Just because someone’s young doesn’t mean it’s too early
Just because someone’s old doesn’t mean it’s too late
Just because someone’s small doesn’t mean he has no strength
Just because someone’s big doesn’t mean he has no weakness
Just because someone’s smart doesn’t mean he’s always right
Just because someone’s dumb doesn’t mean he’s never wise
Just because someone thinks so doesn’t mean others have to agree
Just because someone disagrees doesn’t mean they’re evil
Just because someone said so doesn’t mean it’s fact
Just because someone posted it doesn’t mean it makes sense
Just because someone tweeted it doesn’t mean it’s worth a look
Just because it sounds good doesn’t mean you should listen
Just because it tastes good doesn’t mean you should eat it
Just because no one supports you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try
Just because no one’s done it doesn’t mean you won’t be the first
Just because you’ve never won doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fight
Just because it’s dark around you doesn’t mean you can’t shine bright

Verse 1:
Is it strained, when I call you
Or do you think, that I might forget
Oh your love, is radiating
The farther away
I go
I go

Verse 2:
Do you count, on me now
And do you wait, up for me all night
I wish I could run, to you when you need me
You know I can’t be far
For long
For long

Chorus :
Heart don’t fail me now
Cause there is no time to waste
Don’t shut me out, we shouldn’t wait another day
I’ve searched for you, on my hearts high speed chase
Hear me out, may be the only chance to say
Hold me now
I’ve said it Every Other Way

Bridge :
These tears I’ve cried
More moments gone to waste
I’ve searched for you
I’ve said it Every Other Way

Chorus :
Heart don’t fail me now
Cause there is no time to waste
Don’t shut me out, we shouldn’t wait another day
I’ve searched for you, on my hearts high speed chase
Hear me out, may be the only chance to say
Hold me now
I’ve said it Every Other Way

“The gospel of justifying faith means that while Christians are, in themselves still sinful and sinning, yet in Christ, in God’s sight, they are accepted and righteous. So we can say that we are more wicked than we ever dared believe, but more loved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared hope — at the very same time. This creates a radical new dynamic for personal growth. It means that the more you see your own flaws and sins, the more precious, electrifying, and amazing God’s grace appears to you. But on the other hand, the more aware you are of God’s grace and acceptance in Christ, the more able you are to drop your denials and self-defenses and admit the true dimensions and character of your sin.” ― Timothy Keller

I had a breakfast meeting with an older gentleman yesterday, and as it is when spending time with people who know more than you, I walked away with more than a few nuggets of wisdom. One of the things we talked about was how simple living actually makes for healthier living. We talked about how different the world has become. These days we have so many options that it has become hard, even stressful, to choose. Worse, we jump from option to option, fad to fad, diet to diet, breakthrough workout to breakthrough workout, supplement to supplement, sport to sport, and sometimes, gym to gym. The main problem here is that we don’t stick to anything long enough to get really excellent results.

Don’t get me wrong. I love doing a lot of things. I play quite a few different sports, paint, play the piano, write, have a few businesses, teach a business workshop and have since taken up programming among other things. But I’ve arranged them all in an orderly sequence of daily events and alter as necessary. As much as possible I stick to a predetermined schedule set way ahead and plan around anchor activities. With all my different activities, a relatively rigid schedule allows me to enjoy my different interests and spend enough time on them to grow. As for health, I try keep my diet simple, use natural products when I can, take at least 6 capsules of squalene everyday, oil-pull with virgin coconut oil, run regularly, and workout at home. I don’t spend a lot and I feel good. Two other things that are very very integral to me are deliberate gratefulness and earnest prayer. I try my best to live right but, to be very honest, I know how incapable I am because of my many physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual weaknesses. I’m glad to have found a Father who is more than able to make up for what I lack.

This is what works for me.

While it may work for others, it may not work for a lot of people. We all have different needs, interests and contexts. You need to find what system works for you. But just to be clear, you still need a system, a disciplined way of operating in the different areas of your life. Why? Because without ordering ourselves, our lives will naturally slip into disorder.

I thought your promote Natural Health+?
Yes, it is. We promote natural AND health. But what has become natural to us, the fastfood, stressful work, pollution in the environment and media, were never intended for us. That’s why they make us unhealthy. Food was meant to be enjoyed. Work was meant to be fulfilling. The environment was meant to be sustain us. And media, which are simply ways of storing and transmitting information, was meant to document our development and pass on a legacy of knowledge and wisdom. Our lives have become very un-natural. That is why shifting to a simple life is so difficult.

So find what works for you. By that, I don’t mean do whatever you want. What I mean is, find that consistent, disciplined, and effective system by which you can achieve your purpose, enjoy life, and stay healthy. And when you do, COMMIT.

Visit us for more from Natural Health+.

A Native American grandfather talking to his young grandson tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him struggling with each other. The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other wolf is fear, greed and hatred. “Which wolf will win, grandfather?” asks the young boy. “Whichever one I feed”, is the reply.
- Native American Proverb

Success doesn’t come easy. It comes with sacrifice, hard work, lesson after painful and embarrassing lesson, and it comes with perseverance and faith. Earlier, we discussed commitments and choices in our Issho Genki staff meeting. Commitment is a scary word for me, simply because responsibility is always attached to it. Everyone has different commitments and everyone is free to choose as they please provided that it is within confines of the law. But just because we’re free to make our decisions, doesn’t mean that all our decisions will lead to profitable conclusions. So whatever your you select here are some reminders:

1. Commit Wholeheartedly to that which you choose – commitment means you’re responsible to see things through.
- Commit to your vision, to that picture of something greater.
- Commit to your values, the things that are most important to you.
- Commit to your goals, to the “win” targets you’re aiming for.

2.Choose Daily to forward your commitments.
- Choose daily to picture your success. Remind yourself of your vision every day.
- Choose to embrace what’s important. This includes not holding on to non-essentials.
- Choose to win daily in every task. Be excellent in everything, including small and redundant tasks. Understand that success is incremental and our efforts compounding.

What you choose to pursue is up to you. Don’t let someone else make that decision for you. Seek God and seek counsel, but you make the choice. Whatever you do select, commit to it and choose daily to take the steps that bring your closer to what you value.

“A single grateful heart can withstand a thousand trials.”

“And the river bank talks of the waters of March
It’s the promise of life, it’s the joy in your heart”
- Waters of March by Antonio Carlos Jobim

Today was beautiful. Come to think of it, every day can be depending on what we choose to highlight. I think for the most part I’ve been able to emulate my mom’s uncanny ability to see beautiful things in anything and everything, but I have to admit that it clashes head on with my critical harshness. It’s just another example of how the pride in my life is very capable of depriving me of beautiful blessings just waiting to be appreciated.

My parents taught my brothers and I, that if you want to correct an attitude, you have to operate in the opposite spirit. So if you want to correct greed, be generous. If you want to correct being mean, show kindness. If you’re grumbling and ungrateful, list down your blessings. If you feel lonely, comfort someone. If you’re scared, be a source of courage. It’s similar to what I was saying in the post Propositions. In other words, do what’s uncomfortably right. This isn’t easy at all. Like anyone, it’s more natural to me to defend my greed, grumbling, fear, and self-pity, than it is to be humble and subordinate my feelings. Being humble is not natural to me. Not even a little. Not at all actually.

I have a long way to go…

Anyway, today, I took time out to do nothing but sit still and pray, and when I couldn’t do that, because sitting still is very very difficult for me when I’m not working on something, I decided to go for a walk and continue praying. I can’t begin to tell you how important Jesus is to me, not because I’m this holy guy, nothing can be further from reality, but because my poverty is too deep not to realize. But as I walked through the relatively empty streets of Fort Bonifacio, I remembered the song Waters of March by Antonio Carlos Jobim.

A stick.
A stone.
It’s the end of the road.

You might know the song. It’s very famous. But not a lot know that the inspiration behind the song, the actual “waters” of March, are the storms and heavy rains that fall on Rio de Janiero, in March, that cause serious flooding throughout the city. It’s another example of the power perspective and highlighting. Here’s a song about storms, but what we remember, what is highlighted is “the promise of life” and “the joy in your heart”.

How many unrealized blessings have gone wasted in my blindness?
How many waiting fortunes missed?
How many daily gifts stay unopened, because it didn’t come wrapped as expected?
How much has my pride, and fear, and hurt deprived me?
How little has my faith unlocked?

Probably a lot. I’m just grateful that I realized my blessings today, even more, I’m grateful that there’s tomorrow, because His mercies are new every morning. A single grateful heart can withstand a thousand trials.

Hear my soul, that restless storm
Feel my heart, that beating drum
Oh that Your Spirit would visit
My silent loneliness

Speak to my soul, that needy child
Touch my heart, that hardened man
Oh that You will reside
In my emptiness

You’ll go and I’ll be okay,
I can dream the rest away
Its just a little touch of fate, it will be okay
It sure takes its precious time, but it’s got rights and so have I

I turn my head up to the sky
I focus one thought at a time
I do not let the little thieves under my tightly buttoned sleeves
You couldn’t be alone, the time I feel like I am walking blind
I have no where I’ll have time

There are no legible signs x2

I like the way that you talk,
I like the way that you walk.
It’s hard to recreate such an individual game

You wait you turn in the queue,
You say your sorries and thank you’s
I don’t think you’re ever
A hundred percent in the room
You’re not in the room x2

Deepest, of the dark nights
here lies, the highest of highs
Neopolitan Dreams, stretching out to the sea

You wait you turn in the queue,
You say your sorries and thank yous
I don’t think you’re ever
A hundred percent in the room
You’re not in the room

In false love your aim is to use the other person to fulfill your happiness. Your love is conditional: You give it only as long as the person is affirming you and meeting your needs. And it’s nonvulnerable: You hold back so that you can cut your losses if necessary.

But in true love, your aim is to spend yourself and use yourself for the happiness of the other, because your greatest joy is that person’s joy. Your love is unconditional: You give it regardless of whether your loved one is meeting your needs. And it’s radically vulnerable: You spend everything, hold nothing back, give it all away.

…nobody is actually capable of giving true love. We want it desperately but can’t give it…

… All our love is somewhat fake. How so? Because we need to be loved like we need air and water. We can’t live without love. That means there’s a certain mercenary quality to our relationships…

… What we need is someone to love us who doesn’t need us at all. Someone who loves us radically, unconditionally, and vulnerably. Someone who loves us just for our sake. If we received that kind of love, that would so assure us of our value, it would fill us up, that maybe we could start to give love like that too…

… Who can give love with no need? Jesus.

From King’s Cross by Timothy Keller