CLICK HERE FOR BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND MYSPACE LAYOUTS »

WHAT IS Memoirs of a Preacher?

This blog, Memoirs of a Preacher, is not just a journal of my journey and experience after being a full time church worker.

This blog is a reminder that 'preachers' like us are also human and have our own flaws. We are not perfect and we are not superman. We may try to do things out of the ordinary but that is just because of our passion for the work.

Every preacher, just like any other human being in this planet, has his own issue in life. To sum up everything, you and me and all those who serve in the work of the Lord, we are all sinners and we "fall short of the glory of God".

Praise God because we are saved by grace, not of works lest anyone should boast. I cannot boast of myself, and I think no body can.

STILL

Monday, July 20, 2009

Frustrations & Worries...


It seems like we are experiencing a series of 'unfortunate events' - so the world sees it. My son, Matthew, was sick for amost a week last week. After that my daughter, Annika, got sick with a temperature of 40. She got sick for a day last week and then she was sick and weak 5 days now.

Human as we are, my wife and I are worried especially with the outbreak of the A(H1N1) virus and my kids are considered high risk; aside from their ages (8 & 5) my son is asthmatic and my daughter have unknown allergies.
Yesterday, we brought Annika to the hospital and our fear were confirmed - she has dengue (which is actually worst than the A(H1N1) virus if you come to think of it.

For a moment there I was frustrated. I didn't know what to feel. I wanted to be angry but I don't know where to be angry. Will I be angry at myself since I waited 4 days before I admitted her to the hospital? Should I be angry at God for these series of unfortunate events? Do I even have the right to be angry? If God is doing this because He loved me, can He just love me less?


But then I woke up to my senses...


"
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Have I forgotten what God has done in the past for us? Was it easy to just forget how God has made a road out of the dessert for us when everything seems hopeless? Would I just disregard how God has divided seas for us in the past when things seems impossible?

What I'm experiencing now is just 'nothing' in the hands of God...

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19. A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million. It depends whose hands it's in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6. A baseball in Mark Mcquire's hands is worth $19 million. It depends whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands. A tennis racket in Pete Sampras' hands is a Wimbledon Championship. It depends whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal. A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea. It depends whose hands it's in.

A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy. A sling shot in David's hand is a mighty weapon. It depends whose hands it's in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands. It depends whose hands it's in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse. Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world. It depends whose hands it's in.

As you see now it depends whose hands it's in. So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because - It depends whose hands it's in.

(from the poem "Who's Hands")

Monday, June 29, 2009

A Public Confession


This is my public confession and I hope people would either understand or learn from this...or maybe both. There was a time in my life when God called me to do ministry work, to do what He intends me to do. For many years He has prepared me for His work, giving me all the experience I needed. He came when I was broken and at that time I was ready to kneel down and say "Here I am, Lord, send me".

My obedience has made me experience a deeper relationship with Him. I have gone through storms and shipwrecks in my life during those years that I have been working side-by-side with Him BUT He's strength was made strong during my weaknesses and I was rich even though I was poor because of His sufficient grace.

Time came that all these accomplishments has gone to my head and then came the time when I became half hearted. Not that I have become half hearted with my work in the ministry BUT half hearted in my dependence on Him. I relied on my capacity forgetting that I could not have done the things I have accomplished without Him. I have disobeyed Him and have followed my own in the ministry. I have made a major decision in life that was a great turning point.

This man that others called "faithful servant"...this man that others depended on for counseling and spiritual guidance has failed and have sinned.

Today, I confess my sin of PRIDE. I could have done this a long time ago but it took me months of hardship and living on my own will before I can even accept my sin. I publicly confess my sin as a gesture of accepting in and moving on to my journey back to God's will.

In the end, it is in serving Him that we find more joy and freedom in life. I was designed to be a servant of God and today I kneel back to Him asking Him to guide me back to His will.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Grace after Grace

25 April 2009

If I would look back with regret the time when I was on top of my pedestal, I would be disappointed and enrage. I would remember the pride of my accomplishments and would recollect how those around me have envied me. I would recall what I used to be and the things that I used to have and as I reminisce them it would also bring to mind how I lost all of the things that I have established for years in just a small number of mistakes. That memory is never a pleasant thing to remember. Yes it isn’t; not unless I look at the other side of the coin.

But if I look back at these things with thanksgiving, I see it in a different way! I see how God has provided in all things and how He has leaded us. I also see that the Bible is indeed true that pride leads to destruction and my situation has humbled me and I know this pleases God. I feel closer to my family and to God in this time of crisis. I have never prayed so earnestly to God that when we are in the storm of our lives. My faith is being tested and I know that when tested in fire it will come out more precious than gold or silver.

In the end, it is not the suffering that really matters; what really matters here is the lessons that we learn so we can do more for God than we have before. God never uses a vessel of personal honor but God uses a broken vessel to let others know that He is great and that He is full of grace.