All posts by Len Joson

Life & Love

Thoughts When We Get Sick

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For more than 2 weeks now, my wife and I had been visiting the doctor for checkups. For the second time now, I’ve had my blood checked for various tests. Urine included. I also had chest x-ray, ultrasound to check some parts of my internal organs. I also had ECG to check my heart condition. The cardiologist further suggested I have my heart checked again with 2D echo and so I did.

Sick Body: No Longer As Healthy

thoughts when we get sick

Well, I will not tell you all the test results but just to simply say, I’m no longer as healthy as I used to be—especially now that I’m already 57 years old. I need to do something so I won’t get sick all the time. Some parts of my body are now showing “wear and tear” just like some parts of my 12-year old car. I need to be careful now of my overall health. Because of this new reality, I need to change my usual diet and lifestyle somewhat. A lifestyle overhaul is needed. Such is life.

During times like this when we get sick, one begins to pause and think about life and what it all means. I think it’s but natural. I can’t help but think of God’s command to some of the Old Testament prophets who were told to “set you house in order” as they were about to die. We all know we will all pass away sometime soon. It’s all just a matter of time. But when we get sick, we think of it more than at other times and we think of our loved ones and that for their sake, we need to “set our house in order.”

The Lord Jesus Christ encourages us by telling us that he has already won over sin and death. Nothing can separate us from God’s love including sin and death. He has conquered all these—Jesus assures us. We have the victory. Thank you Lord for this wonderful news that we can trust you to take care of us and our loved ones.

Let us always remember that God created all of us to participate in the love relationship enjoyed by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And God has made sure that we will be able to join this wonderful relationship through our Lord Jesus Christ. There’s nothing to worry about. We are safe and secure in God’s hands through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Life & Love

The Value of Physical Exercise

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The Apostle Paul said, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Tim. 4:8)

While we may focus more on spiritual things—especially pastors and church folks—we must not forget that Paul said, exercise has “some value” too. He did not say it’s useless. And you know what, we never learn the lesson until it’s too late. I’m learning the lesson now—back again.

Treadmill For Exercise

physical exercise

Some 4 or 5 years ago, my wife and I decided it was about time for us to buy a treadmill to help us in our need for exercise especially now that we have reached the age of 50. So we bought one. It was expensive but we really felt the need to have it for our health’s sake. But you know what, I never did use it regularly. Just on occasions when I felt like doing it.

But with my recent poor health condition, I am now again back to the treadmill. I guess I have never learned the lesson—yet. I’m learning the hard way. So, back to the treadmill I go. Exercise! And it takes determination to do it regularly. So here I go—again!

Life & Love

Hope in the Midst of Sickness

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I’m just glad the Lord has given me understanding about what sickness is all about. Sickness is just one of those trials that can befall any one of us. God did not plan for us to live forever in our physical bodies. Rather, God has planned for all of us to participate in the love relationship that is being eternally enjoyed by the Father, Son and Spirit. And what is even more encouraging is that God through our Lord Jesus has already done everything that is needed to be done for all of us to be saved. Our salvation is guaranteed. There’s nothing to worry about. This gives us hope and encouragement as we go through life and especially when we get sick.

Sickness Can Happen to Anyone

It’s been two weeks now since I got dizzy while driving at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and since that time, I’ve been going in and out of the hospital for checkups. I can see that I’m not as healthy as I used to be. For one, I now have a bulging tummy—not too much though but how I wish it was not there. Reality check: it’s there! I hope doing exercises and diet will help reduce it somewhat.

I have never been hospitalized in my entire life for any sickness. Instead, I have been going in and out of the hospital for more than 20 years as a pastor (I’m now a retired pastor) visiting the sick among our church members. But this time, it’s different. I’m now the patient–an outpatient though.

My wife and I have been visiting the hospital for various checkups like ECG, 2D Echo, blood extraction for various tests and ultrasound. The doctor gave me some medicines to address my high blood pressure and high cholesterol level. I’m still not “high blood” though if you know what I mean—a person raging with anger. I can still maintain my cool.

The doctor told me there’s nothing to be alarmed about. I’m under medication for one month. Now that I’m age 57, the doctor advised me to have a regular checkup.

God’s wonderful good news gives us comfort in the midst of our trials. God’s good news gives us hope and encouragement in the midst of our sickness. Thanks be to the Lord my Savior!

Life & Love

High Blood Pressure at the Expressway!

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For the first time in my life, without any signs or any warning at all, I got dizzy while driving along the expressway! I had a very high blood pressure and I didn’t know it! It was early morning (March 1) and I had to bring my mom to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Terminal 1 (NAIA 1) in Manila all the way from San Fernando, Pampanga. My mom visited me for a few days and she was now going home back to the US.

While driving along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), I suddenly felt dizzy. My vision slowly began to get blurred and I felt like the world was turning around in front of me. Thankfully, I still managed to slowly bring the car to the emergency parking area (the right shoulder of the highway) without any incident. I rested for a while and told my mom about it. I was silently praying that God would help me out.

Then we moved on again. But it didn’t take long that I felt dizzy again so I had to stop again at the emergency parking area. I reclined the driver’s seat, took a nap while my mom sat there beside me worried about everything that’s been happening around her. Thankfully, she read an emergency phone number right outside where we parked. I called up the number and told NLEX about my situation. In minutes, the highway patrol group arrived. They called up the paramedics which also arrived in minutes in their ambulance. I thank these personnel of NLEX. They helped me for free. I tried to give them some money to show my gratitude but they refused. They didn’t ask for anything. I salute them for their service to motorists in need of help.

High Blood Pressure Unrealized

As it turned out, I had a very high blood pressure at over 200/100! It was the first time this happened to me. After resting for some 3 hours at the Petron Gas Station, I was back to normal. Without any incident, I was able to send my mom to the airport on time but I missed attending a meeting scheduled that day at pier 15 at MV Logos Hope.

I pity my mom that she had to see her son helpless while she sat beside me also helpless and didn’t know what to do. But I believe God helped us through. I’m just glad to know she’s back home safe in the US. After sending my mom to the NAIA 1 airport, I decided to go back home to Pampanga instead of attending another meeting. I arrived home safely without any incident. Thanks be to God for his guidance and help.

Who is God?

Si Jesu-Cristo Ang Lahat sa Akin

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Tula ni Pastor Carlos M. Castro

Carlos M. Castro is poet laureate of Pampanga — an honor given to a selected few. He is an ordained elder of the Grace Communion International – Pampanga. He is also a top executive of a real estate company based in Makati.

Mula ng makilala ko kung sino si Jesu-Cristo,
Ang puso ko’t kaisipan sa Kanya lagi ang tungo.
Laging naging hangarin ko makilala ko ng todo,
Pagkat walang mahalaga kundi Siya sa buhay ko,
Lahat tatalikuran ko, makamtan lamang si Cristo.

Ang buhay na walang hanggan ay makilala ang Ama,
Ang iisa’t tunay na Diyos at si Cristong Anak Niya.
Kaya tanging hangarin ko’y lubos Siyang makilala,
At nang aking maranasan angking kapangyarihan N’ya,
Makihati sa hirap Niya at nang matulad sa Kanya.

Ang lahat ay nasa Kanya, lahat ay para sa Kanya,
Siya ang larawan ng Diyos, ang Diyos na di-nakikita.
Masaganang karunungan ay natatago sa Kanya ,
Atin lamang makakamit ang ganap na pangunawa,
Kung makilala si Cristo, ang Hiwaga ng Diyos Ama.

Lahat ng kapangyarihan, maging kapamahalaan,
Ay nasasakop kay Cristo, ngayon, magpakailanman.
Buong kalikasan ng Diyos kay Cristo matatagpuan,
Walang hindi nasasaklaw ng Kanyang kapangyarihan,
Siya ang pinakadakila sa buong sandaigdigan.

Si Cristo ang pasimula, si Cristo rin ang Siyang wakas.
Ang Diyos sa kasalukuyan, sa nakaraan at bukas.
Ang Hari ng mga hari, ang gumupo kay Satanas,
Ang pinatay na Kordero at ating Tagapagligtas.
S’ya ang aking susundin, hanggang buhay ko’y magwakas.

Sa pamamagitan ni Cristo ang buong sandaigdigan,
Nakipagkasundo sa Diyos sa Kanyang kamatayan.
Dahil dito tayo ngayon tinuring na kaibigan,
Upang tayo’y makaharap nang walang kapintasan,
Banal at walang batik, malaya sa kasalanan.

Dahil sa Kanyang ginawa sa buhay kung sirang-sira,
Ako’y nabuhay na muli kasama ni Cristong dakila.
Pinatawad niyang lahat ang kasalanang nagawa,
At ang pitang makalaman, unti-unting nawawala,
Ang dati kung pagkatao ay nagbagong kasama Niya.

Panginoong Jesu-Cristo, manguna Ka sana sa’kin,
Ang lagi kang makapiling ang tangi kong adhikain.
Ang buhay kung espirituwal sana Iyong palakasin,
Manahan Ka sa puso ko, iyan ang aking dalangin,
Pagkat ikaw lamang Jesus, ang lahat-lahat sa akin.

This is a Tagalog poem by Pastor Carlos M. Castro