Engr Chris Brian B Ascano EnP, REB

A personal reflection from a life changing message from Pastor Dennis Sy during last week's Every Nation Go Conference.

Read: https://randelltiongson.com/a-front-row-seat-to-grace-growth-and-gods-mission/

The need to break the generational cycle of poverty

Read: https://randelltiongson.com/breaking-the-cycle-of-poverty/

We are called to live in the world without being shaped by the world. That is part of the tension of the Christian life. Jesus did not call us to isolate ourselves from society, but neither did He call us to imitate its values. We are here to live with conviction, wisdom, and grace.

We can coexist without compromising when we are secure in our identity in Christ. When we know who we belong to, we do not have to bend just to fit in. We can work with people who do not share our beliefs, build relationships with those who see life differently, and serve our communities with humility and love, while remaining faithful to God’s truth. Faithfulness does not mean withdrawal. It means presence without surrender.

How do we do this? We stay rooted in Scripture, prayer, and the life of the Spirit. We treat people with dignity, but we do not dilute conviction. We extend grace, but we do not negotiate truth. We listen well, love sincerely, and stand firmly. In a world that often pressures us to either conform or fight, the kingdom way is different. We are called to be faithful, fruitful, and distinct.

As Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” This is the challenge and the invitation. We live in the world, but our minds, values, and allegiance are shaped by God. We can coexist with others without compromising our faith because our foundation is not the approval of people, but the lordship of Christ.

When it comes to money, many Christians swing to two extremes. Some act as if wealth is the automatic proof of God’s blessing. Others speak as if poverty is the real badge of spirituality. But kingdom theology gives us a better way.

In God’s kingdom, neither wealth nor poverty is the goal. Faithful stewardship is.

The issue is not how much you have. The issue is whether Jesus is truly Lord over what you have. It is not wrong to earn, save, invest, and build. Providing for your family and growing your resources can be part of wise and godly stewardship. But the moment money becomes your security, identity, or ambition, it begins to compete with the King.

We are not called to build our own little kingdoms. We are called to submit everything to the kingdom of God. That includes our bank accounts, business decisions, financial goals, and lifestyle choices. Money is not evil, but it is dangerous when it stops being a tool and starts becoming a master.

Kingdom stewardship means we hold wealth with open hands. We provide well, but we also give generously. We plan wisely, but we also care for the poor. We build for the future, but we do not neglect the work of the gospel in the present.

In the end, the question is not whether it is spiritual to have money or spiritual to have little. The real question is this: Is what God has placed in your hands being used for His glory, His mission, and the good of others?

That is kingdom stewardship.

It’s okay to challenge the norm, even in church.

It's not because we enjoy being edgy, not because we think we’re smarter than the people who came before us... but because the church doesn’t exist to preserve comfort. The church exists to preserve the gospel, and the gospel has a way of disturbing the status quo before it heals the soul.

We forget this sometimes: the gospel doesn’t begin with a warm hug, it begins with a mirror.

Jesus doesn’t first say, “You’re fine.” He says, “Repent.” Not to shame us, but to save us. The gospel confronts before it comforts because true comfort is built on truth, not denial. Grace is not God ignoring sin; grace is God dealing with sin—fully, finally, and lovingly through the cross. If the gospel never confronts me, I’m probably only listening to the parts that agree with me.

That’s why pressure isn’t always the enemy, pressure can refine. In fact, God often uses pressure the way a refiner uses fire: not to destroy the gold, but to burn away what doesn’t belong. We don’t like squeezing seasons, but they reveal what we’re really holding on to. They expose our idols, they surface our hidden motives and if we let them, they turn “surface Christianity” into deep formation.

This is also why I’m wary of a “platonized” gospel, the kind that treats Christianity like an escape plan from the real world. As if the goal is to float away to heaven someday while we tolerate injustice, broken systems, family dysfunction, and discipleship-lite in the meantime. That’s not the gospel Jesus preached. The kingdom of God is not an idea; it’s a reality breaking into the present. It confronts how we live, how we love, how we work, how we spend, how we lead, how we forgive. It doesn’t bypass the material world, it redeems it.

And here’s the irony: many of our breakthroughs happen at breaking points.

Not because breaking points are good in themselves, but because they finally strip away our illusions, especially the illusion of control. The breaking point is often where God’s strength becomes undeniable, because our strength has run out. It’s where prayer stops being a religious activity and becomes a desperate dependence. It’s where we stop performing and start surrendering.

So yes, challenge the norm when the norm is preventing repentance, muting the gospel, protecting comfort, or resisting growth. Do it with humility. Do it with love. Do it with Scripture open and ego down. But don’t be afraid of the discomfort.

Sometimes the most loving thing the gospel will do is confront you and sometimes the most comforting thing God will do is refuse to leave you as you are.

Unstoppable Series: Week 5 | The Persecution of the Saints
Acts 11:19–26

The gospel is unstoppable. 🔥
Through persecution, God used ordinary people, not just full-time ministers, to spread the Good News from Cyprus and Cyrene to Antioch. There, believers were first called Christians, a name once meant to mock but became a testimony because they truly lived like Christ.

Being a Christian is not just claiming a label. It is letting Jesus be both Savior and Lord, not just a resident but the President of our lives. Wherever true believers (Christians) go, God’s love overflows naturally through service, humility, and Christlike living.

Money is a resource, not a source.

In the Kingdom of God, our source is the King Himself. Money is simply one of the tools He places in our hands. It is never meant to carry the weight of our security, identity, or future. It is meant to be stewarded, directed toward what matters: obedience, provision, generosity, justice, and mission.

The trouble begins when money stops being a means and becomes the end. Once money becomes the goal, it starts demanding loyalty. It quietly becomes a master. And when that happens, people get distorted. They compromise, they manipulate, they cheat, they crush others, they neglect family, they lose sleep, they lose integrity—because the heart will always justify what it worships.

If you don’t want money to be your master, decide ahead of time what kind of life you are called to live under God’s rule. Set your convictions. Define your “enough.” Anchor your goals on Kingdom priorities. When you do that, money becomes a servant: useful, practical, and properly placed. It becomes a tool for building a life of purpose, not a trophy for feeding pride.

That kind of clarity protects you from covetousness. You stop staring at other people’s lifestyles and feeling like you are behind. You stop being seduced by shortcuts and the endless chase for more. Because when you already know how you want to live for the King, money no longer defines you. It simply follows your values.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” — Matthew 6:24, ESV

We don’t buy insurance because we expect tragedy.
We buy it because we love our family.

Preparation is an act of responsibility.
Protection is an act of love.

🎥 Watch the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihP9kHzb5cg

𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 | 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝘆: 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂!
Mabuhay to all aspiring Philippine Navy Applicants!
Are you ready to level up your future?
The Navy Personnel Management Center (NPMC) is hitting the road with its 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 - bringing exciting career opportunities straight to your city. No need for long trips - just show up, apply, and start your journey toward an epic adventure with the 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝘆!

🚢𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁?
It’s your chance to take the first step in joining the Navy without the need of traveling far! Our recruitment team is going nationwide, making it easier than ever for you to apply, get screened, and take the first step toward an extraordinary career.

🎯𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆?
✅Filipino citizen
✅At least 18 yrs old and not a day older than 24 years and 3 months from the date of application for 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
✅20 years old but not older than 26 years old on the date of application as 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
✅College graduate (for officer candidates) or at least senior high school/tech-voc graduate (for Candidate Sailors)
✅Physically & mentally fit
✅Of good moral character

📃𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:
• Birth certificate
• Diploma / Certificate of Graduation / Certificate of Completion, if the Transcript of Records (TOR) is not yet available (applicable to undergraduates)
• Transcript of records/ Form 137
• Valid government ID

📌𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆:
• Double-check the qualifications
• Bring all your required documents
• Get ready for AFPSAT Examination & Neuropsychiatric Examination

📣𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦:
• Ensure all requirements are complete before the exam day.
• Arrive early on the examination day to avoid inconvenience.
• Strictly no escorting of applicants.

🌊𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝘆?
This isn’t just a job - it’s a life of service, dedication, adventure, and growth. Get a chance to serve your country!

Leadership lessons from the Apostle Peter: A Kingdom Economics Reflection for Leaders

Read: https://randelltiongson.com/leadership-lessons-from-the-apostle-peter/

When people remain materialistic and ungenerous, it is often not a money problem but a gospel problem. It reveals that they have not fully grasped what it means that Jesus, though rich, willingly became poor for our sake. In Christ, we already possess a wealth that no market can measure and no inflation can erode, yet this truth can remain merely theoretical. We may affirm it as sound doctrine while our hearts continue to cling to material things, quietly treating them as more beautiful, more secure, and more satisfying than Christ himself. In that sense, we can understand spiritual riches with our minds and still fail to live as though we are truly rich in Him.