Friday, December 26, 2008

Shirley, Marty and Christmas


I was watching Fox news on Christmas Day and their featured guests were Shirley Jones and Marty Ingalls. I remembered watching Shirley when I was only neigh high playing the matriarch Shirley Partridge on the Partridge Family back in the day. But it was a different Shirley Jones I was watching on T.V. this time around, she along with her husband Marty were sharing to the news anchor how they crashed a Hollywood Parade holding a big sign that went "You Can't Stop Christmas". They were both riled up over how some people have robbed us of the true essence of Christmas while substituting it with "Happy Holidays" thus taking the God Factor away from the most joyous season of the year. Some of us have taken Christmas to mean getting new presents and looking forward to after Christmas and Thanksgiving sale that way we can get the best bargain.

For most of us the idea of celebrating the birth of a baby that made history as the One who has redeemed mankind of all its filth is no longer that relevant. Immersing in the commercial aspect of the season is far more substantial than pondering on the nature and purpose of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. And some sectors of society and even the church would rather remain in a state of apathy over how Christmas has been railroaded by the liberal media, Agnostics and yes even some of our politicians. I cannot for the life of me figure out for example how in the State Capitol of Washington where a Nativity Scene was displayed, a billboard was later on set up that defines the inner thoughts of what Atheists think of Christmas and how the Governor of the State would walk by the same area everyday and not do anything about it just because it falls under the constitutional clause of "Freedom of Speech". It saddens me that it has all come down to this. Christmas has been bush whacked and bamboozled, this should no longer be tolerated by those who claim to be believers in Jesus.

...Let us not be in remiss of why we are celebrating the Christmas Season...Jesus Christ is still and will continue to be the reason for the season.

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, For you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the son of the highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

Luke 1:30-33


Tuesday, December 16, 2008

MEN IN MOTION



Men In Motion Reunited! during the time God called me to step up and lead this group of Men from different theological persuasions I have witnessed six righteous and very courageous men decide to publicly declare themselves to be followers of Jesus through water baptism. My best friend Omie was one of them he has passed away and is now in the presence of his beloved Savior Jesus Christ. Phillip has gone on ahead to step up to the calling of being the Associate Pastor of his church. Alain continues to teach in his ministry and is one who has remained a true servant of the Living God. Glenn remains a committed church member and has led people to Christ. Jess is now living in Australia and has been for a long time, Nonoy continues to immerse himself in God's truth. Joey (who was my logistics guy) has moved to Saudi Arabia where he continues to remain faithful to the work of his Savior and supports a persecuted Christian Church in that part of the world (please pray for him and his safety). The rest of the members live in the city of Bacolod, the Philippines where they have remained staunch followers of Jesus and continue to adhere to the Word Of God. God used me just to plant the seed it was all up to Him to let the plant grow...

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

1Corinthians 3:6