Tag Archives: Evangelism

May 18 2011

They have Jesus

The Stories of the Children of the Hapag

by Joey Velasco

This painting is Filipino-inspired one, depicting Jesus surrounded by  poor Filipino kids from the streets. The painter Joey Velasco conveys the message that each of this kid has a unique story to tell to Jesus on the table. Then as he was struggling to look for the appropriate title of the book which tells the story  of these poor children, a mentally-deranged woman enlightened him as he showed him this painting. “You know my friend, they are actually not poor…” the woman said to him. “What??? You’re the only one who said that.” Joey remarked. But the woman continued, “because they have Jesus.”

And what a treasure indeed! It is not a wishful thinking, because Jesus is really present in the lives of the poor. In fact he is more real there. 

Joey Velasco commented of Jesus in his painting.

“He was dead weary in that painting, that was why he was brought by the kids to sit and eat. He was served the  best food and they wanted Him to rest. Who among us approaches Christ with the desire to let Him rest a while? Usually we call on God because we want something. We are the ones who want rest. We are tired. There are pure and innocent people who might think this way. They want to give something to Him. Who among us will go to a church and kneel down  and change the God-I-need-something formula of prayer? Can we also say, God do you need something? Even if He doesn’t need anything because He is God. Is there anything I can do? I kneel down. Lord I’m here…[Is there anything I can do for you?] When  did you call a friend and say out of the blue. “How are you buddy? Can I do anything for you? You need anything? When was the last time we did that? In the meal, we are the ones served by God. When did we organize a meal that our only motivation was to celebrate it with God and serve God saying, “Lord, what can  I do for you?”

Junjun’s review of this book:

This is an amazing book, not a fiction but based on a real  story…with the author’s personal interview with each of those kids on the painting. I have read it, and shed not only few drop of tears but many. When I finished reading it….I was really convinced, “They have Jesus.”

TO PURCHASE THE BOOK:CLICK HERE…


May 16 2011

The Good Shepherd

Two flocks of sheep shared the same pen at night. Early in the morning, one of the shepherds opened the pen, and cried ‘Marah’, which is the Arabic for ‘follow me’ and all of his sheep left the pen and followed him. Another man, watching this, was fascinated so he borrowed the other shepherd’s cloak and staff, and cried out ‘Marah’-and none of the sheep paid the slightest heed to him! He asked the shepherd if any of the sheep would ever follow someone else rather than him. ‘Yes’, said the shepherd, ‘Sometimes a sheep can be so sick that it will follow anyone!’ [J. Mcardle]

We are all sick in many ways, physically, mentally, morally and even spiritually. Because of these illnesses we tend to follow anyone else who is offering us for a seemingly “CURE”, but in reality just a “RELIEF”,  instead of following God who is speaking to us from within our hearts and can really heal us. Yes, experience tells us that, no amount of worldly things or wealth, or fame, or honour can make us completely and absolutely happy. It is because only God can give us this real and eternal happiness that we longed for. Some of us even deny God’s existence, or put God aside, or chose not to listen to our Good Shepherd who would lead to a greener pasture and refreshing waters of life. But no amount of denying God in our lives can ever disprove God’s presence, majesty and wonders, that he showed and shared with us.

Today, let’s look at our lives.

Let’s look at our world…

In what way or ways are we sick?

What are we following?

What are we doing?

Jesus our Good shepherd always calls us to him, we only have to keep still and listen to him, which is quite a big challenge for us now because of the many ‘noises’ around us that block us from listening to the voice of our Good Shepherd.

I am the good Shepherd; I know mine, and mine know me. They will heed my voice.’

‘Seldom have I seen a young person get into trouble without having being led there by someone else. Surely we must accept that the opposite is always true. Therefore, we all  have an obligation to give leadership.’‘[j.mcardle]



May 6 2011

How to overcome temptation?

Stay focused on Jesus…and make him one of your best friends….

I envy you Jesus my friend

For you overcome all temptations of the fiend

World’s riches, honor, glory for you, are nothing and empty

For in you, lies the eternal and real glory.

You exhausted satan of all his tricks

You embarrassed him of his dirty tactics

Food, he offered, from stone to bread

You shamed him saying, ‘bread is not only your need.’

The world and its treasures he offered to you

The condition is for him to rule over you

Same, the offer you turned down immediately

Because for you, the worship to God alone is necessary.

Satan enticed you off the cliff, jumping

He said, ‘angels down there are waiting’

You said, ‘get lost satan out of my sight

Dare you no put God to the test.

Satan was trapped by his own snare

As he tried to stop your mission so dear

To tell us of your Father’s Kingdom in heaven

and to lead us there when our days ripen.

Jesus I plead with you, your courage I need to gain

To help me stop satan’s ways so mundane

Guide me to follow your ways

And help us to desire God always.

Jesus thank you for showing us the way

To conquer the motives of the enemy

By letting him explore all means of temptation

While you remain unmoved, still standing on your ground.

Jesus give us the courage to dare

To see and avoid the devil’s snare

So that we may not lose sight of your person

As you lead us to our eternal salvation.

I composed this poem prayerfully while contemplating on the scene of the temptation of Jesus by the evil one. This is one of the fruits of my thirty-day retreat in Jesuit’s Retreat House in Kew  in June 2009.