CHURCH leaders in Pakistan have condemned the triple bombings at a Shia religious ceremony in Lahore, which killed 35 and injured more than 200. Such an act, committed as “thousands of flood victims await international ...

KERALA’S Syro-Malabar Church has been rocked by the release of a controversial book which accuses its clergy of a range of misdemeanours and abuses. An official has responded by describing the book as “an all-out attempt ...

NEW SOUTH WALES Premier Kristina Keneally has reportedly said she would support the same-sex adoption bill before her government, as Cardinal George Pell restated his "grave concerns" over the proposed ...

ISRAELI President Shimon Peres and Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday voiced the hope that the resumption of direct talks between the Israelis and Palestinians can lead to peace in the Middle East. In a statement issued after ...

THE Archdiocese of Palo is promoting religious vocations with a campaign that includes going to various schools. The archdiocese launched the campaign as church officials kicked off its month-long observance of Vocation ...

THE Philippine government is looking into the case of five Filipinos who may be executed in China this month for drug-related offenses. Secretary Herminio Coloma, one of President Aquino's spokesmen, appealed not to link ...

THE Catholic Bishops’ of the Philippines' humanitarian arm is seeking urgent assistance for flood-stricken Pakistan. Caritas Filipinas made a public appeal for solidarity and assistance for about 20 million people ...

THE Vatican has announced the appointment of Father Gregory Ramon Gaston as new rector of Il Pontificio Collegio Filippino, the residence for Filipino priests doing further studies in Rome. He succeeds Bishop Ruperto ...

FILIPINO bishops plan to send a “letter of solidarity” to their Hong Kong counterparts expressing sorrow over the deaths of eight Chinese nationals during the recent hostage-taking incident. “We are planning to ...

THE peace deal between the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) 14 years ago on Thursday was a “missed opportunity” to settle political issues in Mindanao, campaigners say. The agreement ...

Wednesday, May 26, 2010
God will not fulfill your dream immediately 
by Rick Warren

"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!" Habakkuk 2:3 (LB)

"We all have to go through these waiting periods. Even Jesus waited for thirty years in the carpenter's shop before setting out on his public ministry. "

Even as you make a decision to follow the dream God places in your heart, you can expect a delay. God will not fulfill your dream immediately because this is another step toward building your faith.

In Habakkuk 2, God says, "These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled."

In this step of faith-building you will most likely start asking the question, "When, Lord?  When are you going to answ...

Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Decision making is a faith-building activity
by Rick Warren

"But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. . . . Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." James 1:6, 8 (NLT)

"Faith is a verb. It's active and not passive. It's something you do."

After God gives you a dream, the next step for building your faith is decision: God challenges you to do something about your dream.

Nothing is going to happen to that dream until you wake up and put it into action. You've got to make the decision: "I'm going to go for it!" For every ten dreamers in the world, there is only one decision maker. A lot of people have dreams but they never get to Step Two—making the decision to trust God and follow their dream.

James says, "But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever d...

Monday, May 24, 2010
God builds your faith by giving you a dream 
by Rick Warren

"Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes." Ephesians 3:20 (LB)

"If a dream comes from God, it will be so big in your life that you can't do it on your own. If you could do it on your own, you wouldn't need faith."

Faith is like a muscle: it can be strengthened. It can be weak or it can be strong, depending on how much you use it.

How does God build your faith? He uses a very predictable pattern that we will look at this week; and, if you understand it, you can cooperate with him in developing greater faith. It's like when the father, seeking help from Jesus for his son, said, "Have pity on us and help us, if you possibly can!" (Mark 9:22 TEV)

Jesus replied, "What do you mean, 'If I can'? . . . Anything is possible if a person believes." (Mark 9:23 NL...

Sunday, May 23, 2010
We are not perfect, but our God is 
by Jon Walker

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 2 Samuel 22:31 (NIV)

"If you struggle with perfectionism, then ask God to help you deeply understand that he loves you unconditionally."

We are not perfect; God is perfect

We are flawed; God is flawless.

God takes his perfection, mixes it with the blood of Jesus Christ, and paints his perfection over our imperfection.

God takes his flawlessness, couples it with his strength, and forges it to the flaws that weaken us.

What does this mean?

If you struggle with perfectionism, then ask God to help you deeply understand that he loves you unconditionally. You can not earn your way into his love because he freely gives it. You not only need not be perfect; there is no way you can be perfect. Praise God for Jesus.

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no differenc...

Saturday, May 22, 2010
Be confident in God's Word 
by Rick Warren

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 (NASB)

"Thank God you don't have to work your way to heaven; if that were the case, none of us would make it."

The things written in God's Word are written so that you may know absolutely, for sure, for certain and with confidence that when you die you are going to heaven.

That doesn't mean you won't make mistakes. That doesn't mean you won't go through trials. That doesn't mean you won't disappoint people and they won't disappoint you. That doesn't mean you won't sin.

The point is - you don't have to be perfect to get to heaven, but you DO have to put your faith in Christ. Thank God you don't have to work your way to heaven; if that were the case, none of us would make it.

Jesus said, "I am the way ... . No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6, NIV) Put your fait...

Friday, May 21, 2010
Care for those Jesus cares about 
by Rick Warren

The Lord replied, "Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you." Jeremiah 1:7 (NLT)

"Maybe you've been waiting for some supernatural feeling or experience, but God has already stated his call for you. The Great Commission is your commission, and doing your part is the secret to living a life of significance."

Whether it was Sarah claiming she was too old to be used by God or Jeremiah claiming he was too young, God rejected their excuses. "Don't say that," the Lord replied, "for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you." (Jeremiah 1:7-8 NLT)

Maybe you've believed that you needed a special "call" from God, and you've been waiting for some supernatural feeling or experience, but God has already stated his call for you. He doesn't want to use just some of his people; he wants t...

Tuesday, May 18, 2010
How to recharge emotionally 
by Rick Warren

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Mark 6:31 (NIV)

"If you only laugh and enjoy life when your problems are all solved, you'll never enjoy life."

God's Word gives us three habits that can help us recharge emotionally when we have nothing left to give.

Solitude - The Bible says, "So many people were coming and going [Jesus] said to them [the disciples]. Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'" (Mark 6:31 NIV) Jesus understood that our emotions are like a battery. If you plug one light bulb into a battery, it will last for a fairly long time. If you plug in 100 lights, the battery will drain very quickly. Many of us have so many lights plugged in, our battery is nearly shot. When your battery is drained, then you can't help others recharge their batteries...

Monday, May 17, 2010
Defeat bad thoughts by thinking of something better 
by Rick Warren

Fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. Philippians 4:8 (TEV)

The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you, which is why the Bible teaches that we should, "Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts . . . but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right." (2 Timothy 2:22, LB)

Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on what you felt. The more you focus on "I don't want to do this," the stronger it draws you into its web.

Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. Once your mind is on something else, the temptation loses its power. So when temptation calls you on the phone, don't argue with it, just hang up!

Sometimes this means physical...

Sunday, May 16, 2010
Need wisdom? Just ask. 
by Rick Warren

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5 NIV)

Need wisdom? We all do. And the good news is that God wants to give it to you. He is eager to do so.

Just like it pleased God when Solomon asked for wisdom (1 Kings 3:7-14), it pleases God when we ask for wisdom. It's God's nature to give. He is a giving God.

The Bible says in James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (NIV)

This verse says three things about how God gives wisdom. He does so:

• Continually. "Ask God who gives ..." In Greek this is in the continuous tense. He keeps on giving. He doesn't run out of energy. He never wears out.

• Generously. God's resources are unlimited. He has enough resources for everyone. He's got plenty of wisdom to go around.

• Cheerfully. James says God ...

Saturday, May 15, 2010
God Smiles When We Use Our Abilities 
by Rick Warren

He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do. Psalm 33:15 (MSG)

After the flood, God gave Noah these simple instructions: ''Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything" (Genesis 9:1, 3 NIV).

God said, "It's time to get on with your life! Do the things I designed humans to do. Make love to your spouse. Have babies. Raise families. Plant crops and eat meals. Be humans! This is what I made you to be!"

You may feel that the only time God is pleased with you is when you're doing "spiritual" activities like reading the Bible, attending church, praying, or sharing your faith. And you may think God is unconcerned about the other parts of your life. Actually, God enjoys watching every detail of your life, whether you are working, playing, resting, or eating. He doesn't miss...