One of the common Filipino folklore characters is the epitome of the so-called Ermetanyo. He is a personified being who lives to himself, by himself, and for himself. This man spends his life in a distant place, usually in the jungle alone and away from a community. And if one ever exists, I couldn’t help but think how such person understands life and his being as a whole. With this personification, I am hard-pressed to find the answers to these two outstanding questions. First, what does it really mean to become human? So, a journey back to the Garden leads me to a fundamental understanding of what it means to be human, the right way to live, and the responsibilities of human as “supreme being” God ever created. I thought I have understood our supremacy; that we are born to live in a community, and that we are to carry out our responsibilities. But the next question struck me. Am I really becoming and being what God intended me to be?
Just recently, the world has crowned two Filipino icons for their achievements and contributions in their respective arena: Manny Pacquiao in sports and Efren Peñaflorida in education. More importantly, the Filipino people and the global community look up to them as heroes because they brought pride to the nation and inspire others. Pacquiao always acknowledges God in public in every fight he won. Peñaflorida unleashed the hero within himself through the “push-cart classroom” for the poor as he believed it is his calling. Perhaps they have become what God intended them to be. I wonder how their mind accepts the praises of people. I have nothing against them, but looking through the eyes of people who call them heroes, I can read a story that is reflected in Gideon’s time. The Israelites started to worship him after his victorious deliverance for them against their enemies. They’d no longer recognize God and He was taken out of place. These are my observations:
•The idea of looking for a hero is focused to the person himself not to God who enables the person.
•Our hunger for pride can make us proud rather than dependent on God.
•Inspiring others does not mean attracting toward oneself, but motivating them away to go beyond themselves for others.
Becoming what God intended me to be? I can say I’m on a journey. And in this journey, it would be best to learn from other people rather being alone like the Ermetanyo. And as Youth Pastor, I must be cautioned not to act like a hero to the young people, but a person who reflects the love of God and the image of Christ. It’s my job to let them learn that God is the reason for everything that I do. It’s not my might, not my power, but by the Spirit of the LORD. I believe I have inspired them best if they’re drawn to Christ rather to me.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Confident in His grace
"Watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do (Judges 7:17).
These words reflect the kind of leader Gideon was. He knew what to do. He modeled what he knew. And he asked the people to do what he modeled. And to sum up in one word, it’s about confidence. Gideon gained confidence despite of his doubts and series of testing God. He allowed Gideon to test Him for Gideon’s sake and to accomplish His plan for Israelites. For to God, He will do what it takes to empower whom he called to establish his purpose.
I’ve seen how faithful God is in my life. Whenever I’m off the course, He redirects me to his path. He is really patient with me not because I am the only person who can carry the task. But His love for me urges him to become patient. He could assign the task to someone else, yet despite of my shortcomings he purposely chose me so that at the end of the day, my life becomes the glory of his son Jesus. And if I become successful, I have nothing to be proud of. It’s because of his grace. It’s all about him.
These words reflect the kind of leader Gideon was. He knew what to do. He modeled what he knew. And he asked the people to do what he modeled. And to sum up in one word, it’s about confidence. Gideon gained confidence despite of his doubts and series of testing God. He allowed Gideon to test Him for Gideon’s sake and to accomplish His plan for Israelites. For to God, He will do what it takes to empower whom he called to establish his purpose.
I’ve seen how faithful God is in my life. Whenever I’m off the course, He redirects me to his path. He is really patient with me not because I am the only person who can carry the task. But His love for me urges him to become patient. He could assign the task to someone else, yet despite of my shortcomings he purposely chose me so that at the end of the day, my life becomes the glory of his son Jesus. And if I become successful, I have nothing to be proud of. It’s because of his grace. It’s all about him.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Rediscovering myself
It’s been a while since I posted a blog to share my thoughts and experience. It was intentional silence and idleness. Doing nothing and thinking nothing. No written ideas. I am studying in a seminary, but I felt I have learned nothing with what I am doing. Someone pressed the button and it started to affect my leadership and ministry. I was about to give up. I was supposed to share, lead, and empower people; but I felt the need inside, looked for a leader who will guide me or someone who will empower me. But there is a price for high position (James 1:9). And because of God’s love and grace, He used people to lift my spirit again. Despite of what happened, I need to highlight the following discovery and lessons I’ve learned:
•I discovered that I am also vulnerable despite of my strong-willed personality.
•I learned that besides being dependent upon God, I need somebody to rely on. The more I am becoming self-reliant the stronger I felt alone.
•I am also reminded that I cannot control the actions of other people but I can choose to control my reaction.
•I have a godly calling and I am the only person accountable to God about it.
I consider it a great privilege to rediscover myself, my purpose and my relationship to God and people. Maybe it is one of the benefits of my high position (or calling)- thus a reason to become more useful in God’s kingdom for his glory alone. Since today is my birthday, and many have shown their thoughtful love for me, it is the best time to continue my journey again.
•I discovered that I am also vulnerable despite of my strong-willed personality.
•I learned that besides being dependent upon God, I need somebody to rely on. The more I am becoming self-reliant the stronger I felt alone.
•I am also reminded that I cannot control the actions of other people but I can choose to control my reaction.
•I have a godly calling and I am the only person accountable to God about it.
I consider it a great privilege to rediscover myself, my purpose and my relationship to God and people. Maybe it is one of the benefits of my high position (or calling)- thus a reason to become more useful in God’s kingdom for his glory alone. Since today is my birthday, and many have shown their thoughtful love for me, it is the best time to continue my journey again.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Survival of the fittest
Survival of the fittest
JOHN 15:1-17
(Introduction to the Bible/Reflection Paper/Submitted on July 23, 2009)
Remain in the vine (or in me)… remain in my words… remain in my love. Is this a pattern? For what? I am trying to figure out if these commands could point me into one thing. I couldn’t think of ways how am I going to progress in connecting these “remain” imperatives together. Until I see a progressive connection they resemble. Bear fruit (of the Spirit)… bear much fruit (to be his disciple)… bear fruit that will last (to be a disciple that disciples).
In his book The Principles of Biology (1864), Herbert Spencer implied “survival of the fittest” as the multiplication of the ‘fittest’, which he referred to those animals which are the most suited to their environment, i.e. those which are best fitted to survive. In conjunction, a disciple must be “fit to survive” (someone that multiplies). On the contrary, a disciple’s survival (or multiplication) must be dependent to Jesus, not striving on his own. In order to multiply a disciple, someone must be identified with Jesus as his disciple who bears the fruit of the Spirit. Yet only those who have entered a relationship with him had he given the fruit of the Spirit to them. In essence, the fruits of the Spirit are not those that we can produce ourselves but are those that God graciously gives as we are completely relying on him. This is the true disciple of Jesus, the one that glorifies his Father. Furthermore, he desires us to have a loving heart of Jesus. But this won’t move on if we don’t have the fruit of the spirit… love (Gal. 5:22). And a true disciple of Christ knows how to love and continuously loves people. Our love for other people will give us a passion for them. Our passion is to disciple them too and it will pass on from generation to generation. This is the only thing that will survive. This is our fruit that will last.
JOHN 15:1-17
(Introduction to the Bible/Reflection Paper/Submitted on July 23, 2009)
Remain in the vine (or in me)… remain in my words… remain in my love. Is this a pattern? For what? I am trying to figure out if these commands could point me into one thing. I couldn’t think of ways how am I going to progress in connecting these “remain” imperatives together. Until I see a progressive connection they resemble. Bear fruit (of the Spirit)… bear much fruit (to be his disciple)… bear fruit that will last (to be a disciple that disciples).
In his book The Principles of Biology (1864), Herbert Spencer implied “survival of the fittest” as the multiplication of the ‘fittest’, which he referred to those animals which are the most suited to their environment, i.e. those which are best fitted to survive. In conjunction, a disciple must be “fit to survive” (someone that multiplies). On the contrary, a disciple’s survival (or multiplication) must be dependent to Jesus, not striving on his own. In order to multiply a disciple, someone must be identified with Jesus as his disciple who bears the fruit of the Spirit. Yet only those who have entered a relationship with him had he given the fruit of the Spirit to them. In essence, the fruits of the Spirit are not those that we can produce ourselves but are those that God graciously gives as we are completely relying on him. This is the true disciple of Jesus, the one that glorifies his Father. Furthermore, he desires us to have a loving heart of Jesus. But this won’t move on if we don’t have the fruit of the spirit… love (Gal. 5:22). And a true disciple of Christ knows how to love and continuously loves people. Our love for other people will give us a passion for them. Our passion is to disciple them too and it will pass on from generation to generation. This is the only thing that will survive. This is our fruit that will last.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
A call to become perfect, not perfectionist
MATTHEW 5
(Introduction to the Bible/Reflection Paper/Submitted on July 16, 2009)
Matthew chapter 5 starts with The Beatitudes, which at first glance we could find Jesus’ idea of being blessed as far beyond what I knew or perhaps some of us too. The sermon was addressed to rebuke the Pharisees whose idea of being blessed reflects their hypocrisies and to teach his audiences as what it means to be blessed heavenly. People at that time knew that the Pharisees are those who do “great things” as their act of righteousness, something to be regarded as great. While most of the people don’t see their intentions, Jesus knew the motives of their hearts (6:1) – the reason why he called them hypocrites! And for Jesus, to be blessed is to be “poor in spirit”, “like those who mourn”, meek, hungry, thirsty, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, insulted, or those who are neglected (or unseen) by the society, yet our Father in heaven sees them. It made me realized then, that even the greatest thing I could do for God could mean nothing if my intention is to be seen by men rather than to please God. Most pastors and other ministers who are leading people could be fallen to this trap. For this reason, Jesus’ astounding statement “to cut it off and throw it away” any parts of our body that causes us to sin, rather than our entire body being thrown into hell (5:30). He made a great emphasis on the value of the soul than the body. And as followers of Christ, we must begin by being the salt and the light of this world, which is advancing the kingdom of heaven here on earth.
The following sermons on this chapter address the crowd about relationships. Jesus begins with the phrase “you have heard…” to commend their understanding first, and then he corrects their truncated view after. Notice how Jesus value people and it gives me the idea that the more I value them, the more my “acts of righteousness” becomes valuable. The more I value them relationally, the more I am changed inwardly. This process of perfection is to emulate the image of the Father in heaven in the person of Jesus when he was on earth. I am called to become perfect, not to be perfectionist- whose motive can be detrimental to his soul.
(Introduction to the Bible/Reflection Paper/Submitted on July 16, 2009)
Matthew chapter 5 starts with The Beatitudes, which at first glance we could find Jesus’ idea of being blessed as far beyond what I knew or perhaps some of us too. The sermon was addressed to rebuke the Pharisees whose idea of being blessed reflects their hypocrisies and to teach his audiences as what it means to be blessed heavenly. People at that time knew that the Pharisees are those who do “great things” as their act of righteousness, something to be regarded as great. While most of the people don’t see their intentions, Jesus knew the motives of their hearts (6:1) – the reason why he called them hypocrites! And for Jesus, to be blessed is to be “poor in spirit”, “like those who mourn”, meek, hungry, thirsty, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, insulted, or those who are neglected (or unseen) by the society, yet our Father in heaven sees them. It made me realized then, that even the greatest thing I could do for God could mean nothing if my intention is to be seen by men rather than to please God. Most pastors and other ministers who are leading people could be fallen to this trap. For this reason, Jesus’ astounding statement “to cut it off and throw it away” any parts of our body that causes us to sin, rather than our entire body being thrown into hell (5:30). He made a great emphasis on the value of the soul than the body. And as followers of Christ, we must begin by being the salt and the light of this world, which is advancing the kingdom of heaven here on earth.
The following sermons on this chapter address the crowd about relationships. Jesus begins with the phrase “you have heard…” to commend their understanding first, and then he corrects their truncated view after. Notice how Jesus value people and it gives me the idea that the more I value them, the more my “acts of righteousness” becomes valuable. The more I value them relationally, the more I am changed inwardly. This process of perfection is to emulate the image of the Father in heaven in the person of Jesus when he was on earth. I am called to become perfect, not to be perfectionist- whose motive can be detrimental to his soul.
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