Coming home from church last night, Ryan and Janina rode with me while Nathan and Joaquin rode with their mom since they used another car coming from a birthday party.
A conversation between Janina, my 10 year old and Ryan, my 6 year old that made me bust out laughing went like this...
RYAN: I don't like Robert (not his real name). He's weird.
ME: Ryan, be nice. Don't say that.
JANINA: Ryan, you can say it this way - "He's different and unique. I don't get along with him because you dislike the way he acts."
Spoke to Mommy Academy this morning. I still think they made a mistake inviting. They got the wrong guy. They should've invited my wife, Jenn.
This is what I shared... here goes...
Remember the movie "Christmas with the Kranks?" Luther and Nora's daughter went out of the country to serve in the Peace Corps. Thus, that particular year, they felt that Christmas would be without meaning because their daughter won't be there. So they thought they'd "skip Christmas" that year and just go on a cruise.
How many of us have probably thought about 'skipping Christmas' because of all that this season entails. How do we actually simplify Christmas?
Here are a few thoughts.
1. RE-DISCOVER THE PURPOSE.
Last week, Nathan gave our 6 year old, Ryan, a yoyo. I think he wasn't sure what it was for he kept on tangling the string. I think he thought the purpose was to keep the string entangled.But the purpose of a yoyo is for it to roll up and down and enjoy it.
Christmas was the time when God thought of the idea to rescue mankind from the mess he was in. The Bible calls that sin.It is critical for us to understand why we celebrate what we celebrate. That is the starting point of untangling the clutter of Christmas.
2. RE-EVALUATE PRIORITIES
First things first. To play with that yoyo, Ryan had to untangle the string before it can accomplish the purpose it was designed for.
Questions to ask ourselves... what is important to us? What is valuable for our family to do?
Jenn and I had dinner with some of our very good friends last Saturday. It was a fun one and at the same time very sobering.
While having our meal, our host, Jerome and Therese, asked a question to be answered by everyone around the table. "If there was one thing you can be thankful to God for this year, what would that be?"
It was very interesting to listen to the answers.
One said, "Typhoon Ondoy..."
Another said, "God's faithfulness in our marriage though we separated, we're back together."
Another replied, "Almost losing our baby to a deadly illness."
Last year, my wife, Jenn told me that her dream is to go to Paris. I thought, "Ok darling. Maybe when we are in our 50's or 60's, we'll make it to Paris. I'll have to save really hard and work double time to make that happen.
"Me of little faith, right? You got it.
A couple of weeks later, an angel swooped down from heaven (or he seemed to be an angel). He asked me, "Hey Paolo, I've racked up miles in my frequent flyer card, would you want to bring your wife to Paris?
My answer? "Hmmmm... ok.... I'll ask Jenn and we'll discuss it." (Trying to be as cool as I can without exploding inside.)
Within the same week, another angel swooped down from heaven (or so it also seemed to me). My Tita emails me and says, "Paolo, I have timeshare points for Marriott Paris. Would you like to use it?" Again, as calm as I could, I answered my tita with a grateful 'yes.'
To top it off, Jenn's mom who lives in the States came home yesterday to be with the kids while we're 'lost in Paris' (naks). A nice advanced 15th year wedding anniversary celebration for us.
God is simply amazing! Sometimes we box God and limit His capability by saying, 'He can only do this' or 'it might be too much for me to ask for that' not realizing that He is a Father who desires to richly bless His kids.
"God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20)
Read a funny post by ANONYWIFE about Race for Life by Real Life Foundation. Click here to read it.
My personal revelations from my experience this morning...
Woke up 4am to prepare. (Exhausted coming from a surprise bday party of this guy).
Fidgety... anxious...worried. First time to actually run a race. Signed up for 5k... it was a pride thing.
My thoughts as a I was running...
After 10 feet - "I'm way out of shape."
After 2.5 km - "I think I can do this." Passing several who 'stalled' and started walking. I actually was getting prideful.
After 3.5 km - "I'm in trouble." I knew I was in trouble when Col. Cesar Mejico's 8 year old son passed me by.
After 4.5 km - "I'm dying..." Glad I was going to heaven because of what Jesus did for me. Needing resuscitation because I'm now crawling to the finish line.
At the finish line, our head usher at the 5 and 7 pm service, Leejay Teves asked me, "How was it?" I said, "Not good." To this, he replied, "Looks like it."What in the world!
Here's my top 5 why I like Ferdie's no. 10 in his post (sermon-based small group).
1. People who come to church tend to be more attentive since the message is going to be discussed in the small groups that week.
2. Because it will be a point of discussion during the week, there's increased note taking during the message.
3. At the small group meetings, interaction and discussion will crank up because they've listened in to the message and had the time to process it.
4. Although the small group material will not be a regurgitation of last weekend's message because it will focus on a different set of verses to study, the more important focus will go to application and making sure the Word is lived out.
5. Because we meet at our local churches for the Word during Tuesdays and again with the Metro Manila Pastors on Wednesdays, the sermon kitchen is full with ingredients to come up with an excellent Word for the weekend coupled with a small group material to boot.
Really looking forward to what God will do in the next several months.
The last blog I wrote (click here in case you missed it), has gotten a lot of feedback. Got comments and additional questions from people.
A few more random thoughts on the subject...
THE PENDULUMI was talking to a couple of people yesterday on separate occasions. We were talking about people swinging to the other side of the pendulum.I realize that when we started (Victory), there was a lot of zeal that needed some wisdom. In fact, there were clear danger signs of legalism.
However, while that was something we needed to be cautious about, I also said that we are not to forget what brought us to where we are today. During those days, there was a strong emphasis on purity and holiness. God has a standard. The Bible is clear about those standards. And no matter what 'progress' or 'innovations' there may be in culture, certain standards need to be upheld.
Because of an apprehension of swinging to the side of legalism, I fear that we might be in danger of swinging to the side of tolerance. We can't. We mustn't.
Can I drink and still be a Christian? Is it a sin to smoke? Is oral sex wrong since there's no actual intercourse?
These are a few questions I get asked.
First of all, I have no intentions of turning what is black and white in Scripture into something grey. Neither am I trying to turn something grey to become black and white. That's the reason why I will refer to what the Bible says.
While there are certain issues that the Bible doesn't explicitly talk about, this doesn't mean that it is quiet about that particular topic. There are certain principles we can glean from so that we can answer the questions we might have.
Got out of a meeting this afternoon with Pastor Joey, Doc Jun, Jonathan Ramirez, Emil Abello, Christian Dionglay and Dan Fernanadez. We were mulling over the idea of starting a taglish service around 10 am at Market! Market!
Why?
Our Taglish afternoon services are pretty full in the afternoon. It will also be a great venue to reach new people. Jesus and His disciples brought the gospel to where the people are - even the the Market Place (pardon the pun).
While having breakfast with my kids this morning before going to school, we read a verse that talks about humility and character. Then the topic of trust in the area of leadership came up. We talked about why some of our nation's leaders are losing the trust of the Filipino people.
One of my most favorite verses in the Bible is found in Acts 4:13.
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
I've always marveled at this verse because I can so relate. The only reason I am able to do what I do is because of the His grace and power over my life. He clearly articulates that in John 15 when He said, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing." In fact, apart from Him, I am nothing.
It's easy to get cocky. When you hit a goal, score a point, achieve a particular target, you and I quickly think we're big shots. There's only one Big Shot.
As we go about our business this week, remember, the power behind all that we are able to accomplish is the fact that "we had been with Jesus."
Oh, by the way, the word "ordinary" in Acts 4:13 is translated from the word 'idiotes' where we get our English word 'idiot'.
Have you ever been asked the question, “Can you…?”
Let me recount a real life scene.
The scenario: Daniel together with all the wise men were about to be executed because the astrologers and ‘wise men’ couldn’t interpret the King’s dream. (Daniel 2)
Daniel steps forward and tells the king not to go ahead with the execution for his dream will get interpreted.
Daniel stands in front of the King of Babylon.
The king asks a question, “ARE YOU ABLE TO tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”
Daniel responds, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he was asked about BUT THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN who reveals mysteries.”
Daniel, in humble estimation, declares a principle in life,
I CAN’T BUT GOD CAN!
As you and I go about this day, we need to speak this over and over,
“I CAN’T BUT GOD CAN… I CAN’T BUT GOD CAN… I CAN’T BUT GOD CAN…”
And guess what, He’ll surprise you and all the more you’ll be convinced that you can’t but He definitely can!
Warning: Maybe morbid for some but it was quite a reminder for me.
I had a meeting yesterday with Pastor Joey and a couple of other pastors. We were discussing a few things we needed to fix.
In the discussion, Pastor Joey mentioned something I've heard years ago yet it hit me in a different way yesterday.
He was talking about passion. He was speaking vision. We was downloading 'umph' in all that we do.
Our time in this planet is limited. That is true whether you are in your 50's, 30's or 20's or teens. And that is the reason why we need to give it our best shot every single day.
What has God called me to do in my life? This year? This month? This week? Today? At this very moment?
Then he said something that hit me like a left hook from Manny Pacquiao.
"One day, I'm going to be in that casket. And way before that time comes, I often tell remind myself, what will the people say about the man in that very coffin?"
That hit me like a bullet train.
What will people say when I'm gone?
With this question in front of me always, my life, then is going to be lived with passion and umph to do whatever it takes to accomplish God's will.
Because at the end of it all, it's not the applause of men that I'm after, but the applause of heaven. Hearing God saying "Well done, good and faithful servant" is definitely more than enough for me.
“It’s rarely a blowout… it’s usually a slow leak.”
The younger son in the story of the prodigal son set off to a distant country after asking for his inheritance from his father. While what he did was arrogant and unbecoming of a Jewish young man that was frowned upon by society and culture, it wasn’t like he was evil and wicked.
He had his own idea of living life. He wanted independence. But he had no idea what he was getting into. What he went through hit him like a left hook from Manny.
No one wakes up Monday morning (like today) thinking, “Well, well, well… this week is an excellent week to backslide! I think, it’s a great day to start setting off a different direction from what God has planned for me.”
The younger son drifted.
While that happened to him, it can definitely happen to the best of us. That is why it is absolutely important to stay connected to the Source.
Remember, it’s rarely a blowout… it’s usually a slow leak.
My doctor, Dr. Cheng of Medical City discharged me noon today. The symptoms of Kawasaki are gone. My coronary artery is slightly enlarged with some water in it. But we are trusting God for complete healing. We were told that it usually resolves itself. It won't resolve itself because God will...
Good thing is that we can do the 2D echo to monitor my heart as outpatient so I don't have to stay in the hospital and eat hospital food which is not my most favorite.
To all who prayed with us and helped us through this challenging time, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
I spoke to a guy this week who told me he wanted to lead. Though his heart was not in the wrong place, I warned him that a lot of leadership is not found in a title or position.While I appreciate how John Maxwell defined leadership as 'influence', Jesus defined it differently.
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. (Mark 10:42-44)
Leadership is serving.
This I saw yesterday during our Metro Manila Staff Meeting. Jam, who is a phenomenal worship leader... click here to read more...
I saw this picture the other week and it intrigued me a lot...
First, I thought it was a painting of black camels. Then I realized that it was a real picture which was taken top view. If you look closely, you'll see the brown camels and the black camels resemble their shadows.
Amazing how different perspectives give us another view of things.
What looks like a simple bunch of regular camels become an awesome sight when you see things from another angle.
Reminds me a lot about life.
There are lots of stuff that you see as plain, regular and ordinary but looking at it from a fresh perspective, something pops out as amazing and special.
"God help me to see things from a different angle today so that I see awesome and amazing things that you have put together, orchestrated and arranged."
Spoke to Mommy Academy this morning. I still think they made a mistake inviting. They got the wrong guy. They should've invited my wife, Jenn.
Jenn
Read a funny post by ANONYWIFE about Race for Life by Real Life Foundation.
After attending Sticky Church conference with 
The last blog I wrote (
Can I drink and still be a Christian? Is it a sin to smoke? Is oral sex wrong since there's no actual intercourse?
Got out of a meeting this afternoon with Pastor Joey, Doc Jun, Jonathan Ramirez, Emil Abello, Christian Dionglay and Dan Fernanadez. We were mulling over the idea of starting a taglish service around 10 am at Market! Market!
While having breakfast with my kids this morning before going to school, we read a verse that talks about humility and character. Then the topic of trust in the area of leadership came up. We talked about why some of our nation's leaders are losing the trust of the Filipino people.
One of my most favorite verses in the Bible is found in Acts 4:13.
Warning: Maybe morbid for some but it was quite a reminder for me.
I read a proverb to my kids over breakfast. I often do.I have breakfast with them every morning before going to school for a couple reasons...
I spoke to a guy this week who told me he wanted to lead. Though his heart was not in the wrong place, I warned him that a lot of leadership is not found in a title or position.While I appreciate how John Maxwell defined leadership as 'influence', Jesus defined it differently.