Below is an email from Felipe Cariaga informing us about the work in Payatas in Metro Manila
that Chino supports. The Chino Elders
Dear brother and sister Lacuata,
Thank you for the support you and the brethren there continue to send us. Yes, we are truly in need as the Lord continues to open new doors and opportunities for us to help those truly in need and be able to introduce to them the Lord and His saving gospel. Our outreach mission in Payatas continues to bear fruits for the glory of the Lord.
The MSE extension classes continue to give opportunity to the brethren who have the desire to be trained so as to be able to help teach others also in their respective areas of responsibilities. In our last meeting with the eight students enrolled this semester, two of those interested to enroll next semester, were present. They are members of the church in Lagro congregation in Quezon City. The expressed their desire to know more of Him and His word and to be able to teach others also. Those who started with us three years ago are now helping in reaching out to the lost and teaching them the gospel of Christ. We are happy to inform you that just last week, after studying with two of their prospects, they obeyed the Lord and were added to the number of the brethren in Payatas. To God be the glory.
The Livelihood program is likewise doing well. It is accomplishing our mission of reaching out people and helping them with their needs with the hope that our vision, to teach them the word of God and, hopefully to convict them to obey the Lord. We continue to conduct devotional and study of God’s word before Clarita starts her class in sewing. Most of the mothers enrolled in sewing are attending the devotional; period and Bible study. We must have informed you earlier that a good number of
those enrolled in this class attend regular Sunday Bible study and church service. What really excite and encourage us is that some brought their husbands with them and their children attending our Early Childhood Education on Moral and Spiritual Values. Please note that, in the three years past, the word :spiritual: was not in the logo of the program for children.
Recently, Congress of the Philippines introduced a bill allowing schools to introduce the reading of the Bible to the students to let them know at their early age about God and guide them to fear and obey Him. This, the congress says would help our society in teaching and training our children in the way they should be. Hence, our logo now bears “Early Childhood Education on Moral and Spiritual Values.” The congressmen, however, caution that no one should teach about religion. Those who enrolled in this program three years ago when they were just 10 years old are now promoted to higher level. They
are given free Bible and are now on the class where they study purely the Bible and teach them how to become a Christian.
Their parents were consulted and informed about this and they did not object. Praise the Lord.
We just had our first Medical Mission last Saturday, January 11. Felita led the mission work for children, she being a Pediatrician. She is our eldest daughter and she volunteered her services as her contribution for the Lord’s cause. She conducts this medical mission for children every six months and sometimes quarterly. The parents of the children are very happy and grateful to her.
Since the last quarter of last year, we have been sending our able men from our congregation in Manila and senior students in Payatas to three congregations we started in early and late ’90s that lost their preachers. These preachers finished our two-year program while assisted by these congregation financially. When they got married, their support was not enough for their family. They found secular jobs and left their respective congregation. Two of them went abroad. These keep us more busy
training more willing and able teachers and preachers of the word.
At the start of 2020, we receive a call from four congregations asking me to help them train their men who are willing to be trained and take over the teaching and preaching. They ask if we could spend one whole day each month to conduct a training classes to those who expressed their interest and willingness to be trained. Coming to Manila from a distance this time is difficult because of the traffic situation. This time, going to Payatas from Manila will take 45 minutes to one hour. The brethren that are requesting are from Sucol, Laguna (65 kms); San Miguel, Bulacan, (75kms); Tondo, the first congregation
we started in Manila when Manila church of Christ was disbanded when Martial Law was declared. Right now we are figuring out our schedule so these congregations we put so much time and efforts and of course money would stay alive and continue to progress His cause. Will tell you more of this next email.
We are all safe and sound here in Manila despite the Taal Volcano eruption. We are affected by ashfalls that even reached Clark Air Base and beyond. Our family has allergy problem so we were all sneezing because of the ashfalls. I watch CNN program last night and the man there really did well in his detailed description of what really happened. I called Sid Cayton that night but they did not have light and signal. I talked to him last night and he informed me that they were not able to go home Sunday night because of the ashfalls. They are still in a hotel in Alabang.
Hope all is well with both of you. Thank you so much for the help. Kindly convey to all the brethren there our deepest appreciation and heartfelt gratitude for your faithful, generous and continues partnership for the greatest cause. Please stay safe and healthy. God Bless!
Our love,
Felipe and Clarita
Below is a Facebook post from Luis Chito Cusi. He is describing what is being done in the wake
of the eruption of the TAAL Volcano in the Philippines. The post was forwarded by our Brother Reuben Lacuata. Local congregations of the church together with the Medical Action for Relief, Counseling and
Healing (MARCH) for Christ are working to provide food, medicine and other relief efforts
to victims of the eruption. The Chino congregation will be making a contribution to help. But if you would like to send a personal contribution then please send a check to the Saturn Road Church of Christ
(see below).
Please keep these people in your prayers.
The Chino Elders
Luis Chito Cusi writes:
From verdant green surroundings and crystal clear waters, in an instant many towns like this near Taal Volcano have become ghost towns. Over 200,000 people have fled their homes leaving behind their houses, livestock, even pets and sources of livelihood with virtually only the shirt on their back. M.A.R.C.H. for Christ is now accepting donations to help Filipinos who are greatly affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano.
Send your check to:
Saturn Road Church of Christ
3030 Saturn Road
Garland, TX 75041
Write at bottom of check: Taal Volcano Rebuild
Now huddled in several cramped evacuation centers, they need YOUR help. It’s in your
hands, it’s in your pockets. Our partners on the ground are busy preparing hot meals, hygiene packs, water and medicine. They also need mats, blankets, flashlights, cookware, utensils, even underwear. We know it will take time before they can return to their homes to clean up and get back to a normal quiet life. Right now they need men and women of grace and peace like you to rescue them in
their grief. If you are far away and would like to send help, consider sending through us. We have
been quietly doing disaster relief since 1991. The funds we receive are guaranteed to reach the intended recipients.
The watchword in our society that permeates so many aspects of life is acceptance. The values of any
single member of society is equal to the values of any other single individual. There is no single answer
to any question that is actually right, so every person defines “truth” based on their own experiences.
As an illustration of this, look at our world’s definition of marriage and sexual activities. For so many,
there is no difference in living together without marriage and living together inside a marriage.
Comments like, “We have been together for fifteen years, but just got married two years ago” illustrate
this so well. Our society, based on the idea of total acceptance, forbids anyone to make any judgment
about these situations.
How does a view of accepting all things as equal fit with the teachings of the Bible?
You see the same when terms like “my significant other” or “my partner” are given the same values as
those who say, “my husband” or “my wife.” The idea of total acceptance censors those who say there is
a difference between any of these words.
The end result is the same. Anyone who accepts anything never can fully embrace anything! Since all
ideas are equal in value, there is no way total acceptance of everything could ever allow anyone to fully
accept anything. There is nothing absolutely true. We have no compass to guide us!
Now take this principle of accepting everything into the church and look at the results. Is worship
totally subjective and consequently any meaningful way any one person chooses to worship has the
same value as the way any other chooses to worship? How would such impact the Lord’s supper?
There is no boundary as to what elements are found in the Lord Supper. There is no boundary as to
when one eats the Lord’s Supper. There is no boundary as to whether one ever has the Lord’s Supper.
One is told, “Judge not that you be not judged,” and such misuse of scripture results in a complete
inability to find truth that is absolute. We have no compass to guide us. Never forget that anyone who
accepts everything can never embrace anything. The Lord’s Supper can never have structure of any
form if one accepts everything.
Take this view of tolerance and the acceptance of all ideas being equal and look at how it changes
views toward sin. Look at how it changes the understanding of salvation and our view of someday
standing before the Lord to be judged.
There is truth. There is absolute truth. There is eternal truth. Jesus is absolutely the Messiah. He truly
died and literally rose on the third day. He is coming again, and each person will be judged by the
eternal truth. You can embrace this!
Published with permission from ChurchOfChristArticles.com
It’s the time of year when so many are buying or receiving calendars and planners or using an
electronic version of the same. These can be key to organizing our lives, maximizing our time
management, and strategizing ways to grow and improve in the future.
Good stewardship really demands that you are “making the most of your time, because the days are
evil” (Eph. 5:16).
In this task of planning life each day, please consider planning to do the following each and every day
of 2020:
-
- Tell someone about what Jesus has done for you every day.
- Tell God how great He is and grateful you are for Him as you pray every day.
- Let God speak to You through His Word every day.
- Tell your spouse, children, and family you love them every day.
- Show someone the servant heart of Jesus in your deeds every day.
- Do something that will help you look more like Jesus every day.
- Help people see the joy and satisfaction of living the Christian life every day.
- Encourage someone (via card, social media, phone, etc.) every day.
- Compliment someone every day.
- Examine yourself every day.
- Provide an example of leadership to someone every day.
- Invest in someone every day.
- Count your blessings every day.
That’s enough to keep idleness from plaguing us, isn’t it?
Consider how helpful this will be, not just on January 1, but also March 19, June 6, September 25, and
December 30.
This life is about overcoming (1 John 5:4), but perseverance is as much about the daily grind as it is
the dramatic and grand.
Zig Ziglar wrote that “people often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s
why we recommend it daily.”
How profound!
Plan on being a better you and on doing what that requires, day by day.
Published with permission from ChurchOfChristArticles.com
Reading the greetings and salutations of Paul in his various letters we gain insight into the fact that
both Jewish and Gentile women played a prominent role in the church and were among Paul’s most
loyal supporters. This should come as no surprise as we see Jesus also received His support from
various women. Luke 8:2-3 references Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, “and many others who
provided for Him from their substance.”
The book of Acts speaks of married couples (i.e. Priscilla and Aquila) and single or widowed
women (Phoebe, Chloe, Euodia, Syntyche) contributing to the spread of the Gospel and the rapid
growth of the early church. According to Acts 16, we gather that Lydia was a wealthy business
women. Many other rich and prominent women like her appear to be Paul’s biggest financial
supporters. This is an important fact as some would accuse Paul of trying to suppress the role of
women in the church in passages like 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:8-15 where Paul asks
women to be “silent” and “submissive.” I have a hard time believing rich and powerful women would
support Paul if they thought he was a “male chauvinist pig.”
The reason these women loved Paul is because they loved the Jesus that Paul proclaimed.
They knew Paul loved Gentiles, like Jesus. And they knew Paul loved and respected women, like
Jesus. It was Paul who said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is
neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
How then do we make sense of Paul’s instruction for men to lead and for women to follow? A
bit of history and context will help here. Timothy is in Ephesus when he receives Paul’s first letter.
Ephesus at that time was most well-known for the Temple of Diana, a cult religion managed by female
priests. When it came to “religion” the women ran the show and the lazy men were content to stay
home on Sunday and watch football or do whatever. Paul therefore instructs in 1 Timothy 2:8-15 for
the men to step up in public worship, specifically prayer and teaching. This is not a matter of equality!
Paul has already clearly established that men and women are equal in value before God. This is
simply a matter of assignment or role and God’s will on the matter. Read the text and you will clearly
see that men are to be holy and godly. Women are also to be holy and godly, and they are to be
known for their “good works.” Paul is telling women to avoid the stereotype of just “looking pretty,”
and he’s telling them to be busy doing God’s work. But he is also placing the responsibility of
leadership in worship squarely on the shoulders of the lazy men of that city/congregation. Corinth was
in a similar situation.
Some would try to brand this as a cultural matter that is no longer applicable today, but Paul
will not allow us to leave this text with that impression because he tells us exactly why God requires
men to lead. First he says it is because “Adam was formed first,” and then he says it is because
“Adam was not deceived, but the women being deceived fell into transgression.” Paul therefore links
the reasons to history, not culture. But let us be very clear here that God’s demand for men to step up
and lead should in no way detract from the duty of all Christian women to also serve Christ with all of
their heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27). Rich and powerful women supported Paul and
that’s important to remember here.
“We shall not all sleep, but we shall be raised.” Are there any words more comforting than these? We sing about it, and our
hearts are filled with comfort. If there is no resurrection, we are of all men most miserable; our lives have been wasted, and
we should have lived our lives by the philosophy of “let us eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we shall die.” Many have
heard the following words and have been blessed every time they sang them.
When the trumpet shall sound,
And the dead shall arise,
And the splendors immortal
Shall envelop the skies;
When the Angel of Death
Shall no longer destroy,
And the dead shall awaken
In the morning of joy.
Think of what a great day of joy that will be!
The Joy of Seeing God
The Lord made a remarkable promise in the opening words of the Beatitudes. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall
see God” (Matt. 5:8). Obviously, we all shall see the Son of man who, coming in His glory, will separate the sheep from the
goats (Matt. 25:31-32). This is true because God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world by the One He raised
from the dead (Acts 17:31). We will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). However, the promise of
seeing God is reserved for those who are pure in heart. Is it possible that the wicked will never be allowed to see God in all
of His majesty?
The Joy of Seeing All the Redeemed
Jesus may have been speaking of the entrance of Gentiles into the kingdom of God when He said, “Many will come from
east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 8:11), but is there any doubt
that all the redeemed will share eternity together? Imagine sitting with those heroes of faith in Hebrews chapter eleven and
thousands of other like them. Add to this sitting again with those who shaped our own lives in our journey on this earth.
The Joy of Seeing Jesus
Can you imagine seeing the One who loved us before we ever lived; the One who loved us and gave Himself for us while we
were sinners! Perhaps we might see those beautiful marks of love in His hands and in His side. We are His bride, and He
awaits our coming.
O the bliss of that morn, in the morning of joy!
There is a supreme day of joy coming.
Published with permission from ChurchOfChristArticles.com
