BHKJOURNAL_09-0008: I AM... ONE LIFE TO LIVE!

I AM... ONE LIFE TO LIVE!
By: Libert Ong
January 29, 2009
9:36pm-9:44pm

I am a child...
Will I play until I fell asleep?
Or will I pray to God until I felt comfort at my parents arms?

I am one of the university student...
Will I pursue the highest award?
Or will I play dota at its best?

I am a businessman...
Will I pursue the world's riches?
Or will I pursue training others to become better than me?

I am a basketball player...
Will I bring my MVP game?
Or just get my maximum salary and rest all season long?

I have so many questions...
Will I ponder over those?
Or will I just live life to the fullest?

I am a person...
Nothing to lose...
But I have everything in this world...

Tonight,
I have decided...

I will make every moment count...
Because...

I only have ONE LIFE TO LIVE!

BHKJOURNAL_09-0007: MY SECRET IN COOKING ADOBONG SITAW...

Yesterday (Jan. 17, 09), I cooked adobong sitaw and a bonus of repolyong may itlog (thanks to Jhen for the repolyo recipe that I just copied)...

The cooking thing was a promise to two of my friends so yesterday was the most opprtune time to do so... I haven't cook for 10 months already and I do not know if I still know how to do the sitaw thing...

While prepariing the ingredients, there was some nervousness that I have felt because I really don't know what will be the result. As I continue preparing, I just thought of those people I am cooking for and the other purpose of letting Reynold Josol to appreciate vegetables...

During the cooking period, I just enjoyed preparing and being a basketball player I was so intense preparing two dish in one time like playing the last two minutes of a close ball game...

Today, we also ate some of the leftovers of yesterday's sitaw... I received good comments about the dish that I've cooked. Personally, I beleive, it was the best adobong sitaw I've ever made. I just want to improve in every aspect, even in cooking (which is not really my forte)...

The secret of that adobong sitaw is not the pepper, not the vinegar, not the soy, not the sitaw, not the onion and garlics, not even the mama sita's oyster sauce that I've added...

The real secret:
I do it for the people...

There's nothing special on the sitaw but the PEOPLE who tasted the food are SPECIAL...

BHKJOURNAL_09-0006: SEVEN DAYS OF PRAYER & FASTING ENDS IN JOYFUL CELEBRATION...

Baguio City - 132 people attended the last Prayer Meeting of the Seven Days of Prayer and Fasting this year. It was the highest attendance reached by Victory Baguio church throughout the seven days of seeking God.

The event ended in a joyful celebration. Pastor Sol and his wife Luchie led the congregation in a night of worship as the whole church brought back all the praises, glory and thanksgiving to God not just by sustaining them int he seven day fast but for His faithfulness over their lives.

Pastor Lino shared Psalm 150:6 that says, "Let everyone that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!" It added another noise because everyone had a revelation that just one simple breathe is already a blessing that can lead to give praise to the Lord.

Tears were shed when Pastor Julius asked the congregation to pray for the nation of Philippines and he even implanted to the congregation a vision for our nation. All people were on fire in praying and giving their petition to God for their beloved country.

The prayer doesn't end there. Everyone prayed for missionaries too. Those who have a heart to go to the nations of the world felt another stirring inside them. New visions and revelations were revealed that time.

After all the prayers, the supposed to be one hour meet ended in a really joyful celebration. The meet extended for 30 minutes to enjoy the presence of God and to celebrate God's goodness over their lives.

There were jumping, shouting, singing, instruments ministering and everybody's just enjoying giving praises and thanksgiving to God.

Truly, God is good - all the time! =)

BHKJOURNAL_09-0005: 2008 RE-CALL (Fourth Quarter)...

Today is the last day of our Seven Days of Prayer & Fasting... We end the night with celebration for one and a half hour...

This is also my last installment of my 2008 blessings review...

FOURTH QUARTER (Final Canto):

OCTOBER
* Spend time with RJD and Mhel
* UB-ENCM Passing the baton thing
* Great blessing from Kuya Gerard
* Clear things out
* Dinner talk with my dad
* Victory Cabanatuan (Tagalog Service)
* Prayer from Richard and ate Joy
* A call from Kuya Gerard
* Leadership training with Ptr. Noel Ojerio
* Free board and lodging muna
* Passed the 1st interview and exam in People Support
* Spend time with Mhel, Toper, Dimson & Mike (their treat)
* Staff Meet Yellow Cab Treat
* Finished Reading Employees handbook
* Encouragement from the movie Facing the Giants

NOVEMBER
* Kitaro SM merienda-talk with Darryl
* Enrollment favor (UB)
* Spend time with RJD
* Spend time with Darryl & Jesse (Men's Night Out)
* Leading the Prayer Meeting again (after a long time)
* SLU-ENCM Sem-Opener
* Favors upon favors
* Sunday Service under grace
* Leaders' Banquet with first salary as an administrator
* New job (Church Administrator)
* 20th Anniversary (Victory Baguio)
* Whole day rest and a dinner treat
* Another talk with Kuya Gerard
* Vision talk with Franz and Jesse
* LDG returns
* First time to oversee Victory Weekend, Water Baptism, Spiritual Family Class
* Purple Book revelation
* A blessing from Ate Lea
* A chat with Mommy during her birthday

DECEMBER
* Singles Gathering (Ptr. Sol's house)
* Back to NLEX
* Strategic Planning
* Meeting with Ptr. Julius and Ate Roselle
* Oversee Prayer Meetings
* Talk with Charlie, Jamie
* Meet ang ENLI Admin Team (time to take over)
* Meet Postal Bank Branch Manager
* Meet with Ronnie (maintenance)
* Meet Miko (new to the group)
* 10th SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY
* P500.00 from? (May nag-bless ulit)
* Text with special people
* Bringing back the energy and SMILE
* APPRECIATION NIGHT
* Acquired new Service Coordinator (Rox) plus a one night laptop
* WGT25 (World's Greatest Team starting with 25 people) formation
* New room sa house
* Christmas Party (ENCM)
* Spend Christmas at Cabanatuan
* Mini family re-union
* New jeans, notebooks...
* New BIBLE (my last need of the year... Philippians 4:19)

That's the summary of my blessings...

I need four parts to put them all... This year I am expecting for more...
But without GOD, those blessings are WORTHLESS...

BHKJOURNAL_09-0004: 2008 RE-CALL (Third Quarter)...

Time to write the 3rd quarter blessings of 2008 in the 6th day of our Seven Days of Prayer and Fasting this 2009...

JULY
* Finished reading a book (The Piano Man)
* Successful maX-Life (Freshmen Night)
* Eye-opener sa mga housemates ko (Jerome & Allan)
* Job opportunity (New job - teacher for the third time) and confirmation
* Nakauwi na ulit sa Cabanatuan
* Live-feed style sa Youth tithes and offering
* Leadership Group re-union
* Finished reading a book (The Drinking Gourd)
* Re-united talents in Christ

AUGUST
* Reached-out Tan (Jam in Worship)
* Admin/Ministry Heads Breakfast meeting
* New Task (Service Coordinator)
* Administrative Tasks (on-the-job training)
* Basketball sa UC (Kuya Francis' treat)
* Formed a set of Service Coordinators (Jamie, Franz, Cyndi, Jesse)
* Grace under the pressures of Sunday services
* Family Day and Water Baptism (1st project of the new admin team)
* 3PM Volunteers' Meeting
* KFC talk with Kuya Gerard
* A great talk with GOD

SEPTEMBER
* A deal with a friend
* 3PM Tagalog-English Service Launching
* eggn0gg's dokyu Launching
* Salvation Night for Allan and Jerome
* A talk with Melai and Jomark about the admin tasks
* Took over - other administrative tasks
* Campus Idol (1st time ko maging audience - no part sa event after nine years)
* Mini BBS re-union
* A talk with Kuya Gerard
* Prayer Night with friends

Final Quarter... COMING SOON! =)

BHKJOURNAL_09-0003: 2008 RE-CALL (Second Quarter)...

Let us continue to count my blessings in 2008...

We have counted it anyway but let me give you some details...

SECOND QUARTER:

APRIL
* 1st time I send money to our family
* AGOO TRIP (found my SMILE there)
* Back to Sports (Badminton with swimming)
* 25th birthday celebration (1st out of Baguio/Cabanatuan celebration, birthday surprise by Zion, birthday treat by my friends, most number of celebrations, most number of greeters, I only received one material gist but it helps a lot - Devotional Book by Jay Duque)
* Resignation Night (1st time to pass a resignation letter - done during the last minute of my birthday)
* Balik-Cabanatuan (bonus:new cellphone)
* ENLI Graduation (finally)
* Maturity Level (One step up as clearing things to someone)
* Birth of EASE in the night of INVADERS Basketball Team 6th year Anniversary
* I experienced doing calls in Sellers account (ZION)
* A talk with Kuya Gerard and then with Israel
* Campus Harvest 2008 registration
* SMALL GROUP RE-UNION
* Pass the (WHOLESALE) baton to the part-timers in Zion
* ZION's FAREWELL (Cordillera Coffee, Yellow Cab, Office)

MAY
* Miracle Ride in Urdaneta
* Webcam chat with Mommy & Daddy while I was in Cabanatuan
* Return to Basketball Court (after 3 months and 20 days off)
* A prayer from Richard
* Re-UNION with Jason M (plus a found new home)
* Bonding with new housemates
* Balik Usher
* Nakita si MADZ after 5-6 years of not seeing each other
* CAMPUS HARVEST (1st time in ULTRA, 12 symbolic stickers, money from my brother)
* Alyza (my cousin - now part of Cabanatuan talents inC)
* BONDING MOMENTS (Sen & Mel - Melissa's treat: Joy & Jemma - Jemma's treat)
* NEW USHERS EXPLOSION (bonding during the STRATEGIC PLANNING)

JUNE
* 5PM USHERS EXPLOSION
* End of THREE-DAY TEXT-FAST
* Mini BBS Re-UNION
* Independence Day celebration
* P2.00 (the much needed two pesos)
* Finished readeing a book (The Power of a Promise Kept)
* UB Recruitment Day - all needs are met
* Back-to-school SMALL GROUP

These are all parts of the 1,472 blessing that I've counted last year...

Third and final quarter coming soon...

BHKJOURNAL_09-0002: 2008 RE-CALL (First Quarter)...

Every year, I always make a summary of the blessings that I received throughout the year...

In 2008, 117 more blessings were added to my list compared to my 207 blessings including the doubling of my answered prayers...

This 2009, let me share to you the month by month blessings I received in the year 2008...

Let's start in the first quarter of the year...

JANUARY
* 1st time to celebrate New Year outside the family circle (sad but happy because there were people who adopted me during those times)
* For several days/weeks, I reached my goal of being number 1 in terms of SUBMISSION (there were times that I tripled my quota as I was challenged by what my boss said to me... Instead of performing to the standards, be the STANDARD)
* Allowance (I received an allowance after a long time of not receiving it)
* QUOTA (last minute)
* Small Group (Re-Group)
* New Stuff: One-2-One, Long sleeves, necktie, watch, black shirt, diesel black shoes
* New House for free (c/o Zion Contact Solutions)
* talents inC first meet of the year
* Commended by our operations manager
* Launching of the 2008 Small Group, its explosion and dynamic return
* House & company blessings with the Huangs
* Second month stay in the company with the second salary
* New set of Ushers
* Back to ENLI (13/15-quiz) and Prayer Meeting

FEBRUARY
* Dagupan invasion by Zion with Hotel accommodation (1st time in Dagupan)
* Hundred Island invasion by Zion (1st time in Hundred Islands)
* WHOLESALE TEAM reached QUOTA
* SAFE! (I will stay in the company - no need to worry)
* A little increase in salary
* Back to USHER
* Re-Union with Nico, Darryl & RJD
* Back to Kuya Gerard's LDG
* Heart to heart talk with Darryl & RJD
* eggn0ggites' LDG returns (Mike, Darryl, Dimson, RJD)

MARCH
* Back in sharing the tithes and offering
* Complete attendance in Small Group
* Victory Dagupan Service (2nd out of Baguio/Cabanatuan/La Trinidad Victory service)
* Lingayen Invasion by Zion (1st time in Lingayen)
* One on one talk with Zion's boss Tim Mai (favors just came after the talk)
* PROPHETIC PRESBYTERY
* CEBU INVASION by ZION (1st plane experience and 1st ever South tour)
* Finish reading a book (What Makes a Leader)
* ZION Contact Solutions invade VICTORY Cebu
* Tour in Magellan's Cross
* Own phone (3315)
* TOPGRADING INTERVIEW (Restoration Day & Last night to do calls)
* 1st time in a Thai cuisine (Krua Thai - SM City Cebu)

These are my 1st quarter list of blessings (rough list lang po yan) in 2008...

Before I end this 1st installment blog, let me give you some details...
2007 BLESSINGS:
374 answered prayers
981 blessings (from anywhere/anyone)
TOTAL: 1355

2008 BLESSINGS:
631 answered prayers (almost doubling the 2007 list)
841 blessings (it went down a bit but still, they were blessings)
TOTAL: 1472 (117 more than the 2007 list)

The next quarters will come out in my next blogs...

BHKJOURNAL_09-0001: HAPPY NEW YEAR! =)

Happy New Year to all of you! =)

I started 2009 away from my family... It's my second straight year of celebrating new year away from family...

I spent my new year celebration with Darryl's family then we went to the home of the Leynes to continue to celebration...

As I faced the new year with mixed emotions, there were to things that kept running on my mind: HOPE and BREAKTHROUGHS! =)

I received lots of text messages from friends saying that the best is yet to come... Another thing that entered in my mind after those texts: LEVEL-UP (time to improve)! =)

To end this blog, let me leave you with some statistics...
2007 BLESSING RE-CALL:
374 answered prayers
981+ blessings that just came along the way
TOTAL of 1355+ blessings

2008 BLESSING RE-CALL:
631 answered prayers
841+ blessings that just came along the way
TOTAL of 1472+ blessings

COMPARISON:
answered prayers almost doubled...
though it went down by 140, still, they were my blessings...
TOTAL BLESSINGS went up by 117 in numbers! =)

On January 1, 2009...
I received SEVEN (7) blessings to start the year BLESSED!
THREE (3) of them were answered prayers including my first ever paggastos ko sa Starbucks! Ibig sabihin, I am so blessed kasi dati puto libre sa Starbucks, ngayon nakabili ng ko ng para sa sarili ko! =)

To add another blessing in my count off, someone blessed me again in Starbucks last night and today, I just received a free planner! =)

More blessings to count? YES, in deed! =)

More people to bless? YES! I LOVE TO DO IT! =)

More time to SEEK the BLESSOR?
YES! Without HIM, all these BLESSINGS are COMPLETELY NOTHING! =)