master

I just got news that my Master’s thesis is complete and have been accepted by the university. That means that I have successfully mastered that specific branch of science. I have read the literature on that science, have looked at the facts, made a hypothesis, tested it, and wrote up a thesis that extends that knowledge of science. And thus will be awarded a Master of Science: I have mastered that science, I have overcome it.

As I was thinking of the future of my education, about my doctoral thesis, and then Bible school, it would be great if I got a Masters in theology or Christology, or whatever-logy. Then I would have mastered theology, I would have mastered Christ!! That suddenly sounded abit wrong.

The world and Christ are always at odds with each other. The world says you have to master your destiny, your body, your spirit… all together now … oohhhmmmmm….

But Christ says follow me, my burden is light and my yoke is easy. Be under the shelter of my wings. Have the covering of God. Be led by the Holy Spirit. Now that sounds totally the opposite of what education I have received so far instill. In Christ, I am not to master over, but rather be mastered by. The world says clamour up to the top, conquer all! But Christ bends down to wash his disciples feet. The way up is by going down.

Am I ready to be mastered by the Holy Spirit, that whatever I am prompted I will obey and do? Will I obey the Word? That I not write my own thesis but fully rely on the Word of God? Will I debate and fight for my results to be recognized and published or will I say ‘be it unto me according to your promises’. Is there enough humbleness in me to be tested and stretched to my limits, instead of testing my own ideas and experimenting on things.

My ‘Masters of Science’ took me three years to complete, but it will take me a lifetime to achieve ‘Mastered by Christ’

Mission:

I remember recently reading an article about younger generation people who are just entering the workforce. Besides demanding higher wages, more incentives, etc, etc, the bosses interviewed also noticed that the applicants were asking for very precise job scope and objectives. One of those interviewed likened the job seekers to video game characters. In a video game, you start of each level with an objective; like collecting 5 items or killing the big boss, or solving this mystery. And as you go along, you solve harder and harder puzzles, collect rarer items and kill tougher enemies, while earning better rewards. It is said that the current generation don’t see a job so much as something to fill up the time between graduation and retirement, but more of an adventure so see how much one can accomplish or earn.
I felt that the Christian walk sounds alot like a video game too. You first log on to the game (salvation) and once you start playing, you‘re hooked for life. You start off level 1 with simple objectives: read the bible and pray everyday. And what’s the reward of doing that? You level up! (grow). Level 2: get active in church and join a ministry. Level 3: Bible study, serve more. Level 4: Bible school, mission work. Level 5: Lead other Christians. Completing level 5 gives you a reward:
1 Peter 5:2-4
2 Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully;
3 Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation).
4 And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the conqueror's crown of glory.
AMP

In between, you can accumulate bonus points by the in-game’s member-bring-member scheme. If that member you brought in remains a player till the end of the game, you get a crown:
Phil 4:1
HEREFORE, MY brethren, whom I love and yearn to see, my delight and crown (wreath of victory), thus stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
AMP

The game developers have also noticed bugs in during gameplay that tries to trick the characters into switching off the game console, and thus instantly logging them out of the game. Hence they have introduced a reward scheme for those who prevail against that glitch:
James 1:12
Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.
AMP

Besides the internal bugs that pops up now and then, there are also external factors that may influence the players to quit. Many gaming circles have motivation courses and one good program offers this advice for players who begin to lose interest in the long RPG game when some levels seem to take forever to pass and when they get stuck at certain points, unable to breakthrough:
1 Cor 9:25
25 Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.
AMP

Concerning the toughest levels, discussion boards have been littered with rumours of a terrible setback that characters might face when choosing wrong moves; something like the snake’s tail at step-99 of the snake-and-ladder board game (oh, so retro). And I quote:
Rev 3:11
I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown.
AMP

And once you finish the whole game, you get a final crown:
2 Tim 4:7-8
I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.
8 [As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor's] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day
AMP

GAME ON!!

anti-Christian site

http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/christianity.html

Quite a number of excellent arguments. Many of which I have no answer. Good to know what the thinkers are thinking, but don't dwell on them. Remember, it's up to YOU to work out YOUR salvation, not based on what some other guy's clever argument.

why are you hiding?

Gen 3:1-13
The serpent was the craftiest of all the creatures the Lord God had made. So the serpent came to the woman. "Really?" he asked. "None of the fruit in the garden? God says you mustn't eat any of it?"
2-3 "Of course we may eat it," the woman told him. "It's only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not to eat. God says we mustn't eat it or even touch it, or we will die."
4 "That's a lie!" the serpent hissed. "You'll not die!
5 God knows very well that the instant you eat it you will become like him, for your eyes will be opened-you will be able to distinguish good from evil!"
6 The woman was convinced. How lovely and fresh looking it was! And it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit and gave some to her husband, and he ate it too.
7 And as they ate it, suddenly they became aware of their nakedness, and were embarrassed. So they strung fig leaves together to cover themselves around the hips.
8 That evening they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden; and they hid themselves among the trees.
9 The Lord God called to Adam, "Why are you hiding?"
10 And Adam replied, "I heard you coming and didn't want you to see me naked. So I hid."
11 "Who told you you were naked?" the Lord God asked. "Have you eaten fruit from the tree I warned you about?"
12 "Yes," Adam admitted, "but it was the woman you gave me who brought me some, and I ate it."
13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, "How could you do such a thing?" "The serpent tricked me," she replied.
TLB

Man and woman. Two creations of God that are to compliment each other. One to lead, one to support, both cannot do without the other. If the man cannot direct the way how can the woman follow. If the man doesn’t protect, who else will against the serpent? Together they are stronger. Remember, a threefold cord is not easily broken. Three: man + woman + God.

Eccl 4:12
And though a man might prevail against him who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
AMP

God came to the garden looking for Adam, not Eve. Because he is supposed to be the man. But he failed. And males throughout the Bible and even today still fail. Because the first Adam sinned, all have fallen short of the glory of God. But the second Adam was there to restore all things. The first Adam was hiding from God when he realized he sinned. ‘The great cover up’ sounds a lot like what’s happening in the banking failure today (eg. Enron), the failure of morality in the name of freedom, the failure of families in the name of choice.
Right now I’m feeling like Adam. And I really thank God it’s now that I woke up and not later. It’s like missing the alarm clock that went at 7am and you wake at 720, missing the train or bus or appointment or whatever. But when you calm down, it dawns that waking at 720 is way better than sleeping till 8am.
But I’m not going to push the blame to someone else, like what Adam did, like what the world is doing today. The buck stops with me, but I am powerless by myself. I must remember to fall to God at all times. Being a man is a matter of choice and a lot of determination. It’s not easy because it’s a lot to ask for. He is there to point the direction, then to walk first towards it. To blaze the trail and pave the way, and then to ensure that those following are on their feet. Should any fall, he needs to stop to attend. At each point, God needs to be consulted. Go to God. When it’s the other way round, when the boss comes to the workfloor, you know its way out of your hands. And when anyone fails, he has got to be answerable.
That’s a tall order. No wonder guys are just happy being males, and never think of becoming men. Going there seems to be stretching myself more than I think I can bear. I have trouble taking care of one person (myself) what makes me think I can handle another? I really need the Holy Spirit. Me + God = we form the majority. For if God is on our side, who can be against us. Notice the word ‘US’.
There must be a togetherness before God comes in. Life is not a solo, single player game. It’s a multiplayer MMORPG. Its always on, always full of people, and always takes a long time to complete. The only difference between life and a game is the missing ‘restart’ button. There is a leader, but there must be someone to follow. And both must agree on the direction to walk, the distance to walk, and the speed of walking. We humans go by democracy but remember that God works by monarchy.
I need to stop hiding.

Living Stones

1 Peter 2:5
Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Read this and was reminded of my many trips to various old churches. On the floors of these buildings, one can find many tombstones, of famous people, of course, in the past. These could be politicians, royalty, influential businesspeople, great men of God, or anyone who is deemed to have contributed somewhat to society.
I know that what is true in the spirit is also manifested in the natural. When I walk into these old churches and see these plaques, stepping over these huge stone plates towards the alter, I’m filled with a sense of awe. These people have given so much in their generation, they sacrificed and led the way, making today possible. They were an integral part of the church then, and because the church still stands, I can now be found in it. What if they had not given? Would this church exist? Would the world be what we know of it today?
They were part of the spiritual church while alive, and when they are dead, becoming literally part of the physical church. Kind of weird to imagine holes in the church floor. What if this or that guy didn’t enter his calling? Holes in the floor and walls of the church. It’s almost like a sign to the current generation of church goers; look what the previous generation has done, now it’s your turn. Step over their dead bodies and seize the day.

Reward

Matt 6:16

16 And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already.

Was on MSN the other day and heard of a complaint that someone was ‘self-promoting’ what he has done for the church, the ministry, oh the great sacrifices, yadda yadda… and this verse came straight to my head. There are all sorts of people in church. People with wrong motives, people trying to climb the ladder, people who want to feel overworked all the time by their leaders, and people who truly love God.

Matt 6:18

18 So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.

All those sorts of different people will work their heads off for the approval of man, and yes, they will get the approval of man. They will be rewarded with praises, opportunities, pity, admiration, whatever… from man. They are heaping up treasures that are redeemed on earth.

Matt 6:19-20

19 Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.

20 But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;

AMP

When I serve God, I want as few people to know as possible because I am a hoarder. I am hoarding treasures in heaven, glory tokens to be redeemed for a larger HDB in heaven, or maybe a golden road named after me. So when someone comes up to me and says ‘hey, I heard/saw you working hard in ministry the other day’, I go ‘drats, did I just lose a glory point in heaven?’

It has been said that this earthly life is a dress rehearsal for the real life in heaven. Would you rather be in golden robes during the play rehearsal and in rags up there, or vice versa? It’s just a momentary discomfort for an eternity of glory. Chose wisely.

receive

I think it’s important to be a receiver as much as a giver.

John 6:5-11
5 When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes, and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6 And this he said to try him; for he himself knew what he would do.
7 Philip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little.
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him:
9 There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves, and two fishes; but what are these among so many?
10 Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would.
Douay-Rheims

When we read Bible passages like that, at least I, would like to imagine myself as the different characters, how would they feel? Would I say the same lines they said? Would I do differently? In this story, I like to imagine myself as that boy with the filet-o-fish. Because the little boy gets to come face to face with the disciples and Jesus, to stare up at them from his lowly stature, listening to them debating and jostling around. Because when Jesus gave thanks, I want to believe He not only thanked God above, but also the boy for sharing his dinner. Imagine Jesus smiling and bending down, saying ‘Thank you for sharing your dinner with me’, and then performing that miracle, from two filet-o-fish, there was suddenly 4, then 8, 16, 32!
Wow, that was MY bread and fish, and Jesus took it and made a miracle out of it. I could see it suddenly magically multiplying! I was thinking Jesus would eat it up himself and I would go hungry, but now I got to explain to mum why I’m coming back home with a basket of 10 loaves and 4 fish. I didn’t think much of that dinner; I thought it was a boring routine meal, but Jesus made something extraordinary out of the mundane.
If Jesus can do that with my dinner, what can he do through me? What if I gave my toys to him, or daddy’s saw, or mummy’s needles, or uncle’s boat? What if I give all I have? What will that gift do?
Jesus received my small gift and made it great. It made me believe in myself, that I am an asset to him, a resource. Thank you for accepting me.

Can you imagine the story of this young lad if Jesus had turned away from him, scorned by the little basket? How would the story turn out? And so sometimes, when you receive from someone, you are in fact giving him something much more precious.