Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Now this is an extremely early post! One of the few times I've ever posted something up as early as 9a.m. But on the way to college something piqued my interest. While taking the usual route to college by switching to the RapidKL feeder bus from Bangsar LRT station, upon the bus I was a tad surprised that on the inner section of the bus was a "PAS" sticker. The slogan upon it was "PAS For All" in it's usual predominat white letters and green background. Honestly are public transportation vehicles allowed to be politically alligned? While politics in hand is at the discretion of the driver, Something as public as a bus I feel should not act as political billboards. The irony would be that RapidKL is government owned and by placing a PAS sticker that driver would be supporting the opposition? Is that remotely defined as treason by a public servant? :)
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
I guess by now, Nearly everybody knows of the passing away of Michael Jackson. It was a bit of a shock that he passed away merely at the age of 50 years old. Old Michael used to be one of my favourite singers when I was younger, Really young. I think I was 5 years old when I begged my parents to get the "Dangerous" Album on cassette. It was one of my favourites.
While I was saddened at the departure of Michael I realized one thing. That the illegal CD circle was extremely quick to capitalize on his demise. By the following day, there were DVD's in nearly all the shops containing his entire musical works, Concerts, tours ,and even biographies. It's pretty amazing that practically 99% of what you can find in the shops now we're never stocked before. And all of a sudden they're in abundance. I guess to some people, It is a natural response. To stock up on memorabilia merely because at a later time it would be harder to find. I do find it interesting though. Well since one of my housemates is planning on buying the entire works of Michael Jackson, I guess I sorta have my share as well ;)
While not really making fun of the dead, I remembered this video. Made me laugh ages ago!
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Today wasn't too bad! The muscle aching from gym finally subsided and after class a bunch of us went down to Ikea for lunch. Ikea is just one of those places where it is so awesome to window shop,and the temptation of buying something that you absolutely don't even need is high. Thats the problem about walking through "Home Lifestyle" shops. You can think up of a million different things and additions your room needs. But once getting it, you wouldn't actually use. So I just practically covered my eye's and headed towards the cafeteria for lunch, which was the main reason we ended up in Ikea anyways. After a generous serving of "Swedish Meatballs & Fries" I wrapped up lunch with a "Daim Cake". Honestly I've heard ravings about the Daim cake. It was pretty decent, But nothing really much to rave about. If it had been chocked full with more Daim, That would have been a different matter all together. Total damage? Around Rm16, inclusive of drinks. Was pretty satisfied with it
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
This was a question posed by that all too feel good movie "A Knights Tale" which I watched only too recently after grabbing Clarence's external HDD. While I have watched the movie before, It was refreshing to watch it again. Laughs aside, It was inspiring to say the least to watch one man's journey to persevere social stigma and to literally "change his stars". After much pondering, I eventually decided to emabark on my own quest to change my stars. 90 days, with day 1 starting yesterday would be the eventual goal with me reshuffling every aspect of my life (atleast hopefully) from every aspect, Physically,Mentally,Emotionally, and Spiritually. With sheer determination, ...cough... "discipline" and prayer of course. I hope to see a brand new me in 90 days.
After a grueling gym session yesterday night, It left my body feeling like I had been run over by a truck. My arms are currently numbed by generous amounts of "Deep Heat" slathered all over. I'll always remember that Advert poster of Nike's "This Is Love campaign" because when ever i feel the sting and when ever I feel like giving up. I remember the true purpose that I even started on the whole journey. "This Is Love".
Monday, June 01, 2009
Designer Church
by Suzanne Hadley
I walk into the sanctuary, scanning the room for the 20- somethings I know. A group of about 30 of us sit on the left- hand side halfway back. I slide comfortably into a padded chair, located within a three-row radius of where I always sit, and chirp hello to acquaintances seated nearby.
Worship has already started. I look fashionable in my new black boots and headscarf — my eyes dart around to see if anyone has noticed. I make my first attempt to engage in the singing. I watch the worship leader in his corduroy pants and Gap sweater — olive green with a cream stripe. He's reaching the upper limit of gen-X, but his attire is reminiscent of the guys I went to college with.
Why not? Our church is all about reaching the next generation. And I'm all for that. It's one of the reasons I started attending this church. Everything I see on stage is comfortable yet appealing to my desire to be "with it." My church doesn't seem bound by tradition or legalism. I'm proud of the pastor's willingness to call us to prayer "at the Spirit's leading" or allow a ballet dance as part of worship. Yes, we're nothing if not forward-thinking.
I find a deep sense of identity in my church. From its interlocking chairs to its professional band of rockers, my church expresses my personality — in the same way my boots or headband make me stand out. My church is an extension of my personal philosophy — open minded, artistic, progressive.
Ultimate Expression
We all long to be fully expressed and known. Paul addressed this in 1 Corinthians 13:12: "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." Perfect expression is what man was created for.
Why else would we be so obsessed with being individuals? From cars to friends to cell phone rings, the things we make a part of our worlds contribute to our sense of self. The type of church I attend says something about me. If I go to a conservative church, I like structure and tradition. If I attend a charismatic church, I prefer experiential worship. If I attend a small church, I have a heart for being a part of something intimate with the promise of growth. But is choosing a church based on personal style and preference biblical? I'll admit it. My tendency is to look for a church that makes me feel good — a church that "fits me." It's the same way I choose other things in my life — my clothes, my apartment, my furniture. But should that be the way I choose my church?
The Church Next Door
In the community of early Christians there wasn't much choosing going on. The relatively small number of people who believed Jesus Christ was the risen Messiah, were considered part of one body. The church was divided into smaller groups based on geographic location. City churches, such as Corinth, Laodicia and Thessalonica were further split into smaller communities, which met in homes.
If I were a Christian in the first century, I would go to Doris' house down the street to worship, and that's where I would serve and have community. I would have nothing to compare it to, so I probably wouldn't give much thought to the pastor's preaching style or the brand of worship. My church would be a group of Christians, and, as such, reflect me — a Christian.
There are benefits to choosing a church that's close by. A church within walking distance is going to be a convenient place to serve and invite those in my neighborhood. But in many cities, there may be dozens of churches within a 5- minute drive. So what other criteria are important to consider when choosing a church?
The New Testament says a lot about the early church, but you don't read about style or preference being considerations for attending. Instead of a "What can my church do for me?" perspective, we find the opposite attitude: "What are my responsibilities to the church?"
It has been very helpful in my own church search to examine the practices of early Christians and their approach to worship. Here are a few characteristics I found in Scripture about the early church I used to form my own biblical criteria for choosing a church.
The early church promoted sound doctrine.
Whether a church teaches correct theology should be a primary concern when choosing a church home. Paul warned in 2 Timothy 4:3, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
Sadly, this verse does a pretty good job describing the culture we live in. Many people prefer attending a church where the messages are comfortable and the pastor sticks to "safe" topics that don't offend. But Scripture is clear that one of the church's top priorities should be to preach the truth and protect itself from the poison of false teachings.
While it's important that the pastor be an individual of high character who upholds the Word of God, the church also needs to provide a structure of accountability through elders. Speaking of the ideal elder, Titus 1:9 says, "He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it." A group of strong, godly leaders can protect the body from a false gospel.
The early church prayed for persecuted Christians.
Acts 12:5 says, "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." A culture of prayer and concern for fellow Christians marks the ministry of the early church. They were outwardly focused and tuned in to the needs of those around them. They provided a crucial prayer ministry for those facing hardship.
Today thousands of Christians in countries like China, India and Pakistan are facing severe persecution, and churches basking in the religious freedom of the United States are in a perfect position to pray fervently for these endangered brothers and sisters. Whether they do says a lot about their priorities.
The church grew as a result of personal evangelism.
Acts 2:46-47 tells an exciting story: "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Growth is a high priority for most churches. Pastors and leaders look for ways to present bigger services and provide better programs that will attract those outside the church.
The majority of growth in the early church took place in homes. One-on-one relationships are far more powerful for evangelism than corporate programs (just look at the disciples). A church should be supporting and encouraging its members to engage in personal evangelism.
The church regularly commissioned its members to go out and serve.
One primary responsibility of the early church was to send people out for ministry to other areas. In Acts 15, the church sent Paul and Barnabas to share the good news in Phoenicia and Samaria. Not everyone in the church was in a position to go, but they were in the position to send in the power of the Holy Spirit.
While growth can be a sign of a healthy church, the goal is not to keep everyone inside a bubble. The church should act as a home base for those going out, and members should actively participate in supporting missionaries financially and through prayer.
A variety of spiritual gifts were in regular use.
Paul lists a variety of church-building gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:28. The list includes teaching, administration and service. In the same chapter, he points out the temptation to elevate the more visible gifts, such as teaching, above lesser gifts, such as service. We know exactly what Paul means: The gifted teacher with the witty stories will receive more attention than the quiet retiree who comes into church an hour early every Sunday to turn on the coffee pot.
Paul emphasized that no gift should be belittled or treated as less important, because all spiritual gifts are essential to the church. A body of believers should encourage every person, no matter how seemingly insignificant, to use his gifts, and should not give an excessive amount of honor, or special treatment, to those whose gifts are more noticeable.
The body demonstrated submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
This one seems obvious, but a church that is consistently seeking out the agenda of Christ above its own is rare. And this goes beyond correct theology.
"For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior," Ephesians 5:23 says. Just as the submission of a wife to her husband is difficult, the church yielding to Christ also takes daily effort. A church must constantly be checking its motives and bringing itself under Christ's authority.
More Than an Accessory
All of the characteristics of the early church required commitment — living and breathing God's Word in community. It takes time to establish a solid prayer ministry or build relationships with missionaries. As part of a generation that often abandons something the moment it goes out of style or ceases to interest us, we face the temptation to leave a church simply because it doesn't perfectly reflect us.
I have seen friends jump from church to church, searching for the "perfect fit." When we adopt a consumer's mentality about Christ's body, we risk missing a rich reward. Galatians 6:9 says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
It's important to not lose sight of the original purpose of the church: to be a light to the world. The early church did what it was called to do. It was Christ's hands and feet on earth.
My church may reflect my personality and preferences, but does it allow me to exercise my spiritual gifts? The programs may be spectacular, but am I being spurred on to personal evangelism? The worship may be professional, but is my heart honoring God? After all, it is His church, not mine.
After you've done your best to choose a church that follows a biblical model, then it's valid to consider personal preference. Does the church share your passions? Does its vision resonate with your heart's desire? Does it encourage you to serve at your stage in life?
When I slip into my chair each Sunday, I have a longing to be expressed and known. But self-expression is fleeting and changes on a whim. (Next season my boots won't be in fashion, and I'll likely move on to the next thing.)
True self-expression will take place only as I seek to reflect Christ in every area of my life and commit to investing in a community of believers. Christ's body is not something to be molded into my image. It's a place where I can be molded into His. I want Christ's body to be more than an accessory — I want it to be my heart.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tattoos have become a mark of the 21st century. According to the August 4, 2008, issue of U.S. News & World Report, more than one quarter of those under the age of 30 adorn their skin with at least one. No longer is tattoo something reserved only for gang members, convicts, delinquents or social outcasts. In fact, many of the preachers’ kids of the largest churches in Australia, America and Europe have them on their bodies. And these PKs are by no means rebellious or unspiritual. Most of them are doing excellent jobs leading youth, music and creative ministries. Some are even deliberately using their tattoos as a bridge to connect with the unchurched in outreach efforts. However, for most people, a tattoo is simply a means of stylistic expression. Many middle-aged women may not tattoo patterns and designs, but they go to their aestheticians to tattoo their eyebrows, eyeliners and lip colors.
So, is tattooing a sin? Are Christians allowed to have them?
Those who argue against it often quote Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.” The word for “tattoo” in its original Hebrew is qa-aqa, which appears only this one time in the entire Scripture. Proper hermeneutic requires us to read any Bible passage with the actual context in mind. Practically all Bible commentaries agree that the context of Leviticus 19 is God prohibiting the Israelites from adopting the religious practices of the pagan nations surrounding them. Adam Clarke’s Commentary of the Old Testament says that the pagans were carrying “marks on the body in honor of the object of their worship … for superstitious purposes … in honor of different idols.” Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible says that the practice “had religious significance among Israel’s pagan neighbors.” But what if there is no religious, superstitious or idolatrous implication? Is a believer allowed to tattoo then?
Technically, if one takes the view that Leviticus 19 prohibits tattooing for all people in all circumstances, then for consistency’s sake, one must also abide by all the letters of the law here. That includes no shaving around the sides of the head, and the mandatory keeping of beards for all men (v27), which is a near impossibility for any serving in the military today. That also includes not wearing clothes made of different fabrics (v19). Should we then also continue with slavery and the keeping of mistresses, both accepted practices during the ancient days of Leviticus (v20)? Should we continue the Old Testament dietary restrictions like no eating of pork, shrimp, crab or shellfish? What about headscarves for women? Do we need to enforce that on all Christian women today? Most of us will agree that the answers to all the above are an emphatic no.
Next, is God Himself abhorrent to tattoos? God says in Isaiah 49:16, “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands. Your walls are continually before Me.” The word “inscribe” in Hebrew means “to engrave.” The scholars of The Living Bible simply translate that as “I have tattooed your name upon my palm.” When John saw a vision of God’s chosen 144,000, they were “sealed” and “written” with the Father’s name on their foreheads (Rev. 7:3; 14:1). Those words in the original Greek mean to “mark,” “stamp” and “engrave.” The book of Revelation also talks about false worshipers receiving the mark of the beast, which were called stigmata among the Greeks. To this Paul refers when he says, “I bear in my body the marks (stigmata) of the Lord Jesus” (Gal. 6:17). Whether the prophet Isaiah and the apostles John and Paul are speaking metaphorically or otherwise, one thing is for sure, body markings are not always repugnant to God. As such, we must be careful not to paint them as evil or sinful in a broad, general stroke.
Theologians, like Tom Beaudoin, have done studies on youths who pierce or tattoo their bodies. They discovered that youths do that when they have had profound experiential encounters. Things that impact them deeply, like when they fall in love, get their hearts broken, graduate, start a new job, achieve something they are proud of, or lose a loved one through death. To the youths and young adults of the 21st century, tattooing (and body piercing) are often not something vain or rebellious, but more like a rite of passage. It is their way of expressing the spiritual in the physical, even at the expense of experiencing some bodily pain.
For most people, tattooing today is simply a means of personal and stylistic expression, much like clothing, makeup, hairstyle, body-toning and fashion accessorizing. There is nothing religious, superstitious and rebellious to the wearer; it is simply for aesthetic value.
Because tattooing is designed to last forever, and removal is painful and expensive, you should enter into it only after much consideration. Ask yourself the following:
* Am I at a legally acceptable age to get a tattoo?
* If I live with my parents, would they support my decision?
* Would I still want this tattoo when I get older?
* Am I really comfortable having it even if people may “unfairly judge” me?
* If my tattoo is visible to others, is it appropriate for my line of work?
Ultimately, tattooing is a personal choice that, more often than not, reflects neither a rebellious nature nor a religious inclination. It is clearly written in the Bible that God looks beyond the surface and sees the heart of a person. We must be careful not to judge a believer with tattoos as loving God less than the one without.
-Original article take from http://www.konghee.com
It's been ages since I've touched this blog, let alone view it. I could blame it on the business of life, but laziness would aptly cover it. It's been an insane couple of month. Lessons have been learnt, perspectives have changed, priorities shifted, aspirations muddled even. But all is good and well with the Lord in control. Church camp ended a few weeks ago, and the much needed answer to a prayer was finally given. Im glad that I made it to the camp. It was life impacting to say the least, but it's been a daily battle living out what was absorbed back in KL from there on out.
I recently popped into City Harvest Church KL during a few of their sermons with Ps.Kong Hee at the helm, It was enlightening and inspiring to say the least. Googled him up a bit, and found a personal website with his own blog complete with posts, devotionals, ect..... It shed some light on topics that are usually highly debated among christian circles on the area of tattooing. I'll post up the article soon enough. Mind you it wont take half a year, even as I'm prone to that :)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Woo! There's barely a week left in the year. 2008 is drawing to a close and 2009 is impending. I anticipate the year with mixed feelings, The anticipation of the new and unprecedented, In the unknown. At the same time a tingle in my spine with the knowing that in another 365 I would be a totally different person, different perceptions, different priorities.
I just came back from Beer & Margarita's at Chili's KLCC with some of my closest friends. Sadly one of them would be flying of to the States in January. While I'll miss him, "Hey, Life will continue" So I just wish him all the best. :)
It seems only proper that before the end of the year I re-evaluate my year as a mirror. Begin to give thanks for everything encountered, Set up new resolutions for the incoming year, and decide to keep them.
There is plenty to be grateful for at the end of the year. Where can I even begin? I guess the only place where I can start off at is the point of salvation withing my life. So to that I'm eternally grateful!
My entire schedule is going to whacked this last quarter of the year. Christmas + Justin's Wedding. Its going to be awesome. Cant wait!
Adobe Photoshop Elements for supernatural abilities