Sorry for being away for so long.
Had to take care of some issues. Which gets me to think.
In dealing with uni and work and others, I feel that sometimes i just love this world too much.
Have you ever been so preoccupied with commitments in life that you find yourself neglecting the important things? The thing is that we don't. As in we find that we don't realise that we've been neglecting and postponing the important things. And we find that these things are worldly things. Things that we will never bring into the next life. Our jobs, school, why do we hold on so tight? Things we can never carry on to the next world.
Isn't family, life, God more important? Isn't the wellfare of our brothers more important?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Day 27 - Understanding God's Judgement
Not only is God loving, God is also just. Well yes there is a judgement factor to God which cannot be avoided and truth be told, I feel glad that He be the final and deciding judge, for there is no better judge in matters concerning the life and all. Fact of the matter is although we have been wronged, we could never really understand or comprehend why we have been wronged by a particular person in the first place and proper payback. Which kinda connects to a particular previous post, refer "Your Problem ain't My problem"
Putting yourself into someone elses shoe, really we only see a glimpse of what is happening, a faint understanding of what is going on. There are still ripple effect or branches of what caused or affected a person to do such a thing. Say for example someone comes along and steals your delicious chocolate bar. You get a bit cross and you try to understand what happened. He must've been hungry. What we don't see as we dwelve deeper is that he might have had a painful history concerning chocolates. See when he was younger, a group of guys in willy wonka suits came along and traumatised him. See, they beat him up to a pulp, and dunked him a huge tub of chocolate repeatedly. So he had this traumatic experience concerning chocolates and every chocolate bar he sees, he intents to destroy. Pretty far-fetched story but yeah you'd never guess would ya?
But God did know, and He understood why your chocolate bar got stolen for He is the only one with the bigger picture view. We will never understand the things that God do sometimes, and thats because we cant see the bigger picture until its really explained to us. And trust me when i say God's view window, is pretty much to the ends of the earth huge.
And God isn't an EYE for an EYE type of God. Which brings me a huge sigh of relief that he be the final judge. He knows that the actions we partake are irreversable. However thank Him that He is merciful for if one is truly repented and remorseful of of their actions, they may be forgiven.
So yeah, judgement is a sensitive issue which I feel should be left to God. And also be thankful that He be the one doing that judging for His wisdom is beyond any other and He's got that bigger picture view.
Putting yourself into someone elses shoe, really we only see a glimpse of what is happening, a faint understanding of what is going on. There are still ripple effect or branches of what caused or affected a person to do such a thing. Say for example someone comes along and steals your delicious chocolate bar. You get a bit cross and you try to understand what happened. He must've been hungry. What we don't see as we dwelve deeper is that he might have had a painful history concerning chocolates. See when he was younger, a group of guys in willy wonka suits came along and traumatised him. See, they beat him up to a pulp, and dunked him a huge tub of chocolate repeatedly. So he had this traumatic experience concerning chocolates and every chocolate bar he sees, he intents to destroy. Pretty far-fetched story but yeah you'd never guess would ya?
But God did know, and He understood why your chocolate bar got stolen for He is the only one with the bigger picture view. We will never understand the things that God do sometimes, and thats because we cant see the bigger picture until its really explained to us. And trust me when i say God's view window, is pretty much to the ends of the earth huge.
And God isn't an EYE for an EYE type of God. Which brings me a huge sigh of relief that he be the final judge. He knows that the actions we partake are irreversable. However thank Him that He is merciful for if one is truly repented and remorseful of of their actions, they may be forgiven.
So yeah, judgement is a sensitive issue which I feel should be left to God. And also be thankful that He be the one doing that judging for His wisdom is beyond any other and He's got that bigger picture view.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Day 26 - Understanding God's Mercy
I can still quite remember the day God first slapped me around the head. Well not quite literally, but i was slapped into awareness. Into some form of understanding. I could never really say that I now totally understand God's mercy but in that beautiful awakening I'm sure He did skim through it with me. But still I am totally struck and dumbfounded at the stretch of his mercy. No matter how low we've come to or how fallen we are, He is there with outstretched arms ready to pick us up. The forgiveness of our sins even before we were here to commit them.
When God started opening my eyes, to the extent on how much He loved us, the extent on how far we'd been forgiven, I was overwhelmed. Something so undeserved, so pure was given to us out of so much love, mercy and grace. Not only did we recieve His forgiveness, we recieved his favour, strength and so much more unbelievable things in life.
I realise my thoughts on this are quite a mess at this moment. But thats how much God's grace and mercy has affected me. Truth of the matter is that i could never compile all that love, mercy and grace and how i feel about it into words. It's just too mind blowing for me. I just pray that one day i will be able to express all that gratitude to Him, but for now i'll serve and thank Him out of that very gratitude.
When God started opening my eyes, to the extent on how much He loved us, the extent on how far we'd been forgiven, I was overwhelmed. Something so undeserved, so pure was given to us out of so much love, mercy and grace. Not only did we recieve His forgiveness, we recieved his favour, strength and so much more unbelievable things in life.
I realise my thoughts on this are quite a mess at this moment. But thats how much God's grace and mercy has affected me. Truth of the matter is that i could never compile all that love, mercy and grace and how i feel about it into words. It's just too mind blowing for me. I just pray that one day i will be able to express all that gratitude to Him, but for now i'll serve and thank Him out of that very gratitude.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Day 24 - Say Yes to Integrity
Apologies for being away from quite some time, that time of the semester is upon me!
Todays sharing will be about Day 24 - Say Yes to Integrity
I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need your help, especially in my own home, where i long to act as i should.
Help me to refuse the low and vulgar things; help me to abhor crooked deals of every kind, to have no part in them.
Psalms 101:2-3LB
Say Yes to Integrity
Going through renunciation and baptism, i feel that much closer to God and that much farther from sin already. Praise the Lord for He has taken away my sins and given me a new slate. Hard it is for me to say this but how long will it take for me to sin again? Logically speaking it wont take too long before its gonna start happening again. Sins as you know are easy things to commit, for “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few will find it.”(Matthew 7:13-14). Waking up this morning, it did worry me a bit if this would be the day that i would sin in the Lord's eyes, just two days fresh out of baptism.
And i find that in Day 24 - Say Yes to Integrity, even the Great King David was susceptible to sin. The difference was that he readily admitted his weaknesses to the Lord, and prayed to the Lord for strength.
Tom Holladays' 3 step guide to Integrity
Choose to speak the truth
How many times do you feel that it's just easier to lie rather then just speak the truth. Some days i find myself shocked at how lies just roll off the tongue so easily. And in some cases we have people working overtime to keep things covered. "The truth will set you free" John 8:32. Come clean with the Lord at least. And we find that He accepts us for who we are. And then maybe start opening up to the people around us that we have been living a lie. This could well be the hardest part to do so we should ask God for the strength to do so. And this is hard, for some will stop short and think why should i tell the truth when lying is so much easier? Sweeping lies under the rug everyday and one day the rug is just going to explode in your face.
Choose to Be Honest about Faults
Second part to coming clean. We are human and we do fault. The difficulty is to admit them. And some are faults so huge but we refuse to admit them. Facing the ugly truth isn't what i want to do today, and over a long period of time pushing the truth aside we find ourselves oblivious to them. Isn't it easier to uproot our faults whilst its a shrub then wait till it becomes a tree? Not to say that trees are impossible to uproot for with Gods help nothing is impossible, just takes more effort. And we find that uprooting a tree is going to cause more damage to the surroundings then a little shrub did. Find your someone that you can admit your faults, fears and failures. and Pray with them.
Choose to Ask for God's Help
"The LORD on high is mighty"
Psalms 93:4
Walking this earth without help i should say is close to impossible. Walking this earth in God's way, i should think is impossible. For we are tempted and taunted by sin on a daily basis. Any time can be a time to fall and disappoint for sin is that powerful. But our Lord is that much more powerful, and with His divine help sin can be avoided, evaded and even crushed. Recognising our weaknesses in the first place as stated above, and then asking God's help to conquer them. And we say no to the low, the vulgar and the sinful. With His power we have a new power to say yes to high and mighty things.
Glory to God
The same power that conquered the grave
Lives in me, Lives in me
Your love that rescued the earth
Lives in me, lives in me
Todays sharing will be about Day 24 - Say Yes to Integrity
I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need your help, especially in my own home, where i long to act as i should.
Help me to refuse the low and vulgar things; help me to abhor crooked deals of every kind, to have no part in them.
Psalms 101:2-3LB
Say Yes to Integrity
Going through renunciation and baptism, i feel that much closer to God and that much farther from sin already. Praise the Lord for He has taken away my sins and given me a new slate. Hard it is for me to say this but how long will it take for me to sin again? Logically speaking it wont take too long before its gonna start happening again. Sins as you know are easy things to commit, for “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few will find it.”(Matthew 7:13-14). Waking up this morning, it did worry me a bit if this would be the day that i would sin in the Lord's eyes, just two days fresh out of baptism.
And i find that in Day 24 - Say Yes to Integrity, even the Great King David was susceptible to sin. The difference was that he readily admitted his weaknesses to the Lord, and prayed to the Lord for strength.
Tom Holladays' 3 step guide to Integrity
Choose to speak the truth
How many times do you feel that it's just easier to lie rather then just speak the truth. Some days i find myself shocked at how lies just roll off the tongue so easily. And in some cases we have people working overtime to keep things covered. "The truth will set you free" John 8:32. Come clean with the Lord at least. And we find that He accepts us for who we are. And then maybe start opening up to the people around us that we have been living a lie. This could well be the hardest part to do so we should ask God for the strength to do so. And this is hard, for some will stop short and think why should i tell the truth when lying is so much easier? Sweeping lies under the rug everyday and one day the rug is just going to explode in your face.
Choose to Be Honest about Faults
Second part to coming clean. We are human and we do fault. The difficulty is to admit them. And some are faults so huge but we refuse to admit them. Facing the ugly truth isn't what i want to do today, and over a long period of time pushing the truth aside we find ourselves oblivious to them. Isn't it easier to uproot our faults whilst its a shrub then wait till it becomes a tree? Not to say that trees are impossible to uproot for with Gods help nothing is impossible, just takes more effort. And we find that uprooting a tree is going to cause more damage to the surroundings then a little shrub did. Find your someone that you can admit your faults, fears and failures. and Pray with them.
Choose to Ask for God's Help
"The LORD on high is mighty"
Psalms 93:4
Walking this earth without help i should say is close to impossible. Walking this earth in God's way, i should think is impossible. For we are tempted and taunted by sin on a daily basis. Any time can be a time to fall and disappoint for sin is that powerful. But our Lord is that much more powerful, and with His divine help sin can be avoided, evaded and even crushed. Recognising our weaknesses in the first place as stated above, and then asking God's help to conquer them. And we say no to the low, the vulgar and the sinful. With His power we have a new power to say yes to high and mighty things.
Glory to God
The same power that conquered the grave
Lives in me, Lives in me
Your love that rescued the earth
Lives in me, lives in me
Faith and Prayer
This is a true story of something that happened just a few years ago at USC. There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester to prove that God couldn't exist. His students were always afraid to argue with because of his impeccable logic. Sure some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever really gone against him because of his reputation. At the end of every semester on the last day he would say to his class of 300 students "If there is anyone here who still believes in Jesus, stand up!"
In twenty years no one had ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a fool. If God existed He would stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove that He is God and yet He can't do it." And every year he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor and it would shatter into a hundred pieces. All the students would do nothing but stop and stare. Most of the students thought God couldn't exist. Certainly a number of Christians had slipped through, but for twenty years they had been too afraid to stand up.
Well a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to enroll. He was a christian and had heard the stories about his professor. He was required to take the class for his major and he was afraid. But for three months he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said or what the class thought. Nothing they said could ever shatter his faith...he hoped.
Finally the day came. The professor said "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor and the class of 300 people looked at him shocked as he stood up at the back of the classroom.
The professor shouted, "You FOOL!!! If God existed, He would keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!" He proceeded to drop the chalk but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleat of his pants, down his leg and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away unbroken. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man and then ran out of the lecture hall. The young man, who had stood proceeded to walk to the front of the room and shared his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God's love for them and of His power through Jesus.
Isn't it funny how simple it is for people to thrash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.
Isn't it funny how we believe what the newspapers say but question what the bible says.
Isn't it funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, think, say or do anything the bible says?
Isn't it funny how someone can say "I'll believe in God but still follow satan(who by the way also "believes" in God)
Isnt it funny how I can be more worried about what the other people think of me than what God thinks of me?
In twenty years no one had ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a fool. If God existed He would stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove that He is God and yet He can't do it." And every year he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor and it would shatter into a hundred pieces. All the students would do nothing but stop and stare. Most of the students thought God couldn't exist. Certainly a number of Christians had slipped through, but for twenty years they had been too afraid to stand up.
Well a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to enroll. He was a christian and had heard the stories about his professor. He was required to take the class for his major and he was afraid. But for three months he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said or what the class thought. Nothing they said could ever shatter his faith...he hoped.
Finally the day came. The professor said "If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor and the class of 300 people looked at him shocked as he stood up at the back of the classroom.
The professor shouted, "You FOOL!!! If God existed, He would keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!" He proceeded to drop the chalk but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleat of his pants, down his leg and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away unbroken. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man and then ran out of the lecture hall. The young man, who had stood proceeded to walk to the front of the room and shared his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God's love for them and of His power through Jesus.
Isn't it funny how simple it is for people to thrash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.
Isn't it funny how we believe what the newspapers say but question what the bible says.
Isn't it funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, think, say or do anything the bible says?
Isn't it funny how someone can say "I'll believe in God but still follow satan(who by the way also "believes" in God)
Isnt it funny how I can be more worried about what the other people think of me than what God thinks of me?
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Day 11 - Feelings are Important
When was the last time you just went beserk, crazy at your friends.
Or in class, or at your family, spouse. Feelings bottled up inside for so long, it all just shot out. Take for example, your friend has this habit of....clicking his knuckles. So everytime your hang out with him, he seems to be clicking them every 4 mins. During lecture, at lunch, while talking, he just seems to be
Clicking
his knuckles
ALL
THE
TIME.
And so you tolerate it, he's just clicking it. You don't really like the sound, but it's just clicking.
And so, after days, weeks, months, years even. One day while having lunch with a group of friends, he clicks 'em. Its a long loud one. And it just feels like the final straw. And you get up and scream at him, after 3 years of clicking "WILL YOU STOP THAT CLICKING??? ITS SO FRIGGIN ANNOYING!!!"
And you breathe out. Oh it feels good. For 10 secs. I mean you just emptied the bottle. And everyone looks at you. And this feeling just climbs at you. Feels like stupidity?
Anyway that isn't the point, but if you had just addressed the situation earlier, like "Hey John you dont want to do that, you'll arthirtis by 30."
Clicking of the fingers is a bad example, but the point was that bottling it up doesnt really help you in anyway, in fact it doesn'
t help you at all. Feelings should really be chunneled in a different way and the potential reaped from it would be trememdous.Putting it in a positive view. The choices you make, will ultimately determine the outcome of it.
Or in class, or at your family, spouse. Feelings bottled up inside for so long, it all just shot out. Take for example, your friend has this habit of....clicking his knuckles. So everytime your hang out with him, he seems to be clicking them every 4 mins. During lecture, at lunch, while talking, he just seems to be
Clicking
his knuckles
ALL
THE
TIME.
And so you tolerate it, he's just clicking it. You don't really like the sound, but it's just clicking.
And so, after days, weeks, months, years even. One day while having lunch with a group of friends, he clicks 'em. Its a long loud one. And it just feels like the final straw. And you get up and scream at him, after 3 years of clicking "WILL YOU STOP THAT CLICKING??? ITS SO FRIGGIN ANNOYING!!!"
And you breathe out. Oh it feels good. For 10 secs. I mean you just emptied the bottle. And everyone looks at you. And this feeling just climbs at you. Feels like stupidity?
Anyway that isn't the point, but if you had just addressed the situation earlier, like "Hey John you dont want to do that, you'll arthirtis by 30."
Clicking of the fingers is a bad example, but the point was that bottling it up doesnt really help you in anyway, in fact it doesn'
t help you at all. Feelings should really be chunneled in a different way and the potential reaped from it would be trememdous.Putting it in a positive view. The choices you make, will ultimately determine the outcome of it.
Day 10 - The Power of New
Clean slate, start afresh, anew.
Discussing with some mates before, that if God kept a record
of our sins, he'd have compile books by now.
And i thought, hmm....if he kept a record of my sins, he might just be able to set up that public library, name it after me.
But he doesn't and so i don't get a library name after me.
What he does is that he gives us a new clean slate. And the feeling of starting afresh is incredible. That burden lifted, debt free feeling, priceless.
Starting a new in certain aspects of out lives too is important, be in careers, relationships. Basically the whole life love thing. It's about rediscovering the spark and reliving the magic. Going back to that initial thing that made you so passionate.
Like that new guy on his first day at the job. Oh yea that initiative, that passion, that burn, that speed.
That it starts to dwindle. Fizzle out. Slows down, grinding halt?
Even in our christian walk, we sometimes find that we burn out, fall back. And its times like that where we find that we have to go back to the start, the source and rediscover that precious precious moment where we so excitedly devoted our lives to Him. That moment when we started afresh, a clean slate.
Discussing with some mates before, that if God kept a record
of our sins, he'd have compile books by now.
And i thought, hmm....if he kept a record of my sins, he might just be able to set up that public library, name it after me.
But he doesn't and so i don't get a library name after me.
What he does is that he gives us a new clean slate. And the feeling of starting afresh is incredible. That burden lifted, debt free feeling, priceless.
Starting a new in certain aspects of out lives too is important, be in careers, relationships. Basically the whole life love thing. It's about rediscovering the spark and reliving the magic. Going back to that initial thing that made you so passionate.
Like that new guy on his first day at the job. Oh yea that initiative, that passion, that burn, that speed.
That it starts to dwindle. Fizzle out. Slows down, grinding halt?
Even in our christian walk, we sometimes find that we burn out, fall back. And its times like that where we find that we have to go back to the start, the source and rediscover that precious precious moment where we so excitedly devoted our lives to Him. That moment when we started afresh, a clean slate.
Day 9 - The Power of Jesus' Command
So I figured that this situation could probably be seen in our everyday lives.
Remember when:
1)You didn't want to participate in a game. And your friends went " HEY GERALD! Can you stop being a wuss and come play the game? It'll be fun ok? We promise!" "And stop pouting and sulking, you look like a girl"
And you reluctantly played along, and realised that it wasn't half bad, and before you know it, you are L-O-V-I-N-G IT.
2)You didnt want to eat that dish your mom cooked. Cause it looks strange, and yellow, and before this you never saw a cauliflower in your life, and it looked kinda like a vegetable.
And mom said that if you didnt shove it down your throat she'd spank you so hard, your lips go blue.
So you swallow it down with a huge gulp of water and decide it dont taste so bad really. So you chomp some down, and before u know it you're polishing off the plate.
Just a couple of situations. There are so much more other things we can relate to. That sometimes when we act, the feelings come after.
Sometimes we are to called to do things involuntarily, things we don't want to do, don't like to do. but with time spent,we develop feelings for it.
And so with Jesus's command, that we act in love, although we do not love willingly. And seems hypocritical. But hey if everyday did just as they pleased, nothing in this world would ever be done. And we hear the saying, if everyday pursued their dream job, probably half the world is retired and whats left of the work force would probably be in disarray.
But we can develop acceptance and tolerance, and then endearment. So go ahead and step out of your comfort zone, step out of that hole you dug yourself into.
Like mom used to say "You dont try, you dont know."
Remember when:
1)You didn't want to participate in a game. And your friends went " HEY GERALD! Can you stop being a wuss and come play the game? It'll be fun ok? We promise!" "And stop pouting and sulking, you look like a girl"
And you reluctantly played along, and realised that it wasn't half bad, and before you know it, you are L-O-V-I-N-G IT.
2)You didnt want to eat that dish your mom cooked. Cause it looks strange, and yellow, and before this you never saw a cauliflower in your life, and it looked kinda like a vegetable.
And mom said that if you didnt shove it down your throat she'd spank you so hard, your lips go blue.
So you swallow it down with a huge gulp of water and decide it dont taste so bad really. So you chomp some down, and before u know it you're polishing off the plate.
Just a couple of situations. There are so much more other things we can relate to. That sometimes when we act, the feelings come after.
Sometimes we are to called to do things involuntarily, things we don't want to do, don't like to do. but with time spent,we develop feelings for it.
And so with Jesus's command, that we act in love, although we do not love willingly. And seems hypocritical. But hey if everyday did just as they pleased, nothing in this world would ever be done. And we hear the saying, if everyday pursued their dream job, probably half the world is retired and whats left of the work force would probably be in disarray.
But we can develop acceptance and tolerance, and then endearment. So go ahead and step out of your comfort zone, step out of that hole you dug yourself into.
Like mom used to say "You dont try, you dont know."
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Day 8 - The Impossible Challenge
"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
John 13:34
Keyword(s): As I have loved you
Loving as Jesus loves us. How easy is that!! Lets love everyone with all our heart and soul and mind and strength.
EVERY
SINGLE
PERSON
So let's see the magnitude of this love. How much if, we could love like Jesus, should we be loving
EVERY
SINGLE
PERSON
okay, lets look at the every single person scenario. At this moment,there are 6470818671 people in the world and counting. Since the days of Adam, I have no idea how much people has been born to this earth, walked it and then left it. Certainly more then 6470818671.
Lets try to love all of them like Jesus did. Lets again go back all the way to the time of Adam and Eve. God made the heavens the earth the sky and the whole package. And men. And men sinned. and dissapointed God. And so comes a whole generation of sinners. Men who do as they pleased, disobeyed Gods commandments, practically selling themselves to false Gods and idols, sometimes we please him, do things that honor him, worship him. Then a few good ones come along, Abraham, Moses, Noah, King David, but they aint flawless themselves. And so as time passed, we continue to sin and disobey him and dissapoint him, occasionally pleasing him, then back to the same ole bad cycle.
His response?
Sending his one and only son to earth, in the form of Himself to teach, love, be betrayed and ridiculed.
Oh yeah, not to mentioned be crucified in the most horrible way possible.
And He does the impossible by turning that horrible crucifiction into the most beautiful thing, ever.
He freed us from sin. He showed us a way, back to Him.
Yea
"As i have loved you, you must love one another."
The ability to love 6470818671 and more people like Jesus did.
EVERY
SINGLE
PERSON
astounding.
The act of emulating it?
Pretty much possible.
So how do we fulfill this commandment? oh by the way, its a commandment that Jesus gave too.
The challenge here is to do the impossible, through God as Jesus did. ahh...now that makes sense. Since God can do the impossible.
It still isn't a simple task, first we got to come close to God to a whole different level and understand Him more and more. And believe that He can give you to the strength to do the impossible. I'd be happy to love 75 people the way Jesus did, much less to say 6470818671. But I'll try, or I'll die trying. One point of remembering is that we shouldn't rely on our own limited strength, and instead seek help through his limitless strength.
EVERY
SINGLE
PERSON
I can do everything through Him, who gives me strength
Philippians 4:13
John 13:34
Keyword(s): As I have loved you
Loving as Jesus loves us. How easy is that!! Lets love everyone with all our heart and soul and mind and strength.
EVERY
SINGLE
PERSON
So let's see the magnitude of this love. How much if, we could love like Jesus, should we be loving
EVERY
SINGLE
PERSON
okay, lets look at the every single person scenario. At this moment,there are 6470818671 people in the world and counting. Since the days of Adam, I have no idea how much people has been born to this earth, walked it and then left it. Certainly more then 6470818671.
Lets try to love all of them like Jesus did. Lets again go back all the way to the time of Adam and Eve. God made the heavens the earth the sky and the whole package. And men. And men sinned. and dissapointed God. And so comes a whole generation of sinners. Men who do as they pleased, disobeyed Gods commandments, practically selling themselves to false Gods and idols, sometimes we please him, do things that honor him, worship him. Then a few good ones come along, Abraham, Moses, Noah, King David, but they aint flawless themselves. And so as time passed, we continue to sin and disobey him and dissapoint him, occasionally pleasing him, then back to the same ole bad cycle.
His response?
Sending his one and only son to earth, in the form of Himself to teach, love, be betrayed and ridiculed.
Oh yeah, not to mentioned be crucified in the most horrible way possible.
And He does the impossible by turning that horrible crucifiction into the most beautiful thing, ever.
He freed us from sin. He showed us a way, back to Him.
Yea
"As i have loved you, you must love one another."
The ability to love 6470818671 and more people like Jesus did.
EVERY
SINGLE
PERSON
astounding.
The act of emulating it?
Pretty much possible.
So how do we fulfill this commandment? oh by the way, its a commandment that Jesus gave too.
The challenge here is to do the impossible, through God as Jesus did. ahh...now that makes sense. Since God can do the impossible.
It still isn't a simple task, first we got to come close to God to a whole different level and understand Him more and more. And believe that He can give you to the strength to do the impossible. I'd be happy to love 75 people the way Jesus did, much less to say 6470818671. But I'll try, or I'll die trying. One point of remembering is that we shouldn't rely on our own limited strength, and instead seek help through his limitless strength.
EVERY
SINGLE
PERSON
I can do everything through Him, who gives me strength
Philippians 4:13
Day 7 - Love someone as your neighbour
So we learnt about loving everyone as your neighbour. Good and all, but the argument is, that's a lil hard isn't it. How do we learn to love that person on the other side of the world whom we have never met, spoken to or heard of.
The best place to start, might actually be limiting your love. So what about starting to love people you encounter first hand, on your day to day basis.
So what about that annoying lady at the office, sending emails every single time a slight mistake happens. She needs some slack too.
What about that guy in the group of friends who is just whinging off every two seconds, why did you guys take me its so darn hot, what are you guys doing thats stupid, This movie sucks why did you choose this movie, there again for dinner? its so far away....yadda...yadda...grrr He needs some sugar too.
That rude guy who serves you at the corner store, smile and say thank you.
Your friend, going through a rough patch. Don't let him/her stew at home in emoness, take em out for coffee, go watch a movie, go to church for goodness sakes, dont let em stay home, the walls might close in on them or something.
Little things in life, where you can show a lil bit more love, a lil bit more sugar. Its not too much to ask is it?
The best place to start, might actually be limiting your love. So what about starting to love people you encounter first hand, on your day to day basis.
So what about that annoying lady at the office, sending emails every single time a slight mistake happens. She needs some slack too.
What about that guy in the group of friends who is just whinging off every two seconds, why did you guys take me its so darn hot, what are you guys doing thats stupid, This movie sucks why did you choose this movie, there again for dinner? its so far away....yadda...yadda...grrr He needs some sugar too.
That rude guy who serves you at the corner store, smile and say thank you.
Your friend, going through a rough patch. Don't let him/her stew at home in emoness, take em out for coffee, go watch a movie, go to church for goodness sakes, dont let em stay home, the walls might close in on them or something.
Little things in life, where you can show a lil bit more love, a lil bit more sugar. Its not too much to ask is it?
Friday, September 25, 2009
Day 6 - Love everyone as your neighbour
Differences and Fears
Are what divides us. Think about it, the borders of our countries, division of states, even right down to white picket fences dividing you and your neighbours.
Differences in thoughts, ideals, wants, needs. And maybe that breeds the fear in us. The suspicions and the doubts towards others.
Separation, and so if you think about it, to love your neighbours, might just a tad of a problem. Could you love a stranger? Someone you met maybe for 2 minutes, or even less.
But theres one thing we need to remember
And that His blood was for us.
Everyone.
God loves everyone.
Consider Kanye West, who so famously who so famously walked on stage and humilated Taylor Swift at a Music Award Show.
And so the bulk of us would think 5 things:
1)“Kanye West always does that. He’s got a history of doing that kind of thing.”
2)“Kanye West probably did that on purpose, it was staged. He planned it.”
3)“Kanye West just wounded a teenager, a kid, that is horrible.”
4)“Anyone who supports him is dumb.”
5)“He’ll probably apologize but it won’t be real.”
“Kanye West always does that. He’s got a history of doing that kind of thing.”
So do I. I’ve never committed a single sin, a single time. I am a repeat offender. I have a longer history with sin than Kanye does with running on stage at events. Have you ever repeated a sin more than once?
“Kanye West probably did that on purpose, it was staged. He planned it.”
My worst moments were planned. I didn’t fall down the stairs and suddenly find myself landing in a heap of unexpected garbage at the bottom. I made plans. I was deliberate. I set things up that at the time seemed to be what I needed. I did the things that crippled my life on purpose.
“Anyone who supports him is dumb.”
Do you have to support to show love? Do you have to condone to offer grace and forgiveness? Clearly Proverbs spells out a million reasons you shouldn’t support fools and foolish behavior and what Kanye did was foolish. And it'd be equally dumb to judge people for judging Kanye. Are there only two options though? We love him which means we’re pro “running on stage and hurting people” or we hate him? Can’t we disagree with the behavior and offer love to the person? (I think I just invented the phrase, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” I should put that on t-shirts.)
“He’ll probably apologize but it won’t be real.”
According to whose standards? Mine? Is that what Christ says is the second most important commandment in Matthew 22:39 “Love your neighbor as yourself, only if their apology is legitimate and you feel that their repentance is real?” Or is it written, “Rebuke your neighbor as yourself?” Or is love the thing we’re supposed to do? And let’s be honest, what are the chances that I get to heaven and God says, “You offered too many hurting people grace. You over graced the world Gerald. That is whack.”
The more I thought about it, the harder it was to hate Kanye.
Maybe you laughed at how silly and insignificant the whole thing was because it's just a bunch of celebrities, who cares. Maybe you threw on Kanye's “Jesus Walks” and got down like the awkward girl from the rich part of town that inexplicably moves to the inner city high school and has to learn how to dance to survive some sort of all girl gang but ends up falling in love with a tough on the outside by soft and tender on the inside street youth while learning the valuable lesson that if you believe in yourself, anything is possible.
Maybe that was your reaction.
Mine was hate.
And I hate that.
And I love that God loves me like He loves Kanye.
Because we all both in desperate need of it.
Are what divides us. Think about it, the borders of our countries, division of states, even right down to white picket fences dividing you and your neighbours.
Differences in thoughts, ideals, wants, needs. And maybe that breeds the fear in us. The suspicions and the doubts towards others.
Separation, and so if you think about it, to love your neighbours, might just a tad of a problem. Could you love a stranger? Someone you met maybe for 2 minutes, or even less.
But theres one thing we need to remember
And that His blood was for us.
Everyone.
God loves everyone.
Consider Kanye West, who so famously who so famously walked on stage and humilated Taylor Swift at a Music Award Show.
And so the bulk of us would think 5 things:
1)“Kanye West always does that. He’s got a history of doing that kind of thing.”
2)“Kanye West probably did that on purpose, it was staged. He planned it.”
3)“Kanye West just wounded a teenager, a kid, that is horrible.”
4)“Anyone who supports him is dumb.”
5)“He’ll probably apologize but it won’t be real.”
“Kanye West always does that. He’s got a history of doing that kind of thing.”
So do I. I’ve never committed a single sin, a single time. I am a repeat offender. I have a longer history with sin than Kanye does with running on stage at events. Have you ever repeated a sin more than once?
“Kanye West probably did that on purpose, it was staged. He planned it.”
My worst moments were planned. I didn’t fall down the stairs and suddenly find myself landing in a heap of unexpected garbage at the bottom. I made plans. I was deliberate. I set things up that at the time seemed to be what I needed. I did the things that crippled my life on purpose.
“Anyone who supports him is dumb.”
Do you have to support to show love? Do you have to condone to offer grace and forgiveness? Clearly Proverbs spells out a million reasons you shouldn’t support fools and foolish behavior and what Kanye did was foolish. And it'd be equally dumb to judge people for judging Kanye. Are there only two options though? We love him which means we’re pro “running on stage and hurting people” or we hate him? Can’t we disagree with the behavior and offer love to the person? (I think I just invented the phrase, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” I should put that on t-shirts.)
“He’ll probably apologize but it won’t be real.”
According to whose standards? Mine? Is that what Christ says is the second most important commandment in Matthew 22:39 “Love your neighbor as yourself, only if their apology is legitimate and you feel that their repentance is real?” Or is it written, “Rebuke your neighbor as yourself?” Or is love the thing we’re supposed to do? And let’s be honest, what are the chances that I get to heaven and God says, “You offered too many hurting people grace. You over graced the world Gerald. That is whack.”
The more I thought about it, the harder it was to hate Kanye.
Maybe you laughed at how silly and insignificant the whole thing was because it's just a bunch of celebrities, who cares. Maybe you threw on Kanye's “Jesus Walks” and got down like the awkward girl from the rich part of town that inexplicably moves to the inner city high school and has to learn how to dance to survive some sort of all girl gang but ends up falling in love with a tough on the outside by soft and tender on the inside street youth while learning the valuable lesson that if you believe in yourself, anything is possible.
Maybe that was your reaction.
Mine was hate.
And I hate that.
And I love that God loves me like He loves Kanye.
Because we all both in desperate need of it.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Day 5 - Love God with all your strength and mind
A picture of footsteps.
Was what I recieved not too long ago, from one of the dearest friend that i have. On the back was a message for me, that i be inspired, wise and creative because the footsteps that i take in life the choices that i make,becomes the resulting consequences.
The actions we take, are influenced and moulded by the mentality we adopt when confronting something. This ultimately results in different resulting scenarios relative to the actions we take.
And so if we think about God, ask His permission or seek His approval, when undertaking choices in life. Adopting a God seeking mentality, that your thoughts be directed towards Him. Goals in life centred around Him, and we see actions happen in the highest order. Thats where strength comes in, these actions. God honoring actions that consumes every ounce of strength and energy in our bodies, and God will handle the rest.
So you see a linkage, mind and strength. Something like cause and effect.
And they say that if you put your mind to it, you will achieve great heights.
They fail to mention that if you put your mind to it, for God, He will help you achieve the greatest of heights.
Was what I recieved not too long ago, from one of the dearest friend that i have. On the back was a message for me, that i be inspired, wise and creative because the footsteps that i take in life the choices that i make,becomes the resulting consequences.
The actions we take, are influenced and moulded by the mentality we adopt when confronting something. This ultimately results in different resulting scenarios relative to the actions we take.
And so if we think about God, ask His permission or seek His approval, when undertaking choices in life. Adopting a God seeking mentality, that your thoughts be directed towards Him. Goals in life centred around Him, and we see actions happen in the highest order. Thats where strength comes in, these actions. God honoring actions that consumes every ounce of strength and energy in our bodies, and God will handle the rest.
So you see a linkage, mind and strength. Something like cause and effect.
And they say that if you put your mind to it, you will achieve great heights.
They fail to mention that if you put your mind to it, for God, He will help you achieve the greatest of heights.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Day 4 - Love God with all your soul
Nephesh, makes sense doesn't it?
Nephesh, the Hebrew word for 'to breathe'
Sometimes when we feel tired or exhausted on the inside, it helps
to just sit back and breathe don't it?
And so sometimes i do feel, that i'm sitting inside a container.
My body is a container, a host. And sitting somewhere inside, is me. And while I'm here on earth, i function, eat, breathe and all in this container. Am i a soul, living in a body?
And from what i gather, my soul is essentially, the core of me, the core of my being. It is my personality, my thoughts, my being. It is the central point of me.
And so what does it mean for me to love God with all my soul. To love God all the way to the core of me? Right deep down, all the way to the soul, and from there, right down to the core, into that crevasse where you yourself don't often visit. And even when you do, you don't stay long.
And one day, in an unscheduled stop down there, you see yourself, the person you are, it isnt the physical body you are, but your thoughts, your personality, your passions and your dreams. It feels like a collective group of something, if you can even follow me anymore at this point, in the air.
And with that collective group of something in the air, deep down in that crevasse, you find God, and you love Him, with this crazy, unadorned, powerful, impossible passion that yet feels so calming and right. And you find that everything is alright.
Loving God with all my soul am I?
Nephesh, the Hebrew word for 'to breathe'
Sometimes when we feel tired or exhausted on the inside, it helps
to just sit back and breathe don't it?
And so sometimes i do feel, that i'm sitting inside a container.
My body is a container, a host. And sitting somewhere inside, is me. And while I'm here on earth, i function, eat, breathe and all in this container. Am i a soul, living in a body?
And from what i gather, my soul is essentially, the core of me, the core of my being. It is my personality, my thoughts, my being. It is the central point of me.
And so what does it mean for me to love God with all my soul. To love God all the way to the core of me? Right deep down, all the way to the soul, and from there, right down to the core, into that crevasse where you yourself don't often visit. And even when you do, you don't stay long.
And one day, in an unscheduled stop down there, you see yourself, the person you are, it isnt the physical body you are, but your thoughts, your personality, your passions and your dreams. It feels like a collective group of something, if you can even follow me anymore at this point, in the air.
And with that collective group of something in the air, deep down in that crevasse, you find God, and you love Him, with this crazy, unadorned, powerful, impossible passion that yet feels so calming and right. And you find that everything is alright.
Loving God with all my soul am I?
Day 3 - Love God with all your heart
Seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you
Matthew 6:33
Talk vs. Action
So we say we love God. How about really loving God now?
That's what talk is really isn't it? Talk talk talk, and without action to back it, it's just talk really. So how about having this crazy, giddy, delirious relationship with God? Thats what love really should be isn't it?
And we realise that as we pray, or seek God, do we speak what he wants to hear? Or what you think he wants to hear? Like the great King David, when he wrote all this songs of love for the Lord, he poured his heart out into those songs, he sang a man overwhelmed and in awe, and we can see his raw emotions in his songs and poems.
So next time, speak from the heart, when speaking to Him. Open up to Him, for He does love you and He listens.
Matthew 6:33
Talk vs. Action
So we say we love God. How about really loving God now?
That's what talk is really isn't it? Talk talk talk, and without action to back it, it's just talk really. So how about having this crazy, giddy, delirious relationship with God? Thats what love really should be isn't it?
And we realise that as we pray, or seek God, do we speak what he wants to hear? Or what you think he wants to hear? Like the great King David, when he wrote all this songs of love for the Lord, he poured his heart out into those songs, he sang a man overwhelmed and in awe, and we can see his raw emotions in his songs and poems.
So next time, speak from the heart, when speaking to Him. Open up to Him, for He does love you and He listens.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Day 2
do not worry about everyday life -whether you have enough food, drink and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more then food and clothing?
Matthew 6:25
Your priorities in life?
Is it your career? your favourite sports team? or even facebook
Will the account that you're book keeping remember you in 20 years? or will Real Madrid remember that you spent 90 mins or more every week watching them? or will facebook remember that you spent 4 hours a day writing on peoples walls?
or will your 7 year old boy remember that birthday party you threw for him, or that you went to every little league game he played every season? Or that you brought him to a "character building" fishing and camping trip ending up with a thousand mozzie bites but no fish every summer?
How easy is it to be carried away by our jobs, money, career. Would we rather be alone at the top? or loved and cared and remembered at the bottom rung.
For he does not demand that we accomplish great things but demands that we strive for excellence in our relationships.
Matthew 6:25
Your priorities in life?
Is it your career? your favourite sports team? or even facebook
Will the account that you're book keeping remember you in 20 years? or will Real Madrid remember that you spent 90 mins or more every week watching them? or will facebook remember that you spent 4 hours a day writing on peoples walls?
or will your 7 year old boy remember that birthday party you threw for him, or that you went to every little league game he played every season? Or that you brought him to a "character building" fishing and camping trip ending up with a thousand mozzie bites but no fish every summer?
How easy is it to be carried away by our jobs, money, career. Would we rather be alone at the top? or loved and cared and remembered at the bottom rung.
For he does not demand that we accomplish great things but demands that we strive for excellence in our relationships.
40 days of love
40 days of new insight to radically improve, even transform what matters most in your relationships.
Day 1
Its about placing value into the relationships in your life that matters.
Priority : God
Secondary : People
"Love your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and all your strength. The second is this : Love your neighbor as yourself "
Mark 12:29-31
Suppose you're in a rubber raft with a friend. You're approaching an island. The raft is leaking and you are within sight of land. In the raft with you are a set of signal flares, a weeks supply of canned food and a five gallon container of water. You must throw one of these items overboard if you're going to make it to the island. Which one do you choose?
If the first answer that hit you, and be honest about it now, was the friend, there are priorities in life that you have to reevaluate.
It is important to remember that the core of why we are here, is your relationships with others, because in the end, it is the one that outlives everything else, and it's what guides and shapes you in life.
Day 1
Its about placing value into the relationships in your life that matters.
Priority : God
Secondary : People
"Love your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and all your strength. The second is this : Love your neighbor as yourself "
Mark 12:29-31
Suppose you're in a rubber raft with a friend. You're approaching an island. The raft is leaking and you are within sight of land. In the raft with you are a set of signal flares, a weeks supply of canned food and a five gallon container of water. You must throw one of these items overboard if you're going to make it to the island. Which one do you choose?
If the first answer that hit you, and be honest about it now, was the friend, there are priorities in life that you have to reevaluate.
It is important to remember that the core of why we are here, is your relationships with others, because in the end, it is the one that outlives everything else, and it's what guides and shapes you in life.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Getting through life on a chicken wing
So the course i'm studying in uni.
Now thats a full on course, pelted with assignments left right centre.
Man life sucks.
Got a mate,never enough money
Man life sucks.
I'm sure that you've got many things too
That make ur life suck
don't worry i get where you're coming from
Till i met this guy
Nick Vujicic
Choose Better, over Bitter
Face adversities head on.
When you fall, pick yourself back up
and again
and again
and again
That's what life is about.
It isnt about winning everytime.
It's about making mistakes
and learning
Life isnt a right, it's a privelege
Now thats a full on course, pelted with assignments left right centre.
Man life sucks.
Got a mate,never enough money
Man life sucks.
I'm sure that you've got many things too
That make ur life suck
don't worry i get where you're coming from
Till i met this guy
Nick Vujicic
Choose Better, over Bitter
Face adversities head on.
When you fall, pick yourself back up
and again
and again
and again
That's what life is about.
It isnt about winning everytime.
It's about making mistakes
and learning
Life isnt a right, it's a privelege
Monday, August 10, 2009
40 Hour Famine
21- 23 August is the date.
A 40 Hour fast is the action.
The world's BIGGEST food crisis is the cause.
The Hungry get fed, the cold get warmth and the weary get rest is the vision.
That they will come to know God's love is the hope.
I'm sure that most of you know wad the 40 Hour famine is about. For most of you who don't,
its about a donation drive to help those in need around the world. In return, donation collectors
will give up something important to them for 40 hours! between 21-23 August.
There are many things in life that we can give up on that seems to have a grip in our lives. Some people fast on technology, some fast on the use of furniture and i've heard about fasting the use of the right hand! And to think about it, sounds pretty darn difficult.
And me.
I shall give up, surprise surprise food.
After days of contemplation, i realise the one thing i could never give up is F to the O to the O to the D. F-O-O-D. No eating for 40 hours. Now i have done the not sleeping for 70 hours, as some of my architecture friends can testify to. I could easily go for 40 hours without technology. Just give me a fishing rod and im pretty much occupied for 2 days. The right hand? Alright! the chance for a 40 hour SLUMBER. But food. Now that kinda scares me. Some people say we live to eat. I think im on the contrary. I eat to live! Every 45 mins too i think! It feels like a furnace in here. Gotta keep throwing in some fuel to keep going! So what happens when the coal stops coming in. oh yeah. thats some scary ....!
But the point is. we've got people out there, very REALLY TRULY eating to live. Getting by on
the most minimal amount of food on days on end, even weeks. Its really crazy how we take all these for granted, Woolworths, morning cereal, Supper at Northbridge at 2am. Take all that out of the equation. SO PLEASE!!
donate!!
The 40 Hour Famine
21-23 August 2009
Contact me on msn or call me at 0421156712 to donate!
Or any others who come up to u with that 40 hour famine booklet please!
The video pretty much says it all.
Yes, 40 hours of famine, thats a far cry, pitiful even in comparison to people like Sam and Esther.
I know ill be glad when i start eating at the 40th hour and 1 sec after the fast but for people like them, its a lifetime of struggle, just to get more food to carry on to the next day. I pray that we can ease their burdens, ever so slightly. An effort in itself is better then no effort at all.
Sam and Esther
This is the story of Sam and Esther.
How is it that we eat and they don't?
How is it that we grumble yet Esther smiles?
Be thankful for what you have.
How is it that we eat and they don't?
How is it that we grumble yet Esther smiles?
Be thankful for what you have.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
The Measure of a Man
The year of the Gentleman.
Its about looking sharp,talking smart. Walking the walk, talking the talk.
Witty and interesting in speech, he is polite and charismatic.
There is a certain suaveness in the way he handles himself, cool as ice
And what about the untrained brute.
Dress code ain't an issue, and he talks loud. Trips when he walks, clumsy with words.
Crude and direct in speech, he is honest and amusing.
There is certain clarity and honesty in the way he handles himself, clear as water
And so he doesn't open the doors for the ladies, is it the intention that he doesn't want the lady in the car?
And so he is brutally honest and words doesnt filter in the brain before exiting the mouth, is it his intention that he is rude
And so he doesnt take off his jacket for the lady, is it his intention that the lady freeze to death before arriving home.
So what really makes a man?
What is the measure of a man?
The metaphor of an untrained brute and a suave gentleman doesn't do justice of measuring up a man.
Rather the measure of a man arguably would equate more to the measure of humanity, a measure of one.
The measure of MAN
In life, there comes a time that a person finally stops being a child and grows up.
He/she is considered mature, grown up. The point in our lives where this happens continues to be a gray area in our lives as most of different opinions where this stands. A truly correct answer is yet to be arrived.
Does this point happen when, the person is of age? 21 years of age, maybe 18 in some countries? He/she is deemed capable of making sounds and independant decisions. Really now?? Independant 21 year olds making sound decisions?
For some when the person is at the epitome of the corporate or career ladder. The aim was to achieve the most on the ladder in the least amount of time possible. Taking no prisoners, by hook or by crook the epitome is achieved. Friends disappear, and family estranged or distant. Does it really make you a man?
Maybe its the ability to make the tough choices or decisions when it matters. The ability to see it in a collective point of view that doesnt just benefit one but all. The ability to make a crucial decision that makes or breaks but still get back up if it fails. The courage to undertake an action that you know hurts in the short term but you know benefits in the long term.
Maybe when he/she is slammed into the dust, is able to pick themselves up. Brush of the dust and continue walking. Facing adversity in its face, being able to beat it.
What about the capacity to care. Not just for yourself, not for your loved ones. The capacity to care for strangers. The capacity to love someone you do not know. The compassion in ones heart to help a person that they have never known their whole lives, and maybe will never ever get to meet. The willingness to lay down your life for the salvation of others?
Other measures?
How do you measure up?
Its about looking sharp,talking smart. Walking the walk, talking the talk.
Witty and interesting in speech, he is polite and charismatic.
There is a certain suaveness in the way he handles himself, cool as ice
And what about the untrained brute.
Dress code ain't an issue, and he talks loud. Trips when he walks, clumsy with words.
Crude and direct in speech, he is honest and amusing.
There is certain clarity and honesty in the way he handles himself, clear as water
And so he doesn't open the doors for the ladies, is it the intention that he doesn't want the lady in the car?
And so he is brutally honest and words doesnt filter in the brain before exiting the mouth, is it his intention that he is rude
And so he doesnt take off his jacket for the lady, is it his intention that the lady freeze to death before arriving home.
So what really makes a man?
What is the measure of a man?
The metaphor of an untrained brute and a suave gentleman doesn't do justice of measuring up a man.
Rather the measure of a man arguably would equate more to the measure of humanity, a measure of one.
The measure of MAN
In life, there comes a time that a person finally stops being a child and grows up.
He/she is considered mature, grown up. The point in our lives where this happens continues to be a gray area in our lives as most of different opinions where this stands. A truly correct answer is yet to be arrived.
Does this point happen when, the person is of age? 21 years of age, maybe 18 in some countries? He/she is deemed capable of making sounds and independant decisions. Really now?? Independant 21 year olds making sound decisions?
For some when the person is at the epitome of the corporate or career ladder. The aim was to achieve the most on the ladder in the least amount of time possible. Taking no prisoners, by hook or by crook the epitome is achieved. Friends disappear, and family estranged or distant. Does it really make you a man?
Maybe its the ability to make the tough choices or decisions when it matters. The ability to see it in a collective point of view that doesnt just benefit one but all. The ability to make a crucial decision that makes or breaks but still get back up if it fails. The courage to undertake an action that you know hurts in the short term but you know benefits in the long term.
Maybe when he/she is slammed into the dust, is able to pick themselves up. Brush of the dust and continue walking. Facing adversity in its face, being able to beat it.
What about the capacity to care. Not just for yourself, not for your loved ones. The capacity to care for strangers. The capacity to love someone you do not know. The compassion in ones heart to help a person that they have never known their whole lives, and maybe will never ever get to meet. The willingness to lay down your life for the salvation of others?
Other measures?
How do you measure up?
Monday, July 27, 2009
humbled
the message coming through this time is humility. humility: the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.
no, you aren't better then the people u employ. i aint any better then my junkie neighbor. and we sure aint better then those out there who go to sleep hungry and wake up drinking the dirtiest water you could ever imagine.
For they did not choose the way they live.
As we did not choose ours.
But we got the lucky break.
We are not asked to step into their shoes. For a life of hardship, suffering
and poverty is not wished on anyone at all.
They didn't ask for it.
It would be impossible to comprehend what another persons situation in life is.
Be it your neighbour, or the child on the other side of the world who sleeps hungry tonight and u will never get to see.
However what we are compelled to do is to show some compassion. Lend a hand.
Be humbled, for if we were them wouldn't we like some help, in a lifes situation where it seem like tomorrow would be another struggle for survival.
Be humbled, for His love is a love that everyone deserves.
no, you aren't better then the people u employ. i aint any better then my junkie neighbor. and we sure aint better then those out there who go to sleep hungry and wake up drinking the dirtiest water you could ever imagine.
For they did not choose the way they live.
As we did not choose ours.
But we got the lucky break.
We are not asked to step into their shoes. For a life of hardship, suffering
and poverty is not wished on anyone at all.
They didn't ask for it.
It would be impossible to comprehend what another persons situation in life is.
Be it your neighbour, or the child on the other side of the world who sleeps hungry tonight and u will never get to see.
However what we are compelled to do is to show some compassion. Lend a hand.
Be humbled, for if we were them wouldn't we like some help, in a lifes situation where it seem like tomorrow would be another struggle for survival.
Be humbled, for His love is a love that everyone deserves.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Optimus Prime knows best
Recently i went to watch the much anticipated Transformers the Movie Sequel, The Revenge of The Fallen. And oh yeah, it was a kick ass movie.
Great movie, full of action.
But there was one part in the movie, which struck me.
Well yes besides the awesome fight scenes and the outrageous cgi effects.
It was when Optimus Prime, the Leader of the Autobots, who are the good guy robots, said to the humans:
" We have seen YOUR capacity for destruction. "
Ok. Let me explain. Some suit from the white house wanted the robots to share their alien, superadvance technology with the military to fight the baddies.
Optimus Prime knew better then that.
He knew our capacity for destruction.
Oh this robot ain't just buff and cool. He's wise as well.(And transforms)
For centuries, Men have been inflicting self damage and destruction.
Pillaging the earth of her resources
Waging war on each other
Spreading diseases
Killing off animals
Killing each other
Killing ourselves.
When will it stop?
When will we learn.
When do we halt our capacity for self destruction?
Do we really need a huge talking robot to tell us that?
Great movie, full of action.
But there was one part in the movie, which struck me.
Well yes besides the awesome fight scenes and the outrageous cgi effects.
It was when Optimus Prime, the Leader of the Autobots, who are the good guy robots, said to the humans:
" We have seen YOUR capacity for destruction. "
Ok. Let me explain. Some suit from the white house wanted the robots to share their alien, superadvance technology with the military to fight the baddies.
Optimus Prime knew better then that.
He knew our capacity for destruction.
Oh this robot ain't just buff and cool. He's wise as well.(And transforms)
For centuries, Men have been inflicting self damage and destruction.
Pillaging the earth of her resources
Waging war on each other
Spreading diseases
Killing off animals
Killing each other
Killing ourselves.
When will it stop?
When will we learn.
When do we halt our capacity for self destruction?
Do we really need a huge talking robot to tell us that?
Sunday, June 21, 2009
People always leave
People always leave
A phrase i heard quite a few years back from a person i consider very important in my life, even today. it was a tv show she watched. And it was a pretty important phrase from that tv show. As i reflect back at it in recent times, i realise that its quite true.
People Always Leave.
Our life, is like a revolving door. People tend to step in and out of our lives whether we like it or not. Some we may not think about too much again, others impact our lives in such wonderous, or in the worst of ways. Some stay on in our lifes for a long period of time. Others leave as quickly as they came.
And we find that this is pretty inevitable, that people came and go. And we cant really control it. Such is life, and life cant be controlled. Be it painful farewells, sudden departures or a falling out with the worst aftertastes in the mouth.
So what can we do about it?
We can learn, we can grow from it.
Today i sent someone off to the airport. She left, going back to her own country for good. She had made up her mind to leave but her departure was hastened by unforeseen circumstances. It was a quite a cheerio farewell, sad when she walked through the departure doors and i know that everyone there sending her off hoped to have spent a little more time with her.
On the drive back, i reflected on the farewell. It was one of many farewells i said in life. i hadnt known her for very long, maybe 3 months or so. But i really felt, that by knowing her, i had learnt so much already. The most important thing that felt i had learnt from her, was of Gods plans for everyone of us. How a wonderous and unique plan had been laid out for us, even before we were born.
Just one of many things i learnt. And as i continue to welcome people in life and bid farewell, i know that as painful as farewells maybe, i thank God for the people that affect me and help to educate me. There are countless things in life we can learn, and people are the best medium we can recieve it from. Yes, most aren't really goodbyes you'll see them again in time. keep in mind though, they you remember them, and the lessons they unwittingly teach you in life, just by being there.
To you who walks in that revolving door next, I pray that you will impact my life in great ways that i can learn from.
To you who walks out of that revolving door, thank you for your lessons, your presence. I pray that the person u affect next, will learn more then i have learnt from you.
And to everyone,
People Always leave
But there is a certain Someone who when u invite through the revolving door, will stand by your side never leaving, always loving you forever.
A phrase i heard quite a few years back from a person i consider very important in my life, even today. it was a tv show she watched. And it was a pretty important phrase from that tv show. As i reflect back at it in recent times, i realise that its quite true.
People Always Leave.
Our life, is like a revolving door. People tend to step in and out of our lives whether we like it or not. Some we may not think about too much again, others impact our lives in such wonderous, or in the worst of ways. Some stay on in our lifes for a long period of time. Others leave as quickly as they came.
And we find that this is pretty inevitable, that people came and go. And we cant really control it. Such is life, and life cant be controlled. Be it painful farewells, sudden departures or a falling out with the worst aftertastes in the mouth.
So what can we do about it?
We can learn, we can grow from it.
Today i sent someone off to the airport. She left, going back to her own country for good. She had made up her mind to leave but her departure was hastened by unforeseen circumstances. It was a quite a cheerio farewell, sad when she walked through the departure doors and i know that everyone there sending her off hoped to have spent a little more time with her.
On the drive back, i reflected on the farewell. It was one of many farewells i said in life. i hadnt known her for very long, maybe 3 months or so. But i really felt, that by knowing her, i had learnt so much already. The most important thing that felt i had learnt from her, was of Gods plans for everyone of us. How a wonderous and unique plan had been laid out for us, even before we were born.
Just one of many things i learnt. And as i continue to welcome people in life and bid farewell, i know that as painful as farewells maybe, i thank God for the people that affect me and help to educate me. There are countless things in life we can learn, and people are the best medium we can recieve it from. Yes, most aren't really goodbyes you'll see them again in time. keep in mind though, they you remember them, and the lessons they unwittingly teach you in life, just by being there.
To you who walks in that revolving door next, I pray that you will impact my life in great ways that i can learn from.
To you who walks out of that revolving door, thank you for your lessons, your presence. I pray that the person u affect next, will learn more then i have learnt from you.
And to everyone,
People Always leave
But there is a certain Someone who when u invite through the revolving door, will stand by your side never leaving, always loving you forever.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Got time out?
So! Just finished the motherload of assignments and just one paper left to go in this frantic/feverish exam season. Haven't had time to blog much, been skipping devotional time out. Glad for this break! Tis' the time to reconnect with God.
Woah. wait a minute here.
Whats wrong with this picture here?
Tis' the time to reconnect with God?
How in the first place did u manage to disconnect yourself from God?
Ahh....yes
the assignments, the studying, the stress, no time to sleep, the exams.
ok first of all. All the above aside, God should be put ahead of all those
other commitments in the first place. We dont take rainchecks from Mr Obama or Mr Rudd if we were actually scheduled to meet them. Why should God need to wait for us till we finish our other commitments before taking time out with Him? He is after all, the creator of the universe, He deserves no less attention from us.
secondly, God doesn't actually ask much of us. An hour a day with Him? half an hour even. Thats a mere 2 to 4% of our time with Him perday.
thirdly, time out with God is an excellent way of destressing. He is ever willing to hear our rants. He teaches us new things everyday, He is a great comforter as well. You find yourself better equipped and more refreshed when taking time with God before facing assignments or the books.
As hard as it is to say this, God isn't our friend with benefit.
He isn't the one who we turn to when we need, and just postpone, ignore
when we're busy. Yes by all means turn to him when in times of need, but when we're
fine and dandy, God still deserves the attention and time. Same applies when we feel like time constraints just isn't permitting time out for God.
Yeah so u gotta chill out and just come back to God.
Now don't you dare go and give him another raincheck!
Woah. wait a minute here.
Whats wrong with this picture here?
Tis' the time to reconnect with God?
How in the first place did u manage to disconnect yourself from God?
Ahh....yes
the assignments, the studying, the stress, no time to sleep, the exams.
ok first of all. All the above aside, God should be put ahead of all those
other commitments in the first place. We dont take rainchecks from Mr Obama or Mr Rudd if we were actually scheduled to meet them. Why should God need to wait for us till we finish our other commitments before taking time out with Him? He is after all, the creator of the universe, He deserves no less attention from us.
secondly, God doesn't actually ask much of us. An hour a day with Him? half an hour even. Thats a mere 2 to 4% of our time with Him perday.
thirdly, time out with God is an excellent way of destressing. He is ever willing to hear our rants. He teaches us new things everyday, He is a great comforter as well. You find yourself better equipped and more refreshed when taking time with God before facing assignments or the books.
As hard as it is to say this, God isn't our friend with benefit.
He isn't the one who we turn to when we need, and just postpone, ignore
when we're busy. Yes by all means turn to him when in times of need, but when we're
fine and dandy, God still deserves the attention and time. Same applies when we feel like time constraints just isn't permitting time out for God.
Yeah so u gotta chill out and just come back to God.
Now don't you dare go and give him another raincheck!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Petitioning for Greatness
Ever signed a petition? What is a petition anyway?
A petition is a request to change something.
One thing i realised is that God loves petitions.
The more the better. He even has a nickname for these petitions.
They're called prayers. And the difference is, He listens.
I had the opportunity to participate in the Global Day of Prayer on the 31st of May 2009. The Global Day of Prayer has seen millions of Christians unite in a day of repentance and united prayer. Started on July 2000 by Graham Power who had a vision to see Capetown come together and pray to the Lord in unison. Today hundreds of millions of people from 220 countries pray this prayer in unison. 10 days of constant prayer lead up to the Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday. On this day, Christians in almost every country assemble and pray. Some gather in small groups. Others gather in large stadiums of public venues.
I had the opportunity to participate in The Zion Praise Harvest Church's assembly of Christians. There were other churches and Christian groups that participated in this assembly as well. I must say i was pretty excited, imagine participating in something so big, on a global scale. I think God was excited as well. The focus of the prayers was to pray for our world, in one voice.
"If My people, who are called by My name,
will humble themselves and pray
and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven and
will forgive their sin and will heal the world."
2 Chronicles 7:14
And so we prayed for the world. We prayed for our brothers and sisters
across the world. We prayed for the oppressed, the poor, the sick.
We prayed for the rich, healthy and well off.
Everyone was prayed for.
2 prayers that broke my heart yet gave me hope:
Father of mercy and grace,
We acknowledge that we have sinned
and that our world is gripped by the power of sin.
Our hearts are grieved by injustice, hatred and violence.
We are shamed by oppression, racism and bloodshed in our land.
We mourn the loss of life in murder, war and terrorism.
Our homes are broken and our churches are divided
by rebellion and pride.
Our lives are polluted by selfishness, greed, idolatry and sexual sin.
We have grieved Your heart and brought shame to Your name.
Have mercy on us as we repent with all our hearts.
God of mercy,forgive our sins.
Pour out Your Grace and heal our land.
Spirit of the living God,
Apart from you we can do nothing.
Transform Your church into the image of Jesus Christ.
Release Your power to bring healing to the sick,
freedom to the oppressed and comfort to those who mourn.
Pour Your love into our hearts and fill us with compassion
to answer the call of the homeless and the hungry
and to enfold orphans,widows and the elderly in Your care.
Give us the wisdom and insight for the complex problems we face today.
Help us to use the resources of the earth for the well being of all.
Holy Spirit, we need Your comfort and guidance.
Transform our hearts.
And what will you be petitioning for today?
A petition is a request to change something.
One thing i realised is that God loves petitions.
The more the better. He even has a nickname for these petitions.
They're called prayers. And the difference is, He listens.
I had the opportunity to participate in the Global Day of Prayer on the 31st of May 2009. The Global Day of Prayer has seen millions of Christians unite in a day of repentance and united prayer. Started on July 2000 by Graham Power who had a vision to see Capetown come together and pray to the Lord in unison. Today hundreds of millions of people from 220 countries pray this prayer in unison. 10 days of constant prayer lead up to the Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday. On this day, Christians in almost every country assemble and pray. Some gather in small groups. Others gather in large stadiums of public venues.
I had the opportunity to participate in The Zion Praise Harvest Church's assembly of Christians. There were other churches and Christian groups that participated in this assembly as well. I must say i was pretty excited, imagine participating in something so big, on a global scale. I think God was excited as well. The focus of the prayers was to pray for our world, in one voice.
"If My people, who are called by My name,
will humble themselves and pray
and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven and
will forgive their sin and will heal the world."
2 Chronicles 7:14
And so we prayed for the world. We prayed for our brothers and sisters
across the world. We prayed for the oppressed, the poor, the sick.
We prayed for the rich, healthy and well off.
Everyone was prayed for.
2 prayers that broke my heart yet gave me hope:
Father of mercy and grace,
We acknowledge that we have sinned
and that our world is gripped by the power of sin.
Our hearts are grieved by injustice, hatred and violence.
We are shamed by oppression, racism and bloodshed in our land.
We mourn the loss of life in murder, war and terrorism.
Our homes are broken and our churches are divided
by rebellion and pride.
Our lives are polluted by selfishness, greed, idolatry and sexual sin.
We have grieved Your heart and brought shame to Your name.
Have mercy on us as we repent with all our hearts.
God of mercy,forgive our sins.
Pour out Your Grace and heal our land.
Spirit of the living God,
Apart from you we can do nothing.
Transform Your church into the image of Jesus Christ.
Release Your power to bring healing to the sick,
freedom to the oppressed and comfort to those who mourn.
Pour Your love into our hearts and fill us with compassion
to answer the call of the homeless and the hungry
and to enfold orphans,widows and the elderly in Your care.
Give us the wisdom and insight for the complex problems we face today.
Help us to use the resources of the earth for the well being of all.
Holy Spirit, we need Your comfort and guidance.
Transform our hearts.
And what will you be petitioning for today?
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Your problem, ain't my problem
Your problem, ain't my problem. Seems like a harsh thing to say.
But then again aren't we practising in our lives almost everyday?
And we say, "Hey, i totally understand what you're going through, been there, done that."
But in truth, we will never totally understand. A persons problem is unique
as seen through their mind, their eyes, their hearts.
Would you lose sleep the same way the person that encounters the problems feels his insommnia? Would the fracture in their hearts crack the same way as yours?
Its true, you might have encountered the same core problem before,
but the measure of pain, the effects, the weight of loss differs from one person to the next.
So, what does it mean to you? When you experience loss, pain and hardship
In their cases,
they aren't just losing houses, they're losing places where they grew up, places where they raise children, a place where you can feel safe.
It's more then a loss of property, or the loss of material goods.
All that you once knew, swept away in the space of days
How do you measure a lost of a brother, a mother, a spouse, any family members,
a dear friend?
For someone once said to me, Love cannot be measured. And it would be impossible to put yourself completely into someone elses shoes.
But think about it. If such disasters were to happen to you,
if such pain, such loss.
What is it to you, that you would be losing?
What would the lost of a house mean to you? The lost of a loved one?
What does it mean to you?
Wouldn't some help be nice? A prayer even?
Who cares right? Ain't my problem anyway
But then again aren't we practising in our lives almost everyday?
And we say, "Hey, i totally understand what you're going through, been there, done that."
But in truth, we will never totally understand. A persons problem is unique
as seen through their mind, their eyes, their hearts.
Would you lose sleep the same way the person that encounters the problems feels his insommnia? Would the fracture in their hearts crack the same way as yours?
Its true, you might have encountered the same core problem before,
but the measure of pain, the effects, the weight of loss differs from one person to the next.
So, what does it mean to you? When you experience loss, pain and hardship
In their cases,
they aren't just losing houses, they're losing places where they grew up, places where they raise children, a place where you can feel safe.
It's more then a loss of property, or the loss of material goods.
All that you once knew, swept away in the space of days
How do you measure a lost of a brother, a mother, a spouse, any family members,
a dear friend?
For someone once said to me, Love cannot be measured. And it would be impossible to put yourself completely into someone elses shoes.
But think about it. If such disasters were to happen to you,
if such pain, such loss.
What is it to you, that you would be losing?
What would the lost of a house mean to you? The lost of a loved one?
What does it mean to you?
Wouldn't some help be nice? A prayer even?
Who cares right? Ain't my problem anyway
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
feeling healthy?
Not too long ago i saw on a friend's messenger status that it was Nurses' Day. Hmmm...never knew when it was so i went of to google it. Sure enough 'International Nurses Day' - 12 May.Betcha didnt know that. And so we find that, Nurses are one of them unsung heroes. So to all you nurses out there, Happy Nurses Day!
This post, i hope, will be eye openers to you health care professionals and personnels out there. Especially YOU, you know who you are, this a penny for your thoughts.
Well, in poverty stricken countries today, we find that you guys are in rather popular demand.
These health care people would include Doctors, Nurses, Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Midwives ,Medical Scientists ,Psychologists, Pharmacist, Psychologists and even Dentists.
Wait a minute? Dentists?? These guy don't care too much for braces or fillings right??
WELL, imagine you find that you have a WISDOM tooth growing, nicely tucked at the back of your mouth, and oh yeah it hurts. You brave it out a day or two then submit to a very expensive dental appointment
"Sure thing, Dr. Tan will see you next monday. See you then!"
NEXT MONDAY?? @#$%**#@~~!!! i'll be dead by then!
AND you survive anyway till monday, Dr. Tan gives u some happy pills, extracts that pest of a tooth and u hurt the next few days. And life goes on.
Now put yourself into the shoes of Alejandro. Alejandro lives in the tiny village of El Castillo in Nicaragua. There are no cars and very minimal infrastructure. And you have that same wisdom tooth, tucked right at the back of your mouth, eating away at your gum. Easy, we'll just go to the nearest dentist at Managua, maybe 500km away.
oh wait, we dont have cars.
So, how does Alejandro get rid of that nasty little tooth?
We can relate this with so many different kind of situations. What if Alejandro's son had a really bad fever? What if Alejandro's wife needed to give birth? What if??
Thats where these people come into the picture.
Medicin San Frontiers - Doctors Without Borders
http://www.msf.org.au/join-our-team/who-we-need.html
http://www.projects-abroad.com.au/projects/
http://www.serveyourworld.com/articles/220/1/Medical-Volunteering-Abroad
http://www.smilepower.org/
http://www.ada.org/ada/international/volunteer/opportunities.asp
Those are just some of the volunteer projects that is around. Just countless of them out there. i think that we can deduce that there will be an evergrowing demand for volunteers in this field of work. With the poverty problem just literally growing and exploding in our faces, volunteer work is going to be around for awhile. this is one career that wont go shot.
Podcast frontline reports from MSF. Have a listen~
MSF Frontline Reports
Not so sure about u guys but field work,i tink is the most exciting thing i have ever seen! So would u rather charge some bloke an arm and a leg for a minor treatment OR save a kids arm and leg for free? We do find that people do lose arms and legs are a result of silly little infections because they didnt get proper but simple medical care.
Thats totally up to you. But yeah. think about it. if you were going to travel the world, what better way??
This post goes out to all you health care people. Every single one, whether you are out working in the field, or here in the city. City people do need doctors as well. You have one of the most honorable jobs/careers. It is after all, a reflection of what our Great Healer does so well.
Kudos to you guys, your healing hands are the real Midas' Touch.
This post, i hope, will be eye openers to you health care professionals and personnels out there. Especially YOU, you know who you are, this a penny for your thoughts.
Well, in poverty stricken countries today, we find that you guys are in rather popular demand.
These health care people would include Doctors, Nurses, Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Midwives ,Medical Scientists ,Psychologists, Pharmacist, Psychologists and even Dentists.
Wait a minute? Dentists?? These guy don't care too much for braces or fillings right??
WELL, imagine you find that you have a WISDOM tooth growing, nicely tucked at the back of your mouth, and oh yeah it hurts. You brave it out a day or two then submit to a very expensive dental appointment
"Sure thing, Dr. Tan will see you next monday. See you then!"
NEXT MONDAY?? @#$%**#@~~!!! i'll be dead by then!
AND you survive anyway till monday, Dr. Tan gives u some happy pills, extracts that pest of a tooth and u hurt the next few days. And life goes on.
Now put yourself into the shoes of Alejandro. Alejandro lives in the tiny village of El Castillo in Nicaragua. There are no cars and very minimal infrastructure. And you have that same wisdom tooth, tucked right at the back of your mouth, eating away at your gum. Easy, we'll just go to the nearest dentist at Managua, maybe 500km away.
oh wait, we dont have cars.
So, how does Alejandro get rid of that nasty little tooth?
We can relate this with so many different kind of situations. What if Alejandro's son had a really bad fever? What if Alejandro's wife needed to give birth? What if??
Thats where these people come into the picture.
Medicin San Frontiers - Doctors Without Borders
http://www.msf.org.au/join-our-team/who-we-need.html
http://www.projects-abroad.com.au/projects/
http://www.serveyourworld.com/articles/220/1/Medical-Volunteering-Abroad
http://www.smilepower.org/
http://www.ada.org/ada/international/volunteer/opportunities.asp
Those are just some of the volunteer projects that is around. Just countless of them out there. i think that we can deduce that there will be an evergrowing demand for volunteers in this field of work. With the poverty problem just literally growing and exploding in our faces, volunteer work is going to be around for awhile. this is one career that wont go shot.
Podcast frontline reports from MSF. Have a listen~
MSF Frontline Reports
Not so sure about u guys but field work,i tink is the most exciting thing i have ever seen! So would u rather charge some bloke an arm and a leg for a minor treatment OR save a kids arm and leg for free? We do find that people do lose arms and legs are a result of silly little infections because they didnt get proper but simple medical care.
Thats totally up to you. But yeah. think about it. if you were going to travel the world, what better way??
This post goes out to all you health care people. Every single one, whether you are out working in the field, or here in the city. City people do need doctors as well. You have one of the most honorable jobs/careers. It is after all, a reflection of what our Great Healer does so well.
Kudos to you guys, your healing hands are the real Midas' Touch.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
happy mothers day
Remember the parable of King Solomon and the 2 mothers.
They were fighting over a boy, a son.
It seemed as though there was no proof or witnesses to prove maternal rights.
So the wise king said
"Bring me my sword! We cannot prove who the mother of this child is.
i have no choice but to cut him in half and give each of these women
half a child each."
The real mother cried,
"My lord! Please do not kill the child! She can have him!"
The other said,
"Neither you nor i shall have this child! It is better that we cut him in two!"
And the King said, "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him, for she is his mother."
Most mothers will never have to go through a horrible test like this.
However, we can never doubt the sacrifices that our mothers make in our lives.
That 9 months of carrying is already love enough.
Spare a thought to, to mothers who love,
but cannot provide.
Imagine how they may feel,
having to bring their child into the poorest of conditions
unable to provide, unable to care as they possibly can
as a result of being trapped
in a world of poverty, misfortune and hardship
yes they are mothers too.
and they have a heart and they love their children as well.
And we find, that as we talk to most mothers.
That no matter how big the sacrifice,
no matter how difficult a baby you were,
no matter how much u disappointed her,
no matter how you turned out,
no matter how much you hurt her,
she wouldn't have it any other way.
she would give up her life for you
without a moments hesitation.
Happy Mother's Day.
This one goes out to all mothers out there.
including the one that carried our King.
They were fighting over a boy, a son.
It seemed as though there was no proof or witnesses to prove maternal rights.
So the wise king said
"Bring me my sword! We cannot prove who the mother of this child is.
i have no choice but to cut him in half and give each of these women
half a child each."
The real mother cried,
"My lord! Please do not kill the child! She can have him!"
The other said,
"Neither you nor i shall have this child! It is better that we cut him in two!"
And the King said, "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him, for she is his mother."
Most mothers will never have to go through a horrible test like this.
However, we can never doubt the sacrifices that our mothers make in our lives.
That 9 months of carrying is already love enough.
Spare a thought to, to mothers who love,
but cannot provide.
Imagine how they may feel,
having to bring their child into the poorest of conditions
unable to provide, unable to care as they possibly can
as a result of being trapped
in a world of poverty, misfortune and hardship
yes they are mothers too.
and they have a heart and they love their children as well.
And we find, that as we talk to most mothers.
That no matter how big the sacrifice,
no matter how difficult a baby you were,
no matter how much u disappointed her,
no matter how you turned out,
no matter how much you hurt her,
she wouldn't have it any other way.
she would give up her life for you
without a moments hesitation.
Happy Mother's Day.
This one goes out to all mothers out there.
including the one that carried our King.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
of justice and comparisons
think about it
there is an imbalance happening around here. things just aren't right.
does it bother you? when at this moment, happening right now
we've got people fighting for survival, hoping to see the next day
WHILE
we've got people fighting for SURVIVOR on reality television,
for your entertainment of course.
when buying your new flash pair of sneakers, think of that kid
who cant afford to buy a new pair of shoes
how is it we have countries fighting obesity and people screaming
about the effect of maccas and fast foods on our lifestyle
while we have kids dying of starvation and hunger
30000 of them will die today, because of hunger
by the way that still isn't an excuse to go get maccas
the things we take for granted in life, like bottled water
becomes treasure to others. there are people out there
with no access to clean drinking water. the only water they drink
are infested with bacteria and viruses. Plagued by disease and sickness,
they have no choice but to still drink it.
Dirty water is still better then no water at all.
we watch the evening news. we see a world of chaos, destruction and disaster.
worst of all, we see people trapped in between, falling victims to them.
we feel pity for them, then change the channel and continue with dinner.
who are we to judge? to suggest to the homeless man to get a job
Are we even any better.
Who are we to forget the oppressed, the broken
who are caught in strife and warfare that are not of their doing?
oh yes, we pity them, we feel sorry for them.
we feel THATS NOT RIGHT
and
THATS NOT FAIR
and thats it
thats all that we do, because to do more
is actually going to cost us something.
i think that it is safe to say that
when we ignore the fate of the exploited and needy,
we lend our hand to their abuse
when we look away from the starved children and broken widow
we add to their pain
when we brush of the homeless and the victims
we help to displace them
when we overlook the oppressed and the wronged
we actually rob them ourselves
when we forsake others,
we are actually forsaking ourselves.
think about it.
there is an imbalance happening around here. things just aren't right.
does it bother you? when at this moment, happening right now
we've got people fighting for survival, hoping to see the next day
WHILE
we've got people fighting for SURVIVOR on reality television,
for your entertainment of course.
when buying your new flash pair of sneakers, think of that kid
who cant afford to buy a new pair of shoes
how is it we have countries fighting obesity and people screaming
about the effect of maccas and fast foods on our lifestyle
while we have kids dying of starvation and hunger
30000 of them will die today, because of hunger
by the way that still isn't an excuse to go get maccas
the things we take for granted in life, like bottled water
becomes treasure to others. there are people out there
with no access to clean drinking water. the only water they drink
are infested with bacteria and viruses. Plagued by disease and sickness,
they have no choice but to still drink it.
Dirty water is still better then no water at all.
we watch the evening news. we see a world of chaos, destruction and disaster.
worst of all, we see people trapped in between, falling victims to them.
we feel pity for them, then change the channel and continue with dinner.
who are we to judge? to suggest to the homeless man to get a job
Are we even any better.
Who are we to forget the oppressed, the broken
who are caught in strife and warfare that are not of their doing?
oh yes, we pity them, we feel sorry for them.
we feel THATS NOT RIGHT
and
THATS NOT FAIR
and thats it
thats all that we do, because to do more
is actually going to cost us something.
i think that it is safe to say that
when we ignore the fate of the exploited and needy,
we lend our hand to their abuse
when we look away from the starved children and broken widow
we add to their pain
when we brush of the homeless and the victims
we help to displace them
when we overlook the oppressed and the wronged
we actually rob them ourselves
when we forsake others,
we are actually forsaking ourselves.
think about it.
Friday, April 24, 2009
of caste systems and extra miles
Go the Extra Mile
Go the Extra Mile is a 50km endurance walking event aimed at raising funds for Gospel for Asia's Bridge of Hope centres. 50,000 of India's Dalit children currently receive food, clothing, health services and an education at these centres - but our goal is to see that number grow to 500,000. The walk happens on May 2nd, 2009 and takes in the gentle trails along the Dandenong Creek Trail, climbing up to its finish located in the picturesque Dandenong Ranges National Park. Be a part of an amazing experience and walk or run to 50kms with your family and friends to help India's most maligned and needy children.
More details at Go the Extra Mile
And donate! Please
These kids your help.
http://www.walk4charity.com/sponsorwalkermsg.asp
Instructions on the page are relatively self explanatory.
P/s- select walker Jane Lau. Or type in team name Micah68. Whichever you prefer.
She's a mate doing a noble deed. Support her!
The Children of Dalit
one of the major things that dominate india is a caste system.
the majority of the people in india are of a lower caste.
people of a low caste they believe that they are not worth anything.
in some parts of india, they are told they do not even have a soul
The Dalits. Comes from the Hindi word, Root Dal, meaning
suppressed
crushed
OPPRESSED
Dalits have for centuries been regarded as ritually impure.
They are chucked to jobs such as faeces removal, manual scavengers, sewer cleaners.
Yeah someone has to do it anyway.
Imagine being born into a life like this.
Not having a choice of other jobs, opportunities or a different life.
Your Destiny basically is determined to do those jobs.
Adding insult to injury is that they are bonded to to these jobs, working in slave like conditions
to pay off debts incurred centuries ago.
Dallits live in segregation and experience many forms of atrocities and crimes such as
rape
murder
violence
Most crimes go unreported. Few make it to court. Success in court?
Close to zero.
WHAT caste system??? WHAT in the world is a caste system still doing in 21st Century Earth?
How can such things still be tolerated in this world.
Mankind is equal in God s eyes. Ultimately we are all brothers. No one should be give preferential treatment, what more to have less rights than others.
Jesus Christ gave his blood for everyone.
EVERYONE
including Dalits
The children of Dalit deserves the right to education, clean food, clean water.
A better life.
Go the Extra Mile is a 50km endurance walking event aimed at raising funds for Gospel for Asia's Bridge of Hope centres. 50,000 of India's Dalit children currently receive food, clothing, health services and an education at these centres - but our goal is to see that number grow to 500,000. The walk happens on May 2nd, 2009 and takes in the gentle trails along the Dandenong Creek Trail, climbing up to its finish located in the picturesque Dandenong Ranges National Park. Be a part of an amazing experience and walk or run to 50kms with your family and friends to help India's most maligned and needy children.
More details at Go the Extra Mile
And donate! Please
These kids your help.
http://www.walk4charity.com/sponsorwalkermsg.asp
Instructions on the page are relatively self explanatory.
P/s- select walker Jane Lau. Or type in team name Micah68. Whichever you prefer.
She's a mate doing a noble deed. Support her!
The Children of Dalit
one of the major things that dominate india is a caste system.
the majority of the people in india are of a lower caste.
people of a low caste they believe that they are not worth anything.
in some parts of india, they are told they do not even have a soul
The Dalits. Comes from the Hindi word, Root Dal, meaning
suppressed
crushed
OPPRESSED
Dalits have for centuries been regarded as ritually impure.
They are chucked to jobs such as faeces removal, manual scavengers, sewer cleaners.
Yeah someone has to do it anyway.
Imagine being born into a life like this.
Not having a choice of other jobs, opportunities or a different life.
Your Destiny basically is determined to do those jobs.
Adding insult to injury is that they are bonded to to these jobs, working in slave like conditions
to pay off debts incurred centuries ago.
Dallits live in segregation and experience many forms of atrocities and crimes such as
rape
murder
violence
Most crimes go unreported. Few make it to court. Success in court?
Close to zero.
WHAT caste system??? WHAT in the world is a caste system still doing in 21st Century Earth?
How can such things still be tolerated in this world.
Mankind is equal in God s eyes. Ultimately we are all brothers. No one should be give preferential treatment, what more to have less rights than others.
Jesus Christ gave his blood for everyone.
EVERYONE
including Dalits
The children of Dalit deserves the right to education, clean food, clean water.
A better life.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
foreword
"cause it is not a human right
to stare not fight
while broken nations dream
open up our eyes so blind
that we might find
mercy for the need"
to stare not fight
while broken nations dream
open up our eyes so blind
that we might find
mercy for the need"
i said i'd NEVER blog
well that has CERTAINLY changed
some time ago i had an epiphany, or awakening.
i suddenly realised that as most of you now are staring
at these crazy writings on this crazed persons blog
somewhere out there we have brothers and sisters
that live in suffering and hardship.
never in their wildest dreams would they even think
of sitting in front of a computer and read some idiots ranting.
these past weeks i have felt wave after wave
of realisation and eye openers.
and it certainly has brought me closer to God as well.
we have all these bewildering stats
about how 10% of the population or less owns like 75% of the worlds wealth.
ok i kinda made that up...
but thats not too far from the truth
and what of these stats?
we read about them,
hear about them,
be shocked,
hang our mouths open.
and yet we do nothing.
there are 2.2 billion children in this world
1 billion live in hunger and poverty everyday.
thats every second child.
now thats a real stat.
i kid you not.
the thing i dont understand is,
how on the same planet where
kids as young as eight can have ipods and mobile phones
and whatever gadgets,
there are kids who go to sleep hungry
or even die of hunger.
it isnt fair how we complain about how tough uni is
and how bad the workload is.
ok...yeah by all means complain. uni is bad.
but my hope is that, those kids.
those kids who cant even afford to buy a pen
or a writing pad, or books.
have the opportunity to complain about their grades,
or worry if they'll finish their next assignment in time.
the age of not doing anything has passed us by.
EVERYONE can do something.
however small the effort.
however useless we feel.
an effort is still an effort.
it doesnt have to be a kid on the other side of the world.
there is also a danger that while focusing on whats happening on the other side of the world,
we forget what happens right in front of us.
this blog is one my efforts,
to help raise awareness that there are people out there that need our help.
i hope you who reads it,
will realise that.
and we really need to do something.
with hearts as one, and God as our guide lets change the world.
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