my life, my thoughts

Well said...

2010-09-11T17:38:00.000-07:00

“As Christians we are called to love our neighbors, do good to them and build bridges of understanding and respect and, by so doing, demonstrate the character of our faith." Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe

Saved by an Atheist | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

2010-08-27T10:19:00.000-07:00

Saved by an Atheist | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

one of the most unforgettable articles read...

Of talking and words.

2010-07-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 18:21
²¹ The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Nasty poisoned words does hurts and can hurt very badly. These words could be blurted out of bitterness, irritation, insensitivity or lack of processing etc.

Usually the victims could be the innocent people around us. It makes life unpleasant for others, affect other people's day.

"Kind words are like honey -- sweet to the soul and healthy for the body" (Proverbs 16:24, NLT).

Some nice wordings from Albert Einstein

2010-07-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

Our time is rich in inventive minds, the inventions of which could facilitate our lives considerably. We are crossing the seas by power and utilise power also in order to relieve humanity from all tiring muscular work. We have learned to fly and we are able to send messages and news without any difficulty over the entire world through electric waves. However, the production and distribution of commodities is entirely unorganised so that everybody must live in fear of being eliminated from the economic cycle, in this way suffering for the want of everything. Further more, people living in different countries kill each other at irregular time intervals, so that also for this reason any one who thinks about the future must live in fear and terror. This is due to the fact that the intelligence and character of the masses are incomparably lower than the intelligence and character of the few who produce some thing valuable for the community. I trust that posterity will read these statements with a feeling of proud and justified superiority. --- Albert Einstein

A Different Perspectives

2010-06-24T21:18:00.000-07:00

Changing one's perspectives of a situation does wonder. This is not by being naively optimistic but really objective looking at the situation as a whole.

As a whole, yes.. as a whole.. When things happen, tendency is to conclude whatever has happened instinctively basing on emotion, first impression or the surface observations. But many other hidden implications or blind spots tend to be left undiscovered.

Something seemingly bad happens, the verdict immediately given is that it is bad, depressing and the green light is given to go ahead and be depressed or react to it.

In Philippians 1:12-14, we see Paul in chains in prison for doing God's work. Easily, he can complain, he can be angry with God or people, he can lament etc... But he saw it in another light. " ¹²Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. ¹³As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^[b] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly."

As a result, he was able to respond with a different attitude and positive way objectively despite being in prison, in chains, away from loves one, uncertainty and discomfort.

Of course, there are more to say about Paul's time in prison, but today i will just dwell on the perspective part.

The Giver, Ecc 5:19-20

2010-05-26T06:38:00.000-07:00

Ecc 5:18-20

from NIV study bible commentary.."God wants us to view what we have (whether it is much or little) with the right perspective. Our possessions are gifts from God. Although they are not the source of joy, they are a reason to rejoice because every good things comes from God. We should focus more on God than the gift. We can be content with what we have when we realise that with God we have everything we need..."

Matt 7:11
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

The Giver would like us to enjoy the gifts but not forgetting the Giver.Behind the Giver's gift (little or much), is a Giver who cares and loves and is concerned about us.

Closed a bit more deals recently, can really thank Him for the providence. He knows that I need the bucks for wedding and etc after enduring a long period of time with little deals. He certainly cares and provides. Guess even during times when deals were little, there were many numerous valuable experience and lessons to be learn too.

Michelle Tumes - Lovely

2010-04-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

Love this song. Like the way the lyrics is beautifully penned, beautifully describing how God is in the author's life.

........................................................
Michelle Tumes - Lovely

You're the sweet dreams that soothe me
When I can't fall asleep.
You're the field
In the middle of the city.
When I'm rushing by
At the speed of light.

You're the strong resolution
When I find no peace.
You're the church bells ringing
In the evening.
When all is quiet,
Your whisper comfort
Lifts my heart.
I get so weak.

Ohhh.... You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe.
(my universe)
A thousand times
I look around me and I find...

Ohh... you're lovely. (lovely)
You're the center of my universe.
(my universe)
A million ways
Cannot explain,
You're lovely.

You're the soft words that touch me
When I just can't speak.
You're the breeze on the ocean
In the morning,
Reminding me
To greet the day.

You're the flowers I remember
Seeing in Italy.
Colors through
A golden haze,
Bright and radiant,
Soft and fragrant
In the noon day sun,
It makes me sing.

Ohh... You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe.
(my universe)
A thousand times
I look around me and I find...

Ohh... You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe.
(my universe)
A million ways
Cannot explain
You're lovely.

I understand...
There may be grief
And there may be pain.
But I am aware
You blind the darkness
With who You are
Because...

Ohh... You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe.
(my universe)
A thousand times
I look around me and I find...

Ohh... You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe.
(my universe)
A million ways
Cannot explain
You're lovely.

Why Our Happiness Is So Sad: Legalism and the Happiness Mentality's Effect on the Grieving

2010-01-12T08:58:00.000-08:00

Why Our Happiness Is So Sad: Legalism and the Happiness Mentality's Effect on the Grieving

Nice read...

testing

2010-01-07T10:16:00.001-08:00

test

Quite a handful of thoughts triggered from half of Luke 1

2010-01-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

Zechariah was praying for a child(Luke 1: 12; your prayer has been heard...) in his advance years ( Luke 1:9; they were both well along in years...).

mm..not bad...quite a faith he's having..considering it's quite against the odd to pray for a child when they were well along in years and they were couples who loved God from their heart (Luke 1:6; observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly and were upright in the sight of God... // evidence from the phrasing that it speaks favorably of them. They're not just doing the forms of serving and following laws only, but out of the heart, reveals about their heart for Him.)

So what's the point..they were couples who trusted in God and loved God. Persevered in faith in God with regards to having a child despite their age and at the same time not demanding from God which isn't evident from the way the passage describes and how they were blessed subsequently with John. They continued to walk with God, serving Him out of their heart for God.

Conclusion so far....inspiring..haha..
Reminded: Trust God's goodness and timing. Continue to have faith in Him, continue strongly in our relationship with Him, continue to serve out that relationship with Him.

Surprises...Zec's child is John, who would have a very direct role in God's plan of Jesus.
Zec was just praying for a child but little did he know of God's plan for the child...surprise surprise.

Thoughts..appreciate that our answered prayers could very much be God's plan for something bigger which we could not forsee or perceive. We could only see so much so far, God sees everything ha..

Nice clip about failures and life

2009-10-14T08:22:00.001-07:00

new blog, new start

2009-10-11T02:10:00.000-07:00

haiz...had to delete my old blog cause there were some technical error that somehow could not be resolved.

Question to ponder

2009-10-11T01:38:00.000-07:00

proverbs 21:31

¹³ If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too will cry out and not be answered.

Who the ones in my sphere?
What would the Lord wants me to do specifically?

Proverbs that captures me and the joys of reading them..

2009-10-11T00:43:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 18:17

The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.

It's a practical principle from WOG in context of making decision. Even in the way we perceive things. So how?

The first to present his case puts a case from his perspective with all his reasoning, till another comes to offer a possible perspective of things.

It's easy to just be swayed or agree with a subtly lob sided account of a subject matter and it takes discipline and a discerning mind to sieve through the entire account. Hearing the question from another or ourselves questioning the account purposefully, it helps to see a clearer picture of things.

This principle i find personally is very important as we want to show grace and understanding the way Jesus did. It's useful in relationships, views towards issues in life/world/nations, mediating or providing useful help.

For me personally, it is useful in helping me to hold the critical side of me. It helps me to hold back so that i can respond instead of reacting and most see things in a balanced and informed manner. As I go about thinking about this verse, I felt thankful that God gave me this very useful mental framework for He know I badly needed this.

But of course, not forgetting HS's guidance for discernment and wisdom as many times things potentially can be quite well and beyond what i can see, hidden things or facts i did not know or facts overlooked despite the best effort.

In summary, i would again use another proverbs (one of my favorite too) to describe, Proverbs 21:31 (The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.).. Proverbs 18:15 helps me better ready my horse for battle in this particular area while trusting the Lord for the victory.

It definitely helps me move away from this increasingly..

Proverbs 18

² A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
but delights in airing his own opinions.

With a fool, it is harder to find grace, mercy and love....