All posts by Len Joson

Graduation Day is a Happy Day!

April 24, 2015 Len Joson Leave a comment

There’s something about graduation days. It’s a day of mixed emotions—both joy and sorrow—for many graduates. They are of course happy that they have accomplished something very important in life after going through many years of life’s challenges striving hard to succeed. The feeling of joy can be seen on their faces during the day of graduation itself. It’s a feeling of joy and success!

20150415-P1200122 — My daughter on her graduation

But there is also somewhat of a bit of sadness knowing that it’s their last day to see many of their classmates and friends as each one begins their new journey in life outside the school campus and into the business world. This may not be true of all but generally, this is the pattern of life that I have seen. Graduation day is truly a day of mixed emotions for college graduates—both joy and sadness.

For parents like me, it’s all joy haha! No sadness at all. What a relief that I will no longer be driving my kids to school after about 28 years! Ever since my eldest daughter went to kindergarten about 28 years ago and up to a few days ago during my second daughter’s graduation in college, I have been their “school driver” for almost three decades minus 2 years! So it’s all joy and gladness to me haha! Happy to see my kids finish college.

I will therefore (hopefully) have extra time to do other things like maybe fix some things at home, blog maybe, fix or replace some drawers in the kitchen or maybe check the engine of my 15-year old car. So for me and my wife, it’s a great joy and a great relief haha!

I’m hoping my wife and I could enjoy our life growing old together with the thought that we have sent our kids to college and they both graduated successfully. For most Filipino parents, this is a great accomplishment. My wife and I are no different. We are happy for our kids. And thanks to all my sisters and mom who helped me and my wife send our kids to school. We are truly blessed! Thank you Lord!

Life & Love

I Like the Beatles

March 20, 2015 Len Joson Leave a comment

I was about ten years old when the Beatles became famous and I was one of those young kids all over the world who loved their kind of music which started sometime during the early 60s. I’m somewhat familiar with all of their songs though I may not know all the lyrics. There are just too many to recall one by one over the years. Of course, there were also songs I did not like. But I liked many of them.

Beatles Break Up

Just like many others, I was also saddened when the group broke up in 1970 and that was it. I never really knew exactly why they broke up but just recently I found out in an interview of Paul McCartney that the reason they broke up was because of a business deal gone bad. He said he disagreed with a business decision. He didn’t mention what went wrong exactly but he said that the other Beatle members thanked him later on for what he did. Just the other day, I watched a YouTube video about him as he reminisced the Beatles’ good old days. He is a musical genius. It’s also quite an honor for him to be knighted by the Queen. Quite an accomplishment.

He’s my favorite Beatle and I used to also have a bass guitar that looked similar to his bass guitar that looks like a violin. Not a Hofner bass guitar though haha! Just a look-alike.

Photo credit: Google

Life & Love, Photography

Portrait Photography

February 5, 2015 Len Joson Leave a comment

In life we go through both joys and sorrows, a lot of ups and downs, trials and triumphs, problems and difficulties, successes as well as failures — and if we don’t get a hold of ourselves, we might end up sick or even worse. It’s always good to have something else to do, like having a hobby or something.

For me, it’s photography. Here’s a photo of my wife, Jojie — a willing subject, always ready to pose for the camera. I have a ready-and-always-willing model for portrait photography haha! She has always been my favorite photo subject ever since we were still young until now that we are getting older.

It was sometime during the late 70s that I began taking snapshots of my wife when were still young in our early 20s. That was around four decades ago hahaha! I do still take snapshots of her when I get the chance.

Life & Love, Photography

The Biggest and Tallest Ferris Wheel in the Philippines

January 13, 2015 Len Joson Leave a comment

My wife and I used to go to SM Pampanga often where we buy our food and groceries regularly. We still do but with the opening of Waltermart closer to our home, we have lessened our visits to SM Pampanga. There are times though when my wife would prefer to go there for a change.

Several months ago, we noticed that big foundations were being constructed at the back area of SM Pampanga and as construction progressed over time, it was becoming obvious that they were constructing a ferris wheel. I thought to myself, this must be the biggest and tallest in the Philippines. I found out later on that I’m right. It is 65 meters in height and 50 meters in diameter. It really is the biggest and tallest ferris wheel in the Philippines. They call it the “Pampanga Eye.” The whole complex is called the Sky Ranch Pampanga. They have other rides built as well within that complex. It opened to the public just this December 2014.

Well, it’s a good thing but there is a downside to it. I noticed that during this Christmas season, vehicular traffic has become heavier in this area because of this new attraction which seems to have captivated a lot of people in Central Luzon. The City of San Fernando, Pampanga is the regional center of this whole area of Region 3. For the first time my family and I experienced heavy traffic last January 2 when we went to SM Pampanga. It was the first time that traffic was crawling like we were at EDSA during peak hours! Traffic was even heavier right within the mall’s inner roads—really terrible . That was quite an experience.

Who is God?

Everybody is Invited!

December 30, 2014 Len Joson Leave a comment

Without realizing it, many of us somehow misinterpret Scripture by misunderstanding context. Sometimes we quote a favorite verse to support our view but without realizing it, unintentionally of course, we sometimes miss the point.

Understanding Scripture

John 6:44 is one good example of an often-quoted verse. In this verse Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Of course, we can easily understand this verse and its meaning is quite clear. That is, if this verse — this sentence — is all by itself and there are no other verses surrounding it. But there lies the problem. Interpreting a verse in isolation — apart from its surrounding context — can mislead us into a wrong interpretation.

Bible Interpretation

We have to remember a sound principle in interpretation that: Words or phrases derive its meaning depending on how it is used in a particular context.

Another way of saying it is that: In interpretation, the message of the text is not conveyed through single words alone but through words in relationship with each other as they occur in a specific literary context.

Is God Saving Only a Few?

Without considering its surrounding context, we can misunderstand John 6:44 to mean that God is limiting the number of those whom he will save or elect.

Some interpret this verse to mean that only a few elected ones are predestined to be saved and the rest of humanity will be damned or predestined in hell.

Is God Saving All?

On the other hand, some people believe that verse 44 is talking about God forcing people to be saved. They get their idea by focusing on the word draw which they translate as drag. That is, God will drag people to be saved whether they like it or not.

As you can see, various views are generated by this one verse alone. But what is Jesus really telling us in John 6:44? Let’s find out and check its surrounding context.

Getting the Context

It is always best to read the whole chapter to get the larger context. In John 6:41 we find Jesus claiming to be the Bread of Life or the Bread that came down from heaven. The Jews began to grumble and complain when Jesus claimed divine status by saying that he is the Bread from heaven. It was tantamount to blasphemy according to the Jews.

On this occasion, Jesus was in his very own hometown in Capernaum and he was talking to fellow Jews who knew him and his parents, his brothers and sisters and maybe his relatives too. For these fellow townmates, Jesus was just one of the guys in town and they knew him. It was difficult for them to just suddenly accept Jesus’ claim that he is the Bread of Life that came down from heaven.

Jesus’ reply to the Jews was that they should not grumble (verse 43) if many people are coming to him. Jesus said that it was the Father who was drawing these many people to come to him — the Bread of Life (verse 44). Yes, the Father was the one inviting, enabling and drawing everyone to come to Jesus, the Bread of life. God opens our minds so that we will come to Jesus. As Jesus began to preach all over the place, he affirmed his divine status as the Bread of life. That is the surrounding context of John 6:44.

Everyone is Invited!

My main point in this blog is to show that God was not limiting the number of people who are drawn to him. Most people assume this is the meaning of John 6:44 when reading it outside of its surrounding context. But in reality, God was inviting, enabling and drawing everyone to come to Christ — the Bread of life!

This very verse which some people use to support a view that only a few will be saved or only a few are elected at this time is a verse that tells us that God wants to include and save all! God loves the whole world (John 3:16)!

Verse 40 is interesting and is quite clear: “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” Please take note that verse 40 is part of the immediate context and should not be disregarded! This is God’s open invitation to all!

Please also take note of Verse 45: “It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.” (John 6:45)

Jesus was simply saying in verse 44 that the reason why people are coming to Jesus is because the Father has enabled them (John 6:65). No one could come to Jesus if the Father has not enabled them. That is, God opens their minds to see and understand.

This does not mean that people are dragged and forced against their will. The context is clear. One has to “look to the Son” and believe (verse 40). He has to listen or take heed and obey (verse 45).

Christ Will Draw All Men To Himself

Clearly then, God is not limiting the number of those whom he will save. The opposite is intended by Jesus Christ in John 6:44. God wants to draw all men to himself (John 12:32). He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

This is the context of John 6:44, the context of the whole book of John and the context of Scripture viewed from a Christ-centered point of view. You are already loved (John 3:16)! You are already accepted! You are already included! You already belong to Jesus Christ! God has already reconciled you to himself! Therefore be reconciled back to God! Therefore believe it and become who you really are in Jesus Christ!

God is not limiting the number of those who will be saved. Everybody is invited to come and enjoy life and love in Jesus Christ! Therefore accept God’s acceptance of you!

Photo credit: Google