FMT 1st Entry: You’re Made for Bigger Things

The first talk of the new series Breaking News explains the differences among the gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. However, despite these differences in the gospels, they all emphasized only one thing: the Kingdom of God. No kingdom, no gospel. Kingdom is about following the King. The gospels encouraged us to build the kingdom of the King through our God-given resources, i.e. talents, time, and purpose. Bro. Jan Silan encouraged us to bring our visions and frustrations to God, so that He could turn these into BIGGER things.

Three (3) main points:

1.       Who writes makes a difference

The gospels were written based on the disposition of the author (e.g. Matthew wrote as a tax collector while Luke wrote as a physician and a well-educated Greek historian). Regardless of our profession or who we are at the moment, we can all do BIGGER things in our own ways. I remember a quote from Mother Teresa, “Wherever God has put you, that is your vocation. It is not what we do but how much love we put into it.” No service is too small. Let us never compare ourselves to each other, because we are magnificent as we are.

2.       When it was written makes a difference

The gospels contain almost the same stories but were written in ways which stress on the issues present during their time. As Bro. Jan said, “When I was born makes a difference for me, and God has a purpose for me.” God gave us a mission to achieve in our own timeline, in our own generation. We will all bloom in our own harvest seasons.

3.       Who they were writing to makes a difference

The authors wrote for different target audiences (e.g. Mark wrote for Gentiles while John wrote for a mixed of Jews, Gentiles, Samaritans, etc.). Who is our target audience? To whom does God call us to serve? Where does God lead us to? The answer will be clear when we examine our hearts and determine our core purpose in life.

This series will teach us to become a light to the world through our strengths and even, through our weaknesses. Let us all be God’s light. My service is what you are reading at the moment. This may only occupy a part of the bulletin, but still, no service is too small. God can turn our service into BIGGER things. We are all made for BIGGER things.

The Trap (College midterm essay - 2010)

It is the act of breaching a trust or an act of proving one’s treacherousness to a person, a word which is easy to define but is difficult to endure—betrayal. It never comes announced. You’ll never notice it coming until you’re only an inch away from it. And when you’re finally cornered, all you can do is to blame, to regret, and to let yourself become vulnerable with the pain. Unfortunately, this trap is often placed at the locations where the things that possess us, and that we regard as our treasures reside. Betrayal is an inevitable trap located somewhere: between a couple, among friends, or even with ourselves.

It’s some kind of a joke how a deliberately processed relationship, which is supposed to be a long term one, ended shortly, a joke which is not funny at all. We all start from the basics—ordinary ways of showing love—not knowing that complexity is the aggregation of simple things. In the process, time, patience, and love are being invested. Imagine how a single malicious act can ruin all the things we earned and turn them into wastes. We all believe that trust is the foundation of all relationships, but it also seems to turn out as the mean of breaking the bonds. A couple is comprised of two people united as one by their beliefs and by their love, that’s why we also call them partners. Betrayal is when one of them failed to pursue the commitment, and the agony begins. You’re left behind, feeling cheated, tricked, and foolish. Cheated, because your companion had been dishonest with you. Tricked, because you have fallen to the trap he had devised systematically, treating the relationship as a game where you’re the one who lost. And foolish, because you have been faithful to someone who doesn’t deserve your trust.


This trap can also be detected in friendships. Acquaintances lead to further meetings which gradually turn out as regular bonding. Memories are then filled up, stories are now written, strengths and weaknesses are shared, and the bond is strengthened. Betrayal happens when one decided to disclose your weaknesses, your secrets, and your foundations to those people you don’t trust. Betrayal is when one has worked selfishly, concerning his own benefits. You end up arm less and alone. You can feel your weakness drowning you, haven’t gotten the guts to revenge and to bounce back all he had done to you including the pain.

Betrayal with oneself is the most repeated breach of trust, but is also the least painful. It happens when we already had our minds set, but as circumstances approach, our actions betray us due to the complications of things. We find ourselves being blocked by numerous choices and alternatives though we only need one. Ironically, sometimes, we are forced to choose among few choices when we need more. Betrayal comes when our brain and our heart function on separate ways. We are required to either accomplish our plans or do the right thing for a particular circumstance. We become confused and dubious, until we reach the point where we betray neither our heart nor our brain, but ourselves as we reap the guilt, the longing, the regret, or the lost of something we sacrificed.

The trap is like a pothole, it turns your life upside down. But take a moment to step at the brake, drive more slowly, and be more attentive with what’s on the road than be overwhelmed with what you see on your window. Look for signs and ask God for direction, ask Him not to destroy all the traitors surrounding you but ask for strength to endure the pain those traitors might plot on you. Let them devise the trap, accept your fall, but don’t ever let yourself reach the abyss wherein you’ll be the one to construct another trap for them. A mistake will never be corrected by another mistake. Remember that you’re not the only one who suffered with that burden. Remember Jesus was also betrayed by his dearest friends, remember God and pray.