Treasure in Clay Jars
In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again. – 2 Corinthians 4:9
UE CCP – A.REN
During the 2004 University of the East Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants General Assembly (UEJPIA-GA) I was tasked to be an usher. I was wearing then a maroon shirt with navy blue tie, black pants, shiny black shoes and was very handsome (I’m over exaggerating).
A beautiful girl caught my attention. She was wearing a white pin that says, “UE CCP – A.REN.” I get her attention and asked her what’s on her pin.
“UE CCP stands for ‘University of the East Christian Communities Program’ and A.REN stands for ‘Ate Ren.’” She said smiling.
“So you’re ate Ren?”
“Yes. And you are kuya Jobie.” She said staring at my nametag. “Nice meeting you kuya Jobie.”
“Nice meeting you too, ate Ren.” I said smiling. “You know I like your pin, and I would love to have one like that.” I said trying to start a conversation.
“Give me your number and I’ll tell you how.”
I gave her my number. I thought I could chat with her the rest of the afternoon but she said she have to leave because she has a class at 2:30 pm. I waved her goodbye, I never saw her again that day.
That night I received a text message from Ren inviting me to meet her at the Rizal Hall after my class. I met her the next day.
Hello Chaplain’s Office! Hi Erpz!
I met with her that afternoon and we attended half of the 12:15 pm mass. After the mass she pulled me towards an office behind the chapel. The signage reads “University of the East Chaplain’s Office” where she introduced me to Father Bernard Martin whom they call Erpz.
That day changed my life forever.
I become a regular mass attendee. I attend the 12:15 pm mass every afternoon and stayed at the Chaplain’s Office where I met some new friends. Stay a little longer until 3 pm for the 3 o’clock prayer and still meeting some new friends.
I enjoyed their company I forget all about the pin.
One afternoon I came in to the office and no one was there except for the guitar and the song sheets used during the mass. I flip the pages and look for a familiar song. I start playing. I hum, I don’t sing. Little did I know kuya Alexis, one of the mass guitarists, was standing behind.
He pat on my back and commented, “You’re good, why not play the guitar during mass. I’ll ask ate Vebs to teach you the basic mass songs. She’ll do the line-up.”
I play the guitars during 6:45 am mass with ate Vebs.
They Made Me The Music Ministry Leader
One by one the mass guitarists graduated leaving me with ate Vebs. She trained me with the songs and I do my riffs. Mixing and rearranging the songs with my own style, the choir started to like me.
Months before ate Vebs graduates, she asked me to pray about committing for the ministry, which I did. I drop my commitment letter and chose to serve for the music ministry. They made me the music ministry leader. But I still don’t sing.
Committed To Serve
During my fifth year first semester I failed Auditing Problems. After the grades were released I approached our professor not expecting to hear her say, “Should you stayed at the library more often to study than to stay at the Chaplain’s Office playing the guitar. You could have not failed in my class.”
But I have to admit it. Sometimes I stayed at the Chaplain’s Office even when there’s no choir practice. I just play the guitars. I don’t have a guitar at home and Chaplain’s Office is where I could sit down and play with some music.
I thought of quitting. I prayed about it, but decided to continue serving. It isn’t because I lead the music ministry that I failed. I failed because I failed to duplicate myself and delegate some tasks.
During the second semester I tried my very best to duplicate myself to the youngsters at church in playing the guitar during mass. And I believe I was successful doing that. I have also delegated the choosing of the mass songs line-up to the newbie’s which they gladly accepted. But that isn’t easy; it still requires some extra time and effort.
After the second semester, I failed three review subjects: Auditing Review, Practical Accounting 2 Review and Business Law and Taxation Review. I won’t be graduating that May. I broke my mother’s heart.
I enrolled that summer in faith. During summer I still lead the choir, I play for the 12:15 pm mass.
God Is Good, All the Time! All the Time, God Is Good!
God has been good to me; I have passed all my back subjects that summer. I have been qualified for a full scholarship at the Review School of Accountancy. I passed the exams.
Treasure in Clay Jars
We are like clay jars in which the glory of God through Jesus Christ is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down we get up again (2 Corinthians 4:7-9).
In times that we are tested by God during our service, we’re often tempted to quit and just leave our faith and service behind. But I believe it’s not that easy to do. Once serving to the Lord is inscribed into your heart and became a habit, it stays. You can hardly live without it.
I may not have the perfect faith the Bible requires. I may have faltered when tempted but I believe the glory of God through Jesus Christ is stored in my heart and it shines when I serve.
I may have been knocked down several times. Been confused of what to do but in the end I still choose to serve and live up my faith. I may have suffered a bit but it’s no way compared to how Jesus suffered for me.
In HIM,
Jobie P. Doblado
P.S.1
By the way pins are given to UE CCP members who commit to serve for the ministry and did an exceptionally fine job. I may have failed several subjects but I’m a champion on God’s eyes. I was pinned!
P.S.2
Two weeks ago I dropped a connection letter at Pasig Feast. I’ll audition for the Music Ministry. I still won’t sing. My dream is to play for the Kerygma Conference (2010) this year. I’ll tell you about it, promise.
UE CCP – A.REN
During the 2004 University of the East Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants General Assembly (UEJPIA-GA) I was tasked to be an usher. I was wearing then a maroon shirt with navy blue tie, black pants, shiny black shoes and was very handsome (I’m over exaggerating).
A beautiful girl caught my attention. She was wearing a white pin that says, “UE CCP – A.REN.” I get her attention and asked her what’s on her pin.
“UE CCP stands for ‘University of the East Christian Communities Program’ and A.REN stands for ‘Ate Ren.’” She said smiling.
“So you’re ate Ren?”
“Yes. And you are kuya Jobie.” She said staring at my nametag. “Nice meeting you kuya Jobie.”
“Nice meeting you too, ate Ren.” I said smiling. “You know I like your pin, and I would love to have one like that.” I said trying to start a conversation.
“Give me your number and I’ll tell you how.”
I gave her my number. I thought I could chat with her the rest of the afternoon but she said she have to leave because she has a class at 2:30 pm. I waved her goodbye, I never saw her again that day.
That night I received a text message from Ren inviting me to meet her at the Rizal Hall after my class. I met her the next day.
Hello Chaplain’s Office! Hi Erpz!
I met with her that afternoon and we attended half of the 12:15 pm mass. After the mass she pulled me towards an office behind the chapel. The signage reads “University of the East Chaplain’s Office” where she introduced me to Father Bernard Martin whom they call Erpz.
That day changed my life forever.
I become a regular mass attendee. I attend the 12:15 pm mass every afternoon and stayed at the Chaplain’s Office where I met some new friends. Stay a little longer until 3 pm for the 3 o’clock prayer and still meeting some new friends.
I enjoyed their company I forget all about the pin.
One afternoon I came in to the office and no one was there except for the guitar and the song sheets used during the mass. I flip the pages and look for a familiar song. I start playing. I hum, I don’t sing. Little did I know kuya Alexis, one of the mass guitarists, was standing behind.
He pat on my back and commented, “You’re good, why not play the guitar during mass. I’ll ask ate Vebs to teach you the basic mass songs. She’ll do the line-up.”
I play the guitars during 6:45 am mass with ate Vebs.
They Made Me The Music Ministry Leader
One by one the mass guitarists graduated leaving me with ate Vebs. She trained me with the songs and I do my riffs. Mixing and rearranging the songs with my own style, the choir started to like me.
Months before ate Vebs graduates, she asked me to pray about committing for the ministry, which I did. I drop my commitment letter and chose to serve for the music ministry. They made me the music ministry leader. But I still don’t sing.
Committed To Serve
During my fifth year first semester I failed Auditing Problems. After the grades were released I approached our professor not expecting to hear her say, “Should you stayed at the library more often to study than to stay at the Chaplain’s Office playing the guitar. You could have not failed in my class.”
But I have to admit it. Sometimes I stayed at the Chaplain’s Office even when there’s no choir practice. I just play the guitars. I don’t have a guitar at home and Chaplain’s Office is where I could sit down and play with some music.
I thought of quitting. I prayed about it, but decided to continue serving. It isn’t because I lead the music ministry that I failed. I failed because I failed to duplicate myself and delegate some tasks.
During the second semester I tried my very best to duplicate myself to the youngsters at church in playing the guitar during mass. And I believe I was successful doing that. I have also delegated the choosing of the mass songs line-up to the newbie’s which they gladly accepted. But that isn’t easy; it still requires some extra time and effort.
After the second semester, I failed three review subjects: Auditing Review, Practical Accounting 2 Review and Business Law and Taxation Review. I won’t be graduating that May. I broke my mother’s heart.
I enrolled that summer in faith. During summer I still lead the choir, I play for the 12:15 pm mass.
God Is Good, All the Time! All the Time, God Is Good!
God has been good to me; I have passed all my back subjects that summer. I have been qualified for a full scholarship at the Review School of Accountancy. I passed the exams.
Treasure in Clay Jars
We are like clay jars in which the glory of God through Jesus Christ is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down we get up again (2 Corinthians 4:7-9).
In times that we are tested by God during our service, we’re often tempted to quit and just leave our faith and service behind. But I believe it’s not that easy to do. Once serving to the Lord is inscribed into your heart and became a habit, it stays. You can hardly live without it.
I may not have the perfect faith the Bible requires. I may have faltered when tempted but I believe the glory of God through Jesus Christ is stored in my heart and it shines when I serve.
I may have been knocked down several times. Been confused of what to do but in the end I still choose to serve and live up my faith. I may have suffered a bit but it’s no way compared to how Jesus suffered for me.
In HIM,
Jobie P. Doblado
P.S.1
By the way pins are given to UE CCP members who commit to serve for the ministry and did an exceptionally fine job. I may have failed several subjects but I’m a champion on God’s eyes. I was pinned!
P.S.2
Two weeks ago I dropped a connection letter at Pasig Feast. I’ll audition for the Music Ministry. I still won’t sing. My dream is to play for the Kerygma Conference (2010) this year. I’ll tell you about it, promise.
posted by Jobie P. Doblado at
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