HIS APPOINTMENT!

Allow me to share with you some of  the messages I have been receiving since Thursday last week:

"GOD's am ptr arnel.  Welcome back po.  Hope u had an enjoyable vacation.  It is our joy to keep you in our prayers. ...  That your walk with God will result to Christlikeness, that you be filled with God's wisdom, grace with understanding & kept safe from all harm 7 sickness.  Praying for you not just happiness but pure joy 7 love not just wealth but God's abundance & favor, not just silence but GOD's peace.  A powerful CY,2013-2014 ahead of us po!" - from one influential member

"Thank u & congrats 4 being our pastor again gud am."  - from one of my angels

"Yehey mabuhay c pastor arnel s Grace uli." - from one of my angels

"Yipee!" - Amen Learn Vasquez

"Is it congratulation or ???? Hahahaha!" - Donna Bari Vasquez

"That calls for a celebration!" -  one band member from our church

"Pastor, congrtulations po dito pa rin kayo.  Isang taon uli tayong magsasama." - from the sidewalk vendor near the gate of our church.  

Needless to say, I will be serving in my present church appointment.  What makes the extension of my appointment a celebration is the fact that in recent years, I am the first pastor who stayed longer than four years.  What makes it a challenge is the reality that there are some who would like me out. Hehehehe!

What makes it a good thing is my faith that it is GOD's will.

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I LEAVE?

These days I am into deep thinking.  I am thinking of the following:

• Should I leave my calling as a pastor?  Yap, you read me right.  I am thinking of leaving the ministry.  This is not the only time I think of it.  Many times I did.  I do actually.  But this time, it is like I said, a deep thought.  I know that God called me to the ministry.  I just wondering somehow that God can call to another ministry.  
• Should I stay in the ministry but leave the church where I am appointed right now. 

MARCH TO APRIL

What was the month of March to me?

It was a very long month

A challenging month

A painful month

A tiring month

A crying month

And a month where I can write a "month-ful" of posts, only, I am not ready yet to write about it.

All I can say right now is, if the Philippine history has what we call, THE DEATH MARCH, I also experienced a lot of forms of death as I MARCH TO APRIL

Good thing, I believe in the saying, "Tomorrow is another day."

If I may add to it, "April is another month."

And I will write again on the coming days ^_^!

ROYAL TRUE ORANGE

I am changing as I live.  One day, I will make a post of the things that are changing in me.  But there are things that will not change. We call it natural.  And there are two recent instances wherein I realized again my true nature.

Inside the dorm, busy with finishing our dissertation and having random talk with my classmate, he told me that he feels that I am next in line in the leadership position.  I feel humbled about his opinion of me.  The only problem with me according to him is that I don't play politics.  I never thought that he knows me that well or he is observing me.  He is right, I am not really a political person.  If there be a recognition, I want it to be based on my  true worth and not because I am attached to this and that leader.  In fact, I observe that I avoid people with power.  I mean, as much as possible, I don't want to have a personal relationship with them, only professional.  You won't see me fighting over a position.  Ika nga ng namayapang action star na si Rudy Fernandez sa isa sa kanyag mga pelikula, "Walang personalan, trabaho lang."

In this world where politics is everywhere, sadly even inside the church, should I be proud that according to some, I remain as I am through the years, a non-political person? 

The following day, we were having our lunch in the food court when my batchmate in  Union Theological Seminary who was at the other table called my attention.  He is a Christian Education Teacher in Wesleyan University of the Philippines. I waved my hand back to him.

Nang matapos silang kumain, pumunta siya sa table ko at nagkaroon ng konting kumustahan.  He was aware that I was taking up my Doctoral studies and is now finishing my dissertation.

When he bade goodbye, he addressed me as "Doc."  I waved my hand downward to dissuade him from calling me as such.    My gesture prompted him to say, "Kilala naman kita noon pa, hindi ka sabik sa mga titulo.  Mababang loob ka talaga.  Di tulad ng iba akala mo kung sino, taas noo (he stood erect and raise his head to stress his point) kaagad dahil Doctor na sila."  

Another day and another person seeing my true nature.  

In this world where titles are so important to people and "can be bought by a price", should I be proud that according to some, I remain to be non-title conscious person?

Well, if you happened to visit to my house, you will not see a single diploma of the school where I graduated.  Some of them were already lost while my college diploma is still in my alma mater.   Only my grandmother take the time to display some of my certificate of recognition while others are requested by those who gave them to me.  Not that I have against to those people who do display their achievements, it is just that for me, I don't see the need.

I am just happy because when people accuse of being this and that, there are people who have eyes to see the real me.

I am not orange soda pero sa panahong ito, gusto ko siyang inumin at sabihin ang kanyang classic na slogan,

ITO ANG NATURAL, ROYAL TRUE ORANGE :-)

MYPD

I cannot remember anymore the last time I posted an entry to my blog. Up to this moment, I am still stuck on my dissertation.  I am just taking a break now from writing a chapter.  And while resting, let me share about these things that somehow ease away my exhaustion:

My son, Amen Learn, had their classroom recognition today.  Since I am busy these days, I told him I cannot not come to the recognition day anymore.  He decided to go alone but later on changed his mind and didn't go too.

Last Wednesday, I took the time to attend his graduation.  As I saw him going to the stage and receiving his certificate, I got emotional at the same time proud for my son.

Congratulations Amen Learn!  Thank you very much for Making Your Papa Proud!

KUNG PUWEDE LANG SANA

Kung puwede lang sana na mabasa ko ang laman ng iyong isipan,

Kung puwede lang sana na maramdaman ko ang bigat ng iyong pinagdaraanan,

Kung puwede lang sana na akuin ko ang iyong nararanasan,

Buong puso kong gagawin upang lungkot mo ay mabawasan.

Kung puwede lang sana ibalik ang nakaraan para higit kitang maalagaan, madinig at maunawaan,

Kung puwede lang sana bawiin ang mga salitang binitiwan at mga parusang ipinaramdam

Buburahin ko lahat iyon hanggang wala nang bakas na maiwan.

photo taken from the Internet

Kung puwede lang sana ako ang mangarap para sa iyo.

Kung puwede lang sana mapasa sa akin ang karamdaman mo.

Kung puwede lang sana malaman tunay na kaligayahan mo.

Kung puwede lang sana oras-oras nasa tabi mo.

Kung puwede lang sana habang panahon kayakap mo.

Matiyaga akong magbabantay para sa kapakanan mo.

Pero hindi lahat ay  puwede kong gawin, gaano naman ang pagnanais, sadyang imposible man din.

Kaya, puwede ba, sa mga bagay na hindi ko puwedeng gawin, tulungan mo ako na lumaban para sa iyo?

JUMBO HATE-DOG

May cooking lesson sila Amen Learn sa school.  Gagawa raw ang grupo nila ng footlong sandwich.  Aware na ako na may mga cooking lessons sa mga schools ngayon.

Nagtoka-toka raw silang mga magkakagrupo.  May magdadala ng mayonnaise, bread at footlong.  Kay Amen Learn, itinoka.  Take note ha? Itinoka ang pagdadala ng footlong.  Nang malaman ko na sa kanya in-assign yun, medyo nag-iba na ang pakiramdam ko.  At lalong nag-iba ang pakiramdam ko nang nasa frozen meat section na kami ng grocery, ay kumukuha siya ng 2 kilos ng footlong.  Yes, two kilos ng footlong. At Samsung Galaxy note ha? Purefoods pa ang specified na brand.  Siyempre, biglang nag highblood ang bulsa ko.  Parang gustong maghurumentado.

What? Two kilos of Purefood Footlong hotdog? "Ilan ba papakainin niyo?  Ang sagot niya ay Principal daw at ang Assistant Principal daw, mga teachers ng Grade 6 at Grade 3 at silag magkagrupo.

Naisip  ko kumakandidato ba ako ng senador o tumatakbo ba ako under ng Hotdog Party List? Eh, bakit hindi na yata cooking lesson ito kundi food distributions.  Nag-iba na ng isip si Amen Learn, hindi na footlong, jumbo hotdog na lang daw.  Pero Purefoods at 2 kilos pa rin.  As if, may difference ang kanyang ginawa.

Pero alam ko na huli na para sa highblood ko.  Napagkayarian na o napagtulungan na ang anak ko na bumalikat sa uhaw sa hotdog na paaralan.  Hahahahahahahaha!

Pumunta na kami ng cashier pero tumigil ako sandali at tinignan ko tuloy ang isang pack ng Nescafe Coffee na ibinigay sa akin last Tuesday.  Tinignan ko ang presyo.  Pwede nang panabla sa isa sa dalawang kilong jumbo hotdog na ginastos ko.  Humahanap lang ako ng pampalubag loob. Huhuhuhu!

Kung ano ang haba ng pila sa cashier ay siya ring haba ng sermon ko kay Amen.  At yung ateng nauuna sa amin ay nakisali na sa discussion namin.  Nagkaroon tuloy kami ng forum.  Hahahahahaha! Bakit kasi hindi nila pinaghati-hatian ang gastos na lang?  Sagot niya, yung iba raw kasi walang mai-share.  Pero willing silang magka-grade kahit walang mai-share.  Naisip ko na naman, should I blamed my son for being gullible?  Tanggap na lang ng tanggap.  E, paano ko silang masisisi, e namana naman nila sa akin yun?

Para rin yang mga estudyante na kapag oras ng test, lagi na lang hingi ng hingi ng papel sa mga kaklase bukod pa sa sagot.  Hahahahahahaha!

I am not being selfish but I am being considerate.  Sinanay kasi natin ang tao na porke mahirap e wala nang mai-share.

Hindi lang yun ang kalbaryo ko.  Kailangan pa raw prito na kapag dinala sa school ang mga hotdogs.  Kitam, yung iba ang dala e hindi na iluluto habang kami, ay running against time, sa pagpi-prito ng hotdogs.  Feeling ko talaga, kami ng anak ko ang nailuto sa mga oras na yun.

Pagdating ni Amen mula sa school, nagbida na siya.  May isang teacher daw na nagsabi na dapat daw 100 ang grade nila Amen.  Sa loob-loob ko dapat kaya 340 ang grade nila dahil jumbo ang presyo ng jumbo hotdog na kinain nila.  Hahahahahahahaha! Huhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhu!