Matthew 27:24-26
New International Version (NIV)
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
This verses were read out to us during service today. Did you know that Barabbas was known as Jesus-bar-abbas?
It means Jesus, Son of God. I'm not sure why God intended for bar-abbas to be juxtaposed with Jesus, which is a marked choice indeed.
But more than that, verse 25 was most tragic. If only they knew what they were saying! Jesus' blood was meant to go on them and their children. To cover them and deliver them from God's wrath.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Early in the morning
2 Timothy 4:16-18
New International Version (NIV)
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
What do I see? Multiple trials.
A defence before rulers and kings, a desertion by friends.
A temptation to bear a grudge, the threat of a lion's mouth.
What do I see in my life? I wish I could type it all here. But
But God forbid I miss the point which we are pointed to in verse 18.
Paul was surrounded by challenges, but the main threat he chose to highlight came in 18 as he writes his response of faith:
"The Lord with rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom."
This is remarkable. In all the challenges he perceived that it was his citizenship into the Kingdom of God that was being threatened.
So too shall I. Shall I see that my laziness, my fixation on temporal things, my bitterness are "evil attacks" attempting to disqualify me from the kingdom.
But I was never qualified. Continue to qualify me O God.
New International Version (NIV)
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
What do I see? Multiple trials.
A defence before rulers and kings, a desertion by friends.
A temptation to bear a grudge, the threat of a lion's mouth.
What do I see in my life? I wish I could type it all here. But
But God forbid I miss the point which we are pointed to in verse 18.
Paul was surrounded by challenges, but the main threat he chose to highlight came in 18 as he writes his response of faith:
"The Lord with rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom."
This is remarkable. In all the challenges he perceived that it was his citizenship into the Kingdom of God that was being threatened.
So too shall I. Shall I see that my laziness, my fixation on temporal things, my bitterness are "evil attacks" attempting to disqualify me from the kingdom.
But I was never qualified. Continue to qualify me O God.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
I have said harsh things
And even when I'm discouraged. Even as you take the carrot away.
Malachi 3:13-15
"You have said harsh things against me," says the Lord.
"Yet you ask, 'what have we said against you?'
"You have said, 'it is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.'"
Deliver me from those words, which strive to spill from my mouth.
Cleanse me like a dish wiped clean from the inside.
Crush me entirely dear Lord. Help me see my helplessness. Through Christ, through Christ will I approach your throne. Through the sacrifice of my broken heart will I reach you.
As good friday approaches, there is only 1 thing I dare to pray.
And it is this
"I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death"
And though I know not what I'm asking. I'm asking in faith because it is clear that this is Your will for me.
Do not tarry dear Lord.
Crush me completely.
Malachi 3:13-15
"You have said harsh things against me," says the Lord.
"Yet you ask, 'what have we said against you?'
"You have said, 'it is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.'"
Deliver me from those words, which strive to spill from my mouth.
Cleanse me like a dish wiped clean from the inside.
Crush me entirely dear Lord. Help me see my helplessness. Through Christ, through Christ will I approach your throne. Through the sacrifice of my broken heart will I reach you.
As good friday approaches, there is only 1 thing I dare to pray.
And it is this
"I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death"
And though I know not what I'm asking. I'm asking in faith because it is clear that this is Your will for me.
Do not tarry dear Lord.
Crush me completely.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
glad to have you around
"So sad that sentosa didn't have a sunrise"
"Hahaha, what matters is the sun did rise."
"My goodness, I was thinking the same thing."
I thank You dear Lord for the moments where, prompted by You, I revisit the things I'm about to say. I watch out for the grumblings I'm about to make... and I recall your command to give thanks in everything.
I know how we're led to think that perpetual gratefulness is like "finding the bright side of things" or "chasing the silver lining". It's not about seeing the flip side, it is about having my vision corrected.
It is not that there exists a saving grace in an awful situation,
but there exists saving grace for my crusty, grumbling heart.
And I thank God that you exist, for you often make God look glorious to me.
The answer is that we must be the church for each other. And what is the main thing that the church does for each other? We speak to each other in ways that help us not be deceived by the allurements of sin.
"Hahaha, what matters is the sun did rise."
"My goodness, I was thinking the same thing."
I thank You dear Lord for the moments where, prompted by You, I revisit the things I'm about to say. I watch out for the grumblings I'm about to make... and I recall your command to give thanks in everything.
I know how we're led to think that perpetual gratefulness is like "finding the bright side of things" or "chasing the silver lining". It's not about seeing the flip side, it is about having my vision corrected.
It is not that there exists a saving grace in an awful situation,
but there exists saving grace for my crusty, grumbling heart.
And I thank God that you exist, for you often make God look glorious to me.
The answer is that we must be the church for each other. And what is the main thing that the church does for each other? We speak to each other in ways that help us not be deceived by the allurements of sin.
- John Piper on Hebrews 3:12-15.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Thanks
I had an urge to clear out my gmail inbox today. While thinking of which mails to go, jobscentral spam and open house emails leapt to mind.
As I deleted them I feel a tinge of sadness because in my tiredness I didn't really get to savour open day. But other than that I'm immensely happy as I felt the reality of the load lifting from my shoulders- what is more liberating than the carefree deletion of emails without worrying that you may need to look back at them?
It's the same feeling I got last year after the exams... when I finally closed some browser tabs left open for repeated reference...
And I think, Thank You dear Lord for this crazy 3 months. Thank you for all the things I couldn't do, which I did only because you led me to. Help me to stay trusting and brave. Help me to look back, may these remain as big reminders of how you are the help to those in need (though indeed all are in need).
Thank you for how I crossed those mad days of ICG. The days where I lay on my bed wondering how I may survive the games next day, wondering how I may drift off to sleep with my back in such strung up pain. And still I slept, and still I woke up, and still I had time, and still I served.
And then for the 4 lessons which have passed thus. For the successful times, for the awkward, for the times I didn't plan enough or slept enough to think straight. For the confused faces, or the delight when we discovered more about you together. When in my words You made Yourself look glorious, for the right questions, prompting answers crucial to understanding. For everything beyond my control, I thank You.
As I deleted them I feel a tinge of sadness because in my tiredness I didn't really get to savour open day. But other than that I'm immensely happy as I felt the reality of the load lifting from my shoulders- what is more liberating than the carefree deletion of emails without worrying that you may need to look back at them?
It's the same feeling I got last year after the exams... when I finally closed some browser tabs left open for repeated reference...
And I think, Thank You dear Lord for this crazy 3 months. Thank you for all the things I couldn't do, which I did only because you led me to. Help me to stay trusting and brave. Help me to look back, may these remain as big reminders of how you are the help to those in need (though indeed all are in need).
Thank you for how I crossed those mad days of ICG. The days where I lay on my bed wondering how I may survive the games next day, wondering how I may drift off to sleep with my back in such strung up pain. And still I slept, and still I woke up, and still I had time, and still I served.
And then for the 4 lessons which have passed thus. For the successful times, for the awkward, for the times I didn't plan enough or slept enough to think straight. For the confused faces, or the delight when we discovered more about you together. When in my words You made Yourself look glorious, for the right questions, prompting answers crucial to understanding. For everything beyond my control, I thank You.
we, collectively.
I was rushing the case study about analyzing story telling elements last night.
It was a short clip about modern day slavery, or if you prefer, human trafficking.
The story was presented via a shadow show. It starts off with this melodramatic recount, done by a female voiceover, depicting the innocent carefree days of her youth.
As she dreamt about what she wants to be when she grows up, her dreams went wild. These wild dreams found their home when a man appeared promising her a better life.
Before she knew it though, she was packed onto a ship and sent to a city where she lost her freedom forever.
There, amongst the city inhabitants, was a trafficked human, somehow she went unnoticed. So surrounded yet so alone, so close to help and yet no help given.
And my soul sighed.
and I said, "Oh God what have we done?"
The distant hdb in its faint fluorescent lights, the rustling trees lining the road...
the huge, pitch dark, now pin-drop silent construction site and then me, reclining in a chair and typing away on my laptop...
Suddenly seemed so unreal.
But I rejoice, for I said "we" and not "them".
I'm getting a hold of it, of how the human race in collective repeatedly disappoints God, keeping in mind pure grace which has put me in this seat...
Shuddering at where this grace may bring me.
It was a short clip about modern day slavery, or if you prefer, human trafficking.
The story was presented via a shadow show. It starts off with this melodramatic recount, done by a female voiceover, depicting the innocent carefree days of her youth.
As she dreamt about what she wants to be when she grows up, her dreams went wild. These wild dreams found their home when a man appeared promising her a better life.
Before she knew it though, she was packed onto a ship and sent to a city where she lost her freedom forever.
There, amongst the city inhabitants, was a trafficked human, somehow she went unnoticed. So surrounded yet so alone, so close to help and yet no help given.
And my soul sighed.
and I said, "Oh God what have we done?"
The distant hdb in its faint fluorescent lights, the rustling trees lining the road...
the huge, pitch dark, now pin-drop silent construction site and then me, reclining in a chair and typing away on my laptop...
Suddenly seemed so unreal.
But I rejoice, for I said "we" and not "them".
I'm getting a hold of it, of how the human race in collective repeatedly disappoints God, keeping in mind pure grace which has put me in this seat...
Shuddering at where this grace may bring me.
Friday, March 15, 2013
renewed mind
What makes a renewed mind? A mind so radically transformed that it does not use the scriptures, but thinks in terms of scriptures.
It does not comfort itself with Jer 32:30-41, saying "O these are hard and bad times, nevertheless, as sure as the Lord rejoices in doing me good, the good days will return."
No, the renewed mind says "these are the good times! They have never ended nor will they ever need to resume! You're living the good life! For those, to whom God is everything, ought to be content and rejoice in every circumstances."
Oh God renew my mind. Help me put things in the ordinate positions.
Let me be strong tomorrow. Let me cling onto you and if so, may you also rouse your elect amidst the storm. God help us all to be careful with our words towards one another, help us to be gentle, not reacting hysterically towards one another.
Give us a love, let us savour the fruit of our labour tomorrow.
Give us eyes open to see, a feet swift to deliver help.
May we (if possible) be of a single mind!
Amen.
It does not comfort itself with Jer 32:30-41, saying "O these are hard and bad times, nevertheless, as sure as the Lord rejoices in doing me good, the good days will return."
No, the renewed mind says "these are the good times! They have never ended nor will they ever need to resume! You're living the good life! For those, to whom God is everything, ought to be content and rejoice in every circumstances."
Oh God renew my mind. Help me put things in the ordinate positions.
Let me be strong tomorrow. Let me cling onto you and if so, may you also rouse your elect amidst the storm. God help us all to be careful with our words towards one another, help us to be gentle, not reacting hysterically towards one another.
Give us a love, let us savour the fruit of our labour tomorrow.
Give us eyes open to see, a feet swift to deliver help.
May we (if possible) be of a single mind!
Amen.
Psalms 63:1-8 ESV
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
gasping
I can see that you're testing me
once again, you're making me walk before I teach.
God how am I even going to make ends meet?
My mind is exhausted and blank.
I barely retain a hold on things.
I need a plan, I need the strength
I need the wisdom, and love to put it all together.
I don't have any, without you I have none.
Oh God I'm sorry it has taken this to show me, but now in you I trust.
I'm letting it go.
I go to sleep unsure of what awaits tomorrow.
still, may my heart rest in the Lord whose sovereign will governs all.
For all the mountains, for all the crazy people and the things they say...
none too high, none is too difficult for you.
None has happened without your permission, indeed even now you are in control.
Scream through the haze obscuring my sights. Call me show me. Deliver me.
once again, you're making me walk before I teach.
God how am I even going to make ends meet?
My mind is exhausted and blank.
I barely retain a hold on things.
I need a plan, I need the strength
I need the wisdom, and love to put it all together.
I don't have any, without you I have none.
Oh God I'm sorry it has taken this to show me, but now in you I trust.
I'm letting it go.
I go to sleep unsure of what awaits tomorrow.
still, may my heart rest in the Lord whose sovereign will governs all.
For all the mountains, for all the crazy people and the things they say...
none too high, none is too difficult for you.
None has happened without your permission, indeed even now you are in control.
Scream through the haze obscuring my sights. Call me show me. Deliver me.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
ahead of myself
The things I say carelessly are coming back to me. Most of all, the things I said about having free time and capacity to take on more responsibilities and to do more things.
I still refuse to back down. I am still of the opinion that I do waste some time away. I'm not fully saturated, but maybe it's time to admit that...
that my puny mind cannot fully contain the things I have to do.
I think about how I comfort myself with completing my readings, while my classmates raid the discussion forums over and over. While lots of voluntary exploration transpires in theirs, I'm kept to the pitiful bare minimum.
I think of how the fleeting ideas of how to improve the manpower administration visits my mind. But I had no time to sit and think them through.
Sometimes I'm just fed up, mental bloating. My mind refuses to move because it is so occupied. I'm no longer as focused as I used to be... and those new strands of white hair are telling.
What shall I do dear Lord? What is your will in this?
I still refuse to back down. I am still of the opinion that I do waste some time away. I'm not fully saturated, but maybe it's time to admit that...
that my puny mind cannot fully contain the things I have to do.
I think about how I comfort myself with completing my readings, while my classmates raid the discussion forums over and over. While lots of voluntary exploration transpires in theirs, I'm kept to the pitiful bare minimum.
I think of how the fleeting ideas of how to improve the manpower administration visits my mind. But I had no time to sit and think them through.
Sometimes I'm just fed up, mental bloating. My mind refuses to move because it is so occupied. I'm no longer as focused as I used to be... and those new strands of white hair are telling.
What shall I do dear Lord? What is your will in this?
Monday, March 11, 2013
For the week.
We were singing this song during worship today. It was titled loosely as "Psalms 32". Upon closer inspection it does have elements of psalms 32, but was adapted, not quoted.
And so as we sang I noticed how familiar the song was, like I sung it somewhere before.. It was in chinese of course.
我的神恳求你的恩典遮盖我的罪，
我为我过犯深感懊悔。
and as I sang the following line:
我要向你承认我的罪与不义，
向你俯伏下跪
Tears just came bursting out.
I couldn't so much as to open my mouth and continue.
Oh God, if You permit it, let me confess all the wrong I did the past week.
All the offence I took upon myself and all the proud indignation.
All the times my jaw tightened in anger...
and more than that, the time you have given squandered away trivially as I sat in my room..
For all the times I worked half heartedly on the lesson plan, only to turn aside to other things for a breather (what was I even turning to? You have the words of life)
For all the moments during sports when I played for praise...
For the things I should have and should not have, please forgive me.
How else shall I face this week?
我要现在向你献上我的祷告，
求你拯救我使我不至羞愧，
隐藏我保佑我环绕我引导我，
And so as we sang I noticed how familiar the song was, like I sung it somewhere before.. It was in chinese of course.
我的神恳求你的恩典遮盖我的罪，
我为我过犯深感懊悔。
and as I sang the following line:
我要向你承认我的罪与不义，
向你俯伏下跪
Tears just came bursting out.
I couldn't so much as to open my mouth and continue.
Oh God, if You permit it, let me confess all the wrong I did the past week.
All the offence I took upon myself and all the proud indignation.
All the times my jaw tightened in anger...
and more than that, the time you have given squandered away trivially as I sat in my room..
For all the times I worked half heartedly on the lesson plan, only to turn aside to other things for a breather (what was I even turning to? You have the words of life)
For all the moments during sports when I played for praise...
For the things I should have and should not have, please forgive me.
How else shall I face this week?
我要现在向你献上我的祷告，
求你拯救我使我不至羞愧，
隐藏我保佑我环绕我引导我，
我要一生致死跟随。
Finally, from Psalms 32:
5 我 向 你 陈 明 我 的 罪 ， 不 隐 瞒 我 的 恶 。 我 说 ： 我 要 向 耶 和 华 承 认 我 的 过 犯 ， 你 就 赦 免 我 的 罪 恶 。
Finally, from Psalms 32:
5 我 向 你 陈 明 我 的 罪 ， 不 隐 瞒 我 的 恶 。 我 说 ： 我 要 向 耶 和 华 承 认 我 的 过 犯 ， 你 就 赦 免 我 的 罪 恶 。
Sunday, March 10, 2013
God really wants to be glorified
As I was praying the verses I've been reading all came together. It is not for mine or your sake that God is about to do this. Lord I know that you are glorified when you mend broken relationships. I trust that you delight to carry our inflictions.
And so please do Lord, please do as you please and may your work on everyone of us cause glory to be ascribed to you.
Glory we will inherit if we also share in the sufferings of christ.
Saturday, March 09, 2013
Half Hearted
Sitting in to this sermon now. “Behold, the church, an entity bound for suffering.”
Many see His life as such:
He dies, I live
He forsook, I inherit
His is savior and so I’m saved
But there is.
In my mind now there is.
stiff neck, lobster, cousin in shoe shop
Had the worst sleep last night in weeks.
I pulled a few neck muscles with the reckless playing during captain's ball yesterday.
Getting to sleep was such a pain, lol, considering how I often sleep sideways.
When I finally got to sleep, I was assaulted by all sorts of random dreams.
There was this one where I was living in an area in China where baby lobsters scurry
across the rooftops of our humble houses. Then I saw this handy contraption:
2 plastic bottles attached together by a stick with a baby lobster caught in each bottle.
They looked really harmless and I was bringing them out to the market to sell.
As I was walking I noticed that the contraption wasn't that handy after all, as the lobsters were able to inch their way out of the opening.
Soon they were in a frenzy, scampering wildly up the bottle and attempting to escape.
So I shook the contraption up and down, each time it went up the stick moves low enough to bump
the heads of the lobsters, throwing them back down the bottle.
Which really pissed them off.
Now raging, they made their way up, unrelenting, undaunted by all the head-bumping. One of them made a heroic lunge at my fingers and its claws snapped on tight. It was pulling its mouth towards my fingers. Then I saw it, its jaws open (I know that lobsters have nothing remotely as big as what was in my dream) exposing rows and rows of razor sharp teeth. The claws pulled the lobster onto my finger and I felt the tip of its mouth rest on my tender skin. Fear swept across me as I braced myself for an impending bite...
But I wasn't about to give up, grabbing the body of the lobster with my free hand, I attempted to yank my finger away. The lobster held on tightly, its vice-like grip was impeccable.
However, by this junction I have already lost my mind. Yanking harder than ever, I tugged and pulled until...
comically, the upper body of the lobster, along with the claws and its head flew off, now stuck motionlessly to my finger and I burst out laughing.
and then I woke up, a phantom pain still emanating from my finger.
But I was dragged back into various other dreams. One with a mysterious shrinking wrist band which shrunk till it almost severed my hand from my arm... and another where after helping a girl escape from a village after her life I went to hide at my cousin's shoe shop. Only to receive a call from my dad, berating me for not making it home to celebrate my sister's birthday.
Ah dreams.
I pulled a few neck muscles with the reckless playing during captain's ball yesterday.
Getting to sleep was such a pain, lol, considering how I often sleep sideways.
When I finally got to sleep, I was assaulted by all sorts of random dreams.
There was this one where I was living in an area in China where baby lobsters scurry
across the rooftops of our humble houses. Then I saw this handy contraption:
2 plastic bottles attached together by a stick with a baby lobster caught in each bottle.
They looked really harmless and I was bringing them out to the market to sell.
As I was walking I noticed that the contraption wasn't that handy after all, as the lobsters were able to inch their way out of the opening.
Soon they were in a frenzy, scampering wildly up the bottle and attempting to escape.
So I shook the contraption up and down, each time it went up the stick moves low enough to bump
the heads of the lobsters, throwing them back down the bottle.
Which really pissed them off.
Now raging, they made their way up, unrelenting, undaunted by all the head-bumping. One of them made a heroic lunge at my fingers and its claws snapped on tight. It was pulling its mouth towards my fingers. Then I saw it, its jaws open (I know that lobsters have nothing remotely as big as what was in my dream) exposing rows and rows of razor sharp teeth. The claws pulled the lobster onto my finger and I felt the tip of its mouth rest on my tender skin. Fear swept across me as I braced myself for an impending bite...
But I wasn't about to give up, grabbing the body of the lobster with my free hand, I attempted to yank my finger away. The lobster held on tightly, its vice-like grip was impeccable.
However, by this junction I have already lost my mind. Yanking harder than ever, I tugged and pulled until...
comically, the upper body of the lobster, along with the claws and its head flew off, now stuck motionlessly to my finger and I burst out laughing.
and then I woke up, a phantom pain still emanating from my finger.
But I was dragged back into various other dreams. One with a mysterious shrinking wrist band which shrunk till it almost severed my hand from my arm... and another where after helping a girl escape from a village after her life I went to hide at my cousin's shoe shop. Only to receive a call from my dad, berating me for not making it home to celebrate my sister's birthday.
Ah dreams.
Thursday, March 07, 2013
mongers of hatred
I never get animal activist. I want to meet one decent one and be relieved of the poor opinion I have about them.
You see, it's facebook again, flooded with relentless animal activism.
The latest one is about this dude hired by AVA who apparently employs some wire lasso that can slice a dog's neck now. This guy operates around Bukit Batok and has been known to be very methodical in his... methods. So of course the dogs get injured la.
Anyway, they have a photo of him, with gloves on, standing candidly in what seems to be an open field. He has a POV sort of camera hooked onto the front of his shirt.
And so you see crap like
"oh he has a camera to go relive the torture"being commented.
And then the worse part. Some people, in the fury of the moment, say the most wicked, incoherent things. You see stuff like "he deserves to be reincarnated as a dog in his next life."
"no he doesn't even deserve to be a dog"
But before that, you see other comments talking about
"how can he do this, dogs are living things and deserve to be treated in a humane way."
Sure. Why isn't the same person quick to react to the verbal abuse against humans then?
"how can you say this, humans are living things no matter how feral their actions may be and should be treated in a humane way." But I don't see a shred of this.
And besides, if these dog lovers think that dogs deserve better treatment, then what's so bad about being reincarnated as a dog? The fact that they use it as an insult is proof of their inconsistency.
What's the obvious? The obvious is that they don't love dogs, neither do they truly think that dogs deserve humane treatment. They're just angry, angry people wanting to visit some unknown vengeance onto unknown people.
Of course some will say
"This man deserves to be abuse, he abused the dogs. He deserves to be abused in return."
Fair enough, then what about you?
Before that, what about the dogs?
How does one come to the quick conclusion that stray dogs in general have not committed anything deserving of abuse then? (under their loose definition of deserve, of course)
And then what about them. Why are they so careless with what they say? For they confess the truth! We deserve judgment and punishment, every ounce of it. They speak truly.
And they too shall be judged with the measure with which they judged. Who then can stand?
Oh if we would be more aware with the things we say!
You see, it's facebook again, flooded with relentless animal activism.
The latest one is about this dude hired by AVA who apparently employs some wire lasso that can slice a dog's neck now. This guy operates around Bukit Batok and has been known to be very methodical in his... methods. So of course the dogs get injured la.
Anyway, they have a photo of him, with gloves on, standing candidly in what seems to be an open field. He has a POV sort of camera hooked onto the front of his shirt.
And so you see crap like
"oh he has a camera to go relive the torture"being commented.
And then the worse part. Some people, in the fury of the moment, say the most wicked, incoherent things. You see stuff like "he deserves to be reincarnated as a dog in his next life."
"no he doesn't even deserve to be a dog"
But before that, you see other comments talking about
"how can he do this, dogs are living things and deserve to be treated in a humane way."
Sure. Why isn't the same person quick to react to the verbal abuse against humans then?
"how can you say this, humans are living things no matter how feral their actions may be and should be treated in a humane way." But I don't see a shred of this.
And besides, if these dog lovers think that dogs deserve better treatment, then what's so bad about being reincarnated as a dog? The fact that they use it as an insult is proof of their inconsistency.
What's the obvious? The obvious is that they don't love dogs, neither do they truly think that dogs deserve humane treatment. They're just angry, angry people wanting to visit some unknown vengeance onto unknown people.
Of course some will say
"This man deserves to be abuse, he abused the dogs. He deserves to be abused in return."
Fair enough, then what about you?
Before that, what about the dogs?
How does one come to the quick conclusion that stray dogs in general have not committed anything deserving of abuse then? (under their loose definition of deserve, of course)
And then what about them. Why are they so careless with what they say? For they confess the truth! We deserve judgment and punishment, every ounce of it. They speak truly.
And they too shall be judged with the measure with which they judged. Who then can stand?
Oh if we would be more aware with the things we say!
But why, really?
Perhaps I ought to be more forthcoming.
But even though I'm really busy and have little time for it
The reason why I can't have a girlfriend is because
because..
She will become the most un-christian thing in my life.
I'm bad at putting God first in my life.
As of now I'm having it easy.
There's nothing I really have a taste for, that I'd cling desperately to in my life.
How do lovers do it? Have they all achieved it?
I can't imagine how God will still be first, I don't have faith that I can do it.
Of course this is classical leaning-on-your-own-strength.
In the end we conquer by christ, supernaturally.
I know, I KNOW!
Oh Lord,
Forgive me. Let me work up from the lesser things.
But even though I'm really busy and have little time for it
The reason why I can't have a girlfriend is because
because..
She will become the most un-christian thing in my life.
I'm bad at putting God first in my life.
As of now I'm having it easy.
There's nothing I really have a taste for, that I'd cling desperately to in my life.
How do lovers do it? Have they all achieved it?
I can't imagine how God will still be first, I don't have faith that I can do it.
Of course this is classical leaning-on-your-own-strength.
In the end we conquer by christ, supernaturally.
I know, I KNOW!
Oh Lord,
Forgive me. Let me work up from the lesser things.
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
beaten, not defeated.
This day... one unlike any other.
Beat down, bruised. But still alive.
You are the movement and the fight in me.
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
mid-term lamentation
As I flipped the question over, a chill ran down the back of my head. My eyes tightened and my chest collapsed.
I laughed to shake it all off, and a smile curled up in disbelief.
The feeling was so foreign, because.
For the first time in my life, I saw a question I had no answer to.
It's just 10%, is what some would say. Or chill and fight another day.
But it's not about the 10% that worries me.
I've permitted it to happen dear Lord. I've permitted myself to gloss over my work,
to be okay with passing over terms I did not comprehend, to have left them unvisited.
I need not wonder what you see
When you turn your gaze on me
Iniquity
At a loss to defend myself:
for even my soul cries out
"guilty!"
May I never find rest and peace
until my eyes trace back...
to thee.
Make this true O Lord, make this true.
I laughed to shake it all off, and a smile curled up in disbelief.
The feeling was so foreign, because.
For the first time in my life, I saw a question I had no answer to.
It's just 10%, is what some would say. Or chill and fight another day.
But it's not about the 10% that worries me.
I've permitted it to happen dear Lord. I've permitted myself to gloss over my work,
to be okay with passing over terms I did not comprehend, to have left them unvisited.
I need not wonder what you see
When you turn your gaze on me
Iniquity
At a loss to defend myself:
for even my soul cries out
"guilty!"
May I never find rest and peace
until my eyes trace back...
to thee.
Make this true O Lord, make this true.
Fruit of the spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law
When I was younger the wiser ones in faith often reminded us that these qualities described with the singular "fruit"
I thought it was pretty clever observation, with an important implication: a christian shall bear these qualities and bear them simultaneously.
It isn't a question of which do you have, but do you have them all?
Still the implication of this implication was what truly eluded me. That is, until Saturday.
I observed that sometimes we keep one in compromise of another. Peace may well be one of the main culprits. I don't know where it started, but somewhere along the way, people have come to accept peace as some sort of the ultimate good, that we somehow had to right to insist on having peace... a phenomena known as "Peace Out".
And this, without a shadow of doubt, is exercised at the cost of love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness? gentleness and while it has the veneer of self control, it is actually the thorough avoidance of control.
What about patience? Sometimes to artificially extend our patience, we sit out. Try not to get too attached.. try to not be concerned and so distance ourselves and make things more bearable.
At what cost is such patience exercised?
God does call us to balance, radical balance. I remember talking about this while teaching in school. I did say that this view for me, was inspired by Christianity. But I was talking about work and play at that time. (oooh talking about religion and living the teacher's life on the edge.)
|____| | |
| | | |
| | |____|
|____| |____|
This is imbalance.
| | | |
|____| |____|
| | | |
|____| |____|
This is what many people mean when they say strike a balance. They're mistaken, this is a compromise.
|____| |____|
| | | |
| | | |
|____| |____|
This is radical balance.
I hear it, this is what we are called to...
Therefore, be perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law
When I was younger the wiser ones in faith often reminded us that these qualities described with the singular "fruit"
I thought it was pretty clever observation, with an important implication: a christian shall bear these qualities and bear them simultaneously.
It isn't a question of which do you have, but do you have them all?
Still the implication of this implication was what truly eluded me. That is, until Saturday.
I observed that sometimes we keep one in compromise of another. Peace may well be one of the main culprits. I don't know where it started, but somewhere along the way, people have come to accept peace as some sort of the ultimate good, that we somehow had to right to insist on having peace... a phenomena known as "Peace Out".
And this, without a shadow of doubt, is exercised at the cost of love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness? gentleness and while it has the veneer of self control, it is actually the thorough avoidance of control.
What about patience? Sometimes to artificially extend our patience, we sit out. Try not to get too attached.. try to not be concerned and so distance ourselves and make things more bearable.
At what cost is such patience exercised?
God does call us to balance, radical balance. I remember talking about this while teaching in school. I did say that this view for me, was inspired by Christianity. But I was talking about work and play at that time. (oooh talking about religion and living the teacher's life on the edge.)
|____| | |
| | | |
| | |____|
|____| |____|
This is imbalance.
| | | |
|____| |____|
| | | |
|____| |____|
This is what many people mean when they say strike a balance. They're mistaken, this is a compromise.
|____| |____|
| | | |
| | | |
|____| |____|
This is radical balance.
I hear it, this is what we are called to...
Therefore, be perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect.
Monday, March 04, 2013
Brave Step Forward
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/is-god-for-us-or-for-himself--2
Whoever has ears let him hear.
It's a question I struggle with often. If God is first for Himself, how can He be for us?
okay wow. From the topic of self-worth... now... primacy of God's glory. All topics I can find many christians ready to disagree.
But anyway.
The gist comes in 2 parts.
1) God is in a unique position, being the most admirable, valuable thing in the entire universe. That for him to love fully, He must give himself.
2) Because praise is the consummation of enjoyment, His demand of praise from us is a loving gesture permitting our enjoyment to be full.
This is just the skinny. But I think I get it, I found the answer from the place I thought was most unlikely. Okay dear Lord, so you do love us... but why do you love us?
Whoever has ears let him hear.
It's a question I struggle with often. If God is first for Himself, how can He be for us?
okay wow. From the topic of self-worth... now... primacy of God's glory. All topics I can find many christians ready to disagree.
But anyway.
The gist comes in 2 parts.
1) God is in a unique position, being the most admirable, valuable thing in the entire universe. That for him to love fully, He must give himself.
2) Because praise is the consummation of enjoyment, His demand of praise from us is a loving gesture permitting our enjoyment to be full.
But the most obvious fact about praise – whether of God or anything – strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless (sometimes even if) shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to check it. The world rings with praise – lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game – praise of weather, wines, dishes, actors, horses, colleges, countries, historical personages, children, flowers, mountains, rare stamps, rare beetles, even sometimes politicians and scholars ... My whole, more general difficulty about the praise of God depended on my absurdly denying to us, as regards the supremely Valuable, what we delight to do, what indeed we can't help doing, about everything else we value.I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses, but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are, the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. (Reflections on the Psalms, pp. 93-95)
This is just the skinny. But I think I get it, I found the answer from the place I thought was most unlikely. Okay dear Lord, so you do love us... but why do you love us?
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Unworthy and hence extremely confident.
Hebrews 4:15-16
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
There's a sense to this combination of sentences. It says, approach the throne confidently when you're in need because you will find grace and mercy, because our Lord understands our weaknesses.
It takes those who are truly clear of their unworthiness to comprehend the purpose of the throne. It is there to provide mercy and grace for people who are needy.
And so strangely enough, it is the one who is consciously unworthy who will be most confident in approaching the throne.
Anyone who clings onto a sense of worth approaches it on account of their own worth. To them the throne is a throne of judgment, one to approach when ready and worthy. But no one is ever worthy.
Oh God wipe the conceit off my face. May my sin be ever before me!
Help me to grasp my unworthiness and give me a heart of faith,
confident of your love
and quick to approach your throne.
Saturday, March 02, 2013
Why God loves...
For now this is an open question. I think many older (and possibly wiser) Christians will tell me that this is a mystery and that it shouldn't be an answer I get all persistent about...
but since we were on that topic today, about self worth.
If God didn't love us because we were worthy of His love, then what?
He can justify us, he can have grace on us, he can be merciful all the while without having to be loving.
So why does the bible talk about Love so much? Why does God love? Why is He love?
For now I look to the trinity and the close communion that has gone for eternity. Why is God love? Maybe it's something to do with the Persons.
but since we were on that topic today, about self worth.
If God didn't love us because we were worthy of His love, then what?
He can justify us, he can have grace on us, he can be merciful all the while without having to be loving.
So why does the bible talk about Love so much? Why does God love? Why is He love?
For now I look to the trinity and the close communion that has gone for eternity. Why is God love? Maybe it's something to do with the Persons.
Friday, March 01, 2013
a helpless brother's wish
and so waking up this morning and realizing again that it's results day, the helpless brother appeals to his sister:
All the best for later. Whether or not we are able to glorify God with our results largely depends on how we react to it. React well.
Oh God keep her. May neither good nor poor results snatch her away, as my results nearly did with me.
All the best for later. Whether or not we are able to glorify God with our results largely depends on how we react to it. React well.
Oh God keep her. May neither good nor poor results snatch her away, as my results nearly did with me.
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