I believe Tithing goes back as far as the Garden of Eden. Now this is just conjecture, I will admit, but I strongly believe it. Paul has also made known when a thought was his own but he believed he had God on it so it is not off base to make an intelligent guess on something.

Think about it. The garden was filled with trees. Someone suggested that there were only ten at that time. It is for sure, another guess. God said, “Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Perhaps, that one tree represented God’s tithe.

If we remember the sin of Achan, “Jos 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.”

Achan took the “accursed” thing that God said was His own. Accursed in Hebrew translates to “dedicated.” This was God’s own and not to be taken. That is very clear.

As the verse continues we see that God gets angry when we take what is His.

Continuing on, we note that the word of God says: 2Co 9:10 “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) “

It is a complete system. God gives to us and requires us to use some for His purposes.

In Genesis, Cain brought vegetables while Abel brought a lamb. Once again in the absence of a clear mandate we will have to take all of God’s commands and actions to figure this out.

The offering in this case was a lamb. That is what God required. It was symbolic as the Scripture tells us, Heb 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

So, that is why Cains sacrifice was rejected. There is perhaps a second part of that which might include attitude. God loveth a cheerful giver and it seems this was more of a pride problem for Cain in choosing to disobey God’s word on giving.

Later on we see Abraham meeting up with Melchizedek Gen 14:18 “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Gen 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Gen 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”

Now there are those individuals, however misguided, who would argue that this person was not Jesus. That will be another day and another argument. We do see Abraham giving tithes of what God had given to Him, back to God. (in this case called Melchizedek)

By the way, for clarifications sake, God gave the victory into Abraham’s hand. With only 300+ soldiers trained in his own house against perhaps thousands, only God could have given that victory.

So we see tithing came before the law to tithe. It was always the way we acknowledge God as supreme. One always tithes to someone above them.

I will not even touch on the Levitical law except to answer those who say we are no longer under the law so we do not have to tithe. That is a lie from the pit of hell. Can we now kill, and lie, and dishonor our parents? Jesus said, Mat 5:18 “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

For eternal life, we are no longer under the law. That is true. We have been forgiven of all sins past,present & future so if we do not tithe we will not burn in hell. However, we will be subject to the chastisement of God in this life.

Now some tithing does not apply to us, it’s true. Most of us do not raise crops. Nor is the sacrifice going on in the temple. Paul however made it clear that we are to support our church. He said, 2Co 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. “

Oh, you say, see, not of necessity. Well what does that mean? It means you do it now from your heart. As God tells you. As your heart speaks to you. It should no longer be people squeezing out their ten per cent but generously giving as God has prospered them.

You might ask, “How does that work?” Well, we are supposed to tithe or give to God his due. Supposed I said to you that I will give you each week, $1,000. The only stipulation would be that you have to give me back 10%. Would you do it? Of course you would. You would be a fool not to. Now, how about I give you the thousand but you insist you have too many bills to pay or other interests and you could not possibly give back 10%. What do you think will happen? Yes! I will stop giving you the thousand.

God works the same way. Don’t forget, you are not paying anything that you got yourself because all belongs to God. What you get, God provides.

Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Notice it says tithes AND offerings. That which is demanded and that which comes from your free will. Don’t think you squeeze the pennies to come up with 10% and forget what God has put in your heart.

I would propose that the cause of poverty in man is his stinginess with God.

Adam took from God and was cursed. Achan took from God and was cursed. Abraham gave to God and was blessed.

This is a no brainer.

God says in Malachi 3:10 that we should bring the tithes into the storehouse (that’s the Church and nothing else-you can not use tithes for any other purpose no matter how noble a gesture)

He said “prove me.” That means try Him, test Him –…” if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Doesn’t that seem simple enough? Bring the tithes, do it with a happy heart, don’t forget the offerings and God will reward you that you won’t have room to receive it.

It’s funny. So many people go to Church to worship a God they say they trust for their eternal life but don’t trust with the money HE gave them.

So God says, “try me” and many do not.

He said He would “Mal 3:11 …rebuke the devourer for your sakes,…”

The devourer is the devil of course.

God said it in Haggai very well, “Hag 1:6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. “

Have you ever made a lot of money and then wondered why you still could not pay your bills or unexpected expenses came up to wipe your money out?

Hmmmm? Are you getting this yet?

Read Malachi and Haggai. They are two short books with a good long message.

Did you know Paul complained of not getting the funds from the Corinthian Church? He said the thing you promised a year ago you still have not performed. He praised the Macedonian Churches because although they were poor, they gave big.

Most people have the wrong idea about giving. They want to wait until they have a lot to give.

Most rich people acquired their wealth while being generous. It is a principle of God

Don’t say you are a Christian and ignore the word of God

Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

It’s like going to the doctor and he tells you that you will die if you keep drinking and you keep drinking.

Too many people ignore the word of God and refuse to be blessed.

Are you one of them?

The one thing I had was a complete dependency on God. I knew if I was going to have a thriving Church, God would have to build it. After all, didn’t Jesus say:

Mat 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. “

I was asked to preach in a few places and I started getting tired of it. I was invited to a Church in Makati and I said to God, “Today, please start your work here.”

That was it. So I went to Makati and a man came running up to me and said, “Do you want to start a ministry in Payatas? I have a small group Bible study there with about a half dozen people. Perhaps you can take it over?

The man was Pastor Jerry Anota and we became fast friends.

I said, Thank you Lord as I realized God answered my prayer to start His work that day.

A few days later Pastor Anota met with me and we went to the home in Payatas where the study took place.

He introduced me to the people, and they all stared at me with suspicion. They wondered why on earth would this man come all the way here from America? What does he want?

However, after a short time, they realized that I was there to work for the Lord, and we all became very close.

We encouraged the people to invite their friends, and we asked God to increase our Church. So we grew. We were holding church in one of the squatters homes. It was a rough, two story cement block building.

The lady who live there suggested that we could break through the wall downstairs and make a Church, and they could move everything upstairs.

Although it was a sweet and generous offer, I felt God telling me that He would build His Church.

So I invited Pastor Anota over to my house, and the next day we went out looking for a building.

We saw one that had potential. We went next door to speak to the people and we found out the floor was all rotted and the building wasn’t stable.

We told them about the Lord and they made a profession of faith.

We then went further down the road to the building we now (2013) occupy.

We met with the landlady and we agreed upon a price and after she finished painting, we moved in.

That was in November of 2006 and we have been there ever since.

We are now severely over crowded and are in dire need of a new place.

We have gone through many stages while here but we found out the secret of growing a Church is let God do it.

Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

We had this man in our Church that was asking visitors why they were coming to our Church? He said our Church was no good. The devil works his ways.

I didn’t know about it but some members did. When I found out I told the members that if something like that happens again, I need to know about it and whoever knows and doesn’t tell, can go to another Church.

I am strong about loyalty. Whoever is not with us is against us and we need to maintain a good watchful eye.

I was about to throw this man out of the church. It was Sunday morning and I was up in my office. I was beginning to get nervous. I thought that there might be a split and when I go downstairs the Church will be half empty. Finally, my strength came into me as I prayed. “God, this is your Church, not mine. If you allow a split so be it but whatever happens, Blessed be your holy name.

I went downstairs. That man was gone and not only that but we had more people than we ever had before.

It seemed to always work that way. We got rid of some people. One was a bookkeeper. I loved her dearly. She was a very generous woman, a good worker and friend. The problem was, she would only come to Sunday morning service. Not only that, I had to speak to her about texting during the sermon as well as falling asleep.

Finally, I took her into my office and told her that unless she attended the services she would have to leave. She decided to leave. That made me very sad, it still does but the devil will use people close to you. You need to cut them.
God immediately replaced her with another bookkeeper as well as a helper who has now learned also to do the books.

We had a man who claimed to be a missionary and wanted to work for the church. His Pastor in America endorsed him . I set him up with a desk and work to do and every time I passed he was looking at a dating site. He wanted a wife. I told him to do that on his own time. There was a lady who worked at one of our medical clinics. He showed an interest in her. I warned him not to get involved with her. Even though she had been separated from her husband for eight years, she still was married.

One afternoon I was in my office and I heard a loud noise outside. I believe God caused the loud noise to get me to look out the window. There was this supposed missionary getting in a taxi with this women.
When he returned the next day, we parted ways.

Another man from America came and decided he was going to do what he wanted. He was generally obnoxious. I caught him smoking in front of the Church with all our kids outside. I found out he was drinking in the streets with another guy. He was quickly removed.

There were others. The reason I pointed out those stories was if I wasn’t prepared to take immediate action, I feel I would have lost the Church.

I use the old saying -One rotten apple spoils the bunch and it’s true.

We had women arguing and I immediately brought then into my office and we straightened everything out.

1Ti 5:20 “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”

A successful church has everything to do with obedience to God. It depends on a strong Pastor who is willing to discipline when necessary.

Man can not build a Church. He might build a successful business but it won’t be a church.

God’s strategy was to focus on children. We had plenty of them. Most were from the garbage dump families. They would come and they would be filthy. So we lined them up on the side of the building and we washed the hands,arms,legs,feet, necks and faces of these precious children.

We taught them hygiene and how to keep their clothes clean and before you know it , supporters were telling us that our kids did not look so poor. They were changing by the grace of God.

Another thing God told me was everyone has to have a job in the church. If we are truly a family, we all need to work together. So we have a preacher (besides me) teachers, cleaners, cooks, bookkeepers, Music leaders, maintenance and whatever else we need.

If you are not working together you will soon feel like an outsider.

We focused on teaching the word of God word by word. I break it down and we go through the bible on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. All of our adults and most of the children know how to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Every Saturday we go out with anywhere from 55-75 door knockers.

You would think many people come to the Church by our efforts. The answer would be no. As I said in the beginning, God builds His church. We go out because God requires it. God brings visitors all the time but not by our efforts lest we say we built the Church.
All our people are aware of this rule.

We also have what we call a two by two program where couples go to witness to any of the children’s parents that do not attend. The ladies also have another visitation program where they visit those they deem in need of an immediate visit for whatever the reason.

The children invite their friends. We are constantly growing and if we were taking any credit at all is that we are doing what we are told to do.

There are principles of God which we try to follow very close.

One simple principle is:

2Ch_15:2 “… The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. “

Those who forsake the Lord are expelled from the fellowship. Paul had no trouble doing it and neither do we.

Amos said:

Amo 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

We will work with people growing and learning, We understand each person is at their own level, There is a point where discipline is necessary and it works for the morale of the entire Church.

Building a church is easy when you let God do it.

If you will listen, He is always glad to lead.

When I first came to Payatas I was aghast at many things. The poor, the destitute, the uneducated,suffering children,,,

One thing however, stuck in my mind. The people had no hot water. No hot water for washing dishes or taking a shower or bath. It was awful.

My thoughts for Payatas when I was first planning to come here was to help people get little hot water heaters so they could have some comfort.

It was a generous but naive desire. Do you know why? It is because people here do not use hot water. They have no desire for hot water and even if you gave them a free heater, they would not, probably could not, pay for the electric or gas to run the hot water heater. So despite my good intentions, it was and still is a ridiculous idea. I have been here six years and I still do not have one. If it is your intention, I will gladly accept it but don’t worry about the rest of the people.

We have had some very nice medical missions here of which I am thankful. They came and they diagnosed and performed minor operations and even paid to send some people for treatment at a hospital. These missions were very profitable and successful.

Then we had one group that came here and basically did little more than hand out some vitamins. Perhaps a month’s supply. These people although they had good intentions. Had water heater mentalities. They spent thousands of dollars on plane fares, food , and fancy hotels. They had offered to reimburse us for the food we bought to feed about 1000 people. We bought it, cooked it and distributed it. When it was time to reimburse us the Pastor asked for receipts. I just laughed and told him to forget it. It was $200 which was a great deal for our Church. I told him that there are no receipts in street markets. So the Church lost on that deal and these people got to feel good about how they helped the needy. There was however no real help and it turned out to be a vacation for these people.

Medical Mission vacationers

Not one of the people in our church has a car. I am the only one. It is a put together 21 year old “Owner type Jeep”. It needs repairs on a weekly basis.

Unlike churches in better off communities, Payatas is the home of the infamous garbage dump. It is here that men, women and children who are called bums by the wealthier neighbors , work 12-16 hours per day to support their families. The Government balances their waste management programs on the backs of thousands of the residents of Payatas. Entire families work just to get food to eat. From the perspective of the more well off, they are lazy bums. This is a term that boils my blood and brakes my heart as I think of how industrious these people are and what they endure in life.

Looking for salvation

There are so many Filipino overseas workers all over the world living life in peace. The number that send anything to help us help these people is almost none. We have some Filipinos who give. One person emailed me and asked how could he give. I gave him the account number of our Local bank. He deposited 200 Pesos. That equals $4.90 U.S. I wanted to cry. No, not because the amount was low according to American standards but because it was so high according to a poor man with a heart to help. When I think of people who claim to be friends and how easy they could sign up to send $5 per month and don’t bother, it drives me nuts. When I think of those people who faithfully send to this Organization, it touches my heart to think how much they care.

I don’t mean to judge how much money people have but even when I was poor in the States I could give $5.

There was on Face book the story of the police officer who gave the homeless man who had blisters on his bare feet in the winter, a pair of socks and boots. He got 5 million hits. People think this is wonderful. I think it’s more than wonderful and it makes me feel that there are good people with good hearts out there. However, these millions of people will get touched by it, put it on Face Book yet never give a dime to help another human being.

Policeman gives boots to a Homeless Man.

Our ministry survives at poverty level. Not U.S. Level but Philippine level.
I think how my own children could not go to school last year because we had no funds and how many kids in Payatas do not attend at all. Yet we still teach our children and we have been teaching the children here.
We have had six years with these kids and have watched them grow. Kids with no hope now look forward to a brighter future. Kids who had no idea who Jesus was are now calling on his name. Yes, in a so called Christian Country they had no idea that there was a God.

With all the poverty, these people still say Merry Christmas not Happy Holidays. They thought it was insane when I told them how many churches cancel services on Christmas. These people know how to worship and praise the Lord. They know how to pray and seek God and without money and the frivolities that accompany money, they still know how to love and be loved.

As you go buy your Christmas presents, and decorate your houses and trees.
When you visit your friends and family and celebrate with sumptuous foods. When your children wake up in the morning and rush out to the bedazzled Christmas tree to see all the presents they will receive, please, take five minutes and think about this:

Our children don’t expect presents, there are no trees or decorations, no special foods or presents under a tree. This is not all of the Philippines. There are plenty with money here, just not in Payatas. The forgotten land.

The poor faces are beheld by their Saviour

The one born on this day, Jesus, said there were two great commandments:

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

When you are doing all your running around ask yourself, have I showed God love in any of this? Then ask, have I shown my neighbour love? Have I considered the plight of the poor? Have I though of my fellow man?

The world is changing. People have left Christ out of Christmas and people who claim to be Christians show no evidence of being one.

Please, show some love towards Payatas:

I looked down and there was a sweet little girl, dirty and wearing ragged clothes. Her big brown eyes staring me down and her little hand stretched out as her life depended on it.

Then I looked around and saw children everywhere. Hopeless little children trying to raise money for perhaps their only meal of the day.

On another day I would see children sitting on a pile of garbage in a open back garbage truck. I would also see little children walking the roads with a sack in their hands looking for whatever it was they could collect and sell for a couple of pesos. These children were as young as four years old.

That was the time in 1999, when I first discovered Payatas and God told me that it would be my mission.

It took seven years to get back there but in July of 2006 our plane touched down in Manila to start our incredible journey.

There is so much to tell. For example, my desire to go burned within me for seven years. My wife, not so. We had just married. It took one year to get her to the U.S. And she was happy to be there. It would be about three years later when the Holy Spirit put it in her heart to return to her people to help.

I could tell you how the Devil tried to stop me from going. He used supposed men of God to do it. They were all shown to be out of the will of God but it was nerve wracking to go through that.

I could tell you of how we went on deputation, a system that I despise. Going from Church to Church to get support. I was told it was also to get prayer support but we got little of each. Some man mentioned we should make a date and not a dollar amount. He said if God was in it, He would make the way.

We had one miracle donation from a non-Christian across the world in Dubai who found us through a website (actually it was God) and sent us the money for our flight.

We left with $550 per month support although we were promised $750. Some who promised weren’t truthful.

I could tell you how $250 of that money was needed for my medications and that in two weeks I ran out and told God I would not take another pill until He told me what to do. I went for a medical checkup after one month and again in the second month and all my conditions were fine.

Most Missionaries are told not to go to the Philippines without at least $4000 per month but I am here to tell you that there have been many who left and went back home with more money than us because it wasn’t enough for them. It has been six years and we are only up to $1200 per month to support home and Church. That is with a 20% drop in the exchange rate as well as high fees to turn it into cash on this side.

I can tell you how we have no medical coverage but I received a Gall bladder operation for $200!
We have no retirement, medical, furlough…

I drive a 21 year old put together vehicle that breaks down weekly. My wife washed clothes on a scrub board for the first two years here until one of our supporters bought us a washing machine. It was also five years before we got a regular oven. Prior to that we cooked only on a two burner stove top.

We started preaching the Gospel in Payatas working out of two of the locals homes. These were squatter homes with little room but we saw hundreds pass through those doors and mouth their repentance to our Saviour. By the way, I never say anyone has gotten saved. There have been some I believed that were saved and later proved me wrong and others who I thought could not be possibly saved yet they were. We did not come to save anyone. Jesus did that. We are allowed, yea commanded, to tell that wonderful story to all we encounter.

We did that to tens of thousands. In three months we rented a two story house and turned it into our Church.

We had so many children come from the dump site families. I remember my wife and I having to wash their arms and legs as

( they were filthy from garbage picking) they arrived at Church.

Although we have adults that came and became good , loyal, lovers of Christ and servants along with us, we have had so many more children. This was the ministry God showed to me.

We fed them, clothed them, sent them to camp, had V.B.S., Christian movies, Christmas celebrations,
and most importantly taught them the word of God. They love it. Most of these little ones can present the Gospel of Christ as well as the adults and it is a sight to see when on Saturday 50-70 of us go door knocking throughout the community.

Recently, two college students, working on their thesis, asked to interview the kids. When they finished they were amazed. I asked why and they said these children stated they wanted to be doctors, nurses, police officers… when they grew up. I asked what was wrong with that? They said , no where in Payatas do children have this kind of hope. Their future is comprised only with the garbage. Our children also told them it was very important to obey their parents, to study and to serve God with all their heart. I am so proud of these kids and so thankful to God for allowing me this blessing.

Showing the world Jesus is not just a mouth thing and so we have many programs to show the love of God and ending with their decision making concerning following Christ.

One such program we have is music. We started off with one donated guitar and through a couple of knowledgeable guitar players and a part time teacher, we now have 26 musicians and will be making a DVD for Christmas. It is comprised of guitars, Ukeleles, Violins, Harmonicas, keyboard and a flutist along with recorders.

When they learn an instrument it instills confidence that they are able to accomplish their goals. They do better in school and at home and in Church. We have some great kids.

Additionally, we have a scholar program where we work with the kids in the subjects in which they are behind. We also help the kids who will be graduating High School to obtain their goal of a college and subsequently a career.

We also have three different types of visitation programs to bring the Gospel to the community which is our major concern.

We have only been here six years but the results so far have been very promising. We just saw two young men who started with us when they were ten, move up into the adult classes as they have turned sixteen so our plan for growing the Church from the youngest up is working.

Finally, the pitch.

As you probably have surmised, the Church does not run without funding. We have some Churches as well as individuals who support the work but for some reason, this year has been the worst as far as donations are concerned.

As mentioned, the exchange rate has dropped 20% since we came here so donations of $100 have gone down to $80. Then there is another $5 off for the International bank charge and another $2.60 for the local bank charge bringing the $100 donation down to $72.40.

To make matters more interesting, after six years of being in this building the landlord wants us to leave and use the building for himself.

We have searched high and low and have found one perfect place for us. From the beginning I have had a vision for this ministry (http://www.payatasmissionoutreach.org/vision.asp?page=proposedplan )

It is to have at least a 2000 seat sanctuary, a medical clinic, missionary quarters and perhaps a covered court in which to have huge evangelistic outreach meeting to the community each week.

Here is what it looks like: http://escobia225.multiply.com/photos/album/183 (Our vision)

The cost is $1.6 million U.S. dollars and it will also require $2.4 million to outfit the existing buildings and land to conform to the plan.

It is a great amount which we are sure, God can meet.

This message does not begin to tell you of the work done here in Payatas.

If you go here:http://escobia225.multiply.com/photos you will see over 14,000 photos documenting the work God has done here. BTW, this site has dropped the business and will be closing in December. We are presently working on a plan to host our photos.

Go here to see a complete diary from the time we stepped off the Airplane in Manila until the present. http://www.payatasbaptistchurch.org/update.asp

Of course you can go here to make a donation: http://www.payatasmissionoutreach.org/donation.asp

You can make a donation as low as $1 and all donations are sorely needed and appreciated.

While you are visiting those links feel free to backtrack around those sites to see our statement of faith, some of our history and other interesting things you might enjoy.

I want to appeal to your heart as to the urgency of the need here. For the first time we will not celebrate our Anniversary on the first Saturday of November due to lack of funds.

If we do not get donations, the children, (again for the first time) will not have a Christmas celebration.

My own two little girls did not attend school this year because we were $350 short of what was needed for the materials.

If you are led by God, please become a regular supporter or send a generous one time gift. It’s for the kids.

God Bless,

Rev John J Wilson aka “Pastor Jack”

If you are reading this and you don’t believe in God or the Bible as His word it will be pointless for you unless it turns you into a believer.
However with that said, I have been studying the Bible for 43 years and do you know, God always gives me something new.

David said:

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

I never prepare my bible studies. I study the word but we do a through the Bible type study and I have always asked God to teach it. It works best when He does and every time, He gives us a refreshing new word.

Tonight it was Psalm 139. He showed us just how much He loves and cares for us.

Psa 139:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Psa 139:2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Psa 139:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

It said that God knows our every move. When we get up, when we sit down and he knows all our ways.

Imagine, the God of all the universe is interesed in all our ways and what we do.

Psa 139:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Psa 139:5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Psa 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

The verses really blew me away. It said that God knows every word that drops off my tongue. It said he protects us all around and His hand is upon us. This is the hard part. David said such knowledge is too wonderful , too high that he could not understand it.

We thought about it tonight and realized that we can not fully grasp what we are reading. Can you imagine if you really understood that God was next to you all the time? You can’t. Oh, you can know it. You can believe it because it is true. You just can not understand it. Our minds are not built for that type of understanding.

David goes on to say that there is no where to go from His presence.

Psa 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Here is the part that shows us that abortion is terribly wrong.

Psa 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

Literally, reins means kidneys but figuratively it means the mind as the center of ourselves. It says that He has covered us in our mother’s womb. He has caused us to be.
But it gets so much deeper.

Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Psa 139:15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

It speaks about how wonderfully made we were. Not accidentally pushed together but made. We must realize that life began with Adam and we were made at that time (DNA) God uses the normal process with a man and a woman to cause it all to come together.

139:15 says: My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret
He said my substance. Not a fetus, or sperm or an egg but my substance all that it would take for me to form. I was made in secret, within the framework of my mother.

Again He refers to the “substance” that was un perfect. Just a wondrous mass of ingredients that some say is not yet life but God said even though they were not yet complete, In His book, all my members were written. He has already ordered my arm, legs, toes….

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

It said as the process continued, I was fashioned.

Psa 139:17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

God has made us in Adam and has continued us in substance and in due process form. He loved us even back in Adam as He promised a Saviour to redeem all of mankind. That promise to redeem mankind when Adam and Eve were the only two visible parts of Mankind, knowing the rest of us was within.

Praise be to our God and creator who recognizes us as His own, made by His hand and to be protected not murdered.

Over and over this verse comes back to me as a constant reminder to stay the course, to do when no one else will, to be the person God called me to be.

Once again we were struck here with a violent Typhoon called Ketsana. People started dying. People started watching their homes, their possessions just wash away as water down the drain.

What to do? What do you do as you see the helplessness of the situation? You look to the Government but they are impotent. You call the Red Cross but they say they are out of funds. As a last ditch attempt you put all the information on FaceBook. Surely those who live in Air Conditioned homes and drive cars and eat three meals a day and their kids can afford to attend school, surely they would want to help.

Alas, no not one! Perhaps in other places they are helping. Perhaps it is too much to send $5, $10.

I can only be a voice for those who can not be heard.

There is a man in San Mateo, He is the Pastor of the San Mateo Bible Baptist church. I have looked high. I have looked low. I have never met a man with such integrity as he.

Last year there was another Typhoon. I believe it was Ondoy, There are many. The residents around his place were forced out of their water filled homes so he opened the doors of the Church for them.

They were not the cleanest people in the world and perhaps because of the huge crowds they started using the entire Church as a bathroom. He and his members had much to do to restore his church when it was over.

Pastor Reuel believes the Church is Christ’s Church. So once again and without hesitation he threw the doors open and he has 500 indigent people sleeping on the floors of his building. This Pastor is not rich. His car is loaned to him and he lives very modestly as he gives all he has to the poor.

This brings me back to the opening verse. It says that the oppressed cry out to God and He will hear. The faithful ones he is looking for are the Christians and the question proposed is will he find any?

This is just a frustrating rant for me. I, like like my Biblical counterpart ask the Lord why do the wicked prosper.

Pro 21:13  Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

As you go to work today and turn down your A/c control to save money or complain about the expensive gas your new car takes or how the price of steak has gone up, remember these people.      http://www.reuters.com/article/slideshow/idUSBRE87613J20120807#a=1

Little children, “knee high to a caterpillar” as they say , roam the streets with burlap bags over their shoulders seeking valuable recyclables to help pay for their families food.

Payatas is a place of limited joy , peace or happiness. Each day brings with it another set of problems.

Here at Payatas Baptist Church, we spend much time telling the people of the love of Christ if only they would surrender their failed life and accept that which He has in store for them.

One of the ways we help the poor here is to instruct them in music. Those who wish to participate learn to read music and play a musical instrument.

It all started in my own house. I bought Laura a violin and for $3 per week, got her lessons from a local Pastor and violinist. In the meantime, Linda expressed an interest in the flute so I was able to find a very nice used one on eBay.

Laura started learning immediately while Linda found the flute too long for her little arms. We switched Linda to a electric keyboard which she like much better and started learning immediately. My wife, not to be left out, took over the flute and is doing incredibly well.

It was at this point God gave me the thought that we could do this in the church so we purchased another violin for Laura and gave one of the children her violin. Laura started to teach the child what she was taught and the child became very proficient.

We had one old guitar in the church that another Pastor had donated to us. I made an announcement that anyone who could learn to read music and play two songs will get a free guitar.

We keep growing our orchestra

So far we have 11 guitarists!

We took it another step and added violins to that offer.

We now have 6 violinists!

A close friend and I were at a music store as I had to buy guitar and violin strings. (Yes, these kids are so poor that if they break a string they will no longer be able to play.)
He noticed the recorders they had and bought 6 for the littlest children.
We had received one from some friends so now we have
7 Flutists!

We also was gifted a couple of Ukeleles and I bought one and so we now have 3 Ukeleleists (Is that a word?)

Andrei is a little boy with a birth defect so he only has one arm but was very determined to be part of this group so we bought him a harmonica and one for his instructor and he is doing very well.

Now I am searching out a used coronet as we have another interested party.

Music has caused these children to learn discipline. They also know what it is to be part of the family of God. Each one of these children know the Gospel and love the Lord. They are also quick to share it with whoever they come in contact.

Their love and progression in their music has made them believe the scripture: Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

These children when asked have expressed their desire to be Doctors, nurses, police officers… as opposed to their un churched counterparts in the same district which only see the garbage business in their future.

Every Sunday before evening service all these musicians practice Christmas songs. We are hoping to make our very own Christmas dvd this year.

I see a orchestra in our near future. Little by little I squeeze money from here or from there and buy another instrument. Little by little we train another child for this purpose. So I will buy a coronet and a trombone and a Viola and a Celo as the Lord allows and soon, before you know it, Payatas will have an orchestra.

With God, even the sky does not limit us.

The frailty of the human life being what it is, I wanted to write about myself a bit. I am writing partly I guess just to justify the thoughts which go through my head although I seldom know if they are right or wrong. Never the less, they are thoughts and are there so I will express.

I came here in 2006 ready to dig my heels in and do a good job for me, for those who have supported us prayerfully and financially and mostly for God I am so deeply appreciative. God had given us a love for the people of Payatas, it did not come naturally but felt as it did.

I believe with all my heart that anything accomplished has only been through Him and that as it so aptly is stated: 1Co_1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

With that said I believe we have accomplished so much as the Lord has used us and as we have attributed it all , only to Him.

We started off pawning jewelry that I owned just so we could eat. As we continued on we learned how to work within the tiniest of budgets so that we would not run out of food while waiting for a support check.

I would like to thank those who stuck by us for these six years now and tell you how much you are appreciated. No, I take that back. I could never tell you because it is beyond telling. You are always in our prayers and held before the face of God.

There are also those that forgot us as soon as we left. That is between you and God.

During these years we have lost supporters and gained supporters. The thing I hated the most about losing supporter was I felt I lost friends. I didn’t care about the money because God will always take care of us yet it was like our friends had left us. That hurt.

Sometimes we lost supporters/friends because they did not like our politics. Jesus said that they needed to eat His flesh and drink His blood and so they all left Him because they could not understand or believe what He was telling them.

If we were anti-abortion, they fought us and if we were anti-homosexuality they still fought us. We have people who left because they liked Obama and we did not.

Irregardless, we had to stand on the Lord’s side no matter what.

I do admire those who still love us because it’s us and even we have different thoughts on a subject that is not an attack on each others person.

You might ask, “Well, why don’t you just stay out of those conversations and don’t get involved.” I ask myself that also. I remember as a boy my father told me to stay put on the subway platform while he went to chase two big white boys from attacking this young black boy. My father also threw a drunk who smacked a woman in her face, off the bus. The drunk was huge. My father, not so, but in my eyes a giant.

I guess what I am saying is how can you see injustice and let it go unchallenged?

How can you let it go when they want to teach your children that homosexual behavior is normal and good?

The reason for the corruption in America is apathetic Christians who think only of themselves.

I believe, and if you are a Christian reading this I may be speaking to you, God is watching you. If the Holy Spirit is not speaking to you from within, if you do not hate injustice, fall on your knees and ask God to teach you.

Anyway, that’s my speech on that.

We have been serving God in wonderful ways and seeing great and exciting changes in so many lives and I am so excited about that.

The Bible says the payment of the Pastor is joy and considering that I am over paid.

All one has to do is to go through our six years of photos or our six years of monthly diaries and they will see that of which I am speaking.

On the subject of jealousy. Do missionaries get jealous? I don’t know about anyone else but I do. I fight it and I hate it but sometimes it is so right in your face that you just have to scream in your head and say “what the heck is going on in this world?”

I see missionaries on face book with beautiful cars and vans, each week some are showing photos of their new buildings they are building and food, long tables of delicacies. Most of these are ministering near some beautiful body of water or a quaint little town that I would love to go just for a vacation. Which by the way we have not had in six years unless you count two days where most of it was driving.

Some of these missionaries are on a plane more than I am in the pulpit. They are always going here or there.

Does it bother me? I am sad to say sometimes if I let it. There are times that I wallow in self pity but It is severely limited and I pray for strength and God helps me.

Should I speak of the injustices? Maybe not. Maybe I should let it go and let people think they are so holy and self righteous and continue on the way they have been going.

There is a system that is used by many religious leaders not at all unlike the politicians and others may use.

I wrote a book concerning this subject which is not quite finished but will be published soon. When I was going on deputation there were many (usually the richer Churches) which would not even allow me to come and to present the work. Then there were others who allowed me, told me (sometimes with tears) that they were going to support the work, but never did. Some of whom came from this place and made a good life for themselves in America.

This society has it’s “Big Shots” who are well known Pastors who , when they have a missionary they are sending out they just call other Pastors and they immediately agree to send them and to take them on for support. When these people visit the foreign Countries they make it a point to visit the missionaries of these richer Churches which I suppose gives them more credibility for some reason.

I imagine no one in the political/religious category would want to visit us here. The hotels are not fancy, the food is plain and the people are poor. I am sure they would rather make long speeches at ocean view Churches with warm sea breezes coming through the windows. Who on earth would rather come here where the stink of the garbage dump permeates your clothes and the dogs bark so loud it’s hard to hear yourself pray?

Is this what a Missionary does? Does he go to the heart of pain and prays God to repair it? Some have told me how wonderful I am to go to such a place to serve. My answer to them is how foolish of me if I did not. Although I would love to go down by a beach and preach the Gospel to seashells and the occasional passerby
I could never justify it before God.

Many have come and returned home the first year because of “lack of money” yet they had more than us. One fellow was told by other Pastors in the States that he

should not go without at least $3,500 per month support. Wow! That is just about three months support for us.

“Is that a little sarcasm I see Pastor Jack?” Eyes turned down he answers, “yes, a little.”

What can I say? I see it, I hear it, it bothers me.

I know God’s will is perfect but I am sure when John the Baptist was about to have his head cut off did not exclaim, “Gee, this is fun!” Also, Paul complained about those who did not support and also spoke of those who serve for their own purposes and Jeremiah lashed out at evil Pastors.

I look at other websites and compare them to others to see what they are doing. (Don’t tell me you don’t) I am convinced we are certainly doing the job God has called us to do. As for those who have been “called to luxury”, maybe they have been and who am I to judge but much of it just feels wrong.

I sometimes wonder about those who consider me a friend. Those Christians that tell me what a great work I am doing and never sending a dime in support. I do know things are tight right now but I don’t believe (I can be wrong) that there is one person who could not right now, sign up for a $5 or $10 or even more donation automatically withdrawn from the bank each month. All it takes is to press the clicker here: http://www.payatasmissionoutreach.org/donation.asp

and to decide what you know you can afford. I am not asking my enemies to do it, (of course they can) I am asking my friends. Perhaps I will write the next blog on what is a true friend.

Even if you are on welfare and food stamps you probably have $1.25 per week. If you don’t, please drop me a line and let me know. We will all certainly pray for you here. There are Christians paying over $100 per carton of cigarettes but can’t give a few bucks a month.

We are trying to raise $4 million U.S. Dollars to buy a piece of property and outfit it with a church that will accommodate at least 2000 people at a time. It will have an open air covered area to fit thousands for evangelistic outreach. It will have missionary quarters for those brave enough to be real missionaries.

I can not find the story but it is like this, the missionary was in the deep part of the jungle, he got a message that some wanted to come and help if they could only find a road. He had to explain that if they were looking for roads they were in the wrong place.

With boils on my face making me look grotesque and now I have about 21 under my armpit. My children have gotten them in their eyes, I don’t know, Malou might be immune. However gruesome and painful and certainly inconvenient we continue on.

The life of a missionary, is there is not some real tribulations, is probably not a real missionary.

This is the part where many will stop reading—

After six years of being here we have gone from $550 per month support to perhaps $1,300 per moth. When we came the exchange rate was 51 pesos for every dollar now it is 41 peso for every dollar. So, we should now be getting p66,300 per month but with the drop in rate we are only getting 53,300 which is 10,000 pesos less. It comes to 238.00 less per month. Add that to the bank fees. $500 to withdraw each $238.00 plus almost $2 from the local bank.

On top of all that, this is the first year we have not yet received the books to send my Children to school. We raised $150 toward our goal of $500.

Is this the sign of the times? Jesus said: Luk 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Please donate:http://www.payatasmissionoutreach.org/donation.asp

Let’s run it down a bit, shall we?

First we have our monthly church supporters. They are various Churches who send varying amounts of money toward the support of the church.

Then we have individual monthly supporters. They do the same but as individual givers.

Then we have from time to time, those who give for certain projects in Payatas.

On a average, we receive $1,200.00 per month in regular support.
That let’s us (hopefully) pay the regular expenses of our home and our Church.

These would be things like : (Home) rent, electric, tap water, drinking water, telephone, internet, food, lp gas, transportation, …

For the Church: rent, electric, tap water, drinking water,telephone, internet,food, lp gas snacks for children…

We also have our Church collections which average about $45 per week.

We also pay out of this special projects. For example, children who learn a musical instrument will have one provided for them. What an incredible difference this has made in the lives of these kids. Sometimes we buy clothes if one or more of the kids look particularly shabby, or shoes (flip flops) when they break. Some walk around with taped up flip flops. We can’t ignore these things. The guitar strings break, we replace them because

Will you give?

the kids would never have the funds to do it.

There are things that do not fit in the budget. A child has a toothache and we send him to our local dentist who needs to fill five other cavities and pull three teeth. She is a Christian and I trust her. The shape of the Payatas kid’s teeth are really sad.
So that money comes from where? Perhaps our food shopping money or deferring the electric a week or so. Still, God provides and from time to time an unexpected donation arrives just when it’s needed.

Now there are things that are not in the budget but are absolutely necessary.
The two air conditioners need replacing. The one downstairs has been fixed too many times and is probably older than me and costing too much in wasted electricity and the one in my office is breaking down and is too small. Our up coming Anniversary celebration will cost about $600. Every Church has one each year and invites other churches and people from the area. My wife and kids need their passports renewed. They are dual citizens which mean dual passports. The Filipino passport is not too bad but the U.S. passport is ridiculously expensive. ($100 adult-$85 kids)

We need to paint our building because it is our responsibility and duty to maintain the facilities.

There is more, we need a building of our own, land, Church, school, clinic, missionary quarters, bla, bla and bla but we are not even discussing that. We will leave that until God puts it on someone’s heart.

There are things you want see but I hope you will soon. I haven’t had a vacation with my family in five years, we do not have a car although we were promised one, it never got here. We don’t have health Insurance or pension or emergency fund. Our priorities were always the kids and when the money comes in we forget our personal needs and choose to make their lives easier.

Some might say, Well, if God supplies, let Him do it. He will, but he will use people. When Joshua went into Syria God said go , and I will go before you and I will destroy your enemies. Joshua had to swing the sword and enter the land but God provided the victory. Why does God do that? Because He wants to include us in His work.
Pure and simple, if you give to the mission you are included in the results and so, as you give you are responsible for kids becoming all they can be.

I hate asking for money. We usually ask only twice a year. Once for send a kid to camp and the other for the Christmas celebration for the kids. Perhaps I am doing it wrong. People like Benny Hin ask every day and they are millionaires. I don’t need to be a millionaire but if I were, it would go to Payatas.

The only way these needs are met are through those of you who meet them. Take a look at our photos to see what many of you have been doing:
http://escobia225.multiply.com/photos
Then decide if you want to help by going here:http://philippinemissions.org/donation.asp

People who are running are not running for office as much as they are running for a job or even worse, the opportunity to get their fingers in anything they can.

Corruption is the world over. In the U.S. there is so much corruption that they can’t pay the bills so now they want the rich to pay the bills that they never paid because the Government stole the money. They want the poor to pay also by cutting the medical assistance to the poor and social security to those who paid into the system for years.

Worldwide corruption is so rampant, people are used to it.

We should no longer put up with corruption. Look at Payatas. Every election people vote for candidates that promise them the world and shortly after they realize all they got in return was more garbage in the form of election banners illegally placed by the candidates.

It is our practice to walk the community every Saturday telling all about the salvation through Our Lord. We also try to talk to the people and help them in any way we can.

So, one day as we were walking, a lady approached me with her entourage and asked me if I could convince my Church members to vote for her for Council woman. I laughed and asked her where had she been as I never saw her in the area before. She said that’s because I just started to run. I could not believe it. I told her, look, if you want to serve the people (I don’t think she understood the concept) then come out here week after week and try to fix the problems. Do something to make a difference. Then when it is time for election, you probably won’t have to say anything. People will just want the person who loves to help them. She wasn’t elected.

Sometimes people are not elected because the vote is rigged.

All this needs to change. There is a man in the neighborhood who I hold in high esteem. He lives in Payatas and he is helping the people in Payatas every week.

Starting soon we will be promoting this man for the Barangay Captain position coming available in 2013. We will tell you all about him. Many of you know him.
There are a lot of issues in Payatas today, Building a palace for a barangay hall and installing fences on Payatas road so it is dangerous to wait for a Jeepney are not two of them.

Write down your ideas for changes and give it to us or post them. I know most are not on the internet so we will catch up with you house to house. We will ask you to get involved to count ballots and supervise so there is no tampering.

We are Payatas Mission Outreach, Inc. and Payatas Q.C. Baptist Church and Ministries, Inc. The only reason we are here is to make a difference in Payatas and we have done that for the past five years. Let’s join together and change this place.

We will see you soon.