1. Paul

I need someone who can mentor and coach me.  I don’t know everything and I will never get to the point that I will know everything.  I need someone to help me follow Jesus to my very last breath.

I thank God for Steve, Joey, Ariel, Ferdie and Manny who have been like that to me.

2. Barnabas

While following a mentor is critical, equally important is peer discipleship.  I need people who will stay in my face and let me know when I am not in the right.

I thank God for Robert, Chaz, Michael, LA, Carlos, Dennis, Rico, Julius who have been like that to me.

3. Timothy

Being a coach and a mentor is part of discipleship.  We help people follow Jesus.

You and I need to find men and women who we can pour our life into. . . to give what was given to us. .. to share what was shared to us.

This morning, in our Metro Manila Staff Meeting, Lynn Nawata who is the Executive Director of Real Life Foundation shared what happened last Sunday.

Joshua Suarez ran 102 kilometers during the “Death March/Life March” and in the process raised 130,000 pesos for Real Life’s Scholarship Fund.  People gave 1,000 pesos for every kilometer he ran.  But since more than 102 people wanted to give, the money raised reached 130,000.00.  Imagine how many high school and college students are helped through this.

I love what Lynn shared from the book, “The Hole in our Gospel” by Richard Stearns.

“We, as Christians, can look at our broken world, shrug our shoulders, and say, “That’s just the way things are.”  Or we can instead embrace a vision of what could be – if we’d each pitch in.  Isn’t it better to light a candle than curse the darkness?  And what could be accomplished if we lit not one candle but many?  The light of even one challenges the gloom, but the light of a million could obliterate it.”

One can make a difference – as each in unison determine to work together for a common goal.

* Prepared for the child training seminar in the evening with Jenn.  I love teaching with Jenn.  She always has great insight in parenting.  I learn a lot from her.  She actually is the better parent between the 2 of us.  Don’t know what I’ll do without her.

* Ran to a dinner (we were late for it because we came from the seminar).  Orli and Ampot prepared Shabu Shabu in their house with some friends.  He makes the best shabu shabu.

* Saturday morning, which has been our routine for the past several months was t-ball games.  It was Ryan’s last game of the season though.  But I was so proud of him.  He did so well.  He hit a homerun too.

* Ran to a house dedication after of a friend.  She and her husband recently moved in to a condo at the Fort.  She shared her testimony of how God’s blessed them.  To think, a few years ago, their lives were falling apart and marriage almost in shambles.  Truly, God is a God of restoration.

* Saturday night was fun. Double bday celebration of Joe and Carla.  Dessert party.  Love those.

* Sunday was pretty packed.  Because P. Joey was in Brazil and on route to Orlando, I pitched in for him and preached at the morning services.  I did the afternoon services too.  My one point, “You don’t have to be a queen to make a difference!”

(Video of Ryan’s homerun last Saturday)