Brothers: Humans and Angels

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

This verse alone tells us that God created the universe ('uni'=one, 'verse'=sentence) in one sentence. In this one sentence, God created both the spiritual (the heavens) and the physical world (the earth).

The heavens is where the angels dwell. Angels are spiritual beings. They don't have a material body. They were created by God's Word. And through the Word, they existed.

On the other hand, the earth is where humans dwell. It is the physical world. The world itself existed through the Word. Humans, however are special.

Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

The LORD Himself went down from heaven, got Himself dirty by forming man from dust and breathing His breath of life into Adam's nostrils.

Now, with this two worlds in place, the Great Novelist, the Greatest Story Teller of All Eternity establishes His setting to write the greatest story ever told. What use would a story teller be if there are no listeners?

Praise be to God for creating us to be His listeners!

Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” Mark 4:9

The story goes this way:

Lucifer was the angel God made to be the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty (Ezk. 28:12). He was in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned him: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. On the day he was created, settings and mountings were made of gold were prepared for him. (Ezk. 28:13). He was anointed as a guardian cherub and was on holy mount of God walking among the fiery stones (Ezk. 28:14). No angel in heaven can match the glory that was given to him. He was constantly at the presence of God at the pinnacle of the third heaven. He was the loyal "older brother" Jesus was referring to in His allegorical parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).

Now the Conflict arose when Himself went down to earth to create man, molding him from dust and creating him in His own image (Gen. 1:27, 2:7). Not only that, God also planned to make the dust-borne creatures into sons, made angels worship them and be their servants (Heb. 1:5-7).

Oh how mad Lucifer had become! Jealousy overcame him. He was blameless in his ways from the day he was created till wickedness was found in him (Ezk. 28:15). Pride overcame him. His fall was so fatal that it became the very reason why Apostle Paul told Timothy not to be hasty in laying hands of the believers and anointing recent converts (1 Timothy 5:22, 1 Timothy 3:6).

Because of His jealousy, he planned to separate Adam from God and sin was the only way. So he entered the serpent and deceived Eve (Genesis 3:1-6, Romans 7:7-11). Thinking He had won, God sent His only Son to die for the very creatures he hated. What a resounding defeat!

(Another vivid description of this story is found here: http://rev1911.webs.com/iiisatansfury.htm)

Little did He know that God created humans so that through them, the angels would also become sons of God through Jesus Christ.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:19-20).


God's love is seen in His mercy and forgiveness. Without disobedience, God wouldn't have shown mercy, thus showing His love-- who He really is.

Thus, God made humans to make the angels jealous, thus making them fall into rebellion because of God's "foolishness".

I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? (Romans 11:13-15)

Since God does not tempt anyone (Jas. 1:13), He made the jealous angels do the dirty job so that humans can also be disobedient.

For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. (Romans 11:32).

So both the heavens and the earth have experienced the love of God. Both became children of God, though the older one is stronger than the younger, by God's call, the older one would serve the younger (Gen. 25:23), as it is, both are still His children. Both came from Him and both shall return to Him.

When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:28

How amazing God's love is. Now the brothers are enjoying their fellowship in a place where God dwells -- Zion.

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:22-24).


And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:3)

How amazing is the wisdom and knowledge and understanding of the Great Novelist!

Jesus and Satan

Probably one of the most widely recognized rivalry all over the world is the battle of the ultimate names that represent good and evil.

Jesus versus Satan. It is the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit versus the unholy trinity father of lies (Satan), Anti-Christ (Lucifer), and the False Prophet.

Of course, in this war, the Jesus is the unanimous victor.

2 Thessalonians 2:8
And then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming.

The world's concept of victory is being able to kill the enemy.

Not so with God.

He is the Author of life. He has the right to give it and take it away. So why does the world so belittle the victory that God has won?

Being able to win your enemy to your side is a better victory than killing them. Since God is love, what more fitting victory than such as that?

Satan's fate has already been sealed. As it is written:

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night the ages of the ages. Revelation 20:10

Horror, isn't it? Hush. Read this article written by my friend first: http://trulygoodnews.blogspot.com/

If you have read and truly understand the article, you'll find out that the lake of burning sulfur was actually for purification. Hell isn't as scary as we thought. Although not everyone would be thrown there, also not everyone would stay there forever. As it is written:

If the work which any person has built on this Foundation any product of his efforts whatever survives this test, he will get his reward.

But if any person's work is burned up under the test, he will suffer the loss of it all, losing his reward, though he himself will be saved, but only as one who has passed through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:14-15

Now it was Jesus who taught us to love our enemies.

But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you Matthew 5:44

And Apostle Paul wrote about our enemies:

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood contending only with physical opponents, but against the despotisms, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly supernatural sphere. Ephesians 6:12

So therefore our Teacher taught us to love our enemies. Not by conforming to their living but by overcoming evil with good.

Now it really wasn't Judas the Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.

Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.” Matthew 26:25

It's actually Satan.

As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” John 13:27

In Gethsemane, Jesus, who is totally aware that Satan had entered Judas, called him "friend".

Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. Matthew 26:50

This same Teacher, same Jesus, is the same One who uttered these words:

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

This means that Jesus not only died for us, but He also died for His friend, Satan.

...for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29

How blessed is Satan to be called Jesus' friend. What a gift!

Sounds foolish? As it is, the Scripture is true:

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25

Victory for the Lord!

You Were There

Intro: C-Dm7-F/A-F#/Bb~G/B-C-C9,C-Am-G7


C Am
I guess you've heard
G7 C
I guess you know
Am
In time I might have told you
G7 C
But I guess I'm too slow
Am
It's overly romantic
G7 C
But I know that it's real
Am
I hope you don't mind
G7 C
If I say what I feel

F G,Gsus4,G
It's like I'm in somebody else's dream
F G,Gsus4,G
This could not be happening to me

C Dm7
But you were there
F/A F#/Bb~G/B C C9,C
And you were everything I'd never seen
Am G7 Dm7 Em7
You woke me up from this long and endless sleep
F6
I was alone
Gsus4 G C-C9,C-Am-G7
I opened my eyes and you were there.


C Am G7 C
Don't be alarmed, no don't be concerned.
Am
I don't want to change things
G7 C
Leave them just as they were.
Am
I mean nothing's really different
G7 C
It's me who feel strange.
Am
I'm always lost for words when
G7
Someone mentions your name.
F G,Gsus4,G
I know that I'll get over this for sure
F G,Gsus4,G
I'm not the type who dreams there could be more.


C Dm7
But you were there
F/A F#/Bb~G/B C C9,C
And you were everything I'd never seen
Am G7 Dm7 Em7
You woke me up from this long and endless sleep
F6
I was alone
Gsus4 G F
I opened my eyes and you were there.


F G C Csus4,C
Can I take your smile home with me,
F G Fm7-Gm7-C-C9,C-Am-G7 hold
or the magic in your hair?

C Am G7 C
The rain has stopped, the storm has passed
Am G7 C
Look at all the colors now the sun's here at last.
Am G7 C
I suppose that you'll be leaving but I want you to know
Am G7
Part of you stays with me even after you go.
F G,Gsus4,G
Like an actor playing someone else's scene
F G,Gsus4,G
This could not be happening to me.

C Dm7
But you were there
F/A F#/Bb~G/B C C9,C
And you were everything I'd never seen
Am G7 Dm7 Em7
You woke me up from this long and endless sleep
F6
I was alone
Gsus4 G Dm7
I opened my eyes and I'm,
Em7 F6
I'm not alone, no, I'm not alone.
Gsus4 G C-C9,C-F6/A-Gsus4,G,C-C9,C
I opened my eyes and you were there.

The Parable of the Rich Man and His Butler (Part 2)

All of the first witnesses to the rich man's son's death were able to go home to the rich man's house and became sons themselves. They have convinced more street children of their freedom. So like the rich man's son before he left, they commissioned some who believe them to tell the others what the rich man and his son had done for them.

As the days passed, many of them started to take the path towards the home of the rich man. The path has the trail of the rich man's son's blood on it. Now the trail was very narrow. That is why only those who had the son's blood can follow the trail.

Now the butler didn't have an claim on the street children anymore for the father had bought them at the price of his son and the son had bought them at the price of his blood.

Despite what happened, the butler still wanted to get even with the rich man. He doesn't want all of the street children to go home to the rich man's house. So he devised a wicked plan.

He ordered his minions to kill the witnesses who testified to the death of the son and the loss of the butler's claim on them. However, the more they killed, even more have found the path and went home. He did everything to distract them. He offered riches to some of them, fame to others, and many other distracting things, but many still chose to take the path and returned home for the blood of the son was upon them.

The butler realized that if he could make them take another way, he could somehow prevent them from going home and end up returning to the place where they used to be slaves thinking that they were already free.

He then stood across the trail near the street children disguised as a woman. Then with characteristic eloquence and charming presence he claimed to be the mother of the rich man's son. Then he offered them an alternate way home if they should believe in him.

Almost all the street children believed in the "mother of the rich man's son", so they followed her and deserted the trail of the son's blood. Those who followed her were actually following the butler's trail back to the same place they were made slaves.

Now there are some whom the son revealed his love. And because of that, they loved the son even more than they used to. They knew who the son was. When they saw the "mother of the rich man's son", they knew it was the butler.

They told those who were deceived by the butler. Some did not believe and killed some of them for not believing and disrespecting the son's mother. Some believed and returned to the son's trail.

When the butler heard that his secret was exposed, he hunted down those who knew about it. He killed some but he just could not get rid of all of them for the rich man had sent some of his loyal servants to protect those who loved his son.

And so the butler declared war against the chosen ones of the rich man's son.

Parable of the Rich Man and His Butler (part 1)

There was once a rich and powerful man. He had a son-- his only son-- whom he loved the most. And his son loved him as much as he was loved by his father.

They went out of the country and took with them street children from a very poor dusty country full of suffering.

The rich man planned to adopt the street children to be his sons and his only son approved of it because he loved them as much.

When their faithful butler who was serving them from the beginning heard of this, he became jealous and he hated his master. He told his fellow servants about what he felt and convinced one third of the master's servants about his ploy.

When their master heard of their plan of rebellion, he called his other servants to fight against the butler and his minions. They defeated the butler and had him thrown outside their country.

The angry butler wanted to hurt his master so he enticed the street children to come with him. They were not aware that the butler was banished from the rich man's presence so they followed the butler ignorantly rebelled against the rich man.

The butler and his minions made slaves out of the street children. They made them suffer. They also blinded them with fun so that they would love what they were doing. Some of them didn't like how the butler treated them. They tried hard to escape but they could not.

The butler called the rich man. He wanted revenge so he asked him for a ransom to save the street children. The rich man offered him his riches but his butler would not accept them. So the butler asked the rich man to give his one and only son in behalf of the street children. He agreed with the butler. His son also willingly submitted himself to his father's will because he loved his father and the street children.

The next day, the father brought his son to the butler. Right there and then, the butler beat up, wounded, lashed, slaughtered, crucified and burned the son in front of the father.

Now some street children saw what happened to the rich man's son. They mourned for him but to their surprise, he lived again. The son told them that he will go ahead to prepare his home for them so that they can follow him. He promised that he will return to totally destroy the butler by crushing his head. So before he left, he commissioned his witnesses to tell the others what he and his father had done for them.

So the street children told the others that they were already freed by the son. Some believed them but some of them loved to be with the butler and did to them the same thing the butler did to the rich man's son. Some, however were able to go home to the father because they believed the witnesses and they became sons of the rich man.

When Providence Rains, It Pours

Who could have imagined that a once humble shelter in Banawa would be as richly blessed as it is now?

From the first day Josephine Quiño set her mind to gain understanding and humbled herself before God, her words were heard. Ships of spiritual blessings arrived, bringing gifts of faithful companions and shepherds. Manna rained and the revelations from God poured on.

Through ups and downs, hunger and satisfaction, prosperity and drought, the humble shelter called Kahayag Mission Group persevered because of the power of God in the love and mercy that is in Jesus Christ.

Now after almost fourteen years of hardcore spiritual battles, manna gathering and thousands of convictions, God has finally blessed KMG with proportionally rich physical blessings.

The Lord provided generous benefactors to aid His beloved flock in its journey. They were the ones that supported the shelter with material things like food and shelter.

Loreto Quiño and his wife Josephine supported the needs of the shelter by their own earnings from paintings and artistic works. The shelter almost crumbled when Mr. Quiño lost his job. Despite that, the Lord God is faithful and He did not allow His servants to fall down.

The Lord touched Al Joe Villahermosa's heart to support the shelter. The Lord blessed him in material things. The shelter was in Banawa back then.

Then the Lord sent Kjell Oliversen, a Norwegian citizen, to fall in love with Marivic Dueñas. They eventually got married and become one in heart to serve the Lord and to support the shelter. Kjell helped the shelter to stay in better houses from Banawa to Bacayo then to a mansion-like house in a place seemingly chosen by God to be at 2476 Reverence Street, Sunshine Village, Capitol site. God also touched the hearts of his Christian brothers in Norway to send help to the shelter. Because of that, the God-loving children of God were able to have their worship service in a comfortable place in Crown Regency Hotel.

The rain did not stop there. A former famous singer and a current captive of love named Jonathan Lewis promised himself in marriage to Mary Ann Villacencio. Along with him is God's dark nimbus cloud of blessings that is waiting to pour on the holy soil of His beloved.

Like an unexpected storm, God sent Oystein Torsas, a philanthropist from Norway. With his God-given generous heart he provided jobs to many. He partnered with KMG to establish an international charity organization providing jobs to poor people. He also helped in giving jobs to faithful volunteers. He also provided a new building for his employees.

For his employees, Oy acquired the Providence Building which is located just a few blocks away from the shelter. The building is a beauty. It's name suits itself. It is really a providence from God.

It was January 1, 2011, Feast of In-gathering, when KMG dedicated the Providence Building to the Lord. After that, throngs of neighbors go to the Providence to have fellowship with God's children and be children themselves-- a feat that no one in KMG has never seen before. And up to now, the rain has not yet stopped.

The prophecies are slowly unfolding before our very eyes.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. [Is. 60:1]

Now the shelter that was once receiving donations and barely living by it is now on a brink of giving abundant two-edged blessings to the world because of the love and faithfulness of the Lord Jesus.

Commitment in Rebuilding the Broken Walls

It's not about the ability;
it's about the availability.

So said my brother in Christ, Jeremiah Kiamco, in a bible study years ago.

Though I wasn't there, the truth in those words still echoes in my mind. It is a truth that most of us tend to overlook. Overlooking the truth of those words seems insignificant back then, but now that the kingdom is in need of rebuilding, doing so could be a fatal mistake.

Eons ago our forefathers, the Israelites, returned from captivity by the will of the Lord as authorized by King Cyrus of Persia. Led by Ezra and Nehemiah, they returned to Jerusalem in Judah whose walls have been broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire. They started the construction with provisions from the king. Because of the hostilities from the neighbors, they worked with their swords at their sides. Though faced with so many discouragements, the snail-paced construction still managed to become a success because the strong hand of the Lord was with them.

Like our forefathers, we too have returned from our captivity of sin as authorized by our Father, the King and Lord Almighty through the atoning sacrifice of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The scene of our return is tough though. The once glorious early Christian church is now reduced to rubbles of cancerous denominations. Let's face it. Gone are the glorious days of the early church.

It cannot be denied that we are called by God as the Ezra and Nehemiah of our days. We are the re-builders of the broken walls of Christianity. Since God's gift and His call are irrevocable, we can't afford to take this honor and privilege lightly.

We are co-workers with and in Christ Jesus. Therefore as the Bride of the Lamb, we are committed to submit to His will and serve Him and Him alone.

Commitment is no joke. It is a decision that has to be made carefully. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. [Ecc. 5:4]

No wonder when asked for a commitment, most of my brothers and sisters in Christ would rather not say anything. Of course that includes me. We are not making commitment with anyone else but God. And we know how many times the Israelites renewed their vows before the Lord and yet failed. We are just humans as they were. We all have the tendency to fail our commitment to God.

What wretched children we are! How can the kingdom benefit from failures like us?

Thanks be to our Lord Jesus Christ who by His eternal love for us, signed an everlasting covenant with the Father through His very own blood. It was He who committed Himself for us to the Father. It was He who said “Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.” [Heb. 10:7] It's only Jesus Christ who can do the will of God. He did it alone at the cross.

The reason we are afraid to commit to the Lord's will is because of the selfish desires that are taking over God's throne in our hearts. No one can serve two masters at once. We can't serve both God and our selfish desires.

What can we do then? By ourselves we are nothing. It's not about our ability because even the most able, most skilled and most talented servants still fail to serve God and turned to serving their own selfish desires— and with great care!

It is about our availability to the greatest service which is also the greatest honor and privilege the world has ever known-- serving the Lord. Therefore we should get rid of the selfish desires in our hearts because those who cleanse themselves from the common purposes will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. [2 Tim. 2:21]

Because of this, we have this hope that we can do all things through Christ who is our strength. [Phil. 4:13] No matter how many discouragements, difficulties and mistakes we encounter we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. [Rom. 8:28]

We should be contented with having Christ as our everything, our portion and our great reward, but we should not be contented in seeing God's beloved city in ruins. The Lord said, “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” [Hag. 1:4]

As the song goes: Greater things are yet to come. Greater things are still to be done in this city.

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.’ [Zech. 8:9a]

Our Lord Jesus Christ is not in need of hands to work; He is in need of hearts to live in so that the will of God may be done by Him through His Spirit in our hearts and in our lives.

Mister Saint Unholy Child (The Santo Niño Deception)

The Santo Niño de Cebú ("Holy Child of Cebu") is a Roman Catholic figure of the Child Jesus highly similar to the Infant Jesus of Prague. Like the image's counterpart in Prague, the figure is clothed in expensive textile robes mostly donations from fervent devotees in the Philippines and abroad. The statue is the oldest Catholic relic in the Philippines and permanently housed since 1565 at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City, Cebu. [Reference: Wikipedia.org]

It seems like all of Cebu is so festive about this Sinulog event celebrated in honor of an image of what they call an Infant Jesus.

While some religious Catholics are faithful in their religious activities, still many others (the huge majority) are too preoccupied with the festive activities like discos, parties, tattoos, booze, rendezvous with friends and the like. They were not even aware of their church's doctrine on this little god; they don't really even care at all.

How did all of these start?

Every Cebuano knows that the image was given by a Spaniard to the first catholic converts in the Philippines. Years later, the Cebuanos revered the image as the Jesus himself. They mixed pagan practices and Catholic practices which resulted to seemingly immortal traditions; the Sinulog dance is an example.

Why would they portray Jesus as an infant? According to some priests, it is mainly because of Jesus' statement in Matthew 18:3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Now about the deception. God clearly commanded in Exodus 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.". What is Santo Niño? Who's image do you think it is? Jesus? Isn't Jesus in heaven? The making of the image is already a sin against a direct command of God (which is actually one of the ten commandments, but Catholics clearly omitted it in their doctrine).

Then God said further, Exodus 20:4 "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me".

Then the idolaters will say, "It's not to the image that we're bowing but to the one it represents."

God will answer them:

Isaiah 40:18
"With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him?"

Who has ever seen God that he may illustrate Him? No word is enough to describe Him. No form is enough to illustrate Him.

Actually, the image of God has already come. Colossians 1:15 "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation". Only Jesus Christ, the Son of God is worthy to be the image of God.

Who then is the image of the Son? Is it the bloody face of a brutally beaten bearded man in Veronica's towel? The Veronica scene may be seen in some movies portraying the death of Jesus, but it's not actually found in the Bible. Who then can describe the exact appearance of the earthly Jesus if the camera was only invented centuries after His death?

Or didn't they know that,
And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.2 Corinthians 3:18 (Amp)

So If an adult human image of Jesus is not enough to describe Him, how much less a child? Clearly their understanding on Jesus' statement in Mat. 18:3 is plainly physical. For Jesus entered the kingdom of heaven as a glorified being, mature and not a child anymore.

Then if Santo Niño really is Jesus, the Spaniards who introduced it to our forefathers should have taught love to our forefathers because the nature of Jesus is love (see 1Jn. 4:16). But what happened? The ones who ought to teach love oppressed our forefathers and produced violence instead. Jesus Christ was really right when He said "You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7:16).

What then are the fruits of the Spaniards' oppression? Did they produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit such as love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? (Gal. 5:22-23) Surely there is no love in killing even if it is for the country, nor joy in revolution, nor peace in war, nor forbearance in rage, and still many more to mention.

The real Jesus is not made up of wood, stones, metal or cloth. Rather He is made up of love. We became God's children because of His love and sacrifice for us.

Therefore, "Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man."Acts 17:29

Rather, this then is what we have to do: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7

May God open your eyes to the truth, in the Name of Jesus Christ!

A Man With No Emotions

I have hated pain ever since the beginning of my life. Since the time of my birth even up to the time when I gained understanding.

Like I wasn't alone! All people hate pain. Nobody wants to get hurt. It's man's nature to avoid pain. They wouldn't have studied medicine, researched for ways to improve health, get into diets and not to mention discover morphine and other pain relievers.

Well medicines are somehow effective in dealing with physical pain; however, there is no such medicine solid enough to cure it.

Well maybe there are some.

Emotional pain is more like a mental pain. Some people go to psychiatrists, some go for counseling, some just drown their hearts in liquor just to forget the pain, and still some go for the hard way by taking drugs.

Why am I writing this? It's because of a mistake I made-- something that almost cost my life.

My life has been lashed with storms of emotional pains, though it's not even comparable to some who has made pain there best friend for always being there. I've been rejected (Oh yeah, almost everyday), despised, ignored, slandered and many things, though like i said, it's not as harsh as what others have experienced.

Then came the disappointments. Even in my service to God, I still felt the emotional pains I used to feel when I was still in sin. The demons kept on reminding me of those things and it pisses me off. They disrupt my focus and even caught me in their traps. And because of that, there arose a fear inside me--a fear of giving and being rejected.

Time came that I had enough of those things. I prayed to God to give me wisdom to battle those demons. I prayed that my emotions would get swallowed up by reason and sound knowledge.

And God, as always, never failed to answer my prayers. He revealed a way. It was in my psychology class that God showed me a part of my brain that is responsible with emotional memory and a part that is responsible with rational thinking, logic and reasoning.

After that, I did something with my very own brain. I used my authority and tweaked it as though I was rearranging the registry of my computer's installed programs and saved files. I upgraded reason, logic and reasoning by taking some memory from emotional disk. And viola-- a new Tips, a close-to-an-android one.

For a brief period of time, I enjoyed freedom from emotional pain. Woooh! It feels good to be invulnerable, I thought to myself. Nobody can bring me down this time. State your case and I'll refute thee with mine wisdom and understanding. Bwahahahaha.

I even had an excuse: I KNOW what love is. I can contend with other persons who doesn't know love as much as I do. I can even contend with myself when I'm being tempted to have passion on someone. And yes, falling in love again was not in my choices nor my capabilities nor my tendencies anymore. I can speak about love. I can teach people about it. I can write a hundred books about it.

But ironically, I just can't. I haven't written any poems in weeks. I found it hard to write. I had the ideas but I just can't express them. I found it hard even to mend a broken heart like I used to do.

People around me were suffering. I used to be able to help them even when I was still in pain myself. I used to just listen to them. I couldn't speak enough because I still lack the words of advice. I failed to realize that the way my friends found comfort in me is through me and my listening ear, my warm smile, my brotherly tap, and of course my secret prayer for them.

It's as though my reservoir of love has gone dry. My knowledge puffed me up and I was breaking down with the lack of love. The cold was slowly embracing me that time.

I know love alright, but what good is it? I couldn't feel it's presence in me. Well I couldn't feel anything at all. I just KNOW things. But did I?

Good thing God loves me. He made me realize I forgot one thing about love:It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. And coincidentally, it's found at the seventh verse in the thirteenth chapter of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.

Love always perseveres. If there is no pain, discouragement and obstacles, there would be no use for love to persevere.

Love is laying your life for others. Even Christ Himself suffered pain for laying His life for us, but He persevered. There is always pain in a living sacrifice.

Surely enough, it's no use to know what love is if it doesn't live in your heart. It's no use to speak about it if you don't listen to it.

I know love alright and if it is not in me, I'm as good as dead.

If My Heart Has Grown Cold...

...there Your love will unfold.

Lately I've been banging my head with a lot of technicalities. I have been doing some research work for the company I'm working for.

My job is not a joke. I had to write letters to big time politicians. Then what am I to them (in a worldly matter)? I'm just an obscure 18-year old barely out-of-school youth. How could I convince them? I don't know. That's why I have to study a lot of their profiles so that I can appropriate my letter to their cause.

However, the downside is that I started to spend my time lesser in more fulfilling tasks like increasing my knowledge in the Word of God, teaching others, nurturing souls, preaching the gospel and ministering of deliverance.

Yeah I consider my job as similar to Paul's tent-making in Thessalonica. It gives my a sense of dignity. Despite that, I have to budget my time--big-time. Oh man! I still have to go to school. After classes I log in for duty. I barely have time to sleep. I also have to help in my family's business in selling cooked food.

I cannot afford to have idle time, though sometimes I take time to be alone-- just me (and of course my best friend, the Holy Spirit) to think of worthwhile things and deep secrets. Thanks to that. I'm still alive.

I'm still alive, though my once compassionate heart has grown cold. Still God never failed to show me His grace everyday. He allowed me to make mistakes and showed me grace by making me stand up again.

Oh thank God for placing a need in my heart-- the need for grace.

Reckless Me

Proverbs 12:18
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Though the Spirit of the Lord was not reckless in saying that, it pierced my heart like a sword.

I wonder how many people I wounded with my reckless words. I wonder if most of them are still bleeding up to now. I wonder if they would still be my friends.

Yeah the truth hurts. No wonder the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Heb. 4:12)

It hurts you enough to heal you.

Reckless words are those spoken without the Spirit of God. Those are the ones spoken through a reckless spirit. They bring trouble.

That's one weakness I still have to pray to God to teach me to overcome.