FIVE GREAT BARRIERS TO DOING GOOD WORKS THAT MATTER

         In today’s world where many are in need not only materially but likewise relationally and spiritually, there are great barriers in doing good works that matters most. Works that can be most relevant to the prevailing and ailing unmet needs of people around. 

         Let us uncover these barriers (and intentionally refuse to do them) so that we may become more productive and relevant with our lives. 

SELFISHNESS

         People must be concerned with one another’s welfare. In other words, we need to take care of on one another. Starting with the people closes to us. But what if that concern becomes exclusive. And equally worse, becomes excessive. Sadly, we can call that negative attitude as ’selfishness”. 

         Selfishness is defined as the exclusive and excessive concern for one’s self. When a person is so concerned with himself or herself, and that concern is so exclusive ad excessive, that attitude creates an increasingly catastrophic atmosphere. Living in that kind of environment make more people unsafe. If it spreads even more, then everyone is unsafe. No one wants to live in an unsafe place. 

         Selfishness becomes a great barrier in doing good because a selfish person will never have enough for himself or herself. For them, there's never enough to share with someone else. The focus to help is too narrow or too shallow … or too hallow. Thus, selfishness deters people in doing good works that really matter.

RELIGIOSITY

         Religion can be like a product branding. There is one product but different brands. If the product is rubber shoes, then there are different companies offering the same product with their own respective branding (whether it be original or an imitation). 

         The problem with religious branding is that it may become mere religiosity. Religiosity are mindsets and norms based on rules, norms, and uniformity. Religion that promotes mere religiosity may be endangered by performance orientation – a show of who is better than whom. Instead of a nourishing positive and relational interconnections that promote and cater to changed lives, religion can probably become shallow & hallow. We need to remember that there must never be a religious barrier in the ambition to help people in their areas of need. There is no doing of good works that really matter if mere bland religiosity is prominent.

UNAWARENESS

         Sincerity is never enough. If sincere people who are wiling to help are unaware of where to help, when to help, or how to help a good cause, their sincerity is not enough to positively influence lives. Their sincerity may stuck to themselves because there is no proper avenue or channel to course it through. People who are sincere should be aware of where and whom to partner with.

         There are a lots of good causes that people are unaware of. There, too, are even more bad causes that people are aware of (This is ironic). The former are silent and unannounced (or less announced). While the latter is rigidly promoted with superficial good motives. Good causes that are timidly announced will be receive with the same timidity. Bad cause that are entertainingly promoted may likely receive with the same level. Good causes must be received with greater attention and philanthropic people scan the tri-media (radio, tv, prints) and the social media to look for ways to support. Even more, there are simple people who scan over the neighborhood for ways to help. 

         People need to be aware of and should be on the scout for good causes.

MISINFORMATION

         It is good to inform people of ways to partner with ministries or NGO’s. But people can be misinformed that’s why they repel or reject. The problem maybe the improper giving out or receiving of information. Or the problem can be the misappropriated approach. Either way, the offer to partner is repelled or rejected because no connection was established. This is sad for both sides. People who can benefit or those at the receiving end may not receive the supposed offered help because the transaction was not finalized. Thus, unestablished connection due to misinformation. Sadly, there maybe a triple whammy. 

         Again, the doing good works that really matter had an abrupt disconnection. 

DISCOURAGEMENT

         People who are discouraged will most likely not encourage other people. If people will find hope in hopeless situations, if people will find good among the bad, if people will see good results beyond the challenges, if people will vision greater things, and if people persevere in doing good, then courage will spring out from within. Courage is as important as the details of the vision. Otherwise, there is no doing good works that really matter because courage is missing and discouragement is hampering possible partnership.

         You may be asking, "What should I do to overcome these five barriers to doing good works that matter?" Well, you've just asked the right question! The answer is simple. Just do the opposite of the five. You surely know how to do that.

         May there be enrichment of the lives of people whom God wants us to encounter and influence. May the five great barriers to doing good works that matter more of a challenge then a barrier. May our lives be an extension of the heart of God –– all for the glory of God!

Pastor Gene Estrabon III

Senior Pastor at Unified Vision

Quezon City, Philippines

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MAKING SENSE OF LIFE

... and the man became a living being. Gen.2:7

[5] Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, [6] but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. [7] Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the BREATH OF LIFE  and the man became a living being. 

Genesis 2:5-7 NIV (emphasis added)

          We live in a love-deficit society of various trending voices and opinions about life. These voices and opinions are convincing us to listen to their ideas (and ideals) for whatsoever purpose. They can either be positive or negative. And they vary in pressure and in attractive lure. Some are more convincing then others. Maybe because of the popularity of the site or the person who said. Maybe the message just connects because simplicity. The question now is "What is the sense of what you're listening to?"

          When God gave you life, He made sure that you can make sense out of it. 

          Let me quickly explain why I said that. Firstly, being alive and actually living are two different norms. Secondly, because God gave us the capacity, the resources, and the opportunities for people to generally live out their lives with sense. And thirdly, by sense I mean logically understandable and emotionally interactive. Give yourself enough time to delve more into these ideas. 

          I really pray that you will really be motivated to live your life the fullest as God designed it uniquely for each of us. I also pray that you would challenge yourself and maybe motivate other people into the amazing journey to live your lives with sense. 

          Now, here's the question: How can the life you are actually living now makes sense?

Pastor Gene Estrabon III

Senior Pastor at Unified Vision

Quezon City, Philippines

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PRAYER COUNSELING WORKS

Yu

     As a full-time pastor for many years, talking with people to encourage or enlighten them with God’s Word is always a norm. Counseling is a norm because the occurrence of problems are normal as people normally encounter many sorts of problem. When it occurs that a pastor-missionary like myself, is trusted by a married couple or a single person with their problem, there must be prayer & counseling that will alleviate people from their difficult situation. When these people tell me their current relational problems and they seek help, they should receive help! And it is always a joy when I see positive results happening to them. Then after some time, you see smiles on their faces that silently says “Thank you for listening, for praying and for enlightening us. We are liberated!” God puts such joy in my heart during such scenario. People can be verbal and generous in their appreciations. That puts another smile on my face.

     Now, let me tell you some of my discoveries along the way of my ministry years. May this be both informative and reflective as you read on.

Problematic People Should Not Be Forced To Seek Counseling

     We are by nature quick to detect problems on other person’s lives. We have like an invisible radar machine that can distinguish such problems from faces and from words that fly around. Then we maybe are quick to judge or to be cynical without having to bother knowing the real thing of their problematic situation. Good-willed and concerned individual may emotionally jump over the problematic person and offer ways to help. Others maybe go right to comment and suggest what these problematic people should be doing, thinking, or saying. Other people will just simply say, “think positive” or suggest the mind-over-matter talks. Religious people may suggest with an altar-ego the quick fix of prayer or Bible reading. The carefree person may just recommend forgetting the problem and just move on (I’m thinking, is this approach a denial of the problem?). 

     These are just some of the ways people are forcing their way into the already problematic person! Sad. I’ve discovered that prayer counseling is more effective when the problematic person is the one who personally sought help. Yes, the effectiveness of prayer counseling is multiplied and maximized it the problematic person is the one who initiated the counseling sessions. 

People Who Seek Counseling Should Receive Godly Counseling

     Whenever I do prayer counseling to a individuals or couples (who happen to have diverse religious backgrounds), I say at the outset  three important matters: [1] I am a pastor, [2] I quote biblical verses, and [3] I pray. If the counselee agrees and is comfortable with these provisional agreement (if I may call it that way), we continue on. Otherwise, if they are do not agree and is not comfortable with those, i say to them that I may not be the right person they are looking for. Happily, they were only a few who walked away. Funny, many of those who walked away changed their mind afterwards. 

     Those who agreed to my terms, have most benefited along the weeks and months of counseling sessions. I’ve discovered that godly prayer counseling invites God in the center of the discussion. Prayer & the Bible is utilized in wisdom. This is God-awareness. Moreover, godly prayer counseling involves the person or the couple responsible for whatever words or actions that are coming from them. This is presence of mind (or self-awareness). Combine the two (awareness of God and presence of mind), you will get a far reaching positive reactions among people and within situations. I rejoice at the sight of seeing people maximize these truths in their lives and see life-changing results.

Formal Seminary Training Is An Advantage

     I am very grateful to God for giving me opportunities such ministry experiences and people who mentored me be who I am today. I am likewise that thankful to the formal training I received from the Asian Theological Seminary (ATS)! I think hundreds of thousands of brain cells died during those years. But I cannot I can “never” belittle the training, the encouragements, the fellowship, the wise words, and the smiles I received from the professors. This includes the understanding and the favors from the staff. For one, a counseling subject “The Study of Human Problems” took a hold of me. Thanks to Dr Sotto. I went curious and took elective counseling subjects (under Dr Sotto) aside from the subjects under my Pastoral Studies program. 

     I know that some people are adamant in the need for formal studies (That makes me sad). They say that seminary studies makes prideful people. That makes me sad because it can be true – but it is not generally true. My question is "Are prideful people only come from seminaries?" If the answer is “yes”, then seminaries are in many ways unhelpful and degenerative. Then again, the answer can likely be “yes” among other organizations or institutions as well. So they too are in many ways unhelpful and degenerative? (I hope this clarifies that there should be “no pointing of fingers”, a basic principle I always tell counselees). This can be problematic if this can be generally true. And happily, it is not!

     From my experience, I am still awed and mesmerized as the five years of seminary studies went on. The most basic but profound truth I received (and is still basking on) was the discovery that the more I know of God, the bigger He becomes and reversely I become smaller. I was like in the experience of John the baptist (“He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30) or the amazement of King David (“When I consider your heavens, … the moon and the stars, … 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Psalm 8:3-4). The awe feeling and the truth encounters are just as amazing then as it is now –– or even greater! And to my amazement, the many better effect ripples to the way I do ministry like preaching and prayer counseling. Seminary training is more than just credential. It became a like a salt that thirsts me to drink more of God and more of His will and purpose over my life – and over other people’s lives as well. This is awesome!

     Many other seminars and trainings about counseling and inner healing like that I attended with the NFS Foundation likewise helped in the way I do counseling ministry. I have Sir Wyden King and the rest of the guys there to thank for. 

People Who Seek Counseling And Benefited From Counseling Should Form A Community

It's A Date #5  •  Cubao, Quezon City  •  June 18, 2016

     About four years ago, God has already put in my heart a vision of encouraging couples. The vision stayed in a corner of my heart. I occasionally thought and prayed about it. Until last year 2015, something monumental began in my life again happened. My prayer counseling ministry took a whole new level! More couples and even singles came seeking counsel. Many of them came outside the church ministry I am involved in. Prayer counseling is a norm inside of my church ministry. But the doubling of my prayer counselees outside of church ministry is astounding to me! I am happier because I can make God smile even more.

     By the last quarter of 2015, I am fully aware that God is leading me in a path of helping more couples and their families towards a direction which in the second half of 2016 I phrased “discover flourishing family relationships”. I shared the vision to a couple in the church. The vision was caught. A community was born. And last February 2016, “It’s A Date” was launched! It became a monthly activity. One of it’s basic goal is to introduce couples to the truth that there is hope towards flourishing family relationships. Now, more and more couples are receiving the vision and realizing the hope. 

     I will share more of this in the next blog.

In review, we found out that:

1. Problematic people should not be forced to seek counseling.
2. People who seek counseling should receive godly counseling.
3. Formal seminary training is an advantage.
4. People who seek counseling and benefited from counseling should form a community.

Until next time :-)

Pastor Gene Estrabon III

Senior Pastor at Unified Vision

Quezon City, Philippines

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PISSED OFF?

Are you pissed off? When people and circumstances are pissing you off, here are four reminders: 

Firstly, people around you are not all-knowing. They don't know every detail of your situation. Be ready to offer good explanation if it will be accepted.

Secondly, always look at the bigger picture. Your current situation is just a micro-situation of the macro-situation you are in. Be clear-minded. 

Thirdly, carrying bitterness will only worsen you and your situation. Be forgiving for your sake and ask God how you should deal with your predicament.

Fourthly, paint a smile. Be quick to pull yourself away off your annoying situation with a clear-awareness-of-God attitude. 

Pastor Gene Estrabon III

Senior Pastor at Unified Vision

Quezon City, Philippines

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