Prayer for the New Year

May this new year prayer be ours as well.

 

New Year

O Lord,
Length of days does not profit me
except the days are passed in Thy presence,
in Thy service, to Thy glory.
Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides,
sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from Thee,
but may rely on Thy Spirit
to supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,
and give me a desire
to show forth Thy praise;
testify Thy love,
advance Thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with Thee, O Father as my harbour,
Thee, O Son, at my helm,
Thee O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.
Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to Thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.

Give me Thy grace to sanctify me,
Thy comforts to cheer,
Thy wisdom to teach,
Thy right hand to guide,
Thy counsel to instruct,
Thy law to judge,
Thy presence to stabilize.
May Thy fear by my awe,
Thy triumphs my joy.

                                                                           ~ The Valley of Vision

Year End Prayer (Valley of Vision)

Goodbye to you, 2011.  Though you may not have been all roses to me, I praise the Lord incessantly for His grace and faithfulness the whole year round.

O Love beyond compare,
Thou art good when Thou givest,
when Thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon me,
when night gathers over me.
Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world,
and in love didst redeem my soul;
Thou dost love me still,
in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
Thy goodness has been with me another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With Thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past.
I bless thee that Thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.
If Thou hast appointed storms of tribulation,
Thou wilt be with me in them;
If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see Thy face the sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only glorify Thyself in me whether in comfort or trial,
as a chosen vessel meet always for Thy use.

~The Valley of Vision

ALL GLORY TO MY GOD & KING!

Does Calvinism Make God a “Moral Monster”? – White Horse Inn Blog

“The real difference between Calvinism and Arminianism is whether God has a purpose when he allows sin and suffering. Again, both views affirm that nothing happens apart from God’s permission. However, Calvinism teaches that God never allows any evil that he has not already determined to work together for our good (Rom. 8:28). Nothing that he allows can terminate in evil. What would we say of a deity who “reluctantly permitted” a terrible disaster or moral tragedy, without a determination to overcome that evil with good? But that takes a plan and that plan must necessarily comprehend the evil that he is to conquer.”

Does Calvinism Make God a “Moral Monster”? – White Horse Inn Blog.

Does Manny Pacquiao Have Everything?

I used to hate boxing. I always thought it was a barbaric sport and I couldn’t understand two guys beating up each other and then calling it a sport. Nope, I never liked boxing. But then Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao came along, and now I am a fan.

The country is now celebrating Pacquiao’s recent victory over Juan Manuel Marquez. This was the third time that the two great boxers faced each other. The first one was in 2004 that resulted to a draw, though one of the judges admitted that he made a mistake in the scoring, and that Pacquiao should’ve won. The second was in 2008 when Pacquiao won via split decision. In a yet another much-awaited controversial fight yesterday, the Pacman bested Maquez via majority decision. (If you ask me, Pacquiao has found his match in Marquez; southpaw vs counter-punch.)

To us Filipinos, Pacquiao is a symbol of unity. Every Pacman fight means a drastic decrease in crime rate (the Philippine National Police recorded a zero crime rate in one of the fights), clear traffic (everyone is at home watching), and a nation united in praying for victory.

Pacquiao has become the nation’s hero. He is a great boxer, hence his title pound for pound king. He has incredible speed,  strong southpaw punches and a mean right hook that is rarely seen in left-handed boxers (this was what got Ricky Hatton).  He also made history by becoming the first boxer to win world titles in eight different divisions.

Boxing isn’t only what endears Pacquiao to Filipinos. He is deeply religious and this is quite obvious in all his fights. A devout Roman Catholic, he is always seen kneeling and praying before and after each fight. His mother does the same. She never watches the fight except for one time when Manny took her to the States. She rather confines herself in a room to pray the rosary for the whole duration of the fight. In all of Pacquiao’s interviews, he never forgets to thank the Lord and always attributes his success to Him. As a philanthropist, he is known for helping the poor. He believes in sharing the blessing that the Lord has given him. He is currently having a hospital built in Sarangani, the province he represents in congress.  He hosts a game show and I have reasons to believe that the cash prizes he gives do not merely come from sponsors, but from his own pocket.

Success, fame, fortune, a charitable heart…Manny Pacquiao has it all. Or does he?

Manny Pacquiao has nothing if he doesn’t have Christ. His religiosity and good works do not earn him his salvation, nor with they give him genuine joy. What good is it to have everything that the world has to offer, but live without Christ? What is one’s goodness worth when in the presence of God they are but filthy rags?  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? (Matt. 16:26) Christ is all. You have nothing if you do not have Christ. He and He alone is everything.

Tullian Tchividjian  has a new book called Jesus + Nothing = Everything. But in this case, I would say it in reverse: Everything – Jesus = Nothing. Oh how I pray that our boxing hero will soon come into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I pray that the Lord will touch his heart that he will come to repentance and put his faith in Christ alone. Then and only then can we say that Manny Pacquiao has everything.

Calvin on John 10:16

And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also,
and they will listen to my voice.
So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
John 10:16

v16. And I have other sheep.
Though some refer this indiscriminately to all, both Jews and Gentiles, who were not yet disciples of Christ, yet I have no doubt that he had in his eye the calling of the Gentiles. For he gives the appellation fold to the assemblage of the ancient people, by which they were separated from the other nations of the world, and united into one body as the heritage of God. The Jews had been adopted by God in such a manner, that he surrounded them with certain enclosures, which consisted of rites and ceremonies, that they might not be  confounded with unbelievers, though the door of the fold was the gracious covenant of eternal life confirmed in Christ. For this reason he calls those sheep which had not the same mark, but belonged to a different class, other sheep In short, the meaning is, that the pastoral office of Christ is not confined within the limits of Judea, but is far more extensive.

Augustine’s observation on this passage is undoubtedly true, that, as there are many wolves within the Church, so there are many sheep without But this is not applicable, in every respect, to the present passage, which relates to the outward aspect of the Church, because the Gentiles, who had been strangers for a time, were afterwards invited into the kingdom of God, along with the Jews. Yet I acknowledge that Augustine’s statement applies in this respect, that Christ gives the name of sheep to unbelievers, who in themselves were the farthest possible from being entitled to be called sheep And not only does he point out, by this term, what they will be, but rather refers this to the secret election of God, because we are already God’s sheep, before we are aware that He is our shepherd. In like manner, it is elsewhere said that we were enemies, when he loved us,(Romans 5:10) and for this reason Paul also says that we were known by God, before we knew him, (Galatians 4:9.)

Them also I must bring.
He means that the election of God will be secure, so that nothing of all that he wishes to be saved shall perish. For the secret purpose of God, by which men were ordained to life, is at length manifested in his own time by the calling, — the effectual calling, when he regenerates by his Spirit, to be his sons, those who formerly were begotten of flesh and blood.

But it may be asked, How were the Gentiles brought to be associated with the Jews? For the Jews were not under the necessity of rejecting the covenant which God made with their fathers, in order to become Christ’s disciples; and the Gentiles, on the other hand, were not under the necessity of submitting to the yoke of the Law, that, being ingrafted in Christ, they might be associated with the Jews. Here we must attend to the distinction between the substance of the covenant and the outward appendages. For the Gentiles could not assent to the faith of Christ in any other way than by embracing that everlasting covenant on which the salvation of the world was founded. In this manner were fulfilled the predictions,

Strangers shall speak the language of Canaan,
(Isaiah 19:18.)

Again,

Ten men of the Gentiles shall take hold of the cloak of one Jew, and say,
We will go with you,
(Zechariah 8:23.)

 Again,

Many nations shall come, and say,
Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
(Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:2.)

Abraham was also called

a father of many nations, (Genesis 17:5; Romans 4:17,) because they shall come from the East
and from the West, who shall sit down with him in the kingdom of God,
(Matthew 8:11.)

As to ceremonies, they are the middle wall of partition, which, Paul informs us, hath been thrown down, (Ephesians 2:14.) Thus, we have been associated with the Jews in the unity of the faith, as to the substance; and the ceremonies were abolished, that there might be nothing to prevent the Jews from stretching out their hand to us.

And there shall be one fold and one shepherd That is, that all the children of God may be gathered and united into one body; as we acknowledge that there is one holy universal and there must be one body with one head.

There is one God, says Paul, one faith, one baptism.
Therefore we ought to be one, as we are called into one hope, (Ephesians 4:4, 5.)

Now though this flock appears to be divided into different folds, yet they are kept within enclosures which  are common to all believers who are scattered throughout the whole world; because the same word is preached to all, they use the same sacraments, they have the same order of prayer, and every thing that belongs to the profession of faith.

And they shall hear my voice.
We must observe the way in which the flock of God is gathered. It is, when all have one shepherd, and when his voice alone  is heard These words mean that, when the Church submits to Christ alone, and obeys his commands, and hears his voice and his doctrine,  then only is it in a state of good order. If Papists can show us that there is any thing of this sort among them, let them enjoy the title of The Church, of which they vaunt so much. But if Christ is silent there, if his majesty is trodden under foot, if his sacred ordinances are held up to scorn, what else is their unity but a diabolical conspiracy, which is worse and far more to be abhorred than any dispersion? Let us therefore remember that we ought always to begin with the Head. Hence also the Prophets, when they describe the restoration of the Church, always join David the king with God; as if they said, that there is no Church where Christ does not reign, and that there is no kingdom of God, but where the honor of shepherd is granted to Christ.

– Calvin’s Commentary on John, Volume 1, p.270-272

Halloween or Reformation Day?

What did you commemorate last October 31? Halloween or Reformation Day? I think it is best to look into these two events and see which one is worth the celebration.

The origin of Halloween is traced back to the Celtic festival called Samhain. The celebration would start on October 31 since it was considered the last day of the Celtic calendar, and would end on November 2. Samhain signified the last harvest and the end of summer, and the beginning of the cold & dark winter.  The celebration was marked by the building of bonfires, wearing of costumes made of animal heads & skins, animal sacrifices, and fortune telling. Samhain was not just a celebration for harvest, but a celebration for the dead as well. The Druids believed that during this time the spirits of the dead roamed the earth. It was also a time for divination and witchcraft.

In the years that passed, and as Christianity spread over Europe, most pagan holidays were later Christianized. In the 7^th century, Pope Boniface IV replaced Lemuria, the Roman festival for the dead, with All Saints’ Day in remembrance of the martyrs of the church. In 834 AD, Pope Gregory III moved All Saints’ Day from May 13 to November 1, coinciding with the Druid holiday Samhain.

Now, Halloween is celebrated in most parts of the world. I believe consumerism is also greatly responsible for this, and it feeds on people’s ignorance of the holiday’s pagan origin. People do spend money purchasing ghoulish costumes, having grand spooky parties & buying candies for trick or treat. At some point, Halloween seems to be more popular than Christmas. Something is obviously amiss.

However, on the same date, there is another event that should be celebrated by all Christians because of its importance to Christendom: Reformation Day.

In the early 16^th century, Augustinian monk Martin Luther saw the gross corruption of the church, and began to question its practices especially the ones that had to do with absolution.  Then on October 31, 1517, he nailed his Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences or commonly known as the Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This writing was a direct attack against the selling of indulgences. Before long, this sparked the reformation that eventually spread all over Europe like an epidemic that was greater than the Black Plague.

Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin, magisterial reformers like Luther, also entered the scene as the reformation simultaneously  took place in Europe. A great number protested against and broke away from the Catholic Church and were identified as Protestants. Obviously, the Lord used Luther and the other reformers to reclaim the doctrine of justification by faith alone which was the central message of the reformation; a doctrine by which the church stands or falls. We now have this liberating truth that we are saved not because of works, but by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Reformation Day is worth celebrating. There’s no consumerism involved here. No costumes, no parties, no candies, no jack-o-lanterns. There’s only the grateful heart that remembers the event when the Lord shed His light that chased away the dark clouds that covered the church.

Some churches observe Reformation Day on the last Sunday of October. However, some churches don’t and they celebrate Halloween instead. How about you? Which one do you celebrate?

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Fun Fact: Here in the Philippines, the Christmas spirit is felt at the start of what we call the “ber” months (that’s September, October, etc.). By September, Christmas songs are already playing on the radio, and shopping malls are adorned with Christmas trees and other Christmas decors. Loud Christmas songs are also being played to add to the Christmassy feel. However, when October comes, the Christmas decors are set aside to give way to Halloween. So imagine how weird it is to go inside a mall with a creepy, ghoulish atmosphere, but with Christmas songs playing in the background.

Is Salvation In Our Hands?

“I had a neighbor who wasn’t saved. I knew I had to share the gospel to her, but I didn’t. Now she’s gone and might be in hell because I didn’t witness to her.”

“So many people are in hell because Christians are not sharing the gospel.”

Is it really true? Is it our fault if someone goes to hell because we didn’t share the gospel to them? Does the salvation of others depend on whether or not we share the gospel to them?  Is salvation in our hands?

I’ve heard these reasonings so many times from different people, as they have been often used by many as a motivation (or guilt trip) for evangelism. I totally don’t agree with this. Saying that people might be in hell right now because someone didn’t witness to them contradicts the sovereignty of God.

Before people get me wrong here, let me just say that we are all called to proclaim the gospel. Every Christian is commissioned to share the good news. That being said, a Christian who doesn’t witness is clearly guilty of disobedience.

I believe that God does what He wills and none can stay His hand (Daniel 4:35). If He wills people to be saved, then He will save them. So if a Christian fails to share the gospel to an unsaved neighbour, and the Lord has already ordained his salvation, then He would send someone else to do the work. One thing is for sure, though: that person will definitely hear the gospel and be saved. So whether we go or not; whether we obey or disobey, the Lord will save those who are His. Salvation is of the Lord; it is not in our hands.

I think the right motivation for evangelism is not the usual guilt trip or subtle coercion that so many people use, but the fervent desire to see God exalted (Isaiah 26:8). We share the gospel for we have compassion for the lost. We have compassion for the lost because we love God and want to see Him glorified.

So maybe next time we try to encourage others to evangelize, let us not do so by saying we are responsible for the our friend’s soul and where he will spend eternity. Let’s not use the guilt trip strategy just to get people to share the gospel. Rather, let us say, “Let’s share the gospel to our friends because Christ is worthy to be worshiped and given glory by all.”

Farewell, Steve Jobs

It is a sad day for the world today for we just lost a man who has contributed so much to humanity: Steven Paul Jobs.  Mac user or not, everyone has benefitted from his genius.

His death is a reminder that no one is immortal. Rich, famous, a genius, or all of the above like Steve Jobs, everyone is subject to the brevity of life.

Farewell, Mr. Steve Jobs. You are a proof of God’s common grace.

Happy Teacher’s Day

We remember our teachers today as we celebrate World Teacher’s Day.

I am a teacher myself, and believe me, it’s not easy. The work load can be too much, the deadlines can make you suicidal, and the compensation is not that high. Add to that problems with disrespectful students and parents who occasionally interfere.

It does seem like teachers have a lot to complain about. But if that’s the case, why still teach? There’s only one answer to that: teaching is a calling. The teaching profession proves that there are things in life that even money cannot buy. What a privilege it is to be entrusted with the lives young people. We don’t just give to them the lessons for the day, we share with them our lives.

I now recall with joy the times I’ve spent with my students. I’ve laughed with them, rejoiced with them in their victory, and shared their sorrow. Some are still in contact with me, even those who are now abroad. A lot of them have not forgotten me. That is my reward. I don’t think I will ever forget them, as well.

Happy Teacher’s Day to my fellow teachers. And to my students who greeted me, thank you very much for remembering.

 

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FInish the Mission For the Joy of All Peoples