Wednesday, November 27, 2013

What are you Doing?

We have been given so much as believers in Christ. We are forgiven, redeemed, and called out of sin and into a new life of glorious freedoms... but what do we do with what we are given? How do we show our thanks to Christ? Evangelism should be a lifestyle, a part of our daily active worship to God. Let your light shine, don't hide it under a bushel. Show others the gift of salvation that God has given you. God is calling you to a life that is different. How are you different from anyone else? How do you stand out, shine, and live every day like it is a brand new start? With a mindset of putting others before yourself, reaching out in times of need (because we all know what it's like to go through hardship)... I want to challenge you to step out and do something this month, talk to someone you wouldn't normally talk to. The biggest blessings come from the most unlikely circumstances.
The word "Christian" means "little Christ". We need to be reflections of Jesus. We are his hands and feet, showing others his great love through the works we do in our lives. We are not saved by works alone, but what is faith without works? It's dead, cold, frozen... I just want to challenge you today to a lifestyle that is different, a lifestyle where people can look at you and know that you are living your life in a different way than you did before you accepted Christ so that they will want what you have. They will want that incredible joy that God has filled you up with. I want to leave you with this quote as an encouragement. I heard it today and just loved it:
God does not call the equipped... he equips the called.
Follow His lead.

Here's a video I want to share showing an example of a true love from a father. We have a father in Heaven who truly loves us unconditionally and the only one who can bring us true peace that surpasses all understanding.



I know it's not going to be easy, because I myself as a christian even fail, I mean all of us do. No one is perfect, that's why we need to call on the Lord everyday for help and strength. It's all through God's Grace my friends. :)) God Bless!

More Than Enough

"Is it enough to cry?
 Is it enough to say goodbye?
 Is it enough to thank the heavens we're alive?" 
 

Two weeks ago, my friend, Homer Cang (composer, singer, music producer), wrote a song (in just less than a day) in remembrance of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda that badly struck and devastated the Philippines. Entitled MORE THAN ENOUGH, it's a song dedicated to both the victims and the survivors of the typhoon, even to the those who just weren't really affected by the typhoon at all.


So... I am very happy I got the call. My friend asked some of my singer friends and I, if we would willingly do the backup vocals for the song. Of course, we said yes! It was our great pleasure and honor to be a part of something so beautiful! :)


Now, two weeks later, we've finally finished the song after a couple of recording sessions. 'Twas really fun and very fulfilling!

I hope you'll enjoy this song.

Let's love, till the love we give becomes more than enough. :)



(From L-R: My bro-John Walt Bordario, Daryl Leong, Me, Lizette Uy, Niqi Alo, Miriam Uy, and Apple Suico.) *First session



(From L-R: My bro-John Walt Bordario, Me, Daryl Leong, Lizette Uy, Miriam Uy, and Apple Suico) *Second session


Check the song and lyrics below:




VERSE 1
Is it enough to cry
Is it enough to say goodbye
Is it enough to thank the heavens we're alive

VERSE 2
Is it enough to feel
Is it enough to feed the hungry
Is it enough to pray for a bright and better day

PRE-CHORUS 1
Let's take it deeper
Deeper than the love the world could ever offer
And bring it higher
Higher than the human spirit has ever gone

CHORUS
Love like we've never loved before
Don't wait until tomorrow
It's all or nothing now
Pour your heart out to the world
Give till it hurts - beyond all reason
When it's in and out of season
Let’s make a difference now
Till the love we give
Becomes more than enough

VERSE 3
Is it enough to try
To live your life just to survive
Is it enough to know the sun will shine your way

VERSE 4
Is it enough to receive
All the pleasures for you and me
Is it enough to count your blessings
And turn a blind eye to others' needs

PRE-CHORUS 2
There's a faith that's stronger
Stronger than the loudest wind could ever blow
A hope that's wider
Wider than the greatest river has ever flowed

*(CHORUS)

BRIDGE
Let's come together
It's now or never
Let's change the world and make it brighter
it's not too late
No, It's not too late

*(CHORUS)

CODA
It's not enough to cry
It's not enough to say goodbye
It's time to change the world -- you and I

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

A MUST READ!!! DATING?

There are all kinds of advice out there about dating today, but a lot of it is about dating in the world rather than Christian dating. Christians need to have a different attitude toward dating. However, even among Christians there are differences as to whether you should or should not date. The choice is up to you and your parents, but Christian teens should still know God’s perspective on dating.
Non-Christians have a different perspective on dating. You see the magazines, TV shows, and movies that tell you how you’re young, and you should date a lot of people before you get married. You see certain “role models” jumping from one dating relationship to another.
Yet God has more in store for you than just jumping from one relationship to another. He is clear on whom you should date and why you should date. When it comes to Christian dating, you live according to a different standard – God’s. Yet it’s not just about following the rules. There are some solid reasons why God asks us to live a certain way, and dating is no different.
Why Should Christian Teens Date (Or Not Date)?
While most people have differing opinions about dating, it is one area of the Bible where there is not a lot of information. However, Christian teens can get some idea of God’s expectations from certain scripture verses:
Genesis 2:24: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (NIV)
Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (NIV)
1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (NIV)
These three scriptures give insight into the Christian dating life. We need to realize that God means for us to meet the ONE person that we are meant to marry. According to Genesis, a man will leave home to marry one women to become one flesh. You do not need to date a lot of people – just the right one.
Also, Christian teens need to guard their hearts. The word “love” is thrown around with little thought. Yet, we often live for love. We live for God’s love first and foremost, but we also live for the love of others. While there are many definitions of love, 1Corinthians tells us how God defines love.
It is love that should drive Christian teens to date, but it should not be the shallow version of love. When you date it should be taken seriously. You should know the person you are dating and know their beliefs.
You should check your potential boyfriend against the values listed in 1 Corinthians. Ask yourself if the two of you are patient and kind to one another. Are you envious of one another? Do you boast about one another or to each other? Go through the characteristics to measure your relationship.


Only Date Believers

God is pretty picky on this one, and the Bible makes this issue very clear.
Deuteronomy 7:3: “Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons” (NIV)
2Corinthians 6:14: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”(NIV)
The Bible seriously warns us about dating non-Christians. While you may not be looking at marrying anyone at the moment, it should always be in the back of your head. Why get involved emotionally with someone that you should not marry? This does not mean you cannot be friends with that person, but you should not date them.
This also means that you should avoid “missionary dating,” which is dating a non-believer in the hopes that you can convert him or her. Your intentions may be noble, but the relationships rarely work out. Some Christians have even gotten married to non-believers, hoping that they can convert their spouse, but often the relationships end up in disaster.
On the other hand, some Christian teens believe that interracial dating is inappropriate due to the scriptures that tells Christians to avoid being yoked to non-Christians. However, there is actually nothing in the Bible that prohibits dating people of other races. The Bible places more emphasis on Christians dating other Christians. It is culture and society that place an emphasis on race.
So make sure you are only dating those who share your beliefs. Otherwise you may find that your relationship is a struggle rather than a joy.
Be careful of recreational dating, where you date for the sake of dating. God calls us to love one another, but the scripture is clear that He asks us to be careful. While love is a beautiful thing, the breaking off of relationships is hard. There is a reason they call it a “broken heart.” God understands the power in love and the damage a broken heart can do. This is why it is important for Christian teens to really pray, know their hearts, and listen to God when they decide to date.

Biblical Dating: How It's Different From Modern Dating


Looking for a completely countercultural path to marriage? Here's how to apply God's Word to dating, finding a spouse and getting married.
The system today's young men and women have inherited for finding and marrying a future spouse leaves a lot to be desired. We often hear complaints from readers about the confusion, hurt and sexual sin they've encountered despite their best intentions. Many want to know how they can go about getting to know someone and eventually getting married without getting hurt or compromising their faith.
At Focus on the Family, we've offered a range of resources and expert advice bringing biblical principles to bear in this area. Some of the messages we've presented have taken the position that Christians can apply their faith in such a way that they can still work within the system they've inherited. Other messages have stressed that Christians need to be much more counter-cultural. Joshua Harris, for instance, has promoted a model of courtship that harkens back to a model used broadly before modern dating evolved.
People attempting to follow a courtship model within today's culture, however, often run into a lot of practical questions, such as, "What if her dad is unavailable or uninterested in being involved?" or "What do you do when you live hundreds of miles from your family?"
The goal of this series of articles, beginning with this introduction, is to provide our readers with a place to bring those questions. Scott Croft is an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church where he teaches a seminar on friendship, courtship and marriage. He is also an attorney who is used to tackling tough questions.
The answers he brings may be different from anything you've heard before. The topics he's going to be dealing with are ones in which equally committed Christians have found different biblical interpretations. Not all will agree with Scott's approach, and we invite feedback from anyone who believes there are better interpretations for the biblical passages Scott draws from.
It's our hope that this Q&A series will be valuable both for those who think the Bible gives sufficient guidance for operating within our current system as well as for those who are looking for a completely countercultural path to marriage.
* * *
If you're reading this, you're interested in dating. You've done it, you're doing it, you'd like to do it, or you need to teach somebody else how to do it. Don't worry. You're not alone. In our society, dating has become something of an obsession. It is expected to be a universal phenomenon. It's just something you do if you're single and of age (and that age is quickly dropping) in America. It is considered the natural precursor to marriage, and is generally considered something to be desired, whatever form it might take.
It's also big business. If you were to Google the word "matchmaker," you would receive something in the neighborhood of 21,200,000 responses — with a few of these outfits claiming to be Christian, but most making no such claim. "Dating" will get you 790,000,000 hits.
As evangelical Christians, we're called to be distinct in the ways we think and act about all issues that confront us and those around us. This topic is no exception. So is there such a thing as biblical dating? If so, what is it? How can Christians think differently about this pervasive issue in media and culture? How are we doing so far?
The answer to that last question is "not well." Surveys consistently indicate that professing Christians behave almost exactly like non-Christians in terms of sexual involvement outside of marriage (in both percentage of people involved and how deeply involved they are — how far they're going), living together before marriage, and infidelity and divorce after marriage. In fact, depending on which statistics one believes, the divorce rate for professing Christians may actually be higher than for Americans as a whole. Granted, not all of these people are evangelicals, but we're not doing so well either. Indeed, the central issue we need to confront — and the reason I write and speak on this topic — is that when it comes to dating and relationships, perhaps more than in any other area of the everyday Christian life, the church is largely indistinguishable from the world. That truth has brought immeasurable emotional pain and other consequences to many Christians. Worse, it has brought great dishonor to the name of Christ and to the witness of individuals and the church.
It doesn't have to be this way. For Christians, the Lord has given us His Word, and the Holy Spirit helps us to understand it. We have brothers and sisters in Christ to hold us accountable and to help us apply the Word to our lives. If you're a Christian, that's the biblical life you're called to.
That's what I hope this column will be about — applying God's Word to dating, finding a spouse and getting married.
Scripture Rules
I have to start by explaining the theological doctrine that drives the approach I want to outline (and advocate). That doctrine is called the sufficiency of Scripture. Almost all professing evangelical Christians are familiar with and vigorously defend the doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture (which states that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God, it's true, and it contains no falsity or error). I certainly agree with the inerrancy of Scripture, but that's not what I'm talking about here. The doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture assumes inerrancy but then goes a step further. This doctrine simply holds that the Bible is sufficient to guide and instruct us authoritatively in all areas of our faith and life, and that there is no area of life about which the Bible has no guidance for us. The sufficiency of Scripture is taught explicitly and implicitly in many passages, but perhaps the most obvious is 2 Timothy 3:16-17:
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
So how does the sufficiency of Scripture apply to our coming discussions? Well, many evangelicals who otherwise believe in the inerrancy of the Bible and who might generally agree with the sufficiency of Scripture have nonetheless embraced the world's ideas about dating. In doing so, some make the argument that Scripture doesn't speak to this topic. I believe it does. The Bible speaks to every area of our faith and life at some level. Some things it talks about explicitly, like salvation or sanctification or marriage or elders. The Bible guides us in some areas by broader, more general principles and ideas we can build on as we strive to live the Christian life in practical ways. In either case, no area of life falls totally outside of the guidance and authority of God's Word.
My point is that we cannot simply state that the Bible "doesn't mention dating or courtship," and then think we're off the hook to pursue this area of our lives either on the world's terms or however seems best to us without diligent, submissive reference to God's Word. If the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture is true, then God's Word does have authoritative guidance for us about how we might best glorify God in this area of our lives. That means our conversation has to be a biblical conversation. I mention the sufficiency of Scripture as part of the groundwork for this column because it's one of those doctrines that touches every area of our lives, and it is at the heart of the approach to dating (and life) that we'll talk about here.
Biblical Dating
OK. Let's take care of some basic definitions. We may define biblical dating as a method of introduction and carrying out of a pre-marital relationship between a single man and a single woman:
  1. That begins (maybe) with the man approaching and going through the woman's father or family;
  2. that is conducted under the authority of the woman's father or family or church; and
  3. that always has marriage (or at least a determination regarding marriage to a specific person) as its direct goal.
The Scriptural support for the idea of biblical dating is largely by example and implication. We will look at a number of passages over the course of our discussions that support various aspects of biblical dating, but for the moment, let me just give you some references to study:
  • 1 Corinthians 6:9-7:19 (command to be pure, seriousness of sexual sin and instructions regarding marriage)
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (do not wrong or defraud one another in relationships — by implying a relationship or commitment by your words or conduct that does not actually exist)
  • Song of Solomon 2:7 ("do not awaken love before it pleases" — i.e. before the proper time, meaning marriage)
  • Proverbs 6:20-7:27 (warning to avoid sexual sin and foolish relationships)
  • James 1:13-15 (temptation is to be taken very seriously)
  • Romans 13:8-14 (love others, work for their soul's good; don't look to please self)
  • Romans 14:1-15:7 (favor others, not self ... value what's good to their souls)
  • 1 Timothy 5:1-2 (treat single women as sisters in Christ, with absolute purity)
  • Titus 2:1-8 (young men and women should focus on self-control/godliness)
  • John 14:15 (if you love Christ, you will obey His commands — read: above your own desires — and live biblically)
We'll talk more about these and other passages as we deal with other topics in this series.
Modern Dating
We may basically define modern dating as a method of introduction and carrying out of a pre-marital relationship between a single man and a single woman:
  1. that begins with either the man or the woman initiating with the other;
  2. that is conducted outside the formal oversight or authority of either person's family or church; and
  3. that may or may not have marriage as its goal and is often purely "recreational" or "educational."
Now, the biblical support for the modern approach to dating ... (insert crickets, tumbleweeds, person whistling here).... That was it. There isn't any. The very idea of extended romantic or sexual involvement outside of marriage doesn't even appear in Scripture unless it is described as illicit (sinful). Furthermore, it doesn't even appear in any society, western or otherwise, in any systematic way until the 20th century. While the principles supporting biblical dating have their beginnings with the very structure of the family, modern dating has its origins with the sexual revolution of the 1960s. It is brand new, and yet, seemingly, it is all we know.
Differences Between Modern Dating and Biblical Dating
So what's the real difference? Here are some fundamentals:
Modern dating philosophy assumes that there will be several intimate romantic relationships in a person's life before marriage. In fact, it advocates "playing the field" in order to determine "what one wants" in a mate. Biblical dating has as its goal to be emotionally and physically intimate with only one member of the opposite sex ... your spouse.
Modern dating tends to be egalitarian (no differences between men and women in spiritual or emotional "wiring" or God-given roles). Biblical dating tends to be complementarian (God has created men and women differently and has ordained each of these spiritual equals to play different and valuable roles in the church and in the family).
Modern dating tends to assume that you will spend a great deal of time together (most of it alone). Biblical dating tends to encourage time spent in group activities or with other people the couple knows well.
Modern dating tends to assume that you need to get to know a person more deeply than anyone else in the world to figure out whether you should be with him or her. The biblical approach suggests that real commitment to the other person should precede such a high level of intimacy.
Modern dating tends to assume that a good relationship will "meet all my needs and desires," and a bad one won't — it's essentially a self-centered approach. Biblical dating approaches relationships from a completely different perspective — one of ministry and service and bringing glory to God.
Modern dating tends to assume that there will be a high level of emotional involvement in a dating relationship, and some level of physical involvement as well. Biblical dating assumes no physical intimacy and more limited emotional intimacy outside of marriage.
Modern dating assumes that what I do and who I date as an adult is entirely up to me and is private (my family or the church has no formal or practical authority). Biblical dating assumes a context of spiritual accountability, as is true in every other area of the Christian life.
Basically, we can make three general statements about modern dating vs. biblical dating in terms of their respective philosophies:
  1. Modern dating seems to be about "finding" the right person for me (as my friend Michael Lawrence has written on this site, "Stop Test-Driving Your Girlfriend"); biblical dating is more about "being" the right person to serve my future spouse's needs and be a God-glorifying husband or wife.
  2. In modern dating, intimacy precedes commitment. In biblical dating, commitment precedes intimacy.
  3. The modern dating approach tells us that the way to figure out whether I want to marry someone is to act like we are married. If we like it, we make it official. If we don't, then we go through something emotionally — and probably physically — like a divorce. In biblical dating, Scripture guides us as to how to find a mate and marry, and the Bible teaches, among other things, that we should act in such a way so as not to imply a marriage-level commitment until that commitment exists before the Lord.
I'm supremely confident that as we go back and forth in the coming months, some — perhaps many — of you will disagree (if you don't already) or be initially annoyed at some of my statements. Ask yourself why. What are you trying to hold onto that you think this approach will take from you (privacy, autonomy, a secular idea of freedom or of your own rights)?
I have a particular challenge for those of you whose main objection is that the practical details we'll talk about here "are not explicitly biblical": think about the details of how you conduct (or would like to conduct) your dating life. Can you find explicit support for the modern approach in Scripture? Are there even broad principles in Scripture that justify the modern vision of dating (or yours, whatever it may be)? The Bible simply doesn't give us explicit instructions on some of what we'll discuss. Fair enough. In such a situation, we should ask what gets us closest to clear biblical teaching. In other words, within the many gray areas here, what conduct in our dating lives will help us to best care for our brothers and sisters in Christ and bring honor to His name?
That's it. That's a basic framework for biblical dating as best I can discern it from the principles of God's Word. Now, you're on. No question is too broad or too specific, too theoretical, too theological, or too practical. Agree with what I've said, or challenge it. This is how iron sharpens iron.
Just remember one thing: we're in this together — for His Glory.

 (C) www.boundless.org/relationships/2012/biblical-dating-how-its-different-from-modern-dating

Monday, November 25, 2013

Have you seen jeepney love on Youtube?

Jeepney love is in the air again!

Our film, Love At First "Plite (Fare)" is featured on Cebu Daily News
.

Read up:

Students' jeepney love in YouTube | Cebu Daily News: Latest News & Photos from Cebu, Philippines & beyond

Special thanks to Bjorn Tabanera for the write-up. :)

"Deh na ko!"




"Deh na ko!"

This is the line that caught the attention of those who've watched this film; making it an everyday expression in schools. Even in the streets.




Three weeks have passed since I uploaded this video up on Youtube. In a matter of hours, it has gone viral; spreading fast across the city. College and high-school students alike, working professionals, and take note, even parents ages 40 and up, got all giddy when they watched this film.

Being the director of the film, I couldn't help but be proud of what has resulted out of our hard-work. What was supposed to be just a film project for school, now has become so big; making us all overnight Youtube sensations! Not one of us in the group has ever expected it. We didn't even understand what was happening. It was definitely one of the most overwhelming things ever. It was...Amazing.

Our heartfelt thanks go to all those who have helped us get the film through. There's just a lot of you to mention. But you know who you are.:)


In its entirety, this film is such a testimony of God's favor and grace. I can't begin to fathom how we got to do and FINISH the film, under all the circumstances, to the point of not knowing how to do something, or even not knowing what to do next. It's amazing how HE orchestrates things! You're awesome, God. Thank you.


So, to those who still haven't gotten the chance to watch the film, check it out now.


I hope you'll enjoy this. Feel it's giddiness and all. hehe

Students, this is just something to inspire you, but, you know your priorities...STUDIES FIRST. ;)