Devotion: Following at A Distance

Matthew 26:57, "But Peter followed him at a distance ..." 

At times we are like Peter when Jesus was finally arrested and tried. He followed Jesus only "at a distance." Once a faithful and bold disciple, even at times "foolish" for Christ, now following "at a distance"--avoiding any association with this Christ. "He who desires to follow me must pick up his cross and follow me." 

How many times in our Journey that we lag behind and foolishly choose the securities of the world over the daily life of grace God has generously bestowed upon us. We choose to just follow Christ "at a distance." "At a distance" so to follow Him whenever we want, and escape at the first sign of pressure and life's problems. A follower lacking commitment is not follower at all.

Despite his weaknesses in the most dire time, just as every story of the work of Christ grace upon God's children, Christ restored Peter back on the plow of His field to pick up where he had laid off. May this be true and soon for us who are storming through the world's temptations.

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." A warning for all of us, none exempted. Only in our constant attachment to Christ--abiding in the Vine--does the Christian walk truly be victorious. 

Life update

It's eleven AM and my date with our YA group was just cancelled because our host was sick. Haven't been life-blogging lately because too loaded with stuff to do. School is nearing its end (March 9-13 is our last week) so paperworks are piling up. Plus I'm part of the band that's playing for our retreat next week. And I'm doing a video for our school's foundation concert the other week. Work is unimaginable. They are piling up because I procrastinate. There are times when I'm really bummed out to do work, but there are times when I would even stay up in the wee hours of the morning working them. Two good things from this experience: I get paid and I lose weight.

Ministry is doing better or balanced. Recently we had a planning session, which are months overdue but thankfully we're getting there, and I was reassigned to head our discipleship and small groups department, a new department created by Pastor Z, and the youth was assigned now to one of our youth leaders. Somehow there's a feeling of loss that I'm "giving away" the post, but I remember Dr. CQ said about this: see it not as getting promoted or demoted but stepping in or stepping out of a role, just changing hats. Could this be His move in preparing me for my future ministry?

Netty and I are doing great. We are in this phase of planning for the wedding and God has been faithful to both of our working hands. I already long for that day when we wouldn't part anymore after every date. It's as if we are already one. Of course there are low times but we work it out. I can't wait to be with her. Can't wait. Go around, see the world, build a life.

That's all for now. Ciao!

Devo: A New King in Town

"Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. "Look," he said to his people, "the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country." (Exodus 1:8-9)

Couple of lessons ...

1. We make enemies because we don't know much. Rameses made some rash and unwise judgment that resulted in the destruction of his nation. Because he failed to know "his enemy". Often times we are fighting and resisting who we thought are against us, but if we just scratch the surface (sometimes it's not enough to trust face value), we will find that this person or that is not an enemy, not someone to be judged too hastily. And by know one's enemy one has gained a friend.

2. Life's false securities bring out who we are, often times the worst. He exemplified some nasty insecurity. Every person is subject to the furnace of character one's he is handed over power. Like the Ring in LOTR, it can bring out the worst in you like a Hallmark card. Like a furnace life's privileges, responsibilities or circumstances can bring out the best in us or the worst in us. 

3. Over-assuming often lead to foolish actions and decisions. Rameses, in an attempt to overrun the Israelites, tried to "count the chicks before they hatch." He asked the deadly "what if?" He went from peaceful living to a vision of Israelites fighting against him in a war because they just can. Don't over-assume things, in our attempt to always get ahead, always marking our next steps, we lose life. Like someone has said, we'd be "living in the future, but not in the present." And when we think about the future, take wisdom on the journey.

In The Shack a character observes humas when they worry. Often times when we think about the future, its full of negativity--primarily, gloom and fear. She observes that despite our faith in Christ, we haven't included him to join our visions for our future. She calls it "imagination without wisdom." Our battle for our actions and our future starts in the mind. Let us be reminded that in everything, God desires the best for us and of us. He never leaves us nor forsakes us.

It's Our Zeroeth Anniversary

Exactly a year from now comes our wedding day. There are times when I just want for that day to come. I picture it, envision it. I'm sure I'm gonna cry, I'm a cry baby. But what's good about this waiting is every day I draw near to that day when I will say my vows and take her as my wife. I'm just so blessed with Netty. Really blessed. Indeed she's my other half. I love her thoughtfulness, the way she cares for me, the small things, makes me realize that I'm one of those really blessed persons on earth to be graced with such gift.

"Your Universe" by Rico Blanco

1

Tell me something,

When the rain falls on my face

How do you quickly replace it with a golden summer smile?

Tell me something,

When i'm feelin' tired and afraid

How do you know just what to say to make everything alright?

+

I don't think that you even realize the joy you make me feel 

when i'm inside your universe

You hold me like i'm the one who's precious

I hate to break it to you but its just the other way around

You can thank your stars all you want 

but I'll always be the lucky one

2

Tell me something

When i'm 'bout to lose control

How do you patiently hold my hand and gently calm me down?

Tell me something

When you sing and when you laugh

Why do i always photograph my heart flyin' way above the clouds?

New Year "Resolutions"

It's 3AM and I'm still awake. Doing some work for my boss in States. Apparently they don't celebrate holidays like we do, they're up again and back to work.

It's 2009. I have in my mind a lot of "resolutions". Things I haven't done a lot for last year. I don't want to call them resolutions, because it's the first step to not happening. But you get the idea. Perhaps more of desires and goals for the year (if I could keep up past the first quarter of the year.):

1. I gotta lose weight - My tummy is huge. Have you felt like everytime I eat it's gonna explode because it was too stretching ... yup I don't like the feeling. Plus, the energy really drains fast. Perhaps this is already a sign.

2. I need to go out more, return from being adventurous and take more risks - I felt that 2008 have kept me on the ground, not being able to go here and there like I use to do. That's why it's as if I felt I'm getting old. I miss my younger days when I don't care much what others think and when I would go to places and just be carefree.

3. I will spend more time and love my family, bring it back to them - It's the last year that they will have me as a single son. I will not be away, but when I get married priorities will change as I now have to build my own family. So I will try my best to be a good son before they take me to the altar (Oi hinahatid din ang lalaki sa altar hehe :) To take it farther, I feel I'm being drawn back to my roots not only as a son in my biological family but in my spiritual family which brings me to number 4:

4. I will simplify myself - Past few years I had an opportunity to be involved in various causes. I am grateful for all of them. They're God-given. However this time I felt that I have to detox myself from extra-curricular overload. Too much can spread you too thin and head for a burn out. I have to give sometime to prepare myself spiritually, emotionally and mentally.

5. I will cherish my last 377 days (to be exact) with Netty (before two of us become one ... hey, that's a song!) - I think our relationship as BF-GF is a unique and special season for us. We've only just begun sabi nga ni Karen ...

Hay ... bangag na ako sa antok.

Random thoughts:

I hope I could join Ptr. Joedy's mission trip to Palawan.

I had a sudden desire to own a PSP.

Back to work!

It's that time of the year

It's that time again in local tv-newsdom when they will interview a psychic or a feng-shui expert and asks what "will" happen on the next year (even it's more than two months before the Chinese new year they already talk about year of the what animal). They will present to the viewers what to do to bring in good luck: The usual round fruits and polka dots "according to the experts". Then at the end of the segment they will do a "biglang-kabig" or "biglang-bawi" saying it's ok to do them but what's more important is caution and faith in God with perhaps a minimal airtime interview with a religous leader. This baffles me every time.

Patienty Waiting

Twenty-four months and counting
My love for you grows bigger, deeper
Every minute passing by,
Every smile you grant this weary and undeserving soul

Lord, I have nothing but humble gratitude, solemn praise
For this beautiful thing You have made
May the good Lord bless our hands
As we walk towards the consummation of our love

Till that day when I will finally call you mine
And you call me yours
I will patiently wait
My love, my best friend

Victory of the Lamb

"These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

Revelations 17:14

I like this verse I came across with this morning... In the end of all things, despite our current trials and troubles come retribution. In our hopes and dreams come fulfillment and realization. Because our God is an awesome God, King of all kings. And we will reign with him.

Day in the Life: Laptop Ressurection and Jesus Christ Superstar

Monday. The day after Sunday.

I'm missing Netty right now because she's still out there. Actually I miss her more than before.

Today finally wraps up my laptop makeover. Finally my notebook was literally portable again. I got my newly "refilled" batteries in Amorsolo. It was just through an accidental visit to a laptop shop that I discovered that dead Li-on laptop batteries can still be "refilled" and you don't have to buy an 8k-ish brand-new and branded batteries. So after a few weeks I have my laptop good as new: got a new casing and paint job, new batteries, got a new wi-fi adapter (I lost my old one), a new external DVD writer (the built in doesn't work anymore). I also bought this thin rubber sheet you put over your laptop keyboard so it doesn't accumulate dust (I saw this on one of my client's notebook). Now I'm thinking of having a router at home and have a cool sticker on top of my notebook.

Class today at Theo 2 was a bit laid back. I feel that my prof's a bit unenthusiastic about our class because we're only five. But I do get him and appreciate when he teaches us. We're still on the topic of Christology. And it's timely that I have this subject because somehow it adds to my current season of revisitation of my faith and who I am as a person in this world, where is my place in this world. After 30 minutes of lecture, we watched Jesus Christ Superstar which I haven't seen before this. Interesting and I would like to see it again in detail because at that time we were watching from a laptop and I don't have my glasses with me (I lost it again after our outreach in PGH).

I almost forgot that stint we had at PGH last Saturday. After a month of promotion and solicitations we were able to raise twice our target so the kids and their families were quite blessed. I'm glad that it was a success. It was participated by more or less 30 people from our church. And we were able to minister to 90 children from the pediatric ward. That day there was a bit of mishap when we were scheduled together with another group but its all good, Jolibee was even their to spread some holiday cheer. What's important is that the children are blessed.

On a sad note, Sunday morning before I preached on the Valenzuela pulpit we were given a shocking news that a member who goes there and I know personally had died of heart attack that evening. So most of the church was grieving. But when you try to look on a positive side, good thing he knew the Lord, especially knowing his story of turning away and returning again to Him, I know that finally he is somewhere better than here. So good for him.

Unacceptable

"You made me like this." Have you ever thought of that? Heard it from a movie I saw recently. I could say a couple of litanies that starts with that. It's easy to say words like that. Psychology even justifies that our environment molds us to become the person that we've become, to conform in order to survive. It's easy to say and put off the burden off our shoulders and hold the other person accountable for your misery. I even worry that because I'm hypothetically in this environment that I would become the people I loathe. But. But I choose. I choose not to be liable to my past. My past does not and will not dictate my present and my future. I choose. I choose not to surrender to mediocrity and corruption of the will. Succumbing to the flow of circumstances because it's unevitable is unacceptable. Nothing is impossible. Impossible is nothing. My children will not suffer what I suffered. I am who I am so I will give my descendants a better Life. I. Choose. My Destiny.