to lose myself in His embrace
at last, behold His glory
Discipleship Group (DG) in Campus Crusade was to me, an apprehensive decision initially. Discipleship material seemed all too familiar, maybe even passe. But Session 2 today shamed me though. Christianity is always progressive, and my complacency almost paid the price of an invaluable truth - the truth or confession and apology.
Prior to this, I established what an apology was:
1. Its not saying sorry, it's feeling sorry.
2. Its not explaining your actions, its admitting your mistake.
3. When you explain yourself, you're not asking for an apology, you're asking for an understanding.
Then came Bro. L.T Jeyachandran (Ravi Zacharias International Ministry) who, on his first lecture on Apologetics in Tung Ling, asked what an "Apology" was. While I was about to put forth my $2 worth, he revealed that "Apologia" in Greek meant "Defence" - where one explains his action. That was exactly the definition I avoided, but I remained silent.
Anyway, that was about 8 months ago? So today I found my answers during DG Session today.
1 John 1:9
"If we apologize for our sins, He is faithful and just and forgive us our sins and purify our unrighteousness."
No, you know that's not what the Bible says.
Let's try again.
1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and forgive us our sins and purify our unrighteousness."
Confession, in Greek, means to "agree with", in contrast with Apologize, which means "defend". I guess what I thought an apology was, was really confession instead. And that is what God asked of us too. God didn't want us to explain ourselves, He wanted us to know our mistakes, and learn from them. On top of that, meanwhile, we are to know that He would be by us because He knows our weaknesses.
The next time we are to "apologize", think Confession instead.
Friday, September 12, 2008
this is my prayer in battle,
when triumph is coming its way
I am reading Meno of Plato's dialogues now, and while I'm at this, something struck and stuck amidst the confusion Socrates offers me.
Philosophy is boundless and limitless, subscribing to the nature of dilemma more than conclusive argument. Which is why there is a need for a constant. If change is indeed the only constant in life, then no (okay, using "no" is a big no-no in philosophy, but then again, I just contradicted myself, so heck, this is like 101) philosophy would hold because we'll just be dogs chasing our own tails.
Point is, change is not the only constant. There must be a constant that everything else is relative to- something immovable.
I think I've found the answer - faithfulness and truth.
1. Faithfulness would never change because it is the opposite of change by virtue. (Plato makes me quiver at the word "Virtue" but that's for another day.)
2. Truth never changes, otherwise it will not be true anymore. (This is when Socrates, piecing together what was left of his body after he was stoned, asks what Truth is.)
From my religious and still very reliable point of view, faithfulness and truth are in God.
Biblegateway.com extends the perfect evidence:
I hope this entry was readable, cause I gotta rush my readings and don't have time to re-draft it to perfection (does that even happen?). Okay gotta run people!
when triumph is coming its way
I am reading Meno of Plato's dialogues now, and while I'm at this, something struck and stuck amidst the confusion Socrates offers me.
Philosophy is boundless and limitless, subscribing to the nature of dilemma more than conclusive argument. Which is why there is a need for a constant. If change is indeed the only constant in life, then no (okay, using "no" is a big no-no in philosophy, but then again, I just contradicted myself, so heck, this is like 101) philosophy would hold because we'll just be dogs chasing our own tails.
Point is, change is not the only constant. There must be a constant that everything else is relative to- something immovable.
I think I've found the answer - faithfulness and truth.
1. Faithfulness would never change because it is the opposite of change by virtue. (Plato makes me quiver at the word "Virtue" but that's for another day.)
2. Truth never changes, otherwise it will not be true anymore. (This is when Socrates, piecing together what was left of his body after he was stoned, asks what Truth is.)
From my religious and still very reliable point of view, faithfulness and truth are in God.
Biblegateway.com extends the perfect evidence:
1 Samual 15:29*Emphasis mine.
He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man, that He should change His mind."
I hope this entry was readable, cause I gotta rush my readings and don't have time to re-draft it to perfection (does that even happen?). Okay gotta run people!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
lift my hands to honor You
because Your Word is true
A penny for your thoughts.
Thinking is crucial, though I really haven't been thinking as much as I used to (hence the significant decrease in blog entries). Thinking is precisely why God gave us brains. To under-use, over-use or abnormal-use them could land you in an irreversible penance. Okay, maybe not irreversible, but it'll be hard to condone yourself anyway.
That said, I'm ashamed. Guilty.
Someone I admire a lot said that I am "always willing to live with much openness and spontaneity". He's right. Much as I wear my heart on my sleeves, I also have my mouth on top of my brains. "Words have so much power", so he says (though not in this context, but still applicable), and under-using my brain by shooting off the top of my head is just.. rude.
This person also frequently reminds me of how I get overly sensitive about others' words and actions. That's when I over-use my brains and jump to conclusions. In fact, these situations occur so annoyingly often, and always succeed in distracting me from the more important things in life. I'm sure I didn't really need anyone to tell me how sensitive I get, I would know too.
As for abnormal usage of the brain, I rather not talk about that. Too many strange thoughts get in my head. I wonder if my mind is actually an empty void. If it is, then maybe I'm in trouble because an idle mind is the devil's workshop.
But.
(always gotta have "but"s somewhere)
Before I conveniently bask myself in the apparent state of hopelessness, and indulge in apathy, I am reminded that there is still hope. That's a good start. Then I implore forgiveness. That's tricky. Psalm 119:101 suggests that keeping my feet from evil paths precedes holiness. One step at a time, one thought at a time.
A penny for a thought.
because Your Word is true
A penny for your thoughts.
Thinking is crucial, though I really haven't been thinking as much as I used to (hence the significant decrease in blog entries). Thinking is precisely why God gave us brains. To under-use, over-use or abnormal-use them could land you in an irreversible penance. Okay, maybe not irreversible, but it'll be hard to condone yourself anyway.
That said, I'm ashamed. Guilty.
Someone I admire a lot said that I am "always willing to live with much openness and spontaneity". He's right. Much as I wear my heart on my sleeves, I also have my mouth on top of my brains. "Words have so much power", so he says (though not in this context, but still applicable), and under-using my brain by shooting off the top of my head is just.. rude.
This person also frequently reminds me of how I get overly sensitive about others' words and actions. That's when I over-use my brains and jump to conclusions. In fact, these situations occur so annoyingly often, and always succeed in distracting me from the more important things in life. I'm sure I didn't really need anyone to tell me how sensitive I get, I would know too.
As for abnormal usage of the brain, I rather not talk about that. Too many strange thoughts get in my head. I wonder if my mind is actually an empty void. If it is, then maybe I'm in trouble because an idle mind is the devil's workshop.
But.
(always gotta have "but"s somewhere)
Before I conveniently bask myself in the apparent state of hopelessness, and indulge in apathy, I am reminded that there is still hope. That's a good start. Then I implore forgiveness. That's tricky. Psalm 119:101 suggests that keeping my feet from evil paths precedes holiness. One step at a time, one thought at a time.
A penny for a thought.
Friday, September 05, 2008
in a frenzy,
i shamefully let down a good intent.
though excitably laughing and gibbering,
yet still, i look back eventually
and wish that i had left some things unsaid.
anyway, what's the point of all these i'm saying?
k moving on
(so that this post would look s tad more like an inspiration of a 17year old)
goodnight people in kompewtur land!
Simon i'm preparing for rain says:
remind myself of a story i heard once about how i may be surprised when i see some people in heaven, but that there would be some who would be surprised to see me as well
i shamefully let down a good intent.
though excitably laughing and gibbering,
yet still, i look back eventually
and wish that i had left some things unsaid.
anyway, what's the point of all these i'm saying?
k moving on
(so that this post would look s tad more like an inspiration of a 17year old)
goodnight people in kompewtur land!
Simon i'm preparing for rain says:
remind myself of a story i heard once about how i may be surprised when i see some people in heaven, but that there would be some who would be surprised to see me as well
Thursday, September 04, 2008
You are beautiful beyond description,
too marvelous for words,
too wonderful for comprehension
It's been a long time since I felt so relieved and glad.
Thank God for the support he sent throughout what every has past the bad and sad week(s).
Anyway, have you wondered why we do Cloze passages in Primary School? I think I know why now. It's to prepare us for University, when you have Professors who don't enunciate properly so what you get is something like,
"Public __________ can be _______ described as the ______ment, _______tion and study of ________ of _______ policy. Public __________ is linked to __________ ____ public good by enhancing evil(?) society and social justice."
too marvelous for words,
too wonderful for comprehension
It's been a long time since I felt so relieved and glad.
Thank God for the support he sent throughout what every has past the bad and sad week(s).
Anyway, have you wondered why we do Cloze passages in Primary School? I think I know why now. It's to prepare us for University, when you have Professors who don't enunciate properly so what you get is something like,
"Public __________ can be _______ described as the ______ment, _______tion and study of ________ of _______ policy. Public __________ is linked to __________ ____ public good by enhancing evil(?) society and social justice."