Silang, Cavite * april, 2010





We begin this chronicle with the great announcement that our dear Hiyas Isabella V Paet graduated from elementary last March 23, 2010. After five years of studies at Philippine Christian University Elementary School (she spent her Grade 3 at Biga Elementary School), she successfully hurdled the rigors of primary studies. The ceremony was held in Tagaytay International Convention Center.
Graduation is always a wonderful reminder of God’s faithfulness not only to the graduate but to the entire family. As another phase of life is over, another phase is opened. At graduation we affirm God’s faithfulness and trust God to continue to guide and provide for us as Hiyas enters another phase of her life.
This year marks one of the most challenging years for the family. Nanay Carmel has no church assignment and regular employment. Since most of the school fees were deducted from Tatay Ruel's salary as Maintenance Personnel of Union Theological Seminary, it is a miracle how we made it through in Tatay's take home pay.

NANAY as Translator and Bible Scholar
Nanay Carmel is a member of the team of translators who translates the Full Life Study Bible into Cebuano. This project is a two-year project and requires her concentration. So she decided not to take on church and teaching assignment so she could devote her energy and mental prowess into the translation work. As of this writing, the project has finished translating the books of Pentateuch, Historical and Writings. She is working on the Major Prophets. Hopefully, before the 2010 ends, her part in the translation process is finished.
At the same time, Nanay Carmel was asked to take part in the writing of primers of the books of the Bible for "May They Be One" a Bible distribution project co-sponsored by Philippine Bible Society and the CBCP. She wrote the primers of Numbers, Ruth, Esther, Ezra, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Daniel (of the Old Testament) Tobit, Susanna, Judith, Greek Esther, Wisdom of Solomon (of the Apocryphal) and Philemon (of New Testament).
Her study of the Bible and the writing of the primer, as well as the translation of study notes deepen her scholarship of the Bible. This has also shaped the course of her graduate studies at Graduate School of Philosophy and Religion at Philippine Christian University.
Prayer Item: please pray as Nanay desires to finish her graduate program at PCU. Please pray for God’s provision for her school fees. May God open the windows of heaven and grant her the need scholarship. This year, she set aside her studies to focus on Bible translation. But she hopes to continue with her studies next school year.

TATAY RUEL as TEMPLEKEEPER
Tatay Ruel continues to be the TempleKeeper of the worship centers of PCU-UTS namely the Salakot Hall, Grace Open-Chapel. Included under his care is the newly constructed Bahay Alumni.
During graduation, Nanay Carmel congratulated Pastor Orestes. But he he said, “I congratulate Kuya Ruel. Because of his care of Salakot, he was able to send his children to school and allows you to translate the Bible.”

Indeed. Not to mention, even after a tiring day at UTS, he goes home and prepares the family meal. Aren’t we all blessed because of Tatay’s commitment and devotion.

MITHI ANDREA… spreading her wings…
Mithi gushes, “I love High School!” and she does. It’s a different world. Although most of her classmates were her elementary classmates, high school still offers a different life for her… new teachers and subjects and new environment.
She loves everything about high school except math subjects. Unfortunately, her class adviser is her math teacher and her mother’s high school classmate. So she had to struggle hard. Well she finished her first year in high school without a hitch. Already she is considering what course to take in college. But with her school involvement, it is a toss between a career in music or communication.

Katha Amiel, the great dancer…
Katha had been wanting to join the school’s soccer team. But each time there was a try-out, he’d have an asthma attack.
During their school’s Field Demonstration activity, his teachers discovered his dexterity in dancing. Since then, he had invited to join in dance presentations. This year, he received the “Best Dancer” award in their class.
He is still into drawing and Narutu…he has filled his work-table with drawings and paper cut-outs of Narutu characters. He has even mastered the hand seals… when you meet him, ask him yourself what those hand seals are. He and Mithi has discovered their love for piano playing. But with Katha, he would listen to Mithi play the piano pieces and when it is his turn to practice he’s able to play the pieces which Mithi played. Then, Nanay would scream, “read the notes!”
Despite the challenges, this year had been a great year for the family. You have enriched our lives with your friendship and partnership in ministry. Thank you so much.

TOBIT

TOBIT
Angel and demon
Prayer and Alms
These combinations make Tobit an exciting story to read


What Makes DANIEL Special
The book of Tobit is divided into two parts:

(1) The fidelity of Tobit the elder and of Sara to the Lord (1:1-3:25)
• The fidelity of Tobias is shown by his acts of mercy to fellow captives and to the dead. These acts of mercy resulted to his blindness. He was taunted by his wife. The more he was taunted by his wife, the more he turned to God in prayer.
• Sara was taunted by her maid as husband killer (3:7-10). She turned to God in prayer.

(2) The fidelity of the Lord to Tobias and to Sara through the ministration of angel Raphael (4:1-12:22)
• Angel Raphael guided Tobias. While Tobias was bathing in Tigris, a large fish attacked him. Angel Raphael advised him to catch the large fish and keep its heart, liver and gall. The scent of the burned fish liver aided Raphael in conquering the devil that killed Sara’s seven husbands. Angel Raphael also brought Tobias to marry Sara.
• Angel Raphael cured the blindness of Tobit.

Why Was TOBIT Written
The book of Tobit shows several things:
• God is faithful to those who are faithful to him; God is true to those who are true to Him
• Helping the poor through almsgiving is important in showing fidelity to God
• Fidelity to the Law means fidelity to God
• God’s fidelity is manifested through the active ministration of angels.


Famous Verses: Tobit 14: 8-9

Now, my children, follow my instructions. Worship God sincerely and do what is pleasing to him.
Bring up your children to do what is right. Teach them that they must give to the poor and must always remember to praise God with all sincerity.

ESTHER (GREEK)
Greek Esther establishes that God, not Queen Esther, is the “hero” in the story.



What Makes ESTHER (GREEK) Special
The Greek version of the Hebrew Bible Book of Esther is designated Additions to Esther, or Greek Esther. The Hebrew Esther is known for its lack of religious language. It is also known for omitting the name of God in the entire book.

Greek Esther on the other hand mentions God’s name over fifty times. The mention of God’s name and its religious overtones make Greek Esther explicitly a religious story.

We find Esther praying to “the Lord God of Israel” (Add Esth 14:3) and it was God “who changed the spirit of the King [from fierce anger” (15:7) thus establishing God as the real hero in saving the Jews from the evil plans of Haman.

The Additions to Esther consist of 107 additional verses and are added to the Hebrew Esther in different places. These additions have no counterpart in the Hebrew version.

Why Was ESTHER (GREEK) Written
The purpose of Additions to Esther or Greek Esther is clear. The additions provide the religious language missing in the Hebrew Esther. The Additions contain prayers and a prophetic dream. It gives God the sole credit for the salvation of the Jews.

The LXX version of Esther with Additions first circulated among the Greek speaking Jews in Alexandria in the 1st century BCE.

Famous Verse:
14:11 Give not, O Lord, thy sceptre to them that are not, lest they laugh at our ruin: but turn their counsel upon themselves, and destroy him that hath begun to rage against us.
14:13 Give me a well ordered speech in my mouth in the presence of the lion, and turn his heart to the hatred of our enemy,

SUSANNA

SUSANNA
Honor or death: which one will you choose?
Find out how a beautiful woman kept her integrity and her husband’s honor against the lust and scheme of two respected men in their community.



What Makes SUSANNA Special
Susanna is a story of beautiful and God-fearing woman who chose death rather than compromise her integrity and her husband’s honor.

Because of her beauty, two elders of the community lusted for her. They threatened to bear false witness against her if she does not lie with them. Hemmed in every side, she chose to flee her tormentors and faced the court with their false accusations.

Why Was SUSANNA Written?
In the Greek Version of the Bible, Susanna is the 13th chapter of Daniel and is considered part of the Daniel literature. But as a story on its own, Susanna is a testimony on the saving act of God to those who hope in Him and those who uphold integrity and truth.

Famous Verse: v.22
"I am hemmed in on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death for me; and if I do not, I shall not escape your hands.

JUDITH

JUDITH
Is there life after the death of a loved one? Judith shows how a Jewish widow took off her mourning clothes and single-handedly delivered the Jews from being killed.


What Makes JUDITH Special
Read the book of Judith in one sitting --- and discover the wisdom, courage and faith of Judith. Judith, a daring and beautiful widow from whom the book takes its name, got out of her mourning because she was upset that her countrymen did not trust God to deliver them from their foreign conquerors.

The book of Judith is divided into two parts. The first part, chapters 1-7, provides background events relating to the military struggle between Assyria and the neighboring nations. God’s sovereignty over Israel was being challenged by Nebuchadnezzar’s political sovereignty over all nations. Achior the Ammonites testified that the Jews cannot be conquered unless they sin against God. And yet, the Jewish elders were willing to compromise God’s sovereign and surrender to Nebuchadnezzar’s army.

Part two, chapters 8-16, highlights Judith’s faith in God and her bravery. She challenged the five day compromise. Judith used her charms to enter the tent of Holofernes, the Assyrian general sent to destroy Judith’s hometown. Overcome with drunkenness, he passed out and was beheaded by Judith. Judith carried his head in a basket and presented this to the elders of her village.

Why Was JUDITH Written?
The book of Judith has a place in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox canons of Scripture not only because of its intrinsic merit as a story but because of its religious teaching and its patriotism.

The only way Israel was able to uphold God’s sovereignty was in the faithful adherence to the Law.

The theology of Judith is rather simple: God is all-powerful, the defender of the down-trodden (especially the Jews, and the Creator of the world).

Famous Verse:
“May God give you everlasting honor for what you have done. May he reward you with blessings, because you remained faithful to him and did not hesitate to risk your own life to relieve the oppression of your people.” Judith 13:20

WISDOM OF SOLOMON

WISDOM OF SOLOMON
What is wisdom? How does a person gain wisdom?
How important is wisdom?


What Makes WISDOM OF SOLOMON Special?
The Book of Wisdom of Solomon, or Wisdom, provides vivid descriptions of what wisdom is:
• The spirit of Wisdom is intelligent and holy, clear, clean and confident. It penetrates every spirit that is intelligent and pure.
• She is a breath of God’s power, a pure and radiant stream of glory from the Almighty. She is a reflection of eternal light.
• She is unchanging yet She makes everything new.
• Wisdom has given shape to everything that exists.
• Wisdom created humans to rule all creation and govern the world with holiness and righteousness.

The book shows that Wisdom existed and acted in history. Wisdom protected Adam and Noah. Wisdom helped Abraham and rescued Lot. Wisdom protected Jacob. Wisdom led the Israelites out of Egypt and led the Israelites through the Desert.

The book of Wisdom also shows how a person gains wisdom.

Why Was WISDOM OF SOLOMON Written?
The Wisdom of Solomon was written about the middle of the first century B.C. The author is believed to be a member of the Jewish community in Alexandria in Egypt. The Wisdom was written in Greek but it followed the pattern of Hebrew verse. The teachings in this book were placed on the lips of King Solomon in order to emphasize their importance.

The primary purpose for writing this book was to edify the Jews experiencing suffering and oppression. In order to do this, popular religious themes were used: the splendor and worth of divine wisdom; the glorious events of the Exodus; God’s mercy and justice and the folly of idolatry.
Many passages from the Wisdom of Solomon are used by the Church in liturgy.

Key Verses:
Wisdom 6: 12 Wisdom shines bright and never grows dim; those who love her and look for her can easily find her.
Wisdom 6: 17 Wisdom begins when you sincerely want to learn. To desire Wisdom is to love her.

PHILEMON, primer

PHILEMON
In this private letter, Apostle Paul wrote about a practical way of showing Christian love.



What Makes PHILEMON Special
This letter is typical of the kinds of letters people wrote in the Roman world. It is the shortest and most personal of Paul’s letters. The way it is written suggests that Paul and Philemon were close friends. Most of the people mentioned in this letter, including Philemon’s slave Onesimus, are also mentioned in Colossians (Col 4:7-9)]

Why Was PHILEMON Written?
Philemon was a wealthy man who owned slaves, like many wealthy people in the Roman world. He was also a Christian who used his large house for church meetings. One of his slaves was Onesimus. Onesimus ran away from his master, took refuge with Paul and became a Christian believer. Instead of keeping him, Paul sent him back to face his master. As Paul sent Onesimus back to his master, Paul wrote this letter to Philemon making an appeal to accept Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a fellow follower of the Lord.

This letter shows how a Christian should act when believers are in conflict. Paul intervened and worked for the reconciliation of Philemon and Onesimus.


Key Verses:
“But I would rather ask you to do it simply because of love.” v 9

“…you could have him back for good, but not as a slave. Onesimus is much more than a slave. To me he is a dear friend, but to you he is even more, both as a person and as a follower of the Lord.” Vv 15b – 16

ECCLESIASTES, primer

ECCLESIASTES
What can people do to find satisfaction and happiness?
Read ECCLESIASTES to find out what one wise author says about the meaning of life.


What Makes Ecclesiastes Special
The book’s title comes from the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew word Qoheleth, which means “one who assembles.” The author is not known, but many suggest he was a teacher, preacher, or philosopher. The author is not telling a story, but is sharing his thoughts on the meaning of life. He uses saying, proverbs, and poems to illustrate his point. A key phrase, “nothing makes sense,” begins and ends the book (1:2; 12:8), and is repeated throughout the book, emphasizing that the answers to many of life’s questions are not easy to find.

Why Was Ecclesiastes Written?
This book is a search for meaning in life. The writer sees that from the human viewpoint life is full of contradictions and mysteries. Hard work is a gift from God (5:19), but work can be painful and senseless (2:17), because after people die they won’t have anything to show for their hard work (5:13-15), and others will get to enjoy their wealth (6:2). When people are poor, no one pays attention to them (9:16), but being wealthy doesn’t guarantee happiness and satisfaction either (2:4-11; 5:10-12). Wisdom is better than foolishness, but whether a person is wise or foolish, everyone dies (2:13-16; 3:20), and knowing too much can be painful (1:18). Above all, human wisdom cannot help people understand the ways of God (8:17), who makes everything happen (3:11; 6:10; 7:13, 14; 9:1). People are to respect and obey God (5:7; 8:12, 13; 12:13), for God will judge what they do (12:4; 3:17). But the same thing happens to all people, whether they live right or sin (9:2).

With life being so full of contradictions, where do humans find meaning? The meaning in life, as ECCLESIASTES proposes is in remembering God, the creator and giver of life, work, wisdom and everything that makes life pleasurable.
Even if ECCLESIASTES acknowledges the tensions and contradictions of life, and even if it begins negatively by saying that life is meaningless and useless, yet, it ends with a positive challenge, “Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about.” (12:13). Life’s complete fulfillment can only be found in having a right relationship with God. In God, life is worth living.

Famous Verse: Ecclesiastes 12:1a
“Keep your Creator in mind while you are young!”

SONG OF SONGS, primer

SONG OF SONGS

Why is ancient love poetry included in the Holy Scriptures?
Read this book that describes love as being “more powerful than death.”


What Makes Song of Songs Special
The title of this book means “the most beautiful of songs,” and in some translations it is called “The Song of Solomon” (see 1:1). In the Jewish Scriptures, this book is found in the section known as “The Writings.” Why SONG OF SONGS was included in the Bible at all is a question that has prompted many debates among Jewish and Christian teachers for over two thousand years. Answers to this question have often been based on how the book is interpreted.

Why Was Song of Songs Written?
On the surface, SONG OF SONGS is love poetry that celebrates the love between a man and a woman. Some consider the book to be a unified poem written by one author, while others think it is a collection of love songs or poems put together by an editor. Some people think SONG OF SONGS is a drama, while some scholars point out that parts of the book are very much like ancient Mesopotamian marriage songs or old Egyptians love poems.

The poems seem only to provide a description of human love. But SONG OF SONGS tells of a God who is interested in the entirety of human experience, including love and sexuality. God in his wisdom spoke through the poet(s) to encourage us to celebrate the beauty of love and at the same time warn us of its power. The SONG OF SONGS affirms human love, intimate relationship, sensuality, and sexuality.

If the SONG OF SONGS is simply a collection of poems that express the powerful love that a woman and a man can have for each other, why is it included in the Bible? Jewish teachers said the book symbolized God’s love for the people of Israel. Many Christian interpreters came to a conclusion that SONG OF SONGS symbolizes the kind of relationship that Jesus Christ (the bridegroom) has with the church (the bride). With these interpretations, SONG OF SONGS gained acceptance as part of the Scripture.


Famous Verse: Song of Songs 8: 6 - 7
Always keep me in your heart
and wear this bracelet
to remember me by.
The passion of love
bursting into flame
is more powerful than death,
stronger than the grave.
Love cannot be drowned
by oceans or floods;
it cannot be bought,
no matter what is offered. (CEV)

EZRA, primer

EZRA

Going home can be an exciting time. As you read EZRA, look for the different experiences God’s people had when they returned to their homeland after 70 years of exile.


What Makes Ezra Special
Ezra and the next book in the Bible, Nehemiah, were originally one book. Together they make up the most important source for the history of 538 to 430 B.C. This period saw the formation of the Jewish religious community following the Babylonian exile. Ezra the priest, as the main religious leader of this time, and Nehemiah, as appointed governor, were largely responsible for the shape that community was to take. The book contains lists of the exiles who returned to Jerusalem and Judah; highlights the edicts and letters of Persian kings for the return of the Jewish exiles to their homeland and the rebuilding of the temple; and narrates the controversy behind the rebuilding of the Temple; and the the institution of social (prohibition of intermarriage) and religious practices (confession and public reading of the Law).

Why Was Ezra Written?
The Prophet prophet Jeremiah prophesied that God will restore the Jewish people after 70 years of exile. Indeed, after the Babylon Empire was defeated by the Persian Empire, Cyrus, the king of Persian, made a proclamation releasing the Jews from captivity and allowing them to return to their homeland. He even issued an edict to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem as a place to present sacrifices. Ezra accounts the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy.

Ezra was written to help the Jewish community in Jerusalem understand who they were as God’s people. It does this by remembering how the community began and by describing how some of them returned home to Judah and struggled to obey the Law of Moses, rebuild the city and the temple, and keep themselves pure in the midst of foreign peoples.

In reading EZRA, one will encounter a God who motivated touched the heart of three different Persian kings to assist the Jews in returning to their homeland and in rebuilding the temple; and. God also provided godly and capable leaders to leadwho led the returning Jews in a revival of worship, commitment and faithfulness to God’s Word.

Famous Verse: Ezra 7:27
“Praise the LORD God of our ancestors! He made sure that the king honored the LORD's temple in Jerusalem.”

DANIEL, primer

DANIEL
How does the message of DANIEL bring hope to God’s faithful people in times of hardship and persecution?


What Makes DANIEL Special
In the Hebrew Scriptures, DANIEL is listed in the section called the Writings. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament made during the third and second centuries B.C. (called the Septuagint), it is listed among the prophetical books. DANIEL has been described both as prophecy and as an apocalypse, a kind of literature that uses symbols, signs, and interpretations of the underlying meaning of events in current history in order to describe how God will triumph over his enemies and the enemies of God’s people.

The first six chapters of DANIEL are a collection of stories about Daniel and his friends, young Jewish men who were taken into exile in Babylon, where they became important government officials and where their faith in God was severely tested. Some of the famous stories in DANIEL are:
• Daniel’s training in Babylon: he and his friends refused the king’s food and wine to show their faithfulness to the Jewish food law (Ch 1)
• Daniel’s Friends in the Fiery Furnace: Daniel’s friends remained unscathed even after they were thrown in the burning furnace (Ch 3)
• The Writing on the Wall, fingers of a human appeared and wrote on the wall the famous line “Mene, mene, tekel, parsin.” (Ch 5)
• Daniel in the Lion’s Den: Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den for praying to God (Ch 6)
The second half of the book reports Daniel’s visions which show God’s control of historical events and provide hope for those who remain faithful in times of persecution.

Why Was DANIEL Written?
The book of DANIEL was written to provide hope and encouragement to God’s people. Daniel and his friends were heroes and role models for the Jewish people because they remained faithful to God while serving foreign kings who often persecuted them.

The book of DANIEL was written by Daniel, a young Jewish man. He was exiled in Babylon and trained in the king’s court for three years. Later, he entered the king’s service and became an important government official. The book of DANIEL was written in the context of exile. The stories of Daniel and his friends challenge God’s people who are suffering persecution to remain faithful to God’s law and his ways. Daniel’s visions and their interpretations show God’s involvement and amazing intervention into world affairs. The book clearly points at God’s sovereignty over the kingdoms of men and assures us that there is deliverance after suffering and persecution.


Famous Verse: “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin”
25-28The words written there are mene, which means " numbered," tekel, which means " weighed," and parsin, which means " divided." God has numbered the days of your kingdom and has brought it to an end. He has weighed you on his balance scales, and you fall short of what it takes to be king. So God has divided your kingdom between the Medes and the Persians.

ESTHER, primer

ESTHER

Fancy dinners both begin and end this story, and no less than eight other banquets play a role in the middle. Read this “feast for the eyes” to learn why Jewish people still celebrate the exciting party of Purim.


What Makes Esther Special
Esther is one of the best stories in the Bible. It has a plot full of twists and interesting characters. It is also a type of story in the Jewish tradition, depicting people who go through trials and triumphs in foreign courts. The hero of the story is a woman, Esther, which was unusual for the times in which the story was written. In this tale, she is able to hide her secret of being Jewish at the Persian court and risks her own life to save her people.

Why Was Esther Written?
It seems that Esther was written primarily to explain the Jewish festival of Purim celebrated in the month of Adar, which is in the mid-February/mid-March. Purim is a lively party where celebrants are encouraged to let themselves go in carefree enjoyment of the moment.

But behind the lively parties that fill the book of Esther, evil schemes, plots and design to annihilate the Jews lurk behind. The story of Esther highlights the crucial decision a young Jewish lady had to make: stay in the comfort of the King’s palace as his favored queen, or take the risk, approach the King without invitation and beg for mercy in behalf of her people. But Mordecai, Esther’s cousin posed this challenge to her “It could be that you were made queen for a time like this!” (v14b). Because of Esther’s bravery, the Jews were saved from annihilation.

ESTHER emphasizes the triumph of good over evil. And it is this triumph that the Jews celebrate during the festival of Purim.

Curiously, ESTHER is the only biblical book that does not mention God directly. But ESTHER shows that God was genuinely concerned about the plight of the Jews. The writer of ESTHER would like to show that God’s presence may be seen as the guiding force that makes Esther queen and protects the Jewish people. ESTHER beautifully reminds the reader that God places each one of us in crucial position in human history to be instrument of God’s saving act. If each one of us participates with God, then God’s deliverance will take effect.

Famous Verse: Esther 4:14b
“It could be that you were made queen for a time like this!” (CEV)

RUTH, primer

RUTH

Trying to survive when the odds are against you can be difficult.
Read the story of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi to find out how a brave and loyal woman survived under difficult circumstances to become the great-grandmother of King David.

What Makes Ruth Special?
Ruth is a beautiful story that teaches many things, among them:
• God’s purposes may be fulfilled in unexpected ways;
• God works in the lives of people who are faithful;
• Helping others and being loyal to family and friends can change lives and bring happiness;
• God’s goodness is for everyone, not just for people who are born Jews;
• God cares about all people and is at work in their everyday lives.

Why Was Ruth Written?
There are only two books in the Old Testament named after a woman, Ruth is one of them, and the other is Esther. The book of Ruth is like a modern short story. It tells of the adventure of Ruth, a Moabite, who left her country to live in Israel with her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth was married to one of Naomi’s sons. After Naomi’s husband and sons have died, Naomi decided to return to her homeland, Israel, this time with Ruth.

Moabites worshipped idols and were enemies of the people of Israel. When Ruth pledged to Naomi, “your people will be my people and your God my God,” (1:16) she pledged her allegiance to the God of Israel and took upon herself the care of this childless widow. The women of Israel praised Naomi, “your daughter-in-law… loves you more than seven sons of your own would love you” (4:15). The story of Ruth is a beautiful story of friendship between two women and how together, they overcame the odds and difficulties of life and survived.

The last verses of the story (4:18-22) tell how Ruth and her descendants became ancestors of Israel’s greatest king, David. Ruth is also included in the genealogy of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.


Famous Verse: Ruth 1:16, 17
“Please don't tell me to leave you and return home! I will go where you go, I will live where you live; your people will be my people, your God will be my God.” (CEV)