I took a walk about 9-10 years ago. It was on one of those nights when I can't sleep. I remember how I felt that night. I felt good that night. Like really GOOD.
Because for the last 12 months prior to that walk I was constantly depressed. A close friend, who after spending his last moments with me committed suicide. I guess I could not forgive myself. I guess I could have done more? I guess many things and it all happened about a year before that walk.
But that night I felt good. Peaceful. Because Jesus found me. He found me when I needed Him most.
I still can remember the walk clearly that night. (I was about 2 months old as a christian maybe?) It was about 12:20am. I was smiling to myself. My feet had a bounce and the cool breeze of midnight felt just right. I must be humming a tune to myself because I was just happy. I just learned how to talk to God and I must be having a great conversation with Him because the 20mins I walked to the 7-eleven seemed to pass so quickly.
At 7-eleven I bought myself a pack of 20s reds (Marlboro) because besides being happy, I could need a smoke. Hehehe, yes besides being happy with myself, I needed a fag.
The long awaited fag was good at first draw. But I certainly missed the Bensons in UK or Marlboros in Singapore, they were just much finer :) Those of you know who knows, know what I mean :)
So as I walked home, I smoked all the way (it's called chain smoking sometimes :) ) while talking to God. Yes, you can still talk to God while you're smoking! I remembered an interesting question He asked me halfway through which caught me by surprise. He asked me why am I still smoking?
I replied, I dunno. Er.. it satisfy? Right?
He asked again, does it really?
I know what He meant. Because before I found him 2/3 months prior, nothing satisfy. But with Jesus, my thirst was quench. I was just happy. My heart of 'full'. I was just so low before... but at that point nothing could be better.
So He said something like, you know eric, ciggis don't satisfy you anymore from now on.. not like last time. You don't need it Eric. I mean think about it Eric?
Ooohh.. He got me there :) I agree with you Jesus I replied. I threw the stick I was smoking and the remaining of the pack. Laughing I told him why haven't I thought about that sooner. We continued talking as I walk home.
That was it. That's how I remembereed the last packed of ciggis I smoked as a smoker. (I didn't have much redrawal after that either :P ) God has been so kind to me.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Father's hand
Firstly Hillary, I wanna say what a great idea to start a 'sunday sharing' on the blogs!
When I think of my father's hand I think of my father - the man that he is. You know man is often identified with 'things they do' and what they do with their hands speaks volume about who he is, as a person.
My dad works tirelessly. He loves his work. I know that because through the years I've seen him happiest when he is working, both at the office or at home fixing stuff. And whatever he did, he put in all he had. Even after he retired, he worked on other things like languages (he now speaks and write japanese fluently), business...etc
Like all children, I grew up thinking 'I don't want to be like my dad'! But as years goes by, I think we are more alike than I think. Looking at him enjoy his work has certainly shaped me. I love me work too and if I had ALL the money in the world I'd still be working. *smiles* I am afterall my father's boy.
On hindsight though, I didn't have much chance to talk to my dad on a heart to heart basis. It's kinda hard for guys to open up this way. We like to 'tell' but we seldom, if ever, share what's in our heart. I'd like to tell him that I love him and all that... but when we meet, we talk about how our businesses are doing...etc
But the last few years has seen my dad grown more 'cool', which is a great thing. My ego has also gotten milder :) and there were a few occasion where we actually talked. It was one of the best times I had with him. I look forward now to go home and have a chance to just talk to him.
My wife's dad pass away a few years ago. He passed away at a difficult time and sometimes at night I still hug my wife as she think about her dad. She misses him still. I wonder what her father's hand meant to her? I would never understand... but dad (in law), you've raised a great gal!
When I think about my heavenly father, I think about Jesus. Since He said, if I have seen him, I've seen the Father.
What kinda hand does he have? I thought His hands praying. I thought about His hand that heals when He touched someone, His hands that worked on wood, . What does this pair of hands look like? This image came up:
But that picture isn't accurate at all. Far from it! Jesus' hands would be have been ugly! So ugly beyond recognition, pierced on the cross with 2 holes!
and because of that I have beautiful hands now, unscared, unpierced thanks to Him.
When I think of my father's hand I think of my father - the man that he is. You know man is often identified with 'things they do' and what they do with their hands speaks volume about who he is, as a person.
My dad works tirelessly. He loves his work. I know that because through the years I've seen him happiest when he is working, both at the office or at home fixing stuff. And whatever he did, he put in all he had. Even after he retired, he worked on other things like languages (he now speaks and write japanese fluently), business...etc
Like all children, I grew up thinking 'I don't want to be like my dad'! But as years goes by, I think we are more alike than I think. Looking at him enjoy his work has certainly shaped me. I love me work too and if I had ALL the money in the world I'd still be working. *smiles* I am afterall my father's boy.
On hindsight though, I didn't have much chance to talk to my dad on a heart to heart basis. It's kinda hard for guys to open up this way. We like to 'tell' but we seldom, if ever, share what's in our heart. I'd like to tell him that I love him and all that... but when we meet, we talk about how our businesses are doing...etc
But the last few years has seen my dad grown more 'cool', which is a great thing. My ego has also gotten milder :) and there were a few occasion where we actually talked. It was one of the best times I had with him. I look forward now to go home and have a chance to just talk to him.
My wife's dad pass away a few years ago. He passed away at a difficult time and sometimes at night I still hug my wife as she think about her dad. She misses him still. I wonder what her father's hand meant to her? I would never understand... but dad (in law), you've raised a great gal!
When I think about my heavenly father, I think about Jesus. Since He said, if I have seen him, I've seen the Father.
What kinda hand does he have? I thought His hands praying. I thought about His hand that heals when He touched someone, His hands that worked on wood, . What does this pair of hands look like? This image came up:
But that picture isn't accurate at all. Far from it! Jesus' hands would be have been ugly! So ugly beyond recognition, pierced on the cross with 2 holes!
and because of that I have beautiful hands now, unscared, unpierced thanks to Him.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
There is no conspiracy against Anwar.
That's what ABM said today according to the star.
I dunno man.
Let me quote Pat here.
"Yes. He is the same person who has a perfect track record for making things happen. In the opposite direction la.
No. I am not getting married. Boom! He gets married.
No. I will not dissolve Parliament. Boom! He dissolves Parliament the very next day.
No. There will be no fuel price increase (the first time last week). Boom! RM2.70 per litre the next day."
So no conspiracy?...
I dunno man.
Let me quote Pat here.
"Yes. He is the same person who has a perfect track record for making things happen. In the opposite direction la.
No. I am not getting married. Boom! He gets married.
No. I will not dissolve Parliament. Boom! He dissolves Parliament the very next day.
No. There will be no fuel price increase (the first time last week). Boom! RM2.70 per litre the next day."
So no conspiracy?...
The Dark Knight
I am a batman fan and I have been waiting for this movie for over a year! There was so much hype on this movie that I was afraid that it may not live up to it.
Let me rest assure you fans out there. I have ventured ahead of you, risking the dissapointment of a super flop.... the hype was ALL worth it.
I think this is the BESTest batman movie ever made: dark, lonely, conflicts, power, evil, love and above all, duty, honour and justice. Throw in an outstanding cast, story and performance, I think this is one of those rare epic move I'll be watching again and again.
Must mentioned also that Joker was especially well played. Chaotic, villain genius, scary, unpredictable. Brilliant.
After thoughts:
Duty. Honour. Justice. These are rare commodities in our society especially in these trying days in Malaysia. And I believe they'll be even more needed in the road ahead with all the global issues coming up wave after wave. Global economic slowdown (or meltdown?), global warming just to name a few.
And just like in the movie, we also have a C4 explosion happened in a neighbourhood not far from here, KL.
Unfortunately though, who can we turn to? Who can we trust?
Do we have a batman call sign....
Let me rest assure you fans out there. I have ventured ahead of you, risking the dissapointment of a super flop.... the hype was ALL worth it.
The Dark Knight
is
back!
is
back!
I think this is the BESTest batman movie ever made: dark, lonely, conflicts, power, evil, love and above all, duty, honour and justice. Throw in an outstanding cast, story and performance, I think this is one of those rare epic move I'll be watching again and again.
Must mentioned also that Joker was especially well played. Chaotic, villain genius, scary, unpredictable. Brilliant.
After thoughts:
Duty. Honour. Justice. These are rare commodities in our society especially in these trying days in Malaysia. And I believe they'll be even more needed in the road ahead with all the global issues coming up wave after wave. Global economic slowdown (or meltdown?), global warming just to name a few.
And just like in the movie, we also have a C4 explosion happened in a neighbourhood not far from here, KL.
Unfortunately though, who can we turn to? Who can we trust?
Do we have a batman call sign....
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Christian Urban Legend 1: Anointing
The reason why I'm writing a series on Christian urban legend is because I feel that many of these issues mentioned are deemed as 'common knowledge'. While the issues are seemingly small, I feel that if one believes wrongly it causes a ripple effect that ultimately distort our view of who our God really is.
At the point of writing this, I have no clue what other christian urban legends they are, however I would love to hear from you what other urban legends you think are worth discussing.
The first that I'm writing about is this "anointing". Not just any anointing, it's the one you go to a concert/event/revival meeting and hope to 'bring some back' to your home church. Or it could be this anointed person you meet and hope to bring some of his anointing back with you.
I think many of us has heard that one before.
This wrong teaching - that you can get more anointed by means of being present in certain places or being prayed for by 'more anointed' person - leads one to think that there's different gradient or grades of anointing.
You begin as a padawan and become a jedi if you 'gather' enough.
So why is this an urban legend?
It is because you cannot 'get more anointed' or 'get someone's anointing' and you definitely cannot 'carry some anointing back'. The 'anointing' is not a transferable force or cumulative force. If so then the most anointed person would be the person that gather the most anointing? (We can then create a anointing server and let everyone download, how about that?!)
Firstly anointing as explain in hebrew strongs H4899 says:
ma^shi^yach
maw-shee'-akh
From H4886; anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically the Messiah: - anointed, Messiah.
and H4886 is:
ma^shach
maw-shakh'
A primitive root; to rub with oil, that is, to anoint; by implication to consecrate; also to paint: - anoint, paint.
Quite plainly when you're a priest or a saint and you're rub with oil or consecrated (for god) you're annointed.
Jesus was anointed. Heck, He is the messiah. Same word!
While I don't know the technicality of how you get anointed, or do you get anointed first before the Spirit of God comes onto you or after, there are some consistent theme throughout the bible about anointing.
We do know that when you're anointed the spirit of God comes on you and that you're only anointed once.
Think about it. This happened to David, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha...etc Who was anointed twice? There's Elisha who asked and was given a 'double portion'.. but how many times were Elisha anointed? Once.
Lets look at this:
Luk 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to tell the good news to the poor. He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set oppressed people free,
Luk 4:19 and to announce the year of the Lord's favor."
Check it out. It says, because he has anointed me to..... that's why the spirit of the Lord is on me.
That's interesting. The spirit and the anointing go hand in hand. Very consistent througout the bible. Also there was a reason for the anointing. It was for a purpose.
Now was Jesus ever anointed again after this? I don't recall so.
Did he ever need another anointing to fulfill all His purpose here on earth? No need.
The holy spirit on him was able to help him with ALL the tastk, from healing, walking on water, casting out demons, commanding weather...etc
Yeah, I hear some of you say:" but but but that's Jesus what!".
See what Jesus says here:
Act 1:4 While he was meeting with them, he ordered them, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the Father's promise, about which you heard me speak.
Act 1:5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Now after His ressurection, He says, we'll be baptized with the HOLY SPIRIT. The same one that He's got. Then
Act 1:8 .... you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
See the word - POWER. What POWER?
MEGA HOLY SPIRIT KAWABUNGA power.
The same stuff that made Peter walk on water. Same stuff mate.
Well, the Holy Spirit on Him is the same one with you today. It is because of God's grace that we have this gift. Once you believe in Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God comes on you as a guarantee. It never leaves you nor forsake you. The spirit of God enables you to do all things through Him. It has consecrated you - you are a 'priest' and therefore is anointed.
To bring the point back home, you as a child of God, is anointed. You do not need to go need to an event to get anointed or get more anointed.
You are already anointed maximus.
All you need is already dwelling in you: the Holy Spirit, through whom can help you do all things you need to do. He knows His purpose for your life and will help you through it.
I hope this explains why this is an 'urban legend'. Why I believe that this is so important is because if you believe wrongly, then you reap the fruit of your wrong beliefs and I truly want you to live the fullest anointed life ever posible, to the power of infinitiy plus one, now.
Why? Because God loves you so much. He wants you to know that He is not angry with your sins any longer. He wants you to draw near to Him without feeling fear. Because our dear Lord has paid a hefty price for our sins and these gifts are given to you. It is there to make your life abundant. It is there to make you live the best life you can in which He has called you to.
Make use of it, because I believe, it pleases Him that you do.
At the point of writing this, I have no clue what other christian urban legends they are, however I would love to hear from you what other urban legends you think are worth discussing.
The first that I'm writing about is this "anointing". Not just any anointing, it's the one you go to a concert/event/revival meeting and hope to 'bring some back' to your home church. Or it could be this anointed person you meet and hope to bring some of his anointing back with you.
I think many of us has heard that one before.
This wrong teaching - that you can get more anointed by means of being present in certain places or being prayed for by 'more anointed' person - leads one to think that there's different gradient or grades of anointing.
You begin as a padawan and become a jedi if you 'gather' enough.
So why is this an urban legend?
It is because you cannot 'get more anointed' or 'get someone's anointing' and you definitely cannot 'carry some anointing back'. The 'anointing' is not a transferable force or cumulative force. If so then the most anointed person would be the person that gather the most anointing? (We can then create a anointing server and let everyone download, how about that?!)
Firstly anointing as explain in hebrew strongs H4899 says:
ma^shi^yach
maw-shee'-akh
From H4886; anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically the Messiah: - anointed, Messiah.
and H4886 is:
ma^shach
maw-shakh'
A primitive root; to rub with oil, that is, to anoint; by implication to consecrate; also to paint: - anoint, paint.
Quite plainly when you're a priest or a saint and you're rub with oil or consecrated (for god) you're annointed.
Jesus was anointed. Heck, He is the messiah. Same word!
While I don't know the technicality of how you get anointed, or do you get anointed first before the Spirit of God comes onto you or after, there are some consistent theme throughout the bible about anointing.
We do know that when you're anointed the spirit of God comes on you and that you're only anointed once.
Think about it. This happened to David, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha...etc Who was anointed twice? There's Elisha who asked and was given a 'double portion'.. but how many times were Elisha anointed? Once.
Lets look at this:
Luk 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to tell the good news to the poor. He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set oppressed people free,
Luk 4:19 and to announce the year of the Lord's favor."
Check it out. It says, because he has anointed me to..... that's why the spirit of the Lord is on me.
That's interesting. The spirit and the anointing go hand in hand. Very consistent througout the bible. Also there was a reason for the anointing. It was for a purpose.
Now was Jesus ever anointed again after this? I don't recall so.
Did he ever need another anointing to fulfill all His purpose here on earth? No need.
The holy spirit on him was able to help him with ALL the tastk, from healing, walking on water, casting out demons, commanding weather...etc
Yeah, I hear some of you say:" but but but that's Jesus what!".
See what Jesus says here:
Act 1:4 While he was meeting with them, he ordered them, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the Father's promise, about which you heard me speak.
Act 1:5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Now after His ressurection, He says, we'll be baptized with the HOLY SPIRIT. The same one that He's got. Then
Act 1:8 .... you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
See the word - POWER. What POWER?
MEGA HOLY SPIRIT KAWABUNGA power.
The same stuff that made Peter walk on water. Same stuff mate.
Well, the Holy Spirit on Him is the same one with you today. It is because of God's grace that we have this gift. Once you believe in Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God comes on you as a guarantee. It never leaves you nor forsake you. The spirit of God enables you to do all things through Him. It has consecrated you - you are a 'priest' and therefore is anointed.
To bring the point back home, you as a child of God, is anointed. You do not need to go need to an event to get anointed or get more anointed.
You are already anointed maximus.
All you need is already dwelling in you: the Holy Spirit, through whom can help you do all things you need to do. He knows His purpose for your life and will help you through it.
I hope this explains why this is an 'urban legend'. Why I believe that this is so important is because if you believe wrongly, then you reap the fruit of your wrong beliefs and I truly want you to live the fullest anointed life ever posible, to the power of infinitiy plus one, now.
Why? Because God loves you so much. He wants you to know that He is not angry with your sins any longer. He wants you to draw near to Him without feeling fear. Because our dear Lord has paid a hefty price for our sins and these gifts are given to you. It is there to make your life abundant. It is there to make you live the best life you can in which He has called you to.
Make use of it, because I believe, it pleases Him that you do.
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