Breakfast today

Main: Mushroom Omelette served with bacon, hash brown and grilled tomatoes
Drinks: 400 mL Berri Pineapple juice, Jasmine green tea


The breakfast I had today was exactly the same as what I had yesterday. I ordered it again for the obvious reason that I enjoyed it the first time and it seemed to be the most appetising item on the menu. All the others one would be able to scoop from the buffet. The omelette would have to be prepared from scratch (I think?!?!?).

Today’s omelette was a bit “watery”. You could see the slightly dark liquid seeping out of the omelette. Mushroom juice, if you like. This fact made the meal look less inviting.

But actually, it tasted quite fine. It’s quite a big serving early in the morning. I could only finish about half of the omelette and less than one rasher of bacon.

The jasmine tea was courtesy of Qantas club. I grabbed a few while waiting for my flight to Newcastle. The Berri juice was as expected.

I would give this morning's breakfast a 6.

Whatever it is...

I have been subscribing to Pastor Greg Laurie's daily devotion for quite some time now. In this blog I will be expressing my thoughts regarding the devotions. It is not meant to preach to other people but more preaching to myself as I try to understand and make sense of what I have read and how it applies to my personal life.

Title: "A Work In Progress"
Key Verse: "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end" Eccl 4:1

Below is a direct quote from Pastor Laurie:
You, too, are a work in progress. God is doing a work in your life. When it is done, He will show you. If it is not done yet, be patient. God sees the end from the beginning. We can't see what it is, but God can. That is important to remember....
For us, what it means specifically to us on a day-to-day basis, time will tell. Whatever it is, it is good, because God is in control of it.

I think man's aim should be to be more godly as days pass by. I do not think we will ever reach perfection in this life. Pero ang dapat hinahangad ng bawat isa is to be better people. To be godly people. To be people that is doing God's work. Not necessarily "working in the church" but more being godly in whatever role God has given one.

I go out everyday not to work in a church but rather go to a "normal" office like most people. My challenge is, on a daily basis, how to do God's will in the environment God has put me in.

And I do fail. A LOT! It is encouraging to read today's devotion and understand that I am a work in progress. God is not done with me yet. This does not give me a licence to sin. NO WAY! But more to encourage me to keep pressing forward. Not to throw in the towel and accept that i am a failure.

God is not done with me yet.

Here's a question for anyone who might happen to read this blog:

What does "He has put eternity in their hearts" mean?

Last Night's Dinner

Entrée: Sydney Rock Oysters Natural
Main: Angus Fillet with Half Lobster in Shell
Drinks: Iced Lemon Tea (no sugar)
Dessert: None

The oysters were presented nicely enough. The six of them were arranged in a circle on a bed of rock sea salt. It was served with a wedge of lemon and some sort of seafood dressing at the centre of the plate. The oysters were good but didn’t taste that fresh. Had them with a few drops of lemon. The “seafood” dressing that came with it did not pack enough punch. It tasted too much like bottled mayonnaise with a bit of tomato sauce (to add colour i think, rather than taste).

I was really looking forward to having the main course. This is how it was described on the menu:

"250gm char-grilled angus fillet, with ½ lobster in the shell, lemon & thyme risotto and garlic butter sauce"

The steak was done just as I ordered (medium rare). The lobster was cooked just right. The risotto that came with it was alright. It was supposed to have lemon and thyme but I tasted neither the lemon nor the thyme. The garlic in the garlic butter sauce tasted too much like garlic from a bottle. I have a particular dislike for this. I love garlic! It just bothers me how some restaurants have this preference to bottled garlic? How hard is it to use fresh garlic???? You can really taste the difference!

The most disappointing part of the meal was the Iced tea. I ordered the same drink s I was quite pleased when i hd it the night before last night. It was made from scratch. Fresh lemon was used and no sugar was added. It was cool and refreshing. But what i was served last night was far from that. It was iced tea WITH NO ICE! You can't call it iced tea! THERE WAS NO ICE! It was warm and totally disappointing.

For what the hotel charges for the entire meal they could have done better!

Last day of visit

I wasn't expecting to start my own blog during this trip kaya i purposely left my camera at home. Buti na lang i've got a phone that's got a pretty good camera. Comparable naman to most digital cameras.

Kaso, i forgot to bring the cable to download the photos. I could have done it via infrared or bluetooth but i couldn't get it to work. Urgh! I think i need to update my computer skills some more!

As a consequence, I couldn't post any photos yet relating to this trip. The photos would have to wait until i get back home tonight.

I thank God that i was able to accomplish things during this trip. I'm leaving the site today at around 2pm to catch my late afternoon flight back to Brisbane.

Ano ba ang laman ng isip ko of late?

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" Proverbs 23:7

I've always thought Descartes was the first to have this idea when he quoted "Cogito ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am). How wrong I was. It has been written in the Bible by the wise King Solomon way before Descartes time.

What does it actually mean to me?

What we all should be aiming in life, I believe, is to be better people. Better than who we were yesterday. Or even just a minute ago. We educate our selves. We search. We travel. All, I hope, would result in making us better people.

Pero sa maraming pagkakataon, people become worse as they get older. People become cynical, ungrateful, hateful... more sinful.

How do we change that? How can we go against the flow?

"...bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

That says it all.

Unang entry

Dapat pag-isipan since this is going to be my very first entry. Pero wala akong maisip eh.

I'm currently on my 2nd day of visit dito sa Ellavale (Mt Thorley, NSW). I'm obviously quite bored that is why i decided to create my own blog.

Mt Thorley is in the Hunter Valley. Approximately mga 1 1/2 hours drive from Newcastle.

I'm here for work, of course. But not permanently. I am flying back home tomorrow afternoon. My gig here is just part of my monthly work trip schedule. Around this time next month I'll be somewhere else.

I don't know how to add photo captions yet. I'll describe the photos below:

The sundial in the photo is claimed to be one of the biggest in the world. It is at the town of Singleton where my accommodation was.

The next photo is showing part of my sustenance for the day. A cup of Jasmine green tea, a glass of water, a can of orange/passionfruit springwater and of course, the ever reliable Red Bull.

The last of the photos is showing my temporary office during my trip.