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)