Lightness of being#46 Color matters ( 28 June 2014)
Dear...
This Saturday morning, it's about pink or white. Pink you take a walk to Hong Lim Park to show your support for the proponents of alternative lifestyle, white you wear on your person to make a stand for the traditional family nuclei.
Color is a powerful symbolic differentiator.
The Thais have their red vs yellow grouping depending upon political affiliation. Apartheid South Africa had its clear black and white race demarcation, though they did grant the then economically vibrant yellow Japanese honorary white status. The self righteous Americans had its clear color code( even in public transport) up to the civil rights movement of Martin Luther King, who amongst others fought for the discriminated blacks. And Australia was a Whites only country as far as immigration was concerned not too many years ago. And just to round off, the Christian Crusaders in their desire to stand up for their misguided stand for Christendom, were no less if not more cruel in their campaigns to wipe out the green hordes in the Middle East.
In truth, man being imperfect, we are all shades of grey!!
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27
I know the omnipresent God. Who am I to question His right to only create two categories of the human race. But in the "liberal" West, it is increasingly at great personal risk to adhere to this God ordained view. Quite a paradox that Western society ostensibly prided themselves on individuality, yet increasingly institutionalize recrimination against anyone who even dares to hold a view different from that of the same sex proponents(see article on ex Mozilla boss), which are in truth, just one segment albeit an overtly aggressive and organized segment of a pluralistic society.
( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26868536)
The term "discrimination," has now been equated to "not agreeing," and is being steadily morphed by its vocal and determined proponents to "not in support of."
Corporate America is on the forefront of discriminating( on the pretext of equal rights ) against anyone who holds a different perspective on what is a lifestyle that is different from their personal belief system.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32
As a Christian, I cannot displease God, just to please man. But not agreeing does not mean I cannot show agape love to a fellow child(regardless of sexual orientation) of God.
We can pray for a realignment of their hearts, but more importantly, we must let God transform us, to let the truth of God's love be lived out upon our lives.
It's not how they live, but how we live out our faith.
Is not giving in to the tantrums of a child an act of child abuse? Every child needs loving discipline as part of his or her molding process.
But again, the very same liberals have removed the cane that is needed to correct a wayward child, yet happily letting gun toting youths run rampage terrorizing the community.
Is putting a serial molester in prison an impingement of his or her claimed inborn natural propensity to sodomise innocent victims? It was clearly not in the old value system of traditional society, but it is if one was to draw from the line of arguments of the LGBT proponents.
Or on seemingly mundane issues of unisex toilets in King's College London, simply because the sexually undecided feels that they are entitled to use both.
Truth is, what about those of us who are not inclined to share facilities with the opposite sex, not just for decorum but practical hygiene issues which places the fairer sex at a disadvantage?
and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
A lie becomes a truth when its proponent relentlessly propagate it. Today, the silent or rather self focussed majority is allowing themselves to be increasingly entrapped by the very determined and organized proponents of not just an alternative lifestyle, but an alternative world. A world that is more in line with that envisaged by the androgynous fallen angel, the devil.
Is this a fair statement? It is a personal view. Do I have to seek asylum in Russia to be able to express these personal thoughts to ensure that I do not get lynched by the marauding packs of same sex vigilantes?
Life is a paradox. In the supposedly liberal West, where free speech and individual rights are sacrosanct, it is increasingly obvious that this applies only to the once discriminated closet inhabitants. Like this famous quote from George Orwell's Animal Farm,
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
Indeed, the world is increasingly turning into a real jungle as the end of times intensifies. Should we be like the contentious denizens as many are apt to or should we not be as God commands all who love Him to speak the truth in all boldness but always with love.
Colors will no longer cloud our hearts nor that of our detractors when the light of Christ illuminates in all clarity through us the willing and purified lamp.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 4:25
The Apostle Stephen was stoned to death, and so were many of his fellow Apostles subjected to the wrath of the godless mobs. The days are upon us again when the same anti Christs are rising. The difference was that it used to be in the godless Communist regimes post World War 2. Today, it is in the supposedly free world of the West.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Romans 1:24
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections:for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Romans 1:26-27
God blesses
Eng Hieang
28 June 2014
An afterthought - The world according to Google
Does the share price of Google justifies its stratospheric levels?
Yes if one were to measure it by the increasing dominance Google has upon cyberspace, and the wider world. The latter being an increasing reality as real life and virtual life are intertwined in a manner that makes the co enjoined Siamese twin Eng and Chang look like two distinct entity.
Google wants to make all our life easy. There is a deliberate shift of the eco system to the cloud, where in lieu of our surrendering personal control over our personal database, Big Brother Google will take care of the bolts and nuts. Big Brother will know and be able to control all your personal data.
Is it right and sensible to entrust everything to Google or for that matter, other competing Mother Ships like Amazon and Microsoft?
The American tech giants are not just killing off smaller potential competitors by buying them up, but are at the forefront of pushing their belief system, which is very much a worldly approach in the guise of equal rights.
Welcome to the new 'Church of Mammon.'
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Monday, June 16, 2014
Lightness of being#45 Beneath the facade (1 June 2014)
Lightness of being #46 Beneath the facade (1 June 2014)
Dear....
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 3:16
And indeed every Word of God is prescient and precise for the Word is God.
If so, is the nonchalance that is prevalent in a world that in all reality should be drowning from her excessive borrowing, is it not an act of defiance of the warning from our Lord.
The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
Proverbs 22:7
This morning, our good Lord impressed upon my heart, the need to remind all in Singapore, that in the midst of our material prosperity, that beneath the facade are structural faults that can easily keel over the upright ship of our own making.
This evening, I came across a CNBC article ( http://www.cnbc.com/id/101603154 ) which had an interesting observation.
In all economic crisis, the match that truly turn it into a true crisis is the preponderance of excessive debt.
And like the dried leaves in the Australian bush, the world is awashed in easy credit, and we are just waiting for the spark to light the match or in debt speak, rising interest rates
An incremental pop up in interest rates, that is likely. But a significant increase in interest rates, that is not plausible, for the biggest bubble blower of the world, the US Federal Reserve and her sidekicks in the developed world will not dare to stop pumping monetary oxygen into an endemic patient that is the Western economy. But is the world right in this thinking?
Man plans, but it is God Who directs. And through history, one will observe that all major crisis happens when the world choose to be oblivious to the obvious, leaving us caught with one's pants down.
God is a faithful God. He wants to save us from ourselves. He speaks to us all, but only the faithful will sense and obey His prompting.
God impressed upon my heart to deliver this warning on debt.
I have no idea as to when this debt bomb will blow up in one's face.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:and he will shew you things to come.
John 16:13
But like the return of Christ, most don't heed the call to be made ready for His return, because they figured they have tomorrow to do it.
It is possible that Christ might not return tomorrow.
But question is, your last breath might depart from you this next second , much as Christ has not returned.
Interest rate might not rise much tomorrow. But just imagine, if a geopolitical crisis develops in our backyard, and the perception of fortress Singapore as a safe haven crumbles overnight, your 60th storey apartment will still retain its height, and so will your mountain of debt, but the value of your prized asset will likely come down quite a few peg.
SARS was a reminder that the impossible is possible with God.
God will transfer His blessings from the disobedient to the faithful as end times intensifies. To give is to receive.
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones:to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
Daniel 4:17
God blesses
Eng Hieang
1 June 2014
An afterthought - Strange bedfellows (16 June 2014)
It's been a good two weeks since I first felt led to pen this deep impression our Lord left upon my heart. Events since then in Iraq has brought some strange realignments of relationships. The Great Satan America is chatting up the Iranians, head honcho for the Shiites, while the "terrorists" overrunning Iraq is in all probabilities getting support if not sympathies from their Sunni brethren.
Will the cauldron boil over and lead to a $200/barrel oil? That will put to rest the endemic recovery in the Western World, and put the spotlight on the hugh debt, leading to a loss of confidence and a significant rise in interest rates.
Till Christ returns, cycles will repeat itself, but as End Times intensifies, the next shaking will getting more intense, just as the evil in men deepens.
Will you turn to God now?
Dear....
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 3:16
And indeed every Word of God is prescient and precise for the Word is God.
If so, is the nonchalance that is prevalent in a world that in all reality should be drowning from her excessive borrowing, is it not an act of defiance of the warning from our Lord.
The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
Proverbs 22:7
This morning, our good Lord impressed upon my heart, the need to remind all in Singapore, that in the midst of our material prosperity, that beneath the facade are structural faults that can easily keel over the upright ship of our own making.
This evening, I came across a CNBC article ( http://www.cnbc.com/id/101603154 ) which had an interesting observation.
In all economic crisis, the match that truly turn it into a true crisis is the preponderance of excessive debt.
And like the dried leaves in the Australian bush, the world is awashed in easy credit, and we are just waiting for the spark to light the match or in debt speak, rising interest rates
An incremental pop up in interest rates, that is likely. But a significant increase in interest rates, that is not plausible, for the biggest bubble blower of the world, the US Federal Reserve and her sidekicks in the developed world will not dare to stop pumping monetary oxygen into an endemic patient that is the Western economy. But is the world right in this thinking?
Man plans, but it is God Who directs. And through history, one will observe that all major crisis happens when the world choose to be oblivious to the obvious, leaving us caught with one's pants down.
God is a faithful God. He wants to save us from ourselves. He speaks to us all, but only the faithful will sense and obey His prompting.
God impressed upon my heart to deliver this warning on debt.
I have no idea as to when this debt bomb will blow up in one's face.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:and he will shew you things to come.
John 16:13
But like the return of Christ, most don't heed the call to be made ready for His return, because they figured they have tomorrow to do it.
It is possible that Christ might not return tomorrow.
But question is, your last breath might depart from you this next second , much as Christ has not returned.
Interest rate might not rise much tomorrow. But just imagine, if a geopolitical crisis develops in our backyard, and the perception of fortress Singapore as a safe haven crumbles overnight, your 60th storey apartment will still retain its height, and so will your mountain of debt, but the value of your prized asset will likely come down quite a few peg.
SARS was a reminder that the impossible is possible with God.
God will transfer His blessings from the disobedient to the faithful as end times intensifies. To give is to receive.
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones:to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
Daniel 4:17
God blesses
Eng Hieang
1 June 2014
An afterthought - Strange bedfellows (16 June 2014)
It's been a good two weeks since I first felt led to pen this deep impression our Lord left upon my heart. Events since then in Iraq has brought some strange realignments of relationships. The Great Satan America is chatting up the Iranians, head honcho for the Shiites, while the "terrorists" overrunning Iraq is in all probabilities getting support if not sympathies from their Sunni brethren.
Will the cauldron boil over and lead to a $200/barrel oil? That will put to rest the endemic recovery in the Western World, and put the spotlight on the hugh debt, leading to a loss of confidence and a significant rise in interest rates.
Till Christ returns, cycles will repeat itself, but as End Times intensifies, the next shaking will getting more intense, just as the evil in men deepens.
Will you turn to God now?
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Lightness of being #44 Walking on water (7 June 2014)
Lightness of being #44 Walking on water ( 7June 2014 )
Dear....
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
1 Chronicle 21:1
God is faithful. He provides. But why do I often do a stocktake of His provisions just to reassure myself? Like King David, do I need to be rebuked by our Lord to realize and repent of my folly? It is God our Provider Who matters, and not His provisions.
It is good to be sick. Not mentally but rather physically. For it is in the midst of our bodily discomfort and weakened constitution, one's spirit tend to be by default stilled, and if we are willing, a rare opportunity to take time with our Lord during this period of convalescence.
And much as I am temporarily half deaf, from the air pressure lingering in my blocked nose, the enforced two days medical leave, from a weakened constitution from partaking albeit from a mere street away in the recent pre coup Bangkok protests, and followup two weeks later with a visit to the riot torn industrial site in Ho Chi Minh City, was a God given respite.
I am the vine, ye are the branches:He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:5
And I want to use this God granted down time to seek Him, to wait upon Him, to realign my will to His, and I know God will imbue in me the peace and joy, and empowerment to continue this present phase of my journey of faith, that He first called me to in Nov 2011.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Matthew 14:29-30
I walked on water every day. Unlike many, I am well aware of the omnipresent God. But like many, I find it difficult to ignore the challenging elements in my midst, and sadly I often take my eyes off Christ. But He has never removed His hands from the sinking me.
Tomorrow? What should I be doing and what do I hope to be?
But it is today that God wants us to focus our all on.
What is the will of God for me now and how can I honor Him in my response?
The imperfect man looks for vestiges of certainty. The man of faith look to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. The man of faith is certain of what God has spoken to him on, much as the circumstances does not seem to concur.
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 8:3
Indeed, it is in the harsh climes of the desert, or the overwhelming storms of life that we begin to be cognizance of our limitations. It is also in the midst of our inadequacies that our hunger for the Word of God , for God Himself, takes on a decided more determined tone. And God much as He might not take us out of our circumstances, will walk with us and sustain us throughout.
And His Word not just sates us spiritually, but enables us to translate that into life giving sustenance, even as He transforms our very being
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it:cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Genesis 3:17
Adam, from the moment he ate the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge seek to be independent from God. And the yoke of sin continues to weigh on us all. But it need not be for God has forgiven us through the sacrifice of our lord Jesus Christ.
It is better to trust in the Lord
than to put confidence in man.
Psalms 118:8
God dependence. God must increase, and we decrease. This must now define our every living moment. It is indeed contrary to the ways of the world where most strived and strife to be masters of their own destiny, bringing much grief and angst upon themselves and others. Only to realize that it is fleeting and unfulfilling.
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;
for in thee do I trust:
cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;
for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Psalms 143:8
God blesses
Eng Hieang
7 June 2014
An afterthought - Efficacy of the Word of God
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:7
Can we truly afford to take time with God when our circumstances is screaming at us for a response? Are followers of Christ evading the issues of life by hiding behind the literal "skirt" of God? The Bible says faith pleases God, but will it satisfy our needs?
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.
Scripture tells us that faith comes from hearing God. And hearing comes from the Word of God.
God indeed often speaks to us who seek Him through His Word. And He will affirm His call to us in ways that leave no doubt as to His will.
So in obedience we respond. But oft then not, matters don't seem to work out the way we thought it would. Should one hold on stubbornly to God's call in this trial of faith, or would it not be easier to just jump ship and forget about the "absent" God Who seems to have left us in the lurch?
And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water:and they ceased, and there was a calm.
Luke 8:24
'And he said unto them, Where is your faith? ....'
Luke 8:25
God's command to all is simple. Always to His presence and His Spirit will
- align our perception of issues to His perspective, for is not He Sovereign?
- cleanse our cluttered hearts to be ready to receive the fullness of His Spirit
- empower us to move boldly, yet humbly in victory
In all circumstances, God will always show us the wonders of His ways, that none can deny His glory and grace. This happens only when we let go and let Him every moment of our life. Letting go is not a mere mouthing of the words, but a willingness to be like Christ, to think of the interest of our neighbors and to love them in action.
We can put aside our needs, and serve others because we know God will provide, and He will.
The Bible tells us that Jesus came to give us life abundantly and to give us a purpose, a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11 and John 10:10). It also says that Satan came to steal, kill and destroy our lives (John 10:10)
这一生最美的祝福就是能认识主耶稣
Do watch this video titled "The faith factor"
http://youtu.be/nmbaE8A84BM
Dear....
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
1 Chronicle 21:1
God is faithful. He provides. But why do I often do a stocktake of His provisions just to reassure myself? Like King David, do I need to be rebuked by our Lord to realize and repent of my folly? It is God our Provider Who matters, and not His provisions.
It is good to be sick. Not mentally but rather physically. For it is in the midst of our bodily discomfort and weakened constitution, one's spirit tend to be by default stilled, and if we are willing, a rare opportunity to take time with our Lord during this period of convalescence.
And much as I am temporarily half deaf, from the air pressure lingering in my blocked nose, the enforced two days medical leave, from a weakened constitution from partaking albeit from a mere street away in the recent pre coup Bangkok protests, and followup two weeks later with a visit to the riot torn industrial site in Ho Chi Minh City, was a God given respite.
I am the vine, ye are the branches:He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:5
And I want to use this God granted down time to seek Him, to wait upon Him, to realign my will to His, and I know God will imbue in me the peace and joy, and empowerment to continue this present phase of my journey of faith, that He first called me to in Nov 2011.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Matthew 14:29-30
I walked on water every day. Unlike many, I am well aware of the omnipresent God. But like many, I find it difficult to ignore the challenging elements in my midst, and sadly I often take my eyes off Christ. But He has never removed His hands from the sinking me.
Tomorrow? What should I be doing and what do I hope to be?
But it is today that God wants us to focus our all on.
What is the will of God for me now and how can I honor Him in my response?
The imperfect man looks for vestiges of certainty. The man of faith look to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. The man of faith is certain of what God has spoken to him on, much as the circumstances does not seem to concur.
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 8:3
Indeed, it is in the harsh climes of the desert, or the overwhelming storms of life that we begin to be cognizance of our limitations. It is also in the midst of our inadequacies that our hunger for the Word of God , for God Himself, takes on a decided more determined tone. And God much as He might not take us out of our circumstances, will walk with us and sustain us throughout.
And His Word not just sates us spiritually, but enables us to translate that into life giving sustenance, even as He transforms our very being
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it:cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Genesis 3:17
Adam, from the moment he ate the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge seek to be independent from God. And the yoke of sin continues to weigh on us all. But it need not be for God has forgiven us through the sacrifice of our lord Jesus Christ.
It is better to trust in the Lord
than to put confidence in man.
Psalms 118:8
God dependence. God must increase, and we decrease. This must now define our every living moment. It is indeed contrary to the ways of the world where most strived and strife to be masters of their own destiny, bringing much grief and angst upon themselves and others. Only to realize that it is fleeting and unfulfilling.
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;
for in thee do I trust:
cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;
for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Psalms 143:8
God blesses
Eng Hieang
7 June 2014
An afterthought - Efficacy of the Word of God
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:7
Can we truly afford to take time with God when our circumstances is screaming at us for a response? Are followers of Christ evading the issues of life by hiding behind the literal "skirt" of God? The Bible says faith pleases God, but will it satisfy our needs?
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.
Scripture tells us that faith comes from hearing God. And hearing comes from the Word of God.
God indeed often speaks to us who seek Him through His Word. And He will affirm His call to us in ways that leave no doubt as to His will.
So in obedience we respond. But oft then not, matters don't seem to work out the way we thought it would. Should one hold on stubbornly to God's call in this trial of faith, or would it not be easier to just jump ship and forget about the "absent" God Who seems to have left us in the lurch?
And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water:and they ceased, and there was a calm.
Luke 8:24
'And he said unto them, Where is your faith? ....'
Luke 8:25
God's command to all is simple. Always to His presence and His Spirit will
- align our perception of issues to His perspective, for is not He Sovereign?
- cleanse our cluttered hearts to be ready to receive the fullness of His Spirit
- empower us to move boldly, yet humbly in victory
In all circumstances, God will always show us the wonders of His ways, that none can deny His glory and grace. This happens only when we let go and let Him every moment of our life. Letting go is not a mere mouthing of the words, but a willingness to be like Christ, to think of the interest of our neighbors and to love them in action.
We can put aside our needs, and serve others because we know God will provide, and He will.
The Bible tells us that Jesus came to give us life abundantly and to give us a purpose, a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11 and John 10:10). It also says that Satan came to steal, kill and destroy our lives (John 10:10)
这一生最美的祝福就是能认识主耶稣
Do watch this video titled "The faith factor"
http://youtu.be/nmbaE8A84BM
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