Saturday, December 19, 2009

Merry Christmas

Would like to wish every one Merry Christmas to everyone. May God continually pour out His blessings unto you!
Isaac

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Undignified

Wonderful song. We sang it in children conference and youth camp.


Saturday, December 5, 2009

Updates

It has been more than a month here in Sandakan. Basically I am superb busy. I just came back from two Children Camp. One in Kudat and another in KK. It was a great great and amazing week. God has not only ministered to the children, but also to myself. The atmosphere was so great that I really sense the strong presence of God. I can never imagine that God can use children to minister to me.

Came back Sandakan and start busying with installing the new projector in the hall. I really thank God for the experience that I've gained in Labuan. Although in the process, I am not happy with the person-in-charge who push all the responsibility to me and some people who just think that their work is always important, I thank God that He gave me peace in handling each task with wisdom especially my emotion. I did become a 'bad guy' in the process. Pretending and ignoring the responsibilities. I did this is not because I do not want to do the task, but is because I do not want to do it alone anymore. I did this because I want them to see that we must work together and not pushing away the responsibility!

Two more days I will be in KK for a youth camp. Received a task to do a teaching on the book of Mark. I really prayed hard and preparing for the best. I really need God who is the source of the wisdom. I hope I will be blessed through this camp again!

Thats all for the updates. I will upload the photo asap.
Isaac

Thursday, November 19, 2009

I know who holds tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Refrain
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Ev'ry step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;
Ev'ry burden's getting lighter;
Ev'ry cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eyes,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.

Refrain
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.

Refrain
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

God's blessings

I have been here for 2 weeks. One thing that God is teaching me is simplicity, the basic needs in life. Yesterday I went out to have lunch with the youth workers. On our journey, they shared how they struggle in their finance and looking for free food (left over food from the kindergarten). Then I asked a question, "Why God's servant has to struggle with all these and eat "inferior" foods? Where is God's blessing?" Then one of the youth workers said, "God's blessing is not the type of food that we eat, but is how God make our stomach full." This simple words really spoke to me and really understand that God bless to our priority needs first before what we want.

Blessings,
Isaac

Thursday, November 5, 2009

The Past

Few days ago, I've been thinking of my past, especially the mistakes that I've done. One question came to my mind, what's went wrong? Sometime I feel very innocent. People can reject you just because you are good, you have the zeal for God and etc. I think my biggest pain in my life is when someone used you as a transition for their life to get their comfort. Once they are sure with their current situation, they reject you. As I think back, the scar was there and I still can feel the hurt. I will think am I a "water bag"? Every past has a lesson to be learned. Probably I am naive that time. Everything is perfect. Failure in the past should shaped our life. Failure only truly becomes a failure when do not learn from it. I thank God that all these failures in the past has drawn me close to God, shaped my life, character and my attitude.

As we go on with our life, we should bring what we have learned from our past, not the past itself. I am writing this blog not because I am emo-ing or what, but sometime we just can avoid that the past will come into your mind. I just want to find a place to express.

Isaac

Monday, November 2, 2009

Sandakan Day 3

I'm now in Sandakan for the third day. I reached here on Saturday at 1pm. One day before I came here, I felt a bit stressfull and felt that this place is a foreign place. There was uncertainties. But God is amazing in His own way. Sandakan people make you feel at home. They are welcoming.

I am exposed mostly in Chinese ministry. It is a funny feeling when I saw the culture here. Hakka and Cantonese are their main dialect. So I have to improve my Hakka and Cantonese to "cari makan" here. Though I am Hakka, but I can't really speak in a formal way. I feel odd. I really need wisdom in this area. One funny things came in my mind was, how can Cantonese and Hakka are together if we know their history. They are rivals. But God is awesome. We can never think what He is doing.

I hope I won't gain my weight more here since the food here are cheap! Imagine pork ribs rice at RM4.50? hahaha.

I'm also will be going to Kudat for a Children Camp there. I wish to go Kudat for long time because I wanted to go to the Tip of Borneo.

That's all for updates.
Isaac

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Year 1 Ended

I've finished my first year in STM. I went through a lot of struggles such as assignments, character building, communication skills and etc. I thank God that each difficulties I went through with Him. My life here has helped me especially in building up my character. Things that I've learned in lecture is very dry, spiritually dry, because it is just knowledge. But how to make it not dry is using the knowledge and apply it in our daily life.

Sometimes I struggle with the things I've learned. I realized when I understood something, it doesn't makes my relationship with God become more intimate. The only thing I know is "wow!" or " I see!". Though cognitively I know that God is great, but my heart does not have that conviction.

I have to admit that my faith level has gone down so much. Each day I worry more. Things that helped me to see that God is great or brings assurance that God will provide doesn't helped me in my faith in God. It is all just cognitive. I do not mean to talk negative about the knowledge that I've gain, but indeed it gave me some enlightenement. What I want to share through out the year is that I am spiritually dry.

How I overcome? I think, constant relating with God helps me not to get myself into spiritual dryness. Constant praying, reading the word(sometime I feel guilty that I read more history book than the Bible) and fellowship and serving with one another. Indeed, through out the year, God has never failed me in the difficulties that I've met. I might not be the best student in my GPA, that is not my aim. My aim is to continue glorify his name through my study. God spoke one thing clearly to me, "How can I not take seriously in studying God's word?" One question leads me to a lot of changes. I really thank God for this.

One last thing is keeping touch with the Spirit of God. When I read 1John, I was captured by the word, dwell or abide. That the Spirit of God abides in us. And in 1John also says that who can know what God wants to do unless God's Spirit himself. Therefore, if God's Spirit did not abide in us, how can we know we are doing His will? I noticed the importance of keep in touch with the Spirit.

One thing I always keep in my mind during my studies. I always remembered what Bishop said to me or advice me, "Study with Passion." This has help me to focus through out the year.

Isaac

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

when imperfect meets the perfect.

I was reflecting on what John Piper wrote in his book.

Anytime some weakness or bad habit in our lives is exposed by contrast to someone else's goodness, instead of dealing with the weakness or the bad habit, we keep away from those whose lives make us feel defective. We don't kill them. We avoid them. Or worse, we find ways to criticize them so as to neutralize the part of their lives that was making us convicted. We feel like the best to nullify someone's good point is to draw attention to his bad point. And so we protect ourselves from whatever good he might be for us. - John Piper

I find this sound so chinese.:D

Isaac

Friday, October 9, 2009

Exegesis vs. Eisegesis

I am still doing my Exegesis on my 1Corinthians. Many things to write, but still struggling with the flow. Put this article to remind myself not to do Eisegesis.

Question: "What is the difference between exegesis and eisegesis?"

Answer:
Exegesis and eisegesis are two conflicting approaches in Bible study. Exegesis is the exposition or explanation of a text based on a careful, objective analysis. The word exegesis literally means “to lead out of.” That means that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text.

The opposite approach to Scripture is eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading. The word eisegesis literally means “to lead into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants.

Obviously, only exegesis does justice to the text. Eisegesis is a mishandling of the text and often leads to a misinterpretation. Exegesis is concerned with discovering the true meaning of the text, respecting its grammar, syntax, and setting. Eisegesis is concerned only with making a point, even at the expense of the meaning of words.

Second Timothy 2:15 commands us to use exegetical methods: “Present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” An honest student of the Bible will be an exegete, allowing the text to speak for itself. Eisegesis easily lends itself to error, as the would-be interpreter attempts to align the text with his own preconceived notions. Exegesis allows us to agree with the Bible; eisegesis seeks to force the Bible to agree with us.

The process of exegesis involves 1) observation: what does the passage say? 2) interpretation: what does the passage mean? 3) correlation: how does the passage relate to the rest of the Bible? and 4) application: how should this passage affect my life?

Eisegesis, on the other hand, involves 1) imagination: what idea do I want to present? 2) exploration: what Scripture passage seems to fit with my idea? and 3) application: what does my idea mean? Notice that, in eisegesis, there is no examination of the words of the text or their relationship to each other, no cross-referencing with related passages, and no real desire to understand the actual meaning. Scripture serves only as a prop to the interpreter’s idea.

To illustrate, let’s use both approaches in the treatment of one passage:

2 Chronicles 27:1-2
“Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. . . . He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD.”

EISEGESIS
First, the interpreter decides on a topic. Today, it’s “The Importance of Church Attendance.” The interpreter reads 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 and sees that King Jotham was a good king, just like his father Uzziah had been, except for one thing: he didn’t go to the temple! This passage seems to fit his idea, so he uses it. The resulting sermon deals with the need for passing on godly values from one generation to the next. Just because King Uzziah went to the temple every week didn’t mean that his son would continue the practice. In the same way, many young people today tragically turn from their parents’ training, and church attendance drops off. The sermon ends with a question: “How many blessings did Jotham fail to receive, simply because he neglected church?”

Certainly, there is nothing wrong with preaching about church attendance or the transmission of values. And a cursory reading of 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 seems to support that passage as an apt illustration. However, the above interpretation is totally wrong. For Jotham not to go to the temple was not wrong; in fact, it was very good, as the proper approach to the passage will show.

EXEGESIS
First, the interpreter reads the passage and, to fully understand the context, he reads the histories of both Uzziah and Jotham (2 Chronicles 26-27; 2 Kings 15:1-6, 32-38). In his observation, he discovers that King Uzziah was a good king who nevertheless disobeyed the Lord when he went to the temple and offered incense on the altar—something only a priest had the right to do (2 Chronicles 26:16-20). Uzziah’s pride and his contamination of the temple resulted in his having “leprosy until the day he died” (2 Chronicles 26:21).

Needing to know why Uzziah spent the rest of his life in isolation, the interpreter studies Leviticus 13:46 and does some research on leprosy. Then he compares the use of illness as a punishment in other passages, such as 2 Kings 5:27; 2 Chronicles 16:12; and 21:12-15.

By this time, the exegete understands something important: when the passage says Jotham “did not enter the temple of the LORD,” it means he did not did not repeat his father’s mistake. Uzziah had proudly usurped the priest’s office; Jotham was more obedient.

The resulting sermon might deal with the Lord’s discipline of His children, with the blessing of total obedience, or with our need to learn from the mistakes of the past rather than repeat them.

Of course, exegesis takes more time than eisegesis. But if we are to be those unashamed workmen “who correctly handle the word of truth,” then we must take the time to truly understand the text. Exegesis is the only way.


Don't Read into the context
Isaac

Monday, October 5, 2009

Year end placement

I've received my official letter for my year end practical. So, here I am Sandakan! I've only been to Sandakan twice. I'll be posted to Church of Good Sheperd, COGS, not COHS anymore..haha..

I am anxious about it. I have the feeling that I will be posted to Sandakan, either St. Michael or COGS.. So, I can only pray that God will prepare my heart to serve him in bigger capacity.

All I can say as a GOOD ANGLICAN is, SO HELP ME GOD

Isaac

Friday, September 25, 2009

Are we following the pattern of the world?

Had a good talk with my friend in australia. We were talking about how much starbucks coffee actually cost. Fyi, we found out that it only cost only AUD0.05 and they charged us at AUD 3-4. imagine the profit that they earned.

In our talk, one thing came to my mind, are we as church or christian following the pattern of the world? I observed that most of our approach is using the modified world ads. I believe you all have seen the ads on "I'm a Christian vs I'm Christ's follower" using the Mac vs Windows theme video, the t-shirt on coca-cola modified to Jesus Christ and etc. Thing that in my mind is, are we not creative enough?

In term of church management, why we must follow toyota management. We know they have the best management. Six Sigma, price of a product should be determined by the market and etc.

Can we as Christian come out with our own "product"?

Monday, September 21, 2009

Forest Gump

One of my favorites movie is Forest Gump. After watching this videos explaining the visual graphic, I was amazed with the technology during 1994. And when I re-watch this movie again, I can see clearly the effects in this movie. Some part are fake. Amazing!











Isaac

Thursday, September 17, 2009

RM 54

This is crap man! I've been trying to book my ticket to go back to Tawau since last night. Thank God for STM connection! I can't book it (I thought I can't), for the RM39 tickect. I din't know that the booking was successful and stored in my account and waiting for my payment.

So this morning, I tried to book again. The RM39 ticket was still there. I tried and tried. But the connection was really bad! I refreshed the page and book the same ticket. And it increased to RM54. CRAP!!!! Thank you STM! RM15 is a price for a lamb chop! RM15, can be my 4 meals in Seremban. And many other things I can do with RM15!! Sorry, I am a typical CHINESE here.


ps: I post this just to express my feeling.


Monday, September 14, 2009

Light Phenomena

I posted some pictures in my FB. I thought those pictures was an unusual phenomena that had happened in Labuan two years back. But Rabbi said is a common one. So I check it out. It is common. And this is what I've got.

Corona
The Corona is a type of plasma atmosphere that surrounds a celestial body and the most famous example is the sun’s which is visible during a total solar eclipse. It extends thousands of kilometers into space and contains ionized Iron at temperatures of almost 1 millionº C (1.8 millionº F). During an eclipse its shining light surrounds the darkened sun, an appearance from which its name is taken, derived from the Latin for ‘crown’.

Crepuscular Rays
When darkly clouded regions or permeable obstacles such as tree branches filter the sun’s beam, rays of sunlight appear as straight columns radiating from a single point in the sky. The phenomenon, often used in horror movies, is most commonly seen at dawn or dusk and can even be witnessed under the ocean as the sun shines through sheets of cracked ice. This beautiful scene was captured at the Arches National Park in Utah.

Fata Morgana (Mirage)
The interaction between cold air near ground level and warm air immediately above it may act as a refracting lens and produce an upside down image of objects on the horizon, over which the actual image appears to hover. In this picture, taken in Thuringia, Germany, the horizon in the distance seems to have vanished leaving the furthest posts floating in mid-air, however the blue part of the road is merely a reflection of the sky above it. The common perception that mirages are entirely non-existent images that appear to those lost in the desert is a misnomer, probably confused with the effects of extreme dehydration which can cause hallucinations. Mirages are always of real objects, although it is true they can appear closer due to the effect.

Light Pillar
The reflection of light by ice crystals with almost perfect horizontal planar surfaces creates a powerful beam that is reminiscent of sci-fi movies. The light source may be the sun, moon or artificial light and an interesting characteristic is that the pillar will take on the colour of this source – in the image taken in Kaijonharju, Finland, the orange sunlight of dusk creates a similarly coloured magnificent pillar.

Aurora
The collision of electronically charged particles in the earth’s upper atmosphere often creates magnificent light displays over the polar regions. The colour depends on the elemental content of the particles – most auroras appear green or red due to oxygen, however nitrogen sometimes creates a deep blue or violet appearance.

Contrails
The vapour trails that follow aircraft through the sky cause stunning man-made patterns in the atmosphere. They are created by either aircraft exhaust or airflow over wingtip vortices as it emerges into cold temperatures at high altitudes and condenses into water and ice droplets. In this example a flurry of trails crisscrosses the sky creating an intricate pattern.

Rocket Exhaust Trails
High altitude winds contort the trails of rockets and their small exhaust particles diffract sunlight into vivid iridescent colours, sometimes carried by the same winds thousands of kilometres before dissipating. The image shows the trails of the Minotaur rocket launched from the US Air Force Base at Vandenberg, California.

Sky Polarisation
The sky, like many other things around us, scatters polarised light consisting of a certain electromagnetic orientation. Polarization is always perpendicular to the light path itself and if only a single polarization direction is present in the light, the light is said to be linearly polarized. This image was captured with a wide-angle polarised filter lens to show just how spectacular the electromagnetic charge of the skies are.

Star Trails
Not technically visible to the naked eye this breathtaking image was captured by leaving a camera with a shutter opening of over an hour at night. The natural rotation of the earth causes the stars in the sky to move across the horizon, creating these wonderful trails behind them. The only star in the night sky that appears stationary at all times is Polaris, the North Star, which hovers above the celestial North. The same would be true in the south but there is no star bright enough over it.

Zodiacal Light
A faint triangular glow seen in the night sky extending up towards the heavens, the Zodiacal light is easily masked by light pollution or moonlight. It is produced when sunlight reflects off dust particles in the cosmos, known as cosmic dust and consequently its spectrum is the same as the solar system. Solar radiation causes the dust particles to spiral slowly, creating a majestic constellation of delicately sprinkled lights in the sky

Circumhorizontal Arc
Also known as a ‘fire rainbow’ these streaks of colour are created when light is refracted through ice crystals in cirrus clouds. The phenomenon is especially rare as both the ice crystals and sun must be oriented in exact horizontal alignment to create the effect. This particularly dramatic example was captured in the sky over Spokane, WA, in 2006.

Brocken Spectre
As the sun shines from behind a climber or other object at altitude their shadow is projected through the upper surfaces of clouds, creating a curiously magnified triangular shape. The effect is often seen in conjunction with the glowing rings of a glory (Heiligenschein) – rings of coloured light that appear directly opposite the sun when sunlight is reflected by a cloud of uniformly-sized water droplets. It takes its name from the frequent fogs and low-altitude accessibility of the Brocken peaks in Germany, a region in which it is often witnessed.



Circumzenithal Arc
Appearing like an ‘upside down rainbow’ the circumzenithal arc is similarly formed by the refraction of light through horizontal ice crystals in specific cloud forms. The phenomenon is centered at the zenith, parallel to the horizon, its colours running from blue to red towards the horizon and always in the form of an incomplete circular arc – a complete circle in a similar situation is the exceptionally rare Kern Arc, only captured on camera for the first time in 2007.

Fog Bow
This dramatic halo was seen below the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, appearing like an all-white rainbow. Like a rainbow it is created by the refraction of light through water droplets in the clouds, yet the unlike a rainbow the small size of fog droplets accounts for its lack of colour. Mariners often refer to them as ‘sea-dogs’ or ‘cloud bows’.

Glory
When light is backscattered (a combination of reflection, refraction and diffraction) back towards its source by water droplets in clouds, the shadow of an object between the cloud and source may be wreathed in coloured bands. Named after the majestic effect it imparts – in some parts of China it is even called Buddha’s Light – it is often seen in conjunction with the Brocken Spectre. Here the beautiful bands dramatically surround a plane’s shadow against a cloud.

22º Halo (This is what I saw in Labuan two years back)
Halos are among the most well-known of optical phenomena and appear under a variety of guises. The most frequently scene is the 22º halo, caused by ice crystals in high altitude cirrus clouds, yet the particular shape and orientation of the crystals can create variation in the appearance of the halo. During very cold weather halos formed by crystals close to the ground reflect sunlight between them sending it in several directions at once, an effect known as diamond dust.

Iridescent Clouds
When the sun is positioned at precisely the correct angle behind clouds water droplets in them diffract light away, creating an intense streaking effect. The colouring is, like a rainbow, caused by the differing wavelengths of the light – different wavelengths are diffracted to different degrees, altering the angle of diffraction and consequently the colour of the light as it is perceived. In this image cloud iridescence is accompanied by a sharply coloured ranbow.

Moonbow
The combination of a low moon and dark sky often creates moonbows, essentially rainbows produced by the moon’s light. Appearing in the opposite end of the sky to the moon itself, they usually are seen as completely white due to their weak colouring, however long-exposure photography can capture the true colours, as in this example taken at Yosemite National Park, California.

Parhelic Circle
The parhelic circle appears like a white band circling the sky and always at the same height above the horizon as the sun. Usually only fragments are seen, extending from ‘sundogs’ in the directions away from the sun. Millions of vertically facing ice crystals mirror the sun around the sky to form the beautiful phenomenon.

Rainbows
Rainbows can take many forms: multiple bows, bows that cross, red bows, twinned bows, coloured fringes, dark bands, spokes and many more, but they all share in common their range of colours – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. They are formed when light refracts through water droplets in the earth’s atmosphere, most often rain, but mist or fog can create similar effects, and are rarer than one might imagine. Over history many different cultures have ascribed to them a variety of meanings and explanations from the ancient Greek’s belief they were a path to the heavens, to the curious saying that the Irish leprechaun’s pot of gold lies at their end.


Isaac



I wish

Many things I've desire to have it. But when all these things control you, then you will start to have disappointment when you pray and God did not answers your prayers. Do we have the spirit of covetousness when we pray for the things that we wish?

I wish to have a MacBook. This is my prayer since beginning of the year. Most of the time, I feel so disappointed and see that the hope for this one fades. Sometimes my prayer for this has become a demand for God that He must bless me. I desire this more than Jesus. No wonder I can't sense the satisfaction eventhough I understand that having God is everything!


I wish I could have an I-Phone.
I wish I can have a DLSR Nikon!



How good is it that you receive all these things once in a present box. I wish I wish and I wish. I've been reminded again to do check-balance. Where is God when I desire these things. No wonder desire can cause unsatisfactory or dukkha (I'm in the midst of doing my Buddhism assignment). No wonder all these things can corrupt a person in coveteousness. It corrupts our relationship with God. If our faith is based on blessing, then it will be dangerous. If our faith based on miracle, it too will be dangerous.

How to live a simple faith in this complex world?

When we do not have the things we want, the world corrupts us with coveteousness. And when we have the things we want, the world corrupts us with pride!
Isaac

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Why do you have to be like others?

I've just gone through tough times past few weeks. It affects me until the extend of not doing my devotion, pray, read the bible and spent time with God. I just felt angry and dissatisfy with the things happened to me. Things surrounding me are unfair to me. I compared myself with other people. I asked God, "Am I that bad?" even to the point I told God, "Did you forgive me? If not why you din't answer my prayer, my needs?"

It's a dilemma to me on the other hand as I studying His words and yet I do not want to have relationship with Him. It was a hard time to me. It was a struggle. I even come to point take it academicly rather than spiritually.

I adviced people not to compare, but I myself compared myself to other people. Comparing to other people can really lead us complain to God that we not have enough. Indeed it is human nature that we can never be satisfied with what we have. We want more and more. We desire more. Desire is really a dangerous thing. I still haven't overcome my desire to have good stuff, as I still not satisfy with things I have not, and I will never be satisfy. I read this book by John Piper, he quoted from 1 John 2: 16 which tells me whether I am from the Father or not. "For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world."

I really want to desire the feeling of desiring Jesus and be fully satisfy with it. It is hard to me eventhough I understand it. I need to experience it. My question is always, "how Lord?" Until now I still searching for it.

One of the answers that convicted me is this question, "Why do you have to be like others?" It is amazing that God can speaks to you eventhough you are trying to ignore him. Yes, why do I have to be like others. Why must I compare with others? Though the amount of blessings I received from others is deifferent, but the amount of grace we receive is the same, that is the price that was paid on the cross.

If we say we are special, comparism shouldn't come in. My life is not built on people's blessings nor also my faith. I really hope that I can find that enlightenment that when I desire Jesus, full satisfaction comes upon me and I can overcome the world!

Would like to end this with a quote from John Piper on how worldly things can corrupt us.

"When we don't have what we want, the world corrupts us with covetousness. And when we do have what we want the world corrupts us with pride."


Isaac

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

090909

Seems like today many students was reluctant to leave canteen. After batling with food issues, finally the canteen get back their reputation. Remember this date 090909, we have our chicken chop as our lunch, and it is delicious!! It was fresh!! Hope this will continue on until I graduate. But pity the final year students that can only taste this for few more weeks.


Isaac

Monday, September 7, 2009

Children can Worship

This video really gave me some inspiration. Children can worship! BUt sadly many churches separate the children from corporate worship. This will be one of my thesis topics. I have many topics in my mind and I am still struggling to choose which one. And next semester I have to think one.

This little boy is singing "I See Grace" from New Creation Church. A church which Ps. Joseph Prince is pastoring.



Children can Worship!
Isaac

Friday, August 28, 2009

21 Century Facts

Got this from Rabbi, an OT lecturer in STM.

21st Century FACTS

Our communication - Wireless

Our phones - Cordless

Our cooking - Fireless

Our food - Fatless

Our sweets - Sugarless

Our labor - Effortless

Our relations - Fruitless

Our attitude - Careless

Our feelings - Heartless

Our politics - Shameless

Our education - Worthless

Our mistakes - Countless

Our arguments - Baseless

Our youth - Jobless

Our ladies - Topless

Our boss - Brainless

Our jobs - Thankless

Our needs - Endless

Our situation - Hopeless

Our salaries - Less and less

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

All gains - one loss - one Christ - who has everything

Philippians 3: 4 -7
4 Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:

5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee,

6 as to zeal a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law blameless.

7 But whatever gain(the list in vv5 - 6, plural) I had, I counted as loss(singular) for the sake of Christ(singular).

Another reflection and partial exegesis for this passage. I was reflecting on this passage during the exegesis class this morning.

It is a meaningful passage as we see how Paul see that he loss everything for Christ's sake. All the list that he made in vv5 - 6, he count it as one loss, for one person's sake, Jesus Christ, whom have everything, more than this world. Notice the bold words. It has a pattern. It goes like this; plural - singular - singular - plural; which means; all gains - one loss - Christ - who has everything.

When we commit ourself to Christ, we cannot count each things as partial loss. For example, I sacrifice my five figure salary as one big loss, friendship, 80% loss and etc. All things come in one package as a loss. Do not ever boast of what you loss for the sake of Christ, but boast on what Christ has done, and what you gain from him inspite of all the losses.

All the things that we achieved, we count as one loss, for Christ who has everything. What a beautiful thing.

Isaac

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Pantene ads

Christ's Humility in Philippians 2:5 - 11

My favorite passage in Philippians.

The Song of Christ Glory

1 Christ Jesus was in the form of God:
but he did not cling to equality with God.

2 He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant:
and was born in our human likeness.

3 Being found in human form he humbled himself:
and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

4 Therefore God has highly exalted him:
and bestowed on him the name above every name,

5 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow:
in heaven and on earth and under the earth;

6 And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord:
to the glory of God the Father.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.


Today's Collect - Pentecost 10 (Trinity 9)

Father of mankind, who gave your only-begotten Son to take upon himself

the form of a servant and to be obedient even to death on the cross: give us

the same mind that was in Christ Jesus that, sharing his humility, we may

come to be with him in his glory; who is alive and reigns with yu and the Holy

Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Love without talking

Wow! Saw this amazing video from FB. What a storyline from the director.
Sorry, the owner has removed the video in YouTube. This is from me.




Isaac

Monday, August 3, 2009

Amos 7:1 - 9

This is what I am doing during my rest time today...hahaha....This only the first two visions. Third vision, to be continue... some transition is not perfect.. so sorry.:D

Isaac

Goodbye Sir Bobby Robson

There you go, another legendary has passed away.

Your memories: Sir Bobby Robson

Former England football manager Sir Bobby Robson has died at the age of 76. He had been suffering from cancer.

He won 20 England caps as a player but he was better known for his achievements as a football manager.

Among the clubs he managed were Newcastle United, Ipswich Town, Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven and Porto.

As England manager he led the team to two World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in 1990.

Here readers share their stories of when they met Sir Bobby Robson.


My late father took me to Fulham to see Bobby play and what a player in the team with Johnny Haynes - what these two players and gentleman they were. We have lost another great man, manager, player, and true Englishman. I will treasure the autograph book signed by all the Fulham team including Bobby's forever.
Ken Broome, Milton Keynes

When Bobby Robson played for West Bromwich Albion he and other team members coached at
Willingworth Secondary School, in Tipton. I was a weedy 12-year-old and during a game Bobby took me to one side and demonstrated how I should tackle. He then took the ball and came towards me saying: "Don't be afraid, get stuck in." I closed my eyes and swung a boot (wooden toe-caps in those days) and caught him on the shin. Unfortunately, I contacted his knee-cap and put him out for two games. Sorry Bobby but I was a Wolves fan.
Stephen Baker, Ilfracombe

I met Sir Bobby when I was mascot for
Ipswich back in 1980. They were playing Coventry at home. I was standing in the tunnel waiting for the players to come out and he came along and talked to me and calmed me down. I was only eight at the time and he was a true gentleman.
Matt Brookes, Chelmsford

My son, aged ten at the time, and I were walking down a corridor behind two corporate boxes at a home match at Norwich City when Mr Robson, who was looking over a possible England contender, was walking the other way. My son and I were looking at the programme's league tables and discussing our current position. Mr Robson stopped and offered his opinion and signed the programme which we still have some 25 years later.
Leon Rose, Norwich

I had the pleasure of meeting Sir Bobby in the mid-80s when I was working for a building society and we used his services to re-open a refurbished branch in Nottingham. He was
England manager then. Our branch manager and I took him for lunch afterwards. I will always remember Bobby's kindness and good humour that day. We've lost a wonderful man. See you in heaven, Bob. You can buy me lunch then.
Richard Simpson, Newcastle upon Tyne

I once interviewed Sir Bobby when I was a junior hack. I could immediately see why footballers wanted to play for him - such an inspirational gent. He even gave me some coaching tips on my interview technique. What a smashing bloke.

D G, Oxford

I met him at the luggage belt of
Newcastle airport during his time as manager of Newcastle. The team had been in London playing Arsenal and the plane was very late back to Newcastle. Even though I told him my dad was a lifelong Arsenal fan and had been at the match, he offered me a lift in one of the team cars to get me safely home in the middle of the night. Thank you. We in Newcastle mourn.
Nicola, Newcastle upon Tyne

My wife and I met Bobby and Elsie on our way back from our honeymoon in
Bangkok. They were such a lovely couple and they pampered us for the three days that we spent at the Bangkok Oriental Hotel. One night they took us out for a meal in a German restaurant and then we went on to Patpong market. It seemed utterly surreal haggling for fake Rolexes along side Bobby. Meeting them was certainly one of the highlights of our trip.
Richard Ellis, Farnham

I was privileged to meet him several years ago. What a gentleman and example of sportsmanship. I asked him about the "hand of God goal" that put
England out of the 1986 World Cup. He said he was not angry at Maradona, just sad for him. He added: "Here was the greatest footballer in the world on the greatest stage in the world with a chance to prove that he was also the greatest sportsman in the world and he blew it." Enough said.
Ian Howard, Swindon

He will be a sad loss to football and had the great pleasure of meeting him the last season he was in charge of
Newcastle at a charity event for the Macmillan Nurses at St. James' Park. My table was near the entrance from the room and as I sat towards the end of the evening with arm draped over a chair, he walked past made eye contact, lifted my hand and shook it, said hello, adding what a great evening it was and hoped I'd enjoyed myself, then said nice to meet you. A memory I will never forget - an honour.
Stuart Morrison, Newcastle upon Tyne

We were in the restaurant of the Copthorne Hotel in
Newcastle when the team were there ahead of a home game. Sir Bobby and Alan Shearer were sat on a table behind us and I am sure should have been talking tactics, but when Sir Bobby saw my then 8-year-old son in his 'Shearer' shirt stopped and invited him over to sit with Alan and himself. He then spent ten minutes talking to him. My son still remembers that as his favourite day and tearfully reminded me of it again today.
Andy, England

Even though we all knew Bobby was ill, his death still comes as a real shock since his passion for football and love of life was such a strong force. I had the privilege of meeting him once at a book signing in
Newcastle just after United had lost the FA Cup Semi Final in 2000. I tried to thank him for bringing us so close to the final but he just apologised for not winning the game and said: "We nearly got it, we were so close." Such a gent, such a genuinely nice guy and a true Geordie legend.
Howard, Newcastle

A few years ago my wife and myself were in the BA lounge at
Newcastle airport when Sir Bobby came in. We had previously seen him checking in and surrounded by well wishers. We said hello but thought he deserved some peace. After about ten minutes he came over to us and we talked for about 40 minutes about his family and his time in Spain. He did not have to do this and we would have fully understood if he had wanted some peace. Sir Bobby was a true gentleman and we were honoured to have met him.
Peter Gray, Northumberland

I shall remember the day I met Sir Bobby Robson for the rest of my life. We were staying at a hotel in
Newcastle as we had travelled up from Devon to watch them play Fulham in March 2008. My husband has been an avid Sir Bobby and Newcastle fan for many years. On the Friday evening, we met him accidently in the hotel foyer. He chatted to us and was such a charming and humble man, interested in us and our lives. He said he was meeting a "mate". We were introduced to the "mate" - Roy Hodgson! [former player and current manager of Fulham].
Julie Elliott, Dartmouth

My daughter asked for money instead of presents for her 13th birthday and donated it to Sir Bobby's cancer charity. He personally signed a
Newcastle shirt for her, and when we met him at a book signing earlier this year (almost a year after her birthday) he even remembered the pattern of the writing paper that she used to write to him. She treasures the shirt and the picture that was taken with him. A real star, he will be hugely missed.
Karen Quinn, Newcastle upon Tyne

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