MAP of MARS

02/13/2024

We had a great time at this beautiful Christian Reformed Church in Michigan. The church interiors are superb. The congregation was wonderful and warm. The evening service attendance was really encouraging, considering it’s Super Bowl day. For the first time someone greeted me after the service with “Magandang Umaga,” (good morning in Filipino). Soli Deo Gloria!

01/20/2024

“[T]he more theologically satisfying view is that Jesus himself is the source of living water, the fulfilment of the wilderness rock smitten by Moses (Ex. 17:5-6) from whom living water flows (cf. 1 Cor. 10:4), and/or the new temple of God envisaged in Ezekiel 47, from which the waters emerged. If so, then what is in view is the gift of the Spirit coming from Christ to his people. Thus, within the Johannine context, it is through Jesus' death that the Spirit is seen as coming to the church. Christ as crucified will give the Spirit. From his side both water and blood flow; the blood of forgiveness, the water of the Spirit. Only as the crucified one can he give the messianic Spirit.

This note is deeply embedded in the warp and woof of John's Christology, and it comes into view in the penchant for double entendre we have already noted in his writing. In John's record, Jesus the Messiah becomes the thirsty one (f. ]n. 19:16) under God's covenant curse (cf. Dt. 38:48), so that to those who are thirsty he may hand over his thirst-quenching Spirit (In. 19:30). Again, John alone notes that when one of the soldiers pierced Christ's side both blood and water flowed from it Jn. 19:34; cf. 1 Jn. 5:6-8). Christ's death is to be seen both as a sacrifice for sins and as the means by which the water of new life in the Spirit flows to us.
-p64

06/23/2023

Biblical hospitality is not a case of “best for the guests” but “Would you like to share in what I’m having?” -Rev. Paul Levy

Gospel-motivated hospitality has been something that my wife and I struggled with in our previous ministries from 2011-2017. By the grace of God, this is something that we have been trying to work out for the past year. It has never been comfortable for us to invite people into our home. Jc and I are both introverted people, but honestly, it was just a lame excuse. And we know we have to do something about it!

Our summer internship here in Minneapolis has been filled with gospel-motivated hospitality opportunities. I am very proud of my wife and how she’s been growing in her love for people and having people at our temporary place here in MN. Before coming here for the summer internship, we intentionally planned to invite 1-2 families every week during our 12-week stay here.

It’s been one of the most fun and fulfilling things we’ve done for the longest time! While I get a lot of mentoring opportunities here in MN for preaching, teaching, and liturgy leading—our hospitality ministry is the highlight of our summer so far! We are so looking forward to getting to know more of the church families and church members! Soli Deo Gloria!

There are times when as churches and pastors we make things more complicated than they need to be. I sometimes fear that evangelism is made out to be something that you need to learn, that there’s a magic course or a seminar out there that will unlock the hidden evangelist in you.

06/07/2023

I will kick off a 12-part sermon series this Sunday on Romans 8 for both the morning and evening services. Please remember me in your prayers. Soli Deo Gloria!

05/29/2023

I timed my sermon last night (Saturday) when I practiced it, and it was only 33 minutes. After watching the recording of this morning’s worship service, I preached for 43 minutes! 😂 How? My wife told me that I spoke more slowly this morning compare to my practice last night. 😅 Sharing the recording of the full service with everyone! Blessings!

Redeemer Reformed ChurchGolden Valley, MNredeemerrcus.orgAll hymns and music (unless noted below) are sung using the 2018 Trinity Psalter Hymnal - Joint Vent...

05/25/2023

One of the highlights of the Ministerial Apprenticeship Program of MARS is the opportunity to learn from a seasoned Minister. In my case, I am blessed to be mentored by the church’s Pastor, who has been with them for the past 24-25 years. I will be joining meetings, visitations, bible studies, membership classes, and pre-marital counseling. He will also guide me in making liturgy details: Hymn selection, call to worship passages, reading God’s Law texts, etc. There will also be a regular sermon evaluation from members and the Pastor. This is gonna be an exciting and a lesson filled summer!

05/22/2023

*AUDIO STARTS AT 5:22 (Hymn of Praise)

I am sharing with everyone our first Sunday at RRC. We were overwhelmed by the warm welcome of the congregation. They provided a birthday cake for our ioanne and ioenne during the potluck after the morning service. And in the evening, I gave my first exhorting assignment. For the information of our family and friends in the Philippines, the preacher/exhorter leads the whole worship service in most of the Reformed churches here. It would be an excellent topic to discuss in the future! In the meantime, as you listen, please feel free to comment on how you think about the congregational prayer. I’ve been working on a written prayer, which combines my written prayers, quoting prayers of godly people, and incorporating scriptures in my prayers.

Here is the Liturgy for the full service:
Prelude and Silent Prayer

Call to worship and Salution (Psalm 122:1-2)

Hymn (Lord Jesus Christ Be Present Now, p.880)*

Prayer of Invocation

Confession (Heidelberg C. Q&A 49)

Hymn (At the Name of Jesus, p.270)*

Offering

Prayer

Scripture Reading (Mark 9:2-13)
Sermon (Behold Jesus Supreme)

Hymn (Songs of Thankfulness and Praise, p.332)*

Lord’s Prayer

Benediction (Numbers 6:24-26)

Doxology (Abide with Me, p.159)*

*Hymns are taken from Trinity Psalter Hymnal

Redeemer Reformed ChurchGolden Valley, MNredeemerrcus.orgAll hymns and music (unless noted below) are sung using the 2018 Trinity Psalter Hymnal - Joint Vent...

05/20/2023

This is going to be our home church for the next 12 weeks!
Visit Redeemer Reformed Church in their FB page for the live streams.

And https://www.redeemerrcus.org for their website for more information.

Pastor Jim Sawtelle has been the Pastor of this church since 1999. His preachings were one of the main reasons why I chose their church for the summer internship! Praise God for his service!

05/18/2023

This is a beautiful day! Praise God!

After a 5-6 hour drive from Iowa to Minneapolis, we were received by a very kind church Deacon! He brought us lunch and, guess what, three different Filipino cuisines! Adobo, Menudo, and Humba for lunch from a Filipino restaurant just 15 minutes from our apartment. The taste of home is just 3 miles away! Yay! My father’s adobo and my mother’s menudo are still way better! 😂

The place where our apartment is located has a beautiful community and a lot of space for the kids to play around! The closest YMCA is just 3 miles away, too! Road to fitness content creator for my wife continues! 😂😂

Please pray for us as we settle down and adjust to a new place again! 😵‍💫 But we are very excited to meet new people and make good friends here!

Pray for me, too, as I prepare for my first pulpit supply this Sunday. I will be preaching on the Transfiguration passage found in Mark 9:2-13. I am excited to share with everyone the recording of the full service! Soli Deo Gloria!

05/17/2023

We left Chicagoland yesterday (Monday). But instead of driving straight to Minneapolis, we decided to visit a beautiful couple in Iowa and spend two nights and two days in their wonderful farm. We met them in March when they hosted us as I filled in for a pulpit supply in their wonderful congregation. They became good friends and the adopted grandparents of our kids in Iowa (They also have adopted grandparents in Michigan).

Frank is also part of a ministry called SWIM (Safe Water Internation Ministries). Here is the link to the website for more information http://swimforhim.org.
Basically, they go to countries that have problems with dirty water. They invented a chlorine producing unit that they bring to countries like India, Nigeria, Nicaragua, and many other third world countries. They hope to visit the Philippines someday and look for communities that might need their product.

We are leaving for Minneapolis tomorrow and we will surely miss them. Remember them and their ministry in your prayers, too! Thank you! Soli Deo Gloria!