Kumusta sa inyong lahat!

How was your Agape night at Bacolod center?  It’s 9 am Sunday here and 1 am Monday morning there… Thanks for updating your activities ( pictures) in this site.  I know you guys are active in your own facebook site–each center’s own, however, this is our formal site where our prayer partners overseas visit. So, update your activities here as much you are doing in Facebook accounts.

Looking forward to seeing you all in April!
Please check with Ms. Alma regarding your rewards about participation of Bible reading marathon. There must be a checking system whether you keep the reading log.

* reading note

• Antioch of Syria, center of Christianity
  There are two cities by the name of Antioch in the chapter 13: Antioch of Pisidia (13: 14-50, in Asia Minor) and Antioch in Syria (13:1-3,presently near border between Turkey and Syria), an early center of Christianity where Barnabas and Paul  were ordained as missionaries and sent out.  So, don’t be confused with these two locations. NT mentions quite a bit about the Church of Antioch– Gal 2:11-14, Acts 11:19, Acts 11:25-26, Acts 15:35,  Acts 18:23 and etc.–is the later one where believers in Jesus were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26)

Lord’s Prayer

Andrea Bocelli – The Lord’s Prayer.

Kumusta sa inyong lahat!

I heard the tragic news that an earthquake hit Visayas. I have talked to ptr.Joel checking if there was any damage in our Bacolod center. They were all fine and no damage. My prayers go to those who lost their loved ones from landslide…

Please continue with your Acts reading. There are several long chapters so that I am giving you only 5 chapters this time.

See you all in April!  Your coordinator will announce the specific time soon.

Wow…you have finished Luke!  God bless those who diligently participated in our Bible reading assignment.  How about this cheering verse from Psalms for those sincere ones? ” The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men (inclusive language), to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God (Ps 14: 2)” He is watching over you!
Let’s move to the second book written by the physician Luke, the travelling companion of Paul (about 30 years). Like his first book, the Gospel of Luke, this book was addressed to an individual named Theophilus, but it was intended for all believers. Enjoy reading!

ponder over the Jesus’ Crucifixion

The practice of the crucifixion has been known as the most disgraceful and grievous form of execution, and it was reserved for the worst offenders (and slaves).  The criminals were scourged or tourtured prior to crucifixion. During Jesus’ life time, Romans used this torturous execution to display their authority over others. Jews viewed this form of death as God’ s curse (Deu 21:23). Who would willingly take upon himself the curse and shame…should have been ours!

Let’s ponder this week’s reading.

Hi you guys!
Nice seeing your pictures.  Wow! the fence looks much better than before.  I am uploading some pictures for the others to see–about Indang center’s general cleaning day and fixing fence.  See you guys soon…
I miss you all!

*please upload your pictures and comments here so others can see what’s going on each center

Today we are celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. day in America. Because of some courageous individuals and their actions, many were benefited from it.  Like a King Jr, An African-American preacher with no official title gave voice to America’s deepest aspirations changing  the nation what America could become.  What an amazing lesson and inspiration for the Christians who are responsible to become ” salt and light” in the rotten and dark world.  I watched a movie “The Help” last night. I higly recommend it to you.  It’s also teaches that how  individuals showed the resilience to stand firm in the face of the fiercest resistance.

I am attaching the famous speech of Martin Luther King Jr. below. Hope you too are inspired:

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’”

“I have a dream…”

Take a serious study on chapter 14: The cost of being a disciple.  “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?…How salty are you??

Oops…it’s late again
Sorry for the late post.  Was anyone anxiously waiting for a new assignment? I hope so.
Parable of the Lamp (Luke 8: 16)
” Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lamp stand, in order that those who com in may see the light”
In Matthew, it explains better to understand: (Matt 5:14-16):
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (16)”
It’s up to our behaviors that either glorify or disgrace our heavenly Father.
Let’s chew on this week’s lesson and digest well.

Happy New Year!

Have you set your 2012 resolution yet?  There is a Chinese idiom that describes our new year resolution: ‘Yong-Du-Sa-Mi’ translates as “Dragon head, snake tail.” Let’s try not to do that…
How’s your Bible reading going on these days?  We are moving to the Gospel of Luke and Acts. Why these two books together?  Look at the openings of Luke (1:1-4) and Acts (1:1-2). It makes clear that the two books are to eb regarded as a single work in two volumes.
Themes:

• Universality of the gospel (2:14,32): the Good News of the gospel is for all peoples
• Concern for social outcasts (4:16-21):
• Repentance (15:11-32; 18:9-14; 19:1-10): repentance requires both a serious reorientation toward God and reconciliation of human relationships
• Wealth (3:10-14): ethical aspects of the Christian life such as  the manner how to handle money matter (3:10-14)
  *reference from Archaeological Study Bible

Enjoy reading with a new book!

Malikayang Pasko!

Are we busy exchanging gifts these days? Let’s not forget Jesus during his birthday!

Let’s continue “Seek his kingdom and righteousness”…
Let’s finish Matthew this week.
The author ( “the Gospel according to Matthew”) starts with the story of  “Immanuel” (God with us,1:23) and finishes with “Immanuel” (28:20, I am with you always)–how nicely they are synchronized!  it was my pastor’s Christmas message this morning. Hope you guys also to discover some things during your reading that you have not known before.