Monday, March 26, 2012

Maraming Salamat!

Sa mga kapatiran sa Guiding Light Dagupan na personal na bumati; paumanhin po at hindi ko nailista mga pangalan ninyo. Maraming salamat!

Kay Nanay, kahit hindi na niya alam kung ano ang petsa sa kalendaryo; kaya kailangan kong sabihin sa kanya na petsa bente-sais ngayon at tanungin, "Antoy okasyon natan?"... Tugon niya. "bertdi nen Manny"... Follow-up question, "duwara may anak yu ya man-bertdi natan. Siopa may sakey ey?"... Nahirapan ang kanyang kumukupas na memorya subalit sa dulo ay naalala rin niya na kaarawan rin ni Ate Virgie.

Kay Tatay na hindi naman bumati pero nagsabi nang maaga, "bertdim manaya natan"

Kay Sheryll Yap, unang bumati sa pamamagitan ng SMS, na may kasama pang dalangin. Balbaleg ya salamat!

Sa mga sumunod na bumati sa pamamagitan ng SMS: Ate Virgie Caoile, Ate Imelda Tarlit, Ate Araceli Cristobal, Ellen Ariola, at Carolyn M. Asuncion. Maraming salamat!

Sa unang bumati sa aking Facebook timeline, Bernard Rosario. Maraming salamat! Salamat rin sa mga bumati bilang comment: Ricky Rosario at Creselda Canapi. Salamat rin sa mga nag-like sa kanyang post kung saan ako'y tagged.

Sa ibang mga bumati sa aking Facebook timeline: Ate Cynthia Imus, Ate Virgie Caoile, Brenda Cayabyab, Cathylyn Martinez, Tina Nevado, sa mag-asawang Myke at Pevi Dela Cruz (at sa kanilang supling na si Mish), Jessa de Vera, at Donnie Manuel. Pati na rin kay Ate Alice Rosario na isinabit sa pagbati ang mga pamangkin kong sina Danielle at Sam. Sa mag-asawang Jojo at Blessa Victorio; at kay Jasmin Rosario.

Salamat kay Ate Cynthia Imus sa hatid niyang pagkain sa tanghalian.

Salamat sa mag-asawang Ato at Brenda Cayabyab sa hatid nilang pagkain sa hapunan.

Sa mga naghandog ng kaloob-pinansyal: mag-asawang Ed at Filipina Llena; mag-asawang Louie at Cynthia Santos, kay Ate Cynthia Imus; at sa isa pang piniling ilihim kung sino siya.

Pasasalamat na walang kapantay sa Kataas-taasang Diyos! Bago pa man niya ako hinubog sa sinapupunan ng aking ina ay itinalaga na niya ang aking buhay sa kaligtasan kay Cristo Hesus. Itinakda niya ang araw na ito bilang aking kapanganakan at sa nakalipas na tatlumpu't limang taon ay nilunod ako sa kanyang habag, biyaya at pag-ibig.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Thoughts on a Slandered Boxing Referee

"For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.
How can I let myself be defamed?"
~ Isaiah  48:11 (NIV)


One of the most important duties of a boxing referee is to protect life. He must exercise discretion in determining when to stop a fight to prevent further damages to a severely hurt man. A referee's failure on these area may cause lifetime physical handicaps, or worst-- deaths.

With more than two minutes left in the 10th of a 12-round bout, the wobbling Juan Manuel Lopez could have had received more heavy blows from Orlando Salido. Referee Roberto Ramirez Sr. did him a favor by declaring a technical knockout (TKO) just at the right time.

It is a common thing for losing boxers to complain about TKO's. Warriors would like to continue fighting till the end and they usually accuse the officiating referees of prematurely stopping the fight. Yet in the post-fight interview, Lopez went further. He arrogantly told the worldwide audience that Ramirez prematurely stopped the fight because of his gambling problems implying of course that the referee ruled a TKO for self-serving financial gain.

A day or two after the fight, news started circulating that the World Boxing Organization (WBO) is about to suspend Lopez for such a behavior. Lopez then, perhaps in damage control, apologized for what he said. His problem however is, as of press time, neither Ramirez nor WBO accepts his apology. The verdict was pronouced: Lopez is suspended for a full year.

Slander is a serious offense. Everybody seems to understand that human dignity must be honored by all. Yet most people don't realize that there is a higher being whose honor is infinitely higher than us mere men. We get offended when someone mars our reputation, yet we are tolerant, even indifferent when the glory of God is mocked. We treat all religious views as equal, and label those who would stand firm on what the Bible teaches as bigots.

Think about all the lies man has uttered against the persons of the Trinity. Here are a few samples:

"As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become." 
(~Lorenzo Snow, 5th LDS President)

"They claim we killed the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the apostle of God.
But they killed him not, nor did they crucify him" 
(The Koran)

"No, the holy spirit is not a person and it is not part of a Trinity.
The holy spirit is God’s active force that he uses to accomplish his will.
It is not equal to God but is always at his disposition and subordinate to him" 
(~Watchtower Bible and Tract Society")

I am appalled by the assertion that all beliefs are equally valid.
I abhor any idea which says that all religions lead to God.
God is zealous for his glory and honor and so should we.


Monday, March 12, 2012

The Terrifying God and His Forsaken Son


He was terrifying when he wiped-out the world's population with a global flood.

He was terrifying when he showered Sodom with burning sulfur.

He was terrifying when fire came out from his presence to consume Nadab and Abihu for their experimental worship.

He was terrifying when he instantly struck Uzzah dead for rescuing the ark of the covenant from touching the soil.

The presence of the holy God then is not a safe place for us unholy ones. Isaiah understood this well that when he saw a vision of the Holy God, he thought his doom has come.

Yet when his beloved Son was arrested, none of the arresting team fell dead. Where is the terrifying God?

On trial, while answering the question of the High Priest, one of the officials struck him in the face and asked, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?". He was concerned about the honor of the High Priest yet trampled upon the honor of the Son of God. But he remained alive. Where is the terrifying God?

While on trial, a false witness appeared. He testified that Jesus forbids people from paying taxes. This was a big lie for when Jesus was asked on this very issue, he replied "Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar..." Yet the liar remained alive. Where is the terrifying God?

They made him wear a mock royal robe; made him wear a crown of thorns. The King of glory was made a laughingstock. But they remained alive. Where is the terrifying God?

Blindfolded, they struck him repeatedly and asked, "Who struck you?". Yet they remained alive. Where is the terrifying God?

They spit on him. Probably some drops of saliva and phlegm landed on Jesus' face. Yet the offenders remained alive. Where is the terrifying God?

They stripped Jesus naked subjecting him to public shame. Nails were driven through his feet and wrists. Yet they remained alive. Where is the terrifying God?

The crowd taunted, "He saved others, but he can't save himself!". But no one in the crowd fell dead. Where is the terrifying God?

Where is the holy and terrifying Father who sent the global cataclysmic flood, burned Sodom, killed Uzzah and burned Aaron's sons?

He was there. In fact, the Heavenly Father was not passive in all these. He was actively involved:
This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. (Acts 2:23)
His wrath was poured out exclusively on his sin-bearing Son. When Jesus shouted "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?", he wasn't merely reciting the words of Psalm 22. This was a heartfelt outcry from an abandoned soul who for the first time since eternity past was separated from the presence of his Father to suffer for sins not his own. By this one sacrifice, we who believe won't have to fear the wrath of God anymore. The presence of God is now a safe place for those who believe in his Son. (Isaiah 53:3-6; Romans 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18)

Monday, March 5, 2012

Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? (Paula Cole)

Photo Credit: Simon Santos, owner of video48.blogspot.com


"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."  (~ 1 Peter 3:7 NIV)
 
  
Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?
Paula Cole, 1996
lyrics HERE

Sometime in the past, a woman envisioned a happy marriage with the man of his dreams-- a sort of a hero. When she found him, she naturally said 'Yes' to marriage. Now it's too late; she discovers that she is married to an irresponsible and insensitive man.

The lines "I will do the laundry if you pay all the bills" and "I will raise the children if you pay all the bills" seem to indicate that the woman was compelled to look for ways to cover family expenses sadly  leading to the neglect of her domestic and child-rearing responsibilities. It is not because her husband's income is not enough but because he squanders much on his vices:


We finally sold the chevy
When we had another baby
And you took the job in Tennessee
You made friends at the farm
And you joined them at the bar
Almost every single day of the week


And at home, the wife feels neglected:

"I am wearing my new dress tonight
But you don't, but you don't even notice me"


This wife is not perfect for sure. It sounds to me that she is considering divorce ("Say our goodbyes") which in her case is not biblically justifiable. Yet the ones I would like to address in this post are my fellow brothers, especially the husbands out there. In 1 Peter 3:7, husbands are instructed to be considerate to the wives' physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Furthermore, husbands should treat them with honor and respect.

Photo Credit: Simon Santos, owner of  fpj-daking.blogspot.com
We can never be Leon Guererros or Daniel Barrions, but by the Spirit of God, we can all pursue biblical masculinity.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Winning the War Against Worldliness (Colossians 3:1-4)


What is the best strategy to fight worldliness?
Shall I smash my TV set into pieces?
Shall I retreat to the boondocks or hide in a cave and live as a hermit?
Shall I live in a box to insulate my self from the world outside?

I was in isolation from the outside world when I was in my mother's womb. Before there were any external influence upon me, I was already sinful from the moment of conception.

In the verses that preceded Colossians 3, it appears that in the pursuit of godliness, some teachers enforced some external rules. It may be some form of asceticism, that is the practice of denying the physical body of comfort and pleasures to achieve spiritual goals. It has penetrated the church and so Paul writes to instruct the Christians about true spirituality. The apostle told them that asceticism has no value in combating the indulgence of flesh (2:23). In place of these practices, Paul prescribes two imperatives which are grounded on two realities.

THE IMPERATIVES

1. SEEK for heavenly things (verse1)
Seeking the things of God should be our one single passion. The Greek word is zetew. It means to "try to learn the location of something". It conveys the idea of moving from place to place in the search process. It is the very word used in Mark 1:37. Jesus left very early in the morning while it was still dark. Nobody knew where he had gone. His disciples made every effort to search for him everywhere and when they finally found him, they exclaimed "Everyone is looking for you".

I was on board a public jeepney one morning. Though eavesdropping is not a habit of mine, the volume of the woman's voice four feet away compelled me to sing Alanis Morissette's opening line: "I had no choice but to hear you".

She worked hard for years for the education of his son. Yet on graduation day, she learned that her son's name was excluded from the list of the candidates for graduation. Her son failed to secure the signatures necessary for his graduation clearance. A few hours away before the commencement ceremonies, she took the clearance sheet and started to search for the required signatories. This San Carlos City resident must now go to places where she has never been before. Her search led her to the island of Salapingao and two other baranggays outside the city of Dagupan.

Nothing else mattered for that woman that day. She did not touch the laundry. She left the kitchen dirty. Earning income was far from her mind. The blanks in the clearance sheet must be filled. A few minutes before the commencement ceremonies, a handwritten entry was made in the list of the candidates for graduation. It was her son's name.

In order to resist our propensity for worldly matters, Paul prescribes that we should seek the things of God with such a vigor as this. Seek heavenly things as if nothing else matters.

2. THINK About heavenly things (verse 2)
The Louw and Nida lexicon defines the Greek word phrone as "to employ one's faculty for thoughtful planning, with emphasis upon the underlying disposition or attitude". Your thought life is an essential area to be conquered if you are to win the war against the indulgence of the flesh. Evil thoughts are not fought by restraining your brain's ability to think. Rather, one must actively involve the mind to meditate on the things which are eternally holy and beautiful.

THE REALITIES

I have said earlier that the two imperatives are grounded on two realities. The first reality we shall consider is:

1. Our Union with Christ
Col.3:1 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ"
Col. 3:3 " For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

There is a mystical union between Christ and his followers. We are united with him in his death and resurrection. Paul has already stated this earlier in 2:12-13. The result of this is that his followers died to sin. The old man that used to be a slave of sin is already dead, therefore is now free. Paul says in Gal. 2:20, he has been crucified with Christ. He no longer lives. The only life he is living is the life of Christ living in him. When the incarnate Christ was on the surface of the earth, nothing else mattered to him but to do the will of the Father (John 4:34). If Christ is indeed living in us, we will must have the same mindset. The good news is our union with Christ is not something we are still working on. It is a present reality that we should live with accordingly.

The second reality by which the earlier imperatives are built is:

2. Our Glorious Future
Col.3:4-- "When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Christ will return and when he appears, we will see him in all his splendor. In Titus 2:13, Paul describes this appearing as "glorious". Yet it is not only him who will appear in glory. Colossians 3:4 says there will be a change in us. We will appear with him in glory.

If I'll give you a 3x5 card and ask you to scribble all the undesirable things in me, both physical and spiritual, perhaps you will answer back, "Bro. Manny, this 3x5 card will not be enough for my long list". But when the day comes when I shall appear with my Lord, I will be changed within a twinkling of an eye. All things inglorious in me will suddenly be replaced by glorious things. All things disgraceful in me will suddenly be replaced with honorable things (1 John 3:2)

How does this reality serve as a weapon in fighting worldliness? 1 John 3:3 says "Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."
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Monday, January 23, 2012

May Lugar ba ang Feng Shui sa Buhay-Kristiyano?

May dragon dance.
May bigayan ng tikoy
May mga bati Kung Hei Fat Choi!
Chinese New Year na nga.

Karaniwan ring itinatampok sa panahong ito ay ang paniniwala sa Feng Shui. Ito ay nakabatay sa prinsipyo na may positibong enerhiya (chi) na naghahatid ng suwerte sa ating buhay. Ito ay nagdadala sa atin ng tagumpay, kapayapaan, kasaganaan, kalusugan at kasiyahan. Ang positibong enerhiya na ito ay dapat palapitin at padaluyin ng malaya sa iyong tahanan kung nais mong maging maganda ang iyong buhay. Kailangang alam mo rin iugnay ang puwersang ito sa iba pang mga prinsipyo tulad ng Yin Yang, at Wu Xing (limang elemento).

Kailangang alam mo kung ano ang mga palamuti na iyong isasabit, wastong mga kristal, wastong kulay ng kurtina, tamang hugis at direksyon ng hagdanan, kung saan dapat nakatapat ang pintuan, kung saan ang tamang puwesto ng kalan, kung ilan ang tamang bilang ng mga upuan at marami pang iba.

At kung sakaling ikaw ay nahihilo sa mga kumplikadong prinsipyo ng feng shui, maaari kang sumangguni sa mga feng shui expert. Ilan sa mga kliyente ng feng shui experts ay mga malalaking korporasyon, mga matitinik na negosyante, mga batikang pulitiko at mga sikat na artista.

Sa isang panayam, sinabi ng isang nagtitinda ng mga palamuting pang-feng shui: “Puro science na kasi ang nasa isip ng mga tao ngayon. Pero subukan lang ninyo. Wala namang mawawala.”

Sa paskil na ito, maghahain ako ng tatlong dahilan kung bakit ako tutol sa feng shui; at ang tatlong ito'y hindi dahil sa puros science ang nasa isip ko (mahina nga ako sa subject na 'yan eh). Ang mga pinakamahahalagang bagay sa 'kin ay mga katotohanang supernatural tulad ng Trinidad, Virgin Birth, muling-pagkabuhay, muling pagbabalik ni Kristo, at ang langit bilang walang hanggang destinasyon ng mga mananampalataya.

Unang batayan ng aking pagtutol
Hindi totoo na walang mawawala kung susubukan natin ang feng shui. Ang pagsandal ng ating buhay sa mga gawaing may kinalaman sa okultismo ay hindi kinalulugdan ng Diyos. Sa pagpasok ng mga Israelita sa Lupang Pangako, ang bilin sa kanila ay huwag tularan ang kanilang mga karatig-bansa sa mga gawaing katulad nito.

Tandaan na kapag ang Diyos ay nagbigay ng utos, ito ay para sa ikabubuti ng tao.(Deut. 28:1-2). At kapag may ipinagbawal siya, ito ay para ilayo tayo sa kapahamakan. Alam na alam ng mga sinaunang magulang natin na sina Adan at Eba ang ibig kong sabihin (Gen.3:16-19).

Ikalawang batayan ng aking pagtutol
Sa Feng Shui, binibitiwan natin ang ating pagtitiwala sa isang personal na Diyos at ang kapalit nito'y pagsandal sa isang impersonal na puwersa.

Dahil personal ang Diyos ng Bibliya, maaari tayong magkaroon ng relasyon sa kanya. Personal ang pagsinta niya sa atin; personal rin ang pag-ibig natin sa kanya. Maaari natin siyang kausapin at ibulong sa kanya ang laman ng ating mga damdamin. Ito ay mga bagay na hindi mo maaaring gawin sa isang puwersa-- tulad na lamang ng kuryente. Hindi ka maaaring magkaroon ng relasyon sa kuryente. Hindi ka maaaring ibigin ng kuryente. Ganyan na ganyan sa Feng Shui; ang ating buhay sa kasalukuyan at kinabukasan ay ipinagkakatiwala natin sa impersonal na chi na ni walang batayan sa bibliya.

Ikatlong batayan ng aking pagtutol
Ang konsepto ng malas at suwerte ay pagtanggi sa biblikal na pagpapakilala ng Diyos bilang makapangyarihan sa lahat, na siyang may kontrol ng mga bagay-bagay at mga pangyayari sa ating daigdig. Kay Kristo nakasalalay ang kaayusan at pag-iral ng lahat ng mga bagay (Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3).

Kung ikaw ay tumutubo sa negosyo, ang tawag ng sanlibutan ay suwerte. Kapag ikaw ay nalulugi, ang tawag ng sanlibutan ay malas. Subalit sa mga anak ng Diyos, walang minamalas. Wala rin namang sinusuwerte. Sila ay mga pinagpala. Sapagkat mayroong Diyos na kumikilos sa lahat ng mga bagay at pangyayari upang magdulot ng mabubuting bagay sa buhay ng mga umiibig sa Diyos at mga tinawag ayon sa kanyang layunin. (Roma 8:28)

Sa mga anak ng Diyos...
… maging ang pagkalugi ay hindi malas
… maging ang gutom ay hindi malas
….maging ang pag-uusig ay hindi malas
… maging ang mga bayo at lindol ay hindi malas
… maging ang kanser at iba pang mga karamdaman ay hindi malas.

Bagkus, ang lahat ng mga ito ay instrumento ng Diyos upang hubugin sa wangis ni Kristo ang mga mananampalataya (Roma 8:29)
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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Joseph Prince and Benny Hinn AGAINST the Inspired Narrator

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
    and naked I will depart.
  The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
    may the name of the LORD be praised."
(Job 1:21)

Joseph Prince's Commentary:
"Thinking that God was the source of his problems and not knowing that it was actually Satan who had come against him, he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Such a statement seems to honor God, but in reality, it reveals an erroneous view of our heavenly Father." (source)

Benny Hinn's Commentary:
"You know what? We've said it this a million times and it's not even scriptural-- all because of Job: 'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." I have news for you: that is not Bible, that's not Bible. The Lord giveth and never taketh away. And just because he said, 'Blessed be the name,' he was just being religious and being religious don't mean you're right." (TBN, Nov. 3, 1990)



The Inspired Narrator's Commentary:

"In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." (Job 1:21)




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 Related post:

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Si Kim II-Sung, si Kim Jong il, at si Yahweh

Isa sa mga istatwa ni Kim Il-Sung

Sa kasaysayan ay may mga naitala na mga hari, emperador at ipa pang mga namumuno na umangkin na sila ay mga diyos at nararapat sambahin ng kanilang mga nasasakupan. Kung hindi man sila mismo ang umangkin nito, sila ay isinilang at lumaki sa isang kultura na ganito ang paniniwala. Ang mga ito ay Imperial cults kung tawagin.

Kung sa akala natin ito ay nangyari lamang sa mga sinaunang panahon, nagkakamali tayo. Sa kasamaan ng puso ng tao, ang pagsamba sa mga nilalang sa halip na sa lumalang ay buhay na buhay maging sa modernong panahon. Ang isang halimbawa nito ay ang kaso ng mag-amang Kim II-Sung at Kim Jong il ng Hilagang Korea.

Sapagkat sarado ang Hilagang Korea sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa ibang mga bansa, ito rin ang pinakamahirap pasukin ng mga misyonero ng ebanghelyo.

Bagamat ang Hilagang Korea ay isang atheistic nation, sa pamamagitan ng propaganda ay nabuo ang mga cult of personalities, una kay Kim II-Sung; pangalawa sa anak niya na humalili sa kanya na si Kim Jong il.

Ang titulo ni Kim II-Sung sa kanilang Saligang Batas ay "Walang Hanggang Pangulo". Ang kanyang kaarawan ay isang pambansang holiday. Mahigit 500 istatwa niya ang nagkalat sa buong Hilagang Korea. Kaugalian sa mga bagong kasal ang mag-alay ng mga bulaklak sa pinakamalapit na istatwa niya.

Ayon sa isang artikulo ni Albert Mohler na ipinaskil sa CNN Belief Blog, itinuro sa mga paaralan na si Kim II-Sung ay imortal; kaya naman nagulantang ang karamihan nang kanilang mabalitaan ang kanyang kamatayan noong 1994.

Sa paghalili sa kanya ni Kim Jong il sa pamumuno, nagpatuloy ang propaganda at ito'y kinagat naman ng taumbayan. Marami sa kanila ay naniwala na ang kanilang pinuno ay may espesyal sa kapangyarihan. Tulad ni Storm ng X-Men, siya daw ay may kapangyarihang kontrolin ang panahon.

May isang awit rin na tunog worship song ang paulit-ulit na ipinatugtog sa mga istasyon ng radyo at maging sa mga lansangan gamit ang mga malalakas na speakers. Ito ay ang awiting No Mother Land Without You"

You pushed away the severe storm
You made us believe, Comrade Kim Jong-il
We cannot live without you
Our country cannot exist without you!

Our future and hope depend on you
People's fate depends on you, Comrade Kim Jong-il!
We cannot live without you
Our country cannot exist without you!

Even if the world changes hundreds of times
People believe in you, Comrade Kim Jong-il
We cannot live without you
Our country cannot exist without you!

Oh... Our Comrade Kim Jong-il
Our country cannot exist without you!

Pero tulad ng kanyang ama, nilisan din ni Kim Jong-il ang Hilagang Korea sa kanyang pagpanaw noong Disyembre 17, 2011.

Naalala ko tuloy ang Awit 82 kung saan tinipon ni Yahweh ang mga pinakapangyarihang pinuno sa daigdig at tuwirang sinabi sa kanila na bagamat sila ay mga tinatawag na mga diyos, sila ay mamamatay ring lahat. Tulad rin ng mga karaniwang tao, sila man ay nasa ilalim ng paghatol ng Diyos. Nananatili at mananatili na walang kapantay ang Diyos ng bibliya.

 "Ako si Yahweh, ako lamang ang Diyos at wala ng iba..." (Isa. 45:5)

"Walang ibang Diyos maliban sa akin,
Walang nauna at wala ring papalit" (Isa. 43:10)

Siya lamang talaga ang walang hanggang mauupo sa kanyang trono.

"Ngunit ikaw Yahweh ang tunay na Diyos,
ikaw ang Diyos na buhay
Haring Walang Hanggan" (Jeremias 10:10)

Sa pagsasaad ng bibliya na ang Diyos ay Haring walang hanggan, hindi lamang nito sinasabi na ang kanyang paghahari ay walang wakas. Kundi sinasabi rin nito na ang Diyos ay walang simula. Ang mga hari, emperador at pangulo sa daigdig ay ipinaglihi ng kanilang mga ina. Doon lamang nagsimula ang kanilang pag-iral. Subalit ang Diyos na nakaluklok sa kaitaas-taasan ay nagtataglay na ng kanyang kapangyarihan bago pa man malikha ang lahat ng nilikha.

"Bago nilikha ang mga bundok, o bago mo nilikha ang lupa at ang sanlibutan, ika'y Diyos, mula sa walang hanggan hanggang sa walang hanggan." (Awit 90:2)

Bukod pa doon,  Ayon sa mga sari-saring ulat, malupit sa taong-bayan ang kanilang pamamahala. Halimbawa na lang ay ang ulat na ito mula sa Commission on Human Rights ng United Nations:

"Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, public executions, extra judicial and arbitrary detention, the absence of due process and the rule of law, imposition of the death penalty for political reasons, the existence of a large number of prison camps and the extensive use of forced labour;

Sanctions on citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea who have been repatriated from abroad, such as treating their departure as treason leading to punishments of internment, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or the death penalty;

All-pervasive and severe restrictions on the freedoms of thought, conscience, religion, opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association and on access of everyone to information, and limitations imposed on every person who wishes to move freely within the country and travel abroad;

Continued violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, in particular the trafficking of women for prostitution or forced marriage, ethnically motivated forced abortions, including by labour inducing injection or natural delivery, as well as infanticide of children of repatriated mothers, including in police detention centres and labour training camps."

Malayong-malayo 'yan sa trato ng Diyos sa mga makasalanang naninirahan sa kanyang daigdig. Si Yahweh ay mabuti sa lahat. Siya ay may habag at pagmamalasakit sa lahat ng kanyang mga nilalang (Awit 145:9).  At dahil ang paghahari ng Diyos ay walang katapusan, kailanma'y hindi rin magwawakas ang nararanasan nating katapatan niya, kabutihan niya, habag niya, biyaya niya, at pag-ibig niya.

"Ang Panginoon ay mabuti
 Ang kanyang pag-ibig ay mananatili magpakailanman
 Ang kanyang katapatan ay magpapatuloy sa bawat salinlahi" (Awit 100:5)