Cowards. Another Random Thoughts

this just popped up into my head in the middle of the night so i'll share this random thought...

we have a lot of cowards in our society today.

drinking alcohol is not an act of cowardice. in fact i drink alcohol. but drinking alcohol in order to cope with life's problems is a sign of cowardice.

lying is an act of cowardice. most people lies not because they wanna protect someone (white lie, so they say) but because they can't handle the consequences of the truth and can't take the other person's perception of themselves may the truth be known. (and all of us lie one way or another)

two-timers are basically cowards because they're not strong enough to fight their animalistic urge to have sex (physical or visual) with other people other than the one they're bestowed upon.

physical abusers are cowards for they attack only those who can't fight back.

hot tempered persons are also cowards for they don't know how to contend, hold, and handle their emotions. most hot-tempered persons i know used their hot-temperness to make a threat or to boss around. that's cowardice.

emotional defense mechanism is sometimes good but most of the time it only hinders the person from confronting his own problems so he can move on with his life without even facing it (this mostly applies to people with ex-lover problems)

those smooth talkers who go right deep into your emotion is also a coward for that person is afraid he might get involve in an intelligent logical reasoning (mind you, those smooth talkers who go right deep into your emotion will sound intelligent and well reasoned to your ears because your emotion's balance has been shifted already).

a perfectionist is a coward because he's afraid a little imperfection might crushed the domino of his life.

good healthy competition is good for the mind and soul but bad competition (the kind of competition coupled with jealousy that sometimes you're aware of but sometimes not) is a sign of cowardice for you let the lives of others pace your own.

false humility is not only pride in disguise but also a sign of cowardice (i'll give you the reason later. i'm already a bit sleepy i can't formulate it in english anymore. hahaha funny but true). and pride can fool a coward into thinking he is not.

a coward is the man who knows not when to accept and acknowledge his fault. that's basically because of his pride. and pride masks cowardice. that's why we value our pride. we're proud of them. we boast them around because that's where we get our strengths and meaning most of the time. but what if pride fails us?

and yes, beware of those people who always say something positive about you. they're probably cowards too because they can't bring themselves to tell you the honest truth in love so instead they sweetened and sugar-coat things up (they reasoned they don't wanna hurt the concerned friend. but then, if they're really a true friend and did understand what really is a friend, then they'l do otherwise). in other words, they too are liars. a good constructive rebuke or criticism is one of the gauge that your friend is really a friend. it's a sign that your friend is really concerned about your welfare. just make sure you do it in love and not arrogantly or self righteously. better do it in private too.

those who don't seek the truth is also a sign of cowardice. as we all know, uncorrupted search for truth leads to freedom but it is also a difficult rocky terrain to navigate and most of us would rather settle to our little comfort zone rather than challenge it.

a person who doesn't cry is a coward for he masks his true feelings with faux vigority as a means of showing off how strong he is 'cause he's probably too scared to confront the reason/s behind those suppressed tears. a person who also cries and whines all the time is a coward. every thinking person in this universe knows why.

Feel free to disagree. We can always agree to disagree and have a good descent conversation.

Redeemed

yehey was able to redeem this blog. i thought its lost forever but just a little tweak and got a new password... yup yup..

Makes Me Wonder How It Sounds

Today i read the worst band comparison in this side of blogosphere. The band being compared to is LYBECKER. And this description comes from their own MySpace Bio.

"Their music sounds like Third Eye Blind hit Switchfoot with a guitar and went to jail where they were cell mates with Shane and Shane and played basketball with David Crowder Band."

Upon reading this, i immediately wonder how they sound so i head over here to hear some clips and i kinda like what i heard though although it doesn't fit on that ridiculous description. Lazy Journalism!

Seriously how can you make a sound by playing basketball? hahahaha

Let's Get Wasted

This is the question i'm tired of answering since i became a Christian. In high school, my reason was because my parents won't allow me to and beer tastes like urine (which is quite true). But that reason gradually changed in college when i became a Christian.

I am a slow grower. Unlike most of my friends, my mindset from worldly to Jesussy wasn't changed overnight. Even now i still struggle with some things. But by the grace of God and His wisdom I am learning. Constantly learning.

And one thing I learned was the truth about drinking.

See, drinking isn't actually evil or bad as what our good parents or church leaders would have us to believe. Even Jesus and His disciples (and God's people before them) drank in parties and weddings and special occasions. The Bible actually promotes some good things about wine (from fermented grapes,therefore alcoholic): Judges 9:13, Psalms 104:15, Exodus 10:19, 1 Timothy 5:23

Drunkenness is the bad and evil one. Drunkenness is too much partaking of wine (or beer or gin or anything alcoholic). Every good things when consumed too much is a bad thing. And mostly dangerous too.

Why? Because it leads to the following:

Genesis 9:20-26 - Noah became drunk; the result was immorality and family trouble.

Genesis 19:30-38 - Lot was so drunk he did not know what he was doing; this led to immorality

Deuteronomy 21:20 - A drunken son was stubborn and rebellious.

Deuteronomy 32:33 - Intoxicating wine is like the poison of serpents, the cruel venom of asps.

1 Samuel 25:32-38- Nabal died after a drunken spree. (this happens all the time today)

2 Samuel 13:28-29 - Amnon was drunk when he was killed.

Proverbs 23:21 - Drunkenness causes poverty.

Proverbs 23:29-30 - Drinking causes woe, sorrow, fighting, babbling, wounds without cause and red eyes.

1 Corinthians 6:10 - Drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God

Galatians 5:21- Acts of the sinful nature, such as drunkenness, will prohibit a person from inheriting the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:18 - In contrast to being drunk with wine, the believer is to be filled with the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-7 - Christians are to be alert and self-controlled, belonging to the day. Drunkards belong to the night and darkness.

These sound and look familiar? You might not read them yet but I'm pretty sure you experienced them already either first hand or through observation.

I did.

I was drunk only once and vowed not to do it again. I was already a christian at that time and my friend told me i look like a peasant.

But i also seen and observed lots of drunkards and drinking sessions.

Mostly these friends of mine are professionals or high class students. But once the spirit of alcohol sipped into their soul, they became like animals. No longer caring themselves. They started talking and acting stupid and these oftentimes resulted in rambling and fighting and accidents.

Yes i do drink in moderation when i'm alone or when i'm with my friends who are not drunkards. We enjoy one bottle of beer (the one that don't taste like urine) after a performance, during a nice little chitchat about life and arts and science and God and love, during birthday parties and special occasions, and me alone when i'm at the computer or reading (like i'm doing right now, only this isn't beer but a wine).

But when i am with my drunkard acquaintances and friends, i don't partake in their drinking. Why? To make a point. To make a point that a good wine or a good beer is created as a means to be enjoyed and not to be abused. These people don't just gather at Mango or C24 or anywhere to drink in moderation. Their aim is to get drunk and wasted. That's why most of them are not contented in one pack. They'll order more until it'll numb their senses and they started acting like those behaviors mentioned above.

Some also reasoned they drink to forget. I did that once too. And trust me it doesn't help. Drinking will not take away your pain and your problems. Only Jesus can do that. Making alcohol your functional savior is an idolatry. Instead of relying on God- the creator, you rely on alcohol-the creation.

i love my friends and i don't wanna see them bound for hell and destruction. I do pray for them and show them love and used words when necessary...

Cool Breeze and Cute Kids and Heartfelt Surprises

Before I Close My Eyes:

^"4 Show me your ways, O LORD,teach me your paths;

⁵ guide me in your truth and teach me,for you are God my Savior,and my hope is in you all day long.

⁶ Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.

⁷ Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD."

- PSALM 25:4-7

" Lord, I thank and praise You for the wonderful day and all the blessings i received from You today, It was fruitful. Or atleast that's what i thought. I had finish two chapters in my study and i do hope Lord that what i have been reading a while ago will be glued in all the corners of my memory bank 'till the days to come. Not just those things i devoured today but all the things i learned academically since 1st year college down to the final exam in the 4th year.

But not just academically oh Lord. I want Your wisdom too. Please guide me in every step i take.

I also thank You for the little things like the cool breeze i was inhaling and the cute kids running around Starbucks and the brewed coffee that was" almost heaven".. And I thank You for my girlfriend. It was awesome the way she surprised me today. It was sweet and lovely.

Bless us always oh Lord and search my heart and cleanse it Lord. There's no denying myself when talking to You cause You've seen them all.

I forgot if it was Peter or Paul who said that he wanna glorify You in all he do but instead ending up doing the opposite. I feel like that all that time. Heck, I am like that. I wanna glorify You in everything I do but always end up doing the opposite. Why is that Lord?

I need Your strength everyday.

Watch me as i am going to sleep. I don't want any nightmares and I still wanna wake up tomorrow.

Thank you Lord.

In Jesus name i pray,

Amen.

First Post for 2010: A Personal Prayer

I tend to resurrect this blog. So here it is.

Starting 2010 with a personal prayer.

Lord, thank you for saving me and i praise you for all the blessings in my life; from the air i breathe to the food i eat to the music i enjoy and the very life i'm having. I recognized everything i see and feel and enjoy in this earth is your gift and a blessing from You.

And Lord thank you for my friends and the people i am interacting to. May i not waste my life today. Help me not to sin involuntarily. Most of all, help me not to sin voluntarily. you know how i am very good at that. There's no sugar coating my life in front of You cause You see everything. You know i am a naturally pathological sinner and without Your grace and love i am forever lost.

And Lord, i feel so dizzy and tired and "fucked up" right now. Honestly i do. But i do trust in You. I wanna live a Starbucks life but then i know living that life apart from You is useless.

so therefore, let Your will be done. You can send me to Africa if You want to and i may not like it but i do believe you're plan is larger than mine.

So make me able to enjoy You oh Lord. Make me realize this life is not permanent and to waste it is an insult to You. I don't wanna insult You because I love You so hold me. Draw me close to you and never let me go.

Thank you. This i pray in my savior Jesus' name.

Amen.

2009 Is Almost Over, Yet...

I know I'm just repeating the sentiment of other people who started liking music consciously in the 90's but then i just can't help it. Back in the 90's i only have like 10 to 15 new cassettes every year and approximately 6 or 8 of them are brand new releases within the year. And when a new cassette would arrive, i actually sit down and savor each songs and played them over and over again and knew the songs by heart...

Fast forward to 2009 and it's different. I now live in a college town with a computer and a high speed internet connection. Buying Cds on record stores is now easier than back then (i live in a small town back then and a trip to the city takes 2 to 3 hours by bus).

The world wide web also offers new ways to horde new music. Either paying for it on itunes or checking some legal sites that offer free downloads like Noisetrade for example. And then sometimes bands would just released their efforts for free through their website like The Damnwells and, two years earlier, Radiohead.

The appetite for musical greediness is now on a higher level and we need careful discernment so we can trash away crap.

Just by this year alone, from January up to today, I managed to own 113 albums, 48 of them are newly released from January to August. And most of them i just listened only once...

Too sad.

By the end of this year I'm gonna list my favorite albums of 2009. Those that i owned. I won't include those i don't.

But right now, here's the whole list of albums i owned that's bein' released from January to August 2009;

1. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN- Working On A Dream
2. THE FRAY- The Fray
3. TAYLOR SWIFT- Fearless (international edition)
4. CATS ON FIRE- Our Temperance Moment
5. BEN HARPER AND RELENTLESS 7- White Lies and Dark Times
6. THE DECEMBERISTS- The Hazards of Love
7. TINTED WINDOWS- Tinted Windows
8. MY FAVORITE HIGHWAY- How To Call A Bluff
9. MELODY GARDOT- My One and Only Thrill
10. THE LEMONHEADS- Varsions
11. THE REST- Everyone All At Once
12. MAT KEARNEY- City of Black and White
13. DAVID NAIL- I'm About To Come Alive
14. JACK INGRAM- Big Dreams and High Hopes
15. JOHN WALLER- While I'm Waiting
16. BRANDON RICKMAN- Young Man, Old Soul
17. 10,000 GENERATIONS- Turn Off The Lesser Lights
18. SARA WATKINS- Sara Watkins
19. RHONDA VINCENT AND THE RAGE- Destination Life
20. DAILEY & VINCENT- Brothers From Different Mothers
21. DAVE PERKINS- Pistol City Holiness
22. DEREK TRUCKS BAND- Already Free
23. RUTHIE FOSTER- The Truth According To Ruthie Foster
24. LEVON HELM- Electric Dirt
25. DEREK WEBB- Stockholm Syndrome
26. GRIZZLY BEAR- Veckatimest
27. THE LOW ANTHEM- Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
28. GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS- Lost Channels
29. ALICE PEACOCK- Love Remains
30. HOLLY WILLIAMS- Here With Me
31. HANK WILLIAMS III- Damn Right Rebel Proud
32. WILLIE NELSON- Naked Willie
33. THE CIVIL WARS- Live At Eddie's Attic
34. BRENDAN BENSON- My Old Familiar Friend
35. TREVOR HALL- Trevor Hall
36. MATISYAHU- Lights
37. NEEDTOBREATE- The Outsiders
38. COLLECTIVE SOUL- Rabbit
39. SISTER HAZEL- Release
40. WILCO- Wilco (The album)
41. MAE- (m)orning EP
42. THE GLORIOUS UNSEEN- The Hope That Lies In You
43. BEARFOOT- Doors & Windows
44. EILEN JEWELL- Sea of Tears
45. STEVE EARLE- Townes
46. ELVIS COSTELLO- Sacred, Profane, and Sugarcane
47. JARS OF CLAY- Long Fall Back To Earth
48. KINGS OF LEON- Only By The Night