Wow it's 2010 already..!
Really can't believe that we're already into the first decade of the 2000s.
So much changed over the past 5 years for me.
Learnt many lessons, lost much, gained even more.
It's been the steepest of learning curves for me in the beginning of 2009.
Been through much, by God's grace, matured a bit more, grew just that bit much wiser.
Made really great new friends in 2009, deepened many relationships with existing friends, and had lots and lots of awesome times!
Definitely a lot of changes, what with army and all..
So here are my personal goals for 2010!
(Aside from the cluster template ones)
1. Get an answer as to which uni to go to after ORD
2. Complete 2010 Nike 10k PLUS either Sundown OR Stanchart
3. Get my driving license
3 simple wishes.
And its more or less confirmed that I'll be running the Sundown on 29May with Mr Khoo Wenyong!!
I don't know how I managed to convince him to run with me, but I did.
That means training soon!
=)))
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Trust Me
Our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering.
The love of God is of a different nature altogether.
It does not hate tragedy.
It never denies reality.
It stands in the very teeth of suffering.
The love of God did not protect His own Son.
That was the proof of His love - that He gave His own Son, that He let Him go to calvary's cross, though legions of angels might have rescued Him.
He will not necessarily protect us - not from anything it takes to make us more like His Son. A lot of hammering and chiseling and purifying by fire will have to go into the process. (Ouchhh)
Shouldn't a mere simple request from God to trust Him be sufficient?
Is it absolutely necessary for Him to yank out of sight whatever we most prize, to drag us into spiritual traumas of the severest sort, to strip us naked in the winds of His purifying spirit in order that we should learn to trust?
God's ultimate plan is as far from our imagining as the oak tree is from the acorn's imaginings. The acorn does what it was made to do, without pestering its Maker with questions about when and how and why. We who have been given an intelligence and a will and a whole range of wants that can be set against the divine pattern for Good are asked to believe Him. We are given the chance to trust Him when He says to us," ... If any man will let himself be lost for my sake, he will find his true self."
When will I find it? we ask. The answer is, Trust Me.
How will I find it? The answer again is, Trust Me.
Why must I let myself be lost? we persist.
The answer is, Look at the acorn and trust Me.
God gave us the intellect and capacity to make choices.
But in honoring Him and placing Him first in everything, we return the rights of making these choices back to Him. We place ourselves in total surrender to His will.
The love of God is of a different nature altogether.
It does not hate tragedy.
It never denies reality.
It stands in the very teeth of suffering.
The love of God did not protect His own Son.
That was the proof of His love - that He gave His own Son, that He let Him go to calvary's cross, though legions of angels might have rescued Him.
He will not necessarily protect us - not from anything it takes to make us more like His Son. A lot of hammering and chiseling and purifying by fire will have to go into the process. (Ouchhh)
Shouldn't a mere simple request from God to trust Him be sufficient?
Is it absolutely necessary for Him to yank out of sight whatever we most prize, to drag us into spiritual traumas of the severest sort, to strip us naked in the winds of His purifying spirit in order that we should learn to trust?
God's ultimate plan is as far from our imagining as the oak tree is from the acorn's imaginings. The acorn does what it was made to do, without pestering its Maker with questions about when and how and why. We who have been given an intelligence and a will and a whole range of wants that can be set against the divine pattern for Good are asked to believe Him. We are given the chance to trust Him when He says to us," ... If any man will let himself be lost for my sake, he will find his true self."
When will I find it? we ask. The answer is, Trust Me.
How will I find it? The answer again is, Trust Me.
Why must I let myself be lost? we persist.
The answer is, Look at the acorn and trust Me.
God gave us the intellect and capacity to make choices.
But in honoring Him and placing Him first in everything, we return the rights of making these choices back to Him. We place ourselves in total surrender to His will.
Passion and purity
Been reading this book Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot and God really touched my heart and encouraged me a lot through this book this week.
IKDG is really a 21st century version of this book.
And I'm still in awe at how Jim and Elisabeth Elliot lived their lives in complete obedience to God.
Just reading about their courtship and romance inspires me even more.
So much truth and wisdom in this book.
Through affairs of the heart God uncovers our true intentions: "... whether or no it was in your heart to keep My commandments. He humbled you and made you hungry; then He fed you on manna..."
But it was not manna the people wanted.It was leeks and onions and garlic.It was meat and bread, wine and oil, ordinary food.
So it is with us.
We're created men and women. If Adam needed Eve and she was made for him, isn't it natural, then, isn't it altogether fitting and proper, that men and women should hunger for each other?
It is natural indeed. However its not the only thing God has in mind for us. We are not meant to live merely by what is natural.
We need to learnt to live by the supernatural.
Ordinary fare will not fill the emptiness in our hearts. Bread will not suffice.
We need extraordinary fare. We need manna.
How else will we learn to eat it, if we are never hungry?
How educate our tastes for heavenly things, if we are surfeited with earthly?
My heart was saying," Lord take away this longing, or give me that for which I long." The Lord was answering," I must teach you to long for something better."
The custom of "going steady" is another form that impatience takes. The couple are not ready for marriage or even for the public commitment that engagement ought to entail, but neither are they ready to leave each other in God's hands," in the sublime keeping of the general and unspecific belief that God is answering our prayers in His own time and way."
Each clutches at the other, fearful lest he/she "get away".
Unless a man is prepared to ask a woman to be his wife, what right has he to claim her exclusive attention?
Unless she has been asked to marry him, why would a sensible woman promise any man her exclusive attention?
If, when the time has come for a commitment, he is not man enough to ask her to marry him, she should give him no reason to presume that she belongs to him.
"But I don't think I can do that, I'm not the strong type."
Whoever asked you to use your own strength?
IKDG is really a 21st century version of this book.
And I'm still in awe at how Jim and Elisabeth Elliot lived their lives in complete obedience to God.
Just reading about their courtship and romance inspires me even more.
So much truth and wisdom in this book.
Through affairs of the heart God uncovers our true intentions: "... whether or no it was in your heart to keep My commandments. He humbled you and made you hungry; then He fed you on manna..."
But it was not manna the people wanted.It was leeks and onions and garlic.It was meat and bread, wine and oil, ordinary food.
So it is with us.
We're created men and women. If Adam needed Eve and she was made for him, isn't it natural, then, isn't it altogether fitting and proper, that men and women should hunger for each other?
It is natural indeed. However its not the only thing God has in mind for us. We are not meant to live merely by what is natural.
We need to learnt to live by the supernatural.
Ordinary fare will not fill the emptiness in our hearts. Bread will not suffice.
We need extraordinary fare. We need manna.
How else will we learn to eat it, if we are never hungry?
How educate our tastes for heavenly things, if we are surfeited with earthly?
My heart was saying," Lord take away this longing, or give me that for which I long." The Lord was answering," I must teach you to long for something better."
The custom of "going steady" is another form that impatience takes. The couple are not ready for marriage or even for the public commitment that engagement ought to entail, but neither are they ready to leave each other in God's hands," in the sublime keeping of the general and unspecific belief that God is answering our prayers in His own time and way."
Each clutches at the other, fearful lest he/she "get away".
Unless a man is prepared to ask a woman to be his wife, what right has he to claim her exclusive attention?
Unless she has been asked to marry him, why would a sensible woman promise any man her exclusive attention?
If, when the time has come for a commitment, he is not man enough to ask her to marry him, she should give him no reason to presume that she belongs to him.
"But I don't think I can do that, I'm not the strong type."
Whoever asked you to use your own strength?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
his conviction
So I started reading IKDG again, for the 7th time.
And amazingly, I'm still getting stuff out of it.
Really an incredible book.
After I first read it and decided that that was the way I wanted to go about my love life, I still had some middle ground.
I didn't really feel strongly about friends telling me "well, thats good for you, but I think this kind of thing depends on the person. This type of style is not suitable for me. Really."
But now somehow this week when I was reading it again and thinking deeper.
What kind of statement is that?
Complete faith and obedience is not a "good thing to have or do" with God.
Its a requirement!!!
God expects that from us!
and anything less than complete obedience and faith, is well, not really trusting God.
Our lack of faith in God is always on display for all to see whenever we choose to take things out of God's hands and into our own.
We really need your help here Father.
And amazingly, I'm still getting stuff out of it.
Really an incredible book.
After I first read it and decided that that was the way I wanted to go about my love life, I still had some middle ground.
I didn't really feel strongly about friends telling me "well, thats good for you, but I think this kind of thing depends on the person. This type of style is not suitable for me. Really."
But now somehow this week when I was reading it again and thinking deeper.
What kind of statement is that?
Complete faith and obedience is not a "good thing to have or do" with God.
Its a requirement!!!
God expects that from us!
and anything less than complete obedience and faith, is well, not really trusting God.
Our lack of faith in God is always on display for all to see whenever we choose to take things out of God's hands and into our own.
We really need your help here Father.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
His comfort (2)
Being in the army, I hear almost everyday about what "makes a man".
Being at your physical peak, going through jungles and enduring much 'hardship' and 'testing'. Earning your stripes and completing your rite of passage to transform from "boys to men".
I wondered, what does God think "makes a man"?
In His eyes, when have we truly grown up?
Specifically for myself, I still occasionally doubt my decision to have such extreme stands on many issues, especially dating and courtship.
Afterall, there's always this voice in my head telling me:
" You're only 21! This is supposed to be the most fun period of your life! These are years you're NEVER gonna get back Scuter! Go have fun, do what you want, live your life! You sure you really wanna wait until you're in your mid twenties before you think about dating? Where's the fun in that anymore?? You'll be older and expected to be more mature, the adrenaline rush of romance and all that would have died down! It can never compare to what you can experience now! There're so many things you can do now that you will not be able to do next time! You're gonna miss out on SO MUCH dude!"
Yes, I do hear that voice quite a lot.
Fortunately for me it is our actions are more important to God than our thoughts =P
How to answer that voice?
I prayed, and prayed, and prayed, and prayed.
Then sure enough, His answer came (:
"Scuter, how many of your friends drink alcohol?"
Errrr... almost all of them?
"Then, how many of them enjoy drinking alcohol?"
Ermm... almost all of them? If not why would they still be drinking right?
"What do you think about this whole drinking alcohol thing?"
Hmmm, I'm okay with it, doesn't make much of a difference to me whether I drink or not.
"So now that I have removed your ability to drink alcohol, how do you feel about it?"
Nothing much, as I said, not much of a difference to me.
Cos I know that You love me, and that whatever You do, its to protect me and for my benefit, even if I can't see the reason why at present.
"You don't feel that you're missing out on something really good? That everyone around you is enjoying?"
Nope.
"Is BGR any different than that to you now?"
Hmmm.
Good point.
Why am I worrying and thinking about what I'm missing and what I can't get back, or what could have been?
Every time I allow my heart to go in this direction, I'm conveniently choosing to negate or forget what I have gained at present and from God's provision.
Why worry?
With God, there is everything good to gain, and nothing bad to lose.
But even then, that will not make the voice go away.
What makes a man?
Honoring His voice above what our own body/heart wants.
Having a God-fearing heart.
Having a God-loving heart.
When the spirit has overcome the flesh, now we're talking.
Being at your physical peak, going through jungles and enduring much 'hardship' and 'testing'. Earning your stripes and completing your rite of passage to transform from "boys to men".
I wondered, what does God think "makes a man"?
In His eyes, when have we truly grown up?
Specifically for myself, I still occasionally doubt my decision to have such extreme stands on many issues, especially dating and courtship.
Afterall, there's always this voice in my head telling me:
" You're only 21! This is supposed to be the most fun period of your life! These are years you're NEVER gonna get back Scuter! Go have fun, do what you want, live your life! You sure you really wanna wait until you're in your mid twenties before you think about dating? Where's the fun in that anymore?? You'll be older and expected to be more mature, the adrenaline rush of romance and all that would have died down! It can never compare to what you can experience now! There're so many things you can do now that you will not be able to do next time! You're gonna miss out on SO MUCH dude!"
Yes, I do hear that voice quite a lot.
Fortunately for me it is our actions are more important to God than our thoughts =P
How to answer that voice?
I prayed, and prayed, and prayed, and prayed.
Then sure enough, His answer came (:
"Scuter, how many of your friends drink alcohol?"
Errrr... almost all of them?
"Then, how many of them enjoy drinking alcohol?"
Ermm... almost all of them? If not why would they still be drinking right?
"What do you think about this whole drinking alcohol thing?"
Hmmm, I'm okay with it, doesn't make much of a difference to me whether I drink or not.
"So now that I have removed your ability to drink alcohol, how do you feel about it?"
Nothing much, as I said, not much of a difference to me.
Cos I know that You love me, and that whatever You do, its to protect me and for my benefit, even if I can't see the reason why at present.
"You don't feel that you're missing out on something really good? That everyone around you is enjoying?"
Nope.
"Is BGR any different than that to you now?"
Hmmm.
Good point.
Why am I worrying and thinking about what I'm missing and what I can't get back, or what could have been?
Every time I allow my heart to go in this direction, I'm conveniently choosing to negate or forget what I have gained at present and from God's provision.
Why worry?
With God, there is everything good to gain, and nothing bad to lose.
But even then, that will not make the voice go away.
What makes a man?
Honoring His voice above what our own body/heart wants.
Having a God-fearing heart.
Having a God-loving heart.
When the spirit has overcome the flesh, now we're talking.
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