I am no longer writing here, since very few people ever saw my posts.
A lot more people see what I write on Facebook.
Please search "John Allcott" & "Davao City Outreach" there.

Philippine Idol

Now that the celebrity worship is cooling off a bit here in the Philippines, it’s time to impart some truth.

The pope is the leader of Roman Catholicism, but it is folly to claim that Francis is a successor to any office that the apostle Peter held.

Peter was not a pope.

For one thing, he was married.

Matthew 8:14

When Jesus came into Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. 

And Peter did not allow people to bow down to him.

Acts 10:25, 26

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man."

Wikipedia says,

“Although there is no evidence that Peter ever served as the Bishop of Rome, and while there is historical evidence that the Church of Rome was founded before Peter ever journeyed outside of Judea, Samaria, or Galilee, he is nevertheless recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as the first Bishop of Rome appointed by Christ.” 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_popes

Here are two detailed examinations of the Scriptures which prove that Peter was not a pope.

http://www.gotquestions.org/Peter-first-pope.html

http://www.bible.ca/cath-peter=pope.htm

Onward, Christian Vacationers

Back in the 1980s, when Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) artists were still allowed* to be a prophetic voice to confront sin in the World & in the American Church, Keith Green wrote these hauntingly powerful words:

The World is sleeping in the dark that the Church just can’t fight ‘cause it’s asleep in the Light.

While I can’t come close to Green’s poetic skill, I’d like to offer a more specific take on his lyrics:

The World is addicted to profane TV, alcohol, & Vegas vacations, but the Church can’t do anything about it because they’re addicted to The Family Channel, Starbuck’s, & Disney vacations.

I’m not saying that watching a little TV, drinking a cup of coffee, or taking a vacation are wrong, but…

We haven’t had a TV for almost all of the last three decades. I say “almost” because someone gave us a TV when she moved several years ago (thanks, Mom), & we tried it for a few months. We know that even if you can avoid the vast amounts of filth, it’s a huge time waster, but we managed to limit our viewing to less than five hours a month. Almost all of that was America’s Funniest Home Videos. But they always manage to surround Tom Bergeron with miniskirt-clad girls, don’t they? And several of the ads were nauseatingly sinful. So we got rid of the TV, & we’re much happier for it. We’d much rather do fun, romance, comedy, & adventure than just watch it.    

How do we do adventure?

God made you with an appetite for thrills; how do you satisfy it?

Give more than you can afford. Witness to your neighbors. Pray for the sick. Go on short-term mission trips.

The few vacations we’ve had in the past several years have all been to visit & minister to family, & I’ve been on many short-term missions.

How different would life on this Earth be if every saint stopped drinking $5 cups of coffee & gave that money to missions instead? 

Please believe that I’m not bragging or looking down on anyone. I only talk about us because we want to be an example. That’s what disciples do—they teach by example. Paul talked a lot about his lifestyle, & he said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”  I want to inspire others to say, “John is just an ordinary guy, yet he’s a missionary. Maybe the Lord wants me to do something like that, too.” The need is great. The World is lost. We have their Hope.

*I have addressed this matter to people in the CCM industry. They readily admit that their artists no longer confront sin as Green, Steve Camp, Steve Taylor, Russ Taff, & others used to. But they insist that those artists were wrong in the old days. God’s not into that judgmental stuff, ya know? Don’t these people read the Bible? *facepalm* From cover to cover, the Word tells of many prophetic voices denouncing sin among God’s people & among the lost.

Movin' On

I'll be the first to admit that I was a "tumbleweed Christian" those initial two years after my conversion. The biggest problem with such behavior is that no one can count on you to serve if you bounce from church to church every week. But the error pendulum swings the other way, too. Some consider it downright dishonorable if you change churches (especially if it's from the critic's church to any other) more than once or twice in a lifetime. Unless you get a job offer in another city; then it's OK. So let me get this straight: God forbids changing churches except when somebody in another city offers you a better-paying job? Hmmm... 
After my tumbleweed days, I was a committed, faithful servant of one church for the next 17 years. But then I was a committed, faithful servant of three more churches in the last 13 years, and that's the time in which I think I've experienced the most growth in holiness and in finding and fulfilling my purpose* (while many saints get stagnant this far along in their walk with Jesus). I've changed churches lately at a slightly faster pace than Paul the apostle did. He was a faithful part of four churches in the first 14 years of his discipleship, which our Lord deemed good preparation for his first missionary journey. My point is that even the esteemed co-author of much of our New Testament would be labeled a church-hopper by some.
Moving on to another church can be of great spiritual benefit.
How?
You get stretched. Things you're used to are changed. You have to meet lots of new people. 
You have to re-examine your doctrines.
You appreciate differences of style within the Body of Christ.  
You learn better methods, or else you get to share the better methods with your new church.
You get to experience being the new guy again, deepening your empathy for visitors to the church and potential converts.
Of course there are things to be said in favor of longetivity within one congregation, too.
Some folks change churches because they don't want to repent of inability to get along with folks.
Bottom line: Obey the Holy Spirit, and don't make up rules that aren't in the Bible. 

*My wife and I are preparing to become missionaries to Muslims in the southern Philippines. We'll leave June 2013. 

Music

Music was invented in Heaven. Music's purpose is to glorify God. Most music on Earth, of course, does not. But I want to focus on whether the Church's music does. Specifically, the Western, English-speaking Church.
I've been bothered for some months about what our contemporary music emphasizes and what it largely ignores.
There are countless songs designed to make us feel good. God is gracious, God loves me, I have hope in Jesus, and God is trustworthy are all good topics. But where are the songs about his holiness? OK, there are songs that mention it, but they do not go into detail, and they certainly do not describe the awesome implications of God's holiness.
Where are the songs about the fear of God?
Where are songs about repentance?
Where are the songs that warn against sin?
For example, why is it that I can think of secular songs about homosexuality (celebrating it) (I have never listened to those songs, but I have heard about them), but I can't think of any Christian songs that mention this dangerous and unhealthy lifestyle. Well, there's one, but it was released in the early 1980s (Steve Taylor's Bad Rap).

The Enlightening Side Of The Moon

The skeptic might say that it's just a coincidence that during some eclipses, the moon perfectly and exactly covers the sun. The Christian knows that God put the sun 400 times farther from us than the moon, and made it 400 times larger than the moon, so that they would be the same size from our perspective. Because God made the sun and the moon for mankind.

Skeptic, how do you explain the perfect match of the sun's and the moon's size from our perspective?
It's obvious to me that God made them that way
--to light the earth just right
--to help us study the sun during eclipses, and
--to illustrate the truth that as God gives perfect light, his Church ought to reflect his light to those who don't see him.

Good Movies

Adam Sandler has never made a good movie.
Neither have Cameron Diaz, Chris Rock, Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney, or Brad Pitt.

You & I might disagree here, but let me explain. I define "good movie" as clean as well as entertaining. In fact, if it's not clean, it won't entertain me. When I hear my wonderful Lord's name treated like a swear word, or see an ungodly sexual situation, or some other uncleanness, I feel deeply grieved, or angry, or dirty.

What I wrote in my first paragraph doesn't mean there's no hope for these actors. I would've said the same thing, for example, about Eddie Murphy some years ago. But in the latter part of his career he's made Meet Dave, Daddy Day Care, & Imagine That--all excellent, funny flicks.

"How can I find out whether a movie is 'good' before I spend the money at the theater or DVD store?" I'm glad you asked. Go here before you go there:
http://www.pluggedin.com/movies.aspx

Spiritual Warfare Is Real--Here's Proof!

I have a Facebook friend who I was pretty close to several years ago, but I haven't seen him since then. He was a disciple, zealous for the Lord. But I don't see any hint of that great faith in his posts or in his page. Out of love and concern for him, I wrote this to him to remind him of how God used him in a powerful way in my life:

There have been two times in my life when God has miraculously, instantaneously, no-natural-way-to-explain-

it healed me. One was about 20 yrs ago when I had TMJ (it was painful to try to close my jaw, and I was living on soft food for days). I went to the dentist, and he told me I needed surgery. He said to go out to the foyer and make an appointment. I went out and stood in line. But then God spoke to me and told me to leave--he would heal me! I got happy and started to go home, but I felt I ought to go to the church building. I did, and you were the only one there. I told you what happened. You prayed for me, and one side of my mouth closed for the first time in many days! You prayed again, and the other side closed, and I have been healed with no problems ever since! Thank you!

I wrote this four days ago. In the past four days, the symptoms that had been gone for 20 years have slowly returned! My jaw is as bad now as when I went to the dentist. Because this is certainly a spiritual issue, I'm not going to the dentist...especially since I ain't got dental insurance! I'm trusting God to heal me again.
To those who pray, would you pray for me? And please pray for my friend, too.


UPDATE, 6/22: There's good news: Thanks in part to your prayers, I'm totally healed! It's definitely a miracle!

My cat's dull, safe life

I enjoy the time of year when we can leave open our front and rear doors and let the cool early-morning breeze flow through the screen doors. It's Pasko the cat's very favorite season. He loves spotting a sparrow on the patio, slinking towards it with the greatest of stealth, and...stopping at the screen door. Eventually the bird will leave, and eventually Pasko will hear another flutter of wings, this time on the front porch. Once again, stealth, and stop, and stare through the screen. He never goes outside; he doesn't even try to. Perhaps that's because he's neutered.
They say indoor cats live longer, but I think it's a boring existence compared to the felines that are free to frolic wherever they want. Those cats actually hunt, and occasionally even get to taste fresh meat. All Pasko ever eats is dry cat food. Besides chasing birds, mice, and lizards, outdoor cats socialize, fight, tease dogs, mate, and raise kittens. They do what they were designed to do.

There are also screens that people peer through. In fact, most people have much in common with Pasko. Rather than living an abundant life of adventure and taking risks for God, they satisfy their craving for excitement by sitting and staring through TV screens for hours on end, watching others having fun, taking risks, and doing good. Rather than cultivating real-life red-hot romances with their spouses, some folks stare through their computer screens at too-perfect-to-be-real images of fantasy "lovers" who don't care about them one bit. And they wonder why, when it comes to their own spouses, they're practically neutered.

How does one actually get a life, rather than live vicariously through actors on the other side of a screen? William Carey--the founder of the modern missionary movement--said, "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." William Shedd--missionary to Iraq 100 years ago--adds, "A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." I think it's more exciting to go on a mission trip, or give more than you can afford, or preach the Gospel in public, than to partake of the fake Hollywood stuff, or roller coasters, or bungee jumping. The Lord designed each of us with an appetite for adrenaline rushes, with some obviously craving it more often than others. But God wants each of us to get a regular "fix" by stepping out by faith in whatever adventure or risk He leads us into. That way, we'll be building our faith and accomplishing some good while getting a buzz. That's what you were built for.

Am I advising you to give up your TVs? Not necessarily, but I've lived a rich full life without one for almost all of the last 28 years.

Learning To Hear The Holy Spirit's Voice

In an earlier post I've written about God's dealings with me about a calling to missionary work in the Philippines. The Lord has been kind enough to provide more guidance in recent weeks, which I want to record for your edification...and mine (I get blessed every time I revisit these events).

I met with the missions pastor at my church, and he suggested that I take the Pathways To Global Understanding course. I had heard from several saints how this course changed their lives, and it is changing mine. Any American who has an interest in reaching the nations with the gospel should take this course (the class is only available in the USA). Therefore, every American Christian should take it. It is inconceivable to me how one can be a Christian yet have no interest in reaching the nations.

During the third weekly class, at break time I was waiting for a chance to ask the teacher something. The facilitators had been instructing us about an assignment in which we should come up with a strategy for reaching an unreached people group for Jesus. While I was waiting, I remembered that challenge and quickly said to myself, "That's easy. My wife and I will adopt five or six Filipino orphans and teach them to love Muslims. Some of them will go to Muslim nations, and some will reach Muslims in the Philippines." Though I've long been aware of the strategic benefit of sending Filipinos rather than White Americans to reach Muslim nations, we had never even considered doing what popped into my mind! As I wondered why on Earth did I think such a thing, I felt the Spirit of God all over me, and I started to weep. I never did get to ask the teacher my question.

I thank God for my dear wife Gina. Every time I tell her that I believe God is asking us to do something, she happily agrees that we should do it. Mahal kita, B.W.E!*

A couple of weeks later, the speaker was teaching us about the desperate lack of missionaries in the Muslim world. My eyes fell on the notes he had prepared for us, focusing on a quote that has long been my favorite: "A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are made for." (William Shedd, missionary to Iraq) Gina and I had been asking the Lord for guidance about exactly where in the Philippines we ought to live. As I read Shedd's words about safety vs. duty, the thought occurred to me, "How can I raise my kids to reach Muslims if we're afraid to live near one of the Muslim areas of the Philippines?" It seems that every time God really speaks to me I cry (because I'm overwhelmed with joy & gratitude), and this time was no exception. Again, thank God for a wife who wants to be in the center of God's will. She had been hoping we would live in the far north of the Philippines, where her family lives. The Muslim areas are in the south. Gina agreed that we ought to obey God.

I think the most important thing about hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit is obedience. If you aren't willing to do what he says, why should he speak to you?

*Mahal kita means "I love you" in Tagalog, and B.W.E. is one of my pet names for Gina. It means best wife ever.

Disappointment, Or His Appointment?

I've been learning that interruptions and disappointments can be God's way of getting our attention, of changing our plans. Here's a glorious example:

In 1806, while attending Williams College in Massachusetts, Samuel Mills and some other students would gather for prayer every week. Afterward, they all set off for home. Mills and four others were traveling homeward together when a sudden downpour struck. The men sought shelter in a haystack by the road. If they had been like many of us, they would have sat there whining and worrying about the waste of time. But they simply resumed the prayer meeting. It was then that the Lord revealed himself and his will to them in such a powerful way that all of them dedicated their lives to missionary endeavors on the spot. And they lived out that commitment. This was at a time when almost no one from the US was serving as missionaries.

As a result of the now-famous "Haystack Prayer Meeting," the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was born, the very first American missions agency.

Incidentally, Mills' mother had dedicated him to the Lord as an infant to be a missionary. Again, at a time when very few Americans were doing this. Her prayer was wonderfully answered.

The Religious Right vs. The Religious and The Right

I'm encountering increasing opposition to faith-informed political involvement from my brethren in the Church as well as from libertarians on the Right side of the political spectrum.

To my brethren, I would point out that God's people being involved in secular politics has a long and distinguished history. Is there any doubt that God himself made Joseph the Prime Minister of Egypt? Were not Nehemiah and Daniel political figures? Was George Whitfield neglecting his preaching when he led the labor reform movement in Great Britain? Should William Wilberforce have become a preacher rather than remain in Britain's Parliament after his conversion to Christianity? If he had, the British slave trade would have thrived for decades longer. Should the 19th century missionaries to India have concerned themselves with evangelism only? If they had not become politically active, many hundreds more widows would have been burned along with their deceased husbands. Today, prison reforms, anti-slavery movements, and other human rights causes have been led by Christians around the world, not to mention the efforts to curtail the slaughter of unborn children. Are the saints wasting their time in these efforts?

To my irreligious friends on the Right, can you really win elections by continuing to alienate social conservatives? Will accepting abortion-on-demand and embracing (or ignoring) the homosexual agenda serve to rally the millions of conservative churchgoers to the polls? Do not the founding documents of this Republic, documents which you claim to adhere to, honor our Creator as the source of the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of justice?

Genesis

Genesis has long been my favorite OT book, and I've been getting even more excited about it lately. For instance, I see now that when God kicked Adam and Eve out of the Garden, it was an act of mercy as well as of judgment. If they had eaten from the Tree of Life after disobeying the Lord, they would have been stuck in their sinful condition forever, just as the fallen angels. No hope of redemption. God prevented them from becoming immortal.
Why is it that many well-meaning Christians insist that all people are immortal? Doesn't the Bible refer to us as mortals? Doesn't it say that one receives eternal life only when one is converted to the faith of the Lord Jesus?
Hallelujah! Those who follow Jesus will one day eat from that Tree of Life.

Is there not a need? Is there not a call?

Click here for an amazing and heart-tugging story. I don't know where to find statistics on such things, but it seems to me from what and who I have seen that there are far more female missionaries than male, even in dangerous places. This is to our shame. Where are the men of God? Is there not a need? Is there not a call?

Christian, take heed, lest you fall

"I prayed a prayer when I was 13, so I'm going to Heaven even though I'm not living right."

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Rom 8:13

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:10

"OK, he's not saved because he was never saved in the first place. But whoever is really saved cannot lose his salvation."

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Heb 10:26, 27

Then the master called the servant in. “You wicked servant,” he said, “I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart. Mat 18:32-35

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 1 Tim 1:5,6

But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die. Ezek 18:24

Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. Luke 8:13

"You're teaching salvation by works if you're saying we have to keep living right to be saved."

Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Rev 3:2

He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. Rev 2:11

We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. Heb 3:14

"If works are so important, what about grace?"

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, Titus 2:11,12


"But I thought that when I was saved, all of my future sins were forgiven."

But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 2 Pet 1:9

"Are you saying I can be saved, then backslide, then be saved again?"

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:19,20

Jesus suffered, died, and rose from death to purchase my salvation, and I could never add one ounce of merit to that. I am saved by grace through faith. I chose to receive that grace twenty-nine years ago. I couldn't have chosen to do so if God had not drawn me by his Spirit, but it still was my free will that decided to receive him. I still have free will. And so do you. Let's choose, by the grace of God, to follow Jesus today, and tomorrow, and so on until he returns.

Sloppy Preaching and Teaching

This post is for preachers and teachers of God's word.

1) If you are to communicate the Gospel on a regular basis, please make every effort to learn and apply the basics of the language you'll minister in. For most of you, that will obviously be English.
It can be quite distracting to hear the rules broken throughout a message. I think the most common violation is the interchanging of singular and plural forms of words, such as, "You should look your child in the eyes and be firm with them." (When you don't know the sex of the subject, the male form of the word is appropriate. The quote should have used "him" instead of "them".)

2) Don't teach things that you don't know for sure are true. This can apply to such things as your interpretation of a Bible passage, an alleged celebrity quote from some website, or an anecdote you heard yesterday. For example, I've heard preachers teach the supposed "law of first mention" dogmatically numerous times, but I can think of several exceptions to this "law". If you think you know what a certain horn on a beast in Revelation represents, admit that it's your opinion. I once heard a teacher say emphatically that the "little horn" will be Yasser Arafat, but Arafat is dead now.

3) When you read a Bible passage to your flock, and then tell them that "this is mistranslated; the Greek here really says...," are you certain that you know ancient Greek better than the respected scholars who worked for years on that translation? Do you want to sow doubt in their hearts about how many other parts might be "mistranslated"?

How I Decided To Retire In The Philippines

Peter, a life-long fisherman, had fished all night with nothing to show for it. He had cleaned his net and was ready to go home to get some sleep. Jesus, who was a rabbi and a carpenter, not a fisherman, told him to go out and cast his net one more time. Peter objected mildly, but then agreed to obey the Lord. His net was suddenly filled with fish!

Peter did not do anything special or employ any wonderful technique; he merely obeyed the one who created the fish. The Lord also gave me some simple guidance years ago, and He has also done amazing things for me since I began to obey His leading. After the huge catch of fish, Jesus said that from that time on Peter would "catch" people. I believe that one day my "net" will be full of Filipino youth (but certainly not by my ability).

As I look back on the many years since I was introduced to the Lord in 1980, I can plainly see how He has been preparing me for this "mission". For example, I was in a bad marriage for about thirteen years before my first wife left me (she wanted someone to party with). Though she had been frequently abusive verbally and physically, I can honestly say that I'm thankful for that experience. I have a strength in my character that I didn't have before, and I have learned to lean on God when I'm not strong. As the sunlight makes clay harder and butter softer, tough times can make a man either bitter or better. I choose the latter. I forgive my ex-wife, and I have compassion for her.

As the divorce dragged on for three miserable years, I was there for my kids every minute possible. I knew they hurt, and they needed me. But when we went to church, they would go off to the kids' ministry, and I would go to the adult sanctuary. Just to be with them, I started volunteering for kids' church. I loved it! I had done everything else in church--playing drums, teaching adults, drama, clean-up, choir, church council--but this was the most fun and most fulfilling. And the kids liked me, too.

God began to set before me a series of clues--culminating in January & February 2004--that were so obvious, even a galoot like me couldn't miss the point. I don't have the space to mention all of them. It all started when I decided that I was sufficiently healed from the divorce and I wanted to marry again. Since I didn't know anyone I was interested in, I joined an online Christian singles' service. I determined to focus on meeting someone in my city--Chandler, AZ--or maybe within the metro Phoenix area. Long-distance dating seemed impractical for a very busy cheapskate like me. But I was also very picky--she had to be perfect for me, since I didn't want another mismatch marriage. I eventually had to broaden my horizons to neighboring states. Months later, I even exchanged some notes with women in distant states and Canada. But none of them seemed right for me. A year or so after I joined that website, I started to look to Mexico, South America, and even Europe for a mate. Still unsatisfied, I "cast my net" toward Asia. I met a nice young lady in the Philippines who seemed to have so much potential that I flew out to meet her. Though she also later proved to not be "the one", I did fall in love...with her church, and with the Filipino people.

As a mail carrier at that time, I bid on a new mail route in totally new area for me. I was startled to learn how many Filipinos and other Asians I suddenly had for customers--about 20% of my route was of Asian descent.

Soon afterward, I took my kids to see the first Spiderman movie. In the part were there's a toddler trapped in a burning building, obviously you feel compassion as you hear the kid crying. But whenSpiderma he opened the door and I saw that it was an Asian child, I noticed my heartstrings being pulled so much more.

I was in the children's ministry every Sunday morning. I only took two or three days off all year to sit with the adults. During the morning services, they would often show short video reports of what the denomination was doing around the US and the world. It was during one of my rare days off in early 2004 that they just happened to show a video of--what else?--a children's ministry in the Philippines. Of course, it brought tears to my eyes. I soon contacted the leader of that ministry in Davao City. Today, and I'm the editor of his email reports.

My first trip to the Philippines had a rocky start. I had spent many weeks organizing the trip, & it was departure day. The bags were packed, tickets in hand, passport...passport...where was my passport? We tore my house apart for six hours, to no avail. Devastated, I gave up when it was time for the flight to take off. I'm so glad that I knew absolutely that this is what I was supposed to do, because when a thought came to me that I should forget this Philippines stuff, and that God had forsaken me, I rejected the thought outright, and I got up to do something about it. And I experienced a stunning turn of events. Although it had taken weeks to prepare for the trip, in one day I was able to
--cancel my employee vacation time (we're supposed to give two weeks' notice to do that, but my boss and the union surprisingly waived that),
--obtain a new vacation time slot beginning only three weeks later,
--order a new passport, and
--get new tickets to coincide with my new vacation time.
In one day! The delay cost me a few hundred dollars, but it was worth it. I later found out that an American missionary/university president/author named Chuck Quinley, with whom I would begin an important relationship (I learned so much from him!), had been out of the Philippines when I was originally scheduled to be there, but because I went later, I got to spend much time with him. There are no accidents in God's plan.
(Incidentally, the old passport had slid under a false bottom in my carry-on bag.) 

I also got to know and love the "family" in the House of Light during the trip. "Mommy" Lourdes Reyes cares for several lovable children who have been removed from abusive homes. She's been doing this for decades. We are happy to help support the House.

Though I usually missed the morning services at church, I would go to the laid-back evening meetings. Once, after a time of singing & worship, the pastor asked us to wait quietly before the Lord and ask Him what He would say to us. I did, and I was surprised at how clearly He spoke to me. He said, "I am faithful". "Yes!", I thought, "You have done amazing things for me this week, Lord!" (the single-day trip planning) Then He said, "I will reward you." I had been really feeling God's presence, & when you're really sensing Him there, the last thing you think about is you deserving a reward. The prophet Isaiah, & the apostle Peter hundreds of years later, had remarkable experiences of God's closeness, & they each exclaimed how sinful they felt, though we would have called them holy. So I told the Lord that I wasn't worthy of His blessing, especially since I haven't led many people to know Him. Then the pastor asked for our attention, and he read the text--Genesis chapter 15. In that passage, God answered my objections! When Abraham told God that he wasn't fruitful, as I wasn't, God said that He would make him incredibly fruitful! God said that He himself was Abraham's reward. Then God promised him a home where various tribes lived, and I thought about the rural provinces in the Philippines. And because Abraham believed (as I believed) His promise, he counted that faith as righteousness!

Years before I began kids' ministry--probably around 1990--I was given a "word of knowledge" (an inspired insight) that even though I had been in many different kinds of ministry, nothing really fit me perfectly, but one day, I would find a ministry that really fits me, one that I was made for. The preacher (Brad Campbell) said that when I would get to Heaven, I'd find many people there who will thank me for teaching them about Jesus. Only now am I beginning to see this come to pass.

After I began thinking about the possibility of retiring in the Philippines in several years, Mark McGrath was speaking at a special meeting at our church. He told a story about his father-in-law, who retired from construction/contracting. He went to Haiti to devote his life to building homes, church buildings, and anything else they needed. He had retired in his early fifties, just like I will. When he died, at the funeral in Minnesota there were two men in shabby clothes whom no one else knew, sitting in the back. When greeted, they said that their village in Haiti had been so grateful to him that they took a collection to send two representatives to his funeral. At that part of the story, I suddenly broke down and started sobbing uncontrollably. I couldn't get the picture out of my mind of two young Filipino men at my funeral saying the same thing. I hadn't sobbed like that since I was a kid! I'm glad I was sitting in the back--I don't know if anyone saw me. The "vision" was so moving that even now, writing this makes my eyes misty.

These things happened within the first several weeks of 2004. Since then, the Christian dating site had a Filipina member on a one-week free trial (she had no money for membership). I happened to be very impressed by her profile, so I sent off an email. I finally persuaded her to like me, and eventually I obtained her phone number. The first time I called her, we (expensively) talked for three hours! I had never talked that long to anyone before, phone or otherwise. I took my son Isaac (he was 10) to meet her six months later, and he gave me unsolicited advice to marry her ("She's so sweet!"). Gina Edrozo and I wed 8/26/2006. I'm so happy to not only have the Best Wife on Earth (as I tell her every day), but also one who shares my love for kids.

At the time I was considering marriage to Gina, I heard about a new Christian radio show on Saturday mornings, so I tuned in while at work. It just so happened that the first episode I heard was an interview with a doctor and his wife who are children's missionaries to the Philippines!

The next Saturday I was off work (every six weeks I'd get a Saturday off), and there happened to be a children's ministry workers' conference in Phoenix that day. I enjoyed the seminars, and at lunchtime, I wasn't hungry (a miracle), so I waited until everyone else got in line. A couple got in line at the same time, and I glanced at their name tags. I thought, "Hmm...Joel & Virginia Jacobson...where have I heard those names before?" It was the missionary couple on the radio! We began a very edifying friendship right there. They run "Child's Wish Ministries" in Cebu City. Gina and I sponsor several kids there.

Hindsight is 20/20--I can see clearly now why the Lord wants my wife and me to minister to Filipino kids. Because I'm 6'4" and American, the kids (especially those in rural areas) are very attracted to me. I can point their attention to Jesus. We won't need any personal support, because my small early-retirement pension will provide a decent living in that Third-World economy (though we may need ministry support). My youngest (Isaac) graduates from high school in 2013--when we will go--so he won't have to go with us (but I hope he and his older sister Tabitha will!). 

There is a tremendous need for children's ministry there--about half of the population is age 16 or younger. Most Filipinos speak some English, and many want to learn it better. I might teach English part-time there as an outreach.

The call of God to reach the nations with the gospel is not for a select few. Every Christian must do what he or she can to fulfill Mark 16--"Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the message of God's good news to one and all." If you don't go, you ought to help others go. 

This article explains the way that the Lord showed my wife and me how we will fulfill this call. Do you know how you will?

Retire? There's Too Much Work To Do

Most people retire to take it easy. Most people fill their quotas for adventure with movies, amusement parks, games, and tourism. Most people try to keep the needs of humanity from getting too close. I hope to persuade you to "retire" to a life of adventure while serving humanity.

I will be able to retire in mid-2013 (I'll be 52). At that time, my wife and I will take our meager savings and small pension to the Philippines. (If we were to stay here, we wouldn't be able financially to retire yet. In that Third-World economy, we'll be living pretty well.) We'll devote our lives to the welfare of poor children. Startling fact: 50% of the population in the Philippines is age 16 or younger. With the poverty, domestic violence, neglect, and child-labor abuse in that nation of 80 million, there's a lot of need.

Don't praise us for any perceived altruism...imitate us! Ask God to show you a need in a Third-World country that you can get passionate about.
Many of you have job-related retirement benefits waiting for you in the future. Others have savings and investments prepared. Why retire here and barely get by, playing games and rocking your chair every day, when you can live well and do good in Mexico or Liberia or the Philippines?

You probably have an ability that would be a great blessing in a Third World nation. Even if you can't do things like construct buildings or repair laptops, since you're reading this, you can teach conversational English. Millions of people elsewhere know some English but desperately want to learn it better. And if you're a Christian, you have something better than such abilities. You have the answer to every soul's desperate need. If you don't think of yourself as much of a soul-winner, please consider the fact that in many nations, average Americans are celebrities. You can use this attraction to point people to Jesus. And people in such countries are often much more hungry for truth than the average American.

OK, I understand that this missionary retirement is not for everyone. But billions of people have no idea why they were created. Is the Church is fully obeying The Great Commision? It is God's will that none should perish.
How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news.
Romans 10:14,15

Dinosaurs and Dragons

If Genesis is reliable history, and if the Earth is relatively young (probably not more than 12,000 years old), then dinosaurs roamed the Earth at the same time as mankind before dying out. Job (probably the first book of the Bible to be written) chapters 40-41 speak of animals called Behemoth and Leviathan that, according to the dialog, were around for Job and his friends to see. Chapter 40 describes Behemoth's great strength and its "tail like a cedar" tree. Chapter 41 refers to Leviathan's huge, powerful build, as well as a back covered with armor plating that deflected swords and arrows. I believe these accounts tell of dinosaurs.

What about dragons? Could fire-breathing creatures be a real part of biological history? Who would have thought that amazing creatures such as electric eels, fireflies, snakes that spit venom, angler fish, chameleons, or ink-spewing squid were real if they were not still with us? A few lines of evidence should be considered. First, there is the fairly clear teaching of scripture. The Bible leaves very little room for a hyperbole or metaphor interpretation. Job 41:19-21 says of Leviathan that,
"Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goes smoke as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth."
Secondly there is the matter of historical evidence. Multiple ancient societies from around the world told stories of fire-breathing dragons. Thirdly, consider some biological evidence. There is a "fire-breathing" creature called the Bombadier beetle. Hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone are contained in separate chambers in the beetle's abdomen, from where it can be ejected to confront a predator with an explosive mixture reaching 212�F! Lastly, there is some paleontological evidence that a skull arrangement could have accommodated "fire-breathing." In his book Dinosaurs by Design, Dr. Duane Gish discusses how the hadrosaurs' nasal cavities could easily have connected to chemical reserves in the hollow, horny crest.

Make Jesus the Reason for the Season

Here's a plan for letting your neighbors know that the Kingdom of God is near to them: Get about twenty Christmas cards and write something like this in each one:

Season's Greetings! We're so happy to be your neighbors. Please let us know if we can help you in any way, whether it's loaning a tool, helping with a chore, or maybe you just need someone to talk or pray with.
Love,
(name, phone number, address)

Then, as a couple or as a family, knock on the twenty nearest doors and spread some Christmas cheer. Maybe bring bags of cookies or chocolates, too.

Lock the door! Turn off the lights!

I used to think it was my Christian duty to hate Halloween. Participating in a "Harvest Festival" a few days before 10/31 was OK, but on that dreaded date, we would turn off the porch light, close the curtains, hunker down, and watch a video. But I was missing an excellent opportunity to meet my neighbors and share the gospel. How often do dozens of people ring my doorbell in one evening?

Our new Halloween tradition consists of us all dressed in non-scary, non-evil, non-slutty costumes, passing out candy with an attached note on orange card-stock:

Enjoy the chocolate! We're John and Gina. We teach Sunday School at Chandler Christian Church. We hope you kids can visit us there soon! http://www.chandlercc.org

Maybe we'll get visitors to church that way. If nothing else, our neighbors will know that the Kingdom of God is near.

How Then Should I Preach?

Christians are too often known for being against a lot of things, rather than for being positive. Looking at other Christians around me, and especially at myself, I think I know the reason. I think it's due to the fact that it's fairly easy to logically explain why homosexuality, lying, gossip, pornography, and divorce are harmful to everyone involved, and there can be a certain accompanying amount of pride in revealing these truths--I demonstrated superior wisdom, and I did my Christian duty. But to be for something, we have to be for someone--Jesus--because we know better than to preach ourselves. And it's natural for us to feel embarrassed to preach a 2000 year old Messianic message of miracles to the modern, mocking masses.

How does one preach Jesus? Talk about the predictions of his first coming. Describe his blameless life. Gush over the incredible wisdom he used to lift the oppressed and confound his opponents. Proclaim his imminent return. Most of all, tell about his grace! Grace that washes away our sins, grace that nailed the requirements of the Law to the cross, grace that sovereignly intervenes in every area of our lives, grace that gives us the power to live right.

God give us enough holy boldness and humility to share this indescribable gift with every people group on Earth, as well as to our next-door neighbors.

Tithes

It is commonly accepted among Evangelicals that a Christian must pay tithes to his local church. I do not find this anywhere in the Bible. The Old Testament shows Abraham tithing to a priest, and Moses commanded Israel to pay tithes to priests, but in the New Testament, all Christians are priests. Jesus taught that giving to the poor or to "the least of these" is the same as giving to him, and, in fact, this principle is found throughout Scripture. Yes, there are a few New Testament instructions and examples concerning giving to churches, but it is never referred to as a regular ten per cent that is due.

My wife and I divide our ten per cent between a variety of ministries, with the bulk of it going here. The founders of this evangelistic charity are good friends of ours.

For more detailed dissertation about Christian giving, read this. I don't agree with all of his conclusions, but it's food for thought.

"Cussing"--Why Is It Wrong?

Profanity is often referred to as "mature" language. Yet we've all heard children use these words. Are these kids more mature than their peers? Hardly. It is immature language because:

--cussers don't care if they bother others (in this, they are on a level with those who pass gas, loudly chew gum, or burp in public),

--cussers usually don't even use profane words according to their definitions, and

--cussers often trivialize and disrespect the names and titles of the awesome and wonderful Lord of Lords.

I don't misuse the names of your loved ones; please don't do so to the one I love more than anyone else.

Everything in this article thus far is also in my other blog, http://jgapinoy.blogspot.com, which is aimed at the general public. The reason I bring it up in this blog--aimed at the Church--is because of the phenomenon of "Christian cussing". Do you use slang words that were invented for the sole purpose of sounding like the cuss words you condemn? I used to, but God convicted me about it, and I made an effort to stop. At first it was an effort--I actually had to think of ways to express myself properly. Now it is no effort at all. Please consider what I'm saying, and give it a try.

Confessions of a Church-Hopper...?

For the first two years after I came to love Jesus, I was a dedicated church-hopper. Eventually, though, I learned that I couldn't really serve the Body of Christ that way, because no one could count on me being there at any given time. For the next seventeen years, I was stuck in the other extreme. I was in a church that frequently warned against leaving "The Fellowship". "The religious world", as the rest of Christendom is called by this group, would surely make me "lukewarm". "You have to bloom where you're planted--Psalm 1!" was the mantra. So when I sensed that the Lord was leading me to leave that fellowship, I prayed about it for two years before finally leaving. I was concerned that it would take me months to find a good church, but thank God, the first one I checked out became "home"...for three years. I've been serving in yet another church for the last three and a half. Am I a church hopper now? Call me what you will, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am a better man for having had these transitions at these specific times. I can point to areas in my character, in my knowledge of good doctrine, as well as in my ministry abilities that have been strengthened as a result of changing churches. I understand that a move to the wrong church could have been disastrous, so being sensitive to the Lord's leading is always crucial.

Paul, who was a Christian for at least fourteen years before his first missionary journey, was a part of at least four churches during that time. Nevertheless, I hear slight hints of contempt from brothers and sisters occasionally when they refer to departed saints.

Yes, remaining in one church for decades can be God's will for some. But others are called to these times of transition.

"Are My Needs Being Met?"

I'm a little weary of the mindset that says that the number one thing to look for in a church or Bible study group is, "Are my needs being met?" Obviously, that should be a factor sometimes, but not numero uno every time. When Hudson Taylor labored alone in China as a missionary for all those years, was it because they were meeting his needs?
At one time, my wife and I were part of a Bible study group that was--how do I say it?--needy. The leader and his wife had their act together, but the rest of the group consisted of a man with a plethora of health problems whose wife died some months earlier, another man who was unemployed while his wife had just lost her mother and whose father and brother were battling mental illness and drug addiction, and the dear elderly woman who was nearly blind and nearly deaf. We did not attend those meetings because they were fun or fulfilling. We went to be a blessing.
The greatest missionary of all, the Lord Jesus Christ, left the honor, glory, and riches of Heaven to hang out with sinners, the sick, and hypocrites. He did it, not for any immediate kicks, but "for the joy set before Him." That joy was knowing that we would become His bride, His Church. He did it for love.

Eeek! It's the Annual Attack of the Christmas Legalists!

Happy Holidays! Oops--I can't say that without offending an army of more-righteous-than-me saints who demand that everyone says "Merry Christmas". This seasonal indignation has been a tradition since the days when we used to hear "Satan Claus" hissed because old Nick was "replacing" the Christ of Christmas. The new bugaboo is replacing the word "Christmas" with "Holiday".

The American Family Association sent me an email about what store to boycott because they said "family tree" instead of Christmas tree (that was a stupid marketing decision, Lowes), as well as a very very important very urgent bulletin informing the public that Petsmart didn't mention "Christmas" in their flyers. And AFA also warned me about a wicked, wicked hotel chain that removed Gideon Bibles from their rooms. Look, I believe in boycotts (when a company blatantly promotes evil--see my Illustration and Application post), but I don't believe in forcing the world to act like devout Christians when they're not. Do you get angry at taxicabs that don't have Bibles? Does the world see us as uptight prunefaces with Taliban tendencies?

Thanks, Coral Ridge Ministries, but don't send me a "Merry Christmas lapel pin" designed to push back the wicked powers of the Happy-Holidays devils.

Instead of being hostile, we ought to be thankful that millions of sinners everywhere celebrate Jesus' birth! Imagine hearing Gospel-packed songs like Joy To The World on secular radio at any other time.

I always prefer to say "Merry Christmas", but if a Buddhist or a Muslim or an atheist wishes me "Happy Holidays", I say, "Thank you, you too!"

Neglected Solution For Sin

Confession time: For much of my life, including many years after my new birth in Christ, I was enslaved to a sinful habit. I hated it, but my flesh loved it. Pastoral counseling, deliverance ministry, accountability, and even fasting and prayer seemed to do little to free me. However, it may be that the fasting and prayer eventually led me on the path to the increased victory that I now enjoy.* I have found that God really corrects and perfects his children through suffering. For example, King David, a man profoundly aware of the filthiness of sin (Ps 51), saw pain, turmoil, and humiliation as coming from the Lord to chasten him (2 Sam 16:9-12). When you and I start to believe in and seek divine discipline, and when we see the connection ("maybe I'm going through this because I did that"), we have
--more incentive to do right
--deep awareness of God's holiness, and
--the fear of God that's the beginning of wisdom.
It was during the aforementioned times of fasting and prayer that I started to follow the lead of my pastor at that time. He learned to pray, with Paul, for "the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering" (Phil 3:10). It was then, as I repeatedly prayed this verse with faith, determination, and dread, that not only did I experience suffering of various kinds, but I was able to receive it as from God. "God disciplines us as sons" (Heb 12:7). "Being punished isn't enjoyable while it's happening--it hurts! But afterwards we can see the result, a quiet growth in grace and character" (Heb 12:11, LB). I have learned, with Peter and James, how to allow hard times to bring me closer to the holiness that the Lord desires (James 1:2-4; 1 Pet 1:6,7).

*The guilt of my besetting sin for so many years was like a hundred-pound weight on my back. I say I have "increased victory", but I'm certainly not perfect yet. Nevertheless, a five-pound weight is much easier to carry as I run the race (Heb 12:1). May I never accept that the smaller 'weight' is small enough, and may the Lord continue to patiently work with me.

"God Wants You To Always Be Happy At Work!" : )

Normally I say "Amen" to any & every thing that flows from the charming drawl of James Dobson, but he said something that was just flat wrong today. It reflects what I perceive to be an emerging mantra of Evangelical Christianity. He and his guest were insisting that we probably ought to leave careers that we don't find fulfilling, and they implied that stress on the job is bad for you. As someone in a career that is entirely unfulfilling, as well as often very stressful, I am confident that God has me exactly where he wants me. The influence that I can have on my co-workers has the potential to be very fulfilling, and the stress can be very useful in shaping my character (see Neglected Solution for Sin).
How many of the persecuted prophets found their jobs stress-free and fulfilling?

Religion

Every definition listed in the Webster's Collegiate Dictionary for the word religion covers belief, manifestation of belief, devotion, or a system of devotion. Every use of the word in Scripture validates these definitions. Yet many in the Church act as if religion means lifelessness, or Phariseeism, or anti-Biblical traditions of men. I've heard this thundered by several preachers over the years: "God hates religion!" A popular worship song yearns for the day when "religion finally dies." A bumper sticker proudly proclaims: "I'm not religious, just Christian." Why do we think we can turn words upside-down and confuse seekers this way? Christianese is hard enough to master without turning good words into bad. Leave that to the gay people.

Illustration and Application

Let's say you live in a small town with only two stores. One is owned and run by an upstanding citizen, and the other treats customers just as well and has lower prices, but you discover it's owned by a wife-beating Al-Qaeda supporter. Would you shop only at the store with higher prices? Then why is it that most of you never participate in boycotts?
Most Christians would never do business with Planned Parenthood for obvious reasons--it's the USA's largest abortion provider. But if Christians knew that the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Allstate, DuPont, eBay, Sonic, AARP, Outback, the National Education Association (teachers' union), and Marriot (hotels) all give money to P.P., would Christians shun patronizing those companies? They should. I do.

Praise

My wife is a talented artist. Imagine she completed a painting and showed it to me. What if I were to shout, "I praise you! I love you, Gina! I thank you, Gina!," and then repeat a time or two? She would look at me funny. But if I would say, "Wow! The colors are magnificent, the details so beautiful--it looks like a photo, only better!," then she would be quite pleased.
The Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul taught that we ought to love and worship God with our minds as well as our hearts (Matt. 22:37, 1 Cor. 14:1-31). The Psalms are full of thoughtful exclamations of God's attributes.
Some of our dear Pentecostal brethren (I consider myself Pentecostal) have been known to chant a few phrases repeatedly, day after day, year after year, in worship. Unfortunately, one of their oft-used expressions of praise is "hallelujah," which of course means "praise the Lord." So we're telling the Lord to praise Himself? You won't find that word in the Bible addressed to God.
There's a tune by Jeremy Camp--who seems to be a wonderful Christian--that's played on the radio and sung in many worship services, and the song only has five phrases in it. Not even five complete sentences--five phrases--for about four minutes. Where is the thoughtfulness in that?
I've noticed that during my church's worship, pretty much the only time people raise their hands is during the chorus of each song. Maybe that's because they have the chorus so well memorized that they don't have to think about it, and they're then free to worship?
Is God more glorified by, "I praise you, I praise you, I love you, I thank you, hallelujah," or, "Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are His wisdom and knowledge and riches! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His methods!" (Rom. 11:33)?

Who Is Responsible For Missionaries?

In case you haven't heard (the myopic U.S. media are more interested in the latest pop tart scandal), there are dozens of South Korean missionaries being held hostage by Islamofascists. While much of the rest of the world is moved with sympathy for the captives, in S.K. there is a significant minority that is angry with them. "You put yourselves in harm's way, and now we have to bail you out!" I hope you don't faint when I say that they make a good point. Anyone who wants to follow the Lord's leading into a dangerous place ought to register a statement with the government releasing civil authorities from responsibilty. In effect, "God called me to do this, and He is able to rescue me from any trouble I might get into. My life is in His hands--I am as safe as He wants me to be. Please do not pay any ransom or make any attempt to rescue me."

Fear or Faith?

It had been many years since I saw a horror flick. They all seemed to have immature language (commonly called mature language) and/or gratuitous sexual situations and imagery, and I don't watch those kind of films. But The Grudge came out a couple of years ago, and after consulting http://www.pluggedinonline.com/ for their take on the movie's cleanness, I took the family to see it. S-c-a-r-y. I think it affected me more than the average guy because I hadn't seen a fear flick for so long. I found myself fairly apprehensive during showers or in the dark for some days afterward. Since then, I've developed some thoughts about the horror genre, and about entertainment in general.

I was inspired to record these thoughts after listening to a Christian radio show which had as its topic: "How have TV or movies affected your thinking irrationally?" All of the callers recounted how horror films had haunted them for years or even decades--no one called about comedies or documentaries. No one regretted seeing the scary films; they were willing to live with their silly trepidations. I became somewhat angry when not one but two callers wished that God hadn't removed much of their capacity to be afraid at these movies. Publicly complaining that God shouldn't have done something is just wrong, especially when the whiner is a professing Christian.

One of the most common phrases in the Bible is "Fear not." God says that "perfect love casts out fear," and that He "has not given us a spirit of fear." Is it wise, is it God's will, to seek to be frightened by images of saw-weilding madmen as a form of entertainment?

For thrills and adventure, I think it's better to go on a mission trip, give more than you can afford, or preach the Gospel in public than to partake of the fake Hollywood stuff or roller coasters or bungee jumping. The Lord designed each of us with an appetite for adrenaline rushes, and some crave it more often than others. But God wants each of us to get a regular "fix" by stepping out by faith in whatever adventure or risk He leads us into. That way, we'll be building our faith and accomplishing some good along with getting a buzz.

Theology Works

Why call a blog theologyworks? Theology because I passionately want Christians to pursue truth, and works because what you believe will be expressed in your lifestyle. Jesus repeatedly taught that people's hearts are revealed by their deeds and words.

This blog is for Christians, so please consider carefully before you send a post to a lost sinner. Jesus said it's not prudent to cast our pearls before swine.

So today, instead of watching that mind-numbing, perverted, far-from-reality reality show on TV, and instead of joining 20,000 fanatics as they scream at a bunch of multi-millionaire steroid junkees in funny clothes hitting a ball with a stick, why not use your God-given time by obtaining, living, and disseminating truth?

My blog for everybody is http://www.jgapinoy.blogspot.com