Work-in-Progress: Sometimes, all you need to do is say “yes”!

Cuteness overload, spontaneous minds, and energy-level unsurpassed: these words are not enough to describe what happens inside a classroom of ages 2-6. After two Sundays of assisting at Sunday School, I finally got to teach at pre-school yesterday.

The kids were pretty responsive and behaved, not quite the kind of pretty-chaos which I imagined. I have observed for two meet ups, and I encountered different kinds of behavior and personalities. The lady-likes, the hyper and energetic, the super competitive, the gentle ones, and the shy types — all cute and lovable.

I used to sit at the back with my newly found 2-year-old-best-friend named Jeune. She is seated at the back, waits until the praise and worship songs start to play. Her favorite song is “One Way Jesus” which has cowboys/cowgirls singing and dancing at the video’s background. As much as I could notice, she just sits at class and gets her eyes fixed at the monitor, until the favorite songs begin to play. She could not talk yet (I guess), so she communicates by pointing at things. For example, when she wants to dance, she points at her left fingers like doing a counting gesture, and from there I figured that pertains to the countdown which Sunday School does before kids praise begins. When I was attending to the other kids, I glanced at her and asked if she wanted to come near me. She smiles and points at me, so I guess that meant she wanted to sit at my lap. She did. When I asked for her name the first time I talked to her, oh well, guess what? She pointed at her name tag. (Face-palm teacher! In-your-face!)

These things made teaching at Sunday School quite challenging. Attention and Communication. Getting their ears and your message get across. How do you get the kids attention, while literally maintaining the peace and order around? How do you get the kids to bear their teacher’s best effort to explain what “honor”, or “idolatry”, or “peace offering in the old testament” means in a way that a 3-year-old-kid can understand? So yes, I had to be emotionally, spiritually, and physically ready. Spiritually ready to have the lesson first ministered to me, before I could share it with children. Emotionally ready in case I get softly snubbed at and toddler-zoned by the adorable kids who have attention span that can only last for the next three minutes. And, physically ready to sing and dance the morning off with children who seem to never ran out of energy in the body.

So I have imagined myself standing at the middle of the classroom, surrounded by little boys and girls, running around, too carefree to care, and too energetic to give some quite seat time with a first-timer Sunday School teacher. But I was, somehow at some point, proven wrong. Behind the angelic smiles and strong personalities of the bully-looking, are hearts so pure and so innocent. Hearts who recognize that they do (and need to) love Jesus above all else. I was talking with one of the girls. She was showing me all that her mom has bought for her. I asked, “Your mom loves you so much. Is she your best friend?” She said “No”. I asked, “Who then?”. She answered “Jesus. I talk to Him”. I was surprised and humbled. “What did Jesus tell you?”. She answered, “that He died for our sins”. I could not be more blessed with this 4-year old girl. I asked if she considers her mom her best friend because of the material things provided to her, but her answer reflected the most important thing which the world should be grateful for: Jesus Christ, who gave us the gift of eternal life, which no human being can ever give you. Wow! Teacher learned from baby girl!

Praise God for that day! It was a privilege to have served my Master by serving His dearly loved children. It’s a joy for an unworthy servant like me, who has only been qualified by His grace alone. I did not only teach, but I also learned! 

A beloved sister of mine once said, “Sometimes, all you need to do is ‘say yes’”. And so, I realized. The only thing I did was to say “yes”! Regardless of the forecast busy schedule at work and the fact that I am not a pre-school teacher. I said “yes” out of my desire to enjoy the company of little kids. I said “yes” even though I think I was not prepared enough. I said “yes” because I know it’s God’s work, and I was just an instrument to fulfill His purpose. I said “yes” even if it means saying “no” to reading a favorite book, or watching an episode of a favorite soap opera because I had to study the lesson plan instead. I said “yes” even if at that moment, I did not yet see that saying “yes” to teaching those kids also meant saying “yes” to the overflowing joy brought about from an incomprehensible 1 hour and 30 minutes pre-school teaching experience; when I did not know that saying “yes” to first time experience, meant saying “yes” for more things to learn and look forward to from that one-baby-step I took.

This is God’s Word to the people whom He has called to rebuild the temple in the book of Haggai:

“But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” – Haggai 2:4

Photographs: Turning Intangible Memories to Tangible Ones

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble,whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” -Philippians4:8

Friends who see my enthusiasm in picture taking and taking pictures tease me for being so vain. I tell them that it is not “vanity” but a “hobby”. It’s only because I take delight in capturing moments which I know for a fact would be lost for the next second.  There seems to be a compelling feeling to save memories of places and faces I have been to and been with.

There are few priceless and timeless gifts this world has that points us to the goodness of the Creator instead of the wickedness of men. Because of that, I choose to savor those split seconds by taking pictures that remind me how I appreciated sceneries and watched people’s emotions, which are all created by a beautiful God. By capturing these moments, I feel like I have turned intangible memories into tangible ones.

Anawangin Adventure: This photo reminds me of that wonderful feeling you feel whenever you see the beauty of God’s creation. This was on top of the many reasons why I agreed to go nature tripping with my college batch-mates at Anawangin Zambales.

Antipolo Prayer Retreat: This photo reminds me of the wonderful people that I have, which I will always be thankful for to God. The presence of these Christian friends simply makes me feel like I am home.

A Night of Laughter: When the stars where as bright as the darkness of the night. We were lying on the sand staring at the countless beauty on the sky. And just for the record, I saw five shooting stars. The last one was the best.

Accidentally Abstract: We were hiking up the mountain and I was trying to take a photo of the view. Unfortunately, I tripped. Thus. . . this photo. It’s not so bad, isn’t it? Beautiful things can happen out of our accidental fall.

STAND: A Call for Endurance

Last Saturday, I spent time playing badminton with my brothers and sisters in Christ. We formed teams through draw lots, drafted the flow of the game, thought of strategies, and saw the competitive side of some.

This game reminded me of the race which Paul was talking about in 2Corinthians, and the main topic discussed in a book entitled: STAND.

The book is not only about encouraging Christians to endure but more importantly, to persevere. Endurance means to stand firm, while perseverance means to keep moving forward. It requires discipline and hard work.

As followers of Christ, endurance and perseverance are not options but a call. If you want to follow Christ, you have to pay the price. Reading this book is like sitting at the feet of those who have been running with Jesus for years: John MacArthur, John Piper, Jerry Bridges, etc.

In 1^st Corinthians 9, Paul describes how he runs to win people to Christ, considering himself as a slave to the Gospel; compelled to preach it.

“Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” -1^st Corinthians 9:24-27

Paul practiced spiritual and physical discipline. Randy Alcorn, one of the authors of the book, makes a very powerful point about taking the initiative to put one foot ahead over the other; not just in sharing the Gospel, but for every single area of our Christian walk. A life of endurance involves daily decisions to take a step and to keep on keeping on. (cf.Hosea6:1-3) It requires a lifetime of offering our bodies to the Holy Spirit. (cf.Romans12:1-2)  “Notice the interrelation of mind and body. It’s not just that we should renew our minds and expect that our bodies will follow. Rather, we offer our bodies to place ourselves where our minds can be renewed.”- R.Alcorn

When we wake up in the morning, we ask for God to give us the strength to get up. But we don’t wait for Him to pull us and open the pages of the Bible for us. Instead, we thank Him for the desire He gives us to read His word, and pray not just for wisdom to understand His message but also for the grace to do what He commands and trust in His promises.

Alcorn writes, “Following Christ isn’t magic. It requires repeated actions on our part, which develop into habits and life disciplines.” Explaining this point, Alcorn emphasizes that a life of endurance really requires a good plan. He adds: “The farmer tills the soil. The weeds have to be removed. He doesn’t say, ‘Lord, please remove the weeds.’ He prays ‘Lord, give me Your strength as I pull these weeds today.’ The athlete doesn’t say, ‘Lord, go out there and win that race.’ He says, ‘God, empower me to run hard and do my best, and if you so desire it, to win.’”

Here are some excerpts from the book:

“ . .in Hebrews 12:2 we read that Jesus, our Great High Priest, finished the race that God had given him, which was to die on the cross. He got to the end. Remember how He cried out on the cross, “It is finished!”-John19:30. Jesus did not stop before He finished the job that God had given Him to save you and me. He said to God, “Not my will, but yours, be done”-(Luke22:42)”

“just for a minute, before we think about our perseverance in following him, let us pause in order not to forget his perseverance with us—with you and with me.”

“Friends, you and I can finish too if we keep our eyes on Jesus and if we accept His loving discipline and endure hardships without complaining and without becoming embittered”

There is so much more to this book than I can relay or quote. So I highly recommend that you read it yourself. (DesiringGod.com offers a free copy)

 

Let me end this article by sharing some of my thoughts after the badminton game, which kinda relate to Paul’s call:

Life is like a badminton game. It’s never about winning, but still you need to train hard to win the prize. It’s not just about practicing humility in victory, but humility in accepting defeat as well; being joyful even through back pain and strain.

In the end, it will not matter whether you win or lose. For its all about enduring and persevering until it’s done.

So PLAY IT WELL. FINISH IT. Above all, ENJOY THE GAME!

Pursuing Intimacy with Christ

Pursuing Intimacy with Christ through Fasting: A lesson learned from John Piper’s “A Hunger for God”

Fasting means yielding to the higher hunger that is and fighting for the higher hunger that is not. The former refers to our longing/homesickness for Jesus while the latter refers to our craving for the things of this world that steals our attention from Him.

We fast because we want to seek Jesus who can truly satisfy us. And we fast because we want to turn away from the idols that consume us.

An idol is anything that moves us away from our focus on God. And not just focus, but even our desire for Him. Even God’s gift can turn into an idol. When we delight so much on the gift that we forget the Giver;  when it becomes our greater need; when we praise it and crave for it so much more than Him;  

Our pursuit for intimacy with God is not a destination but a state.

“The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie” -John Piper

The problem with the world is that it is easily pleased. It settles for the apple pie, because it has not seen and experienced the feast of real joy offered on God’s table. However, this is true even for believers every time we forget about the joy we have experienced in God’s presence.  Jerry Bridges, in his book entitled “Stand” co-written by John Piper, used Demas as an example of one who drifted away from his faith. Paul wrote: “Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica” -2Tim 4:10

“Demas didn’t just wake up one day and make a 90-degree turn. That doesn’t happen. Demas drifted little by little toward the attractions of the world. And if you and I do not practice a daily focused time of communion with God, we will find ourselves also drifting in the wrong direction” –Jerry Bridges

This is where J. Bridges discussed one of what he considered as Four Essentials for Finishing Well:  we must have a daily time focused communion with God. And this is very challenging. How can I allot a quality time for God during days when my work demands 24 hours of my 24 hours? In your busy time with ministry, how do you spend time enjoying Jesus alone without having to experience worries or pressure about serving Him? How can we avoid Him telling us “good job with your respective assignments but you have forsaken your first love (Jesus) “?

 For all of us, a “time-focused communion with God” means commitment.   And where else can that commitment come from other than a deep love and hunger for God? So far in my walk with God, I have learned that commitment is not a “point-in-time” event but a moment-by-moment experience.

Each of us has our own personal stories to tell. Some of us may have almost been killed by a “poison” or probably fallen into the enticement of apple pie. Maybe some are on the verge of giving up feeling like a failure, or giving in because of the temporary pleasure of sin. We have different stories to tell. Our hearts are full of joy when its right with God, but when we are still on the process of making it right, it is very difficult. I dont know with you, but this is my story: when God changed my heart, it was completely out of my control. It was an irrisistable grace that made me hunger for more of Him. And I always want to be in this state.

Yes, it is hard!  Wherever you are right now in your pursuit for Jesus, please take delight in His words: (1) “My grace is sufficient for you for My power is made perfect in your weakness”-2Cor12:9a; (2) “It is finished”-John19:30

He gives us the grace we need in order to follow Him, and He promised that even when we stumble, we will always be righteous in His sight because Jesus, Who became a substitute for our punishment, also is our substitute for perfection.

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“Being with You is to be full of joy. In Your right hand there is happiness forever.” -Psalm16:11

Exodus Chapter 4: “God does not call the qualified. He qualifies those He calls.”

God Sends Moses to Egypt to Save Israel from Slavery

Moses expression of his fear and anxiety when God called him:

V1. “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

V10.  “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

V13. “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

God’s response to Moses’ concerns:

VV2-v12. God has provided Moses with a staff and the power to perform signs if that is the way to lead the people to believe that Moses was sent by God.

VV11-12. The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

VV14-17. God called Aaron to help and assist Moses.

The fear we feel whenever God calls us to service, has also been felt by Moses when God called him to go to Egypt for Israel. How many of us have said: “Lord I am not ready”, “Lord I do not know what to speak and how to do it”, or “Lord, will you let someone else do this?”

But like what I always hear, “God does not call the qualified. He qualifies those He calls.” Moses expressed his fear and anxiety thrice in this chapter. But he could not say ‘no’. God had an answer to his concerns. Together with His command to Moses, is a promise that He will be with him as he goes out to be used by God in saving Israel from slavery. He also provided Moses with an assistant, Aaron, his brother.

When God calls us:

1)      He equips us. (vv2-v12)

2)      He does it for us. (vv11-12)

3)      He sends us a helper. (vv14-17)

May we be each other’s “Aaron”, who is submissive to God and a support to our siblings in Christ. Whenever we feel scared, inadequate, and going ‘backwards’ for the work God has designed us for, may we be reminded by God’s promise to Moses who sounded so panicked:  (1) He will equip us; (2) He will speak for us; and (3) He will provide us with the help/assistance we need;

P.S.

When Moses and Aaron obeyed (Vv28-29),  all the glory went to God. (v31)

World or Word: we either conform to the world or be transformed by the Word

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will” -Romans12:2

Last Friday night was one of the best nights of my life. Other than the thought of meeting up with special siblings in Christ, I knew I will be seeing trees and trees on the mountains so the idea of going to Antipolo with my Saturday-bible-study-group kept me literally cheerful the whole day.

It was already late when we arrived at the place, so after having our fill of fish (OR chicken),  we spent  the night meditating on God’s Word and lifting all our personal and ministry concerns to Him in prayer.

The following day, I woke up excited to hear God’s Word through my personal study, and wait for sunrise. So I had my quiet time. I sat at a nicely carved bench with my journal and bible. The place is so quiet that you cannot hear anything but the sound of soft wind blowing and birds chirping.

I started by whispering a prayer; but for the next 15mins of reading God’s Word, I realized nothing was really getting in. All that I was thinking about were: facebooking, blogging, the “ministry” we came for at the mountain to pray about, the trees, and a lot of other things. The place around me was so quiet but the noise was inside my mind.  I was hearing my thoughts. And I realized how polluted my mind was. I got excited to hear His voice early in the morning but my mind was filled with a lot of unnecessary things that it could not welcome God’s Word.

That morning, I set to study Psalm19. But before I could do that, I thought God wanted me to learn (and apply) something else:  Renewing of Mind!  Romans12:2!

I. The Command: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” –Romans12:2a

When we put our trust to God, as John Piper would say, our “bondage to the world and its overpowering lure is broken”. As we died with Him, and live with Him, we have been set apart from the world and became a “new creation”. That is justification. I think verse2a is talking about sanctification. Sanctification, now, is the process of setting us apart from this world, in conforming us in the image of Christ.

In my personal study, this is how we renew our minds:

1.Do not think like how the world thinks

Whenever I get reminded of the command in Romans12, I always take the verse to mean: studying God’s Word and figuring what He desires so that I would know what He wants for me and where He is leading me. That is true. But I just learned that renewing one’s mind, first and foremost means cleaning our minds by emptying it from all unnecessary thoughts. Everything that is not of Him.

2. Enough of the selfish thoughts

The more we push our dreams and desires to God, without wearing an attitude of submission for His will, is like a “chase after the wind”. It is “meaningless” as described in the book of Ecclesiastes. I just thought that “insisting” to God without considering what He really wants, leaves no room in our hearts for His voice.

Yes, we can insist. In fact the bible teaches us to pray fervently, without ceasing.  But how do we know His will, if all we choose to listen to are our voices?

3.  “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. Meditate on God’s word.

The Word of God brings transformation. We renew our minds by occupying it with Jesus Christ; and that results to a transformation. It is Christ who transforms us.

Romans12:2  tells us two things: we either conform to the world or be transformed by the Word.  First, we empty our hearts and minds by asking God to cleanse us from everything that is not of Him; and then we ask Him to fill us with the fullness of Him. This reminds me of a verse: “blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God”-Matthew5:8.

II. The promise: “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– His good, pleasing and perfect will” -Romans12:2b

Less of this world, gives more room for His Word. Focusing not on ourselves, increases the volume of His voice. Then we will be able to hear clearly what He is speaking to us.

less of us and more of You, Jesus =)

employees of the Kingdom

She goes out of the building, looks around, takes off her stilettos, and then wears her flat mules. The next day, I saw another girl: she takes off her slippers and puts her feet on a high heel ­pumps before entering into the same building. These are the behind-the-front-door scenes I witness on my way to work.

When I was in college, I never wear ‘high heels’,  so I was one of those girls who felt uncomfortable wearing one, wishing a pair of flip flops can pretty much match a corporate attire. Seeing those two girls gave me an idea on how to lessen the discomfort I felt or avoid a blister perhaps.

So the next morning, I tried walking with my crocs-looking shoes on the way to the office. And then just before entering the lobby and get inspected by security guards who also seem to consider the appropriateness of my outfit, I took my shoes off and wore my 3inch high black shoes, just right for a three-piece business attire.

However, it did not work for me. Other than the fact that it’s a complete hassle on my part, I realized it is all non-sense. Try to mull over this: why would my company or your employer impose a proper attire/uniform? Do they want to see us obey it only when we are inside our different offices? Or is it also because they want us to face the world outside and at the battlefield looking something similar as how they want to be tagged? Why are there policies such as wearing of IDs, ties, etc. that we have to follow?

These lead me to the issue of obedience. But this blog is not about company policies, rules and regulations, so let us relate the issue to our walk with Jesus Christ.

1.  Obey not just when eyes are on you

Ouch. Before anything else I would like to first raise my white flag! (Raising my white flag now. . . .”guilty”. . . “guilty”. . . .) And as I raise my flag, I start on this point by reminding everyone that I am preaching to myself too.

An act of obedience which is only done when eyes are watching reflects our true involvement in the place/people we serve. If our whole hearts and minds are not in it, then unsurprisingly, we will be like those two girls who were looking around, and at face value, forever running away as if there is a place to hide.

I know of some Christian friends, who have chosen to let go of a lot of things, even everything, because they have chosen to obey their Master.  And as I look up to these people, I believe it is because they have their minds and hearts completely surrendered to Jesus that they could not just say “no” to Him no matter what it takes.

 2. Obey even if it will give you blisters

Nobody said it is easy. I think the number one reason why it is so hard to obey is because of the pain that comes with it often times.

Obedience is hard because sometimes it is against our desires/wants. Obedience is hard because sometimes we do not understand. And then. . . obedience becomes painful, when we start obeying.

3. Obey because you already got hired (not because you want to be hired)

^“8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”Ephesians2:8-10

 4. Obey because that’s part of representing His  Name

I think the reason why companies impose policies and rules (e.g.IDs, close shoes,etc) is because they want to define how they want to be viewed by the public, a definition of  which is usually reflected by its people, the employees.

As Christians, like these employees, we do not just present Christ, but we represent Him. And who does not want to be a good living witness of Him? Thus, the bible. The book of James is full of instructions regarding how Christians must conduct themselves. This serves as a guide to lead believers to the truth. It guides us as we determine right from wrong according to His standards alone.

figuratively speaking, wear your high-heels even on sand =)

We believe in the fact that we can only obey by the power of the Holy Spirit; but that takes us also the willingness to obey, whether we are “just forced”  to coz we are left with no choice, or not. In reality, it could give us something worse than blisters. It can cause us to give up some “benefits” as the world defines.

But this is my confidence: My God is greater than anything else, and in Him I am safe. We could be having a hard time wearing our high-heels, but who knows? With God  holding our hand, we can even do a “cat-walk on the sand” with it on. *smiling and sighing*

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“¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin shall no longer be your master,because you are not under the law,but under grace.” —Romans 6:12-14

Was that a taste of heaven?

Araneta Coliseum, April 21, 2012

being proud of my Php250 “gen ad” ticket =)

true worshipers of Jesus: Kuya Rainheart, Kimmy, and Kuya Dom =)

Planetshakers? I do not even know any of the band members. I am familiar of a few of their songs though.However, I came to their concert not to watch them, but to worship God through their music. And I was not disappointed.

I witnessed thousands of people sung on top of their voices as they worship Jesus. I felt like I was home. During the concert, I was thinking, “is this a taste of what heaven would feel like?” Worshiping Jesus like it was just “me and Him”, with a bunch of believers whom, I assume, feels the same way.

No matter how it appeared to anyone (e.g.the part of the concert that kind of “pointed at the band”, but I could not care less and I cannot judge their hearts), Planetshakers  did not fail on their part because someone (that’s me) got out of the concert area touched by God and completely amazed not by how good they play their music, but by how powerful and wonderful Jesus is.It was just “me and My Savior” over there.

There were songs that I could relate much, because those songs express exactly what I want to tell Jesus: He is more than beautiful. I want Him to take control of everything. I surrender. I give Him my heart. I feel ashamed for those times I do not give Him my best. I long to be with Him. I long to see Him. I long to worship Him. I hunger for more of Him.  I am all His. I was just singing on top of my voice with a soft payer, begging Him to not make me leave the place with an unchanged heart. He just set my heart on fire. And I wish every second felt that way—not distracted, eyes on Jesus, and a heart increasingly craving for more of Him! Whew!

I left the place very edified. and with this in mind: A person who does not worship Jesus, undoubtedly, never had even a glimpse of who He is. . . . . .

 “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” -Isaiah 9:6

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” -Revelation 1:8

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for His friends.” -John 15:13

. . .because even ONE TRUTH about Him leads someone who truly understands, long for more.

Oh! That four-hour conversation!

It was Saturday night when my roommates and I were having one of those “usual” talks.  We were laughing over some “out-of-the-blue” stuff when one of us opened up about an article which had been trending on a social network: “The girl who saw heaven and hell”.

I listened quite intensively and also shared my insights, though I have not read about the topic myself. We were trying to “analyze” the story this girl wrote in a biblical context.  I don’t want this blog to appear like a “story review” of her article, so to cut the long story short, my friends and I had a fruitful discussion: about heaven and hell; repentance;  rapture; and most importantly, Jesus Christ’s death on the cross.

There was an intricate network of thoughts but one clear truth: Jesus is Lord and He came to save the world from sin.

These are a few of the things we talked about (open for your comments):

1)      Heaven and Hell.

Hell is as real as heaven. Both are eternal. The level of joy you would feel with Jesus Christ in heaven is the same level of torment a person would suffer in hell, being apart from Jesus.Many people seem to take it lightly, but whether you believe it or not, nothing will change the fact that after this temporary life, there are two destinations ahead: up above or fires below.

2)      Relativism.

“I think ‘this’ is right but she thinks ‘it’ is wrong, and now everyone is wondering: who is correct?”

Relativism is a philosophical doctrine that all criteria of judgment is relative to the person or circumstance involved. If this is the case, then I would keep on wondering about the basis of every argument presented by anyone. We all agreed about the authority of the Bible, God’s Word, as the only standard of what is right from wrong.  Paul writes in his letter to Timothy:

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work”. -1Tim3:16

Whose voice are we listening to for daily instructions? Whose footsteps are we following?  Whose definition of “right” from “wrong” do we believe?

3)      Good works.

We can never work our way to heaven.  Religion?  Nine good deeds over one single lie? Not the solution. None of these things saves. Well, it was a long discussion on this part, but then again, the bottom line is: No one is worthy of God’s love. He loved us and died for us and saved us, not because we have done something good, but because God IS LOVE.

4)      Tetelestai.

This is the word Jesus spoke before His last breath on the Cross. The word means “paid in full”, referring to the payment of debt that we would never wish to pay.

We are sinful by nature, and our sins can only be paid by suffering in the fires of hell. (c.ref: Romans3:26) PRAISE GOD, Jesus Christ died on the cross for our debt. He paid it IN FULL that there is nothing left for us to pay in installment. Is it not a GOOD NEWS?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”-John3:16

He died and rose again, conquered death to save the world. It’s the LOVE that keeps me in awwwwwee. A love that nothing compares. It’s a TRUTH that will not leave someone unchanged. It’s a story that gave me HOPE.  I am more than amazed.

 

The bible is more than just a set of rules or instruction which God left for His people. It is a story about His love and what He has done for His chosen people. I had a blessed night—remembering what that story is. For me, this story (about Jesus Christ) is the very core of the Bible among the web of “thoughts ‘ or “interpretations” anyone can raise.

So then, we ended the night with a short prayer and some coffee and cold juice.

***Sigh***

How I wish every night is always like last Saturday night: Christ-centered conversations; a seeking attitude towards God;  hearts set on fire for Jesus; desires and dreams to let His Name known; and ofcourse, Coffee Cookie Chillz =)