Let Me Be Myself

“Let me be myself so I can shine with my own light…let me be myself for a while.”

Sometimes, it takes a lot of strength to just be ourselves.

If your right eye causes you to sin…

“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” – Matt. 5:29

How painful it is to gouge out your own eye, don’t you think?

Before, I thought this verse was literal.  What really is the very essence of this?  If I’d follow this literally, I’d look like those victims from the movie Jeepers Creepers.

Some people say the eye is the window to the soul.  And it is more often than not, that body part that’s easily inclined to sin, since we really can’t control the things we see.  Lust is something that doesn’t only pertain to people, but also to material things.  It is a deep desire to possess something that belongs to another regardless of the consequences, and oftentimes starts with just one look. But the commandments clearly say: “Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his goods…”  What must we do to avoid this?

The Observance of Lent – Biblical or Pagan?

I do not recall as growing up the observance of Lent, other than my best friend in High School being Catholic gave up certain foods during a time around Easter. She was very self-disciplined, and I remember that what ever it was she gave up; she stuck to it for the entire forty days. After becoming a Christian, I realized her efforts, however noble, was not biblical, nor necessary.

When did the custom of lent really began?  It began in the second century, as fasting, and abstaining from certain foods was imposed after the days of the apostles by the priests.

The Lenten season is believed to be a biblical custom of penitence and abstinence, beginning on “Ash Wednesday”’ Lent comes from the word Lencten, referring to the spring of the year. Originally it was associated with the spring but today it begins in the winter.

Five Reasons Why God Uses Problems

The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you – depending on how you respond to them. Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring.

Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:

Our Guiding Star

“To us she was the symbol of the world we wanted: a world where people could speak their minds without disappearing, where public servants actually served, where leaders were honest, just, selfless, intelligent and dignified.”

- Jessica Zafra, “Our better selves” (Philstar.com)

Last week, the Philippines had lost one of the greatest, if not the greatest leader it ever had.

Cross-less Christians

“Whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” - Luke 14:27

We live in a cross-less society, where people are not willing to carry their own burdens or endure any trouble. Even some Christians want their faith to be light, worry-free, and non-challenging to their life-style choices. It’s as if we’re saying to Christ and His first disciples, “that cross carrying stuff is old-fashioned. We want to emerge as new Christians, who are free to reject what we don’t like of the old ways and re-invent our faith. We want it all to be light and fluffy, likeable and popular. We don’t want to carry nasty crosses anymore.”

Situation Ethics: Pig+Lipstick

Reposted from http://www.verticalthought.org

Would you ever kiss a pig? What if the pig were wearing lipstick? From a distance it might look a little better. But when you got closer, you’d find the same dirty, smelly pig. Situation ethics is just another way of rejecting God’s law. By dressing it up with concepts like love and consideration, some try to make it look better—like putting lipstick on a pig.

by Barry Korthuis

You’re probably wondering what ethics has to do with swine and makeup. Granted, it’s a strange picture. But it is a good way to understand the code of conduct most people have embraced today. Before we get to the pig and lipstick, let’s consider a little background on ethics.

Ethics means the principles that determine morality and acceptable conduct. Everybody has ethics, whether they consciously think about their ethical principles or not.

Farewell, Kiko…

Francis Duran Magalona (October 4, 1964 – March 6, 2009)

A legend has passed away. For a Filipino like me, who wouldn’t know this guy, Francis M? A lot of people looked up to him, specially the young pinoys all over the world.

Letter From A Christian

Reposted from http://www.christianblog.com:

“I have many family members and relatives who are atheist, and also ungodly in their lifestyles.

Despite witnessing to them, praying for them all these years.
They have yet to come to faith, at times it can be discouraging.
Still I will continue to walk with God and hope for their best.

Waterfall

“Here I am dying to say I am desperate for Your touch… I fall upon this desert ground, and I am empty at Your feet. Will You break me now? Will You take me in Your grace?” “Take me deeper in love, take me deeper with You Where the streams of Your mercy run… Feel Your waves over me, feel Your power over me In the roar of Your waterfall.” “Wash away the hidden stains of my falleness, I pray; I’ll tell the world of all You’ve done, of Your saving power in me.” “Saturate me now, ever leave me in Your grace.” “Take me deeper in love, take me deeper with You Where the streams of Your mercy run… Feel Your waves over me, feel Your power over me In the roar of Your waterfall.” -Reuben Morgan, Waterfall