death and life in the waters of talikud
Yesterday my brother and i went to talikud island to get baptized. So my plans to spend a week in siargao (particularly bucas grande) became a one-day island-hopping thing with people from the church who didn�t know how to swim and who had never seen live corals before in their life. It�s to their credit that they got on the boat without any reservation or sign that it was their first time to do something like that.
Anyway, I decided to get baptized because I just recently understood what baptism really signifies, I mean as revealed in the Bible. Jesus said we must be born again not only in Spirit but also in WATER. And to be born again means to die to our old self and resurrect as new creatures filled with the Holy Spirit. The immersion in water after true repentance and surrender to God signifies that death or �burial�, and the rising up signifies the new life that is born, just as Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
Isn�t it interesting how he specifically said there should be water involved as a public profession of following Christ? Water has always been a source of both life and death in many cultures, and it�s fascinating that God himself uses it as a step towards faith. I actually collect Bible verses that mention the sea because it also fascinates me that people in biblical times had their own intimate experiences with the sea (that they might as well have lived in the Philippines), and that God considers the sea important enough to actually specify that he is lord over it and all the creatures in it. I don�t know if any of you can relate with that =P i have yet to find verses protraying God as lord over the rain (Note: for those who are asking, yes, i'll still continue to sing with the church choir and volunteer with the parish social action ministry. this isn't about religion but about doing God's will and glorifying him).
Our mini-island-hopping turned out well. We went to two spots that I hadn�t been to since I was in grade school, and on an impulse, we stopped at a cove which turned out to have lots of corals (both hard and soft, plus I even saw a lionfish in the sandy area) and lots of angelfish. No wonder it was called Angel�s Cove. There were two groups of divers there, too. On the way to Narnia, the Wishing Island, we cruised by Pearl Farm, so at least we got some pictures with the resort in the background =) I really want to explore Davao more by boat and motorcycle.
The sun set behind a big rain cloud as we headed home, but there was enough light to turn the waves and the edges of the clouds golden. As I stood at the front of the boat, the wind blowing against my face, I thought to myself: this is exactly why I can�t imagine myself working anyplace else but the Philippines for the rest of my life.
Anyway, I decided to get baptized because I just recently understood what baptism really signifies, I mean as revealed in the Bible. Jesus said we must be born again not only in Spirit but also in WATER. And to be born again means to die to our old self and resurrect as new creatures filled with the Holy Spirit. The immersion in water after true repentance and surrender to God signifies that death or �burial�, and the rising up signifies the new life that is born, just as Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
Isn�t it interesting how he specifically said there should be water involved as a public profession of following Christ? Water has always been a source of both life and death in many cultures, and it�s fascinating that God himself uses it as a step towards faith. I actually collect Bible verses that mention the sea because it also fascinates me that people in biblical times had their own intimate experiences with the sea (that they might as well have lived in the Philippines), and that God considers the sea important enough to actually specify that he is lord over it and all the creatures in it. I don�t know if any of you can relate with that =P i have yet to find verses protraying God as lord over the rain (Note: for those who are asking, yes, i'll still continue to sing with the church choir and volunteer with the parish social action ministry. this isn't about religion but about doing God's will and glorifying him).
Our mini-island-hopping turned out well. We went to two spots that I hadn�t been to since I was in grade school, and on an impulse, we stopped at a cove which turned out to have lots of corals (both hard and soft, plus I even saw a lionfish in the sandy area) and lots of angelfish. No wonder it was called Angel�s Cove. There were two groups of divers there, too. On the way to Narnia, the Wishing Island, we cruised by Pearl Farm, so at least we got some pictures with the resort in the background =) I really want to explore Davao more by boat and motorcycle.
The sun set behind a big rain cloud as we headed home, but there was enough light to turn the waves and the edges of the clouds golden. As I stood at the front of the boat, the wind blowing against my face, I thought to myself: this is exactly why I can�t imagine myself working anyplace else but the Philippines for the rest of my life.
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