We`re Having A Weekly FEAST Soon!

I was taken aback by her response. I blinked hard and asked, “Why?”
“Oh Brother Bo, I don’t feel spiritually fed here. The homilies are lifeless. I don’t feel ministered in my soul. My spiritual thirst isn’t quenched. After Mass, I don’t feel inspired.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but…”
I couldn’t interrupt her. “But Brother Bo, six months ago, my friends invited me to this Born Again church in the Ortigas area and I’ve been so blessed. My life has changed! The preaching really feeds the spirit. And the worship is alive. I go home after the service bringing home God’s message in my heart.”
“I understand. But if you really understood the truth of the Eucharist, you’ll realize it’s the life-giving Body and Blood of Jesus Himself. How can you not be fed?”
“But where will I get fed with Gods’ Word? Don’t get me wrong Brother Bo, I’ll always remain Catholic and I’ll still go to Mass here. But right after Mass, you’ll also see me attending in that Born Again church. Because that’s where my soul is fed with God’s Word.”

Another Reminder On Core Gift

I wanted to post this as a comment to one of your blogs, but it turned out to be quite long. So I decided to write it in instead.

I make use of all 24 hours in a day - and feel like asking the Lord for 1000 more... I work in events and marketing and have been known to work from 6am to 6am. And yet the work is never done. There is always something to email, some small bit to complete.

I am primarily a writer (mostly I write scripts and event concepts). But I am also an event programmer-slash-production manager-slash-talent coordinator-slash-account manager-slash-sponsorship marketer-slash-voice talent-slash-entrepreneur-slash-whatever else I need to be. Little wonder why I have so little time. Though I am a writer by profession, I have yet to write a single blog, despite its extreme popularity; it's been years since I've even kept a diary. I'm so busy writing for other people, I barely have any words left for myself.

Except today. I read your article on Manny Pacquiao which my mom forwarded to me. It has led me to question - what is MY core gift? I've always thought of myself as a Jane of all trades. (Whatever I did, I had to be good at it - not because I had "natural" talent but because I wouldn't stop until I got it right.) But the one thing no one taught me to do, the one thing that I knew I had since I was young, was a certain way with words. I recognize it as God’s gift to me.

And now I wonder if I’m using it wisely. Since the onslaught of events for the Christmas season, I wake up at 8am each morning with my heart beating so fast, worried that I might have slept in too late although I’d been awake the previous “night” until 4am. The first thought in my mind as I jump up from bed would be “S***! (profanity edited) What did I not do? What have I not finished?”

After weeks of this, it had to take its toll. On my way home from work today, I had shortness of breath; I was just sitting and I felt my heart constricting. Not a sharp, piercing pain, but a slow squeezing of my chest. I was running all things I needed to do in my head: write new concept paper, revise a website article, finish my event checklist… block the anxiety attack that’s coming.

Then I got home and checked my mail. I happened to come across my mom’s email of your article. And just now, as I was reading your words, it was as if God whispered in my heart, “Be still.”

“So you can hear me. So you may know this is not what I planned for you. You never have enough time because I do not mean for you do all these things. I only need you to FOCUS on what is important.”

And so tonight, I won’t be doing a new concept paper, revising a website article, and doing an event checklist. All that will have to wait for tomorrow morning. I will breathe deeply, lie in bed, pray, and wait for my mom to get home so I can hug her in a way I haven’t been able to do since I started working more than 5 years ago. In the coming weeks, no matter what needs to be done, I will not panic. I will do my work but it is not my life. And hopefully I will learn to wake up each morning and think “Thank you, Lord, for this day. I will do my work; I will let you take care of the rest.”

But before I do that, I just wanted to write and say “thank you.”

Thank you Bo. I hope more people hear God through your words.

The Philippines Is #1 In Call Centers

Ang galing talaga ng Pinoy.
One of the TOYM co-awardees with me is Benedict Hernandez, the guy behind E-telecare, one of the three largest Call Centers in the country. Under his leadership, his company grossed P8 Billion last year. (I told him, “No wonder we’re both TOYM awardees. Gosh, we’re so alike. Last year, my food business earned the same figure. Almost. My business grossed P8T…”)
From him, I learned that the Philippines is now the #1 choice for Call Centers in the entire world. Hey, we’re not only #1 in Boxing, #1 in Billiards, we’re also #1 in Call Centers. (I’m sure Benedict Hernandez won’t like my analogy, but to me, he’s like the Manny Pacquiao of Call Centers.)
Somehow, I always thought India was first, and we were second. I got that idea after reading Thomas Friedman’s humongous book, The World Is Flat.
But Benedict said that three years ago, that question on who’s the best was already settled—and the Philippines is champ. Though our Call Centers are 20% more expensive than other countries, Filipinos provide superior quality. Naks!
Because this superior quality spells repeat customers (and thus higher profits) for these giant companies, the Philippines has become their first choice.
In fact, Benedict told me that he had American companies who at first turned them down, built their Call Centers in other countries, only to return to them again after a few years. They were not satisfied and wanted the quality that our Call Centers provide.
The entire Call Center industry now gives 150,000 jobs to Filipinos. Benedict’s own company hires an additional 650 new Call Center agents per month. They actually double in size every year.
Here’s the projection: In four years, the entire Call Center industry will give 500,000 jobs to Filipinos. Half-a-million people and their families will be fed!
But here’s something that I didn’t know.
In four years, the Call Center industry will give the country $10B each year. Do you know that’s the same amount of money that OFW’s remit back to the Philippines each year? Remember how people always say that without the OFW remittances each year, our country’s economy would have gone down the dogs? Well, here’s another industry that will bless the Philippines with another $10B!
And the bonus? No one has to go out of the country.
I believe that the CALL CENTER industry is a gift to our country.
I asked Benedict, “Five hundred thousand agents is a lot of people. Can you find enough qualified Filipinos for that?” He said he’s confident they can, even if the standards are very tough.
Reality: For every one hundred applicants, only one gets hired.
But from those that they reject, they choose a few with potential to undergo free training—and even pay them to be trained! Today, 30% of their new hires come from these “once-rejected-but-now-trained” applicants.
Gosh, I felt so much hope for our country.
After talking to Benedict, I realized that all these wouldn’t have been possible if English wasn’t our second language. Both the Call Center industry and even the OFW industry wouldn’t have been possible without it.
But mind you, Call Center agents aren’t just telephone operators.
Benedict’s company even has agents that sell mutual funds and stocks for the US Stock Market. That sophisticated. Don’t be confused with the technology they use (telephone) with the high expertise they need to have.
I thank God magaling talaga ang Pinoy.

Thank You For The TOYM Award

Four days ago, I was named a TOYM awardee.
TOYM stands for The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines. A few days from now, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will give me the TOYM award in Malacanang.
I’m deeply, deeply thankful.
First of all, I’ve always been wondering if I’m getting too old. Now I know I’m still young, with a tangible proof, in the form of an individually-chiselled TOYM statuette by National Artist Abueva.
Seriously, it’s a fantastic honor to receive the TOYM award. To those who nominated me (Thank you Randy Manaloto) and to those who judged me worthy of this award, I’m very grateful. And I offer back this award to God. The two great women of my life—my wife and my mother—cried buckets of tears upon learning that I became a TOYM awardee.
Honestly, I wasn’t looking for it, desiring for it, praying for it, or even thinking of it. Awards don’t figure high in my priority list. (Goodness, I didn’t even attend my college graduation. I was giving a retreat somewhere.)
All these years, I just busied myself serving God and serving God’s people.
Here’s my attitude to all awards: Some days, you get recognized for your efforts. At other days, you get crucified for trying to do good.
Today, I’m being recognized.
Praise God.
But I won’t let it dull me into thinking this is how all my tomorrows would look like. No, it won’t be. I’ve been persecuted in the past for doing what I believe was right—and I know I’ll be persecuted again.
Still, this won’t stop me from celebrating. This is a wonderful gift from above.
But here’s what I’m really celebrating even more than my award: To have the honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of the best. In a few days, you’ll be able to watch the TOYM interview in Preacher In Blue Jeans and meet the entire list of awardees.
In my next blogs, I’ll introduce them to you one by one.
In the meantime, all I can say is Thank You.
This award isn’t mine alone, but includes every person in my team. I receive this award in their behalf. I’m nothing without them. They have supported me all the way.
My family, my donors, my co-workers, my staff… You know who you are.
Thank you for being there.

I’m So Touched By Your Comments�Thank You!

This is just a short blog.
I’m overwhelmed, touched, blown away, moved by all those that write in the “comments” page—both in my BLOGS and in PREACHER IN BLUE JEANS.
How I wish I could write each comment-writer a very big “Thank You!” note each time someone encourages me or tells me how blessed they are.
But even if I can’t do that because of the sheer number of comments, please know that I do read ALL your comments. And I really am inspired to serve you even more. Reading each of your comments pushes me to continue this ministry.
Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you.

PS. It’s November 22 now. There are now only 38 days left before the end of 2006. There are now close to 7,000 Kerygma Family Members. Can you help me raise this number to the stratosphere by December 31, 2006? Email all your friends to join the Kerygma Family by logging on www.kerygmafamily.com Tell them that donations are totally optional. The important thing is that they spiritually grow and are blessed. Let’s bring them closer to God and help them live a fantastic life.

My Audience In BOTOKS Cebu Was Incredible!

Last night was pure dynamite. But I think it’s better if an “attendee” talk about the concert. So I’m going to paste here a letter from Daisy Baad. By the way, Daisy is also an accomplished Producer & Director of many stage plays and musicales..

Radiant smiles, energized minds, joyful hearts, lifted spirits, renewed vigor -- just some of the things I saw from the people who underwent the BOTOKS experience. Yes, the comedy concert did exactly what it promised--take 10 years away from your face. Unlike the real Botox, this “face lift” procedure did not have the usual “constricted facial muscle” after-effect. On the contrary, it allowed most of the audience to become more expressive and animated as they left the theater recalling what this and that preacher did etc.. it even made some become more bold and daring as they squeezed their way to hug, greet, kiss and ask autographs from the preachers right after the performance.

From that alone, you would know the show was as success especially when you talk about pleasing the Cebu audience. It is no secret that Cebu is a place that many professional concert artists dread to face for the first time. It has become the so called “testing ground” of marketability, as marketing people often quip, ”if you can make it in Cebu, you can make it anywhere”. Yet, unlike the usual Cebu audience who go to watch shows, the Botoks audience was pleasantly surprising.

Let me explain. I’ve been in the performing arts for decades and have gone to various types of concerts from classical, to rock, to ethnic, to pop, to contemporary Christian concerts, featuring local, national and international artists— and believe me when I tell you that Cebu audience can be unforgiving. The technical glitches could have ignited complaints--- the so called “dead airs” could have prompted heckles, the miscued lighting could have brought on a wave of murmurs and the sound mix could have instigated a roar of disapproval. Amazingly, the Botoks audience was very forgiving, attentive, participative, open, warm and loving. This could only mean two things – the preachers emanated their love for God in their willingness to do unexpected things to give joy to those whom they serve and that the audience was composed of regular Kerygma Feast attendees who have come to a point in their lives where they saw not as the “world sees things but as God sees things”.

I must admit that as a stage director my first impulse was to see the things that needed improvement in a production, after all, in a live performance there is no such thing as “take 2”. All technical problems must therefore, be fixed before the actual performance. It was not surprising to find myself whispering “blackout!” or ask “what’s happening to the sounds.” As the show moved along however, all these technical things no longer mattered much. The attention was on the teachings now being thrown by these multitalented preachers who had their own unique style of delivering their punch lines and their sharing.

What I found amazing was the fact that the preachers’ respect for one another emanated in their production numbers. Not one was upstaging the other, not one was ego tripping, not one was “trying hard”. Each preacher was simply sincere, each one displayed their love for God in their distinct way, each one radiated God’s light--- they were simply truthful and passionate about what they were doing and were all having fun while doing so. These are the things that made the show grand, spectacular, awesome, breath taking and fun-filled.

It is indeed, a one of a kind concert! It taught lessons by example. The audience experienced how preachers can be relevant and funny at the same time, how the so called “worldly” songs can become songs of praise, how broken people can become powerful instruments of God’s love, how it is to look beyond the obvious mistakes to see the miracle of the moment, how unity in diversity can be achieved in the love of God, how possible it is for us to live a joyful life when our driving force is unconditional love and how younger we look and feel when that same unconditional love is in us and given freely to those who come into our lives!

BOTOKS is one holistic surgery I would highly recommend to anyone seeking the secret to younger looking being.

Daisy Baad
Cebu City


Note: BOTOKS will also be held in Bacolod (Nov 24), Iloilo (Nov 25), Davao (Nov 26), Ormoc (Dec 8), and Bohol (Dec 10). For more information, email beaconlight at beacon@philonline.com.ph BOTOKS is for the benefit of our many ministries—Anawim, Shepherds Voice TV and Radio Ministry, and our Gawad Kalinga village in Montalban.

Manny Pacquiao Knows His Core Gift

Kerygma Preacher Arun Gogna told me that while he and his wife Lalaine were watching The Pacman knock down El Terrible Last Sunday, Lalaine told him that were probably only two people in the entire world who wasn’t watching the fight: Pope Benedict and Bo Sanchez.
Sorry Lalaine, only one person didn’t watch.
Because last Sunday, after giving a retreat in Tagaytay, I had lunch with my family in a restaurant, and together with every breathing, living creature in that building, we watched the fight on public TV. And all of us—waiters, cooks, and customers—went berserk every time Pacquiao’s punch landed on Morales.
What a fight and what a boxer.
Obet Cabrillas, another Kerygma Preacher, was once a fierce boxer. (If you ask me, he still looks like one. Don’t let his height fool you!) We met last Sunday night and I asked him to analyze the fight and the fighter for me. He had followed Manny’s career from the start. And what he said fascinated me. Obet said that in one interview, one journalist asked Manny, “Meron ka bang agimat?” (Do you have an amulet?) And Manny said, “Wala akong agimat. Ang alam ko, Nagbibigay ng Diyos ng mga regalo sa tao. At ang binigay Niya sa akin, malakas akong sumuntok. Kaya ginagamit ko ito sa pagbigay ng kaluwalhatian sa Kanya…” (I don’t have an amulet. What I know is that God gives gifts to people. And He gave me the gift of a strong punch. I will use it to give glory to Him.”) This is a loose quotation, but it captures the essence of what Pacquiao said.
I’m reminded of another athlete who spoke about this same powerful principle. Eric Liddell, the Olympic champion sprinter, said, “God made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure…” (You can watch this inspiring story in the true-to-life movie, Chariots of Fire.)
Eric Liddell knew his core gift.
Manny Pacquiao knew his core gift.
Unless you know your core gift, you’ll never be a champion.
Kerygma Preacher Alvin Barcelona talks about his music mentor, Freddie Aguilar. He says that whenever he watched Freddie sing, he did it with 100% passion. In every concert, the audience would always ask Freddie to sing his worldwide “legendary” song, Anak. But even if he has sung this song a thousand times, he sings it with so much passion, you’d think he was singing it for the first time.
Alvin tells me a good story. He says that because Freddie helped in the EDSA Revolution, President Cory Aquino offered him a government position. (Department of Music?) His politely turned down the offer and said, “Tita Cory, gusto kong maglingkod sa bansa. Pero pagkanta lang alam ko.” (Auntie Cory, I want to serve the country. But I only know how to sing.)
I’m sure Freddie has many gifts. But he stuck to his core gift.
On November 21, I’m kicking-off the provincial tour of my Inspirational and Comedy Concert, Botoks. (Six cities for this year: Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao, Ormoc, and Bohol.) It’s entitled Botoks—not Bosings, Bocooks, or Bodances. Because my core gift is to speak. Yes I can sing too, but I’d rather let my fellow Kerygma Preachers wow the audience with their incredible singing voices.
My role is to preach God’s love to the world.
What is your core gift?
It’s the only way to be a Champion.PS. If you haven’t signed up, join the www.kerygmafamily.com, and get all the training you need to become a Champion in life. I’ll send you God’s Word everyday to nourish your soul and make you strong. Log onto www.kerygmafamily.com now and live a fantastic life.

Do You Have 24 Hours A Day? I Have 1000.

Sorry for the long silence in my blogs.
But hey, my Reality TV show, Preacher In Blue Jeans, has a brand new, exciting episode every single day! So I wasn’t silent at all but incredibly noisy!
I couldn’t write too many blogs during my hectic preaching trip in Indonesia. I was asking God to secretly give me 26 hours a day. “Lord, slip them in my back pocket when no one’s watching, so people won’t get envious.” But He shook his head and reminded me that He has already given me 1000 hours a day. (More on this later.)
If you watched my Indonesia episodes of Preacher In Blue Jeans, you would have gotten a feel for how wonderfully busy that trip was. (I’ll swing by there again when I make a preaching trip to Perth, Australia and Singapore on February 2007. See you!)
And when I landed back on Manila, I still couldn’t write my blogs because I had to give up my old laptop for a new one. Because Joy Sosoban, one of our new Kerygma editors, needed a laptop. So Kerygma editor-in-chief Rissa Singson wanted me to get the new laptop the office was buying, while my old computer gets passed on to Joy. (Sorry Joy, my laptop is an overworked, overstressed, overused animal.)
I’m a total slave driver when it comes to computers. When it comes to my staff, I’m just somewhat of a slave driver! Haha.
Actually, let me tell you a secret.
Do you know why our ministry is doing so well?
Because our staff of 75 people in our various organizations work harder than I do.
I have a favorite daydream.
It recurs so often, I think I’m obsessed.
I see myself walking up to them and giving them money. (Actually, this is just my second favorite daydream. My first favorite daydream is to see all my single female staff—like Rissa Singson—get married soon!)
My people work so hard for the Lord yet I know they don’t receive what they deserve. From writers to artists, janitors to accountants, cameramen to drivers, Anawim caregivers to laundry women (our ministry for the abandoned elderly)—all of them are my fantastic dream team of passionate servants for God.
And that’s why I have 1000 hours a day.
They multiply what I do for God.
I love working with my dream team.
Alone, a dedicated servant can do much for the Lord.
But together, a dream team of servants can do a thousand times more.
Join a team.

PS. Not many can work full-time like these 75 people. But you can still be part of our team by joining www.kerygmafamily.com You may not be able to work full-time like these 75 people, but with your prayers and love offerings, you can be our very crucial support without which we won’t be able to do God’s work at all. You’re a very important part of our Dream Team! Thank you for saying YES to God by becoming a member of the www.kerygmafamily.com

My Books Are My Evangelists

Gosh, it was very difficult to write a blog the past few days.
Travelling is tough. (In the last 36 hours, I’ve hopped on four planes.)
I just finished giving a talk to a thousand young Indonesian Catholics in Surabaya. A thousand! With the small Christian population here, that number is awesome.
They’re led by Ibu Jane, a 57-year old woman of God who doesn’t look 57 at all. Her husband and her two adult children are all part of the ministry. She also acted as my dynamic translator during the talk.
And wow, I cannot fully describe to you what I felt when I watched these young people worship God. At one point, they all knelt down and sang a Reuben Morgan Hillsong song. (By the way, there were no chairs in the hall. Everyone sat on red carpets.) I tell you, I felt God in that room. It was so beautiful, I wanted to cry.
Because they spoke in a different language, I couldn’t understand their prayers.
And yet, in a non-rational way, I understood them.
I understood every sigh, every word, every gesture, every cry.
We really have the same heart in all of us: The heart that’s desperate to be loved. And only God can satisfy that deepest longing of the human soul--completely.
I talked to Olive, a young Indonesian kindergarten teacher here who told me that she ordered my book Your Past Does Not Define Your Future from my website (www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph) She told me how God touched her through that book. Listening to her share to me, it hit me how we are all alike—no matter what race, tongue, color, or nationality we come from. We have the same wounds that need to be healed, the same fears that need to be faced.
In this trip, I brought 200 of my books with me. Dragging them with me all through the trip is my daily weight training regimen. But alas, I don’t have to drag them anymore. In my first event in Indonesia, they were wiped out. Every single book was taken. I have four events to go, and I’m so sad I have no more books for the other people there.
You see, I consider each of those books an “Evangelist”.
Each book will strive to touch the person who reads it. Hopefully, each book will be passed from one reader to another reader, blessing more people with God’s love. My 200 books will go around Surabaya and continue to evangelize long after I’ve gone. Isn’t that wonderful? Gosh, I’d love to have a million of those “Evangelists” working for me.
Anyway, just watch my daily Realty TV show Preacher In Blue Jeans. Yes, you can see what I’m doing here in Indonesia. Join kerygmafamily.com and enjoy all the TV shows.
When I get back in Manila, I’ll write more often in my blog.
By the way, I’m thinking of a name for my blog.
Would Writer In Brown Sandals do? Haha.

PS. Speaking of books, my friend Jomar Hilario texted me from the Philippines. He said that that the #1 bestseller now in National Book Store is my latest book, How To Find Your One True Love. That means more of my “Evangelists” are spreading all over the Philippines!

The Fall of Rev. Ted Haggard

I don’t know if you’ve read the news.
But Rev. Ted Haggard is all over it.
We don’t know him very well here, but he’s one of the most famous evangelical leaders in America.
Before I describe the scandal, let me tell you how big he is in the US.
His credentials: Senior Pastor of the 14,000 member New Life mega-church he founded 20 years ago; and the President of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)—a 30 Million strong organization in America. He was even named by TIME Magazine as one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America. He’s a 50 year old married man with five kids.
But last week, Mike Jones, a gay prostitute, accused Haggard of hiring him for sex. For the past 3 years, Jones said that Haggard would get his services “about once a month”. And he said that Haggard even used shabu to heighten the experience.
At first, the pastor denied the allegations on TV, saying he didn’t know Mike Jones and that he was faithful to his wife.
But when the voice recording Jones presented proved to be Haggard’s, he changed his story. He said he bought shabu from Jones but never used it—and that he only got a massage from Jones. He said he bought the drugs because he was tempted but threw them away.
But finally, the truth came out.
Haggard has finally admitted to sexual immorality. In his words, “The accusations that have been leveled against me are not all true, but enough of them are true…”
His church board has dismissed him as Senior Pastor.
Ted Haggard wrote a farewell letter to his church. Let me quote a few lines…

I am a deceiver and a liar. There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I’ve been warring against it all of my adult life. For extended periods of time, I would enjoy victory and rejoice in freedom. Then, from time to time, the dirt that I thought was gone would resurface, and I would find myself thinking thoughts and experiencing desires that were contrary to everything I believe and teach…
Then, because of pride, I began deceiving those I love the most because I didn’t want to hurt or disappoint them…
When I stopped communicating about my problems, the darkness increased and finally dominated me. As a result, I did things that were contrary to everything I believe.

Ted is not the first to fall.
In a shocking 1983 doctoral thesis by Richard Blackmon, he reported that 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner.
On the other side of the religious fence, we’ve read about the sex scandals of Catholic priests accused of pedophilia and sexual abuse towards women. So far, 800 priests are undergoing trial and 232 priests have been removed from pastoral work in America.
Why do I write this blog?
Because Ted Haggard and I are alike.
(In one sense, we all are.)
No, I’m not homosexually oriented.
Nor have I had sex with anyone other than my wife.
Nor have I ever taken drugs.
But how many times have I covered-up my own sins?
How many times have I tried to polish my image and made people believe I’m holier than I really was?
Let me say something controversial: Ted fell not because he used a male prostitute. Or that he took drugs.
He finally fell because he wasn’t honest.
Jones said Ted used him for three years.
That’s three years of cover-up, three years of dishonesty.
In my book, Your Past Does Not Define Your Future, I told everyone that I was addicted to pornography and sexual fantasies, and to this day, I’m always tempted to go back to my old addictions. These temptations will remain until I get buried six feet under mother earth. (Okay, to be sure, wait for two minutes after the last shovel of soil is placed over me.) In the book, I shared about how I was sexually abused as a child (yes, also by a religious leader when I was 13 years old). And how this destroyed my self-worth and warped my idea of sex.
You know what?
Writing about my weakness became my salvation.
I became honest.
And honesty saves us from more sin.
No, I’m not saying that everyone should now write a book about their weaknesses.
But we should have a small group of people that know our sins.
And I’ve realized that it can’t be a one-time honesty.
Only daily honesty can save us.
For example, I have a spiritual director. (Hi, Fr. Steve!) We’re supposed to meet every other month, but when things get busy, guess what’s the first activity I postpone? (Sorry, Fr. Steve!)
Thankfully, I go to confession regularly to my other friend priests.
Sometimes, it’s so shameful to say the same things over and over again in confession—“Father, I’ve fallen again to sexual fantasies, pride, laziness…” Sometimes, I’m tempted to hand him a Xeroxed copy and say, “Same as before Father…”
But that’s not totally true.
Over the years, I’ve seen a teeny-weeny, itsy-bitsy, can’t-see-with-the-naked-eye, microscopic improvement in my fight against sin. Perhaps I don’t sin as much. (I sinned 3,566,929 times last year. This year, I sinned only 3,566,928 times.)
Aside from confession, I also have two groups of men that I open my life to: The elders of my community, Light of Jesus, and the Kerygma Preachers. We meet twice a month for prayer, sharing, and friendship.
But even that, it’s all up to me to be bring up my inner garbage to them.
Because it’s so tempting to say, “Everything is A-Ok,” or to focus the conversation purely on my ministry success and not on the inconsistencies of personal life. Because I’m sure Ted Haggard had these accountability relationships. He just didn’t use them.
Again, because honesty is a purely internal decision.
No matter what external structure you have—a spiritual director, monthly confessions, accountability small groups—at the end of the day, it’s still all up to you: Will you be honest today?
Being honest has helped me hang-on to holiness.
Yes, I intentionally use the word “Hang-on”.
Because I feel as though it’s a thread that’s keeping me faithful to God.
At anytime, the thread can snap—and I’ll be another Ted Haggard. (The difference between Ted Haggard and myself is a thread. Just a thread.)
It’s terrifying.
But that terror is good for my soul.
It reminds me to be honest today.
And the next day.
And the day after that…
Because if one morning, I face the mirror and can’t say I’m an honest person, then that’s it.
The thread has snapped.

Harnessing Media For God

I’m flat out exhausted today.
But as usual, I go to bed tired, happy, and handsome.
(They say sleep deprivation causes hallucinations.)
Let me tell you what happened today.
First, I went to Radio Veritas.
I was already there at 6:00am for our radio program Gabay sa Radyo. (It’s aired at dizzying time slots. It’s 4:00am from Monday to Thursday, 3:00am every Friday, 4:00am on Saturday, and 6:00am on Sundays. We hope to get better time slots, but it will cost more. But I’m confident that more people will join www.kerygmafamily.com and support us each month.)
Rissa Singson, Randy Borromeo, Alvin Barcelona and I were celebrating our one year anniversary as a radio program. And boy, did we have fun!
Randy is a terrific voice impersonator, so we were greeted on the air by “Mike Enriquez”, “Rey Langit”, and “Erap Estrada”. It was simply hilarious.
And another thing: For that whole hour, listeners bombarded us with calls and texts, telling us how blessed they are with our program. Gosh, it was a tidal wave!
Nakakataba ng puso.
Some of the messages we received:
“Our day isn’t complete without your program”;
“You’re our alarm clock every morning, connecting us with God”;
“You don’t know how you nourish our spirits.”
Do you want to hear something inspiring?
A loyal Gabay sa Radyo listener is a manicurist.
But ever since she started listening Gabay sa Radyo, she told us that she has grown financially because our “spiritual” radio program encouraged her to start many sidelines—like selling eggs and vegetables. Isn’t that amazing?
That's the power of media. And yes, the radio program changes lives!
Sometimes, media is used for evil. I don’t have to explain that.
But as long as I’m alive, I’ll continue to use media to bless the world with God’s love. Help me! Join www.kerygmafamily.com and support our ministry.

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By 7:30am today, we were off to Camp Aguinaldo for the FEAST.
We had 3 jam-packed, overflowing FEAST sessions today and I preached in all three of them. That was 3,000+ people.
Behind the scenes, something exciting was happening: Our computer expert Paolo Abadesco was hard at work, video streaming the Manila FEAST “live” to our leaders in Cebu and Iloilo. It was just a test. Paolo reported that he needs to tinker with the system further. But once perfected, we’ll be able to video-stream the FEAST to the many satellite FEASTS all over the Philippines and the world. Wow, that’s our big dream!
In between FEAST sessions, Rissa taped for KerygmaTV, which is aired every Wednesday at 9:30pm at RPN 9.
On the other hand, I spoke also to the camera for my daily reality TV show Preacher in Blue Jeans—for the internet, which you can watch right here.
And now, I’m blogging.
Gosh, this day has been too exciting.
But tomorrow is exciting too! I go to Cebu. And guess whom I’ll be meeting there? I’ll be interviewing the great Tita Julie of Julie’s Bakeshop. (Soon, you’ll see the video in Preacher In Blue Jeans.)
My eyes are falling. I’m ready to crash to bed. What a day!

Don't forget to sign up in www.kerygmafamily.com

You�ll Enjoy This Crazy Interview

Jun Asis wrote me a bunch of fantastic questions and I thought of making it my blog for today. Jun is the very insightful writer of mabutingbalita.com, a weekly email service I recommend. (Details on how to get his email service below.)

Jun: Being a Kerygma Ambassador, I've been imagining what it would be like to get to have dinner with you. I have not checked how many subscriptions I've solicited, but I know it is just a matter of time before it happens. What would I ask you, knowing that your time is very valuable? You've practically laid your life before our eyes, what else should I ask? How do you write?
Bo: I usually write about my personal experiences. It’s much easier as I'm the great authority and unquestionable expert of my life. My wife is the only human being in this world who knows me more than I do. (“Love, you won’t like that cake. It’s too sweet for you. Akin na lang.”) I also feel more "real" whenever I speak from my experience. So yes, I do speak and write from the heart. If I haven't yet experienced it, then I don't write or speak about it. Many times, I simply turn down speaking engagements whenever they ask me to speak on a topic that I've not yet experienced in my life. (Example: Lust, Pride, and Greed.) Oh, I love writing with humor. I want people to have fun when they read serious stuff. And laughter breaks down the protective shell of many people and they receive God's Word with more openness.

Jun: Is there a particular "formula" you follow when making an article or book?
Bo: I write as a liberal and edit as a conservative. That means I write with wild abandon and then later edit very carefully.

Jun: Who are your influences?
Bo: The Philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein, the Metaphysics of Immanuel Kant, and the Theology of Edward Schillebeeckx. Just kidding. I don't even know if I spelled their names correctly. When I was 8 years old, I liked reading joke books, memorize those jokes, and pester everyone around by asking, "Do you want to hear a joke?" So my influences are the sublime thoughts of "Laughter is The Best Medicine" from Readers Digest.

Jun: Whose style do you like most?
Bo: Italian fashion seems my fit. Trendy but subdued. But I also like Christian Dior because he must be Christian. And Victoria Secret because of its soft touch on the skin. Oh, you mean literary styles? Did I say I read Joke books?

Jun: What do you think of when you are on stage giving a teaching or talk?
Bo: Is my zipper open? After I casually check that it's not, I think of loving my audience. I'm there to serve them. I'm there to help people gain practical wisdom on how to live lives of holiness, happiness, and success. I'm also there to give people hope. Because once they have no hope, they have no life.

Jun: Have you ever made/said a doctrinal mistake during your talk and just realized it later? What did you do after that?
Bo: Oh yes, I have. I usually realize it 30 years later, which is good, because people would have forgotten what I said. The important thing is to remain humble. If someone points out to me that I've made a mistake, and I find out that I did, I apologize, correct my mistake, and move on. Like one time, I proclaimed that I was the fourth member of the Holy Trinity. But too bad no one believed in me.

Jun: What is in your library, aside from spiritual books? Do you read fiction?
Bo: I live in a library with a little house attached to it. On the Catholic side, I like reading the lives of the saints. (Why reinvent the wheel?). I also read self-help books by Stephen Covey, Anthony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, John Maxwell, Brian Tracy, John Gray, Philip Mcgraw, Jack Canfield, and Mark Vincent Hanson and many more. Obviously, I don't agree with all their ideas but some are pretty good. I read finance books by Robert Kiyosaki, Donald Trump, Robert Allen. I read marketing books by Al Ries, Jack Trout, Dan Kennedy and slew of other experts. On stocks, it’s David Novak. I read real estate books, sales books, health books, and yep, joke books. I'd love to read fiction except that I have no time. Perhaps if I take a whole year off like some priests do--a real sabbatical--wow, that'll be the day. I'd go off to a remote island, stay there for a year, and read novels while sipping fresh orange juice in a tall glass with a tiny umbrella on top. Perhaps in the year 2089.

Jun: Have you ever thought of quitting and just leaving the ministry?
Bo: When I was going through intense relationship conflicts with those I was working with. I could handle money problems, work problems, and expansion problems in my siesta. But people problems give me ulcers. But I survived. God kept me sane. I also wanted to quit when my dream of putting up my own religion fizzled out. I wanted to call it simply “Bo’s Organization”. Ganda diba? B.O. for short. I don’t know why but people said it sounded smelly.

Jun: What are your greatest dreams that are yet to come true, or start?
Bo: Most of my dreams have started in some small form or another, which is the secret to fulfilling your dreams. Start small, dream big. Here they are: 100,000 members in the KerygmaFamily.com; 24-hour Catholic Filipino TV programming broadcasting through the internet and cable TV; Weekly FEASTS franchised in thousands of parishes all over the Philippines and the world; Organize 24-hour counselling services; Build 10 Anawim branches; Write international bestsellers; And take a one-year sabbatical on a remote island without running back to my work after three days from extreme boredom.

Jun: How would you like to hear some ideas I have for you and your ministry?
Bo: Please.

Jun: Is there anything I can do for you? In what way do you think I can help you?
Bo: You're doing it already. You're distributing our messages, magazines, books. When we finally set-up our affiliate program, your website will definitely be a big one.

Jun: Can you mentor me?
Bo: We’ll learn from each other.

Jun: Do you remember the email I sent you on how you can get 20,000 Kerygma subscribers last year? Though you got the numbers you aimed for but not through the manner I proposed (affiliates), I still feel that it is a path you should study and pursue.
Bo: Thanks for the encouragement. Will really get to work on that affiliate program.

Jun: Lastly, I've been meaning to ask you a favor. May I tell you about one of my goals for 2006? I would like to get 5000 subscribers by December 30, 2006 for my personal ministry, the MabutingBalita.net ezine (the one you receive weekly). May I ask that you include a line or two about it in your email blasts? Just ask them to send a blank email to mabuting.balita@gmail.com and they will be included in the list and will receive weekly emails containing the Good News and good news.? And you know, when I received your email, the smile on my face was like a child opening a Christmas present. My heart was pounding and my eyes were wide, hands a bit shaky. When I read it, I felt like melted butter. A compliment from Bo Sanchez! I was affirmed by someone I look up to and someone whose writing style has greatly influenced me and I unashamedly admit, try to emulate. Thank you very much. God really works through you. I am hoping we could meet pretty soon. ?God bless you, Marowe, Bene and Francis.
Bo: I’ll do more than include a line or two. I’ve just put your entire letter in my blog.

Get Jun Asis’ MabutingBalita.net Ezine by sending a blank email to mabuting.balita@gmail.com You’ll learn a lot from his down-to-earth, practical articles!

I Want To Create A Young Filipino Version Of EWTN

Finally, you can now watch the first episode of my reality TV show, Preacher in Blue Jeans. Today!
Hey, I need your help. Please write me your comments and suggestions on the “comments section” below.
In that way, I can improve the show as each day goes on.
Please help me make it the most inspiring TV show on planet earth!
When it comes to using media for God, my hero is Mother Angelica.
From a tiny garage, she made her first Catholic TV show.
And she did not stop.
Together with a handful of cloistered nuns (unbelievable, right?) in Our Lady of The Angels Monastery, Eternal Word Television Network or EWTN broadcasts to 127 countries and 118 million households all over the world.
Mother has her protestant counterpart.
According to Frank Hilario in his column for the American Chronicle (9/8/06), that’s Trinity Broadcasting Network with the likes of Benny Hinn, Robert Schuller, Joyce Meyer, and many others.
On the Catholic side, it’s Mother’s EWTN and Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Scott Hahn, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Fr. Frank Pavone, etc.
Do you know how much does it cost to run EWTN each year?
In 2001, it cost $29 Million. I don’t know how much higher this year.
Yet for the past 25 years, EWTN was supported by donations alone.
I’m so inspired by Mother Angelica, I want to one day build a local, young, Filipino version of EWTN here in the Philippines. With lots of preachers in blue jeans sharing God’s Word to millions of Filipino viewers here and abroad 24 hours a day!
That’s our dream.
Help me make it possible!
First, write your comments and suggestions below.
Second, join the www.kerygmafamily.com and support our ministry through your prayers and monthly love offerings.
Together with you and with God's power at work in us, all things are possible!