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Giving Your Best

You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God a bull or sheep which has any blemish or defect, for that is an abomination to the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 17:1

God’s love moved Him to sacrifice that which meant the most to Himâ€"His only Son. Our response, if we truly understand His love for us, is the desire to give back to God that which means the most to us.

The Old Testament reveals that God set forth high standards for the sacrifices He required of His people. A worthy sacrifice had to cost the people something. As their hearts shifted away from God, the people began struggling to give God costly offerings. They would bring blind, lame, and sick animals, assuming God could not tell the difference (Mal. 1:. God saw what they were doing and declared their offerings to be in vain (Mal. 1:10). Throughout the Old Testament period, God was setting the stage for the ultimate, perfect, and sinless sacrifice of His Son for the sins of humanity.

The offerings we give back to God reveal our hearts’ condition. A heart that overflows with gratitude for God’s love will respond in selfless devotion. If we are unwilling to sacrifice our time, our possessions, our money, or our energy, we indicate that we do not love God as He desires. God takes delight in the person who gives to Him cheerfully out of a loving heart, a person who understands that God is the source of everything he has and who knows that God will more than compensate for whatever is sacrificed for Him (2 Cor. 9:.

If you struggle in giving your best offerings to God, pause and reflect on what God sacrificed for you. Trust Him and give Him the best that you have because you love Him with all your heart. Henry and Richard Blackaby.

Bangladesh gov't asks PHL Senate for another set of hearings on USD 81-M bank heist
By Joann Santiago

MANILA, Aug. 5 (PNA) - The Bangladesh government is requesting the Philippine Senate for another set of hearings on the bank heist last February to know more about the involvement of other entities and personalities on the said transnational cyber crime.

In a briefing Friday, Bangladesh Ambassador to the Philippines Maj. Gen. John Gomes said he was confident on the eventual resolution of the case and the eventual recovery of the USD 81 million illegally withdrawn and sent to the Philippines from Bangladesh Bank’s account with the Federal Reserve of New York.

He said he had a meeting with President Rodrigo R. Duterte in Davao City last June and the Chief Executive gave his commitment to help Bangladesh recover the stolen money

”We are pinning our hopes on the new administration for the recovery of our money,” he said.

With this commitment, Gomes said, has also discussed the issue with Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III to request for the re-opening of the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing to be able to identify new areas to focus on.

He has seen a copy of the committee report and noted that “many things have come up in that committee report through which we now feel we can now continue with another senate hearing.”

“Through (the) Senate the whole Philippines (and) Bangladesh came to know what is happening otherwise we have to just wait for the courts. I feel the Senate was very useful tool for us to find out about the USD 81 million and I feel another hearing would complete it,” he said.

Gomes said Pimentel did not give a timeline when the next hearing would be but the Bangladesh Embassy has been asked to submit a written report on what issues they want to focus on.

He feels that the first Senate hearing on the issue focused more on the needed policy changes on Philippines’ bank secrecy law and on the culpability of former RCBC Jupiter-Makati branch manager Maia Deguito.

Thus, he wants the future Senate hearing on this issue to focus more on the involvement of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), remittance company Philrem Services Corp., and businessman William Go, whose alleged account in RCBC Jupiter-Makati branch received the consolidated funds that was directly sent from the Federal Reserve of New York to four other accounts with the said RCBC branch.

Another delegation from Bangladesh will arrive in the Philippines in September this year to attend to the legal procedure on the forfeiture case for the USD 15 million returned by casino junket operator Kim Wong to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

Gomes is optimistic that the Bangladesh government would be able to get the USD 15 million by September and eventually the whole USD 81 million. (PNA)

ICC-CABCOM endorses 10 projects for NEDA board action

MANILA, Aug. 4 (PNA) -- In its first meeting under President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration, the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) recommended 10 projects for NEDA Board approval.

“These recommended projects are a good start towards the government’s goal of improving government investments in infrastructure, especially in transportation and health, and agribusiness. We are optimistic that these projects will significantly contribute to the development and improvement of their target areas and communities,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia.

These projects are the North-South Railway Project â€" South Line; Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project for the Philippine Coast Guard Phase II; Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit- EDSA; Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project; Metro Manila Flood Management Project, Increase in Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) Area of the Bicol International Airport Project; Change in Scope of the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project; Modernization of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center; Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital; and the Inclusive Partnerships for Agricultural Competitiveness.

The North-South Railway Project â€" South Line of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), is set to be undertaken through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in two separate projects: The Commuter Line, from Tutuban to Los Baños, and the Long Haul Line, from Los Baños to Sorsogon with a branch from Calamba to Batangas City.

The project has a 34-year concession period, including construction of four years, for the Commuter Line.

The Long Haul Line’s concession period is based on the payment timeline prescribed under the repayment scheme.

DOTr will resubmit the project under the proposed standard gauge rail system.

Moreover, Phase II of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will acquire two 92-meter heavy weather, high endurance Multi-Role Response Vessels or MRVs.

The project will strengthen PCG’s coast or watch patrol and search and rescue capabilities and help them comply with international commitments on maritime safety and security, and marine environmental protection.

The total project cost is estimated at PhP8.02 billion with an implementation period of 2016-2021.

For the Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)-EDSA, a BRT infrastructure of 48.6 kilometers through EDSA, Ayala Avenue, Ortigas-BGC, and NAIA will be built with 63 stations.

Also, it will add accessibility infrastructure like greenways, pedestrian walkways and bikeways.

The total project cost is estimated at PhP68.26 billion, of which public sector component cost is PhP37.76 billion, with an implementation schedule of 2017-2019.

The Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project, meanwhile, involves the conversion of existing 2-lane Plaridel Bypass Road into a four-lane toll road with expressway standards.

The new four-lane toll roads will improve the road capacity and save travel time of about 80 minutes per vehicle.

The total project cost is estimated at PhP9.33 billion with a concession period of 30 years, including three years of construction.

The Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFP) Phase I aims to reduce flood risk to people and property in the flood-prone areas of Greater Metropolitan Manila through an integrated set of interventions.

Total project cost of MMFP is estimated at PhP23.5 billion.

Two ongoing airport projects of DOTC will also be elevated to the NEDA Board for confirmation of the proposed changes: increase in Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) Area of the Bicol International Airport Project, and change in scope of the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project.

The Bicol International Airport Project involves construction of a new domestic-Principal Class 1 airport of international standards in Daraga, Albay to replace the existing Legazpi Airport due to its limitations and safety concerns.

The proposed changes does entail additional cost, thereby maintaining project cost at PhP4.79 billion.

On the other hand, the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project aims to develop a new airport facility of international standards in Panglao Island, Bohol to replace the existing Tagbilaran Airport due to its limited capacity for expansion and operational safety concerns.

The revised project cost is PhP7.77 billion.

First of the two hospitals endorsed is the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center Modernization Project, which seeks to expand the hospital’s bed capacity from 325 to 500, transfer to a new site in Tacloban City, and establish a new IT system and medical equipment.

The hospital project cost is estimated at PhP2.40 billion with an implementation period of 30 months upon approval.

The Modernization of Gov. Celestrino Gallares Memorial Hospital Project will expand the hospital’s 225-bed capacity to 500 and transfer to a new site in Cortez, Bohol.

It will also include site development, warehouse building, medical equipment and IT systems.

Project cost of the Bohol hospital is estimated at PhP2.22 billion with two years of implementation, including design, procurement of works and construction.

Inclusive Partnerships for Agricultural Competitiveness (IPAC) project aims enhance market access and competitiveness of smallholder farmers in the target agrarian reform communities (ARC) clusters.

IPAC has a total project cost of PhP10.15 billion.

The ICC-CabCom agreed to meet every fourth Monday of the month. (PNA)

Japan protests to China as over 200 vessels spotted near Senkakus

TOKYO, Aug. 6 (PNA/Kyodo) -- Japan lodged a protest with China on Saturday after spotting more than 200 Chinese vessels in waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

About 230 fishing boats as well as six China Coast Guard vessels were confirmed in a contiguous zone near the Japanese-controlled uninhabited islets, which are claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu. The number is much larger than usual.

"This is a unilateral act that raises tensions...and it is unacceptable to us," Kenji Kanasugi, director general of the ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, told the Chinese Embassy in Japan, according to the ministry. (PNA/Kyodo)

Aguirre says DOJ focusing on cases of heinous crime victims

MANILA, August 4 (PNA) -- Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II on Thursday assured the public that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is focusing on the cases of victims of heinous crimes.

He made the assurance as the department secured the conviction of two persons for murder and six others for homicide, in separate rulings issued by various courts.

The Oslob, Cebu Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 62 found Ricardo Baylosis and Anastacio Estrada guilty of murder and sentenced each to life imprisonment without eligibility for parole.

The court also ordered each of the convict to pay the heirs of their victim PHP155,000 in damages and civil indemnity.

The two conspired to kill Julian Ygona, who was on his way home and was drunk.

The Toledo City, Cebu RTC Branch 29, meanwhile, found Sherlita Apalola guilty of homicide and sentenced her to a jail term of eight years and one day to 14 years, eight months and one day and to pay the family of the victim, Jesus Lingaolingao, PHP150,000 in civil indemnity and moral damages.

According to witnesses, Apalola was drinking liquor and playing a card game with the victim and several others when the players had an argument over a missing bet at the center of the table.

The victim wanted to stop the game but Apalola, having lost most of the bet, refused.

This led her to stab the victim in the abdomen, resulting in his death.

The Talibon, Bohol RTC Branch 52 also sentenced Erwin Bonda to a prison term of six years and one day to 12 years and one day and to pay PHP50,000 as death indemnity.

Bonda was found guilty of homicide for bringing Rodulfo Dahuya Jr., who was sleeping in his house, to a grassland and stabbed him to death.

The Loay, Bohol RTC Branch 50, on the other hand, found Avelino Cagulangan guilty of homicide and sentenced him to a prison term of 12 years to 17 years and four months and to pay the heirs of the victim, Gallardo Gambuta, PHP120,000 in civil indemnity and damages.

The victim was lying in his house when Cagulangan entered and stabbed him to death.

The Tagbilaran City, Bohol RTC Branch 1 also found Carlos Pateno guilty of homicide and gave him a prison term of eight years and one day to 14 years, eight months and one day and to pay the family of the victim, Giuseppe Paredes, PHP125,000 in civil indemnity and damages.

Pateno stabbed the victim to death after he refused a glass of liquor offered by the victim.

Carlos’ co-accused, Amancio Pateno, who hit the victim with a bottle, was sent to jail for 20 days for slight physical injuries.

The Tagum City, Davao del Norte RTC Branch 31, meanwhile, sentenced Bobong Sahay to jail for 10 years and one day to 17 years and four months for homicide and to pay the family of the victim, Lito Mataas, PHP75,000 in civil indemnity and damages.

The Carmen, Bohol RTC Branch 51 sentenced Luciano Muring to prison for eight years and one day to 17 years and four months and to pay the heirs of the victim PHP80,000 in civil indemnity and damages. (PNA)

President Duterte wants drug rehab center in Cebu military camp

CEBU CITY, Aug. 6 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte is asking for one hectare from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command (AFP-CentCom) in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City where a rehabilitation center could be built for thousands of drug users who have surrendered since his term began.

“Let go of a small space in your camp,” he told CentCom officials when he visited them Friday night.

“Bigyan niyo ako kahit isang ektarya lang, total lagyan ko yan ng barbed wire (Give me even just a hectare. Anyway, I’ll make sure it is fenced with barbed wires),” he said.

The President said it is a crucial part of his plan to establish a rehabilitation center in each region, to help at least 500,000 recorded drug addicts nationwide who have given themselves up to the authorities.

President Duterte did not name the mayors and other officials believed to be involved in the illegal drug trade, but told the public to just wait.

He said in his speech that began at 9:50 p.m. that he would reveal the names of judges, police and congressmen “in a few hours”.

“It behooves upon me to tell the Filipino people what is happening in this country. You are entitled to know what is happening,” he said.

The Chief Executive said his decision to disclose the names of those believed to be involved in illegal drug activities does not come from any desire to destroy them.

“I will name them not because gusto ko sila siraan (not because I want to bad-mouth them),” he said.

He however said he was sick and tired of illegal drug traders who do not seem to fear the law.

“Ipapatay ko ‘yan. Wala akong pakialam. Di man ninyo ako mahuli. Bakit niyo ako huhulihin? May immunity ako (I will have them killed. I don’t care. You can’t arrest me. Why would you arrest me? I have immunity),” he said.

President Duterte said his priority is to “destroy the apparatus” that allows illegal drugs to destroy families and communities.

He repeated his promise to defend soldiers and police officers who get sued for killing suspects in the course of their anti-drug operations.

“Kaya ko mag-pardon isang libong pulis araw-araw. Sabi ng Constitution, the President can grant pardon. Yan ang nakita na panglaban ko. Wala pang nakaisip niyan (I can pardon 1,000 police officers every day. The Constitution says the President can grant pardon. That’s my weapon. No one has thought of that before),” he said. (PNA)

Vice mayor shot dead in Cagayan
By Villamor Visaya Jr.

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Aug. 6 (PNA) -- The 39-year-old vice mayor of Pamplona town in Cagayan was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding gunmen at about 11:20 p.m. Friday at the house of a close friend, police said.

Vice Mayor Aaron Sampaga was gunned down with an M-16 Armalite rifle and a Cal. 45 handgun by two men, who wore black jackets, blue shirts and caps, Pamplona town police chief, Senior Insp. Francis Pattad, said.

Pattad said the gunmen rode through the river control makeshift road to enter the compound of Sampaga's close friend, Rodolfo Guzman, and fired at Sampaga.

Guzman and their companions were unhurt.

Pattad and his men found six empty shells of an M-16 Armalite rifle and two .45 slugs at the shooting scene.

Sampaga was a three-term town mayor before he ran and won as vice mayor during the May 9 elections.

His sister, Arnie Angelica Sampaga, won as mayor against former vice mayor Edwin Ifurung. (PNA)

Move to stop the collection of irrigation fees snowballs

MANILA, Aug. 6 (PNA) -- Two more lawmakers have filed a proposal urging Congress to help alleviate the plight of farmers by stopping the collection of irrigation service fees.

Rep. Horacio Suansing, Jr. (2nd District, Sultan Kudarat) said House Bill 294 seeks to stop the collection of irrigation service fees (ISFs) and other related or similar fees that will greatly ease the burden of the farmers.

“Irrigation is needed to increase the productivity of farmers especially in the production of major staples, such as rice and corn and is therefore key in ensuring the food security of the Filipino people,” Suansing said.

Suansing said irrigation plays an important role in making crop diversification viable as it generally enhances multi-cropping even during the dry season.

“Irrigation is one of the primary factors for the growth of agricultural productivity. Given the strategic importance of irrigation in pursuing sustained agricultural growth and development, rice-sufficiency, food security and the upliftment of the welfare of Filipino farmers, it is the obligation of the State to provide free irrigation services,” Suansing said.

Rep. Estrellita Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija), another author of the measure said, the agriculture sector is the backbone of the national economy as the country remains agricultural, where farmers and farm workers, who comprise the vast majority of the population, till the lands for their livelihood and for the benefit of the entire nation.

Suansing said in the Philippines, the government, adopting the World Bank’s principle that water resource is a commodity, has been implementing various finance mechanism to collect irrigation services fees (ISFs) from farmers.

The lady lawmaker said farmer-beneficiaries of the National Irrigation System (NIS) program administered by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and Irrigators Associations (IA) under the Communal Irrigation Systems (CIS) are forced to pay exorbitant ISFs.

“This has led to huge amount of back accounts or unpaid ISFs. These back accounts, which are imposed with penalties and interests have further burdened the already poor farmers with bigger debts,” Suansing stressed.

Suansing pointed out that despite the fact that water, as a natural resource, belongs to the people and should not be subjected to the control and utilization of local and foreign big corporations for profit, the government promotes the privatization of water services to the sole advantage of private businesses and to the detriment of the people especially the farmers.

The measure provides that the collection of irrigation service fees (ISFs) and such other similar or related fees from beneficiaries of irrigation systems funded and constructed by, or under the administration of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), including the collection of back accounts and the corresponding penalties shall be stopped after the enactment this Act.

To ensure the necessary construction, repair and maintenance of these irrigation systems, the measure provides that the NIA shall include the required amounts in its budget in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“Farmers, irrigators associations and stakeholders in the agriculture sector are united in demanding for free irrigation services, the abolition of irrigation service fees collected by the NIA and for a genuinely just program that will accelerate irrigation development nationwide,” Suansing added.

Earlier, Reps. Ariel Casilao (Party-list, Anakpawis) and Arthur Yap (3rd District, Bohol) authored House Bill 558 and 37, respectively. (PNA)

President Duterte wants drug rehab center in Cebu military camp

CEBU CITY -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte is asking for one hectare from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command (AFP-CentCom) in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City where a rehabilitation center could be built for thousands of drug users who have surrendered since his term began.

“Let go of a small space in your camp,” he told CentCom officials when he visited them Friday night.

“Bigyan niyo ako kahit isang ektarya lang, total lagyan ko yan ng barbed wire (Give me even just a hectare. Anyway, I’ll make sure it is fenced with barbed wires),” he said.

The President said it is a crucial part of his plan to establish a rehabilitation center in each region, to help at least 500,000 recorded drug addicts nationwide who have given themselves up to the authorities.

President Duterte did not name the mayors and other officials believed to be involved in the illegal drug trade, but told the public to just wait.

He said in his speech that began at 9:50 p.m. that he would reveal the names of judges, police and congressmen “in a few hours”.

“It behooves upon me to tell the Filipino people what is happening in this country. You are entitled to know what is happening,” he said.

The Chief Executive said his decision to disclose the names of those believed to be involved in illegal drug activities does not come from any desire to destroy them.

“I will name them not because gusto ko sila siraan (not because I want to bad-mouth them),” he said.

He however said he was sick and tired of illegal drug traders who do not seem to fear the law.

“Ipapatay ko ‘yan. Wala akong pakialam. Di man ninyo ako mahuli. Bakit niyo ako huhulihin? May immunity ako (I will have them killed. I don’t care. You can’t arrest me. Why would you arrest me? I have immunity),” he said.

President Duterte said his priority is to “destroy the apparatus” that allows illegal drugs to destroy families and communities.

He repeated his promise to defend soldiers and police officers who get sued for killing suspects in the course of their anti-drug operations.

“Kaya ko mag-pardon isang libong pulis araw-araw. Sabi ng Constitution, the President can grant pardon. Yan ang nakita na panglaban ko. Wala pang nakaisip niyan (I can pardon 1,000 police officers every day. The Constitution says the President can grant pardon. That’s my weapon. No one has thought of that before),” he said. (PNA)

PHL tops Singapore math contest

MANILA, Aug. 4 (PNA) -- The Philippines emerged as the most bemedaled country in an international math contest in Singapore.

Filipino students bagged 208 medals and 120 merit awards to top the 12th International Mathematics Contest (IMC) held from July 29 to August 1 in Singapore.

They won 26 gold, 50 silver and 132 bronze medals to edge out contestants from 12 other countries and territories.

In addition, for the first time, the country produced two champions in two grade levels in the competition, according to team leaders Dr. Isidro Aguilar and Dr. Eduardo dela Cruz, officers of the Mathematics Trainers Guild (MTG)-Philippines.

They are gold medalists Julian Raymund Yu of British School Manila who emerged as No. 1 among all Grade 9 level contestants and Jarrett Ian Lim of the Philippine Academy of Sakya who topped Grade 10.

The Philippines was followed by China in the medal tally with 196 (consisting of 25 gold, 57 silver and 114 bronze medals); Singapore, 123; Vietnam, 82; and Taiwan 71. Other participating countries are South Korea, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India and Laos, and Hong Kong. The Filipino medalists are:

GOLD MEDALISTS: Alysa Corinne Llantero - De La Salle University Integrated School;Miguel Cayetano - Tuguegarao West Elementary School; Maria Bernadette Landicho - Stonyhurst Southville International School; Alvann Walter Paredes Dy - St. Jude Catholic School; Rovi Gabriel Dela Cruz - Pasig Catholic College;

John Florence Dizon - Calamba Elementary School Special Science School; Juan Rafael Landicho - Stonyhurst Southville International School; Ambrose James Torreon - Rainbow of Angels Learning Center, Inc.; Christopher James Yap - St. John's Institute

Martin Gabriel Lopez - First Asia Institute of Technology & Humanities; Armea Helena Sien Dimayacyac - Notre Dame of Greater Manila; Jerome Samuel Tan - Makati Hope Christian School; Aiman Andrei Kue - Zamboanga Chong Hua High School;

Jose Lorenzo Abad - Philippine Science High School-Main; Sted Micah Cheng - Hope Christian High School; Vincent Dela Cruz - Valenzuela City School of Math & Science; Daryll Carlsten Ko - St. Stephen's High School; Genrish Wendell Ng - St. Jude Catholic School; Matthew Shawn Tansiongkun - Xavier School; Al Patrick Castro - Makati Science High School; Dan Alden Baterisna - Colegio San Agustin-Makati; Robert Gerard Uy - St. John's Institute;

Julian Raymund Yu - British School Manila; Jan Vincent Simbol - BHC Educational Institution; Jarrett Ian Lim - Philippine Academy of Sakya; and Kirk Patrick Bamba - Mataas na Paaralang Neptali A. Gonzales.

SILVER MEDALISTS: Francisco Angeles Jr. - Mother Goose Special School System; Tracy Lauren TeoLei - St. Jude Catholic School; Lerwin Chester Cheng - La Marea Academy; Ashley Nicole Uygongco - Hua Siong College of Iloilo; Ivan Benedict Yap - Sacred Heart School-Hijas De Jesus; Alexander Benedict Bulloso - De La Salle Lipa; Walsh Nico Adrian Letran - St. Jude Catholic School;

John David Magnaye - Holy Rosary Academy of Las Piñas City; Erwyn Aenas Vibal - UP Integrated School; Theodore Abara - La Salle Greenhills; Marinoelle Castillo - Notre Dame of Greater Manila; Cris Lorraine dela Cruz - Bolinao Integrated School;

Matthew Ivan Galvez - Maria Montessori Holy Christian School; Krystal Lim Tiong Soon - Grace Christian College; Miguel Sebastian Borbe - St. Jude Catholic School; Jose Carlo Salazar - St. Agnes Academy;

Kian Colin Chua - St. Jude Catholic School; Manuelle Christian Lim - Notre Dame of Greater Manila; Jeremie Keon Torralba - Ateneo de Manila Grade School; Ravi Bahukhandi - British School Manila; Gerard Elmer Ilagan - De La Salle Lipa; Deanne Gabrielle Algenio - Laguna College; Naomi Anne King - St. Jude Catholic School; Ronn Derick Simbol - BHC Educational Institution;

Trisha Danielle Sia - Chiang Kai Shek College; Maruel Elpred Vincent Cudio - Life College Palawan; Gregory Charles Tiong - St. Jude Catholic School Nathan Jeremy Ang - Lourdes School of Quezon City; Albriz Moore Bagsic - Philippine Science High School-Main; Stephen James Ty - Zamboanga Chong Hua High School; Ella Marie Anglo - St. John's Institute; Richwynn Cedric Ong - Xavier School; Angelo Vince Perez - De La Salle Lipa;

Oniluv Troy Tabujara - Falcon School; Miguel Angelo Gomez - Makati Science High School; Juan Pablo Abola - PAREF Southridge School; Jan Paul Bonifacio Aplacador - Makati Science High School; Daryll Kevin Uygongco - Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas; Victor Dominic Naraval - BHC Educational Institution; Jan Joshua Cruz - Pasig Catholic College;

Edward Akiro Manuel - Makati Hope Christian School; Moses Christopher Carpio - Agoo Kiddie Special School; Kenneth Gabriel Rojas - Makati Science High School; Sean Marcus So - Grace Christian College; Patricia Ina Tanada - Makati Science High School; Hans Mackenzie Uy - St. Joseph School Naga City;

Emmanuel Osbert Cajayon - Dasmarinas National High School; Grant Lewis Bulaong - De La Salle Zobel; Brian Godwin Lim - Chiang Kai Shek College; and Kenneth Shi - Philippine Cultural College-Caloocan.

BRONZE MEDALISTS: Hans Cedric Galande - Zamboanga Chong Hua High School; Casey Lauren Bernardo - St. Jude Catholic School; Chester Aaron Ke - Philippine Cultural College-Main; Luigi Trevor Lui - Grace Christian College; Scoutla Rue Rosarda - Imus Pilot Elementary School;

Sydney Kaede Sy - Lanao Chung Hua School; Ralph Justin Sze - St. Jude Catholic School; Mark Justin Villafuerte - Don Bosco Technical Institute Makati; Justin Miguel Ngo - Grace Christian College; Hanne Margaret Tongcua - Precious International School of Davao; Marie Emmanuelle Martinez - UP Integrated School;

John Louis Lacuesta - Falcon School; Ryle Benedict Esquivel - Imus Pilot Elementary School; David Curtis Yu - St. Jude Catholic School; Dan Narciso Reyes IV - St. Mary's School; Alex Anthony Andal - De La Salle Lipa; Allanis Mika Quiatchon - Tanauan South Central School; Isabella Marie Reyes - De La Salle University Integrated School;

Mico Xander Rubico - Calamba Elementary School Special Science School; Janah Sofia Francheska Siaton - Aquinas University of Legazpi; David Addison Calimlim - De La Salle University Integrated School; Jence Enrico Dela Fuente - Ateneo de Naga Grade School; Kei Hang Derek Chan - St. Jude Catholic School;

Lance Albert Chiu - Bohol Wisdom School; Davis Nicholo Magpantay - San Beda College-Alabang; Kyla Keith Tan - Lanao Chung Hua School; Ronaldvince Yrlwin Aquino - Young Shepherd's School; Aryan Jibril Malambut - Stanford School of Batangas; Joshua Miguel Mariano - Colegio San Agustin-Binan;

Ramon Enrique Rillera - San Beda College-Alabang; John Benedict Sanico - Ann Arbor Montessori Binan; Daniel Yusuke Shimizu - Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu; Matthew Chua - British School Manila; Nathan Mayer Dy - St. John's Institute; Ethan Lestat Tiongson - Saint Bridget College Batangas City;

Filbert Joseph Ubanos - Elizabeth Seton School-Las Piñas; Melyza Jane Viñas - Palanan Elementary School; Anton Marie Vinluan - De La Salle Integrated School; Euan Gabriel Bautista - Sindalan Elementary School; Phylline Cristel Calubayan - BHC Educational Institution; Sigfred Kerwayne Kwan - Zamboanga Chong Hua High School;

Janssen Reign Peña - Mother Goose Special School System; Aldrik Job Quintanilla - Elizabeth Seton School-South; Lyneth Anne Hernandez - Jesus Is Lord Colleges Foundation; James Martin Young - SPED-ISEC Iloilo; Jiro Thomas Abulog - Kids Haus CDC Integrated School; Jonathan Gabriel Cuadro - Integrated Montessori Center Taguig;

Mary Grace Espino - Ateneo de Davao University; Phoemela Ashley Mari Talabucon - UP Integrated School; Justin Timothy Uygongco - Hua Siong College of Iloilo; Jose Maria Bernardo II - Ateneo de Manila University; Enrico Miguel Del Rosario - Assumption Iloilo; Rafael Oliveros - Palanan Elementary School;

Gwyneth Margaux Tangog - Southville International School and Colleges; Lyonel Justin Ching - Jubilee Christian Academy; Ethan Jonah Chua - St. Jude Catholic School; Journey Christian Dy - Jubilee Christian Academy; Mark Andrei Elpedes - East Rembo Elementary School; Raldz Loren Jocson - Philippine Normal University-Visayas;

Uriel Nathan Orpilla - La Salle Greenhills; Jose Miguel Palitog - San Beda College-Alabang; Coleen Adrianne Panganiban - Divine Light Academy; Rania Maxine Savilla - Blessed Lights Int'l Christian Academy; Joshua David Tan - Philippine Christian Gospel School; Patricia Angelica Tan - Chiang Kai Shek College;

Janna Patricia Tungol - San Ramon Elementary School; Mary Alyenne Josephine Azarcon - BHC Educational Institution; John Orbien Realuyo - Aquinas University of Legazpi; Ethan Garett Chua - St. Jude Catholic School; Brian Dominic Dela Cruz - Lourdes School of Mandaluyong; Westin Darren Maceda - St. Jude Catholic School;

Brylle Jaden Louise Ordoño - BHC Educational Institution; Colin Beiel Rosales - Philippine Science High School-Main; Kirsten Dominique Chan - Bayanihan Institute; Maria Monica Manlises - St. Stephen's High School; Czhean Klyde Espiritu - De La Salle Lipa;

Hiraya Marcos - Philippine Cultural College; Roxanne Aimee Picart - Aquinas University of Legazpi; Dylan Gilbert Yu - British School Manila; Cris Magdalene Dela Cruz - Philippine Science High School-CAR;

Julia James Berin - Aquinas University of Legazpi Science High School; Adrian Louise Baron - Trinity Christian School; Kaitlyn Shu Too - Jubilee Christian Academy; Audrey Gabrielle Tan - Malayan High School of Science; Bert Joseph Tropicales - Philippine Science High School-Main;

Mark Vincent Carabbay - Valenzuela City School of Math & Science; Marc Christopher Ferrer - Dela Salle Lipa; Mikhail Anthony Padua - Manila Science High School; Katrina Day Jimenez - Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School; Yves Gabriel Lazaro - Philippine Science High School-Main;

Patrick Niño Policarpio - Philippine Science High School-Main; Jesper Chris Tiongson - Gen. Pio del Pilar National High School; Angelina Mae Precilla - De La Salle Lipa; Jhervey Edric Cheng - Chiang Kai Shek College Jasmin Faye De Guzman - Valenzuela City School of Math & Science;

Ma. Leibniz Charisse Parra - St. Paul College Pasig; Madelyn Esther Cruz - Philippine Science High School-Main; Margaret Esther Cruz - Philippine Science High School-Main; Lizette Aurellano - Aquinas University of Legazpi Science High School;

Christopher Jose Carlos - Ateneo de Manila University; Cheska Marina Hufano - Philippine Science High School-CAR; Nathaniel Franz Rustia - Makati Science High School; Camille Sy - Zamboanga Chong Hua High School; Angelika Joie Tagupa - Philippine Science High School-Main;

Kian Rey Chua - Quezon City Science High School; Juan Carlos De Leon - Sta. Rosa S&T High School; Jonas Rhein Esguerra - Philippine Pasay Chung Hua Academy; Lance Adrian Ko - St. Stephen's High School; Cristina Beatrice Mallari - St. Paul College Pasig; Christine Joy Okubo - Philippine Science High School-Main;

Joshua Padua - Makati Science High School; Seth Ricafort - Philippine Science High School-Main; Ralph Laurence Silva - La Immaculada Concepcion School; Ron Michael Acda - Sta. Rosa S&T High School; Gelli Domingo - Manila Science High School;

Albert Thimothy Go - Makati Science High School; Hyo Jin Kim - International British Academy; Miles Madayag - Ateneo de Davao Junior High School; Theresa Denise Magsajo - St. Paul College Pasig; Jan Reynald Melchor - San Beda College-Alabang;

Sanielle Meliz Ong - St. John's Institute; Wally Santos - Sen. Renato “Companero” Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School; Romeo Dane Melendrez - Regional Science High School III; Ralph Joshua Macarasig - Rizal National Science High School;

Norwyn Nicholson Kah - St. Stephen's High School; Madeline Tee - Jubilee Christian Academy; Mikhaella Layos - Sta. Rosa S&T High School; Eason Wong - Philippine Cultural College-Caloocan; Christopher Banzon - Makati Science High School; Norking Ace Sagle - De La Salle University Manila; Axle Moore Bagsic - Lilyrose School; Kenneth Jay Alaba - Taguig Science High School; Camille Ann Villanueva - St. Paul College Pasig. (PNA)

wa pa gyud ni sila mahadlok ni Duterte kay yano-yano ra man mobuhat ug krimen.

A Jealous God

For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24

Our God is a consuming fire. He is satisfied only when His love totally consumes us. We usually think of a jealous person as someone resentful and suspicious, but the Lord’s jealousy on our behalf is something that should be precious to us! He has the complete right to our lives. He gave us life, and He wants to protect us from anything that could harm us. That is why He has commanded His children to worship no other gods, allowing nothing to distract us from His consuming love. The Lord opposes anything that hinders our relationship with Him (Deut. 6:15). He knows the danger of other gods, how they will lure us away, deceive us, and leave us empty. He will tolerate nothing that takes precedence over our love for Him. Our faithfulness to God assures us of the abundant life He wants to give us. If we reject Him, He will pursue us until we return to Him. We should not resent the fact that God wants to guard our relationship with Him. It should bring us comfort. Our relationship with God should be our top priority. It should dictate how we spend our time, our money, and our energy. If certain people or our possessions separate us from God, we must reexamine our hearts and give our devotion first to Him, as He commands. God wants each of us to love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30). Our love for God should extend to every corner of our lives. God loved us so much that He gave us His own Son. Let us respond by giving Him our highest devotion in return.Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Filipino-Indian nabbed for selling Php50,000 worth of Ecstasy, Shabu in Makati
By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan

MANILA, Aug. 5 (PNA) â€" Southern Police District (SPD) operatives arrested 30-year old Filipino-Indian after yielding at least Php 50,000 worth of illegal drugs in a buy-bust operation in Makati City on Friday.

Southern Police District (SPD) spokesperson Supt. Jenny Tecson identified the suspect as Aaron Nari Gidwani, resident of Cupang, Muntinlupa City.

Tecson said the suspect was nabbed around 2 a.m. Friday during an illegal drug buy-bust operation at Makati Triangle, Makati Ave., Urdaneta Village, Makati City.

Seized from the suspect were volumes of illegal drugs such as Ecstasy, Shabu, marijuana worth about Php50,000, and liquid Ketamin.

Tecson said intelligence reports showed tnhat Gidwani was one of the suppliers of illegal drugs in the high end clubs and bars along Burgos Triangle and Rockwell, both in Makati and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig where he supplies designer drugs to wealthy clients in the country, party goers and foreigners.

The suspect, who is being held at the police jail, faces charges for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)

My Dream Meeting Place

Israeli intelligence company hacks Daesh telegram group, reveals attacks plans

MOSCOW, Aug. 5 (PNA/Sputnik) -- Experts from the Israeli cyber intelligence company, Intsights, hacked the Telegram messenger group which militants of the Daesh terrorist group have used for communication and thus revealed their plans for multiple attacks, local media reported Friday.

According to Haaretz newspaper, a Herzliya-based intelligence company discovered the Daesh plans to attack the US air bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, as well as attacks which already took place, such as the one in the Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray church in France.

The media added that the company did not disclose any detail on how they managed to hack the Telegram group.

In July, France fell victim to two terror attacks, responsibility for which has been claimed by the Daesh terrorist group, outlawed in many countries worldwide including Russia. On July 14, a truck rammed into a large crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, killing at least 84 people. On July 26, two armed men took five people hostage at a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, Normandy, killing a priest.

The Daesh terrorist group, banned in a range of states including Russia, took responsibility for the Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray church attack.(PNA/Sputnik)

3 mayors tied to illegal drugs surrender to PNP chief

MANILA, Aug. 5 (PNA) -- Two mayors from Lanao del Sur who are suspected of being involved in illegal drug activities, surrendered Friday to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa.

”I would like to inform you that two suspected drug personalities from Lanao del Sur voluntarily surrendered to my office. They are incumbent Maguing Mayor Mamaulan Abinal Molok and former Mayor Mohammadali Abinal of Marantao, Lanao del Sur, husband of the incumbent mayor,” dela Rosa said as he presented the two officials to the press.

He said the two gave themselves up because they received information that their names are in President Rodrigo R. Duterte's watch list of politicians involved in illegal drugs.

”Gusto nila magbagong buhay, tumulong laban sa droga. Why run if you can help? Talagang involved sila, kaya nga sila nag-surrender. Inamin naman nila, (They want to start anew and help the war against illegal drugs. Why run if you can help? They were really involved in illegal drugs, that is why they surrendered. They admitted it,)” the PNP chief said, noting that the two were operating under a certain “Marimar” from 2001 to 2002.

Dela Rosa said the two mayors admitted that they distributed narcotics in Quiapo, Manila, Caloocan and Cavite from 2000 to 2002 but they denied that they were involved in the drug trade in their respective municipalities.

He also said that both mayors pledged to lead the war against illegal drugs in their municipalities.

Dela Rosa said the two will be sent to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), which will get their statements.

He noted that he will not offer the white house to them anymore as they could return to their respective municipalities after the investigation in the absence of arrest warrants against them.

Dela Rosa also said that he is expecting other local officials to surrender.

For their part, Molok and Abinal said they are willing to support the government's anti-narcotics campaign.

Meanwhile, Mayor Rasul Sangki of Ampatuan Maguindanao also surrendered to the CIDG to give his statement.

Dela Rosa said Sangki was earlier expected to surrender together with Molok and Abinal but he got stuck in traffic in Guadalupe.(PNA)

A few months ago, I received this letter from a Floridian named Sherman Chester. When Sherman was a young man, he wrote that he made some bad choices, got in over his head, and ended up with a life sentence without parole for a nonviolent drug charge. At Sherman's sentencing, even the judge couldn't believe he was bound by law to hand down a punishment that didn't fit the crime.

We know that Sherman's story is all too common in this country -- a country that imprisons its citizens at a rate far higher than any other. Too many men and women end up in a criminal justice system that serves up excessive punishments, especially for nonviolent drug offenses.

But this is a country that believes in second chances. So we've got to make sure that our criminal justice system works for everyone. We've got to make sure that it keeps our streets safe while also making sure that an entire class of people like Sherman isn't relegated to a life on the margins.

Last year, after he served more than 20 long years in prison, I commuted Sherman's sentence and those of many others who were serving unjust and outdated prison sentences.

And today, I'm commuting the sentences of an additional 214 men and women who are just as deserving of a second chance. Altogether, I've commuted more sentences than the past nine presidents combined. And I am not done yet.

These acts of clemency are important steps for families like Sherman's and steer our country in a better direction, but they alone won't fix our criminal justice system. We need Congress to pass meaningful federal sentencing reform that will allow us to more effectively use taxpayer dollars to protect the public.

I hope you'll take a minute to read and share Sherman's letter. The more we understand the human stories behind this problem, the sooner we can start making real changes that keep our streets safe, break the cycle of incarceration in this country, and save taxpayers like you money.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

I come from Uganda -- from a farming community in the countryside where I learned what I know from the farmers I grew up with.

When I had the chance to complete my education in agricultural science, the hardest decision I had to make was whether to find a new job or return to my local community and teach them a little bit of what I had learned.

More than anything else, I wanted to see improvement in the livelihoods of the farmers that helped me become the agricultural scientist, pastor, and mentor that I am today. So I returned home to the Arua district in Uganda, and spent years working to pass on the knowledge and skills I had gained.

My passion is to help bring solutions to the country, and continent, where I grew up. That's how so many of my fellow Africans who are part of the President's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) feel too.

And that's why I'm so excited to introduce President Obama to my YALI fellows, and to you, at a town hall today.

You can tune in at 3:20 pm ET to watch live here.

As President Obama knows, the African continent is not only in need of transformational leaders, but leaders who will make the deliberate effort to inspire those they lead to take up the mantle -- particularly young leaders, who are looking for seasoned role models to emulate.

Thanks to President Obama and the legacy he leaves with YALI, so many of us our are well-poised to do just that.

So please join us at the town hall today at 3:20 pm ET to hear President Obama's answers to our questions about the future of young leaders in Africa and around the world.

Thanks for listening to my story,

Emmanuel

Emmanuel Odama
Arua District, Uganda

DOJ acquits husband in Laguna martilyo gang massacre

MANILA, Aug 3 (PNA) -- The man who was charged for allegedly masterminding the gruesome killing of his wife and child in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna last March 2 was acquitted by the prosecutor's office.

In a 14-page resolution dated July 27, 2016 signed by Deputy City Prosecutor Oscar Co and approved by Sta. Rosa City Prosecutor Cesar Calubag, the complaint of parricide against Ricardo "Richard" Sta. Ana Espera, Jr. was dismissed due to insufficiency of evidence.

On the other hand, the prosecutor's office has recommended the filing of two counts of murder, rape and theft against other respondent, namely, Ramoncito Bituin Galo and one John Doe alias Bryan.

On March 2, 2016, victims Pearl Helene Bon, wife of Ricardo, and their son, Denzel were both found covered with blood inside their house in Celina Plains Subdivision in Sta. Rosa City.

Upon the discovery of the crime, the victims were still rushed to the hospital, but Pearl died on March 5, 2016 while Denzel passed away on March 3, 2016.

Medico-legal examination conducted to the bodies of the victims points to "Entra-Cranial Hemorrhage" secondary to traumatic head injuries as the reason for their death.

Likewise, the genital examination on Pearl shows the presence of deep lacerations.

After police investigation, charges of two counts of parricide were filed against Ricardo, while Galo and another suspect alias Bryan faced charges of murder, theft and rape.

It was Atty. Percida V. Rueda-Acosta, the chief of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), who stood as legal counsel for Ricardo.

Galo, who earlier surrendered to the authorities, has executed an extra-judicial confession where he identified Ricardo as the one who masterminded the killing of his own wife and son.

He also admitted his participation in the killings.

He claimed that he and another suspect named Bryan was contracted for Php60,000 by Richard to carry out the crime because of suspicion that his wife was having an extra-marital affair.

However, the prosecutor's office did not give weight to Galo's confession concerning Ricardo's alleged participation in the crime because the confession cannot stand alone as an evidence against Galo and that it has to be corroborated by other evidence.

"...there is absolutely no evidence adduced to establish conspiracy among Ramoncito, Ricardo and a certain Bryan. In short, the extrajudicial confession of Ramoncito lack the indispensable requisite of corroboration by other evidence," the DOJ resolution said.

However, in so far as Galo's involvement in the crime, the prosecutor's office declared that his own confession is enough to implicate him in the killing.

"A confession constitutes an evidence of high order since it is supported by the strong presumptions that no person of normal mind would deliberately and knowingly confess to a crime unless prompted by truth and his conscience," the resolution said.

The resolution added that "By his own admission, Ramoncito's presence in the place was brought about by his intent to kill the victims which supplies the motive for staging the killings. Finally, being in the vicinity of the victims' house on the day of the incident and having killed the victims by striking the victims with a hammer, which furnishes him with the means of committing the crime."

Considering also that Pearl was found naked and that based on the genital examination, her hymen has deep fresh lacerations, the prosecutor's office said that the crime of rape was more likely to have committed by Galo and Bryan. (PNA)

President Duterte endorses immediate revival of ROTC

MANILA - The Duterte administration wants the immediate revival of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program as soon as legal requirements are in place, a Palace official said on Wednesday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said it was President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who personally backed the ROTC's revival.

"It is going to help in the building of discipline and values, especially in this generation, and we expect ROTC to be able to help build a sense of patriotism among the next generation," he said.

Abella assured that the President is open to conversation to allay fears over its revival.

“Kasama na 'yan sa prosesong pinag-uusapan, narinig na rin kung bakit may opposition tungkol sa pag-i-impose muli ng ROTC," he said.

He stressed, however, that the emphasis of the President’s thrust in reimposing ROTC is to serve as a platform that could basically help build a sense of patriotism in the next generation of Filipinos.

In a radio interview over the weekend, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said ROTC is important because aside from instilling patriotism and discipline among young people, it also helps the country build its reserve force and easily mobilize personnel during times of disasters.

“So, nakita po ng ating Pangulo, he saw the wisdom na kailangan ibalik ito para number one, maibalik iyong discipline, strengthening of character para hindi po ganoon kabilis iyong isang bata na ma-tempt na magdroga. At number two, para to strengthen also our paramilitary,” Andanar said.

The reserve military training under Republic Act 9163 is known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP). It has three parts â€" the NSTP-ROTC, Literacy Training Service, and the Civil Welfare Training Service.

But out of the three programs, Andanar said, it is unfortunate that only 14 percent of enrolled students take ROTC.

There are two pending bills in Congress being deliberated as proposed by Representative Isidro Ungab and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Andanar said. (PNA)

Ex-Eastern Samar town mayor faces graft raps over unfair treatment of employees

MANILA, Aug. 2 (PNA) -- Former San Policarpio, Eastern Samar Mayor Conrado Nicart III is set to face raps for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the "Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act" for not issuing a return-to-work order and delaying the reinstatement of three municipal employees.

The case arose after the Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) found that Nicart unnecessarily delayed the implementation of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) order to immediately reinstate Agricultural Technician Diosdado Cidro, Civil Registrar Virginia Acol and Budget Aide Anita Moscosa.

The CSC ruled that Nicart denied due process to the employees when they were dismissed from the service and dropped from the rolls in January 2012.

The CSC also found that the affidavit that was made the basis of their dismissal was executed under coercion.

"The non-issuance of a return-to-work order and the delayed reinstatement of the complainants by the respondent only succeeded to manifest his partiality against them," the Ombudsman said. (PNA)

Ex-Maguindanao town mayor sacked over non-payment of LGU's bank loan

MANILA, Aug. 2 (PNA) -- Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the dismissal from the service of former Matanog, Maguindanao Mayor Hadji Nasser Imam for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty for his failure to exercise due diligence and the required degree of professionalism in handling the financial affairs of the municipality.

Apart from his dismissal from the service, Imam was meted the accessory penalty of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and bar from taking civil service examinations.

The administrative penalties were based on the findings that Imam was remiss in his duties as local chief executive when in September 2011, the local government unit (LGU) started defaulting on its obligation to pay the PHP30-million infrastructure loan it had taken out from the Philippine Postal Savings Bank, Inc. (PPSBI) in December 2010.

The loan was supposed to fund the construction of a 28-kilometer farm-to-market road project.

Investigation showed that despite repeated demands by the PPSBI for the municipality to pay the accumulated, unpaid monthly amortizations, it was not able to update its loan account with the bank until it ballooned to PHP50,038,922.01, inclusive of interest and penalty charges.

In his defense, Imam invoked good faith and supervening causes considering that the series of typhoons that hit the municipality in 2012 rendered the LGU incapable of meeting its financial obligations.

Imam said that they had to prioritize the rehabilitation and social service needs of its constituents.

However, the Ombudsman found that "there is no documentary evidence to prove that the municipal funds intended to service the loan amortization in 2012 were realigned and disbursed for calamity-related rehabilitation projects."

Records also showed that the default in the loan payments started in September 2011, way before the occurrence of the purported calamities. (PNA)

More attack helicopters to be purchased under 'Flight Plan 2028'
By Priam F. Nepomuceno

More attack helicopters will be acquired to boost the Philippine Air Force's existing aircraft fleet, a PAF official said Tuesday.

"The attack helicopter project is a continuing program up until we are able to close the capability gap. It's laid out in the PAF Flight Plan 2028 and very much in line with the President's thrust," PAF Spokesperson Col. Araus Robert Musico said in a message to the PNA.

This would boost the existing MD-520 attack units and newly-acquired AW-109s, he added. At present, PAF has between 12 to 16 MD-520s and eight AW-109 attack helicopters.

Attack helicopters, in the Philippine setting, are often deployed as aerial rocket and machine batteries to help troops in clearing and pursuit operations.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte pledged to acquire more attack helicopters to aid troops in their operations against bandit and lawless groups.

In its 14-year strategic roadmap called Flight Plan 2028, the PAF will be able to build up its capability to detect, identify, intercept and neutralize incursions from "Area Readiness 3 to Area Readiness 1."

"Area Readiness 3" refers to 51 to 74 percent of Philippine territory while "Area Readiness 1" means 100 percent of the country's territory which is estimated to be 40,000 square nautical miles. (PNA)

565,806 drug suspects surrender under 'Oplan Tokhang' -- PNP

MANILA, Aug. 2 (PNA) -- More than 500,000 suspected drug pushers and dependents in the country surrendered to police authorities while almost 5,000 people were arrested from July 1 to Aug. 2 under the campaign of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to wipe out illegal drugs and criminality dubbed as 'Oplan Tokhang'.

Under 'Oplan Tokhang', station commanders will ask barangay (villages) captains to submit a list of residents who are into illegal drugs, whether these pushers, dealers, users and couriers.

The police intelligence unit will then verify the report and check if these persons are indeed involved in drugs as there are instances where barangay captains themselves are behind the illegal drug trade while some list down names of their rivals.

During the said period, the PNP have knocked 223,847 houses of suspected drug personalities that resulted to the surrender of 565,806 drug suspects, implementation of 427 search warrants and arrest of another 5,418 suspects.

In addition, PNP said 402 suspects were killed in various anti-drug operations.

Meanwhile, the PNP is keeping tab of the performance of its line units in the implementation of 'Project Double Barrel' against illegal drugs.

According to PNP spokesperson Sr. Supt. Dionardo Carlos, the PNP Oversight Committee on Project Double Barrel held a conference-workshop in Camp Crame among Deputy Regional Directors for Operation (DRDO) and Chiefs of Regional Operations and Plans Divisions (ROPD) to conduct an initial assessment of Project Double Barrel by the Police Regional Offices (PROs).

He said the PNP Oversight Committee reviewed the performance of each Police Regional Office based on Project Double Barrel Weekly Monitoring Reports since July 1. This indicates the number of houses visited; pushers and users who surrendered; drug personalities killed and arrested; implementation Search Warrants and Warrants of Arrest; and drug interdiction operations conducted.

Carlos also said that all Police Regional Offices were directed to constitute and convene their respective Regional Oversight Committees chaired by the Regional Director that will assess and evaluate the anti-drugs campaign of the subordinate Police Provincial Offices and Police Stations under its jurisdiction.

These Regional Oversight Committees shall conduct similar assessment and evaluation of the lower units with particular emphasis on the categorization of Cities/Municipalities in terms of drug affectation; documentation of arrested/ surrendered pushers and users; internal cleansing efforts; Top 20 watchlist of drug personalities killed or arrested; local government executives and officials who are uncooperative to the campaign against illegal drugs; and budgetary requirements.

The PNP may recommend to the National Police Commission (Napolcom) and DILG the suspension of deputation of local chief executives who are uncooperative in the anti-drugs campaign, or who fail to exercise their authority to lead the anti-drugs drive ion their localities, Carlos noted. (PNA)

7 PA officials promoted to next higher rank

MANILA, Aug. 2 (PNA) -- Seven senior Philippine Army (PA) officers were promoted to their next higher rank during short ceremonies in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Monday.

The donning ceremonies, which were held at the PA Officers' Club House, were presided by Army commander Lt. Gen. Eduardo M. Año,.

Brig. Generals Edgar F. Gonzales and Harold N. Cabreros were promoted to Major General.

Gonzales is the Mechanized Infantry Division commander while Cabreros is the head of the 3rd Infantry Division.

While Colonels Alexander L. Macario, Light Reaction Regiment commander; Casiano C. Monilla, 10th Infantry Division assistant commander; Cesar M. Idio, 8th Infantry Division assistant division commander; Ronald C. Villanueva, 1002nd Infantry Brigade commander; Rolando D. Bautista, Presidential Security Group head, all received their first stars which is equivalent to Brigadier General's rank.

"Bearing a star on one's soldier symbolizes the pennant of a fruitful military career after overcoming bumps and obstacles along the way. Your new rank testifies to the trust and confidence of the command in your ability to manage greater responsibilities befitting the stars on your shoulder," Año said.

He also reminded the newly-promoted generals of the Army's major thrusts and priority tasks.

"I count on you to exert efforts in sustaining our operational readiness at the highest level possible. We must not forget that our core competency remains to be warfigting. In the same manner, let us also support the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies in upholding law and order and contributing to the country's relentless campaign against illegal drugs and all forms of criminality," Año said. (PNA)

President Duterte to name 27 local officials linked to illegal drugs -- Palace

MANILA, Aug. 2 (PNA) â€" President Rodrigo Duterte will reveal "soon" the names of at least 27 local executives allegedly involved in illegal drug activities, Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said on Tuesday.

”Until now, talaga nasa kaniya iyong listahan. Pero hindi na po tatagal at ire-report na rin po niya sa publiko (The President has the list and will soon announce it to the public),” Abella said in a television interview.

Abella refused to provide further details but said: “You’ll find it very interesting after his report. Hintayin na lang po natin iyong report ni Presidente (We just have to wait for the President's announcement).”

Earlier, presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo told mediamen in Malacanang that the list is composed of 27 local executives provided by the government intelligence group.

”My God, you will be shocked,” Panelo said.

Panelo said President Duterte might identify the local executives either Tuesday night or Wednesday.

Much like the five generals named by the President early last month, Panelo said the local executives will also be investigated.

The five generals identified by the President include: PNP Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr.; former National Capital Region Police Office chief, Director Joel Pagdilao; Western Visayas regional director, Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz; Quezon City Police District director, Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio; and retired police general Vicente “Vic” Loot. (PNA)

Lawmaker seeks end to senators' ‘balik pwesto’ tactic
By Cielito M. Reganit

The penchant of some senators of running for other elective positions during their incumbency without forfeiting their seats in the Senate may soon come to an end.

House Bill 1349 filed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, if enacted into law, mandates the automatic resignation of all elective officials upon filing of their certificates of candidacy during their term of office for positions other than to which they have been elected or holding in a permanent capacity.

In filing the bill, the veteran lawmaker noted that the practice of “balik pwesto” has been constantly enjoyed by senators and barangay officials who want to run for higher office, with the knowledge that they can continue their term if they lose in the presidential and mid-term elections.

“This practice of allowing some defeated candidates to reassume their position after the election must be jettisoned from our statute books,” Lagman said.

The practice started when the Fair Election Act or RA 9006 repealed Section 67 of the Omnibus Election Code which mandated the ‘ipso facto’ resignation of elective officials upon filing of their certificates of candidacy to other positions.

Lagman noted that the repeal was a rider because it was not relevant to the purpose of the Fair Election Act which was to regulate election propaganda and had no basis in the substantive provisions of the Act.

A 'rider' is an additional provision added to a bill under the consideration by a legislature that have little connection with the subject matter of the bill.

Riders are usually created as a tactic to pass a controversial provision that would not pass as its own bill.

Lagman said that the present practice of reclaiming one’s position violates the equal protection clause because only a group of elected officials are benefited â€" senators and barangay officials.

“An elective official must serve out his term consistent with the people’s mandate. Ethics in politics demands automatic forfeiture for incumbents running for a different position while their terms subsist,” he said.

He likewise said that running for another position during one’s incumbency must be considered as abandonment of an elective position.

“This unethical practice is anathema for fair elections. It must be purged from our law books,” Lagman said. (PNA)

More than 20,000 Filipino travelers barred from leaving PHL in first half

MANILA, Aug. (PNA) -- Over 20,000 Filipino travelers have been barred from leaving the country from January to June 2016, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Tuesday.

According to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, a total of 20,316 passengers was offloaded in the first six months of the year.

He noted that the immigration officers required travelers to present further proof that they were legitimate tourists and were not going abroad to work without proper documents.

Likewise, Morente said that a passenger’s departure was deferred whenever immigration officers suspected that the former was a possible victim of human trafficking and illegal recruitment.

“The campaign has been in high gear, and there will be no letup in our effort to secure our citizens from being victims of human trafficking or illegal recruitment,” he added.

It was learned that of the more than 20,000 travelers barred from leaving the country, more than three-fourths were denied departure at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) while the rest were offloaded at the airports in Mactan, Clark, Iloilo, Kalibo, and Davao. About 1,500 of them were intercepted at the Zamboanga seaport.

The bureau’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) also referred the cases of 317 offloaded passengers to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation and possible filing of court cases.

BI data showed that there are a total of 45,989 deferred departures in 2015.

On the other hand, Morente warned BI personnel who are involved in such activity that they will be punished if found guilty of conniving with unscrupulous individuals.

“We are determined to impose the stiffest disciplinary action of any of our personnel caught conniving with these trafficking syndicates,” he added.

The immigration chief issued the statement after President Rodrigo Détente’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) where the fight against human trafficking was identified as one of his administration’s priority programs.

It also comes in the wake of the release of the US State Department’s report placing the Philippines under Tier 1 of its annual trafficking in persons (TIP) watchlist.

Countries under Tier 1 "fully meet" the minimum standards "for the elimination of human trafficking" under the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000. The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country under Tier 1. (PNA)

President Duterte, Pacquiao discuss illegal drugs, death penalty
By Jelly F. Musico

MANILA, Aug. 2 (PNA) â€" Neophyte Senator Manny Pacquiao went out of Malacanang by almost midnight on Monday with all his questions on intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign and proposed death penalty revival answered by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte.

Pacquiao, whose incredible rags-to-riches boxing story made him senator, said he met President Duterte upon the latter’s request to know from the President how he can help in the government’s drive to stop drug menace and criminality.

”I think we met for almost an hour starting at 11 p.m. I asked the President where I can help in his fight against illegal drugs,” Pacquiao said in a media interview before the session.

Pacquiao said the death penalty was also discussed with the President, who like him is from Mindanao.

”He is asking from the people that the death penalty should be passed so that it will help also (in fighting illegal drugs and criminality),” he said.

The senator said he was also supporting the proposal to re-impose the death penalty against drug lords and heinous crimes.

”He (the President) really wants the re-imposition of death penalty and of course I also support it,” Pacquiao said.

On the spate of extrajudicial killings and summary executions, Pacquiao believed that some of the drug lords are behind the summary executions to prevent the victims from exposing their names to the authorities.

”Not everybody were killed in the police operations. Many of them were killed by their fellow drug dependents,” he said.

The first boxer to win eight world titles in eight different categories said he was supporting the ongoing illegal drug campaign “because I’m worried for the safety of my children.”

Pacquiao said had President Duterte not won in the last May elections, “we will not know how rampant already the illegal drugs in our country.”

”Even to the remotest barangay, the drug problem is rampant. If we have no President Digong now, this illegal drugs will continue and more people will become crazy because of drugs,” he added.

Pacquiao is part of the supermajority of 21 senators in the Senate headed by President Duterte’s political ally Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, who is also from Mindanao. (PNA)

MVP: 95% of initial '8888' and '911' calls were prank
By Ma. Cristina C. Arayata

MANILA, Aug. 2 (PNA) -- PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said on Tuesday 95 percent of the initial calls they received for the "8888" and "911" hotlines were prank.

Both launched on Monday, Hotline 911 is the country's national emergency hotline number, while citizen's hotline 8888 is the public's hotline to air complaints against government officials or services.

"Actually, we expected that (receiving many prank calls)," Pangilinan said on the sidelines of PLDT's briefing on its first-half financial and operating results.

He explained that the company had experienced the same scenario when the country had the hotline 117 (same function as 911) during the Arroyo administration.

Access to Hotline 117 was provided for free in both landlines and mobile phones at that time.

PLDT-Smart charges "911" and "8888" calls based on regular rates, and depending on airtime usage if one uses his/her mobile phone.

The company, however, is willing to provide free access to these hotlines if the government requires them to do so.

Patterned after Davao City's Central 911, the Hotline 911 works 24/7 for crime prevention, and to maintain order and public safety.

It is a result of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s order for quick action and help for every Filipino who is in distress.

Hotline 8888, on the other hand, aims to reduce corruption and red tape in the government bureaucracy.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has earlier appealed to the public not to make prank calls.

Both the government and PLDT are discouraging prank callers, citing that someone in need might not be able to access the hotline at the same time pranksters are calling. (PNA)
SCS/CVL/MCCA

Bolivia seizes 7.6 tons of cocaine destined for U.S. market

LA PAZ, Bolivia -- Bolivian police seized more than 7.5 tons of cocaine destined for the U.S. market and arrested three Bolivians, the Bolivian News Agency said on Monday.

The seizure dealt "a big blow to international drug trafficking, " interior minister Carlos Romero said at a press conference.

The 7,580-kilogram cache of "pure cocaine," seized over the weekend, was worth USD 379 million, Romero said.

Members of the Bolivian police force's special anti-narcotics unit (FELCN) intercepted the shipment of the white mineral ulexite which was about to ship via container first to Honduras and then eventually to the United States.

The ulexite was found to contain 34.45 percent of cocaine, the official said, adding the investigation that led to this latest drug seizure began in 2015.

The seizure brings the total amount of drugs confiscated so far this year to more than 22 tons of cocaine and nearly 100 tons of marijuana.

A Godly Person Set Apart

But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him. Psalm 4:3

No one is more precious in the Lord’s sight than a godly person. God is pleased whenever He finds someone who strives to live a righteous life and bring glory to Him. God sets such people apart in a special place in His heart. They are always kept before Him, and He stands ready to respond to their faintest cries for help.

Sin separates us from God, causing Him to close His ears to our praying. It is futile for us to pray when we are knowingly practicing sin. But the opposite is also true. God chooses to honor us by listening to our every cry when we are living a godly life. An abiding security comes with living a blameless life. The righteous person never has to wonder whether God has listened to his prayer (1 John 5:14-15). The godly person has confidence that God has indeed heard her prayer and will immediately respond in all of His power.

It is exhilarating to be set apart by God, knowing that God observes your consecrated life and is pleased with what He sees. What a tremendous privilege to know that your life holds a special place in God’s heart! The world may not accord any special status to you, but you will know that you are cherished by God. The world continues to find new ways to honor people, but even the world’s most extravagant accolades are pitiful compared to the unfathomable blessing of holding a special place in the heart of God! Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Knowing God

And God spoke to Moses and said to him: "I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them. Exodus 6:2-3

As God has walked with His people through the generations, He has progressively revealed His nature according to His purposes and the needs of His people. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew Him as God Almighty, because they needed His mighty power to protect them from their enemies. Moses and the Israelites learned that God was Lord, Master over every nation and every thing. God not only delivered them from the most powerful ruler in the world, but also brought them into the Promised Land. They came to experience Him as Lord, preeminently powerful over the pagan gods of their day.

God will continue to reveal His character to you according to your needs and according to His purposes. You will come to know more and more about Him as you obey Him. When you grieve, He will come to you as Comforter. When you are in need, He will demonstrate that He is the Provider. When you face a serious challenge, He will reveal that He is God Almighty.

Your understanding of God’s character ought to be greater now than when you first became a Christian. You ought to know Him today better than you did five years ago. Sadly, some Christians continue to live year after year with the same basic knowledge of God that they had when they first began walking with him. Whatever your present situation, view it in the light of what God is teaching you, through circumstances, about Himself and you will come to know God in dimensions you have never known Him before.  Henry and Richard Blackaby .

God's Initiatives

Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you." Genesis 12:1

The most dramatic changes in your life will come from God’s initiative, not yours. The people God used mightily in Scripture were all ordinary people to whom He gave divine assignments that they never could have initiated. The Lord often took them by surprise for they were not seeking significant mandates from God. Even so, He saw their hearts, and He knew they were trustworthy.

The Lord spoke to Abram when He was beginning to build a nation dedicated to His purposes. Through this nation would come the Savior. God appeared to Moses at the very time He had purposed to deliver Israel out of slavery in Egypt. God found in Jesse’s youngest son David a godly man who could lead His people. God surprised Mary when He told her she would be the mother of the Messiah. God’s Son selected the twelve disciples, all ordinary, uneducated men, when He was ready to take the good news of His salvation to the world. Through the ages God has taken the initiative in the everyday lives of people to accomplish things through them that they never could have imagined.

The Lord may be initiating some new things in your life. When He tells you what His plans are, trust Him and walk closely with Him. Don’t let the busyness of your present activity keep you from experiencing all that God has in store for you. You will see Him accomplish things through your life that you never dreamed were possible (Eph. 3:20).    Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Can We Continue in Sin?

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Romans 6:1-2

A Christian has died to sin. Sin has no control over a corpse. Temptation can present itself enticingly and persistently, yet a corpse will not succumb! Before you were a Christian you were keenly susceptible to sin. Sin held you in its grip. When you became a Christian, your old self died (Gal. 2:20). Sin now has no more control over you than temptation has over a corpse. You have died to sin. You can still sin, but you are no longer in sin’s power. If you choose to succumb to temptation, you are rejecting the freedom from sin that Christ gained for you by His death.

God’s grace is a further motivation for us to resist sin. It was God’s grace that enabled Jesus to endure mocking, beating, and crucifixion at the hands of those whom He had come to save. It was grace that led God to forgive our sin despite our rebellion against Him. It is this same grace that God expresses toward us each time we sin against Him. Knowing this grace, we cannot continue to practice sin (Rom. 6:1-2). We cannot presume upon God’s forgiveness by committing further offenses.

You are no longer the helpless victim of your sin. The victory has already been won. God does not have to win a victory over your sin; He already has! You only need to apply His victory to each area of your life. If there is a sinful habit, an ungodly attitude, or an unrighteous relationship that you need to put to death, claim the victory of Christ’s resurrection today. Then you will be free to experience the abundant life that God intends for you.  Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Showing Grace

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

The Book of Ephesians describes the behavior that ought to characterize Christians as they relate to one another. Our actions ought to be permeated with kindness. Kindness is love expressed in practical ways; it is putting the needs of others before our own. It is intentionally considering ways to meet other people’s needs.Being tenderhearted means that we are keenly sensitive to the feelings of others. When a fellow Christian experiences sorrow, we grieve also (1 Cor. 12:26). When another believer is joyful, we, too, rejoice. Being tenderhearted means showing compassion toward those around us.

We show forgiveness because we, too, fall short of God’s ideal. Knowing that God has graciously saved us from destruction motivates us to forgive others when they offend us. Often we are less patient with our fellow Christians than we are with nonbelievers. We expect more of Christians, and we feel betrayed when they fail us. When this happens, we need to look closely at the cross and remember the forgiveness we received there. We must set aside the self-centered attitude that leads to impatience and criticism of others.

Jesus did not say that the world will know Him by our miracles, by our grand testimonies, or by our vast Bible knowledge. The world will know Him by the love that Christians show to one another (John 13:35). Are you constantly in conflict with others? Ask God to give you kindness, a tender heart, and a forgiving spirit. As you allow the Spirit to build these qualities into you, your life will be a blessing to others around you. Henry and Richard Blackaby .

The Poor in Spirit

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

The Bible presents many paradoxes that challenge our human way of thinking. We think of the poor as possessing very little, yet Jesus said the riches of heaven belong to the poor in spirit. Self-reliance robs us of God’s good gifts.

Jesus insisted that in order to follow Him we must deny self. As long as we rely on our own resources, we will never place our trust in Him. As we acknowledge the poverty of our souls, we realize how desperately we need a Savior. Jesus declared: “Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matt. 4:17). God has so much to give the one who recognizes his need and will call upon Jesus!

Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. He had just encountered the rich ruler, who valued his possessions so much that he could not give them up to follow Jesus (Luke 18:18-24). Jesus later encountered Zaccheus, a wealthy, notorious sinner (Luke 19:1-10). Despite Zaccheus’s material wealth, he recognized his spiritual poverty and found salvation. Jesus taught the disciples that true wealth is found in a relationship with God. Those who realize their inherent spiritual poverty apart from God will trust in Him, and He will enrich their lives immeasurably. Do not allow your resources, wisdom, talent, or abilities to prevent you from trusting the Person who can bring you abundant life. Henru and Richard  Blackaby .

God's Presence

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5

God’s assignment for Joshua might have caused him some concern. Being the successor to Moses was no small task. Through Moses, God had turned the waters in Egypt into blood, parted the Red Sea, destroyed the Egyptian army, and miraculously fed the nation for forty years. God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai and gave him His law. Joshua must have wondered how he could follow Moses.

To erase any doubt, God assured Joshua that Moses’ accomplishments had all been due to God’s presence. Joshua grew confident because the same God who walked with Moses now walked with him (Josh. l:6).

As you read the accounts of God’s miraculous work through men and women in the Bible, you may wonder if God still performs such miracles today. Be assured that the same God who walked with Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Peter, James, John, and Paul now lives within you. No power can defeat the God who guides you. The God who blessed them is just as capable of working out His purposes through your life. The same God who gave them victory over seemingly invincible enemies, who provided for them when their own resources were insufficient, and who guided them in their decisions, is prepared to work as powerfully in your life today. The heroes of the faith had one thing in common: They were all ordinary people with no power of their own. The difference is the mighty presence of God. Times may change, but the effect of God’s presence remains the same.

Daily Bread

"Give us this day our daily bread." Matthew 6:11

Jesus often reminded His followers not to worry. He told them not to be anxious about tomorrow’s needs or potential problems (Matt. 6:25). Rather, Jesus stressed a daily reliance on the Father, who provides for His children day by day. As the Israelites wandered in the desert, they had no way to get food. Miraculously, God provided manna that appeared on the ground each morning. God’s provision was sufficient for one day at a time. Each day the children of Israel received fresh manna as a tangible reminder of God’s love for them. If they attempted to store it for the days to come, they found that it had spoiled by the next day. It was impossible to stockpile God’s provision, because God wanted them to trust in Him, not in their pantry. God’s grace was sufficient for each day. God wants us to trust Him daily with our needs. This trust does not make us poor planners or careless with our futures, unprepared to face what may come. Rather, it keeps our relationship with the Lord in its proper perspective as He reminds us daily of our dependence upon Him. God is aware of what tomorrow will bring and how we should prepare for it. He knows the problems we will face, and He has already made provision for us to overcome them. He asks us to trust in Him daily. Our faith in Him today cannot substitute for our trust in Him tomorrow. If we walk with Him closely today, we will be in the center of His will tomorrow.    Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Hallowed Be Your Name

"Hallowed be Your name." Matthew 6:9b

Our calling as Christians is to bring glory to the name of God. God’s name represents His character. Taking the name of God in vain misrepresents God’s character to others (Exod. 20:7). As Christians, we carry the name of our Savior. The way we live and relate to others is a direct reflection on the name of Christ.

Doing something “in Jesus’ name” is to do something that is in accordance with His character (John 15:16). It means that Jesus would be pleased to join us in what we are doing. If, however, our actions detract from God’s reputation, He will jealously guard His name. Sometimes we are too concerned with protecting the reputation of people but too little concerned with protecting the holy name of God. When the Israelites profaned God’s name before the nations by the way they lived, God “hallowed” His name: He made His name holy by punishing them (Ezek. 36:22). When David sinned before his nation, God publicly disciplined him in order to protect the holiness of His name.

We can so tarnish the name father before our children that it hinders them from loving God as their heavenly Father. We can be such unforgiving Christians that our sinfulness discourages people from seeking forgiveness from our God. We can show such disrespect for God as we worship Him that those observing lose their reverence of Him as well.

Our supreme desire should be to glorify the name of God by the way we live.

We ought to pray daily, as Jesus taught us to, that God’s name be treated as holy.

Henry and Richard Blackaby.

Victory over Sin

For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness. . .that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:22b-26

Because of sin, Adam and Eve fell short of the perfection God intended for them. Because of sin, the Israelites relinquished the glory they could have experienced as God’s holy nation. Because of sin, Judas fell short of the opportunity to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. Sin will corrupt every area of your life that it touches. Sin will cause your marriage to fall short of the promise it held in the beginning. Sin will cause you to fall short as a parent, a church member, a worshiper, or a friend. Every area in your life is susceptible to sin’s destruction.

The wonder of salvation is that God completely dealt with sin. He did what we could not do. Through Christ’s sacrifice, God, by His grace, offered His salvation and canceled the penalty of our sin. By His grace, He takes a life that has fallen short of God’s best and gives it meaning. He provides the opportunity to immediately confess our sin and to be cleansed from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). He mends a broken heart. His grace erases anger and bitterness. He restores severed relationships. He takes a life devastated by sin and makes it whole. He takes our failures and produces something good.

Only God can heal sin’s devastation. Only He can bridge the gap between His glory and your sin (Rom. 3:23). You must trust Him to do so. If you will ask Him, He will free you from the of your sin, reestablish your relationship with Him, and restore you to wholeness.

                              Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Pleasing God, Pleasing Others

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

At times you will have to make a choice between pleasing God and pleasing those around you, for God’s ways are not man’s ways (Isa. 55:8-9). As important as it is to strive for good relations with others, it is even more important to maintain a steadfast and obedient relationship with Christ. Disobeying God to keep peace with other people is never wise. Peace with God is always paramount.

Jesus warned that obeying Him might cause division in your relationships (Matt. 10:35-36). If Paul’s primary goal had been to please others, he would never have become an apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul went completely against the wishes of his colleagues in order to obey Christ. At times, obedience to God sets family members at odds with each other (Matt. 10:35-36). When you follow Jesus’ Lordship, your family may misunderstand, or even oppose you, yet your obedience to God reflects your identity as His child. Jesus said that those who obey His will are His brothers and sisters (Luke 8:21). God does not intend to divide the home, but He places obedience before domestic harmony.

It is important to get alone in quietness with God so that you understand what pleases Him. The world’s thinking will mislead you more easily when you are not clear about what God desires. It broke Peter’s heart to know that the opinion of a servant girl had mattered more to him than the approval of his Lord! If the desire to appease others tempts you to compromise what you know God wants you to do, learn from Peter’s mistake. Determine that you will please your Lord regardless of the opinions of others    Henry and Richard Blackaby .

The Testimony of Others

"Here I am. Witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you." And they said, "You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man's hand." 1 Samuel 13:3-4

There is a freedom that comes in having nothing to hide. Living a life of integrity allows you this freedom. Your integrity is measured not by what you say about yourself but by what God and people say about you. Samuel had lived all his life among the people of God. Leaders who preceded him were dishonest and corrupt; it would have been easy for Samuel to compromise in his dealings as well. Near the end of his life, however, Samuel could boldly stand before his nation and ask them to reveal any offense he had committed against any of them. They could not think of one.

In his position of leadership, Samuel could have taken advantage of people. Yet because he carefully guarded his motives and kept his relationships blameless, Samuel could fearlessly ask the people to report if he had mistreated them in any way. It takes courage to open your life up to the scrutiny of others, but Samuel did not fear what others would say about him. He did not have to avoid anyone whom he had offended. He had a confidence that comes from living a blameless life.

If you have mistreated others, you cannot change the past, but you can choose to live with absolute integrity from this day forward. Living righteously frees you to face any person unashamedly, knowing you have behaved in a Christlike manner. If your reputation is stained, seek forgiveness from those you have offended. Ask God to guide you daily in your relationships so that you have no regrets about your treatment of others.  Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Put Away Evil

So you shall put away the evil from among you. Deuteronomy 22:21b

It is a dangerous and costly mistake not to take temptation seriously. The sad testimony of many who have succumbed to sin’s enticements is that they thought they were strong enough to remain in the midst of temptation and resist it. God requires that His people remove evil from their midst (Deut. 21:21). One way to do this is to remove anything in your environment that may tempt you to sin. When wickedness surrounds you, you are in danger of becoming anesthetized to its destructive potential. Never assume that you are immune to temptation. Do not underestimate the craftiness of the evil one.

God does not tolerate evil, for evil cost the death of His Son. Sin causes untold pain and destruction to everyone it touches. Treating evil lightly shows foolish disregard for God’s redemptive work. An honest evaluation of your life will reveal temptations that you should remove, such as some forms of entertainment or ungodly relationships. When God convicts you of evil in your midst, remove it immediately!

There are times, however, when you are powerless to remove ungodly influences, so you must remove yourself from the temptation. Paul urges us to avoid every kind of evil (1 Thess. 5:22). When Joseph was enticed to commit adultery by his master’s wife, he fled immediately! (Gen. 39:12).

Do not lose your abhorrence of sin. Be diligent to keep any form of temptation out of your home, out of your relationships, out of your mind. You can do this only by maintaining your love relationship with God, recognizing that you are powerless to resist temptation in your own strength. You will not be able to walk closely with God unless you see sin as He sees it. Darkness and light cannot coexist. Run from the darkness to the light!     Henry and Richard Blackaby .

A Jealous God

For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24

Our God is a consuming fire. He is satisfied only when His love totally consumes us. We usually think of a jealous person as someone resentful and suspicious, but the Lord’s jealousy on our behalf is something that should be precious to us! He has the complete right to our lives. He gave us life, and He wants to protect us from anything that could harm us. That is why He has commanded His children to worship no other gods, allowing nothing to distract us from His consuming love.

The Lord opposes anything that hinders our relationship with Him (Deut. 6:15). He knows the danger of other gods, how they will lure us away, deceive us, and leave us empty. He will tolerate nothing that takes precedence over our love for Him. Our faithfulness to God assures us of the abundant life He wants to give us. If we reject Him, He will pursue us until we return to Him.

We should not resent the fact that God wants to guard our relationship with Him. It should bring us comfort. Our relationship with God should be our top priority. It should dictate how we spend our time, our money, and our energy. If certain people or our possessions separate us from God, we must reexamine our hearts and give our devotion first to Him, as He commands. God wants each of us to love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30). Our love for God should extend to every corner of our lives. God loved us so much that He gave us His own Son. Let us respond by giving Him our highest devotion in return.

Not One Word Has Failed

And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed. Joshua 23:14

Near the end of his life, Joshua took time with the Israelites to review all that God had done for them since they first began following Him. God had given them an impossible assignment: to conquer a foreign and hostile land with fortified cities and armies more powerful than their own. The Israelites were to go forward with nothing more than God’s promise that He would go with them and take care of them. Now Joshua looked back over their experience and reminded the Israelites that God had kept every promise. They had experienced numerous victories and had enjoyed God’s provision for every need.

Sometimes hindsight gives us a clear picture of how faithful God has been. We are tempted during a crisis to wonder if God will be faithful to His promises. We focus on our problems, and our trust in God begins to waver. Twenty-four years after God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, they were still waiting on God to fulfill His promise. But in the twenty-fifth year, Abraham and Sarah could look back and see that God had been faithful. As David was fleeing for his life, he may have been uncertain how God would keep His promise to make him a king. But at the end of his long and prosperous reign, David could review how God had kept every promise.

You, too, can rely on God’s faithfulness. Are you in a crisis? Hold to the promises of your Lord! He will not forget His promises to you. Look back over your Christian life and recount the many ways in which God has been faithful to His word.       Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Clean Hands; a Pure Heart

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart. Psalms 24:3-4a

God has rigid requirements for those who want to enjoy intimate fellowship with Him. There is no easy access to God for those with unclean hands or an impure heart. It is an affront to holy God to assume that we can indulge in our sin and blatantly disobey His word, then brazenly enter the holy of holies. In Old Testament times, one’s hands represented one’s activities. Clean hands symbolized pure activities. Priests washed their hands before serving in the temple to symbolize that only those who were cleansed could worship holy God.

There are levels of intimacy with God. The moment you become a Christian you begin a relationship with the Lord. However, if you persist in your sin, sin will separate you from God and keep you from enjoying close fellowship with Him. If you follow only God’s basic commandments but resist every time God gives you specific, personal directions, you will never fully experience the depths of God’s Person. If, however, you are like the psalmist and understand the holiness of God, you will adjust your life to His standards and respond to His prompting so that you may have deeper fellowship with Him.

The closer you get to holy God, the more obvious even your smallest sins become. The more you know of God’s character, the more you will realize the need to wash your hands and purify your heart before you can get close to Him.

Are you willing for almighty God to make you absolutely pure before Him so that you can enjoy the maximum possible relationship with Him? Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Asking for Mountains

"Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said." Joshua 14:12

Caleb’s faith in God never wavered though everyone around him doubted. God convinced Caleb that the children of Israel should enter the Promised Land, but the people were intimidated by giants and fortified cities (Num. 13:28-33). Their disbelief forced Caleb to wait forty years in the wilderness before he finally entered the Promised Land. Even after all those years, Caleb was as confident as ever in God’s power.

When God was dividing the land among the Israelites, the people were asking for the lush valleys and grassy plains. Caleb asked for a mountain. The Israelites had driven their enemies into the mountains, where they had built fortresses. This did not intimidate Calebâ€"he asked for a challenge! He did not trust in his own strength but in God’s presence. Caleb longed to see God work in power, and he knew he would be less likely to rely on God if he dwelt in the easy places. He chose a situation in which he would have to trust in God. Caleb knew his inheritance from God was on the mountain. He refused to allow the difficulty of gaining it to stop him from enjoying all that God had promised him.

If you always choose the easy way, asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God’s power displayed to enable you to take a mountain. Seek out the mountains, and you will witness God doing things through your life that can be explained only by His mighty presence. Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Delivered into Your Hand

And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you." Joshua 10:8

No greater confidence will ever come to you or to any other Christian than the confidence of knowing you are doing God’s will. God will not commission you to do anything without ensuring your success. God assured Joshua that there was no reason to fear as he prepared to battle the Canaanites. God would allow the Israelites to fight the battle, but the outcome was settled before they ever picked up their weapons. What confidence this gave them as they fought! Even though their_enemies fought relentlessly, Joshua’s army was certain of eventual victory.

God does not promise you victory in every task you devise, but He does promise that you will be successful whenever you follow His will (Deut. 28:7, 25).

Does it appear that people are keeping you from obeying God’s will? Rest assured that God will not allow anyone or anything to prevent His children from accomplishing His purposes.

Be careful to evaluate success in the way that God does. Perhaps He is working to produce His peace in your heart as you face troubling times. Perhaps He is working to develop a forgiving spirit in you when others mistreat you. Perhaps He is working to eliminate a particular sin in your life. If you accept the world’s understanding of victory, you may feel defeated. If you look to see what God is accomplishing through your situation, you will find that He is succeeding. When you face opposition but know you are doing what God has asked, have confidence that He will accomplish everything that He desires. Henry and Richard Blackaby .

A Loyal Heart

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

If your heart is loyal to God, you do not have to look for Him, He is already looking for you! God told King Asa that He continuously watches for those who are steadfast in their commitment to Him. When He finds them, He makes His presence powerfully evident to them. King Asa had experienced God’s awesome power when he faced a menacing army from Ethiopia (2 Chron. 14:9). God gave Asa victory, despite the overwhelming odds he faced. In spite of this miracle, the next time Asa faced an enemy he failed to trust God. Even though the army Asa faced was smaller than the one God had previously defeated, Asa’s faith in God faltered. God encouraged Asa to take courage in knowing that God never rests or sleeps. He is never distracted, but diligently seeks individuals whose hearts are completely committed to Him.

Life’s challenges sometimes seem impossible. Do you feel you are too weak to fight the battle? Don’t give up! Keep your heart loyal to God, for He constantly watches over you, and He desires to demonstrate His strength in your life. God is willing and just as capable of giving you victory in your current challenge as He was with those in times past. The question is not whether God is looking for His people, but whether His people are seeking Him. Take comfort in God’s promise that He watches over you and He wants to give you victory Henry and Richard Blackaby .

God's Presence

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5

God’s assignment for Joshua might have caused him some concern. Being the successor to Moses was no small task. Through Moses, God had turned the waters in Egypt into blood, parted the Red Sea, destroyed the Egyptian army, and miraculously fed the nation for forty years. God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai and gave him His law. Joshua must have wondered how he could follow Moses.

To erase any doubt, God assured Joshua that Moses’ accomplishments had all been due to God’s presence. Joshua grew confident because the same God who walked with Moses now walked with him (Josh. l:6).

As you read the accounts of God’s miraculous work through men and women in the Bible, you may wonder if God still performs such miracles today. Be assured that the same God who walked with Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Peter, James, John, and Paul now lives within you. No power can defeat the God who guides you. The God who blessed them is just as capable of working out His purposes through your life. The same God who gave them victory over seemingly invincible enemies, who provided for them when their own resources were insufficient, and who guided them in their decisions, is prepared to work as powerfully in your life today. The heroes of the faith had one thing in common: They were all ordinary people with no power of their own. The difference is the mighty presence of God. Times may change, but the effect of God’s presence remains the same.  Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Powerless

And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. Judges 16:20

One of the signs of a heart that has shifted from God is the absence of spiritual power. If you are like Samson, you will not be immediately aware that God’s power has left you. Only after he tried to defeat his enemies did Samson recognize that something was wrong. He went against the Philistines as before, expecting their swift defeat. But this time the Philistines easily prevailed over him.

If you allow sin to creep into your life, if you refuse to obey your Lord, if you do not reconcile with those who have hurt you, your spiritual vitality is waning. You may assume everything is fine, but when you pray, answers do not come as they once did. You once had a positive effect on those around you, but now your influence is negligible or even harmful. Your life once brought reconciliation, but now you experience problems in your relationships. Those around you who have relied upon your strength are discovering that you are not as helpful to them as you once were. Your lack of spiritual power is not crying out for attention; but you are seeing subtle changes in your spirit and in your relationship with God.

How can you stop this spiritual decline? You must regularly repent of any sin. You must invite God to search your life to see if there are attitudes, relationships, or activities that need to be removed. You must fervently obey His will. If you walk with God in this manner, you will grow in spiritual strength and be used mightily by Him.    Henry and Richard Blackaby .

A Double Portion

And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." 2 Kings 2:9

There had never been a man like Elijah. Elijah had raised the dead, called down fire from heaven, and revealed God’s plans for a devastating drought. The Israelites must have felt certain there would never be another prophet like Elijah, until Elisha came along. Moses was arguably the mightiest leader the Hebrews had ever followed, yet God prepared Joshua to accomplish what not even Moses had achieved. David’s reign marked a high point for the nation of Israel, yet it was Solomon who carried out the task that was denied his father, by building the spectacular temple.

We can be tempted to put more trust in the leaders God gives us than in God Himself. History teaches that, as wonderful as these godly people are, God always has another Moses, Elijah, or David. Often the successor will come with a double portion of their predecessors’ spirits.

God’s purposes do not depend on us. He has limitless ways to accomplish His will. The same God who led Moses could also use Joshua. If no one were willing to serve Him, the Lord would accomplish His work by His own divine power. We are not irreplaceable to the Lord. He will achieve His purposes. The question is this: Will we be a part of God’s activity, or will He find someone else? We deceive ourselves if we think we are indispensable to God. Service to the Lord is an honor God bestows on us, not a favor we do for God.  Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Draw Near to God

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

There may be times when God seems far away. You may feel as if your prayers go unheard. James said there is a simple reason for this and a solution. If you are far from God, it is because your sin has separated you from Him. God is unchanging. His character stays absolutely holy. His faithfulness remains constant; it is we who change. We allow sin into our lives. We choose our own direction. We spend less and less time with Him in Bible study and prayer. Then one day we realize that we have gradually grown distant from God. The solution, according to James, is straightforward. We are to draw near to God. As we realize our need to be closer to the Father and we begin to return to Him, He meets us even as the father hurried to greet his prodigal son (Luke 15:20). Drawing near to God requires you to take two actions. First, you must cleanse your hands (Isa. 1:15). You must cleanse your way of living. If you have been actively engaged in sin, you must renounce it. If you have done anything to offend or hurt someone, you must make it right. Second, you are to purify your heart (Ps. 51:10). You must make certain your attitudes, thoughts, and motives are right in God’s eyes and are in harmony with God’s word. Jesus warned that you cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6:24). It is impossible to love anything else as much as you love God and still please Him. If God seems distant, do what is necessary to cleanse your hands, purify your heart, and draw near to Him. Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Put Away Lying

Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. Ephesians 4:25

Because you are a Christian, your life ought to be permeated with truth. When you were born again, God put the Spirit of truth in you (John 16:13). The Spirit’s role is to guide you into all truth. The Spirit wants to fill your mind with whatever is true (Phil. 4:. If you allow the Spirit to fill you with God’s truth, you will be truthful in your actions and in your relationships. According to Jesus, this means that your yes will always be yes, and your no will always mean no (Matt. 5:33-37).

The world considers truth optional. Deception permeates every corner of society because the prince of this world is the author and father of lies (John 8:44). From his first contact with people, Satan has been lying to them and persuading them to live in falsehood rather than in truth.

The world will tempt you to compromise the truth. You may be fooled into thinking that you can accomplish greater good by withholding the truth. That is a demonic deception. You cannot use deception to build the kingdom of God! God refuses to use sinful means to accomplish His holy purposes. You may be tempted to live a lie by projecting a false image of yourself. Jesus condemned this as hypocrisy (Luke 12:56). When you sin, you will be tempted to conceal the truth; yet only as you confess the truth will you be forgiven and set free (James 5:16).

What you say reflects what is in your heart (Matt. 12:34). If your heart is filled with deception, your mouth will speak falsehood. Ask God to permeate you with His truth so that you find falsehood, in any form, abhorrent.Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Your Heavenly Father Knows You

Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8

Even before we call on Him, the Father has already begun to provide all that we need (Isa. 65:24). Jesus wanted His disciples to learn how intimately God knew and loved each of them. That is why He told them to pray. He assured them that even before they prayed, God knew all about their situation.

Prayer is not designed for us to inform God of our needs, for He already knows them. Why, then, should we pray? Prayer enables us to experience God more intimately. The more a child experiences the loving provision of a parent, the more convinced he becomes of his parent’s unrelenting love. Often a parent will anticipate a child’s need before the child recognizes it and be prepared in advance to provide for that need. Our heavenly Father knows exactly what we will face today and next week. He is eager for us to experience Him as He provides for us.

To our surprise, we often discover that God knows far better than we do what is best for us. At times we assume that we know what would benefit us. We can even be foolish enough to assume that we don’t require anything of God. Yet God wants us to go to Him in our need (Matt. 7:7). He is ready to show His strength through our weakness. Our heavenly Father knows exactly what is best for us, and He is prepared to provide for every need, if we will but ask (Phil. 4:13). Henry and Richard Blackaby .

The Difference Your Life Can Make

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20

One of the Christian’s greatest deterrents from sin is the life of another Christian. Some Christians maintain that it is none of their business if another chooses to sin. They are convinced that they are being judgmental if they respond to someone in sin. The world persuades them not to get involved, but this inaction prevents them from being an effective intercessor. As Christians we are aware that sin brings death (Rom. 6:23). Sin kills relationships, dismantles marriages, stifles joy, and destroys peace. When we see someone wander from the truth into error, how should we respond? When Jesus saw sin it broke His heart. He wept over entire cities as He saw them rejecting the truth (Matt. 23:37-39). He prayed fervently for His disciples to be strong when they were tempted (John 17). He warned those who were heading toward spiritual failure (Matt. 26:20-25, 34). Jesus was even willing to die to save people from their sins because He knew the devastation that sin causes. Jesus never stood idle as those around Him were led astray by their sin. He always took an active role in turning them back to God. “Minding your own business” will save you some discomfort, but it will not help a brother or sister who needs to return to the Lord. If you are truly aware of the grave consequences for those who continue in sin, you will be moved to weep even as Jesus wept. Pray fervently for your friend. That will safeguard your motives and prepare you to minister to him. Be alert, in the event that God asks you to confront your friend. If you do so, be loving and gentle lest you, too, be tempted (Gal. 6:1). 

Displaying God through Your Life

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12b-13

Salvation is not an event; it is a process. Salvation is God’s gift, for there is nothing we can do to save ourselves (Eph. 2:8-9). Yet with salvation comes the responsibility to work out our salvation. Once we have been saved, we must claim all that has become ours.

Through salvation, God gave you victory over sin. That victory applies not only to past sins but also to every sin you will ever commit. When you became a Christian, God made you a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). God wants to continually build new things into your life as you walk with Him. God gave you His joy when He saved you, and He wants to fill you with His joy daily. When you first repented of your sin, you relinquished your right to your life. God continues to ask you to yield your will to Him and to follow His leading rather than setting your own direction for your life. When you were converted, God made everything available to you; how you implement what He has given you is your choice (2 Pet. 1:3-9).

This is the great paradox of the Christian life. We are to work diligently on our faith, yet always with the awareness that only God can bring about lasting change in our lives. As we see God at work in us, we are motivated to work even more diligently. God will not force His changes upon us; neither can we bring about lasting change in our lives apart from the work of the Holy Spirit.

When you sense God developing an area of your life, join Him in His activity so that His salvation will be demonstrated fully.  Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Blinded by the God of This Age

Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 2 Corinthians 4:4

When you are blinded, you cannot see things as they really are, even though others around you see them clearly. You cannot experience the full reality of all that is around you. You may feel you are experiencing all that there is to life, yet you may be unaware that you are missing what God desires for you. You may even be in danger because of your blindness and not know it.

Paul warned that the “god of this age” can blind you to the reality of Jesus Christ. Christ’s presence can make a significant difference in your life. However, if Satan convinces you to doubt that Christ can do what He promised, he will have blinded you to the reality of what your life is really like and to what it could become. Others may see what your unbelief causes you to miss, but you will be unaware of it. Your life may be steadily moving toward disaster, but you will be oblivious to it.

Christ comes to you as light (John 1:4, 5, 9). He illuminates your sin so that you see its ugliness and destructiveness. He reveals Himself so that you can appreciate the glory of His person and the marvelous riches He brings. His presence lights your path so that you can see impending danger. Don’t let the god of this age distort your_spiritual vision. Don’t be fooled into thinking that everything is as it should be when, in fact, you are missing out on so much that God wants to do in your life. Ask Christ to illuminate your life and let you clearly see your spiritual condition.Henry and Richard Blackaby .

The Desires of Your Heart

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Your relationship with God ought to bring you more joy, satisfaction, and pleasure than any other relationship, activity, or material possession you have. Scripture exhorts you to delight yourself in the Lord, finding your greatest pleasure in God and the things dear to His heart.

How can you find pleasure in what God enjoys? Only as you spend time with Him will you begin to take delight in the things God loves. As you spend intimate time with God and allow Him to show you your situation from His perspective, you will begin to see things as God sees them. As you adjust yourself to God, your heart will begin to desire the same things God’s heart desires. When you pray, you will find yourself asking for the very things God desires. Matters foremost on God’s heart will be preeminent in yours. Your first request in prayer will not be for yourself, but for God’s name to be exalted and His kingdom to be extended (Matt. 6:9-10).

Have you been asking God to give you the desires of your heart without first seeking to understand what is on His heart? God places this important requirement for those who pray: that we seek His priorities and make them our own. This great qualifier prevents us from asking out of selfishness. As we find joy in the Lord, we will see what is truly important, and we will long for these things as the Father does.  Henry and Richard Blackaby .

He Is at Your Right Hand

I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8

What does it mean to set the Lord always before you? It means that you choose to relate everything you encounter to your trust in God. What you choose to focus on becomes the dominant influence in your life. You may be a Christian, but if your focus is always on your problems, your problems will determine the direction of your life. If your focus is on people, then people will determine what you think and do. In biblical times, the right hand was the most distinguished position, reserved for one’s chief adviser and supporter. When you choose to focus on Christ, you invite Him to take the most important position in your life as Counselor and Defender.

Every time you face a new experience, you should turn to Christ for His interpretation and strength. When people insult you and mistreat you, you should seek direction from your Counselor regarding the right response. When you face a crisis, you should receive strength from the One at your right hand. When you experience need, you should consult your Counselor before you react. When you face a fearful situation, you should take courage from the Advocate at your right hand. Everything you do is in the context of your relationship to Christ.

What an incredible act of God’s grace that Christ should stand beside you to guide you and counsel you and defend you! How could you ever become dismayed over your situation with Christ at your right hand? What confidence this should give you!    Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Born Again

Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

Entering a saving relationship with Christ is a life-changing experience! All things become new! Not some things, but all things (2 Cor. 5:17). For the first time in your life, Christ is Lord; God is Master. When you become a Christian, Christ’s presence will affect every part of you. You will have new thoughts, new attitudes, new values, and new sensitivities. New priorities will dramatically affect your relationships. You will view everything in your life from a Christlike perspective. Christianity is not something you add to your life; it is life! Nicodemus thought that salvation meant performing certain religious exercises and holding to particular religious teachings. He had no idea of the all-encompassing nature of salvation! When you become a Christian, God gives you a new heart so that everything becomes new! God gives you a new mind, like that of Christ, so you think differently. He gives you new emotions, so you feel deeply about completely different matters. You become sensitive to sin, so you are no longer comfortable with it. Your recreation will be affected as you are made aware of what is honoring to God and what is not. Your relationships will now be guided by the Holy Spirit. Destructive habits and attitudes, previously immune to change, will be transformed. Have you noticed the changes God has brought to your life since you entered a vital relationship with Jesus Christ? These changes should be very noticeable as a testimony of the new life you received when you trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord   Henry and Richard Blackaby .

God Will Not Forget

Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. Isaiah 49:15

God never becomes preoccupied or neglectful toward one of His children. God said it would be more likely for a nursing mother to forget the infant at her breast than for Him to forget one of His children! The nursing mother has a keen sensitivity to her baby. Even if the infant is in another room the mother’s senses are in tune with her child. The mother knows when it is time to feed and care for the child. The mother never becomes so preoccupied with other things that she neglects the needs of her child.

It is fitting that God chose this imagery to describe how He looks after His people, for He is more sensitive to the needs of His children than even the most loving mother. He anticipates every cry for help. Even before we can call out in need, God is responding with His answer (Isa. 65:24). This is one of the most comforting promises God has given to us: that He will never forget us.

Don’t let the difficult circumstances you are facing convince you that God has forgotten you. Don’t ever assume that God is more concerned with the needs of other, more significant, more spiritual people than He is with yours. Scripture teaches that God looks upon you with the same love, interest, and concern as a nursing mother would look upon her infant. It should reassure you to know that your Father loves you like that!    Henery and Richard Blaackaby.

Godly Sorrow

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

There is a difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow, though both are deeply felt. You can feel genuine sorrow over something you have done. Your mind can become consumed with your failure and offense against God and others. Judas felt this kind of sorrow. He betrayed the Son of God for thirty pieces of silver, the standard price of a slave. Yet his sorrow did not lead him to repent and to seek restoration with his fellow disciples, but rather to a lonely field where, in his anguish, he took his own life (Matt. 27:3-5). Judas carried his sorrow to his grave.

How different Peter’s sorrow was! Peter, too, failed Jesus on the night of His crucifixion. Peter also went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). Yet Peter returned to Jesus and reaffirmed his love for Him (John 21:15-17). Peter was not only remorseful, he was also repentant. Peter’s life changed. There is no record of Peter ever denying his Lord again, even when he was persecuted and threatened with death. Peter repented, turned his life around, and never committed that sin again.

Don’t allow mere unhappiness over what you have done to rob you of genuine repentance. You can blame yourself and be angry with yourself for the sins you have committed, but that is not repentance. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the gravity of your sins. Ask the Spirit to clearly show you how God views your character. When you see your sin from God’s perspective, you will experience godly sorrow. Henry and Richharrd Blackaby.

Wait on the Lord

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! Psalms 27:14

Waiting is one of the hardest things to do. We want to be people of action. We feel better if we are doing something to address our need, but waiting forces us to rely on God. David learned what it meant to wait. He was chosen by God to be the next king of Israel, then spent years waiting for the day God’s word would come to pass in his life. As he waited, a paranoid, egocentric king occupied the throne that had been promised to him. David spent his time hiding in caves and living among his enemies. As he waited he saw good friends murdered and his family and possessions taken. He saw Israel’s enemies wreak havoc on his nation. Perhaps no one ever faced greater adversity while waiting upon God’s promise than David did. He certainly understood what it meant to become discouraged and fearful.

But David also enjoyed the reward for waiting upon the Lord. He became the greatest king in Israel’s history, and, more importantly, through his trials he became a man after God’s own heart. The psalms David wrote during his days as a fugitive have been cherished words of encouragement for millions of people through the ages. Through David’s descendants came the Messiah. David’s willingness to wait has blessed us all.

Times of waiting on the Lord can be some of the most precious moments in your life (John 11:1-6). If you are waiting on God for something, read Isaiah 40:31 and find encouragement as you wait for Him to fulfill His promises to you. Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Bitterness

Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble. Hebrews 12:15

Bitterness has a tenacious way of taking root deep within the soul and resisting all efforts to weed it out. Bitterness occurs for many reasons. It might come from deep hurts you received as a child, hurts you cannot forget. Time, rather than diminishing the hurt, only seems to sharpen the pain. Bitterness can result from the hurtful words of a friend or coworker. Often the person who hurt you is unaware of the extent of your bitterness. You find yourself rehearsing the offense over and over again, each time driving the root of bitterness deeper within your soul. Bitterness can derive from a sense of being unjustly treated. Bitterness is easy to justify. You can get so used to a bitter heart that you are even comfortable with it, but it will destroy you. Only God is fully aware of its destructive potential. There is nothing so deeply imbedded in your heart that God’s grace cannot reach down and remove it. No area in your life is so painful that God’s grace cannot bring total healing. No offense committed against you is so heinous that God’s love cannot enable you to forgive. When you allow bitterness to grow in your life, you reject the grace of God that can free you. If you are honest before God, you will admit the bitterness and allow God to forgive you. Bitterness enslaves you, but God is prepared to remove your bitterness and replace it with His peace and joy.   HENRY and Richard Blackaby .

Effective, Fervent Prayer

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16b

God promises all believers that if we live righteously and pray fervently, our prayers will be effective and produce significant results. How do we treat a promise like this? We might argue, “But I do pray, and nothing happens!”  Our problem is that we do not hold ourselves accountable to the Scripture. God’s Word says that prayer ought to accomplish much. If our prayer life is not accomplishing much, what should we do? If we are praying but seeing no results, should we conclude that this promise is untrue? Should we excuse this Scripture as impractical and unrealistic? Or should we examine ourselves to see if we meet its conditions?

James says that fervent prayer avails much. Could it be that we are not as fervent in our praying as we should be? Fervent prayer means we do not quit easily. Fervent prayer means we purposefully spend sufficient time in intercession. Fervent prayer means we cry out to the Father, sometimes in tears, with our heart and soul. Fervent prayer comes as the Holy Spirit assists us in praying with groanings too deep for words (Rom. 8:26).

According to James, our righteousness will ensure effective prayer. God’s standard of righteousness is different from ours, for He looks beyond our actions, even beyond our thoughts, directly to our hearts. How then should we hold ourselves accountable if our prayers are accomplishing little? If nothing happens when we pray, the problem is not with God. The problem is with us, for God’s word is absolutely reliable. If we adhere to what God requires, He will lead us to pray for things that align with His purposes, and God will answer our prayers in a mighty way.   Henry and Richard Blackaby .

A Highway of Holiness

A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray. Isaiah 35:8

The nation of Israel was designed to have a place where other nations of the world could come to worship the true God. The temple in Jerusalem was to be the center from which the good news of God’s salvation would spread to every corner of the world. But those who were supposed to be God’s people forsook Him and practiced every kind of sin. Rather than being ambassadors for God, they disgraced His holy name. Rather than attracting the nations of the earth to God, they became stumbling blocks to those who were seeking the true God. The Israelites fell so far from God’s original intent that God judged them and sent them into exile. Yet God promised that one day His people would be an avenue by which others could find salvation.

It is God’s desire that anywhere there is a Christian, God has a way for people to learn of His salvation (Rom. 10:14-15). Whenever an unbeliever meets a Christian, the unbeliever ought to be face to face with everything he needs to know in order to follow Christ.

Sadly, however, Christians can be like the Israelites of Isaiah’s day. We can be so involved in our sin that we are completely disoriented to God, ill-equipped to direct others to Him. If our lives are filled with hypocrisy, we may turn people away from God, rather than helping them come to Him. If our lives are filled with doubt or anger, we will impede others from coming to Christ. Our lives ought to be a highway of holiness, providing easy access to God for anyone around us who seeks Him. Ask God to remove any obstacle in your life that hinders others from coming to know Jesus.

An Imperishable Crown

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Athletes are willing to push themselves harder and longer and farther than anyone else. They strive to bring their bodies and minds completely under control so that they excel and receive a prize. Others go home to relax, but athletes continue to train. While most people protect themselves from any form of discomfort, athletes push themselves to the limits of their endurance. While some remain satisfied with mediocre performance, athletes pay any price for excellence. Paul said that despite their most valiant efforts, the athletes’ successes and prizes are eventually forgotten. Even the greatest athletic achievements have not affected eternity.

If an athlete can be motivated to make incredible sacrifices for a perishable reward, how much more ought Christians to strive for an imperishable one? If an athlete will labor day after day in order to receive glory from others, how much harder ought Christians to work for the “well done” of their Master? Are you striving to bring your body into subjection for the glory of God? Are you training your mind to think the thoughts of God rather than thoughts of the world? Are you disciplining your life in prayer? When others are sleeping, are you interceding? Have you studied God’s word so diligently that you are prepared to find answers to the challenges you face? Have you equipped yourself in evangelism so that you are ready to share your faith? Have you prepared yourself as a Christian in order to qualify for the imperishable crown that awaits you?   Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Return to God

Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Return to Me," says the LORD of hosts, "and I will return to you." Zechariah 1:3 (NKJV)

God places much of the burden of what we will become on our response to Him. If we have drifted from God, His call is to return to Him. God promises that if we will return, He will immediately renew His relationship with us. James 4:8 promises that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Matthew 7:7 guarantees that if we seek Christ, we will find Him. Much of the Christian life rests upon our response and our desire to experience God to the fullest.

Why is it that some Christians seem to go so much deeper in their walk with God than others? Why have some had such powerful intercessory prayer ministries that have changed the courses of nations? Why has God chosen to anoint the words of some so that, when they speak or pray or preach, it is obvious that their words are consecrated by God? It is because these individuals have committed themselves to pursue God until His presence is powerfully real in their lives. They have decided to settle for nothing less than a vibrant relationship with God, and He has honored their desire.

Have you become complacent with your relationship with God, or are you hungering for more? Don’t become satisfied with a relationship with God that is broken by sin and void of the power of the Holy Spirit. You have just as much of God’s powerful presence available to you as the greatest saint in Christian history! Return to God. There is so much more in store for you if you will return to Him. He awaits your response     Henery and Richard Blackaby .

What More Could Have Been Done?

What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, Did it bring forth wild grapes? Isaiah 5:4

The prophet Isaiah told the story of a man with a vineyard on a fertile hill. The man cultivated the ground and removed the stones so that nothing would hinder the vines’ growth. He planted only the best quality vines. He built a tower in the middle of the vineyard so he could watch for wild animals and intruders. He constructed a wine vat so that he would be ready for the ripe grapes. Then he waited. Rather than producing good grapes, however, the vineyard produced worthless ones.

The story illustrates the relationship between God and His people. God has done everything necessary for us to produce an abundance of spiritual fruit in our lives. He saved us when we were without hope. He gave us His Holy Spirit to produce fruit in our lives (Gal. 5:22-23). He removed our sin so that we are free to serve Him. We have the Bible in numerous translations. We have access to more Christian books, music, videos, conferences, schools, radio and television stations, magazines, and seminars than ever before. There are churches of every kind and size. We have teachers and pastors to instruct us and encourage us. Most of all, we have direct access to God through prayer. Jesus said that to whom much is given, much is expected (Luke 12:48). One day God will hold us accountable for all that He has done for us. He will ask us to show Him the fruit of all of His bountiful provision for our lives. What will He find? Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Strongholds

"And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars." But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? Therefore I also said, "I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you." Judges 2:2-3

God gave the Israelites specific instructions: Drive the Canaanites out of every corner of the land, and obliterate any vestige of their abominable idol worship. This assignment was challenging! Their enemies had formidable chariots. The Canaanites had seemingly impregnable fortresses that were dangerous and difficult to overcome. The Israelites failed to drive all the Canaanites from the land. Much about the Canaanite lifestyle and religion appealed to the Israelites’ sinful nature. Rather than destroying them and their idolatry, Israel compromised. The Canaanites would prove to be a troublesome distraction to the Israelites. Their idol worship would present a constant temptation. When you became a Christian, God declared war on sin’s strongholds in your life. Sinful behaviors and attitudes were firmly entrenched in your character, but God commanded you to tear them down. The Holy Spirit pointed out areas of your life that were resistant to God’s will. Were you tempted to merely establish a truce rather than obliterating every sin? Is anger one of sin’s strongholds? If so, it will rise up against you in moments of weakness. Is there a stronghold of lust in your life? If so, you will succumb to it when caught off guard. In careless moments, these strongholds will still tempt you to continue your past sinful behaviors. Do not underestimate the destructive power of sin. If there are strongholds in your life that you have never defeated, the Holy Spirit is still prepared to bring you complete victory.  Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Integrity Upheld

As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And set me before Your face forever. Psalms 41:12

Joseph was a righteous man who had cultivated a reputation for godliness in his community. Then word spread across the community that Mary, the woman to whom he was engaged, was expecting a child. There would be many who would assume the worst of this apparently scandalous situation. Joseph probably experienced gossip from some, ostracism from others. Yet he was a man of integrity, aware that God knew the truth of his relationship with Mary.

At times, God will be the only witness to your righteous behavior. Sometimes God is the only one who will understand your motives. Sometimes you will do all you know God has asked you to do, only to face ridicule from others. At such times all you can do is maintain your integrity, trusting that God always keeps His eyes on you. God looks favorably upon those who walk with integrity, doing what they know is right, regardless of how others perceive their actions.

The most important thing is not that people know the truth. The most important thing is that you are a person of integrity before God. When no one seems to understand why you have done something or when others question whether you have done all you should have done, your confidence should not be in the hope of vindication in the eyes of others. It should be in the knowledge that God keeps you in His sight. If you have this confidence, it will be enough to sustain you. Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Slaves of Righteousness

And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:18

Before you were a Christian you were a slave, in to sin. Even when you did not want to sin, you were unable to do otherwise (Rom. 7:15-24). When God saved you, He freed you from sin, but you remained a slave. Now, rather than being bound to sin, you are bound to righteousness. In every area of your life you are obligated to do what honors God.

There are some who believe that when Christ sets them free, they are free to do whatever they want. That is not so. The apostle Paul realized that when he began following Christ he became a “bondservant” of Christ, and his life was no longer his own (Rom. 1:1). Now, rather than being enslaved to sin, he was enslaved to God and His righteousness. When people mistreated him, he had forfeited the right to respond from his natural feelings but was compelled to offer a righteous response. When he was tempted, he was no longer free to succumb to his feelings. Paul could not enter the workplace and act selfishly. He understood that, as a slave of righteousness, he was obligated to live a holy life, honoring his Master.

Righteous living is not an option for a Christian. Nor is it something we must try to do over time. It is an obligation, mandatory for every child of God. Our freedom in Christ is not freedom to do what we want. It is freedom to live righteously, something we could not do when we were in to sin. Now that we are free to live righteously, we must allow the Holy Spirit to produce in us a holy, sanctified life (1 John 3:7). Henry and Richard Blackaby      .

Seeing the Multitudes

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them. Matthew 5:1-2

Christ sees people far differently than we do. Throughout the Gospels we see a pattern in the way Jesus taught His disciples. Whenever He saw the multitudes, Jesus would reveal to the disciples what was on His heart for the people. Jesus wanted His disciples to share His love for the people. The disciples did not always understand all He was telling them, but He assured them that later the Holy Spirit would reveal the significance of His words (John 14:25-26). When the multitudes began pressing in on Him, Jesus would get alone with His disciples and teach them about God’s love for people.

You will experience this same pattern as you walk with Jesus. When God places you in a crowd, you may sense the Holy Spirit impressing upon you the heart and mind of God for those people. Perhaps your Lord will lead you to a solitary place where He shares with you His compassion for the people you have been with. He may reveal to you His will for the people and invite you to join Him in His redemptive activity. He may place a burden on your heart to pray for them. If you are among people and are unmoved by their spiritual condition, God may develop your love for them so that you are prepared to minister to them as He desires.

The next time you are in a crowd, listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying. You may discover that God has much on His heart for those people and that He is waiting for one of His disciples to respond to His prompting.

Bearing One Another's Burdens

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

When God places people in your life who are in need, He is aware of what they lack, and He knows He has given you the resources to meet those needs. You know God does nothing by accident. When a need surfaces around you, immediately go to the Father and say, “You put me here for a reason. You knew this was going to happen. What did You intend to do through me that would help this person become closer to You?” Recognizing a need in someone’s life can be one of the greatest invitations from God you will ever experience. It’s easy to become frustrated by the problems of others. They can overwhelm you as you become aware of need after need. Rather than looking at each new problem as one more drain on your time, energy, or finances, ask God why He placed you in this situation. Allow God to help you see beyond the obvious needs of others to the things He wants to accomplish in their lives. Don’t miss God’s activity because you’re reluctant to carry the load of others. Is God blessing you materially? It may be He is developing a “supply depot” in your life through which He can provide for others. Has God granted you a strong, healthy family life? It may be that He requires such a home to minister to the hurting families all around you. Has God released you from sinful habits? Has God’s peace comforted you in a time of great sorrow? Has God miraculously provided for your needs? It may be that He has been purposefully building things into your life so that you can now be the kind of person who will carry the burdens of others.    Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Where Your Treasure Is

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34

What you value most is your treasure. Where you spend your time and your money is your treasure. Whatever dominates your conversation is what you treasure. What others know you for is a good indication of what your treasure is.

Most Christians are quick to claim that God is their first priority. Yet often their actions reveal that their treasure is not God but things of this world. Some Christians find it difficult to discuss their relationship with God, but they can chatter easily about their family, friends, or hobbies. Some find it impossible to rise early in order to spend time with God, but they willingly get up at dawn to pursue a hobby. Some find it difficult to give an offering to God but readily spend lavishly on recreation. Some boldly approach strangers to sell a product, yet they are painfully timid in telling others about their Savior. Some give hundreds of hours to serve in volunteer organizations but feel they have no time available to serve God.

If you are unsure of where your treasure is, examine where you spend your available time and money. Reflect on what it is you most enjoy thinking about and discussing. Ask your friends to tell you what they think is most important to you. Ask your children to list the things most valuable to you. It may surprise you to know what others consider to be your treasure.   Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Pride Brings You Down

A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. Proverbs 29:23

Pride is the great enemy of the Christian. Pride is an overly high opinion of yourself. It motivates you to do things that you know are not Christlike, and it hinders you from doing what brings glory to God. Pride influenced Adam and Eve to try to become like God (Gen. 3:5). Pride motivated Cain to murder his brother (Gen. 4:5). Pride provoked Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery (Gen. 37:. Pride caused King Saul to resent David so deeply that he tried to murder him (1 Sam. 18:. Pride led King Hezekiah to foolishly reveal his nation’s wealth to his enemies (Isa. 39:2). Pride was at the root of the Pharisees’ anger toward Jesus. Pride was the reason the disciples argued over rank in the kingdom (Luke 9:46).

Pride is your relentless enemy. If you succumb to its influence, there will be consequences. You may know that you have offended someone, but pride holds you back from asking forgiveness. You may realize you need to reconcile a broken relationship, but pride will lead you to deny that need. The Spirit may convict you that you are living a sinful lifestyle, but pride will discourage your admitting it. Pride will convince you that you deserve better treatment. Pride will impede your serving others. Instead, pride will have you striving for places of prominence. Pride will have you listen to flatterers and ignore honest counselors. Pride will lead you to isolate yourself so that you are not accountable to others.

Humility, on the other hand, is pleasing to God and places your life in a position where God will honor you. If pride has crept into some areas of your life, ask God to give you victory over it before it robs you of God’s will for you.  Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Blameless

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. Job 1:1

There is a tremendous sense of freedom in living a blameless life. Job was blameless. Neither Satan nor any person could accuse him of wrongdoing. Even through the most rigorous tests, Job remained above reproach. The apostle Paul said he diligently sought to relate to others in such a way that he would never regret his actions (Acts 24:16). This desire should be ours as well. The Book of Revelation indicates that those in heaven will be blameless (Rev. 14:5). This condition does not mean they never sinned on earth, but that God forgave their sins and granted them His righteousness. Blameless does not mean perfect. It means that in every situation you do the correct thing. If you sin against someone, you confess your sin and ask for forgiveness. If you sin against God, you repent and begin to obey Him (Prov. 28:13). Often the way you handle your sin is as important as the sin itself. When you become aware of your transgression, seek to be blameless in the way you deal with it. If you attempt to conceal your sin, deny it, justify it, or blame others for it, you make the original offense much worse. Have you been blameless in your dealings with God and others? When you have failed to treat people as you should, have you responded with integrity as you reconciled with them? If you are to be blameless, you must do everything in your power to correct any wrongdoing and reconcile any broken relationship. There is a profound sense of peace for the one whose way is blameless! Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Furthering the Gospel

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. Philippians 1:12

There are two ways to look at every situation: How it will affect you, and how it will affect God’s kingdom. The apostle Paul was always concerned with how his circumstances might aid the spreading of the Gospel. When he was unjustly imprisoned, he immediately looked to see how his imprisonment might provide God’s salvation to others (Phil. 1:13; Acts 16:19-34). When he was assailed by an angry mob, he used the opportunity to preach the Gospel (Acts 22:1-21). When Paul’s criminal proceedings took him before the king, his thoughts were on sharing his faith with the king! (Acts 26:1-32). Even when Paul was shipwrecked on an island, he used that opportunity to share the gospel there. Regardless of his circumstance, Paul’s concern was how he could use his current situation to tell others of God’s good news of salvation.

Often when we encounter a new situation, our first thoughts are not about God’s kingdom . When we face a crisis, we can become angry or fearful for our own well-being, rather than looking to see what God intends to do through our circumstances. If we remain self-centered we will miss so much of what God could do through our experiences, both for us and for those around us.

Ask God to make you aware of how He could use your present circumstances to bless others. Perhaps someone around you needs to see the difference Christ’s presence makes in your life. Are you willing for God to use your circumstances to demonstrate His saving power to those around you?   Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Be Merciful!

"Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?" Matthew 18:33

Mercy is a gift. It is undeserved. Punishment and consequences are sin’s just reward, but the merciful person does not demand justice for the guilty person. If it were not for God’s mercy, we all would have faced His terrible judgment long ago. If not for His mercy, He would have condemned us after our first offense. If not for His mercy, He would punish us each time we sin. But rather than letting us bear the full punishment for our sin, God demonstrated His mercy when He paid the penalty for our sin Himself.

Do you find it hard to show mercy? It may be that you do not comprehend the mercy that God has shown to you. Jesus commanded His disciples to extend the same mercy to others that they had received from God. When they considered the incredible, undeserved mercy they had been granted, how could they refuse to extend the same unconditional mercy to others?

Could anyone sin against us to the same degree that we have sinned against God? Could any offense committed against us be as undeserved as the abuse hurled against the sinless Son of God? How quickly we forget the mercy that God graciously bestowed on us, only to focus on the injustices we endure from others! If you find it difficult to forgive others, you may need to meditate on the mercy of God that prevents you from experiencing God’s justifiable wrath. Scripture describes God as “Ready to pardon, / Gracious and merciful, / Slow to anger, / Abundant in lovingkindness” (Neh. 9:17b).Henry and Richard Blackaby

Kingdom Greatness

"For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves." Luke 22:27

The measure of greatness in the kingdom of God differs vastly from that of the world. Our society idolizes the rich, the powerful, the beautiful, and the athletic. We even make celebrities out of those who brazenly flaunt their immorality. The world claims it is demeaning to serve others. However, God’s kingdom completely rejects the world’s measure for esteem, giving the greatest honor to the one who serves most. The person who serves selflessly, lovingly, without complaint, and without seeking recognition is highly regarded in the kingdom of God.

When Jesus and His disciples entered the upper room, the disciples looked for a prominent place to sit; Jesus looked for a place to serve. As they awkwardly waited to be served, Jesus took a towel and basin and washed their feet (John 13:1-15). We Christians like to refer to ourselves as servants, but we are seldom content to be treated as servants! We are tempted to adopt the world’s evaluation of importance. But when we look to Jesus as our model, we see that it takes a far more noble character to serve than to be served.

The world will estimate your importance by the number of people serving you. God is more concerned with the number of people you are serving. If you struggle to be a servant, your heart may have shifted away from the heart of God. Ask Jesus to teach you selflessness and to give you the strength to follow His example. Watch for Jesus’ invitation to join Him in serving others. It will come.

Spiritual Markers

And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the LORD had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged. Joshua 4:8

Spiritual memory is crucial in the Christian life. Do you vividly recall times when you know God spoke to you? It would be tragic if, in your haste to advance in your Christian faith, you neglected to leave spiritual markers at the key crossroads of your life. Without the help of these markers, you will lose your spiritual bearings.

The Israelites experienced a tumultuous pilgrimage. Their doubt that God was powerful enough to give them victory cost them forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Then God miraculously parted the waters of the Jordan River so they could pass over and continue their conquest. God knew that at times the Israelites would face intimidating enemies and would need a reminder that He was powerful enough to protect them. The Israelites might be tempted to think they made a mistake entering Canaan. For this reason God instructed them to build a monument on the banks of the Jordan River. Whenever they returned to this spot, they would see the monument and be reminded of God’s awesome power. This marker would give them confidence to meet the new challenges they faced.

A spiritual marker identifies a time of decision when you clearly know that God guided you. Can you remember the moment you became a child of God? Were there specific times when He called you to His ways of living? Can you point to times when He clearly guided you in a decision? Were there times when He spoke powerfully to you about a commitment you should make? Keep track of these important moments! Regularly rehearse them and notice the steady progression in the way God has led you. This will help you understand God’s activity in your life and give you a sense of direction as you face future decisions.Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Spiritual Famine

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land,Not a famine of bread,Nor a thirst for water,But of hearing the words of the LORD." Amos 8:11

One way God communicates is through silence. The Israelites blatantly ignored and rejected God’s word to them, and God responded by sending a famine. This famine was far more severe than a shortage of food and water. Instead, they were deprived of His words of life. God’s silence may be hardly noticeable at first. You may still remember times when God spoke to you, but you gradually realize you’ve not heard His voice for a long time. If you realize you are in a “drought,” immediately seek God and ask Him what adjustments your life requires so you can once again enjoy fellowship with Him. It may be that you disobeyed His last instructions to you and that He is waiting on your obedience before giving you a new direction. It may be that there is unconfessed sin in your life or that you have a damaged relationship (Isa. 1:15; 1 Pet. 3:7). It is possible that you have done too much talking in your prayer times and that He wants you to listen. God’s silences can be powerful times for Him to communicate with you. God is God! Because He is God, when He speaks He expects a listening ear and an eager response. He will not be mocked! (Gal. 6:7). When we ignore Him, He may withhold His voice until we repent and get right with Him. The prophet Isaiah assured King Asa, “The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”   Henry and Richardy Blackaby .

Powerless

Daily Devotional for Saturday, July 30th, 2016

And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. Judges 16:20

One of the signs of a heart that has shifted from God is the absence of spiritual power. If you are like Samson, you will not be immediately aware that God’s power has left you. Only after he tried to defeat his enemies did Samson recognize that something was wrong. He went against the Philistines as before, expecting their swift defeat. But this time the Philistines easily prevailed over him.

If you allow sin to creep into your life, if you refuse to obey your Lord, if you do not reconcile with those who have hurt you, your spiritual vitality is waning. You may assume everything is fine, but when you pray, answers do not come as they once did. You once had a positive effect on those around you, but now your influence is negligible or even harmful. Your life once brought reconciliation, but now you experience problems in your relationships. Those around you who have relied upon your strength are discovering that you are not as helpful to them as you once were. Your lack of spiritual power is not crying out for attention; but you are seeing subtle changes in your spirit and in your relationship with God.

How can you stop this spiritual decline? You must regularly repent of any sin. You must invite God to search your life to see if there are attitudes, relationships, or activities that need to be removed. You must fervently obey His will. If you walk with God in this manner, you will grow in spiritual strength and be used mightily by Him.    Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Delivered into Your Hand

And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you." Joshua 10:8

No greater confidence will ever come to you or to any other Christian than the confidence of knowing you are doing God’s will. God will not commission you to do anything without ensuring your success. God assured Joshua that there was no reason to fear as he prepared to battle the Canaanites. God would allow the Israelites to fight the battle, but the outcome was settled before they ever picked up their weapons. What confidence this gave them as they fought! Even though their_enemies fought relentlessly, Joshua’s army was certain of eventual victory.

God does not promise you victory in every task you devise, but He does promise that you will be successful whenever you follow His will (Deut. 28:7, 25).

Does it appear that people are keeping you from obeying God’s will? Rest assured that God will not allow anyone or anything to prevent His children from accomplishing His purposes.

Be careful to evaluate success in the way that God does. Perhaps He is working to produce His peace in your heart as you face troubling times. Perhaps He is working to develop a forgiving spirit in you when others mistreat you. Perhaps He is working to eliminate a particular sin in your life. If you accept the world’s understanding of victory, you may feel defeated. If you look to see what God is accomplishing through your situation, you will find that He is succeeding. When you face opposition but know you are doing what God has asked, have confidence that He will accomplish everything that He desires.   Henery and Richard Blackaby .

My name is Leah Katz-Hernandez and I say the word "welcome" hundreds of times per day.

It gives me the greatest pride and joy to do that because when I say "welcome" in the West Wing of the White House, as the President’s receptionist, I know that this special place is truly accessible for all. As someone who is deaf, I know that truth deep down in my heart.

Will you allow me the privilege of showing you around?

White House Receptionist Leah Katz-Hernandez gives a tour of the West Wing

When the moment came for me to start my own career as a 21-year-old, I was not afraid to jump onto a campaign to elect "a skinny kid with a funny name." I am deaf and my deafness was not a barrier to my career. Instead, it was a spur to public service. Here's why:

As a toddler, my life changed on July 26, 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush. This civil rights legislation helped increase equality for people with disabilities by making discrimination against them based on their disabilities illegal. The Americans with Disabilities Act helped make people with disabilities more visible. It helped make America -- and the American way of life -- more accessible.

And it is with this understanding of my own humanity that I grew up -- with a powerful sense of dignity. I knew that I was not less than another person, just because I am deaf.

I am part of the "ADA Generation" -- the generation that has grown up under the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I am grateful to the advocates who fought so hard to make this civil rights law a reality, improving the lives of millions.

I care deeply about ensuring that everyone’s experience at the White House is as accessible and welcoming as mine. I also know the importance of making disability visible everywhere, whether it's on the streets at curb cuts or here at the White House. That’s why it means so much to me when I see people from all walks of life come in to see the President -- be it a world leader, a school principal, or a service member.

At more than 56 million, we with disabilities make up 19 percent of the American population and are embedded deeply into the fabric of the American society. Our contributions are everywhere, including at the White House. The West Wing is filled with interesting tidbits of disability contributions throughout its history.

The White House is the "People’s House" and I'm proud to say that it is accessible to me and you. So, I hope you'll check out this video and join me on a tour of this special place, and learn more about disability contributions in the West Wing.

Thank you, and welcome,

Leah

Leah Katz-Hernandez
West Wing Receptionist
The White House

Duterte administration reveal plans to effectively implement disaster risk reduction program
By Jelly F. Musico

MANILA, July 12 (PNA) â€" The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has prepared plans that would help to effectively implement the national disaster risk reduction program of the government in places usually hit by natural calamities like typhoon.

”There were plans to preposition ships in a safe place like the path of the typhoon to readily respond to crisis,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday.

During a Cabinet meeting last Monday, Abella said there were also plans to prioritize security personnel and health workers to be sent as first responders to calamity damaged areas.

In the previous calamities, particularly super typhoon Yolanda that devastated the country in 2013, the government’s efforts to deliver tons of aid and relief goods have been delayed due to the damage road and bridges.

In 2013 alone, a total of 25 tropical cyclones entered the country, including super typhoon Yolanda, considered as the world’s strongest typhoon to make landfall, that left more than 6,000 people dead.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has placed the total amount of losses and damage caused by typhoon at Php 571.1 billion.

President Duterte appointed Ricardo Jalad as executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

July is the National Disaster Consciousness Month (NDCM). (PNA)

AFP ready to carry out Duterte's order on ceasefire lifting
By Priam F. Nepomuceno

MANILA, July 30 (PNA) --- With President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Saturday ordering the lifting of the unilateral ceasefire against the CPP-NPA-NDF, the AFP said it remains duty bound to comply with any orders issued by the Chief Executive regarding this development.

"The AFP will abide by the ensuing orders of the Commander-in-Chief, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte following this development," AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.

Duterte declared the unilateral ceasefire against the rebels during his first State-of-the-Nation Address last July 25 in line with achieving the government’s goal of final and lasting peace.

But the Chief Executive ordered the lifting of the unilateral ceasefire that he ordered after the 5 p.m. Saturday ultimatum he gave lapsed without reciprocation from the rebels.

“Correspondingly, I am ordering the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to also withdraw the operational guidelines they issued in pursuance to that ceasefire declaration,” Duterte stressed.

Prior the deadline, the President demanded a concrete explanation from the rebels regarding its July 27 attack against militia units in Kapalong, Davao Del Norte which killed one and wounded four others.

"Opportunity missed! This could have been what the Filipino nation had been waiting for -- the silencing of the guns that could have hastened development especially in the countryside," Arevalo stressed.

As this develops, AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the military was now issuing appropriate orders to all its units nationwide regarding the lifting of the unilateral ceasefire.

"All our forces remain on high alert and will resume to discharge their normal functions and constitutional mandated tasks," he added.

Padilla also said the rebels missed a golden opportunity to manifest their commitment to the attainment of peace. (PNA)

PNP follows ceasefire lifting order
By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan

MANILA, July 30 (PNA) -- With the order of President Rodrigo Duterte immediate lifting of the unilateral ceasefire against communist rebel, PNP Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa on Saturday said the PNP will follow.

"The PNP will follow the instructions of Commander-in-Chief," Dela Rosa said in a text message sent to PNA.

Duterte ordered the immediate lifting of the unilateral ceasefire that he declared last July 25 against the communist rebels.

"Correspondingly, I am ordering the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Phil National Police to also withdraw the operational guidelines they issued in pursuance to that ceasefire declaration," the Chief Executive said.

" I am ordering all security forces to be on high alert and continue to discharge their normal functions and mandate to neutralize all threats to national security, protect the citizenry, enforce the laws and maintain peace in the land," Duterte added. (PNA)

Scientists find new powerful antibiotic in human nose


BERLIN -- Scientists searching for new antibiotics to cure hard-to-treat infections have found an effective bacteria in the human nose.

According to a report published in the scientific journal Nature on Wednesday, a group of German researchers have discovered a bacteria called "Staphylococcus lugdunensis". It can produce a chemical called "hugdunin", which is bactericidal against major pathogens.

The most important characteristic of the chemical is that it wouldn't develop a resistance in the bugs that it kills with repeated use, the researchers from the University of Tubingen in Germany pointed out.

Killing so-called "superbugs," which are strong pathogens with a resistance to most antibiotics currently in use, is increasingly difficult as the more antibiotics we use, the more resistance those targeted pathogens will develop, the scientists warned.

Superbugs cause an estimated 700,000 deaths every year, according to CNN.

The new finding holds a promising future in the fight against bugs, however, some experts wrote in a related article that the application of the nose-dwelling antibiotics will be difficult to commercialize because it could harm human cells as a side effect. (PNA/Xinhua)

China Hushen 300 index futures close mixed Friday

BEIJING - China's Hushen 300 index futures closed mixed on Friday, with the contract for August 2016 down 0.36 percent to finish at 3,181.8 points.

The September 2016 contract lost 0.31 percent to close at 3,153.4 points. The December 2016 contract was up 0.26 percent to finish at 3,106.6 points. The March 2017 contract went up 0.78 percent to finish at 3,063.4 points.

The stock-index contracts, agreements to buy or sell the Hushen 300 Index at a preset value on an agreed date, are designed to allow investors to bet on and profit from either gains or declines in the market.

The index futures was launched at the China Financial Futures Exchange (CFFEX) and started trading from April 16, 2010. The CFFEX has set the base value for all the contracts at 3,399 points. (PNA/Xinhua)

Mayor Sara expresses alarm over dengue death toll in Davao

DAVAO CITY, July 29 (PNA) -- Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio expressed alarm over the high number of deaths due to dengue fever in the city.

Chief Information Officer Jeffry Tupas said Mayor Sara had already ordered health officials to work and find ways to decrease the increasing number of dengue fever cases in the city.

“Mayor Inday Sara Duterte is deeply concerned and appalled at the high number of dengue fever deaths in Davao City with the City Health Office so far recording 19 mortalities from the over 4,000 patients since January,” Tupaz said.

The statement also quoted Mayor Sara’s instruction and warning to health officials, as saying: "I want to see a decrease from July to December, otherwise, there is a need to find new people for this job.

This year’s number of deaths because of the virus carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes is high compared to eight cases of death last year.

"That the number of deaths could reach this high is definitely disconcerting and I am appalled because the government is supposed to be doing everything to prevent the breeding of the mosquitoes carrying the virus," Tupas said, echoing the mayor's concern.

The mayor also ordered for the review of how the local government is taking efforts to fight dengue and other preventable diseases.

Dengue is preventable if only efforts to prevent the spread were done and were done efficiently, Tupas added.

Tupas said the mayor also called on the City Health Office (CHO) to closely coordinate with barangay officials in the implementation of programs aimed at eliminating dengue.

The mayor also sees an urgent need to eliminate the mosquitoes carrying the virus and their breeding places if government wants to end the spate of deaths.

The CHO has been regularly treating curtain and bed nets with chemicals that effectively ward off mosquitoes.

The health office has a P1-million allocation for its dengue program.

The CHO on Wednesday reported that dengue cases in Davao City have already reached 4,002 as of June of this year.

Of the total number, 19 deaths were already recorded and 11 of them were children. (PNA)

“No matter how old you are now. You are never too young or too old for success or going after what you want. Here’s a short list of people who accomplished great things at different ages

1) Helen Keller, at the age of 19 months, became deaf and blind. But that didn’t stop her. She was the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
2) Mozart was already competent on keyboard and violin; he composed from the age of 5.
3) Shirley Temple was 6 when she became a movie star on “Bright Eyes.”
4) Anne Frank was 12 when she wrote the diary of Anne Frank.
5) Magnus Carlsen became a chess Grandmaster at the age of 13.
6) Nadia Comăneci was a gymnast from Romania that scored seven perfect 10.0 and won three gold medals at the Olympics at age 14.
7) Tenzin Gyatso was formally recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama in November 1950, at the age of 15.
8 ) Pele, a soccer superstar, was 17 years old when he won the world cup in 1958 with Brazil.
9) Elvis was a superstar by age 19.
10) John Lennon was 20 years and Paul Mcartney was 18 when the Beatles had their first concert in 1961.
11) Jesse Owens was 22 when he won 4 gold medals in Berlin 1936.
12) Beethoven was a piano virtuoso by age 23
13) Issac Newton wrote Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica at age 24
14) Roger Bannister was 25 when he broke the 4 minute mile record
15) Albert Einstein was 26 when he wrote the theory of relativity
16) Lance E. Armstrong was 27 when he won the tour de France
17) Michelangelo created two of the greatest sculptures “David” and “Pieta” by age 28
18) Alexander the Great, by age 29, had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world
19) J.K. Rowling was 30 years old when she finished the first manuscript of Harry Potter
20) Amelia Earhart was 31 years old when she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
21) Oprah was 32 when she started her talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind
22) Edmund Hillary was 33 when he became the first man to reach Mount Everest
23) Martin Luther King Jr. was 34 when he wrote the speech “I Have a Dream."
24) Marie Curie was 35 years old when she got nominated for a Nobel Prize in Physics
25) The Wright brothers, Orville (32) and Wilbur (36) invented and built the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight
26) Vincent Van Gogh was 37 when he died virtually unknown, yet his paintings today are worth millions.
27) Neil Armstrong was 38 when he became the first man to set foot on the moon.
28) Mark Twain was 40 when he wrote "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", and 49 years old when he wrote "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"
29) Christopher Columbus was 41 when he discovered the Americas
30) Rosa Parks was 42 when she refused to obey the bus driver’s order to give up her seat to make room for a white passenger
31) John F. Kennedy was 43 years old when he became President of the United States
32) Henry Ford Was 45 when the Ford T came out.
33) Suzanne Collins was 46 when she wrote "The Hunger Games"
34) Charles Darwin was 50 years old when his book On the Origin of Species came out.
35) Leonardo Da Vinci was 51 years old when he painted the Mona Lisa.
36) Abraham Lincoln was 52 when he became president.
37) Ray Kroc Was 53 when he bought the McDonalds Franchise and took it to unprecedented levels.
38) Dr. Seuss was 54 when he wrote "The Cat in the Hat".
40) Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III was 57 years old when he successfully ditched US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in 2009. All of the 155 passengers aboard the aircraft survived
41) Colonel Harland Sanders was 61 when he started the KFC Franchise
42) J.R.R Tolkien was 62 when the Lord of the Ring books came out
43) Ronald Reagan was 69 when he became President of the US
44) Jack Lalane at age 70 handcuffed, shackled, towed 70 rowboats
45) Nelson Mandela was 76 when he became President”
― Pablo

A Godly Person Set Apart

Daily Devotional for Sunday, July 17th, 2016

But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him. Psalm 4:3

No one is more precious in the Lord’s sight than a godly person. God is pleased whenever He finds someone who strives to live a righteous life and bring glory to Him. God sets such people apart in a special place in His heart. They are always kept before Him, and He stands ready to respond to their faintest cries for help. Sin separates us from God, causing Him to close His ears to our praying. It is futile for us to pray when we are knowingly practicing sin. But the opposite is also true. God chooses to honor us by listening to our every cry when we are living a godly life. An abiding security comes with living a blameless life. The righteous person never has to wonder whether God has listened to his prayer (1 John 5:14-15). The godly person has confidence that God has indeed heard her prayer and will immediately respond in all of His power. It is exhilarating to be set apart by God, knowing that God observes your consecrated life and is pleased with what He sees. What a tremendous privilege to know that your life holds a special place in God’s heart! The world may not accord any special status to you, but you will know that you are cherished by God. The world continues to find new ways to honor people, but even the world’s most extravagant accolades are pitiful compared to the unfathomable blessing of holding a special place in the heart of God! Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Displaying God through Your Life
Daily Devotional for Saturday, July 23rd, 2016

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12b-13

Salvation is not an event; it is a process. Salvation is God’s gift, for there is nothing we can do to save ourselves (Eph. 2:8-9). Yet with salvation comes the responsibility to work out our salvation. Once we have been saved, we must claim all that has become ours. Through salvation, God gave you victory over sin. That victory applies not only to past sins but also to every sin you will ever commit. When you became a Christian, God made you a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). God wants to continually build new things into your life as you walk with Him. God gave you His joy when He saved you, and He wants to fill you with His joy daily. When you first repented of your sin, you relinquished your right to your life. God continues to ask you to yield your will to Him and to follow His leading rather than setting your own direction for your life. When you were converted, God made everything available to you; how you implement what He has given you is your choice (2 Pet. 1:3-9). This is the great paradox of the Christian life. We are to work diligently on our faith, yet always with the awareness that only God can bring about lasting change in our lives. As we see God at work in us, we are motivated to work even more diligently. God will not force His changes upon us; neither can we bring about lasting change in our lives apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. When you sense God developing an area of your life, join Him in His activity so that His salvation will be demonstrated fully.Henry and Richard Blackaby

Exercise
Regular sweat sessions also help keep memories sharp. "Physical exercise improves mood and sleep and by doing so, it invariably improves cognition and memory," says Dr. Towfigh. An animal study published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity, for example, showed daily exercise increased brain cell growth after 12 weeks of conditioned running. Dr. Fotuhi recommends 45 minutes of aerobic exercise four days a week for the best memory boost.

Recto backs Palace's 'no gloating policy' over PHL's The Hague victory
By Jelly F. Musico

MANILA -- Senator Ralph Recto on Thursday supported Malacañang’s “no gloating” policy over an international tribunal’s favorable decision on the country’s protest against Chinese incursion in the West Philippine Sea, saying it is the best move because there is no need to amplify a decision whose elements are so loud and clear.”

“If the Palace is curbing its enthusiasm, then it is a mature and reasoned reaction which contrasts sharply to the tantrums thrown by other parties,” Recto said.

“We’re calm and collected. Compare this to other countries who are sending gunboats. What does this say? Let me quote a Chinese saying: ‘He who strikes the first blow admits he’s lost the argument’," he added.

Recto said there was no need for the Palace “to resort to theatrics to accentuate the obvious.”

“The position of thr Palace is right? After all, the decision had already sent shockwaves throughout the world. So I think it is letting the decision speak for itself. In my view, it did not mute nor magnify it. No need to spin it,” he said.

Recto noted that even former President Benigno Aquino, under whose auspices the case was filed, “was circumspect in his statement.”

Recto said he believes that “there is a post-decision plan by the Palace but it is economical in sharing it.”

“Which is right. You don’t telegraph your punches. You don’t unveil what you plan to do in Twitter installments. You keep your cards close to your chest,” he said.

In addition, he noted that the The Hague decision will embolden the Philippines to assert its settled claims over the territory in “aggressively diplomatic fashion.”

“This is a long game. We have to dig in. This is a protracted struggle that will take years. Hindi ito collection notice na due and demandable kaagad. This requires skillful diplomacy. Ayon nga sa isang Chinese saying, “To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill,” he said.(PNA)

Cebu-based trader named in illegal drugs triad operation surrenders to President Duterte
By Lilian C. Mellejor

DAVAO CITY - A suspected drug lord named by President Rodrigo Duterte involved in the illegal drugs triad operation voluntarily surrendered at the office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) XI here on Friday night to clear his name.

But President Duterte told Peter Lim, a Cebuano-Chinese businessman to go to an investigating agency and have his case probed to prove that he is not the “Peter Lim” identified as the Visayan member of the triad.



Lim denied to Duterte he has connections with drug syndicates in China or at one time talked to people involved in illegal drugs in China.

Lim admitted to Duterte on reports that he had been in and out of the country but for a vacation with his family especially during Holy Week.

While he accepted Lim’s explanation for now, the President however warned Lim he could be killed if government found out he was involved in illegal drugs.

Lim admitted he was once investigated in a Congressional hearing called by then Representative Cuenco.

Given this, the President told Lim to go to an investigating agency like the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila. “If you have the time, you may want to bring along a lawyer,” Mr. Duterte advised Lim. Lim could even confront people who have accused him for illegal drugs involvement.

Duterte said the NBI would review the evidence against Peter Lim, whose name always crops up as the one who frequently travels outside of Manila.

“We want to help you…help us clear you,” Duterte told Lim, who also expressed willingness to help the administration in its anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“I am with you all the way gyud (really) Mr. President,” Lim said.

“I could clear up everything because my family is really in deep problem now in Cebu…In any way I will help, in all my ways I can,” Lim has told Duterte during the meeting which was covered by RTVM.

In a press conference Saturday morning at PDEA office, PDEA Deputy Director General Isidro Lapena confirmed that Lim is the same person in PDEA's rogue gallery involved in illegal drugs trade.

Lapena, however, said that persons in the rogue gallery of PDEA are not all facing cases. Others have warrant of arrest while some are subject for operation â€" Lim is one of them.

“Ang case niya (His â€" Lim case) is subject of investigation,” Lapeña said.

After the meeting Friday night, Lapena said investigation on Lim had already started, although Lim was allowed to go with a promise to appear in investigations. When asked if Lim could face risk from groups to silence him, Lapeña said it could be possible.

When sought on why Lim surrendered in Davao, Lapeña said Lim might have wanted to give up directly to the President.

According to PDEA Regional Director Adzhar Albani, Lim was the Peter Lim investigated by Congress in 2006 on drug offense.

Albani, who was present in the meeting between Mr. Duterte and Lim, said Lim was given the instruction to prove his innocence by submitting to an investigation. He said the President did not want to directly accept surrenderees, thus would be turned over to investigation units.

So far, Lapeña said they have been fillers from other high value targets â€" at least three. Lapeña, however, said all people involved in illegal drugs and surrendered to authorities would go through the same process of investigation.

Earlier, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Directorate for Operations Camilo Cascolan said all persons who surrendered go through a process.

He said surrenderees were subjected to interviews for purposes of getting details such as how they get illegal drugs, where they sell and their networks. Then they are passed on to investigation teams which will process waivers and affidavits. Those who are willing to be rehabilitated are endorsed to another agency like the Department of Health. (PNA)

PWD sector calls for amendment of New Building Code

Cebu City (6 October 2008) -- Persons with disabilities (PWDs) groups and advocates in Central Visayas are seeking an amendment of the National Building Code to incorporate the specifications of the universal standards of accessibility in compliance to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD) which the Philippines is a signatory.

In a position paper that will be the subject for further discussion in a one-day 'Forum on Universal Design' organized by the Infrastructure Development Committee of the Central Visayas Regional Development Council this coming Saturday, October 11 at the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA-7), the PWD sector strongly calls for the promotion on the implementation of the specifications of the universal standards of accessibility in all future projects.

Members of the PWD sector through the Accessibility Monitoring Committee II, the Organization of Rehabilitation Agencies (ORA) and the Infrastructure Development Committee of the RDC-7 are behind the proposal to initiate the amendment of the New Building Code while they are seeking the support of other sectors that will be invited to the forum on Saturday.

Under Article 9 of the UN-CRPD, to enable PWDs to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, State Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to PWDs access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas.
These measures, which shall include the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility, shall apply to the following: buildings, roads, transportation and other indoor and outdoor facilities, including schools, housing, medical facilities and workplaces, information, communications and other services, including electronic services and emergency services.
State signatories shall also take appropriate measures to develop, promulgate and monitor the implementation of minimum standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and services open or provided to the public; ensure that private entities that offer facilities and services which are open or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for PWDs; provide in buildings and other facilities open to the public signage in Braille and in easy to read and understand forms and promote access for PWDs to new information and communication technologies and systems, including the internet among others.

The country's Accessibility Law which is aimed at enhancing the mobility of PWDs by requiring certain buildings, institutions, establishments and public utilities to install facilities and other devices has not moved significantly for the last 25 years as government and private buildings and structures and public transportation remain inaccessible today, according to the group.

The group added that to some extent the Accessibility Law or Batas Pambansa 344 of 1983 has even to some extent aggravated the situation of non-compliance and wrong interpretation due to ambiguity in some provisions.

In fact, The Philippines lags behind its counterparts in the Asia-Pacific Region such as Hongkong, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia which are promoting the universal standards of accessibility, the group further stated.

The group is the first one nationwide to initiate moves for an amendment of the National Building Code. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)