Teach me your ways - Psalms 86:11

As a youth growing up, this song had a powerful 'effect' upon me everytime I sang it in church. I will sing it one of these days in church.. :)

Teach me your ways
Oh Lord, my God
That I may walk in Your truth
Give me a totally, undivided heart
That I may fear Your name

Purify my heart
Cleanse me Lord I pray
Remove from me all that is standing in the way
Purify my heart
Clease me Lord I Pray
Remove from me all that is standing in the way
Of your love
------------------------------> Lord, Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name

Swimming Day

Took Charis for a dip today at the pool. She seemed to be 'enjoying' herself in this 'laid back' pic. I had a good time and I never knew swimming could be that relaxing. It seems that when I took into the pool and swam a few breadths with Charis, the heaviness in my head which I woke up with 'dissipated' into the waters. Honestly, I have never found swimming to have such a calming effect on me, or was it the presence of Charis that made the difference? I enjoy Charis most of the time. She is a gift (someone called her a new "toy") that I will never get tired or sick of. She's a toy that will always be 'updated' because she is growing every moment. Today she tried playing the keyboard and was wondering how come it didn't make any music because it was switched off. She turned, look at me and had that inquisitive look on her face. I simply smiled at her.

"When things on earth that cause the heart to tremble, remembered when will only bring a smile." - What causes my heart to tremble? When newspaper reports of a ferry carrying a load of passengers to Tioman for their holiday, only to be caught in a ferry of fire. When a budget airline crashes unexpectedly causing more than half its passengers their lives and many to lose their loved ones. What causes my heart to tremble? When I am struck with an illness and I am unable to bring up Charis, when I pass on before Charis can grow up and fend for her self, when I go away for mission work and not return because of a mishap. All these causes my heart to tremble... can i go, should i leave? Until Then, my heart will go on singing. I think about such things because I asked myself, what causes my heart to tremble? Yet what can make me sing again? It's when I look to the Lord and know that because HE LIVES, I CAN FACE tomorrow, because HE LIVES, ALL fear is gone, because I KNOW, I KNOW, He holds the future and life is worth the leaving just because He lives.

That's the hope I have, the hope that keeps me singing. Charis is a gift from the Lord and I thank God for this gift. May she grow up singing of this hope that keeps me loving and not fearing.

free burma

Judge Not

"Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eyes, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eyes." - Matthew 7:1-5 (NASB)

Otto Fong, used this principle to counter those who decided to 'judge' him because he openly shared that he is a gay. I admire his "courage" and "determination" to be who he is - he only asked for acceptance. His disclosure risked him losing his job as a teacher in the prestigious Raffles Institution whom he had been with for 8 years and also unwanted multiples of criticisms darted towards his sexual preference. On one hand I feel sympathetic but on the other hand I am ruled by the 'law'. Yes, we need to love him and not judge him but... the letter of the law demands...

When the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1 - 11) was dragged by the Scribes and the Pharisees to see Jesus, used the law and told Jesus that this woman had to be stone for her act, Jesus kept quiet and only wrote on the ground. The accusers did not give up and pressed Jesus for an answer. Jesus broke the silence and said to all present "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." - wow. I have always been awed by this profound statement of Jesus. The accusers left, one by one. No response of repentance from her. Only a reply to Jesus when asked where were her accusers, she simply said, "No one". Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on sin no more."

Jesus was consistent with his teachings on "Judging". Even though he had the absolute right to do so and the woman was undoubtedly guilty, yet He withheld that right. The one thing he told the woman was to go and sin no more - her past no longer mattered, it was how she was going to live her life after the episode. Jesus was always gentle with those who were condemned and unrighteous but hard on those who thought of themselves righteous and dignified - those who had the logs in their own eyes.

As human beings we put values to things. We categorize them. If someone lied, it's not as bad as someone who committed adultery. Murder will certainly make headline news while bitterness, hate and anger remain in the closet. That is how we have been conditioned to think, Christians are not spared including myself. We categorize sin and put them on a scale from Big Sin to Small Sin. Big sin = murder, adultery, stealing, cheating... Small sin = lying, gossiping, hate, murmuring against a fellow brother, ... So for Mr Otto Fong, he has committed a big sin but our ocassional sin(s) -pardonable. I wonder what would Jesus say to Mr Fong.

There is such a thin line between Judging and Discerning. Ok, maybe not so thin a line because Judging is not justified but discerning is? I feel personally that judging belongs to God and that's His prerogative. Our duty is to discern (as we read God's word more and more, understand it more and more, reflect more and more, pray more and more) so that we can distinguish what is God's will and what is not. I do not think that judging and discerning are synonymous and they are as distinct as a cow is to a buffalo.

Judging is what one person does to another person based on what he/she thinks (result of studying the word of God) is right or wrong. Discernment is what takes place within a person as he/she seeks the Lord (result of studying the word of God and prayer) on the appropriate decision to make, behaviour to adopt, mindset to change etc... Discernment can also be a gift in the area of distinguishing between spirits so that the Christian would know how to pray against it as directed by the Holy Spirit.

We may discern about situations but we may not have to judge the situation. However, there are times (not everytime) we will have to make a judgement i.e. conclusion after discernment. It's very complicated to me and I am still mulling over it. One thing for sure, the Sermon on the Mount was addressed to everyone regardless of rank and file - Religious people and the common folks. I can't practise one and obliterate the other. Jesus says, "look into my own log first before I spot the speck in others."

Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world (age) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove (to test, examine, prove, scrutinise [to see whether a thing is genuine or not], as metals to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy) what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

That's all for hair-splitting today. :)

Stand Still and Let God Move

Stand Still - By The Isaacs

The Father has a plan. Though it's hard to see it now
You feel you're walking all alone. But He is there no doubt
When the storm around you rages, And you're tossed to and fro
When you're faced with life's decisions, Not sure which way to go

Stand still and let God move, Standing still is hard to do
When you feel you have reached the end, He'll make a way for you
Stand still and let God move

When the enemy surrounds you, And the walls are closing in
When the tide is swiftly rising, And you wonder where He's been
Friend, there never was a moment, That His arms weren't reaching out
You can rest assured and be secure, God is moving right now

Stand still and let God move, Standing still is hard to do
When you feel you have reached the end, He'll make a way for you
Stand still and let God move

Go to youtube.com search for Stand Still + Isaacs. Very beautiful song with meaningful lyrics.

Charis not Chairs

Couldn't resist putting up this pic of her taken off Herng's phone. :P

I thought by giving her a two syllabus name, there will be NO confusion in pronouncing her name. However, I was wrong.

The first time we went to her paediatrician, she called her "CHAIR-RIS".. then i corrected her, it's "CARE-RIS"

Then, ms chan herngwei called her "CLARIS"

Then, one of the youth i spoke with online called her "CHAIRS"

Looks like she can't escape the mispronouncing of her name. :) Live with it girl, all of us go through it. I've been called "ROOF", "WUTH", etc... etc...

Henin! US OPEN VICTORY 2007

Justine Henin wins the US Open title. Trouncing the Williams' Sisters in the same tournament. Her signature single backhand slice is what makes her stand out as a competitor and champion (at least to me).

Her never give up, never say die attitude is what inspires me.

Do it, lose, never mind. At least I've tried. Run to win the race!