If I have love...

I need to be awake in less than 5 hours, but I have got to note this down. Today was a disaster by every measure I use, and if there was any excellence, it was truly a 'best-we-can-do' kind of response. However, as the Lord states personally in Isaiah 55:8-9, His ways are higher than my ways. Thus, I defer to His better wisdom and way.

Everything conspired against what I knew to be right, to be excellent, and revealed the true nature of my heart. I did not want a time in which my family-in-Christ could meet, I wanted a performance. I wanted a glittering spectacle, something I could be proud of, in my own arrogant measure.

But God does not want me to live like this. Not live in arrogance at my achievements, but to dwell in humble joy and contentment in Him. Yes, it's painfully difficult. I had to sit out the party for a little while to debate with the Lord as to the necessity of the circumstances. I have faced difficulties, but never did it persist this much. I had quite frankly pointed to the Enemy for his scheming, and did indeed pray against his machinations. Perhaps he had his part to play, but that too the Lord used to direct me to His principal point.

If I have any love, then I must elevate those whom I love. If I love them, then I will not want them to eat dirt, since there's better food on the Father's table. If I love them, then I will want them to be clothed in the authority of princes and princesses of the Realm, as I walk in. If I do nothing else, I will do as Apostle Paul did - "show a way of life that is the best of all" (1 Cor 12:31b), and that is to love.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. - 1 Cor 13:7 (NLT)

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. - 1 Cor 13:13 (NLT)

Post-it.

I will fight weariness, hunger, suffering, disappointment, foolishness and stubborn stupidity, because what I do for God now will be my story for all eternity.

In all honesty.

This is what it says in the Bible when Jesus called Matthew to a life of being His disciple,

As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. - Matthew 9:9

This is what (usually) happens when Jesus calls me to a life of being His disciple,

Jesus: "Follow Me."

Me (in several settings): 
"Wah, zhun bo? If it's you, Jesus, send me a sign."
"I want to know what to expect. Will I have [INSERT RELEVANT EARTHLY COMFORT HERE]?"
"Show me the whole plan leh. I want to know what's coming." (Thankfully, He has never entertained this request, I don't think my self-absorbed mind can handle the Big Picture)
"Wah piang, I wasn't expecting this. I had hoped for [INSERT PERSONAL OPINION HERE]."

Yep, I guess they had greater faith back then. But then, the same Jesus also states all I need is faith as small as a mustard seed to go on this journey. All I know is that God is good, and that Jesus embodies His goodness. Therefore, I will obey as Matthew did, and I pray that it be something I do forevermore.

Just thankful. No strings attached.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

    Come into His presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, He is God!

    It is He who made us, and we are His;

    we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,

    and His courts with praise!

    Give thanks to Him; bless His name!

For the Lord is good;

    His steadfast love endures forever,

    and His faithfulness to all generations.

- Psalm 100

I am just thankful. No particular reason to it. No strings attached. But it's certain, I am thankful. 

Justice as I see it.

Justice is not just the contrivance of men in wigs arguing over technical interpretations of laws in the court, but the soulful expression of the heart of a Creator God who is equal parts truth, holiness and love. To me, justice is more than meting out appropriate punishment for a person's misdeeds. It is ensuring that everyone experiences God's love, and subsequently having the choice to make a decision for oneself whether to choose life or the alternative - eternal separation from that same love.

For this reason, I will give my life away to the pursuit of justice, because my indignation at the culture of the world does not arise from seeing social principles broken, but feeling the broken-heartedness of a loving heavenly Father.

True face of Sin, also the Futility of Life

Christians, professing or not, know that they ought to lead holy lives, and sin ought not be found in them. However, living up to this high calling is no small feat. The Bible suggests...no, it states this can be done, and the Book of Acts itself attests to normal men and women who lead holy lives because of the Holy Spirit's work in them. It is a command, not an ideal — it is the hallmark of a disciple of Christ.

I do not seek today to address the propitiating worth of the blood of Christ, nor the transformative ministry of the Holy Spirit. I aim only to discuss the problem of sin, and how it undermines the authority of the Creator God, whom I call my heavenly Father through my Lord, Jesus Christ.

Sin is rebellion, and as with all rebellions, it must affront an established authority, which, in this case, is the Creator God. There are many kinds of sins, and even between two men with the same sin, they can have varying degrees, and even this degree can vary from time to time. This is too often the point of debate between men, even Christians too. However, there is no difference to God, who is Judge too, since all sin is an affront to His authority as Creator and Lord.

We have earthly authorities who set boundaries through the laws of the land. While some rulers lean towards despotism, even in this modern age, this principle still stands. The laws of the land, if broken, make the offender liable to reparations or even stiffer punishments. Since we have such courts of law and justice amongst us, will not the Creator have His own Court of law and justice? Are we not subject to His laws and His justice? As Creator, does He not have the final word on what is right or wrong?

Just as the laws of the land, if designed to permit freedom and assign rights, allow us to live free lives within its bounds, God has set certain bounds that no man should cross. Yet as a race, humanity has embraced rebellion, not obedience. Why?

The Bible speaks of the Fall of Man, when the first and woman committed sin, and allowed sin to enter the human nature. Every one since, is no free man, but subject to sin. This is sin's real power, in that it twists the original into something less than the original. We are not whole selves when born, and we will never lead whole lives without some intervention by an outside power.

I have digressed, but in closing, choosing to sin is no longer a matter in our hands. Humanity is doomed to destroy itself, because we are already lost. We are rebels without a just cause, since we seek to topple the Sovereign of the universe. Futility indeed, and frankly, we are loathesome creatures, since we have lost sight of our purpose. What is our end except to be annihilated because we have offended the Creator, Lord and Judge of all creation?

I have no desire to offend other beliefs, but if you are offended, consider this an exercise of my right to freedom of speech. You are welcome to exercise your own, within bounds, of course.

Postscript: I apologize for the length, I had not intended to use this many words to convey the point. However, I live in a fallen world, and I thought it best to give my point sufficient context and leading.

He Who makes me so.

Not that I am, or will ever be.

Yet in my quiet He whispers, "Dream"

And so I dream, let Him carry me

As a lily on a stream.

A little while where the Lord resides,

Makes a day here less frantic so.

And where I could decide,

I would rather let all else go.

I peacefully dreamt, then I awoke.

With loss for words I was so,

For while I dwelled in His abode,

He had brought me where I hoped to go.

Let's discuss reality...Part III: Faith's triumph.

Faith ultimately triumphs. This is its power, because after the testing, the bearer of that faith is known and can be put to great use. Not necessarily glorious, not necessarily popular, not necessarily famous, but always vital in the eyes of the Lord.

In this final part, I will no longer speak of the analogy I used in the earlier parts, because they focused on the importance of having an actively developing faith. Instead, I shall focus on its endpoint, the finishing line of faith.

I quote this verse from the Bible, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." (1 Cor 9:24) From this, we know that my life as a Christian does not start here and simply end here. (I concede, this is one of several verses I could use to make the point, but this one would suffice)

We are called to run a race. All races have a finish line, a place where one who finishes the race obtains a prize. Faith is not only a thing you exercise when you have to go through difficulties in life. For the Christian, faith and life is inseparable. In fact, they ought to be considered as one. Such was the attitude of the early Christians, that their faith was so deeply entrenched in their lives that it was unthinkable to consider that they separate God from their whole lives and whole being.

Hebrews 12:1-2 states how we should run this race, that we should "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

Why? Because Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is our finish line. To be where He is, is the purpose of us running the race. A runner keeps his eyes fixed on the finish line, even if he does not see it with his eyes yet. He runs because he knows it is there, and he has trained to reach it. My question to you, dear reader, is whether you are still running, or have you thrown in the towel entirely?

Postscript: I finally completed this because I needed a mental picture, and what better portrait of faith than a race itself? Also, as a final word of encouragement, keep in your heart 1 Peter 1:3-8!

Beyond expectations.

This is grossly out-of-date, but I should remind Future Me of the goodness of God to provide for the things in my life, especially the areas He calls me to serve in. LTC '13 was good, because the change turned out better than anticipated.

My reminder to 2014's me is this: You may face resistance from the people you serve with, but He who commends the work to you is behind you.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” " - the Lord, to Joshua, in Joshua 1:9

Let's discuss reality...Part II: Sustaining Faith

Previously, I likened faith to believing in something even though it makes no sense to me, because of the person who demonstrates it to me. For the sake of a common understanding, allow me to continue the use of this analogy.

Roses cannot be heard, I believe we can agree on that. Therefore, I will find it incredibly hard to sustain my faith based on what you tell me, because I do not know it myself. Shake a rose at me, and to me, it'll sound almost the same as any stick I've heard before. It doesn't matter how many times I hear you talk about the beauty of roses, my belief in your words will die quickly enough.

The only way for me to grow in my belief is NOT to hear more descriptions of roses, but to receive the senses I lack so that I too may experience it for myself. I must grow eyes to see, skin to touch, and a nose to smell. There is no other way.

Therefore, in the same manner, it is not sufficient to believe in an Almighty God who is a loving Father with only our five physical senses. Give it enough time, and the input from your physical senses will wear down any faith you have. How then is it possible to sustain faith in God the Father?

We must grow new senses so that we can "see" Him, "touch" Him, "smell" Him, "hear" Him and "taste" Him. Jesus teaches of a spiritual realm, where God reigns from, and the only way for a man to see the Kingdom of God and all its glory is for him to be "born again". In fact, Jesus has this exact conversation (John 3:1-10) with a man named Nicodemus, who had great knowledge of God, but did not have a personal experience of Him.

How will you personally experience God the Father unless you personally spend time with Him? Faith in God can come in an instant, but faith is like gold. You will not know how pure it is until it is tested with the fire of difficulties in life.

Postscript: "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." - James 1:2-4

Let's discuss reality...Part I: Defining Faith.

What is real and what is not? If I can see it, touch it, smell it, hear it, taste it, then it must be real? Philosophers will argue for something far more abstract, but for the rest of us ordinary thinkers, let's keep it at ground level.

If any of my five senses can perceive an object, it must have some substance or basis in reality, even if it cannot be detected by all of my senses. But, for discussion's sake, let's assume I have only one sense available to me - the sense of hearing. I cannot see, taste, touch or smell. My whole world is constructed from my sense of hearing, and indeed it is a very limited world. For if you try to explain to me the smell of roses, or their vibrant red color, or their soft petals, you will find that I probably will not believe you. I have plenty of reasons to doubt you, based on what I know the world to be.

If I do however believe you, that is faith. I may not know how roses smell, look or feel, but because I trust you, I believe that roses exist. And because I believe you, roses are red, smell wonderful and have soft petals. This is the essence of faith - that when something that is essentially unknowable to me is revealed to me by the ONLY means I can know the world by, I believe in that which is revealed to me. In this case, it is the existence of a thing called roses.

When somebody asks me about God and why I believe in an Almighty Creator God, who is a loving Father, I point to Jesus Christ, whom I liken to the person who came to explain to me (with only a sense of hearing) patiently and kindly about roses. He came, embodied the Creator God, spoke of a higher reality - a spiritual realm - and most importantly, demonstrated love that completely contradicts the "survival of the fittest" mentality I was conditioned since young to have.

Therefore, to quote C.S. Lewis, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Postscript: This explanation is not unfamiliar to those who have read sufficiently widely and deeply, but for both our sakes, I pray you recognize the intent of this blog, that is to educate those who do not yet know better.

Justice vs Mercy.

For those who share my tendencies, here is a thought for your fair consideration:

Perfect justice requires perfect knowledge and insight, but perfect mercy requires compassion and the means to convey it.

Which then of the two is easier for me to perform as an individual human being?

I hope you come to the same conclusion as I did.

"Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:19-21

If God is my heavenly Father, then...

"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." - Galatians 3:26-27

These are two verses that should shape the way we look at ourselves. 

"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,"

We are God's children, in His family...because of Jesus. Therefore, we ought to be richly loved...and great in humility. We deserve none of the love, yet we have received. If we are not receiving, then it is important to figure out what's hindering God's love from filling my heart and my life? It cannot be God, for He is a loving Father, unashamed to pour out His love on His children. His love heals all the wounds of the soul, of this I am sure.

"for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."

We are clothed with Christ. It does not mean we are carrying Christ on our backs. Rather, He is our righteousness (Romans 3:22), our glory (Colossians 1:27) and our means to a fruitful life (John 10:10). What Christ is to us, is as what the ring, the robe and the sandals were to the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. 

In Christ, we can call God Father, and we have complete access to Him, who holds all power and authority on heaven and earth. What do you lack? Come before your Father, for you should have nothing lacking in God.

Postscript: If the above is already part of your deepest beliefs, then consider, princes and princesses of the Realm, the dominion and sphere and arena your Father has called you to rule, influence and fight in. We are not called to live extravagantly in prosperity, but certainly called to demonstrate our Father's love extravagantly.

The iron within, and without.

This is not meant to be a movie review, but coming fresh from watching Iron Man 3, I realize that the movie was more than an action movie with a thin plot and Downey Jr's witty banter as Tony Stark. At the end, Stark realizes that the suit(s) was only an manifestation of his real nature inside. He is, through and through, Iron Man. This was the point that was made.

What then is my nature? Beneath the roles I play, as son to my parents, sibling to my sisters, leader to my members, brother to my brothers-in-Christ, mentor to my Boys, what is my nature? Impulsive? Compulsive? Analytical? 

My nature is a new one, the one that is expressed in Galatians 2:20:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

This great love of God overtakes me, overwhelms whatever labels others or myself put on me. It is no longer I who live, but Christ compels me instead. I live this life, doing whatever He wants me to do, being whoever He wants me to be. Is this a kind of slavery?

No, it cannot be, because it is based on a great and unselfish love, clearly laid out in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. This love, I know, seeks to elevate the beloved (i.e. me) to its rightful place (i.e. to be with God the Father). If so, then it cannot be slavery, since slavery focuses on the master's will, with neither care nor concern for the slave.

On this note, I also noted that Paul also goes on to tell the Galatians that the new nature we have in Christ is not internal only. The very next chapter, in Galatians 3:27, he states that we are clothed in Christ. Inside, and outside, we are covered in Christ! This is better than any metal suit I can wear, even if it's as cool as Tony Stark's! 

How great a liberty I have in Christ! How great indeed, and I only lament that my small mind can only comprehend so little! I pray that I may quickly grow more appreciative of these eternal things, and stop rejoicing in chiefly the earthly pleasures!

Christ, my solid Rock...really?

What is my identity built upon?

Cyclist? Officer? Leader? Position in family? Education level? Financial security?

Or Christ, the unwavering Anchor, sure and stedfast in every storm?

What else must He strip away from me that I may realize there is no surer Anchor than Christ alone?

When will I decide to put all of my security in Him alone?

Blessed be the Lord.

This bicycle of mine was stolen just today. To keep it short, I locked it at a location I thought was secure for 4 hours, and when I returned, it was gone. Completely gone, professionally removed with its chain lock as well. Quite frankly, I was devastated. I invested in a dedicated set of front and rear lights, mounted my rear rack permanently, and swapped out the original saddle for something much more suited to regular commutes over 10km.

I loved it, and now it had been taken away from me - forcefully. This is not the first time I have had a bike stolen. My mind was ready with its jaded cynicism, ready to curse God for the 'calamity' befallen me. My heart, however, was not.

What has changed since my last loss of a bicycle? Much has, in fact. This one, as I have stated before in a previous post, was one granted by the Lord's favor. The hardest thing for me to do was to go to Buangkok to pick it up. Is this bike entrusted to me? Yes. Is it mine? Yes and No. For "the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" (Psalm 24:1), and this one is no different.

For a little while, I was entrusted to own it. As with all the things I own, they are only mine for a season. While I have them and can use them to my will, I do not have the final say on them, just as I do not have final say over the course of my life. Also in a previous post, I stated that only God has the final say over my life. You can be sure I will pray to have it back! And if I tire of that, I will surely ask for God to grant me a new one. However, their fulfilment are not in my control. Instead, I surrender all control of the situation to Him, who loves me and cares for me.

Therefore, I also pray to have the attitude of Job, whose words resound in my heart in this circumstance - "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." (Job 1:21) Honor from men holds great value, but pales in comparison to the esteem of the Lord, because verse 22 says "In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."

This is the goal I press onwards to, knowing what I believe is true and that God is loving and just. And certainly, I pray that I may enjoy the favor that Job enjoyed because of the attitude he held throughout his long trial. Forty-one chapters later, Job is restored to his former riches and even greater! For the Lord esteems him who honors Him before men, even if it brings them tears and suffering. All suffering is only temporal, after all.

In summary, I will praise the Lord, whether in tears or in joy. Let His name be greatly praised in all my circumstances!

Romans 8:28

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28

Yes, I love God. How exactly, then, does a near miss with a car when I had front and rear lights fully lit, plus right-of-way with other motorists giving me way, fit into Your plan?

I could take a variety of views into account, the first of which is the "it was a miracle you didn't get injured" view. While that is true, and for which I am immensely thankful, I certainly didn't need an incident like that to prove the importance of being lit-up and riding defensively.

A lesson in humility? Perhaps so, for my mortality loomed large in that moment as the car screeched to a halt scant centimeters from my rear wheel. I can practise all the defensive riding I want, but like I always say, "If someone genuinely wanted to knock you down with his vehicle, there's very little you can do to avoid it."

Perhaps, the most pertinent view is also one that I scarcely gave thought to - the lesson was not for me, but for the driver of the vehicle. He was clearly sober, which meant his decision to not slow down along a deceleration lane exiting the expressway, and not stop at the "Give Way" line when there is another vehicle on the outer filter lane blocking his line-of-sight, was a matter of habit. This is clearly a habit this driver needs to kick, if he was to stay out of future trouble.

Coupling this view with the knowledge that my God is a God of mercy, love and justice, this is perhaps the best assurance I can afford myself, given the information at hand.

Postscript: Yes, it was very scary, in case you wonder how I can state such a situation with sobriety and no cursing. I had half a mind to reprimand the driver, but he knew he was at fault, so all was forgiven.

Press on in good works.

Frankly, I am pretty frustrated with this week. All I have is 24 hours in a day. I cannot do everything. I am not unthankful, and while it has been tough, I have had grace from the good Lord for many areas in my life. It took good men, with sound faith and dedication to excellence, to put into action what I had began. They were able to be present at the activities which I had hoped to be present. For these good men, I am thankful.

It is not easy to be a Christian, and reading the entire epistle to Titus (it's not hard at all, since it's only 3 chapters long). I had always thought that this was a book in which Apostle Paul described the requirement for leaders and older people in a church to Titus. No, it wasn't. It was written this way because at its heart, it needed to convey one important point that I missed.

It is about preparing God's people to show God's glory in them. We represent God through our lives, and if our lives do not carry a commitment to good works, then we fail to demonstrate the good God that we serve. The point of it is NOT the doing, but what good works demonstrates to others. Good works are a testimony of God's goodness in our lives, a signpost that firmly points to the Hope living inside of us - Jesus Christ.

To quote the book of Titus,
 "But—“When God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone." - Titus 3:4-8

Therefore, I ought to stop whining about the difficult good works I have opportunity to do and press on, "for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

Redeeming Reason.

Reason is a faculty of the mind, and I thank God that I possess a sufficient amount to appreciate the universe at large. But reason is a power honed through use, and a power we take for granted. In its simplest form, it helps us make daily decisions, especially in unfamiliar circumstances.

For example, when I have to be at a particular venue at a particular time, I exercise reason in deciding what time to leave my house, what mode of transport to take, what route to travel via, and in a case whereby several options are available, to weigh the pros and cons of each option. Reason, therefore, is an important necessity for every man.

In a more developed form, reason allows a person to set a course of action for his life. A plethora of factors influence one's reasoning, but in the light of my recent interactions with young children, I realize the development of reason (whether sound or not) rests on the presence of three factors: 

1. Knowledge

2. Curiosity

3. An environment that fosters the former two.

Like fire, the absence of any one of these factors mean that the faculty of reason will not arise. However, the analogy ceases to be useful from this point forwards, since there is no possibility that these three factors do not exist at all.

Knowledge is acquired through a variety of means, the first of all through our five senses. Even if born blind, the remaining senses continue to provide the mind with knowledge about one's surroundings. Therefore, in general, knowledge is not in short supply. Empirically useful knowledge, however, is not always readily available. Empiricalness is established by repeated observability. In children, I believe this to mean that they must be able to perceive the knowledge repeatedly through their senses. As we all differ, so must the manner with which young minds be trained to acquire knowledge with their senses. Some require more manual and deliberate input than others.

Curiosity, fortunately, is inherent to all human beings. The only problem I have noticed about curiosity is how to keep this tender organ intact throughout all of life. It is not a frail organ, but with repeated abuse through starvation (i.e. not satisfying curiosity), it can shrink and become negligible. Preventing this requires constant care, first by the human influences in a child's life, second by the young mind made aware of the importance of his curiosity.

Lastly, an environment that fosters useful knowledge and curiosity. This factor can be both controllable and uncontrollable. I deem it controllable, as the first place where we gain reason is at home, and our family (keyword: parents) have a significant part to play. At the same time, I must say that there are uncontrollable aspects of the environment, i.e. those outside of the home. 

Whether controllable or uncontrollable, the environmental factor is to reason as oxygen is to fire. Without oxygen, the hottest fuel merely glows, or at best, is a scalding vapor. But fire gives off both light and warmth. While the environment is key here, but bear in mind, what good is the promotion of good habits if good habits have no place in society?

Proverbs 22:6 - "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." 

James 3:1 - "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." 

Indeed, whether of the Word or of the world, teachers have a daunting task, to wrestle against preconceptions in their pupils, and society's decay into nihilism and hedonism.

Postscript:  At the end of this lengthy and cumbersome post, I must state my purpose of writing. I am entering a time of transition, to decide soon whether to have personal freedom or greater opportunity to fulfill a calling. Either way, I do not want to leave God out of the decision-making process. I just wished He made it easier to decide.

Lastly, for the more refined thinkers who chance upon this post, please bear with the gross simplification. The intent is not to educate, but to create awareness.