Archive for the 'Faith' Category

Trouble is coming

February 24th, 2012

John 16:33 (NIV)

   33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

A Prayer

January 27th, 2011

Father. Thank you again for all you have done in my life so far. Although I know that not all of it has been pleasant, I know that all of it has been Good. For you are Good, and nothing else.

I’m constantly reminded of life’s struggles, and of the toil that all of us on earth go through. I can’t wait for you to come again to take all this away, but at the same time, I know that you have put all these on earth to provide us with a constant reminder that all things come from you and that all things must come through you. As sinners, we constantly forget this and it is only through the struggle we are reminded of a great, powerful and al-mighty God.

So, my Lord, I thank you for the struggles. I only ask that you pull me through them, as you always have, shining your light when the darkest hour seems to strike, my chivalrous knight in steely armour and my rock in turbulent times.

Only you know what goes through my heart in these times about my family who are struggling at home. I have not been a good son. I feel guilty that I am enjoying myself. I feel guilty that I am able to earn money and they cannot. I feel helpless that I am unable to provide support, both monetarily and by my presence. Lord, how should I proceed? I pray on all these things and for your wisdom and guidance in your son’s most holy and precious name, amen.

Resolutions for 2011

January 11th, 2011

So this post is about 10 days late, but it’s given me time for self reflection to try and figure out my goals for this year.

Looking back at my post this time last year, I have to say that I am actually very proud of myself for 2010’s achievements.  OK, so I’m not the healthiest person on the planet nor have I mastered mandarin, but hey, I found something wayyy more exciting. I found Jesus! Hey dude, that’s COOL!

My resolution for this year is to continue that journey with God. Although it’s both exciting and strangely terrifying, I know it will be rewarding. I want to grow in faith, to learn what it really means to Trust the Lord and to give Him all that I can. All relationships take time to cultivate, including this one. But something I’ve learnt in all my relationships in the past, is that if I put the effort and work in, it’s totally do-able!

Let’s start by resolving to finish the One Year Bible by the time 2011 is up. I’ve made a good start so far (10 days in…) but let’s try to keep it up shall we, Hsiang?

Other resolutions? Well, I return back to London in less than 3 months’ time and begin a new stage of my career. It will be a huge challenge stepping  up to the role and taking on more responsibility. And it will be an even bigger challenge because I want to ensure my priorities in life don’t change. God is important and my resolution for this year is to ensure that the balance is maintained (or improved in His favour of course).

I want to try and continue my mandarin classes. It will take lots of discipline for me to sign up for those courses again, but hopefully I will look at this post and be reminded that it is is something I have to do.

Let’s try to be healthier too. Throw in a couple of gym sessions per month (I said month, not week, coz let’s be realistic about this).

Quotes

February 18th, 2010

I read two interesting quotes last night (both lifted directly from http://www.htb.org.uk/one-year-bible/2010). I just wanted to put them here to remind myself of them.

To be faithful means to use the gifts and abilities that God has given us. Joyce Meyer writes, ‘Many people are like that third servant (who said, ‘I was afraid’, Matthew 25). They hide their talents because they are afraid – afraid of responsibility; afraid of judgment; afraid of what people will think. They are afraid to step out; afraid they might fail; afraid of criticism; afraid of other people’s opinions; afraid of being misunderstood. They are afraid of the sacrifice and hard work involved.’ (The Everyday Life Bible Amplified Version, featuring Notes and Commentary by Joyce Meyer, p.1540.)

I can relate to Meyer’s quote and the servant in Matthew 25:14-30. I have fears in my own life of stepping up, and not trusting that I have been given the ability for a reason. Meyer’s quote is a reminder to me that there is no need to fear because He blessed us, and gave us all we need to equip ourselves.

Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, led a team of over 2,000 scientists who collaborated to determine the 3 billion letters in the human genome – our own DNA instruction book. He says, ‘I cannot see how nature could have created itself. Only a supernatural force that is outside of space and time could have done that.’ (Collins, The Language of God).

As for Collins, I like the idea that science and theology can mix. Obviously his mapping of the Human Genome was a phenomenal step in our understanding of biology, and for a man of his stature to have such strong beliefs in an ultimate creator is somewhat reassuring to me.

Links:

http://www.htb.org.uk/one-year-bible/faithfulness

http://www.htb.org.uk/one-year-bible/living-hostile-world

A message?

January 15th, 2010

Is someone trying to send me a message? Since my last post quite a few Christianity-related things have popped up around me.

Perhaps it’s just a heightened state of awareness and it’s purely my consciousness picking up things which are near the front of my mind these days. But then again, it’s just weird.

It started out with the book I was reading – Gandhi’s autobiography. Now I’ve been reading that book since mid-2009, and as I’m not a slow reader, it’s just purely that I wasn’t that interested enough to sit down and read. But about a week ago, the text suddenly jumped up at me as Gandhi started exploring his own faith, questioning Christianity and spoke of his own beliefs in God. What astute timing… coincidence 1? Maybe.

Coincidence 2 – Last Thursday, my first day back at work, there was a booth at Silks where colleagues were promoting a series of lunchtime talks called “Christianity Explored”. Title is self-explanatory. I was interested in attending, but with so much work it would have been very difficult to step away at lunchtime. Plus I feel like this journey for me, at least at the start, will be a fairly individualist and personal, engaging only close and trusted friends.

Then there was that article about Tiger Woods’ faith. According to the journalist, Woods is a Buddhist. But due to his recent transgressions, it was suggested that conversion to Christianity could offer Woods guidance, forgiveness and redemption. True that in Buddhism there isn’t the One Being to say “I forgive you”. Of course it’s not the same in Buddhism. It’s not about sin. It’s about recognising the cause of suffering and addressing that cause.

It’s most interesting because I don’t think I really understand the concept of Sin. Maybe in layman terms, but not to the extent the Bible teaches it.

And most recently was just last night when Reine and I engaged into a conversation about the history of Christianity, Islam and Jewism. We wiki’d quite a few pages like “Bible“, “textual criticism“, “Malaysian Chinese religion” (which turned out to be quite an amusing read!), “Chinese deities“, “Chinese gods“…

I felt like we were engaged in a proper conversation. It made me feel good to be teaching and educating her! I don’t want to be her lecturer, but her mentor – be someone to help guide her through life and grow as an individual and as my partner.

Back to the original purpose of this post, I don’t know what it is but I’m so curious these days. I want to learn and to know more! Not just about Christianity, but about other religions. I want to know what I believe.