It is God Himself Who Makes Us Understand

It is not that we understand God's Word; rather it is that God has allowed---by the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit---His Word to be intelligible and even applicable to our lives today. The Bible is not to be read only at the intellectual level, but with our whole being (body, mind, and soul) that is open and fully surrendered; then can we truly hear, see, and act upon His will. Christ---the Divine Word, the fulfillment of the Old Testament---reveals to us the Father and we are led to understand Him through the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit. Sin separates us from the Holy Spirit, and blocks our capacity for knowledge. Holiness is therefore the gateway to authentically understand God's Word.

Hunger for Learning

The hunger for knowledge and wisdom is a sign of humility. It expresses our admission that there is yet much to be learned. When one resigns from trying to gain wisdom from prayer or from others, he is a person lost in his purpose. Our brains are created by God to accommodate more than what we can learn in a lifetime. Scientists say that we are only using 10% of our brain cells.
The fastest way to learn is to be an apprentice to a master. To have a student-teacher kind of relationship makes us learn with more speed and better imagery than reading books alone. Because life is short, the more mentors we have in our lives, the more knowledge we gain.
Books are an attempt to fully transmit one's learning to another person. Yet written words have limitations, for it cannot capture the full emotions and the body language of the author.
May our lives be blessed with mentors that guide us and books that allow us access into the minds of people who are far and long gone.

Why History Is Important

The way to move forward is to have an understanding of the past.  History tells us,"we have done this, learn from it, build on it." An appreciation of history helps one become a visionary leader.  The farther we see the past, the farther we see the future. Often, one does not know his way forward because he doesn't know where he's been. 

If we take time at night to evaluate our day, tomorrow will surely be better. Each day is an opportunity to improve one's self. I heard from one of my leaders say, "The path to holiness is to become the best version of yourself." I also heard from a song, "I love you more today, than yesterday." Have we become more loving to others today, as compared to yesterday? Are we the best version of ourselves today?

If one knows much about the past, he should take time to write it and teach the new generation, especially of it's lessons. If one wishes to contribute to the future, he should seek out the pioneers and derive wisdom from their stories. This is how ideals survive and thrive. Let not what you start die with you and let not what you inherit be partial.

Gloom to Glory

August 7, 2012, 8pm
And the monsoon rains keep on pouring down...It's been raining like crazy. I wonder when the rain will ever stop, it's relentless. Watching the news of flood victims breaks my heart. Water levels are at the roof tops in many areas. Some flyovers are almost caught up by flood. While all these are happening, my wife Michelle can give birth anytime. She's starting to feel the contractions. It's probably the worst time to go to the hospital since the streets are flooded and our doctor's residence area is also affected by it. It's a gloomy situation on the streets as I made my way to buy some emergency groceries. There will be days of gloom in our lives. But gloom doesn't mean doom. Times like these remind us that there are things beyond our control and that Someone bigger than us can help.Days of gloom bring us down to our knees before God. We are brought to a point of an honest and sincere conversation with Him. Yes, the trying times will bring us closer to Him. We may find it hard to understand His plan for us, specially in painful circumstances. Our 'rational' minds and the feelings in our hearts are too primitive compared to God's infinite wisdom and love. Yet, our Lord Jesus showed us the way to the Almighty by teaching us to relate to God as our Father. Like a little child, there are things that we cannot comprehend about the father's ways. We sometimes cry over things that we do not know can be good for us in the future. Days of gloom are allowed by the Father so we can bloom in the strength of our faith.There will always be times of testing, especially in days of gloom. Here we come to know our true self; where we stand, what we believe in, our level of courage, and the depth of our faith. We might breakdown or breakthrough. We can either lose hope or find faith. We were not created puppets. We were created as children in His likeness. With the gift of life, through His love we are granted the freedom to choose. Hoping that we choose what is right, what brings life, and what reflects His love. Times of testing, these days of gloom, will surface our weaknesses and how far our pride and self-idolatry has taken us. We pray to God for mercy and the grace to embrace humility.Gloom does not mean doom. There is hope in every person and in every season. The best in us also surface in these times. Our heroism, our faith, and our love go the distance in these unusual occasions...if we choose to. Christ, in His days of gloom suffered and died. His sacrifice was not that of doom, but of resurrection. From gloom to glory.Let us then choose as what Christ had chosen in His days of gloom. He chose the Father's will amidst excruciating and unimaginable physical and emotional pain. Christ's heroism cannot be surpassed for He saved us all. He chose to see the glory of God beyond the gloom.
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Suggestion Versus Commandment

I went to a coffee shop to study, but i didn't want to get coffee since I had too much already for the day.  So I asked the barista what he recommends.  He then suggested to me a shake that he says I will surely like.  I couldn't really make out what kind of concoction he was trying to serve me. He just mentioned something about a fruit and that it tasted like yogurt. It turned out that his suggestion was okay, and I enjoyed the shake.

With a suggestion, you can either say yes or no.  People who suggest are those who do not have authority over us and hangs by our decision.  But people who have full authority over us can command us, and  our actions will either be to follow or disobey.  The negative implications of not following a suggestion are not usually as grave as not following a command.

When the Lord said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34)," He was not suggesting, the Lord was commanding us.  He didn't say, "I suggest that you love one another as I have loved you...".  Why does the Lord command us?

1. He has authority to do so.  He is God and He is above us, and our obedience is demanded although we are given free will. He loves us so, that we were not born puppets, but creatures with a capacity to decide and choose good or evil.  We need to come to realize that His authority is like more of a father rather than a tyrant.  His authority is born out of love for us.

2. He knows that His commands are good for us.  Our wisdom is limited, while His is all encompassing.  Since God created us, he knows how we are supposed to be as His creation. When God commands, we have to obey because our disobedience will lead us away from Him.  When we are in a state of sin, we are ashamed and our dignity is stripped from us, just like how Adam and Eve realized that they were naked when they disobeyed God.  The 10 Commandments are good for us.  They were not called the "10 suggestions" because the consequences of disobeying are severe. If we "covet our neighbor's wife" we know the kind of tragedy that will fall on our family.

3. To give us direction in life.  His command is a way of revealing His perfect will for us. We often ask, Oh Lord what is in store for my future? What are your plans for me?  I believe that through His commandments, He directs us to the kind of life He wants us to live.  The fruits of our obedience will be the revelation of His plans.  What about the rich young man?


Now someone approached him and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?" 
He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good.  If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." He asked him, "Which ones?" And Jesus replied, " 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother'; and 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" The young man said to him, "All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19: 16-22)


The true result of total obedience and observance to God's commandments will be a life of surrender to the Lord, putting Him first in our lives; even above our wealth and following Him to eternity.


The Lord does not command us to do something to our own demise.  He gives us commandments  rather than just suggestions because if He says so, it is sure to be good. God is good...all the time. 

Are We Idiots Or Are We Wise?

I just saw an Indian movie called "3 idiots."  They were called as such because they always challenged the norm, specially that of the teaching and learning methods in their engineering school.  Due to the protagonist's "against the tide" influence, they would always get into all sorts of trouble specially with their school director. And so, most often they would be called idiots because of their mischiefs and radical views.  At the end, they all followed their hearts and became fulfilled in the road they took in following their passion. They were the wise ones after all.

Technically, an idiot is a term used for someone who does not have the mental capicity over the age of a 3 year old. It pertains to a foolish person. I am reminded of what the Bible says about man's wisdom compared to God's foolishness.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength (1 Cor. 1:25).

This means that no matter what kind of invention, discovery, or theory man has achieved over the centuries, God's foolishness is still wiser.  But where can God's wisdom be found? Little do we realize that we have been gifted such, His Word, the Bible.

You may be an intellectual or someone this world calls a genius.  You may have read tons of pages and mastered your field and have several Phd degrees. Yet, have you been wise enough to study the source of true wisdom?  Just relate this to the amount of time spent you read on other books as compared to the time you take in understanding the Bible.

To be an idiot in God's eyes would not be to take His advice through his Spirit inspired Holy Bible.  I recall many days when I failed to consult Scripture.  I thought I was wise enough and strong enough, that I did not bother with His wisdom. Oh how I miserably failed!

But following God's wisdom goes "against the tide." We'll get in trouble. We'll be called idiots.  Try being pro-life and others will tell you that you're crazy not to use a condom, and you're trying too hard to go natural. Try not to be corrupt in the workplace, and you'll be branded "hindi marunong makisama or mahirap kausap (not easy to get along with or hard to deal with)." Try staying pure before marriage and you'll be teased as if being virgin is a curse.

Let us choose to be wise in the eyes of God and be willing "idiots" in the eyes of men for the sake of Christ and His righteousness. In the end, the rewards in heaven will surpass even our own imaginations.  Then will we realize that we weren't idiots after all.

Words That Build

A priest said in his homily, "Words lose their meaning if they are not born out of silence."  Often we neglect the value of contemplation.  To set aside time to reflect and consult our thoughts to the Lord is very important amidst the busy world we live in today.  We have heard of the saying, "Silent waters run deep."

Some things to think about before speaking our minds:
1. Do my words add value to the other person?
2. Is it necessary for me to give my opinion?
3. Have I prayed about this statement I will make?
4. Am I reacting recklessly without understanding the situation?


If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Cor.13:1).

The words that come from our mouths should be able to build up, not destroy.  We have to speak in the language of love.  Just as the tongue is destructive, it can also be very upbuilding.  Words that build have a deep foundation.  The foundation of love.

Let us honor others as often as we can and be generous in praise.  Let our words be music to the ears of God and men.

Are You Crazy?

Today, I was going around the venue of the 13th IKV to catch up with friends, coordinators, and fellow missionaries whom I haven't seen in months. Most of them hosted me while I went on mission to their country or province in the past 3 years.  Some are new friends who share the same exciting vision for God's work of spreading His mission.  While talking to them, I can't help but feel inspired and energized that there are many "crazy" people out there, like me, who believe in giving their all to bring Christ to new territories.  Crazy is what we might seem to many of our friends and even kin. Crazy for putting in so much of our time and resources to do something that may not enrich us financially.  Crazy for devoting ourselves to a way of life that may cause us to be ridiculed in school or in the workplace. Crazy for committing our lives to Jesus Christ.


But we are reminded by the words of St. Paul, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God (1 Cor. 3:19). We therefore have to choose; to look crazy before man or to look crazy before God? 


Let us take on this challenge to be righteous before God even if it means to look foolish to the world.  As long as we continue evangelizing, soon enough, inch by inch, step by step, one person at a time, being "crazy" would eventually mean not to accept Jesus as your personal Savior.

Asking Questions

This picture was taken in front of the Academy of Athens in my recent mission trip. Above me are the statues of Socrates (right) and Plato (left), two of mankind's great philosophers. The Socratic method, described by Plato (Socrate's student) in the Socratic dialogues, influenced much of Western thinking. It is a method of problem solving wherein a problem is broken down to a series of questions. And the answers to these gradually reveal the solution a person would seek.

In life, we ask ourselves many questions. Questions like, "Why me?" or "Why now?" We even pose questions to God, like many of the verses written by David in the book of Psalms:

Psalm 13: 1-6

How long, LORD? Will you utterly forget me? How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I carry sorrow in my soul, grief in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look upon me, answer me, LORD, my God! Give light to my eyes lest I sleep in death, lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed," lest my foes rejoice at my downfall. I trust in your faithfulness. Grant my heart joy in your help, That I may sing of the LORD, "How good our God has been to me!"

We pose questions to be able to understand clearly our life's situations. For us to find the right answers, then we have first to ask the right questions. In the Psalm above, David asked God questions, to be able to convict his own trust in God and affirm God's faithfulness to him. Not to doubt Him.

In my own life, 10 years ago, our family went through a great trial. We were swindled a great amount of money that significantly affected our way of life. It was at the same year when I was about to start in my missionary work. In my prayers I asked God, "Why Lord? Have I not been faithful?" I asked that question to be able to seek deep in my heart and be convicted that the Lord has a plan. Jeremiah 29:11 always affirmed me, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." True enough, I saw God's plan unfold as He allowed my family to live a simple life, away from the temptations of drugs, infidelity, corruption, mysticism and other things that would lure us into great sin. Then I realized later that God has answered, "Yes, my son, exactly because you have been faithful."

As we probe our hearts and go deeper in seeking God, we humble ourselves and ask difficult questions. When being in a state of unforgiveness we ask, "Is my pride higher that my love for God?" Questions like this can help us come face to face with ourselves and be brought to the point of surrendering before God. For He alone holds all the answers to all of our questions.

Socrates posture is this, and I quote, "I know that I know nothing." This is one of his Socratic paradoxes. Coming before the God of the Universe, we also say, Lord, I know that I know nothing. Therefore to ask God questions is an act of humility and the gateway to great wisdom.