Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Blazing Center series1

John Piper's Mission Statement:
"To spread the passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all people through Jesus Christ."

Points to remember:
Joy if not shared is like the dead sea that dried up.
Joy is maximized only when shared.
God really loves God's glory.


Points to remember:
God has a burning zeal for His glory to be known.
God is radically God-centered.
God is really passionate about His glory.
God is the most God-centered person in the universe.
God is really serious about His glory.
Every single person is a sinner. We absolutely have no rights to enjoy God.


But Jesus paid for our debt and become our righteousness.
Bible references: I-Corinthians 10:31, Philippians 2: 9-11, Psalm 19:1

The beginning of history: Creation
Light travels 5.87 trillion miles per year: One light year.
The Milky Way is about 100,000 light years across.
There are about a million other galaxies that we can see.
In our galaxy there are about 100 million stars.
God created this universe with the Word of His mouth.
The universe would be a waste of space if it were about us.
But the heavens tell the glory of God
God decided that the universe would talk about God.

Points to remember:
God designed the universe to reflect himself.
The mere fact that God created the universe so vast and we humans lived in such a little tiny weenie planet is to let us know that it was never about
us but about His glory.


Bible references: Psalm 19:1

The center of history: the Cross of Christ
Jesus Christ bears our curse.
Jesus Christ provides our righteousness.
God had a view to His glory when He put His Son on the cross.
God is radically unjust when He justifies the ungodly.
The cross shows that God takes sin seriously. No compromise.
God vindicates His glory in the cross

Points to remember:
Sin is being defined in relationship with the glory of God. Sin is falling short of the glory of God. That's why everybody is sinful because God's
glory is perfection and we are not perfect.
God's glory/righteousness is not compromised by forgiveness of sins. By
sacrificing His own begotten Son. God vindicates His glory. So, God is still passionate
for His glory.

Bible references: Colossians 1: 15-20, Colossians 3:23, Romans 3:23,25,
Galatians 3:13

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Azcop UEChurches Young Professionals Camp

Visit a local bookstore near you. You’ll see racks and racks of how-to-be-successful books ranging from money-making (selling, marketing) cha-cha-chings, to diets, relationships, series of discovering full potential stuff, etc. It’s as if there’s a surefire way of success in everything so long that you take all the noted steps.

I’m sure many of us would shout a big ‘yes!’ and match it with big eyes and big smiles when asked if we want to be successful. Then upon hearing the follow-up questions our faces would be like an anxious kid who’s called for recitation in class.

Well, what is REAL success anyway? Is it so easily achievable that all we have to do is keep track of the calculated actions stated in a book?

Though we may have different educational backgrounds, upbringing, and field of interests, many of us in one way or another want to have a success story. But we get distracted by the sights and wonders the world's got to offer. Some feel lost. Others weary themselves out in search of opportunities at ground zero. We want to succeed, yet we are not even sure what it means. Is it the journey or the outcome? At the moment, I suggest we should try to block November 29 to December 1 off our schedule.

For what?

PLEASING MY ULTIMATE BOSS camp.



Here’s an overview of it.

Venue: Oxford Hotel Pampanga
Date: Nov 29 to Dec 1, 2007


Objective
~This camp promotes camaraderie among the AZCOP young professionals and inspires them to passionately apply the biblical principles in all aspects of their lives for the glory of God.

Theme
~ success the Christian way, defining success as gaining God’s standard, whether it is personal, family, spiritual or in the workplace.



Participating Churches
~ Bacolod Trinity Church, Jubilee Evangelical Church, UEC Angeles, UEC Greenhills, UEC Gen Santos, UEC Malabon, UEC Naga, UEC Pasay, UEC Philippines, UEC Sta Cruz, UEC Vigan, and UEC Zamboanga.

There will be workshops catering to your needs like handling family business, Investing, Public Speaking, etc.

Maybe you'll even discover your success story there. See you! :)

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

If You seek Him

"The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you." 2 Chronicles18:2
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Our response to God greatly determines His presence in our lives. If we seek God with all of our hearts, then we will find Him (Jeremiah29:13-14). The Lord wants to have fellowship with us, but He will not force a relationship upon us. We cannot reject fellowship with God and expect Him to remain near. He does not merely follow us throughout our day in case we need His assistance. If we continue to forsake Him, a time will come when we desperately need Him and He will not be near(Isaiah59:1-2).
It is an affront to sovereign God to treat Him like a servant who should wait upon us. God will relate to us on His terms, not ours. God desires a close walk with us. He will make His presence real and personal if that is our desire. If we repent of our sin and seek God on His terms, we can look forward to intimate fellowship with Him(James4:8-10). We are to continually seek Him, not content to enter a new day without the assurance that God is walking beside us.

Do you say you want to experience God's presence while your actions reveal otherwise? If you say you want to know God better but neglect studying His Word, are you truly seeking Him? Have you regularly forsaken the place of prayer? If your actions reveal that you are genuinely seeking God, then He promises that you will find Him (Matthwe7:7).