Chat with pinkwatermelon_81
Mar. 17, 2004
pinkwatermelon_81: still there
rainbow_radiance: YUP, so how was your day?
pinkwatermelon_81: lol...it was the same as usual..but well it was well..and u?
rainbow_radiance: Well, I'm glad was able to interview a number of applicants. Our business badly needs some additional sales engineers.
pinkwatermelon_81: oh..did they pass?
rainbow_radiance: One of them did, a young lady. Are u home?
pinkwatermelon_81: yep.. u are still at the office right?
rainbow_radiance: Yup. Will stay here for another 30 mins to 1 hour. Did you go to school today?
pinkwatermelon_81: school is on april 19-24... im not sure if i will still be online after that..i will be around 9pm though...
rainbow_radiance: So do u still remember our previous conversation ... on religion or the church?
pinkwatermelon_81: both... yep i remember... wanna talk about it now?
rainbow_radiance: Actually, right now, I'm pretty discouraged. And I'm embarrassed to admit that.
pinkwatermelon_81: what happened?
rainbow_radiance: Well, I've NOT been attending our Tuesday men's meeting at Union Church. And I feel like a branch drying up. I guess I love those guys and I belong to that body.
pinkwatermelon_81: what are u discouraged about? i mean what particularly? about the ministry outreach with the RC?
rainbow_radiance: I realize that when I'm apart from them, even if only in mind or spirit, I get weaker.
pinkwatermelon_81: really? why are u discouraged? i mean how do u feel?
rainbow_radiance: Well, after that meeting I told you about, when no one voted with me to invite a person from Couples for Christ to talk about how they established the Gawad Kalinga ministry, I sort of decided that I will not join their meetings anymore. I was both frustrated and embarrassed. I wanted to start a new fellowship where the membership will be able to understand me and go along with me in my vision of the church and its ministry in the world. But then, I find myself being too weak to do something like that. I'm not willing and determined enough to put in the time and effort needed to realize it. It was just wishful thinking on my part.
pinkwatermelon_81: amen ... i commend people like u...but well sometimes when we dream big for God ... no matter how noble and great it is... when it's not his plan... it's still vain...
rainbow_radiance: YOU'RE PERFECTLY RIGHT. As my friends in my previous company used to say, KORRECT KA DIIYAN!
pinkwatermelon_81: hahaha... i remeber when i wanted to build my school for the poor... i wanted it because i knew in my heart i wanted to serve... then i read a book that said u dont tell God of ur plans... he tells u... Well talk about discouragements...
rainbow_radiance: But you know what, these prove once again my theory about the need to do things CORPORATELY, as a BODY, in GROUPS. It's so hard working alone.
pinkwatermelon_81: Yep... Christians are interdependent beings... they can do things alone (but hard) but can work better in groups... please dont be dissappointed... nor make that dissappointment win over you...
rainbow_radiance: Thanks.
pinkwatermelon_81: As a youth coordinator, I (and my Christian friends) we wanted change and liberty from conventional ways of things... but somehow most of the time things don't turn out the way we want them to... but God is Sovereign... Can i tell u something?
rainbow_radiance: Sure
pinkwatermelon_81: My church - a week after i arrived from the states... had my head spinning... our Senior Pastor confessed of adultery... the Management right now is undergoing adjustments from the new pastor with whom most of the congregation elders are having trouble with... he decides on some matters without consulting... and even does not meet regularly with some elders as he ought to... talk about discouragemnts...
rainbow_radiance: (:|
pinkwatermelon_81: yep..but well one book I read said this... I am Who I am... if u look at the past... u will not find me... u will only find disappointments and regerets... u wont find me coz my name is not I WAS... if u look at the future u will not find me... u'll find anxiety alone..for my name is not I WILL BE... but if u ssek me now... u will find me... take each step at a time... u will see me... for my name is I AM WHO IAM...
rainbow_radiance: That's beautiful. Yes, He is the Ever Present One. And to Him, perhaps from His perspective, (since He is beyond our own human and finite notion of time), everything is PRESENT. I'm just speculating.
pinkwatermelon_81: yep... and well continue running... the Lord is Sovereign... if He has called u and He planed that ur plans be included... it shall come to pass... that's what I'm holding onto right now...
rainbow_radiance: I guess you're right. That's why I'm inclined to go back to attending the UCM Tuesday Night Men's Group. Starting next Tuesday.
pinkwatermelon_81: COOL....
rainbow_radiance: I guess I just have to be patient. If I'm right, then God will bring home the message to them somehow.
pinkwatermelon_81: AMEN... He Himself will make this happen before your eyes... What time do u usually go home?
... (lapse of about 5 minutes)
rainbow_radiance: Sorry, i had to attend to something
pinkwatermelon_81: Sure..no problem..
rainbow_radiance: I need to write a memo, that'll take about 30 minutes, then I go home.
pinkwatermelon_81: Okay...should u be writing that now? ... One more question...
rainbow_radiance: We can chat for another 10 minutes.
pinkwatermelon_81: What does ur wife tell u regarding this matters?
rainbow_radiance: She is always very supportive of me. She is an ideal wife to me.
pinkwatermelon_81: AMEN... so the lord shall fulfill His Purpose for both of u...
rainbow_radiance: When I opened up and told her all about my disappointment with the group three weeks ago, she just sat quietly and listened. She did not contradict me.
pinkwatermelon_81: Amen... so she is more of a listener?
rainbow_radiance: Oh no, she loves to talk too. And I listen to her a lot myself.
pinkwatermelon_81: Cool...
rainbow_radiance: Would u like to see a picture of her, or have u seen her picture?
pinkwatermelon_81: Sure... I'd like to see her...
rainbow_radiance: OK, I'll give you tHE URL of the website I made for her ...
pinkwatermelon_81: Okay..
rainbow_radiance: www.geocities.com/delfa_2001
The top picture was taken when her old group - Bible Study Fellowship - went to a conference in Singapore. On their gala night, she wore that Maria Clara traditional dress... Have u seen my picture?
pinkwatermelon_81: I'm opening it... where are u?
rainbow_radiance: Click the link "Tom's Resume" near the top of the page.
pinkwatermelon_81: It's here... wait, the page i requested is not available..
rainbow_radiance: But did you see my wife's webpage?
pinkwatermelon_81: yep..I can see her... now I know why... I clicked another Tom... hahaha ... saw u...well, u look good together
rainbow_radiance: Here's another webpage I made, on the spiritual side. ...
pinkwatermelon_81: ok..
rainbow_radiance: www.geocities.com/maharlika_tqm ... Which gives me an idea. Maybe, I should write my thoughts on the church and its mission/ministry and make it another link in this maharlika_tqm website. What do you think?
pinkwatermelon_81: yep... but be careful what u write..
rainbow_radiance: Did you see the maharlika_tqm website? Did you see the parallel presentation of the four gospel accounts, and the notes on the book of Ephesians? ... Ok I'm going too fast, my apologies. Two things: 1) thanks for your comment that my wife and I look good together. 2) Thanks for the reminder that I should be careful about what I write.
pinkwatermelon_81: No problem... just taking time in opening the web... im here now... I'm there... what do u want me to check out?
rainbow_radiance: In the maharlika_tqm website, did you check both links: (1) the parallel presentation of the four gospels, and (2) the outline commentary on Paul's letter to the Ephesians?
pinkwatermelon_81: Yep...
rainbow_radiance: As I said, I think I should add a third link: "The Ekklesia of Jesus and It's Challenge and Mission Today" or something like that.
pinkwatermelon_81: okay...
rainbow_radiance: Basically, I would like to share the following ...
pinkwatermelon_81: what are they?
rainbow_radiance: 1. That during the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, the word "ekklesia" meant the legislative assembly of the city-state that met about once a week to discuss and pass proposed legislation on all matters of concern for the welfare of the city-state or polis. Therefore, Jesus must have meant His "church" to operate in a manner similar to the ekklesia of His day, except that the mission it is pursuing is that of the kingdom of God on earth. ... Are u still with me?
pinkwatermelon_81: Yep ... reading... OK, done now...
rainbow_radiance: Should I go on to the next point or should that be all for now?
pinkwatermelon_81: Go ahead... but what about your memos?
rainbow_radiance: I'm actually writing the memos now, as I wait for you to reply... It's just ONE memo.
pinkwatermelon_81: Okay... go on...
rainbow_radiance: Therefore, among its many activities today first and foremost of which is the WORSHIP SERVICE, the ekklesia - a Greek word, or "church" as we call it today in English - should meet as a body discussing its various ministries of love and service in the world.
pinkwatermelon_81: Amen...
rainbow_radiance: The end of the WORSHIP SERVICE does not end the meeting of the assembly or ekklesia. It's just the end of Part One. Part Two is when the Body meets to discuss the various ministries of love and service, the progress they are making, the problems and obstacles they are meeting, the next steps and measures they have to take to push the ministries forward. It will be a democratic, highly participative process, just like the ancient ekklesia of the Greeks.
pinkwatermelon_81: Cool..
rainbow_radiance: Therefore, one of the key tasks of Christian education is LEADERSHIP TRAINING, how to encourage participation in the deliberations of the ekklesia. In contrast to today's practice where the leaders - especially the pastor - almost always has the floor, the ekklesia encourages the widest participation possible. The Holy Spirit uses everyone inasmuch as He has distributed His gifts to everyone.
pinkwatermelon_81: Well u have a point..
rainbow_radiance: There is TRANSPARENCY, no secrets as far as public matters are concerned. Everyone knows how much is the salary of the senior pastor, and everyone else in the paid staff. Like we know how much is the salary of the President of the Philippines.
pinkwatermelon_81: Yep...
rainbow_radiance: Everyone is encouraged to be involved in at least one ministry of the church, using his or her gifts for that purpose.
pinkwatermelon_81: Yep... that is the best... to include them... not just be attendees...
rainbow_radiance: As the writer of the letter to the Hebrews wrote: SPUR ye one another to love and to good works. And working is not INDIVIDUAL but in GROUPS. Because there is synergy in group work; the results are greater when people work as TEAMS.
pinkwatermelon_81: Yep... Ecclesiastes, the cord of three strands is stronger ...
rainbow_radiance: A big proportion of the income of the church should be spent for these works of love. Notice that in the early church, in the Book of Acts, chapter 6, it is already intimated that the Jerusalem church had a program of "daily distribution" to widows. The Greek-speaking believers were complaining that their widows were not receiving their due share in the "daily distribution".
pinkwatermelon_81: okay... cool...
rainbow_radiance: Research on early church history shows that one key reason for the rapid growth of the early church - even in the midst of hostile opposition from the Jewish majority and the pagan imperial state - was the works of love of the early believers... the display of love...
pinkwatermelon_81: Amen...
rainbow_radiance: If you give me your email address, I can send you an article of that particular study.
pinkwatermelon_81: [email protected]
rainbow_radiance: Unlike TODAY where the church seems to be getting more and more
marginalized, the early church was growing by leaps and bounds so that after about 250 years, even the EMPEROR of the Roman Empire was converted to Jesus Christ as Lord.
pinkwatermelon_81: Yep...
rainbow_radiance: Ok, I'm opening my yahoo mailbox so I can email you.
pinkwatermelon_81: Ok ... got it...
rainbow_radiance: It's a 7-page read so you can just download it in your computer and read it later.
pinkwatermelon_81: lol... okay..
rainbow_radiance: You will notice that the first objects of the early church's love ministry was its own members. Members loving one another, and sharing with one another. But NOT taking advantage of one another.
pinkwatermelon_81: Yep... that's in PDL too...
rainbow_radiance: It should be the same in the ekklesia today... what is PDL?
pinkwatermelon_81: Purpose Driven life...
rainbow_radiance: But then, since it is the chief agent of the Kingdom, it should go beyond its four walls and share Christ's love with the outside world, both in terms of the gospel message (in words) and in terms of love ministries (deeds) -- feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and the imprisoned, and working for JUSTICE for the downtrodden and the OPPRESSED.
pinkwatermelon_81: Amen...
rainbow_radiance: That won't be without risks and dangers. But our Lord promised, THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. Because the powers of heaven will be behind the ekklesia of Jesus Christ. As He promised, "I give unto you the keys of the Kingdom of God. Whatsoever you shall bind of earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
pinkwatermelon_81: Amen... very insightful, this ur writing...
rainbow_radiance: Thank you, praise the Lord. And YOU ARE THERE at this time to encourage and inspire me. The Holy Spirit is USING YOU! ... Because it is this WORK that will bring glory and honor to God IN THE CHURCH and THROUGH THE CHURCH!
pinkwatermelon_81: Amen...
rainbow_radiance: God must be so hungry, so thirsty, waiting all these centuries for the glory due to Him in the ekklesia of Jesus His Son!
pinkwatermelon_81: Amen...
rainbow_radiance: As far back as the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, Jesus had expressed that desire in one of His parables -- the parable of the husbandmen.
pinkwatermelon_81: what's that? ... husbandmen?
rainbow_radiance: Yes. Now, my parallel gospel presentation comes in handy. Here's the passage:THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD AND THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN
1 � And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. 6 Having
rainbow_radiance: Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. 7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. 8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. 10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: 11 This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
pinkwatermelon_81: oh yeah... i know this... then he sent his own son... whom they killed too...
rainbow_radiance: Note this passage: "... that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard ...
pinkwatermelon_81: yep...
rainbow_radiance: God was looking for the fruit of the vineyard from the leaders of the Jews in Jesus' time, but as Jesus showed in the parable, they CRUCIFIED Him. IT IS THE SAME TODAY: God continues to look for the FRUIT FROM THE VINEYARD. The vineyard today is the ekklesia.
pinkwatermelon_81: yeah...
rainbow_radiance: Will the ekklesia today give Him the fruit He has been waiting for? He has given us gifts and talents, resources, even the very Holy Spirit. But are we using these TOGETHER, WORKING AS TEAMS, AS A BODY, to bear fruit that will glorify God? "I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink ..."
pinkwatermelon_81: yep... I firmly believe so...
rainbow_radiance: But sad to say, we are so busy going from one Bible study to another, one book study to another, one worship service to another which we hope is honoring to God ... but God is looking for the FRUIT OF THE VINEYARD! ... Why do you think Jesus taught us to pray: "MAY THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN"? ... Who will be the instrument of that WILL, the angels in heaven or the ekklesia on earth?
pinkwatermelon_81: us... the Body... and with the help of the Lord..
rainbow_radiance: Jesus is so hungry, so thirsty. He said, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until I drink it new with YOU in the Kingdom of God. And it's been 2,000 years!
pinkwatermelon_81: Yep... I'm really learning Mr Tom...
rainbow_radiance: And Jesus suffered so much for it, as we will see in the movie by Mel Gibson ... His passion ...
pinkwatermelon_81: yep..
rainbow_radiance: Hey, my wife just called me. It's time to go. But thank you so much for your listening ear. I've opened my heart to you, my dear sister.
pinkwatermelon_81: Amen... I learned so much Mr Tom... really... I'm even thinking of how i can save our conversation tonight...
rainbow_radiance: I've saved this chat in my hard disk so I can review some of the notes WE MADE. The result of our conversation. Maybe I'll pick them up again when I organize that third link in my maharlika_tqm website.
pinkwatermelon_81: okay...i'll viist that as soon as it's finished..
rainbow_radiance: To save, just click on "File", then click "Save", then look for the part of your hard disk where you want to save .
pinkwatermelon_81: Got it...
rainbow_radiance: Ok, pinkwatermelon_81, I'll have to go. Catch me again some time, ok?
pinkwatermelon_81: Sure...
pinkwatermelon_81: ... Babay po...
rainbow_radiance: Bye and God bless.
pinkwatermelon_81: ... Ingat sa byahe and have a blessed night...
rainbow_radiance: Thanks ...
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