When I was small, I would play make-believe war games with my friends. At different times during the game, we would take a break and declare a time-out. This is a moment when the rules of our fighting are suspended. We could say we had a temporary time of peace, a cessation of our fighting. Our conversation here centers on this idea of peace. The story of Simeon is a moment when an old “retired” prophet encounters Jesus, the baby at the temple, during the time of the infant’s dedication. His meeting with Jesus has been prophesied. In response, he... Continue reading

Some days I just cannot help but fret about the expenses for a coming missionary trip. I know, I know. I should not be worrying about money. I know God will provide. But sometimes, most especially after opening my online account and seeing that the missionary giving is low, I then start to have second thoughts. I begin to wonder which missionary trips should I cancel. And on this particular travel to Borneo, I thought about cutting my trip short. And this is when I started to worry. But God, in his mercy, rebuked me through the generous giving of... Continue reading

There is joy and hope for those who mourn. (See, Matthew 5:4). "How can we live this way? Many of us are tempted to be relieved of our pain. We want to flee it at all costs. But when we learn to move through suffering, rather than avoid it, then we greet it differently. We become willing to let it teach us. We even begin to see how God can use it for some larger end. Suffering becomes something other than a nuisance or curse to be evaded at all costs, but a way into deeper fulfillment. Ultimately mourning means... Continue reading

“These are for you.” Joe handed me a check and a Bible. I looked at the check and was so taken back at the generous gift. The amount could pay ten days of comfortable hotel stay in most cities in Asia. This gift would certainly be of use for my missionary travels and time of ministry for the coming year, 2024. I said thank you to Joe and we celebrated our friendship, together with his sister, enjoying some light dinner at their home. Generous gifts given to missionaries are always memorable. At one time, a small church in Michigan gave... Continue reading

“Remember me?” Rose asks me this question. She is a youth leader from Cambodia. Back then, she was an eight-year old girl when I visited Phnom Penh with a mission team from Taiwan. “My father is Pastor Joseph,” she continues. That is when I remember her. We chat a little bit and we both agree that the 15 years or so went by so fast. I am in our Better Together Converge 2023, here in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This is a gathering of our leaders from many countries in Asia. Several participants are youth leaders. Rose is one of them.... Continue reading

I am still amazed at how Nonoy and I have the same interest and passion even at this stage in our lives. We both are committed to helping the children of undocumented families here in Sabah. We find joy in seeing the children of a literacy outreach accomplish small progress in their learning skills. We are comfortable interacting with children from families with challenging circumstances. You could say we have kindred hearts. You see, Nonoy and I were together in the early 1980s as band members of a youth music group. I played bass for this group. He played lead... Continue reading

God has a great sense of humor. I prepare a talk and at the end, he takes a small portion of my presentation and multiplies it to one person listening to my teaching. Isn’t this funny? After spending hours and hours of study and teaching preparations, one insignificant portion of my talk becomes the turning point to this one person. Has this ever happened to you? Yesterday, I was in a church retreat here in Borneo. The SIBH church leaders have invited me to speak on the Trinity. I gave a lecture on the “Renewing Ministry of the Spirit.” One... Continue reading

I am praying for the Light of the World to shine in his life. Faizi is praying to his God. I close my eyes, trying very hard not be distracted by the air turbulence. Faizi is motioning with his hands like he was praying inside a Mosque. We are both on an international flight from Dallas to Doha (Qatar). Faizi and I were getting to know each other until it was time for his prayers as scheduled in the Islamic way. He courteously asked permission from me. I responded with affirmation. Now, we both are praying, side by side, together... Continue reading

Today, ask yourself this question: Is it possible for Christians to be called by this religious name and yet not bear fruit for the kingdom of God? Jesus said: “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits” (Matt. 21:43) Our Lectionary Gospel Reading for this week is from Matthew 21:33-46. This text presents to us the "The Parable of the Tenants." Here is another question for you: What must you do to bear fruit for Jesus each new day? Continue reading

Debt of gratitude is a common human value. We usually see this in our families. Children experience a debt of gratitude to their parents for the many sacrifices their parents did for them while they were growing up. To some degree, a parent can demand a debt of gratitude from children. However, when it comes to relating to our God Almighty, we can never demand a debt of gratitude for the things we are doing in the name of our religion. Jesus made this clear in the “Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard,” found in Matthew 20:1-16. The workers... Continue reading

There was a brief hesitation from Byaecelela Lusema. He was not sure if anyone from the US would come and visit them. They felt isolated here in the state of Western Australia (WA). They could not imagine an “umbrella group” would come and partner with them. However, the group from FMWM did come and visited with them. Lusema is the pastor of Perth Free Methodist Church, an African and Congolese congregation here in the city of Perth, Australia. Most of its members are refugees from central Africa. They have reach out to our home office of FMCUSA, and our Area... Continue reading

Joy shares her life story. And in-between tears and stories of healing, she testifies of God’s transformation in her life. My colleagues (Darin and Jill) and I just listen to her recount her life story, moving from the Philippines to New Zealand, from one marriage to another. She shares of God’s grace leading her to Phil, her current husband. With joyful tears she recounts the love and support she gets from Phil. Joy is our leader in our FM work here in New Zealand. We rejoice with her and the way God is leading the way. We wait on God... Continue reading

I came to Fiji four days ago, and already, I witnessed three ceremonies involving the traditional Fijian ways and customs. Two were the traditional Kava ceremony of welcoming visitors. These involved words of gratitude and greetings, as well as the ceremonial Kava grass presented to the host. The third ceremony was the celebration of life of a family who passed away. Usually, this is done at the 50-days or one year death anniversary. Last Saturday, I was invited to a one-year death anniversary of a family member, the village chief. It was such a privilege to be present at these... Continue reading

Canceled but not irrelevant. Abandoned but not destroyed. Yesterday, one of my speaking engagement at a local church was canceled. When I got the call, I felt a sense of loss and disconnect. I thought to myself this is a waste of time and resources. I traveled half way around the globe and for nothing. I am here in Fiji visiting our church planters with the Fiji Free Methodist Church. I came two days ago. I was supposed to visit a church service yesterday but my contact told me he was not feeling well and could not come to my... Continue reading

Jesus, at the start, did not answer her prayers. (See Matt. 15:23). He even ignored her. Here is a question for you: What happens when Jesus does not answer your prayers? What is your response? Our Lectionary Gospel Reading, for this week, is from Matthew 15:21-28, regarding the faith of a foreigner in the land of Israel. This foreigner persisted although Jesus “pushed” her away. Her response is an affirmation of the person of Jesus. To paraphrase her answer in verse 27, she said: “Yes Lord, you are the Master, and you can decide whatever pleases you. You do not... Continue reading

Forty percent of immigrants to New Zealand are from Asia, mainly South Koreans, Chinese, Filipinos, Malaysians, and South Asians. A majority of these live in Auckland. “In 2013, people of Asian ethnicity constituted 23% of the city’s population…. A significant proportion of them were believers: in 2013, 28.5% of those identifying as Asian also identified as Christians” (Troughton. 2021:136). Pray for the FM work in Auckland, New Zealand. (Troughton, Geoffrey. 2021. “New Zealand.” In CHRISTIANITY IN OCEANIA. K. R. Ross, K. Tahaafe-Williams, and T. M. Johnson, eds. Pp. 125-.137 UK: Edinburgh University Press.) Continue reading

What does it look like then, when we respond in hope? I think the answer to this is that “a hopeful response is engaged with God and the world.” A person full of hope participates with life passionately. They join in with local activities and contributes to the care of creation. These are people who are loving people and loving God in concrete and real ways. Paul mentions in Romans chapter 8 that we are groaning with creation. We hope for the coming of God’s renewal of the world together with all of creation. Furthermore, Paul says that the Holy... Continue reading

In Romans 8:26, Paul prays: “I have great sorrow for my people, my own flesh and blood! For their sake I could wish that I myself were under God's curse and separated from Christ” (Rom. 9:2-3 GNB). Such was the compassion Paul has for his friends. For this first week of August, our Lectionary New Testament Reading is from Romans 9:1-5 and Gospel Reading is from Matthew 14:13-21. Here is a question for all of us: “When was the last time you prayed for your friends, the way Paul prayed for his?” Jesus said: “Bring them here to me.”(Matthew 14:18) Continue reading

In Romans 8:26, Paul explains: “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” (See, Rom. 8:26 NLT). In the midst of a disciple’s weaknesses, the Spirit comes and moves among them. When the heart of a Jesus follower is in total surrender, then it becomes the starting point of the movement of the Spirit. Our obedience to Jesus is the place where the Spirit speaks and acts. Our Lectionary Reading for this... Continue reading

It is essential for every disciple to see one’s life in relation to God. Our connections with other people are secondary. Our covenant with God the Father modeled to us through Jesus Christ becomes the central focus of our spiritual journey. We serve others because our Father sees us in secret. (See, Matt. 6:4). We seek God’s approval. We surrender to Jesus. The Spirit of God will be there to help us in every step of the way. The Three-in-One God helps us in our Christian journey. Let us listen to the Spirit who is helping us and guiding us... Continue reading

Everyday I pray that our Lord would lead me to someone who does not know him so that I can be blessed with the raw experience of encountering the Savior for the first time. Jesus says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners”(Matthew 9:12-13). I find it difficult reading this Scripture knowing that I spend most of my time with pastors, missions worker, and church leaders. And yet, I still... Continue reading

“Where are the fathers of your homes? Why are there only a few men coming to church?” I gave these questions to the pastors gathered at our lunch table. “They are out drinking in a bar somewhere,” they replied. “Would any of you go to the bars and sit with these fathers, even if it means not drinking what they are drinking?” I followed up with another question. And the answer was a big “No.” Last week, I met up with a group of Pastors from a Southeast Asian country. After our sessions on leadership, we met up in a... Continue reading

As servants of God, we are to follow the example of Christ. Peter speaks of this as a calling, stating: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬ ‭NRSV‬‬). Below are some quotes from John Ortberg, in his book The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines For Ordinary People. (2009). “When Jesus came in the form of a servant, he was not disguising who God is. He was revealing who God is” (2009:115). “That is the kind of servanthood Jesus... Continue reading

“Can you be my father?” I was asked this question several times by local people I met in these Asian churches I am visiting. I could tell from their eyes that they were serious. One man came to me and said: “I have no more father. I need a father. Can you be a father to me?” He then brought his wife by his side. She also asked me the same question. I am in an Asian city here in the island of Sumatra. I am visiting several of our partners and spoke at a few of their gatherings. I... Continue reading

He comes to me in measured steps. I reach out to hold his hands. His whole body is shaking. I draw him in closer to my side. I smell alcohol, but I do not care. He cries out and utters words that I do not understand. The local pastor beside him looks at me as if asking me if I could pray for this man. I am in a small village church somewhere in Southeast Asia. This is the evening for our Revival Service. I just finished sharing the word and have encouraged the participants to come to the altar... Continue reading