Lessons on All Saints Day

Binhi sang Pagtuo

November 1, 2010

Dear Friends,

Greetings!

Most of us have visited our departed loved ones in the cemetery today. It is our tradition to light candles, eat sticky food, and reunite with family members on All Saints Day.

What lessons can we learn on our November 1 tradition?

First, let us value our family. In our fast pace world nowadays we sometimes forget to greet our love ones, share stories with them, and just sit there and feel their presence.

We need to seek out our family members and let them feel that we value their existence. Sometimes a surprise visit does a lot of good.

When was the last time you visited your family?

Second, let us fellowship in our table. It increasingly alarming that we oftentimes eat alone, and in a fast food joint. One can note in the gospels that there are many stories of Jesus together with people attending a feast or having just plain supper. Jesus did not do it for the free food but in eating together, Jesus was teaching us about how to nurture our relationship with one another.

What is it in eating together? When we share a meal, there is ritual of passing the plates, viands, and drinks. While doing this, we are reconnecting with our family members – we would ask them what is happening with their life, and vice versa. This is why eating in a table with family and friends would sometimes take long to finish. Table fellowship is a good way of uniting our family.

Eating foods that are sticky on November 1 is a reminder for Filipinos to stick with your family. There are many families that are breaking up, and eating “suman” reminds us to keep our family together.

When was the last time you ate with your family?

Third, we need to keep and continue the legacy of our departed loved ones.

I noticed that in the cemetery, one of the purposes of lighting a candle is to start a conversation about the departed loved one and use the life of the candle as the timer when to end the conversation. Although the conversation is short, it rekindles memories. The swapping of stories becomes a great way of passing on to the next generation the legacy of the previous generation.

When was the last time you told a story of your departed loved one to the new generation of your family?

May God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

How to play the game of life

Binhi sang Pagtuo

October 25, 2010

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Dumaguete City!*

I saw the following words written in the wall of the Silliman University Gym:

“For when the Great Scorer writes down your name,

He writes not whether you win or lose,

But how you played the game.”

I have been an athlete since my elementary days and thanks to training of my father, I studied CPU with a full sports scholarship during my college years. Now, I am somewhat repaying my alma mater as the coach of Table Tennis varsity team. I have learned a lot from sports that influence how I view life.

Let me share four things from the word PLAY:

Be PASSIONATE. I would always encourage my players to play with passion. Passion is what fuels a person to go on no matter the odds. When you have passion, you are excited live life; you are enthusiastic to face another day.

LOVE life to the fullest. I read these words from the t-shirt of the College of Saint Benilde player: “Life is Short, Play Hard.” When we have come to realize that our life on earth is very short, it will change our attitude on how to view life. We need to love every moment of our life. I would always say to my players: “Every point counts. Play hard for each point.”

ALLOW God to shape our life. I believe that God does not want to intrude in our lives. God is not an intruder who just goes in without permission. We need to invite God in our hearts. God is saying, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Let us not make God wait outside of our lives.

YEARN for more. Lately, I have realized that life is an adventure – you’ll never know what would happen next; you just keep on discovering. Yes, we will never know what would happen in the future but we can be rest assured that God will be there for us. I always tell my players, “Prepare for any eventuality. If your one type of game doesn’t work, shift to another type. Maybe that type is the weakness of your opponent.” As they say in the ball games, “The ball is round.”

May God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

*I’m currently here for the 15th University Games hosted by Silliman University. CPU sent the following teams: Table Tennis women (my team), Football men (composed mainly of Korean students), Softball women, Sepak Takraw women, Chess, Taekwondo, Lawn Tennis and Volleyball women.

The best is yet to come

Binhi sang Pagtuo

October 18, 2010

Dear Friends,

Greetings!

Today is my birthday. I expected it to be trouble-free but starting yesterday I encountered some great surprises. I got a big surprise last night when we arrived from Negros (I preached at La Carlota Evangelical Church, and celebrated my pre-birthday with the Baptist Men and family). When I opened my bag, my laptop is gone. It was probably stolen in Iloilo pier when we disembarked. It was raining hard and I have my hands full carrying another bag. I still have two months left to pay it in full.

When we went inside our house, we found out that the satellite box is broken probably by the big lightning that hit our vicinity. Early this morning when I arrived at the office, the LAN card of my office laptop is broken. And to top it, I notice a lot of bird droppings in the windshield of our car. What will come after this mid-morning? I don’t know but I am ready for it.

Here is my reflection:

First, let me answer these famous statements – “when troubles come, they come in bundles” “when it rains, it pours.” With faith, I dare say “Let it come for I believe that my God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. God will never leave me nor forsake me. God will supply my needs according to His riches and glory.”

I pray that Christians will hold on to the promises of God when troubles come to our lives. As Paul reminds us, “nothing can separate us from the love God in Christ Jesus.”

My Maninoy Rev. Ronny Luces wrote me, “I will still greet you a happy birthday even though your laptop was stolen because joy is not based on the possession of material things but on things that are eternal.” How true indeed!

Second, it is so easy to be pessimistic but we really need to be optimistic. My sister texted me last night after I informed them that my laptop was stolen. She wrote, “the best is yet to come.” We need to continue to be hopeful in spite of the negative things that are happening around us.

Jesus told us a story about great hope. It was about a farmer who sowed seeds. Some fell in the way side and birds ate it up; some fell in stony places where there is little earth and when it sprung up, they were scorched by the sun because they have no root; some fell among thorns and they were choked; but others fell into good ground and bore good fruit, some hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

This story is about our perspective that “the best is yet to come.” The success of the farmer was 1 out of 4. But it brought forth many folds. The seed of faith (Binhi sang Pagtuo) was planted in us. Let it be that we also must plant seeds of faith in the hearts of people even if it is 1 out of 4. Something good is bound to happen when we just plant seeds.

May God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

Let us SHARE

Binhi sang Pagtuo

October 4, 2010

Dear Friends,

Greetings!

Last October 1, 2010 Central Philippine University celebrated its 105th Foundation Day. Our reflection for this week is on the theme of that celebration: “Paghiliambitanay” or “Sharing with one another” (or there might be a better translation than this).

Let me give an acrostic on the word SHARE.

When we share we S – SHOW that we care.

I read an illustration about a father and a son who walked in an area in which a person was crying for his house was razed by a fire. The father said to the son, “let us pray for that poor man so that God will help him.” The son answered, “Dad, let us not bother God anymore, let us help the poor man.”

Sometimes the phrase “let us pray for…” has become an excuse not to get involve in the situation. Let it be said that when we utter “let us pray for…” let us do our part to show that we really care.

When we share we H – HELP alleviate the situation of others.

When we look around us, we can see a lot of people, organizations, churches, and institutions that need our help. Let us try to find someone who we believe needs our help and share to them what we have.

When we share we A – ALLOW God’s blessings to flow.

There are people in this world that have become a dam. They block the resources and it is only upon their mercy that the resources will flow into others.

We need to become rivers in which the resources continue to flow. One can always see something green beside the river – and that means life. When we continue to share it will surely give life.

When we share we R – REMEMBER God’s goodness.

Our sharing is a symbol of our thanksgiving to God. Thanksgiving comes from two words – thanks and giving. There is always giving when thanking is being talked about.

When we share we E – ENCOURAGE others to share also.

Oftentimes the end result of our sharing is that other people will be encouraged to share their blessings also. A sharing attitude is a contagious attitude.

May God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

Do not withhold good when it is within your power to act - Part 2

Binhi sang Pagtuo

September 27, 2010

Dear Friends,

Our reflection for this week is a continuation of my reflection on
Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it
is in your power to act.” I already shared three things that are
within our power to share: 1. Material resources 2. Faith 3. Kind
words.

Let me now share to you three more things.

Fourthly, it is within our power to share our wisdom.

There are many wise people who do not hesitate to share their wisdom
but still there are still a lot of people who withhold sharing their
wisdom.

Let us remember that when we share our wisdom, more are added to it
rather than the thinking that when we share it, our wisdom is being
reduced.

Let us train second liners. Let us be happy when somebody is ready to
replace us. Let us teach disciples so that they will also become
teachers. Jesus had a public ministry of just 3 years but Christianity
is alive until because Jesus trained disciples who in turn trained
disciples.

Fifthly, it is within our power to share our availability to serve.

Oftentimes we can hear a lot of excuses when serving in the church or
in the ministry is being talked about. Some of us would say, I’m still
young, I’m too old, I’m afraid, Let others do it, I’m shy, I’m busy
and many other reasons. Does this sound familiar? I hope not.

Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is
insignificant and cannot make a change. God will do wonderful things
through us when we just say, “Here I am, send me, use me in your
ministry.” We will be surprised what God will do through our lives.

Lastly, it is within our power to share our loving attitude.

Sometimes our church has become a place where people feel that that
are condemned. It is as if they would feel that they are not worthy to
come inside the church because people inside it are very accusatory.
They accuse people of their sins as if they themselves have no sins.

Let us be like Jesus who approached persons with an attitude that the
person has the capacity to do good. Like what Jesus did to the woman
accused of adultery. He went there not to condemn the woman but to
help her. He later said, “go and sin no more.” This signifies the
attitude of Jesus to give persons a chance to change their lives. This
is what the grace of God means.

May God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

Jesus wept

Binhi sang Pagtuo

September 13, 2010

Dear Friends,

Greetings!

The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35 “Jesus wept.” A very good friend of Jesus, Lazarus, died. When he visited the grave together with Mary and Martha he let go of his emotions.

This event shows us that Jesus feels our pains and sufferings. His tears signify that he grieves together with the family. This then gives us an assurance that in our sad moments in life, Jesus is there with us, crying with us. Jesus does this because he is compassionate and loving.

Yesterday, we buried Mrs. Eleanor Ruth Buensuceso Fabula amidst a torrent of rain, and a lot of tears. I would like to believe that the rain was Jesus’ way of telling the mourners that he was crying with them. This is a great assurance in times of grief.

Let me share to you a poem made by my mother, Mrs. Josette Gico Jalando-on, who considers Mrs. Fabula as her best friend.

A Salute to Nang Babie (Eleanor Ruth B. Fabula)

Josette Gico-Jalando-on

Lord, how can I say thank You for the person that was Eleanor Ruth?

She was full of love, of kind thoughts and what a lot of joy to us she has brought.

She was always willing to share her blessings to dear family and friends.

She was ready to even go the second mile or her last penny lend.

You have endowed her with great talents in music and the arts,

She was also a creative cook, as she experimented with her heart.

Her hands were indeed a wonder and she wielded them with great care,

as she played beautiful music, soothing to the ears.

She was a very caring wife and mother, a doting grandmother too,

She hid her tears and disappointments well so they need never know.

She always lived and laughed as she committed all to You

These matters that really shaped her life to fully trust in You

I thank You Lord for the gift of being a friend and a dear sister to me.

She taught me to be true to one’s commitment til the very end.

I’ll never fully comprehend why you took her home this early

as we could have more years together to make our dreams a reality.

Thank you even if it pains us to see her go…

even if we sure would miss her presence in our lives…

You have given her relief from the excruciating disease which sapped her strength and deprived her of enjoying her retirement years.

We cannot fathom your wisdom Lord, but we do thank You for the life of Manang Babie.

Lord thank You very much!

May God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

A Christ-centered Life

Binhi sang Pagtuo

September 6, 2010

Dear Friends,

Greetings!

Last week Central Philippine University culminated its 105^th University Day celebration. Let me share my reflection on the theme of its celebration, “Meeting Successfully the Challenges and Opportunities of Life as a Centralian.”

What is it in being a Centralian that one can meet successfully the challenges and opportunities of life?

I would like to believe that a Centralian is Christ-centered.

The training that a Centralian receives is geared towards the realization of CPU’s vision, meaning, to become an exemplary Christian for life. This is very ideal and should be a continuing reminder to all teachers, staff and administrators.

Nelson and Herradura once wrote, “…faculty members made it a point to provide a Christian atmosphere in the school, give the students a thorough knowledge of the Bible and some understanding of the meaning of the Christian life, and provide opportunities for the development of interest and abilities that could be used in the service of the church.”

Do we, the new generation of Centralians, live up to expectation to provide a Christian atmosphere in the campus of CPU, and to wherever we are?

I am praying that CPU will not only be “a university where the student is central” but more importantly CPU will become “a university where Christ is Central.”

If we are committed to Jesus Christ, then we are committed to Christian mission. We must instill to Centralians that we must develop a missionary attitude and orientation. CPU was born because of Christian mission. Thus, in one way or another, depending on how you exercise it, Centralians must become missionaries.

Rev. Dr. Johnny V. Gumban once wrote, “CPU is committed to Christian mission. Christian mission is for the purpose of attaining the wholeness of life on the total life of creation in conformity to God’s design and purpose as revealed in Jesus Christ according to the Scripture. God initiates this work in history by whatever means He chooses. CPU offers itself to be a means that God may choose for this purpose.”

We hope that all of us who profess to be Christians will make our lives as a channel of God’s blessing and purpose for other people.

May God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on