Do you encourage sinful living?

Q - Do you encourage sinful living?

A - Pipilitin kong huwag mapikon sa tanong at sagutin na lang ng simpleng: "Of course not!"

Pipilitin ko ring i-take ang tanong as a compliment kasi even Jesus was called by his critics as "a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of sinners and tax collectors." The ministry of Jesus is to give rest, and his burden is light. I love it when sinners relax enough to unburden, seek help and find acceptance.

I'd love it if people would consider me a friend of sinners. Brand yata ni Jesus yun! :-) I'm not eager to be called an ally of Pharisees, especially the modern-day types.

Needless to say we do not encourage sinful living (although dapat suriin at i-redefine yang "sin" word na yan. Kasi, sa maraming relihiyoso, lahat na lang sin.)

But while we do not encourage sin, we do accept and not judge fellow forgiven sinners; kahit hindi pa sila perfect --- o kahit hindi pa sila maging perfect ever in this life.

No apologies, mga apo. 

Hanggang saan po ang sakop sa pakikialam ng isang leader sa personal life ng member?

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.

Most quarrels of Bible readers are based on the details of the Laws and teachings of prophets and the disciples and the different interpretations that are made from them. How can these differences be resolved? (Ed Lapiz)

Q - Most quarrels of Bible readers are based on the details of the Laws and teachings of prophets and the disciples and the different interpretations that are made from them. How can these differences be resolved?

A - Religious/doctrinal quarrels would end, or at least be minimized if only people obeyed Jesus.
Consider:

Matthew 5:18 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
18 Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you that not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in it must happen.

* Jesus says that the Law is forever.

- - - - -
Matthew 5:17 (CEV)
17 Don’t suppose that I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets.[a] I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning.

* Jesus says he came not to abolish the Law but to
- give the Law its full meaning.
- explain/expound the Law.
- interpret and apply the Law.

- - - - -
Matthew 22:37-40 (CEV)
37 Jesus answered:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 38 This is the first and most important commandment. 39 The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” 40 All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets[a] are based on these two commandments.

* Jesus sums up the basis of all the Law and the teachings of the Prophets: Love God and people.

Note:
The basis, not the details, of the Law and the Prophets was what Jesus emphasized.

The basis is only one and it is clear: Love. It unifies.
The details are many; comparing and contrasting them could be complex.
Details of the Law and the Prophets could
- divide.
- cause quarrels and fights.

- - - - -
John 13:34-35 (CEV)
34 But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. 35 If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.

* Jesus not only
-redefines
- reinterprets
- reshapes - all the Law and the Prophets; he removes all of it's divisive details and retains only its unifying basis and purpose: Love.

- - - - -
Matthew 24:35 (CEV)
35 The sky and the earth won’t last forever, but my words will.

* Jesus' words
= The restated and fulfilled Law and the Prophets
= Love

.: Stop focusing on detailed and divisive doctrines.
Focus on love.

If a teaching divides and causes quarrels, cruelty and hatred, it is not
- Love.
- of Jesus.
- the Law and the Prophets.
- of God.

- - - - -
Titus 3:1-11 (CEV)
3 Remind your people to obey the rulers and authorities and not to be rebellious. They must always be ready to do something helpful 2 and not say cruel things or argue. They should be gentle and kind to everyone. 3 We used to be stupid, disobedient, and foolish, as well as slaves of all sorts of desires and pleasures. We were evil and jealous. Everyone hated us, and we hated everyone.
4 God our Savior showed us
how good and kind he is.
5 He saved us because
of his mercy,and not becauseof any good things
that we have done.
God washed us by the power
of the Holy Spirit.He gave us new birth
and a fresh beginning.
6 God sent Jesus Christour Savior to give us his Spirit.
7 Jesus treated us much better than we deserve.He made us acceptable to Godand gave us the hope of eternal life.
8 This message is certainly true.
These teachings are useful and helpful for everyone. I want you to insist that the people follow them, so that all who have faith in God will be sure to do good deeds. 9 But don’t have anything to do with stupid arguments about ancestors. And stay away from disagreements and quarrels about the Law of Moses. Such arguments are useless and senseless.
10 Warn troublemakers once or twice. Then don’t have anything else to do with them. 11 You know that their minds are twisted, and their own sins show how guilty they are.

* People should stop religious quarrels!

- - - - -
1 John 4:7-8 (CEV)
7 My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life. We are now God’s children, and we know him. 8 God is love, and anyone who doesn’t love others has never known him.

* Anyone who quarrels for doctrine ---who does not love because of "doctrine"--- disobeys the most important doctrine of all: the doctrine of love. 1 John says that doctrine warriors who don't love others do not really know God.

Ed Lapiz Post (SA AKING INANG BAYAN)

Di po ba ang pinagsama ng Diyos ay di dapat paghiwalayin ng tao? So kahit ano ang pagdurusa ng isang asawa, hindi sya dapat humiwalay?

Q - Di po ba ang pinagsama ng Diyos ay di dapat paghiwalayin ng tao? So kahit ano ang pagdurusa ng isang asawa, hindi sya dapat humiwalay?

A - Sa palagay mo ba yung couple na patuloy na may nagdurusa, dinadaya, pinagtataksilan, inaapi, sinasaktan, pinababayaan, etc ay PINAGSAMA NG DIYOS at gusto nyang patuloy na magsama? Na in-assign ng Diyos ang isa sa kanila na magdusa, magtiis, maghirap, masaktan, mapabayaan, malungkot, maghirap, etc habang nagpapasasa sa kabalbalan ang isa?
Sa palagay mo gusto ng Diyos na patuloy makisama yung api at kawawa?

Yung "TAO" sa "huwag paghiwalayin ng TAO" ay ibang TAO, labas sa mag-asawa. Ibig sabihin huwag paghiwalayin ng third party o ng mga pakialamero/a ang mag-asawa.
Pero kung yung naghihirap at nagdurusang asawa ang gustong makahinga mula sa pagkakasakal, sa palagay mo hindi sya papayagan ng Diyos kahit para iligtas ang buhay nya sa kapahamakan?

Q - Di po ba si Hosea ay maka ilang ulit pinagtaksilan ni wife Gomer pero tinanggap nya pa din ito?

A - Utos kasi sa kanya ng Diyos yun. His continuing acceptance of her would become a symbol of God's unconditional acceptance of his people. Pero pang kanya lang yung utos; symbolic, hindi naman para sa lahat. Ikaw ba si Hosea?

Q - E di po ba "a wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives?"

A - Yes, "as long as he lives"!
Meaning he exists, he is there as a functioning husband: present, dependable, loving, caring, providing, protecting, doing a husband's duties and not only enjoying a husband's privileges.
Yun ang ibig sabihin ng "he lives". Hindi lang biologically kundi functionally.
Pag hindi na nya ginagawa ang mga ito, pag nang-abandon sya, nagtaksil at nambabae, hindi sya nagpo-provide at sya ay nananakit pa, hindi na sya functioning husband = hindi na sya "living". Dead na sya as husband. The wife is no longer bound to him morally. Puede nang kumalas legally, socially and personally.

Jesus himself defines for us the meaning of functionally dead and alive.
The son in the parable of Jesus left his father/home and did not function as a son. Thus he was considered dead.
When he returned, this is what his father said:

Luke 15:23-24 (CEV)
23 Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was DEAD, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.” And they began to celebrate.

If a husband or wife does not function as expected in a prolonged period or repetitive cycles, gravely damaging the partner and the partnership, as a spouse he/she is already "dead". The aggrieved partner is now morally free from the marriage bond.
Pag naisipian nyang basta bumalik, hindi sya tulad ng son na dapat ay welcome.
Nasa iniwan na yun kung willing and free para tatanggapin pa sya ulit.

Q - Eh Tito di po sabi ni God sa Bible, "I hate divorce"?

A - Yung divorce na tinutukoy sa Bible ay yung divorce na uso noon: One way, only in the favor of men. Noon kasi, pag ayaw na sa wife ng husband, sasabihin lang nya, "I divorce you." Tapos, divorced na. Free na ang lalake na mag-asawa ulit ng kahit sino, pero yung babae hinde. Tapos pag sawa na sya sa bagong wife, idi-divorce nya lang ulit basta. May nangdidivorce pa nga para lang mag-asawa at maenjoy ang ibang babae. Tapos ididivorce nya ulit at babalikan ang dating wife.
To protect those women, inutos ni Moses na mag-issue ng cerificate of divorce ang lalake sa babae para may proof ang babae na free na sya at may panghawakan sya kung ayaw na nya sa lalake kung bumalik ito.
God hates those divorces that were unfair to women or the weaker party.
Ayaw nya ng divorce kung saan maapi o makakawawa o maabuse ang babae o weaker party.
Ngayon, kung divorce ang paraan para malakaya ang babae or aggrieved party sa pang-aapi ng asawa, sa palagay mo, hate pa rin ng Diyos ang divorce?

Q - Pero Tito, di po ba mahirap namang gawing humiwalay?

A - Alam mo, kanina pa parang gustung-gusto mong magdusa sa piling ng dead husband. Masokista ka ba? Ikaw ba si Dolores? Lagrimas? Angustia?
Bahala ka na nga!

E di po ba "a wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives?"

Q - E di po ba "a wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives?"

A - Yes, "as long as he lives"!
Meaning he exists, he is there as a functioning husband: present, dependable, loving, caring, providing, protecting, doing a husband's duties and not only enjoying a husband's privileges.
Yun ang ibig sabihin ng "he lives". Hindi lang biologically kundi functionally.
Pag hindi na nya ginagawa ang mga ito, pag nang-abandon sya, nagtaksil at nambabae, hindi sya nagpo-provide at sya ay nananakit pa, hindi na sya functioning husband = hindi na sya "living". Dead na sya as husband. The wife is no longer bound to him morally. Puede nang kumalas legally, socially and personally.
Jesus himself defines for us the meaning of functionally dead and alive.
The son in the parable of Jesus left his father/home and did not function as a son. Thus he was considered dead.
When he returned, this is what his father said:
Luke 15:23-24 (CEV)
23 Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was DEAD, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.” And they began to celebrate.
If a husband or wife does not function as expected in a prolonged period or repetitive cycles, gravely damaging the partner and the partnership, as a spouse he/she is already "dead". The aggrieved partner is now morally free from the marriage bond.
Pag naisipian nyang basta bumalik, hindi sya tulad ng son na dapat ay welcome.
Nasa iniwan na yun kung willing and free para tatanggapin pa sya ulit.

Di po ba si Hosea ay maka ilang ulit pinagtaksilan ni wife Gomer pero tinanggap nya pa din ito?

Q - Di po ba si Hosea ay maka ilang ulit pinagtaksilan ni wife Gomer pero tinanggap nya pa din ito?

A - Utos kasi sa kanya ng Diyos yun. His continuing acceptance of her would become a symbol of God's unconditional acceptance of his people. Pero pang kanya lang yung utos; symbolic, hindi naman para sa lahat. Ikaw ba si Hosea?

Eh Tito di po sabi ni God sa Bible, "I hate divorce"?

Q - Eh Tito di po sabi ni God sa Bible, "I hate divorce"?

A - Yung divorce na tinutukoy sa Bible ay yung divorce na uso noon: One way, only in the favor of men. Noon kasi, pag ayaw na sa wife ng husband, sasabihin lang nya, "I divorce you." Tapos, divorced na. Free na ang lalake na mag-asawa ulit ng kahit sino, pero yung babae hinde. Tapos pag sawa na sya sa bagong wife, idi-divorce nya lang ulit basta. May nangdidivorce pa nga para lang mag-asawa at maenjoy ang ibang babae. Tapos ididivorce nya ulit at babalikan ang dating wife.
To protect those women, inutos ni Moses na mag-issue ng cerificate of divorce ang lalake sa babae para may proof ang babae na free na sya at may panghawakan sya kung ayaw na nya sa lalake kung bumalik ito.
God hates those divorces that were unfair to women or the weaker party.
Ayaw nya ng divorce kung saan maapi o makakawawa o maabuse ang babae o weaker party.
Ngayon, kung divorce ang paraan para malakaya ang babae or aggrieved party sa pang-aapi ng asawa, sa palagay mo, hate pa rin ng Diyos ang divorce?

Ed Lapiz - DIVIDING AND MULTIPLYING MONEY (October 25, 2017)

Ed Lapiz - PROBLEMS (October 15, 2017)

Q -I bought a painting of Nefertiti painted in a papyrus paper when we were in Egypt. Some Christians believe that there is bad spirits behind stuff like this. Shall I keep it or throw it away? A - Ano naman daw ang basis na pagbintangang may evil spirit ang painting? I DO NOT THINK SO. There is so much misuderstanding about art and even about ancient Egypt. Even if anyone thought that there could be an evil spirit in anything, they could simply drive it out in the name of Jesus. Then they could reposses the item. Believers should expand their world by redeemeing and repossessing all of Creation instead of demonizing things and avoiding them. Believers will lose by default and end up with nothing at their disposal. Evil spirits don't own anything; they are squatters that have no right to occupy anything. Everything in Creation belongs to God. God's children should claim and use their inheritance. Psalm 24:1 (CEV) 24 The earth and everything on it belong to the Lord. The world and its people belong to him.

Q -I bought a painting of Nefertiti painted in a papyrus paper when we were in Egypt. Some Christians believe that there is bad spirits behind stuff like this. Shall I keep it or throw it away?

A - Ano naman daw ang basis na pagbintangang may evil spirit ang painting?
I DO NOT THINK SO.
There is so much misuderstanding about art and even about ancient Egypt.
Even if anyone thought that there could be an evil spirit in anything, they could simply drive it out in the name of Jesus. Then they could reposses the item. Believers should expand their world by redeemeing and repossessing all of Creation instead of demonizing things and avoiding them. Believers will lose by default and end up with nothing at their disposal.
Evil spirits don't own anything; they are squatters that have no right to occupy anything. Everything in Creation belongs to God. God's children should claim and use their inheritance.
Psalm 24:1 (CEV)
24 The earth and everything on it
belong to the Lord.
The world and its people
belong to him.

Q - Tito mamatay yata ako sa lungkot at depression. My super, mega, ultra love BF left me for another girl. Hindi ko po kaya. First love ko po sya. Parang mamatay ako o gusto ko ng mamatay. Hindi na po ako magmamahal sa iba at di ko kayang limutin sya.

Q - Tito mamatay yata ako sa lungkot at depression. My super, mega, ultra love BF left me for another girl. Hindi ko po kaya. First love ko po sya. Parang mamatay ako o gusto ko ng mamatay. Hindi na po ako magmamahal sa iba at di ko kayang limutin sya.

A - Magtigil ka, pamangkin. Guni-guni mo lang yan.
More than 90% ng mag-asawa ay hindi mag-first love (Imbento ko lang ang figure :-) )
Pag may first love, puedeng may second, third, etc. (Wink)
More than 90% (Imbento ko ulit ang figure) ng mga taong buhay beyond age 30 ay dumaan na rin sa ganyang sobrang nakamamatay na lunghkot --- pero nabuhay at buhay pa. At na-in love ulit o kaya ay basta na lang naka-recover.
Kung nakamamatay ang lungkot ng broken heart sa na-abort na romance, dapat walang buhay beyond age 30. Lahat naman nakararanas masaktan at magkadurug-durog.
But look, tumatanda pa ng husto ang madla. You will survive. Gagaling ang sugat.
Life will go on. And time will come when you'd look backward to today and laugh at yourself.
SO, JUST SURVIVE TODAY and tomorrrow and the day after that till you wake up one moring na galing na ang sugat...at handa ka na namang sumubok magmahal. The end of a romance is not the end of the world.
Pray.Seek God. And survive.