The Negotiator

It’s more than a year now since my last post.  I am not a professional writer. But who says I shouldn’t be doing a write-up, an essay, or a blog if there’s a call for it? The passion to touch other’s lives is still here within me. And I can’t think of better ways to keep this passion on fire than in writing.

As I hit my keyboard today, thoughts keep coming to my mind. I believe it is the leading of the Holy Spirit for me to share to you once again at least one thing I have learned, OBEDIENCE.  I believe that if God is telling you to do something you don’t have the right to say NO or LATER. You have to do it, NOW.  I heard one preacher saying “delayed obedience” is disobedience.  Just like Jonah disobeying God when God told him to (Jonah 1:2) "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." Instead of obeying God he ran away and headed for Tarshish.  While in the boat storm struck their voyage (Please read Jonah 1, whole chapter).

God has given us the ability, the power and the faith that we need in order to do things He wants us to do. It’s not that God can’t perform things by Himself.  For those who are called, isn’t it a privilege to become partakers in carrying out God’s plan? We are His children and therfore, He wants us to partner with Him to accomplish things as He planned.  Who are we to say NO to Him?

If there is anything that God is telling you to do today, do not tarry, just do it!  Don’t wait for the storm to struck you or wake you up before you progress. Don’t be like Jonah. Bring into play all the gifts that God has given you.  Move with strength and hope that all things work for good for those who love and obey God.

…Father, we glorify Your Holy Name. We thank You for giving us the privilege to partner with You in accomplishing Your works. Forgive us for not obeying You on time.  Continue to strengthen our faith to walk with You all the days of our lives. And by Your will, may Your plans be accomplished through us.  In Jesus name, we pray… Amen!

When we talk about Love, everybody seems to be excited and thrilled.  Love is a very popular subject in every conversation or dialogue.  But do we exactly know the real meaning of it? How deep is our wisdom about love?  Over and over again, we utter the word “love” freely.  For example, an employee may say he loves his job, his family, his pay check and even the coffee at starbucks. But most of us cannot directly specify the kind of love that he means.  The word was without restrain being used differently by different people at different things.  But because love is the most important ingredient in a successful marriage as well as in our walk in Christian faith, we really need to talk about it and find out what it really means.

“Love is related to maturity. Like maturity, it is a process rather than state.” (Richard L. Strauss) To love is to decide. It is a decision.  People who are telling that they “fall in love” actually don’t, they grow into it instead. Maturing involves growing from state of giving much and receiving less then to a positive direction of cheerfully giving everything without expecting anything in return.

The relationship between the mother and the baby is best example. Newly born baby must be love or he will die. The baby receives love but he doesn’t have anything to give in return. The baby loves only himself, but as he grows, he becomes more aware of the people around him; his mother, father, brother & sisters and even his play mates. He begins to open his understanding and begin to love the first few people around him in his childhood stage. His growing years continues as he enters the adolescent stage where he begins to idolized people and heroes of his life. He also begins to enter into relationships with his peers (barkada) usually same sex then eventually opening his horizon to the opposite sex. Then soon you will hear from his mouth the utterance “I’m in LOVE”. Is it really love?  That is what we are going to discuss next…

Apostle Paul wrote the three great Christian virtues—faith, hope, and love but the greatest of all is LOVE.

It’s a relationship…

In the country such as UAE, we will encounter different kinds of people from all over the world who practices different rituals, beliefs and religions.  It is a common question among the Filipino groups especially if you are attending a different church from the rest “anong religion mo?” Sometime back, I don’t know how to answer such question because I really don’t believe on religion. What I believe is that I have a relationship with Him. Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship. 

Baptism…

Last December, my friend Benedick took his leave and went for a vacation. We came to

Dubai

in 2003 together and this is his first time to go back home. As part of the same cell group in Sharjah, we use to pray for him and his family; we believe that what seems to be impossible to man is possible to God. And what we believe in is definitely right.

I was so glad to hear from him that he got baptized in a church in

Baguio

where his wife is attending the service. The church is also praying for his family’s salvation as well as for his coming last December. It happened. Our God is not a deaf to hear our prayers. He is a God who answers and bring comforts in the time of grief. I can’t contain the happiness that I felt that day he told me. I feel so blessed to a have a living God, a prayer answering God.

Baptism isn’t what makes us a Christian. Our trust in Jesus and our commitment to be His disciple is what makes us a Christian. The Bible teaches, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

It is written in the bible that baptism is a way of responding to Jesus’ call for you and me to become His disciple. Faith saves us; baptism is our first step of obedience to our new Master, if we are willing.

An ill-fated fact of life is most people will be severely hurt by a close friend or by his own self. If we are not careful, anger and bitterness can destroy a great portion of our life. I thank God for uplifting in those times when I was really down and depressed due to my wrong acts and decisions.

Some wounds cut so deep that only one thing can begin the healing process: receiving forgiveness.

Abortion is contrary to all that is sacred to womanhood and true femininity. There is nothing this side of heaven that compares to the wonder of conception, the development of life in the sanctuary of the womb, and the miracle of birth. It is a woman’s nature to give life. Abortion violates her most intimate instincts.

Several women say that the after effect of abortion is worse than that of rape. In fact, in many ways abortion is similar to rape: abortion is a brutal assault on innocent life, on a woman’s body, and on the dignity of womanhood. But in the case of abortion the victim consents to the "rape" and even pays the "rapist" for the assault. (You may conclude that the comparison is faulty because a woman consents to abortion. But don’t forget the other victims of abortion: not one unborn baby has ever consented to an abortion.)

Something sacred, something precious, is taken from a woman in both rape and abortion. In one case it is taken by force; in the other, by consent. Because consent is involved, true healing can only begin when the wrong is acknowledged and forgiveness is sought. That’s why pretense and denial are so devastating: forgiveness can only be experienced by those who honestly admit they need it.

I am accessory to the crime for the lost of my own flesh.  When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and my savior, admitted all the sins that I have done.  I know I’m forgiven. I believe that only forgiveness can heal the wound, scarce will always exist not to remind you of the wrong things that you have done but to remind you that the wound was healed by the Almighty.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loyal love; according to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Psalm 51

Just like King David’s repentance and confession for committing adultery with Bathsheba, and for arranging the murder of her faithful husband, Uriah, deep sense of guilt and grief David experienced after his sin. He suffered physically and emotionally until he confessed his sin. I cried out to God, my savior, my father and my best friend, just like David.  God’s eye is upon me His loving kindness is upon me all the time.

When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body wasted away, while I groaned in pain all day long. Then I confessed my sin; I no longer covered up my wrongdoing. I said, “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.” And then you forgave my sins.  Psalm 32:3,5

A Call to Love the People of the Middle East

Why does Middle East dominate the headlines so often? One obvious answer is oil, the lifeblood of modern economies. But there is more than oil that keeps Middle East in the news. This land is a spiritual focal point being birth place of Abraham, who was born in the Mesopotamian city of Ur , in the Middle East, about 4,000 years ago. The people of the Middle East have suffered from war, destruction, devastations, unrest and lack of peace; they need God’s mercy, grace and visitation. So, we are declaring, out of pure love, a period of 21 days of fasting and prayer for the nations and people of the Middle East from 11^th to 31^st March 2006. Our Redeemer Lives!

Let us join together and earnestly fast and pray for a mighty visitation of Our Redeemer, for a genuine peace in the land that God gave to Abraham - a peace that will extend across the entire Middle Eastand ultimately fill the whole world.

"If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land" 2 Chronicles 7:14

February 15, 2006 is a day to remember for me not because of its post-Valentine atmosphere; but because I had the privilege to sit and talk with one of IUJ’s respected alumni – Mr. Qais Saleh. I was very glad when he accepted my invitation for a meeting.  Our meeting that lasted for more than an hour at the Scarlett’s Café at the Emirates Towers in Dubai was very productive.

Mr. Quais Saleh is a product of Graduate School of International Relations (GSIR). He is living in Dubai for more than 3 years now and is managing Awtad Investments as Chief Investment Officer.  My experiences are not different from his.  He has been a Consultant for a long time before venturing into his own investment company.

The insights that Mr. Saleh have shared with me serve as inspiration for me to pursue my MA studies in International Development Program at the GSIR at IUJ.  Japan and ASEAN is not a strange place for me anymore; being part of the SSEAYP International Exchange program opened my understanding and gave me an opportunity to explore Japan and ASEAN. But the experiences and ideas that Mr. Saleh have told me gave me a new dimension in learning the country of Japan and what IUJ can offer to me as a student and as a future leader.  Our meeting was right on time, he just returned from his trip to IUJ.

February is a festive month especially for those involved in the flowers and chocolates business; as well as those in hospitality industry. The huge cue in flower shops; the non-stop calls for hotel bookings; and also the sales over the net are remarkably boosted. Valentine’s Day is one of the most celebrated occasions in the whole world. Countries with cross-cultural influence from the West like the Philippines have been leaning heavily on commercializing this event.

Valentine’s Day celebration in Dubai is not different from the West since people residing here are mostly expatriates. Being the Gold capital of the world, it has a big share on the occasion through the newly-made Dubai Flower Center in Dubai International Airport – a hub for growth for the floriculture industry in the 21st century. Hotels with their fine dining activities capture couples and tourists, as well.

While walking with my sister in Riqqa Street (as what we normally do) on the eve of the Valentine’s Day, we have observed that most of the crowd are couples having their romantic dinner. A few days back, different government and non-government organizations marched along Al Riqqa Street to promote AIDS awareness. Too much commercialization of Valentine’s Day promotes sexual promiscuity to the youth leading to unwanted pregnancies and abortion. Valentines does not come only on a good bouquet of flowers, hearty chocolates and a sumptuous dinner; it also brings heart aches and suffering; Suffering in terms of the physical, spiritual, financial and most importantly, emotional.

V-day is good if it affects married couples by bringing them closer together through the romantic mood. But if promotes extramarital affairs, then it is not good. In my personal point of view, I think that husband and wife should stay together. There are so many broken vows nowadays. Sadly, people falsely assume that broken marriages are normal in Dubai even though it should be not. The rates of broken marriages as well as the number of fatherless kids are increasing. But what I fear most is the alarming increase on the sale of prohibited drugs that cater to abortion.

Let us pray that God will save these nations and that God will always bless us abundantly and give us our hearts’ desire. Not to desire on the things of the world but to crave for more of His Words. 

"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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

It’s been 2 months since the last time I post on my blog. I was pretty occupied for the past weeks. I am struggling on many deadlines.  I have to submit my application to IUJ. Thanks GOD I was able to finalize everything on time.  I just have to mail it today.  Another thing that keeps me frenzied is the daily battles in the office. My desk was clogged; so many papers and submittals need to sort out. Not mentioning my guitar class as well as the youth group and choir practices that literally consume a lot of my time due to travel. Heavy traffic is my worst enemy these days. I have to fly to Sharjah for my Church activities as well as my extra curricular one.

I will try to post more exciting activities and experiences that happened lately. I pray that I will be free in the next few days to share to all of you those things… till next time…

“A faith that cannot be tested, is a faith that cannot be trusted” Sounds interesting??? We’ll share about this later… got a book - Don’t Curse your CRISIS….

It was his blind obedience that brought him out of the Catholic Church.  Father Morris, a catholic priest for more than 18 years is speaking before the youth group of the Apostolic Ministries International - Sharjah, last Thursday.  His passion and dedication to serve Christ does not stop him from leaving the four corners of the Roman Catholic. He went to the streets and preach the gospel and reach to the unreached and touch the lives of thousands families. His testimonies is a life changing and encouraging statements that will strenghten the relationship that we have with God. The trials and persecutions he surpassed was amazing and only by God’s grace he was able to stand firm on his faith.

It was his passion to be a servant of God, at the age of 13 he dedicated himself and wants to enter the priesthood.  At the age of 18, he was accepted at the Junior Seminary and later on pursue his degree in theology thereby becoming a priest.  His prayer since his young age is quite simple yet big; he wants to do God’s will and follow Him. 

It seems that following Jesus was never an easy task.  Leaving a luxurious and comfortable life in the convent, as Head of several Catholic Agencies in India was not as easy as ABC for Pastor Morris.  His encounter with Mother Theresa was a life changing experience that open his eyes of understanding of how the Living God works when we follow Him blindly.  It is not following the dictates of men, it is following our God who created the man.

I may not be able to cover his entire story, as he sum it up, he says: "I believe in Christ when I was in the Catholic Church but now I am experiencing Christ"