4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” This is what the Bible has to say as to who John the Baptist is (Mark 1: 4-8 NIV). He was sent by God to prepare the way of the Savior.
People in our neighborhood believe June 24th to be his birthday and they have a peculiar way of celebrating it. They go to the beach, swimming resorts and stuff like that. In our neighborhood, men, women, young and old alike stay by the roadside and throw dippers, pails, and gallons of water to every single passer by. Those who ride and go on foot both receive this splashing event which is actually the highlight of the event.
Some people go dripping wet in school or workplace, laughing and enjoying the fun. To some, this is such a big fuss. Others throw punches at each other when they loose their cool after being thrown a pail of cool water!
Other folks celebrate this so called St. John the Baptist's day with heavy drinking and feasting. How could a saint be remembered in the midst of drunkenness? Still to others, this day just go on unnoticed, just like any ordinary day.
Well, John the Baptist's purpose was to actually prepare the way for the Messiah. So, it is only logical to think that after his day will come the day of the Savior to come but not to save anymore but to judge. Will the Savior, now Judge, find you guilty or not? He sent some to clear His way before He finally comes. Hope you are cleared.
Happy St. John the Baptist Day! : )
Biyernes, Hunyo 24, 2011
Miyerkules, Hunyo 22, 2011
Man and Woman
Not so long ago, one of my students in Sunday school disgustedly announced that he got one mistake in his Biology class quiz for answering God created man instead of evolution. This is the usual controversy young people have to go through in living with the truth. This very fact inspired me to write about man and woman.
In the beginning, "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them," as blatantly proclaimed by Genesis 1:27. Above everything else, the Bible proclaims God did it! man and woman are not here by accident, nor do we exist just to please ourselves. We exist because God wants us to. Every cell of our bodies is carefully knitted by His hands. The "laminin," a component of our bod y similar to DNA, definitely looks like a cross, as exposed by Louis Giglio. The "laminin" in our bodies serve as the artist's signature proclaiming, "This is mine." What an amazing discovery that is.
Man and woman were created by Him and for Him. Ecclesiastes 12:14 clearly sums up the reason of our very existence saying, "...fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man (and woman)."
Now, let us take a look at the lives we live. oftentimes, Filipinos would say, "Life is like a wheel," when asked what is life. That is because we believe that sometimes we are up and sometimes we are down; but the wheel keeps turning round and round that no one could hardly stay unchanged for the rest of his/her life.
We are on a neverending quest of a fuller life. A man and a woman could not absolutely say that success, money, or fame is the end of the journey because they often find themselves empty even with all these things amidst them. You might wonder why, just as many others before you had wondered. If you open your Bible in Romans 5:12, you will see that, "just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all man (and woman), because all sinned," you will know that sin caused us to be empty though we seem full. This is the bad news.
If there is a bad news, there is also good news! The good news is that Jesus Christ is able and the only one who is able to fill the emptiness so you and I can be full again. In this way, man and woman will live life, a true life indeed.
But our story has not come to an end yet. There is still one more thing I want you to know about.
This is with regards to Luke 16:23, "in hell, where he is in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side." This passage talks about the reality of life after death. It simply means every man and woman has an eternal life! But, the big question is where will you spend your eternity? will you be in hell for eternal punishment or heaven for eternal peace?
The key to finding the right choice is by asking for God's forgiveness of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
Now, I have told you my story. It is now your turn to do something about what you have learned. Make haste before your end comes.
In the beginning, "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them," as blatantly proclaimed by Genesis 1:27. Above everything else, the Bible proclaims God did it! man and woman are not here by accident, nor do we exist just to please ourselves. We exist because God wants us to. Every cell of our bodies is carefully knitted by His hands. The "laminin," a component of our bod y similar to DNA, definitely looks like a cross, as exposed by Louis Giglio. The "laminin" in our bodies serve as the artist's signature proclaiming, "This is mine." What an amazing discovery that is.
Man and woman were created by Him and for Him. Ecclesiastes 12:14 clearly sums up the reason of our very existence saying, "...fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man (and woman)."
Now, let us take a look at the lives we live. oftentimes, Filipinos would say, "Life is like a wheel," when asked what is life. That is because we believe that sometimes we are up and sometimes we are down; but the wheel keeps turning round and round that no one could hardly stay unchanged for the rest of his/her life.
We are on a neverending quest of a fuller life. A man and a woman could not absolutely say that success, money, or fame is the end of the journey because they often find themselves empty even with all these things amidst them. You might wonder why, just as many others before you had wondered. If you open your Bible in Romans 5:12, you will see that, "just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all man (and woman), because all sinned," you will know that sin caused us to be empty though we seem full. This is the bad news.
If there is a bad news, there is also good news! The good news is that Jesus Christ is able and the only one who is able to fill the emptiness so you and I can be full again. In this way, man and woman will live life, a true life indeed.
But our story has not come to an end yet. There is still one more thing I want you to know about.
This is with regards to Luke 16:23, "in hell, where he is in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side." This passage talks about the reality of life after death. It simply means every man and woman has an eternal life! But, the big question is where will you spend your eternity? will you be in hell for eternal punishment or heaven for eternal peace?
The key to finding the right choice is by asking for God's forgiveness of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
Now, I have told you my story. It is now your turn to do something about what you have learned. Make haste before your end comes.
Martes, Hunyo 21, 2011
I am a Zombie
I do not see the point of society when I am all alone...I could no longer wear a mask to hide my decaying body...I am wearing away...and my loneliness deepens with every single cell of my biology that dies...there is no cure to this plague that has come upon me...
I feel so consumed by my loneliness...all the jobs that I keep can not drown the misery of being alone that I feel...I am surrounded by a crowd of people from all walks of life but I am so alone without him...my mind cries out in pain but nobody hears my loudest screams of agony...my heart is dead yet my mind keeps on living...how can I have my life when the source of blood that keeps a person alive is shattered...physical death is a relief compared to my condition right now...I have done what is impossible to get out of this suffering...but...in vain...I can never get used to this deep dark damp dank den...
It is never my character to regret what I have done...but now I say that it was never worth my risk and sacrifice...it was the only force that kept me human and now it is gone...it is gone...never to be mine again even just for a single moment...now, I am back to being a monster but worse, I have become a monster to myself...will I find redemption? Will I allow myself to be redeemed? Every single spark of hope in me has died and the power source is no more...
I am a zombie. If only zombies could die...I could find comfort in death...
I feel so consumed by my loneliness...all the jobs that I keep can not drown the misery of being alone that I feel...I am surrounded by a crowd of people from all walks of life but I am so alone without him...my mind cries out in pain but nobody hears my loudest screams of agony...my heart is dead yet my mind keeps on living...how can I have my life when the source of blood that keeps a person alive is shattered...physical death is a relief compared to my condition right now...I have done what is impossible to get out of this suffering...but...in vain...I can never get used to this deep dark damp dank den...
It is never my character to regret what I have done...but now I say that it was never worth my risk and sacrifice...it was the only force that kept me human and now it is gone...it is gone...never to be mine again even just for a single moment...now, I am back to being a monster but worse, I have become a monster to myself...will I find redemption? Will I allow myself to be redeemed? Every single spark of hope in me has died and the power source is no more...
I am a zombie. If only zombies could die...I could find comfort in death...
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