Verse for the Day - August 19, 2010

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Joshua 1:8, ESV

Since this is the first time for this segment, it is fitting to start with Joshua 1:8. As Joshua gave his words of wisdom to the Israelites, we also should learn from what he said.

Spending time with God is one of the most fulfilling yet most neglected thing a Christian should do. The irony is present. How could one be so enlightened and fulfilled when doing something yet neglect to find time for it? If you are delighted by researching for something, would you not research for that until you realize it's late in the evening already? If you love playing basketball, isn't it hard for you to stop once you start playing? The same scenario goes with our personal devotion to God. The Lord does not require us to read the Bible for every single second available, but we should meditate on it day and night. There is a difference between merely reading and meditating.

This should serve as a reminder that God wants us to meditate on His Word and spend time with Him daily.

The Difference Maker

* Since this is the first time I'm doing this, I will be explaining this thing I'm doing. Basically, I will write a summary of the message I heard at church on the most recent Sunday.Of course, these are based on the notes I wrote. So it might be a bit confusing. Bear with me. I will then put in what I learned that Sunday.

I hope I can maintain this every week.

Now to begin...

The Difference Maker - Romans 8:1-27

message by Rev. Alexander Uy

What is a difference maker?

-> one that changes the dynamics of something (i.e. a game)

-> x-factor

Examples:

1. Illac Diaz - discipled by a Christian

made a difference by inventing things for the benefit of the poor

2. Efren Penaflorida - a Christian

made a difference by teaching street kids in a non-conventional setting

Same with us, we have someone in our lives who is a difference maker.

The Holy Spirit - the difference maker of every believer

- not "the force" as in Star Wars

- not a Ghost as translated by the King James Version

+ He is God, the third person of the Triune God

+ The Counselor

+ Came upon disciples and gave them power

+ Dwells within the believers

The Holy Spirit is a difference maker:

I. In Our Condition - v.1-2

- change in condition

- free from grip of death

--He changes our condition

- we should live as we are supposed to live

- righteous

II. In Our Concentration - v.5

- focus on what the Spirit desires instead of focusing on the sinful nature

- we are not robots

- we are reminded in Eph. 5:18

- we tend to lose concentration because we neglect the basics of Christianity

(i.e. quiet time, prayer)

III. In Our Confidence

- relationship with Christ (total makeover) - v. 14-16

- we are already God's

- we can approach God CONFIDENTLY

- we don't need to feel inferior

- His love is MORE THAN ENOUGH

IV. As Our Conciliator (Intercessor) - v.26-27

- intercedes with groans we do not understand

- prays for right thing, best thing for me

Recap:

4 Cs:

1. Condition - sinner to saint

2. Concentration - sinful thoughts to God's desires

3. Confidence

4. Conciliator

What I Learned:

This message was a timely reminder. I was indeed refreshed by what the Holy Spirit does and who He is. The second point was particularly true to me. I tend to lose concentration in anything I do. The task given to me usually will not be finished in a good way. I get too easily distracted. I lose focus. A thought suddenly struck me that maybe I focus more on the work instead of God. That was the part I got wrong. Actively involving yourself in God's ministry does not mean that you are aligned with His will. If only you seek God, then it will be revealed to you.

I was also reminded that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Indeed it is a happy though that we have Jesus as our mediator, and we have the Holy Spirit interceding for us.

That Sunday's message allowed me to evaluate myself. Hopefully, through this, I can be an effective worker of God.

**note that Rev. Alexander Uy's sermon transcripts can be found at his blogspot.

http://uyster622.blogspot.com

The Country and I

The Country we love

Here we are, a new Philippines. Many days after the inauguration of P-Noy. I would start by boldly declaring that P-Noy has done a great job. Sticking true to his campaign is a fresh start to a budding administration.

The media and P-Noy

Transparency is key to a successful government, media, and citizen relationship. What did P-Noy do? Well, he formed a communications group that would answer most, if not all, of the things that the administration deal with. As stressed in my journalism class, information is the highway of democracy. It is even the oxygen of democracy. Without it, a democracy perishes. P-Noy has started out well. In stark contrast, President GMA is closed to the media. Basically, she does not understand that the media's role is to inform people of certain things. To take on both sides, however, Philippine media is unstable. One day it is very good, another day it is sensationalized. It's hard to balance things here. I don't know why, but it might be due to the readership they are trying to gain. As in television, profit is important that sometimes it gets in the way of professionalism. With that being said, I admire P-Noy for having an administration that is open to the media amidst its shortcomings. Again, information is crucial to the survival of a democracy. I am glad that we finally have a president who believes in that.

P-Noy's first few days as CEO of the Philippines

I have been following closely (mostly through the Philippine Daily Inquirer) P-Noy's first few days as President. Starting with the strict implementation of the "no WANG-WANG" policy, the Aquino administration is off to a good start! The only downside to it is that since P-Noy vows to follow the law, the traffic in Araneta corner Quezon Ave. has been altered. The route where P-Noy is passing through now has a left turn stop light! Pretty clever! Working within the framework of the rules. Too bad for the lane heading to Fairview though, it has to wait a few more minutes for the green light to shine. There were immediate bumps to the "matuwid na daan" that P-Noy hoped for, and P-Noy soon realized that the mountain he is climbing is way steeper than what he had first calculated. First he had to face a daunting task of managing the budget deficit. Apparently, the previous administration decided to just use up almost all of the budget. The calamity funds has almost been depleted as well. How about the MWSS bonuses? Christmas bonus, Christmas package, 13th month pay, pa-bahay, pa-kotse, etc. Incredible! I had to quote someone saying that they only stopped handing out bonuses because they have no more names to call the bonuses! All these and more are stated in his SONA. While many claim that his SONA is lacking, I believe it was a good start. He, after all, highlighted the things he wants to prioritize. Now, indeed, the Filipinos can dream again. The extra judicial killings started again under a young Aquino administration. Sad as it may seem, the killings seem to be an insult and slap to the face of P-Noy. We just hope that he has a solution to all these. What about the typhoon that killed many? The water crisis? The dams that won't fill even under heavy rainfall? The CARP and Hacienda Luisita problems also surfaced once again. As we all know, P-Noy's family is a majority owner of Hacienda Luisita. It is for this reason that we are very interested in what he will be doing. The developments seem to be good, though it is hard to say because even though a compromise was claimed by Hacienda Luisita, the farmers claimed otherwise (such confusion is a headache). The PAL problem is also another headache. I would say that though these PAL staffs had problems with the PAL management, they still have to respect the terms of their contract and the government condition. Boycotting the airline by resigning immediately instead of the SOP of informing the airline 6 months in advanced is a bad practice. It leaves a bad reputation to the Philippines however you want to see it. The ombudsman is also a headache. Suddenly springing to action on the fertilizer fund scam after a long state of dormancy, the ombudsman has been subject to impeachment. Lastly, all the government officials who earn more than the President? The figures go as high as 20 something million Pesos.

How I feel?

It pains me to see that while we make it look as if we are not a rich country, we have government officials here and there doing things to profit themselves, thus leaving the poor people to suffer. WE ARE A RICH COUNTRY! Our natural resources, our beaches, our environment are all world class! We have a lot of money as well, if you really think about it. It just goes to all the wrong places. Sad. :(

Conclusion

P-Noy has been in office for only a short time. Rallying everywhere about his "shortcomings" is NOT a help to the country. If we really want to help, we will not be rallying but be active in forming groups to help the new government do its thing. After all, what can a plumber fix in a few days when the whole country pipe system is damaged? Can you tell me? Would criticizing the plumber speed up the patching process? NO! It is then up to the citizens to help patch up the massive damage to the country pipes. By doing so, we would have been able to stop the Philippines from sinking down below the ocean. We have a choice. Use it to HELP this beloved country! :)

Of Chess, Stratego, and Games of the Generals

Such is my fascination for board games.

Of Chess

I had been fascinated with how chess works, how it trains you to take control and utmost care of every piece, how it allows us to see that sacrifice is important, and how adapting to constant changes in the board is possible. Chess is not limited to random movements. Even at the very first move, you need to know why you moved that piece so as not to waste any moves. And based on how your opponent reacts, you form your strategy. Interesting and challenging to the mind indeed!

In many ways, chess is applicable to life. We have to adapt to constantly changing environments, adapt to a new culture, and adapt to every new challenge. Critical thinking is also important! Sometimes common sense is not enough.

Of Stratego and Games of the Generals

It was only recently that I encountered Stratego. In many ways, it is like the Brigade-favorite board game Games of the Generals where you have to arrange your troops. Your opponents cannot see your troops initially.

This is where it gets interesting.

In Games of the Generals, you always will not see your opponent's troops. So you have an arbiter in place. It allows for better memory and visualization. In Stratego, once you capture an opponent's piece, the both of you show pieces. In essence, you will, sooner or later, know what your opponent's troop placement is. Stratego allows for better deception skills and placement skills.

The way to kill the highest ranked official is set up differently as well. In Games of the Generals, a 5-star General can only be killed by a Spy. Stratego works the same way, a Marshall can only be killed by a Spy, but a Spy dies if the Marshall attacks it.

Even more different and exciting is how the board is set up. In Games of the Generals, direct assault is common as there is no barrier between you and the opponent. In Stratego, there a 2 sets of 2x2 box tiles called rivers where you cannot pass. So direct combat is not applicable. As I said, placement is key.

So in conclusion...

Interestingly, these board games have been a part of my childhood (except Stratego). They also offer us a lot to learn. This is contrary to the games we play nowadays. Where massive mayhem and explosions are common, feeding the more vicious part of our life. While this may be entertaining sometimes, it is bad for us most of the time. These games often lead to violence being seen in the streets and else where. It's sad what this world has become.

Let's just go back to the old times (at least relative to my age). Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly, Clue, Chess, Stratego, Games of the Generals, Uno, Dominos, and a lot more. :) I'm sure to love it. How about you?

Righteousness

Righteousness as defined by an online dictionary is:

1. morally upright, without guilt or sin.

2. in accordance with virtue or morality.

3. morally justifiable.

The Chinese word for righteousness is:

Here's the interesting part.

The upper portion of the word is the Chinese word:

which means Lamb.

The lower portion of the word is the Chinese word:

which means me or I.

Conclusion: We can only attain true righteousness through Jesus Christ, the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. More specifically, if we allow Him to be the Lord of our lives (put Him on top of us).

Coincidence? I don't think so...

The Bukidnon Experience

"Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see."

Tears started rolling down my eyes. It was evident. God has caused us to realize the importance of fulfilling His command. As we continued to worship that Sunday morning, it became clearer and clearer that God's love and grace is indeed amazing.

A week before that Sunday, I would not have realized the faithfulness of God to the point that I will just stop and cry because of the joy of being in Him and in His service. A week before that Sunday, I was just excited to see how the missionaries do their work in the field and how they managed to hang on even after a tough spiritual battle that will often pull you down to your lowest. All that changed the moment we met Kuya Buboy and heard his story. Kuya Buboy is going through a tough time as a part of their team resigned from their organization. Doing so left Kuya Buboy and Ate Barbs as the only two people in the team. As he was telling their story, we were going around the areas where we will do ministry. Each place was far from the other. This is where it struck me. The mere fact that you have to travel almost everyday to these different places will tire you out easily. It was apparent that only God can sustain a couple who were probably burned out by the overwhelming task at hand. But God works in ways we do not understand. He is faithful. He will provide the strength that we lack.

Our ministry was supposed to be handled in 4 areas. We are supposed to hold Daily Vacation Bible Schools in all 4 of the areas. We decided otherwise. We decided to merge it into 2 big groups so we can have ample time to prepare for the next group.

And so it was. The first area was a farm area. A lot of kids attended. Most of which have never experienced something like this. Some thought we are giving medical missions or free school supplies. I am on the belief that nothing happens by accident. God provided them a way there to allow them to experience Christian fellowship and to experience joy.

The second area was held in the town gym where the GGC SMIA previously held their evangelistic basketball clinic. The area was suprisingly filled with kids as well. The first encounter we had was with the girls boxing team. All of them are amateurs, but they are lightning quick as I had personally seen in their sparring. As I was chatting with Kuya Buboy later, I realized that these kids give their time and energy focusing on boxing to have a chance to probably be like Manny Pacquiao. But we all know that the odds are always against them. They fight in town fiestas where the winner will win a measly Php 100. A small sum, I must say. Considering you work so hard and beat your body up just to have Php 100 or nothing.

The moment we stepped into these areas. I realized that we are not there just to know about our missionaries but to be missionaries ourselves. Each day was filled with new challenges. Challenges that, I can say, were experienced by Kuya Buboy and Ate Barbs as well. I learned more about the kids as the days passed. There were kids who were just fine, the were kids who cannot embrace the love of their father, and there were kids who cannot experience the love of both of their parents. Seeing these kids happy even for just that moment allowed me to have a greater appreciation for the things I have. My heart melted even more when the kids were finally open to us. Talking with us. Following us around, and doing normal things you would have expected from close friends. I really saw first-hand how God worked in His ministry. From the lives of the missionaries, to the lives of the kids, and to our lives.

Sunday was the day of our worship. We worshiped by ourselves. We sang songs and Kuya Buboy shared his own testimony. Powerful. That's the word I can use to describe his testimony. Kuya Buboy is a good and faithful servant indeed. Praise God!

Wonderful isn't it? God's amazing grace has been evident all through out history. We just do not allow ourselves to realize it. Praise God for His marvelous work!

*Note that I did not put any statistics as to how many we were during the trip. This is to emphasize that it is only God who works in us; and it is not only us, mere humans, who do the work.*

This testimony is also written very late, considering that we did the short term ministry from May 17-25, 2010. sorry...

A Testimony on the Luneta Tract Giving

This is a testimony of how I got to appreciate the faith of others. This story is not a story that is common to all of us. I'm just blessed that God gave me an opportunity to witness this "thing", and I am here to share it with you.

This story is about a man in the streets. This is about a man classified under the marginalized sector of our society. His name is Kuya Paul.

February 20, 2010, Saturday. This was the day when the Grace Gospel Church Joshua Brigade went out to give tracts in Luneta Park. I started out to give tracts with the kids that were with me. People came and went. Some accepted the tracts, and some did not. At about the end of our tract giving, we gave a tract to a man. He accepted it and started to read the text out loud. He started commenting about the text and praised God for it. This man was Kuya Paul.

Kuya Paul is 62 years old. Kuya Paul speaks English quite well which in turn allowed him to have a small income by helping tourists who are walking around Luneta. Kuya Paul sleeps along Baywalk Avenue right now. He appeared to be a Christian by how he speaks. He told me that he had no church, but that he would often pray to God. I asked him about his experience in Ondoy. He told me that he had a shelter in Marikina, but that it was lost because of Ondoy. He told me that he lost his 5 year old son in the flood, but that he still had a 3 year old son.

Kuya Paul appeared to be a typical man in the streets. He has no shelter, he is poor, and he has to deal with the harsh economy of the Philippines. What touched me, however, was the strong faith that he has on our Lord Jesus. Amidst the things that happened to him, he is cheerful. He never said a word of complaint about God when he was telling me about his Ondoy experiences and about his poverty. He even thanked God that God allowed him and his family to be happy even in these harsh conditions.

What touched me even more was his constant reference to God. As I have mentioned, he always tells me of God's grace. He thanked God for giving him wisdom and knowledge even though he had only finished until grade 4. He told us to thank God for our education, our family, and our friends. He also is angry at Christians who took worship services lightly. He told me that he was disappointed with Christians who wear inappropriate attires to Church or when they are texting during services. He told me that when we face God, we should go to Him with utmost reverence.

Here is a man by Baywalk Avenue. He had nothing. Most of us are blessed with things we don't even need. Yet we still complain. I am so blessed to have met Kuya Paul. His unwaivering faith has inspired me to be strong in the Lord through tough times, to be content with what I have, and to correct people who are not giving their best for God.

Sadly, the chat we had was quite short. For the first time, 20 minutes talking with a stranger was short (he was, I thought, a brother in Christ), but I know that it was not in vain. God allowed Kuya Paul to remind me of things I would have otherwise neglected had he not told me about his experiences. We ended our chat when I prayed for him, and a word that he will go to Grace Gospel Church starting next week.

Here's hoping that no one from the church will reject or judge or shun him.

After this experience, I am fired up. I want to meet people like Kuya Paul where I can be encouraged by their big faith in God.

Praise God! :)

May God bless us as we continue to become more like Him, as we continue to encourage and learn from the fellowship, and as we learn from Christians outside our community.