Anatomy of Conflict and Resolution (Sunday Worship Celebration December 3, 2006)
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Forever and a Day by Hillsong
Topic: Church
In this lecture, Pastor Ed Lapiz made use of conflict between Abraham and Lot as example. (Genesis 13:1-12)

The Bible has recorded all types of problems and solutions. We could refer to these to guide our daily lives.

The anatomy of conflict:
1. Identical needs.
2. Competition for limited resources.
3. Division.
4. Proximity. Kapag masyadong magkalapit. Pag laging magkadikit, magkakaroon ng pagkakaawayan.
5. Crowd.

Conflict may arise when two or more parties:
1. Have similar needs.
2. Compete for the same limited thing.
3. Have distinct identities.
4. Share a same space.
5. Are surrounded by need-driven "retainers"


Anatomy of the resolution:

Let us not have quarelling between you and me because we are brothers. Di dapat ikaila na may problema. Dapat may pagsisikap na lutasin ang problema.

Elements for conflict resolution
1. A desire/decision for peace.
    "the power for peace is in the hands of the senior party"
2. An institution for peaceful solution by someone.
3. A search for a commonality.
4. A decision to have space between parties. Respect people that they are different from us that is why we need to give them

space.
5. Willingness to give in and lose. Yung nagbigay ang nagparaya. This is called sacrifice.


There are people who go to worhsip but they have conflict with their friends and fellowmen. Let us think of our own conflicts (with other people).

We should stop being selfish. Bawasan at tigilan ang pagiging makasarili. Mature na ang isang bata when he/she is selfish no more. Hindi cute ang umasta na parang bata.

Magpasensya, magparaya at magbigay--this is a sign of maturity.

When someone is coerced into silence (killing the issue by not trying to resolve it)--issues will rise again. That is why people should make every effort to keept the unity of the spirit.

In resolving conflict, dapat win-win. You must win some and lose some. Not ikaw lang ang magwiwin while the other one loses everything completely.

Kung may away-away. Gamitin ninyo ang strategy ni Abraham. Win some, lose some.

Identify the problem, try to resolve them. Learn from Abrabaham and do the right thing.



Now, I am learning.

Enjoy What You Have! (Everybody's Worship-November 29, 2006)
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Forever by Michael W. Smith
Topic: Church
This reminds me of the advices a friend used to give me before (refer to my past blog entries). Now, I know better.

(Ecclesiastes 6: 1-12)

"Survey your possessions and enjoy them all."

"Do not be obsessed by conservation-preservation." What is important is that you have enjoyed it. There is no point of preserving something. Kung naluma naman at masaya naman nung nagamit mo sya, ok na iyon. If you have enjoyed your possessions (God's blessings to you), then they have served their purpose.

"Something is lost and something is gained in everyday living."

"God created us to experience his goodness and his beauty."

Do not be too serious. Life should go on. That is why it is important to make the most out of every moment and enjoy what you have.

There will always be a greater and a lesser person than yourself-from Desiderata. It is pointless to argue with God and it is pointless to complain about life. Let things be. However, this is not to say that you become completely complacent. There is a general framework for your life but how to dealing with everyday things is up to you. This may be influenced by your character.

Adjust. People who adjust are happier.

The more philosophizing, less sense.

The silence of God can be the answers to our prayers. Sometimes, silence is the answer. May kapangyarihan kasi ang salita mo.

There is power in spoken words so you should talk positive instead of negative things.

No one really knows the mystery of life. Wag masyadong umasa sa expert. Wag ding masyadong magturo. We must allow ourselves and others to commit some mistakes.

There must be a little carelessness in life. Dapat rin ay yung masarap tayong kasama and you should let others enjoy their life too. Giving other people their freedom is the greatest gift you can give them.

We should not impose our beliefs on other people. No one really knows what is good for man. No one really understands life except for the Creator.

Do not fail to enjoy today.

Live while you are alive.

My Purpose
Mood:  happy
Topic: Church

I have realized something important today. After the pastor
opened up today's church service with "each has a reason for
being here today", I witnessed lots of things that made me open
up both my heart and mind.

As we sang songs of praise and worship, I realized that I have
missed several opportunities for me to serve the Lord. I
remember wanting to join the UP Street Dance club but did not do
so because I was not that "religious" or "God-centered" the way
their members are. However, being in today's service made me
realize my purpose--that I could lift my talents up to the Lord.
He has given people so much talent--to sing, dance, teach--and
what better way could we use these talents than to give it back
to him in praise and in worship? I now understand where members
of the UP Street Dance Club are coming from. Their dances and
performance are from hearts insipired and blessed by the Holy
Spirit.

As the elaborate show of praise and worship went on, I began to
weep. It was like the feeling when I was brought to a church
service for the very first time. From that humble church in
Laguna where these all started, my faith started to grow amidst
a shaky path.

Now I am beginning to know my purpose in life and I would like
to keep it at that.


"Righteous by Faith"--that is the main message for today's
sermon. Pastor Ed Lapiz spoke of Abraham and his wife and how
following the Lord has kept them from harm. Although I was not
able to take down notes today, I know and remember what he said
about how important it is to have faith--to surrender everything
and entrust everything to the Lord.

Mid-week Church Service (Q & A)
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Church
Kung totoong tinanggap nya ang Panginoon bilang kanyang tigapagligtas, ligtas sya. Lahat ng tumanggap kay Kristo, tiyak ang kaligtasan.

On pre-marital pregnancy:
Di nangangailangan na dapat maulit pa ang pagbubuntisan.

On family:
Trials are instruments para pagtibayin ang character. Sama, sama dapat syang harapin.

The family that prays together, stays together.

Kasalanan sa Diyos ang mag-hiwalay ang mag-asawa.


Others:

Bible-based suggestions. Ipatuloy mo na lang silang ipag-dasal  at wag mong ipilit ang gusto mong mangyari.

Ok lang tumanggi sa tulong para maiwasan ang sumbat.


1 Corinthians 15:58

Be steadfast and firm in serving the Lord.
Always fully give yourself to the Lord.
Magiging matibay ka, umabante ka rin. Huwag kang upo ng upo.
Isangkot mo ang sarili mo.
Ibigay mo ng buong-buo.
Always abound in the name of the Lord because we have risen savior. Ang panginoon na ating pinaglilingkuran ay buhay.
Lahat ng gawin natin, gawin nating sa panginoon.