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

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?"

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?

My latest project

I have just started on a new VCD series on Qin SHi Huang.

I just love such drama serials on great characters and Qin Shi Huang is just such a character. Also notable are characters like Li Si and Lu Bu Wei. Drools. I do have a fascination on intelligent people with great foresight and vision. I guess most people are drawn by such leadership.

On the other hand, it is necessary to be reflective on oneself. It is all the more poignant for a Christian, and a study of Judges makes the entire relfection all the more interesting. Are we called to be great? Can we just ends to justify means? What is character? All good questions to think about.

WoW36: There is no single person. The king must be the king for the kingdom.

Review: The devil wear prada

I don't really do reviews since there is much better ones around. I will hence just do a random collection of thoughts.

1. It's not bad, but honestly, the expectations were much higher. It's supposed to be one of those intelligent comedies, but in the end, it's just a feel good one. Still, it's much better than a bad comedy.
2. I don't find Anne Hathaway pretty. It seems strange, but I think everybody has a different sense of what is beauty. And something about her face seems wrong to me.
3. I like Stanley Tucci. He seems to be able to carry any role he plays. Amazing talent.
4. I like memorable quotable quotes. I don't recall any in this movie except one. "She says you are her biggest disappointment. And I would be a fool not to employ you."

Carrots, Egg or Coffee Bean?

Here's a wonderful story I read online: (So which one are you?)

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she said, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

A Singaporean food blog

If you are thinking of giving me a treat, well, here is a place that sounds really good.

I have been reading this blog for quite some time. I like the style of its writing, the gracious Christian tone and the community of genuine food lovers. I don't mind joining a group of food adventurers if it is on a tight budget.

Tough Projects

There are some easy stuff and some tough stuff in ministry. For me, talking to strangers is tough, writing a meaningful sermon is easy. Naturally, it would be the exact opposite for many other ministry workers. That's because we all have different strength and weaknesses.

My strengths include:- comprehension, flexibility, innovation, resourcefulness, compassion and passion.
My weaknesses include:- carelessness, introvert personality, laziness, physically weak, youthfulness and pride.

It is great that I work in a pastoral team vastly different from me, such that we complement one another in achieving our ministry goals.

WoW35: Use teamwork to make up for your shortfall in gifts.

On Obama

Well, sorry to say, I fell asleep half-way during the inauguration speech. It was just too late, and me too tired. It was good while it lasted, but perhaps one too many high sounding words. It was good to inspire the people to go forth, especially in times like this. But I think I caught the gist of it, and slowly drifted to dreamland.

It's no secret that I am an Obama admirer. I think he is intelligent, reasonable and genuinely concerned about peace, social justice and freedom. It helps that he is oratorically excellent and he has great EQ. Personally, I think he would do great to show a new face of Christianity. One that is pro-science, pro-dialogue, pro-equality and pro-action. Let's hope to bury all the past divides on homosexuality, evolution and abortion, and work towards the ideals of the kingdom of God.

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." Obama

WoW34: A Worship Team is like a Sports Team

It just occurred to me the many similarities between a worship team and a sports team, and how much the music director has to work like a sports coach.

1. The idea of covering up for one another.
2. The need for love for one another and the passion for the subject.
3. The way to go about encouraging and transforming.
4. The application of skill and training and discipline.

I am attending a course on sports psychology, but all I am thinking of is the stuff I need to work on my worship teams.

Top 100 Theology Blogs

Here is the Link.

More on Movies

This is what I did. I went to Rottentomatoes and searched the database by "best of" year. I looked at the titles that is above 85%. Any popular movies, I have not seen, I note them down and try to watch it.

It has been hugely rewarding so far for me. I skip the badly-reviewed ones, and only save time for the good ones. Of course, I mainly go for animation, drama and comedy.

One good one is The Iron Giant. It is an old animation but an interesting tale about the friendship between a robot and a boy. The robot is actually a fighting machine but lost its memory, and became a playmate for the boy. During the process, the boy taught the robot about the ability to be who it wants to be, not what IT is designed to be.

Hogarth Hughes: [to the Giant, in battle mode] It's bad to kill. Guns kill. And you don't have to be a gun. You are what you choose to be. You choose. Choose.

On Movies

I have recently started to get back on track with movie watching. To me, watching movies is an educational pursuit. Movies are like a well developed thought experiment. By introducing characters, plots and scenarios, we learn to question ourselves in the scenarios.

A movie I watched yesterday is the most recent Red Cliff II. In the novel, the Romance of the 3 Kingdoms, the battle of Red Cliff is a battle of wits. That is the reason I love it so much. But in the movie, it became a battle of integrity. Zhou Yu is portrayed to be a man of peace, a defender of country and family and lastly a honorable fighter. While Cao Cao is a man after world domination, lustful and treacherous in sending the epedemic across the battlefield. Sadly, the movie failed to convince. In twisting a situation of war into a platform to discuss peace, John Woo is doing nobody a service. We failed to marvel at the ingenuity of the book, and we fail to emphatise with the tragedy of war victims. Movies like Good Morning Vietnam and Black Hawk Down, with a down to earth descriptive story-telling, strangely gives more compelling cause to the bleakness of war.

Is there a lesson to be learnt here?
Wow33: Sometimes, the message is more compelling by being more descriptive than prescriptive. Let the facts speak for itself.

Advice on marriage

This is from Dooce:

"Our therapist has been paid a lot of money to teach us to tell each other,
hey, stop treating me this way,
you're not meeting my needs,
I feel this way when you act like that."

Those are 3 lines we should teach in every marital counseling.

My favorite movie

To all my fans of this blog, my favorite movie of all times is Groundhog Day.

As I was searching for good movies on Rotten Tomatoes by year, I came to 1993 and found my favorite movie listed as one of the best of that year. I thought, "hmmm, let's see what the top critics think of it." 100% fresh, my friends. I couldn't agree more. But the most pleasant experience is reading how top critic Roger Ebert comment on this movie 15 years after he first critiqued on it. Check out his latest review.

In the 2008 Jubilee Youth Camp, one of the groups did a similar skit based on the same premise. It was still well rated, but I now understand what made the difference after reading Ebert's review.

Question of the Day

Which is the bigger moral?

The morality of choosing life over death? or
The morality of choosing death so that another might live?

New Webcomic recommendations

I found a new hilarious Webcomic: Jesus and Mo

It is clever and insightful, and I firmly believe Christians can all do better not to take themselves too seriously.

Try this one:

Happy New Year

I'm back at work and slogging a project. It's not the best way to spend a holiday season, but I'm not complaining. Studying the word is always self-rewarding.

I have finished a book called Yes Man by Danny Wallace. It's funny and reflective and I think it's definitely worth a read. It's not too deep, but I think that's fine. It doesn't pretend to be complex and profound either. It is a good thought experiment with a good dash of fun added. Life can be as simple as that.

Two quotes:
Coincidence does not exist! La casualidad no existe!
Yes to Everything! Si a todo!

Year End reflection 2008

I like ending the year. It's because I always look forward to the new year. I have accomplished much and there is much to look forward to. The next church camp will be fabulous. The next candlelight service will be great. I know so.

But it is not so much as measuring success as enjoying life as God lays it out. 2008 has been hard times. But life has always been about making the most out of situations. We all have our battles to fight.

I have little to add to my enjoyment of this year. The primary thought being that I will strive and thrive in the next year.

I leave you with the best Christmas message I've read this year. (From the biblioblog Experimental Theology)

New Year Resolutions 2008

1. Work hard musically. I have the resources, I now have the time. No reason it cannot work. It would be exciting because I really want to do certain thrilling stuff.
2. Reform the praise and worship. It is good now, but lacking the punch. Time for some zest.
3. Reading habit reboot. Enough said. Ultimate aim : Book Club

As for this blog, I'm not sure if anybody is still reading. But I aim to contribute more often. I also aim to finish my project at presbyterianonebody, onespirit and one faith.

WoW32: Human Interaction is just Self-Fulfilling prophecy

Why do some people find a group of people negative, and some others find the same group of people positive? I believe we pretty much read into people's actions whatever we have originally preconceived.

This is the famous story of the Lost Axe:

A man who lost his axe suspected his neighbour's son of stealing it. To him, as he observed the boy, the way the lad walked, the expression on his face, the manner of his speech - in fact everything about his appearance and behaviour betrayed that he had stolen the axe.

Not long afterwards the man found his axe while digging in his cellar. When he saw his neighbour's son again, nothing about the boy's behaviour nor appearance seemed to suggest that he had stolen the axe.

Source in Original Text!

On Knowing

There are many times I hate to say that I don't know. It is a necessary by-product of hard work in academic research and honesty in character building. I'm glad for this quote (Joshbot):

"As someone who is an expert in a tiny "portion of the elephant," and applies this expertise to the public at large, I think you make some accurate points. For my job it's important to understand that there are things I know, things I think I know (with varying degrees of certainty), and things I don't know. One of the main sources of tension comes from being honest about not knowing. The majority of people do not want to know how much is unknown about their particular problem, and sharing this truth with them generally results in anxiety. Personally, I think inducing some anxiety is better than being fraudulent."

Thinking about death

One of the key points about Christianity is the being and act of Jesus. This refers to his identity and his ministry. And the must blatant truth about Jesus' mission is to die.

WoW31: Death is a life transforming concept.

In thinking about this, I remembered a Chinese quote:
人固有一死，或重于泰山，或轻于鸿毛，用之所趋异也
汉代司马迁的《报任安书》，也称《报任少卿书》

Death comes to all, but not all deaths have the same value. It depends on its use. Knowing this makes us live even more purposefully. At the same time, it puts matters on earth in perspective.

One recommendation

There are very few web comics that is truly good and consistently relevant. Boy on a stick and snake is a wonderful comic about religion, science, philosophy and social critic. I especially like the opposing comment from the 2 main character. And it is always worth a quote or a food for thought.

Enjoy this one:
Boy: Are snakes religious?
Snake: Yes
Boy: What do you believe?
Snake: We believe we are right.

The world of Biblioblogs

That's my main obsession for now. If you want to know my current reads, try out some in this list:

50 top bibloblog

FFoB6: John and Jack

Did you know that Jack is actually derivative from John? So is the name Shane. It is apparently a common mistake to confuse Jon, which is the short form of Jonathan (God's gift), with John. The meaning of John is "God is gracious". And the meaning of Zechariah is "God has remembered". I think they are both good names. :)

Fear of Indoctrination

I can sympathize with the atheist view that children are being indoctrinated by the church and parents into a bogus faith.

Consider me surprised to read about this: Children are borne believers of God. That is a response on this article.

Well, let's hope more research is done on this fascinating discovery.

Life happens

It is somewhat ironic that despite me telling myself that I will get back on track with this blog, a week has passed until the next entry. This just goes to show the difficulty of planning my life these days.

I would like this blog to be a mental note to myself.

The first thing that I MUST record is a important scene from the movie, The Bucket List, which I surely will screen the next youth camp.

Two questions:
1. Have you found joy in your life?
2. Has your life brought joy to others?

I am back

I have not written for a long time. But I intend to. Let this be a good start to a long lasting relationship.

Sermon comments?

The comment on my last sermon is "short and sweet". Is that a good thing? Is brevity the top criteria in sermons today?

Sermon on Matthew 1:18-25

Title: To do the “right” thing (Matthew 1:18-25)

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Since last week, we have begun a new series of sermons for the bilingual service that talk about specific passages from the four Gospels. We wish to look into different issues related to the Christian life when one is confronted by the Gospel and by the encounter with Jesus Christ. Today, we want to talk about Joseph. What happened to him when Jesus came into his life? What was his response? What can we learn from his struggles and his actions? This is our message for today.

Point 1: Joseph’s problem

To appreciate Joseph’s story, we need a clear understanding of Joseph’s background. We are given a very important key to that: Joseph was a righteous man. Now, those two words have tremendous implications on Joseph’s standing in the Jewish community. This label is given to someone who studies and observes the Jewish Bible. It means he obeys the Ten Commandments, the food laws and he attends the synagogue and celebrates the holy festivals. This is a desirable reputation of a man well-regarded by others as good and respectable. Joseph was a righteous man.

But Joseph’s identity and reputation were facing a crisis. He heard rumors that his fiancée Mary was pregnant before their marriage. An unwed mother came into his life. Young women who dabble with sexual relations before marriage were considered religiously second class. They are not righteous. This was definitely what everybody was whispering about Mary and her pregnancy. Yet, this person was the woman that he loved and whom he originally intended to marry. What is a righteous man to do? According to the Jewish law, he had a few choices.

If Mary had been seduced, then both Mary and the seducer were to be stoned to death. If Mary had been raped, then the rapist would be put to death. If no one confessed and the rapist was not found, then Mary had to drink some “waters of bitterness”[1]. If she died from the water, she would be guilty, if not, she would be innocent. There was another method, and quite a tricky one. Joseph could marry Mary, and then ask her parents to produce “tokens of virginity”[2]. If Mary was not a virgin, then no proof of virginity would be found on the wedding bed and she would be stoned. In the end, Joseph chose the way that kept his own good name and protected Mary the most, and that was to divorce her privately.[3] In this way, Joseph kept the law by not marrying a suspected fornicator and Mary was sheltered from a disgraceful public persecution. Most would have considered this a very noble act, and certainly it is so. But was just following the law really the right thing to do? What were to become of Mary and her child? Is what that is considered righteous to man also considered righteous to God?

Two explorers were on a jungle safari when suddenly a ferocious lion jumped in front of them. “Keep calm” the first explorer whispered. “Remember what we read in that book on wild animals? If you stand perfectly still and look the lion in the eye, he will turn and run.” “Sure,” replied his companion. “You’ve read the book, and I’ve read the book. But has the lion read the book?”

Clearly, there is the obvious written word in the book, and there is also the actual situation. To do the ‘right’ thing involves more than just following the law, the written word. You need to know the entire reality. More importantly, you need to know the situation from the perspective of God, God’s reality.

Point 2: Conquering his fear

Clearly, Joseph was not seeing the entire reality, God’s reality. He saw the problem, his reputation as a righteous man at stake, and he did what he thought was enough according to the written word. But God made it clearer to him by sending an angel to enlighten him. The child in Mary, her conception was from the Holy Spirit. The son that will be born will save his people from their sins. This is done so as to fulfill the prophecy that God will be with his people. God is with us. Immanuel. If this was God’s reality, if this was God’s plan, then what was the right thing for Joseph to do? There are two parts to the right thing to do.

Firstly, Joseph was not to be afraid. This was the same command given to Mary as well. “Do not be afraid”. Mary was obviously fearful because she was going to be a mother. A mother without marriage. Teenage pregnancy and everything. We can understand why Mary needed the command. Why was Joseph was fearful? I’m always glad that we have Matthew’s version of the Christmas story, because it is so different from Luke’s version. He lets us appreciate the parallel side of the story, the father’s side, and frankly it deserves as much attention as what Mary had to go through.

I remember when my wife told me she was pregnant again. Sure there was joy, because we wanted two children. But all the “interesting” memories that I had buried away resurfaced again. Before birth, you face the many helpless moments between eccentric cravings and nausea. After birth, you have the sleepless nights to feed milk and change diapers. Nobody mentions the father’s side of the story, and we are supposed to take it like a man. Luke and the Roman Catholic Church are all about Mary’s wonderful act of motherhood. But, Matthew redeemed this for us by telling us the father’s sacrifice. I’m just kidding. The truth is that Joseph’s true fears went beyond these.

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name will smell as sweet.”[4] This is a feminine point of view and indeed very true. It is the essence that counts, not the title or reputation that matters. But even until today, a man’s reputation defines who he is to the world. He is only as good and worthy as his namesake. In ancient times, a general would rather die in the battlefield than to stain his good name. Sure, Joseph could claim that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. But it would have convinced no one. And there was a real fear that if he married Mary and took her home, his righteous name would be gone forever. To do the right thing, Joseph needed to face and conquer his fear. What is fear?

During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. “You were one of Stalin’s colleagues. Why didn’t you stop him?”

“Who said that?” roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, “Now you know why.”[5]

Fear is what often immobilizes us from doing the right thing. And that is the first command to Joseph. “Do not be afraid”. Look beyond your own reality, your reputation, your name, your status before man. Understand God’s reality and his plans for mankind. Mary’s conception was of the Holy spirit, and Jesus the son will save God’s people from their sins. When God’s reality becomes clear to us, we must dispel all fears to do the right thing.

Point 3: Taking responsibility

The first part to doing the right thing is not to be afraid. The second part is to take responsibility. The second command to Joseph was to name the son Jesus. To name the child is to claim ownership. Joseph would be husband to Mary and father to Jesus. In naming Jesus, Joseph took up the responsibility of giving legitimacy to Mary and Jesus. He would naturally bear all the gossips and slanders that came along with Mary’s awkward situation. In thinking of this, I am reminded of a story I read in a popular blog Dooce.com.

“So I gave myself an enema and sat down on the bathroom floor to cry. Jon kept knocking on the door to see if I was okay and although I knew he meant well I was in so much pain that I wanted to dunk his head into the toilet. After almost ten minutes things started to happen. Enemas are supposed to work after just five minutes, but I had SEVEN WHOLE DAYS of stool softener and fiber lodged from my large intestine all the way up to my ears.

Every time I got up to sit on the toilet, however, things stopped working, and the only thing I could think to do was to get into the bathtub. Yes, the bathtub. The place where we washed our hair and innocent bodies. I didn't know what else to do. I didn't have a choice. Either I poop in the tub or I DIE FROM NOT POOPING.

In my hysteria I filled the tub with water thinking that it would calm me down, obviously not thinking about what things would look like after the "experience." And then it happened. You know. I had another baby in the bathtub, a floater the size of a men's size 13 clog. And then I gave birth to six or seven other babies, all floaters like their older brother.

I stood up and washed off almost passing out from the pain and exhaustion, and you know what? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I'M ABOUT TO TELL YOU?

My husband toweled me off, helped me put my clothes back on, and then he did what no human being on this earth should ever have to do and HE CLEANED UP MY MESS. Not only did he see the mess, he physically transferred it from the bathtub to the garbage can outside and then scrubbed the tub with bleach. He says he can still remember being astonished by how much it seemed to weigh.

After that morning I've granted him a lot of things because people, he picked up my poop. And you have to ask yourself, would my partner pick up my poop? And if you think the answer is NO then JUST WHAT DOES IT MEAN to be a partner? ASK YOURSELF THAT.”[6]

This story etched into my memory like superglue and many times in my marriage I am reminded of this and what it means to be a partner. Today, I am relieved to tell you this story so that you share and bear this scary and yucky image together with me. To be a partner is to clean up all the mess. The only way to demonstrate that you are a partner is to take up the responsibility no matter how unpleasant it is. In thinking of what Joseph had to do, I immediately thought of this story. This kind of willingness and action is what I feel is doing the right thing. You first have to conquer your fears, and then you take up the responsibility.

“By focusing on Mary, Luke emphasizes the essential passivity of the human response to God’s action: “Let it be me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Matthew, on the other hand, by selecting Joseph as his leading actor, stresses the active component in the human response.”[7] Joseph had to do the right thing. He had to conquer his fears and take up the responsibility. In doing this, he showed that he is a true partner to Mary in bearing all the mess. And to us, it is a great witness of what it means to be a true partner to God.

Conclusion

Dr Henry Cloud has this interesting analogy of God’s Plan A and Plan B.[8] We often think that God’s Plan A is to do his own work directly, and his Plan B is to do his work through human beings. This is a wrong concept of how God works. There is only one plan of God, and he always works through human beings. We all want to be part of God’s plan, and we think it is all about glorious victories and wonderful successes. But today we see that smooth sailing, painless, effortless work is not God’s work. To be a true partner to God, to do the right thing, is to conquer our fears and to take up the responsibility. To be mentally ready and to actually go into the job and get messy and dirty. God’s work is with people, and ministry with people is like opening cans of worms. Immanuel! God is with Man! In Jesus, God shows his willingness to be part of mankind. To work with disciples and to die on the cross. Messy stuff indeed!

I know. We have our reputations and polished images to upkeep. We want to keep our well organized lives, our routines and carefully selected comfortable group of relationships. But there is more than just our reality. There is God’s reality. He has a plan to save people from their sins. He has started the project. It appears to be a messy one that will transform our identity, our lives and our usual concerns. Ministry with people living in sin, self-righteous people, people with low self-esteem, quarrelsome, people with great pain and suffering, all messy stuff indeed! But today, I give you this invitation to do the ‘right’ thing. Conquer your fears and take up the responsibility. Be part of this partnership with God. And you will find your true self in God. Immanuel! God with us! And God be in you too.

[1] See Number 5:11-31

[2] See Deuteronomy 22:13-21

[3] See Deuteronomy 24:1-4

[4] Juliet, from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, 1594

[5] Today in the Word, July 13, 1993

[6] http://www.dooce.com/archives/daily/04_15_2005.html

[7] Douglas R.A. Hare, Matthew, John Knox Press (1993), p8

[8] See Henry Cloud and John Townsend, Making small groups work, Zondervan (2003), p. 23-27

Questionable Content

If you want to now what is going on in my life the past few days, check this out:
Questionable Content.


It is quite possibly the hippest and most engrossing online comics I have ever come across.

Normally I will be reading on non-stop, but I just came across a quote from that site that I must simply include here.

"Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past,
If that is true, then wisdom is knowing you'll be an idiot in the future,
And common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot NOW."

Cell group ice-breakers

Which one is your favorite?

1. If you didn’t have to worry about making a living what would you most like to do for the rest of your life'

2. What is your earliest memory'

3. If you could live in any other time, past, present, future, what would it be and why'

4. What motivates you most to go to work each day: money or personal satisfaction? If money were not an issue, would you still keep your job'

5. If you knew that tomorrow would be the last full day of your life, how would you spend the day'

6. What is your most important goal in life right now? Will your life change in some way if that goal is reached? If so, how'

7. If the people who know you best were asked, would they say you tend to be mostly predictable or unpredictable? Why? Which of these traits do you most value in a friend? Do you tend to follow a set routine or do you often do the same things differently'

8. What social situations tend to make you most flustered and nervous? Why'

9. For $10,000 would you be willing to stand up spontaneously and sing The Star Spangled Banner at the top of your lungs in the middle of a church service'

10. What are three things you would like to accomplish in the next year'

11. If you were to move to a poor, primitive country, what three things would you most miss from your current life'

12. What is the biggest lie you’ve ever told? Why? What were the consequences, if any'

13. What three things do you believe without any doubts'

14. What is one of the books (other than the Bible) that has had the greatest influence on your life? Why'

15. If God would grant you any one request, what would it be'

16. “Activity that does not result in progress toward a goal is a waste of time.” Do you agree? Is it ever OK to waste time'

17. What would you say are your 5 greatest strengths? Weaknesses'

18. Under what circumstances do you feel most lonely? Least lonely? Why'

19. What do you look forward to most about growing old? Least'

20. What traits do you think are most important to instill in your children? Why'

21. If you could relive any part of your life, what would it be and why'

22. Have either of your parents either told you they were sorry or asked your forgiveness for something? How did it make you feel'

23. What is the most difficult choice you’ve had to make in your life up to this point? Why? What factors helped you make the choice?

24. you believe God has only one perfect mate for everyone'

25. A football coach once said, “We learn almost nothing in victory, but we learn much in defeat.” Do you agree or disagree. In your life, have you learned most from failures or successes'

26. What would you most like people to remember you for after you die? What would you like written on your tombstone'

27. What is the most dangerous thing you’d like to try doing? What keeps you from doing it'

28. What are the biggest questions you have about your relationship with God'

29. What are the five things you are most thankful for in your life right now'

30. Would you say that the focus of your life right now is more on the development of relationships or on the accomplishment of goals and objectives? What would you like to change about this focus, if anything'

31. During WWII German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer participated in a conspiracy to assassinate Hitler. Although the conspiracy failed and he was executed for making the effort, do you think Bonhoeffer was right in his attempts to kill Hitler? If you had been Bonhoeffer, would you have participated in this murder conspiracy? Why or why not'

32. What was the greatest peer pressure you felt as a teen? What is the greatest peer pressure you feel as an adult? How are you handling it'

33. As a child, when you got caught doing something wrong, which of the following were you most likely to do? Blame someone else, Deny that you did it, Run and hide, Take full responsibility and accept the consequences. What are you most likely to do now as an adult'

34. Do you think people would be surprised about your thought life? How often would you be embarrassed if others knew exactly what was on your mind? Do you think your thought life is better or worse than most of the people in your circle of friends? Why'

Source unknown

My Sermons outside of My Sunday Sermons
Fun Facts of the Bible

The best things in life is free

This is one of the best thing I have ever came across.

Free top university scholarly lectures. This one is the best so far. It is the best Old Testament lessons I have ever "attended".

And I used a large part of it to teach my youths. Yes people, if you are not getting university education in your youth days, your education is shortchanging you. You may not understand all of it, but at least you are getting the real deal.

WoW30: Learn the very truth from the beginning, the unlearning later in life in not worth otherwise.

Official Jubilee Tossball Rules

Right now, I am getting everybody in church to sign up for the Jubilee Tossball League. My dream is to get everybody, young and old, to have some fun together. I think it is highly achievable because it is a simple game and yet competitive enough to those who are more athletic.

Rules:
Teams are made up of 5-7 players. 5 player teams consist players all aged 15-45, 7 player teams are all aged below 15 or above 45, while 6 player teams are 4-2 or 3-3 combinations of either age group.
There is no dribbling or running with the ball allowed. No contact allowed with the person holding the ball.
Players aged 15-45 must score from outside the red perimeter.
The team that scores more after 10 minutes of play wins.

Happy news

I have recently sold my place at Bukit Panjang and bought a new place at Clementi. Both prices are about the same but the new location will be smaller and much older. The move is to get closer to church, my in-laws and my wife's work place. I think it is a worthy sacrifice for more time with the family instead of wasting it on the road.

Which brings me to the point about providence. We bought the new place in less than 3 days, and sold ours in less than a week. Coincidence? I think not.

The Seasons of Spirituality 属灵生活的四季

I am not prone to putting my sermons here, but this one is a submission to a Lent devotional collection and I would like to share it with my readers because it may just be the best one I've ever written.

撰写人：王晓晖牧师

经文：诗119：145-176

主题：属灵生活的四季

神的启示有时像充满活力，生气勃勃的夏日。绚丽夺目，叫人情不自禁地渴望，并追求那荣美。旧约时代，这荣美主要来自神所启示的律法。难怪诗人用了超过一百句话来赞美耶和华的律法。律法之所以吸引人是因为它表达了神对人的旨意。人感觉神十分接近。不但如此，律法透露着神性，叫人可以体会到什么是真理、什么是公义、什么是永恒。我们从神的法度、训词、典章和一切命令感染其中的生命力，因而不由自主地表达爱意。我们知道这律法可靠，它必带来丰盛的平安。

但奸恶的人却远离耶和华的律法。他们的逼迫使生活就像万物凋零的秋季。重重的苦难仿佛遍地的落叶，处处都是垂死的迹象。可能是领袖们无缘无故的迫害，叫生活倍感艰难。可能是诡诈人的包围，使人的情绪烦躁、厌倦。我们憎恨他们虚伪的面孔。像那无情不断来袭的秋风，抵挡我们的越来越多。不仅是外来的苦难，生活中也难免出现灵命衰退的时刻。当人们不遵守耶和华的话语的时候，他们的生命就开始枯萎。离开神的律法，就是离开生命的源头。艰辛难熬的时候，也是落叶归根的时候。

面对死亡的威胁，诗人转向唯一的依靠。诗人向神呼求。祷告的感觉有时很像寒冬腊月。那是艰苦，孤独的等待。我们求告神垂听我们的声音。我们求告神察看我们的困境。这是人最真实的一面。有如一层白雪遮盖了所有分心的事物，在祷告中我们坦荡荡，赤裸裸的面对神。诗人八次呼叫“耶和华啊！”。这是灵命生活面临苦难时必然的感叹声。是祈求耶和华伸张正义的哀号声。诗人凄美单纯的信靠，表露无疑。但冬天也是蓄势待发的时刻，坚定无悔的信心必换来春暖花开的一天。

祷告中所盼望的，是耶和华的拯救。就像春天给万物带来新希望，耶和华的手帮助我们。因为耶和华的温暖慈爱，我们得以存活。这是耶和华浩大的怜悯。这是信实的耶和华所立下的应许。迷失了路的亡羊，有耶和华这位大牧人寻找他们。只要我们不忘记他所给于我们的启示，神的律法，我们必回到生命的道路，什么都不能绊倒我们。

亲爱的弟兄姐妹，神最完整的启示就是耶稣基督。耶稣也成全了一切律法。耶稣的死里复活是耶和华赐给我们最彻底的拯救。耶稣璀璨的一生，是我们学习爱天父爱人的榜样。耶稣不畏强权地顺服天父的旨意，是我们低档恶势力的模范。耶稣跟天父亲密的关系，提醒我们不断向神祷告。耶稣就是那为我们舍命的大牧人。让我们继续倚靠耶稣，度过我们属灵的每个春夏秋冬。

祷告：诗23

操练：在圣灵的带领下，我愿意时时读经，更认识上帝的旨意。

Heaven's Grocery Store

I was walking down life's pathway
Not so very long ago
When I looked up and saw a sign,
Heaven's Grocery Store.

I got a little closer
And the door swung open wide.
The next thing I knew
I was standing there inside.

I saw a host of angels.
They were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said,
"My child, now shop with care.'

Everything a Christian needed
Was in that Grocery Store,
And what you couldn't carry out
You could come back next day for more.

Well, first I got some patience,
Love is in the same row.
Further down was understanding.
You need those everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of wisdom
And a bar or two of faith.
You couldn't miss the Holy Ghost
He was all over the place.

I didn't forget salvation
For salvation'that was free.
I wanted to get enough of that
To save both you and me.

There was meekness, longsuffering and gentleness
I saw these at a glance.
I knew I'd better get some.
I would never have a better chance.

I stopped to get some courage
To help me run life's race.
Then my basket was getting full
And I remembered I needed grace.

Then I started for the counter
To pay my grocery bill
I thought I had most everything
To do the Father's will.

And I saw prayer,
I just had to put that in.
I knew when I stepped outside the door,
I'd run right into sin.

Source Unknown

This comes to you via a miracle

A miracle occurred in that I finished my sermon early. I am going to post this tip that I knew for a long time, and one that I find truly helpful.

Check this out. This is a good idea for married couples.

I think it can be used for cell groups and other occasions as well.

WoW29: It only takes a few seconds to make a day better, and a day to make a year better. Do it!

Personal update

On this very strange day, I have time. I hope you, my dear readers would talk to me.

Last year was a wonderful year of learning. It felt that I have lived through a decade and transformed into a man. I like myself and I believe in what I am doing. I could return to the Lord like this. Life is at a bittersweet moment that is just right.

Now, I just need more time, more life and more from God. I am not saying this because I am greedy, but truly it feels great to be really living.

I have a dream

I am totally inspired by this. Let's all do it.

I have a dream.

I have a dream that the church will be in unity in support with one another, and in work and evangelism to the world.

I have a dream that we can accept one another in authenticity and serve the ministries with humility and joy.

I have a dream that we will enjoy learning, and yearn to express the truth with beauty and a compassionate heart.

I have a dream that we will all work together to bring back the lost, and to cherish what we have now.

Past it on, and leave a comment if you will.

WoW28: Sermon is about passion

I recently rekindled this passion while preaching about 1st Corithians 12. It kind of reminded me what it means to give a message from the heart. This entry is a timely reminder to myself to never lose this fire. Preach the faith!

This sermon by William Willimon is one of the best I have ever read. It is passionate preaching indeed.

A wake and a funeral

Sometimes you have to go searching for a message. But sometimes a message comes to you, as if from God. I just experienced such a moment with the wake and funeral of a beloved elderly sister in my zone.

2nd Tim 4:7-8
"7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
Intro
Many times when we see this passage, we think about the hardships of Paul as a missionary. But the importance is simply to "finish faithfully".
Point 1: The imagery of a Race. How it is important to finish honorably. And how hard it is given the trails and temptations, see vs 3-4.
Point 2: The imagery of the righteous Judge. We will be given a fair verdict for our deeds on earth.
Point 3: The imagery of the "appearing". This often refers to citizens awaiting a royal appearance. Feel the expectancy and waiting, and the joyful reception the follows.
Conclude: A rewarding life. To get your just prize for a life of worship.

Hebrews 11,12
Intro
A testimony about the subject matter (the dead) is also meant for the listeners (the living).
Point 1: The Christ that lived in the subject is also living in us. It is an eternal bond that makes us run the same race.
Point 2: The Witness. A life of faith. Living with an aim to shed temporal pain and pleasure for a reunion in eternity.
Point 3: The Cheerleader. The crowd of witnesses are cheering us on.
Conclude: We too must run this race for the joyous reunion in the heavenly place awaiting us.

WoW27: It is not the intensity or the competition that matters, true sportsmanship lies in finishing the race.

An update

I have been busy but the tough parts are manageable now. I still have a script to complete by this week. But life has been good to me and I am loving the moment. What I learn from experience is that as long as the work is meaningful, tough is not a problem.

Here is a good story about the work of Wits and Wagers. I hope you like it too. Also, if you are a reader, please drop a comment once in a while.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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。

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.

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。

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。

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。

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。

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？

WoW19: We must accept an existence of solitude

If you look forward, you cannot see the images of the past. If you look backwards, you do not see a legacy to come. If you contemplate your insignificant existence in an infinite world, it forces you to drop tears.

陈子昂
前不见古人，后不见来者；
念天地之悠悠，独怆然而涕下。

王维
《竹里馆》

独坐幽篁(huang2)里，弹琴复长啸。
深林人不知，明月来相照。

Chinese poetry

I am into Chinese poetry lately because of the research into games for the mid-autumn festival programs. Which just goes to show that there is a lot of work into designing a game.

This is a classic and a truly touching line 王勃：

海内存知己，天涯若比邻。

As long as you have true friends by your side, the far corners of the world will be like your neighbors.

WoW18: Positive nagging is to be loved and feared

I learned the art of Positive Nagging from my friend KY. Needless to say, it is something that all pastors must do. Just as my senior pastor nags about exegesis, I am a constant nag about cell group and righteous living. But positive nagging is to emphasize on the love and care that comes with the nagging. Strangely, a little tweak is all it takes to transform an irritating reminder into an empowering affirming encouragement. In whatever you do, do it with a little more love.

WoW17: A people of power takes effort

Last night was a fun time of learning Mill and Comte. We are now dealing with the supreme experts in atheism. I like these guys and their ideas. No hatred, no contempt, just describing reality as they see it. And for most parts they are right, Christianity has not progressed intellectually.

Which is why I am extremely proud of my guys, they stuck it out with me despite their busy schedules in school. Given time, they will become giants. Just as how James Mill trained John Stuart Mill and how Henri de Saint-Simon influenced Auguste Comte, a people of power begins with our journey together this year to plow through the thickets of historical theology and philosophy.

WoW16: Strength of message comes when you can combine vision with the heart

I was researching on mid-autumn festival programs. I come across some Chinese poetry. This one by Zhang Jiuling 张九龄 is especially striking.

Why is it so powerful? 海上生明月，天涯共此時.

Because it creates a powerful image that translates into a deep felt moment in the heart. Max Lucado has power like this too.

An expansive view of the moon on the horizon. A distant loved one sharing the same magical moment. Priceless.

望月怀远（张九龄）
　　海上生明月，天涯共此时。
　　情人怨遥夜，竟夕起相思。
　　灭烛怜光满，披衣觉露滋。
　　不堪盈手赠，还寝梦佳期。

WoW15: There is a wealth of knowledge in all fields

You know the Chinese saying "every job has its top scholar"? It's very true. These weeks have been fun as we looked to install a playground for the church. It is only with research that we discover there is so much stuff into building a playground. Slides, rock-climbing, tunnels, obstacle courses can be integrated into great fun for children and youths.

Check out the two top playground equipment suppliers of Singapore:
1) www.ctart.com.sg which has much better product quality than any we have seen so far.
2) www.playpoint.com.sg which main strength lies in unique dexterity stuff.

They are the ones responsible for those installations in West Coast Park, which is the one of the best places for playgrounds here.

WoW14: God is better than any alternative

Thanks to the lesson on Ludwig Feuerbach, famous for his "Anthropology as religion" philosophy, I am firmly convinced that the world needs "theology as religion". Why? Because there is just no better alternative. Feuerbach's atheistic arguments are the best I have come across so far, and I applaud his noble humanitarianism. But ultimately it is subjective and that is a reality that is sad but true. Mankind is just not that attractive. I would love to remove the "opium of the people", but the drastic fate of communism and capitalism is just plain evidence that a world without God is no alternative at all.

One of the Blogs I visit: Mightygirl

This latest post is kind of what I tried to do here but much better.

I like this one best: "Don’t make assumptions, and don’t take things personally."

WoW13: When it comes to religious lay people, all religions are the same.

I have been reading this. It is a Buddhist book of fables. I have found that when it comes to understanding profound truths, all religions have the same problem. The general masses have difficulty understanding and appropriating wisdom.

The first fable is about this fool who went for a meal. He blamed the food for being tasteless so the host added some salt, and he found it tasty. He thought "the taste comes from the salt, if I add more, it will be even better". He shallowed a whole cup of salt, and upon realising his foolishness, spit them out. What is the moral of the story?

※....笨人吃盐....※

....从前有一个笨人，到朋友家里去作客，主人留他吃饭，他嫌菜没有味道，主人就在菜中加了一些盐，他吃起来味道就觉得很好了。笨人心里想∶『菜的味道好是从盐中得来，不多的就已这样好吃，那麽多吃些，味道一定格外好了。』这样想了以後，笨人就向主人索取了一杯盐，一口吞进嘴里去，不料咸得要命，就急忙把盐从嘴里吐出来。

....这故事比喻∶修行人适当地节量饮食，少欲知足，是对於身体和修行都有好处的；但一般外道宣传，矫枉过正，索性提唱不进食，认为这样就可以得道，因此有断食七天或十五天的，结果影响身体，困饿而死，对修行却一点儿没有益处，这是错误的。那种作法和笨人吃盐一样，是可笑而愚蠢的举动。

What I know best

I can't believe how many times I am guilty of this.

Good thing I'm married.

Personal updates

1. I am on the road to recovery thanks to a couple of paracetemols. Wonder drugs they are.

2. I have completed reading History of Art and skimmed by History of Music. I wished I had done a better job with History of Literature, but life's too short for perfection.

Please make it stop!

The family is not feeling well for ages now, with cycles of flu circulating relentless. Prayers needed please.

WoW12: The most profound truths are the most simply expressed

"There really is no such thing as Art. There are only artists."

This is the first line in the most popular book on Art history, or even Art itself. Such depth in understanding of reality can be applied to Theology, Music and Literature and almost all other fields of arts and social science.

Which brings us to the main point of contention with Barth. Yes, let God be God. But we continue to despair as Man.

Another Blog to introduce

One of the more interesting facts about Becky is that she is born in the same year as one of the two more famous Blogged about kids.

One if them is Leta.

It is always comforting to know what is going on in the parenting lives of other parents with kids the same age. Of course, having a cell group with similarly young parents help too.

A Blog that I frequent

One of my favorite HK actress turns out to be Christian.

It is always interesting that Christians groups are found in every circle. All the best to their efforts to transform the world in all that they seek to do.

Go check it out.

WoW11: Basic principle of life

I just read an excellent book half way. Stories of the Courage to Teach.
WoW11: Basic principle of life is to See through it and to See it through.

Such a simple aphorism to remember, but yet such profoundness. To understand reality completely, but yet possess the vitality to finish the journey in a worthy manner. It is a principle I can live by.

Anti-latria quote

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love."
— Mother Teresa

This is the opposite of all that I strive for in life. From reading Romance of 3 Kingdoms and watching 雍正王朝 I have always dream of doing epoch-making life-worthy great things. How wrong I am.

FFoB3: Who is this prophet?

In Titus 1:12, Paul cites a Cretan prophet who said "Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons."

His name is Epimenides.

The bad reputation of the Cretans come from their claim that they have the tome of Zeus (thus saying that he is mortal). Most people then think they are liars because they think of Zeus as immortal.

The same quote is also found in Acts 17:28.

This verse is also famous for the Epimenides paradox. There is an inherent logical inconsistency because Epimenides is a Cretan. To make a statement that Cretans always lie will make a paradoxical statement because here is no way to assign a consistent truth value to it. It is neither true nor false. Hence some mock at Paul for saying that Epimenides' statement is true (Titus 1:13).

A New Quote for Pride

Why we can never be proud.

Boardgame cafes in KL and Bangkok

Settlers closed in KL and Bangkok! Tough business indeed. Check it out.

WoW10: Things only start to change when you own the problem

I just read something about the politics of Mexico in the 80s. Here is some background.

Since PRI has been the ruling party for decades, PAN the main opposition blamed the poor economy on PRI. PRI being the government for so long, blamed the economy on the people, and mainly the Indian south. But whatever it is, nobody felt responsible to do something about the economy itself.

That is a terrifying thought for the church. If the opposition blame the church leadership, and the church leadership blame the congregation, and nobody own the problems, real transformation will never take place. Time to stop pushing blame, and take the difficult part of changing yourself.

Question: Smoothness or Authenticity?

I just went to a dinner last night. The host made a 15 min speech. His delivery triggered something I read in the novel Duke of Mount Deer.

WeiXiaoBao was trapped by a bunch of people who thought he had killed his own master. One of his wives, ShuangEr, came to his protection and told the true account. Despite her poor delivery (since she is shy and not eloquent), the audience believed her. Later, WeiXiaoBao retold the actual events, and he is great with his words because he used the mannerisms of the street story-tellers, but he was far less convincing.

"韦小宝这时可得意了，手舞足蹈，述说往事。他的叙述自然精采生动，
事事惊险百出，但在群豪听来，却远不如双儿所说的可信。"

What about you? Smoothness is more important or authenticity?

Time to return

Been busy the past few months with all the stuff to do over restructuring. But I think it is time to start recording my thoughts once again.

Last night I had a dream about the late Elder Lee. Frankly, I was afraid he would start speaking to me, cause my late grandfather-in-law spoke to my father-in-law in a dream recently. So in my dream, he merely looked at me with his usual frown.

No special thoughts, other than a bigger certainty in me that there is a greater reality out there than our mere material existence.

I'm back from exile!

I solved an irritating firewall problem on my computer and now I can access Blogger again!

Down to Norton!

All thanks to this Geeklist:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/21773

Upcoming quote

"It is easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission."

Random quotes

I have been busy, but I do need to kick start my chronicling process once again. Some quotes that I have been using in my lessons so far:

1. The mark of an immature man is to die nobly for a cause, the mark of a mature man is to live humbly for the same.

2. When we are young, we learn to control others, when we mature, we learn to control ourselves.

Comments so far on the lessons?

Plato or Aristotle?

"It has been remarked that everyone is born either a Platonist or an Aristotelian. Plato and Aristotle, this is, represent two different attitudes toward the world. Plato was a perfectionist whose inclination, even in discussing the problems of practical politics, was always towards a utopian solution that was impractical precisely because the perfect is never realized in this world. Where Plato was otherwisely and idealistic, Aristotle was practical and empirical.
Plato's bias towards mathematics was symptomatic of his general point of view... ... For Aristitle, in contrast, biology was the leading and, as it were, model science. Just as it is natural in discussing Plato's views to draw example from the field of mathematics, so it is natral in any discussion of Aristotle's views to take examples from biology. In mathematics we are dealing with perfect but lifeless entities; in biology, with imperfect but living ones." W.T. Jones

Are you a Platonist or an Aristotelian?

Platonic Christianity

WoW9: To get a right relationship with God, get a right relationship with the Church

"Political theory is not merely an adjunct to ethical theory; indeed, for Plato it was almost the other way around, since he believed that the good life is possible only in the good state. Here again Plato is poles apart from the Christian tradition, which, in emphasizing the individual's effort to get into a right relationship with God, has tended to stress solitariness and to regard what sociologists call "interpersonal relations" as a dangerous distraction. Plato, in contrast, held that only in and through these relations can the individual achieve his good." W.T. Jones, The Classical Mind

The author may not be right in assessing the truth about Christianity, but the accusation is certainly valid about its bias. Get a right relationship with your Church, more often than not, it will make for a more healthy relationship with God.

Extremely busy

A joke to share:

Herman and Henrietta were touring their brand-new house, a house that Henrietta had paid for with her money, a fact of which she often reminded Herman. In each room of the house, she said to her husband, "Herman, if it were not for my money, we wouldn’t be here." Herman didn’t say a word.

That afternoon a truck delivered to the house a load of furniture, furniture that Henrietta paid for with her money. After the furniture was in place, the couple toured the house again. As they observed each room, beautifully appointed and magnificently decorated, Henrietta reminded her husband, "Herman, if it were not for my money, this furniture would not be here." Again, Herman was silent.

Late in the afternoon a truck came with a special piece of furniture which was to be the focal point of the den, a combination stereo-television-computer all wrapped into one gorgeous piece of furniture which Henrietta paid for with her money. When it was in place, Henrietta again addressed her husband, "If it were not for my money, that piece of furniture would not be here." Finally, Herman spoke, "Honey, I don’t want to make you feel bad, but if it were not for your money, I wouldn’t be here!"


"Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money."

Camp is over

Church camp is over. Any thoughts?

Now with Zombies!!!

Busy week. But I hope this will brighten your day.

3 Biblical "E"s

Everybody knows they refer to the Creation story of Eden, Eve and Evil.

Nah, just kidding, I just attended a youth leader conference, and the speaker states Equipping, Evangelism and Encouragment as the 3 basic Es of a church, and youth ministry in particular. Equipping should lead to Evangelism and Evangelism leads to Encouragement. All is done as a means to glorify God in the end.

WoW8: The importance of an Objective

Though it may appear to sound biblical, but most "results" are purely a matter of strategic management. In Jubilee, teachers go through great pains to bring the best Equipping with little result on the Evangelism. In some other equally respectable Church, dubious Equipping yield strong Evangelism impetus. (The speaker uses "Obedience requires Pain" to explain Circumcision. Cute but far out IMO.)

Why the difference? Objectives. If the youths have the impression that they are there to just learn something, (or worse to pass time), then no equipping will lead to evangelism. You just end up with lots of spiritual overweights with bigger and bigger diets. But if they know the purpose of equipping, then however little the spiritual food, it will be channelled towards strength in the right direction.

O holy night

This is my Xmas gift to you.

A time to die

Wow7: The transient beauty of time

Funerals are always a time of reflection for me. I experienced a moment of truth while following the hearse to the Mandai crematorium. The truth is that the hearse is never in a hurry. At its appointed time, it sets off from its departure place carrying its client to its pre-determined destination. To bring out the full contrast of the situation will be to compare a hearse to an ambulance. An ambulance is always in a hurry because it is about preserving life. But when the time has come to die, when life has given its place to rest, the nature of time has changed.

I just taught a bunch of people to seize the day. Thank God for his lesson to rest and pray.

Making up for lost time.

My readership here has doubled. This means there is one more person reading. I think I will follow the example of another Blog I like, and contribute more when I can.

WoW6: A community defined by an event

In the apostles' creed is the line "I believe in ... ... the resurrection of the body." In my mind, I have never doubted this statement of faith. However, recently, with the numerous revisiting of 1 Cor 15 (because of teachings and other stuff), I have begun to re-wrestle with the topic. What does the resurrection mean? What is its impact on the individual? What is its implication on the Christian community?

The resurrection is a bodily one. Many translations use the word "spiritual body" as opposed to a fleshly body, but it is largely misleading, because it strays from the emphasis of Paul that there is a physical body form. The contrast with our former body, is that it is eternal instead of decaying, it is honored instead of humiliated, and it is Spirit animated instead of earthly-desires-driven. It has impact on the individual because it speaks of a transformation which we all eagerly anticipate, especially so when we are in sickness. It has implication on the Christian community because we hope for an eternal reunion as a family justified.

This re-wrestling is hence an important one even though my faith has never doubted. Because believing is never just believing until the full weight of the belief is manifested in your life. The resurrection of the body is founded on the resurrection of Jesus. One event that changed the inevitable route to death. Let that be your badge of pride in your daily living. "O Death, where is your sting?"

Courage to live. That's real believing.

A minor update

Been busy with a new baby. Zechariah.

WoW5: Keeping things in Perspective

I am about to deliver a teaching that I feel passionately about. I am going in full of enthusiasm and hoping that it will be life-changing. In my mind, if it is not going to be impactful, why bother?

Then I remember the countless times where people sleep in my lessons. Those that didn't sleep, some showed no comprehension. Those that comprehended showed no excitement. Those that displayed enlightenment, forget about the lesson after a few days. Those that remembered forget them eventually. In short, how much impact can a teaching do anyway?

I came across a book called 100 speeches that changed the world. I've got to get hold of that book one day. But here is the sombering thought: those speakers probably gave a thousand speeches for one to be really life changing to anybody.

Nonetheless, we continue to do what we do anyway. Because for every teaching that makes a difference, it makes the thousand that didn't seemed worthwhile.

The Baptism of the Dead

FFoB2: 1 Cor. 15:29

Here "baptized for the dead" may mean that a Christian friend was baptised for symbolic effect on behalf of a new convert who had died (perhaps by matyrdom, or perhaps on his or her deathbed, thus allowing no time for baptism) before being able to baptise. Or this expression may refer to washings of the dead before burial, a standard Jewish custom. It could be a roundabout way of saying "baptized so as to be able to participate in eternal life with Christians who have already died," hence baptized in light of their own mortality as well. To whatever practice Paul alludes, it si not clear whether he agrees with the Corinthian practice; even if he does not, however, he can use it to make his point.

New Segment: Fun Facts of the Bible

FFoB1: Honey is date juice

The land of Canaan is described as a land "flowing with milk and honey". This refers to the bounty of the land for a pastoral lifestyle, but not necessarily in terms of agriculture. Milk is the produce of herds, while honey represents a natural resource, probably the syrup of the date rather than bees' honey.

The Bar of God

I promised myself there will be 1 reflection per week. If you are a regular reader, please leave a note so that I will be encouraged on this effort.

WoW4: Never lower the bar on your teachings

Jubilee youth ministry is unique in the sense that the objective of the teachings is to be incomprehensible. Human beings, especially youths are far more complex than we can ever imagine. In lowering the bar, we devalue the true essence of God's revelation and cheapen the cost of knowing him. In preparing for Romans, I consulted my old notes which is based on David C Cook. Then I read Max Lucado (In the Grip of Grace). Finally, I come to NT Wright's commentary. What a strange new world! If I had settled for any less than Wright's understanding, I would have done a great disservice to the youths. Guess what? They understood it perfectly well.

On my personal limitations

WoW3: I can do nothing but only through God.

This week somebody confided in me a personal problem. I discovered a few things.
1. I don't understand the problem.
2. I don't have an answer to the problem.
3. I usually don't have answers to much problems anyway.
4. There are countless problems out there.
5. I am called by God to co-work on these problems.
6. I have a problem.

The burden is immensely heavy, but yet it is light on my shoulders. God is carrying the bulk of it and I live a life of miracles. No wonder the Psalms begins with exhortations, continues with wonder, struggles with lament, but eventually ends with thanksgiving.

On Dealing with Pain

WoW2: Get the mission right and live with the pain.

In life, you feel pain. Some are mental, some are physical, some are self inflicted, some seemingly a gift from God. The pastor is forced to deal with pain because God needs to answer for it. While it is sometimes wise to think about the reasons for the source of pain, the example of Paul continuing his work in spite of pain must surely be a beacon of light for all of us.

"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hardwork, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as imposters; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet posessing everything." 2 Cor 6:3-10

Astounding!!!

Words of Wisdom

Apparently, there is one person reading this blog. There are 2 implications.

1. I will have to be careful with dubious content in case I end up like Mark Foley.
2. I will actually make an effort to keep this blog updates often.

One thing I promised myself when I was thinking ages ago about starting a blog is that I will use it as a platform to anounce all my musings about daily life. Kind of like Proverbs. Only better. And Funnier. And MORE IRRELEVANT.

WoW 1: Worship is done by the people.

During the Middle Ages, worship is performed by the clergy, and for the masses attending mass, they are merely an audience to what the clergy is doing. One of the point of the Reformation is so that the people can participate in the worship itself. The people learn to read the bible in their language, they sing psalms they can understand, and they pray and participate in communion in words they would use.

Today, we make exegesis (bible interpretation) a skill that is exclusive to ministers, songs that are overly triumphanistic in contrast to the broken lives of the people, and with prayers and communion in bombastic words and jargons. Worship is performed by the clergy once again.

Time for a change. And to invite all to worship once again.