A Little Boy's Dream

Today in Rio, an Olympic spectacle looms larger than life.

Charly Suarez a dreamer from Sawata, Davao del Norte, Philippines squares off with Joe Cordina from Cardiff, Wales, Great Britain in the Men's lightweight round of 32.

We were texting prayers yesterday from Houston to Brazil ... Brazil to Houston ...

Me: Charly, My prayers are with you!
Charly: My frail humanity sinks me with fear, Pastor. But in Christ, I rise and find victory. Thank you for your prayers ... I have signed up for faith to rise!
Me: My prayers are for your punches to be accompanied with divine strength. 
Charly: Pray for only one thing ... that I will be used of God in and out of the ring for His glory and nothing more.
Me: Hoist the banner now, my brother.
Charly: Amen.

Late Post: Charly lost yesterday on a split decision but won by incisively sharing the gospel to Joe Cordina after the bout.

Photography: Renchi Arce

 
 

Soul Laugh

There are times when I just can't interrupt laughter's Niagara.

Eyes squint, cheeks rise, lips stretch, teeth clinch, breath surges, heart simmers, soul dances.

At times, duct-tears roll profuse with deep inaudible dialogue.

The evidence of glee upholds the veracity of God's presence.

How can such spiritual muscularity evolve without its Primary Source?

Photography: Benny Dychangco / Medan, North Sumatra

Adoption

My standing before God rests on the primacy of the reflected image of Christ's largesse in my life.

I have been adopted by redemption.

My Heavenly Father treats me as His own on the merits of His Son's sterling work.

I pass this truth with serious conviction.

Kait is  but one precious saint whom God has brought to me to serve as a father would a daughter.

Adoption is my holy vocation.

G-Class

It comes as a surprise that the Mercedes hardcore military grade SUV was originally developed for the Shah of Iran.

It is amazing how power beckons power.

The only G-class I attend teaches a category unbeknownst to men.

δύναμις (dunamis) unlimited.

Holy Spirit unleashed.

 

 

Metanarrative

My wife is a school teacher.

A few days ago her world was train-wrecked by a flood story.

An elementary school in Negros Occidental endured a major calamity leaving a few fragments of usable resources.

First graders were required to bring their own chairs and take home the same.

All that was left of the library was the capture below.

I wonder why the Bible Story was kept intact.

Mediocrity

The quintessential film Whiplash spits succinct wisdom.

Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) poignantly speaks to his student Andrew (Miles Teller) about the worst two words in the English language:

Good Job!

We are indeed a generation of placated conformist. We settle for less when what we have been designed for is riveted excellence.

Wonderful and fearfully made are we.

I fight for this every single beat.

Fish Wish

My brief sojourn in Asia unpacked the incredible promise of abiding joy.

I normally do vacations to singularly replenish myself.

God's mercy allowed me the vista of divine urgency to fish for souls instead.

Almost everyday,  I asked to be led to hoist my net towards the hungry.
Almost every way, I staggered with joy in experiencing the potency of the Holy Spirit's hook.

Nabulao / Hinoba-an Negros Occidental

Family Feud

The war that looms against our families is not against flesh and blood.

The principalities and powers that mock our homes are unseen yet potent.

There is no psychology nor ballistics to match this insidious firepower.

Except for one: the incredible weight of pneumatology.

As the Holy Spirit leads the man of each house, this present darkness loses its hold.

Super Ego

Sigmund Freud dissected the human persona with an incisive definition: we indulge in doing to please other people.

Jesus Christ forsook all others to honor none other but His Father.

Super Ego vs. Supra Ergo.

photography: Yen Baet / Venice: Carnevale di Venezia

Theology of Fashion

We indulge in clothing based on the subscription of watchful eyes.

Do we ever ponder why we even bother to cover our nakedness?

My daughter Nika heeds a simple call to share her heart to the beautiful women of Manila. Her brief chat will deal with the question of dress.

Why do we clad ourselves with variations of fig leaves? Which spectacle do we truly seek to please?

If you are in the area, please come and join her at the Ortigas Centre, Pasig City at the Greenhills Christian Fellowship. On July 26 at 10:00 AM, a little gathering clamors to honor the Lord of True Fashion.

She travels all the way from NYC to uncloak the fraud and reveal the blessing.

Artist: Lisa Grosfeld NYC

© 2016 Oil and Dew Ltd