im not a hypocrite.

well, not that much.

i wont pretend that im the religious type, because im not (plus, see above). until recently, ive shunned going to church. i have reasons, but that doesnt take away the fact that i really dont go to church often.

i havent gone to confession in years, and i dont think im going to in the next decade. which of course means, i havent received the holy eucharist in the same number of years (of which if i was a dog, id be dead by then).

oh, and remember the days of obligation for catholics? 3 days (i think) out of 365 days (except leap years) (have you noticed how much i love parentheses?)  that we are obligated to celebrate mass, and what do i do? i skip 'em. for real. (i am so bad) (there i go again with the parenthesis).

but if there's one thing i do practice passionately, it's the passion of the Christ (no pun intended).

Lent only comes once a year (for a little more than a month), but most of us dont even prepare for it anymore. I dont. Abstinence? Pass. Fasting? Eh. No meat? Sacrilege! it's hard to be a catholic in the 21st century. sure, we dont get burned in the stakes, we're not afraid of Roman's kicking our doors in coz it's just probably that Pizza! pizza! delivery guy, but we're all bogged down with the complexities of living in a global community it's a wonder religion has survived.

and yet, despite not being the altar boy my ex-gfs' parents wish i was, i still practice the ones that i feel is really important for me.

i pray every night. even if it's just one Lord's prayer. even if it's all about wishing for something. even if i fail to thank Him about everything that's going right in my life. i still do it. every night (i try).

why? probably by force of habit. or maybe because of guilt. or maybe im scared. or maybe because it's the least i could do to show that i still believe in Him. it's only 5 minutes out of the 1440 we're given in a day.

but if there's one thing, just one thing that i really never fail to do, it's our annual bisita iglesia.

i know it's not much. it doesnt make up for all the sins ive made the entire year. it doesnt make up for all the missed masses. it doesnt make up for the doubts ive had in Him and His plans.

but that's not why we do it every year. it's because He died. Jesus died. the most painful way. betrayed by the very person He called friend. Betrayed by the very people who just days back waved branches to welcome Him. Betrayed by the people He was supposed to save.

He died for them. He died for you. He died for me.

Can you die for someone you dont even know? Can you die for a person who wont be born within the next two millenia?

I cant. That's why Im so grateful. Because even if Im such an evil person. Even if i break God's commandments time ang again, I still have a shot at heaven. It's all because of Jesus.

That's why I go on Bisita Iglesia every year. That's why while everyone goes abroad to have fun, go to beaches to get that perfect tan, even if theyre supposed to abstain from sex and other pleasures of the flesh, i dont.

Im not saying that im better than them or im holier than they are, because im not.

We're not even required to remember His sacrifice. I dont have to. But i still do.

It's because He didnt have to die, and yet he did.

It's just one day out of 365 days (except on leap years), is that too much to ask? That's just 80 days of your entire life to reflect considering He gave up the rest of His for you to enjoy yours.

 

Just in time for the showing of The Davinci Code, here's a nice article for those experiencing a crisis in the Catholic faith.

Ive always wondered why people change religions. It's all basically the same. Stripped of the ceremonies, prayers, chants, etc, it all boils down to doing what's good. Being righteous.

You can achieve heaven, bliss, nirvana, enlightenment just by living righteously.

But still, Ive always wondered why Catholicism loses followers more than any other religion. Ive wondered, is my religion flawed? Am I following the wrong religion?

I dont think it is. I dont think I am. I may have doubted, but my faith is strong. It's what kept me a Catholic all these years even being as liberal minded as I am.

So why do people lose faith in Catholicism, then?

A reason ive thought of, of why people change religions is because of the hypocrisy of some Catholics. So? The individual isnt the religion. The religion is the idea, or the belief. The followers of other faiths arent any different. It's our humanity's that flawed. We are on the path to Divinity, so it's expected we make mistakes along the way.

I grew up in an ordinary Catholic family. I was taught to pray before I went to bed.  I was taught to attend mass on Sundays. I was taught to be a good kid and follow Jesus as my example. I was born into a Catholic family so I was one by default.

I studied in a school with students of varying religions, so I learned respect and tolerance for other faiths. Fill up the blank space for religion in the enrollment form or not, and we're still all alike: we're all kids.

During that impressionable time in my life, ive learned of the differences in our religions. But it never made we want to disavow my faith. Other religions are too rigid, too strict, mine's too lenient, soft.

But that didnt matter since we were all kids. We did what we were told.

As I grew older, my religion and my faith took a back seat to my environment. I followed the norm even if it went against my beliefs. We were Catholics and yet we sinned time and again.

We lie, we cheat, we steal, we have premarital sex, we spread gossip, and yet we still go to church. Sinners still partake of the Holy Eucharist.

Kids go to church to flirt or be with their significant others. Priests abuse small children. They father kids, and take a partner, against the Law of the Church.

Followers act like meek lambs during a mass, but cuss and yell after. They chat and text and answer phone call during mass.

On New Year's Eve, they make noise, play with firecrackers, a pagan practice and yet they continue doing it.

On Holy Week, they go to beaches, travel abroad, have fun, instead of reflecting and ask for forgiveness.

Popes and bishops ordered the Inquisition. The Church has accused, killed, tortured people in the name of God.

Hypocrites one and all.

But it doesnt matter. They are not my religion. I am Catholic. My religion is God and Christ. I do not need to be told the hypocrisy of the other people who follow my religion. Bash, criticize, ridicule all you want, my heart knows better.

Another reason i believe, is when a person feels hollow, lacking, incomplete, that he starts to think/doubt his faith. He experiences a crisis in faith. 

Most of the time, it happens during a notable event in their lives: a loss of a loved one, depression, adolescence, a personal problem, etc.

They start to doubt their faith. They start to notice the flaws in our religion. They start to rebel. They lose faith.

And during this time, instead of going to a priest to address and alleviate their concerns and loss of faith, they go on a personal search. They look at other religions and try to find which one suits them best.

They gravitate towards a religion they feel would reenergize and rekindle their spirituality. They dont see their wavering faith a problem that can be addressed, or fixed. They want a new religion.

Again, changing religions is an individual's right. God has given each and every one of us free will. What's important is that we live good, righteous lives.

But if you experience a crisis in faith, approach someone who could help you best: your priest. If you feel and believe in your heart after the talk, that your true religion has a different name, then go. Im sure even your priest would understand.

But give them that chance to defend our faith. It is their job.

Let me ask you, Have you given your religion a chance? Maybe you're just a Catholic by name. Maybe you havent practiced being one. Ours isnt any different than the next religion.

If you think that Catholicism is too lax and lenient with our followers, realize that we have laws, rules and practices as strict as other religions too. Only, most of us dont follow it. Have you tried adhering to it?

Have you tried going to Mass every sunday instead of the times its only convenient for you? Have you tried hearing the Homily's and applying the teachings to your life?

Most of us only select the rules and laws that fit our lifestyle and our needs, instead of following every single one, being followers of the faith. The flaw is in the individual, not the faith.

You reason that other faiths are more lively and more fun to participate in, but have you wondered that its just the people's attitude towards their worship that gives the services that feeling of aliveness? our religion gives allowance to that kind of worship, only you havent given it a chance.

Other religions are more active in the community, but have you ever thought that ours are as well? Only, you havent really given it a thought and a chance.

You feel that other religions are a more tightly-knit community. Have you ever tried knowing the name of the people around you during Mass? Have you tried to belong in the Parochial family?

I find myself fortunate enough that I have never encountered a crisis in my life that could make my faith in my religion and my God waver. Maybe that's the reason why Ive never been tested that way. He knows ill crack. Im grateful.

There are times that ive doubted, but that's because Im flawed. It's not the faith.

So if you start to doubt our religion, give it a chance. Talk to a priest.

But in the end, if you feel that Catholicism isnt for you, then I pray that you find peace and contentment under the blanket of another faith.

God bless.

the summer gets hotter as Megamall plays host to the 2006 tansport show at the Megatrade Hall Building B which opens today.

tickets are sold at 60php for adults and 30 for kids. for all car enthusiasts out there, this is a cheap price to be able to see the hottest cars (and hotter women) up close.

on site are some very nice tricked up rides. from old school to import tuner cars.

youve got suvs, pickups, a couple of ferraris, a quintet of old school cars and a lot of booths from performance retailers, car detailers, magazines, a tv show, etc.

now for automobile minded peeps, you'd be tempted to empty your wallet and max out your credit cards with the varied services and items for sale.

performance items would be topmost on your list with tanabe muffs, splitfire hitension wires, ngk iridium spark plugs, bendix ultimate break pads, toyo tires and other well known brands on sale.

anything and everything car related are on display including body kits, leather seats, wax and finishes. security devices, tints, audio/video equipment and shiny shoes (rims/mags) for your car.

now if you just like looking at pimped rides, and wasnt able to understand most of anything i wrote, its still a pretty good show to visit. and if you're a red-blooded male, you know that where hot cars are seen, hot babes are sure to be found.

for me, i havent had my fill of everything ive seen, so i'd probably drop by over the weekend especially since Monday's a holiday.

keep on riding!