Monday 29 June 2009

We Are The World

In 1984, famine ravaged most of Africa and artists, initially in the United Kingdom, put out a single, "Do They Know It’s Christmas" to raise funds to save lives of people dying. US singer Harry Belafonte took the initiative in the other end of Atlantic inviting the hottest American acts of the time..
The response to the invitation to join the cause was overwhelming with a super group of 50 lending their voices to a song called "We are the World". It was a who’s who event that included Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder.
The recording was done immediately after the American Music Awards of 1985 – and one major artist had to skip the ceremonies to put out the vocals as a guide to the rest of the group. That artist was Michael Jackson who together with Lionel Richie composed the masterpiece that won four Grammys including Song of the Year, Record the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group. More importantly it raised $63 million for the famine relief in Africa. It was a truly remarkable effort.
Michael Jackson died on June 26, 2009 at the age of 50 and he was in the midst of preparing for 50 major sold out shows in London. Though he may have had many issues that tarnished his image, Jackson did his share to alleviate poverty, and at the same time developed God given gifts in song and dance to perfection.
God gives every individual a gift or gifts. Some discover this early (like Michael Jackson), while others much later in life. "John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." (John 3:27) For a moment, look at yourself in a mirror and reflect on what you are really good at. Have you used this to make someone feel better? It is in the sharing of our gifts that we become true Christians. "But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you." (Luke 11:41)
Let us pray for the repose of the soul of Michael Jackson. To remember him, you may hum the words of the timeless anthem: "We are the World."  

by Mel Libre

There comes a time when we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one.
There are people dying and it's time to lend a hand
To life - the greatest gift of all.

We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone somewhere will soon make a change.
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth You know
Love is all we need.

We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving.
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives.
It's true Well make a better day
Just you and me.

Well send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free.
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
And so we all must lend a helping hand.
We are the world
We are the children
We are the world
We are the children

Monday 22 June 2009

White Hills Community

It is the desire of every family to live in a good neighbourhood. We want to feel safe, to associate with decent individuals, to raise our children in a friendly environment.
 
My family prayed for such an ideal place and found it in White Hills Subdivision in Banawa, Cebu, Philippines. It wasn’t even a community then, but a barren hilly landscape, when my wife and I bought a piece of property along with other middle-income earners wanting to have their first homes. Pagtambayayong, a non-government organisation, invited more than a hundred families to work together to build the community – and worked together we did. From the purchasing of the sizeable land to dividing the lots, from design planning to construction, and from road building to operating the subdivision. It was not smooth sailing through the journey, but despite the many problems, we succeeded due to the commitment of good people wanting only the best for their fellowmen.
 
The community built a wooden chapel and we had anticipated mass once a month. On one occasion, the priest told the congregation that he wondered why the chapel was not as beautiful as most of the houses in the subdivision. A few months later, the priest was awed at the concrete structure where he held mass, but still commented that the sound system did not blend with the refurbished chapel. The entire community was surprised because the following week a brand-new Ramsa PA system was delivered without anyone knowing from whom it came from. The kind gesture brought closer the community as each family thought of the other as the donor.
 
Jesus taught us: "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 6:1) Saint Peter Chrysologus (c.406-450) said in his sermon: "Righteousness that sets itself in the sight of others can expect no divine reward from the Father. It wanted to be seen and it was seen; it wanted to please others and it pleased them. It has received the recompense it wanted; the recompense it did not want, it will not have." But what is fascinating about doing a good gesture in secret is that it creates an environment of trust and love among the people who are benefited; while the Lord Almighty is pleased with the anonymous giver.
 
In his message during the Lenten season in 2008, Pope Benedict XVI stated: "In today’s world of images, attentive vigilance is required, since this temptation (of self promotion) is great. Almsgiving, according to the Gospel, is not mere philanthropy: rather it is a concrete expression of charity, a theological virtue that demands interior conversion to love of God and neighbour, in imitation of Jesus Christ, who, dying on the cross, gave His entire self for us." Let us imitate the selflessness of Christ in His living and in His dying. This is the key towards attaining not just a good neighbourhood, but an ideal world.

by Mel Libre

Monday 15 June 2009

We Are Travelers

To move forward, to reach a destination, one needs to travel.
In the movie, Reservation Road, the lives of two families gets tangled because of a fatal accident involving a hit-and-run driver who killed a boy in the road accident. One family came from a concert where the boy was performing; while the other (a father and his son) enjoyed a baseball game. Both were travelling towards their respective homes, when the incident occurred. It was unintentional as the father with his son, peeked into his ringing cellular phone while driving. Before he knew it, a car toward his way, so he swerved to the roadside, where the boy from the other family was setting free fireflies caught earlier. While one family struggles on the loss of a life; the man who caused the death
bleeds emotionally with guilt.
We are all travelers. We ride on transport vehicles toward work. We embark on boats to visit relatives or friends in other islands. We board on aeroplanes to reach foreign lands. We can never be sure what will happen along the way.
Take for instance Air France flight 447, carrying 228 people that disappeared four hours after taking off from Rio de Janeiro bound for Paris. Not one of those passengers thought that they would never make it to the Charles de Gaulle airport. Their earthly journey came to a sudden halt; their next travel should take their souls to a final destination depending on how they lived their lives.
God protects His people from harm. As St Francis de Sales reflected: "We shall steer safely through every storm so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast and our trust fixed on God." There is no certainly in our life journey though. . "We are struck down, but not destroyed". (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) At any point in time, in any place where we are situated, we can be struck down by a power beyond our own. If Satan creates the havoc, we only need to seek the help of God, who will send intermediaries to drive the evil one away. If it is God’s plan; be unafraid for He frees us from the burden of sin and lead us to His glory. "The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore." (Psalm 121:8)

Monday 8 June 2009

Mama Luding

My wife, Debbie, received troubling news that her mother, Salud, had suffered a heart failure. All my children were in the house; all deeply concerned about the fate of their grandmother they lovingly call “Mama Luding”. It was more painful for Debbie because the previous night, Mama Luding made a long distance call from Cebu as she was driving in the Auckland motorway and could not take the call. I was the one who answered and asked what her message was. She responded, “I’d like to greet ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jeydi,” referring to her first grandchild.
 
Though she never finished a degree in college having married early, Mama Luding had that innate love for children, having raised eight of them, all finishing university degrees.  When any of the children had problems, she would put all her energy to attend to the son or daughter and help find a solution.  Then, her children got married and had children of their own. Mama Luding left the ancestral home in Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur in order to be the nanny of the grandchildren, caring for them like she did with her own children.  Her maternal instinct brought her to the US where one daughter lives and to New Zealand where four reside. As she saw her children grow, she also experienced the joy and challenges of helping raise her grandchildren to be fine adults.  As she is loved by her children, Mama Luding is adored by her grandchildren – for her cooking; for her simple gestures of care and concern; for her sacrifices and selflessness; for her faith in God.
 
Each of us is called to care for each other as much as God cares for us. “I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.” (Psalm 31:7) So it is said: “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.” (Genesis 2:15)   God instilled in the first person on earth to take care of all his creations, all of humanity, all of his children. “You saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you travelled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child.”(Deuteronomy 1:31) Most importantly, to care for others is to tell of the goodness of God. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
 
Debbie could not contact even the cell phone of Mama Luding; until two hours later. The faint voice of Mama Luding greeted her, telling that she was in the hospital and was being attended to by medical personnel. She was weak, but in high spirit.  Everyone in the house was relieved; and thanked the Lord for taking care of Mama Luding.

by Mel Libre

Monday 1 June 2009

Songbird For God


From being a simple church volunteer, Susan Boyle was catapulted to sudden fame via a fascinating performance in the 2009 Britains’s Got Talent show. It was reported that her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” was viewed 220 million times in You Tube. She eventually took the second place in the finals of the reality show. The meteoric rise though took a toll on her health that she was treated in a mental health clinic on the days that followed.

Single and living alone with her cat, Boyle must have lived a quiet life. The surge of attention she has gotten must have been overwhelming. Not only are media people camping out in her home to take photos; but she’s appeared in the top rated shows of Ophra Winfrey and Larry King.  The singer said she was “loving every second” of her unexpected rise from obscurity. But the days leading to the finals turned her into a confused woman easily agitated and foul-mouthed.

To be overwhelmed is to be out of control and to feel powerless. An individual is placed in a situation far beyond one’s imagination: like a pauper being crowned king; like a servant girl marrying Prince Charming; like living a fairy tale. The anxiety grows when people expect too much and the individual becomes burdened by the expectations.

When one is overwhelmed, God is sure to help. “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and mountains crumble into the sea.” (Psalm 46:1-2)  Seeking God’s Word will allow us to overcome that what overwhelms us.  “If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.” (Psalm 119:92-93)  Prayer – conversing with God – will allow us to hear the gentle voice of the One who truly loves us. “I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn.” (Psalm 142:1-3)

Susan Boyle seemed to have forgotten the church where she volunteered. All she needs to do is walk right back; fall on her knees; and seek God’s help. Without doubt, God will fill her soul and lead her to use the gift of song for His greater glory. She can be a songbird for God.

by Mel Libre