KuyaKevin.com

This coming Sunday afternoon (July 5th) I'll be speaking at the Greenhills Christian Fellowship Baguio youth service, 2:00 p.m.

Hey guys, we'll be doing RESONATE WORSHIP this Thursday night at UCCP Recto (across from UE McDonalds). 

This seems like your ordinary, run-of-the-mill church solo . . . until he gets about one minute into the song. 

My next 700 Club Asia appearance will be on Tuesday, June 30th. 

Just wanted to remind everyone to watch--I this will be the third of a series they've included me in (not sure how many total episodes there will be; maybe between 5 or 6).  I may never be on TV again, so I have to hype this up and enjoy it while it lasts.  

I’ve had the misfortune of watching Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.  This was, without a doubt, the most disappointing movie I’ve seen this year.  "What is this movie really supposed to be and who is it for?" I kept thinking to myself (for over two hours). Everything about Transformers 2 seemed awkwardly contrived: the characters (both human and robot) were completely annoying; the slow motion, Matrix style action just didn’t do it for me; and the story . . . “corny” can’t begin to describe it.  To top it all off, the movie is peppered with sexual innuendos.   This sour cinematic experience was like being trapped in seventh grade study hall for two hours. 

In this episode:
*Can men and women be "best friends," or will romantic feelings always complicate things?

*Is flirting bad or is it OK?

*Date rape

Just go to the podcast page http://kuyakevin.libsyn.com to download.  You can also go to iTunes and look up Basta LoveLife. 

PS: Sorry this week's upload was a little delayed--we had a few techinical problems. 

OK guys, let me tell you what is happening on the new book.  I'm trying to stay focused on this project so it can be finished before the end of the semester (maybe sooner). 

So far I've chosen 11 stories for the book.  Some of these have already been posted here on the blog (Learning the Hard Way).   I am still looking through some of the submissions in my email, and I'm also still accepting new stories.  As mentioned, I'm especially interested in hearing from the guys. 

Erwin (my partner in the radio show) will be designing the book.  

I really think this book will serve to warn and encourage young people.  

The 700 Club Asia put together another great episode last night.  I really like the way they've taken my little interview and integrated it with skits, surveys, etc--galing!  This time they included my blog address and a picture of the book, which I greatly appreciate. 


But I must confess--I'm still not really used to seeing myself on TV.  In some ways it's really cool, but it's also kind of creepy :)

By the way, I'll be on again this coming Tuesday, June 30th so be sure to watch. 

Janellyn has won a free copy of my book.  Here's her blog: http://deezeepeezee.blogspot.com/

Show some love--visit her blog and congratulate her. 

I think Janellyn plans to attend the upcoming seminar for call center agents, so maybe I'll meet her in person on July 25th. 





Who is the next book winner? 
Got a blog?  It could be you--click HERE to join the contest!

I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to my dad and all the other dads out there.   Here are some of my previous Father's Day thoughts:

Father's Day Reflections (2008

Happy Father's Day (2007)

I wrote a post about the "call center culture" earlier this week and mentioned an upcoming seminar.

Here are more details:

The seminar will be held 8:00-10:00 a.m., July 25th at Greenhills Christian Fellowship (Ortigas).

We'll be talking about love and relationships.


If you would like to come, just send an email to gcf_connect@yahoo.com on or before July 22nd. 

Include your company name and contact numbers.  Please invite your friends, including the unchurched (those who do not attend church or haven't in a long time). 

Note:  This seminar is open to all young professionals and college students.  It is not exclusive to call center workers. 

This seminar is FREE.

In this episode:
*Why "sexting" (explicit text messages) is NOT harmless fun.
*"My ex-boyfriend keeps texting me.  Should I text back?"
*Fear of committment.

Just go to the podcast page http://kuyakevin.libsyn.com to download.  You can also go to iTunes and look up Basta LoveLife. 

My next 700 Club Asia appearance will be on Tuesday, June 23rd.  It will be a continuation of their series on love, purity and relationships. 

As many of you know, I’m interested in publishing another book based on the Learning the Hard Way series here on the blog.  Basta LoveLife has several statistics on issues like teen pregnancy, etc.  But nothing communicates quite like a good story.  Thanks for everyone who has encouraged me to pursue this!

I’ve received several good stories/testimonies since I asked you (my readers) to help with this project.

But there’s an issue:  the vast majority of stories have come from women.  Men, I need to hear from you!  The first story I ever posted ("The Surrogate Boyfriend") was from a guy, and another story made it to the blog ("Mr Doormat").  The men have been quiet ever since (I think I’ve received just one other story from a guy).

Ladies, don’t get me wrong—I greatly appreciate your contributions, and I want you to keep them coming.  But I want the book to have a significant number of contributions from men (maybe 40%).

If you have a story, click here for details on contributing.  Remember, contributions are anonymous.

I have several friends (including former students) that work in call centers here in Manila.  Most of them make pretty good money--call centers probably offer the highest average salary of any other industry.

But the relatively high salary comes at a price.   You'll often hear call center employees refer to the physical and psychological impact of working the "graveyard shift." 

There's something that concerns me even more:  the spiritual environment--the "call center culture."  The following seems to be common among call center workers:

*Heavy drinking and smoking.

*Sexual immorality (homosexuality, cohabitation of non-married couples, promiscuity).

*Moral relativism (no sense of absolute truth).

*Wasting money instead of investing wisely.

*Disconnection from church/worship (in part due to the non-traditional work schedule).

Please don't get me wrong--I'm not saying all call center workers live ungodly lifestyles.  What I've learned, in fact, has mostly come from Christians who are struggling to keep their faith in this toxic environment. 

I believe we (Christians) can do more to reach those working in the call center industry.  Next month I'll be helping a church conduct a seminar for call center agents.  It's a small step, but maybe it will be the beginning of something big. 

 . . . I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
-1st Corinthians 9:22b

Erwin and I talk about the issue of homosexuality.  What does the Bible say about it?

Just visit the podcast page http://kuyakevin.libsyn.com or look up Basta LoveLife on iTunes to download this episode for free.

Note: One of the ministries mentioned in this podcast is bagong pag-asa (new hope).  

I keep encountering something over and over with the young women who contact me:  some women will allow a guy to act like a complete jerk as long as he says something sweet every once in a while.

Ladies, a man demonstrates how valuable you are to him by the way he treats you day-to-day.  A real man will make you feel secure, loved and appreciated.  If he doesn't, there's something very wrong with him or your relationship (or both).

Actions speak louder than words.  Are you listening?

See Also:

Adam and Eve, Eyes and Ears

Say “No” to Mr Bolero

My friend Lorille has started a blog about Philippine legal issues from a Christian perspective.

Check it out:
LawReal (http://lawreal.blogspot.com)

The H1N1 (aka “swine flu”) virus has made it to the Philippines.  According to the latest news, 46 people here have been infected with the world’s favorite virus.  Four of them are students (three at De La Salle University and one at East Asia University).  Classes have been postponed until next week.

I guess I understand the concern.  But let’s keep something in perspective:

*The swine flu has killed about 125 of the 21,000+ it has infected worldwide.

*The “regular” influenza virus kills over 35,000 people a year in America alone. 

In other words, H1N1 is a relative lightweight when compared to common flu.  There’s no need to panic.

O Lord, you have examined my heart
    and know everything about me. 
You know when I sit down or stand up.
    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
    and when I rest at home.
  You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
    even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
    You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too great for me to understand!

-Psalm 139:1-6


Yesterday was a great day.  I spent a few hours meeting with our ministry team to get ready for the new semester.  Later I met an old friend for dinner at the Mall of Asia.  This friend is a seminary professor that comes here to teach once a year—it was good to catch up with him.  

These two (planned) events where fruitful, but God had something even better in store for me before the night ended:

I got a taxi after dinner to head home.  The driver said I had ridden with him before. I initially thought I misunderstood him or been mistaken for another American passenger.  I suppose there are hundreds (if not thousands) of taxi drivers, and it seemed unlikely I would have the same one twice.  But he accurately recalled a trip I took across town a couple of months ago.  He was right—he was my driver when I went to visit Thess (a good friend and fellow blogger). 

The driver asked questions about my work and life, which led to a spiritual discussion.  He told me he was searching for the truth, but wasn’t sure who he could trust to guide him.  By this point we were running out of time, so I shared the gospel as clearly (and quickly) as possible.  He listened intently as I talked about the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice to fully pay for our sins.   I explained that God only requires genuine faith and repentance—nothing more, nothing less. 

Our journey came to an end before either of us was ready.  We didn’t have any way to exchange contact information (I didn’t have my business cards with me, and he didn’t have his cell phone with him).  I asked him to get his teenage child to look for this blog—that was the only way I could think of to keep in touch. 

I pondered the night’s events once I arrived home.  What are the odds that I would meet the same driver twice at two completely random locations?  How did he happen by that spot at the exact time/place I was looking for a taxi? 

I often speak of “divine appointments”—those times when God puts us directly in the path of someone searching for Him.  I’m amazed at the way He does this.   Do you ask God for divine appointments?  If not, maybe you should start.  

In this episode:
*Erwin and I read some Scriptures about purity.
*Are manga comics and anime bad?
*Controlling relationships (based on this blog post).

Just visit the podcast page http://kuyakevin.libsyn.com or look up Basta LoveLife on iTunes to download this episode for free.

I hope some of you were able to watch last night's episode of the 700 Club Asia.   It was an honor to have some of my video Q/A segments included on the show.   Tune in again the last week of June for another episode about love, sex, and marriage. 

Completely random thoughts my first day back in Manila: 

*“You’ve been all around the world,” said the woman who inspected my passport in Birmingham. It reminded me of how blessed I am--God has given me some awesome travel opportunities these past few years.

*I’m frustrated with what is happening to my country.  To quote a radio show host, "The problem with socialism is you eventually run out of other people's money."

*I was able to upgrade to business class due to all the frequent flyer miles I’ve earned.  You have your own personal little movie screen in business class, so I took advantage of it.  Here’s what I watched:

Taken
Very nice action flick.
Yes Man
Carpe diem to the extreme.  Funny.
Slumdog Millionare
A great story and a fascinating look at life in India’s slums. 

*I’m inspired by the number of my old college friends who are involved in some form of ministry.  It's just amazing to see what God has done in their lives.  I hope some of the students we reach will follow this same path.

*I stayed in the gym while I was in the States, but my diet was pretty awful.  My weight really hasn't changed much, but I am ready for a well-deserved fat report. 

*I went grocery shopping today.  Someone was wearing a t-shirt with this written on the front: don’t worry, may mas panget sayo (translation: don't worry, there’s someone out there uglier than you).  I laughed. 

*Being an uncle rocks.