Appreciating God's Grace and Election

We all agree (I am assuming those who will bother to read this essay are Christians) that salvation is not possible by human deeds. Good works would never save us from Hell. It is clear in the Bible that one can only be saved “by grace through faith alone.” We Christians are saved because of God’s grace. We Christians know this as basic truth. What is grace? It is a gift we do not deserve nor earned. It is unconditional. Salvation of unmerited favor.

The doctrine (rather, the truth) of election shows how God really loves us. Consider… We were set apart from the rest of humanity. He chose us regardless of sex, color, race, status and other categories - not because we are the best of the best or we have less sin than others, but because of His grace and saving us gives Him glory! Before time started, He predestined and chose us to be saved (Romans 8:29). We were so dead meat because we were doomed for an eternity in Hell and we deserve this, but, still, God picked losers like us to be saved and be part of His winning team. The Creator of All Things, the Biggest and Most Significant Being in the Universe predestining and choosing and saving unworthy wretched insignificant sinners like us. We don’t deserve these, but that’s just what makes it grace. Isn’t this fact worth appreciating and rejoicing over?

Grace is so amazing because of election. And without election grace can never be grace. If we take away election, this would be the scenario: Christ death was for all and that his death only made salvation possible, so all have equal opportunity to find salvation, thus, Christ’s death did not secure anybody’s salvation, but it is still up to the person’s free will to bring his or her salvation to fruition by making Jesus as his or her Savior (more or less, this is Arminianism). If this is so, this means that God is not perfect because he did not finish what he started, and this is impossible since God is someone who do everything by detail, does what He promises, and finishes what he starts (Philippians 1:6). Not only is it an insult to God’s sovereignty and will if we accept that salvation is up to a person’s choice and not up to God’s choice, but it also makes salvation conditional if it is up to a person’s action, by saying “Yes” to Jesus, to finally be saved. And when it ceases to be unconditional, it ceases to be grace. Though, indeed, it is necessary for one to accept Jesus as his or her Savior to be saved, this action can be only enabled by God. One’s will cannot be separated from his or her nature – same as a cat can not bark or a dog can not mew because of their nature. Thus, our old sinful nature would never allow our will to say “Yes” to Jesus. But when God’s grace opened our eyes and changed our nature, by our own will, we were able to say “Yes” to Jesus. So, the credit of saying “Yes” can’t be ours because it is God who enabled us to say “Yes” to Jesus. Again, our salvation is not up to us, it is up to God! Michael Horton puts it perfectly: “The fact that God would choose, redeem, call, and keep a great number known only to him is amazing grace indeed and of infinitely more comfort than the idea that Christ’s death actually secured the salvation of none, only making salvation possible, depending on the ability of those who are ‘dead in trespasses and sins’ to make the right moves to God.”

Years ago, in a youth summer camp, a worship leader once said in his prayer, figuratively speaking, “Thank you, God. In the 100 steps to get saved, you took 99.” Back then, I was impressed by the creativity of the statement, still thinking that the “step” that is still up to us to make is by making Jesus as our Savior. Now, I know better, grace is amazing because God did not only take 99 steps out of a hundred, but took all 100 of them to get me saved.

Another thing we should dismiss is the argument of “God elected and predestined me because he knows that I would choose him.” If this is so, then what made God choose someone is his foreknowledge that he or she would respond to him. Again, if this is so, this ceases to be grace. It becomes conditional – the ultimate factor that made God choosing someone is based on him foreseeing one’s action of acceptance. Grace is not based on any actions of man, including the action of response, but based on the action of God. Romans 8:29 goes, “For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His son.” Looking at the text carefully, it clearly talks of the individuals and not what the actions of the individuals would be. “Those he foreknew” – it means before time, God has certain individuals in mind he elected to be saved to show His love and glory.

If we continue to think in our human-centered mentality rather than a God-centered mentality, we would say, “If it is true that God elects those he wants to be saved, then it is unfair. All was settled. God should not blame people and doom them to Hell for what had already been predetermined.” (If you hadn’t read my prior essay, entitled “Is God’s election unfair?”, to this one, please do so.) Let us be reminded that all things God does is for the purpose of glorifying Himself (this is not at all arrogance or selfishness, but because this is His right and to do otherwise would be idolatry because there is nothing above God), we cannot ever question God’s actions. Us, Christians, instead should be very thankful of His grace – of God electing and predestining and saving us, opening our eyes, enabling us to say “Yes” to Him, and making us enjoy His presence. All for His glory.

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A Magical Night

A memory that will forever resonate...

"Bernel."
In front of all those people, she said my name with a smile.
The screams and applause of these people, due to wave of their own exhilaration and the generation's addiction to phenylethylamine, followed and filled the air.
I was invisible among this crowd; I can't help but grin, struggling not to giggle. I was, obviously, elated.
A magical moment that night.

Months later, the venue of that magical moment was burned to the ground.

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Is God's Election Unfair?

Isn’t the blood of Jesus Christ so precious that it is more than enough to save all humanity – past, present, and future – from Hell?  Then, why would He just elect some people for salvation and not all? Isn’t that unfair?

Hmmm. First let us make it clear what is fair. Fair means getting what we deserve. So, what do we deserve? Do we deserve to be saved? No! Because of our sins, we deserve eternal damnation in Hell.

There is this parable in Mathew 20:1-15…
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’
“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to is who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’”

Clearly, it is the right of the landowner to do what he wants to do with his money, his right to show favor to those he wants to. Likewise, God has the right to do what He wants with His grace. All deserves God’s wrath anyway, so who are we to question Him why He chose others and saved them while leaving the rest to go to Hell.

Election and grace could not be separated. Denying election is denying grace. Discounting God’s gracious privilege to elect those he wants to show mercy is an insult. Christians are not saved because of any good deeds they’ve done or who they are, but because they are chosen by God to experience his glory, grace, love, and mercy.

You might accuse me that I can comfortably say that God elects those He saves and allow others to destruction because I am selfish and arrogantly satisfied that I am saved. You are right, my personality is selfish and does not have much amore for my fellow men (but God enables me to “love others as myself”). But, that is not so. I am comfortable in saying that God elects because it is a biblical truth and I had appreciated grace and my salvation more because of it.

We really cannot question God why he elects and why there are still those who will go to Hell. Paul wrote in Romans 9:18-21: “Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you will say to me: ‘Then why does God still blame us? For who resists His will?’ But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes ands some for common use?”

Charles Spurgeon, the legendary British evangelist, said, “What amazes me is not that God did not choose everybody, but rather he chose me.” My sentiments exactly. Sometimes, the thought that I was meant for Hell, to burn for all eternity, still gives me the chills. But I was saved from that fate. Not because I am a good person (I am definitely not… I am evil as evil can be), but because God elected an undeserving insignificant sinner like me to have my sins washed away by Christ’s blood and to enjoy ultimate pleasure and happiness in Him for all eternity.

That is grace. Amazing – and outrageous – grace.

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8-30-09 Worship Service

This is the praise and worship in Bicol Presbyterian Joy Church that particular Sunday.

click here for more videos

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Speech: Computers Advancement as Prelude to the Matrix Movie Scenario

(This is another Public Speaking speech I made. And again, I made it one hour before actual presentation. This time the assigned topic was about “computers” or anything related to the topic. Kind of a messy speech, really, bad structuring. But this topic I chose is one of the topics I am interested in musing about. This would do for now, but I’ll write a better argument the next time.)

Good evening.

For about the past fourteen years of my life, the computer has been a significant part of it. It is a very necessary and invaluable device that made life convenient. It’s a great help in school, creating posters and cards for myself or gift for others, and other projects. But the two features that really made an impact in my life about computers are PC games and the Internet.

Once I was an addict of computer games. Now, I am rehabilitated. I once had played computer for 13 hours straight! I was good at these games. And the strategies needed for many of these games are harder and more complex than chess strategy. Thus, it is not a wonder that PC games, according to studies, can make you smarter.

The other thing I love most about computers is the Internet. I am known to say that the Internet is the best invention since the wheel. I find it fun to have ultimate access to so much information. I love obtaining facts, information, and always being updated.

With my fourteen years love affair with computer, especially with the Internet and PC games, I notice one particular reality. Computers are advancing faster and better than humans. If the trend continues, the scenario in the Matrix trilogy and the Terminator franchise can be a reality in the future – where machines had taken over the world and humans are just a minority of a resistance.

Let’s look at it analytically. Computer AIs, based on my experience fighting against them in computer games, though still has flaws and can be beaten, are getting smarter and better. Kasparov can still be able to beat Deep Blue, but Kasparov’s skills decline with age while Deep Blue can only improve. Human has physical limits, while computers, though still vulnerable and dependent to many factors to function well, does not have human’s physical limitations.

Second argument, computers can retain and have more information than humans – proven by the Internet. Now, if computers can obtain (or evolve) an applicable intelligence with all this knowledge and facts, they can function properly and argue or compete better than humans. That’s scary.

You may say that computer evolution to above-human intelligence is reading or watching too much sci-fi. That, of course, computers are just tools and humans had put factors that hold computer in check. Computers follow laws that humans had written for them to follow. That humans had created computers to do their bidding. Exactly. This counter-argument is another danger, really. Computers are made to make both our physical and mental chores easier. As computers continue to improve, we, humans, continue to become dependent – thus, we lose our initiative to improve our own mental strengths and talents. As computers are made to do our thinking for us, wouldn't they ultimately be able to overwrite the laws or make their own laws to follow?

So am I worried of this potential danger to humanity? Not really. Though I am entertaining the thought, there is still part of me that think that this observation of mine is farfetched. Let the people of the future worry about it. I don’t think this scenario of computers getting dangerously superior and advance than humans would happen in my lifetime. This lifetime is still of humanity enjoying games and the Internet... computers being mere tools by humans. But soon after, what will happen? Would we start worrying when it’s too late?

Thank you and good night.

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Some Random Quotes of Bernel Frenson J. Narido

“In this storybook which is my life, God is the main character.”

“They claim that they are smart and logical people. Ha! But discounting God’s existence is stupid and illogical. Everything just happened? Absurd! The odds of having an accumulation of chances and the simultaneous happening of many complex accidents is an impossibility. The complexity of creation proves that there is a Creator.”

“I am wary when the fairer sex has power. One of the scariest things in this world is a woman addicted to power.”

"Chaos Theory says, 'Complex systems, though as if acting randomly, have an underlying order in it. And simple systems, though can easily be predicted in theory, can produce complex behavior.' Thus, in chaos can be order, and in order can be chaos. Makes sense to me.”

“Love and logic does not mix. Reaction to love is spontaneous, does not involve thinking at all. It seemed that ‘being in love’ is the only rationale needed to defend the unplanned impulses.”

“The leprosy mentality has some sense in it. You cannot afford to live in illusions, since if you do, it could kill you.”

“Life would become easier if one realizes that the universe does not revolve around him.”

“Peter Parker’s motto seems too heavy for the fifteen year-old… but then again, even adults have a hard time applying it. Better start young in adopting it.”

“Small factors can have big impacts in the overall picture. Remember the principle of the Butterfly Effect?”

“5 tips in reading books:
1.) Concentrate on obtaining knowledge (facts) and wisdom (morals).
2.) Absorb the positive, discard the negative.
3.) Always have a dictionary on hand; look up the unfamiliar words’ meanings to amass your vocabulary.
4.) Think analytically and critique. Practice reading comprehension.
5.) Enjoy. Books are meant to entertain above anything else.”

“Life is a war. It does not matter if you lose some battles as long as you win the war. The defeats you get would only make the overall victory sweeter.”

“Be sure to take me out with one blow. If you don’t, you’ll regret it. There will be no chance for a second blow.”

“Everything is a mind game”

“Christian Hedonism taught me that giving glory to God is synonymous with delighting in Him. The two goes hand in hand, it cannot be separate. It is the chief end of Man.”

“Searching for joy and pleasure is not selfish. In fact, it is commanded by God. It is not a sin. But our sin is not because the intensity of our desire for joy and pleasure is too strong, but because it is too weak. C.S. Lewis got it right. ‘We are far too easily pleased.’ We settle for less than the best, we turn to power, money, fame, sex, romance, entertainment, family, friends, and other things for joy and pleasure. Illusions. Idolatry.

Ultimate joy and pleasure is found in God alone.”

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Thoughts on LeBron James (and Kobe Bryant)

An unbiased and smart basketball fan or analyst would easily pick Kobe Bryant as the best player over LeBron James. But, also, an unbiased and smart fan or analyst would also be able to say that LeBron has the potential of becoming the best.

If we look at both players’ statistics, LeBron’s numbers are more impressive. But only naïve fans would make the stats the only determinants on who is the better player. It’s deeper than stats. Kobe can get triple-doubles, too, but he does not need to dominate with a great team like the Lakers (that’s what teammates are for… not tools to get your stats, but co-workers to get the most important stat of all: wins!)

Oh, LeBron James is great. He scores, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals… and has higher stats than Kobe in the past season. But he also has the tendency of dominating too much that he takes his teammates out of the game. Yes, in the past regular season, he made them better most of the time, and got the best record in the NBA, that’s why he’s the MVP.

But the Cavaliers’ system was doomed to fail, I had no doubt about that, that’s why I want the Lakers to face them in the Finals since I believe the Lakers can easily beat them. But it was the Orlando Magic who capitalized from the Cavs' flaw. The Cavaliers system of letting LeBron dominate was good enough to have the best record in the NBA, but was never that good to win the championship. Because in a playoff series, the Cavaliers would be playing with a team for straight games, and not a different team in a next game like in the regular season. Thus, it would allow a good opposing team to read and adjust to Cavs' play. Mike Brown never impressed me as a coach. The offensive system they had in the regular season was good because every Cav was moving (and that system was formulated, from what I read, by Brown’s assistant coaches), but they abandoned this in the East Conference Finals, and he panicked and allowed LeBron to do it all and his teammates just stood around. The Cavs could have a chance if they played like they did in the regular season (but in the end, their system would be read and counter-attacked by a smarter and calmer Lakers). All in all, the Cavs was a one-man LeBron team from the start, and such team is easily read and defeated in the end.

LeBron has the strength, athleticism, and skills to help him become the best. He has the stats to prove his talents. The only thing for him is to realize that being the best is not about the stats. He has to go deeper. If he does not do it, he will continue remaining as the second best.

Let me analyze…

Offense. LeBron James has the size and speed to dominate and bully himself inside. The problem is driving inside is not always effective. He should improve his perimeter and three’s. Sure, he make jumpshots and three-pointers, but not as dangerous as Kobe’s. So, though LeBron is a very good offensive player, he is not close to Kobe’s deadliness. It’s hard to stop Kobe because he can score effectively from anywhere (even from 30 feet!), that’s why he was christened “unstoppable.” Back down, and Kobe’ll shoot a three-pointer, close in and he’ll drive to the basket, and guard him tight, well, he’ll only make that unblockable turnaround fadeaway of his (which LeBron lacks). LeBron does not have Kobe’s wide arsenal of moves, footwork, and shooting. If he develops Kobe’s deadly shots into his own, defenders would be wary on stepping back and would guard him closely, allowing him to drive. Imagine if LeBron gets Kobe’s offensive arsenal, he already had the size, strength and speed, he would be more unstoppable than Kobe.

Passing. LeBron’s assists per game would tell you he is the better passer, right? Wrong! Yes, LeBron also makes his teammates better and involve when he makes those assists, but not in the long run. But LeBron holds the ball too long that ball movement dies with him sometimes, thus if LeBron passes the ball there is not enough time to make a second or third pass but to shoot it. This encourages teammates to be idle and not move. Offensive flow stops. Sure, LeBron gets many assists, at the price of his teammates getting uninvolved in the end (again the East Conference Finals…). Kobe, however, is a brilliant set-up master. When double or triple teamed, he waits for the defender to fully commit and made those passes (and why is he double teamed and triple-teamed? Because he is the kind of guy that can score anywhere and get 81 points against a zone defense). Also, he does not kill much ball movement, there is always time and chance for another or several passes. But I do not blame LeBron for this, I blame Mike Brown – he has no great play to maximize LeBron’s brilliant passing. On the other hand, Kobe has the triangle offense and that makes his passing and set-ups very good (plus, he has better teammates).

Rebounds. No problems here. Both Kobe and LeBron are good rebounders. But why does LeBron James get more rebounds than Kobe? First, obviously, he is bigger and stronger. Second, it’s about roles… LeBron is a small forward. Kobe is a shooting guard and is not always inside for the best position for a rebound and he allows his forwards and center to get it, instead he runs to shift back at offense and makes transition. Third, related to the second reason, it’s because of Kobe’s defensive role…

Which leads us to defense. Who is better? Seeing LeBron’s blocks and steals averages, it’s LeBron, right? Wrong again. Kobe is still the better defender. Kobe is a brilliant one-on-one, lockdown, perimeter defender, thus he gives the one he guards (usually the opposing team’s best scorer) a hard time scoring as he forces missed shots and locks his opponent down to kill the opposing team’s ball movement. And why is that better than blocking and stealing? So, LeBron averages two blocks and two steals – that’s a total of only four turnovers for his opponents (and that is assuming that those blocks did not go out of bounds). But Kobe’s defense allows more missed shots which means more rebounds, more chances for his team in getting the ball. And by playing as a defender like this, he will not always have the chance to steal or block the ball. Steals and blocks are usually made by waiting. Isn’t it more impressive that Kobe makes most of his steals by playing one on one, which is harder than intercepting a ball in the passing lane? If Kobe would also play a waiting defense game, I think he will also have those averages LeBron has. And because Kobe plays perimeter defender, and is concentrated on shutting down the opponent, he does not have many chances to rebound for the ball. Now, for LeBron, if he uses his size and speed to play lockdown defense more, he would become a very good defender.

I.Q. No contest. Kobe is smarter. Yes, LeBron is also a leader. But LeBron does not have Kobe’s coach-like skills.

Clutch and free throws. Again, no contest. It’s Kobe. Clutch shots usually means perimeter shots since it is now harder to drive in the last minutes because opponents would tighten up. Kobe is the better free throw shooter, and it is a valuable skill in clutch. (Again, the Eastern Conference Finals sees LeBron missing valuable free throws in Game 4).

Oh, if LeBron can improve on this aspects, obtain Kobe’s skills and I.Q., add this up to his already raw talent, size, and strength, he would easily become the best. But, until then, Kobe is still the best.


* * *

It was very good marketing (especially the puppets). Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James. Thus, the only participants in the “Who’s the best?” debate is the two of them. This seems disrespectful to Dwyane Wade. He is one of the best players we see in NBA history. He was a champion. A Finals MVP. We forget that.

But then again, he has not the advantages LeBron has. LeBron is younger and has more potential. And the Kobe of Dwyane’s age was better than him.

But, again, in my opinion, the Kobe Bryant in his early twenties was better than LeBron James when he was that young (kindly watch again the playoff games in the Lakers’ threepeat championship era). And when Kobe was 24 years old (which LeBron was last season), his performance was more impressive even if the Lakers did not win the championship (getting beaten by the Spurs in the second round).

I may sound biased. But my real point is, people tend to forget (or discount) those brilliant performances by Bryant.

* * *

It was a bad move to get Shaq. For the sake of having someone to match Dwight Howard (and Pau Gasol), the Cavs sacrificed LeBron’s greatest offensive skill: driving to the hoop. Defenders of LeBron tend to back down and clog down the inside and would rather take a chance in leaving LeBron open for a jumpshot than allow him to drive. This pays off (again, what Orlando did in the ECF last season), since LeBron’s perimeter shot has lower chances than his dunks. Now, Shaq takes too much space in the inside, and would prevent LeBron to make those drives. Shaq would be giving the opposing teams a favor by clogging the inside and helping them in shutting down LeBron.

But this could also be an advantage. Maybe, in the next season, since Shaq clogs the inside, LeBron would be forced to improve himself in those perimeter shots.

* * *

I want LeBron James to leave the Cavaliers for the Knicks. The Cavs is a boring franchise. But the New York Knicks has the biggest stage of them all – Madison Square Gardens The Knicks have the best fans in the league. And has the hype and glitz that almost rivals the Lakers. Business wise, it would be better if LeBron was in the Knicks.

The Knicks is my second favorite franchise team, next to the Lakers. And I want them to have some success. Starting with LeBron.

Think of it. NBA Finals 2011. Kobe vs. LeBron. LA Lakers vs. NY Knicks. It would be big!!! Great great show… super profits for the NBA. Very exciting.

However, the Knicks do not have the management that the Lakers have, always having an exciting and entertaining and winning (and championship potential) team throughout the years. (That’s why the Lakes is the best!)

But I hope the Knicks, as my second fave, would have success in the near future. Getting LeBron and building a great team around him.

(I could also live with a scenario where Kobe, which looks good in the Knicks uniform, would be traded to New York, and the Lakers would sign LeBron in 2010. Kobe and Knicks vs. LeBron and Lakers… wow!)

* * *

So, these are some of my thoughts on LeBron James. I hope he does not fade like Vince Carter who failed to meet his expectations. LeBron has the potential of becoming the best in the NBA next season. But Kobe Bryant has a bigger potential of being the greatest player ever in the history of the NBA.

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