Daniel 3:1-7
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshipped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Bow or Burn.
Order given, the drill is on - Image, Music, All fall down. Automatic.
Don't think about it. Panic was the order of the thing, fear ruled and ALL FELL DOWN AND WORSHIPPED.
You think you can resist. Think again. You really need to THINK. But can you think?
The image of gold, 90ft by 9ft, totally obnoxious right in your face, leaving you no space to think.
Bow or Burn.
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold,
all fell down and worshipped
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Reflection - Sunday Sermon 2008.10.26
Daniel 3:1-25
Why did God only appear at the moment for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?
But there might times God did not appear, for this case God delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
"God could have but He didn't" - A commonly heard response.
Why did God only appear at the moment for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?
But there might times God did not appear, for this case God delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
"God could have but He didn't" - A commonly heard response.
God could have but He didn't!
God could have but He didn't?
God could have but He didn't.
The utterance of the response spells a different meaning. All three are valid as anger, perplexity are acceptable limited human responses to a Almighty and Sovereign limitless God, but we do pray as we understand our limitation and God's limitless, we will choose the third response.
Monday, October 13, 2008
ProVision - Seek Ye First
The word "Provision" spelt a new meaning to me today as I was reading through Genesis 12.
Many a times it is thought as a safety net, material security.
But the word was opened to me of its purpose. Provision is pro vision. So it is a derived word, with meaning derived from another word.
The question for me is for all the provisions I have, ask and demand, do I have a vision? Is there a vision before the provision? Is there is a purpose and meaning for the provision?
I guess I could say there is but the issue for me is that the process is reversed.
Rather than vision first, then provision. We seek provision as an end to its own, not a mean to an end or we use the provision is for a vision that is not. Soon provision shrivels for its lack of vision - its purpose and meaning.
Soon we get scare, confused, insecure, wondering what has happened, running to God for help, demanding the provision, claiming the vision.
I always wonder by some people's show of courage despite the seeming "little" provision they have. I guess that is because I have understood the purpose and meaning of provision.
I assume I am a typical Christian of my generation - we make demands for provision as our rights in God's name. God's obligation to us because he loves us. But didn't we also say God is no man's debtor.
Chasing around the provision and exhausted for the lack of vision.
I will have to ask myself do I have a vision for my life, my money, my job?
And where does the vision come from? As from where the vision come, so will the provision.
Matthew 6
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Many a times it is thought as a safety net, material security.
But the word was opened to me of its purpose. Provision is pro vision. So it is a derived word, with meaning derived from another word.
The question for me is for all the provisions I have, ask and demand, do I have a vision? Is there a vision before the provision? Is there is a purpose and meaning for the provision?
I guess I could say there is but the issue for me is that the process is reversed.
Rather than vision first, then provision. We seek provision as an end to its own, not a mean to an end or we use the provision is for a vision that is not. Soon provision shrivels for its lack of vision - its purpose and meaning.
Soon we get scare, confused, insecure, wondering what has happened, running to God for help, demanding the provision, claiming the vision.
I always wonder by some people's show of courage despite the seeming "little" provision they have. I guess that is because I have understood the purpose and meaning of provision.
I assume I am a typical Christian of my generation - we make demands for provision as our rights in God's name. God's obligation to us because he loves us. But didn't we also say God is no man's debtor.
Chasing around the provision and exhausted for the lack of vision.
I will have to ask myself do I have a vision for my life, my money, my job?
And where does the vision come from? As from where the vision come, so will the provision.
Matthew 6
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
God is nigh - Angelus by Millet
It has been bad and worse news each day. I was looking at this picture (Angelus by Millet) last night. Months back I came upon a commentary and reflection in the local Chinese newspaper (it was a great pity I did not keep a copy of it).
The painting depicts a man and a woman standing in a field. They are farmers. He holds his cap reverently as he stands with bowed head, and she in a white cap and long blue apron over her dress clasps her hands as a prayerful look sets her face. They pause in prayer near the end of the work day. At the woman's feet is a basket of potatoes, and at her far side rests a wheelbarrow full of empty sacks. At the side of the man is a pitchfork spiked upright in the ground. The breaking clouds are blushed with light as birds flit in the twilight. The viewer can almost hear the bells ringing in the spire of the church in the distant right of the painting.
Towards evening, as the day and a day of hard work are ending, having only harvested a basket of potatoes, with the sun setting and the sound of church bell ringing in the air, this painting helps to remind me to put my trust in the Lord.
The painting depicts a man and a woman standing in a field. They are farmers. He holds his cap reverently as he stands with bowed head, and she in a white cap and long blue apron over her dress clasps her hands as a prayerful look sets her face. They pause in prayer near the end of the work day. At the woman's feet is a basket of potatoes, and at her far side rests a wheelbarrow full of empty sacks. At the side of the man is a pitchfork spiked upright in the ground. The breaking clouds are blushed with light as birds flit in the twilight. The viewer can almost hear the bells ringing in the spire of the church in the distant right of the painting.
Towards evening, as the day and a day of hard work are ending, having only harvested a basket of potatoes, with the sun setting and the sound of church bell ringing in the air, this painting helps to remind me to put my trust in the Lord.
A song we used to sing at the end of a session of Girl Guide gathering durng school day:
Thanks and praise, for our day, 'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, 'Neath the sky. As we go, this we know, God is nigh.
God is nigh.
Last Day
A frequent question we have been asked is "What will you do if this is the last day of your life?", as part of examination of life. Would you tell someone you love them, would you seek forgiveness from some, would you share Christ with a close one.
I felt I have been sidetracked by the question itself.
When I was recently asked the question again recently, three images crossed my mind -
(1) my last day at work at UBS in 2001, I remembered going through my works (files - hard, soft), clearing some and keeping some. Last to leave office that day, on purpose, I wanted some moments alone to do the clearing.
(2) a typical Saturday at home, at my study table, noting down my thoughts, going through the items in my room, clearing some and keeping some.
(3) a man at deathbed, seeking solace in the presence of a priest, in his words of receiving and giving forgiveness.
When I put them together, I found I hope my last day of my life to be as such:
As normal as a typical Saturday, eating the breakfast my mum bought, with my dad working on his accounts on the kitchen table, going through the things I accumulated over the week at my study table, clearing some and keeping some. Have lunch maybe with a close pal, buy a few small indulgances of a typical weekend mall trip. Keep a nap after lunch. Wake up, have an afternoon tea, at my desk to be inspired to journal down some thoughts. Watch some TV, listen to some of my music, at my desk again to be inspired to journal down some more thoughts. Then read a little something before I sleep, hearing my dad and my mum returning from outside.
I want it to be as normal as possible, not gripped by fears, regrets, and anxiety of the things to do.
What I will wish for is peace to guard my heart throughout.
I wish I would not take out my life saving for splurge, or to tell anyone it is my last.
Throughout the day, while on my little common activities, I shall be going through my life, clearing some and keeping some.
Seeking forgiveness and forgiving those who and which are brought to mind,
Giving thanks for the small graces brought to rememberance,
Asking relief from the regrets on things done and undone,
The hardest may be the lingering faces of loved ones.
I do not know when the day will come, though it sure will come and it may come as a theif, I pray I am constantly cultivating the peace to enjoy it and leave it.
I felt I have been sidetracked by the question itself.
When I was recently asked the question again recently, three images crossed my mind -
(1) my last day at work at UBS in 2001, I remembered going through my works (files - hard, soft), clearing some and keeping some. Last to leave office that day, on purpose, I wanted some moments alone to do the clearing.
(2) a typical Saturday at home, at my study table, noting down my thoughts, going through the items in my room, clearing some and keeping some.
(3) a man at deathbed, seeking solace in the presence of a priest, in his words of receiving and giving forgiveness.
When I put them together, I found I hope my last day of my life to be as such:
As normal as a typical Saturday, eating the breakfast my mum bought, with my dad working on his accounts on the kitchen table, going through the things I accumulated over the week at my study table, clearing some and keeping some. Have lunch maybe with a close pal, buy a few small indulgances of a typical weekend mall trip. Keep a nap after lunch. Wake up, have an afternoon tea, at my desk to be inspired to journal down some thoughts. Watch some TV, listen to some of my music, at my desk again to be inspired to journal down some more thoughts. Then read a little something before I sleep, hearing my dad and my mum returning from outside.
I want it to be as normal as possible, not gripped by fears, regrets, and anxiety of the things to do.
What I will wish for is peace to guard my heart throughout.
I wish I would not take out my life saving for splurge, or to tell anyone it is my last.
Throughout the day, while on my little common activities, I shall be going through my life, clearing some and keeping some.
Seeking forgiveness and forgiving those who and which are brought to mind,
Giving thanks for the small graces brought to rememberance,
Asking relief from the regrets on things done and undone,
The hardest may be the lingering faces of loved ones.
I do not know when the day will come, though it sure will come and it may come as a theif, I pray I am constantly cultivating the peace to enjoy it and leave it.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Atonement
A thin haze blew in from the ocean, hiding the mainland behind a veil of gauze. Aunt Flo grew quiet; she sat on the windward deck beside me and looked over the water toward the dim and fading shore. After a while she tiurned toward me and asked, "The word atonement - do you know what it means?"
"It means to atone for your sins. To make amends for your wrongs." I had given her a quick response, mouthing empty words, because I thought that was what she wanted to hear.
"No," she said,"it means at-one-ment - to be at one with God."
I was dumbfounded by the way she broke the syllables down; I thought she was toying with words, playing silly parlor game. But my mind wouldn't let go of what she said, and the more I thought about at-one-ment as opposed to atonement, the more her insight appealed to me.
Years later, I discovered the concept wasn't originated from Aunt Flo. Rabbis often refer to at-one-moment during Yom Kippur, the hi.gh holy Day of Atonement for Jews.
~ "First You Have to Row a Little Boat" by Richard Bode
"It means to atone for your sins. To make amends for your wrongs." I had given her a quick response, mouthing empty words, because I thought that was what she wanted to hear.
"No," she said,"it means at-one-ment - to be at one with God."
I was dumbfounded by the way she broke the syllables down; I thought she was toying with words, playing silly parlor game. But my mind wouldn't let go of what she said, and the more I thought about at-one-ment as opposed to atonement, the more her insight appealed to me.
Years later, I discovered the concept wasn't originated from Aunt Flo. Rabbis often refer to at-one-moment during Yom Kippur, the hi.gh holy Day of Atonement for Jews.
~ "First You Have to Row a Little Boat" by Richard Bode
The Vocation of Being Right and Being Relevant
There are many reasons that we are in this financial crisis. One is the challenge of the vocation of being right and being relevant.
As a member of church, having attended church services over 10 years, the question sometimes at the back of my mind is “Why do people come to church, so patiently and so persistently weeks after weeks, yet somewhat know something is amiss within their them, within church and the Services?”
This is a question the clergy and the leaders of the church need some consideration and owe a reply “Are we giving them THAT?”
THAT is
- The image one has when we mention church or going to church.
- The image one has when we mention the word “Priest”, “Father”, “Pastor”.
What is the image one has when we mention “church” or “coming to church”?
What is the image one has when we mention the word “Priest”, “Father”, “Pastor”?
Ask again, ask again, ask again, ask until they really think about what they say
- a very different set of replies may emerge. What we have initially sought but lost along the way, before we were “influenced”.
Weeks after weeks despite feeling a little amiss, I come seeking solace with God, in God. (We are not arguing “God is everywhere”). When I see my “Priest”, “Father”, “Pastor”, I want to a man of God, bearing the image of God – in him I see God and find solace in his words, in his actions.
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
The calling of being right and being relevant – it is required of all of us, not just the clergymen.
So, likewise, savings should be safe.
(Coincidentally, there is an article on Straits Time today “Church pastors like none other - They have built their churches from scratch into two of the richest and biggest in Singapore." There maybe or may not be connection between the two articles as I have not read the other.)
As a member of church, having attended church services over 10 years, the question sometimes at the back of my mind is “Why do people come to church, so patiently and so persistently weeks after weeks, yet somewhat know something is amiss within their them, within church and the Services?”
This is a question the clergy and the leaders of the church need some consideration and owe a reply “Are we giving them THAT?”
THAT is
- The image one has when we mention church or going to church.
- The image one has when we mention the word “Priest”, “Father”, “Pastor”.
What is the image one has when we mention “church” or “coming to church”?
What is the image one has when we mention the word “Priest”, “Father”, “Pastor”?
Ask again, ask again, ask again, ask until they really think about what they say
- a very different set of replies may emerge. What we have initially sought but lost along the way, before we were “influenced”.
Weeks after weeks despite feeling a little amiss, I come seeking solace with God, in God. (We are not arguing “God is everywhere”). When I see my “Priest”, “Father”, “Pastor”, I want to a man of God, bearing the image of God – in him I see God and find solace in his words, in his actions.
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
The calling of being right and being relevant – it is required of all of us, not just the clergymen.
So, likewise, savings should be safe.
(Coincidentally, there is an article on Straits Time today “Church pastors like none other - They have built their churches from scratch into two of the richest and biggest in Singapore." There maybe or may not be connection between the two articles as I have not read the other.)
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