Nieto Bible Page

Bilang isang guro, tinuturing namin ang periodical exam bilang mahalagang kasangkapan sa pagtuturo sa mga bata. Salungat sa iniisip ng mga estudyante, ang tests ay hindi dinisenyo upang pahirapan sila for the sake na pahirapan, hindi ito ganti sa kanilang kakulitan o pagpapatuloy ng cycle of vengeance (pinahirapan kami ng aming mga teachers, ngayon kami naman ang magpapahirap sa kanilang mga anak, lol), kundi paraan upang tulungan ang mga batang hugutin mula sa kanilang kaibuturan ang mga aral na natutunan at i-apply sa buhay (via mock tests). Swerte ng mga bata, dahil pwede nilang burahin ang maling sagot sa mock tests, dahil sa buhay madalas ang mga konsekwensiya ng maling desisyon ay hindi na maibabalik.  Ganuon din spiritually. Nag-aaral tayo ng Salita ng Diyos , at bilang isang Master Teacher , nagbibigay Siya ng periodic testing. Ilan sa mga doktrinang napakinggan ang talagang magagamit sa tunay na buhay at ilan ang hanggang teorya lamang.  Madaling sabihing manampalat...

  Thank you Ama sa bagong taong dinagdag mo sa aming mga buhay. Salamat sa sariwang pagka-awa at biyaya kada umaga.  Sa bagong taon na dumating sa aming buhay, ikaw pa rin ang dating Diyos, na umiibig at nagmamalasakit sa Iyong mga anak.  Salamat Ama and we look forward for a more intimate relationship and a deepening faith. Patuloy mo kaming gabayan lalo kung napapamali kami ng mga desisyon.  Tulungan mo kaming lumago sa aming pananampalataya. Tulungan mo kaming gamitin ang taong ito upang tubusin ang panahon dahil sa ang panahon ay masama.  Tulungan mo kaming maggugol ng mas maraming oras sa pagsamba sa Iyong pangalan, mag-aral ng Iyong Salita, gamitin ang Iyong Salita sa araw-araw na buhay, manalangin, makisama sa kapatiran, magpasalamat, magbahagi ng Iyong Salita at ibigin ang aming kapwa. Gabayan Mo kami sa pag-iingat at pangunguna sa aming mga pamilya. Turuan Mo kaming maging masipag sa Iyong gawain.  Lalo naming pahalagahan ang Iyong mga layon nang h...

Jesus mention of Gentile lords lording over their subjects. Such should not be found inside His Church . Peter learned that well and taught the same in 1 Peter 5 . Unfortunately, many pastor-teachers today didn't learn that message. They think that having the title means they can say and do whatever they want.  But that is not what servanthood is. Servant by definition serves someone greater. If the pastor thinks he is always right, he's following the Gentile model rather than divine economy. In divine economy the way up is the way down. Leadership means taking the lowest position and washing other people's feet.  The highest rank in the Body of Christ is that of a servant. You wait on for everyone's edification, not to satisfy your own desire for approbation.  Manatiling nakapokus sa biyaya. Huwag ninyong hayaang nakawin ng mga huwad na guro ang inyong karapatang mag-isip ng doktrina. (Kung gusto ninyo ng karagdagang impormasyon, bisitahin ninyo kami. May pagtit...

  Pastors are supposed to teach the whole counsel of God . But we should always remember that he is human like the rest of us. The Bible, not him, is the highest spiritual authority in the church .  If you think that being a pastor gives you a blanket authority to teach anything you want, you're greatly mistaken. John says to test all the spirits (for not all prophecies are from God), and this applies especially to pastors. If a Christian errs, he errs by himself. If a pastor errs, he took the church with him.  According to 1 Timothy 4 , the pastor who pays attention to doctrine saves himself and his flock. The converse is true. A pastor who is careless with his study will also damn his flock.  So when a pastor teaches the Word of God, be sure to have an open Bible in front of you. This way you can check his accuracy; this is why even the unbelieving Bereans are called noble when they check Paul's teachings against the Scriptures.  When we listen to a past...

  Setting boundaries does not mean we're being snob or being difficult. It means you are defining what is okay and what isn't. And whether we like it or not, whether we're aware or not, everyone has boundaries.  The issue is whether our boundaries are Biblical or not. Are they edifying or not? There are many things na hindi kong gagawin as a Christian gaya ng pagpatay o manggahasa. I hope that at the very least we're agreed on setting boundaries like these.  Other boundaries are determined by culture. There are things that are okay with other culture pero hindi sa Filipino culture . Hindi ko ma-imagine ang isang Pinoy na tatawagin ang magulang by first name.  Others are determined by education and profession. May mga bagay na hindi magagawa ng isang professional na hindi naman by itself morally wrong. Halimbawa as a public school teacher , hindi kami dapat mag-endorso ng kandidato. Although in my opinion I don't know why. We're citizens and why can't we e...

  Hindi mo mapabibilis ang paglaki. Walang pinanganak ngayon at bukas ay fully mature na.  Ganuon din spiritually. Spiritual growth takes time. It takes daily nourishment. And it takes a lot of positive volition.  Kung didisiplinahin natin ang ating mga sariling mag-aral ng Salita ng Diyos , every day at gamitin ito sa sariling buhay, we'll definitely grow.  Bible doctrine is the spiritual nourishment that feeds the soul and application is the exercise that enlarges the soul muscles.  Kung puro aral lang na walang aplikasyon, we'll just deceive ourselves ayon kay Santiago . On the other hand if walang doctrine at puro lang aplikasyon, I wonder if you're even practicing Christianity or just moralism .  We need learning and applying doctrine.  And both needs your volition.  Kung hindi mo ipaprioridad ang Salita ng Diyos, kung mas malaki ang iyong excuses kaysa sa iyong determination to learn, you won't grow. You might be involved in religious exer...

  Proverbs 1:29-32 [29]Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord. [30]"They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. [31]"So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices.[32]"For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. Our words and actions have consequences. And if we are talking foolishly and acting foolishly, the consequences can be deadly, sometimes literally.  Sabi nga ng Diyos sa Kaniyang bayang Israel, "My people is being destroyed for lack of knowledge." Unfortunately ang mga Cristiano didn't learn their lessons. We are still talking and acting without knowledge. Then we acted surprised that we're being destroyed.  Nasisira ang health (because of foolish choices), nasisira ang relationships (because of foolish choices) at nasisira ang pamilya (because of foolish choices), then we prayed, "Sana magkaisa at m...

  Kahapon we celebrated our 6th Thanksgiving Celebration. We thanked God for giving us 6 years of gathering together in His name.  But more than that, I personally have so many things to thank God for. I thank God first and foremost that He found me worthy na pagtiwalaan ng aking asawa at mga anak.  I thank God na lahat na miyembro ng aking pamilya ay nanampalataya kay Jesus para sa buhay na walang hanggan. I thank God na personal kong dinala sa pananampalataya ang aking mga anak. I prayed na magpatuloy sila sa pananampalataya.  I thank God na sa panahong maraming pamilya ang naghihiwalay, buo pa ang aking pamilya. I prayed to God that it stays that way. I thank God na kahit hindi kami laging nagkakasundo, anumang hindi namin pagkakaunawaan, so far lahat naman ay nadaraan sa usapan. I prayed to God na manatili ito.  I thank God na may mga pagkakataon kaming lumabas paminsan-minsan. I understand that this means magsasardinas kami in days to come. But I am fully c...

  I have heard so many motivational speeches disguised as Bible studies . Most are nothing but pep talks .  It is easy to proclaim the goodness of God and exhort others to trust in God when such costs you nothing. It is easy to serve when the wallet is full. It is easy to serve when the belly is full. It is easy to serve when everybody is patting your back.  But when the floor drops, when you're down to your last hundreds with no deliverance in sight, when you're too weak to even stand up, that's when the faith really shows its worth.  Don't tell me to walk in the faith when you're walking easy. I won't listen. But when I see you persevering under trials without buckling, you have my attention.  I am listening. I wanted to know what is the secret. How did you walk without giving up? Service that is done in comfort isn't the same as service that costs something. I will listen to the latter, but give a passing ear to the former. After all a tested faith i...

  Just because I post a lot about God doesn't mean I have it all together. It doesn't mean I can do everything in my own power. Just the opposite. I don't have faith in myself. My faith is in God who's worthy of all confidence. I don't believe in self-confidence. I believe in God-fidence .  I don't know everything. I don't have power in this world. I don't have influence. I don't have rich friends. But I have God.  When we face trouble I know God will help me.  When I made decisions that have negative consequences, I always pray that God will save me from my decisions. And believe me there are so many.  I don't know what the future holds but I know the God who did. Things may not always look good but I have read the Bible . I knew the end. In the end, the good wins.  If I am composed and posed, it is because God is at my back. I know He won't disappoint me.  Manatiling nakapokus sa biyaya. Huwag ninyong hayaang nakawin ng mga huwad na guro an...

  I remember during the pandemic may co-teacher ako na ayaw magpabakuna dahil naniniwala siyang ito ang mark of the Beast . When I challenge her kung ano ang pangalan ng Beast, kung Sinovac ba o Moderna , nagalit siya. Masyado raw akong literal.  But the text says that the number is the name of the Beast.  Nagalit din siya nang tanungin ko kung sa noo ba tinuturok ang bakuna at bakit may tinuturukan sa kaliwang kamay. Jesus took the Bible literally. Nang sinabi ni Micas na sa Bethlehem ipanganganak ang isang mamumuno, hindi niya tinutukoy ang Pilipinas . Ang Israel ay literal na lupain sa Gitnang Silangan at hindi bansa sa Pasipiko . Si Adan at si Eba ay mga literal na tao at hindi mga simbolo. Ang unang mag-asawa ay Adan at Eba, hindi Adan at Adan o Eba at Eba.  Ang ahas ay hindi manok at ang Eden ay aktuwal na lugar.  There is no reason not to take the Bible literally. Of course we understand that it uses metaphors and symbols but even these refer to li...

  I always consider myself unemotional. Pero nang umuwi ang aking anak na babae mula sa Manila , hindi ko maiwasang maemosyon. Ni hindi ako makapagsalita ng diretso.  We're expecting her on the 22nd dahil iyon ang sinabi niya. Kaya nagulat kami ng sinorpresa niya kami ng 20th.  That's when I realize I really miss my daughter. For sure mamimiss ko rin si Nash Ephraim kapag nagkolehiyo na siya, lalo pa at kaduo ko siya sa ML . We spend more times together.  If there's one thing na pumasok sa aking isipan ay I should have created more memories sa aking pamilya. Should have scolded them less and say I love you more. Took more photos. Hug and talk with them more. Dahil ngayong malaki na sila, they are forging their own paths and I have to admit, I will not always be there with them.  In the end, only memories will remain.  Mabuti nga at may technologies na. Even if malayo sila, we can audio- and video call. We can chat and text each other. Pero hindi pa rin sub...

  We don't like pain. I mean who likes pain for the sake of pain? But pain that teaches lesson or gives strength? I am all for it.  Not all pain are created equal. Some pain are natural consequences of our own decisions and we have no one to blame but ourselves. But even then there's still a lesson- be wiser next time.  As a lifter, pain is associated with growth and strength. If you want to become strong, you need to lift even if it means discomfort.  The same thing is true spiritually. If we want to grow spiritually or if we want to have spiritual strength, we need to undergo pain. Adversities are designed to help us become stronger.  When we are faced with lessons, we ask ourselves, what's the lesson? How will this make me stronger? How will this make me grow? It is easier to persevere if we know there's a purpose to suffering. It is hard to develop perseverance and endurance if we think we're suffering for nothing. What this means is instead of having a vic...

  All I need is Jesus . At uunahan ko ang mga pilosopong Tasyo na hindi na pala kailangan ang pagkain, bibigyan ko ng linaw- si Jesus ang aking kailangan para sa espirituwal na kaligtasan at pagkakaroon ng kahulugan ng buhay.  Una sa lahat kailangan ko si Jesus upang magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan. Malinaw ang Kasulatan, ang buhay na walang hanggan ay para sa mga mananampalataya kay Jesus, Juan 3:16 . Hindi sinabing ang buhay na walang hanggan ay para sa mga kaanib ng partikular na relihiyon o sa mga masipag magsimba o generous sa pag-aabuloy. Ang pangako ay buhay na walang hanggan ay para sa mga nanampalataya kay Jesus at hindi sa kung sino at ano. Bukod diyan, Siya rin ang aking kailangan upang magkaroon ng kahulugan ang buhay. Nakalulungkot na madalas dito hulog ang mga Cristiano . Marami ang nanampalataya kay Jesus para sa buhay na walang hanggan ngunit naghahanap ng kahulugan ng buhay sa sanlibutan. Iniisip nilang ang kahulugan ng buhay ay makikita sa pagkakaroon n...

  Mahilig ang mga Cristiano sa fellowships . Unfortunately marami ang may maling pagkaunawa nito. Iniisip nila ang fellowship bilang isang uri ng social gathering.  Fellowship kapag may kainan, fellowship kapag may camps, fellowship kapag may kantahan .  But at the core of the word fellowship is sharing of life together.  To have fellowship with another Christian is to enter into life with him.  That means being part of his laughter and sorrows.  Maraming mahilig sa fellowship and hindi man lang kayang buksan ang pitaka upang tugunan ang pangangailangan ng isang kapatid. Ironically these same people will contribute sa inuman .  Maraming mahilig sa fellowship ang hindi mo makita kapag week days. Hindi mo sila maistorbo upang iyakan ng problema. Pero kapag Linggo, nakikipag-unahan pa sila sa "fellowship." If you want fellowship, start with kindness. Ano ba ang pangangailangan ng isang kapatid na maaari mong tugunan? Paano mo siya maaalalayan upang mapala...

  Studying the Word of God is very important. I am saying this not because my gift is teaching but because even if I don't teach (and I leave the pulpit ministry from January to May this year) the things you learn from studying the Word of God edify you to maturity.  However, at malaking however ito, may mga pagkakataong ang Bible study ay nagiging boxes check-an. Maraming Cristianong nagsisimba kada Linggo not because they wanted to learn but because they're expected to. Natatakot silang sabihang worldly kapag um-absent sa simbahan.  If you are in a good Bible teaching church you're probably learning a lot about the Bible. But if you're not doing anything about what you learn, nasasayang ito. Tila ito pagkain na nilulunok nang hindi nginunguya. Ang resulta ay hindi napapakinabangan ang bitamina at mineral na nasa pagkain.  Most of us didn't need more Bible studies. What we need is more applications.  May mga taong halos araw-araw na nasa simbahan dahil fully p...