Days of Old

It’s quite a very big difference from the years before from now. Indeed so many changes have occurred, not only locally but nationally. Makes me ask a question, what more would happen on the future?

At this point I also remember the question, as been mentioned by my brother, “Where will you be in 5 years or even 10 years?” I suppose those who’ve heard that question can now really reflect on their answer before and their present situation now. I don’t know what their answer to that question is, but I sure do know my own. Of course, it was a question to reflect how great our faith is in the Lord or how strong it is. Sub-questions to this main question would be “Will we soon be departing from our Faith to the Lord Jesus Christ or not?” Or “Will we surrender to the trials we face or will we surrender everything to our Lord?” Several questions accompany these questions, hopefully to get a good picture of where do we really stand or to whom do we really stand for.

5 Years or more have already passed, and I continue to stand for my Faith. And indeed that question can still continue to challenge me and hopefully can challenge the new young people or new generations of today. “To whom do you truly stand for?” Christians as we are called, connotes that we stand for Christ and we follow Him no matter what. And the foundation of our Faith is Him through the authority of His Word, the Bible.

With so many things happening like oil price increase, rice price increase, fare price increase, electric bills increase, every price and bills increase. Added to this is population increase resulting to more and more family into poverty. Crime rate seem to be growing as well, and criminals start to become more unruly and without conscience. Whereas, government officials (of course not all), seem to be ruled by corruption and greediness of power, money and authority. And spiritual matters seem to be hidden in our drawers and cabinets, never to be opened. But throughout these things, God’s Word proves to be true and His Word being fulfilled.

These are the signs of the last days and the days of grace soon to end. Days of honesty, trustworthiness, kindness, courtesy, etc., seem to have disappeared. Extinct if I may word it. The challenge to Christians, to be these kinds of people has become far greater than before. But one has to start truly in one determined decision, to truly give one’s life to God (Romans 12:1-2). A life partially given or is half-hearted person will falter and will definitely fail, for God wants the whole.

2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

This verse doesn’t only talks about having relationship with unbelievers but also denotes a principle that we should understand. That darkness can never be part of light; neither light can be part of darkness. Simple as Christianity is, we should not be reserving a part of our heart for own desires and yet give 75% of our heart to God. That is not how it works. These verses will explain it further.

Revelations 3:15-16
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

These verses remind us that as Christians, we ought to give wholly our life to God. To let Christ live in us and not ourselves. For what manner do we call ourselves Christians if do not follow Him?

Days of the past are gone and the coming of the Lord draweth nigh! And the call of a living sacrifice continues to call out to His people… Will you answer the call?

River view Experience

Check out pix of my sister's batch on their river view experience.. syempre ginawa akong camera man! ngek!

Strange Visitors in the midst of the Storm

Quite a very hazardous day and night, especially the night of May 17, 2008! It was the time of which the one we call “Cosme” passed through our lands destroying things on its way. It was a typhoon hitting us with its great and strong winds accompanied by rain strongly pouring against the ground. Water started to drip not only outside but inside the house. Sheaths are being pulled up as the winds blew. Tire weights placed on top of our roofs seem to not hold down our roof, instead are rolled over by the whirling wind. My father even had to go out, almost without clothes, only with what we call “kapote” to try to fix things up before loosen sheaths are taken away. We had to tie our windows so as not to be opened so easily by the tricky wind. My niece was even scared to sleep upstairs as the whirling wind whistles and strongly sways the house. She said, "dooowwnn... down...", in a tone wanting to go away from the rustling sounds. Truly a scary situation!

As the storm has passed bye, it had caused so much damage. Hearing from the news, so many slides have occurred, roads have been cut-off, trees have been torn down, branches everywhere. And of course, one of which mostly annoys us, having no power or electricity. Everything seems to get boring. The fact that almost everyone are already connected with gadgets and the like. Batteries are drained, and people start to look for source of energy to charge in. People are stuck in, forcibly to stay at home to do nothing but perhaps look for something to do at home, which they often do not do. But perhaps one good thing of this situation, people can start reading their Bibles again.

But through out this storm, one thing took my attention and made me a bit excited even at the midst of the storm. Birds I have never seen personally in my life suddenly stayed at the middle of the airport, where I always walk through. They were aliens of some sort. I mean not from here, I think. If I would describe it, they were two kinds of birds. One looked like a pigeon, but not. They were a bit smaller. Their beak was a bit sharper than the pigeons and most of them were white with black dots. The other kind of bird was a bit strange for me. It had two long pinkish legs. And If I am right they were a bit grayish. The white ones liked to fly around, so low seemingly looking for food to eat, while the other long-pinkish-legs simply want to stay on the grassy area near the airport. If I’m correct they are called “gulls” and “stilts” (hehe.. kind’a researched it)

Haha! I tried to make some pictures. But before I got to get closer and get some pictures of them they flew away. And that was the last time I saw them. (Oh yeah not to mention someone “prrrrrrttt….” on me while trying to take the picture… whatever...)

(Hehe! Sorry for the cam I used...) (Man, I wish I had at that time a real cam to take this pix.)

AND

(These 2 pix aren't mine though!) :-)

It was an amazing experience though. I wonder if I could see more of them soon. Hehe! But anyway far more than that, I was reminded of an excerpt Max Lucado wrote on his book “In the eye of the storm”. Quite an interesting book! Part of it talked about person named Eddie Rickenbacker and with his crew, was saved by a bird when they we’re in the middle of the ocean. Plane-wrecked if I remember the story right! They we’re almost in the depth of their hunger, nothing to eat and suddenly after praying to God, a bird, he knew was a gull, landed on his hat. Because of it, their hunger was satisfied, with its meat and the bird’s intestines as fish bait. But before this event in his life, he had this ritual of feeding the sea gulls on a pier. And perhaps continued this, as an appreciation and thanksgiving for what has been done.

It’s indeed a reminder that we are saved by a “Sacrificial Visitor”. And it’s good to be reminded by that day when Someone sacrificed His life for us. One of which we are unworthy of, yet still He did. And hopefully we would not forget that thing that has been done.

Who am I?

This question has always been a question that bugged me for years. “Who am I?” This question and some other questions like “Why am I here?” Truly it’s a question seeking for a purpose or a reason or something that may make life meaningful. As a matter of fact I could even remember, I have asked these questions to myself even at my early young age, maybe at Grade 2 or 3? I don’t remember too well. But this question has been bugging me all through out my life. And I believe most people are bugged with the same questions as well, maybe not the same question, but question that seeks answer to why one exists. Why would people be? Because if one lives without purpose or understanding why they exist, then indeed we are just dust in the wind. We are like clanging cymbals without giving any pleasurable music to the ears.

Man, seem to have always looked for the reason why or how he exists. Evidence might be the reason why the book “Purpose Driven Life” is one of the best selling books. But at some point, some people are satisfied to simply live, be merry and die. Of course, one does not believe in God and therefore simply believes in his own self and on what he can do. Wherein makes himself the center of his life. But be warned Christians, that such be the setting of your mind. The Bible speaks of such:

1 Corinthians 15 (NIV)
32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." 33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

If you will read the whole chapter of Corinthians 15, some Christians believed that there is no resurrection of the dead. Problem is, if such is true all that is connected to our faith, is vain, worthless, without importance or value and we are keeping our faith to nothing. The thing with us Christians is that every thing that we believe is all connected. The birth of Christ, Christ’s life, Christ’s Deity at the same time His humanity, His death, His burial and His resurrection are all connected. If one part of these things is missing or is not true, then like a domino effect, everything else has no worth. Our faith is vain. But praise God that’s not true. Christ fulfilled all this, as it was prophesied in Isaiah 53.

Christ had to go through all the pain and sorrow and death for the sake of us all. In Isaiah 53:5 it says: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” If He had not gone through what He has gone through, then there is no way we would know about the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:22
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Let me take you back on that day Christ died: He walked and walked and walked, while bearing the cross on His back; with His wounds being caressed by the rough surface of the wood He carries; His feet touching the heat of the ground; a soldier slashes a whip, ripping up his flesh to pieces; yet he must go on… At the top of Mount Golgotha He had finished hiking up a mountain, trying to catch His breath while feeling the sting of His wounds; then a soldier pushed him back to put him over His cross, stretching forth His arms wide open; started to hammer down a nail through His hands and feet; He can do nothing but shout with agony and pain; Then now was raised up in front of the mocking mob to put him to shame and ridiculed by those who don’t understand; and for a few more hours, He gave up the ghost and died.

Such may be the picture of Christ’s death but the truth maybe much worse than ever. This is just a glimpse of His sorrow, just for the sake of saving you and me. And whoever receives and believes Him (Jesus Christ) as their Lord and Savior are now called His own (John 3:16, Acts 16:31); a believer and of which we now call Christians.

Romans 10:9-10 (New International Version)
9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

These verses speak of Christ being the only way of salvation nothing more nothing less. Free for all those who receive and believe. And all of these, by the GRACE God gave (Eph. 2:8-9).

Now through out all these verses and what have been said, you might ask “What’s the connection of these things to the question - Who am I?” Well, simple… that is because I am a Christian. As I grow, esp. in the knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ, the answer to this question, continues to impact me and remind me of, who I am now. Reminds me simply of what road I have to take; reminds me of what does it mean to be a Christian, a follower of Christ. And therefore in every step I take, in every decision I make, I must continually focus on the one whom I follow, that is Christ. Continually focusing on what His will is and not my will. Christ died for me so that I as a Christian would live for Him.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Who you are defines what you do and what ever decisions and plans you make. Now the question is who are you?

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy mother's day to all mothers. Especially to my mom! :)