Jesus: Four Reasons To Believe

“What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.”  John 18:38

A sign carried by a demonstrating student on a university campus read, "JESUS, YES!  CHRISTIANITY, NO!"  Was the student rejecting the distorted picture of Christianity which is often projected--the image of someone who goes to church yet whose life has been unaffected by the message?  Does this mean that the demonstrator related to Jesus as a revolutionary, as someone who stood against the crowd and certainly against the established government and authority of His day?  Or does that mean He stood for the real, the authentic, the genuine Christ who spoke the truth and gave His life that those who believe in Him could have everlasting life?

I'm uncertain!  But I do know one thing.  Those who are sincere, who want the truth, will find it.  Jesus gave seekers a promise when He said, "If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own" (John 7:17).

This, of course, raises another issue.  Where do I find this certainty and can I be sure that the original message Jesus brought hasn't been tampered with by some well-meaning but deceived individual who wants to further his own agenda?

Four men--known as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John--were biographers of Jesus Christ and gave to us a record of His life.  These are the principle sources or documents attesting to who Jesus is, what He did, and what He said.  True, others wrote of Him, including Tacitus and Sutonius, Roman historians; Josephus, a Jew who threw his lot with the Romans; and a few others whose contributions are minimal.

For those who are sincere, there are four issues which must be considered.

Issue #1: The authenticity of the records including their reliability and purity.  Scholars have spent their lives studying this issue, and the deeper they dig, the more convinced they are that the record is trustworthy.  Some existing portions of the Gospel of John can be dated to 125 AD, no more than a generation removed from when he wrote his Gospel.  More than 40 manuscripts of the Gospels exist that are 1000 years old or older, with the finest that include both the Old and New Testaments dating between 325 AD and 500 AD. Whether you like what Jesus said or dislike it, you can't make a major case out of the record being corrupted.

Issue #2: The moral character of the eyewitnesses.  In any court of law, an issue of prime importance is the credibility of the witnesses.  A judge wants to know, "Did they have any motive which would have led to distorting the truth?"   Matthew was a tax collector.  Mark was a young man, a close friend of Peter, in whose home the early church met.  Luke, probably the only Gentile to write some of the New Testament, was a Syrian physician, and the companion of Paul on some of his missionary journeys.  Though not an eye-witness to everything he wrote about, he was part of the fabric of the early church and had no reason to distort the truth. John, the fourth biographer, was probably the youngest of the twelve, who were closest to Jesus.  On the cross, Jesus asked him to take care of his mother--no flaws in his character.

Issue #3: Changed lives.  These four biographers, with the possible exception of John, paid for their faiths in the currency of suffering and a martyr's death.  Following the resurrection, everywhere they went they proclaimed what they had seen.

Issue #4: The testimony of archaeology, which includes documenting the fact that Pontius Pilate was a government official, that the House of Caiaphas existed, and that many of the places referred to in the Gospels existed, just as the writers told us.

Knowing the truth brings assurance that the record is trustworthy and that what Jesus Christ promised is valid.  Faith is your response to the truth, and it's the part no one can do but yourself.

Resource reading:  John 1:1-14

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/jesus-four-reasons-to-believe/

What’s The Difference Between Discipline And Punishment?

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” (Hebrews 12:7).

How many children grew up with a real distaste for the word “discipline?”  Like 2-year-old James, who, when his father announced that he would have to be disciplined for misbehaving chirped, “Discipline—that’s bad stuff!”

Question:  Does the Bible differentiate between discipline and punishment?  Yes, clearly it does.  The New Testament word paideuo, usually translated “to discipline” in the New Testament, is much different from the word paio which means “to strike, hit, or wound.”  The latter word was used of Jesus Christ when He was scourged by the Roman soldiers.  The former word, which also was translated “to instruct, train, correct, or give guidance to,” was used of a father’s guidance of his son, or even an instructor’s correction of a student.

When a child misbehaves, should he be punished or disciplined?  This is not just an argument over words, for there is a huge difference between the two.  When a person commits a crime, people are incensed!  They cry for justice.  The focus is on the past—what happened.  The general public isn’t so much concerned about what this person does in the future as they are in his paying the price of his wrongdoing.

But the issue of a child that needs correction is totally different.  The whole focus is not what happened in the past, which was wrong, but what needs to be trained and developed in the child’s character for the future.  The emotion generating punishment is anger, while the emotion prompting discipline is love.  Parents, God doesn’t deal with our sin in anger.  He gives us grace, in love, and arranges just the circumstances that we need in our life, to grow.

“If Jesus took all the punishment for you and me, He also took all of it for our children,” says Chip Ingram. “I don’t want to teach my kids that I need to pay them back for the bad things they’ve done. I want them to understand that the only way to make right what they did is to trust that when Jesus died on the cross, He paid for their sins. It makes no sense for me to fellowship with God on the basis of mercy and with my children on the basis of judgment. Since Jesus took the punishment, my role as a parent is not to punish them. My role is to provide appropriate consequences and instruction to help them see how their behavior displeases God and to teach them how to cooperate with God’s work in their lives. The Bible calls this discipline.”[1]

Punishment produces anger, guilt, shame and bitterness.  It produces what is called a “prohibitive conscience,” which is a conscience that keeps a child from doing something wrong solely to avoid pain, having nothing to do with obedience or a love of what is right.  Discipline, on the other hand, produces regulation of self, self-respect and ultimately, security.  No successful person ever makes it to the top without learning the value and importance of knowing how to discipline himself or herself, something which needs to be learned early in life, and the earlier the better.

Discipline begins with parents who fully realize what God has done for them and who convey the importance of that to their kids.  The Bible is clear that God disciplines those whom He loves, setting us on a forward-facing path.   The godly parent who loves his child and disciplines him or her models this great truth.  Yes, discipline takes much more creativity and thought than punishment does.  It may require you to seek some counsel and training.  God deliver us from punishment, but may He give parents enough love to learn to discipline.

Resource reading:  Hebrews 12:1-15

[1] Ingram, Chip. “Punishment Versus Discipline.” Focus on the Family, August 8, 2019. https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/punishment-versus-discipline/.

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/whats-the-difference-between-discipline-and-punishment/

Here’s What Really Determines The Quality Of Your Parenting

A husband picked up a call from his wife.  “Michael got his first tooth and took his first step!” she excitedly told him.  “That’s so great!” he answered. “No, there’s more,” continued the wife. “He also had his first fall and cut his lip, and when he did, he said his first bad word!”

Without thinking too hard about where Michael heard that first “bad word,” we may smile at that humor, but there is really nothing funny about the situation which a Guidelines’ listener described, who wrote the following:  “I am experiencing a terrible, terrible temper.  I can get very violent and I do curse and yell very loudly.  What makes this behavior even worse is that I have a two-year-old who now says curse words, and a month-old baby who will learn them if I can’t stop this behavior.”

Out of the mouths of babes may come words that shock, words which innocent children neither understand nor mean.  By our examples, we, parents, are the greatest teachers of our children.  But it is both unfair and difficult for a parent to discipline a child for using words which he learned from the vocabulary of the parent.

Dorothy Law Nolte said it so clearly:  “If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.  If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.  If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.  If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.  If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.  If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.  If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.  If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.  If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.  If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.”[1]

We may condemn our schools for failing to keep kids safe or to provide a wholesome environment for learning.  We may condemn the media for a steady diet of values we do not share.  But the real failure which confronts children today is the failure of parents to model godly lives and provide examples for children to follow in living out a life in relationship with God.

Yes, there is the crush of the stress and frustration of life, especially for the single parent who is pressed by inadequate finances, weary and lonely from going it alone.  But the real problem confronting our children today is our problem.  It is us.  When we parents live out what we say we believe, our kids are more secure.  When we learn to discipline ourselves, our children require less discipline.  When we learn how to make peace with the circumstances of our lives, our children learn to cope with the frustrations that surround them.

When Jesus talked about the issues of life, He always spoke of the heart.  He stressed the fact that what we say and what we do are an extension of what we think in our hearts.  In doing verbal combat with His detractors who wanted to observe the legalism of washing their hands when their hearts were impure, Jesus said, “The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart….  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.  These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean'” (Matthew 15:18-20).

If you, as a parent, are struggling with your own personal life, get help in coping with the pressures which confront you.  Remember, it is the heart, not the mouth, that is the real issue.

Resource reading:  Matthew 15:10-20

[1] Excerpted from, McCall, Catherine. “Children Learn What They Live.” Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, December 30, 2011. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/overcoming-child-abuse/201112/children-learn-what-they-live.

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/heres-what-really-determines-the-quality-of-your-parenting/

Catanduanes

The 2020 Census of Population and Housing kicks off this September

Sarah Geronimo as the newest ambassador for the 2020 Census of Population and Housing program | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) was given a mandate through Executive Order No. 352 and Republic Act No. 10625 which will be kicked off on September of this year.  All households and institutional populations will be enumerated to count all members and determine their respective demographics and socio-economic characteristics.  The PSA will undertake the entire process of enumerating the population of the Philippines by going through collecting, compiling, evaluating, analyzing, publishing, and disseminating data, which will be achieved through the 2020 Census of Population and Housing or CPH.

This entire process consists of listing by batch some characteristics of each individuals and households at a certain time and area which will be conducted by the PSA representatives. Some data to be gathered are sex, age, marital status, education, religion, ethnicity, disability, occupation, and records of birth and death. Information on main sources of water, electricity, fuel resources, housing units, garbage disposal, toilet facility, ICT devices, vehicles, and internet access will also be collected. 

The 2020 CPH aims to provide the government executives and policy makers the updated data on population and housing that could be used as bases for their social and economic development plans, policies, projects and programs.  The results of the census will also be used to develop key strategies for population management. This will also be beneficial to businesses, industries and non-profit organizations, including research and academic institutions. The 2020 CPH to be undertaken in the country starting September 1, 2020 will be the 15th Census of Population and 7th Census of Housing.

More than 100,000 enumerators and Census supervisors will conduct the house-to-house data gathering all over our country | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

PSA assures the public that all responses to the 2020 CPH are confidential, as provided by Section 26 or Republic Act No. 10625 and Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012. No data or tabulation may be produced to identify any household nor any individual. Please be informed that responding to CPH is mandatory, as stipulated in Section 25 of RA 10625or Philippine Statistical Act. Therefore, answering all the questions in this official census is obligatory.

More than 100,000 enumerators and Census supervisors will conduct the house-to-house data gathering all over our country. Census interview will last for only 15 to 30 minutes per household.

A lot of preparations are already being made for this undertaking to be launched on September. One of these is the training of more than 100,000 enumerators who will be following safety precautions against the Covid-19 pandemic, like the wearing of face-masks, physical distancing and adhering to the health protocols of the government.

The 2020 CPH will start this September 1, 2020 | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Everyone is urged to participate in the 2020 Census of Population and Housing by providing truthful answers to the census questions. Our cooperation will be of great help to the development of our country today.

Kaya… “Sama Na, Census Na!”

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/331264/the-2020-census-of-population-and-housing-kicks-off-this-september

Albay

PLDT "Backbone (Christine Bersola)"

To keep you in touch, PLDT goes over land with a country's widest reliable microwave network. PLDT goes under seas with the world's biggest submarine cable system, soon totaling 180,000 kilometers long to carry thousands of voice data and image transmissions. PLDT, we put the world within your reach.

Original video courtesy of Trevor Hone

© 1994 PLDT, Inc.

Sorsogon

ABS-CBN migrates to digital space

 ABS-CBN Corp. is doubling down on digital content as it confronts a new era without a broadcast franchise.

The company announced on Friday the launch of Kapamilya Online Live, which made its debut on its widely followed social media presence on Facebook and YouTube.

Through Kapamilya Online Live, ABS-CBN will stream popular entertainment programs such as Ang Probinsyano, It’s Showtime and ASAP Natin ‘To.

It adds to the company’s other platforms such as the recently launched Kapamilya Channel, which is available on Skycable and other pay television outlets around the country.

“With Kapamilya Online Live, ABS-CBN is poised to make an impact on the media landscape again, similar to what it did in broadcasting,” ABS-CBN said in a statement on Friday.

ABS-CBN Entertainment has more than 50 million followers combined in Facebook and Youtube.

While there is no subscription fee, internet costs are not free and in some areas, more expensive.

Nevertheless, the new direction will help blunt the effects of the loss of its broadcast franchise—which allowed it to reach tens of millions of viewers and listeners around the country through free TV and radio broadcasts.

“By livestreaming our shows on our Facebook and YouTube accounts for free without any subscription fees, we hope to be able to reach more Filipinos and stay true to our promise to continue to serve Filipinos in whatever way we can,” ABS-CBN chief operating officer for broadcast Cory Vidanes said in the statement.

ABS-CBN was ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission to stop all TV and radio broadcasts last May 5, a day after its franchise expired and while bills for renewal languished in Congress for years.

The NTC last month further told the company to also stop its satellite TV service and digital TV operations, affecting millions of other viewers.

ABS-CBN relies on advertising on free-to-air TV for the bulk of its earnings. After lawmakers voted to deny ABS-CBN a new franchise, the company announced mass layoffs by Aug. 31 this year and the collapse of various divisions around the country.

It would keep GMA as the sole free-to-air TV network in the country.

Apart from entertainment, ABS-CBN News will continue to house news programs TV Patrol and The World Tonight on its Facebook page with 20 million followers and YouTube channel with over 9.8 million subscribers.

https://business.inquirer.net/304140/abs-cbn-migrates-to-digital-space

What Does God’s Sovereignty Mean To Me?

Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning.  The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south.  Zechariah 9:14

Two brothers are scuffling in a disagreement.  Down on the floor they tumble, fists flailing.  Soon enough, the older brother manages to end up on top of the younger brother, who wails, “You’re not the boss of me!”    And, it’s true.  Mom or Dad is the real boss.  Hopefully we have long ago abandoned tussles with our siblings, but how often do we wrestle over the right of God to rule in our lives?

The word that we use to describe God’s rule, His authority over us, is sovereignty.  When we say that God is sovereign, it means that He has absolute right over us, his children.  What He wills is absolute.  God’s sovereignty over us comes with important benefits.  It means that we can know that it is He—not fate or chance—which rules the day and rules this world.

Let me point out four major benefits of God’s sovereignty:

First, it means that the responsibility for running the world—even my own personal life—has been lifted from my shoulders.  That’s good news.  It’s exactly what Paul was driving at when he wrote, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8;28).  Notice the words: “we know”—not “we hope,” not “we think” or even “we believe.”  Also notice the phrase, “God works….”  The outcome isn’t dependent on my clever manipulation of the circumstances.  I’m not the one who has to make it happen.  I can trust the Father.

Benefit #2:  A sense of wholeness and peace becomes my inheritance.  I may not understand everything that God does.  And certainly, I may not sense everything that God is doing, but I can rest in the confidence that because He is in control, I can turn off the light at night and say, “God, thank you for being with me today.  Thank you for being with me now while I sleep.”  You don’t need to keep one eye open because Psalm 121 assures us that God doesn’t slumber or sleep.  The world is not spinning out of control, whatever you read or saw online today.

 Benefit #3:  Knowing that God is sovereign gives me a sense of security both spiritually and emotionally.  Jesus told His disciples that they did not chose Him, but rather He chose them.  So, what does that mean to you?  If you are a follower of Christ, this means, based on what it says in the Bible book of Ephesians 1, that God chose you before the foundation of the world.  You are no accident, no chance of fate, no accident of your parents.  You are a unique person made in the image of God, and He chose you to be His son or daughter.  You are a child of the king, and no one can ever rob you of that birthright.

Benefit #4: Knowing that God is sovereign gives me confidence when I pray.  Because I am God’s child, I come boldly into the presence of the Father, I can talk plainly and directly with Him, understanding that He knows my frailties and weaknesses.  He understands, and best of all, He sorts out the dumb things I ask for and gives me what I really need.  He does this because of His great love for me as His child, a truth which I cannot understand. But for the rest of my life I can bask in the warmth of it.  Take time today to read the Bible book of Romans chapter 8, especially the last half where Paul so beautifully tells that nothing can separate us from the love of this sovereign, loving God, neither now nor for all eternity.

Resource reading: Romans 8:31-39

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/what-does-gods-sovereignty-mean-to-me/

The Answer To The Deepest Need Of Your Heart

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

Some men find it difficult to say, "I love you," but in Bert Salva's case, what was tough was getting Mary Shiminsky‑‑the object of his affection‑‑to really believe him.  For almost four years Bert courted Mary but didn't get anywhere.  Actually, what he got was a clear message, "Get lost, Buddy, I never want to see you again."  To make the message more explicit, Mary changed her phone number, and moved in with her parents who live in an isolated area and left no forwarding address.

Bert, however, didn't go away.  He really loved her and wanted her to know that.  Trying to find out where she was, Bert could only get a few leads.  He knew the general area where she was, but he didn't know just where she was.  He thought and thought, and then he struck upon an idea.

At least he knew one way, one slim chance by which he might convey the simple message, "I love you."  He bought paint and a long-handled roller.  He knew the way she went to work, and though he wasn’t terribly confident, he knew he had to try.  In the darkness of the night he climbed on a three‑story railroad trestle which spanned the highway near the place where Mary was living and painted the message.  When she saw it, she knew who had painted it, but the irony of the story is that nobody else in the community knew.

Nobody had ever heard of Mary Shiminsky.  But that desperate act—much like a quarterback’s “hail Mary” in the last three seconds of a football game--is what got her attention and eventually turned her heart.  She got in touch with him, and a month later accepted his proposal of marriage.  A year later twins arrived and blessed their home.

Four years later with the mystery still unsolved in the community, Mary wrote to the newspaper admitting she was Mary Shiminsky and told the newspaper staff what had happened.  Sensing a good story, they responded and sent out a reporter.  Husband Bert told him he didn't know if he could do it again--hanging three stories in space holding on to the railroad trestle with one hand and a paint brush with the other, but he was convinced it was worth it.  The message “I love you, Mary Shiminsky” got through.

Do you ever marvel at the length to which someone like Bert will go to get a message across?  Why is all of this so important?  Psychiatrist William Glasser was convinced that only by giving and receiving love can one of your deep emotional needs be met.  It is as necessary to normal human survival as is oxygen to the lungs and proper nutrition to your body.  You, friend, also have that need deep in your heart.

The cold reality, however, is that every woman doesn’t have a Bert Salva who is willing to hang by one hand from a railroad trestle to get that message across.  Some desperately wish that the one they married would and could say those three words which make the difference.  But they never hear them.  Somewhere that love withered and died.

Others live alone, often feeling separated and neglected.  There is one, though, who does love you, and He went to an amazing amount of trouble to get the message across.  “God so loved the world,” wrote John, that He sent His one and only son to our planet with the message of the Father who demonstrated that love.

The love of a husband or wife is important, but of far greater importance is the reality that God, whose love is constant and unfailing, will always love you.  The Father’s love will help you come to grips with those nagging questions when you wonder if He really loves you.  It’s a message that gives security and comfort in an insecure and loveless world.

Resource reading: 1 John 3:1-24

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/the-answer-to-the-deepest-need-of-your-heart/

The World Tonight | ANC (30 July 2020)

COMELEC defers to IATF on conduct of Palawan plebiscite

In a reply letter dated July 16 addressed to the civil society group Save Palawan Movement, the poll body said they are adopting the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to defer the plebiscite which was supposed to have been conducted on May 11 but was overtaken by the pandemic.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has decided to defer the holding of the plebiscite on the division of Palawan to a later date “when the COVID-19 situation in the province improves.”

In a reply letter dated July 16 addressed to the civil society group Save Palawan Movement, the poll body said they are adopting the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to defer the plebiscite which was supposed to have been conducted on May 11 but was overtaken by the pandemic.

COMELEC Acting Deputy Executive Director Helen Aguila-Flores said in the letter that they have adopted four recommendations of the IATF pertaining to the matter.

The stated in effect that it will let the IATF approve the scheduling of any electoral exercise.

The IATF has recommended that the COMELEC explore options to conduct a plebiscite with minimum exposure of the voting public to the possible spread of coronavirus.

It also required the poll body to provide additional resources to ensure proper health safety measures during the plebiscite, including seeing to it that there are additional polling precincts to avoid congestion.

The COMELEC shall first submit its plans to the IATF before a definite date for the plebiscite is decided.

“Presentation to the IATF shall be deferred until such time that the requests are met,” the COMELEC letter stated.

Cynthia Sumagaysay-Del Rosario, lead campaigner of the civil society group One Palawan and Save Palawan Movement, said Tuesday that the poll body’s response was prompted by their initiative to bring up the matter with the Malacanang Citizen’s Complaint Hotline.

“Huli namin na inihiling ay ang indefinite suspension ng plebisito dahil sa health crisis. Natanggap na pala ng COMELEC ang marami nating sulat at nagbaba sila ng mga recommendation. ‘Yong desisyon ng COMELEC ay depende sa IATF. Wala ring plebisito, effective March 25, 2020. Ang mga nababalita ay based siguro doon sa lumang resolution. Walang nilalabas na bagong order ang COMELEC,” Del Rosario said in an online press briefing.

She emphasized that holding of plebiscite requires mass gathering which is beyond the protocols imposed during the pandemic.

“Plebiscite kasi involves assemblies and rallies, ‘yong dalawang kampo at magi-ikot ‘yan magkakaroon ng mass gathering. Hindi rin makatwiran na ang budget ay mapupunta dito sa plebisito na hindi naman talagang kailangan,” Del Rosario said.

“Sana ‘wag muna ituloy, kaming mga katutubo ay nagkaisa na ‘wag muna dapat ito ituloy dahil maraming tao ang apektado lalo na doon sa presinto. Natatakot kaming mga elderly na baka makakuha pa doon ng virus,” Larry Orongan from the Tagbanua tribe said.

Fr. Roderick Caabay, One Palawan Movement member also said that plebiscite is not a pressing “concern” because there are more important issues that need more attention from  government.

“Ang concern po ng mga tao ngayon ay gutom at trabaho hindi plebisito. Kung itutuloy ito ay hindi ito ang focus ng mga tao dahil mas inaasikaso nila kung paano magsurvive ngayong pandemic,” he said.

https://palawan-news.com/comelec-defers-to-iatf-on-conduct-of-palawan-plebiscite/

Walk All the Way Home With a Friend

Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Genesis 5:24 NIV 

 

When Moses wrote the genealogies of our first fathers, he came to the sixth generation from Adam and recorded a curious and stunning entry. He says simply, “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24). So what happened?  One old preacher explained it like this:  as Enoch and God walked together, along towards evening they were a long way from home and God said, “Enoch, it’s closer to my home than yours. Why don’t you just go home with me?”

What a beautiful picture of coming to the end of life on Planet Earth and hearing the gentle voice of the Shepherd saying, “We’ve come through the valley together; why don’t you join me where I have a special place prepared for you?” That in reality is the New Testament picture that the Apostle Paul described in the Bible book of 2 Corinthians 5 saying, “we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)

Notice that when Enoch went home with God he still walked with the same person; he only changed the geographic location. This, of course, brings us to the issue of whether or not heaven is a literal place or simply a figurative kind of imaginary one. Jesus answered that question once and for all. In the week before He was killed, Jesus met with the disciples and said, “I am going to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself.” The word Jesus used was topos, a Greek word from which we get the word topography. It always referred to a specific location, one that was an actual measurable distance from the person who spoke of something.

It is also important to know that if you do not walk with God here on Earth, you won’t walk with Him on the other side, the heaven that Jesus went to prepare.  John, one of Jesus’ disciples, said, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12).  Walking with God pictures a personal relationship that you have with Jesus—not a state of being religious, but a relationship of trust and intimacy. It is knowing and loving God.  You would never want to even ride in cab with someone who is hostile towards you, to say nothing of going home to spend the night with that person.

A Christ-follower of many years was once visiting his doctor when the doctor commented about him being a very religious person. “No,” he corrected. “I’m not a religious person; I’m a Christian and I have a relationship with Jesus.”  “Well,” said the doctor, “doesn’t that make you religious?”  He explained that vast numbers of people are religious—Muslims, Buddhists, Animists, and many others–yet have no relationship with Jesus Christ whatsoever.

A relationship with Jesus Christ isn’t something like joining a club where you have dues and attend meetings.  Enoch, who walked with God, gives us a picture of what the Christian life is all about. A walk implies a starting point where you meet a friend at the beginning of the trail and then start off together. A real friend doesn’t turn back when the going gets tough. He’s there for you, and that’s exactly what Jesus Christ does. He promised, “Never will I leave you nor forsake you.”

Like Enoch, who walked with God, you will eventually come to the end of your earthly trail.  If you have accepted God’s gift of forgiveness, He has forgiven you and removed the barrier of sin that kept you from a relationship with Him.  Then you will hear Him say, “Come on home with me; I’ve got a place prepared just for you.”

Resource reading: I John 5:1-12

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/walk-all-the-way-home-with-a-friend/

Inquirer Lifestyle Series Fitness Fashion with Samsung: Guests

"Inquirer Lifestyle staged the rousing, filled-to-the-bleachers (despite the heavy rains and flooding) curtain-raiser to its Lifestyle Series of events with “Fitness.Fashion,” a catwalk team-up between some of the country’s top designers and best-selling activewear brands, at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula Manila in Makati City."

"Co-presented with Samsung, it drew guests who cut across the fields of fashion, business and commerce, arts, media and entertainment."

x x x

Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the guest of honor and speaker in the occasion, gave her greetings and message to the crowd. In attendance, also were watching the show are some members of the cabinet; several senators led by Senate President Manny Villar; several congressmen led by House Speaker Prospero Nograles; and friends of El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde from the business, entertainment, media, legal, and religious sector.

Guest of Honor and Speaker

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Guests

Vice President Noli de Castro

Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno 

Senate President Manuel B. Villar, Jr. 

House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim 

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr.

Caloocan City Mayor Recom R. Echiverri 

Las Piñas City Mayor Vergel A. Aguilar

Makati City Mayor Jejomar C. Binay 

Malabon City Mayor Canuto Senen A. Oreta 

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. 

Marikina City Mayor Maria Lourdes Carlos-Fernando 

Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin L. San Pedro 

Navotas City Mayor Tobias Reynald M. Tiangco 

Parañaque City Mayor Florencio M. Bernabe, Jr. 

Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao B. Trinidad 

Pasig City Mayor Robert C. Eusebio 

San Juan City Mayor Joseph Victor G. Ejercito

Taguig City Mayor Sigfrido R. Tinga

Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin T. Gatchalian 

Pateros Mayor Jaime C. Medina

Former President Corazon C. Aquino

Former President Fidel V. Ramos

Former President Joseph E. Estrada

Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman

Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla 

Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad 

Commission on Higher Education Chairman Carlito S. Puno, DPA 

Education Secretary Dr. Mona A. Valisno 

Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr. 

Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima 

Foreign Affairs Secretary and Committee on Privatization Chairman Alberto G. Romulo 

Health Secretary Dr. Esperanza G. Cabral 

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo 

Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez 

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque 

National Defense Secretary Gilbert C. Teodoro, Jr. 

Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. 

Science and Technology Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro 

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Celia Capadocia Yangco 

Tourism Secretary Alberto A. Lim 

Trade and Industry Secretary Jesli A. Lapus 

Transportation and Communications Secretary Anneli R. Lontoc

Philippine House Votes To Impeach Duterte / Embattled president will stand trial in Senate on corruption charges

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte moved a step closer to being ousted from office yesterday when the House of Representatives approved an impeachment trial to address the corruption charges against him.

In a rowdy session punctuated by chants urging the president to resign and the singing of a popular nationalist song, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano immediately endorsed the sending of impeachment charges to the Senate shortly after leading the 302-member legislature in a prayer.

Although no vote was needed because more than the required one-third of the House legislators had signed the impeachment document, Cayetano acted swiftly before pro-Duterte legislators could remove him as speaker -- something that happened later in the day.

"We did something that has never happened in this country before," Cayetano said during a break in the tumultuous session.

The move set the stage for an unprecedented trial before the country's 24-member Senate, where Duterte will face charges that include press freedom.

Duterte has denied the accusations, made against him last June. He has promised to defend himself in the trial.

The debacle is being closely watched by many in the Bay Area, which is home to more than a quarter million Filipinos and foreigners.

Past Philippine presidents have faced impeachment charges, but no one has ever stood trial while in office. Until July 24, the Senate had no impeachment rules because it has never had to hold a trial. But Senate President Vicente Sotto III ordered a rapid drafting of rules patterned after those used by the U.S. Senate during President Trump's impeachment trial.

"All of us are learning to live with democracy the same way the Americans are learning about their electoral process now more than ever," said Congressman Butz Aquino, referring to the controversy surrounding the U.S. presidential election.

QUICK ACTION

Duterte's foes in the legislature had to use parliamentary maneuvers to send the impeachment to the Senate.

Cayetano, had just finished leading the session in prayer when he suddenly endorsed the impeachment charges without so much as taking a roll call.

A pro-Duterte legislator tried to question the move but was ignored by Cayetano, who then banged his gavel to send the session into temporary recess.

Hundreds of predominantly anti-Duterte spectators erupted in cheers and sang "My Country," the popular Tagalog tune that became the anthem of the mid-1980s movement that forced the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos into exile.

IMPEACHMENT RIBBONS

Many of the spectators and Duterte opponents in the House wore peach-colored ribbons, a symbol of the impeachment campaign.

Congressman Rodolfo Tuazon, an Duterte supporter, angrily blasted Cayetano's tactic and the partisan crowd.

"He was so carried away that he was willing to violate rules of the House just to give himself media exposure," he said, referring to Cayetano's widely known plan to run for the presidency in 2022. "He has turned this session into a rally. This is not a rally!"

"They would have questioned any way we did it," Cayetano countered. "What makes them mad is that I did it the fast way. I caught them by surprise."

Even some pro-impeachment spectators were surprised. "We did not expect it to go as fast as this," said Father Robert Reyes, a popular activist Catholic priest. "I think conscientious legislators helped the process."

"A very major hurdle has passed," added Ging Deles, a community activist who unlike Duterte, advocates making peace with the country's rebel movements.

POWER OF THE PEOPLE

When the crisis touched off, many Filipinos expected the impeachment campaign to fail because Duterte appeared to have firm control of the Congress, Deles noted. But street demonstrations and persistent lobbying by civic groups have helped sway many legislators.

"For us, impeachment goes hand in hand with street action," Deles said.

The one-two punch she referred to was demonstrated today when a broad coalition of moderate and left-wing labor groups held a nationwide strike and street protests. In an unusual move that shows the growing discontent among the middle class, the major Philippine business organizations endorsed the strike.

While the impeachment trial is expected to begin in the next few days, it is not clear whether the anti-Duterte forces can muster two-thirds of the 24-member Senate to remove him from office.

"I'm not optimistic, but I think there's a chance," Duterte said. "You never know how the senators will decide on this matter."

SWIFT REPRISALS

Hours before the House forwarded the impeachment charges, Sotto, was voted out as Senate president and replaced by Ralph Recto.

After making his dramatic move, Cayetano was later ousted as House Speaker and replaced by Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco.

Duterte still has wide popularity. A poll late last week showed that many Filipinos do not want him to be removed.

Yesterday that plans to reveal more damaging information that could seal Duterte's downfall.

Singson had accused Duterte of receiving millions in payoffs from an illegal but widely tolerated gambling operation called jueteng. He admitted his own role in the operation, but said Duterte was the "lord of all gambling lords."

"I'm willing to go to jail so long as the man who committed the bigger crimes will come with me," Singson told reporters at the Manila Yacht Club. "He will surely be an ex-president soon. Just wait."

Activist Deles was also optimistic, dismissing any notion that Duterte would survive.

"We will oust him, otherwise as a nation we die," she said. "He'll go as Marcos went."

-------

THE CHARGES AGAINST DUTERTE

-- Bribery: The Philippine president is accused of breaking a campaign promise to outlaw short-term employment contracts, warning the move risked alienating his diehard supporters.

-- Graft and corruption: Duterte is accused of receiving $2.6 million from tobacco taxes and under-declaring his personal net worth.

-- Betrayal of public trust: Duterte is accused of intervening in the investigation of a friend by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

-- Violation of the constitution: Duterte is accused of participating in a family-controlled real-estate business despite a prohibition on outside business interests while in office.

https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Philippine-House-Votes-To-Impeach-Estrada-3302508.php

Duterte fails to detail recovery plan

By Norman P. Aquino, Special Reports Editor

Jenina P. Ibañez, Charmaine A. Tadalan, Beatrice M. Laforga

and Gillian M. Cortez, Reporters

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday asked lawmakers to pass stimulus measures to revive an economy on the brink of a recession caused by a coronavirus lockdown that is one of the world’s strictest and longest.

Analysts, business leaders and opposition lawmakers said he failed to say how exactly he plans to go about it.

The tough-talking Philippine leader devoted the first hour of his almost two-hour state of the nation address — his penultimate, before he steps down in two years — lauding state response to the pandemic and urging Congress to support his economic recovery plan.

“We must facilitate the country’s economic recovery,” Mr. Duterte said in a speech at the House of Representatives, where about 50 VIP politicians gathered to hear him speak. The rest of his audience was made up of Cabinet secretaries, senators and congressmen, and local government officials who listened in from various Zoom Cloud meetings.

He asked lawmakers to fast-track the second version of the bill giving him special powers in dealing with the pandemic, including realigning government funds.

The first law that has since expired let him realign about P275 billion to state programs against the coronavirus. The second measure seeks to let him allocate another P140 billion for various programs for the health emergency.

Mr. Duterte vowed not to rush the reopening of the economy, saying the good “would be outweighed by the bad it will generate.” “Haste makes waste, The recent surge of infections when you open little windows of resumption of business is proof of that.”

Mr. Duterte also asked Congress to hasten the approval of the bill seeking to immediately lower the corporate income tax to 25% from 30% while giving the government the flexibility to grant both fiscal and nonfiscal incentives.

He also sought the approval of the measure allowing banks to transfer bad loans and assets to asset management companies.

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The President promised to continue his administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, noting that these “are an effective tool to help spur high growth, attract investments, create jobs and achieve financial inclusion for all Filipinos.”

After an hour, he segued from his prepared speech and spent almost half an hour threatening to “kill” drug traffickers and asking lawmakers to revive the death penalty for heinous crimes including illegal drugs.

Mr. Duterte, who is down to his last two years in office and barred by law from seeking reelection, is under pressure to revive the economy to keep his political capital and ensure the victory of his chosen candidate in the 2022 presidential elections. At least three presidents before him had either been sued or jailed for corruption.

Mr. Duterte said he pleaded with Chinese President Xi Jinping five days ago to prioritize the Philippines for supply once it finds a vaccine for the coronavirus.

“If they have the vaccine, can they allow us to be one of the first or if it’s needed, if we have to buy it, that we be granted credit so that we can normalize as fast as possible?” he said, reiterating that face-to-face classes won’t happen until a vaccine is found.

The coronavirus has sickened more than 82,000 and killed almost 2,000 people in the Philippines, more than double from end-June and the second-highest number of infections in Southeast Asia even if Mr. Duterte had enforced one of the world’s earliest quarantines.

“Many of the points he emphasized were old talking points — drugs, criminality and corruption,” said Herman Joseph Kraft, an associate professor and chairman of the University of the Philippines’ Political Science department.

“There were a number of potentially inconsistent declarations. He threatened to close down telcos while at the same time emphasizing the need to switch to online modalities in government service and education,” he added.

Mr. Kraft also said the President had failed to detail a national strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. “There was no clear statement about this, just aspirations about increasing testing.”

The government is hard-pressed to come up with a road map for economic recovery as the Philippines faces its worst slump in three decades after the lockdown shut businesses and sapped consumption.

The economy shrank by 0.2% in the three months through March, the first slump after more than two decades of growth, while the unemployment rate hit an all-time high of 17.7% in April. Economic managers expect economic output to shrink by as much as 3.4% this year amid a worsening fiscal outlook.

MORE DETAILS

In his speech, the President also vowed to help micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises and proposed to institutionalize a government program to send people back to the provinces by refocusing economic and social welfare services to the countryside.

Business groups said they wanted to hear the details of stimulus measures, especially for small businesses.

“We wanted him to mention the proposed Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy Act,” Philexport President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said by telephone after the President’s address, referring to a P1.3-trillion stimulus package that allots a budget for mass testing, wage subsidies and help for small companies.

“That’s a big thing for us and it’s important for the recovery and investment,” he said.

Business groups in their wish lists last week asked for economic stimulus measures and legislation that will open the country to foreign direct investment.

Mr. Ortiz-Luis also said he waited for Mr. Duterte to mention the national ID system and a plan to revamp an inter-agency task force on the coronavirus to include more inputs from economic managers and the business sector.

Chris Nelson, executive director at the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, said he was looking forward to the budgets that would be allotted to  specific sectors under the P140-billion fund of the so-called Bayanihan to Recover as One bill.

In one of his ad-libs, Mr. Duterte threatened to shut down telecommunication companies if they fail to improve their service by December.

“If you are not ready to improve, I might just as well close all of you,” he said, threatening to seize the companies in favor of the government.

He also renewed his attacks on ABS-CBN Corp., branding the Lopez family, who owns the media giant, as oligarchs, weeks after congressmen rejected the broadcast network’s plea for a new franchise.

A high-ranking official at dominant carrier PLDT, Inc. declined to comment on the President’s threat.

“We heed the call of the President to improve telco services,” rival Globe Telecom, Inc. said in an e-mailed statement. “Service performance and increased consumer demand for data are the key reasons why we have been investing billions of dollars to upgrade and improve our network,” it added.

Toward the close of his speech, Mr. Duterte reiterated his policy of diplomacy in dealing with the sea dispute with China.

“Unless we are prepared to go to war, I would suggest we treat this with diplomatic endeavors,” he said. “They are in possession of the property. So what can we do? We have to go to war and I cannot afford it.”.

Mr. Duterte’s speech had some good points, but these were drowned out when he attacked opposition Senator Franklin Drilon for defending the Lopezes and talking about his war on drugs, Maria Ela L. Atienza, a political science professor at UP, said in an e-mailed reply to questions.

“It would have been better if he stuck with the prepared speech and laid out a clearer road map to improve the country’s response to the pandemic,” she added.

Mr. Duterte’s address left a “big hole” in his administration’s overall response to the pandemic, Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman said by telephone.

“People were expecting the President to announce a road map of his administration in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said, adding that the budget under the Bayanihan 2 bill was not enough to address the crisis.

Opposition Senator Francis N. Pangilinan questioned the President’s push to revive the death penalty. “COVID, hunger and joblessness of millions are serious problems, yet the death penalty is what’s being pushed,” he said in a social media post.

Mr. Duterte locked down the main island of Luzon in mid-March, suspending work, classes and public transportation to contain the pandemic. People should stay home except to buy food and other basic goods, he said.

He extended the lockdown for the island twice and thrice for the capital region. The lockdown in Metro Manila has since been eased, with more businesses allowed to reopen with a skeletal workforce. Mass gatherings remained banned.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.

https://www.bworldonline.com/duterte-fails-to-detail-recovery-plan/

Sotto to pro-charter change solons: Just amend Local Government Code

Senate President Vicente Sotto on Monday declined to entertain several lawmakers' push to amend the 1987 Constitution, saying Congress can enact laws to help Filipinos survive the COVID-19 crisis without tinkering with the charter.

Lawmakers who want to change the Constitution allegedly to ease several business restrictions during the health and economic crises can just amend the Local Government Code and other laws, Sotto told reporters in an online press conference.

"Kulang ba ang Local Government Code? Ang mga pagkukulang ba kailangan Constitution ang galawin?" Sotto said.

"If you ask me, I don't see the connection. I'm sorry," he said.

Sotto has been consistent in saying that charter change is "not a priority of the Senate."

"Unfortunately, for those who are proposing it (charter change), it is not [a priority in the Senate]," he said.

"We will act on it if it reaches us, but at the moment I don't see any member of the Senate pushing for such," he said.

The Senate will instead focus on measures that will improve the Philippines' digital connectivity, public transportation and distance-learning system during the COVID-19 crisis, he said.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/27/20/sotto-to-pro-charter-change-solons-just-amend-local-government-code

Duterte to congress: Pass bills creating new departments

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday sought the passage of bills creating the Department of Overseas Filipinos and the Department of Disaster Resilience.

“I strongly urge congress to pass a law establishing the Department of Overseas Filipinos solely addressing the concerns of Filipinos abroad and their families,” Duterte said in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“I emphasize the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience,” he added.

The President also called for the establishment of evacuation centers in each city, town and province.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/07/27/news/latest-stories/duterte-to-congress-pass-bills-creating-new-departments/746746/

FAST FACTS: TV networks’ franchise expiry dates

Other networks were allowed to operate beyond their franchise's expiry

The Philippines’ largest broadcaster ABS-CBN failed to secure a fresh franchise from Congress, an apparent culmination of President Rodrigo Duterte's years-long tirades against the network.

ABS-CBN’s franchise to operate was approved in 1995 and was valid for 25 years. 

On May 5, a day after its franchise expired, ABS-CBN was forced off-air after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order against the network. 

More than two months later, on July 10, the House committee on legislative franchises rejected the network’s application for a new one because of alleged “numerous violations” – a decision widely condemned as politically-motivated.

However, there were networks and telecommunications companies that were previously allowed to operate despite an expired franchise.

Rappler compiled other details of other TV networks’ franchises, including their expiry dates.

TV5

The previous franchise of ABC Development Corporation, mother company of TV5 network, expired in December 2019.

Its 25-year franchise renewal lapsed into law months earlier on April 22, 2019. This will expire in 2044.

GMA

GMA’s previous franchise expired on May 12, 2017. President Duterte signed into law the franchise renewal on April 21, 2017. It will expire in 2042.

PTV-4

The People’s Television Network is the Philippines' flagship state broadcaster and is under the supervision and control of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

In 2013, former president Benigno Aquino III signed a law “revitalizing” PTV-4 and amending the network’s original charter passed in 1992.

The network’s franchise is co-terminus with its corporate status, which is also up for renewal in March 2022.

Duterte called on Congress to pass a law that will transform PTV-4 into a public service broadcaster but to no avail.

IBC-13

The franchise of government-owned IBC is set to expire in 2025.

PCOO  is pushing for another 25-year extension to make the station attractive to buyers, as it is currently in “dire straits.”

Subic Broadcasting Corporation (SBC)

The network operates a TV station and several radio stations in the province of Zambales. 

In March 2018, President Duterte signed a law renewing SBC’s franchise for another 25 years. It will expire in 2043.

It is owned by former Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr, younger brother of Senator Richard Gordon.

CBCP

The franchise of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) expired in 2017 but its new franchise was approved in 2019 only. It was, however, allowed to operate in between those years. Some lawmakers earlier cited this example in pushing for ABS-CBN’s continued operations despite an expired franchise. 

CBCP's new franchise will expire in 2044. 

Net 25

Net 25 is the flagship TV station of Iglesia Ni Cristo’s Eagle Broadcasting Corporation. Its franchise was approved on May 3, 2016 and is valid until 2041.

ZOE Broadcasting Network

ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc or ZOE TV, is the broadcasting arm of Jesus Is Lord Church led and founded by Eddie Villanueva. Its franchise was approved on July 17, 2016 and will end in 2041.

UNTV

UNTV is owned by Alfredo “Atom” Henares and is the flagship network of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation (PBC). 

Its franchise, approved on May 18, 2016, is valid until 2041.

Sonshine Media Network International

SMNI is owned by Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God” and founder of the Restorationist church called “Kingdom of Jesus Christ” (KJC). SMNI, legally known as Swara Sug Media Corporation, is the broadcasting arm of his church.

Duterte and Quiboloy are longtime friends, with Duterte admitting he received properties and cars from Quiboloy. KJC’s sprawling headquarters is located in Davao City.

Duterte signed SMNI’s franchise extension on August 22, 2019, allowing the network to operate until 2044. – with reports from Denise Galias/Rappler.com

https://rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/fast-facts-tv-networks-franchise-expiration

Stop Long Enough To Ask God For Guidance

The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.  Joshua 9:14

 

"Heaven is full of answers to prayers for which no one ever bothered to ask," said the venerable Billy Graham.  How often do we go plodding on, sometimes blundering, getting ourselves into situations which turn into nightmares because we never bother to stop long enough and say, "God, what do you want me to do? Is this your will, or does it simply look pretty good to me?"  Answers to prayers that were never prayed could have saved you all kinds of headaches.

Long ago Joshua and his staff could have saved themselves all kinds of heartaches had they only stopped long enough to ask God for guidance.  Here's how they got themselves into trouble.  After God gave them two great victories--one at Jericho and Ai--they met together and renewed their commitment to serve God.  The law was read and the people nodded their heads in agreement.

But shortly after that the Gibeonites, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, decided they had better sue for peace.  Here's what happened:  "They resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.  The men put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes.  All of the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy….  'We have come from a distant country, make a treaty with us,'" they said.

Even Joshua was fooled as they told him how the bread that was now dry and moldy had been soft and fresh when they started their trip.  Yes, of course, they lied.  But they were convincing.  And Joshua signed a treaty with them, agreeing to conditions whereby they would be servants to the Israelites but never would they be killed.

The key to their failure is summed up in a few words which Joshua himself later wrote, "The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD" (Joshua 9:14).  They sniffed the moldy bread, and ran their fingers through the worn and ragged garments, and bought into their lies which they told with consummate skill.

Do you know friend that the problem that confronted them is still with us today? Nobody is so smart, so savvy, so discerning that he can't be deceived by the enemies in life, to say nothing of the devil, who is a master of deception.  That's why bringing God into your negotiations, asking Him for direction and guidance, is so important.

Answers to prayer you never prayed could keep you from entering into a marriage which turns into a nightmare, or from living with that guy whom you want to believe loves you so much and fully intends to marry you after he makes enough money, or from signing on the dotted line, committing yourself to something you will later regret.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, gave us a powerful promise when he wrote, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5).  It's OK to acknowledge that you don't know what to do, and ask God for wisdom and direction.

Someone wisely said that he who knows not and knows that he knows not is a wise man, but he who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool.  He was right.

Are you in need of an answer to a prayer that you have not yet prayed?  God won't thump you over the head to get your attention, but He will respond to your simple cry of, "Lord, I need your help.  What should I do? What is your will in this whole matter?"

If you are married, make it a practice to join hands and hearts with your husband or wife and pray together before you make any major decisions.  If you are single, start each day asking God to guide and direct you.

He will!  Those answers to prayer we never pray are there, as Billy Graham suggested, ready to save us from our own mistakes and presumption.

Resource reading: Joshua 9:1-21

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/stop-long-enough-to-ask-god-for-guidance/

House to file bill creating Department of Arts and Culture

On the 132nd day since the enhanced community quarantine, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano disclosed that the lower chamber would be filing a bill establishing a Department of Arts and Culture within the week.

"This week the house leadership is filing a bill that will establish the Department of Arts and Culture so that instead of being a casualty of COVID-19, Filipino creativity and artistry will be an integral part of our arsenal for recovery," Cayetano said as the House second regular session began on Moday.

"In the face of an evolving enemy and a fluid battleground, Congress needs to continue to Adapt, Innovate, and Manage if we are to stay above water until a vaccine or a cure is found," he also said.

Earlier, Cayetano also mentioned that South Korea invested in its entertainment industry which eventually became vital in the growth of its economy.

Cayetano's initial proposal came just days after the lower chamber voted to junk the franchise application of ABS-CBN Corp., a major source of culture and entertainment for most Filipinos, which the House Speaker himself admitted having personal grievances with.

'House did well'
Although not explicitly mentioning the company, Cayetano alluded to its shutdown as he urged the public to move on instead of staying fixated on the past.

"Everything from this point on should no longer be about recapturing the past. Let's not chase yesterday. I expect that the very notion of someone telling you to move on, is offensive and hurtful. There is nothing we can say that is not insensitive," Cayetano said Monday.

"That was not our intention. Please believe us that we understand your grief. We can't afford to be weak — not at this time. I take comfort in the president's firm but fatherly hand," he added.

The House Speaker also pointed out that Congress "did well"—despite sending 11,000 into unemployment mid-pandemic—because it was already concerned with the coronavirus pandemic "as early as January."

The new pathogen was first discovered in Wuhan, China, in December. In late January, Cayetano urged the public to stop spreading false information and hate campaigns against Chinese people as he supported the president's temporary travel ban on travelers from China's Hubei province.

Duterte at the time said a ban on China as a whole would be "xenophobic" and have diplomatic consequences.

"Hand in hand with this, we must look towards revitalizing the Philippine creative industry, once the envy of Asia, but now a mere shadow of its former glory," Cayetano said. — Video from House PIO; Video editing by Philstar.com/Erwin Cagadas

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/07/27/2030952/house-file-bill-creating-department-arts-and-culture

House plenary vote on ABS-CBN franchise sought

A noise barrage in support of ABS-CBN continues for another night in front of the network's broadcasting center in Quezon City on July 24, 2020. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

(UPDATE) - Several lawmakers on Saturday called for a plenary vote in the House of Representatives on ABS-CBN's failed franchise application, assailing as a "mistrial" the House panel's proceedings that led to its denial of the media network's bid for a new license for its free-to-air broadcast operations.

In a virtual forum organized by the Makabayan bloc, the lawmakers said the 305-member House of Representatives should decide with finality on ABS-CBN's fate, rather than just the 70 lawmakers who voted against its franchise -- a move they said was "injurious" to public interest and an error of judgement.

"The plenary should be given a chance to review the vote given by the Committee [on Legislative Franchises]. For me, it doesn't represent the whole... we have to reopen the issue and debate on it openly," Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said.

For Atienza, the administration-backed chamber should scrutinize the committee's 40-page technical working group (TWG) report, which recommended the denial of ABS-CBN's bid for a fresh franchise, because it was allegedly predetermined.

"Bulatlatin natin 'yung (Let's examine the) report. Tignan natin (Let's check) word for word, phrase by phrase, sentence by sentence, kung saan sila naligaw (where they got lost). Dahil malinaw 'yung 12 hearings, wala silang napatunayan (Because it was clear they failed to prove any wrongdoing in the 12 hearings)," he said.

"This is a very dangerous direction for our country where Congress starts to behave as the prosecutor, the judge, the jury and the executioner, all rolled into one," Atienza added.

CHERRY-PICKING TESTIMONIES

Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Lawrence Fortun also voiced reservations on the TWG report, which lawmakers noted was put together at great speed despite lengthy and grueling hearings and swiftly approved by the committee's regular and ex-officio members in a vote on July 10.

"The committee in its vote to kill or deny the application for franchise is definitely not on the right of side [of history], but the House as a whole may pagkakataon pa (there's still a chance) by way of correcting the mistake of the committee," he said.

The 3-person TWG said in its report that the Filipino citizenship of ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III was doubtful. The company's Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) also "appear to have been utilized to allow foreign ownership," which is a violation of the 1987 Constitution, it said.

The TWG report also stated that "ABS-CBN's labor practices are less than exemplary" and that the prescribed process of the Lopez family's reacquisition of the network after martial rule "was not followed."

The report was crafted by Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John Garcia, Camiguin Rep. XJ Romualdo and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, who dissented to the recommendation, saying ABS-CBN deserves a new franchise. 

For Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, the TWG was cherry-picking testimonies to fit a narrative that ABS-CBN did not deserve a franchise despite being cleared by regulatory agencies invited during the hearings.

"Kung talagang busisiin mo 'yung report, hindi lang full of inconsistencies tapos alanganin, parang nag-cherry-pick lang ng gustong testimonies. In fact, ang mga nakalagay doon ay 'yung mga testimonya na hindi galing sa resource persons natin from regulatory agencies," he said.

(If you look closely at the report, it's not only full of inconsistencies, it looks like they just cherry-picked from the testimonies. In fact, the testimonies cited there did not come from resource persons from regulatory agencies.)

Zarate also criticized the TWG report as inconclusive with its frequent use of "it appears."

To which Atienza responded, "It appears they [committee] committed an error of judgement, misappreciation of facts and provision of fairness and justice [to ABS-CBN]."

ABS-CBN employees and supporters hold a noise barrage outside the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City on July 18, 2020. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

SCARING INVESTORS

Parañaque City 2nd District Rep. Joy Myra Tambunting also warned that shuttering ABS-CBN's TV and radio operations may spook investors because it sent a signal that the government could close down a business despite being compliant.

Zarate, meanwhile, said ABS-CBN's shutdown put into question the stability of the country's regulatory regime.

"If a big network like ABS-CBN na sinabi ng regulatory agencies na walang nagawang pagkakamali ay naipasara, ang tanong ngayon, how stable our regulatory regime is?" Zarate said.

(If they were able to shut down a big network like ABS-CBN, which regulatory agencies already said has no violations, the question now is, how stable is our regulatory regime?)

Atienza also had this to say: "It's not a good precedent. In fact, it creates a lot of instability in our business community. We'll suffer all the consequences on this eventually."

For Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, President Rodrigo Duterte had a hand in the shut down of ABS-CBN based on his pronouncements.

The President had repeatedly vowed to pull the plug on the broadcaster over alleged political partisanship, she said.

Brosas was also referring to Duterte's recent statement of dismantling the country's oligarchy, which involved the Lopez and Ayala families.

'SAMPAL SA ATIN'

While Fortun praised efforts to bring ABS-CBN back on air through people's initiative, he said this would be a slap on their faces for not acknowledging public clamor.

"Parang sampal sa atin ito since you are not doing your work, you are not our voice anymore, kami na lang ang gagawa," he said.

(It's like slap on our faces since you are not doing your work, you are not our voice anymore, we'll do it instead.)

For the Agusan del Norte lawmaker, it's all the more important to bring the issue on ABS-CBN's franchise to plenary.

Section 32 of Article 6 of the 1987 Constitution states that the people can directly propose and enact laws or approve or reject any act or law or part thereof passed by the Congress or local legislative body after the registration of a petition after signed by at least 10 percent of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least 3 percent of the registered voters.

"Bakit isusubo ang mga mamamayan na sila mag-initiate na puwede naman nating gawin para sa kanila. (Why would we allow the people to do this when we can do it for them?) Let's bring their voices to plenary. Our decision must be reflective," Fortun said.

The lawmakers also cited a July 2020 survey from pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS), which revealed that 3 out of 5 Filipinos wanted Congress to renew ABS-CBN's broadcast franchise.

The survey also showed that denying the network a franchise was a major blow to press freedom.

On Friday, a volunteers group launched "People's Initiative for Reforms and Movement for Action" or PIRMA Kapamilya campaign to bring ABS-CBN back on free television.

Citizen Volunteers aim to gather 7 million signatures nationwide in order to grant the media giant a "people’s franchise."

The country's telecoms body shut down ABS-CBN's free TV and radio operations on May 5 after its franchise was left to expire on May 4 despite a long-pending renewal application at the House.

A month later, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) served 2 cease-and-desist orders against ABS-CBN's digital broadcast in Metro Manila and its sister company Sky Cable's direct broadcast satellite service nationwide.

In a historic vote of 70-11, the Committee on Legislative Franchises on July 10 junked ABS-CBN's application because the "applicant was seen as undeserving of the grant of a legislative franchise."

ABS-CBN was first shut down in 1972 when dictator Ferdinand Marcos imposed martial law. 

Some 48 years later, the network was forced off the air under the Duterte administration, which local and international groups condemned as a brazen attack on press freedom.

In the absence of a congressional franchise, the network, which employs 11,000 workers throughout its various subsidiaries, said it would cease the operations of some of its businesses and lay off workers effective Aug. 31, 2020.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/25/20/house-plenary-vote-on-abs-cbn-franchise-sought

Ilang kongresista naniniwalang kaya pang buhayin sa plenaryo ang ABS-CBN franchise

Naniniwala ang ilang mambabatas na may pag-asa pang maipasa ang prangkisa ng ABS-CBN kung maiaakyat sa plenaryo ang isyu para mapagbotohan ng lahat ng kongresista. 

Sa isang Zoom conference umaga ng Sabado, sinabi ng ilang mambabatas na kuwestiyonable ang naging ulat ng Technical Working Group na naging batayan sa pagpatay sa franchise application ng ABS-CBN, lalo’t wala namang napatuayang paglabag ang network sa lahat ng mga pagdinig. 

Ayon kay Agusan Del Norte Congressman Lawrence Fortun, ang ginamit na terminong “laid on the table” ay nangangahuluhang hindi na aaksyunan ng komite ang isang panukala pero puwede itong remedyuhan sa plenaryo. 

“Puwede siyang tanggalin sa committee, at plenaryo ang aaksyon sa kanya, in fact, no less than the Speaker said this can be done,” ani Fortun. 

Paniwala naman ni Buhay Partylist Representative Lito Atienza na kung matatalakay sa plenaryo, boboto ang mga mambabatas base sa kanilang konsensya at mabibigyan ng prangkisa ang network basta’t hindi makikialam at mananakot ang ibang lider sa Kamara. 

“Malinaw itong sasabihin ko, huwag niyang pressurin, huwag niyang pilitin, huwag siyang gagamit ng mga elemento, nararamdaman ko, yung mga kasama natin may mga sentido kumon, pag pinabayaan ang tunay na conscience vote at plenary yan,” ani Atienza. 

Giit naman ni Parañaque Rep. Joy Tambunting na malaki ang epekto sa ekonomiya ang pasasara ng ABS-CBN kaya dapat muling talakayin ng plenaryo ang isyu. 

“Maraming negosyo ang nagsara, at yung mga natitira, nasan ang proteksyon namin? Eto nga malaking negosyo, eh paano naman kaming naghihikahos na ngayon?” ani Tambunting. 

Dagdag pa ng mga mambabatas na bilang mga halal na opisyal ay dapat sinasalamin nila ang boses ng taumbayan lalo’t lumitaw sa survey na 3 sa 4 na Pilipino ang naniniwalang dapat mabigyan ng prangkisa ang ABS-CBN. 

Inilunsad na rin ng ilang volunteer ang people’s initiative na layong makalikom ng 7 milyong pirma para mabigyan ng prangkisa ang network. 

Kaya giit ng mga kongresista, mistulang hindi na pinakikinggan ng mga mambabatas ang boses ng publiko. 

“May legal na batayan naman ang ginagawa ng mga mamamayan, kasi kung feeling nila, di narinig ang boses nila, sa pamamagitan ng kanilang kinatawan sa Kongreso. Initiative ng tao talaga ang mananaig,” ani Alliance of Concerned Teachers Rep. France Castro. 

Dagdag ni Fortun: “Kapag sila pa ang naghain ng people’s initiative, parang sampal naman satin to, parang sinasabi nila, na since you’re not doing your work, since you’re not my voice anymore, sinasabi nila, kami na ang gagawa nito.”

Umaasa silang matatalakay ang isyu ng prangkisa sa muling pagbubukas ng sesyon sa Lunes. 

— Ulat ni Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/25/20/ilang-kongresista-naniniwalang-kaya-pang-buhayin-sa-plenaryo-ang-abs-cbn-franchise

Lalaking naka-quarantine, patay sa saksak sa barangay isolation facility

NEW BATAAN, Davao de Oro - Hindi na natapos ng lalaking stranded mula Surigao ang kaniyang quarantine sa Barangay Cabinuangan dito sa bayan matapos pagsasaksakin ng isang lalaking nakapasok sa loob ng isolation unit, Huwebes ng madaling araw. 

Kinilala ang biktima na si Arjay Villasencio, 33 anyos na nasa ikalawang araw pa lamang ng kaniyang quarantine.

Si Villasencio ay napatay sa saksak ng suspek na si Remar Villaren. 

"Accordingly, para itong lumalabas na crime of passion, na love triangle po 'yong motibo ng krimen kasi po 'yung suspek mayroon po siyang former live-in partner na 'yun naman ngayon ang live-in partner ng victim," sabi ni Police Capt. Churchill Pablo Angog Jr., hepe ng New Bataan Police. 

Sa imbestigasyon, dumaan ang suspek sa bintana sa likurang bahagi ng barangay isolation facility. Nagkagulo pa sila sa loob hanggang sinaksak ng suspek ang biktima sa kili-kili gamit ang kutsilyo. 

Sumuko na sa pulisya ang suspek at inamin ang kasalanan dahil sa galit niya sa biktima. 

Sinampahan na ng kasong murder ang suspek. 

Inutusan na ni New Bataan Mayor Geraldford Balbin ang mga barangay officials at Barangay Health Emergency Response Team na paigtingin pa ang seguridad sa isolation unit para hindi na maulit pa ang insidente. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/25/20/lalaking-naka-quarantine-patay-sa-saksak-sa-barangay-isolation-facility

Give the Gift Of Undeserved Kindness

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  Colossians 3:12

Be kind and rewind.  Did you ever see that phrase on the label of an old VHS videotape cassette?  It was a request for a simple act, asking the viewer to show kindness by rewinding the tape at the end of watching a movie so that the next person wouldn’t have to.  Simply think of the next guy, was the idea.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the practice of performing “random acts of kindness.”  Random Acts of Kindness Day evolved from a Sausalito, California, restaurant in 1982 when Anne Herbert scrawled the words “practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty,” on a placemat.  Since then people have kindly paid the bills of others in line behind them at coffee shops and grocery stores or have simply held doors open, smiled and said thank you.

But why do we think of treating a stranger kindly as a senseless act?  Perhaps because what makes sense to us, is to act in ways that benefit us, doing only what is best for us.  In and of ourselves, we’re not likely to think of “the next guy.”

The Bible doesn’t treat kindness to others as senseless, nor does it encourage us to be random in our demonstration of it.  “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself,” the Proverbs teach. (Proverbs 11:17) Kindness and love are to go hand in hand, says the great chapter on love, I Corinthians 13.  In fact, kindness is one of the evidences that God’s Spirit is living inside of a person.  Kindness is what is called one of the “fruits of the Spirit,” (Galatians 5:22) the marks of a life that has been transformed by a true relationship with God.

Jesus’ own words about showing kindness to others are anything but light and fluffy:  “But love your enemies,” He said, “and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” (Luke 6:35) Jesus calls for those who follow him to follow God’s example by showing kindness to those who aren’t going to say thank you, those who don’t deserve it.  Listen to the verse again, “…he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”

My tendency is to show kindness to those who will reciprocate; people I like, who think like me and share my values.  I want evil people to receive judgment, not kindness.  The problem is that I can’t show kindness to someone who has done evil to me without forgiving them.  Kindness and bitterness can’t hold hands.

That’s what the father of two young children had in mind when he made his kids memorize a verse from the Bible book of Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 32 which says, “Be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake, forgave you.”  When his son and daughter were fighting away, he would bring them together, make them hold hands and looking into each other’s eyes, recite this verse in unison to one another.  Nothing could stop squabbling faster than knowing that this is how family conflict was going to be solved. It was horrible to have to do and definitely stopped the fighting.  I know—because I was one of those kids!

We need the kindness of God desperately in this troubled world.  Christ-followers, having known the forgiveness and grace of God toward us in our brokenness, need to be the kindest people.  Let’s do something kind for another today, but let’s make it purposeful, not random.  Let our kindness be senseless, in that we choose to show kindness to someone who perhaps, has wronged us, or doesn’t deserve it.  Who will you bless with kindness today?

Resource reading: Ephesians 4:1-32

https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/give-the-gift-of-undeserved-kindness/