Welcome 2007!

To serious believers of God and His Word, 2007 will be, as always, the year of our Lord, but to those who do not find God or His Word sufficient, it is going to be the Year of the Fire Pig. I do not know what's a fire pig. The only one I know is the roasted pig, the much vaunted "lechon" without which no Filipino Christmas or New Year's partying is ever complete.

There is a concept called the "self-fulfilling prophecy". What you envision and believe how things will be, will become true, either by sheer force of psychological pre-conditioning, or how the spiritual powers in the unseen world will play up circumstances, events or happenings, so that the spiritually undiscerning will believe some more.

So if people say 2007 will be a year of fires, it will be to them or their perception a year of fires, even though every year there are always fires. Or if people predict that the spirit of the pig will predominate this year, the porky way of life will be their guiding light, although I must hasten to add, you do not need to predict or soothsay this to Congress, because year of fire pig or not, Congress is always a porky institution.

The more logical and reasonable position, for one who believes in God, is to simply maintain that the Lord is in complete control and that His promises remain true and faithful, and that one is best blessed if he walks with Him and by His Word everyday of the year.

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Two deaths hogged the limelight in the international scene at yearend last year. The first is the hanging of Saddam Hussein, and the other is the peaceful passing of former U.S. President Gerald Ford. The former claims to be descended from greatness, and ruled with brutality and hatred. The latter was abandoned and rejected by his own father, but adopted and loved by his stepfather who gave him his name. When he became President, he forgave his predecessor who cheated and lied in office, and thus healed the nation. But pundits say, it cost him his re-election bid.

Two powerful arguments that in this world and in this life, it does not matter how you come in. It is your going through and your exit that will be long remembered. The spirit of death took 60 more, additional lives on the day that Saddam, the so-called Butcher of Baghdad, was hanged, although he is a hero to others. Gerald Ford, on the other hand, ennobled and warmed the hearts of the rest of the world when he reminded us of the power of forgiveness.

***

In the natural word, a "scene-stealer" tried to pull the carpet from under the Christmas celebration and the New Year. Last December 19, a heavy and steady down pour took everybody by surprise when it submerged many places of our city into deep, slimy, muddy feet of water, destroying many homes, cars, and properties.

Of course, an outcry will be raised against inadequate and clogged drainage systems, improperly disposed garbage, and all such. Which are all true. But as graphically and powerfully explained in former U.S. Vice President Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth", what we are now experiencing are the worldwide effects of global warming, resulting from our long years of air pollution, denudation and cutting of forests, and rape of the environment.

It is estimated that the earth's "carrying capacity", that is, its ability to sustain human life, is just fifty more years. After that, we would have crossed the threshold, the point of no return, the irreversible line, when nothing can be done anymore to save the planet.

Here, we don't need any geomancer telling us of the year of the fire pig or what not. This is a calamity we ourselves have created, the consequences of which we do not need to be told by others.

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As if all the troubles we have gone through politically have not been enough, what should greet us at year end in the political front but the news that Virgilio Garcillano of "Hello Garci" infamy, and Bong Pineda of alleged jueteng fame, are throwing their hats into the political ring, with the reported backing, blessing, or unction of Malacanang? This, after some of their desperate technicians toyed with the idea of goading Manny Pacquiao or Efren Bata Reyes to join the administration ticket. Grabe. Walang hiyaan na guid. Anyway, let us more than just keep our sanity by the great grace of God, and boldly believe and proclaim that the year 2007, shall, as always be, a great year of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

This is the year when God will demonstrate His power in more marvelous ways to those who put their trust in Him. This is the year when He shall make a distinction of His own people. This is the year when His will and His kingdom will continue on in its unstoppable march. And He will surprise His children by His goodness!

Welcome 2007!*