Joshua Updates Again

I've promised to give you an update regarding Joshua. However, I'm still not sure of the results of the MRI yet. I wasn't able to talk to his dad last Sunday. BUT BUT BUT.. I heard from our beloved pastor that Joshua attended Junior Church last Sunday. WHOA!!! Can you believe it? God is truly working in Joshua and his family's lives. I'll post more updates once I get concrete facts. Let us continue to pray unceasingly for more of God's miracles.

YPF(10/17): Our TRUE Comfort Zone by Ptr James Chiu

For a few months now, Young Professionals' Fellowship has been using the theme.... "Stepping Out Of Our Comfort Zones". We had different speakers with in the year, such as Ptr Doris Limand Ptr Kathryn Ann Tan that shared their personal testimonies for them to step out of their comfort zones.

Last October 17, we introduced Pastor James Chiu (with the glasses) -- a second year BSOP student. He graduated from Naga Hope Christian High School and Ateneo Naga University. He is currently having his OJT at Grace and will be staying 'til the end of this month (January). So all you guys, be nice to him, so that he'll come back after he graduates. By the way, he is also the so-called long lost twin brother of our very own JP. See? The similarities are uncanny!!!

Even their names both start with J and are both new testament authors (John and James).

Anyway, getting back to the topic. James didn't share his testimony... His message was more of a spiritual awakening. I guess the title should "What is Our True Comfort Zone" or "What should be our Comfort Zone". 

First of all, you'll probably say "huh?? Ain't we been learning on how to step out of it? And now we are looking for its true form!?!?". Before we answer these questions.. Let us define Comfort Zone: 

1) Wikipedia defines it as "the set of environments and behaviors with which one is comfortable, without creating a sense of RISK."

2) it is something we are used to in our lives. 

According to James, Comfort Zones or CZs change over time.....

Things change quickly, especially technology. Some of us may have been used to the Ipod Shuffle that evolved into the Nano then Video then IPhone. We were so used to desktops, now laptops and even PDAs. Cellphones weren't even common back then. Now, it's so rare to find anyone who doesn't have a phone.

Another example is the cycle of our lives. We spend four years in high school, then another four to six years in college, and now work... and so on... We grow older, we experience more stuff. During that graduation in high school, we were all so teary eyed, because we were so afraid to leave. And again, we got teary-eyed after four years in our college graduation. Those were comfort zones... we were so used to them, that we have no fear. We have a sense of relaxation and comfort.

Moving on.. we as Christians have become a new creation (2 Cor 5 :17). The central part of our lives changes. Every other part of our lives change too. Our habits, character, out look in life, goals...and yes, our comfort zones. According to Romans 12:1-2, be renewed!

Our lives are filled with comforts.... our sofa, car, house we live in, social life style, status, names, family, friends, identity, physical features, fashion style.. all these are false comforts. They are not our real comfort zone. The moment we became a Christian, our comfort zone changes.. It changes to God -- fellowship with God. That is our true comfort zone. We are pilgrims or aliens living in this temporary world. We should not be comfortable here... Our comfort zones are in heaven and eternity.

This world we live in will never accept us... They will persecute, laugh, mock, hate, insult, and do a lot of things just to hurt us. We tend to pretend we are comfortable.. but are we truly comfortable? Are we sharing the Gospel? How many of your friends know of your faith? How many of them have been informed of the Gospel? Let us step into God's realm. Let us do what He is leading us to do. It takes FAITH. Even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. It took faith to accept Jesus Christ, so I'm sure we all have even the slightest amount of faith.

Take Joseph from the book of Genesis. His life consisted of a lot of ups and downs.. He was loved by Dad, then sold as a slave... became the head of Potiphar's household, yet put in prison for a crime he didn't commit...  became the governor of Egypt and so on.. Each time he was comfortable, God removed him from his comfort zone. In the end, God's purpose for him and Israel was fulfilled.

But the best example is Jesus Christ... He was comfortable in Heaven, living beside God the Father and the Holy Spirit. He left His genuine comfort zone just to be a normal human, who have been mocked , spit, insulted, tortured upon and many more. He experienced the wrath of God the Father so that we could all experience salvation. He didn't feel comfortable doing it, of course...but He did it for love.

As closing.. here is a question and a challenge for each of us....

What is earthly life compared to eternity?

It is our response to step out as a show of gratitude to what Christ's example has done.

Want to Enhance Your EQ?

For many of us, we've always wanted an opportunity to share the Gospel to our non-Christian friends and relatives. However, "nahihiya tayo" (we are embarrassed) , or we just don't know how to. Sometimes we don't even have the opportunity to invite them to just a simple fellowship or Bible study. We're afraid that the topic might turn them off, or just confuse them more about Christianity.

Anyway, we're in-luck (or the more appropriate term BLESSED), Zion fellowship has invited Ptr Jeanette Yu from the United Evangelical Church of the Philippines to speak to us on the topic "Enhancing Your EQ". It is a very short one time workshop that can help anyone of us. And if your friend gets defensive, just tell him/her that: 1) It won't be an evangelistic event. 2) It is a workshop that can help anyone. and 3) He/She won't be the only one new that will be attending.

This is an opportunity for us to invite our friends to church. Just try to invite them, and let the Holy Spirit do all the convincing in their hearts.

2009 Philippine Balloon Festival

The 2009 Philippines Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held on February 12 to 15 this year. Both Zion and Young Pro Fellowships will going on February 13 to enjoy the festivities.

It will be held at Clark Civil Aviation Complex, right along side Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

Basically, we'll leave Grace around 9pm on the 12th (Thursday) to stay over night at Fontana, and wake up around 3am and head straight to event. We'll be back more or less 4 to 5pm on the 13th (Friday) and still be able to attend fellowship in the evening.

For those who are interested, you may contact me @ speng_14@yahoo.com.

Joshua MRI Results Today

Joshua's MRI results came in today. His dad probably has it already. I still don't know if it is good or bad news. Anyway, I'm just asking all of us to pray for good news. Thanks.

New Look for 2009

Forgive me for suddenly changing this blog's look. I've been experimenting on which template is better for 2009. For now, I've chosen "Stretched Denim Light". However, I still want a more appropriate template. I'm open to suggestions here. Happy New Year!!!

Year of the Breakthrough

How was your 2008?

Every year that ends sets forth an opportunity for us to evaluate how we spent the year that has passed. What goals set in 2008 were we able to accomplish? What went wrong? What did we do right? and what changes should we do to become better the next year? - these are but some of the questions answered during these "year-end life-evaluation" days.

For some, the year end might lead to gratitude to God for the wonderful things and blessings received. While for others, it might be a deep sigh of "finally, the bad year has come to an end... business is bad, spiritual status is bad, health is bad, financial status is bad, family is bad, even love life is bad! and to make the bad year even worst, sin is doing good, and Satan is having a good year through me!!! you wish it wouldn't continue to 2009.. and you wish 2009 will be a "year of the breakthroughs".

Well, what is a breakthrough?

A breakthrough is a "barging-through" to whatever obstacles are in front of you, a demolition of the barriers hindering you to where you would like to be or what you would like to become. You break-through it to destroy the barriers and let your life loose from all the entanglements that limit you. We can compare it to a "charging foul" if you are a ball player. (but you won't be called for a violation) hehe...

What is it that you need a breakthrough for?

• A sin breakthrough? You wanna live a victorious life for God, not sin all the time?
  
• A forgiveness breakthrough? You can't forgive someone who has offended you?
  
• A financial breakthrough? A physical health breakthrough? (maybe you are sick always)
  
• A breakthrough in your love life??? Whoa! (you can't see God's will for you?...)
  
• A bad habit breakthrough? Whoa! It can be anything in your life! You need a breakthrough this 2009?
  

May Satan not hold you down as a prisoner of your past and your failures. May he not be able to hinder you as you pursue God's plan and purpose for you life. May God give you have a breakthrough this 2009! Pray for it!

Look at what the bible says:

"Thanks be to God Who gives us victory in Christ!" 

- 1 Cor. 15:56 -

"In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" 

 John 16:33 -

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith!. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 

- 1 John 5:3-5 -

"In all these things, We are more than conquerors through Christ Who loved us! 

- Rom. 8:37 -

Only Christ can give us breakthroughs!

May 2009 be full of breakthroughs for each one of us whether it be financially, spiritually,

and any other areas of your life! God bless us!

New Years Resolution

With the new year just a few hours away. I guess many are already finishing up their New Year's Resolution list. However, I still want to suggest some of the things that you may add. Thank you also for those who contributed to adding to this list.

1. Fast for two days once every month or two.
2. Read your Bible, at least one chapter a day.
3. Finish reading a book, a Christian book.
4. Make a journal, it will help us count our blessings.
5. Have a weekly exercise, like jogging, basketball, volleyball, badminton, etc.
6. Lose 10lbs [for the overweight] / gain 10lbs [for the underweight] by the end of 2009.
7. Commit to attend one fellowship, not being absent more than 10 times.
8. Eat vegetables or fruits atleast twice a week.
9. Have a friendly conversation with a church attendee/member each month whom you haven't interacted with before.
   
10. Set aside tithes before Sunday, so God gets the best, not the rest of what's left
    
11. Carry a Gospel track in your pocket/wallet. Give it away at the first opportunity.
12. Bring one person to church by the end of 2009.
13. Share the Gospel to one person by the end of 2009.
14. Learn to drive.
15. Learn to cook something edible.
16. Stash some biscuits in your car. If a beggar asks for money, give biscuits instead. God loves a cheerful giver.
17. Attend a Bible Study group. [If you don't know how to find one, ask the church office or ask me.]
18. Go to the sanctuary 5 minutes before worship service starts. Pray while you are waiting.
19. Pray together with your family at least once a week.
20. Take up a new hobby that can help in your ministry, such as photography, flash making, etc.
21. Learn a new language.

Well, I'm all out of ideas. Maybe you guys can suggest some more. Happy New Year.