I work with abused and neglected kids and have been amazed at how they usually still want to go back home. This also sheds light on why it is hard for children to report perpetrators. There is ambivalence in children, the feeling of wanting to be with someone but at the same time having anger or fear of that someone. I used to thnk that ambivalence is all bad. However, I have come to realize that to be ambivalent requires that a person considers a certain relationship a part of his life. The ambivalent person does not have the notion that a relationship can just be abandoned. 

     This observation of children gives me a glimpse of why Jesus admires childlike faith and says it is the faith that is acceptable in his kingdom. The child embraces his parents, even though society may look at their parents as bad. The child does not abandon his connections. He is the epitome of a maintainer of relationships. Childlike faith reflects God's faithfulness to his people, those who have faith in him. God promises to always be with those who trust in him, and does not put any conditions. He does not say I will be with you unless you... In the same way, the child, even when hurt by his caregivers, still wants to be with them.

     When I look at my child, how she longs to just be with me, I get a glimpse of God's unmerited grace, the grace that is not earned by our good works. When my daughter cuddles with me, I find mysef being grateful to the God who loved me from before the foundations of the world, despite all the sins that he knew I committed and will commit.

     I heard some people say they have stopped becoming a Christian. How can that be? I believe it is due to an attitude that is antithetical to childlike faith. It is a faith borne from an individualistic mindset that sees the purpose of the "things" around an individual as existing for the benefit of that individual. When a "thing" ceases to be useful or convenient, that "thing', including God and other people, could be discarded.

     On the other hand, Childlike faith sees God as part of the life of a person, not a transient object. The relationship with God is seen as an abiding relationship. It is not seen as something to be discarded when things get hard, just like we can't discard our parents when they grow old. To do so is seen as a shameful act, and should bring about guilt. That is true faith, the faith that even in times of confusion says, who can we follow, you have the words of eternal life. 

     I was watching videos of UPS and FedEx delivey persons doing their job rudely- making an obscene gesture, throwing packages around. It made me think of what could they been thinking. I could imagine that this attitude may be a result of not liking their jobs. One reason that some people don't like their work is they feel it is beneath them.

     It is part of the human will to despise certain kinds of activities that are not sinful, needed for the proper functioning of sociey, but they feel it is beneath them. I think about the frustrated doctor who came from a foreign country but does not have the convenience of getting board certified in America. He settles into becoming a nurse or even worse, he may become stuck cleaning toilets. I think about the college graduate who takes a job taking care of children who yells at her, becomes violent with her, and then having to clean up after them. To top it off, she does not feel she is being paid what she deserves. I think about the person who feels his talents are being wasted and resents that younger people are directing him in doing his job. I think about the bed-ridden old man who had to depend on others to clean him up. A little more sinister is the scholar who feels that having fun with children or talking about sports with other men is a waste of his time. Or the rich person who feels that he is too good to hang out on the other side of the tracks.  

     This reality made me think about the significance of the son of God comng into the earth. Here is the wisest, oldest, and most talented being in the universe becoming a baby. He became dependent on his mother for everything he needs, not being able to do anythng for himself, submitting to having to be cleaned up. He lived in a town that does not have a great reputation. He was a carpenter and probably have to deal with rude and unreasonable clients. He had to be taught and disciplined by teachers, definitely less wise than he is, being in a position of having to learn. He felt the ultimate demotion, the maker of the universe, building houses or even chairs. He hung out at parties, enjoying the company of others, including sinners, and apparently they felt comfortable around him. And others are shocked that he apparently looked comfortable around them, and he made no excuses for it.

    Remember that Jesus grew in stature and favor with men, just as the great men of the Old Testament. How does a person find favor? People probably saw someone who does not thumb his nose at them, willing to be with them- listening and responding to where they are. They must have felt valuable in front of him. People probably saw a person doing his duries without complaining, treating everybody fairly and being easy to trust. The prostitute who washed his hair with perfume saw the personification of the man who is worthy of worship.

    As we think of Christmas, the story of God becoming man, let's remember the depths in which the king of the universe stooped down, going to the point of ultimate humiliation called death, where glorious man becomes part of the ground that is trampled. He did not think of those depthts as something beneath him. If the king of the universe stooped down really low, who are we, despiite our degrees or our riches or our talents, to say that anything is beneath us? By coming to earth- experiencing disappointment, frustration, fear, humiliation, the son of God sanctified the depths of human experience. Human experience, with its joys and sorrows, is not something to be shunned, but becomes the context in which the son of God reveals himself.

     As we were sitting, my daughter asks me "Do you love me always?" I said "yes". She then asked me, "what if I do something really bad and I go to jail". I said "Yes, because you will always be my daughter" and I also indicated that I will be angry at the moment, and sad that you will have to suffer the consequences of your action.

    My interactions with my daughter and my kids at work brings me into moments of reflection on the nature of God as love, but at the same time very serious about sin. What would it mean for me to love my daughter through her bad decisions and through bad times. I guess it would mean not disowning her and starting to tell her and others that she is not my daughter. I may be angry at her but I may not revoke a relationship which really cannot be revoked anyway. To be a father who reflects the image of God, I must be a maintainer of my relationship with her. I believe that this is good advice in all our relationships (with children, spouses, friends, etc.), that we hold it sacred, not doing anything to break it, and doing all we can to maintain our relationships.

    Thinking about God, what does it mean that he is a maintainer of relationships? I think about the passage that says "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" This would not be comforting if it just means God is keeping us company. It means that God is using his power to work things together for good for those who love him and are his people, as he walks with his people through their sufferings.  

    There are debates within Christianity over whether a person can be saved (cleansed from sin and going to heaven) and then turn away and become unsaved (not cleansed from sin and going to hell). People philosophize about this matter but the down to earth question is "Will God maintain relationship no matter what?" Scriptures seem to indicate that he does not revoke his relationships, and proves it by reconciling his disobedient people to himself, forgiving them and dying for them. 

     This truth that God is a maintainer of relationships lifts up the idea that God is love. It is not true to the revelation of God to present him as a wrathful being who is ready to destroy humanity. However, there are passages that show God as needing to be propitiated or revealing his wrath. How can these two ideas of God being love and being wrathful be reconciled? 

     I think we can start by rethinking the object of God's love. The object of God's love is not the person as an individual to the exclusion of everything else. He also loves his creation, other peoples, human societies, the order he ordained for creation. Therefore, when he confronts in judgment, he is responding out of his love for what sin has destroyed. He is responding out of his desire to heal the individual from his fallen will, and to heal the world from the systems that enslave it. God is a restorer of his creation, not just individuals.

     As I thought about the scenario my daughter is presenting, what could be possible responses from me. I could hide her from the consequences of her actions, which would show that my love for my daughter trumps everything else. That action will show that my love is disordered, it is idolatry. God's interest, which is peace and justice in community, is being ignored. I would not be acting as a person made in the image of God. To act as a person made in God's image, I should also love the community that my daughter damaged by her actions. This means that I should let justice take its course, because justice brings some peace. I should also call her to repent of her sinful will that destroys community around her, and that destroys her as she becomes alienated to community. A person who cares only about his close interests is falling away from the image of God. A person who is growing in valuing all of humanity/creation is getting closer to the image of God. He is being deified.       

    The cell phone must be one of the greatest inventions of all time. It helps me avoid getting lost on the way to a friend's house. It helps me call for help in case I need it. I can even text, thereby able to communicate well without having to search for words to say at the spur of the moment. it is one of those inventions that is hard to live without. Technology makes our lives easier and God does want us to harness the powers of nature for the benefit of humanity. He wants us to make advances that will help us live more comfortably.

    However, if we are not in touch with our hearts, technology can leave a damaging impact on our souls. In the movie "Click", the main character found a remote control that could stop moments in his life that is unpleasant (e.g. arguments with his wife). The result was that this man missed important things in life- his kids growing up, his father dying, being known, etc.  Could it be that in our desire to get things done faster and faster, that we are missing out on times of introspection when we can listen to our hearts and sort out what we are truly to do with the moments of our life? Could it be that in our desire for speed, we are missing out on developing wisdom for navigating through life, the same wisdom that will help the future generations navigate their lives, wisdom that is a product of experiencing life fully? 

     Talking about experiencing life fully. Dating on-line helps singles pick out mates that they match up well with. Personality tests could help us pick out careers that are a "good fit" for us. Most sinister of all, discoveries in genetics may enable us to weed out "undesirables", characteristics that does not conform to our image of perfection. Although using these technologies can help us avoid future suffering, aren't we trying to skip the process of soul-building? A perfectly matched couple won't have to deal with the pain of deep conflict, where the couple must struggle with loving each other in the midst of nagging differences. Although painful, the process of building a deep sense of faithfulness to our promises makes us more and more like God, who is faithful to his promises. Genetic engineering is sinister in that it gives sinful humans the ability to weed out what they think is "inferior". The soul does not have to develop that Godlike grace that caused Jesus to die for the "unacceptable".     

     We think that having revelations about ourself that will lead us to the perfect career will make us happy people. However, God shapes the person through life, opening and closing doors, leading him through the emotional ups and downs in all areas of life, including our vocations. We try to avoid disappointment and regret, instead of living by faith in God who will lead us through disappointements and regrets into the full life that he can provide.

     What we think of as technology is sometimes subtle. Our fascination for magic is related to our desire to avoid the pain of want, a desire that darkens our souls, making us bitter and covetous, using people for our own purposes instead of valuing them. The use of the power of words and the imagination to get what we desire, prevalent in the mind sciences and the word-faith movement, is a form of technology akin to magic. Leaning on it will lead to disappointment as it fails to deliver peace for our souls, just like the other technologies in our lives. Instead of trusting God as a father who cares for our needs and wants the full life for us, we want what we want. We stubbornly insist on our image of the full life, instead of learning contentment and walking humbly with God. In walking with Jesus, we find real peace.

     Technology helps us be in better control of our lives. God created us to build technology, but he did not want technology to damage our souls- making us disconnected, unfaithful, ungracious, discontented people. Enjoy technology but more importantly, watch your souls, that it is moving towards its goal of becoming more and more like God- engaged, faithful, gracious, compassionate. Christ came ultimately to save our souls because that is the most precious thing. He cleansed the soul marred with sin and made it glorious. He united himself to that damaged soul, putting it to death in his body, and raised that soul to a new life, as he rose from the dead. He leads that soul into becoming more and more the precious jewel it was meant to be.    

     John Macarthur recently wrote a book that puts in the forefront the Christian's identity as slave. He observes that this truth is rarely preached in American pulpits. Why is this so? Here are my thoughts.

     When we hear the word slavery, our minds hearken back to the tragic slave trade that Europe and America engaged in for a long time, a practice that have demeaned groups of people, making them property instead of human beings who has inherent dignity as creatures made in the image of God. Slavery still exists in our world today, sometimes in the form of sexual slavery, where girls and women are sold as objects to satisfy the lusts of men. We rightly see slavery today as a social ill that needs to be corrected. 

     Another reason I believe that there is an aversion to the word "slave" is our respect for individual rights. Although it is good to respect individual rights, I believe it has taken a ridiculous and dangerous turn. The forces of political correctness seek to silence voices that criticize their favored people's lifestyles and beliefs. Tolerance has become so much of a value that if some people get their way, we will have a world where every lifestyle or belief will be acceptable, and criticism will never be tolerated.

    The validation of the individual to the point of violating common sense is seen in some judge's decision to include international law in their judgments. They don't see the absurdity in this. A husband can legally say that it is fine to beat his wife because in his country's law, it is fine for a husband to beat his wife for some reasons. This reminds me of Star Trek where the explorers are told not to interfere with the practices of the creatures they will encounter. That makes some sense because they are outsiders coming into another environment. However, community standards have to be maintained to produce a peaceful and predictable environment. The outsider has to live within those standards. If we seek to have a society were women are valued as much as men, we cannot tolerate men beating their wives, sisters, or daughters, even though it is tolerated in their society. If we do, then we might as well have no standards, then we create a chaotic and unpredictable community, a community not fit for human beings.

     The slave surrenders his hopes and dreams and lifestyle, and everything to his master. It is tragic when humans are forced to surrender himself completely to another. However, in reality, we are all slaves to something or someone. We make decisions based on what is important to us at the moment. In a way, slaves are not really slaves to their masters. They may be prevented from escaping by the master's threat of death. The slave thinks of his life as the most important thing, therefore, he will not leave his master.

     What does this whole discussion have to do with being a slave of Christ? If the Christian is a slave, then he is owned by Christ- his hopes, his dreams, his lifestyle, his mind, his body, etc. This goes beyond being considerate or cooperative (mutual submission), where a person is free to maintain disagreement while walking or living life with the other. This kind of surrender cannot be done by human effort. We can look obedient to Christ (not cheating on a spouse) but our heart may not be conformed to Christ (being unforgiving towards a spouse). All of us (hearts, minds, bodies) have a tendency to rebel against God's standards. We may fool the world but God knows what is inside of us.

    Christian faith requires the Christian to be conformed to the mind and heart of Christ. Only God the Holy Spirit can transform everything in the Christian to be conformed to Christ. He works in the Christian to overcome the sinful tendencies within him. The Christian prays, "Lord, I don't have the same mind and heart as you do, please transform my mind and heart so it will be conformed to your mind and heart."           

     A few days ago, I heard a prominent Christian woman leader on the radio talk about this generation (within 40 years) being the time when Jesus comes. This is because of the frequent natural disasters that is happening upon the earth, and the geo-political events (widespread recession, falls of rulers, etc). Many people rejoice at this thought, because the Lord will come and take us away from this hard world. I understand the feeling of joy and I have a few thoughts on this.

     First, this destroys the idea of the imminence of Christ's coming. He can come at any time and if we obsess about reading the signs, we may be caught unprepared, not putting effort into making sure the Lord will see us doing his work when he comes again. The world probably has always been inundated with natural calamities and political turmoil, but in this time when our technology easily allows us to become acquainted with what is happening around the world, it seems like calamities are becoming more rampant.

     Regardless of our escathological position (how we believe the end times will pan out), we should not forget the background to Jesus' proclamation about the end times. Jesus proclaimed that the temple will be destroyed. What is the significance of the temple? It was the pride and heart of the Jewish nation. It was their source of hope and the symbol of their identity as God's chosen people. Therefore, its destruction is a symbol of God's bringing down the source of their hope. This was because they have rejected their salvation, Jesus who is the true temple whom they must come to find forgiveness and restoration.  

     Just like all the sufferings in the world (like the destruction of the twin towers on 9/11), the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem is God's sign that if we don't repent and turn to God, who has revealed himself in Jesus, judgment will also befall us. Whoever we are and despite our apparent righteousness or religiosity, we are not immune from this great judgment, when God will destroy all our hopes and dreams, unless we come to the true temple Jesus, where salvation can be found. This does not mean that those who trust in Jesus will not suffer, but that after the suffering they will experience there is resurrection, when hopes and dreams will find its fulfillment.

      As for Christians, we must not put our hopes in political power, our righteousness, or our orthodoxy, to keep us safe from evil. We must renew our hearts, getting rid of all idolatry, and putting our hopes and dreams in the hands of Christ alone.   

     As a chaplain, I pray a lot with people. People ask others to pray for them. Prayer seems to have become commonplace that I suspect that many don't understand the privelege inherent in Prayer. I want to reflect on the privelege inherent in approaching God, which is prayer. I am coming from a theistic worldview, which sees God as a separate person, not a force within or without that can be manipulated.

     How can man approach this person called God (the creator of the universe)? Just like any other person, God makes himself known by coming into relationships called covenants. No person can be fully known apart from relationship. God does not have equal relationship with all peoples. God chose the people of Israel to have a relationship with. This should dispel any thought that all views of God (religion) leads to God. To be in relationship with a person requires us to enter into that relationship.

     God "camped" in the midst of Israel. The tabernacle and the temple is the presence of God in the midst of Israel in the Old Testament. God could only be approached through the priest, and only the High Priest can approach his symbolic throne. Then, if you are not of the people of Israel, you must go through the Israelite "camps". This does not mean that God does not love those outside of the people of Israel. Being a father to your children does not mean hating other children. God does honor the non-Isaelites who pray to him in hopes that their prayers would be answered. However, they are still separated and don't enjoy the full blessings of the Israelites- God's special presence in their lives.

     As Christians, we believe that Jesus has superseded the temple. Jesus is the presence of God in the midst of all peoples. The church, the people who are in relationship or covenant with Jesus, stands before him. Everyone who wants to come to God, must come to Jesus. There are no more special class of people that are allowed to approach God, like how many people see the pastors and priests of today, as if somehow they are "closer" to the God of the universe. However, those who enter into relationship with Jesus, trusting him for a full life, stands in God's presence. Those who do not have a relationship with Jesus, although Jesus listens with compassion, still stands afar from God, whose presence is in Jesus.

     What's the point then? If you are someone who trusts Jesus for your life, you stand before him. Therefore, count it as a privelege that your prayers are a direct communication with God. For those outside of this relationship, Jesus listens to your prayers and invites you to his inner circle where a full life is found by walking with him in faith. This brings me to a comment about the practice of interfaith prayer. Interfaith prayer assumes that all people stand equally before God. I believe that is an error. The ones who stand directly before God are those who look at Jesus in faith. Those who do not entrust their lives to Jesus stand far off, separated from the benefits of living a full life God intends. Isn't that what we ultimately want? Not just answered prayers but a life lived with meaning, purpose, and an eternal connection.  

     Many years ago, my family went to America in search of a "better" life. Just like many immigrants, my Mom looked at America as a promised land, a land where we could have a "better" future than what we could have had. One question people have asked me is "Is your life better here in America or is the Philippines better?" This question makes me reflect on what a "better" life means.

     On the one hand, this question really could not be answered. First, I had no choice about it, I was a minor and I go where my family goes. Second, there is no way I could really know what life would have been like if I stayed in the Philippines. There is no way to know what circumstances would have shaped my "now".

     Circumstances have shaped my life in a certain direction. In America is where I found a deeper faith which led to my conversion to Protestantism. In America is where I found my beloved wife and daughter, an experience I would not give up for anything. I can say that I am grateful for the life God has given me in America. However, I don't know how I would have been perceiving my life right now if I was in the Philippines.

     This led me to the question "What is the real promised land?", the land of human flourishing. Just like many immigrants, my mother saw this land as a promised land. However, just like my mother, there are many immigrants who are disgruntled. Theydid not have the life they dreamed of for different reasons. This reminds me of the Israelites who also envisioned the perfect life. Their life in the promised land was not a picture of perfection. There was still suffering and death.

     This makes me think that the Promised land is not just a destination but a process. The land becomes the promised land as we walk with the Lord in rightrousness, not in idolatry and selfishness. Most Christians see the promise of the gospel as a destination. Because of our faith in Jesus, we will someday be in a "land" where there will be no more pain and tears. However, Jesus says that he wants his disciples to have life to the fullest, what the promised land gives. Then he proceeded to tell his disciples to follow him and carry their cross. This seems to imply that the promise of abundant life lies in walking in the way of the cross, in the way of humility before God and man.

     What is the promised land for me? It is not America, and it would not have been the Philippines or anywhere else either. Jesus is my promised land. Wherever I walk with him is my promised land, the place where I want to be, where I find his way to be good. Wherever I follow the way of the cross, humbling mysef before God and man, I share in the abundant life. The world and the flesh fights against this, wanting us to go for number one. However, faith tells me that it is in his presence that I will find peace in the midst of the inevitable storms of life, and it is in his presence that death loses its sting. May you also find the true promised land, where you can live life to the fullest.

     "Why do I get bubus" My daughter told me as she saw the scratch on her leg. What seemed to be a simple statement from a child made me ponder a question asked by humans as they experience the world. Why are there times of prosperity and times of hardship? This may be true financially, relationally, etc. Why are there good times and bad times? Why can't the good times last forever?

      In the Field Museum in the Egyptian section stands a statue of Sekhmet the lionness. Sekhmet is the destructive aspect of the kindly cat Bastet. In ancient Egyptian lore, Bastet/Sekhmet represents nurture and destruction, the two sides of providence. This is how they interpret the duality of man's life- why there are prosperous times and there are hard times.

     In Judeo-Christian theology, the one God is not represented as two aspects. This one God is characterized by faithfulness and mercy, even towards those who hate him. Prosperity, in its many manifestations, comes from him. How then does destruction come into the picture? This theological system also posits a creation under the same God's judgment. Hardship comes because of God's judgment on his creation.

     Does this mean that every disaster or tragedy is a specific judgment on certain people? (i.e. Did the earthquake in Japan come because of the sins of the Japanese people?). No, the earthquake in Japan does not mean that the Japanese are somehow worse than others (all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God). It is a reminder to all peoples that the earth is under God's judgment. It is a reminder that there is a destructive fate that awaits those who hate God. 

     On the other hand, the good things that may have come out of this disaster, and the good things that come to our lives everyday, should remind us that there is a faithful and merciful God who can deliver us out of a miserable life, and a hellish life after death. He can bring us to a place of rest to wipe away our tears and turn our tears into dancing. May this reality bring comfort to those facing hardship. 

    There is a cycle of judgment and restoration in God's creation, not because of specific sins, but because God wants to build into our psyche the reality of heaven and hell. Some of you may be in a time of prosperity- feeling strong and happy. Remember that this time of prosperity will pass and there will be a time of hardship- you will become weaker and things that make you happy will disappear. Life has its ups and downs and will eventually end in death. This is not because of specific sinfulness but because of cycles in God's providence- his built in reminder of heaven and hell. May this reality make us humble. May this cycle drive us to repentance, towards the one who is able to deliver us out of misery into hope. 

     I like professional football. My heart is filled with excitement when August comes and the season is about to start. There is an anticipation for that day when players would dazzle us with their passing, running, and tackling skills.

     This anticipation reminds me of the periods the chuch has called Advent and Lent. Those times were supposed to be periods when Christians are called to an attitude of anticipation. It is an anticipation for God's coming to us to save us from our greatest enemies, sin and death. Those times of anticipation culminates on Christmas and Easter, days that are supposed to fill Christians with joy and hope. Joy that God loved us so much that he sent his only son to die in our place, thereby securing eternal life for those who believe in his son. Hope that someday God would again come to us to wipe away our tears and heal the wounds from our sufferings in life.

     It is a sad fact that the football season brings more joy for many than Christmas and Easter. People talk about the things they give up on lent, taking pride in fulfilling their duries, instead of reflecting on the new life that God gives to those who follow Jesus and his way of the cross. People become excited about the gifts they will get for Christmas, instead of finding joy in the gift that God gave the world, the presence of his son.

     I think about my daughter and her experience of Christmas and Easter. Many years from now, she will remember time with her mom and dad and the rest of her family, and how she was showered with gifts on Christmas. She will remember the traditions of Easter, the egg-hunts and the re-telling of the passion and resurrection of Jesus.

     My prayer is that Christmas may not just be a time for nostalgia, and the joys and stresses of the gift-giving season, but a time to reflect on the greatest gift God gave human beings. My prayer is that the story of Easter may not just be a remembrance of an old story that happened many years ago, but a time to remember and find joy in what her Savior and Lord has done. May the celebrations of the great Christian salvation events (Christmas and Easter) be a constant anchor for her soul, giving her hope amidst the joys and sufferings of life.