was looking out of my window watchign a snow storm, which is just lots of snow and lots of wind, so the snow is blown here and there and the drifting pattern is somewhat nice to just stare at on a lazy sunday afternoon when my mind drifted to the hail that was one of the plaques that attacked egypt during moses' time. and so i tried to read deeper into it.
The first nine plagues "can be explained as natural phenomena, occurring as a result of an abnormally high Nile inundation between July and the following March...The Nile turning to blood could reflect the fact that its waters were filled with red earth carried in suspension from the highlands of Ethiopia. As a result, the river would then become polluted and frogs would infest the shores in search of shelter. Mosquitoes and flies would find ideal breeding grounds in the brackish ponds left behind by the receding floodwaters.
"The death of Egypt's livestock could be due to an anthrax epidemic spread by the insects with men and animals breaking out in sores. Hail ruining the crops of flax and barley could have happened in January, when such a climatic phenomenon, though rare, is most likely to occur. Swarms of locusts could have been blown into the Nile valley by winds from the Sudan and Ethiopia and the three days of darkness are typical of a severe khamsin, a sandstorm of unusual proportions."
- Great Events of Bible Times
and it intrigued me that scientist were able to explain the strange and sometimes weird phenomenon found in the bible. i started to ask, so how to explain how ALL the animals of the world came to the ark, what about salt and fresh water fish, what about viruses - are they considered animals? would termites be allowed to eat part of the ark? and anteaters- what would they feed on, since only one pair of unclean animal was brought in. and ants were unclean i think.
so many questions for science to answer.
but then it hit me. if i let science answer them all, then where's room for God?
where does it all orginate from? God, not science. signs and wonders, or for me, SCIENCE and wonders will follow after those who believe. because people will see it and wonder what the science behind it all is. when you hold on to your faith in what God specifically asks or instructs you to do, and just be obedient and faithful to that word, then miracles will happen.
remember the Prince of Egypt soundtrack? There can be miracles, if you believe though hope is frail. if i know that certain geologic events willhappen, or an eclipse, or a sickness is breaking out, then there is no faith involved. and if i dont belive, the lack of faith- i wont be able to please God.
sometimes i just got to stop asking how, why, who, when. and just believe.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
war
Nothing great happens without a conflict.
The Israelites migrated from Egypt to Cannan with so much difficulty God had to help out by sending 9 plaques
Jesus came into this world and almost broke up a loving couple.
Martin Luther lead the protestant movement by rebelling against the orthodox church.
So the next time I am serving in church or paying my tithe or giving part of myself to the work of God, and it feels so difficult, I must remember that this is part of something greater.
With all this war and conflict going on in the West Bank, one really wonders if all religions and race are the same, just fighting to fulfill their own greed. Whose fault is it that the war is still on.
Why doesn't it end, and how can their god be real if he allows the taking of other humans' lives.
The history of Israel is simple. When I was in Singapore as an undergraduate, there was once an American Jew living in my hostel. I asked him to tell me about Jewish history, after he asked me why I didn't speak Chinese and I had to explain the migration and history of south east Asia. I digress. So he answered me in a chuckle, the history and story of the Jews is simple; everybody tries to kill us but no one succeeded and we celebrate their defeats.
Which was not the conventional answer I was expecting nevertheless it was illuminating.
Some blame Abram and his fling with Hagar. But the past is the past. We can only learn from it. And by learning it means getting stronger and more developed everyday. So that we can meet today's stronger challenges and overcome them. Because the narrow road doesn't get easier as you walk.
Like Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. On one hand you build but on the other, you wield a sword. Keep on keeping on, fight the good fight, for you are more than an overcomer.
Ez 36:1-7
"Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. 2 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The enemy said of you, "Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession." ' 3 Therefore prophesy and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because they ravaged and hounded you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people's malicious talk and slander, 4 therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD : This is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you- 5 this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.' 6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations. 7 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.
The Israelites migrated from Egypt to Cannan with so much difficulty God had to help out by sending 9 plaques
Jesus came into this world and almost broke up a loving couple.
Martin Luther lead the protestant movement by rebelling against the orthodox church.
So the next time I am serving in church or paying my tithe or giving part of myself to the work of God, and it feels so difficult, I must remember that this is part of something greater.
With all this war and conflict going on in the West Bank, one really wonders if all religions and race are the same, just fighting to fulfill their own greed. Whose fault is it that the war is still on.
Why doesn't it end, and how can their god be real if he allows the taking of other humans' lives.
The history of Israel is simple. When I was in Singapore as an undergraduate, there was once an American Jew living in my hostel. I asked him to tell me about Jewish history, after he asked me why I didn't speak Chinese and I had to explain the migration and history of south east Asia. I digress. So he answered me in a chuckle, the history and story of the Jews is simple; everybody tries to kill us but no one succeeded and we celebrate their defeats.
Which was not the conventional answer I was expecting nevertheless it was illuminating.
Some blame Abram and his fling with Hagar. But the past is the past. We can only learn from it. And by learning it means getting stronger and more developed everyday. So that we can meet today's stronger challenges and overcome them. Because the narrow road doesn't get easier as you walk.
Like Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. On one hand you build but on the other, you wield a sword. Keep on keeping on, fight the good fight, for you are more than an overcomer.
Ez 36:1-7
"Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. 2 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The enemy said of you, "Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession." ' 3 Therefore prophesy and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because they ravaged and hounded you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people's malicious talk and slander, 4 therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD : This is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you- 5 this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.' 6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations. 7 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
reflect and refract
Was reading a devotional last night and it talked about being Christ like and reflecting the image of God, etc. Then I remembered in secondary school I used to like these similar sounding words that were found in the same chapter of the science textbook, in this case reflection and refraction. Others include mortality and morbidity, infection and infarction, etc. etc.
And it dawned on me that many people just talk about being a reflection of God. Like a mirror, when light comes at a 20° angle, it reflects of in a 20° angle. The exact same light bouncing off. I felt that was important to God, because I am made wonderfully in his image. And I want to be more and more like Him, as it was said, He must increase and I must decrease. So between me and God, I want to reflect Him.
But I felt I was more important for me to refract towards others. Refraction is when ‘white’ light hits a prism and it comes out the other side in 7 colours like the rainbow. Actually there are more than 7 colours as it is a continuous shade of merging colours, just that people say that to make it easier to define. I feel that everybody is different and have different needs at different times. To reflect means to send back whatever you had with its exact same properties. When you look at the mirror and see your reflection, if your skin is yellow, the mirror shows you yellow, if your shirt is green, the mirror shows you it is green. Pure and truthful.
But 1 size does not fit all. People of all walks of life sometimes need the subtle shades. An old lady may need a helping hand to carry boxloads of stuff, another needs counseling or guidance, your neighbor may be in desperate need of financial assistance to see a doctor.
If I am able to take the light of God that shines on my life and refract that into different people with different needs, then I am fulfilling my life. Can I be that helping hand, that listening ear, that provider? If so, then when I do so to the least of my brothers, then I am conforming to the image of God, for God is Jehovah Rohi, Jehovah Jirah, and Jehovah Rophe.
And it dawned on me that many people just talk about being a reflection of God. Like a mirror, when light comes at a 20° angle, it reflects of in a 20° angle. The exact same light bouncing off. I felt that was important to God, because I am made wonderfully in his image. And I want to be more and more like Him, as it was said, He must increase and I must decrease. So between me and God, I want to reflect Him.
But I felt I was more important for me to refract towards others. Refraction is when ‘white’ light hits a prism and it comes out the other side in 7 colours like the rainbow. Actually there are more than 7 colours as it is a continuous shade of merging colours, just that people say that to make it easier to define. I feel that everybody is different and have different needs at different times. To reflect means to send back whatever you had with its exact same properties. When you look at the mirror and see your reflection, if your skin is yellow, the mirror shows you yellow, if your shirt is green, the mirror shows you it is green. Pure and truthful.
But 1 size does not fit all. People of all walks of life sometimes need the subtle shades. An old lady may need a helping hand to carry boxloads of stuff, another needs counseling or guidance, your neighbor may be in desperate need of financial assistance to see a doctor.
If I am able to take the light of God that shines on my life and refract that into different people with different needs, then I am fulfilling my life. Can I be that helping hand, that listening ear, that provider? If so, then when I do so to the least of my brothers, then I am conforming to the image of God, for God is Jehovah Rohi, Jehovah Jirah, and Jehovah Rophe.
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