As I type this, I am enjoying a song from a CD - Songs from around the world (Track 1). A thought came to mind. Many times we question too much about our Lord Jesus but what we neglect that's more important, that is to worship our Saviour for who he is and not what he can do for us. I hope you can take a few moments to quieten your hearts to join me and enjoy this time of worship for our Lord Jesus Christ. Lets sing with a thankful and joyous heart for he has chosen us to be his children and given us the best gift of eternal life.
My Jesus, My Savior
Lord there is none like you
All of my days, I want to praise
The wonders of your mighty love
My Comfort, My Shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship you
Shout to the Lord, all the earth
Let us sing. Power and majesty, praise to the king.
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of your name
I sing for joy at the work of your hands
Forever I'll love you, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in
Nothing Compares to the promise I have In
YOU!
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When the music fades and all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the things I've made it
When it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
King of endless worth, no one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is Yours
Every single breath
Continue to trust!
Monday, July 31, 2006
Saturday, July 29, 2006
An Answer to a Tough Question
Isn't it a sign of deficient faith when a sick Christian isn't healed or a Christian isn't delivered from danger?
It would be a serious mistake to imply that deficient faith accounts for all instances in which a person does not receive healing or deliverance.
It's true that Scripture tells of people who were healed or delivered from danger because of their faith. Some examples are Gideon ( Judges 7:15-23 ); Naaman the Syrian ( 2 Kings 5:14-15 ); Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego ( Daniel 3:19-29 ); the centurion's servant ( Matthew 8:13 ); the woman with an issue of blood ( Matthew 9:20-22 ); the man with a withered hand ( Matthew 12:9-13 ); and Peter's deliverance from prison ( Acts 12:5-12 ). Even this partial list is impressive.
Clearly, faith in God may result in healing and deliverance. However, the Scriptures also show us just as clearly that there are times when a believer's suffering or sickness has nothing to do with a lack of faith.
When Job lost his family, wealth, and physical health, his friends "comforted" him with the message that his loss and suffering were due to his own moral failure (his lack of faith). But Job was confident in his integrity before God. God Himself had declared him perfect and upright ( Job 1:8 ). Later, God Himself denied the explanation that Job's "counselors" gave for his suffering ( Job 13:1-15 ). Even more importantly, God Himself denounced their words ( Job 42:7-8 ).
Job's faith wasn't the problem. In fact, Job's faith in God was so strong that he, without cursing or disrespect, defended his integrity to God and questioned Him about the injustice of his suffering. Yet, in the midst of his agony, he continued to trust:
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, for a hypocrite could not come before Him (Job 13:15-16).
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27).
Job's faith was eventually rewarded and vindicated. But he wasn't spared the terrible suffering that allowed his faith to be tested and proven.
Even at a time when miracles often occurred, God allowed Stephen to be stoned ( Acts 7:59-60 ) and James to be beheaded. Although Acts 12 tells of Peter's supernatural deliverance from captivity in prison, Jesus had already prophesied that he would eventually die a martyr's death ( John 21:17-19 ), as (according to tradition) did all of the other disciples except John.
In 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 Paul eloquently described the suffering and trials from which he hadn't been delivered. He also suffered from a particular "thorn in the flesh" ( 2 Corinthians 12:7, 10 ) for which God had not provided a remedy. When Timothy suffered from a stomach ailment, Paul didn't exhort him to have greater faith. Instead he told him to take some wine as medicine ( 1 Timothy 5:23 ). There isn't the slightest hint in these passages that Paul's trials and Timothy's sickness were the product of unconfessed sin or deficient faith. In fact, rather than proclaiming that our faith in Christ should deliver us from the suffering and trials of this world, Paul extols the spiritual benefits of suffering.
We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance [produces] character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us (Romans 5:3-5).
James also made it clear that strong faith is no insurance against suffering:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).
On the basis of Scripture, we can say that faith is always relevant to suffering. Our reaction to suffering -- whether in faith or in despair -- determines whether it will produce spiritual growth or despair. But because spiritual healing is more important to us than our physical circumstances, faith is not a barrier against suffering.
Whenever we are inclined to presume that the illness or suffering of another person is the result of that person's sin, we should recall the foolishness of Job's "counselors" in attempting to explain the mystery of God's will. Although faith won't always deliver us from tribulation, it will keep us conscious of God's promises and of the assurance that He will work everything out to good of His children ( Romans 8:28 ).
It would be a serious mistake to imply that deficient faith accounts for all instances in which a person does not receive healing or deliverance.
It's true that Scripture tells of people who were healed or delivered from danger because of their faith. Some examples are Gideon ( Judges 7:15-23 ); Naaman the Syrian ( 2 Kings 5:14-15 ); Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego ( Daniel 3:19-29 ); the centurion's servant ( Matthew 8:13 ); the woman with an issue of blood ( Matthew 9:20-22 ); the man with a withered hand ( Matthew 12:9-13 ); and Peter's deliverance from prison ( Acts 12:5-12 ). Even this partial list is impressive.
Clearly, faith in God may result in healing and deliverance. However, the Scriptures also show us just as clearly that there are times when a believer's suffering or sickness has nothing to do with a lack of faith.
When Job lost his family, wealth, and physical health, his friends "comforted" him with the message that his loss and suffering were due to his own moral failure (his lack of faith). But Job was confident in his integrity before God. God Himself had declared him perfect and upright ( Job 1:8 ). Later, God Himself denied the explanation that Job's "counselors" gave for his suffering ( Job 13:1-15 ). Even more importantly, God Himself denounced their words ( Job 42:7-8 ).
Job's faith wasn't the problem. In fact, Job's faith in God was so strong that he, without cursing or disrespect, defended his integrity to God and questioned Him about the injustice of his suffering. Yet, in the midst of his agony, he continued to trust:
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, for a hypocrite could not come before Him (Job 13:15-16).
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27).
Job's faith was eventually rewarded and vindicated. But he wasn't spared the terrible suffering that allowed his faith to be tested and proven.
Even at a time when miracles often occurred, God allowed Stephen to be stoned ( Acts 7:59-60 ) and James to be beheaded. Although Acts 12 tells of Peter's supernatural deliverance from captivity in prison, Jesus had already prophesied that he would eventually die a martyr's death ( John 21:17-19 ), as (according to tradition) did all of the other disciples except John.
In 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 Paul eloquently described the suffering and trials from which he hadn't been delivered. He also suffered from a particular "thorn in the flesh" ( 2 Corinthians 12:7, 10 ) for which God had not provided a remedy. When Timothy suffered from a stomach ailment, Paul didn't exhort him to have greater faith. Instead he told him to take some wine as medicine ( 1 Timothy 5:23 ). There isn't the slightest hint in these passages that Paul's trials and Timothy's sickness were the product of unconfessed sin or deficient faith. In fact, rather than proclaiming that our faith in Christ should deliver us from the suffering and trials of this world, Paul extols the spiritual benefits of suffering.
We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance [produces] character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us (Romans 5:3-5).
James also made it clear that strong faith is no insurance against suffering:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).
On the basis of Scripture, we can say that faith is always relevant to suffering. Our reaction to suffering -- whether in faith or in despair -- determines whether it will produce spiritual growth or despair. But because spiritual healing is more important to us than our physical circumstances, faith is not a barrier against suffering.
Whenever we are inclined to presume that the illness or suffering of another person is the result of that person's sin, we should recall the foolishness of Job's "counselors" in attempting to explain the mystery of God's will. Although faith won't always deliver us from tribulation, it will keep us conscious of God's promises and of the assurance that He will work everything out to good of His children ( Romans 8:28 ).
Thursday, July 20, 2006
A story to share - The Crucible
Growing up, future United States President Harry Truman never thought of himself as a leader - nor did anyone else. With "eyeglasses thick as the bottom of a Coke bottle," historian David McCullough writes that Truman couldn't try out for school sports and mostly stayed home, working the farm, reading, or playing the piano.
But the course of his life changed forever when, as a young man, he signed up for the Army to fight in World War I. He was shipped off to France as the head of an artillery battery, and for the first time in his life he was forced to lead men through moments of mortal danger. His initial test came on a rainy night in the mountains. The Germans had dropped an artillery barrage close by, and his troops panicked and broke ranks. In the frenzy, Truman's horse fell over on him, and he was nearly crushed. McCullough writes: "Out from under (the horse), seeing the others running, he just stood there, locked in place. He called them back, screaming as loudly as he could¡Kshaming his men back to do what they were supposed to do." The men regrouped, got through the night, and many of them returned home safely. Throughout the rest of their lives, those men were loyal to Harry Truman, their leader, who refused to back down in the face of his own fear.
According to McCullough, Truman discovered two vitally important things about himself that night. First, that he had plain physical courage; and second, that he was good at leading people. He learned that if the leader shows courage, it's contagious.In his conclusion on Truman's life, McCullough writes: "And war was the crucible."
A crucible is an opportunity, test, or emergency that summons the very best from a person and reveals their finest inner qualities. Once a potential leader experiences a crucible, they are transformed forever. The crucible is a challenge or crisis that proves the leadership capacity lying within a person and becomes a defining moment in their leadership journey.
Qualities of the Crucible
They Happen To Every Emerging Leader.
Leadership has to be tested and proven; and the only way this happens is through the crucible. First of all, the crucible is a necessary test for leaders to find courage. Secondly, the crucible shows the leader's followers whether or not they can place their trust in the leader. Under heavy artillery fire, it was necessary for Harry Truman to find out he had enough courage to hold his ground. While important for him, the crucible was equally important for the soldiers in his platoon, because, after that moment, they knew they could respect him as their leader.
They Reveal The Hidden Potential Inside a Person.
Crucibles are like tea in hot water. They bring out the true colors inside. Crucibles don't make the man or woman; they simply reveal the character within. What a person does in the crucible will make or break their future as a leader. The crucible will either show their hidden potential or their hidden problems. Either way, the crucible never leaves us the same.
They Bring Great Difficulties and Stress.
Crucibles are often accompanied by suffering, at least temporarily. For some leaders the crucible experience has been imprisonment, war, or sickness. For others, it was being overlooked for a promotion, losing a client, or being laid off.Maturity and experience with crucibles will not lessen the difficulty, but they will lessen the stress. When we have experience, we understand what is happening, and we can take confidence in having persevered in the past.
They Purify Motives and Shape Ambitions.
Crucibles are cleansing and purifying because they help a leader sort through priorities. Ambitions are brought to light, as the crucible helps leaders get past the trivial and the mundane. J. R. Morgan said it best, "A man always has two reasons for doing anything¡Xa good reason and the real reason." The crucible has a way of pressing out the real reason.
They Teach Lessons That Help Leaders Transcend Themselves.
Crucibles push us to go places we normally wouldn't venture. I vividly remember a conversation with my friend, Dr. John Bright Cage, a heart surgeon. In his concern for my fitness, he scolded me for not leading a healthy life. I recall arguing with him over and over that my health was fine while ignoring his warnings about being overweight. I kept arguing, denying, and justifying until the day I finally had a heart attack. Talk about a crucible experience! It had a wonderful way of awakening me to examine my lifestyle.
They Either Become an Obstacle or an Opportunity to Fulfill One's Purpose.
Crucibles make us or break us. They help us or hurt us. They're an asset or a liability. Crucibles almost always leave a memory we look back on as a defining moment. They propel us on a trajectory, either good or bad, towards our leadership destination. Many of us realize our "life purpose" through the crucible experience.Winston Churchill, the great British leader said: "There comes a special moment in everyone's life, a moment for which that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfill his mission - a mission for which he is uniquely qualified. In that moment he finds greatness. It is his finest hour." Winston Churchill was exactly right; and that moment almost always comes through the crucible.
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When my crucible comes, i pray i'll be able to withstand the time of testing, for the waves to come and for my house to stand firm cos i've built my house on the rock. That when the flames die off, that there'll be a shining stone, tried and tested to be true.How bout you?
But the course of his life changed forever when, as a young man, he signed up for the Army to fight in World War I. He was shipped off to France as the head of an artillery battery, and for the first time in his life he was forced to lead men through moments of mortal danger. His initial test came on a rainy night in the mountains. The Germans had dropped an artillery barrage close by, and his troops panicked and broke ranks. In the frenzy, Truman's horse fell over on him, and he was nearly crushed. McCullough writes: "Out from under (the horse), seeing the others running, he just stood there, locked in place. He called them back, screaming as loudly as he could¡Kshaming his men back to do what they were supposed to do." The men regrouped, got through the night, and many of them returned home safely. Throughout the rest of their lives, those men were loyal to Harry Truman, their leader, who refused to back down in the face of his own fear.
According to McCullough, Truman discovered two vitally important things about himself that night. First, that he had plain physical courage; and second, that he was good at leading people. He learned that if the leader shows courage, it's contagious.In his conclusion on Truman's life, McCullough writes: "And war was the crucible."
A crucible is an opportunity, test, or emergency that summons the very best from a person and reveals their finest inner qualities. Once a potential leader experiences a crucible, they are transformed forever. The crucible is a challenge or crisis that proves the leadership capacity lying within a person and becomes a defining moment in their leadership journey.
Qualities of the Crucible
They Happen To Every Emerging Leader.
Leadership has to be tested and proven; and the only way this happens is through the crucible. First of all, the crucible is a necessary test for leaders to find courage. Secondly, the crucible shows the leader's followers whether or not they can place their trust in the leader. Under heavy artillery fire, it was necessary for Harry Truman to find out he had enough courage to hold his ground. While important for him, the crucible was equally important for the soldiers in his platoon, because, after that moment, they knew they could respect him as their leader.
They Reveal The Hidden Potential Inside a Person.
Crucibles are like tea in hot water. They bring out the true colors inside. Crucibles don't make the man or woman; they simply reveal the character within. What a person does in the crucible will make or break their future as a leader. The crucible will either show their hidden potential or their hidden problems. Either way, the crucible never leaves us the same.
They Bring Great Difficulties and Stress.
Crucibles are often accompanied by suffering, at least temporarily. For some leaders the crucible experience has been imprisonment, war, or sickness. For others, it was being overlooked for a promotion, losing a client, or being laid off.Maturity and experience with crucibles will not lessen the difficulty, but they will lessen the stress. When we have experience, we understand what is happening, and we can take confidence in having persevered in the past.
They Purify Motives and Shape Ambitions.
Crucibles are cleansing and purifying because they help a leader sort through priorities. Ambitions are brought to light, as the crucible helps leaders get past the trivial and the mundane. J. R. Morgan said it best, "A man always has two reasons for doing anything¡Xa good reason and the real reason." The crucible has a way of pressing out the real reason.
They Teach Lessons That Help Leaders Transcend Themselves.
Crucibles push us to go places we normally wouldn't venture. I vividly remember a conversation with my friend, Dr. John Bright Cage, a heart surgeon. In his concern for my fitness, he scolded me for not leading a healthy life. I recall arguing with him over and over that my health was fine while ignoring his warnings about being overweight. I kept arguing, denying, and justifying until the day I finally had a heart attack. Talk about a crucible experience! It had a wonderful way of awakening me to examine my lifestyle.
They Either Become an Obstacle or an Opportunity to Fulfill One's Purpose.
Crucibles make us or break us. They help us or hurt us. They're an asset or a liability. Crucibles almost always leave a memory we look back on as a defining moment. They propel us on a trajectory, either good or bad, towards our leadership destination. Many of us realize our "life purpose" through the crucible experience.Winston Churchill, the great British leader said: "There comes a special moment in everyone's life, a moment for which that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfill his mission - a mission for which he is uniquely qualified. In that moment he finds greatness. It is his finest hour." Winston Churchill was exactly right; and that moment almost always comes through the crucible.
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When my crucible comes, i pray i'll be able to withstand the time of testing, for the waves to come and for my house to stand firm cos i've built my house on the rock. That when the flames die off, that there'll be a shining stone, tried and tested to be true.How bout you?
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Dating a non-Christian...Hmmm..Is that okay?
Dear all,
“And what I say each and every time is: ‘You’re facing a choice. If you are truly a follower of Jesus Christ, then you must choose Jesus and you must turn your back on that guy. In fact, if you have a desire for him to see the reality of Jesus Christ, the most loving thing that you can do is show him that you are more committed to Jesus than you are to him. If you want to show that guy that God is real, then obey the God who is real and choose Him over this relationship –with a person that doesn’t know Him, doesn’t follow Him, doesn’t obey Him. Those are hard words, but those are the words of Jesus."
Some of you who saw the title must be wondering.. hmmm.. is Sinli contemplating a relationship with a non-Christian? well, fortunately the answer is 'no' (for today and hopefully forever). This post was taken from Joshua Harris' sermon on 'What it costs to follow Christ' ...this article caught my eye because one of my close friends has recently started a relationship with a non-believer and it really grieves my heart to know that there is a possibility that she will fall away from God because of this new relationship. Technically, a relationship with a non-believer is not the starting point for backsliding.. backsliding starts when we begin to feel that having God does not make us 'complete'...and we need something/someone to make us feel complete/valued. Therefore, we seek for someone to fulfill our needs.
If we cannot learn to be contented in Christ when we're single, we will never be contented even when we're attached because our hopes will be in our spouse/bf/gf to fulfill our needs. One thing which we really need to remember is that if we rely on humans to fulfill all our needs, we'll be disappointed because humans can fail us but if we put our trust in the Lord and learn to be content in God, we will not be disappointed because He is faithful.
“Is my relationship with this non-Christian guy OK?” --Joshua Harris' answer
Because of the topics that I’ve taught on in the past and the books that I’ve written, there have been so many occasions when I have encountered young men and women who are in a relationship with a person that is not a believer in Jesus Christ. And this seems to be in particular young women who will come, and they’ll talk about their desire to live for Jesus and to give their life to Him. But there’s this guy in the picture. And there is a relationship that has been formed, and there are affections, and there is a growing love for this person. But this person is going in the opposite direction from their Savior. And they’re often confused, and they’re often distraught and they often don’t know what to do. And when you quote the passage about not being ‘unequally yoked’--this kind of picture from agriculture and cows and stuff, just really isn’t doing anything for them. ‘Yoke. Cows. What? He’s so cute--what does that have to do with a cow, you know?’ And they’ll often have a desire to try to care for this guy. They don’t want to hurt his feelings. They think they can reach him with the gospel, and they’ll just stay in this relationship.”
“And what I say each and every time is: ‘You’re facing a choice. If you are truly a follower of Jesus Christ, then you must choose Jesus and you must turn your back on that guy. In fact, if you have a desire for him to see the reality of Jesus Christ, the most loving thing that you can do is show him that you are more committed to Jesus than you are to him. If you want to show that guy that God is real, then obey the God who is real and choose Him over this relationship –with a person that doesn’t know Him, doesn’t follow Him, doesn’t obey Him. Those are hard words, but those are the words of Jesus."
***hopefully this post can shed some light on some very practical issues in our lives. In this blog, we do not only discuss super serious stuffs like praying, daily devotional time, sacrificing for Christ...etc but we would also be open to discuss issues that Christians may face everyday..Let Christ be in every decision that we make, every step that we take and every breathe inhaled !
~feel free to disagree with me coz my view may be biased as I'm pretty much influenced by Joshua Harris' writing. I'm not against relationships but I only believe in investing in a relationship that brings glory to God.. If you're wondering why i'm writing such a weird post, it's because i've just attended a Nigerian wedding this morning .. i've not been bitten by some random love bug :P
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Everyday Evangelism...Why do we need to do it?
hullo ppl.. been ages since my last post. Found something that I'd like to share with all of you.
Judgement Day
You stand before God with sweaty palms and a racing heart. He's asking you only one question: "Do you know and have you accepted my Son?"
You reply confidently, "Yes."
Finally, He has granted you entry into heaven.
As you are about to enter the golden gates, your friend at school - whom you've known for quite some time - quickly yells something at you. You know that person isn't a Christian and a deep sorry sweeps over you as you remember how you tried to just get enough courage to speak to him/her about Christ.
But now it's too late. You look into the eyes of this friend you have known and cannot help to feel some pity for him/her. You know what is going to happen. You try to ignore the feelings of guilt and sadness. Besides, you are going to heaven, why dwell on the past? You strain your ears to hear what he/she is trying to say. Finally you understand. Your friend is asking you a simple question:
"Why didn't you tell me?"
~Author unknown
Judgement Day
You stand before God with sweaty palms and a racing heart. He's asking you only one question: "Do you know and have you accepted my Son?"
You reply confidently, "Yes."
Finally, He has granted you entry into heaven.
As you are about to enter the golden gates, your friend at school - whom you've known for quite some time - quickly yells something at you. You know that person isn't a Christian and a deep sorry sweeps over you as you remember how you tried to just get enough courage to speak to him/her about Christ.
But now it's too late. You look into the eyes of this friend you have known and cannot help to feel some pity for him/her. You know what is going to happen. You try to ignore the feelings of guilt and sadness. Besides, you are going to heaven, why dwell on the past? You strain your ears to hear what he/she is trying to say. Finally you understand. Your friend is asking you a simple question:
"Why didn't you tell me?"
~Author unknown
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