SLW Mini-Story Series: Cup of Love (1:4)

Week 1: Episode 4: The Surprise Question

Entry date: January 29, 2008, Tue

We met again ni Lisa kanina sa café for our lunch. Tulad ng dati I ordered my favorite cheezy pasta and hot cocoa. Tulad ng dati kwentuhan parin kami... From subjects, to teachers, to TV shows, to telenovelas, to people, to friends, to food... Any topic under the sun...

Then she asked me a question na hindi pa nya tinatanong before...

"Ano ba gusto mo sa isang lalaki?"

Napatigil ako sa tanong niya. I asked why. She said "Wala lang" and then changed the topic...

Bakit kaya niya yun natanong?

-Chelsa's Blog

SLW Mini-Story Series: Cup of Love (1:3)

*Note*

Ngayon pa lang pala ipopost nina ate sa Ristretto yung Episodes 3 and 4... Later, I'll write Episode 5...

Week 1: Episode 3: Boy meets Girl

Entry date: January 28, 2008, Mon

I visited again the café... It seems wala pa yung girl from last week nung pagdating ko nun... So umorder ako muna ng Trail mix mocha at tsaka chicken sandwich. After a few minutes, dumating din siya with another girl.. Nung nakita ko yung kasama niya.. Si Lisa pala!

Small world nga naman ika nga nila, the person na magiging daan para makilala ko yung girl ay kaibigan ko at kaibigan din niya!

Now I know na ang pangalan niya ay Chelsa...

Before I left for my next class, nagkaroon ng konting kwentuhan...

Small world talaga...

Hmmmm... Gusto ko pang makilala siya... Matanong nga si Lisa bukas... No?

- Mark's Journal

SLW Mini-Story Series: Cup of Love (1:2)

*Note*

The stories are also posted at the glass windows of Ristretto Cafe. I think they have posted Episode 3 today. I'll be there later to write Episode 4.

Week 1:Episode 2: Cheezy Trail

Entry date: January 25, 2008, Fri

"Isang Cheezy pasta and hot cocoa"

Yun ang aking order kanina sa café. It was my 2nd time here actually at naging paborito ko agad ang cheezy pasta nila. Parang tulad ng luto ni mama...

Namiss ko tuloy si mama...

Oh well... Paguwi ako bukas ay sasabihin ko ito sa kanya at idadala ko sila dito ni papa pagdumalaw sila dito sa LB. Pero bago yun, may meeting pa mamaya so dito muna ako...

Hmmm... Share ko lang, yung guy na-umorder kanina after me ay cheezy pasta din ang binili... Paborito niya rin kaya yun?... Oh well...

- Chelsa's blog

SLW Mini-Story Series: Cup of Love (1:1)

*Background*

I started this mini-story series last January 24, 2008. I was inspired by the "heart" filled glass window of the Ristretto Cafe and thought of "contributing" something like a series. So I came up with a mini-story and each episode corresponds to the date it was written. Here is the first episode of the mini-story series. Enjoy...

(Yeah I know the title is mushy...)

Week 1: Episode 1: First Time

Entry date: January 24, 2008, Thur

And then I saw HER...

It was my first time here at this café.

I think it was Kei who suggested that we eat here, so punta naman kami kasama sina Joshua at Dana. We picked the couch near the glass window and ordered our lunch. Habang kami ay masayang kumakain at nagkwekwentuhan, may isang babae ang pumasok...

And then I saw her...

I can't find the right words right now to describe her beauty... But what stuck in my mind was her smile... Her simplicity...

Pero quarter to one na nun, kelangan ng pumasok ulit... So bago umalis, tumingin ulit ako for the last time sa kanyang kagandahan at nasabi...

"Oh well... Hanggang tingin na lang ba?"

- Mark's Journal

SLW Stories: The War Within [Chapter 1:Episode1]

Chapter 1: The End
Episode 1: The Story

It’s been years since this war began on our country.

All I can remember is that I was a kid back then. The enemy, who call themselves “Legio Luxuria Subreca”, wants to conquer this country and spread its terror within.

Back then; all the enemy can do is to take small attacks on our country’s outlying bases. Some of those little skirmishes breaks through but then repelled a day or two.

Everyone thought that they can’t do anything, but still we didn’t take it lightly. We gathered intelligences one-after-another and fortified our frontlines each and every month. We studied the enemy’s movements and mode of operations. We knew how they move, plan, and attack. We knew how to defend our country. We thought we are invincible.

Then the unthinkable happened.

It was about two years ago that their first major attack on one of our major bases. At the same time, the morale of the country was down. The base then was captured and occupied for almost two months. Using their tactics, they spread their terror within the country. After two months they, were defeated and the base was again regained. But the damage has been done.

After that, we discovered a new way to defeat the enemy. We thought that we can do it, but we can’t. The whole country wills it, and yet it’s weak.

After two to three months, another base falls, only to be retaken after a week or two. But the damage has been done and terror has spread. It’s like a dark plague crawling all over the country.

Now, almost 22 years after the war began, they have siege and nearly reached the two core cities, the city of Terah and Dimna. If these two cities fall, the whole country falls also. Everyday, our fortifications fall. Everyday, terror seeps and is now affecting these two cities. Everyday, we are losing hope.

We thought we can do it alone. Now, only a miracle can save us.

- An excerpt taken from the journal of Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Taylor of the 13th Batallion of the Republic of Tornesoul.

TJ's Eyspesyals: Oper8ion 1st Quarter (O81Q)

As promised, I will write my own set of goals this year. Starting my 1st Quarter goals:

1. Spiritual Life
- I will read the Companion (Catholic Scriptural Guide) and Didache (Daily Bible Reflection for Catholics) and write small reflections as a start everyday
- Once a month, I'll try to go to confession (for this quarter - that is at least three times)

2. Family Life
- I'll be a good son, I'll put them in the priority set 1 when it comes to responsibilities

3. Work Life
- I'll check the papers early
- I'll make sure or try to make sure that they get the lesson at hand
- I'll improve my video capturing and editing skills

4. Financial Life
- I'll start dwelling on mutual funds
- Learn more about this "Realty Business"

5. Physical Life
- I will wake up early everyday
- Eat 3 times a day

6. Emotional Life
- I will know some of my limits (at least 2)
- I will know my emotional strengths (at least 5)

7. Intellectual Life
- Finish 2 books
- Start enrolling for Masters in Computer Science

So this is my goals for this quarter. I do hope and pray that I get to meet and attain all of them before the end of March.

Special Episodes: The Transition

Again I say goodbye to this year.

It was just like last year. Well, not really like last year.
This year was fruitful.
This year was dark also.

It was a year of pruning and constant changing.
And it was really hard for me at the start.
The scars of the past and burdens are still there.
And until now, it keeps on making me fall.

I was focusing too much on the concerns of this world and myself, that I forgot how to build upon my influence and God’s influence in my life and the world.

I forgot many things, just because I focused on the problem too much.
Being given a mission is not easy, all the more that it is not when we focus on the problem too much, and even more that it is really not that easy when we forget that we are not alone in this task.

I almost completely got lost.
But the Lord is good. He knows what’s happening. And He sure is too stubborn enough not to let go of me.
Now, I’m taking baby steps again… and some big leaps… to get back on my feet. The gravitational pull of the past is really great, but I have in my heart the constant hope and with the constant help that I get from God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and my family and friends, I know someday… I can make it… maybe this following year, or the next, or the next-next… or the next-next-next…

So I bid farewell to this year. And just like what I read awhile ago from some message from my friend, I bury the mistakes I made, and create a new benchmark for my success this year, and hope to get my goals the following year.

Thank you to all of my family, my friends, my sponsors, and everyone who are in between for the support and Love you have given.
For this, in return of your Love, I will struggle more in loving you all with the best that I can.

As for my OTL (One True Love), whoever you are, be prepared because I’m preparing myself for you. If we see and get to know each other this year, that’s good, if we don’t get to see and know each other, then I’ll still be preparing for us and be hopefully waiting the following years.

As for my plans, because of the renovation and some lessons I took up this Christmas vacation, I completely forgot making some plans for the following year, so I’ll do the planning for the first quarter of this year’s 2008 by January 2, and I’ll post it here if I got time later.

Whew, I’ve written too much, got way past my supposed mark for myself. Well, as I hug this coming New Year with delight, may God bless us and bring new and prosperous fruits for us to share with each other.

God bless and Happy New Year :D

Special Episodes: Nothing to write this Christmas

Oh well, let’s just say I have to give in.
This is my first Christmas where I don’t have anything to give.
I didn’t text others (like I used to…)
I didn’t buy any gifts for others…
Talk about sharing…

But anyway, I had a lot of fun moments this Christmas.
I made quite a lot of new friends this merry season, like the children animators at the STCJP parish, and also being able to be part of the “Kakaibang Panunuluyan” play of the Christmas Midnight Mass.

I got a lot of rest also. And some time again to read some of my books. And write again.
And felt God’s love in some way that I can’t explain… and shared it also to others… that is not expressed in texts or gifts…

Well… As I have said… I have to give in…
I don’t know what to write today.
So this will be my “special episodes” where I will just write what’s in my head…

I just wish you all a Merry Christmas today. And I have to say, this day is not really about Jesus alone. But us receiving God’s Love for us through the incarnation of His Love, the Word made Flesh, the birth of His only Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

God bless you all :D

Rebirth of All Series: Crash and Burn

My last entry was September.

It has been a long time since I last written an article for you guys to read (except the CCC part, which was last October)

Anyway, just as the title suggests: Crash and Burn

For the last 2 months, my life went haywire, being caught up by the aftermath of the recent events and happenings starting this year. Figuratively, my life crashed and burned.

Although, on the outside, you can see me as a-ok, inside, is empty. Although I attended a lot of seminars and stuff, I’m still lost inside.

I seemed too detached to the people around me. And I almost totally forgot all my writing and my works. I was on the thin line between sanity and insanity.

But now, is recovery time. And I have so many things to tell you. Those 2 months of force-retreat gave new meaning. The flame from the crash intensified. And now, a phoenix rises from the ashes.

So, just before this year ends, I want to celebrate the rebirth of this site. Although the façade looks the same, I do hope my stories that I will share will give more inspiration to love the people around you.

More faith, more hope and more love.

CCC Prologue - Part 1: The Life of Man - To Know and Love God

Catechism of the Catholic Church Reflection Series

(Because of copyright issues, I'll just include here links that will bring you to the readings for the given topic... Please READ the given readings so as to have knowledge of what we are discussing here :D

I'll include my personnal notes and quotations from the readings as my added reflections about the text)

Prologue

Link: Prologue

Added Resources:
John 17:3
1 Timothy 2:3-4
Acts 4:12

I. The Life of Man - To Know and Love God

Link: Prologue - Part 1

Added Resources:
Matthew 28:19-20
Mark 16:20
Acts 2:42

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Personal Notes:

"FATHER,... this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." - John 17:3

- This is Eternal life. I exhort you to know more about God and about Jesus. It's not enough to just worship every week or go to mass. Know more about our Faith. Know more about God. Our relationship with Him does not stop at baptism or just being a Catholic (and for some of us at our YLSS), being intimate with Him is knowing Him more. And that is eternal life.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" - Matthew 28:19

- This is our ultimate vocation. To evangelize. To spread the Good News.

"All Christ's faithful are called to hand it on from generation to generation, by professing the faith, by living it in fraternal sharing, and by celebrating it in liturgy and prayer." - CCC #3 /C.f. Acts 2:42

- We are ultimately called to witness His Good News with our lives. It is not enough to know and to teach it. Rather, we live it day-by-day.

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That's all for now, share your thoughts or questions :D

Introduction to New Series: CCC Reflection Series

This will be my introduction for my new reflection series of the book Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).

The topics will be taken from the said book.

So any blog entry will be under this series will be titled CCC Reflection Series: [title of the topic]

Unlike the other blog entries, there is a topic outline for this series. It will be inline with the CCC Table of Contents. You can find the topic outline (and the readings also) here.

Link: CCC Topic Outline

Again, thanks for reading and God bless :D

Love Blog Series #6.3: I Will Love Today

"Not next year, not next month, not next week, not even tomorrow...

I will Love today..."

I once said that line in a forum... I can't remember where or why but I said it and will say it again:
I will Love today...

It's been quite long after my last post and all thanks to the time I need to muster that strength to write this simple but fruitful article.

It's so simple I don't know how to explain it.
Why? Because internalizing how to love is a behavioral habit that will start simply like this...

When we we wake up, just feel the presence and love of God (even if you feel groggy). Say a little prayer (and maybe read the Word of God), thanksgiving, ask for what we need today... then smile (even if you don't feel like it) and say "I will Love today"...

It is a behavioral habit that will go on like this...

For the next few hours until night time (8 to 12 is few), when we meet a person we ask ourselves, "How will I love this person today?". When we get irritated we ask "How will I love this person today?". When we are betrayed, lambasted, and rejected by people around us we ask "How will I love these people today? (Really!!! How do I love these people?!!! My ghullay!! hehehehe)". When we feel loved and cherished by someone we ask "How will I love these people today?" We will always ask these question... every time... everywhere...

Lastly, it is a behavioral habit that will end like this...

Before you go to bed and sleep, feel the presence and love of our God (even if you feel tired). Say again a prayer (and maybe reflect), thanksgiving and ask for guidance tomorrow... then smile (even if the day is some what "subjectively" bad)... then say "I did Loved today"... then go to sleep...

Simple... to say...
but to do... it will take quite a while.

But it will become a habit. Just take the first step... then the second... then the third... then the fourth... until you can walk on your own.

I do hope I've inspired you to love always... to always remind ourselves to love... and be loved.
And always ask for the guidance of love of God. He was, is, and will always be the source of Love. You will never be empty when we ask for that Love.

I did Loved today.


PS1. Next topic in our series: Loving God

PS2. Watch out for our next set of topics: Being Complete

Timeless Specials #2: Love does not wait

Yes... Love is not for tomorrow... it is not for later... it should be done now! In every moment and opportunity... love must be done today at this time.

This is a lesson I will never forget.
I was supposed to help in the mini-seminar about worship and I want that my sister attend the seminar. So I "texted" her of her location because she was not there yet.
And then she replied that she will not come. But because I want her to be there, I replied and it sounded a little bit angry, which is somehow true. I felt a little bit irritated then that my sister is passing up an opportunity to learn and maybe share it to others.

She replied back that she will attend the mini-seminar. But I know it is just because I got "angry". So I didn't reply back to her because I may end up fighting with her.

But the unthinkable happened. My mommy and daddy was out then and was planning to go to the seminar by jeep. Then, she collapsed just before she left and was rushed immediately to the hospital. I got the news a little bit later from mommy. She knew what my last reply to my sister because my sister texted her about my text. I asked if was it my fault but she assured me it was not because before my sister left, she was telling mommy that she's a little bit sick. But it didn't help, the burden was with me and I can't concentrate on preparing for my talk.

I was thinking what if my sister will not wake up. It may be partly my fault that she collapsed because of my "persuasive" powers in my text to her. I may not have the chance to say sorry and make amends. But what really burdens me, was that I didn't try to understand her situation before I get irritated. I was not loving her as a brother to a sister. I was not doing my mission. And now this happened that she collapsed without her doing something strenuous. I stormed the heavens and the airwaves (by texting) to pray for my sister.

My prayers were quickly answered because she recovered immediately right after she arrived at the hospital and mommy and daddy was also there. And it was right before my talk that the news arrived. The burden was lifted and I gave out a sigh of relief.

And I reflected upon it while giving my talk (yeah, I was doing two things at that time...) I realized that love does not wait on you. You must always love everybody and you must always do it now... there is no other time to do it but now. People you love may be gone in a flash and you may regret not loving them to the hilt. It was my mission: to learn to love and to show love. And I am not doing it!! That's why I am so burdened that time. I was not doing what God is telling me to do. I still am going back to my selfish self. I still get angry to my parents, I still get a little bit irritated with my brother and sisters. I still am a little bit snobbish to my ministry friends. I still get irritated to people that doesn't follow God. I still get too righteous... And by doing that, I lose every second of opportunity to show love even to the people close to me. I'm not showing God's love to them...

May it be that I remember this day. So I will have the constant effort to love them as I love myself. I may falter, fail, fall, sin... but I will still struggle. It's better to love than to preach how to love. It's better to love than to teach them doctrinal and Catholic truths. They will never understand the truths of the Universal Church if there is no love. They will never understand the teachings if there is no love. They will never learn if there is no love. For even if there is faith, hope, gifts of the Holy Spirit, friends, family, teachings, ministry, great songs and the like, if there is no love, it will be noisy gong or clanging cymbal. Even if I perfected my craft in preaching, in business, and in other things, if there's no love to my family, friends and neighbors, I will have nothing and I will not gain nothing.



For all these things exists; but the greatest of these things will always be love.



PS1. back to our next topic in our subseries: I Will Love Today

PS2. Watch out for our next set of topics: Being Complete

Love Blog Series # 6.2.3: Loving You

Do You Know God's Name?
I found this site by Pastor Ahyh (www.yhwh.com) and I asked permission to use some of his explanations about God's name.

Now before we begin... How will this be connected in loving your neighbor, your enemy, your friend, your loved-one, your boyfriend, girlfriend, family, mother, father, etc...?

You'll soon find out. Now let's have a special verse that will connect your question to God's name:

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25:40

Let's start off from where I ended last topic. We have discussed before that we need to love God not because God needs our love but because it is more of a response to His love. It is also for us to learn how to really love. And in loving someone, one thing we must know is that person's name. So what is God's name?

From the bible, we can find the answer from Exodus 3:13-14. This is when Moses actually asked God His Name.

13Then Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?"

14God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" - Exodus 3:13-14

God's Name is not God. It's not Lord. It's even not Jesus. Yes, His name is Jesus when He was on earth. But before being called Jesus, He said His real Name also:

"Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.'" - John 8:58

So God's Name is I AM. Now, this is the translation (or meaning in English words) from the Hebrew texts originally written many years ago. The transliteration (or using the same letters of the English alphabet) of "I AM" is YHWH or YaHWeh. So in Hebrew language, God's Name is Yahweh.

Now in using the Hebrew language, YHWH becomes
is Y meaning Yod, rhymes with "rode"
is H meaning He, rhymes with "say"
is W or V meaning Vav, like "lava"
and another H.

Now, the Hebrews wrote it from right to left making it

But God didn't wrote it left to right or right to left. He wrote it from top to bottom. And He didn't use a pen and paper to write it. He used something else (YES!! He's the Most Creative Writer I've ever known...)

He wrote His Name like this:



You!! He wrote His Name in our very existence and in every existing human being. His Name is you, your neighbor, your enemy, your friend, your loved-one, boyfriend, girlfriend, mother, father, etc... Just look: The Yod is our head, the 1st He is our arms, the Vav is our torso and the last He is our legs. This supports the reason that what we do to the least of our brothers, we do it unto Him. Because His Name is us!! He created us not only in His image and likeness, we are His very Name!! Isn't that amazing?

That's the reason why we need to love others... That's the reason why we need to also love ourselves. We are His very Name. And because we love Him also, we also ought to love others as we love ourselves. It's also a response to His love. Thus, making the only true, logical and basic reason why we love others is because we love our Lord, YHWH (See Love Blog Series #3: True Love Has One Reason Alone).

So, this ends the "knowing" part of this topic series. Now will get into the "internalization" part. Tune in next time for our next topic.

PS1. Sorry for the delay. It's been 2 weeks, I know. I have to ask permission from Pastor Ahyh (Thanks for permitting me to spread the word!!) I also have to "connect the dots" so to speak to make a point :D

PS2. Next topic in our subseries: I Will Love Today

PS3. Watch out for our next set of topics: Being Complete

Love Blog Series # 6.2.2: Does God need my love?

Have you ever asked this question?
Why did God "commanded" us to love Him?

Does God need my love?

I mean, He, our God, King of kings, Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, Creator of heaven and earth, commands us to love Him above everything and with everything that we got...

Our minds, our hearts, our bodies, our souls, our strength... He wants us to love Him. Why? What for?

He is the epitome, source and the very meaning of Love. He is Complete. He will not be sad like us when we are not love. He can erase the very existence of His creations if decides to. He will not feel incomplete even if we don't love Him. He is everything.

So why did He commands us to love Him in the first place?

Here is the reason: The command is for us, not for Him.

You don't get it? The reason He gave you that commandment is for our own good. It is not for Him, it is for us. He didn't create that 1st greatest commandment for us to love Him so that He will be loved and feel being loved just like us. He is the very source and epitome of Love and He is Love Himself thus He doesn't need to be loved just to be loved. The 1st greatest commandment (which encompasses the 1st three commandments God gave to Moses) is meant and created for us.

I can give you three (3) reasons why this greatest commandment is good for us.

1. We are wired, hard-programmed, and created to love... and in this commandment, Him. We search for love in all places. Why do we search it? Because love brings us joy. All of us has also this common reason of loving someone, it is because we are loved. And because we felt love we have joy. Man has the capacity to love because he felt loved first. The problem comes when we ourselves confuse the Giver of Love to something else and then we focus on that something else, we love this "something else" because we thought they give love to us... which brings me to the 2nd reason...

2. God does not and will not leave you... Period. Everything else will leave you, may it be your girlfriend, boyfriend, parents, loved-one, dog, cat, computer game, PC, cellphone, friends, work, academics, grades, bar, beer, money, and even that sexy woman over there... They will leave you. These "something else" will not be there for you always. In truth, The phrase "I'll always be here for you" will not be true always because I, too, also can leave you. So, If you love these things above everything else and give to them all you got... There is 100% even 200% guarantee, no-questions-asked, and pretty sure of it that they will leave you.

Isn't that truth destructive? Devastating? To love "something else" and to give this "something else" everything that you have only to find out that this "something else" will leave you alone... having an unrequited love? Only to find out that this "something else" does not and will not love you until eternity and will just again... leave you alone?

That's why God wants you to love Him... with everything that you have... To focus on Him alone. Yes, you can love your family, friends, work, boyfriend, girlfriend, pets... but they are only second to God. You give everything to God. Because He will never, ever, leave you. Believe me. Your love for Him is secured. Your everything is secured. And you will have fullness of joy until eternity because He is Eternity... He is Infinity. Your world will not crumble because He will always be there for you. Come to think of it, if You love Him, He will be your everything. Now, the reason why He will not leave you brings me to my last reason...

3. God loved, loves and will always love us... In the first place, we will never exist or even cease to exist if He doesn't love us. Because we are formed because of His love. Even everything else exists because of His love. That's why we are wired to love, because He loves. He is love. And in Him we are complete. We attain fullness of joy. That's why our everything is secured in Him because He is Everything.

And because He has loved us first, our response is to love Him back. It is now not a command but an act. A response to what is truly given to us. Because He wants you to be more like Him... Because He created you in His image and likeness... And Because Jesus is also the Father and the Father is also Jesus... and Jesus loves the Father... then we are to do the same... for this response of love to the Father is for us... He gave this so that you can have fullness of joy in His Love.

PS1. Watch out for the next topic in the series: Loving You

PS2. Watch out for our next topic series after this: Being Complete

Love Blog Series # 6.2.1: What's Love Got to Do with This?

"Hayyyyy... Love..."
But before we get mushy in this article... let's discuss the definition of love.
What is love anyway?

In the world today, there are many, many, many definitions pertaining to love. Most of them equate love as an intense surge of feelings or emotions. And many people would also say that it is irrational, does not have any reason, and simply a magical thing that people feel.

It may sometimes be connoted to love of country, romantic love, friendship, sexual love, love for thing, and even love for God. And many will say that these vast definitions of love are very unique to each other and are very different from each other. Many would say that these different kinds of love have different intensity of feelings also.

All in all, these boils down to one thing: Love is a feeling.

Pope Benedict, through his encyclical letter entitled: "Deus Caritas Est", wishes to address this very definition of love. Is it really a feeling, much like the Greek word, eros? Is love or true essence of it be ideal and almost impossible to grasp due to the many definitions and intensities to it? Is romantic love very different from the religious love or love for God? Can we be able to do the commandments?

What is really the definition of love?

To have a basic knowledge of it, we will have to use the sentence many of us will say in many different languages to express our love to the other:

"I love you"

Using basic English, this simple sentence represent two parts: A subject and a predicate.
The subject here is the word "I". The predicate here is the phrase "love you" which can be subdivided into two objects: A verb and a direct object. The direct object here is "you" and the verb word is "love".

By the very definition of verb as an action word, the word "love" can be connoted as an action.
We cannot express love if is not an action. And by the very definition of it... Love is an action, the doer of the action is "I" and the receiver of the action is "you".

By receiving the action means receiving the action word "love". And love cannot be received if it is not been given to the receiver.

So what is this love that is to be given? By the meaning of the title of the letter "Deus Caritas Est", it means: God is love. We are to give God as an action to the receiver. But how do we do that?

Looking at the first chapter of Genesis, we can see that we ourselves are made from the image and likeness of God. Thus, in action, we only not give our God... we ought to give ourselves.

Thus, the very essence of the true meaning of love. It is an act of self-giving... of self-sacrificing. This is agape used in the New Testament. Then, what are feelings then?

Feelings, the intense emotions that well up inside us, is a byproduct of that love. That is the pursuit defined by eros, supreme infinite happiness often equated to romantic love. Rather than a warped and destructive form of eros that is intoxicated and seeks to reach "divine happiness" for the purpose of feeling the pleasure of being "divine", true eros becomes pure and true when in pursuit of this kind of happiness we ought to give ourselves. Eros and Agape, although different, becomes one in the whole definition of love.

Love becomes one essence but in different manifestations. It is whole. It cannot be gauge into different intensities. It's either you give it whole, or you give an imperfect one. We cannot separate it into different things for if we separate it, we only get an impoverished form of it. And a "half-baked love" is not love at all.

People need love... We need to be loved... and the only thing that quenches that thirst is only through true and perfect love.

Thus, true and perfect love, again, is an action... an act... to give oneself to another... to sacrifice for one neighbor... to serve, give time and effort generously... and its byproduct will always be joy, peace, and love. The feelings that we get when we give generously.

For the more we give and share this love, the more we receive true and perfect love given and acted upon us by our generous God, who gave His Son Jesus, who died for us... just to ultimately define what true love is.



PS. Sorry for the late post, I have to read just part one of the Encyclical letter of the Pope just make this post more understandable and have more "meat" so to speak.

PS2. Watch out for the next topic in the series: Does God need my love?

PS3. Watch out for our next topic series after this: Being Complete

Timeless Specials #1: High School Reflections

(Note: Timeless Specials are special blog entries aside from the series for the moment... It may or may not be connected to the series being discussed about at the moment... The use and anything about Timeless Specials will be posted after the "Two Simple Instructions" subseries special of the Love Blog Series)

After almost 4 years, we met again.
I met with one of my high school friends after 4 years of not seeing each other.
It was really a "semi-unplanned" moment.

Just a little background, I was just attending a seminar about How to be Truly Rich by Bo Sanchez when I thought of arranging a meeting with that friend of mine. The reason I arranged a meeting with her (Oooopss... Yep, she's a girl...) was because I promised her that before her birthday, we'll have a "chit-chat" as a gift. But because of schedules, we postponed it, then postponed it again... then another... until we had a chance (and time) to meet up. So we met at National Bookstore at Katipunan, QC and ate at Red Ribbon.

It was unplanned actually. The whole plan was to meet her but the thing is, I don't know what to talk about. All I was thinking then was to convince her and have a small team to start a reunion plan for our batch this coming "5-year reunion" next year and then that's it. On the other side, she was thinking of convincing me to come and watch the Pisay (Short for Philippine Science... Yep...) Movie entry at Cinemalaya at CCP.

Anyhow, so we ate and had our little talk and went off to CCP. But before that we need to get tickets at TicketNet. Thus, we took a ride at LRT2 to Gateway, Cubao and looked for tickets.

At this point, we had our adventure. We had so much fun talking starting from Red Ribbon to Gateway that we didn't realized that at some points we were actually a little bit lost. But what surprised me the most is how we reacted when we got to the TicketNet booth and said that all tickets were sold out for that day's show.

We traveled from Katipunan to here and was lost a little bit and all we got was a dead end... We couldn't get tickets for the show that we should be watching right that moment.
But we laughed... Not a sarcastic laugh but a heartily and joyful laugh. We laughed and was also astounded as how the movie got so much publicity that on the first day of showing, all tickets were sold.

We don't have plan B that time. But we had an instant plan B and headed for Starbucks (this was the first time I entered the cafe of Starbucks and the 3rd time I bought their product...)... And for at most I think 1 or 2 hours we stayed there talking and sharing our lives.

From simple things like "how are you" to things like "love life" to things like "how's our common 'bestfriend'" to her dad, to my work, to coffee, to cake, to her lifestyle, to my lifestyle, to our past high school memories, to God...

And we didn't stopped there, we circled around the mall and stayed there for another hour or so at the National Bookstore and talked again... and again... and again...

And we again left and went to the Food Area of Gateway and bought and shared NYFD (french fries brand) and talked again... and again... and again...

And it hit us... We are now here... sitting and eating and talking. We realized that much of what we have learned and shared while we were together was because of the years and experiences we had in our high school days. Those were the days that the topic for the day will always be "love life" and "drama mode". Those were the days that we thought of love as a feeling. Those were the days that we live our lives in a competitive world. Those were the days that a "tampuhan" is a big issue then. And now we are here, talking about our reflections and realizations about our silly mistakes and lessons as if we were still together.

It's like we are "growing together alone". Together in a sense that still now we move as one... going forward... but because of certain things like distance... we move "alone".

Meeting with my friend that day was like having a big reunion. A reunion of dreams, hopes, aspirations, realizations, reflections... And I treasure these moments... Unplanned moments...

I had a great time. And I'm writing this down... well, my plan is to share it to you what happened that time. But now, the unplanned thing is... I'm writing this down so that you may realize this very thing.

Treasure every good moment. Some of your moments may be bad but it's ok. They will work out into a good thing after.
Treasure every person you meet. I'm glad I had a great "date" with my friend.
I do hope there will come a time that you will meet (or date) with one of your close friends before and will have yourself a reunion of thoughts... a rekindling of your passion before... a pursuit of your dreams... It maybe today... tomorrow who knows... :D

Anyhow, for 6 hours... we just talked about a part of 4 years. I think we still may need to do some catching-up. :D

(Again... Back to our next topic in our subseries: What's Love Got to Do with This?)
(Watch out for our next set of topics: Being Complete)

Love Blog Series #6.1: Two Simple Instructions (Subseries special #1)

Did you ever tried NOT to follow the instructions in your test papers?
Deliberately or accidentally?
I did many times and all I got is a zero if not a minus five in my exam or quiz.
Just because I did not follow simple instructions in my test papers.

My topic for this entry is about two simple instructions. Just two.
And yet these two are the most disobeyed instructions since ancient times.
Do you know what are these two?

1. Love God
2. Love others

Simple isn't it? And most of the time, for at least 2000 years... and even before Christ was born, these two instructions were the most disobeyed, often taken-for-granted, and misinterpreted instructions in the world.

I have a hunch that most, if not all, of the unnecessary problems and worries today and even before are due to lack of love. It is due to not following these two simple instructions.

Crime, murder, war, failing the math exam, heartbreaks, divorce, occultism, ouija, rape, population booming, economical crisis, corruption, sin, adultery, bitterness, horror, accidents, blame...

The Greek word used for sin in the New Testament books is called "hamartia" which means "to miss a mark". Thus, by missing the mark or not hitting or obeying these 2 simple instructions actually makes you sin. And sin causes all kinds of unnecessary and useless problems and worries to man.

The whole point now is how do we avoid "missing the mark"? How do we do these instructions? Ultimately, how do we love?

To answer these clearly, We will have to know the problems why we can't easily follow these 2 instructions. There are three reasons why we fail to follow these instructions...
1. We do not know
2. We do not internalize
3. We do not do it

1st, we do not know what love is and why do we need to love. The problem with us today is that we ourselves twisted the very meaning and form of love and corrupted it just to fit into our own selfish needs. Knowing what true love is and the real reasons why we need to love God and others will help us have concrete reasons for us to love them. I believe that in loving you need to know why you love (see Love Blog Series #3: True Love has One Reason Alone). We will discuss it later in our next set of topics what love is and why we need to love.

2nd, it is not enough to know it by mind. We need to know it by heart. Everyday we must internalize and condition ourselves to do the 2 greatest commandments. Again, a full discussion for this part will be done later.

and lastly, after knowing love and conditioning yourself to love, the last important thing is to actually do it. Every preparation will be in vain if not done in action. So here, some of the answers in how to love will be given here.

This topic will be subdivided into parts to answer how can we love God and love others more effectively and then actually "avoid missing the mark". So watch out for our next issues :D

(Next topic in our subseries: What's Love Got to Do with This?)
(Watch out for our next set of topics: Being Complete)

Love Blog Series #5: Extension to the Theory of Equivalent Exchange

Remember this theory?

The theory states that "for the exchange to take place, the two key players of the relationship must be somehow complete first before they give it to each other. As for this, they will take what the other has given and the cycle goes on. Because of their completeness, and their readiness, the give-and-take cycle becomes a natural process, like breathing and eating."

(for more explanation, see Love Blog Series #1: The Theory of Equivalent Exchange)

There's an extension to it, which will encompass all other relationships as well.

You may think that when a person gives his whole self to his partner, the partner is fulfilled and is complete from that love being given by her partner. Now I will disagree with that.

Because people are imperfect. We can't give perfect love... remember my last paragraph? That you can't give without being complete... and by being complete you must ask from God to give you first His complete and perfect love so that you can share it to others especially to your partner...

The receiver of love is not really receiving a perfect love from her partner if the love given does not come from God and the giver is not really giving himself and his love completely if the giver doesn't have the love from God.

Thus, the reality of this theory is that the reason behind the completeness of a person inside the cycle of love is not because of the love being completely given to us by the giver but because of the love being given by our Lord.

The cycle really becomes a natural process when we share and give that whole love from our Lord.

Our fulfillment of our needs is really not because of the person who give us love, but because the Lord fulfilled us first our needs (that is why we should be complete first before having a relationship... at this point, we will discuss it in our next topic: Being complete).

And in loving relationship, the Lord uses our partners as His instruments to show His perfect love for us again, and again, and again.

Making us complete again, and again , and again...

And having that kind of reality, we don't need to look after ourselves. Thus, we have more time to look after our partners needs... Because we ourselves are instruments of God to show His love for our partners.

Although this reality looks like that we fulfill them, it is really the Lord using us to love them completely. Isn't that amazing?

To conclude this topic, if you really love... or if I rephrase it: If you really want to love the person you are loving right now (may it be your parent, child, boyfriend, girlfriend, special some-one, spouse, friend) don't just give your imperfect love...

Ask for God to give you first His perfect love to you so that you could share and give His perfect love to others... remember this equation:

Perfect love tenfold = imperfect love from you + perfect love given to you from God

Don't worry about the cycle... you don't need the cycle for the fulfillment of your needs from your partner. Why? Because your needs are met by God's love! (I said it before and I'll say it again... you being complete will not come from your partner... period) The cycle will come and be a natural process after.

God's love is ought to be shared :D It makes His love increase tenfold :D

(Watch out for our next topic in our series: Two Simple Instructions)

Love Blog Series #4: Standard Specifications

Have you ever thought why do we need to know the specifications and standards of the products we buy?
For us who buy software or games that can be played in your own PCs, you know what I'm talking about.
Before we buy any game or software, most of us look not only on its reviews but also the minimum requirement specifications or standard it needs for it to be played.

The requirements can be a list like:
-Can run on Operating Systems that are XP,ME,2000,98...
-Should have a memory of 256MB
-Should have a video card supporting 3-d graphics
etc... etc...

and then knowing our own PCs, we see if our own PCs has achieved the minimum requirements or standard specifications of the CD so that the software or game be at least usable or playable if not smooth and efficient in terms of speed (in other words, the PC doesn't crash).

Now what is the relevance of PC requirements to Love life?

For us to have a smooth relationship, we need standards. A list of "Minimum requirements" and "For best performance" to have a workable and smooth relationship with each other.
(I got this from Bo Sanchez and Josh Harris, minimum requirements equals to no-compromise stuff or non-negotiables.)

For many of my friends, they say that we do not need standards because we break them when we found the "one" (even my mom said it to me).
Again, I beg to disagree.

Take note of the premise and the example above, it is for having a workable and smooth relationship.

When you stick to your standards for a partner, you have advantages (and of course disadvantages but that later on). You eliminate at least half of your conflicts in your relationship. Guaranteed!! Well, for the least, you could have eliminated the unhealthy conflicts.

In a relationship, there are conflicts, yes. But not all are healthy, especially the ones that results from misunderstandings that has the same story over and over and over and over and... you know what I mean (and worse, we do not learn from these conflicts).

The reason why we have these unhealthy conflicts with the "wrong" partners is because of many factors (different beliefs, different likes, dislikes, different lifestyles, religion, etc...)

Now I am not much against with "opposites attract" because it is still possible but I can tell you, it is quite hard. Well, not really quite, but very hard. Adjusting to each other differences for too much can be spiritually, emotionally, and physically draining.

Speaking of adjusting, as a human person, we can't adjust too much of ourselves, more so for our partners who "wants" us to be what they "want" us to be. Because the danger of adjusting too much is we can disregard the real plan for us by our Lord. The problem with adjusting too much also is that we change our definition of ourselves not because as the Lord wants but as what our partners "wants". Another problem is we become a liquid, a blob... no backbone... no identity. Our identity is just formed because of the container of "wants" of your partner.

Now I go back to my topic, why do we need standards? When you dive into a relationship, you just don't go diving in without any reason. You just don't love a person just because the person is beautiful, with money, etc... The reason why you decided to love the person for the rest of your whole life and dive into an exclusive relationship is to serve God through this person (See Love Blog Series#3: True Love has One Reason Alone).

A relationship becomes one entity where both of you serve and give more than when you serve and give as two separate individuals. Again, you cannot give what you do not have. If your relationship is not healthy, you can't serve and give healthily. If your relationship is healthy, you can serve and give healthily. A healthy relationship doesn't mean it is void of conflicts, but it means that you have accepted each other's individual identities and has fulfilled a "basic requirement" to make the relationship work, have a purpose and reason why you love each other, and its (the relationship's) center is God and His love.

God created you uniquely, you have needs and wants. You have your own set of standards, know them clearly. and stick to it... You'll never regret this decision.

Because you're a child of God, You deserve the best for you.