"Writings On Water"

A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the week of October 17-23, 2011.

http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-issue-of-october-17-23-2011

This is the story behind my original blog I named "Writings on Water" or W.O.W. for short.

Water is powerful. It's one of those things that can make or break you, sustain or kill you, can be the best thing for you, or can be bad for you. This is why I love water. It's clear, colorless and odorless yet it tastes good. Our human bodies consist of 60% water while our brains are composed of 70% water.

We float in water while we were still inside our mother's womb and this is why experts say that water is like a second skin for an infant right after it is born. Have you ever heard of water birth? A lot of new mothers are getting into this form of delivery now because experts say it is the most natural way, it's less painful for both the mother and the baby, and the baby's entry into the world is less "traumatic." And even the world we live in is also covered in water --around 70% of our planet is made up of water.

And yet at the same time I also dread water. Especially those huge, bottomless bodies of water, I'm scared of them. I'm scared primarily because I'm not a strong swimmer. I know how to float and swim in shallow waters but oceans, rivers and lakes are out of my league.

And with the onslaught of the industrial and commercial world people are warned to be very careful in what kind of water to drink. We must be absolutely sure where the source is and that it's reliable and safe. Water contamination and toxicity are becoming one of the modern world's growing concerns. These days it doesn't mean that when there is water that we can just drink anytime. Although this latter part is an issue not inherent in water but it has given H2O a bad rap. See what I mean about making and breaking? Water can do that.

On these qualities of water I did dare to name my very first blog after. The writings on my blog are just my own thoughts, my opinions, my feelings and emotions, my beliefs and my upbringing (which as I've previously said is what blogs are for). I'd like to share my own story with anyone and everyone who likes to read and who are willing to listen.

I know my posts can either "make me or break me" but if I don't do what I love and I won't be brave enough to share a part of myself even to strangers, my words and my story will stay within me forever, unknown and unheard. Since it's my wish and my only good intention to share my faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is my Savior and my Lord, it is then my hope that my blog and my writings will be more of Him and about Him and less of me. Every thought I have, all that I do and say, and my life as a whole are all for His glory, I hope. So I pray that at the end of the day my story is pleasing to Him.

"...the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." -Matthew 14:24-27

To my mind it was also apt to name my blog as Writings On Water since my Savior literally walks on water and by the command of His voice, rain and storms calm down. As a Christian, my ultimate goal is to be more like Jesus every day. We are commanded to imitate Him in all our ways and "to be perfect since our Father in heaven is perfect." This may sound too lofty to even attain in the slightest sense but this is the particular reason why we need God and why we should cling on to Him always, without Him I am nothing.

And lastly, for us Pinoys when we say "to write on water" (ilista nalang muna sa tubig) means to forget everything, ultimately. Everything from other people's offenses and sins, to each of our debts and past hurts, and all the "utang na loob," Filipinos write them on water all the time. So therefore, it's my desire and hope that my blog and all my writings will be forgiven for its misgivings and assumptions, for its errors and hearsay, and for my audacity and "kapal-muks" in sharing my humanity to all. God bless us all!

What Is Your Nickname?

A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the week of October 10-16, 2011.

http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-issue-of-october-10-16-2011

"And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them." -Exodus 6:2-3

Names are very important. In some cultures, they believe that a person's life, his character and personality, his destiny and future, depend largely on the name given to him at birth. There are also some societies that give names that mean something to their people. No matter where our names come from or in what type of culture or society we live in, people tend to agree that names are very essential and are very dear to the heart.

As I was writing this, I googled the most "unpopular" names for babies. Not surprisingly, no parents in their right minds would call their babies Judas, Demon or Satan. I've never met or known of any parents who would be eager to name their baby as Lucifer, Hades, or even Saddam (this last part is pure speculation on my part, who knows, Saddam may be considered a "hero" by his own family and "friends?").

It doesn't really matter if these parents are godly or not but for some good reason they stay away from these types of names. We love our children too much for us to knowingly "burden" them with names that have negative and evil stigmas that come with it. I'd like to believe that all good parents won't voluntarily bind their children to a "bad name" for the rest of their lives.

We can say that we all agree that names are important but how about nicknames? Are they as important and significant to a person's life journey? Nicknames might not be as essential as our real names (for example, the agents at Customs or in any Immigration office would not bother to ask for your nicknames unless you're known to have an infamous one like "Scar Face"), and yet they are a part of our lives.

To an average person, it is normal to have a number of "pet names" which they have "acquired" throughout the course of his life. For me alone, I've had a few nicknames which I've "gone through" over the years. Some of those nicknames are not in use anymore (for obvious reasons) and some others have been forgotten already and a couple of them may somewhat be "irrelevant" to who I am now. Let me explain.

Parents and adults have the tendency to call babies with "silly," funny names. I guess it comes with the territory. When we take care of little, cute, cuddly miniature human beings, adults can't help but be silly at times. We resort to "baby talk" (the gooh gooh, gaah gaah), excessive cuddling and "panggigigil" (translated as "excessive thrill" or "overly adoration" --sorry this is the closest I can get), and giving babies weird nicknames.

So when I was a baby, some members of my family began calling me Dit-dit. To this day I've no real idea where it came from or what the nickname means. When I went to grade school until I graduated from college, my classmates just called me Mara or Mar, which is perfectly understandable since that is my name after all. When I started working, some of my close friends began calling me Mayang. I love it because I know the people who call me that are very good friends.

In Chicago, my friends at work call me Mara-pooh or Mara-sweet. They are the only people in the world who call me that. Then there is another group of friends who sometimes call me MJ, short for Mara Jean, which is really not my actual name but it sounds right and I love it. There's another friend who calls me Mara-san just for fun (and she's not Japanese in any way). I know that those who call me by these nicknames are some of my great friends. And then of course, I'm just plain Mrs. Dizon or Meldrick's mom to my son's friends and classmates, which is perfectly fine with me.

These are the nicknames I've "earned" through the years and as you can see each one of them has a story attached to it. Each nickname is "tied-up" with a particular group of people that have touched my life one way or the other. So, when somebody calls me Dit-dit (which is very unlikely now), I would know that that person comes way back since my infancy. The only people I personally know who used to call me Dit-dit are my Dad, tita Lalaine Jimenea and my late grandma Corazon (my Dad's and tita Lalaine's mom). To those who know me as Mara Marcos, I'm a hundred percent sure they are from my hometown in Tacloban City. And if I hear someone calling me Mayang here in Chicago, I would truly freak-out because the only people who call me that are hundreds of miles away from me.

These are the stories to my nicknames. You see now why I said that even "pet names" are very important in one's life? Without them, I will never be the Mara I am today, I will be incomplete. All those names are intrinsic parts of my whole being. I'm glad I got to have nicknames which mean something, not only to me but to the people I care about.

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." -Romans 8:15

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." -Galatians 4:6-7

I'm also very happy to learn from God's Word that since I am His child and because He is my Father, He has made me to know His "nickname" and I can call It out anytime I need Him. Abba in the Aramaic language means father. But it does not just simply mean father, it is an address of esteem and is used with deep affection. It's a non-formal way of calling a father with personal intimacy. It can be loosely translated as like calling your earthly father as Itay, Tatay, Daddy, Papa or Dada.

With this endearing term, God has given His children a much more open and a personal access to Him as the same way as to call Him 'Tay or Dy. God wants a closer, meaningful relationship with us that's why even if He is the Almighty, Holy God, Creator of heaven and earth, the King of kings and the Great I AM, He still wants us to call Him Abba, Father. What an amazing grace! This is nothing I deserved at all. I thank God I can call Him Tatay and also for He knows not just my name but all my nicknames too!

A "Night of Hope" in Chicago with Televangelist Joel Osteen

A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the week of September 26-October 2, 2011.
http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-issue-of-sept-26-oct-2-2011


It was a night of "firsts" for us. For one, we've never been to a huge gathering of Christians before. Second, we've never been to one of the most famous and biggest stadiums in Chicago, the U.S. Cellular Field. It's the "home" of one of Chicago's two baseball teams, the Chicago White Sox. And third, we've never seen "televangelist" Joel Osteen in person.

It was one of the gatherings for his "Night of Hope" tour in America. According to him in his many interviews, a big part of his ministry is to motivate people and to "bring them up." There's just too much "negativity" going around in the world which brings people down but with too little or no encouragement. So it's his hope to motivate and bring people up for a change, he says.

It was a Saturday evening, August 6, and the weather was exceptionally gorgeous that day which lasted all throughout the night. I checked the weather report, it was 77 degrees Fahrenheit, a perfect temperature in Chicago's standards. There was the cool summer air, not a cloud in the sky, not a drop of rain, and when the "concert" began at 7pm, the sun was still out just enough to give some light for us to enjoy the entire surroundings and the beautiful skies. We were in a group with the family of one of my friends from work. It's always fun to hangout with friends outside of the office.

© Copyright, MMD Images, 2011

© Copyright, MMD Images, 2011

© Copyright, MMD Images, 2011

An estimated 25,000 people or more attended the gathering in Chicago. It was particularly a special blessing for me since as I've said I've never been to a huge gathering of believers all in one place before. The U.S. Cellular Field was teeming with people but it was not a scary kind of crowd. Each person has an assigned seat per ticket and there was no bad view anywhere around. Although we can't clearly see the people who were on stage which was set-up in the middle of the field but we can watch them on the big screen TV set right up in front of the crowd from where the concert was being shown live the whole night.

© Copyright, MMD Images, 2011

© Copyright, MMD Images, 2011

© Copyright, MMD Images, 2011

A choir of around 50 people (I'm just guessing because I really didn't count) was on one of the stages in the middle of the field and oh how they can deliver songs of praise! That's how it all began, the cue came from the choir who sang a couple of songs before Joel Osteen came up to the stage and began preaching.

As everyone who knows of him, Joel Osteen is a very good motivational speaker. He is known to draw crowds with his preaching and motivational talks. His home church in Texas boasts of at least 20,000 members. This number does not include those who come by to visit every Sunday. He speaks of his life experiences, and about his family and friends, that tell of the power of God to heal, to restore and on how God moves mightily in people's lives. He talks about how God can make all our dreams come true and how we need to "weed out" the people who bring us down. I also noticed he didn't even have notes that night while he was preaching.

To be fair with my reporting, I also have to mention that there were small crowds of people outside the stadium who were there to protest against Joel Osteen and his ministry. Sadly, some of them are Christians themselves which really doesn't help to promote the cause of Christ with all their protesting. This sort of brought our mood down a little bit. I was thinking that if we Christians can't seem to agree among ourselves, how much more can the "lost" possibly see the truth themselves? This is one of the sad issues we Christians talk about all the time but can't seem to overcome.

There are also some criticism against Joel Osteen that claims that he rarely quotes the Bible when he talks or preaches. This particular critique I've personally witnessed firsthand at the meeting that night and it kind of bothered me, I have to admit. Maybe this is why he has a lot of detractors and critics against his ministry? But I also have to make it clear on here that it's not for me to criticize and it's not my place to "correct" anybody. I'm just reporting what I've witnessed and also to share our family's experience at the concert.

The "service" went on until 11pm and people still didn't want to leave the place. Aside from the praise and worship songs from the choir and the worship leaders, there were several testimonies and life stories from Joel's family --his wife Victoria, his mom Cindy, his brother Paul-- as well as testimonies from his friends. There were also pastors and preachers from different churches in the Chicago land area who came out and got together that night to pray for and claim God's blessings for the city of Chicago.

There were stories of how great God is and how He only wants the best for all of us. It was all about positive talk, more encouragements and motivations, inspirational preaching and how to leave "the past in the past." The concert was aptly called a "Night of Hope," for Chicago and America as a whole, is so in need of the hope that only God can give.

© Copyright, MMD Images, 2011

The gathering ended without any mishap. We went ahead from the thousands of people who were still in the arena but the streets outside were already crowded with people who were walking to their cars, some were heading down to the train station to get a ride, and cars were slowly streaming out of the parking lots. The protesters already went home for the night. It was such a fun night that came with lots of hope and blessings for our family to bring home with.

Blogging

A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the week of September 19-25, 2011.

http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-issue-of-september-19-25-2011

Blog. Has anyone ever heard of blogging yet? Twenty or even ten years ago, the word blog didn't even exist in our vocabulary let alone in the dictionaries. But today it's one of the newest words people use in the internet.

The online dictionary defines blog as a Web site containing the writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other Web sites. Its origins supposedly began between the years 1995 to 2000 when the word weblog was apparently being used to mean a type of online diary that someone makes available to other people on the internet. It was a very popular way to communicate one's personal details without any social interaction. In a sense, it's an online journal or a "public" diary. (These facts in italics are taken from the Online Dictionary: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/blog)

So, is anyone among you blogging yet? Actually, I am. I began blogging about 6 months ago. I've heard of the word once or twice but I've no real idea what it really meant and what it entailed until I began blogging. Oh joy! I truly don't care if nobody else reads my blogs (yes it is with an "s" meaning they are plural!).

By creating, updating and writing for these blogs alone have already given me so much fulfillment and joy. It's more of an outlet for me, for my likes, my emotions, my opinions and my thoughts. I didn't realize that I had so much to share! Great memories come rushing back to me as I think of topics to write week after week. Memory is such a funky thing I now realize. At times, I can't even remember where I've placed my cell phone which I was just using two minutes ago but I can suddenly remember a distant past memory. Doctors call it selective memory. We Filipinos call it "ulyanin."

More importantly, these blogs allow me to write about God, my Lord and my King. Since the day He saved me by His grace, I've got so much to share to anyone who is willing to read and listen. He is everything to me and without Him I am absolutely nothing. It's my hope and prayer that my blogs will "showcase" His greatness and He will be glorified with every word I say on there.

Blogging has now taken so much of my free time. The designing, creating and updating of the sites itself take lots of time and effort. I'm glad that I love doing what I'm doing or else I could have quit just days after I started. It's like another full-time job! It also takes so much energy and effort just to think of what to write and how to compose each piece.

As an amateur writer, I consider it to be "creatively challenging." Maybe I'm just being too hard on myself. Besides if you come to think of it, based on the definitions of blogging, it's just supposed to be a plain journal or another form of a diary, and yet it's totally "glorified" and have been made more complicated to a hundredfold. Please don't misconstrue my meaning here, I'm not complaining at all. As I've said, I love doing it, I love to write and I intend to continue blogging for as long as I can even just to "record" my life story, God's great blessings and His works and more importantly, His infallible truth.

As I got more into this blogging thing much deeper, I've discovered that there is a whole new "world" of blogging on the world wide web that I've never known before. I get to meet fellow writers, bloggers and Christians who serve Him as His "warriors" on the internet. It's absolutely mind-boggling. But I don't recommend your children to be visiting this "blogging world" especially if they are not sure of what they are doing.

As always, parents and responsible adults must always supervise children's online hours. No matter if it's just for homeworks and assignments, for school projects or just for games and leisure. There's too much "unknown" on the internet as you already know, and to be clicking on links and new sites can be very dangerous not only to your children but also maybe to yourself and to your computers.

Computer viruses are rampant from untested and "underground" sites. As I venture into this new "world," I practice sound judgment, practical reasoning, and proper recommendations from trusted bloggers and online friends. And believe me, of all the hundreds of thousands out there I only have a handful of people I can say I truly trust. Half of them I know personally and the other half I just know by name and reputation. Sure, it's an exciting world but caution is still the key to a "healthy blogging."

I’m aware that my son doesn't even read my blogs. I know that he knows that his mom is "blogging" but as a teenager there are more pressing matters that need his attention rather than to read his mom's (lame) blogs. And that's all fine and dandy with me but I hope that as he gets older that he will learn to appreciate my "work" and how I "chronicled" my life in writing.

It's exciting just to think how he will show my grandchildren and his children's children how their Lola made the decision "to serve the Lord and glorify Him with her life." That would be so cool indeed.

My blogs: http://divinelyacquitted.blogspot.com and http:/unoffendablechristian.blogspot.com

Follow me on: Twitter: @SweetenedWaters; Triond: Sweetened Waters; Email: mara.dizon@gmail.com

Citizen Dizon

A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the week of September 12-18, 2011.
http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-digital-issue-september-12-18-2011


Our journey to become citizens of the United States of America has not been an easy one. But it was not as dramatic or harrowing either, when compared with other immigrants' experiences to attain the "dream" to become officially part of America.

Since we have been granted the "permanent resident" status in the winter of 2004, our family had to wait for five years before we can apply for citizenship. For us, it was the next logical step and the proper decision to make after permanently living in the U.S. all these years. It was not a very difficult decision. In fact, it came easy and naturally.

So we went ahead with the applications and documentations not really knowing for sure how long the whole process would take. We were willing to wait and we were not in a hurry at all. Finally, after a cumulative total of nine months among the three of us, we are now officially new citizens of this great country.

Since we did not submit our applications all at the same time, as a result, my husband and I experienced the oath-taking ceremony three times. The mood at the oath-taking took me by surprise. My assumption of what happens at the ceremony was that it was only for formality's sake, and that it was going to be as boring as any other ceremonies ever invented by man. And that also it was just something of the ordinary and will be sort of routinary. I was wrong.

As I was surrounded by the other new citizens and as I witness names of other countries being called out, like the war-torn nations of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iraq, Afghanistan, Rwanda and Sudan, and those from the impoverished countries like Haiti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Myanmar and Yemen, I can't help but get choked-up with emotions. I can see people standing up as their countries of origin are called and they have tears of joy and relief in their eyes just for making it to America. Becoming American citizens for these people meant literally life and death for them and their families. When my country, the Philippines, was called out I also can't help but to rise up and stand proud, so glad, and teary-eyed for the wonderful opportunity we have been afforded that day. It was a great day in America.

As my husband's turn to take his oath came, I felt the same ambiance as I did at my own oath-taking. More so, I also got to experience a different side to the story. This time, I was sitting with the families and relatives of all the new citizens. Since I've already witnessed previously among the "oath-takers" on how emotional the ceremony can be, this second time around I got to see how emotional it is also for the families and relatives who were there to witness the momentous occasion. The man sitting next to me, his name is Dave, was literally sobbing when his wife stood up when their country of origin was called. They are from Bosnia & Herzegovina. It was another sentimental and meaningful day in America.

Then it was my son's turn to take his oath. Minor children of American citizens automatically become citizens themselves but they have to take oath if they are 15 years old and above. This part of the story I have to share with everyone but I hope it won't diminish the essence of becoming a part of this great nation. As any responsible reporter would do, I will only be reporting the facts and what I've witnessed the third time around at the oath-taking ceremony. It was planned to be a specific day for the children to take their oath, with some adults who missed their previous appointments. So 95% of those present to be new citizens were teenagers.

It was still a solemn moment but the intensity of emotions was not as palpable as what I've previously witnessed twice before already. Most of those kids were probably raised here in America since at a very young age. Either they were brought here when they were still very young or they have never experienced any hardships like what Dave and his family might have gone through in their origin country.

The kids were not disrespectful at all but I can also see from their faces that they were not elated either. It was just something they had to do because their parents told them to. Most of them wore summer casual clothes. No one among them was crying, that's for sure. The ceremony was short and sweet. Not a lot of hoopla like in the previous ones I've witnessed. Then it was time to go home. I guess I can say it was still a good day in America.

As we know kids will always be kids, no matter where they came from or how they are raised. Teenagers will act as teenagers because that is who they are. But I'm also sure that all of those kids present that day at the ceremony will thank their parents for the wonderful opportunity that was given to them.

I tell my son, he doesn't lose his heritage and his being a Filipino just because of a piece of document. He is only adding another layer to his "colorful" inheritance and legacy which he will pass down to his children and to his children's children. He is now a Filipino-American, which alone is an accomplishment and an added feather to his cap. So after he is done with being a teenager, I'm pretty sure he will look back to the day of his oath-taking and will be proud and thankful.

So, as God is my witness, I still love my country of origin, the Philippines, but I've also come to love America as well. I love everything that's great and good about this country and I hate everything that's bad in it, just like any other good, abiding citizen must feel. And as I continue to learn new things about my adopted country, I will even love it more if all my immediate family were here. That's something we are working on and hoping for the "system" will follow through fairly. So help me God.