FFoB 14: Why we should not swear

I found another fun fact of the bible when I was reading some comments in Christendom. Apparently, in Genesis 24:2, 47:29, it was customary at that time to swear by placing the hand on the other person's genitals.

Genesis 24:2 "He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh." NIV

Genesis 47:29 "When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt," NIV

"Sometimes, as in this case, a gesture is added to the oath. The gesture usually is symbolic of the task to be performed by the oath taker. For instance, by placing his hand inside Abraham's thigh (in the vicinity of or on the genitals), the servant ties his oath of obedience to the acquisition of a wife for Isaac and thus the perpetuation of Abraham's line." - The IVP Bible Background Commentary: OT p.55

The Biblical Marva Dawn

I am slowly readings through Morning by Morning which is a devotional book based on the writings of Marva Dawn. While I'm been exposed to her books on worship, I did not realize until recently that she also has systematic reflections based on the bible. For your convenience, these are the biblical books she has covered:

Psalms - I'm Lonely and My Soul Waits
Romans 12 - Truly the Community
Isaiah 40 - To Walk and not Faint
Revelations - Joy in our Weakness

Review: Grave of the Fireflies

3 words: Big Manly Tears. You have been warned.

Last year, I found a very good deal at either TS or Poh Kim. Basically, it is 6 Studio Ghibli films for only $20. Inside there is Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Only Yesterday and Grave of the Fireflies. The first 4 films are all wonderful, highly imaginative films that makes you wish you can fly. They also include the common themes of innocence, environment protection and courage. Only Yesterday is a sweet story about a lady trip down memory lane back to her hometown.

However, Grave of the Fireflies belong to another world all together. It is a slow haunting tale about WWII based on the experiences of 2 little Japanese children. I had previously talked about war films and Letters from Iwo Jima. This animation is along the same vein with nothing that feels in-your-face. It has no great powerful scenes like Pearl Harbor, but trust me, it knocks you out more powerfully with its message about what happens to the little people.

Rowland says it well: "In my mind it's really hard to declare anything a "victory" when you've accidentally killed a bunch of little kids in the process."

History of the Presbyterian churches in Singapore

Copied from The Presbyterian Church in Singapore official website.

Review: Leaving Microsoft to Change the World

I bought this book because it was on offer. This describes the reason for the bulk of my purchases. I started buying motivational self-help books a few years ago when I realised that I lack communication skills. So the mission for me is to learn how these professionals communicate their ideas in a clear, powerful and memorable way. Looking back, I think I've come a long way in developing myself. Church members have been remembering my sermon points a lot better now.

I bought this book because it looks like a good and interesting story, but it turned out to be far more than that. It was a lesson on how to do non-profit the right way. The founder John Wood laid out a few principles that made people willing to contribute to his cause. Specific tangible results, low overhead and a passion for his work, these are all things that made Room to Read great.

I basically finished this book in one day, cover to cover, because of the captivating narrative. This is a guy who sacrificed it all to make his dream to educate the poor come true. And over and over we come to know of people who merely wanted a chance to learn more. My immediate response is that I want to share this book with everybody involved in missions and the like. Highly recommended.

FFoB 13: Signs and the "I AM" sayings of John

The church is currently doing a series on the I AM sayings of John. The reason is because we will be celebrating this year's Christmas season from the perspective of John. Jesus is the "Word became flesh". He fully manifests the glory of the one and only.

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

4In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

The Prologue of John explains clearly how Jesus the Word fully manifested the glory when he became flesh. He is the true light, life, glory, grace and truth.

This is therefore the reason we are doing the I AM series as the Advent messages for this year's Christmas season. The I AM sayings placed throughout the gospel of John explains how the ministry of Jesus is the revelation of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us.
i) 我是生命粮 I am the Bread of Life (6:35,51)
ii) 我是世界的光 I am the Light of the World (8:12; 9:5)
iii) 我是门 I am the Gate (10:7,9)
iv) 我是好牧人 I am the good Shepherd (10:11,14)
v) 我是复活生命 I am the Resurrection and the Life (11:25)
vi) 我是道路真理生命 I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (14:6)
vii) 我是真葡萄树 I am the True Vine (15:1)

Related to this point is also how there are "signs" performed by Jesus throughout the gospel.
a) 2:1-11 Water into Wine at Cana - "Jesus did this, the first of his signs ... and manifested his glory" ( 2:11 )
b) 4:46-54 Official's son near death at Capernaum - " the second sign that Jesus did" ( 4:54 )
c?) 5:1-9ff Healing of a sick man at Pool of Bethesda - called a "work," not a "sign" (7:21; cf. 5:17)
d) 6:1-14ff Feeding of the 5000 - "When the people saw the sign which he had done..." (6:14 )
e?) 6:16 -21 Walking on water ( never called a "sign", and does not function as one! )
f) 9:1-7ff Healing of a man born blind - "How can a sinner do such signs ?" (9:16)
g) 11:1-45 Lazarus raised from the dead - "they heard he had done this sign " ( 12:18 )
Jesus didn't just performed miracles to show his power (unlike in the Synoptic Gospels). These signs were done to reveal Jesus' unique identity.

FFoB 12: What went on with the Old Testament

This picture is taken from the Wikipedia. It shows the relationship between all the ancient copies of the Old Testament. The Protestant OT is mainly translated from the MT (200-900AD). The Catholic OT is based on the MT and the Apocrypha from the LXX (300BC). Since we will be speaking on the additions to Esther, it is good to know the relationship.