_
Wow...I just turned 37 today... :-)
As I reflect upon the last 37 years...cannot help but be very grateful and thankful for all the blessings in my life: wonderful parents and family that has given their all to bring me up, to give me everything they possibly could....a great marriage and a wonderful wife, 2 beautiful kids, a good job and a good church for my spiritual family. It is a testimony to the love, goodness and faithfulness of God.
The other overwhelming feeling this week as I turned 37 is not as inspiring. For the first time, I feel......old.... and.... very tired.
There are moments this week when I just sat down and felt totally drained of energy. I simply did not want to do anything.
Not the time for tiredness to overwhelm me though...not when God willing, I have at least another:
(1) 40 years of running the race with Him.
(2) 25 years of my working career to go
(3) 20 years to bring up the kids before Nicole and Timothy turns 26 and 24 respectively.
There is still so much to do. Which is why Isaiah 40:29-31 speaks to me this week:
ISA 40:29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
ISA 40:30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
ISA 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Need to pray that for myself unceasingly . No other way if I want to finish the race, and finish strong.
_
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Pray for our Political Leaders
_1TI 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:1-4)
We are fortunate to be living in Singapore, which is probably among the best governed in the world. It is also among the safest and cleanest in the world, where we enjoy peace and near full-employment.
Whether we care to admit it or not, credit must be given to the capable and efficient government that we have been blessed with. Very often, it is also a blessing that we Singaporeans have taken for granted. Good governments do not come easy, and as Christians, I think it is time that we heed God's call to pray and intercede for those in authority. God-fearing leaders who govern well and allow us to live quiet, peaceful lives in godliness and holiness please the heart of God. And that can only be sustained by the perservering intercession of the saints.
Deuteronomy 17:16-17 also gave indications of what may cause those in authority to deviate from the ways of God:
16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, "You are not to go back that way again." 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
"Returning to Egypt to get more..." strikes me hard. It is about coveting the wealth of the pagan world...wanting to emulate their ways so that more riches may be obtained.
Are there public policies & discussions in recent years that fall into that category? What do we think about opening our shores to integrated "resorts" and liberalising our values to embrace or legalise homosexuality as mainstream culture?
It is easy to grumble and gripe about policies that run contrary to our Christian values and yet do nothing constructive. Neither is it right to take up arms to go against the authorities, for that is hardly the way of God. Consider Titus 3:1:
TIT 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good.
Perhaps it is time to instead do what is good: that is to faithfully pray for our political leaders, that God will give them wisdom to choose the right path for the nation...instead of following the ways of the world. Intercede for our nation, that Singapore will continue to have God-fearing leaders who will bring forth the blessings of God upon our nation always.
_
It is easy to grumble and gripe about policies that run contrary to our Christian values and yet do nothing constructive. Neither is it right to take up arms to go against the authorities, for that is hardly the way of God. Consider Titus 3:1:
TIT 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good.
Perhaps it is time to instead do what is good: that is to faithfully pray for our political leaders, that God will give them wisdom to choose the right path for the nation...instead of following the ways of the world. Intercede for our nation, that Singapore will continue to have God-fearing leaders who will bring forth the blessings of God upon our nation always.
_
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Keep The Sabbath
_
Read the news this morning that a rising number of Japanese are literally working themselves to death, ie more and more people are dying from overwork.
Had another taste of "overwork" this week. I have 2 visitors this week in Singapore for business meetings. So for the last 4 days, it's been 8.30 am to 5 pm everyday in the conference rooms. And because the day is already taken up, other meetings are scheduled after 5 pm. So it means late and tiring days.
And because we at the more senior levels are expected to be more efficient, productive and capable than most, day to day work is not expected to be halted just because we are stuck in full day meetings. Especially when our counterparts in other geographical regions are dependent on us. So it means that while in the meetings, I am working on my notebook, getting work done, requests fulfilled, and listening and contributing in the meetings. Multi-tasking at its extreme. Can be done, but extremely draining. To make matters worse, the work is done so that we are ready for our teleconferences with our USA counterparts at 10-12 pm each night, followed by follow-on teleconferences the next morning at 7 am!
So you can imagine what my life has been like the last few days...:-) Not to mention having to make time on Wed night between 7 - 9.30 pm to lead my G12, then rushing home in time for the telecon at 10:30 pm, then wake up early next morning to get to office by 7 am....boy, am I tired!
Woah...glad this week is over, and I don't have to do this every week. It is simply not sustainable, neither is it good for health. Not surprising that the modern man can die from overwork if they push themselves too far and for too long.
We were never designed to be non-stop working machines, not even for Christians doing the work of God. We all need good rest periodically...and for us Christians, I believe it is crucial and essential to make time each week to observe the Sabbath rest of God.
DT 5:12 "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
Observing the Sabbath is a challenge for the Christian in the modern society that we live in, with its relentless pressure on our time, forcing us to juggle continuously work, family, ministry. It is so easy to ignore the Sabbath when there are tons of things just screaming for our attention each day.
Yet, God's Word is clear. I believe Deut 5:12-15 was as relevant to the Israelites then as it is to us now. We need time each week to find rest in the Lord, re-focus, remember the Lord, give thanks and to prepare spiritually for the next week ahead. And to do that, I need to make time to spend extended time with God each week.
We may all find our own ways to observe the Sabbath. For me, it is the precious time on Sunday mornings when I sneak out of the house before the kids awake, and I only come home during to bring them lunch, and then bundle them off to church for youth service.
It may not be as long as I like it to be, but it is this consistent Sabbath rest that has kept me sane and going for the last 2 years.
We need it, more than we can ever imagine, especially for those working hard in serving the Lord. It is a mistake to think that because we are doing God's work, we can push ourselves hard indefinitely, while ignoring God's command for us to observe the Sabbath.
Trust me, I tried it many years back, following some well-intentioned but sadly misguided advise that "if I am serving the Lord, God will never let me burn out because God's work itself is the Sabbath."
I pushed myself very hard then...but burned out spectacularly after a few months. Needed another couple of months to recover.
It was a valuable lesson learnt. Looking at the books of Moses, I realised that God commanded the Israelites to observe the Sabbath even though He was physically with them, as a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night; and His presence was omnipresent in the Israelite camp, in the miracles of manna and quail that dropped out of the sky. He was with them as they work and serve Him, and yet demanded that they keep the Sabbath rest.
All the more that we must take time to seek Him when we know He is near as we walk with Him and serve Him. Take time to be still....and remember that He is Lord.
Read the news this morning that a rising number of Japanese are literally working themselves to death, ie more and more people are dying from overwork.
Had another taste of "overwork" this week. I have 2 visitors this week in Singapore for business meetings. So for the last 4 days, it's been 8.30 am to 5 pm everyday in the conference rooms. And because the day is already taken up, other meetings are scheduled after 5 pm. So it means late and tiring days.
And because we at the more senior levels are expected to be more efficient, productive and capable than most, day to day work is not expected to be halted just because we are stuck in full day meetings. Especially when our counterparts in other geographical regions are dependent on us. So it means that while in the meetings, I am working on my notebook, getting work done, requests fulfilled, and listening and contributing in the meetings. Multi-tasking at its extreme. Can be done, but extremely draining. To make matters worse, the work is done so that we are ready for our teleconferences with our USA counterparts at 10-12 pm each night, followed by follow-on teleconferences the next morning at 7 am!
So you can imagine what my life has been like the last few days...:-) Not to mention having to make time on Wed night between 7 - 9.30 pm to lead my G12, then rushing home in time for the telecon at 10:30 pm, then wake up early next morning to get to office by 7 am....boy, am I tired!
Woah...glad this week is over, and I don't have to do this every week. It is simply not sustainable, neither is it good for health. Not surprising that the modern man can die from overwork if they push themselves too far and for too long.
We were never designed to be non-stop working machines, not even for Christians doing the work of God. We all need good rest periodically...and for us Christians, I believe it is crucial and essential to make time each week to observe the Sabbath rest of God.
DT 5:12 "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
Observing the Sabbath is a challenge for the Christian in the modern society that we live in, with its relentless pressure on our time, forcing us to juggle continuously work, family, ministry. It is so easy to ignore the Sabbath when there are tons of things just screaming for our attention each day.
Yet, God's Word is clear. I believe Deut 5:12-15 was as relevant to the Israelites then as it is to us now. We need time each week to find rest in the Lord, re-focus, remember the Lord, give thanks and to prepare spiritually for the next week ahead. And to do that, I need to make time to spend extended time with God each week.
We may all find our own ways to observe the Sabbath. For me, it is the precious time on Sunday mornings when I sneak out of the house before the kids awake, and I only come home during to bring them lunch, and then bundle them off to church for youth service.
It may not be as long as I like it to be, but it is this consistent Sabbath rest that has kept me sane and going for the last 2 years.
We need it, more than we can ever imagine, especially for those working hard in serving the Lord. It is a mistake to think that because we are doing God's work, we can push ourselves hard indefinitely, while ignoring God's command for us to observe the Sabbath.
Trust me, I tried it many years back, following some well-intentioned but sadly misguided advise that "if I am serving the Lord, God will never let me burn out because God's work itself is the Sabbath."
I pushed myself very hard then...but burned out spectacularly after a few months. Needed another couple of months to recover.
It was a valuable lesson learnt. Looking at the books of Moses, I realised that God commanded the Israelites to observe the Sabbath even though He was physically with them, as a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night; and His presence was omnipresent in the Israelite camp, in the miracles of manna and quail that dropped out of the sky. He was with them as they work and serve Him, and yet demanded that they keep the Sabbath rest.
All the more that we must take time to seek Him when we know He is near as we walk with Him and serve Him. Take time to be still....and remember that He is Lord.
Thank God it is again Sunday today. Thank God that by His strength, I have made it through a tough week. Time to seek the Lord and to keep the Sabbath._
Friday, May 11, 2007
What I learnt from Sir Alex Ferguson
So Sir Alex Ferguson has once again proved his critics wrong by winning another Premiership title . Those who wrote him off at the start of the season are once again red-faced as he led Manchester United to their 16th league championship, the ninth under his illustrious 21 year reign as manager._
What's amazing to me is that after almost 30 years of winning about 20 major honours with Manchester United and another 10 with his former club Aberdeen, his energy, passion and hunger for further success has not abated. Instead, he seems to grow stronger with each year, continuing to build football teams of championship calibre.
_
Most people, I believe, would have called in quits long ago. Afterall, this is someone who literally has "been there and done that", winning every award & honour available in the game. Why not retire when the going is good, after some great victories, to enjoy the afterglow of one's success? Why risk again one's reputation and the possibility of failures?
_
But not Sir Alex. This man does not quit, even at 65; not when he still has the strength to continue. To him, there is always the challenge of the next trophy to win, the next great team of youngsters to mold into champions. Listen to him after his latest triumph just a few days ago:
_
"I don't know how long exactly I'm going to last but I'm enjoying it and I'm going to carry on doing this job until I stop enjoying it," said the jubilant manager. "Why should I give up? It's easy to retire. I decided to retire a few years ago and I regretted it within days. I feel invigorated by the young players at our club. I feel invigorated when I see players such as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville turning out every week for me. That gives me the right vibes that I am at the right place. It has been a great season and the players here always give me hope."
(The Guardian, May 7 2007)
_
Sounds familiar? Indeed I can almost sense the same spirit in the words of Caleb, when he told Joshua,
_
"Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."
(Joshua 14:10-12)
_
These words set me thinking. When it comes to building the Kingdom of God, do I have the same passion and hunger? When it comes to disciple-making, do I feel invigorated to see new converts coming under our care? When it comes to G12, do I get the "vibes" that I am at the right place and doing the right thing for God? Do I continuously hunger for more of God in my ministry? Do I revel in new challenges that God leads us to, knowing that it is an opportunity for greater success? Do the promises of God continue to energise and spur me on??
_
Sadly, I think I am found lacking in many of these. I am much more prone to settle down to a status quo of familiarity and low risk. I am inclined to be satisfied with what I have achieved, rather than hunger for more of what God can do through my life. After only 15 years in the ministry, I sometimes already feel "old and tired". I dream sometimes of hanging up my boots, retiring from ministry to "enjoy life". I actually like to visualise myself sipping pina colada under a coconut tree in some resort somewhere....:)
_
I believe I currently lack that zeal to keep battling with passion and hunger, with all my heart till I am 60+, 70+, 80+. I find that disturbing. It should not be that way, not when it is Jehovah Nissi that we are fighting for! Need to ask God for more faith, hope, strength and resilience in my spirit man.
_
Actually, it is not that I have no living models to look up to. Look at the lives of Pastor Lawrence Khong, Pastor Eugene. They are at least 15 years older but look at them! The passion, energy in living their utmost for the highest purposes of God...and they are growing stronger with each passing year, never tiring of serving the Lord in new and more challenging arenas.
_
Time to review my life to ensure that I remain fighting-fit spiritually for the next 40 years. Will also need to rethink those plans of retiring early to drink pina colada under the coconut tree....:)
_
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Real Financial Security
_
Was again confronted today with the issue of "financial security". Different people will have different views on how much is sufficient to ensure "financial freedom" and "financial security". No thanks to modern financial "gurus" like Robert Kiyosaki of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" fame and the numerous financial advisors advocating how much we all need in order to retire "comfortably", many people, including Christians are all getting worried.
Why? because going by all these "standards" set, most of us will never achieve the level of financial security and freedom that is being advocated. In other words, if they are correct, most of us will be financially "poor" in our later years or during times of need.
The solution? Some have dedicated all their spare time to earn whatever extra bucks they can through sidelines, investments etc, so as to build up their nest egg. Problem with this approach is that many end up sacrificing their current freedom in terms of precious time with family, serving God etc to achieve a rather elusive and vague "financial freedom" for the future.
Don't get me wrong. I am all for responsible financial management, savings, investment and planning for the future. I must also admit that the same worries that most people have for their finances also plague me from time to time. But for us Christians, surely achieving "financial freedom" cannot be an end to itself? Isn't there a better way?
I believe there is. Consider Matt 6:19-34:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:19-34)
If we are honest with ourselves, I think Matt 6:19-34 addresses everything about our concerns for achieving financial security for the present and future. Very reassuring for me to know that our Heavenly Father knows exactly what our worries and fears are, even before we voice them.
Key lessons from these verses:
(1) Don't store for ourselves earthly treasures that don't last. Go for the heavenly ones that help align our hearts with Him.
(2) Be careful that the light in our eyes is not $$.... that is one sure way of creating darkness in our souls.
(3) We can rationalise all we want. But at the end, for every worry for our finances everything boils down to one question: Do we want to serve God or Money?
(4) God knows what we need now and in the future, when we are old and frail. His promise is that He will provide.
(5) So don't worry about tomorrow....it is a sign of lack of faith in our Father.
(6) Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. We know and proclaim this...but do we walk the talk?
(7) Do not run after the same things that the pagans do, your Father knows better what you really need. Remember Romans 12:2:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(Romans 12:2)
Maybe it is time to re-think and perhaps even ditch the conventional wisdom of the world when it comes to financial security and freedom.
_
Was again confronted today with the issue of "financial security". Different people will have different views on how much is sufficient to ensure "financial freedom" and "financial security". No thanks to modern financial "gurus" like Robert Kiyosaki of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" fame and the numerous financial advisors advocating how much we all need in order to retire "comfortably", many people, including Christians are all getting worried.
Why? because going by all these "standards" set, most of us will never achieve the level of financial security and freedom that is being advocated. In other words, if they are correct, most of us will be financially "poor" in our later years or during times of need.
The solution? Some have dedicated all their spare time to earn whatever extra bucks they can through sidelines, investments etc, so as to build up their nest egg. Problem with this approach is that many end up sacrificing their current freedom in terms of precious time with family, serving God etc to achieve a rather elusive and vague "financial freedom" for the future.
Don't get me wrong. I am all for responsible financial management, savings, investment and planning for the future. I must also admit that the same worries that most people have for their finances also plague me from time to time. But for us Christians, surely achieving "financial freedom" cannot be an end to itself? Isn't there a better way?
I believe there is. Consider Matt 6:19-34:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:19-34)
If we are honest with ourselves, I think Matt 6:19-34 addresses everything about our concerns for achieving financial security for the present and future. Very reassuring for me to know that our Heavenly Father knows exactly what our worries and fears are, even before we voice them.
Key lessons from these verses:
(1) Don't store for ourselves earthly treasures that don't last. Go for the heavenly ones that help align our hearts with Him.
(2) Be careful that the light in our eyes is not $$.... that is one sure way of creating darkness in our souls.
(3) We can rationalise all we want. But at the end, for every worry for our finances everything boils down to one question: Do we want to serve God or Money?
(4) God knows what we need now and in the future, when we are old and frail. His promise is that He will provide.
(5) So don't worry about tomorrow....it is a sign of lack of faith in our Father.
(6) Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. We know and proclaim this...but do we walk the talk?
(7) Do not run after the same things that the pagans do, your Father knows better what you really need. Remember Romans 12:2:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(Romans 12:2)
Maybe it is time to re-think and perhaps even ditch the conventional wisdom of the world when it comes to financial security and freedom.
_
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Mastering Your Dark Side
Watched Spiderman 3 this week. Will not go into details; don't want to spoil it for those who have not watched it.
_
But I thought it was the best Spiderman movie so far, with meaningful themes in the midst of the main storyline.
The most interesting thing to me was about battling one's dark side. A similar battle was fought and lost by Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars, with devastating consequences.
In the Bible, Cain faced the same battle, and God actually warned him against heeding that voice from his dark side.
GE 4:6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
_
Sadly, God's warning went unheeded, and the rest is history.
Reflecting upon this, it is very true that all of us fallen beings do have a dark side. Most of us do succeed in keeping it in check most of the time. But it has the habit of re-surfacing especially when things do not go the way we want, or when unpleasant incidents happen to us, eg when we are betrayed, hurt or let down by people.
In times like these, our "dark side" will almost encourage us to get mad, get even, seek the revenge that is due us; or to go for things that pleases us, to gratify our desires regardless of the consequences, even if it means hurting others or compromising our values.
Indeed, I think our dark side is basically a spirit of self gratification and rebellion that always goes against the ways of God.
Why do we struggle to contain it? Because our dark side is not only deceptive, but seductive as well. It often appears "cool" and exciting. It creates an aura of glamour about being a rebel, being bad. It grabs attention to itself, portraying rebellion & self gratification as dangerously exciting and attractive to others, esp the opposite sex. It promotes aggression and ruthlessness; and that the end always justifies the means.
_
It contrasts its "cool and rebellious" ways to the "dull and conformist" but sound values of goodness, tolerance, faithfulness and love.
(Not a coincidence that most viewers will find the black suited Spidey more "cool" than his traditional red and blue suit)
Above all, our dark side offers us the faster way of gratifying our fleshly desires; without rules, without restraint. It glorifies self indulgence.
I believe God knows what we are up against in this battle, hence the numerous teachings from His Word:
RO 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
RO 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The more we succumb to our dark side, the stronger its hold on us, the uglier we become as a person. It will ultimately consume & destroy us.
_
But this need not be. Indeed "the greatest battle lies within" but we can consistently overcome our dark side with the Armour of God and with prayer. And in this Year of Victory, we will!
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Baby Rochelle is Born!
Congratulations to Watson and Shufang! Welcome to parenthood!
_
May the Lord's presence & blessings be upon Rochelle all the days of her life, and may this promise of God be fulfilled in this young family:
_
ISA 61:9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed."
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed."
_
Amen!
_
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