30 April 2009

Delilah Skit

Cletus take the reel



BWAHAHA. Tim Hawkins, I am a fan. If you know the song by Carrie Underwood "Jesus take the wheel", this is a parody of it. Aya aya wae.

Which Service?

"One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names and small American flags mounted on either side of it. The six-year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, 'Good morning Alex.'

'Good morning Pastor,' he replied, still focused on the plaque. 'Pastor, what is this? The pastor said, 'Well son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service.' Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque. Finally, little Alex's voice, barely audible and trembling with fear asked, 'Which service, the 8:30 or the 10:45?'"

stolen from girltalk.blogs.com

Swine Flu


29 April 2009

Prayer is Conflict

Prayer is no easy pastime. As I grow old I find that I am more conscious than ever of my need to pray, but it seems at the same time to become more of a struggle. It is harder to concentrate, for one thing. I was greatly helped by some private notes Amy Carmichael wrote to her "Family" (hundreds of children and their helpers, both Indian and European) in Dohnavur, South India, to help them prepare for a special day of prayer.

She quoted Paul's letter to the Colossians (2:1, KJV): "I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you." He is referring at least in part to the conflict of prayer. The same verse is translated "how greatly I strive" in the Revised Version; "how deep is my anxiety" in J.B. Phillips; and, in the Jerusalem Bible, "Yes, I want you to know that I do have to struggle hard for you... to bind you together in love and to stir your minds, so that your understanding may come to full development, until you really know God's secret in which all the jewels of wisdom and knowledge are hidden."

Here are Amy's notes:

WITH WHAT DID I STRUGGLE?

1. With all that says to me, what is the use of your praying? So many others, who know more of prayer than you do, are praying. What difference does it make whether you pray or not? Are you sure that your Lord is listening? Of course He is listening to the other prayers but yours are of such small account, are you really sure He is "bending His ear" to you?

2. With all that suggests that we are asked to give too much time to prayer. There is so much to do. Why set aside so much time just to pray?

3. With all that discourages me personally--perhaps the remembrance of past sin, perhaps spiritual or physical tiredness; with anything and everything that keeps me back from what occupied St. Paul so often--vital prayer.

WHAT WILL HELP ME MOST IN THIS WRESTLE?

1. The certain knowledge that our insignificance does not matter at all, for we do not come to the Father in our own name but in the Name of His beloved Son. His ear is always open to that Name. Of this we can be certain.

2. The certain knowledge that this is Satan's lie; he is much more afraid of our prayer than our work. (This is proved by the immense difficulties we always find when we set ourselves to pray. They are much greater than those we meet when we set ourselves to work.)

3. Isaiah 44:22 and kindred words, with 1 John 1:9, meet all distress about sin. Isaiah 40:29-31 with 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 meets everything that spiritual or physical weariness can do to hinder. Psalm 27:8 with Isaiah 45:19 meets all other difficulties. And the moment we say to our God, "Thy face, Lord, will I seek," His mighty energies come to the rescue. (See Colossians 1:2,9.) Greater, far greater, is He that is in us than he that is against us. Count on the greatness of God. But are we to go on wrestling to the end?

No, there is a point to which we come, when, utterly trusting the promise of our Father, we rest our hearts upon Him. It is then we are given what St. Paul calls access with confidence (Ephesians 3:12). But don't forget that this access is by faith, not by feeling, faith in Him our living Lord; He who says "Come unto Me" does not push us away when we come. As we go on, led by the Holy Spirit who so kindly helps our infirmities, we find ourselves in 1 John 5:14,15 and lastly in Philippians 4:6, . It is good to remember that immediate answer to prayer is not always something seen, but it is always inward peace.

And if the day ends otherwise and we are discouraged? Then tell Him so, "nothing ashamed of tears upon His feet" [here she is quoting from F.W.H. Meyers's poem "St. Paul"]. Lord, Thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love Thee. "Yes, my child, I know." But don't settle down into an "it will never be different" attitude. It will be different if only in earnest we follow on to know the Lord.

by EE

28 April 2009

I am feasting on...

What an excellent read! Hold on I haven't finished. I keep going back to what I just read. But, I'd like to share with you some glimpses of it. This book pretty much a compilation of Tozer's 6 best essays and interview before He died. Listen to these words:

"Question: Dr. Tozer, what specific steps would you suggest for the earnest seeker after the "deeper life"?

Tozer: I have never been much for "steps" in the christian life, though they may be useful to some people. For the most part, my method has been simply to plunge in on the promises of God and let God take care of the "steps". I would, however, make a few recommendations to anyone seeking a more satisfying and more God-possessed life than he now enjoys.

First, determine to take the whole thing in dead earnest. Too many of us play at Christianity. We wear salvation as a kind of convention badge admitting us into the circle of the elect, but rarely stop to focus our whole lives seriously on God's claims upon us.

Second, throw yourself out recklessly upon God. Give up everything and prepare yourself to surrender even unto death all of your ambitions, plans and possessions. And I mean this quite literally. You should not be satisfied with the mere technical aspect of surrender but press your case upon God in determined prayer until a crises has taken place within your life and there has been an actual transfer of everything from yourself to God.

Third, take a solemn vow never to claim any honor or glory or praise for anything you are or have or do. See to it that God gets all honor, all the time.

Fourth, determine not to defend yourself against detractors and persecutors. Put your reputation in God's hands and leave it there.

Fifth, mortify the flesh with affections and lusts. Every believer has been judicially put to death with Christ, but this is not enough for present victory. Freedom from the power of the flesh will come only when we have by faith and self-discipline made such death an actuality. Real death to self is a painful thing and tends to reduce a man in his own eyes and humble him into the dust. Not many follow this rugged way, but those who do are exemplary Christians."


Do I hear a "WOW"? The Second "step" reminds me of a little prayer by Betty Scott Stam. Betty is a missionary (in China I think) young mother and much like us wished for a future and peaceful life. Yet, she wrote these words when she and her daughter's life were in danger of persecution:

Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forevermore...

Those words were written and signed in Elisabeth Elliot's bible when she was 11. May this be our prayer.

27 April 2009

Reflection 20 - 27 April 2009

Overwhelm with words. There are too many things to recap what has been happening, my silly observation of human behavior (normally taken place in the mrt), my reads. I shall begin just with the order I've just mentioned.

What has been happening (or not happening)?
  • My aunt gave birth a beautiful baby boy named Micha on Thursday
  • Meeting my friend and also mentor, Tracey (and sending her off)
  • Had a conflict with my brother (again) but we solved it. Just getting at each other nerves really...being very impatient with my brother
  • Not applying for jobs, had been busy
  • Finish Revelation and start Genesis (again)
  • No church or youth fellowship
My silly observation of human behavior:
  • Saturday night mrt ride: normally couples ready for a night out on the streets or fine dining. Making you feel left out, alone, unfortunate and jealous. Hahaha. Sebel deh!
  • Seorang Thai tourist yang lagi baca tourism guide in Thai...pretty amazing...tulisan thai itu seperti kode rahasia yang menari-nari lenggak-lenggok di buku. Terkagum2 ama orang yang bisa baca itu.
  • Kesehatan kulit orang. Wahaha.
  • Seorang anak perempuan keturunan India, cantik sekali...berbaju ungu tua dengan bordiran emas. Digendong ayah...
  • Keramaian tanpa komunitas
  • Senyum dan susunan gigi manusia. Lol.
My reads:

Aduh banyak pisan. Tapi belakangan ini lagi menyimak tulisannya Tozer. Selalu menginspirasi, memuaskan, segar sekalipun beliau sudah tidak ada:
  • Untuk gereja, doakanlah supaya dia tidak menjual dirinya pada dunia tetapi tetap setia sebagai mempelai Kristus yang mulia.
  • Untuk anak Tuhan, jangan mencari kemuliaan bagi diri sendiri dalam pelayanan, dalam doa, dalam gereja. Selama motivasi kita adalah memegahkan diri, Tuhan akan membiarkan jiwamu menjadi kering dan tidak berbuah.
  • Untuk orang yang ragu-ragu dalam menerima Yesus, jangan tunda-tunda. Tahukah engkau bahwa keputusan yang kau buat adalah satu keputusan terpenting yang manusia bisa buat dalam hidupnya? Apakah kau akan membiarkan Yesus berdiri diluar pintu hatimu seolah-olah Dia minta dikasihani dan kelaparan? Sekali-kali tidak, sebab Dia adalah Tuhan, pencipta alam semesta.

25 April 2009

Where God Is Taking Us

Bishop Leslie Newbigin, in his South India Diary, tells of the union of churches which took place in South India in 1947. It was the culmination of nearly fifty years of prayer and work on the part of Indians and missionaries. At the second synod a memorable sentence was spoken: "The demand to know where we are going is one which no Christian has a right to make." The bishop writes, "In a very real sense we do not know where we are going, but we are trying to meet day by day the plain requirements of God's will. This means a constant effort to bring every part of church life and practice to the test of conformity with the Gospel."

It is not for the flock of sheep to know the pasture the Shepherd has in mind. It is for them simply to follow Him. If they knew that his plans included a valley of deep shadow, they would panic. Keeping close to the one they have learned to trust is all that is necessary. He will faithfully provide rest, refreshment, correction, and protection as the needs arise. His accompanying presence is guaranteed, all the way--even through the darkest shadows--to the house of the Lord.

by Elisabeth Elliot (EE)

23 April 2009

What Shall I do?

It is not always possible to know whether the source of an idea or deed is God or Satan, since God sometimes covers Himself in cloud and Satan is often an angel of light. It is, however, always possible to trust the Shepherd who has promised to lead us in paths of righteousness. We must do the thing that appears to be right to do at the right time and do it by faith. That is, we do it with an honest desire to obey God and a willingness to have what He wills us to have, or not to have what He does not will us to have. If it were not for uncertainties, we would have no need to walk by faith.

Show me the way that I must take;
to Thee I offer all my heart.
Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God.
Keep me safe, O Lord, for the honor of thy name.

--(Ps 143:8,10,11 NEB)

This devotional has put a smile on my face. It compels, It inspires because much peace, much trust, much confidence in the Almighty. Thank you EE, God has used your writings to bless me today.

O my soul rejoice! His mercy endureth forever.

A Testimonial to IEC Youth

I have decided to become a regular attendant of this church. Much have I learn from the examples lived out and from the study of God's word. So, this is for IEC:

I am really thankful for IEC youth fellowship. I have been blessed by you, by your faith and humbleness in serving the Lord, by the sermons in youth fellowship. Certainly, we are not meant to walk in this journey of faith alone and I have received many encouragements and prayers from the speakers and from you all. Your faith and humility really humbles me and makes me long for the same qualities. I am also inspired to dig deep into God’s word because you all are very passionate about it. Indeed, I can agree that nothing else more rewarding in life compare to knowing that the Almighty leads us, that His love never leave us regardless any circumstances and that fulfilment can only be found by living this life according to His excellent purpose for us. May the Lord continue to transform us to be more like His Son. May the Lord use this ministry as a channel for the lost to come to Himself. I am looking forward to grow together and to serve alongside with you, friends.

21 April 2009

Review: Knowing by Tony Watkins

A proper review for the movie "Knowing"

Have fun!

We Do Not Belong to Darkness

There are times when we cannot see our way, and it seems that darkness is about to overcome and hold us. It must have seemed so to the Christians in Thessalonica. Paul spoke of their grave suffering because of having welcomed his message. Must the coming of the light of God's truth bring suffering? Yes, often it does, and the one who has received it with joy is plunged into darkness. But darkness is not his master! He does not "belong" to it (1 Thes 5:6 NEB) but is in fact a "child of light," having been given word of things to come--resurrection, the sound of an archangel's voice, God's trumpet-call, the descent of the Lord Himself. "God has not destined us to the terrors of judgment.... He died for us so that we, awake or asleep, might live in company with Him" (5:9, 10). A small child is at peace even in the dark if his father or mother is with him. He has company. How different the darkness feels then.

Take the word of the Lord in your darkness. If He died to let us live in his company, is He likely to abandon us just because things look dark?

By Elizabeth Elliot

"I will never, never, never, never, never leave you nor forsake you." Heb 13:5

What Mrs. Elliot said is true. God is with me. If He already saved me for eternity, from the hopelessness and gloom of eternal death, He will certainly not abandon me on the momentary dark and rugged path I am walking. Faith is the wealth of the heavenly life. He will not have His children lacking of it.


Is Faith Easy?

A young man asked me last night if it was easier to trust God here in this country, in this comfortable house, than it was "down where all the disasters were," meaning, I suppose, in the jungle. No, I told him, you live by faith wherever you are. The house was robbed last week--a small reminder that all that I am and have belongs to the Lord, to do with as He chooses. There are enough "disasters" anywhere to keep one trusting God. In the jungle there is the immanent presence of snakes, vampires, scorpions, electric eels, etc.--to say nothing of savages' spears. In Hamilton there are thieves, the possibility of fire, plumbing or electrical breakdowns, and hanging over us at all times threats of war, totalitarianism, secular humanism, economic collapse, cancer, not to mention the "small" emergencies which can bring our best-laid plans to a halt.

"I have become absolutely convinced that neither death nor life...neither what happens today nor what may happen tomorrow has any power to separate us from the love of God" (Rom 8:38-39 JBP). So wrote Paul, whose life did not represent a series of events in which we would say it was "easy to trust." It was not easy. It was necessary. A life free from suffering would be a life in which faith in God would be a mere frill. A human life, on the contrary, is one in which faith is a necessity. Only a fool tries to do without it.

By Elizabeth Elliot

19 April 2009

The Secret to Being Rich

Contentment.
Be content with what you have, because it is given by the Father of the Heavenly Lights.
Be content with what you do not have, for the Mighty Hand of God has withheld them, for your own good.

I am content to be and have what in Thy heart, I am meant to be and have.

--(George MacDonald, Diary of an Old Soul)

I tell you, knowing the Giver really makes a whole lot of difference.

16 April 2009

Yogyakarta


YOGYAKARTA - KLA PROJECT
Aduh aku suka banget ama lagu ini. Gue emang bukan dari Jogya, bukan juga wong jowo, tapi lagu ini selalu membuat gue merasa kangen rumah, merasa kangen sama Indonesia apalagi waktu gue ada di Palmy. Gue merasa bersyukur jadi orang Indonesia, orang-orang yang murah senyum, lugu, sederhana dan sangat kental budaya. Sebuah negara yang penuh aneka ragam suku dan bahasa, subur dan kaya. Tetaplah majemuk Indonesia. Tetaplah berBhineka tunggal ika. Tetaplah berbeda-beda tapi tetap satu jua.

13 April 2009

Sesama Homo Sapiens

I went out today and the time spent in the MRT was done to observe the interaction between humans around me. Hehe. Lilis gila? Iya kali ya. Interesting what I found.

Antara Malay dan Chinese

Seorang bapak yang gue tebak mungkin memang orang melayu (dia baca koran melayu sih) baru dapat kursi duduk di MRT. Padahal tuh kursi gue incer, tapi udah keduluan dia. Nah, sebelum dia baca korannya, dia liat ada seorang auntie (of chinese descent) bawa bnyk barang siap bergelantungan trus dia nyeletuk dah "eh auntie, jhe." (sambil bangun dan merelakan tempat duduknya). Tapi, si auntie menolak. Trus, gak berapa lama. Ada chinese guy offered his seat to this auntie, eh she took it, you know. Mungkinkah si auntie masih mendiskriminasi orang malay? Mungkinkah si auntie hanya sekedar luluh dari kesombongannya untuk tetap berdiri? Anyway, si bapak malay tadi tahu kok dan dia hanya tersenyum simpul melihat tingkah auntie.

Antara Thais

Gue ngeliatin dua orang ibu-ibu sedang asyik ngobrol dalam bahasa Thai. Nampaknya dua ibu ini tukang masak abis yang satu bawa gerobak dorongan ampe masuk ke MRT. Jangan salah, gue gak ngerti Thai. Tapi yang menarik adalah bahasa tubuh mereka. Salah satu ibu tadi nampaknya berutang duit (I saw her took out $20 from her purse to give to the other lady). Trus, yang satu lagi gak mau menerimanya. Dari ekspresi mukanya, seakan berkata "ah tak usahlah, simpan saja duitmu itu." Trus, si ibu yang berutang ini mengalah dan dia langsung lipat tangan (kayak mo berdoa) trus bilang "Sawadikha". Kalo gak salah artinya terima kasih. Lipat tangan itu pun dilakukan oleh ibu yang dihutangi tadi (respon sama, saling hormat). Beautiful!

Lucu aja manusia.

12 April 2009

Today (Edited)

Today? oh what to say?
am I living in dismay?

No, no, no, no. No way!

Jesus is alive, okay!!!

Kayaknya musti diblog dalam bahasa ibu, biar lebih afdol. Hari ini gue merasa tidak ingin keluar dari gereja sebagai orang yang sama. Gue ngerasa butuh sokongan baru, satu urapan baru dari Tuhan. Gue ingin keluar dari kebaktian mengetahui dan mengerti arti kebangkitan Kristus lebih dalam lagi....dan Tuhan menjawab sih. Betul-betul orang Kristen tidak akan bisa punya pengharapan apa-apa jikalau Kristus tidak bangkit. Kalau Dia tidak bangkit, Dia berarti tidak punya kuasa.

Kuasa untuk apa, anda boleh bertanya? Kuasa yang memampukan kita untuk hidup sesuai dengan kehendakNya (tidak perlu buat dosa lagi). Kuasa yang sanggup menggenapi semua janji-janjinya pada kita. Kuasa menang atas maut. Bayangkan, setelah manusia meninggalkan dunia ini, kita sudah tidak punya kontrol sedikit pun atas apa yang akan terjadi selanjutnya. Tapi, Yesus menjanjikan bahwa maut pun tidak akan dapat menahan kita. Kita sebagai umat yang percaya, akan turut dibangkitkan. Kebangkitan Yesus sendiri adalah pernyataan kuasa Allah yang hebat. Maut sepatutnya 'menelan' kita dan menahan kita selama-lamanya karena dosa-dosa kita. Tetapi, karena KasihNya, kita pun boleh dibebaskan sepenuhnya dari kuasa maut dan hukuman atas dosa. Nah, kalau untuk hal yang sepenting ini, Tuhan aja sanggup membebaskan kita, apalagi masalah-masalah kita yang sebegitu kecil, tidak penting dan tidak urgent. Tuhan SANGGUP! Tuhan akan menjaga kita orang-orang percaya sampai maranatha. Ada harapan untuk setiap kita. YES! God's providence is here and now! You don't need to wait until He proves Himself. He already did!!! Waw. Itu loh yang menguatkan saya. Masalah2 saya mah...bagi Tuhan ahhh kecil... dan kalo Dia sanggup untuk melakukan perkara besar, apalagi perkara kecil. My life is truly worth living, every bits of it, just because Jesus lives! Puji Tuhan! Puji Tuhan! karena kuasaNya. Puji Tuhan! Puji Tuhan! karena kasihNya.

Tadi, Pak Yahya (our pastor) berbicara banyak untuk orang yang dibaptis. I tell you, I can not help but reminiscing the day I was baptized too. His prayer for all baptism candidates was also a prayer for me. That God will keep us and protect us. And He will. He will, until the day I come back to His side. Opini-opini orang itu tidak berarti apa-apa dibandingkan pengharapan dan kasih yang Kristus bisa berikan kepada kita.

Thank you for uplifting my faith, Lord! Ini sengaja ditulis, supaya suatu hari nanti kalo lupa, saya punya catatan ttg kebaikan Tuhan :).

Review: Knowing
Starring: Nicholas Cage and friends
Spoiler alert!!!!

I felt that this movie was rather gory and scary, especially in the beginning of the movie. Hiiiiy. It is about a girl who can predict exactly when the disaster will happen and how many people will be victims. This girl then became a mother and told her own daughter the day of her daugther's death, without, without leaving any clue as to how to escape it or any hope for after life. Don't you think it's scary? Dying but not knowing where to go. I am so tempted to analyze this movie in the light of the gospel.

An astrophysicist life is about to be changed because his son got the letter about the list of disasters that had happened and will happen. He himself believed that there is no purpose in life. This whole universe is created by random chance. My reaction to his belief is "how lame!!"
Tell me, creation is randomly beautiful??? The earth to be positioned at the correct distance from the Sun in order to support the life of organism is to be achieved randomly? Big Bang did it? There is no purpose to life? There is no right or wrong? I would like to challenge the statement regarding right and wrong. Because I believed you who took the indifferent stand, will not want bad things to happen to you, right? Do you want someone to torture your loved ones sadistically to the point of death for no reason whatsoever? Are you still feeling okay about it? How about the crime is done to yourself? Absolute wrong exists! therefore absolute right exists!

Back to the movie, so this astrophysicist figured out the meaning behind all numbers in the letter his son received. He tried to save people that will be killed from disaster. Finally, He came to the day when everyone will die. His son turned out to be "the chosen one", to be saved from the destruction except the father. It was a difficult choice for both. The son was then taken out from the earth using a so-called "spacecraft" but very futuristic and placed in a so-called "Eden" paradise.

I doubted the movie was produced by a Christian. I do not know the purpose of making the movie. So, my assumptions are that he is not a christian, not acquainted with the content of the bible and wishing to know/predict/picture the end of the day.

I found the fact that this movie was created, gave us indications that majority of this movie consumers would still be entertained with the thought of the end of the day. Human likes to figure out how to escape from it or survived it. This movie provided an insight of man-made rescue plan (referring to the son taken away from the earth) using sort of human/angel/alien help with supernatural power by the futuristic spacecraft to land in a paradise. Frankly, Man-made rescue plan is ugly. The father, even though he know all that is going to happen and hope to escape from the total destruction with his son, was not chosen. If one refused that hope, we can say it is all his fault. But, this guy was willing to embrace it yet he was not saved. Btw, the human created "Eden" is ugly. Surely, the real paradise is far more beautiful.

Yes, the son is saved from earth's total destruction but what is He going to do in the new place? Procreate? What purpose? Is he reunited with his dad though?

I am confused!! At one time, we discussed about the definition of an organization in one of my class. We were gathering words to define organization. I mentioned that organization has to have a purpose. My professor said "oh it is debatable!". Really?? If an organization exist without a purpose, then anything will do. We are trying to define "system" (organization is a system) thus explaining the importance of designing quality into it. If organization has no purpose, why do we even bother to integrate quality into it? Why do we bother with continuous improvement? Again if so, anything will do: low quality products is okay, not meeting consumer requirements is okay, not meeting profit is okay, the organization went to bankruptcy is also okay. Am I right?
It tells you that there could be purpose for the creation of the universe and possibly purpose in life.

Christ's rescue plan for us is perfect. He longs for people to see the hope he is offering and those who accepted it can enjoy being saved. Total destruction will ultimately come upon the inhabitants of the earth because they refused to believe or happy to stay in ignorance, living up their own ways. The new life also will be different. It will be lived with Him, the Creator, the purpose giver, The all powerful, bringing everything under His control. Not like the movie, where there is uncertainty whether the son will be met with his father (the hope "together forever" offered is an empty hope) and there seems no other beings in the land. The son was left to himself and no accompany of other supreme being. Human as "created" can only find their life totally fulfilled by serving the purpose of their "creator" has for them. Absolute happiness can be found only if the Creator is included in the equation. I think I will call Christian Hedonists my friends.

That's it for today! We had sushi after the movie and it was yummie. Guys, we must come back again :).

11 April 2009

Burnt Out

Why Lord do you allow this happened to me?
I was serving you
You know my heart O Lord
You know the stress I received from my unbelieving family
Why You do not prevent?
Why You allow me to go through
I am still far away from recovery

I can not contain my feelings
I am upset and quite discouraged, God
I am grateful for the support that I received from Church now
I am growing with them

But still when I looked back
I can not contain my disappointment
I can not accept the fact I was so stressed beyond physical exhaustion
Until it stresses out my parents too

Don't you know what they will say?
I also wonder
For during my time, I felt I can not serve with joy
I felt if I do not serve, I am not accepted in Christ
There is guilt being carried around
Totally is not right

All the more to my sadness
my parents will think Christians do still live legalistically
Where is grace?
Where is the limit?
Do one serve until their sense of pleasure was completely gone?
This will certainly be a stumbling block for them
Do one serve until they have no joy?
Why I was so stupid?
Why my self-esteem was so low?
Why can't I prevent all that from happening?

Friends, what will you do if you were me?
what if all things happened to you?
Why must this happened to me?
Why must I, who came from a non-believer background experienced this?
This made me both as ineffective witness whether on the job I was doing or my parents
Can you imagine my burdens?
Can you empathize?
Imagine, you are both the cause of stumbling block to others and the cause of harm to yourself

Where do I find hope to go on?
Where do I find strength to carry all these burdens?
Where else do I look to but to the gracious and compassionate God?
I do not have any other options God, but You.
Noone else who is able, who is sovereign enough to take care all my problems
I have nowhere else to go
But coming to You, asking You pardon for my deficiencies and drawing from your supply of Grace

Jesus, show me the way
Restore my soul O God
Refresh my heart
Strengthen my body
Renew me
like a new creation
Give me peace, patience and endurance
Perfect my faith and build up constant hope in me

I trust You
I trust You
I trust You
because You are faithful

and in the end You come out as the Victor
You are absolutely in control of all things
You will establish Your Kingdom in the end
Your Word, Your Word O Lord is true and trustworthy
You have convinced me through the years,
even as now I walked in this path of hardship
You are the way, the truth and the life
Nothing else matter more

"Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.

"They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty,

"in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. "Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the LORD Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them.

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. 3 Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things," says the LORD Almighty." Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!!!

Mal 3:13-4:3

That's Easter by St Helens Church

A short film that takes a close look at what Easter is all about, and asks why the cross and Jesus' death is such a big deal for Christians.



and ...the real evidence for the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

09 April 2009

Who is this King?

Align Center
I'd like to invite you all, who are viewing my page, if you are visiting Singapore or are in Singapore on 10 April to 12 April 2009 to come to IEC Good Friday and Easter Service.
Everyone is welcome! Feel free to drop me a line if you are interested!

Reflection on 1-9 April 2009

Father, Jesus, You have shown Yourself to be:
  • A Victor (Revelation studies)
  • Omniscient (PD 01/04, 08/04 Ev. Tjoe Jung Jung)
  • Living God, The unchangeable God, Giver of 'living' gifts (Sun Sermon 05/04 Rev. Joseph Tong)
Tuhan, terpujilah namaMu diatas segala nama!
Biarlah namaMu dipuji dan disembah
oleh segala umat, bangsa, kaum, bahasa di segala penjuru bumi!

Sebab Engkau Maha Kuasa, Engkau Maha Tahu,
Segala sesuatunya taat pada aturan dan kedaulatanMu.
Engkau tidak memiliki lawan yang sebanding.

Pada saat Engkau menyatakan murkaMu,
Sungguh kami tidak ada lagi! Musnah dan celakalah kami!
Tetapi anugerah dan pengampunanMu itu menyesakkan hatiku,
membuat aku gundah sekaligus mendiamkan aku!

Siapakah aku yang boleh layak berdiri dihadapanMu?
Siapakah aku yang boleh layak menerima segala kebaikanMu?
Sungguh benar, Engkau ditakuti oleh sebab KemurahanMu!

Siapakah aku yang boleh menghabiskan waktuku dengan sia-sia?
Siapakah aku yang boleh menghidupi hidup ini sesuai dengan keinginanku sendiri?
Sungguh benar, Jikalau Engkau meminta nyawaku, detik ini juga ia taat pergi!

Ampunilah ketidakpercayaanku!
Ampunilah aku karena kecil imanku!
Ampunilah aku!

Ampunilah kasihku yang telah menjadi dingin!
Ampunilah hatiku yang keras!
Ampunilah aku!

Kuatkanlah aku!
Bangunkanlah aku!
Mampukanlah aku!
Lilis ini milikMu!

08 April 2009

Napoleon Bonaparte on the person Jesus Christ

Napoleon expressed the following thoughts while he was exiled on the rock of St. Helena. There, the conqueror of civilized Europe had time to reflect on the measure of his accomplishments. He called Count Montholon to his side and asked him, "Can you tell me who Jesus Christ was?" The count declined to respond. Napoleon countered:

Well then, I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I myself have founded great empires; but upon what did these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love, and to this very day millions will die for Him. . . . I think I understand something of human nature; and I tell you, all these were men, and I am a man; none else is like Him: Jesus Christ was more than a man. . . . I have inspired multitudes with such an enthusiastic devotion that they would have died for me . . . but to do this is was necessary that I should be visibly present with the electric influence of my looks, my words, of my voice. When I saw men and spoke to them, I lightened up the flame of self-devotion in their hearts. . . . Christ alone has succeeded in so raising the mind of man toward the unseen, that it becomes insensible to the barriers of time and space. Across a chasm of eighteen hundred years, Jesus Christ makes a demand which is beyond all others difficult to satisfy; He asks for that which a philosopher may often seek in vain at the hands of his friends, or a father of his children, or a bride of her spouse, or a man of his brother. He asks for the human heart; He will have it entirely to Himself. He demands it unconditionally; and forthwith His demand is granted. Wonderful! In defiance of time and space, the soul of man, with all its powers and faculties, becomes an annexation to the empire of Christ. All who sincerely believe in Him, experience that remarkable, supernatural love toward Him. This phenomenon is unaccountable; it is altogether beyond the scope of man's creative powers. Time, the great destroyer, is powerless to extinguish this sacred flame; time can neither exhaust its strength nor put a limit to its range. This is it, which strikes me most; I have often thought of it. This it is which proves to me quite convincingly the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

Whatever else one may say in response, it is difficult to explain this away as mere eloquence. In fact, it was to counter mere eloquence and such artificial power that Napoleon said what he did. With unbelievable insight, he saw how Jesus Christ conquered. It was not by force, but by winning the heart.

-- from Jesus Among Other Gods by Ravi Zacharias, 2000, W. Publishing Group, Nashville, Tennessee...quoting from Henry Parry Liddon, Liddon's Bampton Lectures 1866 (London: Rivingtons, 1869), 148.

07 April 2009

I think my wife's a Calvinist by Brandon Milan


I can’t buy my wife roses
She doesn’t care a thing for them
Instead she likes Tulips
Cause they’re approved by John Calvin

She doesn’t read that Beth Moore book I bought her
She’d rather read St. Augustine
If she wasn’t a Baptist preacher’s daughter
I think she’d be Presbyterian

I think my wife’s a Calvinist
She only owns an ESV
I’m always catching her reading Romans 8:28 through 30
And Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology

She has a tattoo that says, “I heart John Piper in Greek.”
She likes Spurgeon more than she likes me
But that’s okay
I didn’t choose her, she chose me

She put me in a dog house
For liking the Emergent Church
She won’t fix my supper now
Cause I brought home a book by Norman Geisler

If you ever met her
You know she’s not mean she’s really sweet
Except when it comes to the little bitty matters
Of doctrine and theology

I think my wife’s a Calvinist
She only reads the ESV
Always hearing her quoting Romans 8:28 through 30
And Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology

She has a tattoo that says, “I heart John Piper in Greek.”
She likes Spurgeon more than she likes me
I think my wife’s a Calvinist
She only owns an ESV

She made me burn my NIV study Bible
Always reading Romans 8:28 through 30
All the time
And Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology

She has a tattoo that says, “I heart John Piper in Greek.”
And she likes Spurgeon more than she likes me
But that’s okay
I didn’t choose her she chose me

Yeah, she chose me (repeat)
She didn’t choose you she chose me

PS: Lotsa smiles thanks to Anne

Chick-Fil-A



Tom singing his favorite restaurant.

Funnies (Click to read)

05 April 2009

Review: Emma Kirkby and London Baroque


This is not a proper review. But, just to recap the concert I attended last night. At first, I was a little confused with her music because we all do not have the programme with us, so we felt quite lost. But, it didn't fail us to pick which one is the best. Hehe. I personally like the sacred cantata best: O Qualis De Coelo Sonus HMV 239 or What is this heavenly sound? She sang other two secular cantatas. The last cantata (secular) was Tu Fedel? Tu Constante? it is for an unfaithful lover. That was quite amusing to watch because it's full of angry songs from a woman to a guy.

Emma Kirkby


New things I learnt from the concert:
  • Baroque music has no end (from very soft sounding to loud) but there just seems to be no pause at all. I can just imagine the tiredness.
  • To clap. Keep clapping even after the main performance has finished to get the artist to do some encore. Clap until you have tired hands. Haha.