I thought I had it all right! I usually book a flight online and I make sure I get the dates right. But this time, I somehow messed it up for my return flight. I bought a round trip ticket to visit my mom and I arrived in Butuan on Monday without any problem. I spent the next two days enjoying the time with my mom, brothers, sister, sisters-in-law, nephew and nieces. My uncle also dropped by our home to see us. It was just a quick visit.
A view of Metro Manila
On Wednesday morning, my brother and I brought our sister to Bancasi Airport in Butuan City for her morning flight to Cebu. After dropping her off at the airport, my brother and I along with his family went back to the city and spent some time at the mall to talk to some friends and to have lunch too.
Then we went back to the airport for my flight scheduled at 1:15 p.m. bound for Manila. But the guard said there was no 1:15 p.m. flight that day! The only flight left that day was in the evening! I insisted on getting inside the airport to talk to the Cebu Pacific staff.
A view of Metro Manila
Return Flight One Month Later!
I found out that I booked the wrong date! — one month later! Thankfully I was able to get the evening flight. But I had to wait the whole afternoon and early evening at the airport. I was a “chance passenger” and first on the waitlist. Whew! I shelled out a little bit more money than necessary for booking the wrong flight! Oh dear…
A view of Metro Manila
When things go wrong as they sometimes will, it’s a senior citizen I guess that’s involved hahaha!
Last Sunday, February 24, I had the unexpected privilege of spending some time during lunch with Dr. Greg Williams, the new president of Grace Communion International (GCI) who came to visit us. The invitation was something unplanned. After our morning worship service, the national director invited me for lunch with them along with my wife and daughter. It was really nice to have talked to Dr. Greg Williams on his first to the Philippines as the new GCI president.
Dr. Greg Williams talking to the pastors and leaders of Grace Communion International in the Philippines last February 25, 2017 at the Christian Development Center in Tagaytay City..
First Visit: Seminar on Healthy Church
Two years ago last February 2017, when he was still the vice president, Dr. Greg Williams spoke to our pastors and leaders about the importance of having healthy churches. That was my first time to meet him in person in Tagaytay City. Although we haven’t met yet but he told me he knew me already. He said that his inbox usually had lots of emails coming from me. I used to send weekly email news and updates from GCI Philippines since the year 2001. I have now assigned this task to someone else.
Second Visit: Sermon on Healthy Church
During last Sunday’s morning worship service, Dr. Greg Williams spoke again about what a healthy church looks like. He gave three main points to explain what he meant. First, the church is a unified family that is mutually caring for one another. Secondly, each church member is actively participating with Jesus in the way that he has shaped us and called us. Thirdly, the Church is working together in its assigned tasks from Jesus, the Head of the Church, orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.
Getting to Know the GCI President
Talking with him over lunch was a great opportunity for me to get to know our new GCI president as a person, his mind and his heart. It was good to see and understand where he is leading us as a denomination under the Head of the Church, our Lord Jesus Christ.
My family with the GCI President Greg Williams and the GCI Asia Superintendent Eugene Guzon
It was great to have known our new GCI president a little bit more. My family had fun to have been blessed with such a rare opportunity.
Groupie! My family with the GCI President and the GCI Asia Superintendent
Back in 1986, I was sent along with my wife and daughter, to the province of Bukidnon as a ministerial trainee. I was assigned there as an assistant pastor for two local congregations — one in the town of Maramag and the other one in Barangay Kiara in the town of Don Carlos.
In 1986, my family and I were sent to Bukidnon as a ministerial trainee and as an assistant pastor. I was about 31 years old. I really loved the natural beauty of the province of Bukidnon. It has beautiful mountains.
My family and I lived in Don Carlos, Bukidnon for about one year and during those days, the roads were not yet paved. It was quite a challenge to travel on dusty and bumpy roads being shaken all the way inside a small Suzuki Beaver. But we somehow survived. My 6-year old daughter seemed not to mind. She seemed to be enjoying it when we were on the road. I still remember our Australian regional director who made a comment after visiting and traveling to Bukidnon inside a Suzuki Beaver. He said, “I felt like scrambled eggs!”
This small Suzuki Beaver was an off-the-road vehicle and 4-wheel drive. I had lots of memories using this type of vehicle for many years. I loved using it in Metro Manila because I can drive through tight spots and can climb curbs and leave the traffic behind hahaha! And it was very useful in the province — climbing mountains, passing through very muddy roads and even crossing rivers.
At first, it was quite a cultural shock to suddenly move from the big city of Metro Manila to the remote town of Don Carlos, Bukidnon. Back then, I thought it was a very remote place with my reference being in Metro Manila. We lived among and were surrounded by the rural folks with their corn fields, chickens, goats, cows and carabaos but thankfully, our rented house was a 3-bedroom bungalow. Not bad.
Our rented house in Bukidnon. In this photo, my brothers visited me and my family back in 1986.
Bukidnon has beautiful mountains and as you travel along the national road, you will get to see and appreciate the natural beauty of the place. One of those that stand out is the Musuan Peak. If you’re traveling from Don Carlos to Valencia City, you will get to see the Musuan Peak to your right as you pass by. That mountain stands out and its beautiful to look at.
In the featured photo above, I took that shot sometime in the year 1986. The national road was not paved with concrete yet. It was a dirt road and if you look more closely in the photo, you will get to see a vehicle at a distance with a cloud of dust behind it. Those were the years when paving of the national road was not yet completed. Only portions had paved concrete and some paved with asphalt.
This photo is quite old already. I had it scanned then I edited and retouched it somewhat to restore it to its original condition. Anyway, I just wanted to share this picture and without realizing it, I have this blog written already and added some more pictures in it hahaha! Just sharing.
In a small group that I am a part of, we have been listening to an audio recording of a lecture done by the late Prof. James B. Torrance back during the 90s. These JB Torrance audios have been divided into six parts and tonight, during our regular Wednesday night Discover the Word session, we will be listening to the third part.
I have heard these audio recordings countless of times but it never ceases to inspire me. I learned more when I listened to it again many times. About a year or two ago, when my 87-year old mother-in-law got sick until she died many months later, she listened to these audios during her last few months.
I have really been inspired listening to these audios ever since I got hold of it from the internet. I cannot now remember how or where exactly I got it but I do have copies of the 6-part audios.
The topic of the lecture is on Prayer and the Triune God of Grace. The focus is on prayer but as Professor James Torrance goes on explaining all about prayer, he gives a broad overview of what incarnational Trinitarian theology is all about and he introduces us to who the Triune God of grace is. The way he talks and explains things touches my heart not just my head. Christ through his Spirit has definitely been opening my mind slowly but surely through these JB Torrance audios. It is for this reason that I am inspired to share this as well with my fellow small group members and to everyone who may not be aware of it’s existence yet.
It is great, good news to know that in Christ the Beloved, we are also loved by the Father. It is good to know that Christ is our High Priest who stands in for us and brings us with him right into the Holy of Holies, into the inner sanctuary, to have fellowship and communion with and in the life and love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is really great, good news!
This past month was another great experience for me as I went around visiting some of the churches in my denomination, Grace Communion International in Mindanao. I thank the Lord that he has given me this privilege — what a blessing and privilege! — of being able to go around and see friends and family there. Thank you Lord!
From Davao to Bukidnon, CDO and Agusan del Sur
From Manila, I flew to Davao City where I was picked up and brought to Bukidnon to preach to our church members having their 2018 worship festival in Kiara, Don Carlos, Bukidnon. The following day, I was already in Cagayan de Oro to again preach to our church members gathered for their worship festival at Grand Caprice. I stayed there for a few days and then went on to my home province in Agusan del Sur to visit my 86-year-old mother, siblings and relatives in Bayugan City. It was really well worth it. I guess I needed that boost. I had a great time there just relaxing and enjoying the people and the place where I spent my boyhood years.
2018 Worship Festival in Kiara, Don Carlos, Bukidnon. Some 774 church members attended this first day of the festival.
Second day of the 2018 Worship Festival in Cagayan de Oro City.
Visiting my 86-year old mother in my home province.
Visiting my aunt and uncle with my sister
One of my four sisters. Yes, I have four sisters hahaha!
One of my beautiful nieces.
With my first cousin, the director of Agusan del Sur College (ADSCO).
Family visit to ADSCO, my high school alma mater.
My beautiful nieces.
My 91-year old uncle from Morong, Rizal and my 86-year old mother from Cardona, Rizal.
Back to Davao City
After that short family visit, I went back to Davao City where I conducted a preaching workshop for our church leaders in the southeastern part of Mindanao. I also preached during their worship festival the following day.
Trinitarian Expository Preaching Workshop for the GCI southeastern Mindanao leaders and emerging leaders/young potential preachers.
2018 Worship Festival in Davao City
Preaching at Festivals, Preaching Workshops
It’s truly a great privilege to have shared in all three festival sites God’s great and abiding love for all of humanity and all of creation and that in response, we all ought to abide as well in his abiding love and love him in return. It’s that’s simple but profound. By the way, our church leaders in Mindanao invited me to preach to them and our national director sent me there in response to their request because I can speak their language, Cebuano, fluently. I’m also from Mindanao. Happy to be always invited and sent hahaha!
Growing old together gracefully in Christ. I was with them for 5 years (1987-1991) in Cagayan de Oro City and another 7 years (2001-2007) based in Davao City.
Glad to see them again. I lived with them in Davao City for some 7 years (2001-2007).
God Created Us for Relationships
God created us for relationships — loving relationships. I felt that love as I went around visiting church members in Mindanao. It’s always good to see long time friends and family. During my visits in the various areas, I saw some of my friends who are now senior citizens already just like me. Some are already frail and weak, some are sickly and some are still quite healthy despite their age. We all enjoyed seeing each other again although just for a short while. I was also in Zamboanga last July by the way and I felt that same love from my friends out there.
This was in July 2018. I visited the Zamboanga churches and conducted a preaching workshop in the area — southwestern part of Mindanao.
Enjoy Life and Love in the Triune God
God wants us to enjoy life and love in him right now as well as in the future when Christ returns. It’s all about relationships. This is what Christianity is all about. It’s not really that complicated. God is love. He loves you and me. The Triune God wants to share his life and love with us now and for all eternity. Isn’t that great good news?
