Wednesday, August 26, 2009

New Study Series

Just few updates in our Bible Study Groups:

Connect Agents' of Change (C.A.C.) Bible study group will begin their new series on August 29, 2009 entitled "WALK THE TALK" based on the Book of James. Rajsh Sabio and John Velasquez will be taking turns in teaching/facilitating the group study. They are meeting up every Saturday 6pm at GCF room BM04 in Ortigas.

Also, Care To DIALL 1 begins their study on the Gospel of John on August 30, 2009. Janet Panelo will now take over as the lead facilitator for the group. They are meeting up every Sunday 4pm also at GCF room BM04 in Ortigas.

Feel free to meet new friends and grow spiritually by joining us in our Bible studies.

CONNECT joins SingCon

(Guys from left: Abe, Syrus, John. Ladies from left: Lheng, Christy, Rajsh)

"LOVE MATTERS: MORE THAN JUST ROMANCE" was this year's theme for the Crossover Singles' Conference. Held at Villa Lorenza Pililia Rizal with 130+ participants.

We praise God for the privilege of being a part of this fruitful and sucessful event. God indeed moved and touched many lives as they come to know Him more and have committed their lives to Him...


Here are some highlights of the retreat (photos courtesy of Christy and Rajsh):

DAY 1: Connect guys posing before the program starts


DAY 1: Our Senior Pastor, Dr. Luis Pantoja, giving his remarks


DAY 1: During the Opening Program


DAY 1: Group Activity included "Pinoy Henyo"


DAY 1: Syrus with his team mates


DAY 1: John, participating in finding marbles at the pool


DAY 1: This time its Charades time


DAY 1: Mr. Dennis Lim talks about "Loving God"


DAY 2: Rajsh co-hosting the program with Earnest (a Chancel Choir member)


DAY 2: Atty. Marc Castrodes talks about "Loving Others"


Day 2: The whole group after the "Saturday Night Special"


DAY 2: Connect peeps Photo-Op


DAY 3: Rev. Lito Villoria giving his message for the worship service


DAY 3: With a new friend: Arrianne Bermejo (top right)

See also: Greatest Love of All by Rajsh.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

What is Connect?

Sharing the video that was played during our Call Center Agents' day last July 25, 2009.

A brief "history" of the call center ministry...

To God be all the glory! :-)

Click here.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Foundations and Two Commandments



Here's Kuya Kevin's message last Saturday.

The Book of Genesis gives us a foundation—it reveals God’s original plan for male/female relationships.

Foundations: Genesis 1:27

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Men and women were created equal, but different: both men and women are image-bearers; both share in God’s image.



Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25

"So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.

But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man
."

This passage gives us God’s “blueprint” for male/female relationships.

Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25

What this passage doesn't mean:

"You don't have to search for love, Adam didn't search and God just brought Eve to him."

Some interpret this passage to mean we don’t have to search for love or pursue marriage. This is not a correct interpretation of the story of Adam and Even

Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25

Question: What does this passage tell us about the way men and women fall in love?

Answer: Adam and Eve, Eyes and Ears: Men fall in love with their eyes, while women fall in love with their ears.

Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25

Question: What does this passage tell us about the nature of sex?

Answer: Sex creates "one flesh" bond that is unique in God’s creation.

Foundations: Genesis 2:20-25

What does this passage tell us about the nature of man and woman?

We are essentially "hard wired" for marriage: Men and women were created to need each other. Our longing for emotional and physical intimacy is normal and God-given.

Two Commandments for Relationships
Be Pure
Be Wise


Be Pure: “One Flesh”
"Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."
-1 Corinthians 6:16

Be Pure: “One Flesh”
Building on the foundation in Genesis, we see that sexual purity is abstaining from sexual intimacy outside of marriage.


"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."
-1 Corinthians 6:18

God’s prescription for sexual immorality is to run from temptation—avoid situations that will be tempting.

Be Wise
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil
."

Be Wise
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life
.
-Proverbs 4:23

Be Wise
"Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires
."
-Song of Solomon 8:4

Be Wise
"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise ..."
-Ephesians 5:15

Be Wise
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ..."
-Philippians 1:9-10

The above verses are about wisdom. God expects us to make wise decisions. This has everything to do with matters of the heart. I repeat: God expects us to make wise decisions.

The Disconnect
Though most singles desire marriage, many make decisions which directly sabotage this plan. In other words, there is a mental disconnect: living as though my current lifestyle has no affect on my future marriage.