God's Not Dead

"To say there is no evidence for this creator is like saying thousand of paintings in an art museum couldn't have been painted because there are no artist visible in the gallery." - Rice Broocks

I just finished the book God's Not Dead: Evidence for God in an age of uncertainty by Rice Broocks. He is an author, apologetic and the co-founder of Every Nation family of Churches (in the Philippines, they are called Victory Christian Fellowship). As I read this book, it makes me say Oo nga no? and agree with the skeptics regarding the existence of God, but Broocks gracefully gave an explanation to every question and arguments from the skeptics. I bet that they have no comebacks for that. Broocks explains the existence of God not only based on the bible but on evidence. He even use the language of the atheist regarding in science and philosophy. I admire Rice Broocks' research in this matter. He quoted tons of known people in Christianity and skepticism. and He really knows where to stand.

In the end of the book are sets of testimony that proves the existence of a Creator. One of my favorite chapter is called The Grace Effect. It magnifies how God's grace affect the world today. The Christians and Non-Christians alike for He let the sun goes of for the good and bad. It's a must read book for doubtful and even for Christians who needed further explanation about His existence, I tell you, you will never have a choice but to believe in Him.

"Once the truth is firmly grasped, it becomes a logical necessity to seek out the nature and character of this Creator"

Rice Broocks

//GodsNotDead
//RiceBroocks
//sebajisoka

Disappointments

"'yung moment na tumingala ka para tingnan yung stars tapos napayuko ka nalang kase maulap?"

we faced different disappointments in our lives. heartbreaking, marked with anguish and distress. some are funny, some are annoyingly surprising. but why do we get disappointed?  Let me tell you a story.

last month, I have many scheduled dates. and guess what? many of those 'dates' didn't come to pass. due to some circumstances which I can't identify. a movie night, stayover night and some other dates. the greatest question here is why do I get disappointed? 

is it because they cancelled it
or do they forget it
or they don't want it anymore?

when someone told you about something that excites you and give you hopes. those words turns out to be your expectation. and where do expectation came from?

from the people who made a promise?
neeeeeeh!

expectation is a feeling. same as disappointments. and it came from within. inside you. and it is your response when they give you something to be excited about. sometimes, it excites you to the highest point of your eagerness towards what will happen. 

I personally want to avoid that. it's hard for me to handle disappointments. maybe that's the reason why I'm trying my best towards the promises I've made to people.

This month, I'm on a passive expectation. (I don't know what it means tho)

but If you want to make your expectation high without the thought of being disappointed, hold on to Someone who makes His promise come true.
All of your promises won't let go of me.


//Disappointments
//sebajisoka

Version of Truth

its crazzzzy!

there's this glass with half of water in it.
some call it half-full
some call it half empty
some wants to add water in it
some wants color in it
some doesn't call it anything, they just want drink it

just like perspective, we have our versions of truth.

people argue and fight about what they know is true! 
but we have our own version of truths, and sometimes no matter how convincing one's truth is. we will never give up our own. We will fight and stand for it. we even forget about the real issue. we even forget about what is the right response and right attitude towards discussion. so, we end up disrespecting one's belief, and even the person.

and one sad truth about those arguments is they don't know the truth, the real truth

let me define truth to you..
truth is Jesus

now, argue with me! 

end of convo?

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the  TRUTH, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6

and knowing Jesus will set you free.


"and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

so, if your truth doesn't set you free. begin to doubt to that truth. Stick to Jesus. know Him more. and yes! I'm not a bible scholar or a bible teacher or a preacher but think about my own version of truth.

//VersionOfTruth
//sebajisoka

On the 21st year of my existence

for my 21 Birthday. I want something. I want it to be special. at least for me. somehow. whatever.It is so special that I don't know how to describe it. It is so special that you're not invited. HAHA! I can give you a long list of what I want. but I don't feel like posting anything. You may ask what's the point of blogging this. I don't know? babbling out some thoughts maybe?

So, it's my  21st year on the planet?

I don't want to have a party? why? I don't want to be surrounded by people. HAHA!
but If I'll have a party, it's okay to me. I mean super duper okay. I can hardly remember the last time I had a party. and what's wrong with having a party anyway.

for my birthday wish?
I want someone who I can dance with
someone who will sing me a song
someone who will talk to me and have time with me even though I have nothing important to say
someone who will spend crazy time with me (so crazy that people will be shameful toward us)
someone who will lie on the ground with me watching the stars and the sky falling
(and the moon of course)
someone who will eat cupcakes and chocolates with me
someone who will give me a lightsaver, a pokemon and an adventure.

honestly? I'm expecting..
not for those things I've said earlier but for something that I've hoped for few months ago.
I don't know If I'll put my guard down and fill my heart with hope and great expectancy.
Or I'll just accept that It will never happen. Seems dramatic.

anyway. how's my life going? I don't know.
I don't even know if I'm still under God's plan. It's sounds something right?
who can really say that they're under God's plan when all we want is for ourselves.
wait. I know what I want. It's much bigger than myself.

//PrayerOfJabez
//BirthdaaayWish
//sebajisoka

Even from me

I've seen harms all over the world. even to my closest ones. harms and damages on relationships and characters. It signifies imperfection and the need for an apology. I finished the 5 language of apology book. and I'm blessed. I owe everyone an apology. I'll do it step by step. and it may take some time. 

broken relationships. broken personalities. Its awful. Its dreadful.
and of that thought and that setting. I wanted to protect you. to protect you from every person who has a knife in their hands and one day will betray you by slashing your throat out and slaying you in the back. 

but above all else do you know how hard it is for me to ignore you?
To set my mind that I shouldn't text you and pretend that I didn't see your message?
My guts is telling me to response in your call but I know I must bear this one.
It wouldn't take long, its a few steps forward but time seems so slow.
Your kind heart breaks my heart. the guilt eats me up to my soul.

all of this. I will bear.

Why am I doing this?
I want to protect you from everyone.. even from me.
I'm not perfect and I might do some damage in you.

Patience, sacrifice, self-control, focus..
I'll be just praying for you. for your good. and for my good.

I know, as I protect you. I'm protecting me. 
God is protecting us.

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.

~ C.S. Lewis

//HopelessRomantic
//Eeeewww
//EvenFromMe
//sebajisoka

The other side

"Ang dramaaaaa"

sabe ng kaibigan ko habang binabasa nya 'yung isang article sa blog na 'to. May tinatanong kase siya sa'kin kaso di ko masagot ng harapan. ang sabe ko nalang, abangan nya sa blog ko ang gusto nyang malaman. Natatawa lang ako. kase alam mo yun. yung ano. hmm o di ba hindi? 

The other side 

We all have sides. left side, right side, sideline, side kick, side burns, other sides. 
maybe she's surprised when she read my story, my drama. the sebajisoka's drama. She read the poem-type-of-story, it has dramatic play so no wonder. why she act like that.

then i thought. who else knows my drama?
who else knows my weirdness?
who else knows my other sides.

people around us only encounter few sides of us, I'm not talking about multiple personalities of a person but characteristics. You know what I mean right? agree with me please. please? >.< 
Am I making a point here? I hope I don't have. HAHA!

and then as she read my other posts, I hear an excessive-mad-eyepoping-jawdropping laugh. Oh. she laughs at my lameness. good to know. who told you my life is a a set of drama? I can bet that my life is a comedy. a lame-corny-type of comedy but just like other comedy piece and entertainment, it has a lesson. lesson that is easy to know but hard to learn. I must learn this.

Oh! Sooo much for straining and pushing.
I better end this. my thoughts are becoming confusing by the moment. Aaand I have things to do pa. :)

I will end in this, i saw it somewhere the internet.

//TheOtherSide
//sebajisoka

Is it really repentance?

God is really full of grace. and good thing I'm not God. 'cause if I am. I would smash people with my bear hands when they sin.
Last Saturday. I have this great time talking with the youth in my church. It's the biggest attendee we had so far, and the most conversation we had.

we started with a prayer then worship.
I started the sharing with Matthew 6:33. I talked about how righteousness attract blessings. then it goes on. from the Lord to me to cathy to hazel to jeremiah, to karl to camille to hacinth to ate jaemi to jasmin. we shared about many things from righteousness, to revolution, to love to mercy to grace to trivia(s) to repentance

and we talked about how we can change our perspective. how can we really repent. we prayed that time. one by one. asking God for forgiveness. but is it really repentance? How can we tell that it is repentance already when we don't have a move yet?

repentance in turning our back on what we used to. and If we ask God for forgiveness. It is forgiveness. but not repentance. 'cause we don't have any evidence in hands that we've changed. that we've turned our back on it.
but still thank God for the realization we've experience and the one spirit that we had that time. there will be revolution here. it is starting to flame.

Jesus be our righteousness.
thank you for the forgiveness.

//IsItReallyRepentance
//sebajisoka