BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY, PHILIPPINES. Today is Araw ng Kagitingan, aka “Day of Valor” aka Bataan Day. Some of you have never heard of Bataan Day, others have heard of it only in the context of the 160 Bataan Death March Ultramarathon because you follow my friend, The Running Pastor on twitter.

I’ll never forget taking my young sons on a tour of Corregidor Island. We toured the caves and the Malinta Tunnel that served as General MacArthur’s headquarters. We climbed on the massive cannons, Battery Way, Battery Hearn, and Battery Geary. After that trip, we watched some classic WWII movies.

To understand why today is a non-working holiday in the Philippines we have to go back to Corregidor Island on April 9, 1942. Not many people ignored direct orders from General Douglas MacArthur, but that’s exactly what Major General Edward King did when he surrendered more than 76,000 Filipino, Chinese, and American soldiers to the Japanese.

That surrender was followed by the infamous 140 kilometer (90 mile) Bataan Death March to Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac. For days the road was littered with the bodies of the dead, as thousands of starving, dehydrated, wounded, disease-racked soldiers could not keep the pace and were left to die. Thousands more were brutally and randomly executed along the way.

Only 54,000 of the 76,000 who surrendered actually made it to Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac where conditions were deplorable. Some escaped along the way, but about 10,000 died on the Death March.

This, like many events in world history, confirms the doctrine of “total depravity” and makes one wonder what atrocities we would commit every day if not for the restraining power of “common grace.”

So, what will you do on Araw ng Kagitingan? If nothing else, why not thank a veteran for their sacrificial service?

If you are interested in a good MacArthur movie, check out Tommy Lee Jones as General Mac in Emperor.

I have heard pastors and church people criticize The Bible Series on History channel. Not me.

Sure, there have been a few inaccuracies. In the Bible Series a lamb shows up on Mt Moriah, but in the Bible it was a ram. In the Bible Series King Cyrus fed Daniel to the lions, but in the Bible it was King Darius. And, of course, the Jesus in the real Bible probably looked more like an olive skinned Middle Eastern laborer than a white Midwestern alternative rocker.

So what?

I’m sure it was far less dangerous to work with a lamb than with a ram, and there probably was not enough time to introduce two kings during Daniel’s life so they merged events from the reigns of Cyrus and Darius. I have no idea why the Jesus actor is European. But, the point of God providing for Abraham and God protecting Daniel was loud and clear. And, so far, the New Testament scenes have clearly communicated the message of Jesus without compromise.

So, I’m not complaining or criticizing. Here are six reasons I’m glad The Bible Series is being shown, even though it (the TV series) is neither infallible nor inerrant.

1. People who don’t read the Bible are watching The Bible Series.

2. People who watch The Bible Series are starting to read the Bible.

3. Producers and entertainment power brokers who see the success of The Bible Series will be open to producing more of the same in the future.

4. People are talking about, tweeting about, and blogging about The Bible Series and Bible stories more than ever.

5. Families are watching The Bible Series together, and are discussing Bible stories.

6. It’s sure better than watching Swamp People, Celebrity Wife Swap, or 60 Minutes.

7. Because Samson and John the Baptizer have awesome dreads. (Number 7 is from my friend Neli Atiga in Singapore.)

Thank you Mark Burnett and Roma Downey for taking a risk and giving us The Bible Series.

Note: This is an important blog for all who do ministry, whether you are lifers or volunteers.

But, first a familiar story. Young Joseph had a couple of dreams. The dreams were from God. Like many dreamers, in his youthful enthusiasm, Joseph offended friends and family as he arrogantly promoted his dream.

Because of the dream, Joseph’s brothers hated him. They threatened to kill him. But, in an act of brotherly compassion, they decided to spare his life and sell him into slavery instead. His Egyptian slave-master unjustly threw him in prison.

Joseph’s dream had officially become a nightmare.

What do you do when The Dream feels like a nightmare? Here’s what Joseph did: he helped others live their dreams, while he waited on his.

The story continues. While in prison, Joseph’s cellmates had dreams. He interpreted their dreams, with one request: “when all goes well with you, REMEMBER ME and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.” (Gen 40:14) Sounds like a reasonable request to me.

The last verse in Genesis 40 is all too familiar for those of us in ministry. “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” (Gen 40:23) Have you ever been forgotten by those you serve? If you have been in ministry more than two weeks, you have.

Two years later, Pharaoh has a couple of dreams (the third set of double dreams that mark Joseph’s life). Pharaoh is distraught and seeks an interpretation. Chief Cupbearer suddenly remembers his former cellmate who helped his dream become reality. Chief finally puts in a good word for Joseph. Pharaoh summons Joseph and the rest is history. But Joseph had to endure two extra years of prison because he was forgotten by the man he had helped.

What should we do when we help people in their time of need, and they forget us in our time of need? GET OVER IT, GET YOUR EYES ON JESUS, AND KEEP MINISTERING!

Since Christmas movies have been playing all week, I thought it was time to update and post my annual Top 10 Must-See Christmas Movie List. Here’s my 2012 list:

10. The Family Man (2000) - A modern version of the best Christmas movie ever (see my #1) starring Nicolas Cage, before he got in IRS trouble and started making lousy movies. Bonus: Don Cheadle is the best angel since Clarence.

9. Joyeux Noel (2006) - Oscar-nominated true story of German, French & Scottish troops in WWI who called a ceasefire on Christmas Eve. Peace on Earth, at least for a night.

8. White Christmas (1954) - I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, Philippine style.

7. Elf (2003) – Opening scene with Sr Elf, Bob Newhart, reading the intro story about different types of elves is worth the price of the DVD.

6. Christmas in Connecticut (1945) – Black and white classic that never gets old.

5. The Nativity Story (2006) – What The Passion of the Christ is to Holy Week, this movie is to Christmas.

4. Christmas Vacation (1989) – Because every family has a Cousin Eddie.

3. Die Hard (1988) – Some doubt this is a Christmas movie, but the whole thing took place during an office Christmas party. Bonus: Hans Gruber is the best movie bad guy ever. Warning: rated R for language.

2. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) – Wish they still made them like this. Bonus: one of my all-time fav soundtracks, real Jazz (not the devilish smooth kind) on a Christmas album.

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – THE Christmas classic of all Christmas classics.

PS: Every year after I post my updated list, people why A Christmas Story is not on my list. Here’s the simple answer: because it’s a terrible movie!

A mob of hungry people. Seven biscuits. A couple of sardines. That’s not even almost enough food. But that’s all they had. What do you do when all you have is not enough?

The story of Jesus feeding the 4000 offers some answers to what we should do when there is more month than money. Here’s a summary of the story.

Mark 8:1 Large crowd had nothing to eat.

Mark 8:2 Jesus had compassion.

Mark 8:4 Disciples had no clue what to do.

Mark 8:5 After pooling their resources they had a grand total of seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. Not much for 4000 hungry people.

So, what do you do when you don’t have enough, when the words “few” and “small” describe your opportunities and your income? When I don’t have enough, I usually complain or swim in self-pity. But there has to be a better way. Watch Jesus and learn.

Mark 8:6,7 Jesus took the seven loaves and the few small fish and GAVE THANKS, then He GAVE THEM AWAY to the hungry people.

Try THANKFULNESS and GENEROSITY next time your all is not enough. First give thanks to God, then give some of what little you have to someone who has even less. If we learn to give thanks for the too small and the too little, we might just see that small and little multiply until it is more than enough.

Mark 8:8 The people came to Jesus famished and left full, with bags of leftovers.

The Song of Solomon vividly describes a love story between King Solomon and his dark-skinned (Song1:6) bride. For eight chapters they describe body parts, express their love, and anticipate marital bliss. Some verses read like an R-rated Old Testament pre-marriage seminar focusing on the honeymoon.

One of my favorite lines is Solomon boasting that his bride has a full set of teeth, that are brushed and flossed regularly: Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing. Each has its twin, not one of them is alone. (Song6:6) Even if the standards for drop-dead-beauty were a bit low in those days, Solomon’s honeymoon song still paints a beautiful picture of love as it grows and matures.

The Song of Solomon describes three distinct phases of human love:

1. POSSESSIVE LOVE. My beloved is mine and I am his. Song 2:16. The main idea: he is mine. Afterthought: I am his. This kind of love is all about what I get. Possessive love is an incubator for jealousy and insecurity.

2. MATURE LOVE. I am his and he is mine. Song 6:3. As love matures, self is no longer front and center. At some point we realize that love is about giving. What we possess or gain is an afterthought.

3. SACRIFICIAL LOVE. I belong to my beloved and his desire is for me. Song 7:10. Sacrificial love progresses from self-first to self-second to selfless. Real love appreciates the fact that another person desires a relationship with us. What we desire is no longer the central point.

While the Song of Solomon was written about love between a man and his bride, these universal principles of love also have spiritual application in our relationship with God.

When I first confessed Jesus as Lord, my primary focus was what I got in the deal. Eventually I realized that Jesus is Lord means He is first and I am second.

After all these years I am to the point where I am amazed that I am His and that He desires a relationship with me (whether or not I have a full set of brushed and flossed teeth.)