Musicians at the Front line

I just came from a Music Ministry workshop. One of the worship leaders exhorted us that in actual battles in the medieval, the ones who are at the frontlines are the drumbeaters, trumpet players, and other musicians. The music helps uplift the warriors' spirits and makes them more courageous. It also intimidates the enemy, making the other side nervous.
These musicians at the frontline do not have a weapon at hand while being attacked. They are very heroic and sacrificial in their duty that they are willing to risk their lives just to be able to rouse the bravery of their army.

Like the frontliners in war, music ministers are also vulnerable to the attacks of pride, disunity, and jealousy. There is a need to strengthen our spiritual armor (Eph 6) as we serve Him, so we can ward off these attacks and be shielded by our faith.

No wonder that in spiritual battle, music is a very powerful tool to remind us of the strength of God and give us courage to fight the enemy. Indeed, singing is twice praying (St. Augustine).



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Praying for Healing

Recently, a number of those who are close to me have been admitted to the hospital.  I pray for their healing whether from at home, at work, or being with the person and being able to lay hands on him/her for a pray-over.  A good friend shared to me, "What doctors do is only the physical healing part. There is a need to be able to pray for the spiritual and emotional healing too.  Many of our physical ailments are triggered by our spiritual and emotional problems." 
We know that many of those who are depressed result to alcohol, excessive smoking, over-eating and even drugs.  Some skip their meals because of worry.  Our emotional problems are also rooted in our lack of spiritual nourishment.  If we don't pray, our sense hope is low and we easily give up or easily get angry and frustrated.
Therefore, having a healthy spiritual life can lead to good physical health.
As we pray over our sick, we also pray for the healing of their souls and their hearts.  We pray that they find peace and happiness in their situation.  Healing through repentance and forgiveness is something we long for those we pray for.
Lord, we call upon your mighty power to heal the sick, especially the people close to us. May you touch them  physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Amen. 

Don't Buy a Lie (Lessons from the Tuko Trade)

TU-KO!

For a month now, I've been hearing a lot about the "Tuko" or the Philippine Gecko trade. It has been rumored that it's gall bladder enzymes can cure HIV, AIDS, STD and asthma. It can be sold at around Php1,500 each or auctioned.  Yet, never has it been proven that it can cure the mentioned illnesses at all.  Despite this, people still trade whether face to face or online and pay big money. At present the tuko is being illegally captured at night time in the rural areas.  Potentially, it can threaten the ecosystem of an area by disrupting the food chain.

That the tuko can cure AIDS is similar to what Satan wants us to believe, it's lies.  We are intelligent enough to know right from wrong. We even know the ultimate consequence of sin that is hell. Yet, we still "buy" in to sin.  We mistakenly fall into the lies of the temporary cures of this world, so we can forego the eternal healing, peace, and happiness Jesus wants us to gain.

I don't know how long this tuko trade will go on.  I think as long as someone is desperate to get cured of AIDS and will take his or her chances on the Philippine Gecko.  I don't know how long will we believe in Satan's lies of hopelessness, pride, and unforgiveness.  But for as long if we believe and trust in Jesus Christ, we will be guided to the truth and our salvation is in His hands.

Fishers of Men in the Internet Age

So I was with my wife doing groceries. We came upon the frozen section and saw fish for sale. Some alive, some frozen, some chopped, some processed. I was reflecting on being fishers of men.

Before, in the time of Jesus on earth, fishermen simply had boats and nets to catch fish. When I visited a wharf in San Diego, they have a GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) attached to some fish so they can easily find where the rest of the school of fish are located.
2,000 years ago the disciples just traveled by foot or by animal and they preached without a sound system. Today, we have air travel, telecommunications, internet, media and etc. We might say that it is easier to "fish" these days. But then again along with progress and technological advances, is also the challenge of an even more rapid spread of evil. Temptations are just a click away and so are nuclear wars.
So how do we become fishers of men in today's rapidly changing world? Here are some ideas:
1. Upgrade: Ride the tide of change with Christ
There are now millions of people in facebook alone. If we were to fish, we cast our nets there. What are we innovating in our evangelization approach so we can reach the millions on-line? When Jesse James was asked why he robbed banks, he said, "That's where the money is." Well, definitely the internet is where the people are. If you think of it, the globe is reduced to the size of your screen when you go online. Let's upgrade and be students once more. It is after all an indicator of humility when one is open to learn new things.
2. Witness: Be Firm with your Christ-centered principles.
It is easy to compromise, specially when 'everyone else is doing it.' The secularized mind set can even justify corruption as, "I'm doing it for my family." When faced with peer pressure, we can be tempted to say, "We now live in a modern age." When we compromise our values and principles, we actually lose "fish." When we fail to be a true witnesses of God in school or in the workplace, we turn them off and they get away. The availability of worldly temptations today is stagerring. We have to learn to tighten God's belt of truth around our waste and stand firm in our faith. The "fish" will come if we have integrity and love in us.
3. Commune: Don't lose your touch.
I read in a news column the other day that "We are the most connected and most disconnected generation." While it's faster, easier, and free to communicate on-line or mobile, we also bypass a lot of personal connectivity. We might be digitally messaging our friends often, but it will also mean a lot to hand-write a personal note to them specially in important occasions. While it is convenient to text how people are, nothing will still replace paying them a visit. Let us still be a real community amidst a virtual orientation of the new generation. Being fishers of men, the personal touch still holds great value and power. Don't lose it.
As fishers of men, we pray, "Lord give me strength to bring someone to you today." They say, when men don't fish, they fight. Let us get busy catching men and women for the Lord, specially in this technologically advanced era.

We Are All Pilgrims

I had a service-filled day. I gave a talk in Rizal in the morning and went to Las Pinas in the late afternoon 'til late evening for another talk.  It was a whole day of commuting and asking directions to get to the venues.  I'm usually the type that easily gets lost, but today I easily found my way.  I asked the right people and took the right jeepney and bus routes and asked where to stop.  Which makes me reflect on life's direction in a general sense.

Are we asking the right people?

In discerning for a path to take, we usually pick relevant people to confide with, so we can get a clearer idea on the right decisions to make.  These people are the ones who care for us or an authority on the course we are treading.  He is someone who has been down that road before and can warn us of the dangers ahead.  He is someone who has wisdom because of his past mistakes and is willing to let you benefit from his learning.

Is the route we are taking heading to God's direction?

The path we take may bring us closer to God or farther from Him.  Money and esteem may lure us at the expense of a life less spent in the service of the Lord and an environment that compromises our moral code.  I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). 


When do you know that you have arrived?


Greed is an insatiable lust that cries out..."More, more, more."  It will not satisfy.  It will not stop until greed becomes your cause of death. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).  I talked to a friend who shared to me that he could have expanded his company, but decided not to. He said, "I have enough already and I'm happy with what I have.  With this I can have more time to serve God." Paint a picture of what state of life will truly make you happy.  Paint again another picture of the state of life that can truly make God happy.  Get to where God is, and you will know that you have arrived.

A pilgrim is someone who undertakes a long journey for a sacred or spiritual cause (unknown author).  We are all pilgrims on this earth, searching for the place that we can say, "I have arrived."  I'm pretty sure that place is called heaven.  But while on earth we continue to ask and search how to get there.  And the best way is to know the way, the truth, and the life...Jesus Christ.