“How parents bring up their children, the love they give, the values they teach, the environment they offer, education they provide influences not only their child but the four generations to follow...” With the sanctuary of family ripped by parental abuse, resignation and hands-off neglect, assorted descendants who try to patch a family from casual attachments is but one outcome of the five-generation rule, as Raul de Asis Hipe brought out during the Sabbath message of December 17, 2009.

A general pattern seen either in responsible or rebellious bloodlines, both in blessings, and in curses, the five-generation rule is illustrated vividly in the LORD God’s relationship with Abraham, a singular but encompassing example of one who lived faithful to God, passed the blessing on to his son, his sons conferring their father’s blessing onto their own children, thus making possible for all human beings, drawn near to the Father through the redeeming sacrifice of His firstborn Son, to have a part in that same blessing, essential as the spiritual lifeblood of succeeding generations...

Click on the link below to listen to the podcast or download the mp3 file to recognize the value of the steadfastness of our spiritual parents in continuing that generational blessing and the urgency of our need to understand, so we build up instead of mess up...

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Nurturing for Five Generations... (mp3 download 8.75MB)

Baguio Dairy Stock Farm – with permission from the Dept. of Agriculture office in Benguet, we were invited to come just in time for the Holstein-Sahiwal cows daily milking. We perched on the grassy slope trying to keep still in thick fog as the bovines slowly made their way up the hill to strains of Vivaldi and Kenny G wafting from the milking shed. Imagine, nothing but soothing calm was needed to yield the most delicious milk on this island!

A Day at the Zoobic Safari - We aren’t always able to post videos as fast as we want to share them, so here are some: Feeding the tigers and crocodiles with dressed chicken was an ironic tradeoff just to get closer to the “wild” on display... The excitement at getting up close only showed how far we are from the rest of creation still untamed...

Interactive Bible Study: Striving for holiness in a world constantly asking “Why?”...

In the middle of a week where well-meaning neighbors, co-workers, relatives had to be gently explained to why our keeping of the the holy days and Feasts of the LORD means we don’t participate in the traditional holidays, we received the ripe inspiration for the Interactive Bible Study on the Sabbath of December 26, 2009, through the family of Raul and Vivian Hipe:

“Ang kabanalan o “holiness” (Be you holy for I am holy..touch not the unclean thng) ay isang patuloy at napapanahong panawagan ng Diyos: 'Come out from among them and be separate' 2 Cor. 6:17 'Come out of her my people' Rev. 18:4. Magbigay ng dalawang halimbawa o pangyayari sa iyong buhay kung saan ninyo nasunod o di nasunod ito sa gitna ng mga balakid at pagsubok na kaakibat nito. Magbanggit ng mga talata sa Biblya na nakakatulong sa pagsunod sa utos na ito ng kabanalan...”

CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS BELOW to listen to or download the mp3 files of the responses during this Sabbath Interactive Bible Study:

Effects of giving in to employer’s persuasion to stay overtime at work even just once... Dealing with strong pressures in refusing foreign package tours for managers scheduled during Passover and Unleavened Bread... –Mrs. Vivian Hipe ::

Standing up for doing office and business procedure in a godly way and according to the laws of the land. Being firm in making decisions, realizing that “not being unequally yoked with unbelievers” also applies to not being swayed into the conventional “pwede naman gawin yung ganito, yung ganyan...,” so it requires me to be alert and think of each action before I do it...  –Miss Gina Constantino ::

We think of ‘unclean’ as applied to food and other things in the old testament, pero sa new testament, lalong lumawak ang application- “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers...” What troubles me most is my temper, only to regret it later. Kaya para malinisan ang mga lumalabas sa bibig, kailangan malinisan yung kalooban para hindi “out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing..”

Sa mga pagkakataon gaya ng mga celebration ng mga tao na katrabaho, kapitbahay o kakilala natin, hindi tayo dapat madala sa paggaya o maimpluwensiyahan ng iba, kung sila ganun eh di sila, pero siguraduhin natin saan tayo nakasandigan... –Mr. Juan Gabriel Cardona ::

“Saturday ngayon, hindi ba dapat wala ka dito?” Yung ang madalas kong marinig sa mga kaklase ko nung time na nag-give in ako mag-take ng exam pag Sabbath. Ang mahirap, nakokonsyensya ka na nga na sumuway sa Panginoon, pag bumigay ka ng isang beses, lagi ka pang sasabihan ng mga prof na “Nagawa mo na noon ah, bakit hindi mo pwedeng ulitin?”
Karaniwan, kapag sinabi sa akin ang tama, inuunahan ko na sa isip ko na hindi ako susunod, pero sa huli susunod din ako, parang ako yung nasa parable... ako yung nangangailangan ng paalala na “...bind them continually around your heart and tie them about your neck...” –Michael Dominic Flores ::

Holiness is the foremost thing we should be seeking so we must be serious and focused when it comes to that. Always asking and interested “Ano ba ang dapat kong gawin?”... Ang challenge sa akin sa kasalukuyan ay how to transmit holiness in practical everyday responses, for example people who use their holiday season for asking help, yet are clearly in need of basic food, clothing...  –Mr. Raul de Asis-Hipe ::

Hindi po ako willing mag-work ng Saturday, ineexplain ko sa interviewer at pakikinggan naman nila ako, sabay sabi na “Hindi ba pwede na huwag ka muna mag-attend, ako nga hindi nakaka-attend sa church namin pag Sunday pero okay lang,” Sige, sunod-sunod na nire-reject ako sa mga interview, pero alam ko pa din na ang Panginoon ang mgpprovide, gusto ko matutunan ma.honor ang Panginoon... –Kristine Amparo Flores ::

Alam ng teacher na hindi ako pwedeng gumawa ng parol dahil hindi ako nag-ccelebrate ng christmas, kaya binigyan nya ako ng ibang project na gagawin. Eh gagawin sana ako leader nung isang group. Kaya ako lang ang naiba ang ginawa. Pag susunod sa Diyos ay maiiba talaga kaysa sa nakapaligid...  –Ralph Ian David Hipe ::

Nung naiwan ako mag-isa kasama ng anak ko, natuto akong gumawa ng Sabbath service format, nakita tuloy namin sa aming sarili mula sa Scripture ang mga kailangan naming malaman, mga kasagutan, yung mga para sa fatherless, etc. Unti-unti nagbago nung nagsimula kaming sumunod sa napag-aralan. Noong una hindi ko yun na-realize, ilang taon na, ngayon ko lang nakikita yung joy saka peace na pwedeng ituro din sa mga anak dahil naiintindihan at nagagawa ko na... –Mrs. Marissa Flores ::

-Knowing the meaning of being set apart by God for his purpose, despite of ourselves, makikita mo yung halaga na inilagay sa atin ng Panginoon... this will move us to ask “Ano naman ang isusukli ko...?” With the use of the mind God has given us, there really is no choice but life...

-Not a choice between “obeying the law” OR “once saved, always saved,” but slaves to righteousness...

-Only the LORD God is holy. Would you not want to be part of a holy nation, to “sanctify yourselves TO BE holy”? Not until the physical is changed into spirit can this be attained, but while we live, not us, but the spirit of God in us enables us to follow the law of the mind even if it runs against the law in our flesh...

-The will of God for us is our sanctification, always the best for us...

-Even if we have made mistakes in our decisions, if our attitude is right, and we submit totally to God, He has a thousand and one ways to make things work out...

-Look to Jesus Christ. The whole process of sanctification, justification, redemption, a worthwhile lifetime, don’t look left or right and be distracted by all the noise and things said in the world...

-Everything on earth to be dissolved, not by water, but by fire, before everything is made new. For everyone already given a chance to know God in this lifetime, asan ngayon tayo? Do we appreciate how God is dealing with us so intricately and meticulously?

-Para dun sa mga matigas ang ulo, sa holiness ay pumapasok din yung mercy, we must continue to intercede, not get tired and give up. For to God belong the power, the honor and the glory... He is the source of everything forgiveness, compassion, everything we think we have run out of and can’t bear anymore...

-...There is no more sacrifice for those who sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth... (Hebrews 10:27) Mas mabuti pang hindi na natin nalaman ang katotohanan kaysa malaman at talikuran. If we neglect our calling, and reach the extreme of rejecting God, the candle inside us that searches the mind may be put out... –Mrs. Priscilla Cardona ::

Pag may mga okasyon sa pamilya na sakto tumataon sa Sabbath, siyempre dahil matulungin ang mga kapatid, andun yung gusto ko tumanaw ng utang na loob. Nag-pray ako “Father, help my unbelief...” Nahirapan pero nakasunod. Nakita ko yung “If you love your father, mother, brothers, more than Me, you are not worthy of Me,” Dumating yung time na willing ako i-let go yung extended family. Akala ko na magiging malamig ang pamilya ko sa akin, pero talagang God sees the heart, mas naging okay pa kami ngayon. Mas naintindihan pa nila kami. Sila pa ngayon ang nagsasabi sa iba na “Hindi kami pwede pag Saturday kasi wala si Theresa...” –Mrs. Ann Theresa Deboma ::

Dati sinasabi ko “for my health,” kapag tinatanong ng mga kapatid, “madaming bawal,” pero natuto ako na maging matibay, do or die pagdating sa pagsunod sa salita ng Diyos, I know He will never leave me nor forsake me... –Mr. Ramon Fernandez ::

Gusto ng mga kaklase ko maging kagaya sa kanila... mag-rosary, pero hindi ko sila sinusunod, ang sinusunod ko po ay yung sinabi ng Panginoon Diyos... –Kharis Arielle Ann Hipe ::

Madaling ipaliwanag sa mga estudyante, pero ang mga kasama sa trabaho, kahit alam nila yun, hindi nila ako pinakakawalan sa pagkuha at pagbibigay ng mga regalo... Nadadapa ako sa maliit na detalye kapag hindi ako alerto, nagkamali ako, dapat mas matibay ang panindigan para malinaw ang halimbawa na makita ng mga nasa paligid ko... –Ms. Cecilia Constantino ::

Nung nagpunta ako sa Singapore madaming work opportunities na mayroon mga minsanang “ngayon lang naman” na work pag Sabbath pero kahit matindi ang pressure, sa huli nag-choose ako na huwag bumigay. Kahit sa anong sitwasyon, ang dapat pala mag-gabay ay hindi sa dahil “malalaman ng iba,” kundi dahil “ano ang sasabihin ng Panginoon...” –Mrs. Edelmia Cardona ::

“Bakit yung iba, kahit muslim o hindi katoliko, nakikisama, hindi KJ killjoy...” Yun ang pinaparinig sa opisina... Dahil mas madami akong na-eencounter na kumokontra tungkol sa Sabbath o sa hindi pag-celebrate ng christmas, ang nakakatuwa lahat ng mga counsel na natanggap ko noon mas nagagamit ko na ngayon.. Kapag naalala ko kung gaano higit pang pangongontra ang ibinato sa Panginoon, nakikita ko na ganun nga talaga ang kailangan daanan ng isang nagsisikap mabuhay ng matuwid ayon sa Panginoon... –Ma. Regina Buendia ::

Natural may obligasyon tayo, biruin mo, inampon tayo ng Panginoon! Nabubuhay tayo para sa kaharian nya, siyempre may batas yun, hindi tayo ang masusunod, kundi ang Panginoon Diyos... Siyempre mahirap magbago, pero huwag maaapektuhan ng mga sinasabi ng tao... –Mrs. Ofelia Limpoco-Magat ::

Minsan may mga pagkakataon lalo na pag sinasabi “Isang taon lang naman, hindi ka naman itatakwil ng church nyo, you have to learn to be a student of grace, hindi naman legalistic ang Panginoon, etc... But when I see in Scripture the foolishness of not deciding firmly, and remember the privilege of being sanctified for God’s purpose, what am I doing? Do I want to be vomited out of God’s mouth for being neither hot nor cold? –Justine Mencias ::

Nakakapag-break po ako ng Sabbath noon. Tumatakas, nakikinood sa kapitbahay. Pero natandaan ko pa din po yung sagot sa Exodus 20, “Remember  the Sabbath day to keep it holy...” –Abram Seve Miguel ::

Dati may mga pagkakataon na umuuwi kami sa nanay ko ng year-end, eh nakita ko hindi kami nakakapag-Sabbath, tapos yung mga bata pag nakikita yung mga nagpapaputok, talagang madadala. Nung una kaming hindi na pumunta ng ganung panahon eh laging nagtatanong ang mga kapitbahay, ang mga kamag-anak bakit hindi na pumupunta, nung nagtagal eh nasanay lang sila, wala nang nagtatanong, normal na sa kanila... –Mrs. Analiz Miguel ::

Sa university kung saan ako nagtuturo, nakaipon na ako ng enough points para mai-translate sa karampatang rank, hindi pa din iyon na-apply kahit may masteral degree na ako. Sa pagkuha ng advanced doctorate degree, madaming teaching opportunities na magbibigay ng mas malaking income. Ngunit nung nabasa ko na yung mga involved sa program, halos lahat ng graduate classes na tuturuan ko ay Saturday ang schedule. Kukunin ko ba yung mas malaking pera kapalit ng disobedience ko? Yung mga ganan eh parang inaagaw lang yung atensyon ko, pride na lang to want to earn more money. Pero sa totoo, kumpleto naman lahat ng pangangailangan namin.Kung may kulang man, madaming ibang tao, madaming blessings na pinapadala ang Panginoon... “No one can serve two masters... you will hate one and love the other...” –Mr. Gilbert Deboma ::