Ernie at 62

Today is Ernie's 62nd birthday.



When he turned 60 two years ago, we had a simple celebration in the ICU. His sister and I had planned to mark the event with a big party, which never materialized because of his heart attack, just the day before his birthday. Nevertheless, true to what God has impressed upon my heart, this particular birthday was indeed a milestone, one that will never be forgotten.


Last year, Ernie and I celebrated his 61st birthday in Chiang Mai. Our two children Worshiper and Obedient arrived that very day to spend the special event with their father and me. Both children stayed for a few days with us in Thailand. That they had taken time and effort to be with us on this occasion made this particular birthday a truly memorable one for all of us.




This time around, for his 62nd birthday, Ernie was able to celebrate the event in a very special way. His sister prepared a sumptuous lunch for our extended family. There was prime rib, grilled peppers, spinach tortillas with two kinds of zesty dip, salad greens with mandarin oranges, sliced almonds, artichokes, and a special homemade dressing of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sweet basil, rosemary leaves, and dill. We bought a special ube-macapuno cake, with cashew ice cream to go with it. Italian Roast brewed coffee at the end of a hearty meal made everything extra special.

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Celebrating events is something that we need to do. It doesn't even have to be grand all the time. My own personal style is simple, elegant, and above all, meaningful.

When we look at the history of God's dealings with His people, we will understand that He has a calendar of feasts that are to be celebrated every year (See Leviticus 23). God is a God of order, and part of His grand creative design is for His people to enjoy the privilege of fellowshipping with Him and with His people. These feasts are worth noting, for not only are they meant to be enjoyed, they also teach us what we as His people need to do, as far as his overall redemptive plan is concerned.


This morning at church, our pastor began his sermon series entitled The Last Days. Indeed, we are in the last days, but rather than look at this with feelings of dread, we are to look at these events with a sense of joyful hope. One of my best-loved passages in the Bible is found in Luke 21:28 which says: "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."



Something in the way Bro. Mario said, while quietly commenting on Pastor Joe's sermon, struck my heart. He said, "We are in the last days of the kingdom of darkness, and we need to rejoice because it means that we are now in the birth pangs of the kingdom of God and His righteousness!"



What hope those words inspire within my heart!



Among the last parables that Jesus gave about the kingdom of heaven includes references to a marriage feast that the King gives for His son.




God clearly wants us to be a joyous, thankful people, marking the events of our lives with feasting and celebration.

And so on the passing of Ernie's 62nd birthday, I am happy that we were once again able to celebrate it meaningfully, and provided us another occasion to rejoice at the things that God has done in Ernie's life.

I took many pictures of the occasion which I will upload together with this post when the internet signal improves (hopefully within the next few hours).