Color Quiz

Haha... Is this true kaya? This test is a kind of personality test which determines your attitude and your possible problem. It is similar to the one I had undergone during the choir's outing - the DISC test, which determines your strength and weakness. But it is different in its method. It made me understand myself and others a little more.

Well, some of the statements sometimes reflect my inner thoughts. Well, let's just say that the results are not always reflective. People change so these statements will definitely change. But it is still fun to know, right? Hehe Ü Enjoy!

Byron took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "His need to feel more causative and to have a wide..." Click here to read the rest of the results.

Singing in the Storm

Have you ever been so scared and frightened in your life? Have you been in a situation where you felt so alone and so helpless? Have you felt your heart skip a beat or two because of being trapped? Well last night, I somehow experienced all of these...

Yesterday was a hard day for me. I somehow experienced someone say to my baby that he's ugly. Haha. You probably might wonder at this illustration if you hadn't heard Ahia Harg's sermon on positive criticism. Well, I have a project that I really worked on until the end or its final stage only to find out that my boss thinks its too complicated. He had already approved of it during its initial stages so it was hard for me to somehow accept his explanations (which makes sense by the way). So I had no complaints and agreed to adjust and make ammendments. But somehow my actions and my heart are not in sync.

I went home late yesterday around 7 pm. I knew it was raining then, but as I stepped in front of the main gate, I knew that getting home was going to be harder. As I was driving, I said to myself, "This is the first time I've experienced rain so fine that I couldn't see much where I was going." I really depended on the tail lights and blinkers of the other cars.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar sound from the brakes. Uh-Oh. I knew I should have stayed away from flooded areas. "I would have if only I could see where I was going" I thought. But still I pressed on and went home the way I used to know... only to find out that the road gets flooded during heavy rains. Traffic was really building up because small cars couldn't pass through the flooded areas. But still I continued until such a time that I was stuck in the traffic itself.

While being stranded in the traffic, I could hear the rain splashing on the wind shield. I could see the lightning as if it were reaching to me. I could hear the thunder roaring. I could feel the gushing waters beneath my car. I could see and hear it all and yet I was unable to do anything. I was really stuck with another car in front and the waters at my back. I had to make a choice - go to another road which I am not familiar or stay stucked in there. I prayed to God to protect and guide me in this situation and to also be with my loved ones and friends.

I backed up against the current to a new road that is not that flooded and followed a car which did the same. I followed the car while trying to balance speeding and braking. Then I found myself singing to songs like "I Know Who Holds the Future","My God Is So Big","Cares Chorus" and many others (that I couldn't remember now). I was singing until I found a familiar billboard that signalled me I was close a familair road - the way to home. I was so overjoyed that I practically was singing and thanking Him until I was home.

I don't know what you are going through today, but may this encourage you to let God control your lives. As Jesus has calmed the storms during His time, so can He calm the storm in this age and the ages to come. This is a lesson that I've learned while in the translation class (Eccl. 9:1,7-10) Accept the realities of life with a happy heart because all is in the plan/hands of God, be able to share it with someone you love and continue to fully live and mightily do the work which God has allowed you to do. Glory to God!

Elections and the Fear of God

Have you ever thought how life would be easier if everybody would just get along, if everybody would love and care for each other, if everyone would just be nice to one another without thinking that he or she might get something out of being nice... what a world that would have been!

And yet God chose to place us in this world where, most of the time, people do things out of selfishness, pride, jealousy, foolishness and many other reasons. The sad thing is, most of the time, people are not unaware of what they are doing. It is the same as a person who puts shades while doing these horrible things. They know it is bad enough to even think about these things (they see through their shades), but they still do it (pretending not to see it). The recent Philippine election was a testament to this fact. We see people deliberately killing each other for the position - no wonder they say that in the Philippines, "People would even kill just to serve." Actually, we should add a follow-up question "They serve who?"

The Bible accounts in Judges the many errors of God's people so that we could learn from their mistakes. I agree with what my Bible Study leader has been repeatedly saying in the Bible Study..."Not only did the Israelites went through the cycle of forsaking God, but they (this includes the judges) also became worst and worst than before." The Israleites knew what they were doing was wrong and yet they chose to do it out of convenience, practicality, and fear of others.

The manner of forsaking God maybe different from that time to this generation, but one way or another if we are not careful, we will relive the mistakes of the Israelites because the root is basically the same - convenience, practicality and fear of others. I must confess that I find myself struggling in this battle arena. How many times have I said I'm sorry because I hurt others? How many times have I made wrong decisions in my life? How many times have I tried to people please than to please my God?

I could still remember a story from when I was a youth. What if God was a guest in your house, would you let him in your living room only where you show off the finest materials, furniture, and household wares? What if He asks you to let Him enter your bedroom or your closet? Would you bring Him to where you go, where you work, where you hang out? Will you let Him in your secrets? I'm sure that if it is someone special, you wouldn't dare to show off your bad traits or the bad side of you! Why? Because there is an element of embarrassment or a hint of fear.

When we come before our God, let us strip ourselves of all these things. He is a holy God, therefore we should also strive to be holy. It is a fact that we cannot be perfect in this world, but God is glorified when we strive to be like Him in this ungodly world. Let us not wait until that time when we don't even feel the shame of doing evil things or when we blatantly (in the open without the shades) do these things. I pray that we will all be men and women who fear God more than we fear circumstances and people.

A Fishy Week!

It all strated last Friday when our YoungPro fellowship decided to have book reading on the minor prophet Jonah. Well, at first I thought to myself, "What Jonah again? I know that story! Can we have something else." But as you will see later, I'm glad I went last Friday.

I observed we did not start with the usual singspiration. We started with the announcements and Bible verse memorization. (This time it's tough, memorizing James 1:21 in three languages) After the LCD was set-up, then we had the singspiration. ("For the Sake of the Call" and a new song song... forgot the title) I knew then that this fellowship would not be just an ordinary Jonah story. I was right! We delved into the book of Jonah through some games - not only one but three!

The first game was family feud (a group game). We were divided into three teams. We used the piano as buzzer (low, medium, and high notes... hehe) The game basically has the same mechanics as the original except the sole basis of answers is found in the book. "Woah... and to think this was easy... i was very wrong!" This game showed me how much details I've left out when reading this book and how much time I've spent on being contented with what I know and not seeking the deeper meaning of the details.

The second game was weakest link. Two representatives from each team is needed to play the game. Each player needs to answer a series of questions that will add up to the "jackpot". At the end of each round, the players vote off who they like to leave. Sadly, I was one of those who left first not because my answers were wrong, but because I'm a threat. hehe. But as I was sat out and listened to the other questions... I began to see a newer side of Jonah that I haven't seen before.

The last game was actually challenging... summarizing the book of Jonah and giving a moral lesson in as few words as possible. My group came up with a short poem. It was kind of a children's poem so we decided to act out some of the words.

God said "Go!"; Jonah said "No!",
boarded boat to Tarshish, swallowed by a fish,
prayed for forgiveness, was spat ashore,
He preached in Nineveh so judgment no more!
'Cause people repented; Jonah resented...
Poeple hide, God will find... He forgives!

We won that evening... Actually all of us, because we learned so much!

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Yesterday, we went to the Mall of Asia. Guess who we hooked up with unexpectedly... Ahia Harg and his family, my aunt and her children and grandchildren (father's side), my mom and dad's friend (who also had a child taking up music). Well, that's rather funny 'cause it is as if we were thinking of the same thing and to meet up in such a huge place - truly amazing!

Then we ate dinner... guess where? Fish and Co. It was really sumptuous. It was the first time my family and I ate there so we didn't know the taste. Luckily we liked it especially their fish and chips. hehe (getting hungry)

Lastly, guess what was playing on Fish and Co.'s screen that night! Finding Nemo. I really liked this animation picture because of the rich characters and the adventure. Of course, it wouldn't be complete without my favorite charcter from that movie - Dorie!

I guess in all these, what I'm trying to say is that God's ways are higher than ours. Even though things or events might seem fishy to us, to Him all is planned and worked out! He has purposes why things happen. The only thing we can do is to live each day for Him and be thankful for the things/people/events that might come along our way!

Imitating Dorie's whale talk.... "TtHaNnKk YyOoUu FfOoRr RrEeAaDdIiNnGg!"

Nahum: Chapter 1 Part 1

Let's continue on with Nahum...

Verse 1:
This is an interesting title to a book, "Vision of Nahum". Does this mean that the Lord showed all of this to Nahum? Does Nahum have any connection with Nineveh like Jonah did (Jonah hated the Ninevites)?

Verse 2 - 8:
It is interesting to note how God is described in these verses. Our God avenges... revenges... reserves wrath... on who? His enemies... adversaries... those who has characteristics of making Him jealous and furious. This verse reminds me of another verse wherein it says something like "Do not take revenge because revenge is of the Lord's." Putting these two together, it seems Nineveh has done something terrible to someone (maybe His people) that is why God is unhappy and will take revenge for those who are oppressed.

Nahum goes on to be specific that the Lord will not acquit the wicked. (If God can punish a group of people for not following him or making him jealous, what can stop this God from punishing me?) Even the clouds, whirlwind and storm, mountains and seas and hills are but dust of His feet. (He has power over these since He is the Creator) Anyhow, God here is pictured to be supreme and powerful, able to take vengeance for Himself and His people. He continues by asking, "Who can stand His indignation?"(Indignation means righteous anger; It is not that God goes around being angry for nothing, but when He gets angry, surely there must be a reason.) No one can possibly endure it or stand against it.

But He is also pictured to be good and a stronghold for those who trust in Him. In verse 3, He is slow to anger. (This might probably mean that He forgave freely again and again, but the people still insist on having their own ways up to a point where He gave His judgment on Nineveh.) We see a God who is good/gracious yet great/mighty - able to forgive and save yet also able to bring judgment and revenge.

Questions:
1) Is this part of the vision of Nahum or just stating a fact that God is this kind of person/God who can do these things? Is this a warning to Nineveh before their destruction?

2) What do you mean by "The earth heaves at His presence, yes, the world and all who dwell in it"?

3) What are Bashan and Carmel? Are they rivers? What does the flower of Lebanon symbolize?

4) Since there is poetry in Nahum, are there any other things that are with hidden meaning? (Stuructures? repetitions?)

Nahum: Background

I'll try something that my friend "Ahia Elliott" is doing with his blog, because I find it more productive and more exciting. I'll also post my learnings from a book from the Bible that I'm reading right now. For starters, I'll also try the book of Nahum because it interests me to find out what happened to Nineveh after the book of Jonah... hehe. Let's start!

Author
The book contains the “vision of Nahum” (1:1), whose name means “comfort” and is related to the name Nehemiah, meaning “The Lord comforts” or “comfort of the Lord.” (Nineveh’s fall, which is Nahum’s theme, would bring comfort to Judah.) Nothing is known about him except his hometown (Elkosh), and even its general location is uncertain.

Date
In 3:8–10 the author speaks of the fall of Thebes, which happened in 663 b.c., as already past. In all three chapters Nahum prophesied Nineveh’s fall, which was fulfilled in 612. Nahum therefore uttered this oracle between 663 and 612, perhaps near the end of this period since he represents the fall of Nineveh as imminent (2:1; 3:14,19). This would place him during the reign of Josiah and make him a contemporary of Zephaniah and the young Jeremiah.

Background
Assyria (represented by Nineveh, 1:1) had already destroyed Samaria (722–721 b.c.), resulting in the captivity of the northern kingdom of Israel, and posed a present threat to Judah. The Assyrians were brutally cruel, their kings often being depicted as gloating over the gruesome punishments inflicted on conquered peoples. They conducted their wars with shocking ferocity, uprooted whole populations as state policy and deported them to other parts of their empire. The leaders of conquered cities were tortured and horribly mutilated before being executed (see note on 3:3). No wonder the dread of Assyria fell on all her neighbors!

About 700 b.c. King Sennacherib made Nineveh the capital of the Assyrian empire, and it remained the capital until it was destroyed in 612. Jonah had announced its destruction earlier (Jnh 3:4), but the people put on at least a show of repentance and the destruction was temporarily averted (see Jnh 3:10 and note). Not long after that, however, Nineveh reverted to its extreme wickedness, cruelty and pride. The brutality reached its peak under Ashurbanipal (669–627), the last great ruler of the Assyrian empire. After his death, Assyria’s influence and power waned rapidly until 612, when Nineveh was overthrown (see notes on 1:14; 2:1). (Further historical information is given in notes throughout the book.)

Recipients
Some words are addressed to Judah (see 1:12–13,15), but most are addressed to Nineveh (see 1:11,14; 2:1,13; 3:5–17,19) or its king (3:18). The book, however, was meant for Israelite readers living in Judah.

Literary Style
The contents are primarily made up of judgment oracles, with appropriate descriptions and vocabulary, expressing intense moods, sights and sounds. The language is poetic, with frequent use of metaphors and similes, vivid word pictures, repetition and many short—often staccato—phrases (see, e.g., 3:1–3). Rhetorical questions punctuate the flow of thought, which has a marked stress on moral indignation toward injustice.

Theological Themes
The focal point of the entire book is the Lord’s judgment on Nineveh for her oppression, cruelty, idolatry and wickedness. The book ends with the destruction of the city.
According to Ro 11:22, God is not only kind but also stern. In Nahum, God is not only “slow to anger” (1:3) and “a refuge . . . for those who trust in him” (1:7), but also one who “will not leave the guilty unpunished” (1:3). God’s righteous and just kingdom will ultimately triumph, for kingdoms built on wickedness and tyranny must eventually fall, as Assyria did.
In addition, Nahum declares the universal sovereignty of God. God is Lord of history and of all nations; as such, he controls their destinies.

Outline
I. Title (1:1)
II. Nineveh’s Judge (1:2–15)
A. The Lord’s Kindness and Sternness (1:2–8)
B. Nineveh’s Overthrow and Judah’s Joy (1:9–15)
III. Nineveh’s Judgment (ch. 2)
A. Nineveh Besieged (2:1–10)
B. Nineveh’s Desolation Contrasted with Her Former Glory (2:11–13)
IV. Nineveh’s Total Destruction (ch. 3)
A. Nineveh’s Sins (3:1–4)
B. Nineveh’s Doom (3:5–19)

International Bible Society (IBS) © 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Accessed May 11, 2007. http://www.ibs.org/niv/studybible/nahum.php

Dazed Amid the Blaze

My thoughts:

Last night was a very scary night for the people in Caloocan specifically 8th Ave. (I live a street away from the main street of 8th Ave. where the real blaze is happening). Although my family were a street away, I could still feel the heat, the fire burning. As I go up to the 5th floor terrace, I could see a small shanty and several others around it being swallowed in flames.

As I recall, I've been in this situation before when my neighbors house got burned also. Back then, I really had no idea what was happening. As a small child, I couldn't do anything as I was being taken care of by my mom. All I remember was being held by my mom as we went out of the house to a nearby relative's house for safety. This time around as an adult, I suddenly felt dazed/confused in all the commotion.

Suddenly,...
1) Priorities are tested (What should I bring if ever the flames get near - what I need or what I want?)
2) True care is measured (As I look into the burning house, I thought of the people who lived in that shanty. I also thought about the adjacent house which sold gas tanks for the stove. I thought to myself "what if the fire gets into that house?" - selfish or for others)
3) Tensions arise (I told my brothers to quickly pack something - maybe 3 sets of clothes and to just stay put),
4) Lessons are learned (Is this a reminder from God to cherish what He has given me? What is God saying in all this?)

I said a little prayer in the midst of this that went something liek this.

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My prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, I may not know what is your purpose in doing this. I may not know what is to happen to me or anyone. I may not know of many things, but this i know - that You, o Lord, are a great and good God. I know in your perfect will and timing that You have planned all things to happen. Yes, I am finite and You are infinite. I pray that You are still glorified in the midst of this. Help me not to be too concerned of myself. Help me to be a person who gives praise and thanks always even in the midst of suffering and sadness. I pray for comfort to those who have lost their homes in this blaze. Be with us tonight! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.