hi all.
its kinda sad that the 1st time i'm posting here is to uh, apologise for my recent month-long absence... and also to say that my month-long absence is going to be extended for um, another 4 or so months. yep, i have been in m'sia/sick/will be in m'sia and will be going to canada on exchange soonish. =P back in this part of the world sometime mid-may 2009.
heehee cya all =P and God bless!!!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
prayers answered
i'm quite amazed.
because for the first time in my (yeah, short) life, being prayer co-ic of a camp was real. i learnt about priorities, God and fellowship. and God answered prayer, so i want to thank you for praying and interceding.
i was glad when i saw friendships blossoming, or growing deeper, through laughter and serious sharing and even tears.
and Ben-- he was right to call back the committee for a time of devotion before the final session of worship, even though it meant delaying dinner and delaying the last worship team's practice time. i was initially alarmed at the idea, and worried when i saw the frazzled looks on various faces; i wondered, are we being too demanding, unaware of the reality of hungry youths and lagging schedules and food going cold? so i gei kianged; i tried to cut it down so that it was just them sharing with a partner and praying. Which might have worked on its own, but what Ben did was, i believe, better; as i fled from the room and scuttled up and down stairs to check the situation, he exhorted the tired leaders and worshiped and prayed with them. In the end i didn't accomplish very much beyond familiarising myself with the stairways of bkt timah SA; but when the leaders left that room, even the ones who had first looked disgruntled said quietly, "Thank you", and i was glad that they had spent that time in devotion. Yes a schedule is a schedule, but how can a worship team lead others to worship, if they themselves have not entered that rest and gladness?
it seemed to me the classic Mary-Martha story--- i know i have a decidedly Marthaian tendency; in fact through much of this camp i'd been doing things before man, not often slowing down to be still before God. even as i went through the prayer basket and tried to write things in the encouragement booklets, my heart was restless, focused on doing things, rather than waiting on Jesus to touch hearts, draw out true conversations and stir up hearts to pray. Still i trust that He heard our prayers and interceded for us even while we did not know what to pray. The time i spent hiding in that corner might have been better used joining or watching the youths play and talking, really trying to connect with them. (connection these few days has been hard, possibly because of the voice, possibly because i have been hurrying and trying to do things rather than wait on God)
--> by the way, Ben did that; he went with the youths all the way and went through the camp with them.
--> so yeah Ben here's a big thank you for your patience and courage in speaking out when you were troubled by how ppl weren't focusing on God, and for reminding everyone to stop and enter God's rest again.
--> and for never losing your temper, even when i attempted to upturn your planned devotion, and when i was irritable while setting up encouragement system (i don't understand how you can stand there with rhinorrhoea and no tissue paper and still be so cheerful)
--> even though we often disagree on things in Bible Study and discussions, i pray God will continue to guide us into all truth, and that His love and grace will be made even clearer thus. IN YOUR LIFE BRO even though you sometimes feel like you're always gonna slip up.
As a result, for me the last night session was wonderful. Because it was so clear, like God's Spirit was breathing His truth into the words of the songs and the leader's words, making us understand the truth and the reality of Christ.
an adult stepped forward and prayed, and cried out in honesty to God, and was not ashamed to be without neat endings in his prayer, only affirming this: that God loves us, beyond our deserving.
After the worship session and altar call (during which many youths rededicated their lives to Christ), people started coming up and sharing testimonies. I was sorry to have to step out early.
during the camp also, i had the opportunity to sit in on group discussions. Then i realised that-- you know last time, when older youths would come in and speak and answer questions about God, and you wondered, how come they know so much? now i know God has been at work in our lives all these months for a reason. By faith, not of works that anyone might boast. i want to press on and walk steady in Christ, take time to rest in His presence and praise Him every day, for all my life, so that i would live after His pattern, and hear His voice, and do His will. Even when it's hard to decide between schedule and abandoned Spirit-led worship, between practicality and devotion.
so you see, i'm grateful for the learning. when i came back home, and reality/family issues came growling back, my thought was not, bleh, here we go; it was, pray, pray and commit this circumstance to the will of God. i want to keep doing that.
crucified with Christ means i am not my own; i was bought at a price. All of us were.
because for the first time in my (yeah, short) life, being prayer co-ic of a camp was real. i learnt about priorities, God and fellowship. and God answered prayer, so i want to thank you for praying and interceding.
i was glad when i saw friendships blossoming, or growing deeper, through laughter and serious sharing and even tears.
and Ben-- he was right to call back the committee for a time of devotion before the final session of worship, even though it meant delaying dinner and delaying the last worship team's practice time. i was initially alarmed at the idea, and worried when i saw the frazzled looks on various faces; i wondered, are we being too demanding, unaware of the reality of hungry youths and lagging schedules and food going cold? so i gei kianged; i tried to cut it down so that it was just them sharing with a partner and praying. Which might have worked on its own, but what Ben did was, i believe, better; as i fled from the room and scuttled up and down stairs to check the situation, he exhorted the tired leaders and worshiped and prayed with them. In the end i didn't accomplish very much beyond familiarising myself with the stairways of bkt timah SA; but when the leaders left that room, even the ones who had first looked disgruntled said quietly, "Thank you", and i was glad that they had spent that time in devotion. Yes a schedule is a schedule, but how can a worship team lead others to worship, if they themselves have not entered that rest and gladness?
it seemed to me the classic Mary-Martha story--- i know i have a decidedly Marthaian tendency; in fact through much of this camp i'd been doing things before man, not often slowing down to be still before God. even as i went through the prayer basket and tried to write things in the encouragement booklets, my heart was restless, focused on doing things, rather than waiting on Jesus to touch hearts, draw out true conversations and stir up hearts to pray. Still i trust that He heard our prayers and interceded for us even while we did not know what to pray. The time i spent hiding in that corner might have been better used joining or watching the youths play and talking, really trying to connect with them. (connection these few days has been hard, possibly because of the voice, possibly because i have been hurrying and trying to do things rather than wait on God)
--> by the way, Ben did that; he went with the youths all the way and went through the camp with them.
--> so yeah Ben here's a big thank you for your patience and courage in speaking out when you were troubled by how ppl weren't focusing on God, and for reminding everyone to stop and enter God's rest again.
--> and for never losing your temper, even when i attempted to upturn your planned devotion, and when i was irritable while setting up encouragement system (i don't understand how you can stand there with rhinorrhoea and no tissue paper and still be so cheerful)
--> even though we often disagree on things in Bible Study and discussions, i pray God will continue to guide us into all truth, and that His love and grace will be made even clearer thus. IN YOUR LIFE BRO even though you sometimes feel like you're always gonna slip up.
As a result, for me the last night session was wonderful. Because it was so clear, like God's Spirit was breathing His truth into the words of the songs and the leader's words, making us understand the truth and the reality of Christ.
an adult stepped forward and prayed, and cried out in honesty to God, and was not ashamed to be without neat endings in his prayer, only affirming this: that God loves us, beyond our deserving.
After the worship session and altar call (during which many youths rededicated their lives to Christ), people started coming up and sharing testimonies. I was sorry to have to step out early.
during the camp also, i had the opportunity to sit in on group discussions. Then i realised that-- you know last time, when older youths would come in and speak and answer questions about God, and you wondered, how come they know so much? now i know God has been at work in our lives all these months for a reason. By faith, not of works that anyone might boast. i want to press on and walk steady in Christ, take time to rest in His presence and praise Him every day, for all my life, so that i would live after His pattern, and hear His voice, and do His will. Even when it's hard to decide between schedule and abandoned Spirit-led worship, between practicality and devotion.
so you see, i'm grateful for the learning. when i came back home, and reality/family issues came growling back, my thought was not, bleh, here we go; it was, pray, pray and commit this circumstance to the will of God. i want to keep doing that.
crucified with Christ means i am not my own; i was bought at a price. All of us were.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
prayer requests
YF Camp, menomore, starts tomorrow at 8.30am and ends Sunday after second service at 10.30. about 60 (66 -2 pastors -whoever you consider to be too old to be a youth) campers from p6-poly age will be joining. It's at Salvation Army.
Ben and I are to pray and participate.
Do join us by praying for--
youths who are not Christian (there are at least 2 from nonC b/g)-- that they will understand Christ's love and gift of salvation, and accept Him as Lord. This includes youths who have been attending YF or service but still have not trusted Christ or understood the gospel clearly. Especially youths who have grown up in a Christian environment but think of church as a social thing.
youths who are Christian-- that God will use this camp to build strong ties of fellowship and understanding and love, and that they will each draw near to God, and encourage each other sincerely. Pray that they won't be distracted by dumdum things like infatuations and will instead focus on Christ.
the camp comm, headed by Ivan. Pray that we will be examplary in following Christ and our words and conduct will honour Christ. Pray that we will show love to each other esp when ppl are tired and under stress. Pray that the worship team would have a clear vision of God as King, the Holy One, and the One through Whom and for Whom all things exist.
good health/safety for all campers+ppl involved (and that i won't infect anyone with my cough!), esp as they do this rather hazardous thing in amazing race where you have to make something edible for a bystander O.o
I don't know what Ben's needs are (more shame on me), but i really feel very weak as tmr approaches. I prob won't be staying in camp but hope to join my group during the daytime. i'm coughing (expectorating!) quite violently, and so feel kinda weak; am feeling quite unsettled and restless because things at home aren't really resolved yet; and a separate event on friday is my first time being a tour guide at Christmas Village so i'm not sure what to expect. I find myself pre-empting what ppl will say and worrying about how to convince them (or even myself!) But as a trainer said during the preparation, we should recall the joy of Christmas and genuinely celebrate the fact of God's love for us. And Christ Himself said not to worry about what to say, but trust in His Spirit to guide us.
Everything belongs to God. The stars and the stones and the cattle of a thousand hills. If we kept quiet the stones would praise their Maker. I believe He's able to provide.
the thing that is stopping me from praying with confidence now is the thought that i haven't been very faithful in praying for the camp up til now. Or in watching over the camp comm spiritually. but may God forgive us, and still work in hearts and minds to turn them to Christ.
Ben and I are to pray and participate.
Do join us by praying for--
youths who are not Christian (there are at least 2 from nonC b/g)-- that they will understand Christ's love and gift of salvation, and accept Him as Lord. This includes youths who have been attending YF or service but still have not trusted Christ or understood the gospel clearly. Especially youths who have grown up in a Christian environment but think of church as a social thing.
youths who are Christian-- that God will use this camp to build strong ties of fellowship and understanding and love, and that they will each draw near to God, and encourage each other sincerely. Pray that they won't be distracted by dumdum things like infatuations and will instead focus on Christ.
the camp comm, headed by Ivan. Pray that we will be examplary in following Christ and our words and conduct will honour Christ. Pray that we will show love to each other esp when ppl are tired and under stress. Pray that the worship team would have a clear vision of God as King, the Holy One, and the One through Whom and for Whom all things exist.
good health/safety for all campers+ppl involved (and that i won't infect anyone with my cough!), esp as they do this rather hazardous thing in amazing race where you have to make something edible for a bystander O.o
I don't know what Ben's needs are (more shame on me), but i really feel very weak as tmr approaches. I prob won't be staying in camp but hope to join my group during the daytime. i'm coughing (expectorating!) quite violently, and so feel kinda weak; am feeling quite unsettled and restless because things at home aren't really resolved yet; and a separate event on friday is my first time being a tour guide at Christmas Village so i'm not sure what to expect. I find myself pre-empting what ppl will say and worrying about how to convince them (or even myself!) But as a trainer said during the preparation, we should recall the joy of Christmas and genuinely celebrate the fact of God's love for us. And Christ Himself said not to worry about what to say, but trust in His Spirit to guide us.
Everything belongs to God. The stars and the stones and the cattle of a thousand hills. If we kept quiet the stones would praise their Maker. I believe He's able to provide.
the thing that is stopping me from praying with confidence now is the thought that i haven't been very faithful in praying for the camp up til now. Or in watching over the camp comm spiritually. but may God forgive us, and still work in hearts and minds to turn them to Christ.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
more links
to the excellent ones LX provided i have only a few (most of them are on the right hand link bar)
http://www.rzim.org
Ravi Zacharias's site, which has some good responses to issues like the Virginia Tech incident. Good for apologetics.
http://www.rzim.org/radio/archives.aspx?p=JT&o=0&i=100 radio archive! good for listening to while jogging or smth :P (since i haven't been jogging, i haven't been listening. but still.)
http://freerice.com/
This website by World Food Programme, which is supp to donate 20 grains of sponsored rice every time you get a word/phrase right. has topics on English Vocab/Grammar, art appreciation and other languages :)
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Issues
Grace To You, John MacArthur's site. He has a very firm conviction of the importance of Biblical Truth vs postmodernism. Good to hear what he has to say in light of the many theories/writers/voices around today.
http://www.stephentong.org/sermon.htm
some sermon transcripts from Stephen Tong, an Indonesian evangelist (the eyebrows guy!) you can see some clips here, i think http://tw.youtube.com/results?search_query=%E5%94%90%E5%B4%87%E8%8D%A3&search_type=&aq=f
as an example, here's him talking at a Q&A session at NUS about subjective truth, whether animals have souls, and other things :P
http://www.luminarium.org/
large compilation of english poetry + literature. Look under "Religious Writers" or "Metaphysical Poets"(at least two of them were pastors). english is old but after a bit it gets more understandable.
for instance, John Donne's most famous lines are prob here, in this sermon. "No man is an island..." (mentioned in last sunday's sermon!) He also wrote this stirring sonnet about death. In another sonnet:
"'Twas much, that man was made like God before,
But, that God should be made like man, much more."
And George Herbert i have made much of, but here's one poem: The Agonie.
hope you enjoy it :)
http://www.rzim.org
Ravi Zacharias's site, which has some good responses to issues like the Virginia Tech incident. Good for apologetics.
http://www.rzim.org/radio/archives.aspx?p=JT&o=0&i=100 radio archive! good for listening to while jogging or smth :P (since i haven't been jogging, i haven't been listening. but still.)
http://freerice.com/
This website by World Food Programme, which is supp to donate 20 grains of sponsored rice every time you get a word/phrase right. has topics on English Vocab/Grammar, art appreciation and other languages :)
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Issues
Grace To You, John MacArthur's site. He has a very firm conviction of the importance of Biblical Truth vs postmodernism. Good to hear what he has to say in light of the many theories/writers/voices around today.
http://www.stephentong.org/sermon.htm
some sermon transcripts from Stephen Tong, an Indonesian evangelist (the eyebrows guy!) you can see some clips here, i think http://tw.youtube.com/results?search_query=%E5%94%90%E5%B4%87%E8%8D%A3&search_type=&aq=f
as an example, here's him talking at a Q&A session at NUS about subjective truth, whether animals have souls, and other things :P
http://www.luminarium.org/
large compilation of english poetry + literature. Look under "Religious Writers" or "Metaphysical Poets"(at least two of them were pastors). english is old but after a bit it gets more understandable.
for instance, John Donne's most famous lines are prob here, in this sermon. "No man is an island..." (mentioned in last sunday's sermon!) He also wrote this stirring sonnet about death. In another sonnet:
"'Twas much, that man was made like God before,
But, that God should be made like man, much more."
And George Herbert i have made much of, but here's one poem: The Agonie.
hope you enjoy it :)
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The net
Hey cell, I'm guessing many of us might spend much time on the computer...
Let's share some worthy sites, that are edifying - whether spiritual or not.
In the internet and also in this day and age, temptations abound... let's help and build each other up here - if u have any websites in mind to fill time, to be alert to world happenings, to learn & apply knowledge of God... do share!
I'll start the ball rolling :D
http://www.youtube.com/user/LaneCh
This youtube channel has good stuff. I particularly like http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=348B16F84EA1D84F CrossTV/Mark Kielar Videos
http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Gateway-to-Joy.html
Elisabeth Elliot is a god-fearing lady whom I respect and yearn to imitate. Yet reminded of Isa 2:22
http://biblebb.com/
I especially like reading http://biblebb.com/macqa.htm John MacArthur's questions & answers
In times of need for info/insight/God's opinion and will on a certain topic, this might help http://biblebb.com/tnivarea.htm bible verses on selected topics of the bible
reminder to keep things in context
http://www.etword.org/bs_notes/Topical/marriage/marriage.htm
To learn about marriage.. how to communicate, show love, how to treat children etc.
It has a good bible study and stuff on communication. Check out slide 4 under "Communication"
http://www.sermonaudio.com/main.asp
Download and listen sermons here. For a start, you might want to click on "Top sermons" on the left bar.
http://jasnette.blogspot.com/
A singapore/m'sia-based food blog, with recipes etc
http://www.instructables.com/
I've learnt a lot of random stuff on this site, teaching people how to do stuff from cooking and travelling to making neat projects
http://www.mayoclinic.com/
http://medlineplus.gov/
http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/default.asp?pg_id=776
A good source of health info
http://www.popcap.com/
For free online games - warning: don't spend too many meaningless hours on these
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/
English standard version of bible
Has a nice daily devotion page: http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/
http://www.boundless.org/
site with info relevant for young adults regarding Christian living
http://www.asiaone.com/A1Home/A1Home.html?a=1
Get updated with the world immediately around us
http://art.gnome.org
Nice background pictures. nice to marvel at beautiful things.
Let's share some worthy sites, that are edifying - whether spiritual or not.
In the internet and also in this day and age, temptations abound... let's help and build each other up here - if u have any websites in mind to fill time, to be alert to world happenings, to learn & apply knowledge of God... do share!
I'll start the ball rolling :D
http://www.youtube.com/user/LaneCh
This youtube channel has good stuff. I particularly like http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=348B16F84EA1D84F CrossTV/Mark Kielar Videos
http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Gateway-to-Joy.html
Elisabeth Elliot is a god-fearing lady whom I respect and yearn to imitate. Yet reminded of Isa 2:22
http://biblebb.com/
I especially like reading http://biblebb.com/macqa.htm John MacArthur's questions & answers
In times of need for info/insight/God's opinion and will on a certain topic, this might help http://biblebb.com/tnivarea.htm bible verses on selected topics of the bible
reminder to keep things in context
http://www.etword.org/bs_notes/Topical/marriage/marriage.htm
To learn about marriage.. how to communicate, show love, how to treat children etc.
It has a good bible study and stuff on communication. Check out slide 4 under "Communication"
http://www.sermonaudio.com/main.asp
Download and listen sermons here. For a start, you might want to click on "Top sermons" on the left bar.
http://jasnette.blogspot.com/
A singapore/m'sia-based food blog, with recipes etc
http://www.instructables.com/
I've learnt a lot of random stuff on this site, teaching people how to do stuff from cooking and travelling to making neat projects
http://www.mayoclinic.com/
http://medlineplus.gov/
http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/default.asp?pg_id=776
A good source of health info
http://www.popcap.com/
For free online games - warning: don't spend too many meaningless hours on these
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/
English standard version of bible
Has a nice daily devotion page: http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/
http://www.boundless.org/
site with info relevant for young adults regarding Christian living
http://www.asiaone.com/A1Home/A1Home.html?a=1
Get updated with the world immediately around us
http://art.gnome.org
Nice background pictures. nice to marvel at beautiful things.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
He came to my desk with a quivering lip,
The lesson was done.
"Have you a new sheet for me, dear teacher?
I've spoiled this one."
I took his sheet, all soiled and blotted
And gave him a new one all unspotted.
And into his tired heart I cried,
"Do better now, my child."
I went to the throne with a trembling heart,
The day was done.
"Have you a new day for me, dear Master?
I've spoiled this one."
He took my day, all soiled and blotted
And gave me a new one all unspotted.
And into my tired heart He cried,
"Do better now, my child."
~Kathleen Wheeler
The lesson was done.
"Have you a new sheet for me, dear teacher?
I've spoiled this one."
I took his sheet, all soiled and blotted
And gave him a new one all unspotted.
And into his tired heart I cried,
"Do better now, my child."
I went to the throne with a trembling heart,
The day was done.
"Have you a new day for me, dear Master?
I've spoiled this one."
He took my day, all soiled and blotted
And gave me a new one all unspotted.
And into my tired heart He cried,
"Do better now, my child."
~Kathleen Wheeler
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Bell
THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Thursday, December 4, 2008
How deep the Father's love for us
Ephesians 3
...17 I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
God help us be rooted and established in love through our few days ahead, whether we're with our family at Msia, off at Korea, with our friends, doing things with family, alone at home, or at church retreat :)
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
...17 I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
God help us be rooted and established in love through our few days ahead, whether we're with our family at Msia, off at Korea, with our friends, doing things with family, alone at home, or at church retreat :)
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
The Rabbi and the Terrorists
It was obvious to observers around the world that one of the designated targets of the Pakistani Islamist terrorists was the Mumbai Chabad House, the one Jewish center in Mumbai. The 10 Islamic terrorists who came from Pakistan to India chose their targets with great care.
If one assumes that the terrorists' primary goals were to destabilize India, weaken growing Indian-Pakistani cooperation in fighting terrorism, and greatly increase Indian-Pakistani tension, hopefully to the point of military war between the two countries, every one of the targets made strategic sense. Slaughtering as many people as possible in India's major economic center, including as many foreign tourists as possible at Mumbai's finest hotels, also made sense.
But one target seemed to make little sense. In fact, until the attack was over people were uncertain whether the terrorists' attack on the Jewish center known as the Chabad House was part of the original plan or chosen spontaneously. Only when the lone terrorist who was captured told his interrogators that the Chabad House was planned a year earlier was it indisputable that killing the Rabbi, his wife, their children and any other Jews present was part of the plan.
The question is why?
Why would a terrorist group of Islamists from Pakistan whose primary goal is to have Pakistan gain control of the third of Kashmir that belongs to India and therefore aimed to destabilize India's major city devote so much of its efforts -- 20 percent of its force of 10 gunmen whose stated goal was to kill 5,000 -- to killing a rabbi and any Jews with him?
The question echoes one from World War II: Why did Hitler devote so much time, money, and manpower in order to murder every Jewish man, woman, and child in every country the Nazis occupied? Why did Hitler -- as documented by the late historian Lucy Dawidowicz in her aptly named book "The War against the Jews" -- weaken the Nazi war effort by diverting money, troops, and military vehicles from fighting the Allies to rounding up Jews and shipping them to death camps?
From the perspective of political scientists, historians, and contemporary journalists, the answer to these questions is not rational. But the non-rationality of an answer is not synonymous with its non-validity.
For the Islamists, as for the Nazis, the destruction of the Jews -- and since 1948, the Jewish state -- is central to their worldview.
If anyone has a better explanation for why Pakistani terrorists, preoccupied with destabilizing India, would expend so much effort at finding the one Jewish center in a country that is essentially devoid of Jews, I would like to hear it.
With all the Pakistani Islamists' hatred of Hindus, they did not attack one Hindu temple in India's major city.
With all their hatred of Christian infidels, the terrorists did not seek out one of the 700,000 Christians in Mumbai.
To reinforce my point, imagine a Basque separatist terrorist organization attacking Madrid. Would the terrorists take time out to murder all those in the Madrid Chabad House? The idea is ludicrous. But no one seems to find it odd that that Pakistani Muslim terrorists who hate India and want it to give up control of Indian Kashmir would send two of its 10 terrorists to kill perhaps the only rabbi in Mumbai. As Newsweek reported during the siege, "Given that Orthodox Jews were being held at gunpoint by mujahideen (sic), it seemed unlikely there would be survivors." Newsweek, like just about everyone else, simply assumes Islamists will murder Jews whenever and wherever possible.
They are right.
For years I have warned that great evils often begin with the murder of Jews, and therefore non-Jews who dismiss Jew-hatred (aka anti-Semitism, aka anti-Zionism), will learn too late that Jew- and Israel-haters only begin with Jews but never end with them. When Israeli Jews were almost the only targets of Muslim terrorists, the world dismissed it as a Jewish or Israeli problem. Then it became an American and European and Filipino and Thai and Indonesian and Hindu problem.
Two final points:
One is that it is exquisitely fitting that the same week the murders in Mumbai were taking place, the United Nations General Assembly passed six more anti-Israel resolutions. As it has for decades, the U.N. has again sanctioned hatred for a good and decent country as small on the map of the world as the Chabad House is on the map of Mumbai.
Two: Statements from Chabad in reaction to the torture-murders of a 28-year-old Chabad rabbi and his wife called on humanity to react to this evil "with random acts of kindness." Evil hates goodness. That's why the terrorists targeted a Chabad Rabbi and his wife.
(Via)
Like a trap
Luke 21:34-36
"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
The system of this world is meant (and almost seems engineered) to weigh down our hearts with dissipation (distraction, school, studies, work, rat race, materialism), drunkenness (weekend parties, gluttony, debauchery, hedonism), and anxieties (bills, deadlines, stress, future).
And amidst all this, we're called to be
- careful
because the day will come
- unexpectedly
- like a trap
- all
(Study / work is not a distraction if we know why we are doing what we're doing, i.e. for the glory of God, responsibility, etc. I used to think studying is evil because it steals time from God but I have otherwise been convicted that it's not. Maybe share in another post.)
Catch you all on Sunday.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Paradox of Christianity
LORD, HIGH and HOLY, MEEK AND LOWLY,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive
that the valley is the place of vision.
LORD, in the daytime stars can be seen from the deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley.
- Valley of Vision
Saturday, November 29, 2008
thanks for sharing, Clement, it's good to hear from you again.
i kept hearing munching during the "Allow me to re-introduce the Christ" video, then i realised it was the sheep :P so mute it if you keep hearing irritating sounds.
more updates anon. now is a good time to reflect on the semester/year gone by, and i'm glad Clem started that off.
i kept hearing munching during the "Allow me to re-introduce the Christ" video, then i realised it was the sheep :P so mute it if you keep hearing irritating sounds.
more updates anon. now is a good time to reflect on the semester/year gone by, and i'm glad Clem started that off.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
2 Sems Younger
It's been such a long year, and yet it's past already. Perhaps one thing i've learnt is that i don't like blogging. And how pathetic my cooking was. And so on.
Two semesters and 10 months in Melb, and i can't help but say that God is Good. So much happens, so much passes, so many lessons learnt through just living. By no means has it been easy, but everytime things look bleak, or my discipline fails me, there has always been grace and support. Tomorrow i'm flying back to Singapore, and it's finally a good chance to look back and reflect upon the year in melbourne that has past. I hope that the year has been kind to all you guys too, and for those with exams and stuff coming up, this is for you
"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fufils His purpose for me."
Psalm 57:2
cya guys on sunday!
Two semesters and 10 months in Melb, and i can't help but say that God is Good. So much happens, so much passes, so many lessons learnt through just living. By no means has it been easy, but everytime things look bleak, or my discipline fails me, there has always been grace and support. Tomorrow i'm flying back to Singapore, and it's finally a good chance to look back and reflect upon the year in melbourne that has past. I hope that the year has been kind to all you guys too, and for those with exams and stuff coming up, this is for you
"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fufils His purpose for me."
Psalm 57:2
cya guys on sunday!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Cambodia Trip
Please pray for us as we head down to Cambodia end of the year for a Missions Trip.
One of the highlights is the Youth camp of about 100 young people.
Pray that God will raise up a new Generation to take Cambodia for Christ.
Pray that God will prepare our hearts.
http://www.clichurch.com/
Thanks
Jared & Linxin
One of the highlights is the Youth camp of about 100 young people.
Pray that God will raise up a new Generation to take Cambodia for Christ.
Pray that God will prepare our hearts.
http://www.clichurch.com/
Thanks
Jared & Linxin
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
what happened today
visit at sarah home :) i learnt a new cantonese phrase-- hoi bin dou!-- but i can't rmb what it means, exactly. where are you going?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
i have not had the chance to hear the belly button song, but
also- Andre is in thailand! let's keep him in prayer for safety esp and a closer walk with God amidst the potentially tough training.
have you heard of this? there's a gospel rally going on 11-14/9, 7.30pm at the Indoor Stadium.
ntu ppl, the speaker, Dr Stephen Tong, will be coming to ntu 29/8/08 7-9.30pm NTU LT1A North Spine (or so the website says)
nus ppl, he's coming 28/8/08 7-9.30pm NUS LT27 Science.
i believe in not a few of these sessions there are opportunities for q&a, especially the uni sessions (not sure for NTU, but it should be so.)
so let me know if anyone is going to the stadium events. yup :) we haven't prayed together for ages, i just realised.
have you heard of this? there's a gospel rally going on 11-14/9, 7.30pm at the Indoor Stadium.
ntu ppl, the speaker, Dr Stephen Tong, will be coming to ntu 29/8/08 7-9.30pm NTU LT1A North Spine (or so the website says)
nus ppl, he's coming 28/8/08 7-9.30pm NUS LT27 Science.
i believe in not a few of these sessions there are opportunities for q&a, especially the uni sessions (not sure for NTU, but it should be so.)
so let me know if anyone is going to the stadium events. yup :) we haven't prayed together for ages, i just realised.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
narnian quote
"But please, please - won't you - can't you give me something that will cure Mother?" Up till then he had been looking at the Lion's great front feet and the huge claws on them; now, in his despair, he looked up at its face. What he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in the Lion's eyes. ..
"My son, my son," said Aslan. "I know. Grief is great. Only you and I in this land know that yet. Let us be good to one another. ..."
"My son, my son," said Aslan. "I know. Grief is great. Only you and I in this land know that yet. Let us be good to one another. ..."
~ C.S. Lewis, The Magician's Nephew
to update: school has started, it's crazy busy, i haven't started on my ambitious half-day reading textbooks scheme yet, thus am slightly disheartened :/
on serious-er matters, i hope everyone will find this week good to live. Good to live to me is being happy because one knows God and His love and can be filled with wonder at Him. Wonder, i think that's it. Maybe one can wonder and yet not be happy--- it's knowing God, and knowing we belong to Him, that's what i mean.
p.s. the quote has not much to do with the content, but it has been buzzing about in my head recently
on serious-er matters, i hope everyone will find this week good to live. Good to live to me is being happy because one knows God and His love and can be filled with wonder at Him. Wonder, i think that's it. Maybe one can wonder and yet not be happy--- it's knowing God, and knowing we belong to Him, that's what i mean.
p.s. the quote has not much to do with the content, but it has been buzzing about in my head recently
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Tony Melendez
Its always great to see God glorified :D
1 Cor 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
An interesting read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomide
Have a fruitful weekend ahead, dear friends :D
1 Cor 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
An interesting read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomide
Have a fruitful weekend ahead, dear friends :D
Friday, August 1, 2008
random thoughts on a cold summer morning
actually, it was quite hot a couple of days ago-- almost comparable to sgp.
while i'm sad to be leaving this place and not seeing bro for a long time (just hanging on to hope that things will change), i do see time has gone and it's the start of another school year again. and i know if i were studying here, somehow the idea i couldn't run out to imm or jurong point would be unacceptable to me. how can people emigrate? (nvm clem :b) one thing i've been thinking here is that life changes, friends change. how does that fit into a Christian understanding of things? all flesh is grass, but God and His Kingdom last forever..
on another note, can someone explain to me how come some people always enjoy their holidays and some never feel like they have had holidays?
When you think of God do you think of Love first? my senior pointed out in the Bible nothing is said so clearly but that God Is Love. Somehow i don't think that's the way i've been used to seeing Him. Maybe i just don't take His words to heart, and i think that's linked to thanksgivinglessness.
so ahead to a day of seeing He loves you and me.
while i'm sad to be leaving this place and not seeing bro for a long time (just hanging on to hope that things will change), i do see time has gone and it's the start of another school year again. and i know if i were studying here, somehow the idea i couldn't run out to imm or jurong point would be unacceptable to me. how can people emigrate? (nvm clem :b) one thing i've been thinking here is that life changes, friends change. how does that fit into a Christian understanding of things? all flesh is grass, but God and His Kingdom last forever..
on another note, can someone explain to me how come some people always enjoy their holidays and some never feel like they have had holidays?
When you think of God do you think of Love first? my senior pointed out in the Bible nothing is said so clearly but that God Is Love. Somehow i don't think that's the way i've been used to seeing Him. Maybe i just don't take His words to heart, and i think that's linked to thanksgivinglessness.
so ahead to a day of seeing He loves you and me.
Monday, July 21, 2008
-I just can't think of titles!-
+111111111111111111111111111111111111111111!
The rest aren't talking yes!
No far from an expert...expert on quick survival cooking that provides all the necessary vitamins n such maybe (and no, i'm not talking about Maggi Mee + multivitamin tablets) No idea what a Lyrebird is....does it grow on trees?
Churches with high turnover rates - large numbers of people (students really) joining and quitting (actually going home/moving on). Thoughts on them?
Oh eunice is in melb now! Yes with her skills and my *ahem* determination(?) chocolate mousse came out in good shape!
Oh and school's up again. There're postgrads now zzzzz
The rest aren't talking yes!
No far from an expert...expert on quick survival cooking that provides all the necessary vitamins n such maybe (and no, i'm not talking about Maggi Mee + multivitamin tablets) No idea what a Lyrebird is....does it grow on trees?
Churches with high turnover rates - large numbers of people (students really) joining and quitting (actually going home/moving on). Thoughts on them?
Oh eunice is in melb now! Yes with her skills and my *ahem* determination(?) chocolate mousse came out in good shape!
Oh and school's up again. There're postgrads now zzzzz
neverending day
hey! i'm typing this from the uk-- visiting bro for a couple weeks :)
clem! so good to hear from you. your hol goes on for a while more doesn't it? Good, you must be an expert on melbourne by now. HAVE YOU SEEN A LYREBIRD. is adelaide nice? yes my bro's uni here has health practice too, it's pretty scary! they have to cite CASES for tort and stuff! macham law... and isn't house becoming very crass and grey's anat?
also as you pointed out-- the cookies were prob edible and fortunately nobody knows your shame (except the 1239814128 quiet online readers)
how's church been?
eh how come the only ppl updating are like (clem and me?) and the only people talking are the med ppl??? noooooooooooooooooo
the uk is quite nice; summer so i got sunburnt (me! sunburnt!!!) while freezing in the wind. hibernating at home mostly cos bro is gearing up for final exam (pray for him :D) have not eaten any scones, but have consumed a great deal of honey on bread and steak pie is nice and i have a sore throat boohoo xP oh the sun rises at 4.30am and sets at 9.30pm... words don't communicate this properly, i shall show pictoral evidence.
oh on the way from london to norfolk i saw: a field of horses, a field of cows, a field of lambs, a field of lettuce...
ps don't let anyone tell you summer is hot and you don't need a thick jacket; my fingers are stiff as i type this
oh ya and BEN BEN has kindly agreed to take up Scripture Reading so come on 3 Aug first service to hear his mellifluous voice!! and read the Word xP
clem! so good to hear from you. your hol goes on for a while more doesn't it? Good, you must be an expert on melbourne by now. HAVE YOU SEEN A LYREBIRD. is adelaide nice? yes my bro's uni here has health practice too, it's pretty scary! they have to cite CASES for tort and stuff! macham law... and isn't house becoming very crass and grey's anat?
also as you pointed out-- the cookies were prob edible and fortunately nobody knows your shame (except the 1239814128 quiet online readers)
how's church been?
eh how come the only ppl updating are like (clem and me?) and the only people talking are the med ppl??? noooooooooooooooooo
the uk is quite nice; summer so i got sunburnt (me! sunburnt!!!) while freezing in the wind. hibernating at home mostly cos bro is gearing up for final exam (pray for him :D) have not eaten any scones, but have consumed a great deal of honey on bread and steak pie is nice and i have a sore throat boohoo xP oh the sun rises at 4.30am and sets at 9.30pm... words don't communicate this properly, i shall show pictoral evidence.
oh on the way from london to norfolk i saw: a field of horses, a field of cows, a field of lambs, a field of lettuce...
ps don't let anyone tell you summer is hot and you don't need a thick jacket; my fingers are stiff as i type this
oh ya and BEN BEN has kindly agreed to take up Scripture Reading so come on 3 Aug first service to hear his mellifluous voice!! and read the Word xP
Sunday, July 13, 2008
-insert title-
ahhh a month's flown by!!! ok since my papers ended i have:
-ate out a lot; literally going through food places around the place
-visited one too many shopping malls
-my dad came for 2 1/2 weeks
-went to adelaide
-got my results
-wasted most of this week watching House, playing my guitars (yay all 2 of them!), and playing games on my psp
-bought next sem's notes and found to my horror that the subject i don't like (very nicely called Health Practice, in fact ethics+models+demographics+communication+etc) has a very very thick set of notes and readers
-baked a disaster batch of cookies, redeemed only because the choc pieces used were very nice and only i actually consumed it hence the others won't taste the horror (ok it wasn't that bad)
So much seem to have happened this month, and yet i felt i've barely had a holiday. Not to mention the urge to start on next semester's material already. GRRR both my subjects missed the next grade by 1 mark...haiz...
-ate out a lot; literally going through food places around the place
-visited one too many shopping malls
-my dad came for 2 1/2 weeks
-went to adelaide
-got my results
-wasted most of this week watching House, playing my guitars (yay all 2 of them!), and playing games on my psp
-bought next sem's notes and found to my horror that the subject i don't like (very nicely called Health Practice, in fact ethics+models+demographics+communication+etc) has a very very thick set of notes and readers
-baked a disaster batch of cookies, redeemed only because the choc pieces used were very nice and only i actually consumed it hence the others won't taste the horror (ok it wasn't that bad)
So much seem to have happened this month, and yet i felt i've barely had a holiday. Not to mention the urge to start on next semester's material already. GRRR both my subjects missed the next grade by 1 mark...haiz...
Sunday, July 6, 2008
boohoo why is nobody blogging!!!
we got to see quite a few of us today mnn :)
i shall update, in the hope that others will:
going for Fixed on Christ camp (CCC camp for orientation) now-wed! erm i think i' m camp medic, pls pray that nobody will need medical attention i mean that everyone will be safe and i'll remember all my first aid stuff heh
i have been trying to wrap my new textbooks for almost a week
we got to see quite a few of us today mnn :)
i shall update, in the hope that others will:
going for Fixed on Christ camp (CCC camp for orientation) now-wed! erm i think i' m camp medic, pls pray that nobody will need medical attention i mean that everyone will be safe and i'll remember all my first aid stuff heh
i have been trying to wrap my new textbooks for almost a week
Sunday, June 1, 2008
postless~
but
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:
Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers,
whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—
put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you.
~from Philippians 4, formatting addedMonday, May 26, 2008
gen12ii
just came back from the commissioning.
btw, i'm going on a gen12ii (ccChrist) local missions proj in late june. Will prob be giving out newsletters in a bit (overdue)
status update: socially- v busy w all kinds of things to do. physically- appetite back with a vengeance, thank God. spiritually- tired, and haven't really rested enough, contemplated God enough. Maybe that overlaps with physically.
was reminded today of Phil 3 again, the bit about "I want to know Christ..." and i was, while challenged, also left wondering at it, the idea that man could say this in the first place. "I want to know [God] and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead." but man can know God, the One who holds the seas and the mountains in one hand? God suffers? God has /died/? and after all these things, that God has risen, that God has conquered death, is no less wonderful, but nothing can change the fact that God who made skin took on skin that could bleed, and get stuck by splinters, and touch dead people and make them live.
btw, i'm going on a gen12ii (ccChrist) local missions proj in late june. Will prob be giving out newsletters in a bit (overdue)
status update: socially- v busy w all kinds of things to do. physically- appetite back with a vengeance, thank God. spiritually- tired, and haven't really rested enough, contemplated God enough. Maybe that overlaps with physically.
was reminded today of Phil 3 again, the bit about "I want to know Christ..." and i was, while challenged, also left wondering at it, the idea that man could say this in the first place. "I want to know [God] and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead." but man can know God, the One who holds the seas and the mountains in one hand? God suffers? God has /died/? and after all these things, that God has risen, that God has conquered death, is no less wonderful, but nothing can change the fact that God who made skin took on skin that could bleed, and get stuck by splinters, and touch dead people and make them live.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Blue May
May is rather blue this side of it... let me dissect my current learning.
Melb.U runs a course that is "Systems-based" rather than "Subject-based". A look at my time table would say something like:
Week 7: Overview of Anatomy - connective tissue, epithelia, viscera, yada yada
Week 8: Genetics
Week 10: Embryology (yes! that's all the pure embryology we're gonna get!)
Week 11: Receptors & Basic Pharmocology
the plus points:
-lots of breadth and coverage
-co-relation between subjects
-less dreary, more diverse
the cons:
-lots of different subjects to study at anytime!
-the depth required for each subject is hard to judge (and it's irritating to stop & find out i'm only covering it in semester 5)
-blind mugging seems to have a lesser effect than it did before
Ok i'm just fussing cos i sat through 8 straight hours of studying and it's making me irritable. Test on friday, exams start on June 10. Patience to cook falling. Instant noodle consumption rising. Life's good =) Oh and i bought a guitar a while ago..don't think i mentioned it =)=)=) helps with my sanity at home! (for those interested it's a Takamine ED-20SC N) Ah Pei Yi sends her greetings; yes she's doing very well (her essay totally put mine to shame)
How's everyone doing? Hope's everyone's well and good and enjoying the hols! God bless...
Melb.U runs a course that is "Systems-based" rather than "Subject-based". A look at my time table would say something like:
Week 7: Overview of Anatomy - connective tissue, epithelia, viscera, yada yada
Week 8: Genetics
Week 10: Embryology (yes! that's all the pure embryology we're gonna get!)
Week 11: Receptors & Basic Pharmocology
the plus points:
-lots of breadth and coverage
-co-relation between subjects
-less dreary, more diverse
the cons:
-lots of different subjects to study at anytime!
-the depth required for each subject is hard to judge (and it's irritating to stop & find out i'm only covering it in semester 5)
-blind mugging seems to have a lesser effect than it did before
Ok i'm just fussing cos i sat through 8 straight hours of studying and it's making me irritable. Test on friday, exams start on June 10. Patience to cook falling. Instant noodle consumption rising. Life's good =) Oh and i bought a guitar a while ago..don't think i mentioned it =)=)=) helps with my sanity at home! (for those interested it's a Takamine ED-20SC N) Ah Pei Yi sends her greetings; yes she's doing very well (her essay totally put mine to shame)
How's everyone doing? Hope's everyone's well and good and enjoying the hols! God bless...
Sunday, May 11, 2008
tweet~*
clem, why did your silence is golden entry not appear? did you decide not to publish in the end? it was nice and poetic. how's class? send Pei Yi my love, i'm been MIA on msn :/
have recently been made aware of the need for us (over here, at least) to involve God in our conversations. Smth i learnt last month is that God is the centre of the universe and our worlds, in a sense the Protagonist. So it must be our lives' business to stand still and consider His work. It makes sense to me now that God is the First and the Last, and all Creation only lives and moves and has its being in Him. I want to learn to think of things not in relation to myself, but to God and His Kingdom. It's only when the eyeball sits in its socket, part of a face that's part of a skull that's part of a head that's supported by a neck and body, that the eyeball makes sense and has a function. (does that make sense?)
After the viva, these "free" days (full of deadlines and things to do, which is why i haven't done a lot of things i was supposed to, like update this blog and check msn)--- but anyway, these days have been quite wild-- less structure and more varied tasks. Pray for each others' quiet time! How is it going? (this would be an excellent time to use the Comments function. Do this by clicking "0 comments")
will send out the tutorial in a bit, hope i have the list. Thus eliminating almost any reasons one could have for not posting. Bahaha.
please refer to the "writing questions" tag on the left (scroll down) if you have writer's block but want to write. Or share about a passage that has taught you smth :) psalm 16 for lois
have recently been made aware of the need for us (over here, at least) to involve God in our conversations. Smth i learnt last month is that God is the centre of the universe and our worlds, in a sense the Protagonist. So it must be our lives' business to stand still and consider His work. It makes sense to me now that God is the First and the Last, and all Creation only lives and moves and has its being in Him. I want to learn to think of things not in relation to myself, but to God and His Kingdom. It's only when the eyeball sits in its socket, part of a face that's part of a skull that's part of a head that's supported by a neck and body, that the eyeball makes sense and has a function. (does that make sense?)
After the viva, these "free" days (full of deadlines and things to do, which is why i haven't done a lot of things i was supposed to, like update this blog and check msn)--- but anyway, these days have been quite wild-- less structure and more varied tasks. Pray for each others' quiet time! How is it going? (this would be an excellent time to use the Comments function. Do this by clicking "0 comments")
will send out the tutorial in a bit, hope i have the list. Thus eliminating almost any reasons one could have for not posting. Bahaha.
please refer to the "writing questions" tag on the left (scroll down) if you have writer's block but want to write. Or share about a passage that has taught you smth :) psalm 16 for lois
Thursday, May 1, 2008
happy may day!
happy may day!
woohoo! no holiday for me though
good to hear everyone's finished exams and having hols now...post more!!! except me cos mine are still to come (in june) yup had mcq's for one of my mid-sem tests (2nd of 3); no problems.
anyway life's settling into a nice routine: wake up, breakfast, school (drats three 8am lects a week) lunch dinner etcetc. cooking is an almost daily affair-trying to compile pics of everything i usually cook.must see improvement! more or less fitting in regular spells of study and stuff throughout the week too, though i could probably be more kiasu if i wanted. but that leaves time for bbq's, outings, ocf, etcetcetc
ok maybe just a short post. after all, it's may day! oh and the 1st day(finally) we got to do stuff on the cadavers...and only 2nd time in the anat room. formulin really smells like rum n raisin =)
woohoo! no holiday for me though
good to hear everyone's finished exams and having hols now...post more!!! except me cos mine are still to come (in june) yup had mcq's for one of my mid-sem tests (2nd of 3); no problems.
anyway life's settling into a nice routine: wake up, breakfast, school (drats three 8am lects a week) lunch dinner etcetc. cooking is an almost daily affair-trying to compile pics of everything i usually cook.must see improvement! more or less fitting in regular spells of study and stuff throughout the week too, though i could probably be more kiasu if i wanted. but that leaves time for bbq's, outings, ocf, etcetcetc
ok maybe just a short post. after all, it's may day! oh and the 1st day(finally) we got to do stuff on the cadavers...and only 2nd time in the anat room. formulin really smells like rum n raisin =)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
such silence
on one of your breaks from studying, school-people-- allow me to introduce the positive peer pressure poncho.
more intelligent updates soon :b
God bless, all.
more intelligent updates soon :b
God bless, all.
Friday, April 18, 2008
clem, thanks for posting! glad to hear from you (have i mentioned that CCCCC is a remarkable abbreviation and hardly qualifies as one?
(Mr Mun, you have no more excuse to not post!!!)
--but actually i'm quite dazed and haven't replied a lot of smses or done all the stuff i need to do. Guess the deadlines kinda help.
thank God it's over except for vivas if they happen!
Swi and exam ppl, praying for you!
pray for my jc teacher, she's down with dengue :/
"at the end of the day, people go to bed.
when all is said and done, you can't do anything else.
let the cat out of the bag or i'm calling the SPCA."
(Mr Mun, you have no more excuse to not post!!!)
--but actually i'm quite dazed and haven't replied a lot of smses or done all the stuff i need to do. Guess the deadlines kinda help.
thank God it's over except for vivas if they happen!
Swi and exam ppl, praying for you!
pray for my jc teacher, she's down with dengue :/
"at the end of the day, people go to bed.
when all is said and done, you can't do anything else.
let the cat out of the bag or i'm calling the SPCA."
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Holiday on the Horizon?
The 1st post of april! haha can't let a month pass without an entry!
Seems like exams are in-progress/finishing for you guys...work hard! If you're reading this entry before your paper, shame on you! Ok not really, just good relaxation =p anyways study hard, pray and get good sleep before the papers ya? and Sean for ya driving test too...woohoo! another chauffeur will soon rise from the ranks of the unlicensed!
And before you know it, here comes the hols! (ok not for me just yet, but i'll get there) But maybe before all the havoc begins, it'll be good to take a moment to talk to God and reflect on the year past, and the hols ahead! Yeah and for the defenders of the nation too! It's always good to take a breath and forget about the nonsense in the there, and really enjoy the time out of camp. (btw Rich when are you going in? or are u in already?)
Yup and i still have 'round a month and a half to go before my hols... work has been creeping up alongside the stuff to mug, resulting in rapid backlog if i'm not careful. Thankfully sem 1 isn't counted! (and there isn't another course left to retain into either thanks to the new Melbourne Model program) Anyway time flies when there's lots to cover... though i don't think i'm really being pushed (in way of time) yet. But talk about work is dreary to hear, so...
anyway i've settled at the moment on attending Cross Culture Church (after visiting another 2 more since the last post) - i want to attend a proper sequence of sermons, and CCCCC is doing and excellent series on missions as well as Mark. hopping around is tiring...
Ok hopefully you guys are reading this after you're papers have ended, and thus if i killed some brain cells in such a wordy but boring post they won't be needed in the near future. じゃまた！
Seems like exams are in-progress/finishing for you guys...work hard! If you're reading this entry before your paper, shame on you! Ok not really, just good relaxation =p anyways study hard, pray and get good sleep before the papers ya? and Sean for ya driving test too...woohoo! another chauffeur will soon rise from the ranks of the unlicensed!
And before you know it, here comes the hols! (ok not for me just yet, but i'll get there) But maybe before all the havoc begins, it'll be good to take a moment to talk to God and reflect on the year past, and the hols ahead! Yeah and for the defenders of the nation too! It's always good to take a breath and forget about the nonsense in the there, and really enjoy the time out of camp. (btw Rich when are you going in? or are u in already?)
Yup and i still have 'round a month and a half to go before my hols... work has been creeping up alongside the stuff to mug, resulting in rapid backlog if i'm not careful. Thankfully sem 1 isn't counted! (and there isn't another course left to retain into either thanks to the new Melbourne Model program) Anyway time flies when there's lots to cover... though i don't think i'm really being pushed (in way of time) yet. But talk about work is dreary to hear, so...
anyway i've settled at the moment on attending Cross Culture Church (after visiting another 2 more since the last post) - i want to attend a proper sequence of sermons, and CCCCC is doing and excellent series on missions as well as Mark. hopping around is tiring...
Ok hopefully you guys are reading this after you're papers have ended, and thus if i killed some brain cells in such a wordy but boring post they won't be needed in the near future. じゃまた！
Saturday, March 29, 2008
every post is the post after the previous post
just a few words.
Clem!!!! great to hear that you found the camp inspiring, and that God has reminded you (thus us) of the centrality of the cross in our lives. Thanks for letting us know how you are! :) :) it's good to hear from you. Sounds like school's busying up. Don't be like me---stay awake during lectures and print your lecture notes nice and big, not on rough paper. Andre emerged today!
more anon, but a reminder for now (:
Colossians 3
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.
Near the cross, O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadow o’er me.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Clem!!!! great to hear that you found the camp inspiring, and that God has reminded you (thus us) of the centrality of the cross in our lives. Thanks for letting us know how you are! :) :) it's good to hear from you. Sounds like school's busying up. Don't be like me---stay awake during lectures and print your lecture notes nice and big, not on rough paper. Andre emerged today!
more anon, but a reminder for now (:
Colossians 3
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Jesus, keep me near the cross,There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.
Near the cross, O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadow o’er me.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
-Fanny Crosby
Friday, March 28, 2008
the post after the previous post
it's so quiet!!!!
how was everybody's easter rest and rejuvination? andre i hope you got out during easter too. what's happening o'er there?
anyway since i last posted, school has started to pick up a bit more. Suddenly realised that while i rougly know my stuff, i find answering questions (in practice tests n stuff) tough! Means that i need more mugging!
went for easter camp with OCF (overseas christian fellowship) Victoria at this place called Rawson Village in some rural area 2 hrs from Melbourne. The theme of the camp was "Who is this King of Glory" - messages were about the God's Glory.
The sermons along with the bible studies were an excellent way to start the (academic) year, with the simple focus on God's Glory. To strive continuously for the cross in all the bustle around me, in work and play, i pray, let that be my marker this year. Met many many people in OCF who were just so inspiring; in their conviction, their devotion and dedication... the OCF chairman's a yr 6 med student, and there's this yr 4 med girl from brunei who's super super active in ocf... just let's me know that there is always time for God, and it's up to me to make it.
Really refreshing camp...now the task is to maintain.
and thx lois for sharing all these poems and songs n stuff! it's really nice to read them all!
how was everybody's easter rest and rejuvination? andre i hope you got out during easter too. what's happening o'er there?
anyway since i last posted, school has started to pick up a bit more. Suddenly realised that while i rougly know my stuff, i find answering questions (in practice tests n stuff) tough! Means that i need more mugging!
went for easter camp with OCF (overseas christian fellowship) Victoria at this place called Rawson Village in some rural area 2 hrs from Melbourne. The theme of the camp was "Who is this King of Glory" - messages were about the God's Glory.
The sermons along with the bible studies were an excellent way to start the (academic) year, with the simple focus on God's Glory. To strive continuously for the cross in all the bustle around me, in work and play, i pray, let that be my marker this year. Met many many people in OCF who were just so inspiring; in their conviction, their devotion and dedication... the OCF chairman's a yr 6 med student, and there's this yr 4 med girl from brunei who's super super active in ocf... just let's me know that there is always time for God, and it's up to me to make it.
Really refreshing camp...now the task is to maintain.
and thx lois for sharing all these poems and songs n stuff! it's really nice to read them all!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Happy Easter
| Seven Stanzas at Easter |
| By John Updike Make no mistake: if He rose at all It was not as the flowers, The same hinged thumbs and toes, Let us not mock God with metaphor, The stone is rolled back, not papier-mache, And if we will have an angel at the tomb, Let us not seek to make it less monstrous, |
Saturday, March 15, 2008
what happened today
How's everyone?
You know, when I went to YAF mtg today (prayer and praise), I wasn't expecting anything. Wasn't really thinking; was mulling over impending papers and the Dumb Things i'd done. But things change when God is near, wherever you are. I can't wish every one a better thing than to find rest in God's presence each moment this week.
But i've been reminded a few times this week of these things.
That I should trust Him, and when it feels like i cannot believe, pray, "Lord, help my unbelief."
That God is close to the broken-hearted.
That He is God of all comfort.
That He is working in us.
(today, during small group prayer), that He loves us, and therefore all problems no longer should consume us.
(during lunch conversation), that we feel lonely and unloved when we gaze at others being together in the eyes of the world, instead of upon God. That being attached or even married will not solve our loneliness. But when we gaze upon God, there is no need for loneliness.
and it's true, i realise i have always known this, but not taken it to heart. Man's problem is alienation. But Christ has brought us near.
Today's sermon: Calvary: Four Witnesses (Luke 23) by a visiting pastor, Rev Daniel Chua
may i make a nerdy comment here? you know what they call the skullbone--the top of The Skull-- in Latin/anatomy? Calvaria.
Four Witnesses-- what can we learn from them?
1) Simon of Cyrene. "Carry the cross". Here we are walking our own road, doing our own thing, and suddenly, unexpectedly, we are faced with the person of Jesus. Is my life marked by the theme of taking up the cross? Do I ever balk because of the cost of discipleship?
2) The robbers. "Jesus, remember me..." Both, Matthew 27 tells us, heaped insults on Christ at first; perhaps as Christ prayed "Father, forgive them" even as He bled, that prayer of love moved one criminal to a prayer of faith. Lord, remember me. When did I last confess my sins to someone and ask to be prayed for, for forgiveness and restoration? Is there humility, gratitude in my heart towards God? "The Jews and the Romans were only our proxies"; it was for our sins that Christ was crucified. And yet, lest guilt overpower us and make us think ourselves unable to call upon God, we will remember that He came to save sinners; it's precisely because of our wretchedness that there was Good Friday, that there is the sacrament of Communion today.
3) The Roman centurion. "Surely this man was the Son of God!" Matthew says he was terrified--i didn't realise that he would have realised the implications of what he had just done. To lay a hand on the son of an earthly king means death; but when men killed the only Son of the High King of Kings, the Lord of all creation, He opened the way to forgiveness, to reconciliation, through His blood. This is outrageous love.
4) Joseph of Arimathea. "We need the guts of Joseph of Arimathea". Of the Sanhedrin, the highest authority in the land; John 19.38 tells us he was a secret disciple of Jesus. This is his challenge that arises; this is his last chance (in his foreseeable future) to make a stand for his Master, to show in public that his loyalty lies with Jesus, and not with the powerful rulers or the crowds. Nicodemus went along with him to see Pilate, cos that's wad frens are for.
let's come into the open and witness for Christ.
In short, God loves you and me! let's be glad (:
each time i realise
that nothing escapes His eyes
my problems come down to size
it's all in His hands
and tho i might be alone
i know i'm not on my own
the stars down to the stones
are all in His hands
it's all in His hands
all under His control
at His command
each moment then unfolds
below and above
ever since time began
the power of love
is all in His hands
it's easy to believe
i look around and see
that part of Him in me
is part of the plan
now i don't worry so
each day the blessings flow
now all i need to know
is all in His hands
~all in His hands, Cristy Lane
You know, when I went to YAF mtg today (prayer and praise), I wasn't expecting anything. Wasn't really thinking; was mulling over impending papers and the Dumb Things i'd done. But things change when God is near, wherever you are. I can't wish every one a better thing than to find rest in God's presence each moment this week.
But i've been reminded a few times this week of these things.
That I should trust Him, and when it feels like i cannot believe, pray, "Lord, help my unbelief."
That God is close to the broken-hearted.
That He is God of all comfort.
That He is working in us.
(today, during small group prayer), that He loves us, and therefore all problems no longer should consume us.
(during lunch conversation), that we feel lonely and unloved when we gaze at others being together in the eyes of the world, instead of upon God. That being attached or even married will not solve our loneliness. But when we gaze upon God, there is no need for loneliness.
and it's true, i realise i have always known this, but not taken it to heart. Man's problem is alienation. But Christ has brought us near.
Today's sermon: Calvary: Four Witnesses (Luke 23) by a visiting pastor, Rev Daniel Chua
may i make a nerdy comment here? you know what they call the skullbone--the top of The Skull-- in Latin/anatomy? Calvaria.
Four Witnesses-- what can we learn from them?
1) Simon of Cyrene. "Carry the cross". Here we are walking our own road, doing our own thing, and suddenly, unexpectedly, we are faced with the person of Jesus. Is my life marked by the theme of taking up the cross? Do I ever balk because of the cost of discipleship?
2) The robbers. "Jesus, remember me..." Both, Matthew 27 tells us, heaped insults on Christ at first; perhaps as Christ prayed "Father, forgive them" even as He bled, that prayer of love moved one criminal to a prayer of faith. Lord, remember me. When did I last confess my sins to someone and ask to be prayed for, for forgiveness and restoration? Is there humility, gratitude in my heart towards God? "The Jews and the Romans were only our proxies"; it was for our sins that Christ was crucified. And yet, lest guilt overpower us and make us think ourselves unable to call upon God, we will remember that He came to save sinners; it's precisely because of our wretchedness that there was Good Friday, that there is the sacrament of Communion today.
3) The Roman centurion. "Surely this man was the Son of God!" Matthew says he was terrified--i didn't realise that he would have realised the implications of what he had just done. To lay a hand on the son of an earthly king means death; but when men killed the only Son of the High King of Kings, the Lord of all creation, He opened the way to forgiveness, to reconciliation, through His blood. This is outrageous love.
4) Joseph of Arimathea. "We need the guts of Joseph of Arimathea". Of the Sanhedrin, the highest authority in the land; John 19.38 tells us he was a secret disciple of Jesus. This is his challenge that arises; this is his last chance (in his foreseeable future) to make a stand for his Master, to show in public that his loyalty lies with Jesus, and not with the powerful rulers or the crowds. Nicodemus went along with him to see Pilate, cos that's wad frens are for.
let's come into the open and witness for Christ.
In short, God loves you and me! let's be glad (:
each time i realise
that nothing escapes His eyes
my problems come down to size
it's all in His hands
and tho i might be alone
i know i'm not on my own
the stars down to the stones
are all in His hands
it's all in His hands
all under His control
at His command
each moment then unfolds
below and above
ever since time began
the power of love
is all in His hands
it's easy to believe
i look around and see
that part of Him in me
is part of the plan
now i don't worry so
each day the blessings flow
now all i need to know
is all in His hands
~all in His hands, Cristy Lane
Friday, March 14, 2008
of anatomy and Resurrection Sunday
He knows the wounds of humanity. His hands prove it.
By Paul Brand with Philip Yancey
Isaac Newton said, "In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence." After 40 years as a surgeon specializing in hands, I am tempted to agree. Nothing in all nature rivals the hand's combination of strength and agility, tolerance and sensitivity. We use our hands for the most wonderful activities: art, music, writing, healing, touching.
Some people go to concerts and athletic events to watch the performance; I go to watch hands. For me, a piano performance is a ballet of fingers—a glorious flourish of ligaments and joints, tendons, nerves, and muscles. I try to sit near the stage to watch the movements.
Unless you have tried to reproduce just one small twitch of the hand mechanically, you cannot fully appreciate its movements. Often I have stood before a group of medical students or surgeons to analyze the motion of one finger. I hold before them a dissected cadaver hand, with its trailing strands of sinew, and announce that I will move the tip of the little finger.
To do so, I must place the hand on a table and spend about four minutes sorting through the tangle of tendons and muscles. Seventy separate muscles contribute to hand movements. But in order to allow dexterity and slimness for actions such as piano playing, the finger has no muscle in itself; tendons transfer the force from muscles higher in the arm. (Body-builders should be grateful: imagine the limitations on finger movement if the fingers had muscles that could grow large and bulky.) Finally, after I have arranged at least a dozen muscles correctly, I can maneuver them to make the little finger move. Usually, I give this demonstration to illustrate a way to repair the hand surgically. In 40 years of surgery, I have personally operated on perhaps 10,000 hands. I could fill a room with surgery manuals suggesting various ways to repair injured hands. But in those years I have never found a single technique to improve a normal, healthy hand. That is why I am tempted to agree with Isaac Newton.
I have seen artificial hands developed by scientists and engineers in facilities that produce radioactive materials. With great pride an engineer demonstrated for me the sophisticated machines that protect workers from exposure to radiation. By adjusting knobs and levers he controlled an electronic hand whose wrist supinated and revolved. High-tech models, he said, even possess an opposable thumb, an advanced feature reserved for primates in nature. The engineer, smiling like a proud father, wiggled the mechanical thumb for me.
I nodded approval and complimented him on the mechanical hand's wide range of motion. But he knew, as I did, that compared to a human thumb his atomic-age hand is clumsy and limited, even pathetic—a child's Play Doh sculpture compared to a Michelangelo masterpiece.
I work with the marvels of the hand nearly every day. But one time of year holds special meaning for me as a Christian; then, too, my thoughts turn to the human hand. When the world observes Passion Week, the most solemn week of Christendom, I reflect on the hands of Jesus.
Just as painters throughout history have attempted to visualize the face of Jesus Christ, I try to visualize his hands. I imagine them through the various stages of his life. When God's Son entered the world in the form of a human body, what were his hands like?
I can hardly conceive of God taking on the form of an infant, but our faith declares that he once had the tiny, jerky hands of a newborn. G. K. Chesterton expressed the paradox this way, 'The hands that had made the sun and stars were too small to reach the huge heads of the cattle." And too small to change his own clothes or put food in his mouth. Like every baby, he had miniature fingernails and wrinkles around the knuckles, and soft skin that had never known abrasion or roughness. God's Son experienced infant helplessness.
Since I once apprenticed as a carpenter, I can easily imagine the adolescent hands of Jesus, who learned the trade in his father's shop. His skin must have developed many calluses and tender spots.
And then came the hands of Christ the physician. The Bible tells us strength flowed from them when he healed people. He preferred to perform miracles not en masse, but rather one by one, touching each person he healed.
When Jesus touched eyes that had dried out, they suddenly admitted light and color again. Once, he touched a woman who suffered with a hemorrhage, knowing that by Jewish law she would make him unclean. He touched those with leprosy—people no one else would touch. In small and personal ways, his hands set right what had been disrupted in Creation.
The most important scene in Jesus' life—the one we memorialize during Passion Week—also involved his hands. Then those hands that had done so much good were taken, one at a time, and pierced through with a thick spike. My mind balks at visualizing it.
In surgery I cut delicately, using scalpel blades that slice through one layer of tissue at a time, to expose the intricacies of nerves and blood vessels and tiny bones and tendons and muscles inside. I know well what crucifixion must have done to a human hand.
Roman executioners drove their spikes through the wrist, right through the carpal tunnel that houses finger-controlling tendons and the median nerve. It is impossible to force a spike there without maiming the hand into a claw shape. And Jesus had no anesthetic as his hands were marred and destroyed.
Later, his weight hung from them, tearing more tissue, releasing more blood. Has there ever been a more helpless image than that of the Son of God hanging paralyzed from a tree? The disciples, who had hoped he was the Messiah, cowered in the darkness or drifted away.
But that is not the last glimpse in the New Testament of Jesus' hands. He appeared again, in a closed room, just as one of his disciples was disputing the unlikely story he thought his friends had concocted. People do not rise from the dead, Thomas scoffed. They must have seen a ghost, or an illusion.
At that moment, Jesus appeared and held up those unmistakable hands. The scars gave proof that they belonged to him, the same one who had died on the cross. Although the body had changed in certain ways, the scars remained. Jesus invited Thomas to come and trace them with his own fingers.
Thomas responded simply, "My Lord and my God!" It is the first recorded time that one of Jesus' disciples directly addressed him as God. Significantly the assertion came in response to Jesus wounds. Jesus' hands.
Throughout all of history, people of faith have clung to the belief that there is a God who understands the human dilemma. That the pains we endure on Earth are not meaningless. That our prayers are heard. In Passion, we Christians focus on the supreme event when God demonstrated for all time that he knows our pain.
For a reminder of his time here, Jesus chose scars in each hand. That is why I believe God hears and understands our pain, and even absorbs it into himself—because he kept those scars as a lasting image of wounded humanity. He knows what life on earth is like, because he has been here. His hands prove it.
This article originally appeared in the April 5, 1985 issue of Christianity Today.
Paul Brand served for 18 years at the Christian Medical College in Vellore, India, and when he wrote this article headed rehabilitation at the U.S. Public Health Service leprosy hospital in Carville, Louisiana.
With Philip Yancey, who was then (as now) Editor at Large of Christianity Today, the two coauthored Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, In His Image, and The Gift of Pain.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
The Value of Ventilation
Just a sHOrT post...
For you guys dripping buckets of perspiration in sunny S'pore, it has been a sweltering 35 deg C average these last 3 days, set to continue. Cloud cover? Absent. Wind? Mysteriously blowing everywhere except at me. Rain? Very fine; a drop each km. Wet clothes dry in 3 hrs. It's wonderful that perspiration is absent. Or rather vaporised in 3 secs.
I attended a church in the suburbs today, and for some reason the airflow was strange. There were ceiling fans on max, but all doors and windows were shut firm. Hot air being circulated like a convection oven results in a dreamy dreamy atmosphere. And the speaker was good too..
*sweat drip drip* Lehninger is calling me...
For you guys dripping buckets of perspiration in sunny S'pore, it has been a sweltering 35 deg C average these last 3 days, set to continue. Cloud cover? Absent. Wind? Mysteriously blowing everywhere except at me. Rain? Very fine; a drop each km. Wet clothes dry in 3 hrs. It's wonderful that perspiration is absent. Or rather vaporised in 3 secs.
I attended a church in the suburbs today, and for some reason the airflow was strange. There were ceiling fans on max, but all doors and windows were shut firm. Hot air being circulated like a convection oven results in a dreamy dreamy atmosphere. And the speaker was good too..
*sweat drip drip* Lehninger is calling me...
more questions
i'm really -evading- the idea of work :X
hope today went well for everyone. Se and I visited St Andrew's Cathedral with Eu, in case you're wondering why we ponned :b the message was about healing!
one thing i realised is that in the first place the mechanisms of healing are all made by God and sustained by Him (Colossians? Acts, the speech at Athens?)
haven't posted questions for awhile, so.. sorry if these are repeats :P
1. What are you a "natural" at doing?
2. How comfortable are you with uncertainty?
3. If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?
4. If you could read everyone's mind for one week only, would you tell anyone or keep it a secret?
5. If you could turn into any animal at will, which one would you select? Why?
(heh sorry it appears that this is the Heroes with Secret Powers Edition)
6. When do you find yourself singing?
7. In your opinion, is the Christian message mostly "Good News" or "Bad News"? Why?
May God be with you and increase your love and understanding of Him this week. All the best for work/tests/projects/social integration/submissions/exams/studies, circle as applicable :b
hope today went well for everyone. Se and I visited St Andrew's Cathedral with Eu, in case you're wondering why we ponned :b the message was about healing!
one thing i realised is that in the first place the mechanisms of healing are all made by God and sustained by Him (Colossians? Acts, the speech at Athens?)
haven't posted questions for awhile, so.. sorry if these are repeats :P
1. What are you a "natural" at doing?
2. How comfortable are you with uncertainty?
3. If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?
4. If you could read everyone's mind for one week only, would you tell anyone or keep it a secret?
5. If you could turn into any animal at will, which one would you select? Why?
(heh sorry it appears that this is the Heroes with Secret Powers Edition)
6. When do you find yourself singing?
7. In your opinion, is the Christian message mostly "Good News" or "Bad News"? Why?
May God be with you and increase your love and understanding of Him this week. All the best for work/tests/projects/social integration/submissions/exams/studies, circle as applicable :b
Friday, March 7, 2008
it's saturday!
Thank you Clem for sharing how you've been. Hope the socialising has been better and not as tiring this week! Glad to hear C4 is friendly! can't rmb if i've asked, have you been assigned a cell group yet? How's the mingling with sg and non-sg ppl going?
and enjoy the 1-4hour days while they last! i -know- it can't possibly go on forever. can it??!! :b
hope everyone will have a good weekend (:
pray for andr who's kept back in camp this weekend because of the lockdown, and may be confined longer if the escaped convict is not caught. also for hj who just got his results, that God will show him the next step.
for lois:
it's been a tiring week, and was feeling a bit defeated because of school and lack of quiet time and all, but... God is still real. God is still true and King. And merciful to us.
my only wish (apart from sudden great concentration and ability to finish revision before CAs next next week) is to have a regular proper quiet time every day. Not simply because it's the "should do" thing, but on those days i've been able to, it's... unmistakable again how central God is to everything we do. Was so frustrated by the lack of connection btn my beliefs and the events around me the other day, then read a bit of 2 Corinthians and suddenly everything made sense again :b
okay it's too late for me to make much sense now though i'm afraid :b how is everyone? Clem, any homework? i ask hopefully :b
i added some links! does anyone have ideas about what verses to put at the bottom of the page?
here are some videos. wish there was a way to make them err smaller.
You are Everything, Matthew West
Undo by Rush of Fools. i can identify with the sentiments of this song :b
nicole c mullen. sorry if her actions are kinda distracting; i figure we must look a bit bloodless in comparision. muscially inclined ppl, let me know if her voice isn't actually nice and i'll change the link :b
oh and if the theological veracity is suspect, also let me know or edit this post yourself hehe.
take care guys and keep posting!
and enjoy the 1-4hour days while they last! i -know- it can't possibly go on forever. can it??!! :b
hope everyone will have a good weekend (:
pray for andr who's kept back in camp this weekend because of the lockdown, and may be confined longer if the escaped convict is not caught. also for hj who just got his results, that God will show him the next step.
for lois:
it's been a tiring week, and was feeling a bit defeated because of school and lack of quiet time and all, but... God is still real. God is still true and King. And merciful to us.
my only wish (apart from sudden great concentration and ability to finish revision before CAs next next week) is to have a regular proper quiet time every day. Not simply because it's the "should do" thing, but on those days i've been able to, it's... unmistakable again how central God is to everything we do. Was so frustrated by the lack of connection btn my beliefs and the events around me the other day, then read a bit of 2 Corinthians and suddenly everything made sense again :b
okay it's too late for me to make much sense now though i'm afraid :b how is everyone? Clem, any homework? i ask hopefully :b
i added some links! does anyone have ideas about what verses to put at the bottom of the page?
here are some videos. wish there was a way to make them err smaller.
You are Everything, Matthew West
Undo by Rush of Fools. i can identify with the sentiments of this song :b
nicole c mullen. sorry if her actions are kinda distracting; i figure we must look a bit bloodless in comparision. muscially inclined ppl, let me know if her voice isn't actually nice and i'll change the link :b
oh and if the theological veracity is suspect, also let me know or edit this post yourself hehe.
take care guys and keep posting!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Some pics
Hmm here are some early pics of my place, inside and outside. The last one is my faculty building! Ah I'm quite bad at using blogger so dont mind the messy layout. Cheers!
2 years down the drain?
i'm turning 21 this year. This makes me old. Senior. Aged, in fact.
Save for the scare few others who are further up the age ladder, 21 is really vintage among the freshers here. People i meet are usually 18,19 or 20, and there are girls who are 17 - they'll graduate at 23!?! We s'poreans have lost 2 years(1 for girls)! The issue of national service is, interestingly, a talking point for s'porean males meeting others. "seriously, the military?" is something i've heard. Even to those who will have to serve later (eg Koreans).
To those who are currently serving and those who will, i'll like to invite you to look back upon your time before enlisting. Your previous behaviours, attitudes, actions, thought process, etc. Then contrast it to the time after you've completed your time.
As much as it would've been appealing have been able to save 2 years and start university, i've come to realize that much have come about from my time in ns. For myself, it has been a time of unexpected growth; in self-belief, maturity, confidence, perspective and faith. I can see myself very different from my days in sec. sch and jc. The perspective of others from different backgrounds. How our thinking differs from fresh sch leavers through interaction with pple in uni. Crucially, I've found my faith shaken in ns. Less an earthquake but more of frequent tremors over a prolonged period. Rejection by unis 5 times wasn't the best for the heart, but as you guys and friends have often told me, God will light your path. It was very hard to take; waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel in a place called Jurong camp.
Now though, i look upon those 2 years and i really treasure them; treasure them as with my jc and sec. sch days. They've taught me things i couldn't have learned otherwise. God worked in ways i couldn't see to help me mature both as a person as well as in faith.
Before leaving camp on ORD day, just take a moment to look back, smile and praise God for 2 years of guidance and love.
Save for the scare few others who are further up the age ladder, 21 is really vintage among the freshers here. People i meet are usually 18,19 or 20, and there are girls who are 17 - they'll graduate at 23!?! We s'poreans have lost 2 years(1 for girls)! The issue of national service is, interestingly, a talking point for s'porean males meeting others. "seriously, the military?" is something i've heard. Even to those who will have to serve later (eg Koreans).
To those who are currently serving and those who will, i'll like to invite you to look back upon your time before enlisting. Your previous behaviours, attitudes, actions, thought process, etc. Then contrast it to the time after you've completed your time.
As much as it would've been appealing have been able to save 2 years and start university, i've come to realize that much have come about from my time in ns. For myself, it has been a time of unexpected growth; in self-belief, maturity, confidence, perspective and faith. I can see myself very different from my days in sec. sch and jc. The perspective of others from different backgrounds. How our thinking differs from fresh sch leavers through interaction with pple in uni. Crucially, I've found my faith shaken in ns. Less an earthquake but more of frequent tremors over a prolonged period. Rejection by unis 5 times wasn't the best for the heart, but as you guys and friends have often told me, God will light your path. It was very hard to take; waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel in a place called Jurong camp.
Now though, i look upon those 2 years and i really treasure them; treasure them as with my jc and sec. sch days. They've taught me things i couldn't have learned otherwise. God worked in ways i couldn't see to help me mature both as a person as well as in faith.
Before leaving camp on ORD day, just take a moment to look back, smile and praise God for 2 years of guidance and love.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Updaeto!
hey y'alls! here's another update on what's up down under... somehow it feels weird to post here though. oh well.
I've been attending this place called Cross Culture Church of Christ (aka C4) for the past 2 weeks. the way the service is conducted has a similar feel to bbpc's 1st service. Worship songs are a mix of contempory & hymms, all done with a diff band each wk. Then announcements, which use a great deal of multimedia presentations which are really well done & humorous! Communion is held every week here. The messages have been excellent and concise (the theme now centers on the gospel of Mark); and the atmosphere (like everywhere in Melb) is really relaxed. Then after service there's some mingling and got to know a few of the people...it's strange how people who are like 50+ ask you to call them by 1st name eg steven. ah but the professors in uni do too.
I would post some pics but my internet from home is far too slow to upload stuff...so maybe while on campus :)
Last week was orientation wk, but orientation here is...different. Their version of og is host group, which only stays together for the 1st 3 hrs. After that is a huge load of talks and activities that we just have to turn up for, alone or what. And aussie's love booze & bbq. Hence, many boozing parties and bbq's all round. O wk felt strange for me overall, almost surreal...
So term really just started this week, with only a few hours each day (surprising eh?) but of course that increases...to like an average of 3-4 hrs per day. Everything here is about initiative, it's almost overwhelming with everything happening. Also requires: thick skin, willingness not to save face, discipline, sharp mind & tongue. Here we have to make ourselves heard. It's a challenge i must say.
In the midst of the action, it is such a joy to find quiet at home and pray and reflect. I find myself out of my comfort zone for huge periods of time, and quiet time is really a wonderful sanctuary.
yeah and as lois was saying post up prayer needs! for myself, pray for calm and courage to face the new style of education; for discipline to self-study and to resist many temptations here (pubbing/clubbing is esp. common & popular).
for those who may feel overwhelmed and inadequate;
my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion Forever.
-Psalms 73:26
I've been attending this place called Cross Culture Church of Christ (aka C4) for the past 2 weeks. the way the service is conducted has a similar feel to bbpc's 1st service. Worship songs are a mix of contempory & hymms, all done with a diff band each wk. Then announcements, which use a great deal of multimedia presentations which are really well done & humorous! Communion is held every week here. The messages have been excellent and concise (the theme now centers on the gospel of Mark); and the atmosphere (like everywhere in Melb) is really relaxed. Then after service there's some mingling and got to know a few of the people...it's strange how people who are like 50+ ask you to call them by 1st name eg steven. ah but the professors in uni do too.
I would post some pics but my internet from home is far too slow to upload stuff...so maybe while on campus :)
Last week was orientation wk, but orientation here is...different. Their version of og is host group, which only stays together for the 1st 3 hrs. After that is a huge load of talks and activities that we just have to turn up for, alone or what. And aussie's love booze & bbq. Hence, many boozing parties and bbq's all round. O wk felt strange for me overall, almost surreal...
So term really just started this week, with only a few hours each day (surprising eh?) but of course that increases...to like an average of 3-4 hrs per day. Everything here is about initiative, it's almost overwhelming with everything happening. Also requires: thick skin, willingness not to save face, discipline, sharp mind & tongue. Here we have to make ourselves heard. It's a challenge i must say.
In the midst of the action, it is such a joy to find quiet at home and pray and reflect. I find myself out of my comfort zone for huge periods of time, and quiet time is really a wonderful sanctuary.
yeah and as lois was saying post up prayer needs! for myself, pray for calm and courage to face the new style of education; for discipline to self-study and to resist many temptations here (pubbing/clubbing is esp. common & popular).
for those who may feel overwhelmed and inadequate;
my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion Forever.
-Psalms 73:26
Sunday, March 2, 2008
re: prayer
am also wondering how to get everyone's prayer needs (haven't updated column yet cos i don't know what everyone's comfortable about putting up so far.. anyway pray for Clem as he settles in, HJ as he gets his As results soon, Andre as he does PT and other strenuous things, Rich and Ben as they carve out a career in health screening services, Evelyn as she works, and the students (i think that's the rest of us) as we, er, study. yeah.
this was partially an excuse to put up another poem.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
2 I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
4 What joy for those who can live in your house,
always singing your praises.
Interlude
this was partially an excuse to put up another poem.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
2 I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
4 What joy for those who can live in your house,
always singing your praises.
Interlude
5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
8 O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob.
Interlude
9 O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
Show favor to the one you have anointed.
10 A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
what joy for those who trust in you.
~Psalm 84, a psalm of the descendants of Korah, the New Living Translation.
what happened today
Clem: how was church? and weekend? update! hehh
Today we learnt about pursuing God's will.
Two learning points:
-God doesn't give us information for consideration, but for participation.
-In the process of discovering God's will, we discover God.
Some verses that were shared: Psalm 34:4, Psalm 25:4-5, Psalm 139, Psalm 103-104
Two new things i learnt/was reminded of today:
-God wants us to know His will even more than we want to know it; broken people find it easier to discern God's will because they have less of the idea that they are in control of their lives
- God is our Creator (cf Psalm 139), and loves us, and therefore is the best Person we could wish for to direct our lives.
another poem heh.
Quiet Peace
O Lord, my heart is all a prayer,
But silent unto Thee;
I am too tired to look for words,
I rest upon Thy sympathy
To understand when I am dumb;
And well I know Thou hearest me.
I know Thou hearest me because
A quiet peace comes down to me,
And fills the places where before
Weak thoughts were wandering wearily;
And deep within me it is calm,
Though waves are tossing outwardly.
Today we learnt about pursuing God's will.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Two learning points:
-God doesn't give us information for consideration, but for participation.
-In the process of discovering God's will, we discover God.
Some verses that were shared: Psalm 34:4, Psalm 25:4-5, Psalm 139, Psalm 103-104
Two new things i learnt/was reminded of today:
-God wants us to know His will even more than we want to know it; broken people find it easier to discern God's will because they have less of the idea that they are in control of their lives
- God is our Creator (cf Psalm 139), and loves us, and therefore is the best Person we could wish for to direct our lives.
another poem heh.
Quiet Peace
O Lord, my heart is all a prayer,
But silent unto Thee;
I am too tired to look for words,
I rest upon Thy sympathy
To understand when I am dumb;
And well I know Thou hearest me.
I know Thou hearest me because
A quiet peace comes down to me,
And fills the places where before
Weak thoughts were wandering wearily;
And deep within me it is calm,
Though waves are tossing outwardly.
~Amy Carmichael
Sunday, February 24, 2008
God as God
Hi all,
Here's a new perspective on idolatory!
Most of us know the vernacular regarding idolatory: anything we set before God/anything we position in God's deserved position in our lives amounts to idolatory...
Is it any possible to commit this heinous act in the process of WORSHIPPING or SERVING God?
It can be! Here's how:
1) We reduce God to an image of what He not ENTIRELY is.
Often, we have filtered/watered-down perspectives of who God is. E.g. Ours is a God who tolerates seemingly harmless activity like clubbing/pubbing; when actually our God is someone who is ultimately holy (set apart), and pure. (Therefore he detests activity that would cast a slur on our identities as His children)
2) We process our obedience to God into more palatable pieces!
King Saul struggled with this aspect of idolatory when he took it upon himself to decide what pleased God rather than to obey God's commandments. 1 Samuel 15:10-23. Sometimes we mould God into a sugar daddy or Mr Nice Guy when our obedience or rather disobedience is in question. Isn't this making ourselves an image of God that is incorrect and therefore diminishing His character? (Idolatory liao lors!) Grace and mercy is truly amazing, but God is not only a God of grace and mercy (He is one of righteous anger and Godly jealousy and awesome justice etc. as well)
3) We set him on the walls of our hearts as a figurehead/image rather than someone who is living and active and relational!
We often sing songs and worship and learn about God everyday, but not all of us are filled with His almighty presence as we live out life daily. Come on! I mean if God promised His spirit and Jesus promised to be with us till the end of time, shouldn't there be at least a sense of companionship or a hint of presence in life's moments? People often complain that the Lord is far from them. True, sin seperates us from God. But other times, it's our understanding of who God is and how God works and presents Himself that determines our intimacy with God. Getting this wrong can translate into worshipping and fellowship-ing with a block. idolatory again.
Well the list goes on and I'm tired of listing all my failings here!
The standards have always been this high. I can't help but feel inadequate everytime I take apart His commandments and really magnify His teachings to reflect God's instructions for and expectations of me.
I guess I'll see you all at the cross.
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
Ben
Here's a new perspective on idolatory!
Most of us know the vernacular regarding idolatory: anything we set before God/anything we position in God's deserved position in our lives amounts to idolatory...
Is it any possible to commit this heinous act in the process of WORSHIPPING or SERVING God?
It can be! Here's how:
1) We reduce God to an image of what He not ENTIRELY is.
Often, we have filtered/watered-down perspectives of who God is. E.g. Ours is a God who tolerates seemingly harmless activity like clubbing/pubbing; when actually our God is someone who is ultimately holy (set apart), and pure. (Therefore he detests activity that would cast a slur on our identities as His children)
2) We process our obedience to God into more palatable pieces!
King Saul struggled with this aspect of idolatory when he took it upon himself to decide what pleased God rather than to obey God's commandments. 1 Samuel 15:10-23. Sometimes we mould God into a sugar daddy or Mr Nice Guy when our obedience or rather disobedience is in question. Isn't this making ourselves an image of God that is incorrect and therefore diminishing His character? (Idolatory liao lors!) Grace and mercy is truly amazing, but God is not only a God of grace and mercy (He is one of righteous anger and Godly jealousy and awesome justice etc. as well)
3) We set him on the walls of our hearts as a figurehead/image rather than someone who is living and active and relational!
We often sing songs and worship and learn about God everyday, but not all of us are filled with His almighty presence as we live out life daily. Come on! I mean if God promised His spirit and Jesus promised to be with us till the end of time, shouldn't there be at least a sense of companionship or a hint of presence in life's moments? People often complain that the Lord is far from them. True, sin seperates us from God. But other times, it's our understanding of who God is and how God works and presents Himself that determines our intimacy with God. Getting this wrong can translate into worshipping and fellowship-ing with a block. idolatory again.
Well the list goes on and I'm tired of listing all my failings here!
The standards have always been this high. I can't help but feel inadequate everytime I take apart His commandments and really magnify His teachings to reflect God's instructions for and expectations of me.
I guess I'll see you all at the cross.
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
Ben
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Hello mates!
Yoz mates! All goin' well down there?
Just wanna say it's been a great blessing to have all you guys sending me off, and your prayers and many words of encouragement for me...Praise the Lord!
It's been a really busy few days of settling in, with the enrolment as well as groceries and buying everyday stuff i took for granted in the past, like a toilet floormat. Met most of the other singaporeans here for my course too...though i don't yet know them that well yet.
More stuff to come in a while! Really quite busy with many many things like bills/bank/receipts/student account/etc...but updates all in good time!
Checking out a church tomorrow...oh there's no CCC here but there's an overseas student fellowship (as far as i know)
anyway recently i was reminded in a very little book of some verses and they have been a great source of encouragement for me
耶和华是我的牧者，我必不自致缺乏。
-詩 篇 23
Just wanna say it's been a great blessing to have all you guys sending me off, and your prayers and many words of encouragement for me...Praise the Lord!
It's been a really busy few days of settling in, with the enrolment as well as groceries and buying everyday stuff i took for granted in the past, like a toilet floormat. Met most of the other singaporeans here for my course too...though i don't yet know them that well yet.
More stuff to come in a while! Really quite busy with many many things like bills/bank/receipts/student account/etc...but updates all in good time!
Checking out a church tomorrow...oh there's no CCC here but there's an overseas student fellowship (as far as i know)
anyway recently i was reminded in a very little book of some verses and they have been a great source of encouragement for me
耶和华是我的牧者，我必不自致缺乏。
-詩 篇 23
Friday, February 22, 2008
-crickets-
how come ah??? nobody sees this!!!
Clement: if you come here, post a comment and tell us how you're doing! will email around in a bit, i think. with photos. nghahaha.
i am procrastinating while doing work, so i shall reply a question i posted some long time ago.
if you found out you had only two weeks to live, what top three things would you do? why?
this has nothing to do with the fact that exams are in three weeks time for us, but this is what i would do, i think.
1. stop school, if i was really sure it was only two weeks :b i think
2. clean my room haha and sort my stuff out
3. write, i guess, to people and tell them God loves them and that i do too
so the question is would life be more worth it if we "live as if each day is our last"? and how about you, faithful reader?
look, poem.
"The Journey"
And if you go up that way, you will meet with a man,
Leading a horse, whose eyes declare:
There is no God. Take no notice.
There will be other roads and other men
With the same creed, whose lips yet utter
Friendlier greeting, men who have learned
To pack a little of the sun’s light
In their cold eyes, whose hands are waiting
For your hand. But do not linger.
A smile is payment; the road runs on
With many turnings towards the tall
Tree to which the believer is nailed.
- R.S. Thomas (20th century)
Clement: if you come here, post a comment and tell us how you're doing! will email around in a bit, i think. with photos. nghahaha.
i am procrastinating while doing work, so i shall reply a question i posted some long time ago.
if you found out you had only two weeks to live, what top three things would you do? why?
this has nothing to do with the fact that exams are in three weeks time for us, but this is what i would do, i think.
1. stop school, if i was really sure it was only two weeks :b i think
2. clean my room haha and sort my stuff out
3. write, i guess, to people and tell them God loves them and that i do too
so the question is would life be more worth it if we "live as if each day is our last"? and how about you, faithful reader?
look, poem.
"The Journey"
And if you go up that way, you will meet with a man,
Leading a horse, whose eyes declare:
There is no God. Take no notice.
There will be other roads and other men
With the same creed, whose lips yet utter
Friendlier greeting, men who have learned
To pack a little of the sun’s light
In their cold eyes, whose hands are waiting
For your hand. But do not linger.
A smile is payment; the road runs on
With many turnings towards the tall
Tree to which the believer is nailed.
- R.S. Thomas (20th century)
Sunday, February 3, 2008
should get to work on hw, but
a prayer for each day this week:
Lord Jesus, take me this day and use me.
Take my lips and speak through them.
Take my mind and think through it.
Take my will and act through it,
and fill my heart with love for You.
Lord Jesus, take me this day and use me.
Take my lips and speak through them.
Take my mind and think through it.
Take my will and act through it,
and fill my heart with love for You.
~ traditional
also, questions for week.
1. How do you know God loves you? Or rather how has God demonstrated His love to you?
2. Are you ever satisfied?
3. what's your idea of cute?
4. What songs would you include on the "soundtrack of your life?"
5. Look around. Describe the first photograph you see. What does it mean to you?
6. Do you like being behind the camera or in front of the camera?
7. If you were a gifted painter, what picture(s) would you paint first?
2. Are you ever satisfied?
3. what's your idea of cute?
4. What songs would you include on the "soundtrack of your life?"
5. Look around. Describe the first photograph you see. What does it mean to you?
6. Do you like being behind the camera or in front of the camera?
7. If you were a gifted painter, what picture(s) would you paint first?
today's lesson
was on making decisions.
i quote, "I'm here; my primary goal is not to be stupid anymore."
we learnt about God's providential, moral and personal will. I agree with this idea of God's providential + moral will being the plumbline for understanding His personal will. Or as the handout summarised:
1. The providential will of God refers to those things God is/was going to do, regardless (e.g. send Christ to redeem the world, judge the world, make a new Heaven and earth)
2. The moral will of God refers to the dos and don'ts God has commanded. (don't lie, don't lust, basically love God and other people)
3. The personal will of God refers to personal decisions and plans for our lives.
comments or reflections or your thoughts on what the Bible says about this?
i quote, "I'm here; my primary goal is not to be stupid anymore."
we learnt about God's providential, moral and personal will. I agree with this idea of God's providential + moral will being the plumbline for understanding His personal will. Or as the handout summarised:
1. The providential will of God refers to those things God is/was going to do, regardless (e.g. send Christ to redeem the world, judge the world, make a new Heaven and earth)
2. The moral will of God refers to the dos and don'ts God has commanded. (don't lie, don't lust, basically love God and other people)
3. The personal will of God refers to personal decisions and plans for our lives.
comments or reflections or your thoughts on what the Bible says about this?
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