Asaph Remix (Psalm 73)

Who dares to speak?
Who dares to look?
Through the eyes of the insignificant
By the mouths of the poor

Birds clamour when the pool is full
Who ever stays with an empty dish?
We are all chess pieces, perishable
Silenced by the hand of flattery

Lord, may give ear to these words!
As I utter tearless cry
May Your justice prevail
When the wicked seemed unshaken

May the Lord bless those who came to Your servant's aid
May they find favor in Your sight
But those who smoke arrogance
May You put to shame

Whom have I in heaven by You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth
My flesh and my heart may fail
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good
I have made the Lord my refuge
That I may tell of all Your works

Until It Comes Out of Your Nostrils

I've been wanting to blog about this. Recently I've been experiencing what I would call "ministry withdrawal symptoms". For a few weeks now, I was doing so much tasks in ministry that I feel it's so in my system I wanted to withdraw. I remember what God said about the Israelites' complaint about His no-meat diet that He's gonna fill the Israelites with quail meat "until it comes out of [their] nostrils and [they] loathe it." It felt like that. For a while I didn't even want to talk and blog about it. There are some that I still find joy doing, while some I now consider tiresome and unnecessary. It's my fault in the first place. I placed too much on my plate and I feel I'm on my way to spiritual burn-out. But there's always Hope. Can't do without your prayers too. Lead me, Lord.

It's a breath of fresh air coming to school for enrollment. I'm taking again three subjects and a field education (which I've enrolled three times in the past but didn't complete). I also got last sem's class cards. I did good on two subjects (line of 9) while one morning subject that was just one point from tipping off because of too much tardiness and theology-shock. It was my first theology subject. Finally I'm taking a subject with a very beloved professor at school. He's teaching Old Testament Theology. I haven't finished enrolling, I still have to pay my fees next week.

Back to ASCM

Class season is near. Today I'll be going to ASCM after months of summer vacation (which means summer work and ministry, it's all good!) to enroll again. Lot's of changes will be happening. For one, most of my batchmates and friends have already gone, they've graduated. I'm gonna miss them. Erene will be enrolling later also. Once we were freshmen in the masters course now I feel we're the longest staying students in ASCM. I am excited about this long missed part of this season in my life, going to classes. I just pray that I could still enroll to some of the better professors in school. It's funny to think that sometimes you hate something when you're in them (like classes, teachers and papers), but miss them eventually. Regret is always in the end. But thank God for another opportunity to learn.

Driven

Last week a group of around 30+ Singaporeans from young people to adults from Trinity Christian Center came to do missions outreach in Manila as part of their 3-month intensive discipleship program called Alpha Track. If I say one word to describe the Singaporeans, it's this word - DRIVEN. I got the chance to talk to some of them. Last Sunday a third of them attended our worship service and during this week we were able to join some of the seminars they have conducted. They are so passionate about evangelism and cells there's nothing stopping them ...

Transformers is Coming to Town!

A movie to watch out for. There's lots of good movies coming out these months (Shrek 3 and Pirates).

Confrontation with God

Long ago, the patriarch Jacob had encamped, and during the night, someone had entered his tent and wrestled with him until daybreak. Jacob accepted the combat, even knowing that his adversary was the Lord. At morning, he had still not been defeated; and the combat ceased only when God agreed to bless him.

The story had been transmitted from generation to generation so that no one would ever forget: sometimes it was necessary to struggle with God. Every human being at some time had tragedy enter his life; it might be the destruction of a city, the death of a son, an unproved accusation, a sickness that left one lame forever. At that moment, God challenged one to confront Him and to answer His question: "Why dost thou cling fast to an existence so short and so filled with suffering? What is the meaning of thy struggle?"

The man who did not know how to answer this question would resign himself, while another, one who sought a meaning to existence, feeling that God had been unjust, would challenge his own destiny. It was at this moment that fire of a different type descended from the heavens - not the fire that kills but the kind that tears down ancient walls and imparts to each human being his true possibilities. Cowards never allow their hearts to blaze with this fire; all they desire is for the changed situation to quickly return to what it was before, so they can go on living their lives and thinking in their customary way. The brave, however, set afire that which was old and, even at the cost of great internal suffering abandon everything, including God, and continue onward.

"The brave are always stubborn."

From heaven, God smiles contentedly, for it was this that He desired, that each person take in his hands the responsibility for his own life. For, in the final analysis, He had given His children the greatest of all gifts: the capacity to choose and determine their acts.

Only those men and women with the sacred flame in their hearts had the courage to confront Him. And they alone knew the path back to His love, for they understood that tragedy was not punishment but challenge.

~ Paulo Coelho, "The Fifth Mountain." pp 203-204.

Can't Ignore His Presence

Yesterday was a very fruitful day. Tiring but very blessed. We had our first discipleship training after our community outreach last week. Coming from Malinta, I arrived quite early at VFGFC. It was 3PM. I thought I could have some rest and preparation before the time comes. I texted friends I made from last week. They are also undergoing discipleship training. I am zooming in on two specific youths, Danny and Arcy. And they joined me as I pass the time.

Early last week during our community promotion, we came to their house armed with flyers of the event. Their friends/family were quite a unique bunch. A cool mom, her children, and their friends, some were gays and lesbians. Reveling over cigarettes at other times beer and gambling. I tried to be as "Christian" as possible. But soon I was losing my patience because some were trying joke me around. Zarah Grace was patient partner. Leaving their compound I aired my frustration with my partner. Later I thought and was amazed at how would Jesus handle it as he befriended "tax collectors and sinners." WWJD? But throughout the 5 day outreach, Danny's mom and their children participated in the events, walang mintis. They were drawn by the joyful atmosphere and impartiality in church that by the end of our outreach they received Jesus and signed up for weekly discipleship.

That afternoon, we decided to start our discipleship which was supposed to be in the evening. Even if it was just the first lesson and preliminaries there was such joy in our fellowship. They were opening up experiences they said they've never told anyone yet. They were eager to read the Bible and learn it. Even though I know they're still into cigarettes and drinking, I'm just overwhelmed that God is doing something in their lives; and I believe and pray that one day they will give it up for following Jesus. By evening they've gathered by the church foyer, with some friends from their group (they made this group which they say is composed of around 40 youths), and I was able to counsel one who just broke up with her girlfriend (they were 7 years old apart and the girl is 13 years old!) Danny and Arcy shared to me that since our outreach events, Arcy had already a difficult time cursing (saying bad words) and their friends were noticing it teasing her makaDiyos; and they were trying to tell their friends to come to church because there's something happy and light about the place. Truly when God's presence dwells, there's just something different one can't help but not ignore it.

Please continue to pray for our work in Valenzuela. Our goal to raise up youth leaders who will join us in reaching the whole community for Christ. Also pray for our students, Danny and Arcy and the other youths who are undergoing training. To God be the glory!

Mission Accomplished

Let me quote from my brother's words: "Mission ... accomplished!" Praise God for a very successful mission camp in our new church VFGFC in Valenzuela City! Here are some highlights and praise reports from our mission camp:

• There were a total of 15 volunteers who signed-up for our 5-day community outreach. First two nights were devoted for their empowerment and during those nights all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and for some of them it was their first time. I've seen them grow and open up. Skills and talents came out. I believe they went out of this experience a better and more mature person.
• We conducted 4-day DVBS and graduation, 3-day youth fellowship, house-to-house, God-man film showing and evangelistic concert. It was nice to see the community respond to the gospel and by the end it was mission accomplished as we connect them to the church. Last Sunday as I preached on Mother's Day there were lots of new faces from our 5-day outreach. Praying that the seeds that we have planted in their hearts will grow and mature.
• Praise God for His mighty move among the volunteers, the events and the community.
• Got to mention the hard-working people of the local church helping us in anyway especially in food and water. Bless their hearts.
• Praise God for his protection upon the volunteers. In our busy schedules and incomplete sleeping hours He upheld our health and energy as the days progressed.

Pictures are here.

Off to Mission

I'll be gone for our youth mission outreach from May 6-12. Please include us in your prayers.

1. Pray that many children, youth and families will be able to hear and accept the gospel.
2. Pray that our youth volunteers will have the time of their lives and grow a burden for the lost.
3. Pray for safety and protection as we travel and stay in the site.
4. Pray for me: Physical, emotional and spiritual strength as I lead the team; to be sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit and be alert for the attacks the enemy; to be able to proclaim the gospel boldly and clearly.
   

5 Reasons Why Spider-man 3 Didn't Meet My Expectations

I was a little disappointed with Spider-man 3. I felt it was too ambitious that it didn't quite hit the bull's eye. It just didn't work. It's like they knew they nailed it on 2 (best of the three) that they super-sized everything on the third installment (sometimes I do that). It's like a soap opera that has a scheduled expiration but because it was so good the producers just has to extend the plot, put on some new twists and characters in the plot to keep us watching. Here are 5 reasons why Spider-man 3 didn't meet my expectations:

1. Too much villains it's unbelievable.
   
2. Too much CG effects that are quite obvious.
3. Poor character development because there were lots of new characters (Venom, Sandman, Gwen Stacy) and some unnecessary characters placed in the plot (Aunt May, landlord and her daughter, the captain).
   
4. Too much melodrama.
   
5. Bad bad script. I wonder who wrote this sequel's script. Some scenes are dragging, others too theatrical, and still others just flat out cheesy (especially the bad Peter Parker dance sequels)

Joy

This shows me teaching SHAPE in a camp yesterday in Taytay.

The first time I stepped on teaching (back in 2004), I got an evaluation remark that reads something like this, "He's good to look at, just don't listen to what he's saying." That was really a hard blow on my confidence, especially coming from a fellow servant. I even poured out my wounded soul in a poem. I've realized that these things, ridicule and criticisms are blocks in the road you have to take. Take a stop, learn and repair but in time move on towards your destination. By not giving up you tell God and yourself you really want that and the more you are driven to reach it ... whatever it takes.

For Him.

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." ~ Matthew 11:12

Coelho's Take on Elijah

Got this yesterday at Viramall. The Fifth Mountain is Coelho's take on the story of the Bible's Elijah and his struggle with his calling, God and his arch-nemesis Queen Jezebel. Reading it's few pages I was able to relate to Coelho's Elijah, his initial struggle with his calling and purpose in life. I believe this will be a good read.

"I Was About to Take My Life Until I Met You"

This evening, Netty and I visited the University Belt church planting team in their home base in Paco and we heard this testimony from one of the volunteers. Today, a Mapuan student in Intramuros was about to take her life that same night if someone hadn't shared to her the gospel. In tears she tells her contact worker that for two weeks she's been praying that someone would talk to her. Plagued by family crises, she decided tonight is the night that she would buy a sodium-based poison and that she'll drink it when she gets home and never wake up again. She was approached by one of the volunteers in the field who's roughly same age as her, she heard the gospel, gave her life to Christ with a new sense of hope and tomorrow, she's getting water baptized! Words cannot describe my amazement and overwhelming awe of God's move in that student's life. Hallelujah!

Mr. Taxi Driver's Guide to Life

Sunday afternoon. I, Bambi and Zarah Grace set out on half-day church visitation and promotion for our upcoming District Concert. After our visit to Manila Faith Assembly of God in Tondo, we set our eyes on Grace Christian Assembly of God in Sampaloc, Manila. And we hailed a cab to take us there.

On the way to our next destination, we meet a long parade of election campaign of a candidate for counselor whose surname is "Tan." He stands on a top window of a car waving to the people, preceded by a long line of more or less 30 tricycles donned with campaign paraphernalia. Then our driver beside me remarked something like this, "300 pesos daw ang ibinayad diyan sa mga tricycle drivers na yan, biruin mo nga naman ang nagagawa ng pera." Then he followed, "Dapat hindi binoboto ang mga ganyan..." With an amused chuckle I asked why. "Kasi tignan mo, 'Tan' ang apelido!" Then something like a big red siren popped on my head. "Alam niyo po, 'Tan' din ho ang apelido ko, bakit naman ho hindi dapat iboto kapag 'Tan'?" I thought unraveling this fact would somehow embarrass him but he kept on going. He was angry with foreigners, 'Intsik' and Americans alike.

Now, the term 'Intsik' is a derogatory word for the Filipino-Chinese, similar to the term 'Indio,' and a person who knows someone who is Chinese should know that. Sometimes I let it pass for benefit of the doubt and friendship

He was angry because somehow he believed that ALL foreigners are out to get all the power and money of Filipinos. He was angry at the rich because he thinks ALL of them got their wealth from evil gain. He was angry at the government, he was pro-Marcos, in good terms with Estrada, but very disappointed with Gloria because of her lack of concern with the price-hike of consumer products. As I reason with him, I told him that not all Chinese are like that. Not all rich people are like that. In fact, if a person works hard and keeps an honest hand, I believe he will prosper and his work will not be in vain. On both sides of the economic spectrum dwell both good and evil. Good bosses and good employees. But also from the rich dwell those who are corrupt and seek to take advantage of the poor. From the poor rise drug users, snatchers and prostitutes.

I asked him, "Wala ka na bang pag-asa sa bansa natin?" "Ay wala na po. Dati may business ako, bumagsak. Nagsisipag ako pero wala namang nangyari. Wala ring nangyayari." With those remarks, I was stunned with the bitter reality we're in. We arrive at our destination.

It's sad that there are millions of people like Mr. Taxi Driver who because of poverty somehow lost the sense of openness, goodwill and hope. They have become narrow-minded, paranoid and bitter with their state of life. Utak-squatter (the Proverb's "simple ones"). A proverb once said that the last one to die is hope. And what's there to life if there is no more hope? After that episode I accepted the fact that somehow we cannot blame this person for reacting to life this way. Who's fault is it? Why? Questions answered perhaps when we finally meet Him. But I believe that if we just stop blaming other people for our misery and start taking responsibility and make right decisions in our own lives, the realization of who God is and who we are in His eyes, that would be the beginning of true transformation.