Jam 3:17  But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

True Wisdom Checklist:
1. Is it pure?
2. Is it peace loving?
3. Is it willing to yield to reason?
4. Is it full of compassion and good fruits?
5. Is it wholehearted and straightforward?
6. Is it impartial?
7. Is it free from doubts, wavering and insincerity?

A few days ago, I was approached by one of my  management team and was asked this question, Rigel, what do you think of employeeA?  I paused for a moment and I knew right away that this is a “trouble question”.  And then I replied, I  will never say negative things about a coworker nor will I tell you information that will hurt his reputation.  I remembered right away the theory of “character assassination” – we can kill someone’s reputation by saying the wrong words to the right people.  There is one person in my team that is not fully developed yet in terms of friendship (somewhere at the edge of the circle).  Lately, I’ve been doing a survey with myfellow co-workers on how to deal with this underdeveloped member (UM) and I noticed that their counsel was not satisfactory to my standards (The Bible Way).  One friend told me to bring the “machine version” of me when dealing with this guy. What he meant was leave my being “human” whenever I talk to this UM, he added, strictly business and to the rest of the crowd, bring on friendship.  Today’s reading is a great revelation on how to deal with situation like this.  I know that a few of you out there had encountered a few UM’s and had a hard time dealing with them.  Before we say or do anything to our UM’s,  run this checklist mentally.  Is what you are about to say pure? Is it peace loving? Is it reasonable? Is it full of compassion? Is it straightforward? Is it impartial? is it free from doubts?

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 5 Mile Time Trial
2. Apply TRIZ method on one of our annoying equipment problem at work. Got the Plan, need to execute the DO, then Study, then Act (PDSA)
3.

0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal; 5Mile Time Trial
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

1Pe 5:5  Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church)–[giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)–[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble. [Prov. 3:34.]

1Pe 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resist the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

HUMBLE:
1. modest: modest and unassuming in attitude and behavior
2. respectful: feeling or showing respect and deference toward other people
3. lowly: relatively low in rank and without pretensions

HUMILITY:
modesty or respectfulness: the quality of being modest or respectful

GRACE:
1. gift of God to humankind: in Christianity, the infinite love, mercy, favor, and goodwill shown to humankind by God
2. special favor given to you that you did not deserve

PROUD:
arrogant: having an exaggerated opinion of personal worth or abilities

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 5Mile Time Trial
2.
3.

0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal; 5Mile Time Trial
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Psa 31:23  O love the Lord, all you His saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, and plentifully pays back him who deals haughtily.
Psa 31:24  Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!

Gina, Here’s another Word for you.

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. Rest
2.
3.

0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal;
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Mat 11:28  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

Overburdened:
– overload- to place too much weight or worry on somebody or something
– excessive burden

Yesterday, I have to call back a friend to tell him that he became my personal burden. Today’s verse is about burden and what a coincidence!  I love the Holy Spirit and how He operates.  He always wanted to convey that these are real things and He shows things to me a week in advance. 2 Weeks ago, during the praise and worship part of the service, I closed my eyes for about 10 minutes and saw in my mind a pole being erected into a deep hole.  The pole represents us and the deep hole represents our trials and tribulation.  The deeper the hole, the stronger the strength of the pole to withstand the storm.  Get it?  

Back to the burden thing. What I mean by that is I made it my personal mission to do whatever it takes to show him the love of Christ.  It is not overburden, just a burden. Same thing with all the people that is in my circle, you are my burden, you are my responsibilities, I have to stand the gap for you, I have to keep you in my prayer, I have to share to you anything that is good (even when you are tired of reading this journal).  That is my burden to the world.  So why I am doing all these?  Why I am wasting my time sharing you things?  What is it for me?  The answer, nothing really.  I will not gain anything by doing all these. 

But the main reason why “I am what I am” right now is because I have gut feeling that I don’t have much time anymore to share to you what I know or what I experienced.  I am running out of time and I have to do this now.  If not today, WHEN?  So I think TODAY is the time to do it.  Yesterday, on my 40 Mile loop (only did 30), I felt a slight chest pain (don’t tell Britta about this, she does not read my journal).  It was only at mile10 and my heart rate was just at 115 bpm.  This is an on going thing but all my vitals are normal.  This happens several times during the week and there are no cycle or indicators.  I find this little chest pain as my motivator, it is like a small engine inside me telling me to do things out of the ordinary.  Chest pain or not, I will continue on what I love to do… bike, swim, pray, and share. 

Here’s my top 6 burden list:
1. To share you the Good News-Christ love to us.
2. To share the knowledge that there is eternity as promised in the Bible (death is only the beginning)
3. To help you in whatever ways
4. To encourage you in whatever way I can
5. To listen to you
6. To mentor you (anything of great value)

It is 1118 in the morning, time for my 2.4 Mile swim.  You might be wondering how I am able to count 2.4 miles in a 25 yard pool.  Simple, I just count the number of minutes it will take me to do one lap.  I estimated that I can do 2.4 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes so I target a 1h20m non stop workout.  (I have Excel do this for me.)  And why 2.4Miles?  Because I am training for a 1000x impossibility of doing an ironman. I love mentioning my daily workout here…… not to brag about it…. but to put peer pressure on me.  Lately, I’ve been slacking in my swim training and most times, mentioning it here motivates me. 

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 2.4 Mile Swim
2. Finalize FAR Template to include KPIV, RCA and Fishbone Diagram
3. Backup Hyper-V
4. Install Notebook with GPS to Yukon
5. Continue on FL Vacation Preparation (August 4-11) Mawing is going with us

0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Sleep
0600, Sleep
0700, Breakfast; journal;
0800,
0900,
1000, 2.4 Mile Swim
1100, 2.4 Mile Swim
1200,
1300, Nap
1400,
1500,
1600,
1700,
1800, Backup Hyper-V
1900,
2000,
2100,
2200,
2300,
2400, Sleep

2Co 4:17  For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],

More affliction=More glory. I find this so true in my life.  The more I suffered, the more I received glory at the end.  I’ve been riding the Outlaw 100 bike ride every year and every time October comes, I got this feeling “here we go again, 100Miles on the bike, 6 hours of pain and suffering”.  The feeling is normal, we always tend to dislike the things that brings us discomfort but on the other side of the coin, there is this feeling of accomplishment… the “I did it” feeling or “I made it” or the “I’ve been through” sensation.  I’ve read Jim Loehr’s book the “Power of Full Engagement” and he mentioned there not to avoid stress but seek stress instead.  What he meant is don’t run away from problems, find the problem, seek challenges, seek those things that are difficult, seek those tasks at work that no one loves to do.  It’s been a year (I think) since I’ve implemented the “seek stress” attitude and so far the it’s been successful (except for my heart attack). Don’t be scared, the reason for my heart attack was I went swimming in a 66 degrees water for 3 weeks (a 2.4 mile swim non stop) and my body said this is too much.  The pool where I swim during the winter time had a boiler problem and it was not heated.  Being with the attitude of “seek stress”, I was one of the few swimmers that dared the cold water swim.  But overall, this “seek stress” does really works.  Try it.  Now back to the affliction subject.  How so – more affliction=more glory?  I think if life is all positive, no problems, no sickness, no trials, no persecution, no negative situation, life will be so boring and most likely 90% of us will be out of work.   I’ve seen friends who suffered more than I’ve ever experienced in my entire life and I’ve seen them victorious in the end and when I examined the event for root causes/lesson learned, I find it hard to believe that most of the time, the event was designed to make them better and nothing else. So the next time you suffer, celebrate because those are good indicator that you been chosen to experience an everlasting glory.  Easier to say (I know) but really difficult when you are in the middle of the storm.   Anyway, be encourage when you suffer and please never give up.  Remember the poem “Don’t Quit”  ….. and he learned too late how close he was to the golden crown.

It is now 0951 in Texas, the roofer had been banging my roof since 7am.  Britta was working last night and I told her to stay at Bettina’s house but she did not listen.  Her countermeasure – she called in and requested to be off (I like that).  Me, I am going for a long bike ride.  I already took pictures to document the whole project.  When I get back, it will be almost over. Brent otherwise was untouched. He is sleeping like a log.  Brittney on the other hand was just enjoying the notes created by the hammer on the roof.  I think the ROB (rate of banging) = 60 per second. Imagine who can enjoy the event today.  OK, enough writing, time to get started with the long bike ride.  I don’t even know where to go today.  Maybe in the Pflugerville area.

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 40Mile Cycling
2. 1K Swim
3. Roof Replacement
4. Design a creative Failure Analysis Report for CMP (Powerpoint instead of Excel)

0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Sleep
0600, Sleep
0700, Breakfast; journal;
0800, Roofer in action 0800-1700
0900,
1000, 40Mile Bike
1100, 40Mile Bike
1200, 40Mile Bike
1300, 1K swim
1400,
1500,
1600,
1700,
1800,
1900,
2000,
2100,
2200,
2300,
2400, Sleep

Mat 28:16  Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed and made appointment with them.
Mat 28:17  And when they saw Him, they fell down and worshiped Him; but some doubted.
Mat 28:18  Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Mat 28:19  Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).

I’ve reconnected to an old friend yesterday and we talked for a long time (maybe >2hours) and I almost cried listening to his life story (just teary eyes ;;;;;).  From the outside, I thought his life was just a normal life but looking inside, it was all struggle.  What bothers me is I never knew all those things were happening to him.  He was a friend, a special friend but our friendship drifted away since his family moved to a different town.  What I love about his story was his will to beat the odds in his life.  He never gave up and he never went into self pity.  The reason why I mentioned him today is about the question that bothers me last night after we talked.  I’ve learned that during all his life struggle from childhood to the 20’s, he never mentioned about a brother or a sister in Christ who were able to reach out to him and help him or at least showed him that the end of the tunnel of uncertainty and pain are just right over that biggest hill.  He made it through then without any help from someone.  Fast forward for the next hour in our conversation, he then asked me, “I’ve heard that you are now a “born again” Christian?”  I was startled a little bit and don’t know how to answer the question. pause…. I humbly said “yes” and then throw back the question at him….”what about you?”  How’s your faith in all of your struggles.  His answers bothered me so much. He said, he used to read the Bible from cover to cover during his ordeal.  He said, he consulted the Bible whenever he made the ultimate decision of his life.  He said, he used to consult the Bible for anything.  As our conversation progresses, I learned that his faith drifted apart from what he used to believed.   All I can do was pray silently as we continue to talked.  So the question that bothers me is . “How can I show to him that the Bible that I am reading and studying every day is true and always true and the God that I believe is real.  How can I show to him that all that happened to his life were orchestrated by the God of heaven and earth who loves His children so much that He gave His son Jesus to earth to die for us so that the He can dwell in us through the Holy Spirit.  I went to sleep at 1PM last night with that question.  After waking up this morning, I opened the calendar for my daily devotional and Matthew 28:20 was the verse of the day.  I knew right away that the answer was there, I was just so busy I could not set in front of my computer and write this.

I am not a Bible scholar and but here’s what came to me after I read Matthew 28:20.  To truly understand the verse, you have to go back to the previous chapter (Chapter 27).  Chapter 28 was the end of the Book of Matthew and it was the culmination or shall I say the ending of Matthew’s account on Jesus and you have to use a “red letter Bible” to really understand what is going on.  In Chapter 27, Jesus was already crucified, He was already dead and then in Chapter 28, He spoke to His  disciples again.  (You will miss this point and get confused why did He spoke again.)  ….”I am with you always even unto the end of the world.” He was speaking in a Spirit form, the Holy Spirit, the small voice that I was talking about a few days ago.

So the reason why I said that today’s verse was the answer to my question is because when Jesus spoke to us “I am with you” He meant it to be “us” (present time) not just to the disciples that He was talking to. So the next question is HOW?  How can He be with us?  In what form?  In what way?  In what circumstance?  (That is for you to find out).  I looked back 10, 20, 30 years and connected all the dots of my life.  I was all amazed of He arranged everything for me.  Things that would never happen if I did not go to that route.  I won’t be able to meet friends if I insisted in my own ways. He was there all along with me, guiding me in every way.  Before I gave my life to Christ, I was so lost, I did this , done that. Lived a life with no faith and no God, so confused and no direction in life and no peace in sight everyday.  Everyday was always a surprise, a testing of my patience, a test of my self control, always a trying time and for the most part I was always victorious… then I  thought that I made it myself up to here in my own effort, in my own wisdom, in my own intelligence, in my own planning.  But no, He was there all along with me, watching over me, telling me to go left or right, to do this so that I will get that….. to move here so that I can have this…. Then the Holy Spirit (I AM) touched me in a special way, touched my inner being, I cried, I repented and I promised that even if my faith does not grow, I will continue to listen to Him (the still small voice always whispering to me what to do, what to say and what to write).  I think, the word “I am with you” means more than what we can imagine …. if we only let Him guide us. 

It is really difficult to prove God’s existence. We can listen to every great preachers out there, read books written by born again Christians, read people’s personal experience about Him, watch Biblical documentaries; read the Bible, listen to the witness of a friend…  but until we start our own search, be curious if His existence is true, questioning Him if he really is real, we will never find the answer.  We have to experience God in our very own life. 

(I can only point you into the right direction, show you the way but you yourself has to start the journey on your own.)

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. Church
2. 12Mile Bike
3. Mow yard
4. 1K swim

Weekend Tasks:
1. New roof installation-Monday
2. 40Mile Cycling-Monday
3. 2.4 Mile swim-Tuesday
4. Texas-Florida Expedition Preparation
5. Backup Hyper-V

0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Sleep
0600, Sleep
0700, Breakfast; journal;
0800, 12Mile bike
0900, Celebration Church
1000, Celebration Church
1100, Grocery shopping
1200, Barbecue for the kids
1300, Barbecue
1400,
1500, Nap
1600, Nap
1700,
1800,
1900, Journal
2000, Mow yard
2100, 1k swim
2200,
2300,
2400, Sleep

Mal 3:10  Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. [Mal. 2:2.]

I’ve always asked this questions to friends “What is the purpose of money?”  “Why do you have all the blessings in life?” Most of the time, the answers are not in line to what the Bible is trying to convey. Pause for a moment for now and think and then write down your answers in a piece of paper. 

Most people in the church (those that are non-compliance) will always get offended when they hear this scripture mentioned before the offering part of the service.  Why do I have to give 10% of my income to the church?  I am struggling here in my day to day financial needs and I will set aside 10% of my income to the church.  I’d rather give this money to my daughter or brother/sister that needed the most.  I am not going to argue any opinion in this subject but I want to share my view and how I interpret it and what I am doing with it.

God is not a beggar. God is rich.  God’s people are rich. God’s believers are blessed.  The Kingdom of God has plenty of resources. The church has enough to sustain itself.  Malachi 3:10 is a “Principle”.  It is a mindset.  In my own version, “if you want to prosper financially, give it away.”  How so?  Imagine you have a cup in your hand and you are trying to fill it up with water from me who has the control of the faucet.  When your cup is full, I will turn off the faucet because your cup will just be wasting the water down the drain.  Once your cup is empty, I’ll open the faucet again to fill you up.  So true with the blessings from heaven.  When we start to hold back on our finances for self preservation (not for the benefit of the Kingdom), the blessings will cease.  But when we continue to give (not just monetary$$/material) to the Kingdom, our blessings will overflow.

So my answer to the question “What is the purpose of money? The answer is “giving”. To help other people.  So when someone hand me a sum of money, I know right away that I can’t keep it, I have to give it away.  My definition of “giving away” is not defined yet (more on that later).  There are so many versions of “get rich quick” strategy out there.  You can try all of those but there is nothing that can compare to what this principle can do to your finances.  I am not going to elaborate about my finances here, but I have enough to buy groceries every week to feed my 2 children and my wife.  Through the years, I’ve learned that by following the guiding principle of giving, all my needs (plus extra) were met.  What I meant by giving is not just the money part.  There are other things that you can do ie. giving your time to a friend who needs comfort.  Listening to a friend who has no one to hear his/her cry.  Extending your help to any stranger that needed help. Mentoring a friend or co-worker so that he/she too can shine in his/her own career.

In short, always have a mindset of giving. Ask yourself every day this question. “What can I give today?”  At your workplace, ask yourself “What can I give to my employer today?” To your friends, “What can I share?” To your spouse, “How can I make him/her happy?’”.

MIT (Most Important Task)
1.
2.
3.

0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal;
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Eph 1:17  [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,
Isa 11:2  And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him–the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord—
Rev 4:5  Out from the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne seven blazing torches burned, which are the seven Spirits of God [the sevenfold Holy Spirit];

Spirit of Wisdom is one component of the 7 Spirits of God mentioned in the Bible and when it is mentioned in the Book of Revelation, the 7 Spirits of God becomes more of a mystery than a revelation.  I googled/bing-ed the phrase 7 Spirits of God and the more confusing the definition.  I searched the word wisdom at MSN encarta and the results are not so clear.  I am more confused and I don’t want to share to you confusing information, it will be a waste of your time and internet productivity.  But as I write this, the small voice inside me is reminding me the true meaning of the Spirit of Wisdom. 

The Spirit of Wisdom:
1. Is the Holy Spirit
2. When Jesus died, He left us the Holy Spirit
3. Holy Spirit-the Spirit of God living with us/inside us when we believe in Him and when we are being called out by God
4. The small voice inside us (our whisperer… don’t do that, don’t say that word, say this word, slow down, you are over the speed limit, hey wake up, you are running late, hey, read Rigel’s notes, there is a message for you, hey call this person, send an email to this person, write this article, give money to this guy and help him/her, when a coworker asked you a question and your answer is perfect, when a friend asked you for advice and the result is good. )
5. When you don’t know what to do and out of nowhere, you have an answer and a way out or a very creative solution, that is the Spirit of Wisdom.
6. When you are in a big storm and someone inside you telling you what to do and you escaped, that is the Spirit of Wisdom.
7. When you don’t have a job and all of sudden you are being led to that job creatively.
8. When you are in great difficulty in problem solving and then a solution came out of nowhere, that is the Spirit of Wisdom at work.
9. When your daughter is acting up and you respond the right thing, that is the Spirit of Wisdom.

So how do you get the Spirit of Wisdom?  You don’t acquire the Spirit of Wisdom, it is a gift to all of us that believed. It is just a matter of letting it flow in our lives.  Imagine you received a precious gift that can do anything.  The Spirit of Wisdom is the same thing if you let Him flow through you.  Try it, you will be amazed how much power you have inside you with the Holy Spirit is behind you.

Encarta Definition:
Wisdom:
1. good sense: the ability to make sensible decisions and judgments based on personal knowledge and experience
2. wise decision: good sense shown in a way of thinking, judgment, or action
3. accumulated learning: accumulated knowledge of life or of a sphere of activity that has been gained through experience
4. opinion widely held: an opinion that almost everyone seems to share or express

Revelation:
1. information revealed: information that is newly disclosed, especially surprising, or valuable
2. surprising thing: a surprisingly good or valuable experience
3. disclosure: the revealing of something previously hidden or secret
4. Christianity demonstration of divine will: a showing or revealing of what is believed to be divine will or truth

MIT (Most Important Task)
1.
2.
3.

0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal;
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Joh 17:2  [Just as] You have granted Him power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.
Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.

Eternal-
Definition:
1. existing through all time: lasting for all time without beginning or end
eternal life

2. unchanging: unaffected by the passage of time
eternal truths

3. seemingly everlasting: seeming to go on forever or recur incessantly
an eternal student

MIT (Most Important Task)
1.
2.
3.

0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal; 5Mile Time Trial
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Psa 37:7  Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.

MIT (Most Important Task)
1.
2.
3.

0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Phi 1:6  And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

Decoding Philippians 1:6
1. He (God) start the good work (not us starting the good work)
2. He develops it (making changes/guiding/leading)
3. He perfects it (fine tuning every details)
4. He finishes it (finish product/final product)

Two things came to mind right after waking up at 3am. Gather notes about prayer and then organize the prayer list.  The first one was easy, all I have to do is go to my ebooks and look up any books written about prayer.  Please add this to your library… Weapon of Prayer . It is only 35 pages and the book is not hard to read/comprehend. Second, I was looking for a creative way for my new project and came out with this … Daily Prayer List .  Creative in a way that I don’t have to scroll down in a long list to lookup names plus I can annotate a code letter beside the names.  I still don’t know where this project is going but I am just obeying of what is being impressed into my heart.  I did searched for the keyword “prayer” using my eSword Bible and the results are listed below.  What excites me the most is “(Mat 21:22) “And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive. “

Something special happened today.  Look at the Word of the Day-Philippians 1:6.  I started a new project yesterday and on the next day (today), the Word witnessed/coincided with what I am doing.  I am using a calendar with fixed verses for the whole year and the message this morning was something so related to the subject.  I don’t know about you… but these are the things I called mystery of the work of God in us.  He is doing something.

Yesterday on my 40mile bike ride, I added prayer to my routine and the changes are very positive.  I am now more energetic than ever with full of purpose to go out a few extra miles.  We are not bounds by a wall when it comes to prayer.  God is just a word away and we can do it anywhere.  There is no rule either.  Call Him anywhere/anytime and His airtime is unlimited and free.  What’s interesting … there are names that will pop up in my mind at random and I began to just say words about this person. One thing I noticed, the motion of prayer is interesting because it is such a surprise minute by minute.  

I am off today and probably you are asking how do I find time doing all these.  My answer… I don’t know.  Like right now, I spent 2 hours doing this journal +reading the Bible and listening to Christian music early morning. Honestly, it is not a burden, it is an inspiration and what else can I do in my days off.  I do hope that one person will find this thing important.  I understand that this is not for all the audiences here but hey… this is my notes and I can write anything ;-)00 .

Time now is 0605.  I am scheduled to do my fast and hard 5Mile bike time trial.  Got to go.

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 2.4 Mile swim
2. 5Mile Time Trial
3. Backup Hyper-V

Day209
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Breakfast; journal; prayer
0400, Journal/Prayer
0500, Journal/Prayer
0600, 5Mile Time Trial
0700,
0800,
0900,
1000, 2.4Mile Swim
1100, 2.4Mile Swim
1200,
1300,
1400,
1500,
1600,
1700,
1800, Backup Hyper-V
1900,
2000,
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Keyword search “Prayer”

(Mat 21:22)  And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive.

(Mat 17:21)  But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

(Mar 9:29)  And He replied to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.

(Mar 11:24)  For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].

(Luk 2:37)  And as a widow even for eighty-four years. She did not go out from the temple enclosure, but was worshiping night and day with fasting and prayer.

(Luk 6:12)  Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God.

(Luk 19:46)  Telling them, It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer; but you have made it a cave of robbers. [Isa. 56:7; Jer. 7:11.]

(Luk 22:45)  And when He got up from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from grief,

(Act 1:14)  All of these with their minds in full agreement devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer, [waiting together] with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

(Act 3:1)  NOW PETER and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (three o’clock in the afternoon),

(Act 6:4)  But we will continue to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

(Act 6:6)  These they presented to the apostles, who after prayer laid their hands on them.

(Act 14:23)  And when they had appointed and ordained elders for them in each church with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord in Whom they had come to believe [being full of joyful trust that He is the Christ, the Messiah].

(Act 16:16)  As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling.

(Rom 8:26)  So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

(Rom 12:12)  Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.

(Eph 6:18)  Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

(Phi 1:4)  In every prayer of mine I always make my entreaty and petition for you all with joy (delight).

(Phi 4:6)  Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

(Col 4:2)  Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.

(1Th 5:17)  Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];

(1Ti 4:5)  For it is hallowed and consecrated by the Word of God and by prayer.

(Jam 5:15)  And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

(Jam 5:16)  Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

(1Pe 4:7)  But the end and culmination of all things has now come near; keep sound minded and self-restrained and alert therefore for [the practice of] prayer.

Luk 12:32  Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!
Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luk 12:31  Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also.

Sis, another word for you. These are not coincidence. Take these words as your sign that God is doing something in your life.  It is really hard to navigate when you are in the middle of the storm.  What we usually do in the middle of the storm is we run away, pack our belongings and leave away from the calamity area. What I normally do is stand still and wait until i can see the whole picture of the storm and then I act.  If you read Luke 12:31 closely, verse 32 won’t matter.

Yesterday’s service at Celebration was great. Learned a few new things about prayer. However, it created another daily must-do for me. Right after the service as my daughter Brittney was driving on our way home, the Holy Spirit impressed in my heart to pray everyday for all my friends in Facebook.  I wrestled in my thoughts “no way” … that is >100 people in my list and when I mention the names, there’s going to be several names going to connect…  Then I remember …. obedience is better than sacrifice.  So today, I have to copy all your names into a text file (facebook export to Excel is not working) and then paste it to my Windows Live Writer template.  So every morning, I will be praying for these names (your name if you are in my friend’s list).  I still don’t know where this is going but I am just obeying/applying what I learned yesterday.  To all my prayer warrior friends, please help me out.  Maybe you can join in and help me stand the gap.  In the 1990’s,  way back my Maranatha days in Cebu, everyday before going to work, I normally attend the 6:00am prayer meeting where brothers/sisters meet at the Technics basement. A worship song is playing on the background for one hour and the prayers goes freestyle until the ‘one hour’ is over.  I had so many prayer request at that time and as I am writing this, I am reminded “have I answered all your prayers?”.  The answer is YES.  So in my obedience, I will execute what the Lord wants me to do.  The list is long but I believe that it is my duty to intercede for all of you.  Me too, I need prayers so please mention my name also in your prayers.

(Fine Print-“You name cannot be removed in my list”  ;—()

It is 0829 in the morning in Round Rock, TX.  I am scheduled to ride my bike for 40 miles and then swim 1K.  As I pedal through the hills and streets of Georgetown and Round Rock, I will be calling out your names in prayer. 

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 40Mile Cycling
2. 1K Swim

Day208
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Sleep
0600, Sleep
0700, Breakfast; journal;
0800,
0900, 40Mile cycling
1000, 40Mile cycling
1100, 40Mile cycling
1200, 1K swim
1300, Big lunch
1400, Nap
1500,
1600,
1700,
1800, Test SBS2003 scenario on virtual pc
1900, Test SBS2003
2000, Test SBS2003
2100,
2200,
2300,
2400, Sleep

Effective Prayer is
1. Passionate
2. Asking in His name
3. Specific
4. Corporate
5. God is manifested

Prayer List (specific)
Mommy Chit/Papa Jojo and Mama Bulak,
RM
Abel J. Rendon
Ace Albert Cabahug 
Agnes Boston 
Agnes Desiree Escano-Desquitado
Albert Boholst
Albert M. Boholst
Alex Senerpida
Andots Nazareno  
Andree Jessa Cimafranca
Andrew Pata 
Angelo Boholst
Annette Aviles 
Anthony Gacasan
Anthony Leann Indolos Gacasan
Astrid Concepcion 
Audrey Estrada Serenil
Barbra A. Macion-Deiparine 
Bebot Jabines Cala 
Belma Doblado 
Bettina Genoveva Cabahug Boholst
Billy Redula
Bless Liu 
Boyd Boholst
Briccio Joseph C Boholst 
Britta Boholst Arcayan
Brittney Arcayan
Bruce Boholst Perral 
Buena Fe Go  
Cecil Luzon
Chadd Arcayan Arana
Charisse Lyn Tabotabo
Chery Marie Luzon Nazareno
Christine Morrill
Clim Angelo M. Boholst
Cora Caparoso 
Crystal Lehoski
Cynthia Galza Osd
Daphny Boholst Hatud
David Cruz 
Eileen Martinez 
Elmer Cabahug
Emarito Luzares  
Era Dela Victoria Burgos
Erica Gallarde Gacasan
Erwin Michel Lorenzo Perral
Eulene ALcantara  
Florex CamachoLos Angeles, CA  
Franz Camacho
Gemma Minerva
Gina Dahlen
Gina Go Larson  
Gingging Lasam Martin 
Glenda Camacho
Glenn Lebumfacil
Gnihc Nozul 
Grace Kong
Grace Lebumfacil Capp
Gregorio A. Yrastorza
Guadalupe Burgos
Gwen Cortes
Gwen Patanao
Hanzel Boholst Perral  
Hyades A. Genato
Imelda Pore Palencia  
Ingrid Cimafranca  
Ingrid Tan  
Irene Parrilla  
Irish Mendoza 
Jasminmarie Cabahug-Seno 
Jay Seno 
Jerrick Cabarrubias  
Jhay Go
Jongjong Boholst Sevilla
Joreen Moralde
Judilyne L. Boholst
Judy Cortes Gaddi 
Jun Kong 
Jun Quinain
Kitty Redula  
Leila Dumagsa McGowan 
Liliven Arcayan-Rosal 
Liza Restituto-Yu  
Lynnette Tan  
Maihan Nguyen  
Malen YLarrazabal  
Malu Boholst Sevilla Fenna 
Malz Cortes  
Margot LutzStony Point 
Maria Cecilia Joseph
Marie A LiuPhillips Academy
Marisse Tabotabo
Marla Boholst Mercadal Dominguez 
Maruja Boholst Mercadal Dejaño
Mary Ann Abao LuzaresNew Zealand 
Marylou Cortes-RamosBoston, MA
Melvin Martinez 
Michelle Senerpida Barnas
Nelson Cantillas
Nikki Alonzo
Nilo Rommel Mendoze 
Noel Ouano
Olive Perral 
Olivia Boholst Perral Magann 
Omar Redula  
Pete Abilla
Pongos Chuchie  
Rachel Conejos Webb
Raul Serenil 
Relai Cabarrubias  
Rhoel O. DejanoPhilippines
Ritafe Labatos Uy  
Roel Punzalan  
Roger Lou Marson
Rolanda Seco Matugas 
Shalimar O. Patalinghug  
Sharon Boholst Sevilla-Cui
Steffi Ann Boholst
Sylvaine Rackard
Tanya Therese Boholst
Teodoro Franco D Omega
Teopisto Rosal Jr
Tim CurryAustin
Timothy Boholst 
Vicky  Redula 
Vyns Boholst
Walter Boholst
Wena Valencia Ceniza

Psa 138:6  For though the Lord is high, yet has He respect to the lowly [bringing them into fellowship with Him]; but the proud and haughty He knows and recognizes [only] at a distance. [Prov. 3:34; James 4:6; I Pet. 5:5.]
Psa 138:7  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. [Ps. 23:3, 4.]
Psa 138:8  The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever–forsake not the works of Your own hands. [Ps. 57:2; Phil. 1:6.]

I had a conversation with one of my sister in Christ yesterday afternoon and the topic was storm recovery. (Sis, Psalm138:7 is just for you) How do you get out of the storm?  The storm we were talking about was the “storm of life”. These are the problems that she encounters in a regular basis for >3 years now.  She always face a big event every year.  Every year, she always have a misfortune or an annoying problem pop up.  My advice to her was to stand strong, strengthen her faith (the more), be patient, be in the Word, follow and obey the Word, be in the fellowship of the church (the Body of Christ) and then prayer.  The devil is real.  They are here just waiting to attack us and if we let our guard down, they are ready to attack us in every corner of our lives.  That is the very reason why studying the Word every morning right after waking up is a good idea. Always start the day with the Word, study it, digest it and remember the message all throughout the day and when the storm comes, you are already soaked up with positive thoughts and encouragement.  So how do we really protect ourselves from the devil? What are the devil’s attack look like?  How do I know that I am under attack? (This is from my own perspective.)

Examples:
1. When you are very healthy and you are stricken by a disease.
2. When your marriage is doing well and all of a sudden, a 3rd person invades your good marriage.
3. When you are doing good at work and then one day, you get an argument and you say the wrong word and you lose your job.
4. When you are feeling happy and all of a sudden (out of nowhere), you become depressed.

Examples: (not an attack)
1. When you get sick because you abuse your body with alcohol, smoking and drugs. (you did that to yourself)
2. When you get a speeding ticket doing 75 miles per hour (you did that to yourself, God placed the speed limit for our safety)
3. When you become overweight and your arteries are clogged, (you did that to yourself)
4. When you surf the web at work (abusively) and you lost your job.
5. When you are lazy at work and your boss gave you a bad review.
6. When you allow your kids to party all night and he/she gets into an accident.
7. When you stay up all night and come to work tired and you make a mistake at work and lost your job.
8. When you open your mouth at a wrong time and you get into an argument.
9. When you gossip on someone and then you get into a fight.
OK… you got it.  You can add your list now…..

5 Senses Check
1. Sense of Touch-stay away from this temptation, when you are so close to someone other than your spouse, stay away (better yet, don’t put yourself in this position)
2. Sense of Taste-food, don’t engage too much.
3. Sense of Smell-same thing of taste, temptation sometimes starts here. (ie. Being in a bar puts you in great danger, you can smell trouble here, zero bar=zero temptations)
4. Sense of Sight-stay away from unproductive, non-learning, non-encouragement tv shows. Sometimes these shows convey fears and emotional burdens. Also, viewing inappropriate pictures or movies belongs to this category. (Men, if you want to lose interest of your wife, start looking at beautiful women on the web; I’ve seen this a few times). Also, engaging too much Facebook/MySpace pictures from old flames can start a personal disaster. 
5. Sense of Sound-audit what you are listening. making sure the lyrics are not against righteousness. Other attacks can come from here using our mouth as the source ie. saying the wrong words, using the wrong word.  If the word you are about to say does not help/encourage/build your neighbor, just save it to yourself.  I’ve seen many personal disasters coming from this.

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 10Mile Time Trial
2. 1K Swim
3. Yard work
4. Laundry
5. Ideastorm KPIV/POF CL1,2,3

Day207
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Breakfast; journal;
0500,
0600, 10Mile Time Trial
0700,
0800,
0900, Celebration Church
1000, Celebration Church
1100,
1200, Ideastorm
1300, Ideastorm
1400, Ideastorm
1500, Ideastorm
1600,
1700,
1800, Yard work
1900, 1K Swim
2000, Watch Tour de France (DVR)
2100,
2200,
2300,
2400, Sleep

Mat 4:19  And He said to them, Come after Me [as disciples–letting Me be your Guide], follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men!

The significance of following Christ is the guidance that He promised.  He becomes the light of our path and guide us unto our next step.  There were so many instances in my personal experience that I am overwhelmed of something or not being able to decide what to do next and then all of a sudden, there is this small voice inside me whispering what to do or what to say…. that is one of the guidance system that He mentioned here.  Another thing is the call of becoming a fishers of men.  What does it mean by “fishers of men”? This is the calling of every breathing Christian believers– to spread the Good News? What is the Good News?  The Good News is Christ died for us and He rose again, to be with us in a Spirit form.  Why is that Good News? Because there is power in His resurrection …. His Holy Spirit dwells in us, inspires us to do greater things, accomplish greater things.  What kind of power? Many….I haven’t discovered (all) yet and that is why I am on this journey.  Join with me. If you are reading this, you are one of the fish that He wants to catch and that makes you special.  He was looking for you for a long time trying to get your attention. Ask yourself how did you reached this journal today? 

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 5Mile Time Trial
2.
3.

Greetings:
CL-welcome, thanks for letting me in your circle.

Day206
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal; 5Mile Time Trial
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Joh 17:19  And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth.

Some of my friends sometimes asked me why I do things a certain way or why I don’t do this and why I don’t do that. Why I don’t go to this places and why I don’t go out and drink and why I don’t party all night.  Why I don’t watch TV (I do …sometimes), why I don’t do things without a purpose? Why I have to write this journal, why I have to document everything on paper or online? Why my days are mapped out before I even start my day?  The answer-John 17:19.  I am seeking for a higher level of spirituality-the one mentioned in the Bible and everyday I am excited of where it will take me and what surprises it has for me.  It is fun to wake up in the morning and ask God this question-“What do you have for me today?”  In order for me to receive a clear heavenly instructions, I have to be at all times in a consecrated state.  Sounds terrifying… but it is not.  I really just have to watch what I do and listen to what I say before delivering it.  Sometimes I lose control and go out of bounds but I don’t care, it’s my life and I made the rule.

I do hope that one day you will be in this type of journey.  Believe me, it is fun and exciting.

Last week, I added a new cycling activity in my schedule-dark, early morning bike ride. The streets in my neighborhood is well lighted and safe for dark riding and I’ve done it a few times.  Here’s the removable light setup (very TRIZ like)

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 5Mile Time Trial
2.
3.

Day205
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal; 5Mile Time Trial
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Psa 22:24  For He has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither has He hidden His face from him, but when he cried to Him, He heard.

Yesterday, I woke up with the news in Austin Statesman that the son of Pastor Rob Koke (Caleb-17) at Shoreline Christian Center died in a car crash.  Last Sunday, Pastor Joe at Celebration prayed for Pastor Rob’s strength because he lost his dad in a boat accident. As I was driving to work early in the morning, I could not stop thinking about the events that happened to Pastor Rob.  It reminds me of Job who lost everything in life through the test that was given to him that he has to endure and in the end he passed the test.  But what caught my attention is Job’s 3 friends who visited him during his affliction.  These 3 friends sometimes represents each of our reactions to a friends tragedy.  I just want to share with you the examples of what not to do (or not to say) when a friend suffers.  A few of us are destined with zero sufferings but for the rest of us, we go through this tough times and sometimes it is unbearable and unimaginable.  Story-Three Friends Accused Job .

If you are suffering right now, keep praying. He heard you.  (VD, CA, AS)

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 5Mile Time Trial
2. Kaizen Event Day3
3.

Day204
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal; 5Mile Time Trial
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Luk 11:28  But He said, Blessed (happy and to be envied) rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey and practice it!

Keys to happiness
1. Hear the Word of God (The Bible) (The Instructions)
2. Obey the instructions
3. Apply what it says

Example: “On happy marriage”
(1Pe 2:13)  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

(Eph 5:22)  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

(1Co 7:39)  A wife is bound to her husband by law as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she will, only [provided that he too is] in the Lord.

(Eph 5:23)  For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His] body.

(Eph 5:33)  However, let each man of you [without exception] love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly]. [I Pet. 3:2.]

To all wives, I did not do this purposely. I searched the word “submit” in the Bible and these came out.  But to all husbands, the same truth applies.  The real key is PRACTICE. Meaning-DO IT OVER AND OVER.

MIT (Most Important Task)
1.
2.
3.

Day203
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal; 3Mile Time Trial
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

1Pe 2:9  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. [Exod. 19:5, 6.]

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. Kaizen Event at Samsung CMP
2. 10Mile Climb Time Trial
3. 1K Swim

I spent 12 hours at the lake yesterday with my coworkers (Samsung CMP –Team C/D) (Album-20090713SamsungCMPEmmaLongPark) . Yes, I do have real friends (only a few) and yes I do go out to spend time (no…., waste time) doing nothing.  Actually, yesterday was a productive day.  I executed everything I planned and accomplished everything plus I took some rare pictures of my co-workers and captured/sealed all the fun in pictures.

I was planning to come to the park early to do my 30Miles (Monday ride) but when I scout the terrain on my way in, the hills were like Alpe D’Huez tour stage.  I don’t have any pictures of the terrain but I’ve never done such a climb like that for a long time.  I hydrated well before I started the climb, ate 1 Clif bar and started slow.  How do you start slow when the pace is already slow?  I was already at my biggest gear (24) on the first climb but it was a gradual steep hill that was easily handled.  The total loop was about 16 miles and all in rolling hills and the finale at half way mark was a 1K descent right before the road ends towards FM2222.  I was flying on my way down (bike computer says 37mph) and that was fast, what I did not know was steepness of the climb on my way back.  What comes down … must go up.  On my way back, I was still very brave to climb that mountain and legs were still there but when I reached the halfway mark, I could not pedal anymore.  The gradient of the hill was so steep that I have to walk. I swallowed my pride and walked that hill, it was a humbling experience to get off the bike and walk a climb. 

After the cycling event, I rest up for 30 minutes and then jumped in the cold water and did a 1K swim.  Water was a little cold but it was not new to me.  I raced 3 years ago upstream on the 5K swim race and that water was cold.  There is something  good in swimming at fresh water, you feel like you are swimming with nature.  With me today were a few turtles, a tiny fish that keeps biting/poking me and some strange looking debris at the bottom of the lake.  I’ve experienced some waves today also which were not surprising because back home in Merida, I did a 1K swim during a big storm (and those were huge waves).  Overall, the swimming part was great and a little different than swimming laps in the pool.

In Summary:
Cycling-16 Miles of climbing
Swimming-1k (x2)
Spent time with my co-workers and took some candid pictures

I have to come to work today to attend a Kaizen Event. (I’m supposed to be at the pool swimming my 2.4Mile)
What is Kaizen Philosophy?
A standardized problem solving procedure.

8 Steps of Kaizen
1. Select a project
2. Understand the current situation
3. Analyze data for root causes
4. Establish countermeasures
5. Implement countermeasures
6. Confirm the effect
7. Standardize
8. Review the previous steps

Day202
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal
0600, Leave for work
0700, Dental appointment-Ortho
0800, At work, Kaizen Event
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800, Climb Time Trial
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Joh 16:33  I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 30Mile Bike (base at Emma Long Park)
2.

Day201
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Sleep
0600, Sleep
0700, Breakfast; journal;
0800, Emma Long Metro Park
0900, 30Mile Bike
1000, 30Mile Bike
1100, 1K Swim
1200, Rest and Relax @ Emma Long Lake
1300, Rest and Relax @ Emma Long Lake
1400, Rest and Relax @ Emma Long Lake
1500,
1600,
1700,
1800,
1900,
2000,
2100,
2200,
2300,
2400, Sleep

Jam 4:7  So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

Resist
– fight against somebody or something: to oppose and stand firm against somebody or something
– refuse to give in to something: to refuse to accept or comply with something
– be unharmed by something: to remain unaltered by the damaging effect of something
– say no to something tempting: to refrain from…

MIT (Most Important Task)
1.
2.
3.

Day199
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal;
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Jer 31:33  But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord, I will put My law within them, and on their hearts will I write it; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.

MIT (Most Important Task)
1.
2.
3.

Day198
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal; 3Mile Time Trial
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

1Pe 3:10  For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good–whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit).

MIT (Most Important Task)
1.
2.
3.

Day182
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal; 3Mile Time Trial
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Pro 16:7  When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Pro 16:8  Better is a little with righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation and right standing with God) than great revenues with injustice. [Ps. 37:16; Prov. 15:16.]

MIT (Most Important Task)
1.
2.
3.

Day182
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Breakfast; journal;
0600, Leave for work
0700, At work
0800, At work
0900, At work
1000, At work
1100, At work
1200, At work
1300, At work
1400, At work
1500, At work
1600, At work
1700, At work
1800,
1900,
2000, Dinner
2100,
2200,
2300, Sleep
2400, Sleep

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

Back in college (Cebu Day’s), 1984 in particular, I came across the self defense art called Aikido (Talamban).  I’ve trained for almost 5 years, read all the books I can find in the bookstore, practice the philosophy to the max. I love Aikido and I love the history of it and how the founder Ueshiba came about to create the most gentle of all self defense art (imho).  Aikido in Cebu at that time was still in the infancy, there were only a handful of us that time and it became a way of life for us; as what the master Ueshiba wants his students to be, Aikido is a way of life and it became my way of life.  I had peace, experienced peace and practice peace everyday.  I used to do KI breathing and meditation for 15-30 minutes and come out so relaxed and so peaceful and ready to take on the world.  In short, my life at that time was almost perfect. (Not quite in God’s eyes!).  In parallel with Aikido, I also had cycling as my other diversion activities. Imagine Aikido and Cycling together, it was all perfect for the body.  Aikido for the mind and body and cycling for the body.  This has been going on for years and  was able to maintain the routines diligently. Then one day, I had a bike accident, I hit a person on the side of the road while cycling at 20 miles an hour, almost instantly, aikido training sets in, did the aikido roll and in no time I was safe.  Months passed, with the same lifestyle, another accident again, this time it was terrible. A jeepney (passenger car) heading for Opon hit me from behind, this time I almost died.  So two accidents in my life, first was a warning and second was “another warning” prompts me to further my search of something greater than Aikido.  I had sixth sense at that time, I can discern, I can feel an angry person by just the look at his eyes, I can calm down myself in a stressful situation,  I can disarm an enemy,  I can subdue an opponent and make him submit to me but I could not avoid an accident (intervention).  OK, story is too long already, so what is my point…

My main point is Romans 8:2. The spirit of life. 

When I found my new faith, when I gave my life to Christ, when I started reading the Bible, when I started to pray, when I started to believe in God, my whole life changed. I have true peace, true joy, true freedom, true life.  For some reason, The Spirit of Life can only be found in Christ.  Beginning today, start your search, start your quest for the true joy and peace. Question everything about the world, question God, question your situation and then listen to what the Spirit has to say. 

I am not here to sell Christianity and my faith, (what would it profits me) I am here to share what I found and I hope that we can travel through this journey together. It is such an interesting way to live a life. 

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Romans 8:2 (Deep thoughts but informative, he wrote this sometime in the 1800)
Rom 8:1-9 –
Believers may be chastened of the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By their union with Christ through faith, they are thus secured. What is the principle of their walk; the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace? For which of these do we make provision, by which are we governed? The unrenewed will is unable to keep any commandment fully. And the law, besides outward duties, requires inward obedience. God showed abhorrence of sin by the sufferings of his Son in the flesh, that the believer’s person might be pardoned and justified. Thus satisfaction was made to Divine justice, and the way of salvation opened for the sinner. By the Spirit the law of love is written upon the heart, and though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by us, yet, blessed be God, it is fulfilled in us; there is that in all true believers, which answers the intention of the law. The favour of God, the welfare of the soul, the concerns of eternity, are the things of the Spirit, which those that are after the Spirit do mind. Which way do our thoughts move with most pleasure? Which way go our plans and contrivances? Are we most wise for the world, or for our souls? Those that live in pleasure are dead, 1Ti_5:6. A sanctified soul is a living soul; and that life is peace. The carnal mind is not only an enemy to God, but enmity itself. The carnal man may, by the power of Divine grace, be made subject to the law of God, but the carnal mind never can; that must be broken and driven out. We may know our real state and character by inquiring whether we have the Spirit of God and Christ, or not, 1Ti_5:9. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Having the Spirit of Christ, means having a turn of mind in some degree like the mind that was in Christ Jesus, and is to be shown by a life and conversation suitable to his precepts and example.

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 2.4 Mile Swim
2. Call Lon Smith roofing and schedule the roof replacement
3. Call mortgage company

Greetings:
Astrid, enjoyed the full coverage of the homecoming.  Imagine ….. if you were not there to patiently take those candid pictures. Great job.  A picture do really paint a thousand words.
Gina D, been having to play IM tag, I kept missing your messages, I am not ignoring you.

Day195
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Sleep
0600, Sleep
0700, Breakfast; journal;
0800,
0900,
1000, 2.4 Mile Swim
1100, 2.4 Mile Swim
1200,
1300,
1400,
1500,
1600,
1700,
1800, Backup Hyper-V and Sharepoint Server
1900,
2000,
2100,
2200,
2300,
2400, Sleep

Mat 5:5  Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth! [Ps. 37:11.]

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 40Mile Cycling
2. 1K Swim

Day194
0000, Sleep
0100, Sleep
0200, Sleep
0300, Sleep
0400, Sleep
0500, Sleep
0600, Sleep
0700, Breakfast; journal;
0800,
0900, 40Mile Cycling
1000, 40Mile Cycling
1100, 40Mile Cycling
1200, 1K Swim
1300, Lunch
1400,
1500,
1600,
1700,
1800, Backup Hyper-V Virtual Servers
1900, Backup Sharepoint
2000,
2100,
2200,
2300,
2400, Sleep