Self-drive Holiday Trip to Melbourne/Tasmania (2)

From Melbourne, I flew to Tasmania Launceston Airport. It was foggy, and the plane had to circle the airport for an hour before it landed. I immediately collected my rental car, got a map and started driving. Brrrr it was mild winter and it was cold. After checked-in, I walked around the city streets, city park, shopped at Coles Supermart. Next day drove to the famed Cataract Gorge to enjoy nature. See my car and the Cataract Gorge.

 

 

 

Self-drive Holiday Trip to Melbourne/Tasmania (1)

While wandering along Melbourne's grid streets over 2 days, I chanced upon the largest Church in Australia -- St Patrick's Cathedral. Built between 1858 and 1939, it was enormous and majestic. Larger than St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.

I managed to step inside to admire the atmosphere. I was blessed.
 

 

The Glory of Being Dead

I was at Port Arthur, the UNESCO Heritage site in Tasmania.  That was where the Mighty British Empire housed their vilest convicts in the 1800s. I read this poem on its walls.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am now a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Mary Elizabeth Frye

 

Death is something that we all need to confront one day.  There are many views on death.  There are views from wise men, views from different religions, views from those who claimed to have Near Death Experiences and had glimpsed the other side.

 

Mary Elizabeth Frye's view is glorious.  She almost implied that its good to be dead.  It is not a learnt view.  It's like wishful thinking.

 

But it is beautifully written.  It is eloquent and joyous.  It is something to look forward to face without fear.

 

I do not have as great expectations.  I simply wish that I could 'rest in peace' when the time comes.

The Earthquake at Mt Kinabalu and Karma

Mt Kinabalu is there.  When I was in secondary school 45 years ago, the scouts group loved to climb there.  Last week, an unexpected earthquake took placed.  10 people from a primary school in Singapore perished there.

When my children were in primary school, I felt very uncomfortable when they came home and asked for permission to go for overseas trips. 
"But you are still so little... it's too young for you to go... you can always go when you are older in secondary school..."  I would advise. 
"But this trip is organized by the school.   So it is very safe.  So and so is also going."  the child would retort.

Not to spoilt the parent-child relationship, I would usually reluctantly relent and let them go.  But I am never convinced that Singapore is SO SMALL that a 10-year old needs to take a plane and go overseas for learning experiences to fulfill learning objectives.

I have no problem with 15 years old going overseas.  10 to 12 years old is just too young.

I was an army instructor.  I taught new recruits 'Immediate Action'.  For example, when you hear the first shot from the enemy, you 'take cover', drop flat on the ground and crawl to something that can protect you.  When your rifle misfires, you do 'immediately action' to check the rifle and clear the blockage.  After a month or so of training, new recruits instinctive do 'Immediate Action'.

Young children do not have the instinct to do 'Immediate Action' when danger looms.  They are likely to be stunned and petrified for minutes, do not know how to react.  The instinct is not there yet.  As they grow older, their instinct to survival improves.

An earthquake or a tornado is an act of nature.  Many times in my blog, I have mentioned that God generally does not meddle with the acts of nature. 

But isn't God all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving?  Yes. Isn't God the creator of all things, including nature?  Yes. Then why does God not do anything to stop nature from releasing its fury and take hundreds of innocent lives??

I like the answer to THIS question, as given by Pope Francis: "One can only raise one's eyes up to heaven and look for answers that can't be found."  This is still a Christian mystery.

However if you subscribe to the Karmaric teachings, then there is an answer.  In fact, Karma can explain almost everything.  Innocent lives are lost because of Karma.

Regardless, God is always there to offer love and comfort, to the dead, the living, the sick, the hurt and the anguish.  God have mercy.

Lessons from Illegal Immigrants - it doubles in 25 years

This week, the newspapers were full of news about illegal immigrants.  Boatloads from countries torn by fighting were heading across the Mediterranean Sea to EU.  Boatloads from Myanmar were heading for Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.  It's called human trafficking or human smuggling.  Many immigrants died at sea.

Lets say 4 immigrants settled in an island of Malaysia. 
Assume a couple produces 4 children in the next generation. 
The average age of reproduction is 25 years, hence 1 generation is 25 years. 
The average lifespan is 75 years.

generation 1  now     4 immigrants  = 4
gen 2        25 yrs    4+4+4 = (4 x 3)  = 12
gen 3      50 yrs    4+4+4+4+4+4+4  = (4 x 7) = 28
gen 4      75 yrs    4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4 = (4 x 15) = 60
gen 5     100yrs    4+4 +4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+.. = (4 x 31) - (4x1) for demise of gen1=120
gen 6     125 yrs ....4+4+..... = (4x63) - (4x3) for demise of gen1 and gen2 = 240

So from 4, the number increases to 120 and then 239 after 125 years.  Roughly, the number doubles every generation.  So if there are 500,000, the next 25 years will be 1 million !!!

(My mathematics is no good.  Could a better person derive a mathematical formula?)

Now what would happen if Malaysia takes in 10 boatloads of 3000 immigrants from Myanmar ?

DESIDERATA - 'Placid' but don't sit back...

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.
© Max Ehrmann 1927
 
When I was in secondary school, my friends and I loved this song, especially the chorus.

But as time went by, and we all grew up, and entered the competitive working world, we could not even follow the first 2 words -- 'Go Placidly'.  Perhaps the writer lived very long ago when life was less materialistic and a slower pace was the norm.  In modern Singapore, life is a rush from the moment we wake up in the morning; and worrying about bills bills bills, plus how to please the boss and demanding customers.

So in today's context, the content of Desiderata is only partially correct.

What is Correct:

Therefore be at peace with God.
Whatever your religious persuasion, be at peace with your God or gods.  He (or they) nourishes your soul.  He is there for you and listens to you when you talk to Him.  While you labour to meet you physical needs, He is there to meet your spiritual needs.  Meeting both physical needs and spiritual needs makes you whole.

What is Not Correct:

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
We are children of God, placed in the Universe. (So sad if you do not believe in God the Creator - you missed the experience of spiritual love.)  God is the potter, we are the clay.  God is the creator, we are the created.  Being created, we have no rights.  Who we are, and whatever we have, is a privilege not a right.

Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Today, there are many places on earth where love is not 'perennial as the grass'.  You see it in the news almost everyday.  Many are living in hellish circumstances.  People are dying in Yemen because of  senseless terrorist attacks. Gunmen simply went to a school and shot dead 150 students. Women died in childbirth because there was no aid or medical aid, or selfless medical workers were brutally killed.  To many who were unfortunate, it's more than aridity and disenchantment.  The reality is that 'love' never reached them. To many, it was not 'a beautiful world'..

Today, the world needs to resolutely fight for peace.  Can there be 'placidity' when brutal killings and massacres are facing humankind everyday?

The truth is, the world is no longer placid.  At the individual level, you can be placid for only a brief moment, but not for long.  Do not languish in placidity.  Do our part. Do something real to make a better world.

If you hear His voice, Do not harden your heart.

As thinking persons, we do not always believe what other people tell us. After Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, Thomas declared that "Unless I see Jesus with my own eyes, and feel his side, I will not believe (John 20:25 paraphrased)."  8 days later, Jesus appeared physically before Thomas, and Thomas believed.

Then Jesus appeared physically before hundreds on several occasions.  And many believed.

But there were still some who saw the risen Christ and still did not believe.  These unbelievers even stoned Stephen to death, and persecuted other believers.

No matter what, even if Jesus were to appear to us physically today, some among us will not believe.

If we refuse to believe because of doubts about God, God will in His own time, resolve our doubts. 

But if we refuse to believe not because of doubts, but because of our stubbornness, then God has only one advice...

"IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS." Heb 4:7

King Nebuchadnezzar also believed in God

After Daniel interpreted a dream for King Nebu, this was what he said... (Dan 2:47)

"The King answered Daniel and said 'Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of Kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.'"

However, after some time, King Nebu made an image of gold, 60 cubits tall and 6 cubits wide, and ordered everyone to fall down and worship it. Whoever failed to do so would be thrown into a furnace and burnt alive.

After some more time, King Nebu again praised the God of Daniel.  Dan 4:2, he said "It seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me. 'How great are His signs.  And how mighty are His wonders!  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. And His dominion is from generation to generation.'"

You see, King Nebu was a 'typical' believer of God.  Sometime he believed, sometimes he turned to other gods, and sometimes he came back to believe God again.

Are we not the same as King Nebu?? We believe in God, we also believe in other gods like fame, fortune, wealth and honor.  In one season, our allegiance is to God.  In other seasons, our allegiance to other gods.  And then we turn to God again.

Law of Conscience, Law of Moses and the Saving Grace of Christ

Since my background is Chinese religion, I have many Buddhist friends.  Buddhists focus on doing good.

One day, all of us, Christians and non-Christians will stand before God, and God will judge us through Jesus Christ.  Why 'through Jesus Christ'?? Why can't non-Christians attend the judgment parade without Jesus Christ around?

Answer:- During the judgment parade, Jesus Christ will be in the picture because He is the Son of God.  He is seated at the right hand of God the Creator.  His duty is to present each of us to God for judgment. He is going to say "Father God, creator divine, I present Patrick Choe to you for judgment."

God judges us on 3 criteria.  For the Jews, the criterion (a) is the Law of  Moses.  For all non-Jews, the criterion is the (b) Law of Conscience - also-known-as "Law written in their hearts".  For all who believe in Christ, the criterion is the (c) saving grace of Christ.

A good Buddhist does good.  They serve the weak, the destitute.   They are generous with the poor and the hungry.  They are kind, avoid harming others, and do no evil.  They do their part to make the world a better place...They obey the Law of Conscience.

Would God judge them favorably on judgment day?  READ ROMANS CHAPTER 2 AND 3 to find out.  I personal believe God would.  But the chances is slim, very slim.  That is why God provided us with criterion (c).

By the way, today is Lunar New Year eve.  I wish you and your family a Blessed Lunar New Year.

 

3 reasons why people refused to believe Christ: Part 2 - An Unconvinced Mind

Many many years ago, I was enrolled in Primary 1 in an Anglican mission school.  Most of my classmates then did not come from Christian homes.  By the time we left school after 12 years, some of us were converted to Christianity.  After another 30 years, more than half of those non-believers were converted.

The seeds that were sowed in school took time to germinate.  Some took longer, some were faster.  Some remind doubtful and unconvinced in their mind, and that cause hesitation in their heart.

Christianity is a religion that does not provide answers to all questions, particularly difficult questions.  Christianity is based on faith in Jesus Christ.  If all faith's questions have logical answers, then only logic is needed, faith is not necessary. ('Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.')

By the way, I have been reading about other oriental religions.  I found that they are able to provide much more enlightenment to human doubts.  For example, the concept of Karma could explain the cause-and-effect of human sufferings very logically.

The Bible asserts the sovereignty of God.  It does not offer answers to many things, particularly why some prayers were answered, and some were not.  God's simple reply to all perplexing issues confronting humankind is: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." (Is 55:8,9)

If we want to wait till all our questions are answered before we believe in God, the time will never come.  Only the Holy Spirit can open our hearts to God.  Intellectual conviction will never bring us to Christ - because we will never fully understand the higher thoughts of God.

In life, many things require faith, including bungee jumping and travelling on a jet plane.  May the Holy Spirit grant us His grace to accept God's infinite love by faith.

3 reasons why people refused to believe Christ: Part 1 - A Hardened Heart

3 reasons.  Here I give the first reason.

For those of us who had the opportunity to hear the gospel before, we may still refuse to accept Christ because of some difficult and painful experiences.

I once worked with a very intelligent lady.  She had been shared the story of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  She did some reading on her own.  As usual she was a little doubtful, but was not against Christianity.

Just after she gave birth to a son, her husband died unexpected.  She was devastated.  She doubted the lovingkindness of God.  She told me "I will never become a Christian".

In Christianity, we cannot give a logical explanation to everything and every question.  We only accept that God is sovereign.  That does not mean that when someone dies, God is the one who 'cause his death'.   Death could be caused by humans, or by nature.  But in all cases, God allowed it to happen.

Recently an AirAsia plane crashed into the Java Sea and 162 people perished.  It was not an act of God.  It was an act of humans or an act of nature, although God allowed it to happen.

When some people suffered painful and difficult experiences, they asked God 'Why you allow this to happen to me?  I do not want to have anything to do with you."The bible says:
"Today if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your Heart."  (Ps 95:7, Hebs 4:7)

God is God.  God does not open the Red Sea or the River Nile for people to cross EVERYDAY.  It was under very special circumstances that God opened the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross under the leadership of Moses.

Similarly, God will not save EVERY crashing plane from crashing.  He may only do so under very special circumstances, which only He knows.

If you refuse to believe because you have suffered an ordeal, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEART.

   

Where is God Now? - The Right Answer

There was this guy who went round asking Christians "Since you believe in God, where is God now?"

In the Book of Acts of the Apostles, Jesus ascended into Heaven, but before that, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to us as our comforter.

So the right answer should be "God the Father is in Heaven.  God the Son is also in Heaven.  God the Holy Spirit is here with us, in our heart, in our life, around us, everywhere, omnipresent."

Even though Jesus is in Heaven, He is all-knowing, all-powerful.  He can hear our prayers, understand our feelings, know our thoughts, doubts and aspirations.

This is the marvel of our Triune God.  One God in 3 persons.

Christmas Reflection

Today is 28 Dec 2014.  Christmas has come and gone.  The year has come to a close.

This year has not been a great year to me.  Just before Christmas, on 17 Dec, I received news that my friend Terrence Thomas passed away.  He was younger than me.  Together with the demise of my eldest sister, my mother, my father and my father-in-law, the past 3 years was a painful time of breaking bond and some regrets.  I still dream of my parents almost every week.

Perhaps it is part of the life cycle that we all have to go through.  At my age, it may be natural to see more and more people leaving.

I too understand that to live, we should not think too much about death, and after every incidence of death around us, we need to close the subject and move on quickly.

But it is easier say than done.

Christmas is a time when I remind myself of Christ’s incarnate and His purpose to come die on the cross for me.  'Silent Night' was the most beautiful carol ever, and it romanticize the love of God.  As I knelt before the cross this Christmas, I thank God for life, for His blessings, the love of people around me, and the love of people departed from me.  I seek forgiven for my failures to live up to God asked of me, just as I had failed to live up to my departed parents' expectation from me.

It has been an emotional time for me.  Thank you for reading this blog entry.

No Human, Not Even Jesus, Knows When -- Christ's Second Coming

Since God is the creator, God is outside the time dimension.  God's perspective of time is totally different from human's perspective of time.

In Isaiah 7:14, God told His people, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you (yes you, the people who were listening) a sign: Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel...".  However, the timing was not what the people expected.  Immanuel did not come in that generation, but over 500 years, or over 20 generations later.

When reading the New Testament, we must not put a time to future events such as the Second Coming of Christ.  Regarding this, Jesus said "But of that day and how, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." Matt 24:36.

When Jesus was on earth as a human, He was no longer omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent.  He was limited in time and space and knowledge, as all humans are.

So when Jesus told people of His generation that 'This generation will not pass away till all these things take place." Matt 24:34, this did not take place.  By being wrong, He actually proved Matt 24:36 correct !!!

It is reassuring that Jesus, while He was human, made mistakes in timing like all humans.

So the lesson is clear.  We should not predict Christ's second coming.  It may be close, it may be very far away.

Merry Christmas 2014

Joe failed to understand Dad's love

I hope this is not a true story.  It happened before the mobile phone era.

Joe completed his tour of duty in the war in Middle East.  He was flown back to San Francisco.  He called his parents in New York. 
"I'm really glad you are coming home son." said Dad.
"Just a few more days, Dad.  By the way, I would like to bring a friend with me." Joe said.
"Sure, and who is he?"
"Dad, his name is Peter.  He stepped on a landmine and lost an arm and a foot.  He has nowhere to go. Can I bring him home and live with us permanently?  Joe replied.
"Son, you don't understand what you are asking.  It will be too much for us to look after Peter.  We have our lives to go on. Surely Peter has somewhere else to go and someone to look after him? Dad replied.
The phone call ended shortly.

3 days after, Dad received a call from the police that his son Joe had apparently committed suicide.  When Dad went to identify the body, he was stunned that Joe was without an arm and a foot.

Lesson:  Joe should not do what he did.  He should not test his Dad.   Joe did not grasp the immense greatness of parental love.  He did not did not really appreciate the different types of love.

A parent's love to his own child is not the same as his love to another person's child.  There are many parents who have severely handicapped children who require life-long care.  Yet these parents are prepared to forsake everything, glory, freedom, wealth, worldly enjoyment, and even their own lives, to look after their own handicap children for 20 years, 50 years, 80 years. But ask them, the same parents, to adopt someone else's handicap children and accord them the same sacrifice, the answer is no.

Love is like that.  Joe's Dad can sacrifice much, or readily sacrifice everything, for Joe's sake.  But do not expect him to do the same for Peter, who was just another person in the world of 7 billion.  Parental love could be sacrificial.  Other human love could come and go, wax and wane, or turn hot and cold.

There was no need for Joe to use Peter to test his Dad's love.  Joe was the begotten son.  Peter was not.

"So then, you are no longer a slave but a son.  And since you are a son, God will give you all that he has for his sons." Gal 4:7.

Christ has freely invited us to be sons of God.  You decide.

Some have more crowns, some have less, and all have none.

Some of us love God and serve God almost all our working lives.  Christ will reward you with 'crowns' (or trophies) when the time comes.  There are different types of crowns.  There is the crown of righteousness, crown of glory, crown of honor, crown of life, etc. (2 Tim 4:8, 1 Pet 5:4, Heb 2:9, James 1:12, etc)

Some of us believe and accept Christ's gift of salvation at the end of our lives.  Hence you do not have time to serve Christ.  You will go to Heaven, but without any crown.

Now, all living things need to live with a sense of purpose.  Being rewarded for one's effort is important.  When we are in Heaven,  some of use will be wearing many crowns, and some, probably, without any crown.  This is inequality.  Whenever there is inequality, there is dissatisfaction and unhappiness. (Because all living things have a natural tendency to compare with one another!)

But fret not.  Revelations 4:10 says that we will all lay our crowns before the throne of God.  So, yes, perhaps for a short while, some may be walking around with several pretty crowns, and some with no crown.  But in a while, those with crowns will offer them back to God.  Then, everybody will have no crown to show off again.  All are equal.  The source of unhappiness has been removed.  And now everyone is happy.

What a clever solution to make everyone happy.

Remember, serving God is a privilege.  It is hard work, but the satisfaction is intrinsic.  Physical rewards are there, but we will happily place these trophies at Jesus' feet.

Note:   Why is there a 'crown'  in the slogan below?
Answer: Keep Calm and Carry On was a motivational poster produced by the British government in 1939 in preparation for the Second World War. (Below is the original poster. Source: Wikipedia)

Being Sovereign

God is not only the creator of  all things in Heaven and Earth, He is also sovereign over all things.  (Mind you, all creation were good when created.  Only after they were created that some turned bad.)

Now being sovereign means having control and authority over all things - good or bad things.

Being sovereign, God is in a risky position.  He would be praised and glorified for the good things.  But He would also be 'blamed' for allowing bad things to happen.  After all, He is in a position to stop all the sufferings and all the bad things, but He did not.

So Lord,  why did You allow the Ebola epidemic?  Why did you allow natural disasters?  Why did you allow genocides in so many countries?

But God is God.  We will never understand Him fully.  We are mere creatures.  We understand Him based on what He has revealed to us.  And compassion is one of His attributes.

Joining a Perfect Church

There is no perfect human being.  Some are Extremely good.  Some are Extremely bad.  All the rest fall within these 2 points of the continuum.

 

Same for the churches.  Church is the body of Christ, but made up of people.  There is no perfect church.  Some are Very Christ-like, following the beliefs of the New Testament very closely.  Some are Very unChrist-like, following all kinds of non-biblical beliefs and misinterpretations .  Most of the churches fall within these 2 points of the continuum.

An author in Wikipedia says that there are 41,000 Christian denominations. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations)  Okay, this number is unimaginable and may be exaggerated.  Let say there are 5,000 denominations, in all different categories (such as Western Catholic Churches, Eastern Catholic Churches, Various independent Catholic Churches, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Lutherans, Anglicans, Reforms, Presbyterians, Congregationals, Anabaptists, Baptists, Free Evangelicals, Methodists, Apostolics, Pentecostals, Charismatics, Neo- Charismatics, Independents, etc).

If you are looking for the perfect church, then be assured that you will not find it on earth.

However, we must join a 'decent' church.  Look at the church's Statement of Doctrine, Statement of Faith, Statement of Purpose and the Creeds it embraces.  Avoid churches that have unorthodox beliefs about the Trinity, about Salvation, about the Son of God, the Virgin Birth and the Resurrection.   This is my view.

 

 

Say the right thing, do the left thing - Whitney and Solomon

Whitney Houston was a real inspiration to me and to many people of our generation.  Her songs instill hope and love and encouragement.  I really really like her beautiful clear voice, and the uplifting lyrics of her songs.



So it came to me as a great surprise that she was using drugs during the last period of her days.  Through her songs, she had ministered to me in times of loneliness and dejection.  She had inspired me and millions with her songs  -- but she had not been able to inspire herself to overcome the difficult periods of her own life.

King David's son, King Solomon was the wisest man on earth.  He wrote 4 or 5 books in the Bible, teaching and exhorting others to live meaningful and godly lives.  But he himself married one pagan wife after another-- a thousand wives and hundreds of them were pagan.  In the end, he worshipped pagan gods with his pagan wives. 

Probably because of his sins, King Solomon died relatively young -- he ended less than 70 years old.  God never considered Solomon a friend.

The world is full of examples of human beings who say great things, but live lowly lives.  We must NOT aspire to be like them.  We must keep our eyes on Jesus alone.

Why Jesus asked Father to "let this cup pass from me"?

At the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as you will."

Many of us are puzzled by this prayer.

Was Jesus saying, "Father, I don't want to die on the cross-- but I'll do it if You insist" ???   No.

Brother Andrew, in his book AND GOD CHANGED HIS MIND, put it this way:

Remember, it was only a short time before this that Jesus said, referring to His coming crucifixion "What shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this reason I came to this hour." (John 12:27)  Obviously Jesus would not make such an emphatic statement and then do a complete about-face in the Garden and ask God to keep Him from the dying on the cross.

I'm convinced that the 'cup' He was asking God to take from Him was premature death in the Garden of Gethsemane as a result of the crushing satanic pressure that caused Him to sweat drops of blood (Luke 22:44) as His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. (Matt 26:38).

If He were to die prematurely in the Garden, then He would not die on the cross to save mankind.

So His prayer was in essence, "Father, let this cup pass:  I don't want to die here in the Garden.  If You have changed Your mind about me dying on the cross later, I'm asking You to change Your mind again... but may your will be done."

Some Miracles of the Old Testament

1. The Multiplication of Languages (Babel) Gen 11:7-9
2.  Certain Sodomites Smitten With Blindness (Sodom) Gen 19:11
3.  Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah  Gen 19:24-25
4.  Lot's Wife Turned into a Pillar of Salt (Road from Sodom) Gen 19:26
5. The Burning Bush Not Consumed (Horeb) Ex: 3:2
6. Moses' Rod Transformed into a Serpent (Horeb) Ex 4:2-5
7. Moses' Hand Made Leprous and Healed (Horeb) Ex 4:6-7
8. The Ten Plagues (Egypt) Ex 7:12
9. The Pillar of Cloud by Day and of Fire by Night (near Egypt) Ex 13:20-22
10. The Red Sea Divided, and Returned to Its Channel (near Egypt) Ex 14:21-30
11. Water Brought from the Rock (Horeb and Meribah) Ex 17:5-7, 8-16
12. Aaron's Rod Buds, Blossoms and Dears Almonds (Kadesh) Num 17:1-13
13. The Jordan Divided (River of Jordan) Josh 3:14-17
14. The Walls of Jericho Fall (Jericho) Josh 6:6-20
15. The Sun and Moon Stand Still (Gibeon) Josh 10:12-13
16. Dagon and Many Philistines Fall Before the Ark (Ashdod) 1 Sam 5
17. The Chariot of Fire Takes Elijah to Heaven (Near Jordan) II Kings 2:11
18. The Waters of Jericho Made Fit to Drink (Jericho) II Kings 2:19-22
19. The Widow's Oil Multiplied (II Kings 4:1-7
20. The Sun Made to Go Back (Jerusalem) II Kings 20:9-11
21. Saved in the Fiery Furnace (Babylon Dan 3:19-27
22. Daniel Saved from Lions (Babylon Dan 6:16-23
23. Jonah in the Whale's Belly (Mediterranean) Jon 1:17
24. The Syrian Army Put to Flight (Samaria) II Kings 7:6-7

Solomon the Wise, Solomon the Vile

Solomon was the son of David.  He was wise.  When God asked him "What would you like me to give you?" Solomon answered that he wanted more wisdom.  God was so please that He said "Because you have asked for the wisdom to rule justly instead of long life... or riches... or death of your enemies...I will give you more wisdom and understanding than anyone ever had..."

So Solomon was the wisest man on earth.  (1 Kings 3:9 onwards).  But not for too long.

Sadly, despite all his wisdom, Solomon stopped obeying God.   1 Kings chapter 11 says that Solomon started to marry pagan wives who turned his heart to their pagan gods.  In fact he had a thousand wives, mostly pagan ones. 

Sigh! When the wisest man turned away from God, he was no longer wise. 
Refer to http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/1111.htm

Christianity is not a religion about human wisdom.  Other religions produce wiser human beings than Christianity.  For example, Buddhism could provide logical answers to many questions on worldly problems.

Christianity is a religion of our relationship with God.  With regards to eternal life, having more or having less wisdom is not an issue.

The grace of God is sufficient for all.  We only need to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross; that He rose again on the third day; and that He ascended to heaven after 40 days in the presence of hundreds of witnesses.

I believe.  This is enough.

  

Lessons From the 11th Century Crusades

 

Christianity started in 30 AD when Jesus started His ministry.  Through the evangelistic effort of the early disciples, Christianity spread quickly for the next few hundred years through persuasion, cohesion or conquest.

 

Islam started around 620 AD, Also through evangelistic effort by early believers, Islam spread to many areas including those already entrenched with Christianity.  The spread of Islam was also through persuasion, cohesion and conquest.
 

The collision and rivalry between these 2 religions had resulted in the famous or infamous Crusades when advocates of both religions fought and died.  There were 9 main Crusades and many smaller Crusades.  Read more about them in Wikipedia.
 

Finally the Crusades ended.  Both sides realized the futility of fighting and the idea of 'Dying for your religion results in great honour and reward in Heaven'.
 

The ending of the Crusades resulted in the Ottoman Empire and a Middle Eastern region that is predominantly Islamic, even though this region was originally evangelized successfully by the Christian apostles and disciples.
 

TODAY, I am sad to note that some renegade groups are now conquering regions of Syria and Iraq and committing heinous acts like beheading, rape and torture, to force the people there to adopt their kind of so-called religious beliefs.
 

But the civilized world had learnt its lesson from the futility of military Crusades fought during the 11th to 13th century.  The civilized world is a world of religious freedom. The civilized world would not wage religious wars anymore.
 

Hence, there is now seemingly no effective solution on how the civilized society could counter uncivilized militant group behavior.  What manner of 'crusade' will eliminate this scourge?  

 

 

Epilogue to Taoism

My father passed away on 31 May 2014.  He chose for Taoist funeral rites.  Today marks the final rite -- the 100th-day Rite.

The Taoist priest performed the rite at PekSanTeng Columbarium in the morning. The priest told me that all procedural rites had been duly completed and all matters should now to re-set to normal.

Most likely, this was the last time I have anything to do with Taoist rites.  With both parents settled, I am the start of the new generation of God-fearing believers of Jesus Christ. 

I am now the pioneer who leads future generations to Jesus Christ.  Taoism could now be seen as a religion of the ancestors. The breakaway is now complete.

Jesus Christ shall be the one and only God whom I will worship.  He has resurrected from the death and He is alive.  He has been with me ever since I invited Him into my life, although sometimes He appeared to be very far away. 

For His dying on the cross for me, I will be faithful.

Empty home and memories...

Both my parents had passed on.

It was painful to dispose what they had treasured in the last 60 years, 80 years.  Their beds, their mattresses, their tools, their cookery, their dressing table, their photograph albums, their favorite clothing.

However I did that.  I cleared out their favorite things which they treasured.  I need to face the fact that they had left.

What is left is their empty home; and my memories.

And over time, I know my memories will also fade.  But it would be a long long time.

Meanwhile I still pray for them.  That God will grant them His loving grace.  That in the new world, they would recognize Jesus Christ and dwell with Him in the Father's House (John 14:2).

God's lovingkindness and mercy is eternal. 

Lessons from a 'slipped disc'

I have suffered from a 'slipped disc' for the last 3 weeks. I understand that my case is mild, because a serious case means I will be out-of-action for several months.

I am now about 95% healed.  It is easy to know whether it is healing -- I could tell from the degree of pain when I cough.  3 weeks ago, the pain was excruciating when I coughed.  Now it is only slightly painful.

I guess getting older means more prone to getting hurt physically.

This episode is also a timely reminder that health and wealth could disappear any moment.  If my slipped disc is more serious, I would be bedridden and require serious therapy.  If I fall and break my spine, I may not be able to walk again.  If I suffer from dengue fever, I may die within a few days...

Every few years, God allows me to go through a testing to remind myself that I have been richly blessed... and I should not take the blessings for granted.

I hope I do not need to be reminded again in future.  But if I have to be reminded, then I would gladly go through a bit of pain, for my own good.

I am grateful.  Thank you LORD.

(Tips: If when you cough, you feel a pain along your spine, then hold onto an overhead pole (such as a chin-up pole) before you cough.  This will relieve the pressure and the pain on your lower spine.)

Faith and Fanaticism

Today's newspaper carried a very good article by Alan Mattingly of NY Times.  I like to add my comments.

The world can live with religions.  Religions can co-exist.  It's Fanaticism that is destroying the world.

However, in order to gain a foothold, all new religions, or split-offs of old religions, must be fanatical.

Same with Christianity.  Admittedly, the early Christians and Apostles were fanatics too.  They were saying "Time is short.  Christ is returning soon (during their lifetime).  Go tell the world and everybody the Good News."  Many Christians died and suffered for their zeal and fanaticism!

Today, August 2014, fanaticism is sprouting all over the world!  Muslims against Jews in the Holy Land. Buddhists against Muslims in Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Muslims against Muslims in Iraq and elsewhere.  Boko Haram in Nigeria, etc.

My view is that we are living in the world of 7 billion individuals.  7 billion differences.  If we do not moderate our beliefs, live and let live, we will be killing each other on Earth all the time.

Hence, in order to have peace while on Earth, we must accept differences in beliefs.  At the personal level, we could be most extreme in what we believe and do.  But at the social level, we must let others believe whatever spirituality they want.  There is a need to compromise at the social level.

Perhaps when we all leave this world some day, there will no longer be a need to compromise.  Then, we will know what is, and what is not, for sure.

My last THOUGHT, My first WORDS

All the relatives came for my father's wake the night prior to the his cremation.  They came on the same night to chat-chat with one another.

In one of the conversation, the 'moment of death' was discuss...

Cousin A:  "I told my mum, at the moment of death, you must pray (chant mantra) repeatedly until the last breath, until your consciousness slips away."
Cousin B: "Yes, the final journey must be travelled alone.  No one can help you at the moment of death.  One must take care of oneself."
I quizzed: "What did you tell your mum to chant at that final moment?"
Cousin A:  " It's up to her.  Maybe can simply chant 'namo ahmeetoh, namo ahmeetoh, namo ahmeetoh...' until the consciousness slips away."

Prior to that night, I had not personally considered of what to do at the moment of my death.  The conversation set me thinking.  Yes, one day I will leave this world.  If I leave peacefully, it is a good idea to 'chant or pray repeatedly'  during the final moment, since I would not know the exact point in time my consciousness slips away.  That prayer must be short and easy.  That will be my last thought on this world, and my first words into the next world.  Now what should those words be?  Think Think Think!

After some thinking, I have chosen the 3 words "Thank you Jesus". Jesus is my link between this life and the next life.  I have considered other options like 'Praise The Lord', 'Have Mercy On Me Jesus', 'Jesus I Commit My Spirit', 'Save Me Jesus' etc.  But I finally decided on a 3-word-Thanksgiving.  Thank you Jesus for this life, and for welcoming me to the next life.

Thank you Jesus.  You made all these possible by dying for me on the cross, and then rose again on the third day.  YOU MADE ETERNAL LIFE POSSIBLE !!!

Jeremiah 20 -- Rise above discouragement

I can identify with Jeremiah.

Like what Jesus did while He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jeremiah also poured out his heart and his thoughts in Jeremiah Chapter 20.  It was a mixture of praise, of bitterness, of seeking forgiveness, of obedience and of discouragement.

v 13: Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord! For He has delivered the soul of the needy ones from the hand of evildoers.
Then starting from v 14, his expressed his immense pain and sadness...
v 14-18: Cursed be the day when I was bone; let the day not be blessed when my mother bore me...Why did I ever come forth from the womb to look on trouble and sorrow, so that my days have been spent in shame?

Please read the whole of Jeremiah 20.  Jeremiah was human, with human emotions.  On the whole, Jeremiah had done splendidly as an instrument of God.

We always tell new Christians the good news that they could obtain eternal salvation freely when they accept Christ.  As these new Christians grow in grace and faith, they would see the reality that a Christian life is not always a bed of roses. Life is not easier for a Christian. But with Christ, we are always stronger. We can overcome.

Beyond the sadness and the pain, God is still in control.

Today is Sunday 13 July 2014.

So many things happened in the last 2 weeks.

My father passed away on Saturday 31 May 2014.  I am still trying to make sense of what had happened.  I am still terribly sad.  God did not allow me the joy of witnessing my father's salvation.  My father did not accept Christ before he died.  I had been praying for my both my parents' salvation for thirty over years...yet they did not recognize Christ at their moment of death.  I could only ask God to give them the grace to recognize Christ after they entered the next world.

Then on Wednesday 2 July 2014, my father-in-law passed away.  He had embraced Catholicism.  After being baptized and received the 'Last Rites' while in hospital a few years ago, God let him lived another 4 years.  I am confident he died a Christian. Alleluia!

The last 4 deaths -- first my eldest sister, then my mother, then my father and now my father-in-law, all within 26 months, had really affected me emotionally.  The thoughts of life, the brevity of life, and what is important in life, are constantly churning in my mind, even in my sleep.

I have an emotional disposition.  But the irony is that I do not show emotion on my face. I am sentimental to the core. Sometimes I do not even understand my own emotion.

During the Sunday morning church service today, the pastor preached about praise, the power of praise.  Yes, I need to praise God for what had taken place -- that my father died a peaceful and happy man, confident that he was returning to the place where all his ancestors went before him. 

I like to cling on to the hope that when my father entered the next world, God would grant him the grace to recognize Christ, and to grant him a room in the house of God forever. 

God will still answer my prayer - because He died on the cross and rose again for me... And I have pleaded with Him for thirty over years.