Do Hard Things in the Philippines

We are very pleased to announce that the DO HARD THINGS Conferences are coming to the Philippines.

The Rebelution's first stop will be in Cebu! Be there on June 12, 9am-5pm
at the Plenary Hall, Cebu International Convention Center Mandaue, Cebu
Conference fee is at P200. Register NOW before you run out of slots!
For more details visit www.rebelutioncebu.tk

Second and last stop will be in Manila on June 19
at the PhilSports Arena (ULTRA) Pasig
Conference ticket price is at P250* and will be P350* starting May 20

*all Manila conference tickets are inclusive of a free Do Hard Things Philippine conference edition

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There's always something hard and exciting to do. And it starts with you. Be involved in making these conferences happen. Be part of the Cebu or Manila team! Interested? Sign up HERE.

Papuri Grand Reunion Concert 2010

Earthquake Scare

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit Manila this afternoon which caused people to fear and run out of their buildings. While some people who hardly pray prayed, many take it as a countdown to 2012, a.k.a end of the world. The earthquake scare began when it hit Haiti (7.0) last January killing a great number of people. Then it was followed by the one in Chile (8.8),  then Taiwan, (6.4), Sumatra (6.8), Turkey (5.5), Peru (6.0), Japan (6.5), Cuba (5.6), and now here in the city where I live.

I had my earphones on listening to Owl City while working on emails. I thought I was just getting dizzy when the earthquake struck. It shook the table I was on. You'll probably think I'm crazy and totally insane but I tell you, I am in the right mind and I honestly think that the earthquake was pretty exciting! Now you probably think I don't care about people's lives. Well, I do. Much more than the life that you probably know.

I never wished to experience an earthquake but neither did I wish not to experience it. The tragedies caused by the recent earthquakes are heart-wrenching and it's easy to get scared that it might happen to me or to anyone I know but I rest in the comfort and assurance of my Father in heaven.

It was He who laid the foundations of the earth and if He chooses to shake it and destroy the structures humans built, what have I got to question? And if the end that He has set is to come and the earthquakes are the introduction of the end, what have I to fear?

All I know is that I'm excited to see Jesus in my lifetime. Whether it be He comes today or I get smashed by falling debris I don't really care. Either way I will see Him in my lifetime.

I'm sure you understand what I'm talking about or probably not.

If you do understand what I'm talking about, aren't you excited with what's happening, knowing that Jesus might be coming so soon? And that we'll get to finally see Him face to face? If you're not excited, might it be that even if you know Jesus, He's probably not your priority. Or you're busy with other "important" things more than the Gospel work He left?

Now, if you're lost with what I'm talking about, don't be. You can probably sum up now that I might have lost some screws in my brain. Well, I actually have lost a lot of it ever since I truly knew Jesus. I am not scared of earthquakes because I am friends with the One who made the heaven and the earth. And if He wants to take me to meet Him through it, I'd be glad to.

Jesus must be a crazy man to have made people (e.g. me) like this. Well, yes and no. He's crazy because even if you don't know Him, He chose to die for you and He's not crazy because He knew He must do it because He wants to share eternity with you--even if He doesn't really need you.

Jesus Christ is my Lord, Savior, Father, Brother and Best Friend. He is my everything. My life. I can never imagine what life would be like without Him.

Your life is so precious, don't waste it! I care about your life not because I really care but because He cares for you. I'm writing this not because I want to but because He wants me to tell you that He loves you more than you know. Would you care to love Him back?

Papuri Grand Reunion Concert

Encounter With An Orange Robed Man

It was a regular day this morning when I got to the train station on my way to work. I was walking towards the platform when I saw something that turned my day unusually regular. In the platform was a tall and lean man wrapped in a light orange robe. As I got nearer, my eyes were drawn to his feet. He was barefoot and on his right foot was a huge cut of a not-so-fresh wound but with some blood still showing. I felt my defenses weaken and my heart fainting.

I was very curious about him that I immediately forgot his feet and watched him in my peripheral vision. Now that he's closer I was even more surprised by him. "A western monk? I thought Buddhist monks are supposed to be Asians."

The train came and we sat across each other. I got occupied in thinking of Buddhism and why this man is walking barefoot around the city. I decided that he must be a pilgrim trying to fulfill some Buddhist vows to save his soul. Then it struck me. This man needs the Gospel.

How I suddenly wished that I've gotten over my flesh earlier and thought not of his wounded feet. How I wished I sat beside him and chatted with him even for a few minutes of our train ride together. It was too late for that but I know I can give him the Gospel in some other way. I quickly rummaged  through my bag for something; a tract, a sticker or a card that has the Gospel or a Bible verse in it. There wasn't. I felt so helpless that I cannot give him anything.

I frantically thought of what I must give. I asked God to show me what I must give this man and to my excitement He answered right away. I remembered that I have a copy of Do Hard Things with me and it has the Gospel on its last pages.

It felt weird giving him Do Hard Things as I got off the train. How on earth is Do Hard Things relative to a western Buddhist monk in a pilgrimage excluding himself from the world? I may not know the exact answer now but I do know that it has the Gospel in it and God will be the one to work in his heart.

I'd like to invite you to pray for this man. That he'll read through the book and hear the Gospel in the end. Don't just stop praying with this man but for all Buddhists in the world.

LEARN MORE ABOUT the BUDDHIST PEOPLE

and HOW YOU CAN PRAY FOR THEM

Passion Is Coming Back!

Remember Passion Manila 2008? The long line outside Phil. Sports Arena (Ultra), the amazing worship experience, and the hearts that were changed and renewed for JESUS!

PASSION IS COMING BACK!

Passion Conference 2010 Live at the Araneta Coliseum on May 25, 2010 7:30PM 

Calling this generation of young people committed to glorify God! 

This is a rare chance for tens of thousands of young people ages 16-25 to gather at Araneta Coliseum on May 25, 2010 to celebrate their common faith and purpose.

Featuring: Louie Giglio, Kristian Stanfill and Chris Tomlin - PASSION Conference 2010

Join us! Get your tickets now for only P200 in all sections. Patron section will be opened first so if you want the best seats in the house. Buy now!

Patron, Lower box and Upper Box A tickets are available ONLY at Becca Music office. Call now! 910.5524 or 910.5352.

Upper Box B and General Admission tickets are available at all Ticketnet outlets. Call 911.5555.

Log on to www.passionworldtour.com or www.beccamusic.com for more details.

To get a glimpse of Passion, join their Live Link now!

Live Link Monday 8:30p EST (Tues 9:30am in Manila) We will be gathering with students from around the globe for a time of prayer and worship. More details at: http://www.livelink.268generation.com/

 

Please feel free to pass this info to your friends and youth groups! God bless!

You're a Christian and You're Proud?

Recently on Facebook, a small icon on my sidebar caught my attention saying, "I am A Christian & I'm Proud."

That statement confused me for a moment, "Are Christians supposed to be proud?" I explored the linked page and found out that it isn't really about being proud. It's just the statement that misled me to think that Christians are proud people.

I feel sad at the growing vagueness in word usages today. We use words without really knowing what they mean and even use them flippantly. What does the word proud really mean?

PROUD (Dictionary.com)

adjective,-er, -est, adverb, –adjective

1. feeling pleasure or satisfaction over something regarded as highly honorable or creditable to oneself (often fol. by of, an infinitive, or a clause).

2. having, proceeding from, or showing a high opinion of one's own dignity, importance, or superiority.

Isn't it very embarrassing (for me it is) to claim ourselves creditable to something that we do not really deserve? Becoming God's children was never to our credit and something we should not be proud of. Nowhere in the Scriptures are we admonished to be proud. Wherever you see the word proud in the Scriptures, it will always be followed with some sort of condemnation.

I think the right word that we should use in making ourselves known as followers of Christ is, Unashamed. The word means this,

1. not ashamed; not restrained by embarrassment or consciousness of moral guilt

2. open; unconcealed; unabashed:

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. 1 John 2:28 (NIV)

I don't judge the motives of those who call themselves Christians and are proud to say it. It may be that they mean something else and just used the wrong word to express themselves. But let us no longer tolerate the use of words without meaning it. God knows well the meaning of what He is saying and so should we.

Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed. 1 Samuel 2:3 (NIV)

Do Hard Things Conference in the Philippines!

A Tip on How to Effectively Memorize Verses

When I was in 4th grade, I won Best Speller of the year. If a human resource manager would interview me for a job and ask me what the greatest accomplishment in my life is, I’d probably say, “Becoming the Best Speller when I was in 4th grade.”

I wasn’t one of the top students in class but my English teacher picked me for the spelling competition anyway. I was nervous. I’d never entered an academic competition before. The competition droned on and scores were tight. I ended it when I spelled ‘kayak’ correctly and won one point ahead of the rest. I walked out of the school library a bit shaking. Did I just win? I could not believe it. I returned to my room and my classmates asked what happened in the competition. Someone asked if I won. I nodded and everyone cheered.

They asked if I’ve memorized the dictionary. No, I didn’t. I just happened to read ‘kayak’ a few days back and looked it up in the dictionary.

Ten years later, people still ask if I memorize the dictionary. No, I don’t. I still commit spelling errors at times with the most common words. While I don’t memorize the dictionary, I do read it occasionally. It wasn’t because I wanted to win that I won.  I just wanted to be a good speller.

Well, what does this post got to do with memorizing verses? Oh well, I just thought that it runs the same way when we memorize verses. Most Christians brought up in church, if not all, were brought up memorizing verses so we can have special rewards. While that may be an effective motivation to memorize, it isn’t giving the reward that our spirit craves.

I’ve noticed recently too, that many Christians who’ve read Do Hard Things have included “Memorizing Verses” in their list of Hard Things. It is good that memorizing verses have captured them because of Do Hard Things but it isn’t good to memorize just for the sake of doing something hard.

I’ve memorized a lot of verses but it isn’t because I want to accomplish a hard thing. I just want to know Jesus more.

"End of the Spear" (Missons Week)

Worship Team leads in praising the Lord

Watched End of the Spear and shed many a tear.

Played a game. We had to close our eyes and shout out a phrase or sing a song to find our teammates.

Debriefing time. We talked about what stood out to us from the movie. This eventually led to talking about people we were in conflict with. Although the Aucas were the tribesmen who had murdered their husbands, the wives of this men chose to minister to the people.