“We’ve got the larger portion of truths!”

I received a violent reaction today from a friend from another mailing list to whom I sent my “Roman Pope is 666?” email, along with other friends. She accused me of finding faults on Adventism and that I’m just trying to justify my leaving the denomination.

While I openly proclaim my exodus to Adventism, I never hated the denomination where I grew up in. In fact, I love them so much that I never abandon my ties with them and continue to share my journey with my friends and relatives with the hope that somehow, they will also experience the joy of being in Christ as I am experiencing it right now.

By the way, she also claimed that Adventists “hold a larger proportion of truth than does any other given church group in the world today.” I respect her, and I don’t want to say that it’s pure arrogance. But I have to. No denomination can claim they own a larger portion of the truth.

In the first place what is the “truth”?

Jesus said, “I am the TRUTH…” (John 14:6) Jesus is the embodiment of truth. He is the truth himself. Therefore, if you are have a relationship with THE TRUTH, how much truth do you still need? You may have an idea who the 666 is. Or you claim to have an interpretation to the most difficult portion of the book of Revelation. Yet you don’t have the “Truth”, you only have the “Self”. “I AM right, you are wrong”. “I KNOW more than you do”. “WE are the remnant church”.

Or maybe she’s saying Adventists “know more” Biblical doctrines than anybody else? It may be a good marketing tool or a good way to hold their members from leaving, but it does not necessarily mean it is correct. Who will declare they know more than any group in the first place, but themselves. How can you accept better revelation of truth when you are self sufficient? Can you honestly say maybe, just maybe, you are wrong if you see yourself above anybody else? I pray for God’s humility. I pray that they pray for God’s humility too.

On my part, I may not be able to declare that I know more than they do because I don’t, but at least I am embrasing THE truth — Jesus Christ.

Seeker-sensitivity and Worship

We are preparing for our fellowship’s 1st year anniversary celebration this coming Saturday. In this event, we’re inviting relatives and friends to join us. This article from Rick Warren is a good description on how to balance worship in a seeker-sensitive environment.

Manny PACK-ee-owww!!!

I am a boxing fan since i was a kid. I remember watching Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson and even the Filipino Dodie Boy Penalosa with my dad and neighbors.

Yesterday was like going back 15 years ago when almost the whole of Sunday, I was glued on the television with my brother-in-law and Joy (without any choice but to watch with me. :-) ). It’s worth it.

They even find it hard to pronouce his name, but as what a San Antonio, Texas based portal said, “Now, the world knows”.

I’ve never saw Manny so fast and so powerful as yesterday’s fight, at the expense of what the world considered the best featherweight, Marco Antonio Barrera.

I just hope Manny will keep it cool — fame could destroy harder than a punch if never contained.

My Tombstone

November 1 was All Saints’ Day. Filipinos have this tradition (supposedly inherited from the Spaniards) where we visit the cemetery on that day. I went with Joy to visit his dad’s at Loyola Memorial in Paranaque.

While roaming around, my attention was caught by the different texts written in tombstones. And then I wondered, “What would I want to be written in mine?” And so, as I composed in my head, I’d like mine to read:

By God’s grace, it can be a witness to the living who will read those words, and that they will know what’s the only way to that place called heaven.

The Holy Spirit Speaks

How do you know when the Holy Spirit speaks?

I’m a guy who forgets birthdays. Aside from Joy’s and mine’s, more often than not, I’ll forget everybody else’s. I remember a time when my brother and I still rent together an apartment. Two days had past when I over heard him talking with somebody on the phone, greeting him belated happy birthday. I realized I missed his birthday by 2 days! And we see each other everyday. :-) Same thing happened 2 years ago on my Mom’s birthday. If it weren’t my brother reminding me, I would have missed the day without even greeting her.

Today, October 28th, is my Dad’s birthday. I would have missed his birthday, too, not with Somebody’s help. My daily routine is to wake up at 8 am. Around 7:45 am, I had a dream. The dream was about a voice telling me the date today is Oct. 29. The 29th?! That would mean I missed my Dad’s birthday, again! So, in the midst of my dream, I woke up, picked up my cell phone, called my dad, and pretend his birthday was today and not “yesterday”.

I greeted him and had a little talk. After we hang up, I wondered why he never said “Today’s the 29th, yesterday’s my birthday.”

As you know, today’s the 28th and I did not miss his birthday.

How do you know when the Holy Spirit speaks? If it’s too urgent you wouldn’t miss it. Not that He didn’t know the exact date today, but I think if He told me in my dreams that today is the 28th, I would have allowed what Filipinos call the “maniana habit” (“I’ll do that later”) and would have relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the 15 mins before I woke up, did my routine, went to the office, and totally forget about the day today.