crash and burn, or is it?

travelling at high speed...  you see the pole. you know the crash is coming. it is on the way. it is going to happen.

going. the word is going.
but it has not yet happened.
things are going in slow motion. and you can turn in the last mili-second moment.

situations and issues in life may seem like that. with things spiralling down fast and one by one things start to break apart and with pressure mounting, it seems too late.

the only possible outcome is crash and burn, or is it?

we have a choice.

serving who?

clashing of opinions can come. misunderstandings can happen. miscommunication. wrong words can be said. different types of approaches. different opinions of certain methods. it can get sad. can get offended. at lack of respect. at some assumptions already done.

 would you get angry? yeah... but more of a sad type of angry. these things happen. but it doesn't matter. cause i serve God. not man. if you're very sure of that and God has pointed, take the time to work it out with others and communicate better. nothing to be scared of. clarify.

it's a test.

sermonette

the first time doing a sermonette for the children during the monthly Family Sunday. needed it to be visual. praise God for His inspiration...

A Tupperware. (Pour in drinking water)

“can we drink the water?” (yes)
Yes, we can drink the water (maybe i drink).

Then one day, i told a lie to my parents, (i dip a brush of black paint once) it makes the water a little bit not clean.
Another day, i didn’t share with my friends. ( i dip again)
i got angry and hurt my friends. ( i dip again)
i stole something i didnt' have. ( i dip again) Etc...
The more and more i make wrong and selfish decisions, (i dip more) the water becomes dirtier and dirtier.
Can we drink the water? (no)

Can i have 2 volunteers? (wrapping paper and ribbon) I need your help to wrap the Tupperware and tie a ribbon. Make it look nice. (wrapping)
Now, doesn’t it look wonderful? (wrapped)
Will you drink the water now?
(no)
What if i decorate it with money? (money)
Will you drink the water now?
(no)
What if i build a nice house around it?
Will you drink the water now?
(no)
So no matter what i do to make it look nice, we know that inside is still dirty.

Even if i covered it with money, we know the inside is still dirty. This Tupperware of water is like our heart inside. Inside can be clean or dirty. We can do a lot of things to put around or cover it, but God looks at the heart.

God was looking for the king and God ask the prophet Samuel to go and visit Jesse’s family. The prophet Samuel went to the first son. God said no. And the second? God still said no. Until all 7 brothers. Each time the prophet Samuel thought it would be this son that qualified, God told Samuel, No. Until david, the youngest.

God told Samuel, “do not judge by the appearance or height. People judge by outward appearance, but God looks at the heart”.

World Religions: a different perspective...

had classes in STM again. the 3rd module for the year: World Religions. i thought it was just going to be a factual lecture which will be deeper than what we learn in school or doing surface research. the lecturer has a heart for missiological studies (and i would say a gifting). besides facts, he also taught the heart and spiritual principles behind each religion. [disclaimer: below is typed from thoughts in class. i haven't done my assignment yet, so some things may be typed or worded wrongly.]

on neutral observation, how has the western mindset westernized Christianity? observe the style of evangelism where it is a vocal and open intellectual debate, of black and white, of modernity and consumer influenced. compared to the hospitality of eastern culture and acceptance of each other's thoughts and beliefs. to hit it right at the spot, Buddhists are more acceptant of others than the western influenced Christianity.

in a western mindset, exercising (physical) is separate from acts of spirituality. for the eastern teaching, exercise and spirituality is together; tai-chi, qi gong. chinese medicine is linked to the bodies spirituality. there is no division. spirituality and lifestyle is inter-twined deeply. which causes difficulties in pointing out what is a yes and a no. taking out ancestral worship is taking out filial piety. it is not just about combating the spiritual worship. the lecturer was saying, it is never easy and one of his main advice, is always spiritual discernment.

when we enter a temple, we enter a place of serenity, a place of peace, a place of calmness to meditate and reflect upon one's spirituality. it is taken seriouly in piousness and dedication in meditation and prayer. compared to a westernized environment, we enter a place that must have a Wow! factor or we won't be satisfied. how often and how long do we spend time in prayer and meditation?

for the Hindu caste system, it is a principal where everyone has their place in life as they go through the circle of reincarnation. in the belief of reincarnation, they would reincarnate into a few types of forms depending on their previous life's behaviour. it is on the principal of the world being in balance, the structure of life and acceptance of their place in life.

this is only a small part of what we were learning. facts and information, yes, but more importantly learning the heart and principles behind it all. i have to admit it is quite terrible how western culture has influenced us of treating things as black and white, what more the influences of the scientific thinking which makes us look at a lot of stuff as ridiculous if it doesn't fit into it. there are a lot of things we can learn from.

it was also great to able to visit ronald and family. spend time with their kids and also just have fun in a homey environment. pasar malam, ice age 4, jusco 2, home made pork burgers.

there is always hope...

lately, a few friends brought up the line, 'there is always hope...' because it's on my gtalk status. i can't remember how or what made me put it there. but i've kept it there ever since for dunno how long... possible to be 2 years +.

i don't think its coincidence that each of my friends, one by one, brought it up. in conversation it was like, 'remember... there is always hope'... or a sudden 'Amen! there is always hope!'. it is weird that they are telling me my own line that i put up and didn't change. they're advising me with my own line 0.0

i take it as a reminder of the line that i kept there. perhaps i got too used to it that its just 'another object by the corner', that it lost its message and impact of hope. knowing the fact that there is always hope, and believing it in our hearts and mind are two very different things.