Complaints and Faith

Habakkuk’s complaint is a little similar to my own experiences – experiences that are full of “why me, why not them,” “Am I too stupid,” or “Is God really mindful of me?” type of questions/situations.

“How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? (Habakkuk 1:2 NIV)”

But in the same book, God answered, and I pray that I will be reminded of this especially when in tough times:

“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3 NIV)”

“See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness — For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:4, 14 NIV)”

At the end of the day, God is moving, working, and helping. He “is in His holy temple (Hbk 2:20a)”, watching, guiding. Therefore, what must done is, “let all the earth be silent before Him (Hbk 2:20b)”

New Year and A Stone Memorial

“So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:4-7 NIV)”

At the first days of 2nd Semester AY 2013-2014, I remembered writing breakthroughs that I experienced during 1st Semester on this white stone. I searched for the stone and I found that the words written are already erased, so here I am writing the verse of my year and the resolve that God wants me to have on the same stone. Really really excited for another year of changed self and mindsets. :))

“Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:15-18 NIV)”

Insights in Reading Plato’s “The Republic.”

Yehey! Just finished Plato’s “The Republic” after weeks of struggle since it is not (in this case) acad-related and acad-required.

It is quite nice to see some of the points raised by Plato. For him, philosophers should claim the management of the State. Plato defined philosophers as quick in understanding, possesses good memory, full in courage and generosity.

In a modern context, this is something to look upon. Imagine if the leaders of the state possesses even a little bit of temperance. They are highly qualified in their posts. They are full in understanding and wisdom, and they use these traits for the uplifting of the State, while having an effort to disregard personal gains.

In a modern context, one may not be a philosopher as Plato states. But it is deemed necessary for the State to have administrators with traits stated above. Yet this is not to be fully expected, as Plato also said: “There will never be a perfect state or a constitution, nor yet a perfect man…” Yet he still believes that there will be a chance, for Plato, if leaders will be “philosophers.”

As this post ends, let me insert a few notes from the 1987 Philippine Constitution: “The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.” (Art II Sec 27) I still believe for a State that will not just make this section as an ideal statement but as an implemented principle. And that is what struck me the most while reading Plato, the power and the capacity to believe, even if your belief is deemed as an ideal and not a reality.

My Dog is a Christian (by the world’s standards)

If I would take the world’s definition of a Christian, then my dog is a good Christian! He doesn’t drink, doesn’t do drugs, doesn’t lie, and is a servant obedient to his master.

But the Word says that a Christian is a person whose life is surrendered to Christ, someone who is in awe of the gospel. His life isn’t centered by rules, but centered in the fact that he lives by the grace of God and accepts this fact wholeheartedly. His passion is not just to be saved from the dangers of hell, but to have a relationship with his Master.

Powered by Grace, filled with God’s love. A sinner saved by the Messiah’s blood.

Jesus, the Rejected God

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:3 NIV)

A setting full of irony. The Person that the Jewish people so ever desired that prophecies about Him almost filled the Old Testament. Yet, upon His arrival, He was questioned. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, was rejected.

You cannot blame the Jews. The King, whose arrival was expected to be extravagant, one-of-a-kind, and extraordinary, was born in a stable. Stinking with piss, dung and animal scent, truly the stable is a place not fit for a king. He is a king born in poverty.

The rejection continued to stick in His adulthood days. As He started His ministry, people questioned His beliefs. Religious people back then placed Him in 24/7 surveillance to try to find a grave loophole that can be used against Him. Even His family doubted His teachings. Maybe they viewed the King as a psychopath. Or a foolish man trying to annoy the Pharisees. People pointed out His work background, a carpenter. “This can’t be the Messiah.”

He was rejected because of His background.
He was rejected because of His beliefs.
He was rejected because of His lifestyle.

He was rejected because He is different, He is too revolutionary.

He knows suffering. He knows solitude. He knows rejection. He knows your suffering.

And thus, He is not just the God of the righteous. He is also the God of the lost, of the rejected, of the poor, of the outcast, of the marginalized. He is God of everyone, despite the background, beliefs, and lifestyle.

He suffered from rejection, up to the point wherein people He is crucified due to disgust and anger people feel towards Him. He gladly accepted the greatest rejection, being separated from God. He gladly accepted receiving the pain, knowing that every thrust of the nail brings freedom.

He did that for you. He did that so you can be freed from all sin, from all rejection, from all depression.

He did that because He loves you.

And He wants you to be saved. Now.

Christmas: The Ordinary Day that Became Extraordinary

“Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known. (Deuteronomy 11:26-28 NKJV)”

Thanks be to God for always giving us a chance. That Jesus made a way for us to get blessings instead of curses.

For we are originally in a curse. It is our default. By His justice, we are all bound to destruction.

Yet we are saved by His mercy. We are saved by His love. We are saved by His promise.

We are saved by the Man-God. And His birth day is fast approaching. Let us commit this season to lessen ourselves and making Him more in our lives.

Let Christmas, the birthing of the Messiah, be a daily and a fresh encounter to all of us! Merry Christmas!

#MaagangBati #ChristmasIsEveryDay

O Come Let Us Adore Him!

Those who can confess their lowly state and sinful nature, those who make and see themselves impure in the face of the Pure, are those who can truly magnify God and uplift the glory of the Son, Jesus Christ.

“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, (Luke 1:46, 47 NIV)”

Let us seek His presence more. Make everyday a momentum to make Him shine more.

BANGON PILIPINAS! (RISE UP PHILIPPINES!)

I really pray for the President that he will admit his administration’s mistakes and shortcomings (if there is talaga). Personally, if a leader does that, I’ll come and embrace this kind of leader, and will make every effort of mine to help the leader in his/her efforts to move on, learn from his/her previous mistake/s, and finally lessen the chance of committing that same mistake again.

Personally I recognize that there will be no person in this world that can make or lead a perfect administration, hence what I hope is to see a leader humbling his/herself and realize that things will never be always come in his/her way.

Therefore, while it is given that I respect the authority of our President, it is also given that he should not escape nor hide from criticisms regarding his administration. The President should hear the voices of the masses, and then try to come up with a solution and try to stop blaming the previous administrations. The President should have the guts to make people realize that this is still an administration worth trusting for, and that there is still a shining Philippines worth waiting for.

BANGON PILIPINAS! Let us all RISE UP!

Fight for the Philippines!

“But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat…Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:9,14 NIV)

Let us continue praying for the families that were greatly affected by the Supertyphoon Yolanda (Int’l Name: Haiyan). Let us also make use of our time and resources to help them.

Just like what the verse says, prayer is accompanied by action (i.e. posted a guard, fight). Let us fight for our fellowmen and keep posted for any threats that still surrounds the nation especially the affected cities!

Declare His control for the things which are out of our control.

University of the Philippines – Diliman, University Student Council IskoOps (Yolanda/Haiyan Relief Operations)

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY TYPHOON YOLANDA!

November 11-15
10am-7pm
Venue: TBA (Kindly refer to the USC page for updates)

For volunteers and donations, feel free to contact us at +63917 864 0333 or +63917 872 5396.

You may donate any of the following:
Water *PRIMARY
Food (canned or packed)
Clothes
Toiletries (shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, etc.)
Mosquito nets
Cartons
Blankets and/or comforters
Medicine (antibiotics, decongestants, paracetamol, etc.)
*Monetary donations will also be accepted

You may drop them off at the following IskoOps sites:
USC Office, 2nd Floor Vinzons Hall (Kindly leave them with the guard)
College council offices

*For monetary donations, please deposit to the following account:

Bank: PNB
Name: University Student Council UP Diliman
Account No.: 393989700047
Branch: UP Campus Branch

For tracking purposes, please inform the USC via our Finance Councilor (+63917 841 5593) for monetary donations that will be made.