1/3 of the Time Rule

Have you heard of the "1/3 of the time rule"? Let me walk you through. When you have a 90 minute class, the class professor should arrive in 30 minutes or else the class has a free cut.

This rule is famous (as well as infamous) in college levels as professors race against time to get to class before their "1/3 of the time" ends. The pace is frantic. You will be amazed at how "on the dot" professors are. This is better than the Olympics.

As a student/spectator, your nerves spike to an all time high as the minute hand of the clock approaches the "free cut" mark. Your heart pounds faster. You feel cold. Just like watching a race, only better. Emotions run higher. This is, after all, better than the Olympics.

However, in our case, we are almost always the loser. The professor arrives on the dot. If the professor arrives a little late, he/she may chase after you and tell you to attend class. If the professor is very late, someone is sent to tell you to wait. Not cool!

Let me tell you what's cool though. Another "1/3 of the time rule". My professor has his own biological clock. He never comes to class on time and seldom finishes to the end. You see, this is a 3 hour 1-4pm class. Professor comes in at 1:30pm and ends the class at 2:30pm. I still learned a lot. AMAZING! This IS better than the Olympics. :)

Linked - September 3, 2011 GGC Youth Fellowship Report

We praise God for a successful joint youth fellowship last September 3, 2011!

The event was entitled Linked, a joint fellowship with the United Evangelical Church of Balintawak (UECB). The fellowship was purposed as a culminating activity for our youth as we tried to put into action the different relationship topics we learned in the previous weeks. 

The event was well attended. There were over 60people from our church, and there were almost 40people from UECB plus a handful of outside guests as well.

The night flowed in, and a total of 8 testimonies and 5 song numbers were heard. There were testimonies about the different relationships we have in this world – relationship with the self and being able to understand God's complete acceptance, with a friend who encourages us in the Lord, with siblings who are also great friends, relationship with and the pursuit of a life time partner, and of course, our relationship with God. 

The song numbers, sung by selected youth from both churches, were related to the message of the testimonies.

Personally, I am happy with this event. It has been a while since our fellowship has mingled with the youth of another church. We were able to learn from a group of people that are not from our church. Better still, we got to witness God’s grace manifested in their lives in the same way that God has manifested His grace in our fellowship and in our church.

The main testimony giver for the Linked event was Brother Roy Antonio, an invited guest from Kamuning Bible Christian Fellowship. Brother Roy, a Worship Leader and Worship Pastor-in-Training started talking about his love life. It elicited laughter and “kilig” throughout the room. We then realized that the relationship he shared was not the fairy tale ending that we all looked forward to. It was like a bad ending to a movie. However, Brother Roy did not stop there. What we thought was a bad ending to a movie turned out to be the middle part of the movie. Brother Roy turned to God during those depressing times, and it was a beautiful experience for him. His testimony was a reminder to everyone that whatever love we get in this world is nothing compared to what Jesus Christ showed on the cross. Nothing compares to the love our God has lavished on us. It is admirable for Brother Roy to have been able to turn to God in that dark moment of his life.

We ended the night by singing Amazing Love led by Brother Roy. Though it was not Valentine’s Day, we sure did feel the love. Only this time, it was not worldly love that we felt. It was the love of God. “Amazing love how can it be that You my King would die for me? Amazing love I know it’s true, and it’s my joy to honor you. In all I do, I honor You.” Praise God! 

Thank you for continually supporting youth.com through prayer, finances, other resources and your encouraging words. We implore you to continue with your support as youth.com seeks to search for God, connect to Jesus, and share this with others. God bless us all!

Write It In Stone

Paulit- ulit na... ngunit...

I just want to make sure it's written in stone... (not really stone... but yeah, you get what I mean)

- I am interested in everything you say

- I care for you

- I love your smile

- I love your laugh

- I love your voice

- I love the way you act

- I admire the way you handle situations

- I admire your humility

- I admire your passion

- I admire your eagerness

- I admire your teachable heart

- I admire your heart in general

- I admire your deep thinking mind

- You are beautiful

Thank you for:

- Caring for me

- Encouraging me

- Believing in me

- Trusting me

- Helping me

- Your surprises

- Being my sweetest friend

- Sharing your life with me

- And a whole lot more :)

No matter how hard life can be, I thank God I can go through each moment knowing that there is a person who deeply cares for me and will encourage me and stay beside me every step of the way (outside my family, of course). Allow me to assure you once again, I will be doing the same. I thank God very much that He has allowed our "broken roads" to meet at a certain point where it is in His perfect timing. :) I know I may sound like a broken record, but I just want you to read these things over and over to tell you a part of how I feel. :) To let you know again and again that I do care for you... deeply. :)

One bunfact is the same as yours. As much as I love receiving surprises, I love giving them too. :) Though this blog might not be a total surprise to you anymore... But just so you know. I blog about things when I am very happy or inspired. :) And it shows. Just like whenever you paint your beautiful paintings, or sing your beautiful songs. :)

Anyway... this morning was great. I got to talk to you and got to know that you passed another "level" of the GMA test. :) I am very happy though my voice did not show it. Please forgive my morning bunvoice. :) Afternoon was normal... Boring, in fact... Yeah, you know it. :) And evening was great. :) You telling me that you are interested in everything I say is very sweet of you, as you always are - very sweet. :) Thank you for these times where you make me feel so happy and special. :) I appreciate it very much.

Good night and rest well. :) For tomorrow, we face the harsh realities of this world again. But I know I have something to look forward to when I get home. :)

A Note About the Power of Points

No matter how much you say that it's nothing, you know that I treasure what you did very much. Helping me out when I least expected it is definitely something I will cherish. :)

What you did was not nothing. It meant a lot to me. Thanks, friend. :)

Your soft litol bread,
Bunbun

What is grace?

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10, ESV

These three verses, for me, are three of the most important verses in the Bible, no matter what the translation. These are the verses where Paul talks about God's grace and His salvation to an otherwise unworthy and useless people (as he normally does, even in his other letters to the churches). Such is its importance of these verses that they are part of the basic doctrines of Christian belief. Every Christian is expected to understand these verses as they pertain to the salvation of the believers.

I am, however, saddened that these three verses are also three of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted verses. Most often than not, people will take it for granted. Some people would think that you still need works in order to get saved. This thinking arose because of another verse, James 2:17, ESV "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." There seem to be a contradiction in these verses. Paul tells us that we are saved BY GRACE through FAITH and NOT BY WORKS so that no one may boast. But James tells us that FAITH WITHOUT WORKS is dead. These verses seem to be in a clash with each other, hence many are led astray.

But are they really clashing with each other? Allow me to enlighten you with what Paul and James meant. Paul was talking about the works that we do in order to gain salvation. Paul went on to say that there is no way we could be saved by our own efforts and that it is only by grace. James, on the other hand, was talking about works as a completion of faith. He meant to tell us that works are a manifestation of being a Christian. No contradiction is present in these two passages. In fact, they were talking about the same faith. Paul talked about how we are saved, and James talked about what to do as a manifestation of our faith.


A commentary from the Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible has a better explanation.

In this latter part of the chapter, the apostle shows the error of those who rested in a bare profession of the Christian faith, as if that would save them, while the temper of their minds and the tenour of their lives were altogether disagreeable to that holy religion which they professed. To let them see, therefore, what a wretched foundation they built their hopes upon, it is here proved at large that a man is justified, not by faith only, but by works. Now,

I. Upon this arises a very great question, namely, how to reconcile Paul and James. Paul, in his epistles to the Romans and Galatians, seems to assert the directly contrary thing to what James here lays down, saying if often, and with a great deal of emphasis, that we are justified by faith only and not by the works of the law. Amicae scripturarum lites, utinam et nostrae - There is a very happy agreement between one part of scripture and another, notwithstanding seeming differences: it were well if the differences among Christians were as easily reconciled. “Nothing,” says Mr. Baxter, “but men's misunderstanding the plain drift and sense of Paul's epistles, could make so many take it for a matter of great difficulty to reconcile Paul and James.” A general view of those things which are insisted on by the Antinomians may be seen in Mr. Baxter's Paraphrase: and many ways might be mentioned which have been invented among learned men to make the apostles agree; but it may be sufficient only to observe these few things following: - 

1. When Paul says that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law (Rom. 3:28), he plainly speaks of another sort of work than James does, but not of another sort of faith. Paul speaks of works wrought in obedience to the law of Moses, and before men's embracing the faith of the gospel; and he had to deal with those who valued themselves so highly upon those works that they rejected the gospel (as Rom. 10, at the beginning most expressly declares); but James speaks of works done in obedience to the gospel, and as the proper and necessary effects and fruits of sound believing in Christ Jesus. Both are concerned to magnify the faith of the gospel, as that which alone could save us and justify us; but Paul magnifies it by showing the insufficiency of any works of the law before faith, or in opposition to the doctrine of justification by Jesus Christ; James magnifies the same faith, by showing what are the genuine and necessary products and operations of it.

2. Paul not only speaks of different works from those insisted on by James, but he speaks of a quite different use that was made of good works from what is here urged and intended. Paul had to do with those who depended on the merit of their works in the sight of God, and thus he might well make them of no manner of account. James had to do with those who cried up faith, but would not allow works to be used even as evidence; they depended upon a bare profession, as sufficient to justify them; and with these he might well urge the necessity and vast importance of good works. As we must not break one table of the law, by dashing it against the other, so neither must we break in pieces the law and the gospel, by making them clash with one another: those who cry up the gospel so as to set aside the law, and those who cry up the law so as to set aside the gospel, are both in the wrong; for we must take our work before us; there must be both faith in Jesus Christ and good works the fruit of faith.

3. The justification of which Paul speaks is different from that spoken of by James; the one speaks of our persons being justified before God, the other speaks of our faith being justified before men: “Show me thy faith by thy works,” says James, “let thy faith be justified in the eyes of those that behold thee by thy works;” but Paul speaks of justification in the sight of God, who justifies those only that believe in Jesus, and purely on account of the redemption that is in him. Thus we see that our persons are justified before God by faith, but our faith is justified before men by works. This is so plainly the scope and design of the apostle James that he is but confirming what Paul, in other places, says of his faith, that it is a laborious faith, and a faith working by love, Gal. 5:6; 1Th. 1:3; Tit. 3:8; and many other places.

4. Paul may be understood as speaking of that justification which is inchoate, James of that which is complete; it is by faith only that we are put into a justified state, but then good works come in for the completing of our justification at the last great day; then, Come you children of my Father - for I was hungry, and you gave me meat, etc. (Henry)

Someone told me that in order to understand this verse, we need to understand what grace really is. Now ponder for a moment. What is grace? We can always refer to the dictionary to aid us in our discussion. According to the Webster's New World Dictionary, grace in Theology is defined as "the unmerited love and favor of God toward mankind". God's grace is fulfilled through Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith. Through the death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection three days later, the sins of those who believe in Him are washed away. That is God's grace. God's grace is so amazing that we cannot even ponder the magnitude of His love in that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) His grace is so amazing that He saved us by Himself from His wrath. "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God." Romans 5:9, ESV. There was nothing inherently good in us that we deserved such a thing. In fact, through the sin of Adam, we were cut off in fellowship with God. Our relationship with Him simply stopped. We became God's enemies. We are in a state of total depravity. Nothing we do, even those we perceive to be "good things" is good in the sight of God. This is the reason why we need God's grace. He loved us and chose to save us through the death and resurrection of Jesus, thus justifying us from the punishment of sin.

Have you imagined how hard it is to be hanged on a cross? Have you imagined how hard it is to be rejected by your very own father? Jesus went through all that. He suffered embarrassment by being hanged on the cross, though He was blameless. What's more important, however, are the sins that He carried on that cross that God cannot even look at Jesus. Jesus paid the price of our sins. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for us.

And what are we doing? We are living each day of our lives as if it was nothing. We are calling ourselves Christians, singing songs supposedly in worshiping Jesus, we chant "Jesus!" repeatedly during Christian concerts and praise and worship times, and we proclaim to be Christians and showing it by wearing t-shirts that make a "statement" or showing up in Christian gatherings. But then when the real situation comes for us to be the salt and light of this dark world, where are we? Nowhere to be found. Brothers and sisters, it is much more than that. Salvation is never free. For us it is free, but we should remember that someone else paid a LARGE price to give us this freedom that we so often belittle and take for granted - that is, Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross. If Jesus died on the cross just for us to do things our own way, then what He did was all in vain.

We are called, as real believers, to carry that cross and follow Jesus. We were not called just to accept Him and return to our old ways. We are called to turn our life around, to change the old self, and to follow Jesus - that is, no turning back to the sinful nature. Whoever said being a Christian is easy? It is never easy. We are still struggling with sin, yes. We still struggle because we are not yet in a glorified state. One thing is sure, however. We are never called to be believers while maintaining our sinful nature at the same time. That is the problem with most of us. We think that if we pray to receive Jesus, He will come in to our lives and stay forever. We think like this:  "once saved, always saved." While it is true that once we are saved, then we are always saved, we still have to wonder if we are really saved in the first place. My friends, it is not the praying and accepting Him that saves us. It was never our doing that we are saved; it is the GRACE of God that saves us.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. I was blind, but now I see. My chains are gone, I've been set free. My God, my Savior has ransomed me; and like a flood, His mercy reigns. Unending love. Amazing grace.

God's love is so amazing, let us not devalue it, let us not change its meaning and significance. Let us constantly be reminded of it. Amazing grace.




Sources:
Guralnik, David B., & Neufeldt, Victoria. 1991. Webster's New World Dictionary: Deluxe Color Edition. 3rd College ed. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete), James 2:14-26.
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/james/2.html?p=5. Accessed July 27, 2011.

Airplanes

"Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? I could really use a wish right now..."

When I told you our friendship is forever, I included everything, good times and bad times.

When I told you I want you to be happy, it goes without saying that I will do my part in keeping you happy or making you happy.

When I told you I would be there for you, I mean it.

It hurts me when I know you are sad.

So, can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? Because I desperately need a wish right now. A wish that you will smile, at the very least... Be happy, even for just a while.

As you face these challenges, I assure you that you are not alone. God is with you... I will be here for you. Cheer up, friend. You have been doing your part. Keep doing your part and leave the rest to God. :)

Find strength in God, not just from other people who are limited and corruptible as well.

Be strong, friend. :)

Hi! :)

Hi! :)

Good morning. :)

The more I get to know you, the more I realized what a great person you are. :) Last night when I was quite angry, you made me happy. You made me happy not because of your comfort and encouragement. Not that those didn't cheer me up, in fact they always do, but last night was different. You were concerned about the relationship rift caused when I got angry about the "situation" and all that.

These past few days, I saw what a great friend you are. But more importantly, I realized what a great person you are. You're concerned about building relationships and making them last. I saw how actively you wanted to share your faith to your friends. By this, I am greatly encouraged and motivated to do likewise and be conscious of what I should be doing: that is, to build relationships with people and bring them closer to God.

You always worry about a lot of things. You worry about almost anything! But again, I assure you, everything will be alright as long as you stay in the Lord.

Last night I had my QT. Guess what, when I looked into my journal for what chapter I would be reading next, the passage was Ephesians 6. The whole time i had my QT last night, I was reminded of how foolish I am. Honoring my parents is a command. I disobeyed, I sinned. Praise God for reminding me time and time again of these things.

This morning, I had my QT as well, and I read about Philippians 1:21. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Knowing Christ, serving Christ, loving Christ, and following Him INDEED is LIFE. I pray that our joy may be found in Christ. I pray that our comfort will be found in Christ. I pray that everything in us is aligned to God and His will. Everything else is secondary, I pray we see it that way.

Hi friend, this is me talking to you... Thank you for the great friendship you have given me. Thank you for imparting to me a part of your life. Thank you for everything. :) Yes, I am a soft litol bread. I have you to thank for that as well. :)

May God continue to reveal Himself to you. May you continue to follow the will of God. May you continue to grow into the likeness of Christ. May you continue to live a Christ- centered life. In every problem, may you put your trust in God. Worry less and allow God to change you, to mold you. I am sure that your life is a blessing to many. Continue to reach out to people for Christ. :)

The Lord bless you. :)

Your soft litol bread,
Bunbun :)

The Meaning of Life

In the everlasting quest of man to find the meaning of life and the reason for their existence, man has resulted to many things to find out the one question that has boggled the minds of everyone from the intellectual to the commoner: Why do we exist? This question has indeed boggled the minds of people to a point where it has branched into its own philosophical thinking, existentialism.

Amidst all the philosophical knowledge and existential arguments that took place in history, I am sure that these positions and arguments have not answered the real reason we exist.

I have an answer.

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

This one verse encapsulates the whole essence of existence.

To know Christ is life. John Wesley's notes on this verse has the following words: To me to live is Christ - to know, to love, to follow Christ, is my life, my glory, my joy. John Wesley's joy is found in knowing, loving, and following Christ. This, my friends, is the meaning of life. This is the essence. This is the reason we live.

Reflection on Christian Fellowship

To tell you a fact, this is the third time I will be talking about what fellowship means to me. I was wondering, is my story really that interesting? Or was there no other choice? Anyway, I think everything I experienced in this fellowship is your experience as well. The fun times, the good times, the sharing, the bonding, the learning, and the joy of seeing other friends.

Because of that, I will share to you something I also learned about Christian fellowship from my school org, State Varsity Christian Fellowship, and from our fellowship as well. There’s one thing I learned, and that is fellowship is beyond the walls of the church building.

It is very sad, but very true, that we often times leave our fellowship behind once our “fellowship” time ends. What I saw in SVCF was really different. I saw the fellowship as a means by which people minister to others on a daily basis. Fellowship is a ministry that caters to individuals and their needs.

Another thing I appreciated and learned about SVCF is their willingness to break from their groups. I would often arrive at SVCF seeing everyone happy together and sharing experiences together. In retrospect, a ministry is definitely more effective when everyone is bonded together.

I also appreciated and learned the heart they really have for fellow believers. They would often ask each other for prayer concerns, they would encourage each other, and they would counsel each other. I know for a fact that this is true because during the “low” years of my life, when I had a lot of questions and frustrations about A LOT of things, they were the ones who greatly ministered to me.

Lastly, I appreciate and learned that a real Christian should be passionate about God EVERYTIME. We should constantly strive to know and understand the very nature of God. We should also be passionate in sharing our lives and experiences to others because it is the power of God which is working in our lives. We have nothing to brag about, but we tell it to others so that God’s power and glory may be known.

I am truly blessed to have experienced two fellowships that have truly helped me in many aspects of my life.  Do hope that you yourselves have been touched and helped by our youth fellowship. It is also my hope that we continue to strive, to our very best, to be Christ-like. May we continue to seek His will as we strive to bring glory to His name.

Surrender

All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee my BLESSED SAVIOR. I SURRENDER all.


I was about to be preachy and hard and all that about really Surrendering your life to Christ. But I realized that not of it will matter when you don't surrender in the first place.

Think about it... the real meaning of surrender. What does "absolute and irrevocable" surrender mean? What does it mean to you?

Surrendering your life to Jesus is a serious matter. It is a one time thing. By "surrendering" our lives to Him often and not following His will the day after, we are downright insulting and downplaying His amazing grace.

Think about it, how are you living your surrendered life to Jesus? Or have you surrendered in the first place?

Think about it before it's too late...

You

I know you know this already. I just thought I'd let the world know...

that you never fail to make me smile.

that you never fail to draw out the best in me.

that you never fail to see the good in me.

that I appreciate your cool personality.

that I appreciate how you think through situations.

that I appreciate how you can make me speechless.

I want you to know that I...

thank you for sharing your life with me,

thank you for listening to me,

thank you for encouraging me,

thank you for praying for me.

thank you for being yourself,

thank you for showing me

that there's more to life,

thank you for reminding me the things I need to remember.

thank you that, in a short amount of time, you have grown to appreciate my preachy antics.

thank you that you have made me realize a lot of things.

thank you for always warming my heart.

Yes, you've affected my life so much already in just a matter of weeks. And I hope I will continue to learn more about you. These moments will be treasured deep down in my heart.

Just to let you know once again, I'm happy we met. I'm happy our lives crossed paths. You are truly one in a million, a SWEET friend, and a blessing from God.

This is for you, to show you that you are truly and greatly appreciated and to let you know that I will always be here for you - in your happy times and sad times. :)

May we continue to grow in the Lord as we seek to do His will in His work. And may we continue to be humble in His sight.

Here's to a great, great FRIENDSHIP :)

YSC Camp Reflection

I thought to myself, "Hey, you have been joining your church youth camp for so long now. What's more to expect?"

Amazingly, more was to be expected. The youth camp week that passed was an overwhelming experience.

Pre-camp preparations were hectic to say the least. The idea of holding a sports camp was new to the church and definitely new to the youth leaders. Knowing that, I was very skeptical of how things will happen during the camp.

Using previous camps as a comparison, I thought this will be the worst camp yet. First, the camp preparations started around two months before the actual camp. The usual camp preparations before start at around August. Because of that, everyone had to adjust. We were not accustomed to doing things at a fast pace. Deadlines were immediately set, but they were not met.

Second, the idea of a sports camp for the youth group that caters to both athletic and non-athletic people is quite an odd one. I thought the target audience was very broad because we still have to include everyone. Since I am in charge of the program, my problem was how to incorporate the "not sporty" to this sports camp.

Third, most officers were inexperienced. Usual camps have a roster of one "veteran" officer and one "rookie" officer per committee. This camp, the officers were mostly inexperienced and left with no co-officer. To add to that, the officers were given a limited amount of time to consider and answer the officer invitation.

Given these situations, the camp was due to fail. Praise God it did not. God had other plans for this camp. We must realize that God chooses WEAK people so that his power can be magnified all the more. He chooses WEAK people so that we will not rely on our own skills and talents in doing His ministry.

Going into the camp, however, I was not yet in the right mindset. I was still thinking about the technical things for the camp. I failed once again in trusting that God will work in the camp and in the lives of people if He so chooses just because He is sovereign. I failed. This failure of a person, however, will continually be changed, molded, and humbled during the camp.

What happened during the camp was a pure testimony of God's power working. First, the natural cliquish tendencies of the youth fellowship lessened. I was shocked, amazed, and happy that people were actually breaking their barriers and communicating with each other. Relationships were created, and friendships were formed from the most unusual of circumstances. Come to think of it, it might be because this is a sports camp. Then praise God this is a sports camp! Though not perfect, seeing leaders breaking their shell and stepping out of it to form relationships with others is both a blessing and an answered prayer.

Second, the camp had a lot of problems. I assure you that this camp had more organizational and planning problems than any previous camp held in our church. Firstly, the schedule was changed and restructured a lot. If this was a previous camp, a major problem would have occurred from rearranging the schedule, and major activities would not have been done. Praise God for a lighter schedule!

Another big problem occurred during this camp. The original speaker backed out a week before camp, and the replacement speaker suddenly backed out of his second night speaking engagement. The second speaking night was supposed to be the altar call night. Without a speaker, we were not sure what will happen. Thankfully, an adviser had the presence of mind to pray during this time. It is in these crucial moments that we remember God. So I praise God for this challenge. Without this, we might have been complacent in handling things. The night ended well, praise God.

There are a few things that I've learned. God, in His infinite wisdom, indeed has the best for His children. God will always give His children challenging situations. In this way, we will continue to seek His will and guidance. In ministry, we always thought that bad situations are because Satan wants to stop God's work in us. What I realized, however, is that probably God just wants us to trust in Him. Now we must change our mindset. Whatever the challenging situation, don't look at it as a scheme from Satan or something. Don't think at all! Just pray and ask God to give you the wisdom and strength to continue giving your best to Him, and we should also pray that we will not forget God in these situations.

We must always remain humble in everything we do. In whatever accomplishment we achieve. Remember that this is God's work. Whatever we accomplish is nothing without God.

In the end, God allowed this camp to be a success not because we pushed the right buttons in almost every decision we had to make, not because this is a sports camp, not because we are good, but because God is Sovereign and what He wants is what happens. God's power is evident in this camp. I am grateful that He uses His children to carry out His will. To God be the glory!

Sorry?

To the Filipinos who never experienced WWII:
You want to see how cruel the Japanese occupation army was? This was a shot I took in a Hong Kong Museum. Look at all the stupid things these Japanese army men are doing! Can you imagine? First off, our people were made into comfort women. Second, the Hong Kong Invasion Army goes to Hong Kong and uses civilians for live bayonet practice! This is plain brutality. Tears almost came out of me just seeing the picture.

Even a simple statement of apology has not been issued. What's wrong? Imagine the victims. Imagine how they must have been feeling waiting for a simple statement all their lives! It basically ruined their whole life. Imagine these people who had a life full of dreams ahead of them that was basically shattered by the war and further shattered by war crimes.

Other evil acts were done also in the form of concentration camps, holocausts, etc. To be fair, the Allied forces also violated the rules of engagements and committed many war crimes that were ignored by the Nuremberg Trial which was created to punish the offenders during WWII.

It's a simple word yet a complex one. Sorry.

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.