Ji had the dates confused and wrote the discussion for Thursday instead of Friday's. So I was given the privilege of writing the post for today in place of Ji.
Last Sunday's bible study was about the greatness of God by looking at his creation of universe. I came home and guess what's on the discovery channel. It's a program called 'Universe' showing the pictures and information that we saw from the bible study. Is God trying to say something? We all say that God created all things but do we really KNOW it? The knowns and unknowns about God's creation should make us marvel at his greatness and in result be humbled before him. When we come to this point of humbleness then we are even more amazed because he who is almighty and powerful came down and suffered to reconcile us who are so insignificant and small. Amazing.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Victory through the cross
Faith and bravery, those were the first words that came to my mind when I read the bible verse and Stott's explanation for today.
Thinking about the persecutions that the early Christians had to go through to spread the word of Christ, and how they endured and triumphed so that we may know of Christ's life and the sacrifice he made for us two thousand years later is amazing to me.
As Stott says what we pass off as Christianity today is not the way that the early Christians practiced their religion and I think that's one thing that we can take away from today's verse. The love and passion that the early Christians had for Christ.
Thinking about the persecutions that the early Christians had to go through to spread the word of Christ, and how they endured and triumphed so that we may know of Christ's life and the sacrifice he made for us two thousand years later is amazing to me.
As Stott says what we pass off as Christianity today is not the way that the early Christians practiced their religion and I think that's one thing that we can take away from today's verse. The love and passion that the early Christians had for Christ.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
A Revelation of Love
Hello Friends.
Today's reading was an encouraging one for yours truly. The issue of suffering and the lasting nature of God's love has been one of the more difficult aspects of my faith that I have had a difficult time in getting my arms around. John Stott helped to really put it eloquently, however, when he said that we should cling to the cross in times of anguish because it is from that unique "vantage point" that we can reflect on the meaning of our vaporous existence.
In a twist on words, I've recently "suffered" if you will because of the fact that I can truly say that God has poured out His undying love for me. It pains me to think that His mercies are new every morning even when my sin is constantly abounding all around me. And as I wait for the bottom to fall out on me because of what I do, the exact opposite happens. God's love keeps on pouring down.
So my guilt overtakes me alot and with guilt comes more sin and with more sin comes more turmoil, anguish, and suffering. But then I remember the words of some spiritual mentors, i.e. Dulla Samonim and Pastor James. More like rebukes actually.
I feel guilty because in some way, I feel that I can make myself worthy of God's love. In this context, I am really saying " I can make myself worthy of God's love through my own will and goodness." It's my pride in the most classic sense that comes in the way of my spiritual growth.
In the end, it's my own self-centeredness and false modesty that stumbles me. I really am nothing except by which God has saved me. It's when I forget and think of myself as any better that I suffer alot.
Thus I close with the awesome and scandalous nature of God's love. I could never do it myself. But like I am reminded every day, I am not Him and His ways are higher than mine.
Thanks for listening homeboys.
Today's reading was an encouraging one for yours truly. The issue of suffering and the lasting nature of God's love has been one of the more difficult aspects of my faith that I have had a difficult time in getting my arms around. John Stott helped to really put it eloquently, however, when he said that we should cling to the cross in times of anguish because it is from that unique "vantage point" that we can reflect on the meaning of our vaporous existence.
In a twist on words, I've recently "suffered" if you will because of the fact that I can truly say that God has poured out His undying love for me. It pains me to think that His mercies are new every morning even when my sin is constantly abounding all around me. And as I wait for the bottom to fall out on me because of what I do, the exact opposite happens. God's love keeps on pouring down.
So my guilt overtakes me alot and with guilt comes more sin and with more sin comes more turmoil, anguish, and suffering. But then I remember the words of some spiritual mentors, i.e. Dulla Samonim and Pastor James. More like rebukes actually.
I feel guilty because in some way, I feel that I can make myself worthy of God's love. In this context, I am really saying " I can make myself worthy of God's love through my own will and goodness." It's my pride in the most classic sense that comes in the way of my spiritual growth.
In the end, it's my own self-centeredness and false modesty that stumbles me. I really am nothing except by which God has saved me. It's when I forget and think of myself as any better that I suffer alot.
Thus I close with the awesome and scandalous nature of God's love. I could never do it myself. But like I am reminded every day, I am not Him and His ways are higher than mine.
Thanks for listening homeboys.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
An atonement for Sin
I apologize posting the blog very late. I don't feel good and so does Caleb today. We appreciate Il for spreading germ of love to his family.
Anyhow... I thank Dan and David for the DVD that we watched last Sunday. I can't stop thinking about it since. We always sing about how great and powerful God is yet what we watched on DVD last Sunday really opened my eyes to the magnitude of who God is. "....indescribable, uncontainable, you place the stars in the sky and you know it by name, you are amazing God. All powerful, untamable, all struck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim, YOU ARE AMAZING GOD..."
More amazing thing is that the very God came to this earth as a human just like us to bear sins of people to die on the cross. This plan of salvation was already decided even in the beginning. God left all His glories and riches in Heaven for one purpose. Through his life on earth, Jesus touched many lives physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He brought healing to the sick, hope to the hopeless, and offered the living water to the thirst. Through his death and resurrection, he brought reconciliation between men and God, forgiveness to the sinners,and eternal life to the dead.
If we know this truth and understand deeply the meaning of cross, we don't hesitate to live for God alone. Like Pastor James' favorite words," Christ Alone..."
We do want and love nothing but Christ alone because he first loved us and gave himself up for us. Thank you, Jesus!!
Anyhow... I thank Dan and David for the DVD that we watched last Sunday. I can't stop thinking about it since. We always sing about how great and powerful God is yet what we watched on DVD last Sunday really opened my eyes to the magnitude of who God is. "....indescribable, uncontainable, you place the stars in the sky and you know it by name, you are amazing God. All powerful, untamable, all struck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim, YOU ARE AMAZING GOD..."
More amazing thing is that the very God came to this earth as a human just like us to bear sins of people to die on the cross. This plan of salvation was already decided even in the beginning. God left all His glories and riches in Heaven for one purpose. Through his life on earth, Jesus touched many lives physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He brought healing to the sick, hope to the hopeless, and offered the living water to the thirst. Through his death and resurrection, he brought reconciliation between men and God, forgiveness to the sinners,and eternal life to the dead.
If we know this truth and understand deeply the meaning of cross, we don't hesitate to live for God alone. Like Pastor James' favorite words," Christ Alone..."
We do want and love nothing but Christ alone because he first loved us and gave himself up for us. Thank you, Jesus!!
Monday, March 31, 2008
The Example of Jesus
Re-reading the Gospel narrative with the goal of understanding how Jesus lived as an example for my life helps uncomplicate things a great deal, though it doesn't necessarily make it easier. The issues he faced were not unlike those we face today - knowing my identity, interacting with "sinners", interacting with the "religious", interacting with political agendas, etc. Its amazing to me how Jesus deftly handled all of these with such clarity that comes only from being grounded in the truth that undergirds everything - God is love. His whole life was an expression of God's love! This is our charge, to take up our cross daily out of sacrificial love for others, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us.
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