Holier-than-thou attitudes

I was browsing DearGod.net when I stumbled upon this post that somewhat reflects my current personal conviction. I just have to thank Bets of California,USA for writing that post and putting all my feelings into words.

My say is that you don't always have to be in hard-core mode just to show and prove to everyone that you’re religious/a true Christian. In your own little ways and in your everyday life, you can always make a difference by doing one act of random kindness that genuinely comes from the heart. What good is all your Bible/doctrine knowledge when you don't even know how to apply them practically? When all the time you're convincing someone to believe, and when you're sharing or ministering your faith, you're only doing a 'lip service'! I think it’s completely hypocritical! Verily, when the Day of Judgment comes, we will not be asked what we have read, but what we have done.

I still go to church and hear mass unlike Bets. I think I’m finally back home but I still yearn for this communal spiritual experience on my way to spiritual maturity. What we have in common is this take on our previous ministries. You know all those holier-than-thou attitudes.

Anyways, if you'd like to read the said post, just click here.

Sentiments VS. Moving Forward

It's Sunday once again. And it's raining.

A perfect time to stay tucked and warm in my bed with a hot cup of coffee as my companion while savoring the nostalgia brought by reading all my unearthed letters from high school.

Good old memories of the past may draw a smile on our face and jerk a tear of joy from our eyes, but when things sometimes gets a little out of hand and you feel like your being held back, how can you tell when it's already time to stop?

It’s funny how I always talk about changes. How change is the only permanent phenomenon that will ever exist. How we accept or resist something depending on our situation and culture. How time fly by so fast. How nostalgia... blah, blah, blah.

I think we've already had enough of those kinds of talks. Conversation and writings about changes has been a cliché but just to wrap things up a little bit (you know how we evaluate our journey at some point in our lives), I'd like to ponder about the things I learned about moving on so far.

Keep moving forward one little step at a time is my new motto. Sudden changes and different circumstances may hold us stuck sometimes but that is not an excuse to be stagnant in everything we do to the point of living our yesterday over and over again. Learn to move on, embrace the changing times and remember that you have the choice to accept and resist depending on the given situation.

I've met new and interesting friends here in college and I could never be happy enough. Before, I was too attached with my high school circle I didn't realized that I've been limiting myself all along to the opportunities of meeting great people, acquaintances, or even a lifetime friend. Some relationships lasts but some eventually fades (due to all sorts of factors like time, priorities, commitments, and place) and before you know it, you realize that it doesn't even matter and you don't even care. May sound bitter but people come and go in our lives. What really matters is what you have imparted with them, and in turn what they have imparted with you.

Letting go when you needed to hold on and holding on when you needed to let go is one of life's greatest irony that has always been my problem. I just don't know when to surrender and when to give up for what I've always been fighting for. I get too attached to things and persons I almost lived under the shadow of my past memories and sentiments.

I had a chat with D, one of my closest buds in high school, last week and he was asking me if I was free this coming Monday. He was kind of planning to gather us and go out just like how our circle used to. I said I wasn't sure if I'm able to come because we have an upcoming submission of design. In addition, I also told him that I'm still getting over someone so I'm going 'invisible' for some time. I'm glad that he understood my standing when he did not show any signs of his usual persistent attitude.

Not that I don't want to see my friend's faces again but I'm still on the process of getting over some people. I'm still getting used to my 'new life' I hadn't imagined a few years back. It's time for me to cut the nostalgic drama, the cheesy "remember the time when...", and the "I miss the times when..." because I think it's those moments when I'm being held back. As for now, I can finally bury the hatchet, forget the past, move on, get some things over with, and face the new and brighter tomorrow life may offer.

Some things have surely changed a lot in a very short while. After the many things that has happened --- you know, getting confused about my direction, issues about my faith, and temporarily saying goodbye to some very good friends --- life goes on. My dreams and goals are ahead of me. Enough with the sentimental attitude, look forward and welcome to the dawn of my tomorrow.

Shutterbug - Wannabe #005

Random shots from my photo collection.

Event Review: Blog Action Day 2008

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

Sydney, Australia (PRWEB) August 15, 2008 — On October 15, bloggers around the world will discuss poverty on the second annual Blog Action Day. Anyone may register for free at http://blogactionday.org.

The non-profit event began in 2007 as a way for many blog publishers to view a pressing issue from distinct perspectives at the same time, thereby increasing awareness and creating a global discussion.

Bloggers can participate by publishing at least one blog post, podcast or video about poverty on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 and/or by contributing to Blog Action Day 2008 partners TheGlobalFund.org and Kiva.org.

“Utilizing mass participation, the day aims to provide a platform for bloggers to discuss and act on a pressing issue,” said event co-founder Collis Ta’eed, an Australian blogger from FreelanceSwitch.com. “This year we hope to grow on the success of 2007’s event, and bring the innovative and oftentimes personal publishing style of blogging to bear on the critical issue of poverty. With thousands of individual thoughts, ideas and actions, we aim to mobilize audiences everywhere.”

Already, 13 of the world’s 100 most popular blogs according to Technorati.com have agreed to participate in Blog Action Day this year, including TechCrunch.com, Readwriteweb.com, Mashable.com, SmashingMagazine.com, Problogger.net, GigaOM.com, Copyblogger.com, ZenHabits.net, Inhabitat.com, VentureBeat.com, Mentalfloss.com, PronetAdvertising.com and TorrentFreak.com.

Other Blog Action Day 2008 supporters include Elena Valenciano, a prominent member of the Spanish Parliament, and Ben Rattray, CEO of Change.org.

The first Blog Action Day in 2007 focused on the environment and more than 20,000 blogs participated, along with many major corporations and international organizations including - the United Nations Environmental Programme, EU Commissioner for the Environment, Google, Wells Fargo, eBay, Yahoo!, BlogTV Brazil, BlogAs Lithuania

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God is ready to heal those who sincerely wish to amend their lives, but cannot take pity on the obstinate sinner. The Lord pardons sins, but He cannot pardon those who are determined to offend Him. He who receives pardon is pardoned through the pure mercy of God, and they who are chastised, are justly punished. God is not obliged to wait for your repentance. St. Alphonsus Liguori

Start Over Again

It's Sunday again. It's been raining since last two days and the news mumbles about a series of storms that are about to enter the country this month. I hope it's not too late to admit this but I guess it's time to officially accept that the rainy season has finally arrived so I'll be saying my goodbye now to the season of my nice and hot summer days.

The rain has a different kind of effect on me. The cold atmosphere hypnotising me into a state of paramnesia and the non-stop pouring of rain forcing me to stay indoors and frown over everything from the old windows of our house. Small droplets of the sky's tears continuosly but slowly washes every sorrow and regrets of yesterday. The dream-like state taking me into the very depths of my heart and soul.

I've been thinking lately about my relationship with the Lord. I've stopped reading the Bible, stopped doing devotions, and stopped praying with all my heart for a very long time. I've lost my appetite for fellowship and ministry and stopped caring at all about doing any church service. Bearing this huge whole in my heart, this chunk of questions left unanswered, I threw my world into a complete stop.

It's only now that I realized I'm lost. I guess I've not fully recovered yet. Gone is the sense of direction. Out is the blazing fire of faith and devotion. I have nothing but this dark and hazy destination.

I miss my praise and worship days with the congregation or even this overflowing feeling of joy after receiving a revelation from a Mass. I miss my eager and enthusiastic self towards God. I'm starting to feel this hunger inside me to have more of Him.

Help me Lord; I guess it's time to start all over again.