Unite for Hunger and Hope

Today, peoples of the world Unite for Hunger and Hope.

I was chatting with LJ last April 21st and the topic on poverty and hunger came up. He and I attended the same college and are both part of EARTH-UST, an environmental advocacy group. We had quite the discussion about how many people have the wrong attitude/mentality regarding this issue like:

If we don't finish our food, it's not a guarantee that the hungry will be fed by it.

Why don't you give your extra food to those on the streets instead of giving them money, which they can misuse on addictive gambling, criminal syndicates and illegal drugs?

If we give our leftovers to street children and they get an upset stomach or get sick because of it, we might get blamed for what happened.

Well, have you seen the video below? LJ shared to me this video (which his mom shared with him) that I now wish to share with you.

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Synopsis

'This film is about the hunger and poverty brought about by Globalization. There are 10,000 people dying everyday due to hunger and malnutrition. This short film shows a forgotten portion of the society. The people who live on the refuse of men to survive. What is inspiring is the hope and spirituality that never left this people.'

I live in a developing country and watching this video still moves my heart. Almost every day, I encounter a similar reality. If you think being surrounded by hunger and poverty situations is desensitizing, you're wrong. Each time is an opportunity to make a contribution in making lives better.

Each time, I ask myself this: "What would Jesus do?"

share the Word

Don't get entangled by all things worldly for they will all come to pass.

In an era where an overwhelming amount of facts and figures is just a click away, maintaining a healthy Christian worldview may be difficult to do but it is definitely not impossible. Although we are bombarded with more data than we can deal with in the world wide web, the final decision of regarding which set of information to process still belongs to us. We can avoid the wide path that leads to destruction with the help of our Lord and Savior.

A friend shared this to me last Easter: "Our minds gather the dirt and dust of human opinion everyday but God's words are like waterfalls that wash and purify our hearts and minds." I couldn't agree more.

Today is Internet Evangelism Day. When I learned about it by random searching and net surfing, I felt that God was telling me to do something more so I decided to create an event for Internet Evangelism Day in Bloggers Unite. I want to let Christian bloggers, including myself, realize that we can take a step further in inviting people all over the globe to personally know our awesome God! I strongly believe that we are all called to be instruments of the Lord whenever and wherever. All we have to do is say YES to Him. Hence, I aptly entitled my blog Adsum Domine (Latin), which translates to "Here I Am, Lord." 

Exploring different hosting sites, I began blogging when I was in high school about seven years ago. Unfortunately, I clearly lacked essence and purpose in my writings back then. Now and for the days to come, I want my blog to be a reflection of a renewed commitment to Christ. 

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

- John 14:6 (NIV)

Don't just spread the word; share the Living Word.

Peace be with you

It never fails to amaze me how my prayers are answered, how life moves along a course I never thought would be possible, and how God simply holds my life in His hands. Early morning birds have been chirping outside my window since yesterday. It was such a lovely surprise! And to think that I assumed it is a wonderful sound I wouldn't hear again until I go home in the province.

Work this week has been really fruitful in many ways. I'm discovering certain things about myself far more than I ever imagined to figure out in only five days. Sadly, these past days may have been calm for me but I feel deep down that I haven't really found time to escape from all the 'noise'.. and I mean all the noise both without and within me. I often have my quiet time but lately, I know I haven't had the opportunity to truly let my being be engulfed in silence or better said - embraced by peace in connecting with God.

The Undying Saga Lives On

© 2009 Julie Ann Caringal

Jousting here and there, a battle is well kept

And the knight still holds on to his sword

The news spreads all over the earth

While the unseen impact grows with time

Over vast lands and over wide seas

A battle begins and a battle ends

In every victory a new flag is raised

In every defeat an old flag is brought down

Mystery upon mystery is unfolded by understanding

Each revelation witnessed by the glorious silver moon

Even the bright sun dries away the morning dew

Uncovering a whole field of marvelous discoveries

Eventually, wave upon wave crashes up on shore

And washes away the set of footprints on the sand

But still the beach remains a beach

And an ocean remains and ocean

Render this amazing cycle of fall and of flight

As the undying saga of life and journey lives on

In the hands of the valiant warrior and knight

With his paper as his shield and his pen as his sword

This weekend as I go to Nasugbu, Batangas for our company outing, I hope to find a few moments to be in true solitude with God - to talk to Him heart to heart and listen in silence.

Be with me in serenity, O Lord.

Comfort Zone

After a quarter of a year's worth of waiting, I am happy to announce that I am now part of the nation's work force. It's a nice feeling. :)

On the other hand, "Hello, Makati work" also means "Goodbye, Lipa home". Having spent a year out of school, I felt my life has been so unstructured during the past twelve months that it will be difficult for me to establish a new routine. I was excited to start working but I have to admit that the nervousness that came along with venturing into something new almost got the best of me. Almost. My stress level was on high last week because I was thinking of all the things I need to be taking care of that I ended up overwhelming myself.

There were a lot of things I had to learn especially the "how to commute from where I live to where I work" part. I am staying at an area in Metro Manila that is basically new to me so the commute is a major issue. Moreover, the condominium unit my dad, my older brother and I are living in isn't fully furnished yet, which makes cooking food or putting away things, washing dishes/clothes more challenging so to speak. My work alone is a whole new thing in itself that I have to get used to and comfortable with.

Thankfully, my first week at work and stay here in the condo went very well. Honestly, there are still a lot of adjustments going on but the transition is quite smooth and I am very glad. A little disruption in my comfort zone isn't so bad. I know everyone gets a 'shaking' in their life every now and then. It's the only way we move forward. 

Right now, I am blessed that one by one, things are slowly falling into place for me. God is really good. I know He's molding me into the person He wants me to be. In college, a close friend of mine once told me: "We go where we are needed most." So far, I can't see myself being anywhere else.

a MUST read

To all my wonderful readers,

... for taking the time to read my online journal entries.

... for sharing your thoughts in the comment box.

... for showing interest in what I have to say, in what I want to share, and in what I believe in;

... for simply being there -

Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

This day, Blog Reader Appreciation Day, is for YOU.

You are remembered.

God bless!

Three, two, one...

X definitely marks the spot.

My classmates and I had a countdown for almost everything when we were in high school: exams, someone's birthday, a school event, holidays, and so on. Our favorite (not to mention the most popular) is the countdown for summer vacation - roughly two months away from tests, homeworks, and projects. Each day crossed off from the countdown poster is a day closer to "farewell, dear alma mater... hello, freedom!".

The countdown in the picture above was made by my classmate, Erwin, one of only eight boys in our section/class of 44 (if I remember correctly.. I had to look at our class picture and count). The handwriting is undeniably his. ^_~ The blue highlight stood for quarterly examinations, yellow meant school events, while light green meant a holiday.

The poster was placed right next to my seat in the classroom. As such, I was assigned to make sure it was updated every day. I was tasked to cross off the date of the day as soon as the last class was finished. Sounds easy, but I tell you, there were times I'd forget to cross out a date if it weren't for my classmates' reminders. There was just too much going on in my head, sometimes, that a simple task like that slips my mind. Nevertheless, all of our eyes were on one goal: to finally put a cross mark on the last day of classes for the school year.

A year after graduating from college, I still haven't completely outgrown countdowns. However, instead of doing the daily cross marks, I now mark down a specific date in the calendar, which I truly look forward to (like my first day at work) and do more of a mental counting-of-days. Thankfully, holidays and special national events are already printed in most calendars. The new downside now is that two-month summer breaks are no longer applicable to me. ^^

There's a great caution amid all the excitement of looking forward to that long-awaited day, though. As much as keeping the eye on the goal is important, it is equally important to keep this in mind:

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."
- Jim Elliot

He is risen!

The feast of all feasts.. a celebration that is (and should be) the highlight of the year.. Easter Sunday - the day of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Truly, Jesus has overcome the world and sin by overcoming death. Let us proclaim the majesty of the Lord!

A blessed Easter to everyone. 

Jesus Christ nailed on the cross presents the picture of unconditional love -

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."

- John 15:13

It also holds a wonderful reminder for us all whenever we seek the Lord in prayer. Notice how the cross forms the letter T while Jesus with his arms spread out forms the letter Y... beginning letters to two words we should always say to God for what He's done for us: Thank You.

Remember to "Give Thanks!" to the Lord, not just on Easter, but every day!