Didn't forget about this blog

Today took care of the paperwork for my passport and I bought a smartphone.

Yes, my world reached this point.

Wow. Couldn't guess in a million years one day I'd say that.

Life is an amazing gift.

God is incredible.

More random thoughts

At least while I don't write something decent.

- BATMAN IS BLOODY AWESOME.

- I need to revamp this blog. The whole Christian-centered theme is going to get bigger. Oh yes it is.

- I completely lost track of what the hey is going on in my life. So many peaks and valleys... Dang...

But God keeps his promises. Every day there's something incredibly special that happens, every night he reassures me in my prayers.

I have been tested in a lot of ways though. It has been hard. And it's not even close to be finished.

I've been terrified a lot. Literally frozen with fear. Then the time comes and... Somehow somewhere I preserve. He's with me. I know it'll continue like that. I trust Him completely.

Dayummm

I haven't written here in a long long time.

I've been writing, a lot (!), just not here.

First of all, I need to say something that has been on my mind for the longest time: the part of that post where I go on a rant about smart phones... Is stupid. I won't erase it, but let's just make sure everyone knows it.

Now, what has been going on in my life?

My days keep being filled with so many good things, oh man... So many...! I also had a week of Football Camp, that was both awesome and sucked. I'll go into detail some day later.

There's been also a lot of trials. I start to get the feeling God is pouring so many good things on my life, so fast, because there are hard times on the way. Very hard times. Hard choices, hard changes, hard sacrifices. I can see the storm on the horizon.

It's all good. What I said before, I say again: hell can break loose and God's strength inside me will keep my head up. And I'll come out of all of it stronger.

I WANT TO SEEE BATMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN.

:cryface:

(Sigh)

Hard sacrifices I tell you... ;)

Patience, Rui, patience.

Where is the love?

What's wrong with the world, mama?

People living like they ain't got no mamas

I think the whole world addicted to the drama

Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma

Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism

But we still got terrorists here living

In the USA, the big CIA

The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK

But if you only have love for your own race

Then you only leave space to discriminate

And to discriminate only generates hate

And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah

Badness is what you demonstrate

And that's exactly how anger works and operates

Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight

Take control of your mind and meditate

Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

People killing, people dying

Children hurt and you hear them crying

Can you practice what you preach?

And would you turn the other cheek?

Father, Father, Father, help us

Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questioning:

Where's the love? (Love)

7 and a half weeks.

Not one boring day.

I can see how God carefully stacks my days, with major and minor things. Most incredibly fascinating, some excruciatingly testing. All in all a great balance. Not more than I can take, not less than I need to grow, quickly, rightly.

Christian-like.

Yesterday I had another great day where I could use my own tests and personal experiences to encourage and help others.

Awesome feeling.

I have this confidence I've been obedient to Him, that I've been praying and following through with His plan for me, although I can't help but have some doubts here and there. After all, I am fearful, a sinner and undeserving.

This doubt helps keeping me in check. Makes sure I go through extra lengths to ensure I pay attention to His commands.

I'd just rather not fail Him. I'm so scared of doing so. I'm aware I'll fail somewhere in the future, probably a lot of times, I'm not perfect, but hopefully, if I'm paying attention, if I'm careful and I spend enough time with Him, His words, and His followers, I don't fail in anything big, and the least times possible.

On a more personal note, there's one area where He has come through for me really, really big, an area where I've struggled all my life: Love.

What I've been able to accomplish on that area, how I can look back some weeks ago and remember the pain I went through and how I was able to react out of Love, Honesty, Patience, and reach the point where I am right now...

I can't put down in words how impressed I am with myself, when I have Him on my side.

And it reassures me He'll come through in other areas I've struggled.

It's so humbling.

It's so powerful.

How can I ever repay Him and become deserving of his approval and His blessings...?

Question for the ages.

Right with God

Today's Scripture: Romans 3:12
"No one does good, not even one."

Read it online at the Bible Gateway: (NIV) (NASB) (KJV) (The Message)

In a recent runaway bestseller, the author stated, "There is only one question which really matters: Why do bad things happen to good people? All other theological conversation is intellectually diverting."

Setting aside the issue of whether only one question really matters, the Bible tells us that in light of eternity, the most important question we all face is how a sinful man or woman can come into a right relationship with an infinitely holy and just God. After all, Jesus said, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36, NIV). Suppose a person lives his entire life experiencing nothing but prosperity and happiness, yet dies without a right relationship with God. What has he gained? Actually, he has lost everything.

Because God himself is perfectly righteous and cannot look with favor on any unrighteousness, the only way we can have a right relationship with him is to be perfectly righteous, as he is. But that's our problem, for, as Paul wrote, "There is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10, NIV).

What are we to do? Try harder? That won't help because, as Paul observed, "no one will be declared righteous in [God's] sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin" (Romans 3:20, NIV). Regardless of how hard we try, we'll never attain the perfect righteousness God will accept.

So the question remains: how may we attain a right relationship with God? Happily, Paul answered it. After describing our predicament in Romans 3:20, he announced that God has provided a solution: "The righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law . . . the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe" (verses 21-22). (Excerpt taken from The Gospel for Real Life)

Here's an idea I should think about some more: a Tumblr with stuff like this...

"Unlike Ray Lewis’ pregame dance, kneeling in prayer is universally accepted as a religious expression.

Perhaps the ultimate show of reverence and humility.

Being mocked for one’s faith is nothing new. In fact, the best-known evidence of this was Jesus being mocked at the cross.

“And the soldiers led him away inside the palace, and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. (Mark 15:16-20)

While many sermons and Bible writers discuss the physical suffering in this passage, it is the ridicule of Jesus that I want to focus on. The crucifiers saw Jesus as a joke. In fact, historians tells us that one of the things that people did in that day was taunt those who were mentally deficient. They teased and they mocked those who were considered the “village idiots.”

The soldiers who mocked Jesus treated him as the village idiot, a lunatic who in a deluded way thinks himself to be a King and whom the Jews also try to pass off as some threat to Caesar.

So how should Christian athletes respond when they are mocked or persecuted for their faith? While persecution is not something we should pursue, when evil is spoke against you for Christ’s sake, realize that it carries with it the blessing of God. Matthew 5:11 teaches, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” In fact, the next verse teaches there will be a great reward in heaven for those who are persecuted in this way.

Mocking or taunting is nothing new in sports or life. Make it your goal to glorify God when you score a touchdown or when you’re mocked for your faith. Nothing pleases the Lord more than an athlete or coach who desires to please Him with their attitude and actions regardless of the circumstances."

Source: http://www.nebraskafca.org/author/gthiessen/feed/

Ray Lewis: Living Legend.

And one amazing Christian.

What motivates you to reach out and help our youth?
RL: I'm only here to serve people. I don't play this game for wins and losses, I play this game for Hope, Faith and Love. My thing is to tell a kid: "don't do that, or these things happen", or "Don't go down that road, because that road is dark" (...) These are the things you have to learn as a Man, so why learn them if you can't share them? I fight for the man next to me.

RL: It doesn't matter about me. What matters about me is sacrificing for you, for the ultimate goal, which is us. And if I have no other legacy, I'm one of the greatest warriors, greatest servants, greatest servants to ever walk this Earth, to play on a football field. I'm honored to leave that type of legacy.

Reminder

Love. Honesty. Patience.

My last few days

(This post is from last night, it was saved on my laptop)

I slept about 16 hours total in a 5 day period (4 nights)

That's why I haven't posted anything.

Had a ton of work and so many marvelous things happening I couldn't afford to say no to anything.

Then at night I'd pray to God for energy on the next day and I'd get it (coffee also played a small hand ;))

Today I had a bunch of things to do, but they got shortened because of some misinformation on my part.

That's alright. A good day to catch up on blogs, news, magazines, do some of the stuff I'm behind on, relaxed.

Few random thoughts:

- Saturday I finally went out with a group of young Portuguese Christians.

This is very important since 90% of my Christian friends will leave Portugal before July 31st.

It was great, and it was mediocre.

Let me explain. Most of these people I met are the hipster type... And I really have a problem becoming friends with them.

The whole "I know this band and this movie, they're really underground" or "let's have a perfectly good intellectual conversation, and somehow make it about how much I know" kind of thing? The whole "let me show you what my smartphone can do".

I just don't fit in.

But some of them do seem very interesting. And if I was having a conversation alone with them i'd probably have a totally different idea.

Anyway... They're Christians and I need fellowship with other Christians. Can't be too picky right now.

And I'm truly looking forward to get to know some of these further, and others, through them.

- The whole smart phone culture is pissing me off.

While I'm still smoking (which to this point unfortunately probably will end too soon), whenever people look at me with that know-it-all face, or tell me about the health and financial costs of my vice, I'll give them a couple of facts about their idiot phones.

For example: I don't pay in 3 years of cigarettes - I don't smoke that much - what you paid for that crappy thing (plus the extra you pay monthly or yearly to have Internet plan - with these, I never pay more than you). 

Smoking is hazardous for my health, right? Cancer, right? We'll, I can show you a couple of studies about cell phones too. You'll love them.

Cell phones are a fucking pain for me, Smoking actually gives me pleasure.

Smoking is a social activity. Socializing through cell phones is stupid and counter-productive. I also have studies to back this up.

Smoking makes me look cool. Playing with my cell phone makes me look socially inept, insecure and an all-around idiot who can't get his eyes off his toy to actually look around and cherish where he is.

That's about it.

- Sunday night I had such a simple time with simple people just chilling, talking, in fellowship. I was exhausted, and yet, it felt so great I can't even explain.

- Sunday I had another amazing practice, this time playing mostly as a receiver. QBs just seemed to trust me. Muahahaha. And I was severely sleep deprived too :D

(No. It's not pride ;) Just happy about it)

A recurrent conversation

"What's wrong with you?"

"I'm... Happy. For quite some time now."

"New girlfriend?"

"Err... No. Actually, not even close."

"University going well?"

"Not really."

"What are you happy about then?"

"Those are the 2 only sources of happiness? What's wrong with YOU? I have God. Well, I've had him on my side for a long time, but after some time learning the fundamentals, I've decided to actually start dedicating myself to Him. It's been nothing short of awesome. Every day I go to bed thinking in how many different ways my next day is going to be great. What He has planned for me. Sometimes its an incredible-never-happened-to-me-before thing, sometimes it's something simple but astonishingly rewarding, sometimes it's a painful struggling moment that I pass with flying colors, sometimes it's an exhausting day of work that provides for everything else in my life."

I'm so lucky, I'm so blessed, even though I'm so undeserving, that I can't help but realize this unending Love God has for me. The only possible reaction is... Blissful Happiness.

There's also the other side of the coin. I've been incredibly blessed, it would be incredibly selfish not to share all my blessings with others. Help others in every way I can. Funny thing is... it's not a burden. It's just another reaction. When you're truly happy, you want others to feel the same. You want to be a tool of God in other people's lives. That's how the whole chain reaction works.

Of course, most of the time you hit a brick wall of Pride in others, and there's only so much you can do on that front.

Not even God can do that much, because He gave each one of us Free Will to do as we please.

My new repeat on the Ipod

"Paulina Rubio - Me Gustas Tanto"

Me gustas tanto que solo pienso en ti

Te veo pasando y no se qué decir

Me encantaría que sepas lo que siento por ti

Que no daría porque fueras sólo para mí

Aún no sé qué fue lo que me hechizó de ti

Nunca pensé que cupido me iba a flechar así

Una sola vez estuviste frente a mi

Y me enamoré en el momento en que te vi

Es lo que siento yo cuando estoy cerca de ti

Es algo químico que se apodera de mi

Será tu físico que me hipnotizó

Es irónico que no pueda decirte que me gustas tanto

Oe oe eo me gustas tanto mi amor

Oe oe eo me gustas tanto

Oe oe eo me gustas tanto mi amor

Oe oe eo me gustas tanto

I feel this need to dance. Oe oe eo!

Why does spanish language seems so awesome to me?

Question for the ages.

Women, women, women...

Some days it's hard to be single.

I mean HARD.

In Summer, with a tan and a beautiful dress... These girls... Damn...

H-A-R-D.

A girl just bumped into me while passing ahead of me, then looked back to apologize.

And BAM! beautiful smile made my heart melt.

Oh man...

There's this feeling I'll miss not knowing with how, when, where I'll meet my future wife.

The whole excitement of not knowing what tomorrow will bring...

But really? I'd rather have it as soon as possible.

Hey, right now would be awesome. :D

I just have all this passion and love and intimacy going to waste every second that passes...

But I have to trust the Big Man. Gather all the patience I don't have, and trust He'll provide, at the right time, with the right person.

Meanwhile I just have to avoid settling for anything less than I deserve, no matter how much I want to have that woman in my life.

No matter how long it takes.

Big Man will provide.

Im'ma Leadah

I'm a leader.

I'm a leader.

I'm a leader on my effing teeeeeeeeeeeam.

Oh boy do I feel on top of the world.

There's no fucking way I'm failing now.

No. Fucking. Way.

Still a couple of people feeling uneasy about it. I can sense it.

They'll get on with the program.

Even if they don't. Fuck it. There'll always be nay-sayers everywhere I go.

Oh boy do I want to face the National Champions. It's still so far away though :(

It's alright, we'll just build it up until then.

Hell, if we have enough time building up, we might just shut them out. No points for Navigators.

Better, faster, stronger.

Crusadeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeers baby!

Another bloody awesome day.

5 and a half full weeks of this.

Spent the morning and had lunch with 4 beautiful, smart, fun women. Did my volunteer work afterwards. Followed by another satisfyingly exhausting practice at the park with one of my actual best friends. A guy greater than life. An engine to all these changes in my life. A guy I know I'm a great influence in his life as well.

And I just stuffed my face with pizza.

As expected, no bitterness to be found the whole day.

Life is too good to be annoyed with pesky details.

God provides.

I need 12 hours of sleep now.

Oh wait.

I have to be up at 6 am to work a 12 hour shift followed by beach practice.

Thursday, Friday, rinse and repeat.

Still can't believe how blessed I am.

With that on my mind...

...There's one more thing I need to do before I go to bed.

Forgiveness.

I don't care how long it takes, I'm not going to bed before I put it to use.

You know what's really, really sad?

Today I realized my oldest, so-called best friends don't even believe in me anymore. In their mind, I've already failed. I'm just the same old screw-up. No chance.

I've been feeling it for a long time.

I realized it today.

I'm not going to pretend it doesn't affect me, that it's just business as usual. I'm fucking angry, I'm fucking sad. I expected much more.

What do I get?

Couple more daggers in the heart.

Because things are already too easy without my best friends shoving in my face I've failed before.

...

"We miss you"

Fuck you, you don't even know me.

...

It's just sad.

...

Heartache doesn't even feel that bad anymore... lol

...

You know what's important here, though?

What's really on my mind?

I meant what I said about these tests. 5 weeks ago I made a decision. No stopping. No turning back.

Hell can break loose.

I'll take it.

I'll push through.

I'll come out the other end. Stronger than ever.

Want to know how I'm so sure?

You guessed it.

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. "

Yellowcard - Everywhere

'Cause you're everywhere to me 

And when I close my eyes it's you I see 

You're everything I know 

That makes me believe 

I'm not alone 

I recognize the way you make me feel 

It's hard to think that 

You might not be real 

I sense it now, the water's getting deep 

I try to wash the pain away from me 

Away from me

'Cause you're everywhere to me 

And when I close my eyes it's you I see 

You're everything I know 

That makes me believe 

I'm not alone 

I'm not alone

Another amazing day

I was feeling kinda lazy so I didn't want to practice with pads, but then I was so annoyed by everyone I just put them on, and did an awesome practice. For 2 hours playing Cornerback I did 1 (!) stupid mistake, while guarding the 2 best receivers of our team.

3 Interceptions, 1 of them for a Touchdown and another one close to it (I was exhausted and fooling around by the end of the play).

Then such a great time of fellowship with my teammates, before, during and after the Portugal game.

Also had the talk about directing Social Causes, and it's mine. Time to start making contacts now.

I'm so excited about it.

Got home, and of course, everything calms down and stupid thoughts start swarming my head.

I'm praying for 10mins asking God what's the problem with me, why I have this pattern with women. What I'm doing wrong, because I truly don't understand it. I've tried everything.

Then, bam! facebook message. "Want to meet this week?"

Sure!

Text. "Can we meet on Wednesday?"

Absolutely.

Text. "We'd love if you come with us to Rossio on Tuesday."

It'll be difficult but I'll find the time to meet you there for a while.

Text. "Hey we should meet sometime this week"

haha! I don't know exactly where I'll find the time, but I'd love to.

All this in the space of 5 mins.

The heavenly message was clear: "Don't think about it Rui. I got it covered."

Meanwhile my week is completely booked, doing good things surrounded by good people. Only a few crannies left... Which are important because I have some stuff I need to do at home.

Some graffiti wisdom