Angeles, Pampanga Province — Philippines: The dense tropical air hung heavy, thick with the metallic tang of fresh blood mingling with sweat. Under the scorching 100-degree heat on the streets of Angeles we followed a procession of catholic penitents. These masked men with exposed backs, now stained in blooms of crimson subject themselves to ritual self-flagellation. Tasseled whips lashed bare skin in reverberating tin sounding hits, trailing arcs of scarlet with each agonizing stroke. Children followed the columns, eyes wide, sweat beading on brows as they held small buckets of water. Periodically the bloodied penitents would dip their flagella into the pails, diluting it before resuming their lacerating rhythm. At the front, men shouldered heavy wooden crosses, leading the groups through the side-streets of Angeles city. With each lurching step, flecks of gore splattered outward, misting the ground, walls, and any bystanders with a ghastly red overspray. We were not spared the errant spatter, and immediately wiped away the warm blood that clung to our exposed skin and camera equipment.
Witness: In a world obsessed with human logic, philosophical reason and biased scientific theory, the truth of the supernatural and miraculous is often dismissed or ignored. But as believers, we know we serve a supernatural God who transcends the natural realm. Throughout Scripture, we are reminded that the supernatural is REAL and it is an integral part of true faith. In fact, it is impossible to truly have a relationship with Christ Jesus if you do not believe that He is the Word made flesh, that He died for our sins, is risen and will come again. Unfortunately, many modern day churches neglect speaking about the supernatural nature of God because it goes against the mainstream ideals of the world. However, when you read the Gospels they are marked from beginning to end with a documentation of miraculous events from the life of Jesus. This is why the apostle Peter emphatically declares, “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).
Spark: How often do we underestimate the power of a single spark? It takes only one struck match to start a blazing fire. One encouraging word might renew fading hope. One act of kindness can shift a hardened heart. One truthful conversation might plant the seed of salvation. One phone call at just the right moment could prevent tragedy and despair. One prayer lifted up in sincere faith unleashes heavenly power. One decision to surrender your life fully ignites a radical transformation. And like a glowing ember fanned into a flame, a divine spark, though it may seem insignificant at the time, can blaze into a sweeping move of God that changes everything. Here are a few examples of historical sparks that impacted the world.
Christ the Lord and Savior: The foundational truth upon which our faith stands is that Jesus Christ is both Lord and Savior. As prophesied in Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” When Jesus walked this earth, He demonstrated His lordship through teachings that astounded the people (Matthew 7:28–29). He displayed authority over sickness, nature, evil spirits and even death itself. After willingly laying down His life on the cross to atone for our sins, Christ proved His supremacy as Savior and Lord through the resurrection. Jesus lovingly calls those who follow Him not merely believers, but friends (John 15:15). Yet we must not lose sight that He is King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). As Savior, Jesus bestows the gift of salvation upon all who call upon His name. As Lord, He rules our lives and demands our unwavering allegiance. Christ alone must occupy the throne room of our hearts.
Brothers in Arms: In life’s journey, it’s extremely valuable to have a loyal companion to walk alongside you. As King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” There is strength, support, and blessing when we stand together with true friends and partners. In Biblical times, the closest of friends and allies would formally establish a “covenant of brotherhood” with one another. We see this between David and Jonathan: “Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself” (1 Samuel 18:3). Their brotherly pact meant they were committed to stand by each other no matter what struggles came their way. In life, we too need similar loyal company to form our own band of brothers. But building true friendship and trustworthy partnership does not happen overnight. It takes time, shared experiences, and tests of loyalty. David’s mighty men for example, were warriors who had fought side by side with him. It says in 2 Samuel 23:8–39 they had followed him through thick and thin. By weathering hard times together, they forged unbreakable bonds. We all need that person or group of loyal friends who will stand shoulder to shoulder with us through adversity. And when we find them, we must also strive to be the type of loyal ally that we wish to have, extending generosity and support freely to others.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3ANVryYN1E&rel=0]
Journeying down river we had little food because you can only bring essentials. Caught a few after this video was taken. Piranhas are mean little fish and two days later our guide caught a huge one that made us glad we never took a dip in the water.
