If you’re about to loose everything, will you still trust and praise God?
When I met Jesus — for who he really is — 10 years ago, one of my battle cry was “Jesus is enough”. He is enough to give comfort, joy, eternal security. He is enough when we feel inadequate. He is enough when life seems to fall apart. He is enough even if you’ll loose everything.
Matt Chandler is a very popular pastor in the US. He leads a successful church, The Village Church, that ministers to thousands of people. He is a well-known speaker in conferences. And, with his words, it seems that at 35 years old, God has given him victory after victory in this life.
Not until the morning of Thanksgiving day. He had a seizure and was rushed to the hospital. They found a tumor in his frontal lobe and has undergone surgery last Friday. He recorded this video before this operation.
If you’re about to loose everything, is Jesus enough? Watch this video and be encouraged — or even be led into repentance for trusting on what you have even knowing that Jesus should be enough in our lives.
This month is Halloween month. So at Grace Place, we thought of having a series for that. It’s called, “So you’re dead… now what”. It talks about anything about the after life. It’s a very uncomfortable topic, but heck we know we’re all going to die. It’s better to know what’s next than not at all!
This week, we’re talking about Hell. As my wife said, it’s a good topic, no body wants to talk about it, so let’s bring it on. While preparing for my grace group tonight, these thoughts run through my mind.
- We’re all going to die. Oh, yeah, we are. Whatever life altering procedure you do, we’re all going to die.
- There are 2 major views of death. I came from a tradition that says when you die, you sleep (a.k.a the doctrine of “soul sleep”). I changed camp. Most evangelicals believe that when you die, you continue to exist and will either directly go to heaven or hell (a.k.a. the doctrine of “Immortality of the Soul”). I will have a few Adventists on my grace groups, and if this question will be raised, I’m just going to say, “You continue to believe what you know is true, I believe mine, and it’s alright. Because whether the soul sleeps or is awake when you die is not the real issue. The real issue is, what are you doing now that you’re alive so that you’ll know exactly where you’re going in the after life?
- Heaven is real.
- Hell is real. But we don’t want to talk about it. Because we want to live as if it doesn’t exist.
- You won’t see your buddies in hell. You won’t drink beers with them, won’t laugh with them, won’t party with them. In hell, you’re going to be all alone. All by yourself. Nobody to talk to. In utter darkness.
- God doesn’t want us to go to hell. In the first place, hell is created for Satan. But because of our sinfulness and God’s holiness, we’re going there. And if we do, that doesn’t mean God didn’t do anything to save you. He did EVERYTHING you can imagine when he sent Jesus on earth and die a criminal’s death. You just don’t want to do anything with Jesus today. You simply want to do what you want to do with your life. And God will let you. Go. To. Hell.
We have a way to say this back in the province: “Isaksak mo yan sa baga mo!”
This is exactly what I want to tell some “Christians”, self-proclaimed theologians, self-proclaimed spiritual police who lives out of bashing other Christians that doesn’t believe the way they do.
Today was hell in Metro Manila. Flash floods raged. People are trapped on their roofs. Some pregnant women even gave birth while waiting to be rescued — while in their roof! Then a wise “theologian” posted this on his Facebook account:
Funny how people only come to God in times of disasters, and yet they don’t see anything wrong with that. Doesn’t matter anyway ‘coz we all gonna go to Heaven right? Nothing is farther from the truth.
Huh!?
People are suffering and all you can think of is your correctness? This angers me. I mean, really angered me. We’re Christians claiming to believe in Jesus and all we can think of is how correct we are? Did we even try to pray for those who are trapped on their roofs and calling to God for the first time in their lives? Did you do anything else? Like help those in need in your area? Or donate to Red Cross? Or Tweet about those who needs help?
It confirms what others have been telling — that Christians are good in talking and not doing. Where is compassion among God’s people? I thought we’re God’s hands and feet? Or do you want to define what “compassion” in Greek first?
Will people be thinking about Calvinism or even eternity in times like these?
Upon my dialogue with this guy, he said that being concern of their eternity is much important than the temporal. Well, duh! Tell that to the hungry people in Africa. Tell that to the people who are still in danger, on their roof top in Marikina. And tell that to Jesus, when he said:
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’… “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.‘” Matt. 26:35-40
Just so that everyone knows, this guy does represent some bunch of “intellectuals” inside the church. Their job is to hunt heresies. But most of what they do is just behind their computer screens. They don’t actually do the hard work of reaching to people — giving them hope, providing for their felt needs and loving them physically not just virtually. BUT, they don’t represent the Church that Jesus Christ built. The Church that he built is relevant. It cares. NOT JUST for the people’s eternity, but also for the here and now. Jesus cared, and so we should. I pray that the Church will stay that way.
People who read this: evangelical Christians are not like this guy. We actually care.
If anyone will talk to me that way in person, I’m going to shove your theology books down your throat. That’s unchristian, but I don’t mind doing that.
I kind of created an unwanted tension between my friends on Facebook when I posted a link to a blog post by former Miss Philippines Universe Joyce Burton-Titular about Ms. California being the most famous first runner up. If you’ve been around the blogsphere, you know about the buzz. During the Miss USA pageant, Miss California was asked by showbiz blogger Perez Hilton about what she thinks on same sex marriages. She answered with conviction, she doesn’t support it. It became very controversial, it even came to a point where she was about to be stripped off her Mis CA crown.
On one side, some friends of mine (really close ones) said Miss California, by rejecting same sex marriage, claims to be a Christian but is inaccurately representing it by her actions. On another side, a friend of mine said we should stop criticizing her for the other things that she’s doing and instead praise her for taking a stand. I hope to defuse the tension a bit by giving my own (hopefully diplomatic) stand.
First of all, in my opinion, Ms. CA did a great job at answering the pageant question. I’m not saying whether I agree or disagree with her answer. All I’m saying is she did a great job. She was asked with a controversial question, what else can you expect but a controversial answer. What she did is simply to answer the question with conviction — exactly what a pageant like this requires. If she answered differently with the same conviction, she will still get an A from me.
Secondly, in my understanding, as far as civil rights are concerned, this is not an issue whether same sex marriages are moral or not. The issue is the definition of marriage — is marriage between a man or a woman, or is it time to redefine its meaning? You only have two choices and Miss CA took the former definition.
And lastly, while I think Miss CA did a great job in standing for her Christian conviction, it is true that some reports did say that she was inconsistent with it. But, on the other hand, isn’t that an issue for all of us? I mean, who can say that we’re always consistent with our own beliefs? Isn’t that the goal of a growing Christian — little by little to become like Jesus and be consistent with our beliefs? In the meantime, we’re all going to mess up. But thank God for his grace.
I do have my own opinion on gay marriages. But since I do not live in the US nor this is going to be an issue here in the Philippines, at least for now, I’m just going to hold my piece. In any case, US President Obama — largely liberal president whom I suppose supports gay marriages, and Rick Warren, an evangelical pastor that rejects it, are friends. Warren prayed for Obama on the inaugural. I think it’s the best way to say that we can all live together in harmony even if we have different convictions.
Want to see my dad when he was 33 years old? There you have it on the right side.
No, not really.
That’s me. ;-) But if you know my dad, you’ll agree that I looked just like him — only younger.
I was browsing over at Gayle’s photo page looking for shots for the new Grace Place website when I came across this picture. I thought I saw my dad!
I suddenly missed him. Especially that my car’s power steering has been needing the fluid for 2 weeks now and I can’t find where the heck is that hole where I place the fluid. Gah. Stupid.
My dad, he’s a genius. In a lot of things. In cars, in music — sings very well, in the farm, knows animals. One really cool guy. I wish I can be just a portion of what he is in terms of handling pressures in life.
This picture is in honor of my dad, who will be here in Manila on Friday to fix my car.
Oh, and yes, I also love my mom. ;D When everything settles in, she’s be the first to benefit from it. Ma, you know what I mean.
Arnold Gamboa. Jesus' follower. Joyce' lover. Johann's and Arwen's playmate. Team Sparrow leader. LifeChurch Makati's servant. Know more about this blog here.
I kind of created an unwanted tension between my friends on Facebook when I posted a link to a 