Life is just a breath

Psalm 39 (New International Version):

1 I said, "I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
while in the presence of the wicked."

2 So I remained utterly silent,
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish increased;

3 my heart grew hot within me.
While I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:

4 "Show me, Lord, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.

6 "Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.

7 "But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.

8 Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.

9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.

10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,
you consume their wealth like a moth—
surely everyone is but a breath.

12 "Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were.

13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more."

Being watchful

Many believers have stories to share about becoming lukewarm in their Christian service. Worst, some share having doubts and become weak in faith and gave way to the ways of evil. Much more also, though having faith, are complacent in their practice ass followers of Christ. But what if during this time of negligence Jesus would come? What's gonna happen to us? Matthew 25:13 says, "you must be vigilant, because you do not know the day or the hour."

As I arrived home from office one day, I found the main door widely opened. I was bit worried as I knew my wife and the kids are still out. Who could have opened the door? I rushed to check if some things are missing. Gladly I found nothing was lost or stolen. I checked the bedrooms and found our Master's Bedroom locked. I always leave without locking that room, my wife don't lock the room either. I sensed some danger. If some burglar was still inside he might assault me. After careful inspection I realized no one was inside.

That incident made me decide to put some extra effort to cover some unfinished walls of the kitchen. At least this would prevent those with bad intentions to be tempted to sneak in. But I also felt and whispered to God. "If bad elements would really want to do bad, I know Lord this walls are not enough to protect my house. So I still trust You will protect us Lord."

The experience made me understand that becoming watchful is not only being prepared all the time but also to correct every errors and sins we have and cover our sinfulness with the cloak of righteousness so that we maybe worthy to meet Him when He comes.

The best choice in life

Everyday of our lives we are faced with the task of deciding. Whether we made the right decision or not would depend on how we weigh the outcomes. But would you believe that there are situations when even people know that the best outcome would result from a certain decision, yet they don't choose it?

Yes, it is absolutely true, and one of it is neglecting Jesus' call. Following Jesus would give us the best results, if not in this life in the next. Nevertheless many still take this for granted and opt to go otherwise. A lot of reasons are cited are more often they are "options from this world."

The Bible says "only one thing is necessary and it is the best portion, and it shall not be taken away”(Luke 10:42)and it is believing and following Jesus. And I can attest you that among the many decisions I made in life, the best I did was accepting Jesus into my life.

Of course many of you will shrug a cold shoulder about this statement and won't dare to ask why. But only a wise man can say I like it until he tries it. So why not make it a try and experience it for yourself.

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Photo above: Kids from ages 8 and below joined a fellowship with other kids in the community who exposes them in a relationship with Jesus. At this very early age they were taught Christian values that they may nurture for the rest of our lives. Later on these children would be witnesses of the works of Christ and would join in the vineyards and work-fields of God.

Productivity and Quality

Productivity is always the measure of how you perform in a given task, and it reflects how you produce an output out of the given input. When I encounter this theory, what always comes into my mind is the mustard seed. The Bible says "though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew 13:32)

I recently have a close encounter with "productivity" when I attended a two-week long training on productivity improvement. Well, I have learned 5 ways in achieving productivity improvement and several tools in carrying out in our work.

Reflecting upon the learning I realized, we humans devised a lot of complicated systems in doing tasks. Of course, the complex brain mechanisms also adopts to changes and when these learning is applied in our work it would affect the performance to some extent. Why I said to some extent? Because a time would come that such learning will become outdated and is bound to lose its effectiveness.

There is however, an unfading way to productivity improvement and that is the way of the heavens. We may all learn all the tools that human creates but only God can increase the size of a mustard seed to a big tree. For me, the biggest productivity improvement in putting in the Godly tools, and that is through "Godly character."

Teaching Productivity Theories maybe a good idea but could produce a short-lived fruit. But teaching the ways of God; the virtues of humility, honesty, kindness, and sacrifice, among other values, is even a better idea that could make a small seed into a huge tree.

Holy Days or Holy Week?

It is really fulfilling to be abreast of times. My blog has also been silent awhile but I believed the message of the latest post is due for the season.

Just one more thing, I wish we'd never celebrate "The Passion" again the traditional way. For me it is not the time for mourning but rejoicing. We are encouraged to reflect on our sins daily and that should make the "Holy Week" insignificant. Christ redeeming takes not just a week. When God sanctifies every days of our lives, thus we make everyday a Holy Day to make good and Godly works.

When I was still with the world, I was made to believe that Christian life is full of sacrifices. Many in the community are still tied with such notion. Christ promised His "yoke is easy and the burden is light."

If this promise is a lie then there's no use in following Christ. We must understand that we are prepared to take our own cross but that load is not as hard as we think. Why? because Jesus had carried the heaviest load.

If we haven't experienced what Jesus promised, it is time we reconsider our relationship to Him. Make it not just a show but a real one. And if we have gained His rewards here in Earth, we should understand that the summit is yet to come. This would come in His own appointed time.

Forgiveness

Why do most people find it hard to forgive? While we are taught that compassion is a good virtue, the process of healing from a damage done may not take instantly. The readiness to respite maybe influenced by reasons and intensity of the damage done. But in totality the action revolves around the character of humility.

We accept the fact that we all have once sinned. The way we accept and treat our own sins has direct relationship with how we treat the sins of others on us. Meaning, even though there is an accepted moral guidelines of how to treat errors, we still use our own meter stick. When we believe that we should be pardoned instantly from a simple lie, we practice it by granting apology to those who lie to us.

The problem arise when our judgment become one sided and self-centered. There are cases when we believe that cheating others could be a sin worth to forgive in an hour yet when we are cheated we condemn the person and even put on severe punishment before forgiving the sinner. Oftentimes the decision for pardon is based on the character of the sinner. Under the same circumstances we forgive our best friend quickly than a stranger. More often we pardon our friends easily than our family members.

But God is teaching us to be impartial. To treat everyone as equals. Jesus even gave quick pardon to the thief on the cross. In one encounters with the disciples, Peter asked Jesus "“Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Even seven times?” and Jesus said to him: “I do not say to you, even seven times, but even seventy times seven times." (Mt 18:21-22).

Forgiving is a really good virtue. There is no limit; there are no conditions. If we only forgive those who forgive us. What difference we have with the criminals.

image from: www.artnsoulwrks.com

Speaking in tounges

'A man filled with the Spirit will speak the language of the Spirit.' For so many times I heard these words and I recalled them as I read today's Gospel a portion of which says, "Now these signs will accompany those who believe... They will speak in new languages..." (Mark 16:17).

Bible scholars believed speaking in new languages literally means speaking a kind of language or dialect foreign to the one speaking it, that even the one who spoke them could not understand its meaning. Other believers are also gifted by the Spirit to interpret those language spoken without any prior formal education. Early Christian communities and even charismatic groups today accept the facts presented as real and true. The Bible itself has supporting verses that corroborates the interpretation.

I personally experienced speaking in tongues; uttering words i could not understand. They usually occur to me when speaking words of praise and worship. The experience makes me feel closer to God. This is because praising in tongue is praising God by the language of Heaven. I believe, by that moment my Spirit is connecting to heaven in complete harmony with God in the words They both understand.

Many, however, question the phenomenon and consider them as works of the devil. Whatever is their logic I stand to support my understanding because I myself can attest to my experience that there is no devilish acts in it.

The gift of tongue is not for human satisfaction, it is for God's. God gave us wisdom for His works of spreading His love for mankind. He gave us the power to speak the language of heaven for His delight.

image from: www.trinos.org.au

Christmas- a reminder of Faith

'What is good with the spirit of Christmas when it is wrapped with lots of bad news and doubts around?' A priest, in his sermon asked the parishioners. The question echoed deep into my own spirit and a very clear answer is whispered back into my spiritual ear.

In the middle of all miseries, wars, famine, natural calamities, and other catastrophes the celebratrion of Christmas brings HOPE to every believers. The first coming of Jesus did bring some light in the middle of darkness. The Good News about the Kingdom which Jesus told every Christian faithfuls is relived and reinforced every season of lent. We are reminded by celebrating Christmas that the promise is yet to be fulfilled. And there's no way to relax because the battle is still going on. And only those who stay by His side who will reap the fruits of their labor.

When people questioned the real date and time of Christmas, they are looking into the event in a human perspective. For me the true date and season doesn't matter. It is the message that the celebration of the event is what we are after. Whether Christ is born in February or June or December I don't really care. The celebration reminds us that Jesus really came and gave us HOPE despite the troubles of life.

Accepting that this world is chaotic would lead us to think that life on Earth is really miserable. But believeing that Jesus came to show as the way, the truth, and life then we know that the burdern is light.

Well written response against atheism

I have found a well written response against the claims of atheists that there is no God and I gamble to re-post it here completely without changing a word because I believe on its message. With due respect to the authors Clyde and Dee, here is the full article:

In the Bible: "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3).

On the Internet: "Believing there is no God means the suffering I've seen in my family, and indeed all the suffering in the world, isn't caused by an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent force that isn't bothered to help or is just testing us, but rather something we all may be able to help others with in the future. No God means the possibility of less suffering in the future" (Penn Jilette, "There Is No God").

This excerpt encapsulates the way many around the world view the God of the Bible: an all-knowing, all-present, all-powerful being who either doesn't care about His creation or who wantonly subjects it to cruelty. Such a being, many atheists conclude, could not exist.

To their credit, they are right. No such God exists. What Penn Jilette—and countless others across the globe—doesn't understand is that all the suffering in this world is in fact caused by a near-universal rejection of the true God and His commandments. God did not turn His back on us; rather, we as a world have turned our back on God.

God promises, "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). Suffering will end only when humanity learns to place God first in their lives. Won't it be great when the First Commandment is finally kept?

http://www.thisistheway.org/ of the United Church of God

Did you miss something?

We have been struggling for almost two months now without having water flowing in our faucets. I really find it hard to lose this valuable part of our daily living. Without water we can't have a bathe, we can't cook, we can't do a lot of stuffs in the home.

Under such circumstance I asked myself "How much more if God wouldn't be around in our homes?" Sadly though many people survived without having to call or think of God and even lived in even more comfortable lives than religious ones. But Jesus spoke of a place out of the current physical world that awaits those who believe in Him. We may not experience the comforts of the physical world but He promised us a Godly comfort in the next world. That is what Christian believers are fighting for. As believers, we should hold on to our faith until for having faith until death is the ultimate triumph of this race for true LIFE.

Going back to my predicament, the local water district informed me there must be something wrong with the distribution line and they need to check them. To lighten my load, I was glad a neighbor allowed us to get water from their own line. Reflecting again on this situation I felt really, in cases when others are down with their faith, a community is always there to bring you up to support you to remind you that God counts every believer a valuable asset of His Kingdom. And we faithfuls should not forget that.

"There is no such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian," I got it from a brother in faith. And I believe it, for a Christian life is meant to be lived as a community. When the "water" ceases to flow in my "faucet" I know there are "neighbors" who are willing to share. That is what Christian community should be.

Hail to the King

I was astonished to find that the Holy Spirit has reminded me of a really remarkable Sunday in the calendar of the Christians, Catholics in particular. November 22 is Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of Ordinary Time and the sign of the onset of another Advent.

Admittedly, because of so much work, I forgot about the day. It was during a neighborhood group meeting on Saturday, which we were not supposed to be a regular participant, that we are asked to get a single word from a line in the days Scriptural reading and share something to the group why we choose the words. With the dictates of the Spirit I have chosen the word "King."

The message I shared with the group revolves around the importance of having somebody rule our life greater that we are. I learned the experience of not having to succumb to the power of somebody higher than me, not even my parents, not even God. But I have experienced the difference too, of accepting that there is someone supreme than we are. I admit and prove, God is more than what we are, humans, even more than what think He is. He is King of all Kings indeed.

But unlike most of the Kings we knew, God is most humble of all for He stoop down, kneel, be nailed on the cross just to reach me, a sinner, just to pick me out of the dark and lead me back to His flock.

"Lord, forgive all my sins and count me back as worthy of your Kingdom."

The aftermath of a disaster

For so many times I told my children that a country like ours will always remain what we have been. Proof is, we have never become what we dreamed centuries back. This, despite having brilliant people, within our race in the field of arts, sciences, whichever.

I am touching on this particular issue as I have read part of the day's Gospel. It reads, "Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you yourselves have not entered in, and those that were entering in, you have hindered" (Luke 11:54). You may wonder what is the connections. It came into my little thinking that after all the people who laid the foundation for development or planned the track to prosperity in our country is not leading us there. I had been part of many government plannings and development sessions and I have noticed that unless the local leaders (particularly elected ones) would gain personal benefits from it (money, fame, and power alike) the support is superficial and worse, just a show.

Many times we asses our failures after a disaster. We begin to build solutions or preparations. But the programs, projects, and activities the government is implementing is not what is most cost effective and urgent, but what a local or national government leader can have.

During a recent forum on disasters from climate change, our resource person pointed out that our country could not change the fact that we are in the "Ring of Fire." What we can change is how we deal with the hazards of our location. Unless our leaders listen and act with patriotic and heroic sense, setting aside huge personal gains and interests, we will not be safe.

For this reason, a poor Filipino has no other ally by God.

PS: We invite you to post your ideas in our Forums. Follow this link.
image from freakyweather.com

Urgent response needed

"When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: 'Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.' "(Luke 9:1-5)

The unbeliever always consider tangible facts by believing only things they see. They don't accept God because they can't see Him. Even if God's existence could be demonstrated through present day miracles, the atheist could find natural explanations just to prove God isn't there.

But faith is different. You can prove it by believing first. God manifests in the order of all things around us, the universe, the atoms, the ecology, the cell, and every bits of matter. The atheists call God in different name, that is "Nature." The unbeliever calls miracle as "Coincidence."

The sad thing is, there are repercussions for not accepting God's offer to believe Him. But God is patiently waiting. He loves us and don't want us to fall in hell. He sends His servants knocking on our doors. We may continue to neglect the call and the dust is left on our doors as a witness against us. But we have the option to accept it and be saved.

I have heard the knocking several times but I neglected them yet God is findings ways until I listened and accepted them. With no regrets, I can humbly say I have my place in His abode.

Why waste the chance? Accept Jesus now.

image from: gospelgifs.com

Good news

"...It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."(Mattew 9:12-13)

There are two types of people who do not let their egos down by neglecting the call to have a relationship with Jesus. The first are those who say they have no sins. The second are those who say they have sinned enough and have no more time to repent or simply they don't need to change their ways, therefore they continue sinning until death.

If you think you are really happy without God in your life, or you are contented with a passive relationship with Him, with all your abundance and happy moments with the world, think twice. Are you really such a happy and contented person? If the answer is not absolute yes or no it is definitely because the spirit in you is longing to fill some empty space.

Why deprive your spirit the nurturing? Relationship with God is not a wasted time. It is the highest value your spirit could ever have. Whichever we are of these types of persons we should understand that we all sinned (Romans 3:23) and Jesus is offered to us to cure us from spiritual sickness. Call Him, and don't be shy. I know He will listen.


Image taken from: genistra.com

Is richness a curse?

"Blessed are ye that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for you shall laugh... But woe to you that are rich: for you have your consolation."(Lk 6:21, 24)

I have read many commentaries relative to this part of the simple message of Christ, many of which put meaning beyond the literal. However, if we look plainly into the context of the message we would clearly see that it has no double meaning. Why did I say so? Jesus is speaking of the current (worldly) and the future (heavenly) scenarios for both the rich and the poor. Jesus clearly explained to us that equality would reign the future. Therefore the poor and the rich meet at a common state and obviously the way to go for the poor is up and the rich, otherwise.

Rising from miserable condition is a rewarding experience to the poor. From sorrow, he will experience joy; from hunger, he will experience fullness; from oppression, he will be set free. The woe is to the rich for out of abundance, he will experience subsistence and out of the comforts, he will experience unfamiliar discomforts. The rich already had the consolation in the current time, he would not have it in the future. A rich man who got used of the world will long for it in the afterlife yet he will not find it. And that's the greatest woe for him.

"Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you."(Oscar Wilde)

There is no plainer explanation than that.

Image taken from: rummuser.com

The wine of life

"And no one puts new wine into old wineskin; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskin. And no one after drinking old wine desires new; for he says, `The old is good'."(Luke 5:37-39)

Renewal requires a full change; a complete turn around by burning bridges. The path to righteousness is really hard because we are enveloped with easier and physically satisfying alternatives. These hinder the total conversion that we desire. But Jesus clearly stated, when we need to reap the glories of a renewed life, we should leave behind our old ways, sins and earthly desires alike, and live a new life completely or else we will "burst."

The last line of the verses tells us that many failed by accepting the notion that old ways are better without trying the new. Jesus promised, and many attested that life in Him is rewarding if you just believe Him hook, line, and sinker.

If you doubt, don't doubt without bothering to try. There's no harm in trying anyway. Have a relationship with Jesus now.

"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise." Bertrand Russell

The secret to success

"... 'Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.'When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break."(Luke 5:5-6)

How many times in our lives we struggle to achieve what we dreamed of? We exhaust ourselves without reaching our desired outcomes. Yet, we do not accept the fact that there is the Giver just waiting to be tapped for help. We are arrogant enough to trust in our own capabilities.

This society is teaching us we are solely responsible with our fate. It is true. But the responsibility includes aligning our mind with the one responsible with our presence on earth. God leads us the way through Jesus Christ.

If you are in the middle of nowhere in your quest today, just call Jesus and He lights your path.

"When every ways seem to fail trust in Jesus and He will save your ship." Annon

image taken from: gbcdecatur.org

Physical versus spiritual cleanness

Jesus always emphasize the importance of the spiritual than the carnal. He kept on criticizing the teachers of the law in His time who focus on practicing physical ritual rather than caring for others.

"And calling again the multitude unto him, he said to them: Hear ye me all, and understand. There is nothing from without a man that entering into him, can defile him. But the things which come from a man, those are they that defile a man." (Mk 7:14-15)

While the need for spiritual spotlessness must be on top, it is likewise necessary that the physical, where the spirit temporarily resides, must be clean from earthly blemishes and sinfulness.

"For cleanness of body was ever esteemed to proceed from a due reverence to God, to society, and to ourselves." Francis Bacon

Mediocrity

"...What word is this, for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they go out?" (Luke 4: 36).

The words of these verse clearly illustrates how Jesus has control even the evil sides of human beings. He promised we too can do the same even with a minute amount of faith. But when we see believers giving in to temptations of the world we would always say "to err is human".

Mediocrity is such a wretched virtue if a person accepts and have trust on Jesus. We heard the promise and we have seen the example. What needs to be done is hone it and have control. Just as Jesus can drive the devil out, we too can say no to temptations of the world.

"People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents." Andrew Carnegie