happened that  my mind was very inundated with gloomy thoughts during in the evening of the 25th of February. I just realized that my poetic mind is more active during sorrowful moments.
     I couldn't sleep. I couldn't sleep with a soul injured by emotional shortcomings. This brief poem was written before I prayed to God and released all my burdensome thoughts.


Eyes on the ceiling, hands beneath my head,
Thinking of things while lying on the bed.
Sleep won't relieve this thing called pain.
Feigning the ache can just be counted vain.

Slumber is that way too wildly untamable
When tears are getting out of my control.
Just like a poor, fallen and shattered glass,
My heart is broken with the wounds it has.

Friday, December 30, 2011

True Brokenness Hymn

     God uplifts us more when we show how humbled we are by His mercy and holiness. To kneel before God and present our unadulteratedly contrite and submissive heart is the most glorious act a worshiper can do as sacrifice. Mary Magdalene only did a very extravagant act of surrender that amazes all of us. The way she broke the bottle of perfume shows something behind it: the breaking of oneself. All the time we have to break ourselves before the Lord in order to pour out what is inside us. There must be no reservation. We have to break our closed hearts as acclamation to His authority entering us. From our Lord who gave His dear precious life, would we ever dare withhold anything we have?

At Your holiness I humbly bow down
Broken and surrendered to You alone.
I shall decrease and pour all my tears
To prepare You as You take Your throne.

To empty myself is never enough
To equal the price You've paid for me.
Oh, what love that made grace abound,
saved my soul, and set me free.

The nails that held your dearly hands
Showed love, mercy, and grace eternal.
I break myself to be spilled before You
and present my heart for a renewal.

No gold, no pearl cost greater than love
That brought salvation none can buy.
How precious is that blood of the Lamb
That cleansed me from every lust and lie!

In total truth I kneel to wash Your feet
Unworthy as I am, I surrender to Your will
I solely long to serve You faithfully
With love and brokenness so real.

I spill my all to release my aromatic worship
For a Savior who'd lay down His life for man.
To kiss Your purity, I shall not cease
To exalt and praise You as long as I can.

As I'm emptied I desire to be filled afresh
With Your Holy Spirit saturating my heart.
By Your grace I'll live and to myself I'll die.
No longer will You, Jesus, and I be apart.

Songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig6_qFr4tOo
(Alabaster Jar)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3Jv1Hf2oCw
(Beautiful)

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Jesus, My Loving Lord

     It is such an overwhelming moment when we remember with thanksgiving the amazing grace that our Lord Jesus generously gave us. We are never worth dying for because we are all sinful and rebellious, yet who would have thought that a righteous and holy God would descend to earth and leave His throne of grace just to carry the weight of our sins. He didn't do that just to show off but just to save us from the punishment we were doomed to undergo. It is my greatest pleasure to have known Jesus, for I have found love and forgiveness in Him.

You spent Your life on earth for me
And Your real, pure love You made me see.
You embraced me despite my filthiness.
O Lord, I know You are my rest!

No matter how distant I had been,
You watched me as I turned back from sin.
My shame You wiped that I've been released,
and showed me how far west is from east

With countless times I sinned to You.
To my many promises I'd been untrue,
But still Your blood gave the way to love
That like a rain falls from above.

You extended the love I ne'er deserved,
Descended from Heaven and here You served.
You are my Lord, but You still humbled;
For my salvation, You were trampled.

No word should define the love of Yours;
You straightened then my sinful course.
I was lost and wrecked but now am saved.
O Lord, thank You for the way You paved!

Could I ever fathom Your deep romance?
I was so hopeless until You gave me chance.
To my surprise, You've just held me dear
And promised me You will ever be near.

Yes, You are my hope, my life, my peace,
My joy, my love, my strength, my ease.
I'm no longer the person that I was.
It's only because of the love of Jesus.

Songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR4CCLnmf1Q
(Worthy is the Lamb)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RDcPNjE1kQ
(Thank You for the Cross)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COQ6cni_TG8
(Lord I Lift Your Name on High)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga6Qtxzd6vk
(Power of Your Love)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-4NFvI5U9w&ob=av2e
(Amazing Grace , My Chains Are Gone)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Rion and Maon, My Two Little Nieces


"Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them."


Richard L. Evans


     It was September 20, 2011 when I first saw my two little nieces by the name of Rion and Maon, who came here with Kazumi, their mother and my cousin; Aunt Delcy, Kazumi's mother; and Aunt Marwin. Rion is a toddler and Maon is a baby. From Japan, they came here in the Philippines for a two-week vacation for their attendance to my Kuya Rhodley and Ate Melaine's wedding.
     I found Rion and Maon both cute and adorable. Maon, being the baby, is just easy to carry because she can't complain. Rion, being the toddler, sometimes acquiesces to being carried and sometimes refuses. With the short-lived moment of being with them, I can say that it doesn't take a long time being with them to make me miss them when they leave.
    
Rion posing for the camera.

 Rion with artificial fruits as her toys

       What I'm going to miss badly about Rion is that she knows how to pose for the camera. She even knows how to make face and to recognize Cheese, which she pronounces as Chee, as a cue for posing. She plays every attractive things that she sees. These artificial fruits are a good example.
     Her favorite Disney character is Minnie Mouse. It is just my assumption that she likes Minnie because she was wearing a Minnie Mouse dress the first time I saw her and was desiring to hold my cousin Yumi's Minnie Mouse stuff toy for so long.
     I'm also going to miss seeing her pushing her toy shopping cart with toy goods inside it. She doesn't want to see anyone touch her toys.
     One more thing that will make me miss her is that she always pronounce the word jiji, the meaning of which I don't know. I guess she refers to jiji as my Kuya Rodson, to whom she is very close.
     Rion, I'm going to miss you so much.

Maon carried by me

Maon carried by her mother Kazumi

     What I'm going to miss badly about Maon is that she was clad in bee baby clothes, which added to her  loveliness, the very first time I saw her. She was called Itlog by many because of the egg-like shape of her head.
     I think the very first time I carried her with my arms was when my Aunt Marwin came into our house saying, "Delivery!" I thought it was a kind of delivered thing that Aunt Marwin was carrying, but I delighted at the sight of Maon resting in her arms. My Mama got hold of Maon, and I kept the young latter in my grasp. She was so cuddly and pillow-like.
     One more thing that she will be remembered for is her crying sound. She sounds like a meowing cat whenever she cries.
       Maon, I'm gonna miss you.
       
       They went back to Japan on Sunday, October 2, 2011.
     Two weeks is enough for them to be so dear to me. I love kids like them. I like being with them. Whenever I remember the two of them, it makes me wish they were Filipino citizens. If only I had an easy portal to Japan, I would have visited them already. It makes me sad whenever the fact that they won't remember me as they grow up, enters my mind.
        I hope they will go to Philippines again for some other time...

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

What Music Is To Me

“I will sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider
He has thrown into the sea!
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will exalt Him."
Exodus 15:1-8

       Music. Music seems to be one of the biggest and most important part of my life as a person. I can't play
any kind of musical instruments, but I can sing. In my opinion, it's been given by God to us, people, not just
for entertainment but for spiritual purposes. Music, as a matter of fact, is not for us but for God. Moreover, God is our music.
     Why am I talking about music, anyway? Well, as a Christian who sings in church, I perceive music as God's own element, and I am persuaded that we are gifted with music and singing abilities solely for His glory. However, I was not this opinionated about music when I was a child. I was into music because I relish producing sound through natural means (vocal means). If you will just allow me to borrow your time, I will be glad to tell you something about my life as a friend of music.
      As a child in my fifth, sixth, and seventh years of existence, I thought of music as a mere entertainment and nothing more. I thought songs are made only to make people happy and intended only to be sung. I had been so freak about songs that I loved the impossible idea of memorizing all the songs of the world, excluding rock ones. The genres of songs that I was crazy for were ballad, classical, country, and pop. Whenever my Papa made his purchased CD's play, I would be joyful to take hold of the microphone and sing the songs being played. I showed no shame when I sang songs in front of my family, but I wouldn't be asked to sing in front of other people.
      Because I liked to sing so much, my Aunt Nonie, who was also a singer, often asked me sincerely to sing together with her. She would always request that I take over the microphone to express myself. Being a diffident child, I refused to sing with her several times, bu there were a precious few times I submitted to her insistence and sang along with her.
     When I went to high school, my relationship with singing started to desiccate. I listened to music, but I didn't thought of singing them. I didn't exercise my singing voice, and lack of passion for singing took it's toll on me; I notice that my voice stagnated and didn't improve. This is the Ice Age of singing in my life. Music was lifeless and paltry. I'd gone frigid even to releasing any melodic syllable out of my lips.
     In my sophomore year, I didn't know how singing hitched me into itself anew. I noticed that my singing voice worsened and I couldn't even reach high pitches anymore. Nevertheless, I began to sing again even without planning to improve my voice again.
     In my junior and senior years, I continued to sing popular songs and also old-fashioned songs with nobody else to hear me. It is obvious that my love for music has been rekindled. In this period, I was also included in our church's trainees for VIA (Voices in Adoration). The music team of the church observed me as I sing. Their eyes were making me soften my voice and improperly project my voice. I began to harbor insecurities about myself and came on the verge of asking myself: Can I do it?
     Shyness is my supreme enemy. The devil always whispered that I couldn't do it, and I couldn't resist his lies. Whenever I get into singing in front of observers, a paroxysm of shyness would come. Because of this recurrent attack of doubts, I decided to stop joining the trainings. I lost my hope.
      Long time passed and I was asked to come to a retreat coordinated by our church. I accepted the invitation then. The retreat and God's revelation have done so much powerful change to me. I learned to place my fears on the ground and trample them, but I admit not all my shyness has been subdued.
        The account of my past ends here. I am now included in our music team as a back-up singer. This blog is not all about
        If I was addicted to popular songs before, I am now addicted to songs for God after the change in me began. From pop, country, classical, and ballad music, I switched to songs which brings God delight and honor. If in my childhood days my perception of music is nothing but entertainment, I now see music as an offering to our God in heaven.
         During spare hours, I sing gospel songs. My lips seem to have their spontaneity to sing songs for God, and I am grateful that singing His songs has been my habit. It is good to know that I am not the only one who enjoys when I sing. It gives me more motivation to continue on making melodies when I remember that God sees me and hears me. Thanks to King David and Jubal, music has been applicable to worshiping God. Every word sung becomes a sweet aroma that ascends to the throne of God above. Every psalm sung becomes a faithful prayer to Him.
          Even though I am still here on earth, I always feel as if I were already an angel when I raise my voice for God's glory. I know that He listens to me and embraces me.
          God has bestowed on me the power to sing, so why not use it for His glory? He reminds me that this voice I have is purposed to lift His name on high. I sang for myself before, but I sing now for Him alone. Music is not my entertainment. It's God's. I know that when I sing, I savor the songs, and so does God. Although I have so many flaws in singing, God doesn't restrict His focus in them but in my heart.
            If I say music is my life, I will be nothing. God is my life, and He is the reason I sing. It's not the songs that make me whole. It's God Himself, the Author of music, that completes me.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Desert Song - Hillsong United (Worshiping God When We Are Drained)




Title: Desert Song
Singer: Hillsong United
Author: Brooke Fraser
Album: This Is Our God (2008)


     This song has caught my heart for its golden message. It emphasizes the fact that God is always present in every season. He always keeps guard on us and is ready to come to our rescue lest we be attacked by trials and drought


"This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry.
This is my prayer in my hunger and need;
My God is the God who provides."


 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19

      The best means of proving one's faith is worshiping God in times of grappling with problems. It is when one feels dry and it seems that no one will be in charge of providing him or her hope but God. A life basking in God's warm love remains whole after facing a very difficult situation. Sometimes faith may waver during the test, but only the ardent faith can stand even the toughest of the tough. Whose toughness can transcend God's?
     Difficulties don't have what it takes to be the reason for us to give in. God promised so many times to help us withstand the heavy weight of our burdens. God is resourceful and powerful, and there is always a prize for our fortitude. Whatever we are in need of, whether it is hope, strength, courage, or others, God has a voluminous vessel that holds His bottomless blessings.


"This is my prayer in the fire,
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame."

"These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire– may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
1 Peter 1:7

       Challenges are a way to assess one's faith. They determine the length of our devotion to God's unbroken promises. They are the measuring device to gauge faith. How can we say we are faithful  without testing how long we will believe when the challenges go more grueling?
     Our faith compared to gold should be more enduring. Gold may, in a way, expire, depreciate or be thawed, but never should our strong belief that God will make a way. Instead of complaining about how our trials have gone harder and harder to contain, we should thank God for fashioning us into more beautiful souls by means of these trials.     


"And I will bring praise.
I will bring praise.
No weapon formed against me shall remain.
I will rejoice.  
I will declare.
God is my victory and He is here."

"No weapon that is formed against you will prosper..."
Isaiah 54:17

"Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
Habakkuk 3:18

 "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15:57

     With God being our light and salvation, we must not have anything or anyone to fear. No sword will move us because God is our victory. We yearn for the victory forged for us by God to surmount the tall walls of problems. We are not forsaken insofar as our eyes are set on him, beholding Him with praising and adoring.
     God is stronger than we think. Through our God we are labeled conquerors and overcomers. He walks alongside us, so there's not a weapon that can zap us. We are spiritually invulnerable once we seek His presence. He will always keep us company in all times.


"And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way.
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ,
So firm on His promise I'll stand."

"For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."
Deuteronomy 20:4

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
Romans 8:17

     We have won everything through God. Even the closest danger can be preceded by God's divine intervention. We can rest assured that God and we will proceed simultaneously to the joyous point of winning over the tough challenges.
     We are co-heirs with Christ! In what we experience, God takes part! We struggle from the trials; God joins us in it. We work hard to topple pain and suffering; God kicks it away. Our pain is God's pain as a father is pained when his children are pained. So in every battle, He is our armor and shield and sword. We share anything with Him. He will share with us His flawless power. He gave us the direction of the threshold of His kingdom. We have the keys!

"All of my life,
In every season,
You are still God.
I have a reason to sing.
I have a reason to worship."

"For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end."
Psalm 48:14

     He is an eternal God. In every season of our lives, He is still God and will remain God for eternity. He does not sleep nor tire. He does not change nor lack watchfulness. He does not fail nor lose. He does not come late nor absent Himself. He is always alive and ready. He vigilantly guides everyone who calls upon His name. He never delays though many think He does. He will everlastingly be seated on the highest seat of the heaven and earth. People could fall short of power and wisdom, but God never could. Omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent He is forever and ever.
      As long as God is God, we have the reason to voice our praises to Him. We can stop praising and worshiping God only when He runs out of everything even of existence. However, He is and will be existent until forever is through, and we have the purpose of singing His praises at all times.
     We are destined for worshiping God, and lifting His name is an incessant task. In light and dark, we must worship Him. In strength and weakness, we must worship Him. In rain and sun, we must worship Him. In warmth and cold, we must worship Him. In summer and winter, we must worship Him. In calm and storm, we  must worship Him. In safety and danger, we must worship Him. Every time is no exception because God is God in every time.

"This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again.
The seed I've received I will sow."


"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
Psalms 126: 5-6

     We may start with desolate beginning, but we should do let God author a blissful ending for us. He who weeps with God will reap happiness through His comfort. In every unpleasant circumstances, there is always a reward for standing firm. The more we call God, the greater the reward. The more we worship Him in the midst of obstacles, the more we gain consolation. God does not allow us to fight in a battle beyond our ability. We sowed tears, we will reap joy in reward. God will double our victory for overcoming derailments that almost make us surrender. We have won it all in the name of Jesus!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Friends, Time, and Changes

"Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations."
—Faith Baldwin

     As I have known it is needed, I've learned to let my understanding be open to changes that inevitably happen every second. I know there is nothing else I can do except accept, accept, and accept the changes. What I do to be able to cope with those changes is treat them casually and understandingly. But the worst part is, not only things do change; people, especially the ones dear to me, do, too.
     Honestly, I don't even know exactly how to begin this post. Many things give me signs that it should be the topic of my post now. Among these things that give me signs are what I am going through at this very moment. Another thing is a message sent by a former classmate of mine. Here is how the message goes:

There are many changes in life that we have to encounter.
We may not want them, but we should accept them,
either the hard way or the easy way.

      I must confess I am having a hard time accepting that someone changes the way I don't like. I have known from the start that people are only transiently there, but it is like I know nothing of change when they start to be unlike what they were before.
      People change has become my mantra. People change and transform into another persons, whether or not in the acceptable way. Sometimes, they are near you, but eventually draw far because life demands that they go far.
      Some people get busy and are not able to keep in touch with you. Some people find others that replace you in their lives. Some see no more interest in you, and start to search for new talkers and companions. What can you do? Can you win in a bout with changes? People grow, and  they decide on which path to take and which bridges to cross, regardless of your opinions about their decisions.
      Being able to defend your relationship with others depends on the number of lives that cooperate in doing it. You cannot maintain friendship all by yourself. The strength to carry on against the obliterating changes can just be obtained when all are willing to fight for the sake of all.
      You just have to rely on your effective choice. This choice should be holding on when all else change. This choice should be staying decisive and willing to turn back the things changes stole from us. This choice should be pulling back leaving things and people even when they all seem to be gone with the wind.
      Just wait and see. It is either they will go back or they will go forth...


Saturday, February 5, 2011

My Likes and Dislikes Define Me

     I have completed so many posts, but I haven't completely introduced myself to you so far. Maybe, I just forgot, or I didn't plan to give you some facts about me. But now, I guess it's time to allow you to know my interests, hobbies, favorites, and stuff. Hereunder are the details of my tastes and preferences. I hope you'll bother to spend your precious time in reading it.

Ideal Friends. Everybody needs friends, and he or she normally chooses from the many varied people the ones he or she can easily get along with. Friends are people who interact with others with the aim of obtaining a long-term bond despite the many blemishes others have inside and outside; it is a very necessary decision to choose people to get along with and befriend, especially those who portray through actions the above meaning of a friend. Now, allow me to impart to you some of the characteristics I want to behold in a person. (Somebody refers to my ideal friend.)
     To begin with, I am fond of somebody who doesn't have obscene and vulgar characteristics. He or she deliberates before he or she talks. He or she utilizes words in an appropriate way and time in order to avoid any sort of offense to other people. He or she is not so plain-spoken. He or she doesn't talk so directly and frankly because he or she believes not all truths have to be discussed. He or she does avoid reasoning that he or she just tells the truth only to disparage, to upset, and to embarrass others and to hurt their feelings. Being outspoken, to me, is a form of impudence, but people often associate it to pagpapakatotoo. I would like to say I disagree to such idea. So, people with thorough minds and careful tongues will really turn me on.
     Somebody has a good sense of humor, making it to win my friendly favor. He or she makes jests everyone will really appreciate. He or she tell jokes that do not offend anybody. I don't talk about the kind of sense humor people use to construct booby traps and pranks and to initiate shenanigans, but about the kind of sense of humor that somebody properly uses to make fun that all people will love and like. He smiles, except when they don't feel good and well.
      Neither outer features nor good humor can suffice in the absence of inner features. Lack of internal beauty makes a person superficial and his existence subject to living naught.
      Somebody truly cares about you whether you are burdened or not. When you feel as if you were going to collapse with desolation and despondence, somebody will unconditionally do his utmost to lift you spirit and to help you overcome your problems. Somebody has a strong resolve to give his aid to you whenever you find solving your own problems an arduous task. provided he or she has to put himself or herself in the first place of his or her catalog of priorities, he or she will still bother to promptly open his or her arms for others in need of a shoulder.
     Somebody instantaneously knows how you feel even prior to your confiding to him or her. He or she never waits for you to orally communicate your problems, and immediately expresses his or her deepest sympathy.
    Not only does somebody know how to handle helping you, but also he or she knows how to defend you against the opposing forces. Somebody tries to shield you from people who unreasonably criticize, belittle, and incriminate you. He or she will protect you not by chastising the enemies but by proudly enumerating the pleasant truths that may kill the enemies' prejudice and hostility. He or she will always be ready to help you cleanse your tarnished reputation due to people's pernicious aggression. Without any atom of doubt, somebody will fight for you lest enemies appear.
    You will feel that somebody is the one to whom you can vouchsafe your secrets. He or she will keep them because you confess to him or her in strict confidence; and he or she does fear that you will become upset. Somebody will be grateful not because he or she knows the things you buried in secrecy, but because you offer him or her your full trust. Hopefully, you cab count on him or her and expect that he will assure your secrets a safe haven.
    Someone has a good sense of humor that captures my friendly favor. He or she makes jests that everyone will really appreciate. He or she tells jokes that do not offend anybody. I don't talk about the kind of sense humor people use to construct booby traps and pranks and to initiate shenanigans, but about the kind of sense humor that they properly use to make fun that all people will love and like. Someone smiles, except when they don't feel good and well.
    He or she keeps himself or herself cognizant of his or her purposes and goals, and he or she isn't negligent of what he or she lives for. He or she also knows that I want to be his or her friend because of his or her being purposeful and passionate
    The last and the best, he or she pursues the will of God for him or her. He or she has to be committed to God and see in himself or herself who God really is. He or she reads the Bible and prays. He or she is a person with whom I can talk about God and His stories. He or she is a Christian.This is the most ideal characteristics I find in friends.
    Humbly, I don't want to sound very fastidious when it comes to finding friends. I have many friends who don't fit in my standards, but I don't get rid of them because I know I have my own flaws which make me imperfect. I just impart my standards you have to meet to be a companion of mine. Change if you dare be my friend.

Sports. Sports, especially the ones that require flexibility, are one of my leisure activities. There are sundry sports that seems so inviting, and I will be remiss if I don't mention some of them. Badminton is one of my favorite sports though I have only a very measurable expertise in it. Maybe all I lack is agility and alertness when the game is on that's why I am not so confident that I like badminton. I am not slow nor weak, but my speed and might is unsatisfactory. I play well, but I know I don't have what it takes to be a badminton player.
    I was ten or so when I unearthed my adeptness in volleyball. At first I wasn't good at it, but I found myself learning until I learned so well. I played with some of my neighbors. It was fun. But nothing lasts so long like our ball. Because a ball costs so much money, I stopped playing volleyball. Consequently, a very long time of disuse of my volleyball adeptness has taken its toll on me. I don't know how to handle the approaching ball again. My hits became always oblique.

    For people who are not in the know, I am also obsessed with gymnastics. I can perform a number of maneuvers. Once you see me in person, you will not think that I am fond of gymnastics because I don't look flexible. But confidently, I am. I can do splits, bridges, cartwheels, handstands, and so many else. I have watched so many gymnasts put their bodies in motion, and I have been interestedly invited to use my own body to do gymnastics. From the word go, as a child, I have discovered my own flexibility. It haven't been that hard for me to enhance it; hence I hitherto perform gymnastic maneuvers. However, I feel the need to reduce my weight to improve my balance.

    Figure skating is a winter sport, and I crazily love it. I wish I were a figure skater, but I know it would never happen because Philippines don't have winter. Moreover, it's too expensive for me to buy figure skating offers of malls.

    I dubiously don't know why I don't pay interest to amateur basketball. Provided that it is one of today's most played sports, I still haven't conceived to play it seriously. I have so many concepts respecting amateur basketball. Basketball is very risky when you play it on the hard court. There was usual taunting and cocky expressions between two parties in amateur basketball. On the one hand, there is a victorious group, and on the other hand the other group who is a bunch of sore losers. I have watched so many basketball games and witnessed the pugnacity of the majority of players. I don't intend to decry basketball; I am just communicating the bad side I see in its amateur nature. In fact, I admire professional basketball players because they fascinate their rabid spectators and inspire them to play the said sport, which helps many improve their recreational interests. To conclude, I prefer the professional basketball to amateur basketball.


Animals. Certainly, most of the people are alienated by snakes, and I am one of those people. I think it is unnecessary to explain. I've gone to zoos many a time, but I can't remember myself searching for evil snakes. Why should I? To get horror-struck? Yuck! I'm sorry for snake aficionados, but I really don't like them. Honestly, I cannot find any reason to love snakes. They don't deserve my liking. I've watch so many shows on Animal Planet that show how they swallow rats and other tiny animals.
     To me, they are really worth disgust. I can't imagine myself standing touching their elongate, legless, scaly body. I think touching them seems to invite them to bite and eat me. Dreaming of snakes preying on me would be the most interesting thing to do! Sarcastic me!

      Another object of my odium and disgust are the crocodiles. With their horrendous teeth that threaten to devour anyone fully, they know they make me their enemy. I don't like their skin, their anything.
      Crocodiles' repugnance renders me disgusted also by the other animals semblable to them like lizards, salamanders, komodo dragons, and alligators. Unfortunately, the late Steve Irwin didn't make it to encourage me to have the guts to befriend the crocodiles and other reptiles.


     Dogs? Oh yes, dogs! I will not be shocked by how lovely they are. Since I was a kid, I haven't been looking for pets but dogs. My favorite dog color is brown and any other dark colors because white dogs are always likely to get dirty; I don't say I hate white dogs.
     What I like of dogs is that they are cuddly, playful, and cute. When they are still puppies, they become rambunctious and always try to tackle each other as a form of playing.
     Naming dogs is such a hard puzzle to finish. Thanks to my aunt, we got some names like Tweety for our first dog and Chuba and Sheva for our next two dogs. Thanks to myself, I gave our following generation of dogs names like Maxwell, Milo, and "Avril Tiffany Maryse".
 

     Cats! Cats are so dear to me, but I can't picture them as my pets. One reason of my eternal refusal to claim a cat is that they also refuse to take a bath. I don't perceive cats as dirty little things, but they don't really appreciate the cool water! To tell the truth, I find them friendly, protective (especially when they mouse around the house), and loyal. That's the reason I like them.

     I like ducklings but not their parents, old ducks. When I was young, I was fond of chasing ducklings whose mother led them in their little journey. I usually sneaked when they walked across our backyard, and schemed to steal at least one of them. When I went near them, I rushed and tried to get anyone of them, only to fail and be intimidated by the big, fat mother duck whose enraged eyes and beak made me run away.
     Now that I am older, I stopped pursuing any badling of ducks that crosses our backyard. What I know is that images of cute ducklings excite me.



Music. Humbly, I don't have any ability when it comes to playing musical instruments; however, proudly, I still have a musical caliber that I am proud of. Probably because of my parents' fondness of singing, I have learned to sing and been careful of utilizing my voice (when to raise, to control, and to prolong my voice while singing). Maybe I don't have a gift in playing pianos, guitars, horns, and the like, but I thank God for the gift called "voice" He has given me.
     Actually, I don't have any right to brag about my voice. God gave me this, and to take care of this means to be humble about it.
     Music is my most recent passion. It's not because I love Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, or whoever in Hollywood. I am not into popular music (maybe I was before I found out that many of Hollywood singers are already initiated into Illuminati brotherhood). I'm into Christian music.
     As a person born of Christ, I get mesmerized whenever I hear good lyrics containing the expressions about the greatness and kindness of God Almighty. It is absolutely nice to sing to God at all times without caring for those who hear you sing. It's not about my audience. The songs I sing are my communication with God.
     My favorite Christians who sing (rather that Christian singers), to name a few, are Brooke Fraser Ligertwood, whose exotic voice captivates me; Chris Tomlin, whose songs I'm struggling with; Kari Jobe, whom I admire for her good songs; Darlene Zschech, whose anointing overwhelms me; and Don Moen, whose songs I am fond of.
    As I am telling you I don't dislike music, I am going to tell you what makes me stuck with music. In times I feel lonely, I sing songs that comfort me and eventually dispel the loneliness within. When I am alone and bored, I do sing, imagining I am the most famous superstar in the world.
    Above all the facts said, God is my music.