CREC Philippines Edition and the Glories of Pork
Mall, Pork, and Hospitality
The order of my Substack posts during this travel season makes no sense whatsoever. So, for those of you orderly types, my apologies. I am on my fourth day in Asia, and I still can’t figure out what day we are here and what day it is in the U.S. So, my clock is discombobulated. Rumor has it things will make sense soon. I am still waiting. The only thing that makes sense is to walk through things daily.
After my 20 hours in Tokyo, we were headed on another plane. The thing about Asian planes is that they are certainly not made for the six-foot class of human beings. The seats and space in front seem quite comical. The blessing of our flight from Tokyo to Manila was that it was only 60% full. So, we had the cherished exit row to ourselves with plenty of room to move around. We also had a delightful chat with the stewardess who gave us a lovely summary of the Philippines and her experiences traveling worldwide. The conversation, coupled with the extra space, was a refreshing experience for the 5+ hour flight.
Between Tokyo and Manila, I feel somewhat experienced going through customs. It’s rewarding not to see TSA standing ready to pat you down at the slightest computer glitch. In Canada, we were stopped because one of our laptops had an unknown chemical that may have come from the factory. Strange indeed.
The movement, especially in Tokyo, was effective and orderly. Our entrance into Manila was also non-chaotic. In fact, the international customs process in Tokyo and Manila was faster than my minuscule airport in Pensacola, FL, at 5 am.
After we got our luggage, two dear brothers were waiting for us. It’s hard to express the wild west of the Manila airport—vehicles merging from every direction. The volume, traffic, and people were overwhelming in every direction you looked. It was such a delight to see familiar faces.
We had been awake for quite some time, but our hosts graced us with Filipino cuisine in the nearby mall. Malls in the Philippines function very much like Brazil. They are sociological institutions with remarkable prestige. It fulfils the role of marketplace, fellowship, feast, entertainment of every sort, and just the space to encounter any conceivable human experience. But not all malls are created equal. Some draw the higher class and others the lower. Still, when James K. Smith wrote about the liturgy of the mall a decade ago, it was very clear that malls are inextricable liturgical for the life of the people. The rhythm and pace symbolize how they do life, and I may easily also connect to how they do church.
Filipino cuisine was outstanding for carnivores and keto aficionados. Fatty meats and spices were everywhere, and the pork maintained a crunchy texture like the fresh pork rinds in Louisiana.
Our exhaustion was complete, and our check-in was rather late. From bullet trains to Filipino hospitality, we were living life in the fast lane. The day after wouldn’t be any easier. It would require more traveling, but this time through the heart of Filipino traffic and culture.
We are headed shortly on another trip to our Conference destination. We are expecting over 200 pastors and leaders to attend. I will speak on the nature of covenant renewal worship—the exhausting but delightful labor of the Lord’s Day worship. Then, I will elaborate on the necessity of Word-saturated liturgies, and finally, I will make a case for weekly communion. The latter is a hot topic in Filipino discourse. Pray for clarity and understanding in these lectures.
Our beloved Pastor “Uri”, the Lord keeps us in prayer for your travels, health, safety and much fruit through your endeavors. We know the Lord has brought you to every place and cause in all of your travels! You are loved and very much appreciated!
In short, my late husband and I transitioned from salvation and the Gospel in the Baptist church to a Reformed Presbyterian church. At this point we both knew we were saved but we still lacked being closer to deeper truths: we still fed our somewhat lingering self righteousness, although not holding hands as closely, but the curtains continued to be torn and we began to see “Christ” much more clearly. My beloved is now in glory; I rejoice for his gain! I know we will worship and praise God again, but as angels, in perpetual Holiness and perfection and bliss! Awe! Awe!
Since John went to Heaven, the Lord brought me to be under the preaching of Joel Ellis, at the RPC. This was 7 years ago. There are no words to adequately express and or explain how the Holy Spirit has changed, is now changing and will continue to change countless saints, myself included! For the first time in my walk of faith, I am seeing with greater clarity Who God is, who I was before He gave me to Christ to save, how He deals with humanity, the children of wrath and His redeemed, what God desires and how He desires to be worshipped. I could go on.. I suppose it is safe to say that the more He has been opening my eyes and giving me understanding, the more I see how blind I still am and desperately needy of grace and mercy! I have found myself weeping deeply, in remembrance of my past sins and present state of remaining sin, only to find myself in a state of rejoicing and peace, that is beyond my capacity to fully grasp! But I know it, I know it to be true, the joy of Him, the sure Hope because of His Agape for His own!
I am one of many who are praying you through all of your travels, for grace, mercy and fruitfulness, giving thanks to God, for His amazing work of Grace in and through you! Your family is also being prayed for, with praise and joy.
The Lord, God, willing, next time we meet, I’ll be wearing a t-shirt that reads : “Born-again, again!”. It would speak of how the Lord has changed me, having been under the preaching of a God appointed and grace exuding shepherd, under the Great Shepherd, the Lord of lords and King of kings, Whom you preached to us, from Psalm 23, when God blessed us with your visit!
We agape you, dear Pastor Uri! We rejoice over the grip of the Holy Spirit and His agape, power and grace in all places and times, in and through you! We are very thankful to God for making you His mouthpiece, His hands and His feet! Please greet the saints and pastors there, in the bond of the Lord and His immeasurable, beyond understanding AGAPE!
The Lord will perfect all He brings to!
Covenant renewal worship is probably the main thing that turned my heart towards the CREC. Besides from providing a clear foundation from the OT it is also so practical. How do we practise hospitality as hosts or guests? How do we reconcile with someone or forgive someone? It is all there and from there teaches us to treasure our household dinners ..etc. May your work in the Philippines be blessed!