Our New Wineskin

No one uses a piece of new cloth to patch up an old coat, because the new patch will shrink and tear off some of the old cloth making an even bigger hole, nor does anyone pour new wine into used wineskins, because the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and skins will be ruined. Instead new wine must be poured into fresh wineskin. - Mark 2:21-22

Pope Francis has just fled back to Rome leaving behind so many words and wisdom that were able to inspire many Filipinos, Christians and non-Christians. His very visit and messages pierced a lot of hearts that were once cold and weeping and true enough, it made a great impact to all of us setting our hearts ablaze.
As I relate this event to the Gospel yesterday, let us not allow this new found spirit to be in vain and fade by not acting. Let us not pour this new wine into an old wineskin by going back to our usual routines as if nothing happened.
Lastly, I pray that whatever has happened to us on Pope Francis' visit, may we be able to translate it into actions and decide genuinely to once again follow Jesus Christ.

Buhay YFC: The Other Side of the Coin

We began our youths camps with very little awareness on where are we putting ourselves into. We see young people praying, singing various songs, conducting talks and facilitating activities. This may sound strange, unusual and for some even weird but we have gone through this, nakapag-camp naman tayo lahat eh.
Naranasan nating umiyak dahil sa reflection, napanga-nga at nabored sa ibang mga speakers. Hindi nakatulog dahil maraming lamok o talagang hindi lang sanay matulog sa ibang lugar. Pagdating sa talk 5 napasabi ka sa sarili mo na magpapakabait ka na sabay "pag-uwi ko mag I love you ako sa parents ko." Were very idealistic, so full of enthusiasm in "serving the Lord" through YFC then finally makakauwi narin at makakatulog ng mahimbing.
Then what's next? Oo nga pala may covenant orientation pa, doon daw ako magiging certified YFC at makukuha ang ID ko. O natapos na ang covenant orientation, anu uli ang susunod? Ay teka magpacamp tayo! So may Youth Camp training and Household leaders training diba? Diba ito yung may lokohan na workshop? Yung tipong aasarin ang bagong service team tapos sasabihing, "dapat ready tayo sa mga ganitong sitwasyon" tapos hindi naman pala ganun ka lala, exaggerated lang
Then yehey! Camp na. Magiging service team na ako. Start muna ako sa prayer warrior kasi shy type ako. Ahw ang boring pala nito, paulit-ulit nalang ang rosary. Dapat next camp sa music min ako. Maganda din yung camp servant kasi panay lakad-lakad lang tsaka kitchen warrior kasi nasa kusina lang.
After several years, ininvite na maging speaker. Hmp ayoko nyan baka mapahiya ako. Doon nalang ako ulit sa DGL o sa kahit anu basta wag lang yan. How about sharer nalang? Wala naman akong ma ishare eh (kalokohan lang alam ko haha :p). Eh magdasal nalang? hmp sila nalang, mas magaling sila magdasal eh...
Kaya ayun, camp after camp ganun nalang. Nakakapagod na. Pahinga muna ako, kaya naman nila yan eh. Babawi nalang ako sa next activity.
Pagdating ng next activity. Ininvite ulit. Pero pass muna, baka next time nalang busy ako eh, may exams kami bukas.
Lumipas ang maraming activity di parin ako pumunta. Nagtatago nalang, umiiwas, at nahihiya. miss ko na ang YFC pero nahihiya na ako. Hanggang tingin nalang ako nito. Then nag college nalang at nag-graduate wala na talaga. Goodbye YFC
End of story

Giving and Receiving

Gospel:

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. He said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." - Luke 14:12-14.

Reflection:

Just yesterday, my family were invited to a birthday celebration of my nephew and after such banquet we had some sincere discussions with my uncle. He somehow shed light into the overly used principle related to giving. Many people adheres to giving to charity because it will somehow return to you in much bigger amount or quantity. My uncle then asked a question; do you give because of the reward/ return that can surely benefit you? Or do you give out of love?
This simply opened up the idea of various motives in giving. We might see other people generously giving but have always expected something in return and for some who might be seen as a generous giver but in reality alms to that person's perspective.
I think the Gospel is simply telling us to be a generous  giver and at the same time a generous lover. Giving without expecting any in return and giving even small amounts but with enormous love.

Imprisonment

This is not to discourage our brothers and sisters in availing apple products or buy any gadget but I would post it to remind people of their priorities and potentials.

A lot of us are quite aware of the technology we are enjoying. From the convenience of our computers, cellphones and other machines enabling us to accomplish so many tasks with lesser effort. Even in our Youth for Christ community we evangelize through the use of social media such as facebook, twitter, instagram. We also spread inspirational videos through youtube and other similar sites.
Just like any other things, it also has its drawbacks. Numerous people nowadays including our fellow brothers and sisters tend to be imprisoned with the technology they are enjoying. Some tend to build up their self-worth by constantly keeping up with the new trend in the gadget world. Some tend to consider themselves as famous and having a lot of friends even if the reality says otherwise. They are isolating themselves and only interacting online without the bother to communicate in person.
What's bothering me is the distortion in some of the values which I find very important such as friendship and self-worth. Self-worth is not measured by how many friends/followers you have online neither how many likes did your recent photo have accumulate. It's real foundation is actually the goodness you have in yourself, your talents, skills and how you've used them for the good.

Hope this picture would also remind us the various imprisonment we have over earthly things.

About Faith

The video simply reminded me of the things I do even if other people sees it as irrelevant and worthless. Just like the person in video, he continued helping without even expecting any in return yet in the end, everything seems to have taken their respective place and worked out for our hero.

SEND ME by Liveloud

intro:
C - G - Am - F (4x)



Verse:  (C - G - Am - F)
C      G  Am                 F
here i am coming before your throne
C            G    Am                 F
your servant Lord waiting to do your will
C      G  Am                F
here i am giving my life to you
C            G     Am             F
your soldier Lord, ready for your command



Chorus: (C - G - Am - F)
C       G               Am        F
send me Lord and i will go to the place you have prepared
C       G               Am             F
send me Lord and i will speak with the power of your word
C       G               Am                F
send me Lord and i will seek your awesome love and majesty
C    G       Am    F        G
Lord send me, Lord send me, i will go...
(C - G - Am - F)



Verse2: (C - G - Am - F)
C      G  Am               F
i will go wherever you may lead me
C           G         Am                 F
Your spirit Lord will be my strength and shield
C      G  Am                 F
I will go to valley high and low
C            G       Am        F
Your kingdom Lord on earth may come



Chorus2: (C - G - Am - F) 3x then do (C - G - Am - F - G)
C       G               Am        F
send me Lord and i will go to the place you have prepared
C       G               Am             F
send me Lord and i will speak with the power of your word
C       G               Am                F
send me Lord and i will seek your awesome love and majesty
C    G       Am    F
Lord send me, Lord send me, i will go...
C    G       Am    F        G
Lord send me, Lord send me, i will go...



Adlib:
F - G - Am (2x)



Bridge: (F - G - Am) 3x then do (F - G - Am - G)
F           G      Am
Though I fear what lies beyond the horizon
F           G     Am
I'll be brave for you oh Lord are with me
F          G   Am
There may be a mountain of oppresion
F                     G              Am  G
I will fall for it is your love that overcomes



Chorus3: (repeat chorus3 2x) (C - G - Am - F)
C       G               Am        F
send me Lord and i will go to the place you have prepared
C       G               Am             F
send me Lord and i will speak with the power of your word
C       G               Am                F
send me Lord and i will seek your awesome love and majesty
C    G       Am    F        G
Lord send me, Lord send me, i will go...

TRAILBLAZIN

Intro: E - F#m - A - B

I. (do intro c.p.)
Ahead of the pack keeping up the pace
Together we blaze in God's amazing grace
Paving the trail though at times in may seem frail
We will pursue for the promise is true

Chorus:
         C#m         B
We'll be blazin' for God
        C#m          B  
We will fire up the trail
        F#m     G#m      A 
Zooming onwards with the spirit
     G#m     F#m     B
Make way for here we come
         (intro chords) 
We'll be trailblazin'

II. (do intro c.p.)
Riding with the spirit his move is strong and fast
Be ready anytime don't be left behind
Changing old records setting the standards
Live to the fullest for God deserves the best
(Chorus)

Bridge:
F#m - G#m - A       
For those who follow the trail be faithful all the way
F#m - G#m - A - B           
Strengthening what we've started never giving up when the road is rough

 (chorus)