Opportunity and Change

The following is an excerpt from Manong Willy Girao’s book, "Attractive Christians in the Everyday World":

    Research on present-day church growth has identified some key elements that bring about the rapid growth of churches. Interestingly, the quality of the life of believers somehow, does not figure much in the equation. This was not the case in the Early Church. Describing the second century Christian CHurch, Justin Martyr (c.100-165) wrote:

    "We who formerly delight in fornication now embrace chastity alone; we who formerly used magic arts dedicate ourselves to the good and unbegotten God; we who valued above all thing the acquisition of wealth and possesions now bring  all we ahve into a common stock and share it to all according to their need; we who hated and destroyed one another… now, since the coming of Christ, live happily… and pray for our enemies…"

// Alarming, isn’t it? How far have we delineated from the example of the Early Church? Could we, as one body also say the above quotation written in black text without being dire hypocrites? I hope we could. WE SHOULD!//

Obvious ba na ngayon lang ako nagka-oras para magpost ng entry? (based on my 1st entry’s anonymous quote)

Eto ang ilan sa mga bagat na dapat nyong malaman para maintindihan nyo ako:

1. Ako ay radial, peripheral when it comes relationships.
Part of being phlegmaitc is livng where you are. I get to know the people who are currently with me, as long as they are there (classmates, kasabay tumambay, etc). The less I can see someone, the less that I interact.

2. Ako ay detatchable, parang velcro.
Though I hold affinity for certain people or things, it’s not hard for me to be separated, yun nga lang, parang velcor, a part of me is left in the other.

3. My words are more reliable that my actions.
Unless i’m joking (in which case, obvious) it is better to read what I say rather than what I do. I answer all questions answerable by yes or no (use this to your advantage if you want).

4. I relate based on age.
Mas mataas ang expectations ko sa mga mas matanda sa akin. I’ll cinsuder you as mature as your age in relation to me, exception lang pag tinatawag mo akong "kuya"…

5. I don’t like proud people who deny transgression in any way.
There are very few people who offend me without saying sorry…

6. Mahal ko ang Diyos pero nagkakasala din ako.
Sa mga pagkakataong puro puna na lang ang ginagawa ko, minsan di ko nakikita ang aking mga kamalian, I’m open for that.

7. Hindi halata pero madali akong kausap.
Hindi uso sa akin  ang awkward moments  sa conversations. By that I mean wag kayo mahiya magtanong ng mga bagay, kahit negative. O kaya naman mang-rebuke.

"Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you " -1 Peter 5:7

                                                                         "Lagare", yan yung narinig kong tugon sa isang counselor noong nasa Faculty Partnership Program consultation ako ng IVCF (09/16/06). May nagtanong kasi sa kanya kung saan pa sya pupunta sa araw na iyon.

Bigla ko tuloy naisip, "lagare", yun ang magiging schedule ko sa buong linggo. Para paikliin ang kwento, sa loob ng walong araw, ang  average sleeping time ko ay 2am, at ang gising naman ay 6am. Sa bawa’t araw ako’y matatagpuan sa iba’t ibang sulok ng Quezon City, umaakyat ng pader, sumasayaw, o di kaya nama’y nag hahanda para sa iba’t ibang bagay.
     Umuuwi ako sa bahay ng gabi, kadalasan mga 12 ng hatinggabi nas kalye pa ko, nag-aantay ng masasakyan pauwi. Average walk? mga 8km siguro kada araw. Eto yung panahon na sa sobrang busy eh walang free time sa schedule ko, iisa lang ang pwedeng i-adjust: tulog. Iisa lang ang pwedeng adjustment dito: bawas. Haay…

    Ano nga bang point ng entry na ito  kung wala namang matututunan? Well, the only positive thing na nakuha ko dyan was from saturday to wednesday, constant ang Quietime ko every morning, meaningful pa. Pero nung THURSDAY, kinumbinsi ko ang sarili ko na kelangan ko matulog, kaya’t imbis na mag-Quiet time ako, lumiban ako sa pagpasok sa HE 101 (kung saan ako ay perfect attendance, at may paper akong dapat ipasa nung araw na yun) sinubukan kong matulog….
     Lo  and behold, di ako pinatulog ni LORD, so nag-QT ako after more than 2 hours na naka higa at pagulong-gulong sa kama. Not only that, pag gising ko, mas pagod ap ko kesa before I slept. Lesson: Huwag umasa sa tulog. Ang Diyos ang nagbibigay ng kalakasan. Huwag masyadong isipin ang sarili, matutong mag-hintay at mag-tiis. Pumasok sa klase nang hindi mapahamak.(In connection to the title, mas mahirap mag lagare pag tumigil ka habang nasa gitna, di ka pwede magpahing hangga’t naputol na ang kahoy sa dalawa…)

    Natapos din ang isang linggo ng lagare. Kagabi, natulog ako ng hindi kelangang alalahanin ang alarm clock. Bagama’t putol-puto ang tulog ko, mga 9 hours din akong nakapikit ng walang malay. Siguro 2 months na mula nung huli ko maranasan ang mahaba-habang tulog.

I hpoe walang madadapa sa post na ito….

Quote of the Day:
Dad:  The world isn’t fair, Calvin. 
Calvin:  I know, but why isn’t it ever unfair in my favor?
       
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes, p82-1

Even Hearts of stone can be destroyed with a sledge hammer, the Word of God.

Last friday (09/15/06), instead of having our regular fellowships at SVCF, we had a ‘time of repentance’ instead.  All the footwear were left outside the kiosk, and we all sat on the floor instead of sitting on the usual monoblocs. God has impressed upon our execom that we needed to repent fro our sins, primarily as a fellowship, but also as individuals.

    We were asked to meditate on Psalm 51 beforehand. Aferwards, our president started to explain why this had to be, and gave a short message on what true repentance is. For the next hour or so, from the president, to the comittee heads, and even to the members, the floor was opened for everyone who wanted to cry out for forgiveness, confessing our inadequacy, irresponsibility, and other sins. After a while, most of us were literally down on our knees. My voice was shaking uncontrollably (hagulgol) while I recounted and confessed how irresponsible i’ve been in my role as a ‘kuya’, an under-shepherd of the Good shepherd. 

    Here are some things that I wrote down:
Repentance Means HATRED OF SIN. When we HATE sin in all its forms.
Ps. 97:10, Ps. 38:78.

"Kung nababalutan ng ilaw ang bawa’t sulok ng aking puso, doon lamang mawawala ang anino ng tanikala."

  "It’s just a cycle… ..something must be wrong." -frank 

Note: //…//=notes to self, contextualized

//Subukan mo kayang pumasok sa klase ng "handa" para naman makatulong ka sa iba?//
//HIGHEST CALLING//
//Wag nang maulit uli… …ang pangyayaring ito// —> this may imply that it was just another night of tears rather than true repentance.

    Sadly, the three of us (me, billy and jo) had to leave for our LCDC 2k6 planning, and so did not finish the event. Before we left though a time was given for members to fully reconcile with everyone whom they offended or had grudges with. In the end, a manila paper was laid down for everyone to write their promises on. With that, we walked away, with red eyes, broken hearts, lighter loads, and a new hope.

*This post is 9 days late. I sure hope it will be edifying…