LEARNING DEEPLY, June 1-30, 2022
The only wise God, the God of all patience, comfort and consolation, of hope and peace... Our love and true worship of Him compels us not to live for ourselves anymore, but to consider the effects on others of our words and actions, and the power of faith and belief... For indeed, there may be great people we look up to and aspire to be, but true greatness in the eyes of our Maker and Savior are with ordinary and simple people, who try their best to do good, not take undue advantage of nor oppress and abuse others, nor take what is not right for them, and who give others whatever help and support they can give; so that in this life journey, we too may be a source of hope and comfort, of wisdom, of peace and joy to one another...
Insecurity lies at the
heart of exclusivity... And even if we think that we have things under control,
just because we have subdued, oppressed, ignored or trampled on those whom we
think threaten our status and position, or question our capacity and
credibility; yet, we are only showing our ineptitude and cowardice, our
ignorance and stubbornness, our sense of entitlement and a general state of
unworthiness... Because the good virtues of a democracy and a healthy, thriving
organization are manifested in its embrace of various talents with differing
views, even people who may challenge our beliefs and efforts; that they may
further refine our performance, and help us bring out the best we can be... But
in this present age of fake news and propaganda, ignorance, laziness and
cowardice, the oppressor and abuser may proliferate, while those who do good
and live right and fair must persevere against many odds... For pretty soon,
even in this lifetime, time will weigh and measure, and we will all surely be
proven and given our due rewards...
We belong to a kingdom of righteousness, peace
and joy, when we accepted our Savior's work and salvation into our lives... As
such we can afford to condescend and comply with our human rulers, because our
true ruler is He to Whom we pray to daily, and give account to at the end of
our days; and we can have the wisdom and humility to bless others by our
lifestyle, choices and preferences, not to offend, nor to stir envy and
materialism... May we give ourselves to our God's cause, and so truly be a salt
of this earth, and a light of this world...
Of broken roads,
sinkholes and thawing permafrosts... One very blatant and in-your-face symbol
of corruption prevalent in Philippine society are the endless repairs on our
roads and highways, and the sorrier state they are in after every renovation...
I feel that nowhere else on earth are the road constructions so bad that every
year they have to be repaired; so that once I commented to a sibling that with
their countless and never-ending rehabilitations, if our roads had been
substance abusers, they would have been saints by now... Government funds are
so tied up in those projects that literally eat up a huge chunk of the national
budget, preyed and played upon by unscrupulous actors and contractors, and
strategically done and weaponized around election seasons for the votes of the
gullible masses... Like thawing permafrost, which scientists said are freeing
long controlled viruses and bacteria, but that are now wreaking havoc around
the world through pandemics, our country's roads also reek of the corruption
ingrained in our nation, in full, blinding force with every jackhammer attack
and every inch of asphalt overlay... It is also not unlike the corruption of
the human condition, maybe too obvious to be told, but clearly manifested in
our materialism, in our objectification of selves and our children and women,
and in our hard-heartedness against the gospel of our Maker and Savior; who
teaches us daily through His creation, who showers us with tender mercies each
morning, and even for its beauty and majesty alone, calls on us to be
responsible stewards of what we have and have been given... Maybe once for all,
it is not our roads that need repairing but our entire bureaucracy and culture,
and it is not our appearance or weight or waistlines that need streamlining but
our hearts and minds, a daily pruning and cutting of pride, selfishness and
greed... Towards a better future, may we rise to the challenge, and for now,
may we have a...
Overcoming evil with
good, is not turning a blind eye to abuse, oppression or corruption; but to
realize that in our pride and ignorance, laziness, selfishness and greed, our
stubbornness and vanity, we are its first perpetrators... It is to know
ourselves well for our hypocrisy and prejudice, our discriminations and
misunderstandings, and to learn to accept that we are not as privileged or as
entitled as we believe we are, but are all equally under the grace and mercy of
our Creator and Savior, and who demands our love and respect, our surrender and
obedience; and showing our faith and profession by doing good to our fellowman,
consistently both inside our hearts and in what other people can see, and
having no dissonance with who we are and who we claim ourselves to be... May
our God give us strength, courage and patience to do all these, and to fill our
lives with what pleases Him, with what blesses our fellowman, and with what
gives peace and contentment, confidence and joy to ourselves and for the rest
of our days...
Life manifests in
different colors, its challenges and opportunities in different sizes and
packages... Oftentimes, we have set plans, programs and routines; yet many
times too, ready or not, we are put on a spot, made to deliver or give
account... May we then remain humble, faithful and true, so that we can remain
honest and transparent, accountable and responsible, neither making ourselves up
to be somebody we're not, nor claiming achievements, honor and glory we do not
have, or we may have received but do not deserve... And may our God bless us in
every way, and in all the works of our hands; that these may bring Him glory;
and for us to gain the confidence and peace, that though we may not be the
best, the most famous or accomplished, we have Him to complete our lives and
give it meaning and purpose, making each moment worthy and of good use...
What does faith have
in store for us?... Nothing but the rest of our lives spent not anymore for our
own selfish ends, vain ambitions and desires, but for a blessing and example to
others, a light and hope to a darkened and burdened world... And we get to such
a meaningful existence when we listen and heed the words of our God, and not
waste His invitation to repent and live lives manifesting His mercy and grace,
His love and glory... May we remain humble and true, faithful and wise, as we
seek to please Him each day, being a comfort to all those around us, and
leaving this world better and brighter than what we found it to be...
By the natural course
of life, we all experience ups and downs, difficulties and breakthroughs,
struggles and milestones, setbacks and successes... Yet, in all of these, may
we always remember that our God wills that we develop humility, strength and
fortitude, a clearer perspective when things don't go our way, and a sense of
responsibility and accountability with every blessing we receive... Because
real success is not wealth, fame, status or position, but one who remains sane,
hopeful, joyful, thankful and whole after all of life's challenges and changes,
one who has conquered them all by relying on the strength and promises of our
Savior, who at the end, will give due reward for faith and faithfulness...
Jus soli, jus
sanguinis... While in this life, the law of nature governs, and we are all
subject to the wiles and temptations, the passions and desires, the instincts
and drives, the greed and selfishness, the ills and ailments, the lusts and
covetousness of our sinful, base, carnal, but very human nature... Yet we thank
our Creator, Savior, and Lord, that by the ministry, death and resurrection--be
the precious blood-- of His Son, we are made to know that there can be a higher
destiny for us; and that is, to put our hope and faith in His promise of
eternal life in His kingdom, that we might learn to overcome our natural
physical and emotional inclinations, and live lives magnifying His Name, and
proclaiming His holiness and goodness, and the kind of lifestyle He preached
and wants us all to subscribe to... It is a tall order indeed, but such a
higher cause is worth striving for, and proving the rest of our lives with...
May we heed His invitation today and everyday; that with Him, we might be
conquerors of this life, be its light and hope, inspiration and salt, and a
bringer of peace and joy; that we may all reflect His love and care to others
and the rest of creation too...
For quick and easy
money, or even for livelihood, some would sell their time and affection, their
bodies and values, and even their souls... That's sad and bad, disgraceful, and
an insult to the One who created us, who loved us, and who do not want us
humiliated, abused and broken... And so therefore, may we learn to be content
and thankful, work hard honestly and diligently, and be patient and persistent;
that we may survive, thrive, support our families and loved ones, and build our
fortunes in wisdom, in love, in goodness and godliness, in confidence and
peace, and in joy and hope... For truly, He who promised not to leave us, has
also and will continue to make sure to keep us amply and abundantly provided
for, to keep us sane and whole, and to keep our souls safe in His love and
protection... May we claim that, and live lives manifesting that love and
grace, glory and power, the rest of our days...
Obeying our Lord and
Savior, and the radical living He preached are, according to Apostle Paul, a
lifelong endeavor, but one worthy of the ultimate reward: the eternal life He
promised... And as such, we do not have license anymore to engage in our
prideful, selfish and greedy nature, but to practice love and mercy,
understanding and wisdom, respect and courtesy, and genuine care and concern
for others... May we truly live as His redeemed people, that by the light and
life He has given us, we too can bring life, hope, light, love and peace to
all...
When the turf gets
threatened... It's natural, yet still deplorable, when some of us can be so
smug and confident with what we have attained, believing we fully deserve it,
though sometimes we have one-upped over others or pulled a fast one; yet, when
we feel that the time of accounting and reckoning is at hand, we go all
paranoid and turn out obsessively and compulsively defensive... If we are truly
worthy of it, we can have peace and confidence that no matter what happens, we
will be proven diligently and honestly true and deserving... May we stay faithful
to our promises and convictions, in spite of threats to our turf and sphere, so
that at the end of our days, as we face our ultimate Judge and King, we will be
commended good and faithful...
Sin and lawlessness,
wickedness and evil, are done only by those who have knowledge to do good and
just, yet for pride, selfishness and greed, choose to have their way with
things, even at the expense of others... And the Apostle Paul reminds us that
the law made us aware of the faults and errors of our blind disobedience and
rebellion, and emphasizes our need for God and our Savior, to justify us, and
for us, to believe in Him and follow His guide and leading... It is for this
reason too, that we teach our children what is good and godly, that when it is
their time to decide for themselves, they may not grow up stubborn, ignorant,
wayward, remorseful and regretful; and that theirs and our souls be anchored on
the Words of our God, His great love and mercy and salvation that reach through
time, even to the beginning of creation, until now and to the end of the age;
and that we might live the rest of our lives manifesting this love and glory,
and being as He is, a peacemaking, life- and hope-bringing people of His
kingdom...
On shaky ground...
Devastating earthquakes, wars, famines, upheavals, environmental degradations
and extinctions, mass human migrations, recessions and the collapse of markets
and economies may be living horrors our generation today are facing, but it
also reminds us that the human-made systems and principles our ancestors have
built and which we are trying to hold on to are unsure and unsteady, subject to
ever more volatile and unstable forces we cannot control, and strongly due for
a reckoning... It is enough to drive many to depression, hopelessness and a
general existential crisis... But thankfully, to those who believe and can
accept it, we have a God who remains true, in spite of the lies and misleading
doctrines propagated about Him; and in spite of the enemy's propaganda, because
we can believe His sure promises, we can have hope and confidence and joy, that
no matter where life takes us, our God is there to always sustain and provide,
and to strengthen and guide...
Back to
Christianity... Which, at its core, is a matter of the heart, with the Word
bearing fruit in a lifestyle and in convictions emulating our Savior, with
awareness and alienation of self from humanity's selfish, proud and greedy evil
nature; and with no condemnation on others, but a genuine love, care, and
concern for people's health, safety, and peace, and for them to hear the good
news about God's kingdom and salvation, and the abundant and complete life He
brings... May we not be ashamed of the gospel, and courageously and boldly
share and live it in our daily lives...
Not too big to fail...
Especially when a lot is at stake, many of us find it difficult that some
things we are working so hard on, may not work out well... But mistakes and
failures, and errors in judgments are part of life; they are realities one must
contend with as being human... But they are commas too, and not periods or
enders; for as long as we breathe, we still have to go and move on... For no
matter who we are, there will always be a time to succeed or to fail, that in
both we might learn--humility and wisdom, contentment and discernment, joy and
strength...
The journey to Rome...
Paul's journey to Rome was the ultimate adventure... And it is reflective of a
truly fulfilled life too; for just as he encountered both hardships and
unconditional hospitality along the way, nobody whom he met and preached to was
not affected by the message he brought in some way, even if they believed or
not... And so is a truly accomplished life: we do not live only for ourselves,
because the people around us, and the people we meet, they will all to some
extent, be enlightened and blessed by our words and deeds... May we be
responsible with such influence, that we may truly be proven worthy of the life
and grace we have received...
Longest days... Because
of a low pressure area, we didn't get to enjoy June's solstice yesterday, but
instead, intermittent showers from the evening before and a whole day and night
after... Sometimes life is like that: plans get derailed, hopes and
expectations get dashed, dreams fall short... But just as rains can be an
inconvenience and even dangerous to those in flood-prone areas, just enough of
it is what our rainwater reservoirs, our gardens and farms need to secure our
food and water for many days... May we always try our best to see the good in
things, be they inconvenient or uncomfortable; for aside from making us wiser
and stronger, they could be the ones securing our future too...
Almost doesn't cut
it... Because barely there is not there... Whether in the spiritual or secular,
life is incomplete if we only claim to be something or someone, even if we have
the degree or qualification, but the daily fulfillment and manifestation
thereof does not quite reflect and uphold the essence of what we proclaim to
be... Almost a Christian, almost true, almost complying, almost honest or
virtuous or law-abiding, almost kind and loving, still means that we fall short
of being the real person, the one who truly and with pure intentions and
diligent labor, live the Word we have been given, the trust we have been
granted, and the faith we profess... May we always strive each day to be
faithful, to be transparent, honest and true, that our message be not maligned,
and the Name of the One who created us and should have mastery over our lives
and souls, be not mocked and blasphemed...
The beauty and
blessing of uncertainties is that one is kept on edge and made aware that
things could change any moment, not to feel comfortable in the comfort zone,
and to always be mindful of our actions and motivations... Yes, one may be
excused in being apprehensive when a lot is at stake, and a family's economic
stability may be threatened, but there is cause to hope too; because for every
station and position made unsure, greater challenges, greater learnings, and
greater opportunities to prove our worth and convictions, our skills and
talent, milestones and breakthroughs await... For as cliche as it may sound,
when a door closes, it may be that in its place, a window or another door will
open to a better world; or better yet, one is beckoned to move on to a grander
building...
One name with extremely opposite characters...
The Ananias in the previous chapter we read yesterday was a simple and devout
Jew, to whom God revealed His life mission for Paul, while the Ananias in this
passage was the high priest who persecuted him, and caused him to be imprisoned
for more than two years... In our lives today too, we encounter many different
people, some may be a blessing, some may be our stumbling block, and some may
even hurt us... Yet, this is not reason enough to withdraw from society; for we
can only learn and grow if we encounter diverse peoples and groups, a variety
of communities, with whom we can share and exemplify the kind of life our God
and Savior called us for... Some people may accept and help us, some may take
advantage of us, and some we may have to help and love too... May we always
remember that in all of those things, our God only wants our best, that we may
not feel lonely, that even if we have alone times we are assured that there is
a family, a community waiting for our time, our effort, our skills and
resources, with whom we can share God's mercy, and with whom we can magnify and
share His power, His peace and glory...
We can only give out
of what we have and received, and we can only share what we have seen and
heard... May we therefore always perceive and be thankful for God's mercy and
grace, His good and faithful words and promises, His peace and love and
indwelling presence; that what we have to give and share, no matter how little,
may be a blessing bearing fruit and bringing life, hope and light to all...
At the heart of all
persecution, abuse and discrimination, are ignorance and fear... May we let the
light of God's love fill us with wisdom and understanding, that we might learn
that our God also reveals and blesses other people who come to Him in humility
and submission, even if these are outside our family, community, congregation
and nation; and that He too reveals His power and pours out His mercy on them,
so that as one, yet uniquely with each of our gifts, we magnify His Name, and
His great creative and redemptive work in our lives and throughout history...
It's not only cliche,
but in the natural world, children are a reflection of their parents and
elders, particularly physically, and as to how they respond to life's
challenges... Blessed are those with nurturing parents, but for the orphans and
parentless, and those with absent parents, it falls on the extended family and
the wider community to help mold them to grow responsible, respectful, generous,
honest, godly, loving and kind... May we instill humility and contentment in
our children, that they may be free from envy, greed and pride, so that they
may grow up to be the best they can be, somebody we can be proud of, be
peacemakers and life-bringers in this world, and that they may be a blessing to
others too...
Continuing our course
with joy... Paul and the early disciples showed how miraculous and
life-changing it is to work and live in obedience to our Savior's call to
preach His Word by not just speaking it but by living it on a daily basis,
declaring and magnifying His Name and kingdom by spiritually feeding and
nourishing His family on earth, and by recognizing that for all we do on earth,
we are ultimately accountable to Him, putting our hope on His sure promises,
and His everyday mercies and strength... May we be inspired of their
resolution, in spite of difficulties and oppositions, to also continue our
journey now with joy, that someday, one with them, we too might joyfully
receive our eternal reward...
The miracles of
walking... One of a human being's first milestone since birth, also brings with
it myriad joys and discoveries... A scientific article once said that how we do
it is reflective of our mental state, that factually, when we do more of it, we
become healthier, feel more positive, happier, more discerning and are able to
think more deeply... In commuting, more than half the world, being middle class
and poor, do it on a daily basis... Yes, it is lowly, simple, humble, but this
is walking's true miracle: it is our connection with all creation--animals,
bacteria and everything else where there is locomotor movement; because it is
our one great participative act in the life our Creator has given to us, and
the creative and living work He does in all of us daily and for all time... May
we walk always in gratitude and love of Him, and in appreciation of all and
everything He has endowed us with, and all that we see around us each moment...
In Him we live, and
move, and have our being... Like the Berean Christians and other early
believers, the more we know about our Unknown God, and the salvation and
eternal spiritual kingdom He brought on us through our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, the more we find life; and the more we discover how beautiful life is
if we live it not according to our estimations, but according to His will and
plan; giving thanks each moment for His grace and mercy, and striving every day
to give Him glory, most especially by doing good to others, and by being living
examples in bringing light and hope, peace and joy, generosity and love to all,
even friends and opponents...
There are always
disagreeable people; and often, they do it just because they want to have
things their way, or they want to insist that they are right, that they know
better, that they are in a better position, even at the expense of being
discriminatory, disrespectful, abusive, oppressive and rude... And oftentimes
too, we are tempted to feel slighted and angry, but it is never worth it... For
ignorance and pride, a false sense of worth and an over estimation of self will
always run their course, and such people will soon encounter their comeuppance
and fall down hard... May we learn from this, as we strive to keep our cool,
keep our heads, and stay calm, confident in our God's promises, strength and
help, and in His deep peace that passes beyond understanding...
In God's family are
people of different cultures and nationalities, of different personalities and
persuasions, but united in worship and love of Him, of obeying His Word as
declared by His Son and our Savior, and of following the lifestyle of health,
peace, and righteousness He exemplified and lived... And there is no demand for
anyone to reform themselves to other people's preferences or personal beliefs
about what a true believer should be; but each one fully convinced that a true
believer not anymore lives according to their own standards, but according to
God's will and good plan...
"Open rebuke is
better than secret love." - Proverbs 27:5
For many Gen-X, we
were made to memorize "Desiderata" at school... And one of its famous
sayings is to, "speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to
others"... Indeed, if one has an issue on someone or something, better to
address that person or group directly; because dishing out innuendos, or
broadcasting them on social media, or sensationalizing them on mass media,
thereby building up and influencing people's blind opinions and misguided
emotions, is juvenile and immature... Better yet, the proper formal etiquette
is either to issue a position paper or an affidavit, or a public appeal...
Because in a world enmeshed and neck deep in lies and propaganda, allusions are
the irresponsible and escapist way of slandering somebody or something, on a
level with low-brow and vulgar tabloid blind items; it wouldn't stand a chance
in the halls of responsible and professional journalism, nor merit a place in
modern, enlightened and intellectual discourse... May we be more circumspect,
tactful and wise...
Even with God's great
power and love, belief in the salvation and kingdom He has granted through His
Son and our Savior, is highly divisive and life-changing... But as we learned
in the experiences of Paul and Barnabas and the first disciples in Israel and
the Greek world, it is undeniable that there is ultimate peace of mind and joy,
contentment and confidence in knowing that our Creator and King holds our lives
and ultimate future in His hands, and not the idols we bow to, nor the human
traditions and superstitions we subscribe, and that there is no favoritism in
Him but only true acceptance and mercy (which will be manifested by those who
are His true ministers, and not those who claim to be but are actually in it
for monetary or economic gain) ... May we heed the apostles' call, and also
discover the wonder of becoming His children in the spirit...
Learn to be content,
to love yourself, and be happy by and with yourself... For in a dystopian
world, or when loved ones and supporters are gone, or when the world has
abandoned you, and especially in old age, in illness and at the point of death,
even at the foot of God's throne, solely dependent on His mercy and grace, and
ever hopeful of His reward and justification, His redemption and deliverance,
there will only be you; for you are your very own best friend, your ultimate
travel buddy and supreme escape, and your companion for life and beyond...
The first Christians
were non-Jews who believed in Jesus Christ and to whom the Holy Spirit was also
granted... It speaks about the universality of the faith and the kingdom of
God, and the abandonment of racial discrimination and prejudice; because our
God desires all people from all nations even unto the ends of the earth, to
come to Him... And He shows no favoritism, even punishing an evil king through
death by being consumed by worms, for persecuting the early church, murdering
His apostles and other innocent people for greed and insecurity... We learn
much from the acts of the apostles, in that faith needs to be shared, it needs
to grow in power over our lives, and it needs to bear fruit in the lives of
others too... May we not waste the good news we receive, so that in the future
and even in the life beyond, we truly will earn our place among the multitudes
from many nations and nationalities, who will give glory to our soon-coming God
and King, and truly live the kind of life He has planned for us since the
beginning of time...
Envy is a triplet of
pride and greed... It means that because one thinks themself superior to
others, that for every good thing or turn that happens to other people, the
envious one strikes them down, or disparages and discourages them... Because
the envious one doesn't appreciate how well-endowed and well-favored they
already are, and believes that only they should have the best but not other
people; so much so that whatever blessing they receive is not seen and treated
as such, but another one-up over others... To the envious one, comparing
themselves with other people is second nature, and they seek their validation
from that... Such a terrible mindset is the enemy of peace and progress, the
bedrock of oppression and abuse, and only breeds discontent and
dissatisfaction, in short, a miserable life... May we not be greedy, envious,
and prideful; but recognize how good our God is in our lives, and be happy and
thankful if He shows the same mercy and favor to others, or even more... Like
the manna gathered in the olden times just before Sabbath, we will soon realize
that whatever we have and gained, whether in large or small quantity and weight
by the world's standards, will always be enough...
It is hard to kick
against the pricks, because one can't even control water... God's movement and
His power to save and deliver, and to change lives, can never be stopped, more
especially the explosion of the church among the non-Israelites... And so, we
begin to appreciate more what our Savior said about 'to the Jews first, then to
the Gentiles'... And in this we put our hope and prayers for peace; that Israel
uphold it with justice and fairness, for it is the mirror and light to the rest
of the world, that we might also uphold peace and brotherhood among all people,
of whatever nationality and language, principle and persuasion... For we are
all called by Him to share in His kingdom, so that we may become His sons and
daughters, witnesses of His Word, and sources of hope and light, wisdom and
enlightenment to those around us...
Some of us find joy
and happiness in the work that we do, sometimes not... But whatever it is,
whether we are paid well or barely enough, may we still find goodness in all
its difficulties, satisfaction in every little accomplished task or every
completed turn or shift, and wisdom in all its challenges...
The Spirit of God that
moved in the early church was such that there was tremendous courage, wisdom
and discernment, miracles of faith and healing, changed lives, an abandonment
of greed and selfishness, and a putting down of materialism and vanity... We
would do well to learn of these, especially in our time today too, as we wait
for the promised return of our Savior, the Just One... For indeed, He
ministered, suffered, died and resurrected during the Pax Romana, a kind of
Gray Zone for the world, where there is an illusion of peace within the empire
that is actually a dictatorship and autocracy, but wars and carnage everywhere
else; so too in our time today, we might still be holding on to illusions of a
democratic world, but which is actually deeply undergoing through lies and
violence, abuse and oppression, upheavals, turmoil, pain and suffering; and it
is in these times that we need to transform our beliefs and ways of life to
ones that help us be strong in spite of our difficulties, and to endure in
spite of our troubles and tribulations...
Honesty also
translates to accountability, especially taking responsibility so that others
do not suffer for our negligence and errors, or that done by other people, and
in which we were either unduly benefitted and have the power to correct... May
we always prove ourselves worthy of the faith we profess, the trust we receive,
and the hope people put on us, to always uphold truth and justice, to correct
any misconceptions and false information, to always play and deal fairly, and
to make sure that as long as we have the time and chance, and it is within our
power, nobody gets hurt, nobody is oppressed and abused, and nobody suffers and
gets ruined...
Honesty, truth and
obedience to God pay well, even if one has to suffer for it... And we learn of
these in these writings; how obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit's
power bring life, deliverance, provision, wisdom and more strength... A lot
more can be learned too, particularly about responsibility and accountability,
particularly since we brought nothing into the world and can bring nothing
back, except a life of substance, goodness, faith and love...
Just finished watching a drama thriller where the parent was much more concerned about their scientific career, to the point of sacrificing their children, making them test subjects and even murdering other kids, just to further their ends... That was a grim and horrible story, no matter if the kids, though geniuses and gifted according to the world's standards, actually had to grapple with dissociative identity disorder well into their adult years... Makes one think hard and wish that as parents and elders, that every little word we say, every deed, may not contribute to making our kids have an unhealthy mental state; thereby making sure that they grow up healthy, strong and sane... Thankfully, our God is our model parent; for He assures us daily with His love and mercy, encourages us to persevere and endure, and makes sure that all we experience results in not having us develop multiple personalities as an escape, but to develop fortitude and patience, goodness and grace, wisdom and understanding...
The power of Jesus
Christ's Name... Is such that sicknesses and even congenital illness are
healed, that there is boldness and courage to testify of the truth and to
preach His kingdom, and that words and deeds are made not for selfishness,
greed or vanity, but only that which encourages and builds up, that supports
and lightens other's burdens, and that empowers and enlightens with wisdom and
love... And strangely, if we give Him and His Word even a little time, He gives
us back more of our time too, and that, of quality... Therefore, let us not put
His Name in vain, most especially the Name of our Father, that in spite of
life's troubles, we might not lose our hope and joy, our light and guide...
Stepping up where it
truly matters... In past generations, they admire somebody they call, a 'rebel
without a cause'; while people who are in authority even until now, red-tag
those whom they perceive threaten their hold in power by translating it quite
misleadingly and labelling them as security threats (their own, obviously)...
Yet, as we see and feel now, in a fast warming world, where our population
persists in growing, and where greedy and selfish people continue to amass more
at the expense of the weak and under-privileged, even just positioning dissent
is difficult, un-economical and irrational... But the good news is, as children
of God, we learn that with His Holy Spirit, we are given power to go against the
grain, and to step up where it matters: in bringing peace and hope, in
encouraging and building each other up, in sharing and giving what we can to
ease one another's burden, and to endure and persevere not just to be
ultimately victorious in life's battles, but to be a light and salt to our
miserable world... May we have courage where it counts, and take up the mantle
of being beacons in a darkening world...
To a wider audience,
in terms each can personally understand and relate... The Holy Ghost promised
by the Savior worked in the apostles and first disciples, not in so much as
making them babble unintelligible words on a midday, but first: changing their
view from being ordinary Jewish synagogue members under Rabbi Jesus, to ones
poised to storm the rest of the world with His message and gospel of the Kingdom;
second, by making sure that core leadership is managed by better qualified and
more worthy disciples; then, upon receipt of the tongues of fire, preaching to
all who were present, in each of their own known dialects and languages; after
which, magnifying the need for repentance, and to support each of the brethren
economically, by ensuring there is food and livelihood for all, apart from the
guilds who were mandated by the Roman empire to worship the emperor in order to
operate... And such is the power of the gospel... It is not high falluting,
unintelligible phrases and doctrines, both impossible to understand and follow;
but it speaks to the total person on a daily basis, as we work to earn our keep
in this earthly life, and as we journey towards the life after that we hope for
and on which we put confidence for the sake of our souls... More than magic or
miracles, may we let the gospel of God's kingdom bear fruit in our lives, until
the end of our days...
The desire for more
makes us lose double... Is, as of now, my best English rendering of a famous
Filipino saying, warning us against greed, against love of money, and against
the desire to get rich quick... Unfortunately, and far too often, such desires
make us fall easy prey to unscrupulous people who sweet-talk us with enticing
promises, but who will actually only rob us blind, even of our hard-earned
wealth... May we have wisdom and patience, and learn to be content; for if we
trust and work hard, honestly and faithfully, our God will always bless, and
that without burden, without entanglements, and legitimately...
For every denial, a
duty to feed... The apostle Peter's redemption in the sight of our Savior, for
the three times he denied knowledge of Him, was a duty to feed God's
sheep--with His Words and testimonies, with His promises, with His love and
mercy, truth, peace and grace; not with the former's own program or schedule,
but with the opportunities and time that God will open up, like fishing on the
right side of the boat... And like what the beloved apostle realized, even
until our time today, in order to live a truly full and meaningful life, we
have the same duty: to be a channel of life and hope, of peace and wisdom, of
truth and light to people... Because yes, we might have to experience things we
do not want towards the end of our days, things too horrible, deadly, confusing
and confounding; yet, in a troubled and chaotic world, may we let our lives be
living testimonies of the veracity of our Savior's ministry, and the assurance
of His promised return and ultimate redemption of the world...
Trip-off... When there
is a trip off at the power source, electric supply often gets interrupted,
there are brown outs, and we often resort to back up or alternative power...
But in our modern world, the original power source needs to be restored, so
that people could continue with their lives, operating at normal capacity...
Strangely but not surprisingly, life as a whole follows the same pattern...
Sometimes things get interrupted because of overload and confusion, one gets
exhausted and exasperated, and many desire to disconnect and even escape for a
time... Yet, in our spiritual life, such disconnect is dangerous... For if for
too long, we only go about our way without connecting to the One who declared
Himself to be the Light and Truth, life would be hopeless, aimless and
meaningless... May we always tap into Him who alone can fill our souls and
quicken our spirits, that in spite of life's troubles, we may always be filled
with peace and joy, hope and light...
We are made to behold,
and to believe... These days, without CCTV cameras, many crimes would have no
evidence... Likewise, in our Savior's suffering, death and resurrection,
without written records that many dismiss as fantastical, we would not have
known that the Son of God came, ministered, and showed life and truth, His
salvation and promise, and fulfillment of prophecy to His disciples; that we
today might believe their testimony, even though we were not first hand
witnesses, and gain life and hope in His Name... May we prove faithful and
responsible with the Word we receive, and behold His Spirit and power, His love
and presence over our every moment...
Clutching, letting go,
handling with caution and care... Some things are beyond our grasp; but for
those that are within our control, may we prove responsible, accountable,
faithful and true...
What is truth...
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor asks, even though he was face to face with
Him who is... Yet, we thank God that we know Him who is the way, the truth and
the life... And for that matter, many people even today often strive and search
for the good and perfect life... But again, thanks be to God our Savior
declared that life is to know our Heavenly Father, to enter into an eternal
relationship with Him, and making it drive our everyday... And so may we prove
worthy of our Savior's prayer that He keeps our souls, by not losing faith, by
enduring in His love, in spite of troubles and crisis; that truly someday, we
might be reunited with Him and with His disciples and brethren through the
ages, and worship and fellowship forever with Him as one...
Tying up loose ends...
A famous Israeli vlogger shared about the plant "writing" on the
Eastern wall of Jerusalem, spelling the first letters of God's unspeakable
Name, and how, like the famous writing on the wall in prophet Daniel's time,
this spells the beginning of the end of humanity's rule, and the coming reign
of the Messiah and Prince of Peace... Whether we believe such prophecies or
not, almost everyone agrees that life today is getting more difficult by the
day, and one can only hope and pray for a coming time of peace, economic and
political and civil security, and prosperity... Meanwhile, we have to contend
with upheavals, turbulence and troubles one encounters at the cusp of
transforming our mindsets, our worldviews, our principles and convictions, from
one that focus only on what is good and beneficial for us at the expense of
others, to one that thinks of brethren and others, and truly making sure that
life for one and all is bearable, satisfying and happy... And so, even now, we
try to tie up loose ends, not to waste life and resources, for we know they are
precious gifts, and our physical lives short and temporary, and trying to make
sure each moment in the here and now a blessing, a good testimony of truth and
salvation in His kingdom, and our lives faithful witnesses of our God's
greatness and love, and His transforming and reforming mercy for one and all...
As what our Savior
reminds us again, truth and right reside with the minority, the oppressed and
ridiculed, with the persecuted and disregarded... But let us still be hopeful,
joyful and at peace, endure and persevere... For then we know and are confident
of His comfort, His goodness and grace, and the truthfulness of His promises
and rewards...
A true fan, just like
a true lover of God, of humanity and the environment, and of life, always
cares, always knows and understands, is always curious, concerned and
interested; not just for rumor or gossip's sake, but because of the awareness
that life is a precious gift, fearfully and wonderfully made and given; and
that its appreciation and acknowledgment, in gratitude, peace and joy, and
hoping, promoting, wishing for the same in others, are actualizations and
fulfillment of the faith and beliefs and principles one espouses and
proclaims...
Jesus Christ is the
way, the truth, and the life... Is not just a kids' Sunday school song, but a
declaration of faith, and a measure of our own character... He is the way, His
humble example, His love and generosity, His salvation and prayer, is for us to
emulate, and not to dilute with our own measurements of what constitutes a
successful, prosperous and complete life... He is the truth, His words we must
diligently and faithfully keep, not clouding our judgment with prideful, greedy
and selfish agenda, biases and prejudices... He is the life, not according to
what the world sets up as its standards, not according to its time frame and
metrics... And through all these we know if we have put His words into practice
when we can have untroubled hearts and peace, not the kind we just conjure or
talk about or pretend to have in front of others, but something that radiates
from our inner being, that translates to contentment and joy, security of
person and hope for the rest of our days...
Creative, compulsive,
compassionate... Many times in life, we encounter awkward and uncomfortable
situations... Yet, let us not feel that such threatens our ego, as we then
raise up in self-defense, whatever illusions of superiority we have against
those whom we perceive to attack our person... A person who is truly mature and
responsible, even in difficult times, when plans go awry and dreams don't come
true, with a humble heart and perceptive mind, can always find other ways to
make use of their talents and skills, will be keen and tactful enough not to
offend or disrespect, and will have courage and confidence to persist and
persevere and endure... For true success is not the award, degree or
recognition received; but the ones that couldn't be taken and last for life are
the well-developed character, the strength of heart, and the wisdom gained
through the whole journey...
Because losing our
lives for Him and His kingdom's work means finding it again... We learn that as
our Savior worked His miracles through the lives of His beloved friends--humble
Lazarus, pragmatic Martha, and faithful and thankful Mary--that a life stripped
of materialism and worldly attachments, even comforts and pride and vanity, if
lived for Him and His glory, in humility and faithfulness, in patience and
endurance, will be made whole and complete, and restored again... May we heed
Him who draws all men to Himself, that wherever life takes us, it may be filled
by His love and care, His provision and presence, His peace and light...
There are some things
a person just can't unsee, and the images stay with them for life, whether the
memories associated are good or bad, joyful or traumatic; but the lessons are
learned, and become a tool of self-defense and preservation, or a source of
hope and joy... Likewise, may we learn to see how good our Creator is with us,
and how awesome is His ongoing work in our lives; that each time we encounter
something difficult, uncertain, chaotic or sad, we can conjure that image to
give us confidence and hope, peace and joy...
By faith, we believe
and see... And just like the blind man believed and followed obediently when
sent by our Savior to the pool of Siloam to wash, so also we who truly believe,
must heed His words when He said to trust Him, discern His voice and the
consistency and truth of what He preaches, and obey wherever we may be sent to,
that we may wash ourselves of our evil and base human nature and live for
Him... For indeed, the enemy will always steal, kill and destroy; and any
thought, word and deed we have that subscribe to that or fence its fruits, are
rebellion and disobedience against our Good Shepherd... But when we follow Him
who declared that He would give us life, and make us have it to the full--in
pain and joy, in scarcity and abundance, in suffering and glory--no matter the
world's derision, ostracism and abandonment, and life's confusion, difficulty
and even exhaustion and discouragement, we can have confidence that He keeps
the doors to the fold of our souls, and that no one or no circumstance can
pluck us out of His hand...
The Bard said that all
the world's a stage, and life a play in many acts... In such environment, poor
acting doesn't pay, and faithful rehearsals' fruit must show... Likewise in
life, one has to do and to give their best every moment, with no room for
pretense or procrastination... For every deed is marked and accounted, and a
poorly developed character, just like a poorly written script in a hammy actor,
would surely lead to disaster and ruin... May we be responsible and accountable
with every act, with every phase, with every line, expression and movement...
Leave some proper
sidewalk... Does it happen only in our country?... For, throughout my entire
life I witnessed how, many urban dwellers, or even rural downtowners, would hog
whatever available space around their dwellings, even to the point of extending
or building structures over road shoulders, sidewalks, and rights of way
(whether inside subdivisions, barangay and city roads, or national highways)...
But the law provides that these spaces be given for pedestrians and passersby,
for temporary parking of utilities' meter-readers, delivery riders, and even
the lender's collectors... Yet, people seem to think that they must make use of
every available space around their houses, even if it means encroaching into
other's property, or the common or government road and space... In fact, the
transfer certificates of title we have on our land is actually just, by its
name, a right of possession, because ownership of all lands belong to the
state. By the power of imminent domain, the government can take back our land
and space, in whole or in part, if it has the need for it or for road widening,
notwithstanding if we will be paid for its value and when... Can we still call
ourselves human and Christian, when even our Heavenly Father said to
"leave some ears and not reap to the edge of the field, so that the
orphans and widows, the refugees, transients, foreigners and homeless, will not
have to beg for food, and be afforded a little dignity to earn their
keep"?... Maybe it's high time for us to stop being ignorant and greedy,
stupid and selfish, and give or leave some for others... We never know, that
just when we think we have maximized our space and wealth, we might just be a
step closer to being victims of a roadside accident or highway robbery... Let's
think and do something about that later, and have a good night's rest...
That we might not
judge based on appearance but based on righteous judgment, may we humbly
believe and accept the words and truth proclaimed by our Savior... And may we
let His Word and kingdom dwell in us richly, that we too might bring life and
healing, restoration and peace, freedom and deliverance to all, and wisdom and
a finer character unto ourselves...
What makes for truth
or fake? How do we know what's real versus an illusion? How can we determine
genuine against hypocrisy?... These are difficult questions all of us have to
contend with everyday... The bad news is, it's hard, it takes effort and time
to know and understand, to discover and realize; the good news is, we can
always make time to know, be open to understand, and be humble in our efforts
to accept or correct our views and perceptions, our prejudices and principles,
our words and deeds...
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