A Scandalous Royal Entrance

One of the most controversial truths in the Christian faith was that the Savior of the world came not as a mighty warrior but as a humble servant.

For so many years Israel have waited for the Promised Savior who will free God's people from centuries of bondage and slavery. Nations around them took turns in oppressing them and using them in forced labor. They were subjected to shameful state of existence. But all this time they were looking for a way out. They were looking to God for redemption.

Imagine their excitement when the arrival of the Messiah was announced. An angel from heaven appeared. Yehey! Everyone gets excited and expectant. Hooray! It was their moment of glory. Alright! God will at last vanquish their enemies! Yeaah! A mighty warrior is coming! But...

Instead, God Himself will come down and be with us, so goes the announcement. Oh,great! But wait, there's more! He's gonna come in a form of a baby. He is to be born in a forsaken place called Nazareth, and he will lay his head on a manger with animals around him as an entourage because that's a fitting entrance for a coming King! Then the child will grow and be a carpenter for many years and then will take to the streets to do ministry to call the people to repentance. Great plan! Then he will die a shameful, torturous death after being beaten and spat upon and laughed at and nailed on a cross. And that's it!

But many people just couldn't take that. They can't imagine why God would allow himself to be subjected to such shameful and disgraceful turn of events and to be called the "suffering servant". I couldn't understand, but it is because his thoughts are greater than mine. His ways are definitely far better than people. What he did was to demonstrate a life that we should live--with humility and total abandon to God's will.

God defeated the root of our sin--pride and rebellion--by coming down in reckless abandon of himself and total humility. It makes sense. God defeated pride with humility.

Learning from the masters

Me and Kuya James in one of our Cell Groups trips
to Dingalan,, Aurora.

Today I'd like to honor one of my spiritual fathers whose life serves as a blessing to me and to many people. It is such an honor to be discipled and mentored by someone whose selflessness and generosity defies every law of economics; whose love and compassion to people demonstrates the very Gospel he preach; whose commitment and devotion to God's work proves that theology and practice can and must always go together; whose life testimony shows God's power and delight to bless and provide; and whose faithfulness challenges the crowd to go for broke for the King because it is He who owns everything.

I'm always tempted to believe that you were the one who wrote the Book of James--and for what reason, I need only to look at your life examples to be so convinced. Thank you for investing not only in material things that you abundantly have now because of the Lord, but also for investing so much of your resources, time, and life to other people. You have taught us that investing in people and in God's Kingdom is the best investment we can make. Serving the Lord in the ministry is so much worth it because of servants like you.

I am learning a lot from you Kuya. Our coffee sessions every once in a while benefit not only my spiritual but also my emotional and intellectual well-being. I treasure every life lesson you share to me. Cheers to more coffee sessions with you! Happy birthday Tatay James!

*Posted as a Facebook status dated October 5, 2016,

For such a time as this

Today is the day the vision will come to pass. Our campus ministry will simultaneously lunch eight youth fellowship in our university--one for each college. It has been our prayer to reach more students and saturate the campus so that Christ's message will be made known to all. We are taking the Great Commission to another level through this ministry--to go intentional in our strategies in making disciples for Jesus. And we're excited about the greater things God is about to do as we move to "enlarge the place of our tents" as mentioned in Isaiah 54. We've decided to never hold back and aim for more! And praise God because He is answering our prayers and desire to raise up a generation of youth that is passionate for Jesus; and to raise up CLSU as a Christ-Led State University.

What we are about to experience is a greater season of revival, a greater season of expansion and taking possession of God's promise, a greater season of harvest and making Christ known. This is our season, our time. We are grateful because we are living in such a time as this!

I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the way God responds to prayers. For so long in my journey with the Lord, prayer and seeking God in His word seemed more like routine than affection expressing itself into craving for His presence. There are countless times when my prayer life and devotion appear powerless just because there was still that part of me that wanted to exert control over things in my life, not really embracing the reality that God is supreme and He knows best. In the process of being so naive and reserved, I have limited God in what He can accomplish to me and through me.

But thankfully, it wasn't the end of my story. God had met me in the middle of my delusions and offered me clarity. If it wasn't for His abounding grace, I might have been a person with no cause to fight for other than to exist and just be gone. It's still mind-blowing--the fact that this God of the universe have left His place in the high heavens not only to pacify the tensions in my heart but to give me an entirely new one.

Since then, I have learned to depend on His grace alone and trust in His love so that even if things appear irrational and utterly absurd, I will be comforted by the truth that this exceeding love will never lead me to a place where I shouldn't be.

And here I am on this place, talking about the goodness of God and looking back at how He revealed Himself through people I have met and will yet meet. Here I am thinking about His wonderful plan for my life, being assured of the promise that faithfulness and obedience have blessings.

I have thus decided that the overarching purpose of my life is to declare Jesus Christ. Nothing more, nothing less.

It will happen!

It was exactly this time last year when we came together as "partners for the gospel" to pray fervently for more breakthroughs in our campus ministry; when we asked the Lord of the heavens to pour out anointing on His people; when we tarried with eager expectation for the Kingdom to come here on earth; and just humble before His mighty presence.

One year ago--and we are beholders of what the Lord has done and about to do in our campus. Truly, God is not only a Promise-giver but a faithful Promise-keeper!

Looking back, it was one of our most exciting year yet! Our weekly Youth Fellowship at the university has been sustained with an average attendance of 500-600 students. Last year, we peaked at 1200 in attendance at our fellowship at the University Oval. And just last February this year, LAYF was awarded the Best Student Activity of a student organization, and our youth group, LASO was declared as the Best Student Organization under Non-college based/campus ministry category. We've seen more cell groups being formed, and more lives being led to Christ. But the best is yet to come. God is truly unstoppable!

This week, we will simultaneously launch eight college youth fellowships inside the CLSU campus. After a year of prayer, planning, and preparation, we are now ready to conquer the land with and for the Lord. Realizing that it's about time to expand and to reach and to saturate, these eight college fellowships will serve as a platform to intentionally make Christ known and His name glorified. We're just excited to see our prayers coming to pass. We're excited to see a passionate generation coming up!

A good friend have asked me one time when I finally decided to leave my work to serve full time in the ministry, "why do you do what you do?" I replied: because it's the only thing I know that's worth doing. I never thought about the magnitude of my answer the moment I said it. It was for me an impulsive and romanticized reply back then. But I clearly see now. I have answered correctly and reasonably. And there's no taking it back.

I have found something that's worth giving my life to.

That grand story of us

Dear Warrior Princess,

It feels rather odd, you know. This idea of you and me finding its way to prose and poetry and all the beautiful words I should be saying to you right now but couldn't because it seemed that the Grand Author has yet to finish this wonderful prologue of our story. He's not in a bit of a rush. And He won't budge in my persistent insistence to just bring us here now and just figure it all out later. He's teaching me a lot about patience in between the waiting and the working. And I'm learning why.

I believe each story has a reason. They were written to inspire, to incite positive emotions (though some don't), to reveal to us something important about our self, to tell us that our life is not just a passing point in history but it contributes to a larger story and impacts other lives. And these stories, when pieced together will make us realize that every plot, every character, every incident, every line leads to a wonderful conclusion. That every detail was there for a reason.

In the stories of our lives, the same is true. The Master story-teller carefully situates every plot and character to bring about a story like no other. He writes our life story with uttermost love and loyalty to us, making sure that we would be experiencing the best possible story there is. And when you know that this Writer does not make mistakes, you can't help but respond with devotion and longing for more of Him.

And the romantic story of US? Well, the prologue is getting better I guess. Let's just both enjoy it for a while. Though sometimes I wish I could take just a glimpse of the table of contents of our love story, but I know it would defeat the purpose of waiting and believing for it. Besides, if we can already figure out the story, the anticipation would dissipate and the excitement would not be there as it should be.

I'm waiting on God, my beloved Warrior Princess. And I just know that when God begins the first chapter of our story together, it's gonna be an exciting and fulfilling journey ahead. We will realize that all the plot twists and rising and falling actions and the detours were meant for us to find each other.

Isn't that a great story? :)

Waiting with great delight,
Your Warrior Prince

Not just another fighting Christian

(Photo from the web)

As a practicing Christian, one of my personal convictions is that I try to be as neutral, to be as non-partisan, and to be as non-combative as possible when it comes to social and political discourses, especially that there's now a growing ill-feeling and aggression towards Christians who maintain a rather "conservative" outlook on current issues. In the process of going "in-between" and playing safe, I found that I am actually doing a great disservice to my faith by diluting (or hiding) its liberating and radical nature. It should not be this way. Not anymore.

With this post, I am taking the great risk of being labeled as a cold, self-righteous Christian apologist and troll. But before you say as such, let me just say a few things.

It's true that people have different lenses in looking at issues; a worldview that allows them to interpret and judge their social realities, such as feminism, liberalism, rationalism, pragmatism, anarchism, atheism etc. These worldviews--or ideologies-- often define and prescribe their attitudes and their actions. In this case, Christianity is not only a faith-based idea but a defining worldview. And I guess it's time for Christians to embrace this nature of Christianity, because truly, it is not only a religious label but a lifestyle that defines attitude and action. It's been a long time coming, but it's now time to live out loud. No more playing safe, no more staying silent. Mag-ingay!

Yes I am a Christian and it doesn't mean that I do not think. I am a Christian and it doesn't mean that I am dogmatic or legalistic. I am a Christian and it doesn't mean that I am cold and self-righteous, and condemning and bigoted.

I am a Christian because I believe in the economy of love, in the language of compassion, in the possibility of understanding, in the all-encompassing idea of grace and justice.

There's a danger today in coming out in the public as a Christian with biblical perspectives and convictions when talking about current issues. But as a Christian, I am not called to be politically correct at all times, or to intolerantly impose my beliefs, but I am called to offer and to demonstrate not just another way of life--but a better one. 

Questions

Could it be that the reason why we give so little of our life to the One Who gave so much of His is that we have seen so little, heard so little, learned so little, and experienced so little?

Have we experienced so little grace and so little love and so little forgiveness that we still remain cold and stagnant and just hiding behind religious routines and labels, not really embracing this relationship with a Savior with honest commitment and devotion?

What if His love becomes so real in our lives that we can see Him, hear Him, feel Him, and experience Him and He demands that we abandon our all just to follow Him? Will we take the risk and be reckless for Him?

Will we?

Semper Fidelis

Woke up today with the noise buzzing in our apartment as my roommates prepare to go to their 7 AM classes. Conversation were unrestrained and animated and the music got too loud from one of my roommate's device. All of this while I was sleeping. For a moment, I wanted to get mad and just go ballistic.

And I have many reasons to. Got home by half past 1AM this morning from my masters class. Did a report last night in my research subject and the professor declared a two-hour extension just so we can make up for what we missed last Monday's holiday and what we will miss on next Monday's holiday. Endured the heavy traffic from UP Diliman to North Edsa and endured the long travel en route to CLSU. Was literally drained mentally and physically. Plus, I missed my dinner. I just wanted to sleep and rest and recover from last night's debacle.

But then, my irritation quickly dissipated as I figure that what they're talking about was ministry and their plans for their training. And the music that got too loud became a cure and a song for my anxious soul. And when they sang the chorus together while getting ready for class, I just wanted to cry. It was one of my favorite songs, that one called "Through it all" by Hillsong. For a moment, I didn't know what to say--it ministered to me deeply. It was like God telling me "I know you're tired and that you're drained and that you didn't have dinner and that you wanted to rest. But today's another day, and I AM still God and I AM still in-charge and I AM still holding you up."

Was speechless. I realized there are so many reasons to wake up with gladness. When you see your disciples growing in their faith, and you just know that you've made a difference in them through Christ, and you've proven that there's true power in the Gospel, it brings immense joy that it makes you forget the burdens of living. Indeed, I have an awesome God to worship, a wonderful life to live and a great love to share. These are more than enough to break forth in praise:

"I'll sing to You, Lord, a hymn of love
For Your Faithfulness to me
And I'm carried in everlasting arms
You'll never let me go through it all."

God's faithfulness woke me up today. HALLELUJAH!!!

Dear Warrior Princess

When we meet, please do not punch me in the face just to show yourself strong. That's awkward you know. Besides I already believe that you are strong, because you are the result of my waiting and praying and seeking for the LORD's best.

I know that you are secured in who you are; for who you are is found in Christ alone who you love most. You reflect the identity of the One who created you "fearfully and wonderfully". You are a proof of God's depth and breadth for He did not only make you to stand out but to conquer. Oh, how I wish to have met you already. How I wish to start conquering territories and souls with you as in right now.

I believe that you are a woman of substance, not only of form. You are extremely authentic in your passion and compassion, because it springs from the eternal love from a Savior. And this love, which directly overflows from your life makes you way more beautiful than you already are. I know that you would have that passion and energy that makes you more attractive. Allow me to be in love with you every day because of your strength, your purity, your authenticity.

But until then. Until we find each other. Until God makes the path clearer for both of us to walk through. 

With much anticipation, 
Your Warrior Prince.

To win the world

"Ultimately, why do we share the Gospel? Why do disciples of Jesus make disciples of Jesus? Certainly the answer is not because we are forced to, nor is it because we are guilted into doing so. 

The clear and simple motivation is a disciple's passionate longing to see more and more people know Jesus. For when our thirst has been eternally quenched by the infinite goodness, greatness, grace, mercy, majesty, strength, and sufficiency of God in Christ, we will excitedly and eagerly tell all who are thirsty where they can be satisfied.

MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS IS THE OVERFLOW OF OUR DELIGHT IN BEING DISCIPLES OF JESUS."

                                                                                -David Platt, "Follow Me"

Get obvious

"The Christian Church should not be a secret society of specialists, but a public manifestation of believers in Jesus."

                                                         -Oswald Chambers, Facing Reality

If the message of the power of God to transform lives should get into the mainstream post-modern culture of our day and penetrate its ever escalating secular worldview, then those who have experienced it must take it in all intention to demonstrate it to the world.

We can't stay silent and allow the world to drown out our testimony. We can't remain passive while waiting for the return of the Savior. We can't afford to stay still and let opportunities pass without reaching out to people in whatever way we can.

The infinitely unconditional and restoring love of the Father through Jesus Christ must be known. We are and should be, as Christians, loud demonstrations of the compelling love and grace of a Savior.

Get loud. Get obvious. Now.

It's time for an Outbreak

We are believing God to bring an expansion on this new season in our Youth Fellowship. We are praying that an outbreak of God's glory and love will saturate all corners of our university as we endeavor to make His name great. We are crying out as one Body of Christ that indeed there will be a deeper hunger in our hearts to reach and to saturate this place which the Lord has given as our inheritance.That there will be more people who will respond to the message of God's grace; that there will truly be an encounter experience every time we gather together to pray and to praise.

For this unique season, the Lord has put in our hearts to expand our reach and our influence in the campus. Claiming that the time is already ripe and that the harvest is plenty and is ready, we've decided to intentionally saturate the university by bringing LAYF to the eight colleges of the Central Luzon State University.

We are claiming this command and promise of the LORD in Isaiah 54:2-5,

"Enlarge the place of your tent,

stretch your tent curtains wide,

do not hold back;

lengthen your cords,

strengthen your stakes.

For you will spread out to the right and to the left;

your descendants will dispossess nations

and settle in their desolate cities.

“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.

Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.

You will forget the shame of your youth

and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

For your Maker is your husband—

the Lord Almighty is his name—

the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;

he is called the God of all the earth."

In God's Kingdom, there's no holding back! We are called to literally break out from the comfort of our place to bring God's glory to desolate places; we are called to be radical Christians by claiming communities and nations under the authority of Jesus Christ! We are called to saturate the world and make His name known in all the earth. And with God, this can be done.

Through our youth fellowship, we are praying to:

         a. To reach: get out to a more massive and intentional campus evangelism, classroom witnessing, soul-winning. The first step is to get out and share the Word. If we want God's will to be done on earth, then Christians must not get so comfortable with just watching from the sidelines. It's time that we intentionally fire up the Gospel in our respective places and make the name of Jesus known wherever we go. It's time to share the best thing that we have: a relationship with a living Savior.

         b. To saturate: get into a more intentional consolidation through established college LAYF; respective college LAYF will serve as training grounds for leaders and committed attendees. This should be done by mobilizing current leaders to internalize the importance of consolidation, or preserving the harvest. We must not content ourselves by just proclaiming the Word. We need to water it, nurture it, and make it grow and bear fruit eventually. The need to nurture the seed of faith planted in the souls of those we have witnessed is a hard labor, but it is not without a promise. It's time to intentionally impact lives that will impact other's.

I believe that the campus is a great place to impact the nations and change the world. If we want to see a greater collective transformation in our community, there must first be a tangible individual transformation. And If we are to create a movement that will again turn the world upside down, we have to do it in the campus, and we have to do it now. 

We have to begin changing the nation one campus at a time; the campus, one college at a time; and each college, one student at a time. This comes with an assurance that there's no campus which is beyond the reach of God's grace; and there is no student who is beyond the reach of God's love.

God is now ready for an outbreak. And we better be.

Strangers

I wish we had not known each other for too long so that we would still be able to have conversations now. 

I wish we did not become too familiar with each other so that we can still ask about each other's life, or how have we been, or what we're doing now.

I wish that the time spent in knowing each other were much, much longer so that I would still have a reason to ask you, and the things you love and the things that move your heart and the things you're most passionate about. Because I would love to know you more.

I really wish that we could go back to the time when the days and nights were too short for our banters and running conversations about anything we can find that's worth our while.

I really wish we could still unashamedly ask about each other's past without holding much attention to it because we both believe that the future is way brighter and promises a better story. We both know that looking up and forward is the best way ahead in this journey.

I really wish we can still talk about each other's love and devotion for the Lord, and how we both desire to make His name great in this world; to talk about ministry and discipleship now that we've both come a long way in committing our lives to the great task at hand--to make leaders and disciple nations--all for the Lord.

But what did just happen? We seem to drift apart now--and the friendship that I would like to continue gets stunted by things I can't explain. I did not imagine that the growing silence could hurt this much. But could it be that we're just here to complicate things in each other's life? Or was it just me? I wish I could apologize for the way I handled things. And I wish you know that my intentions were good, and that they were prompted by a prayer that if I were to seek God first, He will also make it clear to you. Or was that only my wishful thinking?

I wish that we did not meet each other only to end up as strangers all over again.

Where things make sense

I had this picture as wallpaper on my laptop for quite sometime now. I don't know, but perhaps it's already in my subconscious to be so attracted to anything related to heartbreak. Or anything remotely related to it even.

Or perhaps I can so easily identify with just any and every hyper-romanticized notion of brokenness, thinking that nothing makes sense until one is broken. That is the curse of being a romanticist, I guess. Of being a sentimentalist slash idealist, whatever is more appropriate.

No, I have this wallpaper and the phrase from a song that goes with it to remind me of something more. To remind me of the breaking that God allowed in my life so that everything would make sense. After all, it was in the breaking points that I have found what is truly valuable in this world and in the next. It was in the breaking points that I have managed to see that there is so much more in this life.

Break my heart for what break Yours...

That is my prayer, my creed, my virtue. To be broken by the things of God. To feel the brokenness of this world and to try to offer healing and restoration. God, let my heart break for the things that break your heart...

What you are

Photo from desiringgod.org

You are a stunning work of art, and I bet you're not aware of it. You are a picture of how careful and how thoughtful your Creator King was in making you this wonderful. Truly, every bit of you, every intricate detail was made to reflect the Master's glory in you.

You are incomparable with your smile that I always love to see and behold. I would love to tell you that you look more beautiful to me than a gazillion of stars forming constellations in the evening sky--but I am so naive and so limited in words to ever describe you.

Besides, what would I say when I talk to you? Just by looking at you could easily flush clean my vocabulary. And I am so afraid that the only words that would ever come out was "I love you, my Warrior Princess".

What we are

Perhaps, broken is what we really are. I oftentimes like to think that in this wonderful cosmic drama, we're just debris floating in endless space and wandering aimlessly. With nowhere to go. But I was quite wrong about that, thankfully. I realized that we're not just bits of a broken puzzle but pieces meant for a masterpiece that is beyond our hopelessly limited imagination. We're parts and parcel of a greater whole, of a grander story. We are glorious ruins floating ceaselessly on grace and love of a Savior.

Oh, what wonderful ruins we are!

*******

"Glorious Ruins"

When the mountains fall

And the tempest roars You are with me

When creation folds

Still my soul will soar on Your mercy

I'll walk through the fire

With my head lifted high

And my spirit revived in Your story

And I'll look to the cross

As my failure is lost

In the light of Your glorious grace

Let the ruins come to life

In the beauty of Your Name

Rising up from the ashes

God forever You reign

And my soul will find refuge

In the shadow of Your wings

I will love You forever

And forever I'll sing

When the world caves in

Still my hope will cling to Your promise

Where my courage ends

Let my heart find strength in Your presence

Blessing in the Breaking

Breaking doesn't offer much appeal to people specially when our built-in proclivities and human tendencies favor the good and the comfortable. We seem to have some kind of natural aversion to  anything that is unpleasant and troublesome. Eh sino ba kasi ang gusto ng nasasaktan?

Of course. I don't like pain either. I don't like breaking points specially when I have a limited view of their purpose or their outcome. Sometimes, I do prefer the "unexamined life", the kind that is free from burden and pain only because it is spent in avoiding change and running from challenges as much as possible. But that kind of life is a rather wasted life. Not only it is boring but it is tragic.

I'm just glad that as Christians, God offered us another perspective of looking at pain and breaking. In the world's standard, pain is viewed as something to be avoided that's why people have created many ways to forget pain and suffering. We hide behind systems that give us comfort and pleasures. We've built a lot to satisfy our hedonistic side that even the Greeks would die in envy. But in the eternal view of things, even pain and breaking have got to do with a Christian's maturity and perfection. In fact, we should not be surprised by pain and suffering in the world because Jesus clearly said that we will have trouble as long as we are in this world, but the fact that He already overcame it gives us the confidence to press on towards following Him all the way. Persevere, endure the race of faith He says, and we too shall overcome.

I want to share three things that I learned in my own personal breaking points, and it is my prayer that you will also experience the many blessings that come out of the breaking.

It is an opportunity to experience God. Our breaking points could be God's way of teaching us something of value and importance to our life. I must realize that the process of breaking is necessary. It is allowed by God to bring out the best in me. The Scriptures is replete with examples of men and women who came to their own breaking points, and were blessed beyond expectation when they have endured till the end. Men such as Abraham, Moses, Joseph and Jacob are among those who experienced the process of breaking. Yet in that same painful process they have experienced God more and proven Him more. Psalm 34:18 affirms, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

It is an opportunity to move ahead. God's design for us is to move forward to maturity. He did not intend us to stuck ourselves in misery and disappointments. He created us to conquer and to rule. The Israelites during the time of Joshua were at a significant crossroad. They have been wandering and wondering in the wilderness for 40 years, and in chapter six of Joshua, we see them facing the Promised Land. Everyone was excited to receive what God had promised. But the wall of Jericho that stood before them seemed to be formidable. They needed to break down the walls before they could get in and move forward. And that's what God did because of their faith and obedience. But the victory over the broken wall was not the end. God designed them to move forward, and they did...marching through the ruins and moving forward in glory.

 Paul realized the importance of moving ahead after the breaking when he determined to do this one thing: "Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

It is an opportunity to receive what God had promised.In Joshua 6:2, even before they came face to face with their enemy, God had already given a sure victory to Israel. All they had to do was obey, have faith, and take action. After the wall came crumbling down and Israel's victory became imminent, the people of God emerged triumphant. They had just experienced another miracle from their great God. And God has just once again delivered what He had promised. God has proven once again that He is a promise-keeper! So, whatever wall we are facing right now, the promise of God is we're already overcomers and conquerors! (Romans 8:37).

So, don't be intimidated the next time you're in the process of breaking. If it is for the glory of God that we should face such pain, then surely a blessing is on the way. And there will be an outbreak of God's blessings in the painful process of breaking!

*A sermon I shared during the third week of "Break The Walls" series in our youth fellowship.

Photo from the net

Thank you for the broken heart

I didn't like to be hurt. I have ran as fast as I could to spare me from that painful truth that would haunt me for the rest of my life. I've tried to veer away from the high road of moving on and instead preferred to stuck myself in my own, lonely world. I've hoped that this self-inflicted pain would soon drown me relentlessly and fiercely--so that nothing would be left but anguish and regret. All I wanted was to be free and be full and be able to do what I want. Not knowing that the things I could have given my life for were the same things that would take the very life in me.

So I ran away, broken as a man could have never been broken before. I never thought to find grace in the place that I was brought low, and sure to die in. But it was there that you have found me. It was in the pit of misery and sin and hopelessness that your grace have met me. It was in that dark dungeon of self-pity and self-destruction that you offered restoration. You have bought my humiliation and nailed it and left it hanging on a wooden cross so that the world will see that this is how much you love me.

But why? For a sinful, prideful, lowlife like me? How could you ran after a man who have given his life to his own pleasures and vanity and self-seeking ambitions? How could you dare allow yourself and your glory and your royalty to be bitten, spat on and be butchered for me? I have done so much to be more than deserving of what they've done to you. It was supposed to be me!

Now your blood was on me. But instead of blaming me for that, you have pardoned me and have set me free. And in the process you have let me realize that love has to be that way--sacrifice. It's the deepest love, the one that would give life to a person even if it would cause the life of another. Indeed, greater love has no one than this. I thought I've been broken before I've met you. But I was wrong. I was broken on the day you've met me. I had full of pride and selfishness that needed to be torn down. My will and my heart were impenetrable, but your love has broken them down--all for my own good. And it was very liberating.

I thank you for the broken heart, because through it, I have seen everything.

The Legend of the Miriam

From the official Facebook page of Sen. Miriam-Defensor Santiago.

Her name is Miriam. She could have been the best president we ever had. She could have been the most illustrious, the most intelligent, the most multi-awarded, the most qualified head of state in Philippine political history. She was so much more than we ever care to think. And she could have proven so much more. But chance did not allow her to. Or worst, her people did not allow her to. But that's life, so they say.

But now is  a time to move on. The grim battle for the highest post in the land was now over, new leaders have now been installed. It is now time to connect the dots of our collective destiny and move forward as a nation. This is not a time to mourn the defeat of that best presidency we never had under Miriam--although mourn we did--but to begin to pick up the pieces she have left in the battlefield and to continue the fight in the best way we can as loyal citizens of this great nation. 

Those who are left behind and who have been caught under the Miriam Magic must now take the cudgels to march ahead and carry the banner of her noble legacy. Those who have been inspired by her brilliance must now make sure that her retirement from long, unparalleled, glorious years in public service was not the end. But from where she ends, we, her warriors, must dare to begin. And we will.

She is still the best president we never had. She is Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Remember her name. Remember her legend.

Cheers to MDS! Maraming salamat po! Mabuhay po kayo!

The Son of the South

Rodrigo Roa Duterte, fabled Son of the South, was finally sworn in as the 16th president of the Republic of the Philippines. With his inauguration comes the hope of a better, stronger nation which he had promised, and which his people desperately long for in a very long time. It was the people's cry for a real change that has catapulted him to the presidency. It was the people's call for a new brand of leadership--the kind that would stand strong on their behalf--that made him the people's anointed. Vox populi, vox dei, as they say.

Strong, decisive, irreverent at times and a staunch nationalist to a fault. He is Rodrigo Roa Duterte, son of the South. Not perfect, but real. Not the best, but his heart could make him so. May he prosper in the purpose that his people gave him. May his works usher the nation in a true and lasting change. May he be a true warrior in word and in deed--fighting for the common good and for his people.

Crush your walls!

God could have allowed His people to crush the walls on that first day at Jericho. He could have allowed them to cross over this city without difficulty and give them an easy pass from their enemy. But He did not.

God restrained until the seventh day because He wanted something more than victory for His people. Just like before, He wanted His people to trust Him, His ways, His means, His timing. God wanted them to put their confidence in Him alone--not on their army, not on their strategy.

In the end, what has broken down the walls that blocked them on the way to the Promised Land is their own faith in the power of God; what has brought the walls crumbling down was their submission to God; what has made them cross past the ruins was their own obedience to a miracle-working, sea-parting, wall-breaking, all-knowing God.‪

*Reflections on ‎Joshua 6‬‬. Part of what I shared during the regular Midyear Youth Fellowship in our Church.

What scares you makes you stronger

Vulnerability is the adventure of the profound. (Photo from the net)

I really wished we are not that too scared to open ourselves up to people and to make them feel they are important to us; to let them know that there's a special place in our life that they could fill. Baring the depths of our soul makes it easy for other people to hurt us; but it would also liberate us. Doing that will make us vulnerable. But life will demand that sometimes. To be vulnerable is scary, but not taking risks is even scarier.

I ain't going back

I have loved you
until love was given
an entirely new definition
I've made dreams
of you and me and painted
stars in our own galaxy
not knowing
that the waves
and the sands of time
would drown them
helplessly.

I have cried like
crying was the only
rational thing
to do, and I have
hoped like it's going
to get better the next
rising sun or the biting of the moon
but drifting apart
is our own version of reality.

Life is a wonder
and to embrace the
unknown journey is its way
so I did move forward
up ahead to what's waiting up there
and in time all was revealed:

that there was more to
what had been
and what could have been
and there's more to
what was left behind
and there's more to
where I've been before.

The journey's unfolding
with all its bliss at full swing
I've met this love somewhere
and it's greater and it's better
this love has consumed me
deeply and greatly
like burning amber
that I can't go back
to what once was.

Dangerous People

Those who have been freed from their past are dangerous people. Because they have no business in thinking about what was left or what was behind, or of dwelling in useless ruins and broken dreams. They don't waste time in crying over missed chances or shattered relationships. They have vindicated themselves in moving ahead and forgiving themselves.

They're dangerous because they know the way forward and it's the only way to go. They will create ways when there's none and they will crush walls that block their way ahead. They know that the promise of a new day is brighter than the ones they have left behind, that possibilities are achieved by those that have fires in their hearts to be more than what they've been. They're dangerous because they will break away to go higher, to dive deeper, and go stronger. And there's no turning back.

*Reflections on Philippians 3.

Soar higher in Christ's power! (Photo from the net)

What remains

Life is a series of trade-offs. Many are the times that we will make critical decisions that would define our directions. But remember that these decisions would also describe our devotion. What way to take? What compromise to make? Life is not a game of chances. It is an endless series of choosing and risking and deciding. It matters what risks are you willing to dive into. Are you risking for what will matter?

Therefore, be willing to let go of the things that wear you out and drag you down. Know how to play your part in the bargain. But remember, the only nonnegotiable aspect of the deal is our spiritual values and ministry. You have to ground yourself on what is eternal because in the end, this is what remains.

*Inspired by a conversation with Kuya James Dela Cruz, one of my Bible study leaders and spiritual mentors. It pays to learn from the experts.

Take glorious risks! (Photo from the net)

What destiny demands

Obedience is the price I pay for destiny. And every act of faith is a step towards it. Will I stay, or will I leave? I must realize that destiny has its own place. And I must be willing to let God lead so that I won't miss it. 

*Notes on Genesis 26‬.

Don't make decisions when you're hungry

People are faced with the reality of making decisions on a daily basis. From waking up to laying down, thousands of both petty and significant decisions must be made. Some decisions are generated automatically out of the routines of life and some decisions are so important that they have to be well thought-out. In terms of the most significant ones, I must realize that the decisions I make today affects the rest of my life.

The story of Esau in Genesis chapter 25 illustrates the tragedy of letting our human instincts dictate our ability to decide. When our emotions overcome reason, that's when we decide based on what is tangible at the moment. When our most pressing human needs take over our ability to process our desire for satisfaction, that's when we allow ourselves to make tragic compromises. Esau focused on his hunger and therefore compromised what is eternal.

Decisions out of impulse are dangerous. Do not compromise eternity for something that only looks good at the moment. If I will not be careful enough to guard my heart, my human tendencies will decide for me and it may want something other than God. ‪

*Reflections on Genesis chapter 25‬.

To eternal things! (Photo from the net)