SIBFK-AAFC

What Were You Doing When You Were 17? Or better yet, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

2009-07-17T21:31:00.000-07:00

Zac Sunderland, 17, just became the youngest solo circumnavigator yesterday after finishing a 13-month navigation around the world. (watch the video and see his really cool shirt!)

Easier read than understood. You might not be amazed since you don't have an idea of who Zack is or probably what he's doing. I didn't know Zac or what he's actually done. Back in June I just knew that he's sailing around the world in an attempt to set a new record. But as I read through all media coverages about him, I am constantly amazed. He set out on the seas alone, dealing with storms, gigantic waves, ships, trailing pirates, and desolation.

But what really amazes me is what the mainstream doesn't mention about Zac. That he is a true and strong Christian, the eldest of seven children in his family, and has a unique fashion sense (I say, see the video and check out the shirt he's wearing. He's got lots of those). And that he's doing this not just to break a record but to share God through his life to everyone.

While not all of us are called to do such a huge task like Zac, we are called to be faithful. In big and small things alike. Zac is not a genius. He's a normal youth just like you and me. The only difference is that he chose to step up and do something extraordinary that would lead people to know God. What will you choose?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

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Click links below to know more about Zac Sunderland:

ESPN Magazine June 2009 Cover Special: Zac Sunderland

Yahoo News: Teen Is the Youngest Person to Sail Around the World Alone

LA TIMES: Teen Mariner Completes A Feat Around the World

ABC News: How Young Is Too Young To Risk Your Life?

Zac Sunderland.com

Zac Sunderland's Return

Find Us On Facebook!

2009-07-17T21:06:00.000-07:00

If you have a Facebook account there's a 90% chance you'll get addicted to it. Watch the video. Be amused and prevent addiction.

While trying to avoid addiction be sure to join the SIBFK-AAFC Facebook group. Invite your friends and friends' friends. Re-connect with old camp buddies, share pictures, update each other and reminisce camp days.

Define Eternal Life... and you win a prize? Woot! Woot!

2009-07-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

Don't give the mechanical knee-jerk answer you often give in Sunday School. If you can rightly define eternal life you get a prize. Honest.

Only that don't ask SIBFK-AAFC officers for the prize because it's not for us to give. Don't get us wrong but we are not giving a contest. What we are telling you is that you can actually win a prize if you rightly define eternal life with your life.

Let's define eternal life. Jesus defined it Himself in John 17:3, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Receiving the gift of eternal life is not the end of "accepting" Jesus Christ. It's only the beginning of it. We often mistake accepting Jesus Christ as just a passport to have. Yes, He is the passport to heaven but He is more than that.

Eternal life is to know Him.

To know Him is to know all facets of His Person as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Well, those combination of words may seem frightfully "religious" or would strike you as "so spiritual." And yes, to know God is spiritual because God is Spirit and He cares so much about your spirituality. Being spiritual does not mean you will seclude yourself from the physical world. What God wants is for your soul, your spirit is to have fellowship with Him.

Fellowship with God is not just church worship service. Fellowship is spending time with Him alone in quietness, reading His word, talking to Him and occupying our minds of Him everyday. I know you've heard that so many times from your pastors, youth leaders and Sunday school teachers. You probably don't want to continue reading because you already heard this. But wait there's more!

I know very much that many of you are kinda "tired" of hearing the "spend time with God in prayer and devotions" line. I think I know why. It's because you don't do it. You don't do regular daily devotions. Your pastor would not be repeating that over and over if you're actually doing it. Just like your parents, they will not tell you repeatedly to wash the dinner dishes if you're already washing the dishes.

Now that you have a fair idea of eternal life, it's time to get the prize. Actually, you already have the prize which is the gift of eternal life. The only problem is that you are not using the gift you received. Like some of the Christmas gifts you probably received, you think them so beautiful so you end up hiding them in your cabinet. For preservation and long life.

But the gift we received does not work and will not work like that. The Apostle Paul tells us to continue to work out our salvation (Phil. 2:12) and live up to what we have already attained--that is, eternal life. (Phil 3:16)

If you're given an iPhone, you would not immediately know how to operate all its functions. You have to spend time reading the manual to figure everything out and then it will work for you. Same way with God. You would knot know and understand how He will work in your life if you don't read the Bible and talk to him on a regular basis.

"...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in you to will and to act
according to his good purpose."
Philippians 2:12-13

Guys, make your salvation work for you. Don't put it away. Use it!

Muni-muni: New Schedule of Activities

2009-07-16T06:14:00.000-07:00

Bakit kaya mas marami ang pumupunta pag Sunday Worship Service kaysa sa Wednesday prayer meeting?

Ano kaya ang mangyayari kapag ang nakasanayan nang gawin ay baguhin? Kung ang Wednesday Prayer Meeting o Friday Cottage Meeting ay maging Sunday Prayer Meeting, mas marami na kayang aattend?

Eh pag ang Sunday Worship Service ay naging Wednesday Worship Service... kokonti kaya ang pupunta o ganun pa din karami?

Ano sa palagay mo?

The Lord Gave Victory To David

2009-07-16T05:56:00.000-07:00

Early this summer I was challenged and encouraged by the book, “David: Man of Prayer, Man of War” written by Walter Chantry. I stumbled back across the following excerpt (one of many) while reading through my journals from that period, and realized how helpful it could be to rebelutionaries. As we all attempt to serve God with our lives it is necessary to remind ourselves who is really helping whom.

All of David’s successful conquests are explained in this way: “The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.” Again we discover that the history of David is not about what David did for God, but about what God did for David!

David would not build a house for God; God would build a house for David. David would not bring military victories to the feet of the Lawgiver, as man’s gift to the Most High. God would preserve David amidst all dangers.

The grace of God for man is too often turned into the idea that it is man who does heroic feats for God. Our humanistic dream is that we may do great things for God. We shall give our genius, our talents, and our strength to him. We will build cathedrals for him. We will round up converts for him. Today the emphasis seems to be, we will put on entertaining extravaganzas for him. Yet the theme of grace is what he does for us!

In conflicts between truth and righteousness on the one side, and falsehood and wickedness on the other, the news is to be found elsewhere than in ourselves. God gave victories to David.

If anything significant occurs in the Kingdom of God, there is a vast incongruity in God’s preserving and using unlikely, inept, unwise, and powerless creatures who are opposed by principalities and powers both earthly and heavenly. The Almighty is not in a tight spot, needing men to come to his rescue. It is we who, in every hour and emergency of life, stand in need of the Lord to uphold and to deliver us.

It is tragic when readers of Scripture barely notice the historical record, “The Lord gave victory to David,” but rather bolster their humanistic theory that “David surely gave the Lord’s cause a boost in his day.”

Father, forgive us for ever thinking we are “giving you a boost” through the work you allow and equip us to do. May we be ever aware of our complete dependence on you. Thank you for including your children in what you are doing. You don’t need us, but you work through us for our good and your glory. Lord, use us as you want.

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone be the Glory)

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Written by Alex Harris from The Rebelution

A Letter for You[th] (Or to Whoever It May Be Applicable)

2009-07-12T22:28:00.000-07:00

I wanted to write a blog to address the youth of this nation. I wanted to tell you something. It might seem harsh, it might seem critical; take from this blog what you wish but understand that what I say is written to encourage you, to motivate you, and it’s to help you grow.

So here it is…

You are not stupid.

I know, it’s not what you thought it would be. I know it’s simple and you might even agree with it…but it’s true. You are not stupid.

Here is another truth…

There are lots of older people in this country who really believe that you are dumb. They believe that you cannot understand complex theology. Really. I am not joking.

These people make a lot of money selling your youth pastors this stuff called curriculum that “dumbs down” the scriptures because the writers believe you are not smart enough to understand it.

These people actually believe that in order to understand the Bible you have to be some sort of genius. They believe that when God wrote the Bible, He wrote it with the intention of solely using them to dumb down the scriptures and spoon feed you nutrition-less masses of junk food.

But you’re smarter than that.

Have you looked at how old the youth were when God used them in the Bible? David, Mary, Jeremiah, Samuel and Joseph were used by God in many advanced ways as teenagers.

God did not make you stupid.

So here is my request to you.

Demand from your youth pastor that he teach you big words like sanctification, regeneration, and justification.

Demand it from him! It’s your right!

Demand to your Youth Pastor that he end the silly little games.

Demand that your youth pastor grows up and acts like he has a leadership role in the Christ’s Church.

Demand that your youth pastor teach you what rebuke means, and then rebuke him for not teaching you earlier!

You’re an intelligent human being, created in the image and likeness of God, created specifically with a brain built to study all the depths and knowledge of God for all your earthly existence and eternity.

So do so.

Open up your Bible. Open up a commentary and educate yourself. Dig deep into the rich and vast knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Start a ministry. Start preaching the Gospel. Do something. Don’t waste your youth. You could die tomorrow and you’re going to be guilty of doing nothing for God all your life because you thought you could wait till you graduated from college.

Other youth your age in other parts of the world are being slaughtered, persecuted all because of their love of Christ. Meanwhile you go to church to meet friends, and play games.

Stop it. You’re not stupid.

Don’t waste your youth and don’t let your youth pastor waste it for you.

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The post was written by a Marcus Pittman of Teens Set Apart. This post may not necessarily reflect all the views by SIBFK-AAFC.

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2009-07-05T23:08:00.000-07:00

Ano ang karaniwan mong binibisita pag nagiInternet?(online surveys)

Admin Muni-muni

2009-06-26T01:43:00.000-07:00

There is a new book in some National Bookstores and Philippine Christian Bookstores called Do Hard Things. As you can see, it's so red. The title is a bit, "Uhh? Excuse me? Hard things?!" What will come to your mind if I tell you to do hard things? Did the authors choose the wrong title? Would you even read it?

Use the comment section below to express your thoughts. We'd appreciate it very much. :)

2009-06-26T01:36:00.000-07:00

MU na ba tau?

I was surfing the net one time, searching for thoughts about the MU fever then I came across these lines from a confused blogger.

“ano ba talaga?!? hayy!ang gulo talaga… unfair di ba?!? di mo alam kung anong status nyo…you’re doing things na parang kayo, pero hindi…”

This could be the same thing some of you are experiencing toward your friend, bestfriend, klasmeyt or katrabaho. “Love ba talaga ‘to?” At the back of your mind, you’re confused.

MU or Mutual Understanding.... >>>>>>>>>Keep reading at www.wagmuna.com

Memory Verses: How do you do?

2009-06-26T00:53:00.000-07:00

I'm 100% sure you find the girl cute. And I'm another 100% sure, if you've grown up in Sunday school or VBS, you were that cute many years ago memorizing verses.

Fast forward to high school/youth Sunday school or adult Sunday school (if you don't have youth Sunday school), how much does your teacher expect you to memorize verses? Or I wonder if they even give you one every week.

Admit it or not, 75% of young people in your church would not even have memorized verses that every young person (especially those who grew up in church) should have had known by heart now. 2 Timothy 2:22 anyone? Galatians 5:22? John 8:44? Ecclesiastes 12:1? Psalm 19? 1 Corinthians 13? 1 Timothy 4:12? Philippians 4:8? 2 Timothy 4:2? Ephesians 4:29? Most likely you're familiar with most of it but I am not talking about familiarity. I'm talking about word-for-word memorization.

So what has changed? Is it the cuteness factor when you were a primary or a junior? Would God have just thought you were a cute little kid then? No! He did more than thinking you were cute. He was so much delighted because young as you were you dwelt on His word. What sadness it must have brought Him when you grew into your teen years and took more in memorizing songs and movie lines than that of His.

I tell you, movie lines cannot get you anywhere when temptations arise, when sorrow, disappointments, and grief comes to your life. But His word can.

If you haven't been memorizing verses lately, I encourage you to start today. If you've been doing well in memorizing, DON'T STOP! Encourage others around you to memorize as well.

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Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
-Ephesians 6:13 (NASB)

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-post by Lady-In-Training

Admin's Note: We hope you were encouraged and don't just memorize because we have Paramihan ng Alam na Verses contest at times. :)

POLL

2009-06-26T00:41:00.000-07:00

*Ang Koreanovelas, Asianovelas at Telenovelas ay magkakaparehong "-novelas." Ang Koreanovelas ay mula sa Korea at ang Asianovela ay mula sa iba pang bansa ng Far East Asia gaya ng Taiwan, China at Japan. Ang telenovelas naman ay maaaring Pinoy na TV series o mula sa South o Central America.

Halimbawa ng Reality TV Shows ay ang American Idol, Starstruck, Survivor, Pinoy Big Brother, Fear Factor, Pinoy Dream Academy atbp.

Blog Under Renovation

2009-05-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

This blog has been down and is under renovation. We'll be back in a few weeks.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
Christin
~AAFC Blog Admin

Agape Love, the True Love

2009-02-13T16:52:00.001-08:00

We have put up this video last December but we don't think,many got to see it, so we're putting it up again. The video is a beautiful allegory of a love story. Not of the romantic kind, which everybody likes so much, but the greatest of all--Agape Love. Happy Valentine's everyone!

VIDEO DISCLAIMER: It must never be mistaken that it was a terrible choice for God the Father to make. The video is an allegory. A symbolic way of presenting a story. Not everything in it should be taken literally.

AAFC Poll

2009-02-13T16:36:00.000-08:00

Two Different L♥ve Stories

2009-02-13T16:15:00.000-08:00

I think any sensible person over the age of thirteen can agree that love has to be one of the most peculiar things that God ever created. In this article, I’d like to focus on one “type” of love. I guess we could call it “young love.” You know, that emotion that leaves you either constantly babbling, or absolutely speechless, legs shaking, or stiff as a beanpole. Some unlucky ones experience all the symptoms at once. You have my condolences. If you’re fortunate, you may have mastered the art of being able to act semi-normal around the object of your love, but even then, you have your limits – Somewhere around 3 minutes is usually the breaking point.

Seriously though; I often wonder, was God laughing when he created love, knowing how much it would confound even the most brilliant of philosophers? I’m one of those people who believe that God truly does have a sense of humor, and I think he must have at least been smiling during that period.

Yes, young love is truly remarkable. I’ve seen it motivate young Christian men to strive for excellence. I’ve seen it give them a sense of direction, and plans for the future. I’ve seen their eyes shining as they talk about that “certain someone.” But sadly, I’ve also seen it take over people’s lives. I’ve seen it ruin friendships, and break hearts.

So what’s the difference? Why does the same thing cause polar opposite results?

Well, actually, it’s not the same thing, though it may appear to be. I like to divide it into two categories. Selfish love and True love. Selfish love means exactly what it’s name implies. It’s centered around you. That goes against every definition of the word “Love.” “Love… is not self-seeking” (Cor. 13:5) Selfish love can often look like many teenage crushes do. They simply want to get as much as they can for themselves during the relationship.

So how do you as a guy handle a relationship with your love interest? Well, let’s look at what true love looks like.

True love is the total opposite of selfish love, if you didn’t already guess that. It requires everything to be done in thoughtful consideration of the well being of the other. It must respect the parents’ wishes, and work to not commit each other’s hearts and emotions. It recognizes and acknowledges that such a relationship might not be God’s plan for them.

Having a realistic view of what’s going to happen is key. Chances are, you’re not getting married for awhile. And when you do fall in love with a girl, she may not be the one you marry. It’s in the best interest of both that you handle the relationship with care. If you really love her, wouldn’t it be better to spend this time preparing yourself to be able to support a family? Spend your time investing in preparation for the future and the Lord’s service, instead of in romantic feelings for someone. Both of you will be spared much pain and will be better off in the long run.

I’ve witnessed the fruit of several young men who have taken this challenge, and it’s been amazing to see them excel at their studies and work and see them grow in their relationship with God. The results are drastically different from the hurt and pain selfish love has caused others.

Above all, you should be sensitive and obey the will of God in your life. He knows better than anyone what’s best for you. As long as you are striving to do God’s bidding, you’ll be fine. A good relationship will be the result of a good relationship with God. If you respect the wishes of your parents, then you’ll be obeying the command to honor your father and your mother (Ex. 20:12) and you’ll be better off for it. Trust me on that one. If you work to be careful with your emotions and the girls, you’re obeying the verse where it says “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

My brother Josh, in his book I Kissed Dating Goodbye shared a story of a girl’s dream:

“It was finally here—Anna’s wedding day, the day she had dreamed about and planned for months. The small, picturesque church was crowded with friends and family. Sunlight poured through the stained-glass windows, and the gentle music of a stringed quartet filled the air. Anna walked down the aisle toward David. Joy surged within her. This was the moment for which she had waited so long. He gently took her hand, and they turned toward the altar.

But as the minister began to lead Anna and David through their vows, the unthinkable happened. A girl stood up in the middle of the congregation, walked quietly to the altar, and took David’s other hand. Another girl approached and stood next to the first, followed by another. Soon, a chain of six girls stood by him as he repeated his vows to Anna.

Anna felt her lip beginning to quiver as tears welled up in her eyes. “Is this some kind of joke?” she whispered to David.

“I’m…I’m sorry, Anna,” he said, staring at the floor.

“Who are these girls, David? What is going on?” she gasped.

“They’re girls from my past,” he answered sadly. “Anna, they don’t mean anything to me now… but I’ve given part of my heart to each of them.”

“I thought your heart was mine,” she said.

“It is, it is,” he pleaded. “Everything that’s left is yours.”

How much of your heart will be left for your wife?

♦Post by Isaac Harris from Cross-Eyed Blog and Webzine.

►Fortnightly Photo

2009-01-20T23:00:00.000-08:00

Pagmumuni-muni sa UST

Got a perfectly-captured moment? Send it to us at sibfk_aafc@yahoo.com and your photo/s might be the next Fortnightly photo!☺

ANNOUNCEMENT: TLW Conference

2009-01-20T22:17:00.000-08:00

If you are interested in attending the UNASHAMED conference, please get in touch with Christin A. of SIBFK-AAFC through her mobile no. +639283247664 or you can email her at christin.alvarez@gmail.com.

Please be reminded that the last day of payment of the P200 ticket will be on January 31.

►On Our Shelf: Do Hard Things

2009-01-20T21:13:00.001-08:00

Harris. The last name may sound familiar if you know Joshua Harris, the author of the popular book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye and Boy Meets Girl. Well, Alex and Brett Harris are his younger brothers. Twin brothers to be exact.

Written when they were 18, this book brings the revolutionary message of their hearts' cry to our generation. The book is an enjoyable and challenging read for teens and teens-at-heart. It's packed with stories of teens from across the world and across time who chose to Do Hard Things and are challenging young people, like you, to do the same. We'd like to urge caution upon reading this book because you might never think of the teenage years the same way again.

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TWO comments & ONE review of people who've read the book:
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If you've heard what Joshua Harris has to say with I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Boy Meets Girl and Not Even A Hint then you will just have to hear what his brothers have to say in Do Hard Things.
I can vouch for it. I've read it. It's out of the ordinary.
-Christin A., AAFC Officer

"Kelangan busog ka pag binasa mo yang librong yan."
-Pastor Reuel Eleazar Tica, speaker, Holiday Camp 2008

When someone tells you that his younger brothers wrote an incredible book he's either just being nice because they're family, or he really means it. Well, I am not just being nice, I mean it. This book is excellent. And I can commend it to you because my brothers' love for Christ and personal example back up the message.

Do Hard Things is easy to read, but it will challenge you to the core. It is inspiring, insightful and practical. Alex and Brett show that the teenage years are not a season to endure but a time to excel and to grow. Then they show you how.

Parents, this book won't keep your teenagers out of trouble. It will get them into the right kind of trouble -- the kind that comes when they dream, take risks for God and dare to flout the status quo. Put it in their hands. Read it yourself. Every former teen needs this book, too. I know I do. There's no age-limit on the Rebelution.

It's never too late to do hard things.

~Joshua Harris, Pastor, author, older brother

►FEATURED WEBSITE

2009-01-20T20:40:00.000-08:00

Kuya Kevin is a campus minister and this site is his place to share his reflections on love, purity, wisdom and inspiration. His site will surely be of interest on youth and singles. He also authored the book, Basta Love Life which is available in National Bookstore, Powerbooks, Philippine Christian Bookstore and other Christian Bookstores.

►Quote§ to Ponder

2009-01-20T18:59:00.000-08:00

A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself,
but a spiritual man is easy on others
and hard on himself.
~A.W. Tozer
pastor, author

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I have seen many men work without praying,
though I have never seen any good come out of it;
but I have never seen a man pray without working.
~Hudson Taylor,
founder of China Inland Missions,
now OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship)

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Oh, young man, character is worth more than money,
character is worth more than anything else in this wide world.

~D.L. Moody

Preacher, evangelist

►AAFC Poll

2009-01-13T02:15:00.000-08:00

►Christians Can't Multitask

2009-01-13T00:53:00.000-08:00

Let's face it, our generation multitasks constantly. Chances are some of you won't even finish this article without checking your e-mail — while others are already listening to music or Instant Messaging a friend.

The fact is, though the corporate executive has long epitomized multitasking, it has more and more become a characteristic of the rising Generation Y — especially when it comes to media consumption.

A recent Harrison Group study reports that American young people spend more than 72 hours per week using electronic media, including the Internet, cell phones, television, music and video games, but many experts argue that the actual amount of media consumption is much higher because of our ability to interact with more than one medium at a time. Other studies show that teenagers are packing up to 44 hours of activity into a 24-hour day by doing multiple things at once — nearly two days worth of "stuff" experienced in a single day.

But in an era where it has become routine to conduct six IM conversations, watch TV, and Google the names of last season's American (or Pinoy) Idol finalists all at the same time, we can't afford to unquestionably embrace the multitasking lifestyle technology provides.

Think about it: We are the first generation to grow up with high-speed, wireless Internet access and the first to widely use cell phones. It's easy to get caught up being the "Early Adopters" of technology's latest offerings and forget that eight years ago most home computers weren't even linked to the Internet.

Even in its infancy the incredible power and pervasiveness of modern technology requires us to step back and reassess our generation's proclivity for multitasking. As life gets faster and faster and technology continues to advance we've got to stop texting long enough to ask ourselves whether we're really more efficient when we multitask. How does this juggling show affect our productivity, our thought life, and our relationships?

Productivity: Doing Less By Doing More

Many of us enjoy the rush of doing many things at once because it gives us a feeling of control and productivity, but studies show that our split attention is only serving to hide our diminished efficiency — we're living in an illusion.

"People often take pride in their ability to multitask," writes Dr. Edward Hallowell in his book CrazyBusy, "but often they do none of their tasks as well as when they focus on one at a time."

In fact, a 2001 study conducted at the University of Michigan reports that 20 to 40 percent of a person's productivity is eaten up by "task-switching," the time it takes to mentally re-engage when shifting from one task to another.

The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." This idea of being singly focused is the secret of true efficiency.

Of course, this doesn't mean we should never multitask. Our ability to participate in multiple activities at once is unrivalled by any other creature in God's creation. It is a gift from God, just not one to be abused, and definitely not an excuse for giving God any less than our best.

Instead, we need to understand is that both our ability to focus and our ability to multitask are extremely valuable. We should never practice one at the expense of the other. Sadly, our culture's busyness, where the average employee switches tasks every three minutes and is interrupted every two minutes, seems to be crippling our ability to focus. Studies show that most employees are unable to focus on any one task for longer than 12 minutes.

As unfortunate as that is, we can realistically acknowledge that not every little thing we do requires 100 percent concentration. The Apostle Paul's encouragement to "work with all your heart," when read in context, clearly exhorts us to honor God by giving appropriate attention to our tasks. But simple things, like chewing gum, do not call for the complete absorption of our mental faculties.

The challenge is to get our priorities straight so we do not allow our culture's crazy pace to rob our jobs or our studies of the attention they deserve.

Thought Life: "A Place of Quietness With God"

In her recent New York Times opinion piece, Carolyn Curiel wrote, "We think of America as a sleep-deprived nation, but we are becoming deep-thought deprived, too. A closed door does not stop interruptions, because we are packing the weapons that can shatter concentration or quiet contemplation. Our fingers are always on a button." Curiel concludes that the multitasking life creates an often-distracted mind.

Even before computers, cell phones, and other wireless technology, the radio was placed in homes and then cars, helping to fill the dead air that accompanies housework and long rides. But now, modern technology has pushed our escape from quiet thought to dizzying new heights.

"No one seems to want (and no one can find) a place for quiet," wrote Francis Schaeffer, "because when you are quiet, you have to face reality. But many in the present generation dare not do this because on their own basis reality leads them to meaninglessness; so they fill their lives with entertainment, even if it is only noise."

Such escapism makes sense for non-Christians, yet most Christians act the same way — escaping from meaningful thought through the distractions of technology. Yet, as Schaeffer writes, it is Christians who can dare to face the realities of life unclouded.

"We do not need these things to fill the crannies of our lives," he concludes, "in fact, we should want to face reality: the glory of the world God has created and the wonder of being human — yes, and even the awful reality of the Fall and the tragedy of marred men and women, even our own flawed character. We are not to be people of escape. The Christian is to be the realist. To face reality as born again and indwelt by the Holy Spirit is the Christian's calling."

Of course, the problem is not with technology — Schaeffer was addressing these same issues long before Steve Jobs ever dreamt of the iPod. Rather, the problem is the way and the frequency with which we have chosen to use technology.

Because of that, the solution is not to give away our laptops, but to make sure that our consumption of media is supplementing our thought life, not distracting from it; that it is providing opportunity for more incredible quiet moments with God — not keeping our minds constantly busy dealing with new articles, IM conversations, and song lyrics.

Relationships: True Love Meets Multitasking

Imagine a movie where the noncommittal boyfriend finally gets down on one knee, looks up into the eyes of his sweetheart, and solemnly intones, "Baby, to signify how important our relationship has become to me, I am now removing one of the earpieces from my iPod."

Soaring orchestral music rises in triumph as he reaches to his ear, never taking his eyes off of her, and in a radical display of commitment removes the glistening piece of white plastic and places it carefully in his pocket for later use.

After several moments of silence, while his sweetheart allows the last strains of Coldplay to fade from her own iPod, she returns the display of devotion. Then, they kiss. This is Hollywood at its finest.

Of course, we laugh at this fictional "Hollywood Couple" because their expression of love is so obvious. "The most basic sign of affection is attention," we think, "everyone knows that!" Yet, aren't we really laughing at ourselves? After all, it's our generation that is setting records for how long and how completely we can withhold this basic expression of love.

Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Do we stand out from the rest of world because of the way we show love for others? Or, are we just like the rest of our generation — so connected that we're disconnected — distracted from the people God has placed in our lives?

These are hard questions. But we must challenge ourselves to answer them honestly and then respond appropriately to what we see in ourselves. For some of us this might mean setting limits on when we can get on the computer, or not listening to our iPods when we're with other people.

Whatever it is, we can expect that it won't be easy — or glamorous. There won't be any soaring orchestral music when we remove our earbuds. Oftentimes we won't even feel like loving the people around us and will have to cry out to God to help us love them from the heart.

And if that's not hard enough, God usually doesn't answer that kind of prayer immediately. He seems to prefer that — by still obeying His command to love others, even when we don't feel that love — we act ourselves into a better way of feeling, rather than "feel" ourselves into a better way of acting.

But, you see, that's all part of what the Bible calls the obedience of faith — trusting God's wisdom and goodness enough to obey Him, even when we don't feel like it. And hard though it may be, getting better at trusting God and loving people is well worth the workout.

The Verdict: Christians Can't Multitask

If we acknowledge that trusting God and loving people are the main stuff of our Christian lives, then we will want to evaluate the prevalent practice of multitasking in that light. The purpose of this article was to identify some of the pitfalls of multitasking in order to prepare us to do just that.

Upon examination we've seen that multitasking often hampers our productivity, robs us of quiet thought, and keeps us from demonstrating Christ's love. Those negatives obstruct us from fulfilling clear commands and principles of Scripture — like working with all your heart, leading productive lives, meditating on God's Word, praying without ceasing and loving others fervently. We can see that multitasking is generally more of a hindrance than a help to our personal and spiritual growth and development.

In a sense, we need to wake up and admit that multitasking is a myth after all. It does not deliver the efficiency of the maximized potential it seemed to promise. Its layering of disconnected thoughts have not helped us think any better, clearer or deeper. Multitasking has made it easier to escape the real pressures of living with real people, but has not equipped us to experience or give real love.

Short on delivery, we may want to keep multitasking on a short chain. Not afraid of the potential of technology, we need to recognize its dangers and set up structural helps and limits to keep it in its place. We should love to use media and technology as tools for God's glory, but even more than that, we should desire to live wisely, choosing to do one worthwhile at a time, very well. As Jim Elliot challenged his generation, so we challenge you:

"Wherever you are, be there 100 percent."

HT: Alex and Brett Harris @ Boundless Webzine

►Testimonials

2009-01-05T03:20:00.000-08:00

We know that the 2008 Holiday Camp has been a blessing to you. On the last night, we gave a chance for those who've been blessed by the camp to share their blessings through testimonies. We heard from ten young people but that's not even 10 percent of the camp's entire population. Many were not able to share their testimony, so in this post we'd like to invite you to post your testimony in the comment section.

Post ahead! We'd love to hear from you!

Quote§ to Ponder

2009-01-05T03:18:00.001-08:00

As one of the humans has said, active habits are strengthened by repetition but passive ones are weakened. The more often he feels without acting the less he will be able to feel.

~C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters

The little things of life, sweet and excellent in their place, must not be the things lived for; the highest must be sought and followed; the life of heaven must be begun here on earth.

~L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island

On Our Shelf: Cat & Dog Theology

2009-01-05T02:46:00.000-08:00

The year has just begun and you're probably thinking of a book to read. Cat & Dog Theology by Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robison is a good book to start the year. As the subtitles suggest, it's the perfect time of the year to rethink of our relationship with God. This new year, how far are you desiring to know Him more?

Cat and Dog Theology is full of simple yet powerful illustrations of our relationship with God. In this book, you'll find out if you're a cat or a dog. Yes, you heard it right. Christians are either cat or dog. Find out what you are and why by reading this book.

A Word From Webster

2009-01-05T01:32:00.000-08:00

WIDOW
(wid'ō) [Old English, widewe, wuduwe]

[n.] 1. A woman who has lost her husband by death and has not remarried.
2. In some card games, an additional hand dealt to the table; also a kitty
3. Printing An incomplete line of type ending a paragraph; especially, a single line or less at
the top of page or column

[v.] 1. To make a widow of; deprive of a husband: usually in the past participle: a woman widowed by war.
2. To deprive of something desirable; bereave
3. Rare To survive as the widow of
4. Rare To recognize as a widow; give the rights of a widow to

WIDOW in the Bible

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
~James 1:27 (NIV)

2008 Holiday Camp Photos

2009-01-05T00:58:00.000-08:00

Team Building

Sampung Mga Daliri Exercise

Calacalympics Best Sports Attire

Staff

Long line for breakfast

AAFC has 500+ photos which you can see in slideshow or grid view by clicking the Photobucket link below. You can also download the original file by going back to the main view of the album.

2008 Holiday Camp: Facing Your Giants
by Photobucket

It's all yours to use for church presentation reports or youth video promotions. Just make sure that you will use it accordingly. Contents of this site are protected by law through Creative Commons.

Enjoy!

ANNOUNCEMENT

2009-01-05T00:35:00.000-08:00

FEATURED WEBSITE

2009-01-05T00:18:00.000-08:00

Hear young ladies, Hannah Farver and Lindsey Wagstaffe, speak about beauty. Beauty that is pleasing to no man's eye but to God.

Why did God create women?
What is true beauty?
What's the point of purity?
Modesty? Femininity?
We've wondered too.

Ask the world what womanhood is about, and you'll get a blank stare in return. No one knows. Young women are devoid of any vision beyond popularity, fortune, fame, a cute guy, and a dream career. From the glorified feminist ideals promoted on theater screens to the hurting, provocatively dressed twelve-year-old girl at school, it's unavoidably clear: our culture's idea of "womanhood" is a miserable, twisted version of the truth.

God had something greater in mind. From the start of creation, women were designed to live beautifully. But God's idea of beauty isn't about physical characteristics or the approval of others. It's about loving the God who created us for His glory, and enjoying the unique design He's given us.

Inner beauty is distinct. It's not intrinsic. It doesn't come naturally or easily; this beauty develops slowly in the heart, as a believer learns to love Christ more deeply. The more passionate for the Gospel we become, the more our hearts grow to reflect His image.

The goal of Beauty from the Heart is to nurture this growing beauty, and counter our culture's ideal for womanhood with God's breathtaking vision. Our one day conferences are designed to refresh young women (and their moms) with a renewed desire to live solely for Christ.
~Hannah Farver and Lindsey Wagstaffe
Beauty from the Heart

Visit Beauty From the Heart today.

ANNOUNCEMENT

2009-01-04T23:26:00.001-08:00

History Maker

2009-01-04T23:19:00.000-08:00

Many young people don't like reading. And for sure they'll loathe history reading. Just like the history maker, Ulrich Zwingli, below--and most likely (though we hope not) his story will be ignored.

As Christians, we should know how God has blessed our faith and how it survived the persecutions throughout the centuries. This we can only know if we take time to read history. Gilbert Blythe once said in the Anne of Green Gables books,

"The folks who lived before me have done so much for me that I want to show my gratitude by doing something for the folks who will live after me. It seems to me that is the only way a fellow can get square with his obligations to the race."

What he said has so much profound truth in it. Our forefathers have gone through so much to keep the faith. They were kept in dungeons, chained, burned in stakes so they can hand down their faith to the next generation. On and on to the next generation. To our generation. The faith they fought for is the faith that we have now.

Let their stories be an inspiration as we keep on with the fight.

ULRICH ZWINGLI

Militant Swiss Reformer

"For God's sake, do not put yourself at odds with the Word of God. For truly it will persist as surely as the Rhine follows its course. One can perhaps dam it up for awhile, but it is impossible to stop it."

Ulrich Zwingli, the city chaplain, stood before the Zurich City Council in January 1523. The winds of reform had made their way over the Alps from Luther's Germany, and Zwingli was arguing 67 theses, beginning with "All who say that the gospel is invalid without the confirmation of the church err and slander God." Though 28 shy of Luther's 95 Theses, published some six years earlier, Zwingli's arguments were more persuasive: authorities gave him permission to continue his preaching, which emphasized Christ first and the church second ("Christ is the only mediator between God and ourselves," said another of Zwingli's theses). The Reformation in Switzerland was now well on its way, and Zwingli would play the key role in the early years.

Anxious For His Charge

Zwingli was born to a successful farmer in the Toggaburg Valley of the eastern lower Alps. Here Zwingli developed a deep love for his homeland. Later he translated one line of , "In the beautiful Alps, he tends me," and he used the Rhine River as an illustration of a key theme of his preaching: "For God's sake, do not put yourself at odds with the Word of God. For truly it will persist as surely as the Rhine follows its course. One can perhaps dam it up for awhile, but it is impossible to stop it."

But it took Zwingli years to discover the power of this Word. After graduating from the University of Basel in 1506, he became a parish priest in Glarus. From the beginning, he took his priestly duties seriously. He later wrote, "Though I was young, ecclesiastical duties inspired in me more fear than joy, because I knew, and remain convinced that I would give an account of the blood of the sheep which would perish as a consequence of my carelessness."

The feeling of responsibility for his charge (rather than, like Luther, a personal search for salvation) motivated Zwingli's increasing interest in the Bible. In an age when priests were often unfamiliar with the Scriptures, Zwingli became enamored with it, first after purchasing a copy of Erasmus's New Testament Latin translation. He began teaching himself Greek, bought a copy of Erasmus's Greek New Testament, and started memorizing long passages. In 1519 he began preaching from the New Testament regularly.

Privately Zwingli also started challenging the customs of medieval Christendom he thought unbiblical. He had struggled with clerical celibacy for some time (and even admitted that as a young priest, he'd had an affair). In 1522 he secretly married. That same year, he broke the traditional Lenten fast (by eating sausages in public) and wrote against fasting.

By 1523 he was ready to take his ideas to a larger audience, and in January he did just that before the Zurich City Council at what is now called the First Disputation. The Second Disputation came in October, and with further approval from the council, more reforms were carried out: images of Jesus, Mary, and the saints were removed from the churches; the Bible was to have preeminence.

Arguments Over Supper

Things moved rapidly after that. In 1524 he wedded his wife publicly, insisting that pastors had the right to marry. In 1525 he and others convinced the city to abolish the Mass, with its emphasis on the miracle of transubstantiation, and replace it with a simple service that included the Lord's Supper but only as a symbolic memorial.

As it turned out, it was the Lord's Supper that prevented the uniting of the German and Swiss reform movements. At a 1529 meeting at Marburg, called to unite the two movements, Luther and Zwingli met. Though they agreed on 14 points of doctrine, they stumbled on the fifteenth: the Lord's Supper. Against Zwingli's view, Luther insisted on Christ's literal presence. Zwingli balked. Luther said Zwingli was of the devil and that he was nothing but a wormy nut. Zwingli resented Luther's treating him "like an ass." It was evident no reconciliation was possible.

Zwingli died two years later in battle, defending Zurich against Catholic forces, and plans for spreading the Reformation into German Switzerland were ended. Still Zurich remained Protestant, and under the leadership of Heinrich Bullinger, Zwingli's successor, this unique branch of the Reformation continued to blossom.

HT: Christian History @ Christianity Today

The Cry On the Front: The Cry We Don't Hear At Home

2009-01-04T22:50:00.000-08:00

Suppose you are a soldier on the front line. The war was on. You load your arms with ammunition. You fired. One dead on the enemy’s front line. Two. Three. Four and until your bullets are gone. But the enemies kept coming. Their number seems to have not diminished despite all your firearm’s effort to hit them. You look beside you. Your fellow soldiers are still firing but some have the same problem that you have: lack of ammunition. You look behind and you see your troop’s lines thinning. You look back to the front. Amidst the thick smoke and dust your enemies are still firing and they’re killing your fellow soldiers.

The enemy’s front lines are closing in. They’re near. There isn’t much time. You flung yourself to the ground, reached for the radio in your pocket and called out, “Private Johnson here. Do you hear me?! Send more troops and extra ammunition! Get it fast! They’re closing in!”

Bullets whiz just inches above your head. Nobody answers. Three hills away in your barracks, your fellow soldiers are playing cards with others as spectators. Some are polishing their rifles. Some are in firing practice. Some are in deep argument of tactics for attacks. They were there but none heard you call. You frantically call out again as thick black smoke blinded you. Your call rang out but all that heard you was a room full of maps and defense and attack plans. And none of the soldiers you need. You cried out. Again, no answer. You coughed and breathed heavily as you cried out again wondering where they are. A bullet finally found its way and whizzed through your head. You’re dead. And nobody heard you.

That’s a picture I’ve drawn of how I see missions today. It’s so sad and heartbreaking that missionaries sent to far flung places toil hard and even get killed for His kingdom yet very few at home cares. On Sundays, we hear a lot about on how the Gospel should be proclaimed to the ends of the earth and every after Sunday, we forget and get on with our daily routines, hardly giving thought to the perishing.

I love what John Piper wrote in Don’t Waste Your Life about his “wartime” lifestyle based on 2 Corinthians 10:3-5:

“It tells us that there is a war going on in the world between Christ and Satan, truth and falsehood, belief and unbelief. It tells me that there are weapons to be funded and used, but that these weapons are not swords or guns or bombs but the Gospel and prayer and self-sacrificing love.”

As teens, we need to hear the message of wartime again and again. We need to gear ourselves for war. Easily do we get blinded and drawn with what the world has to offer. Fashion, technology, music, socializing, fun things (cute little things for us girls), and school can easily make us forget the work of the Gospel and our part in it. We forget that billions have no notion yet of who Christ is and that people die everyday. How many of them have heard the gospel?

I have been reading Global: Vision, Passion, Action by L.E. Maxwell. In it is a story Maxwell shared of a missionary’s view of today's missions. It broke my heart and was ashamed of how many times I’ve let the thought of the perishing slip from my mind.

One of the hardest things a front-line soldier has to endure, whether in military world or in the missionary world, are the unknowing, unfeeling, unresponsive folk at home. Let me give you a page from a missionary's experience. He left his station and went exploring in a new needy area in the Far East. He said,

I spent some day finding out roads and details, sleeping in dirty longhouses, people about as wild as they could be, stark-naked men and women... running from me for fear... What were my reactions to this trip? Sadness, impatience, bordering on disgust.

Here's a vast new mission field, ready to be entered, waiting for many years because we have no missionaries to place there. Rich America, with its thousands of young people trained and ready for service, yet not one for these tribal areas. Over the radio, on my return to my station, I heard a music from America, young people singing, "We've a story to tell to the nations;" but it all seemed a mockery. I switched it off.

What more can we do to get these people evangelized? Do the people take us seriously, or are we just miserable enthusiasts? We write books, make movies, send thousands of newsletters, spend furloughs pleading for help, trying to get some to go as missionaries, and the people go out into eternity without Christ, while the church at home glibly sings missionary hymns.

How long are we going to ignore the calls they send from the front? I know, not all of us are called to be in the frontier but as far as missions is concerned, each of us have a part to play in bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We are supposed to be soldiers marching to war. But what have we become? We have become soldiers in the barracks. Complacent. We are content in the safety of our homes, locked in the Christian lifestyle of peace. Never attempting to war with the world. Obliviously, our lives have quietly slipped back in agreement to the world. Our ears have tuned in to our iPods listening to the latest best-selling album, shutting the call on the front. The call that we must heed but chooses to heed not.

Should we remain this way? I hope not.

HT: Godly Ladies In Training

ANNOUNCEMENT

2009-01-02T22:56:00.000-08:00

OM Philippines is organizing a summer mission challenge to young people like you!

Here are some details for the upcoming GLOBAL CHALLENGE PHILIPPINES:

Dates: Training - April 6-11, 2009; Outreach - April 12-22, 2009

Venue: Camp Jabez, Dasmarinas, Cavite
Cost: P5,000.00 (inclusive of food, accommodation, travel during outreach, training materials but excluding travel to and from Venue)

Requirements: Application form & Pastor's Recommendation

Note: For forms, email rowena.flores@ph.om.org

****

While P5,000 maybe an expensive fee for a Filipino youth, please give this Global Challenge a thought. It is not camping but a short mission training program. It is not for recreation but for service.

Pray about this Global Challenge. Talk about it with your pastor. Tell your church about it.

Remember that the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. God can use you to reap the harvest even in that short span of time of April 12-22, 2009. Make your summer worthwhile. Make it useful for His glory.

Lines of Encouragement

2009-01-02T22:32:00.000-08:00

ARE YOU EASILY DISCOURAGED?

Here is a man who:

Failed in business

Was defeated for the U.S. State of Legislature

Failed in business for the second time

Had his sweetheart die

Had a nervous breakdown

Was defeated in an election

Was defeated for Congress

Was defeated for Congress again

Was defeated for Congress the third time

Was defeated for the Senate

Was defeated for Vice Presidency

Was defeated for the Senate again

But elected 16th president of the United States:

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Now, is there enough reason for you to be discouraged? If there is, then always go back to the story of this man whom God used to lead America. His trust in God strengthened him to overcome failures and for that he became America's most loved president.

Happy Christmas!

2008-12-24T18:34:00.000-08:00

Today, we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Everybody's busy to get presents and dinner done. With all this season's busyness, we hope that you'll never ever forget, even for a moment, why Jesus was born. He was born to die a humiliating and undeserved death. Even at His birth he was being hunted down by King Herod. Babies below 2 years old in Jerusalem were killed ruthlessly in Herod's search for Him. Doesn't sound a very Merry Christmas then, eh?

His death is something He doesn't have to do but He chose to do so because He loves us. Remember. Remember the gift of His death on the day of His birth.

Happy Christmas everyone!

AAFC Fortnightly Poll

2008-12-24T16:34:00.000-08:00

SIBFK-AAFC Mission-Vision

2008-12-24T15:42:00.001-08:00

SIBFK-AAFC
is a Christ-centered youth ministry

that aims to assist local churches
through life-changing programs

in pursuit of excellent Christian service.

AAFC Holiday Camp 2008

2008-12-11T21:38:00.001-08:00

Exciting Contests Exciting Prizes!

2007-12-01T00:30:00.001-08:00

As part of the missions camp experience, campers are invited to join the Missions Costume & Exhibit Contest and the Paramihan ng Na-Witnessan (PNW) Challenge.

The missions exhibit will fall under the group category and entries should be an effort of the youth organization in the church. The exhibit should project objects that will display the culture of their chosen nation. The chosen nation maybe a country or a tribal group or any group of people with distinct culture from others.

The Missions Costume contest and the PNW Challenge will fall under the individual category. The missions costume contest will be a representation of any nation displaying their culture through clothing. The PNW challenge as the title suggests, will be a challenge for the campers who will have the most number of people whom he or she has shared the Gospel with.

Everyone is encouraged to be creative and join. Exciting surprise prizes await you! ■

Come Holiday Season, Come AAFC Camp

2007-12-01T00:23:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is approaching and so does the SIBFK-AAFC annual holiday camp. Holiday season means vacation in the youth context, an excellent time for young people to have holidays from school. And camping is just one of the excellent ways to unwind from the worries of schooling and get back to the One who authored education in our lives.

The SIBFK-AAFC will initiate its first ever missions camp with the theme Born with An Ultimatum this December. The missions camp aims to raise the youth’s awareness on the essence of missions in God’s plan for salvation. The now-generation Y’s immersion in the culture of the society’s “me-first” mentality has carried them into oblivion and has made them negligent of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Great Commission. The Lord has mandated everyone who has come to His saving knowledge, young and old alike regardless of their status, to exe cute this command. And camping is one of the exact ways to learn more about God and His plan for missions.

The SIBFK-AAFC has prepared a fun-filled missions camp especially for the youth to challenge them and to ignite their hearts with zeal to reach for the lost
The SIBFK-AAFC Missions Camp: Born with an Ultimatum will be on December 26-29, 2007 at Putting Bato Baptist Camp, Calaca, Batangas. Pre-registration is on-going and will end on December 22. For pre-registration procedures, log on at www.freewebs.com/sibfk-aafc and for further inquires; contact the SIBFK-AAFC officers through sibfk_aafc@yahoo.com. ■

December 2007 Holiday Youth Camp

2007-10-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

PRE-REGISTER NOW!

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! ^_^

Trial Photo Post

2007-09-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

COOL MEETING PLACE

Ain't it too fit for us? =)

______________________________________________________________________________

WACKY MEETING

Meeting... really?!

______________________________________________________________________

JUNIORS' CAMP 2007

presenting....Batang Panalo: Batang A.S.T.I.G.!