5000 hits.. yay!... and little did I realize that my blog is over one year old... wow... I guess time does really fly when you're having fun!
To all my faithful readers, thanks for reading, even when I know some entries can be (yawn) boring...
Anyway, have a great week! Anticipating for the next thousand hits to come by... :P
Monday, March 06, 2006
The Season of Lent
Check this out: http://www.kencollins.com/holy-04.htm
I'm pasting the article here for your convenience...
I'm pasting the article here for your convenience...
The Season of Lent
- Theme:
- Retreating Into the Wilderness with Jesus
- Dates:
- Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. Lent begins on 21 February 2007 and ends on 7 April 2007, which is the day before Easter.
In the Roman Catholic Church, Lent officially ends at sundown on 5 April (Holy Thursday), with the beginning of the mass of the Lord’s Supper.
- Colors:
- In most churches, the decorations are purple or blue, royal colors to prepare for the King. You can read more about color in worship
- The East:
- In Orthodox churches, this season is called the Great Lent. It begins on Clean Monday.
- Special Days:
- Ash Wednesday, 1 March 2006
The Annunciation, 25 March 2006
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. The ancient church that wrote, collected, canonized, and propagated the New Testament also observed Lent, believing it to be a commandment from the apostles. (See The Apostolic Constitutions, Book V, Section III.)
If your church does not observe Lent, you can find out why.
You can read about fasting, which is a spiritual discipline that does not involve starvation or dehydration. You can also read Honest to God for an explanation of what we accomplish by observing Lent.
You can find out about Lenten fasting during medieval times. The link even includes a very interesting recipe!
The Western Church
Because Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, we skip over Sundays when we calculate the length of Lent. Therefore, in the Western Church, Lent always begins on Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter.
In many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.
The Eastern Church
The Eastern Church does not skip over Sundays when calculating the length of the Great Lent. Therefore, the Great Lent always begins on Clean Monday, the seventh Monday before Easter, and ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday—using of course the eastern date for Easter. The Lenten fast is relaxed on the weekends in honor of the Sabbath (Saturday) and the Resurrection (Sunday). The Great Lent is followed by Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, which are feast days, then the Lenten fast resumes on Monday of Holy Week. Technically, in the Eastern Church, Holy Week is a separate season from the Great Lent.
Special Days
The purpose of the liturgical calendar is to relive the major events in Jesus’ life in real time, which is why Lent is forty days long. If Jesus were born on 25 December, then His conception—thus also His incarnation—would have been nine months earlier, on about 25 March. That is when the angel Gabriel would have announced Jesus’ birth to Mary. Thus 25 March is known in the historic church as The Annunciation.
Roughly speaking, the western Church consists of Protestants, Catholics, and Anglicans. The eastern Church consists of the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Oriental Orthodox churches, and the eastern-rite churches affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.
You can download a printable version of this page to use as a hand-out or a bulletin insert.
Countdown...
I have 249 days or 8 months and 4 days excluding the end date
Or:- 35 weeks (rounded down)
- 5,976 hours
- 358,560 minutes
- 21,513,600 seconds ...
I can't wait! But I must.... :P
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Secret Garden
Bruce Springsteen's song - 'Secret Garden' tells the condition that not lies just in a woman's heart, but that of every human's soul. For those who are unfamiliar with the song, it goes like this:
I believe that in everyone lies their own secret garden in their hearts. This secret garden holds our deepest and darkest secrets and desires, which we will guard all cost. We find it difficult to share it with even our closest friends or confidant. Most of the time, it is because of fear, the fear of rejection; other times, maybe we feel that no one could understand, comprehend, or appreciate it. So, we carry on in life, hiding this secret garden from everyone. In truth, we long to share it with someone, but yet we refrain because of fear.
Our secret garden can contain many different things. For some, it could be their sins - past and present, bad experiences and struggles, where shame is their motive for hiding it. It also can contain dreams and desires, some so bizzare or out-of-this-world, and thus we hide it because we fear others would belittle it. Some of us keep our 'secret love', usually a love for someone else in our secret garden because we feel that the love is forbidden (the person is attached/married to someone else) and we fear that we will be frowned upon or rejected if word gets out. Maybe we keep it secret because we want to protect the other person's heart, but yet, in the end, we feel left out and lonely. We could also be unaware of this secret garden altogether, which could be why sometimes we express or feel some unexplained emotions.
In Psalm 139, David describe his own secret garden. In verse 1, he begins: "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me." and goes on describing in detail how God is omniscient; where nothing is hidden from Him, even our secret garden. And thru Christ Jesus, God in knowing all that is within us, has chosen to not condemn us, but instead given us the Spirit of life. To me, this is the greatest news ever, because we can bring our weaknesses, joys, deepest secrets and desires, struggles, dreams and aspirations to God, and need not to feel ashamed or belittled.
Being Christians these days, it's often easy for us to 'play church'. We can attend church week after week, without growing, nor changing for the better. This however, is not God wants, because He desires that we die to ourselves everyday, and to arise with Him in our Spirits. And it doesn't matter what are struggles are because Christ, whom the bible describes as one that is familiar with our suffering and struggles, has made it possible for us to to become overcomers.
Isn't it great that we can come to God and share with Him our secret garden? And more than that, God is more than happy to be invited into it. No matter how our garden may look like, whether it's unkept, dead or may it even be blooming with flowers, God will still love us and in time, with us trusting Him more and more by surrendering ourselves to Him, He will transform that secret garden of ours into something that's so beautiful, that words will fail to describe it.
I guess that if we can't let God in to secret garden, it'll probably be harder to let anyone else in. God has made it easy for us to talk to Him thru prayer. In Revelations 3:20, Jesus said "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." May we welcome Him in today.
She'll let you in her house
If you come knockin' late at night
She'll let you in her mouth
If the words you say are right
If you pay the price
She'll let you deep inside
But there's a secret garden she hides
She'll let you in her car
To go drivin' round
She'll let you into the parts of herself
That'll bring you down
She'll let you in her heart
If you got a hammer and a vise
But into her secret garden, don't think twice
You've gone a million miles
How far'd you get
To that place where you can't remember
And you can't forget
She'll lead you down a path
There'll be tenderness in the air
She'll let you come just far enough
So you know she's really there
She'll look at you and smile
And her eyes will say
She's got a secret garden
Where everything you want
Where everything you need
Will always stay
A million miles away
If you come knockin' late at night
She'll let you in her mouth
If the words you say are right
If you pay the price
She'll let you deep inside
But there's a secret garden she hides
She'll let you in her car
To go drivin' round
She'll let you into the parts of herself
That'll bring you down
She'll let you in her heart
If you got a hammer and a vise
But into her secret garden, don't think twice
You've gone a million miles
How far'd you get
To that place where you can't remember
And you can't forget
She'll lead you down a path
There'll be tenderness in the air
She'll let you come just far enough
So you know she's really there
She'll look at you and smile
And her eyes will say
She's got a secret garden
Where everything you want
Where everything you need
Will always stay
A million miles away
I believe that in everyone lies their own secret garden in their hearts. This secret garden holds our deepest and darkest secrets and desires, which we will guard all cost. We find it difficult to share it with even our closest friends or confidant. Most of the time, it is because of fear, the fear of rejection; other times, maybe we feel that no one could understand, comprehend, or appreciate it. So, we carry on in life, hiding this secret garden from everyone. In truth, we long to share it with someone, but yet we refrain because of fear.
Our secret garden can contain many different things. For some, it could be their sins - past and present, bad experiences and struggles, where shame is their motive for hiding it. It also can contain dreams and desires, some so bizzare or out-of-this-world, and thus we hide it because we fear others would belittle it. Some of us keep our 'secret love', usually a love for someone else in our secret garden because we feel that the love is forbidden (the person is attached/married to someone else) and we fear that we will be frowned upon or rejected if word gets out. Maybe we keep it secret because we want to protect the other person's heart, but yet, in the end, we feel left out and lonely. We could also be unaware of this secret garden altogether, which could be why sometimes we express or feel some unexplained emotions.
In Psalm 139, David describe his own secret garden. In verse 1, he begins: "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me." and goes on describing in detail how God is omniscient; where nothing is hidden from Him, even our secret garden. And thru Christ Jesus, God in knowing all that is within us, has chosen to not condemn us, but instead given us the Spirit of life. To me, this is the greatest news ever, because we can bring our weaknesses, joys, deepest secrets and desires, struggles, dreams and aspirations to God, and need not to feel ashamed or belittled.
Being Christians these days, it's often easy for us to 'play church'. We can attend church week after week, without growing, nor changing for the better. This however, is not God wants, because He desires that we die to ourselves everyday, and to arise with Him in our Spirits. And it doesn't matter what are struggles are because Christ, whom the bible describes as one that is familiar with our suffering and struggles, has made it possible for us to to become overcomers.
Isn't it great that we can come to God and share with Him our secret garden? And more than that, God is more than happy to be invited into it. No matter how our garden may look like, whether it's unkept, dead or may it even be blooming with flowers, God will still love us and in time, with us trusting Him more and more by surrendering ourselves to Him, He will transform that secret garden of ours into something that's so beautiful, that words will fail to describe it.
I guess that if we can't let God in to secret garden, it'll probably be harder to let anyone else in. God has made it easy for us to talk to Him thru prayer. In Revelations 3:20, Jesus said "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." May we welcome Him in today.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Off on a trip...
Going up to the mountains for the weekend. No entries until I come back. Have a great weekend ya'all... :P
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Closures
In the journey of life, often there are events in our lives that we can't comprehend. There are times when our walk seems to be between reality and dreaming, but yet we carry on, often basing our journey on so-called "faith", or at times, "assumptions".
That's why I feel that closures are important in our lives. It acts as a checkpoint for us, telling us where we are, and often, where we need to go. For example, I consider that funerals are important, especially if the departed is someone close to us. Funerals acts as a closure for us, to inform us that this person has passed on, and that we now need to move on in our lives without the person.
Another example of closure is weddings. Weddings announce that the newly-weds are no longer in the "singles-market", and are now "off-hands" to anyone else who are still hoping for a chance with either of the couple.
However, what we often we miss out are closures in our own personal lives. Most of the time we either take things for granted, or make convenient assumptions. Here's a good example that most of us are often guilty of: Forgiveness.
Being humans, it's almost impossible to avoid friction or conflict with each other, unless of course we live on a desert island and have a basketball (Wilson) as our best friend. And the best (or worse) part of this is that, it takes very little to start a conflict. It could arise from a word, deed, OR a non-word (silence) or non-deed. We could either say or do something at the wrong time, or NOT say or do something at the right time. And in this world, people seem to be able to take offense so easily. The bible says here that when we've wronged someone, it is important for us to resolve that conflict before the sun goes down (less give the devil a foothold). However, I know many (including myself) too often not do anything about it (on the pretext of letting the person cool down) and just let time help all of us to forget about it. Usually we just avoid the person for a period of time. Then, when we come together again, if the person talks to us, we assumed that he/she has forgiven us.
This is why I believe closures are so important. Unless an active role has been initiated to resolve the issue, the issue remains as it is. Closures in forgiveness communicates the desire to reconcile and repent. I like the way John Ortberg puts it: 'Forgiving someone says:"I give up my right to hurt you back for what you've done to me."'But until it is done, the wronged stays wronged, and the unforgiven stays unforgiven.
We can even extend closures to relationships, and to be more precise, in dating/courtships. Some people take on relationships without knowing which boat they're on, and which port they're planning to embark. So, what we have is a bunch of people floating adrift in the sea of confusion, with no direction and just hoping for some kind of 'wind' to push them to the 'right' direction. This of course will just lead to more chaos. Closures in this example allows people to know what's going on, and how to move on whereever they may be.
I guess being non-expressive of our intent is generally an Asian characteristic, where we tend to be subtle about what we feel, especially if the 'feeling' can cost the loss of 'face' value. However, if we can master the art of balancing the art of communicating effectively while maintaining control of our cool, closures can definitely help us move on in our lives because it sets us free from the bondage of assumptions.
What do you think?
That's why I feel that closures are important in our lives. It acts as a checkpoint for us, telling us where we are, and often, where we need to go. For example, I consider that funerals are important, especially if the departed is someone close to us. Funerals acts as a closure for us, to inform us that this person has passed on, and that we now need to move on in our lives without the person.
Another example of closure is weddings. Weddings announce that the newly-weds are no longer in the "singles-market", and are now "off-hands" to anyone else who are still hoping for a chance with either of the couple.
However, what we often we miss out are closures in our own personal lives. Most of the time we either take things for granted, or make convenient assumptions. Here's a good example that most of us are often guilty of: Forgiveness.
Being humans, it's almost impossible to avoid friction or conflict with each other, unless of course we live on a desert island and have a basketball (Wilson) as our best friend. And the best (or worse) part of this is that, it takes very little to start a conflict. It could arise from a word, deed, OR a non-word (silence) or non-deed. We could either say or do something at the wrong time, or NOT say or do something at the right time. And in this world, people seem to be able to take offense so easily. The bible says here that when we've wronged someone, it is important for us to resolve that conflict before the sun goes down (less give the devil a foothold). However, I know many (including myself) too often not do anything about it (on the pretext of letting the person cool down) and just let time help all of us to forget about it. Usually we just avoid the person for a period of time. Then, when we come together again, if the person talks to us, we assumed that he/she has forgiven us.
This is why I believe closures are so important. Unless an active role has been initiated to resolve the issue, the issue remains as it is. Closures in forgiveness communicates the desire to reconcile and repent. I like the way John Ortberg puts it: 'Forgiving someone says:"I give up my right to hurt you back for what you've done to me."'But until it is done, the wronged stays wronged, and the unforgiven stays unforgiven.
We can even extend closures to relationships, and to be more precise, in dating/courtships. Some people take on relationships without knowing which boat they're on, and which port they're planning to embark. So, what we have is a bunch of people floating adrift in the sea of confusion, with no direction and just hoping for some kind of 'wind' to push them to the 'right' direction. This of course will just lead to more chaos. Closures in this example allows people to know what's going on, and how to move on whereever they may be.
I guess being non-expressive of our intent is generally an Asian characteristic, where we tend to be subtle about what we feel, especially if the 'feeling' can cost the loss of 'face' value. However, if we can master the art of balancing the art of communicating effectively while maintaining control of our cool, closures can definitely help us move on in our lives because it sets us free from the bondage of assumptions.
What do you think?
Monday, February 20, 2006
Monday Humor...
Somethings for you to read to past time on a hot humid Monday... Enjoy! :P
These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts and are things
people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published
by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges
were actually taking place.
Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July 15.
Q: What year?
A: Every year.
Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
Q: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget? Can you give us an example of something that you've
forgotten?
Q: How old is your son, the one living with you?
A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you?
A: Forty-five years.
Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke up that
morning?
A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan.
Q: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo or the
occult?
A: We both do.
Q: Voodoo?
A: We do.
Q: You do?
A: Yes, voodoo.
Q: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he
doesn't know about it until the next morning?
A: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
Q: Were you present when your picture was taken?
Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at that time?
Q: She had three children, right?
A: Yes.
Q: How many were boys?
A: None.
Q: Were there any girls?
Q: How was your first marriage terminated?
A: By death.
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?
Q: Can you describe the individual?
A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this a male, or a female?
Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice
which I sent to your attorney?
A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?
A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.
Q: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
A: Oral.
Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?
A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.
Q: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for blood pressure?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for breathing?
A: No.
Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the
autopsy?
A: No.
Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Q: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law
somewhere.
These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts and are things
people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published
by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges
were actually taking place.
Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July 15.
Q: What year?
A: Every year.
Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
Q: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget? Can you give us an example of something that you've
forgotten?
Q: How old is your son, the one living with you?
A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you?
A: Forty-five years.
Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke up that
morning?
A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan.
Q: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo or the
occult?
A: We both do.
Q: Voodoo?
A: We do.
Q: You do?
A: Yes, voodoo.
Q: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he
doesn't know about it until the next morning?
A: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
Q: Were you present when your picture was taken?
Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at that time?
Q: She had three children, right?
A: Yes.
Q: How many were boys?
A: None.
Q: Were there any girls?
Q: How was your first marriage terminated?
A: By death.
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?
Q: Can you describe the individual?
A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this a male, or a female?
Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice
which I sent to your attorney?
A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?
A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.
Q: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
A: Oral.
Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?
A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.
Q: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for blood pressure?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for breathing?
A: No.
Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the
autopsy?
A: No.
Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Q: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law
somewhere.
"Heaven" - Live
"Heaven"
You don't need no friends
get back your faith again
you have the power to believe
another dissident
take back your evidence
it has no power to deceive
I'll believe it when I see it, for myself
I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive
I sit with them all night
everything they say is right
but in the morning they were wrong
I'll be right by your side
come hell or water high
down any road you choose to roam
I'll believe it when I see it for myself
I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive, yeah
darling, I believe, Oh Lord
sometimes it's hard to breathe, Lord
at the bottom of the sea, yeah yeah
I'll believe it when I see it for myself
I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive
I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset
I can see the sunset
I can see the sunset
I don't need no one
Ohhhh
I don't need no one
I don't need no one
I don't need no one
To tell me about heaven
I believe
I believe it, yeah
You don't need no friends
get back your faith again
you have the power to believe
another dissident
take back your evidence
it has no power to deceive
I'll believe it when I see it, for myself
I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive
I sit with them all night
everything they say is right
but in the morning they were wrong
I'll be right by your side
come hell or water high
down any road you choose to roam
I'll believe it when I see it for myself
I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive, yeah
darling, I believe, Oh Lord
sometimes it's hard to breathe, Lord
at the bottom of the sea, yeah yeah
I'll believe it when I see it for myself
I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive
I don't need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset
I can see the sunset
I can see the sunset
I don't need no one
Ohhhh
I don't need no one
I don't need no one
I don't need no one
To tell me about heaven
I believe
I believe it, yeah
Sunday, February 19, 2006
A Christian's response to the recent Islamic caricatures
The following is an article by Pastor John Piper regarding the recent turmoil that has been caused by the Danish cartoons on Muhammad. Read on to see how we as Christians should respond...
Being Mocked: The Essence of Christ’s Work, Not Muhammad’s
Being Mocked: The Essence of Christ’s Work, Not Muhammad’s
February 8, 2006
What we saw this past week in the Islamic demonstrations over the Danish cartoons of Muhammad was another vivid depiction of the difference between Muhammad and Christ, and what it means to follow each. Not all Muslims approve the violence. But a deep lesson remains: The work of Muhammad is based on being honored and the work of Christ is based on being insulted. This produces two very different reactions to mockery.
If Christ had not been insulted, there would be no salvation. This was his saving work: to be insulted and die to rescue sinners from the wrath of God. Already in the Psalms the path of mockery was promised: “All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads” (Psalm 22:7). “He was despised and rejected by men . . . as one from whom men hide their faces . . . and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3).
When it actually happened it was worse than expected. “They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head. . . . And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they spit on him” (Matthew 27:28-30). His response to all this was patient endurance. This was the work he came to do. “Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).
This was not true of Muhammad. And Muslims do not believe it is true of Jesus. Most Muslims have been taught that Jesus was not crucified. One Sunni Muslim writes, “Muslims believe that Allah saved the Messiah from the ignominy of crucifixion.”1 Another adds, “We honor [Jesus] more than you [Christians] do. . . . We refuse to believe that God would permit him to suffer death on the cross.”2 An essential Muslim impulse is to avoid the “ignominy” of the cross.
That’s the most basic difference between Christ and Muhammad and between a Muslim and a follower of Christ. For Christ, enduring the mockery of the cross was the essence of his mission. And for a true follower of Christ enduring suffering patiently for the glory of Christ is the essence of obedience. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:11). During his life on earth Jesus was called a bastard (John 8:41), a drunkard (Matthew 11:19), a blasphemer (Matthew 26:65), a devil (Matthew 10:25); and he promised his followers the same: “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household” (Matthew 10:25).
The caricature and mockery of Christ has continued to this day. Martin Scorsese portrayed Jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ as wracked with doubt and beset with sexual lust. Andres Serrano was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts to portray Jesus on a cross sunk in a bottle of urine. The Da Vinci Code portrays Jesus as a mere mortal who married and fathered children.
How should his followers respond? On the one hand, we are grieved and angered. On the other hand, we identify with Christ, and embrace his suffering, and rejoice in our afflictions, and say with the apostle Paul that vengeance belongs to the Lord, let us love our enemies and win them with the gospel. If Christ did his work by being insulted, we must do ours likewise.
When Muhammad was portrayed in twelve cartoons in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, the uproar across the Muslim world was intense and sometimes violent. Flags were burned, embassies were torched, and at least one Christian church was stoned. The cartoonists went into hiding in fear for their lives, like Salman Rushdie before them. What does this mean?
It means that a religion with no insulted Savior will not endure insults to win the scoffers. It means that this religion is destined to bear the impossible load of upholding the honor of one who did not die and rise again to make that possible. It means that Jesus Christ is still the only hope of peace with God and peace with man. And it means that his followers must be willing to “share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10).
Footnotes
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Photos from Hong Kong
What a trip it was, the best I'd say that I ever had. Why? Because the love of my life, Angeline, was there. And such good timing as we were able to see each other on Valentine's Day. Here're some of the photos that we took. If you think it's too mushy, please call 1-800-GO-FLY-KITE, and rant there. (Operators are standing by...) :P
Saturday, February 11, 2006
She said "YES!!"
I kneeled before her, and asked her "With what you know of me now, and with what you foresee of us in the future, will you marry me?" She thought for a while, still surprised as she didn't see it coming. Then she replied "Yes, I will!"
I then put my hand in my bag, and grab a box, opened it for her and showed her the diamond ring that I've bought a month ago (with the help of mom.. Thanks mom!). I took the ring out, slip onto her finger, and it fits perfectly (Phew..). Then I turned my eyes and looked at her. She smiled, and radiance shone from her face.
This is the happiest day of my life.
"... and God will cause all things to work together for the good of those who loves Him, and have been called according to His purpose..." - Romans 8:28
Thank you Jesus.
I then put my hand in my bag, and grab a box, opened it for her and showed her the diamond ring that I've bought a month ago (with the help of mom.. Thanks mom!). I took the ring out, slip onto her finger, and it fits perfectly (Phew..). Then I turned my eyes and looked at her. She smiled, and radiance shone from her face.
This is the happiest day of my life.
"... and God will cause all things to work together for the good of those who loves Him, and have been called according to His purpose..." - Romans 8:28
Thank you Jesus.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Questions of Life Forum gone... sigh...
Just found out that the Question Of Life forum I started 2 months back have just been wiped out... without notice given... sigh...
Apparently, they'll close your account when they find it to be inactive for a week. I wished they would have informed me when they applied that policy. Well, what can I say? They didn't charge me for the forum, so I guess I can't really complain.
Sigh...
Apparently, they'll close your account when they find it to be inactive for a week. I wished they would have informed me when they applied that policy. Well, what can I say? They didn't charge me for the forum, so I guess I can't really complain.
Sigh...
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Delirious?'s comment of KL
Check this out:
http://www.delirious.co.uk/tourdiaries/world_06/kl.html
Love this part where Stu (Stuart) Garrard (Guitars, backing vocals) commented about Malaysia : "...So another new country. Another culture to taste for the first time. Another set of people to be humbled and inspired by. It's very emotional to sing History Maker to people who as Christians are in the minority and are up against so much..."
Gotta love them...
Pregnant!
To the surprise of our family, one of our member was found to be with child, not one but SIX! I was flabbergasted. How did this happen? Taking a deep breath, then I realized who the father was. And thinking further back, I guess they must have "done it" during those short moments they were together. I guess chaperoning can only go so far.
Anyway, the babies were safely delivered. Below are some of their photos. Oh yea, before I forget, I'm actually referring to my pet rabbit, Oreo, and the male culprit, Harriet. :P
Here's the new mommy, Oreo.
The culprit, i mean, new daddy - Harriet.
New kittens, and still nameless.
Now I know why they are called a 'litter' of kittens - they look like litter thrown all over.
Proud mommy of six.
Anyway, the babies were safely delivered. Below are some of their photos. Oh yea, before I forget, I'm actually referring to my pet rabbit, Oreo, and the male culprit, Harriet. :P
Here's the new mommy, Oreo.
The culprit, i mean, new daddy - Harriet.
New kittens, and still nameless.
Now I know why they are called a 'litter' of kittens - they look like litter thrown all over.
Proud mommy of six.Tuesday, February 07, 2006
What is love?
I thought this was cute...
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
"Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the way."
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your french fries without making them give you any of theirs."
"Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don't yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings."
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
"When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared they won't love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still love you, they love you even more."
"There are two kinds of love Our love. God's love. But God makes both kinds of them."
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken."
"Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
"I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her."
"Love cards like Valentine's cards say stuff on them that we'd like to say ourselves, but we wouldn't be caught dead saying."
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.
"God could have said magic words to make the nails fall off the cross, but He didn't. That's love."
What are your definitions...?
A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
"Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the way."
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your french fries without making them give you any of theirs."
"Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don't yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings."
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
"When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared they won't love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still love you, they love you even more."
"There are two kinds of love Our love. God's love. But God makes both kinds of them."
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken."
"Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
"I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her."
"Love cards like Valentine's cards say stuff on them that we'd like to say ourselves, but we wouldn't be caught dead saying."
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.
"God could have said magic words to make the nails fall off the cross, but He didn't. That's love."
What are your definitions...?
"Better Than I" - David Campbell
Currently hooked on this song... check it out here.
"Better Than I" - David Campbell
I thought I did what's right
I thought I had the answers
I thought I chose the surest road
But that road brought me here
So I put up a fight
And told you how to help me
Now just when I have given up
The truth is coming clear
You know better than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
For you know better than I
If this has been a test
I cannot see the reason
But maybe knowing I don't know
Is part of getting through
I try to do what's best
And faith has made it easy
To see the best thing I can do
Is put my trust in you
You know better than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
For you know better than I
I saw one cloud and thought it was a sky
I saw a bird and thought that I could follow
But it was you who taught that bird to fly
If I let you reach me will you teach me
For You know better than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
I'll take what answers you supply
You know better than I
"Better Than I" - David Campbell
I thought I did what's right
I thought I had the answers
I thought I chose the surest road
But that road brought me here
So I put up a fight
And told you how to help me
Now just when I have given up
The truth is coming clear
You know better than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
For you know better than I
If this has been a test
I cannot see the reason
But maybe knowing I don't know
Is part of getting through
I try to do what's best
And faith has made it easy
To see the best thing I can do
Is put my trust in you
You know better than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
For you know better than I
I saw one cloud and thought it was a sky
I saw a bird and thought that I could follow
But it was you who taught that bird to fly
If I let you reach me will you teach me
For You know better than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
I'll take what answers you supply
You know better than I
Monday, February 06, 2006
Note to self
Note to self:
Don't ever again leave an uninsulated 9-volt battery in pant's pocket filled with coins...
(It can get very hot! Sooo not good for leg...)
Don't ever again leave an uninsulated 9-volt battery in pant's pocket filled with coins...
(It can get very hot! Sooo not good for leg...)
Friday, February 03, 2006
On Forgiveness
Got this of one of the bible studies I attended with Ambrose when I was there last year in Brisbane.
"Forgiveness"
Forgiveness means resolving to live with the consequences of another person's sin. You don't forgive others for their sake; you do it for you sake.
12 Steps to Forgiveness
"Forgiveness"
Forgiveness means resolving to live with the consequences of another person's sin. You don't forgive others for their sake; you do it for you sake.
12 Steps to Forgiveness
- Ask the Lord to reveal to your mind the people you need to forgive.
- Acknowledge the hurt and the hate.
- Understand the significance of the Cross (Hebrews 10:10)
- Decide you will bear the burden of each person's sin (Galations 6:1-2)
- Decide to forgive.
- Take your list to God and pray the following: "I forgive (name) for (list all the offenses and how they made you feel)."
- Destroy the list.
- Do not expect your decision to forgive will result in major changes in the other person.
- try to understand the people you have forgiven, but don't rationalize their behavior.
- Expect positive results of forgiveness in you.
- Thank God for the lessons you have learned and the maturity you have gained as a result of the offenses and your decision to forgive the offenders (Romans 8:28-29)
- Be sure to accept your part of the blame for the offenses you suffered
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Zeal for worship
"May our zeal in public worship never exceed our zeal in private worship" - Quoted by Beth Moore from her Passion 2005 sermon
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