Posted via email from rodneygarcia.com

Posted via email from rodneygarcia.com

Went to LifeChurch Makati’s “Journey To The Cross” event at Glorietta. Simple yet meaningful depiction of Jesus’ journey to Calvary. Even had LIVE acoustic music while you look around. I encourage you to visit the place at Glorietta beside the Anson’s parking and in front of Shangri-La Hotel. Kudos to Ptr. Prudy, Arnold, and the rest of the LCM staff and volunteers!

I suddenly felt sick after our church core meeting. But in still smiling as you can see. Weird but I guess I’m just happy!

My friend Cristina Sevilla and I went to Shakey’s Makati Avenue at around 10:00am today (April 4, 2012) to kill the time while waiting for our 11am meeting. She ordered a bottomless Iced Tea while I got the Strawberry Super Shake. A few minutes after the drinks were delivered, I noticed a thumb-sized cockroach on my table. Not so sure where i came from but it was there staring at me. I  I immediately showed the manager the cockroach on my placemat. He then removed the placemat with the cockroach and also replaced my shake. I appreciated that he acted quickly.

Cristina and I discussed what just happened. In other establishments, the manager will apologize to the client and even tell them that whatever they ordered is “On The House”. The client doesn’t have to pay for anything because of the inconvenience. I even told her a story when, in one hotel, the manager insisted that we don’t pay a single peso after we discovered pieces of glass in our food. Plus, he gave us complimentary vouchers for a buffet in their hotel. Now, that’s winning back a customer. Somehow, I was hoping this cockroach incident will be handle that way. I was wrong.

After asking the bill, I was still expected to still pay the same amount as if no cockroach incident has happened. I was expecting the kind of courtesy I mentioned above. But it was not the case in your Shakey’s Makati Avenue establishment. In fairness to your branch manager, he was very apologetic. He even said that the branch has pest control (How’s that working for ya?). After a mouthful of apologies, I was offered a 10% discount from my bill of P258.00++. I asked him if that’s the best he could do since this was no minor inconvenience as it was a living and walking cockroach on my table. The best was… a 20% discount.

So I paid and my companion and I left very disappointed. Had this happened in another establishment, they would have done more than just giving a 20% discount to win back a customer. Sometimes, I ponder if it was a foreigner who experienced what I had, would he be given a 10-20% discount or would the restaurant waive any payments? If this happened to a well-known celebrity, I’m very sure management would give more preferential treatment. But, of course, I’m just a common Filipino hoping to enjoy good food with my hard earned money.

I am reporting this incident so that your managers can improve how to handle a situation like this. Not sure what your policies are but rectifying this incident takes good wisdom and leadership. And as much as I enjoy your Strawberry Shakes, I think you just lost two customers… and maybe more.

It’s true. With a tap, swipe, and an Internet connection, the iPad is changing the world in how we consume information. Being a Christian for more than 20 years and soon-to-be a decade old Pastor, believe it or not but my iPad brought me closer to the Lord.

Ever heard of the often stated, “God works in mysterious ways.” shtick? Well, this is one of them.

When I got my iPad, I was excited with the limitless possibilities this thin touchscreen tablet can offer. I’m not an impulse buyer. I don’t buy for the sake of buying. Being a technology junkie, I have carefully studied the pros and cons of getting an iPad considering that it does cost a significant amount. But I believe it was a worthy investment.

As a pastor, I do a lot of things. Plenty. My calling is similar to a doctor: On call. 24/7. Without the big paycheck. But I’m good. God is taking care of me.

But, to be honest, I sometimes neglect what is vital for every Bible-believing Christian: a daily meeting with God.

Not just praying a short prayer asking for guidance throughout the day. But an actual allotted time to open His Word, meditate, and pray.

Shocked that this pastor skips devotionals sometimes? Unintentionally, of course. But skips nevertheless. I’m coming clean. Forgive me?

Deep inside me, I yearned to hear from God daily. But perhaps life passes by like a speeding bullet, you get caught in the urgent v.s. important bouts. But I had to decide. I knew reserving a time with God was both urgent and important. It’s a one-sided contest. No debate there.

I prayed. Pleaded. Lord, help me spend time with you. Reveal to me in a way I can understand. God created us, you know. And He knows how we tick.

You know what he did in me? Ask me what.

One day, I woke up, opened the cover of my iPad, and read God’s Word. A Bible App called YouVersion was installed in my iPad. It’s been a few weeks since I visited it. I tapped on the icon and, behold, the Word of God in digital form. For those who are purists would say that the reading the Word of God on paper is the most sincerest way of scripture reading. However, it is not the medium that makes the Bible Holy but the words written on it. God’s Word is God’s Word because of God’s Word. I think there should be no debate on that.

And so I read. For the next few minutes, I read the digitized Bible without thinking if this would be a great sermon series or not. I ate it like a starving person hungry for bread. I was having devotions.

Later on, I visited a few websites, which I know would help me with my reading. Some blog posts from pastors I admire. I watched snippet videos of sermons. Even the simple “Our Daily Bread”, which got a lot of new Christians started in Bible reading became part of my daily regimen. Consider it the appetizer before the main course.

Now, I’m not saying that you need to get an iPad to get closer to God. You are missing the point. The point is that God can use something you have now to bring you closer to Him. God is not hard to find. He doesn’t play hide and seek. If you truly seek Him, you will find Him. And He will find a way to make it happen.

If you jog, use the time and listen to God’s Word with your iPod or mp3 player. If you take breakfast in a coffee shop somewhere, use that to read the Bible on paper or on a computer. Commuting to and from work? That’s a great opportunity to dive into His presence even if you’re stuck in traffic.

It was the decision I made that brought me closer to God. My longing. My yearning. If it can happen to me, it can happen to you too. You can have the iPhone, iPod and iPad but do not have the iHeart to do it. If you “mean” to be with God, then He will take care of the “means”. Get it?

God is not limited. He can make things happen; even using a piece of technology to bring you closer to Him.

So I write this account using the same iPad I use to read God’s Word daily. Come to think of it. It has been a long while since I sat and wrote something this lengthy. God uses the iPad to encourage someone in the world? Perhaps. But that… is another story.

Welcome to DAY SIX of my SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE. Imagine that. I’m on my second to the last day of the challenge. I couldn’t believe it too.

One of the things I’ve noticed these past six days is that I developed a certain passion for blogging. Not that I didn’t have it before (since I’m one of the first who tried blogging way back when dial-up internet was cool) but I’ve found a new sense of passion for it today. I think that is what happens when you spend time on something. Passion begins.

Being able to do a challenge is quite hard. It means that you have to get out of your way from the usual routine and make time to do something more than just normal. I wanted to develop a good habit of blogging everyday. Like what I mentioned in previous blog entries, it has become very therapeutic for me. At times, I get lazy tapping or typing away. But because I promised myself to stick with the challenge, the passion is alive.

Passion is developed. It grows over time. It slowly starts like a small fire on a matchstick then engulfs an entire forest ablaze. During the SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE, I could feel the passion beginning to enlarge; an effect that only comes when one decides to take a challenge seriously.

Of course, when a person is passionate, he just doesn’t make mediocre things. Passion always pushes you to bring your best foot forward. Your “A” game. No room for “good enough”. When I blog, I don’t just throw words together and make up a paragraph. Every word is well-thought and well-written to the best of my abilities. I mean, what else can you do if you gave your best, right?

So, what does this do with you?

Perhaps you are in a situation now where PASSION does not exist. Or maybe it was there but left and never came back. Passion needs to only be activated. ACTIVATE IT NOW. Flip the switch. Turn the key. Push the button. Do something. For me, what jumpstarted my passion was this SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE. Perhaps you need to make a SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE of your own.

Why not? Do you have anything else to lose other than seeing your life slip you by?

I am ONE DAY away from completing my SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE. When I’m done, I’ll just have to repeat it twice to complete 21 days. Then, I have a good new habit inside my system.

Take courage, my friend. All is not lost. Take up a new challenge and see the PASSION inside you SWELL UP.

You are reading DAY FIVE of my SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE: Blogging for seven days. For those who are reading my posts, thank you. It is a quiet way of appreciating what I do although it would be nice if you would comment.

On this fifth day, I would like to talk about PURPOSE. When starting a good habit like this, you do need to define WHY you are doing it in the first place. Is it to prove a point? Are you doing just because its fun? Or is there something bigger?

I have always thought that whatever we do must have a purpose. Any action done out of pure unconsciousness can destroy anything that comes into its path. And there have been people who have used their influence and power irresponsibly. Shame on you for your callous judgement.

My purpose is simple: I want to create in me a new good habit. I want to restart something that has faced an abrupt halt. Maybe I’ve wasted a lot of time or permitted other people to stop me from pursuing my passions. To blog is to restart myself. And this is just the first step.

Call it personal. Call it selfish. Call it what you want. But PURPOSE must be a main ingredient in developing a good habit. Your habit. My habit.

Five days and I’m into blogging because I’m driven by purpose. This is no ordinary hobby, my friend. This is a pursuit of passion. This is me going after a long missed date with destiny. And today I make up for lost time.

DAY FIVE is PURPOSE. A challenge will never mean anything unless there is PURPOSE.

Nothing.

Welcome to DAY FOUR of MY SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE.

With three blog entries under my belt and this one being the fourth, I can say that I am halfway with my challenge. And with that, my mind is starting to play tricks on me. That part of my brain where it starts telling my entire being to start being complacent. Ever hear that small voice (which is very different from that small voice that you know comes from God)?

“You’ve already done three. Why not take a rest today.”
“Skip this one. It won’t hurt.”
“You could always start over, you know.”

Even as I type this, my eyelids are not cooperating. It’s getting heavier by the keystroke. Seems like distractions are kicking in. And, this is part of the whole process of starting a good habit.

It is never easy to start a good habit especially something that that you started with a good pace. Yesterday, I spoke about consistency. Surprisingly, today, I feel like not being consistent. Am I just being too honest to you? I have too because you will likely go through the same thing. And if you are not careful, you might just start paying attention to that small voice with bad intentions.

Complacency often creeps in when you are doing very well, showing consistency, and getting the hang of things. Don’t stop now. You are almost there. Don’t just think about being halfway but set your eyes in going ALL THE WAY.

If you joined me on your own SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE and your feeling lazy, don’t be. If you’re on your fourth day without a puff of cigarette, good for you. Don’t think about celebrating with a victory cigar. If you’re kicking the bottle, kudos to you. Now don’t tell your drinking buddies about it. They might just give you a round.

Complacency is a silent killer. You could be drowning in mediocrity without you even knowing it.

Take steps in battling this foe. Find someone you can accountable with. Write your plan in a big piece of paper and post it on your mirror. Do something.

I’m ending this article with words of encouragement: Never let down your guard especially against complacency. He might just win the war.

Welcome back. This is DAY THREE of the SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE.

Three straight days with an entry each. For a guy who hasn’t been blogging for months, I’m doing pretty good. Apologies for giving myself a personal pat on the back but it is something to be commended. And everybody is asleep as I type this so no one can pat my back for me.

Blogging for the next seven days will never be a reality unless you have CONSISTENCY.

A habit is formed when you do something consistently; whether it’s a good habit or a bad one. Consistency dictates the momentum. In my case, it dictates my blogging. It’s like a metronome – a constant beat that ticks in between gaps of time. Though there may be spaces in between, they are not far from one another. And the ticking produces a tempo that a band follows. Unison happens when there is consistency.

When we develop an attitude of consistency, we fall into a rhythm of doing things at a certain pace. The rhythm helps us move along the habit formation. When I took the first step, it felt a bit awkward. You don’t know where to start. It’s like trying to jump into an already in-motion skip rope hoping you won’t get caught in the bands. But consistency starts to develop once you go on after the first and second day. You become hopeful and see the potential that this can actually work.

In order for this SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE to SUCCEED, I need to be CONSISTENCY. My consistency determines the pace of my success. If I become consistent, I have a far better chance of success.

Now, this is not just about m blogging. Your SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE to SUCCEED could be about anything: kicking the habit of smoking, finish reading a book, starting your daily devotions, losing weight. Anything. If you took the first step and be consistent, then you are on your way to succeed.

As for me, I do feel that I’m on my way to develop a blogging habit. I really do. And I thank you for being with me on this journey. Now, I don’t have to do it alone. You can join me develop a good habit by doing your own SEVEN DAY CHALLENGE to SUCCEED.

My parting shot: CONSISTENCY IS A BIG LEAP TO A GOOD HABIT.