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Caleb Barton - Journal

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Posted 2013-06-25T04:25:13Z

A New Title


The Philippines is a very religious country. There is no separation of Church and State like the US. On the contrary, religion, Catholicism and Christianity, is at the centre of all government institutions in this country. Mass is held every Friday on the high school campuses, as well as the college campuses. The priests from the local church will visit their local elementary schools every week to teach the children about the Bible. I was taken by surprise the first time I went to the Municipal government building Friday morning and saw the government workers outside participating in Mass and communion. Catholicism is by far the dominant religion but because of the similarities with Christianity it is hard to tell which one has the greater influence. Because of the cultural place religion holds in this country being a Priest or Pastor is a respected and desirable position. Because of the great respect shown towards religious matters, the religious leaders have been put on a pedestal. As a result, the title Pastor is worn proudly by those who have achieved it. I have talked with young men who have never wanted to be anything but a Pastor. Most American children dream about being a heroic Police officer or fantasies about saving lives as a fireman. Both of these careers represent power, respect and admiration. But the young men I talked to would fantasies about being a Pastor and no doubt for the same reason American children fantasies about being a police officer, power, respect and admiration.[...]

Posted 2013-06-17T02:58:02Z

A New Beginning

 

Cris Ann and I are doing very well. She is really amazing in many ways but most of all she is able and willing to apply Gospel truth to her life and our marriage. [...]

Posted 2013-06-12T09:33:04Z

"Faith"'

 

Today Cris Ann and me got really good news from Ashley, the blind widows daughter in-law. Ashley is 24 years old and will be having a baby sometime this month. Her situation has been really bad since Cris Ann and I first met her and her husband, Tangkoy. They have absolutely no money and Tangkoy has been seriously disturbed since his father passed away last year, leaving behind his blind wife and three blind sons. Tangkoy got drunk and beat up the local priest because he would not allow them to bury his father in the local cemetery because he was a Christian. Just last month he got drunk again and beat up Ashley, his pregnant wife. He really is one of the most unstable people I have ever known. [...]