Total Depravity of Man

    I once had a job interview with one of the big corporations here in Vancouver. They gave me a sheet with about 20 behavioural questions and left me alone to answer the questions. Out of all the questions on that sheet, there was this one question that I really had a hard time answering. The question was "Do you believe that men is naturally good?" This was a basic yes or no question but I just could not get myself to write down my answer. Maybe it was because the struggle between my secular perspective and my spiritual vantage point was intense, that I was able to draw near to the real answer. But now I have come to a conclusion. Let me just point something out. A secular answer to this question would be relative to many criterias. It can either be yes if say the one who answers get mostly good things out of people or a no say when a person is in the bad parts of the world. But a spiritual answer to this question is absolute. Meaning it will still be the same no matter where one is located or what ever one's circumstances and opinions are. And this is where I stand. I believe that MAN IS NATURALLY...


Post Script:
Thanks to Karen Santiago of KKB Cam for taking the video...
Pastor Emil and the KKB leadership for the hospitality...
Sam and Jovee Binalla for making this opportunity...

Prayer: Is there power in it?

   Don't get me wrong, I believe in prayer. I support prayer meetings and I encourage people to pray. But I question the phrase "there is power in prayer". Is there really power in prayer? if so, where did this power came from?
   At the least, a prayer can be defined as a form of communication (to a deity). And communication by definition involves a sender (of the prayer) and a receiver (of the prayer). If that is the case, then either the sender of the prayer or the receiver of the prayer has the power to uphold the prayer.
   Here is my first point, prayer in itself has no power. Either the sender holds the power to make the receiver affirm the prayer positively or the receiver holds the power to positively affirm the prayer.
   Case #1. I was once diagnosed with Cholecystitis or an inflamed gallbladder. The severity of this inflamed gallbladder was as such that I needed an operation called cholecystectomy. They have to remove my gallbladder because it had lost its functionality and that it had already affected some of my internal organs (e.i. liver). Now being part of a church that hold prayer meetings and pray for prayer requests, I was enveloped with constant prayers from all over Canada (I do not know on the onset of the prayer request was sent worldwide). I was informed that the prayer items were 1.for my gall bladder to return to its normal state and 2. that no operation was needed. Weeks after, my doctor called me and said that my gall bladder showed some kind of recovery according to the test results that was done a few days earlier. I remember that day clearly, I was so happy that I drove around Fraser street area yelling and screaming "Thank you God". A testimony was in order and I gave one. But a few days later, I fell ill again and I went to my family doctor and he sent me to a clinic for some tests and found out, days later, that my gall bladder had shut down. My family doctor tried contacting the doctor that was in charge of my case and of course the doctor was on vacation. I guess it was urgent because my family doctor tapped into his "connections" and booked me for an operation at Mount St. Joseph in Kingsway. A few days later my gall bladder was removed.
   Case #2. A baby was born to a couple that I have strong ties with. The baby suffered major complications and had to be placed in a baby incubator in neo-natal intensive care unit. It was that bad. Once again, the whole church across Canada prayed for this baby. And to make the long story short, the baby is very active as of this moment and if you just look at the baby you won't even realized what she went through.
   Case #3. The church was praying hard for a church member that was diagnosed with cancer to have a complete recovery. This person showed signs of recuperation but in the end the cancer was too strong for her and she passed away.
   Three different cases but all three had one thing in common: prayer. If prayer has power, then all of the prayer requests in all of these cases should have been positively affirmed. That also erases the possibility that the sender has the power to make the receiver uphold the prayer. Which leaves us with this: the receiver alone has the power to make the prayers come to pass.
   Who is this receiver? In John 6:6, Jesus tells us to pray to the Father - God the Father. But we pray through the name of Jesus as commanded in John 14:13. But do realize that Jesus acknowledges that it is not His will that matters but the will of God. The Lord's prayer states that "Let your will be done..." and his prayer in Gethsemane adds "Not my will but your will be done." Additionally, I John 5:14 says that if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL(author emphasis), then He hears us.
   Which leads me to my second point, our prayers are dependent solely on God. We have no power to dictate to God to answer our prayers according to our wishes. We may have all the faith in the world but if it is not His will then it will not happen or at least not yet. Take for instance the recent loss in the family of a very good friend and confidant of mine, the whole church prayed, both in Canada and the world, but in the end God's will still prevailed. Our assurance is not that our prayers will be met but that the will of God will come to pass for His glory in our prayers.
   And my third point is this, as we stand on the promises of God in the Bible, do make sure that we always acknowledge that God's will be done by making sure that our prayers are align with his thoughts. After all a communication can only happen if there is a "meeting of the minds". And since we DO NOT have the power to make God meet our minds, we have to meet His mind. Meaning His will is what we need to aim for in our prayers and not that our prayers are postively affirmed.
   ***As some of you may have known, I am in a journey to find truth. With this entry let me begin by declaring publicly that (I seriously believe) God is sovereign in all things***

Why Apologetics is important!

I found a video of R.C. Sproul that answers the question "Why Apologetics?" He pretty much nailed the reason as to why Apologetics is important (and why I am adamant on becoming an apologist).

He is still God...

A few weeks ago, the CYN BC held their quarterly youth gathering at the JIL Burnaby Worship Hall. The youth were all ecstatic about the event (although I did notice one peculiar thing). Anyway, I was struck by what the preacher, Jayson Pingol, said... "Whether you proclaim that He is great or not, He is still great."
This is to promote that God is sovereign and will not cease to exist even if we think that He is not real (I spit at relativism concept of God). When Moses asked God "Who do we say you are when people ask us about you?" God replied with a thunderous voice... I AM WHO I AM! How magisterial is that! God is God whether you agree or not!!!

Asses yourself...

If you are insulted, offended, mad, angry, upset affronted or dissed by the video below then something is wrong with you ...But if you are saddened by this fact, then let's talk!
But before you react, ask yourself this question first ""When I sing a worship song, does the song reflect who God is or is it about what I can do for Him? (i.e. I love you, I need you, though my world may fall I'll never let you go and the likes)

Modern Christian Music?

I have listened to my fair share of christian music both old and new, hyms and contemporary. I don't mind both but I have to draw a line.
I gew up listening to hymns being played by my grandma on her tiny cassette player. Every morning my ears were being filled with hymns like, Onward Christian Soldier, Amazing Grace, Old Rugged Cross, O hail King Jesus, Wonderful Cross, Nothing but the Blood etc... (I know you get the point). And not to mention the Hymn books used during Sunday Service back then. Oh boy, does bring back a lot of memories...
Anyway, straight to the point, christian songs nowadays are lacking in substantial theology that I believe each born-again christian believer must digest accordingly. Substantial Theology is important for every christian believer not to be deceived and for every christian not to be overrun with and by emotions. If one is to juxtapose a CCM and a Hymn, without the music/melody but only the lyrics, one can actually distinguish the superficial one from the one which has depth. To help me bring my case further, please watch the video below... (p.s. I may have different theologies with these guys, but I do agree with them on this one)

Birds of the same feather....

I heard this once, birds of the same feather are the same birds (i think twas from a gag show called Bubble gang), though different from traditional saying it does hold a truth to it. So to begin my quest, as was aforementioned below, I began my quest by joining a facebook group called "Arminians Unite" ... of which I have chosen without coercion of any sorts... and to add with that I have found a book where I beleive will help me to stand on a firmer Arminian Ground... a book aptly titled Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities by Roger Olson... Now I hope I can get at this Pilgrim's Bible in Kingsway or at Celebration in Surrey. In addition I have began reading the works of Jacobus Arminius

(which is divided into 3 volumes... THREE VOLUMES....) and so far it has concurred with my theology... but I know there will always be something that will either make me throw away the book or stop reading but I must press on... so I may know the Truth!

Who says that we don't believe in Grace?

I (as a classical Arminan) believe that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!!! Christian Perfection...

Publish Post

Hands down...

    A few weeks ago, JAGS, GenisM and myself were privileged enough to listen to one of the top apologist and one of the most prolific speakers in theology around, Mr. Ravi Zacharias. The theme for the night was aptly called "Capture the wonder of Christmas" and the topic revolved around the question "Who is Jesus?"
    Well, who is Jesus, anyway? Sure I have received Him as my Lord and personal Saviour. I've been reading about Him in the Bible. Sure He is God but what makes Him different from all the other gods out there? What makes Jesus, well Jesus?
    Personally, this is a riveting question. I can't come up with any other question that comes close to the voluminous appeal of this question. Many a times agnostics, skeptics or straight out atheists tried answering this question by proving that Jesus was either a 1. myth or a 2. hoax; that Jesus never died on the cross or for that matter never ressurected. And every single one of them except for some, who for what ever reason found the Truth but neglected the Truth none the less, came out believing that Jesus Christ is indeed who He claimed He was and that all the miracles He did had at the very least happened.
    I will try to share with you some transciptions of Ravi Zacharias' lecture during his visit in Abbotsford in the next coming days, Deo volente.
    But before that, I pray that each and everyone of us will come to the realization of the true meaning of Christmas... That Christmas is not about giving gifts and being nice. (Although those are good thoughts). It's not even about being with families and friends, no matter how warm that makes us feel inside. Christmas is not much about the virgin birth rather it is about God who became Man so He may suffer and die on the cross for all mankind. Hallelujah!!!

Super Excited!

I'm going to attend this great opportunity! Anyone wants to join?

Not responding to evidences is futile...

Simon Greenleaf, one of the principle founders of Harvard School of Law, sought out to prove that the resurrection of Jesus Christ and that the whole Bible in general is a complete hoax. Relying on his expertise, he famously thought that given a good amount of thorough investigation and research, resurrection can be once and for all proven as a myth. But at the end of his research and careful examinations of the Bible, especially the Gospels, he concluded that without a shadow of a doubt, the Holy Bible is infact true to the core, the witnesses during those times were indeed reliable and that the resurrection in truth happened. What was his first intention of disproving the accounts of the Gospel turned out otherwise. He came out supporting the authenticity of the Gospels based on concrete evidences. On his book, AN EXAMINATION OF THE TESTIMONY FOUR EVANGELISTS, BY THE RULES OF EVIDENCE ADMINISTERED IN COURTS OF JUSTICE, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE TRIAL OF JESUS (boy what a mouthful) he stated, "To refuse to acquaint ourselves with the evidences of the Christian religion, or act as though, having fully examined, we lightly esteemed them, is to assume an appaling amount of responsibility."Greenleaf, AEOTTFE, v)

Christianity is not just mere feelings or religious ideologies or even spiritual experience. Christianity is based on factual faith. Clark Pinnock defines these types of facts: "The facts backing the Christian claim are not a special kind of religious facts. They are the cognitive information facts upon which all historical, legal and ordinary decisions are based." (Pinnock, SFYC, 6,7). (Pinnock is Canadian by the way).

I always ask a believer 2 questions, "Do you belive in God?" and if the answer is "yes"(hopefully since that person is a believer) I would charge again with the question "Why?". And most of the time if not all, their answers would either be emotional, experiential or of religious background. Which is all fine and dandy. No problem. But what I'm more concern is the fact that they don't want to dig deeper and find out who God really is based on factual evidences. They just won't go any further. The Bible alone has tons and tons and tons of concrete evidences that supports what the followers of Jesus Christ believes in; that Jesus Christ came to earth, was crucified and burried and on the third day He rose again. This fact is the heart of Christian faith of which the Apostle Paul agreed by stating in 1 Cor 15:14
"And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."
NIV.

I challenge them to find out thetruth about the Truth because the Truth will set them free. (Oi that's very biblical.)
Christ has indeed risen and the Bible is indeed true and that faith in Christ Jesus in truth is not a blind leap of faith into the dark but a clear vision leap of faith into the Light because He is the light of the world and those who follow Him will never not walk in darkness(John 8:12 NIV).