Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Man of Sorrows
Isaiah 53:1-4"Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted."
Who has believed? This is a crucial question. Perhaps the only question that really matters. Sometimes when we read the Gospels, we find ourselves asking, "How could it be that seeing Jesus was not believing Him?" It should have been obvious - the miracles, the healings, the luminous teaching. And yet the truth is, most of the first witnesses clearly did not believe. This leaves you and me with Isaiah's ancient and uncomfortable question.
In Chapter 53, the question takes on a disturbing tone. There was nothing desirable about Jesus that would invite us to believe. After showing us the wreck of the Messiah, perhaps Isaiah should have asked "Who could possibly believe?" But thankfully, the prophet provided the answer.
Tucked away in Isaiah's sad description is the only answer you'll ever find to this most important question. The prophet says that the Messiah took up our iniquities, carried our sorrows, was punished for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities.
"Who has believed?" The ones who see the wonders and miracles? No. They will abandon Jesus every time. The only ones who truly believe the message are those who come to realise that it was their infirmities, sorrows, transgressions, iniquities and wounds that were taken up, experienced, and carried by Isaiah's Man of Sorrows.
Jesus was sorrowful because we made Him sorry.
"Who has believed?" The answer: Only those who see that they - we, you, I - made the Man of Sorrows sorry.
-Michael Card from "Our Daily Journey"
9:33 PM
Monday, March 26, 2007
the one about the bus stop
I have no idea whether I made the wrong decision or the right choice. But I do know one thing, if our paths are meant to merge into one, they will merge again one day. It's just a temporary diversion. And what more can I ask for in a friend who knows me so well?Then tell me, why I hurt?
2 years ago, I wrote about my Bus Stop theory. 2 years later, it still stands. No matter what, there's a space reserved for this bus.
So now, back to square one. Going to get right my vertical relationship with God. If I can get that right, everything else will fall into place.
8:14 AM
Thursday, March 22, 2007
the one about yesterday
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."Matthew 5:13-14
A city on a hill cannot be hidden. What a way to describe a believer in Christ.
We are not to be hidden behind the 4 walls of the church. We are not to retreat into the darkness. If we are the light of the world, just a beam can light up this generation of darkness. Ask yourself, are you part of the Moses' generation who saw and yet did not believe; or part of the Joshua's generation who trusted in God to provide the Promise Land?
I want to be part of the Joshua generation.
That aside, yesterday was the Excellence Awards ceremony at MLT 1. And Nat wants to copy the content I'm writing for this event. =P Anyway, so yesterday was the day students were honoured for their achievements and efforts after a year of hard work. It wasn't a huge and grand event, but in my opinion, a small, quiet and warm event. And what better way to celebrate the event than to be seated next to one of my oldest (Mind you.. OLDEST should be an understatement.) friend from poly?
So this was what happened; I came in one hour or so before the commencement of the event to NOT rehearse through the sequence, but to actually talk and laugh together with Nat, Timothy and Cashwin, all of us being SP nominees for the PSC Scholarship. Of course, Nat was the centre of it all, being totally devoured by the constant reminders of his AVERAGE GPA OF 4. Cashwin was not spared either, with Nat wanting to shift some attention from himself to someone else. So all in all, it felt good. There wasn't the tension I expected but just pure good fun. *grin*
Ah well, Nat, this is the part you were waiting for... In order to cure the boredom, I took some crazy photos. And NAT, not being the ultimate poser, actually had a nice shot! Like this...
And of course not forgetting... 
The event ended quite early. Michael was around and so he got me and Nat to do a short footage. Like I said, I think Michael loves Nat but the camera begs to differ. 3 filming sessions!! *chuckle*
It felt good to return to school for such a reason. Not to mention that I get to meet old friends like Nat. And of course, receiving a trophy that is heavy enough to be a murder weapon.
Gosh, I don't feel like growing up suddenly. Oh no. Now what?
Oh yah, graduation ceremony in 2 months' time.
11:59 PM
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
the one where I didn't make it
I think I didn't make it for the PSC scholarship. Out of the 8 of us nominated by SP, 2 of us have received notice to go for the psychological interview and real interview.I don't feel that bad actually. Perhaps in the beginning I really wanted the scholarship. But after going through the training sessions with LC, I've come to realise that this PSC scholarship is not what I really want. Like what Nat said, it might not be my cup of tea with all those policies making, formulating and executing policies and administrative stuff. After all, I am a people person. *grin*
BUT ON HIGH NOTE, I'm so happy for Nat!! Heh! He's one of the two SP nominees who's going through to the PSC interview. If you ask me, Nat deserves it more than anyone I know. Who gives God as much time as him and yet manages to glorify God with his results and his life's testimony? He's really the living testimony for God. I'm so happy for him! It doesn't matter if I make it or not, I just feel happy for him.
Ah well, I applied for other scholarships and besides, it's not the end of PSC cause they will forward my application to the ministries and statutory boards. Oh yah, I received my letter for the writing test and interview for Communications Studies, as well as my letter from NIE. BUT stupid NIE is offering me a Bachelor in Education(Arts) with specialisation in General/Chinese Language(Pri). LIKE ARGH!! That may be my dream in primary school but I don't want to be a Chinese teacher now!
Still, I'm going to put in some effort for the Communication Studies interview. In case NUS FASS doesn't want me.
No matter what, I will go where You call me, Lord.
11:32 PM
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
the one about my new job
I started a new job as a sales co-ordinator at Runner's World. It's actually purchasing so all I have to do is to churn out sales order, delivery orders and tax invoices. Of course there is the organisation and hierarchy I have to follow regarding the differences in each sales order, or when customer wants to return or exchange their goods.It's really tiring coz I need to think, check and check again, and face a computer full of numbers the entire day. Not to mention that the company is at some ulu corner of this island.
The work's manageable and the people's alright. Think they're really desperately looking for a permanent worker. Hah. Ah well... at least I know I have something to do for the next 3 months!
Work and save up to go Taiwan!! YES! I want to have a nice sit-plane-go-somewhere holiday before I start uni. YES!
11:32 PM
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
the one about my conviction
There's no law if there's no grace. Because law cannot never function on its own. But over emphasis on grace will undermine the law. It's a dedicate balance.Forgiveness does not mean that you condone his actions.
You don't condemn someone based on what he had done. In fact, you don't condemn nor judge. Only God does.
We all need second chances. Do we deserve one? No we don't. But God still gave us second, third, fourth and many countless chances.
So who are we to deprive someone of his second chance?
Remember, God hates the sin but loves the sinner.
And this is what drives me to achieve my dreams.