The Royal Priesthood

Dead End Call

2009-03-13T02:07:00.000-07:00

"Never compromise. Even in the face of Armageddon."
- Rorschach, 1985

Just seen the movie "Watchmen" with Ena and Ge. Three times. It was an excellent movie - not surprising, since it was based on an excellent graphic novel. It reminds me of the Royal Priesthood in a way... it does not exclude or ignore the problem while creating a solution, but accepts that problems and flaws exist even among the "heroes" themselves. I used to fear that The Royal Priesthood might evolve into an exclusive club like Pharisees, monks or certain religious congregations. That's why we are very careful in maintaining an open online community alert to the spiritual needs of our immediate territories.

At work, a new responsibility presents a unique concept - "dead-end calls." I take calls that usually have impossible or outrageous solutions. Unfortunately, companies on Earth don't have the deep pockets to match God's infinite resources, and so they worry about the bottom line... because there is a limit to what they can give to survive.

As a Royal Priest, this concept goes against my innermost beliefs. As a Christian, believing in Jesus - who is the impossible and outrageous solution to eternal damnation - I am stubbornly optimistic. I believe in hope and faith and possibility. And that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. The measure I use is the measure that will be used against me, and placing a limit to my compassion is a dangerous risk.

At this point, I'm taking baby steps in learning to say "No" (strictly within company policies). But I've been given my Final Warning. If this ends badly, it only proves that my faith is solid. In any case, I am reminded of Dr. Manhattan's words in the movie:

Nothing ends. Nothing ever ends.

The Prodigal Son and The Angels

2009-02-07T21:04:00.000-08:00

Every year I go through a cycle of spiritual exhilaration, despair, remorse and finally a slow journey back to God... the story of The Prodigal Son repeated over and over again.

Every year has always been riskier, the last point of desperation hidden more and more in the darkness - and I grow more and more unwilling to return to the light.

I go through this cycle because "it is in seeing the dark that we know the light," as the Jedi of "Star Wars" assure... and from my own experience, God talks clearest to people who have Jesus AND NOTHING ELSE.

Every year the journey back is always painful because I don't want the communion with God to end, and also because I sacrificed too much to find my way back. Like the prodigal son, I feel only the memory of happiness, engulfed in shame. Truly it was God who sent the angels to guide me.

In my life so far, God has been sending my closest friends and my dad to retrieve me from the dark but I never truly recovered... until I met my ArchAngel.

I write this now so that I can remember her always, and with the hope that I can thank her and tell her someday:
"I once believed in God... I stopped believing... but after meeting you, my soul is restored and I haven't stopped believing."

I also write this because I know she won't be back. And, unfortunately, it's that time of the year again...

Speaking In Tongues

2009-01-22T18:01:00.000-08:00

Pharyngitis. I have to admit, it is an original predicament.

All my life, I have been blessed with what the Irish would call the "gift of the gab"- I've always had a way with words. Now I can't form one without sounding like I ate a French frog.

This must be what a meal in hell tastes like - spicy noodle soup and hot coffee. No sweets, no crunchy, cold or junk food. THAT and "voice rest." No talking. At all. For a Royal Priest working at a call center, that borders the unimaginable.

But I always appreciate God's unique solutions. It might be time to move on, find a new line of work. Who knows? A new lesson in humility? Appreciate the sound of silence? Early retirement? The possibilities are endless.

Or perhaps our Lord Jesus sends a simple reminder:
"Trust in God, and trust also in Me"

The Dream

2009-01-22T17:44:00.000-08:00

I've had a dream for the past few years. It's been a general idea of what I want to be in life. Slowly it's been getting more detailed - house, job, clothes, gadgets...

The concept is harmless enough. I run a non-profit organization that looks for areas that have experienced some form of hardship (economic poverty or natural/man-made disaster), providing support and resources to help people recover. In addition, I use this opportunity to share the Word of God and offer the Gift of Salvation.

The problem is that as the dream progresses, the organization gains the attention of the media and becomes moderately popular. Celebrity corruption spins out of control, and a life focused on God slowly focuses on myself.

I realize that these are the same temptations Satan offered Jesus in the wilderness, albeit modernized and updated. Worldly control, unlimited resources and power, at the helm of divine intervention. With tears and painful regret I abandon this magnificent dream, whispering "Get thee behind me, Satan"...

Salvation - and the manner in which you receive it - is up to God.

Not me. Not any human.

Peter and His Principle

2009-01-22T17:30:00.000-08:00

It's happening again. Just like last time. Inadequacies revealed, cleverness despised, sacrifices are ignored, a hammer slowly falls... and judgment is passed.

I now realize a great truth: I have the ability to survive, but not to succeed. Translation? I'm good, but not THAT good.

A book called "The Peter Principle" was published a few years back. In it, the author Tom Peters explains how every person can achieve a level of success, but a person cannot exceed his or her limit. Either you excel at being a middle manager or become a CEO and fail at your job.

Everyone has limits. God made sure you were born at a certain place at a certain time with a specific set of capabilities and a specific Purpose. Go beyond that purpose, and you will know what touching the Ark of the Covenant or entering the Holy of Holies without permission feels like. (FYI: Those who touched the Ark or entered the Holy of Holies died instantly)

The Bible tells us that "In his heart a man chooses his steps, but the Lord determines his way."

If life is a stage, sometimes we have to accept being the leading actor, supporting actor or even a background character.

Sin's Silver Lining

2009-01-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

I have sinned, and sinned again. I don't like it. I fight against it. But I see the silver lining after begging for forgiveness. Living in fear of God's holy wrath, while feeling terror, tension and guilt in the face of God's mercy... it is definitely USEFUL for maintaining a Christian life. It means we are still in the game, tempted and targeted by our Enemy. It means we are still a threat.

The minute life is OK, and everything works out without conflict... you are useless to both sides. Remember that we are in a hostile planet, temporarily under the Enemy's rule. The Second Coming of Jesus is still a long way away. Until then it's War.

God would prefer we live out of love, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but it is too easy to be complacent. Fear jolts us back in line, back on the right Way, far from the detour to Hell.

Like riding a bike we waver, we bump and fall. But we eventually learn to get up and keep moving forward, reaching our destination.

Answer The Call

2009-01-22T17:08:00.000-08:00

Patience, perseverance, forgiveness... many Christian traits can be learned while I've been working at a call center. Or not. God gives us the opportunity to shine, or burn out during times of crisis and adversity. Remember Job?

But I guess it applies to any kind of work.

Work reveals a great truth: The balance between the demands of the world and the demands of God do not exist. There is no balance. Either you follow employee protocol and compromise your values, become a rebel (and possibly get fired) or live in solitary. Or start your own small business, like the Apostle Paul.

Or die and be with Christ. But only God gives THAT option when it's the right time. Think "Retirement plan."

Morning Reflection

2009-01-22T16:50:00.000-08:00

This is my favourite part of the day. The last parts of darkness stirs, awaiting the dawn of a new day. Right now I can only see my reflection on the window, with flecks of light scattered across the city.

Looking out the window, my reflection slowly fades away when the sunlight reveals as many examples of God's creation that can fit in that small frame of glass. Buildings, cars, trees, clouds... and of course, that great source of Earth's light- the Sun.

You know, even the sun is just a small part of the universe. (Google "Betelgeuse" and start from there) And so, I forget about my reflection in the window and look out the window, not forgetting to look UP and saying "Thanks."

The Face of God

2009-01-22T16:40:00.000-08:00

I was reading an old comic book that got me thinking about the hero-image issue. I mean, even the Pope had a comic book. Jesus only has one face. The Joker hides. The Batman hides. No one thought of painting a picture? Have you seen one of those ancient sculptures of gods and emperors? The details are astounding. But then again, Jesus wasn't really Italian. Or black. He was Jewish when he took human form. And He probably preferred the anonymity. To look at Jesus was to look at God, so people were not looking AT Him, but THROUGH Him. Makes the "I Am the Way, Truth and Life" thing more understandable.

Need to Know

2009-01-22T16:30:00.000-08:00

The problem with needing God sometimes is in feeling guilty about it. I don't want to need God. I want to be in love, in a relationship with my Creator. Who has ever been more flattered by the words "I need you" than "I love you"?

But you know what? God doesn't appreciate flattery. Or false prophets. Or Pharisees. God appreciates honesty. Even if we are like children who just want to ask for stuff. Of course, like any Father, He would prefer we approach Him to be with Him, and not just because He has stuff. But if you're cool with your status as an adopted child, and if you can accept your bro Jesus, then it's a start.

Love. Life.

2009-01-22T16:14:00.000-08:00

Being in a worldly relationship gives me a small glimpse of the requirements of God's relationship with mankind. Acceptance of our differences while maintaining our individual standards, giving and taking, and of course feeling like you're in Heaven while bearing a cross...

The End?

2008-04-18T03:07:00.000-07:00

I've been ... distracted these past months. As a Royal Priest I haven't mentioned the name of the Lord unless in a desperate, whispered prayer for... mercy. That got me. Mercy during my office hours? A holy request for kinder customers and lower talk time? Some priest I became.

But then... Christ didn't stand out until he was about 30 years old. Up to that point he was "the carpenter." Until he stepped out for 40 days in the wilderness, he also had his share of kind customers.

The Wilderness.

That's where I need to be. In fact, that's where I'm being compelled to be. Like Jonah and the sea creature, my efforts face a storm of protest. No one is being saved, and I'm veering for the wide gate to Hell. I worry, I'm weak, I'm tired. I'm too content with earthly happiness I lose sight of the big picture.

The Fall of Man. Jesus triumphing over Satan. Heaven. Hell. The Second Coming of Christ.

As a Royal Priest, I have fallen by the wayside - a seed that fell on rocky ground, taking no root. I want to be the tree planted by the waters again, filled with the Holy Spirit, waiting and watching for God in every moment. Loving God always, never tiring, neverending.

My best advice for those who want to be a Royal Priest? Discouragement. I remember the harsh reality of all God's elite. The cross is the symbol of a Christian's life. Born again in the Holy Spirit, life becomes similar to a newborn child repeatedly stumbling, learning to walk, while lifting a cross.

I need to find God again. I want to find God again. I will find God again, because statistically we all will face God in the end. The only question is, what will God face - a friend or an enemy?

As I look forward to my time in the Wilderness, I remember a song during my elementary years that always brought a tear to my eyes:

Even though we might be weary

Don't be discouraged

In your weakness God is strong

Remember this

He'll never leave you

He won't forsake you

He's your strength and He's your song

So sing and start to say

I'm climbing a mountain step by step

I'm climbing a mountain day by day

I'm climbing a mountain all the way

I'm climbing a mountain

I'm going to make it

One step at a time

I'm climbing a mountain

One step at a time

The Skittle Prophecy

2008-02-21T22:03:00.000-08:00

"Pick a color."

"Uh... red?"

Three Skittles fall out: blue, red and brown.

She squints, almost disapprovingly, and says, "You won't get what you want... at least not yet."

= = =
February 22, 2008

6:00 AM

We wake up, breathing heavily and sweating. My best friend is leaving, and my girlfriend walked out on me after a disagreement. Since I am attached to both women, last night was an emotional upheaval, to say the least. Hugging, (possible) crying, convulsions and palpitations, etc. etc.

God kicks me in the proverbial nads by reminding me that this life is not the end of the story. The happy ending doesn't happen here. Not yet. Not now. Afterwards.

"Honestly, God, kill me now. Like I didn't ask for this before..." I mutter, unfocused. Life as a resident of the 32nd floor of PBCom Tower has been an adventure, but I still get winded when bad news arrives at our door.

And God flashes the cross in front of me. New perspective: Mary, mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene at the foot of the cross. Two girls separated from me out of divine intervention. I breathe easy, my heart is calm. Jesus is here. Thanks, bro.

The Year of Work

2008-01-04T19:25:00.000-08:00

"It's just good business."

These were the last words of Lord Beckett, the villainous entrepreneur of the film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Spoiler alert! At the final battle, his intricate plans to eradicate his economic competition (the pirates) fall apart as the hero Will Turner replaces the immortal Davy Jones. With cannon and cutlass and all manners of metal fury, the legendary ships The Black Pearl and The Flying Dutchman obliterate the battleship of the East India Trading Company.

What's my point? Nothing. I was just reviewing my itinerary for 2008: job referrals, ube and leche flan sales, and an Unlimited Network of Opportunites. Oh, that AND my normal 9-5. 2008, the Year of Work. No cannons to blow our brains out, but the steady static of our headphones hum gently. No cutlass to pierce our hearts, just the silent sting of rejections from corporate comrades.

We take a moment to look away from the battlefield to our Lord Jesus, the Maker of Tough Love and Work. "Look to the bloody, splintered cross that has the weight of the world's sins." We look. "Now," says the Lord, "compare your burden to that workload." We look at Him, and smile. Our cross is always smaller in relativity. Our business became His business the moment He lifted the beams. This year may be the defining point, the year I am tested in fire and stretched to the limit. Good. The faster this "tent" wears out, the sooner the "temple" can rise. Time to work!

Runaway Train 2007

2007-12-31T00:25:00.000-08:00

We come at last to the end of another year, another chapter in The Greatest Story Ever Told... and even now, the best end is yet to come. So before I sign off for some contemplating time, I'll leave the details of today in writing so we may never forget that God is in the details. So let's recap this "runaway train," as Al Pacino described life in Devil's Advocate.

The cellphone alarm rings. 12:00AM. I crawl off the bed. I'm in the office's ret room. I fix myself, log in, and pull back a Lipovitan to start up the veins. By the time I get conscious, I have 5 minutes left before my shift starts. The day drags me in and out of dreamland (this is the last abrupt schedule change of the year), until Nhoan gives me the rest of her Starbucks Praline Mocha. I didn't really need to drink it, I just needed to ask how much the cup was to wake up.

The day ends with "Happy New Year!" greetings across the floor. I slump back in the ret room, where Ena waits for me. We get up at 3:00 PM to go home. I take the bus, then the train to get here. I update this blog, and look forward to the New Year with "fear and trembling," as Kierkegaard would have it, but with eager anticipation.

Happy New Year, everybody! God bless you all!

Holiday Havoc

2007-12-24T16:58:00.000-08:00

I imagine my story pales in comparison with the Nativity Story, but I couldn't help feeling a slight affinity with the events leading up to this year's Christmas Day. It's a long story, if you don't mind I would like to review:

The Bible is the story of Jesus, to clarify for those who are not quite sure what it is. There is a lovely passage in there listing the bloodline from Adam to Jesus, and then a large PERIOD after (for those who are looking for any "descendants" of the Christ. War, slavery, exile, great journeys and deaths pave the way to that Great Arrival. But even that was just half of the story. His subsequent death - and conquering of death - was the next milestone, and now we await the Great End... which is, of course, A New Beginning. But we should celebrate Christmas today, because all stories, epics, legends and heroes have a Beginning. And if you take a look at Genesis 1:1, you will find the unequivocal introduction to Jesus: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God."

Anyway... just THINKING about everything and everyone that came before a baby was born in Bethlehem makes me reel in perspective. The horrors before the glory, the deaths before the Life, the slavery before the salvation.

Like I said earlier, MY life pales in comparison. But only because it's supposed to. As John the Baptist said, "He must become more, I must become less." Indeed. Needless to say, a few days ago I could summarize my daily routine as such: God blesses me in the morning, curses me in the afternoon, and shows mercy in the evening. Repeat.

But something happened. This holiday season, things seem to fall in places I never dreamed of before. As if the negative cyclones of life pulled its punches and let the sun shine through. Like that night of turmoil in Bethlehem, beginning with a manhunt and genocide, ending with a Divine Birth. Is this the start of something new? Or does this birth lead to an early Calvary? Only time can tell.

Christmas at the office is fun. A noche buena consisting of 2 slices of spam, morcon, corn and carrots, a caramel brownie, a cup of fruit and OJ (with second helpings!) is a great meal. Season's Greetings sent out thru SMS to as many people as possible is one useful function I tolerate in cellphones. Although I dislike the homogenous greetings to Dee, Era, Maxi, Ina, Anna, Maggie, Joan, Helen and others, I hope the thought counts - the thought that God blesses these wonderful, beautiful people for as long as they live... and beyond.

Happy Holidays, everyone! Happy Birthday, Jesus! Thank you, God!

The Last Voyage of the Doulos

2007-12-18T04:31:00.000-08:00

Captain's Log: December 18th, in this year of our Lord Two Thousand and Seven, on the majestic MV Doulos...

This is my second time on this floating library, and most likely the last. This old girl is said to have surpassed the Titanic in sea-years. It will tread waters closer to its home, Germany for dry-docking. Or maybe Papua New Guinea. The call of the sea (and the OTHER calling) could keep it afloat. In any case, I got to buy a postcard and a keychain as souvenirs, and picked up a copy of "Walking with Bilbo" and "Leadership by John Maxwell" along the way. After cookies and strawberry juice, we enjoy a tour through the bowels of the beast, thanks to our new friends Michelle and Jonathan. Michelle reminded me of my own voyage (and shipwrecks), wanting to be a pastor during elementary, a priest during high school, a missionary during college. Now I'm a Royal Priest, making ends meet at a call center.

The best thing about being on the Doulos (or any ship, I imagine), is that if you stand near the railing, you see the deep water surrounding you and the horizon in the distance - both infinite, unknown and mysterious. It reminds me of God and life and the great voyage He planned long ago...

I offer my deep condolences to my friend Kuya Ryan, who lost a friend of his recently. Always remember, my friend: Our last voyage in this world is always the first in the next.

RD OT

2007-12-11T17:15:00.000-08:00

Our company's Christmas Party! Has been postponed! Bummer.

Ah, life. Don't we all make plans that sometimes meet an unexpected revision due to circumstance and demand? Such is life.

To add insult to injury, we have the option of overtime instead of party time. To salve the wounds to our ego, free food will be served. Hmmm, what was that about "contentment and godliness"...?

Sunday AM. VERY AM. 12AM, actually...Pre-shift OT. I don't need to tell you about the shift, do I? Didn't think so. Skip to the free food. Didn't feel too hungry, so I stashed it in the freezer. The OT ended faster than I expected. One hour of rest, then it's back to the fray for my regular shift.

Sunday 11 PM. After-shift OT. Thawed the brick in the freezer that, 24 hours earlier, was my free breakfast. Ate it for dinner. That, and then some. I think we should thank God for the blessings that He puts in front of us, instead of the ones that don't arrive, don't you? Time to work... and i'm fast-forwarding to the middle of the shift already! Another team weren't able to finish all their free food, so I got an extra case of brownies! Sweet. I feel like "I Am Legend." Zip to the end of shift where I recount the slow sunrise...

Monday AM. Transition. I forgot to mention that Vicky and Mira were with me during the last OT. Mira went home right after, while Vicky and I sang our lungs out at the Videoke machine. In the pantry (!). Yet another compensation for our troubles. While singing (and dancing) to the tune of "Breaking Free," we shovel in yet another free meal. Vicky sang the F4 theme songs authentically. By the time I sang "It Ends Tonight," Vicky was hoarse and ready to sleep. Did I mention we had another OT tonight? Yes, really.

Monday 11PM. RD OT. Feeling sleepy, tired, hungry and hoarse. Fast forward to lunch. It's 4AM. KFC. See how tired I am? I barely type anymore, not bothering 2 cmplete wrds...Ha.Ha. The shift ends. And so does this post. But like everything else, tomorrow everything goes on.

Such is life. Sing out one more time! "We're soaring, flying..."

There's A Lesson Here...

2007-12-09T17:10:00.000-08:00

Came home to an empty house, hungry as hell. Grabbed a plate and checked the nearest pot on the stove. A plain beef broth (read: pieces of beef boiling in water). Yummy. I'll tell you right now, I once fasted for seven days and I lost a lot of reservations I had about food. Anyway, I was too hungry to care. I shoveled it in like a man on death row. After I had my fill, the family came home and asked if I ate the sinigang (my favorite dish) and I of course repeated for emphasis, "Sinigang? I only found the beef!" And, of course, I run to the kitchen to find a small pot on the stove, sitting right beside the first pot. I braced myself for inevitability and looked inside the small pot. A succulent sinigang soup was staring innocently back at me. If the small pot could talk, it would have pointed out that I was satisfied too easily, and that if I had taken the extra effort to look for something better, I would have found it.

I would have glared menacingly back at the small pot to grudgingly agree.

Don't we all feel satisfied too easily? A paycheck, a significant other, cigarettes, alchohol... the list goes on. The satisfaction ends, and we feel like we could have had something more...

Yes, I either 1)think too much, 2)have an overly active imagination, 3)hallucinated from hunger, or 4)received a bona fide lesson from God. As a Royal Priest, I pick... all of the above. After all, God spoke through a burning bush once, you know. Have a nice day!

Alone In The Garden

2007-12-05T00:07:00.000-08:00

Today was a weird, detached, Twilight Zone kinda day.

Surrounded by family and friends, I haven't felt this isolated in a long time. Or maybe the blinders were just taken off, and I've been feeling this forever. Everybody and everything just passes by, and the day ends in a slump. As the song goes, "where all the scars of the never's and maybe's die..."

I hold fast to the faith I profess. I reach out to God and cry. I ask for an exit, an escape. I don't belong here. I can't. Like Jesus in Gethsemane, I ask for the chalice to be taken away, but God lets me stare at the shimmering dark surface, the cold drowning liquid, the bitter dregs. Life. As a Royal Priest. In a lost world. Unlike Gethsemane, no angel comes to comfort me. Only emptiness, only sadness. A stark contrast to remind me of the glorious end. As the Jedi profess, "To know the light, you must see the dark."

I stall in the garden, hoping I don't ever have to leave. But my Lord Jesus saw past the Garden and went to Calvary. And as a Royal Priest, I follow the Cross.

RD Recap

2007-12-04T05:16:00.000-08:00

Sunday: After exchanging gifts after shift, the team disbanded to their respective gimiks. I stayed in the office for my Weekly Requirement of TV. HBO and AXN, mostly. Around 7PM I ate dinner (since Jollibee was closed, I settled for Mcdonald's). Went back to the Rec Room at 9PM in time for CSI Supreme Sunday on AXN. Woke Marie at 10:45PM for her shift, then Ena at 1:00AM. Fell asleep on the bean bag until a guard woke me up.

Monday: Went to the mall. Checked up on AA thru text. Tried to resolve a long-distance family feud. Fell in love with Power Books again. Lost appetite after seeing shelf after shelf of tomes. Looked for "something hairy" as the next week's exchange gift. Found none in my preferred price range. Purchased extra-large bag of Boy Bawang. Will try again next time. Went home to eat dinner, sell leche flan and ube, and sleep. Woke up by cellphone ringing - text messages from Era and Maxi. Watched Jurassic Park with the sibs while eating Boy Bawang and a litre of Sprite.

Tuesday: Ate leftover pork chop and Boy Bawang for breakfast. Tried to sell leche flan and ube. Delivered a box of leche flan to Dee at Wendy's. First time here. Tried the cheesy bacon melt (Yummy!). Spent a few hours chatting about life and love, friends and family. Haven't had this much fun talking since My or Sandy. Remembered why I chose the Priesthood instead of...anyway. Bought an apple on the way home, got ready for work and returned to the office - in time to update the blog. Stellar!;P

Preoccupied

2007-12-03T00:33:00.000-08:00

The Devil works in mysterious ways.

I've been... preoccupied in so many ways recently, it's amazing how effective it was. I remember the tagline of the movie "The Devil's Advocate:" Evil has its winning ways. I won't go into much detail, since it's been so long I hardly remember the lessons God taught me during that time (which would have been the Devil's purpose, I think). I can recall my PC breaking down, a foiled business venture, plus a plethora of financial, spiritual, emotional and psychological turmoil... disappointment and distractions abound.

I have to remind myself of my duty as a Royal Priest, but the thought of Christ's salvation passes most peoples' minds without my help. And right now, even I need salvation - in a real-world crisis sense. I can only cry out, God help me. God help us, every one.

Now I have to catch up on sleep to prep for work. The sad lesson from the movie "Lord of War" comes to mind: "They say 'Evil prevails when good men do nothing.' They should say 'Evil prevails.'" While I play "Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer, I think I prefer waiting on God instead... but the world won't wait for God, and vice versa.

Good night.

RD

2007-11-25T10:31:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching Aeon Flux starring Charlize Theron, and Prime starring Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman, on HBO. Cool movies - the first one reminded me of Era, the other one reminded me of... me. Aeon Flux is about the future where reincarnation and totalitarianism reign the future (plus a lot of wild designs). The best line of Aeon Flux was the last: "Living only one life, but with hope." Hope is definitely synonymous with Era. Plus her hairstyle. Prime was about relationships overcoming the age gap. Enough said.

I also watched Two For The Money starring Al Pacino, which reminded me of Tom Cruise's movies Magnolia and Jerry Maguire, which reminded me in turn of my work - the sales part, anyway. Great movies, bittersweet endings. An interview with Tom revealed his three points to remember: "Take control, sign your own paychecks and above all, stay positive."

To top it all off, I have my RD requirement of CSI Supreme Sunday, Studio 60 and Supernatural. If I get to stay awake, I'll be able to watch Numb3rs and House later...

The brain uses less than 10% when you're watching TV. Endorphins increase, stress decreases. It's the Zen, meditative, healthier way to look at TV.

Where's God in all this? Who do you think created the potential in the storywriters, actors and directors? Who serendipitously made me flip to the right channels at the right moment? ;P Happy viewing.

Today...

2007-11-23T18:59:00.000-08:00

...has been a long day.

TRAINING: THE END

2007-10-05T22:18:00.000-07:00

Everything that has a beginning... has an end.

"Dear Mr. Daluz,
Congratulations!..."

With those words, I can breathe easy again. Training is over. The real game begins...

It's been, what, two months since I stepped up to the front desk. I'm getting sentimental all of a sudden... or maybe just mental. Whatever the future holds, I can confidently say one thing and one thing only:

God has been merciful to me.

Thank you, Lord God. Thank you so much.

VENTURES & ADVENTURES

2007-10-05T22:08:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Nikka, Chip, Aurence & Merl... we fought bravely in the call center trench wars together, but time and chance happen to us all. Nikka, may the US prove to be a greener pasture to satisfy your "stated and unstated" needs. Chip, always let your bohemian rhapsody carry on. Aurence, the medical world braces itself for your dietary requirements. Merl, we will always be your extended family.

Happy Birthday, Maggie! Thanks for the 24-hour celebration at Mucho's... that was a head trip like no other. I have to remember to say "thank you" at the opportune moments...

You're on your way to Alberta, Canada, Tita Yoly, bon voyage! We'll miss you! Wolverine has never tasted a pizza like yours yet. God bless you on your journey!

Sales! I was able to sell insurance. Cool. I felt like Ewan McGregor in Big Fish: "If there's one thing you can say about Edward Bloom is that he's a social person..." After monitoring my call, my TL gave me a high-five and quoted Tom Hanks from Apollo 13: "And that, gentlemen, is how we do that." The thrill is definitely why I keep coming back for more. A call center agent said to us once, half-jokingly, that when you take calls, "The first is the most painful, then you start to enjoy the next, then you can't live without it. It's like..." then he trails off, smiling and winking.

Speaking of sales and thrills, my dad announced a new family venture: homemade dishwashing soap! As I remembered the character Wilbur Freeman from Big Fish speak of witches making soap out of children, my dad gives us a crash course on Business 101 - capital investments, product development, market testing, competition, marketing, and expansion. Though I support the new division of the family business (my dad is still a self-made management consultant), I can't help shuddering with the idea of expanding into "custodial management," where we could provide a plethora of cleansing materials... my friend Sandy had embedded that saying, "No one wants to marry a janitor" in my subconscious, and I shrugged it off by remembering that Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles as an example to be followed. Besides, The Family is prime priority.

It's all about looking at situations as problems or opportunities. Dad and us Sibs talked about the quick-mindedness of Chinese businessmen, and I thought of my friends Karlo and AA, shrewd success-stories in the making. Karlo the businessman, who once commanded a new motorcycle each month, was thrown a proverbial stone at his clay feet - he is in the trenches with me today until he can start over. AA, on the other hand, is more comfortable with the tactic I now refer to as "Chinese Takeout." For divulging that, I owe her a meal at Sbarro's.

Lastly, business - or life in general - is about having fun, enjoying the ride and looking for the thrill. Even Solomon agreed that life should be enjoyed, since life is so short and incomprehensible. What I liked best about Robert Kiyosaki's tale in Rich Dad, Poor Dad is the happiness he exudes throughout the book. It's like The Pursuit of Happyness, where the ending is truly happy because it is contrasted by the hardships at the beginning.

And that, gentlemen, is how we do that.

MONDAY IS SPELLED D-DAY

2007-10-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

King Leonidas: Spartans! What is your occupation?!

Spartans: Ha-woo! Ha-woo! Ha-woo!

If, after all my previous training blogposts, you still have not guessed where I work, let me declare it now with Spartan fury: I am in a call center! Again! Not just any call center, but one with an 8% monthly attrition rate and a fierce reputation!

Yes, indeed... if the seminaries won't let me console people and solve their problems through the confessional window, then I'll do it through my AVAYA phone! I've been in a call center before, but the first step is always like a paradrop. As the weeks of training have proven, a shepherd must not guard his sheep from afar... he must stand in the trenches. And so I visualize the first few minutes of "Saving Private Ryan" and shout King Leonidas' words from the movie "300": "This is where we stand! This is where we fight!"

Most people dismiss the call center as a passing fad. It is greatly misunderstood. A call center is not an office. It is a battlefield. As a tenured agent from a previous call center (A part of me will always be theirs), I know how the headset feels like a helmet, how the psychological armor and shield have to be secure, how the LINE1 light looks like a signal flare, how the first customer's profanity sounds (and feels) like machine-gunfire. And speaking of gunfire, I remember how Superman faced those bullets and justified his (and our) existence: "You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior. But everyday I hear people cry out for one."

As long as technology can fail, as long as systems have weak links, as long as people are prone to error, as long as God can hit a cellphone with a lightning bolt (requiring that poor customer to call technical support), we will stand and fight!

Sometimes, though, I wish I could be a different kind of agent and say, "Mr. Anderson, what good is a phone call... if you're unable to speak?"

TRAINING: WEEKENDS

2007-10-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

The following events took place over two consecutive weekends. Viewer discretion is advised. Joke.

It was Chip's birthday on Wednesday, but the unwritten rule dictates birthday celebrations must commence on Friday night to maximize party options. So let it be written, so let it be done. Also remembered as the faux "De Silva-Amane nuptials," it started with a vague plan (as all great nuptials are - think The Bride in "Kill Bill"), then became a field trip as we negotiated the urban jungle in search of... a decent ATM machine and Chip's house. We Cabrons and Spartans (people from Training Rooms 6 and 10, respectively) can only make it so far without our paycheck, and the three ATMs we encountered spat out our cards with venom.
We arrive in time to thank God for the food. From morcon to chicken pandan, Chip's wife Let reminded us why we grew extra wisdom teeth. But not even the GREAT food can keep us away from the videoke machine. As I mumble "My Sacrifice," Mario takes the role of moderator and hands out the beer, moderately. After three-and-a-half bottles, Ian turns into Yoda and gives me a few words of wisdom: "fear leads to anger," "being brilliant isn't unique," "the world doesn't revolve around you," "enjoy life," "relax, loosen up, you're too serious/afraid." This "__it happens" seminar is concluded with "Most things in life we have to learn on our own." I conclude the night by kissing Dimples. On her dimple. Amen.
~
Sunday! Cary's birthday celebration brings us to the Mall of Asia, where we have a guy's day off. Still reeling from the hangover (and my freshly gypped paycheck) I act as lookout as the guys practice Mesopotamian-era pickup lines with the girls at the Information booth. We proceed to Pizza Hut Bistro, where we show off our adult communication skills by mispronouncing "linguini alle vongole." We also have triple-stuffed crust pizza. Cary almost attacks the waitress when she offered ground pepper (he thought she was about to hit him with the pepper shaker), we apologize profusely, and the Pizza Hut Bistro singers wish Cary a happy birthday (complete with ice cream, no pepper). We get in Maxi's auto and take a joyride around... and around. We arrive at Starbucks...and we leave again. We park at last at a gasoline station where we have beer and chips. We talk about conspiracies, movies, guy stuff and other nonsensical things and enjoy the testosterone in the air.
~
It has been four weeks since we started training, and now we are at the end of our theoretical-classroom training, singing "We Are The Champions" to the top of our lungs. Next week we start our on-the-job training at another building. We say goodbye to the pantry people, even the security guards...and head out into the night. The occasion: Training Celebration/Teambuilding! The song: "Broken Vow". The singing style: whatever. Karlo proves himself Videoke King as he successfully belts out boy bands, female (!) solos, rock songs and opera (!). Sometimes all in one song. With food, drinks, song-and-dance showdowns, an awards ceremony and even a "German-Amazonian torture procedure" according to Chip, we faced the future with foggy faces (the ventilation couldn't keep up with the smokes per minute) and digital cameras. As AA wakes me up early the next morning with the text message quoting Jonathan Livingston Seagull ("No limits"), I sit up and walk out of my room like Jim Caviezel in "The Passion of the Christ," facing the unknown with a knowing smile.

TRAINING: DAY EIGHTEEN

2007-09-07T02:45:00.000-07:00

I relived my prom night today! Even though the strobe lights were replaced with pen lights, and the music came from an MP3 player, and the girl I was dancing with was not my girlfriend... it was nice. I'm still as uncoordinated as an epileptic monkey, though. It just goes to show that anything can happen to anybody, anytime.

I got 90% on my assessment! Only four out of eighteen passed. I would have wanted everyone to succeed, but c'est la vie. This was clearly a moment when God whispered, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit" (Zechariah 4:6). Amen. Thank you, God. I personally believe that I DON'T possess anything special - I just do the best at what I need to do. Just presenting myself as a "good worker." (2 Timothy 2:15)

I found a shortcut while I was walking home! I tried a different road, and God guided me home. You know, since the beginning, people who decided to follow God soon realize that the world is literally God's playground - and the followers are told to try the tallest slide. The Old Testament is filled with prophets who act as living billboards (one of my favourite example is the prophet Isaiah, who was commanded to walk naked for THREE YEARS as a prophecy, Isaiah 20:1-6). The New Testament has the Apostles, who went against the grain of the world - and got stoned, crucified upside down, exiled, etc. In modern times, oppression and suffering comes in all shapes and sizes - especially since Jesus set the standard by being tortured until he was unrecognizable (Isaiah 52:14), then put to death on the Cross (1 Peter 2:24).

The class tried a silly software that predicted the best career for each of us. I was recommended as a "Gardener." Interestingly enough, when Jesus came back from the dead, Mary Magdalene thought Jesus was the gardener (John 20:15).

I also tried to offer my condolences to Trainer Dyan. I paraphrase Jesus when He said that a seed must die so that many more will live (John 12:24). I'm sure her father would have wanted Dyan to live, more than he wished it for himself. I would like to believe that you honor your parent's death by living the lessons and values they teach us.

I think of that childhood song, "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus" as I go along:

I have decided to follow Jesus (Repeat 3X)

No turning back, no turning back

The world behind me, the cross before me (Repeat 3X)

No turning back, no turning back

I have decided to follow Jesus (Repeat 3X)

No turning back, no turning back

Even though my high school prom night was the best AND worst night ever, and even though 90% was a good score but not quite what I was aiming for, and even though I could have been robbed while I took a strange path home, I say "No turning back, no turning back."

I'll be in the garden if you need me.

TRAINING: DAY SIXTEEN

2007-09-07T02:39:00.000-07:00

"I don't want to hurry, I just don't want to be late. I don't want to worry, I just don't want to be hurt."

With those words I race towards the facade of the building. I'm literally running late. This is the first time I've been almost-late for work. The bus went past the building so fast it supported Einstein's theory of relativity. Yes, time slowed down within the bus, but sped up once I got off and started running back. The Apostle Paul once said that we are runners working toward a finish line. This, then, is my warm-up exercise for the preliminary event.

"Is your barber dead?" Gene poses a Zen-like question, pointing and looking as if something is eating my head. "I'll have to kill my barber, then," I respond. "I'm joking," says Gene. "No, you're not," I correctly state. Yes, today I display my newly trimmed head. True to form, Gene doesn't waste time in making me face facts. "You don't look like a priest. You look like a boy." I have a feeling Gene wrote the Book of Revelations. No wonder I don't have a girlfriend! I have my boyish looks to blame! (Kidding.) If honesty is the best policy, then Gene is the best policyholder ever. Thank you for offering the homemade burger and pack of pork rinds, Gene, but I already swallowed my pride for lunch.

Charades! No other game can turn a class of professionals into a devolved pack of animals faster. As I figure out how to show "Wicker Park" using hand gestures, the girls symbolically kick me in the gonads by reminding me of my virginity. Trainer Dyan jokes encouragingly by saying, "At the end of the training, I'm sure he won't be a virgin anymore." Nice. It's like virginity is a disease, and they're waiting for me to be cured. I don't get the point of fornication- either I'll be trapped in a premature relationship, or I'll leave a poor girl unsatisfied. I still don't want to have sex for the sake of sex. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7 that God gives the gift of singleness to some and marriage to others. Bummer. But then again, people always feel unease when they can't understand something or someone.

The day ends with me counting my money, making a budget for the rest of the week. I remember my college friend Sandy (another straight-shooter like Gene) who said to me, "No one wants to marry a janitor." No offense to the custodial team, but if I had all my ducks in a row, OF COURSE I WOULD START DATING AGAIN! I would love and hold and cherish and provide for that special young lady (who, I'm sure, has a boyfriend or husband or illegitimate children by now, for being wan for waiting for me) forever and ever, and we would map out our relationship - from dating to marriage til death do us part - and live in a nice house and plan our children's tuition fees and our retirement fund.

But as the Good Book says, "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:17).

As I walk home (to save some money), I say:

"I don't want to hurry, I just don't want to be late. I don't want to worry, I just don't want to be hurt."

INTERMISSION: SABBATH

2007-09-07T02:31:00.000-07:00

We take a break from training to respect the Sabbath day. Although a few weekends prior were not noted in the blog, this one does. Did you know that every day of the week is Sabbath for someone, somewhere? Sunday it's the Christian Sabbath, Monday for the Greeks, Tuesday for the Persians, Wednesday for the Assyrians, Thursday for the Egyptians, Friday for the Mohammedans and Saturday for the Jews! Moral lesson: Respect the Sabbath day - rest everyday.

The morning is absolutely spent as a "day of rest." Everyone is asleep. By lunchtime, my meal is interrupted by my baby sister's breaking news: An old moth was standing guard at the gate, fell and is currently incapacitated. My mom was at hand to provide a small container with some water and a freshly-picked flower. As I knelt down to inspect the damage, I noticed two things: One, the moth's left antennae was broken off, reminding me of Hopper in the PIXAR movie "A Bug's Life." Perhaps this moth was dutifully defending our gate and was overwhelmed by some despicable foe? Second, the moth was slowly inching forward, pressing itself against the container towards the gate. Truly, it's loyalty to duty was commendable, despite its injuries and age (it was the oldest-looking moth I've ever seen).
For the rest of the day I let my mind drift.

"The significance of the moth is change," according to Dr. Hannibal Lecter. My mind reels from countless interpretations of this omen. I am advised to "get a haircut" by my loving parents, and it fuels my pondering even more. As I walk towards the barbershop, I remember people changing their hairstyles during moments of significant emotional upheaval. Was the moth fulfilling its purpose by prophesying my imminent haircut, or something more significant?

At least, some things don't change. As I enter the barbershop, the same barbers and money changers greet me (I am still figuring out why barbershops almost always have money changers beside them), the same assorted decorations and posters on the walls and shelves, the same slightly-broken furniture. I continue to drift while I wait for my turn. A poster of Avril Lavigne is on the wall - I like her song "Keep Holding On," it's very reassuring - and I hope her marriage is OK. A boy sitting beside me plays with marbles, and I remember how thrilling that was for me the first time I combined marbles and gravity. I also remember the first time I had a haircut - I thought cutting my hair would hurt me, and I thought the barbers would be too preoccupied with their chit-chat (I always liked how they talk in a provincial dialect that I don't understand) that they would accidentally hurt me... in a way that would make Stephen King proud.

The day ends with no monumental disaster. The rhythm of life winds down from its crescendo, and as I turn down the lights, I think of those whose symphonies continue late into the night, and those whose orchestras have just begun. Mine begins its encore presentation at 2:00 AM.

TRAINING: DAY FIFTEEN

2007-09-07T02:29:00.000-07:00

We say goodbye to Trainer Kate for now - it's her last day of subbing for Trainer Dyan. You will be sorely missed, Trainer Kate. Your sarcasm was refreshing! We hope to bump into you when we go to Production (the production floor). I got 95% on my assessment today - a five-percent bump from the last assessment. Looks like we're doing something right - thanks. Good luck with your "complicated" relationship. Despite my fervent attempts to make jokes and disrupt the class and accurately describe you as "sarcastic", you still tag me as "too serious." I give up.

I learned how to dance today! It reminded me of my COCC days, when a female officer ORDERED me to slow-dance with her, just to get me to learn the steps. I enjoyed it, though... we talked about how "unethical" her boyfriend was while the DJ played the track and lowered the lights. Today was not as romantic - my friend Maggie played "Give It To Me" on her cellphone and I was "picking up what she was putting down," as CSI's Warwick Brown would say. A fellow trainee later confessed that he recorded the scene on video using his phone, and I have to say I still dance horribly.

Speaking of CSI, my soon-to-be-CEO friend AA was excited to watch the CSI episode after shift today. If she had a DVD player, I would have lent her my CSI Season 5 DVD collection. Maybe I can save enough money by her next birthday to give her a DVD player. Anyway, we shared a pet peeve today: slowly becoming obligated to provide for immediate family members. Even though we both like to give to our parents and siblings, we would like to remind anyone who cares that we're not responsible for them.

I got my work ID AND my social security ID today! I am totally institutionalized now. Ha! My fellow trainee Gene (who is actually a trainer reassigned to our account) tells me that I don't match the exact profile of a priest, anyway - even though I communicate well. Thanks, Gene. You're the first person I know who DID NOT agree that I should be in the Lord's service. You're also one of the few friends who combine truthfulness and bluntness in a fetching package. Thanks for the encouragement that "there is a future for me waiting once I go in Production." I'll keep that in mind. And yes, the Apostle Paul reminds us that there are many troubles in marriage, and he wants to spare us from this (1 Corinthians 7:28). And Jesus said marriage is only for people on Earth. That's why we say, "'Til death do us part" (Luke 20:34). 1 Corinthians Chapter 7 contains Paul's "suggestions" on marriage based on God-given wisdom.

I made a toast (with a can of Coke) to the successes and failures of the past few weeks of training. I celebrated with a half-eaten packet of cornick and a few bites of a granola bar. Even though it doesn't take a lot to make me happy - I actually enjoy small snack celebrations like this - I don't know why, but I feel like crap. Something tells me it has something to do with the unwritten rule pervading throughout the day. I resist the cliche' of walking home in the rain, but I had to buy stuff at 7-11 - where the last lyrics of an alt-rock love song played in the background. I listen to it and I remember my theory of infatuation (formulated during my informal "case study" with my "partner" during high school): Listen to enough love songs, and you'll feel like you're in love with someone - all it takes is finding that "rare breed," according to Bill Cosby - "the one who will understand you." I dismiss the theory. I go to my room and brood better than Horatio Caine in CSI:Miami. If I ever met the girl who would understand me, she and I would agree that she deserves a lot better than a brooding priest.

Next week on The Royal Priesthood Blog: God only knows.

TRAINING: DAY FOURTEEN

2007-09-07T02:27:00.000-07:00

Trainer Kate is subbing today and tomorrow, because Trainer Dyan is on leave. She's a Wave 3 geology major. It's OK, she's fun - during high moments of chaotic class discussions, she grits her teeth, her voice strains and cracks, and she jokingly comments, "That's OK. I don't care" - right before she joins in the laughter and continues the lesson.

I got my salary today! Eh. Not really a good first impression, since we started training halfway through the cutoff. What does that mean? It means I got half of HALF my salary today. Yeah. It sucks, what with bills to pay and debts to settle. It's OK, my soon-to-be-CEO friend (as well as the Compensation & Benefits department) agree that the CEO has to be informed of this. We didn't need to take a field trip today, though. That's what ATMs are for. Celebration: A Sausage McMuffin - it's an AM shift, and I haven't had fast food for a long time. Really. This isn't college anymore - food is COOKED now.

Today seems to be a curious body-snatcher day. Fellow trainees claim I switched dispositions with the most rambunctious of the class, and she seems to be unnaturally reserved today. I enjoyed it while it lasted, anyway. It was like my COCC days: talking loud, laughing hard, and living large. At one point, we practice giving directions to a customer. We ask if she has a pen and paper handy. Trainer Kate responds jokingly, "I've got a whiteboard marker." I then say, "OK. Do you have a wall?"

Today I also learned the basic software I'll be using, which reminded me of software I used a year ago. I also had a chat with a friend I met when I went through the application process - exams, interviews and all that - and now she's starting her second set of training, like me. I also had a conversation with another friend who reminded me of MacGyver's amazing technique on "how to bypass fingerprint scanners" - scotch tape, basically. I've got to remember to get a DVD collection. You know, I used to sport his mullet during high school.

Anyway...

Lastly, I also re-learn that life is cyclical - respects to the Tao - that my mantra is:

"You got a date. I gotta die."

TRAINING: DAY THIRTEEN

2007-09-07T02:25:00.000-07:00

Assessment Day! I got 90%. Oh, well. The important thing is, I was AIMING for 100%. Anyway...

We were supposed to get our salary today, so we waited for our ATM cards for a long time. When they finally arrived, we tried withdrawing our keep from a faraway bank. And another. And failed. Mind you, we spent a chunk of change to traverse the urban jungle. We'll try to lodge a complaint to the CEO tomorrow.

Day Thirteen. Even if God probably didn't want us to live on superstition, there is still an element of luck involved in life. Some people are just lucky, even if they don't know God. Some people are unlucky, since they know God - then chock it up to "trials" and "temptations" and whatever. But they're just unlucky, because the cycle of life is in the "down" mode.

Silver lining: The mass of trainees walking through the city together reminded me of a field trip; I got to spend more time with cool friends, and made new friends; I got to have fun chatting with the Compensation & Benefits department staff and share our woes together. That's the trick - always look for the silver lining.

Hopefully, God willing, I'll be talking about getting my salary tomorrow.

TRAINING: DAY TWELVE

2007-09-07T02:21:00.000-07:00

This part of my life, as Chris Gardner so succinctly put it, is called "Riding the Bus." Yes, today I rode a bus for the first time by myself! Don't look at me like that, it's just that I always commuted on the train, jeepney, or tricycle before. I felt like Han Solo in the Millenium Falcon, moving at hyperspeed in a "piece of junk," as Luke Skywalker put it. It was cool. Like a theme park ride.

Today is Picture Day! Yes, today we immortalize our happy facial expression for the company. A chance to capture a moment in time when we can say, "This is me." The question is, who am I? What do I believe in? What am I doing here?
This question emphasizes itself in the training room, where a friend lets slip the fact about my virginity. Immediately I am pounded with a thousand questions (not to mention a few "proposed solutions" and a few green jokes). The weird thing is, I'm defensive about the whole thing. So I asked myself, "Why?" because the answer seems to have been forgotten.

Flashback! I had only one girlfriend. Long ago, in my last year at high school. Like many hormonal boys, the thought of sex crossed my mind until it left skid marks. On prom night (no, this is not American Pie), we went as far as French kissing. That's because I received a Divine Intervention - It turns out I was not her only boyfriend. The truth set me free... and broke my heart. We broke up a month after prom night, just to see if we could patch things up. I made a vow that no one will destroy me like that ever again. I realized God's love was the only permanent love, the only love I can count on. I had found my calling.

This element of tragedy added residence to my new mission: To devote myself completely to God until my dying day. True, somewhere down the road I might meet the girl of my dreams, but God will make short work of that. I'm not even "boyfriend material," as some helpful female friends commented. Plus, the flesh is willing, but the spirit is broken. I have been cursed with holiness, and have been set apart forever in Heavenly service. In short, I will probably be a Royal Priest watching the movie "The 40-Year Old Virgin" until the day I die.

Today I looked at the camera and smiled. This is me. Oh well, it could be worse, right?

Yeah, right.

TRAINING: DAY ELEVEN

2007-09-07T02:18:00.000-07:00

"Honey, do you love me?" the beautiful girl standing in front of me asks.

"Yes, I do." I hastily reply, then I promptly run.

This is a scene from today's training - rather, from today's intermission. It's a game called "Honey, do you love me?" (no points for title originality), and it's fun. Like Trip to Jerusalem mixed with Truth or Dare. Basically, if the person who is "it" asks anybody seated the title question, the target either responds "Yes, I do" (in which case everybody switches chairs) or "No, because I only love people who..." (then specifies a trait that elicits the others to switch chairs, if they possess the trait). The person left standing when everybody else is seated becomes the target of a "Truth or Dare" and is eliminated. We then nominate the next "it." Anyway, it was fun.

It was also fun how the majority of my batchmates (not just my teammates) were scheduled for the same ungodly hour in the morning. We all got together during the breaks, and that was great - even the part when we all exhausted the office's coffee supply! It was a riot when everybody crammed in the cafeteria, and it was great meeting new people from different groups... that were now my new teammates because of the regrouping. Life is change, after all.

I re-learn how to take the bus today. I've been so used to tricycles, jeeps and trains, I neglected one important member of the public vehicle community. New twist, though: it's 3AM. The thrill of running to catch the bus, mixed with the risk of falling off the bus (non-AC buses keep the windows open to let in air, and the doors open to allow quick passengers to get on and off) was a new rush akin to my COCC days. Not to mention the ever-present threat of early morning robbery and/or terrorist bombing. Just because I'm an employee doesn't mean I'm no longer a thrill-seeking Royal Priest! Downside: I miss the wacky nonsensical tabloid horoscopes I used to get from the train station. Oh, well.

God was definitely present today. After all, He kept me from falling off the bus. And He caused a girl to ask me if I love her (even if it was just a game, I gotta tell you, I was stammering!) and me to reply "Yes" to that inquiry. And He made it so I could enjoy my delicious chicken loaf with my friends during lunch. Yummy. Thanks, God. Oh yeah, and I finished submitting the last bit of pre-employment requirements today. THANK GOD. I have a love/hate relationship with office paperwork. On one hand, I like carrying all those forms around, like it's important (which I'm sure it is). On the other hand, I don't like listing my family tree and all those other numbers and details that I usually ignore. Anyway, overall today was fun. Thanks again, God!

It makes me think of Prince Hector in the movie Troy: "Sometimes the gods bless in the morning and curse in the afternoon." I'm bracing myself for tomorrow. As Chris Gardner put it, "This part of my life is called 'Taking the Bus'."

TRAINING: DAY TEN

2007-08-24T02:00:00.000-07:00

We're entering the second phase of training. For those of you waiting for my assessment results, here it is: Out of nineteen trainees, I rank third. That's ... not bad, isn't it?

We enter a wondrous new world of ungodly hours and debt. After all, as Bruce Wayne would attest, "You have to spend money to make money." As we say goodbye to internal organs that have to be sold for allowance (an exaggeration on my part, but reality for others), we face the unknown future with the comfort of winning the first skirmish in the war. Though we are not without casualties...

Thanks to Trainer Cesca for making the last days fun. We don't say "goodbye" to Ai, just "see you later." What did God have to do with anything today? Well, for one thing, I scored lower than my previous assessment (hence, third place). Hubris, overconfidence, pride or complacency - whatever it was, it torpedoed my self-esteem and reminded me that "Pride comes before destruction," as the Good Book says. There you are, God. ;)

From this point on, we keep our head down. The first skirmish is over, but the war is far from it.

I'll send battle updates as soon as possible. Over and out.

TRAINING: DAY NINE

2007-08-24T01:44:00.000-07:00

My apologies go out to those who keep track of each day I am training. The past few days reminded me that the rat race is mostly composed of work, sleep and food.

Anyway...another week, another assessment. I'll tell you more about the results tomorrow. While we're all waiting for the hammer to fall, a few of us decided to talk about career growth. One aims to be a CEO, another wants to be her subordinate. I got my career predicted for me: the owner of my own company, or at least a subsidiary of THIS company.

Now I would normally be flattered by this prediction, but today I saw two sides to this. On one hand, I'm flattered that they did not think I was better suited as a custodian or a security guard. Also, they presumably consider my qualities too unique to be contained in a system that already exists. On the other hand, I'm saddened to think that consciously or not, my friends don't think I fit in - or worse, that I don't have a place here. True, it is the eventual price we pay for getting attached to the system (since we don't want to be employees forever, do we?). It's just...lonely, I guess, to contemplate such a future. Everyone wishes me well, but they don't want me to be part of THEIR future.

Truth be told, I don't have grandiose plans for the future anymore. That style has gone the way of the dodo. No, I don't aim high (in an earthly sense, at least) anymore. People think I have some form of potential that I don't exert to the full, but honestly, I don't see what all the hooplah is all about. I personally would prefer going the way of the dodo myself. "To live is Christ, to die is gain," as the Apostle Paul declared.

Tomorrow I talk about the assessment results. Wish me well. On second thought...

TRAINING: DAY SIX

2007-08-24T01:40:00.000-07:00

A new week of training brings new developments. Trainer Myra, we were all dismayed to learn of your resignation. We'll miss you, for we barely knew thee. May God bless you and your daughter (may she have all the fried chicken she wants) always. Trainer Tracy, we'll miss you too, for we all move forward - but we'll send you the class pic. Trainer Cesca, we will remember the pronunciation of Cibo forever, but we brace ourselves for this week. May God have mercy on us all.

Confession, Communion, The Papacy, Celibacy... Traditions I would object to and would warrant my immediate expulsion from any Catholic Church, traditions that are not based on truth, sadly. Let's start with Confession. Since Jesus is the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), people can pray to God through Jesus directly instead of going through any other detour. The most important confession is the confession of faith in Jesus and His Resurrection (Romans 10:9), and as Christians we should confess to one another (James 5:16).
The Apostle Paul threw a fit about modern Communion (1 Corinthians 11:17-34). He reminded us that Communion is not a way to transform the bread into a piece of Jesus' flesh, as Catholic priests say. That is a gross misinterpretation of Scripture. It is done in remembrance of Jesus' death, and to announce it until He returns.

Another misinterpretation is The Papacy. The Pope of the Roman Catholic Church is based on a mistranslation of Jesus' words to the Apostle Peter. When Jesus said, "...You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church..." Jesus was informing Peter of the Church He (Jesus) will build. In Scripture, the prophet Isaiah called God (Jesus) "...a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." (Isaiah 8:11-22)

Celibacy was never in God's blueprint, but neither was sexual immorality. The original priests were Aaron (brother of Moses) and HIS SONS (Exodus 28:1). In the New Testament, Jesus noted that not many people would accept the statement "It is better not to marry," but lets God guide each and every one of us (Matthew 19:10-11). The Apostle Paul commented at length about the celibate life (1 Corinthians 7:1-16:24) and gave instructions to single men and women. In the end, whether it's a ritual, tradition or way of life, we live by the Book of God {aka the Bible}, we bohemian believers of Jesus Christ.

As the cast of the musical RENT declared: "Let he among us without sin, be the first to condemn... La Vie Boheme!"

TRAINING: DAY FIVE

2007-08-24T01:37:00.000-07:00

As an unwritten rule to keep me celibate, God has made sure that all women I encounter (and eventually fall for) are either in a relationship (boyfriend or husband), are pregnant or have children. So far, the rule is unbreakable. Obviously, I can sigh in resignation as I watch a lovely lady carry her offspring or cuddle her beloved. Even more devastating is the encounter with the single woman. Yes, it's almost as if I become a good luck charm of sorts to any single girl I decide to like. The single girl finds her significant other almost immediately, to my dismay. I am reminded of the Divine Comedy every day in my life.

Today is assessment day! A lot of exams and a lot of private conversations in between. Until these "moments of truth" are in the open, I did not realize how prevalent sexual immorality had become. Then again, that IS a disadvantage of a priest - to look down from a holier-than-thou pulpit is never a good vantage point of reality. Hence the more realistic placement of Royal Priests - among the people instead of above them. Although, even from here I don't see the logic or virtue in sex for sex's sake, without any meaningful relationship behind it. But then again, I've never had sex, so... I need to rethink the effectivity of servants of God who seem to be so isolated from the real world.

I also ventured into the land of women today! From uncomfortable reverse confessions with a liberal lady to a chat with a chocolate-adrenaline junkie who happens to be an almost-certified nurse (who resourcefully made a way to earn her allowance on the first day, and later today helped the ENTIRE team pass the exams!). Plus lengthy discussions with a happy anime' fan concerning sensible shoes, The Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift OST, kitchenware, Ferrero Rocher chocolate and the song "Way Back Into Love" from the movie "Music and Lyrics" starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. Women are really my favorite people. It's a shame the rule still stands, but God offers me consolation:

"Do not let your heart envy... but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."- Proverbs 23:17, 18

At this point, I'm considering cutting something else off. Just to end my misery.

TRAINING: DAY FOUR

2007-08-24T01:34:00.000-07:00

"A wicked sense of humor." I believe that would have been the character summary of any rejection letter I would receive, if ever I chose to apply in any acceptable seminary nowadays.

This long-dormant quirk has been resurrected in today's training, in an exercise I will refer to as the "confessional." Truly, a lot of truth came out today, and shed new light on all of us, binding us all closer together in ways I could not have imagined was possible. The truth, as always, sets us free. Too much freedom, I later discover, is not a good thing.

I will only break the vow of secrecy only to mention a discovery of a "water curse," which jolted a reflex response that made my fellow trainees sit up and say, "Father!" I later confide in my offendee that I myself was a victim of a water curse, having nearly drowned in a family reunion at a water park a long time ago. I occasionally kick the edge of the water when we go to the beach. I distinctly remember finding it amusing, how my entire family surrounded me, and was the reason I found myself in the deep end at the worst time. My friend (the offendee) says she forgives me, but I could never forgive myself for that immature glib. Though she mocks death by swimming, and I mock death through other means, the fact remains that a Royal Priest should know better to "be slow to speak," among other things. God still refuses to kill me, though. Probably too predictable. God almost always wants to surprise us. God does compensate by making me forget to wait for my friend to return my notes in lieu of the exams tomorrow. God adds poverty and a storm on top of that. The encores of God are spectacular, really. Like a three-ring circus.

Another friend later suggested I should stop deceiving myself and stop being a priest. I think to myself, "I can serve God, dammit!" No sooner do the words pop in my mind that I check myself and ask conspiratorially, "Can you, really?" I think back to the days when a prophet would eat bread cooked over his dung-fuelled flame. Or when a giant fish would swallow a deserter and spit him out a few days later. Or when Jesus spoke in riddles and drove the merchants out of the temple with a whip. Or just this morning, when Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said his request to pray for rain, the Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Pluviam, caused the current storm season. Not to mention this evening, where I just finished a loan transaction to rescue me from poverty, while sipping Mountain Dew in the rain - on my way home.

I smile sadly and think of the REAL Divine Comedy - that God and Heaven have a wicked sense of humor, and that it's the prerequisite quality of the citizens of Heaven... and at least one Royal Priest.

TRAINING: DAY THREE

2007-08-24T01:26:00.000-07:00

I woke up today at 4:49AM. There are two ways I can try to explain it - the first being the opening phrase Bruce Wayne used to teach the new Batman, Terry McGinnis, about the gray areas of warfare: "Let me tell you a story about a woman named Selina Kyle..." The second way is the verse I saw popping up on my screen on startup (I have DailyBread 2.0): "My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them." - Proverbs 1:10

A bolt of lightning illuminates the sky, enveloping every drop of rain that fulfills its purpose. The grand hall is dark, the pews slowly being filled with a steady flow of people. As the doors close, the journey begins. As we slowly but surely reach our destination, We muster the strength necessary to rejoin the rest of our life from this point onwards. By a miracle, I arrive in the nick of time as the lights slowly ignite and a formless voice echoes in the air:

"Sa ating mga mahal na pasahero, nawalan po ng kuryente ang Ortigas Station kaya hindi po makaandar ang tren." [To our beloved passengers, Ortigas Station has lost power and the train is unable to proceed.]

It's Storm Season. My train was the last one available before the guards stopped people from buying any more tickets or entering the terminal. I join the masses out, and bump into a friend (the same friend I narrated Back To The Future III the previous evening). It is now the morning of the third day, and we are all hoping for a miracle of some sort. My friend tells me that the storm is causing a lag in electronic processing throughout the building, but other than that everything's normal. I thank my friend and move onwards, ever onwards.

As I enter the building I am met with a crowd looking towards something approaching. Could it be? At this point in writing this blog, I stopped for dinner. I overhear a radio sermon about the Samaritan Woman at the Well who asked her fellow countrymen (after meeting Jesus): "Could this be the Messiah?" Nice emphasis and symmetry, God. {wink} But back to the story. No, it turns out the security guard is ushering out a man and a woman. Further inquiry reveals that the woman PUNCHED the man because she was next in line and the ATM was a little slow today. I'm not sure if I should talk about "Money is the root of all evil" or "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord" or whatever.

Oh yes, before I forget: My friend is now successfully registered in the Biometrics system - which means a fingerprint determines the perception of our performance in the company from this point on. At least when it comes to attendance.

I know that we're practically always enjoying summer even if it's August because the sun knows no mercy. I know pitstains and BO are an increasingly unfashionable trend. But young women who dress in the most micro-mini-infinitesimal clothing still disturbs me. No, these women don't want to be ogled or whistled at or (God forbid) raped, but they are either accustomed or answering the question, "Why go through life unnoticed?"

Interestingly, this thought came after I thought of my female fellow trainee and FRIEND (special emphasis) who wore mostly blazers and turtlenecks and a plethora of formal wear - as well as a nice cross necklace, sans broken Christ figure. Aaaaaaanyway, I just reminded myself of the meaning of being a Royal Priest, as well as HER interpretation of it ("You're celibate? That sucks!"). I need to remember all the similar girls (smart, beautiful, sharp, friendly, etc.) I've met throughout my life ... and their partners who would be more than willing to take me to Calvary and crucify me.

And so the day ends with the prophetic verse I saw popping up on my screen on startup this morning: "My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them." - Proverbs 1:10

TRAINING: DAY TWO

2007-08-24T01:21:00.000-07:00

"What are you doing?" I ask my fellow trainee, who is preoccupied with my left hand and is meticulously rolling up my jacket sleeve. She replies, "You could get raped in Saudi [Arabia]." I quizzically look at her, as if she just gave me a Zen answer. She explains, "I envy your hands, they're so feminine." She then proceeds to share this revelation to fellow females sitting around the table. They then unanimously and jokingly hate me because of my hands. In the back of my mind, I find the concepts "feminine" and "priest" in the same train of thought uncomfortable. True, women are more attuned to their emotional aspects that their souls are said to be closer to the divine. True, this concept of the "divine feminine" has led to sad misrepresentations in the form of nature worship (Gaia or "Mother Earth") and gay priests. Since I am heterosexual and have my mother's hands, I leave the thought to fester.

Today is the second day of training. Yes, I am still employed in a proper company, and yes, I am still being asked about the specifics of my priesthood. You know, the Apostle Peter was married and HE was the cornerstone of the Catholic Church - not to mention countless CELIBATE priests and popes throughout history! Of course, he was crucified upside-down so I guess he wasn't interviewed very often. I can't really talk much about the specifics of our training because we do have to keep confidential company info CONFIDENTIAL. Sorry. Anyway, the day proceeds in an alarming pace, and it makes me ponder the Theory of Relativity - time flies when you're having fun.

Lightning storm! The rain is really pouring it on thick tonight, and the flashes of light electrifies my soul. It's my favourite weather, lightning storms. It reminds me that God is more powerful than all His creations, and if one bolt of lightning can kill a person, how much more can its Maker execute? The glee I feel is only doubled when I glance at the TV in the lobby. Back To The Future III! One of my fave trilogies - along with The Mummy, The Matrix, and Lord of the Rings - which brings mind-bending concepts to life on the big screen. In this case it's on HBO. As if in sync, the lightning outside the window echoes on the screen as Doc Brown races against time (literally) to conduct a lightning bolt from the clock tower to the time-travelling DeLorean with Marty McFly inside. Time Travel - Genius Concept! Spielberg - Genius! God - Creator of Spielberg!

Since the movie serendipitously begins just as the day's training ends, I sit through the entire thing. A friend of mine from another training group sits beside me and I give him the movie's story, practically word for word. If I inherited my mother's hands, I also inherited my parents' combined photographic memory. I target movies like this as well as TV series like Smallville (Particularly Lionel Luthor's show-stopping speeches!) and The West Wing (Great scriptwriters! Too bad the series ended. Good thing I have a VCD collection!), which quench my mind's insatiable thirst. (It's true what they say, you can only remember things that are most important to you. At least, I'm told, until age or Alzheimer's kicks in.

Speaking of debilitating diseases, the rules on punctuality and company attendance policies and even the "psychosomatic disorder" discussion I had with my fellow trainees yesterday is settling in. It's like I was previously existing in Heaven where time is not a fixed construct (though many scientists agree this is the case), and now I am screaming to the Heavens like my Biblical counterpart to "stop the sun!"

Then again, I like this lightning storm, the training day is over and I'm enjoying this movie.

Maybe tomorrow.

TRAINING: DAY ONE

2007-08-24T01:18:00.000-07:00

Training! Everybody needs training before they start any kind of work, unless you want the more painful road of trial-and-error... which leaves a lot of people discouraged before they begin. Today's my first day of training, and I really can't talk much about the company's top-secret training program (the company being a well-respected, international organization), so I'll just talk about the fillers - the stuff in between the training.

After the awkward "getting to know you" part of the training (oops, that was confidential!) which I mentioned only because my own status as a Royal Priest was exposed (Exposed? Am I trying to HIDE anything to fear being exposed?) and I receive the obligatory Q&A about specifics. I have to say it was not very convincing, as Royal Priests are not officially recognized by any known denomination, is hunted down by a spiritual Enemy and thus have to maintain a great deal of secrecy, and has yet to establish it's online and global presence. I realize it requires, ironically, a leap of faith.

Lunch! Even Jesus was accused of gluttony at one time, did you know that? Anyway, I found this great place just a stone's throw from the building, easy on the pocket and the food is served piping-hot. After that I get together with a few fellow trainees (discovering the coffee dispenser in the process) - but not before clarifying with a trainer that we're still having trouble delivering Communion online - and we few fellows engage in smalltalk about psychosomatic disorders. Nice. After we've transformed each other into raging hypochondriacs, it's back to the training room.

The day goes by better than expected, I think. Hopefully it's the start of something new. My dad, upon hearing my sensible choice of employment, once proclaimed, "This is the first step to your future!" The thing I keep to myself is, my future has been written long before I was born. Plus the fact that the company survived before I became a part of it and will survive long after I'm gone. The fact that I'm alive, posting this blog today, is proof positive that there is still something I need to do. And that goes for the rest of us, too.

Maybe we can talk about it over lunch tomorrow, OK? Free coffee.

DEATH AND TAXES

2007-08-24T01:15:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite films is "Meet Joe Black." It's about Death taking a holiday in human form, portrayed by Brad Pitt. In one scene he makes a fuss over the saying, "Nothing in this world is certain but death and taxes." Hilarious as the scene is, it points out two inevitable realities, realities not even I can ignore - unless I transform into a Brad Pitt look-alike and have the power of Death, which I doubt will happen anytime soon.

Rejoining the world as an average-class working man, I am faced with the reality of taxes once more. Amplified through the loudspeakers, our moderator makes us regret ever learning subtraction in school. Yes, with all the "benefits" that are deducted from our salary, it would be more lucrative to sue everyone instead. Or how about deducting our salary from our taxes? Invented originally to create equality in society, the ancient rulers of the world used taxes to expand their empires, support their armies and provide for their people. The rich people quickly found the loopholes in tax laws, so the poor people ended up being oppressed to this day.

Jesus didn't worry about taxes. He lived with his parents for the most part. When he set out to live on his own, he essentially lived "off the grid" - a freelance guy. When he was charged for the temple tax, he reluctantly gave a coin from the mouth of a fish. When he was consulted about taxes, he simply said, "Give Caesar what is Caesar's and God what is God's." Of course, Jesus was convicted falsely and was executed at 33, so Christians usually ignore that chapter of our Lord's life. The Apostle Paul was a tentmaker, and said "Those who do not work, do not eat." Thus, he lasted longer than the other followers of Jesus, who preferred to be bums.

I like quoting the first part of the verse "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." The verse was quoted by Jesus during his forty days of fasting in the wilderness, where he out-quoted Satan. Satan was basically saying that Jesus had the power to turn stones into bread to feed himself, and Jesus essentially replied by pointing out that God decides if we get stones OR bread. Mankind did not create itself. I prefer saying "Man shall not live by bread alone, but we still need bread." Dangerously close to being Satanic, we must understand the realities of the world. Like the Apostle Paul, we have to play by the rules to join the club.

God ultimately has the last word, of course. Death is the curse we inherited from Adam and Eve - who chose to be independent from God, with a deteriorating mind and body plus mortality, rather than being blissfully united with God, with unlimited potential and immortality. Jesus came to earth, died, and rose again to tell us that happy days are here again. Through our faith in Jesus we are given life with God forever.

I have been to too many funerals. The question that goes through most mourners' minds is "Why?" The question that goes through my mind is "Why wasn't it me?" As Gandalf mused in The Lord of the Rings, "Many who lived deserved death, and some who died deserved life." Indeed. Christians in ancient times faced persecution willingly because of a life beyond life. They knew that as long as Jesus is their Lord, they would be like a seed that dies in order to truly live.

Interestingly enough, some death row inmates prefer their quick execution than face what seems like forever in a substandard environment like prison. "The Chamber," a book by John Grisham (which later became a movie) focuses on such an inmate. The cycle of hope and disappointment the inmate faces whenever a new lawyer comes to defend him proves too much, and the inmate welcomes the reprieve of death. This is also the case with suicides and "mercy killings" and abortions - a hope and disappointment magnified to an extent that murder and death seem "good". To a lesser degree, alchoholism and drug addiction are similarly self-destructive and similarly justified - justified incorrectly.

I have been at the edge, and have on occasion agreed that "maybe six feet ain't so far down," as the song goes. I've tagged myself somewhere between "psychotic" and "suicidal" at times, but by God's grace I drank poison only AFTER learning how magicians drink poison. I've muddled the discrepancy between "fasting" and "starving" so many times, the light at the end of the tunnel burned out. God still wants me to hang around - to give a coin to a beggar, to have a front-row seat at the Apocalypse, or to write a blog - whatever.

As the Apostle Paul said, "To live is Christ, to die is gain." Which means, if we Christians live, then we have a chance to serve God, and work and pay taxes and LIVE. If not, then we get to live WITH God. Forever. Which is better. But only God knows when that will be. Literally and inevitably.

FEVER

2007-08-24T01:12:00.000-07:00

"Many are called, but few are chosen." With those Biblical words the speaker pointed out the difficult journey to get where we are, and just how special we apparently are. I am in an orientation event in a prestigious computer industry, taking my cue from the Apostle Paul, who said, "Those who do not work, do not eat." I will discover though, that the food - sopa de ajo, pork with cashew nuts, golden banana rolls (turon), iced tea - will be the least of my worries today.

The presentation is proceeding flawlessly, but there is one thing that is irritating me - the temperature. Last check, the concierge (the orientation is held in a hotel) lowered the room temperature from 16 to 27, but the cold is still making me appear to be in a partial state of epilepsy. Chattering teeth, shivering limbs... I look like an electroshock victim. The people around me battle the subzero situation by sneaking off to the bathroom, maximizing the use of the hand dryer.

I have to confess, I am not a stocky man. In fact, I would probably win in a competition against Calista Flockhart and Gandhi on who can show their skeleton without an X-ray. Silly me, with this storm season, I brought a windbreaker with a hood instead of an eskimo suit. The windbreaker and an umbrella peek at me mockingly from the inside of my bag, as if to say, "Nothing will save you now!" with accompanying "evil villain" laughter. Work is driving me crazy, it seems. But then again, as Solomon said, "That's nothing new."

Interestingly, the body does crazy things to achieve balance. Pretty soon, I'm hearing Beyonce's "Fever" in my mind. Yes, the extreme cold activated my body's Vesuvius response. The trek home is unbearable - weak knees, high fever, sniffling and dizziness. Yes, God was reminding me at this point that the journey is difficult, and we are special. But most importantly, God was reminding me that I did nothing on my own. This is all part of His plans for me, "to prosper [me]... to give [me] hope and a future." So - To God be the glory. Good news: I have the weekend off. Thank God for small miracles. Throughout the weekend, God will be reminding me that He is my Healer, as well.

WHAT'S IN A NAME? (Royal Linguistics 101)

2007-08-01T04:34:00.000-07:00

priest [preest](plural priests) noun

1. ordained Christian minister: an ordained minister, especially in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Eastern Orthodox churches, responsible for administering the sacraments, preaching, and ministering to the needs of the congregation

2. minister of non-Christian religion: a spiritual leader or teacher of a non-Christian religion

3. descendant of family of Aaron: somebody descended from the family of Aaron of the house of Levi, appointed as priests in the Hebrew Scriptures

[ Old English preost, via Germanic <> presbyter [prézbitr](plural presbyters) noun

1. member of early church administration: in early Christianity, an administrative official of a local church

2. member of clergy: an ordained member of the clergy in many Christian churches

3. lay official in Presbyterian Church: any layperson chosen by the congregation to govern a Presbyterian or other Reformed church

4. powerful self-appointed leader: a powerful, self-appointed or self-anointed person, e.g., a leader of a group or faction or a backer of a major movement (disapproving)

[Late 16th century. Via ecclesiastical Latin <>

Recent responses relating to the Royal Priesthood have been mixtures of surprise, curiosity and confusion. After all, a Born Again Christian like myself can't be a priest, right? Well, to clear things up a bit, I quoted some definitions from the Encarta Dictionaries (above).

Since it is clearly stated that the recognized denominations are Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Eastern Orthodox churches, that leaves being a normal Christian very little to hold onto. This, I gathered, is a very dangerous situation, leaving any new believers in a whirlwind of rules and regulations and devout conflict with other religious groups. Most of these believers would quickly lose their faith and be caught up in the turmoil of life again, lost and confused and cynical. Compared to the recognized religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, or Taoism, our Lord's faith has devolved into a Pharisaical regimen of burdens.

I am not a minister of a non-Christian movement, nor am I a descendant of Aaron. But digging deeper, the word "priest" comes from the Latin "presbyter" which describes one of early Christianity's leaders. It also means "a leader of a group or faction or a backer of a major movement." The Royal Priesthood is not a rebel faction, but a movement back to Jesus' original desire for religion.

When Jesus walked the earth, religion was a back-breaking tyranny, ruled by the church leaders - the Pharisees. The Pharisees had immense sociopolitical power, and had a great influence over the people and even the Romans who had control over most of the world. Remember that the Pharisees manipulated the people and the Roman governor Pilate to crucify Jesus without cause. Fear kept the populace in line. Romans feared the Pharisees would cause an uprising, and the people feared eternal punishment if they did not obey their "holy" leaders. Jesus changed all that.

"Love one another. Love your neighbor. Love your enemies." Jesus was a threat to the luxurious lifestyle of the Pharisees for attempting to reveal God's true intentions for mankind. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." The Pharisees did not want the people to live full, happy, free lives. They wanted the people under control (sound familiar?). Jesus left, but not before leaving a legacy that survives until today. The Royal Priesthood aims to reclaim those teachings of love, life and freedom. The true teachings of God.

Today, the church has returned to it's original, Pharisaical state. People are expected to keep performing penance for sins, keep fearing the Law of God, keep living in self-imposed slavery. Jesus said he came "to set the captives free." But who among you know that? Jesus died, and only a few remembered. One of those who remembered was the Apostle Peter. He said we are "a royal priesthood." Bingo.

How many Christians nowadays live like priests? Or royalty? Tell me. Some may flash royal jewelry but act like a royal pain. And priests... well, they have enough scandals in their own fold. So why hasn't the great machine of the Church been able to prevent this? Or solve this problem? Maybe because we focus on living "by the Book" and forgot that life is more than words. Or maybe we know this fact, and ignored God completely. Either way is disillusioned and WRONG.

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." He also said, "I am the bread of life." Do you see what He's saying? He didn't say "I am giving you rules on how to live life," but HE IS THE LIFE. We have strayed far from God. Jesus knows that. But rather than allowing us to traipse off to Hell, Jesus was the Good Shepherd that leads us Home, and even died for us. The Royal Priesthood aims to honor The Good Shepherd, by following Him.

Jesus knew the rules. He wrote them. He told the crowd, "Before Moses was, I AM." People couldn't believe that God could take the form of a man. But then, God couldn't believe that people had to be told things that was common sense. "Thou shalt not kill." "Thou shalt not steal." What level of depravity did mankind descend to, that we needed to be reminded that killing and stealing, among other sins, were BAD? Jesus knew that telling people what they should do wasn't going to help them learn. So he LIVED THE RULES. He is the Life - the ideal, the Superman, the role model, the idol. If we grow closer to Jesus, we grow closer to the original design God wanted. Because Jesus was God's son, but ALSO human. The Royal Priesthood wishes to imitate God by being God's children while becoming conformed to God's original human design.

In summary, the Royal Priesthood is composed of Christians who want to take their faith to the next level. To become what the Pharisees feared, what they were not able to be. To live the free life that Jesus fought and died for. To live the eternal life that Jesus proved when He rose again. To slowly develop into the children of the King of Kings - Royalty. To fulfill the Laws of God out of love for Our Father in Heaven - Priests. To ultimately show that Christianity is worth standing out for; Christianity is worth defending and fighting for; Christianity is worth dying for; Christianity is worth everything.

IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF IT (The Real Superman)

2007-08-01T04:25:00.000-07:00

According to Bill (from the movie Kill Bill), Clark Kent is Superman's thesis on humanity - his understanding of all our weakness and imperfection. The Bible says God is strongest when He works through the weakest people. Moses wasn't a public speaker, but was used to free the land of Israel through God's words and power. David was a boy, but with faith in God he killed the giant Goliath. Fishermen, tax collectors and other common men were chosen as Jesus' disciples - the future saints of the world, the pillars of faith.
In a world that celebrates external pomp and fashion, inner beauty is greatly overlooked. In a meritocracy like ours, the weak get left behind. Like Moses, who spent 40 years in a distant land (having abandoned his royal splendor for obscurity), we hope that God might strengthen us or use us, but by the time He's ready... we are not.
"Who am I to lead these people?" Moses said this shortly after God gives him his wake-up call, burning-bush style. He has lost his regal behavior, his princely reputation, his royal network, his warrior strength. He's figured out the system, managed to survive. He's content with the flock he's led safely, not knowing it was training for a bigger - no, monumental - task.
Now, 80-year old Moses and his eloquent brother Aaron must convince the Egyptian Pharaoh to shatter an age-old legacy of slavery and submit to an invisible God. When the time comes when we have "made money work for us," as Robert Kiyosaki might say, can we give everything up for God? Jesus asked the rich man the same thing: "One thing you lack: Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor...then come, follow me." The rich man refuses. Poor Moses succeeds.

As for the rest of us, the conflict of being "in the world, but not of it" is almost schizophrenic. Christians are living dual identities daily, a juggling act that leave some disillusioned, some destroyed. We humbly bring all praise and glory to God, but somehow maintain our self-esteem. We must be zealous and courageous spiritual warriors, but we must live humbly and work for peace and salvation.

At our lowest point, God is most appreciated. When the judge waives the sentence. When the doctor smiles after surgery. When the check clears. When Jesus returns from the grave. Even the Son of God experienced humanity to understand the lesson: God wants us to know in our bones that God is all we NEED when God is ALL WE HAVE LEFT. That level of intensity in our faith, though, is ALWAYS required from Christians. Covered in "ordinary" wrapper.
I may appear at times to be too cynical or too zealous. It clashes with the humility Jesus taught. But this is because I am living HERE and NOW. Before the disciples were known as saints, they were far from perfect, the "men of little faith." They denied and abandoned the Lord at His moment of crisis. But they knew that Jesus is the real Superman, the Son of God. There's not enough libraries in the world to record ALL of Jesus' magnificent miracles. Jesus spoke of a time when God will transform us in His likeness. God knows our weaknesses, and wishes to save us. Always. God wants to hear us say "Lord, save me!" more times than he hears "Superman, help me!" or "I can do it myself!"

We will someday be freed from our present selves and be like Jesus, the real Man of Tomorrow. Until then, we put on our Clark Kent glasses, and wait.

JESUS WAS HERE

2007-07-28T23:13:00.001-07:00

One of my pet peeves is the wooden image of Jesus on a cross. I see it everywhere - hospital walls, street corners, bracelets, necklaces, rosaries, etc. It depresses and infuriates me in so many levels, very personal levels. Psychologically, venting is a good way to release harmful stress, so here goes:

First, it reminds me that humanity was a lost race, a failed experiment by God (remember Noah's Ark, the ultimate "back to the drawing board" moment). We are neck-deep in sin, which is not what most people think. Sin is our separation from God, willfully or subconsciously. You and I may not have committed the crimes worthy of capital punishment, but where is God when you check your email? Where is God when you go to work? School? Wherever? Whatever? Do you think about God at all? OK, do you think about God all the time, or is it just when you're sick, depressed, worried, angry or afraid? And if you're thinking God should NOT be in every aspect of our life, then you know you're a sinner. Because an ex-angel formerly known as Lucifer once said the same thing... and everyone who doesn't like God in the center ring of their lives can keep Lucifer (now called Satan) company in a little place God created to honor that free choice. The place is called Hell, and it's basically where God is not. Then came Jesus. You may know the story leading up to the wooden cross, but that's where most people stop... and that's what angers me. When people look at the broken figure mounted on their wall or dangling on their neck or limb, they sigh, get more depressed, probably do a sign of the Cross, then go about the rest of their day. I would like to ask any random person what they know about Jesus, and they would probably point to any one of the countless crucifixes in the world, and then I would like to shout, "WRONG!" and then tear the wooden man off the cross. BECAUSE HE'S NOT THERE ANYMORE.

Second: What did Jesus do that made him better than Buddha, or Muhammad, or the Pope, or the millions of so-called "gods"? Answer: He lived, died, THEN LIVED AGAIN. Read that sentence again. Slowly. Now look at the cross. Or one of those Christmas manger scenes. Or all the tombs in Jerusalem. Look at the Pope with his staff waving at the crowd - an old, albeit healthy man, with his Lord on a stick. So the choices are: "helpless, destitute baby in a feeding trough," or "shish kebobbed Savior"?!? Is there something wrong with this picture? Would YOU like to be remembered as the "rather heavy baby" or the "one in the handcarved mahogany casket"?

The King has left the building! And people don't seem to know that, or they got stuck at the cross. Or if they do, they don't think about it that often.

Oh you do, do you? Did you know that when Jesus died on the cross, He took YOUR punishment for divorcing God? When God gives you life and you think you're a "self-made" person, you think God doesn't have a right to take life back? You think you can save yourself? Did you think you created yourself? When Jesus died on the cross, He took YOUR Fall. Then He made sure that life will stick forever, by conquering death and resurrecting, fully restored, after three days of decomposition. Did you know that when Jesus lived again, He was showing you that death is no longer a fear factor? That Jesus, not Brad Pitt, was the first to send the message, "Immortality! Take it! It's yours!"

I bet you can recite John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." If that isn't transparently clear to you, I'll summarize. Believe Jesus (first, you might want to read the Bible to get a clue on who he is and what he did) and have a guaranteed ticket to Heaven, OR don't believe and...well.

Oh, you don't believe Jesus? You don't believe anything I said about Him or anything He claims to have done? That's OK. God gave us all free will. He cordially and freely allows you to GO TO HELL, where everyone else who ignored or rejected their Creator goes. God will of course remind you one day that you chose your destiny, with or without Him. And you will live with the consequences of your choice.

Forever.

THE REAL GODFATHER (La Cosa Nostra [our world] & God's world)

2007-07-28T23:12:00.000-07:00

It's one of those mysteries in life when The Godfather became an international bonding mechanism among the male species. The mix of witty soundbites, sophistication, mystery, and unparalleled power and influence made Don Corleone the authority on most anything. OK, before I lose the attention of the eye-rolling female audience, let me get to the point: I soon realized that the Godfather is actually a weak, shoddily-made shard of a better Person (OK, now I lost the male audience, and possibly made a few enemies) - The original Godfather, or should I say God the Father.

Who else can top an eternally burning bush or a pillar of fire as a grand entrance? Who else can truly say that their Word is Law? Can we compare "sleeping with the fishes" with an army who had the Red Sea dropped on their heads? Who can be so mysterious that no ancient artist could quite paint a picture of His face?...

Segueway: The Italian Renaissance masters made Jesus look Italian, naturally, and a variation of Jesus exists practically in every race (which is weird, because Jesus wasn't a shape-shifter), or we go back to the old standby - the thin bony nose, gentle eyes, immaculately managed coiffure, with the optional "peace" hand gesture, divine spotlight and/or cradled lamb accessory. Jesus WAS Jewish, right? True, but "God is not an Israelite," as Willem Dafoe pointed out in the movie The Last Temptation of Christ. Otherwise, we'd be invited to His bar mitzvah, right?

Anyway, who can do a better "bada-bing, bada-boom" than Sodom and Gomorrah? Who can make a better "offer that you can't refuse" like the one between Heaven and Hell? Who else can confidently say, "You shall have no other gods before me"? Who can give up His Son to the mob, allow a grisly murder, then resuscitate His Son after three days, destroying the power of death forever, while dusting off His robe, staring coolly at Satan and saying, "What? Was that it? Was that the best you can do?"

I rest my case.

CAN I SAY "I DO"? (Marriage, Royal Priests & God)

2007-07-28T23:11:00.001-07:00

I recently got unofficially disqualified as a marriage counselor by my friend because, in his words, "I wouldn't understand the situation until I got married."

Granted, even the apostle Paul warned believers that "...in marriage you will have many troubles, and I want to spare you of this." But I feel compelled to clear up some issues about marriage, specifically about marriage and priests - Royal Priests, to be really specific.

In the Old Testament, when God was beginning to set up His global operation, He called for certain men to be holy (literally meaning "set apart"). These men were to be His priests - servants, counselors, messengers, ambassadors. In those days the man in charge was Moses. God chose Moses' brother Aaron as high priest... and do you know who else would be priests? Aaron's SONS. Yep, Aaron was a family man. In fact, God set apart the BLOODLINE of Aaron, and this family would be churning out priests for the next millenia.

OK, you might say whatever you want at this point, but I'm just stating the facts. OK, fast forward to the New Testament. Do you know who the first Pope was? It was actually a linguistic slip-up. At one point, Jesus said "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." Translated, the name Peter actually means "small stone," not "rock." The Old Testament says "God is my rock and my shield," so Jesus was just giving Peter a heads-up that God is building his church, and that Peter just got drafted. Of course, the Catholic Church never got the memo, so the Apostle Peter became the first Pope. TRIVIA: St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City is built literally on top of Peter's grave.

So what, you ask? Well, it's just that Peter was MARRIED. Oops. Mark 1:29-31 tells the story of Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law. Now, you may wonder why Catholic priests take the vow of celibacy. The reason is the bloated structure of the Roman Catholic Church. "Huh?" you may say. Well, the center of the Catholic Church is the Pope, and by procedures and bylaws, only a celibate priest can become Pope. If you allow priests to marry, there won't be anyone left qualified to become Pope. No more Pope, no more Catholic Church.

Bummer. Anyway, Royal Priests know the vow of celibacy is a prerequisite only if I'm Catholic, which I'm not. But that doesn't mean I'm going to crash Spring Break parties, ignoring the Bible and saying, "I'm actually just a friar, so..."! Marriage is holy and should be respected by all, and the marriage bed must be kept sacred. Plus that whole "Be holy, for I am holy" commandment and the less popular, more demanding "Be ye perfect, as your Father in Heaven is perfect." It's an embarrasing day when we realize fans of worldly people can imitate their idols, and we Christians don't even try to live up to the standards of God, to show we idolize the perfect Person. Read the Bible and ask yourself, What Would Jesus Do?

So... what's my point with all this? Am I just feeling lonely? Am I looking for a "special friend"? Yikes. No. Just clarifying facts, as well as providing food for thought. Just reminding y'all that a Royal Priest is just a Christian that wants to take his faith to the next level. So get your facts straight. Know WHAT you believe, and WHY you believe.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, GOD IS LOVE!

2007-07-28T22:36:00.000-07:00

"But once love has been stripped away, then we see the real person clearly. They're revealed to us with all their flaws, their foibles, and their secrets." - Lionel Luthor

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine who was having serious marital problems. Actually it wasn't much of a conversation because his opinions were as set as his jaw.

I tried the diplomatic, unbiased approach befitting a Royal Priest:
"YOU MADE A PROMISE TO GOD! A HOLY VOW! IS NOTHING SACRED ANYMORE? AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN!" I shouted (obviously). Not much finesse there, I admit. But it confused me, to say the least. Here was a man who claimed to have read the Bible cover to cover, professed his faith to others, getting other people to know Jesus (including me, btw) - and yet here he was now, quoting loopholes in the Bible which, he says, absolves him from sin and allowing his selfish plot to proceed.

I take a deep breath and remember that "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood" before I pummel him, then I say, "Love -"

Immediately he cuts in, "Love is just a feeling. You lose it after a few years. You wouldn't understand."

I grit my teeth and try again. "Love one another-"

"That only applies to believers. Jesus said that to his disciples, and it's not applicable here. That woman is a devil, or influenced by one, I tell you," he replies.

I sigh, and give it another go. "Love your neighbor."

"Neighbors are OK, I haven't seen them for a while anyway... I avoid them, to tell you the truth. I spend more time working indoors. But a person you see every day... when you get married for a few years, you come back and talk to me, huh?" He glances at me with a smirk.

One more shot: "Love your enemies."

At this point he looks away, fidgeting his feet, then says to me, "You're selfish. You don't care about me, how I feel. How it affects my walk with God. I'm not God, you know. A few years is enough to bear." He looks at his feet, and appears genuinely sad.

After he says this, I give him the clincher: "Beloved, let us love one another. For love is of God, and anyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. He WHO DOES NOT LOVE KNOWS NOT GOD, FOR GOD IS LOVE. Beloved, let us love one another." - 1 John 4:7-8

My friend mutters, "You don't understand," then asks me to leave.

The problem is I DO understand. I understand I just gave him a rundown of the Law of God according to Jesus, and he spat in God's face. I understand that this person was actually the selfish one, putting his personal needs in center stage before God's perfect law. I understand that God is love, and if love is just a feeling, then we're all going to Hell, because GOD IS LOVE.

True, I'm a priest and the marriage argument is a low blow. But I know that if you start with yourself, you make the world revolve around you, and that includes the Word of God. You end up like my friend, looking for loopholes and omitting the commandments and anything that doesn't agree with you. It almost made me want to say, "Leave God's Word out of this. You want to deceive yourself to make yourself feel good, that's your choice. But don't corrupt or distort God's Word. It's perfect just as it is."

Can you imagine if God agreed with some of you and believed that love was "just a feeling"? Imagine God, sitting on His Throne on Judgment Day, saying, "Yes, Jesus died because I loved you, but after the first few years, I felt we lost our connection. You're not the same person. I'm sorry, you'll have to leave. Go to Hell, because I don't want you here in Heaven with me anymore." Perish the thought! I'm guessing some of you might like God better if He was more like us humans, but God is the same "yesterday, today and forever." We humans get tired, bored and sick of things and people, but God doesn't. I used to keep thinking God makes the sunrise and sunset everyday because He never gets tired of it. It's a perpetual encore presentation. There are things in the deepest oceans or in outer space that we might never see, but God keeps it there. God doesn't get bored and say, "You know what? Pluto is too far away to be admired, I should just scrap it." No! In the same way, every person is like the whole world to God - from before you were born to beyond the grave, you will be on His Mind forever.

So, what do we do when we run out of love? Do we grit our teeth and grumble, "God help me, I'm going to love that- that person even if it kills me." No. Remember, GOD IS LOVE. Get to know God first, because He's got a lot of love to give. When you learn how to get close to God, His love pours out on you, and ONLY THEN can it overflow to others. Remember what my friend said about what Jesus said about love? He didn't let me finish. Jesus said, "Love one another, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU." We won't find love inside ourselves. We can probably find compassion, pity, affinity, mercy, and attachment - but those have its limits. If you are a bucket, God is a reservoir dam. If you are a faucet, God is Niagara Falls. So if you're looking for love for yourself or others, look for God. He would just love to see you.

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." - 1 John 4:10

A PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENT

2007-07-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

"The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him..." - 2 Chronicles 16:9a

What is commitment? What are its rewards? Why does God want us to be committed to Him?

A friend of mine postponed a career in music to transfer to his girlfriend's university... before being unceremoniously dumped. Another friend abandoned her dreams of becoming independent by transferring to her boyfriend's country of choice. I personally surrendered my heart at one point to a girl, only to discover the crushing limits of human reality.

Commitment always involves sacrifice, and always magnifies its cost over its ultimate price. It always seems harder during the journey than at the final destination.

For some, this is realized in marriage. After a few years down the road, the initial gloss and sheen fade, the quirks and irritants surface, and irreplaceable treasures are discovered. The primary goal of "loving, giving...'til death do us part" becomes a memory to reminisce and perhaps relive to the end, or a pleasant dream some wish to wake up from.

For some, commitment is evident in their professional lives. From entry-level to president, the road is arduous and requires monumental patience and endurance. The day-to-day rigors of work wear down a person's will and identity, reducing some to automaton shells, others to finely forged empire-builders.

God promised to strengthen those fully committed to Him, but we all know how fickle we are, how impatient we can be in any relationship. How much do we want this strength God offers? Why would we be willing to devote ourselves completely?

To quote Ewan McGregor's imperturbable character Edward Bloom in the movie "Big Fish:" "What I recall of Sunday school was, that the more difficult something became, the more rewarding it was in the end." In this case, it's true. Any material thing can strengthen our ego - a car, a toy, good food - but in the end it doesn't fill in all the gaps. A friend can strengthen us with a kind word or a comforting gesture, but a friend can accompany us always, and even the greatest human friend needs their own source of strength. God, being the nuclear bomb equivalent of love and strength, can guarantee 100% performance all the time. Complete commitment.

The most important thing to keep in mind here is this: God is already fully committed to you. He's not just sitting on a cloud, sending greeting cards. God created you, owns you, wrote the story of your life. God saved you before you knew Him through Jesus Christ. Now God is proposing to you, popping the ring, sending out invitations. God is "searching the whole earth." For you.

The only question left is, Do you want to be found?

THE ERA OF BIG MIRACLES IS OVER?

2007-07-28T22:32:00.000-07:00

I'd like to believe in big miracles. When I say "big miracles," I mean those with the magnitude and power of Biblical proportions. From the biggest miracle of all - Creation - to the last Biblical miracles - Paul's death-defying wonders and John's miraculous revelations. In between we have The Great Flood, The Plagues, the prophets, the kings, the battles, The Virgin Birth, Jesus, His Death and Resurrection. And one thing that stuck with me was one of Jesus' great promises: "All this and more you will do."

All this. AND More. Now, God made a lot of big promises in the past, but this one is the biggest to me, because it's the most personal. He promised each and every one of us to be a vessel of Jesus-level miracles. AND More. God said He can do all things, and that nothing is impossible for Him, but why does the evidence of these impossible feats seem to be missing?

Sure, you don't have to tell me about the everyday, ordinary miracles (cue Sarah McLachlan) - the earth staying on its orbit, the sunrise and sunset, plants and animals and me waking up the next day thanks to God. But Jesus promised MORE. And after all, what is the Royal Priesthood but those Christians who are looking for the "life...to the full" that Jesus came to bring? God can transfer mountains to the sea, but I really just need to find a place of my own. God can pull a coin out of fish to pay taxes, but my accountant just shakes her head. God can feed 5,000 and do an encore presentation, but "fasting" has become a lifestyle of necessity for me. God can tell a fruitless fig tree to wither, but when I tell someone to "Drop dead!"... I'm kidding.

Still, this war with the Devil is messing up our divine lines of communication. Worse, it's making it seem that God is either sleeping, laughing or defeated. Which is, of course, WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. God's timing, I admit, is famous for being last-minute spectaculars (think Lazarus dead for three days before his comeback) , but I think that's a clue. Faith according to God is a never-ending heart attack during a rollercoaster ride. Yes, Royal Priests are spiritual thrill-seekers. In God's words, "My grace is sufficient for you." Sure, God can still do big miracles, but faith is stronger when you don't have proof. As Robert Langdon said, "Faith requires me to take a leap of faith." As Jesus said, "Blessed are those who believe but do not see." So...yikes.

In the end, big miracles have their time and place. If everyone who found God was given license to do big miracles, we'd have a million "Bruce Almighty"s running around wreaking havoc. As Rick Warren and Max Lucado remind us, "It's not about you." It's about God. Who's the Creator here? Ouch. Yes, the truth does hurt. And may get me imprisoned for tax evasion. But in that situation, one big miracle I take comfort in is when God sprung Paul out of prison.

LOSING IT - Fasting & God

2007-07-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

I give up. Fasting, I mean. It's not working for me - at least, in the way I hoped it would. I thought fasting (or the abstinence from something, usually food and drink) would bring me closer to God, improve my health, and speed up prayer responses.

Well, technically, fasting was effective. But it wasn't the way I planned, so I still consider it a failure for me. Yes, I developed a stronger constitution and a greater discipline over my body, and I received revelations from God and developed an intimacy through the experience. But when it came to the prayer responses, well...

I am a fasting connoisseur, if I do say so myself. I have been fasting regularly since way, way back. I can assure you that once you get past the first few days, it totally gives you a new perspective on life, if not only food. Yes, the first few days can be likened to a rehab detox procedure (not that I would know that personally, mind you) - the shakes, nausea, dizziness, light-headedness, and a plethora of bodily functions to amuse you for hours on end. Silly me, I first tried fasting without reading up on it, and I thought I was dying. Actually, I was just getting rid of the nasty stuff in my body. You know, preservatives, MSG and other fantastic chemicals. I did mention developing a stronger stomach, right? That is a big victory for me, because my stomach used to be pickier than Epicurus. The problem was, it would reject food that I consider OK. So this iron stomach I got was a definite perk.

The last time I fasted lasted 22 hours - that's a total fast, no food or water. This is weak compared to my longest fasts - one week according to my mother (I was too weak to count the days), and four days (this time I counted). During this time I encountered disturbing revelations, almost as if I accidentally came across God's all-knowing mind (which is a psychedelic trip, even if it's a living nightmare. I'll just say "Who knows the mind of God?" and leave it at that). In every case, I was shown the horrible consequences of my requests - if granted, they would result in a cosmic balance, usually death or some other type of loss. It brought to mind Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son, Jesus' teaching of "to those who are given much, much more will be demanded of him," and Paul's "thorn in the flesh," given to him by God to "keep him humble from... ever-increasing revelations." At every instance, the escalating horror of a future torment directly caused by my selfishness stopped me from continuing my fast. This is why I have not exceeded a week.

Moreover, science shows that a human body cannot survive more than a week without water. With this fact in place, I can only assume that these fearful premonitions are "the angels with flaming swords" guarding "the garden of Eden" or God's realm. That was a curious thing, though. When Adam discerned good from evil, they were banished because there was a Tree of Life that would have made Adam a god. God himself confirmed that this potential for divinity was the reason for man's exile in the book of Genesis. Besides this, the Devil would do everything to stop us from escaping Hell. As long as we live in this world, the Devil's playground, he has a chance to lead any battle-damaged Christian to the easy street, away from God. If you watched the movie "Constantine," one thing that rings true is that Satan hates anyone slipping through his fingers. In the movie and the graphic novel, Constantine plays these aspects of God and the Devil to gain a form of invincibility. But of course, I'm not trying to be John Constantine.

Or am I? The problem with fasting is that you really can't set a time limit. I have heard stories of people who tried the Moses/Jesus fast (40 days) and...were unsuccessful. They died. Others try the Daniel Fast (no sweets, no treats) and get weak results. In the Bible, Copernicus was visited by an angel after 4 days of fasting and prayer, while Elijah was visited after a day's journey. David's fasting didn't work and his son still died, and Daniel fasted for three weeks (!) because the angel got delayed. You have to remember that fasting lets you tap into the invisible world, and this world you tap into is at war. It has been war since the Beginning, and will remain at war until Jesus returns. In the meantime, angelic troops are spread thin and are engaged in combat with enemy troops, supplies are running low and God may say no to you in favor of Christian soldiers in more dangerous locations.

That's it in the end. That's the reason why I quit fasting, at least not the True Fasting taught by Isaiah. True Fasting I can probably manage. Anyway, God is either delayed or said 'no' to my request, or I'm too scared of all these horrific consequences. No wonder Constantine was a chain smoker. And alchoholic.

Not to use reverse psychology on God, but to abandon fasting and embrace life could work in my favor. Jesus said, "Those who save their lives will lose it, and those who lose their lives for my sake will find it." Well, since fasting doesn't seem to work, living life would either kill me or make me immortal.

Truthfully, I'm just going to go live my life. And if a godsend like a mugger shows up brandishing a pistol, then I can say "Stealing and murder is a sin. Repent!" before he kills me. Hey, at least I read the mugger his rights. Then God and I can have our overdue chat. I'll begin by saying, "Thank you for putting me out of my misery, Lord. Now, about my request..."

IN GOD WE...DON'T MIND HOPING (Money & God)

2007-07-28T22:26:00.000-07:00

Jesus lived with his mom for thirty years. Sure, he continued in his dad's footsteps and became a carpenter (he got sentimental when he made wooden crosses), but if Jesus was a normal guy, he would have been expected to move out earlier, right?

Three years on the road, and Jesus got his exit visa. You Are Now Leaving Earth, Destination: Heaven. The disciples staring at their Saviour were most likely thinking, "Now What?". Because Jesus is the Son of God, so it's really more of a royal visit - like when the President or the Queen drops by your town. Same principle applies: They're loaded. So they can spout economic reforms and "endurance during times of crisis and poverty and hardship," but afterwards they'll have the chef prepare vichysoisse and caviar.

I'm not angry with Jesus. I just wished He could have given us something more than "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven," or "Blessed are the poor..." or "Do not worry about what you will eat or drink or wear"... it all just sounds unrealistic. I mean even the Lord's Prayer is insane: "Give us this day our daily bread"? What about tomorrow's bread? Or bread for last week's rent, or the end of the month? But Jesus went back to lambast the Jewish politicians and said, "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God." That's OK if you're the Son of God with your own kingdom, but what about the rest of us? Here's a thought that struck me once:

The prostitute who poured perfume on Jesus' feet and wiped it with her hair. Sure her sins are forgiven, but she's still unemployed. She would have needed the money the next day, and she may have thought twice about not selling the perfume instead. Yes, reality strikes. For us Royal Priests, it's a doozy of a dilemma. Improving the quality of life for beggars, prostitutes, ex-criminals and other homeless and helpless people requires more than repentance. They need government support, education, and job opportunities to escape the rat race.

And this is the scary part about faith. It doesn't really make sense when aligned side by side with reality in this Fallen World. God is focused, though, in making sure you get the REAL reality (cue Neo), on the right side - Heaven, not Hell. God is focused on getting you to Heaven, safe and sound. So what about now? Well...bad news.

When a rich pious guy wanted to show off to Jesus one day, Jesus told him to sell everything and follow Him. Of course, the rich guy refused. The rich guy could give to the church, or feed the poor, or STAY ALIVE and be respected and accepted by society by not being a bum and preach God's Word. Jesus mentioned a poor widow who gave two pennies to the church, noting that the twopence was all she had. God is an "all or nothing" kind of God. Demanding, much?

Take a closer look at the lives of the followers of Jesus. They were gatecrashers, pilgrims, vagrants, beggars. The only exception is Paul, who said "Who does not work, does not eat." Thank God for Paul, the most modern and sensible of the Christians. It's just sad because it all falls short of Jesus' "coin in the fish" tax money, or the "feed the 5,000" buffet. Sure, God made clothes for Adam and Eve and makes sure flowers are attired appropriately. Sure, God feeds the ravens and other members of the animal kingdom. Sure, God considers us more important. But...now what?

The love of money may be the root of all evil, but a dead Christian is of no use to anyone, is he? Well, there's Jesus. He's still popular. As John the "locusts and honey" Baptist said (before he got beheaded), "He must become more, I must become less." Well, THAT's reassuring. Thanks a lot.

The Apostle Paul (who survived because he was a tentmaker) got the right summary when he said that if it wasn't for the fact that we are going to Heaven instead of Hell, we would be rightfully pitied by all men. God help us, that golden calf looks mighty tasty, though. Altogether now, "Man shall not live by bread alone..."

THE KINGDOM WITHIN (Science & God, part 1)

2007-07-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

The New Physics tells us that matter is energy. Einstein's equation and quantum physics tell us that "molecules vibrating" plus "electronic fields" equal "level of solidity."

What the heck am I doing teaching science in a priesthood? Well, before you light the heretic torches, let me explain. Jesus said that if you believe or have faith you can move a mountain. The laws of electromagnetism show that the mountain is composed of electromagnetic energy and can be affected with a focused energy. So faith, in a "focused energy" sense, has a strong scientific basis.

"Surrendering to God" can allow intuition to move in, and as a Christian recognizing the Holy Spirit, this can be a powerful creative force. A nod to Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink" theory, and a sideways glance at George Lucas' "The Force." But no, this is NOT New Age stuff. God is a living God, and cannot be lessened to any degree. The problem is we only see glimpses of God at any point in time, and to behold his full glory would kill us (this is the reason why Israel's High Priest enters the Holy of Holies with a rope around his ankle... so his corpse can be pulled out in case God decides to drop by).

"The kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:21 couldn't be more clear about Jesus' assurance. Surrendering to God is an active choice that has benefits. Remember that Jesus is the Way, so you won't get lost in all the similar, confusing beliefs of the world, scientific or spiritual. "Narrow is the way to life, and few find it," according to Christ. Stick to Jesus, and start moving mountains.

LET'S TALK ABOUT...NUMBERS (Parental Guidance is advised)

2007-07-28T22:14:00.000-07:00

I sleep less frequently nowadays. Like Daniel in the Old Testament, I receive most divine messages through dreams. This morning was a doozy. But first, a warning: If you're a child, you might want to ask your parents or someone older to read this blog first, before you do. OK? I have enough trouble with my dreams.

The dream starts with me in a nondescript room. I can't describe it because this is one of those dreams where I am a detached observer. Plus the fact that two blackboards take up the whole wall. Two friends, a boy and a girl, are observing the writing on the boards. It's like a scorecard - A graph containig days of the week and numbers, from 0 to 9. Not all the spaces are filled, but most are.

The boy shuffles and stares at his feet, embarassed at the numbers revealed to the girl. The girl looks, and sees mostly 1's and 2's. She grins, and says, "See, it's not too bad." She then gestures to her board, and it's filled with more numbers distributed about, and she blushes at the frequency of the numbers 0 and 9. Now, those of you who know "the four bases" get what this dream is all about by now. In this case, I assume they divided the four bases into subcategories, to get 10 levels of intimacy. Yes, this is about sex.

The shock I felt that accompanied the girl's confession about 0's and 9's is not brought about by some repressed chauvinism. It's the fact that I know a girl who hinted at this truth, but seeing that I was young and it would damage her reputation, she simply said "I never did anything that would lead to pregnancy." Isn't that the common justification for adultery and unholiness everywhere?

To clarify, all of us go through puberty. Lord knows, THAT was a challenge for a Royal Priest like me. But the shock from the dream was brought about because I am fond of and have great respect for that clever friend I mentioned. In a way, I tried to deceive myself so as not to jeopardize our friendship. But now, given this revelation, I find it is not the proper conduct of a Royal Priest to pass judgment. That's God's job. And even Jesus saved the adulteress from a brutal death. "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more," he said. If my King desires "mercy, not sacrifice" then I should oblige. We are here to offer God's salvation, not His revenge. There will be a time when those who ignore God's desire for holiness and purity receive a just punishment. Justice must be regarded for those of us who strive for God's outrageous "not even a hint" standards. We get saved by God's grace, but are rewarded by works. Yes, the bloodstained robe of our King will trample those who did not turn to Him for clemency before the End. But not yet. There is still time.

Impatience, a lack of self-discipline, and idolatry cause most sexual sins. Focusing on a person as the object of love instead of God leads to inevitable culmination. Books by Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Boy Meets Girl, Not Even A Hint) have been a great help to me regarding love, sex and marriage. I advise you to read them. Books by Max Lucado (Experiencing the Heart of Jesus, books 1 and 2) helped me grow closer to our Lord. Add it to your list.

In a nutshell, God wants us to know that sex is good because He created it. BUT it was created in the context of marriage, as the consummation of a vow to be joined together forever. To give that vow with your body to just anyone, without the commitment, will be hazardous to your soul's health. It robs your future spouse of true intimacy, it robs you of purity and holiness, it robs you of true love. C.S. Lewis once commented that we are satisfied too easily. But God knows our weaknesses, and invites us to take the higher path, before it's too late. Selfish pursuits ALWAYS leads to self destruction. In the end, God wants us all to be saved - even from ourselves.

SWEET SURRENDER

2007-07-19T03:20:00.000-07:00

To be with God forever... always sounds like an unfulfilled life to me. In a worldly point-of-view, the act of submission and surrender always seems synonymous with "loser" or "failure." But in my heart I know it's a battle between my ego and my soul... a matter of personal pride, a sinful residue, a remnant of The Fall. God doesn't do what's good for me, He does what's best for me guided by omniscience and omnipotence. In a heavenly point of view, enjoying God is the best privilege and gift anyone can ask for. The only biting, stinging sorrow in me is the love of God overflowing through me. It is the Apostle Paul's paradox when he said, "What I want to do, I do not do." Filled with God's affinity with mankind, I long to see the nations saved, and I desire that "none perish, but that all come to know the truth." That's the dream anyway, both mine and God's. We also know that there are certain people who are called - and answer that calling. But more importantly, we both know that God sent Jesus to set us all free, and we are free to choose to be with or without God. That freedom, in the end, causes us to cry out, "It is not who is called, but who will listen?" Tell the story. The Greatest Story Ever Told has not been told for quite a while. It is history, His Story, God's story. It is a love story, of a divine Groom pursuing His Bride to the ends of the earth, through Hell and back, to the outskirts of eternity. It is our story, a story of finding our way home, even though we start out not knowing we were lost in the first place. We know there is more to us, to life. We try to gain it back by improving ourself, by building Heaven on Earth, the millenium version of the Tower of Babel. But after a lifetime of endless pursuits, we come face to face once more with our Maker. And what will matter to Him most is if we were running home or running away. Because being "Our Father in heaven," He hopes we come to our senses in time and find Him waiting with open arms. I know I did, and He helps me remember that Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, life to the full." Not at all the "unfulfilled life" I was dreading. Not at all. In fact, it's unimaginably, magnificently more than I could have ever dreamed possible.

THE PROBLEM OF CHOICE (Of Free Will & Salvation)

2007-07-02T02:27:00.001-07:00

Two men hung on a cross beside Jesus. Both men were found guilty by the courts and were sentenced to death. As they hung waiting for the end, they began saying “cruel things to Jesus” (Matthew 27:44). One of them said, “Aren’t you the Christ? Then save yourself and us.”

But the other one of stopped him. He said to the other man, “You should fear God! You are getting the same punishment he is. We are punished justly, getting what we deserve for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

But what about the other man? Why didn’t Jesus try to convince him, try to save him?

Although God is all-powerful, he gave us free will. Sometimes He may try to use suffering to stir us, or blessings to lure us. But sometimes God is silent, to allow us to freely choose our eternal destiny – Heaven or Hell, to be with God or apart from Him forever.

= = =

If you use your mouth to say, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we use our mouths to say that we believe, and so we are saved.
Romans 10:9-10

FRIEND, WE ALL HAVE AN ENEMY (Of the Devil & His Evil Ways)

2007-07-02T02:26:00.003-07:00

Who overcomes By force hath overcome but half his foe.
-John Milton (1608 - 1674), Paradise Lost

I have never been to a physical war. I cannot comprehend the sheer terror gripping one’s heart in the middle of nowhere, with only a stranger at your side sharing your fear. I can’t imagine the emptiness one feels after his first murder, after he watches a fellow man die, after the war ends.

I have never been to a physical war, and I hope you and I never do. But we ARE in a war – and this war has been going on forever. We cannot escape this war, because not only are we the soldiers, but we are also the prize. This is a spiritual war.

The most dangerous enemy is that which is not known, and we DO have an enemy. And our enemy is not just the school bully, or the corrupt bureaucrat, or the oppressive superior, but The Enemy of God Himself – The Devil. And once again let me remind you: The most dangerous enemy is that which is not known, and the Devil has made it top priority that we scoff and laugh at his existence, so that he can walk among us unnoticed. Just because we don’t believe in the Devil doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist.

The Devil is a unique creature, and cannot be underestimated. Originally created as the most perfect angel of God, he tried to take over Heaven and was exiled, along with his angel followers. Now known as the Devil and his demons (among other names), they sought to conquer Earth because it was given to mankind (the children and image-bearers of God). By convincing the first man and woman to disobey God, the Devil gained legal ownership of the Earth and became its present ruler. Let me make this clear: We are living in Satan’s territory right now. Although Jesus has “overcome the world,” the final reclaiming of the Earth won’t happen until Jesus returns. This is why we are instructed to be pilgrims on Earth, and why Jesus said “My kingdom is not of this world.” Only by dying can Jesus pay the price for our disobedience to God, and only by accepting Jesus as our Savior can we hope to avoid the same exile (known as Hell) from God.

Our Enemy has only one purpose: to claim as many people as he can, and deny us of God forever. Throughout history we have been caught in the crossfire between these kingdoms. The Devil has all his armies and weapons targeted at us, and he’s not smiling. He remembers that we were originally designed to be perfect reflections of God, and that we were called to be God’s children and rule the Earth. He remembers that he was once perfect, and that if he goes down, then he’ll bring as many as he can with him. He makes us downplay our importance, and makes us forget who and what we are. He makes us forget we are in a war, and we grow to accept the hardship of life as normal, instead of the relentless attack of our eternal Enemy. He makes us think that even though we did not create ourselves, we can create our own destiny.

He makes us forget that we have a way out, that God Himself sent His Son Jesus to pay the price for our sins and save us and restore our lives to the full AND guarantee us full pardon, blessings and eternity with God.

Whether we eat or drink or pray or work or whatever we do, the Devil has an attack. We can get sick, we can get fired, we can get disappointed or angry or oppressed in a million ways without realizing we are under attack. Unless we accept this fact, we as people are helpless victims. We as Christians are sheep to be slaughtered – we no longer wish to be part of the lost world, but after accepting Christ’s salvation we don’t want to accept the conflict we are in.

Today I ask heaven and earth to be witnesses. I am offering you life or death, blessings or curses. Now, choose life! Then you and your children may live.
Deuteronomy 30:19

WIN, LOSE OR DIE (The Prayer of James Bond)

2007-07-02T02:26:00.001-07:00

I just started reading John Gardner’s James Bond novel “Win, Lose or Die.” First, I know it seems odd for a priest to indulge in such a “worldly” piece of fiction, but then God did not have to come into the world as Jesus Christ and save the world, either. I could go so far as to recite John 3:16: “For God so loved the WORLD…” but that would be too obvious. Second, too much disconnection sounds too Pharisaical for me, in any case. Anyway, “Win, Lose or Die” seemed a captivating title, since a relationship with God always ends with those choices – and I should know that now, more than ever. Oh, and third: I would think the novel finishes with a happy ending for Bond, just like the outcome of correct prayer.

Asking God for anything in prayer and in Jesus’ name always seems straightforward, until you start factoring in the fact that even Jesus asked God for a Plan B in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39) when God answered, but Jesus accepted His destiny and purpose-driven death anyway. God knew that Jesus’ death would save the world from Hell, so it was a no-brainer, unless you were Jesus at the time. The key to answered prayer is to prioritize. Start with asking God what He wants (knowing that God IS God – all-knowing, so He knows what you want and what’s best for you; all-powerful, so He can put his foot where His mouth is; loving, so there’s no better Person to talk to, etc. etc.), and going from there (Psalm 37:4).

BTW, saying a thousand “Our Father”s won’t help if you can recite it in your sleep. If you were in front of God, would you think He’ll take you seriously if you asked him a question or favor sleepily or absentmindedly?

RISE OF THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

2007-07-02T02:25:00.002-07:00

The Royal Priesthood: Why, What, When and How?

It began one day when I stumbled upon a Biblical verse:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9

I noticed that 1 Peter was written as a letter to pilgrims. Pilgrims are people who go on a special journey, usually religious. Pilgrims are also people who are “just passing through,” as they say, not belonging to any particular nation or denomination. The Apostle Peter continues to say that as Christians, we should be pilgrims in the world since we are children of God, citizens of heaven. That simplified my point of view.

I thought to myself, “The Apostle Peter is saying that all Christians are not ‘just Christians’, but that we are carefully picked out to “proclaim the praises” of God. That’s a lot more than just the standard “pray, do good and go to church” attitude I’ve learned from society… which is, needless to say, booooooring. I mean, compare Christianity with Islam, Buddhism, or any other religion. We’re embarrassing, because they know they’re different, with different beliefs and faith and purpose. Their organized discipline is seen in the way they think and live.

Now, Christians weren’t always this docile. They didn’t call it The PASSION of the Christ for nothing. Jesus was persecuted, burdened and crucified for being powerfully vocal and uniquely rebellious, and so did the other early Christians. Yes, throughout the years we had to be discreet because a Christian understood that he or she had a very short life expectancy, but eventually we got comfortable and complacent with just sitting down and being spoon-fed Church & Society Status Quo 101. The Enemy has kept Christ on the cross instead of being risen again, so we see a helpless man on crucifixes instead of a victorious God in Heaven. We can pray the prayers, do the sign of the cross instinctively, but now only out of tradition.

The Royal Priesthood recognizes that we are just here for a little while, but our focus should be our true home – Heaven, with our Savior and Lord Jesus (who, may I remind you, is alive and more powerful than ever). Understanding that we are merely ambassadors of Christ on Earth, we are free from worries and fear, and we can focus on knowing, loving, and serving God. Not to mention “proclaiming the praises of Him who called us out”… God wants us to broadcast the Light of the world with a candle doused in rocket fuel.

The Royal Priesthood seeks to set people free from self-centered lives that end up becoming insufficient and dissatisfying. Only with a realignment of our point of view and priorities can we realize the fullness of life, love, purpose and pleasure of a God-centered life. Think about it: Who do you think originally invented life, love, purpose and pleasure? Do you really think man made itself and the universe?

WHAT'S UP WITH THEE

2007-07-02T02:25:00.001-07:00

Hello, my friend. Come – and fear not, you may find the answers you’re looking for here, perhaps even peace and freedom (though that does sound like a tall order – I wouldn’t blame you if you think it sounds a bit deluded, political or cheesy). The road to true life is so narrow it’s almost invisible, the hour is so late that it’s early, and the Royal Priesthood’s mission is daunting, if not impossible to say the least. “Go and make disciples of all nations,” my King said to me, “baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” I was told to teach these new disciples to obey all the commands He gave us, and assured us that He would be with us always. (Matthew 28:20)

My first reaction, naturally, was “Riiiiiight.” Then I quickly roll my eyes (no, God didn’t smite me with a lightning bolt or blindness for my irreverence). But as I turn to walk away, I see in the distance the empty tomb, the vacant bloody cross with its accessories (crown of thorns, six-inch nails, “Jesus, King of the Jews” bumper sticker) and even further back I see the empty manger. I suddenly think, “Jesus, you really did it,” literally and with all due respect. You can almost see Jesus sit on His throne, dust off His lapels with a pierced hand, and look down at Satan, saying “Is that all you got?”

Don’t let those words, “priest” or “disciple” scare you. This is no ragtag recruitment agency, nor is it another hokey scam, religion or cult. I prefer to think of us as freedom fighters and free thinkers under God. “Christian hedonists,” as John Piper would say. To enjoy life, freedom, love, peace, and pleasure by knowing God – and helping others do the same – is our goal here. We’re here to destroy the stereotypical images of bored, harp-plunking winged dead guys on clouds, holy instruction manuals that would manufacture paranoid automatons, and a halo-faced, underweight carpenter hammered to a cross seemingly ad infinitum.

It is always easier said than done, but I trust in Him to do His thing.

GREETINGS

2007-07-02T00:23:00.000-07:00

Welcome, my friend. And you are a good friend for visiting, for my enemies would be too busy plotting my downfall. Ha! Well, fear not, for God is always with us – even to the end. I’m afraid, though, that the blog is still a work in progress – in the same way that God slowly but surely shapes us into the person we are destined to be, eh?

I’m sure you’re wondering what this “Royal Priesthood” business is all about – after all, you know very well I don’t have an ounce of royal blood in me! Get comfortable then, and let me tell you. I was told of a person who lived a long time ago, said to be the Son of God himself! Well, of course at first I could hardly believe it, but circumstances led me to believe the evidence of His existence...even up to this day.

I’ve had a strange feeling in my heart all my life that something was missing, something unexplainable, something … more. Upon learning more about this God Man, this Jesus of Nazareth, I came to the conclusion that He had the solution after all! He knew that we all felt separated in our own ways, and He said it was a separation from God, from some obscure debacle a long time ago. He said He came to give us “life to the full” and “peace, joy and love,” so I said, Why not? But there was a problem.

He explained that since God was – and still is – holy and perfect, only someone equally holy and perfect could be reunited with him in a wonderful place called Heaven. I’m not so naïve not to admit that nobody’s perfect. But because we’ve been separated from God since birth, our only destination was death. Since Jesus was the Son of God (and is holy and perfect – like Father, like Son!), and because God loves us so much, He was willing to take our place by dying – and then He conquered death for us and lived again after three days! Imagine that! Now we have full clearance to enjoy the full life that God offers, plus a guarantee that we’ll be with God in Heaven after we die! At that time we’ll enjoy life, love, peace and joy forever!

I, of course said, “Sign me up!” but Jesus said there are no contracts to sign since He was promoting holy freedom, balanced by God’s grace and Laws. We only needed to ask for forgiveness for our sins (our ignorance of God and His Laws), and accept Jesus as our Savior, living peacefully, joyfully and freely, in gratitude to God by obeying His Laws.

Whew! So much for the premise, I thought it couldn’t get any better but I found an announcement in the Bible (The Word of God):

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9

This follower of Jesus, Peter was his name, said that we were royalty! Then I remembered that Jesus said His “kingdom was not of this earth,” just before He died. If Jesus is the Son of God and He took my place, then that means I’m an adopted child of God and the brother of a King! Boy, I sure haven’t been acting like royalty lately. That got me thinking, and finally I said, “Wow, looks like I’ve got work to do!”

And I do have a long way ahead of me, so I hope you’ll excuse me, busy, busy… and I hope you’ll consider God’s invitation for you, too… He didn’t say “God loves the WORLD that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life,” if God didn’t include you, now did He? I didn’t think so. Your best life is waiting to be realized… my friend, the choice is yours.