Time Together

I wrote this when I was listening to Harry Nilsson’s song – “Without You” and I began to be thankful for all of them:

It is not just one individual -but a list really -starting with God …then my Mommy (Theresita Villena Rodriguez ) and Daddy -and then my brothers (Kuya Rizaldy Rodriguez and Dikong Ross )

-and then my uncles and aunties (both Villenas and Rodriguez – still living and now gone – esp. Auntie Binay and Trining – who ministered to my needs and guide me while studying at UST )

– my friends from high school -until now (Lope Sarreal III, Kennedy Ong and Al Perez ) – my cousins Demetrio Cuaresma , Gemma and Berna Rosete – who were my batch then.

– then those who taught me about the Lord Jesus and His Word – Lolo Enteng – pastors and their wives: Ric Pagarigan , Dick and Anne Kwantes, James and Mary Anne De Young, Pastor Maas and Mom Eloise VanderBilt, even PS Jin Ito.

– my friends at UST – Joel Ong, Mon, Ramon C. Quevedo, Lloyd Ang, Friends from BFHCF -Pastors Rey Domingo and Edwin Puzon. Lynne Asuncion Fister and Gie, Lita, Mae, Doc Norman & Jojo

My office heads thru the years – Engrs Ed Cinco… Sir Jess Cabrera and then now Sir Alex Cabugao .

– and then my work mentors – Sirs Danny Aquillo , Reyo Gavino, Bong Sasotona ,Oman Ortega , Genie Pangilinan, Cesar Dawana. Alex D. Lim & even my kumpare -Joey Mell Alejandro Acejas ,and of course – Sir Julius Vinson and Mam Cecille Mariano Domingo – at Power Services.

My OH Line Design mentors – Alex Adamos, Larry Cruz, Dan Busilan and Noli Eusebio; UG Design mentors -Tonton Torres & Ruel Navaro & Bro Ling Sabalburo– and those who helped me at work thru the minute details -kumareng –Milagros G. Abenales, Nene Taylo, Fides and Grace Rasco-san Jose -my Standards colleagues: Joel Bongga, Robert Lazaro faithful field companion – Joey Benipayo and Harold Banglay,

My MACE Colleagues – Sir Elboy Gonzales, Ray Fabros ,Robert Nery, Joselito Oviedo & Rodel dela Torre.

My Miescor mates – ‘Inaanak’ Ezra Perida and Harold Pactanac.

my Christian Reconstructionist kumpares – IL CPatangan and Fed Dimal -and then my South CBG TS team now (DanT,Borj, Dennis Abustan Salvatus ,Kev Apolinar, Rhys,Pam & Debbie -though much younger than I am -are still teaching me a lot.

My Christian friends from CCRL (the Paredes, Dellotas ), UCM, JLOAPC ( Ps Medic and Romy dela Criz, Vic Ebojo and Sam Mapalad) , SPCRC ( Bro Bong and Gerry and Sis Josie, Perly and Lynne) , Powerhouse and now VCF Alabang ( Brothers Noel, Jimmy, Jun, Rene, Mikee, Peter, Jojo & of course especially Elvin) -and fellow Gideons -San Pedro Camp- especially Dr Roman De Leon – a mentor of sorts and counsellor.

My IIEE buddies and electrical contractor-friends: Rey Licayan, Freddy Rodriguez, & Rodel ‘insan’ Rodriguez.

Our monthly Couples’ fellowship brethren – Ps Abet, Bros Mar and Fred Cabrera and their wives- Myles, Wealthie Dadia & Aida respectively.

and of course my wife and partner-in-life – Maribel Tulay Rodriguez (My Narda and Diana Prince) and my 4Kids -(Rayuel Rodriguez Mariel Rodriguez Raniel Rodriguez & Biyel Rodriguez ) my reason for living and being and enjoying my life now.

I am blessed by the Lord to be with and at your side, one time or another – I wish you all God’s blessing and presence in your life – and still wish to see you more in the future.

I will update this as I remember.

Related Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/RayAntheSilent/posts/10212601886219798?match=aGFycnkgbmlsc3NvbixuaWxzc29uLGhhcnJ5

 

Support of Church Workers: The Law but not the Law on Tithing

Many are using the Malachi 3:10 to impose tithing on modern Christians . When pressed for their Galatianism -they retreat to passages in Hebrews about Abraham giving the tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek. Without going to the typology of such passage -I will  just to have a positive exposition of 1 Corinthians 9:

3 This is my defense to those who would examine me.
4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink?
5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?
6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?
9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned?
10 Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.
11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?
14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.

Here the my inferred implications of such verses:

1 Workers in the church -apostles or modern-day missioaires have right for support -food and taking care of their family.

2. Support for them is compared to 3: Soldier , plowman and herdsman . The first is based on salary (money) or percentage of produce ( plowman and herdsman- usually at the harvest time) so it can be in kind.

3. This method of support is based on the Law -but not that of Levites or priests -it is about “ox treading out the grain”

4.This right to be supported -can be waived by the recipient in case it will be a hindrance to the furtherance of the Gospel. Here comes the rationale for support from sending churches or mission agencies.

5. Also -it is based on the comparison with temple food and sacrificial offerings at the altar -an indirect referrence to supporting priest and Levites . Paul could have easily mentioned titihing -BUT did not because Tithing is related to a physical Temple and the physical bloodline of Levites.

6. The spiritual temple and the spiritual priesthood of Jesus was already there -but he did not used this as justification for tithing for church workers support.