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Have you ever been in a situation that you hoped you never fall into?
Or found yourself in a mess and wonder how you got there?

It’s sad how sin has a way of sucking us in until we’re bogged down, jammed, and pinned.

“That will never happen to me.”
“Only the simpletons fall into those traps.”
“Never in my lifetime.”

It’s rarely a blowout. It’s usually a slow leak.

On July 6, 1999, 27 year old Daniel Dukes went to Sea World in Orlando. He waited until the park closed. Right before it did, he hid and waited until the park was empty. Sometime during the night, he made his way to the pool where Tillicum, a 5 ton killer whale was. He slipped into his swimming trunks and jumped in.

No one was sure what happened but the next day, Dukes’ body was found the draped over Tillicum’s back lifeless. Some believe that the whale may have been startled by Dukes’ appearance that Tillicum dove deeper into the pool, creating a vortex that pulled the man under and rendered him helpless.

Others believe that maybe the whale thought Dukes was a toy that he dragged him around the pool for fun, keeping him underwater until he drowned.

Either way, he was lifeless the next day.

Sin has a way of dragging us down deeper and deeper until we have no inkling what actually happened to us.

But thank God that we don’t have to continue in that direction.

Jesus came not only to stop the cycle but to completely rescue us from complete lifelessness and ultimate.

How do you get out of the vortex?

1. Understand that you’re helpless and totally unable to deliver yourself.

2. Put your faith in what Jesus has done not on what you have done.

3. Keep going back to step 1 and 2.

4. Repeat step 3.

5. Repeat step 4 till your last breath.

A few years ago, I spoke to a couple who hit a bump in their relationship.  They’ve been together since college and have been dating for several years.  They’ve been both losing interest in each other and no longer know where to take it.

After hearing them out, we’ve realized that they’ve hit a lid in their relationship.  The time they’ve spent, the experiences they’ve shared, the ‘kilig’ they’ve felt has hit a lid.

They needed to make a decision – either bring it to the next level (marriage) or make a decision if this is really what they want.

Someone said indecision becomes a decision with time.

I don’t know exactly how long is long but being in a relationship too long may not exactly be the healthiest. Intimacy wise, you cannot bring it to where you’d like to since you’re not yet married.  And the temptation becomes even more intense.

Breaking up is difficult because of the ‘sayang’ factor.  You’ve been with together for years and then that’s it?

But staying in a relationship just because you’ve been together for a long time is not the best reason to stay.

WARNING: Unsolicited advice…. (Don’t continue to read if you might not like the next statement.)

Guys, if you’re in a long term relationship and the relationship is getting stale, I suggest you take it to the next level – either get married or break it up. Why? Because the lady you are in a relationship with may be stuck and for all you know God has someone else for her but you’ve held her captive in the relationship you’re in.

But if it’s a go, then get married. Trust God for provision. Believe God for the best. He will never leave nor forsake.

Ladies, don’t let anyone take you captive in a relationship. You do know that you can make the decision to move on. You’re not married yet. And if he is not ready to back up his claim with a ring, then he has no business asking you to give your all to him.

By the way, you may ask what happened to the couple I spoke to years ago? They did get married, eventually. Now they’re living life to the fullest, enjoying all that God had promised in a marriage submitted to His will.

Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? (Proverbs 20:6)

We had our Victory Weekend last Friday and Saturday.

Seeing people lives changed by the gospel never gets old. Being in scores of Victory Weekend retreats the past years, seeing people come to Christ and profess their faith in Jesus through baptism is amazingly thrilling.

One group I was particularly blessed with was the small group Pastor Jonathan Camcam was leading. They were a group of Internationals that come from different cities and nations.

Kudos to Pastor Jonathan and Joanne who tirelessly advance the kingdom among the different nationalities that come their way.

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9)