Going Out the Comfort Zone

5:00 o'clock this morning, I got up from my bed and set up my things to join the Shrine Hills Challenge. "I'll gonna run 5 kilometers today."
I used to do these stuffs, defying what my nature wants frequently. I call this going out of the comfort zone. Instead of running early, i can sleep deeply until 8 and watch my favorite cartoon characters on Dragon Ball Z. But I found joining fun runs more exciting and rewarding, I even run 10k on difficult route contours and suffer muscle pains for 3 days, and still want to do it again next month. Amazing, isn't it? But there is joy after the sufferings or you can cash advance the joy during the execution, just enjoy what you are doing at the moment.
Tonight, I want to have a deep sleep and wake up renewed the next morning. And again, conquer another challenger, the opposition that stops me in reading my bible first hour in the morning after waking up.
"Our greatest enemy is ourselves. Conquer it."

An Opportunity to Share

While waiting for the product demo to start, I sat beside a fellow engineer who is a little older than I am in the company. He asked me if my wristwatch is still okey and functions well, so I looked at it and told him it is doing well. We both have a common watch given by the company as a gift from last year's recognition night.
Then, he remarked "Our life turns like a watch, a daily routine." I answered, "Yes, it is. Just like everyone here, we were born, go to school, work, later have a family, children, and so on.. and die." Amazing, isn't it? Most of us follow the same patern.
But, I got a chance to tell him about what I read from the book "Purpose Driven Life" by Rev. Rick Warren. Words just came out from me spontaneously about the adventures I have when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I told him that I thought Christianity is a boring experience but I was completely wrong. There's a lot of things to discover and obstacles to overcome. But there's always a God that will help you and guide you along the way. Life is not easy there but the joy inside is overwhelming. I think life doesn't follow the same pattern again.
It is for you to discover. I want you to sincerely receive what I also received.
Jesus said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Good night.

It's How You React on It

We discover something new everyday, or atleast confirm an idea you encountered before.
In the end of the day, I just forget some lessons in its vastness. It goes to my subconscious memory. Sounds like scientific huh, but true. Someday, in the right time the thinking will revive. Do you agree? If not, just keep it to yourself. =)
One morning in the office, I read my company email to discover a not so nice request. It sounds like a person is barking in the wrong tree. I replied, another one reacted that seems offended. There were exchanges of defensive comments and so on. But in the end is the word PEACE. We are educated. Wahihihi
When caught on a serious situation, to go with the flow won't help SOMETIMES. Just take it lightly, then think clearly. Be creative. Ok matutulog na ako. It's a long and meaningful day for me. Zzz zzz zz =)

The Art of Discipline

I am tired at 10:50pm, far beyond my sleeping time when I was is college (9:00pm). But I want to build a habit of posting another thought for the day. Anything about my activities today. I know this practice will require self-discipline, but I insist. Let me start it from dawn. I read my book "Gentle Persuasion" with my bible beside it. I use the later as my ultimate reference. One of the subtitles that struck me is "Persuasive Sheep Are Gentle", I wonder why it hits me in the face. I want to disagree, something inside me is shouting and begging me to oppose. Hmm, bakit kaya?
I am leading a cell group of young professionals, I do it weekly on tuesdays. My youth pastor does too, he is the pioneer on starting the explorers company, the young prof ministry. When I came here in Davao 3 years ago, I joined it and later lead it.
What I observed in my youth pastor is his gentleness, I don't remember him in an argument to anyone, instead he faces everything gently. My style is different, I do it the opposite way most of the time. I used to confronting the idea with the person, equipped with direct to the point statements. Not so gentle and unseeingly caring. I'm on the process of self evaluation. God made us uniquely, there is no reason to compare in terms of gifts. But I know, there's always a better way to approach things.

You can Make a Difference

As I watch UFC tonight (Ultimate Fighting Championship at Studio 23), I remember the gladiators in the old days. There were bloody fights, and every event costs lives. But it was an entertainment to the erring audience. Thank God, it's not happening nowadays. Because of one man, his name is Saint Telemachus. Sounds unfamiliar? Not anymore.
"Telemachus was a monk that lived in Asia in the fourth century. He felt an inner voice from the Lord to go to Rome, but didn't know why. He went anyway. He saw crowds going into the Coliseum, so he followed. He saw two gladiators fighting to the death, so he jumped down and tried to stop them but he kept getting knocked down by the gladiators. On the third time one of the gladiators ran his sword thru Telemachus and for the third time said "In the name of Christ, forbear", then he died. As the crowd saw Telemachus lying there in a pool of blood, there was silence and one by one the Coliseum emptied. Never again was there another gladiator fight." From the author of St.Telemachus Infoweb
See? One man can change the world. We often hear this phrase, "Change must begin within us". You too can make a difference.

Passion for Better Ways

Our Company President died last May 17, 2008 and you heard it on the news all over the country. I have come to talk with his long time friend this afternoon. They've been friends since childhood. As a member of our company publication, I was tasked to interview him in his residence inside Insular Village Davao City about Al Aboitiz as a schoolmate, student, and friend. Al is a helpful man, his fellow executives and subordinates will tell you too if you ask. I even received a scholarship from him last 2004 that shouldered all my expenses on college. That includes 100% tuition fee, plane tickets, unlimited books, monthly allowances, reimbursed project expenses, review fees, and more. After passing the licensure exam for electrical engineers, I worked here on his company. My first task? To learn the processes of the engineering division. And after two years, I became one of his Planning and Design Engineers. He knows his people. He wants them to grow professionally.
Our banner is Passion for Better Ways. Our president inspired us to do it that way.
In everything you do, do it SMARTLY not hardly. If you stick around the old ways, you are doing it hardly not SMARTLY unless that way is perfect.
What does it mean, "an idle mind is the devil's workshop?"

Waiting for the Pouring Rain to Stop

Inside the office, waiting for the rain to stop tonight.

One of the things I liked most in Davao City is it's Typhoon-Free. No hard winds blowing on houses, buildings and especially electric posts. The later might cause massive black-outs. By the way, I am working with Davao Light & Power Co. that distributes power to every household.

Because of the huge mountains on its surroundings, Davao City was shielded from destructive bad weather. No wonder it belongs to the most livable places in Asia, not only by weather condition but also of natural resources and astonishing places, views and more.

The latest attraction is the People's Park right inside the city. I remember jogging on that bare ground before it was developed, we called it PTA Ground in the past. The muddy oval-shaped area before is now full of well-arranged trees, sculptures, fountains, flowering plants and more, you will surely admire the beauty of it.We jog there every morning before the dawn comes. 10 rounds before I go to rest and back home.

I went to the office window and still finds the rain pouring softly. I think it will take eternity to stop, with its constant flyweight volume. I'll just kill the time reading my latest toastmaster magazine: "The Art of Persuasion". Good Night! =)