NEXT GEN ADVENTIST

Friend Dad - I want to be my babies’ bestfriend. To be able to go down to their level and hear about their crushes and stories in school. I want to know what’s going on in their lives and take time to know the problems they face. The adjustments they need to make.  I want to be a friend who simply listens. Watch movie together. Go malling together.  Simply have fun together.

Mentor Dad - I’d teach them about the basic skills I know in life. From changing flat tires to replacing the computer’s CPU. A little photography. Editing videos. Blogging. Painting. Creative arts. Poetry. Sketching. Appliance repair. Pathfindering. Boyscout stuff. Girlscout stuff.  Baking. Cooking.  Basic skills in life. Discovering your career. Finding the love of your life. Surviving life’s challenges.

Counselor Dad - When needed - be a counselor. Most of the times listening is enough. That would be enough.

Spiritual Dad- I want to be their foremost discipler. Not their youth pastor. Not their Sabbath school teacher.  After all, I am a pastor.  Teach them what I know about the Bible and really try to model it. Home worship. Sing praises. Be creative spiritually. Take them in my ministry activities.  Help them grow spiritually. Assist them in their journey as they discover, meet, and know Christ. It has to be intentional not just  mere modeling. A one-on-one discipleship.   To pray with them every night just before we sleep.

Here’s a list of what I want to be for my babies:

Loving Dad - No one can love them more than I do. That means exercising enough patience on them when they grumble. Loving them for who they are not simply for what they can do and should be. Being appreciative of their best efforts and being thankful for the simple things they can do. My love for them will not diminish when they fail or increase when they succeed. I will be a loving Dad whether they succeed or fail.  A loving Dad whether they err or behave.  A loving father whether they remain a Christian or not.

Dependable Dad -  I want to be there when they need me.  That includes changing their diapers and assisting them drink their vitamins. I want to be there when they call. Attending their  simple school play or finding money to finance their school’s nuclear project.  I want them to dream with the assurance that Daddy will be there as a dependable buddy to help them with their dreams and help them make it a reality.  I will be there when they need me the most and when they simply need a friend.

Playmate Dad - I want my kids to grow up enjoying playtime. Expose them to different games and sports. Perhaps in doing so, they will discover which game give them the most fun. Perhaps in doing so, help them find their career in their playtime. Perhaps help them discover their inborn talents and further develop it through play. After all, we usually enjoy the career that we enjoyed role-playing with when we were young.

... part 3 of 3 to be continued...

My wife dropped a bombshell on me last night. “If you don’t have time for your children now that they are young, you wont have time for them in the future.”

Parenting is tough. Sean is turning four this September 2009. Fiona just turned one year last July. Another baby is coming out this December.

And my wife did make a strong point last night. Let me confess my sin.  Like typical Dads, all we want to do during our free time is  to relax from the week’s labor. We want to untangle our busy mind and simply rest from anything that requires our brain to work or our bodies to move.  We become couch potatoes on Sundays or in my case - Mondays - our family day.

All that my wife wanted me to do was to spend quality time with my children. Good movies are good - but teaching Sean to play the guitar is even better.  Flexing his three year old fingers to hold the crayons right is the best preparation for oil painting.  Taking the ball for a three-point shoot in Sean’s four-foot tall basketball ring is much better than playing computer games.  

There is something about God’s procreation that teaches us to love and nurture that love. I believe that parenting is discipleship to the  very core. And you can only teach if you have enough love. You can only give what you have.  Therefore, as parents, the struggle is to be filled with love at all times so you can always have something to share.

Each of us grew with a different family background, childhood experiences, and educational training.  When asked about our childhood recollections, what can we improve on our experiences that will make us better parents to the next generation? And in my case - to the next generation pastor’s kids (PK’s).  

...to be continued

Every pastor has a story. Some peculiar. Some extra spectacular. My calling was more of a process. How I became a pastor is a long story. I have written part of the story in fulfillment of my chaplaincy requirement during my ministerial internship training. I am sharing it with you. May it help inspire others who are having doubts whether they have been called into the pastoral ministry.  

It seems that there will be an ongoing battle between Christian conservatives and liberals until Christ comes. My church is not excempted  from that.  Sadly, I have met friends and members of the church who left the church as a result of the crossfire between hypocrisy and various cause to implement change for the sake of change.

And how you define these two groups will be relative on how you view yourself. 

Here’s my personal definition of conservatives and liberals.

Conservatives:  Christians whose mission is to keep the unity & purity of the church at the expense of the church mission of saving the lost.

Liberals:  Christians whose mission is to save the lost at the expense of losing the church’s unity & purity. 

I am for one a conservative in terms of upholding the Bible as the standard of faith and practice; a liberal when it comes to tolerance over those different from my  beliefs and preferences in terms of ministry methodologies and strategies.

I am a conservative over doctrines taught by the Bible; a liberal in terms of acceptance of people who's still growing in their understanding of truth.

I am a conservative in upholding my church’s traditional values;a liberal and selective in terms of keeping tradition just  for the sake of keeping them. 

I am a conservative in terms of keeping the unity and purity of the church; a liberal and inclusive in fulfilling the mission of the church to reach all people not just my own. 

I am a conservative in terms of radical discipleship; a liberal in terms of creative leadership.

I am a conservative in keeping and obeying my understanding of truth; a liberal in sharing them to others. 

To end,  how I wish the conservatives and liberals will first be more loving, more accommodating, more prayerful, and tolerant of each others view  while not sacrificing the mission of the church to seek and to save the lost. Friends of mine have abandoned the church because both the conservatives and the liberals were more interested in being right  than yielding their rights. 

LEADING LIFE-CHANGING LIFE-GROUPS

A SMALL-GROUP LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSE in eight sessions

Don’t miss this basic training on how to lead and grow healthy LifeGroups (well known as small groups) in your student ministries and singing groups. Often times we are engaged in ministry without really experiencing dynamic life-changing experiences within our groups. Learn how to put an authentic and accountable life-to-life ministry within your group by experiencing genuine Christian community so we can effectively witness to others.

 Session One   "Small Groups: part of God's Kingdom plan" - a brief look at the theology, Biblical background, and history of small groups and the part they play in creating Kingdom community

Session Two    "Life-changing small groups: some definitions" - five definitions of the most effective small group model for the contemporary church; how to determine whether existing groups are functioning to their best potential

Session Three  "Small group values: the key to growth" - an overview of the values or principles which govern the life of the group and determine whether it will be a blessing or otherwise to the church

Session Four   "Small group meetings and small group life" - what happens in a typical small group or cell meeting, and the importance of extending the life of the group beyond its weekly meetings

Session Five    "The Goal of small groups: holiness and harvest" - the two principle objectives of small group ministry: the growth of believers toward maturity in Christ, and numerical growth through evangelism

Session Six      "Small group leadership" - the small group leader's job description, personal qualities and skills of small group leadership, leadership principles, and some of the challenges small group leaders might expect

Session Seven  "Developing a small group network" - how to start, the need to start small, the importance of adequate time for preparation and training, how to invite non-Christians and non-Adventists to the group, developing a strategy for multiplying groups

Session Eight   "Maintaining the network" - the challenge of the long haul, sustaining interest, the need for a larger vision for the future

Date:  Friday, 7:00 p.m., January 10, 2009

          Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., January 11, 2009

Venue:  Hall, AUP Swimming pool, Putingkahoy, Silang, Cavite

Just recently some well-meaning religious leaders started making an issue out of our use of the word MINISTRY instead  of SOCIETY.  As youth pastor of Philippine International Church of the Adventist University of the Philippines, I am one of the mentors of  our local Adventist Youth Society - the youth organization of the Seventh-day Adventist church the world over. 

GENERAL CONFERENCE 

WORLD YOUTH ADVISORY MINUTES 

March 26 – April 2, 2006 

AY 21-03-06  YOUTH MINISTRY VS. YOUTH SOCIETY 

 

VOTED: That the terms Youth Ministry and Youth Society be 

considered synonymous and interchangeable and is to be used based 

on local custom and discretion. 

 

 

Feel free to download the entire document.  Hope it helps clarify the issue with well-intentioned dogmatic leaders. 

 

My Undying dream - plant a church in an urban location. My heart is impassioned by this undying flame. I am praying for that to happen soon!

After submitting my applications for a license to solemnize wedding on February 27, 2009, I checked the sois.census.gov.ph website to follow up on the approval and...Wow! After just merely 6 working days (my friend took almost a month) I finally got my authorization.

Here’s the link:

http://sois.census.gov.ph/content/2009-25be36bxqk-2011

2009-25BE36BXQK-2011

Tue, 03/10/2009 - 10:22 — jnohay

Solemnizing Officer Registry Information

Registry No.	2009-25BE36BXQK-2011
Name	Ardison Ducusin Bernardo
Registry Status	Authorized
Registry Effectivity	January 27, 2009 to December 31, 2011
Validity Extension (if any)
Jurisdiction	the entire Philippines.
Religious Sect	CENTRAL LUZON CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
Sect Locality

Here’s the list of basic  requirements you need to fulfill:

    1.    Two 2x2 photos

    2.    SEC/GIS

    3.    Recommendation letter from your church organization

    4.    Recommendation letter from the mayor

    5.    Certificate of Live Birth

    6.    Certificate of Ordination

    7.    Brief History of your local church

    8.    A list of 200 members

To get a detailed list of requirements just visit the NSO office (Muslims have a different set and so on..)

My authorization allows me to officiate  weddings anywhere in the Philippines provided that both parties are Seventh-day Adventist members. (My denomination has strict rules and requires both to be church members although the government code requires at least one of them is a member of your church)

 

1 This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ’s slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 This Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus, who came as a man, born into King David’s royal family line. 4 And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit.* 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

6 You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 dear friends in Rome. God loves you dearly, and he has called you to be his very own people.

May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1: 1-6, NLT

If ever there is one thing you can count on God it is the promised assurance of salvation.  What can be better than that.  What can be better than the gift of salvation.  And God promised it a long time ago.  through his prophets.  Through his words. 

 God never fails.  God never misses a beat.  What he promised, He fulfills.  He puts everything in order.  What I like about God is that he never fails to deliver.  He will deliver the goods.  He brings the package. What mom, dad or our bosses failed to fulfill, he comes crashing in to deliver what he said he would. 

God is rock solid.  I stand on solid ground.  There is no need to fear.  His words are true.  His promises are

pure.  He is what he is. Since he promised the Good News long time ago, I can be sure that my God is in no other business than the saving business.  And I will forever be true. Let me hold on to his precious promise of deliverance.  The Good News is all about Jesus. He was promised to me a long time ago even before I was born. The Father has given the Son to me. Jesus is mine.  the Father wants him to be my life.

PRAYER:  Thank you so much for the gift of life.  Thank you so much for giving me eternal life Lord.  I am forever grateful.  Forgive me Lord if i have been indifferent to the many blessings you have given me.  Honestly Lord thank you so much for your many surprises. Thank you so much for the promise.  I give thanks in Jesus name. Amen. 

Continued….

17.  World Conference -  I enjoyed my new year in Taipei,Taiwan for a week long celebration of the World  Conference on Youth and Community Service.

18.  Sponsors -  Relatives and friends helped fund my trip to Taiwan. Thanks for  the unforgettable experience. Thanks for your sacrifices.

19.   Distance Learning - Our church conference has sponsored our distance learning masteral classes. I took 9 units this year. 

20.   AWE4Him - iDREAM's Praise Team was given this name early this year. It stands for Adoration, Worship, Esteem 4 (4-all four corners of the earth) our Holy, Immutable, Majesty.

21.   Bulihan, Silang Crusade - The public evangelism held at Bulihan Silang led to the baptism of 215 souls.  AWE4Him led in the praise time.

21.   Biga, Silang Crusade - 40  souls surrendered their lives to Jesus through baptism.

22.   Iba Church Planting - It all started as a small group. Now it’s growing and envisions to become the largest  church in Silang town.

23.   New Assignments - Effective Dec 22, I am moving to Adventist University of the Philippines’ church while still being the area 10 (Cavite province) chairman.

24.   Church Organization - Batas SDA company was finally organized to Batas Seventh-Day Adventist Church on April 26, 2008.

to be continued....

 

Pssst!  Pastor Ardie!   How was 2008?

Let me summarize  a pastor's life for 2008 according to Gerald L. Borchert: "Jesus is the agent of wholeness, of eternal life, of secure pasture, and of release from the realm of darkness. He is, as the Samaritans confessed, “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42), and here he is the one who provides life to the fullest (John 10:10). The Greek perisson means “that which goes way beyond necessity.” John wanted all his readers to know that the gift of Jesus is life beyond our wildest dreams.

For this year, John 10:10 has been my central theme.  Check out this text in my favorite versions:

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly." The NET Bible 1st Edition

"A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."  The Message

"The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." NLT

Here are a few  of God's surprises for me for the year 2008. Here's to life beyond my wildest dreams:

    1.    An Awesome God - John 10:10. With you God, life is beyond my wildest dreams
    2.    Eternal Life -  In spite of my shortcomings, Jesus would never let me go.
    3.    Excitement -  Each morning as I wake up, I am excited to start another day.
    4.    Passion - Although it may dwindle from  time to time, my passion for God and ministry
                grows each day.
    5.    Lovely Wife - How would I survive without my heaven-sent angel?
    6.    Fiona Sedrol - Born July 8, 2008. My second child boasts of being the next Ms.      
                Universe.
    7.    Sean Ardis - Why of course my first born leaves me wondering if Einstein was his    uncle
    8.    Parents - Hmmm. Why are they so patient with me?
    9.    Siblings - I pray that their journey in life will be Jesus-driven.
    10.  Ordination - God finally says, “It’s time!” I got ordained as a full-pledge pastor  on May 2, 2008. 
    11.  Church -  Church still puzzles me and sometimes leave me wounded as a pastor but it will always be the object of God’s love. Jesus calls her his bride.
    12.  iDREAM - This young professionals organization keeps my passion for ministry alive. Geniuses at work!
    13.  1st Gen Macbook - Why this 2 1/2 year old laptop has been instrumental to the baptism of 1,902 souls.
    14.  Nokia 3120c Phone - Why this cheap 3g phone keeps me connected to the net anywhere in the Philippines.
    15.  ardisonbernardo.multiply.com -  This social network  now houses my personal blogs & keeps me in touch with friends.
    16.  nextgenadventist.blogspot.com - This blog keeps my vision and passion alive of what a new generation Adventist and pastor should be - ever-growing, ever-changing, ever-reaching the next generation for Christ!

to be continued...

I was on my way to our company party. Upon reaching Manila city, I took my wallet from my pants and "secured" it inside my bag. Instinctively I knew pickpockets are busy as well during the Christmas holidays. As I walked towards  the metro train I decided to update my phone's email and checked on my short text messages.  A few meters from the counter I took my backpack... immediately i felt a numbing heat all over my body.  The zipper got unzipped and my wallet tucked 1 foot deep  to the bag's bottom was gone.

Good thing I only had 400 pesos in that wallet but I need those cards- ID's, driver's license, security cards, credit card, and my ATM card. Good thing I still had my cellphone with me. I was about to call my bank  when I remembered there was a branch close by. In ten minutes time, I requested the customer service to put my bank cards on hold. Pickpockets these days are high tech so I never gave them the chance to use my cards.  The bank teller told me that if they had used my credit card before I canceled the services, I will still have to pay for  it.

Since I only had 15  pesos in my pocket, I was thinking how would I get home? How would I spend my Christmas holidays without an ATM card? Will my bank allow me to withdraw my savings without valid ID's to present? The most logical thing was to get to my bank (my company's branch) which was 30 minutes away by train so I can withdraw my salary. But how to get there....

The Bible says ASK (ask, seek, knock) and it will be given to you. I could call a friend in Manila to pick me up or ask my senior supervisors to come and give me money.  It was not the best option at that time. It was at that time that I literally "asked" and "begged" for help.

"Nakakahiya man po, pero pwede po ba akong mamasko sa inyo?" (I don't even know you Ma'am, but can I ask for a Christmas gift?" With a smile on her face she handed me a 20 peso bill. At that moment, that was the most important paper money bill I ever held.  I was not expecting her to hand me a thousand pesos. But what she gave me was "grace". "Enough grace" to get to my bank. I was not her friend but she extended it to someone in need of grace. 

As I pastor I will never get to know or experience everything about God in this dying planet. In fact, even my two-inch thick Bible just recorded "enough" revelation  to show me how to make it to heaven.  And Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross was "enough" to get me to God's rich depository of his riches and grace - to be in His presence now and beyond.   All I ever need today is enough grace to get me to another day and enjoy His mercy. And He wants me to ask for enough grace daily till the day comes when I will live in God's bank - in heaven throughout eternity.... and beyond. 

Have you asked for God's grace today? 

MY ANGEL

I can only think of you right now. I miss you so terribly.

Your eyes full of understanding and joy. They give me hope. Those windows of beauty give me vision to see the world as it is and behold it with awe and amazement. I see in your eyes love greater than the love that built Taj Majal. In those sweet portals I find joy.

You are my treasure. No, much more-my life. You are my crown that make complete my manly bearing. You are priceless! Much more than all the wealth of this world combined.

How can I ever forget you. Thoughts of you electrify my senses. Pictures of your lovely face in my mind saturates my whole being with your loveliness. Aaaahh…. Your face…

Your face so delicately interwoven with all the beauty any man would desire. It glows with pulchritude I gladly enjoy gazing at. Your face oh so delicate and pure and soft like that of a baby. It beams with all the radiance of love and happiness the world can offer. It speaks of unshakable love and bewilders spectators to stop and look admiring it with a sense of adoration they wish they could own. Aaah… but you are mine alone. Mine! Your face is mine alone to behold and cherish.

Wish you were here by my side. I long for your sweet embrace. The softness of which is my refuge. Your cushiony embrace provides relaxation to my aching muscles. Its tenderness soothes my tired mind. And oh there in the beauty of it all I can behold your lovely face smiling with the brightest of cheer. My eyes in your eyes. My escapade from the harshness of this world. Then I would hear your voice…

So cute. Calming. Melting my heart with its pitch of compassionate love. Tickling to my ear. Stroking gently the soul of my heart. Just to hear your voice makes me fall in love again as new as when I first talked with you. No wonder you are my angel. For when you speak , I hear an angel with a voice that touches the deepest part of my soul. And it rings in my ear. It never fades. Oh yes! The laughter’s I won’t forget. Each time you chuckle you send thrill into my heart. I get influenced too to chirp and chatter. Your voice breathe life into my soul. It simply smiles and aspirate delight to my heart.

Then I see you walking down the street in your perfect figure of beauty. My eyes are caught. I fail to breathe and behold that striking symmetry kicking my heart to the highest heights of exaltation. I find myself astounded by your figure of utmost balance and proportion. Your are to me the sexiest woman in the world. You are characterized not by regular features but by perfect beauty of harmony and charm. Each time I gaze at you I see fairness that holds attraction. I delight feasting on the spectacle of scenic beauty. Wheeew! What a sight!

It does not stop there! I am a proud owner of a woman with ripe wisdom. Your mature understanding, grasp of intellect, profundity of though, and depth of mind continue to lure me. Your someone to trust and depend on during times of sensitive decision-making. Your insights are always marked by tolerance, broad-mindedness, and objectivity. I am enlightened by the soundness of your discretion again and again. The profundity of your wisdom assures me of paths to be well-traveled. With you by my side I have someone to enjoy life sensibly. You are there to countercheck vital choices that determine my destiny and our future. Your corrections and advise I will always need. Your such a precious friend to me my angel. May you ever shine with mature wisdom.

Thank you for being your all to me-my friend, my girl, my woman, my soon to be wife. You never stop becoming the best that you can be. You never get tired of loving me and doing everything to make me happy. I will always be grateful of that gift-the greatest gift I have received- the gift of you. An angel wrapped in God’s love possessing all the tenderness, sweetness, and love I will always desire. I give thanks to the Highest for sending an angel by my side to guide and care for me. Sometimes it makes me think. Are you really not an angel?

Your love has transformed me. You have touched my life (makes me think again if you’re really not an angel) You have made a difference in my life. You have taught me love of its truest kind. You have shown me love of the grandest heights. You are the only woman I want to marry. Not to be exchanged with anything else except God. You are mine to adore and cherish. Mine to protect and secure. Mine, mine, mine. Mine to love forever. I will always love you. And if I forget I know your love will always be there to remind me again that to lose you is to lose my life. What is life without you. I will always have you for I won’t let go of you. Even if you grew tired of loving me I will carry you in my love to rejuvenate the love that once grew.

I still have many letters to write, songs to compose, pictures to paint. I still have many mountains to climb, lands to conquer, seas to dive. I still have many sermons to deliver, articles to write, songs to sing. I still have many dreams to reach, goals to accomplish, plans to fulfill. And I will do it because you have inspired me. I will never fail because you are there by my side. And if I fail I still have not lost because the highest mountain, the largest land, the deepest sea, the grandest dream, the noblest goal, the greatest plan, the sweetest letter, the best painting, the loveliest song, the greatest of all - is YOU!

I love you very, very, very much! Happy Valentines Day! My gift to you today - MYSELF! YOURS ALONE FOREVER!

Love,
Ardie / Feb. 14, 2000