Demonizing Anything New

It's man's tendency to always fear the unknown. Or, he may get curious, check it out but later screw up. That curiosity is often just a branch of fear, anxiety that cannot be pacified unless you get to the bottom of things---though you already have a ready conclusion before you get to the bottom of things. That's fear, fear of accepting the truth.

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This fear of the unknown---or fear of accepting the truth---makes us demean or vilify anything new or strange to us. Like learning that salvation is solely by believing in Jesus after people have, for centuries, been doing good religious works and sacrifices to please God so he'd somehow overlook our sins. Some people curiously checked this out in the bible, not to objectively know the truth, but to prove that salvation through faith in Jesus alone is wrong. That's fear. 

"...anyone who believes in HIM should not perish 

but have everlasting life."

Now, it also applies to medicine and technology when what people mistake to be "faith" (but is actually fear) collides with new finds in science. Galileo was condemned and prosecuted by the church when he maintained that the sun was the center of the solar system, not the earth (heliocentrism).  Also, a lot of Christians demonized Covid vaccines as some precursor of the mark of the beast, if not the mark itself. The Y2K virus was feared as the end of the world. What most church people do not understand they quickly label as demons.

And now, AI is the anti-Christ. 😅

There were also accusations of some products being demonic and patronage of the same meant backsliding or apostacy. If you buy coffee from Starbucks you're financing Satan (not realizing giving money to man's church finances Satan). When you lack spiritual discernment---I mean, the real thing---you will use your carnal judgment and just accuse anything new to you or what you cannot understand. 

Pray for the impossible. Ask for the miraculous. 

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Paul for instance, boarded a ship that had two idols perched in front of it as protection. He bought tickets for him and his companions, so that made him "finance" Satan? He understood that children of God cannot be harmed or affected by cults or the occult, even he boarded a ship dedicated to their gods. 

11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.

[Acts 28]

The Pharisees and law teachers fought everything Jesus said and did with full force simply because of their fear of the unknown, or the new and strange things Jesus did. That spirit of fear still lives today in a lot of churches, even those claiming to be born again, resenting anything that their denominational doctrine doesn't recognize, even fearing and denouncing the very move of God in these times.

Some claim to be doing radical and strange things, too, which traditional Christians find apprehensive. But these are really nothing like what Jesus, the apostles and prophets did in the bible. They're merely things they got or copied from the world and try to apply in their ministries. They call that "radical." But it's still on the level of the earthly. It's nothing supernatural.

The general idea is to work hard to produce more. 

But some experts are saying the opposite is true. 

When you relax more and are less busy, you come 

closer to success than busy people. For more on this, go here.

When something new and strange makes an appearance, it's best to ask the Holy Spirit for spiritual discernment to test every spirit. Everything you see or everything that happens has a spirit behind it, even things material or utterly mundane. Even everyday activities like commuting, working, schooling, doing groceries and the like, you encounter spirits controlling or hiding in things or people. What more in mysterious and eerie things?

Be sure that genuine children of God can never be harmed by anything demonic. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, remember? No curse can work. This is what we have as sons and daughters in Christ, being co-heirs with Jesus.

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

[Isaiah 54.17]

Stop demonizing everything you find different, unusual, scary or too off tangent from your church doctrine. Relax. Even if it is demonic or harmful in anyway, you are protected by the blood of Jesus---if you are a true child of God. A lot of genuine moves of God in the bible were scary and ominous. The chosen people of God were dead scared about how Mt Sinai looked when God descended there. The Passover where all the first-born found outside the protection of the blood of the lamb were slain---that was scary, even looked evil. Not to mention the Flood and Sodom and Gomorrah. 

The important thing is to be deep in the Word and the Holy Spirit, and not be paranoid.

Value System Decides What and How We See

The worst thing today is the money value system which has creeped deeply into the church. Anything that does not result to income or profits has no value. Anything that does not produce any visible or tangible result (especially that which is not appreciated by the world) and does not align with Babylon's money value system is a waste of time.

Photo by Erika Fletcher on Unsplash.

You are no longer seen according to your character and inner man but your achievements, especially financial. Or your titles and degrees. No matter how rotten your character, they will listen to your preaching and love it because of your educational attainment or the position awarded to you by your title or degrees. People invite degreed professionals to speak to them and pay enormous sums even if the speech is garbage.

Anyway, the money value system brainwashes your mind to make it appreciate garbage ideas, seeing them as sound doctrine or proper norm. It reprograms you, converting your values to see things the way the world does, and even makes you think it's spiritual. 

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [2 Corinthians 4.4]


...that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. [2 Timothy 2.26]

You're Arrogant If You Don't Listen to Them

Again, unsolicited lecturers (those who force their advice on you, expecting you to follow it whether you like it or not) will insist that if you don't listen to their lectures and take their advice, you are arrogant. You don't have a teachable heart---as if they know how it is to have a teachable heart---because most of them detest listening or learning from other people, especially you. Their egos cannot take that. 

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They think their experience or education entitles them to be your lecturer or adviser. Worse, they believe they're smarter than you are and have all the right to tell you what to do. Why they believe they're smarter is a big mystery. The mere fact that you give unsolicited advice means you're not smart. You don't know the value of pearls, so how is that being smart? 

The bible says do not give pearls to pigs because they'd just trample on them. And I happen to be a pig when someone gives me pearls I don't want or don't need---because they're plastic pearls. No real value. You dive deep for real pearls, something unsolicited lecturers cannot do. Everything they offer is cheap, especially if they don't know what kind of pearls suit my situation. But if I go to you and ask you for advice, then your advice becomes precious pearls to me. Because I want it. I asked for it.

It's good to be rich in valuable experience and knowledge and be loaded with wise advices to help other people with, but that does not entitle you to lecture to just anybody you like---or you think is stupid and needs your wisdom---and especially not to one who doesn't ask for it. I seek advice from people I know is broadminded and can give me sound advices. 

I choose folks I'd listen to (of course, you listen to your parents and those whose authority you're under, like your boss on office matters). And when I say "sound advice" I mean that which comes from a humble and pure heart. I hate advices from the arrogant and conceited---which all unsolicited lecturers are. 

I listen to people with God's wisdom and who knows the Holy Spirit personally (or at least those who are humble and knowledgeable, though not yet a believer). If you know HIM personally, you'd have the character of Jesus, the mind of Christ. I'll listen to you. Watch Philippians 2.5:

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Sticking to an Inclination

Seeing the Other Truth

Click here for part 1

Now, let's get a little deeper and wade through farther where the waters can drown. Unhealthy mind (yung me saltik sa utak, which is madami ngayon) and unhealthy social life (bida-bida ka) clearly makes you blind to reality. You barely see yourself, other people and situations as they really are. You form your own "reality" and "truth" based on how you want to see things, defective perceptions blurred by a sick understanding of things. 

Photo by Hu Chen on Unsplash.

I've watched people who otherwise behaved normally (or I thought they did) headstrongly insist on minor, trifling things as if the planet's survival entirely depended on them. Like having a worship program before any worship can happen, or opening in prayer before starting anything in church. Okay, I was also numbed before by senseless traditions, but after seeing Jesus start things in the bible without opening prayers, I quickly snapped out of it.

Continuing in opening or closing prayers or making a big deal of worship programs after seeing Jesus had none of these things would simply mean "meron kang saltik," and for some reason you can't get out of it. You're doomed and still believe you're doing right.

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An unhealthy mind and social life will never develop interest or even pay attention to truth, particularly God's truth. They'd stick to made-up truth. And often, a claim to being Christian, born again or spiritual has no apparent remedial effect to rectify this. Even so many Christians and pastors are narcissistic. They're just interested in what they think and do something else when someone else is talking. 

Most "believers" adapt comfortably to a mindset unfit for Jesus' social life and way of thinking. Paul once wrote, "Consider others better than yourself." Narcissists would insist that verse on you--to consider them better than you are, always.

How do you know you're afflicted? Simply watch out for the symptoms: 

1. You love to get the credit so you always try to prove yourself. 
2. You cannot simply keep quiet when what you did resulted to something outstanding. You have to let everyone know it was you.
3. You direct all conversations to your dearly beloved self and achievements.
4. You seldom listen to others but demand attention when you speak. This is among worse mental illnesses, I think. It's a subtle type of saltik.
5. You have poor attention span, especially when others speak. You often cut them short to have your say. It's related to number 4.
6. You'd do anything, even enslave yourself, to get the approval of people you esteem and adore. 
7. You idolize the great or wealthy (most pastors bow down to pastors with mega churches) and want to be like them.
8. You hate to be the least (this is stage 4 self conceit, which is sometimes asymptomatic).
9. You regard people with respect based on their earthly accomplishments, titles and degrees, possessions and incomes. Their spiritual standing (or character) means little to you, if any.
10. You condescend with people who you think fail your intellectual or scholastic standards. 

People with these symptoms cannot see truth, or see things as they really are. And some are symptomless to the carrier. They test positive but exhibit signs to the contrary. They seem kind, meek, compassionate, selfless and pro-others. This is why people believe and follow them when they speak their own versions of truth. They are looked on as "leaders." Add to that their outstanding credentials. Yup, they're often smart.

Western Jesus

Which brings to mind people who de-spiritualize Jesus and his ministry, trying to turn him into a western philosopher or theologian instead of a supernatural Kingdom Person. They belittle any talk about the supernatural ministry of Jesus and the spiritual things of the Holy Scriptures. They dwell on its logical aspects instead---or rather, rid the bible of anything supernatural altogether and make us believe it's all logic, intellectual acuity and philosophy. Many bite the bait.

When I watch most preachers on Youtube, Facebook or in churches, they sound more like western theologians or Greek philosophers than Jesus or the apostles. For instance, while Jesus claimed that he couldn't say anything except what he heard the Father say in real time (the Holy Spirit likewise didn't speak on his own but spoke only what he heard), preachers prepare their homiletical sermon outlines, practicing what they'd say beforehand, and rely on their hermeneutics for meaning. They decide before hand what happens and become predictable. 

Jesus or the apostles never talked about any system of hermeneutics. He said just one thing: 

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. [John 14.26]

You see his mindset? A healthy mind in Christ will get all his or her knowledge solely from the Holy Spirit---because Jesus said HE will teach us all things, not "some things." When Jesus says "all things" it means nothing is left for man's theology or hermeneutics or bible schools to teach us. Anyway, Jesus introduced his discipleship system to prepare disciples to apostleship, not bible school or seminary or their professors. The apostles never learned from professors or had to pass exams to graduate. And Titus and Timothy learned from their spiritual father, Paul, (again) not from professors. 

Even if you point these things to "believers" today--especially those tainted by church tradition and denominational doctrines--they'd just shrug their shoulders and keep on with their thing.

[Continued]

Ministry of Listening

Almost everybody and everything out there want to tell you what to do. Everyone knows better than you do about you. Just try posting something odd on Facebook and someone's apt to correct, counsel or outright tell you what to do, even if your post has absolutely nothing to do with you. Everyone's aching to find cracks or loopholes to your weakness and then lecture.

Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash.

Don't get me wrong. Children must listen to their parents and obey, even those past 18 but still in their parents' tutelage. Teachers have a limited measure of lecturing and disciplining rights with their students when inside the classroom. And bosses as well, with their subordinates in the office. But other than that, people should not be too eager to offer advices, especially if they're not asked to.

Everybody Wants to be Your Pastor

This is especially so with religious people, or those who think they're more spiritual than others. They either feel obligated to correct every erring creature they see on the planet or see you as a lost underling needing their counsel. They always have a thing or two to teach you and they want you all ears to them. I call them pedantic smart Alecks. A spiritual pedant is meticulous about your errors in Christian life (or what they think are errors) and just too eager to show you your fault and lecture you.

Apostle James says the Word of God is a mirror. Well, these lecturers want to be that mirror.

They all want to be your mentor or leader or pastor but no one is willing to sit down and take mentoring from others--except us 😄. Everybody wants to be above everyone else and be great. Well, Jesus says otherwise. He says the least is the greatest, which is among his apostolic teachings. But no one believes that today, not even the modern church. No one there wants to be least. They all want to have their say and be heard, recognized, acclaimed, hailed and have the mega-est church of all.

You're Arrogant If You Don't Listen to Them

They all want to dump their tons of opinions and advices on you and have you listening and doing their bidding. If not, you're "not teachable." You don't have a teachable heart 😆. You're arrogant. Teachable to them is when you listen to everything they say and follow their advices. But do these lecturers have teachable hearts? It's not for you to ask. Don't change topic. What matters is, you listen to them and do as you're told so you'd have a teachable heart. 😆

A lot of people want to be my lecturers. When they see how I don't take their advice or am not impressed, they decide I'm arrogant and unteachable. I listen to them but often don't buy their ideas. And they're offended and think I lack humility. I am teachable but I know where to get advices from. I choose who I take counsel from and not every lecturer out there fits. They should all just keep mum and wait to be asked for their opinion. But they're not capable of that. Blabbers just can't get it. They just talk and lecture.

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak
and slow to become angry, 
[James 1.19]

White hair sometimes indicates wisdom, not just lack of Vitamin D. My hair is all white. I mean, in my 62 years on earth I have seen, heard and learned a lot. I've read a lot as well. I've worked years both in secular managerial jobs and church ministries. Yet, I don't offer my opinions unasked. I wait to be sought. If no one does, I keep quiet and just listen. Most times, people just need someone to listen. They don't want your advice, especially your stupid advice. 

What they need more are your prayers. And often you don't need to tell them that, except if God tells you to. "Telling" people things like that usually falls under the ministry of blabbermouth lecturing, more so if God doesn't want you to do it. Even Jesus spoke only when the Father wanted him to, making sure he said what the Father wanted him to say and how. 

I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. [John 12.49]

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. [KJV]

They Hate the Ministry of Listening

Everybody seems aching to do a ministry in church but no one wants to be in a real ministry. They all love the ministry of lecturing--or, as mentioned, blabbermouth ministry (I love how I coined that). My Jesus, aside from lecturing and preaching to crowds that desperately wanted to hear him (they literally begged for his lectures so it wasn't blabbermouth), spent time just willingly listening to people. He didn't offer unsolicited advice. Instead, he asked them what they wanted personally (but he never let people's needs sway his ministry, though. He did only the Father's will when it came to his ministry, though he sometimes asked people about their personal needs).

To lots of church people, listening is too menial, low-grade, low-status. There's no glamor in it. You just sit there, do nothing but listen and remain unimpressionable. They hate that. You don't become popular that way, and anything that keeps you away from the limelight is a waste of time to them. It's no way to be a great leader. Everyone in church fusses a lot about leadership. There's nothing about followership. Followers are looked down on. 

I've seen church goers changing memberships when the church they attend doesn't recognize their potential, or if no one pays attention to them there. Pag hindi sila bida dun, lilipat nanaman sila sa iba. Eventually, I see them back to the original church they left because at least there they are looked on as leaders. Bida sila dun. Remember the unclean spirit Jesus talked about that leaves a person and goes around seeking rest in arid places? Then, finding none, it decides to go back where it came from. It's something like that.

Just Listen

It's a much needed ministry these days---listening. Even some church leaders, counsellors, pastors and preachers badly need someone to listen to them and understand the secret things they're going through. What more the ordinary church goers? Often, you need to just listen to these suffering, agonizing souls. Believe me, a lot of them (church members and leaders, and nonbelievers, too) are depressed, stressed or burned out or badly need their starving egos to be fed. Often (not always), they want to lecture to people, not because God wants them to do so, but because their egos need to. Though it feeds their flesh, sometimes God will tell you to listen to them, not really to feed their egos but to kill yours. Egocentrics are a pain in the neck (or the ass) to listen to, and it'll kill you doing so.

Listening kills the ego. This is why no one wants to do it, especially no one in church. Well, at least, most of them don't. Blabbering feeds the ego a lot and if you feed on it you'd never get in on the frequencies of the Holy Spirit of God.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, 
I will be exalted in the earth.”

Isaiah 46.10

“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
and who tremble at my word."

Isaiah 66.2

Magnifying Mindset to Make You See Things as They Really Are

You can be acknowledged as an intellectual, yet lack real mind health. You can be outgoing but have a meaningless social life. I've seen these reversals in my decades of human relations work in various capacities as PR Supervisor, sales and marketing director, advertising consultant and finally church pastor and counselor. Yeah, even as a Filipino martial arts instructor.

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Mind Health

Being intelligent may mean you have mind health, but not always. To me, healthy intelligence is the mental aptitude to balance things so you'd get an even and clear picture of things, better if with a selfless and mature disposition that seeks truth rather than be proven right or proven great. Problem is, intelligence is not always this healthy. It's often tarnished with pride. Real mind health happens when you have little to zero trace of the ego or self-centeredness. 

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Mind health involves the following:

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental Health CDC

It affects your whole you, not just your intellectual capacity, and helps to "handle" things well, which is maturity. I've seen lots of smart folks who are terribly self-centered, or egomaniac. Definitely, that isn't healthy and may lead to narcissism, which sees one's own opinions and feelings as the only correct and interesting things on earth. HelpGuide.Org says:

Narcissistic personality disorder involves a pattern of self-centered, arrogant thinking and behavior, a lack of empathy and consideration for other people, and an excessive need for admiration. Others often describe people with NPD as cocky, manipulative, selfish, patronizing, and demanding. Source

Healthy Social Life

A robust social life is not just when you're sociable, popular, talkative and friendly. It's really relating with people wisely and at the same time treating them well while staying low profile. You may be seen as sociable because you're around people all the time and the life of the party, but if you look down on them or get affected when they look down on you, you have a poor social life. 

Jesus patiently withstood the disparaging treatments he got from arrogant bashers but never allowed them to get the upper hand. He either gave them slighting remarks or completely ignored them, which made them feel slighted. He often ignored the rich and powerful but attended the poor and lowly. That's a healthy social life non-joiners enjoy. 

Oh, and it includes protecting and hemming-in your private space as well. 

On the other hand, you may have only a handful of friends, but if you treat them well, you have a healthy social life. It means you listen attentively and allow people to take center stage while you watch quietly in the background. To most people, sociable is when you're loud and taking charge of conversations to make sure you're in the limelight. But actually, you're somewhat sick in the mind if you crave the spotlight, if you asked me. 

I see it somewhat nearing HPD, or Histrionic Personality Disorder which is "marked by unstable emotions, a distorted self-image and an overwhelming desire to be noticed," Source. "Histrionic" means overly dramatic, another reason I hate drama, especially when some people go out of their way just to get attention and recognition by playing on emotions. "Sipsip" is probably the apt Tagalog term for it.

Non-joiners always take the backseat, just listening and observing, talking to a minimum and learning a lot about people in the process. They let others grab the glory, even if it should be theirs. They do not join the contest of who's the greatest but heartily keep what Jesus said about the least being the greatest. 

To be continued...

When to Think Independently and When to Seek Advice

Photo by Frame Harirak on Unsplash.

Beware of falling into either of two extremes--being too independent or too dependent. And lots of folks find difficulty balancing the two, even supposedly mature people, and it hurts their social life. And often, I understand their predicament because they've fallen victim to social predators many times over, getting them confused how to face up against the vicissitudes in life.

And it's sometimes confusing. If you refuse to listen to unsolicited advices (which many are fond of giving), they say you're too proud or arrogant. If you seek advice, they say you're weak and gullible. People who tell you these things seek to control you. So don't pay attention to what they say. Mind you, they often make up the majority, so they sound convincing.

You Decide

The proper safeguard here is to learn to decide when, and then decide. It's okay to think independently and also seek advice. You can do both or choose one at a time. But here's the thing--choose only the right person to get advice from. Make sure he or she is qualified. A lot of folks out there love to give the "right" advice or lecture but they're mostly unqualified--or disqualified.

Being a non-joiner doesn't always mean you do things completely by yourself. What's important is you don't join just anything or anyone. In fact, you very, very seldom do. Like church. I'm a non-joiner when it comes to local church membership. Often (not always), there are lots of social predators there. But I listen carefully to anointed men of God, those who rely solely on the Holy Spirit. And I fellowship closely with believers who genuinely take God's Word in the bible seriously. I stay away from religious bible wielders who know nothing but human theology. I never seek their advice.

Anyway, seek qualified people who'd speak to your life (who won't dictate or give unsolicited opinions), see how their ideas minister to you, weigh things carefully, and then decide--either to take the advice or not. The principle here is, seek advice but think independently in the end. 

The principle here is, seek advice but think independently in the end. 

As a rule, I make myself solely dependent on GOD alone--his Word in the bible and the leading of his Holy Spirit. Lots of times you don't need anybody's advice, even the sage or anointed servants of God. They're also only humans. They may err or miss what God is really saying. God will speak to you concerning your private life if you just accurately tune in to his spiritual frequencies.

Seek the Qualified

Anyway, the same goes with business, career, health, marriage, relationships or other matters. I seek proper advice only from people really qualified on the matter and trash all the others. I don't need garbage, no matter how well or sincerely packaged. And when I say "qualified," I don't mean titles and degrees or position. I don't mean the doctors or those with masters degrees, although doctors are sometimes worth listening to. I do. 

What I mean by "qualified" are those with real personal experience and manage to succeed. Again, when I say "succeed," I don't mean recognitions or awards or financial status or audience applause. I mean how the person fares vis-a-vis God's standards of success in the bible. 

For instance, Jesus was a total success in God's eyes even if his disciples abandoned him, people rejected and crucified him, and he didn't look moneyed or big-time. Jesus is qualified big-time to me, and other people similarly qualified. In business, for instance, I'd rather seek advice from those who have been molded well in character and attitude than those who became millionaires, though meek millionaires are always welcome. I'm so particular about humility, especially.

Mentoring and Coaching

Mentorship and coaching have become popular activities offered to fledgling business aspirants. They're good, except when people begin to idolize mentors or coaches and take their every word as bible truth. Sometimes, my co-trainees tell me, "Why are you doing that? Coach so-and-so told us not to do that." What do I care about what a coach says. I listen, but I make the final decision, especially when I want to experiment or try it differently to fit my satisfaction. 

Because to me, my satisfaction comes first with what I do. I want to be happy. A lot of mentors say, blogging or e-book writing is not about you but about your readers. Yeah, I get that perfectly. But I don't treat that as bible truth, no matter if the richest and greatest blogger said it. It's good to make big money with what you do, but it's much better to do what you really need to do, what God has called you to do. No big money can beat that, if you know what I mean.

I respect mentors, coaches, disciplers and pastors, but I realize they're humans and many of them susceptible to ego-tripping. Mentors and coaches with swelling egos will abuse the deference given them and dictate what's true and false, deciding things for their captive listeners, to the extent that any ideas contrary to what they say are wrong. There are wrong concepts and ideas, but these things are subjective.

And regardless of their success and big money, some "successful" mentors and coaches still sell expensive "help" products to their trainees. I see it happening almost every time, starting with a "free" webinar that serves only to lure participants but give no substantial info, and then make it appear that the succeeding costly webinars are a must. "If you're serious with this business, this cost shouldn't be a problem to you," they'd say something like that. 

Granted. Good marketing includes a lure in the form of freebies, like the taste tests food companies do in mall grocery stores. But the hotdogs or bacons you'd buy are reasonably priced. But a hotdog brand that costs P5k a pack? It's something like that with some webinars or digital product. Simply ridiculous.

So I make it a point to choose who I'm listening to, when to seek advice and always think and decide independently. I won't let anybody run my life, especially mentors who go too far and decide everything for the trainee--because they're not aware of social limits. And then make big money out of that. Making big money is good but if you're making really big money already and your trainees are yet struggling for what initial little success they can make, why milk them?

I understand the idea of putting value into something by jacking up the price, but online coaching from P50 to P70k? I don't care how they explain that, it's pure greed.

But I also see good coaching where trainees are guided on what best things to do but leave the trainee with the final decision, especially how he'd do things on his own. And those selling affordable help products within reach of struggling beginners. These mentors show their concern for struggling newbies. I really appreciate these guys. God bless them more.

And yet, even with them, I think independently.

Mindset Virus that Makes you Rabid

Element5 Digital

I Though I knew But I Didn't

My dad told me never to support all-out any election candidate. Just vote wisely and that's it, he stressed. I was fresh out from college then and actively among street marchers protesting against Marcos, and later the US Bases. I reasoned and told him, I wasn't being a candidate fan. I was just after important national issues. I was young, naive and idealistic.

Well, later I discovered his wisdom in keeping away from politics. After all, he wasn't a nationally acclaimed veteran journalist for nothing. He was editor-in-chief of The Philippines Herald in pre-martial law years, a majoy daily that government, politicians and big businesses reckoned with, and later consultant at the national and foreign information of the defunct Ministry of Information. He knew. Nothing's worth marching for in the streets. You risk your life for what? It's important to know the issues and know where you stand--love your country--but fighting for "heroes" and "issues" in the streets will just benefit some unscrupulous politician in the end. They're all the same.

Dad Knew

His life principle was keep improving yourself intellectually and help people. Period. Later, when he devoted time to reading the bible, he developed a relationship with Jesus, believing nothing except GOD's Word. When we talked, I saw his new life principle--it's GOD's Word or nothing. He read current events (journalism was in his blood) to keep updated but his main conncern was what GOD said in the bible.

Anyway, dad had been telling me: You risk your neck out there so that later, when the dust clears, some unworthy politician takes his seat in Malacanang or in Congress to enrich himself in office. "They're all the same," my dad warned me. I only regret it took me years doing stupid things before I learned he was right. Well, better that than nothing. Yup, politics has an unseen virus that makes all politicians of the same spirit in the end, and affects their avid fans as well. Well, especially them. So DON'T be an avid fan of any "hero" politician. Dad knew well what he was talking about, after many, many decades of covering politicians and officials and interviewing them as a news reporter and later as a head editor of a major daily, even being friends with them (but not allies).