Mankind as God’s Children (Jn 1:13)

Mankind as God’s Children (Jn 1:13)

(Before going back to our spiritual journey, let me take this opportunity to inform you, Dear Readers, that we are shifting back to the Catholic version of the Bible – the New American Bible.  Our use of the NLT version has been fruitful so far.  However, as I continue to read the NAB version, I personally find it more appealing to me and my own personal journey.  So, unless otherwise specified, I will be quoting the NAB version of the Bible, copyrighted by Thomas Nelson, Inc. in 1969, to be more specific.)

In our previous article, we talked about God adopting mankind to be His children through Jesus Christ.  To wit,

“But to those who did accept Him He gave the power to become children of God, to those who believe in His name,”

In verse that follows we read:

“…who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.”

†Father God, we thank you for welcoming us in Your loving arms.  Like children we were hungry for love and thirsty for compassion, we come to You and did not turn away Your face from us.  You welcome us instead, clothed us with Your mercy, fed us with Your love and comforted us with Your peace.  Loving Father, we thank You, that by sending Your most precious son, Jesus Christ, to suffer for our sins, we were given the opportunity to have a home, Your home, with You as our father, Jesus your first born as our brother and the Church our Mother.  We praise and glorify You Father, both now and forever. Amen.†

Expecting a child, especially your first born, is a very exciting and wonderful feeling.  All the anxieties and gladness being mixed together is just overwhelming and unexplainable.  The thought of having another human life being entrusted at your care is a very joyful experience.  I don’t know how to explain or how to describe it.  How could a life that is so precious, so sacred and so fragile be placed at the control of filthy and undeserving hands? What is it that God has seen in me to place such responsibility upon my shoulders?  Nevertheless, the excitement that I have can never be contained nor can it be extinguished.  This child, this baby that my wife is carrying in her womb, is the child that I always longed for.  Blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh. 

If I, a mortal, who have waited only for about two years for my child, cannot contain this excitement and joy, how much more God who have waited for His children hundreds even thousands of years to come to Him? 

Creations. People. Children.

I am yet to find a part of the Old Testament wherein it could be read that God calls mankind His children.  If ever the term “sons of God” was used in the Old Testament, it could hardly be pointed out as referring to human beings.  There are still theological debates and discussions as to who the sons of God are as referred to in the Old Testament.  But, from the New Testament, we know who these sons of God are. 

Verse 13, as we can see above, tells us that mankind reproduces mankind through these three natural causes: (1) by natural generation, (2) by human choice, and (3) by a man’s decision.  Therefore, a human is a child to another human.  But our being children of God is not the result of any human or physical means.  It is by the Spirit of God that we became children of God – first and foremost by accepting Jesus Christ. We do not become children of God by our own merits.  We do not make ourselves children of God because of our choices or decisions, but because it is God who decided to take us as His children through Christ.  Man cannot say, “God make me your son.”  But it is God who calls us, “Listen and accept my son Jesus and you will be partakers of my kingdom, be my adopted sons and daughters.”  We do not become children of God because we wanted it, but because God willed it. 

In John 3:5-6, Jesus explained this to a Pharisee named Nicodemus.  “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.”

Just as adopted children became part of the family through papers and legalities, man becomes a child of God through Jesus.  This brings me to the question, “If the adopted children share in the responsibilities within their adopted homes, don’t we have roles to play as well as children of God?”  

Becoming the Children of God (John 1:12)

There were children and then there were strangers.  The children almost always have part in the inheritance, but not the strangers, except for a very few.  The children have the privilege of being part of a family where they are nurtured and loved. The strangers, aside from a few moments of generosity and compassion, were not part of the grace reserved for the children.  One would not keep his or her children out in the cold of the night and let some strangers in to his or her home.  That’s not the way of the world. 

But there were strangers, unrelated by blood, who were taken in as one’s own.  They are the adopted sons and daughters, worthy to be called heirs and part of the family.  They were given the rights to call their “parents”, father and mother.   If this can happen here on earth, believe that it is possible, too, in the heavenly realms. 

“But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)”

†Father, we thank you for the gift of life.  We thank you Father for Your grace that You made us worthy to become Your children through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord and Savior. 

Father, touch our hearts today, so that as we read and meditate on Your words, we may fully understand Your message.  Lead us, Father, in a life that will make us worthy to be called Your sons and daughters, children of the Most High. All this we pray, Father, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

From our last article, we talked about how Jesus, being the Light of the world was not received in the world.  He created it, yet He was not accepted by it.  Such were the people living in the dark.  And many of us today are not different from the people of Jesus’ time on earth. 

We love darkness because in the dark, we can be bold and daring and careless.  Compare the crime rate during the day and during the night.  Most crimes were committed at night.  Why?  Because people, like us, who do bad things believe that we are isolated from the light during the night.  We can do whatever we want because no one can see us.  So we gain false courage and dare to be bold.  But you know that is not true, because God, who is ever present and ever powerful, can see us even during the darkest hour of the night or even if we hide in the deepest abyss of the earth.  That’s why many would deny Jesus – and deny God.  We hate the light the would expose our wrong doings. 

No one would want to wave their dirty hands in broad daylight.  Not even me.  So we move away from the light, making us strangers to God. 

But there is hope.  And that hope is in Jesus. 

Many people, in order to achieve the grace of being called child of God have done so many things.  But if we will look at the verse above, we need to do only two things: BELIEVE and ACCEPT.

BELIEVE

We know that there are many who do not believe in Jesus –  as to who or what He is.  So let’s not talk about them.  Let us talk about the many who “believe” in Him. Believing something is associating it as real or true.  If we believe in Jesus, then we believe that He lived on earth and that He existed.  But this “belief” requires more than just acknowledging the fact that Jesus lives and that He is the Son of God.

If we are to believe in Him, then we must believe His works and His words.  You cannot say, “I believe in what you said, but I don’t believe it’s the truth.”  What is the point in believing a lie.  Believing in a person but not in his words is very contradicting in its own.  Such is something we cannot do when it comes to our belief in Christ.  We cannot simply believe that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior, and yet do not believe the words He said.  We cannot also say that we believe Him to be the Christ, but not believe that He died for our sins. 

Many people who are suffering and struggling in life profess their beliefs in Jesus but they live their lives as if He can do nothing about their problems.  Many people believe in Him and His remission of sins, but continue to live their lives as if they can never be forgiven.  They believe in Him, but not His words, not His works.  If we truly believe in Jesus, we will believe what He said and will DO as He commanded. 

ACCEPT

Accepting Jesus means letting Him in into our lives.  You cannot accept and not receive.  “I accept this gift, but take it with you when you leave.”  “I accept you in our house, but you have to stay outside.”  That’s not acceptance. And I don’t know what it is.  We cannot say, “Jesus, I accept you in my life as my Lord and Savior, but don’t meddle in my affairs.  I can do this on my own.”   Accepting Jesus means surrendering everything to Him.  When you ride a taxi, you don’t instruct the driver when to turn left or right, when to step on the brakes and when to change gears.  You just tell him the direction or location you want to go and let him do his job. 

So, when we accept Jesus, we just have to let Him do His job of changing us, from the inside out.  We cannot accept Jesus and then continue on our own “journey” of self-enlightenment, self-discovery, self-fulfillment or whatever you want to call it.  All our efforts, though some may succeed in some areas and for some times, will all end empty and will fall short.  Because only by accepting Jesus we can have the fullness of life.  With Jesus in our lives, we shall lack nothing for He is the Good Shepherd with unfailing love that will pursue us all the days of our lives (cf. Ps. 23).  

BECOME

This not something you can do – this is the outcome of your belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ.  This is the grace of God that is offered to all of us through Christ.  This is made free for you and me because Jesus already paid the ultimate price – His death on the cross.  With His death and resurrection, we can become heirs and be called children of God.  All we must do is Believe and Accept.

Then, what shall we do as we become children of God?  Live like one.

“This includes you who were once far away from God. You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions.  Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.  But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. (Colossians 1: 21-23)”

†We thank you, Father, for the love and mercy you have given us.  We thank you for the gift to be rightfully called your children through Jesus Christ.  Without you, we are nothing.  And as a child of the Almighty, we pray that you meet our every needs like a babe helpless and in need of your love and care, every waking moment of our lives.  And when our time on earth comes to an end, welcome us in the gate of heaven, to a place You have reserved for us since You laid down the foundation of the universe.  All this we pray, in Jesus’ mighty name, together with the Holy Spirit, who lives and reigns with You, now and forever. Amen.†

People's Denial of the True Light (John 1:10-11)

There are times when the people you cared the most were the ones who didn't believe and listen to you.  It is a bit disappointing when you tried to reach out to them and share with them what you've learned but they didn't seem to care.  This is not something new, so don’t worry if you experienced setbacks like this.  More often than not, people have their own understanding of things and have their own views of the world, thus, making them pre-occupied with their thoughts and own desires. 

If these things can happen to you, you can be assured that it also happened to the Greatest Teacher ever to walk on earth. 

“But although the world was made through Him, the world didn't recognize Him when He came.  Even in His own land and among His own people, he was not accepted” (John 1: 10-11).

†Father, You sent Jesus to this world so that we may know You, the Truth, the Life and the Way to Salvation.   You sent Him to us as the Light of the world which He Himself made.  Lead us, Father, so that we may recognize Him, receive Him and live as He had lived.  Lord Jesus, guide us as we listen and meditate on Your words.

In the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. †

In the previous articles, we learned how St. John described Jesus to the early believers of the Church.  Jesus was with God from the beginning. He created everything.  He was God.  It must be considered that according to most Bible scholars, this Gospel was written during the first century when the Church was in its early years and was suffering from persecutions and challenges.  To give hope to the believers, St. John may have intended to strengthen the Church’s faith by introducing Jesus as the Son of God.  A power to whom everyone can seek refuge and comfort. 

During the time that the Gospel was written, the years before that, and even up to this present day, there were skeptics who don’t believe the message of salvation that is Jesus Christ.  People in the times of Jesus had their own perception of salvation.  From the last book of the Old Testament until the birth of Jesus, the people of Israel have been waiting for the Christ for hundreds of years.  During those years, many came to claim to be the Messiah but all of them proved to be false.  Then there came Jesus.  A Jewish carpenter from Nazareth, uneducated - unlike most scholars of that time.  Born and raised in poverty.  Who was this Man to teach about the salvation of Man and of the Kingdom of God?  The Christ that they were waiting for is a man who will end slavery and oppression. Not a carpenter.  Certainly not Jesus.

As we would also learn later from other verses in the Bible, even His Mother and brothers (and sisters) were skeptical about Him and His teachings.  St. James, also believed to be a brother of Jesus, was at first skeptical about Him until His resurrection on the first Easter when Jesus appeared to him again.  From that point on, St. James became a true believer, lead the Church in Jerusalem until he was martyred like many other saints and defenders of the Faith.

Maybe the people during those times were afraid that they again fall prey to those people pretending to be the Christ.  Maybe, the people during those early times when Jesus was about to start His ministries had doubts about God’s promised salvation.  Eventually, their fears and doubts blinded them.  And when the Light of God came to the world, they denied Him.  They cannot comprehend the way the Light was revealed to them.  It was not what they've been expecting.  It cannot be the truth that they've waiting for.

Doubt and fear lead to blindness.  People who suffered in life would understand.  People who experienced being alone, helpless and brokenhearted would understand the feeling of being forsaken by a God who never seems to listen.  Tired, afraid, brokenhearted people,  resort to closing their eyes and choosing darkness -relying upon their own understanding and strength-than to hope for a distant spark of light.  And these people hold on to their “blinded-faith.”  They refused to acknowledge the Light because it does not conform to what they believe and  expect. 

Until this day, many were living in the dark because they refuse to acknowledge the light.  Many still don’t believe in Jesus because He doesn't fit their preconceived idea of a savior or Son of God.  Many even deny His existence.  Many even deny the very existence of God.  The people of those days still live today. 

But, for the Church and to the believers, Jesus is the Christ – the Son of the Living God.  And through Him, we can find the light of peace, joy, hope and love that endures forever.

†Amen.  Lord Jesus, You are the True Light from the Father.  In You we entrust our lives.  Guide us that we may continue to live the life You have always wanted for us.  And when our time on earth come to an end, welcome us in Your loving presence.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. †

The True Messiah (John 1:6-9)

Imagine you are attending a seminar, a conference or a talk by someone popular.  Or imagine you are watching the Oscars.  Have you notice how much effort the organizers exert to identify the presenter of the Key Speaker or the Best Actor or Actress?  Did you notice all the efforts they have to put in so that they can introduce that special person, that Best Actor or Actress, that Key Speaker very well?  For the Oscars alone, the presenter is almost always an A-Lister in Hollywood.  That’s how special the message is.  That’s how special the person who is about to be introduced.  And it’s never about the presenter.

Just recently, I was invited to deliver the commencement address to the graduating class of my elementary school.  The Principal and almost all the teachers went to our home to talk to me and my parents.  Probably to get a glimpse of how I am at home or the kind of person before the eyes of the people who know me and are close to me.  They asked questions about my current work, the works I had, the schools I’d been, awards, affiliations, etc.   These people wanted to know a little more about me before they present me to the graduating class – before I give my message. 

I think there’s more than just courtesy in there.  I believe that what they've done was due diligence.  Those people wanted to know me better so they can introduce me better.  But to make their work a bit easier, I asked my wife to draft the introduction and gave it to the school as guide.  Who would know me better than the very person I spend all of my time and secrets with. 

Join me as we take a first look on how Jesus was introduced by John the Baptist.

†In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“God sent John the Baptist to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.  John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light.  The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world.”  (John 1:6-9 NLT)

John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin from His mother’s side.  John was a little older than Jesus - by merely three months.  If you are like me who grew up in the province and with closed family-ties, then you might be close to your cousins as well.  Jesus and John did not come from well-off families.  Probably, they grew up together.  I Imagine Jesus and John as kids, playing in the dirt during summer and enjoying themselves running and dancing together under the rain.  I can even imagine the two of them talking about the pretty girls they meet.  They are both humans after all.  I don’t know what was John’s profession but I know Jesus became a carpenter.  They are about thirty years old when something happened.  John was called to be in the wilderness.  He threw off his clothes and dressed in camels’ hair instead.  His food?  Locusts and honey.  John became a mad man in our today’s standard.  A crazy one crying out for the people to repent and turn away from their sins for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Imagine you are in a country under foreign rulers and your prophets of early days promised you of a deliverer, a Messiah that will liberate your nation.  Scholars said that during this time in Jesus’ life, there were a lot of people who claimed that they were the promised Messiah – the one promised to unite and rule the kingdom of God just as David did in his time.  Many of these so called messiahs failed.  Of course we know, that because we know who the True Messiah Is.  

So during those times, John was so bold asking people to turn away from their wicked ways.  Could he just be another one of those so-called messiahs?  Probably that was what the people were asking then.  They came to the Jordan River to see John the Baptist and hear his message.  Many believed in him because we know he had his own disciples.  But I still believe there were skeptics who went there to question if John’s message was true?  If he is the promised prophet who will come before the Messiah?  Or if he is the promised Messiah?  John became popular those days.  We can almost see him both as a hero to his people and a threat to the rulers of that time.  He might have won a few friends but he certainly had a lot of enemies.

People who were desperate for a savior, people who wanted liberation from the foreign rulers, people who were tired of poverty, hunger, illness, and persecution were looking for miracles – looking for hope.   And they thought they found it by the Jordan River through John the Baptist. 

But from among the many nameless faces in the crowd gathering around John, his beloved cousin came silent as a cat.  John was a flickering light of hope during those times, but a “nameless face in the crowd” would change that forever.  John was about to become a channel of a Divine Message far greater than what he had been preaching all this time.  The True Light was about to reveal Himself to the world through “mad-man John.”  And what makes John special to be called as the presenter of the True Light of the World was not any of his heavenly visions or divine appointments, but because he was related to Him by blood.  They were childhood friends.  They probably grew up together.  They knew each other well.  That what makes John the Baptist special to be called to announced the forthcoming salvation. 

In our world today, we see a lot of “John the Baptists.”  These are the people who preach about Jesus.  We see them on televisions, on concert halls, on lavished buildings, hear them on the streets, on radio, and read about them and their messages on books, magazines and the internet.  Today, they no longer shout in the wilderness.  They no longer wear clothes of camel hairs nor eat locust and honey.  Today, many of them wore expensive designer clothes, eat delicious foods and drink the best wines.  They no longer sleep in caves of the wilderness because they own big and grand houses. 

These modern John the Baptists still shout the same cry the first John shouted about 2000 years ago.  “Prepare a straight pathway for the Lord’s coming (Jn. 1:23).”  We hear them alright, but like the people of the old, some of us listened and act, some just stood and wonder.  Is it because we grew too used to their messages or is it because they don’t really know this Jesus they are talking about?

Next time we hear of a modern John the Baptist, care to take some time to listen to his message.  Does he really know who is this Jesus he is referring to?  Would he trade everything he has, put on a camels’ hair as robe, eat locusts and honey, and live in caves to get his message across?  I’m sure there are some who will.  But many will fold.  Why?  They really don’t know who Jesus is because they never had the experience to sing and dance and cry with Him out in the rain. 

Test these voices that cry-out in the wilderness.  There is only One True Light – and He’s not one of them.  So before you put your trust in that flickering light in the dark; listen, think, and search for the One Who Gives Light to Everyone – that’s Jesus and there’s no one else. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  Amen! †

Christ the Divine (John 1: 1-5)

Let us begin our journey by walking through and with the Bible.  Our first stop, the Gospel according to John. 

It is believe that the author John is the same Apostle often described as the Disciple whom Jesus loved.  According to Bible Commentary by Matthew Henry, the Gospel and Epistles of John were written in Ephesus about 97A.D.  Therefore, putting it much later than the time John wrote the Revelation, while he was exiled in the island of Patmos. 

We picked John, as suggested by many Bible scholars, for us to have a glimpse of understanding of the true nature of Jesus before we proceed to other books in the Bible. 

† In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

John 1:1-5:

“In the beginning the Word already existed.  He was with God, and He was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that He didn't make.  Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone.  The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (NLT)”

In his commentary, Henry said that “the plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal His Father’s mind to the world.”

So what’s in God’s thought that He wants us to know?

Clearly, we can see that Jesus did not just exist some 2,000 years ago, but even before the beginning of time.  Jesus, we know is a Man because we know that He lived as a man and died as a man.  But this passage shows that He is God even before He became man.  If we will go back to the very first book of the Bible, Genesis, we will learn that God created everything.  But in here, we are given a different version of that story – that “nothing exists that He (the Word, referring to Jesus) didn't make” and that “He created everything there is.”  Therefore, if we follow a simple logic, then the Word who created everything and who was with God before the beginning and at the same time is also a God, must be the same God of Genesis. 

John, and in relation with Genesis alone, solves the mystery of the Trinity, or at least the Father and the Son being One.  If the Son is God and the Father is God, then there are two Gods – “He was with God, and He was God.”  But the entire Bible tells us that there is only ONE TRUE GOD, even Jesus said this.  How can, then, a God be with “another” God at the time of creation?  Must be, God the Son is in God the Father.  That’s “two person” being One at the same time.  The unity of the Father and the Son – both God, both Creator. 

It is very difficult to comprehend because we are trying to picture out God in the image of man and within the bounds of the physical realm.  Physics, we know, rules that a matter can only occupy one place at a particular time.  Therefore, in the physical world, which we try to use to understand the nature of God, it will be impossible to have two God in One Being.  But God is, and forever will be, outside the boundary of the physical world, which in the first place, He created.  How can you fit the Creator in His creation?  How can you limit the Creator within the properties of His creations.  If the nature of God will be too small to “fit” into our understanding, then, how was He able to formulate and maintain the entire creation as it was, as it is today, and as it is in the future?

By the moment we realize that Jesus, the bringer of Good News, is the same God who created everything, wouldn't we be grateful to know of His awesome power?  Wouldn't you put your trust in Him?

Jesus, the One who holds Life in Him, came into the world and every moment knocks on our doors to share the Life that gives light to everyone.  When are we going to open that door for Him?  If you know that someone is at your doorstep, willing to give you this kind of Light that no darkness can ever extinguish, will you not let Him in?  How long will we stay in darkness if we know that Jesus holds the life that gives light to everyone?

Jesus - God, Creator, Bringer of Life and Inextinguishable Light – is standing at the doorsteps of our hearts, knocking, will we let Him in? 

Amen! Lord Jesus, come in to our lives. 

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen. †

Classes (Re)Start

Most of the schools here in the Philippines opened today.  In my younger days, I always looked forward at the beginning of the school year.  New notebook... new... ?? I think that’s all I had then.  I never had problems using old bags or clothes or even recycled notebooks from the previous years.  New or old, it didn't matter.  All I needed was something I could use.  But of course I wanted something new every start of the year. 

It’s a different feeling when you hold in your arms something new.  It gives you renewed hope that this time it will be better than the last one.  Something new is something you will always look forward to, something you will love sharing and talking about. What’s new inspires you.  What’s new excites you.  But sometimes, it is not always that something or someone “NEW” that will give you the needed inspiration, the needed excitement.  Sometimes, it is the old one being rediscovered.  Finding something different, understanding it deeper, and appreciating it more will lead you to greater joy and happiness. 

The same goes with faith as it is with other things.  You are searching for something that will give you more meaning, more purpose.  You look for answers to your questions and instead of finding the answers, you find alternative “fixes.”  Good for you if can find the answer from a different path.  But better if you can care enough to study more and learn what’s already there.  Sometimes, the answers we’re looking for is not from without but kept within.  Sometimes, change is not even necessary.  Maybe it is just a little effort to look deeper, listen more intently. 

As we’ve invited you in the past articles, please join us as we take this journey of (re)discovering Jesus.  Join us as we take small, baby steps towards Him and get to know the Son of Man better. 

For our reference, we decided to use the New Living Translation (NLT) version of the Bible (©1996), not for any other particular reasons, but merely for easier understanding of the words.  We are still babies, you know, so we need to take “soft” foods for now. 

This is not a philosophical or theological or religious journey.  This is just about a man trying to rediscover his faith in One Man named Jesus.  This is just about a man being in front of the Divine as he tried to see a glimpse of His glory. 

Who is This Jesus?

“Jesus?  Jesus who?”

“Hi! My name is Jesus and I came from Galilee.  My trade?  Oh, yes, I am a carpenter.  I inherited a shop from my father Joseph. But, actually, I don’t do much carpentry nowadays.  I’ve been roaming around the countryside, with my small group of friends, talking to people, giving them hope and preaching the good news of God’s salvation.  We don’t have a regular place to stay, so no permanent address. We are usually seen dining with the poor, the outcasts of the society, the prostitutes, the tax collectors, the lowest of the lows and the poorest of the poor.

“From time to time, we heal the sick, cast out demons, bring dead man back to life, feed five thousand men and a lot more that most people would call miracles.  Well, scholars of the law, priests, leaders of the church and of the cities call us enemies of the religion and threat to the existing traditions and customs.  We are not pretty much the kind of preachers and teachers you may have in mind.  Most of my friends and co-workers have no formal schooling, they were fishermen and ordinary men from the lowly part of the country.  All of us, and I mean all of us, are in danger of arrest and persecution, everyday.  One day, we will die in the most painful ways.  But that’s still in the future right?  For now, I, we, just do what my Father in Heaven asks me to do.  If you trust in Me, join us.”

Imagine talking to Jesus right now and He said those lines.  What will you say to Him?  How will you answer?

“Gee, you seems to be doing a great job.  But, you see, I am too occupied right now. I got bills to pay, my parents are aging and I have to take care of them, my kids are still young and they need me most of the time.  You know, I am really busy right now.  Maybe some other time.”

“What have you been smokin’, man?  Bringing back to life a dead man?  Healing the sick, dining with harlots and tax collectors?  You must be insane?  I heard you are in constant argument with the high priest and his cohorts.  Don’t you know that you are endangering your life and that of your friends?  I wouldn’t join you, man.  Not in this life, not even in the next.”

“Jesus?  From Galilee?  Is there something good from that place?  Just talk to someone else and stay away from me.”

“Oh, I see. What you are doing seems pretty interesting.  But, what’s in it for me?”

“Sure, but let me just tell my family about it.  I need to consult my wife first, you know.”

“I have a lot of troubles of my own.  Why should I join you?”

We don’t have to look too far to see that one of these responses may resonate our own. Who is this Jesus that we should be spending our time thinking about Him and what He said or has to say? What’s in it for us?  Is there any available resources or references that we can use to know exactly who He is?  He’s too popular and yet no two individual know Him exactly the same.   

Jesus and His words are more than just fashion and fad that last for a short time and then go away.  He and His words have been with us for more than 2000 years.  And we don’t see it going away.  He’s going to stay for all eternity.  Amen.  Jesus was there even before the beginning of time. 

So who is this Jesus? 

Jesus is both Human and Divine.  Trying to understand Him with our small minds would never be enough to see how big His nature is.  

Just to have a short but clear picture of who Jesus is, let’s take a look at how John introduces Him:

“In the beginning the Word already existed.  He was with God, and He was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that he didn’t make.  Life itself was in him and this life gives light to everyone.  The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it... The One who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world... But although the world was made through Him, the world didn’t recognize Him whe He came... So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us.  He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.  And we have seen His glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.”

“For the law was given through Moses; God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God.  But His only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart; He has told us about Him.” (John 1:1-5,9-10,14,17-18 (NLT))   

Join us in this journey as as we try to know more about this Man named Jesus.  Let us live our lives, from being good to being godly.    

An Invitation

“The night is dark and full of terror.”

That is the famous line from the TV series Game of Thrones, an adaptation of the book with the same title. 

It is a fictional line but it cannot be too far from reality.  

We are now in the age when every street and every corner is illuminated by man-made lights but we remain in darkness and hides in terror.  We live in the world of interconnected lives but with disconnected hearts.  We know what’s happening on the other side of the world but we don’t even care on what’s happening with our next door neighbor or the person sitting on the next cubicle in our workplace. We, despite all the glory and honor that man received in this world, still live in darkness and fear. 

But we know too well that there is fear only when one is left too long in the dark.  For from light, from illumination, comes forth courage and hope.  Light birngs forth true understanding and wisdom.  From lights comes life and freedom.  But that light must be searched with diligence, perseverance and eternal dedication.  We need to find that light, come what may.  But which light, for many have claimed to be bearers of light?  The Light of Faith, Lumen Fidei, which can only be found in Jesus.  

“Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness, but a lamp which guides our steps in the night and suffices for the journey” (Pope Francis I, Lumen Fidei, #57).

For many of you who have been with us for more than a couple of years now, you know that try to dwell on the natural things and talk about how we can live the good life.  If you’ve been with us for quite a long time, you will realize that we are sharing with you things that may inspire you to live a life that you want.  But you will also be wise enough to see that we’ve been doing it the wrong way.  We encourage you live a good life instead of urging you to live a godly life – a life that imitates the life of Jesus. 

I invite you to join me, as I search for that light of faith.  This is an invitation for everyone, ordinary people who wants to go out of dark and run away from terror.  This is an invitation for everyone to march forward for their faith, their freedom, their life – both here and in eternity.  Join me in this journey of self-discovery and making Jesus more famous.   

We are going to change the theme of this site.  We will now be dedicating this site to the men and women who seeks to find not a good life but a godly life.

This is an open invitation – free of charge.  Join us as we journey towards life, using nothing but the light of faith to illumine our path, until we meet Jesus as He welcomes us in His loving arms.     

A Happy Hearts' Day - Me and Mrs. H

A few hours from now and people from all over the world would start being romantic again.  "I love yous" and "Marry Mes" will soon fill the air. But for the brokenhearted, what else is there and what's so specially with Feb. 14?  It's just another ordinary day that's been too much commercialized and over-rated.  Oh, well... it all depends on who you ask.

As for me, I had a great "pre-Valentine date" this morning! Yes, Mrs. H and I, we literally attended to the pressing concerns our "Pag-ibig." I'm talking about the Home Development Mutual Fund (or Pag-Ibig), a government agency in the Philippines.  Whoever thought of the idea of calling it Pag-Ibig (LOVE) is a genius.  Building a home and a great future, really starts with love.  By the way, PAG-IBIG stands for "Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industria at Gobyerno."

So, going back to my pre-Valentine date.  It was just a typical dine-in in a local fast-food restaurant in a noisy location in the Metro.  The only difference is that it's a workday and it's at 10 am. Who dates his wife at 10 am in a Thursday? Nothing fancy, nothing unusual, nothing special.  But our little chit-chat over some oily fried rice and unfiltered dark brewed coffees are much like the ones we always have, until it turned into a very uplifting conversation.

The conversation that started with sharing of our school and work experiences, ended up with in-depth analysis of why things happened, how did it happen and what we've become because of those experiences.

Some of the things that Mrs. H said this morning that really left an impression on me are these:

"You don't stop (doing something) because you are tired but because you are done."

"Job well done is a job satisfaction in itself."

"You don't have to listen to what others will say about you. Some will see your potential, others will not. Sooner or later, your true self will emerge and people will see your true worth."

"Your experiences, at school and at work, will mold you to the kind of person that you are - technical skills don't count that much- it's your attitudes and work ethics."

After that nice and sweet breakfast together, I now ask myself, "Do I really have to buy books, listen to audios and attend seminars to motivate and inspire me? I could just sit and listen to this amazing lady the whole day."

To all of you who will be celebrating "love day" this February 14, I wish you happiness and meaningful celebration.  With or without "special someone" fill the day with love.

To Mrs. H, I know we never really celebrate Valentine's Day, but I must say, you really know how make a man fall in love with you - over and over again - making each day a Happy Heart's Day.

P.S.  When I came home this evening, candies and sweets were waiting for me.  Ha ha ha! Same treats she has for her kids tomorrow.   

Choose To Be Brave

The best thing about being blessed is you won’t be able to contain it to yourself.  One way or another you must share it.  When you feel the love of God overflows, you have no alternative course of action but to share it.

Everyone has a story to tell.  What’s your story? 

It doesn't matter if it isn't the best story in the whole world.  It is okay even if it is not “for Hollywood” or a novel-like story.  It is your story.  And because it is your story, it hasn't ended yet.  You can still make it as one of the best stories ever written.  Who would stop you?

What’s my kind of story?  It’s a story of grace.  A story of second-chances (lots of it, actually), of mercy and forgiveness.  It is a story of hope.  Hope that comes from God.

Many people would raise their eyebrows if ever they read this article, (if they really read it) especially the ones who knew me so well. 

“Well, that’s not the Roy we know,” they will probably say. 

And I won’t blame them.  This isn't the life I intended to live.  This isn't the life I wanted.  Very much so, this isn't the life I have lived.  But by God’s grace, I am living the life I thought I never deserved.  God is putting blessings in our tables, who are we to say no? After all, these are not ours to keep but to share to everyone.

Twenty-fourteen is really starting to be a great year for us.  Not because there is such a thing as great year but because we resolved to make it greater than 2013.  And we know God hears our prayers, He is making Himself felt in more ways than one. 

Why did I say my story is a story of second chances?  Because I've failed in the past... many times.  But God never gave-up on me.  He keeps on giving me another chance to try again and make it right the second time around.  Most of the time, that second time becomes second-time-version-seven-zero.  And His message is clear - He is not giving up on you, too!

I won’t give you a list of my failures.  There’s nothing romantic with failing.  But there’s nothing to be ashamed about it either.  In failing we learn.  And my failures have been the instruments God used to make me see life clearer.  He picks me up every time I fall and He lets me walk my way again.  That's how forgiving God is and that's how much He believes in us.

God has been so good that I can boast about it.  And I boast about the goodness and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ – not for what He has done – but for Who HE is. 

Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.” - 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (The Message)

In the articles after this, you will be reading about God’s grace and mercy.  It’s all about how to LIVE THE GOOD LIFE after all, isn't it?  I’m not talking about my faith, I am talking about God’s grace.  Those are two totally different things.  Faith is something you give to God and share with people. It’s imperfect just as you are. But grace – God’s grace – is perfect because it comes from One who is Perfect. 

Today, when your faith is called by the Lord to be lived, through His grace, how would you answer?  I, I choose to be brave.

http://www.choosetobebrave.org/

Your Shadow and Your Past

In the office, there's this certain group that has been observing us for quite sometime now.  They're frequent visitors at our workstations, looking over our jobs, timing how long it takes for us to do a certain task, etc.  In short, they're there where ever we are.  That's why we call them our "shadows."

Shadows follow and never leave us.

Have you ever wondered why shadows are black?  Or, why are they always opposite from the light?  Or, can't we just leave our shadows somewhere else?  And, what's their use anyway?

Shadows, like the past, are just indicators of our presence but are not meant to replace who we are or what we are.   A shadow exists because there is a "light" that shines upon us. There are no shadows without light.

Shadows are black so that it will not be given more attention than our being.  In a stricter sense, it only shows that shadows are of less importance than who we are. And so is our past - it only tells us of what we've been before and who we once were. It is not as important as who we are right now.  Who would want to look and talk to a shadow if he or she can look and talk to the living, breathing, caring and loving person?

Shadows are always opposite the source of light.  The same with our past, we cannot look at our future and look at our past at the same time. We can keep looking at our shadows but in doing so, we  are turning away from the light.  The choice is always ours.

Can we leave our shadows somewhere?  Of course not.  The same way, we cannot leave our pasts behind or ignore it every time. But, we can make the conscious effort to set it aside and focus on the more important things - the people around us and the grand future that waits for us.

What's the use of our shadow, anyway? It is a reminder that we exist and are of physical beings. And, it also reminds us that between the shadow and the source of light is where we always stand.  Between the past and the future is the present.  A reminder that among the three - the past, the future, and the present - is a choice we have to make to LIVE THE GOOD LIFE.

So next time you see your shadow, remember to look on the opposite side, and there you will see the "source of light."

Be More....

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14

What If You're Not Afraid...

...what will you do?

Will you scale the highest mountain?  Will swim the deepest ocean?  Will you cross the widest desert?  What if you are not afraid, will you do the things that your heart desires?

What will I do if I am not afraid?

I will tell the world all the things that I want to say.  I will do things that I love to do.  I will sing songs like no one's hearing.  I will dance like no one's watching.  I will write even if no one's reading.  I will write even if my grammar's as bad as it could get.  I will make friends with my enemies.  I will be frank to all people, tell them things that I hate and love about them.  I will hide nothing and from no one.

But I am afraid.  I am afraid that people may not understand me. I am afraid that the people who matter to me will judge me for the things that I do instead of the kind of person that I am.  I am afraid that people will hate me and ridicule me for being true.  I am afraid that I will hurt the people that I love. I am afraid that when I try, I might fail. I am afraid that my life may change and I will no longer be comfortable with it.  I am afraid to be disappointed, to be hurt and to fail.

Why are we afraid?  What is the source of our fears?  What are we afraid of?

We feel afraid because all we have are the wrong foundations, wrong reasons, wrong cause, wrong "WHY" of things..

Should we be afraid if we do things for love?

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18

In the same manner, we learned...

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." - 1 Peter 3:13-14

Should you still be living in fear knowing that if you do good things because of love, the Lord

...Your God, [who] takes hold of your right hand and says to you, "Do not fear; I will help you."?  - Isaiah 41:13

So next time you feel afraid, ask yourself... why am I afraid?  If I will do this for God and for love, will it make my dream of BEing MORE and ACHIEVING MORE be realized?  I firmly believe so...

It's Time for Mid-Year Review

Look it's June 23!  Our last article was published before the end of 2012.  It took us almost six months to have this new post.

We just stopped-by to ask how you've been doing in the last six months of 2013. Have you started your semi-annual review already?

We all know that one year is too long to remember everything, to assess, re-plan and adjust.  School years are divided into semesters, normally two, sometimes three. Businesses do their performance reporting quarterly.  We, too, need to take some time off to review what we've done, where we are in our goals and what else needs to be done.

If you are employed, probably you are already familiar with a process called mid-year review.  Most people are threatened just by the thought of it.  But, you shouldn't be one of them.  Mid-year reviews should be something that you should look forward to.  Imagine, you have the opportunity to evaluate what you've done already and what needs to improve.  You should not be like most people who thinks that mid-year review is the time to point out where other people came short of what's expected of them.  It is not the time to point out what people missed, but a time to point out where improvements are necessary. It is one of those perfect moments to encourage people, including yourself, to keep doing the good things and to motivate them to push harder until their goals are reached.

We do mid-year reviews not just to know where we are, but to understand what else do we need to do to be where we want to be at the end of the year.

So, do yourself a favor.  Take a short break from your busy schedule.  Sit down, get a pen and a paper, or using your computer, write down your goals from the start of the year and have an honest assessment of where you are right now.

Whether you've been doing great or not, you should always make that honest evaluation of yourself.  You can lie to others, but you cannot lie to yourself.  So no cheating.

Do this so you can BE MORE and ACHIEVE MORE.

P.S. It will be wise if you will also ask opinions from people whom you trust and respect.  If they know that you value their opinions and that you are taking these steps to improve yourself and your life, they will be happy to help.

Soon it will be 2013... to Living the "Better" Life!

In less than 30 hours from now, we will be saying our goodbyes to the wonderful year of 2012.   While everyone is busy thinking about their plans for 2013 and reflecting on what 2012 has brought them, allow us to share with you this quick message before the year-ends...

First, to all of you who have shown appreciation for the articles, through comments and "likes", in our facebook page or in this space, THANK YOU!  We are deeply honored by the fact that there are people who read and appreciate our thoughts in BEing More and Living the Good Life. Our first article was published just a little more than a year ago and we are glad to know that you still continue to be with us - through the good and not-so-good times.

Second, we would like to encourage you to continue Being More so that we can continue to give more, live more, and share more of the good life.  If God's willing, we will be giving more regular and frequent "thoughts to think about" in 2013.  By the way, we encourage contributions of articles.  So should you like to share with us your experiences, life lessons and words of inspirations, please send us an email at livdgoodlyf@gmail.com.

Third, we would like to remind you, as you reflect on the year 2012, to please avoid the common tragedy of looking back at life with "what ifs."  It is a fact that in this life, you cannot be anything, do anything and have anything.  No matter how hard you try, there are times when life will not give you what you want, when you want it, and how you want it.  Live with that; and appreciate life instead.

Fourth, we request you join with us as we thank the Lord for He delivered us "again" from another "end-of-the-world-frenzy" last December 21, 2012.  We all know that all things must come to an end, that is why we have to constantly remind ourselves to live a life that's full and worthy so that we don't have to be afraid when it finally comes to the point when we have to move to the next chapter.

Lastly, please be safe as you celebrate the welcoming of the new year.  It's gonna a fresh start for all of us.  Leave all the baggage and regrets behind but keep the lessons with you.  Treasure every moment for there will never be another 2013 in this lifetime.

P.S. >  2012 will soon be over.  What is that one thing that you've really been wanting to do, that you told your self you cannot let go of 2012 without doing it?   You still have time...

For me, it's this: "Iloveyou, Rheena.  And I will say "I DO" to you, over and over again..."


Happy New Year Everyone!  May you have a more blessed and more wonderful 2013 than all the past 2012 years combined....
  

From Here to Eternity.... 08 December 2012 and Beyond

“Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one’s life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one’s side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music, perhaps . . . perhaps . . . love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath.” -          L.M. Montgomery in Anne of Avonlea 

 This is one of those very few moments when I run out of words to say what I feel... so instead of writing what I feel inside, let me just share it with you through these videos..

This pre-nup photoshoot was taken a couple of weeks or so prior to the big day... If there's one word to describe it, it's FUN.  Special thanks to Mr. Tacu for a very nice job!

This next photo-video was taken during the "Big Day."  See how lovely is the Bride... (thanks to Anjo's Point Photography)

Trying for a Come Back

It's been five months since I last updated this blog.  I almost forgot how this works.  My personal goal of at least one post per week is way too off. Right now, I really don't have anything particular to write.

May I just tell you some stories of the past five months?  I promise it won't be that long.  On second thought, please, just allow me to share this wonderful experience, among many others, that happened to me during that period.  

April, that's when I received an invitation to do a presentation for a teaching post in one of our local colleges in the province.  I gave it a shot with high hopes that my application will be approved.  That experience was both exciting and frightening.  Exciting because I believed that it could be the start of a career that I always dream of.  Frightening because I wanted it to be perfect.  I want that job.  I really do.

Fast forward to June...  I found myself in front of 22 young aspiring CPAs.  My first formal class.  My first batch of students.  I couldn't help but smile as I remember my self during my own school days.  It was 1:00 in the afternoon and for the next three hours that I stood in front of these young individuals, I still couldn't believe that I was delivering the lecture that could possibly change the course of their lives forever.

My day didn't end with that "first" three hours.  It was just the beginning. There's another three hours waiting for me... The thought that for six hours each Saturday of the next four months, I will be doing this thrilled me.  I have another reason to wake-up early on a Saturday.

Now I understand why there are people who fall in love with teaching so much, again and again.  It's a different kind of fulfilling experience.  Not only it makes you feel good, it inspires you be better than your previous best because it is not your future that's at stake but of those young minds who put their hopes in you.

For the past four months, I always pray that I have given justice to this noble profession.  This is no longer about my dreams or ambitions, this is about my students' future.

I used to say that when the time comes that I will have to retire from the corporate world, I will spend the rest of my life teaching (of course, that's aside from being a husband, a father and a grandfather).  But now that I have reached and experienced that dream, I think I want to do it forever.

With this experience, I learn to appreciate more the sacrifices, the pains and the patience that my previous mentors had shown me.

To all my mentors, 

...Who are worthy of more than just praise from this humble space in the world wide web, I salute you all! Thank you and may God grant you longer days of peace, happiness and wisdom. 

-Your eternal student.

 

Disconnect to Connect

Facebook statuses. Tweets. Updates.  Everyone nowadays knows what you are up to, where you are going, what you are doing, what your likes are, what your dinner is, who your enemies and friends are.  Sometimes, when I think about these things, I feel like people are giving up their privacy, either unknowingly or unintentionally.

We are now living in a very "connected" world, as they say; this is what commercialism has been teaching us since the advent of phones, mobile devices, PDAs, and internet.

But, take a look around you.  Gone were the days when you would have to set aside a whole weekend to meet your relatives living somewhere far from home.  No longer do friends send letters through snail mails.  Mr. Postman no longer walks around the neighborhood to give you the letters you've been expecting for a week.  Going out for a walk or a nice talk under the moon can now be done by the use of internet.  (Where's the thrill of holding each other's hand in there?) Love letters became "wall messages" and tweets.

It is true that communication has been way, way faster these days than it was decades ago.  It truly made our lives easier.  We can do more things because information are shared faster.  We became more efficient.  But like any other things, use in excess is not good.  In a very connected world, we're losing the "human" touch.

Which would you prefer, someone telling you directly, face to face, how beautiful you are or simply commenting on your profile picture?  Which is more exciting for you, the sound of your mobile phone when you receive a text message or when you tear that sealed envelope to open that letter?  You did a good job at work, would like to received a "good job" message from your boss's email or a pat on the back coming from him?  I know it's really cute watching your baby kiss the screen of the phone or computer whenever you talked to her. But how about letting those sweet little lips touch your cheeks and her little arms thrown around your neck after a hard day's work?

I am not saying that these modern devices are bad or evil.  I am not saying that we should go back to sticks and stones, bamboos and tree leaves to communicate.  Technology is gonna be here with us for a very a long time, even after we're gone.  But what I am trying to say here is something you already know. That is, it is not true that if you disconnect from these devices and gadgets, you will be living a disconnected life.  Instead, it may just be the opposite.

Try to disconnect from your "world" for a short time, say for a day, and see how much changes it could give you.  You will have more time to attend to other "manual" things.  You can have time to go out, feel the sunshine upon your skin, feel the breeze touching your face, yes, even the dust and smokes of the city, you'll feel them once again.  But more importantly, you will feel again how to be connected with "real" people.  Can you still remember how it feels to laugh with your friends, be smiled upon and smile to a stranger you meet in the street?  Take a day away from your "connected" world and get real connection with the people that matters to you the most.  Re-connect with nature and see how you may be re-energized by the silence of the woods or the beach or the rushing waters of the rivers.

"What if I missed important things while I'm disconnected to the world?" you may ask.  Let me answer that with a question too, "Aren't you already missing the most important things in life?"

As I have said, these things are gonna be here for a long time.  Tomorrow, they may have different looks and names, but they will still be here.  How about your family, your friends, your neighbors, people you love... are they gonna be here forever?

You know all these things already.  I am just here to remind you.  And as I remind you, through this "connected" world of the world wide web, I hope that I have made a little contribution for you to BE MORE and LIVE THE GOOD LIFE.

Courage in Giving Up

"Winners never quit and quitters never win."

Yes, yes, I know you've heard that line million times already.

If you think life is a battle, well, then, "maybe" you are on the right path if you think that quitting is synonymous with losing.

But let me tell you something...

Life is not a battle. It is not a game. Here is my take on that matter.  In a game (or a battle), there is always a winner and a loser.  Very seldom are "draws."  But such is not in life.  We all know that we could all be winners in this life. We have the every right and the capacity to be winners.  People who believe otherwise either do not believe in God or believe that God is biased - favoring some over the others.

Life is not always about taking chances but rather making choices.  It is not always the survival of the strongest but that of the fittest.  Those who survive are not necessarily the strongest, most of the times it is the one who knows how to adapt well.

Life is a about making decisions.  Lots of it.  You don't have to be the strongest, you only need to know where to put your strengths.

If your circumstances seems unfavorable, does it mean you have to end up the loser?  Of course not.  So what you do is turn things around.  And more often than not, what seemed unfavorable will eventually turned to become a happy ending.  Would you say because you have been more favored or stronger or smarter that you've succeeded?  Do you mean that others are less favored, weaker and dumb?  Then you are showing impartiality and for me, it doesn't make sense celebrating in such kind of success or victory in life.

As you can see my friend, life is an adventure of ups and downs.  Success and failures.  But at the end of it all, it is not what we went through but what we learned that truly matters.  There are things that are simply inevitable, and there are things we should rather accept than fight.

Not because you have been doing, enjoying or getting things your way for the longest time it means that that could not end.  No matter how great things maybe, there will always be a certain point in time where it will have to end, or less painful, change. And more often than not, it is really difficult to let go of things you've learned to love - things that became part of yourself.

But do not despair. What may seemed to be an end could only be the start of a new beginning.  So when life is pushing you very, very hard and you've done your very best, but still things are going the opposite way, think again.  Maybe the perfect thing for you is to simply "throw in the towel."  Yes, there's nothing wrong with quitting.  Let me repeat that, there's nothing wrong with quitting.  What's wrong is to keep on doing things that doesn't make sense anymore.  Addictions to material things, procrastination, lack of discipline and the likes, these are things worth giving up.  Continuous self-pity and self-hatred should not linger for too long.  Surrender these things.  It is better to give up than to give in.

I don't want to sound like a preacher here because I'm not.  I know you know that deep within you there are things worth surrendering, worth giving up.  Don't try to fight it on your own.  You don't have to prove how strong you are.  God knows how much capable you are to conquer every trials you are facing.  He created you.  And as much as He know how able you are, He simply wants you to realize that like opening a treasure chest, you have to find the perfect key.  And that key could only be found in Him - when you surrender to Him.

Friends, if you dare accept to give up these things, you should know to whom you should surrender.  Surrender only to the One who can make you even more victories - God.

So, what are those things that you think you really have to let go?  Lift them up to God. Surrender to Him and be even more victorious.  It is time to lighten your loads, BE MORE and Life the Good Life.

  

What Constitutes a Good Life? by Jim Rohn

Let me share with you an article from the jimrohn.com website.  It is on the net and free for all to see, so I guess I am not doing anything illegal by posting the article here. All credits go to Mr. Jim Rohn and to jimrohn.com.

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The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The ultimate expression of life is not a Mercedes. The ultimate expression of life is not a million dollars or a bank account or a home. Here's the ultimate expression of life in my opinion, and that is living the good life. Here's what we must ask constantly, "What for me would be a good life?" And you have to keep going over and over the list. A list including areas such as spirituality, economics, health, relationships and recreation. What would constitute a good life? I've got a short list.

1) Number one, productivity. You won't be happy if you don't produce. The game of life is not rest. We must rest, but only long enough to gather strength to get back to productivity. What's the reason for the seasons and the seeds, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and the miracle of life? It's to see what you can do with it—to try your hand. Other people have tried their hand; here's what they did. You try your hand to see what you can do. So part of life is productivity.

2) Next are good friends. Friendship is probably the greatest support system in the world. Don't deny yourself the time to develop this support system. Nothing can match it. It's extraordinary in its benefit. Friends are those wonderful people who know all about you and still like you. A few years ago, I lost one of my dearest friends. He died at age 53—heart attack. David is gone, but he was one of my very special friends. I used to say of David that if I was stuck in a foreign jail somewhere accused unduly and if they would allow me one phone call, I would call David. Why? He would come and get me. That's a friend. Somebody who would come and get you. Now we've all got casual friends. And if you called them they would say, "Hey, if you get back, call me and we'll have a party." So you've got to have both, real friends and casual friends.

3) Next on the list of a good life is your culture. Your language, your music, the ceremonies, the traditions, the dress. All of that is so vitally important that you must keep it alive. In fact it is the uniqueness of all of us that when blended together brings vitality, energy, power, influence, uniqueness and rightness to the world.

4) Next is your spirituality. It helps to form the foundation of the family that builds the nation. And make sure you study, practice and teach. Don't be careless about the spiritual part of your nature; it's what makes us who we are, different from dogs, cats, birds and mice. Spirituality.

5) Next, here's what my parents taught me. Don't miss anything. Don't miss the game. Don't miss the performance, don't miss the movie, don't miss the show, don't miss the dance. Go to everything you possibly can. Buy a ticket to everything you possibly can. Go see everything and experience all you possibly can. This has served me so well to this day. Just before my father died at age 93, if you were to call him at 10:30 or 11:00 at night, he wouldn't be home. He was at the rodeo, he was watching the kids play softball, he was listening to the concert, he was at church, he was somewhere every night.

Live a vital life. Here's one of the reasons why. If you live well, you will earn well. If you live well it will show in your face, it will show in the texture of your voice. There will be something unique and magical about you if you live well. It will infuse not only your personal life but also your business life. And it will give you a vitality nothing else can give.

6) Next are your family and the inner circle. Invest in them and they'll invest in you. Inspire them and they'll inspire you. With your inner circle take care of the details. When my father was still alive, I used to call him when I traveled. He'd have breakfast most every morning with the farmers. Little place called The Decoy Inn out in the country where we lived in Southwest Idaho. So Papa would go there and have breakfast and I'd call him just to give him a special day. Now if I was in Israel, I'd have to get up in the middle of the night, but it only took five minutes, ten minutes. So I'd call Papa and they'd bring him the phone. I'd say, "Papa, I'm in Israel." He'd say, "Israel! Son, how are things in Israel?" He'd talk real loud so everybody could hear. “My son's calling me from Israel!” I'd say, "Papa, last night they gave me a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." He'd say, "Son, a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." Now everybody knows the story. It only took five or ten minutes, but what a special day for my father, age 93.

If a father walks out of the house and he can still feel his daughter's kiss on his face all day, he's a powerful man. If a husband walks out of the house and he can still feel the imprint of his wife's arms around his body, he's invincible all day. It's the special stuff with the inner circle that makes you strong and powerful and influential. So don't miss that opportunity. Here's the greatest value. The prophet said, "There are many virtues and values, but here's the greatest, one person caring for another." There is no greater value than love. Better to live in a tent on the beach with someone you love than to live in a mansion by yourself. One person caring for another, that's one of life's greatest expressions.

So make sure in your busy day to remember the true purpose and the reasons you do what you do. May you truly live the kind of life that will bring the fruit and rewards that you desire.

Shaken Not Stirred: As Solid As A Rock

"Shaken not stirred."   That's just one of the famous lines of world's most known spy, James Bond a.k.a Agent "Double-O Seven" (007).  Of course he referred that line to his favorite Vodka Martini.
Do you think that it could also apply to real life?

In simple terms, let us define them.

Shaken - "Disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock"

Stirred - "Being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion.  Mixed"

Hmmm.. doesn't make any significant difference at all, does it? I think being shaken means being disturbed while being stirred means acting based on emotions, being pushed around unreasonably and illogically.

Let us take a closer look.  James Bond, as most of us know, could face and overcome all kinds of troubles and dangers and accomplish superhuman feats, either using his wits or his latest gadgets.  We have seen him experienced harrowing experiences that would definitely shake every average human being.  But despite of all those saddening and literally painful experiences, he remained true to his oath of service to his government and to his missions.  No matter what happens, Bond always completes his assignments by isolating himself from the situation. He is very seldom moved by the emotions attached to it, enabling him to judge rightly and think accurately as warranted by every situation.  He is shaken, yes, but not stirred.

But that was 007, a fictional character, human, flawed like you and me.

There is, however, someone who had shown a true meaning of being "Shaken but not Stirred."  This man is a Carpenter who lived thousands of years ago before us.  His name is Jesus.   Jesus was disturbed by what was happening to the world during that time.  Evil doings were rampant.  Dishonor and disobedience to God were everywhere.  People were living in sin.   He thought that it was the right time to  come down to earth and bring these people back in the arms of the Almighty.  He was shaken.  His love for mankind moved Him to offer His own life as a ransom for every human's wrong doings.  Was He stirred?  No.  He was tempted not just a single time to abandon His mission.  But He never bent.  He was accused of treason, rebellion, blasphemy and even associated to the devil himself.  He was  arrested, persecuted, crucified and killed by the very people He saved.  He know all these would happen.  But was He stirred enough to abandon His mission? No.  Was He shaken by these things.  Yes.  We know that He wept for these people.  But He never gave up on them.  He never gave up on His mission.

Unlike James Bond, Jesus did not rely on His intelligence or gadgets.  He used His love for mankind to help Him accomplished what He was supposed to do.  His faith in humanity that somehow, someday, they would all return to their true God inspired Jesus to stick to His mission.

Jesus was shaken but was never stirred to abandon or take another path to His mission because His foundations are as solid as a rock.

In our daily lives, we also face situations where we are shaken and stirred.  More often than not, we tend to play the James Bond role, trying to overcome everything, relying on our own wits and abilities.  There's nothing wrong with that.  In fact, it signifies that we trust that which have been bestowed upon us.  However, the problem arises when we tend to rely too much on our self, forgetting that there's a greater source of power and relief.

Human sufferings and experiences will shake and stir us.  It's a given fact.  It can sway us away from the path we ought to take.  We're just humans after all, vulnerable to pain and mistakes.  But before we totally surrender to our opponents - the challenges of our lives, let us try to look for the example that Jesus have shown us 2000 years ago which still applies today.

Continue to nurture our love for one another.  Keep the faith in humanity alive.  Believe that pains and trials are not meant to hamper us in arriving at our destination but rather stepping stones that will help us reach higher and farther.  Each of us has at least one mission in life.  Find it.  Stick to it.  Have faith in God and in Jesus so that no matter what life may throw, though we may be shaken, we will not be stirred, because we know what we need to do and we know where we could anchor our faith as solid as a rock.

Enjoy the rest of the day!  Continue to BE MORE and Live the Good Life!

(The contents of this article are the author's personal views and opinions and his sole responsibility.)