Sublime

On the sublime (the feeling of awe when you are at a very huge mountain/large place like Sinai etc)

Book of Job – most sublime book in Bible. When God spoke to Job, God basically said,  ”Do not be surprised that things have not gone your way; the universe is greater than you. Do not be surprised that you do not understand why they have not gone your way, for you cannot fathom the logic of the universe. See how small you are next to the mountains. Accept what is bigger than you and that you do not understand.”

The world may appear illogical to Job, but it does not follow that it is illogical per se. Our loves are not the measure of all things: consider sublime places for a reminder of human insignificance and frailty.

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to my splendid and unendingly brilliant Darling for wrapping up her 2nd-year Law in wonderful colours!!

(I clearly don’t mean blue and red colours, in case you’re wondering… -.-)

GR, not PR

Do you ever realise that people love to oppose God? Whether they embrace evil or are doing good in the process, they are prone to denying God His throne and placing it elsewhere. Here are some thoughts along those lines,  from a conversation between Deb and me, born out of a discussion about scientology.

• Since Jesus’ time, peoeple have been going against God and making religions for themselves. But the strange thing is that they find a need to oppose God in the process, which ironically points to this God as being a true God.
• This is inevitable; there is nothing else they can oppose because God is ‘too’ real to be ignored.
• If their aim is to do good, why must they still oppose God? The reason is because if you oppose darkness, you’re still in darkness, until and unless you see the light. Darkness is the absence of light; but absence of darkness is still darkness.
• God made man in His image, but they turn away. So they want to do good but without the source of good itself.
• This validates why ‘Good’ is never an end in itself; it can never determine your eternal life. There is no bargaining with God except to have a personal relationship with Him – to fulfil the reason you were created.
• Much can be learnt from Jesus Christ. He dined with the ‘most’ sinful people, and authoritatively rebuked the Pharisees and those who opposed him.  He was never corrupted by them nor was guilted into attendance.  Reason: He was/is the real source of love. Even at the last moment His love was felt by a sinner on a neighbouring cross.
• But how was it really possible? Answer: Jesus was God and man. It would be impossible to invent the Jesus we know of (Yancey) unless this is true.
• Importantly, He was concerned with GR, not PR. God-Relation, not People-Relation. His eyes were always focused on God the Father – doing His will – and that governed his relationship with others. We should likewise always strive to please GOD, not please PEOPLE.

Book Sale! Spread the word!

Some are mine and some are on behalf of a friend. Let me know if you want them. Price negotiable.

Falling out of Fashion- Karen Yampolsky

The Railway Children- E. Nesbitt

Middlemarch- George Eliot

Confessions of a Shopaholic- Sophie Kinsella

Man and Boy- Tony Parsons

Lorna Doone- R.D Blackmore

Stomping out the Darkness- Neil T. Anderson and Dave Park

The God of Small Things – Arundhati Roy

I love western houses because…..

of carpeted floors and curvy staircases!

This reminds me of a particular townhouse on Chaseling St.

Good exercise too!

of kitchen islands!

of pantries and larders!

Looks exactly like yours Che!

Though the downside is pantry beetles and their larvae. It’s gross!

of nook windows to keep the LIVING geraniums and herbs on!

The downside is the dusting I guess!

of sliding closet doors!

or closets in general!

of fireplaces and mantelpieces!

Chor Tai Ti and Monopoly around the fireplace!

Beatitudes: Lucky are the Unlucky!- Yancey

Jesus’ promise of rewards is a future in good, not evil= Hope!
Heaven would seem a long awaited homecoming than a visit to a new place.

The Great Reversal: modern society entails the survival of the fittest. The one who dies with the most toys wins! The best weapons and the largest GNPs. However, Jesus exemplifies the triumph of the victims.

Gates to the kingdom of God are dependence, sorrow and repentance. These qualities are greatly prized in spiritual life. The poor knows the need for redemption, they rest on their security and not on things, they do not exaggerate importance, they expect little and are more realistic knowing that they can survive suffering.

The gospel brings good news instead of a scolding. Prosperous saints are very rare.

Psycho-reality: these qualities benefit us most here in this life. Lust= attraction to unknown creatures and a taste for adventure and chance meetings. Blessed are those who are pure in love, they see God. Impurity separates us from God.

Martin Luther King: Blessed are those who are persecuted. The cross we bear precedes the Crown we wear. The Beatitudes are realistic and pragmatic. The paradoxical key to an abundant life.

We have the consciousness of failure to attain ideal perfection. All we can see is the extent of deviation- Tolstoy.

Legalism: we prefer the law because we always know where we rank. We may find it easier to follow a God who just says obey all my commandments and not believe in me.

Walter Wink: the contagion of holiness overcomes the contagion of uncleanliness.

The emphasis is on mercy(inclusive) rather than holiness(exclusive).

Jesus did not say, “I’m so grateful Rather for choosing me to suffer on your behalf. I rejoice in this privilege.” His sorrow, abandonment , fear, desperation was endured because of His trust in the father’s will and love.

Doestoesvsky: Faith does not spring from miracles but miracles from faith. Jesus knows that excitement generated by miracles cannot convert a life into faith. Miracles arouse suspicion, contempt and occasionally faith.

Miracles done by Jesus never contradict the natural law of creation. God creates the vine and teaches it to draw water from the roots to turn into wine. Antigens and antibodies heal our body everyday, just slower. The spiritual disease is more important than physical ailment because everyone ultimately dies. Jesus came to heal souls. The Messiah does not save the world by miracles, a storm calmed, a cure administered but by His death!

In the old days when calamities happen, we blamed the person. Now we blame God. Tragedies do not happen to those who deserve them. It happens so that the work of God may be displayed in their lives.