Life for life

Yesterday, some of the guys who are with me at our training apartment finally fulfilled one of our grandest lifetime ambitions--that is to make a vegetable garden in the backyard of our home at Osmena Avenue. It was two years in the making, but as they say, better late than never. Lols. Sometimes, when you are living with a bunch of guys who have their respective hormonal patterns (and irregularities) and eccentric tendencies, making a house into a hospitable home would take quite an effort. REAL EFFORT. But I've been wrong to impose either an iron-hand discipline or a lenient type of leadership, upon learning that at best, people respond more to the way you LEAD them, not DIRECT them. And since I feel so accomplished in getting our hands literally dirty to make our dream come true, here is what tilling the soil and filling the holes with seeds have taught me.

Discipleship is like gardening. The principles involved in land preparation, planting, cultivating, and harvesting is quite the same with discipling people to Christ. It is boldly responding to God's call for more workers in the field because the harvest is already plenty. I have learned that discipleship is about getting your hands ready for the plow; making an effort to be the hands of Christ in reaching out for more. The Gospel is the seed that will be planted in the hearts of people so that they can grow into Christlikeness. But before that happens, I have to be there with people to cultivate them, feed them, nurture them, protect them, lead them. Making a seed grow is investing your time and resources until you finally see the fruits of your labor. In the same way, discipling people is a commitment to invest your time and to pour out your life for the sake of another. It is the willingness to spend and be spent. It is life for life.

When I look back at my own life and journey of faith, I can't help but be grateful for those people who, through the years have been more than willing to spend and be spent for someone like me. And today, for whatever it's worth, I'd like to honor them as a sign of deep gratitude. (Parang grumaduate lang? haha)

To ate Romyne for her boldness to share the Gospel during a classroom evangelism way back in 2005. You may not remember this ate, but I was there in one of the classes where you have boldly shared the Gospel to freshmen students. It is no irony that it was on our Earth Science class where I heard about the good news of Someone who came to earth just to save me. And though I've already heard that for so many times growing up in a Christian background, I never felt it more sincere than that day. Through you, God has planted something significant in my heart. I attended LAYF the following week at LA, and the rest, they say, is history.

To kuya Joshua who was my first cell leader. I appreciate you for not giving up on my silly attempts to escape our bible study session wherever I'm not in the mood. Pumupunta ka noon sa dorm namin sa Dungon para sunduin at hintayin ako. Palagi kang may dalang mais at mani noon. We did our one-on-one bible study sa park ng LASO. Matatandaan mo pa kuya? It was there that you have prayed for my childish concerns. And then, just like you, I also became a member of LASO. Initiation ko na pala yun noon, hindi mo naman sinabi, haha. Thank you so much kuya. Kahit this year ka palang kinasal, matagal ka ng may naging anak--ako yun. I praise the Lord because you we're one of my spiritual fathers. You have nurtured my desire for meaning and purpose in life those days.

To kuya Nebin my cell leader after kuya Joshua--for exemplifying a life of being a disciple and a discipler. I have said this before, and I will say this again, you are one of the most passionate and faithful disciple-maker I've met. You literally have spend and was spent for the sake of training us and leading us. Our stay at the Training Apartment with you taught us many things. You have modeled a life that sets discipleship at another level. Many of the leaders you have trained are still here, serving in the ministry. You have trained the Joshua Generation very well. Now we are passing the same to the next generation. Pwede ka ng mag-asawa, kuya. Haha.

To kuya Fred and ate Helen Grace, who also have been my cell leaders at one point, thank you for your time and efforts. You were there for me at just the right time in my life for a reason. I appreciate the prayers and guidance.

To kuya James, for teaching me that there is something more important than money and material wealth, and that investing in heaven and in the life of people is the best we can do in this world. Thank you for cultivating in me the virtue of hard-work, perseverance, diligence, maturity, decisiveness. I'm still a work in progress, but by God's grace, I am learning a lot.

To kuya Romy, my pastor and mentor, for helping me process many of my major decisions and transitions in life. Without your godly wisdom and counsel and prayers, things would have turned out differently for me. I praise the Lord for your guidance and leadership not only to me personally, but to the church as well. Thank you for your generosity, and for allowing me to be used in the ministry in ways I never thought possible. I look up to your life and to your testimony. I always tell my disciples that if my life would turn out the same way as yours, then I would not ask for something better, if that's not asking God for too much. You are one life multiplied in many.

To my disciples and fellow warriors in the service of the One True King, we are standing on the shoulders of the giants. We are here because of the faithful men and women who have responded to God's call in their lives to sow a seed of faith. We are the fruits of their labor. It is now our turn to do the same. To plant the seed of faith, to be willing to plow the field and reap the harvest for God's greater glory. Let's go and make disciples!

Will you pay the cost?

You might have heard the often used cliche about being a Christian: Jesus calls you to be a follower not a fan. Yet oftentimes, we don't really know about the cost of following Christ, or we're just ignoring it. Many would just like to become a part of the mob of "Jesus freaks", not really taking it to heart that Christianity is about commitment. And more.

Following Christ has a great cost. I must not dilute God's demands by thinking that it's easy following Christ, like taking a carefree walk in a park. The truth is following Christ will cost me everything: my comfort, my own personal ambitions, my resources. But I must also realize that until I make a decision that He is the greatest treasure I can have and He is all worth it, I cannot truly be a disciple of Christ. One word: SURRENDER.

Following Christ has great rewards. Lest I be mistaken as a fire and brimstone fundamentalist, I must also say that following Christ leads to great blessings. God is not a cosmic killjoy as some already said. God is not unfair; He demands greatly because He loves and rewards greatly. In God's holiness and justice, He cannot allow us to conform to this world in any way we want and compromise the "full and satisfying life" He wants for us. But He won't just easily give it while we keep on enjoying the things that violate His holiness and justice. I must commit to conform to His will and ways. That's the only way I can be able to enter the Kingdom of God.

Following Christ leads to great possibilities. God said in Matthew 19:26, "what is impossible with men is possible with God." Following God means being empowered by God, only if I allow Him to do with me what He intends, and by surrender and love for Him I'd willingly submit. It is by God, for God and through God that everything is possible.

Will you pay this cost?

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,

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!!!

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"

LAYF to the fullest!

This is a picture I took from the upper deck of the CLSU auditorium right after our first youth fellowship this semester last August 19. The sight of hundreds upon hundreds of students and youth waving excitedly at the camera's direction is truly heartwarming, knowing that earlier, these students were passionately praising and worshiping the Most High King.

It was only the first LAYF meet up this new semester, and youth hungry for God came in troves--500 plus of them. I was hyped to know that this is now happening in our generation. And God is not finished yet.

I can't keep but burst with gladness. 

Alright, I cried. But I managed to snap a shot before tears came and my heart break gloriously one more time.

That one small dent in the universe

On Saturday, I will give a talk to students about setting priorities and ambitions. I don't feel like I was the right person to preach about these things, considering that I was someone so full of uncertainties about what priorities and ambitions really meant. Especially the worthy ones.

See, I've already wasted many chances to become better, compromising them for lesser things. I've ignored many opportunities to make an impact. I've been so used to my own comfort and with just my personal convenience. I've been at a loss to pursue the things that really matter.

I was so cowardly and unbelieving. And was so dependent with my own limited abilities and with my own limited standards that I felt getting on with everyday life was enough. That by merely existing, I can find a life of my own.

I was so terrified to embrace the fact that ambitions, no matter how small, when they are offered to God and for His glory...can impact eternity.

I was so naive to think that if God wants to accomplish His will, He could find someone else.

But God is relentless. When He calls, He makes it loud and clear.

And now I'm willing to go all the way to be consumed by His purposes. To be willing to spend and be spent for His glory. When the time comes that I get to be frustrated and exhausted, I would remind myself that it is He who enables me. His all-sufficient grace will carry me through.

I believe that when God provides the opportunity, He also supplies the ability.

I'll carry His banner and raise it in places where people can see. This is an ambition that matters. Because I only have one life to live. But I will live fully to make it count.

On Saturday I will give a talk...and it will be my life story.

I'm saying YES!

I'm reviewing some warrior lessons I picked up along the way. And since I'm now getting ready for some greater things in the coming days, having decided to give up a little of my comfort in exchange for something bigger than myself, it pays to go back to the places where it all began.

The following were my notes from the "Unstoppable" conference I co-hosted last year. It was well, unforgettable.

But I'm doing myself a favor. This is a reminder, lest I forget...

There are two things that Pastor Pabs shared from the story of the Israelites at Mount Horeb found in the first chapter of the book of Deuteronomy that I want to reflect upon. If we are to possess our promised land, we should:

a) “Break Camp”. To break camp means we let go of whatever situations that are holding us back from journeying towards our destiny. We must learn to surrender everything that keeps us from our potentials. We must have the willingness to destroy “tents” that keep us from seeing and following God. If something is drawing us away from God, then by all means, break camp! If our comfort prevents us from attempting great things for God, then by all means, break camp!

b) “Advance”. Or simply, move forward. It means going forward not to the direction we think is better, not to the road we think is more comfortable, not to the terrain we feel is safer BUT to the direction where God Himself is leading us. We should learn from the Israelites themselves in their journey for forty years in the wilderness. They almost missed God’s destiny for them just because they refuse to follow God’s leading. We must at all times obey by faith, allowing God to direct our every step.

Truly, God was unstoppable. Now the chase is over.

And I'm saying "YES!"

To the KING, now and for always.