Kingdom Business

Another way of seeing anxieties and troubles

2011-11-03T17:34:00.011+08:00

When we are anxious or troubled, we tend to be suspicious and doubtful of ourselves as well as to other people. Our minds become occupied with sustained fear and over-thinking of unnecessary thoughts, images and symbolic ghosts. This leads to losing our self-confidence and we become unconsciously away from the grace of God that promised us, "Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated." (Isaiah 54:4a)

Jesus tells us not fear but to have this confidence that help will definitely be given to those who trust and claim this wonderful promise. The over-preparedness to what is to come is less important than being able to be deeply anchored in the love of Jesus. When our minds are always filled with thoughts about Jesus and when our hearts are closely connected with His heart, anxieties and troubles are promised never to visit us anymore, but this time when they do, they are now gifts that will remind us to put Jesus at the center of our very being.

God is our Commander-In-Chief

2011-09-12T11:28:00.006+08:00

In Joshua 5: 13-14, the Chosen People were near Jericho and about to take it. Joshua saw a man standing in front of him with sword drawn in his hand. He asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The man replied, “Neither, but as a commander of the army of the Lord.”

This event happened many, many years ago and still does happen in our own life journey. When we pray, we tend to ask the Lord to do something for us. We ask the Lord to be on our side as we engage in a life battle; we ask God to be our ally.

We have forgotten that He is our very Commander-In-Chief. We shouldn’t ask Him to be simply our ally in wars WE enter into, where directives are only OURS. We must instead, put our efforts knowing what His will is – HIS directives, pray for enablement, trust and follow it. The Lord will always be prepared to raise a new generation who will do and follow His will. 40 years has been spent by the Israelites wandering in the wilderness because of disobedience.

Our challenge is to identify what the Lord wants us to do. Because when we ask God, “Lord, will you be with me on this or not?” He will simply answer us, “neither!” Our life's Commander-In-Chief follows no orders. His response would be, “take off your sandals, for the place you are standing is holy.” Only then will we realize that, yes, He is the only One who should tell us where to go and what to do. Most often and mistakenly, we choose the path of the wilderness, but let us have this confidence that our Commander’s will is to bring us to the land flowing with milk and honey.

Plant vs Zombies: A Theological Reflection

2011-07-28T12:39:00.002+08:00

1. The literal act of planting is a cultural mandate.

Genesis 1:28 tells us to “fill the earth and subdue it.” Subduing means cultivating a piece of land or a place aimed at making it better than it was before we came. IT IS NOT simply putting everything under our control. Subduing should be our mandate in our present situation or with our present involvement(s) both for the benefit of our co-sojourner and for the generations to come.

2. Zombies should not be allowed to eat our brains.

Zombies can take symbolic forms, metaphorical images or literal realities in our lives. For sure, they exist! The Zombies in our lives should be prevented from eating our brains – this means, not to allow them to occupy our conscious and sub-conscious mind.

They can be emblematic of the irritants or horror stories in our workplaces and personal life journey. In most areas of our life, they take the form of proud, unwelcoming and selfish people - people who are capable of hurting us. Zombies were not born Zombies. They became cursed as a result of the painful and damaging treatments they experienced from other people in the past. They remained undead because of unforgiveness, of hatred, and yes, because of cry for justice. They, like us, are wounded and broken. We too can become Zombies if we don't break the spell by planting seeds of peace, love, hope, understanding and compassion. We must be tireless and unceasing in planting these seeds because Zombies should not be allowed to eat our brains.

3. Even Zombies can "push up daisies".

"Pushing up daisies" is an expression in the English language which means "dead". Someone who pushes up daisies is someone who is already dead.

We must understand that endless waves of Zombies are before us and their arrival is imminent. Our call as individuals [and as a group] is not to eliminate them altogether or all at once. In the book of Deuteronomy 7:22, Moses said, "the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you". This verse tells of God's economy [and management]. This tells us that we can only expand by how much we have grown inside. We can only be given what we can handle.

An Oyster produces bigger and prettier pearl as a result of the irritations produced by its immediate surroundings –by its own Zombies. We are therefore challenged to be able to create something beautiful and precious from all the irritants around us—our own Zombies that enter our lawn. Zombies are integral part of our growth. We can enjoy and be entrusted with bigger territories if we learn to understand that though Zombies can make our lawns messy, they too, can push up daisies.

Gift

2011-07-09T09:52:00.003+08:00

When was the last time we offered or have given a gift to our love ones, to our friends or to other people?

As God's beloved, we are called to be like our Creator -- unceasing and always willing to give to others.

Our PRESENCE, our STORIES, our SMILES and LAUGHTER are readily available and priceless gifts we can share for others. If only each day we will intentionally share such gifts for others, then miracles will take place right before our eyes -- tears of sorrow turning to tears of joy; bitterness turning to betterment; chaos and noise turning to sound of happiness. Imagine the world with people sharing their restful presence, their encouraging stories and energizing smiles. Then we will realize that God's Kingdom can truly be in our very midst right here and right now.

Peace

2011-07-04T18:16:00.003+08:00

Peace is not simply a search for serenity and quietude. It is neither an escape from our current condition or situation.

In the book of John, the Lord Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (NIV)

Peace is embracing our “present realities”. Jesus never promised to take away what is troublesome or fearful. He instead tells us that what He offers is not what the world gives. Our confidence must be at His unequivocal promise, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you”. Peace is balance in the midst of our noisy and chaotic busyness, STILLNESS in the midst of cruel life choices and GRATITUDE to what is here and now.

Receiving Sight

2011-05-20T10:27:00.003+08:00

Many years ago, there were two blind men who asked for their sight from Jesus. The disciples were with Jesus that time and a large crowd was following him. These blind men were sitting by the roadside and upon hearing that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

They were rebuked and asked to be silent.

But they shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Then, Jesus stopped.

He asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“We want our sight”, the blind men replied.

Jesus touched their eyes...

Then, darkness began to be filled with light, and of colors, and of shapes, and of lines, and yes, of unfamiliar, strange and unrecognizable images -- everything is new.

Then, without asking, they followed Jesus.

These men did not become blind. They were born blind.

Sight is a new thing for them. They perceived things by how people describe them, or by how they have felt them, or by how they have smelled them.

Things are different now. All things are new. As well as their eyes – fresh eyes.

Today, our faith is challenged by our blindness. All of us are called to be like the blind men. We must not be discouraged by the strong voices that prevent us from calling unto Jesus to ask for our sight, a new set of fresh eyes and a new way of seeing.

Receiving sight means entering into a new paradigm where everything is uncomfortably unfamiliar. Receiving fresh eyes makes the things once described by texture or temperature now describable by colors, hues, and shades.

The work of the Lord, like the healing of the blind men, requires fresh eyes – the retirement of the once useful tools in our own survival. The Lord’s work is always changing and may not be understood, or worse, neglected due to the absence of fresh eyes.

Let us call unto the Lord, “Lord have mercy on me, I want to see”.

When people tell us to be silent, then let us shout louder unto God, “Lord, have mercy on me!”

Jesus will surely touch our eyes, and we will receive our sight. But who will tell what is white, or black, or blue, or yellow when we are in the stage of cognizing?

Our past perception may now be wrong. The things we perceived in the absence of our sight may no longer be applicable. We must realize that even good things useful in the past get obsolete.

The blind men understood this. And so, like them, our call is to direct our attention and follow Jesus. Our standard of what is white, what is red, what is straight line, round or square should be what Jesus will tell us in our present time, most applicable, most refreshing, most contextual and nearest to the definition of the word “good news”.

A tree in the forest

2011-04-06T12:42:00.004+08:00

A tree in the forest once said, “I rarely see the sun. I hardly see the beautiful blue sky. How can I get more sunlight if higher and stronger trees surround me? They get the bigger portion of the blessings from the sky!"

One day, a very strong storm came. The branches of the tall trees were stretched and bent by the strong wind and heavy rain. The small trees were spared.

One night, an extremely cold wind visited the forest. The leaves and branches of the tall trees almost froze. The small trees were spared.

One summer noon, the highest temperature of the year was reached. The sun's ray is scorching the leaves of the tall trees. The water inside their branches almost dried up. The small trees were spared.

Series upon series of changes in the climate and weather extremes continue.

The tree then realized, “O how wonderful it is to be surrounded by higher and stronger trees! When my time comes, I will also be a shelter to smaller trees, like myself now, resembling what the higher and stronger trees did for me. Those instances may be deliberate, accidental or rather natural. But surely, I may only be blind to see and appreciate that all those instances are instruments that will enable me to proceed to the future...and indeed to my time".

Another truth about faith

2010-12-04T16:49:00.007+08:00

There are realities in our lives that both the believers of the Almighty and those who might not yet be concerned about it experience: All experience the rain, the warmth of the sun, the gust of the air, the touch of a friend and the loving mercy of the Lord.

The similarity is so obvious.

The difference is almost and, often unnoticed.

The believers see these things to be phenomenal and out of the ordinary. The rain, the warmth, the sun, the gust, the air, the touch and the friend are practical manifestations of God’s presence and love. Those that might not be concerned about their faith [yet] see them as something natural and will happen by itself.

The psalmists heading Mt. Zion sing, “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” (Psalm 127:1 NIV)

Another truth about faith is its capacity to give us the confidence to the fact that unless the Lord is behind something, it shall be in vain.

May we tirelessly walk our life journey with faith and dependence in the Lord in the midst of the reality that everything that he permits may not be necessarily good in our sight, but is necessarily better than something where the Lord is absent, because verily and certainly, it shall be in vain.

Peace and Freedom in Jesus

2010-11-12T14:24:00.011+08:00

In a story found in chapter 4 of the book of Mark, there was a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. Her enduring suffering resulted with losing almost all her resources with the hope that she’ll someday be healed. Yet, she got worse.

This woman is one of the many citizens who heard about Jesus and his miraculous acts more than 2,000 years ago. There was no certainty whether this woman truly understood or knew who Jesus was and what his ministry is all about. Until one day, in the midst of a large crowd, this woman went near Jesus to touch his cloak believing that by doing so she will be healed of her infirmity.

There was no record of colored smoke coming out from nowhere, no little stars appeared, there was no shaking of the earth. There was no magic!

Yet, the woman’s bleeding immediately stopped -- the liberation from a long-term suffering has finally come.

Then, Jesus stopped.

He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

This woman came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

The Lord knew who touched his clothes, yet he asked.

The Lord knew who she was, yet he waited for her to come and speak up.

The Lord’s eyes looked around the crowd as if he doesn’t know.

But, at the time of our drawing near to Jesus and at the time of our expression of faith, his eyes will definitely be focused and dedicated to us. His attention, his compassion and his awesome love will be bestowed upon us. “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

This story is also our story. We could also be a member of the large crowd that remains suffering because we have not decided yet to touch Jesus’ clothes. Let not pride or fear or anxiety hinder us from coming near to Jesus. Peace and freedom from suffering await us in Jesus.

Being Loved

2010-05-15T12:17:00.001+08:00

In the book of II Samuel, the Lord has given a promise to David for his offspring, “...I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him...”(II Samuel 7:14-15a)

Isn’t this a wonderful nature of our loving Creator, whose love, for others, may seem clouded with mystery and ambiguity, but is overwhelmingly beautiful to those who personally experience such intimacy?

The Lord literally and metaphorically allowed hurts and pains to come across our way as a reminder of His deep affection to those he cannot take away His love from. When we learn to look at things through heaven’s eyes, we will understand that to be loved is to be a center of attention, therefore to experience sustained instances of being favoured and being reprimanded.

Doing Something Beautiful

2010-02-10T09:41:00.002+08:00

In the book of Matthew, there was a woman who poured an expensive alabaster jar of perfume to Jesus. Many different reactions arose from this action. Few said that it was an act of wasting; a misuse of resources. Some have questioned the woman’s intentions, and some questioned her integrity as a person to do such a thing for Jesus.

Surely, many other questions must have been thought.

But let us remember that the woman did this for Jesus.

Jesus himself set aside the arising earthly issues of standards and morality. The negative life pattern of the woman and her integrity were never questioned. “She has done a beautiful thing to me”, Jesus said. “And what she has done will always be remembered”, he added.

When we are in our darkest moment; when we start questioning our worth, purpose and even our very own existence, let us remember that there are ambiguities we need not and could not clarify in our lifetime.

Our past may be horrible, our capabilities may be scarce, our knowledge may be poor, but these are not issues that will lead us to the joy we are longing to fill in the emptiness of our hearts. Like the woman who poured an alabaster jar of perfume to Jesus, the Lord is always prepared to honor whatever beautiful thing we can do. Anyway, we can only give the Lord what he has already given us.

Light

2010-01-02T17:32:00.003+08:00

The sun may be covered by dark clouds but its light can never be overshadowed.

To exist is to live and die

2009-07-15T11:59:00.004+08:00

When I was in my growing up years, I fear about many things and one of those is "death". I though of it as something that I should not befriend, something that is horrible and dark; a concept I refuse to accept each time it enters my mind.

As I grow older, death has become an important concept for me; something beautiful and necessary:

Beautiful because like the image of the blazing swords that kept Adam and Eve from returning back to the garden of Eden, they were spared from partaking the fruit of everlasting life. Because after the fall, they (we) became destined to die, both symbolically and literally.

I'd love to live to the fullest, but I wouldn't wish to live forever with a body that will eventually deteriorate and dysfunction due to aging. I wouldn't want to live with wrinkled and sagging skin either. Thus, I would wish to die, and I see death in this light beautiful.

The good things we have done when we leave a place, an event, an instance or an occasion shall be remembered because when they die, they become memories. All the good things die, but these good things will give life for others.

Necessary because death is the only way to re-birth. We cannot proceed from one stage to another without experiencing a process of dying and living again. Death gives way to a new beginning; it enables us to proceed to the next. Dying happens every minute and every second of our lives. Everything that passes dies, like time and event, because it can never return. We have reached this far because death had enabled us to freely move forward.

Death is equally important as life. Dying should give us the confidence that we could proceed to life, because to exist is to live and die.

Maging Akin Muli: Music Video

2009-02-09T14:03:00.003+08:00

Transformational Development Course 2008

2008-07-22T17:28:00.000+08:00

Short video I prepared to summarize the 8-day modular course: Spirituality and Culture in Transformational Development.

Care for the Care Providers

2008-06-25T09:30:00.000+08:00

Spirituality and Culture in Sustaining Transformation. A short video presentation for all the retreats we have conducted in 2007 and 2008.

Transformational Development Retreat in Davao City

2008-03-03T14:07:00.000+08:00

Participants in the 'getting to know' part of the retreat.

Participants about to start doing their coat of arms.

Me leading the afternoon liturgy.

Breaktime

Participants displaying their coat of arms.

Sprituality in Sustaining Transformation Seminar-Retreat (November)

2007-11-30T09:44:00.000+08:00

ahh..one of the scenic views that can be seen from the retreat venue.

yes, its me leading the evening fellowship...

Group pictures...

This is me and Dr. Maggay listening to the sharing of retreat participants.

Retreat participants writing their reflections after a group guided meditation.

Spirituality in Sustaining Transfromation Seminar Retreat (September)

2007-09-25T17:41:00.000+08:00

group sessions...

night swimming...

group picture...

Here are some of the pictures of Transformational Development Retreat: Spirituality in Sustaining Transformation held at the Valley of Peace, Puerto Galera. This retreat is designed for development practitioners and individuals who want to have spiritual replenishment, time for reflection on calling and work, and find a way forward in their work. The retreat went well, and the participants went home refreshed, encouraged and motivated. This retreat was facilitated by Dr. Maggay and Dr. Bautista, while Ate Alice, Ate Charm and myself are the training team.

Spirituality and Culture in Transformational Development Course

2007-07-26T17:09:00.000+08:00

Picture with participants from India and Nepal in "Bulwagan ng Panginoon" (The Lord's Hall) of Day by Day Christian Ministry. This is a good venue for cross-cultural experience of Filipino Sunday Worship Service.

Looking for a good place to eat...

Friends from Nepal, Shashi and Prayas.

Participants visited one of the mission works of Center for Community Transformation (CCT) as part of their practical learning.

Group picture...