Pakiwari Ko

My Personality

Here something about me:

A New Discipleship Tool

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

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.

©2007 www.inquirer.net all rights reserved

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

Kami'y Katagpuin

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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 worry¹ 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 feeds³ them. Aren’t you more valuable⁴ 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

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

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

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.

-=-=-
><}}'>

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

Memories

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.


-=-=-
><}}'>

"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."

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

1. Nangako ako.
   
2. Sagot kita
   
3. Ang galing-galing ko!
   

   
   

Tatay and son

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

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

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

“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.