So many things have happened recently, especially with the news of financial industry’s meltdown, followed by recession and streams of bad news following it. Are these a surprise? No. After all, every decade or so the world gets into recession. Even businesses have its cycles, and humans have moods. What am I trying to say? Well, this world is imperfect, and there are always repercussions.
Everything goes back to what we know from biblical times. Through one man’s sin, all have sinned. Men never change. Throughout history, it is always about greed, status and personal pleasure. Whether we like it or not, deserve it or not, all of us face difficulties in this current recession, though perhaps some more than others.
Does this shake our confidence in God? No, but rather we must reflect and remember this world is not God’s world, that we are all now here for a purpose – to become more like Christ. What is God’s greatest wish besides having one take the step towards salvation? It is for the individual to allow God to step in, renovate his heart and become the person God really wants him to be.
At times, if you are in a bad mood and read the bible, you can even for that brief second or days consider God to be a sadist. Is it easy, in the midst of one’s trial, to read passages like ‘consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face....’ face what? Trials and persecutions. Reason? So that we can become complete, not lacking anything. Try reading that when you are in the midst of a storm.
And yet, it is our firm grounding on God’s Word, knowing His promises, knowing He is our ever constant God, knowing that He will eventually work everything out for our good (remember always that many times, what God considers your ultimate good is definitely not what you think is the best for yourself at this moment, until you are near the finishing line and when you look back, you realize you have gone such a long way and indeed God’s way is better) that we hang on in the name of faith.
Praying for faith never works because faith is not an end product – it is a journey. Faith encompasses two things – eating and exercising. Eating is when we ‘hear the word of God’ and a seed is planted in our heart. However, we know that if we do not exercise, we become fat and do not have the strength to run the distance if required. We need exercise to keep us lean and strong. It is the same with faith. You cannot just hear and remember all the scriptures, then when the time comes, simply claim it but not have the experience to know that it works. It is like running. If you do not constantly train yourself, you can get all dressed up and ready to run the distance, yet you know you cannot run that distance. Why? Lack of training. We can read the bible faithfully and go to church every Sunday to plant the seed of faith in our hearts, but we need to internalize and practice faith in our day to day walk in order to finish life’s journey.
In good times, perhaps prior to the announcement of recession, we will most likely have a slightly better life. When life is better, do you forget God or put your relationship with Him in second place? Yes, perhaps not completely, but maybe if you think back, you may have prayed less. You are doing well at work, so you are so busy you do not have time to even call your spouse, not to mention praying to God more often throughout the day. Of course, not everyone is like this. But, perhaps we start to take things for granted? Or we may become discontented and think that it is time to take the next step and improve on our standard of living? I think this recession is also a time to meditate whether we have, in our race of life, actually put God in second place until the recession started and we pray more often. Again, this is a hypothetical scenario. I include this portion because throughout the bible, you will note that again and again, people forget God when times are good. Then what happens? God always put them in some kind of difficulty, they start crying out to God, and then again God goes to their rescue and yet…. What happens next? They forget God again.
Times of recession are never easy. I remember clearly what happened in 1983 recession – my dad lost a good job and we had to skip one or two meals everyday. No dinner, but I always wake up for supper which is just plain porridge and a teaspoon of Bovril. No money even for food during recess in school. What happened during the 1997 crisis? Yeah, graduated at the wrong time. However, this time round is a world of difference to me. Hey, I am not sarcastic and wish for a worse life for the new year, but after going through previous recessions without God and still alive and kicking, I know that this time round it will be a much easier feat and I will be ‘more than conqueror’ with Christ fighting the battle alongside me now. Easy to say? No. Right now I have faced more than a full month of zero sales and that means spending on my savings which will be emptied soon if my situation does not improve. Worse still, just this week there was a fallout case and a family matter that requires some funds. When it rains, it pours.
I have my job right now owing to people who are never contented and satisfied. Let us be honest – a lot of industries thrive under such circumstances. If it is not for people’s discontentment, will they always be looking for new jobs that pay them higher salary? If it is not greed, why do people want to keep changing house and car? If it is not for social status and the appearance of it, why must people buy designer products? Yet, what is black has its flip side and it is whiter than white. If we do not feel the need to progress, then we will not improve on our talents and therefore will fail God. After all, God gives us talent to put to good use on this earth. If we do not own houses or money, then where is the inheritance God has promised in His Word that He has for each of us? If we are not successful and can therefore show others that God has truly blessed us and be the light and salt of the earth, then are we supposed to be in rags and wonder why people do not believe our message of hope from the bible for this world?
In my walk with God, I have discovered that everyone may strive for same things in life – better careers, fantastic results in school, perfect marriages, bigger cars and houses. Yet, the difference is really our attitudes and to what extent we are willing to sacrifice our lives for it. God never wants us to be just where we are now or to stagnate. We are supposed to be ever climbing and ever moving upwards. Yet, we must not compromise our God-given conscience for them. For example, work is work but will you do what is slightly wrong in God’s eyes so that your firm and even you can earn more money? In your marriage, do you put yourself first always or recognize that now two hearts are joint in one and act accordingly? When we want bigger houses and cars, do we simply buy the biggest house and car we can afford based on the amount the bank is willing to lend us for it, and if anything goes wrong then act innocent that we have no part to play in our failure and therefore now God has to come to our rescue?
We are only God’s stewards. The turning point for me this year is really when I take this seriously and act upon it. For instance, when I do earn more during peak seasons, I know that a farmer saves during harvest time for times of drought. We cannot live simply believe that we can spend everything we have since now we are managing God’s money. When I want to spend on luxury items, I always do my research and try to the best of my ability to use as little of God’s resource as I can on it. When I want big items in my life (still praying for a good value-for-money house), I always pray to God for His timing.
Sometimes, we think that money can solve all problems. Yes, indeed we do need money to pay for our bills. But look at the life of Paul. He said whether in plentiful or little, it is fine. I have pondered over it and since the beginning of this year, prayed to God about how this can be. After all, everyone depends on money (have to understand one of my phobias is poverty and starvation so I always talk about money). I am glad that even before Pastor Rony talked about the sermon where he said that the value of money varies over time and it may end up be worth nothing, that I have my conclusions about this subject. We always think that if we have more money, we will be happier. This is not the case. I have very interesting candidates I interviewed throughout this year and I can tell you this is not so. It is simply a chasing after the wind. On the one hand, it is true you can earn more, dollars wise. However, whether you spend wisely or there’s ‘a hole in your pocket’ (which is a curse God puts on some people) is another matter. Also, another curse the bible talks about is the rich having great feasts but the food does not satisfy their stomachs. It is better to have a humble dish on the table with people you love than constantly have meat with strive and envy in your life (extracted from book of Proverbs if I remember correctly). Again, my recent readings on the minor prophets also have the same emphasis. Look at the life of Daniel and his companions. They were served royal dishes in the king’s palace! Yet, Daniel stood his ground and wanted vegetables. In the end, they had greater wisdom and health than the rest of the officials in the king’s palaces!
Year 2009 has so far been promised a year of recession and less for all. Instead of going to the new year with a negative mind, I think it will help all God’s children to literally become true Christians and be light and salt of this earth when they understand that no matter what the lot is that God will provide for us this new year, we can always be happy with even the simpler things in life. I have started acting on it in my own way and found that my happiness level has not decreased. For one, see where you can cut down on your expenditure column. In good times, I always have my iced latte at Coffee Bean whenever I am tired. Now, it is a blessing to have it just once a week. In better times, I may have my iced latte and muddy mud pie at Coffee Club but now I do it less often and sometimes substitute it with Hershey’s sundae pie and iced barley at Burger King.
Whatever may happen, we will all be fed because we are worth much more than the birds of the air and we will all be clothed since even flowers that fade the next day are always beautiful. Ok. What if the worst of the worst happens? Sometimes when I am really frustrated over money I will tell myself that if I run out of money one day and have to starve, never mind, I can see Christ earlier and that always makes me smile.
Whatever it is, the world has taught us that we are, firstly, very imperfect humans living on this earth and secondly, we absolutely have no control over external events in our lives. Take relationships, for instance. We can try our best in marriages, friendships, family relationships, colleagues…. But we absolutely cannot make it the best we want because it also depends on the willingness of the other party, and we know we are working together with yet another imperfect human. There are too many variables when it comes to relationships and long time ago, I felt that the best way out of life is to isolate oneself up on a mountaintop and then I will feel peace (before I became a Christian). It is very much like the Buddhist way of escapism. However, God’s way is for us to mix around. Yes, His command is for us to get together and encourage one another. But why, really, why subject yourself to another human being and risk getting hurt and disappointed? It is because God is also perfecting our lives through people. When we have disagreements with our spouses, we will realize that problems always stem from a flaw somewhere, or maybe many layers of flaws. Then, it becomes our responsibility thereafter to improve ourselves. When we get to know friends better, we can help one another or simply be comforted. We may even get a word from someone who can unlock the block in our heart and help us to move on.
In all things, ‘Seek righteousness, seek meekness.’ (Zephaniah 2:3) Above all, put God first in your life. Obey God’s commands and put on all the armors as recorded in the last chapter of Ephesians. In your dealings with this world, always remember to guard your friendships (book of Proverbs) because bad friendships spoil useful habits. Treasure all you have and you will be happy.
To all, a very happy and blessed year 2009!
Zenn.
20th December 2008.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday's Recap (191208)
Last Friday we gave thanks. We thanked God for our loved ones. Spouses and children are top on the thanksgiving list. Next came our career. Climbing the career ladder can be physically and mentally draining but opportunities nevertheless abound and we thanked God for giving us the strength and the wisdom to convert them. Good health came in on a close third on the list. Good health is not restricted to our physiological well-being. Good health meant more than just the absence of illness. We cannot be healthy when we are chronically stressed, emotionally unstable or mentally depressed. And the irony is that a man with a terminal illness can be healthier on the whole than a sick-free man.
Many people I know who are apparently sick-free are more emotionally distraught and mentally disturbed than a cancer patient. I had a client who was so depressed with the divorce proceeding she was going through that during some morning, she told me that she could not get out of bed. She felt more helpless than an invalid. Her whole world collapsed and she wanted to end her life. So, we thank God for our good health in the broader sense, which essentially encompasses spiritual strength, mental calmness, emotional resiliency and physical well being.
Many of us gave thanks to God for all the good things that had happened to us. This is natural. In the same way that we thank a giver for a gift, we thank God for life, family and good health. But there is another aspect of thanksgiving that is often avoided or ignored. And it is quite understandable. Have you ever thanked God for the bad things that had happened to you? Have you thanked God for illness? Have you thanked God for bankruptcy? Have you thanked God for a death in the family? The almost “perverse” list could go on and on because bad things happen to us as frequently as good things, whether we like it or not. And sometimes, or most times, bad things are not always bad and good things are not always good.
What I mean is that bad things may be a blessing in disguise and good things a disaster in the making. Like a flipped coin, bad things may turn out good and we become stronger for it and good things may turn out bad and we become weaker by it. In short, bad things may bring out the good in us and good things may bring out the worst in us. In all this, my point is more aptly expressed in this scripture, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Maybe, the terminology doesn’t sound right. We should not give thanks to God for the bad things that happen to us. By doing so, we give the impression that God is the author of our misfortune. This doesn’t square with the scriptures which say that God is all loving and compassionate. This doesn’t sound like our God who sacrificed His only son for us. So, should we even give thanks to God for everything that happens to us, in particular, the bad?
Last Friday, I talked about one of the cardinal rules of life that we can bet our last dollar on. And it is this: bad times never fail to strike with an expiry date. By extension, overcoming or enduring bad times with faith, trust and hope never fail to make us wiser, stronger and more resilient the next time round. This is one of the most important rules of life. If we allow bad times to run its course, without being adversely affected by it, it will usually end up becoming unexpectedly good. But the same rule does not apply to good times. The rule does not work in reverse with the same definite end result as the rule on bad times. Good times may not always remain good in the end. Ask anyone who had won the lottery on pure luck and you would notice that their lives were not necessarily better for it.
The paradox also applies to married couple. I have seen and heard of testimonies of couples growing closer during bad times and drifting apart during good times. Seen in this obtuse light, material success may very well be your greatest foe rather than your trusted ally. Material successes are generally deemed as blessings. Everybody congratulates you on getting rich, being famous or attaining high class status. Some of us, of course, would be inspired by you. So, it is generally a good thing. But material successes change people. If we are not careful, our successes can adversely affect all our basic relationships with God, with our loved ones, and with our close friends. Divorce is only a step away when you become rich and famous. Financial ruin is closer than you think when you attain corporate recognition and start to believe in your own invincibility by cutting corners and fudging the account books. So, although good and bad times do not last, it is often the bad times that bring lasting positive changes to a person rather than good times.
The hardest part of going through bad times is the uncertainty of its expiry. We will never know when financial hardship will end its course in our life. We have no idea when our estranged loved ones will return to us. We can’t be sure how or when we will recover from the death of a loved one. Bad times therefore demand endurance and hope. It also demands our trust in a God of purpose and love. This is where the raising of Lazarus becomes relevant to our spiritual faith.
We all know that Jesus raised Lazarus in the end (John 11:43.44). But it was not done until he was dead for four days. Jesus did not just heal Lazarus of his illness; he essentially delivered him from “the clutches of death” and this was done before God resurrected Jesus at Calvary. This was deemed to be a miracle before its time. However, my point in this account is not in the resurrection of Lazarus but in the faith of Lazarus’ two sisters, Mary and Martha, when death occurred in their family.
When Lazarus was alive, Mary and Martha sent words to Jesus informing him that their brother was seriously ill. Jesus then replied them by making a statement which would turn out to be contrary to reality. He said that the sickness would not end up in death but for the glory of God. I am sure that Mary and Martha were greatly comforted by the assurance of Jesus. But we all know the story. Lazarus died thereafter and Mary and Martha must have felt really confounded by Jesus’ pronouncement of faith. Still Jesus waited for one or two days before going to Lazarus’ wake.
When he arrived, Mary did not go out to meet him but Martha did. And herein lies my point on bad times. When bad times strike, most Christians handle it either with the faith of Martha or Mary. Both dealt with grieve differently and most humanly. Of course, we can safely assume that both were saddened by their beloved brother’s death. But Martha met Jesus and declared her undying faith to him. She said, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Then Jesus assured her that her brother will rise again and Martha accepted his words without full understanding of them.
As for Mary, it took her a little while to meet up with Jesus. When she came to Jesus, she fell on his feet and cried out, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” This was to be the second time she fell on Jesus’ feet and I am sure she could still smell the sweet oil fragrance rising from his feet. Mary then cried her heart out to Jesus. When Jesus saw this, the Bible says that he “groan in the spirit and was troubled.” And this is where we find the shortest verse in the Bible and the most touchingly profound…John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”
Imagine, Jesus, who knew how all bad things have a good ending, and who knew that a miracle is waiting at the end of the bend, still wept with Mary. Beloved, whatever you are going through, you are not alone. God sees it, and He knows that it will not last, and that a miracle is waiting for you at the end, but still He weeps with you. God groans in the spirit with you. He endures the hard times with you. But ultimately, with faith and hope, he will carry you through. We just have to take His hand and walk the journey together. There is a lesson to be learned in our trials. A meaning to be discovered by us. God is our life coach to bring out these lessons to us so that we grow stronger. At this juncture, quoting Psalms 27:14 seems irresistible, “Wait upon the Lord; be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart. Wait upon the Lord.”
When hard times strike, you can exhibit Mary’s or Martha’s kind of faith. While Martha shown optimistic faith, Mary’s was more humanistic and more subdued. Either ways, it is all about how we approach God with our pain. I believe that both of them gave their problems to God wholeheartedly. Although one was more reluctant than the other, Mary and Martha dealt with their grief in the best way they knew how, and that is, to give it to Jesus and live out their faith with hope and trust. Ultimately, they traded their grief for peace of mind and they were rewarded with a miracle in the end. The Bible did not say how overjoyed Mary and Martha were when they saw their beloved brother leaving his tomb. But I am sure it was a day they celebrated in their spirit till their death. That day’s testimony must have been their torch-fire of faith to help them overcome all the trials they would face in the future.
Well, beloved, not all of our pain would end up in the same way as Mary’s and Martha’s. Some of us are praying for our pain to go away and are still praying for it as I pen these words. Some of us have in fact lost faith in God and are slipping away from His hand – derailing from the journey God had designated for us. But I challenge you to hold that thought and go down on your knees and weep before God. In 2 Kings 20:5, King Hezekiah prayed and cried to God and God added fifteen years to his life and delivered him from his enemies. God can still work miracles. God can still rearrange the elements of the universe, suspend the laws of nature and retire the hands of fate just for you.
Alternatively, God’s miracles in your life may be to strengthen your heart. It may be a miracle of character instead a miracle of circumstances. God may have a plan for you to go through your pain and to come out as a veritable conqueror, whose victory would impact lives in years to come. Whatever the miracle, beloved, let God and God alone answer your prayer. For in the end, His answer is always sealed with peace. Keep praying until you find an inner resolution, a peace of mind that surpasses all understanding. In other words, pray until you receive in your spirit the peace of God.
Have a blessed Christmas and may all the bad things in your life bring out the best in you! Let God arise and all your enemies be scattered!
Many people I know who are apparently sick-free are more emotionally distraught and mentally disturbed than a cancer patient. I had a client who was so depressed with the divorce proceeding she was going through that during some morning, she told me that she could not get out of bed. She felt more helpless than an invalid. Her whole world collapsed and she wanted to end her life. So, we thank God for our good health in the broader sense, which essentially encompasses spiritual strength, mental calmness, emotional resiliency and physical well being.
Many of us gave thanks to God for all the good things that had happened to us. This is natural. In the same way that we thank a giver for a gift, we thank God for life, family and good health. But there is another aspect of thanksgiving that is often avoided or ignored. And it is quite understandable. Have you ever thanked God for the bad things that had happened to you? Have you thanked God for illness? Have you thanked God for bankruptcy? Have you thanked God for a death in the family? The almost “perverse” list could go on and on because bad things happen to us as frequently as good things, whether we like it or not. And sometimes, or most times, bad things are not always bad and good things are not always good.
What I mean is that bad things may be a blessing in disguise and good things a disaster in the making. Like a flipped coin, bad things may turn out good and we become stronger for it and good things may turn out bad and we become weaker by it. In short, bad things may bring out the good in us and good things may bring out the worst in us. In all this, my point is more aptly expressed in this scripture, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Maybe, the terminology doesn’t sound right. We should not give thanks to God for the bad things that happen to us. By doing so, we give the impression that God is the author of our misfortune. This doesn’t square with the scriptures which say that God is all loving and compassionate. This doesn’t sound like our God who sacrificed His only son for us. So, should we even give thanks to God for everything that happens to us, in particular, the bad?
Last Friday, I talked about one of the cardinal rules of life that we can bet our last dollar on. And it is this: bad times never fail to strike with an expiry date. By extension, overcoming or enduring bad times with faith, trust and hope never fail to make us wiser, stronger and more resilient the next time round. This is one of the most important rules of life. If we allow bad times to run its course, without being adversely affected by it, it will usually end up becoming unexpectedly good. But the same rule does not apply to good times. The rule does not work in reverse with the same definite end result as the rule on bad times. Good times may not always remain good in the end. Ask anyone who had won the lottery on pure luck and you would notice that their lives were not necessarily better for it.
The paradox also applies to married couple. I have seen and heard of testimonies of couples growing closer during bad times and drifting apart during good times. Seen in this obtuse light, material success may very well be your greatest foe rather than your trusted ally. Material successes are generally deemed as blessings. Everybody congratulates you on getting rich, being famous or attaining high class status. Some of us, of course, would be inspired by you. So, it is generally a good thing. But material successes change people. If we are not careful, our successes can adversely affect all our basic relationships with God, with our loved ones, and with our close friends. Divorce is only a step away when you become rich and famous. Financial ruin is closer than you think when you attain corporate recognition and start to believe in your own invincibility by cutting corners and fudging the account books. So, although good and bad times do not last, it is often the bad times that bring lasting positive changes to a person rather than good times.
The hardest part of going through bad times is the uncertainty of its expiry. We will never know when financial hardship will end its course in our life. We have no idea when our estranged loved ones will return to us. We can’t be sure how or when we will recover from the death of a loved one. Bad times therefore demand endurance and hope. It also demands our trust in a God of purpose and love. This is where the raising of Lazarus becomes relevant to our spiritual faith.
We all know that Jesus raised Lazarus in the end (John 11:43.44). But it was not done until he was dead for four days. Jesus did not just heal Lazarus of his illness; he essentially delivered him from “the clutches of death” and this was done before God resurrected Jesus at Calvary. This was deemed to be a miracle before its time. However, my point in this account is not in the resurrection of Lazarus but in the faith of Lazarus’ two sisters, Mary and Martha, when death occurred in their family.
When Lazarus was alive, Mary and Martha sent words to Jesus informing him that their brother was seriously ill. Jesus then replied them by making a statement which would turn out to be contrary to reality. He said that the sickness would not end up in death but for the glory of God. I am sure that Mary and Martha were greatly comforted by the assurance of Jesus. But we all know the story. Lazarus died thereafter and Mary and Martha must have felt really confounded by Jesus’ pronouncement of faith. Still Jesus waited for one or two days before going to Lazarus’ wake.
When he arrived, Mary did not go out to meet him but Martha did. And herein lies my point on bad times. When bad times strike, most Christians handle it either with the faith of Martha or Mary. Both dealt with grieve differently and most humanly. Of course, we can safely assume that both were saddened by their beloved brother’s death. But Martha met Jesus and declared her undying faith to him. She said, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Then Jesus assured her that her brother will rise again and Martha accepted his words without full understanding of them.
As for Mary, it took her a little while to meet up with Jesus. When she came to Jesus, she fell on his feet and cried out, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” This was to be the second time she fell on Jesus’ feet and I am sure she could still smell the sweet oil fragrance rising from his feet. Mary then cried her heart out to Jesus. When Jesus saw this, the Bible says that he “groan in the spirit and was troubled.” And this is where we find the shortest verse in the Bible and the most touchingly profound…John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”
Imagine, Jesus, who knew how all bad things have a good ending, and who knew that a miracle is waiting at the end of the bend, still wept with Mary. Beloved, whatever you are going through, you are not alone. God sees it, and He knows that it will not last, and that a miracle is waiting for you at the end, but still He weeps with you. God groans in the spirit with you. He endures the hard times with you. But ultimately, with faith and hope, he will carry you through. We just have to take His hand and walk the journey together. There is a lesson to be learned in our trials. A meaning to be discovered by us. God is our life coach to bring out these lessons to us so that we grow stronger. At this juncture, quoting Psalms 27:14 seems irresistible, “Wait upon the Lord; be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart. Wait upon the Lord.”
When hard times strike, you can exhibit Mary’s or Martha’s kind of faith. While Martha shown optimistic faith, Mary’s was more humanistic and more subdued. Either ways, it is all about how we approach God with our pain. I believe that both of them gave their problems to God wholeheartedly. Although one was more reluctant than the other, Mary and Martha dealt with their grief in the best way they knew how, and that is, to give it to Jesus and live out their faith with hope and trust. Ultimately, they traded their grief for peace of mind and they were rewarded with a miracle in the end. The Bible did not say how overjoyed Mary and Martha were when they saw their beloved brother leaving his tomb. But I am sure it was a day they celebrated in their spirit till their death. That day’s testimony must have been their torch-fire of faith to help them overcome all the trials they would face in the future.
Well, beloved, not all of our pain would end up in the same way as Mary’s and Martha’s. Some of us are praying for our pain to go away and are still praying for it as I pen these words. Some of us have in fact lost faith in God and are slipping away from His hand – derailing from the journey God had designated for us. But I challenge you to hold that thought and go down on your knees and weep before God. In 2 Kings 20:5, King Hezekiah prayed and cried to God and God added fifteen years to his life and delivered him from his enemies. God can still work miracles. God can still rearrange the elements of the universe, suspend the laws of nature and retire the hands of fate just for you.
Alternatively, God’s miracles in your life may be to strengthen your heart. It may be a miracle of character instead a miracle of circumstances. God may have a plan for you to go through your pain and to come out as a veritable conqueror, whose victory would impact lives in years to come. Whatever the miracle, beloved, let God and God alone answer your prayer. For in the end, His answer is always sealed with peace. Keep praying until you find an inner resolution, a peace of mind that surpasses all understanding. In other words, pray until you receive in your spirit the peace of God.
Have a blessed Christmas and may all the bad things in your life bring out the best in you! Let God arise and all your enemies be scattered!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Friday's Recap (121208)
Last Friday, we celebrated everyday, ordinary heroes. We had our very own in the cell. We thank Mark and Kwan Hong for pouring their hearts out and inspiring us to do the same. We are touched by their heart felt sharing. Mark, you gave without thought and are a good brother in law and an exemplary Christian. Kudos to Kwan Hong too. You have shown Christ-likeness at your workplace. You've also shown compassion and kindness to those under your charge. You led with a true leader's heart, in humility and loyalty. We've learned a lot from you guys. We are grateful for allowing us to catch a glimpse of God's love in the rough and mundane context of your daily reality. That is why the award of ordinary heroes goes to you guys.
We live in a dual world. Our world is made up of our work and our personal life. We live in a world of senses and faith. One world is public and the other is private. Christians do not usually mix the two worlds together. Testimonies of workplace evangelism are seldom heard. When we work, most Christians leave their Christian values behind and act like typical salaried employees. Everything at work is dictated by hierarchy, rules and quotas. Work performances are usually measured by how we can clinch a deal, market a product, impress our bosses and reach the top.
But Kwan Hong has shown that these two worlds can mix with one taking the lead and the other following. Kwan Hong has demonstrated that the world of faith is bigger than the world of senses. That what is usually private faith can be made public to inspire all. Kwan Hong, you shared how you've led, shielded and comforted your employees to the every day they were axed in a very emotional retrenchment exercise held recently. You do not just say that you care, you show it. You walked your talk and earned the respect of all who had served and worked with you. In fact, you have shown qualities of servant leadership, or what the Bible would call "tower and basin" leadership (just like when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples).
Mark, you made a statement that woke me up. You said, "it is not about the money, it is about relationship". This simple yet powerful statement is the stuff of all self-improvement motto or mantra. I remember I wrote about three kinds of people in this world; the drifters, the copers and the overcomers. Mark, last Friday, you overcame and are still overcoming. Your optimism for life and how all bad events have a God-appointed expiry date inspired me and, I believe, the whole cell to meet the challenges of everyday with courage, faith and boundless hope! Now I have come to understand what it means when they say, "you can see Jesus in the eyes of ordinary people."
I have always wondered what is the true measure of greatness? What makes a hero a hero? What is the meaning of being like Christ? Must we be wealthy, powerful or famous to be considered great, heroic or Christ-like? The answer is of course obvious. At his time, Jesus was neither wealthy, powerful nor famous (until many decades later). Jesus was great because he showed great love. That is, I believe, the true measure of greatness. It is the yardstick of being like Christ. Mother Theresa once said, "Not all of us can do great works, but we can do small works with great love."
I believe that in this drama of life, we have two Acts. The first Act tells of a story of a young man (or woman) setting out from his home to conquer the world with wits, money and fame. The second Act tells of a story of the same young lad realizing that the world is not going to be conquered by wits, money and fame. On the contrary, the world is to be conquered by love, humility and hope. That is why Martin Luther King Jr once said, "everyone can be great because everyone can serve." Where are you now in your drama of life? Act one or act two?
Putting it in another way, everyone can be great because everyone can love. You don't need to be schooled in the art or mystics of love. You don't need to be an apprentice of love before you graduate to be a master of love. There is no such thing as a witch-doctor of love. Love cannot be the sole and exclusive property of any man or woman to be dispensed with only at a price. We are born with a boundless capacity to love because we came to this world from the bosom of someone who loves us unconditionally. We grow in an environment of love. We are nurtured to love. Our life thrives only on being loved and giving love. And our greatest example of love is Jesus, who gave all for nothing in return. Love therefore in its highest form is the hallmark of greatness.
In addition to loving unconditionally, I have learned that ordinary heroes are characterized by three qualities. First, they are secured in God's love. They also draw strength and hope from God's love. They know deep inside that they are deeply loved by God and they don't need to earn it by working at it. Their security is in the knowledge that God loves them unconditionally and not in having more money, power or fame. This is why ordinary heroes do not need approval from anyone. They are able to let go and let God. They don't need to win an argument by proving that they are right. Being right at most times is a private affair to them. This is significant because most couples I know argue for the sake of argument and not for the sake of love. So, allow me to sidetrack.
There was an experiment done on couples' arguing to see how such seemingly contentious exchange could build relationships in some couples and destroy relationships in others. In this experiment, many couples' arguments were videotaped and playback for the experimenters to observe. Their married lives were then monitored and recorded over a long period of time. When the experiment was concluded, the experimenters realized that the arguments between enduringly loving couples and couples who ultimately end up in divorce were apparently similar. There were the usual insults, the bickering, the complaints, the use of foul language and the who-can-be-more-fierce competitions.
But what differentiates them in the end of a long and tiring argument is the conclusion of the argument. The arguments of couples who stay married are usually forward looking and reconciliatory. After a verbal swordfight, loving couple understands each other better and their marriage generally improves. In other words, their arguments makes them love each other more and not less. It is like sunshine after the storm. Things get clearer after a tongue fight. They make every conscious effort thereafter not to step on the same toe again. They are able to love each other better because they understand each other more.
However, couples who argue and end up in divorce are always in a "perpetual storm". There is often no definite conclusion to their argument. They rather let "dead dogs lie". None of them wants to reconcile after a fist-and-tongue fight. They only pay lip-service to the marriage vows and stay married for as long as they could for face sake and not for love sake. With each verbal cudgel, the heart-torn couple festers in hate, deepens the misunderstanding and withdraws from each other. Allowing the status quo to remain, emotional divorce will soon set in long before the once-loving couple ink the divorce papers.
So, do not take your arguments for granted. Not all arguments are bad for the relationship. If tackled well, arguments can build and not tear down a marriage. Just take note of how you end your arguments. Always bring your argument to a reconciliatory end. Remember, don't go to bed without making out with your spouse. And never leave an argument unresolved or hanging. Because you will never know when the next argument may fall on your marriage and wreck it permanently.
Now let's go back to the second quality of an ordinary hero. They are always doing the right thing even when it is popularly wrong. This world has corrupted what is good and diluted what is right. Most of us walk with a log in our eyes and it has clouded our judgment. Sin used to be an outright wrong, period. But now, what is wrong depends on one's interpretations. For example, killing is not wrong when it is done to rid the world of terrorism. Adultery is justified if the other spouse neglects her conjugal duties to her husband. And greed is not wrong if it makes one obscenely rich. Traditional values have lost its high standing in a world where "chastity is dated" and "pride is your best ride".
But ordinary heroes stand their ground. Their feet are on the rock of Christ and not on sinking sand. Their lives are driven and directed by an inner moral compass. They are like sheep who only listen to the shepherd's voice and not the voice of this world or the lusts of their own flesh. Stephen Covey once said, "To do well, you must do good. And to do good, you must first be good." In this world of corrupt values, being good and doing good is usually the exception rather than the rule. But ordinary heroes are "human giraffes". They always stick their necks out to do good because they adhere to Godly principles that never fade through time or culture. To the world, ordinary heroes are called “prudes” and “rigids”. But to God, they are His faithful and fruitful servants. There is a saying that goes like this, "A good life is when you wake up in the morning and go to bed at night and in the middle, you do what is right."
Lastly, ordinary heroes make meaning out of their own sufferings or personal crisis. Going back to our cell, I am reminded of Mark's well-grounded optimism to believe that God always uplifts everything. Mark’s faith in God to deliver him and his family through their financial hard times is no easy feat. Equally courageous was Kwan Hong’s compassion for his subordinates who were laid off. You guys drew strength from God and extracted meaning even in the most dire of circumstances.
I believe there is a death in this life that is worse than suicide. It is the death of hope, meaning and purpose. Life is not a primary quest for pleasure, power or popularity. Life only moves forward with meaning or purpose. We can find meaning even in the worst of times if we just look hard enough for it. Victor E. Frankl tells of a story in his book, Man's Search For Meaning, about an old lady whose eleven year old son just died after a suicide attempt. She was so distraught that she conceived a plan to kill herself. However, she had an older son, who was a cripple from birth, having suffered from infantile paralysis. And she didn't want him to be left alone after her death. So she wanted to die with her son. Just before she could commit the act of suicide, her older son stopped her and cried out that he wanted to live. In fact, her older son loved life! Thereafter, she went for therapy and realized that she was no failure after all. She had managed to bring up a son who treasured life and wished to live to the fullest. This gave her meaning and passion to live on for him.
Beloved, in all our trials, even in the worst of the lot, there is meaning that we can draw strength from. If we look hard enough, we can see it in the eyes of our children, in the blessing of our possessions, in the support of our loved ones and in the hope of a Savior who had gone through it all and has promised that he will carry us through. In Psalms 27:14, it is written "Wait upon the Lord, be of good courage and He will strengthen thine heart, wait upon the Lord." Note that the verse did not say that He will answer our prayers. Or solve our problems. Or take away our pain and sufferings. Instead, it says that it will strengthen our hearts. I believe that by strengthening our hearts, God is granting us the greatest gift of all. It is the gift to overcome any trials that life can throw at us. It is the gift to stand firm in the face of adversity. It is a gift of passion for living that no crisis or bad times can take away or destroy.
So, have a victorious week ahead!
We live in a dual world. Our world is made up of our work and our personal life. We live in a world of senses and faith. One world is public and the other is private. Christians do not usually mix the two worlds together. Testimonies of workplace evangelism are seldom heard. When we work, most Christians leave their Christian values behind and act like typical salaried employees. Everything at work is dictated by hierarchy, rules and quotas. Work performances are usually measured by how we can clinch a deal, market a product, impress our bosses and reach the top.
But Kwan Hong has shown that these two worlds can mix with one taking the lead and the other following. Kwan Hong has demonstrated that the world of faith is bigger than the world of senses. That what is usually private faith can be made public to inspire all. Kwan Hong, you shared how you've led, shielded and comforted your employees to the every day they were axed in a very emotional retrenchment exercise held recently. You do not just say that you care, you show it. You walked your talk and earned the respect of all who had served and worked with you. In fact, you have shown qualities of servant leadership, or what the Bible would call "tower and basin" leadership (just like when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples).
Mark, you made a statement that woke me up. You said, "it is not about the money, it is about relationship". This simple yet powerful statement is the stuff of all self-improvement motto or mantra. I remember I wrote about three kinds of people in this world; the drifters, the copers and the overcomers. Mark, last Friday, you overcame and are still overcoming. Your optimism for life and how all bad events have a God-appointed expiry date inspired me and, I believe, the whole cell to meet the challenges of everyday with courage, faith and boundless hope! Now I have come to understand what it means when they say, "you can see Jesus in the eyes of ordinary people."
I have always wondered what is the true measure of greatness? What makes a hero a hero? What is the meaning of being like Christ? Must we be wealthy, powerful or famous to be considered great, heroic or Christ-like? The answer is of course obvious. At his time, Jesus was neither wealthy, powerful nor famous (until many decades later). Jesus was great because he showed great love. That is, I believe, the true measure of greatness. It is the yardstick of being like Christ. Mother Theresa once said, "Not all of us can do great works, but we can do small works with great love."
I believe that in this drama of life, we have two Acts. The first Act tells of a story of a young man (or woman) setting out from his home to conquer the world with wits, money and fame. The second Act tells of a story of the same young lad realizing that the world is not going to be conquered by wits, money and fame. On the contrary, the world is to be conquered by love, humility and hope. That is why Martin Luther King Jr once said, "everyone can be great because everyone can serve." Where are you now in your drama of life? Act one or act two?
Putting it in another way, everyone can be great because everyone can love. You don't need to be schooled in the art or mystics of love. You don't need to be an apprentice of love before you graduate to be a master of love. There is no such thing as a witch-doctor of love. Love cannot be the sole and exclusive property of any man or woman to be dispensed with only at a price. We are born with a boundless capacity to love because we came to this world from the bosom of someone who loves us unconditionally. We grow in an environment of love. We are nurtured to love. Our life thrives only on being loved and giving love. And our greatest example of love is Jesus, who gave all for nothing in return. Love therefore in its highest form is the hallmark of greatness.
In addition to loving unconditionally, I have learned that ordinary heroes are characterized by three qualities. First, they are secured in God's love. They also draw strength and hope from God's love. They know deep inside that they are deeply loved by God and they don't need to earn it by working at it. Their security is in the knowledge that God loves them unconditionally and not in having more money, power or fame. This is why ordinary heroes do not need approval from anyone. They are able to let go and let God. They don't need to win an argument by proving that they are right. Being right at most times is a private affair to them. This is significant because most couples I know argue for the sake of argument and not for the sake of love. So, allow me to sidetrack.
There was an experiment done on couples' arguing to see how such seemingly contentious exchange could build relationships in some couples and destroy relationships in others. In this experiment, many couples' arguments were videotaped and playback for the experimenters to observe. Their married lives were then monitored and recorded over a long period of time. When the experiment was concluded, the experimenters realized that the arguments between enduringly loving couples and couples who ultimately end up in divorce were apparently similar. There were the usual insults, the bickering, the complaints, the use of foul language and the who-can-be-more-fierce competitions.
But what differentiates them in the end of a long and tiring argument is the conclusion of the argument. The arguments of couples who stay married are usually forward looking and reconciliatory. After a verbal swordfight, loving couple understands each other better and their marriage generally improves. In other words, their arguments makes them love each other more and not less. It is like sunshine after the storm. Things get clearer after a tongue fight. They make every conscious effort thereafter not to step on the same toe again. They are able to love each other better because they understand each other more.
However, couples who argue and end up in divorce are always in a "perpetual storm". There is often no definite conclusion to their argument. They rather let "dead dogs lie". None of them wants to reconcile after a fist-and-tongue fight. They only pay lip-service to the marriage vows and stay married for as long as they could for face sake and not for love sake. With each verbal cudgel, the heart-torn couple festers in hate, deepens the misunderstanding and withdraws from each other. Allowing the status quo to remain, emotional divorce will soon set in long before the once-loving couple ink the divorce papers.
So, do not take your arguments for granted. Not all arguments are bad for the relationship. If tackled well, arguments can build and not tear down a marriage. Just take note of how you end your arguments. Always bring your argument to a reconciliatory end. Remember, don't go to bed without making out with your spouse. And never leave an argument unresolved or hanging. Because you will never know when the next argument may fall on your marriage and wreck it permanently.
Now let's go back to the second quality of an ordinary hero. They are always doing the right thing even when it is popularly wrong. This world has corrupted what is good and diluted what is right. Most of us walk with a log in our eyes and it has clouded our judgment. Sin used to be an outright wrong, period. But now, what is wrong depends on one's interpretations. For example, killing is not wrong when it is done to rid the world of terrorism. Adultery is justified if the other spouse neglects her conjugal duties to her husband. And greed is not wrong if it makes one obscenely rich. Traditional values have lost its high standing in a world where "chastity is dated" and "pride is your best ride".
But ordinary heroes stand their ground. Their feet are on the rock of Christ and not on sinking sand. Their lives are driven and directed by an inner moral compass. They are like sheep who only listen to the shepherd's voice and not the voice of this world or the lusts of their own flesh. Stephen Covey once said, "To do well, you must do good. And to do good, you must first be good." In this world of corrupt values, being good and doing good is usually the exception rather than the rule. But ordinary heroes are "human giraffes". They always stick their necks out to do good because they adhere to Godly principles that never fade through time or culture. To the world, ordinary heroes are called “prudes” and “rigids”. But to God, they are His faithful and fruitful servants. There is a saying that goes like this, "A good life is when you wake up in the morning and go to bed at night and in the middle, you do what is right."
Lastly, ordinary heroes make meaning out of their own sufferings or personal crisis. Going back to our cell, I am reminded of Mark's well-grounded optimism to believe that God always uplifts everything. Mark’s faith in God to deliver him and his family through their financial hard times is no easy feat. Equally courageous was Kwan Hong’s compassion for his subordinates who were laid off. You guys drew strength from God and extracted meaning even in the most dire of circumstances.
I believe there is a death in this life that is worse than suicide. It is the death of hope, meaning and purpose. Life is not a primary quest for pleasure, power or popularity. Life only moves forward with meaning or purpose. We can find meaning even in the worst of times if we just look hard enough for it. Victor E. Frankl tells of a story in his book, Man's Search For Meaning, about an old lady whose eleven year old son just died after a suicide attempt. She was so distraught that she conceived a plan to kill herself. However, she had an older son, who was a cripple from birth, having suffered from infantile paralysis. And she didn't want him to be left alone after her death. So she wanted to die with her son. Just before she could commit the act of suicide, her older son stopped her and cried out that he wanted to live. In fact, her older son loved life! Thereafter, she went for therapy and realized that she was no failure after all. She had managed to bring up a son who treasured life and wished to live to the fullest. This gave her meaning and passion to live on for him.
Beloved, in all our trials, even in the worst of the lot, there is meaning that we can draw strength from. If we look hard enough, we can see it in the eyes of our children, in the blessing of our possessions, in the support of our loved ones and in the hope of a Savior who had gone through it all and has promised that he will carry us through. In Psalms 27:14, it is written "Wait upon the Lord, be of good courage and He will strengthen thine heart, wait upon the Lord." Note that the verse did not say that He will answer our prayers. Or solve our problems. Or take away our pain and sufferings. Instead, it says that it will strengthen our hearts. I believe that by strengthening our hearts, God is granting us the greatest gift of all. It is the gift to overcome any trials that life can throw at us. It is the gift to stand firm in the face of adversity. It is a gift of passion for living that no crisis or bad times can take away or destroy.
So, have a victorious week ahead!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
A reply to Mark's letter
Mark, I read your letter when I was overseas. I was with my family at Fort Siloso beach, Sentosa and I read your email on a Friday evening. I think I was the first one who read it twice. I was touched by your brutally honest sharing. You kept nothing to yourself. You just let it all out and I drank of every word written as if you were sharing your heart out to me by the beach under the retiring sun.
Your words were simple yet deep. It spoke volumes of your current dilemma and your trust in a faithful God who will deliver you and your family out of it. You mentioned about seeking financial help from your loved ones, one of whom was not a Christian. You wrote about what was left in your bank account and how your income has been slashed by 70%. You told us how you lost your investment money and how you took the chance to invest borrowed funds, which, after a harrowing episode, paid off quite handsomely. Indeed, these few months have been a roller coaster ride for you and your family - and the ride is, I believe, still ongoing with all its ups and downs!
Yours was a heartfelt, heart-tugging testimony that very few men I know would want to share. I appreciate your honesty and am emboldened by your steadfast faith, anchored on trust and hope. I held these words you wrote close to my heart, "God will not allow us to go thru' any crisis without first allowing it to go thru' His hands." You illuminated simple truths to us and I believe we are wiser by your sharing. Your scars and experiences in this life have grounded us all on the assurance that God is still in control of everything. Indeed, it is said, "Blessed are the cracked, for they let in light." Thanks for the light.
One issue that kept me up on Friday night was the relationship issues. Most of what you shared, that is, the financial crisis, the reduction in income, the borrowing and the investing, and the financial dire straits in general, were all external things that happened to you. As you wrote about these external circumstances, you exude a tide of quiet confidence as if things were going to be alright sooner than later. In other words, you were on top of things and stayed on top of things. But when it came to relationship, that is, issues of the heart, or things of an inner nature, you gave the impression that you were still quite unresolved, seething and at times, ruffled.
Trust me, I understand how you feel. I have dealt with many people before and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some were saint-like and you'd wish the world is composed of more of this Mother-Theresa characters. But once in a while, when the moon is blue and the sun doesn't rise from the east, you encounter a character that defies all appeal to reason. These are the people who, in my own experiences, makes life bend backward to breaking point. You can call them "toxic character" or "emotional refrigerator" or "personality flaws." But you cannot avoid them. They can be your friends, your loved ones or your acquaintance. They are here for good; even though most of the time, they are here for bad. Sometimes, we even see some of these undesirable qualities in ourselves.
I believe that they are planted on this earth to rub you on the wrong side. That is, provided, you allow them to rub you on the wrong side. You can always offer your right side to them or your better side. And I believe, knowing you, Mark and Jasmine, you guys have offered them your best side like a good Samaritan would. However, time and time again, they reciprocated in ways that befuddled or stumped you guys.
Well, the best explanation for their behavior is the parable of the sower. This parable clears the air about good and not-so-good Christians. You guys know the parable well (Matthew 13:3-9). The one thing constant and unchanging about the parable is the seed. You will notice that the seed is the same for all four grounds: that is, on the pathway where birds came and snatched them away, on the rocky ground where the soil had no depth and the sun burnt up the seeds, on the thorns where the seeds were choked, and lastly, on good soil. This parable applies to all Christians, young and old. If we take the seeds as the word of God, we then understand why many Christians can remain untouched by the gospel of truth.
Well, Mark, we can use this parable to explain why some Christian act the way they did. But I think we should not stop there. I believe the focus of the parable should be on the good soil and how the good soil can make a difference in the lives of others. Sure, there are Christians who preach more than they practise. They do not live up to basic expectations. They profess to be wise but act otherwise. But I've always pictured the ending of the parable of the sower where the tree that grew out of the good soil stretched out to become a canopy of shelter and protection for the seeds that fell on the other grounds.
In other words, the tree that grew could provide coverage from the scorching sun or divert the birds away from the exposed seeds. Even those seeds that fell on thorns could derive some nutrients from the roots of the good tree. This might sound like allegorical stretch of the parable but my point is to focus on what authentic Christians can do or say to make a difference in the lives of those Christians who do not live up. Isn't this why Jesus came to us in the first place? To show the way, to be an example, to change lives, to love unconditionally. Our calling is no different. In fact, 1 John 4:20 raised the bar, by admonishing this, "For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen."
From the lives of great saints, who were usually ordinary people with simple, trusting faith, you will note that they shared three landmark characteristics: First, they were absurdly happy; second, they were filled with irrational love for everyone; and lastly, they were always in trouble.
Mark and Jasmine, your lives in the cell and from what I gather from your letter do indeed exemplify Christlikeness. I do not doubt your sincerity in your acts of kindness. At this point, I am reminded of this adage, "In each life, some rain will fall." By extension, life is going to challenge you. Christians are sometimes lightning rods for trouble. We are magnets for bad times and bad relationships. Mark, you even wrote, "if you pray for more faith, then be ready for more challenges ahead."
I believe that praying for faith is only the first part. The other integral part is having the confidence and endurance to overcome the challenges that test our faith. This is best explained in Hebrew 10:36, "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise."
Mark, our faith is on God and His promises to deliver us. But for every case of deliverance, there is at least ten cases of endurance (if not more). Deliverance is the final relief of our suffering. But before attaining such relief, we have to undergo painful and uncertain challenges that at times seem hopeless and unremitting. Your current circumstance is just one of those cases of endurance. We know that the world economy isn't getting better. Nobody knows how the billions of dollars of cash injection will turn out. Government policies may sometimes backfire. Ultimately, it depends on the confidence or the whims and fancies of the world markets. That in itself says nothing about anything, I know. So, I dread to say that it is going to take a while for the economy and the markets to recover and to rally up. Of course, I don't need to tell you this. You basically live in it on a daily basis.
But your continual faith and hope in God and how the dark skies are going to
clear ultimately breathe renewed hope in my life. I guess I can share everything I read from "dead pulp" books every Friday and still fall short of changing and impacting lives as compare to the inspiring lessons that your personal experiences bring. You guys have gone through the grief of your father's death and the trauma of Kaela's birth and yet Jasmine and you remained strong and firm in the faith. That is one lesson that no amount of reading and sharing can effectively impart.
Let me end with this inspiring story told by Ray Pritchard, who authored The God you can Trust, "A small boy was flying a kite high in the sky when it drifted into a cloud bank and disappeared from view. A passerby asked the little boy what he was doing. "I'm flying my kite," the child responded. The man, looking up and seeing only the cloud bank , said, "I don't see any kite. How do you know it's still there?"
"I don't see it either," replied the boy, "but I know it's up there because every once in a while there's a tug on my string."
Mark, last cell meeting we talked about five things we cannot change but just have to accept and grow around them. One of those things is the fact that "everything changes and ends." Good times never last. Neither do Bad times. But it is not the bad times that we loathe. It is the time it takes for bad times to become good times. Sometimes, it takes a while and our faith is truly tested. But during such times, the simple words of the little boy can turn the focus away from our problem and onto God. Mark, God still tugs at your heartstring occasionally to remind you that he is still there. He's in control. He will keep your kite afloat. He will see you and your family through and the dark clouds will soon be blown away. So, when your circumstances seem to cast a foreboding shadow over your heaven-bound focus, just remember this, your God is bigger than the storm!
Your words were simple yet deep. It spoke volumes of your current dilemma and your trust in a faithful God who will deliver you and your family out of it. You mentioned about seeking financial help from your loved ones, one of whom was not a Christian. You wrote about what was left in your bank account and how your income has been slashed by 70%. You told us how you lost your investment money and how you took the chance to invest borrowed funds, which, after a harrowing episode, paid off quite handsomely. Indeed, these few months have been a roller coaster ride for you and your family - and the ride is, I believe, still ongoing with all its ups and downs!
Yours was a heartfelt, heart-tugging testimony that very few men I know would want to share. I appreciate your honesty and am emboldened by your steadfast faith, anchored on trust and hope. I held these words you wrote close to my heart, "God will not allow us to go thru' any crisis without first allowing it to go thru' His hands." You illuminated simple truths to us and I believe we are wiser by your sharing. Your scars and experiences in this life have grounded us all on the assurance that God is still in control of everything. Indeed, it is said, "Blessed are the cracked, for they let in light." Thanks for the light.
One issue that kept me up on Friday night was the relationship issues. Most of what you shared, that is, the financial crisis, the reduction in income, the borrowing and the investing, and the financial dire straits in general, were all external things that happened to you. As you wrote about these external circumstances, you exude a tide of quiet confidence as if things were going to be alright sooner than later. In other words, you were on top of things and stayed on top of things. But when it came to relationship, that is, issues of the heart, or things of an inner nature, you gave the impression that you were still quite unresolved, seething and at times, ruffled.
Trust me, I understand how you feel. I have dealt with many people before and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some were saint-like and you'd wish the world is composed of more of this Mother-Theresa characters. But once in a while, when the moon is blue and the sun doesn't rise from the east, you encounter a character that defies all appeal to reason. These are the people who, in my own experiences, makes life bend backward to breaking point. You can call them "toxic character" or "emotional refrigerator" or "personality flaws." But you cannot avoid them. They can be your friends, your loved ones or your acquaintance. They are here for good; even though most of the time, they are here for bad. Sometimes, we even see some of these undesirable qualities in ourselves.
I believe that they are planted on this earth to rub you on the wrong side. That is, provided, you allow them to rub you on the wrong side. You can always offer your right side to them or your better side. And I believe, knowing you, Mark and Jasmine, you guys have offered them your best side like a good Samaritan would. However, time and time again, they reciprocated in ways that befuddled or stumped you guys.
Well, the best explanation for their behavior is the parable of the sower. This parable clears the air about good and not-so-good Christians. You guys know the parable well (Matthew 13:3-9). The one thing constant and unchanging about the parable is the seed. You will notice that the seed is the same for all four grounds: that is, on the pathway where birds came and snatched them away, on the rocky ground where the soil had no depth and the sun burnt up the seeds, on the thorns where the seeds were choked, and lastly, on good soil. This parable applies to all Christians, young and old. If we take the seeds as the word of God, we then understand why many Christians can remain untouched by the gospel of truth.
Well, Mark, we can use this parable to explain why some Christian act the way they did. But I think we should not stop there. I believe the focus of the parable should be on the good soil and how the good soil can make a difference in the lives of others. Sure, there are Christians who preach more than they practise. They do not live up to basic expectations. They profess to be wise but act otherwise. But I've always pictured the ending of the parable of the sower where the tree that grew out of the good soil stretched out to become a canopy of shelter and protection for the seeds that fell on the other grounds.
In other words, the tree that grew could provide coverage from the scorching sun or divert the birds away from the exposed seeds. Even those seeds that fell on thorns could derive some nutrients from the roots of the good tree. This might sound like allegorical stretch of the parable but my point is to focus on what authentic Christians can do or say to make a difference in the lives of those Christians who do not live up. Isn't this why Jesus came to us in the first place? To show the way, to be an example, to change lives, to love unconditionally. Our calling is no different. In fact, 1 John 4:20 raised the bar, by admonishing this, "For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen."
From the lives of great saints, who were usually ordinary people with simple, trusting faith, you will note that they shared three landmark characteristics: First, they were absurdly happy; second, they were filled with irrational love for everyone; and lastly, they were always in trouble.
Mark and Jasmine, your lives in the cell and from what I gather from your letter do indeed exemplify Christlikeness. I do not doubt your sincerity in your acts of kindness. At this point, I am reminded of this adage, "In each life, some rain will fall." By extension, life is going to challenge you. Christians are sometimes lightning rods for trouble. We are magnets for bad times and bad relationships. Mark, you even wrote, "if you pray for more faith, then be ready for more challenges ahead."
I believe that praying for faith is only the first part. The other integral part is having the confidence and endurance to overcome the challenges that test our faith. This is best explained in Hebrew 10:36, "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise."
Mark, our faith is on God and His promises to deliver us. But for every case of deliverance, there is at least ten cases of endurance (if not more). Deliverance is the final relief of our suffering. But before attaining such relief, we have to undergo painful and uncertain challenges that at times seem hopeless and unremitting. Your current circumstance is just one of those cases of endurance. We know that the world economy isn't getting better. Nobody knows how the billions of dollars of cash injection will turn out. Government policies may sometimes backfire. Ultimately, it depends on the confidence or the whims and fancies of the world markets. That in itself says nothing about anything, I know. So, I dread to say that it is going to take a while for the economy and the markets to recover and to rally up. Of course, I don't need to tell you this. You basically live in it on a daily basis.
But your continual faith and hope in God and how the dark skies are going to
clear ultimately breathe renewed hope in my life. I guess I can share everything I read from "dead pulp" books every Friday and still fall short of changing and impacting lives as compare to the inspiring lessons that your personal experiences bring. You guys have gone through the grief of your father's death and the trauma of Kaela's birth and yet Jasmine and you remained strong and firm in the faith. That is one lesson that no amount of reading and sharing can effectively impart.
Let me end with this inspiring story told by Ray Pritchard, who authored The God you can Trust, "A small boy was flying a kite high in the sky when it drifted into a cloud bank and disappeared from view. A passerby asked the little boy what he was doing. "I'm flying my kite," the child responded. The man, looking up and seeing only the cloud bank , said, "I don't see any kite. How do you know it's still there?"
"I don't see it either," replied the boy, "but I know it's up there because every once in a while there's a tug on my string."
Mark, last cell meeting we talked about five things we cannot change but just have to accept and grow around them. One of those things is the fact that "everything changes and ends." Good times never last. Neither do Bad times. But it is not the bad times that we loathe. It is the time it takes for bad times to become good times. Sometimes, it takes a while and our faith is truly tested. But during such times, the simple words of the little boy can turn the focus away from our problem and onto God. Mark, God still tugs at your heartstring occasionally to remind you that he is still there. He's in control. He will keep your kite afloat. He will see you and your family through and the dark clouds will soon be blown away. So, when your circumstances seem to cast a foreboding shadow over your heaven-bound focus, just remember this, your God is bigger than the storm!
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