God's grace to me in the flesh. 11 months and counting ...
The Mind of the Melancholeric Man: Musings on Life and Ministry by Patrick Tan
Project 2010
For sometime now I’m driven to set for myself goals for year 2010. I believe that 2010 will be a NEW ERA of life and ministry for me. This is what’s impressed in my heart. So before the year turns anew I’ve set for myself goals I want to achieve in two years time:
- Finish my masters course in ASCM
- Get married
- Raise 20 healthy Carecells under my leadership
- Pass the torch of Section 2 Youth
- New ministry direction
Day in the Life
(Original post: Yesterday)
Very long day today. Woke up today at around 8AM. Today is my campus ministry day. But I didn’t feel like going to the campus today. I am a bit discouraged about the low turnout in our ministry at CCM. Nevertheless I still went, late by an hour. I found our company by the upper staircase at the back of the school. Annie’s discipling Millie, her classmate and a new Christian. She began attending our Saturday Carecells and Sunday service last week which was great because I think it’s a big step for her to becoming committed to Jesus. Netty’s also doing one-on-one with a student she was able to share faith with last week. Me, I had nothing to do. I was able to find the guys I’ve made friends with last week, but this time they were cold towards me, like “we’re not close”. I don’t wanna appear clingy so I thought “OK fine” and moved on. There are still more students to talk to. But inside me I’m growing frustrated about my work in CCM. Perhaps “discontented” would be a better word. But anyway, by lunchtime, Netty and I went to see Ate Merla at the staff house for lunch.
We dropped by SM Manila to buy pasalubong for Ate Merla & Joan. She invited us to lunch there. We arrived there around 12:30. After lunch I began to feel sleepy (which have been recently happening to me when I finish a meal), so I borrowed a sleeping mat and dozed off by the living area floor while Netty, Ate Merla and Joan chatted the whole afternoon. I woke up at around 4:30 in time for Ate Merla and Joan to go to their campus meeting in Morayta. We parted at Morayta and Netty and I went to Tutuban to pick up the tarpauline we had printed for our December camp. After that we weaved through the crowd in Divisoria to take a jeepney to Malate to have the camp IDs printed. After leaving the printing job for later pick-up we went to Robinson’s Manila for dinner. Both of us were craving for Jolibee Chickenjoy since the night before, so to Jolibee we went. After dinner I accompanied her to the FX station and bid our goodbye. Though it was a tiring day. It was a day well spent because I was with Netty.
Very long day today. Woke up today at around 8AM. Today is my campus ministry day. But I didn’t feel like going to the campus today. I am a bit discouraged about the low turnout in our ministry at CCM. Nevertheless I still went, late by an hour. I found our company by the upper staircase at the back of the school. Annie’s discipling Millie, her classmate and a new Christian. She began attending our Saturday Carecells and Sunday service last week which was great because I think it’s a big step for her to becoming committed to Jesus. Netty’s also doing one-on-one with a student she was able to share faith with last week. Me, I had nothing to do. I was able to find the guys I’ve made friends with last week, but this time they were cold towards me, like “we’re not close”. I don’t wanna appear clingy so I thought “OK fine” and moved on. There are still more students to talk to. But inside me I’m growing frustrated about my work in CCM. Perhaps “discontented” would be a better word. But anyway, by lunchtime, Netty and I went to see Ate Merla at the staff house for lunch.
We dropped by SM Manila to buy pasalubong for Ate Merla & Joan. She invited us to lunch there. We arrived there around 12:30. After lunch I began to feel sleepy (which have been recently happening to me when I finish a meal), so I borrowed a sleeping mat and dozed off by the living area floor while Netty, Ate Merla and Joan chatted the whole afternoon. I woke up at around 4:30 in time for Ate Merla and Joan to go to their campus meeting in Morayta. We parted at Morayta and Netty and I went to Tutuban to pick up the tarpauline we had printed for our December camp. After that we weaved through the crowd in Divisoria to take a jeepney to Malate to have the camp IDs printed. After leaving the printing job for later pick-up we went to Robinson’s Manila for dinner. Both of us were craving for Jolibee Chickenjoy since the night before, so to Jolibee we went. After dinner I accompanied her to the FX station and bid our goodbye. Though it was a tiring day. It was a day well spent because I was with Netty.
Pilot: I'm Moving Back
I’m moving from Multiply. I feel the world’s getting smaller and smaller over there. I need a place to express myself, speak my mind and reflect. That’s why I’m moving here. I named this blog “New Every Morning” (Melancholeric 3.0) because I want it to be hopeful and positive, though I can’t promise every post will be that. Just something to remind me to look at the good side of things. “New Every Morning” because who I am and where I am is all because of His pro-active, initiating grace.
I Will See You Again
It was dark on the way to the mountainside, but even darker are the hearts of whose feet that follow Him as Their master lays his final words, hours before his arrest. Light does shine the brightest in the darkest of places. In the midst of grief, a ounce of light, a promise from the One who matters, "I will see you again." John 16:22, "I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you."
This promise echoes hope today in the darkest times in our life. "I will see you again." A postcard from the past that bursts with eager anticipation. It takes us higher to see that life does not end in defeat, even mediocre contentment, for the one who follows him devotedly. On that day, on that day, oh what a joy! Because at long last we have finished the great amazing race, we have kept the faith. I couldn't even picture that moment when we finally see him. There won't be a dry eye, tears shed only because of unspeakable joy. The Celebration then has just begun.
John 16:33, "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world."
We are overcomers, conquerors, victors in Christ!
"There Will Come A Day" by Faith Hill
There's a better place where our Father waits
And every tear He'll wipe away
The darkness will be gone, the weak shall be strong
Hold on to your faith!
There will come a day
The song will ring out down those golden streets
The voices of earth with the angels singing
Every knee will bow, sin will have no trace in the glory of His amazing grace
There will come a day!
Starstruck
It was quite a very interesting and rare night for us tonight. Netty and I went to the premier of the evangelistic movie Rebound this evening at Victory Christian Fellowship in Robinsons Galleria. I was given complimentary tickets because I made the movie website (please check it out). Anyway, as we went down the basement parking, I had a hard time looking for one until I found a guy hurrying to his car, so I put my flashers on. And imagine our surprise when we recognized who it was... it was Piolo Pascual! Perhaps he was came from the evening service of VCF. Netty was like sayang we didn't get a chance to see him longer. And I was like, "I just took the place of Piolo's car..." (insert starstruck Anime eyes, hehe). After that episode, we went to the cinema, we found some friends who were already on the queue and took our seats. And then Gary Valenciano and family show up and took the seats in front of us. As in naistarstruck kame. I could literally just stretch out my hand and call his attention. They were there to support his son Gabriel because he's the lead of the movie. Ala lang, just wanted to share ... starstruck siguro. And praise God because these guys people of great influence in media have come to know Christ and more and more people from that field are getting to know Him.
The Gospel According to Jackie Chan
You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. – Jesus, Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)
Day in the Life: Long Day
It's been a long day today. Today is my campus ministry day. Surprisingly woke up at 7AM by myself (snaps for me) and started preparing for my campus visit in CCM. Took a quick shower and tricycle my way to LRT.
I arrived at CCM around 10AM and our smallgroup is already waiting for me. It was a great first smallgroup meeting this semester. Had a great time catching up and sharing and encouraging one another. Netty followed around 11AM. By 12 noon we went to CEU to visit a youth of mine to catch up on each other's lives over lunch. I haven't seen her for quite a while so Netty and I were so happy to see her telling her that she was "blooming" which was not bola but true. Around 2PM, we were to meet Ate Merla in a student center in Morayta. I figured it should be in United Baptist Church, because they had a large youth center. I was glad to find out that the Doulos (Ship) Team was holding a booksale in the student center. And this time majority of the books were inspirational and cheaper. We met Ate Merla with her friends there. Turns out that that was not the student center they were using but the one over the FEU side. After buying some books, we headed there to spend sometime to catch up with friends. By 4PM, we went back to CCM with the intention to get to know new students and share faith with them which turned out pretty well.
After a long day's work (with all the sun and smoke, we look and smelled un-fresh already), we went to Glorietta to have dinner and catch a movie (One More Chance :). On the way there, Netty surprised me with a WordSearch book, that I wanted to buy when we were in Doulos (It was so sweeet of her). Arriving there we discovered that the queue to the move was so long since it was 1st day of showing so we figured to just have dinner and coffee. We were able to see Netty's friends (Christian, Daniel, Claire and Jen) and shared a dinner at World Chicken. They went off to see Beowulf and Netty and I went to Starbucks to have coffee. She's eagerly collecting this years Starbucks planner :) It was my first time this season to have a hot cup of Peppermint Mocha which was very exciting. Then we took the word search book and had a little competition on answering the most hidden words. It was a quality time moment :) After coffee I took her home and stayed a little longer watching PBB. Arrived home at 11:30PM blessed and thankful.
Blessed and Thankful that ...
I arrived at CCM around 10AM and our smallgroup is already waiting for me. It was a great first smallgroup meeting this semester. Had a great time catching up and sharing and encouraging one another. Netty followed around 11AM. By 12 noon we went to CEU to visit a youth of mine to catch up on each other's lives over lunch. I haven't seen her for quite a while so Netty and I were so happy to see her telling her that she was "blooming" which was not bola but true. Around 2PM, we were to meet Ate Merla in a student center in Morayta. I figured it should be in United Baptist Church, because they had a large youth center. I was glad to find out that the Doulos (Ship) Team was holding a booksale in the student center. And this time majority of the books were inspirational and cheaper. We met Ate Merla with her friends there. Turns out that that was not the student center they were using but the one over the FEU side. After buying some books, we headed there to spend sometime to catch up with friends. By 4PM, we went back to CCM with the intention to get to know new students and share faith with them which turned out pretty well.
After a long day's work (with all the sun and smoke, we look and smelled un-fresh already), we went to Glorietta to have dinner and catch a movie (One More Chance :). On the way there, Netty surprised me with a WordSearch book, that I wanted to buy when we were in Doulos (It was so sweeet of her). Arriving there we discovered that the queue to the move was so long since it was 1st day of showing so we figured to just have dinner and coffee. We were able to see Netty's friends (Christian, Daniel, Claire and Jen) and shared a dinner at World Chicken. They went off to see Beowulf and Netty and I went to Starbucks to have coffee. She's eagerly collecting this years Starbucks planner :) It was my first time this season to have a hot cup of Peppermint Mocha which was very exciting. Then we took the word search book and had a little competition on answering the most hidden words. It was a quality time moment :) After coffee I took her home and stayed a little longer watching PBB. Arrived home at 11:30PM blessed and thankful.
Blessed and Thankful that ...
- I received a new project after a friend of the Rebound Movie staff saw the site. Thankful for the projects He's sending me.
- I am able to connect with students and young people and being able to minister to them.
- Thankful for the company of Netty. A real encourager and encouragement, equally passionate about young people and full of grace even after a whole day's work.
2nd Semester @ CCM
2nd semester is here again. Today Netty and I went to CCM to visit our Bible study group and do some evangelism survey. There aren't alot of students yet just a handful. We were able to know a few students from Computer Science college. And we were able to see our Bible study group. We're meeting again, this time Wednesdays at 10AM. We'll be there the whole day Wednesdays. Before we left, rain came pouring down really hard. We stayed at SM Manila for a while. Then proceed to accompany Netty to the FX station. It's like highschool all over again (Pahatid hatid sa sakayan, kasi bawal sa house hehe). I'm really blessed to have Netty in my life and it's an added reward that I could do ministry with her. Our bible study group of 4th years students from Political Science will soon enter the working world. Thankful that all of them passed their thesis and two pairs of thesis partners from our group got the top 2 highest thesis grades. Praying that this semester will be fruitful for all of us in CCM. :)
Day in the life: Glorietta After
- It's back to school for me here at ASCM. I'm enrolled to two subjects whose professors "hindi ko masakyan." One subject perhaps the better one is Counselling with Dr. Zonia Tappeiner, but she's still not in 'til next week. Mondays and Tuesdays are my school days.
- Finally I got to see Netty after 8 days. We saw Rendition. Good movie.
- Sad to discover that Jolibee's Amazing Aloha is phased out again. Do only few people really appreciate Amazing Aloha??
- Happy to see that finally Starbucks' Christmas Blends are back! (My favorite is peppermint mocha)
- It's my first time to visit Glorietta after the explosion that killed 11 people and injured scores. Glorietta 2 is still closed. The stalls on the hallway that goes through Landmark is closed on one side. Even though the mall is trying to pull in its patrons through sales and Christmas decors the shadow of that sad Friday afternoon looms. There were only few people around. Shops close earlier. And the security check-ups take longer. It's a gloomy feeling altogether, and it's Christmas season. "Lord, teach us to number our days aright" (Ps. 90:12).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)