My thoughts:
Last Saturday, January 20, 2007, we had our first ever YoungPro Joint Fellowship among the five churches in the Manila area that are included the Association of Zhenghua Churches of the Philippines namely UECM, UECPasay, UECP, UECG, Jubilee. The event entitled "Are You One Of Us?" aimed to have brothers and sisters in Christ interact with other Christians in other churches. It started out as something simple, but ended with something greater planned in mind and a challenge.
The night started out by the buffet table awaiting us - but there's a catch, we should sit next to someone from another church! Of course at first, people tend to group together with friends but as the night grew, we slowly got comfortable being with other people. We started to greet each other and just took the time to get to know one another by asking them where they work or which church they are from. After a good dinner, we went it to worship the Lord through songs of praise and adoration. Many people sang their hearts praising Jesus through songs such as "Worthy is the Lamb", "Redeemer, Savior, Friend" and many more! Right after that, we were finally enlightened as to the true purpose of the AZCOP and why they held such an event especially for YoungPros. Remember guys: finding a girlfriend is only a BONUS, not the ultimate goal of AZCOP! Then came the fun part - the games! Our ID's were shaped differently to match which team we should join for example "Team Kisses"! The games tested team spirit, team coordination and team oneness as called forth by games like "Team Name and Cheer", "Happy Feet" and "Melody Chain"
The night ended with the most important program - the message. The passage was taken from Joshua 5:13-15 which stresses the question, "Are you for us or against us?" I agree with the pastor who said that this is a very selfish question. If you are the one asking this question, then it leaves the one who will answer in a spot wherein he needs to choose if he will be for you or against you. But unlike our society's notion of this question, we Christians interpret this differently. "Are you one of us?" is a question that challenges us to think about the people in our area, people who we interact daily with, people who we see, people who we do business with. Are they one of us? Do they know the love of God? These question cannot possibly come from someone selfish becaue these are the same questions that show true care and concern for the individual. This is the lesson that Joshua learned as he immediately fell on his knees and removed his sandals.
Another lesson that can be learned from the passage is through observing Joshua's response to what has been said - he removed his sandals. We must remember that during this time, Joshua was at war and removing his sandals may prove fatal in the battlefield. But he bowed before God barefooted not with swords and shields and this he did before battle. In our lives, we may not bring swords and shields to work but these may be represented by our laptops or palms or notebooks. But as Joshua, let us learn to set a time for God before going into the workplace's battle and win souls for His kingdom.
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My prayer:
My God, You have shown me again and again of your wondrous blessings. I pray that you are the One who was most pleased with the gathering of believers in this event. I hope that what has been started here will be faithfully and truthfully carried on so that more and more people will be blessed by You, so that more and more people will come to know you and praise you even more. Let me be like Joshua who came prepared to the battlefield not with laptops and stylus, but with your presence and blessing. I thank you for your love for us that even though we are separate small churches, in You, we are one big Church. Continue to guide eahc and everyone of us, the churches, AZCOP. All these we ask in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus, Amen.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Invisible Father
My thoughts:
I've just finished watching a heart-warming Korean series entitled "Invisible Man". It is a story of an unlikely couple who was sweet in their first years of marriage but had problems later on in their family life. From the onset, the parents of the girl didn't approve of the marriage because of the status of the boy (no more father, mother remarried), but later unhappily approved of it. Somewhere along their marriage, the husband became so engrossed with work to provide the best for his family, but as a result, his presence was not felt by the wife and his twin children. You could say he'd rather work than be at home not because he wanted it that way but because He wants his family to be proud of him since this is the only thing he could do due to his status. The wife, on the other end, became stouthearted and had to work several jobs and, at the same time, be there for the children. All of these piled up which led to their eventual divorce. The story progressed and climaxed at a point where the husband, due to several hits on his head during his early years of being a cop, contracted dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Later, the wife who had a kidney transplant in younger years needed another kidney transplant in order to survive. With no time left to find a donor and the husband having the perfect match of kidney at that time, he already decided to donate his kidney to his wife even if he knew he may never wake up again. Of course, before all of this happened, the father spent the rest of his days being happy with his children, with his wife, with his friends even held a happy live funeral for him because anytime he could die from the disease and he also wanted to leave happy memories before he died. Unknown to his friends and family, he keeps all of this burden to himself until the day he died in the hospital after the succesful operation of his wife. His only favor that he left his wife through a letter is to save his phone number to encourage his younger son so that even when he's not around, his children may feel that he is with them.
In our Christian walk, it seems we blame God for what is happening to us since we cannot see him. When we are alone, when we are sad, when we are hopeless... it seems our God is not with us and that He let go of our hands and left us to suffer. But just like in the poem "Footprints in the Sand", He never leaves us nor forsakes us. He walked with us during the happy days of our lives and carried us through the winds and storms in our lives. We cannot see Him but that doesn't mean He doesn't care for us, that doesn't mean He doesnt care about what we do about our life!
Yes, He is invisible yet He is also a Father. He knows us more than anybody can know us. He even knows us more than we know ourselves that's why He is the only One who knows what's best for us, His children. If our earthly fathers care for us so much, how much more will our Heavenly Father care for His children? In the film, the father wasn't around his children because of work, because of his sickness, because of his situation, but he made sure that his children always felt that he was with them through his unusual gifts and bonding time with them. Our Father gave us the most unusual gift yet it is the most priceless one that anybody can give to His children. He gave us Jesus to be the intermediator between Us and Him. He gave us His only begotten Son so that we could be with Him forever.
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My prayer:
Dear Lord, sometimes it is hard for me to believe that You are there for me since I cannot see You. I pray that You forgive me of this and please give me a heart that believes that I can rely on my invisible Father. Help me to trust in You more and take to heart all of your comforting promises in the Bible. Guide my paths and help me remember and cherish the wonderful gift of salvation through Jesus your Son. You know me more than myself so I pray that your will be done through my actions, through my words, and through my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
I've just finished watching a heart-warming Korean series entitled "Invisible Man". It is a story of an unlikely couple who was sweet in their first years of marriage but had problems later on in their family life. From the onset, the parents of the girl didn't approve of the marriage because of the status of the boy (no more father, mother remarried), but later unhappily approved of it. Somewhere along their marriage, the husband became so engrossed with work to provide the best for his family, but as a result, his presence was not felt by the wife and his twin children. You could say he'd rather work than be at home not because he wanted it that way but because He wants his family to be proud of him since this is the only thing he could do due to his status. The wife, on the other end, became stouthearted and had to work several jobs and, at the same time, be there for the children. All of these piled up which led to their eventual divorce. The story progressed and climaxed at a point where the husband, due to several hits on his head during his early years of being a cop, contracted dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Later, the wife who had a kidney transplant in younger years needed another kidney transplant in order to survive. With no time left to find a donor and the husband having the perfect match of kidney at that time, he already decided to donate his kidney to his wife even if he knew he may never wake up again. Of course, before all of this happened, the father spent the rest of his days being happy with his children, with his wife, with his friends even held a happy live funeral for him because anytime he could die from the disease and he also wanted to leave happy memories before he died. Unknown to his friends and family, he keeps all of this burden to himself until the day he died in the hospital after the succesful operation of his wife. His only favor that he left his wife through a letter is to save his phone number to encourage his younger son so that even when he's not around, his children may feel that he is with them.
In our Christian walk, it seems we blame God for what is happening to us since we cannot see him. When we are alone, when we are sad, when we are hopeless... it seems our God is not with us and that He let go of our hands and left us to suffer. But just like in the poem "Footprints in the Sand", He never leaves us nor forsakes us. He walked with us during the happy days of our lives and carried us through the winds and storms in our lives. We cannot see Him but that doesn't mean He doesn't care for us, that doesn't mean He doesnt care about what we do about our life!
Yes, He is invisible yet He is also a Father. He knows us more than anybody can know us. He even knows us more than we know ourselves that's why He is the only One who knows what's best for us, His children. If our earthly fathers care for us so much, how much more will our Heavenly Father care for His children? In the film, the father wasn't around his children because of work, because of his sickness, because of his situation, but he made sure that his children always felt that he was with them through his unusual gifts and bonding time with them. Our Father gave us the most unusual gift yet it is the most priceless one that anybody can give to His children. He gave us Jesus to be the intermediator between Us and Him. He gave us His only begotten Son so that we could be with Him forever.
---------------------------------------------------------------
My prayer:
Dear Lord, sometimes it is hard for me to believe that You are there for me since I cannot see You. I pray that You forgive me of this and please give me a heart that believes that I can rely on my invisible Father. Help me to trust in You more and take to heart all of your comforting promises in the Bible. Guide my paths and help me remember and cherish the wonderful gift of salvation through Jesus your Son. You know me more than myself so I pray that your will be done through my actions, through my words, and through my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Care For Christmas?
My thoughts:
This year, as a Christmas presentation of the Youth and YoungPro Fellowship at our church, both fellowships decided to have a Christmas play. And as the script was written, the song lyrics and melodies were written, I can't contain myself because of the excitement in me. It is an excitement that I am to be part of a group of young ministers to people. We are not pastors or or missionaries but in our own little ways of acting and singing, we are ministers to those people who will watch us that day of our presentation. We are ministers holding on to the message and affecting people with that same message.
At the same time, we are opened once again to the reality that we are "busy" people. We are people who make excuses just so that we are not committed to do something or so that people won't expect much from us. The business of men is just a way to hide the truth from the reality that we just don't want anything to with God other than receive blessings from Him. If there is any requirement of service and dedication, we tend to shy away and make up silly and sometimes the same old excuses. Another thing that this business brings about is the fact that it hides the true meaning of Christmas. Many times we focus on things such as what to buy for our friends, what to prepare for the Christmas Eve, what to wear, what to do that day, whom to invite, etc. but we rarely think of why we celebrate this day in the first place. We seldom think of whom to invite to such a play or how we will get people to realize the real celebrant and his purpose for coming to earth to be born as a human from a virgin. May we be examples of how to be busy in the work of the Lord.
And with the start of the new year and as a new drama ministry is put into place, there are many things that will definitely change. Things like time spent on doing things or personal priorities will change but one thing will not change because it is the one true message that has been proclaimed since that day the angels spoke to the shepherds, "I bring you good tidings of great joy that will be for all people. For today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you and He is Christ the Lord!" As Achi Nenel would always stress, "the drama ministry should be entertaining, compelling, and life-changing." I agree with this statement. I find that drama attracts people through entertainment and the creativity behind it - from the actors to the director. But more imprtantly, in a Christian setting, what should draw people is the message of the Bible and the impact that message wwill have on their lives. In the end, I really do hope the message will affect me first as an actor and then spread that same effect to the congregation.
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My prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know I am an unworthy person to be used by such a magnificent God as you, but You still gave me the privilege to be minister of your Holy Word. This will be a new challenge for me because I know a am a weak vessel not only physically but also spiritually. I pray that I won't be one of the people who would pretend to be "busy" and not care to knowing you more deeply. I hope that the Christmas message will be wonderfully portrayed in the play that our church has prepared. I pray that the message will touch me first so that I would convey that message compellingly and in the end not only give entertaining value, but also glory to your name. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
This year, as a Christmas presentation of the Youth and YoungPro Fellowship at our church, both fellowships decided to have a Christmas play. And as the script was written, the song lyrics and melodies were written, I can't contain myself because of the excitement in me. It is an excitement that I am to be part of a group of young ministers to people. We are not pastors or or missionaries but in our own little ways of acting and singing, we are ministers to those people who will watch us that day of our presentation. We are ministers holding on to the message and affecting people with that same message.
At the same time, we are opened once again to the reality that we are "busy" people. We are people who make excuses just so that we are not committed to do something or so that people won't expect much from us. The business of men is just a way to hide the truth from the reality that we just don't want anything to with God other than receive blessings from Him. If there is any requirement of service and dedication, we tend to shy away and make up silly and sometimes the same old excuses. Another thing that this business brings about is the fact that it hides the true meaning of Christmas. Many times we focus on things such as what to buy for our friends, what to prepare for the Christmas Eve, what to wear, what to do that day, whom to invite, etc. but we rarely think of why we celebrate this day in the first place. We seldom think of whom to invite to such a play or how we will get people to realize the real celebrant and his purpose for coming to earth to be born as a human from a virgin. May we be examples of how to be busy in the work of the Lord.
And with the start of the new year and as a new drama ministry is put into place, there are many things that will definitely change. Things like time spent on doing things or personal priorities will change but one thing will not change because it is the one true message that has been proclaimed since that day the angels spoke to the shepherds, "I bring you good tidings of great joy that will be for all people. For today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you and He is Christ the Lord!" As Achi Nenel would always stress, "the drama ministry should be entertaining, compelling, and life-changing." I agree with this statement. I find that drama attracts people through entertainment and the creativity behind it - from the actors to the director. But more imprtantly, in a Christian setting, what should draw people is the message of the Bible and the impact that message wwill have on their lives. In the end, I really do hope the message will affect me first as an actor and then spread that same effect to the congregation.
----------------------------------------------------------
My prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know I am an unworthy person to be used by such a magnificent God as you, but You still gave me the privilege to be minister of your Holy Word. This will be a new challenge for me because I know a am a weak vessel not only physically but also spiritually. I pray that I won't be one of the people who would pretend to be "busy" and not care to knowing you more deeply. I hope that the Christmas message will be wonderfully portrayed in the play that our church has prepared. I pray that the message will touch me first so that I would convey that message compellingly and in the end not only give entertaining value, but also glory to your name. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Whose Agenda Is It Anyway?
My thoughts:
The Bible study that we had in our fellowship was about Judges 4 and 5, about the story of Deborah and Barak. After each story, our Bible study leader would then give us the applications of the story in our lives today. One of the application struck me among others and has been bothering me for some time now - missing out in God's agenda.
There are two interpretations for me here. The first one tackles really missing out in God's agenda. The other tribes who did not join the fight against Sisera did not glorify God because they did not help their brothers in need. In return, they did not experience the miracle of God in battle. I'm sure only the ones who joined the battle had a life-changing experience. It is the same thing with us today. We miss out on knowing Him deeper when we do not put ourselves closer to Him. When we choose to do other things before God, we might not get another chance to do so. So grab the chance whenever you have to serve Him wholeheartedly and I'm sure it will impact your lives as well. (Get a ministry)
The next one focuses on the question: Whose agenda is it anyway? While I was pondering upon the application, this question popped out of nowhere. Anyway, I started to think about it seriously and the outcome startled me. We say that we should participate in God's agenda, but most of the time, I really think that we let God participate in OUR agenda or even not at all. It seems to me that I have lived most of my time enjoying myself and doing the things that I like especially during haapy days, but when problems come, that's the only time that we call on our "genie" - God. Sometimes we do participate in God's agenda, but we still push our agenda with selfish motives - something unseen.
Combining the two interpretations, I had formed a strong conclusion: Many times we give excuses and reasons that are selfish in nature, so we miss out/couldn't particpate in God's agenda. Other times we do particpate in God's agenda, but we still could not fully experience God and see God's greater vision because we serve Him halfhearted and with self-centered intentions.
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My prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know that I am guilty of being selfish. There are many times that I've missed out in showing others your glory because I try to outshine you. There are times that I could have spent with you but I did not make time for it or am just too lazy to do so. Please pardon my sins today. Please help me learn this lesson as leaders also fall into this trap. I pray that I will humble myself before you and give you back all the glory. I pray that I could make the most of every opportunity given to me by serving You without any selfish reasons so that my offering will pleasing to You and may reflect You so that when people engage with me or join me, they might glorify Your name! This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen
The Bible study that we had in our fellowship was about Judges 4 and 5, about the story of Deborah and Barak. After each story, our Bible study leader would then give us the applications of the story in our lives today. One of the application struck me among others and has been bothering me for some time now - missing out in God's agenda.
There are two interpretations for me here. The first one tackles really missing out in God's agenda. The other tribes who did not join the fight against Sisera did not glorify God because they did not help their brothers in need. In return, they did not experience the miracle of God in battle. I'm sure only the ones who joined the battle had a life-changing experience. It is the same thing with us today. We miss out on knowing Him deeper when we do not put ourselves closer to Him. When we choose to do other things before God, we might not get another chance to do so. So grab the chance whenever you have to serve Him wholeheartedly and I'm sure it will impact your lives as well. (Get a ministry)
The next one focuses on the question: Whose agenda is it anyway? While I was pondering upon the application, this question popped out of nowhere. Anyway, I started to think about it seriously and the outcome startled me. We say that we should participate in God's agenda, but most of the time, I really think that we let God participate in OUR agenda or even not at all. It seems to me that I have lived most of my time enjoying myself and doing the things that I like especially during haapy days, but when problems come, that's the only time that we call on our "genie" - God. Sometimes we do participate in God's agenda, but we still push our agenda with selfish motives - something unseen.
Combining the two interpretations, I had formed a strong conclusion: Many times we give excuses and reasons that are selfish in nature, so we miss out/couldn't particpate in God's agenda. Other times we do particpate in God's agenda, but we still could not fully experience God and see God's greater vision because we serve Him halfhearted and with self-centered intentions.
----------------------------------------------------------
My prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know that I am guilty of being selfish. There are many times that I've missed out in showing others your glory because I try to outshine you. There are times that I could have spent with you but I did not make time for it or am just too lazy to do so. Please pardon my sins today. Please help me learn this lesson as leaders also fall into this trap. I pray that I will humble myself before you and give you back all the glory. I pray that I could make the most of every opportunity given to me by serving You without any selfish reasons so that my offering will pleasing to You and may reflect You so that when people engage with me or join me, they might glorify Your name! This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Worship 101
"It's a hard thing to express, but for me, I sense God's pleasure when I sing to Him. And nothing pleases me more than when other people tell me that they also sense His pleasure when they listen to me sing."
- Abridged from My Second Chapter: The Matthew Ward Story. Copyright © 2006 by Matthew Ward.
- Taken from http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/commentaries/itunes.html
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My thoughts:
I had my ups and downs in leading the praise and worship - from being commented and praised to having a bad rehearsal (which led to arguments within the group). After evaluating what happened and where all these come from, we talked about it and shared what we thought, shared what we felt. I can sense that we tried not to only compromise onto a solution, but to really cooperate and refocus on why in the first place we are doing this kind of service.
Yes, we could have blamed each other and pretended that nothing was ever wrong when we get on to lead the praise and worship. Yes, we could faked it all along and just do it technically because either way the congregation wouldn't know what lies behind each practice, each team member, each song. But in the end, the congregation is not the audience. We had to humble ourselves and resolve this because I'm losing the first and foremost reason why I joined the praise and worship group, I'm losing the reason why I sing - to please God, not men. Men may or may not see our intentions; they might or might not get a sense that we don't work together as a group, but the Lord sees all and everything.
Therefore, I have decided to do these goals as I continue to lead them to worship:
1) Preparation - Who is my audience? (not myself, not the congregation)
2) Evaluation - Am I alright with my God? (prayed, read the Bible, etc.)
3) Cooperation - Am I doing this the right way? (work together)
4) Participation - Am I really "leading" them to praise/glorify God? (hopefully they will also offer to God a pleasing aroma of worship from the heart!)
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My prayer:
I pray for myself as I am leading the worship service. Yes, it is true that leaders are attacked the most since when they make a mistake, many others will follow him fall. I pray that I will always be alert and stand firm in the Word. Next, I pray for my team members. I know that we may have our differences, but we can still lay aside these and cooperate to come before God and give Him the best praise and worship ever! I pray for the congregation that may be able to worship with us with all their hearts and minds, in spirit and in truth. Thank You for your infinite mercy and grace and for giving us the richness of music. May all glory be to You and You alone always. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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