Gonna fast, gonna pray, gonna have self-control.
I can do it not because I can, but because You are with me.
And we can do this together. Amen.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Mike Guglielmucci and us
Most of you might have heard the news abt Mike, the guy from planetshakers who wrote the song 'Healer'. To be honest, it's really shocking to hear that the story of his cancer was all a make up to divert ppl's attention away from the fact that he couldn't break free from the struggle with adult pornography. He is a pastor, worship leader, musician, songwriter, and I believe that thousands are probably very disappointed, shocked and even angry upon hearing the statement that someone with such great spiritual statute has actually covered up his big time sin with a big time lie. And now he's stripped of all his credentials and appointment as a pastor in planetshakers. But before we as readers start to point fingers and judge, I think we should do a check on our own lives first; maybe after doing a thorough scan of our heart motives, we probably don't have the guts to judge our poor fella here anymore.
John 8:1-11
1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Luke 6:36-37
36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
I was reminded of these two passages when I was reading the statement. All of us are sinners, which means we all sin. We have to eliminate sin when it's implications are still small, before it leads to even more sins and then soon after, before we even know it - the fear of condemnation, rebuke and shame has already overruled our ability to make the right choice, which is of course to seek help from our leaders. Pride will then fill our hearts, and soon we'll start coming up with lies, and these lies breed even more lies and finally we begin to lose faith in God, thinking that we can't be an overcomer in Christ afterall and then we do the worst thing ever, that is to backslide away from God.
But at least in the end, Mike made the right choice. In the statement it wrote that he admitted it himself and I have to respect that because it's really not easy to confess it at this stage whereby his song and his testimony has already been published not only in planetshakers, but also in hillsong and churches all over the world. He could have just lied all the way and no one is gonna know about it and he could just end it off with,'I went to my doctor today and he told me that my cancer cells have mysteriously disappeared! Yes, God did a miracle in me!' But he chose to believe that the truth will set him free, he chose to do the right thing. And I believe by doing that, it serves as a powerful reminder to ppl out there who are hiding a particular sin and thought that he/she could never mount enough courage to let anybody know about it. We have to remember that God is a God of grace and second chances, and He has come to redeem us, not condemn us.
John 8:1-11
1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Luke 6:36-37
36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
I was reminded of these two passages when I was reading the statement. All of us are sinners, which means we all sin. We have to eliminate sin when it's implications are still small, before it leads to even more sins and then soon after, before we even know it - the fear of condemnation, rebuke and shame has already overruled our ability to make the right choice, which is of course to seek help from our leaders. Pride will then fill our hearts, and soon we'll start coming up with lies, and these lies breed even more lies and finally we begin to lose faith in God, thinking that we can't be an overcomer in Christ afterall and then we do the worst thing ever, that is to backslide away from God.
But at least in the end, Mike made the right choice. In the statement it wrote that he admitted it himself and I have to respect that because it's really not easy to confess it at this stage whereby his song and his testimony has already been published not only in planetshakers, but also in hillsong and churches all over the world. He could have just lied all the way and no one is gonna know about it and he could just end it off with,'I went to my doctor today and he told me that my cancer cells have mysteriously disappeared! Yes, God did a miracle in me!' But he chose to believe that the truth will set him free, he chose to do the right thing. And I believe by doing that, it serves as a powerful reminder to ppl out there who are hiding a particular sin and thought that he/she could never mount enough courage to let anybody know about it. We have to remember that God is a God of grace and second chances, and He has come to redeem us, not condemn us.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Birthdays birthdays
Yeah man I survived 19 years, officially today. One of the busiest and most tired birthdays. Been busy with JUMP and basically a boring NS life. I guess everyone's busy.
2 days ago I just celebrated my bro's bday with my parents. We ate Fish & Co. for dinner and watched 'Mummy 3'. Had a great time with them man. My bro posted me with a rather interesting question, 'why do we celebrate bdays'. I couldn't really answer that, all that I came up with was, 'coz that was the day we were born and it's a good day.'
My love language is time, basically I don't need fanciful birthday celebrations. I just wanna spend time with my love ones and close friends. But well I kinda expected a rather unexciting bday this year, everyone's busy and stuff.
Anyway honestly I didn't really enjoy today. Hah it was quite dead after svc when everyone went for CLM. Had Astons with Walmond they all. Simon thought they were gonna treat me. Haha oh well but in the end it wasn't really so. Turned out to be just a normal dinner. It's okay, that steak was good. I really didn't wanna play lan, seriously, I quitted lan like 3 years ago. But in the end I still got dragged by them to play lan. Damn sian. Hah okay la, didn't wanna be a wet blanket. Had supper with Gideon and Shawn after that, couldn't hide from Gideon that I was rather disappointed today. But oh well, yeah it's true, we have to be understanding...
ANYWAY just wanna thank God for a few ppl:
Yihui and Siewluan, thanks for appearing with a cake at my doorstep at like 11pm on Monday night. I really didn't expect that man. You guys knew that I was gonna be damn busy this week and wouldn't have the time to celebrate. It's really really sweet and I appreciate it alot, AND THE DURIAN CAKE IS FREAKING AWESOME! Lol thanks thanks! :D
Qianjin, thanks for the 'cake' and hershley kisses. Haha and of coz the little humble sharing session we had after that. You're a shepherd who really takes effort to listen to your sheep and to me that's the most important role of a shepherd. Thanks I felt so much better after sharing today.
Gideon and Shawn, you guys knew me the longest in church. Haha Gideon! Thanks for spending time with me today even though you were like so tired. Appreciate your prayers, touched me alot. Shawn, what can I say man. You're the longest friend I knew in my life, it's been 7 years, and God has brought us so far. Haha thanks for everything dude.
A really humble birthday this year. But nonetheless, 19 marks a new phase, with new challenges ahead, new struggles, new growth points, new breakthroughs.
2 days ago I just celebrated my bro's bday with my parents. We ate Fish & Co. for dinner and watched 'Mummy 3'. Had a great time with them man. My bro posted me with a rather interesting question, 'why do we celebrate bdays'. I couldn't really answer that, all that I came up with was, 'coz that was the day we were born and it's a good day.'
My love language is time, basically I don't need fanciful birthday celebrations. I just wanna spend time with my love ones and close friends. But well I kinda expected a rather unexciting bday this year, everyone's busy and stuff.
Anyway honestly I didn't really enjoy today. Hah it was quite dead after svc when everyone went for CLM. Had Astons with Walmond they all. Simon thought they were gonna treat me. Haha oh well but in the end it wasn't really so. Turned out to be just a normal dinner. It's okay, that steak was good. I really didn't wanna play lan, seriously, I quitted lan like 3 years ago. But in the end I still got dragged by them to play lan. Damn sian. Hah okay la, didn't wanna be a wet blanket. Had supper with Gideon and Shawn after that, couldn't hide from Gideon that I was rather disappointed today. But oh well, yeah it's true, we have to be understanding...
ANYWAY just wanna thank God for a few ppl:
Yihui and Siewluan, thanks for appearing with a cake at my doorstep at like 11pm on Monday night. I really didn't expect that man. You guys knew that I was gonna be damn busy this week and wouldn't have the time to celebrate. It's really really sweet and I appreciate it alot, AND THE DURIAN CAKE IS FREAKING AWESOME! Lol thanks thanks! :D
Qianjin, thanks for the 'cake' and hershley kisses. Haha and of coz the little humble sharing session we had after that. You're a shepherd who really takes effort to listen to your sheep and to me that's the most important role of a shepherd. Thanks I felt so much better after sharing today.
Gideon and Shawn, you guys knew me the longest in church. Haha Gideon! Thanks for spending time with me today even though you were like so tired. Appreciate your prayers, touched me alot. Shawn, what can I say man. You're the longest friend I knew in my life, it's been 7 years, and God has brought us so far. Haha thanks for everything dude.
A really humble birthday this year. But nonetheless, 19 marks a new phase, with new challenges ahead, new struggles, new growth points, new breakthroughs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
