Behind the Curtain

There was once a Jewish man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when bandits robbed him along the way. They beat him severely, stripped him naked, and left him half dead. “Soon, a Jewish priest walking down the same road came upon the wounded man. Seeing him from a distance, the priest crossed to the other side of the road and walked right past him, not turning to help him one bit. “Later, a religious man, a Levite, came walking down the same road and likewise crossed to the other side to pass by the wounded man without stopping to help him. “ Finally, another man, a Samaritan , came upon the bleeding man and was moved with tender compassion for him.   He stooped down and gave him first aid, pouring olive oil on his wounds, disinfecting them with wine, and bandaging them to stop the bleeding. Lifting him up, he placed him on his own donkey and brought him to an inn. Then he took him from his donkey and carried him to a room for the night.   Th...

Behind the Curtain: Please Stand by : We often ask   “how are you?” to someone when we want to start a conversation but someone told me, instead of asking “how are you?” ...

We often ask   “how are you?” to someone when we want to start a conversation but someone told me, instead of asking “how are you?” how about asking them “how’s your heart?” because she said that this question can go deeper and make the conversation longer. And I think it’s a good way to start this letter. So how’s your heart today my friend? It’s been a while since we greet each other and ask these questions. I hope we can catch up with each other sometime soon and hear your stories once again. Last time I saw you laughing with your friends, the other time you are walking alone. Yet you are still wearing those smile and I like the way how you smile when you greeted someone. Somehow, it can lift up discouraged soul. Yesterday I saw you again, this time with your family. You are having chitchat with them while eating at your favorite restaurant and I knew that you enjoy and savor the moment with them. Then the following day I heard you how you encourage the stranger no...

You made it! My beloved, well done to all the chapters you finished. Well done to the season you have been through.  It's not easy to endure it, but seeing you standing still, that's what makes your story more beautiful.  You know what? I really appreciate you for not giving up on your calling despite of all those voices you hear, telling you “you are not enough, you can't make it”. I also appreciate you for all the battles you have fought, though you think you lose all the battles, but you really did great! You fought the good fight of faith. And that's what makes you amazing.  Thank you for trying it again every time you fail, i know, that it's not easy to start again but you still keep on going! And I am proud of you. Thank you for holding tight to the promise even though your losing your hope at times. It seems like it is impossible to happen but you keep on waiting until you will see the result. Thank you for choosing to depend on me everyday. Yes,...

I t’s been a long tiring day my dear because our journey into the promise was too long and the battle we fight is not yet over. I know, there are those moment that you ask,  “how long will I wait? How long will it take? How long will I endure? How long will this season last?  You long for the good old days because you feel that you are no longer growing. The progress was too slow, the process was too long. There are those days that you are tempted to complain and compare your situation to others. There are times that you lose your battle within, your feelings surpass your passion. Your praise report now is getting worn out. You no longer hold the reason of your joy. There are those moments that you cry out to God but it seems like nothing’s happening, and there are those thoughts that you think your works are in vain. But  please-- keep fighting, fight until the end to fulfill your purpose, to finish your duty. Please don’t stop until you see the resul...

I’m letting go “This was the last thing I expected to hear, and I walked off with a heavy heart because I was holding on tight to a lot of things and I’m not about to let go……….” I was ready on that day to come when I could finally meet him and be with him forever. “I am ready”, I thought ----ready to give the things that he would ask, in able for me to stay with him for the rest of my life. Ready to do the things that I must do just to gain his love. Thus, I prepared for him so that he would be pleased, and finally that day has come. I built up strength and courage to stand in front of him and face him with confidence. I was so excited on that day, because I thought everything will go right, but it was just a thought. A thought that sometimes was too far from reality, the thought that “I can” but reality says, “I can’t”. The thought that “I was ready” but the truth is, I was wrong. I came to him running, as he was preparing for a journey. I greeted him with great ...

A Call of Grace Every day was a routine. What’s happening now has happened before. Everything was done repeatedly; we eat, work, and sleep. Things are the same over and over again. As the writer of Ecclesiastes has said that there’s nothing new in life, I guess I agree with him… until one moment comes. That one day in your life will give you a big impact. Those moments are the ones that are breaking the habit; a moment where dyed-in-the wool will disappear, a certain moment that even if it’s over; it will still go on. They are lasting moments that stays even after years have passed. These certain moments holds meaning in our life. They make the old ones become new. And at the spur of the moment it happens. I came from a well to do family so I almost had everything but I grew up in a tradition where everything that is written in the book of law must be obeyed. So I mastered everything and strictly followed the law that’s why they call me Mr. know it all, and then I became a p...