ramblings, random musings, fascinations, rants, raves and revelations

I was reading David Archuleta earlier when someone very familiar caught my attention. I’ll let you read it then.

[This is just a part of the blog entry] “P.S. Before I go I wanted to mention one thing real quick. I was hanging out at my house when my parents called me in to watch a story on Oprah about this girl named Charice. I had seen her on youtube before and she was at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, but it was amazing to hear her story and her voice! She seriously has one of the best voices I’ve heard in a long time, and I had chills the entire time I was watching about her life. So instead of a song for the day I think you should check her out! It’s more like a person for the day haha. She was really inspiring and for those of you who haven’t heard her yet I think you’re in for a real treat! She sang My Heart Will Go On during her appearance on Oprah, and it’s amazing to see how much passion she has for what she does! I also loved how she talked about how important her mom was to her. I hope you guys enjoy!”

So there!

Anyway she has been into different appearances already. Obama’s Pre-Inaugural Ball was the latest. Check these videos.

Good Morning America

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Carousel of Hope

Obam’s Pre-Inauguration Ball

Free as a bird, welcome to my fairy land.

As I prepare to be home today, finishing all my work responsibilities, slouching on my seat, and my mp3 turned up, I noticed that my devilish side has been particularly prominent the last few weeks. I just can’t shake it. I really had wanted to bank such behavior for weekend exploits, but I am simply unable to stop it. I don’t know it I’m being rebellious because H has been bugging me again although I would admit I’m enjoying the attention. I also realized that no matter how well you think you’ve got the game figured out, someone’s bound to come along and rewrite the rules on you — a conversation that’s been repeated as of late. But then again, all’s fair in lust and war, right? So, some people practice deception because they like the attention. But be careful: guile is a double edged sword and neither edge is nice. As for me, I too frequently have been thrust into a single role by boys, and the attractive distractor one is beginning to bore me. Actually, I’ve never met a person who’s allowed me to be everything I am with him… too bad, because that would be quite an adventure. I’m one of those spirits that doesn’t like things to get boring. So…maybe I’ll just put that naughty streak to work and stir things up a bit. Oh, I do love a good intrigue [in every meaning of this fabulous word].

Music that fits my mood: “Touch My Body” by Hot ‘n Cold; “Hot ‘n Cold” by Katy Perry.

And oh, have you seen the new “Touch My Body” video? Trust me it’s SUPERB!

I invited a friend last Sunday to join me for a Sunday Service. I fetched him and while on our way to the church, he told me that he was about to send me an SMS - to also invite me to come with him but at the same time wishing that I decline the invitation or that I won’t text back. I then asked him “ayaw mo ba talaga magsimba?” he just laughed.

A lot of us go to church. But why do we go to church? What is the purpose? Some people go to church their whole lives, but what have they gained? Some people go to a different church every Sunday, finding it hard to settle down. Many complained, “I don’t feel like I’m being fed”, or, “I just don’t feel encouraged”, or maybe even, “I just don’t fit in there”.

What is church for? What is supposed to be happening when we walk through those doors on Sunday? Are we supposed to get “fed”? Are we supposed to feel “encouraged”? Should we “fit in”?

Personally, since I spent my Kindergarten to my High School years in Baste and lived with my Uncle [a Pastor] when I was in college, I have understood what Church-ing really means.

First off, what is the church? What is a basic definition that we can work off of? If you look up the word in a dictionary, it says something about a building and that it can refer to the whole body of believers if it is capitalized.

But what does the Bible say? In Colossians 1:18 along with verse 24 it states that the church is the body of Christ. And who is the body of Christ? “Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it” [1 Corinthians 12:27]. Who? “…those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours” [1 Corinthians 1:2].

So the church is the body of Christ, but what does that mean? It means, that we who are believers are Christ’s, we belong to His body. It is not that we are literally His body, but rather the words express a part of the greater reality. We are Christ’s body, and that is important - for it tells us who the Church belongs to - we are Christ’s. Not just any body, but Christ’s body. The focus is not on our independence, or even our dependence on each other, but on our dependence on Christ. Apart from Christ there is no Church, we are “members of Christ” [1 Corinthians 6:15], we are members of the body of Christ. Christ exists without us, but we gain our life from Him. These truths are confirmed in Scripture as we read that God has given Jesus, “to the church as head over all things” [Ephesians 1:22]. Christ is the head and is the One from whom “the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God” [Colossians 2:19]. The Church is not equal to Christ, Christ rules over it, and yet there is a beautiful unity. Christ is the source of the life that is given to the body, and therefore, Christ and the body are one.

The outcome of this is that the Church must always look to Christ for its orders, for the head gives the orders. If something does not receive its instructions from the head, it is not considered a functioning part of the body. So it is with the Church.

So what does this all mean? When I walk into church on Sunday, what should I be thinking? What should I be doing? First of all, I must understand that the church is Christ’s and not mine, therefore, when I am tempted to criticize or complain I must shut my mouth and first consider if Jesus shares my complaint or if I am acting as though I own the church.

Second, I must do what the Head has commanded, and not give myself orders or order other people to do things that are not in-line with Christ.

Third, I must thank the Lord of the Church for the life He has given, and remember that my strength, my health, and my gifts are not my own.

So there it is, a bit of a slow start, but a start anyway. I’m not trying to lift up myself or in anyway insinuate that I’m a saint but I just wanna share this. I hope next time we will all be going to the church with our hearts desire to really be with him and join him in the celebration of the Holy Mass. Amen!