UPDATE DIN PAG MAY TIME

It's hard to say no to sin. Sin gives so much pleasure. Masarap talaga gumawa ng kasalanan, kung hindi ba naman masarap yan gagawin mo ba naman? Siempre hindi, but after that boooom! condemnation!

There are times in our life or most of the times, we choose to sin rather than to say no to sin. Example if somebody offers you a cigarette or a drink, its easier to say yes than to say no. Why is that? Because we protect our image, we want to be cool, be like them, we don't wanna be called KJ and all that. But the truth of the matter is (lalo na if you are a christian) after you fall into sin, sobra kang macocondemn.

Sa pag gawa ng kasalanan if we keep on practicing them it becomes a habit. The more you do it the more natural it's gonna be. I remember the first time I got drunk, nakakahiya umuwi ng bahay at first, cause you don't know what to say to your parents. Pero nung paulit ulit na akong umiinom, madali ng umuwi ng bahay ng walang takot kase I know what to say and I know how to deal with it.

 So paano tayo iiwas sa pag gawa ng kasalanan? Ganun din, example if someone offers you a cigarette or mag lasingan at gumapang ng sumusuka pauwi, learn how to say "No." Keep practicing on saying no, then it will become a habit. Hindi mo namamalayan ang daming beses mo na pala nakaiwas sa kakasabi mo ng "No!" Huwag naman No! in Jesus name I rebuke you! ang pagsabi. Just say "No." I tell you man, people around you will start to respect you."

I want to speak to my fellow Christians who are still struggling with sin. Pornography, drugs, lies, cigarettes, alcohol drinking, shabu pa o sapatos pa, all kinds of addiction etc. I say that God is in my life now but I'm still struggling as well. That means God still needs to do something in my life. I am no perfect, no one is. Pero we have to work with our best to stay out of it. We should pray for it and continue to seek him. The more time we have in seeking and knowing Christ the less chance we fall in temptations. Kaya sa mga fellow Christians na napapalayo kay Jesus, go back to him brother! It's not late yet! It will never be too late lalo when you involve Jesus in your life. And yeah don't forget to update your relationship with Jesus all the time!

Updating your iphone to iOS 7? Cool!
How about updating your relationship with Christ?

In Your Arms

(Me and my Mommy)

Naaalala mo ba nung bata ka, yung panahon na naglalaro ka tapos nakatulog ka sa sofa o di naman kaya ay sa sahig? Naaalala mo ba na minsan ay binuhat ka ng iyong ama o kaya ng iyo ina upang dalhin ka sa iyong kama? Marahil ay hindi mo na ito naaalala, kung may naaalala ka man, pa ilan-ilan lang. Pero ang katotohanan mula ng isinilang ka, ikaw lang tanging inintindi nila.

Noong bata pa ako, mga walong taong gulang, pagkatapos namin kumain ng hapunan, nakaugalian kong matulog agad sa sofa. Pagkatapos noon ay naaalala kong binubuhat na ako ng aking ina papunta sa aking malambot na kama. Minsan naman eh talagang nakakatulugan ko lang ang paglalaro kaya kung saan saan ako nakakatulog gaya na lamang sa hagdanan, sa upuan o sa sahig katabi ng aking mga laruan.

Naaalala ko rin na kapag nadapa ako o kaya napa away,  naaalala kong sa aking pag iyak binubuhat ako ng aking ina para ako ay patahanin. Naalala kong tumutulo ang aking mga luha pati na ang aking sipon sa kanyang mga balikat. At habang kanyang pinapahiran ang luha sa aking mga mata, patuloy niya akong pinapatahan at pinapaypayan. Kapag basa naman ang aking likod, lalagyan niya ako ng malambot na puting sapin sa likuran at pupulbusan. Naalala ko kung gaano kasarap sa pakiramdam kapag may malambot na sapin sa aking likuran. Alam ko na tuwing ako ay nasa kanyang mga braso, panatag ang loob ko. Ganoon niya ako inalagaan, ganon niya ako minahal.


Sa aking pagtanda ngayon, hindi ko na sila palaging nakakasama , malayo ang aking ina. May mga panahon na sa loob ng isang buwan, ni hindi ko man lang naririnig ang tinig niya. Oo inaalagaan ko ang ibang tao, pero ang sarili kong ina, ni hindi ko man lang marinig at maaninag.

Malaking malaki na rin ang pinagbago. Hindi na nila ako pwedeng patahanin sa aking pag iyak. Hindi na rin ako kayang buhatin kung nakatulog man ako sa kung saan. At lalong hindi na rin niya ako pwedeng sapinan sa tuwing basa ang aking likuran.

Bumuhos ang luha ko. Naramdaman kong muli ang yakap at haplos ng aking ina kahit wala siya sa aking tabi. Nararamdaman kong muli ang pag aaruga sa akin ng aking ina. Ipinararamdam ito ng Diyos sa akin sa tuwing ako'y nakikipagniig sa kanyang piling. Ang pagmamahal ng Diyos ay tulad ng pagmamahal ng aking ina. Alam ko na sa tuwing ako'y mag isang mahihimlay sa gabing malamig at madilim, panatag ang loob kong ako'y mabuting makahihimlay sapagkat alam kong hawak ako ng Diyos sa kanyang mga braso't mga kamay.

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my righteous right hand.- Isaiah 41:10

- - -Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6

- - -Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7
- - - I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:20

(Listen to this song and be blessed)

Q & A

Hi guys! Before I start this blog I would  like to thank all of you for reading and dropping by here always.  I am also grateful to all of you who liked and shared my blog on facebook, praise God we have more than 5000 likes on facebook. Due to the number of new likes I've been receiving questions from people who want to know more about Jesus. That is our goal to make Jesus more famous! Again thank you guys for being a part of sharing the word of Jesus. Let us continue to cause more parties in heaven!

I'd like to answer some of the questions I received on astig's facebook page lately. So let's get started. :)

1."Bakit pa ginawa ng Diyos na iba-iba ang language ng mga tao, yan tuloy kadalasan sa hindi pagkaka unawaan nag uumpisa ang digmaan at di pagkakaunawan." (Bulacan, Philippines)

 I was like "Wow brad ang lalim ng digmaan ah." Haha! I can say that our God is not a boring God. He is a very creative God and he is a God of variety. Kung mapapansin mo, hindi lang tao ang may variety. Pati hayop, iba iba ang ginawa niyang mga hayop. May pusa, kalabaw, aso, daga, unggoy, elepante, giraffe, kambing. Oh di ba ang dami? Hindi lang yan! May iba't ibang klaseng breed pa ang mga yan. Halimbawa ang aso hindi lang nanatiling aso na lang, may iba't ibang lahi pa yan (Example Shih Tzu, beagle, chihuhuahua, golden retriever, german shepherd atbp.)

Isipin mo na lang brad kung hindi creative si God. Ganto ang magiging usapan.
Siya: Ano ang pet mo?
Ikaw: Aso.
Siya: Ako din eh aso.
Ikaw: Wala namang ibang hayop sa planet earth eh. Aso lang.
Siya:  Alam ko. Wala lang, may matanong lang.

Oh di ba? Boring kung walang variety at walang ibang hayop. Ganyan din sa atin brad. Iba't iba man ang lahi natin, iba iba man ang kulay at anyo natin. Binigyan pa rin tayo ng Diyos ng paraan para magkaintindihan, tulad na lamang ng international language. Kung hindi man siya marunong mag salita ng english eh gumawa naman si God ng tao na tinatawag na "Translator." Nasa tao lang talaga brad kung gusto nila mag kaunawaan o hindi. May mga tao nga na iisa na ang language hindi pa rin mag kaunawaan di ba?

2. What does astig mean? What is it in english? Why Jesus is astig? ( New Jersey, USA)

Astig means. . ahmm.. hmmm...lemme think first.. . .hmmmm argghhh! I think there is no exact english translation for the word astig. Some says astig in english means thug. But no Jesus isn't a thug. Lol. The time I was thinking of a blog name, I am thinking of a word to describe Jesus, but I can't come up with just one word, cause there's a lot.  I remember the expression "astig" from the Philippines. When somebody says that you are astig it means you are cool, great, awesome, macho, tough man, amazing, admirable, stunning, wonderful, breath-taking, astonishing, overwhelming, jaw dropping, impressive, majestic, brave, amusing,  extreme and a lot more!!!! So when I say Jesus is astig it means Jesus is the every positive adjective word you can think of. So why Jesus is astig? Let's make it simple. "You won't be here on earth if he is not astig." :)

3. Can you write your blogs in english, so we can understand? ( California, USA)

I for sure have some blogs written in English but not all. The reason why I don't write in english most of the time is because aside from it is not really my primary language, I'd like to minister more on my fellow Filipinos. Filipino first. :) And I used to have a blog which is written in pure tagalog before I started writing in this blog so most of my readers expect me to write in tagalog. :)

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. - Deutoronomy 10:17I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things. - Isaiah 45:7

CONTROL IT BROTHER!

(Photo Credit Google Image Search)

I went out to a concert party at a bar here in LA a month ago with my chum and his friends. On our small talk they offered me liquors and cigarettes. I refused to get some and I just had a carbonated drink instead. "Man you are wasting your life. You need to enjoy your youth, you need to loosen up! When you get old you can no longer enjoy these good things on earth. Have you ever smoked a marijuana? Have you ever been get laid? We're going to change you, this is California man, we will end up tonight in bed naked! I replied "If I should have known, I shouldn't have gotten here" then we laughed at it.

During my teenage years and early 20's I for sure did all these things (except for the marijuana). I mean I enjoyed drinking with friends and getting drunk, I enjoyed smoking cigarettes when I was working in a call center just to alleviate the stress at work, I had sexual encounters with people I'm not married to for the sake of curiosity and to feed my sexual desires. I've been there and been that.

Christianity aside, as a nurse I stopped doing these things because I started to take care of my body. I know for a fact that alcoholic beverages and cigarettes can harm the body. Lahat ng bagay na ito can cause your body organs such as your kidney, heart and lungs to deteriorate slowly. Kung mahal mo ang sarili mo at mahal mo ang pamilya mo you wouldn't be doing these things. Second hand smoke is worst. Kawawa naman ang mga nakikilanghap, cause they have no choice.

Yes a condom can protect you from getting pregnant or can protect you from acquiring sexually transmitted diseases but it cannot protect you from a broken heart. If you have been addicted to sex, mahirap na to get way out, you'll crave for more and will no longer be satisfied by just having one partner. You will never enjoy the beauty of sex when you get married because you have someone to be compared of, you get confused with lusts. They say na okay lang sa mag kalalakihan to have sex with different partners kase wala namang mawawala sa kanila, kumpara sa mga babae, I believe that is wrong.  Having sex with different partners is something dogs do. Hindi naman tayo aso, they might have no self control kaya gagawin nila yun anytime, anywhere. We are humans God gave us self control so we need to use it. Control it parekoy! I think it's not very manly to have maraming sexual partners, that means you are very weak in controlling yourself.

For people who watch a lot of pornography, I believe this will affect you someway or somehow, it will stick in your mind and it will affect how you treat women for instance. And if you've been into these kind of activity you need grace from God. He will erase everything and make you a new person.

I don't want to sound like self-righteous here. Like what I said I've been into it and I learned a lot from it. Habang ginagawa mo ang kasalanan, there is so much pleasure in it pero after you do it, what do you feel? You feel bad right? Sobrang parang binabarena ang emotions mo. Kahit anong sabon ang gawin mo sa katawan mo you will still feel dirty. You feel immoral, unloved, unaccepted and condemned. That's what the demons want you to feel. We all need God to save us from all of these thoughts and I believe if we focus our eyes on Jesus alone, mawawala ang lahat ng ito at lilinisin niya tayong lahat sa ating mga kasalanan like a new born baby.

I ended up the night on my bed. Hindi nag yosi, hindi nalasing at hindi nakipag sex. Buhay pa naman ako! Temptations will always be there. Sinabi na ni Jesus yan, sa prayer niya nga hindi niya pinag pray na alisin niya tayo sa makasalanang mundo na ito, but his prayer is for us to overcome sins, to overcome evil. (John 17:15) At pwede naman mag enjoy ng buhay without comprising our health. Mas masarap kaya mag enjoy sa presence ni Lord at alam mong nagiging victorious ka sa pag gawa ng kasalanan. Try mo! :)


Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. -1 Corinthians 6:18

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. - Psalms 119:37

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God- Galatians 5:19-21

(If you like to be prayed for send me a message and I will pray for you) 

Bakit Single Ka Pa Rin?

(Photo from arclicks.tumblr.com)

One of the family member asked me "Bakit single ka pa rin?" Boom! Tumama ang tanong niya! Last year a friend asked me kung hindi ba ako nalulungkot dahil single ako. (If you want to read my post last year sa sagot ko sa kanya click here.) 

Anyhow, inihaw. For some of you who didn't know. I had a very little history of having a relationship with a woman. Hindi pa lalagpas sa daliri sa isang kamay. Medyo, matibay kase ako pag nag mahal eh todo todo parakundo, kaya pag nasaktan tagal din bago maka alpas! At saka pagtapos nung huli, eh sobrang nahirapan na ako makahanap ng iba. Complete package kase niya eh!

So bakit single pa din ako? For in the moment, I am so contented for being one. Don't get me wrong, I mean for now I am okay, but the Lord knows my heart. I don't want to be single for the rest of my life, but even if I'm single kahit tumagal pa ng ilang taon pa, kung hindi naman will ni God na magkagirlfriend ako in the near future I wouldn't mind, like what I said I am that happy and contented right now. I don't wan't to get things that God won't provide for me. Ayoko naman ng kahit sino na lang magkameron lang. And yes just to clear things out I am interested to be in a relationship but in God's perfect time. Malay mo sa isang taon o isang buwan eh padalhan ako ni Jesus via FedEx ng supah hot, supah smart, perfect girl na para sakin. Nothing is impossible eh~ pray without ceasing! Haha! At yang relationship na yan pinag pepray talaga yan. :)

Kidding aside. I think it's better to fix your relationship first with Jesus before engaging into a relationship na hindi God's will. It's better to have a good relationship with Jesus first because he is the one who created love. If you have a good relationship with Jesus, the human aspect of engaging into a relationship will be easy. But if you don't have a good relationship with the creator of love, I think you will never really understand what love is. You'll end up crying for a broken relationship lang. So sayang lang.

Like what I said from my previous blogs "I had a very heart-breaking past love experience." Medyo masakit talaga Kuya Eddie. But I thank God, napupunuan ng pagmamahal ni Lord ang sakit na iyon. Right now I can say na tanggap ko na at masaya na ako para sa kanya, para sa kanila. Mahirap kase talaga ang long distance relationship, hirap i-work out. Hantay na lang talaga ako sa pa FedEx ni Lord. :)

At para sa mga brad natin diyan na single at may very heart-breaking past love experience, Psalm 147:3 say's Jesus heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Bigay mo na kay Jesus yan brad because he will fix your heart, papahirin niya ang luha sa mga mata mo at papawiin niya lahat ng sakit diyan. Give it up to Jesus brad and fix your relationship with him first!

So bakit ako single? Kase I'm enjoying my relationship with Jesus right now. I think this is better than engaging into a relationship that does not glorify God. I believe na pag maayos ang relationship ko kay Jesus, magiging maayos din ang pagpapamilya ko someday. At next time na manliligaw ako I'll make sure that she is the one I would like to marry, and hope that someday, pag kinasal na kami eh mabasa niya ito :)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths - Proverbs 3:5-6
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”- Revelation 21:4
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.- Psalm 34:18

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.- Psalm 147:3

LAHAT NG BABANGGA AY MAGIGIBA

Kapag matibay ang iyong pundasyon, hindi ka basta basta matutumba. Sabi nga ng kanta ng Sandwich "Lahat ng babangga ay magigiba, humanda ka!"

Hindi ba mas maganda na ikaw yung astigin na hindi basta basta nagigiba? Hindi ikaw itong konting bangga lang eh, tumba agad, plakda kung plakda! Literally kung may bumanggang problema sa atin, hindi ba maganda na alam mo na meron kang magandang pundasyon na masasandalan?

Let me tell you mga brad, if Jesus is our solid foundation hindi tayo basta basta matutumba. Alam natin na kapag may pagsubok eh meron tayong Jesus. Na sobrang astig, sobrang solid, hindi basta bastang matutumba, King of kings at Lord of lords ba naman eh, alam natin na kaya niyang gawin ang lahat ng bagay para sa atin, kase with him all things are possible. (Mark 9:23)

I'd like to share this parable about the wise and the foolish builders.

The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24-27)

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Si Jesus ang tinutukoy na rock diyan at ikaw yung bahay. Kung sa bato ka nga naman nakatayo, kahit anong bagyo o pagsubok ang dumating, hindi ka basta basta magigiba, matibay ka, hindi ka basta basta nagkakatumba tumba. Pero kung hindi si Jesus ang pundasyon mo, may maliit lang na problema, humangin lang, crash ka agad, tapos matagal bago mo malampasan ang problema. Eh paano pa kaya kung bagyo ang dumating? tumba ka talaga sa buhangin, plakda, lunod kung lunod.

Hindi lamang sa problema nangyayari ang mga pagkakalunod na yan. Minsan hindi natin alam na pwedeng ikasira din ng relasyon natin sa pamilya kung wala tayong matibay na pundasyon sa mga pangaral ng Bibliya.
(Example: May asawa ka o kaya girlfriend, may dumaan na seksing babae - sunod ka naman agad kay chicks. So ano ang susunod na mangyayari? Wasak ang relasyon niyong mag asawa. O kaya naman may bigotilyong lalakeng maraming buhok sa dibdib - sunod naman si babae - wasak din ang pamilya)

Kaya naman dapat punong puno tayo ng mga teachings ni Jesus para hindi tayo basta basta nagkakatumba tumba. :) At in case na may dumaan na sobrang lakas na bagyo at mawala ang faith natin, matumba man tayo, malunod man tayo. . .

We know that JESUS will be our all time lifeguard. We know that he will save us from drowning. Kaya whenever I'm at my most low, I know that he is all the way up there in heaven looking at me down below and for sure I will never be too low for him to lift me up. He can even walk on water to lift me up. :)

It is Jesus who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He is astig! (Psalm 18:31)
#sharehisword

ANG TSISMIS

Have you ever been a victim of gossip? or have you ever been a participant in this activity? Sa palagay ko isa ito sa pinaka masalimuot na pang yayari na pwedeng maranasan ng isang tao. Yung tipong pinag pipyestahan ka ng mga tao at ikaw ang pinag uusapan. This morning I saw facebook statuses that talks about Chito & Neri's scandal. Some of them even posted the actual video. I almost played the video but something in my inner conscience stopped me. Siguro dahil hindi ko magawa ay dahil hinahangaan ko bilang magaling na pinoy artist si Chito Miranda.

Naisip ko lang bigla kung bakit may mga taong pinag lalaanan ng oras at pansin ang pagkakalat ng mga gantong pangyayari. Kung hindi ipagkakalat sa text, sa facebook, iti-tweet at gagawin ang lahat para sirain at pabagsakin ang taong na involve dito. Tanong ko lang brad, kung ikaw ang nasa sitwasyon ni Chito? Ano ang mararamdaman mo kung pag pyestahan ka ng mga tao? Sa palagay ko, kaya may mga taong gustong manira ng taong mga sikat ay dahil gusto nila ma-idikit at ma-iangat din sila kahit papano sa kasikatan.

Dati noong hindi pa uso ang text at facebook eh mahirap magkalat ng tsismis. Pupunta ka pa sa kapitbahay para lamang ipagkalat ang balitang iyong nasagap, badtrip pa pag walang tao. Ngayon instant kalat na agad, isang tweet lang, facebook mo lang, intagram, tumblr, lahat yan madaling ikalat ang mga tsismis. Totoo man o hindi ang tsismis dapat hindi tayo sumasali sa mga ganyang uri ng activity. Hindi magandang hobby ang paninirang puri. Dapat kapag nakakarinig tayo ng hindi magagandang bagay eh hindi na natin pagkakalat, sa hanggang atin pa lang eh dapat nailibing na ang ganyang usapan.

Kapag may nasagap kang balita. Huwag mo na i-forward sa iba totoo man o hindi, lalo't ikakasira ng iba. Parang ganto lang yan brad. Ipag palagay natin na ang tsimis is equals to tae (tsimis = tae). Kapag ba ang tae nadaanan mo, bubungkalin at ipapakita mo pa ba sa iba? Hindi di ba? Ang tsismis ay parang tae, madumi, dapat itong iniiwasan, kinakalimutan at hindi na babalikan pa.

It says on Proverbs 26:20 "Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. Kapag may hindi magandang bagay na nangyari sa kapwa eh wag na pag usapan para tumahimik na. Apoy man kung wala ng masusunog eh titigil din yan. Huwag mo na lalagyan ng panibagong kahoy o gasolina para hindi na lumagablab. Iyan ang ginagawa ng mga nasa showbiz twing hapon ng linggo eh. Magkabilaang istasyon eh pag uusapan ang kung sino sinong artista. Tayo naman na nakakanood eh unconsciously na,  unaware pa na kung ano anong basura na pala ang nailagay natin sa tenga papasok sa utak natin.

Dapat gayahin natin si Jesus Christ. Nung time na may dinala sa kanyang babae na nangangalunya para batuhin ng bato hanggang mamatay, uso kase to noon eh. Astig si Jesus kase hindi na niya tinanong ang babae kung totoo ba ang pinararatang sa kanya, hindi na niya pinuntahan ang lalaki kung totoo ba o hindi. Ibig sabihin iniwasan na ni Jesus yung tsismis dahil alam niyang wala naman siyang mapapala. Baka madumihan lang ang isip niya at mahusgahan niya pa ang babaeng ito. Kaya sabi na lang niya "Mauna nang bumato ang walang kasalanan." Sure enough walang bumato at nag alisan na lahat. Let's be Christlike when we hear tsismis, wag na natin alamin at suriin kung totoo man ito o hindi, sa atin na lang yan brad, huwag ng ipagkalat pa sa iba dahil sa bandang huli kung ikaw man ang nagkalat ng tsismis, ikaw at ikaw din ang masisisi. Kaya brad. Dwell on things worthy of praise na lang.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. - Philippians 4:8

(Please share para mabasa ng iba. Salamat!)