God works for the good of those who love him

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose ... For I am convinced that [nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:28, 38-39)

In times of difficult situations, when we are walking the "valley of the shadow of death", we may question the goodness of God. We may ask "Where is God in all of this?" "Where is God when I need him?" or "Why does God allow His (children) to go through suffering or pain?

There are three reasons why we go through such situations. 1, It is the Course of nature. Death and nature's manifestations such as typhoons and earthquakes are natural. 2, They are Consequences of our actions. We go through pain perhaps as a result of our wrong choices and actions. and 3, They are for the Chipping of our character. We go through difficulties as trials that try and help mature our character and faith in God. However, regardless of the reason, explanations may be irrelevant or may not sink in to a hurting person, one desires only one thing--salvation.

There is one thing we can hold on to, that God works for the good of those who love him. God works with the end in mind--our good. Gold is purified through the hottest flame. Note that God doesn't work for everyone's good, but for those who love and put their hope in Him.

In light of the recent calamity. It is amazing how God's Sovereignity rule over the situation. One cannot say that all these people who have been hit by the calamity experienced it because of a consequence of their sins (that's why often legalistic Christians get heat for this), because for some this calamility is aimed at molding their faith, and for others it is a harsh correction of a worldly life. But in all of these, I believe and am amazed that for every person God had a purpose for this calamlity to come upon them. Nothing is done without a purpose. No experience is wasted and unlearned.

Let us be confident and stand in courage by these words, that nothing will separate us (who have placed their faith and love in God through Jesus Christ) from the Love of God through Christ Jesus. That means no matter what I am going through, I am loved by God. His plan for my end is for my good.

I love the passage that we reflected on in class this week:

Jeremiah 36:32-44

36 "You are saying about this city, 'By the sword, famine and plague it will be handed over to the king of Babylon'; but this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 37 I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

42 "This is what the LORD says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. 43 Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, 'It is a desolate waste, without men or animals, for it has been handed over to the Babylonians.' 44 Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, [d] declares the LORD."

Day in the Life: My Stability

(Let me warn you that this post might be misleading for some because of the flow of thought. It tackles about God, love and relationships based on one of our discussion "arcs" tonight at Makati Carecell.)

My message last Sunday touched on one's source of stability in life. Isaiah 6 is about the calling of Isaiah to be a prophet to Judah. Verse 1 said, "In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on the throne ..." 2 Chronicles 26 documents the achievements of King Uzziah, of how he won victories over the nation's enemies. And because of this peaceful reign in his nation, he was able to bring growth to the nation. He built infrastructures, improved it's economy and built a strong military power with state of the art equipments. (Later he was struck by God with leprosy because of pride and he died). The people enjoyed peace and prosperity under King Uzziah. For Isaiah and the rest of Judah, they found their stability in Uzziah, but now he is dead. Imagine this terrible loss, fear and uncertainty of the nation at the death of their king. But at ground zero despite the looming uncertainty of the future for Isaiah and the nation, God revealed Himself to Isaiah in a vision as a king, or the King (in fact, the King of kings), sitting on the throne, still reigning over every circumstances, reassuring us that in every situation, even in the most difficult ones, God is still in control. "God works for the good of those who love him."

That was just my introduction. On to the main topic of this post.

Everyone finds stability in something or someone. There are three things where our stability may come from: 1. Possessions - our assets, houses and savings, 2. Positions - our status, social status, surnames and careers, and 3. People - our parents, children, spouse, or friends. And there is one thing that is common to all of the above mentioned: they are temporal. Today they are here, tomorrow they may not be. The fatality of this truth was proven by the recent typhoon and flooding that caused pain over the loss of these sources of stability. One might conclude that rather than putting our stability on these things, we ought to put our stability on God only.

But as I was analyzing this thought, I believe that the more right thing to say is our stability must find itself first and foremost in God. First and foremost--top source of trust and standard of security. Because I have to admit. God is not the only source of my stability, though God is the main source of my stability. Second to God, I find strength in my soon-to-be wife Nette. In fact both of us find our stability in God. But for me, Nette has become a major source of balance and confidence in my life. Life would be difficult today without her.

I saw the Pixar movie Up a few months ago, and if you know the story, Mr. Fredrickson, prior to his hard and grumpy personality, loved his wife. Their bond and love for each other grew stronger as they grow old until age caught up with them and she had to go first. Watching it I can't help but cry at the thought of losing one's companion in life. (Forgive my melancholy tendency to sulk at the future). Now I am beginning to understand not just in mind, but in my heart how devastating it is of losing someone you love. Because she is my stability.

So the statement, never put your stability on people doesn't quite work. Yes and again, Our stability must first and foremost come from God. But I believe it is God Himself who brings the blessing of loved ones in our lives to let us know that we are loved and we are human--capable of loving--bringing balance and stability in our lives. If we say we cannot put our stability on people, we run the risk of not being able to experience how to love and be loved in return which is one of the defining attributes of the Godhead himself.

Bottom line/s:
- God should be the first and foremost (otherworldly level) source of our trust and stability.
- Not trusting people (in general) runs the risk of our incapability to love and be loved.
- Without trust there is no relationship.

Anointed in unity

A church united is a church anointed. This was a title of one of my Sunday messages a few months ago. And I was reminded by it again as I meditate on Isaiah 9:

Isaiah 9:21, "Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh; together they will turn against Judah. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised."

Manasseh, Ephraim and Judah once formed the united kingdom of Israel. And because of disunity, the kingdom was divided into Judah and Israel (10 tribes, including Manasseh & Ephraim). And even wars prevailed between brothers nations, there were internal conflicts between Israel's tribes (Manasseh & Ephraim). And because of this prevailing discord and lack of unity, God's hand was heavy upon them.

When there is a prevailing spirit of disunity in the church, we can be sure that the Holy Spirit is driven away by our lack of humility and healthy conflict management. Solution: Once more establish the "headship of Christ" (Reimagining Church) in the church in repentance and reconciliation. The headship of Christ empowers us to take captive of every lofty and prideful thought that sets itself against God. And such is the image painted by prophet Isaiah of Christ's lordship over anyone who put's their allegiance to Him:

Isaiah 9:6, 7, "... And the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Price of Peace ... He will reign ... establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that ime on and forever ..."

Lord forgive us when we isolate ourselves, being deceived that we are on our own. You have made us to be in unity in community.

Communicating passion

In the book The Starbucks Experience, it tells a story about Starbucks challenge in introducing the Starbucks coffee experience in the tea-dominated market of Japan. Once for the Japanese, coffee was experienced in simple powder form or cheap 3-in-1's. The need: heighten the tea-loving people's coffee experience. Author Joseph Michelli calls it the art of bringing sophistication to coffee experience. And this was what Starbucks did: Painstakingly educate the Japanese market about coffee, it's kinds, where they come from, encourage discussions and inquiries through strategic use of spaces among others, and teaching them how to appreciate good quality coffee, it's tastes and aromas. Thus they succeeded in bringing a heightened appreciation of coffee in Japan. (Trivia: Starbucks Coffee Jelly originated from Japan!)

Just as the leaders of Starbucks succeeded in elevating the appreciation of coffee by elevating their experience of the product, how do we as ministers (people who do ministry) encourage our congregation's appreciation of the Christian experience?

Bringing sophistication to the Christian experience. It may sound contradicting, but let me define the terms. When I googled "What is sophistication" it gives this meaning, "uplifting enlightenment." So bringing sophistication to the Christian experience does not mean complicating the Christian experience, but lifting the person to an enligtening awareness and appreciation of the beauty of the Christian experience. For example, how do you help move a person to an enlightening awareness and appreciation of God's Word or prayer. The opposite of this would be simple-mindedness as the book of Proverbs describe a person who lacks an inquiring and analyzing mind.

Have you ever experienced difficulty in communicating and letting other people catch your passion? For example, a worship leader who is well educated and skillful in music theory, is frustrated because her team is not able to appreciate or see the beauty in transposition or vocal harmony, for them harmony or no harmony--it's the same banana. For the Sunday School director, the need to be equipped to produce creative means of teaching children is his heart's passion, but other teacher's in his team do not see the importance of it, thus pulling a lesson from last year's and a lesson creatively prepared during the week is one and the same banana. And for me as a preacher, my passion is for our congregation to come to a higher appreciation the beauty of God's Word, to have a desire to seek the Scriptures recreationally, and not just Sunday "Christian practioners" who are occupied with Christian fads and sensationalism, hungry for pleasant words and good fortunes (Is 30:9-11).

This is the challenge, just as Starbucks was able to introduce coffee to Japan, how do you bring a person to an higher enlightenment and appreciation of the Christian experience? How do you communicate your passion effectively so that as you see what God sees, others will see what you see? Just as Starbucks educated the Japanese market to appreciate coffee, how do you educate your congregation in appreciating the Christian experience?

Here are some thoughts:

Catch a God-given vision - Doing something to please people will never last, follow a vision that is worthy of God's passion, a vision bigger than yourself.

Build relationships - People won't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Relationships are built on trust.

Teach it formally and informally - Bruce Wilkinson in the Seven Laws of the Learner, teaches retention of one's content by talking about it formally and informally. The Hebrews passed the law to their children in their everyday living. "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates ..." (Deut 11:18-20). Not only share your passion on the pulpit, share it over coffee and other informal settings.

Cast the Why before the How - Constantly communicate the vision by casting the Why--the importance of your cause. Answer, creating skillful music is important because ... teaching creatively is important because. When they see the Why before the How, you are encouraging creativity in coming up with Hows because there are always multiple solutions to a problem.

Don't be ashamed to ask for commitment - A person will follow a leader secure of his own convictions.

Responding to God's Call

I like the outline of the commentary (The Bible Exposition Commentary by Warren Wiersbe via PC Study Bible) made about Isaiah 6.

In Isaiah 6 we find the nation Judah in unstable circumstances as it's King Uzziah died. This king was very good and fruitful and was responsible for Israel's national growth (Yet in his latter days, he became too proud and was stricken with leprosy and died). This was when Isaiah saw the vision of the King of kings seated on a throne.

Isaiah 6 is what Isaiah experienced as he responded to God's call as a prophet. As Spirit-filled leaders we go through the same experience as we respond to God's call for our life. Consider these three progression of Isaiah's calling:

He saw the Lord (Sight) - In the uncertainty of times caused by the death of a powerful king, Isaiah saw in a vision the Lord seated on a throne as a reigning King. "I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple." He also saw angels worshipping the Lord crying "Holy, holy, holy".

Vision does not begin with us. As Ptr. Rick Warren always say, "It's not about us." It begins with God, seeing with spiritual eyes His greatness, holiness and grandeur.

He saw himself (Insight) - And as Isaiah saw the greatness and holiness of the Lord, and realizing he was standing in His presence, he saw himself--a worthless, sinful man. "Woe is me! I am a man of unclean lips!" was the cry of Isaiah in the presence of the Lord.

As we come before God in worship and reverence, we cannot help but be amazed by Him, and see ourselves as unworthy of this glory. We will not be able to proclaim woes to other people, when we do not realize our own woes--our weaknesses and misgivings. To be able to be used by God, we are called to be repentant, teachable and humble. Before God our Potter mold us up, He breaks us down--and that we should be aware of.

So in Isaiah's vision he sees an angel take coals from the altar and touched his lips with it as a gesture of cleansing through fire. As ministers (people who do ministry), trials come to bring out the best in us. Consider Peter's words that out of trials and suffering come character, patience and endurance.

He saw the need (Vision) - After these, God throws the challenge, "Whom shall I send?" And with no hesitation, Isaiah responds "Here I am send me!" God presented a need, Isaiah saw the need and met the need.

We need to realize that before a vision is given, before we set our foot to walk the path of ministry, the two previous awareness are non-negotiable (seeing who God is and who we are). It's placing yourself where you're supposed to be (in humility and service), and placing God in your life where He is supposed to be (as King and Lord of our lives).

In Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels (read the book!), he defines one's calling as seeing one's passion coming in parallel with God's passion. Moses saw the need, the plight of Hebrew slaves in Egypt--It was the heart of God all along. God said, "I hear the cries of my people, and I am sending you." Moses' at first failed to be where he was supposed to be in their relationship with God. He tried rescuing Israel with his own might. God brought him through 40 years of stripping and molding--trial by fire. And only then, came that one day like any other that would begin his extraordinary walk with God.

Anointed servanthood is seeing who God is + seeing who we are + seeing and responding to the need, our passion coming in alignment with God's passion.

7 + 2 Effective Practices in Leadership

Here's what Ptr. Sam Sade shared during our retreat in his session "Keeping in Step with the Church". Though he numbered it seven, he added two more by the end of his session. We call it in the biz, impromptu :)

Clarify the win - Vision, vision, vision! Know where you are going. Ask, What do you celebrate when you look back? As a minister, are you celebrating conversions and disciples?

Think steps not programs - Programs are activities to keep people busy. Steps are programs to get people to the place where you want them to be. Steps are easy to follow/monitor, obvious (the need is obvious) and strategic (not "just because").

Narrow the focus - Do one or two things well rather than being a jack of all trades. Remember less is more. (This is something I really need to work on.)

Teach less for more - Teach them what they really need to know, not just trivial things, but things they can apply for the betterment of their lives. I remember a teaching professor remarked back in a conference about teaching today's seminarians, he said something like this, "I am less concerned when Calvin was born (and other "important" dates of church history), and more concerned about their contributions to today's church and the Christian faith system."

Listen to outsiders - Once in a while (or more than that) take evaluation from the people outside your organization. Because the longer you stay in an organization, the more your bias for or against the organization. Andy Stanley talks about how they value feedback from new employees, because it helps them see their organization with "fresh eyes".

Replace yourself - This is similar to what I heard before from Chuck Quinley: Work yourself out of your job. Meaning, learn to train, empower and disciple others to continue and enlarge the vision's flame.

Work on it - Simply put, nothing happens without industry and hardwork.

Think outside the box - If you don't think outside the box, you're only reaching people other churches are already reaching.

Dream big dreams, take great risks - Never fear to dream big. The safety of "dream small, fail small" is unchallenging and pessimistic. Learn to take great risks (with faith and anointed ears) and cross over to living an adventure.

Day in the Life: Wedding Preparations

Today Netty and I went to had my body measured for my suit for my wedding. I'm wearing a black suit (black coat, black vest, white shirt and plum-colored tie). Plum is our color motif. Anyway, I was a bit shy before the designer of my suit. Because I am ignorant at this. Somehow this time I have difficulty visualizing what I want to wear. I just want a suit (everyone else will wear barong tagalog). The trip to the tailor (what do you call that?) was a success.

After that we went to Glorietta for dinner. It's good to sit down and talk. Netty knows that these days when we talk about wedding, I get stressed out. Don't misinterpret. I want to get married. I'm excited to get married. Thinking about it, it's not the provisions that's stressing me, because I'm confident about God's provision for us. I am beginning to realize that going round and about the details was the culprit. It's something I have to face. After dinner we headed to Gloria Jeans coffee to set some dates and payables for our wedding. It went well. Actually I really appreciate Nette for doing what she's doing, those well-organized planners and list of things to do. I thought I should be doing that being a born planner, but somehow wedding planning is of a different caliber. I feel I am becoming passive-aggressive about this and other things. Something I need to change. Oh the unfruitfulness and apathy of Facebook and the web ...

If wedding preparations stresses me out. Talking about future ministry stresses her out. I am glad that we had a conversation about it. This time I was the one opening up and she was the one listening. I'm glad that I had a chance to pour my heart out about what's happening in my mind. I always thank God for having a godly and supportive spouse-to-be.

Please do continue to pray for us. Our wedding preparations (provisions) and our ministry direction. May God alone be glorified when it's all said and done.

Ondoy says, "Wake up!"

It is during these times of tragedies we couldn't help but think if it is the effect of our nation's plight before the Lord. Controversies, corruptions and meaningless chatters, swept away by the raging flood. May it they never rise again. But it wouldn't be as easy as it sounds. Isaiah 1 deals with the plight of Judah before the Lord:

"When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me ... When you spread out your hands in prayer I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen ... Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." (Isaiah 1:12, 15, 17)

Just as the Lord addressed the chosen nation for their callousness in the midst of the suffering of the community around them, He still does so today to the church. Don't get me wrong, the church is on the move, I have heard and seen great efforts to send relief coming from the church. But bringing it closer to home, as a person of God redeemed by the One who says, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me to preach good news to the poor, to bring freedom to the captives, to declare the holy year of our Lord," am I part in prayer and help of the people in need of them? The Word of God cries "Justice!" Often times we get too comfortable in the four walls of our churches that we grow indifferent of what's happening just outside it's walls, it has become a prison of indifference.

I heard Rick Warren talk about the benefits and curse of technology. The technological revolution has helped us get information to and from us at the speed of light. But if I am watching for example, the tragedies of Ondoy on TV, I could feel sympathy, or perhaps tear a bit. But if I leave it at that, I failed to respond to the need, it becomes a coat of indifference in my heart. A couple more tragedies, tsunamis, Katrinas and Ondoys, and we are left with a hard calloused heart who deceives itself by thinking emotional sympathy without action is enough to justify one's lack of power to do something about it. Jesus saw the need, felt the need (compassion), and most importantly, met the need (Luke 10:34).

"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow ... If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land." (v. 17, 19) Praise God if you are already living true Christianity, never stop doing it. If not, if your heart is stirring against the injustice you see on TV, do something, anything! No matter how small.

After Isaiah calls the attention of the church. There's another institution he brings to rebuke:

"See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her--but now murderers! ... Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them." (v. 21, 23)

It is not hidden from our sight, not far from our ears our nation is going through. The Philippines has among the highest corrupted governments in the world. And every day I see and hear it's corruption even to the grassroots government--even SK's, 15 to 17-year-olds! It is sad that our beautiful nation has come to this. It has become a culture of abuse of power and the hopelessness and helplessness for the oppressed and suffering. Someone says, this is no time to blame one another. Yes, but we have brought rulers to powers to lead us. And we have been led nowhere.

Nevertheless, God says, "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow ... If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land." (v. 18-19). Is there hope for our nation, I believe there is. What can I do? Stop indifference: (1) Pray for the Philippines, (2) vote wisely this election, (3) be the change and (4) lead others to do the same. 

It is during these times that I am led to think that perhaps God uses these acts of God to compel us to come before Him in repentance and once more to depend on Him. It is during these times that remind us that instead of tearing down one another, we ought to be helping each other. It is sad that it always has to come to this. When will we learn? May this "new slate" bring us new hope and direction towards nearness and rightness with God. My hope is that we will become a fertile ground of God's word to work when the time comes and it's near:

"I will restore your judges as in days of old, your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. Zion will be redeemed with justice, her [repentant] ones with righteousness." (v. 26-27)

Reunited and it feels so good

I just discovered that I could now import my old Blogger blogs to my current one. So finally my 1st, 2nd and latest blog spanning five years now (started summer of 2004) could be joined together to form one timeline in one blog. This is great because once in a while I would check what I did in the previous years.

Chasing The Vision

I loved Ptr. Sam Sade's (during ASCM retreat) take on 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 as he relates it to vision. The verse says, "'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.'--but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit." God has prepared for each believer a vision of what He wants for us to accomplish. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived ..." And sometimes that vision is too crazy, too risky, too far out that it almost instantly gathers criticism, disbelief and discomfort from the people around. God asked Noah to build an ark miles away from the nearest body of water. But God never fails to allow His chosen to see a glimpse of what He sees. "God has revealed it to us by his Spirit." Thus for the vision-carrier it is so clear that it ignites him to act--despite the difficulties and threats ahead. But in the end, he will find himself as an integral part of God's tapestry of His-story. There's no place I would want to be than where God wants me to be. Therefore, whatever God has put in your heart to accomplish, remember that no one else has the passion for this vision as vivid and as fiery as to the earthen vessel He has chosen to fill--you. Go and chase the adventure!