yet another Christian publication

A writer likes to write regardless the size of the audience even when not paid (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/07/writing-commuting-writing-some-more.html). Maybe this is the excuse that drives a writer to work on his/her project and as many others as possible -- like my friends Renee (http://www.devotionaldiva.com/) and Alece (http://www.gritandglory.com/) as well as some of the guys in #Tworship (http://twitter.com/search?q=#worship) writing material for various publications (print, on-line, etc) all the time.

About a year ago, I tried to become a freelance writer for one of the bigger Christian magazines in the US. When I was given the outline, I preferred not to pursue it again. Needless to say (type), this experience might influenced my decision to stop reading the publication (unknowingly at the time).

Right now I'm trying to get a gig writing and/or taking pictures for a local Christian publication. It all started when I made a comment about a website to the person in charge (web master, administrator, etc). I pushed the idea once again and I'm having an "interview" with this person in a week and a half. Ironically enough, earlier this year, I tried to get a small gig as an editor at this same local publication, but somehow the project just fell apart.

If this new project comes about, it'd be something exciting to get my hands dirty with. The whole experience of writing for someone else will be different from all I've worked on before and most likely rewarding.

ruthless winter to come: dark side of the moon-lit earth

All Gallows' Eve just passed with ghouls and ghosts asking for candy. It's still autumn with its pumpkin pies and naked trees (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/10/all-hallows-eve-fun.html). Nevertheless the temperature's dropped to 43°F, but it feels like 36°F with the windshield factor (as of 2010/11/10 at 07:41). That's a huge drop from 102°F this past summer (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/07/hell-on-earth-102f-nyc.html). This is merely a preview of what this coming winter in NYC (at least, no idea about other areas on the US) could be like -- ruthless, bitter and plainly life-threatening. Then again, I don't think there's any other place on earth that I'd rather be for winter with a cup of coffee in my cold hands looking out the window at the snow.

With this new low temperatures, many people started wearing heavy parkas and layered wool coats. Stupidly enough, I'm only wearing a two-layer nylon jacket since I forget to wear anything heavier. Besides since I just moved (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/11/moving.html), I don't even know where most of clothes are in the mess that I've got in the apartment that I'm still making sense of.

walking by a Lutheran church: no 9:30 service

I finally stepped inside a Lutheran church I walk by now and then. I wanted to finally accept the invitation (two emails so far) of one of the pastors in the church whom I had met weeks ago (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/08/walking-by-lutheran-church.html). I thought their service was going to be at their usual 9:30am, but today it was scheduled at 10:30am. I opted to excuse myself and left since I had no intention to miss worship at FAPC. As I've mentioned several times, I've got no intention of quitting FAPC, which has become my spiritual home on this earth. My interest in the Lutheran Church is mere curiosity in the differences in practices and doctrines between PC(USA) (http://www.pcusa.org/) and WELS (http://www.wels.net/), which this Lutheran church is associated to.

outside society

As a human I think too much about everything around me. I constantly feel like an observer, an outsider. My mind shifts from society, its norms and its folklore to the individual's myths, beliefs and religion. At the end of the day, it's all a matter of learning and acquiring wisdom.

I'm just outside society and the "common" social or individualistic life. I observe others all the time especially when I've got nothing to do. I see groups of individuals (considering that humans love to group people and things to understand them).

1. Many are simply worried about their work, reading and/or answering emails, making sure their suits are perfect and perhaps forgetting how to live.

2. Some study to know more either for money or knowledge. This includes those "intellectuals" who read War and Peace on their time off (nothing wrong with reading great literature, of course, especially Tolstoy; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Tolstoy) to simply show off.

3. Some don't seem to care about anything at all, but themselves (pretty faces and/or bodies, expensive clothes, latest mobile phone, etc).

4. Some just seem to live in fear for whatever wicked reason. They dwell in silence and pain -- almost in a state of paranoia.

5. Some read religious material like devotionals and even the Bible itself.

These individuals seem to fit in one or more groups at one or another. Nonetheless our society seems to have five gods -- work/money, knowledge, self, fear and The Lord.

I don't know which of these (other than the third) is correct. I wish I could the say the fifth, but I'd be a hypocrite. I've been part of all these groups (except the third) at some point or another. Then again, out shame or obligation, I want it to be the fifth. Hence most of the material of this blog I've written while riding the subway or bus.

In this city, we're too careful (fear) and keep to ourselves (privacy). We all worry about holding on to jobs and/or have some type of monetary income to pay rent and have something to eat. Therefore religion at times plays little importance.

walking by a Lutheran church

From the different denominations, I'm curious about the Lutheran Church. From what I've seen and read, it looks similar to the Presbyterian Church that I go to. This morning I was curious as I walked by the Lutheran church in the neighborhood where I live. I didn't go in since its service starts at 9:30am and I was going to the 10:00am service considering the 30- to 45-minutes bus ride. Said all this, it's not like I'd end up going to a Lutheran church -- after being raised Catholic and now going to a Presbyterian church -- since I'm comfortable where I'm at.

writing, commuting, writing some more

As most people in NYC, I use public transport to go places -- especially when going to and back from work. During my commute, I enjoy my time of solitude to listen to music (rock) and either read or write.

As of late, I've been writing lots of material on several topics (religion especially). As a matter of fact, lots of the material in this blog has been written during my commute using my assigned BlackBerry. Said the latter, I usually end up with 5 to 10 drafts at a time -- an average of two hours of work each. As a matter of fact, I wrote this entry last Friday while returning from the DMV and I still have several drafts in my phone that I'm working on. As I mentioned, I do enjoy my time alone as I examine my innermost beliefs.

* picture taken from Flickr
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2616382183_dd2eb8cab8.jpg

summer rain (thanks be to God)

It's raining this morning and fairly cool. The weather's much better (a cool 75°F, almost a 30° difference, very nice!) than what it was about a week ago (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/07/hell-on-earth-102f-nyc.html). I wish all summer could be like this morning without the nasty humidity and the infernal heat. Of course, many people prefer the heat -- but definitely not me.

hell on earth, 102°F NYC

The common idea of hell is fire, brimstone, eternal suffering and the Devil as its master and host. This image of suffering and damnation goes back to the Kingdom of Hades in Roman/Greek mythology and even as far the Underworld in the time of the pharaohs. The image of fire and brimstone comes from multiple verses in the Bible.

Anyway NYC today was hell on earth with fire and brimstone (heat of 102°F and 100% humidity), suffering (dangerous conditions for people with asthma or other respiratory ailments, small children and the elderly), but no devil other than the heat and humidity.

Taking the subway -- other than taking the bus system -- was no easy task. It was like descending to the guts of hell. At least most subway cars -- and buses for that matter -- have a working air conditioning system. Of course, air conditioning doesn't mean anything when the subway car or bus is crowded due to the increased production of CO2 and body heat.

Summer time is this city can be brutally hot and humid. Yet the only thing worse than the heat and humidity is the smell of sweat on oneself and others.