July 6, 2009
Dear Centralians and Friends,
Greetings from the Chaplain’s Office!
Last July 4, 2009 Philippines celebrated Philippine-American Friendship Day. Previously, July 4 is celebrated as Philippine Independence Day coinciding with American Independence Day. Later, the date was moved to June 12.
In light of this Friendship Day, let us reflect on how Jesus developed his friendship with the people. On John 15:14 Jesus called his disciples as his friends. And as friends, he was telling them to “bear fruit that will last” and to “love one another.”
There are three instances that Jesus’ disciples were astonished of the many friends of Jesus who were willing to “lay down their lives for a friend.”
First, the disciples asked the permission of Jesus to rebuke some people who are doing the same work that they have been doing – casting out demons, preaching and sowing seeds of goodness among the people.
Jesus told them not to stop these people for “whoever is not against us is for us.” The disciples had an exclusivist thinking because these people are not part of their group. Jesus rebuked them.
How many times did we put down others because they are not among our circle of friends?
Second, a friend of Jesus lent him a donkey for him to use in his travel inside Jerusalem. The disciples who fetched the donkey marvelled at the friendship network of Jesus.
Jesus established true friendship with the owner of the donkey. And this friendship was tested when the time Jesus needed something from that man.
How many times did we promise our friends to be their true friend through “thick and thin” and yet failed them?
Third, another friend of Jesus lent him an upper room. They used this room to commemorate the Passover meal. We call this as the Last Supper.
Every time we celebrate Communion or Lord’s Supper, let us also remember this friend of Jesus who risked his life and his family by letting Jesus, an outlaw and a rebel in the eyes of the Romans and Jews, used a part of his house. It was an important time for Jesus because he explained to his disciples the real meaning of his death and sacrifice.
How many times did we say “no” to our friends when they needed as most, because our comfort zone will not allow it?
Let us be true friends who are willing to lay down our lives for a friend.
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The Chaplain’s Office is asking for donation of religious tracts to be distributed in the campus. Please contact us if you want to be our partner in this endeavor. Thanks.
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Central Philippine University celebrates Christ Emphasis Week (CEW) every semester as one of its Fides programs.
This semester’s CEW is scheduled on July 20 to 24, 2009 with the Theme: Jesus Cares: Our Hope in Times of Trouble, and Text: I Peter 5:7.
In relation to this celebration, the Chaplain’s Office is inviting you to be our partners in prayer and in the activities. Please pray for the invited speakers, the chaplains, the faculty and staff, and the students. Please pray also that the Holy Spirit will penetrate the hearts and minds of the whole CPU community.
Please be informed of the following schedules:
Pre-CEW, July 15, 2009 (Wednesday) 4:00pm, Alumni Promenade Park
Faculty and Staff CEW, July 17, 2009 (Friday) 4:00pm, University Church
Pastors Conference, July 21, 2009 (Tuesday) 8:00am, University Church
NSTP CEW, July 18, 2009 (Saturday) 8:00am, Rose Memorial Hall
CEW Week, July 20-24, 2009 (Monday to Friday), Rose Memorial Hall
City-Wide Evangelistic Rally July 24, 2009 (Friday), 4:30pm, Rose Memorial Hall
Thank you very much and may God bless us all!
Sincerely yours,
Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Assistant Chaplain
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Chaplain's Office Website: http://www.cpu.edu.ph/chaplain
Audio Sermons of Binhi sang Pagtuo: http://binhi.4shared.com
Blog: http://cpuchaplain.blogspot.
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