->you typedd*: blog

(Wednesday, March 31, 2010-)
+10:41 PM]*

# Day 90 - 2010

Here's today's reading

Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance.

Simple but to the point, and I did feel in my spirit that God was speaking to me

the story ends like this;
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(Tuesday, March 30, 2010-)
+11:55 PM]*

# Day 89 - 2010

Here's basically what I know I must do to continue this trend

God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long.

Yup, apart from just relying on God for the armor, there's also the weapon. God's Word and Prayer. And to sum it up, pray hard, and pray long. Both of which have been lacking. Hmmm...

the story ends like this;
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(Sunday, March 28, 2010-)
+11:28 PM]*

# Day 87 - 2010

Here I go

³⁰Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.

Quick one. Guess it's a reminder. After reading GTTSAJC. I guess this is the only thing that would really matter to me. Don't grieve God. Let Him do what He wants, say what He wants. Here we go

the story ends like this;
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(Saturday, March 27, 2010-)
+10:14 AM]*

Lifestyle

Go from crowd to disciple

Give up

Mark 8v34

v35 - save carnal life will lose it, lose it, get a higher life

It's about Him, His kingdom - WWJD, it's for Jesus

Examine our lives (our house)

Philippians 1v18 - rejoiced even in prison, he had true spiritual strength

1. The right perspective

We all have problems. People = problems :P

Our problem is not the real problem

It's our perspective - the right evaluation of our circumstance

-looking at things through the Word of God rather than face value

-need to know how to diagnose our problem - look at the right problem

Philippians 1v12 - his chains to palace guards advanced the Gospel

-look at the situation not as the enemy

2. The right priorities

When life gets tough, our priorities need to be clear

-not try to be a man pleaser - public opinion will always change

Philippians 1v15 - he wasn't concerned about the styles or even motives! He still rejoiced that the Gospel is preached

-it doesn't matter that people think that I'm not good, uncool

-get a bit more immune to things - when things go wrong, there must be a purpose

What do you want most this year

-you can't outgive God

3. The right purpose

Focus on what's important

What is living about?

4. We need God's power in our lives

Phil 4v13 - pray in the morning

When the altar is there, the fire will come

the story ends like this;
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(Thursday, March 25, 2010-)
+8:29 PM]*

# Day 84 - 2010

It's chapter 2 of a new book.

He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

Here goes. The message of salvation. No matter how old I get, it never gets old. It's all about Jesus. A rather apt song about this entire message. At times, it's so tempting to want to work hard to be that good Christian that God loves and wants to use. When the only way I'm made good is by accepting the grace of God. I wanted to wait till I'm back on track before asking God to use me to do the good works He had prepared in advance for us to do. Part of it was to do with fear. Part of it was laziness. And part of it disappointment.

But I'm putting that aside for today and I'm just gonna pray that dangerous prayer. God use me, I allow my life to be used for the good works You have prepared in advance for me to do. You saved me all on Your own, and now use me all for Your own.

the story ends like this;
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(Wednesday, March 24, 2010-)
+10:45 PM]*

# Day 83 - 2010

Here's a quick thought for today

He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.

As I was thinking about MFG and the amazing stuff God is doing back in SG, this thought came to my mind: When church is done right, people ask to get invited to church. And this scripture backed up that thought. The world is peripheral to the church. The church should take it's rightful place, and with that, responsibility in society. That said, the church is Christ's body, which is the people, through which the Bible say Christ must speak through and they must be filled with His presence.

So reflecting on why the church is peripheral to the world, or in context, why I am peripheral to my surroundings, it's simply because I don't hear what Christ speaks, and so act wrongly, and this stems from the issue of not having the presence of God with me.

I'm too tired.

the story ends like this;
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(Monday, March 22, 2010-)
+12:58 PM]*

# Day 81 - 2010

Here's the part I didn't "get" to finish yesterday.

^19-21It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

Whoever said the Bible was hard to understand. The problem with this passage to me is that it's too direct. Too true.

Just wanna break it down. For myself. Everyone knows the fruits of the spirit. But to me, so much more true is the fruits of trying to get my own way. As Ps Craig just said it just now, the fruits of the 20%, abandoning the 80%, or the more harsh one, the fruits when God says "fine, do it your way."

repetitive, loveless, cheap sex

Even in writing this, it's too hypocritical. If I were to write my thoughts on this, it would just be hypocritical. Guess not everything is meant for cyberspace.

a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage

Oh this fruit, I have grown fat on. It definitely even scared me how exactly and properly phrased it is. Accumulation. It obviously doesn't happen overnight, or over one event. Mental and emotional garbage. Garbage, what's left over, of no use. That's the very things that keep going on in my head, and the emotions in my heart. Actually, I think many times, emotions are in my head too. Sigh.

frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion

Well, some rest spite here. I don't think I'm the kind of frenzied person. Neither am I persuaded by trinkets or beliefs, neither am I drawn to ability religion. Then again, perhaps my Christianity is lacking the sign and wonders following.

paranoid loneliness

Now perhaps this is the one that struck the hardest. Very very very true phrasing. It's not just loneliness that sucks. I mean, if it was just loneliness, the cure would be to just walk out of my room right now. Paranoid loneliness. It's in my head. It's been something I've been dealing with. Admittedly, things have gotten better. But I guess there's sort of this other facet that's appearing that I'm dealing with now. I still seek the answer, who are my true friends, but at the same time, Roland's words of wisdom about the wind and the clouds definitely starts to make more sense. I guess that for me, the goal is sort of two fold. Being secure, and being a friend.

cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper

A little more rest spite here, competition, I think I'm the opposite of competition, which I now realise is also a problem. All consuming wants? Hmmm... I think my issue is more with security of money. A brutal temper. Well, I guess it was nice to use the word brutal. I once was, but now, maybe a level or two below that.

an impotence to love or be loved

This I don't know. Two things come to mind. The short session with Sarah, and what Ps Phil preached just yesterday on Hope. Yup, here's more things that aren't fit for cyberspace. And if any of you are actually reading this, well, I'm guessing there aren't so yay. But once again, I'm struck by the phrasing that Eugene Peterson used. I think it's really quite true. It's not really that we don't want to, but just unable, afraid. Hope has been lost. Not having the courage to be loved, to be open. And perhaps the fact that I have things I will not write here, it shows that there are areas in my life which I'm still nursing hurts. Areas which others can openly talk of, for me, I'm still reserving it from "friends" because I still don't trust everyone enough, because I know I still can be hurt in those areas.

divided homes and divided lives

Hmm, the former I guess I know, divided lives. Not too sure what that means. Perhaps my life is still too simple. Nothing to divide it by.

small-minded and lopsided pursuits

I'm not too sure, but I think I do have small-minded pursuits. I guess it could easily be summed up by my distractions in life. If my QT is not going OK, obviously I have small-minded pursuits. What pursuit could be big when compared to my relationship with God?

the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival

Not sure if I do that. I think I'm too uncompetitive to do that. Sigh.

uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions

Haha, now this is quite easy to pinpoint. Just see what I spend most of my time doing, and tadaa~~ there you have it!

ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

This one, I don't know what it means, and with all the depressing stuff I'm already rightfully accused of, I think I don't want to find out. And I also thank God that Paul doesn't go on.

Deep inside, I wish one day I could preach on this, and point the way out of it. There's just hopes and dreams in my heart, of many sermons that I could write. But like the Iceberg principle, my 90% is still not there yet. I don't have the authority or the credibility to preach the things I know. That's all in God's sovereign plan I guess. And the very fact I said "I guess" shows the lack of both faith and vision in my life.

Hmmm... this sounds really depressing, but I thank God a wave of depression didn't hit as I was analyzing myself. I can only look forward to a time of prayer and find my peace there. Sounds lame and weak, but that's what this season of my life is about. A daily reliance on God and not on my own plans, programmes and ideas.

the story ends like this;
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(Sunday, March 21, 2010-)
+3:36 PM]*

# Day 80 - 2010

Well well, it's been 80 days.

Two thoughts from today's reading.

Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

Ok, this sounds like a pretty straightforward and simple question. We all know that if we live by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. So, why don't I choose to be led by the Spirit. Why don't I use this "way of escape" from the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

I guess this takes some rather deep thought and personal reflection.

I guess at times, and many at that, I forget the reality of God. As one strong version puts it, to live as though God doesn't exist. Or using a phrase Ps Craig coined, Practical Atheist. Or was it Christian Atheist. Anyway, the point is that, it's more convenient many times to just ignore the fact that I'm redeemed at a price, that I no longer belong to myself. I allow myself to not see the unseen. To ignore the eternal. To just do whatever I want. And obviously, this is not freedom. I then become a slave to my fancy. True freedom is being able to choose and have the ability to execute what I know is good for me. And every time, that is basically what God wants for me.

The other simple answer is that my sinful nature has not been crucified with Christ. It is obviously not dead, but very much alive. I know, I've heard the sermons on starving the sinful nature to death etc. But I guess I know that I have failed at that. I guess for me, at least with my current mindset, that method is not going to work. The only one in my head that's going to work is the pattern that I've received from my readings. A daily surrender. I'm probably never going to be able to be like those "super Christians" who are above temptation, beyond reproach, always loving, patient and kind. I'm still going to be just Kenneth. The one who fails, but God will pick me up. The one who cannot do it, so each morning has to ask of God. The one who is fearful on the inside (and outside), and so needs God's love everyday. The one who reflects a proud image of himself, but needs to be transformed, and continually being transformed into His likeness. Yup, for now, that "vision" of perfection is the one that gets crucified, and I take up my cross daily, where I surrender myself at the mercy of God to see me through.

I can't even bring myself to the next point. I need a break

the story ends like this;
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(Saturday, March 20, 2010-)
+9:19 AM]*

# Day 79 - 2010

It's a lazy saturday morning. And I should be halfway across the city by now.

Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child?

¹⁷Those heretical teachers go to great lengths to flatter you, but their motives are rotten. They want to shut you out of the free world of God's grace so that you will always depend on them for approval and direction, making them feel important.

Here's my thoughts for the day's reading.

The entire of Galatians 4 I believe was to prove that we are free and not slaves. But to me personally, something hit home first. What happened to that "privilege" of intimate conversation with God? Wait, did I read it correctly, privilege? Why does it so many times feel like a chore to pray. To just spend time in my position of privilege. Obviously something is very wrong here. I'm closer to the prodigal's son that I actually realise.

And the other thing, is about the slave and freedom. Yeah, to me, the verse doesn't apply to any particular person that was a heretical teacher. But this thought pattern and mindset has gone to great lengths to flatter me. To depend on it for approval and direction, but resulting in failure and rejection. And I believe it would be something that I will be working to break free from. To truly be the son of Sarah and not Hagar.

The Freedom We Know now sounds like an appropriate song.

the story ends like this;
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(Tuesday, March 16, 2010-)
+10:15 PM]*

# Day 75 - 2010

Well, it's been a while hasn't it.

Galatians 1 (MSG)

We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we're in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God's plan is that we all experience that rescue. Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!

Well, I must admit that I never knew that grace and peace that Paul mentions actually is connected in this way. I always thought of it just as a customary greeting. But it does flow in line with the opening of this passage.

Grace.

I don't think I really know the meaning of this word. To me, everything still needs to be earned, and it's so hard to just receive grace. If it's one prayer that I would offer after this, it's just to allow myself to be a recipient of grace, and then a giver of one as well, without devaluing it.

I guess without really accepting the grace of God, I'll never fully come into the peace that Paul mentions next. Grace is too hard to accept because in a sense, it makes me worthless. It destroys everything that I've done to earn my right, to gain my reputation. Grace can only be truly accepted when I know that I have to depend on God everyday, continually. It's not about me becoming the best person so much as God wanting that for me. The real difference here is that I rely on what God has in store, rather than use God to get what I want.

And it makes perfect sense, that if I'm not a recipient of grace, I am still not rescued from this evil world. Sort of reminds me of water-skiing. If you try to pull yourself out of the water, you're not going to get out. In the words of Grant, "You, V8, V8 wins". Every time I forget to hang on and try to pull myself up, I will unfailingly fall. But if I choose to not rely on my strength, but on the V8 that is a little scary at times, I get pulled up, and I ride over the waves. Well, not quite there yet with riding over the waves, but you get the picture.

Ok, I'll call this a day for now. Prayer time.

the story ends like this;
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(Monday, March 1, 2010-)
+10:19 AM]*

# Day 60 - 2010

Wow it's been 60 days into 2010 the Unshakeable already. There has been quite a few things today. So here goes

^{Psalm 19}

⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
⁸ The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
⁹ The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

It says the law of the Lord is perfect. Perfect here carrying the meaning of complete, full of integrity. Converting here means restoring, a turning back (from wrong?).

I guess it pretty much means what it says, that when our soul (mind and emotions) cross the boundary, the integrity of the law will cause us to want to return back to God's plan. That's why knowing the word and God's law is important.

The testimony of the Lord is sure. Sure here meaning verified, established and supported. I guess sure here also means absolutely right, correct. The wise who try to explain God away, who try to rationalize God, who try to scientifically constrain (not prove) God, will end up becoming the simple (foolish, naive).

The statutes are right. Right here meaning upright, just, that makes the inner man, the soul to be happy. Because when the laws of a nation are not just and upright, man's soul cannot rejoice. They may be happy for a while from taking profits, squeezing through loopholes, but their soul cannot rejoice,because it's made in the image of God, and the fleeting happiness from breaking the law will go away. Woe to those whom they do not, for hardened have been their hearts, and danger of hellfire they are in.

The commandments of the Lord are pure, or clear, sincere. They enlighten or brighten the eyes. When the eyes have light, the body can see clearly where it is going. When we hear the commands of God, life and it's purpose becomes clear, giving us a vision and a hope.

The fear of the Lord is clean, morally pure. When we fear God, our actions will be morally pure, the principles that we stand upon, the basis of our actions, the things we stand up for, those are the things that will endure forever. And when our lives are lived in the fear of the Lord, we too will endure forever. It's like building the house upon the rock :)

The judgments of the Lord are true. The decisions in cases that the Lord makes are true, meaning firstly truth. But they also mean that they are reliable, consistent and stable. God doesn't waver in His judgment. If He has a promise of reward, it applies to all people. He is consistently the same God over and over in His dealings. His judgments are true. And in conclusion, it said just, righteous in all things. In all His dealings, our God is a consistent, continuing, generations God :)

Genesis 42v7b

Then he said to them, “Where do you come from?”
And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”

This confirms the message spoken by the Pastor at Paradise about the call of God and not rolling the stone over. Jacob already settled in the promise land, but because of famine, they moved out to Egypt and never returned! It was "only" a seven year famine. To some of us, it's a SEVEN year famine!! but still, they were already from the land of Canaan which was obviously God's promised land to Abraham. The second time they sought to reenter Canaan, we know how much they had to wander, struggle and fight to regain what God had already promised over them.

Don't close an issue with finalization before God is done with it, because firstly, that's not God plan, and secondly, to reclaim it is so much harder the second time, but God will still be with us when we want to honour and obey Him :)

^{Matthew 8}

³⁴ And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.

This story reminds me about how some people cannot turn to Jesus because of the things they may lose because of Him, or the things they have lost because others turned to Him. Some may have lost friends, lost saturday nights with their children, lost a common bond, or lost a herd of pigs. Whatever the loss, we know that we place God a second to that loss if we beg Him to depart, so that we no longer will have to deal with the loss and just "play it safe" and keep the status quo. Sad that sometimes salvation pass people by because they see what other people "lose for the gospel" and not what we gain for this life and eternity.

^{Acts 11}

²¹ And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

This part is about evangelism. Yes we pursue excellence in our methods, sincerity in our friendships and reaching out to find a need, meet a need, find a hurt, heal a hurt. But we must always remember that it's only when the hand of the Lord is with us will we be able to "get our friends saved", because even then (with all the right things done), we depend on the Holy Spirit to convict and the blood of Jesus to save, not our works. We work hard to prepare people for the way of the Lord to come into their lives. To give them the clearest, truest picture of the loving heavenly Father so that when He knocks on their hearts, they will willingly open up to His saving grace!

the story ends like this;
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