CHRISTIAN POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT: Paano?

Paano ba dapat makisangkot ang mga Cristiano sa pulitika? Pumasok sa loob ng pamahalaan o manatili sa labas nito? Ang aking sagot: pareho.

Kung tinatawag ang isang mananampalataya upang maging mambabatas o pulitiko (batay sa kaniyang karanasan at kakayahan), kailangan niyang sundin ang ipinagkaloob sa kaniyang misyon ng Panginoon. Pero hindi lahat ay tinawag sa ganitong trabaho.

Hindi lahat ay tinawag katulad ni Moises, Josue at Jose upang maging lider sa pamahalaan. Huwag nang magpilit ang mga taong mas epektibo sa loob ng iglesya na pumasok pa ng pulitika. It would only cause vocational confusion. Siguraduhing tinatawag ng Diyos na maging lingkod sa pamahalaan bago suungin ang anumang laban.

Sadly, several people (including church leaders and ministers) have depicted politics as the ‘territory of the unbelievers’. Many Christians in the past have left the political arena, considering it inherently evil and outside the legitimate realm of Christian influence. But it is necessary for Christians not to distance themselves from the affairs of the state. When believers of Christ abandon their moral responsibility to influence society with their values, other influences will fill the gap.

Isang paraan upang mabago natin ang masamang sistema ng pamamahala ay maging bahagi mismo tayo ng pamahalaan. Hindi minsan sapat ang magsisigaw sa kalye upang humiling ng pagbabago. Ngunit, hindi lahat ng Cristiano ay tinawag upang maging pulitiko. Ang ibang hindi matatag sa pananampalataya ay nilalamon ng sistema. Kaya, kailangang "tinawag" ka at hindi lamang "tinulak" o "tinuring ang sarili" sa ganitong trabaho.

Minsan, tinanong si dating Senador Jovito Salonga kung bakit iniwan niya ang kaniyang pagtuturo sa unibersidad at bigla siyang pumasok sa mundo ng pulitika. Iito ang kaniyang sagot:

“It is partly because of a strong, deep-seated conviction that I had no right—whatever to condemn or criticize the governance of public affairs—as I usually did—if I were not prepared or willing, in my own little way, to do something about it. How could I talk about the need of cleaning up the much talked-about mess in the government unless I was prepared to disregard, for the moment, personal interests and get something done?”

Pumasok siya sa gobyerno sa pagnanais na maging bahagi ng pagbabago sa pulitika sa bansa. Masasabi kong sadyang tinawag siya ng Panginoon sa misyong iyon kung kaya't naging matagumpay siya at itinuring na isa sa pinaka-iginagalang na pulitiko sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas.

Ganunpaman, naniniwala akong mas magiging epektibo ang mas nakararaming Cristiano kung sila ay maglilingkod sa labas ng pamahalaan. They can have a far greater impact through personal witness and prayer by participating in socio-civic projects which may have direct or indirect effects on the political life of the country.

Christians should never sacrifice their faith for the sake of a particular political or social ideology—right, left or center, for several reasons.

Una, walang pinapanigang political group o party ang Diyos. Hindi natin puwedeng sabihing mas papaburan ng Panginoon ang isang partido dahil sa kaniyang posisyon. Walang kinakampihan ang Diyos maliban sa mga taong naninindigan sa katwiran, kabanalan at katarungan. Kung lahat ng Cristiano ay may political party na yayakapin, palagay ko mahirap magkaisa ang Body of Christ. Pinatunayan na ng kasaysayan ng sangka-Cristianuhan na mas epektibo ang mga mga mananampalatayan kung mananatiling walang pinapanigang partido.

Pangalawa, walang maituturing na isang fixed political agenda ang Diyos. Ang ating posisyon ay dapat nakabase sa kung anong isyu ang pag-uusapan. Dito na pumapasok ang pansariling paniniwala ng mga Cristiano. Tandaan natin na maraming aspeto ng ating buhay kung saan sadyang tahimik ang Bibliya. We must realize that political judgments are subjective and relative. Mahirap bumuo ng isang tunay na Cristianong pananaw sa bawat isyu sa ating lipunan.

Pangatlo, ang pagiging partisan o bahagi ng isang partido ay maaring makaapekto sa patotoo ng isang Cristianong seryosong sumusunod kay Cristo. Kailangang maging matalino kung makikisangkot sa mga gawaing pampulitika. Politics is a messy process. Hindi maiiwasang kahit ang mga Cristiano na may iba’t ibang posisyon sa mga isyu ay magkabanggaan. Remember that our first identity is to be Christians. Saan man tayo ilagay ng Panginoon, kailangang mauna ang ating pagiging Cristiano.

The diversity of our political persuasions and positions should not divide us as brothers and sisters in Christ. Nagkakaiba man tayo sa pananaw, kailangan nating maunawaan na tayo ay pare-parehong iniligtas ng Panginoon mula sa kasalanan at may responsibilidad na ideklara ang kaniyang kabutihan sa lahat ng mga hindi mananampalataya. Kung tayo mismo ang magsasakmalan at mag-aaway na parang mga mababangis na hayop, mahihirapan tayong mapaniwala ang iba na tayo ay mga taga-sunod ni Cristo. Minsan sinabi ng Panginoon, na sa pamamagitan ng ating pag-ibig sa isa't isa, makikilala ng iba na tayo ay kaniyang mga disipulo.

Kung sa pagnanais nating maging bahagi ng proseso ng politika ay negatibong naapektuhan ang ating patotoo bilang Cristiano, makabubuting pag-aralan natin ang ating desisyon. Kapag nasira ang ating patotoo sa maraming tao dahil sa pulitika, mahihirapan na nating mailapit sila sa paanan ni Hesus. Huwag na nating hintayin ang puntong sabihin nila sa atin, "Naniniwala kami kay Cristo, pero hindi kami sa inyong mga nagsasabing Cristiano!"

Ang CRISTIANO at ang PAMAHALAAN

Itinatag ng Diyos ang pamahalaan upang maging katuwang ng Iglesyang Cristiano sa pagpapatupad ng katuwiran at katarungan sa lipunan. The Church is mandated by God to accomplish three things: 1) fulfill the Great Commission 2) minister to and nurture believers and 3) reach out the society as a fulfillment of the Great Commandment.

Ang unang misyon ng lahat ng Cristiano ay ang ipahayag ang Mabuting Balita ng Kaligtasan sa lahat ng tao--ang kahalagahan ng kamatayan ni Cristo sa krus upang tubusin ang sangkatauhan mula sa kasalanan. This is the proclamation aspect of the Church's mission.

Secondly, the Church serves as the spiritual family of all believers. Christians are considered children of God because of faith in Jesus Christ. All believers are being discipled, nurtured for God’s service and bonded with one Spirit within the context of the Church.

Thirdly, Christians are members of the kingdom of God as well as the social order of this world. This is the demonstration aspect of the Church's calling. They are the representatives or ambassadors of Christ on earth. As Christians, we are commanded to act as responsible citizens of our country, abide by the civil laws, respect and pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2), pay our taxes, and participate in community and governmental activities.

ROMANS 13 PRINCIPLES
May malinaw na pamantayan ang Salita ng Diyos kung paano dapat makitungo ang mga Cristiano sa pamahalaan. Sinabi ni Pablo sa Romans 13:1-5 (GNB)

Everyone must obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God's permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God. Whoever opposes the existing authority opposes what God has ordered; and anyone who does so will bring judgment on himself. For rulers are not to be feared by those who do good, but by those who do evil. Would you like to be unafraid of those in authority? Then do what is good, and they will praise you, because they are God's servants working for your own good. But if you do evil, then be afraid of them, because their power to punish is real. They are God's servants and carry out God's punishment on those who do evil. For this reason you must obey the authorities---not just because of God's punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.

Una, ang Diyos ang lumikha at nagbibigay kapangyarihan sa lahat ng pamahalaan. Siya ang nagtatatag ng lahat ng pamahalaan at tumawag sa lahat ng namumuno rito (Daniel 2:21, Colossians 1:16). Ito ang dahilan kung bakit ang lahat ng batas at panuntunan na ipinatutupad ng pamahalaan ay kailangang salain at suruin ng katotohanan ng Salita ng Diyos. The government was instituted by God to represent His will.

Pangalawa, ang sinumang sumusuway sa pamahalaan ay sumusuway sa Diyos, KUNG ang pamahalaan ay lumalakad sa katwiran ng Diyos. This is the premise of Paul’s statement when he said that “rulers are not to be feared by those who do good, but by those who do evil.” Governments are ordained to promote good and restrain evil. Bakit natin susuwayin ang gobyernong sumusunod sa utos ng Diyos at nagnanais ng kapayapaan? Rebellion against a righteous government is rebellion against God.

Binigyan ng karapatan ang Diyos ang anumang pamahalaan na parusahan ang mga taong sumusuway sa mga batas (1 Peter 2:14). We must submit to authorities for three main reasons: 1) for the Lord’s sake; 2) for our conscience sake; and; 3) to avoid wrath. Kailangang tayong sumunod sa pamahalaan dahil sa ito ang kalooban ng Diyos. Kung hindi naman tayo susunod, kakalabanin naman natin ang ating konsensiya dahil sa kinakalaban natin ang pamahalaang ang nais lamang ay mapabuti ang ating pamumuhay. Ganundin, hindi tayo dapat sumuway sa mga batas at pamantayan ng pamahalaan kung ayaw nating makaranas ng parusa.

Sa kabilang banda, may karapatan ang mamamayan na suwayin ang pamahalaan kung kinakalaban nito ang lkalooban ng Diyos. When rulers reverse the divine design for the government--by promoting evil and restraining good--they lose their moral authority to rule. Hindi dapat tangkilikin ang batas na magbibigay-karapatan sa mga ina na ipalaglag ang kanilang mga sanggol sa sinapupunan (abortion) dahil kinakalaban nito ang utos ng Diyos na huwag tayong papatay ng ating kapwa (Exodus 20)

Submission to government does not necessarily mean obedience. Ito ang pamantayan na sinunod nila Daniel at ang kaniyang mga kaibigan nang suwayin nila ang utos ni Haring Nabucodonosor na sambahin ang diyus-diyusan (Daniel 1). Ito ang ipinakita ng mga komadrona sa Ehipto (Exodus 1:15-19) nang hayaan nilang mabuhay ang mga lalaking sanggol ng mga Israelita bagaman inutusan silang patayin ang mga bata. Ganito rin ang naging prinsipyo ni Pedro (Gawa 5:29) nang pilit silang pinagababawalan ibahagi ang Salita ng Diyos sa mga Hudyo at Hentil.

The Validity of Scientific Survey: The Case of SWS (PDF File)

Bakit kapag lumalamang sa survey ang mga kandidato, nakakataba daw ng puso. Pero kapag nangungulelat sila, hindi daw dapat pakinggan ang inilalabas ng mga survey poll organizations. May isang kandidato pa nga ang nagsabi na hindi kayang salaminin ng opinyon ng ilang libong interviewees lamang ang sentimyento ng 40 milyon na botanteng Filipino. Is this a valid statement? Of course not. Scientific survey does not need 40 million responses to arrive at valid results. SWS's predictions for the past national elections prove the validity of scientific surveys.

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"Traditional politicians are often antagonistic to election surveys. They accuse it of having power to influence the vote, although the truth is that what they fear is the voter-power reflected in honest, scientific polling."

"SWS never contends that a survey of a sample of the votes can judge the accuracy of a full count of the votes. On the contrary, the reverse is true: it is the full count that judges the quality of a sample survey. In the Philippines, it is far better to judge official results by comparing them with the parallel counts of the non-governmental National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) than with sample surveys."

"Whereas many political players are skeptical of opinion polls, the public in general is quite appreciative of them. Seven or eight out of every ten Filipinos call polls, and election surveys in particular, a good thing. I think citizens understand, at least intuitively, that opinion polls are their means of knowing their own collective opinion. Definitely, they enjoy the regular reports of how candidates are faring in election races."

PDF File Link: http://kuyaronald.multiply.com/journal/item/205/The_Validity_of_Scientific_Surveys_The_Case_of_SWS_PDF_File

SHOCKING, SUPRISING AND SAD: Benny Hinn's Wife files for Divorce

ORANGE, Calif. (AP) — The wife of televangelist Benny Hinn has filed for divorce in Southern California.

Suzanne Hinn filed the papers in Orange County Superior Court on Feb. 1, citing irreconcilable differences, after more than 30 years of marriage. The papers note the two separated on Jan. 26 and that Hinn has been living in Dana Point, a wealthy coastal community in southern Orange County.

Hinn is one of the best known advocates of the prosperity gospel, which teaches that Christians who are right with God will be rewarded with wealth and health in this lifetime.

His TV broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcast Network, a Pentecostal broadcasting juggernaut, and other TV networks are seen by millions of people around the world nearly every day. He travels the globe in his ministry's plane, named Dove One, holding events he calls "Miracle Crusades" that include spiritual healings.

Hinn has never fully publicly disclosed how he spends the money he raises, but his vast ministry is believed to be a multimillion-dollar operation. There was no mention of finances in the court filing, which listed three recent Southern California addresses for the family.

Over the years, Hinn has been the target of intense criticism from fellow Christians and watchdog groups who call his teachings false and accuse him of raising money only to enrich himself.

He is one of six televangelists under investigation by Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, over whether he complied with IRS rules for nonprofits. Hinn has said on his website that external auditors ensure his compliance with IRS regulations and that in 2008, 88% of the money he collected was spent on ministry.

Benny Hinn Ministries is based in Grapevine, Texas, and operates a church and television studio in Aliso Viejo in California's Orange County, according to its website.

Sorrell Trope, the attorney listed on Suzanne Hinn's court filing, did not immediately return a call for comment.

J. Lee Grady, contributing editor of Charisma, a news magazine on the Pentecostal community, said Hinn's divorce is the latest in a string of high-profile ministry divorces and moral failures among the Pentecostal leaders, beginning with Ted Haggard's fall from grace in 2006.

He said Hinn's followers will want an explanation because of the high profile the couple had.

"It will be devastating to the people who have supported Benny Hinn's evangelistic work around the world," Grady said.

"Obviously because their ministry has been very public (and) they will need to issue a statement to their supporters to explain how this happened," he said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-02-18-benny-hinn-divorce_N.htm

LOVESTRUCK: Commitment and Stages of Intimacy

I have been conducting surveys and seminars on love, courtship and dating for the past 6 years. My encounters with students and teenagers further exposed me to the "flawed" nature of the current "US-style" dating system. Many of them have the penchant to conclude that they are “in-love”, when in fact, they are just victims of the intense, short-lived, irrational infatuation. When a relationship ends, they would approach me, saying that real love “hurts”.

It is indeed unfair to love a person who cannot reciprocate and appreciate the love you offer. This occurs because of the absence of REAL COMMITMENT. Simply put, commitment is about loyalty and dedication. It is an act of will to love the person forever despite his/her weaknesses. Without it, everything will be superficial, shallow, unstable and untenable. This is the reason we should study the character of the person before entering into a relationship with him/her.

Young lovers would like to enjoy only the romantic perks of a relationship without thinking of its long-term requirements. Christian apologist C.S. Lewis likened this to “chewing” a delicious food without the intention of “swallowing” it. Dating, for many, has become an end in itself. We must bear in mind that the end-goal of dating is to find a lifetime partner. Long-lasting relationships, however, are built by following God’s will in developing intimacy.

First Stage: SPIRITUAL INTIMACY (spirit). The couple must first achieve spiritual oneness. The 2 Corinthians 6:14 principle is non-negotiable. We must first establish an intimate relationship with God before becoming intimate with a person. God is a jealous God. This is the period that the persons involved will try to work through doubts to determine if the relationship is of God. Seek God’s will together through prayer, Bible studies, ministries and service opportunities.Spiritual oneness is developed by doing spiritual activities together. It must be nurtured from the courtship stage up to marriage.

Second Stage: EMOTIONAL INTIMACY (soul). If the partners already show signs of serious and stable relationship with God, sharing of emotional feelings between each other is necessary. The need for a heart-to-heart communication is essential in strengthening the foundations of marriage. Intimacy needs like acceptance, affection, empathy, encourage, respect and support should be provided and nurtured by the persons involved. This, however, should only commence during the engagement stage (if the couple already signified a commitment to prepare for marriage).

Third Stage: PHYSICAL INTIMACY (body). Emotional oneness should never rationalize sexual activity. You know that you have crossed the threshold of sin, if your physical involvement already produces arousal. It must not be started (Song of Songs 2:7) before marriage. God's will is for us to remain chaste and physically undefiled while enjoying our singlehood.

Studies show that, in marriage, women give primacy to affection as their greatest need while men often desire for sexual fulfilment. Similarly, single men tend to start with and focus on physical intimacy while single women often find themselves prioritizing emotional attachment. This trend validates the statement, "women give sex to get love while men give love to get sex." Sadly, the couple seldom entertain the idea of spiritual compatibility.

Real Essence of CHRISTmas

Many people, even religious leaders, tend to undermine the real meaning of Christmas. They say it is about giving, caring, sharing, loving, joy, peace, hope, among others. Pero ang hindi nababangit ng marami, ang Pasko ay tungkol sa plano ng Diyos para sa tao sa pamamagitan ni Cristo. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit kailangang mas nakatuon tayo sa KALIGTASAN na ibinibigay ng Diyos, hindi sa nagmamahalang regalo, Christmas parties, monito-monita at Christmas bonus.

CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT GOD’S FORGIVENESS AND SALVATION. The name Jesus Christ means “Savior-King.” It represents God's universal plan for all men. He sent His son to SAVE and RESCUE man from the curse of sin (John 3:16, Galatians 3:13). Hinubad ni Jesus ang kaniyang pagka-Diyos, upang mamuhay kasama ng makasalanang tao at iligtas ang sanlibutan mula sa sumpa ng kasalanan (Juan 1:1,14; Filipos 2:6-11). With Christmas, God provided an opportunity to reach out to man. It is Christ who serves as a MEDIATOR between man and God (1 Timothy 2:5, John 14:6).

CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT GOD’S SECURITY AND JOY. Because of Christmas we should never fear of what will happen tomorrow after this life, for God will be with us in eternity (Psalm 27:1, Romans 8:31). Unless we internalize this message, we can never have true peace. Ang tunay na kapayapaan ay nagmumula sa Diyos. Kahit anumang problema at trahedya ang dumating sa ating buhay, hangga’t nariyan ang Panginoon, hindi tayo kailanman dapat mag-alala. The peace that He gives is different from the peace that the world gives (John 14:27)--fleeting and temporal. Ang kasiyahan at saya na tinutukoy ng Bibliya ay ang kasiyahan bunga ng KAPATAWARAN na maaring ibigay ng Diyos sa sinumang gagawing Diyos at Tagapagligtas si Cristo. We can only have peace WITH God through Christ.

CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT GOD'S LOVE FOR MANKIND THROUGH CHRIST- Natagpuan ng mga pastol ang sanggol na si Jesus sa isang SABSABAN, kainan ng mga hayop. This is symbolic of Christ’s mission on earth—to offfer His life as a food for humanity. He is the bread of life (John 6:51) and the living water for the thirsty (John 4:13). Even the name of Christ's birthplace--Bethlehem--means "house of bread/food". We should be reminded of the truth that the real essence of Christmas is JESUS Himself. The major question is, “Have you already received God’s gift of forgiveness and salvation through Christ?” Ask for God’s forgiveness so that you can have PEACE with your Creator. This is the only way you celebrate Christmas in its REAL ESSENCE.

Cristianismo at Nasyonalismo

Nasaan ang kabataang naglalaan ng magagandang sandali, ng kanilang mga pangarap at kasiglahan alang-alang sa ikabubuti ng kanilang bayan? Saan naroon ang handang magpakamatay upang hugasan ng dugo ang napakaraming pagkakasala? Upang karapatdapat ang pagpapakasakit ito’y kailangang malinis at busilak. Nasaan ang kabataang may lakas na tumanan na sa aming mga ugat, ng kalinisan ng diwa na narumihan na sa amin, ng apoy ng sigla na patay na sa aming puso? O kabataan, kayo ay aming hinihintay! -PADRE FLORENTINO, El Filibusterismo ni Jose Rizal

Nasa Grade 2 ako noong maganap ang unang EDSA Revolution. Galing ako sa maghapong paglalaro nang makita ko sa aming Black and White TV set ang maraming taong nagmamartsa sa kahabaan ng EDSA. Wala akong pakialam dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyayari. Noon lamang nang tumuntong ako sa kolehiyo lubos kong naunawaan ang pagdiriwang ng EDSA Revolution taon-taon. Sinalamin ng EDSA 1 ang diwang makabayan ng lahat ng Filipino. Pinatunayan nito na ang tunay na kapangyarihan ng pamahalaan ay nasa kamay ng mga mamamayan. Makalipas ang dalawang dekada, marami ang nagsasabing unti-unti nang nawawala ang diwa ng EDSA.

Madali daw makalimot tayong mga Filipino. Hindi ako naniniwala.

Ang pagiging makabayan ay hindi magwawakas. At hindi kailanman ito mawawala sa puso ng bawat Filipino. Ngunit, no ba talaga ang ibig sabihin ng pagiging “nationalistic” o makabayan? Paano ito dapat tingnan ng mga kabataan?

MAKABAYANG CRISTIANO
Nationalism promotes the idea that the nation-state (composed of the people in a given territory with its sovereign government) is paramount for the realization of social, economic, and cultural aspirations of a people. It complements the idea that we should love our neighbor as we love God. I can cite three major reasons why we should love our nation.

Una sa lahat, mahalaga sa Panginoon ating bansa dahil siya ang maylikha nito. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. God initiated all world governments. Siya ang nagbibigay ng lugar kung saan titira ang anumang lahi. Siya ang nakakaalam ng kasaysayan ng lahat ng tao sa daigdig. May kapangyarihan siyang magbuo at magwasak ng anumang bansa. Kung nais nating manatili ang pagpapala ng Diyos sa ating bayan, kailangang lumakad tayo sa Kaniyang katwiran at kabanalan.

Pangalawa, we must exercise nationalism because of the things we have in common as a people. Pinag-iisa tayo ng iisang kultura, karanasan at kasaysayan. Kung paano natin mas kailangang pahalagahan ang ating mga kapatid sa pananampalataya at kapamilya, ganundin, pahalagahan rin natin ang ating mga kababayan. Kailangang kalabanin natin ang pagkakanya-kanya. Ang Panginoong Hesus mismo ay nagpakita ng kaniyang pagmamahal sa kaniyang bayan nang iniutos Niya sa kaniyang mga disipulo na unang ibahagi ang Mabuting Balita ng Kaligtasan sa kaniyang mga kababayan. Ganito rin ang ipinakitang pagmamahal ni Pablo sa kaniyang bayan nang ipakilala niya ang sarili bilang isang totoong Hebreo at tagapagtaguyod ng Judaismo bilang isang Pariseo.

Pangatlo, kailangan nating ipahayag ang nasyonalismo dahil sa bisa ng social contract o kasunduan sa pagitan ng mga mamamayan at namamahala ng bansa. Kailangan nating magpailalim sa pamahalaan kung nais nating mapanatili ang kaayusan, kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa ating bayan. Nakakatanggap tayo ng proteksyon mula sa pulis at mga sundalo, nakakakuha ng serbisyo mula sa mga pampublikong ospital at iba pang serbisyong bayan. Mangyayari lamang ito kung may sapat na pondo ang pamahalaan. Kung kaya, kailangan nating magbayad ng buwis sa pamahalaan para magpatuloy ang mga pampublikong serbisyo. Dahil sa nagbabayad tayo ng buwis, may karapatan naman tayong makibahagi sa paggawa ng batas ng pamahalaan at makisangkot sa mga isyung panlipunan.

Ang ating pagmamahal sa ating bayan ay dapat nakatuntong sa katotohanang mahal ng Diyos ang lahat ng tao at ang ating mga kababayan. Kailangan nating mahalin ang ating kapwa-Filipino dahil mahalaga sila ng Panginoon. Gawin natin ang lahat upang makilala nila at maramdaman ang pag-ibig ng Diyos. A Christian patriot works to see the kingdom of God and His righteousness established in the land of his earthly citizenship.

Bible References: Deuteronomio 26:19,Awit 86:9, Gawa 18:24-26, Psalm 24:1, Colossians 1:16, Gawa 17:26, Jeremias 18:7-10, Galacia 6:10, Mateo 10:5-6, 15:24, Filipos 3:5-6, Roma 13:7

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America approves "Chaste" Same-Sex Relationships

ELCA validates 'chaste' same-sex relationships
By JEFF STRICKLER, Star Tribune

One vote. That was the margin Wednesday by which the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America churchwide assembly approved a social statement that, among other things, acknowledges the validity of same-sex relationships that are "chaste, monogamous and lifelong."

The margin was so close that Bishop Mark Hanson, the ELCA leader who presided over the vote, hesitated before announcing the outcome. Rules required the social statement to pass by a two-thirds vote; the final result was 66.67 percent.

"I thought it was going to be close, but I doubted very much that it would come out at exactly two-thirds," said the Rev. Peter Strommen, chairman of the task force that drew up the social statement and pastor of Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake.

Close as it was, the vote bodes well for a proposal to repeal a ban on gay and lesbian ministers from leading churches unless they promise to be celibate. That motion, which is to come up for a vote Friday afternoon, requires only a simple majority to pass.

Earlier in the afternoon, a storm battered the Minneapolis Convention Center where the ELCA was meeting. That storm turned out to be nothing compared with the whirlwind going on inside.

The day's agenda called for a vote on the social statement before the afternoon plenary session was adjourned at 5:45 p.m., but at 5:30, the debate on the statement itself hadn't even started. Convention-goers had spent the afternoon arguing about amendments.

It was suggested -- but never officially voted on -- that the discussion be suspended until today. At that point, some delegates who had dinner reservations started to drift out of the hall.

Then, in quick succession, a delegate called the issue for a vote. That resulted in two quick votes, the first to halt discussion and the second on the social statement itself. As it turned out, 29 of the 1,045 registered voters did not vote.

The vote was followed by several minutes of confusion in which a number of motions were made, one of them for a closer look at the exact vote. But the motions all failed, either because they conflicted with ELCA bylaws or they were deemed to be out of order by the convention's parliamentarian.

Until then, the most angst had been generated by a prolonged debate over an amendment that would have changed the wording of the social statement. Proposed by opponents, it sought to change the wording to say, "This church regards the practice of homosexual behavior as contrary to God's intent for His children."

After a long and contentious debate, that amendment was defeated.

Supporters of Friday's proposal to change the rules governing gay clergy were pleased by the vote.

"It bolstered our optimism," said Emily Eastwood, executive director of St. Paul-based Lutherans Concerned/North America. "We are encouraged and hopeful that on Friday this foundation will result in the church's elimination of the current ban on ministers in committed same-gender relationships."

Opponents of the rule change were disappointed, but not to the point of conceding Friday's vote.

"We knew this was going to be an uphill battle," said the Rev. Mark Chavez, spokesman for Lutheran CORE. "But we're still here."

Source: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/faith/53738512.html?page=2&c=y

MAY ARAW DIN KAYO ni Conrado de Quiros

Tatagalugin ko na nang makuha n’yo. Kahit na lingwaheng kanto lang ang alam kong Tagalog.

Tutal Buwan ng Wika naman ang Agosto. Baka sakali ’yung paboritong wika ni Balagtas ay makatulong sa pag-unawa n’yo dahil mukhang ’yung paboritong wika ni Shakespeare ay lampas sa IQ n’yo. Kung sa bagay, ang pinakamahirap gisingin ay ’yung nagtutulug-tulugan. Ang pinakamahirap padinggin ay ’yung nagbibingi-bingihan. Ang pinakamahirap paintindihin ay ’yung nagmamaangmaangan. Bueno, mahirap din paintindihin ’yung likas na tanga. Pero bahala na.

Sabi mo, Cerge Remonde, alangan naman pakanin ng hotdog ang amo mo. Bakit alangan? Hindi naman vegetarian ’yon. At public service nga ’yon, makakatulong dagdagan ng cholesterol at salitre ang dugong dumadaloy papuntang puso n’ya. Kung meron man s’yang dugo, kung meron man s’yang puso.

Bakit alangan? Malamang di ka nagbabasa ng balita, o di lang talaga nagbabasa, kung hindi ay nalaman mo ’yung ginawa ni Barack Obama at Joe Biden nitong nakaraang Mayo. Galing silang White House patungong Virginia nang magtakam sila pareho ng hamburger. Pina detour nila ang motorcade at tumuloy sa unang hamburgerang nakita nila. Ito ang Ray’s Hell Burger, isang maliit at independienteng hamburger joint.

Tumungo ang dalawa sa counter at sila mismo ang nag-order, hindi mga aides. Nagbayad sila ng cash na galing sa sariling bulsa at kagaya ng ibang customers ay pumila para sa turno nila.

Ito ay presidente at bise presidente ng pinakamakapangyarihang bansa sa buong mundo. Kung sa bagay, ’yung amo n’yo ay hindi naman talaga presidente. Di lang makita ang pagkakaiba ni Garci kay God kaya nasabing “God put me here.” Pekeng presidente, pekeng asal presidente.

Sabi mo, Anthony Golez, maliit lang ang P1 million dinner kumpara sa bilyon-bilyong pisong dinala ng amo mo sa bansa.

Ay kayo lang naman ang nagsasabing may inambag ang amo n’yo na bilyong-bilyong piso sa kaban ng bayan. Ni anino noon wala kaming nakita. Ang nakita lang namin ay yung bilyon-bilyong piso—o borjer, ayon nga sa inyong dating kakosa na si Benjamin Abalos—na inaswang ng amo n’yo sa kaban ng bayan. Executive privilege daw ang hindi n’ya sagutin ito. Kailan pa naging pribilehiyo ng isang opisyal ang di managot sa taumbayan? Kailan pa naging pribilehiyo ng isang opisyal ang magnakaw?

Maliit lang pala ang P1 million, ay bakit hindi n’yo na lang ibigay sa nagugutom? O doon sa mga sundalo sa Mindanao? Tama si Archbishop Oscar Cruz. Isipin n’yo kung gaano karaming botas man lang ang mabibili ng P1 million at karagdagang P750,000 na nilamon ng amo n’yo at mga taga bitbit ng kanyang maleta sa isa pang restawran sa New York.

Maliit lang pala ang P1 million (at P750,000), bakit hindi n’yo na lang ibigay doon sa pamilya ng mga sundalong namatay sa Mindanao? Magkano ’yung gusto n’yong ibigay sa bawat isa? P20,000? Sa halagang iyan 50 sundalo na ang maaabuluyan n’yo sa $20,000. Pasalu-saludo pa ’yang amo n’yo sa mga namatay na kala mo ay talagang may malasakit. Bumenta na ’yang dramang ’yan. At pasabi-sabi pa ng “Annihilate the Abus!” Di ba noon pa n’ya ’yan pinangako? Mahilig lang talagang mangako ’yang amo n’yo.

Bukod pa d’yan, saan ba nanggaling ’yung limpak-limpak na salapi ng mga kongresista na pinansisindi nila ng tabako? Di ba sa amin din? Tanong n’yo muna kung ayos lang na i-blowout namin ng wine at caviar ang amo n’yo habang kami ay nagdidildil ng asin—’yung magaspang na klase ha, ’di yung iodized. Ang tindi n’yo, mga p’re.

At ikaw naman, Romulo Macalintal, tapang ng apog mo. Maiisip mo tuloy na sundin na lang ang mungkahi ni Dick the Butcher sa “Henry VI” ni Shakespeare: “First thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Pa ethics-ethics ka pa, pasalamat ka di nasunog ang bibig mo sa pagbigkas ng katagang ’yon.

Marami mang sugapa rin sa aming mga taga media, di naman kasing sugapa n’yo. At di naman kami sineswelduhan ng taumbayan. Wala naman kaming problemang sumakay sa PAL at kailangan pang bumili ng P1.2 billion jet. Anong sabi n’yo, kailangan ng amo n’yo sa pabyahe-byahe? E sino naman ang may sabing magbabyahe s’ya? Ngayon pang paalis na s’ya—malinaw na ayaw n’yang umalis. Bakit hindi na lang s’ya bumili ng Matchbox na eroplano? Kasya naman s’ya ro’n.

Lalo kayong nagpupumiglas, lalo lang kayong lumulubog sa kumunoy. Di n’yo malulusutan ang bulilyasong ginawa n’yo. Para n’yo na ring inagaw ang isinusubong kanin ng isang batang nagugutom. Tama si Obama at Biden: Sa panahon ng recession, kung saan nakalugmok ang mga Amerikano sa hirap, dapat makiramay ang mga pinuno sa taumbayan, di nagpapakapariwara. Sa panahon ng kagutuman, na matagal nang kalagayan ng Pinoy, at lalo pang tumindi sa paghagupit ng Typhoon Gloria, dapat siguro uminom na lang kayo ng insecticide. Gawin n’yo ’yan at mapapawi kaagad ang kagutuman ng bayan.

Sa bandang huli, buti na rin lang at ginawa n’yo ’yung magpasasa sa P1 million dinner habang lupaypay ang bayan sa kagutuman—di lang sa kawalan ng pagkain kundi sa iba pang bagay—at pagdadalamhati sa yumaong Ina ng Bayan. Binigyan n’yo ng mukha ang katakawan. Katakawang walang kabusugan. Mukhang di nakita ng masa sa usaping NBN, mukhang di nakikita ng masa sa usaping SAL. Mukhang nakita lang ng masa dito sa ginawa n’yong ito. Sa pagpapabondat sa New York habang naghihinagpis ang bayan.

At buti na rin lang mayroon tayong sariling wika. Di sapat ang Inggles para iparamdam sa inyo ang suklam na nararamdaman namin sa inyo. Di sapat ang Inggles para ipakita sa inyo ang pagkamuhi na nararamdaman namin sa inyo. Di maarok ng Inggles ang lalim ng poot na nararamdaman namin sa inyo.

Isinusuka na kayo ng taumbayan, mahirap man sumuka ang gutom.

May araw din kayo.


http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090817-220654/May-araw-din-kayo

Real Christians of this Country UNITE!

Nakakasawa nang pakinggan ang lahat ng kaso ng graft and corruption sa pahayagan, radyo at TV. As a fact of the matter, we are already desensitized to these things. Corruption fatigue, ika nga. Iniisip ng marami na kailangan na lamang nating tanggapin ang lahat dahil wala na tayong magagawa. Siguro nga…kasi mismo ang Body of Christ, kung hindi manhid sa nagaganap sa lipunan, nagtatago sa apat na sulok ng simbahan at ayaw makialam.

Magalit man sa akin ang ibang relihiyoso dahil sa aking ipapahayag, so be it. Naninindigan ako sa katotohanang ang magpapasimula ng pagbabago ng bayang ito ay mga taong tunay na nagsuko ng buhay kay Cristo, mga taong nasusuklam sa kasalanan, mga taong hindi nagagalak sa paglaganap ng kasamaan.

We need people like Habakkuk who would never condone and tolerate evil in this country. We need individuals like Moses and Joshua who would stand in the gap between God and their countrymen, and will do everything to accomplish God's will for their nation.

I have witnessed how the so-called Christian leaders in the Body Christ succumb to mudslinging and bickerings just like traditional politicians. Ito ba ang iiwan ninyong halimbawa sa mga susunod na henerasyon ng mga kabataang Cristiano? Itinuturing kayong mga ama ng Sangka-Kristiyanuhan ngunit kayo ang nagpapasimula ng nakalulungkot na awayan at alitan.

Bakit kailangang hatiin ng PULITIKA ang Body of Christ?

Hangga't hindi nagkakaisa ang mga matataas na lider ng mga TUNAY na Cristiano sa bansang ito, mababa ang pag-asa kong malalampasan ng ating bayan ang lahat ng krisis-panlipunan. Bakit? Malaki ang impluwensiya ng sinumang lider sa kaniyang kongregasyon. Buo ang aking paniniwala na nasa kamay ng mga tunay na CRISTIANO ang susi ng paggaling sa ating naghihingalong bayan.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

God's judgment begins at the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17, Revelations 2-3). May this serve as an open letter to all genuine Christians and Christian leaders in this country to UNITE, and PRAY TOGETHER for the HEALING of this Land.

Ganundin, tinatawagan ko ang lahat ng Cristiyanong Kabataan ng bansang ito na MAGKAISA hindi lamang sa pananalangin kung hindi maging sa PAKIKISANGKOT upang mamayani ang katuwiran at kabanalan sa ating bayan.

Panginoon, muli mong pasimulan ang magandang kabanata sa aming kasaysayan!

(Signed)
PTR. RONALD MOLMISA
Head Pastor
Generation 3:16 Ministries

How would you respond to this Dilemma?

In Europe a woman named Hilda was near death from a rare type of cancer. There was one drug that doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. The drug was not expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times what the drug cost to make. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2,000 for a small dose of the drug.

Hilda's husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could only get about $1,000.He told the druggist that his wife was dying, and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later.

But the druggist said, "No, I have worked very hard and sacrificed a great deal to discover this drug. It is my property. I have a moral right to it, protected by law, and another moral right to decide what to do with it. And what I want to do is make as much money as I can so I can make my life more enjoyable. I am not running a public charity." So Heinz got desperate and began to think about breaking into the man's store to steal the drug.

Should Heinz steal the drug?

The Little Boy and the Rattlesnake (A Good Story)

The little boy was walking down a path and he came across a rattlesnake. The rattlesnake was getting old. He asked, "Please little boy, can you take me to the top of the mountain? I hope to see the sunset one last time before I die." The little boy answered "No Mr. Rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you'll bite me and I'll die." The rattlesnake said, "No, I promise. I won't bite you. Just please take me up to the mountain." The little boy thought about it and finally picked up that rattlesnake and took it close to his chest and carried it up to the top of the mountain.

They sat there and watched the sunset together. It was so beautiful. Then after sunset the rattlesnake turned to the little boy and asked, "Can I go home now? I am tired, and I am old." The little boy picked up the rattlesnake and again took it to his chest and held it tightly and safely. He came all the way down the mountain holding the snake carefully and took it to his home to give him some food and a place to sleep. The next day the rattlesnake turned to the boy and asked, "Please little boy, will you take me back to my home now? It is time for me to leave this world, and I would like to be at my home now." The little boy felt he had been safe all this time and the snake had kept his word, so he would take it home as asked.

He carefully picked up the snake, took it close to his chest, and carried him back to the woods, to his home to die. Just before he laid the rattlesnake down, the rattlesnake turned and bit him in the chest. The little boy cried out and threw the snake upon the ground. "Mr. Snake, why did you do that? Now I will surely die!" The rattlesnake looked up at him and grinned, "You knew what I was when you picked me up."

What's the MORAL Lesson of the STORY?

Filling Up the Affliction of Christ (PDF Attached) by John Piper

Piper writes, "My hope for this book is that our hearts and minds have been shaped more deeply by the work of the Spirit so that when the crisis comes, we will be guided more by the ways of God and less by the worldly assumptions of security and comfort."

When I Say "I am a Christian" by Carol Wimmer

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I am saved"
I'm whispering "I get lost!"
"That is why I chose this way."

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need someone to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
my flaws are too visible
but God believes I'm worth it.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
which is why I seek His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority.
I only know I'm loved.

The Scientific Way of Counting Ralliers

Below are two articles published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer to inform the public about the politics of mass mobilization. Asahan na nating gagamitin ng mga presidentiables ang mga "crowd estimates" para kumbinsihin ang mga botante na malawak ang kanilang suporta and they "have the numbers". I once interviewed Dr. Tapang for my research. The academic is authoritative and and I fully subscribe to his findings and claims.

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Measuring the size of crowds
By Giovanni Tapang
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:21:00 06/21/2009

ANNOUNCEMENTS about the size of a crowd after a big mobilization or event are usually as varied as the organizations giving the estimate.

At the Ayala rally on June 10 against a House resolution seeking to convene a constituent assembly (Con-ass) to amend the Charter, we had estimates ranging from a low of 6,000 from the Philippine National Police to a high of 15,000 from organizers.

Politics of numbers

The politics of numbers of a mobilization is obvious, as one story lead last year in the Philippine Daily Inquirer clearly put it: “The crowd is the statement.”

Every time a sizeable mass action is conducted, whether on Mendiola, Ayala or Edsa, conflicting estimates are issued that either downplay or magnify the data. Is there some way to effectively quantify the size of the crowd in a mobilization?

The accepted method for estimating crowd size is to measure the area covered by the protest and the crowd density, and then count the number of those who attended at a certain time.

This estimation is most easily done with overhead shots and aerial surveys. This method was used way back in the late 1960s, when Herbert Jacobs, a professor at the University of California in Berkeley, counted the number of students that can fit within the grid lines of the plaza where students gathered to protest the Vietnam War.

Rule of thumb

He developed a rule of thumb that is still being used in crowd estimation today. A crowd where each one is at arm’s length would cover about one square meter per person.

In a tightly packed, high-density crowd, a person would fill about a quarter of a square meter of space. This means that in these tight situations, four individuals can still comfortably stand and occupy a square meter of space.

There are several other points to consider. Crowd density is usually not uniform, except in very crowded areas, and will taper off from the hub of activity. The time the estimate was made is also important, as crowds are dynamic systems.

Over a period, the crowd size can swell or ebb due to people coming in and out of the assembly area.

Making an estimate at only one point can lead to a different count if it is taken at the peak or near the end of the event.

Assigning marshals to monitor people coming in and out of the hanay (line) would keep a contingent relatively organized.

Militant groups such as those under Bayan have this honed to an art and thus their numbers stay relatively intact until the end of the program.

Ayala area

The Ayala area, where the broad anti-Con-ass mobilizations were held, can be divided into four major areas: Ayala going toward Herrera, the central area of the intersection, along Paseo de Roxas and Ayala toward Makati Avenue and Edsa.

In our estimates, sidewalks and establishments are not included even though there are people who would usually stand there during mobilizations.

The maximum that these areas can hold at 4 per square meter would be about 90,000 people.

If we extend the coverage to the whole stretch of Ayala from De la Rosa to Edsa, the whole of Paseo and Makati Avenue, this maximum can reach 300,000.

Organizers would have different objectives for the mobilizations they organize.

Some events would be a show of force measured in number, while some provide a venue for gathering different political forces.

Edsa Shrine

If crowd size is the target, areas like Edsa or other multiple staging areas would be good places to assemble instead of Ayala.

The central Edsa Shrine-Ortigas area would comfortably contain more than 70,000 and there would be room to expand in four different directions if the crowd increases as it did during Edsa II.

Mendiola

Other assembly points like Plaza Miranda in Manila can accommodate around 5,000 in its central area. The length of Quezon Boulevard from C.M. Recto to Quezon Bridge can hold up to 50,000, while some 35,000 people can fit from C.M. Recto to Mendiola.

Near the foot of Mendiola Bridge, where most rallies are stopped, 5,000 would already fill the area and the central intersection. This estimate excludes C.M. Recto and Legarda and the stretch of Mendiola behind the statue of Chino Roces.

Liwasang Bonifacio

España Boulevard from Welcome Rotunda to Lerma can contain a bit more than 100,000 people marching along both directions. If we take only those who will fit from A.H. Lacson to Lerma, the number is around 36,000.

Liwasang Bonifacio, from the National Press Club to Padre Burgos, including the central area, can sustain 46,000 or more if we count people standing under the shade of trees.

Rizal Park

The Katipunan monument’s central area near Manila City Hall would hold 30,000, while Quirino Grandstand and Rizal Park (Luneta) can hold about half a million people. The exposed area of the central quadrangle in front of the grandstand can hold up to 170,000 people.

These estimates exclude covered areas, sidewalks and structures. Due to this limitation, these numbers are in the lower limit of the maximum capacity even if we use a density of four individuals per square meter.

Composition

Yet, it is not all about numbers. At the recent Ayala mobilization, what was more interesting was the composition of the rally rather than the size of the crowd.

The groups of religious, businessmen, militants and the political opposition attending the rallies have broadened since a few years ago. Who protested is as important as how many came and participated.

(Giovanni Tapang, a Ph.D., is the chair of the scientists’ group Agham [Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Sambayanan]. He is an associate professor at the National Institute of Physics in UP Diliman. Calculations used in this article can be found at www.agham.org.)


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How to count ralliers in Luneta
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:27:00 06/21/2009

CROWD estimates of political rallies are often contentious because rally organizers and police estimates vary greatly. As someone put it the estimates usually depended on the political bias of the one doing the counting.

A case in point was the number of people who attended the proclamation rally of presidential candidate Eddie Villanueva on Feb. 22, 2004 in Rizal Park (Luneta) in Manila. It was reported in a newspaper that 2.8 million attended the rally. Other newspapers reported a much lower figure of less than a million.

Gauging the size of crowds at rallies accurately is difficult because the people are usually in constant motion. Densities also vary with respect to the distance from the stage.

In “Chronology of a Revolution 1986,” author Angela Stuart Santiago presents a method of determining crowd density, which, she says, depends on the positions assumed by the people in the crowd.

She presents different positions that characterize a typical rally and the number of persons per square meter based on accepted architectural dimensions.

These positions include a person sitting or squatting and occupying 0.313 square meters; standing, with persons at the sides and directly in front at arm’s length and occupying 0.44 sq m; standing, with elbow room at the sides, front or back and occupying 0.640 sq m; and standing, shoulder to shoulder, no space between people and occupying 0.125.

Based on her estimates, the densest is eight persons per sq m when they are standing shoulder to shoulder, with no space between them. The least dense is 1.56 per sq m when people are standing with elbow room at the sides and at the front and at the back, and 2.27 per sq m when people are standing with others at the sides and directly in front at arm’s length. The average, considering the most dense and least dense positions, is 3.56 persons per sq m.

Getting the total crowd estimate would then entail getting the area and multiplying this with the estimated crowd density.

The entire Luneta Park, for example, from the sea wall to Taft Avenue is 528,832.5 sq m (52.89 hectares). The area, which includes the roads surrounding the park, can accommodate 4.2 million people. That is, if it is totally devoid of structures and if eight people are packed in one square meter, standing with no spaces between them.

But if the average of about three people occupying a square meter is used, a totally barren Rizal Park can accommodate about 1.6 million. But this is an overestimation as at least 8,000 sq m of the area is used for the huge Philippine map, lagoon, fountains, plant boxes, gardens, monuments and poles, canteens and other structures.

Aerial photos of the Villanueva rally showed that his supporters nearly filled up only the grandstand to the Roxas Boulevard area. This has a combined land area of 122,671 sq m. Based on the least dense estimate of 1.56 per sq m and most dense estimate of 8 persons per sq m, the crowd could be as low as 191,367 or as high as 981,368 but still way below the 2.8 million estimate of Villanueva’s supporters.

(This article appeared in the Inquirer on May 7, 2004.)

FIRST LOVE should Never Die

Revelations 2 explains the word of the Lord to the Church in Ephesus which deals with the lost of FIRST LOVE of Christians in the community--their love for God. It affected how they related with the brethren. The Ephesians were successful in getting rid of "false doctrines/prophets". Nonetheless, their quest for doctrinal led to inquisitorial and legalist spirit among the believers. Due to the decaying state of Christianity in the community, Jesus told the Ephesians, through Apostle John, to remember where they have fallen, to repent of their sins and to return to their old good works.

In the same manner, some "senior" Christians fall into a "state of rut" in their spiritual walk with God. This is often caused by religious rituals and practices which often provide artificial mechanisms to relate with God. Without relationship, our worship can become mechanical and ritualistic. Religious activities can change our image, but not our heart and character. God knows us to the core. We can never fake our worship.

We should always go back to the period when we first met Christ and His cross. The time when we first experienced the "sparks" and "intense romance" with our Lord. Intimacy is what God desires from His children.

Michael Jackson (40) and Farrah Fawcett (63) - You will be MISSED

Nagluluksa ang buong mundo ngayon sa pagpanawa ng "King of Pop" at dating "Charlie's Angel"

Death is no respecter of persons. We must always be prepare to meet our God (Amos 4:12)

News:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31552029/ns/entertainment-music/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090625/ap_on_en_tv/us_obit_fawcett

Internet Sex Scandals and the Battle for Purity

Napapadaan ako sa Quiapo sa tuwing ako ay umuuwi ng bahay mula sa trabaho. Anecdote: Dahil sa kasalukuyang isyu tungkol sa isang starlet at isang batang doktor, isa lang ang tanong (note: pabulong) ng mga parokyano sa lahat ng bilihan ng DVD sa lugar, babae man o lalake: Mayroon na ba kayo ng scandal ni KH? Hindi naman makapagbenta nang lantaran ang mga pobreng tindero dahil halos isang dosenang pulis ang nakaposte ngayon sa kalye ng Arlegue. Matindi ang crackdown sa mga nagbebenta ng video scandal. Ang sabihing “pinagpipiyestahan” ng sambayanan ngayon ang KH scandal ay isang “understatement.” Ang katotohanan, nagkalat na sa Internet sites ang video. You can never put the genie back in the bottle again. Dahil sikat ang mga kasama sa video scandal, knee-jerk response ng lahat na hanapin ang video sa Youtube at mga web sites.

Hindi pa uso ang Internet, sandamukal nang sex videos ang nagsulputan. Dati sa Betamax at VHS pa lang. Sa kasalukuyan, lahat ng may email ay imposibleng hindi mabigyan ng mga unsolicited, spam mails na may mga pornographic contents. Nakalulungkot isipin na hindi lamang mga estudyante at kabataan ang madalas na “stars” sa mga iskandalosong pelikula, kung hindi sila na rin ang pasimuno sa pagpapakalat ng mga ito. Sa isang bansang konserbatibo, hindi katanggap-tanggap ang ganitong deviant behavior. Dahil napag-uusapan ang iba’t ibang scandals, this is my way of making sense of the issue.

Violation of people’s privacy and man’s sinful nature. Bahagi ng ating pagkatao ang personal nating mga sikreto o mga bagay na ayaw nating ipaalam sa iba for personal reasons. The Bible also values privacy. With regards to private property, pinagbabawalan tayong magnakaw at kumuha ng asawa ng iba (Exodus 20). Maging ang Diyos ay may sikreto na hindi na natin dapat ungkatin pa (Deuteronomio 29:29, Isaias 45:15). When we violate people’s privacy, we also destroy their dignity—dahil nagmumukha silang helpless. May nais silang itago sa maraming tao pero nadiskubre na at nabuksan na ang libro ng kanilang buhay. Man’s sinful and fallen nature enjoys intruding other’s privacy. Gusto nating nakikialam sa buhay ng iba because it gives us pleasure. Voyeurism is a self-centered activity.

Ika nga ng tiyuhin ni Spiderman, great power comes great responsibility. Naging malaking isyu ang kasalukuyang scandal dahil prominenteng mga tao ang involved. Pinapatunayan lamang nito na hindi ang “video scandal” per se ang naging sentro ng usapan, kung hindi ang mga sikat na taong naging bahagi ng istorya. Isang malaking hamon sa mga lider na panatilihin ang kanilang integridad. Kahit sabihin ng ilang mga artista na hindi nila kailanman nanaisin na maging mga “role models”, the fact na humaharap sila sa kamera, by default, sinusubaybayan ng publiko ang kanilang buhay. Hence, they have the moral obligation to live moral lives. That’s the cost they have to pay by being famous and powerful.

Use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for our benefit, not for our destruction. Maraming kabataan ang walang patumanggang pinagkukunan (cellphone, digicam) ang kanilang sarili—sa kalye, sa eskwelahan, sa poste, sa kanilang kuwarto, kahit sa loob ng CR. Ang iba walang paki- kung naka-underwear lang o halos wala nang saplot. Para sa kanila, kailangang i-celebrate ang kanilang kaseksihan at voluptuous na katawan. Tuwang-tuwa rin silang tawagan ang kanilang mga sarili CAM-WHORES at i-upload ang lahat ng kanilang “sexy pose” sa kanilang Friendster, Multiply at online websites. Tapos, magtataka sila kung bakit may nakakuha ng kanilang mga sexy photos samantalang naka-private ang setting ang kanilang album. They are simply clueless about the possibility of hacking and information-sharing in the Net. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit dumarami ang mga video scandals.

We must remember that the Internet is a jungle and an information black hole. Kapag nagpakawala ka rito ng impormasyon, hindi mo na uli iyon mabubura. For instance, kahit i-cancel mo na ang account mo sa Facebook, gagawin lang nilang inactive ang iyong account. Kapag magbago ka nang isip at gusto mong balikan ang iyong profile, mag-log-on ka lang uli sa dati mong username at password, activated na naman ang iyong account. Ganundin, napakadali nang sumikat sa Youtube. Kumuha ka ng digicam., i-edit mo sa movie-maker, lagyan ng effects, may instant digi-film ka nang puwedeng pagkaguluhan ng lahat ng tao sa buong mundo.

We need the power of God’s Spirit to overcome lust and temptation. Madaling sabihin na huwag tumingin sa mga pornographic materials. Kasi kahit ayaw mo, may bigla na lamang bubulaga sa harap mo. Dahil halos lahat na mabalingan ng iyong tingin ay may sexual content, mukhang imposibleng hindi marumihan ang iyong isip. Manood ka sa TV, making ka sa FM stations, magbasa ka ng magazines at mga tabloids---lahat may sex messages at ang iba ay lantaran at bahagi na ng mga jokes ng mga TV host at radio DJs. Halos lahat ng teenagers ay may Friendster, Multiply at Facebook accounts kung saan nabubuo minsan ang mga MU (malalaswang ugnayan).

Nasaksihan ni Pablo sa mga taga-Roma ang ganitong kalagayan kung kaya’t sumulat siya sa mga iglesya doon (12:1-2). Noong panahong iyon, talamak ang homosexual activities, at nasa peak ang sexual revolution sa Imperyo. Ang kaniyang sulat ay siya ring mensahe sa kasalukuyang henerasyon. Kailangang “baguhin natin ang takbo ng ating pag-iisip at linisin ang ating mga puso”. We must not conform to the standards of this dying world. Overcoming lust and temptation is a matter of decision and spiritual will. We must develop spiritual disciplines that can help us overcome lust and negative sexual thoughts.

Since we live in a sex-saturated world, our mind is the main battleground. Kung ano ang makakabihag ng ating isipan, iyon ang maaring bumihag sa ating katawan at puso. Simply put, a mind that is not controlled and subjected to the authority of God cannot overcome worldly sins and values. Pornography is always crouching at our door. Hence, we also need to make a "covenant with our eyes" (Job 31:1).

The GOSPEL According to PrisonBreak

Una kong napanood ang life adventures ng magkapatid na Michael Scoffield at Lincoln Burrows noong 2006 through a cable TV channel sa isang hotel sa Malaysia kung saan ako lumagi. I watched the first episode and I was really hooked sa istorya. Interesante para sa akin ang relasyon ng dalawang magkapatid--malalim at hindi madaling mabuwag. Since then, I religiously watched all episodes of all four seasons. Overall, Prison Break is a thriller with a heart.

Do not be deceived by the title. Honestly, I find it is misleading. The protagonists are not hardcore criminals and “fugitives” but only collateral sufferers. For instance, Lincoln an Michael were only victimized by the mistakes of their parents and they endured so many agonies in the process. To give you more ideas on the flow of the story, below are the summaries of season episodes.

SEASON 1: The first season’s suspenseful and fast-paced character attracted millions of viewers around the world. Nagpakulong (sa pamamagitan ng simpleng shoplifting) si Michael sa Fox River State Penitentiary upang tulungang makatakas ang kaniyang kapatid na si Lincoln. Nadiskubre niyang biktima ng isang sindikatong kinabibilangan mismo ng presidente ng Amerika ang kaniyang kapatid. Ang sindikato rin ang nagpapatay sa kanilang ama. He was falsely accused and was sentenced to die. Pina-tatoo niya sa buo niyang katawan ang mapa ng Fox River upang matandaan ang escape plan. Pinakilala rin si sa season si Brad Bellick, ang maton na prison guard ng Fox Penitentiary na nagpahirap sa buhay nila Michael. Dito rin nabuo ang love story ni Michael at Sarah Tancredi. Natapos ang season sa pagtakas ng Fox River Eight—si Michael, Lincoln, ang lovesick na si Fernando Sucre, ang child molester na si T-Bag, ang na-born-again ngunit muling nagbalik sa pagiging criminal na si John Abruzzi, ang responsableng ama na si Benjamin Miles, ang binatang naging biktima ni T-Bag na si David Apolskis at ang mentally deranged na si Charles Patoshik.

SEASON 2: Ito ang second-half ng the Great Escape. Pinalutang ng season ang istorya ng mga mahahalagang karakter. Natapos ang buhay ng tatlo sa Fox River Eight—Abruzzi, Apolskis at Patoshik. Natanggal sa trabaho si Bellick at isa-isang hinanap ang mga pugante kapalit ng reward money. Nagkita-kita naman ang mga karakter nang malaman nilang totoo ang sinabi ng isang prisoner na may ibinaon siyang kayamanan sa isang bahay. Unang lumabas si Agent Alexander Mahone na naatasan upang hulihin ang mga tumakas. Nagtatrabaho pala si Agent Mahone para sa The Company. Sa isang court case, pinawalang-sala si Sara at Lincoln. Silang dalawa ang nagplano upang makatakas si Michael. Natapos ang season sa isang kulungan sa Panama, ang Penitenciaría Federal de Sona, kung saan panibagong pahirap naman ang naranasan nina Michael, T-Bag, Bellick at Mahone.

SEASON 3: Sinundan nina Lincoln at Sara si Michael sa Panama. Nakipag-usap si Lincoln sa isang miyembro ng The Company, si Gretchen Morgan na kumidnap sa kaniyang anak na si LJ at Sara. Sinabi ni Gretchen na kailangang maitakas ni Michael si James Whistler. Nakakuha ng trabaho si Sucre sa kulungan upang tulungan si Whistler at Michael sa pagtakas. Nang magtangka si Lincoln na iligtas ang kaniyang anak at si Sara, binigyan siya ng warning ni Gretchen. Pinadalhan siya ng isang kahon na may pugot na ulo. Inakala niyang si Sara ang pinatay. Kinidnap din ang girlfriend ni Lincoln na si Sofia bilang garantiya na maibabalik si Whistler sa The Company. Natapos ang season sa pagtakas ni Michael at Mahone. Hinanap naman ni Lincoln si Gretchen upang maghiganti sa pagkamatay ni Sara.

SEASON 4a: Ipinaalam ng istorya na hindi ulo ni Sara ang nasa loob ng kahon. Nadiskubre din ni Michael na nakikipagtulungan si Whistler kay Agent Mahone upang pabagsakin ang The Company. Nasunog ang Sona at nakatakas si Sucre, Bellick at T-Bag. Nang marating ni Michael ang Chicago upang iligtas si Sara, ni-recruit naman siya ni Agent Don Self upang pabagsakin ang sindikato kapalit ng kaniyang kalayaan. Dinala ang mga Fox River escapees at si Bellick sa Chicago upang bumuo ng isang team. Kasama din si Sara at ang isang computer hacker, si Roland. Inatasan silang kunin ang SCYLA, ang little black book ng sindikato. Nang makuha ng grupo ang microchip, tinaraydor sila ni Agent Self na napag-alamang interesado rin dito upang pagkakitaan. Nakuha rin kay Agent Self ang Scyla sa isang engkwentro.

SEASON 4b: Pagkatapos ng isang season break, ipinakilala ang ina nina Michael at Lincoln, si Christina, na siyang may hawak ng Scyla. Ilalako ito ni Christina sa gobyerno ng India at China upang magpasimula ng panibagong sigalot sa dalawang bansa. Nagkaroon ng mas malaking problema si Michael nang mahuli ni General Krantz ng the Company si Sara at naging hostage rin ni Christina si Lincoln. Kailangang mamili si Michael kung sino ang kaniyang ililigtas. Sa mga huling episodes ng season, nasagip ni Michael si Sara at Lincoln nang ibigay niya kay General ang walang lamang lalagyan Scyla, samantalang isang bomba ang ibigay niya kay Christina. Tinulungan ang grupo ni Paul Kellerman, ang dating miyembro ng The Company, upang maisuko sa UN ang microchip. Lahat ay nakatakas at nabigyan ng exoneration agreement subalit hindi pinayagan ng grupo na makalabas ng kulungan si T-Bag. Ipinakita ang libingan ni Michael na namatay sa edad na 31 bunga ng isang malalang sakit sa utak.

Below are some of the wonderful messages of the series. We can relate Michael’s work to the redeeming work of Jesus. Michael is typical of Christ who sacrificed his life and personal comforts to save his brother from the hell of prison life.

God loves us so much. Malalim ang naging pagmamahal na ipinakita ni Michael sa kaniyang kapatid kahit hindi niya ito “biological” brother. Hindi niya iniwan si Lincoln mula sa Fox River Penitentiary hanngang sa Chicago kung saan nila nagapi ang the Company. That’s real LOVE in action.

Man is separated from God because of sin. The wages of sin is death. This is very true sa buhay ni T-Bag. Kahit lang beses siyang magtangkang magpakabait, siya pa rin ang lumalabas na “hooligan” sa grupo. Ilang beses siyang iniligtas sa kamatayan ng kaniyang mga kasamahan ngunit hindi pa rin siya nagbago sa kaniyang saliwang buhay. He even attempted to rape Sarah to give Michael pain. Sa bandang huli, kulungan pa rin ang kaniyang binagsakan.

Christ died on the cross, to save man from the consequences of his sins. I don’t want to force this observation but I think this deserves to be noticed. Namatay si Michael for a purpose. And that is, to save his brother and bring life to the hopeless characters of the series. When you love someone, you will do everything for him/her. There is no greater love than this---that a man will give his life for a friend/brother.

We must repent of our sins and follow God. Isa lang naman ang nais ng mga pugante sa kanilang buhay—ang maging malaya at makasama ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. That’s why in the end they cooperated with the government and the UN officials to get rid of Scyla. That’s an act of repentance. They wronged people and they rectified all the troubles they caused.

Evangelicalism and the Environmental Movement

This thinkpiece by John McArthur also reflects my position on the emergent Global Green Movement. I agree with the proposition that man, as a manager of earth, should take care of God's creation. But we should avoid the ideological/spiritual pitfall of worshipping nature.

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I do think we have a responsibility to care for the environment—we ought to care for every resource God has provided for us. That’s illustrated in the Old Testament account where God put Israel in the Promised Land, a fertile land flowing with milk and honey. God provided them that productive land and commanded them to let the soil rest every seventh year.

You shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove (Exodus 23:10-11; cf. Leviticus 25:1-7).

God gave that command because He didn’t want them to exploit the land and extract all its life. Allowing the land to rest every seven years ensured that it rejuvenated itself and continued to provide in the future.

When the Lord gave the Israelites the Mosaic Law, He warned them if they apostatized, He would remove them from the land (Deuteronomy 28). Sadly, the children of Israel did just that and came under judgment—the Northern tribes fell to Assyria in 722 B.C., and Judah to Babylon in 605 B.C. In fact, God designated the Babylonian captivity as a seventy-year captivity to rest the land for all the Sabbath years that Israel violated (cf. Leviticus 26:33-35; 2 Chronicles 36:17–21).

So I believe we are charged to treat responsibly all the wonderful resources God has given us. But that, in fact, has very little to do with the environmental movement. The environmental movement is consumed with trying to preserve the planet forever. But we know that isn’t in God’s plan.

The earth we inhabit is not a permanent planet. It is, frankly, a disposable planet—it is going to have a very short life. It’s been around six thousand years or so—that’s all—and it may last a few thousand more. And then the Lord is going to destroy it.

I’ve told environmentalists that if they think humanity is wrecking the planet, wait until they see what Jesus does to it. Peter says God is going to literally turn it in on itself in an atomic implosion so that the whole universe goes out of existence (2 Peter 3:7-13).

This earth was never ever intended to be a permanent planet—it is not eternal. We do not have to worry about it being around tens of thousands, or millions, of years from now because God is going to create a new heaven and a new earth. Understanding those things is important to holding in balance our freedom to use, and responsibility to maintain, the earth.

Just a footnote. Though this earth is our temporary home, do take time to enjoy God’s beauty. Take care of your yard. Stop to smell the flowers. Enjoy the forests. God placed those rich resources on this planet for our comfort and His enjoyment. Let us be thankful to Him for that.

NAKIKITA ng Panginoon ang iyong mga LUHA...

“You have kept record of my days of wandering. You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them.” (Psalm 56:8-CEV)

Marami nang pagkakataong lumuha ako nang todo sa Panginoon. Lumuha ako noong nagkasakit ang aking ama pagkatapos kong magtapos sa haiskul. Lumuha ako noong nagtapos ako sa kolehiyo dahil sa labis na pasasalamat. Lumuha ako noong namatay ang aking lola dahil siya ang naging dahilan kung bakit ako naging pastor ngayon. Lumuha ako habang kami ay kinakasal ng aking kabiyak na si Gigi. Lumuha ako at nagsumbong sa Panginoon nang ilang beses magtangka ang ibang tao na sirain ang aking pagkatao.
There are times we can’t feel the presence of God in our lives. Sa mga panahong iyon, madalas tayong lumuluha. Luha ng lungkot. Luha bunga ng depression. Luha ng saklolo. Luha ng kawalang-pag-asa.

God acknowledges our tears. Anuman ang dahilan ng iyong pagluha, batid iyon ng Panginoon. As David wrote, nasasaksihan iya kung gaanong karaming luha na ang ating nailabas dahil mayroon siyang “record” noon sa langit.

In 2 Kings 20:5-6, Hezekiah wept before God. In response, God extended his life.
Si Jeremias ang tinatawag na “weeping prophet” dahil siya ang tumatangis sa Panginoon upang maligtas ang bayan ng Israel sa lahat ng kapahamakan at sumpa.

In 1 Samuel 1:9-10 Hannah wept because she was childless. God saw her tears and answered her prayer. Umiyak din ang balo ni Nain dahil sa pagkamatay ng kaniyang anak. Nahipo ang puso ng Panginoon kung kaya’t binuhay muli ang kaniyang supling (Lucas 7:11-15).

Umiyak si Pedro nang magsisi siya sa kaniyang pagtatwa sa Panginoon (Mateo 26:75).
Lubos na nalugod ang Panginoon sa babaeng nagbuhos sa kaniyang paa ng mamahaling pabango at naglinis nito sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang mga luha (Lucas 7:36-48).

Marami pa akong luhang ilalabas sa paglipas ng panahon. Pero, OK lang. Dahil alam ko na sa bawat pag-iyak at dalamhati na aking nararamdaman, nakikita iyon ng Panginoon.

HAS GOD SEEN YOUR TEARS? Iiyak mo lang iyan. Nararamdaman ng Diyos ang damdamin mo. Be honest with Him. Nakikita niya ang laman ng iyong puso. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

LET GOD VINDICATE YOU...

Nakakalungkot isipin na may mga pagkakataong mas lumulutang ang kasinungalingan kaysa katotohanan. Mas pinaniniwalaan ng marami ang mandarayang kaisipan kaysa yakapin ang katuwiran. Nagdurusa ang ilan dahil sa maling akusasyon, tsismis at kuwentong barbero.

When we (feel we) are falsely accused, what should be our response?

Foremost, we must search our hearts. Maaring may nagawa o nasabi tayo na hindi natin nalalamang nakasakit sa iba kaya sandamukal na negatibong akusasyon ang ating natatanggap. Ask the Holy Spirit so that He can help in identifying our mistakes. Humingi ng tawad sa Panginoon kung talagang may pagkukulang. Thereafter, rectify the problem using God’s wisdom.

E, paano kung talagang naakusahan ka lamang at naging biktima ng maling tsismis?

That’s the time we should seek God's face for spiritual comfort and wisdom. Psalm 109 provides the answer on how to overcome the issue. Naranasan ni Haring David ang maging biktima ng maling paratang at akusasyon. He writes in Psalm 109:1-5 (GNB)

“I praise you, God; don't remain silent! Wicked people and liars have attacked me. They tell lies about me, and they say evil things about me, attacking me for no reason. They oppose me, even though I love them and have prayed for them. They pay me back evil for good and hatred for love."

Sa kabila ng mga paratang, ano ang ipinalangin ni Haring David? He relied on God for his vindication. In the last verses of Psalm 109 (v. 26-31), David declares, “Help me, O LORD my God; because of your constant love, save me! Make my enemies know that you are the one who saves me. They may curse me, but you will bless me. May my persecutors be defeated, and may I, your servant, be glad. May my enemies be covered with disgrace; may they wear their shame like a robe. I will give loud thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the assembly of the people, because he defends the poor and saves them from those who condemn them to death."

If you are righteous before God, no one can put you to shame. Let God be your greatest defense lawyer. Hindi mo trabahong maging abogado para sa mga kasong ibinabato sa iyo. If God is with you, He would surely defend and vindicate you.

Parable of the Gossiper

In his remarkable work, "The Book of Jewish Values" Rabbi Joseph Telushkin relates a 19th century Jewish folktale about a man who went about town slandering his rabbi. One day, realizing that many of the things he had said were unfair, he went to the rabbi's home and begged for forgiveness. The rabbi told the man that he would forgive him on one condition: that he go home, take a feather pillow from his house, cut it up and scatter the feathers to the wind. After he had done so, he should then return to the rabbi's house.

Though puzzled by the rabbi's strange request, the man was happy to be let off with so easy a penance. He quickly cut up the pillow, scattered the feathers, and returned to the rabbi.

"Am I now forgiven?" he asked.

"Just one more thing," the rabbi said. "Go now and gather up all the feathers."

"But that's impossible. The wind has already scattered them."

"Precisely," the rabbi answered. "And though you truly wish to correct the evil you have done, it is as impossible to repair the damage done by your words, as it is to recover the feathers."

THE PHILIPPINES NEEDS MORAL, NOT TRAPO LEADERS

Puno moral force movement in place

Eight-man group has met twice in 3 weeks

By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—A Moral Force Movement envisioned by Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno has taken shape and is set to come up with a criteria on who voters should elect in the 2010 balloting—from president down to the local levels.

Court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said Puno had chosen highly respected individuals to make up the movement’s core group and has attended its two meetings over the past three weeks.

The group is composed of Henrietta De Villa, chair of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting; Msgr. Gerardo Santos, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission; and Marixi Prieto, chair of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Also in the group are Methodist Bishop Emerito Nacpil; Retired Gen. Jaime Echeverria, president of the Association of Generals and Flag Officers; former Finance Undersecretary Milwida Guevarra; Far Eastern University law dean Andres Bautista; and Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines 2008 awardee Noorain Sabdulla.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone chair Manny V. Pangilinan was among those considered to join. But Marquez said that Pangilinan wanted certain issues first clarified. He said the business tycoon supports the movement.

“In essence, they are focusing on the 2010 elections and trying to define what a transformational leader is,” Marquez said.

Puno earlier told law students that transformational leaders induce followers to transcend self-interest for the sake of the organization or the greater whole as against “transactional leaders” who motivate followers by appealing to self-interest.

Moral pariah

Marquez’s announcement came a day after Puno, in the United Methodist Church in Manila’s launch of its own moral force movement, said the Philippines has become a “moral pariah” in the community of nations because of widespread corruption.

Puno said that the country was a “social volcano about to explode.”

“We would like to choose and have elected transformational leaders from the highest post to the lowest post being contested in the forthcoming 2010 elections and the moral force movement would also like to unite all similarly minded organizations,” Marquez said.

He said that the core group in its two meetings was briefed by Jesuit experts and has decided to focus on defining leaders that would bring about transformation in the country.

“It will not be endorsing any specific candidate. It will only give the qualities of the candidates that we need to be elected,” Marquez said.

He said that a technical working group of volunteers has been formed to assist the movement.

“The core group will again meet after Holy Week. In between meetings, a lot of assignments are being given to the technical working group,” Marquez said.

Advocacy vs corruption

Marquez said the movement is Puno’s personal advocacy against corruption. “This is a personal call, a personal crusade of the Chief Justice. It does not involve the court in whatever manner,” he said.

“The judiciary is as much as possible being shielded from this,” he said. Once the movement is in full operation, Marquez said Puno plans to step aside.

He said the group would have its launch sometime in May, a year before the 2010 elections.

“We don’t want it to be identified with the administration nor do we want any of the members identified with the opposition or supportive of either group,” Marquez said.

“So it was really not very easy to get a respected member of the business community who is not allied one way or the other,” he said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita welcomed the movement.

“That serves as a wake-up call for many, especially those serving in government. That’s how we should look at it. We can’t say we’re all clean,” he told reporters at the Mt. Samat Shrine in Bataan province.

Ermita, however, said that rooting out corruption was part of the program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who has ruled for more than eight years since January 2001.

“All leaders of countries would like to rule under a program of morality,” he said.

Ermita also said that it wasn’t surprising that Puno made such a call, pointing out that having rose through the ranks of the judiciary he was “aware of the causes of anomalies.”

Touchy issue

“Chief Justice Puno knows what to do, and knows why our morality has dipped because of the crimes he has witnessed,” he said.

Corruption has been a touchy issue to the Arroyo administration, which has been rocked by a string of scandals since 2001.

Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090408-198458/Puno-moral-force-movement-in-place (With a report from TJ Burgonio)

TAMING YOUR TONGUE (Profanities, Swearing and Cussing)

Mayroon kaming kapitbahay noon na ang lutong nang magmura kahit anim na taong gulang pa lamang. Na-develop sa kaniya ang ugaling ito dahil sa laging siyang minumura ng kaniyang magulang. Ganundin ang ilang kaklase ko sa hayskul na sadyang bulaklak na ng kanilang bibig ang pagmumura. Madulas, mura. Makakita ng magandang babae, mura. Kapag nagalit, talagang malutong magmura! Kahit kapag nagbibitiw ng jokes, mura nang mura sa tuwa. Kaya pag-uwi ko sa bahay, ang mga mura niya na minsan ang laman ng utak ko. Nang ako ay tumuntong ng kolehiyo at magtrabaho, ibang level naman ng pagmumura ang naririnig ko-English na!

OK LANG BANG MAGMURA?

Our culture often determines what words can be considered as profanities and vulgar. Malalaman mo na mali ang sinasabi mo kung hindi mo masasabi iyon sa pakikipag-usap sa iyong magulang, amo mo sa trabaho, o sabihin sa broadcast at print media tulad ng diyaryo, telebisyon at radyo. Para naman sa iba, ok lang magmura kasi dapat lamang ilabas ang iyong galit na kalimitang bunga ng pagmumura. Kung hindi magkaka-alta presyon ka at magkakasakit sa puso. Ang pagmumura daw ay isang paraan ng “emotional release”. Vulgar words are considered by many as normal expressions and should never be a big deal.

Sa lahat ng ito, babalikan pa rin natin ang sinabi ng Panginoon---na ang anumang bagay na lumalabas sa ating bibig ay sumasalamin sa kundisyon ng ating puso. Kailangang unahin natin ang pagbabago ng puso kung gusto nating mawawala sa ating mga bibig ang masasamang pananalita. In short, ang mga taong madalas magmura ay yaong may problema ang kundisyon ng puso. As Christians, we should stop telling crude or vulgar words. Kung mga pangit na salita pa rin ang lalabas sa ating bibig, wala tayong pinagkaiba sa mga taong walang takot sa Diyos na parang imburnal ang mga bibig sa dumi ng kanilang pinagsasabi.

KICK THE “OH MY GOD!” HABIT

Kapag tinatawag ang pangalan mo, napapalingon ka ba o wala kang reaksyon? Siyempre, lilingon ka kasi narinig mo ang pangalan mo. Palagay mo, kung sasabihin mo, OH MY GOD!, mapapalingon ba ang Diyos? E, kung sabihin mo sa Kaniya, “Sorry Lord, hindi naman kita tinatawag e!” Kung ganoon, parang niloloko mo lang ang Diyos. Nasasaktan ang puso ng Diyos kung binabanggit natin ang Kaniyang pangalan sa mga bagay na walang kabuluhan. We are cheapening the name of our Creator if we say His name as a mere expression. These words are called profanities which express irreverence to things that are sacred or holy. Dahil sa Siya ay banal, ipinagbabawal Niya ang maling paggamit ng Kaniyang pangalan. Ang Kaniyang pangalan ay ang Kaniyang karangalan. Ito ang pangatlong utos ng Diyos. We must use the name of God with holy fear and reverence.

Kailangang nating iwasan ang maling paggamit ng pangalan ng Diyos. Minsan, ginagamit pa natin ang pangalan ng Diyos sa pangangako sa ating kapwa: Saksi ko ang Diyos, Mamatay man ako, babayaran kita! Minsan sinabi ng Panginoon na huwag na huwag tayong susumpa sa Kaniyang pangalan dahil wala tayong maipagmamalaki. Lumalabas na dinadamay pa natin Siya sa mga pagkakataong hindi natin matutupad ang ating pangako. We should not swear in behalf of His name or His creations. Just say “Yes” or “No” whenever we promise something.

Mayroon din tayong tinatawag na mga “minced oaths” o mga patagong panunumpa sa pangalan ng Diyos. Minced oaths are corrupted forms of (usually religion-related) swear words that originally arose in English culture sometime before the Victorian Age. Ang mga salitang ito ay mga tagong pagmumura na ginamit noon sa Great Britain upang hindi mahalata ng mga makapangyarihan ang mga pangit na pananalita. May parusa kasi sa mga taong sumusumpa sa pangalan ng Diyos. Madalas natin itong maririnig sa mga pelikula, radyo at telebisyon, pero hindi na pinapansin ng marami. Ilan lamang sa mga ito ay ang sumusunod:

• By golly = By God's body
• By gosh = By God
• My gosh = My God
• Chrissakes = For Christ's sake
• Darn = Damn (hell)
• For crying out loud = For Christ's sake
• Gee = Jesus or Jerusalem
• Geez = Jesus
• Gee whizz = Jesus
• Good grief = Good God
• Goodness gracious = Good God
• Gosh = God
• Heck = Hell
• Jeepers Creepers = Jesus Christ
• Jeez = Jesus
• My goodness = My God
• Susmaryosep = Jesus, Maria, Jose

The Bible declares that the name Jesus is above every name. It should be respected and revered. Hindi natin dapat ginagawang simpleng “emotional expression” ang pangalan ng Panginoon kung nabibigla, nagugulat o kaya naman ay wala nang maisip sabihin. Malinaw ang pamantayan ng Panginoon. Kailangang iwasan natin ang mga usapan at pananalitang walang kabuluhan. Kasama ito sa tinutukoy ni Pablo na mga birong hindi nararapat. Profanities do not not please God in any way.

SPEAK BLESSINGS, NOT CURSES

Our lips should speak blessings, not curses or cusses. Kapag galit tayo, madaling sabihin sa kaaway natin, “Masagasaan ka sana ng ten-wheeler truck!” Matalisod ka sana at mahulog sa imburnal! Hindi ito nakalulugod sa Diyos. Hindi tayo dapat nagsasabi ng masasamang bagay sa ating kapwa. Romans 12:14 declares that we should ask God to bless those who persecute us, ask Him to bless, not curse them.

Kahit sinisira ng mga maling impormasyon ang ating reputasyon, umasa tayong ipagtatanggol tayo ng Panginoon. Just like David who was once a victim of false accusations, believe that God will vindicate us. Siya ang magtatanggol sa atin sa bandang huli. Kung mayroon mang mga taong nag-iimbento ng mga akusasyon laban sa atin dahil sa ating pagiging Cristiano, matuwa tayo dahil sa napapatunayan natin sa ating sarili na tayo ay talagang mga anak ng Diyos. Wala na dapat sa bokabularyo natin ang paghihiganti. Hindi natin dapat ginagantihan ng masama ang mga taong gumagawa sa atin ng masama. We must always overcome evil with good.

Hindi lamang tayo nakapagsasabi ng sumpa sa ating kapwa. Nakapagsasalita din tayo ng mga sumpa sa ating buhay. Iyong tayo ang may kagagawan. Mga salitang nagbibigay sa atin ng problema. Kapag sinabi mong, “Bobo ako. Hindi na ako gagaling kahit kailan sa Math”, maaring bumagsak ka nga sa Math exam mo kahit hindi ka bobo. Kailangang bawiin natin ang lahat ng mga masasamang bagay na sinabi natin sa ating kapwa at ating sarili. God does not want us to suffer from curses. It is his will for us to live in blessings and good life.

Our words should be used not to tear down but to build-up. Huwag na huwag gagamitin ang pananalita para manakit ng kapwa. Our speech should always be pleasant and interesting. We should not use harmful words but only helpful words that could build us up and other people’s lives. Let no unwholesome words or worthless talk come from our mouth, but only those which are beneficial and would be blessings to those who will hear it.