Perhaps I am as this.. My stand on love....
take a listen... if you have the time... I'm trying to love.. and learning to be loved...
http://onceuponacross.blogspot.com/2009/11/background-story-to-paul-washers.html#links
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Rebel?
Sometimes I wonder if people really think I am rebelious... But I'm really pertubed by several fb groups and how people simply just join them. Like the one about the 2012 movie.. granted it is rather silly but.. I think.. We really out to think and reflect about it... at the rate we are going.. or even on the futility of life.
I think the next group which focuses on hating the pap...and going against it.. I mean.. if these were old folks perhaps there be some reason but how did 12 13 14 yr olds conclude and hate the PAP? I mean.. how is that possible.. when they fail to realise that they are really far more blessed than the rest.. I think our kids really need to see things.. differently... and well sigh. its depressing
I think the next group which focuses on hating the pap...and going against it.. I mean.. if these were old folks perhaps there be some reason but how did 12 13 14 yr olds conclude and hate the PAP? I mean.. how is that possible.. when they fail to realise that they are really far more blessed than the rest.. I think our kids really need to see things.. differently... and well sigh. its depressing
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Many things
Mebbe its the season... or something.. think I'm really just going to explode with regards to some stuff... more stuff in church.. and all that.. And I wonder why?
Sigh.... I'm really wondering why people just don't see this whole YA thing.. How do you really explain that.. following stuff like fellowships and all that. Do these guys know what fellowship is all about? Its not a bunch of poseurs, self-centered adults talking together from the upper echelons of society. Having things which they want, which makes them feel better. Its like saying, if the service, doesn't suit us we will leave church. So the church has to come up with a service to suit you. Is that true fellowship? How is this not exclusive? This batch and generation looks inward too much. Church has to kiss your ass so much so that you feel better and you won't leave church. Why is the YA service in this style? Is it no perhaps influenced? Mebbe we should all just dig deeper beyond the surface and see that we need to look beyond ourselves and serve...
Sigh.... I'm really wondering why people just don't see this whole YA thing.. How do you really explain that.. following stuff like fellowships and all that. Do these guys know what fellowship is all about? Its not a bunch of poseurs, self-centered adults talking together from the upper echelons of society. Having things which they want, which makes them feel better. Its like saying, if the service, doesn't suit us we will leave church. So the church has to come up with a service to suit you. Is that true fellowship? How is this not exclusive? This batch and generation looks inward too much. Church has to kiss your ass so much so that you feel better and you won't leave church. Why is the YA service in this style? Is it no perhaps influenced? Mebbe we should all just dig deeper beyond the surface and see that we need to look beyond ourselves and serve...
Monday, November 9, 2009
TEVIN CAMPBELL "TOMORROW"
Back in the days.. when we heard Tevin Sing... a little like Mr Michael with the great Quincy Jones...
A better you and Better me... Let's try..
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Wandering Wanders Aliens from out of this world
And so... a group of friends of mine have decided to start reading up some letters... from a guy called the Rock.. I hope it would be a good reminder for us to re-examine our lives and how our faith or really the thing we call faith is lived out.
Walking around, I wonder if we would ever find it easy to Survive.. or perhaps at this point its too easy..I find it a struggle.. to live a life of the ages each day... yet I am commanded to be an obedient child. I really hope we could lead the life refined.
At each stage, the greatest encouragement we get is not from signs or wonders, its from simply meeting a fellow traveller and encouraging each other. I'm glad I met one today... I hope the companions given to me will continue to journey but if they should part, i know we would meet at the finish point somehow....
Walking around, I wonder if we would ever find it easy to Survive.. or perhaps at this point its too easy..I find it a struggle.. to live a life of the ages each day... yet I am commanded to be an obedient child. I really hope we could lead the life refined.
At each stage, the greatest encouragement we get is not from signs or wonders, its from simply meeting a fellow traveller and encouraging each other. I'm glad I met one today... I hope the companions given to me will continue to journey but if they should part, i know we would meet at the finish point somehow....
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wedding that just passed and thoughts
So this is very much a delayed post... Took sometime to reflect on the events of the wedding and some practices. First up, the whole door thing. Getting a young child from the female side to open the door.. I wonder where such a practice existed from. Isn't there a door handle to open? But that's not the big issue, its the whole idea of going to the brides house to pick up the bride. WHy? then go home then go bride's house... Can't we simply meet at our father's house? To see your bride walk down the aisle for the first time is lost when you go to the house. Also the practice of haggling at the door is just plain wrong. Why am I required to pay money to a bunch of women so that I can enter the door of the house of the bride? Firstly, its not their house, they don't have claim over the bride or own the bride. If this was Christian and the groom is supposed to Christ then mebbe, but what am I supposed to be nailed on the cross to prove my love for the bride. To do silly things on the spot, to be as outrageous as possible t prove a point to all that I really LOVE my wife? hmmmm I think she already agreed to marry me based on my past track record. What more do I have to prove? That perhaps is the idea of love for most people think is. Where is constant love and faith shown? I truly wonder.....
I really felt sick at the thought of doing all these things to simply gain access and entry. It is totally meaningless... TOTALLY. Is it just plain culture? or perhaps to risk being labelled for labelling, an asian thing of doing all these to prove a point. In many self help Christian books, they talk about helping the groom and bride to love each other to bring them closer etc. Yet for a Christian wedding, we adopt practices which want to make it more difficult for the broom to get the bride. Silly ain't it. THink about it, are we really that two minded? Perhaps this would help illustrate the silliness of it all. THink of all the games and things you play on the wedding day. Would you do any of that at the church? I highly doubt it. And why won't you do it? Answer that yourself....
SO if you don't and won't ever want to do it at the church. Why then should you do it outside? are church and outside church different? If the people involved are the same?
I really felt sick at the thought of doing all these things to simply gain access and entry. It is totally meaningless... TOTALLY. Is it just plain culture? or perhaps to risk being labelled for labelling, an asian thing of doing all these to prove a point. In many self help Christian books, they talk about helping the groom and bride to love each other to bring them closer etc. Yet for a Christian wedding, we adopt practices which want to make it more difficult for the broom to get the bride. Silly ain't it. THink about it, are we really that two minded? Perhaps this would help illustrate the silliness of it all. THink of all the games and things you play on the wedding day. Would you do any of that at the church? I highly doubt it. And why won't you do it? Answer that yourself....
SO if you don't and won't ever want to do it at the church. Why then should you do it outside? are church and outside church different? If the people involved are the same?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
1 more run.... till i never get back
So... the cold war has ended only to let another begin. I think the wedding is cancelled at this point. the gown.. everything has come to naught.. something which i always wonder.... Why do people spend so much on weddings? is it because its a social thing? can't we make a vow and keep to it? or must we spend thousands of dollars to make things nice for that 1 day make things worse for your life?
also.. I really believe that it takes two hands to clap... its not about you in the wrong or me but both... because romans 3:23 is real.. where grace comes in.. yet this time.. chased out of the house.. no wedding.. i doubt that there would be grace... looks like things are starting to look a lot familiar....
also.. I really believe that it takes two hands to clap... its not about you in the wrong or me but both... because romans 3:23 is real.. where grace comes in.. yet this time.. chased out of the house.. no wedding.. i doubt that there would be grace... looks like things are starting to look a lot familiar....
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Busyness
Its been quite crazy and amidst the busyness... maybe a sense of solitude? Heard somethings I'm not supposed to hear and well... somehow.. the reaction seems far muted on myside... I wonder if I should go for a run later..
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Forgiveness Biscuits
I'm stuck... As some of you might know it. The wedding plans have to be put on a hold.. Its cold war time again.. I really wonder how long this is going to last.. its almost 2 weeks. I'm tired... Why must a wedding be so difficult? Why can't moving out be a celebration? I wonder if most people have forgotten what's a marriage. Its as though everything we are doing from the house to the ceremony is for people. I wish I could just walk up get married and move off. Mebbe its just too much symbolism and most people for get (Which leads to all these extra recovenant marraige ceremony)
Hmmm its ironic though reading through Joseph... seeing the whole favouritism thing affect my dad and his brother.. reminds me of Jacob and Esau. The seperation and not coming back. Looking back at my parents leaving the family and ignoring their parents... Well.. it seems like its now my turn to do such things. The only difference perhaps that this is not what I really hope to happen. God is speaking and as I walked to the shop and collected the mooncakes for Deb, i remembered sharing during staff worship sometime back on forgiveness biscuits. Thye Lee Tau sa piah. If its so possible that i can even go back to the shop and get the biscuits, then mebbe forgiveness is possible. We've got a heritage in this business and i wonder if there were no forgiveness would things be lost? (Am looking back at how Joseph forgave his brothers and in the process preserved the line of Israel)
And so... the day must come where i speak to parents, to enjoy the family once more.. but when can this be?
Hmmm its ironic though reading through Joseph... seeing the whole favouritism thing affect my dad and his brother.. reminds me of Jacob and Esau. The seperation and not coming back. Looking back at my parents leaving the family and ignoring their parents... Well.. it seems like its now my turn to do such things. The only difference perhaps that this is not what I really hope to happen. God is speaking and as I walked to the shop and collected the mooncakes for Deb, i remembered sharing during staff worship sometime back on forgiveness biscuits. Thye Lee Tau sa piah. If its so possible that i can even go back to the shop and get the biscuits, then mebbe forgiveness is possible. We've got a heritage in this business and i wonder if there were no forgiveness would things be lost? (Am looking back at how Joseph forgave his brothers and in the process preserved the line of Israel)
And so... the day must come where i speak to parents, to enjoy the family once more.. but when can this be?
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Ambassador - Get You Open
Like a spiritual fog you get pick apart... Gotta hear this a few times.. to truly appreciate the words inside..
Friday, September 25, 2009
The age of individualism
Went to catch the "age of Stupid " with Winnie and Ryan... Good show I must say yet it serves really to show how stupid we all are...
After the show, I just felt i HAD to say something.. yet I didn't. Everyone was saying about their projects and their green clubs.. sigh yet somehow you get the sinking feeling that the bmws and big cars which they drove off well defeats the point. It became an environmentalist poseur club. A shame really when this show was organized by one singapore to combat poverty not really about climate change. Frustrated really...
I wanted to share that.. instead of talking about the green drinks club as one lady was introducing herself (What's that anyway.. sitting down to drink and talk about green things?)
I wanted to share and perhaps what the film really showed was the whole inequality of it all. The problem is the individualism of the people, the selfishness. Very much like children. The problem probably is more likely that we think we are smart. You see.. the question posed by the organizers is what can be done.. and everyone seems to want to point to a solution this and solution that. My take is really a change of heart. We can continue to be like kids who think we all know the answer and calculate the cost and blame each other. Or confess and humble ourselves that we are really stupid and need someone to lead us. Things won't change even if you reduce reuse and recycle. The carbon footprint think is good... but it should be motivated by the fact that we are a community. and we need to think for others. i.e. don't be selfish and spend everything. Each group had a point.
1. The pakistani children for saying that the americans waste.
2. The Nigerian lady for saying that shell as a company and govt should not simply take the money away.
3. The french man for stopping trucks.
4. The British guy for suggesting win power.
Yet the irony was this.
1. The Pakistani children wanted to kill Americans in a scene.
2. The Nigerian Lady wanted the fancy cars of the Americans.
3. TheFrench guy wanted to stop trucks because it was pointless.
4. The British guy drove a BMW around. (though he did try very hard and gave up his holidays)
Of course the Indian guy was the most stupid.. sadly because he really believed having a 1 rupee airline would eradicate poverty.. when we could see it was about him wanting more money.
Lastly the American. I know America is really to blame and all that. Facts and figures point to that. Yet the guy in the film displayed something which perhaps none had. He moved from being a stupid kid to one who became wise. Who began to learn his lessons. Children often do that if they are being taught.
I think we really need to relook at ourselves.. to learn the lessons. I wonder who can teach us?
On a side track, people often say that absolute power corrupts. In my heart I began to sense that most people there had a slight issue with power, each talking about his or her cause. You know perhaps power doesn't corrupt. The corruption was already there. Christ had absolute power.. yet he did it for a greated good. The people at the film were all clapping at the various people yet when Vernetta Lopez introduced that this was in partnership with New Hope Church in its drive to collect food for the poor. the Applause for the pastor was meagre. And the pastor did not make any comment whatsover. which really befits Matt 6 so well. The point is clear.. its our heart (jermiah 17: 4) which is corrupt...even in our best intentions we fail...
So i left the cinema feeling heavy hearted.. a weight of the world on my shoulders.. I wonder if that was the message to preach to share... And as I trudged back home.. crossing the traffic light.. A car just accelerated towards me.. seeing me he didn't stop.. he carried on and i had to jump out of the way. I got so angry i whacked his mirror. but he just drove on. Life? What am I here for?
After the show, I just felt i HAD to say something.. yet I didn't. Everyone was saying about their projects and their green clubs.. sigh yet somehow you get the sinking feeling that the bmws and big cars which they drove off well defeats the point. It became an environmentalist poseur club. A shame really when this show was organized by one singapore to combat poverty not really about climate change. Frustrated really...
I wanted to share that.. instead of talking about the green drinks club as one lady was introducing herself (What's that anyway.. sitting down to drink and talk about green things?)
I wanted to share and perhaps what the film really showed was the whole inequality of it all. The problem is the individualism of the people, the selfishness. Very much like children. The problem probably is more likely that we think we are smart. You see.. the question posed by the organizers is what can be done.. and everyone seems to want to point to a solution this and solution that. My take is really a change of heart. We can continue to be like kids who think we all know the answer and calculate the cost and blame each other. Or confess and humble ourselves that we are really stupid and need someone to lead us. Things won't change even if you reduce reuse and recycle. The carbon footprint think is good... but it should be motivated by the fact that we are a community. and we need to think for others. i.e. don't be selfish and spend everything. Each group had a point.
1. The pakistani children for saying that the americans waste.
2. The Nigerian lady for saying that shell as a company and govt should not simply take the money away.
3. The french man for stopping trucks.
4. The British guy for suggesting win power.
Yet the irony was this.
1. The Pakistani children wanted to kill Americans in a scene.
2. The Nigerian Lady wanted the fancy cars of the Americans.
3. TheFrench guy wanted to stop trucks because it was pointless.
4. The British guy drove a BMW around. (though he did try very hard and gave up his holidays)
Of course the Indian guy was the most stupid.. sadly because he really believed having a 1 rupee airline would eradicate poverty.. when we could see it was about him wanting more money.
Lastly the American. I know America is really to blame and all that. Facts and figures point to that. Yet the guy in the film displayed something which perhaps none had. He moved from being a stupid kid to one who became wise. Who began to learn his lessons. Children often do that if they are being taught.
I think we really need to relook at ourselves.. to learn the lessons. I wonder who can teach us?
On a side track, people often say that absolute power corrupts. In my heart I began to sense that most people there had a slight issue with power, each talking about his or her cause. You know perhaps power doesn't corrupt. The corruption was already there. Christ had absolute power.. yet he did it for a greated good. The people at the film were all clapping at the various people yet when Vernetta Lopez introduced that this was in partnership with New Hope Church in its drive to collect food for the poor. the Applause for the pastor was meagre. And the pastor did not make any comment whatsover. which really befits Matt 6 so well. The point is clear.. its our heart (jermiah 17: 4) which is corrupt...even in our best intentions we fail...
So i left the cinema feeling heavy hearted.. a weight of the world on my shoulders.. I wonder if that was the message to preach to share... And as I trudged back home.. crossing the traffic light.. A car just accelerated towards me.. seeing me he didn't stop.. he carried on and i had to jump out of the way. I got so angry i whacked his mirror. but he just drove on. Life? What am I here for?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
another day in paradise
i know it seems that I'm placing a lot of MVs.. but songs speak a lot about what's going on. I like the version covered by Big Daddy Weave... thought this is just fine for the words are so true.
"Oh think twice... its another day for you and me in paradise. "
And perhaps more poignantly," O lord, Is there nothing more anybody can do? O Lord there must be something you can say?"
What more can he say? Just think about it
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Don't Waste Your Life Video - Lecrae
I've been listening a lot to this... You should hear the words and recontemplate on your life. Keep wondering.. keep pondering..
Verse 1:
(LeCrae)
I know a lot of people out there scared they gone die/ couple of em thinking they'll be livin' in the sky/ but while I'm here livin' man I gotta ask why, what am here fo I gotta figure out/ waste my life/ no I gotta make it count /if Christ is real then what am I gone do about/ everything in Luke 12:15 down to 21/ you really oughta go and check it out/Paul said if Christ ain't resurrect then we wasted our lives/ well that implies that our life's built around Jesus being alive/ everyday I'm living tryin' show the world why/ Christ is more than everything you'll ever try/ better than pretty women and sinning and living to get a minute of any women and men that you admire/ ain't no lie/
We created for Him/ outta the dust he made us for Him/ Elects us and he saves us for Him/ Jesus comes and raises for Him/ Magnify the Father why bother with something lesser/ he made us so we could bless Him and to the world we confess him/ resurrects him/ so I know I got life/ matter fact better man I know I got Christ/ if you don't' see His ways in my days and nights/ you can hit my brakes you can stop my lights/ man I lost my rights/ I lost my life/ forget the money cars and toss that ice/ the cost is Christ/ and they could never offer me anything on the planet that'll cost that price.
Verse 2:
(Dwayne Tryumph)
Armed and dangerous
So the devil jus can't handle us
Christian youth them a stand wid us
Livin' n driven/ given a vision/ fullfillin the commission he handed us
London to Los Angeles
Da rap evangelist
Ma daddy wouldn't abandon us
"I gotta back pack fulla tracts plus I keep a Johnny Mac"
So are you ready to jam with us
So lets go, gimme the word an lets go
Persecution lets go
Tribulation lets go
Across the nation lets go
Procrastination bes go
Hung on the cross in the cold
Died for da young and the old
Can't say you never know
Heaven knows
How many souls are going to hell or to heaven so we gotta go in and get em
Whaaaaat!
Verse 3:
(LeCrae)
Suffer/ Yeah do it for Christ if you trying to figure what to do with your life/ if you making a lot money hope you doing it right because the money is Gods you better steward it right/ stay focused if you ain't got no ride/ your life ain't wrapped up in what you drive/ the clothes you wear the job you work/ the color your skin naw you Christian first/ people living life for a job/ make a lil money start living for a car/ get em a house a wife kids and a dog/ when they retire they living high on the hog/ but guess what they didn't ever really live at all/ to live is Christ yeah that's Paul I recall/ to die is gain so for Christ we give it all/ he's the treasure you'll find in the mall/ Your money your singleness marriage talent and time/ they were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is Divine/ that's why it's Christ in my rhymes/ That's why it's Christ all the time/see my whole world is built around him He's the life in my lines/ I refused to waste my life/ he's too true ta chase that ice/ here's my gifts and time cause I'm constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ/ If he's truly raised to life/ then this news should change your life/ and by his grace you can put your faith in place that rules your days and nights.
Music...
I've been listening to stuff which well most people would not consider as worship music... (I wonder what is worship music anyway.) Some people say listening to this hill song stuff makes them feel good about themselves so that they can face the new day or even give praise to the Lord. Hmmm is that a commodity.
I've been listening to something more hardcore and more serious. Mebbe its my personality that the music doesn't matter but the lyrics do. They are to remind us of something.. of ourselves and where we are. Not in the sense of making us feel good but remind us of our place. Christian Hip Hop as a genre is not something i'd really call as one but it is one which is almost like a mini sermon of sorts. Forcing us to relook our culture and what that teaches us. William Branch aka The Ambassador, Lecrae, Trip Lee and JR and R. Swift. Listening to them makes me wonder whats up with me. It puts me in my place not as a prince or princess but as one in need of Grace... Yet its I wonder how people listen so much hillsongs very much like a pop stuff. Yet no change in their lives. They let the parts of culture over take their lives and this I don't mean dressing though that plays a part. but how they begin to view the world.
I wonder what should be shaping us?
I've been listening to something more hardcore and more serious. Mebbe its my personality that the music doesn't matter but the lyrics do. They are to remind us of something.. of ourselves and where we are. Not in the sense of making us feel good but remind us of our place. Christian Hip Hop as a genre is not something i'd really call as one but it is one which is almost like a mini sermon of sorts. Forcing us to relook our culture and what that teaches us. William Branch aka The Ambassador, Lecrae, Trip Lee and JR and R. Swift. Listening to them makes me wonder whats up with me. It puts me in my place not as a prince or princess but as one in need of Grace... Yet its I wonder how people listen so much hillsongs very much like a pop stuff. Yet no change in their lives. They let the parts of culture over take their lives and this I don't mean dressing though that plays a part. but how they begin to view the world.
I wonder what should be shaping us?
thoughts about sin
Actually... I'm quite ok with most people calling me bad and evil. The problem with christianity is everyone is expected to be good. Romans 3: 23 clearly points it out that we have a problem. I wonder if the problem with people talking about judgement is the fact that the forget that the person who judges ACTUALLY knows he is evil. It almost seems to say, if you are a sinner yourself, you cannot judge me or you have no right to judge me. But Jesus surely didn't mean that, for it is true then no one can make any decisions only God can. So how then do we function?
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
The point of this passage is.. we are to measure ourselves first, we will be judged as well. I am a Christian and I will be judged but telling someone that he/she is wrong is rather biblical too, isn't it? After doesn't James write that "remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." How is this achievable without judging? unless we truly understand what judging is? Peter himself speaks of love covering a multitude of sins but is this simply saying that we cannot make noise about the sins but just forgive and forget. Then how do we save the person. I wonder why Peter then would choose to talk about sins before that and about suffering and the issues facing Christians?
Its sad when Christianity has become a feel-good religion where God is there for your sole purpose of comforting you, helping you raise your ego. I wonder why people don't see that selfishness and the inability to admit to sin is really a sign that pride is the problem and not a lack of ego. I guess I wonder too much... Maybe I should be less Christian and not bother pointing out issues...
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
The point of this passage is.. we are to measure ourselves first, we will be judged as well. I am a Christian and I will be judged but telling someone that he/she is wrong is rather biblical too, isn't it? After doesn't James write that "remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." How is this achievable without judging? unless we truly understand what judging is? Peter himself speaks of love covering a multitude of sins but is this simply saying that we cannot make noise about the sins but just forgive and forget. Then how do we save the person. I wonder why Peter then would choose to talk about sins before that and about suffering and the issues facing Christians?
Its sad when Christianity has become a feel-good religion where God is there for your sole purpose of comforting you, helping you raise your ego. I wonder why people don't see that selfishness and the inability to admit to sin is really a sign that pride is the problem and not a lack of ego. I guess I wonder too much... Maybe I should be less Christian and not bother pointing out issues...
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Just wondering
Its been a while since I decided to write on a blog. Just to share some thoughts of things. So much has come and gone, Friends, enemies, even family. Its almost time for me to move out as well...I guess I'm just a person who likes to question so much. Yet through the years, I've got from provocative in the sense of thought provocating to not expecting anything from the questions I've asked. I can only ask, i can't change things... So perhaps this blog is very much an outlet for some thoughts...
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