The Problem of Pain --And the Answer of Love

(We have this board game similar to the more popular snake and ladder, except it is on bugs and aphids. Khane, for reasons I fail to understand, usually lose because he keeps drawing the cards that says Go Back 1, 2, 3 or 4 spaces or he usually steps on a space where he needs to go back to START. It is very difficult for a 4-year old to always lose during games. It is much more difficult for parents to put across to a 4-year old the principle of sportsmanship, the fact of games by chance, the principle that it is better to be honest and lose, than to cheat and win, or the principle of being happy for somebody who wins. One time, when I was explaining to him that it's OK to lose, he said with his eyes communicating what he was saying, "Paano po kapag lagi lagi naman ako natatalo."

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

— Jeremiah 29:11

The discipline of the Father who sent Jesus is not punitive and is not pointless, but is full of grace. We cannot always prove this by the facts available to the human eye in a fallen world. Still, Scripture gives us eyes of faith to see that God’s plans are to benefit us and not to harm us; to give us a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11). He who did not spare his own Son but delivered him up for us will along with that gift provide whatever is needed for our eternal well being (Rom. 8:32).

So that we will perceive the reality of God’s affection despite the real afflictions we must endure in this world, the Bible makes the ministry of Jesus its theme from the first page to the last. Every character, event, and teaching in Scripture unfolds the mystery that God has loved his people from eternity and has sent his Son to redeem them from weakness and fit them for heaven. God’s passion to save and sanctify his children is so great that it takes priority for him over all our other comforts, pursuits, and affections.

This does not mean that God conforms us to his purposes by discipline alone. No, his ordinary way of molding our hearts is by overwhelming blessing through loving families, provision of all that we need (not all our desires, which would be unhealthy for us), providential control of all circumstances for our good, and joy in him.

Why then does God allow our trials? Perhaps because we often let blessings and comforts dull our perceptions of our greater need to find ultimate and eternal fulfillment in him. God loves us too much to let us become deaf to his voice. As C. S. Lewis put it in The Problem of Pain, “God whispers to us in our pleasures . . . but shouts in our pains.” For our good, God trains us through treasures and trials, by joys and sorrows, through denial of vain desires, and by blessing beyond what we can ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20).

All our heavenly Father allows he carefully designs to promote our spiritual good, eternal salvation, and ultimate fulfillment through the joy of knowing him (Rom. 8:28). What greater expression of his love could there be than that?

(This material is adapted from the Devotionals from LivingChristToday from the Covenant Theological Seminary. It is lifted from chapter 7 of Bryan Chapell’s book Holiness By Grace: Delighting in the Joy That is Our Strength (Crossway, 2001).)

Real love stories never end

by White River Band

Once upon a time in Bethlehem

A King was born to save the soul of men

He left His throne prepared to give His life

And love beyond compare caused Him to die

Once upon a time at Calvary

A perfect sacrifice set men free

The force of evil began to celebrate

But death could not hold him in the grave

Refrain: 

Real love stories never end

For the hero in this story is coming back again

It’s no fairy tale for He died for you my friend

Real love stories never end

Once upon a time not long ago

I was so confused and all alone

But Jesus gave me love beyond measure

And we'll  live happily ever after 

(Repeat refrain)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV15ndWBf3U

My first NLP Women's Conference Experience

Participants to the 2014 Northern Luzon Presbytery Women's Conference

Maimai, Ms ?, Ms., and Pioneer Ate Josie

Councilor Aliguyon of Poblacion, Kasibu, the active encourager

Maimai, Mother Rosa, ?, Sis Julia Buyuccan

Ptr Marlon, one of the speakers

Ptr Pedring, another speaker

Maimai and Ms. Grace of Kabuuan Presbyterian Church in Bayombong

Mother from Bokiawan, Ifugao (she had to walk 1.5 hrs to reach the road only to be able ride another 6 hours to attend the conference)

Kasibu Faith Presbyterian Church, the venue

Maimai and women from all over Nueva Viscaya

Sumusunod pa rin ang palay siyempre

At ang burning of rice straw

after harvesting

(I have been attending research conferences in the last two decades as part of my job yet this conference was like no other. It's not just the principles and messages from the Scripture that you get to hear non-stop (with morning devotions and night sessions), but the sustained interest, energy and enthusiasm of the women who attended that makes it so encouraging. A 50+ mother intently listening and taking down notes, asking questions; a nursing mother listening to the speaker; a mother with a 4-year old listening, engineers and teachers doing the legwork are sights to behold. Oldies, teachers, young mothers, some youth, all blending together so well with one aim - to learn, encourage and be encouraged. The week was very crucial for me in my work--I had to prepare something for a research conference -- but I thank God for the encouragement from the scriptures and from the brethren that refreshed and reminded me of the imminent and essential. 

The conference text: Ephesians 6:10-18 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then...

    ... with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,

    ... with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

    ... with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace,

    ... take up the shield of faith,with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one,

    ... and the helmet of salvation

    ... and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

    ... and pray... on all occcasions... be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

It must have been read 20x over during the conference duration by different speakers. Always easier said than done for me in the past and even now, yet as has been said over and over again, by the grace of God, there is now no condemnation and His son already won the victory--'he will crush your head and you will strike his heel'-- we just have to start and strive appropriating this truth.-che)

Documenting their moments

Khane says goodbye to pre-school

Today, Khane finally said goodbye to pre-school in a 'moving-up ceremony' held at the Adonai Integrated Montessori (AIM).

Owing to his 'working' mother and father, Khane was almost born to grow in pre-schools. At less than 1 year old, he started going to a ninka hoikuen (public daycare/nursery) in Japan where he learned to take off his shoes before entering their room and put it in a hole with pigeon picture, learned to eat by himself with spoon and fork, learned to say arigato. When he was 2 to going 3 yrs old, he went to PhilRice daycare for an hour or so just playing, coloring, drawing lines etc. When he was 3 going 4 yrs and  4 going 5 yrs old, he entered the JCLGF Little Lamb Foundational Learning Center as nursery, and kinder, respectively. Before turning 6, he entered the preparatory class of the Adonai Integrated Montessori. Such a busy pre-school life all because his mother cannot take care of him full time. Or maybe it is also because it's the common route for children these days.

Now able to read and comprehend, write, add, subtract, multiply a little and divide a little, the system says he is ready for Grade 1.

His comment: "yehey, gagraduate na ako, bakasyon na forever... joke lang".

God bless you son.

  

Live according to God's abounding grace

(To celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary, we visited our ninong who recently suffered a bad stroke that caused him to go from a journey of coma, to a battery of medical procedures, to now almost normal condition except for motor skills. While we went there hopefully to encourage, we were the ones tremendously encouraged. Following are his random counsel:
 
**What does it mean to live according to God's abounding grace?

C - commit to serve
L - love God
I - inspire people
N - no negative thoughts
G - give time to our family

**Love your wife

L - less of me, more of you
O - overcome selfishness
V - verify everything before you argue
E - empower her through prayers

**Submit

S - elfless act
U - use time wisely with your family
B - be courteous
M - maximize your effort to maintain your relationship
I - intentionally date
T - thank him/ for every effort exerted


(Thank you Ptr. Clave and Ninang Andrea for living the gospel, and encouraging us and many others in the process.)

Three generations of Launio

Generation William: shy pose
Generation Marlon: say cheese!
Generation Khane: pouting pose haha!

William Saroy Launio; Marlon Ponipon Launio; Khane Kits Casiwan Launio

 Take 2: William generation: a little smile
              Marlon generation: a bigger smile
              Khane generation: a laugh haha!

William Saroy Launio; Marlon Ponipon Launio; Khane Kits Casiwan Launio