Ipagtanggol Ang Simbahang Katolika

This BLOG will SOON CEASE to EXIST

2009-04-30T01:52:00.001+08:00

May 1 can't wait. This BLOG will SOON CEASE to EXIST. I love this blog but I have to let go - and move on.

The act of choosing is the oxygen to your soul.

PROJECT DENNIO
Awakening from the deepest slumber:

http://projectdennio.blogspot.com/

Visit it now.

Rebirth

2008-03-10T13:44:00.000+08:00

I love the word: rebirth. We are all born once. But at some point in our lives, we would be born again. I’m not referring to the different Christian denominations/religions but to that state of being wherein you have just emerged from something so nasty, so painful and so dark that after everything that happened, you would turn out to be a better person.

And that is what I’m hoping for: a rebirth; a new life.

The past few years have not been so good to me. A lot had happened. But mostly, not so good events that really, really brought me down. And yet, here I am: alive and kicking.

I thought it would be all over soon. But as the days, months and the years pass by, it seems to be greater. More sufferings. More failures. It was just the beginning.

And the climax came on the last few months of the 17th year of my life. And even up to this time, hindi pa natatapos ang lahat.

Twelve hours ago, I turned 18. And yet, my spirit is still down. Really down. I’ve been actually sick for a month now. My cough won’t just go away.

Anyway, I’m still hoping that the following year would be better.

And to YOU up there, who is looking down on us, mightier than anyone or anything and who never left us in every step of our way. I’m sorry for doubting you once. I’ll never do it again. I believe you had a plan for me. And by the way, remember that once I told you: Paki batukan naman ako. And yes, it all happened. But you never did it to me. You made me do it to myself. And again, I’m asking you: please help me to live a new life with you. Serving you and the people you dearly love. Please. I beg of you. Maawa ka po sa hampas-lupang gaya ko.

And to everybody else, I’m asking for your prayers.

Thank you.

TAMA NA! SOBRA NA! PATALSIKIN SI GLORIA!

2008-02-26T17:13:00.000+08:00

Habang tahimik ang lahat kahapon nakita ko ang isang maliit na papel (actually isang short bond paper) na nakapatong sa aking lamesa. Binas ko ang nilalaman nito. And I liked it. Very timely for wht is happening to our country nowadays. And to what our honorable politicians did with our country.

Seven years is enough, as one group said. And truly, enough is enough. We cannot have more of these scams, scandals, graft, corruption and blatant violation of human rights. We don't need an economist who doesn't even care about her people and all she boasts are the numbers and figures which people cannot eat.

It's about time my fellow Filipinos to take away the power we have given them. It's about time to stand side by side without those politicos around. It is time that we do not depend on the calls of the church or some charismatic leader for us to get involved and stand up for real change in our country.

It is time for us to change the country without them.

And here is a literary piece dedicated to all Filipinos created by Bernard Backman.

REVERSE CREATION

by Bernard Backman

In the end, we destroyed the heaven that was called Earth. The Earth had been beautiful until our spirit moved over it and destroyed all things.

And we said...

Let there be darkness... and there was darkness. And we liked the darkness; so we called the darkness, Security. And we divided ourselves into races and religions and classes of society. And there was no morning and no evening on the seventh day before the end.

And we said...

Let there be a strong government to control us in our darkness. Let there be armies to control our bodies so that we may learn to kill one another neatly and efficiently in our darkness. And there was no evening and no morning on the sixth day before the end.

And we said...

Let there be rockets and bombs to kill faster and easier; let there be gas chambers and furnaces to be more thorough. And there was no evening and no morning on the fifth day before the end.

And we said...

Let there be drugs and other forms of escape, for there is this constant annoyance - REALITY - which is disturbing our comfort. And there was no evening and no morning on the fourth day before the end.

And we said...

Let there be divisions among the nations, so that we may know who is our common enemy. And there was no evening and no morning on the third day before the end.

And finally we said...

Let us create God in our image. Let some other God compete with us. Let us say that God thinks as we think, hates as we hate, and kills as we kill. And there was no morning and no evening on the second day before the end.

On the last day, there was a great noise on the face of the Earth. Fire consumed the beautiful globe, and there was silence. The blackened Earth now rested to worship the one true God; and God saw all that we had done, and in the silence over the smoldering ruins... God wept.

Sa Ngalan (daw) ng Diyos

2008-02-12T13:55:00.000+08:00

Sa pagpasok ng bagong milenyo, parang mga kabuteng nagsulputan ang sandamakmak na mga denominasyon at relihiyon na nangangako ng kaligtasan. Karamihan pa nga ang panghatak nila sila ang “Tunay na Simbahan” na itinatag ni Kristo at kapag hindi kayo sumali sa kanila hindi kayo kasama sa maililigtas. Modernong-moderno ang konsepto. Instant salvation ‘ika nga.

May iba’t ibang gimik pa sila. Isa na rito ang pagbili ng mga istasyon ng radyo’t telebisyon.Tama nga naman. Malakas ang epekto sa tao kung dadaanin mo ito sa media. Madali silang makakaakit sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita ng mga larawan na nagpapakita ng kanilang mga nagtatayugang pook-samabahan o di kaya pagpapakita sa dami ng mga taong umaattend ng kanilang mga services. Sa mga programa, tinatalakay nila ang mga nilalaman ng bibliya. Ginagamit nila ang mga talata nito upang patunayan na sila nga ang tunay na relihiyon at ang kanilang mga itinuturo ay nakabase sa bibliya. Minsan pa nga, sila-sila rin ang nagbabatuhan ng putik. Umaabot pa sa puntong nagmumurahan sila. Lahat ng ito ginagawa nila dahil sila ang tunay na simbahang itinatag ng Diyos… sa ngalan ng Diyos.

*****

May isang denominasyon ang nagsasabi na may pastor na nagsasabing siya raw ang “Appointed Son of God”. Siya si Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy. Pag-aari niya (o nila) ang ACQ-KBN, isang istasyon ng telebisyon. Parang medyo inihawig sa ABS-CBN ‘di ba? Showbiz na showbiz ang dating. Marami na rin silang mga radio station at may tabloid din. Medyo baguhan pa lang sila at kung ikukumpara sa isa pang denominasyon na Iglesia ni Kristo, hindi pa masyadong organized ang kanilang mga ginagawa.

Eto ang ilan sa kanilang ginagawa.

Noong April 13 2005 opisyal na niyang ipini-phase out ang lahat ng denominasyon at relihiyon sa buong mundo. Tayo raw ay nasa Kingdom Age na. Tinawag pa niya ang Davao City na New Jerusalem. “You do not know the day nor the hour” ang sinasabi ng bibliya. Hindi natin malalaman kung kailan siya muling magbabalik. Pero sabi ng denominasyon na ito nagbalik na ang Panginoon at “nag-appoint” na siya ng kanyang anak na nagtatakda ng kanyang muling pagbabalik.

Pero kung susuriin ang kanilang mga pinaggagawa mismo sa telebisyon, aba’y parang entertainment tv sila. Meron nga silang mga religious services na ibino-broadcast sa TV. Pero bakit kelangan pa nilang mag-interview ng mga matataas na opisyal? Sabi nila “the governance of the father is here”, parang inamin din nila na sila ay subjected pa din sa pamamahala ng mga tao na tinawag nilang men and women, hindi Sons and Daughters of God dahil sila ay may tinatawag nilang “serpent seed”. At masyado pa rin silang makamundo. Naipakita minsan sa TV kung gaano kaganda ang bahay ng nasabing “Appointed Son of God.”

Maaalala natin na si Kristo ay namuhay na payak. Siya ay ipinanganak sa isang sabsaban. Nang lumaki hindi siya tumira sa isang palasyo. Siya ay nakikituloy sa bahay ng mga makasalanan. Kahit na anak pa siya ng Diyos, nagpakumbaba siya. Kahit na kaya niyang utusan ang kalikasan na patamaan ng kidlat ang mga Pariseo na umuusig sa kanya hindi niya nagawa. Pero itong si “Appointed Son of God”, ang buong bahay ay naka-aircon. Mala-palasyo ang kanyang bahay. Ang kanilang samabahan ay ubod ng laki at ganda. Maka-mundo. Hindi siya karapat-dapat na maging “Appointed Son of God” kung meron man. At wala talaga kahit sino sa atin, kahit pa ang Santo Papa, na maaari maging “Appointed Son of God”.

*****

Sabi nila sila daw ang tunay na simbahan. Ang kanilang founder na si Felix V. Manalo ang “last messenger of God.” Isa siyang dating Katoliko na nagkaroon ng pagdududa sa mga itinuturong doktrina ng simbahang Katoliko. Dahil daw rito inaral niya ang bibliya. At natuklasan daw niya na hindi nakabase sa Bibliya ang karamihan sa mga aral ng mga Katoliko. Dahil rito napagpasyahan niyan tumiwalag sa simbahan na pinaniniwalaan niyang matagal nang namatay at nagtatag ng isang relihiyon na kung saan muli raw itinatag ang simbahan ni Kristo at siya ang huling propeta.

Sabi ng mga taga-INK na sa loob ng 50 taon, hindi na raw magiging isang Katolikong bansa ang Pilipinas. Mukhang nagkakamali sila.

Hindi nila magawang aminin na sa kabila ng maraming taong inaakit nila na sumama sa relihiyon nila, dumarami din ang mga nadidismaya at nagbabalik-loob bilang mga Katoliko. Karamihan pa sa mga ito ay mga ministro nila o iyung mga talagang nagtataguyod ng kanilang pananampalataya ang mga bumabalik sa simbahang Katolika.

Kagaya rin ng naunang halimbawa, ang simbahang ito ay may mga istasyon ng telebisyon at radyo. Sa kanilang mga programa kanilang ipinagdidiinan na ang pag-anib sa kanilang simbahan ang siya lamang daan para maligtas. Tinatalakay din nila ang ilang mga doktrinang Katoliko para tirahin at pasinungalingan ang mga ito sa pamamagitan ng pagkuha ng mga bersikulo sa bibliya.

Mortal din nilang kaaway na maituturing ang isa pang denominasyon na Ang Dating Daan o tinatawag din na Church of God International. Noon lamang isang taon nagkaroon sila ng palitan ng mga maanghang at matatalim na pananalita sa bawat isa. Umaabot pa ito sa murahan. Kaniya-kaniyang kuha ng video clips at uulit-ulitin sa telebisyon para ipagdiinan na mali sila. Iyan ba ang kanilang nais na ibigay na aral sa kanilang mga taga-sunod? Ang kamuhian ang kanilang mga kaaway? Ni minsan nga wala pa akong narinig sa isa sa mga programa nila na nagsabing ang Diyos ay pag-ibig. Wala talaga. Palagi nilang ipinapakita ang Diyos na isang mapag-parusang ama. Mistula nilang sinasabi na ang Diyos ay walang awa sa mga nagkasala. Tapos ang [segue] pa nila, para daw matuwa ang Diyos sa kanila kailangan nilang umanib sa tunay na simbahan.

Dahil ang simbahang itinatag ni Kristo, ay nawala at nasira na. Ngunit, kung mayroon mang sirang-sira at naliligaw, sila itong mga ‘modernong tagapagligtas.’

Pero mismong si Kristo na ang nagsabi upang pabulaanan ang pahayag na ito.

“Lumapit si Hesus at sinabi sa kanila, "Ibinigay na sa akin ang lahat ng kapangyarihan sa langit at sa lupa. Kaya naman humayo kayo at gawin ninyong alagad ang alagad ko ang lhat ng bansa. Bautismuhan niyo sila sa ngalan ng Ama at ng Anak at ng Espiritu Santo at turang sumunod sa lahat ng ipinag-utos ko sa inyo. Tandaan ninyo: ako’y lagging kasama niyo hanggang sa katapusan ng sanlibutan.” – Mateo 28: 18-20.

Hindi iiwan ng Diyos ang simbahang kanyang itinatag gaya ng sinasabi ng mga makabagong relihiyon na ito. Hindi iniwan ng Diyos ang Simbahang Katolika. Hindi man niya ipinangako na tayo’y maliligtas kung tayo ay sasapi sa simbahang kanyang itinatag, ang pananampalatayang itinuturo nito ang siyang magliligtas sa amin.

“Patay ang katawang hiwalay sa espiritu; gayon din naman, patay ang pananampalatayang hiwalay sa gawa.” – Santiago 2: 26

At kung araw-araw mang nagpupuri ang mga ‘modernong tagapagligtas’ na ito sa Diyos. Magpatayo man sila ng libu-libong mga simbahan, kung hindi nila isinasabuhay ang kanilang pananampalataya lahat ng ito ay balewala.

Nakakalungkot pa nga na ginagamit nila ang salita ng Diyos upang manira ng iba; sa halip na gamitin ito para tumulong sa iba at sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos. At ang Bibliya na sinasabi nilang basehan ng kanilang mga pahayag, binababoy nila para lamang mailusot ang kanilang mga baluktot na paniniwala. Isang malaking kapalastanganan ang sirain ang Juan 3: 16 ng isang berso mula sa Efeso. Ang galing nila na tawaging Panginoon si Hesus ngunit itinuturing lamang nila na isang tao.

Kung magkagayon, sino ang sumasamba sa diyos-diyusan? Kung hindi nila itinuturing na Diyos si Kristo, bakit pa nila ito tintawag na Panginoon? Maging sa kanilang mga pinuno na kung ituring nila ay diyos. Ipinagbabawal ang pagkakaroon ng krus o anumang imahe ng Diyos sa kanilang mga pook-sambahan ngunit kailangang may larawan o rebulto ng kanilang pinuno. Sino ba ang mas mahalaga? Ang kaligtasang sinisimbolo ng krus na kung saan namatay si Kristo upang iligtas tayo sa ating mga kasalanan o ang makabagong relihiyon na sinasabing magliligtas sa ating lahat na itinatag ng isang tao?

Pero sa bandang huli, nasa tao na rin ang pasya kung kanino siya maniniwala.

I hope I have done my part in making you decide.

Para sa kadakilaan ng Diyos na lumikha ng lahat, kay Hesus na ating Panginoon at kay Mariang ating Ina. Alay sa dakilang kapistahan ng pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ng ating Panginoon.

Amen.

For more on 'knowing the truth' go and click the February 2007 archives. Thank you.

New Post

2008-02-07T16:07:00.001+08:00

Tinatamad pa ako. Pero bago ako maging legal, madami pa ako ilalagay dito na bago, kaya abangan. This was posted in all of my blogs na wala pang post mula noong isang taon.

Instant Salvation

2007-10-04T09:31:00.000+08:00

"May kumakalat na balita... na ang kaligtasa'y madaling makuha... bago maniwala magisip-isip ka muna... marami ang namamatay sa maling akala..."

Pamilyar ba? Galing sa kantang Maling Akala. Nakakatuwa ang mga lyrics ng kanilang kanta. Pero ang linyang nakakuha ng aking atensyon ay ang linyang nababasa mo sa itaas. Napapanahon para sa ating lahat na naghahangad ng kaligtasan.

Naglipana ngayon sa buong mundo ang iba't ibang sekta o denominasyon na nagsasabing sila lamang ang simbahang kikilalanin ng Diyos at tanging sa kanila lang natin makakamit ang kaligtasan. Kapag hindi ka umanib sa kanila, sigurado na ang iyong kamatayan at ang pagkuha ng demonyo sa iyong kaluluwa. Hindi iyan nalalayo sa mga sinasabi ng mga malalaking sekta ng relihiyon dito sa Pilipinas. Una na diyan ang Iglesia ni Kristo. Patuloy sila sa pagtira sa mga maling turo ng Simbahang Katolika at ng mortal na kaaway, Ang Dating Daan.

Nitong mga nagdaang araw, dala na marahil ng pagkabagot, napapadalas ang panunood ko ng kanilang programa sa Ch. 25. Siyempre, nagkataon na nakapanuod ako ng isang episode na kung saan ang tinatalakay nila ay tungkol sa kaligtasan. Siyempre, nagsimula sila sa pagtalakay tungkol sa mga nalalapit na araw. Gaya ng nakagawian, kukuha sila ng mga verse sa bibliya na magpapatotoo ng kanilang sinasabi. Iuugnay pa nila ito sa mga kasalukuyang pangyayari gaya ng mga lindol, malalakas na bagyo at climate change. Nalalapit na daw talaga tayo sa araw ng paghuhukom. Nakikita na natin ang 'signs of the times.' "It is inevitable" sabi nga noong isang pastor doon sa programa. Kaya kinakailangan na tayo daw ay umanib sa tunay na simbahan ng Diyos. At bakit raw? Ayan ang dami na naman nilang mga bible verses na binabasa. Hindi ko na maalala ang lahat. Ngunit may kulang.

Marahil sa lahat ng mga sekta ng relihiyon, ito pa lamang ang bukod tanging nagsasabi na siya raw ang "Appointed Son of God" at doon sa Davao City itatayo ang "New Jerusalem" o naitayo na. Iba naman ang gimik este estilo nila. Noong 2005, nakalimutan ko na ang petsa, bilang "Appointed Son of God" at sinabi daw ng Panginoon sa kanya, opisyal na nilang ipini-phase out lahat ng relihiyon sa buong mundo. Wala na raw relihiyon. Sila na lamang daw ang bukod tanging mga tao na kikilalanin ng Diyos pagdating ng huling araw. Kaya kung dumating ang huling araw at hindi kayo kasali sa kanila, mapaparusahan tayo at hindi magkakamit ng buhay na walang hanggan sa piling ng Ama. Ngunit may kulang.

Sabi sa James 2:26 says: "Faith without good works is dead." Hindi sapat na naghihiyaw tayo ng Halleluiah o kada segundo ay nagdarasal tayo. Mahalaga na ang mga itinuturo ng ating pananampalataya ay isinasabuhay. At una na rito ay pag-ibig sa kapwa.

Ang mga nabanggit ko na ilan sa mga sekta, ni minsan sa kanilang mga programa, wala pa akong narinig na nagsalita tungkol sa pag-ibig sa kapwa. Palagi na lang pag-ibig sa Diyos. Wala namang masama rito, ngunit ang Diyos na mismo ang nagsabi na kapag minahal natin ang ating kapwa, ito'y pagmamahal sa rin sa kanya. Ang hindi pa maganda, ang mga sektang ito, kahit hindi nila direktang sinasabi, ay nagtuturo na kamuhian mo ang mga hindi nating kaanib. Ituring mo na masama sila. Sila ay may mga serpent seed na nagdudulot ng kasalanan at kasamaan. Hindi sila malinis. Sila ay nakaanib sa simbahan ng mga demonyo at sila ang mga unang mga nilalang na paparusahan, habang tayo ngayon pa lang nandoon na ang ating mga pangalan sa aklat ng buhay at sigurado nang tayo ay maliligtas.

Tingnan natin ang sinasabi ng bibliya sa kanila:

"False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue doctrines, and will deny the Master who redeemed them, and so they will bring upon themselves sudden destruction." (2 Pet. 2:1)

"...for such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, who pretend as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan pretends as angels of light. His ministers also pretends as ministers of righteousness!" (2Cor 11: 13-14)

At para sa lahat ng nagsasabi na sila'y mga anghel, bagong propeta o maging "Appointed Son of God":

"Even if an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one that we preached, let that one be accursed!" (Gal 1:8)

Ang kaligtasan ay hindi natin makukuha mula sa pagsali sa mga relihiyon. Kahit ang simbahang Katolika hindi ito itinuturo bagkus sinsabi na ang kaligtasan ay matatamo lamang sa pagsunod sa Diyos at pagsasabuhay ng kanyang mga itinuturo. Hindi ito parang sabong pampaputi na puputi ka within 7 days. Ayaw ng Diyos ng mga instant, dahil kung ligtas ka agad, masyado ka nang kampante sa buhay mo at higit pa rito hindi malalim ang ugat ng pagmamahal mo sa Diyos.

"For many will come in my name, saying ‘I am the Christ", and they will lead many astray" (Matt 24: 4-5)

Para Sa Mga Anti-Christ (Pulot mula sa isang forum)

2007-09-14T11:17:00.000+08:00

Wow this was really good see how we should watch what we say ah.. Interesting, thought provoking, soul-stirring info.

KNOW THESE FACTS?

Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death!

Make a personal reflection about this.....

Very interesting, read until the end.....

It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):

"...for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Here are some men and women who mocked God :

John Lennon (Singer):

Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said:

"Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, Today we are more famous than Him" (1966).

Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil):

During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency.

Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died .

Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):

During A show in Canecio (Rio de Janeiro),

While smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: "God, that's for you."

He died at the age of 32 of AIDS in a horrible manner.

The man who built the Titanic:

After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be.

With an ironic tone he said: "Not even God can sink it"

The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic .

Marilyn Monroe (Actress)

She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show.

He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: "I don't need your Jesus".

A week later, she was found dead in her apartment .

Bon Scott (Singer)

The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang: "Don't stop me, I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell".

On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.

Campinas (IN 2005)

In Campinas , Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend.....

The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car:

"My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.."

She responded: "Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside Here.....It's Already Full"

Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact.

The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken .

Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer) said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written.

In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle .

Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus.

Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive .

Reflections

2007-03-05T19:06:00.000+08:00

The following reflections you are going to read are taken from Didache Jan – Feb 2005. These reflections caught my attention and I think it is fit for contemplating this Lenten Season. I hope you would enjoy them too.

***

February 9, 2005 (Ash Wednesday)

Reading: 2Corinthians 5: 20 – 6: 2

Tony and the Abaca Mess

Today is the day to be saved! – 2 Corinthians 6: 2

I have a good friend named Rene who lives in Abra. He invited my family to his hometown on his 22nd Birthday. In the midst of the festive occasion, a child came running to the house and reported that Rene’s nine-year old brother Tony got entangled in the stack of abaca fibers at a makeshift shed at the back of the house! The more the boy struggled, the tighter the abaca fibers pressed on his frail body.

Rene somehow was unable to untangle some of the fibers enough to pull his brother out of the stack. He carried Tony out of the stockroom. But the boy still kept thrashing and weeping because he could not escape from the remaining fibers still entwined around his limbs and torso. “How many times have you been told not to go near the abaca room?” Rene reprimanded the boy. “Now hold still,” Rene instructed as he meticulously unraveled each strand on the boy’s body. The process was long and tedious and painful for Tony. But there was no other way for the body to get out of the mess.

Don’t complain to God when you undergo some pain in your life. Rather, be still and know that, when you are experiencing the most mind-wracking pains, God is working feverishly in your life to unwind the consequences of sins you have incurred, so that you could once again be free and enjoy a happy life. JLG

***

February 15, 2005

Reading: Isaiah 55:10 – 11

Yukky Stories

It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end fro which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:11

Don’t you sometimes wish you could just throw away the entire Old Testament and stick with the New? I mean, what good are stories about the Levite slaying this concubine and cutting her up into little pieces. Yikes! Or how about the seduction of Lot by his daughters-in-law? Stories like these are not only disgusting. They make you want to believe Jesus’ Father wasn’t the same guy that Moses got the Ten Commandments from.
Author Chris Blake in Searching for a God to Love sees it this way: the pictures of diseases that you see in medical books shouldn’t highlight the illness but make you long and see the need for a healer. Seen in this light, I begin to understand that the description of the times before Jesus was necessary for us to see the logic and necessity for God to send His Son. The world needed a Healer, a Physician who was powerful enough not just to expose the disease but to expunge it from the face of the earth. And seen in this light, I see that every word of God that has been recorded has purpose in my life and should not be nullified nor declared useless.

Jesus, thank You for being the Word that wiped away my disease. Victoria L.

****

February 17, 2005

Reading: Matthew 7: 7 – 12

My Friend’s Problem

If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. – Matthew 7:11
I have a friend who has only one son. And she’s worried sick about losing him. Once, she told me how much she loved him and then said, “Now I’m afraid that God will take him away from me because He knows how much I love him.”

I looked at her and asked, “Do you think your dad would do something like that to you?”
She said no.

I continued, “Then why would you think that God who is good and loving, would do that to you?”

Many times, we think of God the way we should think about the devil. We’re afraid that He will take from us people we love and deprive us of good things we desire for our lives. We say things like, “I want this job so badly, I know God won’t give it to me” or “The Lord knew how much I loved that person that’s why He took her away.”

Wait a minute, isn’t that the devil’s work – to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10)? God so loved us that He gave His only Son to us. Until that truth sinks in, we will fall into the sin of defaming God’s character. Rissa S.

The Sad Story of the Bible

2007-02-28T15:16:00.000+08:00

Until 1400 AD, Catholic monks preserved the original purity of Bible and made copies by hand. Everyday in the Holy Masses, the congregation attended both "Breaking of the Word’ and Breaking of the Bread.’ The Bible was not available to common people as there was no printing that time as it is today.

In 1453 AD, printing was invented. Copies of the Bible were made available. In 1517 AD, Martin Luther attacked the Church but first he vandalized the Bible itself. Just to defend his dogmas, he threw out 7 Old Testament books from the original early canons of the Bible (Wisdom, Sirach, Judith, Baruch, Tobit, 1st Maccabees and 2nd Maccabees). He planned to destroy even New Testament book ‘Letter of James’ which spoke against his doctrine ‘sola fide’ (man is saved not by work but faith alone). But James 2:26 says: "Faith without work is dead." When opposition mounted, he was satisfied accusing this Epistle as "Epistle of the straw.’ So, now the Bible used by Protestants, are partial, incomplete and unauthentic.

His followers started to fight each other on interpreting the Bible by creating contrary theologies and new dogmas. Thousands of Churches were formed. All believed the Bible alone is the basis of faith; a dogma never taught by Jesus, never written in the Bible nor supported by the Bible. Each church started to change interpretations and even words in the Bible according to their desire. It created more than 200,000 churches with contrary views, all based in Bible. All claim the guidance of the same Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can never do this dirty confusion and total anarchy as it is the Spirit of Truth. There are more than 700 churches here in the Philippines with ‘Bible alone theory.’ Thus, history proved, beyond any doubt, the ‘Bible alone’ theory is not from God. In fact, Bible became an instrument in the hands of Satan to create chaos and anarchy in Christendom when it is taken out from its real basis – the church founded by Jesus upon Peter. So Jesus warned, (Jn 15:6) "Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither."

Who Made the Bible?

2007-02-28T15:12:00.000+08:00

‘Bible alone’ is not the basis of faith

Jesus in His life never mentioned about a Bible. He never commanded us to believe in a book. We cannot see He ordered apostles to write a Book. During the time of apostles there was no Bible at all. Jesus founded, not a book as the basis of faith, but the Church as the "pillar and foundation of the truth" (2 Tim 3:15). And He promised not that book, but He himself will be with his Church till the end of the age (Mt. 28:20) and the Holy Spirit will lead the apostles and the successors in to the ‘fullness of truth’ after his ascension to heaven (Jn 14: 16-17). He even said, "If everyone refuses to listen to the Church, treat him as if you would a gentle or tax collector."

Tradition and the Bible

In the early cenuries, before the Bible was formed, Christians believed the teaching of the apostles and their disciples, as the basis of their faith, which the Church calls "Holy Tradition." These traditions were not human customs mentioned in Mt. 15: 3, 6 – 9, that were observed ny Pharisees, but theyw ere accepted as guided by the Holy Spirit.

In fact, the words such as ‘Bible,’ Purgatory, ‘Trinity,’ and Assumption are all coming from these early Christian traditions! Later, when the Bible came, it defended those traditions.

2 Thess. 2:15 "So then, brethen, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us."

1 Cor. 11:2 "Now I praise you because you remember me in everything, and hold firmly to the traditions just as I delivered them to you."

Why the Bible was formed?

In early centuries of the church, there appeared more than 50 gospels, which include 4 gospels that we see in New Testament and other gospels such as gospel of James, gospel of Thomas, gospel of Hebrews,etc.. There were 22 Book of Acts, Acts of Apostles, Acts of Paul, and Acts of Thecia etc… There were numerous Epistles that we see in New Testament and others such as Paul’s letter to Laodiceans, Epistle of Barnabas, etc.. It created total confusion among early Christians because some of the books and letters were ‘spurious’ and others genuine. Some of them contained even superstitiouns and funny stories of miracles of Jesus and apostles. Many false prophets appeared with different theologies contrary to the apostolic teaching. For Arius, Jesus was not God. For Aollinarius, Jesus was not man. Macedonious preached Holy Spirit is not God. For Maricionites, all the gospels are false. All of them started to quote the scriptures available at that time.

To defend the true church and its doctrines from the apostasies, the Catholic Church decided to select some books that seemed genuine and inspired; it is known as the canon of Bible (Greek ‘Kanon’ means something serving to determine, rule). Thus, the Bible came from the church! The Church is not coming from the Bible.

CHURCH MADE THE BIBLE

It was Melito, Bishop of Sardis (170 AD) who first tried to have an Old Testament Canon but many of the inspired books are not seen in his list.

The Council of Laodicea (360 AD), with the permission of the Pope in Rome, produced the first canon of the Bible. But it is only in the year of Pope Damasus (367 AD) a great effort was done to form a Bible. This Holy Pope compiled the books which he felt genuine and ordered St. Jerome to translate them into Latin, which was the official language of the Church. St Jerome went to Jerusalem and lived 30 years in a cave to do the job. At 397 AD, he finished his works and presented it to Pope. This is known as ‘Latin Vulgate.’ Pope Siricius called it called it the ‘Bible,’ which means ‘collection of books.’

In fact, the term ‘Bible’ has a pagan origin. The Greek word ‘biblia’ is coming from the Phenition city of ‘Byblos’ that was a trading port for papyrus. For the Greeks, ‘biblios’ meant those books ‘an invocation of the goddess or muse’ (daughters of Zeus who inspired poets, speakers and artists. Remember, critics always accuse Catholic feasts, such as Christmas for its pagan background. Even the Bible itself has a pagan background.)

Though Luke was not an apostle of Jesus, the Pope accepted his gospel because it clarified all doubts about doctrines of Mary – as it was believed in the early Church that Luke got ideas about the infancy of Jesus from Mary. Luke was also famous for his paintings of Mary and Child Jesus (One of these pictures is still kept in the Basilica of Mary Major in Rome). Matthew gives very clear idea about the Primacy of Peter and the Church Jesus founded on him. John’s gospel was used by early Christians to defend the real presence of Jesus, as one whole chapter of this Gospel deals with that subject "my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink." Mark, being a close associate of Peter in Rome defends the selections of Peter, and his authority.

NO BIBLE WITHOUT THE CHURCH

Those who deny tradition, Primacy of Pope and believe in new dogmas of "total apostasy" are really questioning the validity of the Bible. When we say gospel written by Luke, Mark or Matthew, it doesn’t mean we have any evidence that it is written by them. These beliefs are based only on tradition. All scholars in ‘textual criticism of the Bible’ say many of the gospel parts are later additions of the disciples of evangelists. Mark and Luke were not even apostles of Jesus; they wrote what they heard from Peter and Paul.

The Bible has no errors just because the Catholic Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, didn’t include erroneous books in the Bible. The Church even accepted some disputed books in the Bible such as Epistles of Jude, James, Peter and John. The Book of Revelation was considered unacceptable in many early Christians. They were not considered genuine in some churches. But it was the infallible decision of the Pope that made these books unacceptable to all. They believed the Bible is trustworthy because the Holy Spirit is guiding the Church; the Pope is infallible (Mt 28:20) – "Teaching them to observe what I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always until the end of the age."

All what apostles preached and early Christians practiced are not found in the Bible. The Bible itself admits that (Jn. 21:25) "there are in fact, many other things also which Jesus did, which, if ever they were written in full detail, I suppose the world itself could not contain the scrolls written." Those who accept the Bible as the only basis of faith will never reach the fullness of truth that Jesus revealed later through his Church. (Jn. 16: 12-13) "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when He comes, the Spirit of Truth, He will guide you to the fullness of truth.

PROPHECIES AND WARNINGS IN THE BIBLE

The prophets who claimed death of the original church Jesus instituted, created churches just against the teachings of the Bible and contrary to the practice of the early Christians. Joseph Smith claimed he is the last prophet! Felix Manalo claimed as the last messenger, an angel. Millions are sent already in T.V. shows to announce the emergence of this modern ‘savior.’

"We will be saved only through their doctrines!"

"His Church will last till the end of the world while the Church founded by Jesus failed to exist!"

Are they more powerful than Jesus himself? For Manalo, he’s an angel, while Jesus is only a man. They all prophesied their times as the ‘Last Days’ about which Jesus said, "Neither the angels in heaven nor the Son knows." But this new angels and prophets are very sure that their time is the Last. They may have more wisdom than Jesus. (After their surety of Last Days, even centuries passed without any happenings. But their T.V. shows continue to keep its believers in a hope by showing Tsunami, Katrina, Rita and War in Iraq as symptoms of Last Days.) But Jesus warned us not to believe in any ‘christs’ who come in his name. (‘Christ’ means Savior).

In the Last Days, Jesus didn’t promise he would send an angel or prophet as His Last Messenger. The Bible says the message that we received from Jesus is the Last: "In times past God spoke in partial and various ways through the Son… through whom he created the universe" (Heb. 1:1). These people who put themselves in the place of Jesus is really fulfilling the prophecies of the Bible, which warned the coming of Anti-Christ. "Whoever denies the Father and the Son will be the Anti Christ. No one who denies the Son has the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father." (1Jn 3: 22-23).

"For many will come in my name, saying ‘I am the Christ", and they will lead many astray" (Matt 24: 4-5). The Bible warns about these fake angels who may appear to destroy the only one church Jesus founded in this world. The Bible makes this prophecy: ‘for such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, who pretend as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan pretends as angels of light. His ministers also pretends as ministers of righteousness!" (2Cor 11: 13-14)

Gal 1:8 "Even if an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one that we preached, let that one be accursed!"

We should not forget the warning of St. Peter – the First Pope: "False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue doctrines, and will deny the Master who redeemed them, and so they will bring upon themselves sudden destruction." (2 Pet. 2:1)

Sign of the Cross

2007-02-28T15:10:00.000+08:00

The great tradition of Catholics, to be proud of the ‘Sign of the Cross’ was mocked and teased today by some anti-Catholic medias because of their ignorance about the biblical and historical basis of this spiritual tradition. We sign ‘the cross’ on our forehead; decorate our Churches with cross and administer sacraments with the same sign.

The Biblical basis: When we make the sign of the cross, we proclaim the message of salvation purchased by Jesus through the cross. The Bible clearly states: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, is the power of God" (1Cor. 1:17 – 18)

The Bible teaches us to be proud of the cross is the power of God; "But God forbid that I should boast except n the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world" (Gal. 6:14)

Cross symbolizes our day-to-day sufferings without which there is no crown for Christians. When Peter tried to keep Jesus away from the Cross, he called Peter "Satan." So it is clear, Satan is afraid and keeping himself away from the Cross, Jesus destroyed devil’s kingdom and saved mankind from the slavery of sin and death.

Early Christians, even before the Bible was formed, kept this spiritual practice in common to keep Satan away and to save themselves from the powers of evil.

Cyril of Jerusalem wrote in AD 386: "let us therefore not be ashamed of the cross of Christ; but though another hide it, do thou openly zeal it upon thy fore head, that devils may beheld the royal sign and flee trembling far away. Make then this sign at eating and drinking, at sitting, at lying down, at rising up, at speaking, at walking: in a word, at every act."

Ephrem of Syria testifies in AD 373: "Make all your actions with the sign of the life giving Cross. Do not go out from "the doors of your house till you have signed yourself with the cross. Do not neglect that sign whether in eating and drinking or going to sleep, or in the home or going on a journey. There is no habit to be compared with it. Let it be a protecting wall around all your conduct, and teach it to your children that they earnestly learn the custom."

Thousands of saints used this sign to be victorious over satanic attacks as it is through this sign Jesus made possible the forgiveness of our sins. In the Christian world, Sign of the Cross was widely used very effectively in exorcism through out the centuries. Christians must use this sign proudly as it trembles Satan and the Bible proves it.

Jesus says to us: "Take your cross and follow me" (Mt. 10: 38; Mk 8:34; Lk 9:23). Centuries old spiritual experiences of holy people show Satan is afraid of the sign of the Cross and he hates it. Iglesia ni Cristo, Dating Daan and some other sects also hate the Sign of the Cross! (‘Remove all crosses’ is one of the commands of ‘Pandoktrina’ the official teaching of INC, page: 14)

Introduction to the Posts

2007-02-28T14:59:00.000+08:00

Ang mga post na inyong makikita sa mga susunod na araw ay hango mula sa Katolikong publication na "KNOW THE TRUTH." Isang publication na ginawa upang ipagtanggol ang pananampalatayang Katoliko mula sa ibang tao na patuloy pa rin sa pagbatikos at paninra.

Sa pamamagitan nitong aking maliit na kontribusyon sa pagtatanggol sa ating Inang Simbahan at pananampalatayang Katoliko, nawa’y may mag atong mamulat. Sana din ang mga Katoliko din na makakabasa nito ay mas tumibay pa ang kanilang pananampalataya.

Pinagpasyahan ko na ilagay ang mga artikulong ito sa blog ko upang mas malawak pa ang maabot at sa kadahilanan na rin na may ilang mga tao na hindi pa rin maintindihan ang simbahang Katoliko. At narito ang mga artikulong ito para tayo ay maliwanagan. Hinihikayat ko din kayo na kopyahin ang mga nilalaman at ipakalat sa lahat.

Ang lahat ng nasa artikulong dito ay kinuha word-by-word sa "Know the Truth." Wala akong idinagadag upang mapanatili ito sa orihinal nitong pagkakasulat ni Fr. Paul Kaiparambadan ng Parokya ni San Bartolome sa Malabon.

Muli, inaalay ko ito sa Diyos, sa Inang Simbahan at kay Maria na ating Ina.

Amen.

My Reply to Pinoy Dating Katoliko

2007-02-14T18:20:00.000+08:00

I overlooked my post in "Hate or Love". May mga mali akong nasabi. And I want to restate and correct whatever is wrong in my statement. If it means I'm retracting my previous post and making me look like a coward Catholic trying to protect the Church, let it be. Pero ito talaga ang gusto kong ipahayag. Mali lamang ang pagkakaunawa ng taong nakabasa nito. I will explain my post per paragraph.

Pero bago muna ang lahat, ito ang site ng taong nag-react sa aking post: http://pinoydatingkatoliko.blogspot.com/

Here's what I said:

"Gaya ng mga sinasabi ko nitong mga nakaraang araw, napapadalas na ang panonood ko ng mga palabas na tulad ng Ang Tamang Daan, Ang Dating Daan, etc.. etc.. Ngayon, sige, sabihin na nating tama na Bible-based [na] lamang ang ating paniniwala (Sola Scriptura), nasusulat ba sa Bibliya na kamuhian mo ang iyong kaaway?"

Pinasasalamatan ko ang komento ni G. PDK (pinaikli: Pinoy Dating Katoliko) na marunong makinig sa iba ang tainga ko pero hindi ako sumasangayon sa sinabi niya tungkol sa iba ko raw na "kasama" na sintigas ng bato ang kanilang puso. Nasasabi mo lamang iyan kapatid dahil sa bago ka umalis ng SImbahan, hindi mo muna inalam at pinag-aralan ang mga sinasabi namin, lalo na marahil ang gustong patunguhan ng iyong puna, ang mga pari.

At sa sinabi mo na "tinatanggap mo na, na mali ang Katoliko sa paggamit niya ng ibang mga kasulatan na hindi naman napasama sa Biblia na siya nating pinaniniwalaang mga salita ng Diyos." Hindi po kapatid. At isa pa: "At bakit mo naman naitanong kung nasa Biblia ba ang kamuhian ang kaaway? Bakit hindi mo ba nabasa ang turo ni Cristo na mahalin mo ang iyong kaaway?" Kapatid, huwag naman nating tingnan ang aking mga pahayag ng masyadong literal. Basahin mo ulit ng malinawan ka.

Dagdag mo pa:

"Okay, akala ko ba open-minded ka na. Hmmm. Payo ko sayo, wag mo naman pakitirin pag-iisip mo. Ang nakikita mong pagtutuligsa ng Iglesia ni Cristo sa Dating Daan o vice versa ay hindi ibig sabihin na kinamumuhian na ng isa ang kabilang grupo o vice versa. Ito ay ginawa nila dahil sa kanilang pagmamalasakit sa mga taong iniisip nila ay naloko. Ang Iglesia ni Cristo ay naniniwala na Ang Dating Daan ay hindi ang tunay na relihiyon na dapat aniban kaya ginagawa nito ang dapat upang magising ang mga taong naakit ng Ang Dating Daan at nang maligtas sila sa kapahamakan. At gayon din ang Ang Dating Daan sa Iglesia ni Cristo."

Kapatid, kung pagmamalasakit ang gusto nilang ipakita hindi na sana ganoon ang kanilang ginagawa. Tama ka. Ito ay ginagawa nila dahil sa pagmamalasakit nila sa mga taong iniisip nila ay naloko. Pero bakit hindi na lang sila mangaral ng mga aral mula sa Bibliya nang hindi binabanggit ang kung ano mang relihiyon? Hindi ba't isa na rin itong pagpapakita ng respeto sa iba sa kanilang kalayaang pumili ng kanilang relihiyon. Nasa kanila o sa amin na kung sa tingin namin ay mali o tama ang relihiyon namin. Si Kristo mismo, tinuligsa man niya ang mga Saserdote noong panahon niya ngunit hindi sa pamamaraang ginagawa nila ngayon.

Sinabi mo pa:

"E, sandali. Bakit yun ang nakikita mo. Bakit hindi mo nakikita ang mga kasiraan ng Katoliko? Ang pagsamba sa Diyos-diyosan. Ang pagbabawal sa pag-aasawa at pagkain ng karne. Ang pag-aantanda ng Krus. Ang pagdarasal ng paulitulit na gaya ng pagano. Ang pagsasakatoliko ng mga paganong ritwal.... Hindi mo ba nakikita yan? Sa bagay. Pano mo nga naman makikita yan gayong nasa dilim ka pa? Pano mo makikita yan gayong may puwing pa ang iyong mga mata?"

Para sa iyong unang katanungan, nabasa mo ba ang post ko na "Pa-cute?" Sana nabasa mo. Kung hindi man, sana basahin mo. Sa iba mong mga sinabi, nasagot na ng Simbahan ang lahat ng iyan. Ang problema na lamang, walang nakinig. Hindi nila pinakinggan dahil alam nilang mali silang mga nagtanong niyan. Hindi nila pinakinggan upang ipagdiinan nila at itanim sa utak at puso ng mga tao na hinihikayat nilang sumama sa kanilang relihiyon ang mga maling pahayag na gaya ng iyong sinabi.

At kapatid, oo nga.. nasa dilim ako... ngunit ang dilim na ito ay ang dilim na ikinakalat ng mga taong sinasabi na sila ay 'nasa liwanag'. Kaya habang nasa dilim ako, ako ay nananalig sa aking pananampalataya. Ako ay nananalig sa Diyos na magkaroon tayo ng "tunay na kaliwanagan."

At pangwakas mo:

"Aba e, alam mo naman pala. Kaso, mahal mo ba talaga ang kaaway mo? E nagtatanong ka kung nasa Biblia ba ang ginagawa nila. E yang ginagawa kaya ng mga katoliko gaya ng aking sinabi sa itaas, sang-ayon kaya iyon sa turo ni Cristo? Aba, kailan kaya magising ang bulag na katolikong ito na ang kaniyang sinusunod na doktrina ay doktrina ng demonyo?"

Oo nga tama ka, mahal ko ba talaga ang kaaway ko? Ngunit sino ba ang tao na hindi rin magagalit sa kaaway niya. Si Kristo na mismo nagalit sa mga taong lumapastangan sa kanyang templo. Pero hindi naman nagtatapos sa galit ang nararamdaman ko para sa kaaway ko. Si Kristo mismo, hindi niya isinumpa ang mga taong iyon sa templo at ang mga tao na naging dahilan ng kanyang kamatayan bagkus ay kanya pa silang ihiningi ng patawad sa Diyos. Magsisimula sa galit ngunit magtatapos sa pagpapatawad at pagmamahal. At ibabalik ko din sa iyo ang tanong kapatid: "Mahal mo ba talaga ang kaaway mo?"

Inaamin naman ng SImbahan na may mga tupang ligaw. Mga tupang naliligaw ng landas. Nakakagawa ng masama sa mata ng tao at Diyos. Kaya nga narito ang Simbahang Katolika, upang muling hanapin at ibalik sa piling ng Diyos ang mga tupang ito.

Madami ka nabanggit na sinasabi mong "hindi ayon sa turo ni Cristo.." Lahat ng iyon ay nasagot na ng Simbahan. Nasa Bibliya ito. At doon naman sa pagkain ng karne, aba'y kapatid, sino naman nagsabi sa iyo na bawal ito sa mga Katoliko? Kung karne ito ng tao aba'y sigurong hindi ito tama pero kung karne naman ng baboy, baka o kambing ay wala namang ipinagbabawal. At sa iba mo pang binanggit, akin itong sasagutin sa mga susunod na araw.

At kapatid, hindi ko tinatanggap ang sinabi mo sa bandang huli. Kung doktrina man ito ng demonyo sa tingin mo, so be it. Ngunit, kapatid, dito ko nakikita ang liwanag. Dito ko nadama ang presensya ng Panginoon. Sa Simbahang ito nahubog ang mga values at prinsipyo na dinadala ko. Ito ang Simbahan ko. Wala man siyang ipinapangakong "instant salvation" na gaya ng sinasabi ng ibang relihiyon, tinutulungan niya ako kung paano ko maaabot ang kaligtasan.

At sana kapatid, patuloy lang ikaw sa pagbasa ng blog ko at pagpunta ko na rin sa blog mo.

At sana magbalik ka na rin gaya ng ibang katulad mo na binulag. Hindi ka namin kinukundena. Bagkus, ikaw ay handa namin laging tanggapin.

Pagpalain nawa tayo ng Diyos. Amen.

Pa-cute

2007-01-25T14:01:00.000+08:00

Anumang bagay ang aking sasabihin ko ngayon ay pawang mga sarili ko lamang na opinyon at walang kinalaman ang sinuman sa lahat ng mga mababanggit ko dito. Hindi ko layuning siraan ang mga mababanggit ko dito ngunit sana ay mamulat sila na "Oo nga, may punto siya.."

Gusto ko lamang punahin ang mga bagay na napapansin ko. Lalo na sa mga religious organizations sa Simbahang Katolika.

Unang-una, mabanggit ko na ang YFC.

Noong una ko ito marinig, maganda itong samahan na ito. Biruin mo: Youth for Christ; Kabataan Para kay Kristo. Napakagandang samahan ito. Ilalapit ang mga kabataan ngayon, na gaya ko, ay na wala nang inatupag kundi ang magtext, maglaro ng basketbol, makipagbasag-ulo, mag-droga, bisyo, babae, alak atbp. Isa itong magandang paraan upang hubugin ang mga kabataan sa tama at huwag maligaw ng landas.

Pero, noong una lang iyon. Ngayon, tingin ko parang pa-cute na lang.

Sa mga prayer meetings, madalas na may nagkukwento ng kanyang buhay. Kung paano niya muling nakatagpo at napalapit kay Kristo. May mga nagsasabi na muntik na silang maaksidente o di kaya may isang pangyayari na sumubok sa kanya. Pero, it fails to inspire me.

Hindi ko alam pero pakiramdam ko ay naglolokohan lang kami. Magatnong ka nga sa isang miyembro at tanungin mo kung na-inspire ba siya sa mga pinagsasabi nila. Ako, honestly, ni isang beses hindi ako na-inspire. Parang ang tingin ko sa mga kuwento nila may adding. Para bang extenders gaya ng harina. At walang bago. Para bang kapag narinig mio na ang kwento niya, ang masasabi mo na lang eh, "so what?"

Parang imbes na tulungan ka na makita ang 'larawan ni Kristo' sa kanilang 'bagong pagkatao dahil kay Kristo', nagiging dahilan pa ito para mabuhay sa bulag na katotohanan ang mga miyembro nito na ganun lang pala kababaw ang kailangan kong pananampalataya at maliligtas na ako. Dahilah din marahil, para sa mga ilang tao na nag-iisip na pa-cute lang ang gusto nilang gawin. Para lang masabi na banal sila dahil miyembro sila ng YFC. Unfortunately, isa ako sa mga taong iyon.

Kaya hindi ako naging aktibo sa YFC. Nasabi ko na lang sa sarili. Mas mabuti pa atang makinig sa mga sermon ng pari na makatotohanan kaysa sa mga kwento ng mga taong nagpapacute na wala namang nagagawang maganda sa buhay ko.

Pero siyempre, sasabihin nila, I have choices. At ito nga ang pinili ko, umalis sa YFC.

At sa tingin ko, in my personal search for God, it had been much better since I left YFC. Sa tingin ko mas napalapit pa ko sa Diyos pero siyempre hindi ko naman maikakaila na kung hindi rin ako sumali sa YFC, hindi ko rin masisimulan ang pagbabago para sa Diyos.

Still, sigurado ako na madami silang masasabi.

Maaari ding sabihin nila na hindi ako malaking kawalan kung hindi ako miyembro ng YFC. Oo nga, isang tao lang ako. Pero paano naman ang mga ilan sa mga miyembro ninyo na nagkukunwari lamang at hindi bukas sa kanilang loob ang pagsali.

Maaari ulit na sabihin nila na, masaya naman kami dito at nararamdaman namin ang presensya ng Panginoon sa bawat activity na aming ginagawa. Yes, wala akong karapatan na sabihin sa inyo kung ano ang tama at mali. If you're happy, then fine by me. Just be sure you are not making a fool of yourself.

Sa tingin ko, maganda ang hangarin ng YFC: ilapit ang kabataan sa Diyos. Ngunit sana lang, sa bawat miyembro na inyong tatanggapin. Magkaroon ng tamang paggabay. Magkaroon ng tunay na mga pagbabago. At huwag iyung masyado minamadali. Gaya ng mga ilang Born Again groups na nagsasabi na magdasal ka lang at isigaw mo na "Tinatanggap ko si Hesus bilang aking tagapagligtas!!!" ay ligtas ka na. Hindi dapat ganoon'di ba? Kahit ang ating simbahan walang ganoong sinasabi. Dapat maging tunay ang pagbabago. Tunay na muling paglapit sa Diyos. At hindi ito madadaan sa Santong paspasan. It takes a lot of time. Kahit pa hanggang sa abutan ka ng kamatayan.

Inuulit ko, hindi ko layon na manira, makapankit at manupil ng sinuman o anuman. Nais ko lamang na bilang isang Katoliko din na gaya niyo, na concerned din ako sa mga nangyayari sa iba. Na nais ko din na lahat tayo, huwag maligaw ng landas kundi tumungo lamang sa tunay na landas ni Kristo.

Sana lamang mapagnilayan ng mga kasapi ng YFC ang mga sinabi ko dito.

So be it.

Susunod: Money-Making

Celebration

2006-12-08T11:37:00.000+08:00

Today is the official launching of my 12th blog: Ipagtanggol ang Simbahang Katolika. December 8, 2006.

But more than the launching of my blog, today, we are even celebrating one of the Catholic Church's greatest feasts: the Feast of The Immaculate Conception.

I am offering this blog on today's feast and on the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ whom in 33 A.D. he established the true and real church that stood for ages, faced struggles, and continued to flourish until today: the Holy Roman Catholic Church.

And through my small contribution of defending the Church, may my blog help all Catholics and Non-Catholics to be enlightened.

God bless us.

God bless the Philippines.

Hate or Love?

2006-12-08T11:17:00.000+08:00

Gaya ng mga sinasabi ko nitong mga nakaraang araw, napapadalas na ang panonood ko ng mga palabas na tulad ng Ang Tamang Daan, Ang Dating Daan, etc.. etc..

Ngayon, sige, sabihin na nating tama na Bible-based lamang ang ating paniniwala (Sola Scriptura), nasusulat ba sa Bibliya na kamuhian mo ang iyong kaaway?

'Di ba? Halos araw-araw nagbabatuhan ng putik ang Iglesia ni Cristo at Ang Dating Daan. Kung anu-anong pagpapakita ng mg video na nagmumura si Soriano o di kaya binabatikos ng Iglesia ang mga Muslim daw, nakapanghihinayang bukod sa airtime, ang panahon na sinasayang nila. Mabuti pa sana kung palaguin pa nila ang kanilang pananampalataya imbes na magsiraan.

Maghanap nga sila ng verse sa Bible na kadalasan naman nilang ginagawa, kung may nasusulat na ang mga kaaway natin ay dapat nating pabagsakin, kamuhian, awayin, wasakin at kung anu-ano pa. 'Di ba, wala naman?

Si Kristo na mismo ang nagsabi, patawarin mo ang iyong mga kaaway at MAHALIN mo ang iyong kaaway. Ang sabi pa patawarin ng 'seventy times seven.'

Ngayon.

Mga Sola Scriptura na mga relihiyon.

Nasa Bibliya ba ninyo ang lahat ng ginagawa ninyo?

I doubt if lahat nga...

Bibliya

2006-12-05T14:03:00.000+08:00

Halos lahat ng mga bagong religious groups ngayon sinasabi nila na ang Bibliya ang kanilang basis ng pagkakaroon ng simbahan. Madalas pa nga ay ang mga pangalan nila ay kinu-quote sa bible gaya ng The True Plan of Salvation na kinuha daw sa Book of Acts, nakalimutan ko na iyung verse pero dati hinanap ko kung nandun ba iyun, andoon nga. Pero not neccesarily na magkakasunod ang mga words na iyun, putol-putol. Para bang pinagkabit-kabit lang nila.

Anyway, madalas din nilang gamitin ang Bible na pang-atake sa Simbahang Katolika. Sinsabi nila na "Wala na nag simbahang itinatag ni Jesus Christ. Matagal na itong patay. At kami na ang bago at tunay na simbahan." Bukambibig nila iyan sabay quote sa Bible; sa Book of Revelations iyung verse na "...many will come to lead you astray." Pero hindi ba sila ang napakarami na biglang sumulpot na naghahagilap ng maraming members na sumali sa kanila?

At ang isa pang napakagandang punto na pag-isipan ng mga taong naninira sa Simbahan gamit ang Bibliya. Saan ba nanggaling ang Bibliya? Sino ang nagsama-sama ng mga libro na ito para mabuo ang Bibliya? Di ba sa Simbahang Katolika din?

Kaya anumang paninira ang kanilang gawin sa Simbahan para tuluyan daw itong bumagsak na gamit ang Bibliya, hindi niyo ito magagawa. Ginawa ng simbahan ang Bibliya para sa kanya. Para magamit sa mabuti. Para palakasin ang pananampalataya ng mga anak. Para ilapit ang mga Katoliko sa Diyos.

Gagawa ba sila ng isang compilation ng mga libro na sisira sa kanya mismo? Hindi ata pupwede iyon. Kahit siguro sila, gagawa sila ng mga babasahin na para sa ikabubuti nila, 'di ba?

"...many will come to lead you astray..."

Ayaw Ko ng Away

2006-12-05T13:35:00.000+08:00

Nitong mga huling araw, madalas ako nakakapanood ng mga programa sa TV gaya ng Ang Tamang Daan, Ang Dating Daan o iyung mga ibang 'religious' na palabas. Iyun bang may mga biglang nakakalakad after 10 years o iyung mga gumaling sa cancer, iyung mga ganun ba.

Pero ang madalas ko na mapansin ay ang patuloy na pagbatikos ng ilan, inuulit ko, ang ilan sa mga palabas na ito lalung-lalo iyung Ang Tamang Daan sa mga Katoliko at sa arch-rival nilang Ang Dating Daan.

Pero higit nating pagtuunan ang pagbatikos nila sa Simbahang Katolika.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ko na nagugustuhan ang mga sinasabi nila tungkol sa atin, lalung-lalo na ang pahayag na, 'ang simbahang Katolika ay isang simbahang matagal nang nawala at pinasok na ng mga demonyo.'

Nakakalungkot 'di ba?

Hindi man ako Katoliko-sarado na tao, pero ang katotohanang isa akong Katoliko at nanniniwala ako na tama ang aking pananampalataya, masakit marinig ang mga ganyan. Napakasakit.

Bago ko ipagpatuloy ang lahat, nais kong bigyan ng kaukulang pagkilala ang mga taong nasa likod ng magasin na "Know the Truth." Isa itong Katolikong babasahin na naglalayong linawin ang mga malabo at malaman ng mga tao ang totoo. At ang pinakamahalaga ay upang ang mga anti-Katoliko na muling mag-isip at ang mga Katoliko para mag-isip.

Mula sa magasin na ito, naisipan kong tumulong sa abot ng makakaya ng isang simpleng Katoliko na gaya ko na maipagtanggol ang Simbahan na aking kinaaaniban at higit sa lahat ipagtanggol ang Diyos sa mga mapanirang pahayag ng mga taong hindi pa lubos na kilala ang simbahan at ang Diyos.

Madalas na kwestyunin nila na bakit tayo sumasamba sa mga rebulto. Bakit natin binibigyang pugay si Maria? Bakit tayo kailangan pang magkumpisal sa isang pari? Bakit natin ipinagdiriwang ang Pasko na sinunod naman natin daw sa mga paganong selebrasyon? Bakit walang disiplina ang mga Katoliko? Bakit tayo kumakain ng dinuguan? Ito ang mga katanungan na ating sasagutin.

At inuulit ko, ayaw ko ng away.

Introduction

2006-11-28T20:45:00.000+08:00

"I wrote these so that you may know..."

Para sa mga naguguluhan... Para sa lahat ng Katoliko at 'di Katoliko...