Cheap Ministry

I am having trouble understand why Christians love to think that it is OK that the ministry of God can be cheap or even free.

For example, you work as a missionary doctor for the church and you will earn only Php 20,000 a month ($500) and people will tell you that is OK because it is for God's ministry anyway.

Or a church member will tell you, let us get Church Member A as our accountant for the School because we can ask her to waive her professional fee or lower her PF, after all this can be her ministry.

Many other similar examples exist and all will tell you that ministry can be done with little expenses or for free. Of course that is a great strategy if you do not have the budget for your ministry.

And that is my problem. Too little money is spent in the ministry. It is like ministry can be cheap. Ministry then becomes a cheap ministry.

I look at how we spend for our different ministries as a symbol of the value we give to God's ministry. A cheap ministry is not a valued ministry. If you are willing to pay only Php 20,000 to your missionary doctor then you are not only telling the doctor that his value as a missionary is only that much compared to other doctors also healing the sick. If you want to waive the PF of the accountant you are not only telling the accountant that her value is only that much compared to other CPAs. Of course, the missionary doctor and the CPA will think that they have a lesser value than their counterparts. More than that, you are telling them that the ministry the doctor and the CPA are involved are not valued as much as well. The ministry they do is not as important as others.

Bo Sanchez wrote in his book The Abundance Formula that "money is merely a symbol of value." If he is correct, then how much you pay your missionaries is also how much you value them. How much you are willing to spend and put a budget on your ministry is also how much you value the ministry of God. Of course, there is more value to people than what money can pay them. But if we live our spiritual life in the context of the world, for we do not live in a vacuum, then in the language of monetary value our ministry is a cheap ministry.

Maagang Pagturo ng Christian Perfection

Maagang pagturo ng Christian Perfection ni Neki Soriano, MD. MDiv.

Sermon given during the Joy Kiddy Garden Sunday of Kamuning United Methodist Church last February 23, 2014.

Ngayon ay Joy Kiddy Garden Sunday. Ito ang araw kung saan pinapahalagahan natin ang ministry natin sa edukasyon ng mga bata. Ngayon din ay bahagi pa rin ng Love Month at sa Linggong ito ay ang pagmamahal sa mga taong may karamdaman. Ang ating special focus sa linggong ito ay ang ministry natin ay sa mga people with HIV and AIDS. Itong dalawang ito ay nagtutugma sa ating teksto na patungkol sa pagtawag ng Panginoon sa lahat ng Kristiyano na mahalin ang kapwa at maging perpekto gaya ng ama nating nasa langit na perpekto.

Bago tayo magbulay-bulay, alam ba ninyo kung bakit marami sa mga Metodista ang walang maalalang spiritual birthday? Ako hindi ko maalala ang spiritual birthday ko? Alam nyo bakit? Mamaya, ikukuwento ko.

Ang nais kong pagbulay-bulayan natin ngayong umaga ay ang Christian perfection. “Be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect.” Ngunit madalas iba ang itinuturo sa atin ng ating society. Ang pop culture natin ay nagsasabing Nobody’s Perfect. At dahil dito, madami sa atin ang hindi na nangangarap ng Christian perfection. OK na sa kanila ang maging makasalanan. OK na rin sa mga Kristiyano na hindi umasam na maging perpekto katulad ng Ama niyang nasa langit. Ok na ang hindi perpekto ang pag-ibig natin sa sarili, sa kapwa, sa kalikasan at sa lahat ng nilalang ng Diyos. That is the problem.

I would like to share with you a report from the World Vision on Spiritual Nurture of Children:

-           The moral values of Filipino children and youth are said to be deteriorating over the past years...

o   Based on the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS)

§  3 out of 10 youths are smokers

§  Most of them are 13 to 15 years old

o   The 2008 Philippine National Health and Demographic Survey (NHDS) reports that:

§  3 out of 10 women ages 15-24 have begun child bearing

§  Among women 25-49 y.o., 3% had their first sexual intercourse by the age of 15.

o   In the United Nationals Population Fund (UNFPA) 2011 report, there was a 70% rise of teenage pregnancy rate in just ten years (1999 to 2009).

o   In the 2011 Family Health Survey conducted by National Statistics Office it shows that 7.4% (320,162) of the women aged 15-19 years old are already mothers with 10,483 mothers started bearing a child at the age of 15 years old.

o   AIDS Registry in the Philippines reported 10,514 people living with HIV/AIDS (DOH, 2013). It has been noted that the root cause of sexually transmitted infection are risky health behaviour, multiple sex partner, same sex relationship, early sex debut, unprotected sex, even indiscriminate drug use, and exploitative relationships. 

We are not condemning people with HIV and AIDS or those with lifestyle diseases. We though acknowledge that deteriorating moral values are contributory to these conditions. The problem with the deteriorating moral values of our society today begins with our inability to nurture our children towards Christian perfection... early in life.

Ano ang dapat ituro? What should we teach our children?

Dapat turuan natin ang ating mga anak na maging ganap dahil an gating Ama sa langit ay ganap. We should teach our Children to live a holy life, “Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Our readings from Leviticus and from Matthew remind us to be perfect, to be holy. John Wesley, ang founder ng Metodista, ay tinawag at tinuro sa atin ang Christian Perfection.

Pero ano nga ba ang Christian perfection?

Ang turo ni John Wesley sa mga Metodista ay: dapat ang buhay ng tao ay isang paglalakbay patungo sa paggaya kay Hesus at maging katulad niya na ganap o banal. Banal ang puso sa pagmamahal sa kapwa, sa kalikasan, sa lipunan at sa Diyos. Ito ay ang perfect relationship with God sa pamamagitan ng banal na puso na merong banal na pag-ibig. A state of relationship with God wherein our heart is perfected with a perfect love for God.

Ang teksto natin ngayon ay nagpapakita ng 2 halimbawa ng perpektong pagmamahal sa diyos. Two examples about loving God – two occasions where we are instructed to be Perfect as God is Perfect. Una, sa Leviticus tinuturo kung paano natin sisimulan ang paglalakbay sa Christian perfection. Ika niya, dapat daw mahalin natin ang ating kapwa. Sa Israel noong una kung saan sila ay isang agrarian country, itinuturo kung paano nila ipapakita ang pagmamahal nila sa kanilang kapwa. Eto ang ilang halimbawa:

-          Magtira kayo ng mga aanihin ng mga pulubi para sa kanilang pamilya; huwag niyong pupulutin yung nahulog sa ubasan.

o   Alam ba ninyo sa panahon natin ngayon, yung pagkain natin sa restaurant ginagawang pagpag ng mga kapatid nating walang makain? Pero kung ubos yung manok na inorder mo sa McDo, tapos pati buto nginuya mo pa, wala nang matitira sa mga mahihirap na umaasa sa pagpag.

-          Huwag kayong magnanakaw o magdadaya.

o   Kapag sinasabi yung pandaraya at pagnanakaw ay agad kung naaalala yung pork barrel scam. Nagtataka talaga ako, malamang hindi tinuruan noong kindergarten ang mga opisyales na ito na masama ang magnakaw kahit limang piso lang yan.

-          Huwag magnanakaw ng sweldo at ipagpapabukas

o    Magpasweldo naman kayo ng nasa oras. Lagi nating nadirinig yung delayed ang sweldo sa gobyerno, yung mga doctor sa Manila wala pa daw sweldo. Eh yung mga kasambahay niyo?

-          Huwag manlalait ng bingi o maglagay ng katitisuran ng bulag

o   Mga kapatid, huwag niyong pag-tripan yung mga maysakit. Lalo na yung mga may HIV and AIDS. Magbubulungan sa simbahan, “Uy, si babae may HIV yan kasi iba-iba ang kinakasama.” May sakit na nga pinagtsitsismisan at sinisiraan pa.

o   Social stigma and discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS is a social sin! Tignan niyo yung katabi niyo. If he or she has AIDS, tatabihan niyo ba siya?

-          Huwag ninyong kapootan sa inyong puso ang inyong kapatid o kapitbahay, huwag maghiganti

o   Huwag daw tayo magtanim ng galit sa kapwa, tanda ito ng pagmamahal natin sa kanila.

Eto ang ilan sa mga halimbawa ng pagmamahal sa kapwa.

Sa Matthew naman itinuturo kung paano natin ipagpapatuloy ang paglalakbay sa Christian perfection. Mula sa pagmamahal sa kapwa ang paglalakbay natin bilang Kristiyano ay magtuturo sa atin na mahalin din kahit ating mga kaaway. Sa kaharian ng Diyos, hindi lang ang mga malapit sa buhay natin ang mahal natin. Pati ang mga nananakit sa atin, tumutuligsa sa atin at naninira sa atin ay dapat mahalin natin. Nagbigay uli ng halimbawa sa Mathew ngpagmamahal kahit sa ating mga kaaway:

-          Ang pagturn ng other cheek ay hindi para masaktan ka ng lalo kundi para mapahiya ang nanakit sa iyo na gusto kang saktan

o   Ito ay dahil kahit anong gawin niyang paninira at pananakit sa iyo ay hindi ka niya kayang saktan dahil sa pagmamahal mo sa kanya. Ang tunay na pagmamahal sa kapwa ay hindi nawawala kahit na ikaw ay masaktan man. Iba ito sa carino brutal o yung sa violence against women and children.

o   Ito ay parang si Annaliza, yung bidang babae sa teleserye sa hapon. Kahit ilang beses siyang saktan at itakwil ng kanyang kapatid na si Arlene ay mahal pa rin ni Annaliza si Arlene.

-          Ang pagbigay mo sa iyong damit kapag hinubaran ka ay tanda ulit nga tunay na pagmamahal dahil hindi ka mapapahiya bagkus sila ang mahihiya sa ginawa nila sa iyo.

o   Ganito ang kultura noong unang panahon. Ang pagmamahal mo sa kapwa ay tunay at ganap na kahit laitin ka ay ang nanlalait ang mapapahiya sa kanyang ginagawa dahil buo pa rin ang pag-ibig mo sa kapwa mo.

-          Na kahit utusan ka na maglakad ng isang milya ay sasama ka pa ng isang higit pa dahil hindi ang utos nila ang sinusundo mo bagkus ang pag-ibig mo sa kapwa ang siyang nagtulak sa iyo na lumakad pa.

o   Tinanong ko minsan ang isang missionary kung bakit siya tumutulong ipaalam ang HIV and AIDSsa mga tao sa simbahan kahit na ang mga simbahan mismo ang nagtakwil at nandiri sa kanya. Ika niya, hindi dahil sa sweldo kundi dahil mahal niya ang mga taong tumutuligsa sa kanya at ayaw niyang patuloy silang gumawa ng kasalanan sa panlalait sa kanya.

Ang tanong ngayon, kelan natin sisimulan ang paglalakbay na ito ng Christian Perfection? When do we start our spiritual journey and discipleship?

The answer is simple. We start them early, as early as Kindergarten. We learn about loving God and faithful servants in our formation as kindergarten students. That is also the reason why I sent my kids to a UMC church. We sent them to Joy Kiddy Garden because we believe in their vision. The JKGLC believes every child is created in God’s image and treasure from the lord. It cultivates every child’s uniqueness according to God’s mandates and blueprint to become well-rounded and faithful servants. JKGLC aspires to be at the forefront of Christian witness through education. We also want our kids to be well-rounded disciples and learn from a Christian environment that provides  developmentally appropriate learning experience. That is another reason why I sent my kids to Joy Kiddy Garden.

Pero garantiya ba na magiging mabuting Christian ang mga batang ito? Even if we start them early, can we still fall out of the journey to Christian perfection?

Yes, John Wesley taught that we can fall out of relationship with God. Kapag nagakakasala tayo ay lumalayo tayo sa diyos at nasisira muli ang relasyon natin sa kanya at ang paglalakbay natin sa Christian perfection ay naantala. Kapag hindi natin minamahal ang kapwa natin at ang mga kaibigan natin ay mahirap tayong umusad sa Chrsitian perfection. Saan pa papunta ang buhay Kristiyano natin kung hindi tayo umuusad?

If we can fall out of grace, can we go back into our journey? Puede pa ba tayong bumalik sa paglalakbay patungong Chrsitian perfection? God’s prevenient grace calls us to love God and accept God’s forgiveness. We can back slide but we can still love God again and get back on track. That is the Good News my dear brothers and sisters. Kahit ilang beses pa tayong matisod at magkamali ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay nananatili. We can still pursue Christian perfection even after we have committed sin.

In conclusion, nais kung sagutin ang tanong bakit maraming metodista ang walang matandaang spiritual birthday?

Tayong metodista ay makasalanan. Huwag na tayong pa- “as if” righteous. In our faith journey we have fallen back countless times. But we can always return and ask God for forgiveness. Everytime we ask God we renew our relationship and we renew our spiritual journey and experience another spiritual rebirth. Puedeng marami tayong spiritual birthday sa ating journey as many times as we fall out of relationship with God. But the first birthday is always special and we always hope that we never fall back.

Our Christian values as a society is deteriorating because we have failed to teach Christian perfection even to our children. Pakinggan natin ang utos ng Panginoon, turuan natin an gating mga bata ng maaga at bumalik din tayo sa ating paglalakbay sa Christian perfection. Makinig tayo sa utos ng Biblia: “Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

100 Days after the Supertyphoon Yolanda: What is missing in building back better?

The strategy of building back better is not enough.

I had a talk with a survivor of Supertyphoon Yolanda and I was blessed by her words.

She said thank you for the work World Vision is doing in affected areas including Leyte and in rebuilding their town. But she said, the call to "build back better" is scary. She is afraid that the people are building back better the houses that were destroyed, the facilities, the businesses, the systems and other materials things damaged by the supertyphoon and that that may also be the focus of Christian NGOs and FBOs as well.

She said that Yolanda happened and became a wake up call for the people about their sins. People have recognized that their behaviors and their actions were sinful in that they destroyed the environment, they cut down trees to make way for rice fields, coco farms and factories, they failed to give value to human lives and the environment more than monetary profit, that they have forgotten to worship God and worked even on Sundays to earn more, to sell all the harvest from the crops to earn more and forgot to return to God part of the harvest, and many other sinful ways and acts. They have made profit their idols and turned away from God.

She is scared that when people will build back better, is that they will build back only a better worldly structure but they will not build back a better moral values and spirituality. That people will forget that their crooked ways and sinful life that led to risky actions and behaviors will not be better than before. That people will forget to rebuild their spiritual life.

Supertyphoon Yolanda had a big impact on the spirituality of the people. But the efforts in rebuilding the affected areas with the physical structures is not enough if the spiritual decay of the people is not rebuilt to be better. We are reminded, "Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." (Isaiah 55:7)

Thank you from the Philippines

The Philippines is one in showing gratitude to the whole world for their solidarity and support to us.

Three months after the biggest Typhoon of 2013 hit the Philippines, we are slowly recovering.


I could not forget the gratitude of the Barangay Captain in an isolated town in Leyte when we came to visit them. He was so thankful for the simple presence of our group. When all the other towns and barangays were getting support, the people in their community were wondering if help will ever come. I could see his face lit up when he saw our group. He said that their isolation for several days made him wonder if people care about them. That was why he was happy for the simple fact that people are coming their way to see how they are doing. "We felt God's love through your presence."

It is indeed a great blessing to know that people care for you. Just knowing that people are concerned about your situation is already something to be grateful. A simple, "kumusta?" goes a long way. The outpouring of support is overwhelming.  The Filipino people are resilient because they have felt God did not leave them and still love them through the people who were willing channels of blessing.

More than the material support, the time and the effort we have received, the care and love you have shown is most appreciated.

To the biggest companies, governments or charitable organization up to the little kid who broke his piggy bank and the children who wrote their prayers for the Philippines... Thank you.

A Penny's Worth: The story of a husband, father and a brother during the Haiyan Supertyphoon

As we mark the third month since Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, I want to share the story of Mark whose journey made him realize the real value of money.

In one barangay where we put up a Women and young Children Space, a young mother named Hope  (not her real name) shared the story of her husband (Mark). Hope said her husband is now bedridden after what she claimed was a traumatic experience for Mark (but I will reserve that for another story). She began by sharing that she and her husband Mark were local entrepreneurs who worked hard to provide a decent life for their family. But when Supertyphoon Haiyan hit their village they realized the real value of money. She said that during the supertyphoon, her husband was separated from them. She and all her children were able to find shelter in one of the elementary classrooms while her husband Mark still went to the field to make sure the coconuts were safe in the storage area. Mark then found shelter in the day care center which was about 20 meters away from the classroom. But the classroom was not going to withstand the supertyphoon and Hope was quick to decide that they had to run across the street and find shelter instead in the barangay hall. Mark was not able to see his family leave the classroom but he did saw how its roof was torn to pieces by the storm and the classroom walls collapsing slowly. People were screaming in fear and Mark wanted to run in the middle of the storm thinking his family was inside the classroom. Mark was held by his siblings telling him it was not safe for him. Mark was crying and he was emotional throughout the whole morning as he was calling out his wife and his children. He was repentant for making the crops safe first instead of joining his family and securing their safety. Mark could not be calmed the whole morning. When the wind mellowed a little, he ran into the classroom and was relieved to find out that his family was safe in the barangay hall.

The next day, Mark and 2 of his brothers decided to go to Tacloban to check on the condition of their youngest sister and other family members. They joined some other men from their village. They made sure they have enough money for whatever incidental expenses they might incur during that visit. They left their village at dawn to catch the early bus trip going to Tacloban. But they realized that no vehicle will be able to travel the highway with all the debris scattered on the road. Being physically fit and able, Mark and the other men from their village decided to walk the 40 kilometer stretch to reach Tacloban. What they did not expect was the horror they will encounter in the journey and the emotional and mental anguish it will have on them.

Hope recalled that Mark told him how he felt helpless during that long walk to Tacloban. Mark can only feel pity for the lifeless children and women lying on the roadside, over some trees and together with the debris. Mark shared to his wife how he felt  thinking these children and women could have been his family. He wanted to help them but the money he had in his pocket could not be of any value for them. Mark felt helpless.

The day long walk made Mark and the other men hungry. They did not bring any packed lunch thinking they could buy some food along the way with the money they prepared in their pockets.
They did not expect the extent of the damage to the properties and livelihood of the people in Leyte. No store was open. No food. No water. There was nothing to buy. Money has no value.

When they arrived at Tacloban, Mark and the other men went straight to the boarding house where their sister and other relatives were staying. The boarding house was totally destroyed. The owner was there but she did not know the whereabouts of her boarders. She was grieving for the loss of her property that she had invested in. It has no more value. She spent millions of pesos to invest on her rental business but it was all gone in just a matter of minutes. All her invested efforts, time and money were for naught. 

Mark was not able to find his sister. They searched the city of possible whereabouts of his sister. Other people were there too searching in evacuation centers, makeshift hospitals and worst, in the pile of dead bodies. People from all walks of life were there searching just like Mark. Mark and the men were tired. They had money but it could not buy anything. Money had no value. Mark reflected how the rich and the poor were made equal by the supertyphoon.

Mark and the men took another long day to walk back home to their village.  In that journey, they realized what was really important in life and the real worth of a penny.

Happy New Year

BANG!!!   LIGHTS!!!    FIREWORKS IN THE SKY!!!

Celebrated New Year in Manila for the first time. I wondered how will we welcome New Year? There is not Ball Drop here like in Time Square? No, big parades nor any traditional public activity where people can go.

Will the church have some activity to welcome the New Year at 12 midnight? What can we do?

My family was present to celebrate with us.

The fireworks and the firecrackers were deafening. I wonder why most Filipinos light up a firecracker? Do they really believe that it will drive bad spirits away like the original intention was? Or it was a form of celebration? Or people simply want to hear a big bang? Or they just want to do what the pop culture dictates? How should Christians welcome the new year?

How will the church welcome New Year? What does your church teach its people?

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." (John 8:12).

We reflected on this. We prayed and prayed for each other. And we claimed the light that is Jesus.

We light up this New Year as a symbol of our claim that Jesus will be our guiding light for 2014.

Happy New Year 2014

  

Road Trip for Christmas 2013 Part 1

This Christmas, I will be going on a road trip up North.

With my blue Vios, I will take a week long journey with my family for a Christmas celebration and fellowship. My wife and the kids, my brother and a friend rides with us. We will be travelling with my sister-in-law who will travel with her family on their car and we will meet up other family members in Nueva Ecija to complete our three vehicle convoy.

Day One - We woke up early. Our call time was 3 AM. After meeting up in McDo, we were able to hit the road at around 3:30 AM. We left early to avoid the expected traffic build up in NLEX.

The travel was smooth. We took the newly opened TPEX. The kids and my rear passengers were asleep during the trip but my wife kept me company to make sure I won't fall asleep while driving. I love long travels because it allows for good chit chats on whatever topic that may pop up. I always believe that a good conversation builds relationships and strengthens old ones.  This is a good way to catch up after being away from my family for two weeks to assist in the rehab efforts in Tacloban.

Our first stop was in Guimba. We took some shortcuts which led us to wrong directions. Good for us we were with "Magta" who helped us ask for directions. We arrived at our first stop in Guimba before 7 AM. We had a hearty breakfast of steamed vegetable and lechon paksiw prepared by the Barrientos family. At around 9 AM, we were back on the road towards Tuguegarao.

Since it was daytime, there were not too many cargo trucks travelling along the highway. This allowed us to have a speedy travel. After racing to the top of Nueve Vizcaya in Sta Fe, we took a short break to enjoy the view in Dalton Pass. It has been quite some time since I took a moment to appreciate nature. For me, mountaintop experiences always gives the perfect setting for a communion with God. Being at the top of Sta Fe, NV, looking up to heaven, it seems that God is closer to us. It is Christmas indeed for it is the time where God came to earth not only to be closer with us but to be with us.

It was now past 11 AM and we decided to have lunch in Cordon. We got there at around 2 PM. This is my favorite pitstop whenever I travel to Tuguegarao. The ambience is so cozy and relaxing. For a moment it makes me forget that I have been taking a long travel. We ordered their specialty of seafood kare-kare, fish fillet, vegetable salad among others. It was a full lunch.

The last leg will be towards Tuguegarao. We took the road via Roxas to save some time. It was already 3 PM and we don't want to be travelling before the sun sets. But the day is shorter and the nights are longer in December. It was only 5 PM but the sky is already getting dusky and dark. I don't have my glasses and I don't want to drive in the dark. Good for me that I am sandwiched in between our convoy. This helped me be guided in the road. We finally arrived at Tuguagarao safely at 8 PM. We were welcomed by my In-Laws and we feasted on seafoods and vegetables they prepared for us.