What I Want to Be As a Pastor-Dad (final)

Here’s a list of what I want to be for my babies:

Loving Dad - No one can love them more than I do. That means exercising enough patience on them when they grumble. Loving them for who they are not simply for what they can do and should be. Being appreciative of their best efforts and being thankful for the simple things they can do. My love for them will not diminish when they fail or increase when they succeed. I will be a loving Dad whether they succeed or fail.  A loving Dad whether they err or behave.  A loving father whether they remain a Christian or not.

Dependable Dad -  I want to be there when they need me.  That includes changing their diapers and assisting them drink their vitamins. I want to be there when they call. Attending their  simple school play or finding money to finance their school’s nuclear project.  I want them to dream with the assurance that Daddy will be there as a dependable buddy to help them with their dreams and help them make it a reality.  I will be there when they need me the most and when they simply need a friend.

Playmate Dad - I want my kids to grow up enjoying playtime. Expose them to different games and sports. Perhaps in doing so, they will discover which game give them the most fun. Perhaps in doing so, help them find their career in their playtime. Perhaps help them discover their inborn talents and further develop it through play. After all, we usually enjoy the career that we enjoyed role-playing with when we were young.

Friend Dad - I want to be my babies’ bestfriend. To be able to go down to their level and hear about their crushes and stories in school. I want to know what’s going on in their lives and take time to know the problems they face. The adjustments they need to make.  I want to be a friend who simply listens. Watch movie together. Go malling together.  Simply have fun together.

Mentor Dad - I’d teach them about the basic skills I know in life. From changing flat tires to replacing the computer’s CPU. A little photography. Editing videos. Blogging. Painting. Creative arts. Poetry. Sketching. Appliance repair. Pathfindering. Boyscout stuff. Girlscout stuff.  Baking. Cooking.  Basic skills in life. Discovering your career. Finding the love of your life. Surviving life’s challenges.

Counselor Dad - When needed - be a counselor. Most of the times listening is enough. That would be enough.

Spiritual Dad- I want to be their foremost discipler. Not their youth pastor. Not their Sabbath school teacher.  After all, I am a pastor.  Teach them what I know about the Bible and really try to model it. Home worship. Sing praises. Be creative spiritually. Take them in my ministry activities.  Help them grow spiritually. Assist them in their journey as they discover, meet, and know Christ. It has to be intentional not just  mere modeling. A one-on-one discipleship.   To pray with them every night just before we sleep.

What I Want to Become as a Pastor-Dad

My wife dropped a bombshell on me last night. “If you don’t have time for your children now that they are young, you wont have time for them in the future.”

Parenting is tough. Sean is turning four this September 2009. Fiona just turned one year last July. Another baby is coming out this December.

And my wife did make a strong point last night. Let me confess my sin. Like typical Dads, all we want to do during our free time is to relax from the week’s labor. We want to untangle our busy mind and simply rest from anything that requires our brain to work or our bodies to move. We become couch potatoes on Sundays or in my case - Mondays - our family day.

All that my wife wanted me to do was to spend quality time with my children. Good movies are good - but teaching Sean to play the guitar is even better. Flexing his three year old fingers to hold the crayons right is the best preparation for oil painting. Taking the ball for a three-point shoot in Sean’s four-foot tall basketball ring is much better than playing computer games.

There is something about God’s procreation that teaches us to love and nurture that love. I believe that parenting is discipleship to the very core. And you can only teach if you have enough love. You can only give what you have. Therefore, as parents, the struggle is to be filled with love at all times so you can always have something to share.

Each of us grew with a different family background, childhood experiences, and educational training. When asked about our childhood recollections, what can we improve on our experiences that will make us better parents to the next generation? And in my case - to the next generation pastor’s kids (PK’s).

...to be continued

MY LIFE STORY: How God Called Me Into the Ministry

Every pastor has a story. Some peculiar. Some extra spectacular. My calling was more of a process. How I became a pastor is a long story. I have written part of the story in fulfillment of my chaplaincy requirement during my ministerial internship training. I am sharing it with you. May it help inspire others who are having doubts whether they have been called into the pastoral ministry.

Feel free to download and save the pdf attachment.

Excerpts:

"Perhaps you wonder if it was God who really called me at all. My story is quite different from the experiences of other pastors who have been called into the ministry. There are those tragic accidents that led to a second life encounter with God. A demon possession that ended in spiritual deliverance. Or the tender wooing of the Spirit in a child’s heart that eventually led to a decision to become a minister. And countless extraordinary ways by which God transformed the life of an individual and called him to the ministry.

"As I attempted to excel academically, my quest for an understanding of what righteousness by faith deepened. As far as I can remember, I know I have a relationship with God, but I just did not have an assurance of salvation. I often wondered and thought , “How can I be sure that God loves me and that I have this assurance of salvation.” "Since a young child, I was somehow thought that I have to obey all of the ten commandments in order to be saved. And to be kept saved, it has to be kept perfectly. And I was so far from obeying all ten of it. While in college this fear of hell haunted me.

"I lived a fearful life before. As a Christian I lived to please other people and God. He was to me a cosmic policeman who is always out there to check for my inadequacies and failures. The God that I have been taught was tyrant God.

"By his grace He cleansed me from my sin and promised power over it. During that time he gave me the assurance that all I needed to do was to accept him fully by faith. My part was simply to receive Him in my life through faith. As simple as that. From then on I understood the power of the everlasting gospel and received the assurance of salvation which was missing in my life." "After my father narrated that story, he reminded me of his solemn oath to God many years ago. That story sent a shiver on my spine. So I had been dedicated to God’s service a long time ago. And God recalled my Dad’s promise by calling me personally the night of February 1991 by writing his call with the illuminating streak of a falling star.

Conservatives Vs. Liberals

It seems that there will be an ongoing battle between Christian conservatives and liberals until Christ comes. My church is not excempted  from that.  Sadly, I have met friends and members of the church who left the church as a result of the crossfire between hypocrisy and various cause to implement change for the sake of change.

And how you define these two groups will be relative on how you view yourself. 

Here’s my personal definition of conservatives and liberals.

Conservatives:  Christians whose mission is to keep the unity & purity of the church at the expense of the church mission of saving the lost.

Liberals:  Christians whose mission is to save the lost at the expense of losing the church’s unity & purity. 

I am for one a conservative in terms of upholding the Bible as the standard of faith and practice; a liberal when it comes to tolerance over those different from my  beliefs and preferences in terms of ministry methodologies and strategies.

I am a conservative over doctrines taught by the Bible; a liberal in terms of acceptance of people who's still growing in their understanding of truth.

I am a conservative in upholding my church’s traditional values;a liberal and selective in terms of keeping tradition just  for the sake of keeping them. 

I am a conservative in terms of keeping the unity and purity of the church; a liberal and inclusive in fulfilling the mission of the church to reach all people not just my own. 

I am a conservative in terms of radical discipleship; a liberal in terms of creative leadership.

I am a conservative in keeping and obeying my understanding of truth; a liberal in sharing them to others. 

To end,  how I wish the conservatives and liberals will first be more loving, more accommodating, more prayerful, and tolerant of each others view  while not sacrificing the mission of the church to seek and to save the lost. Friends of mine have abandoned the church because both the conservatives and the liberals were more interested in being right  than yielding their rights. 

Leading Life-Changing Life-Groups

LEADING LIFE-CHANGING LIFE-GROUPS

A SMALL-GROUP LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSE in eight sessions

by Pastor Ardison D. Bernardo

Don’t miss this basic training on how to lead and grow healthy LifeGroups (well known as small groups) in your student ministries and singing groups. Often times we are engaged in ministry without really experiencing dynamic life-changing experiences within our groups. Learn how to put an authentic and accountable life-to-life ministry within your group by experiencing genuine Christian community so we can effectively witness to others.

Session One "Small Groups: part of God's Kingdom plan" - a brief look at the theology, Biblical background, and history of small groups and the part they play in creating Kingdom community

Session Two "Life-changing small groups: some definitions" - five definitions of the most effective small group model for the contemporary church; how to determine whether existing groups are functioning to their best potential

Session Three "Small group values: the key to growth" - an overview of the values or principles which govern the life of the group and determine whether it will be a blessing or otherwise to the church

Session Four "Small group meetings and small group life" - what happens in a typical small group or cell meeting, and the importance of extending the life of the group beyond its weekly meetings

Session Five "The Goal of small groups: holiness and harvest" - the two principle objectives of small group ministry: the growth of believers toward maturity in Christ, and numerical growth through evangelism

Session Six "Small group leadership" - the small group leader's job description, personal qualities and skills of small group leadership, leadership principles, and some of the challenges small group leaders might expect

Session Seven "Developing a small group network" - how to start, the need to start small, the importance of adequate time for preparation and training, how to invite non-Christians and non-Adventists to the group, developing a strategy for multiplying groups

Session Eight "Maintaining the network" - the challenge of the long haul, sustaining interest, the need for a larger vision for the future

Date: Friday, 7:00 p.m., January 10, 2009

Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., January 11, 2009

Venue: Hall, AUP Swimming pool, Putingkahoy, Silang, Cavite

Personal Lessons from 1 Corinthians 13 (part 2)

4.  Love does not boast... it is not proud.    I should have nothing to do with the pecking order. Before I get quick to scat off and pretend I am not proud, I have already become proud.    The Pharisees during Jesus day are the kind of people who wants everyone’s attention, respect and admiration. At times I am one who do.  Am I not?  I love to be in the spotlight.  

   

  As a  pastor my role dictates I am a highly visible figure. How can I be a front man without succumbing to pride?

 “Regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Phil. 2:3 nasb). That’s what Jesus did. While others were going up, he was going down.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:5–8 niv) 

Made me think again - Am I not meant to be a pastor forever? Well - God has called me to.  Should I not serve God as a pastor forever?  That is what he has called me to.   Think for a moment l-  God humbling himself to our level.  That is humility.  He left the castle so why should I be in one....servant leadership.
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When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind” (Luke 14:13). My son’s next birthday will be held in honor of the outcasts. I want my son to know what it means to serve others.  True love puts others before self.  True love considers others more important than self. Philippians 2:3: “In humility consider others better than yourselves” (niv).


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When was the last time I served my wife?  When was the last time I served her than myself.  When was the last time I considered her more than myself. I am devoid of such love.  God has sent me here to remind me that there is hope for people like me. That I too need to come to God thirsty for this kind of love.  So I come thirsty. And drink from the fountain of God’s love. 

to be continued...

Personal Lessons from 1 Corinthians 13 (part 1)

Here are some personal lessons I have learned from 1 Corinthians 13 in the context of family life:

1.  Love is patient. I get irritable at times.  At times I have been impatient with my wife (Thank God she is patient with my impatience!). Jesus was patient with people.  Patient with the corrupt crook named Zaccheus. Patient with the motormouth Peter.   Shouldn’t I be more patient with my lovely wife's little shortcomings (compare that with my unforgivable shortcomings) who at times still struggle with the hardships of child rearing. 

2.  Love is kind. Love is not just about words.  It is love in action.  It means going the extra mile. It means washing the dishes for my wife and not just saying I love you.  When was the last time your  wife said to you, “Dear, you are so kind to me.”    Before anyone else should say I am a loving person, my wife should be the  first to say I am kind.   Am I kind? Way a lot to go!

3.  Love does not envy.  My wife knows I love gadgets. Although I am not that type of person who really covets people’s stuff, I am that person who can become greedy (at least in the mind).  Lusting for the latest gadgets.  For the latest technological trends.  Sucked in to the hype.  Although i try to reason out that I do need these things for ministry, they never get used for its intended purpose. Or should I say their use are not maximized as  effective tools for my ministry.  I should carefully think about these matters. 

... to be continued

My UnDying Dream

My Undying dream - plant a church in an urban location. My heart is impassioned by this undying flame. I am praying for that to happen soon!

How to Get A License to Solemnize Weddings in the Philippines

After submitting my applications for a license to solemnize wedding on February 27, 2009, I checked the sois.census.gov.ph website to follow up on the approval and...Wow! After just merely 6 working days (my friend took almost a month) I finally got my authorization.

Here’s the link:
http://sois.census.gov.ph/content/2009-25be36bxqk-2011

2009-25BE36BXQK-2011

Tue, 03/10/2009 - 10:22 — jnohay

Solemnizing Officer Registry Information

Registry No.	2009-25BE36BXQK-2011
Name	Ardison Ducusin Bernardo
Registry Status	Authorized
Registry Effectivity	January 27, 2009 to December 31, 2011
Validity Extension (if any)
Jurisdiction	the entire Philippines.
Religious Sect	CENTRAL LUZON CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
Sect Locality

Here’s the list of basic  requirements you need to fulfill:
    1.    Two 2x2 photos
    2.    SEC/GIS
    3.    Recommendation letter from your church organization
    4.    Recommendation letter from the mayor
    5.    Certificate of Live Birth
    6.    Certificate of Ordination
    7.    Brief History of your local church
    8.    A list of 200 members

To get a detailed list of requirements just visit the NSO office (Muslims have a different set and so on..)

My authorization allows me to officiate  weddings anywhere in the Philippines provided that both parties are Seventh-day Adventist members. (My denomination has strict rules and requires both to be church members although the government code requires at least one of them is a member of your church)

Good News of Old

1 This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ’s slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 This Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus, who came as a man, born into King David’s royal family line. 4 And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit.* 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

6 You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 dear friends in Rome. God loves you dearly, and he has called you to be his very own people.

May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1: 1-6, NLT

If ever there is one thing you can count on God it is the promised assurance of salvation. What can be better than that. What can be better than the gift of salvation. And God promised it a long time ago. through his prophets. Through his words.

God never fails. God never misses a beat. What he promised, He fulfills. He puts everything in order. What I like about God is that he never fails to deliver. He will deliver the goods. He brings the package. What mom, dad or our bosses failed to fulfill, he comes crashing in to deliver what he said he would.

God is rock solid. I stand on solid ground. There is no need to fear. His words are true. His promises are

pure. He is what he is. Since he promised the Good News long time ago, I can be sure that my God is in no other business than the saving business. And I will forever be true. Let me hold on to his precious promise of deliverance. The Good News is all about Jesus. He was promised to me a long time ago even before I was born. The Father has given the Son to me. Jesus is mine. the Father wants him to be my life.

PRAYER: Thank you so much for the gift of life. Thank you so much for giving me eternal life Lord. I am forever grateful. Forgive me Lord if i have been indifferent to the many blessings you have given me. Honestly Lord thank you so much for your many surprises. Thank you so much for the promise. I give thanks in Jesus name. Amen.

2009 Here I Come!

Saturday, March 14, 2009 7:13 AM

Wheew! After a long blogging hiatus I am back  online and here to welcome 2009. So what just happened to me for the past 2 1/2 months? Here’s a few major events-

1. I am a Dengue survivor!  The fever I had on January 1, 2009 turned out to be a symptom for dengue. After spending 6 days at the hospital I finally overcame it. My blood platelet dropped to 40,000 and now its back to 400,000. I remember my wife calling me at the hospital, “Don’t die!  You have two kids and a wife.  So fight back! Eat well and drink those medicines!
2. The Longest Serving Youth Pastor!  On January 31, 2009, I had my official installation service at Philippine International Church, Adventist University of the Philippines. Standing before a 2,000 strong  congregation I delivered my first sermon this year  entitled A Youth-Loving Church Ministry. I was already assigned in this church from 2003 to 2006. I'll be serving again as Youth Pastor starting this year till  2011 making me the longest  serving youth pastor of PIC for the time being. As far as I know I am the only ordained youth pastor this church ever had. This should be put on the Guiness book of Records.
3. Just Moved in to my New House!   Just last Wednesday, March 2009, we moved in to the newly renovated pastoral house at Adventist University of the Philippines. It will take us a week to get things unpacked and put at the right place but we are enjoying our new home and my new office.   

Closing thought:  Blogging Daily!  After this long pause I have decided to blog daily to  keep my new congregation and leaders updated about God's direction for his church and ministry.Blessings! Welcome 2009! 

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

My Dream Church

I just want to praise the Lord for his goodness and patience. I am enjoying working with Him! And yes, I have hopes and dreams for our church too. I dream of a church that is:

1. Grace-Centered. Don’t you love to be in a church where God’s love is ingrained in its very soul, life and culture? God’s love for you and me will never change, will never fail, and will never end. He came in the flesh, lived in this stinking planet, climb Mt. Calvary , and died for you and me on the cross. By His sacrifice He forgave all of our sins – past, present, future – and declared us righteous in his eyes. That is grace! If God did all that for you and me, shouldn’t we do the same?

I dream of a church which is grace-borne, grace-driven, grace-centered, grace-filled. A church that is focused on God’s love , living-out his grace and busy sharing His grace rather than just maintaining a set of standards. A church that is open for all sinners whether they dress, talk, and sing like us or not. A church that is passionate for Jesus. I long for a grace-revolution in our churches. Churches that will be known as loving churches not just churches with high standards. There’s nothing we can do that will stop God from loving us nor is there anything we can do that will make Him love us more. When our church does the same in loving sinners unconditionally, churches will grow.

2. Worship-Focused. Worship is at the very heart of the Adventist message. Yet it seems that we are far more interested in inviting people to worship on the right day than worshiping God with the right heart and spirit. Steve Pruitt puts it this way “I personally believe that worship should be the first priority of every church. Worship is meant for God and our most important ministry is to minister to him. Therefore, it is my opinion that most of our money, energy and time should be spent on the worship ministry.” We need to put worship at the very center of our church life and personal lives. Worship should be the ultimate goal of every ministry in the church including teaching, preaching, evangelism etc. This includes improving our church services that center on interactive relationships and service.

3. Spiritually-Growing. We are discipling and empowering believers to become God’s ministers. We aim for a thriving community of believers who are growing personally. Our deepest desire should be to produce disciples who have a passion for Jesus and yearn to worship him in spirit and truth. Instead of maintaining the traditional information-centered Sabbath-school classes we must strived for application-centered small group classes.

4. Culturally-Relevant. No matter how good the Good News is, it can’t be appreciated unless we communicate it to people in language they understand. We are to carry God’s message using the medium relevant to the target group we are trying to reach. Methods that are obsolete need to be reevaluated. God’s church is dynamic. We need to reach sinners through culturally-relevant forms and means of transmitting God’s message. We need to take a careful look at our music traditions. It took about a hundred years for the Christian church to accept hymns. Now the church is facing a serious struggle in accepting worship and praise choruses as a medium of worship expression. The new generation want to be challenged intellectually. They are interested in knowing the practicality of our doctrines and the connection to Christ. We need to make the gospel relevant to each generation of believers from cradle roll to pathfinders, from early teens to youth. As of now there is no church program for young adults.

5. Community-Oriented. People come to know Christ not through the beliefs we profess but through the love we express. Our churches need to lead in the forefront of community services. As the popular slogan goes, “People don’t care how much you know unless they know how much you care.” God’s church is a caring church. It is a loving church. Too often we do community work when we have a hidden agenda of converting them rather than simply loving them.

6. Child-Friendly . Our children are God’s most precious gifts. How they are trained and nurtured today will determine the future of God’s church. The church is always one generation away from extinction. Win your children for Jesus today, then you change the world tomorrow. Our churches need to have child-friendly atmosphere conducive to spiritual growth. They need to sense God loves them just the way they are and wants them to grow more and become like Jesus.

6. Evangelism-Directed. We need to put a proper balance between event-oriented evangelism and process-oriented evangelism. Our church is on the right track. We are passionate about our mission in reaching the lost. But we have concentrated too much on expensive , highly-emotional, event-oriented evangelism like the public crusades. We need to put people in the process of discovery, growth, and small group interaction. We need to put them in a church environment conducive to seekers of God’s truth.

The Lord bless his church as his vessel overflowing with grace!

Come, Follow Me!

“Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed. Matthew 4:18-20 (The Message)

Jesus’ call to discipleship doesn’t come first before the wondrous cross-saving experience. Before we can become disciples, we need to hear first the invitation to become citizens of the Kingdom of Grace.

Jesus doesn’t force us to become new born-again Christians. The new-birth experience is the work of the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t say, “Follow me.” Instead he tenderly calls us, “Come, follow me.” He invites us first. He bids us first to come before we can follow. Come first to Jesus and He will teach you how to follow. It is so difficult to follow if you have not yet come to Him. Only He can make you follow.

Notice too that when He bade his disciples to come and follow, there were no long arguments of persuasion and rationalism. Jesus simply offered them, “Come, follow me.” The simplicity of this call distinguishes Jesus from highly emotional preachers. When God calls, the Spirit is at work.

Often when we offer the invitation to accept God to others we become discouraged when they respond negatively. Whether an individual responds or not, the Christian instrument is just a mouthpiece of God. He speaks for God but the Spirit calls and moves the heart.

We will always hear God inviting us. When he says, “Come,” let’s leave our fishing nets behind and follow him all the way.

Even unto the cross.

Why I am Switching to Google Chrome Killer Web Browser

It's faster, simpler, more stable and secure than any web browser I have used. And it's it's still in beta. So far it has not crashed on me yet like my favorite Firefox 3.0. Although Google Chrome  is not available for the Mac OS X platform I am definitely switching to this killer browser that has been engineered from the future.

You would be surprised as well to know that installation takes only seconds. So download it now and get to test it for yourself and I am sure you will think twice before using your current web browser again whether it's Firefox, Internet Explorer, and even Mac's Safari.

Copy and paste this url http://code.google.com/apis/v8/run.html  on your current web browsers to benchmark your web browsers' speed. After installing Google Chrome, test and compare and you'll find out that Google Chrome, which is heavily optimized for Javascript,  leave all other browsers in the dust.

How To Find A Good Book

Ok I confess - I am a bookworm! So what?

For booklovers in the Philippines who are asking how to find a good book, my short answer is simply know where to find it.

...computers - Gilmore
ukay-ukay - Baguio or Tagaytay...
clothes and vegetables - Divisoria

...Books? Where else?


See you there!

Pastor Ardie

How To Get What You Want

by: Charla Candy
from Nashville, Tennessee
Guest Devotional Writer

“Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

When I was in junior high, I used to pray at night for God to bring me a boyfriend. When I would decide to like a certain boy and it looked like he might not like me back, I would pray really hard for God to make that boy like me!

I was boy crazy, or what some may call, a teenage girl. I remember thinking that if I had a boyfriend, my life would be perfect.

Well years went by and my prayers weren’t being answered. I would spend long hours in front of the mirror, making myself look my best. I would try to act fun at school and talk to all the right/popular people so my crush would notice me.

After all my efforts, I still wasn’t having any luck. “What’s wrong with me?” I would cry to God.

“Why don’t I have a boyfriend.” I wondered why I had prayed so hard and hadn’t got my boyfriend.

Finally in my later years of highschool things started to look up and I had a few boyfriends and then I began to pray to God for a “cool” boyfriend and a “hot” boyfriend.

Then later on I found that “cool” boyfriends weren’t always nice and “hot” boyfriends weren’t always smart. It seemed like the search would never end. Why couldn’t God give me the right boyfriend.

Then I began reading my Bible. Hoping maybe that would help me get the right boyfriend, I came across a verse that changed my whole outlook. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight in the ways of the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

I realized that I was focusing all my efforts on the wrong thing. Instead of begging God for a boyfriend, I needed to delight myself in the ways of the Lord. I needed to focus more on God and helping others.

I began studying the ways of the Lord and as I am getting to know Him, my desires have changed from getting a boyfriend to living a life sharing love and kindness with friends, family, and even strangers.

This sinful world makes us believe that petty things are so important. Like the cars you drive, the people you date, where you live, who you know, and how much money you make. But even acquiring all these things will never-ever bring true happiness and will always leave you wanting more.

God promises to give you the desires of your heart, you just have to delight in his ways.