Server's Prayer Retreat

Finally we have gathered together for a time of rest and fun and prayer. Whoever thought that fun and prayer cant go together? it was a wonderful combination. The place was superb a preserved mini forest away from the maddening rountine of ministry and city life. We enjoyed much eating and praying. The food was excellent, most especially due to the excellent heart of Teddy and his crew who prepared it.

It was also a time of tears and a time of getting to know each other up close. Prejudice slowly turned to understanding and a fresh hunger to pray. The prayer time was deep and aunthentic what a marvaleous sight to see and smell the fragrance of brokenness. It was also multi racial something that is so unique at least in our church than in any other chinese churches in the philippines. Uniqueness of culture is obvious and respected, grace abounded. We sung our hearts out from hymns to oldies love song and other favorites. Fun indeed.

In retrospect im still trying to internalize what God is doing and what the Lord is saying to me and to the men in church. i think for the next few days this will occupy my mind. Im looking forward as God unfolds the wondrous. The world will yet see what God can do to those lives who are fully consecrated to Him.

Letter to Jon

Dear jon,

Let me share some thoughts regarding the various reactions of the people about David Brown's Da vinci code. Personally i think no evangelical would call da vinci code a gospel truth.It is down right false! I think the word "fiction " should settle it all. Various voices are now heard via different media outlets. As a minister and a media practitioner, i think it is necessary that information be made available to whoever wants to know about it. Having said that does not mean that it is endoresed at gospel truth. Information is unstoppable. A greater restraint must now be exercised by the individual who will decide on how the information will influence him or her. We must remember that in this ministry and media as well we function as guides and not gods.

Admittedly film is more convincing than bible instruction or doctrinal roots. However, instead of being paranoid abount the da vinci code let us creatively know our opportunities and limitations Let the evangelical scholars side by side with the da vinci code proponents share their studies and persuasions. Like the good news of the gospel we can only share, a lepper telling another lepper who cleanse him. Being in the ministry of radio broadcast our audience is "sovereign" we can only tell them and somehow equip them to detect false hood when they turn their radio on. Truth need not scream! Lighthouses simply shine!

Let us avoid the extreme of being paranoid and indiffferent on the other side. in this time of doctrinal crises and abundance of heresy from the da vinci code to self proclaimed christs let us contend in fairness and grace, lest we become the monster we hate. let us not forget that the Lord is on the throne and that God honors the fervent prayers of His people. simply put let us make use of our opportunity to speak our minds about the issue, to be informed about it and to properly admit our limits such us we are not able to set people free. Only Jesus Christ can do it but we can point people to Him as the way the truth and the life. We must not be silent, we must not also panic and join the media battle of religion, and instead of being a credible voice we become another form of cheap comedy.
Thanks for doing your part in exercising your God given responsibility to inform and influence as a journalist.

All for now

Minister's Prayer Meeting

Last Monday prayer meeting in church is unique in its sense. It was a gathering of pastors for the purpose of prayer. Less than 10 local pastors attended. Rev.Richard Altork gave an excellent message then it was followed by a solemn time of prayer. What a sight to see God's ministers on their knees! Personally, it has made a deep spirtual impact in my life. I'm also grateful for my co pastors in church whose heart cry is prayer. They inspire me to serve.

The simplicity of the meeting is rare no pomp no gimmick simply a group of people who wants to pray. Im prayerful that the Lord will do something only He can do a movement of prayer among the pastors. We are looking forward for the next meeting where we all can experience God's touch. It was a time where hunger for God is obvious and a time with Him is precious! No one is above another, we were all needy desperately needy of God Himself!

Im looking forward for next Monday!

unespected encouragement

I adminstered the ordinance of the Lord's supper tonight. I must admit this ministerial task can really be rountinary. Thank God that He can find a way to bring you out of the rut via an unexpected encouragement. A high school boy by the name of alex approached me and said how the Lord has touched his heart from being uneventful to exciting. He says that he came to church without a goal, but after hearing the message he now has a goal and that is TO KNOW GOD MORE!

The thrill in embarking in this new journey of knowing and hungering for God as mirrored by this young man brought back memories on my own spiritual pilgrimage. I remember how was so thrilled to discover who Jesus to me back then. I recall the same enthusiasm i had talking with preachers. In short glimpse the Lord brought in my heart a timely encourgement though from an unexpected source, that the things the Lord has done through the messages preached is never in vain. To long for Jesus Himself is a new brewing passion in my heart.

My situation is not ideal, im in the middle of a raging storm. Im not even sure when this will stop. I will be hypocrite to say that i have not wished for immediate relief. If only there's a rocket to transport me somewhere else, i will take the first flight! Somehow the Lord is slowly changing my perspective as a i sense that God is changing my longing. Longing to know Jesus more than just immediate relief from the storm. Hearing from alex, made me pause and praise the Lord for indeed He is still the author of these unexpected encouragement.