Living Gumamela

Ave Maria:-) What's with a 30th anniversary...why are we affected by anniversaries? We count the number of years we spend with a spouse, whether happily or purgatory-like... we look forward to Silver reunions..homecomings in the schools we attended... we take a long hard look at friendships made...our "barkada", and note that hey..we've been friends for 5 yearsss now what a feat... even offices and companies have their anniversaries -- there are certain factors that we remember on anniversaries: 1) when did we come together, when was the relationship founded..who founded it 2)what brought us together 3)what transpired 4)what we've become 5)why we're still at it so in whatever setting it is... it's like time stops when we reflect on an anniversary... how many times have we heard the line..."Uhh sorry I won't be present tomorrow ...it's my parents' 30th wedding anniversary." And we nod and understand. IT'S AN IMPORTANT, "DON'T MISS It" EVENT. with young ones here in Manila, they've made popular the term ...Monthsary... I asked a dear teen-ager..what on earth is that??? Iyon pala, they were celebrating regularly the date of the month they became sweethearts. Uh---okidoki...monthsary it is then So it's clear..when something means a lot... when it is of great value, we put a "mark" ..and take note of the date it all started. Today by God's grace... the church community where naka-tambay ako (been a fixture) for the longest time...celebrates 30 years. I'm thinkin' and thinkin hard... God could have placed me in another setting..like maybe 'could've been Bro.Mike Velarde's ardent member in Maguindanao... yes, raising the El Shaddai banners there... or maybe... I could have become an Opus Dei member... orrrrr... could have actually listened and gave a "Mighty Amen!" to a kind nun's invitation to join their congregation.. mustav' been 16 or 17 yrs. old then and God forgive me..I could not fathom how the good nun actually imagined me in a nun's habit.... hahahaha...disco queen in party attire was more like it. we were having merienda on old home balcony, and I almost choked on the sandwich when she popped the question...Mag-madre??? Jesus help whatever congregation I will infiltrate..wahaha..... Well Jesus spared the nuns..they were able to have their peace and quiet minus moi... but that also meant...LIVING WORD ..yabadaba doo..here I come. Hahaha... on another line of thinking... could have been a physician... didn't happen..a lawyer...only got as far as one year and one summer in law school... perhaps studied music thoroughly and formally--like finish degree in conservatory of music.... nope...that didn't work out either // so poor Living Word.. no teaching of vocal arrangements via music sheets... but thru primitive follow-the Finger Technique, hehehe, to see is to believe, what can I say God does fill in our blanks...at any rate we've managed thru the years, but then there's always room for improvement,natchhh ------  let's see...... aimed for the Silver Screen and yes...in my weirdest dreams..would think... move over Ate Vilma Santos.... ipinanganak na ang papalit sa iyo....dya-rannnnnn....!  But the silver screen had other plans, and 5 other dozen choices... no doubt better fit to be moviestars... a very dear friend Ms. Candy Pangilinan was the one destined to be a movie star .... hahaha, life is achingly funny. So Swee'peas... of the many other things that did happen like: 1)nag nightclub singer yours truly... nag chorus girl din ng Hotdog : " Sa umaga dispatsadora..sa gabi siya'y bonggang-bongga..." singin their hits till it was coming out of my ears must have ingrained in me madness for the night life... let's boogie and discooo...weeeeee........ 2) married Mr. Puno.. this wuz: Kapampangan meets Bisaya background music: Fireworks na may canyon...boom...boom....!!!! 3) became life insurance agent/underwriter...akalain mo 4) joined Living Word in 1981 and it's now 2011... wow... how did you do that Lord?... coz, I know I couldn't have done it by myself... unless I really really like something or someone... my attention span is like 5 minutes and then i'm oughtta here... so to stay put with a group..and to suffer growing up pains with them... that says a lot....that also means... WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! It's no. 4 that deserves the spotlight today.....ON OUR 30TH YEAR....Praise the Name of Jesus We have our Mission Vision... sounds simple..but how to execute and apply it in daily living is somethin' else. Here it is.... VISION: TO KNOW, LOVE AND SHARE JESUS TO ALL      Note:  sharing Jesus to all is WITNESSING TO THE WONDERFUL WORK GOD IS UNFOLDING IN OUR LIVES; IF WE KNOW, LOVE, AND SHARE JESUS, THEN OUR LIVES ARE BECOMING TESTIMONIES TO GOD'S MERCY, GENEROSITY AND GRACE. MISSION: WITH MARY AS OUR MODEL, WE AIM TO RENEW THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE TOWARD JESUS IN UNION WITH THE MISSION OF THE HOLY MOTHER CHURCH THROUGH AN ACTIVE PRAYER  LIFE THAT IS ROOTED IN THE WORD OF GOD AND IN THE SACRAMENTS,  A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT AND THE CONDUCT OF FORMATION SEMINARS TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD. We sort of sat down... had an assembly and recollection. with beloved Fr. Rico Gonzales.. bout 5? yrs back to evaluate what was happening , where we were..and what God wanted us to do.... needless to say..this happened during a crisis of sorts. Crisis or major upheavals can work in God's favor..when we turn to Him and beg Him for guidance and help.But if we instead prefer to be hard-nosed about things...ay naku we might as well shoo the Holy Spirit  away.  It's good to come together and take stock of things, to pray about it... to remebmer our roots and to be clear and united in our goals. So the end -product was the very simple Mission Vision. when we ask ourselves or try to put in blueprint  so how did this translate in Real Life....?We'd be tempted to enumerate formation seminars, outreaches... healing sessions.... visitations to the poor, sick, imprisoned... but now on this 30th year.... more than all of the above and whatever comes to mind...the greatest challenge IS THE RENOVATION OF OUR HEART... total make-over  and bringing it ...offering it to Jesus in the Light of what :"to know, love and share Jesus" means.... It is asking all members especially those who have been immersed in community life how it has affected our family relationships.... strengthened our roles as fathers, mothers..sons and daughters.... how this Mission Vision invades every new friendship we make..and how it solidifies..or enhances already existing ones. One Christmas reunion...'made a remark about how it really didn't matter whether we are known by the name Living Gumamela of the Tropical Islands... we might verily be Living Thorn...Living Ache..Living Pessimist...Living Outrage...Living Scandal...Living Dead....Living Abomination.... but we have the desire to carry this name Living Word. MAY IT BE SO. the Word is Jesus Christ ...the Word become Flesh.  If we have struck a sincere friendship with Him.... grown in knowledge,faith and love for Him...if He has convinced us about His Agenda..and if we trust Him enough to be our Commander-in -chief... so that when He says: 1) Witness in my Name.... we speak 2) be bold..... we pray for courage 3) move it... we move our butts 4)or the opposite....be quiet and remain in Me.. we go on shut-down mode :good-bye world...hello...Lord   5) turn away from your sins... and we truly want to be rid of our sinfulness 6)If we have learned and are still learning His ways of Loving the Father and men ........  however trying -hard we appear to be..we've tried our best to do the above then  Yes ...do let's carry the Name. On our 30th year... I pray for relevance to the needs of the world and the church..I pray for the grace to be open to changes....Especially it this leads to the cleansing of our hearts..and greater obedience to the Lord. Because there is no greater tragedy than thinking all along we are right with the Lord...yet all along still pagan in our ways.Paganism  is not like it used to be ...as we recognized it in the Old Testament...paganism in these modern times takes on more hideous , almost unrecognizable forms. Whether we walked with the community for six months , six years or sixteen years..I pray that it has openned our eyes and hearts to recognize Christ in every human being . That we will share that burning desire to tell as many as we can how God loves them thru His Son Jesus Christ. I pray we will not be exclusive... but help make our Catholic church truly universal. That we will not be timid in availing the tools of spiritual growth: God's Word, Christ's teachings, a healthy sacramental life .. a community life that promotes brotherly love. I pray we each experience a moment..many moments in our earthly lifetime... that someone will say: "You really ...really remind me of Jesus." that is Living the Word. God bless Holy Mother Church and in a special the Living Word family.  Praise the Lord! Happy 3oth anniversary Living Word ! ..love...te mye Feels like Christmashttp://youtu.be/gPJz_OAj_Ds VIENNA SAUSAGE CHOIR http://youtu.be/BJgo_sqolHg Wrap-up http://youtu.be/OZoYqP3RJY0