Lift Up Your Hands

Sharing this beautiful song from Cecille Azarcon. 

May we all have a blessed Holy Week, friends! 

Happy Easter!

Just got home from work. Let me share a beautiful poem by one of my most fave poets, Joanna Fuchs.


Jesus came to compensate
For all the wrongs we do.
He came to earth to die for us,
So we'd be born anew.

"The bitter cup, let it pass from me,"
He cried, in a plaintive voice;
"Yet not My will, but Thine be done;
"He said, in His faithful choice.

The Judas kiss would seal his fate;
He faced a hostile crowd;
The governor, Pilate, saw through it all;
Jesus' guilt he disavowed.

"I wash my hands of all of this,"
Said Pilate, "Let Him be."
But the crowd yelled "Crucify him now,
And set Barabbas free!"

Pilate yielded to their wish;
And Jesus was led away.
The soldiers beat him, and mocked Him, too.
Yet He continued to obey.

A crown of thorns lay on His head,
As His sentence was carried out;
His hands and feet were pierced with nails,
But He did not scream or shout.

"Father, forgive them for this crime;
They know not what they do.
"He said this despite His torment, because,
He was thinking of me and you.

"It is finished," he sighed in His anguish and pain,
As His body gave up to death.
The curtain tore, and darkness fell,
After He took His last breath.

The best of the story is the very last part;
It’s why on Easter we’re filled with pleasure:
Death could not our Savior hold;
His power is beyond all measure.

He rose from the grave, and was seen all around;
Ever since, He’s inspired devotion,
And we’ll be with Him for eternity,
When we get our heavenly promotion.

That’s why Easter is a major event:
He suffered and died in our place.
He rose and forgave us and loves us still,
Our Savior of matchless grace.


Happy Easter,
everyone!

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday and I'm on day off. There is no holiday in the Call Center Industry so for the past two years, I have been working during the Lenten Season, particularly Good Friday. This year, nevermind the double pay and the additional Vacation Leave incentives, it feels good to be off and to be with everyone in the family.

I woke up late today because I slept early - early in the morning that is. I spent the night (and early morning) watching Underworld: Rise of the Lycans and Far Cry on DVD. I bought those DVDs a long time ago, I just didn't feel like watching them before.I enjoyed the former, while the latter helped me get sleepy faster.

The whole day, all of us were just at home because as much as I wanted to enjoy my day off by going somewhere like maybe eat out or watch a movie, all commercial establishments were closed so we were stuck at home with our lenten meal.

It's almost midnight now, I'm watching Gran Torino on DVD, writing this blog, and listening to the growl of my tummy. I'm so hungry. I'm enjoying the movie, but my stomach is distracting me. After the movie, I may descend from our home in the mountains to look for food in the city, or then again, I may just go to sleep.

zzzzZZZZ....

Maundy Thursday

Got off from work at seven in the morning, and was rejoicing because after five days, it's my day off at last. Went straight home, got on my PC, checked my emails, facebook, and a couple other sites I regularly visit. I was about to sleep because I was planning on going to a basketball game in the afternoon, when my dad suddenly suggested the whole family go to the beach. So much for sleeping! Luckily, it was also he who suggested that I just sleep instead of going with them so I can watch the game in the afternoon.

I wasn't able to sleep when they left for Porto Fino since I was enjoying myself organizing my songs on the PC. Next thing I knew, it was already almost three in the afternoon, and the game was scheduled at four. I was surprised to arrive early at the Cebu Coliseum despite its distance from our house, and then it occured to me. Today was Holy Thursday. Or others would call it Maundy Thursday. No wonder the streets were deserted!

Not a lot of people watched the game because not only was it just an exhibition game, it was also held on Holy Thursday! But in fairness, it was a good game. It was between the Cebu Niños and the Talk N Text Team. It was actually the second game of the their two-game friendly tune-up game. Cebu won in Wednesday, and TNT won while I was at courtside.

After the game, I went around the oldest street in the Philippines. The malls in the city were closed, and only the department stores in downtown were open. It was a good exercise, at the same time reminiscing the days when I used to pass through Colon everyday. It has been a good two years. A few things have changed, but if there's something that hasn't, it has to be the cheap(er) prices. If you just know where to look, you can almost always find a good bargain in Colon.

Went home in time for supper, which again reminds me. Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday actually commemorates the day Jesus had the Last Supper with the Apostles. After I had my supper with my family, I spent the night away watching the new DVDs I bought, more about it soon.