the purpose of this blog is to bring home and retain key messages learnt through various sermons. by retaining only the key messages, these entries are kept simple and we hope will serve as an enrichment and a refreshment of faith for Christians be it now or for time to come. for pre-believers, this can be a learning platform to learn more without going through the "heavy duty stuff". that said, all entries are entirely of personal interpretation based on sermons and biblical references.
this blog does not attempt to be any of the following:
1) a review or a representation of any churches, pastors and/or their preachings
2) an excuse not to attend church
3) a replacement for the bible
this blog is started by adrian and jana as a platform to bring their relationship with God to another spiritual level. then they thought, why be selfish and save just themselves. and so this will be an open blog written by them for everyone.
all constructive comments and feedback are welcome.
be good. attend church. read the bible.
trust in God. :)
Tuesday, May 17, 2050
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Of fate...and of God
originally published on "shifting through times" on 20 april 2009
so what is the difference between "fate" and "God's plan"?
dictionary.com defines "fate" as:
1) the supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events,
2) the inevitable events predestined by this force,
3) a final result or consequence; an outcome and
4) unfavorable destiny; doom.
most definitions of "fate" inevitably contains this element of assumption - "supposed force", "presumably", "element of chance" etc. this also means that people who believe in "fate" are saying that their lives are already "predetermined" and "predestined" by this unknown element of chance and assumption. which, also means that we do not have a free will because we can run and we can hide or we can stand still but the same things will still happen because ultimately, everything is "fated" for us.
but that is not true is it? because life is not like that. life is not all "fated". it is just like if you just lost your job but within a few weeks of searching you landed a new job, that is not "fate". "fate" predetermines that the "new job" will happen to you regardless of situation or of circumstance. but if you lost your old job and just sat at home waiting for "fate" to happen, the only thing inevitable is that nothing will happen. so then, how can "fate" (the new job in this case) be predetermined and be inevitable?
therein lies the key difference between "fate" and "God's plan". you may say, but God's plan also predetermines the people you will meet and the things you will do. not so, God's plan always involves choices and a free will. that is, nothing is predetermined unless you make the choice to do it. you retain the right to live your life, even if it means you choose to walk away from God. for example, God may choose to use you to help someone in need, but you can choose not to do so, you are free to make that choice.
one story i always repeat to my friends is that of a person who is stuck in a flood. God can send a log, a boat or even a helicopter his way. but if he does not choose to use any of these, it is inevitable that he will drown. so is it God's plan that this person should drown? no. but it is because he withheld his own free will in those moments that he (pardon the pun) met his "fate".
i know that there will still be skeptics but just remember that "fate" cannot happen if there are choices to be made - simply because there is a different outcome between "choice 1", "choice 2", "choice 3" and doing nothing. and when life is all about choices, ultimately, the only "fate" is the one you (not God, not your parents, not your friends but you) choose for yourself!
so what is the difference between "fate" and "God's plan"?
dictionary.com defines "fate" as:
1) the supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events,
2) the inevitable events predestined by this force,
3) a final result or consequence; an outcome and
4) unfavorable destiny; doom.
most definitions of "fate" inevitably contains this element of assumption - "supposed force", "presumably", "element of chance" etc. this also means that people who believe in "fate" are saying that their lives are already "predetermined" and "predestined" by this unknown element of chance and assumption. which, also means that we do not have a free will because we can run and we can hide or we can stand still but the same things will still happen because ultimately, everything is "fated" for us.
but that is not true is it? because life is not like that. life is not all "fated". it is just like if you just lost your job but within a few weeks of searching you landed a new job, that is not "fate". "fate" predetermines that the "new job" will happen to you regardless of situation or of circumstance. but if you lost your old job and just sat at home waiting for "fate" to happen, the only thing inevitable is that nothing will happen. so then, how can "fate" (the new job in this case) be predetermined and be inevitable?
therein lies the key difference between "fate" and "God's plan". you may say, but God's plan also predetermines the people you will meet and the things you will do. not so, God's plan always involves choices and a free will. that is, nothing is predetermined unless you make the choice to do it. you retain the right to live your life, even if it means you choose to walk away from God. for example, God may choose to use you to help someone in need, but you can choose not to do so, you are free to make that choice.
one story i always repeat to my friends is that of a person who is stuck in a flood. God can send a log, a boat or even a helicopter his way. but if he does not choose to use any of these, it is inevitable that he will drown. so is it God's plan that this person should drown? no. but it is because he withheld his own free will in those moments that he (pardon the pun) met his "fate".
i know that there will still be skeptics but just remember that "fate" cannot happen if there are choices to be made - simply because there is a different outcome between "choice 1", "choice 2", "choice 3" and doing nothing. and when life is all about choices, ultimately, the only "fate" is the one you (not God, not your parents, not your friends but you) choose for yourself!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
The Right Time, All The Time
As I come to another crossroads in my career and in my walk of faith, the question inevitably is "What does God want me to do for Him?". Recently, I have a calling, one telling me to walk away from my job - a job which Jana and I believed whole-heartedly that was blessed by God Himself. This has been a sense of confusion to me for the past weeks and I have not had the right questions to ask nor the answers to clarify my mind.
However, over the weeks, my state of denial has eased somewhat even though there are still no clear answers or direction. Rather, I am assured by three things:
1) God has only the best intentions for me - He knows my heart's desires.
2) God WILL reveal His plan to me at His own time (not mine).
3) God is ALWAYS on time.
All these time, I have been wondering what logical reason is there to quit, when is the right time to quit and what will I fall back upon if I quit. But something Jana mention today made sense. I should not be worrying about when I quit or if I should quit - if God has planned for me to be somewhere else, He will make somewhere else available no matter when or why I quit.
I am reminded of the time at EMC when I was at such a low point, which came after the disappointment of React. I had been searching for a job for months to no avail. Though I was already a Christian then, I had not known the true meaning of faith. It came to a point when I just gave up, tendered my resignation without a job. Throughout my notice period, there was not a glimmer of a single interview. But on my very last day at EMC, I received a call not for an interview but...a concrete job offer from Manpower.
Looking back at that now, I am assured. The paths may be unclear now, but He will straighten them. I know that whatever happens, God is with me and He WILL be on time.
However, over the weeks, my state of denial has eased somewhat even though there are still no clear answers or direction. Rather, I am assured by three things:
1) God has only the best intentions for me - He knows my heart's desires.
2) God WILL reveal His plan to me at His own time (not mine).
3) God is ALWAYS on time.
All these time, I have been wondering what logical reason is there to quit, when is the right time to quit and what will I fall back upon if I quit. But something Jana mention today made sense. I should not be worrying about when I quit or if I should quit - if God has planned for me to be somewhere else, He will make somewhere else available no matter when or why I quit.
I am reminded of the time at EMC when I was at such a low point, which came after the disappointment of React. I had been searching for a job for months to no avail. Though I was already a Christian then, I had not known the true meaning of faith. It came to a point when I just gave up, tendered my resignation without a job. Throughout my notice period, there was not a glimmer of a single interview. But on my very last day at EMC, I received a call not for an interview but...a concrete job offer from Manpower.
Looking back at that now, I am assured. The paths may be unclear now, but He will straighten them. I know that whatever happens, God is with me and He WILL be on time.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
receive and share His love
gospel reference: luke 19:1-10
based on the sermon/series: God's Love
enlightened at: trinity@paya lebar
to most matured Christians, today's sermon on God's love might appear to be an 'over-preached' topic and disregard it. however, i feel that it is a timely reminder of not just His awesome love for us, but also whether we've been sharing His love with others around us.
the gospel in Luke 19:1 - 10 talks about Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector who went around extorting money from the Jews and was thus extremely hated by the people.
in this short chapter alone, 3 points were made pertaining to God's love:
1) the love of God reaches out to everyone (Luke 19:1-5)
yes, the love of God reaches out to everyone, including people who are deemed 'unlovable' by us. the question is, are we sharing God's love with the people around us or are we merely claiming His love but hoarding our blessings all to ourselves? God loves everyone, including the colleague who irritates us to bits everyday, or the classmate in school who persecutes us because of our beliefs, and it is His desire that we receive His love and share it too.
2) the love of God meets us at where we are (Luke 19:6)
despite knowing that Zacchaues was deeply disliked by the people, Jesus still went to him and requested to dine with him.
likewise, God knows our circumstances and His love has always pursued us...
even when we turned away from Him
even when we're down in the dumps
even when we think all is lost.
3) the love of God transforms us (Luke 19:8)
at the end of the chapter, we learn that Zacchaeus was transformed by the love of God and declared that he will give his wealth to the poor and return 4 times the money he had extorted from the people.
likewise, we have to rely on God's love to transform our characters and our hearts. there's no way we can use our own strength to overcome the habits and temptations that we face in our lives because we are limited but God is unlimited!
in conclusion, God loves us more than we will ever know. He is not a faraway God and He wants to be our friend and to fellowship with us. while He desires that we share His love with people around us, He too understands that humans will fail and that we might get hurt in the process. thats why He has given us His promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us and we can always go to Him and be renewed in His grace and strength. (:
--
on a random note, while typing this entry, a Sunday School song about Zacchaeus came to mind and it's reallly catchy! :D
Zacchaeus was a wee little man
Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see.
And as the Savior passed him by, He looked up in the tree,
And he said, "Zacchaeus, you come down from there;
For I'm going to your house today, for I'm going to your house today"
Zacchaeus came down from that tree, as happy as he could be,
He gave his money to the poor, and said: "What a better man I'll be!"
based on the sermon/series: God's Love
enlightened at: trinity@paya lebar
to most matured Christians, today's sermon on God's love might appear to be an 'over-preached' topic and disregard it. however, i feel that it is a timely reminder of not just His awesome love for us, but also whether we've been sharing His love with others around us.
the gospel in Luke 19:1 - 10 talks about Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector who went around extorting money from the Jews and was thus extremely hated by the people.
in this short chapter alone, 3 points were made pertaining to God's love:
1) the love of God reaches out to everyone (Luke 19:1-5)
yes, the love of God reaches out to everyone, including people who are deemed 'unlovable' by us. the question is, are we sharing God's love with the people around us or are we merely claiming His love but hoarding our blessings all to ourselves? God loves everyone, including the colleague who irritates us to bits everyday, or the classmate in school who persecutes us because of our beliefs, and it is His desire that we receive His love and share it too.
2) the love of God meets us at where we are (Luke 19:6)
despite knowing that Zacchaues was deeply disliked by the people, Jesus still went to him and requested to dine with him.
likewise, God knows our circumstances and His love has always pursued us...
even when we turned away from Him
even when we're down in the dumps
even when we think all is lost.
3) the love of God transforms us (Luke 19:8)
at the end of the chapter, we learn that Zacchaeus was transformed by the love of God and declared that he will give his wealth to the poor and return 4 times the money he had extorted from the people.
likewise, we have to rely on God's love to transform our characters and our hearts. there's no way we can use our own strength to overcome the habits and temptations that we face in our lives because we are limited but God is unlimited!
in conclusion, God loves us more than we will ever know. He is not a faraway God and He wants to be our friend and to fellowship with us. while He desires that we share His love with people around us, He too understands that humans will fail and that we might get hurt in the process. thats why He has given us His promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us and we can always go to Him and be renewed in His grace and strength. (:
--
on a random note, while typing this entry, a Sunday School song about Zacchaeus came to mind and it's reallly catchy! :D
Zacchaeus was a wee little man
Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see.
And as the Savior passed him by, He looked up in the tree,
And he said, "Zacchaeus, you come down from there;
For I'm going to your house today, for I'm going to your house today"
Zacchaeus came down from that tree, as happy as he could be,
He gave his money to the poor, and said: "What a better man I'll be!"
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
prayers to get God's attention
gospel reference: genesis 18: 16-33, nehemiah 1:4-11, mark 9:14-29
based on the sermon/series: getting God's attention
enlightened at: trinity@paya lebar
how often have we heard others pray and felt that our own prayers pale so much in comparison? well..maybe it is time we shed this inferiority complex because..God does not grant prayers and wishes based on the flowery language one uses, He does not dismiss one's prayer just because it lacks eloquence or is filled with "lahs", "wats" and "hors" and i highly doubt He runs a spell or grammar check before letting your prayers through!
in the first passage abraham's prayer was conversational but God still acknowledged every word that abraham said. in the end, because of abraham's prayer, we see that God granted salvation to lot (abraham's nephew's) and his family.
in the second passage, nehemiah's prayer acknowledged all his own weaknesses and faults and humbled himself in front of God. God delivered him to Jerusalem to rebuild the place nehemiah calls his homeland.
in the last passage, the father put his trust in Jesus to overcome his own doubts and to heal his son. and through his faithfulness, his son was healed of the evil spirit.
we can see from the passages that all three prayers were very different. abraham's prayer was but a conversation with God, nehemiah's was a humble plea and the father's was a cry for help but yet all their prayers were answered. therefore we should be comforted that God hears all our prayers, not the eloquence of them, not the flowery language we fill them with, not the perfect grammar or pronunciation, but He grants them based on the faith and the sincerity we put into them.
based on the sermon/series: getting God's attention
enlightened at: trinity@paya lebar
how often have we heard others pray and felt that our own prayers pale so much in comparison? well..maybe it is time we shed this inferiority complex because..God does not grant prayers and wishes based on the flowery language one uses, He does not dismiss one's prayer just because it lacks eloquence or is filled with "lahs", "wats" and "hors" and i highly doubt He runs a spell or grammar check before letting your prayers through!
in the first passage abraham's prayer was conversational but God still acknowledged every word that abraham said. in the end, because of abraham's prayer, we see that God granted salvation to lot (abraham's nephew's) and his family.
in the second passage, nehemiah's prayer acknowledged all his own weaknesses and faults and humbled himself in front of God. God delivered him to Jerusalem to rebuild the place nehemiah calls his homeland.
in the last passage, the father put his trust in Jesus to overcome his own doubts and to heal his son. and through his faithfulness, his son was healed of the evil spirit.
we can see from the passages that all three prayers were very different. abraham's prayer was but a conversation with God, nehemiah's was a humble plea and the father's was a cry for help but yet all their prayers were answered. therefore we should be comforted that God hears all our prayers, not the eloquence of them, not the flowery language we fill them with, not the perfect grammar or pronunciation, but He grants them based on the faith and the sincerity we put into them.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
respecting your parents: the gray between idolatry and God
gospel reference: exodus 20: 1-17
based on the sermon/series: a christian's response to ancestral worship
enlightened at: lighthouse evangelism woodlands
what happens there is a conflict of religious views within a family - especially in a chinese family where many traditions are still being practiced today? do we as christians follow in these practices to honour our parents as in the fifth commandment? or do we refuse to "bow or worship" any "idols" as in the second commandment? the answer is to find a compromise - not of our christian faith but - between what is right, what is wrong and what is extreme. for simple understanding here are a few examples of what is acceptable and what is not:
1. bowing or kneeling to ones' parents at a tea ceremony during a wedding - acceptable
the act of bowing or kneeling to ones' parents is not a form of worship but rather as a form of honouring ones' parents. in fact, the act of bowing is also common in japanese culture as a form respect and greeting (doesn't mean you worship your japanese friends right?).
2. exchanging mandarin oranges with relatives during chinese new year - acceptable
mandarin oranges are meant to symbolise prosperity and thus the ritual of exchanging mandarin oranges during chinese new year to wish one another prosperity and good fortune. however, the exchange is done as a sign of well wishing and respect to the relatives - not as an act of worship to them. in fact, the whole celebration of chinese new year is based on chinese mythology but we still celebrate it all the same don't we? and besides, don't we eat oranges throughout the year too?
3. burning money or offering joss sticks - unacceptable
while such acts are usually done in honour of ones' deceased family members, these are deeply rooted in the taoist and buddhist religions and often involves various chinese gods.
4. your parent places a statue in your house - acceptable
such a situation is tricky because such statues are usually of gods or idols. the key thing in such a situation is maintaining a respect for your parents and trusting in your own faith. regardless of what the statue may mean to the other person, it represents nothing to you and as long as you do not worship it, it is just that, a statue. throwing it out of the house may be seen as an act of rebellion, not as a child to a parent, but rather as a christian to a non-christian. that said, if the statue was placed in your room, you have the right to reject it.
while the above will not be able to cover every situation, i hope it clarifies things a little. in situations which potentially challenge your faith, before picking a fight with your family or rejecting them straight in the face, ask yourself the following questions:
1) is the request tradition or religious?
2) is going through the act a form of worship to any idols?
3) is allowing someone else to carry out the act (as in situation 4 above) an indication that you worship any idols?
there are always gray areas when there is a conflict of religious views within a family and it is always easy to overreact. just remember this, we worship only one God and our God wants us to honour our parents. allowing common sense to prevail shows off the graciousness of a christian and when you are gracious enough, God will work out a way for you and your family.
based on the sermon/series: a christian's response to ancestral worship
enlightened at: lighthouse evangelism woodlands
what happens there is a conflict of religious views within a family - especially in a chinese family where many traditions are still being practiced today? do we as christians follow in these practices to honour our parents as in the fifth commandment? or do we refuse to "bow or worship" any "idols" as in the second commandment? the answer is to find a compromise - not of our christian faith but - between what is right, what is wrong and what is extreme. for simple understanding here are a few examples of what is acceptable and what is not:
1. bowing or kneeling to ones' parents at a tea ceremony during a wedding - acceptable
the act of bowing or kneeling to ones' parents is not a form of worship but rather as a form of honouring ones' parents. in fact, the act of bowing is also common in japanese culture as a form respect and greeting (doesn't mean you worship your japanese friends right?).
2. exchanging mandarin oranges with relatives during chinese new year - acceptable
mandarin oranges are meant to symbolise prosperity and thus the ritual of exchanging mandarin oranges during chinese new year to wish one another prosperity and good fortune. however, the exchange is done as a sign of well wishing and respect to the relatives - not as an act of worship to them. in fact, the whole celebration of chinese new year is based on chinese mythology but we still celebrate it all the same don't we? and besides, don't we eat oranges throughout the year too?
3. burning money or offering joss sticks - unacceptable
while such acts are usually done in honour of ones' deceased family members, these are deeply rooted in the taoist and buddhist religions and often involves various chinese gods.
4. your parent places a statue in your house - acceptable
such a situation is tricky because such statues are usually of gods or idols. the key thing in such a situation is maintaining a respect for your parents and trusting in your own faith. regardless of what the statue may mean to the other person, it represents nothing to you and as long as you do not worship it, it is just that, a statue. throwing it out of the house may be seen as an act of rebellion, not as a child to a parent, but rather as a christian to a non-christian. that said, if the statue was placed in your room, you have the right to reject it.
while the above will not be able to cover every situation, i hope it clarifies things a little. in situations which potentially challenge your faith, before picking a fight with your family or rejecting them straight in the face, ask yourself the following questions:
1) is the request tradition or religious?
2) is going through the act a form of worship to any idols?
3) is allowing someone else to carry out the act (as in situation 4 above) an indication that you worship any idols?
there are always gray areas when there is a conflict of religious views within a family and it is always easy to overreact. just remember this, we worship only one God and our God wants us to honour our parents. allowing common sense to prevail shows off the graciousness of a christian and when you are gracious enough, God will work out a way for you and your family.
perseverance
gospel reference: matthew 15: 21-28
based on the sermon/series: getting God's attention
enlightened at: trinity@paya lebar
besides possessing faith, perseverance is required in order to gain God's attention sometimes. just like the Canaanite woman in the passage, there are many times in our own lives that we feel like God has abandoned us and is not responding to our prayers. but just like Jesus to the Canaanite woman, perhaps God is simply keeping quiet, as a test of our faith and waiting for the right time to minister our requests to us. in the passage, the Canaanite woman not only had to content with Jesus' silence, she then faced rejection from His disciples followed by an open rejection from Jesus. but that did not deter her and we can see her perseverance pay off right at the end of the passage - when Jesus healed her daughter.
similarly, during times when our prayers are not answered, instead of giving up, thinking that "maybe God has forsaken me", persevere and look out. while perseverance reinforces our faith in God, we too need to look out - for our rewards or for any signs from God. because often in our obsession in seeing our prayers fulfilled, we miss out on the other things God intend for us, choosing instead to dwell in our dejection and seeming rejection by God.
therefore, let's show our faith and not give up easily on God. let's persevere even when God keeps quiet. there is light at the end of the tunnel...but only if you walk to the very end of it.
based on the sermon/series: getting God's attention
enlightened at: trinity@paya lebar
besides possessing faith, perseverance is required in order to gain God's attention sometimes. just like the Canaanite woman in the passage, there are many times in our own lives that we feel like God has abandoned us and is not responding to our prayers. but just like Jesus to the Canaanite woman, perhaps God is simply keeping quiet, as a test of our faith and waiting for the right time to minister our requests to us. in the passage, the Canaanite woman not only had to content with Jesus' silence, she then faced rejection from His disciples followed by an open rejection from Jesus. but that did not deter her and we can see her perseverance pay off right at the end of the passage - when Jesus healed her daughter.
similarly, during times when our prayers are not answered, instead of giving up, thinking that "maybe God has forsaken me", persevere and look out. while perseverance reinforces our faith in God, we too need to look out - for our rewards or for any signs from God. because often in our obsession in seeing our prayers fulfilled, we miss out on the other things God intend for us, choosing instead to dwell in our dejection and seeming rejection by God.
therefore, let's show our faith and not give up easily on God. let's persevere even when God keeps quiet. there is light at the end of the tunnel...but only if you walk to the very end of it.
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