What God Has Joined Together (Matthew 19:6)

We are now in the Philippines! :-)

Well, Che and I have arrived safely in Manila, met her wonderful family (about half so far), subsmitted documents to the Canadian Embassy and Municipality Office and are now enjoying our time here as we await the wedding date.

Because we are not required to attend a seminar on “family planning” or “pre-wedding counseling”, we don’t have to wait as long to get married.  But then again, we can’t get married too early as Mark (and Jennifer as well, we hope!) can only be here during a certain window of opportunity.  With all these factors in play, we have moved our wedding date back one day and are now getting married on JANUARY the 22nd.

We have also changed the venue as the owner was being unreasonable about quite a few points and there was a MUCH lovelier wedding location just across the street.  It’s a gorgeous location and hopefully we’ll be able to put some photos up later of the whole wedding, God willing!!! 

Everyone is really looking forward to seeing Mark (and Jennifer?) very soon. 

  If I get a chance later, I just might start an “Andy-in-the-Philippines website” soon.

As 2009 begins, “PIECES” but definitely no “PEACE”…

  Like this famous Megadeath album cover reads, “Peace sells but who is buying?”   If there is one thing that history has taught us, it is that man’s attempts at peace don’t last.  The history of the world is actually just a history of wars occasionally interrupted with temporary peace treaties that always end up being broken.  Why is this?  Why can’t we all just get along?  Like the famous song from War asks, “Why can’t we be friends?” Is international, permanent peace possible on this planet?  If you are delusional or “a-few-fries-short-of-a-happy-meal”, you will probably answer “yes” (and no doubt with a fake, plastic-like Joel Osteen smile while answering).  If, on the other hand, you are even remotely paying attention, you’d ask yourself, “What’s wrong with the world?!”  Why all the hate, domestic violence, columbine-like shootings, thefts, robberies, rapes, suicide bombings, increasing suicides, depression, fathers locking daughters up in their basements as sex slaves, massacres, genocides….and the list goes on!!!  Do you HONESTLY think the world is getting better and people are morally improving?! Get your head out of the sand!!  As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We have guided missiles but misguided men.”  And education is not the main answer.  You are only teaching a thief how to be a better thief!

So what’s wrong with the world?!  The answer is simple.  I AM!  YOU ARE!  It’s easy to look at the world (others) and say, “Man! THAT’S screwed up!” and yet fail to look in the mirror and realize that you and I are pretty messed up ourselves and are capable (apart from the grace of God!) of some pretty heinous things!  As Jesus said (and still says!)  in Matthew 15:19: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:”  So the answer from The Holy Bible is that man is sinful and wicked and can’t find peace with his neighbors because he doesn’t, first and foremost, have peace with God.  Unregenerate man cannot live at peace with others.  We need a NEW HEART! To be BORN AGAIN (John 3:3).  Only then can there be peace and goodwill among men.  Unfortunately, the enemy has blinded the eyes of most earth dwellers and as a result, there are many competing false world philosophes (Colossians 2:8) guaranteeing that the utopian ideal of a world at peace will never come as long as man is in control.

This is why peace can only come when The Prince of Peace, Jesus, returns.  He is the only one in world history prophecied to come through virgin birth and fulfilled in the flesh; The only sinless man to walk the earth to bring us into the path of peace which is Himself (John 14:6).  Every other man who has EVER lived in history was sinful and needs/ed a Saviour.  The peace we need was accomplished on the cross. (Colossians 2:15)  I STRONGLY believe that 2009 will be the year of the LORD’s coming for His church in the clouds (known as “the rapture”)-1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 before the 7 year tribulation period made famous by the book of Revelation.  (More of that and the reasons in a future post, God willing.)  After, Christ will return in wrath on an unbelieving, Christ-rejecting world.  The ultimate question is “Are you prepared to meet your maker?”  If you know the answer is “no” for you, why not make 2009 the year you are reconciled to God?! (2 Corinthians 5:10-21)

Our Wedding Invitation

  “My lover spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.” My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. My lover is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies.” (Song of Solomon 2:10-14, 16)  “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” (Song of Solomon 8:6-7)

Che’s Creative Wedding Favors/Souvenirs/Keepsakes/Mementos

  My honey has been busy making these wedding favors herself.  We bought the Arabic perfume bottles from Muttrah Souq with vials of different kinds of oil perfume.  Che then picked out some cute bags to hold the bottles and perfume together.  So many little details in preparing a wedding! 

Our First Wedding Gift!

  Many thanks to Rick, Christine and Katie!  Your gift, card (so cute!) and support are really appreciated!

Promises, Preparations and Perspiration!

  My honey captured these pics while I was trying on my tux at “Tahani Sabco” in Qurum, Muscat. (Tel-24562589)  If you are interested in learning about the origin of “the tux”, check this out.

Nothing But The Best for My Best Man!

  Picked up this awesome tux for my brother, Mark, who is flying all the way from Canada to the Philippines this month for the wedding!  We could have rented but I wanted to thank my bro for making such a sacrifice to join me and Che on such an important day.  I know the whole family would love to join us if they could and so Mark will be like the “family representative”. Can’t wait to see Mark! It will be his first time outside of Canada! How exciting!

The PCO Cemetery in Ruwi

  “It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.  Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4)   “This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.”  (Ecclesiastes 9:3)   “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)   “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15)  Although this gentleman died years ago, his widow still attends PCO services.   “A road is ended.  A path no more trod.  A name in gold in the log book of God.”  A lovely poem that most likely comes from Revelation 20:11-15 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”  “Thou art with Christ and Christ with me.  In Christ united still are we.”

A NewYears Letter from the PCO Pastor

  Dear Friends,                                                                                                                                   Another year spans before us with a great deal of privilege and responsibility.  Often, it seems that the responsibilities far out weigh the privileges.  But with God’s providence, we can face tomorrow, knowing He holds our hand.  C.S. Lewis said, “All that is not eternal, is eternally out of date.”  This means, if there is not a touch of eternity on one’s life, then that life has missed the mark.  For living without eternity in mind, makes for careless living.  God calls us to live wisely and to use the time He has given us for constructive purposes.  As we cross over into 2009, may we join together in this prayer of Moses, the Man of God: “so teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.” (Psalm 90:12)  The Council members, office staff and our caretakers join me in wishing you a Christ-centred New Year.  In Him,                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Michael Peppin

PCO Watchnight and Covenant Service Dec 31st Ghala Bosch Hall

  Pastor: Dearly beloved, the Christian life to which we are called, is a life in Christ, redeemed from sin by Him, and through Him consecrated to God.  Upon this life we have entered, having been admitted into that new covenant of which our Lord Jesus Christ is mediator, and which He sealed with His own blood, that it might stand forever.  From time to time we renew our vows of consecration especially when we gather at the Table of the Lord; but on this day we meet expressly, as generations of our fathers have met, that we may joyfully and solemnly renew the covenant which bound them and binds us to God.  Let us then, remembering the mercies of God and the hope of His calling, examine ourselves by the light of His Spirit, that we may see wherein we have failed or fallen short in faith and practice and considering all that this covenant means, may give ourselves anew to God.                                                                                         With my honey just after the Watchnight Service in Ghalah Bosch Hall

Pastor: God made a covenant with the people of Israel, calling them to be a holy nation, chosen to bear witness to His steadfast love by finding delight in the law.  The covenant was renewed in Jesus Christ our Lord, in His life, work, death and resurrection.  In Him, all people may be set free from sin and its power, and united in love and obedience.  In this covenant, God promises us new life in Christ.  For our part, we promise to live no longer for ourselves but for God.  We meet, therefore, as generations have met before us to renew the covenant which bound them and binds us to God.  Let us then seek forgiveness for the sin by which we have denied God’s claim upon us.  Sisters and brothers in Christ, let us again accept our place within this covenant which God has made with us and with all who are called to be Christ’s disciples.  This means that, by the help of the Holy Spirit, we accept God’s purpose for us, and the call to love and serve God in all our life and work.  Christ has many services to be done; some are easy, others are difficult; some bring honour, others bring reproach; some suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests, others are contrary to both; in some we may please Christ and please ourselves; in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.  Yet the power to do all these things is given to us in Christ, who strengthens us.  Therefore, le us make this covenant of God our own.  Let us give ourselves to Him, trusting in His promises and relying on His grace. Eternal God, in Your faithful and enduring love, You call us to share in Your gracious covenant in Jesus Christ.  In obedience, we hear and accept Your commands; in love, we seek to do Your perfect will; with joy, we offer ourselves anew to You.  We are no longer our own but Yours.

Congregation: I am no longer my own by Yours.  Your will, not mine be done in all things, wherever You may place me, in all that I do and in all that I may endure; when there is work for me and when there is none; when I am troubled and when I am at peace.  Your will be done when I am valued and when I am disregarded; when I find fulfilment and when it is lacking; when I have all things, and when I have nothing.  I willingly offer all I have and am to serve You, as and where you choose.  Glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You are mind and I am Yours.  May it be so forever.  Let this covenant now made on earth be fulfilled in heaven.  AMEN.

Ruwi Church Banner and Message for the New Year

  From Psalm 138:8- “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”  A good verse to meditate upon at the beginning of a new year.  God is not done with me (or you!) yet.  He is the potter and I am the clay.  We must surrender and submit to His will in order to find a life of meaning.  I am the work of HIS hands and He knows what He is doing.  This verse brings to mind another with a similar message.  Philippians 1:6 says “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”  Happy New Year everyone!!!