Mahal Ko ang Pastor Ko

(PART I)
Even if my dad is a pastor, he would always tell me that being a pastor is NOT the highest and noblest calling or profession because the highest calling would be what God (uniquely) calls each to do, according to His purposes. Still and all, without forgetting that all Glory ought to be God’s, I believe our pastors-- especially our Senior Pastors, are worthy of our high esteem and respect.

A few months ago I stumbled on a blog about the 14 Things You Souldn't Say To Your Pastor. It was funny reading all of them as I can fully relate and agree, growing up as a pastor’s kid. I laughed the hardest at these items:

• I wish I had a job like yours, where I would work only one day a week.
• What do you do with all the free time you have?
• I like your preaching, pastor, but I really like ____________________________ (fill in the blank with television or podcast preacher).
• Your kids shouldn’t behave that way. After all, they are pastor’s kids.
• Your low salary is good for you. It keeps you humble and dependent on the Lord.

If you think all a Pastor does is get on the pulpit every Sunday and preach a good message (and maybe even think “ang dali ng trabaho niya, once-a-week lang! And then he gets paid!”), you are dreadfully mistaken.

See if the church is healthy and growing. See if the affairs and operations of the church are done well. See if his family is strong. See if the pastor’s spiritual life is in good shape. See if the church is progressing. See if the faith of the people are thriving. See if the number of those being saved are exploding. See if disciples are increasing. See if leaders are multiplying. And then think again. For these cannot possibly happen by just preaching a good message every sunday.

Our Senior Pastors, more than being powerful preachers, are visionaries who are always looking ahead and making sure the church is going somewhere; pioneers and trailblazers who often take the first step of faith and take unchartered paths; planners who make sure the vision will be accomplished; overseers who check if things are being implemented well; managers who are concerned about running the local church; leaders who invest in people; fathers and mothers who have families to take care of; Christians who make sure their hearts and spirit are right with God (and the list goes on...). Salamat nalang through discipleship the burden and ease of the ministry is being shared by the Body of Christ. Still the same, our pastors deserve our deep respect and honor (uhm, maybe that’s why they’re called “Reverends”?). And even if we scratch the fact that I am as pastor's kid, I would still stand by these words.

And I say honor the man of God! Bless the man of God!

And by the way, if your pastor is receiving financial support from the church, remember that this is only as “thank you” gift and a way of blessing the man of God... But there is absolutely no way for a church congregation to “pay” a pastor with a “salary” or “wage”. Because what they do is PRICELESS. *wink*

I thank God for blessing us with a loving home church that loves, honors, and respects the shepherd and pastor God has graced His church with. Soli Deo Gloria!

#MahalKoAngPastorKo

#PatutunayanKo

(Disclaimer: I wrote this not because there’s an issue in our church concerning the members, leaders and our pastor (thank God at wala!). Nor did I write this as response to an issue in another church--- well, kung meron man, wala akong alam ha. Pero kung meron nga talaga sa church mo, hawaan mo nalang sila ng pag-ibig!)

When People Leave..

I dedicate this post to every loving small group leader regardless of the number of years in leadership, and to every committed disciple (kung hindi naman committed na disciple, lalong mas dedicated sayo ‘to, tsong!). Hope you’ll read through the whole article... and maybe type in your comments so I can learn from you, too! 

Matthew 13:31-32

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

The Kingdom of God is bound to grow... no matter what (happens).

Whether you join or not, it is destined to grow. Yes, it is true that God likes using people and including them in the fulfillment of His plans and the expansion of His Kingdom, pero with or without me (you), IT WILL FLOURISH.

Here’s a little heads-up to small group leaders though. Along the way, there might be those who will desert you. Merong mga maganda naman ang dahilan, meron ding mali. May mang-iiwan, tatalikod sa pananampalataya, susukuan ang bagong buhay, at meron ding tatakbo mula sa calling nila to pursue their own ambitions and plans (uhm, ano pa ba?). As a leader, if (if nga ba or, when?) you go through these burdensome situations, remember that,

1. Your labors are not wasted because you have done them primarily as for serving the Lord  anyway (Colossians 3:23).
2. They will leave now as better persons and Christians because, by the grace of God, you have effected change in their lives by the great seeds that you’ve been able to sow in them while you’ve been allowed to lead them. Hope in the knowledge of that. 
3. There’s really a time for everything: a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away (Ecclesiastes 3:6). Change and the shifting of seasons, those we cannot control nor escape. (Pero sana lang ‘wag mong gamiting excuse ‘to sa pagiging unfaithful. May mga changes na God-ordained, pero may mga bagay na tayo lang naman talaga ang nagpupumilit.)
4. We do not own people. Period.
5. We cannot make choices for them. We lead but we do not dictate. We guide them in life, but we do not hold the steering wheel of their lives. Like you and me, they have been given freewill and can use it anytime. Though we mentor them, they are ultimately responsible for their own life choices. You see, in as much as they are free to choose to follow God’s plans, they are also free to choose to steer away from it. Our role is to present the choices and options, and influence them to make the best ones! But we cannot make choices for them. Remember how you can share the gospel to someone but cannot receive it for them or in behalf of them? The same principle applies here. (Pero sana piliin mo yung tama!)
6. If a warrior leaves the battle, God will always raise up another one!

In the Bible, we can find accounts after accounts of how God raises and calls other people when others quit.

• Esau traded his birth right. Jacob became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.
• Moses disobeyed and as a result didn’t enter the Promised Land. Joshua did.
• The Israelites were all afraid of Goliath. Young shepherd boy David defeated him.
• Judas betrayed Jesus. Matthias was appointed.

Even though some abandon, turn back from, or withdraw from their calling, God will always choose and raise up another one to carry on fulfilling His divine purposes. Oh no, let’s change that... God CAN always raise up another one. He is absolutely able to do that. And at all cost, for His greater purposes’ sake, He will and He can do that.

JOB 42:2 (NIV)

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

Would God allow His plans to not succeed?

Would God allow His promises go unfulfilled?

Will God be limited by one man’s disobedience?

Will His Kingdom not thrive without you or me?

Sinuman sa atin ay hindi maaaring magmalaki sa diyos. One can simply never think that if he quits or leaves, uurong na ang Kingdom of God. God is too big, too powerful to be shaken by man. God is sovereign and He will never allow His plans go unfulfilled — not by any man's disobedience, nor by any man's disloyal or uncommitted heart. The God we serve is a God who does what He has promised... and He is the same God who will and is able to complete what He has begun!  And may we always remember that NO MAN, no matter how significant or insignificant he may see himself, can thwart God’s purposes.

On a personal note, I thank the Lord for surrounding me with people whom I know and have proven their wholehearted commitment, faithfulness, and unwavering devotion to God and to the work of His ministry. They have not only become my disciples, but life-long friends as well. And my relationship with them, I treasure with all my heart!

May I be clear though that this is not to give license and excuse on being lazy and passive in doing consolidation and our going-after’s of our disciples, or in facing our disciples’ issues and concerns. As leaders who are accountable to people, we must do everything we can by God’s grace to fight for and fight with them. But if they willingly and decisively let go, run away, and get intentionally sidetracked into disobedience or compromise, resisting your leadership, help, wisdom, and love, remember that our Master’s grand and sovereign plan will push through! His Kingdom will press on expanding because it is bound to grow... Whether you join it or get out of it, it is destined to flourish!

Whether you are a cell leader or a cell disciple, I would love to encourage you to not be afraid and to not hold back from pouring out your life for the cause of the Kingdom... because the Kingdom of God is bound to grow --- wala kang lugi dito! And when you start to do so, may you never fall into the deadlock of discouragement in continuing what you do when you see others fall back, having the faith that the Kingdom will thrive no matter what... For we are not among those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved (Hebrews 10:39).

Be strong and courageous.. Do not be discouraged. Tuloy lang ang laban! :)

The Basin of Grace: Washing my disciples’ feet

JOHN 13:34

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

breath-taking view from the Abraham Hall of Peniel Prayer Mountain, Tarlac

from my journal

January 25, 2014. Today will surely be among those that I (we) will never (and should never!) fail to remember. Because today, I washed my disciples’ feet.

Pastoring the youth ministry for about four years already and discipling many of them for about six to seven years now, I’ve always know in my heart that it will happen.. it shall come sooner or later. However, though I’ve thought of it twice or thrice, I simply have not received any clear leading to do so in the past. Ngayon lang.

God of timing. God ha set the timing perfectly as our hearts have been marinated lately as result of our two-week fast, kaya napaka-sensitive ng lahat to the promptings of God.

Tears began to flow as we talked about serving and loving our disciples unconditionally, as well as the need to ensure that our hearts are healed and healthy-- (especially even after heartbreaking experiences with disciples who left) not calloused and defensive. But they began to literally sob and weep aloud, with faces covered with their hands when I made it known that I wanted to wash their feet.

Christ in me. I sensed that it was Christ in me (He dwells in each of us, amen?) when I took off my shoes, knelt down, and started to wash their feet one by one. Kneeling down and washing their feet was a very humbling moment for me as I took the literal form of a servant, carrying their feet onto the water basin and scooping water to cleanse them.

Commitment. In my heart at the time I was telling God two things: first, I was thanking Him for the opportunity to share in His humility and be like Him. At the same time, I was asking God for grace, since washing their feet meant my commitment of love and mercy to each one, deciding to love, lead, serve, and accept them “despite of..” and "no matter what". I knew apart from Him I can only break my covenant.

Grace. Not one in the room was perfect. The years of discipleship has shown a lot of issues that need rebuke, correction, patience, love, and grace. Yet Jesus washed his disciples’ feet (a) to offer his mercy: that His love would surpass even their greatest mistakes; and (b) to offer grace: to touch the unclean and grimy parts of the people he was committed with... and to wash away their unkindness with His kindness. Oh, the basin of grace.
I told them that because of what took place on this day, wherever destiny may bring us, they will always have a part of me.

My exact words that still jerk tears in me:

“If ever you runaway, make mistakes, turn away from God, leave your spot or calling.... REMEMBER THIS DAY. Magagalit, magtatampo, malulungkot man ako, REMEMBER THIS DAY. Because on this day, by God’s grace, I have chosen to offer Christ’s mercy and grace. If ever these unfortunate things happen, balik ka lang... Committed ako sayo.” (Oh man! What’s with the tears again? I need that pack of Kleenex please!)

Today I have witness that yes, it is true -- that more often than not, when one party humbles himself and kneels down, the two parties usually end up both humbled and both on their knees. This was what happened. After washing all of their feet, everyone just bowed down before our Lord --- humbled, thankful, amazed, healed. Crying out, speaking in heavenly languages, worshipping, consecrating.

After our extensive time of prayer, worship and soaking came HUGS!!! (I love hugs!) What I have sensed and heard from them is that everyone received an overwhelming amount of love, mercy, and grace. It’s the sort that makes your heart explode! Unspeakable, uncontainable! Too good to be true --- supernatural! OH MY HEART IS FULL.

As a result, my love for them increased in so many ways as my level of commitment also increased! I didn’t realize until that day that I am capable of loving them that much (thank You Jesus for enlarging my heart!). And in the same way, it brings to much joy to my heart (and I believe to the Father’s heart) that, as a result of receiving pure grace and love, their love for one another also soared to lavish heights! I have never seen them have more love for each other before! OH MY HEART IS FULL.

To end my sharing, I will be completely open in revealing that it has always been my heart’s desire to not only have a leader’s mind, but a leader’s heart (which is, of course, a servant’s heart). I remember three years ago during our team trip to Baguio City, because of some occurrences unknown to them but known to my heart (uhm, I’m not sure if they even know this), on our way home I was crying in a dark corner of our vehicle... and I typed a short note on my phone to express my agony --- “I have the mind of a leader, but not a heart of one.” :(

Thankfully, for the past years God has changed me. And he continues to do so.
But today, I have been totally set free! Today all of these were banished by the touch and grace of God. I too was cleansed and renewed from the basin of grace. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus.

Oh, the beauty of the basin of grace.