I love this 75-second movie from Dove. It featured a typical looking lady turned to a super model, billboard hottie with the aid of computer editing. Titled “Evolution”, the message is simple — those perfectly looking ladies you see on billboards and glossy magazines are all digitalized to perfection. Don’t compare yourself with those digital models. Don’t ever feel inadequate for not being able to come close to the “standards” these fashion magazines portray, because our society has a distorted view of what real beauty is all about. Grab your self-steam not from the society’s perception rather from something that is real and adequate.
I was there. Literally. Oh well, not in that picture, but somewhere in the general admission :D
I have nothing to say about the experience. Not that I don’t want to, it’s just that I can’t. Work. Family. Church. All eating up my time right now.
In any case, I’m sure you’re going to enjoy Tina and her journaled experience. Wandering storyteller has some rather unique description of his experience. Unique in a sense that you don’t often hear that from a blogger who attended the concert. I appreciate his candidness and sincerity. In fact, even share some of his views.
At this very moment, 11:30 am, Sept. 28, 2006, Typhoon Milenyo (international code name “Xangsane”) is pounding Metro Manila. Its good that I reached the office before it actually landed at around11 am. Looking outside my window, I can see that really, there was storm outside! Scary sounding winds, heavy rains, almost floody streets — man, I’m trapped! :D
I’m actually anticipating something right now. The “eye of the storm”, where there will be absolute calmness, no winds, little to no rains, no nothing, just peace. And then the storm again hitting the reverse direction. The last time I experienced the eye of the storm was during college when Typhoon Rosing hit Cavite. I was with my choir-mates practicing with our music director — Kuya Sherx. What a way to experience storm — sing! :D And then calmness — we went out to see the devastation. After a few minutes, we had to go back inside — the storm was now hitting the other direction. It’s very interesting to observe this natural phenomenon.
Life can be really stormy, isn’t it? A broken relationship. Financial mess. A Lost job. Unsecured future. Sometimes, you don’t even know what hit you! You’re broken, you’re lost. You don’t know where to go or whom to speak to. You reach the end of the rope, you hit rock bottom.
There is, in fact, a “place” in this life where you can go to — the “eye of the storm”. This is where you will find comfort and security and peace despite the stormy life around you. The eye of the storm is Jesus. The Bible says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out …? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matt. 11:28-30 The Message)
Life isn’t fair. Life isn’t easy. But we can find comfort in the midst of the storm through the One who commands it. Reuben Morgan, my favorite Praise and Worship music composer and leader wrote the song “Still”. Here’s the chorus:
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God
My cognitive self at work — I’m opening a new site called Pinoy Debates (http://www.debate.com.ph). The vision is to create a venue for people to talk in an organized manner. I realized after participating in different online forums for years, people have ideas — whether good or bad. The sad thing is, they just talk and talk without really reaching into a positive conclusion.
With Pinoy Debates, we will try to make discussions in an organized manner. One party talks, other listens. Then responds, and answers the questions, and so forth.
Filipinos like to debate — whether its religion or politics or any topic under the sun. So, there you go, a website just for the Pinoy talkers and thinkers.
For our first salvo, we’re featuring a topic close to my heart.
Arnold Gamboa. Jesus' follower. Joyce' lover. Johann's and Arwen's playmate. Team Sparrow leader. LifeChurch Makati's servant. Know more about this blog here.
