My study of Philosophy taught me the principle of the PRIME MOVER by Aristotle. This is a philosophical notion of the existence of God. The Prime Mover to Aristotle is the first of all substances, the necessary first sources of movement which is itself unmoved. It is a being with everlasting life, and in Metaphysics Aristotle also calls this being ‘God. But, looking at Aristotle’s notion the existence of God, this drives me to believe that it is not just the PRIME MOVER that causes the movement but the final end, the purpose of the movement. Aristotle believes that movement will only be none directional if there is no purpose. This Philosophical reality taught me that everything happens for a reason. That there are purposes why things happen only when we let the Prime Mover move things his ways.
Summing up the whole experience in the 2011 CFC Euro-conference in Geneva, It was SELF RENEWING, SELF FULFILLING, AND AN EXPERIENCE of A LIFE TIME. Kudos to the brothers and sisters in CFC Switzerland for letting us experience the hospitality of Filipino-Swiss people.
SELF RENEWING. My life since I left the seminary 11 years ago seemed to go nowhere. I was so accustomed to the secular world that I was living in my confortable day to day life. To the extent that I acknowledge that sinning is just part of the existence, that God is just there whenever I need him, that I don’t need community in order to fulfil my life’s mission. That I could do everything on my own power with the less inference from God. I was self-centred. I even justify that not going to the church on Sundays is not bad at all. Reading bible seemed not my life anymore. And praying and repenting are for the sinners alone.
Joining CFC is a major step forward in my life as a person, as a husband, as a father. Like Bro. Ian shared in talk 5, I was once a lost sheep and brought back to the herd. I was blessed to be back. I begin to enjoy life again. I love to be with my family. I love to enjoy the company of my son and my wife (though sometimes we fall as human as we are, but we believe that we are improving in our relationship and making God as the centre of our lives). I also enjoy the presence of my bros and sis in the community. I met new friends, I appreciate other people sacrifices, I learned so many things in so many sharing and life witnessing.
This CFC Euro-conference brought new learnings. God is speaking in so many ways. Satan on the hand is trying hard to prevent me hearing what God wants me to do. But God is so victorious that He is continuously defeating evil. God tested our patience on the very beginning of this journey. The evil one recognises how vulnerable I am to be the centre of his evil designed plans to test the whole group. I was in a constant struggle. I was critical, I was aberrant. But when you let God to take control of everything and be submissive, you will then realize that everything will be fine. That you will see God’s working hand touching the situations that you think are unpleasant and discouraging. In so many circumstances, and situations all throughout this journey, I was beginning to doubt myself and this community. In so many occasions, I was thinking why the hell I am here. As human as I am and as young in the community as I am, I was experiencing beyond my expectations and Satan is using that disappointment and frustrations to knock me on my threshold. But with the help, understanding and God’s providence the journey has ended and in my solitude, I begin to reflect how this experience helped me to be a better person. I begin to trace God’s good designs in those experiences. I realized the innumerable blessings I received and God allowed me to enjoy.
Satan will never win. On our way home Bro. Bong told me. The evil one was trying to prevent you to receive the blessings in attending the Conference, now that he lost that battle against God, he will now then try to take away that blessings from you after the conference. True enough that struggles won’t stop there. It will always be around. Satan will do everything to win us over God. He enjoys seeing people of God being shattered by his lured activities. But Satan will never be triumphant as long as we go back to Christ and we redirect ourselves in God’s plan. “the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3. Even we fall and be unfaithful most of the time, God is always faithful and will never abandon us.
SELF FULLFILLING. I brought just myself and my faith in this conference though I travelled with my young family (wife and kid),my friends, and my community. I was blessed that God allow me to fill empty spaces in me. I am brought to learning that I have a life that is not to complain in England. I have a family to cherish and I have a wonderful community to grow with. Realising that my journey to know God and to grow in Christ is everybody’s journey in the community gives me the assurance that I am not alone in this aspiration. That across the countries, my brothers and sisters are facing the same journey and we are all praying to overcome the battle. Self-reassuring that our fight to bring Christ to other families across the world is moving forward.
There are comrades in battle to fight for God. The war against evil is always there and our full armour should always be worn. Let us all be armed and ready to fight for God, for we are God’s army. We are his people the defender of God’s kingdom.
AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFE TIME. Meeting new brothers and sisters in Christ is an experience of a life time. Kudos to Tito Elmer and his family, Kuya Nep and his lovely wife, and Kuya Art and Ate Celeste, Bro. Pete and the lovely wife and wonderful dancer and to all whom I never had the chance to shake hands with. The presence of God’s love in your hearts inspires people like me to carry on seeking God’s plan, seeking of what God want us to do. Your kindness and generosity are manifestations of God’s never ending love and kindness. Thanks to our Geneva CFC Family.
Yes. Geneva is a wonderful place, would have been better if prices of commodities are a little bit cheaper and if we could understand and speak a little bit of French but none the less I had a wonderful time. My visit to Geneva and France opened a bigger Horizon. This made me realize things to appreciate about in my life in England. This also brought me to experience for real the piece of the history that I used to read and teach to my students. Lyon France was a real experience of the significant history both in the world and in the church. My heart is praising God for allowing and gracing this experience to happen. To God be the Glory.
In the end, I could say God is a winner on my 1St Euro Conference. The Lord is my fortress, my stronghold. Let God be the vanguard of my defence in the battle and His shining armour be my cloth. In trusting Him, everything will be triumphant. Angels in heaven will play their harps and they will be singing with joy for the Lord is King and the saviour of his people. He is the reason why everything turned to be victorious. He is prime mover. May God be praised.
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