Religion VS. The Gospel

Religion is man-made
The Gospel is God-made (Gal.1:11)

Religion is man's attempt to reach God
The Gospel is God's attempt to reach man

Religion is based on self-righteousness
In the Gospel, only God is righteous

Religion is man-controlled
The Gospel cannot be controlled

Religion is characterized with man's effort

The Gospel is purely God's effort

Religion is do, do, do
The Gospel says, 'done'

Religion is man's strength
The Gospel is God's power for the salvation of man (Romans 1:16)

Religion is an attempt to create a god you can control
In the Gospel, God took the initiative to save us given that we are powerless to control our eternal destiny.

(Need to add more?)

Read More

Pasta Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

extravergine olive oil

onions

garlic

rock salt

black pepper

rosemary

magic sarap

tomato sauce

sugar

coffee mate 

cheez whiz

kikiam

pesto rosso

basta paghaluhaluin nyo lang!

Read More

Martha VS. Mary

Listening to Jesus is much important than the preparations themselves.

In Ephesians, it has been said that 'we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works in which God prepared in advanced for us to do.'
It was God who had made the preparations. He has prepared us (the one to do the work) and the WORK itself.

God is the One initiating the idea, giving the strength and the opportunity. We've got no credit for the exploits we do.

Read More

'Dead End' Stories

Here are some of the bible characters who encountered a seemingly hopeless situation:

Abraham- barrenness
Israelites-Red Sea
Elijah- dried brook
Widower @ Zarepath - last jar of oil
Jesus-the cross

Who else?

Read More

“So I have loved you…” John 15:9

“So I have loved you…” John 15:9

                                Connects the temporary to the Eternal
                                     The undeserving to the Holy
                                           The clay to the Potter
                                               The ragged to the King
                                                     The poor to the Creator

Read More

Favorite Cartoon Show List

What more could make our childhood days fun than cartoons? Here are some shows which I watched then.

1. Princess Sarah (napaiyak ako dito. I was so depressed nung inaapi na siya!haha!)
2. Blink
3. Zorro (ganda ng version nito)
4. Nelo at Patrass (i forgot the title. malungkot rin ito. hindi kasi ako sanay sa mga palabas na namamatay ang bida)
5. Snow White
6. 3 Musketeers
7. Zenki
8. Chacha
9. Sailormoon
10. Romeo at _______ (basta yung kambal na may special powers)
11. tom and jerry
12. bugs bunny
13. Heidi
14. Garfield
15. Cinderella (tagalog version)
16. Yung may kanta na 'laruan, libro, damit na pampasko!'

Read More

Why Eat Kimchi?

At last after two years I was able to taste kimchi again. But then my insides some sort of heated up. Since I experienced gastritis, my stomach overreacts the moment it accommodates what it considers foreign (oo, foreign ang kimchi!). But man, it tastes soooooo good!

I tried to research the health benefits of this food (so that I may have reasons to tell my parents when they see me bringing home a bottle). Here are some:

1. it promotes healthy digestion
2. it cleanses your intestines; it helps heal ulcers.
3. it helps clear up UTI's
4. it helps lower blood cholesterol! It's an artery-purifier.
5. it aids in blood clotting
6. its ingredients contain high amount of fiber, vitamins A and C and iron.
7. it contains stuffs which have antioxidant properties

for additional facts, click this link.

Read More

Trials

Trials point us upward. Suddenly we'll realize that heaven is our home. After experiencing numerous troubles it dawned on me that God was redirecting my focus from the temporal to the eternal. Sadly, I have loved the world too much.

We were made for eternity. Realizing this truth releases in us the enabling power to stand firm in the Lord, knowing that the sufferings we are experiencing here on earth are temporary. (Phil. 3:12-4:1).

Read More

Santa Maria, Laguna

Calangay 

Calangay

Calangay

c5

Brgy 2

c5

Calangay

Calangay

Read More

Dos Delicacies: Masasarap na Chibog sa Aming Baranggay

a

Read More

Vintage Collage

Read More

Tata is a Musician

Sabas San Pascual

DEC. 5, 1900-MAY 26, 1984

Read More

Blessings Behind Pain and Injustice

Someone gossiped about you.

The one you trust betrayed you.

Your close friend abandoned you for another.

When we experience things such as these, how do we respond?

Do we bury them inside?

Do we blame God?

Do we look for an escape and go to another place?

Do we find a way for revenge?

Do we give up on God?

In times like these, it's very hard to think straight. You look for someone to understand you, but they're not around. Locked inside the cage of self-pity, you lack the strength to go on.

Yet, there is a way out. Faith is the way out. Oh well, this five-leter-word is power-filled. But before we discuss how faith delivers us, let's talk about what it is not.

Faith is not an intellectual assent. Many think that when they know facts about the Bible, they have faith. Faith is more about the condition of the heart and not the propositions inside the head. Faith is a deep, deep trust anchored on the Savior, not on situation, people nor possessions.

Faith is not a feeling. Feelings come and go. Faith is holding on to His Word even when the situation says otherwise. It is being persuaded that God will do as He promised, no matter what the situation. He will fulfill His purpose, not because we deserve deliverance, but because He is true to His Word.

If you have faith you'll think that the failure or hurt you're experiencing is not the end of the world. It changes your perspective regarding the things you are going through. You see yourself as a victor, not a victim. You are sure that God will make a way for you and are willing to wait on Him. And as you wait you don't get impatient nor in despair because you have tasted that God is better than any other answer or relief. You learn to worship Him for who He is, not because of what He can give or do. HE HAS BECOME YOUR TREASURE. And as you learned to delight in Him, you discover that the things in this world no longer holds you.

Read More

DISCOVERIES: Bignay

Bignay branch found beside the Country Mansion,
Laguna, Philippines

Mind you, I'm a nature-lover too! I love to take pictures of plants and appreciate the mountains, seas and the fields.

When we went to Talangka this afternoon, we discovered a bunch of freshly-cut branches laid beside the street where our 'resthouse' (or bahay sa bukid in tagalog) was built. I learned that its tree is called bignay.

I've done a little research regarding this plant and realized that its kind is found in only Southeast Asia, Australia and India. It's termed currant in English. It's edible and contains calcium and iron.

Source: Bignay. Philippine Medicinal Plants. < http://stuartxchange.com/Bignay.html >.

Read More

B.O.O.K.S.

These are the books I treasure the most :)

This book was given to us by CBS Asia. 

I got this through some generous people who donated  to CBS Asia.

I only bought this book for 200Php. It's Kuya from CGM who
sold this book to me. I used to see him selling books in our seminary
and in one of the conferences. I like the way Mark Dever clarified the definition
of the Gospel and some misunderstandings about it.

Thanks to Sir. John Pesbre who compiled these statements. I put
small post-its to easily find the set of confessions

Thanks to Mr Mitch Glasser
who brought this to me for free. Actually, I
signed up to their site that I may have it. I wasn't
expecting that they will seriously send it. It has a great content
and has clearly proven through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah

It's the first book I got which was written
by Dr. Ravi. I was a Philosophy major then
and was experiencing struggles in my faith. I then saw
the reasonableness of my faith. 

Read More

ARTSY WEEK: Laguna

Cellphone lang gamit ko. Sayang, walang camera. Pero OK na rin. At least, may remembrance.

Read More