CHRISTMAS PARTY 2006 AT UP POPULATION INSTITUTE

The audience clapped their hands as we entered the
hall of fame of the Population Institute, juk! Hehehe..

Pose for a pic shot... Hmmm, what's my mood today??
Seems like i'm happy and sad, lol...
Or I just wanted to appear cute? Hehehehe

Mary and the Three Wise Men... Nawawala si Joseph..
We don't know where did he go, hehehe

Instant presentation, as in Surprise Number talaga!
The audience was really surprised, wahehehehehe...

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ARE YOU UNLOVABLE?

ARE YOU UNLOVABLE?

Some people are lovable
while others are not.
And one possibility exists:
I may not be a lovable person to you.

--The King's Rebel--

When can we say that a particular person is unlovable, and when can say that s/he is not? Is there any standard in which we could base our measurement? Or is there such a thing as measuring the extent of "un/lovable-ness" of a person? These are just some questions many of us would want to ponder especially by those people who are emotionally charged at almost all times.

It is my personal perception that some people are simply not lovable in relation to the people around them. Sometimes, we just wander why we don't feel good towards other people even if they haven't done wrong against us. We may be selective in friends whom we want to hang out with. I am saying this because I have experienced it and sometimes, you know, history repeats itself.

Perhaps, this is just a matter of self-perception. From the viewpoint of person who sees himself/herself as 'unlovable', focusing on other things and making ourselves busy will somehow shift his/her way of thinking from the issue. This may be temporary but it can be of help.

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HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?

How do you see yourself? This is a question many of us would not want to answer. How we see ourself affects the whole aspect of our life, thus, our self-image is very vital in our development as a person. It is the portrait that we carry around in our heart and in our head. Many times I went around thinking that God was not pleased with me. The thought that I would never overcome my past stick to my mind. I often felt like I am a losser, a failure, unlovable, and not as good as other persons around me. I always compared myself to others. Hurtful words that were thrown at me by people always seemed to create paragraphs on my mind and if written on a piece of paper, it could fill the whole sheet of paper making up a short story of how ugly I am, how weak I am, how "unholy" I am, how foolish I am. In short, I had a very poor self-image.


I want to share with you the story of David and Mephibosheth recorded in 2 Samuel 9. Jonathan, son of King Saul, loved David very much and was probably one of his closest friends. After Jonathan and Saul were killed in the battle, God promoted David to be the king over all Israel. Deeply moved with sorrow at the loss of Saul and Jonathan, David asked, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?"


David soon discovered that Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who had become crippled as a child but was still alive. So King David had him brought before him, David said to him, "Don't be afraid, for I will surely show kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table." And Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?" In other words, Mephibosheth was saying, "Why do you want to help me? All I deserve is to crawl around on the floor and lick up the crumbs that fall to the ground. " Mephibosheth compared himself to a dead dog!


Obviously, Mephibosheth had a very poor self-image because he was crippled. As a result, he didn't feel worthy of King David's kindness. For many times, I am like Mephibosheth. I think like Mephibosheth. I act like Mephibosheth. I am not physically crippled but because of my own weaknesses, failures, and shortcomings, I see myself as crippled (or perhaps I am just a foolish person). Because of this condition, I am afraid to start new relationships and venture on new opportunities. I am contained in a box - stagnant and not progressing.


It is so much an encouragement to me that God would want to bless me just as He has blessed for others. But just as David was good to Mephibosheth for Jonathan's sake, God is good to us for Jesus' sake. I realize that God doesn't want us to look everything that is wrong with us or the sins of our past. The more we focus on our failures, the more likely are we to repeat them. I often failed in this area. I just pray to God that He will help me focus unto Jesus Who is the Author and the Finisher of my faith, and not to my past which only hinders my relationship with Him.
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THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH: THE FLAG

THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH: THE FLAG

THE FOURSQUARE GOSPEL is compared to a jewel of unusual beauty and uses the symbolism in different colors:

Violet stands for the resplendent purple of the coming of the king (Jesus Christ).
Light blue stands for the divine cure.
Yellow stands for the sparkling gold of the baptism in the Holy Ghost.
Red stands for bright scarlet of salvation of the soul.


Charged with a red cross: the historical Christian symbol for Christ's sacrificial death.


Small black square with "4": "Foursquare" was a common term in Canada in the 19th Century, denoting solidity and stability, trustworthiness. The "4" within a square symbolises the four cardinal doctrines of the denomination: "Foursquare Gospel = that Christ Jesus is the Saviour, Healer, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, and Soon Coming King." On printed materials the square is usually white with a black 4. Alternately, the four liturgical symbols [Cross, Dove, Eucharist Cup, and Crown] for the cardinal Christological doctrine is placed in a square with no "4".

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THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH LOGO: THE CUP

THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH LOGO: THE CUP

JESUS CHRIST: THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

We believe that divine healing is the power of the Lord Jesus Christ 1to heal the sick and the afflicted in answer to believing prayer; that He who is the same 2yesterday, today and forever has never changed but is 3still an all-sufficient help in the time of trouble, able to meet the needs of, and quicken the body into newness of life, as well 61 as the soul and spirit in answer to the 4faith of them who ever 5pray with submission to His divine and sovereign will.

Scripture References:

1. “‘He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.’” (Mt. 8:17)


2. “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’”? (Mt.9:5)


3. “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mk. 16:17,18)


4. “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29,30)


5. “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed...” (James 5:14-16)
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THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH: MISSION AND VISION

THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH: MISSION AND VISION

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Foursquare Church exists to glorify God and advance His kingdom. Jesus Christ's command is to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19). Therefore, we are "Dedicated unto the cause of inter-denominational and worldwide evangelism."* These words express our spirit and our focus.

Our call is to preach Jesus Christ, God's Son, as the Savior, Healer, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit and coming King. Our assignment is to develop healthy, growing churches. Our commitment is to plant national churches around the world led by loving servants of Jesus Christ. Churches developed in this manner will reproduce again and again. This makes possible the spread of the gospel to those who have not heard or accepted the message of God's Son.

VISION STATEMENT:

The vision of The Foursquare Church is to present Jesus Christ, God's Son, to every person in every culture and nation as The Savior, The Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, The Healer and The Soon-Coming King. Since the founding of The Foursquare Church in 1923, that vision has been realized through evangelizing the lost and establishing local congregations in the United States and abroad, through the nurturing and training of believers into leadership on all levels of church life, and in cooperation with other members of the body of Christ at large in the fellowship of the Gospel and the fulfillment of the biblical mandate to be "light" and "salt" on the earth.

Reference:
http://foursquare.org/

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THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH LOGO: THE DOVE

JESUS CHRIST: THE BAPTIZER WITH THE HOLY GHOST

We believe that the baptism of (1)the Holy Spirit is the incoming of the promised Comforter in mighty and glorious fullness (2)to endue the believer with power from on high; to glorify and exalt the Lord Jesus; to give inspired utterance in witnessing of Him; to foster the spirit of prayer, holiness, sobriety; to equip the individual and the Church for practical, efficient, joyous, Spirit-filled soul-winning in the fields of life; and that this being still the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, the believer may have every reason to expect His incoming to be after the same (3)manner as that in which He came upon (4)Jew and Gentile alike in Bible days, and (5)as recorded in the Word, that it may be truly said of us as of the house of Cornelius: (6)the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning.


Scripture References:


1. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever–the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (Jn.14:16,17)


2. “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:5,8)


3. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)


4. “Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:17)


5. “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.” (Acts 10:44-46)


6. “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:6) “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16)
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ANG BUHAY AY PARANG ISANG LANSANGAN

ANG BUHAY AY ISANG LANSANGAN

Tanaw na tanaw ko
ang mga sasakyan mula sa
kinatatayuan ko ngayon.
Humahagibis ang karamihan
na tila baga sila lang
ang nasa lansangan.
Ang iba naman ay
parang mga pagong na sa wari ko
ay naghahanap ng biyaya sa madaraanan.
Ang mga tao ay tulad ng mga
sasakyang ito sa lansangan
na kung tawagin ay buhay.

--Excerpt from "The Open Book"
by King's Rebel--

THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH: RALLY BEHIND THE FAMILY

RALLY BEHIND
THE FAMILY

"Foursquare" is a Biblical term used of the tabernacle in the Book of Exodus, of the Temple of the Lord in Ezekiel 40:47, and of Heaven, as described in the book of the Revelation. The term "Foursquare Gospel" was given in the inspiration of revival to the denomination's founder, Aimee Semple McPherson, during an evangelistic campaign in Oakland, Calif., in 1922. It represents that which is equally balanced on all sides, established and enduring. Such confidence in the power of the Gospel is also expressed by the verse, Hebrews 13:8, displayed in Foursquare churches proclaiming, "Jesus Christ the Same, Yesterday and Today and Forever."

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THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH LOGO: THE CROWN

THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH LOGO: THE CROWN

JESUS CHRIST: THE SOON-COMING KING

We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent; that He will descend from Heaven (1)in the clouds of glory with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God; and that at this hour, which no man knoweth beforehand, the dead in Christ shall rise, then the (2)redeemed that are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and that so shall they ever be with the Lord; that also seeing that a thousand years is as a day with the Lord, and (3)that no man knoweth the hour of His appearance, which we believe to be near at hand, each day should be lived as though He were (4)expected to appear at even, yet that in obedience to His explicit command, (5)“Occupy till I come,” the work of spreading the gospel, the sending forth of missionaries, and the general duties for the upbuilding of the church (6)should be carried on as diligently, and thoroughly, as though neither ours nor the next generation should live in the flesh to see the glorious day.


Scripture References:


1. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1Thess. 4:16,17)


2. “...denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:12,13)


3. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Mt. 24:36,42,44)


4. “...so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Heb. 9:28)


5. “ ...‘Do business till I come.’” (Lk. 19:13)


6. “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that hewill gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.”(Lk. 12:35-37)

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THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH LOGO: THE CROSS

JESUS CHRIST: THE SAVIOR


We believe that (1)while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, the Just for the unjust; (2)freely, and by divine appointment of the Father, taking the sinner's place, bearing his sins, receiving his condemnation, dying his death, (3)fully paying his penalty, and signing with His life's blood, the pardon of every one who should believe upon Him; (4)that upon simple faith and acceptance of the atonement purchased on Mount Calvary, (5)the vilest sinner may be cleansed of his iniquities and made whiter than driven snow.


Scripture References:


1. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” (Is. 53:5)


2. “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14)


3. “Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” (Is. 55:7)


4. “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25)


5. “”Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.’” (Is. 1:18)
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NEW BEGINNINGS

NEW BEGINNINGS

One of my photo shots in Subic Bay beach in Olongapo City

Each day is a new opportunity to close the door of the past and experience a brand-new start. Each day is a chance for everyone to change from not-so-good person into a better one. The fact that God divided the days into twenty-four-segments is an evidence that we need to start over on a regular basis. This is how how God demonstrates His love towards His people. There is always a new day, a new month, and a new year. But of course, even if these new beginnings are there, they cannot work themselves without our cooperation. We must make good use of these by making wise decisons in life each day. What better time to decide than the first month of the new year, right? So I think this is why many people enlist their resolutions on a sheet of paper during new year.


I do not know exactly what's happening inside you today. Maybe you've been struggling with depression, anger, hatred, or bitterness. Or perhaps you are just like I was (and sometimes, I am) - you've been burned by past relationships and circumstances, and you are still carrying around the ashes. These are the deep hurts from old wounds that have never been healed. Even if we believe that God is there to help us, we couldn't help ourselves but to doubt. We keep on battling with different kinds of emotions deep inside our hearts.


No matter how much time had gone in the past is still the past. What had been done had already been done. We could not change the circumstances anymore. We could not alter things the way we want them to be. Only God can take care of it now. Remorse and condemnation bear no good fruit. We should acknowledge our sins, accept God's forgiveness, get on with living for His glory and honor. In Lamentations 3:22-23, it says, "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Here, the Prophet Jeremiah assures us that God's mercy is new every morning. I remember when I was still in my hometown that every Monday morning, we had this so called "Dawn Prayer" in the church. We sung the hymnal song 'The Steadfast Love" before we proceed in prayers. Here's the lyrics: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercy is never come to an end. They are new morning, new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord. Great is Thy faithfulness." I am so glad that God provides a new batch of mercy daily, so we can decide to have a new beginning every day.
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OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST