Thursday, February 26, 2009

Are you an "Old Soul"?

I'm not sure when I first heard the term: old soul.

From Urban Dictionary: "A spiritual person whom is wise beyond their years; people of strong emotional stability. Basically, someone whom has more understanding of the world around them.

Some people even believe an old soul is a person whom has learned from past incarnations, or lives. They acquired certain knowledge from their past lives and apply it to their present life... thus gaining more wisdom than the average bloke. "

While I don't believe in reincarnations, I do think that people who reflect more about life, who relates more with older people and who has been through more suffering, reflects this "old soulness" in them. There is a strange pleasure in communication with such people. They "know" what is going on: what life is about.

Are you an "old soul"?

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

My most human devotion 恩典的可贵

马可福音 5:1-20 5:1他们来到海的对岸,格拉森人的地方。
5:2耶稣一下船,立即有一个污灵附着的人,从坟茔里出来迎着祂。
5:3那人经常以坟茔为住处;再没有人能捆住他,就是用铁链也不能;
5:4因为人屡次用脚镣和铁链捆锁他,铁链竟被他挣断,脚镣也被他弄碎,总没有人能制伏他。
5:5他昼夜常在坟茔和山中喊叫,又用石头砍自己。
5:6他远远的看见耶稣,就跑过去拜祂,
5:7大声喊叫说,至高神的儿子耶稣,我与你何干?我指着神切求你,不要叫我受苦。
5:8因耶稣曾对他说,污灵,从这人身上出来。
5:9耶稣问他说,你名叫什么?他说,我名叫群,因为我们众多。
5:10他就再三的央求耶稣,不要打发它们离开那地方。
5:11在那里山坡上,有一大群猪正在吃食。
5:12它们就央求耶稣说,打发我们到猪群去,我们好进入它们里面。
5:13耶稣就准了它们;污灵便出来,进入猪里去;于是那群猪闯下山崖,投入海里,约有二千,都淹死在海中。
5:14放猪的就逃跑了,去告诉城里和乡下的人。众人就来,要看所发生的是什么事。
5:15他们来到耶稣那里,看见那鬼附的人,就是从前被a群鬼所附的,坐着,身穿衣服,神志清醒,他们就害怕。
5:16看见这事的,便将鬼附之人所遇见的,和那群猪的事,都对人述说。
5:17他们就恳求耶稣离开他们的境界。
5:18耶稣上船的时候,那被鬼附过的人,恳求要和祂同在。
5:19耶稣不许,却对他说,你回家去,到你的亲属那里,将主为你作了何等大的事,并怎样怜悯你,都告诉他们。
5:20那人走了,就在低加波利,传扬耶稣为他作了何等大的事,众人就都希奇。


这段经文是一段耳熟能详的故事。我每次都会被故事的戏剧性所震动。故事的主角除了耶稣,就是那位被污灵附着的格拉森人。那污灵众多,且大有能力,可以弄碎锁链。耶稣赶它们到猪群,两千多只猪就闯下山崖,掉在海里淹死了。这是何等惊心动魄的场面!


可是,我这次重新阅读这段故事的时候,却是被故事的一句话所感动。当耶稣要离开的时候,那人要求跟随耶稣。耶稣不许,却对他说了这句耐人寻味的话。“你回家到你亲属那里去,把主为你作了多么大的事,并他怎样怜悯,都告诉他们。”想到这里,我才更深一层的明白这故事的重点。耶稣清楚地讲明他为什么会做这件事。那是因为怜悯。所以,故事的重点超越了离奇的情节。故事的焦点不是匪夷所思的奇迹。故事的中心应该带出神的怜悯。


这位格拉森人,因为众污灵的影响,是疯癫,是狂野的。他昼夜喊叫,用石头砍自己,锁链也绑不住。一般地说,对于这样的疯子,人人都会觉得可怕。这不是人,是凶猛的野兽。我们看到的是他按奈不住的举动,我们想到的是怎么避开他,怎么辖制他到最小的干扰程度。但是神看到的,不是可怕。神感受到的,是可怜。耶稣的一语惊醒梦中人,是啊,这人真可怜!


心魔的缠绕往往比肉体上的疼痛更为难受。我们观察忧郁症的病患者就能够体会心灵的折磨和煎熬的痛苦。这位格拉森人不只受到一个污灵的搅扰。这污灵名叫‘群’,意思就是一个五六千人的罗马军队。几千个污灵附在此人身上,那已经不是搅扰,那是蹂躏。就象一个战乱沦陷后的国家,这个人只剩下一个残骸,赤身裸体,众叛亲离,自我毁灭。这人代表了人面对强大的恶势力的无助。他也代表了被无情的征服后的窘态。他没有了自己,没有了生命。


然而,在人看来是无可救药的境况,在神却是起死回生的希望。此人是外邦人,住在低加波利也就是外邦人的地方,地点是墓地也就是最不洁净的地方,而且又靠近不洁净的猪群。这人简直就是处在离开恩典最遥远的所在。然而,耶稣却是遇见了他,为他施行拯救,把生命还给了他。老实说,若不是彻底的了解这个人原来的处境,看到神千里迢迢的来行大能,我以前还没有真正体会这人所领受的恩典的可贵。很有趣的,连喂饱五千人、平定风浪的耶稣本身都强调神在这里作了‘多么大’的事。


让我们在这大斋节期间,再次被神的爱感动。就象这人一样,把神在历史和我生命所作的大事于人分享。


操练:让我们学习神如何怜悯人。不以人的外表、举动论断他们,而懂得了解人心灵的创伤和需要。

Monday, February 23, 2009

Thoughts on the Oscars

I like the new presentation. I didn't enjoy the Hugh Jackman stuff though I am impressed with his abilities. But I thought the 5 male and 5 female presentors for the supporting roles were really meaningful. It gives a perspective of history and kudos indeed for a prize that is often awarded for the best actors and actresses.

And I love Steve Martin. He and Tina Fey were indeed the perfect match in comedy.

But the brilliant moment is this:
"

Oh my God. This was, um. This was not an easy film to make. First off, I have to thank Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg and all the real-life people who shared their stories with me. And, um, Gus Van Sant, Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, James Franco, and our entire cast, my producers, Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, everyone at Groundswell and Focus, for taking on the challenge of telling this life-saving story. When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas to California and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life, it gave me the hope to one day live my life openly as who I am and that maybe even I could fall in love and one day get married.

(He chokes up, audience begins to applaud.)

I want to thank my mom who has always loved me for who I am, even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he’d want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches or by the government or by their families that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours. (Wild applause from the audience.) Thank you, thank you, and thank you God for giving us Harvey Milk."

Milk’s screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black, after being awarded Best Original Screenplay tonight at the Academy Awards.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Review: Dead Poets Society

I watched this show with great expectations and it certainly did not disappoint. There are many of these "great teacher" shows out there, but I think this one deserves to be the best of the lot.

Keating: "We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

On Persecution Games

It is quite common in church camp to play simulation games on the persecution of Christians. I am opposed to such games for a few reasons.
1. The simulation is a far cry of what real people have to go through, so I question the learning value.
2. If it is intended to be fun, why trivialize a very real and important part of our history?
3. The danger that goes with playing and running with the dark.

But my biggest concern has got to do with the psychological impact on the participants, especially the "persecutors". Thankfully, I now know the true backing of my fears: Standford prison experiment.

From Wikipedia: "In psychology, the results of the experiment are said to support situational attributions of behaviour rather than dispositional attribution. In other words, it seemed the situation caused the participants' behaviour, rather than anything inherent in their individual personalities. In this way, it is compatible with the results of the also-famous Milgram experiment, in which ordinary people fulfilled orders to administer what appeared to be damaging electric shocks to a confederate of the experimenter."

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

On Soccer

I have never been much of a sports fan since I don't do sports and I can't watch sports since I refuse to pay the exorbitant amount for the channel. However, reading Soccernet has become a regular habit of mine and slowly but surely I am following the drama that is the English Premiere League. There are a few teams that are worthy of fans, assuming that you don't live in England and hence cannot be a local supporting fan. The usual favorite in Singapore is Man Utd and Liverpool. If you like a winner, the choice is Man Utd. If you are the long-suffering type, Liverpool is the team for you. Either one is not for me. Just like in Music, I prefer the lesser lumineries. Chelsea, while consisting of the battling type (like Lampard), has an annoying owner. Arsenal while admirable for its focus on youth is too french for my taste. That leaves two choices eventually for me. Villa or Everton. Villa doesn't leave a deep impression for me, while admitedbly it has a good coach as well. The team that clicks with me is Everton.

Everton is a low budget team. One of the highlights for me compared to WestHam or ManCity or Tottenham or even Villa. Yet for the past few years, it has been performing well even breaking into the top four in one year. This is due to an excellent coach Moyes instilling hardwork and discipline into a promising team of fighters. The midfield is extremely talented with the likes of Cahill, Arteta, Osman and Pienaar. Graveson before leaving for Madrid was good too. So this team of hard workers with their never-say-die mentality ready deserves the admiration of its fans, and that's what I want out of a team. Not a success bought, but a victory earned.

"They'll have seen Sunday's win against Liverpool as a big step towards the title. Maybe the Champions League and FA Cup are becoming more important for them. They might even put out their strongest teams in those competitions now. But we're going there with no fear. We've got a belief about us now and we want to show that." - David Moyes

Go Everton!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

FFoB7: Removal of Sandal

What is going on with Ruth 4:7-8? What kind of disgusting practice this is that business transactions are sealed by the removal and handing over of one's shoe? Can you imagine how much single shoes you end up with as a businessman?

"Sandals were the ordinary footwear in the ancient Near East, but they were also a symbolic item of clothing, especially in the relationship between the widow and her legal guardian. This may have been due to the fact that land was purchased based on whatever size triangle of land the buyer could walk off in an hour, a day, a week or a month (1 Kings 21:16-17). Land was surveyed in triangles, and a benchmark was constructed of fieldstones to serve as a boundary marker (Deut 19:14). Since they walked off the land in sandals, the sandals became the moveable title to that land. By removing the sandals of her guardian, a widow removed his autorisation to administer the land of her household. Land transfers in the Nuzi texts also involved replacing the old owner's foot on the land with that of the new owner."
- The IVP Bible Background Commentary

Monday, February 09, 2009

On teaching Acts

I really enjoy what I do. There is great satisfaction working through the biblical text like understanding the mathematical proof to a scientific law. Despite the human element involved in the biblical revelation, and perhaps precisely because of it, there is great beauty in the way revelation is unfolded. I covered Acts 2: 14-40 and I think what the gospel is is now a brave new world for the youths. In that sense it is really fun. The fun of interpreting history.

WoW37: The key to understanding Acts is "theology interpreting history".

Friday, February 06, 2009

On communicating in forums

How much is it you actually have something to say? or You just want to listen to yourself talk? I' ll readily admit I cannot tell the difference myself most of the times.

I find this from Questionable Content forum pretty interesting.

Quote: "Blanket posting is frowned upon unless you actually have something of value to add in every single thread you are responding to. We really want to keep our post quality up, even if that means keeping the post quantity down. Think before you post." - qtownstegy

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Music Recommendation

It seems like 韦礼安 is finally entering into the music scene. This guy is a talent and has a taste much like my own. I have sampled a few of his new songs and I like them a lot. They seem to be a good mix between 方大同and the usual easy listening Chinese pop. While I like them, the former can be too sophisticated and hence largely sound the same (like in classical music) and the latter is too plain for me who prefer a little twist in harmony. I'm definitely buying his CD when it arrives in Singapore.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Humor in the sermon

My latest message received favorable reviews because of its humorous quotient. In many ways, I do enjoy making people learn through laughter. It is a way to connect with people, and to hit them with truths when their "defenses" are down. But frankly I do have a problem with such sermons. The problem lies in the reality that most people enjoy low-brow humor, while I enjoy jokes that tickle at the intellect. A survey of the usual LiangZhiQiang fare will reflect this clearly. What's next?

I think the best way is to continue at the level of the audience and then progress higher from there. First create a culture that sermons can be "enjoyable" too. Then, improve the taste of the audience by exposing them more knowledge in which the deeper humor is dependent on. Lastly, do a bigger layup so that the punchline is expected.

"Humor is merely the Trojan Horse, so as to get in under people’s radar." - NT Wrong

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Down with the Flu

My nose is constantly stuck, though I'm thankful to Actifed that at least they are not running. This makes breathing difficult, and it seems to make me tired much more easily. This is compounded by the problem of not sleeping well because of the constant discomfort. I'm thinking of getting a flu jab soon.

This reminds me of a story. When I had my operation to correct my jaws, they bound my teeth together to fix the positions. Unfortunately, all the bleeding and sinus issues had led to a lethal combination of bloody blocked nose. So every breath of air required a tremendous amount of effort. These were my exact thoughts for every single seconds after I awaken from my operation:
"Should I take a long breath or 2 short breaths?"
"long breath or 2 short breaths?"
"Long breath or 2 short breaths?"
"What's that smell? I think the patient beside me just farted or pooped in his pants."
"God, I'm ready, take me away."
"long breath or 2 short breaths?"

Monday, February 02, 2009

Project Completion

I have finished the drama series QinShiHuang. I would say it is pretty good. I particularly enjoy the research that I did while watching the show. As I like to tell people these days, with the internet, there is no more ignorant people, only lazy people. I learned about feudalism, legalism and Confucianism.

On feudalism, I think it is a very bad system. It works for as most one generation. But once the infighting enters, well, you get the warring states. Legalism is great to total control, but it is hard to draw the line at moderation. As for Confucianism, the premise that people are born good, basically needing only education as guidance is a hard pill to swallow. For everywhere we see depravity, especially on the rich and educated.

So, what is the best form of governance? My personal preference is still on balance. We work hard on education, but we should not be overly naive about human weakness. The leader should aim to be transparent and not overly obsessed about power. Yet, to reduce conflict, it is still important to show who's in charge.

Question: What is your preferred form of leadership and governance?