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

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

DECISION 2008

Today, (November 4, 2008) will be a historic moment for the country of the United States of America. Citizens will get the chance to have their voices heard by casting their ballots. It is imperative for each voter to ask for God's wisdom(James 1:5-8) before making the decision in choosing who to lead this country over the next four years. We all need to understand that whoever will win... ultimately God will still remain... Sovereign!

...My God Continue To Richly Bless The United States Of America

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities for there is no authority governing authority except that which God has established.


Romans 13:1

Mama Emma

Just a few minutes ago I got a call from my cousin, Karen from San Francisco. She had informed me that my only remaining aunt from my Father side has just passed away. She was 94 years old. The last time I saw her was during the summer when I returned to the Philippines, I made it a point for me and my girls to visit her. Surprisingly she still recognized me when I walked inside her room. She spoke in spanish and sometimes in english and then switched to the vernacular. But it was such a joy to see her again, I remember how appreciative she looked when I gave her the present which she has asked me to bring to her from the States when she found out that I was returning to the Philippines...It was a doll...and her eyes lit up as I handed it over to her.

Mama Emma (as we fondly call her) lived a wonderful life of 94 years, we engaged ourselves every now and then in a discussion on religion and faith and she had such profound ideas on how religion should be defined. She was a wonderful lady, aunt, grandmother, daughter, sister and businesswoman. She loved living in the farm and taking care of her plants. She was full of life and proud to be part of our clan. Now she is gone...I believe she is now enjoying in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and has finally found her rest.

Would you please join me in praying for the Lord to comfort my family at this time of grief. Please pray for my Father (Mama Emma was the only living sibling that he had left) he is going through a hard time dealing with the thought of loosing his sister (he is two years older than her) let alone finding out about her passing. He has been feeling depressed these past few days...He still has not found out about the death of his sister and my family is looking for a way on how to break the news to him.

In a span of a year and a half since I moved to the United States, I lost four very important people in my life. My Father In Law (Vic), My Best Friend (Omie), My Uncle (Paul) and now my Aunt (Emma). May God continue to give me the strength as I deal with this difficulty.

EMMA VILLACIN CORUNA
1914-2008

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Meet Me At The Pole

Several week ago while dropping off my daughter to school I noticed a group of young kids gathering together around the school's flagpole. I asked my daughter what it was all about and she immediately jolted from her car seat and said that she was supposed to wake up early to join these kids coz' they were there, she said to gather around the pole to pray for the nation. I told her that she can still go and join them...it's not too late.

Seeing those young people meet at the flagpole area early in the morning and at the risk of ridicule from some of their peers and persecutions from other groups within their school gives me so much hope for this nation. I firmly believe that God honors those who seek Him, I learned later on that day that there were other meetings of the same nature being done in different parts of the country. Hope...Hope is what we should all hang on to...Hope for the nation...Hope for the world...Hope for the lost...Hope in the Lord.

Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the judge of all the earth do right? So the Lord said "If I find in Sodom fiflty righteous witin the city then I will spare all the place for their sakes."

Genesis 18:24-26

Bailout

These past days all we hear in the news is whether or not the bailout/rescue plan for our economy will be approved in congress. The week started with the Dow Jones dropping big time as congress decided not to pass the bill for the bailout plan. It's the economy stupid! As they all say. But a little reminder for the children of God... His economy is different from this world's economy.


I have been young and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor His descendants begging bread.

Psalm 37:25

Waiting

This is a picture of surfers waiting for a wave they hope to ride. I took this shot on a cool Sunday afternoon in San Diego's Mission Beach. Sometimes it becomes really frustrating...waiting, I mean. But boy, when it comes....

But those who WAIT on the Lord, Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31