Who is on the side of God?

Dr. Roger Balo, spokesman of Bacolod City on the Bacolod-Bredco settlement, said Bredco should pay a rental to the city of P17.5 million annually.

Atty. Roseller "Jack" Maalat, spokesman of Bredco said, that's too much. Bredco is willing to pay only P1.4 million annually.

What are the issues and what are the facts?

The two, Balo and Maalat, together with businessman James Chua to represent the businessmen, have agreed to discuss these issues at our Feedback at Channel 14 at 7 to 8 tonight.

Be a part of the discussion. Participate. Give comments or suggestions. I am happy Feedback is always swamped with phone calls. An informed citizenry is a better citizenry. Our sponsor, the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters' thrust is to improve people awareness of issues.

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Who is on the side of God?

The Bishops who are the representatives of Christ on earth have asked President Arroyo to resign. The President blasted back indirectly. As quoted the other day by the banner line of The Philippine Daily Inquirer, she said "It's God's plan that I'm here."

Who is on the side of God?

After the President's blast, the religious critics of the President said, God cannot side with her. Said evangelist Brother Eddie Villanueva, "How can cheating or the manipulation of election results, the unabated graft and corruption in the government, the oppression of civil and political rights… be ever part of God's plan?"

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita answered, "Nobody can go against God's will… Oh, my gosh, the religious, the men of the cloth… in the end that is God's will that will prevail." Who is on the side of God?

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In the biography of US President Abraham Lincoln, a clergy man during the early period of the American Civil War told Lincoln, "Let us have faith, Mr. President, that the Lord is on our side in this great struggle."

Retorted Lincoln, "I'm not at all concerned about that for I know the Lord is always on the side of the right. But my concern and prayer is that I and this nation will be on the Lord's side."

Let us rephrase the question. With whom does God side?

Frederick the Great of Prussia whose greatness was in governance, strengthening domestic policy, improving commerce and industry, and promoting religious tolerance, was also known to have won many wars and battles.

The most famous quotation attributed to him was "God always sides with the strongest battalions." Napoleon always quoted him on this too.

Earlier Roman philosopher Tacitus said the same thing, that God always sides with the stronger army. And there are other versions. Napoleon quoted Voltaire who said "God always sides with the last reserve."

And famous historian Edward Gibbon who authored the book "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire", talking of the failure of the Spanish Armada to conquer England said, "The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators."

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With whom does God side?

The Battle of Lepanto on Oct. 7, 1571 is one of the decisive battles in history.

The defeat of the Muslim fleet by the Christian fleet composed of the Navy of Vatican, France, and Spain stopped the Islam expansion in Europe. In this battle the Muslim Commander Ali Pasha was killed and many of his people were also killed and captured.

Miguel Cervantes, author of "Don Quixote" was wounded three times and lost the use of his left hand. Since then until now, historians attributed to God, through the intercession of the Holy Rosary, one reason why October has been made the Rosary Month.

The Christians on that day October 7, 1571 prayed the Holy Rosary before engaging the enemy in battle. With whom did God side in that battle? To the ablest navigators, if we were to believe Gibbon.

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In many countries, people frown on national leaders who would leave everything to Divine Providence. It is argued God helps those who help themselves. So, this means, these leaders do not know how to help themselves. That is why they have to rely on God.

Do you recall when Britain decided to support the U.S. on the Iraq invasion, Prime Minister Tony Blair was invited by the Parliament to answer some questions.

Blair got some flak from some members of Parliament when, he said, he invoked God in that decision. The Parliamentarians jumped on him. But he refused to answer when he was asked whether he prayed with George W. Bush when the latter characterized the Iraq invasion as a crusade.

Bigger army, better trained, and better equipped, God sided with both Bush and Blair and condemned the heathen Saddam.

Ask some Brits you know. They frown on leaders making major decisions or extricate themselves from a big problem by invoking God.

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I am not ungodly. But I believe we must put God out of the problem. Let's give Him some rest. I like the caricature of Inquirer yesterday showing Inquirer's mascot, the carabao saying "Dyos koh! Pati ikaw dinamay sa politika. (O God! Even you they involve in politics.")

God is always the last refuge of a troubled mind. But he should not be recruited for some personal purpose.

Only mad killers claim that they got their order to kill from God.

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I have been asked by many, why don't you want the President to give up the presidency. I have made it clear that I am disappointed that for all these troubles, she has not acted decisively on many things she was charged of.

If her ouster will mean the takeover of either the military or the communists, I prefer Arroyo. I am with the Bishops' call for GMA to voluntarily resign.

Eventually, I like to believe, she will hear voices from Heaven. And that will solve it.*

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