Friday, May 28, 2021
Begin Seeking God’s Forgiveness Today
When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD. 2 Samuel 11:26-27
“There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him,” wrote Solomon 3,000 years ago. Numbers three and four on that list of character disorders which the Bible calls sins are “hands that shed innocent blood,” and “a heart that devises wicked schemes.”
I have no way of knowing whether Solomon thought of the circumstances of his own family, especially involving his own father and mother, but he well could have. His father was David; his mother, Bathsheba. “In the spring, at the time when kings go to war,” begins 2 Samuel 11:1, David stayed at home. One evening when he was on the rooftop of his palace, he saw a beautiful woman bathing–the woman who eventually became Solomon’s mother. Do you remember the story how David took Bathsheba and slept with her? After all, he was the king, and he was not accustomed to having anyone deny him.
But then when Bathsheba became pregnant as the result of this adulterous affair, David’s conscience began to deeply trouble him. Bathsheba was married to another man, and a good man, at that. For David to take Bathsheba as his wife, Uriah had to be destroyed, and it had to appear to be a grave accident. Without taking time to recount the details which I would encourage you to read for yourself, if ever a man devised a wicked scheme and shed innocent blood, it was David who was responsible, completely and fully for the death of Uriah, the rightful husband of Bathsheba.
Just a minute, you may be thinking. Is this not the one who took a slingshot and in the name of the Lord and went against Goliath? Is this not the one who wrote, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…” (Psalm 23:1, KJV). And, of course, the answer to all these questions is yes.
Should you take the time to ponder the six things which God hates and look at the life of David, you will find an example of almost every one in David’s life. He was proud and arrogant. He lied. His hands shed innocent blood. His heart devised the wicked scheme to put Uriah in the forefront of the battle, then order the troops to pull out leaving him exposed to the enemy. His feet rushed to do evil, and he deliberately hurt the woman who became the object of his lust.
Though Solomon did not mention his father’s adulterous affair with his mother, he undoubtedly thought of the consequences which followed his wrongdoing: the death of his brother who was the love child of David and Bathsheba, the public humiliation which came as the result of his sin and the ongoing conflicts which resulted in his personal, immediate family because of what David did.
But–and this is the point that I want you to get–there is forgiveness and healing for our wrongdoing, no matter what it may be. As the Psalmist–perhaps David himself–wrote, “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared” (Psalm 130:4). David paid a price for his wrongdoing–a substantial one, yet in repentance he poured out his heart before God and asked for God to restore the joy of his salvation (see Psalm 51).
Friend, if you see yourself in these six things which God hates, do what David did. Confess your wrongdoing, forsake it, and find God’s strength. That is what grace is about. And, that is what God will do for you too, friend. Just as He did for David.
Resource reading: 2 Samuel 11:1-36
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/begin-seeking-gods-forgiveness-today/
Philippines vaccinates Pinoy athletes bound for Tokyo Olympics, SEA Games
The Philippine government has begun vaccinating national athletes, officials and staff of the Philippine delegation bound for the Tokyo Olympic and SEA Games on Friday at the Manila Prince Hotel.
“Nagpapasalamat kami ng malaki sa national government, sa IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) na inaprubahan ang prioritization ng mga atleta natin, especially the Olympic- and SEA Games- bound athletes,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino said in a TeleRadyo interview.
Among the athletes vaccinated when the inoculation started at 9 a.m. was rower Cris Nievarez.
Also lined up to be inoculated are officials and support staff of the delegation of both events, said Tolentino.
“Yung iba dito mga officials na kasama sa Tokyo bound kasi maraming kasama ang Olympians natin yung iba 3 coaches, nutritionist, psychologist, masseur. Marami pong kasama yan yung iba dito natin binakunahan,” he said.
Nine Filipino athletes have qualified for the Tokyo Games. They are Hidilyn Diaz; boxers Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio, and Carlo Paalam; pole vaulter EJ Obiena; gymnast Carlos Yulo; rower Cris Nievarez; and taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa.
“Sa ibang olympians na nasa abroad, especially sa US and Europe, definitely they will be given (the vaccine) in the US. Alam naman po natin na mabilis kumuha sa US,” said Tolentino.
Tolentino is expecting the number of Filipino athletes who would qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in July to increase to 15.
“Minimum of one gold will do, that’s our prayer. That’s the wish of the entire country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tolentino said the Philippines will send a delegation of around 700 to the SEA Games.
“Since tayo ang overall champion, ako personally hindi tayo papayag na hindi natin salihan lahat ng event para ma-maintain natin kahit hindi yung overall, mataas pa rin yung ranking,” he said.
Vietnam announced a "no vaccine, no participation" policy for the 31st SEA Games that will take place in Hanoi from November 21 to December 2.
The second dose of the vaccine will be administered maybe after a month, said Tolentino.
“Abot na abot pa rin sa Tokyo, and of course, sa SEA Games,” he said.
- Report from Dyan Castillejo
Duterte signs law splitting Maguindanao into 2 provinces
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure dividing Maguindanao into two provinces.
Republic Act 11550 creates Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur provinces.
Maguindanao del Norte includes the towns of Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura and Upi. Its capital is Datu Odin Sinsuat.
The municipalities of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi-Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, General Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Shariff Aguak, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, South Upi, Sultan sa Barongis, Sultan Sumagka and Talayan will be Maguindanao del Sur. Its capital is Buluan.
The Commission on Elections will supervise a plebiscite within 90 days from the effectivity of the law. The plebiscite will allow Maguindanao residents to ratify the law.
If the law is ratified, residents will elect governors, vice governors, members of the provincial board and other provincial officials during the May 2022 elections.
Maguindanao Representative Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, author of the bill, was elated by the passage of the law.
“Alhamdullilah, Alhamdullilah! Finally, the President has already signed into law the bill, May Allah bless and prosper our sincerest aspirations for the welfare and development of Maguindanao,” Mangudadatu said. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Phlippines)
Maguindanao split will bring services closer to people, lawmaker says
Dividing Maguindanao, home to about 1.7 million people, will bring public services closer to people, a lawmaker said Friday.
"'Yung social services hindi nararating kaagad. Kailangang mas mabilis pa ang social services at ibang serbisyo na maiparating sa constituents namin," Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Esmael "Toto" Mangungudatu told ANC.
(Social services and other services don't reach our constituents immediately. It should be faster.)
The southern province, one of the poorest in the country, had a poverty incidence of 47.8 percent, according to a 2018 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
This translates to about 600,000 people who were considered poor or couldn't afford "to provide their minimum basic needs of food, health education, housing and other essential amenities of life."
On Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the division of Maguindanao into 2 provinces. He signed Republic Act No. 11550 that divided the province into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
According to the law, Dati Odin Sinsuat will be the capital and seat of government of Maguindanao del Norte, while Buluan will be for Maguindanao del Sur.
The 2 provinces will be created upon approval by majority of residents in a plebiscite that the Commission on Elections will supervise within 90 days from the law’s effectivity.
Local officials will be elected in the May 2022 elections, if the law is approved and ratified within 6 months before the polls.
"Mas lalong lalaki at mas lalong gaganda 'yong mga services natin plus the collections of local na maidagdag sa internal revenue allotment," Mangungudatu said,.
(Our services will expand and improve plus the collection will be added to the internal revenue allotment.)
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/05/28/21/maguindanao-split-mangungudatu
French Open: Men’s ‘big 3’ — Nadal, Djokovic, Federer — in same half of draw
PARIS—Thirteen-time champion Rafael Nadal, 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer, and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic were placed in the same half of the French Open draw on Thursday.
The three most successful players in the history of the men's game have won 17 of the last 20 Grand Slam titles between them and Federer and Djokovic are on a quarterfinal collision course.
Title holder Nadal, who starts against Australian Alexei Popyrin, could face Italian prospect Jannik Sinner, the 18th seed, in the fourth round a year after beating him in the quarterfinals.
In the other half of the draw, two-time runner-up Dominic Thiem's path leads to a potential quarterfinal clash with German sixth seed Alexander Zverev.
In the women's draw, defending champion Iga Swiatek will start her campaign against Kaja Juvan while one of the matches to watch will feature last year's runner-up Sofia Kenin, the fourth seed, against 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko.
Kenin could face Swiatek, who turns 20 on Monday, in the quarter-finals.
After missing last year's event, second seed Naomi Osaka will make her comeback against Maria Patricia Tig.
The Japanese player, who said she would not speak to the media throughout the tournament for mental health reasons, is in the other half of the draw.
She could take on American Serena Williams in the semifinals with the seventh seed bidding for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title.
World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty of Australia starts her campaign against American Bernarda Pera and faces a possible semifinal against Swiatek. (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Toby Davis)
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