Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God

An artist said, "We can participate in the arts to the glory of God by enthusiastically enjoying the arts, recognizing God as the ultimate source of the creativity and beauty that we enjoy." The arts can help us sort out and discipline our emotions, so that, from our hearts, we might serve God and our neighbors as we are called to do in Christ.

I would like to introduce you to the beautiful hymn that moved me to tears, "Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God" written by modern liturgists Keith Getty and Stuart Townend and sung by Kristyn Getty (video above). The violin solo at the beginning is “Gabriel’s Oboe” by Ennio Morricone, from the movie soundtrack “The Mission” and the melody itself is heavily influenced by J.S. Bach. Also included is a reading of The Lorica (Breastplate), a prayer of protection traditionally attributed to Saint Patrick of Ireland.

A True Love Story In Pictures You Won’t Easily Forget

I want to share this story with you. Their photos easily tell the entire story. Taylor and Danielle, two young people deeply in love and demonstrates the Christian definition of "true love." True love is NOT  a feeling. It's not about being happy, or having your needs met. True love is all about self-sacrifice and what you can give to your partner. 

Click here to see what I mean.

(h/t The Poached Egg)

How to Help Victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) If You Live Outside the Philippines

My family in the Philippines were spared from the crushing agony and unimaginable grief of loss brought about Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). But many are still suffering from the devastating calamity. According to a report, 10,000 people are estimated killed by the storm twice stronger than hurricane Katrina and Sandy.

This is a time to pray for those who need God's strength the most right now will experience it and a time to help demonstrate God's goodness to Filipinos in any way we can.

In response to several inquiries regarding how to send help to Filipinos affected by the Typhoon, I would like to inform the public that online donations from overseas donors may be sent through the following organizations (Sources: CNN.com, Rappler.com & @candyreyes):

Emergency support

Philippine Red Cross, 1-212-687-6200.

CARE, 1-800-521-2273 within the United States or +1-404-681-2252 outside the U.S.

Catholic Relief Services, 1-877-435-7277.

Convoy of Hope, 1-417-823-8998.

Mercy Corps, 1-888-747-7440.

Oxfam America,1-800-776-9326.

Adventist Development and Relief Agency, 1-800-424-2372.

Food and water

World Food Programme ,1-202-747-0722 or +39-06-65131 for international calls.

Samaritan's Purse, 1-828-262-1980.

World Vision,1-888-511-6443.

Action Against Hunger, 1-877-777-1420.

Shelter

ShelterBox, 1-941-907-6036.

Habitat for Humanity, 1-800-HABITAT.

Architecture for Humanity, 1-415-963-3511 or text REBUILD to 85944 to make a $10 donation from your mobile phone.

Medical assistance

Americares, 1-800-486-4357.

International Medical Corps, 1-800-481-4462.

Direct Relief, 1-805-964-4767

Helping children

U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 1-800-367-5437

Save the Children, 1-800-728-3843.

ChildFund International

(UPDATE: Another way to help is to send Team Rubicon to the Philippines. Team Rubicon is a group of US Military veterans and medical professionals committed to relief and disaster response. It will be your way to offer help to Filipinos by sending experienced and qualified rescue volunteers to towns affected by Typhoon Yolanda / Haiyan. Click here to help send Team Rubicon to the Philippines.)

Marriage is NOT For You

I love this post from blogger Seth Adam Smith. Something worth reading!

Seth is married to his wife Kim for a year and a half, but he concluded that married life isn't for him. Why? Because he realized that, marriage is about the person you married.

One doesn't get married to make him or herself happy - you marry to make someone else happy. Your marriage isn’t for yourself, you're marrying for a family, for your future children.

Miss World 2013 Megan Young Says "Sex is For Marriage" and "I'm Against Abortion"

 
It's refreshing to see this message bluntly expressed on TV.

I don’t follow beauty contests but the recently crowned Miss World, Megan Young of the Philippines caught my attention. I got interested not because of her world-class beauty but because of the statements she made that are also important to me as a father of a young daughter.

The 23 year old actress beauty queen openly said on TV that she is pro-life, does not use contraceptives, opposes divorce, and thinks the only way to avoid unwanted sex is to just say no.

In an interview with foreign journalist Karen Davila, Young said, Well, I’m pro-life and if it means killing someone that’s already there, then I’m against that, of course. I’m against abortion.

When asked about the Philippine Reproductive Health Act (RH) bill and contraception, she said, I don’t engage in stuff like that as of now. I think that’s – uh, sex is for marriage. That’s my belief. So, when it comes to the RH bill, as long as my beliefs are no abortion; it should be with your partner for life. Then that’s my stand.

The RH bill, which was signed into law in the Philippines in 2012 is controversial of its mandates on sterilization, contraception, and abortion-inducing drugs. In the Philippines, more than 80% of the population identify themselves as Roman Catholic, 10% as Protestant and 5% as Muslim.

On divorce, she said, Divorce. I’m actually against divorce, because I’ve seen, of course, that in my family. So I think that if you marry someone, that should be the person you should be with forever, through sickness and health, through good and bad, you should be with that person.

When asked how do you say no to sex? Young has a direct and simple answer, You just say no. If they try to push you, then you step away because you know that that person doesn’t value you, doesn’t value the relationship as much – and if the guy is willing, you know, to sacrifice that, then that means a lot.

Way to go Miss World! You're my kind of beauty queen. I don’t mind my daughter looking up to you if it’s grace, truth and modesty you’re modeling.

It’s rare to find allies like her in the media. Those who are bold to express a not-so-popular opinion in our “do-what-you-feel-is-good” culture. I just hope she walks the talk when the camera lights are off and will not compromise for anyone or anything. I hope more young people around the world will hear her message.

Dad, Protect Your Family Against Human Traffickers

The threat of human trafficking here in the Philippines is real but we can take precautionary measures to protect our loved ones. Here are things that we should be aware of:

1. Too good to be true promises. A human trafficker often victimizes people who are desperate to get out of poverty. If someone is offering you or a family member an easy way to get a job overseas with a big salary, better make a background check first and see if it comes from a reputable agency and if it is registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs.

2. Be mindful of strangers. Instruct your children never to take food from strangers. Better yet, instruct them never to talk to strangers at all. Teach them to get the attention of a known adult immediately when a stranger talks to them.

"Oh Sweet Lorraine" - A Touching Story About the Beauty of Life-Long Married Love

Fred Stobaugh recently lost his wife, Lorraine after 75 years of marriage. After he saw an ad for a small music studio’s songwriting contest, Fred (who is not a musician or songwriter) submitted a musical tribute to his wife, entitled “Oh Sweet Lorraine.”

Instead of rejecting Fred's entry because it doesn't comply to the contest's guidelines, they decided to professionally record it for him.

Filipino Babies are Not Blessings?

“Babies are not blessings!” This is one of the lines that I can’t forget or even seem to digest from an article written by Ana Santos in Rappler.com. I’m aware of the problem of teen pregnancies in the Philippines but I never considered Santos’ perspective to discourage teenagers from getting pregnant.

It’s true that more teenagers are having unplanned pregnancies in the Philippines. It’s a problem to teenagers if they aren’t physically, financially and emotionally ready for it.

But I prefer a good education on healthy relationships and abstinence in schools and especially in churches to decrease it than preaching babies as an economic inconvenience.

A Father’s Love and the Wrath of God

Raising children is not easy but the joy that it brings is immeasurable. As children grow, they learn by their own, practices their free will in the decisions they makes. As a parent, as a father, we only want what is best for our children. In their path, they are bound to make wrong choices and of course we, as parents who love them will get angry for we do not want them to destroy their lives. Even if we get so angry and disappointed, it would never mean that we no longer love our children. This is the same with our Lord God.

Martin Luther King, Jr., on the role of the church

Words even more relevant now than they were then:

There was a time when the church was very powerful--in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators." But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent--and often even vocal--sanction of things as they are. But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963