Living In A Material World

I get so livid at the idea of seeing people throwing themselves into the mercy of creditors by purchasing all kinds of material possesions that their bank accounts could hardly afford and complain about not being able to meet their monthly payments. Incoherence may be part of it, the thought of acquiring things that one has never had the chance to enjoy in the past can be dangerously attractive. Godly contentment is a hard value to acquire but nevertheless a rather practical and noble feat.

Proverbs 30:8-9

KYRIE

Kyrie elieson, down the road that I must travel
Kyrie elieson, through the darkness of the night
Kyrie elieson, where I'm going will you follow?
Kyrie elieson, on a highway in the light

From the song Kyrie by the band Mr. Mister
1985

"Kyrie Elieson" is greek for "Lord Have Mercy".

Proverbs 29:25

What's In A Name?

We first came up with her nickname we decided to call her Pajie a combination of both our nicknames Pat and Phenjie. Then we started working on her her full name and we settled for Patricia Janelle, this was probably 6 months before she was born.

We first came up with her full name we thought of calling her Paige then we decided on Josette for her middle name, no particular reason we just felt like it. Jheyjette was the name of my "baby pillow" when i was still barely reading my first book, i decided that when i had kids at least one of them would be its namesake fortunately or unfortunately for her this is my youngest daughter's nickname. This was also decided upon probably 6 months before she was born.

Pajie and Jheyjette are both my daughters and i love them unconditionally... they along with their Mother are my gems!

In Isaiah 44:28-45:7, God called the Medo-Persian King Cyrus by his name 200 years before he was born. Intricately, God describes how the Babylonian Empire would fall under Cyrus' reign. How his parents named him Cyrus is a subject that is beyond any normal human understanding and how did God allow him to do the unthinkable by conquering the powerful Babylonian Empire? He is God, indeed He can do anything that pleases Him.

Ezra 1

Bacolod The Comfortable

Leaving the comforts of a place called Bacolod seem to be the most ridiculous decision one could ever make. To many the impression of moving to the Land of Milk and Honey could be a recipe for ones insatiable appetite for success. I did not have that kind of motive when I left the comforts of Bacolod, quite honestly until this day i couldn't quite figure out why i made such a decision except to follow God's will. Yesterday, for the first time in my life I became a part of the North American workforce...it wasn't a walk in the park. I had to do things that i would not normally do in my Land of Comfort. Back there I was the Boss, while here I am humbled to accept my first job as part of the Merchandizing Department doing odd but noble tasks inside a store's basement area or what they would call "the docks". Tough! My back hurts like crazy and my heart rate went haywire but it's very humbling. A friend and Mentor whom i would normally refer to as "Yoda" told me minutes before i left for work that he went through the same thing before, he complained to God but that his paradigm shifted immediately after a tete a tete with his creator. He approached his Boss and told him "I want to be the best in what i do" the minute he said that his demeanor began to change dramatically and he started to pursue work as though he did it for his Savior and not for his earthly boss. I have an obscure sense of what my future is but for now i know i may have lost the Comfort of Bacolod but i have gained the Confidence of Serving my King in whatever i do.

In Isiah 6:1 Judah just lost a powerful and very popular King. Under King Uziah's reign people felt safe and secured. They trusted and depended on him but when he died the people were crushed and distraught.

Sometimes God has to remove the people, things or places that we depend on so that we can see that it really is all about him.

Isiah 6

Of Hymns and Sufferings

Without fear we sang in prisons 30 feet beneath the earth. We were terribly hungry, beaten, and tortured.

The Communists were good at torturing us.

We would say to each other, "The communist beat us very well - let us do our work well, Let us sing well".

Richard Wumbrand
Spent 14 years in a Communist prison
Romania, 1940s, 50s and 60s

"It takes a real commitment to Jesus Christ in times of persecution. Thus there is usually a tremendous depth of relationship with the Lord. And with that relationship, there comes tremendous faith and a great love for fellow believers"

Chuck Smith
Founder
Calvary Chapel Movement

2 Thessalonians 1: 3-5

The Fifth Column

During the Second World War, there excisted individuals who betrayed their country by becoming spies for the Occupying Japanese Imperial Army in the Philippines. These traitors were referred to as the "Quinta Columna" or the "Fifth Column" by the Guerilla Forces. The idea was for them to wear a mask made out of a paper bag with two holes enough for their eyes to view and identify those whom the Japanese Army suspect to be part of the Guerilla Movement. Some of them used to be members of the Movement but had departed, blinded by their own delusions of gradeur and have grown impatient of waiting for the promise of salvation from the Allied Forces. The information they shared with the Japanese Army dealt a big blow to the Guerilla Forces and cost the lives of many even the innocent ones. But in the end the Philippines was liberated, most of those who were with the Fifth Column suffered long years of imprisonment and some who were captured by the guerillas suffered the very unfortunate fate of being killed.

Apostasy- the word translated "falling away" is the Greek word apostasia. The root word means to depart.

2Thessalonians 2:3

When God Hides

It was January of 1999, a month before that my wife was diagnosed of a very rare form of disease. Her doctor told us that it was in its advanced stage and all we could do is pray and rely heavily on medications that could possibly reverse the condition. My wife was also instructed not to stress herself out too much as this might be detrimental to her health. And then it happened so fast, her immune system collapsed and her condition worsened. I looked at her pale face while she was lying in pain in her hospital bed then she whispered to me "forgive those who have hurt you" and "i am ok with the idea of you finding another wife should i go". Flustered, i could only turn to the one person whom i thought had abandoned me at this darkest hour. Asking for His forgiveness and for His help. Days were long and nights were even longer but i prayed and cried all at the same time begging Him to spare my wife from further agony. The attending doctors finally instructed me to send my wife to the capital city of Manila in the Philippines for more treatment coz' the city where we were living just simply lacked the facilities at that time. She was given a 50/50 chance to live and the doctors made no secret about their doubts regarding her chances to me. I had to talk to my children the day before we left and had to prepare them for what may come. I remember telling them "if i come back from Manila and Mom's not with me, it's coz' she is in a better place with the Father where it is more peaceful and where she will be happier". But as soon as we arrived in Manila provisions came, the treatment was a success, my wife had a miraculous healing all because...I believed in the One who could heal, deliver and answer during my darkest hour.

Psalm 30:7-8

Watching Over You

A story was told to me by my father about a soldier captured by the forces of the occupying Japanese Imperial Army in the Philippines during the second world war. Upon his capture he and his companions where brought into a wide open field where they were going to be executed by beheading. He shivered as he saw the heads being chopped off from the bodies of his fellow guerilla soldiers that preceded him. When it was his turn he prayed to the Almighty to miraculously spare his life and within a span of seconds after he prayed he felt a blade slightly touch the surface of the flesh of his neck but not really cutting through. He felt a mysterious force, so strong obstructing the executioner's blade from killing him. Unbeknownst to the Japanese soldiers that he was still alive, they threw him along with the other dead patriots in what looked like a pile of dead people and started stabbing each one with a bayonet, not having been content with the brutality they had just commited against these soldiers. Stabbing what looked like a lifeless body the blade did go through this time right around his stomach area and piercing through his back. Soon after they threw all the bodies in a ditch. Sensing that the enemy soldiers had left the vicinity where the ditch was, this Valiant Filipino Soldier waited until it was dark, injured and wounded once again he miraculously survived and travelled by foot until he could reach the Signal Corps Station where my Father (a 2nd Lieutenant in the Signal Corps) was assigned. It was there where he recieved medical attention. A few days after recovery he was able to live to tell of a story so complex for some of his listeners to comprehend. This story is indeed nothing else but a phenomenon explained only in Biblical proportions.

Psalm 34:7

Dying To Reach You

Will you be willing to take a bullet and then some...for somebody who is not deserving of your sacrifice?



"Jesus is not A way, A truth and A life. He is THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE"

Dr. Ravi Zacharias
Famous Christian Apologist
Speaking at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah
November 2004

Isaiah 53

Ummmmm...Tastes Heavenly

I missed eating at a local restaurant called Aboy's in Bacolod City, the Philippines (where i came from). It is the kind of restaurant that serves delicious "heavenly tasting" Filipino Food. The most popular dish that costumers would keep on coming back for is the grilled BLUE MARLIN or what we would call in the vernacular, "Manumbok". The succulent taste is just simply beyond me. I can go on and on describing why i enjoy eating this kind of dish, however unless you could actually get the chance to travel to Bacolod City and look for Aboy's Restaurant and ask for the "Manumbok" you will never appreciate it the way i do.

Psalm 34:8

Graduation Day!

Even the best of Christians are troubled by the question, "Why does the almighty God send, or at least allow suffering?" When you are nagged by thoughts like this, say to yourself, "I am still in elementary school. When I graduate from the university of Christian life, I will understand His ways better and doubts will cease."

Richard Wurmbrand
Imprisoned for a total of 14 years
Romania
1940s, 50s and 60s

Psalm 34:6

Tact!

There is a proverb not from the Bible that goes "It is better to keep your mouth shut and let men suspect that you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt". We should ponder at the profoundness of these words.

Prov. 10:19

Dig In!

About 25,000 people die everyday of hunger or hunger related disease. And yet there is plenty of food in the world for everyone...maybe we should start asking ourselves the question "am I living a righteous life?" instead of "Is the Lord gonna provide for me?"

"The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish...."

Prov. 10:3

Reversal

Two People denied Jesus the night before His death: Judas and Peter. Both wept for their mistake. What was the difference between the two? Judas turned away from God and judged himself. Peter repented, went back to God and let Him forgive and restore him.

(excerpts from the book Jesus Freaks by D.C. Talk and The Voice Of The Martyrs)

Proverbs 9:8-12

Be Still My Heart

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complex but relatively common form of genetic heart muscle disease that occurs in 1 out of 500 people, but often goes undiagnosed in the community, and has caused confusion to both patients and physicians periodically. Over the years HCM is the most common cause of heart-related sudden death in people under 30 years of age. And it can be responsible for excercise disability at almost any age. HCM occurs equally on both sexes and has been reported in many races. HCM patients would oftentimes suffer from difficulty of breathing in the middle of their sleep which is why for some having three pillows under their head while sleeping is most ideal. This is what is commonly called as the "high back rest". There are limitations to physical activities and diet for HCM patients as well. Although HCM is a chronic disease without a known cure, a number of treatments are now available to alter its course... I am an HCM patient, it would be nice to occasionally be reminded of our weakness (whether physical or spiritual) as this is what teaches us to depend on His strength and mercy.

Psalm 6:2; 2Cor. 4:16; 2Cor. 12;7-10

VENUS FLYTRAP

The Venus Flytrap (Dionaea Muscipula) is a carnivorous plant that catches and digest animal prey (mostly insects and arachnids). The trapping structure is formed by the terminal portion of each of the plant's leaves. The plant's name refers to "Venus" the Roman goddess of love.

Proverbs 7

Home

Moving to a different place is never easy. One has to go through the rigors of getting used to a new way of life, a new culture, study and adapt to the new customs of the land. But the most lethal enemy of someone who had just moved from a place he/she has lived for most of his/her life is LONELINESS or being HOMESICK. Confusion sets in while living life precariously. This happened to me just abut a few months ago when i moved from the city of Bacolod, the Philippines to the city of Dallas, the United States. However as time passed i have come to realize that my memories of being in Bacolod were great ones those were great times! but being here in Dallas...well, these are great times too. I now understand that I should never be in remiss of the potentials and the opportunities that the Lord has presented to me in my new home. Ultimately we will be in the presence of the Lord and when it happens i assure you those will be the the days! Let's look forward not backward.

Haggai 2:2-9

Sweet!

I come from a family that grows sugar canes for a living. We've seen good harvest seasons and bad harvest seasons. But through it all the Good Lord has been faithfull in seeing us through. During harvest seasons where it falls at a time when there is a drought sugar planters scramble to put up the best irrigation systems to water the newly planted fields. This way the plants' growth would not be compromised although water coming out of the irrigation systems will not suffice the plants' much needed nutrients or the lack thereof. You see rain or the amount of water that a sugar cane recieves when there is a downpour of rain contains an element not found in the amount of water coming out of the irrigation systems. Rain water contains nitrogen, this element is produced when there is lightning. And nitrogen is a major ingredient in the growth of a sugar cane. Equal amounts of sunlight, rain and chemical fertilizers provides a good balance in the growth of a sugar cane plant. Having the right nutrients will produce a good harvest. It is somehow the same with our spiritual walk isn't it? You can't just come to church on Sundays and say this is it, this will suffice for the whole week! ... if there are people refered to as couch potatoes then there should be Sunday pew potatoes as well?

Haggai 1:5-7

Teacher's Pet?

I remember a story of a 4th grader let's just call him Chino to protect his identity. Chino attended an exclusive private school in his city but unbeknownst to his parents he was a loner at school. The exact opposite of the mischevous and rambunctious kid that he was at home. His school practiced very strict discipline where teachers would verbally and physcially abuse the students and get away with it. Back then there was no such thing as political correctness or child abuse laws. Chino had a very impecable math teacher who we would call Miss D., she was brilliant and posessed such an awesome knowledge in math. But there was a dark side to Miss D. she like many of the other teachers in that school would punish her students through physical abuse such as spanking the children with a ruler on their palms, putting pens in between their fingers and squeezing them until the child cries in pain, in the case of male kids she would pull their sideburns until she sees the pain in their faces. Such brutality, such viciousness, many of the students choose instead to rebel against these vicious teachers such as Miss D. by retaliating the best they could in the most creative fashion without the teachers knowledge of who the culprit of such acts is. But not Chino, he was every bit a follower of the rules of the school he feared the thought of becoming a rulebreaker. Because he was a loner and a victim of the abuse commited by Miss D and the other teachers he kept his emotions to himself without having anyone to talk to or have a catharsis with a friend. He certainly kept this horrible experience to himself and what ended up happening was that he eventually suffered from a "nervous breakdown" at age 10. This would affect him until his adult years. What happened to Miss D? well soon after Chino landed in the hospital he eventually divulged to his parents what was going on in school and his mom brought the attention to the headmaster and eventually pulled Chino out of that school. Miss D, only got so much as a repremand from school authorities but was allowed to continue teaching long after Chino left the school. I doubt if Miss D. even realized the kind of damage she has caused in the lives of many of the students aside from Chino's. Just because one can posses the gift to teach the right things in life but does not posses the right behavior does not make it rational at all. Teaching the right doctrine is important but having the right behavior is as equally important...and that is the bottom line!

3John:9-10

Baby Steps

A few week ago I recieved a call from KVTT a local radio station asking me if I could be a part of an event they were cooking up with Buchner Humanitarian Aid Organization (an NGO that sends humanitarian aid to different countries around the world). The event held last September 29 of this year was a day long concert/shoe drive within the compound of Buchner while KVTT had a live broadcast from the site and encouraged their listeners to come to the venue where the concert was held and drop off shoes (new or used) for the shoe drive. The title of the event was "Soled Out" pretty cute for a title huh? and very catchy too! KVTT provided the logistics for the event and so therefore I was assigned to do two things one was to position myself strategically in two baloon houses and the second was to help unload shoes from incoming donors. But I particularly enjoyed my assignment in the baloon houses. I enjoyed observing children try their very best to go through the obstacle course and climbing up baloon made walls and sliding ...they just had a blast. But there were a few kids I have observed probably within the ages of 4-5 who initially had trouble getting through the obstacle course especially whenever they would reach the part that resembled a rock climbing wall within this "obstacle course baloon house". But what (upon close observation) I would soon realize is that they would finally be able to master the wall climbing part by drawing their strength from their parents' encouragement. Their dads and their moms transforming themselves into an instant cheering squad would shout the words "you can do it sweetie/buddy you just have to try harder!" the parents would do this over and over again until their kids would finally succeed in climbing up the wall and sliding down the slope after many attempts. What a beautiful illustration about life we sometimes don't quite make it through our own "baloon rock climbing wall" once or twice, even a 100 times over but after many attempts and a little perseverance we would be able to finally succeed but not on our own, I am a firm believer in the notion that whatever challenges and obstacle courses one goes through in life there will always be a Supernatural Parent coaching us and cheering for us with a different cheer..."You can do it sweetie/buddy i have your back!".

1John 1:5-10; 1John 2:1-14