Guest Speaker is Ptr. Jordan Escusa.

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Life flows as branches are connected to the vine. All growth, fruit bearing and every effort rely on this prerequisite of connection.

Instructions for The Christian Worker (2 Timothy 2)

1. Source of Strength

v.1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. – We are to find strength for work in the grace of Christ Jesus. This is the same grace which saved us.

• “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
• “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
• Not only are we saved by the grace of God–we also serve the Lord and live the Christian life by the grace of God.

2. The Work

v. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

3. How to deal with Suffering in Serving Christ – 3 models

• v.4 “the soldier” seeks to please his commanding  officer

• v.5 “the athlete” seeks the victor’s crown
• v.6 “the hardworking farmer” seeks to be first in receiving a share of the crops

4. Remember the Gospel!

• v.8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel.

5. Remind people

• v.14a Keep reminding God’s people of these things.

6. Attitudes of the worker

• v. 15a Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
• v.16a Avoid godless chatter,

1. v.22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

The Church Local and Universal

1. The Universal Church

Composed by believers throughout the World.

• 1 Pet 2:9 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 Cor 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Eph 5:25-27  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her  to make her holy, cleansing^] her by the washing with water through the word,  and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

2. The Local Church

a. Christians in a geographical area that work and worship together as a congregation of God’s people.

• Why does HCF or any other local church emphasize on membership?

  The purpose of membership is to encourage commitment and accountability. On the other side, membership discourages the “come as you are attitude.” Commitment and accountability makes possible for the member personal growth which would be impossible for the church hopping christian. Church growth would also be possible when the church closes this virtual back door. The church is also able to accomplish its purpose when attendees commit to be members.

• What do members agree on?

  Committing to membership, members agree on the church’s theology, structure, vision, discipline, giving, and serving.

• When can a person apply for membership?

  When a person has built a relationship with Jesus Christ and expressed commitment to Him and the local church.

• Church Centric or Christ Centric Membership

  Membership should be Christ Centric instead of church centric. The purpose of joining a church is the growth of the Christian in his/her relationship with Christ.

The Articles/Tenets of the Faith

1. The Bible  - Inspired, Infallible, Authoritative

Mt 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hebrew 4:12-13 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

2. One True God with 3 persons

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Matthew 3:16-17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

3. Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

4. The Blessed Hope

Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

5. Fall & Sinfulness of Man

Gen. 3:1-10 The fall of Man

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Pet 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

6. Regeneration of the Holy Spirit

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

John 3:3-5 Born of the Spirit

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

7. Divine Healing

Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

8. Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Acts 1:5,8 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence….But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Aside from the tears, we’ll try to get as much from the movie. It has many lessons to teach.

Conformed with the world

Like the coach in the movie we can get caught in the rut, just coasting along, doing what everyone does. So he did what a football coach usually does and that is to win games. This can be bad if you make this your life goal. He is a Christian but he did not bring what he believed into his workplace.

Humbled by Giants

Life’s problems can be giants. The Eagles team had a losing streak. Players where transfering to the rival school. The coach was about to lose his job.  His car was giving up. His house was stinky (dead rat). His appliances were giving up. His wife couldn’t get pregnant because of him. They say when it rains it pours. Sometimes troubles can gang up on you all at once.

God though can make everything work for good to those who love him. And the beatitudes starts with the poor in spirit ~ humility. Of Israel, it is written that God humbled them in the wilderness so as to teach them to trust in Him (Deut 8:3).

Reliance on God

When we lose everything, our eyes get opened. At the least, we start searching. We call on to God. We pray and He answers our prayers. Then we go back to our previous lives. That is the foolish way to live.

The coach on the other hand, wrote a team philosophy which according to his wife was also a life philosophy ~ “We need to give God our best in every area. And if we win we praise Him, and if we lose we praise Him.”

We need to live for God consciously. Romans 6:22 says we need to become slaves to God which leads to sanctification.  Our focus is not on winning or losing, its on God.

Living consciously takes effort. It’s easy to get swept away by the things which happed daily. We need to be like football players. Actually St. Paul did write on this ~ “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Cor 9:25).

It takes the Holy Spirit to make a Revival

We can’t change ourselves, only God can. And so the tide for the Eagles didn’t turn in an instant. It took years of prayer, of laying of hands on students’ lockers.

Most of the time we can’t see God’s plan. For Israel, it took 40 years. For the Eagles, it took 6 years. But we have to stick to it. He will open a door that no one can close.  Our work is to prepare for rain.

God uses ordinary people

I like the subplot of David Childers. His father prayed that God would show how strong He is in his life and through David God would show people how good He is.

The ending though shows David with an impossible winning kick that it can only be attributed to God.

Leadership

The character of Brock Kelley in the film on the other hand teaches on team leadership. It shows how pivotal team leaders are. And so it was important for the coach to teach Brock on how not to quit through the “death crawl.” First, it made him discover his potential ~ he was able to carry a 160 pound man across the field. Second, it also shows the importance of the encouragement of the coach not to quit. In our lives, this is God, through people, telling us not to quit. We just need to listen because many people are counting on our leadership.

At the final stretch or fourth quarter, is where leadership counts. Quoting from the film, “Its easy to lead when you’re strong. But now is when you lead.”

GOD is overwhelming

When we focus on problems and life’s trials they can really seem to be giants for us. But they are nowhere near in comparison to the  size of our God.

And so the film ends with a declaration ~ “Nothing is impossible with God.” As He showed again and again what He can do. Let us put our trust in Him and live for Him.  Surely, we will be overwhelmed with the goodness and greatness of our God.

 

HCF Members from Ortigas, Tondo and Pangarap held a joint worship gathering. The worship was jointly led by the worship teams of these churches. Emily and Tats were the event emcees.

The theme for the anniversary was “Wear Your Dream.” The intent of which is to present in costume the ministry’s future goals. And so everyone came prepared and each group had 3 minutes in the limelight

It was very colorful. Each had a different take on the theme. Mandaluyong CENEP did a song and dance number. The couples gave us a tour of the country’s first couples (Marcos to PNoy).  A sort of live Jibjab (if you would recall their life group celeb presentation).  The Huddle Life Group (working people) did a fashion show of Gospel inspired Shirts. The Bandaid Life Group (Youth) did a Seven-Deadly Sins Cosplay then stripped to their whities (rated GP). The Santolan Life Group did a Gifts of the Holy Spirit Cosplay with Ptr. Raul and Sis. Addie in Rainbow and Clouds costumes Tondo and Pangarap also had their skits and cheers.  Really fun and yet meaningful. Almost forgot, the Golden Years represented by Mommy Virgie and Tata led the whole congregation in “This is the Day” praise! Pwede pa!

Kevin Sanders (Kuya Kevin) was the guest speaker. I think he is known for True Love Waits. This time though he spoke on the leadership of Joshua as they entered the promised land. Key points? Complete obedience leads to success. God fights for you. Be bold and courageous. Show up (be available).

The worship gathering closed with a hearty fellowship over club sandwiches. Its great to be 22.

HCF never stops to celebrate life. That’s the key.  So next in line are the Youth Retreat at Tagaytay, Facing the Giants Film Showing and the HCF Life Institute in November.

To God be all glory, praise and honor. Amen!

Dreams and Emotions

We all start with life with dreams and emotions. Dreams are a future view of life while emotions deal with the present/the now. We seek the happiness of the present and also to secure the future happiness.

Disillusionment/Burnout/Aging/Pain & Isolation

The unguided life leads to four problems. The first is disillusionment – a loss of vision. With repeated unattainment of dreams, the safest route would be not to dream at all. The second problem would be burnout or a loss of energy. We are drained as we exhaust all means to achieve our dreams. 

Happiness in reality is much based on relationships rather than on material things. And superficial relationships, usually bring short lived happiness. The third problem is aging, which results in a loss of physical attractiveness. Health problems also come with age.  Superficial relationships also result into the fourth problem - pain and eventually isolation.

Reevaluation Process

These four problems are “triggers” for a reevaluation of the basis of our happiness and the dreams we have. Reevaluation actually is a process. It would not have instantaneous results. One would need courage and patience to see it through. In the process, it would be best to have people we trust accompany us. The church traditionally is a place of safety. We need to root out gossip, so that people would be free to share their lives with each other.

Mid-life Crash

Pursuing the reevaluation process early in life allows us to avoid the mid-life crisis. Or if a person is in one, the process allows us to come out of it in 3-5 years time.  Failure to pursue the process, continuing the path of destruction leads to a mid-life CRASH. People just  quit or become recluse or tambays. They stop living.

Success in the reevaluation process allows us to live life, have a meaningful work. It is the life we dreamed, because we are happy. We also have mature relationships in contrast with superficial ones. Are emotional needs are met.

Continuing in this life, we retire at 65. It is time to give back, to become a mentor, to help other people in their mid-life crisis. 

Eventually, we move to “timeless” life, one which is eternal. This should be the basis for our dreams and would allows us to live eternity in the here and now.