My Lovely Reading Nook

It has been my dream to set up a personal library. I never thought this would happen. 

Our living room got expanded, and I'm thankful that my mom had the idea of using the additional space as a reading area. We have 6 shelves and we were able place 200+ books on 3 of them. The book categories include apologetics, theology, language and literature, christian living, christian classics, missions, bible study materials, non-fiction, health, and philosophy. There are mags too :)

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Then VS. Now

Nostalgia longs for what we were. Faith longs for what we
will be. -RC Sproul JR

In the middle of adversity it is easy to lose faith and hope in God, thinking that He is done with us. We have tendencies of nostalgia, thinking what went wrong in the present for it doesn't cohere with the past triumphs and accomplishments. But we failed to see the bright side of it.

Think of what you will be after a year or so, being made strong through the fiery circumstances you are in.

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Adventures with Jombie

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21 

I was in denial the moment I received a message about Jomby. I was in a camp that day and it's quite bothering to know that one of your friends passed away. But I was relieved when I was reminded that he is already with the Lord.

 I will miss jomby! At the age of 24, he has accomplished a lot for God's Kingdom. When I visited his wake I heard a bunch of good testimonies about him.He has never wasted any season of his life in any other pursuits. His pastor, churchmates and even the church building itself give evidences that God's work had been His priority. I firmly believe that a warm and indescribable welcome has been given to him in heaven.

He has been one of the busy officers in District Four Youth, Laguna. His loud 'banats' liven the meetings and fellowships. He has been available whenever there are tasks in JSBC and even in D4 Youth. I remember those times we spent together during the meetings in D4 Churches, and even at our house. He has been a delight and an encouragement to us.

Here's a portion of one of our conversations. Since I got sick that time, he never failed to make me smile. He  had been pushing me to get well that time so that we could play 'golf'. :p

 Indeed, his life is an example of one that is well-lived. His passion, faithfulness and readiness to serve God are the characters I admire about him.

  God used his death to remind me that life is short and that I should prioritize what is really important. Investing my time, emotions, talent, etc. on wrong things will result in regret in later days to come. What could be more fulfilling than to live our lives doing what God wanted us to do? What could be more satisfying than making much of Jesus 24/7?

May we, readers, consider what God sees important. It's time to make a difference for His glory!

Christmas in November @ JSBC Pangil.

Same event, with Cyrus Antoni.

One of D4 Christmas Parties, Siniloan Baptist Church. Approx. 5 years ago.

D4 Youth Retreat a year ago.

Another d4 event at Canaan Retreat Center.

@ NTBC Paete, before PASS Ako, 2012.

Youth Leaders' Fellowship at JSBC. It's almost 2 years ago.

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Identity Check: Your Worth

Your worth does not depend on your accomplishments nor what others think about you. It is based on how God sees you in Christ. It says in 2 Corinthians 5:21,

 'God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.'

You are God's righteousness in Christ. This is the identity which cannot be shaken nor taken away from you. It is firm and unending. It  doesn't increase nor decrease. It does not depend on your performance but on what Christ did.

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The Reliability of Scriptures

     'Can we trust the Scriptures?'
     'Is the Bible error-free?'
     'Is the Word of God relevant in this age?'

     Such are the questions asked by many regarding the Bible. Throughout the history the Scriptures have been receiving countless attacks from the skeptics. Yet many claim that it has been transforming their lives since they took hold of it.

     Can we really prove the reliability of the Scriptures? Are its claims worthy of our faith? Were its writers moved by God? Let the following proofs shed light to its veracity.

Passages from Isaiah

1. The New Testament ranks first in manuscript count. Having 20,000 copies, it had beaten the number of Aristotle's copies.
2. The writers of the Scriptures, 40 in number, were saying the same thing, affirming God's attributes and decrees and claiming that the Messiah is the solution to man's sinfulness. such authors came from different background, locations and generations. Many of these firsthand witnesses died for their faith. Who would die for an unworthy cause?
3. It is filled with fulfilled prophecies; not one of them failed. A great example will be the incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ which was foretold in Isaiah 53, Psalm 22 and Genesis 4:15. The miraculous existence of the Jews also confirmed the prophecies made about them in Genesis 12:2-3 and Ezekiel 37:21.
4. The Bible mentioned accurate scientific facts. The Hydrologic Cycle was described in Ecc. 1:7, Is. 55:10, Ps. 135:7; Earth's shape in Is. 40:22 and its activities in Job 38:12, 14; blood circulation in Lev. 17:11, nature of the flesh in 1 Peter 1:24-25; atomic disintegration in 2 Peter 3:10.
5. Historical records affirm it. It says in 1 Cor. 15:17, 'If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.' Luke, a historian, made a careful report of the early churches' activities in Acts. Archaeology confirmed the details explained in that book. Old Testament-related documents were reported to be unearthed. Tacitus, a secular historian, mentioned in his book (The Annals) a group who worships Jesus.
6. The Scripture passages themselves provide that the Scriptures is the inspired Word of God (1 Tim.3:16, 2 Pet. 1:21). Scripture authors also considered inspired their co-authors' writings. In 2 Pet. 3:15-16, the author mentioned Paul and his letters, considering them as Scriptures. Paul also mentioned Deut. 25:4 in one of his teachings. Even Jesus quoted numerous passages from the OT.

     Believing the Scriptures doesn't mean committing intellectual suicide for its claims are rational. They passed the logical, historical, empirical and scientific tests. With all the evidences presented, we could not just brush such claims off with the question, 'So what?'.

Sources:

Josh McDowell. More Than a Carpenter.

Morris, Henry. Many Infallible Proofs.

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On Waiting

It's so easy to lose perspective, fret, give up and leave your post when you are suffering and God doesn't seem to appear in your situation. Whoa! God is worth the wait!

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Gethsemane

Anguished spirit.
Tortured mind.
Sweat and tears.
Drops of blood.

For me.

"He said, “Father, if it can be done, take away what must happen to Me. Even so, not what I want, but what You want.” An angel from heaven came and gave Him strength. His heart was much troubled and He prayed all the more. Water ran from His face like blood and fell to the ground." Luke 22:42-44

   The passion about to come He faced willingly
   Prayers, cries, submission He did that I may see
   The cost it took that I may live
   And know the depth of His love for me

   To share in His sufferings is my portion
   So I'll gladly made a bold decision
   To carry my cross as I follow Him
   Enduring every pain for the fame of His Name

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