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Tuesday, June 30, 2009
I Choose Community!
This week, I was once again reminded on how grateful I am that God requires all of His children to actively belong to a spiritual community. I am glad that I have a Father who believes that prayer and friendship are interconnected and that we must not reject it.
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." (Hebrews 10:24)
Aside from the fact God commands us to be among the community of His children, here are other great reasons:
1) People experience authenticity.
"If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other... If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves."
(1 John 1:7-8)
2) People experience mutuality.
Mutuality is the art of giving and receiving.
"Make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification."
(Romans 14:19)
3) People experience sympathy.
"As holy people... be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient."
(Colossians 3:12 GWT)
4) People experience mercy.
"You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."
(Colossians 3:13 NLT)
And if you are not convinced by the four benefits mentioned above, I have a 5th one:
5) People stay healthy and live longer.
People who are not in a group are twice as likely to die in the next year as those who are in a group. People who have strong social connections, but poor health habits (eating, exercise, smoking, etc.) are just as healthy as those with good health habits but weak social connections.
As John Ortberg says it, “Better to eat Twinkies with friends than to eat broccoli alone.”
One study injected 270 people with a virus that causes the common cold. Those with strong social connections did not get as sick, did not stay sick as long, and produced less mucus than the less connected group.
Again, to quote John Ortberg, “This goes to prove that lonely people are snottier than the rest.”
Therefore, if a spiritual family allows me to eat more ice cream -- then so be it!
*Note: Big thanks to Pastor Paolo Punzalan for reminding me again that my spiritual journey must not be undertaken on my own.
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." (Hebrews 10:24)
Aside from the fact God commands us to be among the community of His children, here are other great reasons:
1) People experience authenticity.
"If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other... If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves."
(1 John 1:7-8)
2) People experience mutuality.
Mutuality is the art of giving and receiving.
"Make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification."
(Romans 14:19)
3) People experience sympathy.
"As holy people... be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient."
(Colossians 3:12 GWT)
4) People experience mercy.
"You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."
(Colossians 3:13 NLT)
And if you are not convinced by the four benefits mentioned above, I have a 5th one:
5) People stay healthy and live longer.
People who are not in a group are twice as likely to die in the next year as those who are in a group. People who have strong social connections, but poor health habits (eating, exercise, smoking, etc.) are just as healthy as those with good health habits but weak social connections.
As John Ortberg says it, “Better to eat Twinkies with friends than to eat broccoli alone.”
One study injected 270 people with a virus that causes the common cold. Those with strong social connections did not get as sick, did not stay sick as long, and produced less mucus than the less connected group.
Again, to quote John Ortberg, “This goes to prove that lonely people are snottier than the rest.”
Therefore, if a spiritual family allows me to eat more ice cream -- then so be it!
*Note: Big thanks to Pastor Paolo Punzalan for reminding me again that my spiritual journey must not be undertaken on my own.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The Caterpillar Game
We are committed to serve at the Real Life Foundation Feeding Program every Saturday morning. Before the hungry kids get fed, we play games with them.
It brings such a huge blessing to us to hear these kids laugh and scream from having so much fun playing the games. The most popular one is the caterpillar game.
Watch this short video and you will see for yourself how happy the kids are.
It brings such a huge blessing to us to hear these kids laugh and scream from having so much fun playing the games. The most popular one is the caterpillar game.
Watch this short video and you will see for yourself how happy the kids are.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Gary Valenciano
Gary Valenciano is probably the biggest music superstar in the Philippines. He is also a proud follower of Jesus Christ.
We would like to share a video of Gary V singing at Steve Murrell's surprise 50th birthday party.
He truly is incomparable.
We would like to share a video of Gary V singing at Steve Murrell's surprise 50th birthday party.
He truly is incomparable.
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