I'm Watching You, Dad!

Wow, a great video - a solemn reminder to me that our children are watching us what we are doing!

The Necklace

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
(Isaiah 55:1-2)

Guy de Maupassant's story, "The Necklace," tells the tragic story of a girl named Mathilde. Invited to an exclusive and elegant dance, she borrowed a most costly necklace from a rich friend. The necklace had its intended effect, as many complimented her beauty that night. Horror of all horrors, she lost the necklace. She was so ashamed to confess it to her friend; she purchased a necklace just like it the next day for 40,000 francs. She gave it to her wealthy friend and did not tell her about the one she lost. She and her husband labored overtime and at many extra jobs trying to pay off the loan for the replaced necklace. Finally paid off, Mathilde spoke to her rich friend and confessed to her that they had slaved for ten years to pay for the replacement. The rich friend replied, "What a shame.

The necklace was imitation and almost worthless. It was made of paste."

This story is a perfect picture of us when we spend our time and energy on things of little value. Isaiah asked this pointed question: "Why will you spend money on what is not bread, and why will you labor for things that cannot satisfy?" Many have spent a lifetime trying to buy into the world's system and its pleasure, which always ends up in the "paste" category. The nonbeliever' s life is a life of chasing mirages. The treasures of the world always seem so real, but they are phony and fake.

A Good Article On How The Danger Our Number-Oriented Society Is Influencing The Church

Below is an excerpt from the Christianity Today's article "Battling Numbers - Getting past the need to see ever-increasing numbers" by Christine Litavsky:


I'm not alone in my fixation with numbers. In today's more-is-better America, we're usually seeking loftier numbers. We want numerous bedrooms in our homes, several cars in our garages, and higher balances in our bank accounts. We want dozens of choices in our grocery stores, increased children's programs at our churches, and more time in each day.

Numbers Epidemic

This fixation with higher numbers has also permeated many evangelical churches. We need only to look at the explosion of megachurches to see this. Christians and non-Christians alike consider these churches extremely successful. They grab the attention of the mainstream media as well as Christian publications. Some of their pastors become bestselling authors, even moderating presidential debates. Megachurches are unique from one another, but they have one similarity—they boast very large numbers.

I am not against large churches—in fact, numbers are sometimes a great indicator that something is working well. But my anxiety about the dwindling numbers in my Bible study has caused me pause. I believe many of us are, as Christians, bowing down to numbers. We actually begin to follow them, worshiping them when they're high and cowering before them when they're low. What a mistake.

Unfortunately, it's one that's easy to slip into. We are a numbers-oriented society; trained to seek and expect high numbers, and to equate them with success.

But what kind of success? Worldly, certainly. But what does the Bible say about the success of large numbers? God certainly does not play the more-is-better game. The story of Noah indicates that God would rather have true belief than large numbers. Out all the people who lived during Noah's time, only eight were saved from the flood due to their righteousness (Gen. 7:1). It was from these few that God built his kingdom. In fact, time after time Scripture tells us of faithful remnants of God's people who make an impact for his kingdom despite their low numbers.....

.......We need to remember the numbers God is interested in are not our sales numbers, or our stock portfolio, or the number of people in our Bible studies or churches. What God cares about is the number of people who truly know him through belief in Jesus Christ.

I believe this lesson is the most important thing I've learned from my Bible study yet. God has used decreased attendance to regain my attention, helping me focus on him, not numbers, for answers and guidance.

Numbers don't matter. Our relationship with Christ does........

Click here to read the complete article.

ESV Study Bible Free Online Access for a limited time

Free Online Access to the ESV Study Bible

Crossway is pleased to make the ESV Online Study Bible available free—for anyone and everyone—for a limited time beginning today, March 2, 2009. Until now, the ESV Online Study Bible has been available exclusively to those who have purchased the print edition.

In addition to the features found in the print edition, the ESV Online Study Bible provides numerous interactive features enabling readers to:

• Record personal notes, reflections, and links
• Click hyperlinked cross references
• Search by verse, topic, or keyword
• Digitally highlight Bible passages with various colors
• Listen to audio of passages

For full access to these features through March 31, 2009, visit www.esvstudybible.org/online. Simply create a login and password. Email information will not be shared, nor will there be any obligation to purchase.

Lane Dennis, President of Crossway Books & Bibles, states, “Our goal as a Christian publisher is to distribute the Bible and essential resources for understanding God’s Word as broadly as possible around the world. I am very excited about the ESV Online Study Bible, because it assists the study of God’s Word in a way that is particularly relevant to today’s tech-savvy generation.”

Crossway invites you to share this information with others—with the hope that many will benefit from this online resource as they seek to further experience the timeless truth of God’s Word as a powerful, compelling, life-changing reality.

Original Blog post URL:
http://www.esvstudybible.org/blog/2009/03/free-online-access-to-the-esv-study-bible/

Survey shows S’poreans spending more on home entertainment

Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE: A recent study on the impact of the economic crisis on consumer attitude and behaviour showed that four in ten Singaporeans have cut back on out—of—home entertainment.

They were also spending less on social outings with friends, toys and gadgets, and taxi rides. More than a third, or 32.3 per cent, said they had increased spending on entertainment at home.

Those who were surveyed said they were spending more on cigarettes, text messaging and home deliveries as well.

Called "Trading Up, Trading Down", the survey which polled 300 consumers, business owners and shoppers was conducted by advertising, marketing and corporate communications company BBDO/Proximity Singapore from October to December last year.

The study also showed the emergence of a more cautious consumer — someone who researches on purchases more, plans further ahead, and is more sensitive to deals and promotions.

In terms of age groups, the younger consumers tended to be more resilient in their spending. They continued to spend on out—of—home entertainment, social outings, mobile and Internet communications.

They were also almost half as likely as other age groups to switch to a less premium brand when it comes to fashion apparel, IT equipment and alcohol.

— CNA/so

Note:
I read the above news from CNA. If Singaporeans already knew full well the economic crisis we are in, I don't know how much we Malaysians aware of our economic conditions.

That reminds me of the sons of Issachar who understood the times and seasons:
.....of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command; (1Ch 12:32 NKJV)


The 200 leaders from the tribe of Issachar "understood the signs of the times." As a result, their knowledge and judgment provided needed help in making decisions for the nation. Today, it is equally important for us to know what is happening in society in order to plan the best course of action for the church.

Knowledge of current events, trends, and needs helps us understand people's thoughts and attitudes. This gives us information to help them make wise decisions for the church and make God's message relevant to people's lives. Isn't it that we are to be good stewards of God's resources?

Neale Donald Walsch's Conversations with God books series - What Christians Need to Know

The book that started it all, Conversations with God, Book 1: An Uncommon Dialogue, spent over two and a half years on the New York Times Best Sellers List, and in 2006 a movie based on the book was released. “Conversations with God,” or “CwG,” is the brainchild of Neale Donald Walsch. In 1995, Walsch released the first book in the series, followed by eight more books, all written as dialogues between Walsch and “God.” The basic premise of the series is that God is “speaking” to everyone all the time and that Walsch began listening. He wrote Book 1 while struggling with thoughts of suicide and questions over the meaning of life.

Walsch claims divine inspiration for his books, saying that God literally spoke to him (“over my right shoulder”), and he wrote down what he heard as if taking dictation. However, in an April 7, 2000, interview on CNN’s “Larry King Live,” Walsch admitted that he couldn’t be sure that it was God speaking and that the books could have been the product of his own subconscious.

In his books, Walsch says the voice told him that God is everything and everything is God. Therefore, we humans are “God.” Everyone around you is simply “you” in a different form, and we are all “God.” Here, Walsch is repeating one of Satan’s original lies, “You will be as God” (Genesis 3:5).

Walsch also claims that all life is eternal. Death is “the great illusion.” There is no judgment, no punishment, and no hell, for there is no reason for any of that—there is no sin. After death, a person goes to a different level of existence in order to “continue the evolution of the human soul.” This teaching is in direct conflict with Hebrews 9:27 and many other passages of scripture that teach the reality of judgment after death.

Walsch’s defense of Hitler’s actions are in line with his teaching of relativism: Hitler might be called “evil,” but only “within the context of our human experience.” And Hitler was commissioned by God “to show humanity to itself for the purpose of lifting humanity above what it had become and what it had sunk to” (Larry King interview, op. cit.). Therefore, in Walsch’s world, Hitler was just another thread of the tapestry and was necessary to help us move forward.

According to Walsch, there is no right way to live or one way to come to God. There are many ways, and all of them are equally valid. All the gods of various religions are really the same “God.” Of course, the One True God disagrees with Walsch: “ Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘ I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6).

Walsch insists in Book 1 that words cannot communicate truth. Instead, truth comes as each individual consults his or her own feelings. Everyone is right, and no one is wrong; contradictory “truths” are not a problem in Walsch’s faulty logic.

Reference:
http://www.gotquestions.org/conversations-with-God.html

Parable of the Pencil

"It is his work. I am like a little pencil in his hand. That is all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used."

- Mother Teresa

Parable of the Pencil

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil.

Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you will make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside.

And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you might make or grow through them.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.

And Five: On every surface you walk, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to serve God in everything.

By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart and a relationship with God daily.

-- Author Unknown