The Narrow Way (4)

Because of the narrowness of the way demanded by God, business for the believer cannot be merely a profession, but must be part of God’s divine intention. The Lord has specific purposes and a life plan for every one of His children. Those who are called to business can expect His grace to always be sufficient for every struggle, sort or crisis, but they must make their calling sure. It is important to periodically seek the Lord in concentrated prayer to confirm His calling after eighteen years of success as a builders, on day Jesus left and never returned to that work.

If the cross of Jesus is allowed to do its cleansing work in the believing businessman, his conscience may be made clean to work wholeheartedly in the creation of wealth from the dust of unrighteous Mammon. It s the crucial power of the cleansing blood of Jesus that, through holiness, releases the energies, gifts and latent in the life of the believer. This purity which is given by grace from God needs to be cherished and protected. Even though the Bible says, “to the pure, al things are pure,” (TITUS 1.15) if a pure-hearted believer engage in sinful or immoral work, the result is that he or she will no longer be pure, Jesus said.

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it (MATHEW 7.13-14)

Reference: Peter Tsukahira . . “My Father’s Business Guideline for Ministry in the Marketplace”

The Narrow Way (3)

In their hour of judgment, they will end up rendering everything to God that they tried to selfishly keep for themselves, but it will not be enough, and it will be too late. This is not to be the inheritance of the believer in business.

John Porterfield is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), who calls himself a “Great Commission Accountant.” He tells this story about the practice of giving ten percent of our income to the Lord as a tithe. “a lot of believers think that giving a tithe income is all that they must do to please God. Imagine that I gave my child a shopping list for the family with ten dollars saying, ‘Please go get these things,” what would you think if my child gave me back one dollar and said, ‘Get them yourself?

All of our money belongs to the Lord. We are His fiduciaries, that is, we have responsibility on His behalf for what passes through our hands. Many believers are ‘embezzling ‘ God’s funds by acting as if ninety percent is totally for their own personal use.” When we stand before God on the Day of Judgment, there may well be a point where the books are opened and the angels will perform and audit in the sight of all!

Reference: Peter Tsukahira . . “My Father’s Business Guideline for Ministry in the Marketplace”

The Narrow Way (2)

Covetousness is a sin of the heart that must die in order for the believer to success both in business and as a witness in his or her environment. The only solution for sin is identification with the cross of Jesus, where through deep moral struggle we die to ourselves and rise again to new life in God’s image. The cross means the death of selfishness and pride as a motive for success in business.

The price the believer pays for this kind of success is much higher than the price paid by worldly people. The believer gives up his entire life to Jesus before even beginning work. Unbelievers render a percentage of their income to “Caesar” in the form of taxes, they give almost nothing to God and they keep the rest. The believer also pays taxes, but the rest goes to God, and he keeps nothing except whatever God gives back to him for personal support and expanded service.

If god were not a loving, kind and benevolent Sovereign, this would seem like a cruel from of slavery. But because of His gracious character and His incredible love, this narrow way leads to success in business and great personal fulfillment. How many clever and gifted businessmen of the world have “gained the whole world and forfeited their soul?

Reference: Peter Tsukahira . . “My Father’s Business Guideline for Ministry in the Marketplace”

The Narrow Way (1)

ON EITHER SIDE of the narrow way of righteous business lies a trap based on wrong thinking about money. The first trap is the failure to achieve business success, (and then camouflaging that failure by calling it “ministry”). The second is to pursue business success at the expense of Biblical principles and personal spiritual growth. Often, the root of both mistakes is the sin of covetousness. This sin is found when our hearts are focused more on the pursuit of money than on the call of God.

On the one hand, denial of covetousness and failure to deal with it as sin can prevent the believer from breaking fleshly bondage to greed. In the end, deliberately yielding to the spirit of greed destroys the believer’s conscience, witness, and ultimately his effectiveness in the marketplace. Freedom from greed protects a believing businessperson from “walking in the counsel of the ungodly, standing in the path of sinners or sitting in the seat of the scornful.” (PSALM 1.1) the blessing of the Lord will be the result. The first _Psalm goes on to promise that whatever such a person does will prosper. A blessed businessperson is not striving in the flesh, making costly mistakes and breaking valuable relationships. He or she may therefore prosper in business through simple perseverance and faithfulness.

Reference: Peter Tsukahira . . “My Father’s Business Guideline for Ministry in the Marketplace”

Hillary wants strong RP-US ties (2)

"Arroyo told her it was painful at first because we had to implement tax reforms but these became our cushion."Arroyo met with the US-Asean businessmen and discussed what the Philippines had been doing to combat the economic crunch.

Clinton also lauded Filipino-Americans Saturday they have made to the United States for many years.

"As you know, the Philippines is one of our closest and most important allies, not just in Asia, but on so many issues around the world. And we are very proud of the role and contributions that Filipino Americans have played in the United States over many years," she said in remarks before her meeting with Arroyo.

"As you said, the Filipino Americans have played a very important role here, but another important thing is they all love you, both the Filipino Americans and the Filipinos in the Philippines. So we're so proud of you," she said.

Arroyo congratulated Ohio's 7th District Representative Steve Austria whose Filipino heritage is rooted in Tiaong, Quezon.

Austria paid a courtesy call on Arroyo in Washington D.C., the fifth leg of her one-week transatlantic official visits to Davos, Switzerland, the Middle East, and the US. Arroyo congratulated Austria in his successful bid for re-election in the House after having served as congressman in 1998, and as senator from 2000 to 2008. He also extended his support to Arroyo and assured her that he will represent the Filipinos in his capacity as a public official under the new administration of President Obama.

Austria is the first first-generation Filipino-American to be elected to the US House of Representatives. He joins Virginia Representative Robert Cortez Scott and Nevada Representative John Ensign as US congressmen of Filipino descent. (JMR/Sunnex)

Reference: sunstar

Hillary wants strong RP-US ties (1)

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo settled for a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, subsequent to the failure to meet with US President Barack Obama thrice.

Arroyo met with Clinton for "about 30 minutes" at the State Department and invited her to visit the Philippines. "Arroyo invited Clinton and she said she will try her best to go to the Philippines as soon as her schedule will allow it." But Clinton said the Philippine visit will depend on the availability of Air Force One. Clinton is due to visit China, Japan, and Malaysia in the next two weeks. "Arroyo asked if Clinton could squeeze the Philippines into her schedule, Clinton said she will check."

Clinton wants to widen, strengthen, and deepen the RP-US relations. "She committed that under the new administration the good relationship of the two countries will continue further." In the last two weeks, the Palace had been busy fending off speculations of Arroyo being snubbed by Obama.

Arroyo made a last-minute change in plans in her foreign trip, going to the US from Bahrain to attend a national prayer breakfast. She failed to meet Obama in that event.

Before that, Arroyo tried to call Obama twice - during the presidential campaign and after his victory - but failed. Obama returned her congratulatory call after two weeks.

During Arroyo's meeting with Clinton, the US Secretary State said she "wants to learn from the President... from our experiences in the country." Arroyo and Clinton discussed the Philippine government's actions in dealing with the problem in Mindanao. Clinton asked Arroyo how come the Philippines is handling this global economic crisis very well.

Reference: sunstar

Choosing our destiny

Many people want to know if they have a good life ahead of them, that’s why they felt that they need to see for a fortune-teller.And, the better the future looks, the happier we feel. But, there’s no need to fall victim to fortune-tellers who will just tear us off or feed us the wrong information. Great sages have a lot to teach us about our future. According to them, the future is predictable, and our destiny is in our own hands:

1. The material world is full of suffering, and we’re destined to suffer—from diseases, old age and death. There’s no escape from the miseries of material existence.

2. There’s no guarantee for security in the material dimension. You work to get the things you want, then you lose them. When we die, all material things are taken away from us. You’re driven out of your body, and you can’t bring anyone or anything with you.

3. Knowing the true nature of the world, great sages don’t focus on the temporary material realm and instead strive for what’s permanent. The great scriptures guarantee that the person who focuses on the transcendental is capable of attaining permanent satisfaction and peace in his or her lifetime and thereafter.

4. Those who strive for spiritual goals are assured of attaining imperishable wealth and good fortune, by taking shelter in the Supreme Being’s abiding affection. They’re blessed with spiritual love, kindness, wisdom, humility, truthfulness and generosity. As a result, they’re able to share their blessings with those who need them. And, as they give, their wealth increases even more.

Everyone will go through suffering. But, unlike the materialists, who are overcome with lust, loneliness, anger, frustration and anxiety, spiritualists can rely on a higher form of happiness to see them through the material realities of diseases, old age and death. They also face problems, but they have real solutions for them.

It’s up to us to choose the kind of future we wish to have. We’re encouraged to follow the peaceful and happy lives of saints and reject the miserable, empty lives of demons. Let’s follow the wise men’s advice: “Choose the better future and become truly happy!”

Reference: R. VALENCIA S. BISMARK

Measuring true love by pride - 2

There are couples whose love is solid and has passed the test of time, of hardship. They have survived crises and through it all their love continues to glow with an intensity that is obvious to everyone who knows them. People can feel the warmth of their love.

Persons in these loving relationships cannot stop talking about their loved one. It’s just too much to ask. They are very proud of their partner and words of praise just come pouring out time and time again. They are never jealous because they are so sure of each other, so secure in their love. They rejoice in each other’s success. No place for spousal competition in their relationship.

They revel in the opportunities for growth each has and they show full and sincere support. The honestly they believe are part of each other’s success. And the successful one makes sure the beloved participates in every happy moment because if simple love needs to share, intense love always shares intensely.

Couples whose love is failing or has grown stale do not experience this. They drift apart and feel the increasing weight of the relationship. Feel sorry sets in and they are not in the mood to brag about each other. What we notice with these couples is the lack of pride they have for each other when pride is justified. This is when the husband is out with his friends when she is giving birth. And she isn’t invited when he attends a big business dinner. Or, if she does go, she is relegated to a corner and ignored most of the night.

You can measure a partner’s love by the pride, the sincere pride that one has for the beloved. You have a gem and you want the world to know it and appreciate it.

Reference: Bob Garon