Word Circular 2015 - September

WORD

CIRCULAR SEPT - OCT 2015

September a UNILAB Bayanihan Center Open Life Groups 0900 - 1020 am Coffee Fellowship 1015-1030 am Worship Service & Kids Church 1030-1200 pm

Community Site Churches WORDCOMM ORANBO 4:00-5:30 pm Rizal and Metro Manila Public School Teachers Association Inc., Center, Oranbo, Pasig City

WORDCOMM CAINTA 9:30-11:30 am Dahlia St., Greenland Subdivision, Cainta, Rizal

WORDCOMM OLONGAPO 6:30-8:00 pm 1395 Rizal Avenue Corner 14th St. West Tapinac, Olongapo City

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When I was doing one of my undergraduate theses, I couldn’t help but be stunned at how my thesis partner chose to study (and write) about how the paintings of Andy Warhol has shaped (and was shaped by) American culture not just in his hayday, but birthed its own legacy, as Pop Art grew out of a rebelious movement into a prolific genre. Shouldn’t we be writing about something that will ‘change the world’? I thought. That partner of mine is now one of Manila’s most in-demand fashion photographers, whose work Philippine Young Star dubbed as one that “excites, sometimes disturbs, and often inspires.”

Thinking about both Andy and BJ bring to mind an entanglement of sentiments ranging from my adolescent subscription to benevolence, to matters of art, craftsmanship, and relevance, even to issues of purpose and meaning. I guess such confounding observations will always lead to this. And going beyond the subject of personal “destinies,” I ask, as Christians, what conversations have we had with culture? Is it too easy for us to be shaped by world that demands social relevance, physical perfection, a fat paycheck, maximum efficiency, scholastic accolades, 100 likes a post, a ticked-off bucket list, etc.? Or has it always been and always will be a cosmic struggle to counter culture? It would appear that the next frontier leads right at home.

That’s what we’ll be tackling this September to October, diving right in to the deep end of what it really means to be salt & light to the world. We’ll look at how Jesus didn’t seclude Himself to be kept from defilement, He rather engaged culture—where His life proved more contagious despite infernal opposition. We’ll be talking about how we should see culture, as well as maneuvering in the world, but not as of the world. Hopefully, the conversations continue and speak through our very lives. And maybe one day soon, Christian movies won’t be so darn flat.

Living is being by doing. //KS

EDITOR’S NOTE

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a movie review Do you ever look at someone and wonder, “What is going on inside their head?” - Joy, Inside Out Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions - Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school. - (C) Pixar

Thank you Pixar for letting me borrow your movie description. To answer Joy - yes, as a matter of fact I do wonder - all the time - how fun it would be to know how people tick and think. Thanks to Disney and Pixar, we now have a clear(er) picture - a colorful one at that.

The trailer for the movie has been showing in cinemas for a few months now, and each time I see it, all I can think of is when it will show in the Philippines.

Alas! Upon opening day, I finally watched it and it met (and exceeded) all of my expectations. I’m trying not to sound too biased here, but I absolutely LOVED the movie. I think that the entire story line and script is well-written, the characters are well-portrayed, the details are accurate, true-to-life, and well-thought-out, and the over-all production is well-executed.

(A word of caution: If you haven’t watched the movie, there are a few spoilers ahead).

Inside Out shows how our memories, together with our emotions, define our personalities, and ultimately, who we are. This is depicted in the movie through the different emotions & the personality islands (created from our core memories).

The movie depicts how our brain works in reality - places such as Imagination Land, Dream Productions, and even Memory Dump (watch the movie so you know what I mean ;p). Personally, I found the Train of Thought to be witty (the train going all over the place, facts vs. opinions being jumbled up? So true!)

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From the start of the movie, I already knew it would be a bit of a tear-jerker, from the moment Riley first opened her eyes, to her first memories as a child, and to her family’s moving to San Francisco. The movie is actually an emotional roller-coaster - I found myself feeling happy with the things Joy does for Riley (she just wants Riley to always be happy), laughing to the crazy personalities and antics of Fear, Disgust, and Anger, and emotional for Sadness and Bing Bong (Riley’s childhood imaginary friend).

During the first part of the movie, I was a bit annoyed by Sadness as she kept messing things up for Riley (she is after all the reason why she and Joy got stuck in Long-term memory in the first place). But towards the middle, I started to realize that Sadness plays a big role in Riley’s life. All Joy wants is to make those around her (and of course, Riley) happy - and that’s a good thing, but there was this one part in the movie where Bing Bong was sad and Joy, being Joy, did her best to make him smile, but she couldn’t. Then Sadness comes in and empathize with his feelings and he feels better. And that’s how it is in real life. When you’re sad, you can’t just be okay in an instant, you must also allow yourself to feel sad first, or have someone there for you to empathize with you, then you become okay.

Towards the end of the movie, Sadness eventually saves Riley from being permanently numb by allowing her to feel sad about moving from Minnesota.

And everything’s all good from there Riley gets to adjust to her new home, makes new friends, and inside, she develops different “mixed” or combined emotions which she starts to feel as she is already 12 (a pre-teen). It is truly accurate as it shows how there are different stages in our life, and how differently our personalities and prioritieschange as we grow up.

To sum it up, I think that Inside Out is one of Pixar’s best movies yet.

Such a fun movie and lots of lessons to be learned. I recommend everyone to watch it! It’s a great movie for kids and adults alike. :)

INTIMACY

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N O T - S O- TO P -

Secret Missions of the

AGENTS OF REDEMPTION

Dani Tiangco

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Before reviling the four (4) not-so-top-secret missions we had during mission’s month, let’s take another look at what “Agent of Redemption” means:

Agent: a person or thing that causes something to happen Redemption: the act of making something better or more acceptable NOT-SO-TOP-SECRET MISSION #1

Listening to different testimonials

Each Sunday of August we had someone share their testimony on how they became missionaries in their own field. Each story was different; there was one from the construction industry, the corporate field, a journalist and a full-time missionary too.

Something I picked from all the testimonies was that no matter what industry you are in, you still can share the gospel to others.

It’s a choice we make, not a label that we need.

As they say, God always has a plan for you. Perhaps, your current situation is where God is calling you to be an Agent of Redemption.

There isn’t really “the right time to share the gospel”, there is only today, the here and now.

NOT-SO-TOP-SECRET MISSION #2

Field Techniques – A Sheep Chasing Workshop This workshop was done before our 10am service. Some of our church members, who are missionaries from Campus Crusade for Christ, took time to share on how to share your faith without scaring the sheep away.

They literally even showed a video of how real sheep only listen to the voice of their master. Which, for me, was a good example of how we are His sheep and we should be know the voice of God. Especially in the present day, there are just too many voices saying this and that on how we should live our lives. Just like how a sheep follows his shepherd, should be how we follow God.

COMMUNITY

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One of the materials they shared was the 4SL or the four spiritual laws.

It may not be for everyone, but is a good foundation of how to share your faith in a very direct manner. Through that kind foundation, it would be easier and more comfortable for you to share the Word to your loved ones and people you see everyday.

NOT-SO-TOP-SECRET MISSION #3

Mission Possible

It was a Sunday of meeting our mission partners in church! What I liked most about our mission during this particular Sunday was that each member got to know more about who are mission partners were, how our members can be involved and who in church is part of those organizations.

Probably one of the interesting things about this Sunday was the Agent Cards. People were really in to participating and getting those cards stamped.

More than the stamps, I’m glad the members took time to get to know and

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be involved with the work of our mission partners.

NOT-SO-TOP-SECRET MISSION #4

Medical Mission in WordComm Cainta

What’s a Mission’s Month without going out to the field and serving our fellow brothers and sisters in Chirst?

Last August 31, 2015 our medical team had a visit in our sister church in Cainta. Like our usual medical missions, we would have time to interact with the members while they’re having check ups or getting their prescription medicines.

The most interesting thing during medical missions, for me, is that it’s usually very exhausting at the end but then your heart is full. More than giving money, I believe that giving our own precious time to help out others gives a different spirit to our souls.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to become an Agent of Redemption every single day you live.

As we have been told, it is not enough just to be an Agent on Sundays, but everywhere we go.

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you.

He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

DEUTERONOMY 31:6 (NLT)

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TECHNOLOGY IN POP CULTURE

BY EJ LANUZA

Influence

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IF YOU WOULD SIT THROUGH AN HOUR AND A HALF COMMUTE RIDE IN THE BUSY STREETS OF MANILA, AND EVEN IN THE CONFINES OF YOUR OWN DINNER TABLE, IT’S NOT HARD TO SPOT PEOPLE HOLDING OUT SMARTPHONES, TABLETS, OR ANY HANDHELD DEVICE BROWSING THROUGH A SEA OF POSTS AND PHOTOS. IN FACT, CHANCES ARE, YOU’RE ONE OF THEM. Now, the subject of technology and social media have become a sensitive subject, and as followers of Christ we must tread carefully. That goes double for us—the Millennials—and the new breed—Generation Y—since much of our “work” that we have and “connections” we forge and cultivate, are over the internet and social media. It is to say that technology and the internet are a part of us—a powerful driving force that satisfies of our need of communication and connection. However, the concern here is that whether this need of communication interferes with our communion with God. You need not check your phone for notification and message every other minute. Set a time when you would check them, and only do check them if you know it’s an urgent or pressing need.

Communicating and connecting with people is important but setting aside a time for us to commune and be with God is something

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we cannot compromise. On the other hand, our consumption of the internet­­and technology, for that matter­­, does not start and end with our need to connect and communicate. It spills over to the way we get news, information, entertainment, etc. And with the influx of information and ways we can get them through technology, it’s so easy to jump right in and get lost.

As Christ followers, we must be wise with what we do and what we consume out of technology. If it’s contrary to what is true, wh​at is noble, what is right, what is pure, what is lovely, what is admirable, excellent or praiseworthy, then we should rethink the way we use technology and the internet.

Technology is not ‘evil’ by definition but the things we do and the things we consume out of it are much more important. It’s something that can open up a lot of possibilities and ways for us to further God’s kingdom if utilized wisely.

BtheeWinogrlind,

BtheuWt oNroltdo.f editorial feature 11

Who’s your favorite superhero? Batman? IronMan? Captain America maybe? My personal favorite was always Superman. No matter what argument anyone threw at me, I firmly believed he was unstoppable.

Batman vs. Superman? You’ve got to be kidding me.

No contest.

The superhero plot line is all too familiar and follows this general trajectory: Man/woman (whether from earth or another planet) realizes something is wrong with the world, has an internal struggle, then finally realizes s/he is meant to make the world a better place. He or she then flies, swings, rides into various situations and saves the helpless and weak, sometimes in a poorly constructed initial costume that is more often than not a bit questionable.

Whether you fly, ride, or fight in a robot/spandex/ chicken suit, the evolution of a superhero starts in the same place: seeing the world differently and being willing to do something about it.

In many ways, our lives are like that of a superhero.

Our adoption into God’s family causes us to see this world differently and soon we realize not everything is as it should be. We struggle with whether or not we should act on this realization, to help the weak and helpless. And when we finally do, the world either loves us or hates us. Like the hero, we must live in this world but, at times, be against this world. In other words,

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we are called not to dismiss or hide from the world but to encounter our culture— and at the same time be counter-cultural.

Where should we stand in that spectrum? I’ve met too many Christians who hate everything about this world and wish it would simply burn away. To them, almost everything is black and white and they leave no room for mystery and tolerance. On the other hand, I’ve also seen Christians who look no different from the world. They have no spiritual backbone and are carried by the tide of culture wherever it takes them. To find our place in this tension is crucial—and complicated—but Jesus knew how to live in it. As His disciples, so must we.

For the next several weeks we want to explore this tension by diving into the cultural issues of our day.

How do we view time? Beauty? Money? These are things that affect us daily, but they are so much a part of our lives that we rarely take time to examine them and their influence on us.

Do we see life around us from the perspective of the world or from the “hero” point of view God plants in us?

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Transformation takes time—and don’t we know it.

How long does it take to change something about your kids, spouse, friend, or, more importantly, ourselves. It says in the book of Romans that we are transformed by the renewing of our mind.

How do we renew our mind?

By adjusting or even completely changing the way we see things.

Let me give you an example. Imagine all your life you ate with your hands, never having laid eyes on a single utensil. This is how you ate, how your parents ate, and how your grandparents and those that were before them ate. But what if one day you are transported to a completely different place that only uses utensils.

What an odd sight! But by simply seeing that the everyday task of eating can be done a different way, your paradigm has begun to shift. You now don’t even have to limit yourself to just those two ways. Who’s to say there is not a third (or fourth or fifth) way of eating that you just haven’t discovered, or that you yourself could invent?

Your eyes have been opened.

Your mind has been renewed, broadened.

Your life has been transformed.

We hope that this series will begin to slowly shift the way you see life around you and the intangibles we call culture. Perhaps you won’t pick up the spoon and fork right away. The world needs heroes; God is looking for heroes. Will you sign up?

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