We have a human responsibility to enter God’s kingdom and live in heaven forever. And that responsibility is our personal task to believe in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. It is the essence of John 3:16, the most quoted Scripture: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever BELIEVES in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
When Christ cried out with a loud voice: “Lazarus come forth!,” the other dead Lazaruses didn’t rise–only the brother of Mary and Martha. There’s a big difference if you’re KNOWN of the Lord. People claim they know Jesus; but does Christ KNOW them? Are we experiencing Christ’s ownership of our soul?
In politics, the followers of Christ are instructed not to be rebels of the duly instituted authority but rather to pray for their leaders. Some leaders of pseudo-Christian groups went to the mountains during the period of Dictator Marcos in the Philippines and became rebels and combatants. Such wasn’t fundamental Christianity. Here is Christ’s teaching: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12:17).
Jun P. Espina 1 min read
Updated on February 17th, 2020
What is a Feminist Movement and how relevant it is to our understanding of marital and family relationships? Is the assertion of most wives that they are better off without their weak husbands the ideal model to follow?
Jun P. Espina 1 min read
Updated on February 17th, 2020
Today is Valentine’s Day, a feast of Saint Valentine to a few Christian denominations—the day we traditionally send flowers or love notes or a valentine’s card or a text message to our special loved one. The question is: Is it relevant today? Is it meaningful? Is it necessary?
Wikipedia says that “The first recorded association of Valentine’s Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer wrote: “For this was on seynt Volantynys day Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make. [‘For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.’]”
I like Chaucer’s description of Valentine’s Day: “to choose his mate.” Or, that Valentine’s Day is the special day for lovers or married people or for someone who’s in love (definitely not the kind of love you have for your sick grandfather, neither that so-called love for the same sex—but rather, for the opposite sex!). It is the day you and your sweetheart would want to have more fun together, more celebration to your relationship.
Funny or strange thoughts about love continue to come and go like unwanted visitors of many healthy relationships. Have you heard about the so-called “5 Bs” that a man must require from a woman before deciding to marry her? I was a high schooler when I first heard some strange thoughts about love. They said that the ideal woman has “5 Bs,” the acronym for 1) Beauty; 2) Brain; 3) Background; 4) Behavior; and 5) Bank Book.