Seven random facts about myself

I was born one minute past 12 midnight of October 15, 1985. That means my birthdate is on October 16.

I have always thought that my right palm is dirtier than my left. No, it’s not dirt. It’s a birthmark.

My uncle (deceased) thought that a Hercules was born on that day since it was raining hard and it seemed that the night sky, with roaring thunder, was mad when I came out. He thought he was wrong because all my childhood days, I was a skinny lad.

I would like to believe that I am strong not physically though. My paternal aunt, the one next to my papa, gave me the biblical name John David . Just in case I am talking to someone like Landon Carter in A Walk to Remember, here are basic facts about the epitome of my name:

John is known as the Evangelist or the Divine and is one of the one of the 12 Apostles and the brother of James the Great. He is traditionally considered the author of the fourth Gospel, which is the Book of John, and as well as the Book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible.

David, one of the characters in the Bible that I so love, is responsible for slaying the uncircumcised giant named Goliath. He succeeded Saul as King. He is known to be the author of the Book of Psalms. And my favorite fact about him is that he is a man after God’s own heart.

I grew up at church which was once just at our backyard then moved to the biggest theatre in the city then to one of the busiest markets in the city. I was raised a Born-Again Christian and was taught that Jesus is the only way to Heaven, not through good works or intelligence or religion. From being a Sunday school kid to being one of the teachers in it and to being a director in our church’s kids camp to being a keyboardist to being one of the youth leaders and currently overseeing the Campus Ministry, I practically was a church kid.

They thought I’d become a pastor but I am a teacher by profession. But before I became part of what used to be my department as a college student, I was a telemarketer. I tried it because I was curious what it feels like to be part of the industry that was once at its peak that time. I quit after a paid three weeks of being a greenhorn. Though it was just a short stint but it is worth mentioning that I was a content writer in the short-lived Chum City Radio, the youth arm of the now defunct Mom’s Radio. Then I joined the teaching force of the department of Development Communication. I have been teaching for three years now. I have found my passion.

Pathetic. I once ate inside one of the toilet rooms in the second floor of the Science Center building because, one, I thought that Xavier canteen back when I was a freshman in college is humid, and two, because I was puffy that I do not associate with people I think not in the same plane as me. But I have changed.

Treasures in trials

Think not like a civilian when you are in hardship, but think like a good soldier.

Know that a good solider does not seek sympathy but endures in hardship. Only the best soldiers endure. The brainchild of the 9/11 attacks, Osama Bin Laden, was tracked and killed by the best soldiers who are part of the Navy Seal Team Six. The team is one of United States' four secretive counter-terrorism groups. And these soldiers, before becoming a part of such an elite group, have gone through an arduous training.

Know that a strong character is in every good soldier who has endured the hard training. Nothing could be more perfect as an example, from the Bible, of a person who has gone through a lot of hardship in life but Joseph. Think about this: he was sold into slavery by the very people who are supposed to love him and not betray him, his biological brothers; he was locked in prison for he chose to keep his integrity intact by not having sex with his master’s wife.

But behind Joseph’s bitter experience was the wonderful plan of God. He was promoted by God in a very strategic position and became the second most powerful man, next to Pharaoh. These were all orchestrated by God.

And when his brothers came and sought his help during a time of famine, he welcomed and forgave them. He could have retaliated but he did not. He endured and in the process developed a strong character. He forgave and forgives.

And lastly, know that a strong character developed through enduring hardships makes someone optimistic. Job was positive even if the circumstances around him seem to invite him to reproach God – his oxens, donkeys, camels were stolen; his sheeps were burned up by 'the fire of God which fell from the sky; the house of his firstborn collapsed due to a mighty wind and his offspring were killed; and Job himself was smitten with awful boils which he scraped with broken pottery.

His wife prompted him to "curse God, and die" but instead, he shaved his head, tore his clothes and blessed the name of the Lord saying: "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return: the Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of Lord."

Know that there is always hope. The biblical story ended happily with Job restored to good health and as well as his possessions. He had acquired 13,000 sheeps; 6,000 camels; 2,000 oxens; 2,000 donkeys. He had 7 sons and 3 beautiful daughters, and he lived up to the fourth generation down his line.

Today, Texas, the second largest state in the US is locked in a historic drought. The water level in Lake Whitney State Park – which is once a perfect place for boating, fishing, scuba diving and water skiing – has receded and has exposed caverns. And this record-setting drought has turned the place into a treasure trove for treasures hunters. They have unearthed from the underwater caverns 8,000-year-old fossils and Native American tools from prehistoric times. Priceless artifacts.

Good soldier, know and find the treasures in your trials.

This is base on Rev Alex Eduave’s sermon on Oct 2, 2011, Romans 5:3-5, at Celebration International Church Network and is for his student whom he knows is going through a rough time.

CCMN aids twister victims

Short-term missionaries of Cell Church Missions Network (CCMN) were here when a twister struck last Friday in two urban villages in Cagayan de Oro City.

Upon learning what befell in Brgy Patag and Bulua, without hesitation, the team raised fund to buy five 50-kilo sacks of rice and four boxes of noodles and gave them to 136 families in Zone 12, Bulua on July 31, 2011, Sunday afternoon.

Ps Homer Eduave of Celebration International Church Network and Foundation (CIFN) introduced the missionaries from Hong Kong and Japan to the people who flocked around the vehicle carrying the relief goods.

“Naa mi dala nga ginagmay nga bugas ug noodles. Tuyo pud nila nga mubisita sa mga balay, sa mga pamilya ug mag-ampo (We brought a small number of rice and noodles. Our visitors would also like to visit your houses and pray for you.),” says Pastor Eduave, who also is a member of the International Disaster Response Network (IDRN).

Chief village police Eduardo Aban helped in the distribution of goods and explained, “Dili man maigo sa tanan, pero dili lang magmahay. Nangayo ko sa pagsabot (This will not be enough for everyone but don’t be upset. I hope that you will understand.).”

The CCMN and CIFN teams moved into the inner part of the village and saw more devastation caused by the twister described by Nellie Ayuban, 58, resident, “wa ko nagdahum ug ingun ato ka grabe nga dilubyo. (I did not expect for a great deluge like what happened.)” She broke into tears as she recounted what happened that fateful Friday afternoon.

She and other residents who received the rice and noodles packed in yellow cellophanes were thankful for the provision.

Nutritious bars called SoyJoy from USA and slippers, shoes, toys, and school supplies brought by the missionaries were also doled out.

“I saw the hands of the children asking for toys. These toys from Hong Kong are donations; they are not used anymore. But here, the children are so happy to receive them. We are so happy to help these children. It is so touching,” Sman Ng, leader of the CCMN team, shared.

These CCMN missionaries have been going for the past five days to Burgos, Consolacion and Tagoloan areas for an evangelistic outreach.

(This article was published in NEWSLINE Mindanao last August 4, 2011)