Some of my fondest memories of my mother, Elidina Mora Liwanag, are about her cooking, her hospitality, her gentle way of stepping in when our father needed to discipline us, and most of all, her deep trust in God and faithful Christian life. I saw for myself how she loved all ten of us as if each were her only child. She made…

While strolling along the Imperial Beach Pier early this week with my kababayan (townmate) Ruth Tan Hoyumpa, her husband Lito, and my wife Kim, we enjoyed a meaningful and…

One weekend in high school, a few close friends and I went to our coconut farm in Dinipan, about seven miles from our town of Casiguran, Aurora. We were young and fearless, so we decided to…

Often, we don’t realize just how hard some seasons of our lives have been. We get through them, adjust, and keep going, but we rarely stop to think about how God helped us along the way. By His grace, we can look back and be thankful for how things turned out. For some people, remembering…

About three miles southwest of the Colosseum, you’ll find an entrance to the Catacombs of Domitilla. We left our Airbnb early to get one of the few visitor parking spots. It wasn’t until the end of the tour, when our guide told us we were standing…

It still surprises me when I see gas prices over five dollars, even at Costco. We all feel the effects of global instability, especially with the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, every time we fill up our cars. We want to stay hopeful, but it’s hard when there’s no sign that things will improve soon. News about conflict…

Just 1% of women worldwide will ever complete a full marathon (26.2 miles) in their lives. Last Sunday, March 22, Kim and I watched Bea reach this amazing goal at the Acea Run Rome The Marathon, where about 36,000 athletes…

Who doesn’t like getting a good deal on something high-quality? These days, sales pop up all the time, not just during holidays, and the offers can be so tempting that we sometimes buy things we don’t …

Today’s world feels unstable, especially with the ongoing war in the Middle East. This conflict has caused people to take strong, opposing sides. Many form opinions based on the stories they hear, and it seems like everyone feels…

Some of us have family members or relatives in the Middle East who are affected by the ongoing war. At our recent Prayer Meeting, we prayed especially for them and asked that this conflict would end peacefully, not just in that region…

Kim and I tried an experiment to see how we could manage our finances better. She started by handling the budgeting, dividing our income among bills, necessary expenses, and even some fun. After a while, I felt…

A little pressure can be helpful. A deadline might push me to finish. When I need to organize scattered thoughts, it can help me find a clearer message. But pressure can also become too much. Sometimes I can’t tell…

When Kym, our oldest daughter, was about two years old, light-up shoes that glow with every step were already popular, even in the Philippines. We bought her…

Sometimes I think about the different experiences each of you have had this week. If an artist tried to capture everyone’s journey, the painting would be full of color, showing all the ups…

There is something natural, spiritual, and powerful happening in our church community. Have you noticed it? Do you…

The Christian life is designed for community, not for living alone. Some people may practice their faith apart from others, but this is rare in the Bible. Sometimes…

I recently returned to one of my favorite walking paths—not just for exercise, but for quiet reflection, prayer, and what I like to call God-sighting. My walk begins…

My family has often needed money for important expenses, but God has always taken care of us. The same is true for our church’s financial needs. A few Sabbaths ago, I told the story of how…

Some of us can hardly believe the New Year is here, while others may already know what they want to pursue. Right now, I keep thinking…

I remember it rained hard in our part of Chula Vista at least twice last month. One rainfall I clearly recall was on November 15, when the ground was…