"God's
Word will prevail. Obey him or not, He will prevail. Believe Him or
not, He is God. You cannot add to Him, you cannot deduct anything from
Him. He do not need us, we need Him... Whether we follow, whether we
disobey, He will be like Himself forever... He will always be GOD...
believe Him or not, He will not lost anything, but if we do not believe,
we will lost everything..." - Bro Eli Soriano
True,
indeed. So on this coming 25-27th of March 2011, Members of Church of
God International will again gather and offer Thanksgiving and praises
to our God. In this light, hundred
thousands members will rush to the ADD Convention Center in
Pampanga, Philippines and in
major coordinating centers worldwide,. They will not only be
well-equipped with the
things needed for the three day-event, but also have a prepared heart to
absorb
all the new wisdoms that will be opened through God's messengers of our
time, Bro Eli Soriano and Bro Daniel Razon. And of course, excitement
and delight can be expected in each member's face amidst the physical
discomforts that awaits. Aside from the
prepared topics, Bro Eli will also impart additional knowledge during
consultation time wherein members and non-members as well, will get an
opportunity to ask him things concerning faith and other issues.
And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that
make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will
also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
As
what Bro Eli keeps on reminding the whole congregation, the best thing
men can give to God is following His law and continuously give thanks to
Him.
Whatever men have in life- good things or seems-to-be-bad-things, God
has given it to mankind for betterment. Nobody may know what it is,
and it may also remain unknown, but it doesnt matter. He knows
best, and no one can question it. And because of these, MCGI is giving
thanks to God as frequent as doing a 3-day International Thanksgivng
for four times a year, and weekly whole day Thanksgiving. MCGI is the
only and first ever religious group that does thanksgiving this way.
I Tessalonica 5:18 -give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Acts 17:28 -For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.
I was touched with the importance and respect my American boss and his family is giving to their Filipina maid. Upon seeing them, I felt compelled to write something about househelps. I saw a lot of people that giving importance to their helpers, but sad to say that there are also some that are so cruel.
In this world we live in, there are really people who treat less fortunates as trashes. And these people acts like they are human beings of higher class, then looking at poor people as lesser man. Well, elite, feeling-elite or just an elite-wannabe, its just the same. As long as they treat poor people so bad, it is really a prick in the heart. I have seen a lot of people of this kind. And what's ironic is, they still see themselves as fair and just. But as what I've learned from bible through Bro Eli: there are things that people perceive as correct but in reality, they lead themselves to danger.
Proverbs 16:25
There are ways that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
I learned this from Bro Eli: you should not limit yourself on doing good to your loved ones, relatives or even close friends only because it is normal. God is asking us to jump out of that zone. He is asking us to do good to all.
Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to them who are of the household of faith.
The most common prey I know are the househelps. In the Philippines, househelps are receiving salary ranging from P2,000.00 to P3,000.00 pesos maybe and an estimate of P10,000.00 if they work abroad. At this amount, some are thinking that these helpers are already their slaves. And they maybe even think that at this price, they can do whatever they want. Idont know why, but when I see people maltreating others, my selective memory stores it in my brain.Let me have some classic examples. One of my friend's sister from abroad went back home for a vacation with her family. She asked the maid to wash her blouse that she bought on sale in Glorietta for, if I am not mistaken, P2,000.00. This poor maid washed the blouse but she accidentally stained it with dark-colored spots. To make this story short, this girl asked the maid to pay the blouse with her 1 month salary. But that $2,000.00 will cover her family's 30-days expenses in the province. So, sorry for the maid's family, no food for 30 days. Or maybe, any of her family member cannot buy medicine and needs to wait for one more month. That's the life of poor.- hand-to-mouth. It is really heart-breaking. For sure she still has a lot of P2,000.00 to but a replacement for the stained blouse but she has chosen to make the maid suffer for a month. P2,000.00 for her is just a 1-hour of working partime in abroad.
One more scenario that, until now, is clear on my memory: There is this 8-year-old child who was looking for some stuff in her big bag. Frustrated that she was, she turned to the helper and asked to look for whatever-it-is thing. Unfortunately, she cant also find it. Out of frustration, she hit the helper for more than five times in the face. Exactly on that moment, the mother came in, saw what was happening. Surprisingly- instead of asking what happened or telling her child to stop hitting the maid, she also scolded the poor helper. An 8-year-old child can already tell which is good and which is bad. But with this kind of mother that she has, she already had a mindset that maids are not worthy of respect. Take note: this child is always treating maids a slave and this story is only one of those "tragic moment" the maid had with this spoiled child. yes, spoiled. As in rotten. So there are two lessons here: First, be considerate to the needy; and next is teach children how to respect others. It all starts at home. There is no way parents can blame it on TV shows, or any other outside influences because it is at home she absorbs basic things in life. God respects people, so the more that we should be religious on respecting others, too regardless of their status in the society.
Psalm 138:6 Though the LORD [be] high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
There are even cases that is much worse than these just like the video below.
Maids are the ones making our daily loads ligher. They serves as our extension when we are away. They take care of our house, our children, all that we value at home. They are somehow part of our extended family, and most of all, they are human beings, too. God made them, too. So lets treat them right. And God's heart is more close to those less priveleged and oppressed. That is the reason why household helpers are never a lesser man.
It all started with an invitation from a brethren. As part of our church work, he asked me if I want to try blogging. Though I dont actually have the talent, I gave blogging a chance. And exactly today, 14 February, Weavedthoughts is celebrating its first year as blogsite. I know, I am just a wannabe but with God's help I believe I can write something that is somehow worthwhile.
From this day beyond, hopefully God would allow me to write about things that coincide with all the learnings and wisdoms Bro. Eli and Kuya has Daniel thaught us. I admit that on its first year, my moods were swinging up and down. And it is not good. So, from this day onwards, I will double my prayer that God may give me stronger drive to keep me going. Writing is not my forte. I am just an ordinary person walking to and fro on the streets everyday. I am just an ordinary employee doing a job that a talented or brilliant person would not take. I am an empty vessel that has no worth at all but I thank God for this work that I love doing.
Thanks be to God for His unspeakable wonders.
It all started from very humble beginning. Bro. Eli Soriano initiallly did preaching in the Northern part of Philippines by doing simultaneous Bible studies from one town to another. Bro Daniel Razon who was still a young boy then was already helping him. After quite sometime of going rounds from town to town, they realized that they will not finish their mission if they will not look for a way on how they can do it faster. They were so worried then about their fellow coutrymen being deceived by false preachers and fall victim of their baseless doctrines.
With all these worries and concerns on their minds, Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) radio program was born. In 1980, The Old Path program was first
aired over a local radio station, DWWA. It was also
later aired at different local radio stations like DZME, DWAD, DZRD, DWAN,
and DZXQ, aside from other provincial radio stationsall over the Philippines.One month after, his popularity spread like wildfire that Don Manolo Fabis of "This is Manolo and his Genius Family" noticed his prowess when it comes to Bible matters. After that, he became a regular part of the panel discussion that lasts for 3hours. Bro Eli made the once lame discussion become interesting because of his credible replies.
In 1984, they intensify the campaign, inspreading the Word of God, they took a great big leap by invading the local television via IBC 13. In its first weeks, viewership had sore high that enemies were shaken and alarmed. Doing the tapings were not easy. Each broadcast was painstakingly challenging for them to produce. Without sufficient money to buy broadcast equipment, all they did is improvising whatever resources they've got on hand. And take note: there were only three of them doing the whole task: Bro Daniel as the program
director, cameraman, lightman, and editor. Sis. Luz Cruz as
the executive producer, researcher, set decorator, and even as make-up
artist. Bro Eli was of course the Speaker. With inferior equipment comes inferior production output, too. All unusual sound like humming of bird, dog barks and even the annoying sound that lizards produce was captured during taping because they used condenser for recording the voice instead of microphones. At one time, they thought the whole segment was finished only to realize in the end that all were not recorded and they need to do it all over again. The show was stopped for a while and a short time after airing again, it was asked to stop by detractors to be aired, obviously using their connections to harrass TOP. But can anybody stop God? The Old Path found a new home- RJTV29. After such, it moved to PTV4, then SBN21 and at present, it is continuously growing under the roof of UNTV37. Then one big turn around of of events came to him and TOP members. A hopeless steward of lie along with other enemies conived and filed a fabricated rape case against Bro Eli. No choice left for him so he flew to a foreign land as his life might be in danger and things may worsen if brethrens fight for him in violent way. This was a sure blessing in disguise. By the bad deeds of oppressors, Bro Eli was able to start preaching people in far away places. These enemies were used by God to driive Bro Eli away who by that time was so hessitant to leave. A big door for bigger mission was opened for these two men,. At present, broadcasts in different countries has started. To mention some, The Old Path is now in the airwaves of North America, India, Papua New Guinea, Africa, Portugal, Bolivia, Argentina and Uruguay and Bro Daniel is still working out on few more that is yet to start.
Aside from TV and Radio, all means of propagating via internet were explored- Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and live webcasts via Justin TV. Many none-Filipinos were so thankful that they were able to know Bro Eli Soriano. Through him, their eyes were opened. Even long time preachers from various religious groups were amazed By bro Eli.
I have been thinking always of what to blog about. My blogsite which I promised
to constantly fill with new entries remained the same- an article or
two each month. That is so bad. Just to let you kow, guys. I always
attempt to put on entries, but when I start to do it my brain just stops by itself. No ideas flows out of my hypothalamus and its really
depressing. Then suddenly it popped up on my mind just now, that if I
want to write something I have to got a good idea and proper motivation. Also, I need to have something to give an idea- a stimulant should I say.
With all these in mind, I have to source out ideas on something that my better-half and I can do together since he has been long complaining of me facing my laptop all the time. Then VOILA, good wind blew to my ears- what he loves doing to chillax is watch movies! So we better watch movie together, he watch to relax and I watch to pick up some ideas. So starting now- God willing- I will start to do movie reviews may it be old or new flick. Hhhmmm... Not movie review- lets call it a reflection. I will try to incorporate the story with what I have learned from my God-sent Preachers, Bro Eli and Kuya Daniel. I will be also be thankful if you guys and gals would suggest any film that you think will make a flick to discuss. So long guys! God willing, I hope this idea will work for me.
