John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God send not His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved"(New King James Version).
I encourage readers of this much loved verse to personalize it to read "For God so loved (Your name) that He gave His only begotten Son the (your name)believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." You (we) are the object of God's wonderful love. It matters not where you live, what the color of your skin is, or your great grandfather's name, God loves us as we are.
There is a beautiful story of a man in the Book of Genesis called Enoch. He walked with God for three hundred years. One day God and Enoch just walked and walked and God just took him with Him. There was no other man with whom God was perfectly and completely pleased. Yes God called Abraham His friend. He was ready to obey and follow Him. The Holy Scripture says that God chose Abraham and his children
that He might make them a "show window" to the nations and peoples of the world of his wonderful love, his loving kindness, and mercy and forgiveness. But Israel dismally failed in his God-ordained destiny. He also called King David a "a man after my own own heart." King David was humble to confess his sins and to place himself under the mercy of God. But Enoch, Abraham, and David are the exceptions to the general description of man in whom God was well-pleased. There has never been another Enoch or Abraham or David. A dark cloud covers all of mankind. "And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth and he was grieved in His heart" (Genesis 6:6)
Did God condone the sins of His people. Was He powerless to execute it? Was Moses wise advice that it was not good to God for Him to do what he wrathfully told Moses He would do to this stiff-necked and evil people?What will the nations around say? That God was powerless to get these people to obediently follow Him? Was Moses wiser to be able to placate the wrath of an angry God? Remember that God created man in His own image and likeness and breathe to him the very breath of God that man became a living soul? Moses had the wisdom and boldness to tell God what he thought.
God recognize the wisdom - His wisdom reflected in the words of Moses and is pleased that here is a man thinking his thoughts. This is what God expects of each of us. To reflect His character. There is in man the latent and potential character of Deity.
So Paul writes in Colossians 2:9-10 "For in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and poweer."
Do you comprehend the magnitude of the love of God for you? Why does He love you so? Because there is in you, inspite of the earthly part of your being which caters to your fleshly desires, a very part of God. He cannot destroy Himself. Nor can He be unmindful of man distancing himself from Him. So He sent His only Son in human flesh to be an example to us to live the godly life. Even when he was pput to death by evil men, yet He rose again. His resurrection is our resurrection by faith.
He sets no other condition than to believe in His vicarious death at the cross for me.He is the hope of mankind. Are you ready to live the new life He gives?
Friday, November 7, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
JESUS IS LORD
The Holy Bible teaches that there is only one God. This God Jesus Christ reveals to all mankind as a "loving Father." "For God so loves the world that He gave His only Son. that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son unto the world not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be save" (John 3:16-17).
Jesus Christ is the Incarnate God - God becoming flesh in man. This is an offense and a stumbling block to the Jews and the Muslims as well as to the secular man. How can an infinite God be incarnate in the flesh of sinful man or simply stated how can a Creator dwell in the object of his creations? It is unimaginable indeed. It is illogical for example for a carpenter to indwell a chair he has made. For lack of a word to exactly define how the Creator God became incarnate in man, let us just use the word "mystery". The mystery however maybe explained on how man was created.
The Holy Bible tells us that God created man in His own image and likeness out of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul. Out of the millions of His creations, it was only man that God formed with His own fingers and then breathed life into him. The mystery in man is that he is both flesh and spirit - living soul. I venture to say that man is the only kin or relative of God. Jesus calls him "our Father".
The whole creation of the universes was for man. It pleases God to walk with man in
the Garden. But one among God's creation whom He appointed as worship leader was jealous of man and sought to embarrass God by destroying man. Lucifer, the covering cherub of God's throne, sought to overthrow God and make himself the Lord. As Lucifer began to set his plan in operation, God cast him out of His Presence. So we find him in the Garden and recruited man to join him in his rebellion against God.
Man in his rebellion against God - this is called the Fall" - lost the glory of God
and found himself naked. Losing the glory of God which was his covering, man sought to cover himself, his nakedness, by the works of his hands. God expelled man from the Garden, but not before He made a covering of animals skin to hide his nakedness.
Man lost his innocence, privileges, and eternal life. He lived under the curse of death and he has to eat by the sweat of his labor.
Sin, therefor, is disobedience to God. Sin separates man from God. Death,sicknesses, diseases follow.But God so loved the world. He craves the fellowship of man. But sin comes as a wedge which prevents such a fellowship between the Holy God and sinful man.What must God do to restore the fellowship with man.
Do not fail to come again and visit my blog to learn more what God did to restore man to Himself. 'Til then, the LORD be with you.
Jesus Christ is the Incarnate God - God becoming flesh in man. This is an offense and a stumbling block to the Jews and the Muslims as well as to the secular man. How can an infinite God be incarnate in the flesh of sinful man or simply stated how can a Creator dwell in the object of his creations? It is unimaginable indeed. It is illogical for example for a carpenter to indwell a chair he has made. For lack of a word to exactly define how the Creator God became incarnate in man, let us just use the word "mystery". The mystery however maybe explained on how man was created.
The Holy Bible tells us that God created man in His own image and likeness out of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul. Out of the millions of His creations, it was only man that God formed with His own fingers and then breathed life into him. The mystery in man is that he is both flesh and spirit - living soul. I venture to say that man is the only kin or relative of God. Jesus calls him "our Father".
The whole creation of the universes was for man. It pleases God to walk with man in
the Garden. But one among God's creation whom He appointed as worship leader was jealous of man and sought to embarrass God by destroying man. Lucifer, the covering cherub of God's throne, sought to overthrow God and make himself the Lord. As Lucifer began to set his plan in operation, God cast him out of His Presence. So we find him in the Garden and recruited man to join him in his rebellion against God.
Man in his rebellion against God - this is called the Fall" - lost the glory of God
and found himself naked. Losing the glory of God which was his covering, man sought to cover himself, his nakedness, by the works of his hands. God expelled man from the Garden, but not before He made a covering of animals skin to hide his nakedness.
Man lost his innocence, privileges, and eternal life. He lived under the curse of death and he has to eat by the sweat of his labor.
Sin, therefor, is disobedience to God. Sin separates man from God. Death,sicknesses, diseases follow.But God so loved the world. He craves the fellowship of man. But sin comes as a wedge which prevents such a fellowship between the Holy God and sinful man.What must God do to restore the fellowship with man.
Do not fail to come again and visit my blog to learn more what God did to restore man to Himself. 'Til then, the LORD be with you.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tropical Storm Hanna's Special Mission.
On Saturday, September 6, 2008 Tropical Storm Hanna raged along the Atlantic Coast from South Carolina up to the New England states.The storm struck the coast along Chesapeake Bay. Strong winds, ice-cold rain, and huge waves spoiled the day for swimmers. But strong winds, cold downpours, and huge waves thundering against the strand failed to douse the enthusiasm and exuberance of about three scores and ten souls to experience baptism by immersion as a public testimony of their receiving Jesus Christ as their only Savior and LORD. A strange and awesome thing happened during the briefing before the candidates go down to the waters to be baptized by their respective cell leaders. A heavy downpour drenched the candidates and their appointed baptizers. Men, women, youth, and children brave the strong winds and huge waves. The children especially thought it was much fun.The elder men and women were more reflective and solemn face as they slowly walk away from the shores to the shelter where they all enjoyed a full feast. Fear and uncertainty turned to joy. They have overcome all the Devil's fury to keep them from affirming their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and LORD.
The downpour which drenched them to the skin tells that God in heaven himself approved of their act of dedication by personally baptizing them before they were baptized and laid hands on by fellow sinners saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. I think this Divine Act of grace can never be duplicated any place at any time. God has a special purpose for allowing Tropical Storm Hanna to prove the commitment of the baptized men and women and youth. To God the glory. God bless the Filipino Christian Church. Where is your pastor? The LORD is my Shepherd.
The downpour which drenched them to the skin tells that God in heaven himself approved of their act of dedication by personally baptizing them before they were baptized and laid hands on by fellow sinners saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. I think this Divine Act of grace can never be duplicated any place at any time. God has a special purpose for allowing Tropical Storm Hanna to prove the commitment of the baptized men and women and youth. To God the glory. God bless the Filipino Christian Church. Where is your pastor? The LORD is my Shepherd.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Strange Fires
STRANGE FIRES
LEVITICUS 10: 1-2 “Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over it. In this way they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him a different fire than he had commanded. So the fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and burned them up and died before the LORD.”
What does the chronicler mean that Nadab and Abihu were killed while they were offering incense to the LORD because they used strange fire on the incense burner. There is no explicit command on the kind of fires to be used on the burners were the incense is to be spread. So what does “strange fires mean?”
Nadab and Abihu were two elder sons of Moses They and the other sons of Aaron, Ithamar and Eleazar were ordained and consecrated by Moses to the holy priesthood. Nadab and Abihu together with Aaron, Moses, Joshua, and Hur and the other 70 elders “saw God. (Exo. 24:9). Both have the privilege and distinction as ordained and consecrated priests and as eldest sons of Aaron. What then is wrong with the offerings of the two privileged brothers.
God want that the worship of Him must be pure and holy and of a humble heart. They forgot that their entire office was executed on the ground of holiness (Exo 28:36-37). Their very garments used in performing their office
are always the prescribed holy garments used in their consecration to the holy priesthood. Nadab and Abihu may have grown proud and heady leading
the4 congregational worship according to their own fancies and desires, How often has this sentiment been the guides of our worship leaders and preachers.
The fire on the alter comes from God to consume the offerings of the people It is the the job of the priest to keep the fire burning and not allow it to die by feeding it with wood. Coal is a better substitute for wood.
What lead to the anger of the LORD to send fire to consume the offerants rather than the offerings. Is it not commendable and worthwhile to improve on what God demands? The psalmist wants to remind the worshipers “to wait upon the LORD.”
Strange fires which angers the LORD are caused by the disobedience of the servants of God. Throughout human history disobedience brings alienation and wrath of God. Secondly, the servant of the LORD wants to conform to the fashion of the world rather than to God’s. SOL (Servant of the LORD) desires to improve on God’s revealed way. The prophet Isaiah want to remind God’s people “For my thoughts are not your thoughts nor are your ways my ways”, says the LORD Isaiah 55:8. Thirdly, perhaps man thinks that God is to slow and man desires to hasten the coming Kingdom of God NOW. So men dream their own dreams and create a god after his own image and desires. All these are strange fires feed with the lies of Satan.
Sept 7,2008
LEVITICUS 10: 1-2 “Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over it. In this way they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him a different fire than he had commanded. So the fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and burned them up and died before the LORD.”
What does the chronicler mean that Nadab and Abihu were killed while they were offering incense to the LORD because they used strange fire on the incense burner. There is no explicit command on the kind of fires to be used on the burners were the incense is to be spread. So what does “strange fires mean?”
Nadab and Abihu were two elder sons of Moses They and the other sons of Aaron, Ithamar and Eleazar were ordained and consecrated by Moses to the holy priesthood. Nadab and Abihu together with Aaron, Moses, Joshua, and Hur and the other 70 elders “saw God. (Exo. 24:9). Both have the privilege and distinction as ordained and consecrated priests and as eldest sons of Aaron. What then is wrong with the offerings of the two privileged brothers.
God want that the worship of Him must be pure and holy and of a humble heart. They forgot that their entire office was executed on the ground of holiness (Exo 28:36-37). Their very garments used in performing their office
are always the prescribed holy garments used in their consecration to the holy priesthood. Nadab and Abihu may have grown proud and heady leading
the4 congregational worship according to their own fancies and desires, How often has this sentiment been the guides of our worship leaders and preachers.
The fire on the alter comes from God to consume the offerings of the people It is the the job of the priest to keep the fire burning and not allow it to die by feeding it with wood. Coal is a better substitute for wood.
What lead to the anger of the LORD to send fire to consume the offerants rather than the offerings. Is it not commendable and worthwhile to improve on what God demands? The psalmist wants to remind the worshipers “to wait upon the LORD.”
Strange fires which angers the LORD are caused by the disobedience of the servants of God. Throughout human history disobedience brings alienation and wrath of God. Secondly, the servant of the LORD wants to conform to the fashion of the world rather than to God’s. SOL (Servant of the LORD) desires to improve on God’s revealed way. The prophet Isaiah want to remind God’s people “For my thoughts are not your thoughts nor are your ways my ways”, says the LORD Isaiah 55:8. Thirdly, perhaps man thinks that God is to slow and man desires to hasten the coming Kingdom of God NOW. So men dream their own dreams and create a god after his own image and desires. All these are strange fires feed with the lies of Satan.
Sept 7,2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
FAITHFUL FRIENDS
“Faithful friends are life’s best treasure’
Wealth and fame may all pass away;
Faithful friends abide always
Through the world I’d gladly go
If one faithful Friend I know.”
This lovely song I learned as a young boy in grade school keeps coming back to my memory. This makes me to remember one such friend I am much indebted for my life.
His name was Inting. That was the nickname of my friend. He came from Masbate to find work to helped his parents’family in Masbate. His name in the Payroll was Vicente Concepcion. I never come to know his real name and how he is today. I just remember as one to whom I owe my life today.
Inting and I worked as gangmates with Leyte Stevedoring firm in Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines working with the United States Maritime Services The Post World War 11 created many jobs for the civilian Filipinos in Tacloban. We did loading and unloading heavy cargoes of war equipments and materials for the United States Army from the huge cargo vessels. I was winch operator, my father was the gang foreman and Inting was our mess boy. He carried fresh, cold water to the laborers
Sometimes we worked on vessels docked alongside the Tacloban Piers. At other times we worked on board vessels on the high sea. We all work as a well coordinated team. When off duty we played volleyball with other gangs. We shared jokes and listened to instructions from the foreman. During breaks for lunch or dinner we also shared each others victuals. We learned to protect each other at work and when we were off duty.
We learned the importance of team work, especially when we work were on board ships on the high seas and buffeted by bad weather.
.
. One Sunday morning Inting and I got on a banca – a dug-out canoe – and rowed to the middle of San Juanical Channel.Sometimes the sea currents shifted and caused the sand to lift up and made the channel shallow. It was upon this shallow portion that we dropped anchor and dove for clams. On one of my jumps the rope which secured the anchor to the banca broke and pushed the banca away. Upon rising to the surface I found the banca far from me. I swam towards it, but each time I touched it, the banca moved away until it was too far from me. The current was changing and carrying the banca along. I struggled to float. A sailboat with people in it passed by and just laughed at my struggle. I refused to panic and prayed for help.
Where was Inting? He was equidistant from me and the banca. He saw me struggling to keep afloat. He shouted to me to keep calm as he swam towards the banca. Then he changed his direction and swam towards me and assisted me towards the banca. By God’s grace we made it to the banca.. He got into it and helped me up. We paddled toward shore and home.
Jesus Christ taught that a Friend gives his life for his friend. Inting could have left me alone to drown. He could have just saved himself. Why did he came back to me and helped me at the peril of drowning with me? He did not think of that he said. He just wanted to save me from drowning. Christ Jesus died for me and you that we may lived the abundant life God has desired for all of us to live. Paul sums up my experiences with Inting and Jesus Christ. “I was crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, and yet notI and the life I now live I live for the Son of God who loves me.” Yes I thanked God for Jesus Christ, my only Savior and LORD. I thank God also for Inting who imperiled his life to save me.Truly Inting was a Christ for me.Now I live my life for Jesus Christ, for Inting and for all I can reach and influence for Jesus Christ
“Faithful friends are life’s best treasure’
Wealth and fame may all pass away;
Faithful friends abide always
Through the world I’d gladly go
If one faithful Friend I know.”
This lovely song I learned as a young boy in grade school keeps coming back to my memory. This makes me to remember one such friend I am much indebted for my life.
His name was Inting. That was the nickname of my friend. He came from Masbate to find work to helped his parents’family in Masbate. His name in the Payroll was Vicente Concepcion. I never come to know his real name and how he is today. I just remember as one to whom I owe my life today.
Inting and I worked as gangmates with Leyte Stevedoring firm in Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines working with the United States Maritime Services The Post World War 11 created many jobs for the civilian Filipinos in Tacloban. We did loading and unloading heavy cargoes of war equipments and materials for the United States Army from the huge cargo vessels. I was winch operator, my father was the gang foreman and Inting was our mess boy. He carried fresh, cold water to the laborers
Sometimes we worked on vessels docked alongside the Tacloban Piers. At other times we worked on board vessels on the high sea. We all work as a well coordinated team. When off duty we played volleyball with other gangs. We shared jokes and listened to instructions from the foreman. During breaks for lunch or dinner we also shared each others victuals. We learned to protect each other at work and when we were off duty.
We learned the importance of team work, especially when we work were on board ships on the high seas and buffeted by bad weather.
.
. One Sunday morning Inting and I got on a banca – a dug-out canoe – and rowed to the middle of San Juanical Channel.Sometimes the sea currents shifted and caused the sand to lift up and made the channel shallow. It was upon this shallow portion that we dropped anchor and dove for clams. On one of my jumps the rope which secured the anchor to the banca broke and pushed the banca away. Upon rising to the surface I found the banca far from me. I swam towards it, but each time I touched it, the banca moved away until it was too far from me. The current was changing and carrying the banca along. I struggled to float. A sailboat with people in it passed by and just laughed at my struggle. I refused to panic and prayed for help.
Where was Inting? He was equidistant from me and the banca. He saw me struggling to keep afloat. He shouted to me to keep calm as he swam towards the banca. Then he changed his direction and swam towards me and assisted me towards the banca. By God’s grace we made it to the banca.. He got into it and helped me up. We paddled toward shore and home.
Jesus Christ taught that a Friend gives his life for his friend. Inting could have left me alone to drown. He could have just saved himself. Why did he came back to me and helped me at the peril of drowning with me? He did not think of that he said. He just wanted to save me from drowning. Christ Jesus died for me and you that we may lived the abundant life God has desired for all of us to live. Paul sums up my experiences with Inting and Jesus Christ. “I was crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, and yet notI and the life I now live I live for the Son of God who loves me.” Yes I thanked God for Jesus Christ, my only Savior and LORD. I thank God also for Inting who imperiled his life to save me.Truly Inting was a Christ for me.Now I live my life for Jesus Christ, for Inting and for all I can reach and influence for Jesus Christ
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Fathers' Day
Dear Dad,
Happy Father’s Day to you! I wish you a joyous and meaningful day as you receive greetings from friends and loved ones on this day that celebrates fathers. You deserve to receive the highest compliments. You have been a good and loving father, not only to us your children, but to others who don’t have fathers who look up to you as a father figure. Thank you for being God’s instrument in providing for our needs, teaching us the important lessons in life, and providing us with spiritual leadership that is centered on God’s role in our lives.
I love you, Dad, and I miss you. I will see you soon!
Love,
Omar
Happy Father’s Day to you! I wish you a joyous and meaningful day as you receive greetings from friends and loved ones on this day that celebrates fathers. You deserve to receive the highest compliments. You have been a good and loving father, not only to us your children, but to others who don’t have fathers who look up to you as a father figure. Thank you for being God’s instrument in providing for our needs, teaching us the important lessons in life, and providing us with spiritual leadership that is centered on God’s role in our lives.
I love you, Dad, and I miss you. I will see you soon!
Love,
Omar
Monday, June 9, 2008
Gift giving in Nocnocan and Cataban Island, Danajon Bank, Bohol May 26-28, 2008
Tatay Ruping and youngest son Bart tries out some shirt as well
Ernesto of Cataban island cleans and guts newly caught puffer fish for dinner
Ernesto tries out the new shirts and polos that was given to him
he likes this one the best
nocnocan island
turning over a bag of clothing to Bebot Baron, a compressor fisherman of Nocnocan
Nocnocan barangay tanod named matti, took us around the island with his nephew
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