Phillip

Phillip was my former Production Director when I began working as a part time Radio Talk Show Host in the Philippines. Back in the day Phillip was a party animal and a heathen in the true sense of the word. When he temporarily left the Radio Industry I lost touch with him for a good year or two. Lo and Behold one lazy weekday afternoon I bumped into him in one of the malls within Bacolod City (where I used to live). He asked me if I was still active in church but before I could answer his question I had to ask him first why he was asking that question (am I sounding too redundant?). Anyways, his reply to me was that he felt that it was time for him to renew himself spiritually. Long story short, I invited him to attend our Monday Night Men's Bible Study which we used to call MOVI (short for Men Of Vision) which we later changed into MEMO (short for Men In Motion). He did show up, committed his life to Jesus and in a course of a few months he helped me and other brothers in the Lord in running a Sunday Evening Christian Radio Talkshow which went on air in one of the top commercial radio stations in our city. A few more months after he spoke to me of his decision to be baptized...a few years later (present time) he is now the Assistant Pastor of Horizon Christian Fellowship, Philippines. He is unstopable and relentless in his pursuit to declare the gospel message to every corner of Bacolod City and the rest of the province. Whether in a Radio Station or in Church, this humble man of God is truly a committed soldier of Jesus Christ. However, in the midst of his success in the ministry he has been striken by a physical illness called APAS (don't even ask me what it is short for ... just google it!). This illness has caused blood clots and almost cost him his life when he suffered from a heart attack triggered by this kind of disease that also attacks the immune system through the blood stream. He has never given up the fight on the contrary in spite of his physical ailment he remains excited to daily testify of the goodness of Jesus in his life. Say a prayer if you will for my very good friend and brother in Christ...Phillip.

So then death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written; "I believe therefore I have spoken." With that same Sprit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.

2 Corinthian 4:12-13

MIGHT CLOUDS OF JOY

I thought of sharing with all of you excerpts from the e-votional that my good friend, brother in Christ and Pastor in the Philippines, Chaz Yandall sent me. While waiting outside of his house to prepare to run some errands he looked up the sky and took this picture (above)...Here is what he observed..."These clouds reminded me of us humans. The high clouds were the ones closest to the sun, they were not moving just like the sun. The second layer of little ones were in such a hurry to get somewhere and then the big dark ones were moving in to block the sun. Not long from when I took this picture the dark clouds hid all the other clouds and the sun to us below we had no idea that there was anything going on above, you only knew if you had been paying attention a few moments before".

He concludes his e-votional by saying "This is a great lesson for us to remember, our circumstances may look like a storm is about to dump on us but what we can't see is that there is still activity in the heavenly realm and that the "Son" always shines, even when we can't see...Be encouraged, Jesus loves you".

Look to the heavens and see; and behold the clouds...they are higher than you

Job 35:5

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OMIE... MISSING YOU UNCLE PAUL

My friend Francis e-mailed me just a few minutes ago reminding us that tomorrow will be our best friend Omie's birthday. He mentioned in his e-mail letter that upon checking his calendar he realized that today (early morning of August 21 in the Philippines) is Omie's birthday and lamented at the thought that Omie won't be around this year to celebrate it and that we apparently are growing old. But I figured that right now Omie is having more fun in heaven with Jesus as he continues to celebrate a new life ... a life of eternal bliss. I spent four days last week grieving, comforting and supporting my family here in the United States as we were preparing to bury my Uncle Paul. I was one of the pallbearers during the funeral, dealing with the idea of loosing someone is never easy... Now, hoping for eternal life and the idea of being reunited with the loved ones you've lost makes the burden easier to bear. Happy Birthday My Dear Friend Omie may you enjoy the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus and His Angels as we all celebrate your new life in heaven. I love you Uncle Paul and I will miss you so much...

Where O death is your victory? Where O death is your sting. The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gave us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:55-56

Uncle Paul

"Delightful!" was always his response whenever we would have a phone conversation and when I would ask him how he was before we started indulging ourselves into deep discussions about life, work, politics and then some. Today, I received a call at around 7:30 in the morning. It was my cousin Marie who was in Mac Allen, Texas. She called to inform me that my Uncle Paul, the Delightful Giant whom I have loved in his living years has passed away. My good friend Pastor Robert Gutierrez called me up immediately as soon as he got word of our loss...I complained to him by begging the question... "how many many more deaths do I need to deal with in a span of one year?" First it was my Father In Law then my Best Friend and now my Beloved Uncle. This is quite a handful to deal with but indeed I find my source of strength in the Lord Jesus Christ who himself had to deal with the thought of loosing His own life for the sake of many (Matthew 26:36-45). I will surely miss the advice and the encouragement that I am a recipient of from Uncle Paul not to mention our long conversations over the phone. Last time I saw him was about a year ago when I went to visit him and my Aunt Meriam, it's hard to believe that he's no longer around...I would like to believe that he's in a better place. Two days from now I will be flying to Mac Allen, Texas to attend the wake and funeral, please pray for me people of Blogland that God may use me to be a source of comfort to my family as we all mourn the death of our beloved Paul Joseph.

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

1Corinthians 5:1

Torn

I don't think I would need an image to go along with this blog, I am currently in a bind. Part of me is dying to leave which I am definite would prove to have positive results for me and my family but would certainly make people wonder and may even possibly hurt them. The other part is to remain which would absolutely spare me from all the drama and hoopla but may obscure a very important area of my life. I may stop seeing some but remain with some ... go figure. Thus, the ambivalence but there once was a man who told me that between choosing his family and the other things that may prove to be very important to him he would choose his family. May the God of wisdom guide me as I make this very important choice...

If any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault.

James 1:5

Surf's Up ...Again

After a long tedious 12 hour flight from Manila to Los Angeles, I am finally back in the United States. My girls and I were met by my wife and cousin at the LAX airport and it was both an emotional and joyous reunion. As soon as we left LAX we immediately embarked on a two hour road trip to San Diego where I will be spending a week before heading off to the Lone Star State Of Texas. San Diego is pretty it's my kind of place... a beach community, gnarly weather and a beautiful landscape. I went for a 3o minute walk at the community where I live as a guest of my cousin's and I can't help but consider the possibility of moving to this place. Horizon Christian Fellowship (the mother church of the local church where I attend in the Philippines) after all is based here. And I have always considered myself to be a staunch true blue Horizon guy. I was descipled by a guy named Chaz Yandall whose friendship with me and my family has gone a long long way since the early 90s. He now Pastors the local church I attend in the Philippines. That being said, I was stopped short and reminded by God that I should just learn to be content with where he has appointed me to be. Should he decide to uproot me from Dallas or not is after all His prerogative. Be that as it may God is in full control of everything and is always certain that His purpose in each of our lives is served to the fullest for His glory. On a sad note on my way to the airport to catch a plane from Bacolod to Manila en route to Los Angeles my mom informed me that my Dad's health condition has worsened, my mom could not have chosen the best time to share this piece of news with me (God Bless Her!). Would you please say a prayer for my Dad? He is 96 years old but still has an active mind though he may be physically frail. He still travels to to his beloved farm an hour away from Bacolod regularly. I think that it is his form of therapy, he is a good man and war hero. Chaz sent me off at the Bacolod Airport and I remember giving him the heads up at any eventuality (God forbid!) regarding my Dad's health. God allows us to touch base with people whom we care such as our parents so we can be able even in the shortest of time to show His love, mercy and grace to them especially during the time when they have reached the stage when the swell is no longer as big as before. But our task is to prepare them for the time that they would be able to cross to the other side and realize that there are better/bigger waves to surf.

Though our physical being may be gradually decaying yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day.

2Corinthians 4:6

Time To Head Back

I was in an island resort two weeks ago about and hour's drive from where I live here in the Philippines, it's hard not to appreciate God's creation when your in a place that shouts the word "paradise". My return was filled with action, drama, renewal of friendships, spiritual experiences and then some. Tomorrow, I return to the United States...my departure will be bittersweet. I am saddened at the thought of leaving my family (both biological and spiritual) but excited to see my wife again. I am learning to accept that home is where God wants me to be and where He knows I could serve His purpose for His glory. The kicker however is that we should all look forward to living in our Home Eternal... Paradise to the gnarliest degree. What a Stoke! I will miss you Bacolod...Until my next return...Lord willing!

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God. An eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

2 Corinthians 5: 1