Philippines needs more ethanol plants to keep up with demand -Manila Times 8/25/05

I think this oil price crisis is a good thing in that it will force us to seriously consider alternative fuel sources. Clean, renewable alcohol fuel from sugarcane and corn is our opportunity to be a world leader in fuel production. Come on Pinoy! Rise up! Grab the opportunity now. Good to see that Seaoil and Petron are taking the lead here.

Good to be home!

just got out of the hospital this afternoon. I had to be checked in cause I was diagnosed with pneumonia, bronchitis, and a throat infection! It was my first time to stay in the hospital. I was so restless. Don't like being confined. I'm feeling better now.

Funny thing is that most people looked at this incident as a forced rest. Do I really work that hard? I had no idea!

Y Speak on Channel 23

Just caught the last 15 minutes of Y Speak on channel 23. The topic of discussion was students and education in the Philippines. I was so disappointed to see a little girl, when asked her opinion about what the rest of the gang was talking about, say that she didn't have anything to say because she didn't understand english. I think she was playing cute with the camera and probably just wants to be an artista. But she is so stupid! Her remark proved what a couple of the discussion group members said: That naging bobo ang mga pinoy! And the reason why nagiging bobo ang mga pinoy (some of them at least) is stupid pride...PRIDE. This stupid girl was proud to say that she didn't have anything to say because she didn;t understand english ("Wala'kong masabi kasi di ko maintindihan ng inglis...Pilipino ako e.). It's this kind of attitude that will hold back Filipinos from being worldclass. Nakakainis lang talaga!

LTBC 2005 Pics!

Here are some pics from the LTBC in La Vista, Pansol, Laguna...

Back from LTBC 2005

Just got back from the EDMARK Leadership and Team Building Camp in La Vista, Pansol, Laguna. Spoke 7 times in the past 2 1/2 days! But it was an OUTSTANDING camp! I'll post some pics soon.

Snapshops of Our Vision

Our vision statement is actually a mosaic of 4 different pictures of the kind of church we want to be. Here is how we state our vision:

TO BE REVERED AS AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE FOR CATALYZING TRANFORMING LEADERSHIP AND REDEMPTIVE TEAMS IN THE HOME, THE MARKETPLACE, AND THE WORLD.

This vision is made up of these 4 pictures of our future:

1. To be a model of exponentially multiplying cell groups in the marketplace.
2. To be an environment that strengthens the family.
3. To be a mobilizer of redemptive change in society.
4. To be a catalyst for transformational leadership in the Asia Pacific region.

Kick it in high gear!

Vision Launching!

Last Sunday was the conclusion of our vision month. It was awesome! We had record attendance and more than SRO seating!!!! It all felt like we were launching NuComm for the very first time! The energy was so high. Excitement and passion were kicking! Huhaaa!

We're getting batches of new people every week....and they're coming back the following weeks! We even have them consolidated into new cell groups! We got the big MO!

Pics!

Finally figured out how to post pictures!

Check out our free concert on July 15, 2005 at the Word for the World Makati sanctuary. We'll be with Kitchie Nadal and the "ruggednoise" guys from WWCF. It's free! Concert starts at 6pm. See you there!

Disney Danger?

The Walt Disney Co. might be sued due to a couple of deadly incidents on their rides. The incidences occurred in both L.A. and Orlando. A 4-year old boy died of unknown causes while riding the Space Mission ride and a Spanish woman died of a brain aneurysm while riding on a ride described as “violent shaking and stress.” DUH. That’s why people ride the rides. If there was no “violent shaking and stress” it wouldn’t be fun! I don’t think Disney should be sued even if they find out that the ride caused the death.

Blogging Help

Does anyone out there have any tips on better blogging? I really wish I could blog more often.

IBKC!

I believe this will be the new theme and mantra for the 2005/2006 ministry season.

INTENTIONALLY BUILDING A KINGDOM CULTURE!

That is to say that we will be focusing on intentionally building...

1. A culture of prayer,
2. A culture of discipline,
3. A culture of discipleship,
4. A culture of evangelism, and
5. A culture of leadership.

Huhaaa!!!

I also believe that our mandate is to the 20/40 Window. That is, men and women between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. But with a strategic emphasis on reaching children under the age of 13 years old.

Vision Statement

Been working on a vision statement for NuComm since ILI Singapore. Thought I had 4 pretty good "to be" statements until I was inspired by the first chapter of Kevin Roberts' "Lovemarks." How's this for a try?

To be revered as an unstoppable force for catalyzing transformational leadership and redemptive teams in the home, the marketplace and the world.

Personally, I think it's pretty kickin'!

International Leadership Institute

Beth and I have been in Singapore for the past 2 weeks attending the ILI Conference at the invitation of Isaac Lim. It's been a grueling schedule but well worth it!

I don't even know where to begin to share the insights we've learned and the impact the Lord has made upon our lives. We've received so much affirmation. Though my body may feel tired from the full schedule (8:30am-9pm), I feel invigorated! I also feel like I have fresh direction for the ministry and for our lives.

Some of the highlights of this trip that I will always treasure are:

Finding new, loving mentors in Isaac and Shirley Lim...worldclass leaders in my opinion.

New friendships we've made with 30 people representing 17 different nations (Myanmar, Nepal, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Brazil, Nigeria, Indonesia, Singapore, USA, Iran, Isle of Man, Philippines, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka).

City Harvest Church and getting to meet with Pastor Kong Hee...20,000 members and growing!

I bet we'll be talking about this for years to come. :-)

Turning Adversity into Opportunity

Adversity defined – hardship and suffering; an extremely unfavorable experience or event. Other words associated with adversity include “hardship, difficulty, danger, misfortune, harsh conditions, and hard times.”

Learning to overcome adversity, that is, the ability to turn adversity into an opportunity to grow and learn, is one of the main ingredients to being successful. Turning adversity into opportunity is what defines you.

If you can break the habit of habitual despair, you can start growing and climbing towards success.
Dr. Shirley Lim
Research Communication Inc.

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4 (NIV)

How can we turn adversity into opportunity?

First, listen to your reactions. Self-awareness is the first step in understanding what is happening around you and within you.

Second, establish the whole story. Make sure you get a bird's eye perspective on your adverse situation. Look to establish your responsibility in the story.

Third, analyze the situation and see which things are truly beyond your control and which things are within your control.

Fourth, do what you need to do to regain control over what you can.

Masterpiece

Make each day a masterpiece!

Is your "next act" (presentation, goal statement for your current project) up to the Cirque du Soleil Standard? Is today a "Masterpiece"?

-Tom Peters


Got this from Tom Peter's website. Great thought!

Dating, Mating & Waiting (part 3)

What do you do if you're single? A LOT!!!!

Marriage is not the ultimate state of existence.

Single people are not second class members of society!

All of you marriage addicts, shut up while the rest of us throw up!!!

It is possible to idolize marriage even as a married person, you know?!?!

To all you single people out there...on behalf of all married people AND all the Christian books on marriage...MY DEEPEST APOLOGIES!!!!

Aiiight?! Ya feeel me?!

A word to the single and the singled...its not about finding someone who "completes" you ala Jerry MacGuire. It's about finding the right vibe in your life where you can have undivided devotion to Christ.

Sniff...snifff....You had me at, "Hello."

Dating, Mating & Waiting (part 2)

Marriage is not about balance but about harmony. There's a HUGE difference!

Balance means compromise, losing a part of yourself blah, blah, blah....

Harmony requires that both notes be solid and whole. Same with marriage. It's the blending of two lives into one life where neither one has to lose their personal identity.

For harmony to happen, you need to be in the same key. Think WILL of God.

For harmony to happen, you both need to know your notes. Think SELF-AWARENESS and SELF-UNDERSTANDING.

For harmony to happen, you need to know one another. It's like Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson playing off each other because they know one another's habits vocally.

Hey, it's called l'amour NOT la mort. For you non-French speaking people l'amour means love/romance and la mort means death.

Dating, Mating & Waiting (part 1)

Dating sucks. Just a series of monogamous heartache. Why would you want to put yourself out there emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, and financially (?!) for someone you barely know? Stupid!

Alternative: Courtship instead of dating.

Take time to really, REALLY get to know someone. In fact, why not marry your best friend instead? What I mean is, why not instead of looking for a mate, develop awesome friendships...even with the opposite sex! Then go through a process of courtship where you discover whether or not one of your friends is really discguised as your spouse before you create any soul ties or at least before you heavily invest in the person emotionally!

As far as I can see, that's a win-win situation. If you find out that you're not meant for each other, at least you can remain friends for real without the embarrassment of having a "romantic history" with him/her.

O, l'amour!

Dating, Mating, and Waiting

Just finished a 3-part series at NuComm called "Dating, Mating and Waiting." I'll post a summary of each above...

Traffic Cop Lesson

Brought my kids to their ride to school this morning as usual. Got stuck in the middle of the intersection. Reason? Traffic cops!

I thought the whole purpose of a traffic cop is to make traffic flow smoothly?! These guys allowed buses to block the intersection rather than stopping them when the other side was full. Now, I know that this is how it is in Manila. But it's a simple example of a lack of leadership foresight at such a basic level in our society. Something's gotta change!