Kairos

I just saw this video clip from a friend’s blog and I downloaded it to share it with you. It is a funny clip that reminded me of my very own "learning" experience. Six years ago, I had absolutely no idea that big corporations, such as Dell Computers, outsource their technical assistance to countries like India and the Philippines where labor is cheaper. I was then having a problem with my office computer which necessitated my call to Dell’s technical support. The first person I spoke to had an Indian accent. But that came as no surprise to me since there are immigrants from India here in the U.S. Unfortunately though, he was not able to help me with my computer trouble, so I found myself calling again for technical help the following day. Now this time, I spoke with a lady, and in the middle of our conversation, I realized that her accent was much like mine -– she’s a Filipina! Having just moved to the U.S. at that time, I was eager to meet people from the Philippines. So I s...

The following is written by Salome Oro – a worship pastor, preacher, teacher, musician, singer, composer, sister and friend. She has touched and influenced my life greatly. Her passion for the Lord is infectious. I just wanted to share her writing, as it has so much truth in it. It's a bit long, but read through. It is worth it. This is what Kingdom building is all about….. Wh en was the last time that you really felt the presence of God enter a room you are in or felt him touch you with his mighty power? When was the last experience you had of the Holy Spirit zapping you and you fell under His awesome power? Have you ever been in the zone of His Presence and you just got swept away by what He was releasing in that given moment of time? Did you ever experience what it is like when the glory of God comes down and is almost tangible and you could almost taste Him? Everyone who has had such an experience came out of that place in the spirit a changed person… those who have decided to...

Commitment. It is such a big word that many people are afraid of. I can understand why. Because commitment demands a lot. When a commitment is made, death is going to take place elsewhere. To commit means something has to die. A couple of months ago, I have committed to pray and fast at least one day per week, until the end of this year. I am doing this, not only as a part of the prayer and fasting chain of my home church in the Philippines, but largely for my personal reasons. Ever since I became a Christian, prayer and fasting have been a big part of my spiritual growth. It is during these periods that I get the most rhema words (revelations) from the Lord. There are different kinds of fasting. And the fasting that I have decided to do is the partial fast – no food, just water. Despite the many times that I've done this in the past, I still struggle about food everytime -- when the hunger pangs hit me. Funny, but I can easily skip a meal or two at any given day when I’m busy, but...

Despite the advancement of medicines and therapies, cancer remains to be the most evil disease plaguing mankind to this date. I should know, I have two of my most beloved people affected by it – my m other and my father. Today, I can’t help but wonder why good people, like my parents, get affected with cancer. My heart is aching so much, especially for my mother whose cancer is far more advanced than my father. My father has recovered really well from his colon surgery. My mother, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to get better. Just the other night, I can already hear the hopelessness in her voice. She wants to give up. She is ready to give up. My mother has just been through another round of chemo. Though this time the drug was taken orally, but the effects remain the same. She is physically weak to the point that she has a hard time moving. On top of that, her skin is getting worse. The lesions has spread from her chest to her arms and neck. She is having sleepless nights. I can only ...

I've been hooked on watching this tv show "So You Think You Can Dance". This is similar to American Idol, but the dance version. The techniques and versalitily required from the contestants of this show are very high. The creativity from the choreographers are awesome. Being a dancer isn't easy. Though I'm not a professional dancer like they are, but I am involved in the dance ministry. So I've had a little taste of how it is to memorize the steps, let alone perfect the execution of each movement. It requires physical stamina. It requires passion, dedication. It requires a whole lot of TIME. It is sad to say though that in the church, we as dance ministers do not maintain the same standards that the world demands. Those that are dancing for the Lord are more often willing to settle for mediocrity -- "because it is not a performance". True, but we forget that we are "worshipping" the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He deserves our best....

It's just another manic Monday... This day began just like any other Monday - blah! I felt like not getting up and going to work. But unlike the other Mondays, the Lord "woke" me up today. I went out to walk the dog this morning as I usually do. I met our neighbor who is likewise walking her dog. She knows about my mother's condition, and she asked about her. I replied, albeit very hesitant and said "not very good. Her cancer is spreading, etc..." When those words came out of my mouth, the Holy Spirit flashed a red light in my mind. God showed me the condition of my heart. Despite all my prayer declarations of healing and miracle over my mother, He knows that in the deepest place of my heart - I lack faith. And my physical state today is most likely a reflection of my spiritual weariness. I am a child of GOD yet I have the defeatist attitude. This is hard to accept, but somehow it is true. Sometimes, we don't really believe that we deserve the miracles o...

Isn't it wonderful to learn something and be able to apply what you have learned immediately? Today we attended the Flamingo Road Church in Doral. Wonderful church. Wonderful people. Very dynamic. The pastor started a series called Antology - Lessons from the Ant . It was a very practical sermon, one that you can learn from a lot. One of the things that stuck to my mind somehow, was when Pastor Troy related an incident that happened to him in the department store. A lady cut him of the line towards the cashier. This lady was irate and was very aggressive towards the sales people in the counter. He could have reacted to that situation in many ways, but he slowed do wn and asked himself 3 questions: WHAT just happened? WHY is this happening? WHAT can I learn from this situation? I don't know why this stuck in my mind, but it must have been the Holy Spirit. Little did I know that I would be needing that lesson very, very soon! After church, Joe and I proceeded to The Falls mal...

I am not feeling too good today. I spoke with my Mother last night on the phone and learned that welts have begun to form in the skin around her right breast area, and they're getting bigger too. In addition, the doctor informed her a couple of days ago that she definitely needs blood transfusion as her CBC count is very low. My mother is currently taking oral chemotherapy medications for her advanced breast cancer. And anemia is one of the side effects of chemotherapy. My mother is already anemic to begin with. For those who don't know, this crisis began a year ago when my Mom got diagnosed of breast cancer. By then, her condition was already advanced and that the cancer has already metastasized to her lymph nodes and skin. Doctors even suspect metastasis on her bones as well. After her mastectomy, she still had some of the itchy "rash" area near her armpit which the doctor said should be addressed with her radiation treatment following her surgery. However, this ras...

I love music. Who doesn't? Music does so many things to so many people. But like everyone else, I have my own preferences on the kind of music that I listen to. Through the years, I have become very selective on the songs that I listen to. I think mainly because I have come to believe (with conviction!) how powerful words really are. As the bible says, "death and life are in the power of the tongue"... So with this in mind, I make a conscious choice to listen only to music with words that are uplifting and encouraging, ministering to my soul and spirit. And one of my favorite music ministers is Jason Upton. Note that I said minister and not artist -- and that is because he is a minister, not an entertainer. So ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce him to you... Jason Upton , who - in my opinion - is one of the most annointed prophetic worship leader that this generation ever produced. Now, I am not trying to put this man on a pedestal. But rather, I am singling him out b...