Billie

For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. Luke 1:48

She was a topnotch educator. She taught high school girls and she took them as they are yet brought them to their full potentials. Her approach to spending time with her students outside the four corners of the classroom seems to have bear fruits during those times. In verity, most of her high school students became her friends. She also handled values education for college students. Her students came to clinch the fact they are loved by God whatever they have done or whoever they are or wherever they came from.

She developed a scholarship program at one university which has benefitted numerous current professionals inside and outside the Philippines. More than giving them academics, she formulated a skills education program or tutorial sessions, mostly things they would not learn in engineering, accountancy or computer science classes, for the scholars to work on every time they had vacation. She pushed for the scholars to give back to the school by assigning them to assist during enrolments and to the community by providing hours for social work. Benefactors living in the province or outside the country have maintained friendships with her even after she was transferred to another position.

She coordinated a national inter-university catholic movement for college students in Pampanga. The movement started in the university where she worked; however, it flourished to having branches in all four major college institutions in the province under her watch. She helped train young people to reach young people. She served with no reservations. With no compensation for this volunteer work, she even brings out of her own pocket to fund the activities. Out this movement, at least in Pampanga, born were two priests, and a herd of men and women, who have embraced life in Christ for their whole lives as long as they live.

She has a heart for her land. When Fr. Ed Panlilio declared his candidacy in 2007, she quickly offered what she can do for the campaign. She co-hosted the grand Miting de Avance in May of 2007. She was glued at the counting of the ballots in one turning moments of the elections. I saw her heart being poured in what she believed is right for the province.

When we moved abroad, she had to be a full-time wife and mother. I am on an employment-based visa thus she cannot work legally. Besides, having two small daughters required her to be a stay at home mom. She had only minor experience in household chores since we had her late mother plus a kind helper living with us when we were in the Philippines. I know this was not her usual territory. Cooking was an issue. House cleaning is a major concern. Preparing the girls for school is another. Doing the laundry and ironing clothes were part of the job description. Being the one who will sleep last at night and first to stand up in the morning was a struggle. She is on-call for our daughters' school activities and other events.

After three years, she has defied the odds of being at home. Nowadays, her Bulalo is most wanted when there is a Filipino gathering. Her Tinola is my favorite. Her Filipino spaghetti is her daughters' request. Her Maja Blanca and Ube porridge are the best. She learned how to prepare bibingka and leche flan as coached by her friends. She maintains our home in a more recognizable way. A beloved mother, our daughters have known her personally and closely more than when we were in the Philippines. She has also trained our daughters to help out in doing work at the kitchen or at the laundry room. Most of all, she continues to inculcate values to our daughters the way she have done before to other young people.

When things go out of the way we imagined, she clings to the anchor of faith to hold on to me. She keeps on reminding me on what God has done and what God is doing. She points not to herself but to the One who is able.

Her role might have been reduced in a sense yet she knew her part can't be compensated for being a full-time wife and mom. She did not allow her self-esteem to roll into the ground. She did not see her value diminished. She did not rate her worth as naught. She does these things out of love for us not because she loves doing the household tasks. More than doing things with her hands, she does things from her heart.

In her lowliness, God has looked upon his handmaid and she is blessed. And we are all blessed.

God's Rambo

For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. Luke 2:11

He comes to fight. He comes to rescue. He comes to save men and women. You need someone to go to war with you, he steps forward. No hesitations. No thinking twice. He puts his band on his head. He's loaded for the battle. With his eyes ready to rumble, he seems like saying,"I'm coming to get you."

He is not Sylvester Stallone, he is Jesus Christ.

Christmas day is God's declaration of war. War against sin and death. He sends his Son, Messiah and Lord. May not be his last stand but this is his best stand. He is saying, "The buck stops here." No more slavery but freedom. No more bondage but grace. Jesus will lead us towards the doors of our Alcatraz.  He will not remain in his Pentagon directing our actions, he is with us in our daily and life conflicts. We are armed with his love, his presence and his faithfulness to hustle the bustle, to fight the good fight. Side by side, shoulder to shoulder he is with us.

We are victorious for he is. At the end, even at the start, we know we will. For he fights for us, he fights with us.

Presence is the Present

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." Matthew 1:23

I was putting her to sleep when Bless asked, "What gift did you receive from your parents when you were a small boy during Christmas?" "Wala." I answered. When I was sure she was asleep, I reflected on that answer. I thought I gave a quick short reply for her to go to sleep. As I was watching my Christmas childhood in my mind, it turned out my answer was right.

Our father would knock on our doors for the whole family to get together at the Christmas eve dinner table. Not much of a feast but it was a feast of everybody's presence. No one will continue to sleep, everybody will stand up and eat. After that we will go to church and at the morning, the kids will roam around to greet and pay respect to relatives who will in turn give us gifts, cash or in kind. I don't remember our Tatang and our Ima giving us gifts.

What I significantly remember is this, our parents were always there for us. They were always present for us. There was no night my father spent somewhere else but at home. He did not work late, he has his own business. His routine was always work-home-work-home. He was always there. Our mother was always at home or at school for her kids. We go to school and go back home with her at home. She was always available for us. No gift was needed to be given, their presence is their present.

Max Lucado tweeted, "God is with us" is present tense. God is always present so don't be tense.

This is God's greatest gift to us. Being with us. He is with us now. Not only yesterday. Not only for tomorrow. Not only with your pastor. Not only with your leader. Not only with the priests or with the nuns. Not only with the missionaries. Not only with the famous author or preacher. He is with us. Us is spelled you and I.

He gives his presence the same he gave it to Moses at the burning bush. He walks with us the way he walk on the water with Peter. He shows himself to us like he showed himself to Paul along the way to Damascus. Sitting with us like he sat with the adulterous Samaritan woman at the water well. Standing with us like he stood and prayed for the food to be multiplied. Touching us in the way he reached out for the lame and the sick.Talking to us like he was talking at the temple when he was a little boy.

God is with us. Emmanuel. Always with us. His presence is the present.

Honoring Jesus

...and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

It's a way of life in the charismatic community I belong to honor someone who's celebrating his or her birthday.  So, today, it is only appropriate to enumerate some things, there are countless things, to which I want to honor and thank the Lord Jesus Christ. So here it goes...

• I honor you for your presence. Everyday I pray that you may  be with us, to our family. I know, it won't be easy being with us. We are stubborn and we succumb to wrongdoings. Yet, I always felt your presence kept us together with you and together with one another. Truly "God is with us".
• I thank you for sustaining us for the past three years we have been living in the United States. Talking about being in the right place in the wrong time. Recession hits the US, recession hits us. By your providence and the grace to believe in your promises, we are doing well. Our family have been tight knit. We do things together. We go to the same places together. We are always together. Being here gave us further the meaning of being a family.
• I honor you for keeping us in good health. My daughters have had some body issues but all were quickly passing. My wife still battles her back and bone problems but everything is manageable. And me? The doctor said I am in perfect shape.
• I thank you for sustaining our hearts and passion to serve you. Thank you for bringing to us brothers and sisters to whom we receive and give love and support. Our group is not perfect and we are still growing, which is great, for these are definitions of a community. I thank you for giving our daughters the desire to serve you as altar servers. I thank you for the service my wife is rendering to us and other people. I thank you for opening doors for me to help out in the inner city missions in our county.
• I honor you for providing for the company I work for. We broke even this year, in the middle of a challenging economy, as reported by our managers. This is good news. It means we can look forward to the new year with stability for my family.
• I praise you for keeping my family back home and my brother in UK and my sister in Singapore safe and sound. I honor you for the distance we have with one another gave us the closeness we never had when we were accessible to one another. Hello Skype and Facebook! Thank you Jesus!
• You have given me this writing ministry. I honor you for waking up the writer in me. I knew I had it when  I was in high school and college, yet you work in wondrous ways, after all the years the gift you gave is still lethal and effective. It does not age, for you do not. It does not change, for you do not. With this gift, you and I can reach the world in places I will never be for your glory. I honor you!
• The past year was not without challenges and difficulties. The death of my mother in law, the renewal of my working visa, the audit of my labor certification, the decision to stick with our brothers and sisters in community traveling a total of six hours to be with them are just some. When these issues stole our focus you were quick to bring us back. When the waves are too strong for us, you calmed us more than you calmed the waves. Thank you for your ever available strength in times of distress.
• Thank you for friends. Physical or virtual friends you have given us are precious. We find other angles with them. We find other views from them. You know whom to give us and you know whom to be with us. Thanks Jesus!
• And lastly, Lord Jesus, I honor and thank you for bearing with me. For being patient with me. Your love I don't deserve yet you give it unconditionally.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! (Romans 11:33). Thank you for kicking in the inspiration in me. I thought you would run out but not. Daily I sought you and daily you find me. Daily I reflected in your words, daily you reveal yourself. Daily I prayed and daily you answered.

Happy Birthday Jesus! Honor and thanks to you alone!

Not Just Another Ordinary Night

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. Luke 2:20

In this receding economy, it was just another ordinary night.

The office party dinner table has a lot of spaces to fill.  The gifts given were limited. No raffle prizes drawn, not as usual. The smiles were timid. The greetings were not so warmth. The executive manager's announcement at the start of the party unveiled the theme, "Welcome to the austerity Christmas party."

Later that night, my wife and I spoke about our financial standing. We will go through this but not with our belts tightened. My wife practically counts her steps as she goes for Christmas shopping. She searches the best available coupon there is. She spends time more than my office hours digging into the best bargain in town.

We were about to say our "Good nights." when my phone catches a message which reads a dear brother in Christ will soon be jobless. He has a family to feed, bills to pay and a community to serve.

The shepherds in the fields are having their just another ordinary night. Performing their job; counting the sheep, feeding their flock, protect them from attackers, trying to beat sleepiness. Until the angel showed up and asked them to show up at the manger. They left the ordinary to meet the extra-ordinary. They only knew about the ordinary when they went, they rejoiced in the extra-ordinary when they returned. They returned to the same flock with different hearts. They came back to the same fields as different shepherds. Because an extra-ordinary God came as an ordinary baby. Because an extra-ordinary Shepherd invited ordinary shepherds to his birthday.

Thus I came to the Christ who comes. I left the fields of worries. I came to the Manager of the manger. The fields I left will be the same fields when I return. Yet, I am a different shepherd since I have been in his presence of the Shepherd. Since I have been with the Living Hope, I returned with hope for the living. Since I have been with the Promise Keeper, I returned holding on to his words.

I rejoiced! Having an extra-ordinary God in a not just another ordinary night.

Mary Did You Ask?

She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7b

Did you ask, "Is this God's Son or just my son?"

An angel told you the fruit inside your womb is of the Most High. He will take on the throne of David. He will rule and his kingdom will never end. Yet, here you are giving birth in a manger. No clean room or house is available, God allowed you to labor in a dark and cold stable. The Son of the Most High in a lowly place. The King in a servant's abode. His never ending kingdom starts in a place where no princes have reside.

Did you ask, "Is this God's plan or just another event bound happen?"

You heard from the angel you are favored. No accommodation was given to you when Joseph knocked on doors. No approbation as you traveled from one town to another. The only compliment you got is from four legged creatures. You took their place in that stable. No room at the inn. Labor in a manger. Favored?  

No verse indicates you questioned God's plan. No tradition telling us you pouted about what happened. You believed. You held God's promise. You were undivided. You had one heart for God and his plan.

May we be like you. Undivided in faith. One heart for God. No questions asked.

Great Fear to Great Joy

The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. Luke 2:9, 20

They were with great fear. Not just an ordinary fear. Not some normal fear. Not a fear you usually have daily. It was a feeling of great fear.

Eleven verses after, the great fear turns into a great joy. You have to have great joy when you glorify and praise God after what you've been told is all true!

What happened in the middle of verses 9 and 20? The shepherds met their Shepherd. They met their Savior and Lord. They may have had great fear for they thought they will die in facing God's angels, but meeting the Messiah gave them life. From having great fear to having great joy.

For us who have been living in fear before we have crossed paths with our Lord and Savior. For us who have woke up each morning and retired each night with inner gladness since meeting the Messiah in one way or another.

Scan into your fears. Carefully run into your worries. Afraid of your hunting past? Panic about the present? Frightened of the future? Run to Bethlehem. Return to that manger. Meet the Messiah. Again.

You can go back to your field a changed person knowing you have a Messiah who does not change. A King Shepherd who allowed himself to be born in a stable for you to know everything you've been told about him is true. It still rings true today. His presence, love and promises are real as what you have been told.

Who alone can turn great fear to great joy? Jesus. No one else..

Jump

When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Matthew 11:2-3

He jumped twice.

First, he was imprisoned in a woman's womb. He recognized Jesus that he jumped for joy as soon as the sound of greetings was heard in his mother's ears.

Second, he was imprisoned in a cell. He recognized Jesus that he jumped for a question as soon as his ears heard about the miraculous exploits of the Messiah.

The first prison gives life. The second was near to his death.

The first prison was a start. The second was a mile away from the finish line.

The first prison gave him warmth. The second gave him the cold bars.

The first prison was secure. The second was insecure.

The first prison gave him assurance. The second included the word "or".

Understand John, understand yourself.

You jump for joy when the weather in your family is warm. You leap with gladness when the job is secure. You tip top when your health and finances are assured. You hurdle when your church of community gives you an encouraging life.

And yet, question marks fill your life and you bound in inquiry when family relationships are cold. You soar with your "or" when your job is standing on quick sand. You jump in doubt when there is sickness and poverty. You hop and skip to absence when church or community is not life giving.

In both prisons, recognize Jesus as Messiah. This would be enough to jump. For Jesus and for joy.

God Holds Your Hand

For I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, "Fear not, I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

He could have said, "I will send angels to hold you and help you." But did not. He could have said, "My prophets will take your hand and give you aid." But did not. He could have said, "My disciples will reach out to you, and you will be fine." But did not.

But here, God is telling us, he will grasp our hand and tell us face to face, "Fear not, I will help you." Here is a God who promises us, "I will feel your pain, and I will ease it or erase it." Here is a God who says, "Feel my grip on you, I will never let go of you." Here is a God who declares, "I am here for you and will guide you."

There is more than holding or grasping hands.

There is intimacy. For lovers who are in their honeymoon or in their 5oth year of marriage.

There is security. For a daughter tightly locked into her father's arms amidst the darkness of a movie theater.

There is goodness. For a stranger who volunteers to hold the aging man and help him reach the other side of the street.

There is empathy. For a calamity victim as he is encouraged by the missionary worker.

There is hope. For a hospital bedridden patient as she feels the clasp of her doctor's hands.

There is endurance. For a friend who reaches out a friend for him to hurdle the next step towards the mountain top.

There is gladness. For a father swinging his hands coupled with his daughter's around the playground.

And God assures us, he is a personal God who grasp our hand. A God who becomes one of us come December 25, to feel our sorrows and celebrate our joys. To reach out to us. To become intimate with us, to understand what we are undergoing. To be one with us. For us to be secured and hopeful. For us to endure and enjoy. Friends, we have a God who holds your hand.

In Spite Of

'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.' Matthew 11:17

From time to time, I am getting tired of doing this reflection blog.

There are situations when I question if it is worth my time. There are inquiries in my prayers if I am impacting people. Doubts if I am making a difference. Worries if I am creating relevance.  These feelings and thoughts come to mind and heart, especially when nobody cares to read what I write. Days when even my number one fan, my wife, does not bother to click the blog link in her Facebook page. Or when my youngest sister who used to be quick to read what I've written completes her day without visiting my site. Or when a brother in Christ, Rolly Musngi, fails to come on-line and go to his bookmarks to read my blog.

There are maybe thousands of bloggers out in the web. Frankly, I am in awe when blogs about political and entertainment satire, or about sports claim a large readership. Basing from the comments and stats they receive in each of their posts, these sites seem to influence a lot of people. Sort of creating relevance.

Will I just turn to another genre to impact people? Will I bring out my another side to create relevance? Will I shun my commitment to this ministry since I have less circulation?

Jesus described his generation as someone who played the flute and sung a dirge. Yet, Jesus did not dance to their tune. Yet, Jesus did not cry over their lamentations.  Bottom line, Jesus did not allow his calling and commitment be affected with other people's actions.  Further he elaborated, For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' (Matthew 11:18-19). No matter what the outside world looks at it, Jesus and John the Baptist maintained their commitment to their calling.  Their generation did not put weight on their lives and in what they do.

In any Christian service that we do, feeling of tiredness is natural. The disappointments are inevitable. Discouragements are always part of the deal. You can go unnoticed. You can serve as invisible. Stats and clicks don't matter if you are not committed. Affirmations don't count if you don't respond to the calling. For we are called to be committed and to be committed to the calling in spite of.

See You At The Summit

Moving on from there Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there.  Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. Matthew 15:29-30

He is the first and only blind man to reach the peak of the Everest.

Yes, you read that right. A blind man standing at the top of Mt. Everest. His name is Erik Weihenmayer.

How did he do it? Simple. Welcome another Eric. Eric Alexander.

Eric guided Erik to reach the summit. Erik and Eric are buddies who have experience in mountain climbing. Erik dreamed and wanted to climb the Everest. He invited Eric and others to be with him to which Eric said yes. 

In an interview, Eric was asked what his focus was or what made him go on to reach the peak. "It's the relationships." Eric replied. For three to six weeks of ascending, reaching the top was all about relationships. It was not even about the goal of stepping at the topmost. It was about being there together, guiding the blind man to walk this way or climb this way. Each step was counted. Each stride was cherished. I guess, if Eric did not have this tight relationship with the blind man, Erik, the journey will be terribly hard added to the difficulty of the trail. And it's this relationship which enabled them to reach the summit.

It's the same with the people who brought the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others to Jesus. Jesus, who was sitting on a mountain. Going up the mountain must be hard. Yet, it must be harder when you bring someone who is not physically able to do so. How can a blind climb? How can the lame step further? Will the deformed hurdle the whole mile? Can the mute communicate if he loses the track? Can the able withstand the complexity of the travel? They can - only with strong relationship with one another.

Are you in a similar situation? You are guiding someone who might be lame in some way. You are with somebody who can't see the truth. You live with a person who has deformed perceptions. You work with a friend who can't speak for himself. Or you yourself is the differently abled. Focus on your relationships. Accept each other's limitations. Support each other. Lift one another. Carry each other's burden. Admonish each other from time to time. Build one another's confidence. Love one another as you love yourself. 

You and that person will reach the God of the mountain. You and your friend will find healing at his feet. As you start or continue your journey, you can say to one another, "See you at the summit."

Wait Problem

Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD! Psalm 27:14

Impatience is not the opposite of waiting. Fear is.

We fear we won't pass the board exam, we cheat.

We fear being late for our appointment, we take the short cut in getting our driver's license.

We fear we won't beat the publication's deadline, we plagiarize.

We are afraid someone else overtakes us or beat us for the promotion, we become complacent, and resigned.

We fear the company we are working for will succumb to the recession, we jumpsuit.

We fear God's plan won't be unveiled; we take matters on our own hands.

We fear his providence won't meet our needs, we rely on our resumes.

We fear his healing is slow, we search for more man-made remedies.

We are afraid change will not happen in one person we love, we give up.

The wait problem is a fear problem. It is because we are afraid and not because we are impatient. We are impatient because we are fearful.

Listen to the psalmist, "Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!" He is exhorting us to wait and have courage. Be brave and wait for the LORD to act, to show us his plan in reality.

This coming advent may be the opportune time for us to face our wait problem. Jesus will come. God's promises are true. Wait for him. Wait and be not afraid. If you have wait problem, follow the solution - take courage, be brave and wait for the LORD.

Going To The Lost Sheep

Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 10:6

Recently a beloved sister in community decided to accept a job which would prevent her to attend meetings for six months. And maybe right after attending her first community gathering after the hiatus, she will have to go to another round of six months of "I'm with you spiritually."

In the past, I was the top critic of many brothers and sisters who were going abroad for work or for family reasons. My rationale is that they have everything they need for living in the country and in living in community. Yet, they went. Dubai. Saudi. USA. Australia. Singapore. Canada. London. Netherlands. All over the world.

After experiencing our own family's diaspora, I understood God's plan in making way for his disciples to, "Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." There is a whole world out there that has to be reach. Cultures needed to be conquered. Societies to be simmered. Horizons to be handed to Christ.

Outside the country and the community, men and women have taken the accountability to heed the direction of the Shepherd. Going forth and seek the lost sheep. By God's grace, we have built communities out of the community. God's work is all about expanding His territory and he utilizes his sheep to reach other sheep.

With this, catholic communities are not to be a fenced region. It must be a space without borders where members can go out and reach out, with the guidance of the Shepherd. Communities or churches are enabling the sheep to do this, for this is the place where we get training and formation to go out and pursue the lost.

So, when somebody in community or church decides to go abroad or accepts another job which will keep him out of the community, God must be smiling from ear to ear. For another disciple will fulfill, "Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Andrew and Emil

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. Matthew 4:18

Such is Andrew's life. He was one of the first disciples, even earlier than James and John. Yet, I was thinking, was he by-passed in handling more important stuff because he was the brother of the Rock? When they introduce him before people, "Andrew- the brother of Peter." His identity was always with his brother. When they saw him, they saw Peter. When he stands, they see the Rock standing. He has to give up his place as his brother takes the highest place. He has to go below for Peter occupies the uppermost position.

You want to know how Andrew might feel. Ask my brother Emil.

I was serving as the main man of a community of college students and single young professionals at one time. For me to fulfill a service commitment, Emil may have to stay at home to cover for me. He has to step up in my place for house chores when I give a talk in a prayer meeting. He has to shun the limelight as I stand up before people. He has to bear with the tag- "the brother of Edwin".

I'm not saying Emil was not a leadership material or is not gifted or is not faithful. He is actually. Yet, in following the protocols of ascendance, somewhat and somehow he has to be by-passed because he is my brother. In spite all this, he followed faithfully.

And looking back, I am what I am now because of most what I've experienced in those years of ministry because Emil stayed at home. Because Emil descended. Because Emil who supposedly took step ups decided to step down.

You might have an Andrew or an Emil in your life. Thank them. Bless them. Love them. You were first because they were last. You were at the top since they were at the bottom. You stand up, they sat down. You are Peter because he is Andrew.

Servant Master

When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully."  He said to him, "I will come and cure him." Matthew 8:5-7

The Master serving his servant.

He calls his servant to do this or to do that. He tells him to go or to stay. The servant waits for the master's hands when to point and where to point. This master directs his servant. The servant serves his master. Yet at this instance, the master serves his servant. The servant is powerless, paralyzed at home. The servant has no comfort, suffering dreadfully. The servant can't stand and can't come. The master comes to his aid, he serves the supposedly serving.  The master thinks more of his servant more than himself.

And he came to Jesus, the ultimate Master. He prayed to him, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." The Master did not have second or third thoughts on this as he said to him, "I will come and cure him."

Is Jesus familiar with this situation?

He is our Master who is serving his servants. He comes to our aid. When we are powerless and paralyzed, Jesus carries us and walks the way for us. When we are dreadfully suffering, our Master comes to be our comfort and stronghold. 

He gives us the ability to preach his word. He supplies the wisdom to proclaim. He provides the hands to work. He gives us the pen to write. He maintains in us the passionate heart to be committed and consistent. He provides us with the strength to win over temptations so we may be loyal to him. When we are in lack and scarce, he reaches out his hands and provides our needs. He gives us the grace for us to be robust hearted for him. He blesses us with courage in our fear and uncertainty. He is a master who thinks more of his servants. A master who came and comes to our aid.

Jesus is our Master. Yet, he serves us, his servants. He is our Servant Master.

Swing God

Then will the LORD create, over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her place of assembly, A smoking cloud by day and a light of flaming fire by night. Isaiah 4:5

The swing bus. In my profession, it is a generation source that adjusts its output for the system to keep its balance. The balance is between the output of generation sources and consumption of load sinks. When power is more than the demand, the swing bus adjust its supply to keep the system balance. When there is an imbalance due to the fact that load consumption is greater than the generation, the swing bus boosts its provision to bring the system into equilibrium.

The logic is simple yet significant. The swing bus adjusts itself to create balance. Give more when there is less, give less when there is more.

Is God a swing God? He knows when to give more when there is less. He knows when to give less when there is more.

The verse above proves this - Then will the LORD create, over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her place of assembly, a smoking cloud by day and a light of flaming fire by night.

When there is more sunlight, he gives a shade. When there is darkness around us, he gives light.

No. He is not a God whose like an automatic dispenser.

He is a God who knows what is our need - a smoking cloud or a flaming fire. He is a God who knows when is our need - day or night. He is a God who knows how much we need - over the whole site, over the assembly.

When there is too much sun burning our hearts with pride, he gives us humility. When there is too much light in us stealing his glory, he sends shadows. When we take control of the day and not him, he provides smoking clouds so we know he drives our lives.

When there is weakness, he provides strength to overcome. In our dimmed hospital rooms, he sends fire of healing. To the gloomy alleys of the homeless and forgotten, he gives refuge and stronghold. To the shady place of the alone and lonely, he makes his presence felt. Look into your night, wait for the light of flaming fire he holds.

All from God for us to keep us in balance.

God knows our needs. What it is, when we need it, how much we need it. And he dances swing.

Simple Prayer, Great Answer

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:42-43

It was a simple prayer, "Remember me...."

You do this, you keep calling cards. You bookmark the webpage. You allow a space in your brain for that specific name, time of meeting, place of meeting, event of meeting and all. You remember the face and the faces associated with that face. You remember the name and the names related to that name. You take notice of what he or she wears. You mark those facial markers. You high light the body built and maybe the mannerisms.

Yet you do further than that. Before you were stepping into the airport, you heard them tell you, " when you get there, remember me, remember us." You don't only keep them in your mind, you give them what's in their mind. You send them gifts, you give them what you have. When you remember, you extend something. You have something, you remembered he needed that something. You got something, you remembered he ain't got that something.

Jesus remembers. The man beside him prayed, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." You see, Jesus can remember him when Jesus reigns in his kingdom. Remember the way he spoke. Remember the way he made a case for Jesus. Remember he was crucified at the same time he was. Remember he was deserving of the cross and he was not. Remember he was the last one who prayed to him before he died on that tree. Well, Jesus did not. But Jesus did. He does further than keeping him in his head. He gave him what he does not have. He handed to him what he ain't got. Jesus gave him salvation.

When God remembers, he extends his hands. When he remembers we are in need, he provides. When he remembers we are unhealthy, he heals. When he remembers we are jobless, he promotes us. When he remembers we are weak, he strengthen us. When he remembers we are in doubt, he gives us faith.

We give him a simple prayer, Jesus gives us a great answer.

Studying His Word

Rather, the law of the LORD is their joy; God's law they study day and night. Psalm 1:2

You thought you must be a bible-toting person to do this.

You carry the Word everywhere you go. You have it in your back pack. You have it in your home desk, in your office cubicle. You look at those missionary guy with their handbag armed with the Word as your model.  You thought the pastor passes this verse. You thought that would be it. Carry it. Read it. Have it in your bag. Have it whenever, wherever you might be.

As you reflect about it further, it convinces you there's more than that.

Do you experience joy when you follow the Lord's law? When you are up to something yet you know you will violate his Word, do you have joy or sadness since you did not attain what you should have achieved? Are you joyful when you follow him or do you feel this great depression since you think you are not free to do or say what you want to?

This is God's law as your study all day and all night. You don't keep it in your bag, you keep it in your heart. You just don't carry it, you carry it on the way you live, the way you speak or the way you accomplish things. Those things above will surely help, yet what matters is you put his Word into action.

In your day or night, do you study his Word? No, I'm not saying you keep on reading the Bible, which surely is good, but in your every gesture or each of your spoken word, do you consider his laws? Wait, I know what you are thinking. You think it's like tip-toeing in life. Maybe. However, consider his Word before you do something or say something. This is studying his Word day and night. Yes, it is possible to study his laws day in and day out. It is like shaping a sculpture according to his Word. Step by step. Word after word. Action after action. Your life being shape by God's Word.

Consider this. We sin, most of the time, because at that instant we let go of our study of his Word.

The psalmist encourages us, may God's Word be our joy and when we follow it may it produce joy in us. The psalmist calls us, may we study God's law day and night, keeping it in our hearts and in our minds.

Perseverance

By your perseverance you will secure your lives. Luke 21:19

41-0.

This was the final score in my very first basketball game in a formal league. Impressive right? Yes, our opponents are. We were crushed, to the very meaning of the word. We were shattered into pieces. Imagine, playing 40 minutes without a single basket. We know how to make a play yet did not make a shot.

If you think that have ended my unheralded basketball career, you're wrong. I still played games. I still was shooting hoops. I still love the feel of the ball on my hands. I still desire the thug of a dribbling ball on a hardwood. Sometimes, my team wins. Most of the time, my heart is broken. If I add up my victories in playing this game, it won't just compare to the mountain of defeats I have to face at the sound of the buzzer. Up until now, I play the game. Yeah, I know I suck in this game. But I still come into the rectangular court with two vertical holes at the end and play.

If my Christian life has a score board, I would be surely at the cellar in this game. If you compare my victories over sin to my succumbing to temptations, you are looking at a dwarf compared to a giant. I know, I suck in living as a Christian. I still sin. I still am tactless and would hurt someone with my insensitive words and selfish actions. I am vulnerable with difficulties. A little hump in my journey, becomes a hill in my heart. My faith always is shaken, my loyalty always at check. My temper is still a suspect. The lust in my heart is still my first challenge.

However, this does not stop me from living for God. I still follow him. I still pray. I still pray for forgiveness. I still come to him and ask for grace and strength.  I still read the Bible. I still serve. I still go for counsel among brothers and sisters. I still attend church. I still participate in community.  I still drink from Jesus' cup and share his meal. I still want to love others. My heart regains joy in being with him. The touch of his book gives me peace as I roll my eyes on its pages. My soul pounds when I hear someone preaches with fire in his Spirit. I know, it won't be easy. It's hard. It's difficult. It's a daily struggle. But I still come into his heavenly court where a perfect God meets his imperfect follower. 

This is perseverance. And this is what secures our lives.

Eighteen

They shall never be shaken; the just shall be remembered forever.  Psalms 112:6

CYA. Graduation. Danny. Joseph. Jazmin. Emmaruth. Young Professionals for Christ. Saturday nights. Old Holy Angel Chapel. Kamayan. Christ's Tenants in the Vineyard. Ilo-ilo. Lingkod-Angeles. Ming. Francis. Michelle. Emy. Jazmin again. Branch. Unity Games. Holy Family. CLP. Carmelite. Women for Christ. Jocas. Herman. Carlos. Ding. Ecs. Chas. Natna. Glo. Rhods. Sassie. April. Sto. Rosario Elementary School. Outreach. Olongapo. Dennis. Joseph. Chas. John. Office at Sto. Entierro. National Leaders' Training Conference. Fontana. Dexter. Mayona. Beng. Office at L&S. Romin. Gagay. Outreach. San Fernando. Nars. Mitz. Jun. Eighteen.

God. Call. Workplace. Single. Working. Conversion. Commitment. Community. Culture. Commission. Vision. Mission. Brothers. Sisters. Servanthood. Yesteryears. Present. Future. Grace. Strength. Mercy. Courage. Confidence. Consistency. Faithfulness. Holiness. Refuge. Stronghold. Loyalty. Passion. Love. Service. Ability. Availability. Of God. From God. For God. Never shaken. Never forgotten.

You Can Do Something

Secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free; the LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD protects the stranger, sustains the orphan and the widow, but thwarts the way of the wicked. Psalm 146:7-9 

Today, I read a line from Max Lucado’s book “Outlive Your Life” which is “One cannot do everything, but one can do something”.

As Christians, we are one with the Lord in looking after his children. The psalmist echoes God’s heart for the poor. God’s eyes are big on the small. He longs for us to take our place in his work among the unfortunate. Look at those statements:

• Secures justice for the oppressed
• Providing food to the hungry
• Giving prisoners their freedom
• Enabling the disabled
• Raising up those who are lowly
• Welcoming unfamiliar faces
• Spending time with the parent-less and spouse-less

Someone will say, “How can I help when my family needs more help.” Well, everybody needs help. It’s just a matter of managing your resources.

Another will comment, “Others are already doing that, I have my family to feed.” If we are always looking internal and not external of us, we are missing the point. You always have a place to occupy in the scheme of things.

“It’s not my type of ministry, I am busy with other services.” Wrong. We are all called to respond to the needy. Every follower of Christ should put their hearts and hands on this ministry.

“Let the rich do just that, we are not rich.” There is no mention in the verses above that only the rich should do something for the poor and needy.

One can do something. You can. May I suggest the following?

• Pray for the poor.
• Don’t buy a new shirt or clothes once in a month and allot those funds for the poor.
• Give up your trip to Starbucks, enable a poor child to reach his dreams.
• Buy energy efficient appliances, the money you save in energy can energize the weak.
• Turn off electric devices in your home when not in use, the money you save can turn on somebody's life.
• Cancel your late night strolls to bars, provide for those who have no bed at night.
• Give up your I-Phone plan and settle for a low tech phone, the savings you get can empower a child's education plan.
• Post actions for the poor in your Facebook wall or Twitter account.
• Volunteer for inner city mission.
• Participate in your church’ social action ministry.

Yes, you cannot do everything but you can do something. So, do something!

Missionaries

Finally, brothers, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified, as it did among you,and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

Alan was part of a student missionary group tasked to nourish the planted college movement in one university in Central Luzon. The group started their journey by taking a bus from one province to another. Alan fell asleep as he was seated at the back of the vehicle. He was known to have that infamous skill. Along the way, the bus swayed and fell on the lower romp of the road. The abrupt stoppage gave Alan a flight from the back to the front of the bus. He was brought to a village clinic that had no facilities to give him emergency health care.

A contingent from where the missionary students came went to get Alan for medical purposes. Fortunately, the top-down car was to used as a emergency vehicle due to lack of funds. Alan, in the midst of pain in his head, had to face the dark starry sky during the transport for about three hours. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed him to have cut lip, broken nose and teeth loss. For this, he stayed at the hospital for weeks.

This is one among what missionaries face everyday. To bring the word of the Lord speed forward, they risk their lives on the line. If we look into this, more than  physical harm, the rejection of their work is the most lethal. When they deliver the word of God or the work of God to a hostile place or people, they are abused verbally or mocked publicly by perverse and wicked people. Not all will like what they do. Not all will appreciate what they do. Yet, they respond to their call. They go ahead. They speed forward.

Paul is directing us that we can share in their work by praying for them. Spreading the word of God is all our responsibility. When God asks who can do it to this unfamiliar place or to that a non-Christian territory, missionaries raise their hands without thinking twice and with fiery fervor. As they go ahead to answer God's call, we bend our knees for God's grace to be upon them. As they open their mouths to proclaim God's word, we open our mouths to plead for God's blessings for them. As they come face to face with challenges, we come face to face with God on their behalf.

And Alan? Please pray for him, he speeds forward the word of God as an SVD missionary priest out in East Timor, Indonesia.  Please pray for missionaries.

Level Ground

And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. Luke 6:17a

The doctor of psychology went into the interrogation room. His friend-policeman asked him to inquire about a man who was suspected of a wrongdoing. The lawmen tried to talk the suspect out but to no avail. The suspect was shaking as he bended his head and his knees on the floor, as he closed the door. He stole a glimpse at the new room mate. For about five minutes, the professional only got nods and ah-ams. If there was conversation , it was one way. The doctor inquired more and the suspect replied less.

The communication changed when the doctor decided to sit just like the suspect. He put his butt on the cold floor inches away from the suspect. The suspect lifted his head and from then on, he elaborated his problems, issues and what he has done. The doctor leveled with him. And this made the difference.

I've been there. You've been there. We've been all there.

You feel no one understands. Your parents can't relate to what you're undergoing. Your older siblings do not sympathize with you. The younger blood can't help you out. Your friends are busy in their own concerns. Your co-workers' motto is mind your own business. Your classmates are not your mates. Even your dog, miscommunicates with you. You feel you are all alone in what is happening in your life. No one is in place in your place. Nobody gets in what your are getting at. No one gets to your level.

Jesus stood in level with his disciples. Who is Jesus? He is the Son of God. Who are his disciples? Ordinary men. At this time, they stood on the same level. No. God did not put himself above them. He stands where they stand. He puts himself to their place. God meeting ordinary men. Heaven in level with the  earth.

Whatever you are undergoing nowadays, Jesus stands with you closer than ever. You are not alone if you think you are. Jesus stands where we stand to understand us. Talk to him. Speak with him, take your time. Be open and confess what you have done or what you want to do. Give him your burdens.

Lift up your heads now. He is with you, in level on your ground.

Be A Tree

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. Luke 19:4

1995. World Youth Day in Manila. We were camped near Roxas Boulevard when sirens came aloud signaling that Pope John Paul II is about to pass. We ran and took our chances into the thick population trying to catch a glimpse of the man. Nina, a petite sister with a big heart in Christ, was obviously vertically challenged and was having difficulty with the people pushing and pulling off the road. So, Nina climbed a human tree who allowed her to sit on his shoulders for her to take a wide peek at the Pope. As the Catholic church head passed by, Nina enjoyed the good scene. Maybe he waved at her but surely she waved at him.

Jesus did not only wave at him, Jesus asked Zacchaeus for him to be invited to his home.

Before that, Zacchaeus had to climb a tree. He, too, was vertically challenged. He, too, was having hard time with the thick crowd. However, he did not want for this opportunity to pass by to see Jesus who was passing by. So, he looked around. He looked around and thought what can I do to see him? He saw a tree standing by, which he quickly climbed. Zacchaeus stayed there for some time, until Jesus looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." (v. 5). And the rest is history.

It was a cameo role in a movie. In layman's term, the tree was an extra, a bit player. What we usually remember about this story from Luke are Jesus, Zacchaeus and the Pharisees who questioned the Jesus' visitation at Zacchaeus' home. Yet, Jesus would not have looked up at Zacchaeus if not for the tree and Zacchaeus would not have seen Jesus if not for the tree. The tree was the bridge for Jesus to meet Zacchaeus. The tree was a channel for the Son to meet the sinner. The tree was a vessel of grace for the Giver and the receiver.

Can you be a tree?

• A visible tree who people will always see and climb for them to grab the chance to see Jesus.
• A humble tree who will allow others to be above himself for them to see the grace of God.
• A constant tree who will be ready and be dependable for sinners to see salvation.
• A hospitable tree who will welcome anyone who wants to take shelter and refuge in Christ.
• An encouraging tree who will lift up the spirits of the small and the fervor of the forgotten.
• A tree who will stand day by day for Jesus and for somebody to stand for Jesus.
• A tree whose strength is from Jesus so he can able to carry the weight and burden of others.
• A tree who will stay at the background so Jesus may take the center stage of the story.

The world is full of small people trying to see our big God. Be a tree.

Scan

But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' Luke 18:13

They brought my father to undergo a detailed scan of his head. After his heart attack, the doctors realized he must have blood clot in his brain. To identify where the clot is, they needed to bring him to a clinic with a CT Scanner. With the scan, they specified where the clot was, and they were successful in taking out the clot. You see, without the scan, they would not have located where the unwanted clot in the brain.

Imagine if my father covered his head when inside the scanning machine, of course, they would not have found what should they have found. My father lived after the scan and the operation, eventually he succumbed due to complications after a year.

The tax collector did not cover his heart. He exposed himself to God. He allowed himself to be scanned thoroughly. Before God who is sinless and holy, he recognized the sinner and unholy in him. In contrast, the Pharisee covered his heart and soul inside the scan. He did not want to be exposed before God. He took self-righteousness as his mask. He made going to God's scanner as a costume party, he was not himself before God.

Imagine the effect of covering yourself before God, you pretend you are whom you are not. No matter what your cover is, God sees and knows who you are.  And in spite of who you are, God loves you. You don't need to cover yourself before him. You can be yourself before him. You can allow yourself to be scanned before him. You can beat your chest and confess what you have done wrong before him he is ready to forgive and he will still accept you.

Go to the scanner without cover. Be healed. Be justified. And you will live on and on and on. Not only for a year.

Gray Anatomy

Brothers and sisters : I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,... Ephesians 4:1
 
A scene from Grey's Anatomy….

April's back was against the wall. She was surrounded. The discussion of her fellow hospital residents was all about how they lost their virginity. One specified the date. Another said about a particular place. A young male doctor smiled and stated with whom. A female doctor cited the ambiance. And April?  She did not want to jump in into the story telling. But she has to as they pointed all eyes on her. She had to make a script of her own. She started to search for the right words yet she was not successful. So, they concluded she is still a virgin. The scenes which came after this one portrayed her fellow residents teasing and mocking her about her virginity. April wanted to be blend in, in the end, she did not.

It is not clear if April is a Christian or not in the popular TV series. So, let's not delved into April's life, let's turn to ours.

Sometimes, we find ourselves in the same scene - a Gray Anatomy.

• You are looking for news at this website and then your eyes poked at the gossip section of the site. You clicked the link and read several stories of lives of people.  
•  You are driving and suddenly a lady jogger with a gorgeous body cuts in your path. Instantly, your eyes feed your mind to fantasies you usually enjoy.
• You come home tired and stressed from work. Your child asked for help in her homework and you found a mistake in her math assignment. You raise your voice upon her. She is startled yet you continue to pressure her that she should know this.
• You thought about discussing a person's life since you thought are pastorally concern. Yeah, you thought. After talking about it for some time, you still have no direction or whatever to handle matters. But you enjoyed discussing someone's weakness and difficulties for you feel superior.

These are some of the situations where we blend in. We blend in to the situation. We blend in into our natural tendencies. We blend in into the world's directions and standards. We recognize that there is white and black yet there is an area which is gray in our anatomy. Isn't it clear it should be clear?

Paul is clear on this. He encouraged the early Christians and is encouraging us - to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received. The life we are called for is to live in the light. The manner we are called for is holiness.  Notice Paul's instruction doesn't contain any time or place element. He did not say, "to live in a manner worthy of the call you received during Sundays only…". He did not say, "to live in a manner worthy of the call you received during prayer meetings only…" He did not say, "to live in a manner worthy of the call you received during you feel like it only…" Paul's teaching is for all times. It is for all situations where we find ourselves. It is for all places where we are at.

We are called to live a life worthy of our calling.  And watch out for any Gray Anatomy.

Defense

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them!  But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 2 Timothy 4:16-17

Defense. You need five players against five players in a basketball game. Stop any of the five from taking shots. Defend the perimeter and the bottom of the post. Block the jumpers and putting hands up on the slashers. Getting near the basket is a big No.  Five players need to form a solid fence to prevent the opposing players to score. But defense does not stop there. After defending the keyhole, they need to grab the ball and turn the tide on the other team. If a team wants to win a game, as they say, defense is the best offense.

Paul did not have the luxury of a team during a defensive play. He was all alone defending the turf. His team deserted him. His team filed leave of absences during the game. No one showed up for him to guard the post. He was  one man defensive team. Or so he thought. He got the Lord by his side. The Lord stood his ground and by Paul's game. The Lord put up a solid defense with Paul.

More than the fence they built, the Lord gave Paul the strength he needed to withstand the attack of the offense. The strength to block the ball, it's from the Lord. The strength to stop the streaking shooter, it's from the Lord. The strength to defend the quick step player, it's from the Lord. Paul just needed to be present at the defense, the Lord supplied the strength.

Further, the Lord's intention is to turn this defensive mode into an instant offense. Paul mentioned - so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. The Lord will turn the tide. He has a game plan for Paul to advance the ball to the other court. The Lord will forward the mission into an offensive siege.

If today, you feel all alone in your defense, think again. If you see no one has shown concern at your defense, think again. The Lord stands by your side. The Lord gives you all the strength you need. He is busy sketching play to turn the tide for your benefit. The Lord will allow things to happen so you can forward his mission for you. Maybe for now the ball is not on your hands, but it will be. Be ready for your offensive game.

If your life is on the defensive mode, look upon the Lord, he alone is our defense.

Prisoner

Brothers and sisters : I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:.. Ephesians 4:1-3

We should have read the following:

Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to visit me twice a day. Schedule one by one so that I have company each hour in my prison cell. Contact all connections you have, use your influence so I may be free in no time. Collect all what you can collect among the believers for the judge has set my bail to a very stiff amount. Have you heard yet from my attorney? I am having doubts about the lawyer you recommended, he is not following up the proceedings of my case and I was told he was always at the side of the defeated end at each court battle. My fellow prisoners here at the facility have been staring at me with eyes of doom just like I stared at the early believers whom I have persecuted. I don't like prison food. I don't like prison clothes. I don't like prison bedding. I don't like prison bathroom. I don't like being in prison. Pray for me, I am losing heart and courage.

Glad we did not. Glad we saw Paul's encouragement though he was the one who needed it. He urged them: live in a manner worthy of the call you received. He advised them: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love. He rallied them to be one: strive to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. He was the one in a dark prison cell yet he was the one who was shedding light. He was the one who was needing directions yet he showed them the path. He should have let himself all alone in one cold corner and question God about what is happening with his mission but he did not.

Huh, this is what Paul did. He requested the warden for his hands to be free from being handcuffed. He asked the prison guard for a table and a chair. He sat and reach for his bag and his hands wander for his pen and paper. And he wrote those words. Words that call the called to live the calling. Words which brings the proud to the ground and to the heart. Words that make the divided into one.

Can we be like Paul? If you are prisoner of a terminal disease, may you have the words and prayers for healing of the patient at the other room. If you are a prisoner of financial difficulties, may you continue to share what you have. If you are a cellmate of  trouble in fulfilling God's mission, may you maintain the heart for others. When you are a prisoner of life's uncertainty, may you be quick to admonish and help friends. When you are a prisoner of pride, may you lift up the lowly and poor in spirit.

May you please finish this blog? Brothers and sisters: Your Name, a prisoner for the Lord,.......

Power Within

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

"Why is the sea salty?"

This was the question in my last elementary district science quiz bee. If I get this correctly, I will win. But I did not know the right answer. So I guessed, I wrote - because of the sun. I thought because the seas are exposed to the heat of the sun that it became salty just like the human skin's perspiration. I was wrong. Someone got it right and he won. The right answer to the question? - because of the mineral deposits within.  What makes the sea salty is what is within it. What is deposited within the sea allows it to taste that way. Every living thing or non-living thing inside the sea makes contributions as to why it tastes salty.  It is not about what is external to it; it is about what is internal in it.

And so with us.

The Ephesians read and learned it from Paul - the power at work within us. What makes us holy is not our externalities, it is him who is within us who makes us holy. What gives us strength is the power deposited in us and not what we perceived we know in our minds or what we can do by ourselves. And Paul does not set a limit. He describes, Jesus is able to able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine. Ask Jesus about what he can or will do for you - he is able to do far more than that. Imagine Jesus doing this and that for you - he is able beyond this and that. And Jesus is the power within us. He is in our hearts deposited. He is the one who makes us salty. He is the power within us who makes things impossible possible. Far more than we can ask or we can imagine.

Unlike the minerals under the sea who does not know what they are doing to make the sea as salty as possible, the power is at work within us and is at work with purpose. He aims for us to follow him by the power within us. He intends for us to love him and to love one another. He is at work within us for us to work for our less fortunate brothers and sisters. He stirs in our hearts the desire to spread his word of love and encouragement to your family, to your officemate, to your long lost friends. He lives within us for us to make things right not wrong.

We will not be defeated. We will succeed; we will be victorious by the power at work within us.

Who would not want to walk with him?

Prosperity will march before the Lord, and good fortune will follow behind. Psalm 85:14

Sometimes, we endure sufferings in walking with the Lord. We experience difficulties in being with him. You struggle in life offered to him. You wrestle with bad health, job loss, relationship problems and family issues when you become his follower. When you decide to be with his side, things get rough and life gets tough.

This is so true. But it's just the half of the story. The psalmist reveals the other half.

The Lord is sandwiched between prosperity and good fortune. What are ahead of him are prosperous moments. What are behind him are good riches. When we walk with him, these things come to us. Our future is prosperous. Good destiny follows us. More than material wealth, what we must see here is we will have the grace when we needed it. We will be rich with grace. We will have the strength when we are weak. We will be filled with strength. We can't say, we lack thus we succumb. We can't say, there is not enough thus we surrender. We can't say, it's too much thus we give up marching with him. There will be enough. There will be satisfaction. There will be too much for the too much. For before him is prosperity, behind him is good fortunes. We, too, are sandwiched.

Observe when you are in traffic. You look upfront. You also look at the rear view mirror. If I am in a heavy traffic and I stare at the rear view, I'd say, "I have made it this far." When I look at the wind shield, I'd whisper, "The best is yet to come." Well, life is a heavy traffic (see first paragraph above). Allow the Lord to drive your life. Let him hold the wheel. Ask him to lead you. When he drives, more than a Pajero is in front of you- prosperity! When he drives, more than a Fortuner is behind you- good fortune! Stay with him in traffic. Choose to be with him in traffic. Be loyal to him in traffic.

Prosperity will march before the Lord, and good fortune will follow behind. Given this, who would not want to walk with him? 

My Two Cents

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7

Got two cents?

Indeed during his time, sparrows cost less. Yet, though they seem to be "worthless" by their value, they enjoy God's blessings. Whether they are free or not, someone will surely feed them. When their feathers are with dirt, the caretaker brings them out to clean them up. When they are bugged by other species, the caretaker protects them. Surely, they don't put much work. Sparrows can just stand on their branch all day. Imagine their worth - 5 sparrows divided by 2 cents. That is about $0.002 per sparrow. However, God does not forget them. God values the worthless. God treasures the less valuable. God keeps notice for the $0.002 worth package.

We have a God who one day, dropped in his two cents to claim his people. And his two cents did not match the merchandise. His Son nailed on the cross - his two cents. A people of no worth because of their sins - the merchandise.

God bought us with two cents- his valuable only Son. His only Son on the cross. His only Son walking where he should not. Jesus eating at a table where he should not. If you think you are worthless, you are. We are. I am. No action or no credential will add to our value. No skills or resume will add to our worth. No outer clothing will append our importance. No idea or wisdom can be attached to our significance. Only God through his love can procure people like us who are like sparrows. We depend on God for his grace to cope the hard day. We wait for his providence. We look for his protection. We expect his hand to heal us. Though we work, we find our strength in him alone.  Our value is not anchored with what we are or what we can do but with God and his love for us.

Next time, you'll hear someone about to share his take and say, "My two cents…" remember God shared his.

Streams of Water

They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:3
 
After spending one summer in our home, our lawn grass at our frontage has began to dry. We thought this won't happen for we even contracted a professional lawn caretaker to fertilize the grass. The contractor gave me a list of various chemicals he was about to pour in the coming months. Did he overdo our lawn? I diligently mowed the grass each week or after two weeks if I am lazy. Did I cut too low for the grass to lay forever? Our neighbors have trees all around their houses to shade their lawns while ours was exposed to the beaming sunlight. Did the lack of shade of trees cause the untimely death of the green? I watered from time to time but not as we should have. Did the deficiency in water depress the lawn? So what's the reason for the lawn to turn brown from green? My wonderful wife knows the answer - we failed to water. We were unfaithful to sprinkle water on the grass that they died.

The psalmist inscribed we are like trees rooted near waters of streams. The watering continues on and on and on. It never ends. The supply of water which refreshes the obedient will by no means run out. The irrigations of the earth will dry and produce cracks on soil yet God sends his living water in us for us to yield fruits in due season. We may never bear fruit each day, yet his river will continue to flow towards us to make sure we will produce at the right time and at the right place. If you think you will burn out and turn brown about to wither, think again. His streams of water will be more than enough to sustain our green, to keep us fresh and to give us moist. We will prosper not because of we know what to do or we have the skills to do so but we will thrive for a great harvest just like a tree with a non-stop delivery of water.

All these things may not be possible when we uproot ourselves from where we stand near his streams of water. When we take our own course, and say "I don't need the water anymore." or "I can live without water." or "I will remain fresh or will yield fruits even not near the streams." or "I can just use fertilizer on myself." or "I will prune myself." Like our lawn grass, given some time, you will turn brown.

God is faithful in watering his people. Let's receive his grace and his love. His mercy, let's welcome it in our hearts. Keep standing before him. He will never turn off the faucet.

Apostles R Us

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." Luke 17:5

By this time, they have seen so much.

If the gospel of Luke narrates Jesus' ministry in date sequence, the apostles have seen who Jesus is, what Jesus can do and what Jesus will do. The Twelve have seen Jesus perform miracles by this instance. They saw the healing of many sick people. They witnessed the feeding of multitudes with just few on the table. They have seen him transfigured. They heard him, with authority, forgive sins and know someone's thoughts. They have seen how Jesus calmed the storm. Even to the point, Peter declared that Jesus is the Messiah of God. They have learned from him through his parables and teachings. They have seen so much with their own eyes, heard so much with their ears, they were touched by him and they might have touched him, they ate with him, and they spent day and night with him. They knew him more than anyone else. They knew what Jesus is capable of.

If being with Jesus for two or more years, have given you that much, would you ask him, "Increase our faith." Seeing what he can do, what he'll do and who he is, would you come up to him and demand, "Increase our faith."

Sometimes, I feel, we are very unfair to the Twelve. For we use their lives with Jesus as our laboratory of reflections. We admire their strengths. We stand in ovation for their wisdom and resilience. We capitalize on their weaknesses. We build ourselves with their blunders. Just like here, I question, why come up with that request when you have seen so much of Jesus.

We know the answer, because we are them.

Recently, I was reviewing our current financial situation. In the end, looking at the past and forthcoming expenditures, I concluded we needed a small miracle, of about say two to three hundred dollars, to get through the month. During one evening as I was putting my daughters to sleep, they asked me about our financial situation. I said I will take care of that part as they would want to take care of their studies. Checking back that statement, I don't know where to get those extra hundred dollars. I am the only one working and no other source of income for the family. It's not that we are procrastinating but this is the law we have to follow as under an employment-based visa. As they got to sleep, I was praying to God, "Lord, let me see your hand in our finances." Yet, in my mind, there was no slight opening where we can get those dollars.

Early this week, my wife called me about a $300 check was sent to me by our former mortgage lender. It seems we overpaid them by that amount. This was God's hands in our lives!

So, we understand the apostles. We, too, have seen so much of Jesus. We have seen how his touch of healing to the unhealthy brought physical vigor. We heard a lot of stories of how he can make things happen. We have feasted on his providence all our lives. We have stared on his power of giving peace to a chaotic life. We know who he is. We know what he can do. We know what he will do.

We have seen so much of him, and yet, when there is no way in our way, we yield to the shadow of doubt. Just like the apostles, we pray to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

I LOVE MY CHURCH

How's that for an all caps title?

As of this writing, my church, specifically, the bishops of the Catholic church in the Philippines are under fire. They took a stand against a congress proposed bill number 5403 called "Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008" of the RH bill. The church has expressed its position on this bill ever since it was proposed.

But now, left and right, my church get all the punches. Proponents and supporters of the bill have harassed the bishops. Since other denominations have taken the other side of the fence, the Catholic church seems to be on its own. If you are a catholic supporting the stand of the church, you may be called idiot, hardcore, or being close-minded. T-shirts which are meant to put down the bishops flooded the internet.

When Raissa Laurel expressed her faith after being subjected to DLSU bombing, Filipinos made a quick salute. There is nothing wrong with that, I personally is inspired by Ms. Laurel. However, when the bishops express their faith together with their members against the RH bill, the opposite happens.

I love my church. For when my church expresses it's faith, beautiful things happen. Faith in christian education by providing the best possible education in the country (DLSU, ADMU, San Beda,  St. Paul, and St. Scho among others). Faith in the sacredness of democratic elections by guarding the votes (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting or the PPCRV). Faith in action by feeding the poor, being a refuge for the homeless, caring for the old, housing the abused women and street children, and enabling the incapable (Caritas Manila, Anawim and CFC-Gawad Kalinga among others). Best and brightest schools, numerous hospitals in far flung areas, bringing health care through missions and free medical clinics, rescuing the abused, filling the stomach of the helpless, responding quickly during calamities - these are places and events where you will find my church expressing it's faith.

When I was younger, my old folks used to tell me to go home when the sun sets. I did not understand this for many of my playmates stayed on the streets after the street lights bring their flare. I questioned their approach on this. At some point, I inquired why I have to come home while other kids enjoyed their time under the moon. After ten or more years, I saw why. Those kids who stayed on in the dark street succumbed to drugs, to early marriages  and to crime while on the other hand, my siblings and I completed our education.

Today, people may not understand my church's take on the RH bill. Hopefully, weeks or months or years from now will be different.

Miss Job

In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God. Job 1:22

Raissa Laurel twitted, "♪♪ Our God is greater.. Our God is stronger.. God, You are higher than any other.. ♪♪"

Who is Ms. Laurel?

She was a victim of the DLSU bombing during the bar examinations in Manila, Philippines. She should not have been there. Media described- Raissa was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe. She is only at her 2nd year at San Sebastian College Law school. As a result of the explosion, the 23 years old lass will have her two legs amputated. Tough future for the future lawyer. And yet, she praise God. She exalts Him. She magnifies God. She even expressed, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your prayers and support for my recovery! Our God is sovereign and He is in control of everything.. God bless us!" She was even confused with the media, "Disappointed with media.. Why are they twisting the story?.. Why can't they just understand that GOD IS WHERE I DRAW MY STRENGTH FROM?.."

Job lost everything he had, livelihood, family and his future. Raissa will lose her two legs, small compared to Job, you might say. However, for a young woman full of dreams, who was at the wrong place at the wrong time, she was a victim.  She was innocent. She has every reason to question what happened or what will happen to her. She must be angry with God or with the world. Instead, she still sings for God. She still confess the greatness of God. Like Job, she has remained faithful to God. She did not say anything, yes, anything that will insult God.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Miss Job.

Future

Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." John 1:50-51

Where have you been? You answer this when you make your resume. This is the report of your resume. You detail your experience. You write your past work descriptions. You even try to sugarcoat some of the things you did so it can suit the vacancy. In the rat race called life, the employers emphasized the importance of your experience. Most of the time, they look into your past. They filter those whose past don't fit into their future.

Thanks be to God, he is not an employer.

Before Jesus came face to face with Nathanael, the future disciple gave a forgettable rhetoric, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" He has not met Jesus yet. He has not seen Jesus yet. He has not heard Jesus yet. Yet, Nathanael has the bravado to speak like this?

Thanks be to God, Nathanael.  He does not mind if you spoke that way before you met him. He does not care if you made that judgment even prior to knowing him. He looks at you and accepts you even sooner than you looked at him differently. Jesus doesn't focus in your past. Jesus looks into your future.

Note Jesus' statements above, "you will see greater things than this…", "you will see the sky opened…" You will.  Those words perpetuate the future. Those words are forward looking. And those words were spoken by the Son of God. He doesn't ask us, "Where have you been?" He already knows that. Jesus is interested in, "Where are you going?" If you let go of our past, and decide to go with him, you will see greater things, you will see the sky opened.

Whatever your past is, you fit in God's future. You will.

Chances

When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. Luke 9:55-56

I knew something was not right. As I sat down at the dinner table to inquire about my daughters' day at school, Praise was disgusted as well as her mother. She forgot she'll have a Math quiz this day that she did not get a remarkable score. Given her parents are both academicians, she failed at our expectations. We expect her to be at her best. We expect her to be prepared every time. We expect her to bring out those As. As my parents told us and as we always say to them, education is our legacy for them. It must have ruined my day or night. It must have planted anger in my heart towards her ways. But I know better. As I asked for her quiz paper, I turned and hugged her, "I love you and nothing's change..." She deserves another crack. She has my heart for all the chances. As a father, I know at some point she will fail us again tomorrow or next week or next month, and I'll be there to assure her "I love you and nothing's change..." and to give her another chance and another and another.

Jesus does this to us. He gives us chances. He gives us opportunities to make it right. The Sons of Thunder knew the opposite. They wanted to call down fire from heaven to consume the inhospitable men and women of this Samaritan village where they are stopping over before going to Jerusalem. They might have the point, Jesus sent an advanced party ahead of them in this route (v. 52). Something was not right. They should have been welcomed but were not. Calling down fire from the sky is rationale. But Jesus knows better. He rebuked the brothers and went to another place. However, Jesus did not rebuke the village which has a bank-vault-like-closed door for them. They failed him yet he is giving them chances. He is giving them another crack. He gave them chances.

We may fail him again and again and again. And Jesus will be there to wrap his arms around us and will give us another chance and another and another.

Not Easy

He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised." Luke 9:22

Shocked.

I am wondering if this was the reaction of the disciples with Jesus' declaration of what will happen next. After Peter's heavenly wisdom where he professed Jesus is the Messiah of God, Jesus enumerates his journey. Suffer greatly. To be rejected by church leaders. Be killed. He'll be raised up. The twelve must have thought if Jesus is the Savior then what's next might be a walk in the park. If he is the Messiah, life would be a piece of cake. It would be an uncontested lay-up. No hurdles along the way. Smooth sailing in the lake. Winds and waves will wear out. No storms in the coast. Life is like a Sunday morning, easy.

We know it's not.

When you decide that you are a follower of God, when you declare you are a servant of God, when you claim you are a man or woman after God, what's next will not be easy. You may have to face rejection of peers or even family. You might have to contend with suffering. You will get in the path of being harassed. Might not be to the extent of death yet it may drain you physically. We know it won't be easy. Wind and waves come as we sail. Torrents will whirlwind in our day to day lives. It won't be a summer day each day. I am not saying it will be all difficult hard fought life. Yet, this is one reality of declaring your heart and life are for God and of God. And yes, we know that at the end of this confronted journey, Jesus was raised up and so we will be. His grace will bring us to that conclusion.

We will be challenged. It won't be easy.

Line of Sight

But Herod said, "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him. Luke 9:9

Herod was trying to see Jesus. But he was looking for something else.

I was looking to serve. When we came to the US, I got acquainted with another prayer group. I was a trained charismatic catholic with full of experience for the past ten or more years. We came to their meetings and evangelization activities. After some time, I got to serve with them. However, I saw some different approaches that they were doing. It was not wrong yet I saw it was not the right way of doing things. Supposedly, they had the same spirituality as I am yet they handle and look at matters in a dissimilar perspective. As I got deep into their life, I had more negative feelings towards the group, the people, and their strategies to service.

I did not see Jesus for I was looking at something else.

I was looking to see Jesus. Recently, we went to this retreat where the approach to spirituality was entirely different. They were not charismatic, they were part of the Focolare movement. The speakers did not present talks or experiences with such pounding declamation and the usual craft of words. The sharers would speak about their not so exciting ordinary lives in their workplaces, homes and schools. They even spoke before us sitting and even read their scripts and magazine articles. Some old videos were also shown where their founder, an old woman by then, preached softly. It was entirely different. It was entirely inspiring and touching. It was entirely refreshing. I entirely saw Jesus.

If you are trying to see Jesus, have your heart and eyes on the right line of sight. And you will surely see him.

Remembrance

There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them. Ecclesiastes 1:11

Each night, as I tuck my daughters to sleep, I usually tell them stories of my childhood. I share with the two cute girls how I walked with a back pack full of thick books everyday going to school. I once shared with them how I was serving as an altar boy during school days and afterward I had to walk from the church to school for about a good distance that would cost a public transport fare which was further more than my day's allowance. I tell them about how I fell from a truck when I was trying to catch up with my friends which fortunately no car was following in the highway. I tell them how I was disciplined by my parents. I discuss sort of stories about me and my siblings.  I tell them how I won quiz bees. I tell them how I lost sporting games. I share to them our family's trials and victories. After one story, each night, they fall to sleep.

Ecclesiastes reminds us to be reminded. The book is urging us to remember the lives of the men of old. The verse is calling us recall the defeats and triumphs of the men and women before us. It's only right to remember, it gives us strength in the midst of weakness - "God gave them grace, He will give us the same grace."  It's refreshing to review the times of men of old, it brings us hope when darkness engulfed us- "They pass through tough times and we will do so." It convicts us the conviction to be faithful in living the way of Christ- "Their faithfulness bore us, our faithfulness will have fruits." It gives us the passion to bounce back- "They fell and they stood up, we can rebound." We remember the legacy of men of old. We recollect the loyalty of men before us.

No wonder, we use the word remembrance or remember during the Eucharistic celebration. For there is power, there is strength and there is hope in looking back to God's unwavering faithfulness through all generations.

Let there be remembrance of the men of old. Each night, I bet you will sleep.

Routes

Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 1 Cor. 15:11

If you program a GPS to take the highway and toll booths, it will direct you to those passages for you the reach your destination. You can also enable your GPS not to take you through those routes and bring you to small streets, like wise it will bring you to your destination. Maybe different travel time, maybe different travel scenarios and maybe you will pass by different routes, however, you will reach the same destination. Different routes, same destination.

We specify certain routes in our Christian walk. Remember going to a mass expecting Fr. X to be the celebrant. When the Eucharistic ceremony begins and the priest walks in and its not Fr. X, you will be disappointed. Excited going to the community gathering and was looking forward to hear Bro. Y to preach after the worship. As you sat down and the speaker was called and its not Bro. Y, you get a bit sad. You look at this website where this church posts their preaching, you scan on the videos and pick only the ones where this Pastor/Book Author is the preacher. You will bypass other videos thinking you will be more inspired only with the said person.

Paul wrote to the people of Corinth, "whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed." He was telling about routes to Christ. For Paul, it does not matter who will preach the Word. It may be Peter who will preach at the outpouring of the Spirit. John may come to proclaim the revelation of God. James takes the pulpit to bring us to action in faith. Give Andrew your one hour as he details how Jesus calls His disciples. Thomas takes the mic and pounds his, "My Lord and My God!". Or Paul declares how he saw the gift of salvation as he was found blind along Damascus. It does not matter who the messenger is. What matters is that we believed the Word of God. What is important is that we put our faith in Jesus after hearing the message.

So, next time you travel a route, enjoy. For your destination is the same.

Father

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. John 3:16
 
Last May, I had to bring my daughter Praise to the emergency room due to her red spots all over her body. She was vomiting and has multiple stints for vowel withdrawals for the past two days. I and her sister had to bring her at 2am in the morning for medical attention. She was given dextrose. The nurse and the doctor injected medicines into her. We were put in an emergency room for 4 hours. Look, this is not even at the border of life to death. But as a father, I was deep worried for my child. As a father, I have this feeling I don't want my child to be harmed or be stricken by illness. My day is not the same day when my child is sick. What more if my child dies?

Devastated. Crushed. Distraught. These words described my father when my brother died. As if, the whole world has fallen on his shoulders without ample preparation. As if, his heart has stopped pumping blood, as if his breath has stopped from pulling air. His son, who made him proud - a national board examination topnotch, is now dead. A son, who can't make a mistake in following his orders, now lies bloody from fatal shooting. His son, who almost all of his life had his father's favor, has eyes shut forever. The son, whom I remember gave him no headache or heartache, is about to travel and never to be seen. What do you expect from the father when his son dies?

Did God feel this way when He gave His only Son? Sometimes, we think because He is God, this is nothing for Him. It is not.

Was the Father's day the same on that day His Son was breathless on the cross? The sun He created eclipsed on that day.

Was He devastated, crushed, distraught? I believe He is. We won't call Him Father if He was not.

In Genesis, we read we were created in the Father's image and likeness. We look like the Father. We have the innate nature of the Father. He feels what we feel towards our children's death or injury. His breath stopped the moment His Son's gasp halted. His world dropped the moment His Son's head dropped. His tears dripped as His Son's blood dripped. The Son who has His favor and love died and Jesus' death was to express the Father's love for His people.

My father has four other sons and he felt that way. Well, Jesus is the one and only Son and God is a Father.