Christ was sincere...

My friends and I use Facebook.

I appreciate my Facebook friends when they are sincere.  A lot of Facebook users write and comment only on things 'others will agree on'.  So they comment on the weather, post photos of the food they ate, post photos of places they visited.  These users avoid expressing any views that others may disagree.  They say only the nice things, and silent on their deeper thoughts which others may find disagreeable or may have differing views.

Not with Jesus.  He was sincere. He did not hesitate to say things that others did not want to hear him say aloud.  Luke 12: 49 to 59, "I have come to cast fire upon the earth...Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth?  I tell you, no, but rather division....I say to you, you shall not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent."

Jesus told the people the truth, though the truth is not nicey sweety stuff.  He did not sell himself by saying only "nice words".  He was not a hypocrite !!

Personally, I prefer friends who express themselves freely, and not hiding their differing views, not filtering away the disagreeable stuff on Facebook.  That's what friends should be  - , sincerity, honest, and not pretentious.

So what if they think they are always right?  I think I am always right too.  We still can be friends.

Perhaps there are no Atheists..

 

Photo From http://blog.roving-light.com/2013/01/beautiful-light-in-bagan.html

Atheist is someone who thinks there's no God.  Agnostic is someone who is not sure whether God exists.

At certain times of our lives, we may think God does not exist.  But then at other times, we are not so sure, and so we declare being agnostic.  It is common for some people to swing between being an atheist and an agnostic.

However, when one is 50 or 60 years old, one would have gone through much of life's experience - periods of joy, periods of disappointment, periods of trials and tribulations.  Yet, one may not have been touched by God.  One may still waver and swing back and forth between being an atheist and an agnostic.

But in my opinion, I honestly believe a person could not be an atheist beyond middle age.  He is likely to be 'not sure', an agnostic;  rather than 'definitely no God'.

I came to this conclusion because I believe a human would have experienced the wonders of nature by then.  I believe the wonders of nature carries a still small voice which prompts the divine presence.  That voice may be very soft, fade and intermittent.  And a human may be unsure whether he heard it - he is not sure, so he is an agnostic. He cannot say its definitely not there!

"The heavens are telling of the glory of God;  and their expanses is declaring the work of God's hand." Psalms 19:1  

Thanks for the Peace

Jesus came to give us Peace.  He is the Prince of Peace.

By accepting Christ, we enjoy peace with God, and peace within our soul.

But, mind you, NOT ALL KINDS of peace.  In fact, many Christians are continuously troubled by other things!  Believing in Christ does not give us peace in many other instances.

Luke 12:51-52 says "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth?  I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on 5 members in one household will be divided, 3 against 2, and 2 against 3...father against son, and son against father...."

Believing in Christ could divide the family, divide the community and divide the nation.  Christianity, together with other religions, fragmented the world and spark wars.

But, I say again, by accepting Christ, we, the created, finally enjoy peace with God our creator, and hence peace within our soul.

God, thank  you for this peace that surpasses all understanding.  Sincerely.

The Curse of Long Life ...

Today is Saturday 19 Jan 2013.

In the newspaper Today The New York Times International Weekly, page 8,  the headline is "A SHAME IN SOUTH KOREA: SUICIDES OF SENIORS RISE AT AN ALARMING RATE".

I have came across a few deaths in recent years.  I know that the suicide rate of seniors in Singapore is relatively high as well.

Why are older people committing suicide ?  Basically its due to no family support, no money, and the realisation that one is becoming a burden to the family members when one grows old and infirm.

I see a lot of old retirees exercising in the parks in the morning.  If they are trying to keep fit to live long lives, then they need to consider and to prepare for the 'curse of long life'.

Not being able to die once material resources are depleted is the curse of long life.  When one has no children to provide the care require is the 'curse of long life'.

For old folks, there is an average of 5 years of disability before death.  Our aim should be to reduce this period of disability, say from 5 years to 1 year.  Aiming for long life itself is not correct because it carries a curse.

It's OK to live not-too-long.  And drop death without lengthy period of disability. Lets hope for that.

Just my view.

It's a trick question....

Many people like to ask a trick question -- "Where is Jesus Christ now ??"

In Acts 1:9-11, it says "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight...Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into Heaven."

So the answer to the trick question is  - Jesus is now in Heaven.  He 'flew' there as seen by hundreds of amazed onlookers!

In Acts 9:4-5, it says "he (Saul/Paul) fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And Saul said "Who art Thou, Lord?'  And He said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting."

So the answer to the trick question is - Jesus is here on Earth.  He spoke to Saul!

Combining the 2 answers, Jesus is physically in Heaven;  but spiritually, He is everywhere.  He is God.  He is All-presence.

So God the Father is here and everywhere.  Jesus is here and everywhere.  The Holy Spirit is also here and everywhere.

Spiritually, the Triune God is everywhere and even in our hearts.  But someday, Jesus will come again PHYSICALLY "just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven,"

Interesting!
Alleluia!

Is this correct??

Many people brand Benny Hinn as a false teacher. But in his books, he did explain very profound things which others could not grasp easily.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (KJV)

Holy Ghost first, the comes power.

What is Holy Ghost? It is the Presence, the person, the fruit.

What is Power? Anointing is the Power of God. It is spiritual gifts.

What is fruit? They are qualities or characteristics, attributes of God.

Fruit: When God is with you, His fruit will come with Him. When God's presence leaves you, His fruit will leave too.
Power: Not so with power. The power of God comes upon you as a gift. It stays with you. It's possible that when God's presence leaves, the power will not leave. It's a gift, it stays, at least for a while. ("The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." Rom 11:29)

The presence of God, the Holy Spirit, leads to the anointing of the Spirit, which is the power of God. The anointing cannot be seen, but the power (which is the manifestations)can be seen. Benny called it (the power, the manifestation) "tangible anointing".

A bit 'chim' or difficult to understand, right?

Think about these words: Fruit, Power, Presence, Anointing.

I Found An Explanation...

I was puzzled and amazed by Apostle Paul. He was Saul, not a follower of Jesus. Then he was blinded on the road. When he was healed of his blindness, he immediately loved and preached God. He was transformed -- behold, a totally new person.

For years I was wondering where Apostle Paul learned about Christ. He did not follow Christ, nor was taught by Christ, before Christ's death. He did not sit down and be tutored by the other 11 Apostles. He did not attend a crash course for a Degree or a Doctorate in Divinity!

Benny Hinn's, in his book "The Anointing" explained that Paul's knowledge on Jesus Christ was INSTANT or instantaneous. The Holy Spirit came to Paul. He received the ANOINTING, which is the power of God. He was filled with the knowledge to preach and lived as an Apostle INSTANTLY. No need to attend any Theology courses. No need to be taught by humans.

I have to say, Benny Hinn's explanation is possible.