No Fire

1 Jan 2010, I was promoted to Senior Manager position, whoa. Funny thing is that this very much sought after promotion don't seems to excite me. Need to find out why. Most probably the Passion is missing. Just heard Pastor Benny Ho's preaching on Passion, Ability & Responsibility. So this promotion is obviously a Responsibility, it is my job and I have the Ability, was doing this for the last 7 years but hey, where is the Passion. Pastor Benny calls this "No Fire". Pastor Benny's advise for people who are already in this position for some time should consider to move on.

Free

Completed my last exam for this semester this morning. Got a free feeling. Felt like a bird. Light & easy. Though I know it will not last for long. I still like the feeling. Yes, loved it. Get to rest and do catch up on doing the thing I love to do.

The Bible also teaches about being free. Free form bondage and the yoke of sins through Christ Jesus. If the freedom of the Bible is as what I felt today, I want it.

I WANT TO BE FREE !!

King James Bible
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

PARADOX OF LIFE

Received this from HF, I like it.

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things..

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less.. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait.. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ' I love you ' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away..



George Carlin

Mary

John 12:1-11
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.


We all had probably heard and read this popular Bible story many, many times, about Mary anointing Jesus' leg with expensive perfume and wiping it with her hair. What did it speak to you of this peculiar action of Mary? Lord forgive me, but I really had no special appreciation of this story until yesterday, until when Pastor Lydia explained.

This special perfume, spikenard is said to be very very expensive. It cost 300 denarii in Jesus' time. Wow, that is actually a whole year wage for a working man. As for the women who do not work during Jesus' time, it would take a far longer time to save and purchase this special perfume. Usually the woman would save and buy this perfume to be used only for her wedding day. The fragrance is very strong and it fills the air. On the wedding day, the woman would use this perfume, scented herself and the also whole atmosphere. This special fragrance is dedicated just for the husband by the wife. It is an very expensive offering to be given to the very special husband, and the scent in the atmosphere announce to all present of this special offering by the wife. Mary offered her expensive spikenard to Jesus in front of all. This is meant that Jesus is truly special to Mary. Mary had offer a very expensive offering to Jesus.

Reflection: Can we dedicate our very best offering to the Lord? Can we also offer a very expensive gift offering to our Lord?


The situation then is tense, the Jewish leaders who are in power are losing their fellow Jews to Jesus and they intended to kill Lazarus and Jesus. In such time, to remain safe, one would choose to avoid association with Jesus. However, Mary and Martha continue to welcome Jesus into their home. Jesus had raised their brother Lazarus back to life and that is no accident. The plot to kill is on. And it is during this tense situation that Mary anoint Jesus' feet with the very expensive perfume. This had declared loud about Mary's association to Jesus. Mary is actually endangering her life in doing so.

Reflection: Do we remain faithful and not deny Jesus, even unto endangering our life and death?


Mary also let go her hair and used it to wipe Jesus' feet. In doing so, she is deemed as a prostitute by the society. Women in Jesus' time do not let down their hair, otherwise, they will be labeled as prostitute. I still don't know the reason why Mary did so, but she had risk maring her reputation and putting shame onto her name.

Reflection: Can we risk our destroying our reputation and shame our good name for Jesus' sake?


In Palestine, the feet will get dirty as people travel. They will wash their legs as they enter a house. As for VIPs, slaves will bend down to wipe these VIPs' feet. Hence it is a very humbling act. Jesus entered the house, but none washes His feet. Mary in humility, bend down and washes Jesus feet with this expensive perfume and wiping it clean with her own hair. A humbling slave's action of those days.

Reflection: Are we able to humble ourselves to serve Jesus with humble acts as such?

Clouded Sky

Joe 2:2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains.

In a time where there is many gloom and uncertainties. Let me still focus onto my good Lord who is my hope, my trust and my refuge.

Timing

After all these year walking with the Lord. I kinda understand His timing. It is always on time, never too soon nor a second too late. However, even after scores of experience with the Lord on timing, I still couldn't get use to His timing. It drives me crazy all the time. Even though I had rest assured that His timing will never goes wrong, it takes so much faith to wait and experience the perfect timing. I like to plan ahead and be early, however being early don't seems to be registered with the Lord. It is always on time precisely, never early nor late. Gets on my nerve !!

YESUS KEKUATAN

Inside Out; Outside in

I was reading the texts from my Strategic Management textbook yesterday and came across this very interesting article and phrase.

'Inside out' and 'Outside in'.

The textbook gave an account in the context of organisations who plan and strategically for their goals, which are having the best product ever, excellent efficiency and productivity. Yup, they are the best, no way the system is gonna fail. Or is it so? Today we see many organisations getting stronger and bigger and meaner. However, their business is not getting any better. A glance across the profit return of the companies listed on the stock exchange will tell you that, their businesses are earning menial profit. Why? Why is General Motor the once leader of the world industry is now facing threat of bankruptcy and not even the US government is in position to pull it out of its hot soup. They all have this problem. They are looking from "inside - out". Business is about satisfying the customer. And if the the great product or organisation does not satisfy the customer, nope, it is not gonna stay in business very long. My textbook described this phenomena as if that these organisations have each a 'key', and they are looking for the 'lock' that match thier key. Not sure if they are going to be very successful in finding that 'lock'.

The answer is in looking from "outside - in". It is about satisfying the customer and understanding what does the customer wants? The correct attitude should be, "Right, yes, we got it, and yes, we will tweak our product and organisation to satisfy you Mr. Customer". This would be liken to having the 'lock' in place, and now we fashion our 'key' to match and unlock this stubborn lock. Looking from 'outside - in'. Looking from the customer perspective, not our.

I looked back at our Christian walk with the Lord. Have we been looking 'inside - out' or is it 'outside - in'? Have we been telling the Lord what we wanted and please Lord, do fulfil our wants. Or have we treated the Lord as the esteemed and Ultimate Customer, looking 'outside - in'. Being in-perfect ourselves, we need to fashioned ourselves to satisfy the Lord. Just how much have done that?

Lord, we have failed you many times, we had become the customer and treat You as if You are there to satisfy our wants. Now we repent and change. We will treat You as our customer, we will satisfy Your wants according to Your Word in the Bible.
Amen.

A Heavy Week - Thank You Lord

Wow, it sure is a very heavy week on this first week of June. It seems that everything is arriving at the same time together this week. Aaahh... Lord have mercy.

Last Tuesday, after a very long day at the workplace, I was truly tired out. But I was scheduled to drive my maid to the airport at LCCT, Sepang the same evening. Her flight was at 0655 hrs the next morning. That means I would have to reach there by 0455 hrs. The journey would take me four hours. I got my wife and Joseph my youngest son to join me. We took off with the maid at 0000 hrs. It was a very challenging journey, it would means that I would have to drive all night during our usual sleeping hours. I started well, driving slowly and steadily, but my eyelids got the better of me within the next half an hour. Wow, I really struggled to remain awake and to drive on safely. The truth is the body was so tired and I actually drove in a semi conscious state all the way to the airport. It must been so dangerous and I could have dozed off a dozen times. To make things worse, we met heavy rain in the midst of the journey and visibility was poor. I stopped at every R&R to take some fourty winks. The fourty winks sometime added up to a hundred. We reached the airport at about 0415 hrs. Still good timing! We spent about one a half hour in the airport sending the maid off and then make our way back to Kluang. That will be another 4 hrs on the road. Boy, I really had not sleep. Even with the daylight now, the return journey was as bad as the night journey. I was really tired out and was still driving in that semi conscious state. Reached Kluang finally at 1100 hrs.

How I did I survive that journey? Only God knows. I truly convinced that God has been merciful to me on that night and had sent a dozen His angels to watch over me and my car.

Thank you Lord.

WORD - FAITH

Today, I researched on the Word-Faith movement. It is labeled as a cult movement. Googled on "Word-Faith" and out came many familiar names. I was visibly upset by the reports I read. I was sad that the church is so naive and sometimes so take things for granted. Even to the point when God is challenged, many times we prefer to stay ignorant. Last week, pastor preached that we are in constant battle. Yes, I agree, we should not relax, surely the enemy comes prowling as a roaring lion waiting to devour all he can.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Cults have been around for ages. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. He is the deceiver of old (Rev 12:9). I just cannot accept that our beloved church is being infiltrate by the enemy right under our nose.

Need to research more. Will pray. Please join me, fellow soldier.