Monday, March 30, 2009

Oh yes, the truth hurts.

Nobody likes a righteous man. Nobody likes hearing a truth that hurts. Mostly, we just like basking in our sinfulness and being contented to be left alone. I for one, don't like to be told that I'm wrong. Whenever someone tries to do that, my defences go up and I think of a million reasons why I could be right. But I forget that for every valid reason I have for being right, there is an equally valid reason for the other party to be right.

I was deeply disturbed when I saw this piece of news. Indeed, righteousness is being overpowered by the voice of secularism. We ought to pray harder in these times, and also bear in mind that the next time someone tries to correct us for our wrongdoings, we should take a moment to ponder on it before springing up in arms immediately.

Humility. Yes, that cliche, overrated word. But when put into the context of Jesus and how men's stubbornness led to His death, it suddenly made perfect sense to me.

For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, "Short and sorrowful is our life, and there is no remedy when a man comes to his end, and no one has been known to return from Hades.

Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training.

He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange. We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father.

Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God's son, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected."

Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hope for the wages of holiness, nor discern the prize for blameless souls.

- Wisdom 2: 1,12-22

Posted by Jo at 11:22 PM

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Fab App – WorldView

This is one of those really straightforward apps but yet it's so addictive and essentially epitomises the beauty of the iphone. All you need is an internet connection and you'll be able to transport yourself to over 6,000 places around the world to see it in real time setting.

Yes, I kinda sound like a stalker here, but seriously, I'm so drawn to this app (free btw) because whenever I need a break from our little concrete jungle, a few taps on the phone allow me to escape into a different part of the world and see what others are doing - right at this very moment.

Posted by Jo at 10:36 PM

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Powered By Prayer

On the evening of 28 March, as millions switch off their lights and electricity for an hour, we will also do the same. And while the world loses its power, we will revert to the source of all power: God!

So join us...

You just need to bring yourself and your intentions along. This gathering is meant for prayer and fellowship, so come with a heart willing to share, give and receive. No matter how many people we have, the session will go on, so spread the word, bring your friends!

To RSVP, email: hilaryhoe@yahoo.com.sg or leave a message on my tagboard.

Here's to another wonderful week in our Lenten journey.

Posted by Jo at 10:21 PM

Monday, March 23, 2009

An illogical faith

Over the weekend, I was at a church camp where I was asked to help out with a session for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Before the session started, I sat at the back of the hall, feeling nervous and completely inadequate about the task at hand. Apart from feeling that I wasn't good enough for the job, I simply couldn't get past the mental barrier of how it's even logically possible for someone to be anointed with the Holy Spirit in such a visual and physical display.

Somehow, I managed to psych myself up for it, telling myself that I'm just an instrument and that it's ok to look stupid because if nothing happens, it's not my 'reputation' at stake here, but God's.

So during the outpouring, I went around praying for the teens, some of whom rested in the Spirit while others burst into tears. One even cried and laughed at the same time - while resting in the Spirit.

But believe it or not (pun unintended), in the midst of all the miracles that were taking place in the room, I still had the cheek to question God and entertain the possibility that these teens could be faking it. Yes, I was a mere instrument with whom God was using to administer to these teens, but nevertheless, to me, how some of these 'miracles' happened could still be explained in a very logical manner.

After the praying was done, I sat in the corner of the hall and thought back on what had happened, and the thing is, nothing made sense to me anymore. Well, I still think that some of these acts may have been fake, but at the same time, I cannot discount the fact that many of the acts were unexplainable.

And because some things could not be explained logically and scientifically, I had no choice but to marvel at how awesome God truly is.

I don't say that with a tone of despondency, or like I'm out to prove a point and failed. The fact of the matter is that I did question my own faith, and the beauty of it is that God actually went out of His way, bowed to my level, defied logic and showed me in a logical way that miracles really do happen - that He is as real as it gets. He's so real that He even allowed me, for a brief moment, to experience the load of the brokenness which the teens were carrying; the unspoken pain, the countless sins, and the silent cry for help which they need. And by that, He had opened my eyes and my heart to a new dimension of love which I previously didn't know I was capable of giving.

And just as I was searching for a bible passage to affirm my reflections, this perfectly apt chapter in Hebrews is a beautiful summary of the illogical faith that we're called to possess, and all I can say to that is, wow.

"Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of realities that are unseen. It is for their faith that our ancestors are acknowledged.

It is by faith that we understand that the ages were created by a word from God, so that from the invisible, the visible world came to be.

It was because of his faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain, and for that he was acknowledged as upright when God himself made acknowledgement of his offerings. Though he is dead, he still speaks by faith.

It was because of his faith that Enoch was taken up and did not experience death: he was no more, because God took him; because before his assumption he was acknowledged to have pleased God. Now it is impossible to please God without faith, since anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and rewards those who seek him.

It was through his faith that Noah, when he had been warned by God of something that had never been seen before, took care to build an ark to save his family. His faith was a judgement on the world, and he was able to claim the uprightness which comes from faith.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed the call to set out for a country that was the inheritance given to him and his descendants, and that he set out without knowing where he was going. By faith he sojourned in the Promised Land as though it were not his, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. He looked forward to the well-founded city, designed and built by God.

It was equally by faith that Sarah, in spite of being past the age, was made able to conceive, because she believed that he who had made the promise was faithful to it. Because of this, there came from one man, and one who already had the mark of death on him, descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore which cannot be counted.

It was by faith that Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He offered to sacrifice his only son even though he had yet to receive what had been promised.

It was by faith that this same Isaac gave his blessing to Jacob and Esau for the still distant future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, bowed his reverence, as he leaned on his staff. It was by faith that, when he was about to die, Joseph mentioned the Exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his own remains.

It was by faith that Moses, when he was born, was kept hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that he was a fine child; they were not afraid of the royal edict. It was by faith that, when he was grown up, Moses refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter and chose to be ill-treated in company with God's people rather than enjoy the transitory pleasures of sin...

What more shall I say? There is no time for me to give an account of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, or of David, Samuel and the prophets. These were men who through faith conquered kingdoms, did what was upright and earned the promises...These all won acknowledgement through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, since God had made provision for us to have something better, and they were not to reach perfection except with us."

- Hebrews 11

Posted by Jo at 11:57 PM

Monday, March 16, 2009

Life in slow motion

Vin's wedding at IHM.

No sign of recession at River Hongbao

Picture perfect Sat afternoon.

Baby Noa shows off his first tooth.

Jason Mraz dazzles for sellout crowd.

Merry me Mraz!

The satisfied bunch.

Beware! The xbox controller hogger.

The doc gets married.

JAM at Fullerton (jo, amanda, maria).

My secret hideout.

IKEA exploits students with free photo frames.

Clash at the quay. Thank you Liverpool!

And thank you Starhub! (burp)

Sunset Grill at sunset.

Now you see it...

...Now you don't...

...Now you see it again.

Peekaboo! Princess Adele arrives.

Posted by Jo at 11:40 PM

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Earth Hour 2009

930 cities and towns in 80 countries have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, as part of the world's first global election between Earth and global warming.

The results of the election will be presented at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. With one billion votes for Earth, we can tell world leaders that we have to take action against global warming.

What are you waiting for? Sign up now, becos together, we can make the difference!

Posted by Jo at 12:03 AM

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Holy Nerds Club (Feb) - The Screwtape Letters

I first stumbled upon this book last year, and after reading six chapters, I decided it was costing me too many brain cells, so I chucked it aside. This year, as part of my NYR of reading one book per month, I decided to give Mr Lewis another shot. Thankfully, I succeeded, though I must say, it wasn't without much struggle.

The author of The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis (who also wrote the Chronicles of Narnia), is one of the most celebrated Christian writers of all time. Reading his books is like digging for gold - exhausting and tedious, yet once you strike the shiny metal, you can savour the sweet smell of victory.

The obscurity of the language makes this book a tiring read. Though it is not cryptic like Shakespeare nor overpowered by bombastic expressions, the odd flow of sentences and conjoint long paragraphs can prove to be a challenge. To enjoy The Screwtape Letters, I'd suggest you lock yourself in a room with no distractions and simply focus on the text.

Despite the unfavourable note which I started this review on, The Screwtape Letters is simply one of the must-reads of this lifetime. A masterpiece of satire (i.e. the use of irony, sarcasm & wit to poke fun at human vice), the story is told through a series of letters from Screwtape, a senior demon, to his nephew and junior tempter, Wormwood. As a mentor to the inexperienced tempter, Screwtape suggests methods and strategies to secure the damnation of a man, known as the "patient".

It is one thing to know the temptations and sins which we humans constantly fall into. And it is quite another to know it through the eyes of the devil. Truthfully, this book doesn't tell you stuff you don't already know. What it does, however, is to show you a refreshing perspective of the everyday happenings and subtly point out exactly where the devil fits in each scene. Different subjects like family, church-going, sex & love, pride, etc, are addressed in the letters, so something is bound to strike a chord within.

Amazingly, though this book was written some 60 years ago during the period of World War II, The Screwtape Letters has proven to be a timeless classic pointing to the fact that the framework of sin and temptation has stayed the same, regardless of generation or culture.

I love the quiet humour which Lewis uses to break the monotony and seriousness of the issue in discussion. Firstly, make sure you straighten out who's "Our Father Below" and "The Enemy". The sporadic comic relief should appease your appetite for variety. For instance, look out for a scene where the angered Screwtape transforms into a large centipede and gets his secretary Toadpipe to finish typing the letter on his behalf.

In all, it takes a brilliant storyteller to keep a reader's attention through a one-sided monologue. It takes a profound theologian to add depth and sense of that monologue. C.S. Lewis combines both attributes perfectly into this exceptional read.

Wanna borrow this book? You know how to contact me...

Posted by Jo at 12:09 AM

Sunday, March 01, 2009

I'm a nobody

It took a difficult episode for me to realise how utterly stubborn I can be at times. Whenever something happens, I fail to think about what I did wrong and what I could've done better. Instead, I choose to see the faults in others and focus on why they'd behave this way.

It is, therefore, not easy for me to admit my mistakes. It takes a lot out of me in order to say two very simple words - "I'm sorry", swallow my pride, and make the conscious effort to sincerely want to lay the issue to rest. I wouldn't have been able to do all that without first praying and asking for strength and humility.

After that's all said and done, finally, all I'd feel is a sense of emptiness. But not the type which leaves you feeling like a loser, dejected and ashamed. It's the kind which leaves you feeling totally exhausted, deflated...and all you have left to ask is: what now?

And the single most amazing thing is, God always provides the answer to that question.

Nobody wants to be a nobody, and that's precisely what He is asking me to be. He is asking me to be an empty cup; a shapeless piece of clay; a blank canvas. Because when I'm a nobody, He can make me Somebody - not the person which I see myself becoming, but what He wants me to become.

This picture came to mind because it reminded me that at my moment of emptiness, He was the one holding a nobody.