Complicated TRUTH

Complicated truth

Christianity is not a tucked-in-tight religion | Marvin Olasky

Illustration by Krieg Barrie

Could you remind me how the Trinity works? And could you explain to me again this idea of grace?" One diligent student had no problem grasping Islam. She had no problem understanding religions based on a concept of exchange—do something for a god and he'll do something for you. But she was legitimately confused about Christianity: "The Quran is simple. Why is Christianity complicated?"

April is not the cruelest month when it includes Easter. It's great to read the Bible on mornings that are becoming warmer. I remember good evenings putting my children to bed with Sylvia Plath's The Bed Book, which praises many fanciful kinds of sleeping areas but condemns one: the "white little, tucked in tight little, nighty night little, turn out the light little, bed."

We could assess religions the same way: Tucked-in-tight religions are too symmetrical to be true. Take the smooth explanations at the website everymuslim.com. We're told that "Almighty Allah, when depriving a person of a certain ability or gift, compensates him for it, by bestowing upon him/her another gift." For example, "People who are deprived of sight have very sensitive ears."

So it all makes sense: No sight, no sweat, Allah compensates. Hinduism's doctrine of karma is also clear: If you're blind in this life, it may be because you broke someone's glasses or didn't give money to a sightless beggar in the last one.

Many Jews 2,000 years ago desired such clarity. Some asked Jesus to choose between two logical possibilities: Was a man blind because he sinned or because his parents sinned? But in chapter 9 of the Gospel according to John, Jesus explains, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him."

How are those works displayed? Maybe a miracle gives sight to the blind man. Maybe a miracle occurs in other people, as they abandon natural selfishness and sacrifice to help a person in need. Sometimes we're stuck with mystery. Dorothy Sayers called Christianity the only religion that gives value to suffering—whether physical or spiritual—by affirming its reality and the opportunity to wrench some good out of it.

It would be great to understand mystery, but 19th-century pastor Charles Spurgeon put it rightly: "Providence is wonderfully intricate. Ah! You want always to see through Providence, do you not? You never will, I assure you. You have not eyes good enough. You want to see what good that affliction was to you; you must believe it. You want to see how it can bring good to the soul; you may be enabled in a little time, but you cannot see it now; you must believe it."

Spurgeon concluded that we should "honor God by trusting him." But why? We might say, "Because He's God," and that's true—but Christianity does better than that. Christianity tells us that God saw our suffering and suffered with us and for us. Christianity tells us what man-made religions like Islam or Hinduism do not: That at a specific historical moment God experienced intimately torture, abandonment, overwhelming loss, and unjust death.

Islam offers lots of definite answers, but Christianity takes after Christ in leaving some questions on the table and often offering stories rather than formulas. Don Everts and Doug Schaupp, in I Once Was Lost (IVP, 2008), state that "Jesus is asked 183 questions in the Gospels. He answers just three of them—and he asks 307 questions back."

The type of questions is also significant. Quranic questions tend to be rhetorical or hectoring: "Do they not know that Allah knows what they keep secret? (Sura 2:7). Christ's questions probe: "What do you want me to do for you?. . . How do you read the law? . . . What are you looking for?"

We're sometimes told that the Bible is our instruction manual for Planet Earth—but doesn't that make it seem like the Quran? If you're looking for a tucked-in-tight religion, Islam will do. But if you want more than a series of statements and more than a book of rules about what we should and should not do, then read the Bible and understand it as a story of what God did for us. Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

(This article was published in http://www.worldmag.com/articles/17907 and reproduced herein. All rights belong to its owner)

Unoffendable

By Francis Frangipane

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezek. 36:26).

God has a new heart for us that cannot be offended, an "unoffendable" heart. Beloved, possessing an unoffendable heart is not an option or a luxury; it's not a little thing. An offended heart is endanger of becoming a "heart of stone."

Consider: Jesus warns that, as we near the end of the age, a majority of people will be offended to such a degree that they fall away from the faith. Listen carefully to His warning:

"Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another . . . and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matt. 24:10-12 KJV).

"Many" will "be offended." The result? The love of "many" will grow cold. My prayer is that we will hear His words with holy fear.

When we allow an offense to remain in our hearts, it causes serious spiritual consequences. In the above verse Jesus named three dangerous results: betrayal, hatred and cold love. When we are offended with someone, even someone we care for, we must go to them. If we do not talk to them, we will begin to talk about them. We betray that relationship, whispering maliciously behind their back to others, exposing their weaknesses and sins. We may mask our betrayal by saying we are just looking for advice or counsel, but when we look back, we see we have spoken negatively to far too many people. Our real goal was not to get spiritual help for ourselves but to seek revenge toward the one who offended us. How is such action not a manifestation of hatred? For an offended soul, cold love, betrayal and hatred are a walk into darkness.

People don't stumble over boulders; they stumble over stones, relatively small things. It may be that the personality of someone in authority bothers us, and soon we are offended. Or, a friend or family member fails to meet our expectations, and we take an offense into our soul. Beloved, if we will "endure to the end," we will have to confront the things that bother us.

When Jesus warns that we need endurance, He is saying that it is easier to begin the race than finish it. Between now and the day you die, there will be major times of offense that you will need to overcome. You might be in such a time right now. Do not minimize the danger of harboring an offense!

No one plans on falling away; no one ever says, "Today, I think I'll try to develop a hardened heart of stone." Such things enter our souls through stealth. It is only naiveté that assumes it couldn't happen to us. I know many people who consistently become offended about one thing or another. Instead of dealing with the offenses, praying about them and turning the issue over to God, they carry the offense in their soul until its weight disables their walk with God. You may be doing fine today, but I guarantee you, tomorrow something will happen that will inevitably disappoint or wound you; some injustice will strike you, demanding you retaliate in the flesh. Will you find more love, and hence, continue your growth toward Christlikeness? Or will you allow that offense to consume your spiritual life?

The Root Of Offense
An offense can strike at our virtues or sins, our values or our pride. It can penetrate and wound any dimension of the soul, both good and evil. I once brought a series of messages about gossip. Most people saw their sin and repented, but a core group of gossips were greatly offended and ultimately left the church. When the Holy Spirit exposes sin in someone's soul, if we refuse the opportunity to repent, we often become offended at the person who brought the teaching. Instead of humbling our hearts, we are outraged at the person who exposed us. Truthfully, most of the time, I have no idea who specifically needs to hear what I'm teaching, but God knows.

Paul told Timothy to "reprove, rebuke, exhort" (see 2 Tim. 4:2). He didn't say, "exhort, exhort, exhort," but exhortation is what we receive in most churches. Certainly, we need to be encouraged, but there are also times, beloved, when we need to be reproved and rebuked. Today, there are preachers who are afraid to preach truth for fear people will react and leave the church. The end result is a church of easily offended people who cannot grow beyond their inability to accept correction.

People don't change by exhortation alone. There are areas in all of us that need to be confronted and disciplined. The pastor who refuses to discipline and correct those in sin is in disobedience to God. He is unable to lead people into any truly transforming changes in their lives; they will not "endure to the end" if they cannot be corrected (see Matt. 24).

We need to become a people who say, "Lord, show me what needs to change in me." I'm talking about growing up. A wise man will receive a rebuke and he will prosper. But a fool rejects his father's discipline (see Prov. 15:5).

Personal Offense
It is often our pride that suffers offense most easily. Pride leads us to expect more than we deserve. Pride is a form of self-worship. God must destroy our pride, and to do so, He will allow offenses to expose what we lack in humility. It is not wrong to expect encouragement for our good works, but we cannot be offended when it doesn't happen in the timing we are expecting.

Years ago when I was a young pastor, I attended a conference where the main leader decided to personally greet each minister and spouse. He greeted the couple on our right and then turned to his staff to ask a question. A moment later he returned, but passed us by and went to the couple on our left. Everyone around us saw we were bypassed. We were embarrassed and offended. But my wife wisely observed that we could allow this thing to hurt us or we could see it as an investment in sensitivity toward other people's feelings. The offense taught us how others feel when they are ignored. Do you see this? You must make that offense become an opportunity to become more Christlike.

The occasions for taking offense are practically endless. Indeed, we are daily given the opportunity to either be offended by something or to possess an unoffendable heart. The Lord's promise is that He's given us a new heart - a soft, entreatable heart that can be filled with His Spirit and abound with His love.

Lord, forgive me for being so easily offended and for carrying offenses. Father, my heart is foolish and weak. Grant me the unoffendable heart of Jesus Christ. Amen.

7 Ways to Boost Creativity and Brain Power

Strengthen Your Brain Muscles

Just like your body, you can improve your mental fitness with these simple exercises.

Take a deep breath. Breathing is the only bodily function that we do both voluntarily and involuntarily. Inhale and exhale deeply to improve your physiological and psychological well-being.

Tell a good story. Sharing experiences in a compelling and fun way sharpens your mental recall.

Mix up your routine. Take a different route to work, or sit with your legs crossed opposite the way you normally would. Changing your typical way of doing things tells your brain to wake up and pay attention.

Write. Writing notes, poetry, stories or in a journal helps your memory, clarifies your thinking and engages your creativity.

Laugh. Endorphins released when you laugh lower your stress and can help your long-term health.

Perfect your posture. Try solving a problem while slouching down at your desk versus sitting upright and see how it impacts your outcome. Proper posture improves blood flow to your brain bringing mental clarity and improved memory.

(Source: Seeds of Success)

Five Regrets of the Dying

This is an article from Bronnie Ware, a singer/song writer from Australia. Where is your life heading?

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learned never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, but in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to themselves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

The author's blog can be found here.

Love

However in 1979, the (Nobel Peace Prize) banquet was cancelled in Oslo because the laureatte Mother Teresa refused to attend, saying the money could be better spent on the poor. She used the US$7,000 that was to be spent on the banquet to hold a dinner for 2,000 homeless people on Christmas Day. Bless her heart.

- The Star, Saturday, 26th June 2010, p WE19

"Highly motivated achievers find the strength of their motivation in the power of their imagination.

One of the wonderful aspects about human imagination is that it can see things not as they are now, but as they can be; it can foretell the future, based upon our beliefs and expectations, in an almost uncanny way; it can draw the colorful mental images that we hope someday to turn into reality. Imagination is the beginning of creation."

Quoted from Denis Waitley. Read more

Saved to Influence the World

Perhaps it's destiny. Perhaps it's good marketing. Or perhaps it's just me wanting to know more. But the May 12 2008 issue of Time Magazine (Double Issue) is the most inspiring read of the year so far for me. It is good in the one hand to know about the 100 Most Influential Persons of the year (for Time anyway); on the other hand it is comforting to know someone is doing something to make the world a better place (most but not all of the 100, I think).

But is it really enough just to make the world a better place? Yes and no. Before I venture into the answer, I have come to inner consensus that each of us homo sapiens have a inherent duty to make our habitat more "livable", so to speak. And by livable, I don't only mean environmentally livable- but socially livable as well. If everyone on earth could make 5 persons smile and help out 5 persons (just a suggestion, not a rule), then that has to make 6.7 billion in the world tenfold happier(do the math). That, indeed, also is the essence of Love Thy Neighbor - the pillars of my Faith and of our society.

And to Love thy neighbor is only to fulfil one part of the dichotomy of the Christian Faith - the first and foremost being Love the Lord. That, only one person could do among Time's 100 Most Influential.

His name is Kaka. If you can't identify the name, you are not a fan of football, not even a spectator. Named FIFA's footballer of the year 2007, the Brazilian midfielder is a class of his own. His boyish face represents the youthfulness of footballing, his skills represents the finest in the Beautiful Game. But not many will know him as a child of God- in football, the cross is not a good thing (for example, in a penalty shootout - a cross signifies a miss). But after appearing on Time, perhaps many more will know that Kaka's believes in a God that is more graceful than his feet. This is a portion of Casey Keller's testimony for the 26 year-old AC Milan player:

There is, however, more to him than sport. In 2004, Kaka became the UN World Food Program's youngest ambassador. And he is devoted to his faith. An evangelical Christian, Kaka has talked publicly about becoming a minister when he retires from the game. After winning the European Champions League final last year, he took off his jersey to reveal a T shirt that read, I BELONG TO JESUS.

I might question whether soccer stadiums are the right venue for promoting religion, but in an age in which many professional athletes care more about cars, women and controversy, it's refreshing to see one who is committed to having a positive impact on the world around him.

If I ever want to influence the world into a better place (and I do), I want to do it like Kaka. To strive to be the best, to help the poor and needy, and after all that proclaim that I did it through my Lord and Saviour.


I also admire cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, who taught the world that "...after Lance, no one of us could ever again say it was too hard, the odds stacked against us were too high, the fight already lost" (quoted from Elizabeth Edwards in Time's 100).

Quitting PS2

Did you know I have a PS2? I do! In fact I play it very often. Usually only to play one silly football sim game. But not after today. Tomorrow is a new day: time to be serious on CLP (Certificate of Lethal Poison). So, I'll be 'retiring' from PS-ing, for now. Hope to read more... and study more.

Today is the day to make a decision.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . . For he chose us in him before the creation of the world.” Ephesians 1:3-4

Which brings us to this amazing promise in the opening verses of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He stuns those of us who are followers of Christ with the revelation that, before the creation of the world, we were chosen by God—just like Abraham. Just like Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David. That’s very elite company!

And, just like them, our chosen status makes us recipients of His covenant promises—the forgiveness of sins, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and hope and meaning for this life and the promise of eternity in heaven for the next. Like the patriarchs, we’re given the privilege of participation in His plans. We become His messengers and ambassadors—agents of reconciliation as we share His good news. He doesn’t need us, but He willingly chooses us! He actually desires us—desires us to join Him in the advance of His cause.

Tribute to 2001_Youth 7

This is my group of friends who quite simply brought me through my Secondary School days. What was originally a society where you join because "it's the rules" turned out to be a place where tears were shed, laughter were cracked and lives were shared. The reason why I pay tribute to our Group is because this is our 10th Anniversary knowing each other. Although we've left school for quite some time now (almost 5 years to be precise), we're still close and we do meet whenever we return to our beloved hometown Ipoh. We also go for trips together such as to Pangkor and Penang.

Background.

What a name for a group of BFFs. 2001_Youth7 if you ponder, really sounds like some url address or code more than a name for a group. And rightly so, it is our group name on Yahoo! Groups and I don't think we did "registered" or have an official name. 2001 is obviously the year. In fact it was our penultimate year at Malaysian Red Crescent Society Unit Youth 7 (hence the name)- that's the society where it all started. Our official activities include (but not limited to) marching, bandaging, first aid (obviously!), fundraising , camping and other crazy stuffs that a uniform club does. Unofficial activities: (dot)A lot, including "ponteng" (skipping) weekly meetings. These official and non-official activities were what built the relationship into what it is today.

Coincident or Destined?

I guess it doesn't take a bang that the universe was what it is. Neither are friendship or colliding of lives by chance. So I think we all do appreciate it a lot. I know I do and I am not afraid to admit I LOVE all of my heng dais (brothers). Thanks for the time together. As our Yahoo Group has it : Friendship Forever !

In the picture (Chinese New Year Gathering 2005):

Back Row: Wong Zan Yi, Leng Pang Huei, Leong Yuen Jee, Lim Tuck Choy, Tang Seng Hong, Tung How Run, Lee Mun Yew
Middle: Ang Kah Woh, Hor Sien Pin, Lee Chun Keat, Yap Chen Joon, Puah Chee Hung,
Front: Cheong Theng Meng, Cheong Mun Kin, Fong Wooi Joon, Wong Chun Wah

Absent with Apologies: David Leong, Ooi Goon Keat, Chan Kin Fei, Lim Kuan Yang, Foo Mun Hon, Yoong Loong Hey (They are outstation/overseas)

Remember, Remember the Lord your God

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it,and gave it to them,saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

For the past 3 weeks, I've been taking the Lord's supper week after another because I visited another church. This is always argued as an coincidence of course. But I strongly felt that there is some implications this time. It was a very busy 2 weeks, with datelines and sharing and moot, to a point that my life is wholly consumed by the events surrounding me. It may be a cliche to say that sometimes we may be doing stuffs religiously but the danger is that we do those for the sake of doing it, not for the sake of pursuing His Kingdom. So, it was good to take the communion 3 weeks in a row, so that I remember in who I am and in what I'm doing, it is in the Lord Jesus.

Not that we should completely ignore things that we have and events that happens in my life. I do have a strong conviction that God uses these to glorify His name. I'm sort of drawn to Moses' staff and Joshua's sword and Peter's net. What were in their hands, God used them to do wonders... That's so amazing about those common people and common tools and common jobs. The Red Sea would part. The Jordan would stop flowing. And the people will be fished into God's kingdom. So, today I take account of what I have, and wait in eagerness, that He would use these to capture a generation. May Jesus be glorified.

Then the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?"
"A staff," he replied.
...

"...But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it"

Exodus 4:2 & 17

Energizer MEN

Talk about investment! 20-22nd April of 2007 is what I call a "fulfilling" weekend for me. With AUD$25, I managed to attend my church's Men's conference. As I have always said, I'm not a boy, but a man already. There was not a single doubt that the conference would speak to me as the bible says "Seek and you will find...". The conference was in line with my life's theme this year from Hebrews 12 and being a hero.

On the first night (Friday), the speaker Gary Rucci shared about MINDSETS. What do we have in our MINDSETS? What do I have in my MINDSET that is hindering the breakthrough that we so yearn for as men (and for women as well, too!).

The second day (the whole day) was totally SERIOUS stuff. Gary continued with the breaking of mindsets? What was the triggering events that formed our thought patterns. What is it that your father had passed on to you? Is your Father in Heaven same? (Obviously not, see my previous blog on UNCONDITIONAL LOVE). In the final night, the finale I would call it, he talked about leaving a legacy. The challenge was what are we leaving beyond the grave? What do you want to be remembered by in your funeral. PROFOUND!

In fact, I've known all these things previously. But as some say, head knowledge is not half as important as heart knowledge. INTENTIONS are not as important as ACTIONS. The sharing kept me thinking about ACTIONS. I know I have been doing some actions recently but I know I could do more. What are the excuses that I've been giving for my INACTIONS. WHat should I do that would leave a legacy? To impact this generation and THE NEXT?

...

The more I think about it, the more I must write it down because I hope my blog would be an encouragement to others, as Lik Ee (how are you?) has always encouraged me to. Above that, what am I doing about my passions?

I will continue this journey with faith AND action (James), and I know His grace is sufficient for me.

Acts 10: Cornelius.

P/s: Cool to have foosball table and pool in a conference! Amazing comeback!

Musings for the past 3 weeks of my Life

muAt last I got my hand to seriously sit down and do a blog entry. It had been a crazy several weeks in which I did much seeing, listening, talking, and (as usual) thinking. God has ordained my steps since my last entry. Praise God!

With the amount of "receiving" (some would use the term impartation) in recent days, its really hard to determine exactly where to start. But first of all, the OCF Easter Camp was amazing! I sound so cliche but I try to "get the message across" nowadays rather than using some fanciful, alien phrases. Seeing God's presence fall and frienships grow are just two of the reasons why we spend the effort and time (3 days) in a foreign and cold place! But what I am constantly aware of and continuingly remind everyone is: bring what you got and learnt back to "reality". And just as God had taugh me about total surrendering and relying on Him, let this be a constant surrendering and not one-off. Jesus, want more of you!

Bringing me to the next thing, about surrendering and humbling, I have written on this before some time ago. Yet, head knowledge is rather different from heart knowledge (cliche again!). What dear Papa in heaven had really banged on me this few weeks, really worthed more than my 6 years as Jesus' disciple (counting back from my confirmation). Part conviction, part rebuking, but mostly breakthrough :) To cut the long story short, 1) grace and love of God cannot be earnt. 2) Growth is when you see your Lord more and see yourself less.

On a lighter note, I discovered this jazz singer named Madeleine Peyroux - really COOL! And the stacks of blog I discovered for the past week including Allison Mack ('Chloe' from Smallville) and from my beloved pal Richard- cool cool cool. All these things do give a testimony about the author's life. Occasionally, we need some inspiration - thank God for blogs and songs and heroes.

Heroes - That's what Joe King shared on in church last sunday. Have to admit it spurred me! Being called 'chicken' or the likes is not a good feeling, believe me- guys, stand up and be heroes and role models for the people around us- not because we ARE heroes, but because Jesus is our ultimate HERO! Time is to little for us to waste.

Finally, that SCARY thing called FUTURE is sorted out by the moment. Fingers crossed, and by God's grace, this ... and this ... I will do (I'm not revealing as yet). But one thing I can share- I finally got this thing clear about part of my burden and calling- YOUTHS. Leaders and heroes of tomorrow, the roaring generation- you guys are too precious for waste in alcohol, sex, and drugs. God loves you!!!

Till next time, pray for one another, OK??? ;)

I Refuse to be Discourage

It's getting cold over here though supposedly it is still summer in Tasmania. Seems like that's how I would like to describe my blog : "This blog is like the weather- always updating!". But it's just the winds I guess- I'm feeling rather good here actually- been through a lovely and meaningful day. First of all, a couple of 'firsts'- first time I cooked chinese herbs chicken (and it actually taste nice!) and the first time I watch City Harvest Church Singapore's Kong Hee preach- sheer enlightenment.

Secondly, it's 11:28 p.m. and I feeling sleepy! That's new- I usually sleep around 1 a.m. However, the good run today was totally great and I ran and ran and ran- to keep fit and not slim (obviously!). I only reached halfway through my destination but I guess it was an encouragement for someone who has weak stamina like me. I mean, not stopping frequently is already an achievement in itself. But as I ponder upon the subject of running, which is a constant theme this year for me (for example Hebrews 12:1-3), I wonder whether my journey of faith could be equated to my running. I hope not but I seriously thought about that. I was wondering the fact that I didn't reach my destination (to Long Beach) and turn back halfway is something of an "unbiblical" thing - We do see many people stop doing things that they try to pick up- such as quit smoking or dieting- I am a good example for always failing to pick up good habits. And also, I get so short of breath and muscle-strain-- symptons of lacking in stamina.

What I'm trying to get to is that in life as christians- there are all sorts of habits and "incidents" in life that prompt us to equate them with our faith in Christ. But really, those shouldn't discourage us from trusting in Him. Rather, we should learn from these fallbacks and focus on whatever good we could find in the fallbacks. When you hit a wall, try not to focus on the wall but focus on the fact that you are not stagnant but moving forward. This is not being over-optimistic, and we shouldn't over-indulge ourselves in self-pity and trying "force" something wrong into something right (eg. smoking or lust) but we should know our limitations and God's way of working- we are weak as humans and God is more concerned with the process rather than the results. So don't expect that He will always turn your situation overnight; sometimes it could be for a long, long time before we finally see daylight. But we do have all the promises that He is working everything out for our good and He will produce a masterpiece out of our dumpster. So, if you are in one of those seasons where you are hitting the ceiling, rest for awhile and consider His grace; pause and look at things in a different perspective - the God/Loving father perspective- discipline comes with love. And when you realize that, it's time to pray "I can do all things through Him who strenghthens me" and start running again. He will come and save you.

As I was struggling with this "running" issue while I was running, it start to dawn upon me that I seriously can't expect myself to be a marathon runner by running once in a month. I will try again in 2 days time, and try to run the distance progressively. I did not reach my destination but that was the past, the important thing is I will continue to run forward with a direction and a goal set- the desert is almost at the edge, and the promise land is bound to be claimed- so to speak.

Regarding Prayer and Bible Reading

I know, I know. Sorry for the slow updating. Even though I have not updated my blog for 42 days (exactly 6 weeks, that is), I should be forgiven- after all it was exam period, right?

No. It's just me being lazy and giving a zillion reasons to log on to blogger.com. It's been that season in my life where I have been extremely slack-ish and taking things for granted. But the good news is I'm up and about, and I'm blogging again, yay (I'm taking the cheesy approach of things).

So as usual, some updates on my spiritual life- actually nothing much, I have to admit, till about a week or so ago. To cut the long story short (and to save some embarassments) God has been lavishly pouring His grace to send people again and again to encourage me to take up the spiritual disciplines seriously. And rightly so, it's just not my "nature" that I'm disciplined reader, more so not a frequent-prayer (No "frequent-flyer" points, hah). But of course, these are just habits that everyone can possess if they are serious in their walk with Christ. Not that I'm not serious, but most of the time, the "flesh is weak".

Undoubtedly, God is faithful to send His faithful servants to come encourage me, nag me, woo me to pray hard, to study the BOOK hard. I remember several months back I also mentioned the alleged lack of motivation that I am suffering, and I do think God does try His best to remind me constantly- but I need to remind myself everyday, that He has a new thing in my life everyday, a new revelation everyday, a new blessing everyday, new mercies every morning.
As I heard from Ps Dave's sermon this morning, God's blessing is like a flowing river, continuously flowing, constantly transforming (you see, God does speak precisely to me).

For the day that is ahead of me, that is ahead of you- I don't know what it will bring, but indeed His love is abundantly available and He will not give up, He will not stand back, He will, as the Hillsong praise goes "Come to our rescue". Not to say that we should be taking for granted His grace and mercy, but God teaches like a patient father.

So it goes that in my struggle to discipline myself in "feasting" spiritually (reading the Word) and breathing spiritually (prayer), I ask that you would pray for me that, indeed, as Paul wrote, that God would give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation- that I may know Him more. Thanks again for His servants Jono and Melissa, and George whom I just met but still proved so encouraging. All your concerns touches me...


(Alright back to prayer and reading!)