Let Me Love You Today

I have a confession and I hope none of my community elders will read this. I’m being disobedient about something we were instructed to do. But before I get booted out of the community for being pigheaded, let me explain (or justify) my insubordination.

THE MISSION

The Light of Jesus Family’s mission is to “Make Disciples”. Our leader, Bo Sanchez, wrote the book Love Someone Today, a One-to-One Discipleship for Catholics. This is the tool given to the servants of the Feast to use in our evangelization. It’s a small but powerful book that can and is already touching lives.

We were given marching orders to seek one person to love and eventually disciple. This meant approaching a Feast attendee, starting a relationship and going through 7 lessons with her (or him for the brothers).

THE PROBLEM

Easy enough? Not quite. Last night in our meeting, we were grouped and asked to discuss our experiences in doing one-to-one discipleship.

True, there were inspiring stories from some members. Without a doubt, there are disciples in the making.

But there were stories not shared in the assembly but only discussed in the groups.

A brother shared that he was totally ignored by an attendee he tried to connect with. The man pointedly kept his earphones on.

A sister sensed that the person she tried to disciple got freaked out. Initially, the woman tried to hide from her during the Feast. Eventually, she stopped attending altogether.

And my personal problem? I just haven’t had the time to scout around for a prospect much less squeeze in a face-to-face encounter over a cup of coffee or tea (for me, since I rarely like coffee). Considering the myriad of duties I have, I may never have time to sit and talk.

MY SOLUTION

During our Love Someone Today (LST) workshop, I already knew I wouldn’t be able to do this. I lightheartedly said that I will just blog about it.

But seriously thinking about our mission, I felt that we each have our own way of making disciples. Since I’m a writer, my blog is a tool I can use to accomplish the task I was given. (I sometimes kid that if I get mad I will duel with my blog as my weapon of choice. Since this time it's all for love, it will be used to reach out and hopefully touch lives.)

Considering the advancements in technology, it is no longer strange to form relationships in cyberspace. My niece, for instance, met a guy from China online. Their romance blossomed via the internet. Now she’s married to him and awaiting the birth of their first child. So who’s to say disciples can’t be made online?

FINDING FRIENDS ONLINE

As a Didache and Gabay* writer, I often get messages from people who were touched by my reflection. Some have become cyber-buddies that I exchange emails with.

So here’s what I commit to do. I will write about each chapter of the LST booklet and do online discipleship. (I’m not encouraging others to do this. This is just me because writing is my gift. I say, “Go find your own thing” :) lest I be taken to task for being a bad influence.)

It may not exactly be what we were tasked to do but I feel I have God’s blessings on this one. I got His confirmation just this morning as I was praying about my plan:

“Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” – Acts 5:20

The passage said “take your place” and my place is to write…here in my blog. I take it that “this life” refers to the life in community, a life following Jesus.

By writing about the lessons in this book I hope to deepen friendships with 3 ladies I met online:

I got to know Jennet because she would comment on my articles in our now-defunct website, Proudly Filipina. We reconnected through Didache and became online friends. I regularly send her my blogs.

May sent an email to all Didache writers about her job problem in Australia and I responded. After an exchange of emails, she visited us in Feast Alabang when she came home. She got a wonderful miracle a few weeks after – she and her husband got jobs in the U.S. We kept in touch for a while after she left. I hope through this online LST, we can continue the friendship.

I “met” Erma also because of my Didache reflection. She is planning a trip to Manila soon and I’ve invited her to visit me at the Feast Alabang. In the meantime, I have connected her to Feast Cagayan de Oro.

But I’m not limiting the interaction to these three ladies. If you can relate, become touched or would just like to reflect on what I will write about the LST, be my cyber-friend and drop me a line.

See you all soon for my take on the Intro to Love Someone Today.

*Didache and Gabay are daily bible reflections for Catholics.

Spiritual Warfare

Two years ago, I wrote the following reflection about a spiritual warfare that we in the Feast Alabang Media Ministry experienced. It was featured as the April 2 reflection for Didache 2012.

“BACK OFF!”

“Here is my servant, whom I strengthen.” – Isaiah 42:1

“Back off!” Piurie heard a male voice from out of nowhere. It was Saturday night. She was alone editing the video to launch the Caring Groups at our Feast the next day. This was the last incident in a string of spiritual harassments that our Media Ministry experienced that week.

Osy, who conceptualized the presentation, figured in a three-vehicle smash-up. My monitor, which was working fine, suddenly flat-lined. Our videographers with their high-tech cameras and our talent were unavailable. One member was hospitalized due to asthma and severe back pains.

The thought that we were being attacked by evil forces to prevent the video from being used to harvest souls was chilling. But God provided and God protected. Tin, usually busy, was free to make the presentation. She roped in her friend, Piurie, to volunteer. Mike was able to borrow a camera. AJ from the youth ministry agreed to do the funny poses we needed to shoot.

When we asked for prayers, we were assured that God had sent His angels to cover us. Backed by the strength of God’s forces, it was our turn to say to the devil, “Back off, we’re showing this!” And we did.

The night before the reflection came out, our AVP Team Head Noemi texted me to ask for prayers. She was making the Awesome Kids AVP that will be used for ASK, our Holy Week Recollection.

Technical problems were hampering her efforts. Not only that, she felt a presence when she was typing in the words “Who is God for you?” She decided to stop.

She later said that when she attempted to do it again the following night, her son asked her to sleep beside him. He felt someone touching him when there was nobody there.

When I got her text, the first thing that popped into my head was that my reflection was coming out the next day. It was creepy that it was happening at this time. I prayed a spiritual warfare prayer for Noemi.

Things like this are scary especially because when you serve God you are in the forefront of the battle.

But it is also a firm affirmation of two truths. One: that the devil is also afraid of us, of the things we can do as warriors for the Lord. Two: that the Lord is our vanguard and our rear guard in this spiritual warfare. When you have the most powerful force with you, how can you lose?

Noemi’s story ended like Piurie’s. She too completed her task by the power of prayer. God will always help us to be victorious. All we have to do is ASK!

ASK, Feast Alabang’s Lenten Recollection, will be held on April 5, 6 & 7, 2012 (Holy Thursday to Black Saturday) from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Bellevue Hotel, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Entrance is free, so if you’re free, come and join us.

A Memory Loss

So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you in condemnation…” – John 8:25-26

Sometimes we experience temporary memory loss at the most embarrassing times. You meet a person you know and when you attempt to introduce this person to your companion, you draw a mental blank. You absolutely cannot remember his or her name and you cannot do the unthinkable and ask, “Who are you?”

This happened to me a couple of times. The most embarrassing was when I remembered the name of the person I met on the street and forgot the name of my companion. I had to endure the embarrassment longer as we were taking the ride home together.

Physical memory loss, at most, is just embarrassing. Spiritual memory loss is tragic as you lose more than just your “face”. What causes spiritual memory loss? I’d say pride does.

Let me tell you 2 stories to illustrate my point:

• My Papa had a town mate who knew him quite well. She even used to call him kuya. Papa was a friend of her sibling. She migrated to the U.S.A. and made it big there. When Papa introduced himself to her when they saw each other again in the States, she said, “Who are you? Do I know you?”

• I have a friend who used to be thoughtful and nice. As he rose in stature, he seemed to have experienced a severe memory loss about how he got to where he was and the other people who made a mark before him. Now I want to throttle him until the bad spirits depart and ask him, “Who are you and what have you done to my friend?”

There are times when we act like the Pharisees, like we do not know Jesus at all. We fail to recognize His hand in the good fortune that comes our way. We forget that all the success and blessings in our lives came from Him. Let us always remember who Jesus is and live like Him so that when we meet Him at the pearly gates He will not ask, “Who are you? Do I know you?”

Bearers of the Cross, the Bible and the Virgin Mary

A Refreshing Dose of Spirituality at The SFA

I was washing breakfast dishes when the impression from the Lord hit me. I felt ridiculous trying to wipe away my tears with soapy, rubber-gloved hands but I couldn’t control the overwhelming feeling.

We had to do something special for the launch of the Saturday Feast Alabang or what we half-jokingly call The SFA (pronounced like spa but with F instead). The enthronement was a tradition. It was done for the center’s inauguration and for the Wednesday Feast launch.

We were going to do it again. But how do we make it different? For one thing we had nothing to enthrone that had not been enthroned before.

When the inspiration struck, I was awed by the significance. The Lord impressed on me that the people we should ask to be the bearers of the Bible, the image of the Virgin Mary and the Cross should be families whose lives and spirituality were dramatically changed at the Feast.

Two people and their families came to mind quickly.

Lilibeth started attending the Feast Alabang with her family shortly after it was launched. Her husband died of cancer and she was left to care for 2 young sons. Her elder son, Junpol has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. I used to see her husband carrying him as they dropped their love offering in the basket.

She stopped attending for a while because of her burdens but came back and joined a Caring Group. She happened to mention to her CG mates her dearest wish to buy a wheelchair for Junpol so that he can attend the Feast with them. One generous sister immediately bought him one. Lilibeth shared in our website and bulletin about the great love she experienced at the Feast.

Nina is a girl in her early teens who used to attend the Feast in a wheel chair. She had End Stage Renal Disease. In the beginning, she looked so sad and would just sit quietly with her parents and brother through the sessions. Many of us were pleased to see her get better over time. She now attends minus the wheelchair looking perky in her trendy outfits. (Watch out for her mother’s testimony in Kerygma Magazine’s May issue).

Two down one to go. Then I remembered Jun whom my cousin, Belle, had to cajole and badger into attending. He made a 180-degree turnaround from being a reluctant Feast attendee.

Thinking about these three families brought home the point that the Feast was really blessing lives and refreshing troubled souls. Their lives changed because of the healing and love they experienced.

Not only that, members of these families are now happy servants at the Feast Alabang: Lilibeth and Junpol (when he feels up to it) serve with the Warmth Ministry; Nina is one of our social networkers in Media, her mom Winnie is with the Warmth and Food Ministries, and I know her brother Earl volunteered for Tech; and Jun sings with the Music Ministry – not just for the Sunday Feast sessions but also the WFA (our Wednesday session), now the SFA and also supports Feast Sucat.

I felt they were the perfect people to bear the symbols of our Faith. The tears still flowed as I watched them during the enthronement. A sister shared she got goose bumps. The Spirit’s presence that we felt affirmed the impression that the Lord wanted these families to take part in the enthronement. The Lord moved people to give us a memorable launch.

Just as our Feast Builder for SFA, Randy Borromeo, said, “If it is the Lord’s will for this session to happen we will have the anointing of ease and things will just come together.” And they did. All the ministries who worked for the launch were excited and it showed in the wonderful service they gave.

Our Creatives and Food Ministries gave the SFA a relaxing ambiance to enhance the feeling that this is the harassed Christian’s weekend getaway with the Lord. We hope and pray that many souls will be refreshed in this spiritual spa.

The Saturday Feast Alabang is held at the Feast Alabang Center, 2nd Level, X-site Entrance, Festival Mall (right above National Bookstore). Session starts at 6:00 pm with anticipated mass at 7:30 pm.

Photos by Mike & Mai Togle, IC de Guzman & ReyMark Cristobal. Thanks FAMMily!

My Sweet Valentine

I just have to write this about my Valentine B.A.G of Miracles. And I have 2 hours and 14 minutes left before the Love Month ends so sorry if this is rushed.

Anyway, let me start with my B (blessing). My son bought 16 white roses the day before Valentine’s which he said he will give to the ladies in the school where he works. So thoughtful of him.

The best thing was he had one for me and my Mama too. Now, isn’t that the sweetest thing. I thought we weren’t included in his list.

My A (achievement) and G (good done for others) are in one package – I cooked a special dinner for my family. Achievement because I successfully cooked 3 new dishes. Well, let me put it this way - according to the Board of Judges, the Sausage Pasta was approved for “Party Menu”. The Chicken Chardon needs a tad more flavor but it was okay in the look and feel department.

The Bacon Wrapped Dynamite got mixed reviews. Papa and younger son liked it. Elder son’s comment was, “When did we ever like hot & spicy food?” Mama and I ate it with extreme caution considering the “accident” I had preparing it.

Word of advice: NEVER EVER AS IN EVER handle the seeds of the jalapeño pepper with bare hands. Nobody told me I needed to wear industrial gloves to take the seeds out (or to simply use a spoon and knife). Well, now I know, after getting my hands burnt while preparing that dynamite dish. I felt like my hands were on fire for about 2 hours.

But it was all worth it as my family enjoyed the dinner. It was a romantic-less way to spend Valentine’s Day but it was love-filled nevertheless.

Overwhelmed? Train Duplicates

Guideline # 8: Raise leaders after you

My world has just been shaken and stirred. Things are moving at such a fast pace. ZOOM, the event name of the Light of Jesus Family Leadership Assembly on Jan. 28, 2012, is such an apt description for the way things are moving in my ministry life.

Activities in Feast Alabang are on overdrive. There’s A.S.K. (our Lenten Recollection which will be held in Bellevue on April 5 to 7); there’s Loveoke (our post Valentine activity this coming Saturday); there’s a million and one formation activities and meetings and tasks.

And here’s the clincher: I’ve just been asked to handle the Events for our latest session, the Saturday Feast Alabang (SFA), that will be launched on March 10. Overwhelmed? You bet I am. Conflicted? That I am too, because I just love my FAMMily (Feast Alabang Media Ministry) and I would hate to leave them.

But as servants, one of the important virtues we were taught is obedience. If this is where God calls, I must follow. Besides, this will be in support of my Pillar heads who have also been very supportive of us.

After committing to obey the Lord’s leading, He proved once again that He cannot be out-given. I got 3 blessings in return. First, I get to stay with my FAMMily. Having efficient and capable team heads granted me the facility to just oversee the ministry. They can competently manage their own teams.

With my FAMMily Team Heads

The next blessing I got was a fresh dose of passion to serve. I must confess that this new assignment came in the throes of a burn-out. Lately, conflicts and fatigue have been taxing me. I felt it was time to balance my life and focus on the other areas that have been neglected.

When I was first asked to head Events, I said this prayer: “Lord, if this is where you want me to go, I will obey but please renew my passion for service.” The morning after our meeting to discuss the SFA among other things, the Lord answered my prayer. Like a dam that broke, ideas overflowed bringing with it excitement that refreshed my dry soul.

My third blessing is the inspiration to write a new guideline for my Manual for Servant Leaders Who Insanely Love to Serve God Despite Harassments and Frustrations. Guideline #8: Raise leaders after you.

These two principles that I applied with my Media Ministry team heads gave me the confidence to step back:

1. Trust the leaders you are tasked to train.

2. Take a risk – you will never know how good they can handle things unless you give them the chance.

These are principles I plan to take with me in my new assignment with a new set of leaders to work with. There are no perfect leaders so things will not always be smooth. But we have a perfect God who makes everything work for the good of those who serve Him.

Bo Sanchez telling LOJ leaders to be like the smallest Matryoshka doll and raise up

bigger and better next generation leaders.

The Saturday Feast Alabang will be held at the Feast Alabang Center, 2nd Level, X-site Entrance, Festival Mall (right above National Bookstore). Session starts at 6:00 pm. Plans for anticipated mass at 7:30 pm are being finalized.

Photos courtesy of Emy Cañete and IC de Guzman.

Discordant Notes

“Discord is the devil’s tool to prevent service for God from being delivered.”

This message clanged like a gong ripping through the quiet of my prayer time. It was a call to action and God’s prodding for me to write another guideline.

(Yes, Lord, I get it already. You let these things happen to hustle me into writing.)

I ignored His first poke to write this blog. The blessing of cool-headed and supportive leaders stilled turbulent waters so there was not much compulsion to write. Besides I had just written #6. God usually lets me catch my breath before He zaps me with the next guideline.

But then He sent a second poke, no erase that…call it a shake that rattled my teeth a bit (when I have to forego my rare chance of going to the gym, it’s a teeth-rattling experience). Plans for the gym were scrapped as I needed to exercise my peacemaking abilities instead.

I had to step in right away because it happened before. It was probably my fault it recurred because I was too busy to really sit down and talk with the parties involved right after the last incident.

Lesson learned: resolve issues as early as possible. When resolution is delayed or the conflict is glossed over, there is a danger that bad feelings will fester. Discord will erupt and prevent people from working together to do God’s appointed task.

John Maxwell cited St. Paul’s message from Philippians 4:2 in his Leadership devotional to stress the importance of teamwork: “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.” Maxwell said,” The term he uses connotes harmony. Singing in harmony doesn’t mean singing in unison. Players should play different positions on a team. Harmony means their efforts complement the efforts of others, rather than conflict with them.”

But even with the best intentions and hearts for service, discord will erupt in a community because of the human factor. There is no perfect community with perfect servants. It is then the servant leader’s task to spot discordant notes early on and take measures to restore harmony ASAP.

And there you have Guideline #7 for my Manual for Servant Leaders Who Insanely Love to Serve God Despite Harassments and Frustrations: Guard against discord by nipping it in the bud.