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Online Summary of the Books of the Bible

    I've been trying to practice my faith for the past 40 plus years and yet I have failed to read the entirety of the Bible. I have trouble finishing books as I get easily sleepy when reading even the best and most exciting novels or piece of literature.   I've thought about getting audio books in Amazon to help with this or try to get more quality sleep with Chilisleep to see if I can stay awake longer but lately, I think I may have found a way to help me with finishing the Bible and it won't cost me a cent.   In Youtube, I've found this video summaries of each of book of the Bible in the Bible Project Channel.  I'm pretty sure that they aren't Catholic like myself but my plan is just get enough of an idea of each of the books, specially those in the Old Testament and then dig in on those that I will find most interesting first and work my way through it that way.  I have subscribed on Youtube channel's Bible Project and I am a fan of their work.  I reall

When Death Gives Birth To Life ....

 

Father, I am sorry

  I am sorry that it had to be me But I had to stand up for my mother whom you have wronged I looked up to both of you as my pillars and as my models So it hurt me inside to be your opposition More than twenty years have passed since she was gone It still hurts inside that we lost both of you that year Her to the sickness they called myelofibrosis You, to your new found bitch and your new family TBH, we felt betrayed and abandoned I felt betrayed and abandoned Not just by you but by your kindred But this life is not about me This is about knowing Jesus and following him That is why I have chosen the path of forgiveness Only through Jesus, we'll be whole again Only through Him that we can begin fixing what is broken Forgive me dad, for I have rebelled If there was another way, I would have taken it But there was none, so what happened was inevitable I forgive you too, for betraying your wife, my  mother I think she has forgiven you too up in heaven Wished life could be have been dif

The differences between the Christian denominations

 This is a great video by a Youtuber named Redeemed_Zoomer differentiating the different Christian denominations in just 12 minutes.  Please see the video below:

Bible verse for today, 21st of August 2023 - Come and Follow Jesus

  "And behold, one came up to him, saying, 'Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?' And he said to him, 'Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.' He said to him, 'Which?' And Jesus said, 'You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The young man said to him, 'All these I have observed; what do I still lack?' Jesus said to him, 'If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.'" Matthew 19:16-22

The Ballad of a Mother's Heart by Jose Villa Tierra

  The Ballad of a Mother's Heart by Jose Villa Tierra The night was dark, For the moon was young, And the Stars were asleep and rare, The clouds were thick, Yet Youth went out, To see his Maiden fair. Dear one, he pleaded as he knelt before her feet in tears. My love is true, Why you have kept me waiting all this years? The maiden looked at him. Unmoved it seemed, And whispered low. Persistent Youth, You have to prove by deeds, Your love is true. "There's not a thing I would not do for you, Beloved" said he. "Then, go." said she. "To your mother dear, And bring her heart to me. Without another word, Youth left and went to his mother dear. He opened her breast and took her heart! But he did not shed a tear. Then back to his Maiden fair, He run unmindful of the rain. But his feet slipped, And he fell down, And loud, he groaned with pain! Still in his hand he held the prize, That would win his Maiden's hands. But he thought of his mother dear, So kind,

Bible verse for the day, August 16, 2023

  ''Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.'” Matthew 18:15-20

Bible verse for the day, August 15, 2023

  “'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.'" Luke 1:39-56

Bible verse for the day, 12th of August 2023 - The Mustard Seed

  Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” Matthew 17:14-20

Bible verse for the day, 11th of August 2023 - Take up your cross and follow me

  Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?" Matthew 16:24-28 I'm finding a lot of good stuff  in the most unexpected of places nowadays. In Tiktok of all places but I am also happy that at least God's presence is also felt in places where it is foolishness that gets a lot of views and is popular. There's a group of Christian Tiktokers which mentioned about this but in slightly different way.  They said that notice how opposite God's and the devil's directions are.  The devil's way is very attractive to everyone and is easy and is practical but in the end it eventually leads to death and suffering.   Imagine a young guy or girl wanting to enjoy their yo

Bible Verse for the day, 10th of August 2023 - Unless a grain of wheat falls

  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:24-26 I am your humble servant oh Lord God Jesus Christ.  Without you I am nothing but a piece of dirt.  I only find meaning and value in you.  Praise be Your Name forever.  

Bible verse for the day, 9th August 2023

  But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:21-28

Bible verse for the day, 8th August 2023 - Jesus walks on water

  After he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” Matthew 14:22-36 Not sure if you have already watched a series called the Chosen but if you haven't yet I do recommend that you do.  It is free to view in their The Chosen app.  They did a very marvelous portrayal of Jesus and of the chosen people that were with Him during His time on Earth.  Before, watching the chosen, I have had a hardened heart, filled with anger and hate and it was difficult for me to cry.  After watching the Chosen, I don't know but each episod

Bible verse for the day, 7th August 2023 - The 5 loaves and 2 fishes

  When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.  Matthew 14:13-21 You'd probably already seen this but there's this short video in Tiktok or Reels where a guy begins talking about a ball and how it is worth in his hands and how it would be more valuable in an NBA superstar's hand.  He follows up with how a football will be worth only $15 in his hands but it will be worth millions in a Peyton Manning's hands.   A slingshot in our hands would make it

The problem with going to Australia via the Student Visa

 I have to write about this because as a lot of Filipinos are being led astray by migration agencies in the Philippines.  They are all being encouraged to get the student visa as a way to come to Australia and some of them make it unclear that a student visa doesn't usually lead eventually to the permanent resident visa.  I repeat, getting a student visa is not a sure fire way for you to eventually get the permanent resident visa and it takes you to a very costly path. Back in 2009, I was able to secure my permanent resident visa while working in the Philippines since I graduated in 2000.  Yes, you heard me right, I obtained a permanent resident visa while working locally in the Philippines since I graduated from a university there in the Philippines. And I never went through an agency. I just read the Australian migration website, got a few pointers from some of my colleagues that did the same,  and processed it on my own.  Saved my half the price if I went through these agencies

Bible verse for the day, 6th August 2023 - The transfiguration

  And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  Matthew 17:1-9 It describes an event known as the Transfiguration of Jesus, which is considered a significant and mystical event in Christianity. In this passage, Jesus takes three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John, up a high mountain separately from the other disciples. Once on the mountain, something extraordinary happens. Jesus undergoes a transfiguration before

Bible Verse for the day, 4th August 2023 - Jesus Preaches in His Hometown

  And coming to his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:54-58 It depicts a scene where Jesus returns to his hometown, Nazareth, and begins teaching in the local synagogue. The people in the synagogue are astonished by Jesus' teachings and the miracles he performs. However, their amazement quickly turns into skepticism and doubt. They question how someone they have known as the son of a carpenter, and whose family they are familiar with, could possess such profou

Bible Verse for the day - 3rd August 2023

   And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” Matthew 13:47-53

Bible Verse for the day - 2nd August 2023 : The Kingdom of Heaven is like hidden treasure

  The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46

Bible verse for the day, 1st of August 2023: The wheat and the weed

  “He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age."   Matthew 13:36-43 Most of us probably fail to realize that there will be a second coming of Jesus Christ and this time it is for the separation of the weed from the wheat and not anymore for mercy and love but for judgment.  Jesus Christ had sown the seed by becoming flesh and dwelt among us.  He had shown us the true meaning of obedience, love and forgiveness.  He had told us the truth, He had shown us the way and He had proven that there is only life in Him. Oh how I long for the second coming. Oh how I long to see Jesus Christ triumph in the end.  We all should repent from our ways while God is giving us time.