Activities from June 3-17, 2012

June 3, in our Lord's Day service here in Metro Tuguegarao, we started to ask the brethren if they have any questions that they would like to understand more during our Bible Study and that will be the whole discussion during the duration. On our first time, a question was raise about "Sorcery and Ghost" if it is true. In the Old Testament, there are those who are doing sorcery, but in the book of Deuteronomy, the Israelite were told not to do as what others did. To us, being a christian, sorcery is an act of sin and we must only have faith to God for His judgment and not to put the life of one men into our own hands. And about the ghost, the simple answer is, not true. In the sermon, brother Rody shared to us about "Common Things for Christians". We should have common faith and have unity with each other. 

At Palca, brother Emmanuel Tablac joined me in going. He is one of the student from the previous Preachers training. He taught in our Bible Study about "The Worship of the Glorious Church" while I preached in the sermon about "Faith of our Fathers", that we too must follow their footsteps for us to have the hope of Eternal Life.

June 5, in our preachers bible study, brother Larry Guillermo shared to us the lesson "Doing God's Will". The main focus of the lesson is about the commandments we needed to follow as to Direct Command, Necessary Inference, and Apostolic Example.

June 6, in our midweek service, brother Jun Gumpad shared to us the lesson we can understand in "Psalm 147". He showed how a prayerful life will end up, and as we all know, it will bring us closer to God.

Jun 10, in our Lord's day here at Metro Tuguegarao, another question was raised and it is about "Do we love God?". Brother Jerome shared to us a good thought on these question quoting John 21 when Jesus asked Peter if he really love Him for three times. That is how God is questioning every christian, "do we really love God?". In the sermon, brother Rody preached about "Build Up Your Defense". Like a boxer, we need to protect ourselves from the punches thrown by Satan. We need to be firm and strong to win against the temptations of our enemy.

At Palca, another young preacher joined me. He was brother Abraham Yuson. He taught in our Bible Study about "The Three Dispensation in the bible". In the sermon, I preached to them about "Life or Death?", a question we need to choose, whether we like it or not. Do we want to go to heaven and have the life or go to hell and die for the second time?

June 12, in our preachers bible study, brother Manny Pader shared to us a lesson about "Is one Church as good as Another?". These is what denomination believes but in the bible, there is only one church that Jesus will show to the Father on the last day and that is His church, no other else.

June 13, I taught in our midweek service the lesson on "Psalm 149". It is about the two-edged sword in verse 5. We need to arm ourselves with this sword and in Hebrews 4:12, it is the word of God.

June 15, we were invited to have a bible study at Escobar's house. They were not yet christians but a friend of our sister Darauay who encouraged them to listen to the words of God. Brother Rody preached about "Where Millions Miss the Way?". Many think we only need to believe or whether your conviction is right, you can go to heaven, but they miss the right way. We need to follow the five steps of Salvation to be in the right way. They have good reactions at the end of the lesson, and hope to see them again in the next studies and I pray that they will soon obey the gospel.

June 17, in our Lord's day here at Metro Tuguegarao, two questions were raised. First question: What shall we do when we have a scheduled meeting on Sunday in our school, office or anywhere. Will we miss the worship because the meeting is just once? Of course, the answer is NO, the bible says, we need to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. God is above everything. We might miss the meeting but not the Lord's day. I already experienced this one, but I know I did the right thing. During my daughter's graduation in the kindergarten. They scheduled the graduation, Sunday, but we skip the activity and attend the Lord's day here at Tuguegarao. On the next day, we went to the school and asked for the certificate our our daughter and they gave it without any problem. I know God was with us, He will show us the right way whatever distractions might occur in our service to Him. The Second Question was: Can we Visit those family members in their grave who are already dead? The answer I would agree on is that, we can go to the grave and think of the memories that our dead had done when he was still alive but not to the point that we offer some food, light up candles and pray for them because we all know that they are already in Hades waiting for us. Just like David when his son died. he said "He's son can no longer come to see him but he will be the one going to his son". In the sermon, brother Rody preached about "How to become an ideal father?" just like the example of Noah and Abraham.

In the afternoon, at Palca, brother Melchizedek Yuson joined me. He taught in our Bible Study about "Jesus is the way". In the sermon I preached about "Going into the battle". We are deployed by Christ in the battlefield to preach the gospel to every creature. We need to find the lost and teach them to repent of their sins and be baptized into Christ.

Activities from the month of May

Lord' Day at Metro Tuguegarao and Palca (May 27,2012)

Another Sunday was a wonderful day for us especially with my family. My wife walk up and is laboring with our baby, but we talk and agreed that we finished the worship first before going to the hospital. In our bible study, brother Jerome taught to us about "Where your treasure is...". Another good lesson talking about where we should lay up our treasures. In the sermon, brother Rody preached to us about "The original church of Christ". I know why he choose this lesson because many are asking him to preach it and in our attendance are many visitors. We extended the invitation and we are very happy that one soul went in front to confess his faith. He is Jun, attending our services for almost 5 months, if I am not mistaken, and finally decided to be baptized into Christ. I was the one who baptized him in water. He is also bringing her daughter in the church and is attending the children class with my wife as their teacher.

More images: Baptism at Tuguegarao.

In the afternoon, as we planned to go to the hospital, we decided again that it may still take long before her delivery so with my wife's permission, I decided to go to Palca to preach. I thank God for having her as my wife and knows very well my obligations as a preacher. 

Brother Melchizedek Yuson joined me in going to Palca. His father, Denis Yuson, called me a day after and asking me if I can take him with me in Palca. He wanted that his son will experience our work. Melchi was a student in the last preachers training together with his younger brother. I thank Denis that he trusted me that I can help his son be trained. He first preached in our bible study and shared a good lesson about "The Parable of the Sower". He improves since the last time I saw him preached. Hope and pray that he can grow like his father in the Lord's vineyard. I also preached to them about "Seeking the things which are above". I don't know why because we almost have the same lesson as brother Jerome. This lessons shows that we may have everything in this world but we need first to seek what God wants us to see and that is to set our minds on things above not on things on this world. 

When I arrived home, that was the time we went to the hospital. The baby was delivered 12:10AM, May 28. I am very happy to see our second baby especially that he was healthy and no complications or what so ever. I thank God for the very wonderful blessing and thank you all for your prayers. Images: Baby Clyde

Activities from May 16-24

May 16, in our midweek service here at Metro Tuguegarao, we studied on "Psalm 144" with brother Efren Respicio as the teacher. He showed the good works that God gave to David and same as what God is doing right now for us, giving His only begotten Son to die for our sins that we may have the remission of our sins.

May 17-19, I needed to work again on the videos for our TV program. I hope many are watching and that we can help them find the truth they are searching for and that is only through the words of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are sharing in these program.

May 20, in our Lord's day here at Metro Tuguegarao, we studied about "Who is a Christian?" in our bible study with brother Jerome, in the sermon he preached to us about "God satisfies our longing soul". In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about "Who is God to me?", I explained to them how many people now look at God and what really is God to all the Christians. Some think that God will compromise to our works because of the sins we committed and say that He still loves us, but the truth is, God is not with those who walk in iniquity and punishment is waiting for them in the judgment day.

May 22, in our preachers bible study, brother Jomel Marnag shared to us about "Walk by faith and not by sight". Many people today look at how chapels are built, where many people go to that they will also join and worship with them. Not only that, they are serving mammon rather than the One True God. We should not walk as what we see in this present word, but with the faith to our Savior Jesus Christ. In our schedule of preaching, I am scheduled on July 24, and I am still looking for a good lesson to share to them. If you have any idea what should I share, please share it to me. Thank you!

May 23, In our midweek service here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Jerome shared to us on "Psalm 145". One of the main point I really like is that, five verses in these psalm repeatedly says "all", that according to his explanation, God will remember us all in times of our troubles if we will fear and keep His commandments. Another part of the lesson is about the kingdom that will last forever and that is from the prophecy of Daniel and Isaiah and fulfilled in Acts 2, the Church, the Kingdom of God (Matthew 16:18-19).

May 24, I needed to finish again three videos for our TV program and hopefully, the lessons of the preachers in the videos will again help and encourage every longing soul.

Activities from May 8-15,2012

May 8, in our Preachers Bible Study, bro. Jun Antonio shared to us a lesson about "Discipline and Self-Control". The main point of the lesson is focusing on the life of a preacher. Parts of the lesson includes "Why is self-discipline necessary?", "What can we expect when we fail to practice self-control?" especially when we are undisciplined in our life that it indulge us to our fleshly and carnal desires and we often become offensive about our sinful lifestyle. That is a good eye opener to all of us because, as a preacher, this is the most important attitude that we need. And as a requirement to a disciplined life, we need to have a definite purpose, be consistent, practice self-control, be humble and have a prayerful life.

May 9, in our midweek service here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Robert Rances shared to us on "Psalm 142". He discussed about how David endure the trials that came into his life especially when King Saul in pursuing him and wanted to kill him.

May 10, I attended a Gospel Meeting at Lapogan, Gattaran where brother Celso Jacobo and Daniel Pasaraba is preaching. They have a newly built church building, and it is very nice to see the growth of the church there. The attendance is more or less 110 including the children. Brother Joeben the son of brother Celso is the one who stand as emcee in the activity. He is preaching at Tupang, Alcala, which is about 20 minutes drive from Lapogan. 

The first speaker was brother Florendo Respicio. The original schedule to preach first was brother Greg delos Reyes, but unfortunately he cannot come because of health problem and he needs our prayers. So, brother Respicio preached about "The True Religion". Second speaker was brother Jun Macusi who came from Dingras, Ilocos Norte, about 6-7 hours travel. He preached about "The True Church". After preaching, they went back home because he is not also feeling well. The third speaker was brother Jun Gumpad and he preached about "Satan's Plan". Again, he is also a replacement because brother Rody cannot come, also due to health problems. In the afternoon, brother Edgar Licodini shared to us about "Christian Living", and the lesson was a great encouragement to everyone. I lead a song after his preaching. And finally, brother Larry Guillermo as the last speaker, preach about "The truthfulness of the word". He is again a replacement for brother Geronimo Ganela who is at another preaching trip. We extended the invitation and one precious soul went in front to confess his faith. He is from Lal-lo, Cagayan where brother Mario Ramiscal is preaching. He is studying with him for a long time. He came to the Gospel meeting and finally decided to be with Christ in His church.

More images: Gospel Meeting at Lapogan, Gattaran

May 13, in our Lord's day here at Tuguegarao, brother Jerome taught in our bible study about "Commitment to serve" like Joshua who said, he and his household will serve the Lord. In the sermon, brother Rody preached to us about "The Virtuous woman" in Proverbs  31. As a good lesson for the mother's day celebration, that we need to show our love to our mother who is always there taking good care of us especially when we are still young. 

At Palca, I preached to them about "God Keeps Us From Falling" where I showed to them an introduction the last Sunday. God is always there as it is written in Hebrews 13:5 that He will never leave nor forsake us.

May 15, in our preachers bible study, brother Rodolfo Tabisaura who is from Allacapan, Cagayan shared to us a lesson about "The Need of Love". Another good choice of lesson because we all discuss, how we can show our love to those brethren who are in need. Sometimes, we cannot help financially to those in need because we ourselves cannot help our family, but as the saying states, it is better to give than to receive.

Activities from May 1-6, 2012

May 1, we studied about the "Works of the Church" in our preachers bible study. Bro. Larry Guillermo was the one who shared the lesson. The works include evangelism, edification and benevolence. One question we tried to answer is, can we received any help from any government officials? Two answers were shared: some think we can because they give freely and some think we cannot because of some possible feedback that may be received when it comes to elections. But for me, I will strictly follow how a local congregation work that everything that the church needed will be taken from the church treasury and not on other sources like officials or non-christian/sinners.

May 2, I taught in our midweek service on "Psalm 141". Here I entitled the lesson about "Man who will not compromise". We have a great example from David asking God for help, wisdom, good friends, judgment and protection. We can also see those things through our Lord Jesus Christ, who in the form of a man ask the Father same things as David did.

May 4, I preached in the radio program about "Mark 8:36-37". What shall we profit even if we gain the whole world and lost our own soul? or what shall we give in exchange for our life? We can have everything in this life; money, mansion, car, etc. but how about the things needed by our soul? Our fellow Filipinos right now are more likely focusing on material things, only few are seeking the kingdom of God and on that few, not all are faithful. That is the lesson from the topic I shared. Hope that helps everyone.

In the afternoon, we were invited to have a bible study at the house of sister Celia Lim. She also invited her friends and all of them are devoted Catholics. Bro. Robert Rances, Robert Pader, Edgar Corpuz, Jun Gumpad and I lead two songs each before starting the study. We did this because they wanted to learn the songs we sing in the church. Bro. Jimmy Battung who is also with us led the opening prayer and shared an encouraging short message about "2 Kinds of Salvation". We have salvation from our physical health and also spiritually. After him, bro. Rody taught about "Jesus said: Learn of Me". He shared about the things why we need to learn from our Savior. After the lesson, it became more interesting because they are asking questions regarding "Who is the true God? is it the Father, Son or Holy Spirit? Of course, in the bible there is only one true God and is composed on the Godhead. Another question raised is: if we pray, to whom do we address our prayer? To the Father and through the Name of Jesus Christ because He is our mediator to the Father.

May 6, in the Lord's day here at Tuguegarao, bro. Jerome taught in our Bible Study and preached in our sermon on the lesson about "Comparing Christians with the Israelites: Part 2". 

At Palca, I preached to them about "Do not compromise:Part 2", it was the lesson I preached the other Sunday but because we used to much time, we all decided that we will continue on this day. After sharing the lesson, I gave to them an introduction regarding the lesson I will be preaching the next Sunday, it is all about "God keeps us away from falling". Hope I can help them again strengthen their faith with the thought of having God as our protector and as He loves us, He will never ever forsake us.

Activities for April 2012