Reflections - Philippines

Does the Bible Prove the Existence of God?

2011-09-01T18:02:00.000+08:00

I recently heard about a book called “Has Christianity Failed You.” I heard about the book on a Christian program being broadcasted by a Christian station. A few days later I ran across a piece on You Tube where an atheist was questioning the material in the book. I have not read the book, as yet, but it seems that the atheist challenging the book believes the author used only the Bible to try and prove the existence of a God. He states that it is impossible to use a book, which many do not believe in, to prove the existence of a God. He states that the author would first have to prove the book he is using, the Bible, is accurate in every detail. I agree with that. Unless you have allowed yourself to have a personal relationship with God, I do not believe the Bible, is enough to allow you to completely believe in God. A personal relationship is one where you have felt the intervention of God in your life on a personal level. Atheist and many Christians wrongly deny these personal God interventions and write them off as coincidences.

The atheist takes segments of the Bible and used them to try and prove his point that there is no God, particularly a Christian God. I believe both men to be wrong. I do not believe you can prove the existence of a God or non-existence of a God with ANY book. All books are written by men and all books are influenced by men and all men have an agenda when writing a book. Unless you have allowed yourself to have a personal relationship with God you open yourself up to always have your faith in God challenged by the words of men verbally or through books.

The thing that attracted me most to the Catholic faith is that they do not require one to believe in the literal translation of the Bible. They acknowledge many of the stories in the Bible like Noah’s flood, the creation story, Jonah and the fish story, the tower of Babel and others are stories, but valuable stories that one can learn from. Unlike Fundamentalist Christians, Catholic’s are not required to believe that these stories happened literally, word for word, as man told them and later wrote them down. If you profess to believe the literal translation of the Bible you open yourself up to be made a fool of by atheist. The Bible can become a weapon that is used against you, instead of a tool that can draw you closer to God.

In my ‘old age’ the thing that disappoints me the most is the Catholic Christians that I meet who believe they are good Catholic Christians simply because they attend Mass, perform Catholic rituals and believe in the Bible. The same is true of Protestant Christians. Many Protestants believe if they attend church, profess to believe literally in the Bible and tithe they are good Christians. Christianity is more than satisfying the requirements of men. Christianity is following the teachings of Christ that were implanted in us by God when God sent the Holy Spirit. I would say the majority of Catholic Christians and Protestant Christians do not have any idea what God wants of them they simply act like a sponge and assorp all the teachings as proclaimed by their leaders without ever questioning them.

We should not be doing something simply because the Bible or man tells us to do it. We should be doing the things we feel God is leading us to do. Morality is doing those things that bring happiness, health and wellbeing to self and others and by our doing these things we make our community a better place. Immorality is doing the opposite. Many moral teachings are in the Bible and we should follow them, but as atheist always point out there are some immoral things listed in the Bible and we certainly should avoid them. I am not going in to all these things in detail, but I certainly believe it is immoral to own slaves and the Bible grants some the authority to do so. I believe my God believes it is immoral to own slaves.

I believe my God judges me to be as good a Christian Catholic as possible, but according to many in the Catholic Church my present beliefs would prohibit them from believing I was. I have studied the history of the Catholic Church and I know for a FACT there have been many evil Popes. I do not believe my God wants me to follow ANY man blindly be they pope, bishop, priest, religious leader or self-proclaimed SON OF GOD like Pastor Apollo. At the moment a reproductive bill is before the Philippine Congress and Senate and the Catholic hierarchy is standing in the way of its passage. I believe their stand to be immoral and I believe God through the Holy Spirit has led me to this belief. Just last week charges were brought against a Filipino priest for rape and his bishop protects him by bringing him into his home and is protecting him from being arrested as any other citizen of the Philippines would be. I believe this is immoral and it certainly by no means passes my definition of morality.

People need to attempt a personal relationship with God and use that to define God and not rely totally on the Bible, religion, denomination or men. Regardless of what anyone says my faith in God can only be affected by my personal relationship with God and no man or woman can change that.

Philippine Culture - Take care of Parents?

2011-08-15T22:43:00.000+08:00

When I first came to the Philippines the culture norm was that children took care of their elderly parents and grandparents, but a few years after arriving in the Philippines I saw that culture tradition begin to erode. It was common to hear Filipino’s be critical of Westerners, especially Americans, for putting their elderly in nursing homes. They would argue that we were disrespectful of our elders and that Filipino people would never do that. Well, times have CHANGED!

I never put my mother in a nursing home, but now that I look back I believe it would have been better for her and the family if I had. She had Alzheimer’s and there were times when caring for her at home were nearly unbearable. At the time I foolishly thought nursing homes were where the young dump elderly parents and grandparents when they no longer want to be bothered with them.

At the present moment there are two bills before the Philippine Congress that reflect the growing problems Filipinos have with the elderly. House Bill 1514, filed by Representative Augusto Syjuco, allows the elderly to ask the courts to compel their descendants, whether legitimate or illegitimate, to give them financial and other support. If younger Filipinos were caring for older Filipinos there would be no need for Representative Syjuco to file such a bill.

There is also a bill in the Senate, Senate Bill 1809, filed by Senator Mirian Defensor Santiago, which proposes the establishment of a government assistance program for elderly victims of abuse, whether physical, emotional or sexual, as well as neglect or abandonment by caregivers, financial exploitation and health care fraud and abuse. Again, if younger Filipinos were caring for older Filipinos there would be no need for Senator Santiago to file such a bill.

I have heard many horror stories of the retired persons’ SSS or GSIS card being taken by their children or grandchildren, who then withdraw the monthly pension to use mainly for themselves rather than for their parents or grandparents. I know of elderly people that have been put out on the streets by family members to beg for pesos to simply survive. I doubt there is anyone in the Philippines that has not seen an elderly lady or man sitting on the sidewalk begging.

How many bills are already on the books to curb the ills you find in the Philippines that are never enforced. We all know that if established laws to fight corruption were enforced there would be little to no corruption. I would suspect that these two bills if passed will not be enforced either due to lack of funds.

The elderly problem is only going to get worst in the Philippines. In the 50’s Filipino’s generally died in their 50’s. The time span to care for the elderly was short, but now Filipino’s who die in their 60’s are thought to have died YOUNG. Complicating matters is the cost now involved in caring for the elderly. Most elderly suffer from hypertension and diabetes and the cost of medication can run into the thousands of pesos each month. Factor in diseases like Alzheimer’s and the cost runs even higher.

The job situation in the Philippines requires many Filipino’s to work abroad. The money sent home naturally goes first for the needs of the young and what is left may filter down to the elderly. It is not only a monetary problem. The O.F.W. simply cannot be home to give personal care to the elderly.

The numbers of elderly will continue to rise in the next century, but I do not think Congress can legislate parental or elderly care. The government must strength the safety net they provide for senior citizens. The Philippine government and society as a whole must begin to provide facilities for the elderly to go to and feel safe and be properly cared for and be given the opportunity to socialize with people their own age. Nursing Homes/Assistant Care Living is not a dirty word as many Filipino’s believe. It often is better than the alternatives.

I am Tired of President Obama and Liberal Democrats

2011-08-07T14:40:00.002+08:00

"I'm 63 and I'm Tired"
By Robert A. Hall

I'm 63. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I've worked, hard, since I was 18.. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven't called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired. Very tired..
I'm tired of President Obama and other Democrats telling me that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.
I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, and claiming the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to and "MODERATE" Muslims not speaking out against it.
I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America and Canada , while no American nor Canadian group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.
I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate.
I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must fund treatment for them when my government is not willing to do whatever is needed to stop the drugs from coming across our borders or make laws tougher on pushers and users.
I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a SENSE of entitlement, rich or poor.
I'm real tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.
Yes, I'm damn tired.. But I'm also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter..
Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate.

Tea Party in Congress -Breathe of Fresh Air

2011-08-05T09:52:00.000+08:00

I am so glad that the debt ceiling question is settled. I was beginning to worry that the Tea Party Members of Congress would not strike “any” type of compromise and cause the country to go into default. The fact they held out until the end and did compromise cause me to respect them even more. They may be the” Knights on the White Horse” for the United States. Our only hope is that they gain Senate and House seats in the next election.

I am sure John Boehner, Harry Reid and the rest of the old guard were shocked when they discovered the elected Tea Party candidates meant what they said during their campaign. I am sure they thought when the newly elected Tea Party members got to Washington they would forget their promise and become one of the “Good Ole Boys.” Why would” ANYONE” believe a politician would keep his or her campaign promises once elected – Obama certainly did not?

Not even a staunch Democrat can forget or deny that President Obama’s Democratic Party had control of all three branches of government the first two years of his term and should have been able to get anything passed. Obviously President Obama did not mean the things he said on the campaign trail or his own party thought his ideas were bad.

A few of the campaign promises President Obama forgot once elected: 1. Increase the Capital gains and dividends taxes for higher- income taxpayers. If he wanted to do that why did the Democrats not do it in the first two years? 2. Expand the child dependent care credit. 3. Create a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners. 4. End income tax for seniors making less than $50,000 a year. 5. End all Federal no-bid contracts above $25,000. 6. Repeal the Bush tax cuts for higher income. If he wanted to do that why did the Democrats not do it in the first two years? 7. Phase out exemptions and deductions for higher earners. If he wanted to do that why did the Democrats not do it in the first two years? 8. Sign the Employee Free Choice Act, making it easier for workers to unionize. 9. Forbid companies in bankruptcy from giving executives bonuses. 10. Allow workers to claim more in unpaid wages and benefits in bankruptcy court. 11. Allow imported prescription drugs. 12. Appoint federal-level coordinator to oversee all federal autism efforts. 13. Reduce earmarks to 1994 levels. 13. Enact windfall profits tax for oil companies. 14. Create cap and trade system with interim goals to reduce global warming. 15. Require plug-in fleet at the White House. 16. Provide an annual report on “states of our energy future”. 17. Recognize the Armenian genocide. 18. See to it that NO family making less than $250,000 will get “ANY form of tax increase.” 19. Negotiate health care reform in public sessions televised on C-SPAN. 20. Introduce a comprehensive immigration bill in the FIRST year of his term. These are only twenty of his many promises that he did not keep.

The BIGGEST promise that President Obama did not keep and the one that I think got him elected was he would bring CHANGE to Washington D.C. Things would be done differently and he would bring about a halt to partisan politics because he was not the TYPICAL politician Americans have had to endure for generations. He is the most partisan president we have had in my life time.

I do not agree with some of the freshmen members of the Tea Party when they claim they got what they wanted. They did not get what the Tea Party wanted for the cuts did not go deep enough nor do the major cuts take effect soon enough. I do think they got all they could get without putting the U.S. Government in default and I think the 2/3’s of the freshmen members who supported the bill realized that.

The Tea Party members did get conversations started in the House and Senate on “Cut, Cap and Balance”, “Balanced Budget Amendment”, “Entitlement Cuts” and critical conversations on the Obama Health Care Bill. The Tea Party members did accomplish enough good that the Democrats will definitely try to destroy their creditability over the next 16 months and perhaps even some Republicans will.

The United States is on the road to becoming like Greece. Only the American people can prevent it and they can only prevent it by electing a new breed of politicians to local, state and federal government. If they do not then we deserve what we get.

I have heard the argument that the Republicans want to push grandma off the cliff and do not care about the sick and poor and I do not buy it. The Democrats cannot keep giving away what we no longer have. The approach to cut and save the social programs we can is far better than NO SOCIAL PROGRAMS at all and that is exactly what will happen with President Obama’s Socialist Government and the Democrats programs to buy votes.

Be Sure You Know What You Are Leaving Behind!

2011-05-27T18:43:00.002+08:00

I made a mistake leaving what was familiar because I became bored and unsatisfied with what I had. I allowed the desire for gratification to replace love. I thought new people, new culture, new traditions and a new adventure would bring back the excitement I experienced when I was younger. I have since learned, what I should have already known, nothing can replace the familiar and bring you the comfort that old friendships bring to one’s life.

I have now lived in the Philippines for over five years and I still feel as if I am living out of a piece of luggage, a permanent tourist. Being a tourist is great for a break, but it is a sad way to live. I own a house and have a few new friends, but home will always be Houston, Texas. I have had some expat’s tell me that they feel the Philippines is now their home. They accuse me of not doing enough to make it my home. As time passes I usually come to realize these people, usually men, did not experience true happiness, respect and love where they came from. They gave up nothing to move to the Philippines. They did not leave true friends, people they were really bonded to. They came to the Philippines to escape and or make one more attempt to be important or feel fulfilled.

Some sarcastically say if you are not happy here why stay, go home! Have you ever heard the saying, “You can never go home again.” Friends move on with their lives and you have not been a part of the changes that have taken place. I tore up once and left and made a mistake, why do it again? I would never do that unless I knew for sure things would be as they were and there is no way to guarantee that and quite frankly I think it is impossible. You see I have no reason to and never wanted to forget my friends or have them forget me and when I left I acted without realizing that would happen. I allowed gratification to take control of my decision making.

I have good memories that mean nothing to people in the Philippines that were not a part of them. I came to the Philippines thinking I could do charity work among the poor. It is difficult to work among people you cannot communicate with. It is not true that everyone in the Philippines speaks fluent English. The vast majority of the poor people speak NO English. Not many of the middle income people speak conversational English. There are over 700 dialects in the Philippines. I do not care how intelligent you are it would take you years to learn to speak one of the dialects correctly and if you come to the Philippines when you retire it is simple mathematics, you generally do not have years to learn a new language.

If you are like me and love people and are truly interested in people it is difficult not to be able to participate in their daily lives because of a language barrier. This does not seem to be a problem for some expat’s because they obviously do not care about anyone, but themselves. They sit in the coffee shops and bars with their five or six expat friends and do not attempt to truly integrate with Filipino society. If that works for them I am happy for them, but it does not work for me. There is no better treasure in this world than loyal friends and friendship cannot be based solely on people speaking the same language as you. I have had several expat's say to me, “I do not have anything in common with this person or that person, but I need to be around people that speak English.”

A valued friend from back home stays in touch with me weekly. He recently had the opportunity to meet up with two of his high school friends. They no longer live in the same cities, but they have managed to meet recently over several weekends. They had some apprehension of getting together in the beginning, but now they are happy they did. They can share in memories they all participated in building. Never underestimate healthy friendships because I can assure you acquaintances can never take the place of true friends.

It takes courage to ‘stay with it’ – not to move on when things are not going your way. I now must ‘stay with it’ in the Philippines. I now understand you cannot live on your likes and dislikes alone. If you are living by your emotions alone, you are being held hostage to your own needs; “If, however, a person chooses not to fill a hole he or she perceives they have in their life with new relationships or new projects, but see the old ones through, life can transfer to a new and higher level – the ‘spirit’ realm” (Iain Matthew).