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Showing posts from February, 2026

Gracious in speech

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  Putok sa FB feed ko si Alvin at Izzy. And honestly hindi nakatutuwa. Matutuwa sana akong may Kristiyanong viral dahil sa pagpaliwanag ng mensahe ng buhay. Kaso ang nakikita ko ay pagtuya. And in fairness may basis ang pagtuya.  Now let me clarify that I am with Alvin on the issue of transgenderism , purity culture and sexuality. Natutuwa akong laban siya sa mga sumisira ng Biblical view of sex and gender. Pero I will be honest, and I am sure maraming agree, off-putting at very arrogant ang kaniyang arrive.  May paraan upang ibahagi ang turo ng Biblia sa mga paksang ito nang hindi arogante ang dating. I mean nagagawa ito ng Focus on the Family , at ibang pro-family organizations. Let's face it: truth hurts. No matter how gracious we are in sharing the Word of God, people will be offended for they reject God's Word. Mas nais ng tao ang mga ideya at pagpapahalaga ng sanlibutan.  So we should expect to be persecuted for our beliefs .  And that is my point. It is...

Kapag mali, bitawan mo na

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  Kapag mali, bitawan mo na. Hindi katapangan o katapatan ang patuloy na manghawak sa mali.  Sometimes we can be stubborn. Kahit pinakita na kung saan tayo nagkamali, ayaw nating bumitaw. For some reason we become attached to our mistakes. Iniisip nating masyado na tayong baon, malalim na at malaki ang ating taya, panindigan na. Sasabihin pang, "Bahala na. Nagkasubuan na eh." O kaya, "Huli na ang lahat. Diyos na bahala." Aba dinamay pa ang Diyos.  Eto ang katotohanan: lahat tayo ay nagkakamali at kung tayo ay buhay pa, may pagkakaroon pang magbago at magsimulang muli.  There is no reason to become a victim of our past or wrong decisions. Wala naman siguro tayong Stockholm's syndrome .  May mga inabusong kahit nilayo na ay bumabalik pa rin. Parte rito ay mababang self-esteem . Iniisip na wala nang tatanggap pa sa kaniya. Another is the feeling of helplessness na walang options. Much better ang maling pamilyar kaysa nagsimula ng bagong buhay on uncharted territor...

What is truth to you may not be truth for me

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  What is truth to you may not be truth for me.  Uso ang kasabihang iyan. Now I wonder if this statement is true for me o sa nagsabi lang.  This is relativity and I am pretty sure ang nagsabi nito ay hindi seryoso rito. Nobody can consistently live this statement. Imagine sinerohan ko ang student dahil sa maling solusyon sa problem and then sabihan niya akong the solution may be wrong for you but for me perfect iyan? Or bayaran mo ng kulang ang iyong tax and sabihin mong maaaring kulang sa iyo pero sakto iyan para sa akin.  These examples may sound absurd and because they are.  When it comes to what is truth and what is moral, we need a standard. It cannot be human standard dahil hindi tayo magkakasundo kung sino sa ating mga humans ang dapat gawing standard. We are selfish enough to make ourselves the measure of all things but deny the same to our neighbors.  What we need is God's standard and that standard is the Bible . If we wanted to know God's stand...

Why not? What's the issue?

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  I am not sure why this becomes a big deal though I have my suspicion. Maraming taong nagtagumpay sa buhay (tumubo sa negosyo, nakapasa sa board exam, nanalo ng acting awards, etc) ang regular na in-ascribe sa Panginoon ang kanilang tagumpay pero walang nagtaas ng kilay kung paano sila tinulungan ng Panginoon.  My suspicion is hindi gusto ng mga critics kung anuman ang "sinabi" ng Panginoon. Sa kulturang hindi marunong makipagdayalogo, ang tanging alam gawin ay cancellation.  This is immaturity.  Now to be clear, hindi ako pabor sa metodo ni Alvin Aragon . In a previous blog I write on " Making enemies for the sake of making enemies " (see here: https://nietobiblepage.blogspot.com/2026/02/making-enemies-for-sake-of-making.html) . In my opinion there is more gracious way of sharing God's Word. And in my opinion we have to make a careful distinction between what the Bible actually says and what we think it says (yes I believe wearing bra is an area of freedom, ni...

Makikiraan

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  Sa dami ng problema, kalamidad at kriminalidad sa mundong ito, I am glad that this is not our home. We're just oassing through.  Biro nga lagi sa ating mga Kingdom Now friends, if this is the kingdom, I must be in the slum area.  The Bible says we're aliens and pilgrims. Our citizenship is in heaven. We're just foreigners on our way to our true home. So it doesn't make sense to love this world. That is treason since our true home is at war (a spiritual war ) with this world.  Time will come when this world will be cleansed by God and claimed by Christ for His own, but that is not today.  Today we live as sojourners.  This world will hate us. The present ruler of the age is trying to stop us from reaching our full potential as God's sons. Don't let him stop you for reaching Christ-likeness .  If you read your Bibles, you know the good news: a new world is coming where righteousness and love will be the spirit of the age- eternal age.  Manatiling...

Maaari bang maging Cristiano ang isang homosexual?

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  My answer to this question will not please everyone. Some believers will think that I am not Christian enough and unbelievers will think I am heavy handed. I will write my conviction though.  Diretsong tanong: Maaari bang magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan ang isang homosexual? Diretsong sagot: Oo. Ayon sa Juan 3:16 , Gawa 16:31 , at marami pang pasahe, ang nag-iisang kundisyon upang magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan ay ang manampalataya kay Cristo. Hindi sinabing kailangan mong tumigil sa pagiging homosexual o dapat ka munang maging straight. Ang sinabi ay ang nanampalataya ay may buhay na walang hanggan.  Samakatuwid ang sinumang manampalataya kay Cristo, homosexual man o heterosexual, ay may buhay na walang hanggan.  I think malinaw ito sa marami.  Ito ang sunod na tanong: Kung ang mananampalataya kay Cristo ay manatili sa kaniyang kabaklaan, nawawala ba ang kaniyang kaligtasan? Sagot: Hindi. Once saved, always saved. Ang eternal life ay eternal. Kun...

Making enemies for the sake of making enemies

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  Truth is by nature exclusive. Kung ang Cristianismo ay totoo, by definition other religions are wrong.  Therefore hindi maiiwasang magkaroon ng kaaway kapag nagturo ng katotohanan dahil marami kang maaapakan. Ayaw mo man ng gulo, others will take offense with your beliefs and preaching.  We should be ready for this.  The world will hate us if we stand for the truth.  However, we have to make sure that we're hated for standing for the truth and not because we're just being obnoxious.  It is one thing to be hated for the truth, to make enemies because of the truth. It is entirely something else to make enemies for the sake of making enemies.  Some people thrive on controversies. They are powered by hatred. They are energized by hostility. Even if wala silang taya, they will join any controversy just for the sake of being part of it. This is not standing for truth. This is ego speaking.  This is not making enemies because of teaching the truth. Th...

Silence is better than making a point

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  Masdan mo kung paano mag-away ang mga bata. Kahit ano pinagsasabi just to make a point. Madalas may kasama pang mapanuyang pagtawa.  Matured people don't act like that. Matured people state their point, let others chew on it and leave it as it is. Hindi galawan ng mga mature ang makipagsagutan just to make a point. In many cases kinikilala niyang masabuting manahimik sa gilid.  Nakalulungkot na ang ating politika ay tila away ng dalawang immature na bata. Ngunit mas nakalulungkot kapag ang pulpito ay nagiging source ng malabatang pananalita.  Ang pulpito ay ang dapat pagmulan ng sistematikong pagtuturo ng Salita ng Diyos na ikalalago ng mga tagapakinig. Hindi ito dapat maging moog ng mga batang nangangantiyaw sa ibang relihiyon.  Yes hindi maiiwasang mabanggit ang kamalian ng ibang relihiyon sa pulpito kung ang mga ito ay labag sa tinuturo ng Biblia. Ngunit dapat nating tiyaking ito nga ay laban sa Biblia at hindi laban sa personal lamang nating preperensiya....

I am limited but He isn't

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  I have a lot of limitations. I will be the first to admit that. Physically, socially, financially... you name it. If I will just depend on myself, I am sure to fail. Unlike other people who have relatives and friends in high places, I have to depend on my own merit when I applied for the job. Unlike others who start their married life with golden spoons in their mouth, I started my family with nothing. I am neither physically handsome or physically imposing.  Yet I learned that when you are weak, you need help from the strong. Who better to ask help from but God Himself? I may not have friends in high places but I have a God on the highest heavens. I may not have a lot of money but my God owns the cattles on the hill. I may be physically weak but He is strong and He loves to show His power in our weakness.  If we depend on our own power to live the spiritual life, we'll be frustrated. But there is satisfaction in knowing that we can turn from our limitations to Him who ...

The voice of the people is not the voice of God

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  It doesn't matter how loud one's opinion is the standard of truth remains the same. The Bible is the only authoritative standard for truth. We are in an age where Biblical standards are considered as obsolete. The values that create our civilization is now considered a throwback in the past and not applicable to a progressive era.  Family, marriage and church are under attack. Sexual mores are dropped in favor of free spirit. Traditional genders are being undermined by emotions. Families are under attack in promotion of alternative family arrangements .  Just because people are vocal in their opinions it doesn't mean they are right. Noah and his sons are a minority yet God wiped out the antedeluvians .  Majority rule may apply in our democratic processes but not when it comes to matter of truth. Truth is truth even if everyone is against it.  Don't fret, we'll win. Truth will win. Manatiling nakapokus sa biyaya. Huwag ninyong hayaang nakawin ng mga huwad ...

Find your happiness in God

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  You are responsible for your happiness. Hindi hawak ng ibang tao ang susi ng iyong kasiyahan.  Ang tunay na kasiyahan ay nasa Diyos . Nilalang tayo ng Diyos upang makasumpong ng kasiyahan sa Kaniya. Ang nakalulungkot ay hinahanap natin ito sa ibang tao.  Anong laking frustration kapag ang taong inaasahan nating magbibigay ng kasiyahan ay nagdala ng kalungkutan.  We feel betrayed.  But the truth is walang nagsabing ang kasiyahan natin ay responsibilidad ng ibang tao.  We are responsible for our own happiness and if we are wise we'll find it in God.  Hindi mo masusumpungan ang kasiyahan sa mga panlabas at temporaryong mga bagay. Hindi mo masusumpungan ang kasiyahan sa mga eksternal na sirkumstansiya. Kapag nagbago ang mga sirkumstansiya o nawala ang mga bagay, mawawala rin ang ating kasiyahan.  Ang kasiyahang hindi mawawala ay masusumpungan lamang sa hindi nagbabagong Diyos. Sa Kaniya lamang ang tunay na kasiyahan.  Huwag ninyo hayaang kontro...

God can use you

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Ang ministry ay hindi lamang sa kamay ng pastor at ng mga diakono. Bawat Cristiano ay nasa full-time Christian service. Nasaan man tayo sa buhay, nilagay tayo ng Diyos sa lugar na iyan upang maglingkod sa Kaniya. Nilagay tayo diyan upang maging ilawan sa mundong madilim.  Sa pamamagitan ng Kaniyang mga anak na nakakalat sa buong mundo, sinisiguro Niyang ang lahat ay makaririnig ng mensahe ng buhay.  Ang nakalulungkot ay tikom ang bibig ng Kaniyang mga anak. Sa halip na maging saksi sa Kaniyang nagliligtas na biyaya, madalas sila pa ang kinatitisuran ng mga tao sa paligid.  Hindi nakikita ang biyaya ng Diyos sa kanilang mga buhay. Sa halip ang nakikita ay legalismo at judgmentalism.  Marami tayong mga rason upang huwag maglingkod ngunit nilagay tayo ng Diyos sa lugar na iyan dahil alam Niyang diyan tayo pinakaepektibo para sa Kaniyang layon.   Tanggapin natin ang Kaniyang layon para sa ating mga buhay at gaya ni Joshua gagamitin Niya tayo para sa Kaniyang ...

If you're alive, God has a plan

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  I don't know what you're undergoing today but if you're alive God has a plan for you. And that plan is full of grace and love.  Mula sa sinapupunan ng ating ina hanggang sa sandali ng ating kamatayan, ang buhay na iyan ay puspos ng biyaya.  Kasama natin Siya sa ups and down ng buhay. Ang tanong ay kung kinikilala ba natin Siya at kung nakikilala ba natin ang Kaniyang pagkilos sa ating buhay.  May mga panahong ang ating mga mata ay pinalalabo ng luha ng kalungkutan o ng alapaap ng pag-aalala ngunit huwag kang matakot, even then, nandiya Siya. Sabi nga sa " Footprint in the Sand ," iyan ang panahong karga ka Niya.  Ipagkatiwala natin sa Kaniya ang ating mga buhay. Bilang mga object ng Kaniyang pag-ibig, hindi Niya tayo dadalhin sa ikapapahamak natin.  Ang Kaniyang layon ay ang maging kawangis tayo ni Cristo , hindi ang mapahamak tayo.  Especially when we're down, remember this truth.  Manatiling nakapokus sa biyaya. Huwag ninyong hayaang nakawin n...

Mga Ipinanganak na Walang Buhay?

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  Isang nakalulungkot na trahedya ang makuhanan. Ilang buwan mong dinala sa sinapupunan pero hindi naipanganak na buhay.  Something spiritually is happening. Maraming nagki-claim na sila ay born again ngunit kung tanungin mo kung may buhay na walang hanggan , ang sagot ay wala.  Para sa mga taong ito, ang born again ay relihiyon (religious born again), hindi kapanganakang espirituwal (tunay na born again). Sa Juan 3 , sinabihan ni Jesus si Nicodemong kailangan niyang ipanganak na muli. Hindi ko tiyak kung sarkastiko si Nicodemo o genuinely curious siya, nagtanong siya kung paano siya makababalik sa sinapupunan ng kaniyang ina? Jesus chides him dahil bilang guro ng Israel dapat alam niya ang kapanganakang muli dahil ito ay binanggit ni Ezekiel .  Pinaliwanag ni Jesus na ang bagong kapanganakan ay espirituwal. Kahit bumalik pa si Nicodemo sa sinapupunan ng kaniyang ina, ang laman ay manganganak lamang ng laman, ang ipinanganak ng Espiritu ay espiritu rin. Pinaliwanag...

Stay on your own lane

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  Stay on your own lane and don't hate those in other lanes.  Malungkot mang isiping kahit sa ministry ay mayroong inggitan at pabidahan. Sa halip na matuwa sa ministry ng iba, ikinasasama ng loob ang tagumpay na sa kaniyang palagay ay dapat sa kaniya.  But the ministry is not a competition. Bawat isa sa atin ay may sariling linya. As long as you stay in your own lane and be faithful running it, you are a success, malaki man o maliit ang iyong ministry. Tingnan ninyo si Jeremias . Sa haba ng kaniyang ministry sa Juda , tinalikuran pa rin ng kaniyang bayan ang Diyos. Iisipin nating siya ay bigo, wala siyang impact sa kaniyang generation. But the truth is he is God's man for that time. Siya ang ilaw na nagpapakita ng liwanag ng katotohanan. Just because the others decide to reject the light, it doesn't mean he is a failure. He is a success. Judah is a failure.  If we just focuse on our own ministry, and let others work on theirs, I suspect that mas magiging harmonious ...

Unfortunately marami ring believers don't get it

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  Don't argue with unbelievers. They don't have the Holy Spirit and they won't get what you're sharing. Rather than be sidetracked into unprofitable debate, focus on the message of life. If they reject it, leave. Unbelievers, due to amoeba of unbelief, will reject your message and accommodate it to his existing worldview. He will accept that Jesus died for his sins, was buried and resurrected and that by faith in Him you have eternal life , and then on the next breath insists you need works to go to heaven. Unless the Holy Spirit convicted them of sin, righteousness and judgement, you're wasting your breath.  Our job is not to convert people. Our job is to share the message and let the Holy Spirit convict them. If they reject the conviction of the Spirit, no skill in communication will make them believe.  Without the Spirit, they won't get it.  Unfortunately, many believers don't get it either. Yes they believe in Jesus for eternal life. Yes they believe i...