Pinas

After all the hoopla, my sister's wedding seemed like to be the last of the excitement... Not!

Thursday is here and I cannot sleep, so it's time to blog!

There is so much going on right before I leave, it seems that I can't even get my head on straight. Packing, preparing, and praying has been the cycle of these past few days. And did I mention sneezing too? Yes, I came down with something and my nose has been running faster than Usain Bolt. But I do believe that I am getting better. This is an interesting time to get sick, isn't it?

We are leaving tonight at 10 PM and by God's grace we will land in the PI on the 29th, then we will go on from there. The plan is to build relationships, spread the Gospel, make disciples, preach the word, and everything else that must be done in order to fulfill the Great Commission. We are fallible men preaching from an infallible Word, and I pray that our shortcomings and our sin will not get in the way of truth spreading to the uttermost parts of the world. May the Lord guard us from sin as we share the good news of Christ Jesus and build up the fellow believers in the Philippines.

My feelings are mixed about this whole trip and I really don't know what to expect because this will be my first time to the Pinas. It's funny how some people look down on you because you haven't been to the PI, almost as if you haven't lived a complete life or experienced true "humility" at all until you have been there (that is a topic for another blog). But yes, I do know the Lord will humble on this trip and I pray that it does some good. Bong says that seeing everything and experiencing this culture, I will either come back a very humble person or very bitter towards everyone who is ignorant, and really, I am hoping for the former to be true about me. My prayer is that this trip will sanctify me instead of me causing others to stumble with my arrogance. I know that your true colors show in the midst of trials so I guess we'll really see how I react to adversity and affliction in the form of bug bites.

I think everything is basically planned out for us. We are leaving some room for spontaneity in our schedule but our itinerary has a general skeleton. It gives us areas to be flexible to where the Lord may want us to go day-to-day. I just hope we are able to maximize our time because two weeks will fly by so quickly.

People ask me if I'm scared or if I'm excited, but really, it's a combination of both. When it comes to the uncertainty, the peace of God is guarding my heart and my mind. But in regards to the excitement, I cannot stop smiling. When I hear that so many people (in the country in which my family originated) are having a dying thirst for the quenching Word of God, I cannot help but leap for joy. So many people have this longing to be taught how to use the scriptures rightly in order to be truly effective for the ministry of the people in the PI. After seeing what the Spirit has done in the life of my friends, family, and even myself, I can't help but be so EXCITED and anxious to meet other like-minded brothers and sisters who have this desire to sanctify Christ in their own hearts. I can't wait to encourage these people by reminding them that though we are an entire ocean apart, we are still running the same race, and we can even run it together. "Bearing one another's burdens" was never intended to be bound by location or distance. I pray that I can cultivate a relationship with someone who needs the encouragement of a brother through prayer, accountability, and maybe even physical support.

The Lord has been gracious to us so far. Thank you to everyone who has been financially supporting us throughout the beginning. We know that we could only get this help from fellow brothers and sisters, such as yourselves, who understand the need for the local church to commission and support its fellow believers for the furtherance of the kingdom. Continue to petition to the Lord on our behalf as we endeavor to feed not the physically hungry, but to nurture the spiritually weak and the down casted souls with the pure milk of the Word of God. This sanctified sustenance will last much longer than any bread or temporal morsel could ever last, and it is a food which gives hope to the individual. This word will remind him that when we are reunited with our Lord, and we see him face to face, we will never want, or thirst, or hunger ever again. May we remind them that in our deepest affliction, we glory not in the present circumstance, but in the hope that is in eternity. I pray that will be our anthem here in America as well...

Even though it has already beaten us there, it is time for the Gospel to hit the Pinas. May we start this trip by loving each other first so that others may know we are disciples of Christ--through our love for one another. And let us hope and pray that He sees us till the very end. Please look after one another while were gone.

Grace and peace be with you all in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I will be thinking and praying for you constantly.

- Your brother Micah

Sis (Part 1)

It is going to be a hectic two weeks...

I will be leaving for the Philippines on the 27th and this Saturday my sister will be getting married... that's right, married.

People are always asking me, "Hey Micah! How does it feel knowing your sister is getting married?" I always look at them with a tiny smirk and my response has always been the same, "It hasn't hit me yet."

Which is true, it just hasn't hit me yet that my sister is getting married. I know that eventually I'll realize it, but as of now, things just feel as normal as usual.

Whenever I'm asked this question, it makes me ponder about what exactly my response should be to my sister getting married. So if you care to take the time, let us figure it out together...

What would you say if the person that you talked the most to, spent the most time with, the most games with, fought the most with, looked up to (as kids this was literal) and were most concerned about were finally about to leave you?

Yah, you would be at a loss for words too I suppose.

Yes, I've heard the whole, "You're-not-losing-a-sister-but-gaining-a-brother" speech, but the reality is my sister is leaving and cleaving, and that is what she should be doing. So people are always asking me what I think about this whole ordeal, and every time they pose the question, I stop and think about two things: I remember our past and think about the future. As we dissect this, lets discuss the past and I'll probably blog about the future later...

I grew up in the same house with this person for 22 years. It is funny to think about how the person you shared a bathroom with is finally getting one of her own. (Actually, she'll still be sharing one).

Anyways, when you look back at old pictures in albums and old videos, you are just hit with so many memories that come flooding back into your mind almost without ceasing. You are greeted by old friends, people, toys, parties, and places that have turned you into the person that you are today. It is amazing how everyone has changed SO much in just a single decade. Friends and family have come and gone, people who you thought would never turn their back on the Lord, have now embrace a life of worldliness, and even the most unlikely people from your past have now become your closest of brothers. Despite all the change that has happened, there has always been one person that has always been there. She is the one that always stuck close. I have lost many friends and so-called "brothers," but the one person that has endured it all with me was her.

Looking back, you can't help but talk about the things that stick out the most...

Recreation was frequent with us. Since both our imaginations were crazy, the sky was the limit on the games that we would come up with. This ranged from playing with cut out paper bunnies, to talking beanie babies, from funny little Legos, and to regular Nintendo (That last one didn't need much imagination). Even though we didn't have a big family, as a kid, I was content with just hangin' out and chilling with my sister.

We didn't have deep meaningful conversations back then, but arguing was like our religion. In our anger, we used TV remotes and small (sometimes sharp) objects as projectiles in order to settle our many disputes. And even after hurting each others feelings, we never ever ever apologized. Haha! Elementary kids have so much pride (How foolish were we!). I wasn't even allowed to call her "Ate" as our culture demands, so I resorted to the American vernacular of "Sis" which is short for "Sister" for those of you a little slow in understanding slang. It was such an exciting time...

As teenagers, life was changing fast. We both couldn't wait for her to get her license. We needed transportation, and we needed it now! Like typical teenagers, each of us had our own problems and issues in middle school and high school and having a brother and sister seemed to be both a blessing and a curse. We loved having a sibling to talk to but for most of the time we just got in each other's way and on each other's nerves.

Serving in church and CPYF was probably the time of our lives. Great fellowship with family in Christ was the highlight of our weeks. We served in the same ministries at church, we hung out with our humungo family, and we ate a lot of food, we couldn't have asked for anything sweeter! (Life was so chill as a kid in ignorance.) My sister would be my number one clothes consultant (and still is) all because of my fashion handicap in my high school years. The high school years (her early college years) were great, and it was good to have someone who made all the mistakes before me so that I wouldn't have to. And this definitely wouldn't help our arguments. Having an older sibling had its downs but it also had its ups.

Though we have had our differences, we had (still have) a deep understanding between the two us. And I can't really explain it in words but we kind of always knew how each other felt. Especially when our parents or other people didn't understand how we felt, we always sympathized with each other. When I'd get upset, my frustration would affect my grammar, and I wouldn't be able to express in words how I felt at that moment. My speech didn't even sound like English anymore! Yet through all the jumbled words, she always understood exactly what I meant no matter how crazy it sounded. If we couldn't express how we felt in words to the people that didn't understand us, all we would have to do was look in each others eyes and we would completely understand each other. It was almost as if once we made eye contact we nonverbally communicated the phrase, "It's okay, I know how you feel." To this day, we still have this understanding with each other that I just cannot explain.

These recent past years have probably been the most dear to me. This is probably because I became a TRUE believer in the Lord Jesus Christ during my college years. The Gospel has shed light upon my dark and sinful eyes and I have learned so much in the recent years than I have my entire life. The best part of it all is that I wasn't alone in this. The same person that I physically grew up with was also someone who was growing up with me spiritually. The relationship that we had back then is nothing compared to what we have now. I have the privilege of calling my blood-sister a sister in Christ and I praise God for that gracious gift knowing that many others do not have this same blessing.

What drives me to write this blog is that I love my sister more than I did before. Having gone through so many trials and difficulties, it is so good to have a sister who has ran the race with you for so long without quitting. I cannot explain how encouraging it is to see someone transformed by the grace of God right before your very eyes. My prayer is that God will see us both to the end.

Since my regeneration, I truly understand how I am suppose to love her as a brother. I respect my sister so much because of her desire to seek and please the Lord in every aspect of her life. Though she may not speak as sternly as many other women do, she is much much stronger than them, and that is because of her love for Christ. A woman's strength isn't measured by charm or outward beauty, but in her submission to the Lord. I praise God for my sister who is seeking holiness when many others are not. In these last days, she is indeed a rare breed. Though she be an imperfect person, she is the Godliest woman that I know, and knowing this only makes me thank the Lord every day for her life and for her great influence on me. May she do wonderful things for the Kingdom.

Father, thank you for your grace in the form of my sister. I cannot praise you enough for your lovingkindess in her life. May You always help her and keep her to the very end so that she may finish the race without regret. My petition is that all would know that she is a disciple of yours through her love for others and her love for You. Guard her from sin, and may her ambition be to deny her flesh and cherish You above all things.

-Micah

The Pursuit of Holiness? (Why we must have a Purpose Driven Holy Life )

Can someone pursue too much holiness?

It is interesting how some actually think so. I'm saddened when I hear others throw out words and terms without making sure that they are defining them correctly. (Been there) Legalism is one of those words that is a favorite for people to use. To the surprise of many, the definition of legalism is not someone who desires holiness. Because if that were the case, then every follower of Christ would be a legalist. The bible definitely does not call Christians to be legalist. Instead, we are called to be holy people. But this seems to raise a lot of confusion in our minds.

We begin to ask questions like: What are someones motives for pursuing holiness? Why be holy in the first place? Is it to Lord it over other people? To flaunt it? Is it about attaining perfection, a type of "works righteousness?"

We have lots of questions to answer, but let us define what holiness is not by understanding the term legalism. Robert Spinney gives a clear definition. Legalism is defined as:

"...an attitude (or motive) that leads people to try to establish, maintain, or improve a righteous standing before God by their own activities.

He goes on to say that

Legalism is founded upon the belief that the Lord Jesus Christ's justifying and saving work must be supplemented by one's own works. It results in an unbiblical emphasis upon works in one's relationship with God, especially by injecting works into the matter of justification.

This is quite clear if you think about it. In order to spot a legalist, you look at his inner motives for why he does what he does. Its all about the heart's intentions! When you look at a person's reasons for why they do what they do, it tells you a lot about them. If someone lives a life of strict obedience for the purpose of self-accolades, pedestal praises, or even perfectionism, then by all means, call it what it is: LEGALISM. But as you can see, legalism has no place in the life of a Christian. On the contrary, our Lord condemned the hypocritical legalistic lifestyle of the Pharisees who thought their external good deeds and recognition from men could place them into a good standing before God. That is not what we as Christians are to model our lives after. Believers in Christ have motives for holiness but those motives are not about self-glory.

"For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification."
1 Thessalonians 4:7

This verse is in the context of God's will for a believers life in the area of sanctification, specifically, it is in reference sexual immorality. What Paul reminds the church in Thessalonica in this verse is that they are defined as people of holiness. The word "call" is a word that has connections to the naming of an individual. For example: "That girl was called Susie." Thats simple enough, right? In the same way, believers in the Gospel, are named or called by God as "saints." This word means "holy one" or "set apart ones" to God. It can also mean "sanctified ones." It is amazing how the very definition of our name has implications of holiness that pop directly out of it.

What we pull from this verse is that our ambition and goal as believers is to live holy and blameless lives that are pleasing to our Lord. You guys remember how we talked about motives right? Well our motive for holiness is to please our God. That is what fuels our engines! That is what drives us to learning more about God, sharing the Gospel, and living a life of purity. We don't seek to be pure because we want to Lord it over anyone (2 Cor. 1:24) or earn our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). But why we as Christian strive so hard for holiness is because that is what God calls us to be. (1 Pet. 1:16) We are to be holy because that's what He is.

Our purpose in life is sanctification and that is what people should think of when they think about us. The name of Christ has been drug through the dirt because so many profess to know Him yet do not reflect His Grace in their lives. If we are saved by the grace of our Lord, so we must live like we are saved by that grace. (Rom. 6:1-2)

My prayer for you is that when people think of you and you're name, that they wouldn't see you as a legalist or a holiness freak. Though we cannot help it when people accuse us of sins we did not commit, we must continue on to "excel still more" and strive for purity. Others must see us as people who have been with Christ, and say to themselves "that man/woman must be a saint of God." Again, not to glorify the flesh, but to magnify the Father!

You shouldn't define yourself as what the world wants you to be, but you should define yourself by who you are in Christ. Since we are called saints we must live like saints and never sully the name of God and our affiliation with Christ Jesus. So let us pursue holiness okay guys? Because that is what were suppose to do. Love you guys so much.

- Hacim

P.S. By the way, love for Jesus = Holiness too (John 14:15)