Cancelled trips, food poisoning and lesson in Gospel of the Kingdom

Sunday, 11:39pm – Project 4, Philippines
Just got back from hanging out with my cousin, Kuya Bong, that was visiting from Calbayog. He was with his wife, Ate Malou, and their son, Jhay. They attended a worship and prayer conference that was held at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay. I was supposed to go to Cebu this past weekend but God lined up a few interesting obstacles that changed my course for the weekend:

1. My clothes from the laundry service got misplaced and made me miss my flight
2. When I went to reschedule my flight, to reschedule cost me 2/3rd of my round trip ticket.
3. I got food/water poisoning that Friday morning so I was in bed all day yesterday and still feel queasy today

In all this I learned that (1) the majority of my plans always change and you just have to learn how to adapt to the change quickly, (2) God opens or closes doors depending if he wants you to have or be in a certain place at a certain time, and (3) never to eat at this place called Binalot ever again.

If one door closes, there are always other doors that open. This time around, the church I go to, Victory Church of Quezon City, have a few volunteers putting together a video for some Leader’s meeting. My friends Zandro, Bimbo, Pons and I were interviewed for the outreach and ministry we are doing out in Barangay Arboretum. If that video can inspire more brothers or sisters to come out and minister to a poor community, that would be awesome. Another thing that came up was that I was able to spend time with a cousin that I haven’t seen since 2004. The thing that is special about this meeting tonight was that I was able to find out more about the life of my cousin and his wife and their children, how they serve Jesus Christ, and the people that they are involved with.

Pons, Zandro and Bimbo: brothers in action, Arboretum volunteers


Hanging out at church

Kuya Bong has been a pastor now at a church in Calbayog for 3 years now, but prior to that, him and his wife were helping street children in Manila to return to their families or to go back to school, helped some get jobs, and helped some get saved from the destructive lives they were in. Individuals that have been through the same experiences as those they are trying to help are most effective; Kuya Bong holds true to this statement. It was only until tonight did I hear a little bit more about how he lived his life in the last 20 years and he's perfect to be able to reach out to these kids and since for the past 23 years he has started his family, he yet has another multitude of things to be able to help others with. I felt the Holy Spirit’s presence as him and his wife were telling me of their lives and how God has been providing for their family throughout the years. And now I see how he is working in mine, and slowly on my immediate family’s life. I love you God.

Tonight I was exposed to my first time about the Gospel of the Kingdom. Pastor Boy was speaking to me about how he would preach the Gospel of Salvation before but about 4 years ago how he saw how more effective that he would share the truth about the Kingdom of God, and once people asked how they can receive the Kingdom of God, that he would then tell them about the Way through Jesus Christ. I see that all aspects of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, the stories, laws, history, all that is written in the Bible is important in people coming to understand and to begin to know God. I pray that we all come to truth and wisdom, guided by the Holy Spirit, so that we can live our lives the way God wants us to live it. As was relayed to me by my Uncle Enjick, Pastor Jon Stovall, my mentor Rocky and a few other mentors; when something is presented to you that references God, Jesus or truth, make sure that is in the Bible and it’s in the correct context.


New brothers and sisters from Jesus is our Refuge church, in Project 4. My cousins Kuya Bong and Ate Malou are on the top left.

I know I wasn’t able to spend time in Cebu with my cousins Candy and Dodong, and my Godson Leo, but I know that there were important lessons to be learned and shared to build the Kingdom of God and to glorify Jesus. I know to my friends back in the States that it’s difficult to understand the words that I write and its perspective. I can look at them both from the eyes of someone that has been following Jesus for a long time as well as someone that doesn’t even know a religion or think spiritually. I was reminded by my cousin Kuya Bong, “You don’t have to point out the things in their lives or the things around them, just share yourself and show them you.” The changes in your life and in your heart, and what is close to your mind and your soul, will automatically show. I pray that it’s always the Holy Spirit that is guiding my life so all that people see is constantly love from God and truth from his Word.

Catching up and there are so much to this word “love”

Wednesday, 7:52pm – Cubao, Philippines
I’m just at Figaro coffee shop right now, catching up on emails and work. It’s been a few days since I blogged as I’m still trying to settle into a schedule as there have been a few changes and things that have been added to my plate. I’m helping some friends right now with graphic design work: photo editing, logo designs and websites. My priority are my clients right now still in the United States of course. But apart from volunteering on Wednesdays at Metro Ministries, studying the Bible and Tagalog everyday, and also connecting with friends, brothers, sisters and blogging, it’s starting to add up.

My walk in learning more about the Christian faith has changed up. These past months I’ve felt the Holy Spirit strongly, in feeling and in guidance, coming to insight and understanding of truth and teachings in the Bible. Now it’s changing and I know God has me learning a different aspect of the faith, in learning in that all I do it’s to honor him, give him praise and to glorify him. For those that don’t understand or read the Bible, I can imagine it seems strange to talk in these terms of something you can’t see or even to be subservient to. But that’s the beauty in following in the word of God and to know Jesus; you realize how weak you really are in this world but gain strength and courage through Jesus because of what he has done for us and to truly understand where we come from and why we are here in this world.

There are things that have happened in my life in the past 5 months that are amazing that it probably difficult to understand in scientific terms or even what Christians call in “worldly” terms. Learning more about the Bible, you will read things of this earth (worldly) versus things of God (spiritual). Because God is not finite and he is so great and since he created everything, how can we even begin to understand or put into words what we feel, what we experience personally and all the things we have seen in our own lives and witnessing in others? We try, but even just imagine trying to describe the word “love”. There are definitions people have come to use, and even in the Bible it describes it in this verse:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”

But even trying to describe it in this way, you don’t get the full perspective of what you particularly experience with it. It definitely does show aspects of it though and what we experience. Reading this verse makes me reflect on experiences of love with family, friends and even strangers I meet every day. Look into those words carefully though and you can see how closely it equates in your life. This is the power of the words in the Bible. Really, if you can’t say you experience these things, you are not aware or are really not experiencing love. But even when you feel it, it’s something you know inside that you don’t ever want to part from.
I finally know what these following words mean. I saw it all the time; in passing on signs, on t-shirts, people saying it…in so many places. I’m so happy to finally understand these words: “God is love.”



my second Dad Greg, my brother Johnathon, me and my best friend Phil


my brother Rex and his daugther Maya and Leilani, my sister Rhett and her sons Chase and Bryce and my Dad


Small group from Victory Quezon City at the Race for Life charity 5k/10k run


Kids at Barangay Arboretum where we go every Saturday

Relationships and Waiting on the Lord

Wednesday, 2:30am – Paranaque City, Pasig, Philippines
My friend’s visit last week brought up a few things. One, about relationships in general with woman or marriage. Two, with a yearning or empty feeling, wanting and being impatient on thinking I am ready for a relationship. God showed me 3 things:

1. Turn to the Lord with all that we go through or have concerns of
   I think this is the main reason why there are any issues in our lives. To direct us to truth and to learn of a dependence on him, bringing to light that we can’t do anything that lasts forever all on our own
   
2. Turn to the Word for answers and insight
   God left us his Word in the form of the Bible so that gain knowledge and gain wisdom by applying the Word. I went to friends, brothers and sisters for help and in doing so, God lead me to the Word
   
3. Turn to people of this world that you trust and that are wise
   The operative words are “trust” and “wise”. Don’t just ask anyone, go to those that are wise and have experience. You wouldn’t go to a newcomer in surfing if you wanted to learn how to surf, you would go to a professional or guru. Same thing for your walk in the Christian life. God put people in our lives to help each other, it’s not a one-way street. We learn of God’s love and grow in maturity by our interaction and experiences in love with one another. Reaching out to those that have gone through the same things or have been a Christian for a long time have experience or can point you in the right direction since they may have come across it in their own lives through friends or learning materials.

These things I learned stemmed from beginning to think about who God will line up for a wife for me, or even if he wanted me to have a wife. I started thinking about an ideal wife and yearning to already go through the excitement of meeting someone new and thinking about the experiences and things we would share…it was all so happy and sad at the same time. The thought of moving in this world with a woman that has a similar passion for God is exciting, not to mention the lessons you learn from being in a marriage and raising a child or children. But what I have come to learn is that we need to look to God’s timing and his desires for us. Are we ready for the things he wants to give us? Do we want the things he desires for us?

Just today, I see a woman right now in my life would take me away from the learning and growth I’m going through. I would still be learning, but I see it would be a distraction for these particular things I have learned in the past 3 months and even today. Also, God wants me exactly where I am at to prepare me for whatever he has planned for me. In retrospect, he gave me the ability to race motorcycles so I can learn perseverance, confidence, adaptability, communication and humbleness. In retrospect, God gave me the ability to run my own business for professionalism, networking, accountability, honesty and integrity. These are all important for how he’s guiding me to build a foundation in my faith by his grace, to experience love and gain wisdom by serving the poor communities here in the Philippines and in experiencing love through fellowship with everyone here and people still back in the States. I will be patient and continue to learn everyday and apply all that is being shown to me by the Holy Spirit. I will be fed the Bible daily, pray, be still and let my heart be open for God to guide me on where I need to be and to act through love and grace that he has given and shown me.

Verses that gave insight on waiting were:
1 Samuel 16:19-23 about David not being king yet so that he can learn from King Saul on how to lead a nation. God made David wait so that he could learn what he needed to learn, to prepare him.

Another verse was Genesis 29:20-30, where Jacob served a man named Laban for his daughter for 14 years to get the woman he wanted. From commentary: “The most important goals and desires are worth working and waiting for”. Reflecting on my life so far, this has been the utmost truth in seeking true relationship, full satisfaction and victory.