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  The 15 Anniversary Celebration of Couples For Christ USA

 


Date Posted: 6/8/2009
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PastoralFamily and Life
ON WORSHIP (Part 3) BLESSING GOD
God is a God who blesses. From the very start, God blessed His people. God blessed Adam and Eve (Gn 1:28), Noah (Gn 9:1), Abraham (Gn 12:2), and so on through the generations, to our very own time today. We look to God for His blessings, we implore Him to bless us, we rejoice whenever we experience His blessings. Even when we bless each other, what do we say? We say “God bless you.” We do not say “I bless you.” Ministers might say “I bless you,” but it is a blessing “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” It is still God who blesses, with the minister as just an instrument.    Read more
ON WORSHIP (Part 2) ATTENDING A BANQUET
As the people of God, we come together in communal worship. This is something that is very much a part of our community life. We almost always start our meetings, assemblies and conferences with worship. Many times our worship sets the tone for the rest of the meeting. And rightly so. God called us, He brought us together, He sends us forth, He is in the midst of His people, and so we start by acknowledging Him for who He is, our God and King. Thus we worship.    Read more
ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP (Part 8) SERVING AS A TEAM
In CFC-FFL, we serve as a team, from the Servant General down to the Household Servants. Our pastoral-organizational structure, characterized by a pyramidal structure of leadership and the subdivision of the whole community into groups and sub-groups, can be traced to the time of Moses.    Read more
LESSONS FROM LAMENTATIONS (Part 7) LAMENTING AND LEARNING
The Lord is risen! Hallelujah. Last Friday we were in grief at the crucifixion and death of our Lord Jesus. Yesterday we were in lamentations, with the reality of the death of Jesus really dawning on us, and we wondered what the future would bring. But today ... We are astonished and astounded. There is news. The Lord Jesus has risen from the dead. The tomb is empty. Thoughts swirl in our minds. Our hearts are bursting ... with wonderment, with awe, with great joy.    Read more
LESSONS FROM LAMENTATIONS (Part 6) LAMENTING AND LEARNING
It is Good Friday. Today is Jesus’ crucifixion and death. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Could our salvation and reconciliation with God not be secured by some other way? The answer is no. “According to the law almost everything is purified by blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Heb 9:22). “Since the life of a living body is in its blood, I have made you put it on the altar, so that atonement may thereby be made for your own lives, because it is the blood, as the seat of life, that makes atonement.” (Lv 17:11). Thus, in accordance with the Old Covenant, an animal was sacrificed to atone for the sins of the offeror. Blood had to be shed.    Read more
LESSONS FROM LAMENTATIONS (Part 5) CHRIST AND THE CROSS
It is Good Friday. Today is Jesus’ crucifixion and death. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Could our salvation and reconciliation with God not be secured by some other way? The answer is no. “According to the law almost everything is purified by blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Heb 9:22). “Since the life of a living body is in its blood, I have made you put it on the altar, so that atonement may thereby be made for your own lives, because it is the blood, as the seat of life, that makes atonement.” (Lv 17:11). Thus, in accordance with the Old Covenant, an animal was sacrificed to atone for the sins of the offeror. Blood had to be shed.    Read more
ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP (Part 7) WASHING THE FEET
In today’s reading (Jn 13:1-15), we have one of the clearest lessons on servant leadership, taught and demonstrated by Jesus himself. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. People during Jesus’ time traveled by foot on unpaved roads. They stepped on dust, mud and dung. When entering into homes, it was customary to wash their feet. It was such a lowly task that it would not even be required of the lowliest slave in the household. Thus it was that when Jesus came to Peter to wash his feet, Peter objected vehemently, “You will never wash my feet.” (Jn 13:8a).    Read more
LESSONS FROM LAMENTATIONS (Part 4) BRETHREN AND BETRAYAL
One of the most painful things that can happen to us is betrayal by brethren, those closest to us, those whom we love and shared our mission with. Jesus experienced this with one of his disciples, Judas. We experienced this with our brethren in CFC who betrayed our calling by veering away from our charism and marginalizing Christ. On top of that, they betrayed us personally, with their vilification campaign, lies and distortions, and all-out effort to destroy our restored work. Such betrayal continues even now.    Read more
LESSONS FROM LAMENTATIONS (Part 3) THE POOR AND THE PURE
Our mission is to proclaim the full gospel of Jesus, with its spiritual and social dimensions. Our basic mission is evangelization. An important collateral work is our so-called work with the poor. One of our core values is “Living a preferential option for the poor.” We participate in building the Church of the Poor. In this, aside from bringing people to Christ, we also look to their material needs.    Read more
LESSONS FROM LAMENTATIONS (Part 2) PROPHETS AND PERSECUTION
The role of CFC-FFL in the world today is prophetic. That means that we speak on behalf of God, that we take on His mind and heart, and that we confront a world that is in sin and seek to bring it to repentance and faith. It is doing the very work of God, being His very mouthpiece, reflecting His very image, and bringing His light to a world in darkness.    Read more
LESSONS FROM LAMENTATIONS (Part 2) PROPHETS AND PERSECUTION
The role of CFC-FFL in the world today is prophetic. That means that we speak on behalf of God, that we take on His mind and heart, and that we confront a world that is in sin and seek to bring it to repentance and faith. It is doing the very work of God, being His very mouthpiece, reflecting His very image, and bringing His light to a world in darkness.    Read more
ON WORSHIP (Part 1) COMING BEFORE THE KING OF KINGS
Jesus is the King of kings, and we are his subjects. When we in CFC-FFL worship, the situation is similar to a people coming before their king. What happens during the time of worship can be described and understood in terms of a sequence of events in such a scenario.    Read more
Supplemental Reflections for Lent 2009 (40 Days of Lamentations) Day 29 A God Who Protects
In today’s readings we have the stories of two very different women, but both blessed by one and the very same God. One is the sinful woman. The other is the virtuous Susanna. The first was caught in an adulterous sexual relationship (Jn 8:3), and rightly accused by the scribes and Pharisees (elders). Susanna was alleged to have been caught in an illicit sexual relationship, but falsely accused by the two judges (elders). In both cases the two women were brought for judgment, the first before the assembly of the people, the second before Jesus. Both were being led to execution (Jn 8:5; Dn 13:45a). The first was guilty while the second was innocent. Both escaped condemnation.    Read more
Supplemental Reflections for Lent 2009 (40 Days of Lamentations) Day 29 A God Who Protects
In today’s readings we have the stories of two very different women, but both blessed by one and the very same God. One is the sinful woman. The other is the virtuous Susanna. The first was caught in an adulterous sexual relationship (Jn 8:3), and rightly accused by the scribes and Pharisees (elders). Susanna was alleged to have been caught in an illicit sexual relationship, but falsely accused by the two judges (elders). In both cases the two women were brought for judgment, the first before the assembly of the people, the second before Jesus. Both were being led to execution (Jn 8:5; Dn 13:45a). The first was guilty while the second was innocent. Both escaped condemnation.    Read more
Supplemental Reflections for Lent 2009 (40 Days of Lamentations) Fifth Sunday of Lent Our New Covenant in Jesus
God’s covenant with Israel was something awesome. God took a slave people and made them His own. Today, we Christians are the new Israel. God has made “a new covenant with” us (Jer 31:31). And it is even more wonderful than the old covenant. First, the covenant will be written in the heart and not on tablets of stone. “I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jer 31:33b). The covenant would be something internal and not merely external.    Read more
Supplemental Reflections for Lent 2009 (40 Days of Lamentations) Day 25 An Amazing Work of God
In today’s readings we encounter the amazing work of the Father in sending His Son Jesus into the world. With the annunciation of the angel Gabriel to Mary, we have the conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary (Lk 1:31). Nine months from now, in what we celebrate as Christmas, Jesus will be born. This birth of Jesus by the virgin Mary was prophesied by Isaiah, as he said: “the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son” (Is 7:14). Finally, Jesus came not to live but to die. His death on the cross was to be “the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb 10:10).    Read more
LESSONS FROM LAMENTATIONS (Part 1) ON CRISES AND CROSSES
Many of our brethren today are undergoing intense suffering. There are those who are seriously ill, those who no longer know how to meet their financial needs, those who are seeing a loved one seriously going astray, those who continue to be maligned and attacked even by brethren.    Read more
Supplemental Reflections for Lent 2009 (40 Days of Lamentations) Fourth Sunday of Lent
God’s covenant brings tremendous blessings when we obey Him and are faithful to His call. On the other hand, if we disobey and persist in infidelity, then we reap woes and disaster. This is what happened to Israel. God raised Israel and blessed His people tremendously. However, they disobeyed and were unfaithful, and even became idolatrous. They “added infidelity to infidelity” (2 Chr 36:14).    Read more
Supplemental Reflections for Lent 2009 (40 Days of Lamentations) Day 20 Our Amazing Covenant
God is great, powerful and awesome. He tamed primeval chaos (Ps 89:11), rules nature (Ps 89:10), and owns the whole universe which He founded (Ps 89:12). No one ranks with Him (Ps 89:7) and no one is like Him (Ps 89:9). Mighty and strong is He (Ps 89:14).    Read more
Supplemental Reflections for Lent 2009 (40 Days of Lamentations) Second Sunday of Lent
At times God puts us to the test, including extreme tests. This might be a debilitating illness, serious business reverses, betrayal by a loved one, and the like. This has been God’s way of dealing with His beloved people. God has a divine purpose. So it was that “God put Abraham to the test” (Gn 22:1). It was the most extreme of all, telling him to offer up his own son Isaac as a holocaust (Gn 22:2b). Isaac was Abraham’s only son, whom he loved (Gn 22:2a). It was a test of obedience. It was also a test of faith, since God had promised that He would make of Abraham a great nation and that all the nations of the earth would find blessing in him. How could it happen if he now ended the life of his son?    Read more
Supplemental Reflections for Lent 2009 (40 Days of Lamentations) First Sunday of Lent
First Sunday of Lent The Call to Covenant Sin has terrible consequences. Because of the wickedness of man, God caused “a flood to destroy all mortal beings” on earth (Gn 9:15b). Only “a few persons, eight in all, were saved” (1 Pt 3:20). But God does not persist in His anger. And so he renewed His covenant with mankind, through Noah. “See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you” (Gn 9:9).    Read more
ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP (Part 5) THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM
The apostles, all called to be servants of the Master, argued among themselves on who was the greatest (Mk 9:33-34; Mt 18:1; Lk 9:46). Jesus said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” (Mk 9:35). Then Jesus took a child and gave them their lesson. “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 18:3-4).    Read more
ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP (Part 4) BEING A DISCIPLE
To be a servant leader is to first of all be a disciple of Jesus. Since servant leaders are entrusted with Jesus’ flock, then they need to reflect the mind of heart of the Chief Shepherd himself. Since as leaders they are servants, they need to look to the example of Jesus, who declared that he came not to be served but to serve.    Read more
WEAVING IT ALL TOGETHER
In this third millennium, during these end times, the 3 most important words in understanding the fullness of our vision and mission are “evangelization,” “family” and “life.” The 3 are distinct from each other, but at the same time form one unified strand making up the fullness of God’s work in and through us.    Read more
ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP (Part3) INTEGRITY
One of the most important aspects of servant leadership is integrity. What is integrity? It is a word often used, but superficially understood, and not so much appreciated in its depth of meaning. The dictionary defines it as "uprightness of character." Another definition is "firm adherence to a code especially moral or artistic values. Synonyms given are probity, incorruptibility and honesty. I would offer my own definition. Integrity is living the truth in word, thought and deed.    Read more
Lent And Lamentations
My dear brethren, Once again we will be entering into the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is on February 25, and we go all the way to Holy Week ending on Easter Sunday which is on April 12. Lent of course is when we go on repentance mode. We start on Ash Wednesday with ash put on our foreheads, reminding us of our human frailty and out returning to dust. Thereafter we continue to figuratively weak sackcloth, in our journey of reconciliation to God    Read more
The Way Forward in Christ (Part 3)
One and a half years after the restoration of CFC (from July 2007), on its third year (2007, 2008, 2009), CFC-FFL is well underway in pursuing its clear vision and mission. We are called to renew the family and to defend life. This is within the context of our overall mission of evangelization, with emphasis this year on God’s divine mercy. This was impressed upon me as I and my wife Gerry were privileged to attend and participate in 3 significant events in this first month of the new year. First we went to Mexico for the 6th World Meeting of Families. Then we participated in the 36th March for Life in Washington DC, USA. Finally we made a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, USA.    Read more
DISOBEYING JESUS
We are disciples of Jesus, and we are supposed to live a life of obedience to him. Is it then ever permissible to disobey Jesus? We know that the answer is No. Never! But there were people during the time of Jesus who did disobey him, and I would actually extol them. Before you cast aspersions on me, let me explain. Who were these people who disobeyed Jesus? They were the ones he healed and whose lives he changed. There were the leper (Mk 1:40-42), the two blind men (Mt 9:27-30a), and the deaf and mute man (Mk 7:32-35). Jesus told all of them not to speak about their healing (Mk 1:43-44; Mt 9:30b; Mk 7:36a).    Read more
THE WAY FORWARD IN CHRIST (Part2)
Today the gospel is Matthew 4:12-25. It is about the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Jesus issued his call to repentance, started forming his core group, and began moving around Galilee doing his work. This Bible passage brought me to a book I had written in 1998, “Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth.” I started that book on May 16, 1997, while waiting at the airport for my flight to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It was based on the mission of Jesus as written in Matthew 4. That hour I wrote the whole basic outline. But I did not start writing the book itself until December 16. I wrote on and off, and finally finished it on October 29, 1998.    Read more
USHERING IN THE YEAR 2009
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, Happy New Year! I pray that you had a wonderful Christmas holiday, not just with lots of partying, but with extra time for prayer and thanksgiving and rejoicing in the blessings God has showered upon us in 2008. Now it is back to work. And that is something we should all be looking forward to, especially in our work for the kingdom.    Read more
CFC FFL Core Values and Frank Padilla's Books
Peace be with you all. The year is almost over, and we face another exciting year to come. It is always exciting when faced in the Lord and looked forward to as another opportunity to do the Lord’s work. By His grace, we know that it will be a year of spiritual growth ­- for ourselves, for our families, and for the community.    Read more
THE COMING OF THE SAVIOR
My beloved brethren in Christ, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” (Lk 2:10-11). Thus did the angel of the Lord proclaim to the shepherds the birth of Jesus.    Read more
ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP (Part 2)
When things are going well in community, then leaders get along fine. But when disagreements come, this is where many fail in servant leadership. But disagreements happen all the time. In fact, it is good to have disagreements, as long as we do not become disagreeable in handling these. Disagreements enable us to sift through a particular situation or decision, look at new angles, hear fresh insights, and challenge our own thinking about the issue at hand. The result is hopefully a better solution or decision, being the fruit of different minds and a thorough discussion.    Read more
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Mary was conceived without original sin. This is the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. But did not Paul say that “all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23)? Yes, but this is precisely what shows how special Mary is. She is the only human being after the fall who was the one exception. Mary would bear the Son of God, and God is perfectly holy. It could not be that an imperfect vessel would bear a perfect God. So according to God’s eternal plan, God did not allow Mary to be conceived with any stain of sin. God wants those that He intends to use to be clean and pure instruments. Such purity was to be from the time of their conception    Read more
ON RUNNING THE RACE
One way Paul describes the Christian life is likening it to a race, and we to athletes who participate in that race. As we today have our Family & Sports Day, it is appropriate to look to the deeper meaning of our coming together in this sports venue and in this celebration.    Read more
THE WAY FORWARD IN CHRIST
The restoration started last year, and from the crisis in CFC has emerged God’s remnant, true to its authentic charism. From last year, to this year, to next year, the Lord has been guiding us. One major aspect of such guidance are our themes for the different years. 2007 was the time of lamentations but also hope brought about by our restoration. 2008 is our time of joy, as we rebuild and move forward under God’s renewed anointing. For 2009 we have taken the theme of trust, as we continue to place ourselves in the hands of the Lord who called us from 1981 and intends to use us for His purposes until He returns once again.    Read more
ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP
A proper understanding of Servant Leadership becomes even more critical, given what happened to us in the crisis of 2007 and up to now. We saw how brethren who were at the highest levels of “servant leadership” suddenly acted in unbrotherly and unchristian ways­lying, maligning, slandering, attacking, oppressing. What happened? And can it happen again? Yes, it can, for we are all too human and sinful.    Read more
Our Theme for 2009
"TRUST IN JESUS" "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song; and he has become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:2)    Read more
From The Servant General St. Francis of Assisi
Today is the feast day of my patron saint, St Francis of Assisi. I am particularly fond of this saint, and look to him in living my life in Christ. St Francis gave up all material goods in order to follow Christ, he devoted his entire life to serve Christ, he looked to building up the Church, he served the poor, he loved nature. He was an ardent evangelizer, even trying to convert the Muslim sultan. He was opposed by some of his own confreres and even ousted from heading the Franciscans. He considered his suffering for Christ to be perfect joy.    Read more
Reflection on Separation and the forthcoming Presidential Election
The foregoing keynote was delivered September 13, 2008 at St. Philip the Apostle social hall by Ado Paglinawan during the CFC WDC First Anniversary. Bro. Ado is a member of CFCUSA national council, its executive secretary and the regional director for CFCUSA mid-Atlantic, southeast and the Caribbean, as well as head of mission to West and Central Africa based in Cameroon    Read more
On Mary, Mission and Martyrdom
Today we celebrate the birthday of our Mother Mary. And today we commemorate the 11th death anniversary of our brothers Ben Donato and Jun Frias. Ben and Jun died in a car accident while on mission in Vanuatu. They gave their lives for the sake of the call. A definition of “martyr” is one who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle. Ben and Jun were our first martyrs on mission. To be a martyr is to be a witness. Ben and Jun truly witnessed to the love and way of Christ.    Read more
Letter from the Servant General On the First Anniversary of our Consecration to Mary
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Greetings in the love of Jesus! It has been one year since that blessed event last August 10, 2007, when we as CFC-FFL consecrated ourselves to the Blessed Virgin Mary, more specifically, to Our Lady, Mary Mediatrix of All Grace. Since that time, we have experienced her powerful intercession, helping firm up our restoration and moving us forward in our mission.    Read more
An Open Letter to CFC-FFL Worldwide from the Servant General
Peace be with you all. It has been one year since the split in CFC. The pain still lingers. The challenges still are formidable. But we have been given a second chance. God has raised a remnant. We need to see God's hand in order to respond properly    Read more
Letter From the Servant General on The Spirituality of Division
The split in CFC has been very painful for all of us, and we simply presume that it is something negative, especially as it had to do with our work for God. We were all serving God, so why did this happen? God's ways are of course not our ways, and we can never presume to fully understand God's mind. In fact, Jesus said that he came to bring not peace but the sword, to cause division, even among relatives and household members (Mt 10:34-36). This is because there are those who will accept him and those who will reject him or his message.    Read more
Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics
This voter’s guide helps you cast your vote in an informed manner consistent with Catholic moral teaching. It helps you avoid choosing candidates who endorse policies that cannot be reconciled with moral norms that used to be held by all Christians.    Read more
The Couples For Christ Name
On June 5, the Philippines’ Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), on our petition, issued an Order reviving the original CFC foundation established in 1984, the “COUPLES FOR CHRIST FOUNDATION INC.” (CFCFI). This means that we now have legal right to the name “CFC,” and this is a prior right to that of CFC-GK-IC, with its corporation of CFCGMFI established in 1993.    Read more
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7/3/2009 CFC FFL National Conference
7/3/2009 KFC Kids Conference
7/19/2009 San Diego and South Riverside Chapter Assembly
7/23/2009 Youth Conference/sfc conference chicago
7/25/2009 LAX CFC FFL Chapter Assembly

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forum posts
Guest   [1/27/2009 11:24:49 AM]
I truly thank our top leadership for trying to send out our Valentine's Day invite to most of us (i'm sure there are more of us than what is on the list). As a member, I do appreciate receiving these ... [Read]

Paule   [10/2/2008 1:43:26 PM]
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary. My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does... [Read]

bobot   [9/25/2008 11:28:15 AM]
Hello brothers and sisters! Thank you for taking time to read the topics and and the concerns of our brothers and sisters. I want to really, really, really encourage you to sign up... [Read]

Agnes   [9/20/2008 11:39:07 AM]
Father God, Please bless our brothers and sisters who are travelling tomorrow to join the handmaids pre-conference in worship and prayer. Bless them Lord and guide them on their way. Send forth You... [Read]

bobot   [9/16/2008 8:13:36 AM]
The Lord has given us a powerful avenue for our brothers and sisters to know our prayer concerns. Let us pray for one another. Post your prayer concerns here and let us connect the beads ... [Read]