Somehow, when I was younger, sin didn't seem quite so frightening as I see it now. OK. Wait, let's see. I dimly recall in the far past, I was absolutely terrified of sin, cos of what the bible said. So when I saw in a map an area called the 'Desert of Sin', I thought that was the most evil place on earth or something. (Actually, I think it stands for the Desert of Sinai, if I'm not wrong)
So anyway, that was it. But after a while, sin didn't seem quite so scary. I mean, I did tell the occasional lie, and I did have some rather dark and nasty thoughts, but overall, it didn't seem so powerful. I felt that I could just walk away whenever I wanted to. And I sort of lost that fear of sin that I used to have. I mean, we have victory through Christ our Lord, but that doesn't mean we should stop being wary of what the devil can do.
And I guess it took a really hooking kind of sin that smashed me back into reality. For different people, certain sins are easier to let go than others. And unfortunately for me, I managed to discover some of the sins that I have trouble letting go of. This really brings to mind a verse:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." - Epehesians 6:12
Physical enemies are going to be the least of our worries as Christians. I mean, it's relatively easier to have to fight a physical opponent. Even though the schmuck may be bigger, stronger, faster etc. than you, at least you know how to hit him. With intangible enemies, it's a whole different ball game. And when the sin is hooked in you, it becomes a whole lot harder to struggle against it.
Sin totally embodies the Chinese 4-word chen2 yu3 "de2 cun4 jing4 chi3". Which essentially means that if you give it an inch, it'll take a yard. See 1 Peter 5:8. one show of weakness, and it'll hammer you good. There's no way you can escape from it if you keep on giving in to your desires. But to say no to them, now that is damned hard. And I should know. I've had to fight. And I must admit, more often than not, my "fight" gives the term "push back" a bad name. Yeah, my win-loss percentage would probably be worst than that of the Toronto Raptors this season.
How am I to extraciate myself out of this mess? Answer is as simple as it is cliched.
Pray.
Oh yes, I know it's hard. But that's the only way out of the mire of sin and back onto the straight and narrow. And that means I'll need to put up one heck of a fight more if I wish to remain true to the faith. I don't want to have "the sinful mind" in Romans 8:7, since that would make us emenies with God, as discussed on Thursday cell.
See 1 Corinthians 10:13. "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." That shows that there's always a way out somewhere. It's whether we want to take it or not. We are only prisoners of our own sins as long as we want to remain prisoners.
And finally, one of my favourtie comforting phrases: Matthew 28:20b. He's always with us.
Alright. Happy Chinese New Year everyone.
Cheerio
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Lacessere
AUGH!!!!!
English or History?!
History or English?!
Interest or Marketability?!
AUGH!!!!!
On a brighter note, I got my tutorial slots. All quite neatly set up. Thanks be to God. So I got 1 free day (Wed) and 1 rather tiring day (Tues), but overall, it's pretty cool. haha...
Went for half an FT today. Wanted to stay for the other half as well, but duty called, and I had to go to Bishan for BB meeting...
But English or History?!
I did survive my first tough day. Like, today. OK. So it was yesterday. Gimme a break. And I gave JS her budgie thingummy. She almost flipped. hahaha...
History or English?!
AUGH!!!!!
Cheerio
English or History?!
History or English?!
Interest or Marketability?!
AUGH!!!!!
On a brighter note, I got my tutorial slots. All quite neatly set up. Thanks be to God. So I got 1 free day (Wed) and 1 rather tiring day (Tues), but overall, it's pretty cool. haha...
Went for half an FT today. Wanted to stay for the other half as well, but duty called, and I had to go to Bishan for BB meeting...
But English or History?!
I did survive my first tough day. Like, today. OK. So it was yesterday. Gimme a break. And I gave JS her budgie thingummy. She almost flipped. hahaha...
History or English?!
AUGH!!!!!
Cheerio
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Optio
Ah... first of the new year... been awhile... haha... I've really been one heck of a lazy bum...
What have I been up to again? Erm... well, nothing much really. Prior to the new year, we went over to E's place one Saturday evening cos he had just been released from the evil clutches of SoL in Jurong Camp. So Me and A and R and J went over and ate pizza and listened to Click Five and watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
On New Year's Day, had ArkRoyal, plus our alumni over for dinner. Some gaming followed, but quite alot of them were pretty zoned out. So in the end, there was only J. And then F came over cos brother invited. And we played abit. But brother zoned out real quick, and I soon followed. According to F and J, when they asked me questions, I responded in gibberish. hahaha...
The following week, I played badminton once with C, R and E. And also floorball twice. And I got a muscle ache.
I've bidded for and gotten the modules of my choice, all thanks to God who's been exceedingly gracious to me.
I started school just last Monday. Then went to SML cafe for dinner and meets with A and PJ and Fr. Tuesday was the PRC afterglow, pretty ok, just that there was quite a bit of rain. And then I had to bring S over to SML cos she said she couldn't find it. haha. But it's cool, since she does know Fr and WX.
Wed I went to watch Narnia. With MS and Ry and E and Mt. I tell you, that is one of the best movies I've ever seen. Bleah to the critics who said it couldnt' compare with LOTR. It's different you schmucks. And it also manages to join the ranks of movies that almost made me cry, along with Bambi (when his mother was killed by the hunters lah) and the Last Samurai. I mean, when the evil creatures were mocking Aslan, he could have just like killed every one of them, but he was focused on the mission. And in case you're really one of those super dense people, here's the connection. Aslan = Christ. Like died for us. You know, John 3:16.
Thursday was VCF. Intro. There's the new Thursday cell under Ad. It's unofficial name is Kabage. Not sure if it's gonna become official. And had my second lesson on Friday. And so far, both are pretty interesting, so I guess it's a good bid heh. Tutorial balloting starts today, but I haven't done anything about it. Yet. haha....
So first choice for today: What tutorial slots shall I go for?
After Friday's lunch, went back to SAS to help out the BB recruitment drive with SC. Set up the Flying Fox. And heard that the whole thing was pretty good overall. Then went over to D's place for dinner cos he wanted to have friends and stuff... Then today, met DT and he gave me and SC this challenge: are you seeing BB as long term?
Choice number two: Will I see BB long term?
Then there's the over-riding choice of all: Should I major in English language, or History?
ARGH!!!!!!!!
But God has really been good to me. I'm not zapped into a cinder. I've made sone new friends. And during the PRC stuff, I actually managed to make myself understood, and I could understand the PRC scholars. How cool is that? Only God could have done that. Then there's my modules, as mentioned earlier. And my JMT fits neatly after the end of my exams. So the opportunity to go is open again. And I can feel He's with me. Cos I've got my problems, but lately, I can feel He's been helping me to shoulder them. He's not taken it away, that's for sure. But just that He's helping me. And strangely enough, I've actually been blessed by two "non-religious" things: Narnia, and a book by Stephen Lawhead called Byzantium. The book itself is a little far-fetched, but there's one part, near the end, spoken by this Viking convert called Gunnar:
"Well, I was thinking....... I am going to die (in relation to a near-death experience) today, but Jesus also died, so He knows how it is with me. And I was thinking, would He know me when I come to Him? Yes! ......He will wade into the sea and pull my boat onto the sand and welcome me as His wayfaring brother. Why will He do this? Because He has suffered, and He knows..."
Ah... God is good.
Cheerio
What have I been up to again? Erm... well, nothing much really. Prior to the new year, we went over to E's place one Saturday evening cos he had just been released from the evil clutches of SoL in Jurong Camp. So Me and A and R and J went over and ate pizza and listened to Click Five and watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
On New Year's Day, had ArkRoyal, plus our alumni over for dinner. Some gaming followed, but quite alot of them were pretty zoned out. So in the end, there was only J. And then F came over cos brother invited. And we played abit. But brother zoned out real quick, and I soon followed. According to F and J, when they asked me questions, I responded in gibberish. hahaha...
The following week, I played badminton once with C, R and E. And also floorball twice. And I got a muscle ache.
I've bidded for and gotten the modules of my choice, all thanks to God who's been exceedingly gracious to me.
I started school just last Monday. Then went to SML cafe for dinner and meets with A and PJ and Fr. Tuesday was the PRC afterglow, pretty ok, just that there was quite a bit of rain. And then I had to bring S over to SML cos she said she couldn't find it. haha. But it's cool, since she does know Fr and WX.
Wed I went to watch Narnia. With MS and Ry and E and Mt. I tell you, that is one of the best movies I've ever seen. Bleah to the critics who said it couldnt' compare with LOTR. It's different you schmucks. And it also manages to join the ranks of movies that almost made me cry, along with Bambi (when his mother was killed by the hunters lah) and the Last Samurai. I mean, when the evil creatures were mocking Aslan, he could have just like killed every one of them, but he was focused on the mission. And in case you're really one of those super dense people, here's the connection. Aslan = Christ. Like died for us. You know, John 3:16.
Thursday was VCF. Intro. There's the new Thursday cell under Ad. It's unofficial name is Kabage. Not sure if it's gonna become official. And had my second lesson on Friday. And so far, both are pretty interesting, so I guess it's a good bid heh. Tutorial balloting starts today, but I haven't done anything about it. Yet. haha....
So first choice for today: What tutorial slots shall I go for?
After Friday's lunch, went back to SAS to help out the BB recruitment drive with SC. Set up the Flying Fox. And heard that the whole thing was pretty good overall. Then went over to D's place for dinner cos he wanted to have friends and stuff... Then today, met DT and he gave me and SC this challenge: are you seeing BB as long term?
Choice number two: Will I see BB long term?
Then there's the over-riding choice of all: Should I major in English language, or History?
ARGH!!!!!!!!
But God has really been good to me. I'm not zapped into a cinder. I've made sone new friends. And during the PRC stuff, I actually managed to make myself understood, and I could understand the PRC scholars. How cool is that? Only God could have done that. Then there's my modules, as mentioned earlier. And my JMT fits neatly after the end of my exams. So the opportunity to go is open again. And I can feel He's with me. Cos I've got my problems, but lately, I can feel He's been helping me to shoulder them. He's not taken it away, that's for sure. But just that He's helping me. And strangely enough, I've actually been blessed by two "non-religious" things: Narnia, and a book by Stephen Lawhead called Byzantium. The book itself is a little far-fetched, but there's one part, near the end, spoken by this Viking convert called Gunnar:
"Well, I was thinking....... I am going to die (in relation to a near-death experience) today, but Jesus also died, so He knows how it is with me. And I was thinking, would He know me when I come to Him? Yes! ......He will wade into the sea and pull my boat onto the sand and welcome me as His wayfaring brother. Why will He do this? Because He has suffered, and He knows..."
Ah... God is good.
Cheerio
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)