Kindred Spirit - "A person whose interests are similar to one's own"
I've found more and more kindred spirits in school and I'm really blessed to learn from them and had the opportunity to share my life's experiences too. Some of them are waiting for God's direction in cross cultural work, some are struggling with institutional policies & structures that baffle, and some had the same passion in a certain area of ministry.
It's been a blessing to have kindred spirits. They encourage one to carry on walking with God in his journey because they understand, they affirm and they make one realised he's not alone.
Thank God for kindred spirits. It's wonderful.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Movie: Legion - The Humanistic Message Behind It
Humanism: "An outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters."
Firstly, this movie is so boring I nearly fell asleep. Secondly, it conveys the message that God is not an immutable* being and is not all powerful. The movie tells the story of Michael, the Archangel, coming down to earth to save a baby who is supposed to save humanity. God had ordered the baby be killed because he has lost faith in human beings(as told by Michael). But Micheal disobeyed God because he said he believes there is still hope in human beings. So Michael fought against humans that have been possessed by 'angels' to save the baby.(the possessed humans looked like zombies and kill anyone indiscriminately - looked more like satan's work than God's)
It conveys the message that God is a being who can get depressed, and so affected by this condition that he changed his mind about redeeming people, and instead bend on destroying them. [This is not true because God has been working to redeem his creation from the beginning. God even send His son, Jesus, to die for our sake in order to redeem us. God is unchanging, he is not fickle like man.(Numbers 23:19, 1 Sam 15:29, Heb 13:8, James 1:17)]
When asked for the reason why Micheal decides to disobey and come, he said it was because he saw the resoluteness of human beings - that despite destroying themselves in wickedness, some never give up in living. He said he has not lost faith in humans, but God has. And he believes humans can be saved - by their own actions, by themselves, by giving birth this baby saviour of the human race. And the show attempts to prove this by showing how Michael and the protagonists won the day by winning against God supposedly. It tells us that God is not all powerful - humans can win God by their determined fight.[The bible will tell us this is not the case. God the creator is all powerful and He has power & authority over all things - because He created them. There are tons of stories in the bible to show us this. Even nature has shown us how frail human beings are. We are helpless against earthquakes, diseases and other disasters.]
The show end by showing a resurrected Michael rescuing the baby from Gabriel (Gabriel had supposedly killed him in an earlier fight). Gabriel asked him how is it possible for him to be resurrected. To which Michael replied, "You gave him(God) what he wants. But I gave him what he needs". As if to say - "I've proven to God that human beings can still be saved. I've restored God's faith. Therefore now he changes his mind(again) and have me protect the child."
God having an unstable mind, powerless and given up on the human race? That is NOT the God that I worship. The God I worship is full of grace and love; unchanging and all powerful, merciful and compassionate. So much so that He gave His only son, Jesus for our redemption; knowing that human hearts are deceitful and incapable of saving themselves. If we(human beings) could do it, there would be world peace by now. We couldn't because our hearts are sinful - we reject God, we have a marred self identity, we have broken relationships with others and we are even destroying nature(which is part of God's creation) - we have caused sufferings for ourselves and others one way or another. God has been working to redeem us since the Fall; and one day, it'll be all over. There'll be a new heaven and a new earth - where there will be no more suffering, no more tears, no more struggles and no more sins. There will be joy and peace and life everlasting.
So beware my friends. Do not be deceived into thinking that we can save ourselves. We know how frail we are, don't we? Let us admit that, and turn to God.
"I have love you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness" - Jeremiah 31:3
*immutable = unchanging over time
Firstly, this movie is so boring I nearly fell asleep. Secondly, it conveys the message that God is not an immutable* being and is not all powerful. The movie tells the story of Michael, the Archangel, coming down to earth to save a baby who is supposed to save humanity. God had ordered the baby be killed because he has lost faith in human beings(as told by Michael). But Micheal disobeyed God because he said he believes there is still hope in human beings. So Michael fought against humans that have been possessed by 'angels' to save the baby.(the possessed humans looked like zombies and kill anyone indiscriminately - looked more like satan's work than God's)
It conveys the message that God is a being who can get depressed, and so affected by this condition that he changed his mind about redeeming people, and instead bend on destroying them. [This is not true because God has been working to redeem his creation from the beginning. God even send His son, Jesus, to die for our sake in order to redeem us. God is unchanging, he is not fickle like man.(Numbers 23:19, 1 Sam 15:29, Heb 13:8, James 1:17)]
When asked for the reason why Micheal decides to disobey and come, he said it was because he saw the resoluteness of human beings - that despite destroying themselves in wickedness, some never give up in living. He said he has not lost faith in humans, but God has. And he believes humans can be saved - by their own actions, by themselves, by giving birth this baby saviour of the human race. And the show attempts to prove this by showing how Michael and the protagonists won the day by winning against God supposedly. It tells us that God is not all powerful - humans can win God by their determined fight.[The bible will tell us this is not the case. God the creator is all powerful and He has power & authority over all things - because He created them. There are tons of stories in the bible to show us this. Even nature has shown us how frail human beings are. We are helpless against earthquakes, diseases and other disasters.]
The show end by showing a resurrected Michael rescuing the baby from Gabriel (Gabriel had supposedly killed him in an earlier fight). Gabriel asked him how is it possible for him to be resurrected. To which Michael replied, "You gave him(God) what he wants. But I gave him what he needs". As if to say - "I've proven to God that human beings can still be saved. I've restored God's faith. Therefore now he changes his mind(again) and have me protect the child."
God having an unstable mind, powerless and given up on the human race? That is NOT the God that I worship. The God I worship is full of grace and love; unchanging and all powerful, merciful and compassionate. So much so that He gave His only son, Jesus for our redemption; knowing that human hearts are deceitful and incapable of saving themselves. If we(human beings) could do it, there would be world peace by now. We couldn't because our hearts are sinful - we reject God, we have a marred self identity, we have broken relationships with others and we are even destroying nature(which is part of God's creation) - we have caused sufferings for ourselves and others one way or another. God has been working to redeem us since the Fall; and one day, it'll be all over. There'll be a new heaven and a new earth - where there will be no more suffering, no more tears, no more struggles and no more sins. There will be joy and peace and life everlasting.
So beware my friends. Do not be deceived into thinking that we can save ourselves. We know how frail we are, don't we? Let us admit that, and turn to God.
"I have love you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness" - Jeremiah 31:3
*immutable = unchanging over time
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Set your sight on God, not man.
Excerpt from "Of The Imitation of Christ - Book 2, Admonitions Pertaining to Inward Things - Chapter 2: Humble Submission" by Thomas à Kempis.
"Count not of great importance who is for you or against you (Rom 8:31; 1 Cor 4:3), but let this be your aim and care, that God be with you in every thing you do. Have a good conscience and God will defend you (Ps 28:7).
For whom God wills to help, no man's perverseness shall be able to hurt. If you know how to be silent and suffer, without doubt you shall see the help of the Lord. He Himself knows the time and manner of delivering you, and therefore you ought to resign yourself unto Him. It belongs to God to help, and to deliver from confusion."
"Count not of great importance who is for you or against you (Rom 8:31; 1 Cor 4:3), but let this be your aim and care, that God be with you in every thing you do. Have a good conscience and God will defend you (Ps 28:7).
For whom God wills to help, no man's perverseness shall be able to hurt. If you know how to be silent and suffer, without doubt you shall see the help of the Lord. He Himself knows the time and manner of delivering you, and therefore you ought to resign yourself unto Him. It belongs to God to help, and to deliver from confusion."
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Attending Funerals
"To understand and appreciate more of life, attend more funerals" - Jason Lee
If you've never been to a wake or funeral before, you'll missing out something(plus you probably do not care much about comforting someone going through grief). Go and listen to the message, sermon and testimonies in a wake and you'll find yourself understanding and appreciating more of life.
If you've never been to a wake or funeral before, you'll missing out something(plus you probably do not care much about comforting someone going through grief). Go and listen to the message, sermon and testimonies in a wake and you'll find yourself understanding and appreciating more of life.
Friday, January 08, 2010
Overlooking Obvious Needs in Our Shallow "Christian" Worldview
Imagine this. You know of a poor family that lives down the road and they are hungry. The father of this family lost his job recently and has no more money to buy food. You know they need food and you have the capacity to meet this need. But you thought that as a ‘good Christian’, you ought to pray first and ‘confirm’ God’s call for you to provide for them. So you went down on your knees and pray this prayer, “Dear Lord, do you want me to buy Kentucky Fried Chicken for them or will fried rice do? I will wait and not buy anything for them until you showed me which to buy. Please confirm it. Amen”
Does this sound ridiculous to you? But it is exactly what many churches(and christians) are facing today! They do not seem to WANT to look at the real situation and real needs and asked themselves HARD questions like, “Okay. The need is obvious. So what should we do about it as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ?”
Do you need a calling to buy food for the hungry? Or a so-called confirmation to give them food? Or even to look spiritual by praying what to buy? No, you don’t. You just need to meet their needs like how the Lord met the needs of His days some two thousand years ago by healing the sick, touching the lepers and walking with the misfits and outcasts of society.
One of the most obvious needs that most churches in Singapore overlooked is the fact that there are about 15% M brothers & sisters waiting for us to tell them the good news. This amounts to about 750,000 based on 2009’s population estimate. I would say that mission work among them is negligible or perhaps even non-existent.
I thank God for churches and organizations engaging the Chinese, the Indians, other races and the many migrant blue-collar workers in Singapore. But we have neglected the 15% long enough. It is just not acceptable to neglect this work when the need is so obvious. It is inconceivable that no one is courageous enough to engage them; when all the talk about mission and missions conferences are held year after year and tons of resources are at the disposal of mega-churches and others alike.
I used to think I should not start a work among them because I might not be around in Singapore to see it through. I was wrong. God can and I believe, will get His people to carry on and take on His work when I’m gone. It is not me. It is all Him; His heart, His passion and His desire for all to know Him and worship Him. I do not need a calling to befriend them. I do not need to form a ministry for them. I just need to be willing and following my Master.
Are you still praying for this group of people(in other parts of the world) and planning to reach them? They are living right next to you. Time for the church to bring them the full, good news.
Does this sound ridiculous to you? But it is exactly what many churches(and christians) are facing today! They do not seem to WANT to look at the real situation and real needs and asked themselves HARD questions like, “Okay. The need is obvious. So what should we do about it as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ?”
Do you need a calling to buy food for the hungry? Or a so-called confirmation to give them food? Or even to look spiritual by praying what to buy? No, you don’t. You just need to meet their needs like how the Lord met the needs of His days some two thousand years ago by healing the sick, touching the lepers and walking with the misfits and outcasts of society.
One of the most obvious needs that most churches in Singapore overlooked is the fact that there are about 15% M brothers & sisters waiting for us to tell them the good news. This amounts to about 750,000 based on 2009’s population estimate. I would say that mission work among them is negligible or perhaps even non-existent.
I thank God for churches and organizations engaging the Chinese, the Indians, other races and the many migrant blue-collar workers in Singapore. But we have neglected the 15% long enough. It is just not acceptable to neglect this work when the need is so obvious. It is inconceivable that no one is courageous enough to engage them; when all the talk about mission and missions conferences are held year after year and tons of resources are at the disposal of mega-churches and others alike.
I used to think I should not start a work among them because I might not be around in Singapore to see it through. I was wrong. God can and I believe, will get His people to carry on and take on His work when I’m gone. It is not me. It is all Him; His heart, His passion and His desire for all to know Him and worship Him. I do not need a calling to befriend them. I do not need to form a ministry for them. I just need to be willing and following my Master.
Are you still praying for this group of people(in other parts of the world) and planning to reach them? They are living right next to you. Time for the church to bring them the full, good news.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
The Mission of Jesus and the Kingdom of God
Excerpt from "When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself" by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert.
"The mission of Jesus was and is to preach the good news of the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43), to say to one and all, "I am the King of kings and Lord of lords, and I am using My power to fix everything that sin had ruined." As pastor and theologian Tim Keller states, "The kingdom is the renewal of the whole world through the entrance of supernatural forces. As things are brought back under Christ's rule and authority, they are restored to health, beauty, and freedom."
Of course there is both a "now" and a "not yet" to the kingdom. The full manifestation of the kingdom will not occur until there is a new heaven and a new earth. Only then will every tear by wiped from our eyes (Rev 21:4). But two thousand years ago, Jesus clearly stated that there is a "now" to the kingdom, saying, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21)"
Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom in word and in deed. His people, His church must do the same. Are you preaching the good news of the kingdom in word and in deed?
Read & Meditate: Luke 4:17-21
"The mission of Jesus was and is to preach the good news of the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43), to say to one and all, "I am the King of kings and Lord of lords, and I am using My power to fix everything that sin had ruined." As pastor and theologian Tim Keller states, "The kingdom is the renewal of the whole world through the entrance of supernatural forces. As things are brought back under Christ's rule and authority, they are restored to health, beauty, and freedom."
Of course there is both a "now" and a "not yet" to the kingdom. The full manifestation of the kingdom will not occur until there is a new heaven and a new earth. Only then will every tear by wiped from our eyes (Rev 21:4). But two thousand years ago, Jesus clearly stated that there is a "now" to the kingdom, saying, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21)"
Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom in word and in deed. His people, His church must do the same. Are you preaching the good news of the kingdom in word and in deed?
Read & Meditate: Luke 4:17-21
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