'Free play' and 'satisfaction'

A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
Confucius

1 John 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

It has been awhile since I blogged and wrote about something pertaining to 'issues' in life.
It's only naturally for a person to feel pain when someone delivers a punch on the person. Then it has become a choice for him to keep mum about it or scream it out and be noticed. I guess I would choose to be silent this time.

Anyway, the title of this post came about as I ponder on liberalism and conservatives in the Christian faith. The word 'free play' in this case refers to the 'not so definite' areas which has been explored in the extremes of liberalism. I remember coming across this word when learning to drive, specifically talking about the free space of the release of the clutch pedal before reaching the 'biting' point.
I posted on my Facebook status not long ago on the Greek Mythology on the Sirens. I came across this illustration while reading that parenting book on relationship. The point is this, being a conservative means travelling on the safest and furthest route possible from the deadly coast, while liberalism explores areas as close as to the coast as possible.
Reading on a Church's welcome book on one Pastor's comment on their Church had me further thinking. "Being contemporary without compromise"
I am beginning to explore the dangers and benefits that can be arrived by following these two different routes, realizing that a balance with discernment is all the more essential in the Christian faith.

On to the point of 'satisfaction' or boasting as some would call it. It the idea of being proud of what you have achieved in the past and will always 'boast' about it to people when given a chance. My take is that boasting is excluded. Boasting that leads to pride is a NO no.

2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

However, the form of 'boasting' which I would like to talk about is different.
It's more like sharing your 'worth telling' life experiences. For many males out there, it would be the time spend in NS, sharing about their 'countless' days away from home.
Applying it up, I do realize its not wrong to talk about them, for to many, being through such experiences make them 'better' and most importantly, marvel at whoever or whichever factors or forces that had pulled them through.

I write this because many have found this in themselves, their willpower, their abilities, even on luck. Yet, I believe we can marvel at how God has pulled us through each of this 'wonderful' events in our life, and then sharing and telling it to others about the Christ that is in us.

Recently I watched on TV on Santa and Christmas. There's this boy whose dad was Santa Claus and he complaining to his dad when his dad didn't let him tell his friends about the secret of his dad.
"In class, everyone else is talking about how great their dad are. One is a banker, the other is a politician. I so want to tell them I have the 'greatest' dad of all." He lamented to his dad, "But I can't"

I know Christmas is over, and unlike Santa who hides around, Christ is proclaimed onto the world. Therefore let's talk about His Greatness every moment of our life, for He is truly the Greatest.
Amen?

I so need to make good use of my time this week as I take a short break from the monotonous routine of army life. Praying for wisdom and good choices made.

一件礼物

One new Chinese song I've learnt while trying to find it online for my dad. Apparently he is planning to share it during his GCSS carolling.

Simple and sweet message that 主耶稣 is the 礼物.

有一件礼物，你收到没有，
眼睛看不到，你心会知道，
这一件礼物，心门外等候，
是为了你准备，别人不能收。

生命有限，时光也会走，
如果你不珍惜，机会难留，
礼物虽然好，如果你不要，
你怎么能够得到，怎么能得到？

亲爱的朋友，你是否想到，
马槽的婴孩是为你而来，
亲爱的朋友，你是否了解，
最好的朋友是人子主耶稣。

Answered

There's always a time for everything. A time for prayer, and a time to be thankful for answered prayers.
I can only thank God for guiding me, throughout my driving test, granting the very desires of my heart.
In essence, I passed the driving test in camp this week, on the very 1st time. I believed it was His providence.

To elebrorate:
I am somewhat a 'cannot-make-it' driver, something that my instructor always affirmed by the not so wholesome remarks about my driving.
Becoming 'famous' by some silly accident I committed, where I hitted the mirror of another vehicle, merely added salt to the wound.
Many many other factors had me really doubting my ability to even pass the test.
My prayer to God as I came for this driving course was that I could pass my driving test ASAP. It was as though I was bargaining with God, 'if I pass, I will come serve in the Church camps.' (that's was on presumption that the course will end on time)
I was deeply humbled when God showed me otherwise. The course extended due to many reasons, to dates way past the camps dates. The 1st test for many started only this few days.
When I fail my parking test, I was further discouraged, yet things surely work together for good.
If I would to list how many obstacles I had to tackle, yet miraculously passed through each, this post would almost be endless.
I just want to give God the due thanks, glory and praise for this:)

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Rude awakening

1 Peter 2:17

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

I somewhat got defeated and humbled by the simple sayings of my driving instructor this week. (It was a one hour intense lecture session as a punishment for being late for my lesson.) I sat inside the 3-tonner without even moving off, listening to him talk and share some of his life skills to me.
I'd learnt that it's better to learn by the good examples of others, as compared to the conventional "learning from the mistakes of others". For there is just that hint of temptation to fall into the same hole those before us had fallen into.
The Chinese had a proverb that says: 不见棺材不掉泪 which means 'no tears until one sees one's own coffin' That is one big problem many people face, in which I sometimes also wander off to grounds so dangerously near my grave.
Note: Just a search and this proverb appears with so many others that I had used to use for my Chinese essays.

I've also learnt to have that greater sense of urgency in doing things. Though my instructor often used a 'mixed array of languages' to talk to me, switching between Chinese, English, Hokkien... it was simple and the message was clear. I guess its a combination of factors that had caused me to fear yet respect my instructor for his fierceness and his boldness to share what he has learnt through life.

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This week went past really fast, at least in my perspective.
Testing of faith, 5 Tonners rides, 2nd hand smoke, reading 1 Peter, 'teaching true love in sex-at-13 generation' (Christian parenting book i picked up from the library that was really interesting and insightful), upcoming driving test with butterflies in stomach.

I liked the Greek mythology on the Sirens used and this quote in the parenting book:

Innocence is a practice field and training ground for inner maturity, and ultimately purity, to grow and develop.

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy."

Thats all for now, shall get down to more edifying blog posts that are more thought over instead of just writing whatever that is in my mind. :)

Wisdom and choices.

Managed to read through "My sister's keeper" this week in camp. I must say it was quite a good book, though I thought will be more suited for girls.
I do also realise this book was made into a movie recently.
The topic explored touch close to daily living. Anyway, I am quite impressed on how the the author had portrayed this ethical and moral issues through her characters.

morals always triumph ethics, and LOVE always triumph the law.

Yet, as I begin to see how such issues could have been handled more appropriately if God is put in the picture.

This had me to the point of how we are to desire WISDOM in choices we made.
King Solomon desired/ prayed for wisdom and God was pleased with his choice.

Someone once said " we are who we are because of the choices we made"
Though there is some truth in it, I am more inclined to see that wisdom needs to work hand in hand with choices. A wise man will build his house on the solid ground, whereas the foolish builds his on sandy ground.

My thoughts are somewhat unorganised and somewhat distorted. Pray for God to show me right choices through His wisdom.

Note: Pray that the driving course could be over as soon as possible.