FAIR SUNSHINE

My family and I were once again privileged to proclaim the gospel in public, this time at the place where we frequented but really weren't able to preach to the people. The bibles being free helped bring the tracts which contained the gospel to the passers-by. We stayed till it got dark before proceeding to buy our needs, our audience being the vendors who were selling there. The rides weren't coming in as much and people spent a while waiting for jeeps and buses. This gave us ample time to present the cross to those who waited for their rides in front of us. There were odd people who stood where they weren't supposed to stand, and listened. Quite a few raised eyebrows, some visibly reacted, but most pretended not to hear. I can't imagine how many of these entertain divine notions of God's existence yet their hearts are devoid of any real affection for him? Such was I. Practical atheists in the heart. Those who deny God's existence are fools, but an even ...

A minister of the Lord is made by faith and prayer; never by enthusiasm, which is what much of our ministry is in our age. We want to do more, and wait less. Though we will not admit it, it is all through us and a little bit through the Lord. After all, we want him to bless every endeavor we have that has the word ministry behind it.  Giving away tracts, handing out bibles, preaching under the heat of the sun: all vain practices among the heathen who has no eyes to see, no ears to hear, and no heart to understand. I can do all I can ever do and still end up with nothing but empty hope; yet faith manifested in patient continuance in consistent, persistent, and believing prayer are never disappointed. I can preach with all my might and learn all the doctrine I can learn, and give all I can give for the Lord, yet end up void of the Spirit and the holiness of God that ought to manifest mightily, had I prayed as much as I ought to pray. God only gets into the work through prayer. M...

I was sitting on a bench at the market waiting to hand out bibles for what seemed to be the right people, unaware that somebody already sat beside me. I noticed at the corner of my eye that she started eating her lunch from a plastic sack, surrounded by large plastic bags that had clothes in it. She was a street dweller by the looks of it. I thanked the Lord. The patient wait yielded fruit. The fish was brought to me. Conversing with strangers isn't really my thing. I will probably never get used to the massive apprehensions that overwhelm me in waves every time. But once you get the first word out, it always plays itself out, like water pouring into a bottle. Marie lives on the street. She has relatives in Tarlac but she doesn't know where and how to travel home, let alone raise the expenses to do so. She worked in Hong Kong as a domestic helper years ago, and upon arriving home landed a job at the local mall as a cashier. After some issues with the management re...

I have these past weeks asked the Lord for renewed passion for the edification of the bride and body of Christ. Along with this came a realization that the gospel is ordained to go forth by no other means than through the beloved bride of Christ. All my gifts are to be used for the edification of the saints. All efforts done outside the church and that which bypasses the church is borne out of stubborn pride, ignorance, and foolishness. Oh how I long to see the church living the resurrection power of the risen Christ, where the lost should find rest. But while troubles beset thee from all sides, I will offer thee comfort. Look to the Lord. Why are you downcast, O soul? Why the unease within? Put your hope in God, for you shall yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence. The Spirit and the bride say, Come. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 

This documentary is worth the share. It vividly presents the very center of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and exposes the mask of the false god of prosperity masquerading as the gospel. This is the 40 minute version of a 2 hour movie, complete with testimonies at the end. After much searching I found the site where the movie is available for the Philippines and immediately bought it to have the brethren watch it as well. May the Lord alone be glorified.

It has become increasingly difficult for Christians who work in the corporate world not to be affected in one way or another, as society embraces the very things the Lord has condemned. I have been formally unemployed since September of last year for refusing to work on a sodomite movie, yet the Lord has honored me, faithfully providing for my family while giving us the means to provide for our personal ministry's needs as well. I believe in the gift of work. I am thankful for work. But it comes far behind my desire to obey my God, however imperfectly. Needless to say, in my situation, I cannot in good conscience live off the ministry. I thank the Lord I am not a pastor, that I am not constrained to recieve compensation for service. Two brothers have sent me money on occasion, but it all went to the purchase of Bibles and tracts. Like Paul, I prefer to work well with the hands I have been given, and with the Lord blessing me with several skills, I can enjoy a wider selection o...

Last February 2nd, the Lord granted us as a church to meet together for prayer behind a field  before sunrise. We have been exhorting the brethren for the urgency and need for prayer these past months, and the desire slowly approximated to its culmination this day. There are many burdens that the church universal cry out for and these are petitioned, followed by the breaking of bread. This is observed every first Saturday of the month, and by the Lord's grace we are on our third month now. Truly, we will accomplish more on our knees than all our possible labors combined, and the moment we depend upon our own strength to carry on with the work is the day we cease to pray. We indeed sow, but tis God who sends, who owns the seed, who makes the faith grow, who gives the increase, and who receives all the glory. The sower may indeed sow the seed of the word, but he afterwards sleeps and knows not how the leaves break forth, or how nature takes it course. God's work may cont...

The church body led by their pastor, brother Jordan, went out this morning to minister around their area of Bocaue, Bulacan. I am elated to learn the youth also stood to proclaim the gospel. May the Lord be pleased to prune them more to be fruitful: both in the fear of Him, and love for the lost. Photo credits: Jordan Idos

Our weekly date nights as a couple include becoming fools for the Lord's sake. The biggest problem every time we go out to minister is the question 'where". But today it was a brief answer impressed upon my wife: Novaliches. And so we drove out twenty-four kilometres late in the afternoon to my old hometown. Bayan, Novaliches, has dramatically changed since I last saw it, howbeit for the better. The crowd is much more organized and although business has grown, order is now imposed and maintained. We walked for about a kilometre from where we found parking, going from street to street and back. Till in our search for where the Lord wanted us to stand we passed by the police precinct, which I remembered being a basketball court some twenty years ago. The Lord impressed upon us to give the bibles away to the officers instead, who were in formation at this time. After we asked permission from the desk, we handed out our stash to this group of thankful individuals. I ha...

On this particular day we stood beside a large crowd with their back to us, watching a man play with a snake, selling them his wares and ointments. The picture presents a stark contrast between what God is offering the people, and what the people truly wants. The Lord has touched the hearts of a few nonetheless. May His name alone be great.

Our idea of a date is my wife and I go out instead to minister in and around our city. This is in Muzon, Bulacan. This has become our fishing hole. People today gladly received bibles and tracts. We were also enabled to proclaim the gospel, but our audience became the vendors and stalls around us, who heard the gospel in its entirety. May the Lord do a work in their hearts for His great name's sake.

This is presently the largest stock we have been given in faith. It is with humility that I look back to our first 30 copies in the ministry's infancy. Five hundred copies to be freely given away, each with a tract tucked inside to present the gospel. We do not presume the recipient will read this, but it is one way for the tract to get into the hands of people. Filipinos love anything free. It is also worth mentioning that this particular stock came at a time when I have no permanent work. I make my boast in the Lord. I have only received, and what I give back I also have only received. I claim nothing for my own. May the Lord send laborers who will reap the fruit of these materials for His glory.

"We are the church."  Somebody whom I preached with before said this to me. I realize now it is nothing but an excuse to remain unchallenged in one's thinking and doctrine. It leads to all sorts of erroneous ideas and heresies mainly because one move about freely and say anything without restraint, impervious to correction, accountability, discipline, or rebuke. Since moving out of our previous "mega" congregation and with pure intentions, I simply gathered my family at home, and we became a house church. Recognizing the errors of the "church" in mishandling of scriptural truths, I feared for my family's sake, understanding somehow that the word of God alone must be the singular basis of our faith, and so we went into the study of scripture for ourselves. I assumed my rightful role as head and "priest" of my wife and children, feeding them from what I know little, about what is plainly revealed in scripture. We gathered every week...

This post may seem vague, but it is intentional. This was my first time to cross three rivers to get to just one place, and I brought no slippers. I was wearing only my Chucks. But a little wise thinking enabled me to cross without getting the soles of my feet wet. My children and I were just discussing about going on a hike yesterday, and here I am on a hike trail unplanned.   During a break, I felt a strong conviction to approach this group of locals sitting idly watching our group finish their meal, and so I did. The Lord opened an opportunity for me to share the good news with them. We spoke for about thirty minutes and he, along with his children and friends, was very open to what I shared. We had a friendly exchange, and he was visibly affected when the topic was about accountability and sin.   Simple people are very easy to talk to. No pride or ego involved. No confrontation. But my heart was going out to him as he listened. His name is Roland....

A sodomite kept giving my daughter the evil eye as I was proclaiming the law. He cursed her again and again, and finally went over to an enforcer to most probably complain about his feelings being hurt, only to be ignored and waved off. The police was also listening intently, as were others wearing the Nazareno shirt who stood throughout the whole hour of pleading. The man on the left shared a piece of paper with me that had scripture written on it. At first I thought he was one of those who after listening would challenge the message with trivial questions, but it turned out he wanted to give me an extra hand with his thoughts. He had written down verses that he uses to debate people. Though far from my intentions, and it is still scripture I welcomed his gesture and thanked him for it. The man on the right came over to encourage me as he was interceding on my behalf while I was proclaiming the good news. More than anything else, prayer is most welcome. It is the one thing I...