This is one of my favourite passage. It truly shows that God is Love: (Gen 18:20-33)
And the Lord said: "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry..............."
Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the Lord.
And Abraham came near and said "Will Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the 50 righteous who are in it?... Shall not the JUDGE of all the earth deal justly?"
So the Lord said "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account."
And Abraham answered "Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes. Suppose the 50 are short of 5, wilt Thou destroy the whole city because of 5?"
And God said, "I will not destroy it if I find 45 there."
And Abraham spoke to Him yet again, "Suppose only 40 are found there?"
And God said, "I will not do it on account of 40."
Then Abraham said, "Oh may the Lord not be angry...suppose only 30 are found there?"
And God said, "I will not do it if I find 30 there."
And Abraham said, "Behold I venture to speak to the Lord. Suppose 20 are found there?"
And God said, "I will not destroy it on account of the 20."
And Abraham said, "Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once. Suppose only 10 are found?"
And God said, "I will not destroy it on account of the 10." And as soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham, the Lord departed. Abraham returned to his place.
God did not have to pause and think before answering Abraham. From the swiftness of God's answer to Abraham, I can see God's nature is Merciful and Kind.
The story continued. Apparently there were not 50, not 45, not 40, not 30, not 20, not 10 righteous people in the city. Only Abraham's family members were righteous and they were told to leave the city before the whole city, and all the unrighteous, were destroyed in a hail of brimstone and fire.
This 3rd anniversary of the Asia Tsunami tragedy reminded me the above biblical story. I have no doubt that God is in control of peace and war, disasters, epidemics, life and death.
But I am still wondering if there were 10 righteous people among those who perished in the Tsunami. We will not know the answer. Perhaps, just perhaps, there were 9 or fewer.
The answer is not important anyway. It is just a thought of a seeking mind.
Hallelujah!
Saturday 29 December 2007
Benazir Bhutto on a suicide mission
Perhaps with so many politicians dead, Ms Bhutto was immuned to the idea of being killed in the next few days.
Her father Mr Bhutto Snr was hanged. President Zia-ul-Haq was killed in a mysterious plan crash. President Ziaur Rahman was mowed down in a coup.
Her return to India last month immediately caused the death of 140 when bombs exploded around her.
Surely she knew that more bombs would explode around her, wherever her presence was.
Yet she appeared in public! Surely she understood that there were suicide bombers within the crowd around her!
It really sounded foolhardy to me! It was not her life in danger only, but the lives of all her supporters around her.
Would you go into a cage with 10 hungry lions, again and again? Unless you are a fool, you should know its a matter of time before you are eaten up.
What can you do, or hope to change, when you are dead?
Her father Mr Bhutto Snr was hanged. President Zia-ul-Haq was killed in a mysterious plan crash. President Ziaur Rahman was mowed down in a coup.
Her return to India last month immediately caused the death of 140 when bombs exploded around her.
Surely she knew that more bombs would explode around her, wherever her presence was.
Yet she appeared in public! Surely she understood that there were suicide bombers within the crowd around her!
It really sounded foolhardy to me! It was not her life in danger only, but the lives of all her supporters around her.
Would you go into a cage with 10 hungry lions, again and again? Unless you are a fool, you should know its a matter of time before you are eaten up.
What can you do, or hope to change, when you are dead?
Thursday 27 December 2007
Shopping At KL Megamall
My family and I drove up to Mines Theme Park, KL and Saujana from 16 to 23 Dec 07.
We spent 2 nights at Mines. Then 3 nights at Kuala Lumpur. Finally, 2 nights at Saujana. I spent the Hari Haji holiday at Mid-valley MegaMall.
It always amaze me how Shopping Centres in Malaysia could be so much better and bigger than those in Singapore. If I were to give MegaMall 85 marks, the best shopping centres in Singapore could only score 50 marks.
I visited One Utama Shopping Centre too. It was just as amazing.
Over the years, I noticed that prices of goods in Malaysia have risen a lot. A plate of Hor Fen used to cost RM7. Now it cost RM9.50. I wonder how the local people cope with the inflation.
I have not made entries to these blog for a few months. I will be more regular from now on.
end
We spent 2 nights at Mines. Then 3 nights at Kuala Lumpur. Finally, 2 nights at Saujana. I spent the Hari Haji holiday at Mid-valley MegaMall.
It always amaze me how Shopping Centres in Malaysia could be so much better and bigger than those in Singapore. If I were to give MegaMall 85 marks, the best shopping centres in Singapore could only score 50 marks.
I visited One Utama Shopping Centre too. It was just as amazing.
Over the years, I noticed that prices of goods in Malaysia have risen a lot. A plate of Hor Fen used to cost RM7. Now it cost RM9.50. I wonder how the local people cope with the inflation.
I have not made entries to these blog for a few months. I will be more regular from now on.
end
Friday 8 June 2007
Happiness In Heaven
For centuries, people had been seeking to understand what comes after death.
Some believe in the existence of Heaven and Hell.
Some believe in the realm of nothingness.
When we leave this world, we go to the afterworld.
One thing for sure is that there is no religion in the afterworld. Religion is a manifestation in the human world. A result of humans trying to understand what is, what is important, and what is not important in this world, and the afterworld.
I was wondering whether there are many languages in the afterworld. Are there English, Mandarin, Malay, Latin, French and German Languages ?
I was wondering whether there are different skin colours in the afterworld. Are there black, white, pink, yellow, brown ?
I would prefer to rationalize that Heaven is a wonderful place. A place where there is no division, no strife, no sorrow, no misunderstanding, no quarrel, no shame... There are probably only 3 groups of afterworld beings in Heaven - the HAPPY, THE VERY HAPPY, and THE MOST HAPPY. And each member of the 3 groups does not know or see any difference between the different groups. Once there are differences, there is unhappiness.
So in heaven, there is no difference between the rich and the poor, the black and the white, the pretty and the ugly, the HAPPY and the MOST HAPPY.
Now what about Hell ?
Tell me what you think...
Some believe in the existence of Heaven and Hell.
Some believe in the realm of nothingness.
When we leave this world, we go to the afterworld.
One thing for sure is that there is no religion in the afterworld. Religion is a manifestation in the human world. A result of humans trying to understand what is, what is important, and what is not important in this world, and the afterworld.
I was wondering whether there are many languages in the afterworld. Are there English, Mandarin, Malay, Latin, French and German Languages ?
I was wondering whether there are different skin colours in the afterworld. Are there black, white, pink, yellow, brown ?
I would prefer to rationalize that Heaven is a wonderful place. A place where there is no division, no strife, no sorrow, no misunderstanding, no quarrel, no shame... There are probably only 3 groups of afterworld beings in Heaven - the HAPPY, THE VERY HAPPY, and THE MOST HAPPY. And each member of the 3 groups does not know or see any difference between the different groups. Once there are differences, there is unhappiness.
So in heaven, there is no difference between the rich and the poor, the black and the white, the pretty and the ugly, the HAPPY and the MOST HAPPY.
Now what about Hell ?
Tell me what you think...
Wednesday 6 June 2007
History Repeats Itself, Again
An article in the Straits Times newspaper on Sunday 3 June 2007 titled 'Buddha Tooth Relic Temple' reminded me what happened 5,000 years ago when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land (Exodus).
The Egyptians were worried about the increasing number and strength of the Israelites. 400 years earlier, Jacob and his household (mere 70 of them) escaped from a severe drought and migrated to Egypt for food. They multiplied and multiplied in Egypt. When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, there were probably 2 million of them.
While in Egypt, most of the Israelites were slaves or servants in the Egyptian households. The slaves served their masters. They assisted the Egyptian masters in their religious worships. They helped the Egyptians to lay the offerings on the tables and alters of worship during religious festivals and other celebrations and functions.
The Egyptians worshipped a myriad of gods - the Sun god, the Moon god, the rain god, the thunder god, the fertility god, the calf god, the snake god, etc. They prayed and asked their gods' blessings, for wealth, for health, for harvest, for protection against harm and from their enemies, and for cure. Apparently their gods did blessed them and grant them enough favour and goodness. The Egyptians continued worshipping their gods.
As the Israelites journeyed out of Egypt, at one point, Moses went up to Mt Sinai to receive instructions from God (Exodus 32). In the absence of Moses, the Israelites yearned to adopt the religious ways of the Egyptians, and said to Aaron (the person-in-charge) - "Come, make us gods who will go before us..."
Within days, the Israelites contributed enough of their gold and jewelries for a molten calf to be made. They intended to worship this as their god.
Our God, Yahweh, called this idolatry.
Back to the newspaper article on 3 June 07. The people of Singapore had already contibuted 230 kilogrammes of gold and gold jewelries to construct a stupa to display Buddha's tooth in the new temple. Another 200 kilogrammes of gold would be added to the stupa later.
Isn't this exactly what the Israelites did about 5,000 years ago ?
Read the Book of Exodus Chapter 32 onwards. And pray for Singapore.
The Egyptians were worried about the increasing number and strength of the Israelites. 400 years earlier, Jacob and his household (mere 70 of them) escaped from a severe drought and migrated to Egypt for food. They multiplied and multiplied in Egypt. When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, there were probably 2 million of them.
While in Egypt, most of the Israelites were slaves or servants in the Egyptian households. The slaves served their masters. They assisted the Egyptian masters in their religious worships. They helped the Egyptians to lay the offerings on the tables and alters of worship during religious festivals and other celebrations and functions.
The Egyptians worshipped a myriad of gods - the Sun god, the Moon god, the rain god, the thunder god, the fertility god, the calf god, the snake god, etc. They prayed and asked their gods' blessings, for wealth, for health, for harvest, for protection against harm and from their enemies, and for cure. Apparently their gods did blessed them and grant them enough favour and goodness. The Egyptians continued worshipping their gods.
As the Israelites journeyed out of Egypt, at one point, Moses went up to Mt Sinai to receive instructions from God (Exodus 32). In the absence of Moses, the Israelites yearned to adopt the religious ways of the Egyptians, and said to Aaron (the person-in-charge) - "Come, make us gods who will go before us..."
Within days, the Israelites contributed enough of their gold and jewelries for a molten calf to be made. They intended to worship this as their god.
Our God, Yahweh, called this idolatry.
Back to the newspaper article on 3 June 07. The people of Singapore had already contibuted 230 kilogrammes of gold and gold jewelries to construct a stupa to display Buddha's tooth in the new temple. Another 200 kilogrammes of gold would be added to the stupa later.
Isn't this exactly what the Israelites did about 5,000 years ago ?
Read the Book of Exodus Chapter 32 onwards. And pray for Singapore.
Sunday 20 May 2007
Christ vs Buddhism - Its Your Choice
Yesterday, I received a copy of the Catholic News( 27 May 2007 edition). There is an interesting article on Buddhism. I capture the salient points below:
1) Buddhism does not believe in a personal god.
2) Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, often described as a way of life or a practical philosophy. Dharmic religions are a family of religions based on the concept of dharma, a term for "fixed decree, law, or duty".
3) The core of Buddha's teaching is found in the 4 Noble Truths which include the Noble Eightfold Path.
4) Today, Buddhism is divided primarily into 3 traditions: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.
5) Most Buddhists in Singapore belong to the Mahayana tradition. In Singapore, Chinese religion is a mix of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism.
6) There is confusion even among Buddhists on the topic of deities and prayer. Because of their non-belief in the existence of a God or a supreme being, adherents of Buddhism in its original form take Buddhism to be more a philosophy than a religion.
7) The goal of Buddha's teachings is to break through delusion and achieve enlightenment which is obtained at 3 levels: Arhat, Bodhisattva and Buddha (analogously comparable to Graduate, Master or Doctorate in educational degrees)
8) In pure form, the many variety of Buddha and Bodhisattva statues do not represent polytheism (the worship of more than one god). Rather, each statue serves to inspire wisdom and awakening. Bowing to a statue is an expression of gratitude for the teaching.
9) Guan Yin Bodhisattva is popular in Singapore, represents great compassion and kindness.
10) However, there are "Buddhists" who worship images of Buddha and Guan Yin Bodhisattva as deities and pray for the relief of suffering, and even to ask for favours. This is regarded by Buddhist purists as a misconception and even superstition because the statues are merely expressions of concepts in Buddhism.
11) Orthodox Buddhists say that they do not pray. They chant. When they chant, they chant the Buddha's sacred workds of love, wisdom and compassion.
This is just a short lesson in Buddhism.
Christianity is about Christ, the Trinity God. Buddhism is dharmic and non-theistic. The two religions are completely different.
I would choose a personal relationship with God over another non-theistic, non-personal religion, no matter how logical or philosophical that religion may be.
I would choose a God who "walks with me and talks with me", who "listens to me and guides me". A God who is a brother, a friend, a mentor, a lord and a loving Father - the Trinity God.
Really, the choice is simple.
1) Buddhism does not believe in a personal god.
2) Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, often described as a way of life or a practical philosophy. Dharmic religions are a family of religions based on the concept of dharma, a term for "fixed decree, law, or duty".
3) The core of Buddha's teaching is found in the 4 Noble Truths which include the Noble Eightfold Path.
4) Today, Buddhism is divided primarily into 3 traditions: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.
5) Most Buddhists in Singapore belong to the Mahayana tradition. In Singapore, Chinese religion is a mix of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism.
6) There is confusion even among Buddhists on the topic of deities and prayer. Because of their non-belief in the existence of a God or a supreme being, adherents of Buddhism in its original form take Buddhism to be more a philosophy than a religion.
7) The goal of Buddha's teachings is to break through delusion and achieve enlightenment which is obtained at 3 levels: Arhat, Bodhisattva and Buddha (analogously comparable to Graduate, Master or Doctorate in educational degrees)
8) In pure form, the many variety of Buddha and Bodhisattva statues do not represent polytheism (the worship of more than one god). Rather, each statue serves to inspire wisdom and awakening. Bowing to a statue is an expression of gratitude for the teaching.
9) Guan Yin Bodhisattva is popular in Singapore, represents great compassion and kindness.
10) However, there are "Buddhists" who worship images of Buddha and Guan Yin Bodhisattva as deities and pray for the relief of suffering, and even to ask for favours. This is regarded by Buddhist purists as a misconception and even superstition because the statues are merely expressions of concepts in Buddhism.
11) Orthodox Buddhists say that they do not pray. They chant. When they chant, they chant the Buddha's sacred workds of love, wisdom and compassion.
This is just a short lesson in Buddhism.
Christianity is about Christ, the Trinity God. Buddhism is dharmic and non-theistic. The two religions are completely different.
I would choose a personal relationship with God over another non-theistic, non-personal religion, no matter how logical or philosophical that religion may be.
I would choose a God who "walks with me and talks with me", who "listens to me and guides me". A God who is a brother, a friend, a mentor, a lord and a loving Father - the Trinity God.
Really, the choice is simple.
Friday 18 May 2007
Christianity Will Always Be Divisive
One of the Bible passages which I much regret having to obey is Matt 10:35 "...I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother...and a man's enemies will be the members of his household...".
There is no hidden meaning in this passage. It clearly means that christianity is divisive; and we will be living in a very divisive christian world.
I had told myself to accept this passage first, painful as it was, before I could truly accept Christ. The moment I accepted Christ years ago, I great gulf separated me from my family. I was no longer 'one of them' who followed the family religion. I no longer worshipped the family gods. During festivals when all members of the family gathered to pray and to burn incense, I stepped aside and stood alone. I am a part of the family, yet I am not.
When Jesus commissioned Peter "upon this rock I will build My church,..." Matt16:18, Jesus must already know that His church will be divided and fragmented. After the apostolic church came the papal church and the fragmentation accelerated down the centuries. The Catholic church, the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Anglican church, the protestant churches, the denominational churches, the independent churches and the many christian sects and semi-churches.
Some may argue that the many christian church groups provide different flavours, and different flavours appeal to people of different taste. However, there are just too many flavours, and this situation confuses and sows distrust, instead of harmonises our beliefs.
As I look at the Catholic Church, and the Methodist Church, the New-Age Churches and other charismatic christian groups, I hope they will all be united in the Apostles Creed which I recite every week. I love the Apostles Creed. All Christians must wholeheartedly believe and be faithful to the Apostle Creed. In it, we believe that Jesus is the Son of God - "born of the virgin Mary, died and was buried, on the third day he rose again from the dead, and seated at the right hand of God...". In the Apostles Creed, christians are united in Christ.
Christianity is not just about God. A few other religions also believe in the same God we christians believe in, even though they address Him using other names.
More importantly, christianity is about Jesus Christ. We are divided in christianity, yet we are united in Christ. Christ lives. Believe in Him.
These are my thoughts. I welcome your comments.
There is no hidden meaning in this passage. It clearly means that christianity is divisive; and we will be living in a very divisive christian world.
I had told myself to accept this passage first, painful as it was, before I could truly accept Christ. The moment I accepted Christ years ago, I great gulf separated me from my family. I was no longer 'one of them' who followed the family religion. I no longer worshipped the family gods. During festivals when all members of the family gathered to pray and to burn incense, I stepped aside and stood alone. I am a part of the family, yet I am not.
When Jesus commissioned Peter "upon this rock I will build My church,..." Matt16:18, Jesus must already know that His church will be divided and fragmented. After the apostolic church came the papal church and the fragmentation accelerated down the centuries. The Catholic church, the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Anglican church, the protestant churches, the denominational churches, the independent churches and the many christian sects and semi-churches.
Some may argue that the many christian church groups provide different flavours, and different flavours appeal to people of different taste. However, there are just too many flavours, and this situation confuses and sows distrust, instead of harmonises our beliefs.
As I look at the Catholic Church, and the Methodist Church, the New-Age Churches and other charismatic christian groups, I hope they will all be united in the Apostles Creed which I recite every week. I love the Apostles Creed. All Christians must wholeheartedly believe and be faithful to the Apostle Creed. In it, we believe that Jesus is the Son of God - "born of the virgin Mary, died and was buried, on the third day he rose again from the dead, and seated at the right hand of God...". In the Apostles Creed, christians are united in Christ.
Christianity is not just about God. A few other religions also believe in the same God we christians believe in, even though they address Him using other names.
More importantly, christianity is about Jesus Christ. We are divided in christianity, yet we are united in Christ. Christ lives. Believe in Him.
These are my thoughts. I welcome your comments.
Thursday 17 May 2007
Is There Another Way of Communicating With God ?
We all know about atoms and molecules. According to physicist Radall J. Fisk, there is a new type of elementary particles that were discovered about 60 years ago. It is called neutrino. This elementary particle can past through the Earth, that is go in via the North Pole and come out from the South Pole.
I have not investigated or read much about neutrino. However in eastern mystic, many many people had already know something known as wai-qi or cosmic energy, which purportedly can pass through wall or solid of any thickness. 'Qi' is breath in Chinese. 'Wai-qi' is external breath literally. Some people even claimed that they can see Wai-qi in the atmosphere. (see this website http://www.kktanhp.com/doctoring.htm ).
I am not sure whether there are any scientific measuring instruments today that can measure and record neutrino or wai-qi. However some practitioners can harness wai-qi to improve their health and to heal illnesses. When they absorb wai-qi, their bodies are filled with wai-qi, their faces turned red and their hands are radiating with heat.
I was wondering whether wai-qi is same as, or similar to neutrino. Or both have something in common.
Human beings are still discovering some of the things that God had created from the very beginning. Electricity and magnetic field, which are invisible, were only discovered and acknowledged a few hundred years ago. Now there are neutrino and wai-qi. Perhaps in 50 years time, we will be able to measure wai-qi, just as we can measure magnetic strength using magnetic field meters today.
Today, we communicate with the Almighty God in prayer. God hears and receives our prayers.
Today, we communicate with God our Lord with our intentions too. We may not be praying, but we go to God with our silent intentions, being assured that God knows the intentions of our heart.
Perhaps wai-qi is another invisible communication channel with God. These unseen particles that fill the universe, exist even in vacuum, and fill the outer space, may be message channels where we can reach God.
Neutrino or wai-qi are part of God's creation since God created all things. So let us not let non-christian practices such as eastern or buddhist practices 'hijack' this gift of God from us. Wai-qi belongs to Christians too.
Appreciate your comments.
I have not investigated or read much about neutrino. However in eastern mystic, many many people had already know something known as wai-qi or cosmic energy, which purportedly can pass through wall or solid of any thickness. 'Qi' is breath in Chinese. 'Wai-qi' is external breath literally. Some people even claimed that they can see Wai-qi in the atmosphere. (see this website http://www.kktanhp.com/doctoring.htm ).
I am not sure whether there are any scientific measuring instruments today that can measure and record neutrino or wai-qi. However some practitioners can harness wai-qi to improve their health and to heal illnesses. When they absorb wai-qi, their bodies are filled with wai-qi, their faces turned red and their hands are radiating with heat.
I was wondering whether wai-qi is same as, or similar to neutrino. Or both have something in common.
Human beings are still discovering some of the things that God had created from the very beginning. Electricity and magnetic field, which are invisible, were only discovered and acknowledged a few hundred years ago. Now there are neutrino and wai-qi. Perhaps in 50 years time, we will be able to measure wai-qi, just as we can measure magnetic strength using magnetic field meters today.
Today, we communicate with the Almighty God in prayer. God hears and receives our prayers.
Today, we communicate with God our Lord with our intentions too. We may not be praying, but we go to God with our silent intentions, being assured that God knows the intentions of our heart.
Perhaps wai-qi is another invisible communication channel with God. These unseen particles that fill the universe, exist even in vacuum, and fill the outer space, may be message channels where we can reach God.
Neutrino or wai-qi are part of God's creation since God created all things. So let us not let non-christian practices such as eastern or buddhist practices 'hijack' this gift of God from us. Wai-qi belongs to Christians too.
Appreciate your comments.
Monday 14 May 2007
Some Parts Of The Bible Should Not Be Taken Literally
While I have written about taking some parts of the Bible literally, there are other parts that cannot be taken literally.
When the apostles exhort the Christians to wait for the impending second return of Christ 'from Heaven together with His mighty angels in flaming fire' (2 Thess 1:7, Luk 17:30-31, etc) the people literally interpreted that Christ will return in glory during their lifetime. As we all know, after 2000 years, Christ has yet to return.
All through the centuries, many Christian sects had predicted the dates of the second coming of Christ. The date came and expired. These Christian sect members were dead by now. The interpretation of the apostles and christians that Christ would come again during their lifetime was proven wrong again and again.
Do you expect the second coming of Christ, with a host of angels and in flaming fire, would take place during your lifetime?
What about John's vision in the Book of Revelation ? How much should be interpreted literally ?
All through the centuries, there are clairvoyants who could see visions of the future. There are also many who claimed that they could communicate with non-physical beings. So the Book of Revelation of John is not the only apocalyptic book.
No matter how bible scholars and we ourselves study the Book of Revelation, we will not be able to interpret it satisfactorily. What are the seven Churches? What is the number 666? What is the figure 144,000?
It is futile to guess and guess. The description of events in Book of Revelation should not be taken literally.
Man, we are so finite and minute. How can we under God who is the Alpha and the Omega, the creator of Heaven and Earth? Can can an ant understand a human being like you? If, one day, an ant could understand a human being, then perhaps a human being could understand God. But an ant will never understand a human being unless the human morph into an ant and go and speak and teach the ant. This is exactly what Jesus did -- He became man, and came down to earth to speak to man. Even then, we will not understand God a lot more.
All the Bible study will help us to be wiser and understand God a bit better - but just an infinitesimal bit better. After all, human, we are finite. God is infinite.
Any comments ?
When the apostles exhort the Christians to wait for the impending second return of Christ 'from Heaven together with His mighty angels in flaming fire' (2 Thess 1:7, Luk 17:30-31, etc) the people literally interpreted that Christ will return in glory during their lifetime. As we all know, after 2000 years, Christ has yet to return.
All through the centuries, many Christian sects had predicted the dates of the second coming of Christ. The date came and expired. These Christian sect members were dead by now. The interpretation of the apostles and christians that Christ would come again during their lifetime was proven wrong again and again.
Do you expect the second coming of Christ, with a host of angels and in flaming fire, would take place during your lifetime?
What about John's vision in the Book of Revelation ? How much should be interpreted literally ?
All through the centuries, there are clairvoyants who could see visions of the future. There are also many who claimed that they could communicate with non-physical beings. So the Book of Revelation of John is not the only apocalyptic book.
No matter how bible scholars and we ourselves study the Book of Revelation, we will not be able to interpret it satisfactorily. What are the seven Churches? What is the number 666? What is the figure 144,000?
It is futile to guess and guess. The description of events in Book of Revelation should not be taken literally.
Man, we are so finite and minute. How can we under God who is the Alpha and the Omega, the creator of Heaven and Earth? Can can an ant understand a human being like you? If, one day, an ant could understand a human being, then perhaps a human being could understand God. But an ant will never understand a human being unless the human morph into an ant and go and speak and teach the ant. This is exactly what Jesus did -- He became man, and came down to earth to speak to man. Even then, we will not understand God a lot more.
All the Bible study will help us to be wiser and understand God a bit better - but just an infinitesimal bit better. After all, human, we are finite. God is infinite.
Any comments ?
Miracles Against Nature (14/05/07)
I was always perplexed by Matt 27:50-53. “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised…"
It sounded like a fairy tale. It is unnature. At the moment of His death, unnatural things happened. a) the veil of the temple was torn b) the earth shook c) the rocks split d) and most perplexing, the tombs opened and bodies ‘floated’ up to the sky..
Shall I take these passages of the Book of Mathew literally?
Miracles continued to happen today, 2000 years after the death of Christ. But the miracles today are nothing against nature. These are miracles relating to people and persons. For example someone ‘suddenly’ was healed of the tumor in his body; someone blind could 'suddenly' open his eyes and see. There are no miracles such as those performed by Jesus against nature 2000 years ago, such as feeding 5000 with 2 fishes and 5 loaves, such as walking several kilometers on water.
If I believe that Jesus can feed 5000 with just 2 fishes and 5 loaves, then I must believe Matt 27:50-53 literally.
Do you believe that the rotten bodies of the deceased saints had been resurrected and 'floated up the sky' during the first exercise of resurrection the moment Jesus died on the cross?
Give me your comments.
It sounded like a fairy tale. It is unnature. At the moment of His death, unnatural things happened. a) the veil of the temple was torn b) the earth shook c) the rocks split d) and most perplexing, the tombs opened and bodies ‘floated’ up to the sky..
Shall I take these passages of the Book of Mathew literally?
Miracles continued to happen today, 2000 years after the death of Christ. But the miracles today are nothing against nature. These are miracles relating to people and persons. For example someone ‘suddenly’ was healed of the tumor in his body; someone blind could 'suddenly' open his eyes and see. There are no miracles such as those performed by Jesus against nature 2000 years ago, such as feeding 5000 with 2 fishes and 5 loaves, such as walking several kilometers on water.
If I believe that Jesus can feed 5000 with just 2 fishes and 5 loaves, then I must believe Matt 27:50-53 literally.
Do you believe that the rotten bodies of the deceased saints had been resurrected and 'floated up the sky' during the first exercise of resurrection the moment Jesus died on the cross?
Give me your comments.
Monday 30 April 2007
Life is not the end (30/4/07)
Being brought up in a traditional taoist family and deeply influenced by deities and ancestral worship, I was deeply troubled with the introduction of christianity in my life when I went to a mission school. I asked many questions about Chinese religion and Christianity. I knew my family would be hurt if I were to be converted to Christianity.
To cut the story short, I was finally converted after an ardous journey of seeking and questioning. The turning point was when I realised that God himself declared that Jesus Christ was His only begotten Son. God did this, and announced from Heaven that Jesus was His beloved Son in Mark 1.11. As far as I know, God did not say this about GuanYin or Buddha or the Prophet Mohammed or any other 'gods'.
If God made such a declaration about Jesus Christ, what else do I need to believe in Christ?
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour at the age of 18 after years of struggle. It opened a new chapter on my understanding of life's journey.
To cut the story short, I was finally converted after an ardous journey of seeking and questioning. The turning point was when I realised that God himself declared that Jesus Christ was His only begotten Son. God did this, and announced from Heaven that Jesus was His beloved Son in Mark 1.11. As far as I know, God did not say this about GuanYin or Buddha or the Prophet Mohammed or any other 'gods'.
If God made such a declaration about Jesus Christ, what else do I need to believe in Christ?
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour at the age of 18 after years of struggle. It opened a new chapter on my understanding of life's journey.
Sunday 22 April 2007
Welcome to my blog
Welcome to my blog. (22/4/07)
A year ago, I left my full-time occupation of 25 years. It was a divine-guided event. It is time for me to re-assess life's journey in the past, and the road ahead.
I have been investigating various aspects of human relations, human purposes and spirituality for many years. For some issues I have discovered the answers. For others, I have managed to seek compromises amongst conflicting ideas. Yet for others, I am still puzzled and searching.
I will attempt to elucidate some of my studies and conclusions relating to life's issues in this blog. Readers are who have studied similar topics are free to share their conclusions with me if desired.
A year ago, I left my full-time occupation of 25 years. It was a divine-guided event. It is time for me to re-assess life's journey in the past, and the road ahead.
I have been investigating various aspects of human relations, human purposes and spirituality for many years. For some issues I have discovered the answers. For others, I have managed to seek compromises amongst conflicting ideas. Yet for others, I am still puzzled and searching.
I will attempt to elucidate some of my studies and conclusions relating to life's issues in this blog. Readers are who have studied similar topics are free to share their conclusions with me if desired.
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