Feast Bay Area Morning Bulletin for Mar 4, 2018

Unleashed.
Breaking Free from
the Shackles of Unforgiveness
March 4, 2018 | Manila Hotel
May Tampo Ako Sa Diyos
“I’m angry at God.”
Those four words shot out of her lips like explosives, shattering the silence in the
memorial chapel. With her bloodshot eyes, tired from endless crying, she looked at me for
answers. I didn’t have any.
The day before, her 8-year-old daughter died on the operating table. And her pale body
was now in a white dress, inside a white coffin.
I couldn’t say a single word. I wrapped my arms around the shaking figure of the mother
and wept with her.
Today, we start our amazing series on anger and unforgiveness titled, UNLEASHED. And
we start this series with a twist: What do we do with our tampo with God when He doesn’t
answer our prayer?
It’s going to be a wild ride this month.
Talk 1:
Freeing God
“Why am I so depressed? Why this
turmoil within me? Put your hope in God,
for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my
God.” – Psalm 42:5 HCSB
“I will praise the Lord no matter what
happens.” – Psalms 34:1 TLB
“Even though the fig trees have no
fruit and no grapes grow on the vines,
even though the olive crop fails and the
fields produce no grain, even though
the sheep all die and the cattle stalls
are empty, I will still be joyful and glad
because the LORD God is my savior.”
– Habakkuk 3:17-18 GNT
“And after you have suffered a little while,
the God of all grace, who has called
you to his eternal glory in Christ, will
himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and
establish you.” – 1 Peter 5:10 ESV
“’Did you notice my servant Job?’ the
LORD asked. ‘There is no one on earth as
faithful and good as he is. He worships
me and is careful not to do anything
evil.’”– Job 1:8 GNT
For the other verses, please read:
- Job 42:2-6 GNT
- Romans 8:18 ESV
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Have an exciting Feast today!
May your dreams come true,
BO SANCHEZ
God had promised Joshua that he would conquer the City
of Jericho.
But when the Israelites got to the city, they saw these
huge and massive walls that blocked their entry. There was
no way around it. So God asked Joshua to wait for a couple
of days. And while they waited, He instructed them to march
around the city walls with this big wooden box called the
Ark and then blow their trumpets like crazy people. They
quickly obeyed God’s instructions but nothing happened for
the next six days. But we all know the rest of the tale. On the
seventh day, the walls came crashing down.
Have you ever experienced receiving a promise from God that didn’t happen right away? Or it
didn’t happen at all? Ever wonder if God is even listening to you? Today, I’ll tell you how Joshua’s
response paved the way for a miracle.
Welcome to our new series, Unleashed, where we’ll ask God to liberate us from past hurts. It’s
going to be life-changing. I hope to see you in the next three weeks.
In Him,
AUDEE VILLARAZA
Is God Listening

BLESSING BLOG
Another Shot at Life
Personal Reflection and Discussion Guide:
• Share your own story when you trusted God amid your pain.
• Pray for those who have struggles right now.
Michael Elecho had everything any man could ever dream of
– earning six figures a month, a loving wife and good children,
their own beautiful house and a car – but his ungrateful heart
caused him to throw it all away. Kristina Alfonso writes his story.
At the age of 19 working
in the coffee industry in
Baguio City, I made a
fortune, bought a house, a
car and saved some money.
I had a lovely wife and
children. I got everything.
I served at Pacdal Church,
also in the City of Pines. My
wife, Herminia, and I had a
strong relationship for we
had God in the center of
our lives.
Losing It All
Michael Elecho, Feaster since 2011
I got introduced to
gambling. At first, I was just
betting small in cockfights
until I got hooked and was
already betting high stakes.
With gambling came my
womanizing. I forgot about
my family and my service in
the church.
My daily routine became work, gambling with friends and going
out with different women. Before I knew it, I was neck deep in debt.
In 2005, I went bankrupt. Everything my wife and I built together for
the past 15 years was gone.
My wife never said a thing and didn’t object when I sold all that
we owned including our house so we could start over again. Quietly,
though heartbroken, she endured the consequences of my actions.
Then I got our finances back on track and so were my vices –
worse than ever. Before long, I started borrowing money.
Looking for Answers
In 2011, I couldn’t pay my debts anymore. Sitting at home
desperate and not knowing what to do, I turned to the internet and
explored the different religious groups. That’s when I chanced upon
Bro. Bo’s talk. Watching it felt like he was talking to me directly.
The following Sunday, I decided to watch him in person. At The
Feast, I did not feel discriminated on. I was accepted and welcomed
despite my sins. I kept going back and learned a lot.
I learned how to tithe. I yearned to read and know more about the
Bible. I began to appreciate my life more.
Loved Unconditionally
I realized God showed me His love in the past, way before I
repented. In 2001, I fell into a ravine but I survived. In 2013, while
doing a demo for a roasting machine, the equipment exploded
and burned my entire face. Everybody who saw me that time could
not believe how I came out of that accident without any scars or
bruises. Several times, I tried killing myself by trying to pull a gun in
my mouth but to no avail.
Encountering the Lord again through Bro. Bo and The Feast, I
decided to turn my life around for good.
My choice of following God did not spare me from hardships.
My wife died of colon cancer in 2015 but I remained in His fold.
Today, I continue to be grateful for my blessings – my work and my
children who did not judge and abandon me.
Want to retreat to God’s arms? Join our Holy Week Special
Retreat. See P4 for details.
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SCENES FROM LAST SUNDAY
“The only thing that God needs
for you to serve Him is your yes.”
–Bro. Audee Villaraza
As a way of closing the series Loud, Bro. Audee (left) and Bro.
Tony Valenzuela (right) listen to youth leaders Nico Tee and
Janine Pellosis share how they started serving at the age
of 12 and 13 respectively, the life challenges they’ve been
through and the lessons learned.
Bro. Bo Sanchez’s eldest son, Bene, 18,
calls on his fellow youth to join Camp
Calye 2018 -- Elements -- this summer.
RECAP
FOUR WAYS TO CONNECT
WITH THE YOUTH
Gospel Reading According to Mark
9:2-10 The Transfiguration
“There may be so much
pain around us but
there is joy in surrender
and offering our
suffering to the Lord.”
– Fr. Paolo Asprer
“Jesus’ transfiguration
is a revelation of the
Father’s love for the Son
and for us, His beloved
children.”
– Fr. Steve Tynan
“For a deeper
experience of
love, compassion,
forgiveness and healing
of brokenness, like the
disciples’s Mt. Tabor
experience with Jesus,
join a Feast retreat this
Holy Week.”
– Fr. Bob McConaghy
(For details on the Holy Week Retreat, Deeper, see page 4.)
Series: LOUD
Listening to the Voices of Today
Talk 3: Expansion
BIG MESSAGE: DO IT NOW.
There’s no right time to serve God but now. Some
think that the best time to become a servant is when
we’re ready and available. Not so. The time is always right
whenever we say yes to Him. Age doesn’t matter. We just
have to be available and He will equip us to carry out our
mission. And our life will be exciting and adventurous.
Start early. The Bible says that we should honor our
Creator while we are still young. While we are still strong,
let’s give ourselves to Him. The youth of today should
follow Christ to experience the greatness of His love
early on.
Not too late. Serving the Lord is not based on one’s
age but one’s willingness and commitment to answer
His call.
Everyone is called for a mission. Young or old, the Lord
invites everyone to serve Him to feel His unconditional
love. Don’t delay, do it now.
1. Speak their language.
Be familiar with the words
and phrases of our youth to
understand them better.
2. Sing their songs. This is
the best way to relate with
them. Their songs may be
too fast for your taste but try
anyway to learn to associate
with them.
3. Die to their preferences.
Give them what they need so
they’ll be comfortable and feel
at home.
4. Be available to them.
Spending time with them
encourages them to open up.
They need someone to train,
educate and care for them.
They need someone to show
them how to love like Jesus.
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ENHANCE YOUR FEAST BAY AREA EXPERIENCE
The Feast Bay Area Leaders
Builders: Bo Sanchez, Alvin Barcelona
and Audee Villaraza
Council Heads: Loie Alaba, Tine Duran,
Jhay and Lhei Jatap, Edwin and
Rezza Soriano
Media Head: Anne Sanchez
Editor in Chief: Rhoda Osalvo
Managing Editor: Zelle Flora
Associate Editors:
Kristina Alfonso
Ed Bananal
The Feast Bulletin Staff
Editorial Assistant: Anna Galura
Writers:
Bimbo Jaymalin
Timothy Quintos
Eldren Subito
Chief Photographer: Jayr Purisima
Photographers:
Ariel Barrera
Joriz Espino
Joven Requinala
RJ Rosario
Layout Artist: Lawrence Famero