Gravel Cycling mixed with Cloud Computing – a retirement project.
March 31, 2014 Leave a comment
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 ESV
See it at YouVersion.com:
March 28, 2014 Leave a comment
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles
they shall run and not be weary;they shall walk and not faint.
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/isa.40.28-31.esv
I started a new routine everyday after work after my bike or swim workout – right after taking a shower and while drinking my aeropress “light americano coffee” with an Agave sweetener brewed in 1 minute. This must be before 6pm since the half life of coffee is 6 hours . Sleep time is always 12midnight.
I started reading other blogs from my followers list and those that I followed and then I also searched for a blog that speaks to my heart and then click “follow”. One special person each day from the freshly pressed – it’s not a rule but just something that my heart dictates. I’m not trying to collect ‘blog followers’, I’m just trying to know the hearts of random people. So please, if you just tuned in, welcome to my journal and please think that you are special – because you are. I have no hidden agenda of following you.
Yesterday, I was reading a journal of a recently diagnosed cancer patient. I had teary eyes while reading as the blog not just described the diagnostic procedure but also exposes the feelings that the person experienced in a micro level detail. I am a cardiac patient and I always asked this question to my wife, would you like cancer or heart problems? Her answer was always “not cancer” and she explained that “hey, you survived” so I should also survive or at least can get to a cardiac cath lab and survive, with cancer, you know it is always there somewhere in your body. I can’t argue.
Me too, I’d rather not have cancer than any other condition. I can read and feel the emotion that a cancer patient goes through but I can never know how difficult it is to even get passed Day0000000001. They can describe the anger, the frustration, the loneliness, the betrayal but there is something in life that you cannot put into words – how the experience affects you emotionally. It’s an experience that sometimes you wish does not happen – but it does sometimes. We can tell the story but deep inside us, it’s an individual survival and it does not matter if we have a family around us.
I wrote a short encouraging note on the blog but I don’t really think it was enough to fuel a spark of hope. Man can always say nice words and encourages you for a day or two but how do you encourage someone who lies in the deepest sorrow of life and hopelessness. What word would you offer?
Today’s daily verse from youversion was the perfect answer.
I don’t want to explain too much. Read the verse above over and over until it soaks in to your spirit. Pay attention of the word “everlasting God” and “power to the faint”.
Be encouraged. If life ends here today, think of the “everlasting life” because it never ends.
March 27, 2014 1 Comment
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. http://bible.com/59/heb11.6.esv
GAF – Global Assessment of Function. The GAF is a 100-point tool rating overall psychological, social and occupational functioning of people over 18 years of age and older. It excludes physical and environmental impairment.”
Please download a copy below for deeper understanding.
MindMap/MindMap-GAF.html
QuickGuide-GeneralAssesmentFunction.xls
GAF-QuickReference.pdf
Mostly in my life, my GAF score hovers around 80-90 points. Now I would say that I have greater than 90 because I am a cardiac patient with [2 stents] to open up my LAD so that I will not have a heart failure. I said 90 because I am back to my normal function, meaning – I am back with my long distance cycling and swimming as if I did not have a heart attack in December of 2008. That day, my GAF score went down sharply to maybe 30 according to the chart. Please study the materials that I’ve compiled, it’s good info – I promise. The more you know about your GAF score, the better your chances of raising back your quality of life.
Heart Failure is rated as level 30.
”GAF of 30 – Behavior and/or Lifestyle Is Considerably Impaired by Medical Problems; very serious medical problems confine one to bed or wheelchair most of the time (e.g., very symptomatic cases of diseases such as metastatic cancer, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy or AIDS); chronic failure of a major body system (e.g., heart, lung, kidney, liver); on dialysis for kidney failure.”
GAF and Faith
Yes, I made it back to a higher GAF score and I know that I am well and “fit for duty” again. But how did I raised back my GAF score back to 90?
I could say because of my will power
I could say that my heart failure was just a coincidence [a special case, a genetic disorder]
I could say because of my aggressive daily heart medication.
I could say that my doctor was brilliant and he fixed me.
I could say that I read a lot about heart attack recovery and figured it out.
Cardiac Rehab
I have to go through a month of cardiac rehab to get back to normal. There is a place called cardiac rehab where a patient can exercise in front of a medical staff – heart rate and blood pressure are being monitored closely during exercise. My cardiac rehab purpose was a little different. I went there to get another heart failure. I literally walk and later ran on the treadmill just to find out if my heart is back to normal. I was thinking that the medical staff has 5 minutes to revive me back to life in case “the dreadful thing” happens and besides the ER is just a walking distance. After one month, I found out that my heart survived through a series of personal test that I’ve conducted on my own [my cardiologist did not even know that I’ve designed my risky/personal cardiac rehab program.
Days, becomes months and month to years and my exercise program was back in play. I even counted days here in my journal but then later I got tired of counting.
My extra day here on earth is not promised but I’ve overcome a condition where no one probably dares doing in terms of recovery. On the weekends, I’d go out for a 40 miles bike ride alone [of course with a cell phone] but even with a cell phone, my brain can starve of oxygen and I know I will die out there waiting for help. The place where I ride my bike is way outside the city limits and there are no people driving or walking around. Sometimes, I swim in the lake by myself and spent 3 laps on a triathlon swim race pace.
I know what my body can do. You might think that I am stubborn. No, I have something else inside me and I carried it 24 hours a day. It’s in my other virtual heart.
It’s my faith.
Raise your GAF score but also have faith. I think it works.
March 26, 2014 Leave a comment
I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. http://bible.com/59/psa119.93.esv
"precepts-a rule of personal conduct; a doctrine that is taught"
commandments
maxims
principles
teachings
When I was around 18 years old, [yup, long time ago] I was drawn to Aikido. Aikido is not a martial art, it is a self-defense art. It is all about defending yourself and not attacking. The Principles of Aikido evolves on the following principles:
True Victory is Victory Over Oneself
Principle of Oneness
Principle of Circular Motion
Range of Effectiveness
Principle of Ki
Keep One-Point
Controlled Relaxation
Settle Down
Let Your Ki Flow
I practiced Aikido for at least 5 years. In Cebu, Philippines [1988], we were the few pioneers of the art. At that time, there were few practitioners because the art is very boring at first and most beginners will quit on the first lesson. One of my classmate is now an instructor and running his own school. Personally, I really like the principles that Aikido taught me for years and even up to now, it somehow blended to my Christian principles.
When I gave my life to Christ, I had a dream and the message of the dream was so clear – "give up Aikido because I have more than Aikido for you". I could never understand the message at that time but when I look back now, I saw the actual meaning of the dream.
The founder of Aikido was not a Christian but was immersed in eastern religion of Buddhism. Maybe because the gospel had not reached his home town yet or maybe because of his tradition. I don’t have facts on this, but having studied Aikido and Christianity, I’ve found some similarities of the two principles that I practiced in life.
It was not easy to give up the things that you love to do specially when it was beneficial to your life. But I heard the message and I had to obey.
"give up Aikido because I have more than Aikido for you"
In the Bible, there are a lot principles that is hidden and if a person follows the principle, the outcome is guaranteed to be positive.
Some examples:
1. Love God with all your heart, mind and soul – that principle covers a wide aspect in our life. – we become a child of God and can be connected to his Knowledge, Wisdom and Power. Imagine the creativity that you can have with God. You sit down in your porch or coffee table and able to create ideas randomly or write something inspiring for the world to consume.
2. Love you neighbor as yourself – with this principle alone, we will have no enemies because "all" our neighbor are our friends [they hate you, you love them back]. So when you come to work today and you see the face of a coworker or a boss and you dislike that person so much that you hated even by just thinking that you are coming to work – it makes you angry. Principle #2 dissolves that anger because it says "love your neighbor as yourself" unless, you don’t love yourself… that is another post.
More principles here: http://blindcaveman.wordpress.com/tag/principle/
March 25, 2014 Leave a comment
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. http://bible.com/59/psa84.10.esv
wickedness
”Morally objectionable behavior”
”Absence of moral or spiritual values”
”The quality of being wicked”
”Estrangement from God”
”The quality of being disgusting to the senses or emotions”
dark
darkness
evil
immorality
iniquity
loathsomeness
repulsiveness
sin
sinfulness
Wickedness is a choice and so is righteousness.
March 24, 2014 Leave a comment
"The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." John 1:9 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jhn.1.9.esv
"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John [place your name here]. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, Who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
I once heard a sermon where the preacher recited the verse mentioned above but before we started reciting the verses, he reminded us to change the name “John” into our own name and then the whole congregation recited in unison. Beginning that day, I realized I had a purpose in life.
I did not know that I am a witness of the light.
Someone is facing a very difficult problem and this person feels like it is the end of the world scenario and succumbs to the greatest feeling of desperation of his/her entire life and then suddenly a stranger is telling him/her that there is a light at the end of this tunnel of despair.
You are that person.
But honestly, how do you get there to become a TLW [true Light witness]? I cannot be! I have my own problems also. I am struggling, I have a lot of problems. My mind is chaotic. My words cannot be trusted.
I don’t have peace.
I don’t even believe in God.
I am poor.
I am sick.
I am dying.
I am depressed.
I am a drug addict.
I am a liar.
I am an alcoholic.
I am unfair to others.
I cheated my spouse.
I am useless.
I am worthless.
I don’t know anything.
Precisely, those are the requirements to become a true light witness. When your life is transformed from sickness to health, from poverty to abundance, from an alcoholism to sobriety, from depression to a peaceful mind – you have a lot of story to tell how the true Light transformed you.
Tell your story to the world. One person might just need it. Even if just one person being shined by the light is worth the effort.
“We are the witness of God’s power. We have to say something.”
March 23, 2014 Leave a comment
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. http://bible.com/59/eph6.10-11.esv
NOUN: “scheme-an elaborate plan of action; strategy”
VERB: “scheme-plot something harmful”
I’m familiar with the Full Armor of God but when I thought about the “schemes of the devil”, I know I am aware of it but I could not recall any specific item. The word scheme means “an elaborate plan of action” and if used as a verb, “it is to plot something harmful”.
I have a recent, fresh and little knowledge about strategy lately since I was put in charge at work to lead a Quality Team in my department. I pushed back at first because I am more of an operational type of person and not as a strategic planner. Being volunteered with a challenging task, I was “self-forced” to research the topic regarding “strategic management” so that I will be able to manage the quality team efficiently. I came across this article/free eBook: Book-Leadership-Strategic%20Planning.pdf which provided me a few good insights on how to properly manage an enormous undertaking to improve quality. In your spare time, please try to synthesize the book to whatever needs you have in your own line of work. Strategic planning can be applied to any undertaking you have including your personal life, finances, family and career.
Strategic planning can be summarized into a few simple steps as describe in Figure 1 below. The sole objective of a strategic planning is to achieve a specific mission. A mission has to be divided into smaller portion called objectives and then the objectives has to be broken down into initiatives and then initiatives has to be broken down into the specific task. Without breaking down the mission into the smallest detail [micro level] called specific tasks, the mission will fail.
The Strategic Planning and Implementation Hierarchy
1. Vision
2. Principles
3. Mission
4. Gap Analysis
5. Goals
6. Strategies
7. Objectives
8. Specific Task [this is the most important component]
FIGURE 1: Basics of Strategic Planning:
Devil’s Strategic Plan
Vision: Empty Heaven and Full Hell
Mission:
1. to provide people with an alternate path to heaven
2. to alter peaceful life in whatever means possible
Goals:
A. Destroy Faith
B. Demoralize
C. Redefine the battle
D. Bring division
E. Deceive
F. Lead into error
G. Gain direct influence
H. Prevent conversion
I. Dilute Effort
Initiatives
A1. Tempt Us Into Sin
A2. Defile Our Conscience
A3. Get A Foothold
A4. Persecute Believers
A5. Trip Up By Slander
A6. Draw Us Into Self Reliance
A7. Get Our Eyes Off Christ
A8. Catch Us Off Guard
B1. Accuses The Saints
B2. Condemns Us
B3. Intimidates Us
B4. Discourages Us With The Truth
C1. There Is No Battle — He Is Nonexistent Or Irrelevant
C2. Fellow Believers Become Opponents –Tempts Into Exclusivity [Tendency to associate with only a select group]
C3. Battle Become "Fleshly" – Fleshly Efforts To Achieve Spiritual Ends
C4. Battle For Power & Authority
D1. Unresolved Anger, Unforgiveness, Bitterness
D2. Envy, Pride, Selfish Ambition
D3. Covetousness, Murder, Arguments
D4. Judgment, Slander, Gossip, Inflammatory Speech
D5. Alienation From Leaders — Seeds Of Mistrust
E1. Lies
E2. Twists The Truth
E3. Targets God’s People
F1. False Teachers
F2. False Teaching
F3. False Miracles
F4. Targets Good Leaders
G1. Blatant Occultism
G2. Veiled Occultism — "New Age" & Christian Mysticism
G3. Wants To Demonize Believers
H1. Steals Seeds Of The Gospel
H2. Blinds Unbelievers
I1. Puts Phony In With The Real
I2. Tries To Change The Church’s Agenda
I did not mean to confuse you with mindless information. Actually, these information are very useful in fighting against the “schemes of the devil”. Knowing the schemes or initiatives of the devil can be a good starting point of fighting against the enemy. Without truly knowing the actual task of the devil [what is it that is thrown at you?] , one cannot find a true countermeasure [remedy] for it.
Let’s try an example:
1. Hey, have you heard of so and so …. , this is D4, gossiping, which produces division.
2. You are diagnosed with cancer and you are depressed … this is B3, to intimidate you about your future
3. Don’t worry, using drugs or cheating with your spouse is not harmful… this is A1, you minor sinning can lead you to destruction.
4. I want to be rich and famous… this is D2, pride and selfish ambition.
I hope that you understand the point of identifying the schemes of the devil – with the knowledge of the scheme, we can now clearly identify what we need to do next or “not do”.
BC
NOTE: I did not came up with the list, I just rearranged the presentation model so that it can be simplified.
MindMap-EnemySchemesAndCountermeasures.html
MindMap-EnemySchemesAndCountermeasures.pdf
FIGURE 2- Devil’s Strategic Plan
Schemes of the Devil
March 23, 2014 Leave a comment
Three days ago, I made a tiny discovery of a new heart symptom that I felt while riding indoors with my bike. The next day, I pushed myself to the to limit at the pool to find out if I will be able to execute my 65miles bike ride plan. Results were the same, no chest pain even at higher heart rate.
The following articles supported my theory of why I need to do more hard workout – to build collateral arteries.
Please read…
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/80421698/Medicine-BuildingCollateralArteries.pdf
http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/do-it-yourself-cardiac-bypass-surgery
March 23, 2014 Leave a comment
DATE: 20140322
DURATION: 3hours and 51 Minutes
WHO: Me and Rick Haro
WHAT: 2014 Rosedale Ride [20th Anniversary]
WHERE: Start/Finish Samsung Austin Semiconductor Site, Austin, Texas USA.
HOW: By Bike
Total Miles=62 Miles
Average Speed=16.0 mph
Total Time=3.51 hours [computer]
Total Time on the road=4.09 hours [stopwatch]
Gatorade Consumed= 3 bottles
Clif Bar consumed=2
Power Gel consumed=2
Cups of pickle juice=NONE
No. of flat tires=NONE
No. of accidents=NONE
Muscle Cramps=NONE
Chest Pain=NONE
Raindrops=NONE
Post Ride Meal=rice and leftover Chinese food
BP after the ride=105/65, 68 bpm
Days after Myocardial Infarction [Stent #1]-1916 days [20081222]
Days after Stent #2-1359 days [20100702]
Temperature=76’F
TIMELINE:
0500, End of Sleep,
0505, Pasta breakfast; Bagel, coffee
0715, Leave the house
0830, Mile 0, start of 65 Miles Bike Ride
0930, Mile15
1030, Mile 25
1130, Mile 40
1300, Mile 62
1400,
1500, Shower
1600, Nap
1700,
2000, Read
2400, Sleep
2014 Rosedale Ride Full Map [view map in pdf] 
March 22, 2014 1 Comment
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. http://bible.com/59/rev3.20.esv
"curiosity-a state in which you want to learn more about something"
Man is always skeptic, we normally doubt whenever/whatever something good or bad is presented to us. Like dealing with a telemarketer or an expert fast talker salesperson, or even a specialist in a certain field, we always say in our mind "I’m not interested".
I read a lot of books and currently the topics that I am researching is about "failure analysis, quality, leadership, sex, learning, education, psychology, medicine [cardio] etc. When I read, I learn something from it and I take good notes and post it here in my journal. I’m always watchful not to pretend to be an expert on a subject because I am not. I read because I am curious and I am not planning to become an expert on any particular subject. I just want to know what it is – that is my personal objective.
I’ve recently finished reading the following books but I have not made a short summary or mindmap yet because I have other business to take care of. Taking notes while reading slows me down. I’ll share later. Here’s the list
1. Brief: Make an Impact by Saying Less
2. The Execution Premium
3. Failure Analysis at p99
4. Collection of NASA, FAA and NTSB Hanbooks
(if you love to read and do not have the resources, please let me know)
So, when I am in a conversation regarding the topics that I previously mentioned, I sometimes respond to a conversation in a different way and then the other person starts saying in their mind "oh because you read a book or article, now you are now an expert".
Please forgive me if I sometimes sounded like that here in my journal. Hey, this is my journal and honestly I am assuming no one is reading.
I can’t help myself if I sometimes talks like an expert in a field. The knowledge that I’ve collected has to go somewhere. There are physical laws postulated by man like gravity, speed, liquid, gas, pressure etc. Medicine also discovered something that helped mankind to fight heart disease, cancer, plague and common diseases. Medical field discovered new procedures to augment an ailing body. But then there are also spiritual stuff that looks like "untrue" like heaven, God, Christ, The Bible, Holy Spirit.
Aren’t they all the same at first – unknown to man?
I want to throw a question at you.
Pause…
What will happen if you open your heart to Christ?
My curiosity to this question led me to something special and I wish I’ve started early in life.
It’s 0645, I have to get dressed for the 65Miles bike ride today.
March 21, 2014 Leave a comment
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Galatians 5:13 ESV http://bible.com/59/gal.5.13.esv
"Service-an act of help or assistance"
I wonder what will happen to the world if the mindset of each person professing to love God will start the day thinking "how can I help someone today?"…instead of thinking "how can my world benefit me today?".
It’s "not normal" not to think of "self" first in our society. I think man is born with the nature of self preservation. Me first, others second.
A person has to be taught to not necessarily neglect self but instead think more of others also as we enjoy the luxuries of life [or the convenience of our resources].
There is no other textbook in the world that teaches "love of others" instead of "love of self" except the teachings implied here in the Bible. Knowing the truth that loving others can benefit yourself in a deeper sense.
We all know that selfishness is not a good thing. It does hurt when someone calls you selfish yet we do it all the time.
When we go to work, we complain too much about our company, the management,about our superiors etc that there is too much work to do with so little time to execute yet on every other week a paycheck is deposited to our bank account without fail.
What about changing the way we think – that instead of complaining about workloads, we think about "how can I help my workplace get better".
I honestly don’t complain much. I think I got this from my 4-year service in the US Army. We are told to do something and we cannot talk back to our superiors or else we will get an "insubordination charge" and with negative consequences. Somehow, that mindset of mine to "just do it" without complaining is still in my system. With the reinforcement of the Bible teachings that I’ve receive over the years, I’ve come to realize that doing "service to others" comes automatic.
I’m not expecting the world to turn everyone like me. I just want to convey the message that there is more joy in doing service to others than to self.
It’s like watching someone eat a chocolate cookie because you gave it up for him/her.
Try it, it is fulfilling.
March 20, 2014 Leave a comment
for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. http://bible.com/59/1ti4.8.esv
It is hard to imagine yourself without life. It is hard to imagine life without death. It is hard to imagine death without heaven. It is hard to imagine heaven if no one mentioned that there is life to come.
We are going to face death by choice. Our body has a life span. There is a beginning and there is an end. Thinking about it is mind boggling and depressing at times. Imagine that you will be gone forever – meaning forever.
Yesterday, I’m reminded again that I need to prepare. I am currently experiencing a pain in my left arm during exercise, a symptom that showed up before my stent#2 in July 2010. It’s been Day1357 now since that dreadful day. I did not choose my body to have a heart problem. All the things that I do on a regular basis are healthy stuff. I personally call it "being chosen" to have blockage in my LAD so that I will be motivated to live a great life in my adversities. By chance a cardiac patient, by choice – a motivated person. Every morning since 2008, I try to find ways to wake up motivated and alive. Even when I’m faithful to God, I still sometimes feel sad about my situation. I know that God is in control and He knows what He is doing in my life. But how do I motivate myself to look at life beautifully even if I know that at any moment – my heart can fail.
I’ve been back with my long distance swimming and cycling. I’ve added a 25-yard subsurface swim in my swimming routine where I swim underwater for 25 yards holding my breath. Yes, I’m that crazy. Right before I do my 1-mile swim workout, I will meditate for 3-5 minutes and do breathing exercise and fill my lungs with air as much as I could and then slowly dive-in underwater without using much effort and execute an gentle underwater dolphin kick while I blow tiny bubbles out from my lungs for 25 seconds until I reach at the end of the pool.
My family is not comfortable knowing the things I do physically. Honestly, in my mind, I’m already dead and everyday that I wake up is just a life extension. A life extension that I cherished because it is a left over- a gift.
But how do I really motivate myself to face life with courage and optimism?
The Bible mentioned this thing called "heaven". Looking at the things to come, what’s out there, what it’s like and what will I do there – that motivates me and gets me excited.
I think heaven is much better than life here on earth.
March 19, 2014 Leave a comment
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
http://bible.com/59/jhn14.23.esv
Please read the 14th Chapter of John https://www.bible.com/bible/59/jhn.14.esv to see the whole story.
In verse 22, Jesus was asked by one of His disciples:
“Lord, how is it that You will reveal Yourself [make Yourself real] to us and not to the world?”
When I was 12 or 13 years old, I remember reading my Bible moments before going to school. I was attending a private school in Ormoc where I was new to the city and new to the school. I did not have a lot friends at first and reading the Bible before going to school was just a habit that helped me focus for the day and I will try to remember what I’ve read throughout the day and of course I will forget. No one ever told me to do it and I was just going through the motion of opening the pages, read a few words then off to school. At that time, I have no clue of what I was reading. It seems like I was reading a book from the library…just a book with no hidden and special message for me.
Now, reading the Bible is different. It seems so real.
When I read a passage in the Bible, the message will just jump off the screen in my computer and start speaking to my heart and I don’t even struggle trying to understand what the message for me for that day.
If Christianity, The Bible, The Holy Spirit were made up by some ancient authors then the story of Jesus might have won an award for creativity.
Imagine for a moment the following:
1. God, the Father in the Old Testament.
2. God sent His Son Jesus in the New Testament.
3. But before He did that, He told some Prophets to write about His coming
4. Then Jesus was born
5. Jesus live with His disciples and trained them
6. Jesus predicted His Death and Resurrection
7. Jesus told His disciples about the Holy Spirit [here in Chapter 14]
8. Jesus died and resurrected but left us His Word, The Bible
9. Holy Spirit took over Jesus’ place
10. Holy Spirit dwells in us on a daily basis.
God-Jesus-Training-Bible-Holy Spirit. What a great story!
The story is very interesting and if only people can understand the big picture about the Kingdom, the full story of the Gospel and how the Holy Spirit is communicating with us moment by moment.
But why can’t we decode the message of the Bible?
Why sometimes He is not real?
Why sometimes we don’t fully understand our hardship?
Why sometimes I am lost and don’t know what to do?
The answer to all these questions are mentioned in verse 23.
Read it again, it’s there.
March 18, 2014 Leave a comment
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. http://bible.com/59/col1.28.esv
"Mature-Fully developed and ready to be used"
"Maturity-The period of time in your life after your physical growth has stopped and you are fully developed"
Our faith journey is like a journey of a soldier who knows nothing about the battlefield at the beginning. Right after enlistment, a recruit is trained 24/7 for 8-12 weeks and then undergoes a specialty training for another 13 weeks and then goes to his/her unit for the "first assignment". Then in a few years, he/she will undergo further specialty training until the soldier is fully developed and then sent to the battlefield.
Although sometimes, a soldier is sent to the battlefield right after training, one must remember that all he/she got is the rigid training and discipline but no experience but somehow surrounded with fully trained individuals [brothers/sisters] who will assist him/her in any way possible to survive in the battlefield.
Our objective as a Christian is maturity in faith. We can not just be the new trainee forever. With the passing of years, we grow stronger and stronger in faith. Our patience are tested to the max, our perseverance is tested along the way where sometimes we say "Where are you God?", "Are you real?"and we must understand that hardship will always be there because we have an enemy called the devil and he is just waiting for an opportunity to attack.
We don’t need to be in full time ministry to do that, we just need to be fully connected to the Lord’s bigger vision for mankind and always listening to the move/enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.
I am not perfect. I failed most of the time everyday but I know what I know about Christ and His resurrection and I desire to be fully matured so that in due season I can help build a brother or a sister in faith.
March 17, 2014 Leave a comment
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. http://bible.com/59/php4.9.esv
Carry out, engage in
Learn by repetition
(performing arts) engage in a rehearsal (of)
Make use of; obey or follow
Engage in or perform
March 16, 2014 Leave a comment
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
http://bible.com/59/JAS3.13.ESV
Mindmap-Wisdom Checklist
Wisdom/Intelligence
Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge, experience, understanding or common sense and insight
Intelligence is the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
Wisdom from above
pure
peace-loving
gentle
open to reason
full of mercy and good fruits
impartial
sincere
be pure, be peace-loving, be open to reason, be full of mercy, be impartial, be sincere
Wisdom from somewhere else
jealousy
selfish ambition
boastful
untruthful
earthly
demonic
disorder
morally reprehensible
delete jealousy, delete selfish ambition, delete boasting, delete being untruthful/dishonest, delete being so earthly/worldly, delete being demonic, delete disorder, delete being morally reprehensible [vicious]
March 15, 2014 Leave a comment
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! http://bible.com/59/psa143.10.esv
To my 3 closest friends at 1801 plus WP:
Before I started my Christian journey as a believer, I used to do things that were not pleasing to God or my mother. I know it was not right for my body or my mind or my future but I did it anyway because I have no control over it – I just gave in to my cravings. I was already in my >30-day journey in attending church, reading the Bible and prayer but occasionally I reverted back to my old habits and I struggled dealing with it.
But as the days progressed to months, I began to see the change in me and then at some point in time, the bad vices just disappeared in the air. At that time I did not know why. That was 25 years ago and I have not gone back to the old “me”.
The Now!
I come home straight from work.
I don’t socialize much.
I don’t party.
I don’t drink.
I don’t smoke.
I don’t do drugs.
I don’t even know what 6th Street in Austin, Texas looks like at night.
I don’t go to bars and hangout.
I don’t go out with friends and co-workers.
I don’t party on Friday or Saturday
I don’t call people [they call me]
I don’t write to people
I don’t have a text mate
I don’t socialize in FB [of course I have Worpdpress and Twitter]
You might say that I have a boring life or a weird life. Of course if you live close by, you know that I am perfectly normal. Yes, I am perfectly normal, happy and contented person and living this life to the fullest. I have everything I need and want and I could not ask for more. Besides all the material gains, I have inner peace and joy.
My daily schedule:
1. Aeropress coffee in the morning.
2. Bible reading and prayer
3. Write This journal
4. Go to work [K-cups coffee after lunch]
5. Swim/Bike/Run [alternate days]
6. Read [Psychology, Medicine, Computer, Leadership, Management, Failure Analysis, Problem Solving]
7. Watch Netflix or DVR’ed show [to decompress]
8. Prayer
9. Sleep
I am not proposing to my kids and the world to “model” this life. We have our own “life journey”. It is important that you follow your own path. What I am trying to point out here is that there is a better life out there for you. If you kept saying to yourself the word “I should…” upon waking up, like:
I should exercise…
I should stop drinking …
I should not have gone out…
I should not have engage with …
I should have read more … instead of …
I should study more …
I should avoid those people …
I should separate myself from …
I should quit my job and find another …
I think it is time for you to try something else.
There are a lot of self help books out there. Some of them are really good , informative and powerful but the problem with “how to” books are they are just “howto’s” and there is no power behind them. What I mean by “power” is that there is no “spiritual power” behind it, it is bound for failure.
Human problems are mostly spiritual matters, read and study the Bible diligently and apply the knowledge and wisdom to your own life, introspection, prayers and definitely the course of your life will change. Of course, someone can tell you, do this, or do that but it takes more than a simple procedural instruction on how to develop a great way of life.
So what is the best advice?
“Be led by the Holy Spirit”.
As you read this journal, you are already being led by the Spirit. There is no next step. The Spirit will take you minute by minute and create your new ‘You”.
NOTE: If a still small voice is whispering you, follow the instructions. Just do it. That is the Holy Spirit leading you.
To my daughter who is in Phase 3.1, I’m not going to tell you what to do next. It’s your life, create – it but be led by the Spirit.
It’s 0900H, I’m leaving for a 40mile bike ride outdoor. Indoor training is over!
BC
March 14, 2014 1 Comment
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. http://bible.com/59/php1.6.esv
Growing up as a kid I can always remember this quote in our wall that says "The Greatest Mistake Is Giving Up". At that time I did not have a clue where it came from. Reading today’s verse reminded me of the quote. It is such a fulfilling thought that sometimes we are placed in a very difficult situation and sometimes the only way out was a press of a button called "get me out of here".
I was in boot camp in 1992, Fort Leonard Wood Missouri and I was having difficulties mentally due to my wife being pregnant with our first baby when I left for boot camp. I could not backed out from my training since I’ve already took the oath of enlistment. But when I arrived at boot camp, the whisper in my ears kept coming back "you can give up now during training". On the 3rd week, the thought of giving up was so severe that I went to my chain of command and demanded that I want to get out for "hardship" reason due to family. That did not work. For some reason, the US Army knows that that reason was used a lot in the past and denied my request. I either have to fail a drug test or break my leg to be discharged. I ended up serving 4 great years in the Army.
Fast forward a few years from that milestone and looking back now, my life could have been so different.
I would not have lived in South Korea for 1 year, I’ve made some close friends.
I would not have lived in Fort Hood and Brent would not have been conceived.
I would not have been employed by AMD which led to my employment at Samsung for 15 years.
I would not have brought my sister and sister in law in Texas.
I would not have helped a friend from New York to work at Samsung,
I would not have helped a cousin from Florida to work at Samsung.
Looking back, I would not be writing this journal and you not reading it.
See the difference?
Giving up what you have started, your journey in life, the job you hated, the people you’ve met along the way. Those are mini milestones that can contribute to your fulfilling journey.
When you start something, finish it because there is a reason behind it, We are not bound for failures. Our calling is very specific and the end is very well made – it is made for success.
March 13, 2014 Leave a comment
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
http://bible.com/59/1co15.55-57.esv
1. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
2. "Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”
March 10, 2014 Leave a comment
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. http://bible.com/59/psa103.17-18.esv
steadfast love
not shakable love
marked by firm determination love
firm love
dependable love
steady love
unbendable love
unshakable love
unswerving love
unwavering love
March 10, 2014 Leave a comment
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
http://bible.com/59/psa100.4-5.esv
There are gates in heaven?
It all started when man wrote the Bible. Some may say that it is being made up through creative imagination of various writers in the early days. Some say it was written with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. People think that the Holy Spirit is made up too.
Made up or not, the message is worth examining.
I want you to think for a moment that the Bible is true (just pretend for a moment). Faith will start from that premise. “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God”. When you read a passage in the Bible, what you are reading is the Word of God – that is God speaking to you.
When our generation discovered the power of the Bible, some highly motivated and curious individuals conducted a deeper study of the Book, made some commentaries and wrote books about it to explain what it means and created some powerful doctrines. These doctrines later became the foundation of religion. From a high level perspective, the church appeared to be successful in evangelism and reaching the unreachable part of the continent.
I’ve shared the Gospel to the poor, the needy and the uneducated and when I told them about the story of Jesus, their eyes sparked with enthusiasm and reception. Without thinking too deeply, they understood and heard the message and processed the teaching without hesitation. But when I shared the gospel here in the US, where people has everything, the reception of the Gospel is different.
God wants us to reach out to all the nation. We can do that easily now … Blog about faith, study the Word openly in forums, online sermons, mobile application, websites, build a huge church building and people will come and hear the word.
But there is a bigger issue.
There are people that are “not easy” to convince about the gospel. They are skeptics, they want proofs and they want evidence that what they are hearing and reading is the truth. They want to see a miracle, a lame walking in front of them, eyes being opened, thousands being fed. Some want their problems fixed with one command like the storm in the Sea of Galilee where Jesus calmed the storm.
To some, believing in God is put on hold. “I don’t need it right now”. “I’ll get to it later”.
How to tell a 21st century intellectual that there is heaven without confusion? How to tell your coworker that Jesus is real without making them uncomfortable and hate you? How to tell your teenager son or daughter that there is such thing as eternity without driving them away from the truth? How to tell your non-Christian blog follower that there is God and God has a Son called Jesus and also there is the third person of God called the Holy Spirit without offending their own beliefs and personal doctrines and philosophy. How to explain to your readers about the wisdom of God and it’s benefits? How to explain here the power of the peace of God without being so elaborate and mind boggling?
From the perspective of a non Bible believer, the whole thing about faith becomes so confusing. No wonder they are not excited to read and study the Bible every morning.
When a human being is living a good life, healthy and full of vigor, the question of eternity is irrelevant. But when you are near the end of life or maybe you’ve experienced a near death situation or maybe you have a family member who is about to depart to the next phase in life – then your mind begins to question about the validity of heaven. Is heaven real? What it’s like? How to get in? What shall I do? Shall I go to church? Shall I do good and change my heart? Shall I deprive myself with material things and devote myself to spirituality? Shall I stop watching tv? Shall I turn off the internet? Shall I stop using my social media app? Shall I give away my money to the poor? Shall I sell all I have and go to a solitary place where I can communicate with God in the purest sense?
The short answer is NO. The answers to those questions are the effect of your faith. You don’t have to do a lot of things.
When we believe in God, our whole life will change direction and some of us will not anymore do things “the usual way”, hence our friend will think that we are weird or become weird.
The purpose and mission of Christianity is to build the Kingdom of God. Going to heaven is the after effect, the perks or the reward. I did not believe in God because I want to go to heaven. I believe in God because at some point in my life it was revealed to me. Without too much intellectual processing, one day I decided that I will start believing His existence. It was a decision that I made and so far the benefits outweighs the negative.
It does not benefit me when I recruit people to Christ or share a long journal about Him or my faith therefore I am not recruiting people to join me. I do not get points for heaven when I tell my wife, my children, my extended family, my friends, my blog followers . (If you’ve discovered or invented something marvelous, wouldn’t you like to tell the world about it?)
Back to the “gate” topic.
So how can you enter the gate?
The actual process is very simple. I dislike using the word “simple” because it implies “how come you have not figured it out yet”. The reason why to some people it is complicated is because the devil is making it hard for us to see. Sometimes he creates a scenario where it is impossible for us to see the truth. If you are reading this far, you’ve overcome the obstacle that the enemy had provided.
Simply:
1. Believe that there is God.
2. Start a conversation with God.
Once step 1 and 2 are established, the next instruction will follow.
I am not an expert on faith and Christianity. I am just an ordinary person who live a simple life. I am not a Bible scholar either. Join me in building this Kingdom in a different perspective. You don’t have to actually do anything.
Just say in your heart that you are in and you want to be a part of this silent movement of faith.
It’s not about entering the gates of heaven. It’s about enjoying/watching the people you’ve influenced with the Gospel as they enter the gates is what matters most.
The gates will always be open for us – to those who believe.
March 8, 2014 2 Comments
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. James 1.13-14
Temptations can result to unhappiness. I was curious about the subject this morning and did a study to the 3 buckets of the temptation of man. They say [Bible scholars] that all mankind’s downfall can be categorized by 3 items namely as:
1. Lust of the flesh
2. Lust of the eyes
3. Pride of life
As a background, please read this first: http://biblehub.com/1_john/2-16.htm. I summarized Gill’s exposition in the mindmap below and I’ve added the failure analysis.
If I have to write a one-page article about happiness, it will only contain these words.
1. Know what you are doing.
2. Know that you are not indulging on the 3 common mode failures of man
3. Repeat Step 1 and 2 for life.
MindMap-FaultTree-Unhappiness.pdf
MindMap-FaultTree-Unhappiness.html
MindMap-FaultTree-Unhappiness.mm [Download Freeplane Here]
MindMap-FaultTree-Unhappiness http://biblehub.com/1_john/2-16.htm
1. The lust of the flesh
the corruption of nature
the fountain of all sin
indwelling sin, the flesh
corrupt principle which lusts against the Spirit
various lusts of the flesh, fleshly lusts, which war against the soul
also called worldly lusts
a lust of the body
the lust of uncleanness
all unchaste/immoral desires
promiscuous thoughts
impure words
unethical actions
fornication
adultery
rape
incest
sodomy
all unnatural lusts
unnecessary eating
drinking
gluttony
drunkenness
excess of wine
Indulge (one’s appetite) to satiety
rioting-state of disorder involving group violence
reveling-celebrate noisily, often indulging in drinking
engage in uproarious festivities
all the sensual pleasures of life
gratification of the carnal mind and the lusts of it
Failure Effect: Going after the flesh
being in the wrong place
drawn to sin/temptations
the body is dishonored
sickness/disease
mental anguish
soul is destroyed
doing something you are not suppose to do
broken relationship
health problems
complicated relationship
loss of opportunities
loss of job
loss of friends
loss of spouse
wound, dishonor and reproach brought on the character
unsatisfied
unhappiness
2. The lust of the eyes
after unlawful objects
may design unchaste [immoral] and lascivious [driven by lust] looks
eyes full of adultery, and whereby adultery is committed
may intend a sinful curiosity of seeing vain sights, and shows, with which the eye of man is never satisfied
the sin of covetousness
the objects of which are visible things gold, silver, houses,lands, possessions
which sin is drawn forth and cherished by the eyes
indeed a covetous man has little more satisfaction than the beholding his substance with his eyes
which he takes much sinful pleasure
Failure Effect: Going after vain and empty things
going after vain and empty things
looking
being in the wrong place
doing something you are not suppose to do
broken relationship
health problems
complicated relationship
loss of opportunities
loss of job
loss of friends
loss of spouse
eyes of men are never satisfied
unsatisfied
unhappiness
3. The pride of life
ambition of honor,
ambition of places
ambition of high titles, as in the Scribes and Pharisees
ambition of grand living
living in a luxurious and pompous manner [Puffed up with vanity]
in rich diet
costly apparel
having fine seats
having palaces and stately buildings
craving for numerous attendance [LAM Syndrome, look at me]
Failure Effect: Going after pride
produces vanity and vexation of spirit
waste resources
waste effort
waste time
missed opportunities
lost opportunities
encounter many difficulties in the process
unable to obtain wants
unsatisfied
unhappiness
Related Post: purpose-driven-life-chapter-26-growing-through-temptation
March 7, 2014 3 Comments
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7.14
There is a fine line between humility and conceit. Knowing that line is not easy to detect especially when all in life is going well – that is, you are winning the race, ahead of the game, has a lot of knowledge, has a lot of resources, has a lot of financial reserve, has great health, has beauty and brains, has a lot to write about and share, has two or three letters added before or after your name, has no big issues in life, kids are obedient and on the road to success, work is natural and you are able to tackle every task thrown at you.
How can you apply humility to your life when all around you is something to be proud of?
I’m not the fastest swimmer in my local pool but I am a distance swimmer who can last forever for a while. I normally swim a mile every other day. Sometimes, there are fast swimmers who try to compete with me on a few laps. They try to pass over me and then slow down and hold the pace and then manipulate the pace up or down and they know that I am slower. Sometimes I took the challenge and try to race with them but then in a few minutes, I will suffer and could not keep up with the higher pace. So what I learned is that I have my limitations and decided to ignore those invites for speed racing.
I’m by heart – humble with low profile but sometimes I have to keep reminding myself of humility – not to give in to pride and vanity and I’ve learned that there is really no point of being so full of pride because I am marked for meekness. I can have a little but not excessive.
I still crosses the meekness/prideful line once in a while. I am a work in progress.
March 6, 2014 Leave a comment
“Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.” Isaiah 61:7 ESV
See it at YouVersion.com:
Please read the full chapter here before you continue reading: http://bible.com/59/isa.61.7.esv and think that God is talking to you personally as you read. Read it a few times and then close your eyes and feel the Words that is spoken to your heart. Verses 1-4 are instructions [ your to do list] but when you get to verse 5 onwards, that is the promise.
If I am salesman for God, and I am trying to convince you to buy my product, what can you lose? Instead of a loss, you gained a double portion and an everlasting favor.
Christianity is not like a business marketing strategy that He is trying to convince you to believe on His existence. Christianity is having faith, trusting that you are believing something in your heart without self benefits. It is either you choose to believe or not.
Sometimes I tried to think scientifically about God and many times I have my doubts. I think about evolution, creation, medicine, psychology, engineering advances and life itself and many times it confuses me if His existence is really just my imagination. I’ve read many books, learned many new things but somehow I could not convinced myself that the Words in the Bible were made up by someone else. Reading through passages every day gave me more insights why the contents of the Bible speaks to the present day. How can Paul knows about love and jealousy when during his time the society was still very primitive. If you replace the psychology handbook DSM IV or 5 with a Bible, I truly believe that human issues can be fixed too.
So then, I asked myself, why not just believe in God. I can still believe in science but also will be receiving everlasting joy.
Why not?
March 5, 2014 Leave a comment
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:6, 7 ESV
There are several sources of knowledge available all over the world. Fire up your favorite search engine and research any topic that you would like to know and in a few minutes, you will absorb a certain opinion or knowledge about the subject.
The Bible is unique. Do a search on a subject, read the passage and then contemplate. Most of the time, you will get confused of what actually is the message and sometimes it feels like you are just reading an ordinary book, but you are not. What you are doing when you are reading a passage, God is giving you an important information through the revelation from the Holy Spirit. Your eyes sees the information, but then it is the Spirit of God that reveals the message – then a small voice whispers in your ears “did you get it?”.
For those of you that just started reading the Bible, be patient. The fact that you attempted to read this journal this far is already a good sign that God is trying to reach your heart.
I used to struggle of walking straight in life and I always miss the mark or not meet the moral standard (I still miss the mark sometimes) . Sometimes I will say, “tomorrow will be a new day, I’ll be a changed person”. But then the next day, I’m back again on the same predicament. When I started reading the Bible, things changed and I could not explain why all of a sudden there is someone inside me instructing me every step of the way, whispering “hey, you are not suppose to do that” or reminding me “go read this article or passage” or “hey, why do you start typing and I will tell you what to write”.
Part of the reason that I could not convince my family that there is God or explain to them my beliefs is that they have to experience Him in a personal way. It is simple to teach your wife, kids, brothers and sisters about the Bible but it is hard to teach how revelation works. Enlightenment is not something that you can write a mathematical formula or a step by step howto. Enlightenment is an experience, an encounter with the Spirit of God. The principle in the Bible is not like the laws of the land where the context is meant to be followed to the letter. Of course some part of it has to be followed to the letter but the message of the Bible is meant for a higher purpose, that purpose is for you and me to find.
Get the Level 0 knowledge, it is worth knowing.
RA
See it at YouVersion.com:
March 5, 2014 Leave a comment
If your current job involves quality and reliability improvement of a system, the following handbooks will jumpstart your knowledge about failure analysis. Know about function, failure modes, failure effects, Fault Tree, Event Tree etc and how those tools are being used at NASA and the aviation industry.
PDF bookmarks are provided on each document so make sure that you open the files using Acrobat and not from IE or Chrome for easy reading. Download the files to your pc.
Also download the Freeplane Mindmapping software, you can use this to create fault trees and event trees.
Book-NASA-FaultTreeHandbookPlusAeroSpace-1.pdf
FAA-H-8000-RA-SystemSafetyHandbook.pdf
FAA-H-8001-RA-RiskManagementHandbook.pdf
FAA-H-8083-9A-AviationInstructorsHandbook.pdf
FRACAS-FMECA-Binder.pdf
FMEA-FMECA-Binder.pdf
Sources
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codeq/doctree/
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/
March 4, 2014 Leave a comment
““Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:2, 3 ESV
See it at YouVersion.com: