Recently I learnt that I have a weak lower back. My ego was seriously hurt when I discovered that I'm doing the same weights as me wife!
Come on man... how can la?
But I am! A little more investigation showed that I do have REALLY weak lower back. Like when I run, the first place that gives way is my lower back. It starts to ache and standing straight seems tiring.. you know the feeling?
So I started to do more lower back exercise. One of them, my favourite, for giving me maximum 'pain' is the dead lift. Basically you stand straight with your butt sticking out and back straight and just bend down to pick up a weight (bend the knees a little forward but not more than your toes). I start off very light... ok ego aside, I only do light weights! can?
Yes the lower back is that weak.
I remember this friend I have - CCL. She's a petite girl with outstanding posture... she only stands or sit or walk ith her back straight (or almost arched back). So straight that we all know she has got a nice butt :) I don't know how she does it but if there's something she can't do - she can't hunch over and pick up a pen! (hahahahahaa.. but i can! ngek ngek ngek)
because I start sweating just holding the weights standing like that. Especially the butt sticking out part, it targets the lower back really good.
Anyway I'm working on the back really hard and I do hope it gets stronger. It's gotten a bit stronger since a couple of weeks ago when i started and already I can run, swim, sit up straight much easier.
Now that I think about it, was that the reason why I had a bad posture. (It used to be worse!)
Anyway I'm glad I found this out now... lets see how I will feel with a stronger back.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Recipe for revival
After my healing, we went for a run. When I came back, I quickly took my shower and got ready to go out for dinner. But before we headed out again... I took my watch and put it to my ear.
Hahaha. Tick tick tick.... I smiled and cried all at the same time in my room as I praised God for the wonderful gifts.
It was easy for me. I prayed and He delivered. Pure grace. Easy for me. But it didn't come cheap, He paid for it with a price.
Grace is cheap? Hardly. It's easy though.
That's the hard part for many to accept I suppose. It seems that we would rather prefer to work for something than to get it free. No wonder Paul was so mad at the galatians when he ask, " let me ask you one thing, did you receive the gift of the holy spirit through work or through faith?"
The word 'revival' is not used in the NT. Surprise? I think there's no need to use it because it's an on going theme. Whenever the gospel is preached, there's 'revival'- if revival means there's a lot of ppl coming to the lord.
I can remember 2 occasions recorded for us that this happen. First was by Peter in which 3000 ppl got saved and the other by Paul, 'almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord'.
So what happened during these 2 'revivals' recorded for us in the bible?
1. Peter to the Jews at Pentecost:
Act 2:38 Peter answered them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift.
Act 2:39 For this promise belongs to you and your children, as well as to all those who are far away, whom the Lord our God may call to himself."
2. Paul to everyone:
Act 13:38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
Act 13:39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
Notice the common theme?
Repent, which means change your mind in greek. Change your mind from what? What does Peter tells the 'men of Israel' to change their mind from? That the law of moses cannot save you (Act 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.")
AND through this man is preached, is proclaimed the forgiveness of sins to you by which you are freed from everything you could not be freed from the law of moses! Then you WILL also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit - as a guarantee.
It is ALWAYS through Him, the foundation of our faith, the cornerstone, that 'revival' starts. Nothing else matters.
Those who believed, received the gift of the Holy Spirit and the promise. (What promise? ALL the promise in the bible)
That is the gospel - the only recipe needed for a 'revival' - the good news, the best news of God that He came to save and all sins are forgiven - your present, past and future ones. The key by which the New Covenant takes place. Hallelujah.
Believe in it.
Still I see ppl find it hard to believe. They feel that there's still 'sin' in them. They need a 'touch' from God since their 'last sin'. They still feel guilty that unless they are 'purified' from all 'sins' God cannot work in them or through them. They feel that they have not been completely obedient.
Well from what I read in Hebrews, the only disobedient the author was concern is this: that you stop believing that your conscience is cleared. Therefore the author say: strive to enter that rest. The 'rest' that it's now no longer our efforts, it's been done for us by Chris. And throughout the book, the unbelief is refered to as sin. And in its context:
Heb 10:26 For if we go on sinning (to stop believing that we have been forgiven) deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
So if we want to 'do' revival do this, believe that through this Man, is preached the forgiveness of sins and by Him all that believe are justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
.
.
.
.
It's a few days now since the healing and I'm still enjoying hearing my watch tick. It's so funny, I feel like a little boy every time I put my watch to my right ear. It's as if I have heard it for the first time. Just like the gospel it seems I have just heard it for the first time, again, today.
Hahaha. Tick tick tick.... I smiled and cried all at the same time in my room as I praised God for the wonderful gifts.
It was easy for me. I prayed and He delivered. Pure grace. Easy for me. But it didn't come cheap, He paid for it with a price.
Grace is cheap? Hardly. It's easy though.
That's the hard part for many to accept I suppose. It seems that we would rather prefer to work for something than to get it free. No wonder Paul was so mad at the galatians when he ask, " let me ask you one thing, did you receive the gift of the holy spirit through work or through faith?"
The word 'revival' is not used in the NT. Surprise? I think there's no need to use it because it's an on going theme. Whenever the gospel is preached, there's 'revival'- if revival means there's a lot of ppl coming to the lord.
I can remember 2 occasions recorded for us that this happen. First was by Peter in which 3000 ppl got saved and the other by Paul, 'almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord'.
So what happened during these 2 'revivals' recorded for us in the bible?
1. Peter to the Jews at Pentecost:
Act 2:38 Peter answered them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift.
Act 2:39 For this promise belongs to you and your children, as well as to all those who are far away, whom the Lord our God may call to himself."
2. Paul to everyone:
Act 13:38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
Act 13:39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
Notice the common theme?
Repent, which means change your mind in greek. Change your mind from what? What does Peter tells the 'men of Israel' to change their mind from? That the law of moses cannot save you (Act 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.")
AND through this man is preached, is proclaimed the forgiveness of sins to you by which you are freed from everything you could not be freed from the law of moses! Then you WILL also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit - as a guarantee.
It is ALWAYS through Him, the foundation of our faith, the cornerstone, that 'revival' starts. Nothing else matters.
Those who believed, received the gift of the Holy Spirit and the promise. (What promise? ALL the promise in the bible)
That is the gospel - the only recipe needed for a 'revival' - the good news, the best news of God that He came to save and all sins are forgiven - your present, past and future ones. The key by which the New Covenant takes place. Hallelujah.
Believe in it.
Still I see ppl find it hard to believe. They feel that there's still 'sin' in them. They need a 'touch' from God since their 'last sin'. They still feel guilty that unless they are 'purified' from all 'sins' God cannot work in them or through them. They feel that they have not been completely obedient.
Well from what I read in Hebrews, the only disobedient the author was concern is this: that you stop believing that your conscience is cleared. Therefore the author say: strive to enter that rest. The 'rest' that it's now no longer our efforts, it's been done for us by Chris. And throughout the book, the unbelief is refered to as sin. And in its context:
Heb 10:26 For if we go on sinning (to stop believing that we have been forgiven) deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
So if we want to 'do' revival do this, believe that through this Man, is preached the forgiveness of sins and by Him all that believe are justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
.
.
.
.
It's a few days now since the healing and I'm still enjoying hearing my watch tick. It's so funny, I feel like a little boy every time I put my watch to my right ear. It's as if I have heard it for the first time. Just like the gospel it seems I have just heard it for the first time, again, today.
Many things I do not know...
but this I know, once I couldn't hear my watch ticking on my right ear now I can.
It was about last week that I found out that my right ear cannot hear the ticking of my automatic watch while my left ear can. I tried putting it at different angles but I just can't hear it ticking like the way it sound on my left ear.
Today we decided to hear a sermon by Peter Youngren or something. It's one of the sermon from New Creation. To be honest, it's one of the more boring one. But at the end of the sermon, on mp3, He said people are being healed and to pray. So wife and I sat here in our bed claiming we are healed here and there.
I prayed for my ear but I felt that it was such a 'small' thing, it can hear a lot of stuff just not 'ticking' but I hear a voice saying, He can heal everything. So I prayed for my mind to be boosted with wisdom, my ear, my knees...etc
About 5 mins later, Peter said to stretch out your arm/legs to test it out. So I took out my watch and there it was.
It sounds like music to my ears.... tick tick tick tick tick tick.
Hallelujah!
It was about last week that I found out that my right ear cannot hear the ticking of my automatic watch while my left ear can. I tried putting it at different angles but I just can't hear it ticking like the way it sound on my left ear.
Today we decided to hear a sermon by Peter Youngren or something. It's one of the sermon from New Creation. To be honest, it's one of the more boring one. But at the end of the sermon, on mp3, He said people are being healed and to pray. So wife and I sat here in our bed claiming we are healed here and there.
I prayed for my ear but I felt that it was such a 'small' thing, it can hear a lot of stuff just not 'ticking' but I hear a voice saying, He can heal everything. So I prayed for my mind to be boosted with wisdom, my ear, my knees...etc
About 5 mins later, Peter said to stretch out your arm/legs to test it out. So I took out my watch and there it was.
It sounds like music to my ears.... tick tick tick tick tick tick.
Hallelujah!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Psalm 23. Part 5
Psa 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Just haven't had much time to write. But I'll try to conclude the series now.
You prepare a table before me.... in the olden days, the when kingdom goes to war, the victor chain their enemies and eat before them. It's really a way to taunt them and 'show off' that you're the winner. So here the Lord prepares the table for us to eat in victory. Hence when we pray, we pray from victory not for victory. Because God has done it for us.
He annoints my head with oil. Oil for sheeps are like insect repellent for us in modern times. Sheperds used oil to keep away flies from the sheep with oil. For us spiritually, His oil keeps all things evil, sickness, poverty away.
My cup overflows. This is so nice because when a king keep your cup overflowing in ancient days, it means that he wants you around. He is saying, ' hang around, I like you' so he keeps your cup overflowing (with wine usually in ancient times). Half full means: times' out my friend, get lost. So does God wants us around? YES! Keep my cup OVERFLOWING. With Him around, you can expect overflowing of all things. He is afterall, the creator.
Man, if you think that's good, the best is yet to come!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. This last one sounds pretty obvious is it not? But let me add a spin to it. "Shall follow me" actually means "to run after.. with hostile intent" in hebrew, or hunt.
Imagine that... God's goodness and mercy (sugar and spice and everything nice!) is chasing down you. Think you can escape that?
So even in your lowest of most days you can be sure, God our Lord, friend, our everlasting refuge and good sheperd is always desiring for you to be around. His goodness is sent, chasing you down.
Even while David was under Law He knew this of God, it's no wonder He is the man after God's heart. What more now that we have the Grace that has been revealed to us.
Hallelujah. Shalom be with you my friends. Have a great weekend.
Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Just haven't had much time to write. But I'll try to conclude the series now.
You prepare a table before me.... in the olden days, the when kingdom goes to war, the victor chain their enemies and eat before them. It's really a way to taunt them and 'show off' that you're the winner. So here the Lord prepares the table for us to eat in victory. Hence when we pray, we pray from victory not for victory. Because God has done it for us.
He annoints my head with oil. Oil for sheeps are like insect repellent for us in modern times. Sheperds used oil to keep away flies from the sheep with oil. For us spiritually, His oil keeps all things evil, sickness, poverty away.
My cup overflows. This is so nice because when a king keep your cup overflowing in ancient days, it means that he wants you around. He is saying, ' hang around, I like you' so he keeps your cup overflowing (with wine usually in ancient times). Half full means: times' out my friend, get lost. So does God wants us around? YES! Keep my cup OVERFLOWING. With Him around, you can expect overflowing of all things. He is afterall, the creator.
Man, if you think that's good, the best is yet to come!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. This last one sounds pretty obvious is it not? But let me add a spin to it. "Shall follow me" actually means "to run after.. with hostile intent" in hebrew, or hunt.
Imagine that... God's goodness and mercy (sugar and spice and everything nice!) is chasing down you. Think you can escape that?
So even in your lowest of most days you can be sure, God our Lord, friend, our everlasting refuge and good sheperd is always desiring for you to be around. His goodness is sent, chasing you down.
Even while David was under Law He knew this of God, it's no wonder He is the man after God's heart. What more now that we have the Grace that has been revealed to us.
Hallelujah. Shalom be with you my friends. Have a great weekend.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Addicted to Oil
Before I write more I want to say that I totally don't agree with the way the government increase oil prices? Why can't they warn everyone first, like 3 months before so that everyone is prepared mentally. It seems they like to 'shock' everyone. Maybe they were trying to prevent prices to 'increase so fast' but that's inevitable isn't it?
As Malaysia is pondering about the shocking price increase I can't stop to wonder, why are we still addicted to oil?
And human race as a whole seems to be a forgetful lot. Take Malaysia for example, just more than a few months ago, we were 'shocked' when fuel prices went up to 1.9. The governement said it'll use all the savings for this and that... now they're spinning the same story. Are we expecting the 'savings' to put to good use again...?
So everytime the oil price hit a new high, the human race cries out. When crude oil first hit 50/barrel then 80/barrel then 100/barrel and then 130/barrel as in now. Each time we cry foul! The airline all went crazy. Then the powers that be produces a bit more oil, bring the prices down a bit... and then.... all is merry again!
The car manufacturers, oil producers...etc are playing all of us suckers! Electric cars (google who killed the electric car) were mass produced 10 years ago. Using 'lousy' batteries in today's standards and yet they still say electric cars are 'not ready'. Comparing electric cars and Hybrids, we would conclude that Hybrids are the 'Low-tech' cars isn't it?
So the Low Tech Hybrid cars are made so 'expensive' today because like all new product, they're going to bring the price down slowly. Does that make sense, you decide.
Yet government don't make efforts to shift us from the addiction. Why don't they give tax exemption for such cars? or restructure incentives to promote alternative energies. The technology is not ready is complete bull. It'll never be 'ready' if it isn't given a chance. Actually I think it's more than ready... just google it and you'll see what I mean or if you don't know how to read or spell just watch discovery. But what's stopping it from happening is $$$, money, mulah.
There's just so much unmade profits! from oil, from electricity...etc power supply is big business.
The other half is that, we're not used to energy being free. Humans are habitual creatures and after 100 years of paying for energy we're just not used to it being free... and it can be free. But in a capitalist world that's not gonna happen. And when there's money, there's greed and with that - even the best projects in the world can fail. (but really 100 years ago, energy are mostly free)
Meanwhile, the weather in the world gets worst. We blame it global warming- which is linked! heloo?!
So back to Malaysia and the world, we're addicted to oil and we're not doing anything about it. Like the guy who's addicted to cigarettes, he tells himself... after his it's the last stick. I was there and I tell you, he's bluffing himself. Until the world becomes convicted, we'll continue to be addicted to oil... so start preparing for 200/barrel and then 300/barrel.
As Malaysia is pondering about the shocking price increase I can't stop to wonder, why are we still addicted to oil?
And human race as a whole seems to be a forgetful lot. Take Malaysia for example, just more than a few months ago, we were 'shocked' when fuel prices went up to 1.9. The governement said it'll use all the savings for this and that... now they're spinning the same story. Are we expecting the 'savings' to put to good use again...?
So everytime the oil price hit a new high, the human race cries out. When crude oil first hit 50/barrel then 80/barrel then 100/barrel and then 130/barrel as in now. Each time we cry foul! The airline all went crazy. Then the powers that be produces a bit more oil, bring the prices down a bit... and then.... all is merry again!
The car manufacturers, oil producers...etc are playing all of us suckers! Electric cars (google who killed the electric car) were mass produced 10 years ago. Using 'lousy' batteries in today's standards and yet they still say electric cars are 'not ready'. Comparing electric cars and Hybrids, we would conclude that Hybrids are the 'Low-tech' cars isn't it?
So the Low Tech Hybrid cars are made so 'expensive' today because like all new product, they're going to bring the price down slowly. Does that make sense, you decide.
Yet government don't make efforts to shift us from the addiction. Why don't they give tax exemption for such cars? or restructure incentives to promote alternative energies. The technology is not ready is complete bull. It'll never be 'ready' if it isn't given a chance. Actually I think it's more than ready... just google it and you'll see what I mean or if you don't know how to read or spell just watch discovery. But what's stopping it from happening is $$$, money, mulah.
There's just so much unmade profits! from oil, from electricity...etc power supply is big business.
The other half is that, we're not used to energy being free. Humans are habitual creatures and after 100 years of paying for energy we're just not used to it being free... and it can be free. But in a capitalist world that's not gonna happen. And when there's money, there's greed and with that - even the best projects in the world can fail. (but really 100 years ago, energy are mostly free)
Meanwhile, the weather in the world gets worst. We blame it global warming- which is linked! heloo?!
So back to Malaysia and the world, we're addicted to oil and we're not doing anything about it. Like the guy who's addicted to cigarettes, he tells himself... after his it's the last stick. I was there and I tell you, he's bluffing himself. Until the world becomes convicted, we'll continue to be addicted to oil... so start preparing for 200/barrel and then 300/barrel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)