God vs. Man

Man invented the sattelite
God created the sun
Man invented the television
God created the trees
Man invented the computer
God created the air

The sattelite has fallen down from space
But the sun still shines brightly everyday
The television broke down
The trees still stand
The computer is obsolete
The breeze of the air can still be strongly felt

...God!

Based from one of the comedy materials of Bill Cosby

Ezra 6

Restoration

I was asked by a friend a few days ago a question that went like this..."what if you were witnessing to a sinner that he may recieve salvation and a meteor was about to hit the earth and you only have seconds to go, what would you do?" I figured this question was a catch 22 but nevertheless I thought deeply and analyzed the situation then it hit me, I wouldn't be able to know this person's state of heart not unless after a quick explanation of repentance, forgiveness redemption and the need for a Savior, I asked the person to pray a sinner's prayer all on his own without him following every word I say like what is commonly done when the sinner's prayer is said. That way this becomes personal for the fellow i am witnessing to and then I would know the true state of his heart. I was asked another question that went..."Now if the meteor fell and obliterated everyone including yourself and the gatekeeper in heaven asked you why he should let you in what would be your response?" I answered I do not deserve heaven I came here not of my own works but by the grace and mercy and suffering of my Lord Jesus Christ. Last question my friend asked me was that if I was interested in joining a Christian Band what would I offer them and my answer was...MY HEART!

FALLEN YET REDEEMED!!!

Ezra 5

Opposed!

I tell you this so you won't be ashamed by my death. if you love me, you will rejoice that God has called me to this honor, which is greater than any earthly honor I could ever attain. Who wouldn't be happy to die for this cause? I trust in my Lord God, who put His mind, will, and affection in my heart, and choose to lose all my worldly substance, and my life, too, rather than deny His known truth. he will comfort me, aid me, and strengthen me forever, even to the yeilding of my spirit and soul into His hands.

BISHOP NICHOLAS RIDLEY
Burned at the stake
Oxford, England
1555

Enemies of the work of God will always try to conjure up ways to deter His people from pursuing and finishing the work.

DEEPER

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

PAUL, The Apostle 2 Cor. 4:17

Ezra 4

A Daughter's Short Story

Leonore finally arrived . She did look gorgeous in her wedding gown; simple yet elegant. Everyone was ready...Well, except me. I was really tensed. Lenore grabbed hold of my arm.

"Relax, Daddy", she chuckled.

I blinked. My daughter was telling me to relax on her wedding day?
The doors suddenly opened. the sun's unpleasant glare stung my eyes, but I quickly regained my composure and with that, Lenore and I began our long walk down the aisle. The garden was beautiful. It was adorned with pink and white roses. Delicate rose petals were sprinkled neatly on the aisle.

We passed many smiling faces. I glanced over at Lenore, her walk was graceful. There isn't a hint of nervousness on her face. Her smile is even lovelier today. I can see how sure and determined she is. She knows what she's doing; what she's getting herself into. She's ready to be with the man she loves; the only man brave enough to ask her out; the man who made her happy and never broke her heart. I knew right off that it was time to let her go.

We finally made it to the altar and right before I was going to take my place next to Cagalli, Lenore said something that made tears fall down my eyes. Those words have not been said in a very long time... they were just four simple words yet they meant so much...

"I love you, Daddy"

Excerpts from the short story written for me by my daughter Pajie for my birthday entitled "Walking Down The Aisle." She posted this story on the internet...

Posted beneath the short novel were these words she took out from the Bible...
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, For this is right. Honor your father and mother-which is the first commandment with a promise - that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy life on earth."

"Fathers, do not exasperate your children instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord".

Ephesians 6: 1-4

In Memory...

Christopher Lacson was a friend and classmate from elementary to high school. My fondest memory of him was going biking around the area close to my home, going to parties and being a part of a platoon in which he was my commanding officer for Citizen's Army Training. We fondly call him "Topoy" coz' that was his nickname. Two days ago I recieved a call from a friend in California informing me that Topoy had passed away of a heart attack. Last night I recieved a text message from another friend from New York that went..."Topoy Lacson passed away, Life is short". It is not so much a question of Life being long or short as it is a question of whether one is prepared for the eventuality of death which may happen anytime in a person's life.

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, we believe and know that you are the Holy One of God".

John 6:68-69

Off The Plane Ministry

Before Pat and I left the Philippines to move to the United States our friends and fellow church members gave us two seperate farewell parties. It was during these parties that friends who had moved from a different country or city to the city of Bacolod would tell us of their appreciation of the fact that they have been recepients of the Off The Plane Ministry of Pat and Phenjie. What it means basically is that we had helped each of them get settled in and helped them familiarize themselves with the way of life in our city. Some of the recipients of this ministry were American Missionaries. When we moved to Dallas, my wife Pat and I found ourselves this time around to be recipients of the Off The Plane Ministry of men and women of God such as Tino and Esmer Yado who gave us our first car in the United States, John and Benggay Salas who helped us get our driver's license and assisted us in more ways than none, Pastor Butch and Manel Diwa who discipled us and taught us about how we should live our lives in a North American setting, David Talaguit who showed us around and helped me and my wife find our music, Jofy and Louella Gocco who helped us with moving from Dallas to Garland and assisted us in getting ourselves settled in at Garland...and then some. I remember the first time I met Jofy who was then a total stranger to me the first words I heard him tell me was "welcome to the family" four words that i needed to hear at that time. Such selfless acts of people who truly love God, truth be told it has been such a blessing to be on the other side...to experience being a recipient of the Off The Plane Ministry of Dallas.

Acts 18:24-28

Salon Rock!

When Horizon Christian Fellowship Church Bacolod was just starting we all met at a beauty salon every Sunday evening for service at exactly seven. Each week we would set up chairs within the aisles seperating both sides of the salon. The praise and worship team would have itself set up at an area facing eastword enough for the whole church to see us. We were all crammed in this tiny salon that wasn't realy conducive enough for any fellowship meetings let alone a church service but it was the best place we could get at that time at we were using it for free. In spite of this little irregularity, church members were very assiduos in all aspects. I should know i was part of the praise and worship team playing the bonggos and cajun (beat box) along with the church's Pastor. Pastor Chaz played the lead accoustic guitar along with two other guitar players and Lina one of his daughters who played the bass. Every now and then i would take a glance at the congregation from where i was positioned and i would see that they did not allow the size of place affect them what mattered to them was that they all came to worship their God and listen to His message. And boy, did we ROCK THE SALON DOWN! Everyone, young or old worshiped their hearts out for Jesus often times i would find myself crying while playing i cried because of how God can make such a simple thing such as meeting in a crammed beauty salon every Sunday nights so beautiful. Two months later we moved to a larger venue at a function room of one of the local hotels and two weeks after the move we decided to change the time of service from seven in the evening to nine in the morning. Months after i moved to the United States i was informed that the church had been favored by God to rent a center right smack at the University Belt Area of our city big enough for a congregation to meet for midweek service, bible studies and yes ... Sunday Morning Service. In spite of how the church developed into what it is now, it is always cool to look back at how we started.

Ezra 3