Peace and Comfort

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives , so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

“May your unfailing love be my comfort”
Psalm 119:76

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is see is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:17-18

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28

Grant us supernatural peace and comfort O Lord!

Wait upon You

If I can say it's ok (and even important) to use 20 mins to "relax", listen to music, go on facebook, when I have tons to study for, then why not use it to wait upon God or read His Word!  How much more important is that!

I hear of people saying things about how when you’re busy, how can you NOT pray!... or “too busy not to pray”!  I can’t say I feel that way.  How often would I say, “Ok God, I’m really really really busy right now, so I HAVE to spend some time with you in prayer!” 

Help me not neglect You during these exam times!

Freedom

Do you know what freedom feels like? 

How many Christians actually live like they are FREE? Not bound by the law, free from the need to perform and to act by our own righteousness, not bound by sin…

“For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

Romans 6:14

How many Christians learn about God’s grace, and Christ’s work on the cross, but then think of all the acts of righteousness they have to do to be Christian?!  We are free from the law!  Christ died so that we didn’t have to provide our own righteousness!  His righteousness is imputed on us, and the Spirit is actively working out our sanctification!

O Joy!

Why Calvinism Works for me (HOPE)

With a Breaking-Down the Brick Walls cell group meeting today about Calvinism, I wanted to blog about how it has affected how I view God, and my experiences. 

I won’t explain all the points/theologies of Calvinism, but some of the main points it stresses is the complete sovereignty of God and the depravity of man.

Both of those points (God’s sovereignty, and man’s depravity) are supported by the Bible.  If you want tons of Scripture references of Calvinism see Desiring God’s website (which explains the five points of Calvinism, TULIP).  I’m not going to get into that, because the main things I want to say here are why it has worked for me, in my personal experience.  (plus, I’m not an expert on it either)

I believe in the depravity of man not only because the Bible talks about it, but also because in my own experience, I find I am completely depraved.  Every part of me wants to turn away from God, wants to disobey Him and sin.  Many times in the past, I would stray from God, and the only thing that brought me back to Him was His grace.  God would use people, brothers/sisters, to wake me up.  I am only who I am today because of the place God put me, and the people He put in my life.  There are times when I just suddenly understand God’s grace, and can attribute it to none other than the Spirit gradually working and changing me.  I can’t boast in anything that I do now, or who I am, because it is all because of Christ alone.  If it were not for His relentlessness, I would still be blind and dead, and not able to to desire Him. 

Because I believe in the sovereignty of God and my own depravity, I also have hope.  If it were up to myself, I just would not be able to trust in my own flesh to do anything good or righteous.  But it is God who works in me to will and to work for His good pleasure.  I don’t need to despair for my sinfulness, because I know that it’s not because of what I do, but what Christ has done on the cross and continues to do in me through His Holy Spirit.

I think one thing a lot of us struggle with is understanding Christ’s forgiveness (EDIT: and the mortification of sin).  We sin, and instead of going to God for forgiveness, we distance ourselves from Him, thinking we aren’t “worthy”.  We have to understand that Christ has already forgiven us and that the Spirit is working in us to conform us into Christ’s image.  If we just think of how we aren’t “good enough”, or “I’m not doing enough”, “I’m sinning too much”, then we don’t understand that it doesn’t depend on us, but on God to change us.  Trust in Him that He WILL finish the work He started in us.

A view and understanding of God’s sovereignty also allows us to not be anxious in anything we do.  Whatever happens, no matter the circumstances, we can trust in a God who is almighty and has everything under control.  I don’t have to worry about school, fellowship, my own relationship with God, career, etc etc, because I know that no matter what happens, God is King over His creation.  He will accomplish whatever brings Him glory and lead us to Him in everything, all for His name’s sake.

Now does that mean we just sit idle? NO…  If I believe in a God of such grace and love, how can I not worship and praise Him?  How can I just sit there and be content in not actively killing my sin and making disciples!  If the Spirit is in me, I believe that He will continue to convict me of my sin and teach and mold me to Christ's likeness in everything.  There’s a difference between trying to conform yourself into Christ’s image by your own strength, and just waiting and relying on God to do it.  It is both God who works in me and an active effort on my part to accomplish what is to be done.

This view of God’s sovereignty and our depravity also allows me to say that no man is better than another.  We ALL fall short of the glory of God, no one is righteous.  Any good thing that I see my brother/sister do is not because of his/her own effort, but because of God’s grace.

I think one thing that people (or me at least) have struggled with in the past, is seeing the passion of other brothers and sisters.  Sometimes, I look at their passion or what they are doing, and tell myself: “Why am I not doing that?  Why am I not desiring God that much?”.  It’s good to look up to other godly people in our lives and strive to be like them (though ultimately we strive to be like Christ), but it can lead to despair if we realize we don’t and can’t have that same passion if we rely on ourselves.  But if I believe in man’s total depravity and God’s sovereign grace in all of us, then I would understand that the passion and desires that I see in other people are not because they are any better than me, but because it is God working in them.  It is completely because of God!  And He will work in me to do the same!  I need to stop looking focusing so much on what I need to do and how much sin I’m committing and instead look to what Christ has done (not that it’s not good to see to evaluate and examine one’s life and faith, because the Bible tells us to do that, but ultimately our main focus is on God’s love and work in us and not ours).

I believe in God’s complete sovereignty but also that we have free will.  I think both can be true (both from the Bible and from my own experience, I’m actively choosing to write this blog aren’t I?  But I’ve learnt these things and am only able to write them because of God’s grace).

I also know that with Calvinism comes many other controversial subjects like unconditional election, etc.  But this post was more about how it has affected my view on life, etc than an explanation of the points of Calvinsim (because I myself don’t know completely of how I would answer all the possible questions/controversies that could come up).

It’s possible that sometimes we just have a mix up with terms and definitions.  Someone who says they are Armenian could also believe in a lot of the same things I’ve pointed but still say they are more Armenian than Calvinist.  We believe in the same God, but if He is God, then is it right to limit Him to the confines of the human mind?

EDIT: Armenians also hold to Total Depravity.  And I want to note I don’t know enough to say I can conclusively take a side (I lean more towards Calvinism).  Neither do I/we need to.

EDIT2:

My Hope is Not in Myself but in Christ - Paul Washer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ941ERut2M
Doesn't depend on us but on God!!

Bonds

I’m going to pull a Jorge, and use an anime to introduce the blog post (if you don’t know anything about Yugioh, or don’t what’s happening you can just skip the section =p).

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So if you didn’t know, I actually play Yugioh.  I don’t actually own cards, but my brother does and so I played with him before and have played in tournaments before.  I sometimes follow anime series, but haven’t been doing it the past few months.  This morning, I randomly came across the last episode of the season (just came out the last week).  So I watched a random part of it.

A major theme of the Yugioh TV series is that of “bonds”.  The main characters go across many obstacles but through their friendships together, their faith + hope in one another, they get through them.

In this final episode, the theme is illustrated again in a duel between two of the main characters (Yusei Fudo and Jack Atlas).  In one scene, Yusei is at a huge disadvantage, Jack has his ace monster out, and Yusei has nothing but 2 small monsters.  In his turn though, he is able to summon 3 more monsters.  The 5 monsters that he has on the field are all monsters with low level and low Attack power, individually they are weak, and anyone who saw them would probably wonder why Yusei even uses them in his deck.  But using the power of all of them, Yusei is able to beat Jack’s larger more powerful monsters with weak monsters.  The characters are once again reminded that the bonds they have with one another make them stronger.

The video will automatically start to the scene. =p  But if you like Yugioh, or want to watch epic card dueling with epic music, rewind and watch the whole video from the beginning. lol

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In the same way, we may be weak individually, but we are meant to live in community.  Together, we are able to build each other, encourage one another and grow in maturity; discipling one another into Christ’s image. 

“ …though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him---a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:12

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
Ephesians 4:15-16

It’s a beautiful picture that God put us together to worship and glorify Him together as one Body, one Church.

The characters in Yugioh are able to have hope when looking into the future because they believe that together they can break down any walls that bar their paths.

In our case, we should have even more hope!  Because Christ is our head; we have a God who loves us and is sovereign.  We not only can rely on our brothers and sisters, but first and more importantly, we have hope in God. 

“…If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died---more than that, who was raised---who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
Romans 8:31-35

CCF Sharing Night Winter 2011

For notes/minutes of the night of sharing, see Google Docs:

For more concise notes (made by Jlin, Jorge and Josh): Click Here

For more conclusive/detailed notes, see my notes: Click Here

Trying to clear mind can be hard at times =/

So much happening so much to think about sometimes + exams are coming and my exams are all packed together for the first time in my university career (I was lucky enough before that they are spread out).  This means I have one week to study for all my exams before they start next Friday (I have exams April 8,9,11,12,14 =p).

It’s hard sometimes to just sit down and think clearly.  I’m not super anxious or stressed, but I still keep thinking and going through the things I want to get done…

Completely letting go and surrendering can be so hard sometimes…

Help me to just rely completely on You Lord =)

Fire Fall Down

Can you imagine what God would do on this campus if all those who call ourselves Christ followers would rise up and say “Here I am Lord use me!!!!”

School and Academics for me, last 2 years

So I stayed up till practically 5AM last night finishing my biochem assignment.  I finished it and was decently satisfied with the answers to the questions.  I’m pretty sure I can pass.  But I’m still fretting about it a little, because I want to do more than pass =p.  Someone reminded me that it’s “only worth 5%”, but every mark counts right?

Believe it or not, Just half a year ago, I didn’t really go to school by that statement.  If you’re reading this and only just met me this year, then you probably don’t know a lot about my past academics in university.  But when I look back, I can only see how pathetic and stupid I was towards school.

I came to university with great excitement from high school.  To meet new people, gain new experiences and also to learn more.  But in high school, I was a complete slacker.  I don’t even know if I ever “studied” for a test or exam EVER.  I just went to class and did my homework (with procrastination of course), but NEVER really reviewed anything.  But, I’m sure as many people can attest, high school is super easy when compared to university.  I did mighty well mark-wise.

So I came having practically no experience on what it really meant to “work my butt off”.  I had never really stressed too much in high school, and so I had the same attitude coming in.  Suffice it to say that over 4 terms in school the last 2 years, I failed a lot of courses I shouldn’t have.  And it was not because I was dumb or just didn’t understand a lot of stuff, my work ethic just SUCKED and I didn’t even care enough.

I got a 13% in Linear Algebra in first term…you’re probably saying how is that possible?!?  It shouldn’t be..I just did not do ANYTHING for the course…I didn’t study, I didn’t do the assignments, started skipping class a month into the term.  I barely passed physics..and i don’t know how I managed an 80 in chem.  But I went from a 90average student to a 50average, right in first term..simply because i did not work hard.

The next 3 terms went by similarly.  You would think I would learn my lesson, but i didn’t… at least not right away.  I failed 2 of the basic biol courses because I didn’t show up to the mandatory tutorials enough and missed out on too much marks there, even though I passed my exam.  There was a term where I was so behind that I just gave up and didn’t show up for the exam!  SO bad right?  I know all you school workaholics (jkingss) are probably wide mouthed right now.

I just didn’t care enough…

That’s why I’m so THANKFUL this term.  I’m still procrastinating like crazy, but now I’m actually doing all my work and assignments no matter how late or how much work there was.  I’m not giving up so easily…. 

Maybe it took 2 years for me to finally get why I’m here and what I should be doing.  But I thank God that He’s shown me and given me more motivation to do well.  I can’t say I understand the concept of what it means to glorify God in everything I do completely.  But I do know that if I can’t even handle the little trials that I face here in school, then I won’t be able to handle the bigger tasks in life that God will call me to do.  How can I serve God, when I can’t even handle a little work here in university?  I need to learn to trust Him and work for Him!  And even though, marks aren’t everything, how would it look if I say I’m a Christian, but am I complete slacker?  How can I help others and have a life of integrity, when I can’t even put effort or work hard when I need to in school?

By God’s grace, I’ll be able to come out of this term having done a lot better academically.  I still worry that I won’t do well, but I need to rely on God and just keep on persevering!

Technology and our Ego, Purpose for Doing Things

“The ego is the part of us that loves power. It is the part that loves to be seen, recognized, praised, and adored. Facebook provides a powerful platform for this. It provides a platform by which every word, picture, or thought I have can be seen, praised, 'liked'. As a result, I begin to seek this. But then it doesn't just stay in the cyber world. I begin even to live my life with this visibility in mind. Suddenly, I live every experience, every photo, every thought, as if it's being watched, because in the back of my mind I'm thinking, "I'll put it on Facebook." This creates a very interesting state of being, almost a constant sense that I am living my life on display. I become ever conscious of being watched, because everything can be put up on Facebook for others to see and comment on.”

-from HuffingtonPostReligion

We live in a society that relies on technology.  No doubt for us students, technology is one of the biggest distractions.  We can spend loads of time on Facebook or Youtube instead of doing our assignments or studying.  I’m sure it shows if we looked at stats (if there were any) of how students spent their time 30 years ago in university and how we spend our time now in the 21st century. 

Technology has definitely made many parts of our lives more convenient.  Never before has the world as a whole been so connected.  We can stay in contact with friends and family around the world through instant messaging, email and social networks.  I can ask someone how they are doing by sending an email and immediately in a few minutes get a response.  We can stay in contact with more people than ever before through things like Facebook, Twitter and email.  I can easily stay in contact with someone I just met on a trip or in a conference.  We can share information, insights, pictures and videos very easily through social networks and blogs.  Breaking news will travel instantly across the world and millions of people can know about something minutes after it happens (especially with advent of Twitter).

Besides being a distraction for productivity sometimes though, technology can also be something that can inflate our ego.  The article that the quote above was taken from puts it very bluntly (go read it!).  We want to be seen, heard and praised by other people.  We look for people’s approval instead of God’s.  It’s true that even without Facebook or Twitter, that desire innate in us would still be there.  I see that especially evident in my life when with large groups of friends.  I sometimes find myself doing things to get people’s attention, or gain their approval.  But Facebook and Twitter provides another way for us to do it and it is a constant temptation (at least for me) to not let other people’s thoughts towards me influence my actions. 

If we let those things drive our lives, then they will become idols.  We put the importance of other people’s thoughts and attitudes towards us above God’s.  We become prideful and self-centered, seeking our own glory instead of God’s.

Sometimes we fast from technology (ie. no Facebook for a month!!!), and it definitely helps in reminding yourself what values are important in life, etc etc.  But I think we need to also go to the core of the problem: our desire for our own glory and not God’s.  Fasting may only cover the problem instead of solving it if we don’t reflect on its purpose.

So why do we do the things we do?  Why do you work hard in school?  Why am I serving in this ministry?  I’ve been asking myself a lot of questions towards my purpose of doing things recently.  I think because I so easily fall to glorifying myself, I need to constantly remind myself for why I should be doing things.  I want to reflect on the gospel, on eternal things, and on what really matters; not on things that are petty and meaningless.

I’m definitely really thankful that God has given us His Spirit to convict us of our sins.  But it also takes a huge amount of faith that God will continue to sanctify us into His image.  Without that faith, we become anxious and worried and start to rely on ourselves to fix our problems.  So I definitely need to pray that God will continue to convict me and give me the strength to change from my ways.