Online journal of missionary/school administrator Roca Cruz: insights, on the road, behind the scenes.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
What i cannot do!
. . . present . . . your members as instruments of righteousness to God —Romans 6:13
I cannot save and sanctify myself; I cannot make atonement for sin; I cannot redeem the world; I cannot right what is wrong, purify what is impure, or make holy what is unholy. That is all the sovereign work of God. Do I have faith in what Jesus Christ has done? He has made the perfect atonement for sin. Am I in the habit of constantly realizing it? The greatest need we have is not to do things, but to believe things. The redemption of Christ is not an experience, it is the great act of God which He has performed through Christ, and I have to build my faith on it. If I construct my faith on my own experience, I produce the most unscriptural kind of life— an isolated life, with my eyes focused solely on my own holiness. Beware of that human holiness that is not based on the atonement of the Lord. It has no value for anything except a life of isolation— it is useless to God and a nuisance to man. Measure every kind of experience you have by our Lord Himself. We cannot do anything pleasing to God unless we deliberately build on the foundation of the atonement by the Cross of Christ.
The atonement of Jesus must be exhibited in practical, unassuming ways in my life. Every time I obey, the absolute deity of God is on my side, so that the grace of God and my natural obedience are in perfect agreement. Obedience means that I have completely placed my trust in the atonement, and my obedience is immediately met by the delight of the supernatural grace of God.
Beware of the human holiness that denies the reality of the natural life— it is a fraud. Continually bring yourself to the trial or test of the atonement and ask, "Where is the discernment of the atonement in this, and in that?
Oswald Chambers
http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php
atonement definition:
Amends or reparation made for an injury or wrong; expiation.
Reconciliation or an instance of reconciliation between God and humans.
Atonement Christianity The reconciliation of God and humans brought about by the redemptive life and death of Jesus.
Monday, October 06, 2008
left by the plane
san diego trip fil am fest



morse h-school sand castle inn kitchie and fox news
We had a great time in Fil-Am fest!! Thank you to the people who took care of us Tita Leila Compuesto, Edward, lilyanne, JR, virgil, andrea, kat, gerald and the rest of the Kalusugang, FTS, and Fil-am comunity.
I'd like to thank Boyet, mike, polly and dodge who played for us during the festival.
Life charisma church too! i always feel that God is taking away borders of church comunities :)
Monday, September 22, 2008
Monday, September 01, 2008
Faith in faith
I believe that there are many preachers today who preach a gospel of faith It’s like the preaching of the "secret," that all we need is to do is believe and it will be done.
Bob Hunter, in his CHRISTIANITY STILL IN CRISIS: A WORD OF FAITH UPDATE, says, "These modern‐day prophets of health and wealth believe that people can speak things into existence, thwart God’s plans, and purchase salvation; that money is the root of all happiness; that Christians are not sinners; and that Jesus did not come into the world as God. Rather than saying to Christ, ‘Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory,’ today’s self‐absorbed brand of Christianity insists that ours is the kingdom and that we have all the power and the glory. Another gospel clearly is being preached in many of today’s most prominent churches, and the prevention of its propagation demands our utmost attention.”
I experienced this mind-set personally about 12 years ago, when I started out as a school principal. The "I, me, myself, I believe" faith has brought me so much heartache, disappointments, etc. It was like an obsession to believe in what I want to believe, that it was up to me to believe in God. Like it was my fault if I have failed! My theology was so screwed up that I believed I can "speak" things into existence, using Jesus’ Name as a magic word, I guess you get the picture.
Of course, God — being God — did not allow me to continue going into this kind of hyper faith. He humbled me and opened my eyes to Scripture ...
Scripture clearly teaches us not to labor for earthly goods. Matthew 6:19–20 says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Scripture promises that trials will come “so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Pet. 1:7).
Bob Hunter further says, "There is a tendency in the church today to downplay the importance of doctrine. Scripture, however, places a great deal of emphasis not only on doctrine, but correct doctrine. Paul urged Timothy to “watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim. 4:16). He did this because “the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Tim. 4:3)."
Let’s put our faith in God.. not because of what He can do for us.. but to glorify Him. Let us live our lives not for ourselves, for Him!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
the filipinos
the growth of my nation and the status of the economy..
we Filipinos are known for our hospitality and ingenuity. we are very hospitable, we open our homes to friends, family and even strangers..
my point being is .. Filipinos can be very selfless as a small unit..
my challenge is.. we Filipinos can be selfless as a nation.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
stereofame
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
happy birthday to me


its been months since my last blog and so many events has passed..





i want to thank everyone (the good and the bad) that impacted my life. this is a great life and il live it to the fullest. taking it easy knowing that its not about me... what a relief!!!
i more pictures but its not uploading.. shucks


Saturday, January 05, 2008
a real new year!


Sunday, December 02, 2007
Law of Attraction
There are many who are starting to get attracted to the Law of Attraction. With the top rating multi-million sales of the Secret and the many Self- help seminars like the Landmark Forum. I want to share my experience regarding this.
Here's a quote from...
Abraham: You did not come into this environment to create through action. Instead, your action is meant to be a way in which you enjoy what you have created through thought.
Esther Hicks
Source: The Law of Attraction: The Basics Of The Teachings
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..proverbs 23:7
Ever since I remember I have always wanted a perfect life and I strive for perfection. I looked inside me and tried to change my heart from within.. I even attended self-help seminars and bought so many books. But my longing was deep.. so deep that people, knowledge and philosophies, etc cannot fill..
So I got outside help to fill the gap.. relationships, alcohol and even drugs to dull the deep need for significance and purpose. I just wanted to be happy. This was a ten year search until I was exhausted and drained.
During my time of searching my brother was a new convert to Christianity. I hated him because he used to be one of me… we were friends and we would always be together in our exploits of searching for significance. To cut the long story short he stopped hanging out with me.. and started sharing how he was changed by Jesus!
It was so horrid because it was so simple!!! My mind was rebelling to the overly simplified answer to the longing of perfection and freedom. My initial reaction to his ”new found” faith was to persecute him until he becomes so angry that the Jesus in his life will be quenched or sucked out of him..hehe. I used to be an expert on “picking on people.”
Six months has passed he still was standing strong in his faith (i failed). One night while I was feeling severely lonely, desperate and depressed I cried out to God and confessed that everything was my fault and my life was the result of all my thoughts and actions I needed Him to divinely intervene as I surrendered to Him. After I cried out to Him, He actually answered back!!! A voice told me “go to your brother’s church” so I went the Sunday of the week.
Attending my brother’s church did not change me, listening to the music and the preaching did not also change me. My heart was burning in the presence of the Lord while the words and songs pierced my heart. Jesus drew me to Himself that day and I totally surrendered to whatever He wants me to do. . that changed me by letting Him do the changing!
Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Psalm 1
1BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
2But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.
3And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].
I use the bible as my life manual on how to think and dream.. to attract God’s thoughts and laws in my heart. I meditate on it and apply it. It’s been 12 years and I’m still learning and growing in my relationship with Jesus. He saved me and cleaned me up, from inside (thoughts, emotions and desires) to looks and actions.
My last thought on this..
I can gain the whole world with my own thoughts and dreams but what “eternal importance” will it have? I will loose my soul in gaining all “things” apart from God.
Episode 1
https://beyourselfandliveyourpurpose.podbean.com/e/the-title-of-episode_1/
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