Dear….
‘And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him..’
Acts 28:30
I like to start by truly thanking many of you who took time to write me some kind words of encouragement for the Word based ministry that God has placed me in these past 7 years as well as the opportunity to journey with many of you in the light of God’s grace. Much as I know it is God Who matters, the imperfect me still cherish such reassurances, and may in doing so, I pray that I do not forget that all glory is due to God, and His grace is suffice.
‘And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that Thine hand might be with me and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.’
1 Chronicles 4:10
The prayer of Jabez, or at least a small little booklet revolving around this prayer was a few years back, going the popular rounds amongst Christians, who were encouraged to boldly asked God for His blessings, so that the recipient can have the provisions to do His work, even more. Unfortunately, for some, it became almost a repetitive meditative tome, which led to this misconception that if one continuously harped at our Abba Father, He will pay attention and give us what we asked for, rather than what He wills.
A dear brother in respond to my last sharing(SundaySnippets#14 Much ado about ash 25th April 10) jolted my memory regarding this same Jabez prayer chronicled in where else but 1 Chronicles 4:10
‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.’
2 Timothy 3:16-17
I have indeed been blessed by the grace of our Sovereign God. And I till now believed I have with all my heart, seek to do His will. Much as I might not have mouthed the prayer of Jabez, indeed God knows my heart and He has provided. So while am I undergoing further painful but gainful correction.
All scripture is indeed profitable for reproof and correction and as I pondered upon this present period of further personal refinement, our good Lord brought me to the daily bread reading of April 15th , Thursday, which used the following verse from 2 Timothy 2:20-21
‘…The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. ….If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.’
2 Timothy 2:20-21
In my desire to do the greater good, my approach might sometimes, have been necessarily expedient, but it does bring hurt and damage to those that I loved most. Focus on our Lord Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, we must, but Christ himself never left in his wake, souls that were deemed dispensable for the greater cause. God’s command to us is to love Him and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Often one places one’s own understanding above God’s leading, but thanks be to God, He will steer us back on course.
In the DB reading, the author says “ WE often think God has assigned us to change the world around us when in reality He is interested in changing us. Why? The verse in 2 Timothy 2:20-21 reminds us of the need to continuously be perfected. And indeed God often uses the most unlikely people in the most unlikely places to teach us some of life’s most difficult lessons. And just when we think we have arrived. He is instructing us further.”
These few days have indeed been a humbling time for me. We must truly remember that only God is Sovereign and we must cling on to Him always, or lose our way, much as we might think that we are very much on track in His work. Yet God is good. It is not just about reorientation, or magnitude of needs being addressed. It is also about answered prayers. And indeed through life’s experiences like these few days, God is indeed answering one of my most heartfelt desires, for my loved ones to move in step in their spiritual growth. Prayers asked in His will are always answered, but as always, in His way and timing. Once one understands that, one will learn not to judge or be self righteous, but instead, let the Spirit of God convict us of our latent imperfections, and as we allow God to do that, He will show us the wisdom of His ways and indeed, I am seeing my prayers being answered even as God renew my mind and transform my heart and that of my loved ones.
In the same DB reading, the author reminds us that “Only when we are changed can we be agents of change” and on that note, I must thank my wife, my children and all the people that God placed in my life, for their patience and long suffering, much as the imperfect me continues to run at a breakneck speed, leaving in its wake, some unintended damage. But God is good, He corrects, He leads and He provides.
‘Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.’
Luke 13:24
Lunchtime, yesterday, as I spent time with our Lord, He brought me to a recent sermon by Rev Francis Khoo(Covenant Vision Centre). The dear Pastor spoke about sanctification. The circumcision of our hearts. To be able to walk right for God, He will have to make us right and this process only ends when our Lord Jesus Christ returns or when God takes us home. Will we be willing to be subjected to this sometimes painful, but always gainful work of God our Potter?
Often, like me, we think we are willing, but truth is in the eating of the pudding, and whenever we go through trials, our carnal self will change its mind and be unwilling, but the Spirit of God will help us overcome our sinful self, if we are willing to let God.
‘His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.’
Isaiah 28:26
When God sanctifies us by the infilling of His Spirit, He not only cleanses us of our imperfections, He will remold us in His likeness. It is not an instant transformation, much as God can do so if He wills. But He gives us the free choice to follow. He allows us to decide if we want to not just journey with Him, but to be carried by Him through the treacherous potholes of life that the devil has laid. How can we be cognizance of His leading, and ensure that we stay the course. Christ not just asked us to be like Him, but He has also shown all how to be Christ-like. And time with God in prayers, in His Word and in His work with love is the key.
‘And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.’
Mark 1:35
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(29th April 10)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Reflections for the moment#60 Five loaves, and two fish (23rd April10)
Dear…
‘Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.’
Romans 12:13
‘..not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.’
Romans 12:11
‘…rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.’
Romans 12:12
The days that we are most desirous to do the will of God, seems also to be the days that you would be most challenged. And often, in the midst of savoring the joy of doing the will of God, we can also be rudely awakened by unexpected challenges, that threaten not just our recent joy, but our very desire to continue to do what we believe God is leading us to.
‘In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’
1 Peter 1:6-7
God knows our imperfections, He knows that we live in an imperfect world that might not appreciate our desire to be like Christ, and clearly, the forces of evil will not be sitting still watching you being used by the Lord our God to free many from the devil’s grip.
But why does God, Who is Sovereign, not fully shelter us, but allow us to continue to go through storms, much as we have truly been trying to stay the course?
‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.’
Ephesians 2:10
As I struggle today with the weight of my ministry, I took an even harder look at the 3 verses above, from Romans 12, which have been hovering round my time spent with the Lord these past few days. Doing a quick stock take, I will more than before, confidently tick off Romans 12:13 and Romans 12:11 with confidence. But what about Romans 12:12?
With our finite minds, and often insatiable needs, most of us would have longings, which often lead us to much angst and frustration, as we see no conclusion to what we desire. As a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, the things we hope for will no longer be the same as what the once carnal us desire. But hope aligned with God’s will does not necessary mean immediate attainment nor the way we perceive. Would we also degenerate to the same sense of angst and frustration as a non follower of Christ, or can we truly learn to come unto the presence of God, and learning to let go and let Him and as His Spirit reassures us, we will use our waiting time wonderfully in His work, and with joy, while awaiting patiently for what we hoped for?
‘But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.’
Ephesians 2:13
The Malay Kris, a lovely dagger with wavy blades, if used with ill intent, not just leave a dent in one’s body, if you happened to be stabbed, but as the dagger is pulled out from your blood stained body, the wavy edges ensure that quite a few things are brought out at the same time. Pretty hideous it is, but it serves its purpose. Many of us who desire to lead others to the faith know that we often not just get rejected, but the source of our interest is likely to go on the offensive with us. It is natural, for the natural instinct is to react to threats to one’s comfort zone. And the devil will definitely goad the present child of his bondage to resist any attempts to free them from their bondage. Can we still rejoice in hope, but also be patient when doing good, when to do so meant that one has to take pain?
‘…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’
Hebrews 12:1-2
‘Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.’
Revelation 2:10
Christ led by example. He knew the greater purpose of God. He relied upon God, as exemplified by his time in prayers, in all circumstances.
The last segment of Romans 12:12 talks about “steadfastness in prayers.” And indeed, prayers must replace our senses, always. The natural man in us tend to question, rationalize, ponder, react and the whole gamut of emotional responses to our circumstances. God wants us to always look to Him in prayers first, to take time with Him, to know His will, to rest in Him and to move from His very leading. We must first submit to God, then can we resist the devil. For God’s purpose is to make us ready for eternity with Him, while the devil’s intent is to bring you into damnation.
‘So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?’
Ecclesiastes 3:22
‘I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.’
Ecclesiastes 3:12
In closing, Pastor Rick Warren author of the “Purpose Driven Life” in an interview shared about life being like a railroad track(see attached). We will have joy yet problems running parallel our lives. It is what we choose to focus on. It is like the five loaves and two fish, do we look at what more we should have, or should we not just be thankful for what God has provided, but also move further into the question of what would God want us to do with it?
Should our lives be one of pleasing God, with the comfort that eternity is ours and God is Sovereign. Or should we continue to labor under the weight of our worldly needs, knowing full well that to continue to do so can only end in further grief?
‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(22nd April 2010)
‘Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.’
Romans 12:13
‘..not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.’
Romans 12:11
‘…rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.’
Romans 12:12
The days that we are most desirous to do the will of God, seems also to be the days that you would be most challenged. And often, in the midst of savoring the joy of doing the will of God, we can also be rudely awakened by unexpected challenges, that threaten not just our recent joy, but our very desire to continue to do what we believe God is leading us to.
‘In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’
1 Peter 1:6-7
God knows our imperfections, He knows that we live in an imperfect world that might not appreciate our desire to be like Christ, and clearly, the forces of evil will not be sitting still watching you being used by the Lord our God to free many from the devil’s grip.
But why does God, Who is Sovereign, not fully shelter us, but allow us to continue to go through storms, much as we have truly been trying to stay the course?
‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.’
Ephesians 2:10
As I struggle today with the weight of my ministry, I took an even harder look at the 3 verses above, from Romans 12, which have been hovering round my time spent with the Lord these past few days. Doing a quick stock take, I will more than before, confidently tick off Romans 12:13 and Romans 12:11 with confidence. But what about Romans 12:12?
With our finite minds, and often insatiable needs, most of us would have longings, which often lead us to much angst and frustration, as we see no conclusion to what we desire. As a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, the things we hope for will no longer be the same as what the once carnal us desire. But hope aligned with God’s will does not necessary mean immediate attainment nor the way we perceive. Would we also degenerate to the same sense of angst and frustration as a non follower of Christ, or can we truly learn to come unto the presence of God, and learning to let go and let Him and as His Spirit reassures us, we will use our waiting time wonderfully in His work, and with joy, while awaiting patiently for what we hoped for?
‘But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.’
Ephesians 2:13
The Malay Kris, a lovely dagger with wavy blades, if used with ill intent, not just leave a dent in one’s body, if you happened to be stabbed, but as the dagger is pulled out from your blood stained body, the wavy edges ensure that quite a few things are brought out at the same time. Pretty hideous it is, but it serves its purpose. Many of us who desire to lead others to the faith know that we often not just get rejected, but the source of our interest is likely to go on the offensive with us. It is natural, for the natural instinct is to react to threats to one’s comfort zone. And the devil will definitely goad the present child of his bondage to resist any attempts to free them from their bondage. Can we still rejoice in hope, but also be patient when doing good, when to do so meant that one has to take pain?
‘…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’
Hebrews 12:1-2
‘Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.’
Revelation 2:10
Christ led by example. He knew the greater purpose of God. He relied upon God, as exemplified by his time in prayers, in all circumstances.
The last segment of Romans 12:12 talks about “steadfastness in prayers.” And indeed, prayers must replace our senses, always. The natural man in us tend to question, rationalize, ponder, react and the whole gamut of emotional responses to our circumstances. God wants us to always look to Him in prayers first, to take time with Him, to know His will, to rest in Him and to move from His very leading. We must first submit to God, then can we resist the devil. For God’s purpose is to make us ready for eternity with Him, while the devil’s intent is to bring you into damnation.
‘So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?’
Ecclesiastes 3:22
‘I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.’
Ecclesiastes 3:12
In closing, Pastor Rick Warren author of the “Purpose Driven Life” in an interview shared about life being like a railroad track(see attached). We will have joy yet problems running parallel our lives. It is what we choose to focus on. It is like the five loaves and two fish, do we look at what more we should have, or should we not just be thankful for what God has provided, but also move further into the question of what would God want us to do with it?
Should our lives be one of pleasing God, with the comfort that eternity is ours and God is Sovereign. Or should we continue to labor under the weight of our worldly needs, knowing full well that to continue to do so can only end in further grief?
‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(22nd April 2010)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Reflections for the moment#59 Grounded (21st April 10)
Dear…
‘Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name. The righteous shall surround me. For You shall deal bountifully with me.’
Psalm 142:7
With the selective resumption of flights out of and into Europe, we witness the tears of relief as a select few can finally go home, after being holed up for a few frustrating days. Many more however are still lingering in uncertainty as the backlog of flights will take time to clear, much as the volcanoes in Iceland are still spewing ash and threatening to literally imprison the stranded passengers for much longer.
‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace. Who brings glad tidings of good things.’
Romans 10:15
For a man, I do have petite feet, if a small size 6 ½ is the criteria. But throw in spindly legs that my podiatrist thinks will have trouble supporting my upper torso as I age, if I do not now start beefing the legs up. Guess I can empathize with either the ostrich or the giraffe.
Romans 10:15 interestingly was the verse that decorates the reception area of this same Christian podiatrist and I am reminded this morning that much as we are imperfect, our perfect and Sovereign God will use us in our weaknesses, if we are willing to let Him.
So, on four wheels and a few small steps that my much troubled legs can still master, I finally made a visit to the “Helping Hands” this morning. And by God’s grace, with the help of Google Map, I actually made it to the place without having to transcend half of Singapore, for sense of direction geography wise is not a gift I have been given. And thankfully, the Word based sharing and the ministries that God has placed me in these past few years is truly dependent upon His leading, and not mine, or we will all be in dire straits.
‘..for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Matthew 23:39
The “Helping Hand”( http://www.thehelpinghand.org.sg/ ) is a Christian charitable organization that seeks to provide a place for ex drug addicts and released prisoners, who truly desire to have a new start in life, to make right what had gone wrong in their lives. It is an organization that depends not only upon the goodwill of donors, but seeks to generate self sustainable income and a sense of self worth for its constituents by providing employment for them through a range of services from furniture sales, gardening, house removal and computer repair.
“Don’t mind the tattoos” was the banner flying proudly across the facilities of the home. Indeed, much as these men are out of the physical confines of the prison, many of them continue to be imprisoned by their own sense of self worth, a captivity reinforced by the judgmental general perception of many of us “righteous, law abiding” citizens.
‘Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it….’
Psalm 127:1
I was a Pharisee once, that is, I follow the law and rules of society, guided by my own selfish needs and finite understanding. I thankfully now am more desirous of following the leading of the Holy Spirit, and I translate that desire by coming unto the presence of the Lord our God always.
To be a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ is to be desirous of, and actively working on staying grounded upon the Lord our God, to be Christ-like in our daily living, in our very thoughts and every breath.
Reality is, for many of us, even those who call themselves Christians, we are too busy building our own little castles, grounding ourselves upon the ways and whims of the world, storing up the provisions that God has blessed us with instead of dispensing it to those who are in need, and in the process of our walking the ways of the world, we have built a gilt edge prison for ourselves.
In sharing God’s provisions, I am reminded of the five loaves and two fish, or was it the other way round? Matters not, for by man’s understanding, the needs of the world are indeed tremendous, and our resources are finite. And it is true. In my small ministry of sharing the Lord’s blessings, our good Lord has always ensured that I will give from a position of weakness rather than strength. For it is not what we have, but Who God is. Yet God has always ensured that there is more than suffice, much as often it is really my heart that is lacking.
‘I was naked and you clothed Me. I was sick and you visited Me. I was in prison and you came to Me.’
Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?’
………..And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25:36-40
In giving, indeed we receive. And not just the promise of God’s recognition of our faithfulness when He calls us home, but in giving, we will experience that indescribable joy and peace, that compassion that brings us to a deeper understanding of Who God is and into a wonderful relationship with our Father Who will more than provide for our needs on Earth, much as He uses us to meet the needs of others.
‘….not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality..’
Romans 11-13
Much as the world, or at least the financial markets and property markets are still trying to reach stratosphere, it is increasingly clear that the steam is fast running out, as the reality sinks in that the fundamentals are lagging quite far behind. A last and dangerous puff there might still be to bring those desirous of reaching the heavens where mistakenly they think mammon exists, not realizing that the devil will soon be consigned to the inner depths. But a trigger to bring the deluded back down to the hard ground of reality is still needed.
Would a prolonged disruption from the incessant spewing of the volcano in Iceland do the trick? Iceland is a timely reminder of what a meltdown can do to the global economy(maybe not Babel, but definitely Babylonian) that is so intertwined and how an “act of God” (as insurance companies and most of the secular world, seem to favor shifting all blame for natural catastrophes to a God they do not acknowledge in dandy times) can truly ground most economic activities, the heartbeat of our present world.
All of us who are now faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, have to go through a series of inflexion points, where we by God’s grace learn to turn back to Him, and to acknowledge His will. It is likely the world has to also go through a series or rather, a few waves of realism before we are prepared to recognize the fragility of an economic recovery that is more financial than structural, a recovery that is fed primarily by debt binges by once fiscally responsible governments. We are on very loose grounds.
Oil is the devil’s brew. It is also the life stream of our present one world global economy. It might not seem plausible now, just as a deflation weaned world seems to believe that inflation is nigh not possible that we will ever enter a similar oil crisis like that of the 1970s and early 1980s.
Man plans, God directs. And yet, it is often the follies and machinations of men that lead us down the path of grief. The signs are there. The Iranians, a major player in the late 1970s political landscape, are increasingly coming to the forefront. Are their Arab brothers itching for a fight with the once mighty Israelites? Past experiences have build a psyche of inferiority as regards military capability in the minds of the Arabs. But to some extent, that superiority of the Israelites have been debunked in the recent mini-conflict in Lebanon.
(see link on Yom Kippur War http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/73_War.html )
The USA has since the 1970s, in the Yom Kippur War of 1973, been a bulwark of unflinching support for Israel. If so, is there a need for the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to recently reiterate publicly this continued unique relationship or is it increasingly becoming a semi-myth? Any wavering on the part of the USA will be an excuse for Iran to test the ground with an armed conflict in the Middle East, for the present Iranian President has publicly attested to his belief that the his savior can only return with the destruction of Israel. (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/10/26/ahmadinejad/)
Will Syria, Iran’s closest ally in the Arab world be where the conflict will be fought, and the prophecy for the destruction of Damascus, the capital of Syria be brought to fruition?
‘Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city. And it will be a ruinous heap…’
Isaiah 17:1
Are these postulations fully grounded or are they the groundless work of a fertile mind? Prayerfully not, but what matters is not what happens tomorrow, but what you do today. The grace of God is truly suffice for the day, but are we prepared to anchor our lives on the only firm ground in the landscape of our lives, our Lord Jesus Christ?
You can start by grounding yourselves upon His Word and as He leads, as the Spirit of God will surely do so, upon His work.
‘…All flesh is grass. And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers. And the flower falls away. But the Word of the Lord ensures forever.’
Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.’
1 Peter 1:24-25
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(21 April 2010)
‘Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name. The righteous shall surround me. For You shall deal bountifully with me.’
Psalm 142:7
With the selective resumption of flights out of and into Europe, we witness the tears of relief as a select few can finally go home, after being holed up for a few frustrating days. Many more however are still lingering in uncertainty as the backlog of flights will take time to clear, much as the volcanoes in Iceland are still spewing ash and threatening to literally imprison the stranded passengers for much longer.
‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace. Who brings glad tidings of good things.’
Romans 10:15
For a man, I do have petite feet, if a small size 6 ½ is the criteria. But throw in spindly legs that my podiatrist thinks will have trouble supporting my upper torso as I age, if I do not now start beefing the legs up. Guess I can empathize with either the ostrich or the giraffe.
Romans 10:15 interestingly was the verse that decorates the reception area of this same Christian podiatrist and I am reminded this morning that much as we are imperfect, our perfect and Sovereign God will use us in our weaknesses, if we are willing to let Him.
So, on four wheels and a few small steps that my much troubled legs can still master, I finally made a visit to the “Helping Hands” this morning. And by God’s grace, with the help of Google Map, I actually made it to the place without having to transcend half of Singapore, for sense of direction geography wise is not a gift I have been given. And thankfully, the Word based sharing and the ministries that God has placed me in these past few years is truly dependent upon His leading, and not mine, or we will all be in dire straits.
‘..for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Matthew 23:39
The “Helping Hand”( http://www.thehelpinghand.org.sg/ ) is a Christian charitable organization that seeks to provide a place for ex drug addicts and released prisoners, who truly desire to have a new start in life, to make right what had gone wrong in their lives. It is an organization that depends not only upon the goodwill of donors, but seeks to generate self sustainable income and a sense of self worth for its constituents by providing employment for them through a range of services from furniture sales, gardening, house removal and computer repair.
“Don’t mind the tattoos” was the banner flying proudly across the facilities of the home. Indeed, much as these men are out of the physical confines of the prison, many of them continue to be imprisoned by their own sense of self worth, a captivity reinforced by the judgmental general perception of many of us “righteous, law abiding” citizens.
‘Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it….’
Psalm 127:1
I was a Pharisee once, that is, I follow the law and rules of society, guided by my own selfish needs and finite understanding. I thankfully now am more desirous of following the leading of the Holy Spirit, and I translate that desire by coming unto the presence of the Lord our God always.
To be a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ is to be desirous of, and actively working on staying grounded upon the Lord our God, to be Christ-like in our daily living, in our very thoughts and every breath.
Reality is, for many of us, even those who call themselves Christians, we are too busy building our own little castles, grounding ourselves upon the ways and whims of the world, storing up the provisions that God has blessed us with instead of dispensing it to those who are in need, and in the process of our walking the ways of the world, we have built a gilt edge prison for ourselves.
In sharing God’s provisions, I am reminded of the five loaves and two fish, or was it the other way round? Matters not, for by man’s understanding, the needs of the world are indeed tremendous, and our resources are finite. And it is true. In my small ministry of sharing the Lord’s blessings, our good Lord has always ensured that I will give from a position of weakness rather than strength. For it is not what we have, but Who God is. Yet God has always ensured that there is more than suffice, much as often it is really my heart that is lacking.
‘I was naked and you clothed Me. I was sick and you visited Me. I was in prison and you came to Me.’
Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?’
………..And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25:36-40
In giving, indeed we receive. And not just the promise of God’s recognition of our faithfulness when He calls us home, but in giving, we will experience that indescribable joy and peace, that compassion that brings us to a deeper understanding of Who God is and into a wonderful relationship with our Father Who will more than provide for our needs on Earth, much as He uses us to meet the needs of others.
‘….not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality..’
Romans 11-13
Much as the world, or at least the financial markets and property markets are still trying to reach stratosphere, it is increasingly clear that the steam is fast running out, as the reality sinks in that the fundamentals are lagging quite far behind. A last and dangerous puff there might still be to bring those desirous of reaching the heavens where mistakenly they think mammon exists, not realizing that the devil will soon be consigned to the inner depths. But a trigger to bring the deluded back down to the hard ground of reality is still needed.
Would a prolonged disruption from the incessant spewing of the volcano in Iceland do the trick? Iceland is a timely reminder of what a meltdown can do to the global economy(maybe not Babel, but definitely Babylonian) that is so intertwined and how an “act of God” (as insurance companies and most of the secular world, seem to favor shifting all blame for natural catastrophes to a God they do not acknowledge in dandy times) can truly ground most economic activities, the heartbeat of our present world.
All of us who are now faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, have to go through a series of inflexion points, where we by God’s grace learn to turn back to Him, and to acknowledge His will. It is likely the world has to also go through a series or rather, a few waves of realism before we are prepared to recognize the fragility of an economic recovery that is more financial than structural, a recovery that is fed primarily by debt binges by once fiscally responsible governments. We are on very loose grounds.
Oil is the devil’s brew. It is also the life stream of our present one world global economy. It might not seem plausible now, just as a deflation weaned world seems to believe that inflation is nigh not possible that we will ever enter a similar oil crisis like that of the 1970s and early 1980s.
Man plans, God directs. And yet, it is often the follies and machinations of men that lead us down the path of grief. The signs are there. The Iranians, a major player in the late 1970s political landscape, are increasingly coming to the forefront. Are their Arab brothers itching for a fight with the once mighty Israelites? Past experiences have build a psyche of inferiority as regards military capability in the minds of the Arabs. But to some extent, that superiority of the Israelites have been debunked in the recent mini-conflict in Lebanon.
(see link on Yom Kippur War http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/73_War.html )
The USA has since the 1970s, in the Yom Kippur War of 1973, been a bulwark of unflinching support for Israel. If so, is there a need for the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to recently reiterate publicly this continued unique relationship or is it increasingly becoming a semi-myth? Any wavering on the part of the USA will be an excuse for Iran to test the ground with an armed conflict in the Middle East, for the present Iranian President has publicly attested to his belief that the his savior can only return with the destruction of Israel. (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/10/26/ahmadinejad/)
Will Syria, Iran’s closest ally in the Arab world be where the conflict will be fought, and the prophecy for the destruction of Damascus, the capital of Syria be brought to fruition?
‘Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city. And it will be a ruinous heap…’
Isaiah 17:1
Are these postulations fully grounded or are they the groundless work of a fertile mind? Prayerfully not, but what matters is not what happens tomorrow, but what you do today. The grace of God is truly suffice for the day, but are we prepared to anchor our lives on the only firm ground in the landscape of our lives, our Lord Jesus Christ?
You can start by grounding yourselves upon His Word and as He leads, as the Spirit of God will surely do so, upon His work.
‘…All flesh is grass. And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers. And the flower falls away. But the Word of the Lord ensures forever.’
Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.’
1 Peter 1:24-25
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(21 April 2010)
Friday, April 16, 2010
Reflections for the moment #58 Tower of Babel (17th April 2010)
Dear……
‘God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed…’
Psalm 46:1-2
Yesterday was a troubling day for me. But is not trouble a cloak that all of us wear in this sinful world? Being a faithful follower of our Lord Jesus Christ does not mean no troubles, in fact, we are at the frontline of Satan’s wrath. But God is Sovereign and I am often reminded and reassured that truly, pain indeed does bring us great gain, in the greater purpose that God has for all of us, to be like Him and to be used as the purified lamp upon which His light shines forth into the darkness that encapsulates the lives of many.
‘..Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. And His ears are open to their prayers….’
1 Peter 3:11-12
In the days of pre-Gorbachev, when the old Soviet Union was truly communists, the Russian Rouble was not a desired currency of choice, and many Russians often stashed away US dollars, obtained from the black markets, and this squirreling habit is often heightened in times of perceived troubles, in the burgeoning communist regime.
The same for most of us. We often seek the things of the world, not just for that quick but temporal fix(no different from that of a drug addict), but equate such things, be it material wealth, good health or even the sanctity of the family and friends as our crutches in a challenging world. But God is truly the only sanctuary and source of all comfort and grace, yet, it often takes a prolonged and intense buffeting before many of us will truly recognize and acknowledge His Sovereignty.
‘But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.’
1 Peter 3:15-16
The years of determined desire on my part to seek God first has indeed helped me tremendously. The burdens of the day’s troubles still weigh upon my heart. But going to God has make it less burdensome and He has helped me to focus on His will, rather than what my troubled heart perceives. God will always make a way at every crossroads of our lives, we must be very mindful of that and learn to take time to be still, rather than react as is our sinful instinct, to what our senses perceive. James in the Bible reminds us of the need to submit to God, then resist the devil which will flee from us. But most of us tend to resist the devil and hardly give much thought to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, Whom God has provided to lead, guide and fight our battles.
Be still, and know that I am God…’
Psalm 46:10
Time out with God is paramount in our journey of faith. Cacophony is a word that I have been testing my son on, in his vocabulary gymnastics that he does before he goes to bed. A flock of geese talking incessantly is probably the closest pictorial representation to the high decibel level that permeates our daily lives. Pilfer is another word in the routine exercise with my son. In the midst of so much distractions in our lives, the devil indeed find it easy to steal our soul from right under our nose
One trip to Shanghai is probably not a good indicator of life there. But, most will agree that it is indeed a vibrant if not incessant place. The hardware are gleaming new, though the software in terms of civic behavior still lags, but no doubt improving. Yet, it is a place where anyone with a desire to plug into the vibrancy of a resurgent China, the present focal point of the world, must spend some time in. It is reminiscence of, though on a much bigger scale, the Asian tiger economies of South East Asia in the 1990s(before the onset of the debilitating Asian crisis), or the youthful exuberance of the now more sedate internet boom of the late 1990s centered San Hose in the Silicon Valley, which has since been deflated for most of this decade. And not many might remember that the present limpid Japan was king of the heap back in the Japanese Yen intoxicated 1980s.
Will China go the same way and come back hard down to Earth and stay flat there for a long time?
I think not, at least not flat for some time, given its still early phase as an emerging economic powerhouse. But that not does not mean no extreme volatilities as it goes through the inevitable growth pangs.
But one other thing that did strike me is the number of non-Chinese now residing in Shanghai, who are more conversant in Mandarin than me. Time to move from being Anglophile to Sinophile.
The world has now converged upon China, especially Shanghai, its commonality being a place to make great riches, given that Shanghai is fast regaining its status as the financial centre of Asia, if not the world eventually. Would Shanghai also qualify as the proverbial “Tower of Babel” where sinful men once united by greed and other litany of sins, decide to build a very, very high tower to Heaven. With the World Expo starting in May this year, I am sure there will be more nationalities converging in one place than ever before. And if one were to throw in the rising phoenixes or more like increasingly brand new mega buildings sprouting up in Pudong, the now very dead chaps from the old Babel will feel quite right at home in Shanghai.
But maybe not. I had the privilege of attending church service at a rustic church located in the French Concession of Shanghai, twice over, once on Good Friday, and the other on Easter Sunday. The Good Friday was a Mandarin service and the bulk of attendees were not just locals, but mainly those of age 60 and above and mainly of limited material means. Yet, the strength of faith seems to emanate forth and their vocalizing of the word “Amen” truly resonates forth from the heart, putting to shame many of us relatively younger folks. On Easter Sunday, I attended the same church, but an English language service. I have never seen so many people of differing nationalities gathered in church, though it is a common sight in the pubs and I am gratified to know that there are many Westerners who have not turned away from the Lord. It is indeed an eye opener for the biased me.
Shanghai might seem to be of the world, but God hands are there and all is not lost. So where is the Tower of Babel?
The thoughts above were with me when I returned from Shanghai two weeks back, and today, as I now start to complete the rest of this sharing the Lord brought me to the news about the potential longer term paralyzing impact of the volcanic ash from Iceland upon a large part or more like the prosperous part of Europe, with air travel grounded. It did just struck me that the Tower of Babel is already a work in progress in Europe. A continent that was once the hub of Christianity is now very much secular. And the last few stronghold of the Christian faith is now under severe attack, with the recent spate of news on the Vatican and the Pope. Europe this year, has its more than fair share of natural disasters and economic pressures , for this seems to be the year of dominant bad news for Europe, which has taken over the unwanted mantle of troubled continent from the USA.
Europe is a place of great disunity and varied languages and social prejudices. It is where both World Wars have its origins. It is also where the most inhumane treatment of a fellow human being occurred, when the Nazis determined extermination of the Jews, led to the surviving Jewish diaspora finally having the will to return to their long abandoned homeland of present day Israel. Europe also has the longest transient “homeless’ discriminated race in the world, the gypsies.
Tall buildings Europe might not be able to match those in Dubai, Shanghai or even Taipei or KL. But for the past couple of decades, Europe has been steadily coming together through the European Union. And much as there are still many challenges, the “Tower of Babel” of one united Europe is increasingly becoming a reality. The Iron Curtain of communism that has kept Europe apart has since collapsed with the Berlin Wall. What is missing is one dominant figure, the anti-Christ to finally gel the economic union into one complete nation.
It will come, as the continued fiscal ill discipline and almost institutionalized selfishness of the present Continental European culture will ensure that few will turn back to God and do the right thing.
But the British Isles is still a missing part of this great plan. With the subprime, the last strong bastion, at least as a nation which still symbolically place God as above the Queen, will increasingly be forced to surrender all to seek shelter in a greater Europe, for the British economy might not be Iceland, and with meltdowns increasingly habitual, even Pax Britania is not immune, for Britain had to seek IMF help back in 1976 and lightning can strike twice.
A recent article I read, talked about British Anglican bishops protesting unfair treatment of Christians in their workplace when they profess their faith. How far down the spiritual drain the once great Christian nation of Britain has gone, for a large part of the world owes its knowledge of the gospel to the steadfast and brave British missionaries. And much as King Henry supported the nascent Protestant movement for the wrong reason, God used him to bring about a renewal of the Christian faith, from the then increasingly drifting faith of some of the upper echelons of the Roman Catholic church during that period.
.
Too much knowledge might have really made me mad, or at least hallucinate. So forgive me for this piece of babble. But then, lately the whole world has become crazier than the norm. Not just in the natural, given the regularity of earthquakes, the weather, and other calamities. But the bubble inflating all over the world, illogical as it is, will seem logical for many who can no longer resist the lure of wealth accumulation, for who would like to argue against making monies, if mammon is what one worships. But the only natural thing about men is that they are self deceiving, and the inevitable rubble will always come after the bubble. When ? No one knows, but it is not because we do not see the signs, but rather, like the men of old who thought that building a very tall tower will bring them nearer God or even replace Him, when in fact our good Lord is omnipresent and the only building His Spirit will reside in is a humble and contrite heart.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(16 April 10)
‘God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed…’
Psalm 46:1-2
Yesterday was a troubling day for me. But is not trouble a cloak that all of us wear in this sinful world? Being a faithful follower of our Lord Jesus Christ does not mean no troubles, in fact, we are at the frontline of Satan’s wrath. But God is Sovereign and I am often reminded and reassured that truly, pain indeed does bring us great gain, in the greater purpose that God has for all of us, to be like Him and to be used as the purified lamp upon which His light shines forth into the darkness that encapsulates the lives of many.
‘..Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. And His ears are open to their prayers….’
1 Peter 3:11-12
In the days of pre-Gorbachev, when the old Soviet Union was truly communists, the Russian Rouble was not a desired currency of choice, and many Russians often stashed away US dollars, obtained from the black markets, and this squirreling habit is often heightened in times of perceived troubles, in the burgeoning communist regime.
The same for most of us. We often seek the things of the world, not just for that quick but temporal fix(no different from that of a drug addict), but equate such things, be it material wealth, good health or even the sanctity of the family and friends as our crutches in a challenging world. But God is truly the only sanctuary and source of all comfort and grace, yet, it often takes a prolonged and intense buffeting before many of us will truly recognize and acknowledge His Sovereignty.
‘But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.’
1 Peter 3:15-16
The years of determined desire on my part to seek God first has indeed helped me tremendously. The burdens of the day’s troubles still weigh upon my heart. But going to God has make it less burdensome and He has helped me to focus on His will, rather than what my troubled heart perceives. God will always make a way at every crossroads of our lives, we must be very mindful of that and learn to take time to be still, rather than react as is our sinful instinct, to what our senses perceive. James in the Bible reminds us of the need to submit to God, then resist the devil which will flee from us. But most of us tend to resist the devil and hardly give much thought to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, Whom God has provided to lead, guide and fight our battles.
Be still, and know that I am God…’
Psalm 46:10
Time out with God is paramount in our journey of faith. Cacophony is a word that I have been testing my son on, in his vocabulary gymnastics that he does before he goes to bed. A flock of geese talking incessantly is probably the closest pictorial representation to the high decibel level that permeates our daily lives. Pilfer is another word in the routine exercise with my son. In the midst of so much distractions in our lives, the devil indeed find it easy to steal our soul from right under our nose
One trip to Shanghai is probably not a good indicator of life there. But, most will agree that it is indeed a vibrant if not incessant place. The hardware are gleaming new, though the software in terms of civic behavior still lags, but no doubt improving. Yet, it is a place where anyone with a desire to plug into the vibrancy of a resurgent China, the present focal point of the world, must spend some time in. It is reminiscence of, though on a much bigger scale, the Asian tiger economies of South East Asia in the 1990s(before the onset of the debilitating Asian crisis), or the youthful exuberance of the now more sedate internet boom of the late 1990s centered San Hose in the Silicon Valley, which has since been deflated for most of this decade. And not many might remember that the present limpid Japan was king of the heap back in the Japanese Yen intoxicated 1980s.
Will China go the same way and come back hard down to Earth and stay flat there for a long time?
I think not, at least not flat for some time, given its still early phase as an emerging economic powerhouse. But that not does not mean no extreme volatilities as it goes through the inevitable growth pangs.
But one other thing that did strike me is the number of non-Chinese now residing in Shanghai, who are more conversant in Mandarin than me. Time to move from being Anglophile to Sinophile.
The world has now converged upon China, especially Shanghai, its commonality being a place to make great riches, given that Shanghai is fast regaining its status as the financial centre of Asia, if not the world eventually. Would Shanghai also qualify as the proverbial “Tower of Babel” where sinful men once united by greed and other litany of sins, decide to build a very, very high tower to Heaven. With the World Expo starting in May this year, I am sure there will be more nationalities converging in one place than ever before. And if one were to throw in the rising phoenixes or more like increasingly brand new mega buildings sprouting up in Pudong, the now very dead chaps from the old Babel will feel quite right at home in Shanghai.
But maybe not. I had the privilege of attending church service at a rustic church located in the French Concession of Shanghai, twice over, once on Good Friday, and the other on Easter Sunday. The Good Friday was a Mandarin service and the bulk of attendees were not just locals, but mainly those of age 60 and above and mainly of limited material means. Yet, the strength of faith seems to emanate forth and their vocalizing of the word “Amen” truly resonates forth from the heart, putting to shame many of us relatively younger folks. On Easter Sunday, I attended the same church, but an English language service. I have never seen so many people of differing nationalities gathered in church, though it is a common sight in the pubs and I am gratified to know that there are many Westerners who have not turned away from the Lord. It is indeed an eye opener for the biased me.
Shanghai might seem to be of the world, but God hands are there and all is not lost. So where is the Tower of Babel?
The thoughts above were with me when I returned from Shanghai two weeks back, and today, as I now start to complete the rest of this sharing the Lord brought me to the news about the potential longer term paralyzing impact of the volcanic ash from Iceland upon a large part or more like the prosperous part of Europe, with air travel grounded. It did just struck me that the Tower of Babel is already a work in progress in Europe. A continent that was once the hub of Christianity is now very much secular. And the last few stronghold of the Christian faith is now under severe attack, with the recent spate of news on the Vatican and the Pope. Europe this year, has its more than fair share of natural disasters and economic pressures , for this seems to be the year of dominant bad news for Europe, which has taken over the unwanted mantle of troubled continent from the USA.
Europe is a place of great disunity and varied languages and social prejudices. It is where both World Wars have its origins. It is also where the most inhumane treatment of a fellow human being occurred, when the Nazis determined extermination of the Jews, led to the surviving Jewish diaspora finally having the will to return to their long abandoned homeland of present day Israel. Europe also has the longest transient “homeless’ discriminated race in the world, the gypsies.
Tall buildings Europe might not be able to match those in Dubai, Shanghai or even Taipei or KL. But for the past couple of decades, Europe has been steadily coming together through the European Union. And much as there are still many challenges, the “Tower of Babel” of one united Europe is increasingly becoming a reality. The Iron Curtain of communism that has kept Europe apart has since collapsed with the Berlin Wall. What is missing is one dominant figure, the anti-Christ to finally gel the economic union into one complete nation.
It will come, as the continued fiscal ill discipline and almost institutionalized selfishness of the present Continental European culture will ensure that few will turn back to God and do the right thing.
But the British Isles is still a missing part of this great plan. With the subprime, the last strong bastion, at least as a nation which still symbolically place God as above the Queen, will increasingly be forced to surrender all to seek shelter in a greater Europe, for the British economy might not be Iceland, and with meltdowns increasingly habitual, even Pax Britania is not immune, for Britain had to seek IMF help back in 1976 and lightning can strike twice.
A recent article I read, talked about British Anglican bishops protesting unfair treatment of Christians in their workplace when they profess their faith. How far down the spiritual drain the once great Christian nation of Britain has gone, for a large part of the world owes its knowledge of the gospel to the steadfast and brave British missionaries. And much as King Henry supported the nascent Protestant movement for the wrong reason, God used him to bring about a renewal of the Christian faith, from the then increasingly drifting faith of some of the upper echelons of the Roman Catholic church during that period.
.
Too much knowledge might have really made me mad, or at least hallucinate. So forgive me for this piece of babble. But then, lately the whole world has become crazier than the norm. Not just in the natural, given the regularity of earthquakes, the weather, and other calamities. But the bubble inflating all over the world, illogical as it is, will seem logical for many who can no longer resist the lure of wealth accumulation, for who would like to argue against making monies, if mammon is what one worships. But the only natural thing about men is that they are self deceiving, and the inevitable rubble will always come after the bubble. When ? No one knows, but it is not because we do not see the signs, but rather, like the men of old who thought that building a very tall tower will bring them nearer God or even replace Him, when in fact our good Lord is omnipresent and the only building His Spirit will reside in is a humble and contrite heart.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(16 April 10)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Reflections for the moment#57 Cheek in jowl (14april10)
Dear….
‘But they mingled with the Gentiles. And learned their works. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood. The blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. And the land was polluted with blood. Thus they were defiled by their own works. And played the harlot by their own deeds.
Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people…’
Psalm 106:35-40
Rare is the opening verse in my sharing such a mouthful, and in the mind of most, Psalm 106:35-40 is more applicable to an era of bye-gone days, when men were less civilized or at least in our present times, it does not apply to developed societies like ours. Or does it??
Cheek in jowl is a phrase less commonly seen in everyday vernacular. In my mind, it is almost as institutional a phrase as “fish and chips” that permeates the impressionable minds of some of us in still rural Singapore of the 1960s, who were caught up with what how wonderful the ‘promised land’ of our then British colonial masters must be like. Guess the ingrained thoughts in the minds of most locals then was that every Briton or for that matter Caucasian must have a great life back home as well, given their privileged position in the colonies and much as we are natives of the land, most of our lives are as far as chalk is from cheese compared to the Westerners.
Cheek in jowl is a term used in a recent article in the Financial Times to describe the odd juxtapose of the financially comfortable staying in well manicured surrounds, just a stones throw away from the impoverished underclass in the still great financial centre of London. And how just a few mere meters or yards for the old British Imperialist, might not just make a world of difference in one’s lifestyle, but the very length of one’s mortality rate.
‘A little that a righteous man has. Is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken. But the Lord upholds the righteous.’
Psalm 37:16-17
I am blessed, though some may think that it is all relative. Wealthy I am not, at least materially, but by God's grace, also far from destitute. But if riches is measured by the love of God, then I am blessed to have the blindness in my hearts lifted by His grace. Balance within our comfort zone is what most of us seek for, and control of our life and destiny is most ideal, much as it is not just unrealistic, for life is fickle but more importantly, it is not what God’s plans are for us who He has removed the scales from our once blinded eyes.
The Lord knows the days of the upright. And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time. And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But he wicked shall perish…’
Psalm 37:18-20
These are wonderful times, at least for those on the right side of the increasingly great wealth divide. The economic numbers are looking great, never mind the finer details. Travel is back in fashion, much as the airlines are raising fares, but not restoring flights previously cut. Disease has flown the coop, and if ailments do abound, it is the usual mania of exuberant greed and fear of missing out on the present great asset boom in properties and art.
Can we as desirous followers of our Lord Jesus Christ still be in this world but not of this world? Can we be not just bedfellows of our non believers, but also equally enthusiastic participants in what the world has to offer? There is nothing wrong with monies, for it is a necessary medium of exchange, but God has an issue with us, when our love of monies or any other things caused us to place Him as just one of, or if not at all, in the cluttered focus of our lives.
Like some, I am blessed to have benefited from the strong recovery in property prices. And my sinful self wishes that I should have followed my instinct and intellect last June, to add on to the only property that I am staying in. Even now, as prices become a relative game, my analysis tells me that there are ‘undervalued’ opportunities.
But what is God telling me? Patience is the word under-girding the thoughts He has placed in my heart these past four months. It is difficult to be patient when one sees lost profit opportunities. But who are we truly serving?
Many who professed to be Christians also have room in their home for ‘idols’ that, in their belief will help them attain wealth. Idols need not necessary be an inanimate carving sitting cheek in jowl with the long unused bible in your hall. Idols could be anything that keeps your focus from God and leaves no room for God in your heart. Idols could be anything that cause you to not want to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit, for to do so could mean lost material opportunities or forgoing the fruits of our finite understanding.
God impressed upon my heart this year on the need to not just continue but to magnify my investments in the lives of people He will place in my life. And in Feb this year, He brought it further with the need to invest in a place for His people to rest, while in transit in our blessed land. And right after this thought, He affirmed it with a situation that is more than coincidental. This property investment is not about having a nicer abode, for He has already provided me with, nor about potential profit opportunities, but rather, it is about providing a convenient resting place for the many faithful people He will send to Singapore. For Singapore is the Antioch of the East, and from this historically key transit point, many will be sent forth to our surrounds, just as many from the rest of the world are now making a permanent stop in Singapore. And Singapore has always been and is now even more an expensive place for those with minimal income to seek a temporary abode, while they do His work.
In the context of our present very expensive red hot property prices, and with the reality of the need for a limited budget, without leverage nor expected source of generative income from this planned haven, it will take a miracle to find a suitable place.
Idealistic I might seem, but for those of us who have seek God diligently in our lives, we know that He is a faithful God and if truly this is His will, He will provide. I share this to remind all of us that truly, our lives are about staying close to God, to understand His will and not about seeking other gods much as many, even believers are doing like the sinful men of old in the opening verse in Psalm 105.
God knows our needs in this present world and He will provide and has provided. But are we willing to trust Him and go forth where He leads us, or are we like the Israelites of old, despite all the miracles that God has done in our lives, continue to disobey Him and regress back to the bondage days of the Egypt of our once wretched lives? It is good to take time to ponder upon your own walk with God at this juncture and may His Spirit convict and speak to you, to bring you back to the route that God has already laid for all who are willing to stay faithful. but when will you start to respond?
Life as a Christian is not about comfort zone, nor is it about the proverbial balance in life and it is never about symbolism nor sacrifice. Life for all, be it Christian or not is always uncertain, even more so now than before, as the end of times intensifies to match the increased sinfulness of men. The only certain thing is the faithfulness of our loving and Sovereign God. And much as some of us might know the obvious principles of God’s commands, living it out without time with God is never possible. And what is also clear to all who has spent time faithfully with God is that He can and often does bring us out from the obvious to the once oblivious, but never into oblivion.
Life with God is about responsive obedience to a ever present and faithful Father.
And our reward is the joy and peace of serving our Abba Father. Our neighborhood literally changes all the time, and you never know who you will be seated cheek to jowl with next, but it matters not, for God is Sovereign and He is always faithful, even when we are not.
And let me close by including a note from a dear Australian couple, both in the twilight of their life, age wise, but still full of youthful vigor in serving the Lord, as He brings them to new harvest grounds. I have personally benefited from their word based ministry, a self bible study course for the past 7 years and life does bring many challenges or more like refinements for those who desires to be make ready for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. .For this wonderful couple, the early return of their beloved son David, who had helmed this ministry till his return to our good Lord a few years back. But they have stayed faithful because God is faithful.
'And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.'
Romans 12:2
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(14th April 10)
‘But they mingled with the Gentiles. And learned their works. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood. The blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. And the land was polluted with blood. Thus they were defiled by their own works. And played the harlot by their own deeds.
Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people…’
Psalm 106:35-40
Rare is the opening verse in my sharing such a mouthful, and in the mind of most, Psalm 106:35-40 is more applicable to an era of bye-gone days, when men were less civilized or at least in our present times, it does not apply to developed societies like ours. Or does it??
Cheek in jowl is a phrase less commonly seen in everyday vernacular. In my mind, it is almost as institutional a phrase as “fish and chips” that permeates the impressionable minds of some of us in still rural Singapore of the 1960s, who were caught up with what how wonderful the ‘promised land’ of our then British colonial masters must be like. Guess the ingrained thoughts in the minds of most locals then was that every Briton or for that matter Caucasian must have a great life back home as well, given their privileged position in the colonies and much as we are natives of the land, most of our lives are as far as chalk is from cheese compared to the Westerners.
Cheek in jowl is a term used in a recent article in the Financial Times to describe the odd juxtapose of the financially comfortable staying in well manicured surrounds, just a stones throw away from the impoverished underclass in the still great financial centre of London. And how just a few mere meters or yards for the old British Imperialist, might not just make a world of difference in one’s lifestyle, but the very length of one’s mortality rate.
‘A little that a righteous man has. Is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken. But the Lord upholds the righteous.’
Psalm 37:16-17
I am blessed, though some may think that it is all relative. Wealthy I am not, at least materially, but by God's grace, also far from destitute. But if riches is measured by the love of God, then I am blessed to have the blindness in my hearts lifted by His grace. Balance within our comfort zone is what most of us seek for, and control of our life and destiny is most ideal, much as it is not just unrealistic, for life is fickle but more importantly, it is not what God’s plans are for us who He has removed the scales from our once blinded eyes.
The Lord knows the days of the upright. And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time. And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But he wicked shall perish…’
Psalm 37:18-20
These are wonderful times, at least for those on the right side of the increasingly great wealth divide. The economic numbers are looking great, never mind the finer details. Travel is back in fashion, much as the airlines are raising fares, but not restoring flights previously cut. Disease has flown the coop, and if ailments do abound, it is the usual mania of exuberant greed and fear of missing out on the present great asset boom in properties and art.
Can we as desirous followers of our Lord Jesus Christ still be in this world but not of this world? Can we be not just bedfellows of our non believers, but also equally enthusiastic participants in what the world has to offer? There is nothing wrong with monies, for it is a necessary medium of exchange, but God has an issue with us, when our love of monies or any other things caused us to place Him as just one of, or if not at all, in the cluttered focus of our lives.
Like some, I am blessed to have benefited from the strong recovery in property prices. And my sinful self wishes that I should have followed my instinct and intellect last June, to add on to the only property that I am staying in. Even now, as prices become a relative game, my analysis tells me that there are ‘undervalued’ opportunities.
But what is God telling me? Patience is the word under-girding the thoughts He has placed in my heart these past four months. It is difficult to be patient when one sees lost profit opportunities. But who are we truly serving?
Many who professed to be Christians also have room in their home for ‘idols’ that, in their belief will help them attain wealth. Idols need not necessary be an inanimate carving sitting cheek in jowl with the long unused bible in your hall. Idols could be anything that keeps your focus from God and leaves no room for God in your heart. Idols could be anything that cause you to not want to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit, for to do so could mean lost material opportunities or forgoing the fruits of our finite understanding.
God impressed upon my heart this year on the need to not just continue but to magnify my investments in the lives of people He will place in my life. And in Feb this year, He brought it further with the need to invest in a place for His people to rest, while in transit in our blessed land. And right after this thought, He affirmed it with a situation that is more than coincidental. This property investment is not about having a nicer abode, for He has already provided me with, nor about potential profit opportunities, but rather, it is about providing a convenient resting place for the many faithful people He will send to Singapore. For Singapore is the Antioch of the East, and from this historically key transit point, many will be sent forth to our surrounds, just as many from the rest of the world are now making a permanent stop in Singapore. And Singapore has always been and is now even more an expensive place for those with minimal income to seek a temporary abode, while they do His work.
In the context of our present very expensive red hot property prices, and with the reality of the need for a limited budget, without leverage nor expected source of generative income from this planned haven, it will take a miracle to find a suitable place.
Idealistic I might seem, but for those of us who have seek God diligently in our lives, we know that He is a faithful God and if truly this is His will, He will provide. I share this to remind all of us that truly, our lives are about staying close to God, to understand His will and not about seeking other gods much as many, even believers are doing like the sinful men of old in the opening verse in Psalm 105.
God knows our needs in this present world and He will provide and has provided. But are we willing to trust Him and go forth where He leads us, or are we like the Israelites of old, despite all the miracles that God has done in our lives, continue to disobey Him and regress back to the bondage days of the Egypt of our once wretched lives? It is good to take time to ponder upon your own walk with God at this juncture and may His Spirit convict and speak to you, to bring you back to the route that God has already laid for all who are willing to stay faithful. but when will you start to respond?
Life as a Christian is not about comfort zone, nor is it about the proverbial balance in life and it is never about symbolism nor sacrifice. Life for all, be it Christian or not is always uncertain, even more so now than before, as the end of times intensifies to match the increased sinfulness of men. The only certain thing is the faithfulness of our loving and Sovereign God. And much as some of us might know the obvious principles of God’s commands, living it out without time with God is never possible. And what is also clear to all who has spent time faithfully with God is that He can and often does bring us out from the obvious to the once oblivious, but never into oblivion.
Life with God is about responsive obedience to a ever present and faithful Father.
And our reward is the joy and peace of serving our Abba Father. Our neighborhood literally changes all the time, and you never know who you will be seated cheek to jowl with next, but it matters not, for God is Sovereign and He is always faithful, even when we are not.
And let me close by including a note from a dear Australian couple, both in the twilight of their life, age wise, but still full of youthful vigor in serving the Lord, as He brings them to new harvest grounds. I have personally benefited from their word based ministry, a self bible study course for the past 7 years and life does bring many challenges or more like refinements for those who desires to be make ready for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. .For this wonderful couple, the early return of their beloved son David, who had helmed this ministry till his return to our good Lord a few years back. But they have stayed faithful because God is faithful.
'And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.'
Romans 12:2
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(14th April 10)
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Reflections for the moment #56 Stagflation (7april2010)
Dear…
‘Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away……
…..And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’
Revelation 21:1-4
‘Then He Who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful..’
Revelations 21:5
Like most, the only thing I have seen or read about these past few days have been a world that is increasingly overwhelmed by continued natural disasters and man- made follies. And on a personal level, a dear friend in the mid range of her life has just been caught in mid-stride by a stroke.
What is promised in Revelations 21 does look heavenly delicious, but is it true and when will it be?
‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me. Because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted. To proclaim liberty to the captives. And the opening of the prison to those who are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. And the day of vengeance of our God. To comfort all who mourn…..’
Isaiah 61:1-3
Much as I have often parlayed the thoughts that God placed in my heart, prayerfully without adding or subtracting from it, I love and fear God enough to be desirous to not put on any pretensions like the many who have led and continue to lead the searching souls astray. I have no message from our Lord other than the word "patience" and much as my sinful self sometimes hoped for, I have no idea as to the next minute and so foretelling as in declaring beforehand something that will surely take place is beyond me, till God shows me otherwise.
Being too long in the business of financial investments, a trade that many have come to equate with the ability to predict, often to theirs and our own grief, I am very cognizance of the folly of collective wisdom as well as the limitations of the finite man, compounded by their insatiable greed and pride.
So may these thoughts that I am about to pen be truly from the Lord and not from me, and may He speak to you and lead you as you spend time with Him. I can only point you in the direction of our Lord, you must be willing to want to come unto His presence and respond as He leads, as He will surely do.
‘And of whom have you been afraid, or feared. That you have lied and not remembered Me. Nor taken it to your heart? Is it not because I have held My peace from of old That you do not fear Me?
Isaiah 57:11
The volcanic eruption in Iceland might be a one day news event that most might have give a cursory glance to, if at all. But sitting above the still bubbling volcano are two very large glaciers. We had our financial meltdown two years back and interestingly, what Iceland had and still has a starring role in the sub-prime crisis, might now move on to a different but no less, equally compelling and earthshaking stage. Do watch this space.
I first started work back in 1985. For some, you might remember Pan El, not because it is a once famous brand of refrigerator, but rather, it was the source of the meltdown in the Singapore stock-market back then. As a newbie in the business, my mind then was more inquiring and one theory that captured my imagination was that of the Russian economist Kondratieff, who was famous for two things, one was that he fell out of favor with his communist masters and was executed. The other was that his unique linkage of rational public responses to accurately predict future economic cycles which seems very well suited as a predictive tool in this present liquidity driven environment. Much as there are differing views as to the nature of the future economic cycle, should it tilt towards not just inflationary, but high inflationary conditions, similar to that of the 1920s(of the Great Depression)and the 1970s(of the era of stagflation and oil crisis), periods, then like before, Keynesian theory of government stimulation will have to take a back seat to Kondratieff’s wave theory(http://www.kondraty ev.com/reference /theory_explaine d.htm)
A simpler but equally significant popular thought during that period of the mid 1980s, was this knowledge(if the geophysicists) are to be believed is that San Francisco and Tokyo, on both sides of the Pacific Ocean were long overdue for a major earthquake. Guess my mind was more impressionable then and not just Tokyo, but Japan was a land I diligently avoided setting my foot upon till the past 6 years. Earthquakes there have been aplenty since, but nothing of the long expected mega scale. Would the recent quake in Mexico bordering California be a reminder of the possibilities?
‘The sun shall no longer be your light by day. Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you. But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light. And your God your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down. Nor shall your moon withdraw itself, For the Lord will be your everlasting light. And the days of your mourning shall be ended…’
Isaiah 60:19-20
This year I have traveled a little more frequently, about once a month to date. Compared to the once a week earthquake at any one location in the world and the surfeit of once in a long, long time unprecedented floods/storms in Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland and now Perth or the surfeit of snow in Europe and the USA and now the red dust in Northern Asia, guess I am on a smaller wave. But am I a harbinger of bad weather. Sydney had its flood a week before I visited, and thankfully, Nagoya was juxtaposed between the recent tremors down South in Okinawa and up north above Tokyo that occurred just before I set foot in Nippon land.
And during the recent sandstorm in China, I was pondering if I should proceed to visit Shanghai last week?(thankfully I did visit for God showed me a few personal insights which as He leads, may I be blessed to share in the next Reflection titled "Tower of Babel")
God wants me to be traveling. Seems like a convenient excuse for mine taking an inordinate amount of short trips for pleasure. It is tough, at least my aching bones are telling me. But truly, from a finite understanding, I find this year an important time to go visit the ground, to get a better sense of the reality and emotions of the two key countries in not just our continent, but the world. Booming China is once what limpid Japan was before in its hey days back in the 1980s, when the flood of Japanese yen heralded the era of ever rising optimism and asset prices. Today, the average household income of middle class Japan is just US$4200 per month. Eating out is a luxury and hand me down clothes are the norm.
But is Japan after twenty years of deflation at rock bottom. A friend tells me that the Japanese were very grateful to have foreign businessman visit them to give them some encouragement from their very depressed state. In contrast, it was all confidence and almost arrogance in now much awakened dragon land of China
‘Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
Matthew 24:44
As the days approaches, for the promised return of our Lord Jesus Christ, our lives will be shaken in greater intensity, that many may awaken to the delusions of the devil and be instead desirous of allowing the Spirit of God to make them ready, to meet Christ our Savior. The Hydra is a nine-headed monster in Greek mythology. It is reputed to grow two new heads for every one head a valiant soul had chopped off. Stagflation is not a common economic phenomenon, and thankfully for that. But like the two heads that pop up, stagflation brings with it the twin pain of rising costs of living, yet falling income. Inflation with recession. We had that in an extreme form in the 1970s to early 1980s, when US interest rates rose to 20 plus % and deposit rates in Singapore was 12%.
'But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation and comfort...'
1 Corinthians 14:3
Will this dual economic ill ever strike us again? I believe it will, for the ill discipline of the world is creating this huge flood of paper monies. It is no prediction. But rather stating the obvious if the world continue tobe oblivious to the need for repentance from their profligate ways.
What is missing is the trigger to force the world to recognize the reality of their continued follies. Would that trigger be an earthquake in a major economic center or will it be like a major oil crisis of the 1970s that triggered stagflation?
No one knows and it matters not if one is right or not. But what matters is that God will return. And that till that day happens, His Spirit is already with us, to lead, shelter, comfort, and be with us, even as we continue to be buffeted by a world that baffles, belies, betrays and yet lures. But we must want to response to an ever present God.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(7Aprl 2010)
‘Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away……
…..And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’
Revelation 21:1-4
‘Then He Who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful..’
Revelations 21:5
Like most, the only thing I have seen or read about these past few days have been a world that is increasingly overwhelmed by continued natural disasters and man- made follies. And on a personal level, a dear friend in the mid range of her life has just been caught in mid-stride by a stroke.
What is promised in Revelations 21 does look heavenly delicious, but is it true and when will it be?
‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me. Because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted. To proclaim liberty to the captives. And the opening of the prison to those who are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. And the day of vengeance of our God. To comfort all who mourn…..’
Isaiah 61:1-3
Much as I have often parlayed the thoughts that God placed in my heart, prayerfully without adding or subtracting from it, I love and fear God enough to be desirous to not put on any pretensions like the many who have led and continue to lead the searching souls astray. I have no message from our Lord other than the word "patience" and much as my sinful self sometimes hoped for, I have no idea as to the next minute and so foretelling as in declaring beforehand something that will surely take place is beyond me, till God shows me otherwise.
Being too long in the business of financial investments, a trade that many have come to equate with the ability to predict, often to theirs and our own grief, I am very cognizance of the folly of collective wisdom as well as the limitations of the finite man, compounded by their insatiable greed and pride.
So may these thoughts that I am about to pen be truly from the Lord and not from me, and may He speak to you and lead you as you spend time with Him. I can only point you in the direction of our Lord, you must be willing to want to come unto His presence and respond as He leads, as He will surely do.
‘And of whom have you been afraid, or feared. That you have lied and not remembered Me. Nor taken it to your heart? Is it not because I have held My peace from of old That you do not fear Me?
Isaiah 57:11
The volcanic eruption in Iceland might be a one day news event that most might have give a cursory glance to, if at all. But sitting above the still bubbling volcano are two very large glaciers. We had our financial meltdown two years back and interestingly, what Iceland had and still has a starring role in the sub-prime crisis, might now move on to a different but no less, equally compelling and earthshaking stage. Do watch this space.
I first started work back in 1985. For some, you might remember Pan El, not because it is a once famous brand of refrigerator, but rather, it was the source of the meltdown in the Singapore stock-market back then. As a newbie in the business, my mind then was more inquiring and one theory that captured my imagination was that of the Russian economist Kondratieff, who was famous for two things, one was that he fell out of favor with his communist masters and was executed. The other was that his unique linkage of rational public responses to accurately predict future economic cycles which seems very well suited as a predictive tool in this present liquidity driven environment. Much as there are differing views as to the nature of the future economic cycle, should it tilt towards not just inflationary, but high inflationary conditions, similar to that of the 1920s(of the Great Depression)and the 1970s(of the era of stagflation and oil crisis), periods, then like before, Keynesian theory of government stimulation will have to take a back seat to Kondratieff’s wave theory(http://www.kondraty ev.com/reference /theory_explaine d.htm)
A simpler but equally significant popular thought during that period of the mid 1980s, was this knowledge(if the geophysicists) are to be believed is that San Francisco and Tokyo, on both sides of the Pacific Ocean were long overdue for a major earthquake. Guess my mind was more impressionable then and not just Tokyo, but Japan was a land I diligently avoided setting my foot upon till the past 6 years. Earthquakes there have been aplenty since, but nothing of the long expected mega scale. Would the recent quake in Mexico bordering California be a reminder of the possibilities?
‘The sun shall no longer be your light by day. Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you. But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light. And your God your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down. Nor shall your moon withdraw itself, For the Lord will be your everlasting light. And the days of your mourning shall be ended…’
Isaiah 60:19-20
This year I have traveled a little more frequently, about once a month to date. Compared to the once a week earthquake at any one location in the world and the surfeit of once in a long, long time unprecedented floods/storms in Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland and now Perth or the surfeit of snow in Europe and the USA and now the red dust in Northern Asia, guess I am on a smaller wave. But am I a harbinger of bad weather. Sydney had its flood a week before I visited, and thankfully, Nagoya was juxtaposed between the recent tremors down South in Okinawa and up north above Tokyo that occurred just before I set foot in Nippon land.
And during the recent sandstorm in China, I was pondering if I should proceed to visit Shanghai last week?(thankfully I did visit for God showed me a few personal insights which as He leads, may I be blessed to share in the next Reflection titled "Tower of Babel")
God wants me to be traveling. Seems like a convenient excuse for mine taking an inordinate amount of short trips for pleasure. It is tough, at least my aching bones are telling me. But truly, from a finite understanding, I find this year an important time to go visit the ground, to get a better sense of the reality and emotions of the two key countries in not just our continent, but the world. Booming China is once what limpid Japan was before in its hey days back in the 1980s, when the flood of Japanese yen heralded the era of ever rising optimism and asset prices. Today, the average household income of middle class Japan is just US$4200 per month. Eating out is a luxury and hand me down clothes are the norm.
But is Japan after twenty years of deflation at rock bottom. A friend tells me that the Japanese were very grateful to have foreign businessman visit them to give them some encouragement from their very depressed state. In contrast, it was all confidence and almost arrogance in now much awakened dragon land of China
‘Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
Matthew 24:44
As the days approaches, for the promised return of our Lord Jesus Christ, our lives will be shaken in greater intensity, that many may awaken to the delusions of the devil and be instead desirous of allowing the Spirit of God to make them ready, to meet Christ our Savior. The Hydra is a nine-headed monster in Greek mythology. It is reputed to grow two new heads for every one head a valiant soul had chopped off. Stagflation is not a common economic phenomenon, and thankfully for that. But like the two heads that pop up, stagflation brings with it the twin pain of rising costs of living, yet falling income. Inflation with recession. We had that in an extreme form in the 1970s to early 1980s, when US interest rates rose to 20 plus % and deposit rates in Singapore was 12%.
'But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation and comfort...'
1 Corinthians 14:3
Will this dual economic ill ever strike us again? I believe it will, for the ill discipline of the world is creating this huge flood of paper monies. It is no prediction. But rather stating the obvious if the world continue tobe oblivious to the need for repentance from their profligate ways.
What is missing is the trigger to force the world to recognize the reality of their continued follies. Would that trigger be an earthquake in a major economic center or will it be like a major oil crisis of the 1970s that triggered stagflation?
No one knows and it matters not if one is right or not. But what matters is that God will return. And that till that day happens, His Spirit is already with us, to lead, shelter, comfort, and be with us, even as we continue to be buffeted by a world that baffles, belies, betrays and yet lures. But we must want to response to an ever present God.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(7Aprl 2010)
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