Even though vast stretches of land and sea come between you and me

We still look at the same sky and that is encouragement enough to know that we’ll get by

Jesus is God coming to us in love. Sheer unadulterated, unfiltered love. Stripped of everything that could get in the way. Naked and vulnerable, hanging on a cross, asking the question, “What will you do with me?”

Rob Bell, Sex|God: Exploring The Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality

It’s easy to take off your clothes and have sex. People do it all the time. But opening up your soul to someone, letting them into your spirit

and thoughts

and fears

and future

and hopes

and dreams…

that is being naked.

Rob Bell, Sex|God: Exploring The Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality

Keychain given by a friend.

I was open about my faith. I shared Bible verses. I told them stories. But did I truly share Jesus Christ and His power to save?

The Thinking Cup: Cafe Review

Sooo…my sister and I were to visit coffee shops here in Legazpi as part of laying the foundation for our dreams- managing our own coffee shop. The first ever cafe we visited was The Thinking Cup, located in Arboleda St., Daraga, Albay. It is an old house remodeled as a cafe and based from my friend, it was supposedly a project collaboration between Bicol University students and their professors, but due to popular demand, the cafe’s now a regular running business. Here’s what it looks like from the outside…

Basically, it is an old house, with wide front and back yards so the ventilation is not a problem. For nature lovers, this cafe is certainly a go-to. The moment we entered, we couldn’t help but gush and fish our phones from our bags to take photos. The interior was cute and rustic. They even have a freedom board where guests could write and the menu was also written on the board which had that ole cafe appeal.

At the ground floor is their freedom wall slash menu, so you can promptly place your orders, especially for hungry souls. There is also the counter and along one side of the wall are some books lined up for sale.

Buuuut…what’s so good about this cafe is that it is a paradise for the artist. Up on the second floor is a wide array of books, which can be read by the customers. Paintings by a student also decorate the walls. The cafe also holds a writing contest, so- called The Quivering Quill Writing Project.

You can read while eating :D And you get to sit on the floor. Isn’t that nice?

These were made by an amateur painter. They patronize local art!

The hanging pictures are actually paintings, too.

As for the food, they serve meals fit for two people. My sister ordered her all- time favorite pancakes and four seasons- flavored juice while I got a bologna sandwich plus iced coffee. Oh, yes, I came for the coffee. However, the cafe is not for coffee enthusiasts, as they served only hot or cold coffee. The usual coffee, except it is your choice if you like it hot or cold. A bit disappointing for my coffee buds, albeit the food was sumptuous and really filling.

  Strawberry pancake and Four Seasons juice

They served the coffee in a mason jar! Cute!

Bologna sandwich with kamote chips on the side. Really filling!

If I were to rate the cafe experience, The Thinking Cup would get a four (with five points as the highest) for the location. It is located at the center of the town of Daraga and people can easily find it, as you would only walk straight from the gas station until you find the cafe. No turns, no alleys, just straight across, so the geographically- challenged will have no trouble finding it. As for the interiors, I’d give it a five out of five. No explanations needed for this. Let the photos speak for the place. Food- wise, I’d give it a four. They can still improve the taste, not that my palate complained. Price- wise, this cafe is a five. At a small amount of fifty pesos, you can have their Library meal– potato fries or kamote chips plus a pitcher of lemonade. It is super student- friendly! Another bonus is that you can stay for hours just to finish the book you’re reading. All-in-all, The Thinking Cup gets 18 points out of 20. Not bad for a cafe managed by students :D

What greater sadness is there but to not hold the hand of the one you love.

One Shot

I am a nurse, but secretly, I have this slight fear of needles and blood and pain. How ironic I had to undergo this training before I can give the shots. Nurses are to show empathy, and in order to do just that, you have to place your feet in your patient’s shoes. In this case, your vein on the needles.

The Shack: A Book Review

Written by WM. Paul Young, The Shack tells the story of Mack and his encounter with God four years after the death of his beloved daughter, Missy, in an abandoned shack where the remains of her dress was found. It is a fiction with a hint of theology.

I’ve had this book for a long time but it was only now that I read it. At first, I read it out of boredom, and much to my dismay, the book was boring, too. The writing style did not impress me so I thought of dropping the read. But, since I’ve been craving for anything in print, I decided to finish reading it. As I progressed into the story, I found myself unable to put this book down. Over the course of my reading, things started to get interesting. I had to say, I somehow identified with Mack and The Great Sadness because I read at the time of family turmoil and lapsed in and out of sadness, too (I wouldn’t even call it depression, not even in the mildest sense). What caught me so much was the theology. A word of caution to new believers, though. Some of the doctrinal issues presented were so wrong I had to disagree even if they were presented ever so attractively. There were good points, however, and one would have to sift through thoroughly to discern what goes and stays in the mind. Plot-wise, it was good enough to catch my attention. I question the possibility of Mack’s encounter with God, nonetheless.

We have to be careful with whatever we entertain and with what we choose our minds to dwell on. The mind is the fortress and the battle for its control is never- ending. Constantly, we have to filter whatever goes into our minds. We have to measure every thought against the Word of God, and if those thoughts fail to meet God’s truth, then no doubt those thoughts have no place in our minds.

An Attitude of Gratitude

Why must I give thanks unto You, Lord? My parents have their issue. Pamy has her issue. I’m left to absorb all their issues. Why must I give thanks?

I will give thanks because we are all alive. We are physically health. I will give thanks because God is in control. I will give thanks because God is giving me a chance to share the Gospel to my family. I will give thanks because God is working in our midst. I will give thanks because God wants to use me achieve something for His glory.

I will give thanks despite the raging storm and flood. I will give thanks even when it seems impossible. I will give thanks because I know Jesus and I have Him and that is more than enough to give thanks.

Fireproof doesn’t mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it