Today is the 6th day of our annual 7 Day Prayer & Fasting in Victory. Last night I went to bed with allergies all over my body, red patches mostly concentrated on my arms & on my body. After our prayer meeting my wife got in touch with our dermatologist friend and got a name of an ointment. It was quiet weird that we didn’t have an allergy medicine in the house because of the allergy history of my wife. Yet insisted to go to the drugstore to buy the medicine, I didn’t budge.

After our soup dinner I retired to bed early, but before I did, I prayed a simple & short prayer for God to heal me from the allergy. I woke up 12:47am to go to the bathroom & all the redness from the allergy gone!

Thank You, Jesus, thank You for your very blood that not only saved us but heals us.

Jesus turned around, and when He saw her, He said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:22, NLT

“When I went to a bookstore the other day, I checked out the bestsellers list for the Children’s Category, and I was very surprised to find out that the books there had something to do with vampires. Then there is also a TV show about zombies that has reached its second season, proving how popular it is with the viewers,” observes Larry Uy, KIDS Ministry Pastor at Victory Greenhills.

There is a fascination with death, pointed out Esther Joos-Esteban, during her talk on media and kids during the recent Play Pilipinas seminar series, “there are shows like CSI where there is so much thought and effort on figuring out how the person died.” While Pastor Larry says that the show simply gives a scientific approach to crime solving, he does agree that there is a lack of avenues for discussing what happens in the afterlife.

The result is that kids are bewildered when somebody dies and they have to go to a wake with a lot of people, and/or they get smidgens of morbid thoughts and fears. “Small children may think ‘I’m with mom and with dad now, but when I am dead, I cannot enjoy with them anymore.’ In other words, their view is very worldly,” Pastor Larry explains. “Parents then have to point out the goal of our lives; that there is eternal life, and our goal is to spend that eternal life together as a family, with God,” he adds. He says that preschoolers will not grasp that concept of life after death right away. “It is a long process that parents have to reinforce. It may vary with whatever faith the family practices, but parents will simply have to teach them within the context of their faith.”

It also helps if the parents themselves take a different view on death. “When I do necrological services, I give it a feeling of celebration. I believe that the family and friends who are left behind should celebrate the life of the one who has passed away. In the eulogy, they can share stories about how the person has touched their lives, say good things and be thankful.”

Then, pilosopo kids (like mine) ask, if the people who die go to heaven, why do we have to go to the hot and crowded cemeteries during All Saints Day? Pastor Larry, whose small kids, he said, also asked him the same thing (but probably in a less smart-alecky way), shares his answer: “I told them that it is because of tradition, and because we are there to pay respect—that this is a time for the whole family to have a reunion, which also makes it a cause for celebration. Then, I use this time to talk to them about my grandparents, and all the good things they have done for the family, such as binding us together.” He talks about parents who tell their kids that the souls are lingering there, waiting for their visitors, as a shortcut to the long explanations about life after death. “But we should not sugarcoat, if we really want them to learn, so we should know the truth behind it.”

Now, back to the zombies and other creatures of the dark, Pastor Larry gently chides, “TV is there to entertain, and not to educate. Children, who get bored with their fairytales and superheroes can look for exciting new things, and at the moment the zombies and vampires are there. Parents should be very careful with these because children might get fascinated by them, which can lead to something more serious later on.” At the end of the day, it is really up to the parents to act as proper guides – in this life, towards the next.

It is wrong to assume that tag team parenting is like a bad cop-good cop routine. But you have to complement each other. As a parent I am more of the passive one and it is not natural for me to draw out from my kids. But yet is a natural and she really loves engaging our kids in conversations. You will often find me starting a dinner conversation but it’s my wife who would be able to draw out more from our kids. I often am interested only in the overview but she would be able to squeeze all the details out of my two boys.

I am blessed with a tag team partner that complements me so well especially in parenting. I thank the Lord for how he designed marriage that He finds one that would fully complement us to be our helpmate. The Bible says in Genesis 2:18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” In our marriages especially in parenting we have to share tasks & responsibilities. We should not in anyway try to compete with each other or abandon our God-given responsibilities to our partner.

The future or destiny of our kids would rely on us parents doing our best in helping each other rear our children in the ways of God.

Mothers are often taken for granted
For the work they do are often neglected,
They toil without expecting anything in return
At times sacrificing doing everything under the sun.

Today is the day that we honor you all
For being the light of our very home,
For giving us shelter and who serves as our wall
All you mothers are God’s blessing to our home.

Our prayer is for God to grant all your hearts desires
To bless you with youthfulness, peace, beauty & grace,
May He always be the source of your strength
And may Jesus refresh you all the rest of your lives.

Happy Mother’s Day to my Sweetheart Yet, Mommy, Mama and to all the mothers….

At times I expect too much from my kids not checking if I have given them enough training or instruction. There are times that I’m more focused on the goal or end result and overlook the process. I’ve learned that as parents we need to make sure that we are always there for our kids; that our instructions are clear and doable; that we should check our expectations; make sure that we give them opportunity to ask questions; that we give them room to make mistakes and finally we have them know and feel that our love for them is that of Christ, unconditional.

Psalms 103:13 ESV As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

Fellowship & Food was awesome in Anvaya, it was a gastronomical feast with Dennis, Monching, Jeric, Ganns, Carlo & their families. Wait for our new blog site featuring what else but food.

I was so excited for church, why:
- Its Easter, Jesus resurrected, that is the essence of our existence. Praise His Name.

- Then it was my first time to share to Children’s Church (3-6yrs old), getting their attention & keeping them glued to you is a different ballgame, I salute all our Children’s Church Team.

- Lara’s first time in CC, she was very attentive.

- Angel, Ria & Camille did the offering number in the adult service at Music Museum and may I say that they were superb. Magnifico, Maestro Jun Gomez.

- Seeing our next generation church during 6:30 excited me, assured that we are preparing for our future. Go, P.Bojo, Ronna, Joash, Lyka & Dr. Bu.

- Thanks to Val Evangelista & Family for blessing all our 150 volunteers with lunch yesterday. May God bless your family.

- Capped the night with our dear friends to celebrate our 12th Year Wedding Anniversary at Greenmaris for some shabu-shabu.

Sweetheart, I love you so much, thank you for just always being there to support me. You truly are a blessing from God. I pray for us to love & respect each other all the more as the years go by and to always anchor ourselves to Jesus. To infinity and beyond………….

It is strange but true that the we as Christians are strongest when we are weakest and weakest when we are strongest. When he gets down on his knees thinking he is weak, he is always strong. We as Christians are in least danger when we are fearful and trusting to God and in the most danger when we are most self-confident.

We are most sinless when we feel the most sinful, and we are most sinful when we feel most sinless. We actually have the most when we are giving away the most; and in all of these ways, the we should be simply putting into daily practice the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord!

The biggest contradiction is that we are sinners and Lord Jesus Christ is sinless. Yet HE redeemed us by His death and resurrection. Praise be to You, Jesus Christ.

The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me. Galatians 2:20

Tey is more Filipino that some of us. She didn’t only conquered our language or our culture but especially our hearts. She’s also one of our committed volunteers in church. She is at times what we call as “full of time” volunteer, contributing her time & even her resources to the church.

I’m not sure if anyone kept track of how many students she has brought to church. She is a natural gatherer and it is always a delight to be around her.

Tey graduated as a nurse and is flying back home to her family. We will surely miss you Tey. Thank you for all the memories, the laughter, the crazy moments, and thank you for just being you. I’m keeping my promise Tey not to say goodbye, until we meet again Princess.

God Bless you & your family Tey, we are very excited for what God has in store for you back home. You will always have a family back here waiting for you in the Philippines.

I was struggling since Thursday because of the heavy message that I was to preach about the life of Jesus & It’s purpose. But the atmosphere was totally different last Sunday, you can feel God’s presence was among us. The worship team was led by the Spirit as they sang praise. They connected with the kids and it truly is something else hearing kids sing from their heart.

I can’t remember the last time that more than 10 kids surrendered their lives to Jesus. I was really overwhelmed when more than 20 kids did so last Sunday. I saw them cry as they accepted Christ and I even saw some trembling. They understood what it means that it is only thru Jesus can we be reconnected to God.

KIDS & Children’s Church team members gathered at the Center after Service for pizza, chicken, karaoke & Guesstures. Watch out for this Team 2, almost half are new volunteers but they are already making their presence felt.

Capped the night at Bubble Tea, Tokyo Milk Tea Place with Val, KS, Lyka & my kids. It’s true that I get all the adrenaline when people surround me. It’s a natural high for me. Love my job!

Shout out to Jun & Sally Gomez for what they have started & established in KIDS Worship. For Val & Neselle for taking on the challenge to lead this team to the next level. For Mich Ople, Lyka, MJ Frances & KS I’m honored to be working with you guys.

Click on to view the pictures I took during the Manila International Auto Show.

First was the lunch meeting and fellowship of KC Team 1 initiated by Henry. They are already in the thick of preparations as we look forward to the move to our new center middle of the year. I love when our dedicated volunteers start showing ownership.

When i got to the center I was so shocked to see Josh, 6 years old in a KIDS t-shirt, microphone in hand and was teaching craft in Children’s Church. In KC, cousins John, Shannen & Aimee led worship. I was also looking forward to our KIDS Church services because it was the first time that Val Baguios preached. This very soft-spoken and humble lad has been a part of KIDS Ministry for quite sometime but was hiding behind his guitar. But when I challenged him to take on a new role, he was excited and ever so ready to share the gospel. I was taken a back how he easily connected with the kids, his depth in the message and the confidence that he showed. Great job Val and God was surely honored.

Then it was time to head to Music Museum, I was a bit sad to have missed the message of Pastor Tito but I was nonetheless excited to hear from Pastor Bojo. He preached about the value of the next generation and he was on fire. He stirred up something in me and it affirmed my role in helping mold the next generation.

Yet & I invited Pastor Bojo and her fiancé Ronna together with Aaron and Mau, Aaron is P.Bojo’s brother and used to be my KIDS Church teammate in Victory Alabang.

I want to also appreciate Gelo & Monty, my two wonderful sons for tagging along and understanding what their dad does, especially on a Sunday. Love you two!