If You Die Today, Where Will You Go?

We were riding in our Uncle Bebe’s pick-up truck, going back to the house from Pamplona Golf course for a late afternoon joyride before dinnertime. There were more than 12 of us squeezed in to that small pick-up, noisy with all the sharing and laughter every time our family gets together. It was December and all our relatives, including my mother’s siblings went home for the long Christmas break.

It was a fun-filled afternoon when suddenly, Auntie Conie, the wife of Tito Paul asked me something which I couldn’t even answer immediately. It sounded tricky and answering it might possibly be a trap for a kid like me.

Remembering the conversation back then, it went something like this:

Auntie Conie, “If you die today,where will you go?”

Auntie Conie: You only have 5 minutes to answer the question…

Me: Uhm, heaven?

Auntie: Why heaven?

Me: Because I’m good? I go to Sunday schools and church almost every week.

Auntie: But are you sure you’ll go to heaven because you are good?

Me: No? Yes? Basta heaven ako.

To be honest, I couldn’t answer the question directly. It was not just a tricky question, it was hard to answer for a 13 year old boy who did many things displeasing to my parents, and eventually to God. Of course, I answered “heaven” but deep inside, my heart was fearful and I was uncertain on to what basis will I live in heaven if I die that very moment.

It was 1997 when that question was asked and 4 hours later, I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior through my Auntie Phoebe’s simple sharing of the gospel. I was with my siblings, sitting in the living room listening to my auntie while everyone, including my parents, were intently focused on what we were doing.

It was the greatest gift I received that Christmas and looking back to what happened in that fateful night, I still believe in my heart that it was the most important decision I have ever made in my 28 years of existence.

If asked with the same question again, my answer will still be the same. Only this time, I know why I’m going to heaven and what awaits me when I die.

How about you, do you know where you’re going if you die 5 minutes from now?

If not, I have good news my friend, and that good news is that Jesus Christ, who lived 2,000 years ago has died for you and your sin. Sin, which is described as active rebellion against God, has been paid full by Christ through the penalty of death by crucifixion.

If you want to know more on how you can go to heaven and live a life pleasing to the Lord, the video below shares a simple message about how you too, can have eternal life and start a brand new life through the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!

I sure hope that you finished the video and decided to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. If you want to know more on how to grow in your spiritual life, you may contact me by sending a simple email at virsilva613[at]gmail.com.

Today is not too late for you to experience what truly is God’s plan for your life! Thank you for reading and God bless!

Learning from the Seasons of Life

I was 13 years old when I committed my life to the Lord. The years after that was a roller-coaster ride of knowing God, growing as a believer, becoming a back-slider, a committed church worker and a pew-shiner. I could probably jot down almost everything that happened to me  but nothing beats the lessons of certain experiences in my life that had made me stronger and wiser today.

After more than a decade of being a believer, God all the more showed me that He is very present and relevant to me now as He was in biblical times. Beyond the history books and reformations, God was still in the business of touching  and changing people one person at a time.

I thank the Lord that He chose me (and many others) to experience who He is and blessed me with many life-changing experiences I can call my own. Indeed, I believe that God exists and that everything that happened to me was mapped by someone far more greater and powerful than I could imagine.

Of course, I have to admit that I’m still a product being refined through the loving hands of our Creator and King. Looking back at my blog posts through the years showed me how God has shaped me, a guy from the province, to becoming who I am.

But how does ten years of knowing the Lord and keeping your faith strengthen a single guy like me?

I’d like to share with you a couple of things on how God led me where I am today and the very opportunities he has given me through the seasons of my life.

For the next few blog posts, I’d be sharing to you tidbits of certain lessons the Lord has taught me through the years. My purpose in sharing these things through my blog is not for fame or readership.

The objective is to encourage anyone reading my post, challenge them to become better and share the very core message I’ve  kept in my heart through the years. May you be blessed in the next few posts prayerfully!

An Updated Rant for 2012

2012 had a slow start personally. Although I am excited to greater possibilities this year holds, the fact remains that I still have 10 more months to see the entire picture.

The last 2 months have been overwhelming as I focus and reflect on certain things that I strongly believe is important in my life.

As February ends, there were certain issues that I wanted to address on a personal level. I’ll share these things later on when I find the time to reflect on each area I find important and put closure to it.

For now, I might need to plan ahead and see how I can make use of myself, in line with my passion. There are a couple of things that I wanted to accomplish this 2012 and hopefully, by sharing this in my blog can bring clarity and a better perspective to make 2012 an awesome year for me (and hopefully, for you, too!).

Here are a couple of things that I wanted to accomplish this year:

Travel

I miss traveling. I’ve been to Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Dipolog, Cagayan de Oro, Boracay, Siquijor and other places which are mostly work-related travels.

I wonder when I will be able to travel in new places minus the work stuff. If given the opportunity and the time, I want to explore Puerto Princessa, Camiguin, Guimaras, General Santos, Baguio and Bantayan Island.

Start-up Business

I know that investing for a small business takes a lot of effort, time and money. But like what my mentors mentioned before,about business and ministry, they said (a couple) that I need to look beyond employment and prepare for my future. Of course, this is in light of ensuring that I can do what I’m passionate about without neglecting the need to provide for myself (and my future family).

I just hope that there will be a free or paid training on how to invest, plan and start up a small business in Bacolod.

There are a couple of things in my mind right now that I can think of as a smalltime business, these are:

• Internet café
• Photocopier business near a school
• A coffee shop ala internet café

I can continue daydreaming about these things but of course, all of these opportunities need training and right planning to make it happen and be successful. While waiting for that opportunity, I better start praying for it. J

Be a Better Writer

Back when I was still in my early 20’s, I always thought of writing as a career. It’s an opportunity to write stuff, share your insights and help out a lot of young people like me.

I’ve tried writing a couple of times but I seemed to have the passion to do it but not enough time for research, settle down and reflect on what the Lord really wants me to share.

In lieu of this desire, I’ve made this humble blog to share my thoughts. And upon reading the first few posts down to the latest craze that I wrote, I saw an improvement on how I share things.

This year, I wanted to write again but only this time, it will focus on a personal level through this blog. Simple truths, honest opinions and exciting discussion will fuel this blog once more.

Establish the NYMM Network

Call it crazy, but I still dream of standing in front of a lot of young people and share what I am most passionate about, and that is mobilization.

I have to admit though that focusing on doing everything plus work has placed me in a tough situation lately. I wanted to do more but couldn’t find time to sit down and plan ahead.

Perhaps it’s time for me to consider a lot of things focusing on my ministry; God’s calling for my life and my career. I believe God has called me to something better; I just don’t have the guts to grab it now.

Thank you for reading everything and hopefully, you’ll come back for more. I have a couple of blog posts saved in draft and it will be up before the week ends!

Be blessed!

The “Single Blessedness” Dilemma

For a guy in his late twenty’s, writing a post about singleness is probably a bad thing to do. For one, a lot of us believes that a guy at this age is primarily a good stage to become serious about life and get into a romantic relationship.

For the older ones, it will strengthen his masculinity and take out questions of his sexuality at one point in his life.

But on a deeper scale, and in a christian perspective, when is the right time to be serious about it? How do we cope with pressure of being “in” for such a time as this?

I believe that there is a right time for everything. God has made someone for me, and I’m waiting. You probably think that waiting is no longer an option, but just ask this question to yourself and you’ll find out why you need to wait -> “Are you ready for marriage?”

If you answered “yes”, then good for you.

If you answered “no”, “maybe”, or “soon enough” then I guess God is not through with you yet. He is not yet finish in making you the BEST MAN for His girl. Unless doubts are gone and you are ready in every aspect of becoming a married man, especially in the entire emotional and financial aspect of it, then I guess YOU better wait and see instead of fall to temptation and sin and drag her along the way.

Of course, I’m no expert on these topics and to be candid about it, is single since birth. I’ve been a part of quite a rare populace wherein singleness seems to be a better idea rather than being in a relationship. Single or not, what I said makes sense for me, and I hope to you too!

Disclaimer, I’m not saying I’m not into the “relationship” idea and I strongly believes that we as God’s creation is wired for it. In the end, who knows what might happen to my next post about this issue again.