Straight From Pastor Ey

Fritz Kreisler, a world-famous Austrian-American violinist, wanted to buy a rare violin. He really worked hard to meet the steep asking price. However, when he went back to the owner, he discovered to his chagrin that someone already bought it. He then went to the buyer and begged to buy the violin. But he refused to sell the violin for it is his prized possession among his collection. Kreisler almost gave up. So he finally asked, “ May I play the violin once more before you consign it to silence?” The collector gave his permission. So the virtuoso played with all his heart that he filled the room with a very heart-moving music. Then he gently and lovingly laid down the violin on its case. The collector’s heart was so touched that he exclaimed, “I have no right to keep it to myself. It’s yours! Take it and let the world hear its music.” (Adapted from Our Daily Bread, February 4, 1994) Tonight is the last night for the Metro Manila Franklin Graham Festival. It is the finale of a year-l...

As we all know, unless you are living under a rock, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao won by TKO in the 10th round over Erik “El Terible” Morales. I even heard (I hope it is not true in MGC) that there are some churches whose attendance went down that day because their members opted to watch the boxing match. As I muse about the fight, I realized that there are some lessons we can glean from it. Pride goes before destruction. That’s what the Bible said in Proverbs 16:18. My friend e-mailed me a news item which appeared before the fight. It quotes Morales boasting that if there’s one fighter who had hit him hard, real hard, it definitely was not Pacquiao. “Don't you remember being hit big by him,” Morales was asked by a Mexican reporter. “No, nada,” Morales coolly claimed. Well, we now know that Pacquiao was the first to make him kiss the canvas. But it’s the same with dealing with temptation: “ So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12, ...

We love stories. We enjoy swapping it with each other. Jesus, the Master Teacher Himself, told many “earthly stories with heavenly meanings” like the parables of the Prodigal Son or the Good Samaritan. He explained: “ That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight … There are others who need stories.” (Matthew 13:13; Luke 8:10, The Message) This is also the key reason why people love movies. That’s why I really believe that we can use the latest blockbuster like The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as a springboard for the Gospel. Marc T. Newman, Ph. D., of Movie Ministry wrote: “Every week, guilt-ridden Christians lament their inability to invite their unsaved friends to church. But nobody agonizes over inviting an unsaved friend to the movies. Yet it is in the movie theater… that we get a nearly unequalled opportunity to engage our friends in discussions about our culture and its ideas in a meaningful way. Ev...

Move over, Harry Potter and King Kong ! Make way for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ! More than 50 years ago, Clive Staples Lewis released this seven-volume classic series. Since then, it already sold more than 85 million copies. Walden Media and Walt Disney pictures released the US$200 million movie last year (It opened last Sunday here in the Philippines). Zondervan Publishing (the distributor of the series) estimates that, because of the movie, its book sales will soar from 6 million copies a year to a whopping 60 million copies a year. It is making waves in the box office, its worldwide total up to an estimated $525 Million last week. Now, you may be asking, “Why are you so excited about Narnia?” Like The Passion of the Christ , it is an excellent springboard to share the Gospel. Narnia has a strong, Biblical message. Let me introduce you to the man behind Narnia. C.S. Lewis grew up in a Christian family. However, his mother’s death from cancer thr...

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9, New Int’l Version Have you ever received an e-mail that offered you a chance to be a millionaire? The e-mail allegedly came from people who have access in secret Cayman or Swiss accounts. You are supposed to help them in wiring the money to another account. All they ask from you are personal data like credit card numbers. In return you would receive a sizable cut. One version claims to be from a Nigerian prince. The latest claims to be from Senator Loi Estrada. I have a friend who almost fell for it. People who fall for this scam become victims of identity theft. Instead of becoming rich they end up poor. There is a spiritual version of this scam. People thought they will be saved but they fall for the wrong system. “For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on...