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JE # 119 – Si Marky Cielo(1988-2008) at Ang Buhay-Kabataan

admin — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:39:55 +0000

By Kuya Ronald

Kasabay ng pagdiriwang sa tagumpay ni Manny Pacquiao sa kaniyang laban kay De La Hoya, ginulantang rin ni Marky ang lahat sa kaniyang hindi inaasahang pagpanaw. Natagpuan siyang patay ng kaniyang ina sa kaniyang kuwarto sa kanilang tahanan sa Antipolo, alas-6 ng umaga ng December 7.

Pinahanga ni Marky ang buong sambayanan sa pagkapanalo niya bilang unang Igorot na sumali sa StarStruck na naging Ultimate Sole Survivor pa ng StarStruck Batch 3! Bagaman sinasabi ng iba na hindi siya kasing-guwapo ng mga tipikal na teenage heartthrobs, pinabilib niya ang lahat sa kaniyang talento sa pagsayaw. Lumutang rin ang kaniyang talento sa drama nang gumanap siya ng iba’t ibang papel sa mga telenovela at fantaserye ng GMA-7 katulad ng Encantadia, Fantastikids, Bakekang, Asian Treasures, Boys Next Door, Kaputol ng Isang Awit, and Codename: Asero. Ngunit mas nakilala siya sa kaniyang pagganap bilang si Green Zaido sa fantaserye na Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan. Naiwan niya ang isang programa na La Lola at ang kaniyang trabaho bilang main-stay sa variety show na SOP.

Ang pagpanaw ni Marky ay nagpapaalala sa atin na ang ating buhay sa daigdig ay pansamantala lamang (James 4:14, Psalm 90:5). Young people should never boast of their energy and youthfulness. Death can come anytime. Ang tanong: Handa ba tayong harapin ang kamatayan?

The Bible declares that we must start to remember our Creator in the days of our youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Huwag na nating hintayin pa na tayo ay tubuan ng puting buhok bago natin ialay ang ating buhay sa Panginoon. It is appointed unto all men to die once, and then God’s judgment begins (Hebrew 9:27). Never leave this world without repenting of your sins and accepting Christ in your heart. Ito ang pinakadakilang mensahe na kailanganh seryosohin ng lahat ng kabataan.

JE # 106 – Everyone Can Share

admin — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:44:31 +0000

by ROMAN GUEVARA

http://guevararoman.multiply.com/journal/item/124/Everyone_Can_Share

Scripture:

Matthew 28:16-20

¹⁶Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

I come from a family of preachers.

As of this writing, i have (3) uncles, (1) brother, (1) cousin, who are preachers.

The rest of the family, including my parents, other uncles and aunts, other cousins (on my mothers side) are all serving God through the church in some capacity.

I remember when i was still 15, i was watching one of my uncles preach in our church, and somehow said to myself, maybe one day, il do that too. Perhaps when im like 40 or 50 years old. At that time i felt i was so “unworthy” to “share” God’s word, that 40 or 50 years old seemed like the “worthy” years in a persons life.

In other words, sabi ko sa sarili ko, maganda yang mag share ng word of God, pero marami pa kong ginagawang kasalanan. Kaya pag tanda nalang, para sawa na ko siguro, at mejo banal banal na din!

Well, God i believe, did not wait that long.

I preached my first “official” sermon when i was 16 years old.

Since then, i have preached all over. I frequently speak on various topics in schools, churches, companies, and organizations. They could be seminars, workshops, conferences, camps, events. When someone asks me what i do, i quickly answer that i am an inspirational speaker.

But i share God’s word not because i come from a family of preachers. It’s not because i have been doing it for so long. At lalong hindi dahil worthy ako.

I share God’s word because that is what all christians should be doing.

It’s who we are. It’s what we do. And it’s how we will continue to grow in our faith and experience blessings.

Kaya nga sabi sa atin nung verses na binasa natin today, “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

And what is the promise of God? “I will be with you always to the very end of the age”.

Maraming paraan para tayo ay makapag-share ng word of God.

Merong nagiging preacher. He speaks to a crowd of 50, 100, and sometimes even thousands.

It’s a special calling. May tinatawag si Lord to do this.

Sabi nga sa bibliya, God chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. That God does not look at the outward appearance. That he looks at the heart. When God calls a preacher, he can come from anywhere.

Puwedeng businessman,at puwede ding janitor.

Puwedeng teacher, pero puwede ding hardinero.

When God wills for us to become a preacher, it will happen, no matter kung ano kapa dati, kung ano ba ang background mo or education. When God calls his preacher, they will hear his call. They will know God is the one calling them.

Pero hindi lang naman ang preachers ang pwedeng mag share ng word of God.

Meron teacher ng bible study o ng childrens group.

Teaching 5-7 people about the bible.

That’s not so hard. Lalo na kung hindi lang naman ikaw ang nagsasalita pag bible study. Pag me group interaction, edi parang kwentuhan lang yun. Bible study teachers are at best, facilitators of group interaction. That’s not so hard.

Kung hindi preacher, teacher, e puwede rin tayong maging prayer partner. A friend, a relative, boyfriend, husband, churchmate. Yung bang kayong dalawa lang. Once or twice a week of meetings discussing God’s word. Pwede na nga ngayon through the internet, like emails, webcam, or ym. Tapus texting pa.

There are so many ways to become an instrument of God in propagating his word.

If you are reading this devotional daily, make it a habit to share these readings to others.

To a relative, to a friend, to a loved one.

Gawin mo ng habit na magbasa ng devotional na ito at mag-share nito sa iba.

You can be in the Philippines, in Dubai, Malaysia, in Thailand, in Australia, in Canada, in Hongkong, in Europe, in the US.

It doesn’t matter.

You can be an instrument of God to share his word to others kahit nasan kapa.

Remember this, “EVERYONE CAN SHARE”

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Thank you Lord for your words today. Help me to understand exactly what you want me to know and do. Forgive me for my excuses. The many times that i have missed opportunities to share about my faith and God. Give me Lord the courage to talk about christianity. Equip me with the skills i need to effectively convey God’s message of love for people. And empower me Lord with your anointing, so that everytime i share, you will be glorified, and your Spirit will flow through me. Use me Lord for your glory. I pray all of these things in Jesus name, amen.

JE # 95 – More Reflections on Prayer

admin — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 06:06:41 +0000

More reflections on prayer
By A Living Flame for Christ and the Sabbath

‘Answer me when I call to You, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.’ (Ps 4:1)

Friends, this is a beautiful beginning to Psalm 4 and a deep cry to God for help. I can sense love, respect, wonder and a need of God in this sentence. If you read the rest of the Psalm, you can also tell the Psalmist had a close relationship with his Maker.

I sometimes wonder how deep our prayers are. Do we mutter anything or really move in the spirit? Do they change the way God answers us? I will have to read the Bible more to find out all these answers.

A couple of things come to mind:

Do you remember the very sick lady who hemorrhaged for 12 yrs or so? She had a deep longing to reach and touch the hem of Lord Jesus’ garment. She knew that if she but touched Him, all would be well. In that moment of her finger meeting His hem, she was instantly healed. The bleeding stopped.

So do you think desperation is a key? How about the fact that He has the Power and Ability to change lives? Do you agree that faith and trust in Him are also needed?

How about if we really do not know how to pray and cry out “HELP LORD! I NEED YOU. SAVE ME, I’M IN TROUBLE OR GIVE ME A NEW LIFE.”

That too should work, shouldn’t it?

Let us take from this simple message, that we have a Saviour and Lord, a Father and Friend in our Lord God. We can go to Him at any time with all our needs. We can pray to Him deeply or just cry out in desperation. No matter what we may feel towards Him, He always feels love and concern for us. He is always willing to listen, help, assist, mend, heal, renew and to restore. The best part of it all is that HE IS ABLE!

Are you going thru some very difficult circumstances right now? How about doing either of a few things?

1) Say ‘Answer me when I call to You, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.’

2) Imagine Lord Jesus in the crowd and head towards Him with all your worries and woe and just long to touch the hem of His Garment. Remember the transformation of the woman who received a total healing and touch it (in your mind’s eye) with a deep longing for your miracle.

3) Or just cry out ‘Help Lord! I need You. Save me, I’m in trouble. Or give me a new life Lord; I just can’t stand this one.’

May the Holy Spirit draw us all closer to our Lord God. I also ask Him to please answer all our prayers. ‘Thank You Lord amen.’

“Come Holy Spirit, please touch each and every heart that will come across this message. Open our hearts to Your Word and Your Truth and let us walk in total abandonment to You. Bless us all and keep us from the snares of the enemy. Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit now and forevermore.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

Journal Entry #12 – U2 Rocks the House (of God)

admin — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:53:00 +0000

http://inspiringentries.blogspot.com

Bono inspires worship with an edge.
by Elizabeth Diffin

Where the Streets Have No Name. Beautiful Day. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. Yahweh. For fans of the Irish band U2, these are familiar rock songs. But to a growing number of Christians, they’re becoming tunes for worship, and for the Eucharist.

Services using U2’s music, commonly called U2charist, were begun by Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation. The services combine the music of the rock band with traditional communion. They focus on a message of global reconciliation, justice, and care for neighbors as advocated by Bono, the lead singer of U2. Bono, a dedicated Christian, is also a global ambassador for Millennium Development Goals, a movement by the United Nations to eradicate poverty and disease by the year 2015.

U2charist first took hold in the U.S. at St. George’s Episcopal Church in York Harbor, Maine, drawing 130 people. Many of those in attendance were in a younger demographic and did not usually attend the church. Since then, dozens of the services have been held worldwide in churches of many denominations.

In a U2charist service, the liturgy remains the same, although the music is markedly different. U2 songs are repurposed as the opening hymn, song of praise, sermon response, and offertory. Most of the songs are seen as metaphors, with lyrics that are layered with meaning.

“In church, you hear [the music] in a different way. It’s like new,” said Natalie Williams, a 17-year-old who attended a U2charist at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Briarcliff Manor, New York.

Eric Johnson, who attended the service at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Lakeland, Florida, had no doubt about the effectiveness of the music.

“The crowd, the enthusiasm, the energy—I felt like the Holy Spirit was in the room. The message was getting through, and we were worshiping together,” he said.

The offerings that are collected at U2charists go to charities fighting extreme poverty and AIDS, as worked out in an agreement with the band’s publishing company. Paige Blair, rector of St. George’s, estimates that more than $36,000 has been raised from the U2charist services for the cause.

“People are learning there is something they can do to change the world,” she said. “And they leave feeling that they really can.”

At St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Encinitas, California, the U2charist service was well-received by young and old alike. Teens connected to the “hip factor,” while adults found deeper meaning in the music.

At St. Andrew’s, the service drew a crowd that compares to normal Christmas or Easter attendance. St. George’s is beginning a U2charist team to help others implement the service. And this year, a U2charist service will be broadcast in Great Britain on Easter Sunday.

“It spread like wildfire,” Blair said. “We’re giving people a way to engage their faith in a meaningful way.”

And letting them rock out at the same time.

—with information from the San Diego Union-Tribune, Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation, The Ledger, and USA Today

InspiringEntries.com » articles

JE # 119 – Si Marky Cielo(1988-2008) at Ang Buhay-Kabataan

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JE # 106 – Everyone Can Share

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Journal Entry #12 – U2 Rocks the House (of God)

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