Let's see how many people can do this and until when.
Every day, think of one thing that you are thankful for and post it here. "Today I am thankful for..." The longer you do it, the harder it gets but the natural it becomes! God's word encourages to give thanks for everything. God is so faithful to us even if we're not. Our thanksgiving will result to praises and will end to worship God. And with this kind of worship, God will surely find you, to meet with you!
Try it! I assure you, you'll like it (and God loves it!). Let's develop a thankful heart everyday!
Now if you think you can do it then re-post this message as your status to invite others to take the challenge, then post what YOU are thankful for today.  Malou’s Surprise Birthday Celebration We planned for this after the “One Life To Live” preaching series! I really wanted to give Malou her first “surprise” birthday celebration. I talked with some of Alabang’s finest event coordinators (for practice) and asked them about some ideas about this. They took care of everything. Coordinate with some of Malou’s close friends (though the invitation was short and not everyone was invited…sorry for that). Looked for one of the best, if not the best, caterer (naks! Ayos ba Ms Lhen Santos). Set the place design and name it… it was really awesome!  She didn't’t have any hint from me, nor from our children about this. One coordinator went to our house to look for some of Malou’s pictures while she was out in a meeting. Another coordinator went to take videos of me and our children’s descriptions and wishes for Malou. I asked another single from Alabang to invite Malou and me for a “counseling” (just for front). Then we all proceeded to Alabang Victory Center to fetch our kids (kunyare lang) and boom, the surprise began! She was teary eyed (pinigil lang kaya umakyat ulit yung luha sa mata). We had a short program – Ptr Chico and his son, Jokko, serenaded us while we’re eating (great tandem, bro…bakit di kayo mag-recording?), had a game, and “batian” portion. One high light was the “photo booth” for everyone (‘di nga lang umabot na ma-develop agad). I had some of the pictures posted here and in my “facebook” account. I believe it was a very memorable birthday for Malou ( and also for me). I felt like garnering “1,000-pogi points” for that!I wish all of you were there to celebrate with us (but I felt your spirits naman with us there… lol). I also wanted to thank Rhemie, Anj, Kristel, Marc, Kats, and the other singles who helped. Ms Lhen Santos for the food. Ms Miel for the tables and balloons. Some of the Alabang Pastors & wives, staff, some friends from Ortigas, Mlaou's 2 leadership groups, and all who were there to show their love for Malou. We will never forget that night and will treasure it as long as we live! Praise and glory to God! Yes, you read it right, I backslid! It may be hard to admit, but I did! It may not be appropriate to say but it’s true! It may not be good for me, as a pastor, to say it but I can’t deny it!
I know that many of you who are reading this are shocked. I can’t imagine how my friends would react upon learning what happened to me. I don’t know how it happened, when it all started, and what caused me to stop doing what I love to do before. My peers continually encourage me to go back, the pastors always counsel me on this saying the benefits I enjoyed before. My wife would remind me every morning of what I should do with this. My two younger kids are even willing to do some things with me just for me to go back. The pastors of Alabang had their part of pushing me to go back. I was planning to talk with some pastor friends for mine about this like Ptr Ferdie Cabiling of Ortigas and Ptr Jun Escosar of the Fort, but fear that they might rebuke me. They might not understand what I’m going through because of their passion on these matters.
I need some help! I need some boost! I need more push! HELP ME, I stopped biking and running with my group! I have backslid from these! Driving my kids to school ate my time for these! I know that my family is a priority, but I want to go back to biking and running! What should I do? HELP ME!
LAKAS NG ISANG AMA Ang lakas ng isang ama ay hindi sa lapad ng kaniyang mga balikat. Ito’y nadarama sa higpit ng kaniyang mga yakap. Ang lakas ng isang ama ay hindi sa lagong at lakas ng kaniyang boses. Kundi sa marahan niyang tinig. Ang lakas ng isang ama ay hindi sa dami ng kaniyang mga kabarkada. Ito’y sa kung paano siya makisama sa kaniyang mga anak. Ang lakas ng isang ama ay hindi sa kung paano siya tinitingala ng kaniyang mga ka-opisina. Ito’y sa kung paano siya iginagalang sa tahanan. Ang lakas ng isang ama ay hindi sa kung gaano siya katindi sumuntok. Ito’y sa mapagmahal niyang haplos. Ang lakas ng isang ama ay hindi sa lago ng buhok sa kaniyang dibdib. Ito’y sa laki ng pusong tinitibok ay pag-ibig. Ang lakas ng isang ama’y hindi sa bigat ng kaniyang binubuhat. Ito’y sa mga kabigatang kaya niyang bathin. Ang lakas ng isang ama ay hindi sa dami ng babaeng kaniyang pina-ibig. Ito’y kung gaano siya katapat magmahal sa kaniyang natatanging kabiyak.  | Mommy | May 9, '09 1:17 PM
for everyone |
 As we celebrate "Mother's Day" today, let's give honor to whom honor is due!
I want to share a little about my mom. My mom's name is Teresita Cusi Oaman. Born April 28, 1929. She graduated with a degree in Education. She loves teaching. And that's probably the gift she imparted to me and my eldest sister. She's a simple lady with a simple dream of bringing us three siblings up in the fear of the Lord. She may not believe the way I do but she imparted to us how it is to love God and serve Him. She's a hard-working woman from her younger years until she retires. She's not perfect, but a model mom to many in our place at Bacood, Sta. Mesa. She was even elected as one of the counselors in our Barangay. She even taught us to be good stewards of everything we received. She placed high value on good education, saying that it's the only thing she can leave behind for us. She's the typical mom that would always be ready to sacrifice for her family. We won't hear her complain much  in life, thus, teaching us to trust and have faith in God in everything! And, I think, I got my humor from her because she would love telling us funny stories when we were kids. I thank God for my mom who is still very much alive and healthy today!
I know that we all have som ething good to say about our mom. Would you like to share something about your mother? Let's honor them right now as it will also bring honor to God!  Wishing everyone God's best and favor to abound in your life this coming year and beyond!  It's been a long time since the last blog I wrote! Not that nothing significant had happen in my life but simply because I'm really not into writing.  I just want to share with you what God has done and taught us this past days. We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary last Sept 22 and God blessed us in so many ways. There were friends who greeted us and has spoken blessings to us. We have a friend who blessed us with an overnight stay at Vivere Hotel in Alabang with our kids. We enjoyed every bit of it and acknowledge that these are all from God. But there's another thing the Lord has blessed us! An old friend of mine in Japan invited me to speak to their church's 13th anniversary. I was overwhelmed by this because it would be my first time in Japan, a place we've been praying for a long, long time. We're so excited with that though there were some problems we encountered during the preparation. But God is faithful, He helped us all the way through; from the visa, provision, and everything.  Somebody even blessed Malou with an additional help for her fare! We encountered some problems in the booking and ticketing but we still experienced God's favor and help. When we checked in at the airport and was about to enter the boarding lounge, a staff from PAL called on us and said that we were transferred from the economy class to the business class without any extra charge. Though the flight a delayed still we're grateful for what God is doing to us at that moment. The food and accommodation in the business class was great! We really felt we're the children of the King! We arrived at Narita and it was raining, but I like the climate there! Our friend picked us up with another filipino worker with him. With this, I would say, and I know You will all agree, that God is good all the time! And as He had promise, " The Lord will bless the righteous and He surrounds them with favor as with a shield!" (Ps 5:12) More stories to come!  Pangalan: Havaianas Lugar na pinanggalingan: São Paulo , Brazil Pagbigkas:ah-vai-YAH-nas (Brazilian Portuguese) hah-vee-ah-naz (American English) OMG! hah-va-yaH-naZz! (Filipino) Materyal na ginamit: Malupit na goma (high-quality rubber). Presyo: Depende. Ganito na lang, 1 pares ng Havaianas = 100 pares ng Spartan. Mga nagsusuot: Mga konyotik at mga mayayaman (na noong una ay nababaduyan sa mga naka-de sipit na tsinelas at sasabihing, "Yuck! So baduy naman nila, naka-slippers lang.") Malulupit na katangian at kakayahan:- Masarap isuot. - Shock-absorbent - Malambot ngunit matibay - Makukuha sa sandamakmak na kulay, disenyo at burloloy - Maaaring isuot sa loob ng Starbucks - Mainam na pang-japorms - Mainam i-terno sa I-Pod at Caramel Macchiato - Mapipilitan kang maglinis ng mga kuko mo sa paa - Maaari ka nang mag-dikwatro sa loob ng mga pampublikong lugar at sasakyan - Magiging 'fashionable' ka kapag ikaw ay nagkukuyakoy Olats na mga katangian:Mahal! Mahal! Mahal! Pangalan: Spartan Lugar na Pinanggalingan: Metro Manila , Philippines Pagbigkas:spar-tan (American English), is-par-tan (Filipino). Materyal na ginamit: Pipitsuging goma (Low-quality rubber). Presyo: Wala pang 50 pesos. Isang pares ng Spartan = 20 piraso ng pan de coco. Mga nagsusuot: ang masa (gaya-gaya lang ang mga sosyal at pasyonista) Malulupit na katangian at kakayahan:- Maaring ipampatay sa ipis - Maaring ipampalo sa mga batang suwail at damuho - Pwedeng ipanglusong sa baha at putikan - Pwedeng ipamalengke - Mainam gamitin sa tumbang-preso - Mainam gawing 'shield' kapag naglalaro ng espa-espadahan - Mainam isuot sa siko bilang proteksyon habang naglalaro ng piko - Mainam na pambato sa picha o shuttlecock na sumabit sa puno - Mainam na pangkulob sa pumuputok na watusi - Kapag ginupit-gupit nang pahugis 'cube,' e maaari mo nang gawing pamato sa larong Bingo na kadalasang makikita sa mga lamay ng patay. Olats na mga katangian:- Madaling magkawalaan kapag hinubad dahil halos pare-pareho lang ang itsura - Masakit isuot kapag may mga balahibo ang mga daliri mo sa paa - Minsan kapag ipinambato mo ito sa picha o shuttlecock na nakasabit sa puno, e nadadamay pati yung tsinelas Note: This was sent to me and i just thought of sharing it to you!
When I was small, the Philippine peso was P2.00to the US dollar.
The president was Diosdado Macapagal. Life was simple. Life was easy.
My father was a farmer. My mother kept a small sari-sari store where our neighbors bought sang-perang asin, sang-perang
bagoong, sang-perang suka, sang-perang toyo at pahinging isang butil na bawang.
Our backyard had kamatis, kalabasa, talong, ampalaya, upo, batao, and okra.
Our silong had chicken. We had a pig, dog & cat. And of course, we lived on the farm.
During rainy season, my father caught frogs at night which my mother made into betute (stuffed frog), or just plain fried. During the day, he caught hito and dalag from his rice paddies, which he would usually inihaw.
During dry season, we relied on thechickens, vegetables, bangus, tuyo, and tinapa. Every now and then, there was pork and beef from the town market.
Life was so peaceful , so quiet, no electricity, no TV. Just the radio for Tia Dely, Roman Rapido, Jonny de leon Tawag ng Tanghalan and Tang-tarang- tang. And who can forget Leila Benitez on Darigold Jamboree?
On weekends, I played with my neighbours (who were all my cousins). Tumbang-preso, taguan, piko, luksong lubid,
patintero, at iba pa. I don't know about you, but I miss those days.
These days, we face the TV, Internet, e-mail, newspaper, magazine,grocery catalog, or drive around. The peso is
a staggering and incredible P44.00 to the USdollar.
Most people can't have fun anymore. Life has become a battle.
We live to work. Work to live.
Life is not easy. It was in Saudi Arabia in 1983. It was lonely, difficult, & scary. It didn't matter if you were a man or a
woman. You were a target for rape. The salary was cheap & the vacation far between. If the boss didn't want you to go on holiday, you can't.
They had your passport. Oh, and the agency charged you almost 4months of your salary (which, if you had to borrow on a "20% per month arrangement" meant your first year's pay was all gone before you even
earned it).
The Philippines used to be one of the most important countries in Asia .
Before & during my college days, many students from neighboring Asian countries likeMalaysia, Indonesia, Japan and China went to thePhilippines to get their diplomas. Like Thailand, they went to study agriculture in UP Los Banos and
earned their bachelors in the Phils and now we import rice from them. Its opposite now.
Philippines used to be the exporter of any agriculture products but now its different. We import because not much land (farms) they can cultivate due to private sectors who focused on developing houses, buildings, supermarkets, mall and others.
What happened now?
Whats the government doing?
Checking their own pocket, their own personal interest and pork barrels.
Wow!
Until 1972,like President Macapagal, President Marcos? was one of the most admired presidents of the world.
The Peso had kept its value of P7.00 to the US dollar until I finished college . Today, thePhilippines is famous as the "housemaid" capital of the world.
It ranks very high as the "cheapest labor" capital of the world, too. We have maids in Hong Kong, laborers in Saudi Arabia,
dancers in Japan, migrants and TNTs in Australiaand the US, and all sorts of other "tricky" jobs in other parts of the globe.
Quo Vadis, Pinoy? Is that a wonder or a worry? Are you proud to be a Filipino, or does it even matteranymore?
When you see the Filipino flag and hear the Pambansang Awit, do you feel a sense of pride or a sense of defeat & uncertainty?
If only things could change for the better...... . Hang on for this is a job forSuperman. Or whom do you call?Ghostbusters. Joke. Right?
This is one of our problems.
We say "I love the Philippines .. I am proud to be a Filipino."
When I send you a joke, you send it to everyone in your address book even if it kills the Internet.
But when I send you a note on how to save our country & ask you to forward it, what do you do?
You chuck it in the bin.
I want to help the maids in Hong Kong ...
I want to help the laborers in Saudi Arabia ...
I want to help the dancers in Japan ...
I want to help the TNTs in America and Australia ...
I want to save the people of the Philippines ..
But I cannot do it alone. I need your help and everyone else's.
So, please forward this e-mail to your friends.
If you say you love the Philippines, prove it. And if you don't agree with me, say something anyway.
Indifference is a crime on its own .
Juan dela Cruz
 The last time I was at VCF Galleria was in September, 2006. I was grateful to Ptr Ferdie for allowing me to preach in our Galleria Church last Sunday, both the 1 & 3pm services. We really miss the the Church (people) there and the services. I have to hold on my tears (naks!) as I saw some old friends and acquaintances. Their reception to us (and of course to the preaching of God's Word) was overwhelming. The support of the tech people there were also amazing! Thanks also to Mike L and Henry (the powerpoint guy) and the lady service coordinator ( sorry, i forgot the name) were also great! When we were just waiting for the door to open, we were staying outside the center and people who knew us started greeting us and were surprised upon seeing us! It's really overwhelming and very touching. I had a little chat with Ptr Manny and Doc Demy before the service started.
When the praise and worship started, it was the same intensity i felt when I was still with them. They ministered prayers to the in the middle of the worship and had the program going. Ms Joy M approached me during the welcome part and i greeted Doc Soc. Shane did a great job during the transition and altart call for salvation. Ptr Manny introduced me and I went to share Mark 10 about the story of the reich young man. They had a new series on the "Outrageous Saying s of Jesus." As usual, I enjoyed the preaching of the Word and the people were so receptive of the Word! Same went on for the 3pm service except that one of our worship team from Alabang, led by Rey Lizardo, rocked the house when they gave a special number after the giving exhortation. They sang "He Reigns" to the beat of Hip Hop and the people there were stunned! Some said that they thought it was a concert. It was really great and we all enjoyed it. Before Doc Demy introduced me he was teasing the people about their reaction to the special number.
After the service, Doc Demy and Doc Soc, with their son Juni, invited us to eat at a Mediterranean resto besides the cinema. We have talked about a lot of things and after that we met another couple friend of ours and a former part of our leadership group (Peter & Gemma Chua and Gio M.). We had a great fellowship and we parted around past 9pm! It was a great experience seeing and having fellowship with former friends and acqauintances. We are also grateful to Ptr Ariel for allowing us to visit other Churches (dapat nga ibang Church eh) during our break series to see what God is doing there! Thanks also for our 9 & 1pm Team, Ptr Jun, Ptr King (sho preached the Word) and Francis, for manning the 1pm service while I was out! I also wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate Ernie Canda, one of our small group leaders and faithful worker, for his wonderful and challenging message during the 9am service! Keep it up, Ernie!
At the end of all these, God is really great and awesome for what He has, and is still doing in our midst, to Him be the glory forever! Thank You, Lord, for everything and for making us part of your Team!  Victory Alabang has just concluded their Week of Prayer and Fasting last Jan 15, 8:00pm and God's presence showed up! We had a powerful praise and worship followed by a short exhortation of Ptr Ariel about the God of the Breakthrough. We had after that power-filled pack testimonies from different people who already had their breakthroughs in different aspects of their life - extension of son's life, personal healing and brother's healing, ministry breakthrough, career promotion, sending of her son abroad without spending a single centavo. it was followed by another power-praise "Lord of the Breakthrough." There was an approximately 700 people who joined us that night! What a sight!!! After that, we concluded the night with a "lugaw" feast (of course dahan dahan lang) and joy was seen in every people's face. Try to see the pix on this link: http://www.victoryalabang.org 2007 is almost over in a few hours, and another year is fast approaching! Maybe, to some this is the time to write their New Year's resolutions; assessing the past and adjusting for the future. To some, they'll be facing the new year with excitement and optimism; maybe to others, with fear and apprehensions. To some, they would seek different ways and people to have a glimpse of what waits them in 2008.
As we face 2008, let's set aside the principle of "QUE SERA SERA," whatever will be, will be! The future's not ours to see, QUE SERA SERA. I thank God, He already gave us a glimpse of what He has prepared for us even long ago! He said, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Others may even say that 2008 is the Year of Whatever, but my God says that this is the Year of the Lord's goodness! He has crowned the year with His bounty, and our carts will overflow! with abundance
If we will just prepare for our God-given opportunities, seek His will, and His grace working in our lives then we can boldly declare with all conviction that "WE ARE DESTINED TO BE GREAT IN 2008!"
With this in mind, if I may borrow my mentor's idea, "That 2008 and beyond will be SO BRIGHT that we gotta wear our shades!" (Thanks Ptr. Ferdz)
 It's amazing that the Bible starts and end with marriage! The next major thing He did after the creation is to institute marriage and one of the last major thing that will happen is the marriage of the Lamb! I believe that with this we can understand God's heart.
If we are so excited and looking forward on our wedding day here on earth, God is more excited on that day that we'll, as the Bride of Christ, meet Him and be with Him forever! The Bible says, that as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride so will our God rejoices over us (His Church). but before that glorious day comes, I believe that the Church, corporately, should prepare as the Bride of Christ. There will come a day that the wedding of the Lamb will come and the bride has made herself ready.
Jesus loves His Church so much that He gave up Himself for her so we can be set apart for Him to be holy. He will be presenting her to Himself as a radiant Church, without spot or wrinkle or any other blemish.In short, He is doing a lot of things in the Church today as part of the preparation for that special day! He is the One preparing the Church and we ought to cooperate with Him.
We need to be careful how live our lives until Jesus returns for us. I believe we need to live a life that honors and pleases God. And best of all, let's remain faithful to our Groom as we wait for His return.
Are you prepared to meet your Groom?  Paul was so vivid when he used our physical body as an analogy of Jesus' Church! God's people that portrays the different parts of the "Body" should unite and function the way God wants us to be. I like the way how Paul said it that every part has different functions and that every part belongs to one another. For me, on one side, it means that we don't have to envy other parts that we thought better than us; and on the other extreme, we don't have to be arrogant that we thought we don't need the other parts or we're better than them! We have different calling and gifting but we should not be independent of each other but inter-dependent; we should not compete with each other but we complete one another!
Three random thoughts on Paul's message on 1 Corinthians 12:12-24:
1. We should accept one another (vv 12-13)
- no racial, social, and sexual (Galatians 3:28) discrimination
2. We should know our place in the Body (vv 14-20)
- no envy but be secured
- Jesus doesn't just want converts but committed servants and disciples
3. We should function in our calling and gifting (vv 21-26)
- no complaining ad major on what you have
God calls you to be part of Jesus' Body, the "Church" (v 27).
Will you respond to Him?
If you have already responded, have you discovered your place and functions the God wants you to be? When I was a young kid I would think of the "church" as anything - place, building, structure, etc - but never people. That's why many times I would invite my friends to "go to church" at least once a week. Little do I know that Jesus was not talking to a place or a building, or a structure when He spoke to His disciples in Matthew 16, but He was talking to "a called-out assembly of people".
The "church" is an assembly of people (individually or collectively) that responds to the call of Jesus, that when Peter took hold of that revelation he wrote of the church as a "chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people belonging to God." What do you think was on Peter's mind was Jesus' purpose for building His church? Was it just for the sake of having a church? Was it just for us to be religious? He said that we may show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light! In short, the "church" is the "revealer of God's glory to the world!" Wherever we are, whatever we do, God's glory should always be seen by the people around us. I'm not just limiting God's glory to His manifested presence, which is great; but even to small details in our lives like the way we talk and walk.
The church becomes the revealer of God's glory because she bears the name of Christ. And along with that thought comes the power and authority in His name. And because the church bears His name, she now becomes an "agent of change" in this world. Change should first be seen in our lives. His power changes us from glory to glory, then things around us will also change through us for God's glory! Jesus gave the church the power and authority (keys of the kingdom) that even the gates of Hades shall not prevail against her.
If YOU are the "CHURCH," do you bear His name (power & authority) and is an agent of change for His glory?   I have read about Ptr Steve's blog on Ptr Jack Hayford's meeting with Every Nation Pastors in Nashville. Check out the BLOG!
How I love to gain wisdom from people like this man who has been to a lot in the area of leadership in the ministry. It's harvest time! This is our 1pm Service at Alabang. God is truly drawing people to Jesus at this point in time. The harvest is truly plenty but the workers are few. Our place can no longer contain the influx of people desiring to hear the preaching of God's Word and wanting to experience God in their personal lives. This is now the scene every week in this service.
We are now facing a great challenge of discipling all these people, not only that, but the problem of where to accomodate these people! We are still negotiating with Festival Supermall to give a bigger place (just across our center on the 4L) that could sit around, maybe, a thousand people more. We even thought of changing our chairs into smaller ones (at least it may add to another 100 seating capacity).
The 9am Service is also picking up, as well as the other services we have (11, 3, & 5pm Services). We are all rejoicing and yet challenged to plug these people in our small groups. We needed God's wisdom and guidance on how to prepare these people fulfill their own God-given destinies.
Thanks to our Senior Pastor, Ariel Marquez, for allowing me to be part of his great team, especially the Tagalog Service Team. Also to our teamates: Ptr Jun Divierte, Ptr King Lucero, the Ushering Team, the Tech people, of course, the Kids' Church Team headed by Ptr Mark Tusoy, and all the small group leaders of the 1pm Service. We trully worked hand in hand for all the services in Alabang.
For the meantime, we apologize for those who came late these past sundays that we were not able to accomodate them inside. More pix to follow for the other services! God is great!    | Blogging | Aug 21, '07 3:56 AM
for everyone |
What is this blogging? Probably we've heard a lot about it! Actually, I was into it even without understanding the whole concept of it! All I know is that you just write whatever goes into your mind and others will read and comment on it (whether positive or negative). I never thought that blogging is just like that not until Ms Thelma Bowlen of Everynation spoke on BLOGGING today, Aug 21, 2007 at 2pm in VCF Alabang. She started explaining that bloggin is really simple and that you don't have to be a writer to blog. She spoke defining blog, the reason why we blog, what to blog, how to do it, where to do it, and opened my understanding on tags, links, and RSS. I mean, it was only today that I have understood what, why, how blogging really is! Thanks Ms Thelma, you' re a great blessing to us (and others)! Have you also been blogging without understanding the important parts of it? Ask Ms Thelma (or your friends who know it) about it!  Have you ever been contain from where you are? I mean you're doing your small group and has been pulling your leg often times, having the "eto-na-naman" (here-it-goes-again) attitude. Or maybe you already have your small group and has been satisfied of what you are or where you are! Or maybe, you have your OUTREACH group that has been with you for one or two years. Or maybe, your group is getting bored because nothing is new, nobody is added (for many months or years).
But you know in your heart that you can achieve more, go for more, conquer more! You know that you have what it takes to seize, overcome, defeat the enemies, and conquer! You have been seeking God what to do and how to do it! Don't loose heart! If these have been the cry of your heart, then attend our Leaders' Rally on Saturday, Sept 1, 1-3pm, in Alabang!
Hope to see you all there, Champ! | |
