Successful Christian

Successful Christian  (June 28, PCC)
Junrey Belando

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Philippians 3:12-3:14 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Jas 1:2-4 - 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (NIV)

Introduction

What is a “successful Christian”? Who will hear the words, “well done good and faithful servant?”
Will it be the one that stops sinning? Will it be the elders or those on the board? Will it be the pastors of the mega-churches? Who can expect to hear those words of highest praise, “well done good and faithful servant?”            Will you?

If the Christian life is a race – my question this morning – are you running the race to finish it? Are you preparing yourself, your family, your spouse, and your children to finish the race? I will never forget what Pastor Frank told the principal sponsors of the newly wed couples Malou and Ardianno last May 26 right before they got married—it was their spiritual responsibility to guide the newly weds to walk in Christ. Last Sunday night as well, when we went to our Brother Patrickson’s house, he was admonished about his responsibility for his son, Patrick Lou Hynes. And for all of us right here, it is  our  duty to make sure we are  in church, active in fellowship and growing in our relationship with God.

ILL. The 1992 Summer Olympics featured two tremendously heart-rending moments. American sprinter Gail Devers, the clear leader in the 100 meter hurdles, tripped over the last barrier. She agonizingly pulled herself to her knees & crawled the last five meters, finishing fifth - but finishing, nevertheless. Even more emotional was the 400 meter semifinal in which British runner Derek Redmond tore a hamstring & fell hard on the track. He struggled to his feet & began to hobble, determined to complete the race. His father ran from the stands to help him off the track, but Derek refused to quit. He leaned on his father, & the two limped to the finish line together, accom-panied by the deafening applause of the thousands assembled there that day. (John E. Anderson, "What Makes Olympic Champions?" Reader’s Digest, February 1994, p. 120)

I like to hear stories about people who won't give up. Quitters aren't much of an inspiration, but people who stay with a commitment even though the going gets tough are a source of inspiration to us all.

Sometimes I think we get the idea that we should be running this race, but we’re in it all alone – Actually the opposite should be true – the church should be a place of confession, encouragement and love – people who are willing to run beside you in this Christian life. Really the goal of the church should be to take those who are inactive runners and help them – start or start up again, and then run beside them. Unlike church league softball this isn’t about winning this is about finishing.

I don’t want you to quit – I don’t want you to walk off the track, I don’t want you to look around, make excuses or get discouraged. Yet I know the very nature of the Christian life – it’s sometimes easier to walk off the track than it is to keep going. Church, I’ve been there in my own Christian life – at different stages ready to walk off the track. I’ve had good friends – men I would trust with anything, walk off the track, away from Christian service. My prayer for you this morning – is that we together would keep running this race that is the Christian life – and although discouragement might come our way – although challenges might present themselves – we would keep running, to finish.

Are you running the race to finish it?

Turn with me if you have your Bibles to (Advance) Hebrews 12:1-3 (Read)

I see three things this morning – three things that will encourage you to keep running – your Christian life – Remember the goal is long term.

I. Look Behind you (1)

98% of the time when you are running a race this is not the proper thing to do. In fact the quickest way to lose a foot race is to look behind – take your eyes off the finish line and put them on those who will only pass you if you slow down.
a. We should look to our past – for encouragement
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…
i. We can receive hope and encouragement
1. From those who have gone before us
2. Those who remained faithful and did things because of their faith.
3. Those who suffered loss, and kept going
4. Those who had excellent victory because of their faith.

II. BE PREPARED FOR THE STRUGGLES THAT WILL COME

The second piece of advice from the writer of Hebrews is to prepare for the struggles you will face. He says, "...let us throw off everything that hinders & the sin that so easily entangles, & let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
ILL. As I read the words, “…the sin that so easily entangles…” I think of the old Tarzan movies. When I was a boy Johnny Weismueller was Tarzan, & in almost every movie there was a scene where Tarzan, with his knife between his teeth, jumped into the water & swam to the rescue of Jane or boy or whoever was in the water. Then the music would intensify & you knew that at some point something bad was going to grab him. Oftentimes it was an enormous octopus. At first you could just see its eye. Then a tentacle would suddenly reach out & wrap around his ankle. But that’s no problem. Tarzan can get loose from that. But then here comes a second tentacle. It would grab the other ankle. Then another tentacle & another one, & soon he is all entangled & can’t get loose. Is this the end of Tarzan? Oh no. Remember that knife in his teeth. Somehow he is able to grab it & start cutting off the tentacles, & soon an inky cloud comes out of the octopus. And Tarzan is free!

The writer of Hebrews says that sin is just like those tentacles, & that we must throw off "...the sin that so easily entangles, & …run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

ILL. Now I'm obviously not a marathon runner. But marathon runners tell us that there are two critical times in the race. The first one is at the beginning. When you begin to run you feel so good, & the temptation is to run too fast too soon, depending upon your own strength & skill to pull you through.

The second critical time in a marathon is at the half way point. You suddenly realize that you still have as far to go as you've already run & your strength is giving out. Runners call it "hitting the wall." You've come to the end of your endurance & you're not sure you can put one foot in front of the other anymore.

To keep that from happening in your life remember this promise, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, & lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, & He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
If you’ll trust Him, He will be the source of all you need to finish your race.

III. FIX YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

 The final piece of advice is this, Fix your eyes on Jesus. Listen again to a part of vs’s 2 & 3, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith… Consider Him… so that you will not grow weary & lose heart."
Jesus was opposed. Jesus was persecuted. And yet He stayed the course. He ran the race. He paid the price for our sins.

Every Christian needs to hear this because it's so easy to quit. It's so easy to say, "I don't have to do this anymore." But the writer of Hebrews says, "Fix your eyes on Jesus. He's the author & the perfecter of our faith," & one day each one of us will stand before Him as our judge.

The  writer of Hebrews says, "Fix your eyes upon Jesus because the only hope we have is our hope in Him."

So run the race with patience. Don't lose heart. Don't become discouraged. Don't quit. Keep on running the race that has been set before us.

This morning if you're not a Christian, we invite you to come to Jesus & accept His mercy, His love, His grace, & His sacrifice on the cross. We offer you the opportunity to begin a whole new life in Him. Will you come as we stand & as we sing together?

Best Places of the Philipines to Experience Lent

by: Junrey R. Belando

For three centuries, three decades and three years, the Philippines was under the colony of Spain. Many of today's traditions prevalent in this country were influenced by the Spanish colonizers. One of which is the observance of Christianity's most sacred occasion--the Lenten Season. The Lent is a solemn religious observance of many Christian denominations in the annual commemoration of the Holy Week, marking the death, burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It's important to remember that the  Philippines  is the  fifth largest Christian country  on earth, with about 85% of the population being adherents. It is also one of two predominantly  Roman Catholic  nations in  Asia  (the other being  East Timor ), and is the  third largest  Catholic country in the world. (Inquirer Global Nation. December 21, 2011.)

As a dominantly Christian nation, you can easily notice the influence of religion wherever you go in the Philippines. As a result, many of these traditions are widely reknowned and eventually become a tourist attraction, and this article will deal with this. In this article, we'll explore the top places to experience Lent when you're in the Philippines.

Holy Week usually occurs in early April, and for the predominantly Catholic Filipinos, it is a period when families take leave from school and work and spend time visiting churches to observe the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many opt to leave the cities and take vacations, and depending on their temperament, will choose destinations for their party atmosphere, quiet setting, or spiritually-nourishing events.

Here are 10 spots in the Philippines to spend the upcoming Holy Week:

1. Marinduque. Marinduque is a small heart-shaped island in the Southern Tagalog, which, coincidentally, is also in the center of the Philippines. Dubbed the “Lent Capital of the Philippines“, Marinduque welcomes thousands of tourists here during the Lenten holidays to experience religion and culture at the same time.

On the first week of Lent, which usually starts on Holy Monday, Morions or the masked Roman soldiers can already be seen roaming around the streets of Marinduque, or Boac, its town capital.

Tourists are also welcomed by the Morions at the Balanacan Port in Marinduque to give an instant feel of the province’s Moriones Festival.

The Senakulo, a Lenten play that depicts the life, suffering, and death of Christ, starts staging on the evening of Holy Wednesday. The Via Crucis or the Way of the Cross starts on the early morning of Good Friday. You have the option to go along with Christ, the other penitents, and Morions or simply watch–though it is highly suggested that you go with the Way of the Cross so you can also internalize Christ’s suffering and just consider it as another form of penitence. The Via Crucis usually starts between 7:00AM and 8:00AM and ends with a “crucifixion” before lunch.

The Senakulo ends on the midnight of Easter Sunday and with the most anticipated presentation of all, since the resurrection of Christ will be staged. Early morning of Sunday, most people run to the beach as a sign of celebration for the risen Christ.

When in Marinduque during Holy Week, be sure to take some snapshots of its famed Moriones Festival. Take a pose with some Morions or, specifically, look for the Morion Longinus. He’s easy to spot–he’s blind on one eye and is the most famous Morion off all. Read the Bible or, better yet, listen and watch the Senakulo carefully to know why.

2. San Pedro, Cutud, Pampanga. The Cutud Lenten Rites is famous for the re-enactment of Christ’s crucifixion, with the actual nailing of people on a wooden cross. Tourists and foreign media flock to Cutud just to witness the 55-year-old street play, thus, turning what is supposed to be a solemn religious celebration a highly commercialized one. Just a word of caution though: this is not for the faint-hearted. If the mere sight of blood makes you queasy and nauseous, then better not go here.

However, if you are into photojournalism, then going to Cutud is an experience not to miss. The event has a VIP area for media and photographers so taking photos won’t be a problem. Just be sure that you can endure the heat of the sun.

Aside from the crucifixion, flagellants, also known locally as “magdarame”, walk barefoot around the town and whip their backs with a bundle of bamboo sticks at the end of a rope and use razor blades to cut their swollen backs so blood can come out.

3. Quiapo. Since most people head to their respective provinces during Holy Week, traveling around Metro Manila during Good Friday is always a breeze. In fact, Visita Iglesia in Manila has always been a tradition among Catholics who choose to spend Lent in Manila, and the Quiapo Church is probably one of the favorite churches among pilgrims.

During Good Friday, Black Nazarene devotees flock to Quiapo Church for the Black Nazarene procession, which usually starts as early as 5:30 AM. Various Black Nazarene replicas are also paraded along the streets of Quiapo while devotees go barefoot in imitation of Jesus on his way to Mount Calvary.

There have been various accounts of people who have touched the Black Nazarene are reported to have been cured of their diseases. Thus, like the actual Black Nazarene feast on January 9, towels and handkerchiefs are also hurleto the marshals and escorts guarding the Black Nazarene, requesting their cloths to be wiped to the statue in hope for a miracle.

Nearby churches that can also be included in your Visita Iglesia itinerary are the Malate Church, Binondo Church, Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, Santa Cruz Church, and San Sebastian Church.

On the other hand, the usual rowdy and busy Escolta and Delpan suddenly transform into peaceful streets during Good Friday–a perfect time for photojournalists to capture this very rare quiet moment in Manila through their lens.

4. Balaan Bukid Shrine, Guimaras. If you love outdoor activities, then trekking to Balaan Bukid Summit in Jordan, Guimaras is the best activity for you this coming Holy Week. Balaan Bukid, which means “Sacred Mountain” in the Hiligaynon dialect of Panay, is a pilgrimage site of Catholic devotees that sits on top of the mountain.

At the summit of Balaan Bukid is the Ave Maria Purisima Shrine where a chapel is marked by a huge, white cross. It is hard not to miss this large cross when you’re coming from Iloilo to Guimaras. Climbing Balaan Bukid is free of charge but be sure to bring lots of water to keep you hydrated, and put on some sunblock before climbing as the trek will take 45 minutes. On your way up, be sure to take note of the 14 Stations of the Cross.

Also, a local version of the Passion of Christ, called “Ang Pagtaltal sa Guimaras”, is performed during the Lenten Season. In 2009, a new kind of Christ’s Passion and Death on the Cross was experienced by the Guimarasnons and tourists as the stage play inspired by the Seven Last Words was transformed into a street play dubbed “Ang Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid.”   “Ang Pagtaltal sa Guimaras”, which is already on its 35th year, was once called as the “Golgotha of the Philippines.”

5. Kapiya Display and Pasyon Singing Contest, Santa Barbara, Iloilo
A kapiya or tableau of human characters acting or art works depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross is staged all over town during Holy Week. On Good Friday, residents roam around to witness beautifully displayed kapiya as well as to take part in singing the pasyon (passion of Christ).

6. Pilgrimage, Bani, Pangasinan. The pilgrimage in Bani is known with a 1,000-step Via Crucis that leads to the Redeemer’s Cross, a gigantic cross located on a plateau overlooking the South China Sea. The practice started back in 1975 and continues to draw thousands of pilgrims, both foreign and local.

7. Katkat Sakripisyo sa 3003 Steps, Linabo Peak, Dipolog City. Done every Good Friday, Katkat Sakripisyo sa 3003 Steps is a trekking activity done to commemorate the passion of Christ. During the trekking, Catholic devotees climb up 3003 steps as an act of their devotion. The community of Zamboanga del Norte and the neighboring municipalities are known to join the event.

8. Panaad, Camiguin Island. Panaad is a Holy Week activity in the Island of Camiguin done by walking around the island for a promise. Annualy done, Panaad is a 64-kilometer trekking activity of devotees to show how much one will endure to keep a promise. The 14 Stations of the Cross are also placed around the island as a guide for the whole walk.

9. Lenten Procession, Baliuag, Bulacan. During Holy Wednesday and Good Friday, the streets of this town are filled with grand floats depicting scenes of the passion of Christ. This Lenten season attraction of this town is also known as the “Prosisyon ng mga Santo” (Procession of the Saints).

10. Giwang-Giwang, Binangonan, Rizal. Done during Good Friday, Giwang-Giwang is a procession re-enacting the funeral of Christ. Devotees joining the procession try to touch the Holy Sepulchre. In the process, the procession sways, thus the term, “giwang-giwang.”