God is Near

Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' Luke 10:9

The house should be located near our daughters' school. It must be within their school's area. This was our primary consideration when we were scouting for a home. We did not want Praise and Bless to transfer to a new school because we are moving to a new house. There's familiarity with that place also, meaning our surrounding will not change that much. Most of the time, other people call this "location" based. If one is transferring from one point to another, then the new place must be near the malls or maybe near hospitals. Someone may like their place near something. Near their church. Near their school. Near your relatives. Near parks. Near fast foods or restaurants. Near convenient stores. Near your workplace. Near the gym. Near the farmlands. Near the highways. There's a good word to describe that - accessibility. And who will never want that?

Jesus gave this instruction to the seventy two men, "Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'" When the kingdom is near, then the King is near. God is accessible. He can come to us. We can come to Him. We are in a good location. He is near. We do not need to walk or drive a long way. We do not need to wait for a queue in the telephone line to get an appointment. See God through your family - your spouse and your children. Anytime and anywhere, we can converse with God through prayer and reading the Holy Scripture. Eat with Him through your co-workers at your office kitchen. Listen to Him through that Christian radio station. Be inspired by Him through that faithful preacher. His kingdom is near, too. We have at our disposal God's grace. God's bounty is for us to enjoy. We have at our hearts God's mercy and strength. His power is within reach and let His power reach us within.

God is near. And who will never want that?

Presence Presents the Message

He said to them, "…Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way." Luke 10: 4

I always pass by this reformed church as I drive to and from work. I have never entered the church. Yet, the church has deeply inspired me by the sign in front of the church. Once, the sign read "Anger is one letter short of danger." It gave me the conviction to control my temper. The other month the sign presented, "The future comes one day at a time." It prompted me to thank God who supplies my daily bread. One memorable message the sign carried was "When carrying heavy loads, bend your knees." It reminded me to kneel and pray. The church sign has no sound system. It has no pulpit. No flares and stage. It just stood. Rain or shine, the sign was always there. Its presence presented the message.

When Jesus sent the seventy two men, He told them not to carry money. He sent them without bags. No sandals were allowed in their mission. No friends are to be asked for help in their ministry. They were tasked to go in unfamiliar territories. Imagine doing this missionary work. Yet, these men brave the mission. All they have was their blessings from Jesus and faith in God. To wherever they were sent, they went there. Their presence presented the message.

These scenarios are very far flung nowadays. If I am going to mission, I want connections and budget. I must have a team with me. I will bring the best administrator. I would bring my bible resources. If there is a mission trip, I have a music ministry with me. The best servants must be chosen to partake in the mission. If available, I would bring audio and video devices for sound system effects. It would also help to have a computer to present my ideas and talks. All these will allow me to present the message.

Jesus calls us to depend in Him, not on the resources we have. He sends us to mission empty handed but heart full of faith. He calls us to be that church sign, maybe to just to stand and let others read our lives. Living signs who will encourage others to live positively in following God. He calls us to be like the seventy two men. Our hands not clasp but open to His leading and mercy. Jesus calls us to an exciting lifetime of mission. He calls us to be there. By His grace, our presence will present the message.

Disciples’ Distinction

(he appointed the twelve:) Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Mark 3:16-17

His name is Alan Bondoc yet we named him Bijong. Alan looked like my cousin from whom we derived the name. Joram Vitug is his legal name and we re-named him Dodong. There was a little boy, who looks like Joram, with that name in our outreach service for children. We call Edwin Eco as Balugbug (Ear), for his ears tell the story. Jocas is for Jose Castro, a dear brother in Christ. Elmer Lacsamana prefers to be called Mheayaye. Allan Angeles is Apa, being a look-alike of a popular journalist. These are some of the brothers and fellow followers of Jesus with whom I have served. Their nicknames bring distinction among us. They serve God with the same passion and same zeal. Each one has a role to occupy. Bijong after his volunteer work with us became a missionary priest in East Timor, Indonesia. Dodong became a faithful husband and loving father but before that he has served the group in every capacity. Balugbug is an excellent music leader whose gift is still unparalleled as of this writing. Jocas is best remembered for serving with us with his availability in providing his administrative and management skills. Mheayaye and Apa are well-known for their leadership skills. Mheayaye continues to work in building a covenant community among our brothers and sisters. Each has made an impact. Distinct from one another yet united in serving God and His people.

Jesus named Simon as Peter. He gave James and John the name Boanerges. Thomas was also called Didymus since he has a twin. Maybe, all these disciples have another name to make them distinct. Whatever they were named or called, these men followed Jesus. These men loved Jesus. They followed Him. They walked and ate with Him. They slept where Jesus slept. They went with Jesus for mission. They left their work and families for Christ. Each has made an impact, and their lives are our models to follow. Given their names, they were distinct from one another yet united in serving God and His people.

Today and two thousand years ago, we are differently called but respond to one similar calling - to be a disciple. That is the distinction.

Stretched and Restored

…he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored. Mark 3:5

His hand was withered. If he would compare the other hand with this one, he would find this withered hand has shrunken. This hand has wasted. It has dried up. It has thinned. It has no life. It has no power to lift. It has no grip to hold. It just hangs on his shoulders. Good thing this withered hand sticks to his shoulders. Good thing this man sticks to the synagogue. Good thing Jesus saw him and his withered hand. Jesus told him, "Stretch out your hand." He gave his hand completely to Jesus. He stretched out his complete trust to Him. He stretched out his faith in God. He stretched it out and his hand was restored. His hand is now equal with the other. It has life. It can lift. It has grip. Man stretched it out completely, God restored it completely.

Do you think your life is withered? You may have been following God for the past years and you seem to be burnt out. Or you may be a new disciple going through a deserted place. You compare your life to your friends' or relatives' and find your life is too shrunken. Maybe you think your life is wasted. It is dried up. Yours is life that has no life. Yours is life that has no power to lift and inspire others. It has no grip to hold on to. You just hang on day by day. Here's the good thing - you still have life. Good thing, you still have God. Stick to God. Stick to your prayer time. Stick praying with your family. Stick to going to church. Stick going to that worship service. Stick going to that prayer meeting. That is where Jesus is. At the right time, hear Jesus saying, "Stretch your life." Give your life completely to Him. Stretch out completely your trust in him. Stretch out your faith in God. Stretch it out and your life will be restored. Your life will have life. You can lift and inspire others. You can grip on God. Man stretched it out completely, God restored it completely.

Expect No Relapse

He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. Mark 1:31

"Baka mabinat ka." (You might have a relapse). My mother used to tell me those words to warn me about getting sick again. These words are familiar to the ears when we have just got well from sickness and we are about to do some tasks. This is understandable since when you are in sick bay, the whole family is affected or should adjust to your situation. It's hard to get sick. A television commercial in the Philippines carry a slogan, "Bawal magkasakit!" (It's prohibited to get sick). When someone gets well from sickness, the next step is for that person to rest and regain his/her physical stamina. A day or two in bed or staying at home is common to prevent relapse before getting back into the groove of things.

This is not the case with Peter's mom in-law. Jesus healed her from fever. When the fever left, she left her bed. She served Jesus and the Twelve. She prepared the table and their meals. She fed their hungry stomachs. She rushed from the kitchen to the dining room. She waited on them. Peter's mom in-law did not need an extra day or two to rest to avoid relapse. She had her strength as if she has not been down by fever.

Hope we are like her. But most of the time, we are not. After you get a new job from a long lull in your career, you tell your leaders it's too much for you to take a new job and to serve at the same time. After you migrated from one country to another to begin a new chapter in your life, you say to your spouse to postpone your passion to actively serve Jesus. After you graduated from university, you explain to God in prayer that you focus on your job hunting rather than caring for His people.

When God heals, expect no relapse. When God puts you back on your feet, expect no relapse. When God renews you, when God revives you, expect no relapse. When God blesses you to another level, expect no relapse. When God expands your territory, expect no relapse. With Jesus near us, with Jesus grasping our hand and with Jesus helping us up, expect no relapse.

It’s not Dirty to be Unclean

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit… Mark 1:23

I was sitting at the campus park with the male student I was evangelizing; I was still working with Christ's Youth in Action (CYA) during that time. Afterward, his classmates pass by us and sarcastically remarked to him, "So, you are a member of CYA now?" The guy seemed deaf in those moments and I quickly answered for him, "Yes he is!" His classmates walked away scratching their heads. In my mind and heart, their scratching of their heads is justified. The guy I was evangelizing was a wretched. This guy is a drug addict. He is drunk when he comes to school. His grades are barely passing. He barely has friends. His family seems do not care about him.

He is like the man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue. With unclean spirit yet welcome in the synagogue. Society tells us only the clean may enter the synagogue. Society tells us the wretched and dirty will be excluded. The synagogue exists for the unclean. The church exists for the unclean. After all, we are all like him. We struggle in our imperfections. We are full of iniquities. Yet, we are in the synagogue. We are part of the church. We are members of this movement or charismatic community. We follow Christ not because we are perfect, but because we are cleansed and forgiven. We falter in loving Him, yet He does not falter in being faithful.

We won't pretend we are clean. We will not disguise as flawless. We welcome the unclean because they are one of us. Sit with them. Eat with them. See them in your church. Speak with them in your community. Pray with them. Pray for them. The synagogue has a place for each and one of us.

It's not dirty to be unclean.

Hardened Hearts

They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened. Mark 6:52

"Sasakit in bie." (Life is getting harder), I always heard these words from my deceased father when I was growing up. He narrated their difficult family life going through the Japanese occupation in the Philippines. He told us about the complicated transition he made to himself from being a farmer to becoming a small business owner. My father expounded on how much effort he puts in to gain a single centavo in order to bring food on the table. Today his eight children all finished schooling. His children live in somewhat comfortable level nowadays. Recently, I find myself uttering the same exact words. Recession hits my own family. We are caught in the midst of reduction of our benefits in my workplace. No salary increase happening. Since I am the only one working in the family, we have to fit in our bodies in the shrinking mat. I shared my fears and worries with my wife about our situation and she pointed me to trust God and His providence for us. With all the experience of God's intervention in our lives from my father's time and up now to our time, my heart is hardened.

I saw myself in Jesus' disciples. Their hearts were hardened. They did not understand the multiplication of the bread. They did not understand that in every situation our living God is in control. We always look at the present concern and do not recognize God's mighty actions in the past. Jesus will do more with less. Jesus comes to rescue us from the heavy winds. Jesus comes to assure us and to eliminate our fears. When in turmoil, Jesus assures us of His calming and comforting presence. Jesus stays with us in our sinking boat. This is the same Jesus of the past, present and future. We can hold on to His faithfulness in the past decades of our lives. We can look back on how much He has provided for our forefathers' needs. We can anchor our faith in His promises and understand how He fills our lack.

And when we understand that God multiplies and that He is in control, our hearts are hardened no more.

Unconditionally Beloved

And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." Luke 3:22

I came home from work with my elder daughter Praise was tentative to speak with me. I knew there was something wrong with her. Her mother told me that she got 78% in her Math test and she was very worried I would get mad at her. As I heard the news, I instantly said, "It's OK." I told her she is far more valuable than her grades for she is my daughter.

Bless, my younger daughter, dropped the digital camera and the camera malfunctioned. I also found some crayon writings on our window which she confessed of doing. I was talking to her about this as she was teary eyed, I told her she is far more valuable than the window and the camera for she is my daughter.

Jesus is the Father's beloved Son. Jesus was baptized and the Father affirmed His love for Jesus. Jesus has not cured any sick. He did not make the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, or walk on water. He has not multiplied bread and fishes and fed the hungry. No disciples to follow Jesus, yet the Father confirms Jesus' value as His Son and just by this truth, the Father is well pleased with Jesus. No accomplishments. No achievements. Still a beloved Son. Unconditionally beloved.

We are all God's children. Most often, we tend to think or act we need to do something in order to be loved by God. Sometimes, we have the belief that our value lies in what we do or what we have not done. Whatever wrongdoing or mistake we made in the past will not make the Father love us less. Whatever good or righteous act we have done in the past will not make the Father love us more. We are far more valuable than any of our success and failures. He is our Father and we are His sons and daughters and with that we are unconditionally beloved.

I am not the Messiah

And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites (to him) to ask him, "Who are you?" he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Messiah." John 1:19-20

He admitted it. He did not deny it. John knew it clearly. He is not the Messiah. Imagine priests and Levites coming together to visit him to ask him if he is the Savior they were waiting for. That's big time! He was living a righteous life. He has followers. He was speaking God's word. He was the voice calling out in the wilderness. He baptizes people with water. Yet he knew he has limitations. John knew he has boundaries. He cannot save us from our sins. He cannot take away the sins of the world. He cannot cure the sick. He cannot provide for the hungry five thousand men. He cannot turn water into wine in your wedding. He cannot walk on water. He cannot calm the storm. He will die but will not rise. Admire him for admitting it, "I am not the Messiah." Honor him for being honest, "I am not the Messiah."

Are we on the same page with John? Sometimes we have this so-called messianic complex. I find myself saying, "If I were there, the issue in the community would not have happened." You find yourself beaming, "We are a prosperous church or a blooming organization or a well to do family because I get the job done." We give ourselves a big pat on the back, "We are the answer to every problem." We have achieved so much and we are educated so much that we think we do not have limitations. We have reached far beyond we dream of that we think we have no boundaries. Honestly, we are full of cannots. No achievement or education will define you limitless. No dream fulfilled will provide us an open world.

Jesus is the Messiah. He is the Savior. He is the Lord. He takes away the sin of the world. He saves us from sin and death. He is limitless. He knows no boundaries. He has no cannots. He has no will nots.

Admit it and do not deny it, "I am not the Messiah." Jesus is.

You Have No New Messages

When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:12, 17

You go home from work or from somewhere else. You open the door, switch on the lights. Go after your phone to check voice mails. Your phone announces, "You have no new messages." Maybe you were anticipating somebody might have called when you were not home. Maybe you were expecting a friend to leave a message at the time you were not able to answer the phone. Maybe you are waiting for your spouse to call or drop a voice note at the time you were outside. And as you reach your finger to the phone set, it says you have no new messages.

John preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." When John was imprisoned, Jesus preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The same message. The same direction. The same point. This is the bottom line of the word of God - repent and believe. No new messages. Maybe a new inspiration or a new insight but it's the same message. Maybe a new speaker or a new preacher but it's the same message. Maybe a new book or a new blog but it's the same message. God's message is for men to turn from sin and believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Whether you are a young Christian or a mature Christian, repent and believe. You are a pastor or a follower, repent and believe. You are a struggling follower or a strong disciple, repent and believe. Two thousand years ago until now, repent and believe.

You have no new messages.

Step Up

When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:12, 17

It all happened when our dear father suffered a heart attack, Tatang spent some months in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). When we took him home, our father was bedridden and was paralyzed more than half of his body. Our brother Emil decided go back home to be our father's full-time nurse. He saw the vacancy. Seeing he was needed at home to look after our father, Emil didn't think twice to take accountability of the task at hand. Seeing his siblings will have hard time to do the nursing and care giving, technically, Emil offered his life. Beyond being a nurse, he was a son. He ate with our father. He slept beside our father. He gave him love and triple A class nursing care. He comforted our mother. He taught us how to take care of our parents. He stepped up.

Jesus, seeing John was arrested, stepped up. He took the responsibility of proclaiming "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He stepped up to the plate and He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people (Matthew 4:23). He took care of God's people as they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them (Matthew 4:24). Jesus stepped up.

Jesus does this in our lives. He steps up. When we lack, He provides. When we worry, He assures and He comforts. When we doubt, He fulfills promises. When we are enslaved, He frees us. When we are troubled, He is our refuge. When Jesus sees a vacancy in our lives, He fills the void. Jesus steps up.

Would you step up? When someone is having hard time, give your time. When someone is struggling, offer love and support. When someone is in need, provide your presence. When someone is constrained, stretch your hands.

There's always a vacancy. Step up.

Wrong Address

While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,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 2:6-7

Did he forget his address? Yes, Prince William of Wales. He slept on an icy cold street with other homeless fellows. There was no warm room for him. There was no heater for him. No comfy beddings for the young royal blood. No servants waiting for him to wake up. No royal guards protecting this prince who is second in line for the throne. His group was almost run over by the street sweeper. He did this only for one night. He then realized how much harder to sleep on the streets during winter time. He came to realize the unsafe and unsecured environment their people lived in. After that night, Prince William was never the same again.

Same thing happened to Jesus. Jesus, who was born in a manger, yet He is God and Prince of Peace. No angel servants to look if He is well taken cared for. No comfy baby beddings. No heat to supply the stable. No armored heavenly guards to protect the Son of God. Jesus might have been run over by a donkey or another resident of that manger. There was no room for them in the inn and maybe that’s why Mary and Joseph chose this wrong address. For the King of kings to become man. For Jesus to be one of us. For Jesus to live with us. For God to be with us. With His coming, we as God’s people will be safe and secured. And after that night, we will never be the same again.