The narrow and the wider

Two paths lie before me, the narrow and the wider.
The narrow leads to life, the wider leads to death.
Then there are life and there are death, both lies on the thin line of choice.
Then there are choice of the paths, between life and death.

The choosing of the narrow path, is hard and demanding.
The choosing of the wider path, is easy and enticing.
The choosing of life, is truth and freedom.
The choosing of death, is agony and pain.

Now does the narrow means life not death,
and the wider meant death not life?
Why the narrow and not the wider,
or death not life?

Is life better? Of course!
Is the narrow path easy? Not!
Is death scary? Sure!
Is the wider path the way? No way!

So the narrow path which leads to life equates discipline and hardship,
and the wider path which leads to death equates fun and more fun.
Why choose the narrow path over the wider?

Well, the narrow leads to Jesus.

The Declaration of Our King

The declaration of our King

Oh God, how precious are Your Words, for Your everlasting love endures forever. The smile on the face of the saints, with songs of praise, the hymm of worship, unto the King of Grace, the stiring of the spirit, cry out the declaration of His fame.

Oh God, how comforting are those outstretch hands, for Your grace is more than enough. Your words bring life and truth, to all who need to see and hear, the refreshing of the weary and tired, along the journey of the narrow path.

Oh God, how great are Your destiny, intended for those who walk on the path of righteousness, for You strengthen the ankles and wraist to the finish of the race. The renewal of passions and joy brings restoration to the broken-hearted, as Your plans unfold over men and women of the faith.

Oh God, for You are the Lord and Savior of man, for Your salvation are for all who are willing to come. The eternity You want to give, through Your grace and mercy, intended for Your sons and daughters, whom You love and treasure.

So the old will be gone and the new will come,  the young will see and the old will dream, as His glory unfolds before our eyes, so all will bow and worship our King.

written by Steven Lee on the 10th Novemeber 2009 to remember the words of the King

Uniting Churches

In 2000, a report states that 33% of the world population claims Christianity as their belief. Of the 33%, there are 34,000 Christian groups identified. The reason for the seemingly huge number of Christian groups is that many do not recognised itself as part of any mainstream denomination.

Someone once said that Christianity is the most un-unified religion in the world. Church splits are common mainly due to the reason of differing Theology. No church/ denomination/ movement will ever claim that their derived theology is wrong. For each, it is absolutely right, others are wrong. Each groups has point out the flaws of others and reasoned why their own theology are correct.

So is it ever possible to unite Christianity together despite differing theology? Haven’t anyone recognised that our interpretation of scriptures aren’t perfect? Why do we keep arguing over whose theology are right or wrong and not wholeheartedly focus on the needy, the poor and the sick?

I love and believe in the Word of God of which theology are derived. I believe that theology forms the basis of our living and belief. But I hate the fact that man condemned each other and bad-mouth each other in the name of God and His word.

I need inspiration to write once again

Each time I try to pen something, it ends up as a half-finish product and end up residing in my draft section. There are so many things I wanted to share but I just couldn’t complete it. The words don’t flow as it used to. This period of words drought is the main reason why I haven’t been posting for awhile.

As I search for the answer to my drought, I realised that I rely heavily on inspiration to write and when inspiration flows, it was at the worse of timing. There are so many time when I couldn’t sit down and pen my thoughts. In the end, when I try to recapture the moment of inspiration, I end up writing and back-spacing any words that comes forth.

And I just did it again to this post. 

The Power of Your Name

Surely children weren’t made for the streets
And fathers were not made to leave
Surely this isn’t how it should be
Let Your Kingdom come

Surely nations were not made for war
Or the broken meant to be ignored
Surely this just can’t be what You saw
Let Your Kingdom come
Here in my heart

I will live To carry Your compassion
To love a world that’s broken
To be Your hands and feet
I will give
With the life that I’ve been given
And go beyond religion 
To see the world be changed
By the power of Your name

Surely life wasn’t made to regret
And the lost were not made to forget
Surely faith without action is dead
Let Your Kingdom come
Lord break this heart

Your name
Is a shelter for the hurting
Jesus Your name
Is a refuge for the weak
Only Your name
Can redeem the undeserving
Jesus Your name
Holds everything I need

A healthy Church

My Church has 3 Passions, 

1. Passion for God
2. Passion for People
3. Passion for the Great Commission

 I have been thinking if this is what makes a healthy Church? And somehow, I came out with the following which are pretty similar. 

1. God is Glorified
2. People are Satisfied (Spiritually, Physically, Mentally & Emotionally)
3. The Church is Multiplied

 And this is based on the two Greatest Commandments and the Great Commission,

Matthew 22:36-40 ”Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Breaking Binds

Many who desire to walk with the Lord will begin to discover that there are many things in their lives they will need to change. For certain things, changes come easily and naturally but still for others, making that change is hard and difficult. A lot of times it is not that the person do not want to change but they were simply trap in the cycle of binds. No matter how many times one might try to break the cycle, they will find that there is simply no way out – unable to find that victory of God.

The Word of God says, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. I am a strong believer that Christ had come to set us free from our past, to live in the present and mould for the future. This is His promise but why are there so many Christ follower still trap in the cycle – lacking freedom? I try to identify the reasons, and i came out with the following. Please read it with care and think for yourself if what i said is right and whether it is applicable.

 The first being FEAR. Often we are afraid of what others might think of us when they know that we are trapped. The condemnation that will come when others find out. This is the most powerful weapon the enemy will use against us, playing like a broken record player in our mind over and over again. How i see it is that if we are able to speak about our weaknesses publicly and not be afraid of how others might look at us, this is the first step to freedom and change as we put down our pride and humble ourselves before others.

We might be able to voice out our cycle of binds but it doesn’t just go away. Yes, the second issue is being ADDICTED. Most blame the problem of addiction on the things that they are addicted to. But the biggest problem with addiction is ourselves. The lack of Self-Control forces us back to the same old pattern. Therefore we need to learn self-control over our emotions, our thoughts and our actions. In so doing, we are beginning to break the cycle. There might still be times when we fall back into the binds, but the cycle is now broken. What we need to do now is to work on the binds.

The binds can now be removed totally by changing our PERSPECTIVE. How we view certain things affect the way we live our lives. For example, if we believe that once we came to know God, whatever we do doesn’t affect our relationship with God, then removing the binds will be harder as we are not pressed to make any changes to our lives. On the other hand, if we believe that we need to live a life that is pleasing to God, we will be more desperate to make the changes.

I believe that the most amazing thing about God is His ever-lasting grace. He never forces His ways upon us, just waiting patiently for us to respond to Him. What God hates is the evil within us but His love for us, His precious children is long-suffering. He never gives up on us responding to Him.

As we respond to Him, trying our very best to please Him, we will break the cycle of binds, having that victory that God spoke about. The freedom which can be found in Christ.

Faith

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

One of God’s awesome gift to man is faith. When faith is exercise, the impossible became possible; 10’s became 100’s – 100’s became 1000’s. So much so that with faith, man will be an overcomer in any given circumstances, strong enough to believe what God is doing in man’s life. And definately through faith, man will be able to please God.

Faith is build on the fundamental of trust, followed with obedience and displayed by actions.

Trust can be developed over time, through understanding character and ways of doing things. In the same way, trust in God is develop through understanding God’s character and His ways. As we are sure of God, we will be sure of His providence. For it is in Him we place our hope.

This hope in God, will help us choose to  follow His ways even to the point when we do not understand. This is the faith to look beyond the current and into the future, believing that God will bring whatever to pass. This is the obedience of our hearts and action through our hands.

Trust in God by obeying Him with your heart and live out that faith through your deeds.

Life – Complex or Difficult

Why must life be difficult or complex?

Is it because of the lifestyle that makes it complicated or the way we choose to live our lives? Is it because of circumstances that make our life difficult or the way we choose to look at those circumstances?

Doesn’t it all points towards how we choose to live this life?

We can make excuses by blaming it on the risks involved, the difficulties encountered and suitability for everyone else, but in the end, what makes up the fulfilling life?

Again, doesn’t it boil down to making a distinctive choice?

A life between pain and freedom often lies in our perspective. Those who found freedom refuses to come out with excuses which keep them bind to pain. At the same time, those who want freedom but still stuck in pain keeps the excuses flowing.

So, are we making choices of release and freedom?

Fear immobilizes
The fear of ‘what if’ becomes the endless strings of possibility.
The fear of ‘uncertainty’ if one chooses the path of else.
The fear of ‘loss’ in hope turns what is good into never-ending binds

Or, has the common factor: fear immobilizes the choices we make?

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
       I refused my heart no pleasure.
       My heart took delight in all my work,
       and this was the reward for all my labor.

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
       and what I had toiled to achieve,
       everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
       nothing was gained under the sun.

Solomon in Ecclesiastes – “Everything is meaningless”

Then, what is the ultima-tion of choice?

Many have said the ultimate choice of life is Jesus Christ, but why are many who walk with the Lord still stuck in pain and binds, defeated and in anguish, finding life meaningless? Haven’t they made a choice to follow and walk in the ways of the Father in heaven?

What is wrong in our choice of believe?

We have made the choice to believe but have we changed the way of thinking and seeing – which forms our perspective of life? And have we done what is good – by putting what we believe, think and see into a form of service?

Have we made the choice to believe, change and do what is good?

To believe in Jesus | To change our Perspective | To do what is Good

Facebook addiction

I felt bad not blogging for a while. And, it is all because of facebook !!! (let’s talk about addiction … hahhaaa), i have been typing on people’s wall, finding out more about people’s life, making contact with new lost friends, doing quizes, etc. Then i downloaded it into my iPhone (by the way iPhone 3G S is coming out soon) and i am on it 24 hours a day.

Just today, I took this funny quiz (facebook have all kind of quiz) on whether my crush likes me back and was thinking whether i should publish the result as it makes me look really bad hahahaaa … for my crush doesn’t like me back !!! (i think i will get heaps of encouragement for this on facebook … hahahaa) But in the name of fun, why not :p

—————————————————–
Steven took the Does Your Crush Love You Back? quiz.
(This quiz reveals if your crush is crushing back. But really, how could anyone not like you? We mean, come on.)

 Steven Lee’s result is “Probably Not”
Sorry, but the odds are slim. You’ve been coming on kind of strong, and your crush is sending out signals that they don’t like you back. However, there’s always a chance that your crush is the shy type. Maybe they do like you, but they’re afraid to show it – so instead, they’re quiet and distant. It’s possible. Not very likely, but possible. So if you really want to put yourself on the line, ask them to hang out sometime. Just make sure you play it real cool so they don’t get intimidated. (And also ’cause if they reject you, you can pretend you were just being friendly.)
 —————————————————–

This is what most people will go through:
“sob sob … How could people not like me …
bitterness … hahhaaahahaaa …
revenge … it’s all finished”

The 5 stages of Emotions (from experience)
Saddness –> Self-pity –>
Bitterness –> Fake Happiness –>
Anger –> and finally Release

As for me?
“Yeah !!! it is finally over!!!”
Mwahahaaahahahaaa

While i am Waiting

A nice and simple song to encourage us all as we wait upon the Lord’s answer.

My USB Drive

After i found my USB Drive in the washing machine, I feared the worse for all my documents. My mind sing the following words (and Yes, i have a simple mind) …

It is all Gone!!!
Verse1
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
 ”It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”

Chorus
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
 ”It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”

Verse2
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
“It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”
 ”It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!” “It is all gone !!!” ”It is all gone !!!”

Well, tried it on my laptop and it still works. So my conclusion is this;
We can wash our USB Drive in the washing machine once in a while to keep it clean.

Fishing Trip 300509

It was an awesome fishing trip!!! Learnt alot about fishing today

 

Too Friendly ???

Funny quiz from Facebook … hahahaaaaaa …

Steven took the What’s Wrong With You? quiz and the result is Too Friendly.

You’re very open with people, which is great, but sometimes those people are wearing brass knuckles, which is not great. You tend to think that people are generally good at heart, and because of that, you’re very trusting.

People are drawn to your positive attitude and you tend to make friends easily. (You might also be a little vain, but hey, who could blame you? You’re a good-looking individual, and you have a right to be a little cocky about it.)

So where could you go wrong? Well, if you’re too friendly, you might not be on alert for those folks you really shouldn’t trust. So try to use more caution when you meet new people.

And quit trading gym socks with strangers. That’s just plain gross.

Legalism and Liberalism

In most part of the world (or rather the “western world” as most will be more familiar with this term); nations are or have embraced liberalism – the freedom of speech and thought. Of course Liberalism is more than the above mentioned but its ideal are primary tied very closely to the notion of “freedom”.

 Legalism on the other hand focuses on the idea to “strictly follow or abhor to a set of structure, rules, laws or regulations without any or much changeability”. It is best characterized on the many occasions when Jesus rebukes the Pharisee for being legalistic or to be more exact, hypocritical. Matthew 23 is one such passage.

As I contrast legalism with liberalism, it became clear that a balance is needed. Not to become an extremist like the Pharisee’s legalistic (hypocritical) ways nor the abusing of God’s given freedom as seen over the years, and even more evident now, the many that have took liberalism to the extreme and had advocate against many of God’s values.

Read through Romans 3, for the passage spoke about the balance of the given freedom found in Christ and at the same calling upon us not to forsake how we live our lives according to the Word of God – it still stands this very day!

 Romans 3:20

“Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

 Romans3:28

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”

 Romans 3:31

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”

Eurovision 2009 | Urban Symphony – Rändajad

Another song from Eurovision 2009 which is nice

 

 

English Translation
The Nomads

In the desert heat the sand
Blows like ice-cold snow
Night soon unfurls her wings
Nothing but the wind to escort the nomads

It is the way they wander from one day to the next
It is the way they wander from one life to the next
It is the way it weaves an invisible path
Before them it waits until you are ready to take the risk

It conveys only frozen souls
The moonlight makes shadows of them
Warmth in a ray of sunlight
Is what the morning brings once again

It is the way they wander from one day to the next
It is the way they wander from one life to the next
It is the way it weaves an invisible path
Before them it waits until you are ready to take the risk

They wander from one day to the next
They wander from one life to the next
It weaves an invisible path
It waits until you are ready to take the risk

A voice echoes over the mountains up to the heavens

It is the way they wander from one day to the next
It is the way they wander from one life to the next
It is the way it weaves an invisible path
Before them it waits until you are ready to take the risk
It is the way

EuroVision 2009 | Sasha Son – Love

Nice song and voice that i heard from Eurovision 2009. The first tube is the MTV Version, the second is live enjoy

 

 

 

Love

I’ve had it all, as a little child

I’ve done it all, as a little child

But the pain that I have

For the fame that I got, was for what?

A little girl is crying alone

A little boy, searching for his home

Even after I’ve sinned for a heart-craving dream

Is that a sin?

If you really love the love you say

You’ll love with a love

Then surely that love would love

Then surely that love would love to love you back

If you really love the love you say

You’ll love with a love

Then surely that love would love

Then surely that love will love you back

Will love you back

For just one moment, we all wanna be

Just as happy as one can be

(So don’t you make the same mistake)

(You’d better give from what you take)

And don’t you break

A little girl or boy crying at home alone

That faithful song will lead the way

To make you strong

If you really love the love you say

You’ll love with a love

Then surely that love would love

Then surely that love would love to love you back

If you really love the love you say

You’ll love with a love

Then surely that love would love

Then surely that love will love you back

If you really love

If you really love the love you say

You’ll love with a love

Then surely that love would love

Then surely that love would love to love you back

If you really love the love you say

You’ll love with a love

Then surely that love would love

Then surely that love

Then surely that love

Then surely that love will love you back

Will love you back

Is it time?

What really excite me these days? Well, nothing much i could say of it. Life is a sad routine of work, church and sleep. I really need something different, i really need to get out, no longer trap by the routine of daily life. I have to make a decision soon and let myself be free to the possibility of a future. The longer i stay where i am, the longer i will conform to what everone else makes life to be. I need the courage to take that step of faith into the uncertain, i need to move this beaten up body but i am truly afraid. What if i make a mistake? How will i ever support my journey? How will i ever support my family? Fear cripples my heart, it took away my will and my legs. I am afraid!!!

I am not the same as everyone else. For I don’t think the same, i don’t feel the same and i don’t anticipate the same. Isn’t that what was said of me by the prophets and confirmed by some others? Maybe that is truth and truth will free me from my pain? It might be the right time to go. But I don’t have the plans, i don’t have a single clue on what i should do.

There is always a faithful saying – Trust in the Almighty God to Lead the Way!!!

God, please …

“God, please empower me, strengthen me and align me with the power of the Holy Spirit. God, please make my heart bigger, the shoulders wider and the hands stronger to do Your very work.”

I live a good life, which is no where comparable to many others. So many times, i took for granted what many others could only wish for. My struggles seem small, when my eyes looked beyond my very own.

“God, please empower me, strengthen me and align me with the power of the Holy Spirit. God, please make my heart bigger, the shoulders wider and the hands stronger to do Your very work.”

I know my life is blessed by God, but is this really a life which i should live, for my very own. For this isn’t my life alone but for those whom God have prepared to do greater work. To see lives changed, free and ready to give freely unto Him as He call.

“God, please empower me, strengthen me and align me with the power of the Holy Spirit. God, please make my heart bigger, the shoulders wider and the hands stronger to do Your very work.”

I am weak but You make me strong. I am poor but You make me rich. I am lost but You reveal to me the path. I will trust You all the days of my life. I will walk on the path of righteousness. I will love as You will love, speak as You will speak and act as You will act.

“God, please empower me, strengthen me and align me with the power of the Holy Spirit. God, please make my heart bigger, the shoulders wider and the hands stronger to do Your very work.”

How do you help someone with very specific needs?

How do you help someone with very specific needs?

The very first thing is to have a very accommodating heart to accept the individual for who they are. Without love, nothing else we do matters. It just amounts to nothing.

1Co 13:1-3 “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

Before sacrifice there is love. Love is a characteristic of Christianity, where love gives freely and never demands. Therefore, the only way to help someone with very specific needs is to develop a loving heart. No one can say they can’t love, or because of bad past experience. Love can be developed, especially so when we ask God to show us how. That is why God makes it the first and second commandment,

Mat 22:37-40 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Love gives freely and never demands, especially so with people. We can’t expect them to pay back or give back what we choose to freely give – our love. Our love is unconditional. That is why it is patient with each one and will motivate us beyond our norms. It will help us walk on the path beyond our usual route (out of our comfort zone) for the other party. That is what love can do.