People go to all extent to find God and some even go to great extents like taking a year off to walk barefoot in India, following after their 'guru's. It makes you wonder if God is playing hide-and-seek with us. Is He playing hard-to-get or does He simply enjoys making things difficult for us? I don't think so. The Bible tells us that God is seeking us out and more often than not, we're the ones hiding from Him.
Like Adam, we realise our nakedness and have a tendency to hide from Him in our shame. I believe it is not so much about how far we go to seek God out but more about looking hard enough to realise that He what is already doing in our lives. He is present, indeed omnipresent. Yes, He is present in church, at prayer meetings, healing rallies and other 'spiritual' activities. However the fact that He is omnipresent means He is also present when I'm driving (?), eating, sleeping, working(!), watching a movie and when I'm in the toilet, in the mall, at the clinic, at the market or even on the dentist's chair! Do I notice Him at work around me when I'm with my family, or when I'm doing some mundane chores, waiting at a queue, caught in a traffic jam (some of my more impatient moments)? Instead of looking for God everywhere else or chasing after some phenomenon I tend to associate with God's presence, I'll be better off if I would only be still and pay attention to what He's already doing around me. In that way, every activity becomes a spiritual activity, that is an activity with spiritual significance. This will give my life integrity and not put my life into spiritual and non-spiritual compartments.
One of my aims this year is to continually look out for God-activities around me and I believe as Heb 11:6 says, He will reward those who earnestly seek Him.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Only Yesterday
Only yesterday when I was sad and I was lonely
You showed me the way to leave
The past and all its tears behind me
Tomorrow may be even brighter than today
Since I threw my sadness away
Only Yesterday
"Only Yesterday", Carpenters
This song has been playing in my head this whole week since I heard it on the radio on Monday.
As I looked back on 2004, there are many highlights and generally the year was a good one. However since I'm in a pretty melancholic mood today, I'm kind of looking at the not so good parts too. God spoke to me recently and revealed to me the danger of spiritual neglect and apathy. I know I've allowed the busyness of the last month to rob me of my time with the Lord, resulting in spiritual apathy. It's very subtle and my spirit suffers the consequences of it. It's time to take stock, to keep vigil watch over this area of my life and rebuild the altar. Other areas that I felt I could have done better is inter-personal relationships and managing my finances.
I'm on the roll here since it's been a while that I felt this low emotionally. Didn't help that I woke up to the news of Liverpool being knocked out of FA... just after having lost to ManU over the weekend! Boy am I glad I was on the flight back from Beijing and had to miss the game. Besides that the day started alright. Felt the stirring of the Lord during worship at the lunch-time prayer meet. It is amazing to experience His grace - to know that He, the Almighty, Omnipresent God, whose presence no temple can contain - chooses to abide in a broken vessel like me. Why does a perfectly pure and holy God want to have anything to do with a person who is marred and tainted by sin and even want to considers me His spiritual temple?! The thought is too great for me to grasp.
Had a little tiff at home in the evening that totally spoilt my mood. Things kind of slided downwards from that point. I realised that I'm very vulnerable and sensitive when I'm in one of these moods. Things that do not usually bother me can really affect me. It's tough because others probably won't pick up your cues or treat you any differently. They won't understand why my reaction to their usual taunts and jabbing seem so severe. Paying attention to how these moods affect me has helped me cope better with the emotions and not allow it to overtake me like a tsunami. I feel I'm more in control and managed to keep tab of the feelings of sadness this time. I am able to stop things from being blown out of proportion. That's why I firmly believe that self-awareness is the key towards growth and becoming a better person.
You showed me the way to leave
The past and all its tears behind me
Tomorrow may be even brighter than today
Since I threw my sadness away
Only Yesterday
"Only Yesterday", Carpenters
This song has been playing in my head this whole week since I heard it on the radio on Monday.
As I looked back on 2004, there are many highlights and generally the year was a good one. However since I'm in a pretty melancholic mood today, I'm kind of looking at the not so good parts too. God spoke to me recently and revealed to me the danger of spiritual neglect and apathy. I know I've allowed the busyness of the last month to rob me of my time with the Lord, resulting in spiritual apathy. It's very subtle and my spirit suffers the consequences of it. It's time to take stock, to keep vigil watch over this area of my life and rebuild the altar. Other areas that I felt I could have done better is inter-personal relationships and managing my finances.
I'm on the roll here since it's been a while that I felt this low emotionally. Didn't help that I woke up to the news of Liverpool being knocked out of FA... just after having lost to ManU over the weekend! Boy am I glad I was on the flight back from Beijing and had to miss the game. Besides that the day started alright. Felt the stirring of the Lord during worship at the lunch-time prayer meet. It is amazing to experience His grace - to know that He, the Almighty, Omnipresent God, whose presence no temple can contain - chooses to abide in a broken vessel like me. Why does a perfectly pure and holy God want to have anything to do with a person who is marred and tainted by sin and even want to considers me His spiritual temple?! The thought is too great for me to grasp.
Had a little tiff at home in the evening that totally spoilt my mood. Things kind of slided downwards from that point. I realised that I'm very vulnerable and sensitive when I'm in one of these moods. Things that do not usually bother me can really affect me. It's tough because others probably won't pick up your cues or treat you any differently. They won't understand why my reaction to their usual taunts and jabbing seem so severe. Paying attention to how these moods affect me has helped me cope better with the emotions and not allow it to overtake me like a tsunami. I feel I'm more in control and managed to keep tab of the feelings of sadness this time. I am able to stop things from being blown out of proportion. That's why I firmly believe that self-awareness is the key towards growth and becoming a better person.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.
(NIV)
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.
(NIV)
Making Sense of Pain
How do you make sense of this great catastrophe? It is so devastating. So much grief. My mind can barely register the rising death toll that seem endless. I think my mind is still in a state of shock at the extent of the damage. Just imagine, thousands have gone to an eternity without God overnight. Words seem to fail to express the loss and I can only pray 'Have mercy, O Lord'. We fear the worse is not over. With almost zero resources, survivors have little to help them stay alive. Even if they have enough clean water, can they make it through the feared diseases?
How can I help? How can I make a difference? My fear is that my only contribution is to watch the news and follow it because it's the in-thing, then walk away unmoved. Or if moved, do absolutely nothing about it. Slowly my heart will grow hard because it needs to de-sensitise to these constant bombardments by the media; there's a limit to how much one can take. I need to pray. That's the least I can do. Give towards the Disaster Fund. I'd like to go and offer help if I can do something to relief this pain in a small measure.
However despite the senseless pain, I was reminded at prayer meeting tonight that God is holy and worthy of worship. In the midst of all the sadness, I tell myself that this has been foretold by the Lord. I know one day all these will come to an end. He will return and bring an end to all these wickedness and destruction. My duty in the mean time is to share the gospel with as many as I can because I know the time is short. Much too short.
How can I help? How can I make a difference? My fear is that my only contribution is to watch the news and follow it because it's the in-thing, then walk away unmoved. Or if moved, do absolutely nothing about it. Slowly my heart will grow hard because it needs to de-sensitise to these constant bombardments by the media; there's a limit to how much one can take. I need to pray. That's the least I can do. Give towards the Disaster Fund. I'd like to go and offer help if I can do something to relief this pain in a small measure.
However despite the senseless pain, I was reminded at prayer meeting tonight that God is holy and worthy of worship. In the midst of all the sadness, I tell myself that this has been foretold by the Lord. I know one day all these will come to an end. He will return and bring an end to all these wickedness and destruction. My duty in the mean time is to share the gospel with as many as I can because I know the time is short. Much too short.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Mixed Feelings
It's Boxing Day. Finally opened up all my Christmas gifts. Thank God for friends and family members. 2004 has been a pretty good year with a high learning curve for a young pastor. Somehow I noticed that I am most happy when I have a high learning curve. It's a pretty consistent pattern. Am grateful for opportunities to touch lives and be a channel of grace for Him, albeit a pale shadow of the Real Thing. There is still lots of room for improvement and I look forward to another year to learn more about Him. Learning to respond to His redeeming work in my life; to better reflect Him, to appreciate the people that He allows to cross my path; to depend on Him and trust Him.
At the moment I'm watching the breaking news of the worst earthquake in the world to hit in the past 40 years. 8.9 on the Richter scale from Sumetra! Tsunamis arising from it have hit and caused havoc in the region all the way to India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Yet we, who are just a stone's throw away from the epicenter, are relatively spared, except for parts of Penang and Langkawi. This is another testimony of the grace of God upon this nation. With thousands dead and death toll still rising, it has cast a shadow on this year's Christmas, resulting in mixed feelings.
At the moment I'm watching the breaking news of the worst earthquake in the world to hit in the past 40 years. 8.9 on the Richter scale from Sumetra! Tsunamis arising from it have hit and caused havoc in the region all the way to India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Yet we, who are just a stone's throw away from the epicenter, are relatively spared, except for parts of Penang and Langkawi. This is another testimony of the grace of God upon this nation. With thousands dead and death toll still rising, it has cast a shadow on this year's Christmas, resulting in mixed feelings.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Penny for your thoughts - pen it!
One reason I started blogging was because I enjoy writing but am not ready to write anything worth publishing. I can't help to wonder if it's just me or are there people out there who feels the same. I love reading and books - simply love buying them and wish I have all the time in the world to read them! That's probably where I got the idea of writing and tell people that I'd like to try my hand as a food jounalist or write reviews on F&B outlets when I retire! When I shared this idea about writing with a friend, we both agreed we'd love to write but couldn't think of any subject for me to write about. I guess this is because while there are a lot of things that interest me, I can't pinpoint any particular field I consider myself to be an expert.
This Christmas I received a gift from a friend. He is an aspiring writer and has come together with a few friends who call themselves the The Write Company. They meet up regularly to encourage and share their lives with one another as they pursue their dream to be writers. They've recently produced a collection of excerpts of their writings to give the public a first taste of their work. Birds of the same feather flock together the saying goes... It is funny how people who share the same passion will find each other out and we tend to be drawn towards like-minded folks.
My blog entries are mostly submitted at the wee hours of the morning, including this one. I wish I had more time to do this but those seem to be the only times I can find to do so. That's not exactly the most conducive time for me to exercise my creative writing skills but as my friend always remind me, we hardly ever operate under ideal conditions. This will have to do for now. I am enjoying every bit of it including the part of picking up some basic html commands along the way.
This Christmas I received a gift from a friend. He is an aspiring writer and has come together with a few friends who call themselves the The Write Company. They meet up regularly to encourage and share their lives with one another as they pursue their dream to be writers. They've recently produced a collection of excerpts of their writings to give the public a first taste of their work. Birds of the same feather flock together the saying goes... It is funny how people who share the same passion will find each other out and we tend to be drawn towards like-minded folks.
My blog entries are mostly submitted at the wee hours of the morning, including this one. I wish I had more time to do this but those seem to be the only times I can find to do so. That's not exactly the most conducive time for me to exercise my creative writing skills but as my friend always remind me, we hardly ever operate under ideal conditions. This will have to do for now. I am enjoying every bit of it including the part of picking up some basic html commands along the way.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Fatal Attraction
What are some things that keep you awake at night? For me, that's a mystery. I've learned not to battle for sleep, or you may say, I've given up the fight. If it comes, great; if it doesn't, life goes on.
The title of this blog entry stems from something that is close to my heart. As a pastor and friend to many young adults (and a young adult myself), I know many struggle with this issue of attraction. No thanks to the media, we are made to believe that attraction equals to love. Thus if you feel attracted to someone, you should 'pursue' the person. Some of us may, on a good day, stop to evaluate the basis of the attraction, which could range from physical appeal to positive character traits. The truth is sometimes we can't even explain it because more often than not, attraction is a sensual matter, ie. it is something picked up by our senses, rather than a rational one. What usually happens for some is we get attracted first, then try to understand why certain people attract us, rather than going around with our radars to see who is 'worthy' of our attraction. Well, perhaps I'm just speaking for myself.
Attraction is a very important factor for any relationship to begin in the first place because we don't fall in love without attraction. Falling in love itself is a matter of the heart, rather than the head. However that is not a reason to exclude the head altogether as attraction should not be the sole basis for pursuing a relationship. This is especially true if the source of attraction is temporal, for example like how good a guy looks when he flips his long hair back in the wind.... most of the factors in this combination are transcient!
How many times have I been told that falling in love itself is not to be confused with love? If we love merely on the basis of attraction, which could be dependent on transcient factors, then it is not surprising that such love would be equally temporal. Thus I need to differentiate between attraction and love. It's sounds simple enough on paper but often, the heart rules in such matters and the head is ignored. I like to think (and suspect I'm not alone in this) that this sort of silly attraction only happens to young teenagers. However to my dismay, that's hardly the case. Attraction happens all the time, sometimes it hits us unexpectantly, other times it gradually grows on us, without us realising it.
I believe attraction is a good thing; a God-designed good thing. However He's also taught me to guard my heart, that is to watch what my heart gets attracted to. Yes, it is not always within my control but if the subject of attraction is not a godly relationship that I should pursue, then I have to exercise self-control on how the attraction develops. Being attracted to someone is not a sin but if I dwell on it or even just allow things to take its course, then I'm being reckless of how it can eventually lead to sin. He's laid down principles for the basis of pursuing a relationship and that's what I should use for evaluating the subject of my attraction. Attraction and matters of the heart are not always something easy to control, but that does not mean they have to lead to fatal results.
The title of this blog entry stems from something that is close to my heart. As a pastor and friend to many young adults (and a young adult myself), I know many struggle with this issue of attraction. No thanks to the media, we are made to believe that attraction equals to love. Thus if you feel attracted to someone, you should 'pursue' the person. Some of us may, on a good day, stop to evaluate the basis of the attraction, which could range from physical appeal to positive character traits. The truth is sometimes we can't even explain it because more often than not, attraction is a sensual matter, ie. it is something picked up by our senses, rather than a rational one. What usually happens for some is we get attracted first, then try to understand why certain people attract us, rather than going around with our radars to see who is 'worthy' of our attraction. Well, perhaps I'm just speaking for myself.
Attraction is a very important factor for any relationship to begin in the first place because we don't fall in love without attraction. Falling in love itself is a matter of the heart, rather than the head. However that is not a reason to exclude the head altogether as attraction should not be the sole basis for pursuing a relationship. This is especially true if the source of attraction is temporal, for example like how good a guy looks when he flips his long hair back in the wind.... most of the factors in this combination are transcient!
How many times have I been told that falling in love itself is not to be confused with love? If we love merely on the basis of attraction, which could be dependent on transcient factors, then it is not surprising that such love would be equally temporal. Thus I need to differentiate between attraction and love. It's sounds simple enough on paper but often, the heart rules in such matters and the head is ignored. I like to think (and suspect I'm not alone in this) that this sort of silly attraction only happens to young teenagers. However to my dismay, that's hardly the case. Attraction happens all the time, sometimes it hits us unexpectantly, other times it gradually grows on us, without us realising it.
I believe attraction is a good thing; a God-designed good thing. However He's also taught me to guard my heart, that is to watch what my heart gets attracted to. Yes, it is not always within my control but if the subject of attraction is not a godly relationship that I should pursue, then I have to exercise self-control on how the attraction develops. Being attracted to someone is not a sin but if I dwell on it or even just allow things to take its course, then I'm being reckless of how it can eventually lead to sin. He's laid down principles for the basis of pursuing a relationship and that's what I should use for evaluating the subject of my attraction. Attraction and matters of the heart are not always something easy to control, but that does not mean they have to lead to fatal results.
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