A help from a friend...

I just learned it in our church history class how did Americans really help us and how did they defeated Spain. I could not remember my elementary and high school teachers in history teaching me about the mock battle happened in Manila. Though this event disappointed some Filipinos, especially those who knew about it still I appreciated what protestant American did. That they really sacrificed a big amount just for our freedom from Spain. Change in our government during those times did not take place right away, but what I was very thankful for was the help that American gave for our country. Their role in Philippine history as well as in Philippine protestant history had made a very great impact and a big change in our country. They were used by God for us to be able to govern our nation by giving us independence. Despite the truth that they bought us from Spain still their motives and intentions  were clear and that was to help us. Until now they were still our friend.

We could see from the past until today that Filipino and American Christians were partnering together in spreading the gospel in different parts of the Philippines. They were still used by God to support ministries in Philippines. Jesus as our friend, also used Americans to become our friend that helped and supported us even before until now.

To God be All the Glory!

Explore and make a difference!

David Livingstone, a missionary doctor in Africa, was known to be  "missionary explorer.  He explored Africa and discovered many rivers and falls. Through his explorations, he paved the way for other missionaries to come to Africa. His life, as a missionary explorer, made a difference in Africa. We have learned that he was the one who advocated anti-slavery.

The life of David Livingstone has opened my eyes to every opportunities in this world where in I could make a difference. I might not be an explorer like him, but wherever God would lead I should be making a difference, so that people may see Christ in my life. As graduation day is fast approaching, my mind is also thinking and planning where to go next. I am so worried about it that sometimes I could hardly sleep at night. But one thing I learned and I said it to myself, that wherever God would place me, in whatever ministry He is leading me to I should make a difference.

The Beauty of God’s Creation

There is more to appreciate when we let our eyes wander and see the wonderful creation of our God. A man named Jonathan Edwards, a great revivalist preacher, saw the world as the evidence of God’s material design throughout his life. In fact, the woods were his favorite place to pray and worship God, looking at beauty and solace of nature.

I have learned from his life the importance of letting ourselves appreciate the beauty of the world around us. Seeing the amazing and creative hands of our Creator. And just praise Him for everything that He has done for us. This leads me to see the importance of really setting time alone with God. We may not be like Edwards who liked to stay in the woods to pray and worship God, but we should find our own “woods”, a place where we could be refreshed, renewed, pray and worship God.

When problems, struggles, and hardships come while we do the ministry that God has entrusted unto us, just pause and retreat for a while. Give yourself a break and look around and appreciate the wonderful creation of God J.

Firm Conviction...

Zwingli, a reformer, whose beliefs has influenced many Christian churches today. He was the one who removed superstitious in the church and restored the Scripture in the church. Basically he believed in believers’ baptism only but sadly he compromises with the state regarding infant baptism just to maintain their trust. What I have learned from his life was that when our belief is being tested, we should be firm with our conviction, given that it is biblical.

This warns me then, that in doing the ministry I may encounter people whom I would treat as very important people, who has helped me a lot in doing the ministry, and who become really close to my heart. Yet their practice or belief are not biblicaly correct, and when they would not listen to the truth, I should be able to stand with my conviction and should willingly let go of the relationship that I have with them. This may be so painful but if they would not listen to what the scripture teaches and continue to follow the traditions that they believe were true then it’s time to step back. These kinds of people are the red flags in the ministry, we should be aware of them, that we may not compromise with them. Be firm with your conviction but be patient and loving in dealing with these kind of people.

A fearless life (John Crysostom)

John Crysostom, a golden mouthed man, one of the great church fathers in Western church, and was declared to be "doctor of the church". I learned from his life, that when you’re determined and when you believed that what you’re doing is good you’ve got to be fearless. You’ve got to stand to what is true no matter what and be bold enough to declare it. Crysostom was known to be a great preacher, offering his listeners impressive sermons. He was not afraid to tell the truth to people.

Likewise, as Christians, we’ve got to be fearless in sharing the truth to all people. We ought not to fear rejection and persecutions. We may not be like Crysostom who was very fluent in public speaking but may our inadequacy lead us to trust God more as we obey His command in telling people about the truth. But we should also recognize that Satan has blinded men from seeing the truth. Our enemy is very active in trying to frustrate our desire to endure in sharing the gospel to people, and this means that we have to be more passionate in telling them the truth. Knowing that our responsibility is to share the gospel, and God’s part is to lift the veil so that they may turn back to God. We should pray persistently then for the salvation of all people with a determined heart to go and proclaim to everyone the salvation in Christ. Not fearing what might happen to us.

Life that impacts!

As we study the people that were involved in our church history, a man named Ambrose of Milan, have caught my attention. Ambrose of Milan was a defender of salvation by faith alone and in his lifetime he accomplished many things. One of his successes was his impact to the life of St. Augustine, the man who read his writings and sermons and was convince to accept Christianity. Amazing isn't it? I was so amazed by how God would turn someone toward Himself. The impact of the life of Ambrose to Augustine was so evident, that we could learn from history that Augustine even became one of the great leaders of the early church and also influenced other peoples lives, specifically the reformers.

This made me think of my own life and have led me to evaluate myself on how am I living my Christian life. As ministers of Christ, we are aware of the fact that people are looking at us. And we have to be good role model toward them, especially on how we live our Christian life. Though sometimes, we may no longer see how our lives have made an impact to those people that we are ministering with in this lifetime, let us still continue to model a faithful and enduring life in Christ. So that those who come behind us will also do the same.

To say that we have to live a life that impacts other people's lives seems easy, but in reality it is hard. For we know that as human as we are we commit mistakes. But even then, we should not be discouraged. Let them see that we are not perfect but also learn to do what is right. Pursue what is right! Model a life that is faithfully serving our Savior.

Yes, our future is certain but don't be passive then!

A man named Martin Luther once said that "even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree." Which means that even if he knew that tomorrow would be the end of the world he would continue to do what is good. In the life of Luther, one could see how he fought for what was right. That even when the world was against him, even if he did not know what might happen to him, he did not recant to what he believed. 

Likewise our future is certain. Our salvation in Christ is certain, that if we die we will go to heaven. But this does not mean that we just have to be passive thinking that I'm already saved so I will do what I want in this world. Yes, we have this confidence that after this life we will be in the presence of our Creator. But then, let us not be passive, just sitting and waiting for the time when we'll breath our last. Instead this assurance must inspire us to continue to do what God has wanted us to do for His glory. Sharing the good news to others and faithfully doing the ministry or ministries that He is and He would be entrusting unto us. However, let us also be reminded that following Christ is not easy. Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy. This assures as that we will experience different challenges, trials, and even persecution. But we must not give up and turn back. Instead let us continue to do good and serve our King with joy. 

The life of Martin Luther has inspired me to always do what is right no matter what, for Christ. Stand for what is right as long as you're not against with the teaching of the Scripture. Let us continue to do good in in spite of!

Do not conform!

When our Christian life is going well, no persecution, no problems, then we could say that I have no problem with conformity. For I am sure that I am doing the right thing. But we are aware that as Christians there would be lots of challenges that would come in our lives, wherein our faith are being tested. Looking back to the history of Christianity, it is so sad to think that some Christians conformed to the wrong doings of some people for the sake of their safety. I could not blame them for that. But this made me think of my own Christian life. What if I would be put in a ministry where my belief is being tested by the people that surrounds me? Should I conform to them for the sake of the  good relationship that we have, which I don't want to be broken? Or should I stand on what I believe no matter what the cost may be? I believe the later is the best choice. It is the right thing to do as long as my views are supported by the Scripture.

To conform, when trouble occurs, seems the right thing to do to avoid more problem. So that we would have a troubled-free life. But of course as a follower of Christ it's a big NO! Because in reality no life is troubled-free. Conformity should not be our option when we experience difficulty in the ministry, instead we ought to let the truth prevail. Just cling on to God.

When God directs event...

I learned from the history of Christianity how God used different people for His good and perfect purpose. God's wisdom in directing the event in history of Christianity was evident. Even on how He guided the journey of Christianity throughout the ages. If we looked at the event that happen in the past intently, we could see  the hand of the Lord setting everything in place for His glory. God used different people to carry out His perfect plan. Roman government had played a great role in the history of Christianity. Roman emperors, either good or bad, were used by God for the development and growth of Christianity.

This made me think of my own life. When I tried to look back to the events that had happened in my life for the past 19 years I could see the leading of the Lord. I could see how He used different events in my life which contributed to what I am now.  Before, those events seemed non sense to me. I even tried to ask myself, why did I do it? Why God allowed  those bad things to happen in my life? But later on I understood that all those things were part of God's way of molding me. For through it, I learned that God in His good and perfect plan allowed things, either good or bad, to happen in my life.

When God directs event we can be sure that its outcome is always for our best. We just have to trust Him always.