Hillsong United - Hosanna

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Me being - full of expectations

expectations.
sometimes that i struggle with, especially when i pray to God.

expecting things to happen.
but is that what we should do when we pray?

God created us, He's here even before the beginning of time. He created our forefathers from centuries/milleniums ago.

He, of all people should know best. so why should we still expect?
for He shall provide for us what's best for us.
He's our Lord God. remember?
kept that in mind?

sometimes for me, it still hasnt.
especially when emotions sets in. i pray about something with expectations.
i pray about something with a target already in mind.

and God doesnt work this way.
when we pray, we should still embrace God's will. not our will.

its hard. especially if its something that's an issue. specially if its something that you really want to happen.

i'm an introvert. especially when it comes to groups. i just dont seem to be able to express myself the way i want to.
thats why i'm usually quiet. unless i'm totally comfortable with the group.
unless i know u well, and u know me as well.

Jesus. so glorious you are. so beautiful.
i apologise for feeling this way time and time again.
sometimes i just wish to have this authority to stand between 'hh' and everyone else and push them away. snapping at them to back off.
what's this crazy feeling?
is it jealousy. perhaps...
please take this feeling away. because its really affecting how i should be growing in u.
i'm just so shrouded with so many things i dont need this as an extra distraction from you.
evermore the King above all.
i feel that i destroyed a wonderful and spiritual day with you. by feeling how i'm feeling now at this moment.
i try to escape, but it contradicts my prayers to u.
please Father, please provide me with a way out.
on how i should feel. on how i should act.
why am i feeling like this after praying and promising you that i'd stay away from silly relationships for at least 2 years?
until my family comes to believe in you, i do not want to let someone else into my heart.
there's just so much to do.
its best if i have the gift of celibacy aint it Lord?
this way i can give u my all. with no one to share my heart with.
being able to give you my entire heart.
let Your will be done.
Yours. not mine.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Me being - faithful.

'Let me explain theproblem science has with Jesus Christ.'

The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand. 'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe inGod?'

'Absolutely.'

'Is God good?'

'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes.'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!'
He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues.
'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent.

'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'

'Er...yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student : 'From...God..'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'

'Yes.'

'So who created evil?'
The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'
Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues: 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student: 'Yes.'

'So who created them?' The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?

There is still no answer.
Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.
'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelled your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes.'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. 'Professor, is there such a thing as heat?'

'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.' The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested.
The room suddenly becomes very quiet.

The student begins to explain. 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest-458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation.

'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'
'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'

'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?' The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. 'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'
The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?'

The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt theprofessor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity,the old man answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'

Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.


if you've seen the ugly side of life, or if u feel that what's going on in your life filled with so much 'evil'. why dont u try knowing Him?

i guareentee that it'll be a life changing experience.
God's Bless. ;)

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Me being - thankful

so, it goes like this.
boy meets girl. boy likes girl. boy asks girl out.

okay, haha. that was random.

anyways. life's been rough lately. not the ideal kind of life u would wish to have.
so so busy. no time to stop to take a breath.

really thank God for this Good Friday break. cos i was able to wake up at 1pm yesterday!!
PRAISE GOD!
i slept like 12 hours. it was real good rest. but i still feel worn.
well, Father, i'd be looking forward to the next time u let me sleep long hours again.
weee.

yea. tmr's work day again. kinda dread it. in a way.
there just seem to be so many things to do.
so so so many!!
courses after courses. paper work after paper work.
and having the kind of colleagues around me isnt really helping much.
dont really wanna bombard them in front of the whole world.

if u wanna know just ask me personally and i'll tell u.
haha.

yea. but i still look forward to the week. to see how God work His wonders in me, with me and around me.

yup.
off to doing QT now. ciao. :)

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Me being - involved in a emotional warfare.

Sometimes it still haunts me. feelings that i thought were drowned and buried.
but it still comes back and it hits me so hard. like when u run into a wall while sprinting at 60miles/hr.

I do not understand sometimes. what are your plans for me. you took away something that meant so much. and oh yea it sure hurt a whole lot. but i chose to stay. i chose to hold on.
i still tell you i love you O'Lord. i really do.

ur love is supposed to be enough, then why is it this feeling of losing that someone still hurt so badly?

As i listen to 'Saviour King' by Hillsongs, it just touches me so emotionally. haha.
ever felt sad but too tired to cry? cos thats how i feel.

i pray for strength. i'm so tired that i just seem like i cant carry on anymore.
O Lord, i feel so dispensable. the way i was treated. i just cant help but ask, what am i doing here?
because it feels so superficial. and i'm so disturbed at how somethings are going on. feeling so out of place.
but what does it matter? nobody bothers.

i get this restlessness in me.
this thought of just giving up and lie down not doing anything.

how i wish.
2 years, i told you. i want to give my heart to you during this 2 years.

O'King, pls be my rock. be my provider O'Lord. for your love alone is sufficient.
be my provider O'Lord, as i lay my faith on you.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Me being - delighted through troubled times

Recently, i feel that God has thrown me into a dumpster. haha.
not trying to say that He does not care or that He looks at me as though i'm like s#it.

but it does feel that way. i aint complaining though
just that sometimes i feel alittle overwhelmed by the things going on.

have not been able to rest after the camp. the weekends seemed so short and the week has started again.
time really doesnt wait for anyone huh.

a roll of an eye and i'm nearly one year with AMKPC!!!
YEAY!!
okay i'll talk about it alittle later. now, about my week first.

this week has been in a rather fast tempo. had guard duty on monday. and through the week i have to start preparing for a course which is starting next week. gosh.
hadnt really slept well since monday. today's wednesday. i didnt read the Bible the last 2 days, so i owe myself extra chapters. hohoho.
man, i owe myself time for rest as well. then there's night training tomorrow night.
ahhh!!

and not forgetting MAS SELAMAT!!! this guy's a whole load of trouble. really pray that he'll be caught soon. causing such a national uproar due to his absense.
plus. rumours are that civil defense are going to increase the number of people doing guard duty, and it spells trouble. cos it means more guard duty.
feeling kinda stressed out even as i'm typing this.
BUT... He is there and will always be here for me.
:D
thats heartwarming enough.

looking forward to this friday.
finally having CG again!! yeay.
its been so so so long. and it really feels like something's missing for so so so long.
really pray that this friday during cg, we'll be deeply enriched by word. to refill me spiritually!!

and also. come next 1st April will be my first year in AMKPC!!
it has been a very eventful year. alot of emotional ups and downs.
alot of growing physically and more importantly spiritually.
i really thank God and pray that He'll continue guiding me with my journey with Him.
How wonderful. How marvelous.

well. with my first year of christianhood coming to an end, i'm looking forward to this coming eventful year with God.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Me being - blessed (and relieved)

hey yall.

i'm back from camp. and to be honest, it wasnt as bad as i perceived it to be.
and i want to thank God for being there for me.
but i dont think i wanna do it so regularly. the camp that is.



i'm quite burnt up. haha. i feel like i'm still wearing a skintight t-shirt everytime after i take off my clothes.
its kinda hilarious.
but sitting down on this chair and typing on the keyboard and looking at the screen,

i feel at home. a feeling that i miss alot. i dont know how to explain this but, it just feels so peaceful. so wonderful.

it feels like i'm experiencing a very quiet and connected time with God. even as i type. i do not know how to explain this. but this is how it feels.

indeed God is brilliant. He walked me through this week so closely. its as though He's holding on to my hand as we cross a junction full of vehicles moving to and fro. the mighty hand of God, used to hold on to my tiny hand. how amazing is that.

sometimes when i think back, i feel so ashamed of myself. God has made my life so good and yet at times i still choose to complain. as though i'll never be satisfied.
and He will still be there to forgive me. He will still be there being patient with me and entertain me.
This is how marvelous our Lord God Jesus is.
The man who died on the cross, and came back to life on the 3rd day. He who was prosecuted by us is here ready to rescue us.

How wonderful is that.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Me being - dreadful of this coming week.

even as this week is only beginning, i'm looking forward to friday already.
thats because this is going to be a very hectic week. and with so many stuff going on. sometimes i'll just stand down there and stone. letting my pentium 2, 200mgh brain process everything.

haha.
sometimes i just want to make sure everything's alright that i end up screwing them up.
how ironic right?

i missed church today, and it was not really good feeling.
as a matter of fact, i dislike this feeling alot alot alot!!!!
argh.

i'm not going to do it again, unless i have duty that is.
i wouldnt wanna miss church for anything. lol.
especially during this phase of my life, while i'm so busy with serving the nation. i just dont have the kind of time i use to have where i can visit the church anytime, any day.

those were the days.

anyways people, i really need your prayers for this week.
as my role of an instructor is going to begin in 3 weeks. (i'm starting my first actual course)
i really pray that things will go smoothly as i prepare all the admin stuff for the course.
i'm a instructor's instructor btw. that is, i'm kinda in-charge of this course for civil defense where i'll take officers and NsF who'll go through this course to equip them with skills to be an instructor. the course is called IPC (instructor prep course) :D.

that'll be for monday and tuesday. then i have guard duty on tuesday night!! gosh.
thats not all.

on wednesday, i've to leave straight from my guard area and rush off to changi village as there's a camp going on from wednesday to friday (3D2N).
how silly of me to have accept this task. imagine me taking off and leave to work elsewhere.
(btw, to me, its not really honoring God if u're serving the nation and working part time, cos God did ask us to obey the higher authority. and this camp thing was due to some complicated issues)

anyways, thats not more.
i'm in-charge of the logistics.
which means that whether or not the camp moves smoothly, its all resting on my shoulders.

and i'm so worried that i might screw things up here and there.

man.... i really dread this week.
already looking forward to friday lor.
people, pls keep me in prayers.
especially for prayers for me to have some time to do qt with God.
thanks in advance.
BLESSED WEEK!!