posted on: 2nd January 2009 by in Christianity
A song by Faith Hill about the birth of Jesus, the strife and troubles that Mary & Joseph had to go through.
Absolutely beautiful. I especially love it at 3.35 when she sings hallelujah!
Archive for the ‘Christianity’ Category
posted on: 16th December 2008 by in Christianity
I was jogging along the sandy shore near where I live this evening, enjoying the blend of scarlet and indigo sunset. The waves gently lapping the shoreline and the wind against my face, I felt my burden lightened and at peace with each stride succeeding the other.
As I was doing my dips and pull ups at a local playground, there was a family: mother, grandmother and two children. There were rib like bars where kids could happily climb up to the platform to then slide down the parallel bars, onto the bark laden floor.
There was this child, probably no older than 3 years old, wanting to climb the rib like bars. So the grandmother gently lifted him to the first bar, giving him just enough support for him to still reach out to the next bar with his feet, making sure that he doesn’t fall at the same time as the distance between each bar was probably near a full stride for the toddler.
I was then reminded of how Jesus’ disciples asked who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus replies by saying that unless we have child like faith, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, those who humble themselves like a child is the greatest (Matthew 18:1-4).
This observation in the playground reminded and taught me a few things.
- God wants you to go through life step by step.
No shortcuts as how the grandmother insists that the child starts from the first bar and not onto the platform immediately.
It reminds me on how people (myself included) always want the easy way out without journeying through it.We want the end and not the means. If we are to share the glory of Christ, we too are to share Christ’s suffering (Roman 8:17-18).
- God wants you to do the work and not everything be done for you.
Like how the grandmother will not move the child to the next bar until the child stretches out his legs and has a foothold onto the next bar.
- God is always there for you, to uphold you making sure that no harm comes upon you.
There were times when the child lost his footing and was about to fall but the caring hands of his grandmother was always there to catch him. I’m not saying that if we place our trust and hope to God, our lives will always be smooth sailing. In fact, we are promised persecution as we continue to live our lives for Christ’s sake (Matthew 5:11-12).
Just like the slight fall that the persecution we endure is compared to the glorious reward we have in Christ. How many times we have stressed and worried ourselves to death over things that when we look back at it now, seems insignificant?
I was amazed at the child’s faith in his grandmother to always uphold and keep him safe. Despite the challenges in front of him that he had to face, his focus was on the prize: getting onto the platform. He did not look behind, to the side and to the obstacles before him. He simply wanted to get onto the platform and trusted his grandmother to get him there (Phillipians 3:12-14).
So I pray that I trust God not through words only but through my actions (James 2:18). That the troubles and difficulties in my life, I face with perseverance to refine my character (James 1:12), to shape and mold me into the man God wants me to be. That I would keep my eyes on the prize, pressing and straining towards it, and forgetting what is behind me.
I just read an article from the BBC news about a riot by Jews during the Jewish holy day of atonement, Yom Kippur.
Apparently it was caused by an Arab man who drove his car during the religious holiday where there is fasting and much standstill among the Jews. So he was reported to have been attacked by youths because of his offensive act of driving on the streets.
What I don’t get is that people would go berserk over these things when it’s meant to be a holy period. Hello? Is rioting and expressing your anger seen as holy, or is even holy?
Ok, maybe the Arab guy might’ve been a tool and decided to take the piss out of Jews by driving his car during this period, but to pay back with rudeness and intimidation with anger and hostility, well I think most of them might’ve missed the point of the holiness of the event.
Holiness is to be set apart, to repay hostility with kindess, good with evil, and above all love with hatred. To do what goes against your sinful nature and to do what is right instead. Yes, it takes an active decision to be made holy and to do what is right rather than what feels right.
This is what the bible says and this is what I believe.
posted on: 4th August 2008 by in Christianity
“I could go sit in a garage all day and that don’t make me a car”
Ah how I love that quote from Joyce Meyer. I’ve been listening to Joyce’s podcasts from iTunes during work and between travels to and from work.
I have met many “Christians” who claim their faith because they go to church. Some of them can even tell you how many times they go in a year: twice. Easter and Christmas.
This is a severe misconception of the identity of Christians.
“We don’t go to church to make us something, we go to church because we’ve been made something.”
So what is the purpose of the church if it doesn’t make you a Christian? This is a glimpse of one of the earliest churches (if not earliest!) from scripture,
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. - Acts 2:42-47, BibleGateway
There are some key points that you can extract from this passage in Acts.
- The church was a place of learning God’s Word through the teachings from the apostles, otherwise known today as pastors or priests.
- The church was a place of worshiping God with fellow believers.
- The church was a place of encouraging each other’s faith through God’s tranformation in people’s lives.
- The church was a place of caring for and meeting each other’s needs, be in physical or spiritual needs.
- The church was a place of enjoying one another’s company and friendship in a Christian community.
As you can see, there is no mention whatsoever about a church being in a physical building. The church represents the body of Christ whom we as believers are partakers of it (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
I hope this sheds some light on what the purpose of the church is.
So far I’ve hardly noticed the effect of World Youth Day (WYD) on the public transport system in Sydney.
Still takes me the same amount of time to get to work and yes, I do see more travellers wearing WYD 08 jackets out and about but nothing to the degree of “avoid the city at all costs!”.
Perhaps it’s because I live on the southern coast and the WYD travelers are putting up bed at other areas.
Yes yes I know it’s been said before, but why’s it called World Youth Day when it spans over 5 days? Does it sound cooler?
There’s been many controversial and sensitive news about the catholic church and how the victims of sexual abuse by priests are extremely upset, destroyed and felt let down by the church who are meant to represent hope, safety and goodness.
Unfortunately the church today is far from what the church of Acts was and has been a laughing stock or a flaming target to people. That is the sad reality.
Hopefully I’ll get time to expand more on this topic on the weekend.
posted on: 21st July 2007 by in Christianity
There’s a battle within myself,
Lord help me to lose,
Through my loss, I will find myself,
I’d rather this than to lose you.
Am I just blind, am I a fool?
Why can’t I see it and not perceive it?
Lord help me to understand,
Why your ways are so true.
So take this world from me,
The Christ it’s you I seek,
Let me not forget,
The times you were there for me.
So there’s this battle within myself,
This time I think I’ll win,
Oh Lord, lead me to the battle,
Victorious I’ll be.
So take this world from me,
The Christ it’s you I seek,
May your name be glorified,
So others will see,
So others will see.
posted on: 10th November 2006 by in Christianity
At times like these I try,
To mend it all inside,
By my own I keep falling down aside.
When my worlds collide,
Feel like giving up the fight,
Surrounded by the dark I try to hide.
You are near me now,
You are dear to me,
You are all I need,
You’re everything to me.
The scarlet snow turns white,
All the stains are made bright,
So take my hand and show me the way.
The crimson rose nailed tight,
Forgiven, now I know why,
I’ll put my cross now, I’m here to stay.
Never leave my side,
Precious one of mine,
I’ll give you all of me,
I am yours to keep.
Remind me of the times,
Your gracious plans are made right,
In my life you restore my faith.
When things seemed to have gone wrong,
I’ll put my trust in you,
Magnify your faithfulness.
Fill me with your love,
Find myself in you,
And I will follow you,
Jesus Christ my Lord, my Lord.
- Danny
posted on: 13th October 2006 by in Christianity
When the grass withers and the flowers fall,
And the wind blows and the whirlwind sweeps away,
My glory’s all gone, gone with your breath,
You are the one I fear.
Surely I am like a drop in a bucket,
Nothing more than dust on scales,
Lift up my eyes, who made the skies?
You are the one I revere.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told?
You sit above all, above the earth and all enthroned,
To whom shall I compare to you?
You are my only hope.
When I’m tired and weak and out of breath,
It is you that I shall find new strength,
And I will soar, high like the eagles,
You are the one I trust.
You are the everlasting one,
The creator of all the earth,
Incomparable strength and with great power,
And I will soar with you.
-Danny
posted on: 11th August 2006 by in Christianity
It was that time,
When I went mine mine mine,
Unsatisfied,
without you in my whole life,
Now looking back,
At all the silly things that I regret,
Now you’re with me,
Show me the way, let your will be done,
It’s your love that satisfies,
No other, that makes me smile,
Compel us, with the love of Christ,
In your name, in your name, in your name.
I stand here before you,
Obedience is your delight,
In your name I will,
Tell everyone what you’ve done in my life.
-Danny
posted on: 25th July 2006 by in Christianity
Hear me now, my praise to You,
Humbly seek, to worship You,
I quiet my soul, I still my voice,
I bow before, my heart undone.
I close my eyes, begin to think,
The sacrifice, for saving me,
Amazing love was, truly free,
Glory to the Lord and King.
I love you, I need you
I want you, I adore you.
-Danny
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