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By David H. Harwell Philippine Daily Inquirer 11:39 pm | Sunday, February 17th, 2013

I am writing to thank Filipinos for the way you have treated me here, and to pass on a lesson I learned from observing the differences between your culture and mine over the years.

I am an expatriate worker. I refer to myself as an OAW, an overseas American worker, as a bad joke. The work I do involves a lot of traveling and changing locations, and I do it alone, without family. I have been in 21 countries now, not including my own. It was fun at first.  Now, many years later, I am getting tired. The Philippines remains my favorite country of all, though, and I’d like to tell you why before I have to go away again.

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#3 - Heart on the Battle, The Warrior's Heart

Source: Powerhouse, Rissa Singson's Talk, A Warrior's Heart

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WORK vs VOCATION Vocation is what ministry is all about. You'll do it even if you're not paid for it. Other people are already paid to something, and yet they don't want to do it.

Reflect on the things that you'd do gladly for free.

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THINGS YOU NEED TO HAVE A WARRIOR'S HEART

1. FORCE

Hebrews 12:1-4 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

  Peter Xu Yongze Founder of one of the largest religious movements in China Jailed five times in China

He saw in prison what there was a guy who was dropped from the ceiling many times until he died because he was seen praying.

Another girl was beaten to death because she was seen handing out bibles. 

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Reflection:

These didn't happen in the New Testament days in the bible.

We are so spoiled. When you live in a country where you are allowed to practice your faith freely, you take it for granted.

The quality of our faith is very water down.

We should move from being a bunny Christian to a tortoise Christian. Because when the honeymoon stage is done, will it still be there?

The fact that you're up there means that there's a lot of responsibility that comes along with it.

Do you have your own story where you take your relationship with God for granted? How far can you see yourself fighting for God? 

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2. FIRE

Mark 12:30 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a]

Reflection:

Passion in worshipping in church vs videoke

We need to worship him with all our hearts--feelings all out.

Don't be too technical. Focus on the relationship with The Lord.

Save your strength for God. :) (Story of the guy in the small group of Rissa who suddenly stopped joining dinner outs. "I can't join. I need to go home so I I can sleep early. If I sleep late, I won't get to wake up early enough for my prayer time.)

What steps do you plan to take to strengthen your relationship with God and how do you think can you keep the fire burning?

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3. FACILITIES

Ephesians 6:10-18 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

The Armor of God

Helmet of salvation

Breastplate of righteousness

Loins gift about with Truth

Sword of my spirit

Shield of faith

Shod with the Gospel of Peace

Reflection:

Only one weapon. Everything else is for defense.

Gun vs Knife. At a short distance, the knife is faster than a gun.

If you don't know how to use the sword, you'll lose. If you don't know how to use the Word of God, you'll lose.

If you stand in front or if you are an identified Christian, you preach the word. Find a way to always inspire people and lead them to the right path.

If you start today and read three chapters a day, you're done with the new testaments in a year.

Can you commit to God to listen to what He has to say? How many chapters can you commit to Him?

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4. FOCUS

Hebrews 12:1-3 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Reflection:

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, or else something will come along the way.

Piso vs 1,000

What are the other things, people and activities that are distracting you from your focus on God? How do you plan to keep them away?

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These are what it takes to be a warrior and to win. :)

Psalm 96:1 "My strength is made perfect in weakness."

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#2 - Guarantee

Source: Feast CG Material Guarantee

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Three Things That God Promises You

Supply

Solutions

Significance

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SUPPLY

Philippians 4:19 And God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory.

2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

Can you share an experience where you saw God providing for you in a very tangible way? 

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SOLUTIONS

Exodus 2:11-13 11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12 Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?”

Genesis 21:19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the Lord that to trust in man. 

Can you share an experience when your impatience made you solve your problem wrongly--but in due time, you received God's long term solution?

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SIGNIFICANCE

Mark 8:36 What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?

1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Daniel 12:3 ...those who lead many to righteousness, will shine like the stars forever and ever.

Matthew 25:35-40 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers you did it to me. 

Have you achieved success? How about significance? In what way?

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#1 - Soundtrack

Circle Soundtrack - a collection of songs that describe what each member felt in the whole circle meeting

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Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uofyp3ysh4bzyyf/w1OsCEscR3

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Abandon - Let Go (from J)

"You gotta let go and watch your life unfold. You're part of a grand design, bigger than what you had in mind, but you'll never know til you let it go."

Let go of the bad habits from the past year and let go of the thought that you think you can control your life. It's gonna be a lot better if you give Him the full control. :)

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*post to be updated/

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#1 - New Year, Better You. :)

Source: BGC Feast material January 5, 2012

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Matthew 2:7-12

New International Version (NIV)

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

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Keypoints to remember:

Star - Real stars point the way.

Gift - Each king had a unique gift. We too have different and unique gifts to offer God.

Path - When you encounter God, your life changes

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Questions to ponder:

How would you describe your 2012?

What were the biggest blessings that you received in that year?

Who is the star that pointed you to Christ?

What gift can you give Jesus on His birthday?

What was the most powerful encounter that you had with God last year?

What new path will you take this year (because of the encounter that you had with Jesus?)

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"Today is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a beautiful story."