#nextgenerationlove

Victoria Secret Model or a Proverbs 31 Woman?

2012-02-02T00:04:00.006-05:00

I shared to you guys (Christian Youth for the Nation) before that somewhatwhenhow I wanted to be a film director. Well, this is it- It's just because I wanted to film the most hipsterrific idea of all, the most subculture notion above all else. Which I think will be one of the coolest love story of all time. That is a film that will portray a young man who's striving to be pure mentally, sexually, physically, to make it short holistically, a man who keeps pursuing God's intention for marriage.

I know I am speaking to the society where only one in every 3 American teen retain their Vcard past the age of 18.
As everyone's so wired up with whatever we hear the most, what's popular now, a tension is rising as to what really is true and what is false.

That I guess is the reason why companies spend billions of dollars to tell you that their product is the best. Because if you hear that message more often than any other message, you'll believe it.

However, the distinct movement is on the rise. Proverbs 31 Movement. My future boyfriend I believe is a supporter. #occupiedbyProverbs31 #someonelikehim hahahahaha :)

Hear more this Friday. CYN!! see you.

I Forgot about Remembrance Day

2011-11-30T02:36:00.001-05:00

Let me confess today that I can't let November end without a blog. I was thinking of doing a post about Remembrance Day since November started yet I was distracted with a lot of things and eventually FORGOT about it.

Lest we forget, there's really nothing memorable about November, and saying
that makes me want to wish I have XXXXXXXXXL memory (don't worry I'm working on that). The truth is, we are all forgetful people but God doesnt stop causing great and awesome things each moment and even those things that I consider not-so-awesome becomes awesome in His time. Romans 8:28

For me that was kind of the story of remembrance day. Let me tell you a little bit of it according to the tons of World war movies I've watched. I am honestly so excited to give you kind of a history lesson in this blog today,LOL I promise it won't be long and boring (3 short paragraphs for 6 years of war)

It was 1939 when World War II started in Germany with a simple ideology called NAZISM. NAZISM or National socialism (German Nationalsozialismus) is a belief that there is a superior race and whoever is not part of that race is meant to serve that race or be killed.

Intense persecution and oppression broke out in all of Europe. Millions of people who seemed less desirable, ugly, sick people, the unhealthy, the Jews because they were considered threat to the superior race were sent to concentration camps to be systematically killed by poison gas, like school of cattle going to a butcher. Others were used for human experimentation as documented and was the basis for Nuremberg code. Families were ripped apart and a number of huge industries were given up. With their brilliant strategic warfare and technology they were able to penetrate all of Europe and spread their ideology, wiping out huge armies that come their way.

But not Great Britain and the Allied forces which comprise of Canada, Free french Forces, United States and some commonwealth countries, they would have to land in a beach of Europe to push back all of the enemies' armies. That's the NORMANDY LANDINGS or Operation Overlord in France, June 6, 1946. Over 5000 allied ships were involved and for 40 minutes they bombed the enemy just to make their way to the beaches and gain a firm foothold and they used more than all the bombs consumed in 6 years of war. When the dust lifted the ground it was 16 solid hours of fighting and and they got few tiny miles of Normandy backand were able to send over 160,000 troops in the land and start liberating Europe again.

What's my point in sharing this? If we could recall World War I and II arose when there was a phenomenon of industrial, economical and multinational rivalries among world's superpowers. As we look at our world right now,we are in chaos inexplainable, we don't have world war today thank God but if we could trace the root cause of everything, reason for all of the economic tensions, problems in the world, pride, greed for money and power, it will all boil down to SIN. The very heart or core or simplest form of it is SIN. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy John 10:10aThe devil can't kill us coz if he can we'all be dead by now but what he could do is cause us to sin, for the wages of sin is death Romans 6:23 We open and let him work and make mess in our lives when we sin.

But what happened in tiny beach of Normandy is like a picture of what Jesus did in the Spirit. Just some few tiny miles let Him grab a foothold and then we will see ourselves free. With Jesus we can overcome sin and let Him start with our tiny Normandy.

As we remember our heroes of war, let us think of Jesus Christ. I know there are a lot of things that we've been learning from church Friday after by Friday and if there's one thing we want you to commit to memory and not forget for eternity, this is it: God is crazy about you, that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for you, (Romans 5:8) to liberate us from the power of sin (Romans 6:22-23), to save us from eternal death in hell.(John 3:16) That is the heart of the gospel.

We've been seeing each other for years now, learning about Jesus each time we meet, and I know not everything that we teach you retains in your memory but if there's one thing that I don't want you to forget that is the Gospel. I pray you also build your life in it.

P.s. Made-up Forgotten quote: Repetition is the mother of retention

The Full Armor of God. Spiritual Warfare Part 2

2011-11-02T00:56:00.009-04:00

Warring Champions: Exhortation
Full Armor of GOD. full deal

Talk about psychological effect of wearing a uniform.
Football player. special socks, knee pad, jerseys, shoulder pad, helmet, Suddenly a young boy who would want to help his grandmother cross the street is transformed to be a mighty athlete, ready to kick some butt.

Today we will talk about suiting up for the battle, getting ready to kick demon's butt.

This is not for the faintest of hearts; you can not be a wimp and say you are following Jesus because His way is not the way of the coward. I believe following Him requires more courage than anything you really wanted to do in life. Dive right in.

The Armor of GOD. Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

The devil schemes see previous blogpost http://sarahkristelurlanda.blogspot.com/2011/11/screwtape-letters-and-spiritual-warfare.html

Again, Spiritual battle or warfare is not about those stuff that we see in the movies, holy water blessed things, the cross hanging in your room it's about us stepping in this full armor of God.

Belt of Truth- It is the belt that holds everything together, without this, everything will just be real loose, real sloppy and ineffective. We are dealing with foundations of Christian truth.

Q. Do you believe that Jesus is the only way, the truth and the life and that only Jesus could save a human. John 14:6

We`re talking about eternal life and eternal death here, and the stakes could not be possibly higher and sometimes we`re playing for keeps. There are lots of belief that we can hold quite loosely, sometimes we are open to new angles, new insights but if we dont wrestle with foundational truths that`s represented here, we will be lead off course.

For example: Poison and antidote

for example: some Christians believe that creation happened in 6 days, some believe that it happened in some thousand years, 2Peter 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. At the end of 6 days or say thousand years they are still both Christians.

In believing Jesus as the only way to salvation, that is one of the perspectives we should not be open-minded about.

Breastplate of Righteousness. We can not earn our way to God`s favor, We can not just do good and be saved.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 We all received the righteousness of God when we received Him into our life. Without it, you`ll not be able to stand, you`ll be blown away to the left, to the right or pushed in any direction.

Feet fitted with the readiness to share the Gospel of Peace this is talking about the good news, there is no peace between God and human without Jesus`s blood shed on the cross. We all have guilty consciences, we have sinned to the great God of the universe, there is uneasiness between us and God until we repay but we cannot do that and the restitution that we could only have is Jesus`blood paid for our sins. There is no peace without Jesus`sacrifice. This should be the staple of Christian diet.

Shield of Faith
Do you have faith in Jesus that He can save you, that His command are the best ways to live life, that He`s gonna take care of you? We should have saving faith and not just head knowledge.

Helmet of Salvation Do you believe that if you have faith in Jesus you will have salvation for your soul? If you believe that, that`s gonna change the way you approach your faith, if you don`t believe that, you will not be motivated to share the salvation, you will think that this is all there is you will just care of the thins of this world, You won`t be kingdom minded because you don`t have eternal perspective.We should have that eternal perspective

Sword of the Spirit The only offensive weapon of all. Do you believe that God`s word can cut out brokenness in your life, can heal you, transform you, redeem you, lead you, train you in righteousness,

If you want to be someone who is radically offensively advancing God`s kingdom, you need to devour God`s word, not just daily dose. You need to immerse yourself in it.

My heart and my prayer in sharing this is for us not to be the kind of army that left one of the armor things or just dropped the sword or whatever, or forgot something at home. We should be an unstoppable army of God, we`re unshakable on these things, we are firm in our beliefs, nothing can stop us and move us to the side, we might hold a lot of things loosely but these things, our understanding of our righteousness, truth in Jesus, faith, the good news the armor of God full deal, are so locked in, secured, tight that we are moving in them, that we would die for them.

If that starts to happen, strongholds in our schools, campuses, workplaces, family and friends, will be won over. No opinion can toss you to the side.

Are we ready to build our lives in this? Will we do this?

The Screwtape Letters and Spiritual Warfare Part 1

2011-11-01T01:06:00.007-04:00

The Screwtape letters is a masterpiece fiction by CS Lewis, an apologetic, theologian and a novel writer. A 31-letter series of the Senior demon Screwtape to his protege demon Wormwood, mightily teaching him to live their ways. This book is coming from a vantage point that, say you're the devil, how would you attack humans and ruin them for eternity? what tactics would you use to do that?

This is mainly to correct human's fatal misunderstanding about the devil. The devil is not just about the obvious movie-like paranormal things i.e. dark presence in the room @2am, piano playing without someone manipulating, That is not the ultimate way the devil attacks, the bible said there are devil schemes (EPHESIANS 6:10), therefore they SCHEME to lure us away, to lead us far away of understanding who our God really is and the last thing he wanted to see is a life fully devoted to the purposes of God.

DEVILISH WAYS. Here are some of the ways the enemy might scheme against the Christians as taken from the book:

1. Get humans so caught up with the ordinary that they will have little time or interest to know the big thing, the supernatural, the spiritual.

2. Disillusion the new exploring Christians. Expose them to someone who is a fake, a hypocrite as a way to get them to run in a different direction.
Never let him ask what he expected Christians to look like. Work on the emotional disappointment during his first few weeks as a churchman.

3. Encourage him to be a materialist magician. Make the world the end and faith the means. Help someone to see their faith as a means to an end, just don't let faith be their end goal but a means to something else. In other words let them only think of their faith a a means top get what they really want, prosperity, their own fulfillment. In that way they will think that they are real worshipers of God, but really what they're doing is they're using God.

4. When humans are in great mood and energetic seasons of life they also have more physical appetite. Their resistance is stronger so is their senses fully awake; therefore strike with temptations.

5. Develop cynicism in your subject, nothing takes the edge of truth or any serious path than someone who has learned how to look at everything with distrust.It not only deadens relationship between humans but it deadens the intellect to actually make you feel smarter.

6. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. The big, major, life-unsettling sins are not usually what bring a person to Hell. It is the small, vague, unthinking habits of a lifetime, slowly increasing secularization and worldliness. It is the small sins, the small betrayals, which lead most inescapably to Hell.

In my words, kind of like thinking small sins are not that bad. GOD is not that mad, you know.

7.The future is the thing least like eternity. Cause someone to set his heart on the future, let the things of the future be something he chases after. the end goal of everything he wants in life.. the answer to all his problems

8. Make Jesus just a teacher, a teacher can’t be worshipped.

and a lot more..remember there were 31 letters but these are the essential ones. I urge you to read the book to know if you're still on God's side or pursuing devil's side.

The Minister's Prayer

2011-10-21T08:45:00.001-04:00

A Minister’s Prayer
(The Valley of Vision/Banner of Truth & Trust)

O my Lord,
Let not my ministry be approved only by men,
or merely win the esteem and affections of people;
But do the work of grace in their hearts,
call in thy elect,
seal and edify the regenerate ones,
and command eternal blessings on their souls.
Save me from self-opinion and self-seeking;
Water the hearts of those who hear thy Word.
that seed sown in weakness may be raised in power;
Cause me and those that hear me
to behold thee here in the light of special faith,
and hereafter in the blaze of endless glory;
Make every sermon a means of grace to myself,
and help me to experience the power of thy dying love,
for thy blood is balm,
thy presence bliss,
thy smile heaven,
thy cross the place where truth and mercy meet.
Look upon the doubts and discouragement of my ministry
and keep me from self-importance;
I beg pardon for my man sins, omissions, infirmities,
as a man, as a minister;
Command thy blessing on my weak, unworthy labors,
and on the message of salvation given;
Stay with thy people,
and may thy presence be their portion and mine.
When I preach to others, let not my words be merely elegant and
masterly,
my reasoning polished and refined,
my performance powerless and tasteless,
but may I exalt thee and humble sinners.
O Lord of power and grace,
all hearts are in thy hands, all events at thy disposal,
set the seal of thy almighty will upon my ministry.

Great God, Great Outpouring.

2011-10-18T01:16:00.006-04:00

This is a harsh word for me to bring, God has been handed to us by culture, by friends, by parents and families and their introduction of God is a little bit underwhelmed by. We will see this the way people act in the present world: people are sometimes unimpressed by this Jesus that we know.

The God that we know doesnt cause our knees to tremble, does not give us a sense of awe, reverence, and sometimes His word doesnt cause our lives to live differently.

Contrary to that, as you`ve read the title, GREAT GOD. GREAT OUTPOURING Please bear with me in this, ascertaining who our God really is.

Universal talk: science lesson

How big is the universe, before we do the math and mentally hurt ourselves with computing the two-way cosmological trip you need to understand traveling in light years mode.

A light-year is a unit of distance. It is the distance that light can travel in one year. Light moves at a velocity of about 300,000 kilometers (km) each second. So in one year, it can travel about 10 trillion km. More precisely, one light-year is equal to 9,500,000,000,000 kilometers.

For example, the distance to the next nearest big galaxy, the Andromeda Galaxy, is 21 quintillion km. That's 21,000,000,000,000,000,000 km.
(taken from gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild)

CONSERVATIVELY, THERE ARE OVER 50 BILLION GALAXIES in this cosmos

As a google based researcher, it doesn`t make sense to me why would God create such a vast cosmos for limited life-spanned frail human beings like us but when I think about God giving us a picture or glimpse of how great He is, Lord, you are the most awesome of awesomes!!! I will repeatedly offer you my intergalactic ambitions because you know better than I do .

The first time I traveled to Canada, I was alone.. and I see the clouds and the fullness thereof,a reminder that I am so small, like Steve Jobs my days are numbered, I cannot defeat death but God is great; I pondered on this skyview related verse:

Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

GOD IS GREAT.
Jesus, though He emptied Himself of divine attributes when He took the form of a human was never a weakling. He should never be like a dude next door, He is GREAT. I know you guys got the savior thing down, the mercy and love thing down but this picture of glorified God should always be with us forever, He is not pocket-sized God. He is GREAT. We need to recalibrate our picture of who God really is.

Amidst the storm season in the Philippines, GOD IS GREAT and His outpouring is the best. He is powerful and BIG.

see this video invitation:
Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide 33rd Anniversary Plug

Jesus Is Lord Church 33rd Anniversary
"GREAT GOD. GREAT OUTPOURING."
4:00pm - October 28, 2011 (Friday)
Luneta Rizal Park

Elementary Teachers and Elementary Teachings

2011-10-12T04:08:00.007-04:00

I just can't let it pass. From diaper to now, my life has been all about learning.
Today, I want to honor my teachers for playing such vital role in my student life, especially my elementary teachers..

Ms. Amolar, my first grade teacher, thank you for teaching me to write my vowels and consonants, for staying with me until I finished writing Sarah Kristel R Urlanda, I was always last person to finish that before lunch time.

Ms. Cabangon, 2nd grade teacher. I got my precision in spelling because of you. You opened my eyes to a lot of basic English words. The morning routine of reading is an appetite up to now.

Mrs. Asilo, 3rd grade. You taught us the value of hardwork, We are just average of students but the extra hours you invested in us are our success now-schooling from 7am to 5pm all school year, you made us to be outliers. I will never forget doing arithmetics, reading, spelling during recess hours and no playing around. Thank you for giving less assignments.

I thank God that I learned my ABCs, my fundamentals, with all star teachers, laying the foundations.. Makes me wanna ponder on applying facial foundation, (make-up) everything sticks together because of that foundation: the blush on, the eye shadow, the mascara, powder, and all shimmerings. Without it, everything might have been a mess and smudges. LOL. there is revelation in women's make-up

Thank you, You are unforgettable. Happy Teachers' day <3
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Talking about basics in faith perspective, those mess with my ability to sleep. There was a chapter in my life as a kid that salvation prayer puts me to sleep and I realized it now: because I didn't have the foundations, the elementary teachings about Christ.

Warning against falling away.

Hebrews 5:11-14 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.

There's a lot out there that we can get, we now live in information and digital age but without this foundation, foundation of repentance, faith and Lordship of Jesus Christ, instructions about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement, all else that will follow will not remain and that will make us all slow to learn.

We will not be able to balance chemical equation of life without the knowledge of periodic table of elements, elementary teachings.. This is vital because we are talking about one life and I urge you, you will not learn if you continue to just learn things in random. You need to build firm foundation.

It took me a while to grasp that and I hope as you read on this you will build your foundation in a rock (Luke 6:48) who is Jesus Christ.

My Bestfriend will do Missions.

2011-10-06T02:08:00.003-04:00

She will be doing missions in Indonesia on December, Indonesia is the biggest Muslim nation, but it's open to the gospel. They will be doing campus-based penetration of the gospel.. to some colleges and universities there. I encourage everyone to please pray with me and if you could support financially, please let us know :) She needs to raise $1200 USD.

Trust me, they will not go there just to taste some weird cuisine and take pictures.. They will really bring the gospel to unreached people groups, build linkages and support and encourage church planters.

Prayer Points

Medan, Indonesia:

1. For this nation to be a people of God
Jeremiah 24:7 (NIV)
I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

2. Blessings for the land
Ezekiel 34:26 (NIV)
I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.

3. To receive their inheritance from God
Psalm 16:5-6 (NIV)
Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. [6] The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

Church Planting Team
1. To trust in the Lord always
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ten Days Team
1. Dependence on God
Psalm 62:8 (NIV)
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah

2. Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8 (NIV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

3. To live lives worthy of the Gospel
Philippians 1:27 (NIV)
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ...

4. Joyful Submission to authority
Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

5. For safety, protection, and boldness
Ephesian 6:13-20

A Soldier's Prayer

2011-10-01T01:30:00.001-04:00

Look God: I have never spoken to You,
But now I want to say, "How do You do."
You see God, they told me You did not exist;
And, like a fool, I believed all of this.
Last night from a shell hole I saw Your sky;
I figured right then they had told me a lie.
Had I taken the time to see the things You made,
I would know they weren't calling a spade a spade.
I wonder, God, if You would shake my hand;
Somehow, I feel that You will understand.
Strange, I had to come to this hellish place
Before I had time to see Your face.
Well, I guess there isn't much more to say,
But I am sure glad, God, I met You today.
I guess the zero hour will soon be here,
But I am not afraid since I know You are near.
The signal - well, God, I will have to go;
I love you lots, this I want you to know.
Looks like this will be a horrible fight;
Who knows, I may come to your house tonight.
Though I wasn't friendly with you before,
I wonder, God, if you would wait at the door.
Look, I am crying, me shedding tears!
I wish I had known you these many years.
Well, I will have to go now, God.
Goodbye - Strange, since I met you,
I am not afraid to die.

...Author Unknown

Jackie+TristanJ The Wedding

2011-10-01T01:19:00.003-04:00

First time we were invited @ a wedding here in Toronto. Family.
wedding highlights. #fancymemoirs

wedding video as a gift from my brother, David Urlanda

Prenuptial vid Jackie+TristanJ

2011-10-01T00:52:00.003-04:00

We don't do this a lot. Silver or gold or huge amount of CDN$, we have none, but what we have we gave to them, that's our raw talent. <3 apparel and accessories by multigenerationalcommoner. LOL. videographed by David Url.

They refused to do the epic narration. also featured: our backyard. bow

Jackie & Tristan from David Url on Vimeo.

Fellowship of the Unashamed.

2011-09-30T01:15:00.003-04:00

Fellowship of the unashamed.
I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear. I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!""I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.." (Romans 1:16)-African Martyr for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

To the Wallbuilders (a letter)

2011-09-03T02:33:00.003-04:00

Written November 24, 2010.
sent to Ms Karen Christa Pineda <3
to the KKB campus missionaries of Intramuros, Manila

I was praying to the Lord on what I would write to you.. and God lead me to the book of ACTS 13. I am not in school outreach ministry right now but I am glad that the Lord is re-awakening my heart for campuses..I am excited to share to you what I have learned this weekend..when I get back to Philippines. haha so we better chill before December ends. (my treat!)

I love David, he is my favorite guy in the bible since I started kid's church.. this guy loved God. We know how his life went..he sinned here and there.. but he loved GOD, so much so that he would get up every single time he fall.. and still do what God wants him to do. He was called a man after God's own heart because he did all God's will.

Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.. He did ALL God's will in his generation.

The message strike me at my point of reckoning.. I am the girl who always plans things out and I always freak out when it didnt happen as I would want it to..

You may be praying for God's will for your life but please think of ALL GOD's will. God has specific will for your generation..the question of destiny is not "Lord , what is your will in my life?" I waited for the answer of the Lord for this question and I grew tired..
that was then that I realized that it should be restated to, "LORD, what is YOUR will?. what is GOD doing? How is God moving? and How can you join HIM... It's all about HIM anyways..

God's will hasnt changed. the message hasn't changed,without it, it will only be despair forever. Please.. I urge you.. you are in a good position today to alter the course of history of the people in your campuses. Yes, it is difficult but God will always be at work in you.. Just be humble to the LORD always, (so far it was the greatest lesson that I am continually learning to do in following JESUS)

I remember the times that we're still at the campus, We always pray the we-don't-know-what-to-do-prayers (2Chronicles 20:12). hehe. our prayer meetings were all filled with these prayers. It wasnt just for a moment that we dont know what to do, that happened all the time..

so yeah, it's not about you being smart.. not about your eloquence in saying the things of GOD, not even about what you can do for God..just a bible in your hand, Holy Spirit in your heart, that's all you need to have.. please waste your life in JESUS' cause.

Please know that I am always standing with you, for anything that you need. At a distance, I can feel that we are all striving to do this will of the LORD, just don't stop.. do not be discouraged, the bible tells us so. I miss you all. ♥ Ephesians 3:12-16

Praying for all of you. :D keep on keeping on, making one disciple one person at a time. see you real soon. Im gonna be there till January 18, will try to catch up (haha feeling short term mission)

ate sarah ♥

Church, Library and 20th Anniversary.

2011-08-31T02:09:00.025-04:00

I always love libraries. This is the first thing I check in schools, and towns and wherever I set my foot on to. Collection of books is my bestfriend.(a book a day keeps the boyfriend away) Now there's one thing greater than books that excites me more to visit them. GOOD NEWS is now preached in public libraries.

As I write this post, I am at the library, where the church is. Yes, I wrote it right. CHURCH in the library. Church is not a (holy) building. Church is the PEOPLE. That simple. Early church is simplified by the fellowship of the believers (Acts 2:42-47)

Church is where the presence of Jesus, among his people, called out as a spiritual family to pursue his mission in this planet- Jaeson Ma.

JIL people have invaded homes and called it home churches. Some celebrate church @ public libraries and still call it church. These are the locations of homechurches and public libraries you can check for worship services:

Strathnairn, Belgravia, Erskine, Bathurst
Runnymede Library, Yonge and Eglinton Library,Yonge and Sheppard,Parliament,
Barbara Frum (Bathurst and Lawrence, our church)
and a lot more I forgot to mention; see jilontario.com for more info.

Theatres you're next on the list! (LOL I just made that up) Campuses, we will invade you for sure.

It is not about a place.. again, it is the people.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9.

It is not just about some few pastors doing the work of the ministry but daily, every disciple spreading the love of Jesus to nurture a community. There is no difference between laity and clergy, we are a royal priesthood. Altogether,we will do the great Commission (Matthew 28:19) by doing the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40).

It is Jesus who builds the church (Matthew 16:18). We are just champions in Christ. BTW. It's our church anniversary this September 4, 2011 @Metro Toronto Convention Centre.North Building. Let's do church together. link up. link up. :)

We will experience Jesus there..

Dr. V.'s Unstoppable Passion for Vision.

2011-08-19T02:20:00.011-04:00

I've heard the story of this man in my university years, a great model of community health care or community organizing participatory action research.
Today,humanity celebrates as more and more people are being rescued from needless blindness. Significance is seen even without the naked eye. He is DR. GOVINDAPPA VENKATASWAMY, Dr. V. as in volunteerism and vision. See a glimpse of his life story in 6 minutes.

What's interesting about this doctor was that he was an obstetrician before he became an opthalmologist. At the age of 58, he retired from military health service because he suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and that's when he started learning opthalmology. He FORCEFULLY retrained his fingers to hold instruments, those especially deviced for arthritic hands and he did it.

If there's someone who needs help that time it was him, he's old and crippled by a degenerative disease of the hands, he could have just chilled it all the way toward the end of his life, he could have just enjoyed seniority/ boss moments with friends but he didn't. He got every one that he can and selling his McDonalds' inspired vision to everybody.

He didnt ask how much of my time and money would this cost me, do I have people with me in this hoboism. (LOL) How much energy do I have to exert in this journey? I do over a 100 surgeries a day, will I ever have a holiday?

Passion is uncontrollable and unstoppable, Passion does whatever it takes.

If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

2 Corinthians 5:12-15.

Thank You CYNs!

2011-08-01T01:43:00.005-04:00

JIL Toronto VBS Pandamania 2011. God is wild about us! July 25-29 2011.

Five days with the kid's church was my 500 days of summer! Thank God for the successful Vacation Bible School Pandamania 2011. God is wild about us. For all the volunteers who helped out, we can't do it without you. That is totally raw passion, it's passed on to generations.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Part of loving God is sharing it to the next generation. That is how God put it. He knows that as great as things are today, (or maybe it's not that great) it will be gone in one generation and it will not last if it's not passed on.

Thank you for sharing what you have as little/great as it is. You took the challenge by taking your role as the big ates and kuyas. You may say you're just a chapter ahead of them but don't stop, ok!

Christian Youth for the Nation (CYN Toronto), thank you for thinking and acting multigenerationally. You are not just thinking of the here and now. Time, money, energy, sleep, thoughts, prayers, creative efforts, you've gone through the distance, I am so proud of you guys!! Champions.

Let's go. Run the race. This is our calling!

And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. Isaiah 58:12

I am a Third Culture kid. I am Esther.

2011-07-23T04:12:00.008-04:00

Esther.
Jew. AKA Haddassah (Jewish Heritage)
Third Culture Kid. Orphan. Reluctant Queen. Champion

Esther's story is like an epic film (braveheart, 300, gladiator) for me. It gives me strength to push on the vast forces of darkness in front of me, the hopelessness and the fear.. This story of Esther always resounded in my life because I walk in the real world, I see some of my friends just waste their lives giving themselves away to sexual immorality, innocent children are abused physically, sexually, when I look outside I see people in the streets everyday, I see families torn apart by divorce and drugs. The story of Esther has touched my life so much that even though I feel desensitized by culture sometimes, this is a reminder that God works the night shift. Nothing is impossible and that He will always turn the tide for our deliverance. Everything will be put to perspective.

This is the deliverance of a nation through one woman with troubled past and weak character. It has been a remarkable story because in the ancient world, women were not looked upon equally, women were not treated as equals. In the story of Esther, they would never have the power of position, the power or authority, but something so moved the author of Esther that 2500 years ago when women are looked down upon, he was so moved by her boldness by the ways she was willing to risk it all. Esther has reformed her culture that up to this day PURIM is still celebrated by the Jews worldwide.

I may not be an orphan, but I am also weak and a third culture kid but I will never let culture of playing it safe dictate how I feel. God called me to do great things. I am a follower of Christ and that's the foundation where I will build my life upon. I will never trade the purposes of God in my generation.

the ORPHAN
“Esther 2:7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.” Esther was the daughter of a Benjamite, Abihail. When Cyrus gave permission for the exiles to return unto Jerusalem she stayed with Mordecai.

Third Culture Kid.

She was a member of the same minority group as Daniel, a group held in captivity. She lived in the same political situation as Daniel, only years later. Daniel may have even still been alive, but if so, he was a very old man by the time Esther was brought to the capital city. She also got caught up in a very sensitive and explosive political situation. Like Daniel and his friends, she had names from both her passport culture and her host culture. The name on her passport would have been Hadassah, but she was known in the host culture as Esther, probably from the Babylonian word for goddess, or the Persian word for star (Esther 2).
Unlike Daniel, Esther did not have the loving support of her parents. In fact, her parents were dead. She was an orphan, apparently with no close family members. When her parents died, it was her cousin Mordecai who took her in and cared for her as if she were his own daughter. Mordecai was from her passport country, but he was a government official in her host country.

Esther was raised in the host culture, probably born while her parents were living there (Esther 2).
Esther was really attractive—the Bible says she “was lovely in form and features.” She had a beautiful face and a good figure. When she walked down the street or into a room, all eyes, especially those of the men, were on her. However, by order of the king of her host country, Esther suddenly found herself removed from her cousin’s home and living in the palace. In fact, she was in the king’s harem. She was brought to the king not because of her ability, but because of her beauty. Although she was sexually attractive, Esther was not promiscuous. She was still a virgin, and everyone knew it
(missioncare.org)

Old Maid. maybe a pretty 30 year-old VIRGIN. LOL

RELUCTANT QUEEN

Esther kept her heritage, everything that represented her hidden..

maybe there were things that happened to us that are not quite fair. We live in a cold dark world and sometimes we get dinged but her past doesn't have to be her future.

CHAMPION

She risked it all. Esther reminded Mordecai that if she entered the throne room in the palace, she could be killed. Death or breath situation. It was all too risky—she might die either way: by acting or not acting.

LYRICAL PLAY PLOT. SCRIPT.

180-day party*

KING XERXES (that was him in the movie 300).. the

This dude rule the world. There were 127 kingdoms that was under his rule and he threw a 180 days big party. Party of parties, greater than what sweet 16 can offer.
This is to rally up support to conquer another territory. and he's showing to his people that if they will just support him all of those could be theirs
He wanted them to see how powerful he is.

He has all kinds of absolute power all over the place
and one day his queen didn't come to his beckoning call.

Queen Vashti Episode.

King Xerxes to Vashti "you can never disobey your man

If I tell you to jump, you say HOW high!!! LOL"

She was put to death.

Xerxes managed to find a new queen from 127 provinces he was rock-and-ruling so there came Esther. the 30 year old pretty virgin.

Beauty Pageant*

She kept her Jewish heritage, her faith and everything that represented her hidden so she could be chosen as queen.

She was so quiet and forced to sleep with this pagan king-an unlikely start for a heroic tale.

She is so cool, quiet and chilling around.

She kept her faith hidden because she know she was at the mercy of this pagan king.

Haman*(kind of like the Prime minister of territory ) at that time issued a decree to wipe out all the Jews from the 127 provinces .

CLIMAX*

Esther is pretty safe in the palace, it was a place of influence, affluence, great wealth, popularity, education, everybody comes to her call
No one can get to her. Nothing can happen.

Suddenly she came to a breaking point when she need to decide. Does she get involved?
Do I play it safe or do I get out this huge palace… do I risk it all?

Mordecai tells her this, you have to get in the game, you have to do something.
you just cant sit there and play it safe your whole life, you have to do something about this, you have to get involved.

Esther 4:11- replied

All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”

Uncle, I see your problem, I really wanted to help but I also want you to understand, I am in danger too, If I do that and my life is exposed, I could be killed.
Esther's kinda saying, " you want me to risk it all, this is a city of cities, a magnificent temple, a place of power, a place of influence, a place of affluence, place of great wealth, knowledge, laws. everything came from this royal spot

Do you know what you're asking? you want me to give up that? I've arrived, My life is great, everything is comfortable, Ive never been this comfortable my whole life. I have everything I want, I have people come to my beckoning call, My life is great. I'm not doing something inherently bad, I just don't know if I wanted to risk it all. I'll do whatever you want. I'll do send a letter to the king, you know this would cost me to give up everything I have built my life upon.

do you know what you're asking? you want me to give up that? you know uncle I'll come to church
I'll do the small group thing, the bible thing but don't ask me to give up that group of friends,

I just met that guy, I don't want to break up with him,
I cant give up my popularity? you know that's gonna cost too much. that's not fair. you don't even understand my image here. I am a sports star, I am a scholar.

You know I'm in the king's house, if my people are gonna die, You know, Poor them, I'll pray for them, I'll send a card, I'll speak at their funeral but I cant risk myself…

I really have the heart for Philippines, that others may also come to know GOD but I also have problems of my own, and I'm perfectly fine right now, you know what I thank God that I can now attend church. you know It's hard for me to attend church every week, I want God to fix me first.

Esther 4:13-14 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: "Don't think for a moment that because you're in the palace you alone will escape when all other Jews are killed.

Mordecai:

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

"who knows that you have been blessed and you have been given all these things, not for yourself alone but for such a time as this to help your nation"
you are not called to play a back seat role/ supporting role in the kingdom of God. you have far more to offer than your looks or your body. You can intercede for your people. You need to surrender to the call of God.
God put this call on your life. It's not a coincidence that you are in the royal palace. People's lives depend on how well are you gonna follow the call of God. you can walk out of here apathetic, walk out of here unaware but make no mistake about it.. People's eternities depend on how well you surrender to the call of GOD.

Research shows, In a given month, you will meet 2000 people in your campuses. friends groups. Now tell me the stakes are not high.

maybe God gave you that friend groups, that sports group. your coworkers..
Speak boldly, follow God no matter what.

Esther 4:15- 16--

If I perish I perish
if it's my life, it's my life, If it's my popularity, it's my popularity, if it's that group of friends, it's that group of friends, if it cost me that friday night, then it cost me that Friday night, I can't give it one foot in one foot out.
I may be up against all odds yet there's something inside of me saying that I cant play it safe anymore. I cannot just pretend that nothing is happening.. coz the moment I walk out the door, thousands of lives are in jeopardy, I walk in homes with broken families, I cant just do Facebook my entire life...

I need to get in the game. I need to get in the game.
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

My prayer:

Thank you Lord for giving me an identity, and you saved me. I am weak and you made me strong.

Help me to feel what you feel for people. Let me to have the heart you have for people so that I will act the way you act. Please open my eyes to what you call me to be about.
Break my heart for what breaks yours. Let me not trade your purposes in my generation.

I know I have many ambitions when I was a child I want to be the greatest, and wisest and sure, transform the world for Christ, but when I continued my walk with You, I realized there could never be a more acceptable gift that I could offer You than living a most broken, yielded and empty life before You.

It wont just move the world but more so the heavens
and that Your power will always manifest in me.

I will pursue my calling..even if that would cost me my thousand lifetimes. Time, money, energy, sleep, thoughts, prayers, I am going the distance. If I perish, I perish.

The Making of a Champion

2011-07-15T06:05:00.004-04:00

July 4-7 CYN International Convention. University of British Columbia

I have to write something. I am currently thinking/ imagining of a lot of things right now but nothing out of all these translate into creative/artsy form, not even a word. I guess I just leave it that way so this blogpost would continue. Again, July 4-7. CYN International Convention.

Genesis of a Champion.

For many of you my avid readers (LOL, no avid readers yet) you know that my motto is 1 Corinthians 10:31. But that doesnt convert a lot that I have to make it as my life statement in every decision, actions. How do I reallly get there?? where everything is all for God, all for His glory. How can I really become that champion for God? Do I really live for the glory of God?

That is difficult, there are those satisfied moments with God that all I do is just praise Him, sing songs, pray and hunger for more revelation from HIM. But hour comes that I don't read my bible, choose to do something else instead of having quiet times with God. I think about pointless stuff, sometimes researched of things that doesn't matter. iPro. I procrastinate a lot, IKR! not a champion-like thing to do.

Undeniably, this is one of the most best selling idea today, if you turn on your TV to what Oprah, Dr. Phil, Tyra B are telling us, (I don't watch their shows, just to make that clear) you'll hear you can become a better, best you, you can change, you are not the most hopeless case. With a smile in their faces, they say, you have a potential in you, the messages may sound the same superficially as the bible's but it's not.

Not just them, I googled, no, I amazoned books on self-help, and it turned out to 179,506 results.. I can tell you they have the same psyche: follow this certain program, 7 steps, principles... you can change. exert yourself, try harder, happier you, push yourself more.

I can say that I bought that idea, I know I've done stuffs.. I've done scholarship maybe for a big portion of my life, I've done diverse-reading a lot for me to relate to all people's cultures and way of life, (haha even to people with World War swags) More than half of my weekends since I was born was spent in church stuffs.. I've learned how to devour Christian literatures so I can preach somehow. But when I look back, is this what's a champion is really all about? These are good things but this is not the main thing, this is what I got from the Lord, Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? After BEGINNING by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?

I am not Venus Raj, but in my 23 years of existence I JUST REALIZED there is nothing major, major thing that I can do to be a champion without the Holy Spirit. There is hope for me but not in my own power.

This is what I learned from the murderer to champion apostle Paul, this is what he said, Romans 7:18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

There is absolutely nothing good in me. I can't carry out, no ability or whatsoever. I am helpless. . I can't overcome sin, constantly rebelling, no amount of will power I can exert could change that.

I can not even call Jesus, my Lord if not from the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 12:3b and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. I'm spiritually dead, I'm blind, I'm helpless. On my own I can not even understand the gospel.

When we say JESUS is LORD, it is from the HOLY SPIRIT.

Even our ability to believe in God is from the SPIRIT. It is the very fabric of who we are and this is what's going to make a difference when we walk to communities with broken families, when you see the hungry, needy and the sick.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith Hebrews 12:1-2a being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

This is actually my prayer for the Champion Youth of the Nations, that we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18.

-SKRU

Traditional Filipino Courting

2011-04-04T00:52:00.004-04:00

I just wanna share this video that stereotypes the culture of courting the "CANNY way" and the Filipino way. Which do you think is more shocking to the ribs? See the difference.

Thanks Mikey Bustos!

CYN chapter 1

2011-03-24T11:09:00.012-04:00

This was the letter and testimony that I wrote to the CYNs last year..I really felt like Paul when I was doing and rewriting it so ye. Chapter 1

A letter to the CYNs

October 17, 2010

CYNs!

I just wanna write to you on the message that we had last Friday. I'm really compelled to write a letter about it because I know it would be helpful for you to ponder on this. Don't worry, it's not about your faith- the word of God says that we should look intently in the mirror meaning, it's personal. I can't look at the mirror and tell you your blemishes.. (James 1:22-25) You should see it yourself by carefully digging in the Scriptures.

I just wanna share to you m testimony which I forgot to do last Friday. I'm pretty old now to be a CYN and back when I was 13, I didn't really focus that much on the word of God. I was 16 when I got to university and I would share to you one thing: I had this Psychology and Philosophy professor who doesn't believe in God and we always had atheism discussions. My faith was shaken like I never knew before.

But one thing got me back on track-it was remembering the lives of the people that I've been with growing up- generations after generations that was changed by the word of God. I've seen a living faith multigenerationally, like what Paul saw in Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5) I thought to myself, “What did this professor has taught me? Where did they get their teachings from?” from Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, Bertrand Russell people who ended in mental breakdown. People who has not lived up to what they're talking about.

The Word of God may not appear to you like nice cheesy quotes right now but take time to diligently study it now.It is an investment for life; set your hearts to do it. It's like learning to swim before you drown.. I tell you it's not just an atheist professor but all of culture will try to pull you away from Scripture.

You might be on the pews every Sunday, attending small groups, and you think that the two hours you spend in church is the longest hour of your life, take heart dude, we are learning with God altogether.. this is the way the God of the universe can relate and speak to us.

Joshua 1:8 Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night.....

If you say that you are busy, you can't have the time doing it, it's like saying you don't really want to do it and you have no time for the God who gave you everything.... You always find time studying lessons, facebooking, watching TV, doing random things, texting, talking to your friends and doing crazy things and you think this is a guilt trip.

Seriously, we are all guilty. But this is not the reason why I wrote this letter because if this is a guilt trip, we won't be able to sustain it, we will quit the work of God right away.

Love hugs and prayers,

ate sarah

What's your favorite line?

2011-03-18T04:39:00.001-04:00

do it all for the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31

Ask me anything

Bible or Bieber Devotion?

2011-03-12T02:19:00.008-05:00

Three weeks ago, Kezia and I watched NEVER SAY NEVER, the concert documentary about Justin Bieber, yes, the baby baby baby (tripled baby) guy. We actually enjoyed every part of it (my sister is a quarter-belieber) and I saw quite a devotion.

Bieber was born on a Tuesday. (I actually forgot so please correct me if I'm wrong) I learned this from a bunch of Omnibieber Caucasian girls, they know everything about Justin Bieber- the exact time, date, place. They were jumping around singing songs at the top of their lungs, raising their hands, tears coming down their eyes. This, I think was the most radical of all, the girl who's so into the song she did not know she's not facing the stage anymore; so unstoppable. I realized I was best at being people watcher/creeper.

I started to imagine maybe this girl played Justin Bieber's song 1000 times to make it to 500 million views on youtube. She probably spent hours listening to all of Bieber's music, bought them all on itunes, downloaded all the videos she can get from youtube, google things about Justin, read and retweeted all Bieber-related stuffs. She was pretty connected to Justin Bieber in her own way.

When the concert's over, I realized she will never be connected to Justin B. I will never make a mistake when I say that these girls would never have milk/ coffee with them after. Justin Bieber would never care about their assignments they have the next day. They will always be watching from a distance because JB is not available, not accessible. He would always say never and again never.

Next Sunday I came to church and I think to myself, if only people would pick up their bible and see what God's heart for them looks like, if only they would give the same investment as Bieber folks, the same amount of time that God would speak to them, I imagine that they couldn't help but to sing songs, but to lift their hands and sing about their saviour who ransomed them from death to have eternal life.

I challenge your notions about the Bible, is it just a system of rules and regulations, just a guideline to live a great life, like a self-help book? This is an invitation to friendship, this is how the great God of the universe can speak and connect to us, this is the word of God.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16. This is not just a God-blessed book, not a God's favorite book, this is God-breathed, the same breath that made us all exist.

I encourage you guys with all that I am, If I could challenge you with one thing, GET IN THE BIBLE..
You must grasp this now, or I'll fear you'll have your whole life with just ideas about God, concepts about God. You've got to have a knowledge of HIM because if it's just about what your parents know about God, you'll never risk your life for His cause, you'll quit the moment it gets difficult. You'll just quit.. oh yes I forgot to say that you'll say NEVER AGAIN NEVER.

This is not as revolutionary as transforming the world but God changes the world through us and the only way we could have life change is through the Bible. Let this book wreck your life in every good way.

I just hope Justin Bieber's next song would be BIBLE, BIBLE, BIBLE. ohhhhh. I'll be a true belieber when that happens.

What's one thing that most people don't know about you?

2011-03-07T21:38:00.001-05:00

My wardrobe is not from malls/shops. I <3 #Divisoria.

Ask me anything

Guard your heart. Part V

2011-03-02T21:46:00.003-05:00

Use your Brain

This is simply hard. Use your brain not just your heart.
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9

Assess your compatibility as you are dating. What are your values, interests, do you laugh together?
Consider the reputation of the person that you want to date/ you are dating? Is he/she the person you really want to spend the rest of your lives with? Is he/she God's best for you?

Girls, I believe with all my heart God is in the process of preparing a man just for you.. not just a BOY WHO CAN SHAVE. Don't waste your time dating a bunch of punks/ jerks out there.

Guys, the challenge for you is to find that Proverbs 31 lady (I promise to do a blog about this)

God is preparing your future mate.. Don't focus on finding the Mr/ Ms RIGHT. If you wanna attract a certain person with character and godliness then you gotta be that kind of person that should be compatible with them. I believe God is always just and fair that in the process of you becoming Ms/Mr. Right, there you will find the suitable partner for you so that when your preparation time is complete, God will allow you to come together.

Lastly, pray to the LORD to give you His standards. If you don't stand for something, you'll definitely gonna fall for everything. I don't want you to settle for anything less than God's best.

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:14

Guard your heart. part IV

2011-03-02T00:29:00.004-05:00

Take it slow. Set Clear Boundaries

Do
not
take
it
fast.
(Take it slow)Yes, especially if you are in a dating relationship right now. Keep your progression steady.

Songs of Solomon 2:7 "Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right."

Songs of Solomon is like the wedding/honeymoon section of the bible. Quick interpretation: you should not engage in sexual activity before the time is right and it uses the term awaken, to rouse from sleep..

I see young people (tweeens) and they are all over each other, they're dating and they are holding hands, kissing, hugging one another and the guy would put his arms around the girl and he's kinda like showing to the world, “hey she belongs to me”

Completely inappropriate. Don't act like you're married when you're not. I'm not even talking sexually yet. But I am coming from a perspective that there will be no other way that a certain girl will touch my future husband (LOLsiiiiieeee see Guard your heart Part 1). When you are not in a covenant relationship (marriage) just NO TOUCH. I will say it again, Don't touch in such a way like married people touch one another.

What happens to steps 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10?

It's so funny in our culture today like people don't know each other and like a day in a camp, people go, “I like you, you like me” yeyeyeye and then by the last day of the camp, they go stroke each other's hair,they're sitting on each other's knee. Isn't that weird? But that's what culture holds as kind of normal.. hooking up. You know this generation is actually losing it's ability to delay gratification primarily in sex and money.

Girls, you need to say to guys, “I am not going to allow us to be in tempting environment.”
Guys, you need to say to girls, “I am not gonna touch you in an impure way”

Guys often lose their strength and dignity of character in this area. Sometimes, the temptation to see and experience a female body becomes a mind consuming hunger.. and here's where guys go wrong.. they start to think that they can just do a little bit or just enought to alleviate that hunger. It starts with fantasy, masturbation, porn, and they go like... hold hands with this girl, 1st phase with this girl, 2nd phase, 3rd phase. Hunger alleviation? Naaaa a.

Girls start fantasizing with their trashy romance novels too.. this is kind of like the girl's porn. I did this too ok..
Not just that, you may have heard this phrase before, “Guys give love to get sex and and girls often give sex to get love” Well the truth is, sex outside of covenant marriage destroys love.

Here is something you need to understand about human nature, we hunger from what we feed on. People who eat sweets, junkfood all the time, when they're hungry, they're looking for sweets and junk foods. The hunger only goes down if you don't eat them for several weeks.. I believe sexuality is no different; the good dog and the bad dog explains it.

The Good Dog and the Bad Dog @ the backyard of your soul. When you continually feed the bad dog, it will be bigger, stronger and tomorrow it will demand more. I'm telling you when you look at a woman lustfully, when you fool around, it may alleviate sexual hunger for just a little bit but tomorrow the hunger will come back bigger and stronger than it was the day before. Don't believe in the lie that doing just a little bit will help you to not do it a lot.

In all things we always have the choice to feed whichever dog we want. Nourish the good dog. God's word. Prayers and Worship.

Guard Your Heart. Part III

2011-03-01T00:57:00.004-05:00

Be Yourself. Trust God.

What's the purpose of dating again? To evaluate someone's character if they are compatible to marry. I will say this straightforward, if you think that you could not marry the person you are dating right now, you have absolutely no reason to be dating them.

Here is the problem with dating in the Western culture, people set themselves in such a way to represent themselves better than they really are, thus ending up to be someone they're not.

GUYS in the house, Don't put up with a girl that is not God's best for you.. The girls who dress provocatively, I believe the hunch I have inside, though I know you notice them, they are not the woman you really wanna spend the rest of your lives with. Your challenge is to find Proverbs 31 lady (to be featured in my next next blog)

GIRLS, Don't waste your time dating some dude that is not a man of GOD.

I am always asked this question, Is it okay to date non-Christians? TAKE 2 Corinthians 6:14

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

It's interesting that Paul did not use marriage in this context, (Do not marry an unbeliever) He actually went broader in his metaphor because he know that when we are in a dating relationship or even just starting to court someone, it will be hard if you start down that road to be able to stop before you get married.

YOKE. In my weirdtionary, the idea of being yoked is joining of two animals with a harness or anchor that will cross their napes and what that simply means is that they will be walking together in unison. That implies that if you have a weak one and one that is really strong, the strong one will drag the weak one and eventually be fatigued. The strong one will become weak because it is aligned with a weak beast/ox.

People. Get this. You shouldn't be dating someone who doesn't know Jesus. This is pretty strong,and I know this is happening, I don't believe in missionary dating, the concept of flirt and convert.

TRUST GOD on this one, this is not what some dude says, this is the WORD of GOD. And I don't think it is God's will for you to disobey one of his commands just to lead one person to him. God made it clear.. super black and white.

single or committed??? why?

2011-02-28T02:10:00.001-05:00

please see my blogpost. http://sarahkristelurlanda.blogspot.com/ Guard you heart part 1 and 2 :D

Ask me anything

GUARD YOUR HEART. PART II

2011-02-27T02:17:00.001-05:00

GUARD YOUR HEART. PART II

Why DATE? to evaluate person's character if they are compatible to marry..

GET A LIFE. I mean get a life apart from a potential mate. Remember the purpose of dating: to evaluate person's character if they are compatible to marry..

Singleness is a gift and a season. Enjoy it.

I have some friends when I was growing up and they always had to be dating someone, so they would date someone for less than a year and they would break-up and then immediately after two weeks, they would be in another short-term long term relationship. These people always have to be dating someone.

I hate to burst dandy bubble but let me say this frankly, these people have trouble understanding their identity as a single person. They just like or understand themselves when they are in a dating relationship.. I think that is based to some level of insecurity and a lack of identity in them.

I will repeat the mission of dating over and over again: to evaluate person's character if they are compatible to marry.. I want the gravity of this to resonate in your thought life always.

I know a lot of married couples now and this is what they always say to me, Marriage is wonderful but it is way complicated than when you are a single person. Don't get me wrong, it is great... but I got their point when they start to enumerate things like, you don't have to worry about someone else, and what they wanna do, and when they wanna do it, what TV shows they wanna watch and a lot more.

Again, singleness or singularity is a season. Don't miss it. Maybe some of you would think that your life would be awesome once you get into a relationship or get married- well it won't. When your life is not awesome now, it will not be awesome once you get married. Getting married will not solve your happiness problem, if you are not content with who you are now, when you get married it will not help you. Marriage will not make your life exponentially better.

Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. 1 Corinthians 7:27

He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. Proverbs 18:22.

Unmarried? Don't look for a wife. He who finds one finds a good thing. Conflicting? NO. I really searched the etymology of the word FIND and it does not exclusively mean find but it does mean discover or come across. What Solomon and Paul is trying to get at is that finding a spouse should not be the driving force of our lives...

what did God say that we should seek? Matthew 6:33. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Seek to honour GOD. GET A LIFE.

Guard your heart. Part 1

2011-02-13T02:14:00.002-05:00

Winter or spring, this topic doesn't go stale. This is always a hot topic for all ages, whether toothless or with false teeth. I think I don't need to introduce this thing any more. We live in a culture obsessed and desperate for love and romance.

I am now 23 years old and appointed founder of NBSB Toronto, Canada. (Deanna P. so jokes!) Yes, world!! NO BOYFRRIEND SINCE BIRTH. I tell you I am not a generational misfit and I am boasting to this day that everyday is a lesson of love.

I know how it is when a hottie walks by and you kinda like say JESUS, Is he the one???

The reason why I am sharing this to you is because there's not gonna be a friendship where you guys are going to hear this kind of truth. For over 10 years of working with high school and university students , I have seen so much pain, hurt, deep wounds to people's hearts. There is nothing else that divides a youth ministry more than a couple that's been dating for a while and then breaking up and it seems like a line gets drawn in the middle. Afterwards, all awkwardness in the world fills the atmosphere.

Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 Above your tongue, feet, hands, eyes, nose, and nothing in all of human body did the wisest man on earth Solomon tell us to guard but our heart. More than anything else, for it is the wellspring of life, (NIV) for it affects everything you do (NLT). I believe it would be safe for me to assume that the most severe injury that a person can sustain is when his heart gets wounded. Trust me, former Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes died from it.

Ludicrously weird, for some, as you guys always hear from me, no inappropriate touching, no sex and now to don't give your heart to somebody else? What galaxy do I really belong?

Don't judge yet, this may be like an 8 notes post.

Here's the thing, and I always tell this to my younger friends, when you are in a relationship right now, the overwhelming majority of you will not marry that person. This always bugs people, one of the reasons they can't sleep well at night.

And they are kind of like saying to me, “Well, we will be the exception!”

Honestly, I hope you are but that rarely happens. I feel sorry for them too since I know that the feelings they had were genuine yet the emotional damage can inflict wounds that takes years and years to heal.

When you're dating someone, there is no commitment, there is no lifetime covenant and if there's a chance that you'll not marry that person , it is always appropriate to hold back emotions and hold back your heart. Get everything it takes to protect and guard your heart.

So how do we really guard our <3 ?

For more biblical and practical ways to guard your heart, please keep posted I couldn't believe this will be a series! WOW. Coz It's already 2 am. Sunday morning now. See you all @church and home churches!!

sino magaling sa research??? lalo na sa methodology? pa tutor!!!! hahahah

2010-12-18T04:56:00.001-05:00

I've always been passionate about research. yee. tutor? why not. see you Joc. =) wait. are you a business/ science/ social studies student?

Ask me anything

Which do you prefer going, lunch date or on a movie date?

2010-12-18T04:01:00.001-05:00

lunch date. haha

Ask me anything

my birthday bookishly wishlist

2010-12-08T23:01:00.002-05:00

I planned to buy all these books by all means possible,

but if you wanna give one as a gift,

I willl forever be grateful.

Im back to voracious reading habit and principle

Still, the greatest is my historical dev bible.

1. Soul searching: the Religious and Spiritual lives of American Teenagers- Christian Smith

2. Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenager- Chap Clark

3. Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die- John Piper

4. On Being a Theologian of the Cross-Gerhard Forde

5. Instruments in the Redeemer Hands : People in Need of Change- Paul D. Tripp.

for the <3 of reading. SEPT2010

Wesley Covenant Prayer

2010-11-30T21:49:00.002-05:00

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

If you could ask God one question what would it be?

2010-09-11T16:34:00.001-04:00

I honestly cant think of a question right now, and if there is, it may be so personal that I wont let social media take note of it.

Ask me anything

What is the great things that happen to your life? by: Eagle_of_Fire

2010-09-11T11:02:00.001-04:00

when I came to know Christ so deep. :D I knew it's pure love, wisdom, pure awesomeness.

Ask me anything

what do you think of me?

2010-09-11T10:53:00.001-04:00

I have no idea who you are..but generally I always look at people on the basis of the future they have in CHRIST. I cant judge..

Ask me anything

We all want to have 3G phone with a 16G memory. An iPod with 80G capacity. A computer with 4g processor & a 500G hard drive. But in life, we only need 1G One GOD who has a timeless warranty, an unlimited memory and whose love lasts through eternity.

2010-09-11T10:42:00.001-04:00

nice quote! thanks for sharing.

Ask me anything

What's your favorite Bible version? :D by:Eagle_of_Fire

2010-09-11T10:41:00.001-04:00

my historical devotional study bible. (with lots of maps) and it's also kind of amplified.

Ask me anything

What's the most delicious meal you've ever had?

2010-08-19T02:46:00.001-04:00

congee. with yakult. and foods for the feeding program

Ask me anything

which is better? the new you or the old you? WHICH IS WHICH?

2010-08-19T02:44:00.001-04:00

The new me. I love God's every single way of transforming me.

Ask me anything

Bro. Eddie go na!

2009-03-26T17:56:00.002-04:00

Today at 1:06pm
Bro. Eddie go na! Ni Al Pedroche / (Editor-in-Chief) Updated March 27, 2009 12:00 AM

Ni Al Pedroche / (Editor-in-Chief)
MANILA, Philippines - Pangungunahan sa Sabado ng bantog na religious leader na si Bro. Eddie Villanueva ang pag lulunsad ng kilusan tungo sa pagtatamo ng isang maka-diyos na pamahalaan na susugpo sa talamak na graft and corruption sa Pilipinas.

Sa Sabado ng hapon (2:00 – 6:00), Marso 28, 2009 ay takdang magtipon sa Araneta Coliseum ang iba’t ibang sector ng lipunan na sumusuporta sa paglulunsad ng “Bangon Bagong Pilipinas” (BBP) na ang layuni’y itaguyod ang pagbabago sa lipunan at pamahalaan. Inaasahang dadagsa sa pagtitipon ang mga kilalang businessman, socio-civic leaders at iba pang celebrities na nauna nang nagpahayag ng suporta sa adhikain ng kilusan.

Noong Martes ng gabi, nagdaos ng “piso para sa pagbabago” ang mga sumusuporta sa Bangon Bagong Pilipinas sa Century Sea Food Restaurant upang makalikom ng pondo para sa mga layunin ng kilusan. Dumalo sa okasyon upang mag-pledge ng kanilang suporta ang iba’t ibang NGOs sa Pilipinas at sa ibang bansa.

Ayon kay Bro. Eddie Villanueva, na namumuno sa kilusan “We always hear of people wanting change. This launch will give the human face to the call. The call is real; it is as real as the thousands of Filipino who will join us at the Araneta Coliseum.”

Sinabi ni Bro. Eddie na hangga’t nakasandal at nananalig ang mamamayan sa Panginoon, walang pasubaling magiging maunlad, produktibo at kagalang-galang ang Pilipinas gaya ng vision ng BBP.

“Ang hirap ngayon sa maraming namumuno sa bansa ay sariling interes ang itinataguyod at inalis na sa eksena ang Panginoong Diyos,” ani Bro. Eddie.Ang kilusan ay may 7-puntong road-map: Bigyang kapangyarihan ang mamamayan, palayain, at bigyan sila ng edukasyon, pasiglahin ang ekonomiya, itaguyod ang kapayapaan sa bansa at puksain ang korupsyon dulot ng masamang pamamahala.Ilulunsad din sa okasyon sa Sabado ang mga advocacy plugs na isasahimpapawid sa radyo at telebisyon simula sa Marso 28.

Ang mga boluntaryo mula sa film industry, at ibang sector ay tatalakay sa mga problema ng bansa sa poverty, education, and employment. Bawat advocacy plug ay hahamon sa mga Pilipino na magkaisa sa pagresolba sa mga naturang problema.Magtatanghal din ng mga makabayang pagtatanghal upang gisingin ang pagmamahal ng mga Pilipino sa bayan.“This gigantic gathering will define Philippine history,” ani Bro. Eddie.

Tags: bro. eddie 2010, bangon pilipinas, bro. eddie, elections, bangon kabataan, president

The Truth behind Havaianas

2009-03-03T20:00:00.001-05:00

Dec 19, '08 3:03 PM for everyone

YES. The havaianas you ought to buy at the mall which costs around 1500-2000 pesos really costs only from its land of origin.Havaianas came from Brazil,originally, and it costs only 150 pesos when the brazilian price is converted into pesos

So logically thinking, we could say that the materials used in Havaianas costs only 150 pesos.The BRAND"S NAME, SHIPPING, PHILIPPINE TAX, cover most of the price in a 1500 havaianas,In other words, you get only 150 pesos worth of the materials.

Yes. you see that your Havaianas to last 2years or 3years, or more, but is this really because of the material? or your just taking a bit more care of it since it costs a bit high? maybe your local "tsinelas" which costs about 100 pesos, if treated like that of havaianas could also last for more than a year.So, are you still going to buy Havaianas?BUY PINOY.

http://kristel917.multiply.com/journal/item/8

Quotes

2009-03-03T19:57:00.002-05:00

Apr 11, '08 5:11 PM
for everyone

"there is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure"

"the only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible"

"if you're not giving the world the best you have, what world are you saving it for"

"being deeply in loved with someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage"

http://kristel917.multiply.com/journal/item/7

I am His princess..

2009-03-03T19:51:00.002-05:00

Jan 26, '08 12:40 PM for everyone

Just last night, I asked myself when was the last time I I said and commanded myself to get the magic stones and shout aloud, "DARNA" I don't remember at all. I also remember the character I love the most in Power Ranger..YELLOW 4...haha I'm confused I know it's bioman. And now the Shaider of the Philippines comes along..

I have not been so updated with the latest superheroes on TV screen, But with all these, I remembered that once in my life I've dreamt of becoming like them too. Strong, mighty, invincible, fantastic with exceptional superior intellect. I started pondering on what could have beens of being extraordinary.

Meanwhile, my childhood memories flashed back. How I dreamt of great things not thinking much or considering if it's reality or fantasy. Coz for me reality and fantasy are not distinct entities.That I think is what the Lord teaches me to have. A child-like faith.
I've got big dreams in everything, but as time flies I get so weary thinking of how are all these things come into completion. and I don't think it's maturity.. I think more of the real side rather than focusing on what my Father, the Lord of the heavens and the earth can do.
I know I am His princess! I am convinced not to settle for anything less. I won't look back for He taught me to dream the dreams of Heavens.

So whether you eat or you drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!
1Corinthians 10:31

http://kristel917.multiply.com/journal/item/2

HOw can I thank God enough?

2009-03-03T19:38:00.010-05:00

Dec 31, '07 6:39 AM for everyone

Year 2007 is over..and I just thought I better put sensible insights here in my blog..sa wakas naupdate ko rin ang blog ko after 4 long centuries,,

It's been breakthroughs after breakthroughs,in all aspects of my life: family, academics(lalo na sa thesis,hehe,we received 97% sa proposal) ministry,friendships and relationships..How can I thank God enough when all He is doing is blessing me,through and through.. And when there were times that I felt weak and stumbled I just realized that all these struggles that I went through will never keep me silent in proclaiming my thanks to HIM..

God is so good. He sees me through the season.

And knowing that I have God who's always there for me..It's greater than winning in a seasonal lottery. I will forever be grateful to that notion that God never missed a single moment guiding me. He is my breakthrough.

All these are an understatement of what God has done to me..all words will fail to speak of how God loves me..But how can I thank God enough, I know I can't out give HIM but it just overflows in my heart to serve Him forever.

Just as David says in his psalms,"Lord I delight to do your will." this is my inspiration in worship. He out of his thanks had just said, "I delight to do your will"
I will continue on serving the Lord..I will not wait for tomorrow, or even the next hour to give my best to the Lord..coz he undoubtedly deserves my best! Oh Lord, you deserve my best!

My 2008 is all for you my Lord! I give you the throne!

http://kristel917.multiply.com/journal/item/1