Wisdom of God (1)

Posted on June 13, 2013 by clay

This morning, a pastor came to our office to share. I came and listened she quoted a lot of theory and expert’s say, which i can’t remember. What i don’t understand, why people like to complicate things…

It’s quite silly to think that these so called experts can say these and those theories, and experiments “proves” certain things before Christian could embrace things…………

Some examples, like a Thankful heart. It’s researched and shown that thankful people life healthier…..and use that as compelling reason for Christian to be more thankful?? Or another one, study found that having short toilet break to talk to God is also helpful for the day-day work. So Christians should have this habit………

I feel like those are very basic things in life of a Christian…that it’s so basic we don’t have to talk about it and bring it to the level of research and studies, and professors to agree….

What a complicated world…

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Random thoughts and comments

Posted on June 6, 2013 by clay

Been disturbed recently by the many false teachings going on around. Last night told my wife that there’re only two things that pissed me off.

First, bossy people. And second, the false teachers. Somehow when met with these two group of people, my blood just boils up…

Deeper i thought, it’s probably due to the deceitfulness of our hearts. Hence the heart finds way to justify the course of life, with something less than the truth. And it’s pretty scarry how one can find “looks good” excuses to justify sin. I just called it sin anything that deviate from the truth.

It saddened me also, when so many people are being brainwashed with this look good, feel good gospel. Focus so much on this life, that makes people forget this life just temporary, and there’s life after that……….But that’s the idol of this age. A happy and comfortable life.

And i’m being reminded by Jesus, and his faithful follower Paul. If that’s the goal of life, Jesus won’t come down to earth and had to suffer at the cross. And if that’s the good life all about, both Jesus and Paul could have it enough. What’s the reason to suffer for others? Absolutely none.

And isn’t it the same faith that being commended of the people of whom these false teachers referring too? Dont’ they read, that Moses, chose to be associated with his people than the wealth and riches of Egypt, because the reproach of Christ? (Heb 11:26) Did Moses see Christ before? You bet!

And didn’t Abraham didn’t even spare his one and beloved son when God demanded from him? The very thing that he’s been waiting for years, being sacrificed, and he obeyed? How many of these false teachers willing to sacrifice the very thing they claim they have obtained? I wonder……… For they’re only after the blessing of Abraham.

But that’s Jesus’ word exactly about. In the last days, there’ll be such persecution against his followers. And he who endures will be saved. I wonder, if life is so good and comfortable, why want to wait for the new world? Why one need to endure? Because Jesus prophecies it won’t be an easy life for all his followers. They’re just an alien in this world. And as such, discomfort is very natural

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I told her the wrong Jesus

Posted on June 3, 2013 by clay

Last night, I spent quite bit of time to play with my daughter. And noticed she was getting bored with all the toys, so i pulled up her bible. Let her flip around, as she’s getting better at it. What an improvement…now she can flip gently and not pulling the papers apart.

I tried to tell stories as she flip around the bible. To make sense the pictures. Some pictures are very hard to guess what it’s about. But after awhile, i realize it’s the story of Jesus. So i told her about Jesus from the picture i saw, pointing to the man in white.

Later, i took the Bible and read the story there myself. Only then I realize, that in the picture, Jesus is the one wearing blue, while Jairus is wearing white. I assumed Jesus is wearing white….who ever thought the cartoonist draw Jesus wearing blue…hahaha….:)

After that I explained to her, Jairus the one wearing white, and his face look anxious. I hope my daughter won’t learn the wrong lesson

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Prayer of Jabez (1)

Posted on May 29, 2013 by clay

This morning, someone read the prayer of Jabez (1 Chro 4:9-10). It’s interesting how the person starts with saying that scholars can’t find any historical context to this. So what is presented in the passage, is all there is. So, not much can be written, except from what the text says.

That leaves the interpretation on the hand of the interpreter. Since scholar can’t say much due to limited source. And the source only limited to 2 verses. And it makes it dangerous also to comment on something without clear reference..

Somehow this morning, as the passage was being read. I got an interesting observation. It’s true that Jabez asked for blessing, enlargement of territory and God granted him his request. The easiest application would be to follow it exactly…to ask for God’s blessing and successful life. Second application would be to grow bigger, better influence, better in many things in life.

But i think it’s misleading based on the short context that was given. All there is, is all that we need. First of all, Jabez cried out to the God of Israel. The term “God of Israel”, is referring to the God of Jacob. The God of covenant. Out of the long list of names, it’s noteworthy that only Jabez cried out to God of Israel. None of his fathers before did that. And so it’s no wonder that it get attention. Jabez cried out to the True God, and God answered him. The point is God of Israel is God…..others are not God. I think that’s probably the valid point the author is trying to make.

And second thing, is what his prayer about. God of Israel answers prayer that others can’t give. The essence of Jabez prayer is to reverse his destiny. His name was given as reminder of bad occasion (pain in childbirth, which is the curse). And Jabez stood against it, and he asked for God’s blessing, and deliverance from pain. In the sense, his crying out to God against the destiny that his life would be painful life. Life has to make sense, and deep down he knows there’s God who can deliver him. So he cried out and answered.

So i thought it shows two things: the power of God & the goodness of God.

And therefore we all could have hope, that life can be changed with God. We don’t have to be controlled by “destiny” or “fate”. Our name is always reflection of our parent’s hope, and probably our character and personhood.

Sometimes, out of unfortunate circumstances, we inherit a bad name….and Jabez prayer tells us to stand up against it. And God honors that prayer. He didn’t create mankind to suffer. God could change the destiny. Jabez that means pain was reverse to be no pain. He is God of reversal.

On the other hand, sometimes, our name carries too heavy expectations that we unable to meet or fulfill. This too, i believe, God desires to answer. That we could live up to the name that we inherit. We may never think we could live up to it. But this prayer, inspire me that God could answer it so we could live up to our name.

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Short Lived Good Times

Posted on May 19, 2013 by clay

Tonight, I continued the unpacking and sorting things out. And found a lot of past receipts. Suddenly as i read one by one the receipts, it brought back the memories…

I could recall the restaurants we enjoyed during our honeymoon. And suddenly…all the memories came back. The hot afternoon when we cycled down, and i was scared when i didn’t see her. I regretted to put her behind, and if something happened, would have lost her just in few days after getting to know her. The romantic dinner, the cheap and nice seafood dinner by the beach, the very nice lunch we ate so much……..and the nice villa & hotel in the middle of the padi field……

Then the next set of receipts brought back the memories….just 4 months later, the first episode began. She had strange symptom, half her body got numbed. And we scanned her in Surabaya, visited specialist, and got her some medication. That was the beginning of the dark days….

Never knew what happened, till then few months later, the darkest year in my life, and les s than a year of our marriage.

I wonder…why the good times so short lived, while the bad times seem so long? I don’t know. The sweetness of those good times remain sweet. It exists the same moment of those painful moments brought by the bad times. It’s strange… I don’t know how this will end here…I guess nobody knows.

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A good memory, a blessing from distant past

Posted on May 18, 2013 by clay

I was sorting out my things. And i found this piece of paper…almost gone. And i realised the texture, the colour, the folding. True to my feeling, it’s the memorable paper, contains the name & address of the person i’ll always remember.

He’s the first person in UK who showed me kindness. Suddenly the thought went back to many years ago in the past. How i came as a young teenager in a foreign land, and how this man showed me so much kindness. I will never forget the scene, when he came to my hostel, rode a bicycle, and then passed the bicycle to me. And the parting scene also, when I rode the bicycle to his home and returned it back to him.

I don’t know if i’d meet him again. But if i’ve a chance to visit Cambridge again, certainly I would love to visit him. And i’d love too, to show kindness to his family. I wonder if any of his children ever come and visit Singapore.

Another good surprise, after i read his wife’s name. The first part is similar to my wife, and the second part, is the name of the house i stayed for many years here. I’ve never paid attention to it, or remembered it…and now it seems very clear 🙂  The 10 over years past…the Lord has set for good.

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Children, I love them because …

Posted on May 10, 2013 by clay

Reposting my reflection on earlier days….

Children, i love them because they enjoy my being not my doing
Children, i love them because they value what i do and not what i say
Children, i love them because they make fun of what i say and not what i am 

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Tax Surprise

Posted on May 9, 2013 by clay

God has a kind sense of humor. And he does speak in interesting ways.

This month is a heavy month for me. At first, we hope with the move to our own house, we could start saving. Who knows that after 2 months, our expenses still eats into our savings. And for our great delight, my company paid a bonus this month. It was such great delight to initial sadness that this month we still can’t start saving.

However, just last week, my eyes suddenly can’t see properly. I was panicked, afraid, and felt very downcast. This time is my right eye that suddenly can’t see properly. All the negative thoughts came…

Continue reading →

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Notes of Encouragement

Posted on May 5, 2013 by clay

Tonite, have a bit of quiet and peaceful time since the little one fallen asleep. And as i’m sorting out things to be kept / thrown, i found the form filled up by old friend.

Somehow i kept it, and tonite as i read it again, as if i’m reading it for first time. And it brought back many memories. After many years … that note refreshes me again. That i was once like the one described and did those things i’ve forgotten. And yes, probably person like me, often forget what i had done (good and bad)……the written note serves very good reminder.

I thank God again if i ever be such blessing, and did a good job. And i pray may the Lord keep them too, wherever they’re now, whatever they’re doing now. Thank you friend. I miss the good old times and wish that one day we would meet again.

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The God of Abraham

Posted on April 20, 2013 by clay

Often heard and said in the Bible, the phrase “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”. It doesn’t seem to trigger anything, except that He is a covenant God. This afternoon, as I was preparing for Gen 24, the idea came….this man keeps calling Him, as God of his master Abraham….or we can say “God of Abraham”. It is repeated so many times….”God of my master Abraham.”

And God of Abraham answered him. God made his journey successful, and he accomplished his mission. How he at the beginning of the journey was doubtful, and when he see God’s answer, bowed down to the ground and worshipped…..twice.

He must have witnessed the most powerful thing happening. God of Abraham…able to do the impossible….finding a woman to be his master’s son wife in foreign country, among so many women.

And the thought came to strike me……this powerful God of Abraham, who called him, gave him promise, fulfilled his promise, also my God, and of all who call upon His Name. He is God of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob…….and also God of me. Same power, same compassion, same promise, and same powerful outcome.

15 years ago, i left my home country with nothing, except this phrase “God is enough”. And fifteen years later, here I am, with a house & family. If it’s not God’s blessing to bring out the impossible…..I don’t know. I just so thankful that He even included me in his wonderful purpose. All i’m doing, perhaps in eternity will be known. And how thankful I am and would be, he thought so highly of me……and given me such privilege. Who am I? Yet he is so good to me.

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