Remember this fun party? Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of the movie night, so all those who came later, sorry o.
Rest of the pictures here
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thanksgiving 2008
Hi peeps,
Remember this fun party? Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of the movie night, so all those who came later, sorry o.
Rest of the pictures here
Remember this fun party? Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of the movie night, so all those who came later, sorry o.
Rest of the pictures here
Friday, March 13, 2009
Purpose of Pain II - Teaching of Feb 27, 2009
Cognitive dissonance: two ideas clashing in your head. Both of them do not make sense together. I have experienced cognitive dissonance with regards to what I have heard about Christianity (the prosperity message) and the reality on ground – life is hard.
Where did pain start?
It started in Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned, the war began.
The way what happened in Eden has been explained is this: GOD gave dominion over the earth (Gen 1:26), but when Adam and Eve sinned, they passed that dominion over to satan. Which is why JESUS called him the prince of this world.
We will face pain/trouble/problems – whatever you choose to call it here on earth.
So we need to understand that we as Christians are swimming against the tide. The world order is not GODly. It is for now controlled by the enemy. Think about it, in every sphere of life – think who predominates in most areas. Its not Christians that’s for sure :
Music
Movies
Science
Technology
Finance
We are at war people. And we do not fit in. We are in the world, but not of it. We are not the same. We are different. We must understand that, we must expect the attendant troubles that come with being different. You give your life to Christ, and you must expect warfare. That is what happens. The prince of the world will come after you.
This semester, we are talking about 4 categories of pain:
1)Random pain. (Job)
2)Pain as a result of punishment. (David)
3)Pain meant to humble and soften (Joseph, Moses, David)
4)Tribulation/attacks – spiritual and physical in response to faith/principles (Disciples, Paul)
Starting off with Random pain –
When we say random pain, we talk about the random disasters this enemy goes around creating – a death here, a crash there, an earthquake here, a tsunami there.
When we say random, we mean something that happens totally unexpectedly, with no apparent underlying reason. You did not see it coming, and its impact is devastating.
Kinda of like what happened to Job:
Story: minding his own business, GOD bragged about him, devil says just gimme a chance with him and you will see. GOD says okay, and devastation begins:
Job 1: 13-19
a) Business destroyed (sheep and oxen)
b) All children killed in the same day.
What did Job do? He worshipped.
But satan was not done. He came back and asked for permission to afflict his health.
Result?
c) Painful boils from head to feet.
At this point, Job did not curse GOD, but he cursed the day he was born. It was too much. Waaay too much. People have killed themselves for less. Since this recession started, people have started to commit suicide for losing jobs. And with this Madoff ripoff, rich people are jumping in front of trains and voluntarily ending it all, rather than face being broke. Job did not just lose money, he lost family, he lost his standing, he lost his integrity , at least in the eyes of those watching, he lost love in his personal life (wife said “curse GOD and die!!”), and lost respect in the sight of his friends. He even lost the desire to live. His pain was unbearable.
And he just could not understand why he, man of GOD that he was, was experiencing this random nightmare.
Job 29-30 (read whole chapters).
Lord have mercy! Mercy LORD.
There was a point in my life when I read the book of Job several times, because that was the time when I used to try to make sense of life. When I thought that there was a formula. When I thought that GOD was like a vending machine : I put in my $1.25, I get my coke or pepsi or mountain dew!! So I read the whole thing, and especially read chapters 38-41 with great interest. I read it over and over and over again. What is GOD’s response to our suffering? Is there a strategy I can utilize to avoid suffering? Is there something I can do? If I am good enough, pray enough, give enough, can I avoid pain – especially pain that is in my opinion random, meaningless, senseless, unnecessary?
What was the summary of those chapters? GOD chastised Job for thinking he would get an explanation. He was not going to get an explanation. He was told to understand and accept the sovereignty of GOD. HE is and owes nobody anything. HE takes Job through the process of creation, and tells him – if I did not consult you when I was doing all those things, what gives you the impression that I need to consult you when I choose to allow, or disallow anything in your life?
As apostle Paul put it:
At the end of the day, it is Job repenting in ashes. He acknowledges that there are some things beyond his understanding and repents in dust and ashes.
Bottomline:
a) GOD is sovereign and owes us no explanations. You may never understand what HE is doing.
b) What happens to you will never be as important as how you respond to it.
It is easy to praise GOD when you get your phd and a fancy job. Its harder to worship when you husband leaves you with 5 sickler children.
Despite all the news, Job worshipped. Can you do that? Is your mind made up that no matter what, I am here to stay? That you are a worshipper, not because, but despite, just as Habakkuk said
Hab 3:17-18
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation
And as Lara sang:
Fig Tree - Lara George
GOD bless!!
Where did pain start?
It started in Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned, the war began.
Gen 3:14-19
4 So the LORD God said to the serpent:
“ Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
16 To the woman He said:
“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.”
17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:
“ Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”
The way what happened in Eden has been explained is this: GOD gave dominion over the earth (Gen 1:26), but when Adam and Eve sinned, they passed that dominion over to satan. Which is why JESUS called him the prince of this world.
John 14:30
I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me.
Ephesians 2:1-3
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
We will face pain/trouble/problems – whatever you choose to call it here on earth.
So we need to understand that we as Christians are swimming against the tide. The world order is not GODly. It is for now controlled by the enemy. Think about it, in every sphere of life – think who predominates in most areas. Its not Christians that’s for sure :
Music
Movies
Science
Technology
Finance
We are at war people. And we do not fit in. We are in the world, but not of it. We are not the same. We are different. We must understand that, we must expect the attendant troubles that come with being different. You give your life to Christ, and you must expect warfare. That is what happens. The prince of the world will come after you.
This semester, we are talking about 4 categories of pain:
1)Random pain. (Job)
2)Pain as a result of punishment. (David)
3)Pain meant to humble and soften (Joseph, Moses, David)
4)Tribulation/attacks – spiritual and physical in response to faith/principles (Disciples, Paul)
Starting off with Random pain –
I peter 5:7-9
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
When we say random pain, we talk about the random disasters this enemy goes around creating – a death here, a crash there, an earthquake here, a tsunami there.
When we say random, we mean something that happens totally unexpectedly, with no apparent underlying reason. You did not see it coming, and its impact is devastating.
Kinda of like what happened to Job:
Story: minding his own business, GOD bragged about him, devil says just gimme a chance with him and you will see. GOD says okay, and devastation begins:
Job 1: 13-19
a) Business destroyed (sheep and oxen)
b) All children killed in the same day.
What did Job do? He worshipped.
But satan was not done. He came back and asked for permission to afflict his health.
Result?
c) Painful boils from head to feet.
At this point, Job did not curse GOD, but he cursed the day he was born. It was too much. Waaay too much. People have killed themselves for less. Since this recession started, people have started to commit suicide for losing jobs. And with this Madoff ripoff, rich people are jumping in front of trains and voluntarily ending it all, rather than face being broke. Job did not just lose money, he lost family, he lost his standing, he lost his integrity , at least in the eyes of those watching, he lost love in his personal life (wife said “curse GOD and die!!”), and lost respect in the sight of his friends. He even lost the desire to live. His pain was unbearable.
And he just could not understand why he, man of GOD that he was, was experiencing this random nightmare.
Job 29-30 (read whole chapters).
Lord have mercy! Mercy LORD.
There was a point in my life when I read the book of Job several times, because that was the time when I used to try to make sense of life. When I thought that there was a formula. When I thought that GOD was like a vending machine : I put in my $1.25, I get my coke or pepsi or mountain dew!! So I read the whole thing, and especially read chapters 38-41 with great interest. I read it over and over and over again. What is GOD’s response to our suffering? Is there a strategy I can utilize to avoid suffering? Is there something I can do? If I am good enough, pray enough, give enough, can I avoid pain – especially pain that is in my opinion random, meaningless, senseless, unnecessary?
What was the summary of those chapters? GOD chastised Job for thinking he would get an explanation. He was not going to get an explanation. He was told to understand and accept the sovereignty of GOD. HE is and owes nobody anything. HE takes Job through the process of creation, and tells him – if I did not consult you when I was doing all those things, what gives you the impression that I need to consult you when I choose to allow, or disallow anything in your life?
As apostle Paul put it:
Romans 9:4-20
4 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”[f] 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”[g] 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”
At the end of the day, it is Job repenting in ashes. He acknowledges that there are some things beyond his understanding and repents in dust and ashes.
Bottomline:
a) GOD is sovereign and owes us no explanations. You may never understand what HE is doing.
b) What happens to you will never be as important as how you respond to it.
It is easy to praise GOD when you get your phd and a fancy job. Its harder to worship when you husband leaves you with 5 sickler children.
Despite all the news, Job worshipped. Can you do that? Is your mind made up that no matter what, I am here to stay? That you are a worshipper, not because, but despite, just as Habakkuk said
Hab 3:17-18
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation
And as Lara sang:
Fig Tree - Lara George
GOD bless!!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Purpose of pain I - Teaching of Jan 30 2009
This semester, I am taking a military science class. It is an exercise class with the ROTC, and they really, really push you. Push ups, sit ups, running and much, much more. It is difficult, and intense and often painful.
Now I am going to look at this class from the POV of my body:
First, I am not a morning person. I often work late into the night and wake up later in the morning. However, for me to get to class at 6am, my alarm clock is set for 5:20 am. Every morning, my body grumbles.
Secondly, like I said earlier, the class is tough. Some of the instructors have been to Iraq. They are real soldiers. By the end of the class, even the cadet or recruits or reserves (whatever they are called), they are tired too. Their exercise routines target every single part of your body. By then end of the hour, your legs feel like jelly, your arms hurt, your tummy is screaming – Pain everywhere.
My body does not like this. At all. And it tells me so loud and clear by the pain. The muscles that are rarely used, now being forced to wake up from their slumber – they complain loudly – painfully. So it was that after the first full of week of hard exercise, I could barely do anything. It hurt to stand, hurt to sit. I just hurt period.
Now, I have two options – I could say “Ow, I hurt!!” and quit. Or, I could ask myself “why did I join this class in the first place?”, and then work through the pain.
So why did I join the class? Because I want to be healthy and fit. And I want to still be able to run when I am 60 years of age. My body might hate me now, but it will thank me then because “ceteris paribus” I will be healthier than most people because of my habits of several decades before. Good diet and consistent exercise is good for you – period.
My body does not know this however, so now it complains! The funny thing is , if I don’t quit and I work through the pain, eventually, my body gets used to the new level of activity, and actually, starts to crave it.
Anyone ever heard of the RUNNER’s high? Why do you think people who run love running? Eventually when you run, you get to a point where you get into this groove, you feel this emotional high. It’s a good feeling. I have felt it before.
Bottomline – push through the pain, and your screaming body will adjust, and even start to crave what it used to hate.
What does this have to do with Christianity? What is the purpose of the Christian walk ?
Eph 4:11-16
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Romans 8:28-29
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Now, if we believe today’s Pentecostal preachers, both home and abroad, you would think that the purpose of our faith is to be prosperous, wealthy and blessed. No pain, no trouble, no obstacles – that GOD’s purpose is to make sure that our lives are problem free, easy, painless.
That is at worst a lie from the pits of hell, and at best an incomplete gospel. When you believe that your life is meant to be easy, it makes it really hard for you to cope when hardship comes – and I mean when – not if. Because hardship WILL come – to build your character.
Like my body screaming at exercise, you will also scream at hardship – unless you can see the full picture, unless you can understand that GOD is doing a work in you. I cannot understand the thinking anyways. When we talk about physical things, we understand that they are meant to be hard – you exercise hard to get the body you want (Madonna – 4 hrs a day!). You work hard to get any kind of advanced degree (we all in school rite?) Why do we think that the spiritual life should be easy? Why?
Bottomline – what is the purpose of pain? To build character, discipline, and trust in GOD – despite, not because.
To be absolutely clear, some pain we will never understand. But others will make sense by and by.
And this is the way we must think about life:
2 Cor 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
For example – it takes a lot of pain to get an advanced degree – deferred income (grad students are broke), sleepless nights, many lonely hours in the office, lots of studying! Why do we do it – Because you know that someday you are gonna graduate, and the light affliction will lead to glory.
More concrete examples in the bible: We will look at them this semester – How GOD built character through pain – Joseph, Moses, David. Their stories are among my very favorites in the bible. GOD uses them to speak to me all the time. I pray that they will speak to you too.
Now I am going to look at this class from the POV of my body:
First, I am not a morning person. I often work late into the night and wake up later in the morning. However, for me to get to class at 6am, my alarm clock is set for 5:20 am. Every morning, my body grumbles.
Secondly, like I said earlier, the class is tough. Some of the instructors have been to Iraq. They are real soldiers. By the end of the class, even the cadet or recruits or reserves (whatever they are called), they are tired too. Their exercise routines target every single part of your body. By then end of the hour, your legs feel like jelly, your arms hurt, your tummy is screaming – Pain everywhere.
My body does not like this. At all. And it tells me so loud and clear by the pain. The muscles that are rarely used, now being forced to wake up from their slumber – they complain loudly – painfully. So it was that after the first full of week of hard exercise, I could barely do anything. It hurt to stand, hurt to sit. I just hurt period.
Now, I have two options – I could say “Ow, I hurt!!” and quit. Or, I could ask myself “why did I join this class in the first place?”, and then work through the pain.
So why did I join the class? Because I want to be healthy and fit. And I want to still be able to run when I am 60 years of age. My body might hate me now, but it will thank me then because “ceteris paribus” I will be healthier than most people because of my habits of several decades before. Good diet and consistent exercise is good for you – period.
My body does not know this however, so now it complains! The funny thing is , if I don’t quit and I work through the pain, eventually, my body gets used to the new level of activity, and actually, starts to crave it.
Anyone ever heard of the RUNNER’s high? Why do you think people who run love running? Eventually when you run, you get to a point where you get into this groove, you feel this emotional high. It’s a good feeling. I have felt it before.
Bottomline – push through the pain, and your screaming body will adjust, and even start to crave what it used to hate.
What does this have to do with Christianity? What is the purpose of the Christian walk ?
Eph 4:11-16
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Romans 8:28-29
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Now, if we believe today’s Pentecostal preachers, both home and abroad, you would think that the purpose of our faith is to be prosperous, wealthy and blessed. No pain, no trouble, no obstacles – that GOD’s purpose is to make sure that our lives are problem free, easy, painless.
That is at worst a lie from the pits of hell, and at best an incomplete gospel. When you believe that your life is meant to be easy, it makes it really hard for you to cope when hardship comes – and I mean when – not if. Because hardship WILL come – to build your character.
Like my body screaming at exercise, you will also scream at hardship – unless you can see the full picture, unless you can understand that GOD is doing a work in you. I cannot understand the thinking anyways. When we talk about physical things, we understand that they are meant to be hard – you exercise hard to get the body you want (Madonna – 4 hrs a day!). You work hard to get any kind of advanced degree (we all in school rite?) Why do we think that the spiritual life should be easy? Why?
Bottomline – what is the purpose of pain? To build character, discipline, and trust in GOD – despite, not because.
To be absolutely clear, some pain we will never understand. But others will make sense by and by.
And this is the way we must think about life:
2 Cor 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
For example – it takes a lot of pain to get an advanced degree – deferred income (grad students are broke), sleepless nights, many lonely hours in the office, lots of studying! Why do we do it – Because you know that someday you are gonna graduate, and the light affliction will lead to glory.
More concrete examples in the bible: We will look at them this semester – How GOD built character through pain – Joseph, Moses, David. Their stories are among my very favorites in the bible. GOD uses them to speak to me all the time. I pray that they will speak to you too.
Welcome party - August 2008
Hello people,
I always meant to put these pictures up but I never did. I hope you enjoy them. It was a lot of fun!! See the rest of the pictures here.
I always meant to put these pictures up but I never did. I hope you enjoy them. It was a lot of fun!! See the rest of the pictures here.
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