On faith.

I don't think this will be cohesive.

I'm writing this because I came across a blog post bashing a certain Christian celebrity for posting John 14:6 and Acts 4:12 on Instagram during Pope Francis' visit.

My beliefs have changed, but my family is Catholic so I watched the live telecasts of the Papal Masses with them. I think his messages were beautiful and inspiring. 

I just don't understand why people are so defensive about those verses. After all, we more or less have the same Bible, so those verses are true for all of us.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. 

More than three years ago, I had this urge to attend Sunday service at TouchPoint @ Ayala. A friend brought me there when we were still in college, probably twice or thrice, and although I found the messages to be beautiful, I was just not moved then. This time, it felt like some kind of calling, so I went back, albeit a bit anxious and a bit wary. I still wasn't moved that Sunday, but for some reason, I kept going back, Sunday after Sunday, until one day I woke up and realized I was a different person.

I was reborn. I found beauty in a flock of birds, in the raindrops hitting my fingertips, in a patch of sunlit floorboard. I would wake up at 9AM even if I came from a night shift. I started reading my Bible every day and started to enjoy reading it. I stopped being late for work. He has never felt so real to me. I've never felt so compelled to seek Him. I've never been so in love with Him. 

I'm not saying I'm blameless. As much as I want to be Christlike, I fall short. I know I always will. But my faith guides me to walk in His light, and isn't that what faith should do? Shouldn't it make us love Him more? Shouldn't it make us love others more? 

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

You can drag someone into your church, kicking and screaming. You can guilt trip him into going with you. You can bash everything he says that is contrary to your own beliefs. But really, I don't see how dragging, guilt-tripping, and bashing could be the best way to proclaim the Gospel. After all, don't we believe in a loving God? 

Why do we always underestimate the power of prayer? Why can't we pray for God to change someone's heart, to make him more like Him? After all, don't we believe in an omnipotent God?

To the people who prayed for my change of heart, thank you. I will be forever grateful.