Friday, November 28, 2008

Knowing What The Scripture Say

We were awaked around 7:30am last Sunday but despite the limited time we have, we still lingered on the comfort of our bed trying to wake up the kids (again running late...why is our morning always packed with such unnecessary stuff?). Since time restricted us to prepare much of ourselves, we divided the chores. I prepared the foods while Reuel bathed the kids. Afterwards, we hastily ate our breakfast and we take turn on bathing ourselves. Alas! We finish around 10am, too late for the Sunday Gospel Time (SGT). Then, we just decided to attend the afternoon service because it was also raining during that time.

So what I would like to share with you is the SGT the week before last Sunday, which was all about our mission pastor’s beliefs before he got to know the scriptures -- the Bible. You might find connections with his beliefs as I do. I may not be accurate in details on how Pastor Bong had preached this because it has been 2 weeks after I have the time to write this, so I trust the Holy Spirit for this writings.

Before moving on, let me express what I have pondered as I realized that we have the same views before we got save and maybe these are also your views or beliefs in life. I have thought that most of us are blinded by the things which we feel right. We also tend to believe on something we really do not have much understanding just to conform on the bandwagon. Therefore, I conclude that we’re living through the same experience. And to clarify things, let us read the bible about these:

Matthew 22:29-30 (KJV):
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”

In the verse above, it confirmed my realization that we’re subjected to the same mistakes until we know the scriptures. Due to that fact, the scripture serves our guide to our way to eternal life as it is written in the bible:

Psalms 119:105 (KJV):
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Man is often misled and he clings to false hopes. He believes that salvation is a reward that is earned by merit. Because of this, man resorts to religion, riches, good works, philosophy and the like. The bible however, teaches that all these do not contribute to man’s salvation. The scripture also helps us remove the blindfold that covers our eyes from the eternal verities. We were blindfolded by Satan and driven away from God but through Christ we were set free from being blindfolded as it was written in the book of 2 Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV):
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Here are the wrong beliefs of Pastor Bong before he encountered, read, and knew the scriptures:

1. I thought Religion is the way to God
According to him, he believed then that the different viewpoints of different religion are the different ways to God. Little did he know that there is only one way to salvation and that is through Jesus Christ. This was also my point of view before -- to belong to a religion and do some charity works to other people. I even dreamed of entering to a monastery after graduating in high school (I studied in a Catholic school) and I thank God for not allowing me to do that. Please read the verses below for in dept understanding:

Proverbs 14:12 (KJV):
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Acts 4:12 (KJV):
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Matthew 1:21 (KJV):
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Many of us thought that belonging to a certain religion can save us from eternal damnation so we join religion that appears interesting to us. Those religions that do not demand so much of our time and resources are the most appealing to us because it means we can stay at our home unruffled.

I remember what Reuel has told me about his discussions with his former officemate. The guy was a Christian before but now he’s agnostic -- being unsure whether God exists or not. He had this illustration where there are ten blind people and an elephant. These ten people encircle the elephant and he says that the elephant represent as god for example. Then they were instructed to touch the elephant and were asked afterwards to describe the elephant based on what they have sensed. So what do you expect they would say? Of course, they have different perception of the elephant because they’ve touched the different parts of the animal. That former officemate of hubby correlate the ten blind people to the different religion which has a different standpoint about God. Thus, he concluded that all the religions are pointing only to one God though they have a different viewpoint. And because of confusion on which religion he needs to be belong, he just choose to be an agnostic. (Please click here for further reference)

That scenario is exactly the reason why there are people who questioned whether God exists or not because they are looking for the best religion in town when in fact they should not be. What they should search for is only Christ Jesus as He is the only answer; He is the way, the truth and the life. Nothing goes wrong when we are in the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. I thought I can’t be assured of heaven

The good works that we assume can save us is vain (nothing) as it cannot redeem us from eternal punishment in hell. Only believing in Christ Jesus can do so because by grace we are saved and that grace is the righteousness of God to man even though we do not deserve such grace. Let us read the following verses:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV):
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Romans 6:23 (KJV):
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Ezekiel 18:4 (KJV):
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Titus 3:5 (KJV):
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”

The bible said that salvation is God’s free gift to every sinner who will humbly repent of his sins and receive Jesus Christ as his personal Savior by faith. Jesus is our hope of eternal life! It is clearly stated that no amount of hard works could be able to save us. All we need to do is to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I feel sad when some people have a hard time accepting this fact as they would say that accepting Jesus Christ as their savior is so easy for them to be saved.

3. I thought riches are the reason of man’s happiness
As Pastor Bong said that those people who strive hard to be rich is just setting up themselves to sins as their love for the money is like piercing themselves to many anguish and afflictions in life. Money doesn’t give meaning to our lives and it is the most unstable and unreliable underpinnings in man’s life. In fact, its value depreciates over time so if our happiness depends on how much money do we have in our pocket then our life is a miserable one. If we still think that money is the answer to all, then let us take a look on the following verses below:

1 Timothy 6:9-10 (KJV):
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Proverbs 23:4-5 (KJV):
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.”

Proverbs 27:24 (KJV):
“For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?”

And the following verses tell us that only God can give our security way beyond the riches and wealth in this world. Without God in our life, we cannot do anything even though we attain the highest education that one could have, we can still regard as an educated fool because we’re missing the fact that God is the truth and the life.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV):
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Psalms 4:7-8 (KJV):
“Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”


4. I thought God is not concerned with what I do
If we think that God is not involved in our daily lives, then we’re wrong as it is God who sustains our lives. He is the one who protects us from life’s commotion. He even invites us to have a talk in the form of prayer just to tell us that He is with us always. Please refer to the following verses:

Acts 17:28 (KJV):
“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

Isaiah 1:18 (KJV):
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Jeremiah 33:2-3 (KJV):
“Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Thank you for taking time to read this writings. I hope that in my own little way, I have provided you a more spiritual understanding regarding the scriptures for you to be aware of some of our wrong beliefs in life. Not all we perceive seems right is right. Have a nice day to all of you!
--

Thursday, November 27, 2008

3 Word Thursdays #5

3 Word Thursday Small 125x94
meme rules:

* photo must have 3 words in it
* post your photo on your site with a link back to Ma Vie Folle (or
grab button)

The script that I need to do to help my hubby’s management project is what’s on my mind today. I haven’t started it yet but hopefully I could finish it by tomorrow. How about you? What’s on your mind?


Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Bonsai: The Art of Tray Planting

I love bonsai. How they are aesthetically shaped by these talented people is what I truly admire. I’m fascinated with how these simple plants are made to be a wonderful creation of arts. Little I know then that any trees or plants can be made as bonsai. Just like the sampaloc tree (tamarind tree) in the picture which was taken to practice my skills in photography (I'm a lousy photographer).
--

(a bonsai tamarind tree)


(another bonsai)

(top view of bonsai taken by hubby)

Can you see the wires on the branches to form the shape that the designer wants to attain? It’s really artistic!
--
updated (11/28/08):
--
I've seen a video on how to make a bonsai tree in the Youtube.


It seems easy but I don’t think I can do it without destroying the plant.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Sunset peek

Every afternoon, I and the kids go on our rooftop to play, to watch the sky, to see the birds flying and the airplanes that travel across the sky. We sometimes wait until the stars and the moon starts to be seen in the sky around 6 pm. Oftentimes, I miss to bring the camera with me to capture the sunset and other unforgettable moments that we had. But yesterday I remembered to bring the camera however, the camera battery went off after two shots. Ah, these are one of the bad days.

But take a look at the sky that I have captured, it was really beautiful. The colors and the lights that are beautifully crafted in the sky are truly amazing.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Weekend with Jollibee

It’s been a long time since we ate at Jollibee. I and hubby usually prefer to have our meal in a decent restaurant or in a satisfactory fast food chain like Kenny Rogers or Max’s because we found our money’s worth in those places in terms of quality of foods, food servings and good ambience. However, Yuan requested us if we could have a meal in Jollibee last Saturday after we picked them up from my parent’s house. It seems to me that Jollibee has this enchanting attraction to children which I cannot fully grasp. The sales strategy and the marketing psychology of this kind of food chain are really doing well as they target the largest number of customers in the market -- the children -- to achieve a successful business venture. Anyway, we treated them there.
--
While waiting for our order, whoops! I didn’t know that we forgot to take pictures of our food. We were too excited to eat.
--


I was just surprised that Jollibee crew approached us and took our order by menu just like in a restaurant. We don’t have to line in a long queue to order the food. But I still saw people in the counter to order their food, thus, I’m not sure if this service care of Jollibee is being implemented across all chains. We were also informed by the crew who took our order that the price in the menu was not updated yet so I have no idea if taking orders in the seat has a different price compare to that when you line in the counter. I’ll check it again when we go back there at the Robinson’s Galleria. But for me it’s a good thing because they thought of ways to improve their services. I don’t mind paying extra amount for the convenience that it could bring to us.
--
Yuan and Gabee looked very happy seeing the Jollibee mascot. They even asked for a picture with Jollibee at their side.
--

Thursday, November 20, 2008

3 Word Thursdays #4

3 Word Thursday Small 125x94
meme rules:

* photo must have 3 words in it
* post your photo on your site with a link back to Ma Vie Folle (or grab button)



All About Eve” was a Korean drama series aired sometime in 2005. This is a story of an indigent ambitious girl (Erika) who has been taken to be a part of the family by a well-off man with a loving and cheerful daughter (Nicole). Instead of befriending the old man’s daughter, Erika treated Nicole as a rival in everything they do. With her own attitude, Erika reaches the point that she will do anything to achieve her ambition no matter what the consequences are. Ah! Who would forgot the wickedness of Erika on each episode?

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

So Sweet...

I wasn’t blogging much these past days because I plan to spend my time with my kids alone to make up for the days when I was not with them. It means that I’m off blogging for a week or two. But since I was deeply touched when Yuan said that he had missed me so much when they were in Cavite during the past week, I just thought this is a nice story to share with my readers.

Yuan didn’t tell it to me right after we take them home last Saturday. It was happened when I asked Gabee for a kiss this evening while I’m putting a diaper on Yuan. When Gabee wouldn’t like to kiss me, Yuan said, “Mommy kiss kita… Love kita mommy… Iyak-iyak ako don kina lola tapos sabi ko mommy tapos sabi Gabee mimi (short for mommy, Gabee barely calls me mommy)…miss kita (translated as I was crying at granny’s house because I have missed you a lot. Gabee and I were always calling mommy), then he kissed me on my lips and Gabee also drew closer to me and gave me a kiss. Afterwards Yuan started singing the “I love you” song from Barney (he knows very well the lyrics of it) while we hugged each other. I can’t say anything for a while when I heard it from Yuan. It really broke my heart. I just kissed them saying that I love them very much and that we’re not going to leave them again to their grandparents. Not anymore…

Back in last Saturday, when we arrived to Cavite, Gabee was walking at the outdoors with my cousin Aijen. Seeing us, Gabee just gave us a look but didn’t come to us for a hug. He just stood where he was and let us approach him (he is doing this whenever he’s sulking). And Aijen, told me that Yuan and Gabee were always crying at night. I just ignored it because I thought that maybe they just didn’t feel comfortable sleeping in a non-air-conditioned room. Until tonight…

Maybe I need some activities for tomorrow and for the next few days to make up with them. Do you have any suggestions?

Thursday, November 13, 2008

3 Word Thursdays #3

3 Word Thursday Small 125x94
meme rules:

* photo must have 3 words in it
* post your photo on your site with a link back to Ma Vie Folle (or
grab button)


Good to Great is the title of a book authored by Jim Collins. This book was given to my hubby as a token of appreciation by his trainees when he went to India to handle training in April 2005. It’s about why some companies make the leap and others don’t. From 1,435 companies that underwent the screening process for selecting good-to-great companies, only 11 make it to the top. I got curious on the difference between a good and a great company that’s why I started reading it and hopefully laziness won’t strike me.



Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The Great Commission Conference

We took our children to my parent’s house in Cavite last Wednesday night to attend a 3-day Great Commission Conference which was held in November 7 to 9 and conducted by our mother church. This is the reason I’m off blogging for three days.

The conference we took part in involved hard-core lectures that one can realize the true meaning of having a Christian life and I admit that I am culpable of not doing what I ought to do. Let me share with you the things I’ve learned from the conference and I want to summarize it in a way that a wife, a mother, a friend, and a woman can relate it in their daily lives. These are the things that have great impact on me as a Christian wife and mother.

But before I begin, allow me to define what the great commission is. If you have read my previous entries about Sunday preachings, you might have a slight hint of what it means. But for the clueless, let me give some clarification on these words. The great commission is commanded by Jesus Christ to all His church (church is not the structure but the people that believes and follows Him) as it is written in the book of Matthew. Please read the verses below:

Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV):
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

However, in attending the 3-day conference, I have learned that the great commission is not just confined in a preaching thing alone. The great commission is describe accurately in the book of Luke which says:

Luke 4:18-19 (KJV):
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”


The above verses are what we call the holistic approach in fulfilling the great commission that every Christian must do. Let me enumerate it in a way that we can easily understand the context in the book of Luke.

1. Preach the gospel to the poor (it means to preach the gospel to the people who are hopeless in their lives in this world)
2. Heal the broken-hearted (those are emotionally troubled)
3. Deliverance of the captives (those people that are addicted in the worldly things in this world)
4. Recovering sight to the blind (those that are lost and in need of direction)
5. Set at liberty them that are bruised (people who suffer)

Of course, in order to fulfill all of those commandments, God has given us the following:

1. Faith – so we can do the great commission beyond our ability
2. Holy Spirit – to inspire and empower us (as what was written in the book of Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”)
3. Gifts – these are our capabilities and talents that we can use to accomplish the great commission

I know that it’s hard to do all of those especially in our time today (which is a time of great stress in everything as the crisis is all over the world) but I do hope that you fully grasp the meaning of the great commission and you may act immediately as what I’m struggling to do. To begin with, let me give you the chosen theme for this year’s Great Commission Conference,

Philippians 2:15-16 (KJV):“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”
You may ask for the meaning of the above verse in our time today. Again, let me itemize what was written in the book of Philippians for easy understanding:

1. Blameless, harmless and without rebuke

If we would translate those words in our present time, blameless means faultless. Harmless is having no negative side effects and the “without rebuke” means flawless or unblemished. These are the qualities that we should have to show that we really are the sons of God. What I have learned on the conference is that we should prove to the world that we are the sons of God so that we can win people to Him.

2. Showing evidence of being related to God

As a parent, our children can be distinguished as our children if they resemble some of our traits. This is also the same with our God, our father. We, as His children should have the genes and traits of the Father because we all come from Him. The quality of God should be manifested in our lives.

3. Victorious and persevering in the midst of adverse situation

I know most of us tend to give up during the difficult phase in our lives but as a true Christian we should not be because we have the eternal hope in Jesus Christ. Our world today becomes more crooked and perverse and we have to stand out to beat them, we should win the battle against flesh and earthly things. We may have a complicated life here in this world, but be confident that life beyond would be worry-free for us.

4. Shining as lights in the world in all righteous works

We are the lights here as God refer us as “lights”. It’s no wonder why God wants Christians to be the lights. Because when we are one, we put everybody who sees us in amazing hold, wondering in its beauty and its mystery. The longer they see the light in us, they begin to see God. For God is light as what was written in the book of 1 John 1:5, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
Christians are not to shine in a place where lights are abundant. Instead we are to shine in dark places where light is much needed for us to show God’s beauty and power. And we ought to light our world to expose the sins and to drive away the darkness.

5. Raising the banner of God’s Word
We become the banners of God’s word when we project the divine message, thought, truth, will, understanding, etc.

Now let me share with you the part of the preaching that has great impact on me as a Christian wife and mother. Last Saturday, we have an activity which asked for listing down 8 things that we have given importance in our lives and prioritizing them according on how we value them. Below is what truly matters to me:

1. Family
2. Service and love to God
3. Health (of mine and my family)
4. Security
5. Personal development
6. Enjoyment
7. Friends
8. Material things

Afterwards, the facilitator requested to remove three things from the list. Those are the things that we can live without. Of course, the last three in my list was eliminated. Then after doing so, the facilitator asked again to remove two things in our list. Well, crossing out my personal development and my family’s security is quite hard to do but I take them away in my list. And again, we were asked to remove one thing in the list. What do you expect I removed? Without a doubt, I removed health because God can provide it for us. And as you can see the two things that remained in my list are my family and my service and love to God. But have you seen the order of how I value them? Yes, I know that it’s not right but I don’t want to deceive myself. That’s how it is for me. And I prayed for forgiveness and asked that God would correct my heart eventually. I know that I should value God more than my family because that is my purpose in my life – to prioritize and to glorify Him in everything I do. I hope that my heart will be corrected soon.

The values identified in the activity have been related to those mentioned by Apostle Paul in the book of Philippians chapter 1-4, by which it signifies Apostle Paul’s life priorities that gave joy to his life. Those are the following:

1. Prayer
2. Preaching, listening and sharing of the gospel
3. Faith
4. Like-mindedness or church unity – having one mind, forgiveness between brethren, love for the Pastor and the brethren
5. Second coming of Christ
6. Sacrifices and services to the Lord
7. Church family – seeing our brethren joyful and happy
8. Christ Himself and the privilege to have fellowship with Him

As we see in apostle Paul’s life before he got saved, he had many accomplishments: he was a Pharisee, was righteous, had integrity and had the opportunity to gain whatever can be gained in life -- however, he counted all these things as loss, as dung just to have the knowledge of Christ as it was written in the book of Philippians 3:5-8 (KJV), “…for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”.
Certainly, there are more topics discussed in the conference but these are the part which has a strong effect on me. To end this, I want to give you the thrust of the mission. The aim of mission is to show the excellency of Christ, the power and the purity of the gospel. It is not about us but it is all about Jesus -- His glory and His will. The challenge is to live the Great Commission in our lives. Let us all work and do the Great Commission: get people save, get the saved to be obedient and get the obedient do the will and work of God.

I hope that this writings have enlightened all of us on what really our purpose in life and that is doing the Great Commission.

Monday, November 10, 2008

For good breath

I have discovered something that I think I should share with you. I discovered Dentiste’ Plus White toothpaste in the supermarket a couple of months ago, which promise to take away bad morning breath. I’m a bit hesitant to try it out at first because it’s a little pricey for a new product and I’m not sure then if the sales agent is just doing a sales pitch on us. But we tried it anyway and I’m glad we did. The Dentiste’ toothpaste really removes the bad morning breath. And the good thing is; all the ingredients are natural which includes some herbs. It does not have fluoride which has some negative effect on our teeth if used in excessive amount.



It’s ingredients are (as indicated in the pack): Xylitol, silicone dioxide, peppermint oil, clove oil, menthol, vitamin C, eucalyptus oil, sage extract, chamomile extract(1), fennel extract, glycyrrhiza extract and cinnamon bark extract. According to Wikipedia Xylitol was derived from Birch tree and used as a safe sweetener for people with diabetes. And based on the pamphlet that goes along with the toothpaste, the xylitol is a natural sweetener and sugar substitute, which bacteria can’t feed on so it helps decrease the growth of bacteria. This may be the reason in the decrease of bad morning breath when you use Dentiste’ toothpaste. The micro silica complex is the abrasive scrubs used for cleaning the teeth and it helps get rid off plaque without destroying your teeth’s natural enamel. The toothpaste is originated in Thailand and it has a money back guaranteed seal which I think is our protection as consumer for any false claim from the company.

I shop around at SM and Robinson’s to look for this toothpaste but unfortunately it is only available in Shopwise (we bought ours in Shopwise Libis). With around less than 200 pesos per 100 grams price, I can say that it’s worth the price. In fact, it is a good find for me because I can hardly find toothpaste nowadays that could do a complete protection for your gums and teeth without damaging your tooth enamel. I’m happy with the effect of this toothpaste and what I am hoping is that, the quality would be consistent (as I already realized that new products are just good upon release and as time goes by, the quality is slowly being diminished).

Note: This is just a product review and not an advertisement.

Friday, November 07, 2008

MISSIONS: Our Church's Good Work

The preaching last Sunday evening was all about church missions. It is entitled – MISSIONS: OUR CHURCH’S GOOD WORK. Pastor Bong cited that the mission works is the church’s lifeline hence; he is encouraging everyone to have a mind for our missions. Let us first read the epistle of Paul to the Philippians:

Philippians 4:1-20 (KJV):“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
We can perceive in the words of the Apostle Paul that he is very grateful with the Philippian church as they were helping him in carrying out the great commission. And that he is requesting Euodias and Syntyche to be the same as well as the Philippian church was. He also said that only the Philippian church’s had been generous in giving all his needs to perform his mission works. And with that, he prayed for them that God may supply all their needs according to God’s riches. It is not just a blessings but it’s the supply of needs according to the Lord’s riches. Just imagine the universe to visualize how great is the riches of the Lord. We can also see in the book of Philippians on the first chapter that the Apostle Paul includes the Philippian church in his everyday prayer. Kindly read the verse below:

Philippians 1:4-6 (KJV):
“Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

In that verse, we can conclude that the Philippian church had grown and had been blessed by God because they were very liberated in helping out in the works of mission. As what Pastor Bong quoted, a church that has concerns in giving and receiving becomes more matured and more blessed because the Lord will bless them liberally as what the Lord had promised in the verse below:

Philippians 4:19 (KJV):“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Please be guided that for us to experience the supply of our needs according to the Lord’s riches, the preceding verses should be done first which is to be concern in the works of mission. This is what God’s principle means when He says:

Matthew 16:25 (KJV):“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
If a church is not burdened (or is not concerned) with missions, then that church is inferior, similar to as what Apostle Paul has tagged the Corinthian church for being not supportive in the work of missions. Let us look at the following verse:

2 Corinthians 12:13 (KJV):
“For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.”


Afterwards, Pastor Bong said that if he doesn’t teach us “giving”, then he’s doing injustice to us because the road to success is through “giving”. If we would want to grow and to be supplied of our needs, we need to give to do the work of mission which is the good work that Christ Jesus had started. He also said that God’s blessing is subjective with the performance of every Christians. He referenced the subjectivity of God’s blessing when the time Jesus Christ did not make any miracles in his home town because the people there are very hostile and did not believe in Him.

Matthew 13:54-58 (KJV):“And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”
Pastor Bong challenged us that we should have our minds on the work of missions because our life in this world is all about Christ’s work. The true believer of Jesus Christ according to him carries the same mission. Let us read the following verse to prove it:

John 14:12-14 (KJV):“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
Again, please be guided that the promise, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” is inseparable to the preceding verse. For us to experience this, we should first do what He commanded to us, which is “the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do”. This is the main purpose of our life in this world, doing the work of Christ.

Now let us define what the Work of Missions is…

A. Mission Work is about church evangelism and discipleship.

- There is no institution that teaches us the mission work of evangelizing and discipling but the church of Jesus Christ. There is no mission work if there is no evangelizing and discipling because through that, we can spread the gospel of the Lord.
- Our church is the most potent and effective institution for the healing of our broken souls.
- The church is the training ground of missions
- The church was given the power and authority to evangelize and to disciple by our Lord Jesus Christ in the book of Matthew:

Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV):
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

- When a church knows how to evangelize, we can start mission work. Evangelism starts the church but discipleship sustains the church. Let us read what was written in the book of Acts:

Acts 20:27-31 (KJV):“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

B. The work of mission is about sending out missionaries.

- The church cannot start sending out missionaries if the church doesn’t know how to evangelize and to disciple.
- Unless the church trains, it cannot sends out missionaries. In the following verses, we cannot deny that God wants the church perpetuity. God even sends persecution when we do not want to go outside of our comfort zone to start mission works.

Acts 8:1 (KJV):
“And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.”

Acts 8:4 (KJV):
“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”


- It is a gain for a church when they send someone out to do mission works because it means that we do the will of God. In the following verse, we can see that the word of God should be delivered through the preacher.

Romans 10:13-15 (KJV):
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”


- In this verse, the church gathers and we can see that they send out people to do the mission works based on the desire of the church and not based on individual desire. Therefore, a person cannot be a missionary unless the church has sent him.

Acts 13:1-3 (KJV):“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”
Ephesians 4:11 (KJV):
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”


C. The work of mission is about helping the missionaries.
- The work of mission is about being a partaker of someone’s burden and that someone is the missionaries sharing the word of God to the lost world. And through this we can measure our performance as a church.

Philippians 1:5 (KJV):
“For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;”

Philippians 4:14 (KJV):
“Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.”



Before I end this, may I share with you one of my favorite songs, “The Missions”:



I know most of you don’t fully understand the work of missions but I hope this writings can help you realize that our life is all about doing Christ work, the WORK of MISSIONS.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

3 Word Thursdays #2

3 Word Thursday Small 125x94
meme rules:

* photo must have 3 words in it
* post your photo on your site with a link back to Ma Vie Folle (or
grab button)



My three-word today is “The Word Factory”. When I was pregnant with our first child, Yuan, we used to play this with my sisters-in-law to wile away the afternoon boredom. How I miss that time! And now, I and hubby cannot play it anymore because kids always ruin our game. But I’m looking forward to play it with them when they grow. This could be another happy bonding moment of our family.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Church Outing

Our church celebrated the All Saints Day in Cableway Resort in Binangonan, Rizal. We got there around 8:30 am and started the day’s activities with a short prayer and songs of praise to the Lord. After that, two YP (young people) grouped us into four in preparation for the fun games. I wish I know the name of the games but I couldn’t remember how they called it. Anyway, all of us participated in the games which made it more exciting. Almost everyone shows their funny side during the fun games which is really amusing because you haven’t thought that they have that kind of personality. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures during the games.


Afterwards, we took our lunch together and shared our food to one another. Our packed food that day is smoked Milkfish and French toasts with ham and cheese (it is also called Monte Cristo by some).


In our church, it’s our tradition to bring foods for two families when there’s an event or occasion. All the families bring foods to share with everyone.

Lunch with Sister Susan's family...

When we had our lunch everyone hurriedly went to swimming pool especially the kids. My kids went into the pool right after the games ended. That’s how excited they are to swim. I need to convince them that they need to eat first before they could continue to swim.
Gabee jump into the swimming pool like a pro…

Can you guess who is Gabee and who is Yuan?...

In the afternoon, we celebrated Ira Prynze’s first birthday with a cake and spaghetti.


Daddy and kids taking their merienda...

Wiling away the time through picture taking...

Pastor Bong and his wife sister Joy.

Later that noon, Pastor Bong announced the winners for the fun games...

The spryness of everyone had made the activities for the day more exciting and enjoyable. And also because of the cooperation that each had given to the facilitator.

The wonders of Banana

I got this information about banana from an email forwarded by my schoolmate and I thought it’s worth sharing. Banana is very abundant here in the Philippines throughout the year and one of the cheapest fruits too.

Two bananas a day keep the doctor away
MIND YOUR BODY By Willie T. Ong, MD
Tuesday, October 28, 2008


Mang Ruben, a 48-year-old taxi driver, has been eating 10 to 15 bananas a day for the past 25 years. Mang. Ruben believes that he can work longer hours and stay stronger because of his banana diet. “Apples and oranges are too expensive, but I can afford to buy bananas every day,” he says.
Based on my clinical examination, Mang Ruben is indeed in the pink of health. Maybe his intake of bananas contributed to his overall health. According to nutritionist Michael Van Straten, author of The Healthy Food Directory, bananas are very healthy because they can alleviate 14 medical conditions, including diarrhea, fatigue, heartburn, insomnia, nausea, menstrual problems, kidney problems, fluid retention, and circulatory problems.

What’s In A Banana?
A small-sized, 6.5-inch banana (lakatan variety) contains the following: weight: 100 grams; calories: 90; vitamin A: 64 I.U.; vitamin B: .04 mg. thiamine; vitamin C: 10 mg/; calcium: 8 mg.; iron: 0.4 mg.; phosphorus: 28 mg; potassium: 360 mg.; magnesium: 27 mg.; zinc: 0.2 mg.; carbohydrates: 23 g.; and protein: 1.2 mg.


Among the banana varieties, the lakatan type (yellowish and tastier) has a higher vitamin content, compared to the latundan (white with thinner skin) and saba varieties (used for bananacue). Compared to apples, bananas have so much more vitamin A and vitamin C. Based on these nutritional values, we could make a case for banana as a natural multivitamin.

10 Benefits Of Eating A Banana

1) Bananas protect against heartburns. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemisty (February, 2001) attests to the anti-ulcer properties of the banana. Bananas act like a natural antacid to the stomach. In this article, they identified the secret component in the banana, the flavonoid leucocyanidin. Studies show that bananas can protect against aspirin-induced gastritis and significantly increase the mucous membrane lining of the stomach.
2) Bananas are high in fiber and vitamins. A single banana contains 16 percent of the dietary fiber, 15 percent of the vitamin C, 11 percent of the potassium, and 20 percent of the vitamin B6 recommended each day.
Sorry, apple lovers, but apples have zero amount of vitamin C. Bananas also have soluble fiber, which may help lower blood cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.


3) Bananas are good for the heart. Potassium is an essential mineral needed to regulate water balance, acidity level, and blood pressure of the body. A lack of potassium may cause muscle weakness and irregular heartbeat. For patients taking a diuretic medicine, they should take two bananas a day to keep the potassium level up. Take note also that bananas have zero sodium (good for high blood pressure) and zero fat and cholesterol (good for those with high cholesterol) .


4) Bananas may reduce strokes. Numerous studies have shown that low potassium levels can cause heart palpitations, which can then lead to a stroke. In the editorial of the prestigious Neurology Journal, the author suggests that a banana a day may keep a stroke away. Among the fruits and vegetables, bananas contain one of the highest amounts of potassium.


5) Bananas help counter stress and insomnia. Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that is known to make you feel happy and improve your mood. If you feel sad, don’t despair. Take a banana and be happy.


6) Diabetics may take bananas in moderation. Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep the blood sugar normal. The food-and-nutrition glycemic index rating for a ripe, yellow banana is 51, which is fairly good. This means that the carbohydrates in a banana have a medium-to-slow effect in raising your blood sugar levels. However, as bananas ripen, the starch in the fruit turns to sugar and may cause your blood sugar to rise more. The lesson is: It’s okay to eat a banana, but not the overripe one.


7) Bananas fights fatigue and anemia. Bananas contain carbohydrates and thus boost our energy, as Mang Ruben will attest. Have you seen Roger Federer eat a banana between games? The high potassium content prevents cramps and provides instant energy with its easily digestible starch. Bananas are also a rich source of iron, thus it is helpful for patients with anemia.


8) Bananas may prevent leukemia. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology by Kwan et al. (Dec. 2004, pp. 1098-107) shows an association between regular consumption of bananas and oranges in children from ages 0 to 2 and a reduction in childhood leukemia. The result suggests that fruits or fruit juices containing vitamin C and potassium may reduce the risk of childhood leukemia, especially if consumed at a young age.


9) Bananas may prevent childhood asthma. A European study of 2,640 primary school children in South London concludes that eating bananas at least once a day reduces episodes of wheezing and asthma attacks in children (European Respiratory Journal, Feb. 14, 2007). Eating apples and other fruits was not as beneficial. Also, eating only one banana a month was not effective. Note to moms: It’s time to teach our kids to eat one banana a day.


10) Its Filipino and the best news about the lowly banana is that it’s cheap. That is why Mang Ruben can buy a bunch or two a day. And it comes in a great package. A banana can fit cleanly in your bag. Just cut it high up in the stem. When you feel hungry and stress, reach for a banana.


The only downside with bananas is that some people may become constipated. If this is the case, then maybe you can mix your bananas with other fruits like papaya and watermelon to loosen your bowels. Taking in lots of water also helps.


Personally, bananas have helped me a lot with my irritable bowel syndrome. I hope you can discover the wonders of the banana and add it to your daily diet. It just might cure you of your medical problems.

Remember: Two bananas a day may keep the doctor away.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

A letter to Senator Obama about Abortion

When I read the letter of Tiffany yesterday, I know how much she wants to be heard to stop the legality of abortion in the US if Barack Obama wins the election.
As a mom, I felt the pain she had gone through after her decision to end the life of her baby. So I am posting it here to support Tiffany’s campaign. Here’s the letter:


Senator Obama, abortion is not a healthy choice for Americans. I am begging you to reconsider your position with this moral topic should you become our president.

I will try my best to put words to my "choice."

Nineteen years old, I chose abortion. Sure, I could blame my boyfriend for not wanting the baby, but ultimately it was my choice. The worst choice I’ve ever made. I was too afraid to walk alone—pregnant.

In order to step into a cold, sterile abortion clinic, I had to emotionally die first. I don’t care what a woman’s beliefs are she cannot go through this procedure with a haunting that follows.

I know.

Sure, I tried to forget and move on with my life, but inside I couldn’t shake the reality of choosing death.

Death carries a sting.

Like a branding iron to my heart, I was wounded and forever scarred. Marked by my so called “choice.”

Senator Obama, you have two girls, can you honestly look into their eyes and say had they been conceived at a time other than your preferred choice that they don’t deserve a chance to live? a chance to change the world? to make a difference?

Senator Obama, have you ever sat through an abortion procedure? Have you seen the graphic images? Do you know how women are treated? Have you heard the moaning of a mom-to-be who sobbed for hours afterwards? What words could you possibly say to comfort her? None. The river of regret and shame runs too deep for words to penetrate.

I know.

Senator Obama, are you aware of Post-Abortion Syndrome(PAS)? Are you willing to comfort your girls should they decide to choose abortion someday? Because should abortion still be legal and an option, they will suffer. Even if from the outside she appears like she made it through unscathed, she is not okay. Something is bleeding underneath the surface.

I know.

My decision from almost two decades ago affected my marriage bed and relationship, my emotional well being every fall(the time of year I had my abortion), my ability to look deeply into the eyes of a newborn, and the way I morally view myself. It's a choice that keeps on giving. Giving death!

This “choice” comes with a price tag. A price tag I don’t want one more woman to pay.

Every woman who has had an abortion will one day have to look honestly into her reflection of her choices. Choosing death is not an image she should have look at and carry in her heart.

Choosing life is an image worth gazing at. Watching a baby grow up
is an amazing experience.

I know.

My two children, Justin and Hannah, are nothing but gifts to me. Not mistakes. Not punishment. Nothing can replace their faces, voices, words, tears, smiles, giggles, songs, talents, or their caring hearts. Their lives are impressed deeply into my heart. And so is a baby who never had a chance. A baby I love and will never forget. A baby named “Grace.”

(Please feel free to share this letter far and wide. The envelope symbol below forwards this post. I pray these words will change at least one woman’s heart who’s considering abortion. I pray these words will comfort the suffering who remain silent. I pray these words will change an undecided voter's choice. I pray someone out there, pregnant, sitting on the fence will choose LIFE!)


Words for the Day

I’m still in the lazy mode today but I received a text from our mission pastor (Pastor Bong) that says:

A primary qualification for triumphantly and successfully serving God is our sense of weakness. Ponder on this scripture and be blessed by it.

Let us read the verse he gave for us to muse.

2 Cor 12:9 (KJV):“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”


My understanding in the given verse is that somewhat our weakness is a gift from God because through that weakness we are able to realize that we need Him. Thus, I come to a realization that the weaker we are, the stronger our faith to the Lord because of Jesus Christ’ strength that He shares with us.

I may not be a chatty person. I may not have the courage to talk and express myself in front of many people. But in spite of that weakness I can reach thousands of people through my writings. And this is my way of serving the Lord, to spread the word of God through writings.

How about you? What is your weakness and how God made you strong through that imperfection?

Monday, November 03, 2008

Another dNeero Conversational Survey

I just want to relax today because I still have a jet lag from our church outing last Saturday all the way to the Sunday service yesterday. You can try answering it too. Just click the down arrow to see my answer.




Happy reading!

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Oprah's Religion

Who among you is a fan of Oprah Winfrey?

Actually, I am one of the millions of fans of Oprah. I like the way she talk, her generosity and how she deal with people. But my second question is, as a fan how far would you go for her? If you would ask me, as long as I think she’s right. You might be wondering why I asked those questions. Here’s the story…

As I start my day, I usually utter a short prayer for thanksgiving, wisdom, guidance and protection of my family for the day. Then I would search the YouTube for some of my favorite gospel songs to listen with. On searching for the songs I need, I stumbled upon the video of Oprah denying Christ (I think last September, if my memory served me right). Certainly, I watched it and its related video for me to know if it is true. And yes, I can’t believe it because Oprah grew up in the Baptist Church as she has said and now she’s turning her back from Jesus Christ.

I should have posted this article last month however, I have delved so much into information regarding this sensitive topic. I tell you, this is not all about religion so it doesn’t matter if you belong to a Catholic, Baptist, a Protestant or any other religion; what matters is your belief on who is Jesus Christ in your life. Before I go on with Oprah, let us first look what was written in the bible regarding salvation. Here it is:

1. First we have to realize that GOD has first loved us even if we are sinful before him. And this love from God was manifested when He sent us His Son, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:8 (KJV):"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

John 3:16 (KJV):"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."


2. God has given us eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:23 (KJV):"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

I John 5:11 (KJV):
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."


3. It would only require our faith (believing even without seeing) to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and saviour and admit that we are sinners before Him so that we will get saved and have eternal life.

I John 5:12-13 (KJV):
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

John 14:6 (KJV):"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me."

Acts 16:30-31 (KJV):"…what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV):“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”


4. To admit that we are sinners before God and to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and saviour, if we just only need to pray with a sincere heart and full of faith.

Romans 10:13 (KJV):"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

The prayer for salvation is something like this:

"Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I'm a sinner and I'm now asking for your forgiveness. I now repent from all of my sins and I would like to trust and accept you as my personal Lord and saviour. Thank you Lord for saving me and giving me eternal life. In the name of my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ I pray, Amen."


Now, let’s go back to Oprah’s newly establish church (just early this year) – “A New Earth: The New Age Church of Oprah” and its doctrine that is based from Eckhart Tolle’s teachings which really contradicts what the bible says. The book which according to Oprah was the best in terms of clarity and ability to get people to see the lights of who they are. This is the favorite quote of Oprah in that book: “Man made God in his own image the internal, the infinite and unnamable was reduced into mental idol that you had to believe them and worship as my God or our God.”

What is most shocking is that it has more than two million followers as of April 2008 (video below is uploaded in April this year). It is really easy to persuade people to believe for something if the mogul who speaks has already found success in life. Of course, you may also do your own research regarding this. Please watch the video:


I just want to comment on Oprah’s statement in the video that says, “You think that if you are somewhere on the planet and you never hear the name of Jesus, you never hear the name of Jesus but yet you live with a loving heart, you live as Jesus what have to live, you live on the same purpose that Jesus came in the planet to teaches of, but you are in some remote part of the earth and you never heard the name of Jesus, you cannot get to heaven, you think? (audience talking…) Is God care about your heart or God care about His son called Jesus?”, her statement is a good example of underestimating what God can do. Please don’t forget that our God is all-powerful (omnipotent), is all-knowing (Omniscient), and is all-present (omnipresent). God knows who has already heard and read about the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, regarding the man whom Oprah was talking about that is located somewhere on the planet and never heard the name of Jesus, surely God will use anything on this world just for that man to hear or read the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even history can tell us about the plan of God for gospel reaching throughout the world. And, God had already used some men like Ferdinand Magellan and Christopher Columbus to discover unknown lands and has prepared the hearts of the people for the coming of the gospel. Today which part of the earth do we think is still unknown? God even allowed technology (i.e. Internet, wireless communication, etc.) to evolved and to prosper so that gospel can easily reach out to other people. You might ask how about of old times when there was no technology yet? Well, just trust God that he will do anything just for any man to receive the gospel. Jesus Christ will not come back on His second coming until the gospel has been preach all-over the world.

Mark 13:10 (KJV):“And the gospel must first be published among all nations.”

Also, the true church of Jesus Christ has a mandate to preach the gospel all-over the world.

Mark 16:15 (KJV):“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”


I don’t know why people cannot believe that the only way for salvation is to trust and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and saviour. Like Oprah, she believe that having a pure heart or doing good things to others can save you from eternal damnation when in fact the bible says “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Surely, God knows everything. He knows from the beginning that if He would allow people to save themselves by their own deeds, then people would boast in front of Him about what they did upon saving themselves. God only does what glorifies Him the most. That is the reason why God provided salvation to mankind according to His terms and he gave it as a gift so that people will only have to accept it nothing more nothing less.

To end this, allow me to digress from the bible. Let say A believes that the salvation can be achieved through good deeds and not through Jesus Christ while B believes that only Jesus Christ is the way for salvation. And B being saved through faith in Jesus Christ is a changed man as the Holy Spirit works in him to be a better person. And the “end-of-time” comes, let say the salvation is through good deeds. Who will be got saved? Of course, A and B will be save because A has a pure heart and he does good things to other people and B being a better person inside and out. But what if the bible is correct that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, who will be saved? Certainly, it’s only B because he believes in Him. Do you get my point? Now, my last question is who will you choose to be, is it A or B?

I would like to give thanks hubby (Reuel) for his inputs on this topic.

Search the web...