when the Lord is your strength

"The Sovereign LORD is my strength!"

Habacuc 3:19, New Living Translation, 2007

Our visiting minister shared a nice testament about last week's topic at church.

Back in '96, he was en route to Pangil, Laguna to visit our church there when the jeep he was riding was stopped by the NPA, a leftist group in the Philippines. The group was divided by gender and the women were left behind; he, along with other men, were taken to a far-flung place, near Quezon (he supposed). They were made to line-up and their hands were tied.

A man beside him asked, "Aren't you afraid?"

He responded, "If this is what God wills, then I am ready." The man next to him moved away, thinking he was crazy.

He was drawn away from the men, alone and separated. He was brought to the leader, who asked him, "Aren't you (our minister's name)? Don't you know me?"

Our minister answered, "No."

The leader said, "I was your classmate!" Our minister laughed at this point in the storytelling and joked to us that he hadn't recognized his classmate because the latter was now sporting long hair.

The NPA leader asked our minister, "What are you doing here?"

He answered, "I was on my way to visit our church in Pangil."

The NPA leader went on to interrogate our minister about his views and position regarding the government. Our minister calmly answered, mindful of his words. Once, the NPA leader asked, "Why do you think the government is like this?" referring to alleged rampant corruption. Our minister replied, "Because man follows his own rules and not God's."

At one point in their conversation, I am not sure of the chronology, our minister said to the NPA leader, "I just went here because I have a task to perform in our church. Please let me see to it and after it's done, I will come back."

In the end, the NPA leader had our minister escorted by two men with suspicious looking bayongs (locally produced weaved baskets) from the site and instructed him to "never look back or sideways, just go forward."

As our minister lived to tell the story, you can safely assume that everything is well. And he goes on to share a story proving that the Lord is indeed a reservoir of strength.

PS. Sadly, it was not the same for his fellow kidnapped victims; days later, corpses were found by the roadside near the place where our minister suspected they were taken to.

crossroads

Our resident teacher in church said in Tagalog, "Everyday is a crossroad." Amen to every 20-something year old undergoing a life crisis.

Life presents a more interesting array of choices to our generation; there's just so much more to do, to be, to achieve. What a loss to miss out on the adventures and challenges the new world offers! But whether it's a case of choice paralysis or spreading yourself too thin, there are times we feel lost and tired, and we feel a pressing need to reorient ourselves.

Let God be our compass and heed His foolproof words in Jeremiah 6:16,

The Lord said to His people, "Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths and where the best road is. Walk in it, and you will live in peace."

It's more than tempting to choose the road less traveled but there's also a reason why those well-trodden ancient paths are the best: They're sure to get us to our destination.

Less literally (I did enjoy that allegory), whatever we do in our lives as long as we are anchored by God's guidance, we will experience the peace this world cannot or will ever offer. Let us pray that for each and every crossroad--for every opportunity, tragedy, or choice--we will let God lead us the way.

words seasoned with salt and grace

So sorry to have missed out on the last two Saturdays! And to post so late this Sunday.

Yesterday's topic is from Colossians 4:5-6,

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

I know I should stick to these verses but I couldn't help but insert these verses that Ria posted on her site:

Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you're not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you're out of line. If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong. - Romans 14:22-24 (The Message) 

I had to wonder if I ever had crossed the line. (With this one, for example.) Because the bottomline is I can't judge another person about his or her beliefs. For all our claims about the truth, the only one who can claim to know it in its entirety is God.

Coming from a small-numbered religious community, I know how it feels like on the other side of the fence. One time, in a theology class, the instructor (also a religious figure) showed a chart similar to a dartboard--bull's eye and all--and explained that the religion (his religion) nearest to the bull's eye is the one "most saved," if that makes any sense. After that class, I felt offended. I still do and quite frankly, hold it against him and his religion--a confession I have not made explicit until now. (One which I now openly acknowledge, on the basis of my no-hypocrisy campaign, and just get over. I promise to let go of this grudge.)

I guess, what I'm trying to say quite clumsily is: Sometimes, as a religious minority, I tend to be defensive about my faith. But these lessons are showing me that a certain tolerance--or is it patience? humility? grace, definitely!--is in order.

A teacher in our local church once shared, Nobody really wins in a debate. They just end up irritating one another, and, may I just add, leave each one hugging his beliefs closer to his indignant bosom. A religious debate is not at all different.

What brings this issue closer to home is this blog. I tried to start it with the intentions of sharing God's message through the eyes of an ordinary person, like me. Make the most of every opportunity, as Paul said to the Colossians. But I have to figure where I start becoming judgmental and suddenly make this project one big campaign, which is not what it's supposed to be. I don't have the right to impose anything on others.

I pray that God will guide me, season my words with salt and grace, so I can share His message in the right way. Feel free to give me a heads up or a good smack on the head if I have ever stepped on your toes. We can talk. And I promise I won't turn it into a debate.

saturday post: standing by our words

Today's topic was a continuation of last week's topic, but going into details as laid out in Psalms 15:4-5. To answer David's question, "Who can enter God's sanctuary?" there are four characteristics a person must have:

1. One who honors God and rejects what is evil 
2. One who honors and stands by his word and promise 
3. One who does not take advantage of others in loans (usurious)
4. One who does not bribe innocents 

The first one is pretty all-encompassing, and I hope I do not belittle it by saying so. But in today's sermon, I was most affected by the second characteristic.

Because I hate the thought of people not liking me, I fall into the trap of saying things I don't necessarily mean just to please other people. Sometimes, I tell myself, "Well, the intent was there. I just can't (or didn't) follow through." It is a trap--sometimes I don't make good on the promise and let other people down. Sometimes, I don't really agree with what they say but find myself agreeing nonetheless and say otherwise to other people.

It's something I have yet to get a handle of; yet another struggle against hypocrisy. I am trying to say what I want to say and commit on what I really intend to accomplish. Of course, sometimes I still say or do the wrong things. Sometimes I also hurt people. So yes, I'm trying to figure out the balancing act. And as of press time, there's no clear result or solution to that struggle.

Wish me luck!

saturday post: the dwelling and our lives

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? 

Psalm 15:1 (New International Version)

A major primetime news show featured a local priest announcing support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's bid for a congressional seat in Lubao, Pampanga during mass. And I wondered if the priest didn't feel his skin crawl while he made that pronouncement; mine did. Seated next to strategically placed impoverished children, the President calmly accepted--dare I say, with a beatific smile on her face--the priest's support.

I found it, quite frankly, hypocritical on both of their accounts and an upfront disgrace to God and His dwelling, the church; primarily on the part of the President, whom I can only assume is pretending to be pious and faithful because if she were, then the Philippines would be in a very different situation today.

Before this becomes a full-out rant against our government, I'd like to take pause and examine the situation. With all my prejudice against hypocrites and calling them out, I don't want someone else to point a finger at me and say, "Look who's talking."

In some cases for some people, their lives are divided in two parts: inside the church, outside the church. Inside the church, they act all holy and self-contained, but outside, they are the total opposite. Yes, some cases and some people. For example, me.

At one point in my life, I stopped and looked at myself and didn't like the hypocrite I saw. I didn't like the fact that Saturday was reserved for respectful behavior among the elders, brothers and sisters, but beyond it, there were no holds barred: Drink. Gossip and talk bad about people behind their backs. Forget to pray at night. Get mad at others and let them have it. Curse. It was even more troubling for me because sometimes I was tasked to perform the sermon; and there is nothing more heavy on the conscience than a sinful heart standing at the pulpit.

The psalm of David asks, "Who may dwell in the Lord's sanctuary," and I knew the person I was was not, but I hope and pray, the person I am trying to become is. Because not going to church is not an option to me, I sought and am continually seeking to improve my life by letting God seep into my life outside of church. My goal is to erase the divide between myself in church and myself outside of church; that wherever I am, I am one person, and that I dwell in God in the same way that I have faith that with Him, the Holy Spirit dwells in me. My goal is to have integrity in life rooted in God.

I do not claim to have reached these goals. In fact, I might've slipped last night--but not as much as I have slipped and fallen before. For reasons I cannot explain, I feel that even when I cannot help myself, God helps me.

I sympathize with other believers who are struggling with the issue of oneness of life, those people who have sat in church and wondered, "How can I face the Lord after what I did yesterday?" The question is not designed to make us avoid the Lord, but to face up to reality and make the necessary changes.

I pray that we will all be worthy to enter God's dwelling, and that we ourselves are worthy dwellings of God by living righteous lives inside and more importantly, outside of church.

no need for fanfare

On a trip to Las Vegas, we came across this at downtown Fremont:

 

 

I asked one of the people showing us around about them and he told me that these people campaign for God in hopes of saving their souls by converting at least one other person; another's salvation is his, so to speak. 

I felt sad because first, one's salvation can never be bought by another person's salvation. But more so, I think and feel that beyond blasting megaphones and waving placards, the best testament to God is a life that is lived faithfully, daily.

Ria's post on readiness comes to mind. (Ri, permit me to re-post it here.) When the disciples asked Jesus why He liked to use parables, He responded,

"Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state, they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they're blue in the face and not get it." - Matthew 13:12,13 (The Message)

I hope that we all make stories out of our lives that will open other people's hearts and minds to God's message. No need for megaphones, placards, or any kind of fanfare.

Picture Perfect

This is my personal testimony. I wrote this on Feb 28, 2006. I still believe this is my best blog post ever. So, here it is.

For seventeen years, I never imagined even for once that I am pre-destined for something. I thought that I make my own destiny and that everything depends on the things I do. So, for the longest time, I was a goody-goody, who imitated what successful and good people did. I conformed to the world's standard of what is good and I was afraid to try out things that are not in the picture of the perfect life I tried to build for myself.

Little did I know that by concentrating on that beautiful picture I have for my life, I missed a lot. I was so focused on that picture that I didn't even take time to appreciate the beauty around me and know the lives that surround me.

One day, I discovered that my life has some sort of purpose. However, it wasn't that easy for me to accept the fact that all the things I've achieved and worked for were not there because of my own doing or greatness but because of the someone who gave me purpose. As I got to know that someone, I started to understand that the perfect picture of life that I have is nothing compared to the life I was pre-destined for.

Nevertheless, having that knowledge in my mind didn't change my life overnight. It was really hard to let go of that picture, step out, discover new possibilities around and allow myself to be of use to others. It is frightening to let go specially when you're holding on to something that is good already. But the good is the worst enemy of the best and if we don't let go of the good, we can't get the best! So, after a long battle with myself, I let go of that picture. It wasn't easy but it took only one decision, one decision I live by everyday, one decision to love God with all my heart and all my mind.

Right now, it is still unknown to me what God's plans for my life are but I trust HIM and believe that my life is far better than the picture I've let go of. If I continue to live by HIS words, I'll definitely get the best because HIS words are my life, our life.

saturday post: Proverbs 12:12

"...the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit," as written in the King James Bible.

In the sharing segment of our service today, my mom recounted an experience with one of our customers: This customer would directly deposit her payment to our bank account and just text my mom about it. My mom noted that sometimes this customer would overpay, so she'd inform the customer of the mistake to set the record straight (literally too, because my mom oversees the accounting). So when a sales agent approached our customer to convince her to switch from our business to his (piracy!), our customer fortunately refused. I hope it is safe to assume that she thinks we conduct our business honestly, without an eye to taking advantage of her.

Sometimes it's hard to believe that good things do come to good people. It's a different world we live in today; a world that believes getting ahead of others is key, and that nice guys usually, if not always, finish last. Not much of a motivation for good-doers. But God knows better; and for Him to have sacrificed His only Son, He cannot NOT take care of those who look up to Him. Knock, Jesus said, and the door will be answered.

And I guess, it also matters by how we define "good things," the things we judge are desirable and aspire to possess. If we think that wealth--having bazillions of money, mansions or multiple houses, closetsfull of clothes and accessories--defines good things, then maybe we don't have it because God does not desire us to have this. People who will stop at nothing to amass wealth are not characteristically godly; they're greedy. I think that the way we define that "fruit" also shows what kind of people we are.

So it's also a challenge to people who aspire to be closer to God to evaluate what exactly they're striving for. Do we want a mansion? Or do we want a home? In spite of what the world says or believes in, God will give us what we deserve. Evil will beget evil, and as Proverbs 12:12 says, the root of the righteous will yield fruit.