Random Pictures of August

The LANDGRAF's visit to the house as they came over to Bacolod City. Goodies and lots of PASALUBONGS were opened the 1st Day of their visit. You see here Mr Rainer Landgraf, Manang Binggot, Isabel and Nicole all from Germany :-)

You also see me at a Resto ... a picture taken by Joshua as we were trying a New Pizza in town. We enjoyed a Big American Pizza that afternoon ... courtesy of Tita Ging Ramos.

The 1st Picture above is Trina fitting a Disney eyeglass from SM-Iloilo.

I Spoke at North Negros College 27th Foundation ...

Last August 21, I went alone ... driving my car to North Negros College. It was a celebration of 27 years of history. Not only that it was also a celebration of their growing ministry to the students of North Negros. They have a group called STUDENT BLAST! A powerful ministry giving priority and value to each individual student. They call themselves CHAMPIONS! Wow! True ... because in God's eyes we are!

I pray for their success and influence to grow, representing Jesus as they move on with His Power! Their theme was: "Exceeding Your Dreams". I told them to go beyond "their own DREAM" to what God has for them! I encouraged them to go for God's DREAM for them! Many (70 to 80 percent of the people in attendance ... went to the front to pray and honor God's Word in their lives).

Note: These pictures were taken from their new 3 Hectare Facility.

Pictures from SAN CARLOS City PART 2

These are the 3 Christian Church Facilities we saw at San Carlos. UCCP has been there for quiet a long time already. The Bible Baptist Group will be celebrating more than 30 years of ministry there as well. While the Baptist Conference of San Carlos is building a new building to accomodate numerical growth as well.

One pastor said ... we need to have more church groups come to HARVEST the entire city for the LORD!

Would you like to go? Would you like to send someone? CONNECT with me - pastor jr here :-)

Pictures from SAN CARLOS City PART 1

The following pictures were taken during our (Trix & me), quick tour and look at San Carlos City. We boarded our bus at 6:20am and reached the beautiful city of San Carlos after 2 hours and 15 minutes! It was an entertaining trip due to the beauty of the mountain ranges from Don Salvador all the way to San Carlos.

I know and believe in my heart that a harvest will be made possible in this City in due time. There are around 5 Colleges (small and medium) ... a number of Christian groups (averaging less than a hundred) and an opportunity to reach other towns and places from San Carlos point.

Going Bananas

Bananas... This is very interesting.

After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again ...

Bananas. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

• Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
  
• Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
  
• Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
  
• Brain Power: 200 students at aTwickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
  
• Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
  
• Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
  
• Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
  
• Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
  
• Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
  
• Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
  Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
  
• Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
  
• Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
  Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
  
• Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
  
• Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
  
• Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, "eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
  
• Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
  So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.
  So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PS : Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

1st Week mostly in Iloilo

Thanks to you all who allowed us to have a BREAK this August :-) We spent our 1st week in the beautiful and prosperous city of Iloilo. You see Trina sleeping ryt (not inside the hotel room) but at a display booth of furniture in SM ... he he he ...

Here are pictures taken as we were preparing to leave for ILOILO City for our 1st Complete All STARS Family Vacation :-) Thanks for the prayers, gifts and cheers for us to take our break. Instead of me and Joshua going to Manila ... we opted to have the 4 of us go to Iloilo and just have a gooooood great time :-) More reports coming.

The EVANgeCUBE

Looking for an evangelism tool that's fast, fun and focused?

Check out Evangecube! Reminiscent of the Rubik's Cube, the Evangecube will help you walk friends through the Gospel presentation using pictures. Flip one way, and show man's separation from God. Flip again, and you'll see Jesus stepping from the tomb.

Some suggested uses:

• Great tool for children to use in presenting the Gospel to their friends! Equip and train every child in your church.
• Great tool for presenting the Gospel across cultures or to non-readers. The clear pictures help guide viewers through the complete presentation.

You can also find out more ... just CLICK below ...

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AUGUST Series at HLM-Central

On Purpose
And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

When a cowboy applied for an insurance policy, the agent asked, "Have you ever had any accidents?" After a moment's reflection, the applicant responded, "Nope, but a bronc did kick in two of my ribs last summer, and a couple of years ago a rattlesnake bit me on the ankle.""Wouldn't you call those accidents?" replied the puzzled agent. "Naw," the cowboy said, "they did it on purpose!"

That story reminds me of the biblical truth that there are no accidents in the lives of God's children.

We read how Joseph interpreted a difficult experience that had seemed like a great calamity. He had been thrown into a pit and then sold as a slave. This was a great test of his faith, and from the human standpoint it appeared to be a tragic case of injustice, not a providential means of blessing. But Joseph later learned that "God meant it for good" (see Genesis 50:20).

Are you passing through the deep waters of trial and disappointment? Does everything seem to be going against you? These apparent misfortunes are not accidents. The Lord allows such things for a blessed purpose. So patiently trust Him. If you know the Lord, someday you will praise Him for it all!

What looks like just an accident When viewed through human eyes, Is really God at work in us— His blessing in disguise. —Sper

God transforms trials into triumphs.

Source:
http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb-10-04-05.shtml