The Truth About the Devil by Greg Laurie

The Truth about the Devil
Today's devotional is brought to you by Greg Laurie, A New Beginning

"Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." John 12:31 KJV

Martin Luther had it right when he wrote the words of the hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God": "For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe--his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal."

If you are a Christian, then you need to know that you have an adversary out there. He wants to trip you up. He wants to drag you down.

We should never underestimate the devil. He is a sly and skillful adversary. He has had many years of experience dealing with humanity. That's why there are some important things we need to remember about the devil--things that the devil doesn't want us to know.

We need to understand that satan is nowhere near to being the equal of God. God is omnipotent, which means that He is all-powerful. God is omniscient, which means that He is all-knowing. God is omnipresent, which means that He is present everywhere.

In sharp and direct contrast, we need to know that the devil does not reflect any of these divine attributes. Although he is very powerful, satan is not omnipotent. Nor is satan omniscient. He can't know everything you are thinking. His knowledge is limited. Finally, he is not omnipresent. While God can be everywhere at the same time, satan only can be in one place at one time.

Most important of all, we need to know that the devil was soundly defeated at the Cross. There he lost his stranglehold on the life of the human race. As a Christian, you have been set free by the power of Jesus Christ.

Satan hates you and has a terrible plan for your life. If he cannot succeed in robbing you of eternal life, he will do everything in his power to deprive you of the joy, influence, and rewards that come from serving God in this life. Since satan cannot be in more than one place at a time, he has delegated much of his work to demons who discourage distract, and deceive through a variety of means.What Demons Want To Do To You Dr. Robert Jeffress, PATHWAY TO VICTORY

Contrary to what some suggest, there is no magic phrase or mantra we can say that will bind satan. But God has not left us without a divine strategy for dealing with our enemy. And Nothing But the Truth John MacArthur, GRACE TO YOU

When huge pain comes into your life-like divorce, or the loss of a precious family member, or the dream of wholeness shattered-it is good to have a few things settled with God ahead of time. When Satan Hurts Christ's People John Piper, DESIRING GOD

While death is a decided fact, Death is also a defeated foe. We are able to laugh in the face of Death if we know the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to tell you, friend, Death may buzz around you and frighten you, but our elder brother, the Lord Jesus, bears that sting. Jesus took the sting out of Death, and He has given us a hope that is steadfast and sure. The Day Death Died Dr. Adrian Rogers, LOVE WORTH FINDING

May the Lord richly bless you!
The Oneplace.com Team
http://www.oneplace.com
Listen for Life!

Emilio's Corner: Speaking in Smiles

On the 23rd of February, we attended the formal opening of the one-man photo exhibit of my cousin Paulo Canivel entitled Emilio's Corner: Speaking in Smiles. The exhibit covers 9 families who are living with members who have Down's Syndrome. Paulo's inspiration for this exhibit was inspired by his late brother Emilio who was born with Down's Syndrome. Emilio's life was short, 3 years, but filled with so much lessons in love and inspiration. Unfortunately, I did not get to meet Emilio, or Mio, as he was fondly called. I posted a letter written by Paulo's sister Chinie at an earlier post.

Walking through the exhibit, we got to meet in print some of the subjects of the Paulo. However, those pictures came to life a little later when a number of them made their appearance. I was so blessed to have had the opportunity to meet at least two of the. Jaye Jaye and Jessica along with their mothers. Also had a short abut very special conversation with the son of the president of the Down's Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc.

I am so proud that my cousin has taken much interest in raising the awareness of people who have Down's Syndrome. I think that these people are among the very few in this creation that are able to express unencumbered love to everyone they meet. Love so pure that these angels leave the recipient of their hugs tingling with joy.

My Hero by Chinie Canivel

My Hero

By Chinie Canivel

I am sure you all expect me to give some account of my leadership role in my school, of my past experiences as a student leader, or perhaps, anecdotes about my own encounters of challenges and opportunities. But this story is not about me. This story is about a hero. My hero.

Heroes come in different forms. Many people think "big and strong" when they hear the word "hero". Others think of sagely intellectuals who write inspiring novels and ideologies, or kindly old men and women who dedicate their lives to the poor. My hero came in the form of a baby - born on June 22, 1997 with a hole in his heart and water in his lungs. He was kept in an incubator in the intensive care unit and was only brought home after a month. Doctors diagnosed him with Down's Syndrome, a condition that would hinder him from ever developing at a normal child's rate, both physically and intellectually.

This baby was a fighter. From the very first day he was born, life was a struggle for him. His condition was critical and his health was touch and go. And so he was named Emilio Emmanuel, so that, true to his name, God may be with him. Mio, as he was fondly called, pulled through his first few months, fighting the instability of his health with a strength one would never suspect from a one-month old baby. Though physically, he was weak, his will was full of fortitude and strength.

Mio's first few months were not the last of his challenges. Because of his condition, he had to undergo therapy for strengthening his weak physique. At the young age of two, doctors noticed his low blood count and confirmed that he had anemia. Just a few months later, his condition progressed, and he was diagnosed with cancer of the blood – leukemia, a sickness common to children with Down's Syndrome.

Quite a load to bear for a child of two. Every other week was spent in the hospital for blood transfusions and chemotherapy sessions, and days out of the hospital meant going to the doctor's for check ups. But Emilio, at a young age, displayed such grace in his situation. Even from a hospital bed, he would greet all his visitors with a cheerful laugh and a clap of his hands. Because of his condition, he hadn't yet learned how to talk or walk, but the sparkle in his eye and his infectious laughter was enough to lift anyone's spirit. He was a loving little boy, playful and optimistic and always willing to share a smile. Mio would eagerly hug his sisters and brother when they arrived at the hospital and when he was home, he would roll around his bed laughing at nothing in particular. Through all the pain of therapy, Mio kept his head high and his smile on his face.

Leukemia took its toll on Mio. Soon after his third birthday, Emilio passed away. Till the very end, he was an astounding example of strength. He fought his illness and faced his challenges like a hero. He was a gift to his family -- our family. He was my brother.

Mio has been my inspiration. He taught me that one doesn't have to be powerful to be strong. I continue to find it amazing that so many of life's valuable lessons, I learned from a child - a baby - one who couldn't speak, or even walk. Through his times of tribulation, all one received from him was a loving smile. In facing his hardships and all the trials that life handed him, Mio was a pillar of courage. He is one of the best people I have ever met.

I believe we all go through our challenges for a reason. Mio's story is one for me to share, so that you too may be inspired by his life and find the driving force in your own. I hope that you remember this lesson that my brother taught me: dare to dream big, but do not forget the little things along the way. Aim high, aspire to reach your ultimate goals. But do not forget to thank those who helped you along the way, and to celebrate small victories.

Remember that we each have our gifts. No matter what life gives you, you choose what to make of it. You can fight your way through the hardest times, if you keep in mind that you can make it through. My brother was met with so many challenges in his three years here, but he showed me that you fight your fights from within. In his three years he made me believe that miracles do exist in this world.

You all already have so much to be proud of. So I hope that each of you goes out to create your own miracles. In your journey, may you keep looking out for that big dream, that ultimate goal, and try your hardest in achieving it. But do not forget to look over your shoulder sometimes, so that you may also see how much you have accomplished. There are times when we each get too engrossed with how much we have yet to achieve, that we forget how far we have already come.

And most especially, remember to meet all your challenges with a smile. Times will be trying, and I cannot guarantee that you will be able to get all that you want. But even if times may get tough, we all already have so much to be thankful for. Being able to stay optimistic and strong in the face of difficulty is one of the most admirable qualities that one can find in a leader.

I wish you luck in all your endeavors, and hope that you may also find your Emilios, your God-be-with-you's. As leaders, it is not in the end of the journey that you find your reward. It is in the process of your being a leader - your process of learning, adapting, inspiring. So enjoy your journey. Dream big, celebrate your victories, be thankful for what you have, and keep smiling. This is only one more meaningful step in what I am sure will be a lifetime of inspiring experiences. Thank you, and good luck to all of you.

In memory of Emilio Emmanuel "Mio" Canivel June 22, 1997 - July 30, 2000

Chinie Canivel is a Management Engineering senior at the Ateneo. She wrote this as an inspirational address for other young leaders in 2004. I thought it would be worthwhile to share it with all of you and your children and your friends.

An E-mail from a Former Shipmate

Tanya Wallace (TJ), is a Navy officer. She was a former shipmate onboard the USS Mobile Bay when she was a chief petty officer and then as an officer. She is a sister in Christ.

jojo



All,

I seldom write emails such as this. But here it goes...

I continue to wonder what some people actually think as they act in ways that make no sense to me. The latest issue is related to Berkeley, California. For those not familiar, there have been great protests in Berkeley against the Marine Recruiters opening a new office. This is nothing more than another story in a long line of stories where there are great protests against war.

Odd....As there is often violance and yelling and hate statements that are freely exchanged during these protests. How is it physically possible to be for peace if there is such violent behavior?

I once was confronted with a question as to what I thought of the Iraq War. The man that asked this question was good hearted in many ways but highly against the war and any number of other things in the government. He had a bit of a reputation in being animated in his dislike and would enjoy stirring up "lively discussions" over things that were his passions such as his stance on the war. My response (in part) was:

'It is normal to dislike war...In fact it is healthy to dislike war. All true military professionals (not politicians in uniform, but professionals) dislike war as they see the horrors far more than most. Some see far more than anyone would like...others are spared this ugly prospect, but all of us are subject to be part of this ugly side of our world in defense of our nation...our home.

However, simply complaining about war doesn't end war...being angry and spewing statements of hate doesn't end war.....
Our individual power to end war comes from creating peace within ourselves. There could not possibly be war if every one of us in this world had the courage to cultivate peace within ourselves. In fact, if every one of us could have an active part in ending war if each time we thought of the horror of war (where ever that war might be) we would only follow a simple formula:
-Do something positive for ourselves we would not normally do - even if it is only prayer.
-Do something positive for someone in our familiy we would not normally do - even if it is only prayer.
-Do something positive for someone in our community we would not normally do - even if it is only prayer.
-Do something positive for someone in our nation we would not normally do - even if it is only prayer.
-Do something positive for someone in the area of the war or strife we would not normally do - even if it is only prayer.

If enough of us had the courage and presance of heart and mind to do something just this simple in a very honest and loving way, there would be no war. In this way, I would be happy to no longer have a job in the military as there would be no need.'

The question was posed to me during a break in a Tai Chi seminar. There were several folks attending the seminar. As I finished my reply, I realized there was dead silence. I took a quick look around to find that most all other conversation had stopped and most everyone had focused on this conversation. While I was a bit surprised at the time, I made no indication of my surprise. I also had no further comment from the gentleman that asked the question. We soon returned to our practice. And with great appreciation, I have never had to address this subject again since then with those from the group. There is no tension or worry, I love the group and enjoy practicing with them. These are good hearted people...Yes, even the gentleman that asked the question :)

So what happened? I was led to speak my truth without ego or anger. I had passion, but no anger. This always speaks loudly even when the voice is quiet. This was a good lesson for me.

I am often reminded of a conversation during the Vietnam war where Mother Teresa was invited to march in a rally against the war while she visited the US. She declined. However, she stated that she would gladly accept an invitation to march for peace. I believe Mother Teresa was very wise.

As for me, I will continue to follow the advice in my response above and to serve my country to the best of my ability with prayers of familiy and friends and the grace of God to pave the way.

For those who read this, know that the preyers that you send toward those who serve their country are appreciated for more than you may realize. Know they light up each time you thank them for their service even if they are unsure of how to accept the gratitude. Know they and I greatly appreciate those prayers and tokens of gratitude. May each and every one of you be Blessed in your life!

TJ

An Invitation to a Photo Exhibit - Emilio's Corner: Speaking in Smiles

The Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc. presents

"EMILIO's CORNER: Speaking in Smiles"

You probably see them all the time, oriental looking
children with almond shaped eyes and low nose bridges.
They're not too tall, and they give a hint that
something about them is a just a little bit...special.
These are children with Down Syndrome.

Down Syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition of the 21st
Chromosome named after Dr. John Langdon Down. Seen in
almost 1 out of every 800 births, people with DS
sometimes have speech difficulties, low muscle tone,
learning disabilities and health issues. Because of
these seemingly debilitating traits, many view
individuals with DS negatively. There are those,
however, who have been touched by individuals with DS
and have learned to see beyond its limitations to the
true beauty that people with Down Syndrome possess.

Inspired by the photographer' s own intimate
experiences with these special kids, "Emilio's Corner:
Speaking in Smiles" is a photo exhibit about 9 unique
individuals with Down Syndrome. The exhibit aims to
show people a different side of the condition as it
shares the story of these 9 children and the people
whose lives they touched and shaped everyday. Come see
how these 9 special children have gone beyond their
boundaries, and have become an immense source of joy
and love for those around them.

"Emilio's Corner: Speaking in Smiles" will be on from
February 22-February 28, 2008 in the Archaeology wing
of Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Complex in Makati City.
Opening Reception on February 23, 2008 at 4 PM. This
photography exhibit is presented by the Down Syndrome
Association of the Philippines Inc. and made possible
by Rockwell Land Corporation.

Photographs by: Paulo Canivel

An Interview with Rick Warren by Paul Bradshaw

An interview with Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, by

Paul Bradshaw.

Rick Warren said:

"People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a

nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last

forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body -

but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am

going to spend trillion of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act,

the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do

forever in eternity.

We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life

isn't going to make sense. Life is a series of problems: Either you are

in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go

into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in

your character than your comfort.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making

your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's

not the goal of life.

The goal is to grow in character, in Christ-likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the

toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life

was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you got to the

mountaintop, back and forth.

I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys,

I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at

all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something

bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your

life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.

If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness,

which is my problem, my issues, my pain. But one of the easiest ways to

get rid of pain, is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and

others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of

thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for

her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened

her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a

testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people...

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.

Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For

instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million

copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of

notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God

gives you money or notoriety for you to own ego or for you to live a

life of ease. So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this

money, notoriety and influence.

He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do,

Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our

lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from

the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace

Plan - to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the

sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since

I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be

able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions?

Popularity?

Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism?

Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God,

if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and

love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do

list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.

That's why we're called human beings, not human doings."

What Is Neri Afraid To Say and Why?

(by Jun Lozada, written October 2007)

Many speculations have been made as to what Neri knows about the ZTE-NBN most particularly the direct involvement of Pres. Gloria Arroyo in this abominable affair. After his damaging "Sec. May 200 ka dito" demolition of Abalos, the discredited former Comelec Chairman, many were left disappointed when Neri suddenly clamped up when the Senators started asking him about the nature of his conversation with Arroyo, no amount of coaxing, cajoling and threats was enough to break his Code of Omerta. The question on many people's mind was, What was Neri trying to protect when he repeatedly invoked "Executive Priviledge" during that gruelling 12 hour Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on live television?

We have known the Truth all along as one of the few people that Neri confided his predicament during those fateful days of April 2006, and how he wanted to resign his post of NEDA Director General and Secretary for Socio-Economic Planning over this incident where he lost all his moral respect for Pres. Gloria Arroyo.

We are doing this document to give the public an understanding of this predicament.

What is Neri afraid to tell the public? He is afraid to tell the public that after he reported the Abalos P200 million peso bribe offer, Arroyo casually told him to ignore it and work for its recommendation for approval anyway. That when he protested that it is too controversial and may attract the wrong kind of attention from media, Arroyo retorted back "Pakulo lang ni Joey yan and his father". When he tried to reason that it may not be accommodated in the Chinese ODA package because it has been filled up with a list of projects already, Arroyo again ordered him to remove the low cost housing project and some water project to accommodate the ZTE-NBN deal in the ODA loan. That when he attempted to reason that it may not be approved in time for the Boao Forum which was only two days to go from that fateful April day, Arroyo with raised voice told him to include the ZTE-NBN project in the agenda of the following day's meeting of a combined NEDA Board and Cabinet Committee, who as expected promptly approved the project paving the way for the contract signing between ZTE and DOTC in China the next day. Neri is afraid to tell the public that this conversation took place between him and Arroyo because it might spark another impeachment complaint against Arroyo.

Why is Neri afraid to tell the public about this conversation with Arroyo? He is afraid that another impeachment will simply result to more expenses of public funds similar to the Hyatt 10 impeachment crisis, because as DBM Secretary who replaced Boncodin, he was entrusted with the large scale DBM payola operation of Arroyo to Congressmen, Senators and Governors not quite similar to the crude Panlilio incident that the public is witnessing now. He is afraid with a more partisan Andaya at the helm of DBM, more public funds will be spent to buy the silence and favour of these greedy legislators and local executives.

He is afraid that with Arroyo's firm control of public funds she can buy all the necessary support from most sectors of society to keep her in power.

He is afraid that even if the opposition knows about this conversation with Arroyo, he is afraid that the opposition will not pursue a serious impeachment proceedings against Arroyo, because it is not to their political interest that Noli de Castro becomes President in case Arroyo is impeached and becomes a more formidable political opponent in 2010. This insincere and unpatriotic goal of the opposition is already being manifested by the malicious speed that the Erap pardon is being cooked by Ronnie Puno together with the Erap camp to hastily put a united front of "Birds of the same corrupt feather" coalition against the emerging JDV led political opposition.

He is afraid that even if the Church knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal, the Church will still not call for her resignation due to the closeness of Arroyo's trusted lady liason to the Cardinal of Manila who was very effective during the "Hello Garci" crisis. That Arroyo's Religious Affairs Operators have the Bishops firmly in their "donation" graces, as again manifested by the quick rebuttal of the Mindanao Bishops' of the call of their fellow bishops in Luzon who where calling for the resignation of Arroyo just after Arroyo gave them a visit in Mindanao.

He is afraid that even if the military knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the fraudulent ZTE-NBN deal, the AFP brass is much too indebted to Arroyo for their position and the perks that goes with their position, that they have demonstrated this twisted loyalty with their willingness to detain, remove from the service and even shoot their own men for voicing out their legitimate concerns regarding the corruption and moral authority of their Commander in Chief. It is a sad spectacle to see the respected warriors of the Marines & Special Forces rot in jail with their ideals, while their men are dying even without receiving the measly P150 per day combat pay that was promised to them by Arroyo due to lack of funds & generals gets a gift bag similar to those given to the governors and congressmen just for having dinner with Arroyo the day after that infamous breakfast & lunch meeting where bribe money flowed scandalously free.

He is afraid that even if the Media knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN scam, Media will simply wither in the torrents of cash and favors similar to how the Hyatt 10, Hello Garci crisis were killed in the media headlines and Radio& TV coverages. Although he believes in the integrity of a handful of Journalist, he believes that a handful of these mavericks cannot withstand the hordes of paid lackeys of Malacanang. Especially that the Arroyo crisis team is now being handled by the best mercenary money can buy, from Ramos Sulo Operation, Erap's DILG and now Arroyo's troubleshooter, Ronnie Puno. Ably supported by the Media and PR money from PAGCOR being handled by Cerge Remonte to buy positive airtime, headlines and editorials.

He is afraid that even if the Business Sector knows about the truth of Arroyo's direct involvement to defraud the coffers of the taxes they are paying, the businessmen will be reluctant to rock the boat of the current economic uptrend, especially with the very close personal and business relationship of the so called leaders of the big business like Ricky Razon of ICTSI, Donald Dee of PCCI and Francis Chua of the Filipino-Chinese Federation to Arroyo herself. He is afraid that the hard earned remittances of Filipino OFWs that is keeping the economy booming and that can keep the economy afloat even under any administration is being wasted under this unholy alliance of Arroyo and her favoured businessmen.

He is afraid that even if the Civil Society knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal, that the Civil Society is now tired of mass actions after witnessing two failed EDSA revolutions, that Civil Society is now afflicted with a "Rally Fatigue" and cannot muster enough public outrage to denounce Arroyo's "corruption with impunity". He is afraid that the middle class is now indifferent to the corruption that goes around them, not realising that the middle class are the ones mainly carrying the burden of the loan payments for these corrupt deals. He is afraid that the middle class are more interested to become an OFW & to leave this country leaving their family and children behind, and may not care anymore about the crimes being committed against their country by its own President.

He is afraid that even if the Masa, the students, the workers knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal to steal precious resources from public funds, that they are now too poor and impoverished to be able to afford the time to join mass actions against the abuses of the Arroyo administration, that these former vanguards of mass actions in the country are now completely dependent on financial resources of professional organizers and have turned themselves into a "Rally for hire" groups rather than a true and genuine political gathering shouting for reforms.

He is afraid that the public may not know the extent of corruption in this country and may wrongly believe that they can cure corruption by simply replacing Arroyo with another person. He is afraid that the public may overlook the systemic and institutionalized nature of the source of corruption in this country, he is afraid that the people will again opt for a regime change without concern or a plan to correct the root causes of corruption in the country. He is afraid that people may not realize that it is not bringing Arroyo down that is difficult, it is establishing a new order that is the difficult task.

This is the predicament of Neri which I want people to realize especially to those who are asking Neri to tell the truth.

The Father of Evangelism Explosion

Dr. James Kennedy is the founder of Evangelism Explosion. I was blessed to attend this seminar in 2006. Now, a number of our members are taking the course through the leadership of our pastor, Ptr. Rene Futalan.

Here is a summary of Dr. Kennedy's life taken from the webpage of his ministry.

Dr. James Kennedy (1930-2007)

November 3, 1930 – Dennis James Kennedy is born to George and Ermine Kennedy in Augusta, Georgia.

1936 – The Kennedy family moves to Chicago, settling in an apartment just 50 yards from Lake Michigan.

1945 – The family relocates once more to Tampa, Florida.

1952 – Arthur Murray Dance instructor Jim Kennedy meets Anne Lewis and signs her up for six months of dance instructions.

1953 – Sleeping late on a Sunday morning, Jim Kennedy hears the Gospel for the very first time from a radio preacher. Shortly thereafter he professes faith in Christ.

December 3, 1955 – After fighting God’s call to full-time ministry for nearly a year, Jim Kennedy, with great trepidation, quits his job as a dance studio manager.

December 3, 1955 – Jim Kennedy and Anne Lewis become engaged.

December 4, 1955 – Jim is given the chance to preach at a local Presbyterian church and, to his surprise, is employed as the interim minister the same day.

August 25, 1956 – Jim and Anne are married at First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, Florida.

Fall 1956 – Jim Kennedy begins seminary training at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.

May 11, 1959 – Days before his seminary graduation, Jim receives a letter from the Home Missions Committee of the Everglades Presbytery inviting him to consider pastoring a new church to be started in Fort Lauderdale.

June 21, 1959 – The first Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church worship service is held at McNab Elementary School, led by D. James Kennedy.

July 21, 1959 –Rev. D. James Kennedy is ordained.

1960 – Rev. Kennedy tells his fledgling congregation: “You know what? I believe we can change the world!”

July 31, 1960 – Rev. D. James Kennedy is installed as minister of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church.

1962 – Rev. Kennedy begins to train church members to share Christ using the techniques learned from Rev. Kennedy Smartt.

March 16, 1962 – Jennifer is born and adopted into the Kennedy family.

March 18, 1962 – A new church building seating 500 on Commercial Boulevard is dedicated.

February 20, 1967 – The first Evangelism Explosion clinic is held with 36 people in attendance.

Summer 1967 – Tragedy strikes when Anne undergoes cancer surgery. Rev. Kennedy later describes God’s provision during that dark time in his message, “Songs in the Night.”

1970 – Evangelism Explosion, the first of more than 65 books by Dr. Kennedy is published by Tyndale. More than 1.5 million copies have been sold.

1970 – Like A Mighty Army, a dramatic motion picture depicting the story of Evangelism Explosion, is produced by Gospel Films.

August 28, 1970 – Lay Evangelism, Inc., later changed to Evangelism Explosion III International, Inc., is organized.

April 11, 1971 (Easter Sunday) – Groundbreaking for new church on Federal Highway.

August 1971 – Classes begin at Westminster Academy® with 300 students enrolled.

February 3, 1974 – The new church building on Federal Highway is dedicated. Dr. Billy Graham addresses the 11,000 people in attendance, some on benches outside the church, and 597 decision for Christ are recorded.

October 1, 1974 – Radio station WAFG (90.3 FM) is licensed as a non-commercial educational station.

October 3, 1976 – Church membership reaches 5,000 people.

January 8, 1978 – Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church votes to leave the Presbyterian Church (U.S.) and unites with the Presbyterian Church in America (P.C.A.).

September 17, 1978 – First television broadcast of worship service.

February 1979 – Dr. Kennedy receives his Ph.D. from New York University, completing his list of degrees as follows: A.B., M.Div. (cum laude), M.Th. (summa cum laude), D.D., D.Sac.Lit., Ph.D., Litt.D., D.Sac.Theol., and D.Humane Lit.

November 30, 1980 – Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church celebrates its 20^th anniversary.

May 29, 1990 – George Kennedy, Dr. Kennedy’s brother, dies. Dr. Kennedy learns after his death that George, who had long resisted the Gospel, was led to Christ on his death bed by a young hospital chaplain.

1984 – Truths That Transform, Dr. Kennedy’s daily radio program begins.

November 24, 1985 – Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church celebrates its 25^th anniversary.

1988 - With Evangelism Explosion in only 66 nations, Dr. Kennedy challenged the organization’s vice presidents to take the lay-evangelism training program to every nation by 1995.

March 14, 1989 – The Session of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church establishes Knox Theological Seminary and appoints Dr. Kennedy Chancellor.

March 30-April 1, 1990 – Coral Ridge Church marks its 30^th Anniversary during a “Celebrate the Dream” weekend celebration.

September 1990 – Knox Theological Seminary begins classes to train pastors and laymen in a graduate school of theology.

1992 – The Kennedy Commentary, a daily 90-second radio commentary, is launched.

May 21, 1994 – Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church celebrates Dr. Kennedy’s 35^th year in Gospel ministry.

September 14, 1995 – Dr. Kennedy dedicates the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship in Washington, D.C.

February 23, 1996 – Evangelism Explosion International becomes the first Christian organization in history to establish its ministry in all 211 nations of the world.

March 7, 1999 – Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church celebrates its 40^th anniversary.

June 10, 2000 – Daughter Jennifer marries Charles E. “Chip” Cassidy in Dana Point, California.

December 2000 – Along with Dean Jones, Dr. Kennedy co-hosts Who Is This Jesus, a one-hour documentary viewed by some 12 million people nationwide.

February 15, 2005 – Dr. Kennedy is inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

October 2005 – After Hurricane Wilma rips off the church roof and drenches the sanctuary, Dr. Kennedy encourages the congregation, telling them this is “our finest hour.”

December 9, 2005 – Dr. Kennedy is feted at a surprise 75^th birthday celebration.

August 25, 2006 – Dr. and Mrs. Kennedy celebrate 50 years of marriage.

2006 – Nearly five million people profess faith in Jesus Christ through Evangelism Explosion.

September 5, 2007 – Dr. Kennedy enters into the presence of God in Heaven.

What is Eaten in a Week

Received this via email and thought that it needs to be seen by many who do not know how blessed they are.

Japan : The Ukita family of Kodaira City
Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25


Italy : The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11

Germany : The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

United States : The Revis family of North Carolina
Food expenditure for one week: $341.98

Mexico : The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09

Poland : The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27

Egypt : The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53

Ecuador : The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

Bhutan : The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03

Chad : The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

Photographs by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio from the book “Hungry Planet”

Climbing Up the Tree

I am talking about the "family tree". Recently an uncle of mine passed away and he passed on his project of the "Vicencio Family Tree" to his son Roget. It was my uncle Roger's brother, Leonardo (my godfather), who pioneered the work. In the mid 0o's he passed away and his son Mario and my uncle Roger took over. The papers I received traced back my first ancestors here in the Philippines as early as 1731. This was a connected tree and each link was traced and researched by my godfather Leonardo. This is what my tree is like;
My father is Jose M. Vicencio
the son of Julian Vicencio ,
who is the son of Ananias Vicencio,
who is the son of Sebastian Vicencio,
who is the son of Pedro Juan C. Vicencio,
who is the son of Roverto Julian Vicencio,
who is the son of Andres P. Vicencio,
who is the son of Juan (the Man) Vicencio (b 1731) from Tonsuya, Malabon.
So with that, it is a verifiable 10 generations to my daughter Clarissa.

My cousin Roget has taken on the project and hopefully, I would be able to give some assistance. It is very interesting as my relatives and the dynamics of the family is very colorful and wide ranging.

Visit to the Makati Medical Center

Sometime late last week, I received an email from my dear friend David Dearie, the Command Master Chief of the PCD Makin Island. He asked that I pray for a friend of theirs who is here in the Philippines and suffered a stroke while playing golf. Later on I found out where his friend Rick Meer was being treated. It was just about mile away from my home. Yesterday, 5 February, I was finally able to get to the hospital and meet Rick's wife Laura and Rick himself. Rick is still suffering from the stroke but have improved much already. Some mobility has returned. The doctors are very confident that his progress is going well. Even in a hospital where the atmosphere is generally guarded because of the sick people around, Laura and I were able to talk for a few minutes and reaffirmed our trust in our Lord Jesus our Healer.

What is very strange about all this is that Rick Meer is the brother of Mike Meer. Mike is somebody that my brother Dindo drives for occassionally. As we Christians believe, there are no coincidences.

David Dearie and I met on the USS Mobile Bay. After knowing that we are brothers in Christ, we were able to spend much time of our tour praying together and just sharing how God's worked in our lives. The tour onboard that shi could not have been any better. I have heard of the word godsend a lot but never knew what it meant till I met David. I thank God for him everyday in my prayers.

We continue to pray for Rick's recovery and also for Laura and the children so that their confidence and hope in our Lord Jesus will speed up Rick's recovery.

To Try to Blog Again

I started a blog a while back but I waas not able to keep it up. Today, I received an email from a former shipmate asking me to checkout his wife's blog. I did and was inspired by the contents because they were the thoughts of lady with a Navy husband and two children. The writings were very simple yet what was behind them were very inspiring. The faith that keeps her moving is very evident.

Thank you to Mrs. Alicia Smith, the wife of Dan Smith, for providing the unknown inspiration.