September 2010
Theme for the month of September: The Chronicles of Jesus September 5 – The Missing Valuables (Luke 15:1-10) September 12 – Reconciling With The Prodigal (Luke 15:11-32) September 19 – The Undeserving Bureaucrat (Luke 18:9-14) September 26 – Free Sunday
August 2010
Theme for the month of August: Memoirs About Our Messiah August 1 - The Declaration of Christ (John 10:25-39) August 8 - The Pathway to God (John 14:5-14) August 15 - The Deliverer of Ancient Days (Isaiah 43:1-13) August 22 - The Confession about Jesus (Matthew 16:13-20) August 29 - Free Sunday
What's Up?
September 2010
Theme for the month of September: The Chronicles of Jesus
September 5 – The Missing Valuables (Luke 15:1-10)
September 12 – Reconciling With The Prodigal (Luke 15:11-32)
September 19 – The Undeserving Bureaucrat (Luke 18:9-14)
September 26 – Free Sunday
For This Reason by Pastor Joe Ascalon
The Blessed Confession by Pastor Joe Ascalon
The Deliver of Ancient of Days by Pastor Joe Ascalon
The Pathway To The Father by Pastor Joe Ascalon
Medical Mission Pictures
God At Work
“We are overwhelmed by your warm welcome, we are truly blessed!” Pastor Roxy and the rest of the USA team said over and over again. Months of communication and preparation between Ikthus Operation Care Ministry (OCM) and New Hope at the Hills Church, California finally realized. August 14, 2010 marked the day for a Comprehensive Medical Mission. Our less fortunate brethren from various barangays of Bacolod and Outreaches came to seek medical services. Several doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmaceutical companies came to offer free medical services for adults, pediatrics, Optometry, Dental, Ob-GYN, ECG, FBS and many volunteered to donate blood in partnership with the Red Cross. Drug Store Association of Negros assisted in our Pharmacy and ABS-CBN Bantay Bata Foundation got involved in the Children’s Evangelism. We are truly grateful to our dedicated volunteers who showed so much passion in doing the Lord’s work. At least 1,200 were blessed with these services and ministered. Praise God!
As early as May of this year, New Hope at the Hills Church headed by its Missions Director Pastor Rox Leonidas, a Bacolodnon signified to partner with us on this Medical Mission. They sent financial support, medicines and their Missions Team came over to provide manpower assistance. They came to bless us, but in truth they will return to the US more blessed because of the experience.
We at Ikthus would like to thank the New Hope ate the Hills Church for this partnership for God’s greater glory. We will keep in touch and encourage one another that the Lord may find us faithful as we fulfill the mission he has called us for. Glory to God!
Dengue
Bhimbim (second from left) sharing to kids during the Medical Mission last August 14, 2010.
Dengue cases in the country increased by 43%, according to the health secretary. One of our AWANA teachers did not escape the sting of Aedes Aegypti virus. Her platelet count was down to 33. We prayed that God will sustain her. Thank God for answering our prayers. He indeed has great plans in the life of this college girl. Her name is Olivyl Joy Balangue, fondly called Bhimbim. I was so encouraged to see her share God’s love and forgiveness to the kids during our medical mission last August 14. She is definitely back to do her Father’s business.
Frandie Lapatha
August 2010
Theme for the month of August: Memoirs About Our Messiah
August 1 – The Declaration of Christ (John 10:25-39)
August 8 – The Pathway to God (John 14:5-14)
August 15 – The Deliverer of Ancient Days (Isaiah 43:1-13)
August 22 – The Confession about Jesus (Matthew 16:13-20)
August 29 – Free Sunday
The Twin Brother of Failure
The Twin Brother of Failure//:John21:24-31
Thomas, or Didymus, meant something weird: “twin.” We know Thomas not by his name though; he’s famous for what he did. At one point, He failed to believe that Jesus was who He claims to be: the Life. And to add insult to injury – his wavering faith was billboarded in Biblical productions and millions of peple read it as an open scandal. Thomas got another first name: Doubting. When Jesus revealed Himself after the burial, Thomas wanted empirical evidences – “Oh, really? He’s alive? Duh. I saw him being nailed on that cross! I saw the soldiers spearing his side. I saw him dead!”
Thomas doubted what was revealed to him moments ago (John14:5-6) that Jesus is ‘the Life.’ But when Jesus was asking Thomas to finger all the evidences – the marks of the nails and the spear on His body – Thomas zippered his doubts and declared the hallmark of faith in Jesus: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas failed to believe, but Jesus was faithful enough to spare the marks in His body for Thomas’ sake. In that while, Thomas saw the twin brother of doubts: it was God’s grace overpowering the failure of wavering faith. 
Doubting Thomas met faithful Jesus - and this spelled all the difference for Thomas, leading him to be missionary in India, the farthest region any apostle could ever reach. He Truthfully proclaimed that Jesus was the only Way to Eternal Life, even if it caused him his death.
Most of us (especially myself) are like Thomas. We doubt the character of Jesus simply because we can’t see Him working miracles; we can’t trace His hands. Thomas’ tale becomes a powerful reminder that even if we can’t see God, it doesn’t mean He cannot be trusted. What transformed Thomas? It was Jesus’ faithfulness to reveal Himself in ways we cannot fathom. When facing death, Thomas did not fifty-fifty his faith in Jesus. He pushed on.
If Jesus conquered death itself, what is there to fear and doubt? Fixing our eyes to Jesus’ faithfulness, may we have that assurance that God is who He claims to be.
