The reflecting theologian

It is this time of the year again when I must take stock of my previous year. I usually do this really towards the end but I foresee that I will not have a lot of time on 31 Dec and 1 Jan. So as usual, the normal practice, I prefer to review the past year first. January Work pace was still slow, and things were going as per normal. There were 4 newcomers joining in the cg (previously my cg, YGC2) but unfortunately, they disappeared thereafter, which was a pity. But the unit grew quite large as a result. I was beginning to get used to the work that I was doing... although I was still doing menial stuff and there wasn't much to do anyway, given that my AD was so busy. I was also called to be involved in the planning for the YG conference, which was a big thing for me, as I prayed that I could get involved in the planning of YG conference 2010. And that kickstarted some late nights at Mount Sophia... oh well... those were the days. February This month's highlight was the YG ...

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Let's ask a follow-up question, we give back to Caesar what is Caesar's. The denarius coin bear the image of Caesar, and therefore it belongs to Caesar. Implicitly, Jesus said one thing, and would have asked one mo...

The new year is approaching. It means that the time to take stock of my life... past year is coming soon.

It is hard to imagine that I have been on this journey for 5 years. As I think back, it was really funny. I remember blogging (and you can still find the post here in this blog) that the content of my blog will not change. And it changed, dramatically. I remember saying that I will remain true to some of my commitments, and those were the least of my priorities today. What exactly has 5 years done to me, this I cannot fathom. It is like the marathon that I recently ran (again). I was excited and had a good run in the first few km. Then the distance became longer as I progressed on. Circumstances changed and my mindset changed too. Likewise, I cannot fathom what 5 years of walking in the faith has done in my heart. Things were not as rosy as one might imagine to be. To those who are given more, more will be expected. I would like to think of myself being someone who is being given more, first with financial support and good results, then with a good job with comfortable pay and flexib...

I was just thinking on the train, it is not easy being a leader. Just as a case example. I am imagining myself leading a cg in uni, and now is the exam period. I have a cg member who wants to study for his exam rather than attend cg. I challenge him to come for cg. Now if my result is good, then he may say, "of course you can go for cg lah, your result so good". If my result sucks, he may say, "if I go, I will end up like you". Then if I teach him, "trust in God and He will bless your study", I am not sure if I am teaching the correct value and I will be leaving potential for backlash. Not easy.

Useless inventions 1. Non stick Cellotape 2. Solar Powered Flash Light 3. A black highlighter pen 4. Glow in the dark sunglasses 5. Inflatable Anchor 6. Smooth Sandpaper 7. Waterproof sponge 8. Waterproof Teabags 9. AC adapter for Solar powered calculators 10. Fireproof Matches 11. Fireproof Cigarettes 12. Battery powered Battery Charger 13. Seatbelts for Motorbikes 14. Hand powered Chainsaw 15. Inflatable Dartboard 16. Silent Alarm Clock 17. A Pedal powered wheelchair 18. Braille Drivers Manual 19. Double sided playing cards 20. Ejector seats for Helicopters

NIV 1984: I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. NLT: And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. MSG: Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, "Oh, thank you, God!" I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other believers. And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers. NET: I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing   that belongs to you   in Christ. NIV 2010: I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your ...

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.” ... Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in th...

What was the problem before? Taxiing down the tarmac, the jetliner abruptly stopped, turned around and returned to the gate. After an hour-long wait, it finally took off. A concerned passenger asked the flight attendant, "What was the problem?" "The pilot was bothered by a noise he heard in the engine," explained the Flight Attendant, "and it took us a while to find a new pilot."

I dun know how to title this post. There was this North Korean girl who recently shared her testimony in the Third Lasaunne Congress in Cape Town. Her parents escaped to China and received Christ there. Then, her father, after the mother passed away, started conducting bible studies and eventually went back to North Korea to spread the gospel of Christ, only to be caught by the North Korean government and never to be heard since. This girl eventually came to know Christ herself and now God began to place in her heart a burden for North Korea. It was a heart ranching testimony, but I have decided not to post the link up to protect the girl. The video is not found in the official Lausanne website as well. This reminds me, really, that today, the things that the churches face, and all the individuals face are only so small compared to what this girl and some other believers out there have to go through. True that we are living in different situations and contexts, but to complain to God...