When Life Interrupts Your Plans

There was once a guy who was engaged to a beautiful lady. He loved her so much and he dreamt of the day when they are going to finally start a family of their own. But a few weeks left before the big day, he found out that his fiance got pregnant! Certainly not by him. What would you do if you were on his shoes? Many thought she deserved to be humiliated for what she had done. But being a good and decent man, he decided to break off the wedding quietly. Even though it was like a dagger in his heart, he still thought about her welfare, and the child she now carries. What happens when life throws a wrench in your plans?

A long obedience in the same direction

A student who just started in his journey with God shared to me his situation: When I started my relationship with Christ, I was so passionate to know Him. When I learned how to read God's Word, I devoured it and was so excited to "hear" from God. But these days, it's quite different. I feel as I there is something lacking in me. I am not as excited as I used to be. I'm not reading the Bible as much as I used to. Is there something wrong?

Often times we go through times when we find ourselves less "excited" about our relationship with God. I understand what you mean, because I've been there many times. For me there are reasons why we experience this. But first, let's get some things out of the way. Let's try to answer these questions:

1. Is it a sin issue? David said, "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me ..." (Psalm 139:23-24). Sin no matter how big or small hinders us from entering into the presence of God. And if the answer here is yes, I encourage you to return to God, ask forgiveness for your sin and continue walking with Him in His strength. He is faithful to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. Is it a relationship issue? How are your relationships with your family and your "neighbors"? Is there an unresolved conflict with another person? They can rob us of joy in the Lord. Jesus tells us that when we come to worship God, if we remember that someone has offended us, we must first go to that person who have offended us and be reconciled with them (Matthew 5:23-24).

Keep Calm and Trust God

Update: 5PM, So more "reliable" sources have confirmed that the "flesh-eating disease is but in fact a hoax.

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I posted this in Facebook following the recent news report that came out last night ...

So last night the news show Bandila came out with this report from Pangisnan about a "flesh-eating" disease that resonates with something that has been prophesied last year by an Indian prophet. Few thoughts:

Let's be responsible in what we post as people of God, let's get all the facts muna. I saw from the youtube video that there is a "part 2" report tonight. I'm also a bit "skeptic" that Babao would reference the prophecy at the end of the report, when it was not mentioned during the report, sounds like a ploy to get more ratings. They've been peddling this hastag "pray for Pangasinan" "mysterious disease" in hopes to make it trend.

I'm not saying it's false (if the news is related to the prophecy). It may be true (The Bible tells us to test prophetic utterances, 1 Corinthians 14:29). But be responsible with what we post. Let us not sow fear, for God doesn't give us a spirit of fear, but of love, boldness and sound mind. Let us be guided with these. Boldness - never shy away from sharing God's Word and God's Hope. Soundness - let's get the facts straight and not overreact or exaggerate. Love - warn in love, don't stop at just warning, but share the antidote, the solution. In everything we do, let's see to it that Jesus is exalted.

Day in the Life

This year's Valentines Day fell on Friday, so we grabbed the opportunity to do a Valentines-themed event called "Agree or Disagree." It was sort of a panel discussion wherein a group of young adult couples would weigh in on some popular love statements. Everyone had a great time, especially when young people talk about love. But I'm also happy that we've got some great insights about love, God and relationships from our visitors

"I'm in-love with a non-believer."

 

A student asked me this week: What are your thoughts about a born-again Christian having a relationship with a partner who is [of a different religious preference]? (I placed brackets because that was supposed to be a specific religion, but for the sake of discussion, let's apply it in any kind of "religious preference.")

If you wish to read my Taglish version (trip lang). Click here. 

Before I got serious about my relationship with my to-be wife, I went through the awesome season of crushes and courtship. And growing up in a church community, I was taught about one of the most popular verse about romantic relationships: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14). I dare to say that every person who grew up in a church youth group know this verse. It's a verse so over-used and sometimes abused that it often equates with the word "killjoy". As a young person, I considered girls who were beautiful and kind, and didn't care much about whether they had a personal relationship with Jesus or not, after all, it seems "discriminating". The young me would would think how overly strict the command was, and would even play scenarios in my mind that would justify breaking this Scripture. Looking on hindsight, I am thankful that by God's grace He has led me to know and marry someone who also loves God. And I stand by the counsel of God's Word in 2 Co 6:14.

"In-love ako sa isang unbeliever"

May isang estudyante na nag-ask sa akin this week: Ano ang pananaw ko sa pakikipagrelasyon ng isang born-again Christian sa isang [hindi mananampalataya]? (Nilagyan ko ng brackets yung word dahil specific yung religion na binanggit niya. Pero for the sake of discussion ito na lang ang itawag natin.)

(Alam mo bang may English version ako nito. Click mo dito.)

Bago ko nakilala ang future-wife ko, dumaan din ako sa panahon ng crushes at panliligaw. Lumaki ako sa church, at pagdating sa romantic relationships, tinuro nito sa akin ang isa sa pinaka-popular na verse patungkol sa dito: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). Siguro lahat ng dumaan sa youth group sa church ay alam na itong verse na ito. Minsan nao-over-use pa nga ito kaya kapag naririnig na ito ng mga kabataan, ang iniisip nila kaagad e “ang killjoy naman”.

Nung bata ako, nagka-crush din naman ako. Pero hindi ko masyadong pinapansin kung sila ba ay may personal relationship sa Panginoon, kasi parang discriminating ka naman ‘pag ganun. Naisip ko, grabe sobrang higpit naman nag utos na yon, at nag-iisip ako ng mga scenario kung papaano maja-justify na suwayin ang utos na iyon. Pero kung babalikan ko ang naging decision ko, nagpapasalamat ako sa grace ng Lord dahil pinakilala Niya sa akin at napangasawa ko ang asawa ko na may takot din sa Diyos. Kaya naniniwala ako sa payo ng 2 Co 6:14.

Infographic: Real Love

This is my first (and hasty) attempt to make an "infographic". "What is Real Love" is taken from Nette's talk (with her permission) that she gave last Friday at our Chi Alpha UBelt student service.

Devotion: God's Messenger

Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. 16 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.’” Jeremiah 28:15-16

Prophets in the Old Testament are people who are called by God to serve as messengers of Him to the people (particularly Judah and Israel).

If you are tasked to be a prophet for the Lord , the task is not something to be taken lightly. After all you are bearing the message of the King. (I remember seeing a funny clip of Rowan Atkinson demonstrating the different kinds of messengers, one who bears good news and bad news).

In the New Testament, the role of the prophet has been bestowed to individuals in the church, that serves the body of Christ (Eph 4:11). In relation to the world, God calls His people to become proclaimers in behalf of God (1 Peter 2:9). Moses even prophesied this (Nu 11:29).

In Jer 28, we see a "showdown" between Jeremiah, the Lord's true prophet, and Hananaiah, a prophet who prophesied a lie, tricking the people that it came from the Lord. A few thoughts come into mind.

Week in the Life: Never in vain

National Youth Leaders Summit 2014, January 28-29

It was a fun week this week. I attended the National Youth Leaders Summit held at ICS from Tuesday to Wednesday. It started after lunch but was able to arrive after my work at ICI. The summit gathered regional/district youth and Chi Alpha leaders from our movement. I always love these gatherings because I get to catch up with friends and co-laborers in the youth ministry. I was told that during the first session where each gave updates and testimonies about what God is doing in their place, that most of them shared about how they are reaching students through Chi Alpha. Too bad I missed it, but it's touching to know that the work we invested a few years back are now yielding harvest. And we will not stop, the work continues until more campuses are reached with the gospel through Chi Alpha.

Learnings about movement-making in Chi Alpha

This week I was asked to share the morning devotion. I thought of a few topics that I could share, but as I prepare my exhortation, one message became clear. I felt that I need to share my learnings about serving in Chi Alpha Philippines. The following message was given to youth leaders last National Youth Leaders Summit of PGCAG on January 29, 2014.

This year is my 10th year serving in youth ministry as a youth minister. And I still remember in April 2004, fresh from graduating in UST architecture that I was struggling about my calling. I was 22 years old at that time. I found myself going up to Baguio to go to AIYS (Asian Institute for Youth Studies, 2nd batch). I took up Institute of Campus Ministry, not knowing what I was in for, because I always wanted to try something new (I’ve been serving in the youth leadership for some years now, but not as youth pastor). There I met Kuya Sur, Ate Merla, Ate Afel, and Brian Lopez. And as they say, the rest was history. I received confirmation from God to be minister of the gospel. Never did I know that was the beginning of my journey in serving in Chi Alpha.

God gives each person a window of opportunity to fulfill what he was made for, not to bring glory to himself, but to God. We often call it now as a “kairos moment” or a time of opportunity. In the Bible, God invites ordinary people to take part in doing something extraordinary for God. I remember when Esther found herself in her make or break situation, God spoke through her uncle Mordecai saying, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) And like Esther, you are here because God raised you up to do something special for Him in this season. The question would you be bold enough to take that window of opportunity to be used by God for His greater glory. Would you be faithful to take the movement to the next generation?

Here are five things I’ve learned about movement-making as I served in Chi Alpha. This is not an exhaustive list, it may also be incomplete, but these are some principles that could help someone who are serving in movements.