tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33975296492489722012011-07-08T08:04:33.233+08:00Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.comBlogger791100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-66564984669341267862009-04-06T05:28:00.011+08:002009-04-06T07:09:54.784+08:00

I never got around to writing the thread on discipleship and gardening, chuck that to complacency and over-blogging.I've decided instead to just start a new thread on Tribal Leadership - Small is big. A big movement can only get bigger if it learns to lead in tribes. It is in leading smaller units that it can become bigger than it already is.This post is all about how to to possess the land.

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-24103050469219940212008-11-11T23:20:00.005+08:002008-11-12T23:54:33.675+08:00

Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. Genesis 2:8After God created the first man He placed him in the garden. Isn't it interesting that God made the first man a gardener. I am convinced that God has an important reason why. That’s because much of life is like gardening.God’s intent was man would learn how to live life as he tended

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-5279137096751821432008-11-02T16:41:00.006+08:002008-11-03T07:58:46.483+08:00

This is the last in a series of 7 posts on discipleship and cars.I can still recall the day I opened the front door of our home and found a man standing beside a Jaguar XJ. There in the midday sun this classic racing green colored car glistened, it was no ordinary Jag, it was in mint condition, the kind collector’s drool over.Then the man said something like: “My boss sent me here to give you

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-71545111328484123002008-10-26T22:41:00.013+08:002008-10-27T17:20:30.399+08:00

A few months ago I was riding in the brand new 7 series BMW of a friend. The minute I got in you just knew this was not your everyday fare of a car. Everything about it was a demonstration of opulence and luxury. The seats, the smell, the sounds, the ride, unbelievable!When my friend told me how much money he paid for his car it all made sense. You don’t get that kind of luxury for the price

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-22707762111086278612008-10-13T23:00:00.006+08:002008-10-14T06:49:14.629+08:00

When Honda was launched in the United States it was an instant hit. The simple secret was they built a quality car backed with world-class service and warranties.But that’s not the point of this post. Rather this post is about how Honda started the Japanese assault on the luxury car market by introducing the Acura.Back in the 1960’s Japanese carmakers focused their efforts on building good

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-19514016030172726972008-10-05T19:17:00.013+08:002008-10-06T08:15:32.154+08:00

This is a 4th post on a series on discipleship and cars.The first Volvos were built as far back as 1927. In Europe, however Volvos were not taken seriously by would be car owners.There are several reasons why, for one Volvos were made in Sweden. And in those early years Sweden was not a country known for cars. Considering the competition – England (Rolls Royce, Jaguar among others), Germany (

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-8522299189597255352008-09-29T16:54:00.006+08:002008-09-29T22:58:27.958+08:00

In the late 1990’s a survey was made of the world’s most recognizable brands. Among the top three was Ferrari together with IBM and Coca-Cola.The world of business was stunned at these findings because while the other 2 brands have spent billions of dollars on advertising Ferrari never had an advertising budget (not until 1993).How could a company that sells less cars than most car manufacturers

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-52988025461873285142008-09-01T12:33:00.012+08:002008-09-02T20:24:06.816+08:00

At the end of World War II defeated Germany was in shambles. The Allies (mainly Great Britain and the United States) were working hard to figure out what to do with some of Germany’s industries that needed serious rehabilitation. One of those companies was Volkswagen.By 1948 Henry Ford II and some of Ford’s executives from all over Europe were debating on whether to take over Volkswagen’s

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-86653764811176671872008-08-24T21:40:00.002+08:002008-09-04T08:22:26.954+08:00

In my last thread I wrote on discipleship and small creatures. This is new thread is about cars. We’ll see how far it goes. For starters I am writing about Toyota -reputed to be one of the most popular and dependable car makers in the world.The first time I heard about Toyota was in the late 1960’s. A family friend was showing my father his new Toyopet, an early edition of Toyota cars. In

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-46982308168296368102008-08-11T21:50:00.006+08:002008-08-19T05:54:46.448+08:00

This is the final post in the 5 part series on Discipleship and Small Creatures.“Four things on earth are small,yet they are extremely wise: Proverbs 30:24a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces. Proverbs 30:28Like the three other creatures featured in this series of posts on discipleship – trying to imagine why lizards are a source of wisdom can be

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-79839835935691018442008-08-04T14:56:00.004+08:002008-08-04T19:08:35.665+08:00

“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Proverbs 30:24Proverbs 30:27locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; here is the 3rd installment of my 5 part series of things that are small but are extremely wise.Locust is the Biblical word for the grasshopper, another creature that is not known for its wisdom. Grasshoppers belong to the family of insects and are

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-26963711675439066072008-06-08T19:40:00.005+08:002008-08-04T19:09:45.604+08:00

“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Proverbs 30:24coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; Proverbs 30:26This is the third in a series of small things that are extremely wise. Of the 4 creatures listed in Proverbs 30 explaining the Coney seems to be the most challenging.What could really be learned from them? Coney is an old

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-19648565924340982942008-05-18T15:42:00.002+08:002008-05-18T15:46:11.413+08:00

“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer..... Proverbs 30:24-25Ants are so tiny and frail and yet the Bible says they are extremely wise. The primary reason for their wisdom is because they store food in summer.This morning I heard of a story of man who won an ipod video in a raffle.

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-89257188968069219592008-05-18T15:13:00.003+08:002008-05-18T15:33:19.325+08:00

It has been a while since I have posted in this blog site. You can see how busy things have been if you visit my Just Me site. But I’m ready to write now. My last series of posts was a thread on Discipleship and the Zoo. This is a short run series based on Proverbs 30 verses 24 to 28: “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-90473898143694491712007-11-04T23:20:00.001+08:002008-05-20T16:03:39.201+08:00

(8th post on Zoo thread)“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Matthew 23:33If the Lord Jesus encountered snakes there is no doubt that we will. What are snakes exactly? People who have been influenced by the largest snake of all, the serpent of old.Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-77793687007604205672007-10-28T21:46:00.000+08:002007-11-03T01:02:03.357+08:00

(7th post on Discipleship and Zoo thread)Some weeks ago I wrote about Discipleship and Indian Elephants. I am writing yet another post on elephants – this time from Africa.The German theologian, church planting/growth researcher and conference speaker Christian Schwarz wrote in his book Natural Church Development a true story about African elephants.He wrote about a time when a breed of

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-29209191967768666962007-10-20T08:41:00.001+08:002008-05-24T07:07:46.990+08:00

I’m back from my 3 week break first to visit a church in California and then to celebrate my 25th Wedding Anniversary.This post is the 6th in my thread on Discipleship and the Zoo.In his book Confessions of a Reformission Rev - Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle writes about what eagles are:“Eagles are skilled leaders who are being developed within the church with the express

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-88417250804060738672007-09-27T23:00:00.003+08:002007-09-30T21:46:11.789+08:00

I am taking a 3 week break from this blog to visit CFIC church in the Bay Area (California) and from there turn around and head for home to celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary.In the meantime here are a few links that will hopefully continue to inspire and motivate you to go and make disciples and pray:This first post is an audio link from our EN chuch in London. The message is all about

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-4233149717447660322007-09-15T13:12:00.000+08:002007-09-29T23:10:11.850+08:00

(5th Post on Zoo Thread)Part of our task in making disciples is outlined in the following verses in Acts, it warns us of the presence of wolves and how we must keep watch:Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-41943248893848632562007-09-05T22:23:00.001+08:002007-09-07T14:42:38.537+08:00

(4th Post on Zoo Thread)One of the books that I enjoyed as a child was Aesop’s Fables. I am sure you have heard of the “Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”, these are but two among the many popular Aesop’s Fables.Another favorite story was the “Fox and the Grapes”. It was a story about a fox that was trying to reach for some grapes hanging high above on a vine. Unable to reach

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-59807697627647281542007-08-30T07:14:00.000+08:002007-10-28T14:48:08.817+08:00

(3rd Post on the Zoo Thread)When speaking of elephants the blind men of Hindustan always comes to mind. It is an old tale about 6 blind men who went to see an elephant.One touched his legs and thought he was holding a tree. The second held his side and concluded it was a wall. The third grasped its tail and was sure it was a rope, another laid hands on his ears and was certain it was a fan.

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-72580978784059570542007-08-23T11:14:00.000+08:002007-08-31T05:08:56.009+08:00

(2nd Post on Zoo Thread)No zoo can rightfully be called one if it does not have lions, after all they are the “king the jungle”. Lions can be scary creatures, just watch these 2 videos: Just Missed and Man vs. Lion and you will know what I mean.Early on in Genesis the Bible speaks of the lion. It was the picture that the Holy Spirit used to describe the tribe of Judah from where King David and

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-14854955771702537622007-08-13T23:14:00.001+08:002007-08-18T08:33:48.216+08:00

I just ended a thread on discipleship and things found at Walmart. In my next posts I am starting an all new thread on discipleship and the zoo.The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. Isaiah 11:6The verses above talk about animals living together. They seem to describe a

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-10603354561560864592007-08-08T01:22:00.003+08:002007-08-10T11:25:50.142+08:00

This is my last post on things you find at Walmart. Next week I start on an all new thread, Discipleship and the Zoo.Dole Pineapple traces its roots in the year 1901 in Hawaii. It didn’t take long for Dole to capture the taste buds of the mainland, eventually the world. The secret lay in determining whether a pineapple was best suited to be canned as fruit or made into juice. Ripe fruit was

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-77572776024293425922007-08-03T18:51:00.000+08:002007-08-08T11:33:20.662+08:00

This is my second to the last post on things found at WalMart. I will be starting a new thread in 2 weeks.We have all heard the phrase “people don’t care how much you know until they see how much you care.” In building relationships with people one of the best and sure fire ways is to serve them. People are attracted with people who serve them.All too often Christians start off by wanting to

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-58313511671394786242007-07-27T14:15:00.000+08:002007-07-28T03:26:40.659+08:00

Spam has in the past been referred to as “the wonder meat that won the War”, World War II that is.During the war soldiers would go for days with very little food if any. The army needed something they could air drop that would not need refrigeration or cooking. The answer came in the form of a meatloaf known as spiced ham. These 2 words combined form to make the word Spam.Spam was air dropped

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-40771221894244062592007-07-18T00:21:00.000+08:002007-07-23T10:24:06.965+08:00

Still on Walmart stuff.In 1899 German company Bayer invented Aspirin. The new medication was dubbed a wonder drug as it brought relief to those who suffered from certain types of physical pain.By 1915 Bayer introduced the first Aspirin tablets. Stored in glass bottles they were more convenient to take, ship and handle. It was an instant success.However when they were shipped the tablets tended

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-43883764500288893552007-07-11T17:39:00.000+08:002007-07-12T08:11:54.204+08:00

Still on stuff found at Walmart.For over 20 years I have been involved with making disciples through relationships. In that time I have encountered men who were ardent smokers.Three men come to mind as I write this post. The first was an old friend whom I grew up with. The second was a business associate and the third was a man whom I met in church when he received the Lord. Each one was a

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-30372473262411199382007-07-03T17:36:00.000+08:002007-07-03T21:29:38.785+08:00

More on stuff from Walmart.Almost every household stashes a spool of Scotch Tape at home. Invented in 1930's by the 3M Company, this utilitarian adhesive tape has become indispensable. From gift-wrapping to school projects, sealing envelopes to attaching notes (this was before Post Its), binding things together to restoring torn paper – the applications are endless.The secret of the Scotch

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-67387854073120693682007-06-26T21:54:00.002+08:002007-08-07T17:36:32.534+08:00

One more time for things you find at Walmart.Gillette is the world’s undisputed leader in men’s shaving and there is a good reason why – focus. When you mention the name Gillette there is no mistaking what you are talking about, from the people who work at the company to its suppliers, distributors and customers Gillette means one thing - shaving.This clarity has allowed the company to develop

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-42523254777813278682007-06-22T10:29:00.000+08:002007-06-22T13:22:25.814+08:00

Still on stuff you find at Walmart:In the autumn of 1982 McNeil Healthcare owners of Tylenol experienced a crisis. Seven people in the Chicago area were found dead after taking Extra Strength Tylenol. The reason was because the tablets were laced with cyanide poison.While the perpetrators were never caught, Johnson and Johnson the parent company of McNeil responded decisively that averted a

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-20392905851473887472007-06-15T18:47:00.000+08:002007-06-28T07:45:55.636+08:00

Still on items found at Walmart.Growing up my parents taught me how to help with housework. The most common chore was doing the dishes.In those days washing dishes meant using “steel wool” and a sponge. Steel wool was made of strands of steel that were matted together into a ball and was used as an abrasive. The sponge was used to apply the detergent and absorb excess water as the dishes were

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-32331390894444958242007-06-10T23:08:00.000+08:002007-06-11T08:04:07.862+08:00

Campbell’s Soup is one of the most recognizable brands of Americana. To many Campbell’s represents comfort food. Now more than 100 years later Campbell’s Soup remains a staple product used in millions of homes worldwide.The success of Campbell’s rests on one simple idea, eliminating the water in the soup. This allowed the product to have a longer shelf life which can be packed, shipped and

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-49229296203859462882007-06-04T20:07:00.001+08:002007-06-16T06:52:23.623+08:00

While I’m on a Walmart thread I think I’ll do a few posts on stuff you can find in their stores.Listerine is the by far the world’s largest selling mouthwash. Named after 19th century English doctor Joseph Lister, the original formula of Listerine was famous for its effective germ killing ability and its terrible taste. Despite its bad taste Listerine dominated the market because of its

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-59539514189171263552007-05-31T06:41:00.000+08:002007-08-20T22:31:29.821+08:00

Walmart was the first company to be ranked number 1 on both the Fortune 500 and the Fortune Most Admired lists. This was in 2003. A year later it was Fortune’s top Most Admired List and was listed as number 1 on the Fortune 500 list for 2004 with US$ 256 billion in revenues.I know I will probably get some flak for even thinking of using Walmart as an example to relate with discipleship. What

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-71239806757326984012007-05-29T05:52:00.001+08:002007-07-03T21:35:56.094+08:00

I am back.....I have been away from this blogsite for over a month. My last post was April 23 while I was traveling in the United States. You can expect a regular flow of posts on this site again.

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-40128462928783146532007-04-23T21:53:00.000+08:002007-04-24T09:19:58.226+08:00

The first time I ever watched major league baseball live was when I visited Phoenix, Arizona some years back. My friends Mike Gowans and Todd McIntyre took me to watch the Diamondbacks play.Growing up in the Philippines I played softball in grade school and watched some local NCAA baseball but nowhere near the way Americans are enthralled by it.The average price of tickets to the game we

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-52033896757123518092007-04-20T05:38:00.000+08:002007-06-11T07:43:58.940+08:00

Blogging is a challenge when you're traveling. And since I'm on this 9 city trip of the US it has been quite a stretch specially with changing planes, hotels, homes etc. I have resolved to overcome, so here is my second post since this trip started.As I write this post I am sitting in Mike Gowans’ (my pastor friend) home in Chandler, Arizona. Last night Mike’s brother Mark and I went to the

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-68103720733294293162007-04-13T14:02:00.000+08:002007-06-11T07:52:51.788+08:00

In my last post I wrote about the NCAA, basketball’s premier amateur league. I thought it was a good idea to follow it up with a something on the NBA.The National Basketball Association (NBA) is by far the world’s premier professional basketball league. It is viewed by millions of fans worldwide. Its statistics and basketball action is unmatched by any league anywhere.What makes the NBA such is

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-79446990299247206122007-04-09T10:29:00.000+08:002007-04-11T18:56:21.294+08:00

In my last post I wrote about discipleship and Wimbledon and while I am on the sports side of things I might as well do another one, this time on basketball. In particular the NCAA.Pronounced NC double A, it is the premier collegiate sports association. Although the association includes just about every major sports competition, the NCAA is primarily known for basketball.Unlike professional

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-32633861295790321982007-04-05T22:01:00.000+08:002007-04-11T18:53:57.819+08:00

Can discipleship take place in Wimbledon? Absolutely, it can take place anywhere!Three days ago Steve Murrell introduced me to man named Bob Kraft. Over lunch I got to know more about him.Born the same year I was (1957), Bob is a world-class professional tennis coach and trainer. Bob has lived and traveled to just about every country where professional tennis is played. But as passionate as

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-63901905598717964772007-03-31T14:39:00.000+08:002007-04-02T09:57:42.162+08:00

A member of our church posed a question to me today in one of my sites: “how does one approach strangers in public places, with a view to discipleship?” My response to him: I do not usually approach strangers. It is only when an opportunity presents itself that I do.Examples of these are during a flight (since you are stuck together and usually have no choice but to talk), at a children's PTA

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-87791125901309973872007-03-26T15:34:00.000+08:002007-03-26T23:22:39.174+08:00

In my earlier blog I wrote about preaching at an English Pub while I was in London. On my last day since it was so cold and I had limited time I decided to spend the afternoon with a young man whom I have had the privilege of being in discipleship with some years back.The ideal place to go to was Harrods of London, it was only 2 stops away from where we were by subway and we would be indoors.

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-64784211451298199192007-03-21T08:20:00.000+08:002007-04-02T12:08:26.064+08:00

This evening Wolfi Eckleben pastor of the Every Nation church in London asked me if I could share some thoughts about discipleship to the key leaders of their church. The venue he chose was the Edward’s Pub in Hammersmith. An authentic Pub built sometime in the late 1800’s.Today Pubs are more like watering holes or bars dedicated to alcoholic beverages and food. But that’s not how it

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-55436362220418254992007-03-17T00:00:00.000+08:002007-03-19T14:13:04.265+08:00

Last year, I was visiting with a pastor friend in a major city in the United States. My friend brought my son and I out for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Over dinner he asked: “Where in all your discipleship program does one manifest his/her spiritual gifts?”To this I responded: “In the discipleship groups.” To help me understand the question my friend said, “No, I mean what about the

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-19369831243176482902007-03-14T13:55:00.000+08:002007-03-16T16:11:11.844+08:00

A few years ago I was visiting Scottsdale, Arizona and I was asked by my pastor friend to share with the church leaders about discipleship. During the question and answer portion I was asked what I have heard so often, “where do you find the time to make disciples –people are busy?”I went on to explain that discipleship is not a hat we put on or off. It is something we wear all time wherever we

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-67354512313469602252007-03-10T15:09:00.000+08:002007-03-16T16:09:54.262+08:00

In 1948 George de Mestral was out on a hike. As he returned home he noticed that his pants were covered with burrs from Burdock plants. Being an avid inventor he began to look into the burrs that were stuck in his pants. Under the microscope he found his answer.He saw that the burrs had many stiff hooks. These hooks in turn hooked themselves on the hairy loops of the fabric of his pants.

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-41547885507959083302007-03-07T14:16:00.000+08:002007-08-09T19:07:45.846+08:00

In 1945 Earl Tupper developed a set of unique plastic containers for household use. What made his products successful was it had the ability to be airtight, thereby keeping food fresh longer.However the secret to Tupperware’s success lay in its direct selling strategy which is today known as the “Tupperware Party”. From its inception the strategy was a winner.By the 1950’s Tupperware exploded

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-24282874929094177472007-03-04T21:28:00.000+08:002007-03-16T16:07:43.611+08:00

Anyone who has ever been actively involved in discipleship knows that it has its own set of challenges and frustrating moments. One of those moments is when the people you are in discipleship with do a “no show”.Imagine carving out time in your busy schedule to travel to a coffee shop near the person’s office to make things convenient for them. After waiting, you receive a text message or a

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-13812644687080335112007-03-01T00:49:00.000+08:002007-03-02T06:16:53.921+08:00

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, James 1:19In my last blog I spoke about the difference between a fire hydrant and a glass of water. The point I was trying to make was the importance of being slow to speak and making sure we do not overwhelm the people whom we are conversing with.This blog is related to that previous

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-74306075599985641832007-02-26T13:26:00.001+08:002007-02-27T22:42:34.558+08:00

When I was much younger and ill experienced at the task of disciple making I had a tendency to overwhelm the people I was in contact with. How I wish I knew then what I know now.One example was when a friend wanted to know about my faith in Jesus Christ. Immediately I blasted him with everything I knew about the Bible and all the good stuff that I thought I needed to download on him.Without

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-43637887128000426312007-02-23T00:18:00.001+08:002007-02-26T22:46:16.547+08:00

In my book “The Mystery of the Empty Stomach” I made reference to a verse in Ephesians 5:18:“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”I explained that this verse is like a contrast between being addicted to liquor versus being addicted to the Spirit of God. Isn’t it amazing that the purveyors of liquor usually advertise: “wines and spirits”. I don

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-87863915793853317552007-02-20T00:15:00.000+08:002007-02-26T22:48:23.207+08:00

The Philippine Adobo is the standard Filipino comfort food. Wherever you find Filipinos (and they are everywhere) be it in New York, London, Rome or Tokyo, you will find the adobo. It can be prepared with chicken, pork or chicken and pork combined.This delicious Filipino staple can be made in many ways. People from Manila like it soupy. The Visayan version is drier. South of Luzon can be

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-71450273869513346732007-02-17T14:52:00.000+08:002007-02-26T22:49:49.837+08:00

I have 3 boys who grew up on Lego, the amazing block toys manufactured by the Danish company of the same name.What makes Lego incredible is it is capable of building just about anything.In August last year I was in Downtown Disney World (in Orlando) with my son David. We strayed into the Lego shop there. It had everything from skyscrapers, dinosaurs, life sized super heroes and even a giant

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-86405369319149938292007-02-14T18:13:00.000+08:002007-02-26T22:50:53.224+08:00

The most preposterous thing that modern Christianity has invented is the idea that church only happens every Sunday, even worse is the practice of making sure it lasts only 90 minutes.Imagine a business that operates one day a week for 90 minutes. That business is headed for certain disaster. Sadly that’s the way modern day Christians operate the business of their God.I can only guess why

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-88308645506059306302007-02-11T07:49:00.000+08:002007-02-11T21:49:25.221+08:00

Last Friday I had lunch with Colonel Dennis Isleta. Dennis and his wife Meg are members of our congregation at Fort Bonifacio. Dennis is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy and is a sharp man.I asked him about a term the military calls “Commander’s Intent” (CI) a technique that the army has adapted in the 1980’s.Here was his explanation: CI is a simple concept that the army uses. It

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-17016257184521372762007-02-08T23:09:00.000+08:002007-02-09T00:07:04.729+08:00

While I was in Kuala Lumpur this week we stopped by a mall to have dinner. As we were walking to the car to make our way to the hotel I saw this sign pictured here.The sign resembles the historical Christian symbol at the height of the Church's persecution. The idea behind this was when believers met each other one would draw an arch on the ground or carve it on a table top the other person

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-920580463036068862007-02-06T00:12:00.000+08:002007-03-24T08:06:37.358+08:00

I am a true believer of the Westminster Catechism's statement that "the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." The chief end of man is to enjoy God not work for Him. While I espouse this I also believe that life cannot be lived nonchalantly without deadlines.Deadlines are important, without them very few things get accomplished. Without deadlines we will end up sitting

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-41405991480410549862007-02-04T08:07:00.000+08:002007-03-23T16:18:13.035+08:00

In 1981 the legendary Jack Welch took the helm of General Electric. At the time the company had a 90 year history and had a market capitalization of $12 billion. The company had the 11th best stock in the New York Stock Exchange at $4 per share.Welch assessed the business and found approximately 348 businesses and product lines. It was then that he set out to identify which ones were the

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-63728212797663068362007-02-02T20:12:00.000+08:002007-03-23T16:20:56.149+08:00

Last night I spoke at the VictoryBiz Seminar. My message was about priorities, its importance and value. I shared three principles in order to have the right priorities.Principle No. 1: “The Good is the Enemy of the Best.” Got this one from John Maxwell’s book – “Developing the Leader Within You.”The story I am about to recount is true but will keep the names anonymous. This story captures

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-73597976506503481852007-01-31T10:02:00.000+08:002007-01-31T21:51:06.638+08:00

“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Matthew 13:55Disicpleship cannot be complicated. After all Jesus was a carpenter’s son and His disciples were fishermen. Sometimes we make discipleship more dificult than it really is. We overload people with information when what they really need is a relationship where

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-56168444697417825172007-01-29T00:30:00.000+08:002007-09-03T08:13:44.863+08:00

A few years ago while visiting Washington DC my host brought me to a Starbucks Coffee shop on a wintry Saturday morning. What I witnessed that day was something I would never forget. There was an initial line of 8 or 10 people when we got there. Then cars started showing up one after the other. In time there were at least 20 people in line.It got me thinking, why would people inconvenience

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-61459827930281637572007-01-26T22:24:00.000+08:002007-01-27T14:08:53.520+08:00

These words reflect the sentiments of people who have heard of Jesus and His teaching but cannot reconcile why His followers behave otherwise.I realize that much of this is due to the hypocrisy found among “church people”. But there are other reasons that may not be quite as bad as hypocrisy but is simply a matter of adjusting the way we do ministry. Here’s one thought you may want to consider:

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-15014548795278966192007-01-25T16:08:00.000+08:002007-01-25T18:10:31.525+08:00

She is one rare girl. Of Japanese descent but was born and raised in Canada. She has traveled to as many as 26 nations and has lived in 4. A confessed disciple of Jesus Christ she insists that among all the nations she's been to the Philippines is her favorite.The person I am talking about is Lynn Nawata. She was at one point the country manager for Harris Corporation in the Philippines. Lynn

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-62850557426781936792007-01-22T10:22:00.000+08:002007-01-27T07:11:42.504+08:00

Last Saturday we held our first ever “Appreciation Night”. Over the years our church showed its appreciation to the people who served in separate Christmas parties. For instance the Kid’s Church volunteers, Worship Teams (singers and musicians), Ushers and others held separate parties. This year we decided it was time for a change.We gathered all the volunteer groups into one “Filipiniana

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-13342846585251270652007-01-20T01:30:00.000+08:002007-01-20T14:17:22.321+08:00

In my home I have a cabinet of tin boxes which form some of the compartments in my life: one is labled Travel (it contains my passport, travel gear, foreign currencies, travel tripod, inflatable neck rest etc.) another is for Audio (iPod accessories, earphones, jacks etc.) then Health (roller blade parts, swim goggles, basketball pins, knee pads, sweat bands, stop watch and would you believe

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-36756076946278719922007-01-19T22:41:00.000+08:002007-01-22T18:50:02.372+08:00

In the Book of Acts, chapter 4:1-2 we read the account of Luke about Peter and John’s exploits:The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. The words greatly disturbed could be

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-85205726210319002032007-01-18T17:40:00.000+08:002007-08-08T01:55:05.219+08:00

Well the buzz has begun - Every Nation's World Conference in Manila will open its doors for registration starting January 22 and that's just 4 days away. Register as soon as you can and here's why: There are now approx. 24,000 people who atend the Metro Manila church and another 9-10K from the provincial churches. Araneta Colesium can only seat 14K. Do your math. Register early. If you want

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-69152684765654285122007-01-18T08:07:00.000+08:002007-01-18T10:46:34.139+08:00

The first book I finished reading this year is “What’s Your Story?” by Craig Wortmann. Wortmann explains why story telling is so vital in teaching, encouraging and igniting performance. The book is full of nuggets and quotes from leading authorities on story telling. He explores various ways to find, gather, store and use stories.He further explains how stories connect people and have a

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-32707790208561486002007-01-14T11:04:00.000+08:002007-01-27T14:12:26.981+08:00

Visiting Singapore is always a treat. It is a beautiful city with wonderful people. But the greatest treat is the Every Nation church here. A thriving multi-ethnic church led by Pastor Larry (and Elaine) Matsuwaki. I can no longer count the number of times I have visited this church. But every visit has been a memorable time of hospitality, generosity, faith and kindness. (see link below)We

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-46213132423663015732007-01-03T20:50:00.000+08:002007-01-27T14:42:05.103+08:00

Working as a pastor is a joy. Working as a pastor at Victory Christian Fellowship (VCF) is both a joy and a "thrill" that I always thank God for. (see blog: Top 10 Things to Thank God for in 2006 – item number 8: http://joeybonifacio.multiply.com/journal/item/31January 2nd was my first day at work in 2007. Spent the morning with the local church staff of VCF Fort Bonifacio discussing our

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-75775928907796375312007-01-03T20:01:00.000+08:002007-01-03T20:46:06.552+08:00

This year Time Magazine took a different tack from their usual Person of the Year cover feature. The cover had a reflective Mylar that acted like a mirror. I thought that was pretty unique. The idea behind it was when you looked at the cover you would see your face - that's because this year's person of the year is - you. The sub-title: Yes you. You control the Information Age. Welcome to

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-87992894639371795312007-01-01T23:26:00.000+08:002007-01-02T21:33:11.571+08:00

In my other site I wrote about the top 10 books I enjoyed last year - joeybonifacio.multiply.com On this site I do a quick review of the top 10 books I read in 2006 that I recommend for pastors, leaders and disciple makers. These are not really in order of the best or most important, so here they are:1. Church Planting Movements by David Garrison. Given to me by Rey Corpuz. As the title

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-76634735738484848492006-12-30T19:02:00.000+08:002006-12-31T00:57:43.738+08:00

This is a picture of Pastors Ed Ty of Victory Christian Fellowship (VCF Lucena) and Raymond De Guzman (VCF Lipa) in what is left of the home of VCF Legaspi's worship Leader Sarah. As previously mentioned many of the members of the church lost homes (see December 25 blog below: Amazing People) and some may not be able to come back because of volcanic mud flow and other reasons. Below is a

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-24158713765087993012006-12-29T15:50:00.000+08:002006-12-30T14:16:28.358+08:00

Major Dennis Isleta sent me an SMS this morning commenting on Cito Beltran's article in today's Philippine Star. Just finished reading it and attached excerpts from the article:"Most people associate screwing around as nothing more than marital indiscretion or infidelity.In terms of having a bad year, have you ever thought of screwing around as a breach of contract? A contract you made not

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-30891012525062665902006-12-27T13:18:00.000+08:002006-12-30T14:13:36.002+08:00

The picture is of Julius and Eilleen Fabregas and their family. Yesterday (December 26) our family was invited to lunch at their home.Our relationship with Julius and Eilleen dates back to 1987 (19 years ago). Back then Julius was working for his family’s linen manufacturing and export business. Eventually he and Eilleen felt a call to go into ministry. In 1990 they planted what is now our

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-11082672729654730662006-12-25T03:23:00.000+08:002006-12-30T13:15:52.250+08:00

In response to Super Typhoon Reming's effects in the Bicol region, the churches of Victory Christian Fellowship (VCF) has mobilized its members (3 weeks ago) to donate cash and goods (food, clothing and building supplies). I am writing this blog to honor the amazing people: men, women and families who responded to the call. In the short period of time our provincial churches headed by Juray

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-76280617689841837482006-12-24T22:32:00.000+08:002006-12-30T14:45:13.276+08:00

She came to our church (Victory Christian Fellowship, in the Philippines) in 1993. She found her way in one of our discipleship groups. Eleven years ago (in 1995), I baptized her in water at the home of the Espirtu's in San Juan. Over the years Kim has become a good friend. It has been a joy and privilege to be associated with her.Kim is a medical doctor and has been involved with relief

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397529649248972201.post-61881603886956902742006-12-22T21:44:00.000+08:002007-04-06T14:15:34.885+08:00

At 49 years old I am not exactly the "techie" who is comfortable with the "blogsphere". For the last 2 years I have been watching my 3 sons (ages 23, 22, 20) communicate, interface, exchange and type away at their sites. Ocassionally I visited their sites but dismissed it as a young thing - an electronic slum book.Then it happened I picked up an authoritative book on blogging. That's when I

Joey Bonifaciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604674443003667454noreply@blogger.com6