FROM PERSECUTOR TO PROMOTER

"I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man" - 1 Timothy 1:13

Bro. Noe Dora was a radical Protestant preacher. He was determined to convert as many people as possible to his religion, especially Catholics. He hated the Catholic Church and believed that it was teaching evil, not good. He would visit the houses of his members to destroy the image and materials related to the Catholic Church.

One day, he was in the house of a newly converted follower doing his usual practice of destroying Catholic images. He picked up a statue of Mary and stared at it. He felt something strange and heard these words in his mind.

"What did My mother do, for her image to be destroyed this way?"

The odd event led him to study the Catholic faith. He secretly read about the faith, met up a priest and attended Mass. His six year study led him to receive the Sacrament of Baptism. He became a Catholic! 

Bro. Noe now travels around the Philippines & nearby countries to share his testimony. His personal is to bring back as many people to the Catholic Church. 

It's never too late for anyone to repent and change - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

http://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2017-09-15

REJOICE IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Do you want to enter heaven?

The first key is to love Jesus. The second key is to Rejoice in your Relationships.





Huh? What?? Relationships? Isn't it about being baptized, studying the bible, going to church or immediately going to confession right after you break one of the 10?

Let's recall what Jesus said. He gives us two commandments - Love God & love others. If we follow these two then the other things I mentioned (i.e. going to mass, baptism, etc) follows as our expressions of the two commandments.

We need to rejoice in our relationships. Why?

First, because Jesus says so. Let's look at what God says in the bible.

• "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:39). Simple and direct to the point. No explanation needed here.
• When Cain killed his brother Abel, God asked him "Where is your brother Abel? He answered, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9) God was saying to him (and to all of us) you are accountable for your brother. You should take care of your relationships.
• In John 15:13 it says, No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.

There are more verses about loving others. We rejoice in our relationships because Jesus commands us. And whatever Jesus says, we follow. No matter how hard it is, we follow.

The second reason why we rejoice in our relationships is because we need each other. We need others because they will push us to do better. 

• When you feel down, who helps you to rise up?
• When you want to quit attending Church, who encourages you?
• When you think its better to join your “other” friends party that evening than your prayer meeting who calls you to remind you to attend the prayer meeting?

We need each other because we are weak.

Lastly, we rejoice in our relationships because we have a relationship with God. That alone is more than enough reason to celebrate. However, we sometimes fall and break this relationship with Jesus. It is our most important relationship yet we don't give it priority. Sometimes we ignore it. Worst, we offend God and break the relationship. How should we handle this?

Lets take a look at Peter. He was with Jesus for three years. They were friends. In fact, very close friends. He was his mentor. Jesus trusted him with His Church. But on the day Jesus was arrested, Peter denies Jesus three times. He runs away, hides and feels guilty. Too much guilt he just wanted to go back to his old ways of fishing.

Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing" (John 21:3)

Peter was going back to fishing after leaving this profession three years ago. He was leaving because he broke his relationship with Jesus. He felt alone. Maybe in his mind he thought - "I'm a failure. I'll just go back to my old self". Don't we all feel the same when fail God.

But the story does not end there. One day, they meet again. Maybe Peter was nervous. Maybe Jesus would reprimand Peter for what he did. Anyway, Jesus had every right to do so after what Peter did. 

God proves us wrong. It was nothing like we expected.

Jesus said to them, "Come have breakfast." (John 21:12)

Jesus initiates the action and invites Peter to a meal. No mentioned of the denial. No condemnation. No hate. All love.

That is how Jesus values His relationship with you. Go to Him today and talk to Him.

- alvinfabella@yahoo.com

WHAT'S THE PLAN?

Traffic na naman! Should I complain or compose a note?

I chose the latter so here it goes.

I saw a billboard along NLEX on my way home. It read "Ano plano mo? Usap tayo". "What's your plan? Let's talk." Short, catchy & direct to the point. That's the tagline of an insurance company.

Some of us love to plan. Some of us don't. Maybe you find it a waste of time specially if your plans in the past did not happen as you "planned". :-)

Pwede din yan ang tanong ng Diyos sa iyo. "Anong plano mo? Usap tayo." How often do you consult God before you proceed with your plan?

I remember, several years ago, a friend told me about a job offer that fell on this lap. He had a good job at that time. His job allowed him to provide well for his family. He love his wife & kids so he spent a lot of time with them. But the salary offer was almost double his current pay. Too tempting. Plus, it had perks that the current job did not have - car plan, performance bonus & the works. He asked me if he should take the offer. I replied with 3 words - "Pray about it". He smiled & then we parted ways.

I did not get an update from him. The days became weeks. The weeks became months, still no update.

One day I got a text from an unknown number asking if I knew an annulment lawyer. I got a followup text from the same number before I could reply to the first message. It was my friend. I was in a meeting so I simply replied with "ano nangyari?" (what happened?)

The reply was disheartening.

"I did not pray about it. I accepted the offer. Work made me too busy. Became a workaholic. Had an affair at work. Wife & kids don't want me in their lives"

Sad news indeed. I don't know what happened after our conversation. Planning is good but praying is powerful.

Remember, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says "pray without ceasing". Pray all the time.

"Usap tayo tayo." (Let's talk) That's God's message for you. Pray to Him. God misses you.

- alvinfabella@yahoo.com