How Sweet the Sound

The latest season of American Idol started a couple of weeks ago with auditions in different cities across America.  I enjoy watching the auditions of American Idol, it’s my favorite part of the show.  You get to see some great talent in the auditions and watch captivating stories of some of the participants.  And at the same time you get to watch some amusing auditions that will make you laugh out loud as well as the dramatic auditions.  There was one particular guy who auditioned in Orlando and because of his refusal to leave the set was forced out in handcuffs.  The irony behind the whole fiasco is the song he sang for his audition, Amazing Grace.

I wasn’t so surprised that the young man was in handcuffs because prior to his audition there was already a preview that it would happen, but when he started singing the song, Amazing Grace, that’s when the irony started to build up.  We can sing the songs that proclaim the greatness of God, His amazing grace, His love and the good things He has done, but when push comes to shove and our faith is tested, our integrity on  the line, what will we do?  It’s difficult to live out a Christian life when everyone is expecting you to fall and give in.  We do things that we know we shouldn’t be doing like that young man who shouldn’t be singing (not trying to malign him, but I agree with the judges).  On our own strength it’s impossible to live out the Word of God, but the grace of God is available and makes the impossible possible.  That’s why it’s so amazing!

“Beni Swa Leternel”

The New Year begins with a calamity hitting the island of Haiti.  News about the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti has been flooding all news channels in recent days.  A devastating tragedy that has the death toll climbing in the hundreds of thousands.  After beginning the New Year with high hopes and expectations, one can be easily fazed with these headlines.  A disaster of this magnitude dims whatever brightness the future may hold.

As I was going through some articles regarding the quake in Haiti I came across a particular paragraph that held my attention.

“Those gathered outside tents, on lawn chairs, sitting in the middle of empty streets, sang their hymns. One phrase in Creole could be heard repeatedly both inside and outside the hospital walls, as if those voicing the words were trying to make sense of the madness around them. “Beni Swa Leternel,” they sang. “Blessed be the Lord.” – New York Times

In the midst of adversity and difficulty the people in Haiti can blame God for the misfortune that has fallen upon them.  But rather than point fingers they lift their hands singing praise to God.  We may have our own problems and trials, which I doubt can even be compared to what the people of Haiti have experienced, but do we sit around and mope, find blame for our troubles or do we give praise to a God who deserves it no matter situation we find ourselves in?  It may look crazy, but the next time you go through a difficult time try to give thanks and praise to an ever faithful God.

Happy New Year!

A new year is upon us and it’s a time for a fresh start, a time to start anew.  Every beginning of the year we normally make new year’s resolutions to change a lifestyle or faith goals that we are believing and hoping will take place in the coming year.  I haven’t yet set my faith goals for the new year up ahead but one goal that is a given year after year is to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus.  Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been listening to the song, Deeper by Planetshakers for the last couple of weeks.  It’s a song with a simple message of desiring more of Jesus, yearning for more of Him, not being satisfied with just reading or hearing about Jesus but really longing for Him.  Here’s the song and the lyrics.

I want to know You
I want to hear Your voice
I want to feel You
More than before

I want to touch You
I want to see Your face
I want you Jesus
More than before

More of you Jesus i want more
More of you my Lord
More of you Jesus i want more
More of you my Lord

Take me deeper than I’ve been before
Take me further than God long for more
Take me higher than I’ve been before
Jesus I want more
Jesus I need more

More of You
More of You Jesus
More of You
I need more of You

According to my clock the new year is just 5 and a half hours away.  I believe that God wants to bless us and fulfill His promises for our lives this year 2010 but I hope that we will desire the one who is faithful to fulfill those promises.  That everyday we would hunger and thirst for more of God and develop a deeper relationship with Him.

Have a blessed new year everyone!

Psst – used to capture someone’s attention inconspicuously

Recently I was in Cubao, walking from the MRT to the LRT 2 and when I got to the footbridge that connects Farmers Plaza to Gateway, I heard a guy, bent over looking down towards the walkway of Araneta Coliseum, say that there was a fight.  When I looked up across the footbridge it was all clear.  Everyone on the footbridge was on the railing trying to catch a glimpse of the fight.  Those who just stepped on the bridge headed straight for the railing to see what everyone else was looking at.  I was drawn as well but as I looked down from the railing I couldn’t really see anything except bystanders stopping and staring within the proximity of the fight.  My angle from the footbridge wasn’t any good so I just walked away laughing at myself for being drawn to the idea of someone getting a real bad beating.

While there are many things happening all around us there are only a few that catch our attention.  According to Mark Hughes, author of Buzzmarketing, there are six buzz buttons that will start a conversation even with a random stranger.  The six things that get people talking are the unusual, the outrageous, the hilarious, the remarkable, the taboo and secrets.  Such as the unusual accident of Tiger Woods earlier this week, the outrageous massacre of innocent people in Maguindanao and the remarkable recognition of Efren Peñaflorida as “2009 Hero of the Year.”  There are a few that are newsworthy but most of what creates a buzz soon just buzzes off.

Christmas is just around the corner and it’s a time to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  He was born on this earth to bring good news to all men.  News that has been buzzing from generation to generation.  News that merits sharing it with friends and loved ones.  People during the time of Jesus found it hilarious that He was claiming to be the King of the Jews and that it was taboo to call Himself the Son of God.  The unusual accusation of an innocent man resulted in an outrageous crucifixion.  He died and on the third day there was an empty tomb, which some tried to keep a secret.  But no one can suppress the remarkable fact of Jesus’ resurrection, which has not only caught the attention of men but the hearts of men.

Manny of all trades, master of none.

Last Sunday, Manny Pacquiao established himself as one of the greatest boxers that ever lived, not just in the Philippines or in Asia but all over the world.  I saw an episode of the Pacquiao vs Cotto HBO 24/7 when he was training in Baguio city.  During this episode, Typhoon Pepeng hit northern Luzon and wreaked havoc across Baguio.  While people suffered from the devastation left by the typhoon, Manny could only sympathize with the victims because of his focus on boxing.  He knows how important it is to stay focused on his conditioning and preparation even though he’s a celebrity in the Philippines with his own TV show, own movie, having multiple businesses, being a husband and a father.

It’s amazing to see how focused Manny Pacquiao was in the training he went through for this fight with Cotto, which I’m sure is the same intense focus for all his fights.  And whether it’s in ministry, in work, in school, in everyday life, we need to be focused.  We can get caught up in so many different things that are unnecessary and simply consume time and energy.  We can be good at many different things but not great in any particular thing.  Sometimes we need to know how to say, “No.”  No, to the things that distract us, things that spread us too thinly, things that don’t contribute to what we want to achieve or accomplish.  Craig Groeschel in his book, it, says when you increase your focus, you decrease your options.  What are the things you need to say “No” to in your ministry?  in schoolwork?  in your job? in order for you to be less distracted.

When you’re focused not even a natural disaster can sidetrack you.

𝄞𝄞 Take a look at yourself and then make a change…

One thing that is very constant is change.  The culture of today is changing so fast that it’s so hard to keep up.  Everything has changed from the music to the clothes to the language.  Students today are very much different from the time when I was a student (Wow, I can’t believe I said that).  And even though I’m passionate about students encountering Jesus and following Him, it takes more than passion for students to follow Jesus.  The other day it hit me that I’m a decade older than an incoming high school student and such a gap made me realize that I’m out of touch with them.  I may know the kind of music that they listen to, the kind of TV shows that they watch, but knowing how they think, how they relate, how they communicate is a totally different ballgame.

Am I doing things and just hoping and praying that what I do will result in students changing their views about the Bible, changing their mindset about church?  Or am I changing my perception about young people, changing the way I communicate and how I relate and connect with students?  Change is necessary but it is also critical to know what to change.  Winston Churchill said, “There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.” Keeping up with the changing times is a challenge and it’s a challenge that we ought to take head on if we want the next generation to know Jesus.

Dear God,

You had created something very special on this very day back in 19XX.  A woman was born into this world and learned about your love and grace at a very young age.  She grew up to be a godly woman pursuing the purposes that You have for her life.  One particular purpose You had was the relationship with a young and dashing suitor who would not give up pursuing her, leaving him to travel halfway across the globe to follow her and eventually marry her.  You have blessed their marriage for the last 25 years and have added to the lovely couple three wonderful, brilliant and good-looking kids… oh and also talented.  Your grace and love has allowed her to be a loving wife and a devoted and caring mother.  Your Word has been her firm foundation, Your love her everlasting comfort and Your grace has been her day to day strength.

I would like to say thank You for giving me that very special woman as my very own mom, who gave up a successful career to become a full time mother.  And out of her love for my siblings and I, she disciplined us and taught us Your Word.  Ever since I was young she kept on pushing me towards Jesus, which I’m thankful for because it was a push towards the calling You had for me.  And I’m sorry Lord for the times that I rebelled and disobeyed her because of something she said or did to me.  I know she may not be the perfect mom but she’s the perfect choice You had in mind to be my mom.

Thank You for adding another year to her life and I pray that this new year will be overflowing with Your fulfilled promises for her and an outpouring of your grace and Spirit upon her.  May she continually find her strength and comfort in You.

Thanks,

Bojo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

I Love you!

No ID. No Entry.

During the 3PM service last Sunday, Raf Oca was telling me about the robbery that happened earlier in the day.  A group of heavily armed men dressed up looking like members of the bomb squad broke into the Rolex watch store inside Greenbelt 5.  The incident resulted with one of the robbers dead on the floor, an undetermined amount of watches stolen, and two policemen awarded for their bravery and courage.  The aftermath of such a high-profile crime has its list of people to blame.  One group of people probably on the top of the list are the security guards.

Some say that the mall security guards were overpowered by the armed men, while others say that they were deceived by the uniform of the robbers.  They told the security guards that they were responding to an emergency call in Greenbelt 2 (source) so it’s pretty believable especially with their outfits.  What I find ironic is that they were identified as bomb squad members responding to an “emergency,” but they were carrying M14 and M16 automatic rifles as well as a grenade launcher (source).  Why would a group of bomb specialists responding to a fake bomb threat carry high powered rifles?  Were the security guards even informed about the “emergency” or that there was a bomb squad on the way?  Times like these bring out my investigative instincts.

The mall security guards are probably the first line of preventive measures for crimes inside the mall.  I believe that we also have to take preventive measures as Christians.  If we’re not founded on the Word of God, if we don’t read and study the Bible and just rely on what we hear on a Sunday or from other Christians then we can easily be deceived and manipulated.  There are many philosophies and ideologies that may look and sound Christian but are not founded on the Bible.  I don’t blame the security guards because I wouldn’t want to confront someone with an M16 rifle either.  But as Christians we need to be able to stand up for the truth of the Word of God and not be overpowered by what the world says.

“If the Bible were the most boring book in the world, dull, uninteresting and seemingly irrelevant, it would still be our duty to study it.  If its literary style were awkward and confusing, the duty would remain.  We live as human beings under an obligation by divine mandate to study diligently God’s Word.   A duty is not an option.” – R.C. Sproul

Children see. Children do.

This video was launched in Australia around three years ago for a campaign on social change.  The campaign emphasizes the need for adults to set a good example and break the cycle by making their influence on the next generation a positive one.  I don’t really know how effective the campaign was but I hope that it influenced families across Australia within the last three years.

When I found this video on YouTube I read a comment that said, “They probably used a camera trick or photoshop or a fake dog, they wouldn’t hit the dog.”  All this person was concerned about after watching that video was how the dog was treated.  And many times I find myself dumbfounded and stunned at the things some people value.  In the midst of a generation succumbing to drugs, premarital sex, apathy, inappropriate behavior, people can still find a more compelling reason to ignore the next generation.  A generation that could possibly become the next body of public servants who put taxpayers money to good use and not in their pockets.  A generation that could likely put up a corporation that finds ways to provide thousands of well paying jobs.  A generation that may have the cure for deadly diseases affecting the lives of millions.  A generation that could disciple people groups who have never heard of the name ‘Jesus.’

These events may or may not happen in my lifetime but I do believe it can happen.  You may call me idealistic, but I have so much belief and hope for the next generation that in spite of the negative adjectives of the youth today, there is still so much potential and promise.

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Who is to lead?

Jon & Kate Plus 8 is a docudrama on TV about their family with two sets of multiples, 8-year-old twins and sextuplets who just turned 5.  The show documents the Gosselin family life and the challenges of raising up multiple children.  I’ve seen a couple of episodes of the show and I found it quite fascinating to watch the couple raise up their kids, especially the sextuplets.  Last June divorce papers were filed after 10 years of marriage and will be finalized later this month.  I don’t know who is to blame for the separation, there are a number of fingers pointing at Jon and the rest at Kate.  What I do know is who is to lead, the husband has the duty of providing leadership in the family.  The husband’s leadership role should start with spiritual matters and then flow into the practical side of family matters.  He has a duty as a father to discipline and raise up his children in the training and instruction of the Lord.  The separation of the Gosselin couple is very common even after being together for a decade.  This story and that of thousands of other couples may lead some to think twice about getting married, about having kids, about family life.  Some may not believe in marriage anymore, in being in a lifelong commitment.

And even in the midst of these disheartening stories there are those who take on their roles as husbands and as fathers with pride and passion.  Those who lead their families with the fear of God and the leadership mantle that has been placed upon them.  The list of these mighty men that I look up to and follow are just too many to mention.  But I would like to take this opportunity to honor a man who has become a mentor, a counselor and a friend to me, my boss, my senior GCD, Pastor Dennis Sy.  I’ve gotten to know him personally over the last two years and I have learned so much not just by what he says but how he lives.  I remember when starting the church in Greenhills, he spent a lot of time away from home so at times he would bring Thammie and Alyanna along with him (I don’t think Mika was born yet).  He would make it a point to practice what he preached about spending time with his wife and with his kids.  I remember when caught in between having to spend time with his family and an important meeting or event, I could see how crushed he was for having to sacrifice time with his family.  And because of the example of men like Pastor Dennis I’m inspired to become a husband and a father myself.

Oh, and…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PASTOR DENNIS!