A Penny

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.

He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts.

Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up? Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her.

Finally, she could stand it no longer. She causally mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.

A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?

"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says."

She read the words "United States of America."

"No, not that; read further."

"One cent?"

"No, keep reading."

"In God we Trust?"

"Yes!"

"And?"

"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, "In God We Trust," and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message. It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful!

And, God is patient...

Have a blessed day!!

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:

1 cross + 3 nails -------- 4 given

--->author unknown

Shiloh Christian Fellowship Inc. 23rd Anniversary

The Shiloh Christian Fellowship, Inc. celebrated its 23rd Church Anniversary and Thanksgiving last October 7, 2007 at the CAP Auditorium in Iloilo City. This is a yearly activity for Shiloh, wherein all daughter churches gather at the City Church for the celebration. SCFI was founded by Bishop Oscar Sta. Lucia in Iloilo City on 1984. For 23 years Shiloh has planted many daughter churches in the province of Iloilo and is continuing to expand through God's grace.

Below is a picture of some Shiloh Barotac young people taken at the CAP Auditorium after the service.

pol-pol, cute, chenie, michelle, kit, bboy and ken

Shiloh Barotac's Church Anniversary

Last Saturday, September 15, 2007, Shiloh Christian Fellowship Barotac Viejo celebrated its 20th church anniversary. With the theme "Empowering Christians in this changing world," we were inspired by our speaker, Bishop Oscar Sta. Lucia. The program was started with a motorcade from the church and passed through the main streets of the town and to the municipal covered gym. Visitors from other Shiloh churches also joined the motorcade. The celebration was also graced by Municipal Mayor Raul "boboy" Tupas, who gave the welcome address.
Visitors and guests were entertained by 2 special numbers from the tambourine dancers and the adult choir of Shiloh Barotac Viejo.
The members of Shiloh were fervently praying for a good weather that day, God is really great that He heard our prayers and let the sun shine that day. The weather was good and everybody enjoyed the gathering plus a sumptuous lunch, we got the visitors wanting for more!hehe :)
All in all the celebration was a success. To God be the glory!

20th Church Anniversary

You are all invited to our Church's 20th Anniversary on September 15, 2007 @ Barotac Viejo Covered Gym.

See you there!

**I'll post more after the event!

God's Angel

Jan Schlebusch, a wonderful man of God from South Africa, is one of the tens of thousands of volunteers who have shown "JESUS," using either 16 mm or on video.

Jan had taken a most risky step. He was about to show "JESUS" to a small group of hardened criminals in a maximum security prison in South Africa. He was alone in a room with the "toughest of the tough" - robbers, rapists and murderers. Several of them were "lifers." Jan knew that any one of the prisoners could easily slit his throat with a knife when he dimmed the lights to show "JESUS."

However, despite the pressure he felt, Jan was obedient. As the story unfolded many of the prisoners mocked and swore at the screen. Their language was foul and offensive. Gradually, they quieted down and became more interested in the story. Then an astounding thing happened.

During the crucifixion, several began to weep. By the time the prayer of invitation was completed, hardened criminals - EVERY ONE OF THEM - were on their knees, sobbing, asking God to forgive them, praying to invite Christ into their lives.

Shocked and amazed, Jan wasn't sure what has just happened. He turned his head to the corner of the room...startled by the sight. Standing before him was an awesome being, 10-feet tall, robed in brilliant white...an angel. Jan said the angel's face was obscured. He could see nothing above the angel's shoulders. This messenger of God lifted up his hand and pointed a finger directly toward Jan: "You see, Jan, all you must do is be available and do the work."

Instantly, the angel vanished --but not the sense of awe that was engulfing Jan. He had seen the Living God at work, pouring out His love upon those for whom He died to save. And he had witnessed the greatest miracle of all. He had seen the vilest of sinners being born from above, becoming righteous in Jesus.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 145:3

Read here for more miracles

Man: Good or Evil?

Man by nature is evil. Nature is defined as inherent tendencies of a person or in other words "instinct." Instincts are acts where thinking or reasoning is excluded. This is sometimes referred to as "gut feeling" or for women it's "women's intuition." In example, if someone throws a stone at you, "instinctively" what will you do? Without thinking, we would respond to this in the same manner and would throw back a stone. Other examples are; when we were born, they say that our clenched fist symbolizes our greediness, any person abused or hurt would result to violence, revenge and hate. Our nature or flesh (as in the bible), which is evil will never get along with the spirit, which is good. Gal. 5:16-17 says, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For⁽ the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."
I say man in nature is evil because the bible says in gal. 5:19, "You know what comes from the flesh: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality... jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21envy, drunkenness, etc." The word "comes" from the flesh tells us that the things are inherent to the flesh, while on the spirit they are referred to as fruits, which means something that takes time, effort and is a result. One saying often heard is "there is always a good in every man," which explains that human is full of evil but the spirit convicts us to do good.
If man by nature is good, what comes into our mind when we see our enemy? What comes out of our mouths when we are angry or insulted? What do we do when we hate someone?

Man is evil. Man is sinful and only God is good, citing the words of Jesus in Mark 10:18, "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone." That's why we need a savior to save us from the evil we are in, and we need to follow Him to be like Him; perfect and holy. Lastly, I'll quote Romans 3:10, "As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one."


*This essay was written by Jeff

Who Am I?

Here's a great song with a very nice lyrics from Casting Crowns!

Who am i, that the lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am i, that the bright and morning star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who i am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what i've done
But because of who you're

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when i'm calling
Lord, you catch me when i'm falling
And you've told me who i am
I am yours, i am yours

Who am i, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am i, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

I am yours
Whom shall i fear
Whom shall i fear
'cause i am yours
I am yours