The last point was most profound and compelling – Show mercy, mixed with fear (Jude 24:23). We are to win people back to Christ but we must do so reverentially, cautiously and discerningly, less our impurities and inadequacies cause us to fall into the very trap we are rescuing others out of. 

May our torch, His Word, be lit.
May our legacy, His Sword, be passed.
May our faith, His Son, be united.

Reflections from 2013's Caroling

In the simplest of ways, unsophisticated and unrehearsed, we did the smallest of deeds, to deliver the littlest of cheer, by our feeblest serenade of Christmas tunes. And what did we get back? The deepest of emotions, unsolicited and unexpected, we received the sincerest of gratitude, to choke us back of tears, and the greatest gift of all, the blessing of seeing others smile, cry, and cry, and smile, and cry. Jesus, You ARE the reason for EVERY season. 

Time has changed, so have we ...

One of my "favoritest" moments is when in-SPIRIT-ation hits, even when it's on the train, one can't help but doodle what could potentially be an illustration for a lesson.

"God speaks when we listen."

Created Nature - Art with Heart

Although nature overwhelms the minds of all humans, it invokes a different response from a Christian and a non-believer. A ‘created’ nature invites a response of praise in a Christian. An ‘accidental’ nature silences the non-believer to his own finite theories.

Christians behold nature with a sense of awe towards its Creator. Behind the vastness of a created nature, is the Source who have carefully and thoughtfully designed and engineered from the smallest particle to the greatest structure in this universe. Every known or unknown thing, found or yet to be discovered, understood or simply beyond human comprehension, has its identity with the Creator. The “wealth” of nature’s beauty never runs out (William Wordsworth, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud") and divine beauty of God’s creation is immutable and perfect ( Gerard Manley Hopkins, "Pied Beauty"). 

Non-believers on the other hand, still because of their spiritual being, may worship nature but with a sense of fascination (non-attributing), appreciation (mere feelings) and perhaps even entitlement (self). Since no one is responsible for what and how things exist, everything is therefore a fixture, without a Creator.

Through the eyes of a Christian, nature reveals Power, Provision and Purpose. “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. ^9a The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. (Gen. 2:8-9a. NIV.)

If nature can speak (and it does communicate), it would say, “Bow to the One who said, “Let there be” and it was so. Honor the One of whom the breadth you borrow, o man. Doeth in reverence the work He in you hath purposed. For stay you must but a while, and go you will one day, to Him a home prepared.”

Works Cited

1. Supplemented Material, William Wordsworth, “I Wandered Lonely  as a Cloud”, page 4. 

2. Supplemented Material, Gerard Manley Hopkins, “Pied Beauty”, page 6. 

Stick-shift mode

I found myself in "stick-shift" mode this week. It all started with a cancelled (last) train. Between being exposed to the dark-cold night, 2 bumpy buses lasting 2+ hours with AC blasting, and more waiting for a ride, the commute took 4 hours. The next day, my back decided to give out leaving me immobilized for hours. So I decided to bust out an old walking stick I had found many years ago!

Compared to bigger problems of others, mine is nothing. A brother-in-Christ will undergo major brain surgery next week, possibly staying in the hospital for months to recover. How about news of the Catastrophic Destruction due to typhoon in the Philippines where thousands are dead?

It's moments like these, and always, we need to turn to God and ask for His mercies. Not that they are absent, but because we don't pray enough, especially when we are spared from troubles. May the Lord Almighty, Sovereign and loving, God of the universe, move humanity closer to Him by the caring, sharing and yes, praying of one another, lifting each other up to Him, who is our Hope, our Light, and our Eternal Savior. Amen.