Isang Tanong Isang Sagot by Pastor Ed Lapiz

Q - Bakit po madalas pag nangangaral kayo, nasa present tense ang verbs nyo gayung past na ang events sa Bible? In fact, you shift from past to present to past tenses?
A -
Observant ka pamangkin! smile emoticon
At mukhang di ka madalas absent noon sa grammar classes!
I usually use the present tense because it gives the story and the presentation IMMEDIACY: Nandyan, malapit at dapat pansinin
CURRENCY : News, hindi history; bago hindi luma
AND FRESHNESS: Sariwa, hindi panis.



Q- Di po dapat ay Barong Pilipino ang itawag at hindi Barong Tagalog kasi parang exclusive lang sa mga Tagalog?
A -
Yung "Tagalog" sa Barong Tagalog ay hindi ibig sabihing sa mga Tagalog-speaking Filipinos lang. "Tagalog" there means "inidgenous/native" gaya ng
gabing Tagalog, manok na Tagalog, sibuyas-Tagalog, atbp.
Hindi naman nagsasalita ng Tagalog language ang gabi, manok, sibuyas, etc.
So ang "Tagalog" dun ay nangangahulugang native, hindi foreign.
GANUN DIN ANG BARONG TAGALOG = NATIVE UPPER GARMENT.
Kaya kay Bonifacio, sa kanyang manifesto, ang "KATAGALUGAN" ay ang buong bansa, kasama ang mga Ilocano, Capampangan, Bicolano, Bisaya, taga Mindanao, atbpa. --- ANG LAHAT NG KATUTUBO NG BAYAN



DERMA CLINIC "ROBBERY"
Q - I have been going to a major derma clinic for many years now.
I love their service, but I hate their sales tactics:
1.
Their published service costs is double the real cost.
Then they make promotional sales at 50% discount kuno but ONLY IF you bought so many services that's more than enough for a year's use!
So you actually end up buying so many packages at their usual cost pero kunwari at 50% discount! Sobrang nakakauto sila. Sisilawin ka nila sa discount kuno.
2.
You pay for a year's package services so your money is paid in advance! Natutulog ang pera mo sa kanila!
3.
Their "consultantant" (Actually sales agent) hard sells you into buying endlessly various packages that when you look back, you have been entrapped by them for years! Bago maubos ang isa mong package, bebentahan ka na naman nila ng iba, kaya patung-patong at dugtung-dugtong ang mga bayad nang services!
Inis na inis na ako sa kanila; hindi lang ako makaiwas pumunta kasi ay bayad na in advance ang maraming services.
A -
1. Bakit ka nagtitiyaga sa ganyan ay ang dami namang derma clinics?
Magagaling din ang services.
2.
Don't buy new promos if you don't like.
3.
Ubusin mo na lang ang paid packages at lumipat ka sa competitor nila hahahaha!
4. Pag makulit pa silang mag hard sell, ipublish natin ang name ng company to warn your 125K FB cousins?




Many Bible verses, when read, interpreted and applied OUT OF CONTEXT,
could actually
- imprison instead of liberate people.
- oppress instead of help.
- make God look bad and cruel instead of good and kind.
- make religion a burden instead of a relief.
- make believers unkind instead of kind, judgmental instead of compassionate, wicked instead of caring, warlike instead of peaceable.
- lose instead of win people for God









Q - Tito pano po ba malalaman kung sino ang false teachers?
A -
Ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng "false teacher"?
Alin ang false? Yung
- content ng teaching?
- method of scholarship/study/research?
- yung motives ng teacher?
Because no one is perfect, and even Paul says "our prophecy/teaching is imperfect...
1 Corinthians 13:9 (RSV)
For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect;
...SINO ANG PERFECT AT MAY KARAPATANG MAGSABI NA TRUE TEACHER SYA AT FALSE TEACHER ANG IBA?
One has to be so self-centered, self-absorbed and delusional to proudly and arrogantly think of himself as perfect enough to have the right/authority to label others as false.
"False" must have a basis/reference.
Usually the basis/reference of judgmental teachers is their own teaching.
When they say this or that teacher is false, they only mean that the content, method of scholarship or stand of the "false teacher" is DIFFERENT FROM THEIRS.
And because they are THE TRUE teachers, then those with a different point of view could only be "false"!
The tendency to make such labeling is more rampant among those who do not have enough balanced, broad and decent education, especially among those whose only education and training come from narrow-theologies of religious/ sectarian schools.








Q - How come there is only one Bible yet various Christian churches have variant interpretations and teachings, often opposing one another?
A -
1. Many congregations were founded BY leaders OR are founded ON the core beliefs/treachings of specific thinkers/theologians/theorists who have different life contexts, degrees of understanding, perspectives and sense of mission.
Naturally, their followers who crystallize, formalize and interpret and apply their teachings would take different ways/directions down the road.
2.
Churches are led by persons who were/are
A.
formally "educated" by sectarian schools, usually founded and financed by religious congregations that create and use the school as training ground for their leaders and teachers. The teachings in those seminaries are usually dictated by the supporting church's theology. The school is there to produce graduates who would eat, live, teach and promote THEIR theology. Such schools are usually NOT known to be objective arenas of free and creative thinking. Students passed if they memorized, parroted and robotically applied the official dogma/articles of faith. They are not encouraged to think differently or to critique their school's official theology.
In many ways, seminaries serve as brainwashing machines to produce like-minded
missionaries, teachers and shepherds.
B.
taught and trained personally and informally by their respective shepherds who could be products of the school mentioned above or some similar "trainor".
Naturally, "graduates" of schools A or B above would tend to oppose, fight, destroy or try to decimate one another in the same mission field turned battle ground where they COMPETE for converts, followers, disciples and supporters ---all in the name of the same ONE God and inspired by the same ONE Bible.
AS LONG as these leaders
1. THINK and believe that they are the only "true" teachers and those with different ideas (who, like them, are only products of their respective schools) could only be "false" teachers, and
2. COMPETE for the same audience,
they and the flocks they lead would tend to consider the other groups as competitors that must be overtaken or outright enemies that must be vanquished ---in the "name of God, for the sake of THE truth", and in ways that betray the kind and loving ways of the God they profess to serve.





Dear Religious Fanatics,
You have your faith, others have theirs own beliefs or non-beliefs.
Live out your faith by yourselves ---in your religious communities,
among your fellow believers. Do not impose your religion on others.
Do not make the State enact your sectarian doctrines into laws of the land,
to be imposed on everyone else.
Practice your brand of morality by yourselves;
Yung ayaw ninyong gawin, huwag ninyong gawin.
Yung gusto ninyong gawin, gawin ninyo --- basta hindi kayo lumalabag sa mga karapatan ng ibang kapwa-mamayan, lalu na yung may ibang religious beliefs or moral persuasions.
Yung gustong gawin ng iba, hayaan nyong gawin nila ---basta hindi natatapakan at napakikialaman ang mga pansarili at pribadong karapatan niyno bilang kapwa-mamayan.
The market place of ideas and beliefs is free in a democracy.
Preach from your own pulpits all you want,
but do not make the State, especially its suppoosedly non-sectarian legal system, an extension and executioner of your religious opinions.
Kanya-kanyang opinions.
No ones has the exclusive franchise to "Truth".
Respect others and let them live their private lives within the context of the free, law-based society and non-sectarian State that we thankfully have.
- From your fellowmen/women who share your citizenship but not all of your religious beliefs














Q - Bakit po ang daming pagkakaiba-iba ng paniniwala at ang daming pagtatalu-talo sa matter of faith while there is only one God and one Bible? Paano po matatahimik at mananahimik ang mga believers?
A -
Because people treat God and faith like objects of Philosophy, Logic, Reason, Scrutiny, Discourse and even Debate. naturally, there would be a lot of openings for differences of perspective, understanding and interpretation.
Paano matatahimik ang belivers?
MANAHIMIK.
TUMIGIL NG KAIISIP AT KAPIPILIT PAGKASYAHIN ANG ETERNAL GOD SA MGA KAHON NG HUMAN CONSTRUCTS, REASONING, THEORIZING AND THEOLOGIZING.
God cannot be studied; how could a finite human mind understand an infinite Divine?
Before the eternal and majestic God, the most profound and unifying theology is AWE and SILENCE.
Daldalan kasi ng daladalan, pagalingan, paligsaan, etc; lalu lang tuloy lumalabo ang isip at usapan.
Habakkuk 2:20New International Version (NIV)
The Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.




One major problem in interpreting and applying Biblical verses is the grave lack of contextualization.
There is a tendency to apply to all people in all places at all times some specific biblical teachings which were addressed to and meant for only specific readers/hearers in specific times at specific places and in specific situations.
(Like Noah and only Noah was commanded to build the ark; just because you read the command should not compell you to do the same.)
If some specific women in a specific place and time were commanded to wear veils because of specific reasons unique to and in their context, IT DOES NOT FOLLOW that all women in all places at all times and in vastly different contexts SHOULD ALSO be made to wear veils!
The same principle of contextualization should apply to "biblical" teachings on
- long or short hair
- wearing of certain jewelry
- women teaching and/or having authority over men
- women being required to be "quiet and submissive"
- foods
- etc.
HINDI COMO REQUIRED yung original and specific recipients of the instruction ay gagawin na itong general and universal instruction for all people at all times in all places.
Such blanket and insentitive application could actually do more harm than good, especially when common/Godly sense, kindness and love are violated!
CONTEXTUALIZE!











Q - Nakita ko po kasi yung post niyo about sa "once saved, always saved"
Pwede ko po ba na malaman po ang supporting verses at bakit po naging truth po ito biblically. Makakatulong po ito sa pag-end ng condemnation about sa mga taong 'nawalan' daw ng salvation.
A -
Citing Bible verses won't/cant settle the opposing points of view tungkol sa "eternal vs non-eternal salvation" kasi both camps cite. hold on to and cling to Bible verses they believe teach/support their stand! smile emoticon
Kaya nga hindi matapos ang issue na yan ay parehong humuhugot sa/ng verses ang magkabilang panig.
So, just consider other collateral issues which are as important:
1. What is the best and worst scenario kung
a. ETERNAL / HINDI nawawala ang salvation no matter what?
BEST: Secure ang lahat ng believers, no matter their last/latest moral performance.
God's love, forgiveness, grace really SAVE.
Jesus' love and sacrifice, death and resurrection is never wasted.
Tahimik at payapa ang loob.
Peace is achievable.
WORST: Baka abusuhin ng ilan at maging careless and sinful sila kasi very secure?
Sa eternal salvation, GOD/JESUS SAVE the sinner who does not deserve salvation but believes in Jesus' saving ministry.
b. NON-ETERNAL /NAWAWALA ang salvation?
BEST: Believers will always be watchful, ever careful not to commit sin.
WORST: Believer ka na, condemned ka pa rin in the end pag nagkasala ka.
There will never be genuine peace and joy because believers will live in constant fear. Laging stressed kasi nagkakasala pa rin naman talaga habang buhay sa mundo.
LAGI KANG NATATAKOT --- AT TINATAKOT AT HINUHUSGAHAN NG KAPWA BELIEVERS.
Sa non-eternal/losing salvation, it is the sinner who saves himself, kasi sa performance nya naka-asa ang security ng salvation nya.
Kaya lang, kaya ba talaga ng tao, no matter how much they believe, to be sinless and to be at performance level every moment of their earthly life?
AT THE END OF THE DAY, HINDI ANG VERSES ANG BASIS NG STAND, kasi nga pareho lang may verses na hawak ang magkabilang panig.
PILIIN NA LANG NG TAO KUNG ALING ARRANGEMENT ANG GUSTO NYA PARA SA BUHAY NYA.
One's stand on this divided issue cannot change the fact that Jesus came to save.
Sayang naman at imperfect pala at kulang ang sacrifice nya kung kailnagan pang laging i-maintain at punuan ng tao ng sarili nyang input/righteousness.











Q - Bakit po kaya iisa naman ang Bible ay iba-iba ang interpretations at applications ng mga believers?
A -
Iba-iba kasi ang
1. pakahuluganng readers to the the same word/s.
Many "interpreters" attach different meanings to the same word.
2. knowledge levels ng mga "interpreters"; may mga talagang nag-aaral, mayron namang ang beliefs nila ay namana lang --- naipasa lang sa kanila ng naunang nagturo at kumapit na sila forever sa namanang "kaalaman".
May mga nag-aaral talaga at may lumulon na lang ng buung-buo sa unang narinig
at wala namang personal scholarly studies.
3. sentiments, mentality and aspirations of the "believers"; they tend to favor the interpretation that best express their own feelings, aspirations, fears and BIASES.
4. theological color ng mga tao; they tend to favor the interpretation that adheres most closely to the articles of faith ng local congregation nila.
5. layunin ng mga "interpreters", but many of them are competing for members/ supporters/ believers kaya ine-emphasize nila ang kanilang "kaibahan" o "correctness" o "katangian".
AS LONG AS THESE FACTORS ARE AT PLAY, TALAGANG MAGKAKA-IBA-IBA ANG INTERPRETATIONS NG BIBLE.








Q - Tito gulong-gulo po ako. Ang dami kong probemang dapat harapin at decisions na dapat gawin. Ano po ang dapat unahin?
A -
Unahin mong magpahinga, manahimik at manalangin.
Hwag kang gagawa ng decisions kung magulo ang isip, pagod at stressed.
Baka marami kang magawang mali and your situation would only get worse!





Q - Sino po ang dapat kong pahalagahan, nanay ko o wife ko? Ang hirap pong pagsabayin kasi para silang magka-away na mortal.
A -
Pareho!
Puede at dapat lang na pareho silang pahalagahan.
Kaya lang mahirap pagsabayin ay pag may duplication sila ng roles or function.
Clearly define to youself, to them and to all concerned kung ano ang magkaiba nilang roles sa buhay mo.
Clarify that there would be no need for them to compete with each other as long as they keep to their correct places. Lumugar sila ---o ilagay mo sila sa lugar.
Nasa pag-handle at pag-manage mo sa kanila ang malaking bahagi ng solution.






If you are not loving,
especially of you are cruel in the name of God or religious belief,
you disqualify yourself from all claims to godliness or correctness
and you should inhibit yourself from all discourses on spirituality.
Luke 6:41-43 (NIV)
41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.




Lady Preachers a No-No!?
Q - "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet." (1 Timothy 2:12) - Pastor, ibig sabihin po ba ng verse na ito at hindi puwedeng mag-preach or mag-teach ang mga babae?
A -
I think specific yung verse refrerring to specific women in a specific congregation in a specific place in a specific time at hindi universal ang application for all women in all places at all times, just like the teaching on wearing veils.
There were several (female) prophetesses and very prominent women in ministry in the New Testament.
In fact, it was a woman (Mary Magdalene) who was the first to announce/teach/preach that Jesus rose from the dead!
The Lord appeared and talked to her first, before any (male) disciple.
Q -
So allowed po ang women mag-preach/teach?
A -
As far as I and my understanding and interpretation-application of Scripture are concerned? Yes na yes!
More than half of the world's population are women.
Sayang naman kung babawalang mangaral tapos ang konti naman ng men na nangangaral.
WHAT COULD BE SO MORALLY WRONG IN TEACHING AND PREACHING THE GOSPEL, no matter the gender of the instrument of God?
Even a mule was used by God to talk. And "unclean" ravens were used by God to feed a prophet!
Jesus commissioned Mary Magdalene to "go, tell" the other disciples his message.
Couldn't Mary M preach and teach?
I believe Paul's prohibition was confined to a specific situation and should not be universalized to the grave disadvatage of the gospel.
And it could be one of Paul's personal stand/opinions, like in some of his teachings as exemplified in 1 Corinthians 7:12 (CEV):
"I don’t know of anything else the Lord said about marriage. All I can do is to give you my own advice. If your wife isn’t a follower of the Lord, but is willing to stay with you, don’t divorce her."





Q - Ano po ang best way to treat/behave towards people you have not seen in a very long time?
A -
Do not forcicbly reprise the past.
Do not role-play and expect the other person to role-play according to your ancient "roles" and scripts.
People could change.
So, it could be awkward and strained to behave just like you did before, or to expect that from the other person.
Makiramdam.
Give signs/signals about how you want to be treated now.
And be sensitive to the signs they give about how they want to be treated.
Relax and be natural





Matthew 7:1-2 (NRSV)
7 “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2 For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.
DID YOU JUDGE SOMEONE YESTERDAY?
WILL YOU JUDGE SOMEONE TODAY?
Did you call anyone names?
Did you carelessly label a person and even influence others to do the same?
Go ahead and condemn people, especially unfairly and unjustly.
Spread bad words about someone, especially without careful study and verification.
GO AHEAD ANG DESTROY YOURSELF WITH JUDGMENTALISM



Labels are oversimplifications.
When people are labeled, called pro- or anti- anything or anyone,
they get reduced to simplistic classifications or brands.
People are complex and not one could be perfectly
- republican or liberal,
- conservative or progressive
- sinner or saint
etc.
Do not oversimplify people.
Do not call them red just because they have some streaks of red.
Even aspects of people's thoughts, beliefs and philosophies could be ambivalent.
Do not freeze people in one fleeting, ephemeral frame or snapshot of their multifaceted lives.





Q - Pakilinaw nga po Tito: May tinanggal daw pong verses ang isang Bible translation/version na noon namang earlier editions nito ay nandun pero sa bagong edition ay wala na? Dangerous daw pong gamitin ito?
A -
Tingnan mo ang footnotes noong latest and earlier editions ng tinutukoy mong version. Nandun ang explanation. Kung wala man sa latest edition, makikita mo yun sa earlier editions.
May versions/editions kasi na based sa ancient documents Set A at mayron namang based sa ancient documentsSet B.(Example/oversimplification only) It is possible that Documents A have the verses in question while Documents B do not have them. So, depende kung aling set of documents ang basis ng edition/version ay mukha tuloy may "nababawas" o may "nadadagdag", depende sa point of view ng nagbabasa/nanunuri. Hindi lang naman kasi isa ang ancient documents na pinangggalingan ng mga editions/versions; marami at minsan may pagkakaiba-iba rin ang details. Kaya may iba-ibang flavors/slant and yes, content, ang iba-ibang Bible versions.
To have a wider perspective, do not stick to only one version/translation: use at least three: use one formal/ "conservative" version (KJV, RSV, etc) , one formal but more contemporary version like NASV and one dynamic contemporary version like CEV, etc.
Be loyal to the content of the original manuscripts but do not be too loyal to any particular version/translation to the point of demonizing other versions. May strengths and weaknesses bawat version. The more versions you use, the wider the perspective and the "safer" the scholarship







Dear mga relihiyoso at panatiko,
Sumigi kayo ng kare-religion nyo: that's your right.
But leave us alone to live our lives as we believe and like: IT'S OUR RIGHT.
Please lang, keep your beliefs to your "enlightened" selves;
huwag nyong ipilit at pairalin sa buhay ng iba ang inyong mga doktrina.
Hindi lang kayo ang may Diyos at may Langit.
Hindi nyo kailangang "iligtas" ang lahat
ayon sa mga patakaran at pamantayan nyo.
Huwag nyong ipilit ma-recruit, mapaanib at mapasunod sa religion nyo
ang ayaw.
Huwag nyo kaming idamay, isali at pasunurin sa mga isyus nyo.
Kung ayaw nyong sumaya, bahala kayo but let us be.
You don't have to demonize others just to make youselves feel and look holy.
Salamat sa "concern" nyo, pero sa inyo na lang ang inyong self-rigteousness,
judgmentalism, sectarianism and self-promotion. Gusto namin si Jesus ---sya lang! Ayaw namin sa inyo.
- Non-Sectarian Jesus Believers








Q - Ibig sabihin po pa ng Separation of Church and State ay hindi dapat at hindi pwedeng pakialaman ng gobyerno ang religious organizations?
A -
Hindi puede at hindi dapat pakialaman ng gobyerno ang internal spiritual life and doctrine of religious organizations AS LONG AS THOSE SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS AND PRACTICES DO NOT BREAK ANY LAW OF THE LAND.
Pero pag may nilabag na batas ng bansa ang anumang religious group, dapat ipairal ang batas at papanagutin ang lumabag.
THE LAWS OF THE LAND ARE LEGALLY ABOVE ANY BY-LAWS of any suborganization, religious or non-religious, in the country and under the national government.






agkakasalungat na beliefs and teachings?
A -
SILENCE!
THE BEST THEOLOGY IS SILENCE!
Ano ang alam ng tao?
Ano ang kayang malaman ng limitadong isip ng tao?
Sino ang lubos makauunawa at makakikilala sa Dakilang Maylikha?
Sino ang may sapat na runong para mabatid ng malinaw ang pasikutsikot ng mga bagay-bagay na espiritual?
Psalm 46:10 (RSV)
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth!”
It is in stillness -- in silence --- that God is "known";
not in audacious and loud theologizing.
Isaiah 55:8(RSV)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
How could creatures THINK their way into "knowing" the Creator?
How could presumptuous theologians blubber loudly and aggressively into "explaining and teaching" about God?
God could be experienced many ways, but thinking, theologizing, intellectualizing, philosophizing, etc are not always the best ways toward "understanding" God.
In fact these ineffective ways cause all the bitter divisions and violent clashes among many "believers".
Be silent, be humble, be still ---- and experience God.




Q - Tito pag ba inuuna ang work kesa sa ministry hinde na pleasing sa Lord yun? Baket madalas pag d nkkpag ministry kc may mga dapat tpusin s work naiisip n agad n nwawala sa init ng pag lilingkod at may pinag dadaanan... Di ba pdeng busy lang talaga sa work??
A -
puede naman. baka makitid lang ang pang-unawa ng iba?
O sobrang taas ng tingin nila sa ministry na wala ng ibang mahalaga sa kanila.
Timplahin mo. Bumawi ka pag kaya at may pagkakataon?
Kaya dapat maraming workers/servants sa church,
para tulungan pag sobrang busy sa trabaho /studies yung iba.




Q - I tried to save my marriage but my hub doesnt want to cooperate.If just myself i dont want it too dahil mas masaya ang wla cya. But im guilty i may no pleasing God dahil he hates divorce//Pero what can i do ngmakaawa nko ky hub pero he really loves dw his mistress ..And now the mistress is pregnant by my hub..Will God understand me if i let go of ds man..cut communication wd him..Sobrang sakit po kc n nkkita ko p cya after what he has done
A -
I believe God will understand dahil hindi naman ikaw ang may kasalanan.
If "God hates divorce"
(Pero may malalim at masalimuot na meaning yan ha. Hindi lang face value.)
then God would hate what your husband did/does, not your walang choice na reaction.
Ikaw ang victim dyan, pamangkin.
Hindi ikaw ang bagay na ma-guilty.





Q - Bakit po kaya pinagbabawalan kami sa church namin na manood ng sine?
A -
Parang sila ang dapat mong tanungin, pamangkin?! smile emoticon
Pero baka:
1. Old fashioned ang pananaw nila sa sinehan as place kasi noong araw maraming kababalaghang nangyayari sa dilim ng sinehan. Pero sa mga makabagong movie houses ngayon, iba na. Hindi na angkop sa mga milagro.
And besides, ang gustong gumawa ng kababalagyan, kahit saan at kailan, gagawa at gagawa sila ng paraan.
2. Nakikigaya lang sila? Hindi original sa kanila ang idea? Mayron lang isang nagpasimulang magbawal at gumaya na sila?
3. Protectve lang sila?
4. Sila mismo ay hindi mapagkakatiwalaan sa dilim kaya wala silang tiwala sa kapwa?






Q - Ano po ba ang mabuti, mababaw o malalim mag-isip?
A -
Magpakatotoo sa sarili.
May nilikha na sadyang mababaw,
may nilikha na sadyang malalim.
NAKAPAGPAPASAYA na maging kung ano ka lang talaga.
Pero NAKABUBUTING magsikap, mag-aral at manuri
para maging pinakamalalim, pinakamataas, pinakamalawak at pinaka-refined na version of your own self.






Q - How can I know what my husband is thinking; he hardly talks?
A -
If you want to know what's on his mind, MAKE him talk.
If you want to know what's in his heart, LET him talk.
But talking is not only verbal.
Listen to his body language; it is more telling.
Ang listen to his silence; it could be more eloquent.





Q - Tito Ed, given that last sept 21 marked the anniversary of Martial Law, i just want to ask po regarding what was life then tito especially yours? How did the Philippine society changed??
A -
I was a college student then, sa UP.
Unless you were leftist/communist or a political foe of the administration, those were probably the best years of our country since independence.
Maayos, disiplinado ang tao, boom ang tourism, may Filipino pride, etc.
Siempre, there was a price to pay.
Martial Law meant limited ang civil liberties.
But the problem of our society is not too little, but too much, freedom of individuals and interest groups! smile emoticon
Ang gulo tuloy. Chaotic.
Halos anarchy!
Martial Law was probably necessary to "save the republic" kasi magulo talaga ang late 1960's and early 1970's, with so much political unrest and threats from within the country and from outside.
Mayrong accusations, documentation even, of abuse.
Eh kahit naman hindi Martial Law, abusado ang marami na nasa puesto.
ANG MGA ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE MARCOSES noong martial law ay accusations din, mas malala pa nga, sa mga sumunod na leaders na gumawa ng mga kababalaghan kahit hindi martial law--- under the glaring noonday sun of "democracy"!
But the declaration of martial law was fully CONSTITUTIONAL.
The 1935 Constitution gave powers to the president to declare martial law when warranted and in the interest of the nation.





Q - Napaka rude po ng ex BF ko. Minsan kaming nag-away sa school canteen, isinigaw nya ng malakas na .....mabaho daw po ang _____ ko!?
Ang daming nakarinig!
(Sabagay po totoo at sino-solve ko naman po, pero bakit naman ibinrodcast pa nya?) Kahiya to death tuloy. Super angry ako sa kanya. Grrrrr!
A -
Eh bakit naman kasi naamoy nya pati yun?
Hayan tuloy, may pang-blackmail sya sa yo.
Learn your lessons well, hija:
1. Attend to your personal hygiene. See a doctor kung kailangan.
2. Keep your private parts to yourself.
3. Do not quarrel with your ex, especially in public.
Wala nang magagawa, nangyari na.
Move on na lang pamangkin.




Q - Di po ba advance ang Pilipinas sa transporation noong araw? Na may rail system na tayo panahon pa ng mga Kastila? Bakit po tayo napag-iwanan sa public transport system samantalang asensado naman ang America na sumunod na sumakop sa Pilipinas?
A -
HINDI DINIVELOP NG AMERICANS ang public transport system sa Pilipinas, lalu na railways.
Kasi ng panahon na yun ay nagsisimulang lumaki ang CAR MANUFACTURING industry sa USA.
To serve American car manufacturers' interest and to make the Philippines a market for American cars,
ang dinevelop ng mga Americans ay ang road system, hindi ang public railways system. Para bentahan ng bentahan ang Pilipinas ng private cars!
Hanggang ngayon, yan ang system.
Hindi dinedevelop ang public railways system na napaka effective tulad ng sa Japan at Europe.
Patuloy ang pagtatambak ng private cars/vehicles sa Pilipinas. (Ewan lang kung sino ang kumikita). At yan ang major cause ng traffic congestion: sobrang daming small, private, even public, vehicles na bukod siksikan sa roads ay walang private garage. Sa calle pa naka-park!
DAPAT IDEVELOP NA MABUTI ANG PUBLIC RAILWAYS. Mas maraming makikinabang, less road congestion.





A realization of beauty enthusiasts:
"Faces lie, necks don't."




If people don't like you
you both lose


"Absence lessens half-hearted passions
and increases great ones
as the wind puts out a candle
yet stirs up a big fire."


Two ears and one mouth
=
Listen twice as much as you talk.




Q - Tito, pls give me tips on praying, especially leading public prayer?
A - 1.Be brief.
Do not repeat prayers; your own or that of others.
Huwag sapawan yung mga ibang nag-lead na.
Huwag nang ipag-pray ang nasabi ng ng iba.
2. Stick to the topic:
kung prayer for food, wag na ipag-pray ang global warming, gierra sa Iran, etc;
kung opening, or closing prayer yun lang ang scope;
kung blessing sa birthday celebrant, ikinasal, may sakit, etc wag ang ulitin ang nai-pray na ng iba.
3. Do not pray to inform God like "Lord, nasa ospital po ang asawa ng pastor namin...." ALAM NA YUN NG DIYOS.
4. Do not perform before people; huwag magpa-impress or magpasikat sa madla; huwag gumamit ng maaarte at artificial na salita; huwag magdrama at mag-emote ng todo-todo.
5. Huwag ulit-ulitin ang mga salitang God, Father, Father-God, Lord, Ama, Panginoon, atbp! Alam na ng Diyos na sya ang kausap mo.
6. Use the language most easily understood and normally used by the people in their daily lives; di kailangang inglisin para magpa-sosyal, especially kung hindi naman first-language yung English ng marami sa madla.
7. More or less, have a general mental list on what to pray for para hindi kulang at hindi rin sobra/repetitious ang prayer.



Q - Pag hindi po maiwasang absent sa church dahil sa weather or work or personal reasons, what is the next best thing to do?
A -
1. PRAY Read your Bible, Worship wherever you are.
Join the worship through the internet if you could.
2. SEND your tithes and offerings for the worship you missed as soon as possible because the expenses of the church stay the same even if the attendance is low ---even if you are absent! smile emoticon
If you can't send it sooner, add it to or double your tithes and offerings the following worship day kasi pareho pa rin ang bayarin ng church kahit absent ang members! smile emoticon



Q - Iisa naman po ang Diyos at ang Biblia, so aling congregation ang pipiliin kong aniban?
A -
Yung ang interpretation and application of the Bible ay
- mapagpalaya imbes mapanakal at mapagkulong?
- nakapagpapalawak imbes nakapagpapakitid ng isip?
- mapagtanggap imbes mapag-reject ng tao?
- nakakapagpasaya imbes nakaka-stress?
- nakaka-relax imbes nakakapagod ng sobra (Jesus gives rest.)
- nagpapalapit imbes nagpapalayo ng loob mo sa ibang groups?
- tentative and humble imbes dogmatic?
- dinadala ka sa pagiging makalangit pero pinapayagan kang maging tao?
- hindi sobrang makahuthot ng pera?
- nakakapapantag ng loob imbes nakakatakot?
Everything being equal, dun ka umanib sa ikaw ay
- lalago
- sasaya
- makahihinga ng maluwag
- mapaglilingkuran at makapaglilingkod (sabay)
Join where you would/could be
- righteous but not self-righteous
- knowledgeable but not know-it all
- right but not the only one who is right
- corret but not stiff and stern
- heavenly in outlook but still practical ang engaged in earthly life.
Join where you could be
- better, not bitter.
- like Jesus, not like a Pharisee!




Q - Between the two extremes, not being sure who is really right,
sino po ang mas kapaki-pakinabang na tanungin, sanggunian at sundin: ang taong laging
1. pumipigil sa gusto mo
o yung taong laging
2. Buyo ng buyo na gawinmo ang gusto mo?
A - Eh ano ba ang gusto mo, yung
1. kabig nang kabig o yung tulak nang tulak sa yo?
2. Laging NO o yung langing YES?
3. Itinatali ka o pinalalaya?
4. pag sinunod mo ay WALANG mangayayari sa yo masama man o mabuti o yung LAHAT ay puedeng mangyari sa yo, masama man o mabuti?
Siempre pa, dapat balanced.
Pero ang choice mo ay between two extremes!
So, pipiliin ko yung encourager kesa sa discourager.
Yung lalaya ako kesa makukulong.
Yung puede akong masuong sa panganib pero may posibilidad ng fulfillment and fun
kesa sa laging playing safe pero boring, walang sigla / excitement / fun at may possibility of a great find!



Q - Tito, paano po ako magdedecide, pipili ng gagawin, bibilhin, etc.
Nakakalito po, especially pag mayron o maraming choices.
A -
1. Mag- SWOT Analysis: Pag-aralan, lista at suriin ang
S- tregths
W- eaknesses
O-pportunities
T- hreats o banta
sa / ng bawat isang choice.
Timbangin kung ano ang mahalaga sa yo.
2. Humingi ng payo sa mga taong marunong at walang vested interest sa case.
3. Observe outward events kung ano ang itinuturong daan at binubuksang pinto.
4. Pray.
5. Act when your mind, heart and outward events agree.




Q - Tito may dalawa po akong pwedeng choices na maging husband.
Parehong mahusay na tao, educated at masarap kasama.
Ang isa po certified babaero ---pero tapos na raw po ang ganung stage nya.
Siyempre, kabado akong baka mambabae ulit sya.
Ang isa naman po, may gay past, gay experiences at sabi rin nya, tapos na raw po yun at focused na sya sa opposite sex na tulad ko.
Siyempre din, kinakabahan ako na magbalik-gay sya at manlalaki naman kung asawa ko na.
Both of them love me very much ---at least at present. That I am very sure of.
Both are passionate with me now.
Kung husand ko na any of them and he got involved with a third party,
between the two risks of unfaithfulnesses (with another moman or with a man), which one is more dangerous for a wife (to be) like me?
A -
1. Pag ibang babae ang nasangkutan ni future husband, puedeng
- magka-anak at sumabit nang tuluyan.
- mamahal din talaga ng babae ang husband mo at hindi na bitawan.
Maraming ganyan ang di na bumabalik sa wife.
2.
Pag lalaki ang nasangkutan ni future husband
- hinding-hindi magkaka-anak dun kaya walang risk ng stronger and more permanent link.
- maliit ang chance na mahalin ng totoo ng lalaking nasangkutan ang husband mo. Madalas, transactional ang ganyang relations, kaya mas konti ang chance na magtagal at maging mas malalim. Mas may chance na bumalik sya sa yo.





Q - Tito di po ba mahirap namang kakumpetensya sa husband ko ang kapwa nya lalake? Parang nakakainsulto? ...........................................A - May point ka, pero di ba mas mahirap kakumpetensya sa husabnd mo ang kapareho mong babae na mayron ding ...matriz?



Q - Di po ba dapat tanggalin sa ministry ang isang pastor na magulo ang pamilya? Ayon sa
1 Timothy 3.4?
A -
Let's study the verse. It is part of
1 Tim 3.1-5 (CEV)
3 It is true that[a] anyone who desires to be a church official[b] wants to be something worthwhile. 2 That’s why officials must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage.[c] They must be self-controlled, sensible, well-behaved, friendly to strangers, and able to teach. 3 They must not be heavy drinkers or troublemakers. Instead, they must be kind and gentle and not love money.
4 Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful. 5 If they don’t know how to control their own families, how can they look after God’s people?
The context tell us that the pastor or church official must do his part to have a godly family. The verses emphasize what the church leader should do.
So, they become unqualifed/ disqualified ONLY IF they willfully NOT do or try to achieve these ideal family situations. Like if they are personally ungodly or negligent in teaching and leading their families.
However, if they are doing their best to effect these AND IT IS THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS who do not cooperate, the fault is no longer with the responsible family head /church leader and he should NOT be disqualified from ministry because of the free-will exercise of his wife or children to NOT be orderly and godly themselves!
You disqualify the leader only IF he DOES NOT do what he must to be godly
and to lead his family to/ in godliness, NOT because his family members, on their accord, live ungodly lives.
Even God holds us accountable only for our PERSONAL behavior, not for the behavior of others, even they might be our family members!
Romans 14:12 (NIV)
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
YOU DO NOT PUNISH PETER FOR THE SIN OF JOHN!


Q - They say God will stop blessing America and that the USA will no longer be number one and instead experience hardship because it now allows gay marriage?
A -
Do they mean that the whole USA will not be blessed because of the new wedding space made available to a very small minority group?
That all of the throngs of "godly" Christians in America will be ignored by God, won't be blessedl, will be made to suffer, along with those who are religiously neutral on this civil issue, etc because "God is displeased" with the wedding arrangements of a few people?
Doesn't this phobic teaching oppose God's "Sodomic Measurement" ---meaning if there were even just 10 righteous people in Sodom, he would spare the city from calamity?
Aren't there at least 10 righteous, rightist, moralistic believers in the whole United States of America for whose sake God could "bless" the whole nation?
And if God would take his blessing away from the USA (granting that the USA is/was, indeed, blessed), to which country might God give it to:
- Russia where there is no gay marriage ?
- China where God is not even recognized?
- Islamic countries that have all the oil?
- developed but secularized countries where Sports is the new religion?
- the Philippines where there is no gay marriage, not even divorce, and where legalistic believers of all outstanding and often competing theologies worship feverishly?
Could God's blessing upon a nation really be redirected and rechanelled by the beliefs, wishes and pronouncements of some zealous ideologues?
Will all people of one nation be made answerable for the choices of a few?




BE KINDER TO MINISTERS!
Let's be kinder to ministers/ church workers.
Stop or minimize
- criticizing them,
- finding fault in what they do,
- looking down at them through Phariseeic microscopes,
- magnifying their every wart,
- ridiculing them for their shortcomings,
- pressuring them to be unrealistically perfect,
- holding them hostage to their every word and teaching.
O kaya tayo na lang ang
- lumugar sa lugar nila,
- gumawa ng gawain nila
para tayo naman ang tumanggap ng lahat
ng tinatanggap nilang panunuri, pamimintas at panghuhusga!


Q - Bakit po maraming religious leaders ay control freaks? They really control people to the max? and many of them are quite successful!
A -
Human nature yan; people like to control others.
What empowers many religious leaders to succeed in controlling people include:
1. Scriptures. They are able to use / abuse / misuse Scriptures as basis for their doctrines of control.
2. Position.
Nearly half a thousand years of being under powerful religious leaders have conditioned many people in our country to accept without question the "authority" of religious officials over them.
3. Culture
Excessive and often mindless "respect" for elders and "betters" create an atmosphere where persons who have the audacity to lord it over others usually succeed. In this country, whoever barks the loudest usually gets the service! Lalu na kung foreigner! Bow na bow ang marami sa foreigner. Noon sa puti, pero ngayon kahit ano na, basta foreigner!
TOO MUCH "respect for and submission" to authority becomes the breeding ground and playground for manipulative, controlling and abusive medieval lords!


Q - After observing many teachers and studying many teachings, I realized that nearly all doctrines, even opposing ones, could find inspiration, justification and doctrinization from Bible verses.
That conservative or progressive, separatist or open, pro- or anti- anything
could be taught and insisted on using suited Bible verses.
That all opposing congregations and teachers find their own Bible verses to support their conflicting stands.
That verses in the Bible could actually breed fierce opposition among the various believers in/of the same book.
Given this scenario, all being "Bible-based" who/what group is best to join?
A -
That which
1.
Teaches and practices the doctrines of Jesus more than the doctrines of other teachers /prophets /leaders /teachers?
Yung pinaka Jesus-like?
2.
Affirms, nourishes. loves and empowers you?
Yung nag-aalaga at nagpapalakas sa yo?
3.
Is most suited to your character, aspirations and personal style?
Yung pinaka hiyang sa yo?
4.
Gives you the most peace, joy and happiness?
Yung pinaka panatag ang loob mo?
5.
Gives you the most opportunity to grow, to give and receive, to serve and get served?


Q -Hanggang saan po ang sakop sa pakikialam ng isang leader sa personal life ng member?
A -
Hanggang one meter away from the member?
Actually, I do not think na may pakialam ang isang leader sa personal life ng member.
Q -
Di po ba sakop ng ministry nya yon?
A
Magandang magturo sya, magbigay ng guidance, mag-pray, etc --- pero direct pakiki-alam, panghihimasok, pagbabatay, pagpupulis, pagpaparusa, etc I DON'T THINK NA KASAMA YUN SA MINISTRY NG SPIRITUAL / Church leader.
Even Jesus did not get into that panghihimasok.
I MUST ADD na may authority ang leader na magturo o magtuwid kung ang behavior ng member ay makakagugulo sa church life, makami-mislead sa iba o kaya ay makami-misrepresent sa beliefs and teachings ng community. Habang personal pa lamang ang scope at hanggang personal life lang nya ang apektado, private yun at wala dapat pakialam ang leader.
Pero pag nabibilad na ang community sa kahihiyan, nalalagay sa alanganin o napapasama na sa function or public perception, may authority ang leader na alisin sya sa ministry or sa membership mismo kung hindi sya makikinig. Pero yung pagpasok mismo sa private life, choices, behavior ng member, I think lampas na yun.


Q - Ano po ang dapat reaction sa CHURCH BULLIES--- mga kapwa members/leaders na laging nakabantay sa bawat pagkakamali mo, kakulangan sa perfection, kasuotan, kilos, salita, etc? Nakakasakal po sila at nakaka-oppress!
A -
1. Suriin kung may point sila, kung tama sila. Kung sa tingin mo ay tama sila, pakinggan at mag-improve ka ayon sa pamumuna nila.
2. Kung sa tingin mo ay sobra na sila, masyadong perfectionist, unrrealistic o kaya ay pakialamera/o sa personal life, choices and style mo, IGNORE THEM.
Sila ang mamuhay ayon sa standards nila; huwag nilang igiit ang sarili nilang tastes at pananaw sa kapwa.
Buntot nila, hilahin nila!
3. Kung sobra na silang intrusive and oppressive, do not suffer in silence.
SAGUTIN MO!
Walang silang karapatang ipabuhat sa yo ang burdens na gusto nila para sa sarili nila.
Wala silang karapatang "pabanalin" ka ayon sa standards nila.
Pag sinagut-sagot mo sila ng buong tapang, titigl sila sa pakikialam. smile emoticon
Promise, wala silang magagawa hahahahah!
BARAHIN ANG ABUSADONG CHURCH BULLIES!






Q - Ano po ang dapat reaction sa CHURCH BULLIES--- mga kapwa members/leaders na laging nakabantay sa bawat pagkakamali mo, kakulangan sa perfection, kasuotan, kilos, salita, etc? Nakakasakal po sila at nakaka-oppress!
A -
1. Suriin kung may point sila, kung tama sila. Kung sa tingin mo ay tama sila, pakinggan at mag-improve ka ayon sa pamumuna nila.
2. Kung sa tingin mo ay sobra na sila, masyadong perfectionist, unrrealistic o kaya ay pakialamera/o sa personal life, choices and style mo, IGNORE THEM.
Sila ang mamuhay ayon sa standards nila; huwag nilang igiit ang sarili nilang tastes at pananaw sa kapwa.
Buntot nila, hilahin nila!
3. Kung sobra na silang intrusive and oppressive, do not suffer in silence.
SAGUTIN MO!
Walang silang karapatang ipabuhat sa yo ang burdens na gusto nila para sa sarili nila.
Wala silang karapatang "pabanalin" ka ayon sa standards nila.
Pag sinagut-sagot mo sila ng buong tapang, titigl sila sa pakikialam. smile emoticon
Promise, wala silang magagawa hahahahah!
BARAHIN ANG ABUSADONG CHURCH BULLIES!Religious doctrine is like cement;
pag nailagay na at natuyo/tumigas sa loob ng utak,
mahirap nang ibahin o bakbakin.
Suriin kung anu-anong religious beliefs and opinions
ang naipasok sa utak;
Hindi dahil lang naunang naipasok ay sya na nga ang tama o pinakatama.
Examine religious opinion for soundness, reason, and Jesusness.
Jesusness bears fruits of goodness, kindness, gentleness and love.
Jesus said: "YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS."



Kung magse-share din lang,
wag nang lagyan ng disclaimer.
You share it because you like/believe in it;
panindigan.
Do not apologize.



Bago sumunod sa pananaw ng sinuman,
tingnan muna kung nasan sya---
kung saan sya dinala ng pananaw nya





NAGHIRAP dahil "LIVE BY FAITH".
Q - Ang husband ko po sobrang hinimok ng pastor namin na magresign sa well paying job para daw magfulltime work sa church. Ang problema po, wala namang pinag-usapang regular salary. Mula po ng mag fulltime ministry ang husband ko, naghirap na po kami, nagkautang-utang at napabayaan ang pagsupport sa mga anak namin. Sabi po kasi ng pastor "Live BY FAITH"? May faith naman po kami pero bakit po kami naging very poor ngayoy mukhang kawawa?
A -
Galing ang ideya na yan sa baluktot na pagbasa sa:
2 Corinthians 5:7 CEV
"7But we live by faith, not by what we see".
This verse actually means
1. "We draw power from our faith in the promised eternal body / life."
2. "We live by faith in the future, not by sight of the present."
3. "We are able to keep on doing our best to please God
because we believe in his promise of eternal life.
"Live by faith." does not mean
1. "Do not think / plan / be practical."
2. "Live in want / poverty to serve God."
"We walk by faith, not by sight." applies to salvation, not to day-to-day practical life.
Believers are to use their brains, think and be intelligent even -- especially -- in ministry / doing God's work.
1 Corinthians 14:15 RSV 15What am I to do? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
"Live by faith" should not be misunderstood, misapplied and misused to mean living life, serving God or embarking on a project without an intelligent, practical plan / fallback, especially on finances.
Luke 14:28-30 RSV Jesus: 28For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’
Luke 10:7 NIV 7Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.
Church fulltime workers deserve generous support.
1 Timothy 5:17-18 CEV17 Church leaders who do their job well deserve to be paid twice as much, especially if they work hard at preaching and teaching. 18It is just as the Scriptures say, “Don’t muzzle an ox when you are using it to grind grain.” You also know the saying, “Workers are worth their pay.”
Galatians 6:6 RSV 6 Let him who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches.
The first missionaries were told by Jesus not to "carry purses"
not for them to go hungry but because their hearers were to give them abundant support.
Kung ayaw/hindi kayang suportahan ng todo,
1. Huwag pag fulltime-in.
2. Bigyan ng oras /space mag "tent making" like Paul.
Sobrang daming napapahamak dahil sa faulty reading, interpretation and application of verses!!






FREE THINKING
Q - Bakit po may mga religious leaders na galit sa "free thinking"?
A -
1. Gusto ka nilang i-protect from "wrong" thinking and they think sila lang ang may "correct" thinking?
2. Gusto nila hwag kang mag-isip at sila na lang ang mag-iisip para sa yo?
Masama at hindi bagay ang free thinking para sa yo pero mabuti at bagay para sa kanila LANG?
3. They do not like anything that gives freedom because they like to control people's thoughts, beliefs, actions and behavior.
Meanwhile, Jesus is Truth and the Truth SETS FREE.
Gusto ni Jesus, FREE ka.
Hindi masamang maging free, hindi masamang maging free thinker.
Basta lang nag-aaral, nagsisiyasat at nanunuri kang mabuti, employing intelligent, rational and disciplined approaches. And it would be good to refer to other thoughts and thinkers. Tulad din yan ng paggawa ng thesis; dapat may REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE.









Some of the MOST misuderstood, misused and abused verses in the Bible and religious-sounding expressions:
"Live by faith," = Walang plan.
"Open rebuke is better than secret love."
= Rebuke and rebuke just anyone and everyone, kahit hindi out of love ---at wala naman kahit "secret love".
"God will provide." = Walang plan. Aaasa kung kani-kanino.
"Christians do not sin."
= Perfectly righteous ang Christian; pag hindi perfect, hindi true believer.
"Some types of people will go to hell just for being who or what they are by typing."
(Out-of-context reading, opposed to Jesus' open-door policy of acceptance to everyone.)
"In Jesus' name!" = Parang automatic, magical phrase na pag ikinabit sa kahit anong wish/dasal/statement ay matutupad nga ito.
"I will pray about it." = Madalas ibig sabihin ay "ayoko", ayaw lang derechahin.
"Ipagpray mo ang need ko" = Bigyan/Pautangin mo ako.
"Ipag-pray natin si_____." = Pag-usapan, pagchismisan natin si ______ .
"Fellowship" = Just another version of the worship service, only less formal. May rigid program, usual parts like prayer, singing, message,etc. Wala nang natirang oras sa tunay na "fellowship."








THE LORD WILL PROVIDE !??
Q - Lagi ko pong nadirinig sa maraming believers yung "The Lord will provide" pero sa tingin ko, abused yung verse kasi parang ginagawa nilang excuse for not exerting great efforts at producing what they need? Tapos panay ang hingi nila ng tulong?
A -
The line comes from the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac to God. When he was about to sacrifice the boy, God stopped him.
-----
Genesis 22:12-14 (CEV)
12 “Don’t hurt the boy or harm him in any way!” the angel said. “Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son.”
13 Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he took the ram and sacrificed it in place of his son.
14 Abraham named that place “The Lord Will Provide.” And even now people say, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
-----
In the story, God provided because he was pleased with Abraham's act of faith. But take note that Abraham brought a/the sacrifice. God only provided an alternate or a replacement.
May dala, may ginawa si Abraham, hindi zero.
HINDI TAMA na i-appy ang concept ng "the Lord will provide" sa cases ng mga wala namang ginagawa, walang dala, walang tanim o sa mga cases ng tamad, fatalistic o baluktot ang pagkaunawa at application sa verse.
Remember, the verse says "ON THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD, it shall be provided", meaning not just anywhere or anytime but ON the spot, AT the time, ON the occasion of God's pleasure, God will provide.
DAPAT MUNANG ma-satisfy yung conditions na to bago umasa ang tao that God would, indeed, provide!
And in Abraham's case, the provision came directly from God --- without inconveniencing other people or without having it at other people's expense. Hindi hiningi, inutang o hiniram sa kapwa-tao.
Huwag i-abuse ang verse para mag-expect ng fulfillment nito at other people's expense






Major root causes of POVERTY in the Philippines:
1. FOOLISH, IRRESPONSIBLE VOTING by the people who elect many thieves and idiots -- or super WA-ES OPPORTUNISTS
2. POLITICAL DYNASTIES of a few families who monopolize governance and its economic bonanza
3. MASSIVE CORRUPTION in government
4. MEDDLING of Dark-Ages Religion in governance and civic life
5. ADDICTION of the people to IMPORTED PRODUCTS.
6. EMPLEYADO MENTALITY; halos puro dayuhan ang negosyante (yumayaman)
7. UNTAPPED but very rich NATURAL RESOURCES, even TOURISM as industry
8. UNDEVELOPED INFRASTRUCTURE
9. DEPENDENCE of mga tamad sa masisipag na kapamilya, at PANGUNGUNSINTI ng productive kapamilya sa mga kapal-nila relatives.
10. OVERDEPENDENCE AND OVERSPENDING ON IMPORTED ENERGY while ignoring local natural sources of energy.



Q - What do you think of claims of people dying, going to heaven, seeing hell and even some personalities being in hell, then going back to life to tell the tale?
A -
I generally DO NOT believe such claims.
At the point of near-death experiences, the brain could go awry, be "short-circuited", jumbled, etc. much like a bookshelf shaken by strong tremors with various books of different subjects falling onto the floor and getting mixed up.
Near-death experience could jumble information/knowledge/impressions stored in the brain and mix them, producing "cocktails" of thoughts that sometimes are woven with some cohesion or logic and sometimes without. DREAMS could be like that: sometimes sensible, oftentimes not.
Information stored in the brain could be mixed up that your aunt's house could, in the dream, be your house or be a boat or a flower, etc. Your mother's face could become a door or a plate,etc.
BUT dreams cannot not produce new information; it could only mix-match already known/stored information.
That is what I think of claims to have died and seen God or Satan of heaven or hell, etc. ALL THE ELEMENTS of such claims are only contructions/reconstructions or DEconstructions of what is already "known" or hoped for or feared.
Nagka-cocktail-cocktail, nagka-salad-salad, nagkahalu-halo lang ang mga info/impressions/beliefs/fears/hopes dahil na-abnormal o "grounded" ang brain.
Mas may chance na paniwalaan ko ang mga ganyang claims kung may bagong info/detail NOT PREVIOUSLY known to the subject or to all of us. Afterall, WHAT'S THE USE of being given a "REVELATION" that is ALREADY known/believed in/not believed in/feared or hoped for?





TAGALUGIN ANG NASA BABA smile emoticon
Q - Naniniwala po ba kayo sa mga kwentong may namatay, nakita ang Langit, Impierno atbp tapos nabuhay mulia para magkwentoi?
A -
Madalas HINDI ako naniniwala dun sa kwento.
Sa Near-Death expriences, puedeng magkarambol-rambol ang laman ng utak,
nagkakahalu-halo ang mga naka-file doon na mga impormasyon/alam/paniniwala/takot o inaasam, etc.
Nagkaka-mix-match ang mga normally ay disconnected ideas.
In other words, dahil lang sa trauma ng near-death experience kaya nagkakaron ng mga ganung "visions" or dreams or "travels".
Hindi naman kailangang may mamatay at mabuhay pang muli para sabihin lang ang mga nasabi na sa Biblia. Kailangan na lang basahin ang Bible.
At lalung hindi reliable ang mga personal claims ng mga nagkasakit, naaaksidente o na-trauma kasi nga ang brain nila ay puedeng ma-short circuit sa mga ganyang sitwasyon.
Hindi tayo magpapakinig sa mga ganyang kababalaghan; MAGBASA AT MAG-ARAL NA LANG tayo NG BIBLE for info, guidance and inspiration.





Q - Why insist on teaching and spreading Christianity when there are many other religions anyway and all religions lead to God?
A -
There are ONLY TWO religions:
1. Bible- based, Jesus-centered Christianity AND
2. all others.
Jesus-centered Christianity preaches salvation by the
- grace of God
- saving work of Jesus and
- faith of people.
This salvation is reachable, attainable, applicable and effective.
Meanwhile,
ALL other religions, no matter what the culture and methods are, preach salvation BY WORKS.
Adherents are subjected to
- requirements that are impossible to satisfy.
- expectations that are impossible to deliver.
- standards that are impossible to meet.
NO ONE GETS SAVED this way.
While all religions seek for God /Salvation, only that which is accomplished and given for free by God himself will work for weak and imperfect humans.
All others will only oppress them with laws and requirements and then fail.
NOT ALL RELIGIONS ARE THE SAME.
Only one gets to cross from earth to heaven, because only one was delievered by God himself and accomplished by the Son of God himself.
ONLY ONE makes salvation available to all who would believe, no matter that they cannot earn nor keep salvation on their own limited merits.
All others teach people to work for their salvation;
Jesus-centerd Christianity teaches people to repent and accept God's forgivess.
ONLY GOD'S FORGIVENESS THROUGH JESUS, NOT MAN'S WORKS, CAN EARN SALVATION





DALAWA LANG ang religious teachings on salvation:
1. By God's GRACE through faith in the saving work of Jesus.
People are saved, not by themselves nor through their efforts, but by God's forgivess, acceptance and love. Salvation is God's free gift.
Salvation maintained not by the recipient but by Jesus who always intercedes with God for the sake of believers.
Thus, salvation cannot be lost because it is premnised on the perfect sacrifice and clenasing work of Jesus, not on the performance of people.
This teaching gives assurance, rest and peace.
2. By people's WORKS.
People must save themselves by doing a set of prescribed works/ do's and dont's like becoming members of ceratin sects, sacrificing, giving, "paying" for ceratin religious favors especially forgiveness, going to specific religious places, eating or not eating certain foods, etc etc.
Their salvation depends on their performance.
Thus, such salvation could be lost when performance fails.
This teaching is tiring, stressfull and oppressive.
It empowers religous leaders to scare and control believers.
It breeds constant fear, insecurity, streass and vexatiion.
THINK OF ALL RELIGIONS THAT YOU KNOW and classify them under any of these two types.





YUNG NAG-PRAY PA ANG BUMAGSAK?
Q - Habang naghhntay po kame ng interview ng kybgan q. Cnabi q sa kanya na magdasal kame, para mawala ung kaba. Sagot nya saken Aukong nagdadasal, pakiramdam ko lalo aqng minamalas kpag gnagawa q yan. Ngulat po aq sa sinabi nya.. Tapos po nung tym na lumabas na ung result . Pumasa po sya, at bumagsak po ako. Sa pagkakataong yon nakaramdam po ako ng lungkot. At nagtanong. lord baket?? Kasi po alam q sa srili q na gnaa q ung mkakaya q. Ilang gabi aqng nanalangn sa kanya. Pero bakt po ganun????
A -
Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 (CEV)
11 Here is something else I have learned:
The fastest runners
and the greatest heroes
don’t always win races
and battles.
Wisdom, intelligence, and skill
don’t always make you healthy,
rich, or popular.
We each have our share
of BAD LUCK.



Q - Tito demonic daw po ang isang brand ng novelty item na gusto at kinokolekta ng mga bata, kasama na po ang anak ko!? Totoo po ba yon?
A -
I don't think/believe so.
Ang pinapasok/tinitirahan ng demons ay puso/isip ng tao, hindi non-living, inanimate objects.
Q - E pano po kung talagang may nakatirang spirit?
A -
Eh di paalisin in the name of Jesus!
Claim and own it in thename of the Lord.
Psalm 24:1(NIV)
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;





Q - Ano po ang magandang gawin/reaksyon sa mga katuruang hindi mo sinasang-ayunan. Dapat bang magcomment o makipag-debate?
Paano po kung concerned ka na baka may madala, madaya at mailigaw ang mga iyon?
A -
Ignore teachings you do not agree with.
Pag nag comment ka o hinamon mo, madi-dignify ito at lalau lang mapapansin ng iba.
Kung hindi naman sa yo personally ipinipilit yung teaching, hindi mo naman kailangang bigyang-pansin.
Kung concerned ka na magturoi ng "truth" mo, eh di magturo ka, mangaral ka, etc in your own forum without having to cite, mention or directly contest those teachings.








Q - Bakit po madalas, ang "critic" ng senior pastor ay wives ng junior pastors?
A -
Pag ganyan, puedeng
1. Tama sila at mali ang Senior Pastor?
Pero pag ganito, eh bakit kaya hindi sila ang tinawag at hinirang ng Diyos na maging Super Senior Pastors?
2. Gusto nung wives ay ang pastor-husband/s nila ang maging senior pastor?
3. They think they know better/ are better than the senior pastor?
4. Mayron silang self-appointed prophetic ministries; na ilusyon nilang prophetesses sila?
5. Mahilig lang talaga silang mag-criticize ng anyone and everyone?




There are ways/styles of some persons that always attract conflict/ opposition/ intrigues/ strife/ interpesonal troubles.
Pag laging ganito ang nangyayari sa isang tao,
laging nasasangkot sa gulo o alitan o intriga,
DAPAT NANG SURIIN ANG SARILI.
Hindi na tamang ibunton ang sisi sa "others".
Pag lagi kang sinusundan ng gulo,
MALAMANG NA INAAKIT MO ITO,
consciously or not.




Q - Ano po ang magandang gawin/reaksyon sa mga katuruang hindi mo sinasang-ayunan. Dapat bang magcomment o makipag-debate?
Paano po kung concerned ka na baka may madala, madaya at mailigaw ang mga iyon?
A -
Ignore teachings you do not agree with.
Pag nag comment ka o hinamon mo, madi-dignify ito at lalau lang mapapansin ng iba.
Kung hindi naman sa yo personally ipinipilit yung teaching, hindi mo naman kailangang bigyang-pansin.
Kung concerned ka na magturoi ng "truth" mo, eh di magturo ka, mangaral ka, etc in your own forum without having to cite, mention or directly contest those teachings







Tumigil magtrabaho dahil "End Times" na?!
Q - End of the World na raw po at darating na raw po si Christ kaya dapat nag mag-resign sa trabaho, tumigil mag-buisiness at mag-schooling at atupagin na lang ang pag-aaral ng Biblia at pangangaral? Tama po ba yun?
A -
Kung ang tiutukoy nila ay yung sinasabing sa Matthew 24, here are the exact verses:
Matthew 24:39-41 (CEV)
39. That is how it will be when the Son of Man appears.
40 Two men will be in the same field, but only one will be taken. The other will be left. 41 Two women will be together grinding grain, but only one will be taken. The other will be left.
Pagdating daw ng Panginoon,
ang aabutan nyang nagtatrabaho sa bukid o sa gilingan ng trigo ay mga taong nagtatarabaho --- ng regular livelihood works. Hindi fulltime missionary or religious work. Aabutan silang nagsasaka, gumagawa, naghahanap-buhay.
Hindi yun mamasamain ng Panginoon.
Sa katunayan, yung kukunin/maliligtas ay nagtatatrabaho din, kagawa yung hindi kukunin/maliligtas. Hindi nya kailangang tumigil maghanap-buhay at tumunganga na lang kahihintay ng oras o magpaka fulltime work sa religious work.
ANG KALIGTASAN AY WALANG KINALAMAN SA KUNG ANO ANG GINAGAWA NG TAO PAG INABUTAN NG PANAHONG YON.
Ang kalightasan ay nakabatay sa kung nananalig ba ang tao kay Jesus.
At kahit mananampalataya ---lalu pa ng kung mananampalataya--- dapat maghanap-buhay kahit pa sa paniwala nya ay malapit na ang "end times".




Q - May bad luck po ba ang Christian? Parang mahirap matanggap?
A -
Sabi ng NIV and other tarnslations, "Time and Chance" like:
Ecclesiastes 9:11New International Version (NIV)
11 I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but TIME AND CHANCE happen to them all.
PERO SUBJECT PA TO CONFUSION YUNG VAGUE NA "TIME AND CHANCE"
kaya dinerecha na ng Contemporary English Version, like:
Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 (CEV)
11 Here is something else I have learned:
The fastest runners
and the greatest heroes
don’t always win races
and battles.
Wisdom, intelligence, and skill
don’t always make you healthy,
rich, or popular.
We each have our share
of BAD LUCK.
The context of the verses really state that what happens is not always the logical.
Other versions call the phenomenon "time and chance" which really means
"swerte-swerte" or, in the spirit of the those verses, "bad luck".
SOBRA KASING NASANAY ANG CHURCH PEOPLE SA MGA STATEMENTS FROM teachers/leaders na walang malas o swerte sa believers kaya pati tuloy POT LUCK at ginagawang POT BLESS. smile emoticon
BUT WHO LIKES TO ARGUE WITH SOLOMON/ ECCLESIASTES 9.11-12.
Kung minsan, mas "Biblical" pa ang iba kesa sa Bible mismo! smile emoticon
Pag hindi mo matanggap pati verse na malinaw....bakeeet?






Q - Tito may PhD po pala kayo. (Ano po ibig sabihin ng PhD?)
A -
smile emoticon [Akala ko naman sa tanong ay alam na kung ano yung PhD hahahah!]
Doctor of Philosophy pamangkin.
It's an academic title.
Halimbawa, pag nagtapos ka ng college or undergraduate course, ang title ay Bachelor (AB/BA/BS)
Pag nagtapos ka ng masteral or graduate course after the college course, ang title ay Master of Arts or Master of Science (MA / MS)
Pag nagtapos ka ng doctoral or post graduate course after the masteral course, and title ay Doctor of Philosophy or PhD.
Parang mga baitang yan ng hagdan, isa-isa mong dadaanan bago ka makapunta sa susunod na level.
Kaya ang kumpletong steps/levels ng academic education ay
1. Elementary School
2. High School (Bago mag K-12)
3. College /Undergraduate
4. Masteral /Graduate
5. Doctoral /Post Graduate





Q - Please enlighten me po with this. I'm one of those po kasi who don't believe "luck" but blessings and punishments only.
Hindi po ako magaling sa Bible. And so I'm confused. Naisip no lang po, posible po ba na nung time na sinasabi ni Solomon yung about sa bad luck eh he's talking with his human thinking. Yun po bang wala sya sa spiritual na estado? I will believe po kasi sa magiging explanation nyo and Yan din po ang ishe-share ko sa iba given a chance.
Ngayon po kasi Blessings or Punishments lang po ang naiisip kong dahilan sa mga bagay bagay na dumarating sa ating buhay.
A -
Bakit hindi mo matanggap eh yun naman talaga yung verse/sinasabi nung verse?
Dahil nga siguro sa conditioning ng paulit-ulit na litanya ng teachers/preachers na "walang swerte-malas sa Christian."?
Kahit naman anong version ang gamiti, paiba-iba lang ng words na ginagamit pero ang diwa/essence ay ganun pa rin.
Ang ibig sabihin lang naman nung "luck" sa sabi ni Solomon ay ito: Hindi lahat ng nangyayari ay may logical reason; hindi lahat ng effects ay mate-trace sa logical cause.
Na walang nakatitiyak sa results ng mga ginagawa ng tao.
Pag kasi namili ka sa mga sinasabi ni Solomon na "Ay ito, sinabi lang nya bilang tao" dahil lang di mo matanggap, PAANO ka mamimili at kelan ka titigil kapipili? smile emoticon
Dapat suriin kung BAKIT di mo matanggap. Ano ang bibilac basis para hindi matanggap?






Q - I woke up to this - USA legalized same sex marriage in all 50 states. Any thoughts Tito?
A -
That provision in the law is for those who believe in/ want/need it.
It is not to be enforced on those who do not want/ believe in it.
Nagkaron ng legal space yung may gusto at nangangailangan;
hindi pinipilit yung ayaw.
That's human rights in a free, democratic, secular state.
May ayaw kasi sa ganyan, may nao-offend. Hindi naman sila obligado under the law na mag-contract ng ganung marriage kung offensive sa kanila.
The conflict comes from their zeal to impose their beliefs on everyone else, even on those outside of their religious sphere, and on their insistence that the Law/State act as implementors of their religious beliefs on the whole nation.





Q - Sa church po namin, more than 70% ng preachings ay puro tungkol sa IKAPU, offering, giving, etc. Nalilito napo ako kung nasa church ako o sa stock market o bangko o Pera Padala? Tapos, umiiral po ang tarayan, bangayan, yabangan, usigan, bukalatan ng baho ng kapwa, etc. What can you say?
A -
Kung ganyan talaga ang turuan, hindi kataka-taka na walang bunga ng Espiritu kasi walang masyadong spiritual planting or nourishment.
May sinabi si Jesus tungkol dyan:
Matthew 23:23 (CEV)
You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you’re in for trouble! You give God a TENTH of the spices from your garden, such as mint, dill, and cumin. Yet you neglect the more important matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the important things you should have done, though you should not have left the others undone either.





Q - Tito concern po ng ilang churches sa USA na baka pwersahin sila ng government na magofficiate ng same-sex marriages kahit labag sa loob o sa faith nila?
A -
That shouldn't happen.
And I believe that CANNOT happen in America, the "Land of the Free".
Mayroong religious freedom ang lahat, especially religious groups in the performance of rites and rituals (that do not violate the law) within their communities.
Religoius groups, I believe, have the right to refuse.
My high school classmate and cograduate Lizbeth de Padua, now a US citizen and resident, posted in FB that "the decision does not violate religious freedom as no religious official is going to be forced to perform same-sex marriages.The Kennedy opinion closes with an assurance that churches and other groups that oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds can continue to express their views."
Ang hindi puedeng mag-refuse. I think, are SECULAR businesses like caterers, florists, venues, events organizers, etc. no matter the PERSONAL religious belief or sentiment of the owners, managers or employees kasi magiging DISCRIMINATORY ang pagtanggi




How to age gracefully and enjoyfully:
1. Have money.
Ecclesiastes 10:19(NIV)
....money is the answer for everything.
As far as possible, keep making money!
2. Live in your own place.
3. Do not meddle in the life of your child/ren.
4. Do not commit to baby sit grandchildren.
(Do so only at your pleasure.)
5. Do not rely on your children to take care of you.
(Children, volunteer to be reliable!)
6. Make/Have peace with your children-in-law.
7. Make new friends, especially with people who will outlive you.
8. Continue to be interested in life and remain interesting.
9. Be active in your church and/or civic club.
10. Look good.






Q - Di po ba ang nilikha ng Diyos ay lalake at babae lamang?
Eh di dapat po walang gay at lesbian?
Saan po sila galing? Sino ang lumikha sa kanila?
A -
Panong wala eh meron nga?
Yes, God created male and female. At isa lamang ang God-Creator.
Lahat ng nilikha, sya ang lumikha --- at nilikha sa pamamagitan ng Anak.
----
John 1:1-3 (NIV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
SO LAHAT AY LIKHA NG DIYOS.
----
Lahat ng nasa mundo ay sa Diyos na lumikha.
----
Psalm 24:1 (NIV)
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it
----
Meanwhile, Physical and Social Sciences and actual life reveal that there is a mix of malesness and femaless in every individual. Iba-iba lang nga lang ang intensity. Gays and lesbians, oriented at varying degrees between extreme maleness and extreme femaleness, are conceived and born of male and female parents. Dun lang sila puedeng manggaling.
So, puedeng RECESSIVE GENES ang source? Did the first man and woman carry recessive genes that would become dominant only later, in some generations and individuals assigned by nature's "time and chance" (Ecc 9.11)?
SAAN AT KANINO GALING AT SINO NGA BA ANG MAY LIKHA SA LAHAT NG TAO, no matter the orientation between the two extreme, opposite points of sexuality?




Q - Dahil po sa paglaganap ng same sex marriage around the world, possible po ba mangyari ulit ang sa Sodom and Gommorah?
A -
The sin of Sodom was not about same-sex sex; it was about group rape, violence against foreigners/visitors and cruelty to fellowman. Arrogance, unkindness, selfish materialistic indulgence.
The Sodomites wanted to rape the guests not becuse the Sodomites were homosexuals but because they wanted to humiliate the guests, to dominate them much like some prison gang leaders do to new inmates today.
If the Sodomites were plain homosexuals, why would Lot offer his two virgin daughters to them? Lot knew his neighbors well; he gave them what he thought was an attractive offer just to persuade them to stop their violent and cruel plan.
Unkindness was the major sin of Sodom. That is what the Bible says:
Ezekiel 16:49 (NIV)
“‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.







OTHER DO'S AND DONT'S ALSO FROM LEVITICUS
1. Death penalty for using the Lord’s name in vain
“He who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him; the sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.” (Lev. 24:16)
2. Prohibition against eating pork
“And the swine, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean to you.” (Lev. 11:7–8)
3. Mandating of animal sacrifices
“If anyone sins unwittingly in any of the things which commanded not to be done, and does any one of them, if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer the sin which he has committed a young bull without blemish to the Lord as a sin offering. He shall bring the bull to the door of the tent of meeting before the Lord, and lay his hand on the head of the bull, and kill the bull before the Lord. … And all the fat of the bull of the sin offering he shall take from it, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the appendage of the liver which he shall take away with the kidneys … and the priest shall burn them upon the altar…. (Lev. 4:1–10)
4. Death penalty for spiritualists
“A man or woman who is a medium or a wizard shall be put to death; they shall be stoned with stones, their blood shall be upon them.” (Lev. 20:27)
5. Human slavery sanctioned
“As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are round about you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their families that are with you, who have been born in your land; and they may be your property. You may bequeath them to your sons after you, to inherit as a Possession for ever.” (Lev. 25:44–46)
6. Prohibition against eating fat
“It shall be a perpetual statute throughout Your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.” (Lev. 3:17)
7. Forbidding of hair and beard trimming
“You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.” (Lev. 19:27)
8. Prohibition against eating crab, clams, oysters
“Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But anything in the rivers that has not fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is an abomination to you. They shall remain an abomination to you; of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall have in abomination. Everything in the waters that has not fins and scales is an abomination to you.” (Lev. 11:9–12)
9. Death penalty for adultery
“If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death.” (Lev. 20:10)
10. The profanity of disabled individuals
“For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or who has a mutilated face or a limb too long, or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, or a hunchback, or a dwarf, or a man with a defect in his sights or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles; no man of the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the Lord’s offerings by fire; since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God…He shall not come near the veil or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries…” (Lev. 21:18–23)
11. Other prohibitions
“Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.” (Lev. 19:19)






It is commendable to make a stand based on God's teaching and will.
Kaya lang, ang dapat suriin ay:
God's teaching and will nga ba TALAGA ang
pinaniniwalaan o
- galing sa tao/ tradition lang?
- twisted and manipulated na ito ng tao mula sa source through time and place
- diluted na ito sa dami ng pinagdaanang handlers?
THERE IS ONE WAY TO TEST AN IDEA/ TEACHING/ BELIEF kung galing talaga sa Diyos: THE JESUS TEST.
- Did Jesus teach it?
- Did Jesus emphasize it?
- Did the life, ministry, philosophy and methodology of Jesus affirm/ exemplify and amplify it?
Minalaki at pinahalagahan ba ito ni Jesus?
------
Colossians 2:9 (CEV)
God lives fully in Christ.
------
John 14:8-10 (NIV)
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
------
Pakiramdaman ang puso ni Jesus.
Paraanin sa salaan ng pag-ibig ni Jesus ang anumang ideya o katuruan



Q - Kelan po kaya ang Second Coming ni Jesus?
A - Matagal nang nangyari yun, nangyayari ngayon at mangayayari twing may taong nananalig, kumikilalala at tumatanggap kay Jesus sa puso nila bilang Panginoon at Tagapagligtas.
Ang first coming, nang isilang sya bilang tao sa mundo. Cosmic yun; universal.
Ang SECOND COMING, pag pumasok sya at naghari sa puso ng mananampalataya. PERSONAL YUN.
Hindi naman mahirap magbilang ng first at second coming, pamangkin smile emoticon
Revelation 3:20(NIV) Jesus says:
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
ITO ANG MAHALAGA: the SECOND COMING!
Yung "Third", ipasaDiyos mo na, wag mo nang problemahin.
Pag meron nang Secong Coming sa yo personally, kasama ka sa "Third Coming"
kahit kelan mangyari yun!





Q - Bakit po kaya madalas at madugo ang bangayan ng maraming Christians?
Parang mas mabangis pa ang labanan among fellow believers than against obviously different religions?
A -
Most fierce quarrels come from:
1. WHAT contending groups consider to be "God's Word".
2. HOW such words must be interpreted and applied.
3. WHO has the right/"authority" to interpret such words.
4. COMPETETION for correctness --- and followers.
5. Eagerness to destroy what is considered "falsehood" (against one's "truth").
6. Preservation of the status quo; Zealous commitment to tradition or innovation; Getting and keeping "power" and control of religious thought.
7. Historical context; Denominational quarrels usually go back in time.
8. Self-Righteouness.
9. Honest eagerness to be correct ---and to impose one's "correctness" on others.
10. Insisting that "truth" is limited to only one point and point of view; that all others outside of one's point could only be wrong





Q - What exact verse in the Bible says the phrase "Second Coming of Jesus"?
A -
Walang tayong alam na ganung verse saying those exact words in English or in the original Greek. The terms used were "parousa"/ "day of the Lord"/ "Future Hope"
but not exactly "Second Coming".
Ang makakita, premyuhan nating ng banana cue. smile emoticon
Those exact words are already terminologies of interpreters, sometimes used as title of headings in some NT translations/versions, but not really part of the original NT text.




Q - lagi ko na lang naririnig yung "do not TOUCH the LORD'S anointed one" na yan? Ano po ba ang pwedeng gawin sa mga ganitong tao na porke't worker sila sa ministry feeling nila anointed na din sila ng Lord? Ginagamit po kasi nila yun in a way na para bang "untouchables'' na sila, naba-bother po ako.
A -
"THE LORD'S ANOINTED" REFERRED TO SPECIFIC KINGS AND PROPHETS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. HINDI ITO APPLICABLE SA LAHAT/KAHIT KANINO NA LANG NA RELIGIOUS WORKER later or TODAY.
HIndi pa sila buhay nung sinulat yung verses. Hindi sila kilala nung sumulat. Hindi yun tungkol sa kanila




Q - Sabi po ng preacher namin, pag umalis kami sa church at lumipat sa iba, papaluin kami ng Diyos?!
A -
Ganun ba naman ang Diyos!? Baka sya ang gustong pumalo sa inyo? smile emoticon
Ang Church ay malaki, maraming parts.
Ang isang local congregation ay isa lang part ng malaking Body Of Christ.
Kung umalis ka sa isang local congregation at lumipat ka sa ibang congregations na si Jesus dina ng Lord and Savior, HINDI KA UMALIS SA CHURCH;
lumipat ka lang ng puesto, naghanap ka lang ng mas hiyang na lugar para sa yo.
HUWAG PATAKOT/MATAKOT SA mga ganyang spiritual blackmail.
Mas mabait ang Diyos kesa sa mga ganyang preachers na puro pananakot at pagpaparusa ang bukang-bibig.




Q - Tito ang husband ko po nagseselos sa picture ng ex ko na nasa photo album ko.
Ipinaaalis nya.
Hindi ko po inaalis kasi part naman talaga ng past ko ang ex ko.
What do you think?
A -
Kung nagseselos ang husband mo, alisin mo na lang kaya sa album?
Kung talagang gusto mong itago, ilipat mo na lang sa isang mas private file, hindi dun sa nakikita nya ---at ng lahat ng taong titingin sa album na yan.
Mas proper and tasteful for you to respect and defer to your husband's sentiment.



If God hates material idols that misrepresent the Divine,
then God would also hate the other--- the mental/ideological/philosophical--- idol that misprepresents the Divine: MAN-MADE THEOLOGY.





IDOLS, those that MISrepresent God, are not only physical objects but also mental constructs, theologies and doctrines that humans create, formalize, codify and teach ABOUT God.
Those teachings, being of imperfect humans, could not precisely/perfectly/adequately represent God.
That is why God hates idols ---both physical and mental idols.
If God hates material idols that misrepresent the Divine,
then God would also hate the other--- the mental/ideological/philosophical idol that misprepresents the Divine: MAN-MADE THEOLOGY.
If the best image of God is a non-specific non-image,
then the best theology that could remain faithful to that truth is not elaborate man-made doctrine but SILENCE





Q - Is God real? I'm so tired of waiting for God's answers to my prayers. I have been so religious, pious and good; how come God does not bless me?
A -
I believe 1,000% that God is real.
But the God that religions project is probably not exactly the same as the real God.
God hates idols. And idols are not just physical misrepresentations of God who is spirit.
IDOLS, those that MISrepresent God, are not only physical objects but also mental constructs, theologies and doctrines that humans create, formalize, codify and teach about GOD. Those teachings, being of imperfect humans, could not precisely/perfectly/adequately represent God.
That is why God hates idols ---both physical and mental idols.
That is also why on most occasions, especially when one is confused, "THE BEST THEOLOGY IS SILENCE".
Most of people's frustrations with God are based on expectations created by religions. Many of those expectations are unmet/unsatisfied because those are not premised and founded on Truth but on illusions/imaginings/impressions, etc. so some people tend to abandon belief in God while they should abandon only misrepresentations of God.
Some people abandon God while they should abandon only certain religions or religious teachings about God.
Some people, frustrated and disillusioned about religion commit the mistake of abandoning God. They throw the baby with the bath water.
It is a great challenge to really know God beyond and in spite of religious franchises.
IT IS A GREAT CHALLENGE TO KNOW GOD BEYOND AND INSPITE OF WHAT RELIGIONS TEACH, not without error, ABOUT GOD.





Q - Ung second coming po Ni lord jesus christ Ung pong rapture diba tito ed?
A -
masyado kasing ginawa nilang technical ang mga bagay na yan, complete with numbers and names.
For instance, wala naman sa bible ang words na "rapture" or "second coming of Jesus" kahit equivalents sa original Greek manuscripts. Interpretation and oversimplification ang mga yan ng "theologians".
Pati "future events", sobrang ginawang literal, numbered, dated, etc. Puro yan interpretations from vague and probably symbolic languages/ideas na kung ituro ay para talagang sure facts.
So as not to be confused and stressed, focus more on the spirit rather than on technicalities?





Do not display lack of refinement and breeding by being noisy in public places.
It is inconsiderate to disturb others with your noise/voice.
Inconsiderateness exposes one's lack of civility.



Q - Biglang yaman po kami ng husband ko. Hindi kami talaga sanay sa buhay mayaman pero ngayon, marami po kaming bagong kaibigang talagang mayaman at dati nang mayaman. Pls give us pointers para hindi naman kami sobrang mahalatang biglang-yaman lang.
A -
Don't be loud and over in anything.
Pag maghahanda, huwag parang barrio fiesta sa dami ang food.
Pag mag-aalahas, huwag parang Christmas tree sa dami ng sabit.
Pag magbibihis, huwag yung naglalakihan at nagsisigawang expensive brands na mukha kang billboard sa EDSA.
Ang mga ganyan ang magbibistong biglang yaman, bagong yaman o nouveau riche kayo.
Pero wala namang nakakahiya sa biglang-yaman.
Buti nga yumaman kayo.
Pero kung gusto mo lang na mukha kayong sanay sa yaman
ay maging simple lang.
Ang tunay at dati nang mayaman, tahimik, hindi mayabang, hindi mapag-display ng mga kayamanan at mga bagong acquired na tastes




Q - Tito ano po ba talaga ang practical meaning ng "etiquette" or "good manners" kasi pwedeng iba-iba ng idea ang maraming tao?
Minsan po iniisip ng iba, kaplastikan lang ang etiquette at di bagay sa tunay na buhay?
A -
Etiquette or Good Manners is nothing but CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS.
Bagay yun at kailangan sa "tunay na buhay", lalu na sa pakikipagkapwa-tao








ofw...]]
KUNDI LANG DAHIL SA ISYU NG PASALUBONG AT WALANG WAKAS NA PAGLILIBRE SA MADLA.
maraming mga Pilipinong naninirahan sa ibang bansa ang mas madalas uuwi sa atin.
Yung gastos sa pasalubong at pamumudmod ng pera at paglilibre sa buong lalawigan ang tumatakot at pumip[igil sa pag-uwi ng marami.

OFWs:
Hwag obligahin ang sarili na magpasubong sa buong baranggay twing uuwi kayo.
Minsan lang ----siguro sa unang uwi ---magpasalubong.
Sa mga susunod na uwi, TAMA NA ANG KWENTO bilang pasalubong,
lalu na sa mga hindi namang nag contribute sa mga gastos nyo para sa unang alis.
Sabi nga ng matatanda:
'PAG ANG PADALA'Y SALITA
ANG UWI AY BALITA.


PASALUBONG KO!?"
TIGILAN ang kahihingi ng PASALUBONG sa mga nagbibiyahe.
Burden maghanap, bumili, mag-empake, magbitbit at mag check ng baggage sa eroplano.
Nakakabawas sa budget at oras ng nagbibiyahe para gawin ang pakay niya o para mag-enjoy.
KUNG WALA KANG PABAON sa nagbiyahe, lalu nang hwag kang huminigi ng pasalubong.
Kung tinanong ka, dun mo lang sabihin ang gusto mo.
Pag di ka tinanaong, quiet ka na lang.
Masyadong childish, primitive and selfish ang PANGHIHINGI ng pasalubong.



Q - KUYA ED
IKAW BA TO?
Tama na ang pagiging housewife "lang":
Puro laba, laba, laba, plancha
luto, linis, linis, linis.
Dapat mayron nang income/pinagkakakitaan ang wife.
Tama na ang puro domestic concerns lang.
Tama na ang "perfect"household, pero isa lang ang kumikita.
Think bigger and act bigger.
Spend less time doing house chores
and engage in income-generating activities.
Makatutulong sa husband in a finacial way.
AT makatutulong din/lalu sa sarili.
CONCERN KO LANG ANG "Spend less time doing house chores" BAKA MAJUSTIFY ANG PAGKAWALA SA FOCUS AS HOUSEKEEPER, WIFE AND MOTHER ESPECIALLY SA MGA PASLIT?
PERO AGREE AKO SA IDEA
GOD BLESS
A -
Attention to paslits is ok, but do you notice na nauubos ang oras at buhay ng housewives sa kalalaba at kalilinis ng bahay? Na sa mga commercial ng detergents, women are depicted as ang pinakamatayog na aspiration at kiliig moment at pag napuring ang puti at ang bango ng labada? Womanhood is reduced to being an "excellent" domestic work machine?
AND OBSERVE NEARLY EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY,
talagang nauubos ang mag-hapon at ang buhay ng housewives sa kalalaba at kalilinis. Hindi nadedevelop ang buong personhood, ang intellect o kahit income-generating skills. Pag tuloy biglang iniwan ng husband, sobrang helpless.




Q - Ano po ang advice nyo sa tulad ko na brand-new Bible-based, Christ-Centered born-again Christian na sobrang on fire with the Spirit and with my newfound faith?
A -Careful with
1. DENOMINATIONALISM. Iisa ang Bible pero ang daming denominations na may kanya-kanyang interpretations and ways of applying in life those various interpretations.Madalas ang nagiging stand o position ng new believers ay kung ano lang ang stand ng nag-share at nag-akay sa kanya sa Bible studies o yung teachings ng church/fellowship na una nyang nasalihan.Anuman ang marinig mong katuruan, lalu yung self-promoting sa teacher/group and condemning of others/other groups, hindi mo kailangang lulunin ng buong-buo.Magtira ka sa utak mo ng space para sa ibang interpretations and teachings na hindi mo pa naririnig.
2. ZEALOTRY for a group/congregation/church.Huwag kang pa-influence na sobrang itaas, hangaan, ipaglaban at ilaban sa ibang churches ang church na nasalihan mo.
3. EXTREMISM
Beware, baka masali o masangkot ka sa extremist group: yung sobrang higpit, bagsik, tapang at laging naghahanap ng debate o away with other groups at laging gusto to kill or die for religious belief.
4. HUTHUTAN
Umiwas sa groups na ang laging topic ay pera, donation, ambag, collection, etc at makahalata kung pineperahan ka lang ng nasalihan mong group.
5. OBSESSION WITH JUST ONE or very few favorite topics like end of the world, spirits/demons/etc, diet, outward looks, etc. lalu na yung mga nakakatakot.
KAWAWA ANG BAGONG BELIEVER NA MASASABIT SA ANY OF THE ABOVE.





Q - Sa tagal nyo na po sa ministry, ano ang na-observe nyong major mistake ng mga tao sa pagkakilala nila sa Diyos?
A -
That God's agenda is to change people.
Yun din tuloy ang ginagawang (oppressive) agenda ng church.
What many do not realize and understand is that God opens his heart to accept and love people!
That God's acceptance does not require people to change first!
With unconditional love through Jesus, God accepts people as they are, where they are.
Then "change" is a result of an active loving relationship and interaction with God.
And one of the greatest changes is not really having to force oneself to change
but to be able to change one's perception of and attitude toward himself --- to see himself, accept himself, and love himself ---as God does.





Kabataan:
Huwag
- paakit
- sumama
- sumunod
- sumangkot
- sumali
sa anumang movement, ideology /ism, belief system, etc that will
- deprive you of your youth:
fastforward you to "maturity", making you skip youth and youthfulness
- make you a loser in the finer things in life like provisions, fuilfilment, enjoyment, happiness and comfort.
Dahil sa pagiging young, puedeng mabulag ng high-sounding ideas and idealism at ibigay ang kabataan at buhay sa mga ganyan.
Sadly, malalaman lang na "lies" pala ang mga yan kung matanda ka na at malamang ay huli na ang lahat.




Ang hindi mo maintindihan ay hindi para sa yo.
Para yun sa makauunawa.
Ang liwanag ay para lang sa may mata at paningin.
Bale-wala ang liwanag sa bulag.
Kung ibig mong mapasaiyo rin ang isang diwa,
intindihin mo.
Magsikap kang umunawa.
Kung ibig mong magabayan ng liwanag,
idilat mo ang iyong mga mata.
Ang liwanag ay para lang sa mulat.



Habang nabubuhay pa sa denial of self and reality,
habang hindi pa natatanggap ang tunay na sarili at pagkatao nang may kapayapaan,
habang nabubuhay pa sa pagpapanggap at pagtatakwil sa sarili,
habang hindi pa niyayakap ang totoo ngayon
at naghahabol pa sa ilusyon na hinahangad sa malayung hinaharap,
HINDI PA NAUUNAWA ang walang patakarang pag-ibig at pagtanggap ng Dios sa pamamagitan ni Jesus.



Mag-ingat sa anumang ibinibigay sa yo ng "LIBRE".
Itanong agad sa sarili: "LOVE na nya /nila ako?"
Bibigyan ka ng libre kung:
1. LOVE ka. (Unlikely)
2. Inaakit pa para sumama /sumali /kumampi sa nagbibigay.
3. Gusto kang i-convert (Pag religious material yung libre)
4. Gusto kang pabilhin ng susunod (Sample pala yung libre.)
5. May hinihintay na kapalit



Q - Ano po ang magandang gawin sa mga ultra conservative religious critics na lagi na lang may pintas, puna at pakikialam?
A -
Ignore them?
Bayaan silang ma-stress, ma-depress at manigas dahil sa attitude nila?
Do not empower them with your attention and compliance?
Torture them by enjoying your life? Hahahahahah!
(And in your rare, spiritual moments smile emoticon ipag-pray sila?)




Q - Sa more than 3 decades nyo sa ministry, ano po ang isang mahalagang bagay na natutunan nyo. Isa lang po para focused.
A -
Minimize contact, "cooperation", "fellowship" with other "leaders" na walang ginawa kundi magpaligsahan at magpabanalan o kaya ay gumamit sa o ipagamit ang mga flocks nila as warm bodies in non-church activites, events and movements sa kung kani-kaninong interests, rallies, prayer (kuno) events na may iba namang agenda, etc.




It is hell to be with verse-foaming-in-the-mouth modern-day Pharisees who claim to have been "changed" by God then push, pull and coerce all others into being changed like them!



Many religious people preach with their mouths about the grace of God and the love of Jesus
but in reality and actual practice, they live under the Law and condemn their converts and followers to a life of Phariseeic, legalistic, oppressive religiosity.



Q - Mayron po ba talagang GENERATIONAL CURSE? Yung may sakit o problema o pangit na kalagayan ang isang tao dahil sa kasalanan ng or curse sa kanyang magulang o mga ancestors?
A -
KUNG mayron man nyan noong OT times, - binura na yan ni Jesus.
- napapawalang-bisa yan sa pagliligtas ni Jesus.
1.
Jesus taught his disciples to bless and not curse even those who cursed them. He did not want anyone to be cursed, even those who cursed his disciples. Luke 6:28
2.
Jesus saved people from the curse of the Law. Why will he let anyone remain under any form of curse? Galatians 3:13
3.
God's kindness rules believers' lives.Jesus set people free even from the rule of the Law. How much more will he set people free from the rule of a curse? Romans 6:14
4.
People are treated and will be judged according to their personal behavior. No one should be judged/punished/ kept under a curse because of the mistakes of other persons, even if they were relatives/ancestors.
2 Corinthians 5:10
Jeremiah 17:10
5.
The idea of generational curse is inconsistent with, in fact contradictory to, the love and saving work of Jesus. Jesus sets free.
John 8:36
NO ONE WHO BELIEVES IN JESUS WILL REMAIN UNDER ANY FORM OF CURSE.
Kung mayron man syang kalagayan na nanatili kahit nanalig na sya kay Jesus, HINDI CURSE yun: baka dahil natural lang talaga, dapat lang talaga or result of cause and effect.
Pero hindi curse.
To say generational curses could still enslave believers is to say that the work of Jesus is not enough to set people free.
Not even SORCERY or WITCHCRAFT or CHARMS could affect God's people.




Verses Supplied here.
Q - Mayron po ba talagang GENERATIONAL CURSE? Yung may sakit o problema o pangit na kalagayan ang isang tao dahil sa kasalanan ng or curse sa kanyang magulang o mga ancestors?
A -
KUNG mayron man nyan noong OT times, - binura na yan ni Jesus.
- napapawalang-bisa yan sa pagliligtas ni Jesus.
1.
Jesus taught his disciples to bless and not curse even those who cursed them. He did not want anyone to be cursed, even those who curse his disciples.
Luke 6:28 (CEV) 28 Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you.
2.
Jesus saved people from the curse of the Law. Why will he let anyone remain under any form of curse?
Galatians 3:13 (CEV) 13 But Christ rescued us from the Law’s curse, when he became a curse in our place. This is because the Scriptures say that anyone who is nailed to a tree is under a curse.
3.
God's kindness rules believers' lives.Jesus set people free even from the rule of the Law. How much more will he set people free from the rule of a curse? Romans 6:14 (CEV) 14 Don’t let sin keep ruling your lives. You are ruled by God’s kindness and not by the Law.
4.
People are treated and will be judged according to their personal behavior. No one should be judged/punished/ kept under a curse because of the mistakes of other persons, even if they were relatives/ancestors.
2 Corinthians 5:10 (CEV)10 After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.
Jeremiah 17:10 (NRSV)
10 I the LORD test the mind and search the heart, according to the fruit of their doings.
5.
The idea of generational curse is inconsistent with, in fact contradictory to, the love and saving work of Jesus. Jesus sets free.
John 8:36 (NRSV) 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
NO ONE WHO BELIEVES IN JESUS WILL REMAIN UNDER ANY FORM OF CURSE.
Kung mayron man syang kalagayan na nanatili kahit nanalig na sya kay Jesus, HINDI CURSE yun: baka dahil natural lang talaga, dapat lang talaga or result of cause and effect.
Pero hindi curse.
To say geberational curses could still enslave believers is to say that the work of Jesus is not enough to set people free.
NOt even SORCERY or WITCHCRAFT or CHARMS could affect God's people.
Numbers 23:23 (CEV)23 No magic charms can work against them—just look what God has done for his people.



Kung nanalig na kay Jesus pero hindi mo pa matanggap ang
- sarili,
- likas,
- hindi mababago o maiiba sa pagkatao mo anuman ang gawin o paniwalaan,
BAKA HINDI MO PA NAUUNAWA
ang ibig sabihin ng pag-ibig, pagtanggap at pagliligtas ni Jesus.
Hindi ka lang inililigtas ni Jesus mula sa parusa ng relihiyon o ng Langit kundi pati na rin sa pagpaparusa sa sarili kung patuloy na nagpapasan ng
- denial and rejection of self /reality
- needless guilt
- fear of punishment
- performance to be perfect.
Jesus accepts and loves you for who and what you are.
You should learn to also accept and love yourself for who and what you are, and others for who and what they are.
THIS IS FREEDOM IN JESUS!
Galatians 5:1 (CEV)
Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don’t ever become slaves of the Law again.



Ito ang malabong pagkaunawa ng "Jesus-based faith":
Kunwari/ Akala "free from the Law"
but actually still a slave of and afraid of the Law.
Pag ganun, sobrang kulang ang pagka-unawa o pagkakilala kay Jesus.
Jesus believer ("under grace and not under the law") lang pala sa cover
pero sa loob ay
- under the Law /Curse of the Law pa rin
- Phariseeic
- laging takot, guilty at pagod mag-perform / magpaka-perfect.
SAYANG ANG SACRIFICE AT PAGLILIGTAS NI JESUS.
One-time lang pala savior si Jesus pagtakatapos ay sya na uli ang magsisikap na maging savior ng sarili by slaving away under the Law.