Pakiwari Ko

UPLB Cooperative Housing

2011-08-11T04:48:00.004+08:00

Part of my formative years was in college, not merely the education, but living within a community of young men and boys called the UPLB Student Cooperative Housing. It wasn't just a dorm; it was an experience. I will let my friend Jo Florendo, who entered UP Los Baños in the same year I did, describe it:

Hindi magiging masaya ang taon ko bilang bagong salta sa eLBI kung hindi ako niyaya tumira sa coop.

Hindi kumpleto ang edukasyon ko sa buhay kung hindi ako nanirahan sa coop. Kaya ko maglinis ng banyo kahit walang tubig. O mag aral kahit walang kuryente.

Hindi ako inabot ng gutom sa coop kahit ubos na ang baon. May inihaw na biik, nilagang talbos ng kamote , at ginataang sawa at bayawak.

Hindi problema ang kawalan ng plato o kubyertos. Natuto akong kumain sa kaldero, sa panakip ng kaldero, at sa palanggana sa coop.

Hindi ako makakaligaw kung hindi ko suot ang cowboy boots ni Ange. Plus 5 pogi points agad

Hindi ako naubusan ng mapapagtanungan sa coop. Lahat ng unit may henyong tatahitahimik.

Hindi ako naubusan ng kaibigan sa coop. Kahit na matapos na ako sa eLBi o kahit hindi na nakatayo ang mga unit na tinuring kong bahay.

Hindi lang panlalake na dorm ang coop. Kung minsan, pag biyernes, sabado, at linggo may mga unit na nagiging coed din...

Hindi sa iloilo ko unang natikman ang masarap na daing na pusit. Sa Isarog [a dorm unit].

Hindi ko natutunan ang chem 16 kay Pada. Kay philbert. Hindi ko natutunan ang algebra kay obungen. Kay arnie.

Hindi magiging makulay ang buhay kung hindi ako napadpad sa coop.

Salamat sa hindi nakakalimot.... Jojo Florendo

Thought Busters

2010-09-23T10:19:00.002+08:00

I like the following article by John Maxwell on nurturing ideas.

Thought Busters by Dr. John C. Maxwell

The power of thought is indisputably great. For illustration, look at the life of Henry David Thoreau, a 19th-century Massachusetts philosopher.

In 1849, Thoreau, as a relatively unknown scholar, published his thoughts in a controversial essay about civil disobedience. The essay expressed his ideas about justice:

Not all laws are just.
A person should respect justice more than the law.
Without resorting to violence, a person of conscience is justified to transgress the law to protest its injustice.

Thoreau's thoughts, as the basis for nonviolent resistance, would end up fueling two of the greatest social advancements of the 20th century—Ghandi's struggle to free India from Britain's colonial rule and the American Civil Rights Movement led by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thoughts about Thinking

Thoughts never begin fully formed.

Have you ever looked through a microscope? At first glance, the image appears blurry and indistinct. However, after adjusting the lens, the image comes into focus, and you can see with remarkable clarity.

When thoughts enter my mind, they are hazy and disordered, much like the initial image seen through a microscope. I have to fine-tune my thoughts by dwelling upon them, and connecting them to other thoughts I've had. It takes awhile for me to wrestle with a thought before its merit becomes clear.

Thoughts take time to develop their potential.

I am not a naturally brilliant thinker. My mind doesn't overflow with out-of-the-box creativity. However, I do leverage experiences to stretch my thoughts. I have found that reflection turns my experience into insight. At the close of each day, I'll review important lessons I've learned. I'll mine failure until I've gained a nugget of wisdom, or I'll consider how the day's events validated or invalidated one of my ideas. Through time, evaluating my experiences helps my thoughts to expand and mature.

Thoughts take others to develop their potential.

Alone, my thoughts are shallow and unexceptional. However, I am able to polish and refine them through my interactions with other leaders. I enhance my own thinking by piggybacking on the wisdom of friend and colleagues. In conversations or observations of their behavior, I strengthen and confirm my own inklings about leadership and life.

Each of us is trapped inside our own perspective and limited by blind spots and prejudices. If we isolate ourselves, we diminish our minds, and our thoughts atrophy.

We are wise to seek out others to test our assumptions and sharpen our thinking.

Thoughts are very fragile in the beginning.

Gardeners know the delicate nature of a newly planted seedling. To survive, the plant must receive nourishment and be protected from harsh winds, weeds, or hungry animals. Until its roots take hold and its stem grows, the seedling is vulnerable.

Likewise, our thoughts are fragile at first. They are endangered by pessimism, busyness, insecurity, forgetfulness, and a host of other threats. In the words of Bob Biehl, “Ideas are like soap bubbles floating in the air close to jagged rocks on a windy day.”

In order to grow, our thoughts need careful attention and cultivation.

Thought Busters

Thoughts only reach their potential in a healthy environment. During my time as a leader, I've encountered the following environmental hazards, or thought busters, which threaten to destroy good thinking.

Criticism

When leaders pay any cost to ward off criticism, they sacrifice their best thoughts. In the words of Elbert Hubbard, "If you have something others don't have, know something others don't know, or do something others aren't doing, then, rest assured, you will be criticized." In my opinion, thinking requires boldness, the courage to be second-guessed, and readiness to endure conflict.

Lack of personal commitment to thinking

Taking action is by no means a negative quality in a leader. However, when a leader is all action, it's only a matter of time until he or she falls behind, steers off course, and surrenders the reins of leadership. I like Gordon MacDonald's appeal to mental fitness:

"In our pressurized society, people who are out of shape mentally usually fall victim to ideas and systems that are destructive to the human spirit and to the human relationship. They are victimized because they have not taught themselves how to think, nor have they set themselves to the lifelong pursuit of growth of the mind. Not having the faculty of a strong mind, they grow dependent upon the thoughts and opinions of others."

As leaders, thinking keeps us in front. Before we shape the future, we must get our minds in shape.

Excuses

"I don't have enough time," has been my most common excuse to avoid thinking. However, blaming time constraints is not a legitimate excuse. After all, a great idea is one of the greatest commodities a person can own. Besides, by taking the time to think, we invent smarter ways to expend our energy and resources.

"I'm not creative," has been another excuse of mine. Of course, blaming my lack of creativity is actually a sorry excuse for being lazy. Thinking well isn't easy. It takes concentration, focus, and, most challenging of all, the discipline to stop moving for a few moments.

John C. Maxwell is an internationally respected leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold more than 18 million books. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP, a non-profit organization that has trained more than 5 million leaders in 126 countries worldwide. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books that have sold more than a million copies.

Hostage-taking at a Kid's Level

2010-09-06T07:18:00.004+08:00

Yesterday afternoon, sept 5, my wife and I, with a bunch of young people, went to visit a friend in a hospital. Since I recall that there was a rule against small children visiting hospital premises, we left our youngest boys, Jojo and Jed, to play with schoolmates at the subdivision where our church meets to worship every Sunday.

Pagdating namin galing visit, dumating ang bunso kong si Jed na umiiyak. Napag-alaman namin na sinaktan daw siya ng kalaro niya. Mukhang away-bata lang naman at di dapat makialam ang mga matatanda.

Nang pinakwento na namin kung ano ang nangyari, nanood pala sila o naglaro sa loob ng bahay ng kaklase. Habang nandoon, biglang umulan nang malakas at matagal. Tapos, may baril-barilan pala ang kalaro nina Jed na naubusan ng bala. Dahil bawal lumabas ang kapatid niya (umuulan nga eh), pinalalabas niya either si Jed or si Jojo para bumili ng bala. Dahil umuulan nga, eh, hindi sila lumabas para bumili. Nainis ang may-ari ng baril. "Kung hindi kayo lalabas, sasaktan ko kayo." Eh, umuulan nga. So, kinuha niya ang remote at pinalo sa kamay ang anak ko. Noong time na yun, wala munang reaksyon. Pero nang lumabas na sila dahil pinatawag na namin, saka siya umiyak.

Bakit ako nagre-react nang ganito? Kasi nakita ko na na-hostage ang mga anak ko ng isang bata, at sa huli nag-snap ang hostage-taker at sinaktan niya ang anak ko. Bata pa lang naman. Laruan lang. Pero there are principles and lessons for life dito. Let me try to enumerate some:

Kung ikaw ay may hawak ng kapangyarihan, ang pang-aapi ay kasuklam-suklam. Huwag abusuhin ang position of strength. Kailan ba tuturuan ang mga future presidents na absolute power corrupts absolutely? Saan kaya natutunan ng batang ito na mang-hostage?
Kung ikaw ay pinagtitiwalaan, huwag mo namang abusuhin ang tiwala. Akala ng anak ko, friend niya ang kaklase. Hindi pala. Bully. Sabi ni Jesus, "It is better for you to be thrown into a lake with a millstone around your neck rather than cause one of these little ones to sin." If my son sinned in his heart dahil sa ginawa sa kanya, this other boy should be thrown into a lake.
When you invite someone to your house and thus enjoys your hospitality, lumampas ka na sa nararapat kung sinaktan mo ang bisita mo. Ganyan ba ang trato sa bisita? There's a cardinal rule for hospitality that the visitor is safe in your house.
Para naman sa anak ko, magtitiwala pa ba siya sa ibang tao? Trust is a precious thing, and trust abused is hard to repair. Unless you are gracious or a fool. So, alin kaya dito ang anak ko?
Kapag inaapi ang kapatid mo, doing nothing is saying something. You are agreeing to a despicable situation.
Abusers start small. Who knows what form of abuse will come next.
Etc. I'm still thinking of some more.

I have had a talk with my sons about this. We'll continue over the following days.

The Seven Wonders of the World

2009-12-03T15:52:00.000+08:00

THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD

A group of students was asked to list what they thought were the present
Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the
following got the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one quiet student
hadn't turned in her paper yet, so she asked the girl if she was having
trouble with her list. The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't
quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said,
"Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help." The girl
hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. TO SEE
2. TO TASTE
3. TO TOUCH
4. TO HEAR."

She hesitated a little, and then added,

"5. TO FEEL
6. TO LAUGH
7. AND TO LOVE."

The room was so full of silence you could have heard a pin drop.

Those things we overlook as simple and ordinary are truly wondrous.
This is a gentle reminder that the most precious things in life cannot
be bought...but are gifts from above. (James 1:17)

>From Mikey's Funnies at www.mikeysFunnies.com

Fire-Words

2009-08-17T11:42:00.002+08:00

for a writer and an editor, the following poem from Amy Carmichael is terrifying to contemplate...

Fire-Words
Amy Carmichael

I cried and said, “O God, my words are cold!
The frosted frond of fern or feathery palm
On whitened window wrought
As near to burning are, as these my words;
Oh that they were as flames!”

God answered me:
“Thou shalt have words
But at this price, that thou must first be burnt,
Burnt by red embers from a secret fire,
Scorched by fierce heats and withering winds that sweep
Through all thy being, carrying thee afar
From old delights. Doth not the ardent fire
Consume the mountain's heart before the flow
Of fervent lava ? Wouldst thou easefully,
As from cool pleasant fountains flow in fire?
Say, can thy heart endure
Or can thy hands be strong
In the day that I shall deal with thee?

For first the iron must enter thine own soul,
And wound and brand it, scarring awful lines
Indelibly upon it, and a hand
Resistless in a tender terribleness
Must thoroughly purge it, fashioning its pain
To power that leaps in fire.
Not otherwise, and by no lighter touch,
Are fire-words wrought."

-=-=-
... “I am convinced that the world is not a mere bog in which men and women trample themselves and die. Something magnificent is taking place here amidst the cruelties and tragedies, and the supreme challenge to intelligence is that of making the noblest and best in our curious heritage prevail.”
-- C.A. Beard

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!"

Frustrations of an editor

2009-07-30T08:42:00.001+08:00

*Bible Bafflement *

My friend opened a ministry, using a snippet from the Bible as the name.
But he soon regretted his decision to order office supplies
over the phone. When his stationery arrived, it bore the letterhead
"That Nun Should Perish."

this happens a lot... ;-)

Sagot ni God sa Crisis

2009-07-08T09:08:00.001+08:00

Ruth 2:5-12; 15-16

Intro:

Maraming OFW at Pinoy na nandito sa Pilipinas ang nakakaramdam ng crisis. Subsob sa trabahao at said ang lahat ng oras sa trabaho para kumita kaya wala nang time o pera para sa ibang bagay. Ganyan lang ba ang takbo ng buhay?

Sa kwento ni Boaz at Ruth, makikita natin ang isang utos ng Diyos sa kanyang bayan tungkol sa pag-handle ng harvest ng trigo at iba pang pananim. Basically, sinasabi ng Panginoon, kung magha-harvest ka, magtira ka ng konti para sa mga mahihirap na sisimot ng tira-tira mo. Anong lesson ang mapupulot natin? Based sa Leviticus 19:9-10, inutusan ni Boaz ang kanyang mga tauhan na hwag gambalain si Ruth sa pamumulot. Marami pang favor ang binigay ni Boaz. Pero nag-ugat ang lahat sa utos ng Diyos tungkol sa pakikipag-ugnay sa mga foreigner, kawawa, at api.

3 mensahe ng Diyos para sa Cristianong manggagawa:

“Magtira ka naman. Ako ang may-ari ng lahat.”

Ano ba ang mahalaga sa atin? Hindi naman tayo farmer. Pero meron tayong sweldo. Meron tayong oras o panahon. Sabi ng Diyos, “Magtira ka. Kasi may paggagamitan ako dyan.” Hindi lahat ay pwede mong gamitin para sa gusto mo lang. Atsaka, hindi tayo ang may-ari. Steward lang tayo.
“Ako ang magpupuno sa kulang kung magtitira ka.”

Sa dami ng needs, hindi talaga sapat ang ating kita. Totoo yan. Alam ng Diyos yan. And yet, sinasabi ng Diyos na pwede tayong magtabi ng konti o proportion ng ating resources para sa kanyang purpose. Paulit-ulit yan sa OT at NT. Sa Malachi 3:10, magbigay ka raw ng tithes at sisiguruhin ng Diyos na hindi mapepeste at masasalot ang ating mga pananim. Sa Matthew 6:24-35, hinahabol ng mga pagano ang pangtustos sa kailangang kainin, suutin, tirhan, etc. Hinahabol nila ang panggastos, kaya wala nang panahon sa ibang bagay. Sabi ng Panginoon, hep, hep, teka muna. Unahin mo ang agenda ko. Kingdom ko muna at katuwiran. At lahat ng pangangailangan mo ay masasagot. Pero ito ay laging step of faith. Hindi ito mapipilit sayo. Mapapatunayan lang ng nagtitiwala sa Diyos pagkatapos ng hakbang ng pagtiwala at pagsunod.
“Mas unang priority ang glory ko kaysa specific needs mo.”

Parang negative. Pero, kung titingnan sa tamang perspective, sinasabi lang dito na makukuha at matatanggap ni Lord ang glory at honor na para sa kanya whether masagot ang needs natin, hindi masagot ang needs natin, o masagot nga pero sa unexpected na paraan. Hindi natin pwedeng ikahon ang glory ni Lord in terms ng ating needs and concerns. Mas malaki, malawak, malalim ang purpose ni Lord. Sa pananaw ni Lord, pareho lang opportunity na maka-receive sya ng glory at honor whether we live or die, be healed from sickness or succomb to it, become rich or become poor. Gusto natin ang ating definition ng magandang kapalaran. But sometimes, God gets glory in something we don't like.

In the end, God will get glory. How we respond to needs and worries determine if we join in giving glory to God or not. Katulad ng love story ni Boaz at Ruth, nagsimula sa personal needs and concerns. Pero sa mas malaking story, part sila ng history ng pag-save ng Diyos sa sanlibutan. There were some negative aspects of their lives that we can point out: old bachelor si Boaz; foreigner na byuda si Ruth. Mahirap lang si Ruth and Naomi. Maraming tsismisan. However, they were people of faith, and they trusted God, and obeyed God. They gave glory to God. God received glory, their needs were met, at natupad ang purpose ni Lord sa kanilang buhay.

Mangyari din sana sa atin.

Spell Checker

2009-06-22T14:42:00.001+08:00

Spell Checker
==============

Eye halve a spelling checker,
It came with my pea sea,
It plainly marks four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rarely ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
I'm shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect in it's weigh,
My checker tolled me sew.

For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
"In prayer; expect setbacks, but refuse retreat." Richard Eastman
Do your best, Bring out the best in others.
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,
tell the problem how Great the Lord is!!
Yesterday is Gone.
Tomorrow is not Promised.
What have you done for Christ today?

To subscribe or unsubscribe visit
http://www.christianchallengeandblessing.com

Mabuhay Ka, Francis M.!

2009-03-10T20:01:00.000+08:00

Ngayon, March 10, 2009, ang huling lamay para kay Francis M. Iki-cremate na sya bukas. Marami syang iniwang idea at prinsipyo. Sa akin lang, para sa humahanga sa kanya, hindi tayo kailangang malunod sa lungkot. Isipin na lang natin ang saloobin nya na nilapatan nya ng musika. Sabi nya sa "Mga Kababayan Ko", kaya nating abutin ang ating minimithi. Na hindi kailangang ibaba ang iba para maabot ang gusto. Sinabi nya rin na magsisimula ito kung bibilib tayo tayo sa ating sarili. Realistic naman siya sa pag-observe ng nangyayari sa paligid, nevertheless meron siyang message ng pag-asa. Marami pa, pakinggan mo ang ibang sinabi nya sa mga kanta nya.

Mabuhay Ka, Francis M! Bayani ka rin.

Am I left-brain or right-brain?

2008-08-27T05:52:00.000+08:00

You Are 40% Left Brained, 60% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.
Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.
If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.
Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.

The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.
Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.
If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.
Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

from http://www.blogthings.com/areyourightorleftbrainedquiz/

Sariling Bait

2008-08-18T16:29:00.000+08:00

According to John in the book of Revelation, a time will come when peoples from all tribes, nations, tongues, etc. will gather together in one humongous worship service and offer to God song after song of worship that speak of their collective mind, will, and emotion.

I wonder, after observing many worship events led by Filipinos for Filipinos, what language will be most commonly used. English most probably. Ironic isn't it? Even this blog post is in English. On the other hand, English is my fourth language.

Nang una akong maging conscious, Ilonggo ang salita ko. Kasi, Ilongga ang nanay ko. Nagising ang aking awareness sa M'lang, Cotabato. Tapos, lumipat kami sa Toril, Davao City, tapos sa Mati, Davao Oriental. Cebuano naman ang salita ng mga kaibigan ko. Ang tatay ko galing sa Lanuza, Surigao Del Sur, at ang salita nila ay Surigaonon, which is a wholly different language altogether. Anyway, natuto ako ng Tagalog sa elementary. Lalo na nang lumipat kami sa Parañaque. Nang mag-grade 5 ako, lumipat naman kami sa Dagupan City. Pangasinense ang salita doon. That's my fifth language. Add to the mix is a little Ilocano, Albay Bicolano, and college Spanish. Let's not include Hebrew and Greek. Limot ko na itong dalawang huli.

I own these languages because I have come to love the people who speak them. God has allowed me to serve Him among these people groups. I can be at home in any one of these languages. I can worship in any of these languages, maybe after a little practice. Pero, there are so few worship sung or chanted or read in these languages except English. Bakit kaya ganun? When I participate in inter-church or inter-denominational worship services, bakit kaya halos lahat ng kanta sa English? Bakit puro na lang galing sa Hillsong or kay Don Moen or some other hip foreign group/band ang kinakanta natin? Wala ba tayong sariling bait? Hindi ako bothered dati, pero as the years go by, kakaunti yata ang nadadagdag na bagong kanta na ang titik ay sa salita natin. Darating kaya tayo sa langit na kapag nandoon na tayo, ang worship songs natin ay hiram pa rin? Hindi kaya nakakahiya yon? Sing to the LORD a new song! Does it have to be always in English?

We are a singing people. Music is in our soul as a nation. Bakit kaya kakaunti ang ginagawa nating awit na papuri at pagsamba sa sarili nating salita?

Kapag Nawalan ka ng Lugar

2008-06-09T16:02:00.000+08:00

When you fall between the cracks. When life suddenly brings disaster and all you can do is howl in fear and anger. Based on Genesis 21:8-21. Para sa mga tinamaan ng dagok sa buhay.

To listen to streaming audio, click here.
To download, right click here, and choose "Save as..."

Sino itong pinagtitiwalaan natin?

2008-05-09T05:49:00.002+08:00

Who is this whom we trust? My sermon last May 4, 2008 at Kingsland BC. Based on Genesis 18:16-33.

To listen to streaming audio, click here.
To download, right click here. Choose "Save as..."

Alam na natin kung sino ang magre-rescue sa atin. We are going recall who this God whom we trust is. Happy listening.

Who wants to master you?

2008-03-10T22:37:00.004+08:00

Here is my sermon yesterday, March 9, 2008 - "Who wants to master you?"
To listen to audio stream, click here.
To download, right click here. Choose "Save as..."

Nahuli ni Lord

2008-03-10T08:43:00.000+08:00

I preached on Genesis 12:10-20 yesterday sa church. It's about Abram being tested right after God told him his lifetime calling, formed a covenant with him, and gave him a commission. Two obvious fears ni Abrah--fear of going hungry, and fear of being killed. Sino ang hero dito? Si God na naman. God caught Abram in his lying and failure as a man of God and a husband. God showered his grace to Abram and Sarai sa pamamagitan ni Pharaoh. Nahuli si Abram sa kanyang pagsisinungaling. This man of God, "Father of faith", needed God's grace at this time.

Abram failed his test because he looked for a functional savior to save him from his "hell". What is your greatest fear? Who do you run for comfort? Sabi ni Mark Driscoll sa kanyang sermon, "An idol is something or someone you trust to save you from the intolerable circumstance you define." May idol ka ba sa buhay?

The good news is that although Abram failed the test, God remembered his call, his covenant, and his commission kay Abram. God sent Pharaoh and his servants to bring Abram back to where God wanted him to be.

"Panginoon, kung pumalpak man ako, i-rescue po ninyo ako sa sarili kong butas."

additional scripture songs

2008-03-09T14:37:00.000+08:00

meron akong dinagdag na 2 bagong scripture songs. check natz62.multiply.com

Free Scripture Songs

2008-03-07T10:37:00.003+08:00

I just discovered a blog by the Altrogge father Mark and son Stephen, The Blazing Center. They give away free scripture songs. You can listen or download. Check out the link on the sidebar.

Overcoming Our Pet Sin

2008-03-01T06:21:00.002+08:00

Nag-message ako sa First BC Cavite City last Feb 16 for the youth fellowship nila.

To listen to streaming audio, click here.
To download audio, right click here. Choose "Save as..."

Who Remembers?

2008-02-19T21:25:00.002+08:00

Genesis 8:1-9

Who remembers where we are and what we're going through?

To listen to the streaming media, click here.
To download, right click here. Choose "Save as..."

My Love Language

2008-02-11T21:40:00.000+08:00

I feel loved when...

The Five Love Languages

My Primary Love Language is Physical Touch

My Detailed Results:
Physical Touch:	10
Acts of Service:	7
Words of Affirmation:	6
Quality Time:	5
Receiving Gifts:	2

About this quiz

Unhappiness in relationships is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. It can be helpful to know what language you speak and what language those around you speak.

Tag 3 people so they can find out what their love language is.

Take the Quiz!
Check out the Book

Manhood Ceremony for JJ

2008-02-11T14:36:00.000+08:00

I just remembered that my eldest, my son Joshua, reached thirteen years old last January 3. Na-miss ko ang significance nito! Teen-ager na si JJ. Napansin ko kahapon, may bigote na siya. Two significant events have passed na hindi ko nabigyan ng karapatang emphasis. Graduation niya from Grade 6 last year at 13th bday nya this year. I'm going to make up for it. I'm going to ask some of the men in the church for a special dinner to "call" my son into manhood. Soon.

What is your inclination?

2008-02-06T21:41:00.000+08:00

Continuing to podcast.

What is your inclination? Gen 6:1-9.

To listen to streaming audio, click here.
To download, right click here. Choose "Save as..."

Who Owns Your Negatives? - Podcast

2008-01-21T15:38:00.000+08:00

I am making my sermon "Who Owns Your Negatives?" on Genesis 4:1ff on January 20, 2008 at Kingsland Baptist Church, Kingsland Village, Dasmariñas, Cavite available on podcast.

To listen to streaming audio, click here.
To download, right click here. Choose "Save as..."

Hope this blesses you.

Boracay scene 092

2007-10-30T17:31:00.001+08:00

Boracay scene 092
Originally uploaded by natz62m

boats for island-hopping

3 Tanong

2007-09-20T11:06:00.000+08:00

Here's one of many ways to turn a conversation towards the good news of Jesus...

Meron akong nabasa sa Baptist Press News release (18 September 2007). Ikinuwento ng isang evangelist kung paano nya pinapapunta ang anumang pag-uusap patungo sa pag-share ng Gospel. Meron daw siyang tatlong magagandang tanong na conversation starters. Hindi ito diagnostic questions katulad ng sa EE. Pampagana lang ng usapan, ika nga.

Una, pagkatapos makipagkilala at makigaanan ng loob sa isang bagong kakilala, itatanong niya, “Ano ang pinakagusto-gusto mong nangyari sa buhay mo ngayon?” Kung magsi-share siya, ok. Kung hindi, ok rin.

Pangalawa, kung maraming oras, itatanong niya, “Ano kaya ang pinaka-importanteng ginawa ng Diyos para sa iyo sa tanang buhay mo?” O, di ba papunta na sa mga usaping maka-Diyos? Matalino!

Pangatlo, kung seryosohan na, itatanong niya, “Sa palagay mo, ano kaya ang nire-require ng Diyos para magkaroon ng kaugnayan/relationship ang isang tao sa Kanya?” Subtle, 'no? Conversations, instead of hard sell. Nakikisabay lang sa takbo ng pagtitiwala ng kausap mo sayo. What do you think?

A Pinoy's Look at the Lord's Prayer

2007-09-03T13:46:00.000+08:00

I'm reviewing a book by Mike Breen and Mark Kallestad, A Passionate Life (Colorado Springs, CO: NexGen, 2005). One of the themes is prayer, and the model is in Matthew 6:9-13. The teachings inspired me to attempt to approach this model prayer from my perspective as a Pinoy.

Tatay namin, kayo ang kataas-taasan,
Paano namin mapapatingkad ang kaluwalhatian nyo?

Tay, ano'ng gusto nyo? Kayo ang masusunod.
Tay, marami kami'ng kailangan sa araw na ito. I-provide nyo po....
Tay, patawarin nyo kami gaya ng pagpapatawad namin sa may utang sa'min.
Tay, h'wag nyo kaming iwan nang di kami mahulog sa tukso.
Tay, iadya nyo kami mula sa dilang masama.

Kayo lang, Tay, ang magaling, makapangyarihan, at sikat, ngayon at magpakailanman. Promise.

Pakiwari Ko

2007-08-14T11:05:00.001+08:00

My Personality

2007-07-18T10:01:00.001+08:00

Here something about me:

A New Discipleship Tool

2007-06-08T14:27:00.000+08:00

Mga kapatid,

Dumating na kahapon from the printing house a discipleship tool which I wrote (with lots of thoughts from wiser and more knowledgeable people). Tingnan nyo ang cover. The blurb at the back says:

A vision for the people of God...

The New Testament describes the Church as a living organism, a body whose one head is Jesus but has many parts. It is a living community which is growing and who welcomes new members into its fold.

Who takes care of new followers of Jesus? The burden cannot be carried by the pastors and leaders only. This can be like the coming of a new baby into a family. Filipino families, in general, depend on a host of helping hands to take care of the new member of the family. There's ate and kuya, lolo and lola, auntie and uncle, friends and neighbors (if possible), and yaya for those who can afford it. Taking care of a new member of the family is a bayanihan effort. It takes a community to raise up a child.

In the same way, it takes a spiritual community to grow spiritual followers of Jesus. The more helping hands, the better. Here is where an ordinary believer can contribute to the vision of building up the kingdom of God where he is. Any maturing believer in Jesus can help by coming alongside a new follower of Jesus to help that person grow deeper and stronger in his or her relationship with the Lord. This book, Helping a New Follower of Jesus to Grow, is a tool for that kind of a growing relationship.

God works quietly and secretly among men and women who have surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus. He does not apply a forceful power that cannot be resisted. God is rather like a man planting a seed. Its success depends on the type of soil in which it is planted. Like a mustard seed, its growth is slow and undetectable. Yet at a future day, Godliness will come out in great power and glory. What is so great about it is that God invites everyone who calls upon him as Lord and Savior to partner with him in his projects. Would you like to take a part in God's kingdom work? Try it and see how great a thing God can do in you and through you.

I work with Church Strengthening Ministry as an editor. Now I'm a published writer (grabe). The book will be available at your nearest PCBS bookstore.

More than Average

2007-05-03T15:57:00.000+08:00

Here is something from Inquirer.net that speaks of courage in the face of despair:

More than average
AGM
Inquirer

April 28, 2007

MANILA, Philippines -- I am an eternal optimist. Born to a family of pessimists with a narrow-minded view of the world, I have spent most of my life keeping my true self to myself. I may be surrounded by familiar people but none of them really knows me.

It’s a sad life. I started working a year before I started going to school. We were taught hard work at a young age. I never get to have the whole day to play but I don’t really mind.

We’re a big family. Mom and Dad can hardly support us all, so everyone needs to do his/her share. Waking up at 5 a.m. to start making hundreds of sandwiches and repacking all of them neatly is not something to look forward to in the morning. Breakfast and lunch are hurried affairs. I have borne the silent stares and taunts of kids my age for being indifferent.

Life became harder when I started going to school. We all had to wake up at 3:30 a.m. so we could finish making and delivering the goods to the canteen and still have time to take a quick bath before going to our classes.

Because there are so many of us and work occupies all of my parents’ time, they never had time to teach us the basics. When I first started wearing shoes, I put them on the wrong feet. And because my shoes were hand-me-downs from my older sister, I had to fill a lot of spaces with old newspaper so they would fit. It was a week after classes began when my mother’s co-teacher noticed that I was wearing my shoes the wrong way. She told my mom about it, and that’s how I learned to wear them the right way.

I hated rainy days. Because my shoes were over used, the soles provided very little protection and became water-logged when it rained. I would spend the whole day trying to hide my wet socks and discomfort.

We usually prepared our school clothes at night to make sure we had clean underwear and socks. We never had enough of those, and quite often we had to wash them right away after taking them off and hang them in front of the electric fan to be used the next day.

My Dad fits the stereotype of a macho man. He gambles, smokes, drinks and acts as if he had no care in the world. But he’s also the best nanny and cook that I have ever known. He never finished college, and never really had much ambition. He is contented to do the household chores while mom teaches in school.

That doesn’t mean he works less. Doing household chores and raising seven girls and one boy will surely make any woman go crazy. But not him. He pampers us by cooking exceptional meals and though the children have to work to make both ends meet, we have never missed a meal.

I’ve always preferred Dad’s cooking to Mom’s, but I have kept it a secret so that she wouldn’t feel jealous. In fact, he does everything better, be it doing the laundry or being a parent.

Mom is the disciplinarian and I almost hated her when I was growing up. She has very little patience. But we are still lucky to have a Mom like her.

When Dad goes out on his bicycle, he is certain to bring back home something good to eat: “kalamay,” “sapin-sapin,” “pichi-pichi,” “suman” or fruits. When I was picked to read during Masses for children, he made sure I would never be late. He would take me to the church every Saturday on his bicycle. But he wouldn’t go inside the church, and just wait outside until the Mass was over and then he would take me some place to eat. Those are some of my happiest memories.

I never really had a mentor or a guide. My siblings and I learned to do things on our own. Even though my Mom is a teacher, she didn’t have time to teach us. Which is quite understandable, because if you crave for sleep and rest the whole day, it takes superhuman effort to be kind and patient.

My learning skills were not at par with my older sisters’. It was harder for me to learn. I was an average student with lots of work to do. Studying was something that I could only do at school, and the time to do homework was just before dinner. I would get a scolding if I took more time for study since I was supposed to be putting “kikiam” and squid balls in sticks or rolling a thousand cheese sticks to be sold the next day. Mom could make us do anything by threatening to make us stop our schooling. (My parents don’t know how lucky they are.)

If I have anything in excess, it is pride. I don’t admit defeat and can’t stand being laughed at. Growing up with my father, I became like him, complacent and easy to please. I liked going to school because it was easier than staying at home and repacking some goods. In school I got to sit and rest the whole day and could even draw on my notebooks whenever the teacher was not around. I had friends and pretended that my life was as easy as theirs.

I was in Grade I when our teacher called each one of us to read an English story. Those who couldn’t were ordered to stand up for the rest of the class period.

I was one of them. I couldn’t read even a word. When the bell rang, that was the signal for us to go out. A classmate made fun of me, saying in her loud, squeaky voice: “Ay, anak ng teacher ‘di marunong bumasa! Bobo! Bobo! Bobo!” [“A teacher’s daughter -- and she can’t read! Dumb! Dumb! Dumb!”]

I remember feeling my face burn with tears and shame. I have never forgotten that day.

Something good came out of the bullying: It made me work harder and throw away all my lame excuses about being a slow learner and not having enough time. My Mom was amazed when I asked for the Grade 2 text books and I began studying them during the summer vacation.

The next school year, I got first honors and felt like I had won a personal battle.

It did not stop there. I learned to like learning and developed an insatiable appetite for reading. At the age of 9, I had read all of my sister’s high school text books and even summarized “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo.” Indeed, I have read all the random books in our house, and found refuge in them.

I used my time conscientiously and worked twice as hard. I would have loved to finish each school year with honors but most of the time, I could only catch up with the lesson after the exam had been given. I could have earned higher grades if only my body were as strong as my will. My only consolation was that I really did learn everything taught in school and none of my teachers could say that I wasted their effort and time.

I am still a Daddy’s girl. I love to cook just like him, and he has taught me his secrets. We are still not well off, but I don’t have to roll a thousand cheese sticks before being allowed to go to sleep. I have finished my degree and passed the board exams. I work for only eight hours a day and spend my extra time anyway I wish. Two of my younger siblings will be graduating from college this year, and only two will be left to finish their studies. Next year will be better and I may be able to keep half of my salary.

AGM, 24, works as a chemist in a private company.

This article is found in http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=63776

Kami'y Katagpuin

2007-05-03T09:21:00.000+08:00

Bago ko sagutin ang post kahapon, mas makakabuti kung ilalagay natin sa context ang lahat. Many of us feel we are in a heap of trouble. So how to get a right and good perspective without losing grasp of the immediate situation? Worship. Sumamba.

Kami'y Katagpuin

Narito kami, nagpapakumbaba;
Sumasamba sa iisang Diyos.
Hinahanap namin kariktan ng 'yong mukha;
Sumasamo sa 'yong pagkilos.

Tulay:
At sa himig na hain tanging dalangin
Kami'y katagpuin...

Koro:
Iparanas mo sa 'min ang 'yong kapangyarihan;
Ipamalas mo sa 'min ang 'yong kaluwalhatian.
Hanggang ang aming kalul'wa'y mapuspos nang lubusan
At sa 'ming kalagitnaa'y bumaba
Ang kalangitan;
Dakila ang 'yong ngalan!

Para sa Tatay

2007-05-02T15:40:00.000+08:00

The following article was forwarded to me thru an email. The original writer seems to express the "Absent Father Wound". I will post my response later.

Para sa Aking Tatay

1980 ako ipinanganak. Tatlong taon bago pinatay si Ninoy Aquino at anim na taon bago ang EDSA uprising. Taon ding ito nang nagkaroon ng malaking krisis sa langis ang buong mundo. P24.00 ang palitan ng dolyar sa piso at 48 milyon na ang populasyon ng Pilipinas. Ito rin ang taong unang pumunta ng Middle East ang tatay ko para magtrabaho.

Isang karpintero ang Tatay. Isang skilled worker. Malaki ang pangangailangan ng bansang pupuntahan ni Tatay sa mga katulad niya. Sabi ng Nanay mahirap daw ang buhay noong mga panahong iyon. Inabot na raw ang bansa ng economic depression na galing sa Europa at Amerika. Kaya minabuti ng Tatay na mag-abroad. Anupa't dalawa ang pinag-aaral niya at may bago na naman siyang bibig na pakakainin.

Parating pinapaalala sa amin ng Nanay na "nagtiis kaming magkahiwalay ng tatay ninyo para magkaroon tayo ng maginhawang buhay." Palibhasa'y parehas galing sa hirap, kaya siguro ganoon na lamang ang pananaw nila. Uuwi kada dalawang taon, tapos aalis na ulit pagkalipas ng dalawang buwan. Ganyan ang pattern ng buhay ng tatay ko.

Pumutok ang giyera sa Middle East noong 1989. Doon ko unang narinig ang mga salitang Operation: Desert Storm at Third Anti-Christ. Nandoon din si Tatay. Isang beses lamang siya nakatawag sa loob ng tatlong taon niyang pagkaka-stranded sa bansang iyon. Mabuti naman daw ang lagay niya. May tirahan naman daw sila at husto sa lahat ng pangangailangan. Hindi naman daw sila gagalawin sa giyera sabi ng embahada ng Pilipinas dahil hindi naman daw sila kasali sa awayan ng dalawang bansa at ng pakialamerong Amerika. Iyon naman pala eh, bakit ka pa rin nandyan?! Na-imagine ko na lang tuloy ang Tatay na parang isa sa mga sibilyan na dumadaan habang nakikipagbarilan ako sa larong Operation: Wolf sa SM City. Nang mahawi ang mga usok ng giyera umuwi na ang Tatay. Wala pang isang taon ay nakita ko na naman ang aking sarili na nakasakay sa arkiladong dyip para ihatid ang Tatay sa Airport papuntang Middle East. Ikaw ba naman ang magkaroon ng pinag-aaral na nurse, isang seminarista at tatlo pa sa elementarya. Kailangang kumayod, kailangang kumita.

Kung tutuusin maraming na-miss ang Tatay sa buhay naming magkakapatid, lalo na sa akin. Wala siya nang una akong magtalumpati sa entablado. Wala din siya nang grumadweyt ako ng elementarya at hayskul. Wala siya nang una akong nakipagsuntukan sa kaklase ko nang inasar ako nito habang binibigay ko ang libreng plastic na singsing na galing sa cheese curls sa kaklase kong babae. Wala din siya para turuan akong magbasketbol tulad ng ginagawa ng mga kapitbahay ko sa kanilang anak. Wala rin siya para panoorin si Kuya na contestant sa Student Canteen at ako naman para sabitan niya ng medalya para sa mga math competition na sinalihan ko. Wala siya nang dumating ako sa punto ng aking buhay, na siya ring kinakatakutan ng lahat ng katulad kong nagbibinata--ang magpatuli. Wala rin siya para turuan akong maglanggas. Wala siya nang kauna-unahang lumabas ang pangalan ko sa dyaryong pang-estudyante bilang isang editor. Ipinagtabi ko siya ng mga kopya para maipagmalaki sa kanyang pagdating. Wala siya nang una akong tumikim ng alak dahil binasted ako ng dinidigahan kong babae. Wala rin siya nang sumubok akong manigarilyo at itapon ito pagkatapos ng dalawang hithit pa lang. Wala siya, wala siya parati.

Napansin ko na lamang na mas naiibuhos naming magkakapatid ang oras naming sa labas ng bahay at sa eskwelahan. Ang Ate ay kagawad ng Sangguniang Kabataan, ang Kuya naman ay matagal nang kinuha ng seminaryo, ang dalawa kong kapatid ay may mga sarili nang kina-career at ako naman ay natutuon sa aking pagsusulat.

Dumating ang isa sa pinakamasayang araw ng buhay ko, ang pagdating ng Tatay at sabihing ito na ang huli niyang uwi dahil hindi na siya babalik ulit sa abroad.

Makalipas ang ilang buwan, trinangkaso ang Tatay. Sabi ng doktor ay overfatigue lang daw at kailangan niyang magpahinga. Pagkaraan nang ilang buwan, na-diagnose na may tumubong tumor sa utak ng Tatay at malignant na ito. Minsan naitanong sa akin ng uncle kong doktor kung nauntog ba ang Tatay o nabagsakan ng mabigat na bagay sa ulo. Nahihiyang ngiti, kamot sa ulo at isang "hindi ko po alam" lang ang naisagot ko.

Kung gaano kabilis na nadiskubre ang tumor niya sa utak ay ganun din kabilis na binawi sa amin ng Diyos ang Tatay. Habang pinagmamasdan ko ang Tatay habang mapayapa itong nakahimlay noong burol niya, nahihirapang tumulo ang luha ko. Kung tutuusin, hindi ko kilala ang taong ito. Siya ang tatay ko. Kalahati ng pagkatao ko ay galing sa kanya. Pero kung tatanungin mo ako kung anong gusto niyang timpla ng kape, kung allergic ba siya sa hipon na paborito ko, kung San Miguel o Purefoods ba ang team niya sa PBA--isang malaking EWAN lang ang maisasagot ko sa iyo. Noong bata pa ako, nasa abroad ang Tatay. Kapag nandito naman siya para magbakasyon, mas malaking oras ang nagugol niya sa pag-aasikaso ng mga papeles niya para sa susunod niyang pag-alis. Nang tumigil na siya sa pagtatrabaho, ako naman ang abala sa mga reports, periodical examinations at mga research works. Nang nasa ospital na siya, kahit makipagkuwentuhan ay mahirap nang gawin dahil halos hindi na siya maintindihang magsalita dulot ng chemotherapy.

Matagal nang patay ang Tatay. Minsan nabalitaan kong dumating na ang seaman na tatay ng boss ko, pilit ko siyang pinauuwi nang maaga. Minsan ding buong kawilihan kong pinagmamasdan ang isang kaibigan ko na nagmamadali dahil baka masaraduhan na siya ng grocery. Kailangan niyang makabili ng ingredients ng spaghetti dahil 'yun daw ang bilin ng tatay niyang na-stroke. Minsan rin nang makainuman ko ang matalik kong kaibigan habang binubuhos niya sa akin ang sama ng loob niya sa pagbabalik ng tatay niya na malupit sa kanila nang mahabang panahon at ipinagpalit sila sa ibang babae. Sa tingin ko lang, "Buti ka pa nga may Tatay pa." Syempre hindi ko sinabi iyon sa kanya. Baka mamaya tanungin pa niya ako kung kanino ako kampi, kami pa ang mag-away. Minsan din sinamahan ko ang kababata ko nang dinalhan niya ng pansit ang tatay niya sa City Jail. Hindi naman sila nagtatanong kung bakit ako ganun. Wala naman silang alam kay Tatay.

Maraming pagkakataon na nanghihinayang ako dahil masyadong maaga ang paghihiwalay namin ng Tatay. Gusto kong sisihin ang Pilipinas dahil napakahirap ng buhay dito. Sa Amerika ba may tatay na nangingibang-bansa para makapagtrabaho lang? Naisip ko tuloy na sumama na lang sa mga nagpipiket na mga migrante dahil alam ko tulad ko rin sila. Kadalasan rin sinisisi ko si Saddam Hussein at ang Gulf War dahil kinuha nila ang tatlong taon sa buhay ng Tatay. Sayang ang tatlong taong iyon. Nakalaro ko man lang sana ang Tatay ng basketbol o di kaya'y naturuan niya akong mag-bike. (Beinte anyos na ko nang matuto mag-bike).

Isa sa mga klase ko sa writing ang nagpasulat sa amin ng kahit ano tungkol sa aming mga tatay, samahan pa ng larawan kung maaari. Bigla tuloy akong nalito. Hindi ko alam kung anong tungkol sa Tatay ang isusulat ko.

Ikuwento ko kaya na isang Overseas Contract Worker si Tatay. Isang bagong bayani. Nag-aambag ng malaki sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas. Sabihin ko kayang may larawan ng tatay kong may suot na hard hat na dilaw, construction boots at may hawak na drill at kasama niyang nakangiti ang mga kapwa niyang Pilipino with matching background na disyerto. O kaya ang larawan nilang magkakababayan habang pinagdiriwang nila ang New Year at nag-iiyakan dahil tinutugtog and Lupang Hinirang. Ang drama no?

Kuwento ko kaya na isang survivor ng Gulf War ang Tatay. Na natutulog siya at ipinaghehele ng mga Patriot at Scud Missiles. Pakita ko kaya ang mga remembrance ng Tatay na mga dull na landmines. Adventure naman ang dating nito.

Kuwento ko kaya kung paano hindi nagpabaya ang Tatay sa pagbibigay ng pangangailangan namin. Hindi kami sumasala sa pagkain, may magagandang damit, maayos na tirahan at nakakapag-aral. Siya ay naging isang good provider. Siguro isang malalim na buntong hiningang "Haaaaaay!" ang ibibigay sa akin ng mga kaklase ko.

O di kaya'y dalhin ko ang picture ni Tatay habang kini-chemotherapy siya. Ikwento ko din kaya na naging mabilis ang lahat ng mga pangyayari. Na inoperahan siya sa loob ng walong oras at binutasan ang ulo niya. Na nakalabas pa siya ng ospital. Pagkatapos ng isang linggo, agad siyang namatay. Tragic naman ang approach ko nito.

Gayahin ko kaya ang kuwento sa telebisyon na tipong galit na galit sa mundo ang anak dahil hindi ito nabigyan ng sapat na atensyon dahil inuna ng kanilang tatay ang pinansyal nilang pangangailangan. Teka, hindi naman totoo yon eh! Napaka-unfair naman 'nun kay Tatay.

Ikuwento ko na lang kaya ang isa sa mga magagandang alaala namin kay Tatay. Apat na taon ako noon. Malinaw na malinaw pa sa alaala ko ang pangyayari. Kadarating lamang ng Tatay pagkaraan ng dalawang taon. Nagkaroon ng simpleng party sa bahay. Kainuman niya ang mga kumpare niya nang tumayo siya at binuhat ako mula sa kuna ko habang pinaglalaruan ko ang bagong matchbox na pasalubong niya sa akin. Inutusan niya ako na ikuha siya ng beer sa refrigerator. Pagkakuha ko ng beer ay kinandong niya ako at buong pagmamalaki na ibinida sa mga kumpare niya na natanggap na raw ako sa local na Day Care Center dahil abot na ng kanang kamay ko ang aking kaliwang tenga kahit idaan pa sa ibabaw ng ulo ko at matatas na ako magsalita at madali raw akong matuto. Matagal din akong nanatili sa pagkakandong niya. Mistula siyang bagong dating na hari na suot-suot ang kanyang korona. Ako ang kanyang korona.

Kapag naaalala ko ito, napapawi ang lahat ng panghihinayang ko sa mga taong kailangan niyang magtrabaho at mawala sa piling namin. Mga panahong kasama ng mga tatay nila ang mga anak nila. Ito na lang ang isusulat ko. Bago ang lahat, pupunasahan ko muna ang mga luha ko at ang patulo ko ng sipon. Baka mapatakan pa ang keyboard ng computer at ang hawak kong picture. Picture ng isang paslit na may hawak na bote ng beer habang kandong ng tatay na kitang-kita ang kasiyahan sa mukha.

Is God good enough for you today?

2006-10-16T15:38:00.000+08:00

I've been attending this pilot test of a study geared for men called Men's Fraternity. It's a three-year course, meeting weekly. Not the whole year, kasi may bakasyon--mga 24 meetings for the first year. The first year focuses on seeking an authentic manhood. Do men really need to do this study? Lalaki na kami, di ba? Alam na namin yun. However, the weekly small group processing really opens up many areas hidden from us. We discover many fresh ways of understanding why we do what we do, why we feel certain ways as men, why we respond the way we do to certain circumstances, why we are addicted to certain habits, etc. Deep. Actually liberating.

In one session, our facilatator shared how he had this running coversation with God dealing on the question, "Is God good enough for you today?" As I understand it, it's an engagement of faith as I face the common crises of living as a man, husband, father, worker, etc. For example, on payday you tend to be high on God as you have just received money for household expenses, maybe a little something over for extras. Pero, as the next payday approaches, the money tends to thin out and you wonder if you'll have enough for fare and lunch until the payroll comes again. Is God good enough, then? Common occurences, real tests.

Last Sunday, Kingsland BC with whom we Montenegro's worship and serve celebrated its 17th anniversary. Our theme was God's faithfulness. This church has gone through many trials and struggles. Seemed to me that a song we sung expressed the church's relationship with God through the years. It goes like the following:

Di Nagbabago
Ang lahat ay nag-iiba
Tulad ng himig ng kanta
Biglang luluha kahit na nagsasaya.

Ang rosas ay natutuyo
Pangarap ko'y nabibigo
Maging lakas ng puso ko'y naglalaho.

O, Jesus, pag-ibig Mo
Ang tanging di nagbabago
Pakinggan Mo ang awit ko.

Koro:
Di nagbabago ang pag-ibig Mo sa'min
Kahit anong mangyari kami'y mahal Mo pa rin
Mula pa kahapon
At sa habang panahon
Ikaw lamang ang Panginoon.

Amen to that.

Para Kay Nanay

2006-05-19T09:04:00.000+08:00

Treasure Your Mother

The world is full of sons and daughters like you and me

I had a marvellous mother, who loved me,
Sacrificed for me and helped me in every way possible.

In all of my growing up from childhood through
School and eventually marriage,
My mother was always at my side.

And when I needed help with my little ones,
She was there for me.
A few years ago, we buried this wonderful woman.
Can you imagine how I felt when I returned home and
Found poem in her drawer written by my mom.

The time is now

If you are ever going to love
Love me now while I can know
The sweet and tender feelings
Which from true affection flow

Love me now while I am living
Do not wait until I am gone
And then have it chiselled in marble
Sweet words on ice-cold stone

If you have tender thoughts of me
Please let me know now
If you wait until I am sleeping
There will be death between us
And I will not hear you then

So if you love me, even a little bit
Let me know while I am living
So that I can treasure it

With thanks to Belinda Moyo

For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
"In prayer; expect setbacks, but refuse retreat." Richard Eastman
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,
tell the problem how Great the Lord is!

To subscribe or unsubscribe visit http://www.christianchallengeandblessing.com

Lessons from A Tavern

2006-03-13T10:03:00.000+08:00

Mga kapatid,

Kaya siguro ganun na lang katindi ang appeal ng inuman sa mga Pilipinong lalaki ay baka dahil sa nadiskubre ni kapatid Chuck Swindoll. What do you think?

Nathan

Chuck Swindoll writes...

An old Marine Corps buddy of mine, to my pleasant surprise, came to know Christ after he was discharged. I say surprise because he cursed loudly, fought hard, chased women, drank heavily, loved war and weapons, and hated chapel services.

A number of months ago, I ran into this fellow, and after we'd talked awhile, he put his hand on my shoulder and said, "You know, Chuck, the only thing I still miss is that old fellowship I used to have with all the guys down at the tavern. I remember how we used to sit around and let our hair down. I can't find anything like that for Christians. I no longer have a place to admit my faults and talk about my battles—where somebody won't preach at me and frown and quote me a verse."

It wasn't one month later that in my reading I came across this profound paragraph: "The neighborhood bar is possibly the best counterfeit that there is to the fellowship Christ wants to give his church. It's an imitation, dispensing liquor instead of grace, escape rather than reality—but it is a permissive, accepting, and inclusive fellowship. It is unshockable. It is democratic. You can tell people secrets, and they usually don't tell others or even want to. The bar flourishes not because most people are alcoholics, but because God has put into the human heart the desire to know and be known, to love and be loved, and so many seek a counterfeit at the price of a few beers. With all my heart," this writer concludes, "I believe that Christ wants his church to be unshockable, a fellowship where people can come in and say, 'I'm sunk, I'm beat, I've had it.' Alcoholics Anonymous has this quality—our churches too often miss it."

Now before you take up arms to shoot some wag that would compare your church to the corner bar, stop and ask yourself some tough questions, like I had to do. Make a list of some possible embarrassing situations people may not know how to handle.

Your mate talks about separation or divorce. To whom do you tell it?

Your daughter is pregnant and she's run away—for the third time. She's no longer listening to you. Who do you tell that to?

You lost your job, and it was your fault. You blew it, so there's shame mixed with unemployment. Who do you tell that to?

Financially, you were unwise, and you're in deep trouble. Or a man's wife is an alcoholic. Or something as horrible as getting back the biopsy from the surgeon, and it reveals cancer, and the prognosis isn't good. Or you had an emotional breakdown. To whom do you tell it?

We're the only outfit I know that shoots its wounded. We can become the most severe, condemning, judgmental, guilt-giving people on the face of planet Earth, and we claim it's in the name of Jesus Christ. And all the while, we don't even know we're doing it.

That's the pathetic part of it all.

-- Charles Swindoll, Leadership, Vol. 4, no. 1.

Isang Panawagan

2006-03-08T12:08:00.000+08:00

The following is my version of an email forwarded to me:

Ako ay isang middle class Pinoy, isang editor sa isang di-kalakihang publisher at may asawa...apat na anak. Di na importante pangalan ko kasi parepareho naman tayong mga middle-class....trabaho 9-5, meryenda fishball tapos uwi sa pamilya sa dasma, cavite, laruin si misis, kamustahin si JJ, JoyJoy, Jojo, at Jed, nood tv konti, tapos tulog na. pag wala na pera intay na lang ng sweldo.

Sa nangyayari ngayon sa ating bansa, lahat na lang ng sector ay maingay at naririnig, tayo lang mga middle-class, tax paying at productive Pinoys ang di naririnig. Subalit, buwis natin ang nagpapaikot sa bansang ito. Pag may mga gulo na nangyayari, tayo ang tinatamaan. Kaya eto ang liham ko sa lahat ng maiingay na sector na sana makagising sa inyong bulag na pag-iisip.

Sa Mga Politiko:

Diyos ko naman, sa dami na nang nakurakot ninyo di na ba kayo makuntento? kelangan nyo pa ba manggulo?

Sa Administrasyon:

Hayan ayus na ha pinatawad na namin ang pandaraya nyo sa eleksyon, pruweba dito e di kami umaatend sa mga panawagan ng people power,

kaya sana naman gantihan nyo kami ng magandang serbisyo at magaling na pamumuno at malaking bawas sa kurakot naman please para kahit papano maramdaman naman namin na may napupuntahan ang binabayad naming buwis.

Sa Oposisyon:

Di nyo pa ba nakikita na dalawang klase lang ng tao ang nakikinig sa inyo....

isa ay bayaran na mahihirap kungdi man ay tangang mga excited na reporter na parang naka-shabu lagi....mga praning e at naghahallucinate. Bago man lang kayo maglunsad ng kilos laban sa administrasyon, pumili muna kayo ng magiting at nararapat na ipapalit sa liderato ngayon. Hirap sa inyo paresign kayo ng paresign wala naman kayo ipapalit na maayos. Advise lang galing sa isang middle-class na syang tunay na puwersa sa likod ng lahat ng matagumpay na People Power, magpakita muna kayo ng galing bago nyo batuhin ang administrasyon. Wala na kaming narinig sa inyo kundi reklamo, e wala naman kayong ginagawa kundi magreklamo....para kayong batang lagi na lang naaagawan ng laruan.....GROW UP naman...sa isip sa salita at sa gawa.

Please lang gasgas na rin ang pagrarally nyo na katabi nyo ay mga bayaran na mahihirap, magtayo nalang kayo ng negosyo at iempleyo ang mga rallyista para maging productive silang mamamayan. Sige nga, pag nagrarally kayo yakapin nyo nga at halikan yang mga kasama nyong nagrarally!! Nung People Power namin nagyayakapan kami lahat nuon. Wala naman mangyayari sa mga rally nyo nakakatraffic lang, kami pang middle-class ang napeperwisyo. Di nyo kayang paghintayin ng 3 araw ang mga rallyista nyo kasi kelangan nyo pakainin at swelduhan ang mga yan. Kung gusto nyo tagumpay na People Power kami ang isama nyo....pero pagod na kami e, sori ha.

Sa Military:

Alam nyo lahat tayo may problema, pati US Army may problema, 2,000 plus na patay sa kanila sa Iraq na parang walang rason naman, pero nakita nyo ba sila nagreklamo? Wala diba kasi professional sila na sundalo.....

yan dapat ang sundalo di nagtatanong sumusunod lang. Kasi may mga bagay na di kayang maintindihan ng indibidwal lamang, at ang mga nakatataas lang angnakakaintindi ng kabuuan, kaya ito ang panuntunan ng lahat ng military ng lahat ng bansa. Pero parang military natin yata ang pinaka-mareklamo. Sabi nga sa Spiderman "with great power comes great responsibility"..... kaya maging spiderman kayo lahat at protektahan ang mamamayan. Sa totoo lang natatakot kami kapag nagrereklamo kayo, kasi may baril kayo at tangke, kami wala.

Wala ako comment sa mga mahihirap, di naman kasi sila maingay na kusa e, may bayad ang ingay nila. Saka wala rin naman silang email.

Kaya paano na tayong mga middle-class?? Eto hanggang email na lang tayo kaya ikalat nyo na ito at magdasal tayo na umabot ito sa mga dapat makabasa nito at makiliti naman ang kanilang mga konsyensya.

Signed,

Isang Middle-Class Pinoy na walang puknat na binabawasan ang sweldo ng Buwis!

Mensahe ng Isang Pugad

2006-03-01T08:46:00.000+08:00

May isang ibon na naligaw sa paggawa ng pugad nya sa harap ng bahay namin sa Dasma Cavite. May tanim doon na isang bush, madahon din. Wala na siguro siyang mahanap na puno o type nya lang talaga sa amin kasi di namin binabato ang mga ibon. We like to see God's creatures. Anyway, akala ko nagkamali lang. Isang araw, may nag-appear na nesting material na medyo pabilog na ang porma sa singit ng maliit na branch. "O, bakit nandito ito?” “Sweetheart, tingnan mo may nest, o.”

“Oo nga, ano? Ang cute! Oy Jed, h’wag mong sirain!!!” Jed is our youngest.

“What a stupid bird,” sabi ko. Pero teka. Naalala ko yung sa Matt. 6 about the birds. Sabi doon,

6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry^¹ about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 6:26 Look at the birds in the sky:^² They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds^³ them. Aren’t you more valuable^⁴ than they are? 6:27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?^⁵ (Matt. 6:25-27, NET Bible)

Siguro, in some mysterious way, pinadala ng Lord ang ibon to us tell us that he oversees the details of where that bird would set up her nest. Did she know we were kind people who would not harm the nest and the nestlings, kung sakali? No. Did she get permission from the village administrator just in case she violated the statement of limitations ng homeowners association? Nope. The nest is hidden, at hindi naman makikita kung di mo alam. Pwera na lang kung maingay siya.

And last night, meron nang isang egg. Mabubuhay kaya yon? Papaano lilimliman ng inahin? I don’t know. But God says he knows and he cares.

Thinking more about it, palagay ko there is a deeper meaning doon. Kasi, kung iisipin mo, saan hahantong ang ginagawa ng bird? Yung egg ba ay magha-hatch o maa-abort? Anong mangyayari sa nest? May relation kasi ito sa devotion namin sa office last Monday. May nag-share about legacy and the significance of what one is doing for God. Maganda kung ang ginagawa mo ay significant for the kingdom. Pero mas maganda kung naipasa mo sa ibang magpapatuloy ng vision na binigay ni Lord. Ang isa sa pinaka-poignant ay kung naipasa mo sa mga anak mo ang vision ni Lord. Ang struggle lang ng nag-share ay wala siyang anak na lalaki. He had always wanted a son to disciple and bring up in the Lord.

The following is a poem I lifted from a workbook on leadership we are studying at the office.

Just Suppose

by Phil Hodges from the book Lead Like Jesus: Beginning the Journey (published in the Philippines by Church Strengthening Ministry, with permission from Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2003), p. 135.

Just suppose, when I pray, there really is someone listening who cares about me and wants to know what's on my mind

Just suppose, when I pray, it changes me and my view of how the universe operates and who is involved

Just suppose, I put my doubts aside for a minute and consider the possibility that someone who knew me before I was born loves me, warts and all, without condition or reservation, no matter how badly I have behaved in the past.

Just suppose, a prayer was my first response instead of my last resort when facing a new challenge or an old temptation.

Just suppose, I lived each day, knowing that there is an inexhaustible supply of love for me to pass along to others.

Just suppose.

Notes:

1Or “do not be anxious,” and so throughout the rest of this paragraph.

2Grk “the birds of the sky” or “the birds of the heaven”; the Greek word ούρανός (ouranos) may be translated either “sky” or “heaven,” depending on the context. The idiomatic expression “birds of the sky” refers to wild birds as opposed to domesticated fowl (cf. BDAG 809 s.v. πετεινόν).

3Or “God gives them food to eat.” L&N 23.6 has both “to provide food for” and “to give food to someone to eat.”

4Grk “of more value.”

5Or “a cubit to his height.” A cubit (πήχυς, phēcus") can measure length (normally about 45 cm or 18 inches) or time (a small unit, “hour” is usually used [BDAG 812 s.v.] although “day” has been suggested [L&N 67.151]). The term ήλικία (hēlikia) is ambiguous in the same way as πήχυς (phēcus). Most scholars take the term to describe age or length of life here, although a few refer it to bodily stature (see BDAG 436 s.v. 3 for discussion). Worry about length of life seems a more natural figure than worry about height. However, the point either way is clear: Worrying adds nothing to life span or height.

Sa Mata ni Tatay

2006-01-04T12:41:00.000+08:00

The following is another translation from an article entitled "In Tatay's Eyes".

Pag tinitingnan kita, namimiss ko Tatay ko. Sana nagkaroon ka pa ng mas mahabang panahon na makapiling si Lolo mo. Marami ka sanang matututunan sa kanya. Hitik sa karanasan at kaunawaan ang kanyang buhay. Mula sa isang maliit na bayan sa tabi ng Pacific Ocean sa Surigao Del Sur, nakipagsapalaran siya upang sunggaban ang anumang maidudulot ng buhay. Madami siyang napuntahan, natikman, nasubukan, at naranasan. Paglipas ng 74 na taon, pinauwi na siya ng Diyos sa langit. Ikekwento ko sayo ang isa sa mga tinagubilin niyang ituro ko daw sayo noong ikaw ay ihandog sa Panginoon nang maliit ka pa.

Anak, napakagwapo mong bata. Pero hindi ikaw ang sentro ng buong universe. Kilig na kilig ang lahat ng pumuna sa malalalim mong dimples kapag ikaw ay nakangiti. Makinig ka. Espesyal ka talaga. Mula sa milyon-milyong semilya na nanggaling sa akin, mula sa isa ay nabuo ka kasama ng isang itlog mula sa nanay mo. Bunga ka ng aming pag-iibigan. Buhay ka ngayon dahil ikaw ang napili. Ibig sabihin, may layunin ang Diyos sa buhay mo. Alam kong ipapaunawa ito ng Diyos sa iyo nang malalim at malawak na paraan, kung magpapatuloy kang lumago sa pagkilala sa Kanya. Noong baby ka pa, tinititigan kita sa mata. Nakita ko, may talino ang mga tingin mo. Galing talaga ni LORD. Pero higit pa dyan, mas nakamamangha na gusto ni God na makilala mo siya nang lubusan.

May sasabihin ako: “Huwag mong ilagay ang tiwala mo sa nakikita ng ibang tao sa iyo.” Nakatataba ng puso kung maraming humahanga sayo, pero delikado ito sa pride mo. Sayang, hindi nakikita ng iba kung ano ang laman ng puso mo. Isa pa, lilipas din ang kanilang pagpansin sa iyo. Sinasabi ng Biblia, lumilipas ang kagandahan, kasimbilis ng singaw. Ngayon nandyan, sa isang iglap, wala na (Awit 39:5). Okay lang yan.

Naalala ko Lolo mo. Hindi siya kalakihan. In short, maliit siyang tao. Pwede rin sabihing pandak siya. Aniya, “Wala pang Star margarine noon, eh.” Pero sa loob, sa puso, higante ang Lolo mo. Alam mo kung bakit? Sa paglipas ng panahon ng kanyang mga naranasan, nabasa niya ang New Testament ng Biblia. Nadiskubre niya na mahalaga pala siya sa paningin ng Diyos. Napakahalaga niya dahil iyon ang tingin ng Diyos sa kanya. Gayun na lamang ang pagmamahal ng Diyos kaya't binigay niya ang Kanyang bugtong na Anak na mamatay sa krus para sa kanya.

Sa ganun ding paraan, mahal ka rin ng Diyos, anak. Ganyan din ang pagtingin ng Diyos sa ibang mga tao. Doon nanggaling ang kanilang kahalagahan. Kaya nga kailangang dakilain mo rin sila. Alalahanin mo ang mga katabi mo. Bigyan mo sila ng pansin—ang kanilang kailangan, ang minimithi nila, ang bumabagabag sa kanila. Matuto kang lampasan ang pagiging makasarili—“ako, sarili ko, akin.” Higit sa lahat, kailangan nilang malaman na mahal sila ng Diyos at nararamdaman ng Ama ang kanilang dinaramdam. Matutuwa ang Diyos kung ipakikilala mo ang pag-ibig Niya sa kanila. Ipakita mo. Sabihin mo.

Tunay na Lalaki

2006-01-03T16:15:00.000+08:00

The following is a fairly accurate translation of an article I contributed for the book LEGACY (Makati: Church Strengthening Ministry, 2005) entitled "Be a Man". You can purchase a copy from the nearest National Bookstore or Powerbooks site.

Ano ba ang sukatan ng pagiging lalaki? May macho dyan, ganito ang sasabihin. May chicks naman, ganyan ang sasabihin. Sana naman, nakita mo sa akin ang isang mabuting example ng tunay na lalaki. Di ko alam kung sa tingin mo ay macho ako, dahil napansin mo siguro macho-norin ako. Itanong mo sa Nanay mo.

Pakinggan mo ang sinabi ni Tatay ko. Una, siyempre ang lalaki ay hindi babae. Male imbis na female. Obvious, di ba? Pero marami ngayon ang nalilito. Sabi ng DNA nila, lalaki sila. Sabi naman nila, feel nila maging babae. Sinigurado ng Lolo mo na malinaw ito sa akin nang tinanong ko siya kung bakit hindi ako pinanganak na babae—pitong taong gulang pa lang ako noon. Lalaki ako dahil ito ang design ni God para sa akin. Nakasulat sa DNA ko na XY ako—male species. Nasa plano daw ng Diyos na maging lalaki ako. Ganito rin ang plano niya para sa yo, mi hijo guapo, at mga brothers mo.

Pangalawa, hindi lagi na kung sino ang pinakamalaki, pinakamalakas, o pinakamaliksi ay siyang tunay na lalaki. Nang grumadweyt ako sa haiskul, ako yata ang pinakamaliit sa batch 1979. Kung pipila kami at mauuna ang pinakapandak, ako yun. Ang hirap palang pumorma sa mga dalaga kung hanggang kilikili lang ang tangkad mo. Mabuti na lamang at dinagdagan pa ni God nang ilang inches ang height ko para naman, at least, matitigan ko ang nanay mo nang mata sa mata.

Pag-isipan mo ito,

Isa pang bagay na napansin ko sa daigdig:
ang mabilis ay di siyang laging nananalo sa takbuhan
ni ang malakas ay laging nagwawagi sa digmaan.
Ang matatalino'y di laging nakasusumpong ng kanyang kailangan
at di lahat ng marunong ay yumayaman.
Napapansin ko rin na di lahat ng may kakayahan ay nagtatagumpay;
lahat ay dinaratnan ng malas. (Mangangaral 9:11, MBB)

Hindi laging ikaw ang llamado. Pero hindi rin porke dejado ay hindi ka na sasagana. Sa biyaya at katalinuhang galing sa Diyos, pwede kang yumabong kung saan ka inilagay ni God, ano man ang pagkakataong dadalaw sa iyo. Sumagana ka kung saan ka ilalagay ng Diyos. Ito ang panalangin ko para sayo.

Pangatlo, ang tunay na lalaki ay may tiwala sa kanyang pagkalalaki, ayon sa pagkalikha ng Diyos sa kanya. Di na kinakailangang patunayan niya ito kahit kanino. Ano ba yun? Siguro ganito: hindi na kailangan ng isang tunay na lalaki na magparami ng chicks. Ang babaero ay lalaking walang tiwala sa sarili. Parang may kulang sa kanya na kailangang punuan ng mga babae. Niloloko niya ang kanyang sarili. Walang makapupuno sa puwang na yun kundi ang Diyos lamang. Ang lalaking walang tiwala sa sarili ay takot na malaman ng iba kung sino talaga siya. Kaya, nag-iimbento siya ng mga kontest at palaro para makita kuno kung sino ang number 1. Ang tunay na lalaki ay di na kailangang magpataas ng ihi. Sa halip, mas pinagtutuunan niya ng pansin kung paano siya magiging biyaya sa mga nakapaligid sa kanya.

Ang pinakadakila sa lahat ay sinumang naglilingkod sa lahat. Ganyan si Jesu-Cristo. Baliktad sa mundo. Sinisikap kong gumaya kay Cristo, at inaasahan kong gagaya ka rin sa akin.

Magpakalalaki ka, anak.

Contact Story

2005-11-17T08:58:00.000+08:00

Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing. Although she was scared to death, she went with her group to a tremendous granite cliff.

In spite of her fear, she put on the gear, took a hold on the rope, and started up the face of that rock. Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a breather. As she was hanging on there, the safety rope snapped against Brenda's eye and knocked out her Contact lens. Well, here she is on a rock ledge, with hundreds of feet below Her and hundreds of feet above her. Of course, she looked and looked and looked, hoping it had landed on the ledge, but it just wasn't there.

Here she was, far from home, her sight now blurry. She was desperate and began to get upset, so she prayed to the Lord to help her to find it. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but there was no contact lens to be found. She sat down, despondent, with the rest of the party, waiting for the rest of them to make it up the face of the cliff.

She looked out across range after range of mountains, thinking of that Bible verse that says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."

Finally, they walked down the trail to the bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"

Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it!

Brenda told me that her father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens with the words, "Lord, I don't know why you want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what you want me to do, I'll carry it for you."

I think it would probably do some of us good to occasionally say, "God, I don't know why you want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and It's awfully heavy. But, if you want me to carry it, I will."

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

The original source is the 1995 book Keep a Quiet Heart, by Elisabeth Elliot, where it appeared in a chapter entitled "Lost and Found." Ms. Elliot attributes the story to a first-person account sent to her by Brenda Foltz of Princeton, Minnesota, who maintained she wrote it based upon an event that occurred during her first rock-climbing experience.

-=-=-
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"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems."
--John Gardner)

Memories

2005-11-10T14:49:00.000+08:00

The following is a poem composed by Ms. Jona Tabago of Kingsland Village, Palapala, Dasmariñas, Cavite. I have edited it for brevity. Ayos ba?

Memories
Every story comes to an end;
Memories remain, always
for sad and happy moments─
laughters shared,
teardrops shed.
in our hearts they wait for quickening.
Instances of sharing, laughing, strengthening,
each recollection chasing one another;
For every promise planted,
a prayer of hope that it be granted.
See weakness, see helpless, let courage rise!
No matter the future distant, His answer comes in just an instant.
So now this end—is thus our destiny?
Catastrophe or comedy, we shall see.

-=-=-
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"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength."
-- Corrie ten Boom, Dutch humanitarian (1892-1983)

Daygon ta si Jesus Ginoo!

And God said, "Sagot kita."

2005-10-21T16:10:00.000+08:00

I'm going to dig into this one of these days. This has three points:

Nangako ako.
Sagot kita
Ang galing-galing ko!

Tatay and son

2005-10-11T16:11:00.000+08:00

Lord, I find the genealogy of my
Savior strangely checkered with
four remarkable changes in four
generations.

Rehoboam begat Abia:
a bad father begat a bad son.
Abia begat Asa:
a bad father and a good son.
Asa begat Jehoshaphat:
a good father and a good son.
Jehoshaphat begat Joram:
a good father and a bad son.

I see, Lord, from hence,
that my father's piety cannot be
entailed;
that is bad news for me.
But I see also
that actual impiety is not
hereditary;
that is good news for my son.

-- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661)

Naghahabol sa Hangin

2005-07-01T08:29:00.000+08:00

The following was forwarded to me by a colleague, Ms. Christine Caroline Santos, (naks!) from her friend Mike Co who forwarded it to her. I believe the piece speaks like Qoheleth, if you know what I mean. Food for thought…

Gising, Tol.

Tumatanda ka na, tol.

Nasa Friday Magic Madness na yung mga paborito mong kanta. Nakaka-relate ka na sa Classic MTV. Lesbiana na yung kinaaaliwan mong child star dati. Nanay na lagi ang role ng crush na crush mong matinee idol noon.

Dati, pag may panot, sisigaw ka agad ng “PENDONG!”. Ngayon, pag may sumisigaw nun, ikaw na yung napapraning. Parang botika na ang cabinet mo. May multivitamins, vitamin E, vitamin C, royal jelly, tsaka ginkgo biloba.

Dati, laging may inuman. Sa inuman, may lechon, sisig, kaldereta, inihaw na liempo, pusit, at kung anu-ano pa. Ngayon, nagkukumpulan na lang kayo ng mga kasama mo sa Starbucks at oorder ng tea.

Wala na ang mga kaibigan mo noon. Ang dating masasayang tawanan ng barkada sa canteen, napalitan na ng walang katapusang pagrereklamo tungkol sa kumpanya ninyo. Wala na ang best friend mo na lagi mong pinupuntahan kapag may problema ka. Ang lagi mo na lang kausap ngayon e ang kaopisina mong hindi ka sigurado kung binebenta ka sa iba pag nakatalikod ka. Ang hirap nang magtiwala.

Mahirap nang makahanap ng totoong kaibigan. Hindi mo kayang pagkatiwalaan ang kasama mo araw-araw sa opisina. Kung sabagay, nagkakilala lang kayo dahil gusto ninyong kumita ng pera at umakyat sa tinatawag nilang “corporate ladder”. Anumang pagkakaibigang umusbong galing sa pera at ambisyon ay hindi talaga totoong pagkakaibigan. Pera din at ambisyon ang sisira sa inyong dalawa.

Pera. Pera na ang nagpapatakbo ng buhay mo. Alipin ka na ng Meralco, PLDT, SkyCable, Globe, Smart, at Sun. Alipin ka ng Midnight Madness. Alipin ka ng tollgate sa expressway. Alipin ka ng credit card mo. Alipin ka ng ATM. Alipin ka ng BIR.

Dati-rati masaya ka na sa isang platong instant pancit canton. Ngayon, dapat may kasamang italian chicken ang fettucine alfredo mo. Masaya ka na noon pag nakakapag-ober-da-bakod kayo para makapagswimming. Ngayon, ayaw mong lumangoy kung hindi Boracay o Puerto Galera ang lugar. Dati, sulit na sulit na sa yo ang gin pomelo. Ngayon, pagkatapos ng ilang bote ng red wine, maghahanap ka ng San Mig Light o Vodka Cruiser.

Wala ka nang magawa. Sumasabay ang lifestyle mo sa income mo. Nagtataka ka kung bakit hindi ka pa rin nakakaipon kahit tumataas ang sweldo mo. Yung mga bagay na gusto mong bilhin dati na sinasabi mong hindi mo kailangan, abot-kamay mo na. Pero kahit nasa iyo na ang mga gusto mong bilhin, hindi ka pa rin makuntento.

Saan ka ba papunta?

Tol, gumising ka. Hindi ka nabuhay sa mundong ito para maging isa lang sa mga baterya ng mga machines sa Matrix. Hanapin mo ang dahilan kung bakit nilagay ka rito. Kung ang buhay mo ngayon ay uulit-ulit lang hanggang maging singkwenta anyos ka na, magsisisi ka. Lumingon ka kung paano ka nagsimula, isipin ang mga tao at mga bagay na nagpasaya sa yo. Balikan mo sila.

Ikaw ang nagbago, hindi ang mundo.

-=-=-
><}}'>
"It is better to do one thing for God than to promise to do forty things you can't do."

Daygon ta si Jesus Ginoo!

SUPERPEOPLE

2005-06-29T13:06:00.000+08:00

The following is taken from a email from Preaching.com. For you guys in leadership:

As you look ahead to the fall and possible administrative changes, feel free to consult this handy church leadership guide, with helpful job descriptions:

SENIOR PASTOR:
Leaps tall building in a single bound
Is more powerful than a locomotive
Is faster than a speeding bullet
Walks on water
Discusses policy with God

EXECUTIVE PASTOR:
Leaps short buildings in a single bound
Is more powerful than a switch engine
Is just as fast as a speeding bullet
Walks on water if the sea is calm
Talks with God

ASSOCIATE PASTOR:
Leaps short buildings with a running start and favorable winds
Is almost as powerful as a switch engine
Is faster than a speeding BB
Walks on water in an indoor swimming pool
Talks with God if special request is approved

MINISTER OF MUSIC:
Barely clears a Quonset hut
Loses tug-of-war with a locomotive
Can fire a speeding bullet
Swims well
Is occasionally addressed by God

CHRISTIAN ED DIRECTOR:
Makes high marks on the wall when trying to leap buildings
Is run over by locomotive
Can sometimes handle a gun without inflicting self-injury
Dog paddles
Talks to animals

YOUTH MINISTER:
Runs into buildings
Recognizes locomotive two out of three times
Is not issued ammunition
Can't stay afloat with a life preserver
Talks to walls

CHURCH SECRETARY:
Lifts buildings and walks under them
Kicks locomotives off the tracks
Catches speeding bullets in her teeth
Freezes water with a single glance
Is the closest being to God

Michael Duduit, Editor
michael@preaching.com
www.michaelduduit.com

-=-=-
><}}'>
"Any fine morning, a power saw can fell a tree that took a thousand years to grow." -- Edwin Teale

Daygon ta si Jesus Ginoo!

http://kandila.blogspot.com/

Ama Namin

2005-03-14T15:32:00.000+08:00

“The Ama Namin in the Doctrina Christiana of 1593 from the Perspective of Inculturation.” Dr. José M. De Mesa, Professor of Applied Systematic Theology, De La Salle University-Manila.

Doing theology from a Filipino cultural perspective is imperative if we are to develop our own understanding of Christianity. The largely forgotten text of the 1593 version of the Ama Namin provides especially useful insights for doing theology in the Filipino cultural context. Not only does it illustrate the positive values of the Filipino culture in general, it also shows the capability of the Filipino language to articulate the faith in particular.

ANG AMA NAMIN[1]

Ama namin na sa langit ca
ypasamba mo ang ngalan mo,
moui sa amin ang pagcahari mo.
Ypa sonod mo ang loob mo dito sa lupa parang sa langit,
bigyan mo cami ngaion nang amin cacanin, para nang sa araoarao,
at pacaualin mo ang aming casalanan,
ya iang uinaualan bahala namin sa loob
ang casalanan nang nagcasasala sa amin.
Houag mo caming aeun nang di cami matalo nang tocso.
Datapouat yadia mo cami sa dilan masama.
Amen, Jesus.

Source: “Doctrina Christiana”, Manila, 1593.
Contributed by Wolfgang Kuhl - E-mail: WKuhl44238@aol.com

My loose translation into English,

Our Father you are in heaven,
Make us worship your name,
Let your kingship come home to us,
Make us conform to your “loob” here on earth like in heaven
Give us today our rice[2], for everyday
And let go of our sin,
Like we consider as nothing in our “loob”
The sin of those who sin against us
Do not abandon us so temptation will not defeat us.
However set us free/protect us from the evil “diwa”.
Amen. Jesus.

Some concepts seeking attention are:

1.God’s actions in the prayer—ipasamba, ipasunod
2. The challenge for a response in those who pray
3. God’s kingdom or will in terms of “loob”
4. God’s kingdom “coming home” to us
5. The concept of physical needs using the metaphor of rice—kanin
6. The concept of forgiveness through an act going on in our “loob”
7. The plea not to be left alone—iwan
8. The idea of evil which uses “diwa”

Implications:

Based on the concepts enumerated above, there is a rich source of theology in the concepts and ideas of the Filipino culture. Our works should use these untapped concepts to articulate a Filipino theology. More to follow.

[1] http://www.christusrex.org/www1/pater/JPN-tagalog-baybayin.html

[2] Rice is a good metaphor for our lives. We have terms like binhi, palay, bigas, sinaing, sinangag, lugaw, am, bahaw, biko, bibingka, suman, puto, etc. which correspond roughly to different life stages. In addition, eating rice connotes fellowship and celebration. Filipinos find the flimsiest of reasons to eat together.

In Tatay's Eyes

2005-01-15T21:21:00.000+08:00

The following is a letter that I would imagine to send to each of my sons as they reach a certain age, di ko sure exactly.

I look at you and wish that you had more time with your Lolo, my Tatay. You would have learned much wisdom from him, for he led a full life. From an isolated Pacific seacoast little town in Surigao del Sur, he set out to discover and grab what life had in store for him. His years were full and rich and overflowing with experiences and adventures. After 74 years, God called him home to heaven. So, I'm going to tell you one of those things he told me to teach you at your dedication.

(The rest of this article can be seen in an upcoming book Legacy to be released by CSM Publishing on September 2005. Because of this, I regret to remove the article from this blog.) 6/28/2005

A Man in Tatay’s Eyes

2005-01-14T11:09:00.000+08:00

What is a man? What is the measure of a man? Boys will tell you this, girls will tell you that. But what is a man? I sure hope I have shown you by example what a man is by this time. I’m no authority on being a macho, because I am macho-norin. Just ask your mother.

(This article will appear in the book Legacy that will come September 2005 by publisher CSM. In this regard, I have to remove this item from this blog.) 6/26/2005

Basbas 2005

2005-01-04T13:55:00.000+08:00

Humayo kayo sa mundo.

Baunin ninyo and alaala ng kaunting panahon

ng pagpapanibago ng inyong mga kaluluwa

sa presensya ng Diyos at ng kanyang mga anak.

Baunin ninyo ang pagnanasang maging tapat kay Jesus

sa pamamagitan ng pagmamahal na ipadadama ninyo

sa inyong pamilya,

mga kaibigan,

at iba pang masasalubong ninyo

na mangangailangan nito.

Baunin ninyo ang tatag ng loob,

ng panindigang hindi susuko sa kasalanan.

At sa huli, baunin ninyo ang pananabik sa muling pagbabalik ni Jesus anumang oras.

Sa ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak, at ng Espiritu Santo, nawa’y pagpalain kayo.” AMEN

2005-01-04T07:51:00.000+08:00

Another shot...

2005-01-04T07:50:00.000+08:00

The Montenegro's

2005-01-04T07:48:00.000+08:00

From left: Jojo, Joy2, JJ, Jed

Caritas

2004-12-14T09:30:00.000+08:00

*Christmas, Gifts*

In his December 19, 2002 column in World magazine, Marvin Olasky wrote: "The emphasis on material gifts at Christmas may make us think of Christianity as just one more exchange religion: You do something for a god, who will then do something for you. Roman pagans 2,000 years ago. . . understood liberalitas, giving to please a recipient who will at some point please you. The smart set in ancient Rome thought it was better to give than to receive, because by clever giving to wealthy friends they could receive even more later on and they applied the same concept theologically, offering sacrifices as investments.

"Christians, though, practiced caritas, help to the economically poor without expectation of anything in return. They did that to imitate Christ, who was unjustly abandoned, tortured and killed for the sake of all who believe in Him. They praised God's willingness to pour his grace over those who had done nothing to earn it.

"Christmas is about God's caritas. Jesus in the manger may seem cute, but the incarnation for God was actually an enormous comedown, like being born as a dog would be for us. (No, worse: a cockroach or beyond a different realm of being.) And yet, Christ showed caritas right to the last, by telling one of the thieves dying alongside Him that they would be together in paradise."

Hindi kaya some of us Christians preach giving like the Romans? Magbigay ka at ibabalik sa yo siksik, liglig, at umaapaw! Ayos, di ba? But the way to be motivated to give the caritas way is to reflect on God's giving.

Pwede ba Mag-tithe?

2004-12-10T11:33:00.001+08:00

There was a question: Is it Biblical for a church to give a tithe of its income to an association or churches or convention?

I answered:

Two levels kasi ang tanong. First, the principle—tithing. Biblical ba ‘to? OF COURSE!!

Second, the application of the principle—can a body, such as a church, give a tithe to a bigger body to which it belongs? Why not? I don’t see anything that would tell the church not to do that. In addition, the church, by this act of giving, is forced to look outside of itself. To be other-centered, kumbaga. Di na siya parochial. I would like to hear more kung ano ang context ng tanong. Besides, kasama rin sa giving ang purpose nito.

Natz

To: Nathan Montenegro
Subject: Re: Tithing

This is the context. The church is in red. The church is giving 10% to the association + convention. Solution: Stop giving the 10% and use it for its own. (Sounds more unbiblical to me.)

Thanks kuya Natz.

On Fri, 10 Dec 2004 08:50:57 +0800, Natz wrote:

It seems to me that the issue goes back to the condition of “kulang na nga pera ko, magta-tithe pa ako.” This church does not have a unique problem. Lahat ng naghihirap, individual or family or church or institution, face the same inadequacy of resources. So, where does that leave us? Hindi na tayo magta-tithe kasi kulang bigay ni Lord?

“Hey Lord, you’re not doing a good job of providing for me, so I’ll take care of my needs first. Okay?”

Pwede ba yun sabihin? Baka tamaan ka ng kidlat.

Maraming factor bakit in-the-red ang isang church—legitimate or otherwise. However, the issue for the church to decide is, as part of the body of Christ, can it, as a body, decide to come to the Lord empty? In the OT, the poor were given an option of giving a dove for an offering. That’s why after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary offered in the Temple the poor man’s offering for the Cleansing ceremony. Poor sila, di ba? But they could not come empty-handed. Pero, in view of what they receive—the Son of God—ano ba naman yung dove? Their hearts were overflowing with gratitude.

If this church begrudges God his tithe, mas mabuti ciguro they should reexamine their attitude on giving. Incidental lang kung saan pupunta ang tithe nila—association or convention. What they cannot not do is give the Lord’s tithe. It’s not their money, isn’t it? Gratitude finds ways and means. Ingratitude finds excuses.

Talangka mentality

2004-12-08T13:07:00.000+08:00

The following is an excerpt from an article by Jack Wheeler "The Secret to the Suicidal Liberal Mind". It deals with the sin of envy from an anthropological viewpoint. Do you think this explains a little how "Talangka's" think?

Exploitation and Black Magic

For such understanding, we need to travel to the Amazon. Among the Yanomamo and other tribes deep in the Amazon rain forests still adhering to the ancient hunting-gathering lifestyle practiced by our Paleolithic ancestors, it is an accepted practice that when a woman gives birth, she tearfully proclaims her child to be ugly.

In a loud, mortified lament that the entire tribe can hear, she asks why the gods have cursed her with such a pathetically repulsive infant. She does this in order to ward off the envious black magic of the Evil Eye, the Mal Ojo, that would be directed at her by her fellow tribespeople if they knew how happy she was with her beautiful baby.

Anthropologists observe that for most primitive and traditional cultures, “every individual lives in constant fear of the magical aggression of others ... there is only one explanation for unforeseen events: the envious black magic of another villager.”

Reflect for a moment on the extent to which tribespeople in a tribal, “primitive” culture suffuse their lives with superstition, witchcraft, sorcery, voodoo, “black magic,” the “evil eye.” The world for them is teeming with demons, spirits, ghosts and gods, all of whom are malicious and dangerous—in a word, envious.

A great many, if not the majority, of tribal or traditional cultures, whether in the Amazon, Africa or the Pacific, have no concept of natural death. Death is always murder.

For the Shuara Jivaro of the eastern Amazon, the first tribe I ever stayed with, there are three ways to die: actual murder (such as a spear through your stomach); demon-murder (accidental death, such as being killed by a falling tree in a storm or by snakebite, which the Jivaros see as perpetrated by a demon); or witchcraft murder (death by illness or unexplained causes, perpetrated by an envious sorcerer).

The Jivaro, just like the Tiv in Nigeria, the Aritama in Colombia, the Dobua in Micronesia, the Navaho in the Southwest U.S. and the tribal mind in general, attribute any illness or misfortune to the envious black magic of a personal enemy.

Envy is the source of tribal and traditional cultures’ belief in Black Magic, the fear of the envious Evil Eye.

The fundamental reason why certain cultures remain static and never evolve (e.g., present-day villages in Egypt and India that have stayed pretty much the same for millennia) is the overwhelming extent to which the lives of the people within them are dominated by envy and envy avoidance: as anthropologists call it, the envy barrier.

For the Mambwe in Zambia, for example, “successful men are regarded as sinister, supernatural and dangerous.” In Mexican villages, “fear of other people’s envy determines every detail of life, every proposed action.”

Members of a Hispanic “ghetto” in a community in Colorado “equate success with betrayal of the group; whoever works his way up socially and economically is regarded as a ‘man who has sold himself to the Anglos,’ someone ‘who climbs on the backs of his own people.’ “

It is an ultimate irony of modern times that left-wing Marxist-type intellectuals consider themselves to be in the progressive vanguard of sophisticated contemporary thought—when in reality their thinking is nothing but an atavism, a regression to a primitive tribal mentality. What the Left calls “exploitation” is what anthropologists call “black magic.”

As sociologist Helmut Schoeck summarizes in his seminal work, “Envy: A Theory of Human Behavior” (and who collected the above anthropologists’ observations):

A self-pitying inclination to contemplate another’s superiority or advantages, combined with a vague belief in his being the cause of one’s own deprivation, is also to be found among educated members of our modern societies who really ought to know better. The primitive people’s belief in black magic differs little from modern ideas. Whereas the socialist believes himself robbed by the employer, just as the politician in a developing country believes himself robbed by the industrial countries, so primitive man believes himself robbed by his neighbor, the latter having succeeded by black magic in spiriting away to his own fields part of the former’s harvest.

The primitive atavism of left-wing bromides like “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer” is best illustrated by arguing that one can be healthy only at the expense of others. That in order to be in superior health, bursting with energy and vitality, one has to make someone else sick or in poor health—just as in order to be rich you have to make others poor.

The healthy are healthy because they unjustly exploited and ripped off the sick, spiriting away the sick’s fair share of health with black magic. In fact, the sick are sick because the healthy are healthy. If this is absurd, then claiming the poor are poor because they have been exploited by the rich is equally absurd.

Mass-understanding

2004-12-07T09:36:00.000+08:00

Below is a blog post by a programmer, Gervase Markham, who titled his weblog as "Hacking for Christ". Really! Galing nyang mag-evangelize. See for yourself.

December 06, 2004

Mass-understanding

WierdAl invoked my name ;-) in a blog post.

Like Gervase Markham, I am a Christian, and pretty serious about it.

However I'm afraid that, much as I love the guy (and I really mean that), I'm going to have to put a bit of distance between me and him on this one. He says:

Now, when I was in the U.S. Navy, there were times when we weren't able to celebrate Mass for a month. In fact, it was the Navy that (inadvertently, but nonetheless) came between me and God, and that drove me absolutely batty.

This gets to the heart of one of the massive differences between Christianity and Catholicism.

As I understand it, Catholics believe (and Al will have to jump in here if I'm misrepresenting his particular view) that it's vital to go to Mass regularly, because that's where the priest pronounces that your sins have been forgiven. That, it seems, is why Al felt that the Navy came between him and God when it prevented him going to Mass.

But I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation [including the US Navy], will be able to separate [me] from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. That's from Romans 8, verses 38-39. The Bible clearly teaches that you can have a ongoing relationship with God without the need for any intermediary apart from Jesus, and that it's not conditioned on attendance at any ceremony.

At Mass, Catholics believe, the bread and wine actually change into the body and blood of Christ, as he is sacrificed again for the forgiveness of sins of those present. Catholics are required to attend Mass every week, as the sacrifice is made again and again on their behalf.

But the Bible teaches that Jesus made one single sacrifice upon the cross, and his work is now finished. Hebrews Chapter 10 explains this. Discussing the old, Jewish system it says:

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest [that is, Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

By his one sacrifice he has (past tense) made Christians perfect forever. He sat down at the right hand of God, his work done and completed. He is now waiting "for his enemies to be made his footstool", which will happen at the Last Day. So there is no need for further sacrifice, and no need for priests to perform it. (This is why many Christian churches avoid using the word 'priest' about their leaders, to prevent confusion.)

So is this just some esoteric religious quibble? No, it's absolutely key. If forgiveness from God is conditioned on something that is done (attending Mass) then we can't be sure that we are saved. If Jesus's saving work needs to be perpetuated, repeated or "made effective" by ceremonies, then it's power is limited and we can't rely on it.

But, wonderfully, on the cross Jesus cried "It is finished!". And it is. So I would encourage Al and anyone else to study the scriptures again, particularly the book of Hebrews (where a key theme is the magnificence and finality of Jesus' work on the Cross), to see if what I'm saying is true. Because it's of vital importance.

[I've just about cleared the backlog; hopefully this post marks the resumption of normal blog service. Thank you for your patience.]

Posted by gerv at 06:53 PM | Comments (12) | TrackBack (0)

Dawdling toward Gomorrah

2004-12-07T08:15:00.000+08:00

The following is from Michael Duduit, citing Calvin Miller:

In his wonderful new book The Unfinished Soul (Broadman & Holman), Calvin Miller has collected "bits and pieces" from a variety of articles and books he has written over the years. The book is filled with fascinating (and often challenging) insights from the "poet laureate" of the evangelical world.

In one vignette, Miller plays off the title of Robert Bork's book Slouching Toward Gomorrah, and wonders if that evil city wouldn't look right at home in today's culture. He closes with these thoughts:

"Gomorrah and its sister city at the end of this tale go up in burning sulfur in a single day. But I believe that sometimes brimstone is gradual. Which of Toynbee's twenty-eight civilizations, rotting from within, woke up and suddenly said, 'Whoa! Look at us! We're post-modern!' None. Neither did Gomorrah. With civilizations, it is always the case of the amphibian in the stewpot. The only way you can cook one is gradually. So when the brimstone fell on Gomorrah, Abraham and God were bargaining over eroded values in a culture which — as the culture itself saw it — no longer sinned. God's narrow view of things surprised everyone on Nightline.

"The odd thing is that the people in Gomorrah seemed not to have been aware that God was bargaining with Abraham over the death of their culture. But we who follow Christ should be ever aware that God has a requirement of those who haggle over just how many are righteous in any city. His requirement is that we, like Abraham, are responsible for doing our part in Christ's rescue operation.

"Imagine this: God loves Sodom and Gomorrah! The moment we forget that, it is not just Gomorrah that is dead. We, too, are dead. God holds no glee over the death of cultures. He grieves over urban evil and longs to call sinners back to their lost Edens.

"It's no easy job being God! To stand for holiness and yet love the unholy is almighty stress — if not for God, for us. To live in Gomorrah and love it is our calling. But to live in Gomorrah and accept it is to accustom ourselves to gradual brimstone."

Three Wise Women

2004-12-06T13:15:00.000+08:00

*Christmas*

Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men?

1. They would have asked directions
2. Arrived on time
3. Helped deliver the baby
4. Cleaned the stable
5. Made a casserole, and . . .
6. Brought practical gifts.
(from The Humor Haus newsletter)

Shame on us?

2004-11-25T10:47:00.000+08:00

The following is a "sermon" from a columnist of the Philippine Star. He is also the publisher.

Shame

BY THE WAY By Max V. Soliven
The Philippine Star 11/25/2004

I’m sure all your hearts sank when you read about one of our supposedly "best and brightest" being shipped home in disgrace for "alleged" theft, and a ridiculously silly caper at that.

Could we ever have imagined that the just-graduated valedictorian of the Philippine Military Academy – a duly-certified "officer and gentleman" – would be caught shoplifting at the commissary in Fort Benning, USA?

Army 2nd Lt. Rolly Angeles Joaquin had been caught, the American authorities averred, by surveillance cameras, switching a 50-cent discount tag from a "sale" item and affixing it to a $12 CD (compact disk) which he was purchasing. For trying to cheat on a $12.95 item, he brought down on his own head a ton of grief, probably – after court martial here – the end of his career, and worst of all, disgrace for his country.

The future had been full of promise for young 2nd Lt. Joaquin when he graduated from the PMA last March. He received the PGMA achievement award for academics, the Presidential Saber (from the hands of President and Commander-in-Chief GMA herself), the Army Saber, Army professional course, natural sciences, management, and academic group awards and the JUSMAG Saber for Army.

While an admiring crowd watched, listened, and applauded, graduating Cadet Joaquin delivered the Valedictory Address – the first to be granted that honor – on behalf of the Academy’s Maliyab Class of 2004. An exemplar who had topped his classes from his first year as a plebe, Joaquin who hails from Aguilar, Pangasinan, had chosen as his first field of assignment "Mindanao . . . where the action is".

The United States awarded him with a study grant (via its Joint US Military Advisory Group) to train in the Basic Officers Course in Fort Benning, Georgia.

Then closed-circuit TV in the Fort’s commissary allegedly caught Rolly, on film, doing that shoplifting bit. The US kicked him out of school, and sent him home to face military discipline here last October 28.

Where did our youthful "hero" go wrong? For less than twelve bucks he trashed his own career and future.

* * *

This is the point at which opinion writers hesitate to sound preachy, owing to the old Pinoy cop-out excuse, so often bandied, sapagkat kami’y tao lamang (because we’re just human). But rectitude and high things were expected most of all from a model cadet and up-and-coming, much-bemedalled young officer like Joaquin. Some may argue that the few dollars purportedly stolen by tag-switching or shoplifting are a "small thing". However, lieutenants become generals, and in the process, find it easier and easier as time goes by to escalate from $12 to $12 million, to $120 million, – and above.

Somebody once told me how John Dillinger, who ended up as Chicago’s crime boss (and had to finally be taken down by the F.B.I. and J. Edgar Hoover), became a bigtime racketeer. Dillinger started out as a young fellow stealing hubcabs, then tires. Once he "victimized" the car of a mobster. The guy caught him in the act, gave him a beating up and told him: "Young fella, you’ll never make the big time if you keep on stealing only the tires. With a little more effort, why don’t you steal the car?" From that day on, Dillinger never looked back. His bloody and violent climb to the top ended only in a blaze of gunfire in a movie theater.

When we were pimply-faced college editors, full of virtue as well as full of ourselves, I used to quote as one of my favorite maxims an engraved sign in a monastery in France which went: "It is a sin to steal a pin, what more a bigger thing."

Alas, 2nd Lt. Joaquin did worse than that. He betrayed himself, lost his honor, and brought grief to his country. Wasn’t it John F. Kennedy who once said: "From those to whom much is given, much is required?"

Lawyers will argue that Joaquin still hasn’t been convicted in any court martial here, and must be presumed "innocent". The irreparable harm, though, has already been done. Especially to himself.

* * *

The inevitable comparisons are being drawn between Joaquin, PMA 2004, and Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, PMA ’71. Then there’s Major Ferdinand Ramos (PMA 1988) who’s been taken into "custody" in Fort Bonifacio under technical arrest for allegedly soliciting sexual favors from soldier-trainees. (A fascinating turn-of-phrase, the above: I cadged it from a newspaper story.) In short, did the Major force a subordinate to give him a . . . well, blow job?

True, perverts and crooks have, in the past, come from the best schools and the best families. Why single out the Philippine Military Academy for opprobrium and question its training and curriculum? Yet we must. From the first year, to begin with, PMA cadets are not just granted scholarships, they are paid a monthly salary – their training is underwritten by the hard-earned money of taxpayers like you and me. PMA cadets, moreover, are trained to be leaders of our armed forces, the troops who guard our nation, our liberty, and our territorial integrity day and night.

The PMA’s motto is: Courage, Integrity, Loyalty. (A spin-off from West Point’s, the US Military Academy’s Honor, Duty, Country.) Since October 25, 1898, when the PMA was established by decree of Revolutionary President (General) Emilio Aguinaldo in Malolos, Bulacan, the Academy was intended to produce leaders of men. The term "Integrity" in its escutcheon hits one immediately in the eye.

A week ago, Gen. Efren Abu, our Armed Forces Chief of Staff, rang me up to say that the Philippine Military Academy wanted to invite me to be honored with a Parade and Review, and address the Corps of Cadets. The tentative date proposed couldn’t be worked out, since it was next January 29th – at a time I am supposed to be in New Delhi, India, as a guest of the Indian Government. General Abu said he would contact this writer again, with a suggested alternative date for the occasion.

I wonder if the PMA will still invite me after today’s column. Yet, in a sense, this is my Message to the Cadet Corps I may never get to personally deliver. I commend to our men and women of the corps only three familiar words: Courage, Integrity, Loyalty.

When all is said and done, it’s not enough for a military school, much less the elite military academy (guys like me got our commissions in combat Infantry via the ROTC and the Infantry Training Group in Camp Floridablanca), to produce men-of-war. Having covered a few wars, from rebellions here to conflicts abroad, I’ve learned that true warriors must have a code by which they live and die. In the PMA they speak about an Honor Code. Too often along the way, "honor" seems to be discarded in favor of winning – in everything and anything – at any cost.

It’s not our brief to scold the PMA and piously insist that the Academy review its curriculum. Is Ethics, for example, stressed enough – or simply excelling in sports, military exercises, engineering, and sciences? Can personal "ethics", "moral values" and "rectitude" be taught in the classroom alone?

In the fog of war, in the heat of battle, men’s perspectives can become warped. But not, if their eyes and their hearts are fixed, from their formative years unerringly on the ever-bright and constant star of courage, integrity and loyalty.

It’s there, branded forever, into the Academy’s motto. No more need be said.

Lighting a Candle for Tatay

2004-11-23T09:28:00.000+08:00

I received a letter from Nanay dated Nov. 11, 2004. In it she shares how she and Tatay discussed the prospect of death and their preparations for it. Tatay died May 23 last summer. Nanay shared that in her mind, she was prepared. But it was altogether different for the heart. The will and the emotions have to go through a grieving process. Letting go of a beloved one after so many decades of knowing and serving God together is extremely difficult. Tatay and Nanay got married in 1960, I think. She did not bare her soul casually.

November is especially poignant for us—Nanay and four brothers—because of All Saints’ Day and Tatay’s birthday on the 15^th, and Thanksgiving on the last week. This is a first experience for all. Remember, ASD was observed to celebrate the lives of Godly men and women who have gone ahead.

We Filipinos have always believed that we retain a connection to those who have passed away, whatever our religion. So how do we who know Jesus as Lord celebrate those who died in Christ and are alive with God?

In our culture, we have always lighted candles. However, this act is invested with meanings that may be contrary to Scripture. Could we, as Christians, invest new meanings to old cultural forms? I believe we can. When believers light a candle to celebrate a loved one who is with Christ, they could give the following good explanations:

1. Life is short. Death is sure. Mauubos ang kandila. Tatay was allowed 74 years, and he applied himself to honoring his Lord and Savior once he became a believer. No vacations from faithfulness.

2. All of us will give an account to God for how we lived our lives. By the grace of God, Tatay finished well. Someone has said, 70% of Christian leaders don’t. I hope I will. May my life “burn well.”

3. Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. Life wasn’t always fair to Tatay. But he focused on letting the light of Christ shine in his life. The love of Jesus and gratefulness left no room for insecurity in him, allowing a single-mindedness of purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be blameless and innocent. You will be God's children without any faults among people who are crooked and corrupt. You will shine like stars among them in the world as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I can brag on the day of Christ that my effort was not wasted and that my work produced results.

Philippians 2:14-16, God’s Word