In Response To An Article

Read the article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-wagner/the-philippine-bus-and-mi_b_694544.html?ref=fb&src=sp

Response 1:

quoting the author of the article, "And when a beauty queen blows an attempt to become the glory of the Philippine people, it should be recognized as such."

What? It's as if the whole fate of the Philippines lie in her hands. It was as if she committed a "major major" sin that she should be condemned.

Response 2:

again, quoting the author, "Other Filipinos have said English wasn't her first language so she had difficulty coming up with the right words. Really? How come no other Philippine contestant in the Miss Universe pageant ever had an interpreter?"

1. It is true, in the Philippines, ENGLISH NEVER WILL BE OUR FIRST LANGUAGE. Unless of course, you are a foreigner living in our country. Or you are a Fil-Am who grew up in the States.

2. It's hard to express something in English when our minds were trained to think Filipino. It's really simple, LINGUISTIC RELATIVITY. Look it up please.

3. No interpreter does not mean that we are good in English already. Again, Linguistic relativity. It's hard for her to express something in English. Especially when under pressure.

4. Post-colonial mentality. We feel a need to speak English. This is not supposed to happen. We are supposed to speak English only because we want to. Not because we need to. We are Filipinos, not American or British.

Response 3:

and yet again, "How could this 22-year-old woman, who so diligently prepared herself for that moment -- at great personal sacrifice her whole life - not have come up with a better response?"

then that my friend, is her major major mistake - NOT. Don't blame her for everything. The whole burden of the Philippines is not on her shoulders. She merely entered a pageant where beauty is dictated by the standards of a group of people.

and are you not allowed to make mistakes even when the stakes are high? yes you can, mistakes are what allow us to learn and mature.

if she's happy with the result, why should you be disappointed about her? AND THE WHOLE OF PHILIPPINES?

Response 4:

and again, "When I lived in the Philippines from 2003 to 2007, I was asked, what is the difference between the Philippines and Indonesia? My answer was, 'In Indonesia, they have hope.'"

You only lived in the Philippines for 4 years to say that the Philippines does not have hope? Allow me to tell you right now that the Philippines has HOPE. Please...

Response 5:

I agree with the political dynasties. They don't help in the reshaping of the Philippines.

Last Words:

The problems of the Philippines lie in our culture, not on the SWAT team, not on the botched answer of Venus Raj...

1.We think too highly of other cultures that we are willing to adapt or sometimes adopt theirs and not our own. Like we have the notion "English, elite, pang mayaman." NOT TRUE. But we still play with it. It's in our minds already.

2. We are quick to forgive, even the wrong doers are left unpunished. Yes, we forgive, but justice must be served, right?

3. Many more... we need to change.

Verse for the Day - August 25, 2010

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14, ESV

Crisis. What are we doing? Complaining.

We are also praying, you might wonder; but are we humbling ourselves? Are we seeking God's face? Are we turning from our wicked ways? Often times, we wonder why God is not helping us. Probably, the verse is the answer.

You want to help the Philippines? then obey God's Word now!

At Such A Time As This

The Philippines has just gotten out of an era where we could not care less about out country. The government was a bad choice to be company with. Now we have a new government. The Philippines is gaining its respect again. The Philippines is regaining tourists. The Philippines is getting back on track in its economy. Everything is going well. Apparently not. The hostage taker just had to do his "act" to pull down the whole Philippines in one single blow.

Let's give him the benefit of the doubt. Let us assume that he was framed about extortion and served injustice in the case. These are NOT reasons for Inspector Mendoza to result to hostage-taking. The sad part was, he had to result to killing innocent blood.

Blame it all on the police force. Was their capturing of Mendoza's brother wrong? I tell you, it was right in every way possible. The brother was going to the bus without authorization and had a gun with him. That is why he was arrested. Mendoza was outraged by it. So be it, still not the PNP's fault.

Blame it on the SWAT team. Say all you want, the sledge hammer went in the bus, the pulling of the hydraulic door was wrong, the tear gas was wrong, the flash grenades were wrong, the sniper team was wrong, and everything about the SWAT's operation was wrong. OK, FINE. They had done something wrong. However, we must not blame them for everything. Do you know their Rules of Engagement (ROE)? If not, then don't say anything rashly. Let us not forget that Mendoza was a police also. He knew how the force will handle things, and he planned it almost perfectly. I assume he had a good position inside the bus. This made for a more complicated operations than expected.

This is NOT A GAME that we play on the computer or a movie that we watch on the cinemas. I read many comments about how the SWAT should have handled the operations. They probably played too much Call of Duty Modern Warfare. Not everything we want to happen will happen in real life. The police cannot respawn themselves when they die. Therefore, utter care must be done, unless you want to be on the wrong end of the situation. We don't have modern equipments as well, so can we blame the police for that?

Blame it on the negotiators. Many suggested that they could have just tricked Mendoza into thinking that he will get everything he wants. This is wrong in every way. You actually want to result to lying? Christians and non- Christians share the same view, they don't want to be lied to. SO whatever happened to the Golden Rule? The negotiators respected Mendoza and gave him a fair treatment. It was apparently not returned.

Blame it on the media. I agree that the media is at fault for aggravating the situation. Fighting for "better" but unnecessary coverage jeopardized the whole mission. The police had a hard time because virtually all their positions are being covered by the media, and Mendoza had access to the coverage. This allowed him to plan everything to his advantage. What was the media thinking? Ratings is still more important to you?

Blame it on P-Noy. What? Come again? How could you always blame the President for something bad happening to the country? We did not see his face in media at those times. Why? Does it mean that he is not doing anything when we don't see his face on our TV sets? What is wrong with you? The President know better than how we portrayed him to be.

This is the sad part. A hostage- taking crisis revealed to us that WE DID NOT CHANGE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. I thought we wanted change? If we want change, we ourselves MUST CHANGE! The media should be ashamed of themselves. All the Usiseros and Usiseras present at the crime scene should all be ashamed of themselves. You are not at all helping the situation. In fact, you are slowing the whole rescue operation. We should be ashamed ourselves for pointing fingers. I also heard that there were FAN PAGES in Facebook for this hostage-taking drama. Pictures were taken with smiles in front of the crime scene. Text messages were also circulated as if making this a light dilemma. Could we be any more serious? The situation is far aggravated by our careless acts. It is probably in the culture of a Filipino already. Wrong answer still, a culture of a people is always changing. It is not constant through time. What are we doing then? While we are developing a good culture, we are not releasing the bad culture we possess. It's sad that after everything we had gone through, the same thing always happens. Blame everyone for a situation, gossip about it, and entertain ourselves with it afterwards.

How should we act? We should all be FURIOUS. Not to the police, not to P-Noy, not to ANYONE BUT OURSELVES. WE have shown that we are still not acting as one nation ready for change. Shame on us.

I cannot do anything, however, but to pray for the country. More importantly, I would pray for every Filipino to start reflecting on their own and start changing the way they reacted to the crisis. It was a great loss indeed, and I am grieving for the things that happened that probably should not have happened. But the truth remains that it can happen anywhere around the world. It does not mean that because it happened in the Philippines, all Filipinos are bad and worthless. It is just wrong to conclude it that way.

At such a time as this, what can we do? Move forward.

How many more eye openers do you want to happen in the Philippines before you start CHANGING? Start NOW!

Resolutions

My friend at State Varsity Christian Fellowship showed me a book. It was all about Jonathan Edwards and his work. I borrowed the book from him, started to read the book, and started to marvel at his works.

Jonathan Edwards was a preacher, a Theologian, a Puritan missionary, and a reformist. He was an American who was born in October 5, 1703. He was the one who oversaw his church's first round of revival. He wrote many famous sermons such as "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and many more. Most important, however, is the fact that he is first and foremost, a Christian saved by the grace of God. All Jonathan Edward's works are nothing if God is not in the equation. To God be all the glory and praise!

The following text is a compilation of Edward's resolutions as a Christian. Read through it, and I pray that we ourselves will start our own resolutions.

Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him, by his grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved, so to do, whateverdifficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

2. Resolved, To be continually endeavouring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the forementioned things.

3. Resolved, If ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, Never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God, nor be,nor suffer it, if I can possibly avoid it.

5. Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. Vid. July 30.

9. Resolved, To think much, on all occasions, of my dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, When I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances do not hinder. xxi

12. Resolved, If I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, To be endeavouring to find out fit objects of liberality and charity.

14. Resolved, Never to do any thing out of revenge.

15. Resolved, Never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings.

16. Resolved, Never to speak evil of any one, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, That I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, To live so, at all times, as I think is best in my most devout frames, and when I have the clearest notions of the things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, To maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

22. Resolved, To endeavour to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigour, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, Frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs, and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the fourth Resolution.

24. Resolved, Whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavour to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, To examine carefully and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and so direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, To cast away such things as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, Never wilfully to omit any thing, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, To strive every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, Never to say any thing at all against any body, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of christian honour, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said any thing against any one, to bring it to, and try it strictly by, the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, To be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that, in Prov. xx. 6. ‘A faithful man, who can find?’ may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, To do always what I can towards making, maintaining, and preserving peace, when it can be done without an overbalancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, 1722.

34. Resolved, In narrations, never to speak any thing but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, Whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, Never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call to it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, To inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,—what sin I have committed,—and wherein I have denied myself;—also, at the end of every week, month, and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, Never to utter any thing that is sportive, or matter of laughter, on a Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, Never to do any thing, of which I so much question the lawfulness, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or not; unless I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, To inquire every night before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, Frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism, which I solemnly renewed when I was received into the communion of the church, and which I have solemnly re-made this 12th day of January, 1723.

43. Resolved, Never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s; agreeably to what is to be found in Saturday, Jan. 12th. Jan. 12, 1723.

44. Resolved, That no other end but religion shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan. 12, 1723.

45. Resolved, Never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12 and 13, 1723.

46. Resolved, Never to allow the least measure of any fretting or uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved, to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eye; and to be especially careful of it with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, To endeavour, to my utmost, to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving, and sincere, temper; and to do, at all times, what such a temper would xxii lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have so done. Sabbath morning, May 5, 1723.

48. Resolved, Constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or not; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, That this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, That I will act so, as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, That I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, That I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, To improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Resolved, Whenever I hear anything spoken in commendation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, that I will endeavour to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, To endeavour, to my utmost, so to act, as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, When I fear misfortunes and adversity, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it and let the event be just as Providence orders it. I will, as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13, 1723.

58. Resolved, Not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness, and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, When I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 11, and July 13.

60. Resolved, Whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4 and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, That I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it—that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, &c. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, Never to do any thing but my duty, and then, according to Eph. vi. 6-8. to do it willingly and cheerfully, as unto the Lord, and not to man: knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall be receive of the Lord. June 25, and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true lustre, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, To act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan. 14, and July 13, 1723.

64. Resolved, When I find those ”groanings which cannot be uttered,“ of which the apostle speaks, and those ”breathings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the psalmist speaks, Psalm cxix. 20. that I will promote them to the utmost of my power; and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavouring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and Aug. 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, Very much to exercise myself in this, all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness of which I am capable, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him, all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance, according to Dr. Manton’s Sermon on the 119th Psalm,. July 26, and Aug. 10, 1723.

66. Resolved, That I will endeavour always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking, in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them; what good I have got by them; and, what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, To confess frankly to myself, all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, Always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723.

This text was taken from here.

Observations:

That's quite a lot of resolutions if you ask me. Jonathan Edwards was faithful in reminding himself these resolutions. He made it a point to read it once a week. Amazing! What has happened to the Christians of today? We take our faith so lightly these days. The advancement in technology has probably led us further away from our real goal. That is to worship and glorify our God. We all have to learn something from Jonathan Edwards for his strong faith as a missionary and as a Christian.

Joshua's Resolution 1: Resolve, from this day forth, to consciously put God ahead of everything and to continually seek His purpose and will for my life. August 20, 2010.

* For more of Jonathan Edwards, visit this website. You can find his sermons there. I challenge you to read his sermons and compare it with the Word of God.