The Need to Share Our Blessed Hope in Christ

One of the few things that I enjoy during a 12 hour flight from LA to here is that I can FINALLY catch up on some of the movies that I don’t have time to watch while I’m in the States. And flying an airline that provides you with your own movie screen is great because you can pick and choose those movies.

During this last flight, I watched an independent film entitled “HENRY POOLE is HERE.” According to the movie’s synopsis, this is a comedic drama about a disillusioned man who goes hiding in placid suburbia only to discover he cannot escape the forces of hope. Returning to the middle class neighborhood where he grew up, Henry chooses to live in indulgent isolation. Real life, however, refuses to cooperate with his plans. Nosy neighbors interrupt him with curious visits and prying questions. Then the situation escalates as a stain on Henry's stucco wall is seen to have miraculous powers. His last-ditch hideout becomes a shrine; his backyard turns into an arena for passionate debate about faith and destiny. Seeking anonymous oblivion, cynical Henry Poole instead finds himself right at the center of the human comedy. This modern-day fable investigates the unexpected wonders of the everyday. A faithless man finds hope. A hopeless man finds love. Whether backyard miracles are real or triggered by hope and belief, their personal effects are permanent.

“Henry Poole is Here” was a sharp reminder to me that people around us are always looking for something to believe in. That’s the underlying premise and overarching emotion in the movie. You see that in the next door neighbor’s daughter who hadn’t spoken in over a year, but, after touching what looks like the face of Jesus on the stucco wall, her speech returns. Then there’s the grocery store clerk whose eyesight is restored after she also touches the wall.

The focus of the movie was all about hope but it made me sad to realize how desperately people want to BELIEVE in miracles that they will worship a stain on a stucco wall. Or they will travel to the town of Lourdes in southern France between March to October because they believe the

spring water from the grotto possesses healing properties. I have friends in CA who would travel regularly to Međugorje, a town located in western Herzegovina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This town is best known due to reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary which appeared to six Herzegovinian Croats since 24 June 1981, and is now visited by pilgrims from around the entire world as a shrine. Being a predominantly Catholic country, the Philippines has more than its share of places where people will travel to be healed or to experience a miracle, like the shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan.

And yet, here we are, believers in the Lord Jesus. We actually have the true message of hope and yet, are we doing our part to share this message to those around us who are looking for hope in all the wrong places, like in that stain on someone stucco wall that looks like the face of Christ or in Lourdes or in numerous shrines around the Philippines?

But, I also realize that before we can share this glorious message with anyone, we need to live lives that exemplify our hope. That's really our first obligation, to LIVE in hope.

“Hope” is found 131 times in the Bible in 121 verses. At its most basic definition, hope is the Christian's attitude toward the future. Hope is believing God for the future. Hope believes in what God has promised to do. In the Isidro Annotated New Testament, my Dad calls this “an upward and forward hope.” That’s a great way of looking at hope – upward and forward! My dad goes on to say, “As believers in Jesus Christ, we now have a new, positive and glorious future. This is towards the appearance in glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This hope that should characterize our lives is a living hope. My dad’s annotation of I Peter 1:3-12 goes on to say, “It is a hope that is certain to be fulfilled. And that hope is our ultimate glorification forever.”

But, why should we live in hope? The short answer is “Because it glorifies God.” Here’s how John MacArthur described it: when we truly trust God for the future, we are affirming by that trust that God is trustworthy and, as a result, God is glorified when we trust Him. As a believer who has received God's grace and who has seen that God was faithful in the past and is faithful in the present, we should live in the hope that God will be faithful in the future. By having this mindset, we give Him glory.

When we live lives that show to the world our hope in a God who keeps His promises to us, a covenant keeping God, this hope glorifies God and the result is that others around us who don’t know the Lord will want to know how they, too, can have this same hope.

So, here we are in a new year that God has graciously given to us – a new year that always starts out with great promise and bright hopes for a good future. Counting today, we have 336 more days to share our faith with people who are looking for meaning in their lives; people who need the Lord; people who need HOPE.

This is the awesome message of HOPE that we must share: that everyone can have “a new, positive and glorious future” by putting their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the best and the most loving thing that we can do for others – to share with them this blessed hope of Christ’s love and His promise that if they will put their trust and faith in Him, they, too, will be with Him forever in glory!

So, this is my challenge to myself and to all of us in 2009: may we all have the courage to share our “upward and forward hope” in Christ to everyone whom God brings into our lives. God bless you today and always!

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=42466

i believe that our new president was placed in his position by God to show Christians that we mustn't keep silent or sit on the sidelines doing nothing when our values are being attacked. and that's what i believe is happening now. check out this article: http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=42466

'Change' We Never Imagined Friday, January 23, 2009By J. Matt Barber

Well, the high-sheen veneer and cult-of-personality euphoria surrounding America's new oratory endowed president looks to be dissolving rather quickly.

While millions had hoped for a political "messiah," it's fast becoming evident that, instead, we've stuck ourselves with an extreme leftist ideologue whose brand of "change we can believe in" is, in fact, "change we never imagined." (Sorry to burst the Barack bandwagon bubble, but I say it like I see it.)

The examples are piling up in terms of the radical pro-abortion polices he's planning to implement, the many-times-failed Marxist fiscal policies he's promised to test yet again, and – relative to his national security goals – the noxiously naive peacenik policies that have Mahmoud and Osama giggling themselves to sleep at night.

But on issues involving marriage, family and sexual morality, Obama's been even more brazen than some of his most ardent detractors could have expected.

Literally within minutes after he took the oath of office, the official White House webpage was updated – under the heading of "The Agenda: Civil Rights" – to detail his wholesale "support for the LGBT (homosexual activist) community."

His stated plans include the following: Defeating all state and federal constitutional efforts to defend the millennia-old definition of natural marriage from attacks by "gay marriage" activists.

Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1996. This is the only line of defense keeping all 50 states from being forced to recognize so-called "same-sex marriages" from extremely liberal states like Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Repealing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy despite the fact that the vast majority of military commanders and personnel say it will dangerously disrupt unit cohesion and troop morale.

Passing constitutionally dubious and discriminatory "hate crimes" legislation, granting homosexuals and cross-dressers exclusive rights – denied other Americans – based on sexual behaviors that are deviant, changeable, and widely regarded both here and around the world as immoral.

Passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would force business owners (religious and otherwise) to abandon traditional values relative to sexual morality under penalty of law.

Creating intentionally motherless and fatherless homes and sexually confusing untold thousands of children by expanding "gay adoption."

The gravity of this situation cannot be overstated. Right out of the chute, Obama has told the world that he is signing off, without exception, on every demand of the extremist homosexual and transsexual lobbies.

The radical homosexual agenda and religious/free-speech liberties cannot occupy the same space. It's a zero-sum game. When 1-2 percent of the population is granted exclusive rights based on the aforementioned deviant sexual proclivities and changeable sexual behaviors – to the detriment of everyone else – that's called tyranny of the minority.

Obama recently said, "I don't want to pit Red America against Blue America. I want to be President of the United States of America." Well, Mr. President, remember that whole “actions versus words” cliché? Your words ring hollow and your actions speak volumes. Every policy you promise to implement does exactly what you've denounced. Both your actions and your words very much pit Red America against Blue America.

For all the talk of "hope," "change," and "coming together," it's becoming abundantly clear that Barack Obama's administration will be the most leftist, divisive and discriminatory in recent memory. I suspect the immediate, stark and in-your-face revisions he's made to the White House website are a metaphor for what we can expect, in terms of broader policy, from his administration.

Obama said in an August 19, 2008 speech: "Change doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington." Well, radical change in the form of Barack Obama has certainly come to Washington. Not just in terms of the man's skin color – which is historic and most encouraging – but in terms of his exceptionally extreme and demonstrably dangerous liberal policies (not so encouraging).

So it would seem that change does in fact "come from Washington." Change more radical than our nation has ever seen. Change our founders could have never imagined.

People of faith, conservatives, and those of you with traditional values: hold on to your hats – it's going to be a bumpy four years.

Victoria Wilson Darragh

my dear friend, victoria wilson darragh, is on her way to getting her 2nd book published. this one is about healing for the brokenhearted, about victoria's journey to healing from the devastation of her marriage.

i was privileged to write the foreword to the book. i can't share the complete version as it doesn't belong to me anymore -- it's victoria's -- but, i'll share an excerpt below and, hopefully, many will buy victoria's new book once it's published and my foreword will be there for all to read...

i showed the foreword to ashley on sunday. she thought i came on a bit strong regarding my own journey to healing, but I think she understood that it was important for people to know why i am endorsing victoria's book -- because victoria help me through the years of healing from my own broken marriage and this book gives valuable insight into how the Lord can help someone cope with a personal disaster of such magnitude.

expect this book to be available in the US by the end of february, the Lord willing!!

This is a book that will make you think: about what’s really important in life; about how God wants you to handle your present situation; and about the many ways God reveals Himself and His love and care for you in and through the trials you are currently facing.

This book reminds me that healing from personal tragedy IS possible. Further, it reminds me that God is still a God of miracles! That’s an awesome truth that shines through in every page of this wonderful book!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

This is from "The Valley of Vision," a collection of Puritan prayers -- something to ponder as we approach the end of one year and look forward to a new year here on earth.

O Love beyond Compare, thou art good when thou givest, when thou takest away, when the sun shines upon me, when night gathers over me.

Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world, and in love didst redeem my soul. Thou dost love me still, in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.

Thy goodness has been with me another year, leading me through a twisting wilderness, in retreat helping me to advance, when beaten back making sure headway. Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead.

I hoist sail and draw up anchor, with thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past. I bless thee that thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.

If thou hast appointed storms of tribulation, thou wilt be with me in them.

If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation, I shall not drown.

If I am to die, I shall see thy face the sooner.

If a painful end is to be my lot, grant me grace that my faith fail not.

If I am to be cast aside from the service I love, I can make no stipulation.

Only glorify thyself in me whether in comfort or trial, as a chosen vessel meet always for thy use.

AMEN!! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!

auntie maring

yesterday, 12/10, one of my mom's sisters, marina wee, & her husband joe, arrived from baguio. they had heard about my mom's condition from one of my mom's former students @ FEBIAS, eden layda, who had told jacquelyn, my cousin, who then told her mom. my auntie maring told us that she hadn't been able to sleep since hearing about my mom being hospitalized and she felt that she could not rest easy until she sees my mom with her own eyes. so, they took a 6 hour bus ride at midnight wednesday from baguio to manila and then flew on cebu pacific from manila to cebu. mind you, uncle joe is now 80 and auntie maring is at least 77. but, she really needed to see my mom and my mom needed to see her.

auntie maring is a twin and she and auntie flor (who is now with the Lord) were born after my mom who is the eldest of 13. it has been 25 years since i've seen my aunt & uncle and maybe 27 since my parents had seen them. the last time was at my wedding in 1981...!

auntie maring was the one who paid for our wedding reception. she had promised me that, if i were to marry in the philippines, she would butcher 2 pigs for my reception! i took her up on her offer -- we were married in baguio 27 years ago (on friday!) and she gave us a scrumptious reception in her home that was really more like a grand family reunion... it was wonderful!!

there really is NOTHING like family to lift your spirits and make your heart sing!! despite being only 4'9," my auntie is a dynamo!! we were laughing SO much yesterday from all of her stories!! she is one crazy lady...! and i love her!!

she and uncle joe have 4 great-grandkids from 4 children. that really tickled my auntie to know that she had "surpassed" my mom in something...! i hope to be able to reconnect with my cousins. i didn't even know that my eldest cousin, kuya boy, has been living in hawaii for many years now...!! the others are here in the philippines, so i hope i can see them in the next few years. i would also like to visit auntie's home on the island of anda, the largest of pangasinan's thousand islands. maybe when all my kids come to visit, we can travel together and visit clark airbase, subic naval base, on our way to anda... i would love for my kids to meet their relatives on their grandma's side...

so, even though i've had to put my plans for Christmas shopping and buying pasalubong for our trip back to LA next tuesday on the backburner while auntie maring and uncle joe are here, i gladly do so, because it's SO good and SO important to reconnect with family!

Mom update...

after 10 days in Chong Hua Hospital for an asthma attack, followed by a heart attack & the discovery of several other ailments, my mom will be released from the hospital tomorrow (tuesday) afternoon.

i have to say that i'm very glad for this development. i was concerned that she might not be released until later in the week which would mean things would be more hectic around here because of the EL-TS Christmas Party on saturday, 12/13, and the EL Church-Forest Hills Christmas activities on sunday, 12/14. so, i'm thankful that God answered our prayers for an early release for her. not to mention the fact that dan and i leave in a week to return to CA to spend the holidays with the kids. i'm just very thankful that i'll still be here for a few days to make sure everything is working well for my mom here at home.

it has also been quite tiring for us to be going back and forth to the hospital. i'm getting concerned about my dad who is looking more tired with each day that passes. we can't afford to have him get sick also...! with my mom home, he won't have to make those twice daily trips to see her. our trips to the hospital also had to coincide with buying her meds for the next 24 hours. so, that means i usually go in the mornings to make the purchases and my dad comes after lunch to spend a few hours with her.

juliebeth tibon has been a godsend to us. she stays with my mom from late afternoon, through the night and doesn't leave until i arrive @ mid-morning. she will still be helping even when my mom is home, but at least she won't have to travel far to see my mom. (her family lives in the apartment on the lower level of ELIM compound.)

so, God IS good -- all the time! my mom had a mandatory "vacation" that included a full physical check-up. i believe she will be good for another "50,000 miles," now that she has all the meds that she needs to have a better quality of life. it will be more expensive, that's for sure, but at least all her physical problems (diabetes, asthma, heart) will be under control.

what's awesome to me is when she talks about telling God, when she was having such difficulty breathing, that she's ready to go home, she felt such peace come over her. she didn't have an out-of-body experience. nor did she see a white light. she just felt this tremendous peace wash over her...

i do admire her for her strong will and determination. but, i am most grateful to God for allowing us to have her around for a little while longer... i am also thankful that this happened after my dad had recovered from his depression. if this had happened last year, i seriously doubt that my dad would have been able to cope and it could have driven him into a more serious and deeper depression. so, God's timing is impeccable and He really does care about those little details in our lives.

the chorus of that beautiful hymn, "Does Jesus Care?" really holds true...

Oh, YES, He cares. I know He cares. His heart is touched with my grief.
When the days grow weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Saviour cares.

AMEN and AMEN!!

November 29, 2008

This morning, we rushed my mom to emergency. She couldn't breathe and her nebulizer was no longer doing what it needed to do. she was diagnosed with high levels of CO2 in her lungs which caused her to lose consciousness. She really could have died, but God has graciously granted her a reprieve. She has pneumonia in her right lung. her blood sugar level @ 530 this morning was at 370, more than 3x the normal levels of 60-100. @ 5pm, her blood sugar was down to 127 and they're now only giving her 2cc insulin/hour (anyway, i think that's what they said...). her ECG showed some irregular schema, so my dad's cardiologist, lerma noval, was added to the roster of doctors. my mom says her heart is OK but she will have to be on maintenance meds from now on. same with her asthma. she really should have been taking maintenance meds for that long before now. right now, she's on a ventilator to help her breathe.

i'm thankful for my husband who drove us to the hospital this morning and stayed with us most of the morning. i'm thankful for the arcos and garingos who came to visit and pray with my mom this morning. i'm thankful for juliebeth tibon who is willing to stay and watch her this afternoon and part of tonight. i'm SO thankful for maribeth llamera for finding Dr Roger Sy and staying with my mom for several hours today and being the liaison between the hospital staff and the family. we are truly blessed to have such caring people around us!

the saga will continue in the next post...