My Learnings from Kerygma Conference 2013

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Last Sunday, I was at the Kerygma Conference 2013 held at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Kerygma Conference is one of the biggest inspirational gathering held once a year for spiritual nourishment, meeting new and old friends, and a time for learning.

Although I missed my class last Saturday which was about entrepreneurship, I was still able to bring home new life lessons which I will be sharing below.

The first class that I was able to attend was for the married entitled Sex Factor: The Christian View on Intimacy. Here are some points discussed by the speaker, Miss Pilar Tolentino, a family counsellor at the Center for Family Ministries (CEFAM).

1. Sex is beyond physical, emotional and social. Sex is spiritual because it the time when we see God, feel God and be with God.
2. Sex is God's gift to humanity.
3. Sex is a language of love. It is a way of accepting each other and sharing with each other.
4. Sex is self-giving, and not self-gratifying. It is an opportunity to show care and compassion for our partner, and bring ourselves out for our partner.
5. Sex is a commitment and responsibility. It is sharing of our whole being.
6. Sex is sacred. It is for a higher purpose, and not just for the need or urge.
7. Sex is a factor in relational empowerment. How?

• By being others-centered, showing empathy and compassion
• Should be loving. It is not just what you want, but who you are.
• Sex can be an empowering agent for our relationship.
• It is socially responsible.

    8. Sex has its fullest meaning when with commitment and responsibility.

There was also a lesson about Winning in All Areas of your Relationships. Here are a few points.

1. Never compare your children with the children of others.
2. Most parents, especially moms, tend to do everything and would not allow their children to do anything. We must remember that teaching our kids to do chores is training them to be life-skilled in the future.
3. Since wives play a lot of different roles that consumes all of their energy, we must remember that a happy wife is equivalent to a happy life.

On spiritual, Krish Dhanam shared three important prayers:

1. Dear Jesus, feel free to show up at my expense.
2. Please raise my gifts, but lower me.
3. Do not give me so much that I will run independent of you; but don't give me too little that I will be discouraged.

Lastly, Bo Sanchez, one of my mentors gave a talk on how pain forces us to grow. He says that unsuccessful people prevent pain, while successful people pursue pain. Most people are trapped in their comfort zone, trapped in their pleasure prison, and avoid pain in their lives. Here are some points to ponder:

1. If you want to experience God's power, pursue pain.
2. Learning requires pain.
3. Raising great kids requires pain. That it is easier to create rules, and it is more difficult to create relationships.
4. A loving marriage requires pain.

Agree? Share your stories of pain and how it made you grow.