"My Peace I Give You"

Binhi sang Pagtuo

May 24, 2010

Dear Centralians and Friends,

Greetings from the campus!

This week is very busy for Central Philippine University. On May 26-28, 2010, the campus will be filled with pastors, church members, guests and friends that will be attending the 2nd Biennial Assembly and 75th Diamond Celebration of the Convention of Philippines Baptist Churches. The theme for this assembly is taken from the words of Jesus in John 14:27, “My Peace I Give You.” Let us pray for this gathering.

Peace is very elusive. This is maybe the reason why we continue to discuss it. Jesus spoke about peace many times. Let me give you five points using the first letters of the word PEACE.

P – Pray for peace. During the birth of Jesus, the angels sang a beautiful prayer: “Peace on earth and goodwill among people.” Let us continue to pray this kind of prayer, and hope that someday we may experience continues peace and goodwill.

E – Educate the people about peace. Jesus taught his disciples that when they enter a house they should always say, “Peace to this house.” There is a Filipino tradition when building a house – a comb (husay) is put in every post of the house when building the foundation. This comb (husay) symbolizes the desire of the occupants of the house to have peace: “May ara sang kahusayan ang pangabuhi sa sulod sang balay kag wala nagagumon ang pangabuhi.” Let us hope that this tradition will be passed on to the next generation. I just experienced it the other day when my mother-in-love requested the carpenters building our bahay kubo to put the husay in all the posts.

A – Advocate peace. Jesus advocated peace by challenging the violent practices of the Jews. One of these is the principle of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But Jesus said, “I tell you, when someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also.” This calls for a radical change on our behavior. Let us not turn a blind eye on this command of Jesus.

C – Coordinate with other groups and organizations working for peace. Jesus was once told by his disciples that they stopped someone who was driving out demons in his name. Jesus scolded John and said, “Do not stop him…for whoever is not against us is for us.” This should be a lesson to us to be open for partnerships with other groups. God is working also through them.

E – Endeavor the culture of peace. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.” It is a continuing struggle for me if I should allow my children to watch the famous cartoon show, “Tom and Jerry.” Although hilarious, we can find a lot of violence in the show. Some of them are sometimes practiced by my children. My wife and I are doing our best to counter this culture, and instill to our children the culture of peace. To my fellow parents, let us start teaching the culture of peace while our children are still young.

Peace be with you!

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

Assistant Chaplain

The Great Commission

Binhi sang Pagtuo

May 17, 2010

Dear Centralians and Friends,

Greetings from the campus!

Yesterday, the Christian church celebrated the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He left an imperative command to His gathered disciples. This command is now famously called, “The Great Commission.”

I once heard a sermon illustration that is about a gathering of ministers in a mission conference under the theme “The Great Commission.” On their opening celebration, a wind passed by and the letter “C” in the cutout letters fell off. Although the spelling is wrong, the congregation understood the message – the Great Commission has oftentimes become the Great Omission.

What is the message of the Great Commission for us?

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This is a very revolutionary statement from Jesus. The emperor of Rome during the time of Jesus was the one considered to be the authority under heaven and on earth. By declaring this statement, Jesus has declared that nobody should usurp the authority of God, and that His disciples must be courageous enough to stand on this declaration. True enough, the disciples of stood on their faith and were martyred because of it.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus is expecting us to be this kind of example: “If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, and pick up his cross. Any of you who do not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”

“Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Paul reminds us the meaning of baptism – we share in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ during immersion and rising up from the water.

“And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Let me refer you to Matthew 5 to 7 for the commands of Jesus. These chapters are a constant source of reminder of what Jesus demands of us.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” In doing the mission that Jesus has commanded us to do, He promised to be with us. We can just imagine the comfort of these words during the times of persecution in the early church. This promise continues to be true until today.

Happy Ascension celebration!

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

Assistant Chaplain

We hope for a set of leaders who really CARES

Binhi sang Pagtuo

May 10, 2010

Dear Centralians and Friends,

Greetings from La Carlota City, Negros Occidental!

Earlier today, about 7:30am, my wife Hermely and I casted our ballots. Hermely had a brief scare when her ballot was not accepted by the PCOS machine (Precinct Count Optical Scan) the first time she inserted it. On her second try, she was greeted “Congratulations” by the machine. As of this time of writing, there are reports of malfunctioning PCOS machines all over the country, and failure of elections in some areas. The COMELEC has extended the voting time up to 7pm. There are petitions to extend it up to 11pm if glitches in the machine will continue.

In connection with our celebration of Mother’s Day, we hope and pray that our next set of leaders will be like a mother who really cares for us. Let me share 5 things from the letters of word CARES.

Like a mother, we hope for a leader who is Compassionate.

Jesus was very compassionate. Matt 9:36, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Our mothers have great compassion for their children. They are always concerned about their children. They will always consider the plight of their children before their own situation.

Like a mother, we hope for a leader who shows Affection.

The affection of God to us can be glimpsed in these verses, “…You will nurse from her breast and be carried at her side; you will play on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so I'll comfort you…” (Isaiah 66:12-13)

We really need leaders who will show their love and care all throughout their terms, and not just during election time.

Like a mother, we hope for a leader who Restores us.

Psalm 23:1-3 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”

Our country needs leaders who will restore our Filipino pride and lead the country out of poverty.

Like a mother, we hope for leaders who will Elevate our status.

Leadership is often seen by others as a way to marginalize the people. We can often hear threats like “Just wait for me to become a leader, and then I will trample you down.”

Elevating the status of the marginalized was a way of life for Jesus. He talked to women, tax collectors, sick and poor. God is a God of life. Jesus had a preferential option for the poor because the poor were dying before their time. Jesus always pronounced a blessing to the marginalized sector.

Lastly, we also hope for leaders who will always Seek the will of God.

Jesus always sought the will of God. But he was also tempted to follow his own will. The Lord’s prayer reminds us that even Jesus was tempted to follow his own will. But later on, he prayed “not my will but thy will be done.”

We must also convert the perceived negative Filipino trait that is “Bahala na.” Actually, this phrase was originally “Bathala na” or “thy will be done.” This only shows that Filipinos are culturally a people with great faith on the Almighty God.

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers! Let us pray that the outcome of our national elections will produce a set of leaders who really cares.

May God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

Assistant Chaplain

Biblical Criteria on Choosing Leaders

Binhi sang Pagtuo

May 3, 2010

Dear Centralians and Friends,

Greetings from Negros!

Next Monday, May 10, 2010, is the national election day of our dear country, the Philippines. The University Church conducted a Voters Forum last Sunday and my part was to share the biblical criteria on choosing a leader. Let me share it also to you.

The form of government of Israel started on what is called theocracy – a government ruled by God through the prophets, judges and messengers. Later, when they entered Canaan, they clamored for a king like all the nations around them.

God gave them a set of parameters on what kind of king God desires for them. Deuteronomy 17:15-20 tells us about these criteria.

First, “He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite.”

This challenges us to vote for leaders who know our Philippine situation. Our next leaders should not be an "alien" or a "foreigner" on our real situation. Popularity should not be our number one basis but to choose someone who really can situate him/herself on what is happening around us and propose solutions for it.

Second, “The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself”

“Horses” in this verse means “a great army.” Therefore, we must not choose leaders who prefers war or violence as his/her way of solving things. The campaign period has taught us that a lot of candidates have resorted to threats, and killing their political enemies just to ensure their victory. Let us not vote for these violent people.

Third, “must not make the people return to Egypt…for the Lord has told you, ‘You are not to go back that way again.’”

Egypt is a symbol of slavery and oppression. God intends that we must be free, and be given the opportunity to actualize our potential. Let us choose leaders who will not enslave and oppress us. We must be courageous enough to stand on what is right and defy the tyrants in our land.

Fourth, “He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray.”

This criterion reminds us to elect leaders who are not immoral. Let us say no to politicians who oftentimes have the gall to flaunt their mistresses in the public.

Fifth, “He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.”

Corruption is now the number one perceived problem in the country that causes poverty. One wonders why the national candidates spend billions of money in their campaign. I was told by a TV executive that a 30-second advertisement costs about P400,000.00 during primetime. With this amount in mind, we can count how much money the politicians have already spent every week just for this type of campaign.

Let us make a concerted effort to stop corruption. It starts by saying no to vote buying.

Sixth, “When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law…It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so thathe may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees.”

We must choose leaders who are God-fearing, and takes seriously that his/her way of life is according to the will of God. Let us not choose the religious but rather the righteous.

Seventh, “and not consider himself better than his brothers…”

We must choose leaders who are humble. The attitude of humbleness is not a sign of defeat but rather a sign that respects other people and their right to be heard. There are a lot of arrogant politicians that act as if they are the messiah. The leaders must remember the adage that says, “come let us reason together.”

Let us ponder for the whole week who fits the biblical criteria. Let us vote next Monday with this in mind.

May God bless us all.

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

Assistant Chaplain