ON FAITH....

Victor,

I had already responded to your sermon. I like this kind of give and take. I miss tackling topics I grew up with when I was at home in the Philippines. My father was a pastor of a locally established church, Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus. They were strong in debating Iglesia ni Kristo who claims Christ is just a human being. Our body of believers believe Christ as the head of the body (our group of believers). We go to church every Sunday and Thursday evening. My sister, Paz, and I were members of our choir. There was this Obispo of our church who delivers sermon that went directly to me for his center of sermon was always about Christ and His love. So at the age of 12, I opted to be baptised, by immersion in a clear running brooks somewhere in Marikina. I was a child then but I knew why I wanted to be baptised, that was to be God's child in spirit. I guarded my faith just like i am guarding the freedom I am now enjoying in America. When I sit and listen to our pastor delibers sermon, my mind was always watchful that this pastor is promoting Christ, not himself and his own glory. You know, we are susceptible in behaving like God. So, unknowingly, some of the pastors sometimes were overpowered by their own vanity for thinking they were in complete knowledge of God themselves and before we knew it, he was praising himself, not God.

When I came to America I kept my faith and the practice of listening to sermons on TV and now Googling passages that reminds me how Great God is. The bible is the greatest book ever written. Really, men do not even have to write about what is written in it. God said the Bible is complete and sufficient to connect us with God's mind and spirit if we read it with humility seeking His Wisdom.

Take care,

Sumi