I had a very trying day today. I had a strenuous meeting this afternoon. And this morning the neighbor's daughter is celebrating their wedding and they've decided to turn our street into a mini-street party. So as we went home, dad calls telling me the car can't pass through and I have to find another parking place. The search for a parking place in this very cramp community proved to be very stressful. I suffered a headache and intense perspiration trying to find one. It's five minutes walk from to our place, where the wedding party continues as drunk men sang on the karaoke. I was fuming hot. Even on the third floor we can hear their drunk revelry. Buti kung ang gaganda ng mga boses, I thought. I tried listening to music: gospel songs and nature sounds, to no avail. Until suddenly a familiar voice, hurting and tired. And through listening and ministering to that beautiful soul He came to purge my fuming coals of anger into a heart of compassion and self-denial. A reinforced commitment: Lift others and be lifted yourself. "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." I'm taking a hot shower.

Carmen's Eulogy

"The essence of [God's] forgiveness lies in His word and in His mystery. Because although God sends us the message, it is our task to decipher it. Because when we open our arms, the earth takes in only a hollow and senseless shell. Far away now is the soul in its eternal glory. Because it is in pain that we find the meaning of life and the state of grace that we lose when we are born. Because God in His infinite wisdom puts the solution in our hands. And because it is only the absence of His physical presence that the place He occupies in our souls is reaffirmed."

- Pan's Labyrinth

5 Non-Negotiable Attitudes in Fulfilling God's Will for Your Life

Scripture Text: Jeremiah 1:7-8 (5-10, 17-19)
“… Do not say ‘I am youth,’ because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”

5 non-negotiable attitudes in fulfilling God’s purpose for your life

• PERSPECTIVE – See how God sees you (v. 5)
• DEPENDENCE – Accept your limitation apart from God (v. 6)
• OBEDIENCE – Just do it (v. 7)
• COURAGE – Never let your fear outweigh His call (v. 8)
• WILLINGNESS – Be willing and available (v. 9)

Camp Month

I just came back from Zambales last night. I went to speak in a youth camp (Zambales Section of Central Luzon AG) as a representative of Chi Alpha National Youth Ministries Network. Some highlights of my trip:

• It was an unexpectedly long travel from Manila to site and back. Left Caloocan at 3PM and came to Candelaria, Zambales at 9PM. Left Candelaria at 3PM, came to Olongapo at 7PM, had a quick dinner, took the wrong bus so I went down to San Fernando at 9PM, then came to Caloocan at 11PM.
• Spoke on Tuesday evening service about Accepting God's Will for Your Life and a lecture on Student Mobilization (Chi Alpha) the next morning. Young people, most of them students, are up for revival and had been on fire since day one. Some of them were baptized in the Holy Spirit as we prayed for them.
• Got to meet Ptr. Jesse Dedel, national director of Master's Commission Philippines. He'll be speaking on Thursday and Friday night. He brought his three children with him. Learned a lot about Master's Commission.
• It was a nice beach front resort, with an island a few kilometers off shore. It was really nice. Watched the Tuesday sunset with Ptr. Rick sharing testimonies.
• Spent time in the bus talking and worshiping God alone after a few days of being in the crowds. Felt His wonderful presence and thanking Him for these opportunities to serve Him this way. "I will take you places farther than this..."

Some pictures from the camp last week in Malvar, Batangas with my friend and co-speaker Emmanuel:



Next week I'm off to Taytay, Rizal for another youth camp. Good days.

Faith Healer

Love this commercial. So funny. You have to see the first before you appreciate the second.

Man on A Billboard

It was traffic in EDSA on my way to Quezon City. Suddenly there were lots of people crowding in the center isle. Media vans of ABS-CBN and GMA had their satellites up. On a huge billboard near SM City, a man clings and stirs up attention from pedestrians and motorists alike. A firetruck extends its ladder to reach the man. And as traffic moves slowly, I left the site without any knowledge what happened next.

I am unimpressed with people who try to do something and then change their minds. They put up great feats just to get attention. If you're going to jump, then jump. They say those who just wait for a crowd doesn't really want to kill themselves because if they did they'd just jump whenever. I ask, "Why? Why go to such ordeal (climb a billboard) just to get attention? Is your problem greater than AIDS or what just happened at Virginia Tech? If not then stop over-reacting. There's always hope.

I instantly fell asleep after I got home. Yesterday, I was out all day visiting the student outreach with Ptr. Sur and had our discipleship group in the evening. On the way to Emilio Aguinaldo College (that's where I'm picking them up) the traffic was so heavy and the weather was so hot that I was like imprisoned on a metal chamber. I shouted a few times in "agony." After picking them up (Taft Strip is one of three sites they're trying to reach), we went to Intramuros Strip and meet another group. I did some interviewing and video footages for documentation. We had lunch at McDonalds Recto, and went to the Student Center in Recto. Went to FEU to do some more footages. And then took Ptr. Sur and some guests back to Paco church.

After that, went to Robinsons' Place and walked around. I wasn't sure if the church is still open. But after I got the confirmation I went to church by 5:30PM. And discipleship group afterwards. Got home by past 9.

Life in A Nugget

I will go to the Church-Planting outreach down in University Belt after this so I'll just do some speed blogging...

• Been following the Virginia Tech massacre. Very sad at the lost of students and faculty.
• Spoke at a youth camp in Malvar, Batangas last Tuesday. Met kuya Kiko there (we met last District Consultation in Pila). We didn't know we will be speaking at the same camp. Did one inspiration and lecture on worship. Prayed with students to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
• Had almost 24 hours no sleep before youth camp.
• Did our first youth bible study last night at Valenzuela church. Glad to lead young people to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
• Next week I'm going to Olongapo to speak in youth camp as representative of Chi Alpha Campus Ministry. Please pray that God's will be sent across the students as I connect with them.
• Did I say that it's official - the road in Alabang, Muntinlupa below Skyway is the WORST place to be stuck on. It kills your 5 senses. I was on the open bus back to Manila from Malvar. It was hot and the smoke of buses are unbearable, then add the horns and just the chaotic sight. Arrggh. I just closed my eyes, pop on my iPod, covered my already allergic nose and just bore the night.
  

Prayer of Francis

In the wake of the recent Virginia Tech shootings, let us pray that His comfort will meet grieving families and that through this many would come to know Jesus. Let us be reminded one of Bible's many promises: "[They] intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:19); "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Yesterday was my first time to preach in our Valenzuela church. It was great. Happy that I was able to preach in straight Tagalog which I've been painstakingly construct days before, a few tongue twisters with some Filipino words. But it was all great. Seeing people come to the Lord in this new church is worth all the work.

After we went to visit our uncle in Tondo who just came from Taiwan. They're having their first granddaughter christened next week. We had lunch there and watch Manny Pacquiao win yet again. Secretly I've been wishing that he would lose because I feel his popularity is getting into his head, especially when he started running for congress. But yet he won again, for the Filipino. So I'm happy with that. Solis clearly is no match for Pacquiao.

After the win, we bade our goodbyes and went to downtown. My brother went to Binondo, my parents in SM San Lazaro and I took the train to Gateway Cubao to meet a faculty in APTS. He's interested in hiring me as their web designer in exchange for scholarship in APTS. That's quite an offer. I've been dreaming of studying there I told him, but my current commitments just cannot accommodate a full-time commitment in Baguio. He suggested an arrangement of 3 days up in Baguio and the week-end for my ministry in Manila. It's a tempting offer. I just have to pay for the 25% of my school fee by working for them as the media man. I've been praying before going there that He may lead me where He's leading me. And I am impressed even before that it isn't the right time yet to go up there. I DON'T WANT TO MISS GOD'S MOVE AMONG THE YOUTH HERE IN MANILA. In this high-time where there's so much movement and advancing of forces among the youth in the past few months. I don't want to miss the battles that need to be fought and see His glory manifested when students and young people turn back to Him.

Lord, direct my steps. Forgive me when I look back sometimes. Help me to trust in You more ... daily.

Oh I feel like dancing, it's foolishness I know
But when the world has seen the light
They will dance with joy like we're dancing now

Jesus is Coming on October 21, 2100!!!

Saw this book a few months ago in Powerbooks Greenbelt. What sucks about this is this is placed in the Religion section along with Buddha, Allah and Jesus. So better watch out.

Today I went to Bethel Bible College to visit my friends at the Church-planting Laboratory. Church-planting Lab is like an annual summer event across the nation where AG churches collaborate to plant a church in a certain place where there's none. My friends are part of a church planting of two student churches in University Belt and Los Banos. Glad to see friends from Iloilo, Rianne and Melchi. We also had a meeting for an upcoming fund-raising concert in May. Enjoyed planning and fellowship over Ate Chai's tiramisu and super supreme and peperoni pizzas.

Went home at 5 with Kuya Alvin. Enjoyed a time of bonding as we lost our way on our search for the alternate route to Manila via NLEx. I met Kuya Alvin or Kuya A. for short during AIYS and got to know him better when we shared rooms in Immanuel Bible College during our National Youth Convergence in Cebu City back in May 2006. A small guy with a big passion for youth. He is now a pastor of a church in Rodriguez, Rizal and a husband to Ate Angie, also a good friend.

I'm going back to BBC tomorrow with Netty and take some more footage. These are good times.

Beautiful ...

Just came home a few minutes ago from our visit to our church in Valenzuela. We just inaugurated our new church in Valenzuela last week. Quite tired. My family went there to train the workers there in praise and worship and programming for the service on Sunday. I'm preaching there this Sunday. This is quite a stretch for me since I'm already preaching twice or thrice a month in Binondo and Valenzuela. Please include me in your prayers. It's all good. It's a new and exciting adventure.

Holy Monday on SLEX

Holy Monday. I was on my way to Laguna for an overnight youth leaders meeting of our district. We were 7 in the car, with me are 6 of our youth staff. It was a fine day, no rain; traffic in SLEx is light. It was my second time to traverse the highway with much confidence and prayer. 8 kilometers to Calamba exit, Suddenly we heard a huge explosion. It was an old black delivery fierra just front-right of us, it was the rear right tire that exploded. As it tried to turn to the shoulder side of the highway he went out of control. Right before our eyes, he spun out of control and turned over many times crushing its passengers in the front end. Speeding at 100kph, the massive metal was heading straight toward us! On my mind I said that that was it, we are going to die. A few inches toward impact I swerved a little (we were on the left-most lane) and missed the wreck which by that time already stopped. Swerving more than that we would've ran over the central gutter and suffered similar fate. As we drove away the cars behind us began to stop in aid of the accident.

As we drove off, we were left with total shock. It was like being in a Steven Spielberg episode. We were witnesses to a tragedy as it unfolded. My hands and feet were cold and stiff. And because of immense fear my chest began to stiff up as if having a heart attack. The thought of the fate of those two unfortunate passengers was frightening. Arriving at the toll gate, I told the personnel about what happened so the authorities would know.

It was out of question that God has protected us from the accident. I reflected about what if the wreck did hit us and killed us. I felt a sense of grief of not having spent time with the people I love. It was not about the physical and the material, but in face with death, there are more eternal things that matter - my relationship with God. It is during these "brushes with death" that we are awaken to re-evaluate our direction in life. Living today like it was the last. Doing the things we really wanted to do. Pursuing our personal legend. During our meeting we recounted our experience and testified of His saving protection. The Psalm 139 verse about God's hand enclosing me from behind and before with has become more alive to me. I live today given another chance, another opportunity, just like before, to give Him glory. God has proven it again and again. He lives and is on the move. Indeed He is the God of Second Chances.