LIFE BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS (Part 2)

Continued….

17. World Conference - I enjoyed my new year in Taipei,Taiwan for a week long celebration of the World Conference on Youth and Community Service.

18. Sponsors - Relatives and friends helped fund my trip to Taiwan. Thanks for the unforgettable experience. Thanks for your sacrifices.

19. Distance Learning - Our church conference has sponsored our distance learning masteral classes. I took 9 units this year.

20. AWE4Him - iDREAM's Praise Team was given this name early this year. It stands for Adoration, Worship, Esteem 4 (4-all four corners of the earth) our Holy, Immutable, Majesty.

21. Bulihan, Silang Crusade - The public evangelism held at Bulihan Silang led to the baptism of 215 souls. AWE4Him led in the praise time.

21. Biga, Silang Crusade - 40 souls surrendered their lives to Jesus through baptism.

22. Iba Church Planting - It all started as a small group. Now it’s growing and envisions to become the largest church in Silang town.

23. New Assignments - Effective Dec 22, I am moving to Adventist University of the Philippines’ church while still being the area 10 (Cavite province) chairman.

24. Church Organization - Batas SDA company was finally organized to Batas Seventh-Day Adventist Church on April 26, 2008.

to be continued....

LIFE BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS (Part 1)

Pssst! Pastor Ardie! How was 2008?

Let me summarize a pastor's life for 2008 according to Gerald L. Borchert: "Jesus is the agent of wholeness, of eternal life, of secure pasture, and of release from the realm of darkness. He is, as the Samaritans confessed, “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42), and here he is the one who provides life to the fullest (John 10:10). The Greek perisson means “that which goes way beyond necessity.” John wanted all his readers to know that the gift of Jesus is life beyond our wildest dreams.

For this year John 10:10 has been my central theme. Check out this text in my favorite versions:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. The NET Bible 1st Edition

A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. The Message

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. NLT

Here are a few of God's surprises for me for the year 2008. Here's to life beyond my wildest dreams:

1. An Awesome God - John 10:10. With you God, life is beyond my wildest dreams
2. Eternal Life - In spite of my shortcomings, Jesus would never let me go.
3. Excitement - Each morning as I wake up, I am excited to start another day.
4. Passion - Although it may dwindle from time to time, my passion for God and ministry
grows each day.
5. Lovely Wife - How would I survive without my heaven-sent angel?
6. Fiona Sedrol - Born July 8, 2008. My second child boasts of being the next Ms.
Universe.
7. Sean Ardis - Why of course my first born leaves me wondering if Einstein was his uncle.
8. Parents - Hmmm. Why are they so patient with me?
9. Siblings - I pray that their journey in life will be Jesus-driven.
10. Ordination - God finally says, “It’s time!” I got ordained as a full-pledge pastor on May 2, 2008.
11. Church - Church still puzzles me and sometimes leave me wounded as a pastor but it will always be the object of God’s love. Jesus calls her his bride.
12. iDREAM - This young professionals organization keeps my passion for ministry alive. Geniuses at work!
13. 1st Gen Macbook - Why this 2 1/2 year old laptop has been instrumental to the baptism of 1,902 souls.
14. Nokia 3120c Phone - Why this cheap 3g phone keeps me connected to the net anywhere in the Philippines.
15. ardisonbernardo.multiply.com - This social network now houses my personal blogs & keeps me in touch with friends.
16. nextgenadventist.blogspot.com - This blog keeps my vision and passion alive of what a new generation Adventist and pastor should be - ever growing, ever changing, ever-reaching the next generation for Christ!

to be continued...

Pickpockets Love Texters: How I Experienced Grace

I was on my way to our company party. Upon reaching Manila city, I took my wallet from my pants and "secured" it inside my bag. Instinctively I knew pickpockets are busy as well during the Christmas holidays. As I walked towards the metro train I decided to update my phone's email and checked on my short text messages. A few meters from the counter I took my backpack... immediately i felt a numbing heat all over my body. The zipper got unzipped and my wallet tucked 1 foot deep to the bag's bottom was gone.

Good thing I only had 400 pesos in that wallet but I need those cards- ID's, driver's license, security cards, credit card, and my ATM card. Good thing I still had my cellphone with me. I was about to call my bank when I remembered there was a branch close by. In ten minutes time, I requested the customer service to put my bank cards on hold. Pickpockets these days are high tech so I never gave them the chance to use my cards. The bank teller told me that if they had used my credit card before I canceled the services, I will still have to pay it.

Since I only had 15 pesos in my pocket, I was thinking how would I get home? How would I spend my Christmas holidays without an ATM card? Will my bank allow me to withdraw my savings without valid ID's to present? The most logical thing was to get to my bank (my company's branch) which was 30 minutes away by train so I can withdraw my salary. But how to get there....

The Bible says ASK (ask, seek, knock) and it will be given to you. I could call a friend in Manila to pick me up or ask my senior supervisors to come and give me money. It was not the best option at that time. It was at that time that I literally "asked" and "begged" for help.

"Nakakahiya man po, pero pwede po ba akong mamasko sa inyo?" (I don't even know you Ma'am, but can I ask for a Christmas gift?" With a smile on her face she handed me a 20 peso bill. At that moment, that was the most important paper money bill I ever held. I was not expecting her to hand me a thousand pesos. But what she gave me was "grace". "Enough grace" to get to my bank. I was not her friend but she extended it to someone in need of grace.

As I pastor I will never get to know or experience everything about God in this dying planet. In fact, even my two-inch thick Bible just recorded "enough" revelation to show me how to make it to heaven. And Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross was "enough" to get me to God's rich depository of his riches and grace - to be in His presence now and beyond. All I ever need today is enough grace to get me to another day and enjoy His mercy. And He wants me to ask for enough grace daily till the day comes when I will live in God's bank - in heaven throughout eternity.... and beyond.

Have you asked for God's grace today?

My ANGEL

MY ANGEL

I can only think of you right now. I miss you so terribly.

Your eyes full of understanding and joy. They give me hope. Those windows of beauty give me vision to see the world as it is and behold it with awe and amazement. I see in your eyes love greater than the love that built Taj Majal. In those sweet portals I find joy.

You are my treasure. No, much more-my life. You are my crown that make complete my manly bearing. You are priceless! Much more than all the wealth of this world combined.

How can I ever forget you. Thoughts of you electrify my senses. Pictures of your lovely face in my mind saturates my whole being with your loveliness. Aaaahh…. Your face…

Your face so delicately interwoven with all the beauty any man would desire. It glows with pulchritude I gladly enjoy gazing at. Your face oh so delicate and pure and soft like that of a baby. It beams with all the radiance of love and happiness the world can offer. It speaks of unshakable love and bewilders spectators to stop and look admiring it with a sense of adoration they wish they could own. Aaah… but you are mine alone. Mine! Your face is mine alone to behold and cherish.

Wish you were here by my side. I long for your sweet embrace. The softness of which is my refuge. Your cushiony embrace provides relaxation to my aching muscles. Its tenderness soothes my tired mind. And oh there in the beauty of it all I can behold your lovely face smiling with the brightest of cheer. My eyes in your eyes. My escapade from the harshness of this world. Then I would hear your voice…

So cute. Calming. Melting my heart with its pitch of compassionate love. Tickling to my ear. Stroking gently the soul of my heart. Just to hear your voice makes me fall in love again as new as when I first talked with you. No wonder you are my angel. For when you speak , I hear an angel with a voice that touches the deepest part of my soul. And it rings in my ear. It never fades. Oh yes! The laughter’s I won’t forget. Each time you chuckle you send thrill into my heart. I get influenced too to chirp and chatter. Your voice breathe life into my soul. It simply smiles and aspirate delight to my heart.

Then I see you walking down the street in your perfect figure of beauty. My eyes are caught. I fail to breathe and behold that striking symmetry kicking my heart to the highest heights of exaltation. I find myself astounded by your figure of utmost balance and proportion. Your are to me the sexiest woman in the world. You are characterized not by regular features but by perfect beauty of harmony and charm. Each time I gaze at you I see fairness that holds attraction. I delight feasting on the spectacle of scenic beauty. Wheeew! What a sight!

It does not stop there! I am a proud owner of a woman with ripe wisdom. Your mature understanding, grasp of intellect, profundity of though, and depth of mind continue to lure me. Your someone to trust and depend on during times of sensitive decision-making. Your insights are always marked by tolerance, broad-mindedness, and objectivity. I am enlightened by the soundness of your discretion again and again. The profundity of your wisdom assures me of paths to be well-traveled. With you by my side I have someone to enjoy life sensibly. You are there to countercheck vital choices that determine my destiny and our future. Your corrections and advise I will always need. Your such a precious friend to me my angel. May you ever shine with mature wisdom.

Thank you for being your all to me-my friend, my girl, my woman, my soon to be wife. You never stop becoming the best that you can be. You never get tired of loving me and doing everything to make me happy. I will always be grateful of that gift-the greatest gift I have received- the gift of you. An angel wrapped in God’s love possessing all the tenderness, sweetness, and love I will always desire. I give thanks to the Highest for sending an angel by my side to guide and care for me. Sometimes it makes me think. Are you really not an angel?

Your love has transformed me. You have touched my life (makes me think again if you’re really not an angel) You have made a difference in my life. You have taught me love of its truest kind. You have shown me love of the grandest heights. You are the only woman I want to marry. Not to be exchanged with anything else except God. You are mine to adore and cherish. Mine to protect and secure. Mine, mine, mine. Mine to love forever. I will always love you. And if I forget I know your love will always be there to remind me again that to lose you is to lose my life. What is life without you. I will always have you for I won’t let go of you. Even if you grew tired of loving me I will carry you in my love to rejuvenate the love that once grew.

I still have many letters to write, songs to compose, pictures to paint. I still have many mountains to climb, lands to conquer, seas to dive. I still have many sermons to deliver, articles to write, songs to sing. I still have many dreams to reach, goals to accomplish, plans to fulfill. And I will do it because you have inspired me. I will never fail because you are there by my side. And if I fail I still have not lost because the highest mountain, the largest land, the deepest sea, the grandest dream, the noblest goal, the greatest plan, the sweetest letter, the best painting, the loveliest song, the greatest of all - is YOU!

I love you very, very, very much! Happy Valentines Day! My gift to you today - MYSELF! YOURS ALONE FOREVER!

Love,
Ardie / Feb. 14, 2000