Calendar of Activities for the month July 2012

Activities from August 4-9, 2012

August 4, I attended the Gospel Meeting at Malalinta, San Manuel where brother Danny Danggalan is preaching. It was my first time to go to that congregation. They have four speakers and all are in the morning.

The first speaker was brother Edgar Licodini and he preached about “How to become a Christian”. He is from Bliss, Ilagan and also preaching there. The lesson was to introduce the church and how to become a member of the church of Christ.

The Second speaker was brother Gerald Ganela and he shared “The New Creature”. He is from Rizal, Kalinga but preaching at San Pedro, Rizal. A good encouraging lesson that we needed to accomplice as being a child of God.

The Third Speaker was brother Jerome Forelo and he preached about “Acts 8:26-39, He went his way rejoicing”. He is from here Tuguegarao and both preaching here and Alibago, Enrile. The lesson shows that we need to be rejoicing when our sins are forgiven by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is the greatest blessing that we received in this life.

The Last Speaker was brother Rody Gumpad and he shared to us about “The true Church of Christ”. He is also a preacher here at Tuguegarao. He showed the three dispensations of time and the different churches of Christ that man built. But we all know that there is only one church of Christ and that is what Jesus promised in Matthew 16:18.

 

After the lessons, we sung an invitation song and we are happy that 8 precious souls went in front to confess their faith. We baptized them in a near river and hopefully they will remain faithful until the end.

More images on the Gospel Meeting: Malalinta Gospel Meeting 

August 5, in our Lord’s Day here at Tuguegarao, we studied about “Destiny” in our bible study led by brother Jun Gumpad. And in the sermon, brother Rody preached about “The Brazen Serpent and Jesus Christ”; the similarity of what happened to the Israelites with us today.

Some pictures take at Tuguegarao: Tuguegarao

At Palca, I preached to them about the continuation of our lesson on “Why we need to fear God: Part 2”. I also shared to them the lesson we studied in Tuguegarao about “Destiny” so that they will also have an idea about it.

August 7, in our preachers bible study, we studied about "Mid-life Crisis" shared by brother Gerald Ganela. A very interesting lesson about  what to expect and what to put away when we reach the age of 30 to 50. We needed to focus on serving the Lord but we need to remember that we also have a family to take care of. Another thing that we Filipinos often forget is that, we always keep on working hard but we often times forgot our obligations in our families. We will again study this lesson on December so that everyone of us will bring our wives, friends and other brethren so that they will have a good understanding on how we should handle our lives from loving God and obeying Him to doing our obligations for our families.

In the afternoon, we started to study the book of Acts. In chapter 1, brother Larry Guillermo shared his thoughts on it. We discuss about the Ascension of Jesus to choosing Matthias in exchange for Judas. I will be teaching Acts 20, but maybe it will already be next year. I have many time to prepare and hope it will be a fruitful lesson with the help of the Lord.

August 8, in our midweek service here at Tuguegarao, brother Rody shared to us "Proverbs 2". I will be teaching chapter 7 in a couple of months and hope I can share the moral thoughts of the chapter.

August 9, I answered in the radio program three questions from different texters. The first "If somewhat ask for forgiveness but continued on his sin, is he forgiven?" We all know that God never ceased on forgiving us but on our part, if we repent we need to have a godly sorrow and a changed way of life. Repentance is more than being sorry for one's sin. In Acts 26:20, the works worthy of repentance are those which stop sinning.

Second question is "Does Everything Happens God's will?" God has purpose in everything (Ecc. 3:1-8, 12:13) but it is not God's will that we sin (Rom. 3:23). Everything that happens is not God's will but He allows everything to occur, including our own choices.

Last question "Is God man or a woman?" The bible speaks of God as not a human being like on Num. 23:19, Job 9:32 and Ps. 50:21. The male gender is used to speak of God and never a female; this is what we call as anthropomorphic (giving human traits to non-human things). Jesus is God in the flesh, that is, God took upon Himself humanity (Jn. 1:1-18).

Activities from July 26- August 2,2012

July 26. it's my opportunity again to share the words of God in the radio. I preached the last Tuesday about "The Sabbath" in our preachers bible study and so I got some additional information from the fellow preachers. I shared this lesson again but now on the radio. I shared the "Error in Sabbath Observance" in our time. I got many comments after the lesson coming from different listeners, both christians and non-christians. Some appreciate it but some said not good things because they are saying it is an attack against their belief. But as apostle Paul said, "Am I your enemy if I tell you the truth?". Hope and pray that someday they will understand and surrender their belief to the One True God and His words.

July 28, I got a chance again to visit the brethren at Palca. I went to the family of Fernandez. Sister Adelaida and her daughter Queenie was only there so I asked brother Lino to come with me. I shared to them a encouraging lesson about Job that even though he lost everything even his health, his faith and trust to God is still there. I shared to them this lesson because Quennie was told by the doctor that their is a small hole in her heart. I know God is taking care of her because that was a year ago and until now, she is feeling better and better everyday. No more symptoms of her sickness. They are very faithful that even though it is raining, they make it a point that they will be in the church even though they are only walking about 30meters in a muddy ground. 

July 29, in our Lord's day here at Tuguegarao, brother Jun opened up our discussion about the "Ages in the Bible". A question that would answer "Why is the years of man longer before than today?". In Genesis, the longest year a man ever lived was 969 which is Methuselah, but now the average age of man in the Philippines is 60-65 only. How did that happen? Many factors were shown like because of what they are eating before, all are fresh and the meats are red but now, like in the fields, they used many fertilizers, sprays and many more in their crops and by that, we are also digesting it in our body. Another answer was it is stated in the book of Psalms that the year of man is from 70-80. For me, no matter what the answer is, we must always think that this is our last day so we must show the Lord that we are worthy of the blessing that He will give us when we pass this world. In short, we must always be prepared.

 In the sermon, brother Rody shared a kinda like bible study lesson about "Why woman are not to be given leadership roles in the church?" He gave us the verses that shows that woman need to be silent in the church and must give all the authority to man.

At Palca, brother Abraham Yuson joined me again and he taught in our bible study about "Punishment of what they have said". A good and interesting lesson because of what people say, that will also be his judgment. He gave some example in the bible like Jepthah when he said that whosoever will be the first to come out and approach him, that he will gonna offer to God and so her daughter was the one. Another was Moses when he didn't think before he said that he and Aaron will give them water and by that, he is taking the authority of God.

In the sermon, I preached to them about "Our Special Day". To us christians, when told about this, the first thing that come to our mind is "the first day of the week". Yes that is true but we need also to think that it is everyday that is special because God is always their by our side guiding, protecting and blessing us.

July 31, in our preachers bible study, brother Edgar Corpuz shared to us a lesson about "Are you happy?" He gave different definitions regarding happiness coming from worldly stand point and from the definition in the bible.

In the afternoon, we finally concluded our study in the book of Revelation. Brother Rody gave the summary of the whole book. Next week, if the Lord's will, we will start in the book of Acts. We scheduled ourselves and I will be sharing on the 20th chapter, Lord willing, it will already be next year.

August 1, in our midweek service, we started to study the book of Proverbs. Brother Rody was the first one to share and he discuss on chapter 1.

August 2, I preached in the radio program about “Those who do not trust and obey God”. Jesus is dangerous to those who do not fear Him. We read of Jesus as a Lamb, but on the other side, Jesus is also the Lion of Judah. God is loving and merciful but behind that He hates those who do evil.

Activities from Juy 17-24, 2012

July 17, during our preachers bible study, brother Jun Gumpad shared to us a lesson about "What does the bible say about talking to the dead?" There are many who are doing these in our country and they believe it to be true. Before, when I was a Catholic, I also do believe on these things, especially when my mother shares some personal experiences she heard from her friends. We even go to "Healers" where they call on the name of the Lord and God will take over there body and speak a voice different from the normal. My mother is taking me to them. According to the bible, there are truly people doing these even in the Old Testament times but God rebukes them. In our time, Christian Dispensation, we should not believe on those things because it is not the work of the Lord but instead our adversary who is the devil. We cannot talk to the dead as they are already in Hades waiting for the judgment of Christ and cannot communicate or go back to us. What Necromancers nor Mediums do are no longer works to praise God but a sin that will bring them to hell.

In the afternoon, brother Rody shared to us on "Revelation 20". We finished studying it a week before but there are still many things that needed to be discuss.

July 18, in our midweek service here at Tuguegarao, brother Sherwin Miranda who is preaching at Luna, Quirino is with us. We gave him the opportunity to share the words of God. He taught about "Spiritual Growth" wherein we should be striving to do.

July 19, I preached in the radio program about "Those who bind the traditions of Man". I answered a question coming from a Catholic friend of mine.

July 21, we went to Bicuc, Tuao because brother Fred who was baptized on the last Sunday (July 15) invited us to where he was preaching before. When we arrived, we saw that many of those whom he is telling us to be preaching to are in the field, in short, a miscommunication in their part, so we just re-scheduled it in later time. But with the opportunity that we have, we went to brother Denis Yuson's house and had a study. Brother Fred have a friend with him who was a Pastor of Calvary Temple Church and we focus on sharing him the truth. Brother Rody shared a lesson about "Are you out of Christ or in Christ?". After the lesson, we sung an invitation song and we are very happy that Lando came forward and decided to be baptized into Christ. We baptized him here in Tuguegarao because there are no nearby river or anywhere that we can immerse him in water.

July 22, in our Lord's day here at Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught in our bible study the same lesson about "What the bible say about talking to the dead?". In the sermon, brother Rody preached about "Dangers we face in the wilderness". Like the Israelite when they are traveling, we too have the same wilderness that we need to face in our lives.

In the afternoon, at Palca, brother Melchizedek taught in our bible study about "Things that are in Christ" and I preached in the sermon about "Why we need to fear God?" Part 1. We need to fear God because of what He can do to Satan and his works and we also need to fear God when we disobey Him because of the punishment He will be giving us. We are not yet done with the lesson and Lord willing, we will continue on Sunday.

July 24, in our preachers bible study, I shared to them a lesson about "The Sabbath". I got an article from the Seventh- Day Adventists about their belief on this doctrine of them. I gave an answer to everything that was written on the article like why we still need to keep the Sabbath, we need to do it because Jesus followed the law and many more. The short answer is, it is already nailed to the cross and even though Jesus kept the Sabbath, He didn't gave yet the New Covenant that will make the Law of Moses as the old one.

In the afternoon, brother Edgar Licodini explained to us the meaning of Revelation 21. Many are saying that the New heaven and the new earth is the church, but as we discuss it, we came to the conclusion that it is the eternal abode of the righteous, where God is.

Activities from June 11-15, 2012

July 11, in our midweek service, brother Rody shared to us a summary on the book of Psalms before we move on to the book of Proverbs. It’s been 3 years since we started to study the book of Psalms and I am happy to end it with a lot of things that I’ve learned. He taught particularly on the prophecy of Christ in the Psalms and fulfilled in the New Testament. This is the first time that I heard the list of Christ’s prophecy in this book, I only knew some before. That’s why I love to join activities and listen to every lesson.

July 12, I preached in the radio program about “Denominations”. A listener sent a text message asking about this question “Is the Church of Christ a denomination?” I tried to answer the question and I hope I gave the best answer coming from the bible.

July 14, a brethren from Palca was here in Tuguegarao on this day. They stayed in the apartment of a one of the student who is also from Palca. I went to them for a visit and also shared some encouraging words from the bible. They where brother Junix and sister Melissa who was recently bore a child but unluckily their child died. They are also the ones who on August 2011 had a miscarriage on their first babies (should be twins). And just last month, their expected child (boy) also died before the delivery. When I received their text message informing me about the situation, for few minutes, I have been looking to an open space and was blank. I respect this couple because of the great faith they have. After that, they still continued on going to church because they know, God might have a greater plan for them. I went to visit them because they are already moving to Imus, Cavite this week, about 13 hours travel from here. I am trying to contact preachers from Manila if they know about any congregation in that area, but none responded yet. I gave Junix tracts that he might use to share also the Church Jesus’ built and the gospel of salvation. I ask for your prayers for them.

July 15, in our Lord’s day here in Tuguegarao, brother Jun answered a question in our bible study about the verses in John 14:2-4, Rev. 21:10-12, Rev. 3:11-12, 2 Pet. 3:10-14 and Isa. 65:17 if they are all the same place. The answer was concluded by brother Rody as they are not same, it is heaven, church, church, heaven where God is and church respectively. In the sermon, brother Rody preached about “Smoking: Is it bad or a sin?” In our country right now, an actor who was known as the Comedy King just died. He was a good example to all Filipinos because of his humility, but he died because of frequent smoking that leads to major complications in his organs. Brother Rody shared this lesson to examine whether it is bad or a sin. Of course it is bad to our health and also leads to a sin of uncleanness. In our service, we have a visitor who was a Pentecostal Pastor with his whole family in attendance. They also went with brother Rody in Maguirig and in the afternoon, they decided to be baptized into Christ There were four of them and Lord wiling, they will be joining us again on worship next Sunday before trying to start a new congregation in their town.

In the afternoon, at Palca, brother Abraham Yuson taught in our bible study about “Death” particularly on the physical sense. In the sermon, I added about spiritual death to conclude the first study and also preached about “Way of Cain”. The things he did from vain worship to taking his brother’s life until leaving the presence of the Lord. The way he did was told in Jude 11 that we should not follow. When we sin, we should repent and not let the sin grow.

Activities from June 26 to July 10

June 26, in our preachers bible study, brother Ronald Valdez shared to us about "The Tongue". He came to our apartment 4 days before sharing the lesson and asked me to make a powerpoint presentation for the lesson. I am happy that he trusted me with the work, so I did my best to help him. He taught the lesson very well and were glad to hear it. 

June 27, midweek service, brother Rody shared to us a lesson that we could learn on "Psalm 150", that everyone who have breath must praise the Lord.

June 28, I preached in the radio program about "What life will we choose?". Either we live a life serving the Lord or work and work to gain wealth and popularity in the world.

June 30, I attended a Gospel Meeting at Catarauan, Piat. Brother Jun Antonio was their preacher and is doing a great job. Brother Larry Guillermo was the first speaker and he taught about "Neglecting the so great Salvation" and brother Jerome concluded the study with the lesson "Salvation is realized when danger is realized". No conversion but the activity is prosperous because of the good lessons heard.

July 1, in our Lord's day here at Tuguegarao, brother Jerome answered the question of a brother about "What is the meaning of Feed my sheep in John 21?" We all know that Jesus is our good shepherd and we as christians are His flock. Jesus is telling to Peter to feed the words of God to the flock. In the sermon, brother Rody preached about "4 Things that hurt unity".

In the afternoon at Palca, I preached to them about the continuation of my lesson "Eternal Life:Part 2". How can we obtain it and why should we strive to have it.

July 3, in our preachers bible study, brother July Aguinaldo shared to us the lesson about "What is Love?". How can we show our love to our parents, brethren, friends, neighbors and enemies. That is the main focus of the lesson.

July 4, in our midweek service, brother Robert shared to us on "Matthew 7:21-23: What is the will of the Father?". 

July 5, I preached in the radio program about "Freedom of Choice". We have this freedom, but does that include we can choose whatever religion we want to gain eternal salvation? Of course not, because there is only one church and on name that we can all be save.

July 8, in our Lord's day here at Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught about "What will your answer be?", on the day of judgment and on the consequences of judgment, and so we need to be prepared. In the sermon, brother Jerome preached "Are we prepared?" like the Parable of the ten virgins. Are we prepared for judgment, for our worship and for leadership?

In Palca, brother Melchizedek taught in our bible study about "The children of God", while I preached about "Preventing problems with the tongue".

July 10, in our preachers bible study, brother David Malupeng taught about "What we need is less love for...", ourselves, pleasures of the world, material wealth and praise of men.

Activities for the month of June