Forgiveness requires hope, and it already came

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Zeke Smith, despite a fellow contestant outing him, maintained a positive outlook. Robert Voets/CBS

(Warning: I intended to revive this blog on a Good Friday as of posting because I assume many would have already watched the latest Survivor US episode by this time [it was first aired on Maundy Thursday], but if you still haven't watched the episode yet, read this at your own risk.)

IN case you're wondering what happened to my blogs, well many of you are already aware that I am focusing right now on my two news organizations, Dugout Philippines (Mah baby!) and the Philippine News Agency, so I could not reserve some time for my other websites.

But this year, I was introduced by my high school friend to the world of online reality games (ORG's), online simulations of well-known game shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race.

She placed third in a certain online Survivor simulation, which made me think, "Hey! I should give the Survivor online game a try."

I was eventually cast to another Survivor ORG, and I placed second... to the last (I was the second guy eliminated, that is. Sorry, Jen. I did my best.).

Still, it revived the inner Survivor fan in me, so I eventually got hooked up to the latest Survivor US season, an all-star season titled "Survivor: Game Changers", and this is where the real point of this blog will come from.

In the latest episode shown on Thursday (Philippine Time), three-time participant Jeff Varner, in an effort to save himself from elimination, called out fellow Game Changer Zeke Smith and asked, "Why haven't you told anyone you're transgender?"

That question apparently blew their fellow contestants, host Jeff Probst, and the production staff's minds when the said open forum, aptly called a "tribal council", happened last year (Survivor: Game Changers was filmed about 10 months ago but will only be concluded with a live finale next month), and it surely blew the viewers' minds as well.

The analyst in me would say, "This is part of Varner's strategy. He just wanted to stay alive in the game," but personally, I was upset with the said move, considering Varner, like Smith, is part of the LGBTQIA community.

The desperate move obviously backfired, and Varner would still be voted out, making him the last pre-merge boot.

But I was impressed with how Zeke remained calm during the said moment, which is now ranked as one of the darkest, if not the darkest, moments in the history of the reality show franchise.

For sure, he knew that it was part of Varner's gameplay, but his calmness looked beyond the Survivor level.

What moved me even more was the episode postmortem article that he posted on The Hollywood Reporter.

One particular excerpt impressed me a lot, and this is coming from a guy who claims he's "not particularly religious."

"...forgiveness does not require friendship. Forgiveness does not require forgetting or excusing his actions. Forgiveness requires hope," the excerpt read.

However, that hope already came 2,000 years ago when Christ came to Earth.

Right now, we are in a so-called "Holy Week" in commemoration of how forgiveness came upon us.

Knowing our sinful nature, God knows that we deserve to die (Romans 6:23a), but He also loves the world so much that He came right down to Earth, took the form of a human, and gave Himself up for us so that we may not perish and have eternal life (John 3:16), which is a gift to us (Romans 6:23b).

Indeed, our hope already came in Jesus Christ. He already forgave us and took our supposed punishment.

And it's not just an ordinary forgiveness: "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NIV)"

What's cooler is that the KJV translation of Romans 5:8 says that "God commends His love toward us," that is, through His sacrifice on the cross, He entrusts His love to us. Considering the things we did that hurt God so much, it's surprising that He would still entrust His love to us, but He loves us unconditionally.

God is our ultimate hope, and already forgave us. To fully grasp the love and forgiveness He gave us, all you can do is this: "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you and your household, and you will be saved. (Acts 16:31 ESV).

A(n awkward) story about grace

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LET'S start with a story.

Two teams entered a contest, and they were the favorites to win it all considering their respective backgrounds.

Team A has been dominating the said competition for quite some time, while Team B is etching its own story of success in recent times.

Then came the contest proper. Team A was the first to perform, and despite the pressures of being team number one, the squad made a beautiful performance.

Two teams later (there were eight competing squads), it was Team B's turn to give its best shot.

Its performance, however, was kinda unpleasant to see. The team went sloppy, and everybody thought, "They won't even make the Top 3."

After the remaining four teams did their contest pieces, the awarding came.

To everyone's surprise, Team A, with all of its "clean" showcase, would only take home the bronze.

The fans of Team A thought, "OK. We'll take it. Team C (another known dominating squad but has only made a renaissance recently) will win it for sure due to their epic performance."

Curiously, Team C's "perfect" routine was only good for second, and the people at the venue became more puzzled.

The champion team was announced, and, lo and behold, Team B won!

You may ask, "So what does this have to do with your Christian blog?"

Let's start with the first quote. Because of Team B's botched bid, it should not really make the podium. That's justice.

However, the judges, although they gave the necessary deductions, looked at the positives in Team B's bid and thought, "Hey! They have what it takes to win this." That's mercy.

Finally, the host's announcement of Team B as the grand winner is the "grace" part.

Let's connect this to the story of the Gospel.

Because of our sin, we're as botched and more of failures as Team B, so by rules of justice, we are losers. In fact, God has made a penalty for our sin: death, which the Apostle Paul ironically coined it as our "wages of sin" (Romans 6:23a). I almost forgot: everyone, including me, has sinned (Romans 3:23).

But God created us in His own image (Genesis 1:27), making us His prized possession. While justice says we should all die, the Lord loves us so much (John 3:16a) that he decided to acquit us and instead came down to Earth, taking the form of a human, and carried our supposed punishment to the cross, effectively giving us mercy.

In fact, He gave us a gift that we really don't deserve: eternal life (Romans 6:23b). Through Jesus' victory on the cross, we share His "championship" too as long as we embrace that He is our Lord and Savior. That's the ultimate example of grace.

If you want to have an eternal life and experience God's victory that He gave to you, pray this:

"Lord, I'm sorry for the sins that I have made. Thank You for Your sacrifice on the cross, and thank You that Your victory is our victory too. I embrace that victory and let Jesus Christ be my Lord and Savior. Thank You for the eternal life. In Jesus' name, amen." 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God... (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)"

PS: If the story above seems familiar to you, yes! That's what happened in last year's UAAP Cheerdance Competition. It may seem awkward for a Christian from UP to be inspired by the NU Pep Squad's upset considering all the controversies about the result that eventually led to UP Pep backing out this year. However, just like the upset, we are not deserving of God's victory, but He shared it to us.

The closure

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The Chainsmokers performed in the Philippines last month. Screen capture from
Youtube

IT all started when the officemates of a high school friend of mine, who is now based in Singapore, posted a video of them dancing to the Chainsmokers and Halsey hit "Closer". They posted the video on the day my PBA D-League coverage ended, so I reposted the video the day after with the caption, "[I] would have loved doing one in Biñan (Alonte Sports Arena) last night (Stu Traveled mode: If you want to go to ASA, take the Mamplasan Interchange from SLEX and go east bound. ASA is inside the Biñan City Hall Complex)."

Exactly three weeks after they posted their "Closer" dance and with other people following suit, here I am updating my Christian blog (setting aside my sportswriter duties and snapping yet another dormancy period of this website).

Here's the thing: I accepted the "after-work challenge", or the "'Closer' dance challenge" for others. I already choreographed most of the steps (all by myself) while working out at the gym but eventually gave up and vowed, "I will just do a guitar cover instead (never too late to play the six-stringer)."

But everything changed when I joined my churchmates for a jog.

After we finished (we actually didn't finish the full course because two of us thought we took a different path) the run, I somewhat joked to my churchmates about the "zumba" dance by performing the first step of my "Closer" dance (Don't dare me to repeat it) while singing it.

Then one of my churchmates "rebuked" me about the song, currently at number one in various radio countdowns and may have had some airtime in "masa" stations as well.

This is where the point of this post comes in. "Closer", although in a "beautiful" manner, discusses about sex, especially the chorus (I am expecting Andrew, Alex, and Ashley [Halsey's real name] to air their side of the song if they see this). While there's nothing wrong in sex in general, the song primarily discusses pre-marital sex, which somehow degrades the sacredness of marriage (read Genesis 2). I simply overlooked the song's sense.

To be fair, there's nothing wrong if Christians patronize some secular music. In fact, I would say that I like "Closer" more than "Roses" and "Don't Let Me Down".

But again, I overlooked what "Closer" is all about, and that's the same for most of us. We tend to like a new hit so much that we ignore the message it implies, especially if it's NSFW.

To end this, I'm just gonna remind you that before you should check first the implied (or sometimes explicit) message of the hit song and determine whether it's "wholesome" to your standards or not. But above anything else, ask God that He will direct you as you listen to the tracks on the radio. And of course, there's nothing more pleasing to our ears than worship songs to our Lord. And to further discern what songs we should put in our playlists, here's God's (through Paul) tip for you:

"...be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord... (Ephesians 5:18b, 19 KJV)"

Another reminder: "...your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you... Therefore, glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19a, 20 ESV)

PS: If you're asking me if I will push through with the "dare", I am now backing out of the challenge.

More than common sense

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Photo from the PBA

SO... It took a statement from Manny Pacquiao for me to make a comeback at TLIMC. After checking my Christian blog,... lo and behold, my last post was barely seven months ago!

Anyway, let's jump straight to the issue in question. The former boxing champ drew flak from the LGBT community and even some straight guys who also advocate the LGBT rights when he reiterated his stand against same sex marriage in the most awkward of explanations.

Pacquiao, currently a congressman and a senatorial aspirant, likened human relationships to that of animals and said that romantic relationships among two men and two women are nastier those of animals as per mere common sense.

Well-known personalities known to be gays publicly cried foul over Pacquiao with TV host Boy Abunda, despite the boxing legend's apology hours earlier, venting ire on live television.

Before I continue, I made sure that the next words you will see will not hurt my LGBT friends, but I just wanna say sorry in advance if there will be any LGBT member or pro-LGBT rights advocate who may get offended with this post.

Now, here's my take on the issue. First, I agree with most of you that Manny Pacquiao indeed made a wrong analogy of things during that interview with TV5. While I got his point, he simply used the wrong words.

Next, his Instagram post that followed the release of the controversial video interview quoted a Scripture which said, "Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men..." (1 Corinthians 6:9 NIV). I admire Pacquiao's decision to stand firm in his faith for God, but Paul's message to Corinth about that did not end there. Apparently, Pacquiao did not add Verse 10 which says, "nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God," and the most pivotal verse of the said Scripture part, Verse 11 that says, "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Manny was somewhat wrong when he ended his statement with the "masahol" part (or probably his video was cut by TV5 at that part if Pacquiao continued after it). Many interpreted that part as if Pacquiao was saying people who will do same-sex marriage will go to hell. But here's the thing: we are now at the New Testament era, or what Bible scholars would call the "time of grace".

The law says, "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them, (Leviticus 20:13 ESV)" but that was the Old Testament days or the so-called "time of law". Like I said, we are now at the time of grace. God knows that everyone will fail to follow all of His commandments because sin has already been part of our lives since the time of creation. While God is just and does not want sin to be ignored, He loves us so much being his most special creation. That's why He sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to take the punishment we deserve, including the punishment for homosexuality. Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, "sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14 ESV)."

While I felt the irony, I find it a good move that some members of the LGBT community sympathized with Pacquiao. After all, Pacquiao did not say that he hates the homosexuals but only the homosexuality. That's what God is telling us. Hate the sin, not the sinners. In fact, He said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... (Matthew 5:44 ESV)" Yes, Pacquiao may have sinned more than the mistakes the LGBT members committed as what they brought up, but one should remember that regardless if we sinned only once or more, we are still sinners who have fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3:23) but was given eternal life through Jesus (Romans 6:23). All we need is to believe in Jesus, and we will attain that gift from God (Acts 16:31).

If you want someone who is now feeling the confusion about his gender to realize who he or she really is according to what God said, start by building a deeper friendship. Once he or she feels the love of God in you, then you may start telling him or her what God thinks he or she is.

For the new Pacquiao haters from the LGBT side, I want you to discontinue the bashing. Yes, he may have hurt you a lot, but revenge is not the answer. While I still hope that you will meet God, if you're happy with your life right now, just enjoy it and make the most out of it.

I did not make this post in full support of Pacquiao's senatorial campaign (if you really wanna know my stand on whether to vote for Pacquiao or not whether from a sportswriter's standpoint or not, my Facebook, Twitter, and Ask.FM handles are open 24/7), but I'm here to tell you that God has already forgiven Pacquiao and the LGBT community. Yes, homosexuality is not in the Lord's vocabulary, but He loves us so much that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8 ESV)." And it's not just common sense. It's the truth. God really loves us regardless of our identity.

Why I like my mom

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MY mother raised me on her lonesome, and she never failed to show her love to me despite the fact that I have my own struggles financially and personally.

Every time I ask my mom to lend me some cash since our two-year-old start-up project, Dugout Philippines, is just beginning to make some mainstream waves, she scolds me because of it.

However, in the end, she still provides for me because after all, she still cares for me.

I vow to her that once DPH becomes more stable, I will return the favor because I love her.

This reminded me more of how King Lemuel described my mom and every woman who fears God.

A challenge given to us by Pastor Jayson Lo during a church event right after the mid-morning service was to read every chapter of Proverbs everyday, starting from Chapter 1 on Day 1.

Although I posted this one on the 24th, I read the final chapter of Proverbs, which talked about the model female Christian.

Verse 10 said, "She is far more precious than jewels." She may not notice it since were nautical miles apart, but despite me sometimes not pleasing Mommy (Sorry, Lord and mom), I treat her as a gem as how God wants me to treat her.

Yes, we may not be as blessed financially, but having my mom is a blessing for me, and I also call her "blessed" just like what Lemuel said in verse 28.

To my mom, I love you so much despite the financial and personal matters. I'm going to return the favor soon.

Probably, one way to give back to her is to give her a "fountain of youth", that is, a collagen drink.

I first tried a collagen drink when someone gave it to me last year. It was tastier when mixed with other drinks, but many prefer diluting the powder only in water.

One of the available collagen powders right now is HyC 150.

Premium HyC 150, developed by FINE Japan Co. Ltd., is now available in the Philippines. Premium HyC 150 is unique because it is the only supplement drink that has the optimal combination of active anti-aging ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, collagen and ubiquinol.

Premium HyC 150 has other benefits that go beyond skin care and a rejuvenated, more youthful look. To maximize the benefits of collagen, one important element, hyaluronic acid, has to be present. At least 50 percent of hyaluronic acid in our body can be found in our skin. Premium HyC 150 contains 150 mg of hyaluronic acid, the optimal dosage to replenish the body of this essential nutrient. Hyaluronic acid acts as space filler by binding to water and keeps the skin wrinkle-free. It lubricates joints, ligaments and connective tissues. It also hydrates surrounding tissue and keeps the collagen nourished and healthy.

Premium HyC 150, exclusively distributed in the Philippines by BrightRAY Enterprises, is now available at Watsons stores. For information, visit www.HyC150.com.

(Editor's Note: This is a sponsored post.)

When we experienced a "storm"

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I never thought my first trip to the Cavinti Falls aka Pagsanjan Falls would turn out
to be a nerve-wracking one. Azrael Coladilla/Azrael's Merryland

In my 27 years here on Earth, I have experienced some of the worst storms that hit Southern Luzon. I endured a week without electricity when "Rosing" hit Metro Manila in 1995. I got stranded and eventually braved the storm when "Milenyo" came in 2006. I and my churchmates got stuck when "Ondoy" was in town in 2009. I witnessed how my former boarding house got ravaged by "Nesat" in 2011 (I was yet to build TLIMC then). And recently, I experienced walking for 13 kilometers just to get remittance because it was a total blackout during another storm last year. But this one, although not really a storm, made me feel I was in one again.

It was my first time at this place called Magdapio Falls, which is better known by locals in the town of Cavinti as the Cavinti Falls and by everyone else as the Pagsanjan Falls. At first, I was jokingly hesitant to go on a balsa trip to the falls because I left my other shorts in my bag (I was sporting the full Master Game Face Media Challenge kit I got during my birthday). Eventually, I decided to go to brave the falls. So me and a group of bloggers went aboard the balsa.

One thing I noticed was that the balsa was overloaded. It turned out, there are supposed to be two balsas, but the other one is damaged, prompting the sailors to maximize the remaining balsa to de-congest the long queue. If not for the fact that we were wearing life jackets, I don't know if we would get up from the deep waters if the balsa got broken.

Well, we made the cave safely. We decided to stay inside for a while while another blogger, Ross Del Rosario, opted to go back because of some minor health issues. We took selfies (I left my tablet in my bag for security purposes) and we went "wild" inside the cave. Then came a group of Koreans coming from Pagsanjan and, as what some 9Gag memes and comments would say, "S*** just got real."

My fear about the overloading just happened. The water flow from the falls became stronger (probably because it was raining almost the entire afternoon in Cavinti), and it was enough to overpower the sailors and the Korean-loaded balsa. We had to save everyone and remind him to stay calm. Moments later, a fellow blogger hurt her right arm. And here I was, all alone way inside the cave and sat a la Kevin Durant (the photo below may help you).

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images (file photo)

I really wanted to go back to the mainland immediately after everything that took place. We eventually got back only to find out that our injured friend passed out. And everyone worried. Rules state that if you made the falls via the Cavinti trek, you have to go back there, the same if you decided to take the boat from Pagsanjan (the easier and the more well-known route, thus, naming the area Pagsanjan Falls although its part of Cavinti) to get there. I don't know how our the tour organizers convinced the boat sailors to get her aboard since they were hesitant at first, but of course it's already an emergency. Eventually, they made it to Cavinti safely.

I prayed for thanksgiving that we were kept safe from the "storm". I was reminded of the past real storms and how God saved me. But of course, what I am more thankful is that the Lord saved me from a more devastating storm called sin. And all it took was a sacrifice by no less than Him on the cross.

"No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5 (NIV)

PS: More of my Cavinti adventures on Stu Traveled and Sporty Guy.

On why even the non-Catholics like Pope Francis

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Azrael Coladilla/Azrael's Merryland

Even prior to his visit here in the Philippines, one thing I noticed about my friends, who are mostly from the Protestant movements like me, as per their social media posts is that they like Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio also known as Pope Francis. I wonder why. It turned out, they are not the only ones who like the pope.

Even non-Catholics all over the world can attest that Pope Francis is a likable church leader. According to Wikipedia, many Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, and even Islamic communities and even some atheists welcomed his papacy.

For a sportswriter like me, I focused too much on the results, the latest news, and the latest trade rumors that I, despite reading the Scriptures and at times posting and reposting verses on social media, rarely read news from the Catholic church. Probably, the fact that I'm from the Born-Again Christian community adds to the reasons. But after reading a transcript of Pope Francis' message, I begin to appreciate him more.

He started his sermon earlier at the Manila Cathedral with a very important word from Jesus Christ: “Do you love me?… Tend my sheep. (John 21:15-17)”. He continued, "I ask you to share the joy and enthusiasm of your love for Christ and the Church with everyone, but especially with your peers. Be present to young people who may be confused and despondent, yet continue to see the Church as their friend on the journey and a source of hope." He also quoted 2 Corinthians 5:15 saying, "Christ died for all so that, having died in Him, we might live no longer for ourselves but for Him." Simply put, Pope Francis is telling every Christian, regardless of his denomination, to go back to the basics.

In this time where some debate religious groups have turned into something personal and with all the issues concerning the Christian world, Pope Francis is reminding us that we should remember our first love, which is remembering and honoring God and spreading the Gospel as what He commanded. As what the Apostle John told the Ephesian church, "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. (Revelation 2:5a)"

I now understand why Pope Francis is loved by even the other religious communities. It may just be some of what he said, but he knows what every Christian needs now. He really is a champion of faith. To further prove that, a meme I saw bore another important words from him as the caption: "Do not hide your faith. Do not hide Jesus."

The full transcript of his message at the Manila Cathedral can be seen here.

A Principle to Adhere

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As we wear our media passes for an event, we are also subject to be fair, un-
biased, responsible, and Godly in our reports. 

I first got my journalism experience when I was in high school. Although we are "working" at our school, we were taught that it's still unethical even for us student journos then to be biased in our report. Time flies, and now I'm working for two (soon three) online news sites and owning three blogs.

Now working for mainstream media, I have to abide by the rules, and one of the most important rules is to not have some biases. This is especially true in sports, especially if you use to cheer for one team. It may sound easier said than done, but as mediamen, we have to be impartial at all times.

I find it a privilege that my superiors (well, they're my friends) assigned me, an alum from a UAAP school, to the NCAA last year (curiously, they, alums from NCAA schools, reported for the UAAP then) probably so that no bias will be done.

However, some journos still get caught cheering for a particular team or player while flaunting the media passes they have, so it was a no surprise when TJ Jurado sent me and many more media reporters an email regarding this matter.

According to Joey Villar of Philippine Star, the email has something to do with what happened at one Shakey's V-League game when Jun Lumibao, the president of the Philippine Sportswriters Association, was heard getting upset at an apparent cheering of a mediaman at a certain team... with his media pass worn!

The email sent to us serves as a reminder. Here are some excerpts:

"We are journalists, never mind if we are campus journalists—a journalist is a journalist....we, as champions of the vocation, should at all times be neutral, that never should we display any bias before the scrutinizing public. This, however, does not apply to all. Perhaps some of us get carried away and suddenly shed our school colors in the heat of the coverage. Thus, I—a sports journalist for 28 years—appeal to you to uphold the ethics of journalism as you exercise the privilege of a courtside view of the action, and protect the sanctity of the press card."

As mediamen, we have to shed away being alumni of a school and fans of a certain pro sports franchise or athlete. We are the authors (or reporters) of the news people see on papers, websites, and radio and TV news programs, and we should serve as role models of impartial and balanced journalism.

For a mediaman, the press pass is his all-access ticket to the games, but it should never be abused by merely using it to cheer his team live in flesh for free. For my fellow scribes reading this, we are journalists, and we should always practice impartiality as we wear our passes. Keep in mind GMA's slogan: "Walang kinikilingan. Walang pinoprotektahan. Serbisyong totoo lang."

Leviticus 19:15a (ESV)-"You shall do no injustice in court."

Isaiah 52:7 (ESV)-"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'"

Take a Break, Man!

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Curonam.org

I was supposed to be at the press conference of Aaron Colton in Quezon City, but I got short of cash to go there. Then I found out that there was a Twitter Tweetup eyeball event at the Urbn Bar later in the night. That was two events I was forced to cancel.

But God has reasons behind these, and the quiet time devotional I got from Dietrich Bonhoeffer struck me.

"We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God, who will thwart our plans and frustrate our ways time and again, even daily..."

As Christians, we should be aware that God's plans are not our plans and that His plans are better than ours. I just remembered what He said in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." It may not necessarily mean literal rest, but God just told me, "Chill out, man!"

I just came from a grueling (I mean that) coverage of the Palarong Pambansa in Sta. Cruz, and I was so tired that I even forgot about covering the Malabon fiesta on Sunday and the time of an MMA event the day after.

That rest became productive. I got one of the longest rests I had since I began my online media career. Indeed, God knows what I need. Thank you, Lord!

Final word: “Listen carefully to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.” Job 13:17

It's a Matter of Your Own Faith

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Greg Kinnear plays Pastor Todd Burpo in the movie adaptation of the book
"Heaven is for Real". Entertainment Weekly

(Warning: Some spoilers inside, so read at your own risk.)

When I watched "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" last month, I bumped at the full trailer of a movie entitled "Heaven is for Real". After watching the trailer, I said to myself, "I want to watch this movie." Good thing PLDT Home gave me a post-birthday gift as I and three other bloggers got a chance to watch HIFR at the Newport Cinema in Pasay City.

Greg Kinnear starred the film based on the Todd Burpo bestseller of the same title. The movie started with Todd (Kinnear) having a day in the office as a church pastor, wrestling coach, a volunteer firefighter, and a businessman. The movie continued with him, his family, and his church doing fine in their lives. The story took a twist, however, when Todd's son Colton (Colton Corum) got sick badly. Colton eventually recovered, but he told his dad that he saw Heaven, Jesus Christ, and even his sister who Todd and Sonja (Kelly Reilly) lost during pregnancy and his great grandfather, who died 30 years prior to his birth, while getting treated. That led to a series of events that tested Todd's family and even his church. In the end, he realized that indeed Heaven is for real. He preached that in the final scene, and many got moved with the message. The clincher was a statement of the psychologist portrayed by Nancy Sorel: "It's a matter of your own faith."

That's where the Lord moved me. As seen in the screen adaptation, even church leaders like Todd Burpo argue to the Lord about what's happening, especially when their kids tell them that they were in Heaven. But again, it's your faith in God that matters. God spoke to Todd through Colton, and the pastor responded.

However, I noticed that despite being a Christian movie, Tristar Pictures seemed to make it more secular in approach by minimizing the Scriptures used in the movie. While it may help in gaining audience, I think it also shrunk the point of the movie. That led me, though, to look for the "Heaven is for Real" book. Still, I would recommend "Heaven is for Real" movie to my pastor friends.

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.... By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:1, 3 NIV)

God is Always at Work

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Juice.PH

I got accepted for an online news site, and currently, I am on training. A problem is that I still don't have a new laptop (since my previous laptop got stolen, I am updating my three blogs at internet cafes). Also, my training fell on Holy Week when virtually every remittance center is closed, so I have to be extra cautious of my budget. But God is always online 24/7. He knows my scenario, and He intervened. My training was moved to Monday.

But another trial came. Black Saturday and I only had a buck left. I really had to find ways to tell my mom that I need cash. But it came to a point that I was wrestling with God. "What? Am I about to go a full day of fasting?" I already mulled at it, but again God provided. My weekend money came just in time (with little trouble, though, as my mom gave me a wrong code, but the Lord is indeed in control).

However, God is also at work when it comes to handling what I am supposed to do. Someone invited me to the opening of a barber shop tomorrow. I wanted to come, but I was reminded of my pastor's preaching last week: God will provide the right amount you need. It turned out, my money may not be enough to come over the opening. Eventually, I have to back out (Or did he not choose me just because I don't have a phone yet?), but my friend offered that we can set up another date for that. Jesus said "no" because He is telling me that it's His day--the day He rose from His martyrdom that was intended to save us from doom (it's "was", not "is", meaning Jesus Christ died once for us). Also, He's preparing me for a Word that may strike me.

Holy Week is indeed God's special week. We commemorate Jesus' death and resurrection, and He is tweaking our lives to live according to His plan, a plan that will prosper us and not harm us (Jeremiah 29:11).

Here are some of the verses I read today that may help those who work like me:

"Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23)

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." (Nahum 1:7)

Keeping it Awesome Minus the Bad Words

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What wowed me more after watching Audie Gemora in Cock was that he del-
ivered his dialogues without mentioning cusses.

Warning: If you haven't watched "Cock" yet, some spoilers are inside this write-up.

Someone invited me to watch the play "Cock" at the Whitespace in Makati. I was free for the night, so I went there. It was a play about a gay man (Topper Fabregas) who is looking to cut his relationship with his boyfriend (Niccolo Manahan) after meeting a girl (Jenny Jamora) and fell for her.

So the play started, and then, the boyfriend started venting his frustration to John, the gay man's name, and cussed a bunch of times. John also had his own share of cussing. The girl made her own appearance, and to my surprise, she also had times when she said f***(ing). I know it's scripted, but you can't blame me if I was surprised that Jamora uttered NSFW words while watching the play. I'm not really into women who cuss. Then came the confrontation scene between John and his two lovers at the boyfriend's home, where a fourth character stepped in, the boyfriend's dad, played by Audie Gemora. The father became the "mediator" of the other three and had a very important role in how the story will end up.

The straight play ended, and I was amazed on how Gemora kept a clean sheet in my "f*** count", i.e., I did not hear him utter cusses during the entirety of the play. I believe he edited his script in such a way that he can still deliver a masterful portrayal while not compromising his faith.

I know for quite some time that Gemora is a Christian. I also know that he helped in building Trumpets, a theater production outfit featuring fellow men in the faith. However, watching "Cock", produced by Red Turnip, a theater production helped built by Fabregas, Jamora, and Zamora, was the only time I saw him act in person. And man, his performance was amazing despite his role just entering late into the play. Indeed, he is using his talent to glorify God.

"Watch your words," that's what my pastor said after I had a rough basketball outing one time ago. After watching Gemora on Cock, I remembered it. Your tongue "has the power of life and death... (Proverbs 18:21a NIV)" Good praises can inspire others. A bad word could destroy everything. Also, take note that "Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23 NIV)" It's not just orally, but also in your written opinions. Whether you're a journalist like me, an actor like Audie Gemora, or a good speaker, you can make awesome points without saying bad words. Just pray to the Lord for the right words we should say.

PS: For more on Cock and the schedule of the performances, check it out here: http://stutraveled.blogspot.com/2014/02/red-turnip-brings-cock-to-ph.html

Be In Faith

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Leprosy struck two people in the province of Pangasinan, and it was repor-
tedly "prophesied". Pangasinan Provincial Government

ABSCBN broke out a news about a mysterious "flesh-eating" disease affecting two victims in Pangasinan. As of writing, I am just watching how the network's late newscast "Bandila" reported the news. However, the Department of Health debunked the myths about the news and eventually declared them as leprosy victims. But what made it more viral despite the DOH release was how some connected the leprosy cases to a "prophecy" made last year. I tuned in to a Youtube clip of a certain Sadhu Sundar Selvaraja telling the people at the 24th National Prayer Gathering that certain calamities are coming to the Philippines soon, and one of them is a certain case in Pangasinan where a grievous disease "that will consume the flesh of men" will come from. Some also connected the recent storms that hit our country to his speech at the said conference. It was also claimed that he correctly foretold the Japan tsunami of 2011 the year before.

Contrary to what "Prophet Sadhu" said in his foretelling, the DOH clarified that the skin disease of the two people in Pangasinan is leprosy as stated above. However, I take this as a challenge, and hopefully this will also be a challenge for you. 1 John 4:1 (ESV) says, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." Even the Lord Jesus Christ warns us about this: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:15, ESV)" Lastly, keep in mind of this: "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. (1 Corinthians 14:33a, ESV)" In this time where we will hear a foretelling after another, let's continue to be in faith. Remember, God is in control. And yes, let's continue to pray for Pangasinan.

PS: This might also help especially if you received personal prophecies:
http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/BibleStudyAndTheology/discipleship/vonBuseck_Personal_Prophecy.aspx

Page 359 of 365: YNWA

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This Christmas, let us be reminded that Jesus will never leave us.

This Christmas, I'm all by my lonesome. While my friends are out there eating, drinking, and putting some cash to their kids' socks and making the alibi that Santa Claus is the money-giver (Oops! Sorry kids for the spoiler alert.), here I am doing my work. But I'm pretty confident that I'm never alone.

I remember the time when Barclays Premier League club Liverpool honored those who braved the very crowded Hillsborough Arena in Sheffield, England just to watch the team's FA Cup Final Four battle against Nottingham in 1989, especially the 96 lives which was lost during what would be the most devastating soccer stampede ever. Until today, Liverpool (and so are other English and even other top European soccer squads) gives utmost respect to the Hillsborough Tragedy victims by adding the statement "You'll Never Walk Alone" in its logo. Even on social media, expect the hashtag #YNWA from Liverpool fans and other soccer analysts.

Just like how the soccer team continues to give moral support to the Hillsborough Crush victims and their relatives, God is still with us despite the troubles we had. In fact, He has already forgiven us of our sins. God showed that by coming to Earth, taking the form of a human and being the One who suffered the punishment for sin that we deserved. Until now, Jesus shows His love for us by not leaving us and overcoming our trials for us. (John 16:33) Yes, you might be alone physically this Yuletide season, but you'll never walk alone, because Christ is always with us. On His birthday, let us be reminded of this.

John 3:16 (NKJV)-For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Ask Stu: Where to Side?

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What will you do if symposium organizers clash over money matters? IACMR

I decided to take full advantage of my Ask.FM account. Thus, I present to you "Ask Stu". Here, I'm gonna answer your questions pertaining sports, travel, and also personal problems. Just go to my Ask.FM account already linked above and place your questions. I'm gonna answer your question through a blog post based on the category of your question (e.g. a sports-related question from you will be replied with a Newbie Gaming post on Sporty Guy). In fact, let's answer one. I got this from a good friend that wants to be called "Torn Writer" for privacy and sensitivity of the issue. Here's what he said:

"Dude, I have a problem. I have two friends who are in a rift. Friend 1 organized a symposium elsewhere, and formed a team. I got included in the organizing team, and he also invited Friend 2, who he met just recently. So the plans were set, and Friend 1 tasked Friend 2 and the rest of us to strike sponsorship deals for the talk. Friend 2, for me, is arguably the most active negotiator I met, and he was able to bring in major companies to support the talk. The symposium became a success, and it's time for the post-event report. However, Friend 1 found out that the total budget collected still lacked a certain amount, so he called one of the companies Friend 2 lured to the talk. F1 found out from a company representative that F2 has the money, and F1 got furious because F2 never handed him the cash and even some items to be given to the talk as token of appreciation for attending the symposium. F1 asked F2 to hand it ASAP. F2 responded and said that he mistakenly lent the money to another friend, who he said is also part of the team, and he promised to pay it. Few days have passed, but no money changed hands. There, tempers flared. F1 began calling F2 a robber. F2 replied and called F1 greedy. The tirades continued. Their friends have already sided with either of them. Then, F1 finally had enough and is set to bring the matter to the court. I want them to at least have a peaceful agreement if not fully reconcile, but it looks like this has gotten out of hand. What should I do?"

My two co... Oh wait! Money is involved here, so let me rephrase it. My take on this:

To Torn Writer, it's pretty hard that two of your friends are setting up a trial against each other. It's also hard to side with one of them especially if you're not aware of the real story. Even if you know about it, I'm sure you're now sad and even crying because siding with one will hurt the other. So here's what I got from my mom: stay away from it. I'm not saying you should forget about the issue. What I'm saying is that if you don't know what really happened (or decipher which is true), then don't side with one of them. Stay neutral. It doesn't mean that you are betraying both of them, but rather it's your way of saying that you want to finish the issue in a peaceful manner, even if it will not lead to them rekindling their friendship. Reconciliation will follow, so fear not. The Lord is the Ultimate Peacemaker. He knows the real truth, and let Him judge them (and us too). But through His grace and mercy, He will make rifts end without a sweat and make enemies friends. In the end, I'm gonna remind you with two Scriptures listed below.

Now, to F1 and F2, you need not to take this issue into legal matters. There's still time for you to settle this peacefully. Swallow your pride. To F1, just give him the cash. To F2, prove that you and your pals are no greedy and use the money for the good and not for yourself. Read the verses below for an enlightenment from God.

John 8:32-"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

1 Timothy 6:10a-"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."

I stand in faith with you that everything will be settled. I'm done. I'm out. -Stu

Again, for questions, just ask me at http://ask.fm/superstu.

Page 202 of 365: An Act of Heroism

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What Franz Dysam did was a showcase of his love to
his girlfriend, and you too can show that to God and
others. Loi Landicho

After his Letran Knights beat the Lyceum Pirates in the NCAA last night, Franz Dysam and his girlfriend

Joanne Sordan drove their way home. But they were ambushed by unidentified men along the intersection of N. Domingo and Araneta Avenues in San Juan City, just a stone throw away from the FilOil Flying V Arena where the game was played. The couple were brought to the hospital, but Sordan was declared dead on arrival, while Dysam was transferred to the UST Hospital to get further medications.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran released its official statement affirming some social media reports that Dysam covered Sordan, who was apparently the target of the ambush, by putting his body on her to take the ammos. Franz put his life on the line just to save his love, and that's a great gentleman approach that will be remembered for years. Love is about taking a heroic stand not just to your spouse but also to your parents, friends, and superiors. That heroic stand doesn't just come in the form of taking bullets. The apostle Paul put up a list of what love is and what heroic stands you can do to show your love to others. You can find that in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

And if you think you can't do them all, just look upon Jesus. He showed His love to us by doing everything Paul would write to Corinth several years after He ascended back to Heaven. Apart from that, the Lord did the biggest act of heroism ever. Jesus Christ took the "bullets" that were meant for us. We're the sinners that should have been punished by death, but the Lord showed His mercy and gave us grace by bailing us out of our faults, absorbing all of our sins, and bringing them to the cross. I remember how Christ did that for us, and I still get teary-eyed. You too can show your love. Be patient to them, be kind to them, be the friend or loved one they expect you to be, and of course be trustful to God, the Creator of love. Showing your love to God and others is a great act of heroism.

PS: Let's continue to pray for the fast recovery of Franz Dysam and that justice will be served to him and Joanne.

Page 184 of 365: Fasting Troubles

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I'm honestly on the verge of giving up in my midyear fast, but
I know God will strengthen me.

While I'm participating in a short fasting period, I am now at a point where I begin to crave for other things. I am currently in a milk-and-juice fast, but I'm beginning to feel like I need to eat now. Fasting has never been this hard.

However, this is where God works the best. In times that we're losing the battle, He will lift us up and strengthen us to achieve the victory. 1 Corinthians 2:5 (NIV) says that "faith [should] not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." As we continue to pray and fast, remember that it's the Lord's power that will prevail.

 Read Acts 10:44-48, 19:1-12, Ephesians 5:15-20, 1 Corinthians 2:4, 5, and Isaiah 44:1-5.

Page 183 of 365: Prayer is Power

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Not even a power interruption will stop us from continuously praying to God.

I had to rush to our church's prayer meeting from my class, but the lights were literally out as soon as I came to the church center. But what I saw was something I liked a lot. Despite the power interruption, the prayer meeting was still ongoing, and everyone was do passionate in praying as if there's no blackout. It was a totally different story from the past times I attended prayer meetings. All I saw were people continuously praying despite what I believe is a threat from Satan to disrupt them.

In this time in which we are praying and fasting, we are expecting the sinister plans of Satan, but we know that the Lord has already beaten him. And even a very long power interruption will not stop us from praying.

This is one of the callings of the Lord to us. We will never cease in praying and believing for the breakthroughs to come. As what the apostle Paul said, "He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time... (2 Timothy 1:9 NIV)"

Read 2 Timothy 1:8, 9, Acts 13:1-12, Romans 8:13, 14, and Isaiah 43:6, 7. 

Page 137 of 365: On Nancy's Win

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I believe it's God who chose Nancy Angeles to be a senator.

I made a firm stand that I am not voting Nancy Binay-Angeles in the elections. Aside from being a staunch supporter of the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, I find her not fit for the Senate considering the lack of credentials enough to make her worthy. But the people have spoken. Angeles made it to the Top 5 to the surprise of many who thought the social media information, from the satires to the serious news, would be enough to enlighten everyone. I don't think we failed. The reality is there are still many who only rely on what they see on TV or hear on radio.

I agree with what many are saying right now. We should not blame the masses. Again, many still don't have access to social media, especially in remote areas, and only rely on the traditional media as mentioned above. Besides, pursuing change does not end in the elections. We have three years (actually more) to make it possible.

Another thing: like I mentioned in my previous election posts, it's still the Lord who will appoint the leaders. It's His will to allow Nancy win. One thing I saw from a friend's wall is 1 Corinthians 1:27: "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." Like him, I was rebuked. It's still Him who calls the shots. All we can do now is continue to trust Him and support her.

Even if I am not an aspirant, I concede. Congratulations Nancy. I hope you will let the Lord direct your six-year term in the Senate. I expect the best from you girl. God bless. (No sarcasm here)

Page 134 of 365: Post-Election Reflection

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I want change, so I made a stand.

I was among the millions who braved the drizzles, waited (im)patiently in the lines, and exercised their rights of suffrage yesterday. Being a registered voter in my town, I picked who for me are the right people to do the job in governing the nation for at least three years. To get more privacy, I even went out of the voting area (Yeah! I did that) to an open park. Now that the millions have spoken, I'm now waiting for the results. But according to the latest unofficial tallies, it looks like the eventual winners are now who I expected. As it stands, only two of the people I voted are in the Top 12. In a way, I already expected that.

Going back to my pre-election post, I mentioned that it will still be God who will decide who to place in the electoral seats. It comes in the way of allowing those who we not voted to get there. Ten of the Top 12 are in my snobs (still based on the media tallies).

All I can say now is that even if we're not satisfied with the results, we should still be thankful to God that He is still in control. Just continue to seek His kingdom and righteousness first, and everything will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). Continue to pray for the nation like how Jesus did (John 17:9). But more importantly, make your own contribution to the betterment of the nation.

The elections are just some of the ways for us to make a voice, but it doesn't end there. In the next three years, we should still be prayerful, faithful, and reliant to the Lord that He will bring change to the Philippines.