My journey...
Monday, May 18, 2009
Looking for a job?
I read in the Singapore Straits Times, about how much church workers earn and that one of the church employee earn $500,000 last year. Their church could raise in one Sunday $19 Million for their church building. Who says that the Kingdom of God is poor and those who work for His kingdom often are called the "poor church mouse". I guess the church mouse in this church are far from poor. If you go to their website, they seem to be hiring. Unfortunately, no job positions which I can apply for :(
Sunday, May 17, 2009
My "further education"
I have been contemplating for a long time whether to continue on with my further studies in The Seminary. It has been two years since I have stopped and just could not make myself to continue on. But at last, I have finally decided it was time I pursue this and I am so glad that I did. I took "Biblical Interpretation" taught by Dr Lim Kar Yong and it was so good. It gave me a new passion for the Word. Seriously, the bible is so much more interesting. I salute all you Biblical scholars out there. You who have spent hours and hours doing reserch just so ordinary folks like me could pick off your "Brain".
This class we learnt exegetical methods, looked at historical cultural context and how it influences your veiw in reading the bible, applications etc. I must admit, the terms are very confusing and sometimes, most times mind blowing. But the result that you get is worth it. To find out the real meaning behind what the author intended when he was writing the book and the cultural and historical background. Really makes you see the word in a different light.
Dr.Lim made the class so interesting and often it was like listening to a sermon rather than teaching. Maybe that is his way of teaching. It is people like him that encourages me to grow deeper in my theology understanding. They inspire me. Hee hee. He has a blog. All theologeans seem to blog.
This class we learnt exegetical methods, looked at historical cultural context and how it influences your veiw in reading the bible, applications etc. I must admit, the terms are very confusing and sometimes, most times mind blowing. But the result that you get is worth it. To find out the real meaning behind what the author intended when he was writing the book and the cultural and historical background. Really makes you see the word in a different light.
Dr.Lim made the class so interesting and often it was like listening to a sermon rather than teaching. Maybe that is his way of teaching. It is people like him that encourages me to grow deeper in my theology understanding. They inspire me. Hee hee. He has a blog. All theologeans seem to blog.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
What's the Use of Religion?
I read one of the comments an old friend of mine made on facebook. "Organised religion is for people who fear going to hell. Spirituality is for people who have gone to hell and back". She has had a tough life. She was a Christian but I guess the church was not with her in her time of need or crisis. It is so sad for someone who came from an "Organised religion" background to make such a comment. Where is the community and the love that we are to show? The people whom we are to embrace? Sometimes we tend to focus too much on evangelism that we are proud of the number of people we have in the church but what are we doing with the people who are already in the church? Do we even care for their well being? Do we even know where they live? Of course we know if they are single or married. That is the first thing people check out. Then of course the church members would "match make" the single with another. But do we know his/her struggles?
Often when someone is struggling, we would just push them to another "counselor" cause it is her job and never to embrace the person again until the person is "whole".
The other day, a friend of mine called me to say that he discovered that his cat (Bless him for owning a cat), delivered kittens but he found them all dead in the house. He was so upset. Me in my auto mode immediately tried to comfort him by saying "Try to look at the bright side". Such a cliche thing to say. Then after that try to avoid the subject altogether. Then I realised all this person needed was someone to hear him and to share his sorrows. To understand where he is and to have someone listen to him. We are quick to give answers in church and often not the solution that they are looking for. But we think we have "done our Job". Never wanting to give up that which is the most important to a hurting person. Time and love and acceptance.
Do we even dare to look outward if the inward is slipping away. It is like saying "God, I have another soul saved for you. Heaven must be rejoicing" but meanwhile, 10 more slip away through the back. I need to make a conscious afford to listen and to love. It is definitely not easy but it is definitely what Christ would want for us to do. Religion is not so that we fear to go to hell. It is about our journey of faith and obedience. It is about bringing hope to those who feel that they are living "hell" on earth. Showing them the Kingdom. Being His hands and His feet. God help me.
Often when someone is struggling, we would just push them to another "counselor" cause it is her job and never to embrace the person again until the person is "whole".
The other day, a friend of mine called me to say that he discovered that his cat (Bless him for owning a cat), delivered kittens but he found them all dead in the house. He was so upset. Me in my auto mode immediately tried to comfort him by saying "Try to look at the bright side". Such a cliche thing to say. Then after that try to avoid the subject altogether. Then I realised all this person needed was someone to hear him and to share his sorrows. To understand where he is and to have someone listen to him. We are quick to give answers in church and often not the solution that they are looking for. But we think we have "done our Job". Never wanting to give up that which is the most important to a hurting person. Time and love and acceptance.
Do we even dare to look outward if the inward is slipping away. It is like saying "God, I have another soul saved for you. Heaven must be rejoicing" but meanwhile, 10 more slip away through the back. I need to make a conscious afford to listen and to love. It is definitely not easy but it is definitely what Christ would want for us to do. Religion is not so that we fear to go to hell. It is about our journey of faith and obedience. It is about bringing hope to those who feel that they are living "hell" on earth. Showing them the Kingdom. Being His hands and His feet. God help me.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Church camp
I just came back from our church camp. Probably this is one year that I have no expectations of it. Someone asked me so what do you expect out of camp... I cannot even remember what I answered. However, I did enjoy myself and God did speak to me.
I hung out with people whom I do not usually hang out with and it was really good. People whom we see in church but never really talk to. When you look around, you can see family. *sob* *sob*. It's quite a sight. The young and the old... they hung out together.
The message really spoke to me too. Its about intimacy and holiness. Many of us would have felt tired from serving over the years in the church and for some of its its because our serving is out of "duty" and not out of an intimate relationship with God.
There was a challenge to live a holy life. Not to quench the Holy Spirit in us. To watch what we say and do and what we allow into our lives. "Be Holy for He is Holy". We are not completely holy for if we are, as the speaker says, our name will be "GOD". We do however try to be. Not on own own strength but as we become intimate with Him, our character will change. Our mindset will change. It is so hard though... to set a standard for yourself. Especially in this day and age. It is not only about being different. It is about being holy. Being who He wants us to be. We have been too laid back in this matter.
Another thing which I got from the camp is that the purposes and the promises of God never change. That is both a comfort and an assurance. Having gone through so much in the past few years, God is still in control. More and more my confidence and my faith has been increasing. Maybe the wounds are healing. I can see a glimmer of light in the horizon. I have my ideas of what things are suppose to be but those ideas are smashed now. There is an excitement of what is to come. It's like going on one of those rides in movie world or disney land. Not knowing what will come next. It may be a sudden drop or a slow cruise but it will be a ride with Him in control. It does not matter so much what the end will look like anymore as long as the journey is with Him. It was a good camp.
I hung out with people whom I do not usually hang out with and it was really good. People whom we see in church but never really talk to. When you look around, you can see family. *sob* *sob*. It's quite a sight. The young and the old... they hung out together.
The message really spoke to me too. Its about intimacy and holiness. Many of us would have felt tired from serving over the years in the church and for some of its its because our serving is out of "duty" and not out of an intimate relationship with God.
There was a challenge to live a holy life. Not to quench the Holy Spirit in us. To watch what we say and do and what we allow into our lives. "Be Holy for He is Holy". We are not completely holy for if we are, as the speaker says, our name will be "GOD". We do however try to be. Not on own own strength but as we become intimate with Him, our character will change. Our mindset will change. It is so hard though... to set a standard for yourself. Especially in this day and age. It is not only about being different. It is about being holy. Being who He wants us to be. We have been too laid back in this matter.
Another thing which I got from the camp is that the purposes and the promises of God never change. That is both a comfort and an assurance. Having gone through so much in the past few years, God is still in control. More and more my confidence and my faith has been increasing. Maybe the wounds are healing. I can see a glimmer of light in the horizon. I have my ideas of what things are suppose to be but those ideas are smashed now. There is an excitement of what is to come. It's like going on one of those rides in movie world or disney land. Not knowing what will come next. It may be a sudden drop or a slow cruise but it will be a ride with Him in control. It does not matter so much what the end will look like anymore as long as the journey is with Him. It was a good camp.
