Monday 25 May 2009

Leap to Death

"I have owed to too many people. The amount of burden I have caused to them is too great. I can't begin to fathom the countless agonies down the road. The rest of my life would only be a burden for others. I am unable to do anything because of poor health. I can't read books, nor can I write. Do not be too sad. Isn't life and death all part of nature? Do not be sorry. Do not feel resentment toward anyone. It is fate. Cremate me. And leave only a small tombstone near home. I've thought this for a while." These were the words written in the suicide note of former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.
 
A self-made man from a farming family, Roh failed to obtain a university degree, but qualified for and passed the bar examination. He served as a judge and practiced law. In 1981 after seeing students being tortured he left the ‘comfortable life as a lawyer…and became a man that wanted to make a difference."
 
His defeats were as many as the elections he put himself as a candidate; but campaigning on a "Mr Clean" image and gaining the support of the youth, he won the 2002 presidential election by a margin of 2% against his opponent. But as much as he wanted to pursue lofty goals for his country, politics and the economy did not favour him; and he eventually bowed out of office as an unpopular leader. The demise of his political career did not end the controversy surrounding his presidency with charges of corruption pursued against him and family members. On May 23 2009, while doing his regular jogging, he jumped from a 30-meter high cliff known as Bueong'i Bawi behind his rural home in the village of Bongha. He left the suicide note prior to his leap to death. Carrying the burden by himself, Roh lost in life.
 
We owe our life not from people, but from God who wants it to be fully lived. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) Thus the one who whispers in the conscience to take one’s life is the thief – the devil. Death is certain but when and how we die is not within our control; the One who breathes life into us decides when to take it back. When we follow the road of life God has paved for us, then when we reach the end, we pass from death to the promised eternal life. "Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth My Word and believeth in Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)
 
Carring the burden by himself, Roh lost in life. He should have allowed God to help him in the burden he carried. "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22) He could have still made a difference; but that was not meant to be. We can only pray for God to forgive him and save his soul.

by Mel Libre

Monday 18 May 2009

Angels vs Demons For You

Take note of the following: Hell, a pizza company; Illicit, a Cola product; Demon, an Internet business in UK; Satan, a clothing brand; and Possessed, a metal band. Movie producers have made profit on films about Satan and his minions, if not using the name of the devil to catch attention, the latest being the Tom Hanks flick, "Angels and Demons." There was one leader who called US President George W Bush "devil", while the US President once labelled three countries as the ‘Axis of Evil".
 
The abuse in the use of the name of the ‘devil’, ‘Satan’, ‘demon’ and the like has resulted in a perception that the evil one is just a figure of speech, if not a mythical figure like the phoenix, the dragon and the unicorn.
 
But the truth is that Lucifer and his followers are as real as you and me; so are angels. Jesus Christ encountered in the desert the devil that totally failed to tempt the Messiah. A band of evil spirits called Legion retreated in the presence of Christ. In the extreme, Satan bodily possesses a person, thus, exorcism rites are performed to free of victim from the clutches of evil. In most instances, Satan influences our thoughts to commit sin.
 
We must therefore be wary of the devil that observes our every move. He attacks with ferocity when our guards are down. "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Like leech, he sucks the good out of us, satisfying earthly desires and contaminating the soul.
 
We can overcome the power of Satan. "For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith". (1 John 5:4) Our faith shields us from the cunning attacks of the evil one. "Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11) We only need to call on our guardian angel, who cares for us, and whose shine puts out the dark spirits. "Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus." (Matthew 4:11)

by Mel Libre

Sunday 10 May 2009

God's Special Handmaids


When I was a young single professional, I would hang out with friends, way into the wee hours of night. As far as I can recall, each time I arrived home late, my mother Milagros waited for me in the living room. She would ask how I was and if I did not feel well, would attend to me.  When any of our children would go home late, my wife, Debbie, would always do her best to fetch them at the bus stop about 200 meters from the house.

Mothers are God’s special handmaids on earth. Actress Sophia Loren once said: “When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts.  A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” This is so, for the fact remains that the miracle of life of every child begins in the womb of a mother.  And even if the umbilical cord that binds the two is cut at the moment of birth, the spiritual bond remains unbroken throughout the lifetime of both mother and child.

Mother Mary was present in Cana when Jesus performed his first miracle and she stood near the cross as Christ suffered and died. As the Messiah concerned Himself of the salvation of the world, He specifically thought of the welfare of His mother. “And he said to this disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from then on this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:27)

Mary knew her role “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38)  Our Lord placed His mother in a pedestal for He knew how important her role was; how obedient she was to the Lord’s command; how genuine her concern and complete her loving for Him, her Son.

The Old Testament tells: “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12) Let us remember always: “The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.” (Proverbs 30:17)

by Mel Libre

Tuesday 5 May 2009

A Champion’s Testimony


The stunning second round knockout of British boxing champion Ricky Hatton in the hands of Filipino pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is destined to become a stuff of boxing legend. I’ve devoured stories about the bout from all corners of world and each writer had his/her viewpoint of Pacman’s amazing win.

One commentary by Kevin Garside of the New Zealand Herald had a paragraph that struck me: “The honor of coming in last (to the ring) was Pacquiao’s. There was none of Hatton’s wired, edgy demeanor. Pacquiao smiled, his behavior all the more menacing for its inscrutability. Nerves had no hold over him. He was doused in a surreal calm as if fulfilling an end foretold. The sense of that increased ten-fold when he bent against the ring post in prayer.”

Pacquiao’s prayerfulness was a testimony to the audience in Las Vegas and viewers the world over that there was a Higher Being he sought strength from. As there were seconds of silence when Hatton was lying unconscious on the floor; so was there a moment of reverence as Pacquiao prayed prior to the bout, amidst the excitement and suspense. With the fight over; Pacquiao went to his corner and in gratitude, knelt; thanking God for the victory.  When promoter Bob Arum was interviewed, proclaiming the greatness of the Filipino pugilist, Pacquiao butted in acknowledging the Almighty for the feat he had achieved.

Each one of us is tasked to testify about our faith. “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15) We can do so not just in words, but more importantly in our actions. “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16) We may not know it, but by doing so, we will have touched the heart of one individual or souls of a million. “Your unbelieving neighbors…will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God.” (1 Peter 2:12)  By our testimony, we can knock Satan out of the souls of sinners and unbelievers: a triumph deservingly for God.

by Mel Libre