What is Love?

I am reminded once again of what love is.

"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." ~ 1 Cor 13:4-7

My mind goes "check, check, oops, oops" as I go through the list. How many times have I become unloving? Hmmm, I would say many. High on my list will be "does not seek its own" - aha. the auto-habitual selfish self always want the convenient and easy way out. It almost always grumble over small inconvenient things.

The other one would be "endures all things". Not an easy one huh? Especially with folks that you are adverse to, and circumstances that may make you less loving.

A very important character of love is "it does not take into account a wrong suffered". Many times a great many Christians have stumbled and fallen away because of this. It is difficult for someone who is hurt not to take into account a wrong suffered. The anger, the hurt, the pain and the bitterness demand an apology. It gave the one who has suffered the right to an apology. This is not wrong.

The problem is that many a times, the apology is not given. The hurt party demands an apology but doesn't get it. So the person gets even more upset and kept waiting for that apology to come but it never happened. Slowly, but surely, bitterness eat his life away. Is it therefore so hard to not take into account a wrong suffered? Yes it is. But Jesus teach us it is possible, and He did just that for us.

Remember my friends. Love does not take into account a wrong suffered. It is tough, but it gives life - both to yourself and the perpetrator. It is a choice you have to make. Love is a choice. Jesus chose to die for us. You and I have chosen to live for Him. So let's live for Him by loving Him, and loving your neighbours as yourselves. Dropped that wrong suffered. Love your enemies and bless them(Luke 6:27-28). And you shall see that Love never fails (1 Cor 13:8).

East Timor Reflection no.2

"What do the people need or want?" - this is probably the no.1 question on most people's mind when they have been to East Timor and thinking how to help the people. The needs are many - for some, it's daily food. for some, it is education. and for others, work and a steady income. "How do we solve all these problems?" - Wrong question. Although some people might have the perception that Timorese in general are quite a laidback people, I've seen examples that beg to differ.

I've met brilliant Timorese. And I've met brilliant Timorese youth with a never-say-die attitude and they made it through tough times. So what's the right question? I would say - "How do they solve all these problems?". And believe me, I think they are able to. If we would humble ourselves, learn from them and aid them along, and work together with them.

The other part of our world has so much resources that we are not utilizing them to the fullest. There are many needs that we can help meet with our resources, but which one comes first? I personally feel that education is the priority. Not the usually assumed academic education where one thinks that with some form of paper, they can find a decent job and live well. Come on, with 40% unemployment, what can a piece of paper do?

If you have read the book, "The book that transforms nations" by Loren Cunningham, you will know what I mean. Social skills, healthy habits, problem solving skills, working as a team, leadership skills, taking care of one’s body, moral values, conflict resolution, spiritual disciplines, godly character & development and so on as Education. It covers every aspect of a growing child and a growing adult into fuller maturity and wisdom. But besides all these good stuff, I realised after reading the book that you have to have God involved. Who's going to teach radical things like "Love your enemies? Bless those who cursed you? Consider others better than yourself? Look to the interest of others?"

If a person will have that, and willingly do it because he loves God, that'll do it. Lives will be transformed. Society will be transformed. There will be no poor people. There will be food for everyone. Our earlier questions will be answered. There will be peace in Timor. There will be prosperity.

Until then, let us change our mindsets about our Timorese friends and about ourselves. We're not in anyway smarter or greater. We're just privileged to be born and bred in a country that God has placed you and I in. And yes, you and I have a part to play in the transformation of lives. Tell them God's love. Teach them by living godly lives. God will answer your question, and theirs in due time.

East Timor Reflection no.1

    

Dinner with Aussie friends at Gleno - Orphanage founder, water project co-ordinator, educationalist, English trainer, community project manager, handyman. (the ladies are preparing food in kitchen)


 At Mary McKillop East Timor - Tetun Literacy Programme, Marungi(Moringa)workshops, compassionate care, sponsorships, justice advocacy, health education

This trip has been an eventful one. Besides losing my trail in climbing Mt.Ramelau, the other exciting aspect of this trip would be the no. of contacts and knowledge I have gained about those who are working in East Timor and for East Timor.

Even though my visit was only a short one week, God had used me to link up people and to share information with those on the field. I am glad I was of some use to those on the ground. However, there are some thoughts that lingered at the back of my mind after these encounters.

"Are we intentionally spending time to find out the good work that others are doing? Even if they are not Christians. Do we make an effort to know them? Or even to humble ourselves and learn from them?"

"Are we caught up in a "I want to do it on my own" mentality? or are we able to join/partner/support existing programs that are already running so that we do not waste resources? (and have an open door to share the good news with them as well)"

"Are we connected only through a Christian network? How about connecting with other workers and NGOs (even if they are not Christians)? Are we that exclusive (or seem to be that exclusive)?"

"Why are we not partnering or working with other groups? Is it because we failed to see that joining them (and in the process be a witness to them) is much more effective than getting them to cross over the barriers to join us? Or is it because the rigid institutional structure does not permit us to do so?"

These questions certainly makes me feel frustrated, and especially so when I am not in Timor. Perhaps it is because I've seen similar things like this happen in Cambodia, in Timor and even in Singapore. The followers of Jesus must stop being exclusive amongst themselves, and amongst other people. No church belongs to itself, and no members belong to his own church alone. All belong to Christ and are in Christ. You and I are the body - whether you're a full time worker or not. We must break out of our 'exclusive' mould.

My conclusion: The need to spend time with people who are doing a great job in Timor - Christians or not - is necessary. We better go with a humble heart or fail trying.

Manhood and Purity

Excerpt from the book, "Every Man's Battle" by Stephen Arterburn & Fred Stoeker with Mike Yorkey

"God's definition of real manhood is pretty simple: It means hearing His word and doing it. That's God's only definition of manhood-a doer of the Word."

"Men receive a chemical high from sexually charged images - a hormone called epinephrine is secreted into the bloodstream, which locks into the memory whatever stimulus is present at the time of the emotional excitement."

"Your purity must not depend upon your mate's heath or desire. God holds you responsible, and if you don't gain control before your wedding day, you can expect it to crop up after the honeymoon."

"You see, sexual impurity isn't like a tumor growing out of control inside us. We treat it that way when our prayers focus on deliverance, as we plead for someone to come remove it. Actually sexual impurity is a series of bad decisions on our part - a result of immature character - and deliverance won't deliver you into instant maturity. Character work needs to be done."

"God will run with you, but He won't run for you. It's time to plunge ahead and go like a man."

I've learned a lot from this book. Every guy should grab it and read it - you'll be surprised by the honesty in it, and biblical, practical ways in dealing with the battles every man faced - battles with sexual lusts, thoughts & temptations. Being a male does not give us guys the excuse to say we are easily stimulated by what we see. A real man deals with it and gives no room for sexually charged images to enter through his eyes.

So as the author says, go at it like a man and shape up one's character and maturity even before the wedding day arrives. It's gonna be a daily battle - so let's fight it like a man.