July 17, 2011 / 10:0 AM / Ikthus North

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What’s the What in Bacolod Right Now?

That was Tuesday when it happened. In between 4:30-5:30 in the afternoon – July 12, 2011 – the entire university schedule (WNU) was put into pause and students were into soft-boiled panic-mode. The news of an earthquake swelled faster than the tremors of hope as the headlines were billboarded in the wrinkled faces of the people. The commotion brought sudden shift in the moods of students: some who were enjoying the classes turned sour and got into mischief-run; some who were bored got excited – “Yes! No classes!” Although there was no stampede, neither it resulted to exaggerated hypertensive reactions (some were flying “I Don’t Care” statements in their gazes) – it was another scene pumped with the question: What If. What if the earthquake did land straight on our school? What if it cracked open hell’s Pandora ’s Box? What if it ended lives right on that very moment? Praise God for no such thing happened. But if it did happen, will we still say “praise God!”?

Scan the newspaper for the week and see incidents happening right here in our city. Allow me to pin some headlines here (courtesy of Sunstar and Visayan Dailystar): “75-year-old rapist gets 15 years POLICE PROBE RAPE OF CAREGIVER.”; “Coke must keep promise for boycott to end: Confed.”; “Teenager injured in stabbing”; “Comnet to launch Bingo Millions in Negros on July 18”; “Woman dies, thousands evacuate due to quakes” (Himamaylan); (and here’s my fave) “Hunting of ‘tuko’ illegal: councilor”. (Sometimes, I’m thinking ‘why the hunting is illegal?’ Is it because the hunting of tuko will lead to extinction or is it an act without a value added tax? Nevermind.) Although it would really matter here and there if a teenager was stabbed or Tokay Geckos (tuko) will be extinct, what matters most is the question: where is God in all of these events? Is God still the God of this city? Seems our lenses would focus on the invisible headlines now rather than the one in front of us.

Yes. Amidst all the commotions happening around us, and the bowl of bad news floating our daily grind of cereal meals – there is still the God who claims that he is good, and will always be God. Chris Tomlin’s song reminds us – “You’re the God of this City. You’re the King of these people. You’re the Lord of this nation…” How will we experience this God in this flawed city? Three quick ways: First – God manifests Himself in everyday – simple or extraordinary – events like a public brawl, an earthquake, or just a jeepney passing by or a some-kind-of-lizard manifestation (don’t want to be too redundant, haha). Next, God intently listens to the prayers of His people. Let us pray for Bacolod. Then lastly, God is made manifest through His people who are salt and light in this city. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden…it gives light to everyone…”(Mat 5:13-16)

Somehow, for us who are called to represent God in this city, we enjoy Him even in the midst of ravaging commotions. And enthusiastically share that enjoyment to others – until the city will hear another headline commotion: people singing that God is God of this city, and they too will be earthquaked by it.

Tomlin ends his song with these words- “For greater things have yet to come. And greater things are still to be done in this City…”

Fat bank account. Lovely family. Gorgeous car. Good reputation. Healthy body. More than five-thousand Facebook friends and much more followers on Twitter.

Well, how do we exactly measure true success? ‘Measure’ in a sense, that when we gauge success, we know it’s not bogus. We know it’s not merely on papers and by mere name or status altitude. It is the success that is the real thing. How then, do we then gauge success?

It was a good thing to have listened to Pastor Joe last Midweek service as we tried to measure ourselves on whether we are on the circle of the successful or not. Pastor gave us a little bit of the church’s history years backtrack – as he was just new to this so-called ‘BCCB’ ministry with its thirty attendees. Before, as he recalls, he was   one of those who would go to church with his cigarette still clipped on his pocket and the sinful smell of the world with him. Not until missionary Jerry Osbron got his guts up and disciple the attendees which birthed to the senior pastor we now have and the Ikthus Bacolod Inc. we now enjoy. However, pastor Joe was blunt. Success is not the thousands of members and the many more who attend this church. Success is not how big your church is. Success is never the statistical upgrade. Success is never us being a mega-church or the likes. It is simply inked on the life that was transformed by God. Success is the Holy Spirit changing the lives of individuals for the glory of God. As to the apostle Paul – when people ask him of his credentials, he would gladly point to the miraculous changing of the lives of his parishioners. For Paul, this was success. Even in our generation, it still is.

“You cannot argue with a changed life,” says pastor Joe. And in a sense, it is the success that no one could ever question. In fact, it is the only success  available.

Week 2 (July 13-19)

Aim: To intentionally pray and seek the Lord’s blessing for our city. It is also a good time to exercise and have fun with your small group.

Direction:  Set a time where you can gather at the New Government Center. Early Saturday morning, or maybe early evening at any day of the week sounds good.  Be in your running/walking shoes and attire. You may want to plan for a picnic or bring cold drinks and light snacks.

Walk around the perimeter of the New Government Center. You group can decide how many times you can walk around, or how fast, but as you go, remember to pray for the city. Lift up in prayers our city government, the citizens of Bacolod City. Pray for peace and order. Pray for economic prosperity. More importantly, pray for spiritual revival to blaze through in our city.

End with some picnic, or refreshments. Remember to have fun!

Week 1 (July 6-12, 2011)

Aim: This activity helps recall the many things we should thank the Lord for.

Direction:  Distribute lined paper and pencils to everyone in your group. Ask them to write the words “Thank You, God, for  . . .” at the top of the paper. Down the left margin of the paper, they should write the letters of the alphabet, one per line.

Instruct the members to spend 15 minutes listing things they are grateful for in the space next to each letter. Remind them to consider the various ways God blesses us: spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, materially, and relationally. Try to record at least one blessing for each letter.

At the end of the time limit, ask the group members to share some of their blessings as you go through the alphabet. Encourage them to save their lists as reminders of God’s goodness or for use in personal devotions.

For fun, you might have people add the number of blessings they listed and give a prize to the one who recorded the most. End the game with prayers of thanksgiving using your lists for inspiration.

July 10, 2011 / 7:30 AM / Ikthus North

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God dreams for His Children.

He dreams no just for their occupation or accomplishments, but dreams of the kind of person they will become and the life they will live. God desires His children to become “mirrors” to reflect His character and glory.

God desires His children to become disciples.

If you yearn to become a true disciple who mirrors Christ’s character, if you want to live God’s dream for you, embark on a life-changing journey through Romans 12 and discover what it really means to life and please God.

Series Outline

1. Surrendered to God: Your Spiritual Act of Worship
2. Separated from the World: How to Get God’s Best for Your Life
3. Sober in Self-Assessment: How to Understand Who You Really Are
4. Serving Others in Love: How to Experience Authentic Community
5. Supernaturally Responding to Evil: How to Overcome the Evil Aimed at You

R:12 Christianity (Article)
How will the R:12 Campaign be conducted

Schedule

July 15 – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
July 16 – 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

About r12

r12 is a relational profile of an authentic disciple based on Romans 12. r12 is not about being religious, keeping rules, developing programs, church growth, self-actualization or spiritual formula’s for success. more

About the Speaker

Pastor Philip Tarroja is the Training Consultant for WorldTeach International.