home of good ideas

The signs of time

2011-03-17T08:24:00.008+08:00

Do you think what are happening in the world today are signs of the end of time?

Surely, earthquake and tsunami in Japan, earthquake in New Zealand and Haiti, floods in Australia, Mexico, and other places, and wars in the Middle East are apocalyptic signs laid down in the Bible. But let us be reminded that these catastrophes co-exist with mankind in every generation increasing in magnitude such that the current generation would say, 'this is the worst.'

This only reminds us that the end-time would come to every individual in designated times. Along with such reminder we should understand that we are called to repent our sins now and not when we see the "signs.

In my silent moments I came to realize that this year's "major disturbances" happened mostly in rich countries. The Philippines had always been a center of different calamities in the past and we are still in the developing stage, short of becoming a rich country. But Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and others could attest what happened recently are their worst. This certainly mean that God spares no one from suffering the consequences because this world is destined to end. What God promised long before is to save those who called Him and join His path of righteousness.

Life is just a breath

2011-02-09T07:36:00.002+08:00

Psalm 39 (New International Version):

1 I said, "I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
while in the presence of the wicked."

2 So I remained utterly silent,
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish increased;

3 my heart grew hot within me.
While I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:

4 "Show me, Lord, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.

6 "Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.

7 "But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.

8 Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.

9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.

10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,
you consume their wealth like a moth—
surely everyone is but a breath.

12 "Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were.

13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more."

What is a person of no use?

2011-01-24T09:20:00.005+08:00

How do you feel being called a useless person? For me, I am destructed! Well, I am quiet sure its an overstatement to others, but the exclamation point really show I feel it that way.

One of my considered "best friends" threw a dose of sarcastic joke on me by calling me that way. We always exchange childish remarks on each other but this time, I don't know why I felt so hardly hit. Maybe I really am?

I don't want to make this a bad day for me so I browsed the Bible and the Spirit lead me to this comforting words from the Song of Solomon Chapter 8 verse 1, it says "Oh, that you were like my brother, who nursed at my mother's breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised."

Contemplating on God's words, I felt relieved to realize I am not worthless at all. How wonderful God is in talking to me this way. If I haven't been in His bosom, the bad feelings could have left me a worse day. Thank you, Lord.

Life is a constant change

2010-12-20T07:43:00.003+08:00

Its been said that the only constant in life is change. This is the reason why a straight path may not be the best way to achieve glory even in ordinary life situations.

In carrying out projects and activities the rationalist always develops plan. But along the way, seldom it is carried out 100% according to what was laid out. Engineers always have "as planned" and "as built" drawings of their projects to highlight changes made along the way. What we think is good today may become bad the next time around and vice-versa. Everything changes and no identical activity even those accurately programmed in computers to occur 100% the same. The element of difference is of course - time. To give a concrete illustration, this season is another Christmas for Christians like us. But its not the same as past Christmases. Its Christmas of 2010 and the only Christmas within this year.

Since everything changes, our ways always change daily and what we achieve in life is a result of many left and right turns. The message is simple. Do not be afraid to change if that change is for the better.

In my life I had so many bad turns, but one good right turn I could remember was turning to Jesus. There are many trials ahead, yet I am confident I made a good change. If you are having trouble right now, try calling Him. He will change you for the better.

Merry Christmas.

The tree that bears fruit

2010-10-26T10:58:00.002+08:00

I am a "frustrated writer," so they say, but I felt my dreams fulfilled when I saw the first book my eldest daughter has published and started national circulation.

Well, she may not be the best writer there is, yet I felt proud for in her I saw the realization of my own aspirations. The good thing is that it is by her efforts and her creativity that produced the work.

The story is a teen fictional love story that suited the taste of the target audience. The book is part of the 10 book package having the same theme that was crafted after careful planning by the publishers and writers.

I am not sure where her writing career would lead her. I am just hopeful she will still prioritize and finish her studies before she decides what to concentrate. As for me, I wish her the best and asks God to guide her and help her bear the fruits she deserves.

Mushroom vs. humans

2010-10-05T07:58:00.004+08:00

The mushroom is another wondrous creation of God. Besides being one of the largest member of a wide family of small organisms comprising the yeast and molds family, commonly called as Fungi, there are some characteristic in this fungus that strongly resembles some human idiosyncrasies.

One weekend morning while cleaning some loose twigs in the backyard I noticed this shiny white thing with some shades of brown over the crown (see photo). They weren't there yesterday From experience, i quickly recognized it as one of the edible wild mushrooms, whether it belongs to the pleurotus species or not I'm not quiet sure. But I was definitely sure it was edible so I picked it up. There were a few more around I had collected. When I checked it turned out some had been spoiled with the presence of worms.

I was amazed of how quick these fungi grows and how quickly they spoil. Just like mushrooms some people sometimes quickly shine to the apex of their religious faith and vanish as quickly as they surge. It is a natural thing, I feel, and just like mushrooms, if we do not "harvest" them while they are on their finest stage, put some spices, and cook them, then we could not eat them.

If you are a church leader, are you aware that there are mushrooms around your community? Then if you are, harvest them just before they fade and lose the value.

Being watchful

2010-08-28T07:30:00.003+08:00

Many believers have stories to share about becoming lukewarm in their Christian service. Worst, some share having doubts and become weak in faith and gave way to the ways of evil. Much more also, though having faith, are complacent in their practice ass followers of Christ. But what if during this time of negligence Jesus would come? What's gonna happen to us? Matthew 25:13 says, "you must be vigilant, because you do not know the day or the hour."

As I arrived home from office one day, I found the main door widely opened. I was bit worried as I knew my wife and the kids are still out. Who could have opened the door? I rushed to check if some things are missing. Gladly I found nothing was lost or stolen. I checked the bedrooms and found our Master's Bedroom locked. I always leave without locking that room, my wife don't lock the room either. I sensed some danger. If some burglar was still inside he might assault me. After careful inspection I realized no one was inside.

That incident made me decide to put some extra effort to cover some unfinished walls of the kitchen. At least this would prevent those with bad intentions to be tempted to sneak in. But I also felt and whispered to God. "If bad elements would really want to do bad, I know Lord this walls are not enough to protect my house. So I still trust You will protect us Lord."

The experience made me understand that becoming watchful is not only being prepared all the time but also to correct every errors and sins we have and cover our sinfulness with the cloak of righteousness so that we maybe worthy to meet Him when He comes.

Congratulations CFC Biliran... 19th year

2010-08-09T08:07:00.003+08:00

As the growing community of the Couples for Christ in Biliran Province celebrated its 19th year of evangelization works last August 7, 2010 in Naval, Biliran we are asked again to reflect how far have we gone in our journey of becoming "like God" and what have we done to win the battle God wanted us to fight. "Tell me what You want me to do Lord God. Tell me what You want for my life. Its Yours, O God its Yours," were the lyrics of the song "By Your Side" which reminds us to always ask God's guidance and never forget that we are His and apart from Him we can't win the spiritual battle. That's why we are always encouraged to use the God given armors (Ephesians 6:10-17) and become real army of God.

You changed my life

2010-08-04T11:31:00.002+08:00

(words and music: RLDignos)

1. The path of darkness lead me once,
In pleasure of the earth I was locked

2. But you never cease to find a lost sheep
Then you find me by your most unusual way

3. You changed my life from darkness to light
You brought me back my dignity and pride
You fill my life with your never ending love
(repeat)

4. Above all these I gained
everlasting promise in heaven.
(repeat 2 & 3)

5. And now that I found you
I would never leave your side again
(repeat 2 & 3)

You changed my life (3x and fade)

(the video is the un-edited copy. the new version will be uploaded later)

About Trademarks

2010-07-24T07:51:00.001+08:00

Every maker has its own trademark. You may just wonder, what is the trademark of God?

It amazed me to realize that from the smallest part of every matter to the largest system in the universe the trademark of the Lord is apparently seen. I am referring to the structure of the atom where electrons revolve around the nucleus. The same structure is seen in solar systems. Surprisingly this is also observable in societies. To become a strong society it must revolve around commonly accepted ideals and leadership. The same is true with every individual. Something or someone is in the middle of our life where our actions and our ways revolve.

The arrangement of having a source of strength and power in the center is and must have been the ideal arrangement. The atom become unstable if some part of its constituents are taken out. A society without a respected leader will be in chaos. When an electron is lost from the bonds of the central force it goes astray. And when a member of society detach himself from the accepted morals, he becomes renegade.

In my personal reflection, if I am a creation of God how does his trademark manifest in me? What or who rules in the center of my life. Well, I can humbly say that beginning from the time I accepted Jesus, He becomes the center of my life. And until this moment I still feel the pull of His loving force when I revolve around Him. There are times I am weak but His strength made me survive. And I thank the Lord for that.

How about you? You may choose to revolve around something material with temporal power or choose to revolve around God with omnipotence.

image taken from www.school-for-champions.com

The best choice in life

2010-07-19T08:29:00.006+08:00

Everyday of our lives we are faced with the task of deciding. Whether we made the right decision or not would depend on how we weigh the outcomes. But would you believe that there are situations when even people know that the best outcome would result from a certain decision, yet they don't choose it?

Yes, it is absolutely true, and one of it is neglecting Jesus' call. Following Jesus would give us the best results, if not in this life in the next. Nevertheless many still take this for granted and opt to go otherwise. A lot of reasons are cited are more often they are "options from this world."

The Bible says "only one thing is necessary and it is the best portion, and it shall not be taken away”(Luke 10:42)and it is believing and following Jesus. And I can attest you that among the many decisions I made in life, the best I did was accepting Jesus into my life.

Of course many of you will shrug a cold shoulder about this statement and won't dare to ask why. But only a wise man can say I like it until he tries it. So why not make it a try and experience it for yourself.

Photo above: Kids from ages 8 and below joined a fellowship with other kids in the community who exposes them in a relationship with Jesus. At this very early age they were taught Christian values that they may nurture for the rest of our lives. Later on these children would be witnesses of the works of Christ and would join in the vineyards and work-fields of God.

Productivity and Quality

2010-06-28T12:25:00.010+08:00

Productivity is always the measure of how you perform in a given task, and it reflects how you produce an output out of the given input. When I encounter this theory, what always comes into my mind is the mustard seed. The Bible says "though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew 13:32)

I recently have a close encounter with "productivity" when I attended a two-week long training on productivity improvement. Well, I have learned 5 ways in achieving productivity improvement and several tools in carrying out in our work.

Reflecting upon the learning I realized, we humans devised a lot of complicated systems in doing tasks. Of course, the complex brain mechanisms also adopts to changes and when these learning is applied in our work it would affect the performance to some extent. Why I said to some extent? Because a time would come that such learning will become outdated and is bound to lose its effectiveness.

There is however, an unfading way to productivity improvement and that is the way of the heavens. We may all learn all the tools that human creates but only God can increase the size of a mustard seed to a big tree. For me, the biggest productivity improvement in putting in the Godly tools, and that is through "Godly character."

Teaching Productivity Theories maybe a good idea but could produce a short-lived fruit. But teaching the ways of God; the virtues of humility, honesty, kindness, and sacrifice, among other values, is even a better idea that could make a small seed into a huge tree.

Disbelief out of Unpreparedness

2010-05-20T09:25:00.003+08:00

The recently concluded national elections in the Philippines had brought me several new records and "first times." It was the first national elections that uses automation. And it was the first time I was able to serve not just a voter but as operator of the electronic consolidation and canvassing system.

"The May 10 Elections, had been fast compared to the previous elections," says my Election Officer and many people would agree. Its quickness even rendered most losers unprepared to accept their fate. It would be hard for candidates who spent more than what is required by law during the campaign period to know quickly just overnight that they lost. The surge of emotions of unpreparedness and disbelief even resulted to massive complains and protests. There are doubts even as to the technical capabilities of the machines to count the votes 100% correctly. Well, they have the right to request the Commission on Elections for a manual count and see if the result is really correct. Since this is the first time it would be wise to show the public the manual count tallies with the machine count. But to what extent the COMELEC should allow this depends on the Lawyers.

I have personally experienced the canvassing and consolidation as a system operator. I was awake for the entire 48hrs since the the Board of Canvassers' initialized the system at about 12:00 noon on May 10 until the next day when every reports had to be printed and the local winners proclaimed. I personally did it for the sake of history and nothing else. The pay is even less than the risk and pressures, but the record is priceless.

Reports however came into my ear that some losing camps resort to putting colors on everything, even on my humble intentions. But I don't blame them because I knew sooner or later they would accept that a coin always has two faces. There's only one thing I can attest to myself that as a System Operator, it was impossible for me to have direct influence on the numbers in the final result.

Quality time with quality entertainment showcase

2010-05-02T23:28:00.008+08:00

Entertainment has never been the same nowadays with the birth of advance electronics. One of which is LCD TV. As part of home improvement we suggest you consider having one.

Purchasing a 19 inch LCD TV is a wise move, and finding them from online supplier with all positive feedback from people buying a 19 inch LCD TV is a good option. Time means money these days, so you can save time and energy by looking at online price comparisons rather than looking up each brand individually or walking through all the shops.

We hope this little post could help you.

Thanks!

Lifestyle change

2010-04-22T08:26:00.002+08:00

Changing the way of life we had been used to is not a simple task. It requires dedication and willpower.

Physically speaking, today's lifestyle is the main contributors to many illnesses. In fact this leads to the birth of the term "lifestyle diseases." Your health conditions show how you treat your life: the way you eat, work, play, and everything. To combat this is changing lifestyle for the better.

Despite lifestyle shift being a hard thing it becomes easy when you have to choose between life and death. Many people say its hard to quit smoking, but studies show majority if not all do when lung cancer and related diseases strike.

I have been diagnosed recently of having hypertension and required to take maintenance medicine. But lifestyle change is what the doctor said as the best maintenance if not cure. Well, I have to do it or else I have to bear the consequences. The best choice of course is "no other choice."

There is one greater lifestyle change, however, that is most beneficial not only physically but spiritually. That is changing the life of sinfulness to righteousness. Living in sin leads to death and life in Jesus Christ is everlasting. We have no other choice.

Holy Days or Holy Week?

2010-04-03T08:43:00.001+08:00

It is really fulfilling to be abreast of times. My blog has also been silent awhile but I believed the message of the latest post is due for the season.

Just one more thing, I wish we'd never celebrate "The Passion" again the traditional way. For me it is not the time for mourning but rejoicing. We are encouraged to reflect on our sins daily and that should make the "Holy Week" insignificant. Christ redeeming takes not just a week. When God sanctifies every days of our lives, thus we make everyday a Holy Day to make good and Godly works.

When I was still with the world, I was made to believe that Christian life is full of sacrifices. Many in the community are still tied with such notion. Christ promised His "yoke is easy and the burden is light."

If this promise is a lie then there's no use in following Christ. We must understand that we are prepared to take our own cross but that load is not as hard as we think. Why? because Jesus had carried the heaviest load.

If we haven't experienced what Jesus promised, it is time we reconsider our relationship to Him. Make it not just a show but a real one. And if we have gained His rewards here in Earth, we should understand that the summit is yet to come. This would come in His own appointed time.

Forgiveness

2010-03-10T05:50:00.006+08:00

Why do most people find it hard to forgive? While we are taught that compassion is a good virtue, the process of healing from a damage done may not take instantly. The readiness to respite maybe influenced by reasons and intensity of the damage done. But in totality the action revolves around the character of humility.

We accept the fact that we all have once sinned. The way we accept and treat our own sins has direct relationship with how we treat the sins of others on us. Meaning, even though there is an accepted moral guidelines of how to treat errors, we still use our own meter stick. When we believe that we should be pardoned instantly from a simple lie, we practice it by granting apology to those who lie to us.

The problem arise when our judgment become one sided and self-centered. There are cases when we believe that cheating others could be a sin worth to forgive in an hour yet when we are cheated we condemn the person and even put on severe punishment before forgiving the sinner. Oftentimes the decision for pardon is based on the character of the sinner. Under the same circumstances we forgive our best friend quickly than a stranger. More often we pardon our friends easily than our family members.

But God is teaching us to be impartial. To treat everyone as equals. Jesus even gave quick pardon to the thief on the cross. In one encounters with the disciples, Peter asked Jesus "“Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Even seven times?” and Jesus said to him: “I do not say to you, even seven times, but even seventy times seven times." (Mt 18:21-22).

Forgiving is a really good virtue. There is no limit; there are no conditions. If we only forgive those who forgive us. What difference we have with the criminals.

image from: www.artnsoulwrks.com

Having the right choice

2010-02-19T11:22:00.000+08:00

Sometimes we face the predicament of choosing between two things that both matter in our lives. A choice between a woman and another woman, the wife or the mother, go or stay, career or family, and many other similar situations.

During one of our prayer meetings. We lighted a candle in an altar and made sure it was lit throughout the entire session. But the host felt it was hot so he put on the electric fan. As the air blew from the fan the candle was put off by the gust. We lit it again as a requirement to the ceremony, but the air threatened it once more. We could not put off the fan either lest we feel more uncomfortable. What we did was to cover the fan's air flow to the candle. And so we completed the session with both the candle and the fan on. The point is, when there is a way to balance everything, why put off the fan or the candle when you can have them both.

God made every situations and problems surmountable for us. Let us not forget that when things turned out to be tough to decide, God is always there to guide and lead us the way. Always offer your decisions to the Lord and choose whichever is under God's command over that of man. Take the examples of David. When asked which penalty to take from God, David said "...I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.(1 Chronicles 21:13)"

The right choice may not be the best one, but it should be that pleases the Lord more. So ask the Lord and discern for the most righteous decisions.

Speaking in tounges

2010-01-26T07:31:00.003+08:00

'A man filled with the Spirit will speak the language of the Spirit.' For so many times I heard these words and I recalled them as I read today's Gospel a portion of which says, "Now these signs will accompany those who believe... They will speak in new languages..." (Mark 16:17).

Bible scholars believed speaking in new languages literally means speaking a kind of language or dialect foreign to the one speaking it, that even the one who spoke them could not understand its meaning. Other believers are also gifted by the Spirit to interpret those language spoken without any prior formal education. Early Christian communities and even charismatic groups today accept the facts presented as real and true. The Bible itself has supporting verses that corroborates the interpretation.

I personally experienced speaking in tongues; uttering words i could not understand. They usually occur to me when speaking words of praise and worship. The experience makes me feel closer to God. This is because praising in tongue is praising God by the language of Heaven. I believe, by that moment my Spirit is connecting to heaven in complete harmony with God in the words They both understand.

Many, however, question the phenomenon and consider them as works of the devil. Whatever is their logic I stand to support my understanding because I myself can attest to my experience that there is no devilish acts in it.

The gift of tongue is not for human satisfaction, it is for God's. God gave us wisdom for His works of spreading His love for mankind. He gave us the power to speak the language of heaven for His delight.

image from: www.trinos.org.au

Banana blossoms in coco-milk Filipino style

2010-01-11T01:05:00.002+08:00

I haven't seen banana blossoms in Farmville. Perhaps the developers don't know it makes a good dish. Well, as I mentioned we look back into the traditional Filipino or Southeast Asian food and banana blossom specialties are among those.

Let's go cooking. All you need are the following:

Ingredients:
2 banana blossoms
1 cup thick coconut milk
2 T vinegar
1/4 cup sliced tomatoes
1/4 cup sliced onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 T cooking oil
salt
peeper

Directions:
Remove the tough covering of the blossoms. Cut into thin slices crosswise. Add 2 tablespoons coarse salt and squeeze off bitter juice. Rinse in water and squeeze dry. Set aside.

Heat oil in skillet and saute the garlic until light brown. Add onion and then the tomatoes. Cook about 3 minutes. Add banana blossoms and vinegar and bring to a boil without stirring. Simmer for another 3 minutes. Add salt and peeper to taste and stir. Continue cooking until banana blossoms is tender. Add thick coconut milk and turn off heat.

Serve hot.

Coconut Milk Specialty

2010-01-02T01:00:00.001+08:00

Visit the forum on this topic.

Howdy! Friends, guests, ladies and gentlemen, its another fresh year. Home of good ideas extends its greetings to our avid visitors.

It seems we ran out of post during the Christmas season because of many celebrations, parties, and out of town trips. But we are back again this time. As an opener for January 2010, we offer you new recipes in our Monday cooking. For Filipinos out there you will like this features as we refresh our appetites with traditional foods served with a popular Filipino ingredient, the coconut cream -"gata." And for sure you must have heard the health benefits of taking MCFA 0r medium chain fatty acids, especially lauric acid abundantly found in coconut oil. We will be having a feature about it in our Health and Family section later this month.

In preparation for the coming coconut milk based dishes, we share with you a simple way to prepare your coconut milk or "gata."

You need a mature coconut, husk removed and cut into half with the water set aside for other use. A mature coconut has a hard meat and a hard and dark brown shell. Coconut is available in local markets.

Coconut milk has 2 categories, the thick and the thin. Thick milk is obtained by directly pressing the grated coconut milk, however if extracting out of 1 coconut only, 1/2 cup of clean water (previously boiled and allowed to cool) can be added to easily remove the milk. Then the milk is strained in clean cheesecloth to remove the solids. Set aside and use in the cooking.

The thin coconut milk can be derived from the grates previously extracted with the thick milk. Add 1 cup water to the grates and extract. Repeat 2 to 3 times more and combine the extract then strain. Set aside the thin milk for use in the cooking.

The milk out of this process is fresh and can be used directly or chilled and use within the next day. Prolonged storage may affect quality of food.

image from wikipedia.org

Spirit of Christmas

2009-12-24T08:51:00.004+08:00

Christmas Spirit
by RLDignos

Rain may come in a hot summer day
Waves on a calm and lucid sea
Tears could fall even in revelry
And light would shine in a darkened realm
Just as Jesus, born on Christmas Day.

Jesus is the light of the Season,
a path that leads the way to salvation;
a promise fulfilled in God's dominion;
a truth that sets us free
from the chains of the evil's prisons

Hail to the Emmanuel
Sing praises and shout with glee
For our Savior has come for the banquet
Prepare the white robes and be worthy
To dine with the Spirit on Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas everyone from our family!

image taken from: http://www.fatbeats.com/

Christmas- a reminder of Faith

2009-12-18T19:41:00.003+08:00

'What is good with the spirit of Christmas when it is wrapped with lots of bad news and doubts around?' A priest, in his sermon asked the parishioners. The question echoed deep into my own spirit and a very clear answer is whispered back into my spiritual ear.

In the middle of all miseries, wars, famine, natural calamities, and other catastrophes the celebratrion of Christmas brings HOPE to every believers. The first coming of Jesus did bring some light in the middle of darkness. The Good News about the Kingdom which Jesus told every Christian faithfuls is relived and reinforced every season of lent. We are reminded by celebrating Christmas that the promise is yet to be fulfilled. And there's no way to relax because the battle is still going on. And only those who stay by His side who will reap the fruits of their labor.

When people questioned the real date and time of Christmas, they are looking into the event in a human perspective. For me the true date and season doesn't matter. It is the message that the celebration of the event is what we are after. Whether Christ is born in February or June or December I don't really care. The celebration reminds us that Jesus really came and gave us HOPE despite the troubles of life.

Accepting that this world is chaotic would lead us to think that life on Earth is really miserable. But believeing that Jesus came to show as the way, the truth, and life then we know that the burdern is light.

It's my birthday today

2009-12-11T08:37:00.005+08:00

Wow! I just become one more year older today and there are lots of things to be grateful of.

On top of the list is the gift of life the Lord provided me and the leading of the Holy Spirit not just on me but my entire family. Second is the community that is made instrument by God for the nurturing of my spiritual gifts, especially in letting me understand my role as a child of God. Next is my family, both my own and my siblings, who always understand my shortcomings not just as a father but as a person as well. My friends who are there to support just like real blood brothers and sisters do. To all these, I thank God.

Well, birthdays are times not just for thanksgiving but for wishes too! It's my wish that God continues to sustain all these blessings he gave me. For me, that's enough and I would not ask for more of the materials. My ultimate wish is the sustenance and strengthening of my faith and for God to use me more in spreading the Good News.

I think this is enough a birthday post. If you ask me how old I am, I think age doesn't matter. God Bless You all too!

image from http://petersondavis.files.wordpress.com/

Well written response against atheism

2009-12-02T10:41:00.006+08:00

I have found a well written response against the claims of atheists that there is no God and I gamble to re-post it here completely without changing a word because I believe on its message. With due respect to the authors Clyde and Dee, here is the full article:

In the Bible: "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3).

On the Internet: "Believing there is no God means the suffering I've seen in my family, and indeed all the suffering in the world, isn't caused by an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent force that isn't bothered to help or is just testing us, but rather something we all may be able to help others with in the future. No God means the possibility of less suffering in the future" (Penn Jilette, "There Is No God").

This excerpt encapsulates the way many around the world view the God of the Bible: an all-knowing, all-present, all-powerful being who either doesn't care about His creation or who wantonly subjects it to cruelty. Such a being, many atheists conclude, could not exist.

To their credit, they are right. No such God exists. What Penn Jilette—and countless others across the globe—doesn't understand is that all the suffering in this world is in fact caused by a near-universal rejection of the true God and His commandments. God did not turn His back on us; rather, we as a world have turned our back on God.

God promises, "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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). Suffering will end only when humanity learns to place God first in their lives. Won't it be great when the First Commandment is finally kept?

http://www.thisistheway.org/ of the United Church of God