Go Philippines!

The above voting process is from the official website http://www.new7wonders.com
There are 4 nominees from our country which as to date of writing have the rank as follows:

Rank #6 Tubbataha Reef http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nominees/asia/c/TubbatahaReefReef/
Rank #8 Chocolate Hills http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nominees/asia/c/ChocolateHills/
Rank #10 Subterranean River http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nominees/asia/c/PuertoPrincesa/
Rank #20 Mayon Volcano http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nominees/asia/c/MayonVolcano/

In voting, your email address count for one registration but you need to vote for 7 nominees. Just don't forget to include all our 4 nominees. Based on the voting procedure, shortlist of 21 candidates will be announced on January of 2009. Voting will then continue throughout 2009 to 2010, afterwhich, the new 7 wonders of nature will be declared.

Death Conquered

I found this interesting site on the web http://www.deathclock.com/. Apparently, it can tell the specific date of a person's death. You just need to indicate some personal details. So the information above is my personal day of death. Sounds freaky? Personally, no. This is every man's destiny. Ecclesiates 7:2 says "..., for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart." Yet I know, this isn't the exact date, God can take me anytime, anywhere, anyhow.

I heard news from my sister that her husband's 94-year old lola passed away. Even though we know that she is already with our Father in heaven, still, family members can't help but feel sad. It is human nature. It brought me and my husband again to our favorite discussion, as to what age we prefer to die. The lady has been bed-ridden for quite a long time already. Likewise, my husband's lolo is almost 90 years old. He has no illness, still able to walk around with help though not very strong anymore. Yet whenever we go visit him, he would say that he wants to die already. It must be really hard living each day, just waiting for your hour of death to come. This is something that my husband and I wouldn't want to go through. Well, it's just our wish. God is still in control.

However, WHEN is not really the most important question here. But WHERE? Yes, there is life after death. And it is an eternal life. Forever! Eternity in heaven or eternity in hell. There is no place in between, contrary to popular belief. There is a way to be certain, now in this lifetime. It is a personal decision though. No doubt, it is the most important decision one can make in his/her life. May no man tarry.

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

For the Love of the "Khmers"

You may be wondering what is this and why am I blogging about this. Well, this is the map of Cambodia, more aptly called The Kingdom of Cambodia. A citizen of Cambodia is usually identified as Cambodian or "Khmer". My elder sister is there right now with her husband along with two other companions. NO, they are not there as tourists for a vacation, but as missionaries of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Once a year for some years now, the couple would travel to Cambodia, specifically to the province of Battambang, for a month's worth of mission work. Each year they would lead a group of people from different churches in Palawan. In 2007, they brought with them their 3 little boys so they may be able to experience the life of having parents as missionaries. A year before that, my brother-in-law had finally heeded God's calling and decided to become a full-time missionary. Not because he has no better things to do in life. In fact, he resigned from his work abroad as a civil engineer and rejected several job offers. Now, he is based in Cambodia, and my elder sister would go once a year to help him out. My elder sister is also a professional, an educator. She has yet to quit her job. Maybe move their whole family in Cambodia. All in God's time, according to His plans and purposes.

You can view some of their photos and some information related to their ministry here http://ricbhong.multiply.com/

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Thank you, Lord!

I would like to share a video clip of a KidZone presentation in our church one February Sunday. Eve belongs to the older group of kids, called Big Leap and Elevate, who practiced the song some previous sundays already during their children's church. I bring Anne to First Step, kids who are below 7 years old, just so she gets the feel of being with other children. She likes coloring and most of all, she likes snack time. But since she's just 2 years old, she gets bored fast and so I bring her back to the sanctuary to be with her Apa (for papa). On this particular Sunday, all the children were in the same room, practicing and getting ready for their presentation. Anne was watching them, trying to imitate their actions, and before I knew it, she was already in front. So I let her be since I knew then that it was just a practice. But when all the children went down to the sanctuary, one of the coaches took her and placed her in front of the stage. Thus this video. I was only prepared to get a shot of Eve, but I get to have a shot of both of them. Yes, Anne is the baby in front wearing a light blue dress while Eve was behind her, in dark pink dress. Anne may not be aware of what she is doing that time, but she made her achi (elder sister), specially her papa and her mama beam with pride and joy. I know that her heavenly Father has accepted her song of praise and that is why my heart was just welling up with tears. It was unexplainable. I know, someday, our family will refer back to this video, will relive the moment and become a source of inspiration and encouragement to all of us.

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him." Psalm 127:3