The “Christ” in Christmas

Two women who were having lunch in an elegant hotel were approached by a mutual friend who asked the occasion for the meal. One lady replied, "We are celebrating the birth of my baby boy." "But where is he?" inquired the friend. "Oh," said the mother, "you didn't think I'd bring him, did you?" What a picture of the way the world treats Jesus at Christmas.

We have come a long way since the first Christmas day more than 2,000 years ago when Jesus Christ was born. Presently, it seems that we have removed him out of the whole Christmas picture and replaced with many other things such as Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and many others. We are caught up with finding the best gift for the people we love though I am not totally against it altogether but what is our purpose in doing so? If we are just going with the flow of things, then we’ve forgotten the real meaning of Christmas and John 3:16 would be a great reminder as it states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (NIV)

Lest we lose its meaning and purpose, we need to go back in time and refresh ourselves with it. Celebrating Christmas is our way of remembering the promised Ruler to be born in Bethlehem to fulfill God’s plan of salvation for humanity. Micah 5:2 states, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (NIV)

There were many characters involved in this event, there was Mary, a young virgin woman conceived though the Holy Spirit as the angel Gabriel said but already bethrothed to Joseph; Herod the king who met the wise men from the East looking for the King prophesied to be born; the priests who knew where the birthplace of the Messiah but did not bother to go and the shepherds who’ve heard the news direct from heaven as reported by the choir of angels. These are not ordinary events but they were planned in heaven manifested exactly as desired by its Chief Architect for our benefit. What a great day to celebrate and remember indeed!

In his book, Science Speaks, Peter Stoner applies the modern science of probability to just eight prophecies regarding Christ. He says, "The chance that any man might have ...fulfilled all eight prophecies is one in 10 to the 17th. That would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000." (one hundred quadrillion)

Yet the prophecies concerning the coming of Christ are more than eight prophecies. For example, God spoke to the serpent after Adam and Eve committed the first sin in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head,and you will strike his heel." (NIV)

The birth of Christ on Christmas day was the culmination of this prophecy and the beginning of the implementation of God’s plan for humanity. The process of transformation for the Son of God to become part of humanity beginning from the womb of Mary was one of the many sacrifice to be done for humanity’s sake.

That’s why, to forget and leave out Jesus Christ in Christmas would be a great insult and grave sin. We will not have Christmas without Jesus Christ! He must be the foremost reason for the season or else we will just have another holiday to celebrate.

Somebody said, “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.” Therefore, let us have a real “Merry Christmas” because Jesus Christ is in it!

Let’s talk again!

Personal Thoughts

Praise the Lord and Jappy was finally well after just one day of rest and went back to school already. Yesterday, snow fell hard that caught many from Vancouver and neighboring cities quite surprised.

We need to cancel some appointments and just stayed at home and let it snow. My children are quite anxious as well if there will be school today. Just got an e-mail now announcing that their school is open.

Why do we want to take some off from school, I think it is just to have some mind break from academic pressures. No matter what, we just want to relax once in a while and snowy days are a good source of excuse. Oh yeah, there will be meeting tonight at church and I know some will be calling if there's any....let's wait and see.

Good thing that their school is just close by and the drive is only 5 minutes on a regular day. I will be shoveling some snow off the vehicle now and it will be cold, brrrr again!!!

Got to go now!!!!

Personal Thoughts

Coming from Manila since October, the days thereafter were filled with many other activities. But they were all part of ministry activities that were necessary to do. However, it took its toll when I started coughing and having sore throat before the start of the Canada Pastors' Conference. Then I started to try the cough medicine "Buckleys." My goodness, the taste was really awful....but I believe it helped in relieving my problem and honestly, I don't think anyone could get used to the taste but it works, eh!!!

Yesterday, during my preaching assignment in Vancouver Churches, I had a hard time speaking due to remaining cough problem. Praise the Lord, I made it and finished it though with intermittent coughing. Well, the preaching assignment must go on. Thanks to Genis and he helped in doing the ministering before I preached in the afternoon.

Over-all, it was a great weekend. Though Jappy did not go to school today due to flu and I think the factor is the cold weather....

It is -6 in Vancouver today with -10 windchill and for us here..it is really cold..brrrrr!!!

Hope that our really cold provinces will not be offended at my whining!!!

SOWING GOOD SEEDS

A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, the son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" Curious, he yells: "Who are you?" He receives the answer: "Who are you?" Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!" He receives the answer: "Coward!"

He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?" The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention." And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!" The voice answers: "I admire you!" Again the man screams: "You are a champion!" The voice answers: "You are a champion!"

The boy is surprised, but does not understand. Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions."

Proverbs 11:25, “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (NIV)

Proverbs 12:14, “From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.” (NIV)

Someone said, “Think happy thoughts.” But I have a better advice that comes from the Scriptures as stated in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” (NIV)

If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence. This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life; Life will give you back everything you have given to it. Remember your LIFE is not a COINCIDENCE... it is a REFLECTION of YOU!

Therefore, you must be determined to overcome the dictates of the negative thoughts and press on to change your mind set. Jesus did it at the Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed three times this prayer, “If it is possible, let this cup pass from me.” It was the moment of truth that the very reason He came was to die at the cross of Calvary and He was filled with the agony of what He will go through. Yet he overcame it when He affirmed God’s will in His life and decided, “Let your will be done.” And the rest was history. Jesus sowed His life and reaped lives then and now as a result of His sacrifice. He died for our sins so we could be redeemed from its curse. If you desire change, try Jesus and you will never be the same.

Keep this in mind and I believe that whatever comes your way no matter how tough is no match to what the Lord Jesus went through for us. Begin to sow good seeds and you will reap a great harvest in return. Galatians 6:7 states, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (NIV)

Let’s talk again!!!

Ministry Updates-JIL Canada Pastors Gathering

The recently concluded JIL Canada Pastors gathering yielded many results that will provide direction and inspiration to all JIL Canada Pastors. 2009 will be the "Year of Overflow." I believe it will be a reality. I have seen that the growth and addition of new Pastors releases new opportunities for greater growth. There is an excitement and anticipation of new things occurring in 2009.

This year's conference has many varieties in it. We had a complete band to start with. The Music team provided an excellent job in assisting this year. Thanks a lot!!!

The program was geared towards balance of topics in spiritual, practical, ministerial and computer tips as well. There was a time for Soaking in the Spirit Session last Sunday morning. Though there was a fire commotion at 5:30 am from the 16th floor that day, bringing all the guest down at the street with pajamas on, it was a little glitch to a great event. Well, it was also an early exercise from 11th floor and back after half an hour. No sweat!!!!

We had time for a special dinner fellowship and some bonding time at Whistler, BC. Altogether, the time was well spent from beginning to the end. I can't wait for next year's event.

Until next time! I'l try to post some pictures also....