``...there was nothing left but to take them...as our fellowmen for whom Christ also died``

-          US President McKinley

                I was imagining where would we be if it were not God`s work to bring salvation to us through Americans. Their attempt to bring the faith especially by distributing the Bibles into the island was an effort, which was made successful as we can see the fruit right now. Maybe, we are still one of those unreached people groups, who have not yet known Jesus Christ and would follow Him with all of their life. Probably, were still walking in darkness and devoting ourselves to pagan beliefs and practices. In the same manner, I was also wondering where would I together with my family would be if are living without God----His love, joy, peace, grace, mercy, and favor. What would be our situations look like? All this years, I was pondering that thought. And all that years as well I want to give God a bucketful of thanks for what He has done. Delightfully, we are now considered as a sending country, where Filipino missionaries will go to other countries or localities in order to reach out those who are lost and in need of Jesus---our Lord and Savior. So, glory and honor be given back to our Almighty God aloe forevermore.

“Hus boldly protested against the crusade and the indulgence (pardon of sin) offered to participants or sold to supporters.” -Douglas & Comfort

            It’s very encouraging to know an individual who courageously stand up for the truth. Nowadays, in our society, it’s seldom to witness people that would show great courage to oppose wrong acts and dismiss the thought of the consequences of doing such thing. As I have noticed, people just allow others pay them big amount of money just to shut their mouth in speaking. Or, some would be defeated of fear whenever their life was threatened. Can’t deny, human as we are, we would do the same thing because we are afraid to die. Few might allow themselves be treated unjustly by those who are seated on higher positions in the community in order to cover the truth. In addition, we would be disappointed of seeing those, who we are thinking as holy and one who would supposed to lead us in the right path, advocate indulgences to be happened. In fact, they were the ones who have read God`s Word. They already know that the pardon of sin is not through indulgences but by the grace through faith in Christ alone. But for the sake of their goals, they have led people astray especially those uneducated peasants, who have thought the teachings as right. Thankfully, there was an individual, who bravely protested against such acts that I believe God used him to enlighten the mind of many.

“Hus boldly protested against the crusade and the indulgence (pardon of sin) offered to participants or sold to supporters.” -Douglas & Comfort

            It’s very encouraging to know an individual who courageously stand up for the truth. Nowadays, in our society, it’s seldom to witness people that would show great courage to oppose wrong acts and dismiss the thought of the consequences of doing such thing. As I have noticed, people just allow others pay them big amount of money just to shut their mouth in speaking. Or, some would be defeated of fear whenever their life was threatened. Can’t deny, human as we are, we would do the same thing because we are afraid to die. Few might allow themselves be treated unjustly by those who are seated on higher positions in the community in order to cover the truth. In addition, we would be disappointed of seeing those, who we are thinking as holy and one who would supposed to lead us in the right path, advocate indulgences to be happened. In fact, they were the ones who have read God`s Word. They already know that the pardon of sin is not through indulgences but by the grace through faith in Christ alone. But for the sake of their goals, they have led people astray especially those uneducated peasants, who have thought the teachings as right. Thankfully, there was an individual, who bravely protested against such acts that I believe God used him to enlighten the mind of many.

“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him.” –Dwight L. Moody

            Truly, no one can get to know Christ without someone from God’s family to dare proclaim it. But it is also in vain if none of God’s family as well demonstrate or exemplify a Christlike honoring life. Like Thai people, they have never encounter believers of Christ and witness how they live like Him—the Master. Or in other words, it is more of Him and less of self. And indeed, the dark world and those who are of it will never be guided on their paths and see the light without someone letting their light shine bright. However, it would only be realized if believers of God would consecrate themselves in getting to know more Christ by meditating His Word and by consistently and persistently have an intimate conversation with Him through prayer. In a reason that, we cannot model Christ in our lives if we don’t truly know Him as who He is. For some instances, He is love that we ought to love others also even those who were considered as our enemies.

“I think it is reasonable to thing to fright persons away from hell. They stand upon its brink, and are just ready to fall into it, and are senseless of their danger. Is it not a reasonable thing to fright a person out of a house on fire?” –Jonathan Edwards

            In my early Christian life years, I’ve come to the situation where I evangelize people in the same manner of Jonathan Edwards. It came across in my mind that thought of frightening people away about the horror of hell which was learnt as well from the elders of faith. It seems like to me a good thing or better ways to share it with unbelievers so that they may turn from their sinful, old ways as where I’ve been before and turn their eyes to Jesus. But later on, I’ve realized then that I no longer trust God’s Sovereignty to change one’s lives and save them from eternal damnation. Rather, I was the one who make some effort, the best that I can, to change their way of living. In the long run, I was being rebuked by God to do my part only, which is to share the Gospel of Salvation and fully entrust to Him the work---to sprite the seed that was being put on each hearts who have heard it. 

"The church is every person called to faith in Christ, not those who belonged to the organized church."
                                                                          -John Wycliffe
                 It's just so sad to think that people were blinded to the truth that it's only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ that we have been saved, changed, and set free. Well, it's not that easy to be in the light or know the truth because it was done by many. Meaning to say, as I have been there, people tend to put their standard on others. They have followed the teachings or example of the devotees, who were ahead of them. Can't help, their grandparents passed it on from generation to generation. Majority indwells to the illusion that we will be saved if we will devote ourselves to church service. Or in other words, to put it simply, salvation is given to those who were faithful members of the church. Worst of it all is that you will be excommunicated if you go against on their teachings, ceremonies, or rituals. The truth about the church was being distorted. Supposedly, the church, as what John Wycliffe expressed, is that it refers to the "body of Christ" comprised of all believers of all ages between Pentecost and the Rapture yet to come. It refers to all who come to faith in Christ, and it's where believers gather around to worship God in spirit and in truth. Despite, GO made me still realized then that I ought not to judge them and detach myself to that people group. Instead of, God has impressed me to lavished His unfailing love to me to them and compassionately share the Biblical Truth without insulting their belief, where I would just pray about it for God's working in their lives.

            “God wills it!” –Crusaders

            I wasn’t that agreeable in regard to this statement. Basically, the peasants and other people back then in the period of high Middle Ages set out to meet the foes with this declaration. It is not that I am judging them I am not that sure to nod on their own way of thinking in regard to. I’ve learned in the long run, to pray first to God of His plan before executing it rather that making a plan and trusting it to God if He will it. However, I have seen that it is maybe God’s plan for He allows it to happen, but really failed even if they do it a number of times. Well, as I ponder the idea, I think of it as not God’s perfect timing to really conquer the Holy Land, Jerusalem namely. Time will come as God planned it to be, where his glorious/mighty acts will be seen all throughout humanity.