Thursday, October 26, 2006
Reflection
Thinking is a dying discipline in a society that throbs with activity. How many blessings have I robbed myself of in life for not pausing to think?
Into this rushing lifestyle have come theories on meditation telling us how to think on nothing until we realise we are divine inside. The Bible does not tell us to empty our minds and think nothing but to exercise the minds God has given us to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy (Phi 4:8) and to meditate on His law (Ps 119:97), and "to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor 10:5).
Unless we learn to think and reflect on things above we will reflect the hollowness of a world moving fast but slow to think... at the end of the day if you have spoken but not listened, you have spent without income and sooner or later an expenditure of words without an income of ideas will lead to conceptual bankruptcy. Wonder enriches you when you take the time to reflect and to ponder the greatness of our faith in Jesus Christ.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Extreme Dependency can be... Deadly to a Love Affair
The bottom line is showing respect for yourself and for another person, which is the foundation on which romantic love is built. It is refusing to beg, plead, and whine if a partner does not feel about you the way you feel about him or her.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Recapture the Wonder
It's not just about maintaining a discipline of reading that is important, but WHAT you are reading. "There are books by the score on the shelves of Christian bookstores... What do they point to? Is it to the nobler and higher and richer truths of God, or is it to more of ourselves?... judging by the titles and content, one would think the Christian faith is all about me and how I feel and what I want... Is your own reading shallow or deep? The wonder that you will find in the shallow end can only be for a child. Swimming in the deep is for the mature. If the follower of Jesus Christ does not mature in his or her reading, the church could end up running the biggest nursery in the world."
"Good reading is like looking for something you have lost and finding it, but in the search finding something else that had also been lost. That is how wonder is constantly replenished."
Friday, October 13, 2006
When "peace" just won't do...
Disturb us, Lord
when we are too well pleased with ourselves;
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little;
when we arrive safely because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess
we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love
with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity;
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
to venture on wider seas where storms will show Your mastery;
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back the horizons of our hopes,
and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope and love.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Where my reading has taken me recently...
6 Essential components to make an informed decision about a profession
1. It must be something you genuinely like to do.
2. It must be something you have the ability to do.
3. It must be something you can earn a living by doing.
4. It must be something you are permitted to do.
5. It must be something that brings cultural affirmation--most people need to feel respect from their peers for what they do.
6. Most importantly, it must be something you feel God approves of.
Book talked about the critical decade of age 16-26 where we make most of the important decisions which will determine the course of most of the rest of our lives. Sadly, this is also the time where most people flounder and make regrettable mistakes.
My heart was crying for some guidance on Tuesday on how to build a strong next generation, a strong generation of young adults, when I chanced upon this book. Good material for teaching on love, life, money, power, profession, purpose, self-worth, confidence.
God, teach me how to teach. Doesn't take much more than a fool to state what one wants, but to guide them into all righteousness... My heart pains at the sobering thought that my dear girls are not growing as much as they can be because I am incapable of teaching/of being. God has a syllabus, so I feel safe.
Is 30:20-21 "...He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left."
Oh that they will run... and win.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
A Brand New Start
Hi
Restarted online life. *Wave to adoring public* Aim to create a GREAT culture in SAiLnet. From losers to WINNERS, because winning is not everything; IT'S THE ONLY THING.
In a confused season of my life--not sure what to do and where to go, but as it is written, whether I am in or out of season, preach the word.
SAiL
