@ "Dukot"

http://www4.calvarychapel.com/

Just got back last night from a refreshing 3 day conference in Baguio (2008 Regional Calvary Chapel () Pastor & Worker's Conference). It was so much fun and spiritually encouraging! The theme of the conference is PREPARING THE BRIDE and we went through the book of 1 Thessalonians. =) It was sweet!

I like what our Pastor said (Kuya Juni), "How bad is it when we see the Bride, 3 hours before the wedding, calling her ex-boyfriends and telling them how much she misses them" In reality, we always find ourselves in this ironic picture and that's what we're doing if when we ignore God and give into worldy things. I just want to encourage everyone to ponder on this and may we desire to be prepared and be set apart only for our one and only husband to be, JESUS! Another Pastor said, the moment we forget that Jesus is coming soon, we will not move forward and seek Jesus intimately, we will find ourselves doing the things our fleshy desires want to do. NEVER FORGET JESUS is coming SOON! =)

Also, where there is much encouragement, Satan is always there to discourage! On our last day, we had an evangelizm activity at People's Park. On my way to Burnham Park along with Daniel and DJ (2 boys from our youth group) to share, my phone got stolen in just a split second! I was consciously guarding my phone but with just a twinkling of an eye that I didn't think about my phone, it got stolen! GRABE!

Please delete my number in your phone directory. =) I just want to encourage all of us, to NEVER take our eyes off of JESUS! Because the moment we put our guard down, Satan will do everything he can to put us down and discourage us! =) Thoughts On Jesus Always! =)

The LORD gives and takes away but let His name be praised FOREVER!!! =)

God bless ya'll! <><

CORE MANILA OUTREACH 2008

PASSION...PURPOSE...PRAYER...

Starting Friday last week until Sunday was the best SPIRIT FILLED days of my new life chapter in Manila! I was given the opportunity to fellowship and serve along with the college CORE outreach team from my home church (Calvary Chapel Dumaguete)!

I just want to share what the team did the whole week starting with DAY 1 first. I was hoping to join them for the whole week but God thought best for me to join them on their 4th DAY instead. =D

Just a quick back ground, the college CORE fellowship is led by our Youth Pastor, Jerry Camacho along with other college servants under his leadership. I was part of the CORE during my college days and it blesses me very much to see some of the guys whom I was serving before serve with Kuya Jerry today! Every year, come October, during the college semestral break, Kuya Jerry invites his CORE members and other college students who are interested to go on an outreach. I have been part of 2 CORE outreaches, one in Cebu (2006) and one in Manila (2007). Kuya Jerry prepares the TEAM 2 months in advance, mainly teaching the team how to share their faith to strangers, how to make personal devotions, and more importantly to be able to share ones testimony whether for 3mins, 5mins, or 10 mins! Our testimonies are our primary weapon. =D

On top of those, we prepare for children ministry and youth ministry as well. We were always taught that the best way to minister is to just love them like Jesus, to reach out in love even if it means to get down in the mud and play with the kids. The most important thing we need to learn is FLEXIBILITY. That’s why Kuya Jerry never tells anyone what itinerary is! We just need to be ready with our testimonies, devotions, and more importantly to serve in love in any kind of situation anytime. The key to accomplishing this is simple to empty ourselves with us and be filled with JESUS. It’s mandated from us to sleep early and wake up early for morning team devotions and worship. It's bittersweet because we want to stay up late and goof around and we want to wake up late to get the extra sleep!haha Kuya Jerry & Ate Marisa are very strict when it comes to this rule! They admit they are kill joy but the reason being is that they don't want to see us tired and sleepy when it's time for ministry. =) Yet more often than not, we sleep late and look tired in the morning...then we already know what to expect from KJ and Ate Marisa. =D Discipline!haha Like I said, it's bittersweet but I personally learn a lot from it! Thank you KJ and Ate Marisa! For always setting the standard! =)

Alright! I’ll stop here and let you enjoy the CORE OUTREACH team’s multiply account. I’m also uploading my account with outreach stuff. Expect videos, music, blogs, and more pictures from me. For now, please check them out here -->http://coreoutreach08.multiply.com/.

God bless! <><

Mother's Second Wedding

This is my mom. She's old but very young at heart. She's like my sister lang -- especially when we fight and argue which we often do. =) The main reason is because our spiritual views don't meet and thus we tend to clash all the time. My mom's a devoted catholic but slowly backsliding to becoming an agnostic, meaning "a" without -- "gnostic" knowledge. Basically, an Agnostic is someone who plays it safe. Believing that everything leads to God. Sounds good but very dangerous.

Anyhow, I've been praying for my mom for 5 years and counting. I've been PUSHing (Praying Until Something Happens) that she would have a personal relationship with God. Iv'e been dying to my self many times just to plant little seeds in her heart and many times I felt kneeling without hope.

I don't live with her today. She lives with her brother at Antonio's in Tagaytay. Yes, the restaurant Antonio's is owned by her brother (Tito Ton) and their house is literally below the resto. Great food! Kain kayo doon if you get the chance. =) My mom's an artist and she helps out decorating and designing some of the interiors in the restaurant. On the other hand, I live with my dad together with his 3rd family and my brother from his first family in Quezon City.=) Many actually perceive my situation to be difficult but really we are all very close -- like real siblings. =)

I try my best to visit my mom once or twice a month. I figured that she is happy the most when I'm around but ironically speaking she bites off of me a lot. =) I've already mastered the art of being patient towards her and I praise God that every time we see each other our "quality time" together has been improving. =) I have to tell you though, just recently, I have been feeling hopeless again; hopeless about my mom every realizing what it means to have a relationship with God -- and not just religion. BUT NOW, Praise God, my pessimistic feeling have shifted to pure optimistic faith and trust that all my prayers for her has not fallen on deaf ears! Of course not!=) YES! God has given me so much hope for my mom! That until the day comes she would stop breathing God will continue to be loving and gracious toward her, not wanting her to perish but to have everlasting life. =)

Here's to share a couple of HOPE scenes from her that really jerked the tears off of my eyes. Thanks to God! =)

First, was when she attended a Christian church again, and that time her reason for stepping in was to better understand me and relate to me. =)...

Second, she text ed me that she will attend more bible studies so that I'll be happy. =)...

The third one was yesterday. I got a text from her in the morning and she said, "Read Peter now chapter 1&2. I so blessed and I feel like locking my self inside the room. I don't feel like working but I have to.."

All I can say is Praise God!!! I just can't wait to see her fall in love again... =)