This is something that we all are curious to know. There must be something interesting in it. We would like to know and experience it ourselves. Though others warn us, we tend to ignore it. Curiosity seems to have a bigger say.
Alas…when we succumbed to it, we are already in danger. A danger that could lead to our death.
Some people lamented that they are not creative. Well, I don’t think that is true. I believes that all have been created with a creative mind. The reason is simple. We are created by a creative God. And since we are created in His image, the creative aspect/characteristic of God was also imputed to us. And this creative characteristic can be seen everywhere.
However, this creative characteristic can be used positively and even negatively. Some may have a higher degree of creativity in them but all of us do have the creativity characteristic in us. So be creative and use this characteristic that God has given to us in a positive way.
In the previous post, the article talks about 911 disaster in particular. We too may have our own questions regarding what is happening around us. There are some of us who have experienced loss of loved ones, hardship, cruelty, injustice, and many more evil things. We may be wondering why does god allow suffering. And it is indeed a valid question to ask. Many times I too asked why does God allow pain and suffering especially when there is problem in my life.
It is okay to ask such questions to God. However, it is unhealthy to just leave it unanswered. It can create bitterness in our heart. Bitterness have been identified to be the catalyst if not the cause of many sicknesses. I have found the answers to most of my questions about God and suffering. If you want to find out the answers to this question of “Why would God allows suffering?”, may I suggest that you attend the Alpha Course: Questions of Life. There are many Alpha course offered around the world in most countries so do search online or just click on the link in this post.
A prominent American’s daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her “How could God let something like this happen?”
(Regarding the attacks on September 11)
Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.
She said, “I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we’ve been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is,I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?”
In light of recent events…terrorists attack, school shootings, etc, I think it started when Madeleine Murray O’Hare (she was murdered, her body
found recently) complained she didn’t want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school…
the Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself.
And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn’t spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might
damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock’s son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he’s talking about.
And we said OK.
Then someone said teachers and principals better not discipline our children when they misbehave. The school administrators said no faculty
member in this school better touch a student when they misbehave because we don’t want any bad publicity, and we surely don’t want to be sued (there’s a big difference between disciplining, touching, beating, smacking, humiliating, kicking, etc.)
And we said OK.
Then someone said, let’s let our daughters have abortions if they want, and they won’t even have to tell their parents.
And we said OK.
Then some wise school board member said, since boys will be boys and they’re going to do it anyway, let’s give our sons all the condoms they
want so they can have all the fun they desire, and we won’t have to tell their parents they got them at school.
And we said OK.
Then some of our top elected officials said it doesn’t matter what we do in private as long as we do our jobs. Agreeing with them, we said it doesn’t
matter to me what anyone, including the President, does in private as long as I have a job and the economy is good.
Then someone said let’s print magazines with pictures of nude women and call it wholesome, down-to-earth appreciation for the beauty of the female body.
And we said OK.
And then someone else took that appreciation a step further and published pictures of nude children and then further again by making them available on the Internet.
And we said OK, they’re entitled to free speech.
Then the entertainment industry said, let’s make TV shows and movies that promote profanity, violence, and illicit sex. Let’s record music that
encourages rape, drugs, murder, suicide, and satanic themes. And we said it’s just entertainment, it has no adverse effect, nobody takes it seriously anyway, so go right ahead.
Now we’re asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don’t know right from wrong, and why it doesn’t bother them to kill
strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out.
I think it has a great deal to do with
“WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.”
Many of us prefers to worry. Worrying does not do anything good to you or the situation. Instead you may cause your health to deteriorate by worrying. Things that are not within your control are not worth to worry about. Things that are within your control, choose to change it. For Christians, take delight in God’s promises and trust in God’s providence.
Most people do not realize that we are spirit being living in a physical body. To some this statement may sounds scary as their only perception of spirit is the evil spirits shown in horror movies. We are made in the image of God so this should be a consolation of how good our spirit image could be. It is with our spirit that God who is also a Spirit being communicates. Yes, there are times when people hear audible voice from God but this is quite rare. Spirit communes with the spirit.
One of the good thing that God has created in our spirit being is the conscience. If we did something wrong, our conscience will tell us and we would have the guilty feeling. This is a good “mechanism” created by a Holy God who wants His created beings to be holy too. We are left with only two choices. First is to repent of our wrongdoing and be free from our guilt. Or we can deny, ignore and cover that guilt feelings and still be in bondage or carrying that burden throughout our lives.
The best thing to do is to repent and be free from that “secret” burden. Why carry unnecessary burden throughout your life. You will be wearied and grow tired and would not be able to do other things. Go to Jesus for He says, “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy burdened” and “My yoke is easy and my burden is light”. Choose today which one you want, a heavy burden of having guilt feeling in your heart or freedom from guilt in Christ Jesus.
Is it important to have healthcare coverage for the family. Provided that you can afford it. If you can afford it then it is advisable to buy Health Care Insurance or Family Insurance Policies. We would never know what will happen in the future, only God knows. That however does not mean that we should put our faith to the test. God also wants us to be good stewart, to be prepared in season and out of season. This does not apply only to our beliefs and convictions but applies definitely to practical everyday needs. So do get the insurance coverage for you and your family.
Preached on the 1 Kings 19:9b-18 about prophet Elijah. One point that we can learn from that passage is about being in the cave.
In that passage, Elijah was at the mountain of Horeb, the mountain of God. Mount Horeb represents the presence of God. Elijah was at the mountain of Horeb and yet he stays in the cave. Furthermore, he was so focused on his situation at that time i.e. the threat from Jezebel, that being at the mountain of Horeb does not affect his perspective. Ironically, instead of gazing at the beautiful scenery from the mountain of God and be amazed at the beauty of God’s creation, Elijah stayed in the cave, in the darkness. In a way, that shows Elijah’s condition before God, in darkness fearing for his life.
God had to ask him to go out from the cave. This is a good analogy to use. God wants Elijah to go out from his darkness and fears. It is only when Elijah was out from the cave that he can see the powerful manifestation of God’s power in the wind, earthquake and fire.
Likewise we should not focus solely on our problems and being fearful. God is able to save and bring you out from your problem. There is no problem too big for God. What He is asking us to do is to go out from the cave and see His mighty power at work.
It is wonderful to know that whatever good things we have is actually entrusted to us by God. Even our children are given and entrusted to our care by God. And it is indeed a tall order for us parents to raise up and care for the children that God has allowed us to have. Yet, it is also a privilege given by God for us to have children and to raise them up properly.
I remember being at the side of my wife when she give birth to our first daughter. Immediately after the nurse had cleaned her and passed it to my wife, I took my baby daughter and prayed for her. I thanked God for giving her to me and my wife and I dedicated her back to God. I am indeed blessed to be able to do the same with my second daughter.
After the baby is about 2 months old and my wife are able to go to church service, we also had a special baby dedication event. In front of the whole church, we dedicated the baby to God and vowed to raise the baby up to be godly children.
Every church would have it done differently or use a different name for it. I think for the Catholic churches, they would have baby baptism. It is quite a big event for the parents. They would buy baptism invitations or prepare it on their own. Nowadays, many prefers to look for baptism invitations online as it is much more convenient and the choices are more. Once all the arrangements for the event are made, the parents would send out the invitations for baptism to all the church members and relatives. It is indeed a joyous and meaningful event.
Whatever it is, the most important thing is that after the baby dedication the parents must faithfully raise up the children according to God’s teaching and principles. It is hard work but also a joy.
I have finally signed up for the church camp. It will be on Sept 14-16 at Bayu Beach Resort in Port Dickson.
I hope by then, none of my children is sick so that we could really enjoy the camp and playing on the beach and swimming too.
I am thinking for buying the vitamin for my children from USANA to boost their immune system. Their products are quite costly but it is very effective. I think I will just have to force them to take their supplements. 
admin | 
12 17th, 2007| 
