Boy Villanueva

“As he looked up he saw rich people putting their offerings into the treasury; then he happened to notice a poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins, and he said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them, for these people have all contributed money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in all she had to live on”

In the book “God First” by Ken Wilson, it says and I quote “In human terms, it is not easy to decide to follow Jesus Christ and to live our lives as Christians.” In my BCBP service as AMD, I have come to realize that I have still a long way to go to be a good living Christian.

As a Christian is it wrong to worry and fear? God has said that we must not be anxious about anything. As in Phil 4:6 it says and I quote “Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart” end of quote.

Thank you very, very much. One of the real joys at this time of year, is the opportunity to say thank you and wish all of you a Merry Christmas and the very best for the New Year to come. Likewise, it is an opportunity to thank the Lord for all the blessings, guidance and protection he has endowed to us and our family.

The above is the title of a book I recently read (though unfinished yet) written by one of my favorite writers, Thomas H. Green, S.J. What really caught my attention was what was written on the cover of the book, which says “The Christian at Prayer in the World.”

AS I was reflecting on these words I came to realized that I have been doing the first two words, which is Go and Grow.. I GO with the decision of joining BCBP 21 years ago, I GROW when I was requested to do the different services in the BCBP, especially when I joined the mission team.

In the book “Spiritual Leadership” by J Oswald Sanders, it says and 1 quote, “if we are to carry our trust and service as leaders we have to devote our time to training others to succeed and perhaps even supersede us.”

A week ago, I had the opportunity of having a conversation with one of our brothers in Leyte. Our conversation started with our work, our family, and then finally, our commitment with the BCBP.

We usually measure the success of our work or even our service with BCBP by comparing ourselves with others who are likewise in service with the community. If we compare ourselves with someone who has served in the same service or work that we are presently assigned to, we consider winning or losing to be the final word on how we have done our service.

By Boy Villanueva, BCBP Cebu South

Coming home after being stranded in a storm because of my work in one of the towns in Leyte, I tried to relax by reading a book “GOD HELP ME CREATE” by Claire W. One chapter in the book caught my attention. It was entitled “FINDING TIME.” It says, and I quote, the demands of our job or businesses, the burden of health and our obligations of family life makes us at times postpone or shelve our acceptance of service for another time.