Kaibigan
contents
Taipei International Church Tagalog Fellowship
FEATURES
Magazine
Publisher
11 LONG DISTANCE AFFAIR ENDS IN MARRIAGE
Atty. Fredrick Norman Voigtmann Co-Publisher
A story of love that triumphed even they were countries apart and the hard work they did to keep the romance alive from a distance.
Rev. Roberto Awa-Ao Editor-in-Chief
23 MGA PANUKALA SA EDUKASYON
Analisa N. Chua Managing Editor/Designer
Alamin ang mga kailangang panukala makamtan ang makatotohanang talino at pag-unlad sa buhay at maging ligtas sa lahat ng kapahamakan. .
Rev. Paul Ko Rev. Ron Adhikari Rev. Zhang Ren Ai Rev. Immanuel Scharrer Multilingual Contributing Editors
DEPARTMENTS
Ann Cielo Ko Contributor
04 PANANAW Pakikinig
Nelissa Ilog Shih Contributing Photographer
Mga gabay na dapat malaman para sa tamang pakikinig.
Lilia Tan
08 PATNUBAY Mga Bakod sa Buhay
Mailing Coordinator
Kaibigan
is published by Tagalog Fellowship of Taipei International Church AKA ROC International Christian Goodwill Association.
Ålamin ang ilan kategorya ng mga boundaries na puede mong ayusin sa buhay upang maiwas sa kapahamakan o kalituhan.
TAGALOG FELLOWSHIP HOTLINE:
2834-4127 SMS request for magazine, write your complete name, address with zip code: 0922300808, 0972921681 (text, viber, line) ©2018 by Kaibigan magazine, Taipei International Church, Tagalog Fellowship. Printed in Taiwan Volume 22, Number 2 For donations to Kaibigan Magazine Ministry for print and mailing cost to all Kaibigan magazine subscribers. Please send to: #432, 7F, Suite 704, Keelung Rd. Sec. 1, Sinyi Dist. Taipei City or to #248, 7F Chung Shan N. Rd. Sec. 6, Taipei City, and write or attached a note saying,“this is a donation for Kaibigan magazine,” and you can send it by registered mail or postal money order.
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PAMPAMILYA MY TESTIMONY MESSAGE PAROLA (ENGLISH, MANDARIN, INDONESIAN AND THAI) PANGKALUSUGAN FAITHWALK VIETNAMESE BIBLE WORD SEARCH
COVERSTORY PAGE 26
Roberto Awa-ao, Editor-in-Chief
IT’S FREE Often people ask and wonder why we give ‘KAIBIGAN MAGAZINE’ for free. Do we give this because it’s cheap? Do we give this for our own profit? And there are many other questions. So why free? People are usually suspicious of anything that is free; people who are used to buy things think that anything ‘free’ has no or little value. Kaibigan Magazine is free because there are people who paid for it, people who are motivated by their love for God and for others. Like Kaibigan Magazine, God’s salvation is offered free, in Isaiah 55:1 & 2;“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”
Titus 2:13-14 Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. It’s our hope that this copy of Kaibigan Magazine helps each reader to appreciate God’s grace and for anyone who hadn’t experience the joy of salvation, may this copy help you to be ‘persuaded to be Christian’.
Many think that heaven is an achievement, that it’s something we have to earn, that we need to do lots of good works to cover-up and paid for our own sin. But salvation is free; it’s free because JESUS paid for it, To help you in your pilgrimage here in Taiwan, please contact and join us, you may visit our office during weekdays for prayer and counselling @ 7F No. 248 Zhong Shan N. Rd. Section 6,Taipei City 11161. Contact: (02) 2833-7444, 2835-2788. We also post encouraging Word of God at Tagalog Facebook Page, visit ‘Tagalog Fellowship’ Live Stream: Our Sunday Tagalog Worship Celebration is being broadcast live in our Youtube Channel; Tagalog Fellowship, every Sunday 2pm – Taiwan Time. Archives of messages and teachings are both posted in ‘Tagalog Fellowship’ facebook page and ‘Tagalog Fellowship’ youtube channel. Kaibigan
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pananaw
LAHAT BA DAPAT PAKINGGAN? ni Rev. Roberto Awa-ao
A
ng tenga ay isang sensitibong parte ng ating katawan. Ang gawain nito ay sumagap, mag pasa at maglinaw ng mga tunog patungo sa utak, ito ay may tatlong bahagi na iba’t iba ang function; ang ‘outer’ o panlabas na sumasagap ng mga tunog, ang gitna na nagsisilbing ‘acoustic transformer’ at amplifier, at ang pinakaloob ay may parte na tinatawag na ‘cochlea’ na ginagawang electrical impulses ang mga natanggap na tunog upang maipasa sa ating utak at ating maintindihan. Napaka bilis ng transmission ng tunog mula sa outer part ng tenga papunta sa ating utak, kaya tinatawag itong ‘advanced organ.’ Ang tenga din ay tumutulong upang mag karoon ng ‘sense of balance’ ang ating katawan.
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Dahil napaka importante ang ating tenga, magagandang ugali.” (1 Corinto 15:33) mainam na ito ay pangalagaan. Hindi lang “Sa wakas, mga kapatid, dapat maging ang mga tunog, kundi ang mga impormasyon laman ng inyong isip ang mga bagay na pumapasok. na karapat-dapat at kapuri-puri: mga bagay na totoo, marangal, matuwid, Ang Salita ng Diyos ay nagsasabi na malinis, kaibig-ibig, at kagalanghindi lahat ay dapat pakinggan, galang”. (Filipos 4:8) “Huwag mong pakinggan ang lahat ng sasabihin sa iyo ng tao at baka kalaunan ay mismong alila mo ang humamak sa Maging maingat sa pakikinig, mainam na iyo;”(Ecclesiastes 7:21). magkaroon ng pakikinig na nag-iisip. Paano Ayaw man natin o hindi, maganda man ang ba ito? ating ginawa o mali, ang tao ay may masasabi sa atin, imbes na pagbuhusan ito ng pansin, Una, maging bukas,at sikaping bigyan ang sinasabi ng Biblia ay matuto tayong ng pansin ang sinasabi ng kausap,bago huwag making. sumagot. “Siyang sumasagot bago pa man Mainam din na maging maingat sa mga makinig, ito’y kahangalan at sa kanya’y payo na pinapakinggan, ito ang sabi, kahihiyan.” Kawikaan 18:13 “Mapalad ang taong hindi nakikinig sa payo ng masama, at hindi sumusunod sa Pangalawa , matutong magtanong, masama nilang halimbawa. Hindi siya magtanong ng ‘open questions,’ hindi nakikisama sa mga kumukutya at hindi lamang mga tanong na masasagot ng nakikisangkot sa gawaing masama.” ‘oo’at ‘hindi.’ Halimbawa, imbes na (AWIT 1:1). “Gusto mo ang iyong naramdaman?” Kung ang payo ay nagtutulak upang ikaw subukang itanong ang, “Ano ang iyong ay gumawa ng hindi tama, makapanakit naramdaman?” Sa pamamagitan nito, o makapanira ng kapwa, huwag itong maaaring makapagbigay ng detalye na pakinggan. Mas mabuting hanapin ang makakatulong upang maunawaan ang ikakabuti at gumawa ng mabuti sa ating iyong tinatanong. kapwa. Iwasan ang mga tao na ang gawi at payo ay masama. Pangatlo, ay ang pagbubuod,o pagbibigay ng buod ng iyong napakinggan. Halimbawa, Higit sa lahat, hanapin ang katotohanan “Dahil ba sa inyong naramdaman, kaya at iwasan ang kasinungalingan, kayo ngayon ay nagdesisyon ngayon ng ito ang sabi sa Kawikaan 21:28, ganyan?” “Ang patotoo ng sinungaling ay di papakinggan, ngunit ang salita ng tapat Pang-apat, ang pag-uulit, ang pag ulit sa ay pahahalagahan.” napakinggan na salita o pangungusap ay makakatulong upang magpatuloy at Palibutan ang ating sarili ng mga tao na malinawan ang pinag-uusapan. “Ang mabubuti at makakatulong upang tayo ay bumuti, naririnig ko po na ang inyong sinasabi “Huwag kayong paloloko. “Ang ay _____? masasamang kasama’y nakakasira ng Kaibigan
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Panglima ay paglilinaw, sikaping malinawan ang sinasabi ng kausap, sa pamamagitan ng pakikinig at pagtatanong, ito ay pinakita ng batang si Hesus nung siya ay nakipag-usap sa mga guro “nakikinig at nagtatanong sa kanila.” (Lucas 2:47). Ang tamang pakikinig ay magbibigay ng tamang paglilinaw at tamang sagot, ito ay maaring magbunga ng higit sa iyong iniisip. Ito ang pangyayari kung paano dahil sa tamang pakikinig, pag-tatanong, at paglilinaw, natugunan ang pangangailangan ng Jerusalem; “Sa buwan ng Nisan, nang ikadalawampung taon ni Artaxerxes na hari, samantalang mayroong alak sa harapan niya, kinuha ko ang alak at ibinigay ko sa hari. Hindi pa ako naging malungkot nang gayon sa kanyang harapan. At sinabi ng hari sa akin, “Bakit malungkot ang iyong mukha, samantalang wala ka namang sakit? Ito’y walang iba kundi kalungkutan ng puso.” Nang magkagayo’y lubha akong natakot. Sinabi ko sa hari, “Mabuhay ang hari magpakailanman! Bakit hindi malulungkot ang aking mukha, gayong ang lunsod, ang lugar ng mga libingan ng aking mga ninuno ay giba, at ang mga pintuan nito ay natupok ng apoy?” Nang magkagayo’y sinabi ng hari sa akin, “Ano ang iyong kahilingan?” Kaya’t ako’y nanalangin sa Diyos ng langit. Sinabi ko sa hari, “Kung ikakalugod ng hari at kung ang iyong lingkod ay nakatagpo ng biyaya sa iyong paningin,
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suguin mo ako sa Juda, sa lunsod ng libingan ng aking mga ninuno, upang aking muling maitayo ito.” Sinabi ng hari sa akin, (ang reyna ay nakaupo sa tabi niya), “Gaano katagal kang mawawala, at kailan ka babalik?” Sa gayo’y ikinalugod ng hari na suguin ako, at nagtakda ako sa kanya ng panahon. Sinabi ko naman sa hari, “Kung ikakalugod ng hari, bigyan sana ako ng mga sulat para sa mga tagapamahala ng lalawigan sa kabila ng Ilog, upang ako’y kanilang paraanin hanggang sa ako’y makarating sa Juda; at isang sulat para kay Asaf na tagapag-ingat ng gubat ng hari, upang bigyan niya ako ng mga troso upang gawing mga biga sa mga pintuan ng kuta ng templo at para sa pader ng lunsod at sa bahay na aking papasukan.” Ipinagkaloob sa akin ng hari ang aking hiniling, sapagkat ang mabuting kamay ng aking Diyos ay nasa akin. (Nehemiah 2:1-8) Hindi lahat dapat pakinggan, subalit sa panahon na dapat makinig, makinig ng maayos, magtanong at linawin ang pinapakinggan. Kaibigan
_________________________________________ Hangad namin na kayo ay matulungan sa inyong buhay Espritual, para sa karagdagang pagtuturo, bible study, prayer or counseling tumawag sa (02)2833-7444, o kumontak sa line ‘obet awa-ao’. Bumisita din at i-like ang Tagalog Fellowship facebook page.
Bro Obet Awa-ao -Pastor, Taipei International Church, Tagalog Fellowship Church Office: 7F No. 248 Zhong Shan N. Rd. Section 6, Taipei City 11161.
pampamilya What Your Play May be Teaching
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he way a family handles the truth is important. Although some teasing may involve misrepresenting the truth and can be an acceptable part of play, it’s important to ask some serious questions about where that play is leading. If you’re having a problem with lying in your family you may want to cut out even playful teasing in this area to help children see the issues more clearly. One mom told us, “We have a problem with lying in our family. As I began developing a plan to deal with it, I noticed that the way we play often encourages deception. If my four-year-old comes into the kitchen to ask, ‘What’s for dinner?’ I might jokingly reply, ‘Frog Soup.’ Our family fun is not necessarily bad as we play small tricks and tease each other, but I’m seeing now that we need to take a break from those kinds of activities for a while. It may be that our fun is inadvertently encouraging our children to be dishonest.”
This mom is wrestling with an important issue. Sometimes the things you do or say aren’t bad in and of themselves, but you may need to make adjustments because of the particular needs of your family. Kaibigan _____________________________________________ This parenting tip comes from the book Good and Angry: Exchanging Frustration for Character in You and Your Kids by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN. Chapter 9 outlines some practical strategies to build integrity in your children. Copyright ©2012 National Center for Biblical Parenting
KAIBIGAN Magazine publication started 1996 with the goal to be of help to the Filipino workers in Taiwan especially those who can not have a day off from their work. It now incorporates other articles of different languages from other ministry group of the TE&B (Taiwan Expatriates & Beyond) Ministry and prayerfully and hopefully to print more copies for more souls for His Kingdom here in Taiwan. We will need all of your prayers that Kaibigan magazine can reach more people for the glory of God. With God all things are possible (Mark 10:27). The magazine is made possible also by the donations and prayers from friends and subscribers and by Taipei International Church-Tagalog Fellowship. You can be a partner of KAIBIGAN to help the guestworkers (foreign contract workers) by praying for us or if you would like to send a donation, you can send it to 7F, #248, Chung Shan N. Rd. Sec. 6, Taipei City. Kaibigan
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patnubay
ni Pastor Paul Ko
I
sipin mo lang ang sariling bahay mo na walang pinto! Ito ay sa lugar na ginagalawan ng maraming tao na hindi mo kilala. Isipin ang iyong silid tulugan na walang kandado ang pinto sa trabaho. Isipin ang personal locker mo na walang kandado sa isang public swimming pool. Isipin ang iyong Internet account na walang password at puedeng gamitin ng iba. Sa palagay ko, nauunawaan na ninyo ang ibig kong sabihin. Hindi mo papayagan ang kahit sino na lamang pumasok sa iyong tahanan at pakialaman ang lahat ng mga bagay na naruruon. Gayon din naman sa relasyon sa kapwa at sa lahat ng bagay. Kailangan maglagay ng hangganan o bakod (boundaries) upang manatili kang ligtas at matino sa buhay. Ang bakod (boundary) ay mga limitasyon o partisyon o hangganan na itinatakda para sa sarili, sa pamilya, sa mga kaibigan, sa
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ka-trabaho. Gayun din sa pakikisalamuha sa komunidad na iyong ginagalawan. Kung hindi mo alam ang mga boundaries mo sa buhay, maaaring madisgrasya, mahirapan, malito, o malagay ka sa alanganin. Maitatatag mo ang mga boundaries kung alam mo ang iyong pinahahalagahan, mga pinaniniwalaan, mga pangangailangan sa iyong buhay. Heto ang ilan kategorya ng mga boundaries na puede mong ayusin. Bakod Pang-Sarili. Seguruhin mong ligtas ang iyong bank accounts, internet accounts, at iba pang personal na bagay na ayaw mong ma-access ng iba. Gayun din ang mga accounts na ipinagkatiwala sa iyo ng kumpanya o ng ibang kasama. Gayon din naman sa mga personal na sekreto. Alam mo na ang mangyayari kapag may taong masama ang intensyon at nagkaroon ng access sa iyong
personal accounts o information o sekreto. Maaaring manakawan o mapag-samantalahan ka. Maaaring ma-black mail ka pa o malagay sa alanganin ang iyong mga mahal sa buhay. Bakod Pampamilya. Normal na libre ang mga kapamilya manghimasok sa iyong buhay. Ang iyong asawa, mga anak, magulang, lolo at lola at mga kapatid ay may libreng passses sa maraming bagay sa iyong buhay. Subalit sa kabila na mahal mo silang mga kamag-anak, ikaw ang nakaka-alam kung sino ang lalagyan mo ng boundary at sino ang may libreng pass sa buhay mo. Hindi lahat ng kapamilya ay mapagkakatiwalaan ng mga bagay sa buhay mo. Ito ay sapagkat mayroon hindi marunong mag-ingat sa mga bagay tungkol sa iyo at madaling mauto ng iba. Mayroon din kapamilya na ginagamit ang karapatan sa iyo upang pag-samantalahan ka gaya ng asawang irresponsable. Hindi marunong humawak ng suweldo o mga property ninyo. Nawawaldas lamang sa mga maling gawain. Nalalagay tuloy sa alanganin ang inyong mga anak. Mahal mo sila ngunit kailangan ng ilang bakod sa pagtitiwala. Ikaw ang may desisyon kung sino ang bibigyan mo ng karapatan at sino ang hihigpitan mo ang kandado. Ang susi ay kung gaano mo kakilala at pagtitiwalaan ang kapamilya sa mga mahalagang bagay sa inyong buhay. Bakod pang kaibigan. Libre ang mga kaibigan makita, malaman, ang ilang mga bagay sa iyong buhay, lalo na kung very close friends mo sila sapagkat may pinagsamahan kayo. Halimbawa kung tinutulungan ka at sadyang may care sa iyo at ipinagtatanggol ka. May pangangalaga sa buhay mo. Ok, na buksan ang ilang bagay sa buhay mo sa kanila. Ngunit may kaibigan na kilala mo lamang, ngunit wala kayong tutuong pinagsamahan. Iba ang boundary mo sa kanila. Maaari kang magbahagi ng ilan bagay na may kinalaman
sa iyong personal na buhay o kaya may kinalaman sa trabaho ngunit hindi para pakialaman, panghimasukan, o ipamalita kaya. Nasa iyo ang desisyon kung alin bagay at kailan puedeng payagan o luwagan mo ang kandado sa mga kaibigan na iyon. Nasa iyo rin kung sino ang sasamahan mo. Sinabi ng Biblia, “Huwag kayong magpadaya. Ang masamang kasama ay sumisira sa magandang pag-uugali.� -1 Corinto 15:33 Bakod pampubliko. May mga bagay tungkol sa iyo na puedeng ibahagi sa madlang bayan. Nasasa-iyo na kung ano ang iyong gustong ipa-alam sa publiko tungkol sa sarili mo. Pangalan, trabaho, marital status, may anak o wala, saan nag-aral, ano ang iyong gawain sa buhay,etc. Kailangan mo lamang bakuran ang mga delikadong impormasyon na maaaring gamitin ng mga mananamantala. Bakod Spirituwal. Pinakamahalaga ang bagay na ito. Kailangan mong liwanagin sa sarili kung sino ang bibigyan ng karapatan maghari sa buhay mo dito sa lupa tungo sa buhay na walanghanggan. Kangino mo ikakandado ang kaluluwa. Iisa lamang ang buhay sa daigdig na ibinigay ng Diyos kaya mahalagang tantuhin kung kanino mo ipagkakatiwala ang iyong kaluluwa. Hindi puedeng ipagpaliban ang desisyon dito sapagkat puedeng kunin ang iyong buhay ano mang oras. Dalawang uri ng Spirito mayroon sa mundo ayon sa Biblia. Ang Banal na Spirito at ang masamang spirito. Ang masamang spirito ay may impluensiya sa buhay ng tao. Puedeng ariin ng masamang spirito ang taong bukas at di nababakuran ang sarili. Ganito ang kinalagyan ng isang ang lalaki sa sementeryo ng Gadareno (Mark 5). Pinasok ng pitong demonyo si Maria Magdalena (Lukas 8:2). Ang batang babae na may spirito ng panghuhula na ginagamit lamang Kaibigan
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ng amo nito (Gawa 16:16-18). Ganito ang pahayag ng Biblia kung ano ang layunin at gawain ng masamang espiritu, “Ang magnanakaw ay hindi pumarito malibang siya ay magnakaw, pumatay at maminsala. (Juan 10:10a). Gan it o nam an a n g p a h ay a g n i Je s u s t un g kol s a s ar i l i , “Ang E spir it u ng Pa ng in o on a y sumasaakin dahil pinahiran niya ako upang ipahayag ang ebanghelyo sa mga dukha. Sinugo niya ako upang pagalingin ang mga sugatang puso. Sinugo niya ako upang ipangaral ang kalayaan sa mga bihag at ang pananauli ng paningin sa mga bulag. Sinugo niya ako upang palayain ang mga inapi”( Lucas 4:18). Ipinahayag pa rin ni Juan tungkol kay Jesus, “ ....Ang Anak ng Diyos ay nahayag sa dahilang ito upang wasakin niya ang mga gawa ng diyablo” (1 Juan 3:8).
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K a y a n ga s i na b i n i J e s u s , “Ako ang mabuting pastol. Iniaalay ng mabuting pastol ang kaniyang buhay para sa mga tupa”(Juan 10:11). Maliwanag kung ano ang misyon ng masamang spirito sa buhay mo at nang Banal na Espirito na nakay Jesus. Ang tanong, kanino mo ipagkakatiwala ang iyong kaluluwa? Kaibigan, nasa iyo ang desisyon ngayon. Kay Jesu Cristo o sa demonyo?
Kaibigan
If you need me to pray for you or you have question, simply send an email message to: paul@launchpoint.cc
by Danny Q. Junco
“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.” - Proverbs 18:22 (NKJV)
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he final day of waiting eagerly for Nathaniel Abad and Joyce Castillo of tying the knot at the cozy, elegant, rendezvous, and gorgeous Versailles Palace, Las Pinas City was over. Thrilling and exciting, the ceremony officiated by Pastor Faustino “Jun” Turla and witnessed by the groom and bride parents, brothers and sisters in the flesh along with their families, brethren, friends, loved ones and guests made the occasion so memorable as the two romantic lovers publicly manifested their authentic love for each other and willingly to enter into a covenant relationship known as marriage designed by no less than
the eternal, almighty, creator and sovereign God. To majority of the newly or old-time couples, they don’t exactly know the real meaning and significance of marriage. And this is the reason why there are many broken homes in the United States and even in the Philippines though there is no divorce law yet but many had been separated and at present there are 29,198 couples who have sought lawmakers from the congress to end their marriages. But to Niel and Joyce they have understood prior to their wedding ceremony on November 25, 2017 that marriage is a covenant and it is a lifetime commitment with each other and the highest good for the wife the husband should do and look after to and vice versa but the center of their relationship is the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact their relationship as sweetheart before marriage was quite nonsensical as Niel for a lot of time had been working abroad. Their love affair and romance blossomed despite the fact that Niel was out of the country most of the time due to his work in other nations as an electronic technician like in Malaysia and lately, in Australia, while Joyce had been employed at a Makati Citybased company. Previously, Niel had completed his Electronics Communication Engineering degree at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM). The two admitted experiencing that neither distance nor time can deny true love, much more now with the advent of the Internet and high-tech gadgets and apps like Skype that allow two persons to talk to each other face to face even if they live and work in far-flung places. Kaibigan
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Like other married couples, Niel and Joyce also have a story to tell regarding how they first met and how love bloomed and developed between them, compelling then to finally decide to settle down for good and get married in formal ceremonies at Versailles Palace, Daang Hari Road in Alabang, Las Piñas City. For them, true love is exciting and glorious, with the bride and groom becoming “one flesh” in a ceremony that has become memorable to both of them as they leave behind their carefree single lifestyle and reached a covenant to love each other “for better or worse, in sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, till death do us part.” The couple’s experience fits the typical story of the boy meeting the girl and getting married. Niel was residing in Taytay, Rizal, and Joyce was living in Parañaque City when they first met at work. Niel was a technical support representative while Joyce was a human resource assistant at the Makati-based company that employed both of them. Joyce had no inkling whatsoever that the man whom she met by the elevator would one day become her lifetime partner. “We first met while I was waiting for the elevator. Someone called me by name. I was surprised that he knew me when he was a complete stranger to me,” Joyce recounted. “He was even so daring as to say that he had a crush on me. I felt weird because he talked to me so casually and was very straightforward, without batting an eyelash.” Their first meeting turned so rapidly into multiple meetings after work. Joyce described Niel as aggressive and daring in courtship despite the negative reaction of her boss and company rules and regulations, one of which prohibited a male employee from courting a female co-employee. Niel courted Joyce without letup by inviting her out for lunch or to watch basketball games, showering her each time with cupcakes and
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other snacks, among other things, to win her heart. In time, Joyce fell in love. On a date at Red Mango Restaurant at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City on June 14, 2011, Joyce accepted Niel as her boyfriend. But their joy as lovers was temporarily cut short when Niel left for Malaysia to accept another job on August 2011. Joyce felt upset and cried for nearly a day as she craved for the company of a man whom she knew only a few months ago. “Perhaps this is what you call love, though I was uncertain about whether our relationship will work,” Joyce recalled. The first thing Niel and Joyce did to maintain communications was to use Skype, which allowed them to reduce the sadness and loneliness of living apart from each other. The two missed each other terribly, with Neil admitting to crying episodes. In February 2012, Joyce and her mother visited Niel in Malaysia for the first time. Niel took them on a tour of famous landmarks, including the Petronas and KL towers and Genting Highlands. After three days in Malaysia, the three went to Singapore on a two-day tour of such destinations as the Merlion Park, Marina Bay Sands Luxury Resort and Universal Studios. In all, Niel had a great time with Joyce and her mother. When Joyce left Niel at the airport, she could not help but cry all the way to the plane. She had to compose herself and look forward to seeing Niel again in the near future. On April 11, 2012, the day before her 23rd birthday, Joyce was surprised to receive neither a call nor a text message from Niel. “I sensed that he was coming home to the Philippines but I wasn’t sure,” Joyce said. True enough, at midnight on April 12, someone came knocking at the gate of Joyce’s home. It was Niel, holding a cake with a lighted candle. He kept his promise never to miss being with her on her birthday. “It was
my best birthday ever,” Joyce recalled. “Niel had organized a surprised party with my family and friends at a videoke bar.” In the past six years, their relationship became stronger and closer, with Jesus Christ as the foundation of their relationship and with support from their respective families. In preparation for marriage, Niel and Joyce decided to buy a lot at Antel Grand Village in Cavite on July 2014. On July 3, 2016, Niel accepted a new job in Australia but promised to be back in the Philippines on August 19 to attend his sister’s wedding. Before Niel left for Australia he told Joyce’s sister that he would be proposing marriage to Joyce and asking for her parents’ consent. When Niel came back to Manila, Joyce felt frustrated after the planned marriage proposal failed to push through on numerous occasions.
Out of frustration, Joyce told Niel that if he didn’t want to propose, it would be all right for her, but she begged him not to play with her feelings. Niel said he would propose “on the right day.” That final day of reckoning came on August 28, 2016, at Happy Cream Puff at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, where Neil finally made a simple and genuine proposal in the presence of his own parents. “A mug was placed on my table with the caption ‘marry me,” Joyce said. Niel then gave her a bunch of flowers, knelt down on both knees and asked her to marry him. She said: “Yes, I will.” To which Niel’s mother quipped: “Ayan, wala nang utang sa iyo si Niel!” That remark broke the tension and sparked much laughter all around. Kaibigan
Kaibigan
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We’d love to hear from you!
Write us at Kaibigan, #432, Suite 704, 7F, Keelung Rd. Sec. 1, Sinyi District, Taipei 110; or email us at kaibiganmagazine@me.com or text us at 0972921681, or LINE or Viber.
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parola
(lighthouse prison ministry)
I Can’t, He Can, Let Him
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”-- Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
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was watching TV not long ago. It was a Christian worship service, and the pastor was talking about “the Twelve Steps” which people who suffer from serious addictions, such as to drugs or alcohol, use to overcome these addictions. In the program of “twelve steps, “the person uses this series of twelve statements make commitments which help them to progress toward recovery. The pastor was telling about a friend who was making a a wonderful recovery from being an alcoholic, by using the “twelve steps. “But the friend also told the pastor that the twelve steps could be summarized in six words which had completely changed his life, from being a hopeless and helpless alcoholic to being a person who stayed sober and was in control of his own life. The six words were: “I CAN’T ... HE CAN ... LET HIM.” What do you think he meant? Well, first, “I Can’t “ This means that there are certain things in our lives that we cannot control. Either we are not strong enough, or they are totally beyond our control, or they are being controlled by someone else, for whatever reason. Second, “He Can. “This means that even those things which are out of our control, whether they be persons, influences, whatever, are not out of the control of God. Finally, if God can control those things we cannot control, then we have to show enough faith to “Let Him. “ Now first you might say, “I am not an alcoholic, nor am I a drug addict, so I don’t need the twelve steps or the six words. I am not addicted to anything.” To be “addicted” means that there is a habit or a repeated behavior, usually harmful, which a person
cannot stop doing, so you are “addicted” to that habit or pattern of behavior. Even if we are not drug addicted or alcoholic, yet each one of us is still a “sin addict, “that is, we have a daily habit of sinning, a repeated behavior of doing and thinking things that are against God’s law, and we don’t seem to be able to stop. We all know that we are supposed to follow God’s laws and not do those things He tells us not to do. Yet, each day we do sin, we engage in a pattern of repeated behavior which is against God’s law. The list of mistakes each day is long, and involves thoughts which are impure, words which use God’s name in vain or hurt others, actions involving anger, dishonesty, hate, greed, the list goes on and on. No matter how hard we may try at any given time, we still will disobey God’s laws over and over again. To be honest with ourselves, we would have to say we are addicted to sin. Well, if we are all sin addicts, and no one can be perfect in keeping God’s laws, then perhaps God should not have made his laws so strict, or maybe He should overlook some of the less serious sins which we do, at least give us a fair chance to overcome our addiction to sin. Actually, the right place to start in understanding our addiction to sin is to understand our relationship as human beings to God. The Bible says that God created the first human beings, Adam and Eve, to be perfect, but they were tempted to sin by Satan and did fall into sin, thereby destroying the perfect relationship between God and humankind. Even worse, that addiction to sin which became so clear in the lives of Adam and Eve was passed on to each of their offspring, just Kaibigan
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like a heroin addiction by a mother, will be passed on to her child, so now each one of us has by nature an addiction to sin. By the very fact that we are human beings, children of sinful people, we are sinful people. We need to admit 1 that fact, and accept it as true, since that is what the Bible teaches us. So, how can the six words, “I CAN’T.... HE CAN... LET HIM, “help us overcome our addiction to sin? First, by saying “I CAN’T,” we admit that we are not able to overcome sin on our own. We are as hopelessly addicted to sin as the worst heroin addict is hopelessly addicted to his drug habit. By acknowledging that we cannot help ourselves, we are admitting that we must look elsewhere for help. Of course, no one likes to say, “I Can’t,” as we are taught from very young by our parents, our teachers, our coaches, never to say “I Can’t.” If you are truly committed to overcoming your addiction to sin, but still think “I Can, “ then try this experiment. Tomorrow morning, when you awake, just make to yourself this promise: “I will not sin today!” Then go about your daily routines as any other day. Then tomorrow night, as you go to bed, think back to see if you made it all day without breaking any of God’s laws. “Did I think anything bad today? Did I say anything wrong today? Did I do anything today that did not please God?” You will find, I am sure, that your thoughts, and words, and actions were filled with sins, no matter how hard you may have tried. The fact is “I CAN’T... YOU CAN’T... NO ONE CAN!!!” Second, the next two words that follow are “HE CAN” and by confessing these words, we state our belief that God can help us overcome our addictions to sin. But so many people refuse to admit that only God can help. Even if they admit they cannot do it on their own, they will seek help from so many other sources. People say they “dabble in eastern religions, “or they subscribe to certain “new age” philosophies to answer all their questions, or they read all the “selfhelp to happiness” books, looking for ways
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to aright their lives and free themselves from the bonds of sin. These other solutions do not work, as hard as someone may try to make them work, because only the God of the Bible is real and only this True God has the answer to freeing us to lead our lives in ways which help us to tum away from sin, from other addictions, from bad habits, from harmful relationships, from all of the things we continue to do in search of happiness, but which always make us more unhappy. Again, the fact is “I CAN’T... YOU CAN’T... BUT HE CAN!!!” Third, we have to be able to say “LET HIM” as the only solution to overcoming out addiction to sin. Even if we can admit “I CAN’T” and even if we can believe “HE CAN, “ yet these last two words of “LET HIM” become two of the biggest words in our world. “LET HIM, “ means trusting in a Supreme God that we cannot see, cannot hear, and cannot touch; it means putting everything in the hands of a Supreme God who does not always do what we ask Him to do, when we ask Him, or how we ask Him; it means making a conscious decision to believe in, accept, and try our best to please a Supreme God Who has shown His great love for us, even as addicted sinners, and has promised to help us. If we truly commit to these six words to help us overcome our addictions to sin, does this mean we will be perfect in God’s sight? No, and God knows that we will continue to fail in our efforts, He knows that we can never be perfect, and He promises to love us and forgive us anyway. He promises that as we try to lead holy lives, we will be rewarded with a closer spiritual relationship with Him, that our hearts will be filled with the joy of His presence, and that the doubts, fears, anger, and other frustrations that seem to almost drown us each day will be overcome. He promises we will be spiritually free. Kaibigan __________________________ Penned by Atty. Fredrick N. Voigtmann and translated into Chinese Traditional, Indonesian and Thai. Lighthouse Prison Ministry is a group of pastors and volunteers that visit inmates and held Bible studies in Kweishan prison. Inmates also get Kaibigan magazines every issue.
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Saya Tidak Bisa, Dia Bisa, Biarkan Dia “Marilah kepada-Ku, semua yang letih lesu dan berbeban berat, Aku akan memberi kelegaan kepadamu. Pikullah kuk yang Kupasang dan belajarlah pada-Ku, karena Aku lemah lembut dan rendah hati dan jiwamu akan mendapat ketenangan. Sebab kuk yang Kupasang itu enak dan beban-Kupun ringan.” Matius 11-28-30 (NIV)
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elum lama ini saya menonton siaran kebaktian Kristen, kemudian Pendetanya berbicara tentang “Dua Belas Langkah”yang ditujukan kepada orang-orang yang menderita kecanduan serius, seperti obatobatan ataupun alkohol, dan bagaimana cara untuk mengatasi kecanduan tersebut. Dalam program “dua belas langkah,” orang tersebut menggunakan langkah-langkah ini untuk membuat komitmen yang membantu mereka menuju pemulihan. Pendeta menceritakan seorang temannya yang pecandu alkohol mengalami pemulihan yang luar biasa dengan menggunakan metode “dua belas langkah.” Tetapi teman itu juga mengatakan kepada pendeta bahwa kedua belas langkah itu dapat dirangkum dalam enam kata yang telah mengubah hidupnya sepenuhnya, dari seorang pecandu alkohol yang putus asa dan tidak berdaya menjadi seorang yang tetap sadar dan bisa mengendalikan hidupnya sendiri. Enam kata itu adalah: “SAYA TIDAK BISA ... DIA BISA ... BIARKAN DIA.” Menurut Anda, apakah yang dia maksud? Pertama, “Saya Tidak Bisa.” Ini berarti ada hal-hal tertentu dalam hidup kita yang tidak bisa kita kendalikan. Entah kita tidak cukup kuat, atau mereka benar-benar di luar kendali kita, atau hal tersebut dikendalikan oleh orang lain dengan alasan apa pun. Kedua, “Dia Dapat.” Yang artinya hal-hal yang lebih di luar kendali kita, apakah itu adalah orang, pengaruhpengaruh dari luar. Apa pun itu, tidak lepas dari kendali Allah. Akhirnya, jika Tuhan dapat mengendalikan hal-hal yang tidak dapat kita kontrol, maka kita harus menunjukkan iman yang cukup untuk mengatakan “Biarkan Dia.” Daftar kesalahan kita setiap hari sangat panjang, dan melibatkan pikiran yang tidak murni, kata-kata yang menggunakan nama Allah dengan sia-sia atau melukai orang lain, tindakan
yang melibatkan kemarahan, ketidakjujuran, kebencian, keserakahan, dan terus menerus. Betapapun kerasnya kita mencoba, kita akan terus tidak taat akan hukum Tuhan. Sejujurnya, kita harus mengatakan kita kecanduan dosa. Nah, jika kita semua adalah pecandu dosa, dan tidak ada yang sempurna dalam mematuhi hukum Tuhan, maka mungkin Tuhan seharusnya tidak membuat hukumnya begitu ketat, atau mungkin Dia harus mengabaikan beberapa dosa yang kurang serius yang kita lakukan, setidaknya memberi kita kesempatan untuk mengatasi kecanduan kita terhadap dosa. Sebenarnya, tempat yang tepat untuk mulai memahami kecanduan kita terhadap dosa adalah memahami hubungan kita sebagai manusia dihadapanTuhan. Alkitab mengatakan bahwa Tuhan menciptakan manusia pertama, Adam dan Hawa, untuk menjadi sempurna, tetapi mereka tergoda untuk berdosa oleh setan dan jatuh ke dalam dosa, dengan demikian hal tersebut menghancurkan hubungan yang sempurna antara Tuhan dan manusia. Lebih buruk lagi, kecanduan akan dosa menjadi begitu jelas dalam kehidupan Adam dan Hawa diteruskan kepada setiap keturunan mereka, seperti kecanduan heroin oleh seorang ibu, akan diteruskan kepada anaknya, jadi pada dasarnya kita masing-masing kecanduan akan dosa. Dengan fakta bahwa kita adalah manusia, anak-anak dari orang-orang yang berdosa, kita adalah orang-orang yang berdosa. Kita harus mengakui satu fakta itu, dan menerimanya sebagai kebenaran, karena itulah yang diajarkan Alkitab kepada kita. Jadi, bagaimana bisa keenam kata, “SAYA TIDAK BISA .... DIA BISA ... BIARKAN DIA,” membantu kita mengatasi kecanduan kita terhadap dosa? Pertama, dengan mengatakan “SAYA TIDAK BISA,” kita mengakui bahwa kita tidak dapat Kaibigan
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mengatasi dosa sendiri. Kita sama kecanduannya dengan dosa seperti pecandu heroin yang benarbenar kecanduan narkoba. Dengan mengakui bahwa kita tidak dapat membantu diri sendiri, kita mengakui bahwa kita harus mencari bantuan di tempat lain. Tentu saja, tidak ada yang suka mengatakan, “Saya Tidak bisa,” karena kita diajarkan sejak kecil oleh orang tua kita, guru kita, pelatih kita, untuk tidak pernah mengatakan “Saya Tidak Bisa.” Jika Anda benar-benar berkomitmen untuk mengatasi kecanduan Anda terhadap dosa, tetapi tetap berpikir “Saya Bisa,” maka cobalah eksperimen ini. Besok pagi, ketika kamu bangun, buat saja sendiri janji ini: “Aku tidak akan berdosa hari ini!” Kemudian lakukan rutinitas harian Anda seperti hari lainnya. Kemudian besok malam, ketika Anda pergi tidur, pikirkan kembali untuk melihat apakah Anda berhasil sepanjang hari tanpa melanggar hukum Tuhan. “Apakah aku memikirkan sesuatu yang buruk hari ini? Apakah aku mengatakan sesuatu yang salah hari ini? Apakah aku melakukan sesuatu hari ini yang tidak menyenangkan Tuhan?” Anda akan menemukan, saya yakin, bahwa pikiran, kata-kata, dan tindakan Anda dipenuhi dengan dosa, tidak peduli seberapa keras Anda mencoba. Faktanya adalah “SAYA TIDAK BISA ... KAMU TIDAK BISA ... TIDAK ADA YANG BISA !!!” Kedua, dua kata berikutnya adalah “DIA BISA” dan dengan mengakui kata-kata ini, kita menyatakan keyakinan kita bahwa Tuhan dapat membantu kita mengatasi kecanduan kita terhadap dosa. Tetapi begitu banyak orang menolak untuk mengakui bahwa hanya Tuhan yang dapat membantu. Bahkan walaupun mereka mengakui bahwa mereka tidak dapat melakukannya sendiri, mereka akan tetap mencari bantuan dari begitu banyak sumber lain. Orang-orangmengatakan bahwa mereka “berkecimpung dalam agama timur,” atau mereka berlangganan filosofi “zaman baru” tertentu untuk menjawab semua pertanyaan mereka, atau mereka membaca semua buku “Cara untuk bahagia,” mencari cara untuk memperbaiki kehidupan mereka dan membebaskan diri mereka sendiri dari ikatan dosa. Solusi ini juga tidak akan berhasil, karena hanya Tuhan dalam Alkitab yang nyata dan
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hanya Tuhan Sejati yang memiliki jawaban untuk membebaskan kita untuk menjalani hidup kita dengan cara membantu kita untuk berpaling dari dosa, dari kecanduan, dari kebiasaan buruk, dari hubungan yang berbahaya, dan dari semua hal yang terus kita lakukan untuk mencari kebahagiaan, tetapi pada akhirnya selalu membuat kita lebih tidak bahagia. Sekali lagi, faktanya adalah “SAYA TIDAK BISA ... KAMU TIDAK BISA ... TAPI DIA BISA !!!” Ketiga, kita harus bisa mengatakan “BIARKAN DIA” sebagai satu-satunya solusi untuk mengatasi kecanduan terhadap dosa. Bahkan jika kita dapat mengaku “SAYA TIDAK BISA” dan bahkan jika kita dapat percaya “DIA BISA,” namun dua kata terakhir dari “BIARKAN DIA” menjadi dua kata terbesar di dunia kita. “BIARKAN DIA,” berarti mempercayai Tuhan yang Mahatinggi yang tidak bisa kita lihat, tidak bisa dengar, dan tidak bisa sentuh; itu berarti meletakkan segala sesuatu di tangan Tuhan yang Agung yang tidak selalu melakukan apa yang kita minta kepada-Nya, ketika kita bertanya kepada-Nya, atau bagaimana kita bertanya kepada-Nya; itu berarti membuat keputusan sadar untuk percaya, menerima, dan mencoba yang terbaik untuk menyenangkan Tuhan Yang Maha Esa yang telah menunjukkan kasih-Nya yang besar bagi kita, bahkan sebagai orangorang berdosa yang kecanduan, dan telah berjanji untuk membantu kita. Jika kita benar-benar berkomitmen pada keenam kata ini untuk membantu kita mengatasi kecanduan kita terhadap dosa, apakah ini berarti kita akan sempurna dalam pandangan Allah? Tidak, dan Tuhan tahu bahwa kita akan terus gagal dalam upaya kita, Dia tahu bahwa kita tidak pernah bisa menjadi sempurna, dan Dia berjanji untuk mengasihi kita dan mengampuni kita. Dia berjanji bahwa ketika kita mencoba untuk menjalani kehidupan suci, kita akan dihargai dengan hubungan spiritual yang lebih dekat dengan-Nya, bahwa hati kita akan dipenuhi dengan sukacita kehadiran-Nya, dan bahwa keraguan, ketakutan, kemarahan, dan frustrasi lainnya yang tampak hampir menenggelamkan kita setiap hari akan diatasi. Dia berjanji kita akan bebas secara rohani. Kaibigan
ang panukala ng Diyos tungkol sa edukasyon (pagsasanay) ng tao? Panukala na...
ni Pastor Paul Ko
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uloy ang pagbukas sa Hunyo nang mga iskwelahan sa gitna ng mga panukala na iurong ang pagbubukas ng school year (SY) 2018-2019 ayon kay Education Secretary Leonor Briones. Sinabi ni Briones na walang planong baguhin ang pagbubukas ng iskuwelahan. Hindi daw ugma ang mga pampublikong silid aralan na gamitin tuwing tag-init sapagkat para mo nang isinalang ang mga estuyante at mga guro sa pugon. Marami pa rin na iniiwasang sakit sa panahon ng taginit gaya ng sore eyes, stomach ache, dengue at iba pa. Panahon din ito na makapahinga at maka-relax ang mga mag-aaral at guro. Hindi pa maliwanag ang magiging resulta ng mga panukalang iniharap sa bagay na ito habang isinusulat ito. Ano man ang mga panukalang pagbabago sa edukasyon, isa lamang ang tiyak na hindi mababago para sa mga nakakaraming Filipino. Igagapang nila na mapag-aral ang mga anak sapagkat para sa kanila, ito lamang ang maipapamana sa mga anak. Ito lamang makapagbibigay ng mabuting kinabukasan at maghahanda sa anak sa mga haharaping hamon sa buhay. May pundasyon sa pagsasanay na kailangang unahin kung nais tutuong maitaguyod ang mga mag-aaral at mga mamamayan. Ito ay ang panukala ng Diyos sa edukasyon. Ano ba
UNAHINANG EDUKASYONG ITINATAG NG DIYOS. Alam ba ninyo na halos lahat ng pangulo ng Estados Unidos (USA) gaya nina John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Quincy Adams, at iba pa ay nakatapos (graduated) sa mga Bible Schools? Ang Harvard (USA), Princeton (USA), Yale (USA) at iba pang sikat na iskuwelahan sa U.S. ay nagsimula bilang mga Bible Schools. Ang Christ Church sa Inglatera (UK) ang isa sa pinaka-sikat na kolehiyo. 13 British prime ministers at si King Edward VI ang nag-aral at nagtapos dito. Ang scientist na si Albert Einstein ay nakapag-aral dito. Itinatag at sinanay ng mga nabanggit na iskuwelahan ang kanilang mga estudyante sa aral at karunungan ng Diyos. Alam ba ninyo na 29 sa 56 na delegado na nagpatibay sa konstitution ng U.S. nuong 1787 ay mga tapos sa Theology. Ang inspirasyon sa pagtatatag ng konstitusyon ng Amerika ay Biblia. Ang unang kongreso ng Amerika ang siyang nagtulak na gamitin ang Biblia sa mga iskuwelahan. Ipinalagay pa ang “In God we Trust” sa kanilang salapi (U.S. Dollar). Ang Biblia ang textbook na prescribed ng Diyos para sa edukasyon ng tao sa esprituwal at praktikal na pamumuhay. Ganito ang pahayag ni Haring Solomon tungkol sa Salita ng Diyos, “....Sa pamamagitan nito, ang tao’y magtatamo ng karunungan at pangunawa sa mga salitang puno ng aral sa buhay. Itinuturo nito ang matuwid na paraan ng pamumuhay, katuwiran, katarungan, at katapatan. Mabibigyan nito ng talino ang mga walang karanasan, at ang mga kabataa’y matuturuang Kaibigan
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magpasya nang tama. Sa pamamagitan nito, lalong tatalino ang matalino at magiging dalubhasa ang kakaunti ang kaalaman. Sa gayon, lubos nilang mauunawaan ang mga kawikaan, gayon din ang palaisipan ng mga marurunong” (Kawikaan 1:1-6). Bakit sa palagay ninyo ang U.S. ang pinakamakapangyarihan bansa ngayon? Bakit ba sa palagay ninyo ang U.S. Dollar ang batayan ng currency exchange sa buong mundo? Bakit sa palagay ninyo pinasusumpa sa Biblia ang mga humaharap sa hukuman o tumatanggap ng posisyon sa gobiyerno? Bakit ang mga bansang hindi kumikilala sa Diyos ay hindi makalamang sa mga bansang kumikilala sa Diyos? Ano sa palagay ninyo ang dahilan? Seguruhin na kasabay sa pag-aaral sa pampubliko o pribadong iskuwelahan ay nag-aaral din ng Salita ng Diyos ang inyong pamilya. Manalangin at magtanong sa lider ng simbahan kung saan ipinangangaral ang Salita ng Diyos. Panukala na... GAWING PUNDASYON ANG SALITA NG DIYOS. Si Frederich Nietzche ay isang pilosopo na nagsabi na “Patay na ang Diyos.” Maraming sumunod sa kanyang pilosopya sa Europa nuong 1800’s. Inalis nila ang Diyos at ipinalit ang makataong pilosopya (Humanism) at ang tao ay tinawag na “Übermensch” na ibig sabihin ay Superman. Nasiraan ng bait si Frederich sa huling yugto ng kanyang buhay at inilagay siya sa asylum. Ang naging delusyon niya ay siya daw si Kristo, Buddha at iba pa. Isa sa mga na-impluensiya ni Frederich ay si Adolf Hitler. Halos naging abo ang Europa sa kawasakan nuong ikalawang pangmundong digmaan gawa ng ambisyon ni Adolf Hitler maghari sa mundo. Kinilala naman ng bansang Hapon si Emperor Hirohito bilang diyos ng kanilang bansa. Nauwi sa kawasakan ang Asia kasama na ang Pilipinas nuong 1940’s gawa ng ambisyon ng Hapon
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na masakop ang mga bansa dito. Sumuko ang Hapon ng bagsakan ng dalawang bomba atomika sa dalawang bayan nila. Gumuho rin ang gobyerno ng Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) nuong Disyembre 26,1991 matapos itayo ang bansa sa komunismo batay sa pilosopya ni Karl Marx nuong 1917. Ano ang sinasabi sa atin ng mga pangyayaring ito? Ang talino ng tao na hindi batay sa Salita ng Diyos ay marupok. Ganito ang sabi ni Jesus, “Ka ya’t ang ba wat nak ik inig at nagsasagawa ng mga salita kong ito ay maitutulad sa isang taong matalino na nagtayo ng kanyang bahay na ang pundasyon ay bato. Umulan nang malakas, bumaha, at binayo ng malakas na hangin ang bahay na iyon, ngunit hindi nagiba sapagkat nakatayo iyon sa bato. Ang bawat nakikinig ng aking salita ngunit hindi naman nagsasagawa ng mga ito ay maitutulad naman sa isang taong hangal na nagtayo ng kanyang bahay sa buhanginan. Umulan nang malakas, bumaha at binayo ng malakas na hangin ang bahay. Ito ay bumagsak at lubusang nawasak.” Natural lamang na kung mahina ang pundasyon ng bahay, madaling babagsak ito lalo na kung malambot ang lupang pinagtirikan. Sinasabi ni Jesus na ang tumatayo sa kanyang salita, ay nagtitirik ng buhay sa matatag na pundasyon. Ang tumatayo sa salita o turo ng mga tao lamang ay mahina, madaling guguho at patungo sa kapahamakan. Ikaw, kangino nakatatag ang iyong buhay? Sa Salita ng Diyos o sa pilosopya ng tao? Sino ang iyong pundasyon? Sino ang pundasyon ng bayang Pilipinas? Panukala na... ISAPUSO ANG SALITA NG DIYOS. Ganito ang pahayag ng Diyos kay Moises para sa Israel “Pakinggan mo, O Israel: ang Panginoon nating Diyos ay iisang Panginoon; at iibigin mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos ng iyong buong
puso, at ng iyong buong kaluluwa, at ng iyong buong lakas. Ang mga salitang ito na aking iniuutos sa iyo sa araw na ito ay ilalagay mo sa iyong puso; at iyong ituturo nang buong sikap sa iyong mga anak, at iyong sasabihin sa kanila kapag ikaw ay nakaupo sa iyong bahay, kapag ikaw ay lumalakad sa daan, at kapag ikaw ay nahihiga, at kapag ikaw ay bumabangon” (Deuteronomo 6:4-7). Paano ilalagay sa puso ang Salita ng Diyos? Gaya ng pagkain pangkatawan, isusubo (babasahin), ngunguyain (pagbubulayan, reflect or meditate), lulununin (tunawin, digest). Kapag natunaw ang pagkain sa tiyan, sasama ito sa dugo at ihahatid sa buong katawan at magbibigay ng pisikal na lakas sa tao. Gayun din naman kapag kinain, nginuya at nilulon ang Salita ng Diyos sa puso, magbibigay ito ng spirituwal na lakas sa buhay. Ang pagkain ng kaluluwa ng tao ay ang Salita ng Diyos. Kaya nga sinabi ni Jesus, “Hindi lamang sa tinapay nabubuhay ang tao, kundi sa bawat salitang nagmumula sa bibig ng Diyos ” (Mateo 4:4). Ano ang kinakain ng iyong kaluluwa? Panukala na..... MAGPATULOY SA ARAL NG DIYOS. Ganito ang bilin ni Apostol Pablo sa kanyang estudyante na si Timoteo, “Ngunit ikaw, magpatuloy ka sa mga aral na natutunan mo at matibay mong pinaniwalaan, sapagkat kilala mo ang mga nagturo nito sa iyo. Mula pa sa pagkabata alam mo na ang Banal na Kasulatan, na may kapangyarihang magbigay sa iyo ng karunungan tungo sa kaligtasan sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya kay Cristo Jesus. Ang lahat ng Kasulatan ay kinasihan ng Diyos, at kapaki-pakinabang sa pagtuturo ng katotohanan, sa pagsaway
sa kamalian, sa pagtutuwid sa likong gawain at sa pagsasanay para sa matuwid na pamumuhay, upang ang lingkod ng Diyos ay maging ganap at handa sa lahat ng mabubuting gawain” (2 Timoteo 3:14-17). Pansinin ang sinabi ni Apostol Pablo, ang may kapangyarihan magbigay ng tutuong karunungan ay ang Banal na Kasulatan sapagkat ito ay kinasihan ng Spirito na galing sa Diyos at makapagliligtas sa buhay. Magagamit sa pagtuturo ng tamang asal at paggawa ng mabubuting bagay. Anong asal at gawa mayroon ang iyong mga anak at kapamilya? Panukala na... Mabuti ang mga panukala ng mga lider ng bansa tungkol sa edukasyon ng mga mamamayan. Mabuti rin ang hangad at panukala ng mga magulang na pag-aralin ang mga anak. Ngunit huwag na kalimutan ang mga panukala ng Diyos sa edukasyon. Unahin gawin pundasyon ang Salita ng Diyos sa buhay. Ipasapuso ang Salita ng Diyos sa sarili. Ipamuhay ito upang makamtan ang makatotohanang talino at pag-unlad sa buhay at maging ligtas sa lahat ng kapahamakan. Anong panukala sa edukasyon ang seguruhin unahin, nang iyong mga anak, at kapamilya? Kaibigan
Kung nagkaroon ng kahulugan sa inyo ang mensaheng ito, mangyari na i-text ang iyong pangalan at tirahan sa 0922300808 o tumawag sa 02-2833-7444. Padadalhan ka ng libreng aralin at babasahin. Kung nais maipanalangin, isulat o i-email ang prayer request sa paul@launchpoint. cc.
Rev. Paul Ko, Associate Pastor | LaunchPoint Church, www.launchpoint.cc He also served Taipei International Church as Tagalog Fellowship pastor for twenty years.
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coverstory
Joyous Strains
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t was like a magical moment. Listening to this choral group as they sang songs that lifted my spirit––their seemingly angelic voices permeated the air with hope and joy. The Covenant Singers from the Philippines had visited Taiwan again this April 27 to May 2, 2018. They went to sing at different places in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Taoyuan. The group started originally with only six people with a vision to share God’s love and the gospel to everyone through their choral singing. This they do out of love and a purpose to bring the “light of the world” to every dark corner of each listener’s heart. Money is not a problem though they do their planning for each event and journey that God ministry using their own earnings––trusting will take them. God’s providence for each journey and event, still they are happy in fulfilling God’s calling As I intently listened to their heart-felt in their lives. Faithfully practicing songs and
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heaven’s perfect melody.” It was just a simple event but there’s a supernatural occurrence happened––spiritual battle was going on as they were singing. Hallelujah, chains were broken––yes, indeed as the pastor asked the people if they would choose Jesus and accept Him as their Savior and Lord––many hands raised to agree and to choose Jesus. singing and looking at their faces that were full of joy. I closed my eyes and thought, “You are singing over me the Father’s song––the Father’s love, heaven’s perfect mystery,
There is no one like our God––no one like our Savior, the Author of this said event. God was all over the place, as He was the Creator of the Symphony that this Covenant Singers were singing so that His eternity would be Kaibigan
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written in our hearts––they were like angels singing on high. I remember this kind of event long time ago in Luke 2:8-14–– when shepherds were on the fields keeping watch over their flocks at night. Angels appeared to the shepherds praising God and announcing the birth of Jesus. And I remember a verse of the carol song that goes like this.... Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o’re the plains And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains As the Covenant Singers share their “joyous strains,” we might encounter questions. Why are you singing? Why are you so willing
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to give and to serve others through your singing? Why are you happy singing when sometimes things seem to be difficult in life? And perhaps their would-be answer is, “The good news of Jesus Christ’s birth, life, and atonement, ought to fill us with the greatest joy especially when sung.” Praise God for the Covenant Singers and their ministry! Kaibigan
__________________________________________ Photographed and Penned by: Analisa N. Chua
pangkalusugan
Health Benefits of Watermelon 1. Antioxidants: A great source of the free radical fighting warriors, specifically in the form of vitamin C and lycopene. 2. Protection Against Diabetes. When you consume watermelon, your kidneys convert one amino acid, L-citrulline, into another amino acid, L-arginine. The onetwo punch of these two amino acids has many health benefits, not the least of which is protection against the development of diabetes. 3. L-citrulline for Recovery. The next time you reach for a post work out drink that contains L-citrulline, reach for a wedge of watermelon instead. The restorative amino acid helps accelerate the rate of lactic acid removal from your muscles, giving you a quicker recovery time after your tough workout. 4. Heart Healthy Summertime Treat. Lycopene is responsible for the pinkish red hue of watermelons. Lycopene has been proven to reduce cholesterol levels and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease in people. 5. Reduction of Severity and Frequency of Asthma Attacks. Current research indicates that low levels of vitamin C correlates to an increase of asthma attacks, while higher levels of vitamin C are tied to a reduction in asthma symptoms. Watermelon which has nearly 40% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C in just one thick, juicy wedge. 6. Helps You Lose Weight Faster. Watermelon is mostly water, combined with an honorable fiber content. These combination fills you up and leaves you satisfied longer than any sugary, fat laden dessert.
7. The Potassium in Watermelon Protects Nerve Function Watermelon is rich in potassium, which helps to regulate nerve function by facilitating the passage of electrical impulses and messages. 8. Eradicate Inflammation. Watermelon contains the amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline, two known powerful anti-inflammatory agents. 9. Helps Balance Your pH. Watermelon is an alkaline food, which helps to neutralize the acidic components in our diets, and thereby helping our bodies maintain a proper pH level. 10. Prevents Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke. Watermelon, which is mostly water and contains electrolytes can help negate the effects of the heat in the summertime and potentially reduce the risk of suffering heat stroke. 11. Reduces Your Risk of Developing Periodontal Disease. Watermelon is a great source of vitamin C. Sink those teeth into a slice of watermelon to keep your smile healthy and bright. 12. Digestive Aid. Your digestive system need water to help digest foods and push them through. You also need fiber to help with this process. Watermelon contains both, making it a perfect digestive treat. 13. Watermelon Aid The Kidney. Certain nutrients found in watermelon can help support the kidneys. The two main toxin fighting nutrients in watermelon are calcium and potassium. Kaibigan _______________________________________ Excerpted from 13 Impressive Health Benefits of Watermelon by Kayla James Natural Food Series Copyright Š 2018.
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faithwalk
Vertigo
D
o you ever feel that your world is spinning around? Lately I have frequent episodes of vertigo attack and as a person that like to continue to do something that is in her head like work or deadline or cleaning the room, it is an upsetting situation. Sometimes I just keep on what I am doing and ignore the symptoms, but it would make my vertigo to get worse, so I `would surrender and stop and lie down after taking my medication. Rest would help my spinning world and dizziness go away. This situation reminds me of God and His sovereignty. I sometimes or often times would try to think things over and over in my head especially when I didn’t like the situation that I was into because I would like to do something ––but in so many times God would
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Analisa Chua
always be telling me that I need to be still and He is in control just as Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Each time that I made myself to be still and to let go and allow God to control my situation and everything would be okay. It may not turn the way I wanted but I would always feel peaceful because of His peace in me. Indeed we need to give all our thoughts and worries to God and trust Him completely with our lives. Worrying is stupidity when you know God is in your side. Prayer: My Lord God, I completely put my trust in You alone. I rest in Your unconditional love for me, in Jesus Name. Amen. Kaibigan
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bible word search
Ann Cielo Ko
Search and put a loop around on each of your answers in the letter box. Words can be found spelled horizontally, vertically, diagonally, forward, or backward.
James 3:17-18 (Wisdom from Heaven) But the [w_sdom] that comes from [he_ven] is first of all [p_re]; then [p_ace]-loving, [cons_derate], [s_bmissive], full of [m_rcy] and good fruit, [imp_rtial] and [sinc_re]. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of [r_ghte_usness].
Answers to Nov-Jan 2018 Issue
Answers to Spring 2018 Issue
1. Courageous 2. Inherit 3. Strong 4. Careful 5. Obey
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6. Successful 7. Keep 8. Law 9. Meditate 10. Prosperous
June-August 2018
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Liar Truth Obeys Complete Live
6. Light 7. Darkness 8. Stumble 9. Walks 10. Blinded