Death

A few weeks ago, Jenny a coworker, passed away from a long struggle with cancer. It made me realize that we should be grateful for our lives. Even if non-Christians do well and consider their advances as the fruits of their labor and their talents (and it is true that our labor and talent will affect how well we advance in our careers), we should look to gratitude to God as the giver.

Steve Jobs died last week. It is amazing to think that despite all his billions and having the best medical care in the world, no one could extend his life by a single minute.  Steve Jobs was a Zen Buddhist and unfortunately, lived a very selfish life - according to what we read about him by those who knew him. The words of Jesus come to mind. Jesus said, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?"

Another coworker was telling me that he lost his parents, and a friend, within the space of an year. I asked him a leading question, "What happens to us after we die?". And he answered with a straight face, "It depends on what you believe". I was dumbstruck. If I were to jump off a building, my beliefs would have no effect on what would happen to me.
But there is truth to what he said - we all take the after-life on faith. Even Christians are unsure whether we go straight to heaven, or stay in the ground until Christ returns. I have no clue.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)

and contrast with...

 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8)

Regardless, we put our trust in him.
As in the song below, "...your name is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are saved"

Steve Job's death

Steve Jobs was a Zen Buddhist and unfortunately, lived a very selfish life - according to what we read about him by those who knew him. The words of Jesus come to mind. Jesus said, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?".

Father and baby

When I interact with my baby, it is real to me how our relationship to God our father is;

• we love to show him things that we do in our daily lives. Opening the fridge, pouring water, turning on the lights, brushing the dog, eating and drinking...
• When God shows us hitherto unseen things in the Bible, through the Holy Spirit, it is the same dynamic happening.
• once I placed him on his tummy on the couch and he  was shrieking in fear, anger, thrashing his arms and overwhelmed with fending for himself. It seemed silly to me because I was right there. I stroked his head and spoke to him encouragingly - but did not lift him out of his predicament. He should have clung to the comforting truth the I was there and he need not fear.
• When we go through hardships and hard times, it is natural to feel alone and deserted by God. We shriek in pain and anger and thrash about and also soothe with pleasurable sins. If we stop and exercise faith and reach out to God, then we have real comfort.
• we love how the baby delights to see us and longs for our presence and wants us to be with him all the time. This is how the believer should be with his or her heavenly father, delighting to be in God's precence and luxuriating in it. Of course, it is harder for us because we cannot see God but must sense him in our spirit and 'see' Him by faith.

Tired of Yahoo's brainwashing? Switch to i-Google

Anyone else tired of Yahoo's brainwashing?
My yahoo email has remained constant in the past 13 years even though we have moved physical address many times. However, their articles on the main page, which are the gateway to checking email, are plain propaganda. They are liberal, pro-gay, Democrat and conversely, are anti-Christian and anti-Republican.
Switch to i-Google. Keep your homepage to a more balanced news source like the BBC. You can install a plugin on the page to access your yahoo email.

The problem with the Willow Creek model for churches

The Willow creek model is essentially a business model. Attract people in, then get them to tithe and volunteer and attend classes. No one is allowed to speak in the services, but the staff.
Result: Lots of money from the old testament practice of tithing + free labor of volunteers + tight control of the microphone + keep members at the spiritual teenager level by keeping them busy in endless classes.
This is true of all the pastor directed churches I have seen in America.
As a result, we are not really different from the Roman Catholic Church, which we evangelicals despise as spiritually defective.

Of kings and a King - what an uncommon king!

The Royal Wedding of William and Kate, reminded me of kings and royalty down the ages. Kings and leaders have tended to glory in how many people bow down to them. People lying prostrate before them. Absolute power and control over lives. With a few commands, sending people who offend you, to be jailed, tortured or even executed. The pharaohs of Egypt when they died, had slaves and wives killed and buried alongside. To this day in West Africa, chieftains have their slaves killed and buried alongside them. Being waited on hand and foot. An entire life devoted to your service.

Kings have special robes, crowns and thrones, all designed to distinguish themselves from the rest. Their wealth is worn on their bodies. Their homes are called palaces. Their chairs are thrones. Their carts are chariots and palanquins. Their names are titles. They have warriors to guard them - "bodyguards".

Not satisfied with one wife, they showed their prowess by accumulating girls for their harem. Often, these girls were forced into this sexual servitude - not a "One night with the King", romantic movie falsehood. Emperor Akbar of 16th century India, had 5000 women in his harem! I am certain he did not sleep with most of them :).

Their ultimate expression of self-dom is to claim divinity - to claim that they have intrinsic superiority - that they are God.

Orinary people still take great effort in trying to meet a person of power.

In contrast, Jesus came to serve common folk. His miracles were of compassion. To heal and feed people - to meet their needs. He went out looking for people who were divinely appointed to meet him. He trudged roads and paths, his feet got dirty, sweated and was tired. He ate the same foods as the local folk. Stayed in their humble homes. To demonstrate this principle, He even washed his disciples feet! He was sinless and pure. Instead of taking, He gave. Instead of demanding sacrifices, He sacrificed His life for the sins of the world. Instead of appropriating power for himself, he gives us his power to spread the gospel and His kingdom on earth.