Dear…
'Who among you will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come?'
Isaiah 42:23
Having been a desirous follower of our Lord Jesus Christ these past few years, it had just struck me these past few days that by the grace of God, I have been quite blessed in that my expression of my faith with people God placed in my path has been smooth sailing. I have till now never had anyone who has jumped and stamped upon me, for trying to share God's love for me, with them.
My own experience is quite different from the harsh reality of a world where many whose blindness of the heart have not yet been lifted by our Lord, who are as a whole a sensitive minefield, where the overenthusiastic and greatly imperfect believers,in their own fervent understanding, can easily trigger a negative reaction and reinforced the perception amongst the many non-believers that Christians are overbearing at best, and hypocrites near their level worst.
'But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God…'
2 Chronicles 26:16
A couple of friends from across the Causeway was in Singapore and we had lunch. We have not seen each other for at least two years though they knew I am a Christian. Over lunch, I did offer them each a copy of my book, "Reflections - A traveler's muse" and of course, I did explain that it was an art book with a Christian message and if they were comfortable to accept it. There was no issue with that, but interestingly, one of them shared about his anger with his professional adviser who slipped by a gospel message under the guise of a work related article. The intent might be right, but the approach might not be, and the truth is, no one knows the state of mind of the recipient at the point of receipt. In his case, April 2009 was a bad time and most people were on edge going through very trying economic times.So what is the right moment to share God's word? Only the Lord knows.
'…and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.'
2 Chronicles 26:5
Many in their earthly desires, clothed behind the façade of the Christian faith, profess the wonderful generosity of God in materially blessing us all. And not just in wealth, but in all things that the finite sinful human desires. The reality of life in our fallen world is that all of us, be it believers or not will have to go through continued difficulties and not the perceived pedestal that many misguided Christians choose to delude themselves or others with. The other friend at the lunch, he is less antagonistic towards Christians, having learned to ignore their persistent presence, thinks that Christians are either lying or living in a delusory rosy world to always talk about the good God did to their lives, in terms of well-being, without sharing about their difficulties. And he is right, for being a Christian, is not about no storms in our lives, but rather, we know where to anchor our faith upon, God our Rock. For just as rain will fall on all, believers or not, it is how we learn to entrust our all to our Sovereign Lord that will speak more powerfully about our belief than what words can do.
'Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest…'
Luke 22:24
Just today, I had lunch with another old friend, a worldly wise nice gentleman, who recently, happened to join a tour organized by a Catholic church to Turkey and Israel. There was plenty of churches they visited and he find it less relevant to him, for they were mere symbols to him. But what was real was the rigid legalism of the Orthodox Jews, and the general inequality between Isrealite lands and those of the Palestinians. No one likes to listen to theory, they want to see us live out our faith, which is, be like Christ, to love the unlovable, to put others before self. How we live out our faith, as led by the Spirit of God, is the testimony that God has commanded us, and which will speak to once hardened hearts of the non-believer.
'For who is greater….But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.'
Luke 22:27-28
Caricature is the art of exaggerating someone's features, so as to reveal something of their essential character. For most might remember the late US president Richard Nixon's large nose was a popular caricature. Christianity is about our relationship with a perfect God, Who through the sacrifice of His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, has turned a once blemish slate into a cleaned board. As we grow in our relationship with God, as we allow Him to mold us, the world's perception of us will also be reformulated, not by what we say, but by how we allow God to refine us, through all circumstances. The conversion of the non-believers come from the Spirit of God, as HE convicts them, much as the world watches us being reconfigured into Christlikeness. We are not just the lamp upon which the glory of God shines forth, but we are also the mirror upon which the world sees Christ in action in us, if we allow Him.
We must be simply Christlike, for that is the quality that the world must see in us. It is about God changing us, and not us changing others.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(24 Nov 09)
An afterthought
'Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.'
2 Corinthians 7:4
This morning, I was reminded of my younger days, when we used to go swimming by the sea at Pasir Panjang, when the beach was still around. With all the reclamation, our children rarely experience the low and high tides of nature. I remembered at high tide sitting by the jetty watching my cousins jumped into the sea and having great fun. The pull of the fun was too strong and I finally jumped in, even though I could not swim then. If not the for quick witted response of my cousin in throwing an old tyre to me as a float, I would long have been part of the sea.
I was of course thankful to my cousin and this gratitude has been etched in my memory much as time has make vague other lesser experiences over the 3 decades.
What if it has been my cousin who pushed me in rather than I jumped in on my own free will? I would have literally murdered him there and then or at least, it might still be a sore point till today.
A simplistic analogy it might be, but non believers are like non swimmers. They don't want to be pushed into the waters notwithstanding our good intent. But the day will come when the waters will come to them, and in their struggles, they will recall the days they saw you the believer treading water well, not on your own strength, but upon living out your belief in your God. That will be the time they will appreciate your coming alongside them. But till then, it is better that we let God prepare us for that day. And how do you know the moment has arrived. The Spirit of God will prompt you, but you will only be cognizance if you had spent time with God.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Reflections for the moment #43 Spring Chickens (18nov09)
Dear…
'Now you shall say to this people, "Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.'
Jeremiah 21:8
A friend just told me that much as some have aspirations for Singapore to be one of the fashion capitals of the world, it will never happen, simply because as a country, we have a fundamental deficiency, that is, we do not have the benefit of the four seasons. Our tropical, wet and sunny weather do place limitations on creating diversity and scope for changes, for that is what fashion is.
But independent of the climatic constraints, we humans do go through broad seasonal changes, and I am not referring to our temperament, but rather our life cycles. Our birth is like the beginnings of a new Spring, with all its innocence and hopes. Summer finds us at our youthful best, moving from the vibrant youth to forging a wonderful new career. The roses in full bloom has never smelt better. With a surfeit of cumulated assets and burdens, the aging process does creep up on us steadily, and for many, much as we try to push back the Autumn of our lives, just like falling leaves in Fall, our crowning glory will peter out, or at least turn ashen grey. And what about Winter? A cursory glance of the obituary pages is a testimony to the reality that all of us eventually will not see a new Spring.
'Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures. Who dwell securely, Who say in your heart, I am and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow. Nor shall I know the loss of children. But these two things shall come to you. In a moment, in one day. The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness.'
Isaiah 47:8-9
Statistical data does give most comfort that the median lifespan in our developed country, with its excellent health care and clean environment, would mean that lifespans are longer. For men in the 70s, and maybe for women a few years more. But reality is, life is unpredictable and can be snuffed out in all brevity, when one least expect and is prepared for. And even if one manages to stay within the norm as far as lifespan is concerned, is your life truly one of joy and peace or is it often miserable, once the temporal happiness of material cumulation or even self actualization wears off? Much as many try to anchor their discomfort in an insecure world through material accumulations and building perceptions and personas; miseries and a troubled soul cannot be squirrelled away like one's material wealth and even then, that is temporal.
In my younger days, we stayed in a kampung or small village, and owning a chicken coop put us one class above those who only had a few chickens running free range. I do visit the coop quite regularly, for it was much easier for a young kid to deposit the by-product of his wanton and often excessive indulgences, and the chickens cooped up in their designated spot, knew me quite well. Of course, I am not alone all the time, and the neighbours' strutting cockerels can be quite territorial and have no qualms about pecking me where it hurts, often mistaking the fledging child's symbol of future manhood for a bigger than normal worm.
Enough of childhood reminiscences. But the question that begs to be asked is, "is the well fed but cooped up chicken much better off diligently laying eggs every early morning till it is no longer productive and its final rites or service is to be served as cooked meat for Chinese New Year, any better off than the scrawny free range chickens running awry, always searching for food left on the dusty floors, or even that occasional worm? Today, it has become the trend to eat free range chickens, aka Kampung Chickens because they are perceived to be healthier, given that they are not couch potatoes like the cooped up chickens and they are less likely to be fed antibiotics. But have you ever seen what these Kampung birds eat? They might not put the gregarious goat to shame, but it will give your stomach more than a little churn.
'Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night,before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.'
Matthew 26:34
It will indeed be stretching our friendships a little dangerously taut if I were to equate any of us with the hare-brained birds. But for all our intellect, man is finite, not just in lifespan, for that is given, but even in our understanding and abilities, much as some might want to believe that they can control their destiny. Birds of a feather might flock together, but reality is, whichever breed one emotionally might belong to, to live a life that takes a bet that God is either not Sovereign or does not exist at all, can have ramifications beyond one's bodily demise.
The Dodo bird might be extinct, but for us men, bodily shell will turn to dust, our soul that gives us so much angst, for our mind is self deceiving might matter less when we fizzle out, but where will our spirit be in eternity? Will it be with the loving Lord our God, or in the permanent boiling pot with the wrong company of the devil and his demons. And I am not talking about the fictional book but a reality that you can affirm now by coming unto the Lord's presence while still kicking. No need to horrors of horrors find out too late when the disbeliever ends up as a broiled chicken in perpetuity.
'For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord bestows favor and honour, no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You.'
Psalm 84:11-12
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(18Nov09)
Note
- do thank you for your forbearance with my whimsical thoughts today. Something light for a change, but if what is shared is true, then these are no featherweight matters to be taken lightly. To know God, you will have to want to move out of your comfort zone. It is true that most find it daunting to jump out of the hothouse, much as it is unbearable, but at least it is known, rather than into the unknown.
God understands our imperfections and our journey with Him is for most, a series of little steps. We can control our next step,much as we know not where it might lead to. And much as the free ranging Kampung chicken might seem quite deranged, skittering here and everywhere, but it knows how to zero in fast to the next available food that presents itself.
What about you? Do you know your purpose in life and more importantly, does life give you that joy and peace?
'Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.'
Philippians 2:4
And on that, look forward to having you join us at this Sat's Thanksgiving at Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home at 10a.m. The first step towards love is always the hardest.
And finally, just in case you are wondering, spring chicken as defined refers to young chicken of less than 28 days old and of a lighter weight of 400-450 gms. My bounce at least in physique is not the same, but I am still a sprightly cockerel with a renewed zest for life, a life that rest upon the Rock our Lord.
'Now you shall say to this people, "Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.'
Jeremiah 21:8
A friend just told me that much as some have aspirations for Singapore to be one of the fashion capitals of the world, it will never happen, simply because as a country, we have a fundamental deficiency, that is, we do not have the benefit of the four seasons. Our tropical, wet and sunny weather do place limitations on creating diversity and scope for changes, for that is what fashion is.
But independent of the climatic constraints, we humans do go through broad seasonal changes, and I am not referring to our temperament, but rather our life cycles. Our birth is like the beginnings of a new Spring, with all its innocence and hopes. Summer finds us at our youthful best, moving from the vibrant youth to forging a wonderful new career. The roses in full bloom has never smelt better. With a surfeit of cumulated assets and burdens, the aging process does creep up on us steadily, and for many, much as we try to push back the Autumn of our lives, just like falling leaves in Fall, our crowning glory will peter out, or at least turn ashen grey. And what about Winter? A cursory glance of the obituary pages is a testimony to the reality that all of us eventually will not see a new Spring.
'Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures. Who dwell securely, Who say in your heart, I am and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow. Nor shall I know the loss of children. But these two things shall come to you. In a moment, in one day. The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness.'
Isaiah 47:8-9
Statistical data does give most comfort that the median lifespan in our developed country, with its excellent health care and clean environment, would mean that lifespans are longer. For men in the 70s, and maybe for women a few years more. But reality is, life is unpredictable and can be snuffed out in all brevity, when one least expect and is prepared for. And even if one manages to stay within the norm as far as lifespan is concerned, is your life truly one of joy and peace or is it often miserable, once the temporal happiness of material cumulation or even self actualization wears off? Much as many try to anchor their discomfort in an insecure world through material accumulations and building perceptions and personas; miseries and a troubled soul cannot be squirrelled away like one's material wealth and even then, that is temporal.
In my younger days, we stayed in a kampung or small village, and owning a chicken coop put us one class above those who only had a few chickens running free range. I do visit the coop quite regularly, for it was much easier for a young kid to deposit the by-product of his wanton and often excessive indulgences, and the chickens cooped up in their designated spot, knew me quite well. Of course, I am not alone all the time, and the neighbours' strutting cockerels can be quite territorial and have no qualms about pecking me where it hurts, often mistaking the fledging child's symbol of future manhood for a bigger than normal worm.
Enough of childhood reminiscences. But the question that begs to be asked is, "is the well fed but cooped up chicken much better off diligently laying eggs every early morning till it is no longer productive and its final rites or service is to be served as cooked meat for Chinese New Year, any better off than the scrawny free range chickens running awry, always searching for food left on the dusty floors, or even that occasional worm? Today, it has become the trend to eat free range chickens, aka Kampung Chickens because they are perceived to be healthier, given that they are not couch potatoes like the cooped up chickens and they are less likely to be fed antibiotics. But have you ever seen what these Kampung birds eat? They might not put the gregarious goat to shame, but it will give your stomach more than a little churn.
'Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night,before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.'
Matthew 26:34
It will indeed be stretching our friendships a little dangerously taut if I were to equate any of us with the hare-brained birds. But for all our intellect, man is finite, not just in lifespan, for that is given, but even in our understanding and abilities, much as some might want to believe that they can control their destiny. Birds of a feather might flock together, but reality is, whichever breed one emotionally might belong to, to live a life that takes a bet that God is either not Sovereign or does not exist at all, can have ramifications beyond one's bodily demise.
The Dodo bird might be extinct, but for us men, bodily shell will turn to dust, our soul that gives us so much angst, for our mind is self deceiving might matter less when we fizzle out, but where will our spirit be in eternity? Will it be with the loving Lord our God, or in the permanent boiling pot with the wrong company of the devil and his demons. And I am not talking about the fictional book but a reality that you can affirm now by coming unto the Lord's presence while still kicking. No need to horrors of horrors find out too late when the disbeliever ends up as a broiled chicken in perpetuity.
'For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord bestows favor and honour, no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You.'
Psalm 84:11-12
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(18Nov09)
Note
- do thank you for your forbearance with my whimsical thoughts today. Something light for a change, but if what is shared is true, then these are no featherweight matters to be taken lightly. To know God, you will have to want to move out of your comfort zone. It is true that most find it daunting to jump out of the hothouse, much as it is unbearable, but at least it is known, rather than into the unknown.
God understands our imperfections and our journey with Him is for most, a series of little steps. We can control our next step,much as we know not where it might lead to. And much as the free ranging Kampung chicken might seem quite deranged, skittering here and everywhere, but it knows how to zero in fast to the next available food that presents itself.
What about you? Do you know your purpose in life and more importantly, does life give you that joy and peace?
'Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.'
Philippians 2:4
And on that, look forward to having you join us at this Sat's Thanksgiving at Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home at 10a.m. The first step towards love is always the hardest.
And finally, just in case you are wondering, spring chicken as defined refers to young chicken of less than 28 days old and of a lighter weight of 400-450 gms. My bounce at least in physique is not the same, but I am still a sprightly cockerel with a renewed zest for life, a life that rest upon the Rock our Lord.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Reflections for the moment #42 Seeking shelter (4nov09)
Dear….
'Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.'
Psalms 73:13-14
A brother in Christ told me to be very aware of the time that God wakes us up, for its seems 4am is when His Spirit moves. Not too sure about that, but lately, I am awakened at 6am not with an uplifting spirit as always before, but with an unsettled heart. A sister in Christ forewarned me just last nite that I must be prepared to be spiritually assaulted by the devil, given my desire to respond to the Lord's call to do His will even more fervently not just for this month of Nov 09, but from here on.
'Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou has holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory…'
Psalms 73:23
God is Sovereign. The devil for all its professed influence in our fallen world, still has to seek God's permission before he is allowed to touch us with his delusions. I know that, I have lived through much greater oppressions and delusions, and I know the "de rigueur," a French expression that literally means necessary according to etiquette, common sense, protocol or fashion.
So what is the common pattern? Men being imperfect, much as we strive to be Christlike, will have chinks in our armour that the devil will try to capitalize on to bring about our reversion back to sinfulness. And how can we deal with such challenges, which will be an ongoing process till the day we are with our Father in Heaven?
God knows our imperfections. He understands that and He has left the Holy Spirit in us who truly believed, to guide, teach, correct and lead us.
But we must want to call upon Him, who resides in our heart. And like a race that the Apostle Paul alludes to, we can only run well if we stay focussed on Christ our Lord, and if we stay disciplined.
Discipline comes from the desire and action to do God's leading, in seeking Him always in our lives, in reading His words, in prayers, and in His works in all times, be it good, bad or indifferent.
Doing all these does not mean no troubles, as I have found out often. It in fact means even greater challenges, yet, this diligence will ensure that we will draw near to God, so that God will draw near to us and He will bring us forth, much as our innate sinful self will struggle for a while. And with the faith given to those who comes continuously unto the presence of God, come what may, we will allow ourselves to cling on to Him much as many often find it difficult in their troubled moments to let go and let God.
'Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.'
Romans 13:1
Indeed as the Psalmist say in Psalm 73:22
'So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee..'
But yet, by habit or more like faith, inculcated over the years from time spent with the Lord our God, I have indeed learned to cling on to God, no matter what
;Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand.'
Psalm 73:23
And indeed as I finished this short, and in the mind of some, self psycho-analysis, God has indeed lifted the oppressive cloud hanging over my head this past one week, and I do apologize to anyone who have received some recent communications from me. Prayerfully, the slightly more edgy responses did no damage. I was not myself, as the Incredible Hulk would say after leaving a damaging trail before he reverted from raging green to mild mannered pale white. But thankfully, God is faithful, even when we are not.
'And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.'
John 1:5
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
Note
- If you were to read Ephesians 6:12, it does bring us to a different perspective from the one dimensional world that we think we are in.
'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
But God has indeed provided us with His cover and do take time to reflect and pray about God's provisions for all of us. Much as even many believers might think not much of the spiritual, reality is that the natural and the spiritual are both at work and it will do us well to be very cognizance of the presence of evil in forms beyond our finite discernment. Yet it is even more imperative that we be fully cognizance of and acknowlege God's omnipresence and Sovereignty in our lives. For not to do so, would mean that you are on your own, as many who are about to depart from their bodily shell might attest to. A postulation on my part, but I believe is a fact.
'Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand….'
Ephesians 6:13-18
'Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.'
Psalms 73:13-14
A brother in Christ told me to be very aware of the time that God wakes us up, for its seems 4am is when His Spirit moves. Not too sure about that, but lately, I am awakened at 6am not with an uplifting spirit as always before, but with an unsettled heart. A sister in Christ forewarned me just last nite that I must be prepared to be spiritually assaulted by the devil, given my desire to respond to the Lord's call to do His will even more fervently not just for this month of Nov 09, but from here on.
'Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou has holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory…'
Psalms 73:23
God is Sovereign. The devil for all its professed influence in our fallen world, still has to seek God's permission before he is allowed to touch us with his delusions. I know that, I have lived through much greater oppressions and delusions, and I know the "de rigueur," a French expression that literally means necessary according to etiquette, common sense, protocol or fashion.
So what is the common pattern? Men being imperfect, much as we strive to be Christlike, will have chinks in our armour that the devil will try to capitalize on to bring about our reversion back to sinfulness. And how can we deal with such challenges, which will be an ongoing process till the day we are with our Father in Heaven?
God knows our imperfections. He understands that and He has left the Holy Spirit in us who truly believed, to guide, teach, correct and lead us.
But we must want to call upon Him, who resides in our heart. And like a race that the Apostle Paul alludes to, we can only run well if we stay focussed on Christ our Lord, and if we stay disciplined.
Discipline comes from the desire and action to do God's leading, in seeking Him always in our lives, in reading His words, in prayers, and in His works in all times, be it good, bad or indifferent.
Doing all these does not mean no troubles, as I have found out often. It in fact means even greater challenges, yet, this diligence will ensure that we will draw near to God, so that God will draw near to us and He will bring us forth, much as our innate sinful self will struggle for a while. And with the faith given to those who comes continuously unto the presence of God, come what may, we will allow ourselves to cling on to Him much as many often find it difficult in their troubled moments to let go and let God.
'Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.'
Romans 13:1
Indeed as the Psalmist say in Psalm 73:22
'So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee..'
But yet, by habit or more like faith, inculcated over the years from time spent with the Lord our God, I have indeed learned to cling on to God, no matter what
;Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand.'
Psalm 73:23
And indeed as I finished this short, and in the mind of some, self psycho-analysis, God has indeed lifted the oppressive cloud hanging over my head this past one week, and I do apologize to anyone who have received some recent communications from me. Prayerfully, the slightly more edgy responses did no damage. I was not myself, as the Incredible Hulk would say after leaving a damaging trail before he reverted from raging green to mild mannered pale white. But thankfully, God is faithful, even when we are not.
'And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.'
John 1:5
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
Note
- If you were to read Ephesians 6:12, it does bring us to a different perspective from the one dimensional world that we think we are in.
'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
But God has indeed provided us with His cover and do take time to reflect and pray about God's provisions for all of us. Much as even many believers might think not much of the spiritual, reality is that the natural and the spiritual are both at work and it will do us well to be very cognizance of the presence of evil in forms beyond our finite discernment. Yet it is even more imperative that we be fully cognizance of and acknowlege God's omnipresence and Sovereignty in our lives. For not to do so, would mean that you are on your own, as many who are about to depart from their bodily shell might attest to. A postulation on my part, but I believe is a fact.
'Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand….'
Ephesians 6:13-18
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