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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Iceberg

This entry is my reflection and summary of what I've learned from the first chapter of the book "Habitudes: Images that Form Leadership Habits & Attitudes" by Dr. Tim Elmore.

(picture taken from http://www.starstore.com/acatalog/iceberg-poster.jpg)

According to Dr. Tim Elmore, "The Iceberg represents your leadership. The 10% above the water represents your skill. The 90% below the water represents your character. It's what's below the surface that sinks the ship."

The iceberg is very good image to portray who we are especially as leaders. For example, the "Titanic", the famous ship that was said to be unsinkable, was sunk not by the tip of the iceberg but by what was below that tip. Relating that to our leadership, the tip (skills, talents, charisma) may be what other people notice first and may be the one that pushes you on the top, but it is what is below the iceberg tip (character), that makes you stay on top.

In our generation today, a lot of famous leaders end up sabotaging their own leadership and position because of their weak character. They may have admirable skills and prowess to do great in the world, but because of this weakness, they end up falling down the very same ladder they climbed.

This weakness that is so common among leaders of the world all starts with a tiny little speck of dirt like a lie or cheating on a test. However, as this dust begin to accumulate, it takes the form of even greater crimes, scandals and immorality.

This story taken from the book is a very good example:

"One hundred years ago, a boy named Schicklewuber grew up in Europe. As a teen, he never learned about character. His parents never taught him right from wrong, and he began to come up with his own ideas and values. His father put him down when he talked about becoming a priest, and insulted him when he spoke of becoming an artist. He was never valued, nor taught values. One night, he heard his mom and dad argue about moving away. He was convinced they hated him and suspected they would leave him behind. He decided to put up an emotional wall and never let anyone inside his heart. He ran away. This boy grew up to be a man. This man a leader. You him as Adolf Hitler."

Adolf Hitler became a great man in history. He was a man known for his amazing leadership skills. Unfortunately, due to his weak character, he wrongly used his influence which resulted to the slaughter of millions of innocent lives and to his own downfall.

Dr. Elmore interestingly pointed out that many people today invest 10% of their lives for preparation for the 90% that makes up their career. In contrast, Jesus spent 90% preparing his inward life, for the 10% that made up His career (to die on the cross for all our sins).

As a result, look at what a great man of influence and leader Jesus has become throughout these centuries that has passed. He made a mark in history and He was never forgotten. His Words and teachings still make ripples of impact to the lives of the people today.

Jesus said in Luke 6:43-49

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.
He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

With the media and the society leveraging worldly values, beliefs, and ideas daily wherever we go, it is not easy to be set-apart. These influences are ingrained in the very essence of our culture and daily routine. But we have to be reminded that whatever we are allowing to be planted right now in our lives, the seeds that we are nurturing in our lives, these will be the fruits that we will bear. If we allow ourselves to be nurtured into greatness through the seeds of God's WORD and His standards, then we will become men and women leaders of strong character that tide can strike down.

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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Ana Laura - Completely

The secret of life is letting go
the secret of love is letting it show
in all that I do
in all that I say
right here in this moment

the power of prayer is in a humble cry
the power of change is in giving my life
and laying it down
down at your feet
right here in this moment

Chorus:
take my heart
take my soul
I surrender everything to your control
and let all that is with in me lift up to you and say
I am yours and yours alone
completely

This journey of life is a search for truth
this journey of faith is following you
every step of the way
through the joy and the pain right here in this moment

(Chorus)

Right here, right now, and for the rest of my life
Hear me say

(Chorus)

I am yours and yours alone
Completely

(Listen to it here)

This song is officially one of my favorite songs! :)

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Saturday, October 13, 2007

Planet Shakers - I'm Forever Yours

I give my all to you
Send me and I will go for you
To the ends of the earth
I'll follow after you
I want the world to know
Your love endures forever

Tell me and I'll obey
This is far greater than sacrifice
Trusting you and not myself
Will always lead to blessing
Lord have your way in me
Not my will, yours be done

Here I stand within your presence
Longing for your touch
A thousand days cannot compare
To one day in your courts

Hold me now
And never ever let me go
My Jesus, my precious Saviour
I'm forever yours

I will worship you forever
I will worship you

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Heart-lift for the Burdened

Mat 11:28-30 (NIV)

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Mat 11:28-30 (NLT)

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."

Mat 11:28-30 (MSG)

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

I have been wondering for the longest time about these verses. I understand that we can find rest in the Lord when we surrender our burdens to Him. But more than that it was revealed to me just tonight that there is a very important and essential element that we must not miss out in these verses... the heart... my heart...

It has been puzzling me why is it that even if I surrender my burdens to God, it seems as if I still carry those burdens. I know that at times it really is a process.. a surrendering process that I have to go through. Well, that was what I was used to. But I realized, that the reason there has always been a process for me is because of my heart.

THE PROBLEM:

What things were I putting in my heart? my problems, my worries, my burdens, my dreams, my desires, my plans.. all about me...

Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

All these things were preoccupying my focus, my thoughts, my emotions, my life, my time... They have become my treasures in my heart... taking the place of my God.

My heart was not set in the right angle and position which should be towards God and God alone.

THE RESULT:

So many times I have experienced frustrations in life wherein I want things to be solved right now ASAP! So I try to do all sorts of things my way to solve problems. Also I worry a lot... And I wonder why so many times, my efforts fail.

All these time that I was burnt out, burdened, tired, stressed out, and become too weary of life is because I carried those problems and troubles.

I realized, I have been playing god too much.

THE SOLUTION:

But God's invitation is so simple. That invitation can be found in these verses in Matthew 11:28-30.

For me, its like my Father telling me (His little child too preoccupied with the world.. frowning.. in a bad mood.. disappointed... crying.. heart-broken... I kept saying yes Lord, I surrender... yet I plan and plot what if's and must-be- done's in my heart and mind... worried...)

"My child, you're stressed out again because you try to carry the world on your shoulders. You are getting frustrated again with those burdens. You can try to do things your way, but in the end, you'll just end up exhausted. You can try to force your will into them all you want, but they'll never work out. My dear child, you are not God. Only I am God. Those burdens were not meant for you to carry. Only I can carry those burdens, yes even those dreams, those plans and those desires in your heart... and only in My perfect will and time can they fulfill their purpose. So why worry? TRUST ME. Give them ALL to me. Instead of focusing on them, give your focus back to Me. Look to Me. Set your heart right back to Me. Trust Me. I love you my child. I will take care of everything. Come back and enjoy your time with Me. Rest in Me."

I see myself running back to my Father's arms... laughing, smiling, telling Him stories, sharing my heart to Him, singing to Him, just enjoying time with Him... sitting at His feet... resting like a baby in His arms.. at peace, safe, secure... loved... at home...

My Prayer:

Father... please help me to surrender everything to You and to Your sovereign and perfect timing and will in faith. Please help me to develop the habit of focusing my whole HEART to You.. to look to You alone... to devote my time, my heart, my life back to You alone... and to NEVER compromise my time with You...

In Christ's Holy Name, Amen.

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Monday, October 08, 2007

Are You ONE of US?

Lately, these past two weeks, I have been taking up personality tests of all sorts. Most of them were due to various church activities such as our small group meeting, in a seminar in baste, or during the fellowship session in UECP. Other than that, I also took a personality test in Facebook.

After taking up these tests, I learned that I am more of a dominant, steady and conscientious type of person rather than an interactive type.

I also developed a better understanding about my personality as well as other people's personality. I learned to appreciate other people more who possess a different personality from me. It also made me realize that all of us were created and designed by God to be different from each other. We were specifically fashioned into unique beings. Imagine marrying someone who is exactly like you. It would be like marrying yourself. For me, it is quite a scary thought. In fact, two people, who have opposite personalities can actually complement each other in their weaknesses and strengths whether it be in marriage, in friendship, or in a group. Try making up a team wherein everyone has a dominant type of personality. They would never reach a decision because everybody would want to lead. We all have different personalities so that all of us can perform our specific roles as body parts in the body of Christ.

1Co 12:12-27
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

We are part of the body of Christ. All of us are parts that are equally important. I remember a short narration told to us in church about sticks.

During one church activity, people were all given a stick. Each of them were told to decorate their sticks. After decorating their sticks they were told to break them. Puzzled these people wondered why they should break their sticks after putting so much effort in them. They were simply told that those sticks represent each of us. No matter how much effort you exert in your life on your own, no matter how beautiful or strong you may look on the outside, but as long as you are alone in your journey in life, you can easily be broken. You can put a scotch tape on the stick to repair it but it can still be broken over and over again. However, if you put all these sticks together as one big bundle, they cannot be broken. However, if you try to take out one stick at a time from that bundle, the bundle itself becomes weaker and eventually it can be broken. That is why all of us are equally important.

That is the CHURCH, the BODY OF CHRIST. The people is the CHURCH. Alone we cannot do much... Alone, we cannot even survive for long in this crazy world... Alone, our faith would eventually dry up. We NEED people, we NEED other fellow believers who would pull us through.. who would support us, encourage us, fuel the fire of faith and help us grow in our faith in Christ. Strong and fruitful believers stay in the BODY of CHRIST.

Joh 15:1, 4-6
I am the true vine (Jesus), and my Father is the gardener... Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

There was a season in my life wherein I did attend church but I was not really a part of it. I used to even invite friends to go to church but eventually I became distant to that church and did not stay there for long. The people I used to invite stayed in the church. Eventually, they become strong believers who became fruitful in their ministries and in their faith. However, I who left the body, did not grow that much. As a result, I developed a wayward heart, and my growth was stunted. Later on, God convicted me and called me back to CHURCH, to my spiritual family. Once again, He strengthened my faith and made me fruitful. "For apart from Him, I will not bear much fruit". Indeed without God, I am nothing... And whatever solo efforts I will try to put forth on my own will only stress me out, and they will not be fruitful...

Belonging to a Church requires us to interact with people of different personalities. Sometimes we may not even understand each other because of our differences. BUT GUESS WHAT?!? Jesus is a balance of all these personalities. That is why HE can understand and relate to each and everyone of us. :)

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Sunday, October 07, 2007

ANIMO LA SALLE!!!

Yeah!!! Animo La Salle!!!!!!!!!!!! We WON the Season 70 UAAP Men's Basketball Championship Game!!! C'mon!!! Praise God!!!

I was praying for this because I really wanted DLSU to win prior to my graduation :) WEEEEE so HAPPY!!!


Hail! Hail!
Alma Mater
Hail to De La Salle!
We'll hold your banner high and bright
A shield of green and white
We'll fight to keep
your glory bright
And never shall we fail
Hail to thee our Alma Mater!
HAIL! HAIL! HAIL!

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Friday, October 05, 2007

Undivided Heart

Undivided Heart

(Brian Doerksen, Daphne Rademaker, Cindy Rethmeier)

Teach me your ways, oh Lord
and I will walk in your truth
Show me your paths, oh Lord
for I am devoted to you
Purify my heart’s desire
I long to be your servant

Give me an undivided heart
that I may fear your name
Give me an undivided heart

No other gods, no other love
No other gods before you

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Thursday, October 04, 2007

Addicted? CONVICTED!

Lately, I have realized that something wrong is going on with me. I have not been focusing on my real priorities. Instead of giving time to study or to spend time with God, I end up wasting my time. I could not understand myself. I know what I have to do, but I can't seem to make myself do them. One of the biggest reasons for this ailment of mine is my addiction to Facebook. Trivial as it may seem compared to other types of addiction, this type is actually eating up all my time. It is making me lose interest in anything else. It also started to take up the place of my real priorities. I thought at first it was just for fun, but eventually, I can't seem to stop myself from going online just to check my Facebook and stay there. SO FINALLY TODAY, I have decided to take a stand and fight that addiction. Enough is enough! I refuse to open my Facebook unless I really need to (for my Social Computing class). It's an addiction and I know it will be a struggle. But IT IS NOT LAUGHING MATTER! This is for REAL. The worst thing that happened to me is that it is becoming a god to me. Anything that takes the time, devotion and place that rightfully belongs to my one and only God, must be thrown away. NOTHING and I mean NOTHING is worth coming between me and my God. Even something that is good can be BAD when it becomes your god... when it starts to dictate what you should do rather than God.

Unfortunately, in our generation today, there are so many other gods that takes the place of the one and only God in our lives. They take all sorts of form such as money, friends, family, studies, a significant other, careers, fame, a favorite sport, games, computers and so many more. Yes, anything that takes away most of your time, and resides most in your thoughts is your god. In my case, I have experienced all sorts of gods that took the place of my God. I am constantly tried and tested in this area of my life... Every single time, God asks me "Do you love me?" and everytime I tell my God, "YES! I DO!", I am tested over again.. and so many times I have failed... But guess what?! God never left me. He NEVER told me "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?! GO AWAY FROM ME!" Instead, He just tells me "I continue love you my child in spite of your failures, in spite of what you have done... come back to Me now... I am waiting for you..." This reminds of the situation in the Bible in John 21:15-18, wherein Peter was asked by Jesus three times if Peter really loves Jesus. Three times Peter said that he loves Jesus. But guess what?! There was a point in time when Peter even denied Jesus three times (John 18:17, 25, 27) and turned back to his old life as a sinner (John 21:2-3). BUT at that very moment, Jesus was there, waiting... Waiting for Peter to just turn around to see that He was there all along (John 21:4). That is how God loves us in spite of who we are, in spite of our sinful nature.

From time to time I believe that we are all like Peter in that point of time in his life BUT Praise God that He is who He is! Praise God, He is a embodiment of true LOVE! Praise God He is merciful, and gracious! Praise God He is Father who loves His children in spite of their prodigal and sinful nature!

I am so blessed that He is the one and only real GOD in my life. Do you have other gods? When will choose Him to be your one and only too? :) He is just there waiting... for you to turn back to Him :)

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Wednesday, October 03, 2007

The Meaning Behind the Name...

Franchere

Courageous, intelligent and honest you are a seeker of truth and willingly accept the responsibilities of leadership. Exercising wisdom and sound judgement you base your actions and decisions on the lessons of past experience. Your alert mind and creative ideas assure you of success with any project and can bring you great financial rewards. With your ever positive attitude towards life others find you inspirational.

Suaco

Very intelligent, broadminded and a good listener. You are an ideas person, with a wonderful creative imagination who is always seeking practical applications to apply this to. Your intelligence means that you have great potential for business success if you can apply some discipline and caution. You enjoy sensual pleasures and with a natural restless nature and liking for adventure life is rarely dull with you around.

Chan

You are a deep thinker and student of life using your intuition and natural detective ability to seek truth and hidden knowledge. Peaceloving and compassionate you are nonetheless strong-willed and courageous in confronting challenges. Although your approach to life tends to be on a mental level it is important for you to see your ideas and concepts take form in the material world. Your talents and leadership skills give you great potential for a distinguished career.

Franchere Suaco Chan

Your calm manner and maturity belie a fierce determination to be at the top where you can exercise authority and get things done. You have a thirst for knowledge and are willing to share with others which means you are often sought out for guidance and counsel. Your talents and generosity bring you emotional and material contentment.

After getting all these meanings from my name, I asked myself if they really do describe me...? :) Personally, I think they do in some ways :) What do you think? ;)

It's pretty fun! :) Why not try it yourself :P

Discover the hidden meaning in your name.. click here.

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Simply Mawself =<^-^>= | TNB