Well heck. In one way I agree. I can not scratch my ear if God doesn’t let me and no, I am not being funny, it is absolutely true.

Yet as a Pastor, I would think if I was found doing things unbecoming a Pastor and even a layman, that my church could throw me out. As a matter of fact, I encourage it.

I do believe the Pastor should have a chance to repent and ask forgiveness of the Church but in the absence of that, he’s out of here.

One of the examples they give is the Bible says, “Touch not mine anointed”

The actual verses (and they will not give you what I will show you, only that short clip. “1Ch 16:20 And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;
1Ch 16:21 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,
1Ch 16:22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

The bible was clearly speaking about all the Jewish people as being God’s anointed and He would not allow anyone to go against them.

Then they will give the story of Saul and David and say that David never did kill Saul although he had the chance. Okay. So, that means no one should kill the failing Pastor.

One quote I have heard in the past by more than one Pastor was that “God has put me in here and only God can take me out”.

Actually, the search committee or the Church board put you in there and yes, they probably prayed and sought God’s approval. that is exactly what they will do when they throw you out.

Most Pastors who defend this kind of thinking have some baggage and are actually concerned their church members may decide to throw them out.

One Pastor in California stole $3million dollars from the church. should the board have waited for God to throw him out or do you think they were in the will of God by doing so?

The call of a Pastor is serious business and we are to keep ourselves above reproach. That is a biblical mandate and if we can’t, we do not deserve to be in such an position.

Just think if only they fired Jim Jones before he passed out the Kool Aid.

In anything we do, we need to have a sound reason for doing so right?

Well, maybe not. I smoked three packs a day for many years without one legitimate reason but there were many for why I needed to quit.

So it seems to do bad things we really can do them just like that with no thought but to do good…

I read somewhere about “crowd mentality”. The thought behind it was shown in an instance where someone was laying on the ground apparently hurt. A crowd gathered but did nothing. Immediately after one person ran to the man to help, everyone joined in. This test showed that many people do not initiate on their own ( good or bad) but will in fact, follow a leader.

How does this all apply to giving to causes? I am not sure. Perhaps some of you might comment.

In the meantime, below are reasons that some give and some don’t give to causes that help others.

REASONS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT GIVE:

1- compassion to ease the suffering of others

2-need to do what seems right

3-gives because it is in their family history to give

4-give for reasons of faith

5-give because they relate to those who require help

6- give because they know the organizer or organization

REASONS SOME MAY NOT GIVE:

1- no money to give

2- no desire to give

3- do not believe the people designated for help will receive help.

4- Already helping other projects or causes

5- Want to give but procrastination keeps them from giving.

6- Do not believe the donation will make a difference to the target group.

I can answer some of the above reasons of those who might not give.

1-I believe that most people have money to give. Perhaps they do not have large amounts but most (granted not all) can spare a $1.25 a week. I believe many who can give that amount do not believe it is a worthy amount and therefore believe it is better to give nothing. On the contrary. One hundred people giving just $5 per month ($1.25 per week), equals $500 added to our budget here in Payatas and it would make a big difference.

2- I can only change the desire not to give to a desire that wants to give, by showing the need. If someone really internalizes the need, then they might want to help the needy.

3- Those who do not believe the people designated for help will receive it has good reason for their opinion. There is so much greed and corruption in this world and many will use the poor to try to make themselves rich. With that said, it is still no reason to not support anyone. You need to do some homework on those who you might desire to help.

In the case of Payatas Mission Outreach, Inc. We are a 501 (c) 3 Non profit organization. We also have many testimonies of those who have visited us here and see that we do not live high on the hog and that the money sent is going to help others. Most, independent donations go for specific projects as we have Churches that help us with our living requirements as well as Church rentals, electricity, telephone, water and ongoing expenses.

4- Already helping- If you are maxed out, don’t let your heart make you give more than you have. (That’s a biblical statement. “2Co 8:13  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened”

5- Procrastination kills action. I would love to hear the cure for this one.

6- Those who believe their donation will not make a difference. I read an story of a young boy on the beach after a storm caused thousands of starfish to float ashore. One by one the young boy picked them up and proceeded to throw them back into the sea. An old man, who was observing yelled to the boy, “Why waste your time, it won’t matter?” The young boy answered him saying, “It matters to this one” as he threw another back into the sea.

We have received donations of $5.00 a month. That $5 equals 221 pesos. For 221 pesos one could buy 20 pounds of rice. That will last two parents and a child two weeks of eating. Does it matter? It matters to them!

Let us here from you. And your thoughts. We would like to know what you are thinking.

A Rose among the Thorns

It is with great anticipation that I start this blog. I am hoping to get comments on the work here, suggestions for how we can do more and better things in Payatas. Networking so that perhaps we will find funding for the buildings we desire to build as well as supplying immediate aid to the poor here while trying to create livelihood programs that will allow for self achievement.

We (my wife Malou and two daughters, Laura and Linda), have been here going on five years. I was called here when I met and married my wife back in 1999. and by 2006 we were landing in Manila.

We have seen hundreds make confessions of faith and although we can never be sure of which were real and which were not, we do know that we have been doing the job put before us and that is to bring the Gospel to all of those which we come into contact.

I would like you to get to know us better. We have been sent here by Bethel Baptist Church in Carson, California. Pastor Rudy Abrot is the Pastor of the New Church they just built. If you like, you might check out their website at: http://thebethelbaptist.org/ and if you are in the Carson area, drop in to see them and tell them Pastor Jack sent you.

Payatas Mission Outreach, Inc. is our own mission agency which was started to focus on funding and to eventually be a help to bring other missionaries here to Payatas. If you would like to drop by the site, here is the link: http://payatasmissionoutreach.org

Payatas Quezon City Baptist Church And Ministries, Inc. ,  is what we started here back in 2006 when a handful of people met in a couple of different , squatter’s homes. Soon after we rented the small building we are now occupying. I suggest you would stop by the site at: http://www.payatasbaptistchurch.org/

If you do not know where you will spend eternity, please start reading here: Word from the Pastor This is everything you wanted to know about getting to heaven but never knew where to ask!

If you would like to see our entire story you can check our “UPDATES” which is a diary in progress which started when we left in 2006 right up to the present time.

Our “Photo” site  (Phanfare) has way over 5000 photos.

There are many links on both sites which would include:

Our Vision

Why Give?

Donate

As well as:

Our Purpose

Our Plans

There are many other pages on both sites to show you who we are, what we want to do, what has been done so far, why our organization is worthy of your support as well as a diary and over 5000 photographs documenting the work and accomplishments  as well as the need that still exists here.

I hope you will come to know us and pray for us as well as be helpful with financial support.

Please feel free to post your comments.

God Bless!

Pastor Jack

Focusing on what’s good.