Friday, October 19, 2007

A good true story to share

For my millions of readers, this story is for you.

It is about going the extra mile to help somebody in need.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Closing a chapter

The road was long and hard. But I have finally completed my selection of stuff to cover on philosophy. It wasn't easy, and half the time I couldn't understand what is going on. Nonetheless, it is a worthwhile endeavor.

I have some loose ends to cover, which is the rest of theological history beginning with the Oxford movement.

After that, I will be covering cell group leaders equipping next year. Sound like another fun trip is about to begin.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

FFoB5: Cover your head because of the angels

One of the hardest verses in the Bible is 1st Cor 11:10 "That's why a woman must have authority on her head, because of the angels." (Tom Wright's translation)

There are dispute over the meaning of authority and on the nature of the angels. My personal inclination is that the verse is trying to teach that women must have control over her head. She must not bow to any pressure to "liberate" her dressing to demonstrate her new found freedom in Christianity. Not only is the order of the church important, the angels (representing the created world) are watching whenever we worship.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

WoW26: You cannot see enrichment, you can only feel it

Out of curiousity, I researched on Uranium enrichment. One of the biggest shockers is how little difference in weight and appearance there is between enriched and non-enriched uranium. Yet, it is precisely the enrichment that makes a world of difference into the power of the uranium.

Such is the same for us to be enriched by Christ. The power is just not the same. The original uranium is transformed.

WoW25: It is not how much you eat, but what you eat that matters

John 6:35-40

We know all about food. Junk food can only make you fat, but nutritious food strengthens the body. We need good food to grow. And that is why we don't give junk to babies, and also why we call mal-nutritious milk black-hearted milk. Because the baby cannot grow.

Jesus is the bread of life. Is your spiritual baby growing?

Thursday, October 11, 2007

6 guys

I have selected 6 guys. What do they have in common?

Jonathan Edwards
George Fox
Friedrich Schleiermacher
William Wilberforce
William Carey
Charles Wesley

They are all Christians from the period post 30 years war to pre WWII. They are the most outstanding contributors in the 6 fields I have laid out in Church History: leaders, mystics, theologians, activists, evangelists and artists.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

WoW24: The inner world is bigger than the outer world

There are many books that speak about the journey inwards. One of my favorite writers on this subject is Parker Palmer. One time, I had to buy a book for a friend leaving overseas. Since she is in education, I bought To Know as we are Known. Since it is a relatively thin book and not sealed, I flipped through its content. I was astounded by its content even though I had been rather familiar with Parker Palmer's thoughts. "Holistic knowing is deep self-knowledge that engages the person morally and spiritually with the life around oneself."

Let me end with a poem on loneliness from 李白:

月下独酌

花间一壶酒,独酌无相亲。
举杯邀明月,对影成三人。
月既不解饮,影徒随我身。
暂伴月将影,行乐须及春。
我歌月徘徊,我舞影零乱。
醒时同交欢,醉后各分散。
永结无情游,相期邈云汉。

Monday, October 08, 2007

WoW23: Fame has little to do with Content. It is Publicity.

李白has 2 famous poems about the resentment of lonely women. The one that is better written is
玉阶怨

玉阶生白露,夜久侵罗袜。
却下水晶帘,玲珑望秋月。

Literary scholars find this poem more profound in that in not mentioning any resentment at all, resentment is expressed.

However, to non-scholars, I believe the more famous poem is this one.
怨情
美人捲珠簾,深坐顰蛾眉。
但見淚痕濕,不知心恨谁。
Waiting
A lady fair rolls up a beaded curtain.
Sits lingeringly, with her fine brows knit.
The wet stains of her tears are apparent.
Against whom does she bear a resentment?

Why so? Because in the movie《方世玉》,the main lead's father 方德 recited this poem to his wife 苗翠花. Such is life, even of poems.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

FFoB4: Poetry and Religion

There is a close knitted relationship between poetry and religion. This is especially so with the OT prophets because poetry has incredible power to persuade. In speaking about God, the prophets thought it best to use more subtle forms of expressions. It is not only attractive, but arresting and shocking even.

"Poetry has the capacity both to speak about things that are very familiar, and to lead the imagination on to new ways of thinking and understanding. Poems do not give cut and dried meanings, but are often open to several interpretations. It is in this openness that the reader is invited to think about God." G McConville in Exploring the Old Testament v.4 Prophets

- NIV - (Isa 5:1-7)
1 I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.
2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.
3 "Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.
4 What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?
5 Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled.
6 I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it."
7 The vineyard of the LORD Almighty is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden of his delight. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.

With a simple imagery about a vineyard, powerful words about social justice, God's righteousness and His wrath is conveyed. Who is not moved?

In continuing on my series on Chinese Poetry, this is one which expresses thoughts on Buddhism. Note how in the last line, the poet is immersed into silence and nothingness.

常建:题破山寺后禅院

清晨入古寺,初日照高林。
曲径通幽处,禅房花木深。
山光悦鸟性,潭影空人心。
万籁此俱寂,惟馀钟磬音。

Friday, October 05, 2007

WoW22: Indirect communication hits harder

There are many poems about war. Describing the misery it brings, and so on. But this one is by far the most compelling. It describes a lonely newly-wed wife. And her regret to send her husband to seek for honor in the battlefield.

王昌龄
闺中少妇不知愁,春日凝妆上翠楼;
忽见陌头杨柳色,悔叫夫婿见封侯。

Thursday, October 04, 2007

WoW21: Stand on the shoulders of giants to see further

The english equivalent is from Isaac Newton. But the truth is universal. To have a far and wide perspective, we need to go higher. And the way to do it is to learn from history and build your foundations on the wisdom of others.

王之涣
白日依山尽,黄河入海流。
欲穷千里目,更上一层楼。

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

WoW20: The resilience of nature is the expression of hope

I have heard it said that because Singapore is not seasonal, we do not experience a proper rhythm of life. There is the abundance of spring, the melancholy of autumn, the solitude of winter and the messiness of spring when nature expresses itself. It portrays the manifold moments of life as well as spirituality.

The Chinese poets have a unique way of saying that there is always a way out, akin to the Christian marketplace saying "He will make a way, where there seems to be no way".

王维
行到水穷处,坐看云起时。

For most people, the point of travel is to reach a destination. You climb a mountain to reach its peak, and similarly, when you reach the end of the river, it looks like it is time to turn back. But the poet here instead decides to sit down and watch the rise of the clouds. What do you know? There is yet another scenery to behold!

陆游
山重水复疑无路,柳暗花明又一村。


Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Half shocked

The mid-autumn event went really well, 60+ turned out instead of the expected 30+. I think there is a third of the crowd that is not in Mark zone, but no matter. The night was cozy and enjoyable.

I am continuing my series on Tang poems despite the fact that my game on Chinese poetry half bombed. Well, just because the world has moved towards pragmatism is no reason for pastors to remain unromantic.

There are many who wonder if part of my name means small, as in 小. Nope! It is 晓, which is often used to mean understanding or morning. In my case, I thinks it means the break of morn. Here is a famous poem on the morning of spring by 孟浩然.

春眠不觉晓,处处闻啼鸟。
夜来风雨声,花落知多少?