In God's presence?

Had a good mini-discussion about God's presence with my BSF leader yesterday.

You know how worship leaders love to use those phrases-- "let us come into God's presence...", "Come and dwell among us, Lord", "As we draw nearer to God...", etc. Both my BSF leader and I agreed that these phrases have all been used wrongly.

He was sharing with me about how his youth put up this skit about God's presence. This was in a bid to share with others about the common misconceptions about "entering God's presence". For one, don't we all agree that God is everywhere? That this world is His, that out God is omnpresent and omnipotent? Then how in the world do we "enter into His presence in worship" when He is always around us? Rather, the real question is-- do we acknowledge that God IS in our midst, 24hrs a day, 365days a yr? (not that God is limited by time)

By attempting to say that we can invite God into our midst is demeaning the power of our God. Also, it suggests that man can reach out to God when in actual fact, nothing we could have ever done would have allowed us unhindered access to God the Father. Nothing. Man's problem throughout the ages has been to reach for the "heavenlies". In the period of the Old Testament (OT), this was what the pagans, gentiles, and even the Israelites themselves did. They thought that they could enter God's presence by their own efforts.

Sadly, they were mistaken. However, all was not lost... Grace was displayed.

This Grace was NOT displayed by accepting our efforts at reaching God (as some might be led to believe). Nope, This Grace was displayed by God coming down... Jesus Christ. However, that wasn't enough. God is holy, pure, sinless. For us to ever enter God's holy presence in worship, we have to be clean, holy, sinless. God's wrath towards sin had to be appeased. And Jesus Christ, sinless, holy, blameless, took on God's wrath and sacrifised himself for us... on that cross, both Justice and Love were displayed. Power was displayed in Jesus' resurrection... sin and death had no hold over Him. And as Christians (literally meaning "belonging to Christ") we have no fear over sin and death as well. Hallelujah!

So, everything points back to the gospel (the paragraph above)... and the bigger theme of "entering God's presence" is in fact, worship (which, i feel, many people have a misconception of).

I won't go on about talking about worship in this blog (its an immense theme!), but I do recommemend an excellant (and short!) book about this by Vaughan Roberts. It's aptly titled "True Worship" I have a copy of the book... but I can't remember who I've lent it to! (alamak!)

Well, in the light of all this, I'm once again reminded that I can commune with God, in His presence, not by works, but by grace! What a privilege! :)

Free Bible study software

A friend (Yong Chieh) put this link on his blog... It's a real jem of a find.

Basically, its a bible study software which allows you to download plug-ins of cool stuff like different versions of the Bible (Greek and Hebrew ones included), Bible Dictionaries, Commentaries, maps, e-books, etc.

Also, its free!! :)

The 2 Bible translations I found useful were the KJV (which is the default one) and the ESV (which is the one i use with the NIV in my QT nowadays)

Will be putting the link permanently on my blog soon... for now...

http://www.e-sword.net/index.html

I'm sure this will be helpful to many :)

IPPT and 100Plus

*pant, pant* "how come I so unfit now ah? wah piang, how did I run 9min20sec for my 2.4km before?? cannot, must tahan... gold, gold, $400 from SAF... " *pant, pant*

Yes, those were my thoughts at the 4th lap of my 2.4km run yesterday. xiong man... And well, didn't get the gold this year. SAF, *grunt* you better watch out... I'll go get the $400 next year (crossed fingers... planning running schedule now...)

After the whole painful experience, I understood why Esau craved for stew... I was craving for an ice-cool 100Plus! Unfortunately, couldn't buy one at vending machine... no coins!

However... *drum roll* a close friend of mine bought me one! :) I was just mentioning this to her absent-mindedly and she was gracious/generous enough to get me a can of 100Plus... ice cool somemore! Thanks friend! :)

Thinking about all this, think I'm real blessed to have friends like these :) Also, it reminded me that it doesn't take a lot to encourage others and to grow in your friendship. Let's all be sensitive to the needs of our friends and help others when we can! :)

In Christ Alone... Pt 4

This must be my longest blog for a single day! :p

For those who have endured all the way... thanks! And I must say, you are good :) Even I find it hard to read today's entire blog in one sitting :p Ok, enough small talk...

This last thing, I must say...

Because of Christ and Christ alone, do we then have true fellowship of men. And God has really blessed me with a company of true friends. They encourage me to press on, edifiy me from the Word of God, share with me my life's ups and downs. And this week, I celebrated one their birthday's...

Blessed Birthday Yifen! :)

Let's press on, spuring one another on towards Christ-likeness ya? In Christ alone do we jia you!

In Christ Alone... Pt 3

Haha... enough of lyrics? :p

Now comes my own 1 cent worth about both the songs...

Why did I type out both songs? (they're different songs by the way, just the same title) Well, both of them are among my favourites. I love the newer one by Keith Getty & Stuart for the lyrics. It has a very "hymnal" feel to the lyrics but I must say, the lyrics just brought tears to my eyes. (yes, I do cry quite easily! :p) The song, to me, was basically the gospel. A summary of this wonderful, life-transforming gospel that I live for.

The older version of 'In Christ Alone'... I have absolutely no idea who penned the words and tune. Anyone care to enlighten me? But the older version has a fantastic melody which stirs up heartstrings and really makes me examine whether I have put to death everything this world to offer and live for Christ and Christ alone...

On Tuesday, I failed to make time to reflect and meditate on God's Word. I read it, no doubt... but often, the words just flew by me. Spending time with God, reading Acts, some parts of Leviticus and Romans really refreshed me. He reminded me of so many things... that I can't possibly write it all in one blog! However, the main lesson learnt...

Have I lived my life for Christ and Christ alone? Do I daily surrender myself to cross? By Grace and Mercy, Christ has set me free from the slavery of sin! He bore the wrath of God for me on that tree, because of His marvelous, imcomprehensible love! Praise God!

In Christ Alone... Pt 2

This... is the newer version of 'In Christ Alone' by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

In Christ Alone

Verse 1

In Christ alone, my heart is found

He is my life, my strength, my song

This Conerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the Love of Christ I stand

Verse 2

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Til on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

Verse 3

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

Verse 4

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

'Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

In Christ Alone... Pt 1

This is the older version of 'In Christ Alone'

In Christ Aone

In Christ alone will I glory
Though I could pride myself in battles won
For I’ve been blessed beyond measure
And by His strength alone I overcome
Oh, I could stop and count successes
Like diamonds in my hand
But those trophies could not equal
To the grace by which I stand

Chorus
In Christ alone

I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone

In Christ alone will I glory
For only by His grace I am redeemed
Only His tender mercy
Could reach beyond my weakness to my need
Now I seek no greater honour
Than just to know Him more
And to count my things but losses
To the glory of the Lord

Busy, busy busy...

Oh man... havn't had time to sit down and reflect on my week. USQ's lecturers are in town these few weeks, so they're conducting lectures quite often. Assignments are piling up as well.

Hopefully, I'll be able to spend some time to wait on the Lord and just enjoy being refreshed from His Word and spending quality time with Him soon... on second thoughts, I better make some time..

My Brother, my ministry

Once again, thanks to all who were praying for my bro... he eventually went to school yesterday. No temperature but was unusually quiet when he got back from school. Took a long nap in the afternoon. However, one thing that happens during his illness though... he knows he's the "king" of the house and what he wants, he usually gets. Got pretty spoilt and kicked up numerous tantrums during this period of time. Somehow, I don't attribute it totally to him not feeling well. Sigh... parenting is certainly not easy. I really agree with Yifen and whoever told me that your child is a ministry. And with any ministry, there are struggles and there'll be suffering. It's made especially harder for parents when this "ministry" of yours, you carried for 9 months (to mothers) and the very, very personal nature of the relationship between you and your child(ministry) is there.

I always speak more from the viewpoint of a parent than a brother cos the age gap between my brother and myself is quite large. However, I see this as a blessing as I can look at things from 2 viewpoints.

To all parents, and parents-to-be(in the near future or not), raising up children is certainly not easy, but its one of the greatest blessings in life as well :)

Thanks for your prayers!

For all those who were praying for my bro, thanks :) He came home yesterday at about 9+ am. The docs at KK wanted to give him a jab to bring down the fever but my bro wasn't too receptive of that idea. In the end, they gave him a suppository. Achieved the same thing as the jab and his fever came down... temporarily. In the afternoon, his fever went up to 39.1 degrees again and we forced him to take a cold bath. The cries that errupted from him... heartwrenching... but no choice. This kinda give new meaning to "tough love".

Anyway, its a new day today and thank God that he's much better than yesterday. He slept through the entire night and now, his fever is at an acceptable 37.4 degrees. Hopefully, he'll be back in school tomorrow :) Once again, thanks to everyone who said a prayer for my bro! :)

Bro's sick

My bro's sick again. Sigh... he woke up at about 4 this morning and vomited. Not too sure why. After that, Mum and Dad brought him to the hospital. They havn't gotten back yet... Yesterday, his fever was at 39.4 degrees w/o medicine and even with paracetomol, his temperature was still at 38.4 degrees.

Praying earnestly now for healing...

The BIG picture

Firstly, to all who have been reading my blog and leaving comments, thanks! Hope that what I've been compelled to write has been helpful, thought-provoking and occasionally, fun :p (much to work on with regard to making this blog fun to read, i know! :p)

Anyway, lesson that I've been learning this few days... do we get the BIG picture in life? I mean, the things that matter to us, are they the things that matter to God? The things we think and worry about(exam results, what to wear to grad night, when am I gonna get a boyfriend/girlfriend, etc...) are indeed legitimate things. However, do we invest so much time, energy, effort and money in these things that we forget about what really matters? The things that will stand the test of time, the things that will last till eternity.

What are these things? Stay tuned ;) (feel free to leave comments on what you think these "eternal things" are... what you pen down may be helpful to others)

Love as a subject in schools

Celebrated my cuz's birthday at my Grandma's yesterday... had my first taste of port. Found the taste too sweet to my liking... realised why they call it a dessert wine. Anyway, picked up the copy of the New Paper on Sunday and started flipping through it. Was once more convinced that the New Paper is a trashy tabloid... save for their excellant sports coverage. But came across this article that made me cringe and gasp...

Love is being taught in Shanghai now... read on...

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/top/story/0,4136,72067,00.html?

Sad that we can't freely teach what REAL LOVE is. But for those in NTUCF & NIECF, press on with the PRC's! :) For the rest of us, let's press on with whoever the Lord places in our path. We need to share with others what Love is all about

Poh piah and Fellowship

Visited Adam Road Presbyterian Centre(ARPC) last night. For those in YCKC, it's the church that VikEe married into ;) (remember her?) Anyway, being the first friday of the month, they have a special evet called 'Big Night Out'. During these fridays, there's supper after the service! :) How can anyone resist supper right? And last night, it was hand-rolled poh piah for supper... the self-service kind where you roll it yourself.

Over the food, had a good time talking with some of my NTUCF friends, as well as meeting Chin Cher's 'extended family'. We had to drag 4 tables to accomodate everyone! Also, was amusing to see Yong Chieh being so enthusiastic about wrapping poh piah ;p

Yesterday was a good time to get reminded what fellowship is about. True fellowship ,koinonia, is possible only because God, by His grace, mercy and divine purpose, sent His Son to redeem us from our sins by dying on the cross. By Jesus' death and reserrection, we are thus united in Christ and are new creations. That, in essence is the gospel. And thus, because of the gospel, we can fellowship and commune with God Himself, as well as with our fellow bruthus and sistas as a people bonded together with love, through Christ :)

And I tell you, one of the best ways to do this is through a good poh piah... ok lah, should generalise here... over makan :) Everyone can relate to good food. So the next time we enjoy fellowship with the privilege of having food around, lets (1) encourage one another, both Chrisians and non-Christians alike and (2) say 'Grace' with joy and thanksgiving, remembering the gospel :)

The world we're living in

The papers greeted me today with the headline of "400 children and adults held hostage". The smaller headline read "Russia under seige by terrorists". Inside- female suicide bombers, french journalists held hostage, napalese riot, etc.

Now, I'm kinda at a loss... how should I, as a Christian, respond? Naturally, I'm appalled by the violence. But also, I'm sad that these people probably didn't have the chance to hear the gospel...

And in my own backyard, many friends have yet to hear the gospel as well... (we're in the life-threatening danger of falling onto mrt tracklines and moral degredation-- people are 'oohing' & 'ahhing' over an "arty-farty" film involving a grandmother's affair with a younger man *sheesh*)