I Can't Turn Back Time - Literally! :)

Hello June 2014! 

Yesterday morning, I thought that maybe it was the right time to replace my wristwatch's battery. I was not able to use my watch for months. I drove and looked around for a Jewelry shop at a mall here in Indiana. One Jewelry shop redirected me to another stall and I found one that can open my watch, replace the battery but for a little costly one. I waited and had my watch back. It has a sentimental value since I bought it in my homecountry during my three-week vacation and it is from my Resident Engineering work in Devens, Massachusetts. It was the only gift for myself for that year-2012.

I am not really an irate customer who needs to be defused rather someone who also value money. However, most of the time, I end up throwing a lot because of getting bad products/items or simply I don't want to cause more embarrassment for the shop in some cases. Most importantly is that it has a sentimental value for me. 

When I got my watch, I first noticed that the numbers are misaligned. I had to give it back to be corrected. In our country, when the battery is replaced, the wristwatch shop repairman will correct the time for you before returning your watch. The really good thing about it is they will do it all while you are watching. The summary about what happened today is: (1) my watch was done on the other side of the door, which means I did not see how everything was done; (2) the time was not corrected to the current date/time, (3) my watch was returned broken, and (4) I got my watch working but the time is way too advance from the current local time. :'( 

I am certain that it was perfectly fine since I was using it everyday in the office before the battery died. When I pull the time adjusting knob or normally called Stem fell off my watch. I could no longer set the correct time. I did not return it to them because I thought they might think the consultation is going to be for a "repair" charge. I tried to find a place that can really repair my wristwatch but I did not locate one. Since the Jewelry store can only replace battery, I believe that it won't make sense telling them about the broken stem. I really do not want to buy a new watch because mine is not that old and I believe that it is 100% functional. I will only need to find a good place for wristwatch repair around Evansville, IN. I can consult the friendly Google soon. 

And I would like to use my wristwatch again. 

Lesson learned: 

Since this saddening incident happened, I think it is not an inconvenience for a Jewelry shop if I will ask them to allow me to see how my watch is dismantled and re-assembled if ever I will need a battery replacement again somewhere. 

June 1, 2014 13:30

I am happy that the Filipino family I met at church will go with me to the Jewelry shop where I had my battery replaced. They know someone at the shop and we're hoping my wristwatch will get repaired. Thank you LORD JESUS for an answered prayer. You are really awesome! And GOD bless this family more.. I am so hopeful I can have my watch repaired free of charge. :) 

For now, I hope I will stay here longer or I pray that another company would require my service.. for a very saddening reason. I am confused, worried, cannot focus thinking about my future situation back in the office in my country. My sister have seen my commute situation when she met a co-worker and LORD, please lead the way. I have all these worries laid upon You and forgive me for I look like I am giving up on this one. I know you taught me how to endure everything, how to feel happy about anything but for some reason, this work situation is not putting a smile in my heart. Please tell me why.. :'(

June 4, 2014

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

June 6, 2014

I decided to bring my concern to two of my USA office co-workers. They gave really kind advice to either find a watch repair shop or contact the manufacturer of this little valued possession. I drove to a watch repair shop along Lloyd Expressway at Evansville, IN. The repairmen is on leave and I was advised of two things: (1) They can ship my watch to its manufacturer which means a cost for shipping/handling and the repair charge; or (2) contact the manufacturer online and see how to get my watch repaired. It seemed that I am not not quite close to being successful in this effort maybe because I did not buy my wristwatch here in America. I will try the second option and I am optimistic they could do something about it and hope it won’t cost me that much. :(

I really like to thank B and D (they are those I usually talk to everyday at work) for being helpful in any way they can to me. Everything non-work related concern they advise, whatever they say is REALLY appreciated and I fully acknowledged it. Again, thank you LORD JESUS for You gave me another group of nice, brilliant people to give guidance to me too. 

June 7, 2014
Reminiscing memories.. and currently in the process of creating more.. 

When I drove to New York from Massachusetts last 2012 Thanksgiving Day!

What a heart should contain..

A writing workshop before my US Site Assignment deployment. This shot was supposed to be a wacky one! :( 

Since I am a frustrated guitar player or I have no way to learn it now, Dart has become my bestfriend but still cannot play it. Bowling might be the other friend.. :)

Nonreligious Arguments Why Singles Should Wait for Sex until Marriage

It is my stand which I will speak out in this article. A captured message from someone who is trying to clearly convey that GOD has created sacred things for a very special purpose and for an imposing reason. 

Sunday, April 27, 2014 a church message come to me about a topic regarding "What Does GOD Think About Sex?". The church pastor has delivered the message:

Genesis 1:31 (KJV)

And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Purpose of Sex

1. To motivate people to get married.

2. To motivate people to stay married with the same person. (read the Bible story of David and Bathsheba)

GOD is letting everyone know the feeling of being forgiven and make such commitment to change. Be pure in mind and body for the unmarried people. It is not a matter of one giving oneself away for pleasure because he/she is desperate of marriage rather a commitment to GOD that our mind and body will be pure for that someone so special whom GOD has destined for us. 

The article which is posted below the line is a composition of another person which conscientiously elaborates his meditation about the topic/subject. I fully understand his thinking and I really respect his opinion about this topic. The article may have different responses from readers and it may come confusing to some non-religious people, and every account in this article is based on a person's thoughts but it is fully equipped, encapsulated epistle with truths from the Bible (Word of GOD). 

Christians are not exempted to this talk and they are the ones who are being called to  also contemplate that there should be no Porn Again Christians so to speak. And somehow this strong belief will keep me away from men.. :) 

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Purity talk is easy to openly discuss with your Christian friends. However, as I get myself acquainted to people outside church, they start asking why it should matter to them. It sounded to them as though God is only a killjoy higher being who doesn’t want you to experience the pleasures of exploring other bodies aside from your spouse or future spouse.

I didn’t want to be defensive. I didn’t want to take it too personal (but it is personal to me, especially when they mistakenly understood God’s nature). Most specially, I didn’t want to convince them right away that God is not a killjoy God. So I kept quiet and thought about the matter for months.

I asked myself, what could be the practical reasons why God doesn’t want us to enter into sexual relationship outside marriage. I realized that many people are tired of reading or hearing religious arguments why sex should be done only inside the marriage covenant. I do not, in anyway, imply in this entry that religious arguments are wrong. This is my attempt to show practical reasons why singles, even those who don’t believe in God, should wait until marriage. Feel free to comment your thoughts afterwards.

How many times have you heard the “counsels” from Hollywood movies, that in order for you to know whether the person is for you, try his/ her sexuality first. See if your sex life has a chemistry, and then move on if you’re not compatible. What could be the problem/s with that counsel? Here are my thoughts about it:

1. Unending Audition

Love becomes conditional. You only accept the person when he/ she passes your standard or vice versa. You do your best to satisfy your partner so that you will be accepted. You feel like you have to perform well to stay accepted. Yes, accepted …conditionally.

It will feel like an unending audition towards the other person. The sad part about it, is when the other person felt that he/ she will more likely enjoy doing it with someone else, the person can leave anytime. 

2. Majors become minors 

Sex becomes the major decision factor for your marriage. Some people would ask, shouldn’t it be that way, since that person will be the only one you’re having sex with for the rest of your life? I don’t think it should work that way.

Why? There are twenty-four (24) hours in a day, and there are other things, major things, that will require more time than sex. I suggest you look at the person’s vision in life. The person’s purpose, direction, beliefs, and many more. These major things will be what you will most likely talk about most of the time, what you will do together, and where you will probably commit -as a family- to do in your whole lifespan.

One of the major causes of broken families is misunderstanding. Why? Don’t you think the differences about vision, purpose, beliefs, and direction in life are the major factors and reasons for the separation? Think about it.

3. Vulnerability Problems

Getting naked in front of someone is a sign of opening yourself to a person. That’s why there is shame in it. You’re allowing yourself to be physically vulnerable towards him/ her in that specific time. At that time, both of you are physically vulnerable, and you’re willing to do and accept it because there is pleasure that awaits behind vulnerability.

The problem with that is, it’s only “selective acceptance of vulnerability”. Once you start seeing the flaws, imperfections, and other weaknesses of the person, once they become open to you, you start being uncomfortable to accept his/ her other vulnerabilities.

You don’t like the fact that he/ she snores loudly when sleeping. You don’t like that he/ she is irritatingly unstable with emotions. You don’t want to accept his/ her present struggles. You don’t like the person showing his/ her weaknesses to you. In other words, you don’t like to see the whole set of his/ her vulnerabilities. You don’t like the person being wholly open to you, except when you’re in bed.

This is not love. This is selfishness, and love is never selfish.

4. Benchmark Challenge

While this point is not necessarily true to some, yet it is still true to many. When you get married and both of you know that it’s not your first time, you might struggle with these thoughts:

“Did he/ she had better experience than this?” or “I had better experience than this…”

I say

blessed are those who got married as virgins, for they have the best sex experience ever.

No kidding. They really think they have the best sex life ever, because there is no point of comparison for it. Not trying sex outside marriage, OR stopping right now would be of great help not just for you, but for your future spouse as well.

5. Physical and Emotional Health

Physical health - there is no need to explain the physical health. HIV victims are increasing so fast. All of the victims will tell you that the few-minute-pleasure is not worth the severe sickness that you might carry for the rest of your life.

Emotional health - guilt will come. Many will think this only applies to women. No, not just for women, but also for men. Yes it will, don’t wait for it. Stop now.

Conclusion

Sex is great. Sex is a gift, but not for all -only for the married couples. Who gave it then?

God did.

In fact, he wants us to enjoy it to the max. God knows the only possible way to experience the FULL extent of the pleasure of sex is the way under the covenant of marriage.

The reason why I wrote this is because I want to tell all my friends that God is not a killjoy God. In fact, he wants us to enjoy ALL his gifts to the fullest, and sex is one of them. He doesn’t want us to experience what I enumerated above.

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly…” at the same time, before declaring that promise, he said that the enemy, Satan, came to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).

All of God’s gifts are perfect. Satan tries to twist the situation, steal from you, crush you, destroy you, and makes you think that those disasters came from God.

God did not give precautions because he is killjoy. No! He loves you, and he wants you. At that same chapter of the verse I mentioned above (John 10), Jesus said that He is the door -the way to salvation. Come to Him, and experience what abundant life really mean. He loves you, indeed.

Finally, I would like to end in this note:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Loving

The sound of pages turning came across the ears, Proverbs 16:9 says "In his heart, a man plans his course, but the LORD determine his steps."

Karen Kingsbury's novels are truly inspiring and amazingly uplifting. Hope to read a lot of her books.. The message of hope on every piece of epistle. :) 

Thank you Jesus for Your blessings that I was able to obtain new audio books of Karen Kingsbury. 

May 29, 2014 CDT: And we are going to do our second Skype/Kakaotalk "word-chain" challenge tonight since I told her to come up with a lot of English words so she can add more to her Vocabulary bank. 

June 5, 2014

http://thoughtcatalog.com/brianna-wiest/2014/06/25-things-every-woman-should-have-by-the-time-she-turns-25/