July 24 08
CBTL, Trinoma
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HERE.
Kuya Dan while teaching in the cell.
---
You place medicine in front of a sick man
He looks at the meds, and sees it with his bare eyes
He reaches out to touch and feel it and knows it is real by the sensation it produces in his hands
He shakes the bottle to hear the tablets jiggle inside the plastic canister
He opens the lid and smells the distinct scent of what is inside
Undoubtedly, the medicine is before him
Yet after all that, he does not believe that it would cure him
Despite all the lesions on his skin, his bitter heart thinks he is healthy
So he turns away and runs
He runs as far as he can
And when he does
He either signs his last will unknowingly
Or is intent in his own destruction
---
I suppose it's time for some personal testimony.
This is the last cell meeting with Kuya Dan. It was a sad day.
Sometimes, I do not understand why some people develop an aversion for attending the cell.
I grew up in a cell all my life. From the Sunday school as a child, to the Sunday school for teens, to the bible studies for adults, and finally to the cell when I transferred church. The cell is where I progressed immensely. It is where I was mentored, taught, given responsibilities, encouraged, prayed for, blessed, given the opportunity to bless others, corrected of my character, defended (especially in the spirit), and most of all... humbled.
Pride was the last bastion I had to overcome to fully understand the weight, pain, and joys of becoming a cell leader. It pains the cell leader to experience a disciple who disdains the cell, thinking that he can cure himself alone, or worse, desire his own downfall.
Before joining Destiny Ministries, I was a member of an Alliance church. The Alliance is a member of the CAMACOP (Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines). It has its roots as far back as AB Simpson and AW Tozer. The Alliance group of churches was among the oldest and abundant evangelical denomination in the globe and in this country.
As a youth, I was full of zeal and excitement to serve, and later on I became a leader. I held the highest leadership position a young man could have in our denomination, in the foremost city. I became the youth president of the Metro Manila churches and oversaw more than 60 youth organizations of the Alliance churches in the city. I held that position for its full term, never quitting despite criticisms, despite low attendance, despite little encouragement or support. And best of all, I did my best to bring the fire to the youth.
When I finally decided to transfer church and join Destiny Ministries, I was placed in a cell. Later on, Kuya Dan became my cell leader. I was 5 years the senior of Dan; I had more leadership experience than my cell leader; I was a christian longer than him; and I was taking my post graduate degree in a Seminary at that time; I accepted Christ as my Saviour when I was eleven, long before my cell leader, Kuya Dan became a christian in college. And so I battled with submission.
But I was full of pride. So I didn't religiously attend Dan's cell. I would attend only when I felt it. I would not respond to his text invites to attend the cell. I got bored at the lessons taught in the meetings, and said to myself that they were milk and were for kids, when what I needed was meat.
I was too proud of my roots as a christian. The same way some disciples would resist the leadership of their cell leader, I did not submit to Kuya Dan. And the more I did, the more I got delayed from reaching my destiny.
Sometimes, I do not understand why some people develop an aversion for attending the cell.
I had just begun my own cell when Kuya Dan announced that he had to leave for the US. Before he left, he told the cell that someone from among his disciples would have to replace him. We all felt sad at his announcement. I grew fond of Kuya Dan and learned to value his leadership. We parted ways after that meeting and I walked back to the Destiny center. While walking the Lord asked me what my goal was for my cell. I told Him it was to win more young professionals for the Him. And then He asked me, "What if Dan picks someone else to take his place instead of you?" I told Him, I would feel bad at first, but I would still win more young professionals for You. And then the Lord said, "You would replace Dan in his position."
The Lord had told me even before Kuya Dan or our Pastor (Kuya Carlo) informed me days after. At that moment when I was walking, my eyes were opened to the gravity of the responsibility being handed to me. I was teary-eyed as I prayed for wisdom to lead Kuya Dan's cell.
And then I told God, "Lord, even if I am not chosen to replace Kuya Dan, my heart's desire remains, I would still win men for You." At that point, the position became of no value to me. What remained was the task to be done.
And so from a proud man, God had humbled me. As weeks pass by that I assume the post given to me, all the more I am humbled.
Sometimes, I still do not understand why some people develop an aversion for attending the cell, when all the cell leader desires is for that man to triumph against his sins, advance and become a man with the character of Christ, and reach his God-given destiny.
---
Geeky Stuff:
Nikon D70 + Nikkor 60 2.8 AF-D micro
ISO1600, shutter speeds 1/20s - 1/6s =)
Geeky Note:
Bringing only a fixed focal length lens stretches your imagination and hones your photographic skill. The objective is making the pictures look as if they were taken at different focal lengths. The lens' lack of zoom instead of becoming a crutch, becomes a tool for creativity.
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