for john came to show you the way of goodness but you did not believe him, yet the publicans and the prostitutes did. you were witness of this, but you neither repented or believed him.- matthew 21.28-32
yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world; instead, through him the world is to be saved.- fr John 3.13-17 (image details: stained glass window of the sapa church, north vietnam)
in like manner, i say to you: if on earth two of you are united in asking for anything, it will be granted to you by my heavenly Father. for where two or three are gathered in my name, i am there among them.- from matthew 18.15-20 (image details: stained glass window of sapa church, north vietnam)
for whoever chooses to to save his life will lose it, but the one who loses his life for my sake will find it. what will one gain by winning the whole world if he destroys himself? there is nothing you can give to recover your own self.- from matthew 16.21-27
the top of the classic-looking church of ivana town, batan island, in batanes looks very much like those of mexican pueblos. the church looks out to the balintang channel that divides the main island of batan to sabtang as if blessing the outgoing fishermen for a safe trip and the incoming fishermen for a good catch.
the prayer of jabez
oh that you will bless me indeed and enlarge my territory and that your hand will be upon me and that you will keep me from evil