Page 88 of 365: Different Means, Same Gospel

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Remember His suffering not just during a Good Friday, but everyday.
Show your love to Him the same way He showed His love to us.

After covering an event at Enchanted Kingdom, I heard a strange sound from outside the multi-purpose hall. The curious that I am, I went outside, and from just below Anchors Away, the ship-themed ride at EK, yeba! There were theater actors, dancers, and a choral ensemble giving the theme park visitors a treat. But I was curious with one of the actors. He dressed up like Jesus. "But hold it! Why are they wearing modern-day clothes and some are kinda punks?" Then a group of actors "forcefully" brought the lead actor to the Brooklyn area to be "judged" by a guy in a cool purple suit named "King Herod". I watched the place-to-place theater show too long enough that I didn't notice my friend leaving me behind already.

Since I lost her for good (Nope! I didn't get friendzoned. She just invited me to cover the event.), I just decided to finish watching the play before leaving. That's Cenakulo Rock, the Lenten month presentation of Enchanted Kingdom. Although it is patterned after the 1973 flick "Jesus Christ Superstar", I found the punky concept kinda awkward. But still, I found the presentation a coming of age, because it was a present-age portrayal of the Lord's sacrifice for us.

Times change, and so do the ways to remember the Gospel. Now, we hear the then solemn "Pasyon" or "Pabasa" with a mix of hit songs like Gangnam Style. Then from the usual dramatic approach of the re-enactment of Christ's crucifixion in provinces comes Cenakulo Rock. But still, the same Gospel is being told. They remind us of how Jesus, being sinless, became "sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)." The injuries the theater actors have during the presentation and the pain we get every time we get hurt are no match to the sufferings of Jesus. He was mocked, tortured, crowned with thorns, spitted upon, and died in the most humiliating way just to save us from our sins. Being God, He kept His promise of coming back from the dead, and that's what happened on the third day. Now, we can have a direct relationship with God through His only begotten Son. Because of Him, we can now receive the gift of eternal life.

Yes, Cenakulo Rock or any means of telling the Gospel might bring you to tears, but if you don't take the Word of God to your heart, it will not make sense. Remember, "We all stumble in many ways (James 3:2a)." But because of Jesus Christ, we can stand up again and live to the fullest. This Lenten holidays, let's thank the Lord for His love that was showed to us through the cross. Remember His suffering not just during a Good Friday, but everyday. Show your love to Him the same way He showed His love to us.

Read James 3:2-18 and Proverbs 10:27-32.

Page 70 of 365: Being Spiritually Fit

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Working out at gyms will make you more physically fit, but how are we gonna
be spiritually fit?

Today marks the start of the International Fitness Week, a string of seven days to help promote fitness among us. But while many gyms are giving away promos, especially Fitness First, who is giving everyone a chance to workout in any of its branches for one week for free, to entice the people to trim those fats, build their muscles, become stronger, and have ripped bodies, there is another aspect in life that we should look at: spiritual fitness.

While we may become more physically fit during this week, we must also have our spiritual selves fit. But to become spiritually fit does not require work. In fact, we should not even struggle to become more intimate with God, the point of this post. I admit; I also had times when I feel like there's something wrong with my prayers every time they're unanswered. I feel anxious, restless, and afraid that the Lord will say a big no. To be spiritually fit, we must continue to trust God even if He will answer no to our prayers (He might even tell us to give up on our prayers and even repent). Just build upon the foundation of our spiritual fitness, which is our relationship with Him.

You don't need barbells, dumbells, kettlebells, or even a strict diet to become fit spiritually. To stay spiritually fit, just read His Word, pray according to His will, and take some advice from Godly friends. Attending a cell group is one good way to have people who will help you in your walk with the Lord. To become spiritually fit is to have "a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:10-12)"

Also read Colossians 1:9, 13-14.