Bye Nanay Winnie

My sister-in-law, nanay winnie as my daughters call her, will be flying to Canada. She first comes back to our home country the Philippines after working for a year here in the United Arab Emirates.

Before sending her off to the airport, we had our farewell lunch at the Pinoy Grill in, Deira, Dubai. We ordered the sumptuous seafoods platter, bulalo, fried chicken and laing.

After filling our stomach, we proceeded to watch a Filipino movie, which our daughters insisted to watch "A Very Special Love" starring Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz. We were so fortunate enough to have reserved for 6 seats as the Al Ghurair Cineplex was full of Kabayans and other nationalities escorting their pinoy girlfriend. We were so shocked to have seen a flood of kabayans at the Cineplex. It was our first time to have watched Filipino films here in the UAE.

I never thought I would be enjoying the show. It was so funny, that I even experienced a good laugh from start to finish. As I turned my head to my left, as I was seated at the rightmost of the row, I saw my wife almost slipped from her seat with a boisterous laugh.

Finally, we reached the Dubai International Airport to send off nanay winnie for Philippines. My kids and my wife shed some tears when we bade nanay Winnie good bye, after saying few moments of prayer.

All the best to your new life in Canada nanay Winnie. God bless you.

WIN Al Ain Men's Ministry at 11

Today, August 15, 2008, the Men's Ministry of WIN Al Ain will be turning 11 years since its inception. Bro. Ben Carpio, the UAE National Coordinator for Word International Ministries-UAE Men's Ministry will not only grace this momentous ocassion, but will be God's spokesperson for the celebration.

There are so many firsts that would be experienced by WIN Al Ain's Men's Ministry on this anniversary, to wit:

1- This will be the first anniversary under the new leadership of Bro. Teody Galit. He took over the leadership from Bro. Bobby Canas who had already migrated to Canada with his family. We are missing you Bro. Bobby.

2- This will be the first anniversary, after so many years, without Bro. Bobby.

3- Bro. Ben Carpio will attend and speak for the first time before the rest of the WIN Al Ain congregation.

4- This will be the first anniversary celebration for the Ministry after reclassifying the roles of men of the church whose family or spouse are with them in Al Ain. These men are no longer to take active part in the leadership of the ministry, but rather continues to play a support role only.

5- For most of the new members, this will be their first time to be part of any presentation number befor the congregation. As far as I know of, they have prepared a very memorable and inspiring special number.

6- Most importantly, this may be the first time, as far as I can recall, the member's of men's ministry are practicing for several nights for a special presentation. For the last three years, we only practice two times for a presentation. Hence, it is expected that a very beautiful one will be presented by the Ministry today.

To the Men's Ministry of WIN Al Ain, God bless to you.

Congratulations.

Got to go as I am now raring to see your presentation. Photo's will be posted later.

A Blessed Weekend with Blessed Friends

August 8, 2008. On this date we witnessed the opening ceremony of the 2008 summer Olympics, which is hosted by China. At the comfort of bro Kicks & sis Shonie's unit of one of the freehold properties in International City, Dubai.

No, it was not the viewing of the Olympics opening ceremony that we were there. It was the day of dedicating their beautifully dressed up abode. What else can you expect from a couple who are both architects?

Present of course is our dear Pastor Edward and his family, sis Marlyn and their daughter Sally Joy. My family and other friends were there to witness the dedication.

We then proceeded to the Dubai Festival City where bro Kicks and Sis Shonie treated us for dinner at Chili's restaurant. We stayed their until the shops closed. When we get back to the couple's newly dedicated unit, it is time for us to greet them their 5th wedding anniversary.

The kids and the not so young went to sleep the couple invited me and my wife, Rose to a nearby joint for juice and coffee while relaxing to the unique ambiance. The place was so unique that its interiors are decorated with different form of artworks, and as we learned, it was sourced from different parts of the world.

We enjoyed the juice and coffee while exchanging stories and testimonies until it was time for us to fetch my sister-in-law at the airport. It was already 4:00 am when bro Kicks, sis Shonie, my wife Rose, and I went to call the day.

The Kids creating so much noise at 6:00 am woke us up. Sally Joy and two of my 3 daughters were so eager to go swimming at the pool. They went swimming indeed, but before they proceed to the pool, Daddy Jun, sis Shonie's loving father cooked breakfast for the kids.

How about us and the not so young, in the person of Sis. Nina, Sis Precy, Sis Marlyn, and Pastor Ed? We also treated oursleves with sauna baths before we went to Outlet Mall for shopping without burning out our wallets. It is a matter of disciplining ourselves to buying unnecesary things, a good character of being a faithful steward.

After hours of walking around the huge area of Outlet Mall, we dined at the mall's foodcourt where we feasted the delicious barbecue of Chowking restaurant. As we had our fill, we drove back to Al Ain where a sandstorm and then a downpour greeted us.

It was indeed a blessed day around some blessed family and friends while celbrating the goodness of our Lord Jesus.

Evangelism--Inside Out

Evangelism—Inside Out

By: Bro. Malloy Cabahug

Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written. (Romans 2:17-24, NKJV)

In this section of Paul's letter to the Church in Rome, He particularly addressed it to the Jew. As he pointed out so succinctly, the Jews are so privileged to have received and been instructed by the Law. In fact, if you read further to Romans 3:2, He mentioned their that their race is the very recipient of God's oracles.

Is this something to boast about? Is this something to be proud of?

If we closely examine the our passage above, do you not think that this has the semblance of this modern day Christian church. Indeed there is. If you are a born again Christian, and you belong to a born again church are we not privileged enough to have now Christ living in us? Are we not having received the teachings from the Holy Spirit who is indwelling in our hearts every time we spend time with our prayer and devotion?

Paul said further on that the Jew, and the Christian for that matter should be the guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish and a teacher of babes.

Simply stated, all Christian, you and me should not keep the privilege to ourselves. We have a twofold task at hand.

First is to be guide to the blind and light to the dark world. The blind and dark world here is figuratively used to mean the unbelievers or those who knows not of spiritual things. And when they come to know the Lord Jesus, through our evangelistic efforts, they now are considered babes in Christ. Paul described this type as foolish and babes. Again, it is a figurative meaning for those who are still immature in their faith. Thereby, you should not only share them the Gospel of Jesus, but teach them and mold them to live the Gospel.

Second task at hand as Paul instructed is for us to be careful in carrying out the first task. Do you think a blind can lead another blind? Imagine two blind men walking along the highways of the UAE where cars are flying on the roads. Can you guide a person out of darkness when you do not have a torch or even a pen light at hand? How much more the giving of instructions and teaching when you know nothing.

Friends, Paul's message is so clear. Genuine Evangelism that sustains over time is one that starts from inside out and not the other way around. True, when we first received Christ, and if indeed it is a genuine conversion that you personally experienced, you will be so fired up to share your experience to the whole world. That is not bad. It is indeed a noble thing to share the Gospel.

If you speak of sustainable Evangelism, follow the twofold task that Paul instructed. Go and share the Gospel, but do not forget to equip yourself. Do not forget to feed your spirit by way of personal prayer and devotion, regular study of the Word, attending a Bible study group, attend seminars and trainings. Do not be content by just attending the weekly worship service.

God bless us all.

Enjoying LR2 Trial Copy

Downloaded trial copy of Adobe Lightroom 2. Interface is impressive. Very user friendly.

No wonder why professional and serious photographers are in love with this software. This is very useful especially for wedding photographers who are processing tons of images for every engagement. It is just a perfect software for this professionals.

I am now almost tempted to have one, but on second thought I do not think I really need this badly. I am more than satisfied with my copy of CS2. It more than serve what I needed in my post processing, hence no need to spend extra $$$.

Thanks for the trial copy. I will just have to maximize usage of this copy for the next 30 days.

Photo shown herein is a product of my playing around this free software. Thanks Adobe for this trial copy. Kudos to Adobe for creating such a wonderful product.