Baggages

During our recent trip to Cebu for the pastors and workers' conference, going back to Iloilo was a learning experience for me. As we went to the pier to get aboard the ship going to Iloilo, security had to inspect all our things for deadly weapons. As I was passing through the metal detector, it kept beeping on me! The guard won't let me pass through until there was no more beep. So I had to remove my cellphone...then my coins and keys...lastly, my belt that had a metal buckle. Finally, the detector went silent after I removed all the metal objects attached to me. The lesson: Don't carry too much metal on my next trip.

Sometimes in our walk with the Lord we carry too much extra baggage. This can come in different forms like bad habits, bitterness, or anxiety. But it can also come in good packaging such as activities that don't really help us stay focused on God's call upon our lives. Sometimes good things become the enemies of the best things that God has for us. Let's seek the Lord for His perfect will for our lives and lay down anything that can hinder us from running our race. - RJ Alobba

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” - Hebrews 12:1

Calvary Chapel Regional Pastors and Workers' Conference 2007

Last week, eight of us were able to attend the regional pastors' and workers conference in Cebu City. It was a time when we could meet up with other Calvary pastors and workers in the Visayas area. It was a blessing for us, being fed the Word of God, fellowshipping, and worshipping the Lord. It was truly a refreshing, recharging experience.

We left Iloilo City on the evening of October 15. We gathered at the church office at around 4:00 P.M., then went to the port at around 5:00 P.M. It was an overnight trip on a ship that lasted about 14 hours.


On the picture above, from left to right: Darel, Grace, Ryan, Vicente, Krishia, Rizel, RJ, and Pastor Mark.

We arrived in Cebu City in the morning and one of the people from Calvary Chapel of Cebu City, Kenneth, drove us from the port to the church where we were going to stay.


This was the place where we stayed. The church had a sanctuary, but not on the ground floor. The ground floor was used for Sunday school and housing guests. There was a kitchen, some bedrooms, and bathrooms.


Afterwards they took us to Eco Tech, a government facility where the conference was being held. We had time to relax and see the place.




Afterwards we had to eat something since we were getting hungry. We went to the McDonald's at the J.V. Mall, which is close by.












At the start of the conference, pastors and church workers from different Calvaries in the Visayas joined together in worship and fellowship.






































The churches in the Cebu island hosted the conference, and Pastor Tom Maxwell was the master of ceremonies for the whole conference program. There were different speakers in the sessions as well as in the workshops.































































































During the sessions, we studied the book of Nehemiah. Our theme for this year is "Rebuilding Walls, Rebuilding Lives".






At the last night, we had a time of waiting on the Lord and worship, or what we call "Afterglow". It was a very encouraging experience, especially since a lot of people spoke up and gave the Word of the Lord.

They also fed us well during our stay. The food that we ate was some of the best foods around. I think I even gained a few pounds.






















The Lord continues to raise up laborers for His harvest field. Those He raises up, He equips. We get our strength, our courage, and our comfort from Jesus Christ alone. He is the author and the finisher of our faith.












Please pray with us that God continue to raise up more workers for His churches here in the Visayan islands. We are many, but not many enough. There are still a lot of people and places unreached by the Gospel of Christ.







After the conference we had time to go to SM City Cebu, just to relax and have some clean fun. Below you will see us playing around with the bump cars:




Afterwards we took an overnight trip on a boat back to Iloilo.

The following Sunday, some of us gave our testimonies on how the Lord worked in our lives at the conference.

UseLESs rUsH

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:15-16


Recently, I had to rush some errands for my office and I didn't have a lot of time in my hands since I decided to do it on my lunch break. I had to go to the mall to buy lunch, get a staple gun, swing to the other office to drop some supplies, pick up the laptop the company issued me, and go back to my office. All this has to happen in one hour.

12:00:01...12:00:02...12:00:03...12:00:04...

The following occurs between 12:00 P.M. and 1:00 P.M.

Preparing to rush out the door, I picked up the plastic bag that I thought were the supplies I needed to deliver. I got to the mall parking lot and I took a good look at the bag -- it was the wrong one, since I picked up the plastic bag containing the trash instead! I then had to go to plan B.

12:59:57...12:59:58...12:59:59...01:00:00

In the world we live in today, things are rushing. Even on this remote island in the Philippines were I live in, things are already starting to be fast-paced. Life just keeps demanding, doesn't it? Still, we are called to be wise people. We Christians live by a higher standard and we live by faith. No matter what happens, let's take time to wait on the Lord, to pray over things, and to make decisions based on a Biblical world view, and not the view the world tries to plunge down our throats.

RJ
Iloilo City, Philippines

Making History

Ok, I admit it -- I live in an island probably 90% of the world has never heard of. But what I do know is I serve a great and awesome God who's bigger than the universe. Everyone of us believers are called to be history makers. In life, there are times when our presence becomes public. That point is critical, since our witness will greatly impact those around us, whether for good or for bad. Let's be good witnesses for Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

Below is a part of a local newspaper called Panay News that I scanned. And yes, I am in this picture. Try looking for me if you can. It's like finding Waldo, but much easier. Clue: I'm in the middle picture. This was during the 2nd IT Week in Iloilo City.



More pictures from the following albums:
http://radical81.multiply.com/photos/album/11
http://radical81.multiply.com/photos/album/12
http://radical81.multiply.com/photos/album/13

All This Tagging Bit

Ok. This is for Tint, Donnabel, and Avegail. I owe you my tag.

1. I always sleep at around 11pm and wake up 7am, though I usually set my alarm to 6:30am. When it goes off, I instinctively grab it and shut it off and put it near my head pillow. That's when I sleep again and wake up late.

2. I drink about 5 liters of water a day.

3. I'm a geek. A computer geek. The real thing. =)

4. I have 3 dogs, and they're like my own children.

5. I speak Tagalog at home, Ilonggo outside, and English at church.

6. I have a terrible handwriting.

7. I like superheroes.

Normalization

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

After my grandmother passed, I thought about getting back to a normal life. But then I started to wonder what a normal life is without her. Although I grew up in Iloilo and my grandma was in Manila, I always had the assurance that she was there. She was only a phone call away. She spent her last year in Iloilo, and that was the most I've seen her all my life. Still, her passing seems to let me see the world as no longer normal.

Things have happened after she passed. Independence Day came, which is a national holiday.



Father's Day came, and I was able to treat my dad out to lunch.
















Church is still church, except that I see life now from a different perspective. Grandma's passing seems to have given me the "growing up overnight" experience. I feel like an adult now more than ever. I also had the opportunity to do the Sunday Scripture reading. I made the mistake of asking the people to read the "evil" verses while I read the odd verses, when I should have told them to read the "even" verses while I read the odd verses. And also, the worship team is still growing.




























It's good to be reunited with old friends. Dr. Mark has been a best friend since we were in elementary school. He visited Iloilo for a week.


Family life is still family life, except that my sister, brother-in-law and niece came for a visit. I spent time with my baby niece and now I miss her more than ever before now that they left.




















I also was able to drive them to the new Iloilo airport for the first time. I think it was the longest distance I've ever driven a car.

Daily work is still daily work, except that my job description may soon change, and I had the privilege of attending the wedding of my two officemates who got married to each other.




I gave them the Topical Study Bible (New Living Translation) as a wedding gift. We then had barbecue chicken plus other courses for lunch.








My pets are still my pets, except that two of them are under medication for skin problems.

And my heart is still my heart, except that I think God is giving me courage and getting me ready to step out of my comfort zone and talk to... somebody =) .

So, what is normal when things are different? What is normal when you step into a new season? Just the same as before -- being normal is following Jesus and being the person He made you to be.

The Gift That is Nanay

Nanay was my grandmother. I call her by that Filipino word which means "mother" rather than what we normally use for grandmothers ("lola"). At 81 years old, she passed away in a hospital bed on June 7, 2007 at 10:15 A.M. I received a phone call ten minutes later at my office that Nanay had passed.


The effect on me was emotional. I mourned her physical death, yet I have the assurance that she's with the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven, having had a personal relationship with Him in her lifetime. Nanay had suffered from the stroke since August 2005, and has spent her last year living in my home city, Iloilo. She's originally from Manila. The conclusion of her race of faith was here, and she spent most of the time inside my parents' house, where I live.


I would spend time with her in her room and read her the Bible and pray with her. She was no longer capable of reading, and the right side of her body was mostly paralyzed. This was my main ministry to my grandmother -- to make sure she stayed close to the Lord. I even remember one night where we had worship right in her room, and I led worship with the guitar. She was singing her heart out to the Lord, although she couldn't articulate her words very well anymore.



Nanay was a gift to me. I grew up knowing her as Nanay. She was a second mother to me and to my sister, and she would always communicate her love to us, especially when we're staying in Manila. Growing up, I would go to Manila frequently, every year or two, most times with my mom, and I would stay at my grandparents' house. I would say she's the most excellent cook I had ever known. And I doubt that anyone in our family has been able to cook as excellent as she has. She was a master chef around the house.



Nanay finished her race strong. I know she's in heaven worshipping our Savior, and rejoicing in His love and faithfulness. The suffering is over. She is finally home. Nanay lived to see her great grandchild and to carry her in her arms, who happens to be my niece. She is an example of what it is to be a mother.

I still remember the last conversation I had with her before she had the stroke. It was the last time we talked wherein she was still able to articulate words. It was July 2005, and my parents were both in Manila and I was left alone in Iloilo. I talked to Nanay over the phone and she asked how I was doing, being alone in the house. I said I was doing fine and I can manage. Then she asked, "Pwde ka na pala mag-asawa?", and I replied yes. Sometimes relatives who haven't seen me in a while still imagine me as a child. But then they realize how old I am after a while. I would always remember that last conversation and if I ever get married, Nanay would be one of the people in my mind. I would be thinking about her, and though she wouldn't be there among the guests, my thoughts will include her.

Now it's time to continue my race. I want to finish strong as well...