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