Archive for March, 2006
Thanks Pat for a timely post (I’ll be getting ready to buy the book!).
“Spiritual theology, using Scripture as text, does not present us with a moral code and tell us, ‘Live up to this”; nor does it set out a system of doctrine and say, “Think like this and you will live well.” The biblical way is to tell a story and in the telling invite: “Live into this – this is what it looks like to be human in this God-made and God-ruled world; this is what is involved in becoming and maturing as a human being.” We do violence to the biblical revelation when we “use” it for what we can get out of it or what we think will provide color and spice to our otherwise bland lives. That always results in a kind of “decorator spirituality” – God as enhancement. Christians are not interested in that; we are after something far bigger. When we submit our lives to what we read in Scripture, we find that we are not being led to see God in our stories but our stories in God’s. God is the larger context and plot in which our stories find themselves.”
~ Eugene Peterson, Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading
From Sacred Space. This is what I need daily.
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This prayer helps us to put ourselves at God’s disposal. St Ignatius describes this ‘Preparatory prayer’ as asking for the grace that all my intentions, actions and operations may be directed purely to the praise and service of the Divine Majesty. (The Spiritual Exercises, no. 46) You might try these words:
Lord, I so wish to prepare well for this time.
I so want to make all of me ready and attentive and available to you.
Please help me to clarify and purify my intentions.
I have so many contradictory desires.
I get preoccupied with things that don’t really matter or last.
I know that if I give you my heart
whatever I do will follow my new heart.
In all that I am today, all that I try to do,
all my encounters, reflections – even the frustrations and failings
and especially in this time of prayer,
in all of this may I place my life in your hands.
Lord, I am yours. Make of me what you will. Amen.
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9MP – What are your hopes?
How will Malaysia move forward? and where is our place in this “movement”? what do we expect as Malaysians? and what is expected of us? One thing for sure, I hope we won’t just be defined by the following (I’m usually better with what I don’t want to be but we need to work harder on what we do want to be *smile* we got to start somewhere.):
ECONOMIC PROFILE
Population: 26.6 million.
Labour force: 10.5 million (1.3 million in agriculture).
Income: US$5,110 (S$8,280) per capita (Singapore, US$27,300).
GDP growth: 2004: 7.1 per cent; 2005: 5.3 per cent; 2006: forecast 6 per cent.
Poverty:
1995: 8.7 (per cent of population).
1997: 6.1.
1999: 7.5.
2002: 5.1.
Broadband: 8 per cent (Singapore, 52 per cent).
Discovering a positive model for responding to unorthodox theology
VERY good stuff here … I’m happy to see myself with “open evangelicalism” on this issue … some gems here:
“… Sometimes, perhaps, a purely defensive reaction is still called for but a much better norm is to assume that there are good and compelling reasons for the case being set out. Those making it may well be wrong, perhaps hopelessly so, but the really critical question is what has happened within Christian “orthodoxy” for them to see it this way? What gap or hole are they exposing? Responding to this question and rising to its challenge is much harder than defensive reaction because it involves being open to there being really crucial things within the Scriptures that we may have missed or neglected. But it can also be the means by which we find these things and are consequently enabled to really grow in our understanding, faith and discipleship.
… The model that suggests itself for evangelicals, therefore, is one of self-critical as well as critical engagement. Rather than assuming that those proposing unorthodox theology are simply misguided, lazy or even plain wicked, a better and more humble approach is to be open to the weaknesses within current “orthodoxy” that they have detected. My increasing opinion is that they will always be on to something. And evangelicalism, at its best, will have the nerve to rise to the challenge of addressing these areas and be prepared to be surprised by the fresh insights thrown up from this engagement. We won’t necessarily (or even usually) endorse the suggested reconstruction but we will be prepared to accept, partly because of our theology of the Body of Christ, that a crucial insight has been raised that we need to engage with. Perhaps this is one of the core values of “Open Evangelicalism”. Abandoning an instinctive and reactionary defensiveness, we will strive to employ a positive, generous and exciting model for responding to unorthodox theology.”
The Formation of Godly Community: Old Testament Hermeneutics in the Presence of the Other
much to chew here …
“It is imperative that the Church move beyond simplistic formulations of the hermeneutical options. Sweeping reductionist claims are, of course, often intended to be accessible, to welcome neophytes into the richness of God’s Word. But such claims do a drastic disservice to all readers of Scripture, and especially to beginners and non-specialists. Reductionist summaries underplay precisely those complex textual dynamics and issues of reader accountability that we need to acknowledge in our own embodied and particular contexts in order to avoid the unwitting deification of our own loyalties, idolatries, and misunderstandings.”
“… Reading in the presence of the Other will radically subordinate foundationalism and reductionism to the passionately embodied claims of difference that fracture and enrich our world. Our theologies may need to be similarly fractured and enriched. Our ecclesiologies may need to suffer in the presence of that which is “Other.” But I believe that we are called by Christ, the living Word of God, to stay present to this suffering and to continue to read together. What a testimony it will give to Christ when we read on together through dissent, through contradictory hermeneutical assumptions, through the pain of responding to readings that destabilize our favorite idolatries and press insistently against our most cherished community boundaries! As Augustine learned centuries ago, the Word of God brings us to our knees. Let us read there together, on our knees before the One whose incarnate Word of love conquers all. For with God, nothing is impossible; and we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.
Propositional Revelation and Scripture, pt. 1 of 2
Propositional Revelation and Scripture, pt. 2 of 2
More things to digest … interesting.
Why churches should offer wireless internet
ok let me see … maybe we can … 
The Christian Theological Research Fellowship Papers
Interesting collection … imagine this The Church as a Community of (Un)Common Grace: Toward a Postmodern Ecclesiology was already written in 1997!!
Top Ten Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Ordained (via Maggi)
Opps I got ordained … 
*grin*
Dissolving the Inerrancy Debate: How Modern Philosophy Shaped the Evangelical View of Scripture
stumbled on this article by accident …
I’m not into “controversies” … I find it draining. And yet I know perhaps I will still need to face them when they come.
so far, I’ve only deleted comments that are “spam” and also one or two where someone else was accused of something I don’t know anything about. Yesterday, I upon the advice of a friend pressed the delete button for a comment which I didn’t really expect.
Now, the thought was brought to me whether this was my way of censorship. I suppose it is. I’m not sure. But when I pressed delete it was mainly because – I’m tired and I don’t have energy for controversies over the internet – it’s just me at this stage at this time. (as for the latest deleted comment, I managed to have a civil email exchange which I think was helpful and cleared some points)
This doesn’t mean that I won’t respectfully engage in rigorous discussion, disagreement or even debate. I think I will when I find that I need to. It’s just that right now … i feel I need to focus my energies elsewhere.
I was struck my this passage during one of the LiFE Groups I visited today, from 1 John 4.20-21.(NLT)
“If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister,[b] that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we have not seen? And God himself has commanded that we must love not only him but our Christian brothers and sisters, too.”
I found it interesting when one person said that the application should extend to those who are not Christians because since we believe in one God then he’s their creator too. I liked that.
Strange that I find that at times it seems maybe easier to love those who are not Christians because somehow the expectations are different. Perhaps the most unkind and arrogant behaviormay actually come from our Christian brothers and sisters – worse is when it’s flavoured with Christian jargon and supposedly a more superior posture. That’s when the above verses are really put to the test. Of course, each persons experience of the “other” who is unlike them is always unique. We are all guilty. We are all works in progress. A long way to go …
On to something more beyond …
apparently there’s lots going on here Vox Populi: Loh Seng Kok vs Umno Youth. These are much bigger issues that my petty ones
again and again I find myself “drawn” into deeper reflection on issues that maybe just floating in my consciousness but now requiring immediate attention because face to face encounters make a big big difference. The urgency is greater.
this is one of the first nights I’ve come home to find everyone already asleep. They must be tired.
wow! this month a lot has been spent on the little green car I’m driving 
OUCH!
being religious and looking religious or even sounding religious is not the same with Christ-likeness. This reality is beginning to sink in deeper.
Dwelling on the whole book of Hebrews has been good the last two days. Found this Our Man In Heaven: An exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews helpful. I’m beginning to get a better understanding of Jesus as our High Priest and how that relates to us.
The last two weeks, this one whole chunk reading of an epistle has been delightful exegetically & theologically and very spiritually uplifting.
Back to journalling a bit more.
Two appointments with two men were fruitful yesterday.
and now for NEO.
You : Hi Jesus, it’s me.
Jesus : Hello, how nice to see you again! You seem a bit down…
You : Well, I have a problem, Lord.
Jesus : Yes I know but maybe you’d like to tell me…
You : Well, it’s like this. There’s so many things I want to do for You but I just don’t know what to do or where to start. I read today that You are always working and so is theFather. How did you know what to do?
Jesus : Well, as the Son I can do nothing by Myself, I only do what I see my Father doing. Because He loves me, He shows me what He does.
You : I know You love me but I still don’t know what I should be doing…. Is it ever possible to know?
Jesus : Absolutely! Remember the time when as a child you used to follow what your mother did?
You : Yes, yes… it’s coming back to me now. I,…I used to sit with her and do the same things she did! If she did sewing, I would sew too. If she did some gardening, I’ll try my hand at gardening too! It was so much fun!
Jesus : How did your mother feel when you followed her in her work?
You : It certainly brought a smile to her face. Whenever I did a mistake, she’d show me the right way of doing it.
Jesus : Well, there you have it. Spend more time with me and I will show You what’s on My heart. And when you do them, you’ll certainly bring a smile to My Father’s face.
You : I think I’ve got it… Thank You Lord, I love you.
Jesus : I love you too, My precious one!
Reflection:
“Lord, bring me close to You till the noise of this world fades and Your heart beat can be heard”
(Meditation by Rhema)
John 5:1-16
In today’s reading, we read about an invalid man who was lying down near the pool of Bethesda, known for it’s healing powers when an angel of the Lord would come down to stir up its waters from time to time. The first person to enter the pool when the waters are stirred will be healed. The man reasons with Jesus that he’s unable to get healed because either there’s no one to help him into the pool or someone else always gets ahead of him. I do think that he gave up trying after some time and that’s why he had been in that paralyzed condition for 38 years.
The good news about this passage is this: where we fail and come to the end of ourselves, Jesus is present to revive us. Isn’t it wonderful to know that where we can’t, Jesus can! In fact, in the journey of faith there are moments when we have to come to the end of ourselves before we begin to experience God’s unfailing love. Often times we equate God’s work with our own efforts. When we get discouraged and lose heart, we feel that God has abandoned us and there is no more hope for us. We fail to see that God is much bigger than all our thoughts and emotions. Acknowledging He is God means recognizing His limitless power and love.
Reflection:
“There is no problem too big God cannot solve it; There is no mountain too tall He cannot move it,
There is no storm too dark God cannot calm it; There is no sorrow too deep He cannot soothe it.
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders, I know my brother that He will carry you”
(Meditation by Rhema)
Click here and have a conversation with iGod *grin*. I found it an interesting experience with a sense of humor
Here’s a sample of our conversation:
Me:
Hello
God:
Hello, my child. What is your name?
Me:
Sivin
God:
How are you, Sivin.
Me:
Do you like curry?
God:
What is not to like about it?
Me:
Is the Bible inerrant?
God:
The Bible is a great source of wisdom, but probably not complete by itself.
Me:
What do you mean?
God:
Sivin, I mean exactly what I said.
Me:
ok
God:
Mmm.
Me:
What do you think of Emergent?
(The whole thing got stuck! or hanged! hehehe)
Here’s some “inspiration” for the John 5:1-8 Text reading in Sacred Space, I think it’s more of raising questions we need to hear than being very “motivating” – more of helping us to “move on”.
“What a strange question Jesus asked: Do you want to be made well? Yet for those who have been sick for years, a cure is a jolting change in their lives, from dependence and care to managing for themselves. Do I really want to be healed of all the physical and spiritual ailments I complain of? Am I ready for a change in my life?”
The story that we read about in the passage never ceases to amaze me. We read about the return of Jesus to Cana in Galilee after staying two days in Samaria. A royal official had heard that Jesus was in town and so came looking for Jesus to beg him to heal his son who was near death. (Now remember, just sometime back the Galileans had witnessed the first miracle of Jesus at a wedding in Cana, where Jesus had turned water into the choicest of wines after the wine being served for guests had run out.) And so in the end we read that the official’s son does get healed. What is really amazing about this story is found in verse 50b. (The man took Jesus at his word and departed.)
Growing up as a kid, I realized that I had always believed what my mom said. I had no reason to doubt her. Weren’t you the same when you were a kid? Children are trusting and tend to take what most adults say as the gospel truth. They take them at their word. However as we reach adolescence, we are no longer innocent and ‘gullible’. We use logic and exercise our own belief systems to discern if something is the truth. Not that it’s entirely bad but unfortunately, this form of discerning is also applied when we relate to God. We can’t seem to take God at His word. If He says He loves us, we have our doubts. We have a problem in accepting what God is saying. No wonder Jesus says in Matthew 18:3, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Action:
1. What are some areas in your life where you are unable to take God at His word?
2. Ask God to show you a situation where you can take Him at His Word and take steps of faith.
(Meditation By Rhema Rao)
The next couple of meditations is written by Rhema who’s been traveling Malaysia serving the youth alongside Chris Rao (who happens to be her husband!) I was impressed by the youth devotions I saw her do some years ago so I asked her last minute to join the Lent meditations: Nails and Thorns (pdf) project! ~ Sivin
John 3:14-21
How many of you watch the television serial, ‘Lost’? For those of you who are uninitiated, it’s about a group of people who attempt to survive in a remote island that is beset with strange mysterious happenings after their plane they were traveling in crashed. I guess what attracts millions of viewers to ‘Lost’ is seeing the human spirit’s attempt to make the best out of what seems to be a hopeless situation. As I pondered about the show, I guess their flight was doomed in the first place. It’s purpose was set for death and destruction.
Most Christians if not all know John 3:16 by heart. It is an important verse, no qualms about that, for it is the very basis of our faith. However, if they were to be asked about the immediate verses following that, I doubt that many will know. I used to think that our conversion to Christ was akin to our coming to a crossroad where we either choose the narrow road that leads to life or the wide road that leads to destruction. However, verse 18 tells me otherwise. We were all on the wide road that led to destruction and God in His love for the world sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from perishing and placed us instead on the narrow road that leads to life. In our efforts to share the gospel, may we be reminded the same. It is not a two option alternative that we give people. On the contrary, we are throwing the ‘life line’ of Jesus to people who are already sinking!
Action:
1. Begin to thank God for the people who were in some way responsible for throwing the ‘life line’ of Jesus to you when you were ’sinking’ in the raging waters of sin.
2. Who are some of the people that God is placing in Your heart today that need the ‘life line’ of Jesus