10 Leadership Lessons From The Grace Card

I had the wonderful privilege of seeing the independent film The Grace Card earlier today.  It is an incredible movie about race relations, parenting, marriage, generational impact and forgiveness.  Movies like this that are not in wide release may not stay at the theatres long, so go see it this weekend.

Here are the lessons:

1. Impact Of Christian Fathers - Lead characters Mac McDonald and Sam Wright, played by Michael Joiner and Michael Higginbottom respectively, are police officers who are doing their absolute best to lead their families albeit with much different results.  While I assume that we all love our children, we cannot be the fathers we need to be apart to a relationship with our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ. 
2. Stability Provided By Wives – As both men struggle with the circumstances that life brings their way, their wives are constant sources of support and stability.  I was reminded how fortunate I am to have the wife I do.
3. Christianity In The Workplace - The best thing Christians can do to have influence in the workplace is to do their jobs with excellence.  What gave Officer Wright the right to openly share his faith was that he was a great policeman.  Christians, you must earn the right to be heard.
4. Racism Is Alive And Well – This film explores racism towards several groups - Mexicans, African-Americans, and yes even Caucasians.
5. We Are All Managing Pain – Officer McDonald is dealing with the loss of a son while Officer Wright had not spoken with his father for 12 years.  Pain and dysfunction are now the default modes are our society.  Unfortunately, instead of dealing with our issues, we elect to manage them.
6. We Are All Dealing With Disappointment - Officer McDonald was passed over for promotions and having financial difficulties.  Officer Wright pastored a struggling church and had difficult finding his life’s true purpose. 
7. Difficult People, Tremendous Opportunity - We must change the way we think about difficult people in our lives.  People aren’t brought into our lives to necessarily challenge us.  Its more likely that we are inserted by God into their’s to help improve their quality of life.
8. Bridge Building - The movie’s final scene has a moving multi-cultural service.  Great leaders can build bridges with anyone.  They can cross racial, socio-economic, generational, religious and geographic boundaries that often separate us. 
9. Inside We’re All The Same - How does a kidney from a black man work inside the body of a white man?  Very nicely because on the inside, we’re basically all the same.  To know what this means you must go see the movie.
10. The Power Of Grace And Forgiveness - We don’t need collective bargaining.  We don’t need a new invention.  We don’t need the answers from the government.  We don’t need another great blog post.  We don’t really need justice.  We need grace.

I hope this movie gets traction.  This film would serve as a great template for how we need to address today’s issues.  After seeing the movie, tell us what you think.

Source: http://briandoddonleadership.com/2011/02/26/10-leadership-lessons-from-the-grace-card/ 

The Lure of the City

City life is totally a huge adjustment for me. It is so different from the place I grew up with. The buildings are tall, the malls are crowded, mundane traffic jams, the streets are busy even at night, bars, not to mention the "thieves" are just around the corner and most of all the utmost pollution. But all these things are normal in the city and I have to live with it. On the contrary, it is where I find many career opportunities, learned many things, accepting different people and standing my own decision and consequences.

photo: I "googled" it.

Way back September 2009 when I started to be independent and live my life alone most of the week was extremely challenging. I could still remember when I transferred here. I didn't have anything in the house aside from clothes and some personal things. I didn't know how to budget my allowances until the next pay day, I didn't know how to go to the center of the city for I was used to in my life in the countryside and I didn't know well the environment. Everything was new to me but one thing, I'd loved the challenge. My parents permitted to transfer in the city because they trusted me in all areas of my life and I felt good to receive their "Yes, we will allow you." I knew before that I have to learn many things; like cooking (though I used to cook) but cooking only for myself, buying all the stuffs I needed, budgeting my money, prioritizing things and decisions, dealing with different people and most especially adjusting to their ways of living. I knew that I shouldn't follow all their modes, manners or styles. The people are liberated in most areas of their lives. Opinions, manners of speaking, ways of life, night life, friends blah blah blah. 

I have so many experiences to tell while I am currently luring the city mostly bad turned into good ones. Apart from I learned to be independent and budgeting, I also learned to deepen my patience, way of understanding things and turning bad situation/circumstances into good to get the most essential thing in it - the lesson itself. I even gained knowledge in making good choices. Though I had a first-hand experience in relationship and didn't work in return, I still believe it was good. I don't want to spend mourning over that spilled milk relationship nor I don't want to drop any single moment grieving or crying because after all the lessons I got in it were still significant. To value people's indifference is my preference. So, the next time I'll fall in love in the city, I know what and how to weigh things.

Moving on I also had so many trials and test in terms of friendship. People here are quite mysterious for me. Maybe because we're old enough to handle things and it's not like those times in elementary where the excitement in meeting new friends and play have the most impact rather than on working that relationship as pals. What I realized is that finding good people in the city is little hard. Perhaps it's just me or it possibly because I'm too picky with regards to trusting people. Yet I'm glad I have one, the only one. I even met someone who was/is like a "sandpaper" to me. I found it hard at first for I was/am not used to of misunderstandings and misconceptions. Hearing untrue stories from others and gossiping were not the area I excelled at however I was able to deal with it.    

At now I'm loving and enjoying my life here. I have so many plans and dreams. I want to explore more the city and its people. I wish to be firmer and stronger as I continue to live and face different challenges here. I pray for a complete guidance and protection. I hope to have a brighter life in the city. I foresee myself to work here until I get older or even get married and live here. As I lure more this place, I am grateful for the various experiences and the chance to see the other side of the town. 

A Pic-Life Experience With You!

photo: Google

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.  ~Auguste Rodin

There's a saying that goes, "Experience is the best teacher" and I totally agree. It is where people draw more ideas and have greater decisions in the next life. It is the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities. Furthermore, it is where we can have bigger perspective about many things. It is where understanding and learning starts.

Tonight my cranium speaks again.  It holds on the idea of having a great time with this person I am about to reveal in a few minutes. Though the experiences I had were quite many. So, pardon me if I can't give you enough details or story yet one thing I'm going to focus is that; the goodness, the lessons and the brighter sides. If given the chance to change something in me, surely I won't be able to erase this. For one reason, this person taught me so many lessons in life. In consideration with the way I understand things, his opinions and as well as his characters shaped and gave me enough ideas on how I pick up on specific things. 


Mind you, I won't talk about the bad experiences here... I'm all for good things and the future blessings. Okay? Hehehe

His name is Gneiss Jee but I call him "Bonjing." His simplicity and mysterious character ignites my passion in knowing him deeply. True enough I had the chance to get to know him more. For the 2 years of special friendship he was like a person I knew for a long time, maybe a high school classmate. Continually he's still significant for me and I can't afford to forget him especially the lessons he taught me especially those times that I was happy. On the other hand, I know that I was not that good person for you. I had many flaws and incompleteness. I was very idealistic. I was and am not perfect! So, I say sorry.

All I have for you right this very moment is a prayer that, may the Lord showers you more blessings with your family, friends and career. That whatever you're going to do, may you put all your passion and good intentions in it. May you value every people you will encounter and treat them like there's no other in the world. And may the Lord answers all your prayers and heart's desires. 

I don't want to look at you as a sandpaper or even consider my experience with you as a nightmare. I want you to know that I'm happy meeting  you and that you help me shape my character into better one. I can't hate you nor get angry because of what you've done recently. My heart is always crying for love, acceptance and forgiveness. People make mistakes and we're one of them. So, apart from forgiving you and accepting your true self as you are, I want to say "Thank you" because I still believe you were/are a blessing to me.  For all the things you've done, thanks Jing and I truly appreciate so much of your effort. I praise and thank God for having you for awhile and hoping that the friendship will continue to evolve.

I no longer hold on what's going to happen next month or next year. All I desire is to live happily and take one step at a time. I wish you too.

God bless Jing! and aja to your life! :-) ♥

 

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Weekend is usually the day I look forward in a week. Aside from being with my family, seeing my friends, strolling my beloved Danao City and buying stuffs in the market during Sundays. It is also the time to serve the Lord through Elim Community where my faith, hope and love grow.

Together with my friends  in the community the service starts in Carmen, Elim Carmen then to Mitsumi, Elim Mitsumi simultaneous in Elim Compostela and Elim Danao and after all our services, we have our last stop at Ate Che-Che's house to simply eat hehehe. Her mother diligently cooks and prepares the dinner table for us. Ate Che-Che on the other hand, is super kind even miles apart from us and together with her family they generously open their home for people like us. May you be blessed more with everything you desire.  Thank you ate Che, thank you Nay Eli, thank you everyone ;-)

In the house you will witness different emotions, different topics for a good conversations and often it's nonsense talk, teasing someone in the group or make fun about something. It is a place where we can talk and meet together during Saturdays.

Okay so this is what usually happens there:

 Upon the arrival. Everyone is excited to enter the house because their stomach's dinosaur is calling hahaha. gutom naaaaaaaaaa di ba Dodong Ace?

 Nay Elit patiently waits for us before she will go to bed. She always makes delicious foods. At last we already have a picture with her. Thanks Nay Elit for your effort, love and care for all of us, your adopted children.  

Group picture and wacky pose daw ni. Wacky ba???

One Saturday night when we saw the weighing scale, we suddendly made an agreement to watch-out our weight every week whether we would like to maintain, lose or gain og para pud dili lang si ate perme mag-atiman namo. If in case you will fail your goal, you will be the one to serve everybody during dinner like arranging the plates, fork, spoons, chairs, serving the juice, etc. etc. etc. and cleaning the table after. Perme gyud alegre pag magtinimbangay na kay excited man ang tanan kung nameet ba ang goal or wala. Dili man gud ganahan mo serve laliman ka tanan imo buhaton wahahaha Ate Caryl got the first major award in serving us. LOL

At the dinner table. Mao gyod ni usually ang setting arrangement namo hehe nabalhin ra gamay si Kuya Danny and Ventot. Everyone is ready to eat na bisag mga busog na gane wahahaha Kuya Paul took this one.

Hala! Unsa ni??? Isumbong ta mo ni Nay Elit ha hehe. Since all of us were full earlier kay birthday man ni Bro. Michael Chiu niya naa may daghan foods didto sa EPJ after sa gathering so wala namo nahurto sang foods nga giprepare ni Nay Elit. So among gibuhat kay giputos og plastik tanan since si Nay Elit raman usa sa balay and dili man niya makaon tanan amo na lang gidala para dili masayang niya knowing that the next day we will have an early call time for our Singles activity, amo ni siyang pamahaw nga foods. Payts ra! hehehe

 This is what usually happens after eating. Bisag unsa na lang ang pangbuhaton. Istorya didto, istorya diri... ana lang! Hehe

Sige anhi lang sa ta kutob ha...

'TIL NEXT TIME...HASTA LA VISTA BABY:-D

Foods Galore!

Here comes the foods and I super in love with this and I cooked them all ;-p
 

When I have some spare time to go to the supermarket I usually buy lettuce for breakfast.

One time dinner at work. I had ampalaya with carrots, buwad and saging tundan.  

Breakfast at my place in Basak. After hearing a mass, I bought some chicken and cabbage and made them into Tinolang Manok. Soooo good!

Bisaya nga manok is still the best for Tinola. It smells so good.

Ops! sorry manok! I was not angry, I was just hungry:-D lol

Lechon manok and bam-i because it was Bro. Michael's birthday. Just this!

Wow! For the thirsty, here's orange-mango juice. Love it!

Hotdogs usually for children but no! It's also for me. Lol

I sooo loveeeeee fruits!

The lovely "Guso".

My recipe for Pancit. 

My own version of Bread-like-pizza. The smell and taste are like Alberto's Hawaiian Pizza. Sabeeeeehh :D

Eating is one of the most pleasurable things in this world. Enjoy your foods everyone!