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mga celebrants ng december
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CONVERTS : A former Freemason finds the true Church

Published in Pasugo (God's Message), Oct 2006

By Neofito Santos

I WAS BORN and raised in a devout Catholic family. I was the president of the Youth Club in our barrio and had been active in the Catholic Church until I turned 25. I migrated to the United States of America and settled in Seaside, California, where I eventually met and married a Protestant Methodist. I held various offices at Hilltop United Methodist Church for 26 years. I was Chairman of the Board, a lay leader, a lay speaker, a trustee, and a choir member. As a lay speaker, I could not speak on the topic “Jesus is God”; hence, all the titles I used were like “Jesus, The Man” and “Who Is This Man They Called Jesus?” But no matter how good a presentation I made, I still felt hollow inside. Something was missing.

I am a Go-Ju-Kai third degree black belter and I used to practice Yoga, which is how I was introduced to Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, and other eastern religions. I joined the fraternity of Freemasonry in 1974 and have received many awards for excellence in service. I was a Past Master of Monterey Lodge No. 217 F & AM, 32’ on both Scottish and York Rite Bodies, a member of the Islam Temple AANOMS, Past President of Monterey Peninsula Shrine Club, Past Illustrious Master of the Santa Cruz Council No. 17 Cryptic Mason, and Past Commander of Watsonville Commandery No. 21 Knights Templar.

When I was in high school, I had a problem accepting the Trinity. I asked our teacher, a priest, about the so-called mystery of the Trinity. He replied that if he could explain it, then it wouldn’t be a mystery anymore. I also had doubts about the Protestant doctrine regarding the faith-alone concept because if it were true, then there would not have been any need for Judgment Day or the lake of fire. I questioned, too, why they had many denominations.

In the 90s, my interest turned to reading books like New Age Religion, Life After Death, Near Death Experience, Embraced By The Light, Eagle’s Gift, Celestine Prophecy, The Bible Code, The Messiah Stone, The Birth And Death of Jesus Christ, Christianity The Missing Link, The Late Great Planet Earth, The Prince of Darkness, Armageddon, Angels And Messengers, and The Hiram’s Key, among others.

One day, Brother Mon Dizon, Monterey Congregation’s head deacon, who is married to my late wife’s younger sister, Jennifer, invited me to a Bible study. I accepted. Months before, I booked a trip to Europe for spiritual search and to trace my Masonic History in England. I was to travel with Minister-Pastors and lay people to trace the roots of Protestantism. But before my actual departure, Brother Mar Nacup had already taught me four of the fundamental doctrines of the Church of Christ. On the night of the fourth lesson, without hesitation, I made a declaration that I would continue my Bible studies when I came back from the trip.

My intention then was to search for the true church in England. On the plane, I read the copy of God’s Message magazine which I brought with me. Before I knew it, I was asking my companions about the true nature of Christ, the need for entering the Church of Christ, but none of their answers satisfied my queries. On the last leg of our trip, while in Gloucester, I contacted Battersea Congregation and introduced myself as one who was undergoing instruction in biblical doctrines.

I have read many issues of the God’s Message voraciously, almost memorizing all the convert stories that were featured. I wanted to meet at least some of the converts to reinforce my search. When Brother Mon took me to an evangelical mission in San Jose, California, I met Brother John Borg, a convert from Malta. From then on, we become very good friends.

I continued listening to the Church’s teachings and I became fully convinced that I had found the true Church, the Church of Christ. Eventually, I was baptized on March 7, 1998. As I emerged from the water, I broke into tears as I realized that I have become a new person. Persecutions came my way from family and relatives but God provided me with the strength to stand firm in the faith. We would fall into discussions that became a missionary endeavor for me and, afterwards, I would always feel glad and relieved because they would already have a better understanding of the Church.

I wasted no time in holding an office in the Church. I became the Light of Salvation president of the local congregation of Monterey and have not stopped performing my duties since then.

No doubt, the Lord Jesus Christ is coming for the second time. While waiting for that day, I hope that my two sons and my relatives will be called into the fold. As for me, I shall go on doing missionary work until the end of my life.

Storm coming

Published in Pasugo (God's Message), Oct 2006

Mr. Weatherman says: a very strong storm is coming,
Brace yourself and prepare for the worst,
Check the roofs, the posts, drainage and all,
Stock food and medicine and batteries,
Prepare and be alert at all times.

Impending calamities reverberate,
People prepare and pray,
Radios blurting in schools and offices, everywhere,
Be home at once, family gathers
And talk about the coming storm.

At nightfall, the storm rages in the land,
Trembling trees, electric posts, flying roofs,
Howling wind and the rains pour,
Rivers overflow and race to the streets,
Blackout and the screams of the victims.

Among the pages lies the message,
Impending doom and wrath of the Creator,
Big and final storm is brewing elsewhere,
Firestorm will rain everywhere,
But, who listens and prepares?

Noah’s Ark and the Great Flood,
Eight survivors; today in the last days,
Noah’s ark and the Church of Christ,
Yes, we will survive the final storm,
Only if we listen and belong.

Crisante E. Igama
Laguna, Philippines

When Wars will be No More

Published in Pasugo, Nov 2006

While wars and other conflicts exist in many countries today, there is a place that God has promised to His nation where wars are no more.

THE SUN DID SET ON that epochal 9 / 11 but it did not see the end of terror and violence. Violence resurfaced and continues to lurk in varying scales in some other countries – in Spain, Iraq, Indonesia, UK, India, Afghanistan, Israel, Lebanon, Sudan, to name a few.

The repugnant results of conflicts, the dissolution of which remains to be a dream of nations, are unspeakable, to say the least. Terrorism, for one, has derailed the economic growth of many nations. Those who escaped violence in the form of wars, atrocities, and murder are left in outrage if not total shock over their grueling experiences. The rest of us who “peek” at the senseless violence in various parts of the world through TV newscasts or webcasts – some in real time or as they happen – could not help but be affected by the sight of the victims and the displaced, weeping at their misfortune.

Furthermore, others have lost their own peace of mind because their lives are but a day-to-day struggle against the worsening economic crisis, aggravated by the calamities and disasters that bring more miseries to their lives. Corruption and injustice also worsen these tragedies to individual and familial levels. These problems of humanity cannot be consigned to history. For now.

Questioning God’s purpose
Because of these, people look for someone to put the blame on as they yearn for peace. The sad part of it is that, there are those who blame God, wondering why He allows such things to happen.

Some people today have profound questions to God that had also been asked in the past:

“Why do you make me see such trouble? How can you stand to look on such wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are all around me, and there is fighting and quarreling everywhere. The law is weak and useless, and justice is never done. Evil men get the better of the righteous, and so justice is perverted.” (Hab. 1:3-4, Today’s English Version)

Injustice, destruction, violence, and troubles are also the realities in many countries today. Though many people unequivocally condemn acts of senseless violence and atrocities, the condition of the world today remains basically the same as that during the time of the prophet Habakkuk:

“Their armies advance in violent conquest, and everyone is terrified as they approach. Their captives are as numerous as grains of sand.

“Then they sweep on like the wind and are gone, these men whose power is their god.

“But how can you stand these treacherous, evil men? Your eyes are too holy to look at evil, and you cannot stand the sight of people doing wrong. So why are you silent while they destroy people who are more righteous than they are?” (Hab. 1:9, 11, 13, Ibid.)

Today, there are also ruthless individuals, terrorists, and even bandits who hold people captive, kidnap them as hostages and then, demand for a lofty amount as ransom. Kidnapping, abhorrent as it is, “has become a big business in many countries” as “kidnappers globally take home well over $500 million each year, and the figure is rising” (FP Foreign Policy magazine, July / August 2002, p. 29).

Who should be blamed?
Is God the one to be blamed for all the lawlessness and the sufferings prevailing in this world today? No. It has always been the intention of God to bestow on man not only what is good but also what is best for him. This is why God set a condition for man to attain such blessing from Him, that is, man should walk in and follow the way that He teaches:

“… I am the LORD your God, the one who wants to teach you for your own good and direct you in the way you should go.” (Isa. 48:17, TEV)

Blessings and successes are what God intends for man on the condition that he should listen to and obey His commands:

“If only you had listened to my commands! Then blessings would have flowed for you like a stream that never goes dry. Victory would have come to you like the waves that roll on the shore.” (Isa. 48:18, Ibid.)

Many people of this world, however, disobey God’s commands, instead of satisfying this condition set by Him. That is why even if God wants the best for mankind, what has befallen mankind are sufferings in this world. God is not to blame for the present problems of this world. God says:

“But I did command them to obey me, so that I would be their God and they would be my people. And I told them to live the way I had commanded them, so that things would go well for them.

“But they did not obey or pay any attention. Instead, they did whatever their stubborn and evil hearts told them to do, and they became worse instead of better.” (Jer. 7:23-24, Ibid.)

Many people do what their hearts desire by wallowing in wickedness instead of obeying what God wants them to do. So, things have not been well with them. If someone is to be blamed for the atrocities and sufferings pervading in this world, it is none other than man himself.

Panacea or an aggravating factor?
Others may not reconcile the verses we have just cited with the fact that there are many religions and “religious” people today. But, has the increase in the number of religions helped in the improvement of people’s lives and in the attainment of peace? The Bible enlightens:

“The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” (Isa. 59:8, New King James Version)

God, through the Bible, describes the religions established by the people of this world as “crooked paths”. These brought injustice and disorder to mankind instead of peace and goodness. Hence, the rise of these religions is one of the causes of man’s sufferings.

Also, despite these religions, many people remain wicked and disobedient to God’s laws. This resulted in many terrible disasters, difficulties, and destruction for the people of this world. He said:

“When that happens, I will become angry with them; I will abandon them, and they will be destroyed. Many terrible disasters will come upon them, and then they will realize that these things are happening to them because I, their God, am no longer with them.” (Deut. 31:17, TEV)

A hope for peace
The good news is, despite this terrible condition of the world today, God promised to grant peace:

“The LORD gives strength to his people and blesses them with peace” (Ps. 29:11, Ibid.)

The ones to whom God will give peace are the people of His nation. In the Christian era, the nation of God where peace is found is the “body” referred to by Apostle Paul when he declared: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col. 3:15, NKJV). The one body wherein the peace of God is found is the Church headed by Christ (Col. 1:18, Ibid.). This Church is described by Apostle Peter as God’s “nation, His own special people” who “obtained [His] mercy” (I Pet. 2:9-10, Ibid.). The apostle was referring to the one “redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ” (I Pet. 1:18-19, Ibid.), that is, the Church of Christ (Acts. 20:28, Lamsa Translation).

But, in the first place, why should people be at peace with God through Christ? Apostle Paul teaches:

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

“And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (Col. 1:21:-22, 20, NKJV)

People need to have peace with God because they have been separated from Him and have become His enemy because of their sins. Fortunately, Christ suffered and died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. But, for whom did Christ offer His life? For the Church, which is His body as stated by Apostle Paul:

“… Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.” (Eph. 5:25, TEV)

Indeed, it is the Church of Christ that was redeemed by Christ’s precious blood:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

In short, above worldly concerns, man should strive to enter the true Church, the nation of God in the Christian era, to attain peace with God or to be brought near to Him. Let us not forget that the true cause of people’s misfortunes is that God is “no longer with them” (Deut. 31:17, TEV).

Wars will be no more
While wars and other conflicts exist in many countries today, there is a place that God has promised to His nation where wars are no more:

“… Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again.” (Isa. 2:4. Ibid.)

That place where violence and mourning will be no more is the Holy City, described in the following prophecies:

“Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, And your gates Praise. … And the days of your mourning shall be ended.” (Isa. 60:18, 20, NKJV)

There will be no injustice and oppression in that land promised by God:

“Everywhere in the land righteousness and justice will be done. Because everyone will do what is right, there will be peace and security forever.” (Isa. 32:16-17, TEV)

That land promised by God for His people is a land of rejoicing:

“Be glad and rejoice forever in what I create. The new Jerusalem I make will be full of joy, and her people will be happy.

“I myself will be filled with joy because of Jerusalem and her people. There will be no weeping there, no calling for help.

“The LORD says, ‘I am making a new earth and new heavens. The events of the past will be completely forgotten’.” (Isa. 65:18-19, 17, Ibid.)

While still sojourning in this earth where living dangerously is a daily reality, the people of God continue to be assured of His protection as long as they follow His laws:

“Those who love your law have perfect security, and there is nothing that can make them fall.” (Ps. 119:165, Ibid.)

“… He [God] protects me and saves me from violence.

“The waves of death were all around me; the waves of destruction rolled over me … In my trouble I called to the LORD; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.” (II Sam. 22:3, 5, 7, Ibid.)

In these times of dangers and troubles, the worship of God by His people and praying inside the house of worship are even more relevant because He promised: “… in this place [temple] I will give peace” (Hag. 2:9, NKJV). And, whenever His people are filled with sorrows, they direct their thoughts and set their vision on the promised Holy City, then, move on.

bagong kaibigan

katuwa naman, had a chat with a friend,
masaya ako na merong nakauunawa,
merong kasama, nabubuksan ang niloloob
ng puso kung ano ang iyong damdamin,
paano ka tumingin, ano ang cause ng mga
aksyon... a refreshing feeling! a talk na
nagpapalakas... a support... saya...!!!