tHe WoRLd oF tYrO

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness. —2 Peter 3:9

If there were a contest for most popular virtue, I suspect that “fast” would beat “best.” Many parts of the world seem to be obsessed with speed. The “fast” craze, however, is getting us nowhere—fast.

“The time has come to challenge our obsession with doing everything more quickly,” says Carl Honoré in his book In Praise of Slowness. “Speed is not always the best policy.”

According to the Bible, he’s right. Peter warned that in the last days people would doubt God because it seems He is slow (“slack”) in fulfilling His promise to return. Peter pointed out, however, that this seeming slowness is a good thing. God is actually demonstrating His patience by giving people more time to repent (2 Peter 3:9), and also being true to His character, as in patient or slow to anger (Ex. 34:6).

We too must be slow to become angry—and slow to speak (James 1:19). According to James, “quickness” is reserved for our ears. We’re supposed to be quick to listen. Think about how much trouble we could avoid if we learned to listen—really listen, not just stop talking—before we speak.

In our rush to meet goals and deadlines, let’s remember to speed up our listening and to slow down our tempers and our tongues.  — Julie Ackerman Link

“If a woman has a husband who is not a believer.” 1Co 7:13 NIV

Encourage your believer friend to do this for their mate: Accept them as they are. Take the conditions off your love – as God did for you. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son” (Ro 5:8-10 NIV). Love them with no requirements. That means:

(1) Accept them without criticism. “Don’t criticize, and then you won’t be criticized…others will treat you as you treat them” (Mt 7:1-2 TLB). Criticism always creates a standoff on spiritual issues. Instead, find qualities in them to compliment and you’ll generate openness.

(2) Accept them without comparisons. “I wish you were more like Tom. He and Lucie go to church together every Sunday and they have a great marriage.” You’re comparing apples with oranges! He’ll hear you say he’s not as good a husband as Tom, and he’ll grow to despise Tom, the church, and anything else you compare him to. Accept him as he is.

(3) Accept them without change. People resent demands for change, often changing once they feel truly accepted as they are. Change is the Holy Spirit’s job, not yours. “He will convict the world of guilt…sin and righteousness” (Jn 16:8 NIV). First, let God’s Spirit change you. Partner’s behaviors are usually responses to their better halves. When a partner changes, the otherresponds differently and will be more likely to change voluntarily. Follow God’s model: First, He accepts; next, He reconciles; last, He changes people! (See Ro 5:6-8). It worked on you!

Martha was distracted with much serving. —Luke 10:40

The university where I teach as an adjunct professor provides laptop computers for its students. While this can be an aid to the students in many ways, I have discovered one way it hinders learning: The laptops can become a distraction during class.

Because the students take notes on their laptops, they have them open on their desks during class. The problem is that they find texting their friends, visiting Facebook, or checking things on the Internet more interesting than my lectures.

A laptop loses value in the learning environment if it becomes a distraction—even if what the students are doing is positive.

Good things can do that. Things that have value can draw our attention away from what we should be paying attention to. This was true for Martha. Luke 10:40 says she was “distracted with much serving,” which took her away from spending time with Jesus. In the same way, a good hobby can have value in and of itself. But if it distracts you from your family responsibilities or relationship with God, some changes are needed.

Are life’s good options distracting you from what your primary priorities should be? Return, as Jesus told Martha, to what “is needed.”  — Dave Branon

“If a woman has a husband who is not a believer.” 1Co 7:13 NIV

More tips for someone who happens to have an unbelieving mate:

Don’t be surprised when you get opposition. “I think my husband liked me better before I became a Christian and started to go to church,” a woman complained to her pastor. The pastor reminded her that spiritual warfare is part of the Christian life, and because believers and unbelievers are on opposite sides, she shouldn’t be shocked. Jesus laid down the dividing line: “He who is not with Me is against Me” (Mt 12:30 NKJV). That’s strong language! Neutrality isn’t an option in this conflict. We are either on one side or the other. Jesus said: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you…If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you…all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me” (Jn 15:19-21 NKJV). Don’t take opposition personally. It’s not about you, it’s about His name. He, not you, is the target, and He can handle the criticism!

You say, “What should I do when I am criticized and misunderstood?” Try to stay detached from personal offense so that you can continue to love the person and be in a position to win them to Jesus. “Bless those who persecute you…Repay no one evil for evil…live peaceably with all men…do not avenge yourselves…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Ro 12:14-21 NKJV). Try it – it’s Christ’s winning strategy!

Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. —Genesis 5:24

The documentary In the Shadow of the Moon includes the story of Charlie Duke, one of the Apollo 16 astronauts launched to the moon in 1972. While the command ship orbited the moon, Duke and another astronaut landed the lunar module Orion on the moon’s surface. After 3 days of running experiments and collecting lunar rocks, the Apollo 16 crew safely returned to earth.

Later, Charlie had a spiritual transformation. He said it began when his friend invited him to a Bible study. After the meeting, Charlie prayed to Christ, “I give You my life, and if You’re real come into my life.” He then experienced an indescribable peace. It was so profound that he began to share his story with others. Charlie told them, “My walk on the moon lasted 3 days and it was a great adventure, but my walk with God lasts forever.”

The Bible tells us of another man who walked with God. “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:24). His spiritual walk with God was so close that God took him directly into eternity (see Heb. 11:5).

We can learn a lesson from Charlie and Enoch. For believers, no matter where our journey leads, our walk with God will last for eternity!  — Dennis Fisher

“If a woman has a husband who is not a believer.” 1Co 7:13 NIV

Living with an unbelieving mate is both a challenge and an opportunity. It’s a challenge because believers and unbelievers see life differently. And it’s an opportunity because God can use the believer to close the gap and win them to Christ. But for that to take place, the faith-bearing matemust make two commitments:

(1) Commit to the goal of their salvation.
(2) Commit to his or her own growth through loving the unbelieving mate and living with them. Once committed, then the believer is ready for this practical and helpful counsel.

Remember the unbeliever’s spiritual limitations. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2Co 5:17 NIV). Only when they’re “in Christ” can they be a “new creation.” Only then will “the old” go! The old will dominate until they receive the new. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (Jn 3:6). Remember, the unbeliever suffers from spiritual birth defects they can’t overcome until the new birth corrects them. “The flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so…those…in the flesh cannot please God” (Ro 8:7-8 NAS). If they don’t love God’s Word, prayer and church like you do, it’s because they’re controlled by the flesh and are “not even able” to. So have realistic expectations. Remember what you were like B.C. (Before Christ)? Be patient, loving and kind while God does His work in them. Share this, and the subsequent days’ devotions with your friend, neighbor, or even parent. Your encouragement could be a big help.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. —Psalm 1:3

In the quietness of my final years I plan to watch a tree grow—a birch tree I planted as a tiny sapling over 30 years ago. It stands now in mature splendor, just outside our picture window—beautiful in every season o

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Mt 5:7

Agnes Goddard writes, “The first assignment for my husband Cecil in his art class was to sketch the San Luis Rey mission in Oceanside, California. Everyone turned in a sketch. When the teacher came to Cecil’s, he held it up and said, ‘Who’s the figure in the doorway of the mission?’ Cecil said, ‘That’s the padre.’ The teacher said, ‘Don’t you think he looks a little sick?’ ‘He could be,’ Cecil responded. ‘I’m an artist, not a doctor.’”

Not a day goes by without somebody doing or saying something that evokes in us the need to form an opinion about them. It could be the way they dress, the way they speak, their challenging comebacks, and even the very color of their skin, and the size of their allowances. The idea that we have to “sort it all out” and make judgments about it, is an idea we are born with. The ancient fathers said that judging others is a heavy burden, whereas being judged by them is a light one. Once we let go of our need to judge others, we experience an incredible freedom. We are free to “obtain mercy.”

Most of us aren’t aware of how deeply rooted our prejudices are. We’ve convinced ourselves we relate easily to people who are different from us. But our spontaneous thoughts, uncensored words, and knee-jerk reactions reveal that our prejudices color our thinking. Strangers (people different from us) stir up fear, suspicion and hostility. They make us lose our sense of security by being just “others.” What’s the answer? Only when we embrace God’s unconditional love for us, and begin to see those “other” people as equally loved by Him, can we build bridges over which we can walk to share God’s love and enjoy His family.

This is the complete set of NLE board passers. The nursing board exam result below is also from the PRC website so if you want the complete list, please visit them at prc.gov.ph. Congratulations to all new professional nurses for passing the nurse licensure examination in the Philippines this year 2010.

Roll of Successful Examinees in the
NURSE LICENSURE EXAMINATION
Held on NOVEMBER 29 & 30, 2009
Released on JANUARY 30, 2010

10461 DA JOSE, JERRY DE BELEN
10462 DA JOSE, JULIA ERIKA TRINIDAD
10463 DA-ANOY, DAFFODILE DIVINAGRACIA
10464 DAABAY, ALAN RAY NIETES
10465 DAAG, ERWIN CHICO
10466 DAAMO, ANN KATHLEEN BESTIL
10467 DAAN, DAISY CAMILE
10468 DAAN, KRISTEL MAE RIZALDO
10469 DAAN, MARK JOSEPH GOLOSINO
10470 DAANOY, SHEENA TORRALBA
10471 DAAROL, DIOSCORO OSING
10472 DABANDAN, BERYL ANNE FORTALEZA
10473 DABANDAN, DJERTY JEAN RAMOS
10474 DABANDAN, MARY ANN MARCIAL
10475 DABOCOL, ABE TUAZON
10476 DABON, JENNY BONTIA
10477 DABU, KATRINA NICOLAS
10478 DABUCO, RHONA HOPE GALENO
10479 DACALOS, RHONELIE CRISTY PAYPA
10480 DACANAY, DEBORAH GAE CALUYA
10481 DACANAY, DON DAVID DOROÑO
10482 DACANAY, KRISTEL JOY MARIE NARVAS
10483 DACANAY, KRIZZA AQUINO
10484 DACANAY, MICHAEL JOHN FERRERIA
10485 DACANAY, RAQUEL BANGAO
10486 DACAPIO, ARGIE MAY PALERMO
10487 DACARA, CYREL ARAÑA
10488 DACARA, IRIS VERNA ORARIO
10489 DACARA, MARLON JACINTO
10490 DACARA, MARLON OLIVER LOZADA
10491 DACASIN, DAWN TORRALBA
10492 DACAY, ALFREDO JR GABATO
10493 DACAYANAN, RUBELYN ESPINUEVA
10494 DACAYO, DOMINIC VILLALVA
10495 DACAYO, KIMBERLEY LACUESTA
10496 DACAYO, MARY JOYCE HAZEL ANTONIO
10497 DACAYO, RIDGELYN DIÑO
10498 DACAYO, ROEL DACUSIN
10499 DACCOG, NOEL LITO DENSEN
10500 DACERA, JERVIN KIP OGUES

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Here is the complete Letter C nursing board exam result February 2010 as released in the PRC website today February 1, 2010. Congratulations to all who were able to pass the nurse licensure exam 2010 (NLE 2010).

Roll of Successful Examinees in the
NURSE LICENSURE EXAMINATION
Held on NOVEMBER 29 & 30, 2009
Released on JANUARY 30, 2010

6704 CA-ANG, JENNIFER FAJARDO
6705 CAABAY, ALLAN PAUL ARZAGA
6706 CAABAY, HECILL AGUILAR
6707 CAABAY, MA CONSUELO YAP
6708 CAAGBAY, ALPHA MAE PAGANA
6709 CAAGBAY, JANN MAVERICK LACORTE
6710 CAALEM, PATRICIA MARIE CABRIAS
6711 CAALIM, APRIL CLARISSE SOLIS
6712 CAALIM, AURILLO JR BALASBAS
6713 CAALIM, MHEE-ANNE ROSALES
6714 CAAMPUED, DANIEL RABADON
6715 CAAMPUED, MARIA GEWELMA CAMILA
6716 CAAMPUED, PERPETUA ANGELA COLINA
6717 CAAMUD, LEONELL ORSOLINO
6718 CAANDAY, ALLAN GINE PUNSALAN
6719 CAASI, CHRISTINE LLOYD MEDINA
6720 CAASI, JACKELYN NISPEROS
6721 CAASI, KENNETH ADANGLA
6722 CAASI, PAUL JOHN LADRA
6723 CAASI, TERENCE VELASCO
6724 CAAWAY, GRETCHEN MARIE BADO
6725 CAAYA, MARK ANTHONY LAMSON
6726 CABAB, GERLAINT SEAN PASTELERO
6727 CABABASADA, VIOLY CHAVIT
6728 CABABASAY, EDEM ARSENAL
6729 CABABAT, HAYASHI CESPEDES
6730 CABABAYAO, NEDI JESSA CABREROS
6731 CABACABA, BEJAY CABALLERO
6732 CABACO, JENNELYN TRINIDAD
6733 CABACUNGAN, KARYLL FERRARIS
6734 CABACUNGAN, KENT PASTOR
6735 CABACUNGAN, WINDEL BASCONCILLO
6736 CABADING, JEANETTE PUYONG
6737 CABADING, XERXEL MARIE TURNO
6738 CABADONGA, JEANETH LAGURA
6739 CABAEL, CHARIZE FLOSA
6740 CABAEL, JOSEPHINE ELLAINE OCAMPO
6741 CABAGAY, MARY GRACE BALBIN
6742 CABAGBAG, REA EVANGELISTA
6743 CABAGNOT, RHON OCOT
6744 CABAGUI, MARY GRACE NALIZA
6745 CABAHIT, RUTH BARGA
6746 CABAHUG, ALROE CANANGA
6747 CABAHUG, CARYL SHANE REVALDE
6748 CABAHUG, CONRAD EARL MARCIALES
6749 CABAHUG, EMPRESS MARIE BUENDIA
6750 CABAHUG, ERMA BASADRE

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