Pinoy Youth

At age 23, Mark Zuckerberg successfully established Facebook.com, an online social networking website, and eased his way to become one of the world’s youngest millionaires. Just a decade or so before this young man broke into the scene, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs showed that sheer talent even without the confirmation of a college diploma is not absolutely necessary to make it big! Gates founded Microsoft and Steve Jobs, Apple Computers. They were both in their early twenties.

Hundreds of years before these guys, young people also tried to shake the world they were in. Josiah was barely in his twenties when he initiated a nationwide revival that took a nation by storm. With his youthful exuberance and a desire to follow God and rectify the mistakes of his predecessors, he went against the popular practices and led his kingdom back to God. Jeremiah was petulant and complained to God a lot. But he was called to be a prophet at a young age. His job description included being hit by false prophets in the face or elsewhere, imprisonment and proclaiming the bad news after nobody paid attention to the good news.

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Amazingly, there’s Wi-Fi access here at the Carwash service I chose along Quirino Avenue near San Jose del Monte Bulacan. The van needs cleaning! Ugh. Quite a number of bugs courageously beat against my windshield last night as we traversed the SCTEX from Victoria, Tarlac.

Technically, it was morning already when we passed through SCTEX. Together with Earlie and Aaron (national leaders of the Methodist Youth), I went to Victoria to deliver a talk on youth leadership. I talked to about 30-40 youth on what it means to be a leader. To make my talk interesting, I didn’t simply present principles of leadership. Instead, I drew upon the story of John Wesley’s life from his childhood, his life as founder and member of the Holy Club at Oxford University to his career as an itinerant preacher and founder of a movement. Alongside John Wesley, I also presented the life of Nelson Mandela and how he became instrumental in ending apartheid in South Africa.

My talk was done at about 9:15 in the evening. But I shared coffee time with the national leaders who are also my friends. We ended up leaving Tarlac at 12 midnight. Whew. I was sleepy while driving. Thankfully, Aaron and Earlie kept me company. I arrived home (at Tala, Caloocan City) by 3:30 AM. Exhausted and wanting to simply get some rest.

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I’ve been through a lot in the past three weeks. Went to Baguio City for a consultation on May 19, 2009; spearheaded the Student Methodists Active in Campus Kirk Forum on May 20-23, 2009. I had a day’s respite in Manila on June 23. After that, I had to fly to Davao for a consultation with my boss from Nashville. We had a great time in chatting with youth and young adult leaders in the Mindanao area. Fun and laughter mingled with all the serious (supposedly) talks on leadership and issues being faced by youth and young adults in the Mindanao area.

Working wasn’t exactly tedious. We did our consultations in the morning and then we toured around Davao in the afternoon. Thanks to the kindness of Kuya Larry (of Davao City Cathedral UMC), Ronald Soriano (the son of a bish… Bishop that is), and Oliver Inis of the National United Methodist Youth Fellowship in the Philippines. Special thanks, too, to Ms. Janet MaCarthy of the Southern Philippines Methodist College for the delicious catfish lunch and the great chat about Methodism and ministry in Kidapawan City.

I am now preparing the reports related to the SMACK Forum. Whew. Gotta activate my left brain so I could complete the reports. Ugh! Numerical figures make my head swim!! But I gotta finish it.

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I am now sharing an office with Rev. Homer Wesley Refuerzo at the Philippine Christian University Doctor of Missiology Program. Good thing is I don’t have to pay rent. heheh. At least, I am still in the midst of lots of students, who are of course, young people.

Been going through lots of transition lately. Sister went to Hong Kong to work; we moved to another house at Tala, Caloocan City, which is quite far from the world of Quezon City, which I love so much.  It’s about 15 minutes away from SM Fairview. And SM Fairview is like 45 minutes away from the Pantranco area. I’m still contemplating the right arrangements I will make. I might move back to the former apartment I stayed at (with friends) in Quezon Avenue. We’ll see how it goes.

Meanwhile, I’m going to continue working for young people’s ministries in the United Methodist Church.

By the way, I’m checking out the book Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex and Brett Harris. I’m liking it. As soon as I’m done reading it, I’ll share my thoughts with you.

Do check The Rebelution Blog. It talks about teens going beyond the low expectations of people from teenagers.

If you are looking for an online place to hang out, listen to good music, you can visit PerfectRhythm. This site is hosted by Jordan Escusa, who is also the host DJ of NU 107.5’s “Against the Flow. He’s also working with The EDGE Radio (more of The EDGE later when I feature it on a separate post).

With this site, you can listen to the episodes of Perfect Rhythm (PR), which are being aired on DZAS 702. If you are not a radio listener, then you can always listen online. If you have an iPod or any other mp3 or mp4 player, the podcasts are also available for download.

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Jonathan and David: Birds, Arrowheads, War, and a Father’s Wrath
Mighty C. Rasing

Birds of the same feather are the same birds, especially if they go to the same places, hang out at the same restaurants, play the same games, and even look alike together. Yet these birds of the same birds also make good feather-dusters if they fail to remain true to their friendship.

With this session, we will look at a very strong friendship that even family feuds and kingdom rivalry could not stop. David and Jonathan are two birds with different feathers yet they are true and loyal friends to the end.

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