Christian Dieting

This 60-Day interactive course will teach you to enjoy a new found relationship with the Lord and how to find freedom from bad eating habits. It is possible, and you can learn how. Read More ...

Sins of the Past

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12 NAS)

Former porn star Crissy, and recent lead actress of the movie Oversold by sumoJACK and Elevation Church, told the world in 2006 she has given up the adult industry to follow Jesus.

Crissy said, "I have decided that I want to be free from all of the guilt ... and have decided I want out of the business. I have so much more to offer to the world than my looks and body... I want to experience true real life happiness ... to go back to my one true love who is Jesus. You may or may not believe in Him and ... I am not here to judge you. I am just here to share with you my story if you are willing to listen.¹ I left the adult business on October 6, 2006 when I made a public declaration to my fans. From that point on I didn't take any more money from the web site which was my main income, I didn't shoot another nude photo, or do another movie. Unfortunately, my past will always be there. Part of being involved in such a business involves signing your rights away to companies and web sites. They have a business to run and realize that sooner or later girls will want out so they have their bases covered from a business sense. That is the hardest thing for me at the moment because I have completely turned my life around but yet my past will forever haunt me. I do know however that what Satan has meant for evil, God can use for good. As bad as it might be I know it has led many to see my testimony. My goal now is to use my old broken life to reach out to others and help encourage other people who have struggles and let them know you can overcome them.²”

Like Crissy, some of us may be unable to forgive ourselves for the things we have done in the past, and may think we are beyond hope to expect God to forgive us. Perhaps our past may be too difficult for us to erase or there may be some areas in our lives we hope we can hide forever. Unfortunately, certain things in life can never be the same again and our past tends to haunt us even after we have determined to put them behind us. Regardless the guilt, the shame or the sense of unworthiness we may feel, we must not lose heart, because God can heal us, touch us, and change our lives. Our past may be hurting us even till this day, but we need not fear, for God is willing and is able to forgive us of all our sins.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:16-17 NAS)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NAS)

And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. (1 John 2:1b-2 NAS)

Experiences of our past, whether good or bad, can be used by God to do great things for the present and the future if we are willing to let Him work in our lives. Just as God is able to see Crissy through the healing journey from her past to look forward to the future in using her experiences to serve Him in the Treasures ministry which vision is to help women working in the sex industry break free from the chains of bondage, and to heal their wounds through personal relationship with Jesus Christ, God can also heal us of the painful memories of our unhappy past. Once we have determined in our hearts to live our lives for the Lord from now on and to crown Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will no longer need to fear or be plagued by our unhappy past, for as far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). God will certainly grant us victory and turn our sorrow into joy.

Dear Lord, forgive us for the things we have done in our past that not only hurt us, but also hurt others. Release us Lord from the chains of our bondage and set us free. Heal our hearts, our minds and our wounds Lord as we put You first in our lives from now on. Lead us in Your path to know Your plans for our lives and direct us to the place and ministry where we can help others build a personal relationship with You.

¹ SMNnews Forum (2006). Crissy Moran quits porn. Accessed June 26, 2009.
² Guardian Angel (2009). About Crissy Moran. Accessed June 26, 2009.

What the Bible Says About Homosexuality

Many people assumed the teachings against homosexuality is now a thing of the past, and the reason why it was considered unacceptable was only because of cultural misconception arising from conservative practices and the lack of knowledge concerning biological genes. Today, some institutes and human rights movements have even advocated the need to assert a person's right to homosexuality, and this has brought about much pain to various parties involved in regulating the right and wrong of same gender relationship.

In this article, we shall take a look at what the Bible says about homosexuality in the context of the New Testament. The apostle Paul in the epistle to the Romans, wrote:

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1:26-32 NAS)

This passage may be summarized into two key points. The first point states that relationship of the same gender is wrong, and the second states whoever teaches otherwise and gives hearty approval of homosexuality is deserving of death.It is clear that anyone who calls evil good and good evil shall be worthy of punishment (Romans 1:32; Isaiah 5:20). It is also clear the Word of God does not agree with the practices of effeminacy and homosexuality (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

If you feel you have a passion for someone of your own gender, and you are confused with your passions, wondering why you have such inclinations, or whether it is genetically natural to have same sex intimacy, or if you simply just want to know what is right or wrong with same gender relationship, you can begin by reading some of the information provided in the following links:

When Passions Are Confused: Understanding Homosexuality
Is Homosexual Relationship Permissible and Acceptable?
Is the Relationship Between King David and Jonathan Homosexual?
New Testament Perspective of Same Sex Relationship
Same Sex Couples in the Bible?
Door of Hope

May God bless you in your search for answers.

Dear Lord, forgive us for failing to understand our own passions and inclinations. Help us, by Your Holy Spirit, overcome the wrong and the unnatural. Lead us in Your ways Lord, according to Your Word, and keep us strong as we walk this path on earth.

Our Sustenance in Times of Need

for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. (Ruth 1:20b-21a NAS)

When the Lehman Brothers, one of oldest names on Wall Street, filed for bankruptcy protection on September 15, 2008, the entire financial industry was gripped with fear as to what might happen next, reported The New York Times. Within the same week, Merrill Lynch, under mounting pressure to avert deepening financial crisis, had reached a deal to sell itself to Bank of America for about $50 billion. While Lehman and Merrill were still hanging in the balance, insurance giant American International Group, staggered by losses stemming from the credit crisis, sought a $40 billion lifeline from the Federal Reserve. All these series of events culminated led to a worldwide economic crisis, and many institutions, corporations and individuals till this day are still struggling to contain its rippling effects.

As consumers, workers, entrepreneurs or investors, we are in one way or another affected by this financial crisis. With prices of consumer goods continuing to rise, businesses and corporations changing hands or closing down, individuals losing jobs or business opportunities, and bad debts on the increase resulting from investment losses or delay in financial repayments for mortgages, loans and credit lines, few today can remain nonchalant to what is happening in the financial world.

Like Job in the Old Testament, some of us may have once been rich or blessed with sufficient money to live comfortable lives. The financial crisis or some other events, however, may have left us with little to live on. Unlike Job who was able to bless God even in such situations (Job 1:21), we may have reacted like Naomi to say the Almighty has dealt with us very bitterly, for we were full when we went out, but the LORD has brought us back empty (Ruth 1:20b-21a).

Some years ago, I was faced with a similar situation that almost left me in poverty. I was out of a job, and it took me five years before I found another. During those years of waiting and looking for alternative work, I took on various freelance assignments. These occasional assignments however were unable to provide sufficiently for my small family, so I had to dig into my savings. Throughout the five years, I sought the Lord for sustenance, and He had never failed to provide for me and my family. Whenever there was a necessity requiring payment, the Lord would grant me a job assignment which would provide sufficiently for that time of need. Nearing the end of my savings, I was granted a full time job by the Lord to work in a multinational computer corporation as a technical writer, fulfilling my desire to write, yet without sacrificing my past experience as a technical support engineer in the information technology industry. Today, although I can no longer afford to spend on personal or family indulgence like before because of the shortfall in monetary returns, my family and I are living each day happily and sufficiently by the grace of God.

As believers, we should never live our lives as if there is no hope for tomorrow even when faced with surmounting crises in our lives. We should not be worried about our future as to what we shall eat or what we shall wear, for our heavenly Father knows our needs (Matthew 6:25-34). We should instead learn to recognize the many blessings God has already given us. Just as Naomi was blessed with the restoration of life and sustenance at old age through the birth of a grandchild and redeemer following the line of King David (Ruth 4:14-16), we can trust God to take care of our sustenance in times of need and be assured in our hearts He will surely provide for us and our families.

Forgive us Lord for feeling bitter over our loss of riches and for failing to completely trust in You in times of need. Help us Lord not to be overwhelmed by the crises we face in this world, but instead open our eyes Lord to see and recognize Your sovereignty in all situations. Move our hearts Lord that we may not be found ungrateful and lacking in thankfulness for the blessings You have given us. Lead us O Lord every step of our ways as we live each day with complete trust in You.

Tasting Bitter Before Sweet

Sorrow is better than laughter, for when a face is sad a heart may be happy. (Ecclesiastes 7:3 NAS)

When I was in my early 20s, several crises happened in my life at the same time that left me devastated. A loved one in my family was in critical condition, an affectionate relationship was broken, a discord in the church which led to friendship separations -- these and more happened within a short span of time from each other, and came suddenly without any warning. It was like the entire world has turned against me and I was left all alone with no one to turn to for help or share my pain and agony. In that state of despair and desperation, I strayed and walked away from God, but not for long, because I soon realized I could never live a meaningful life without God.

All of us have experienced difficult times in our lives and may continue to experience some now or in the future. It is during such times we should stand firm and not stray away from God, for it is only then we can truly understand the meaning of God is our strength, our guide, and our reliance. Unless we taste the bitter and experience being down and out, the moments of despair and the feeling of being all alone in the world, we seldom look to God and rely on Him. Once we have experienced all these, however, we will be able to appreciate His sweet and perfect peace with complete confidence in the fullness of His sufficiency.

The author of the Book of Ecclesiastes rightly said sorrow is better than laughter, for only when we have tasted the bitter and experienced deep sadness can we truly comprehend the sweetness of true happiness (Ecclesiastes 7:3). Life as we know it in the real world is not all a bed of roses without the thorns; it is frequently mingled with bitter and sweet as long as we are here on earth. Jesus, in illustrating how believers should live their lives said:

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12 NAS)

As Christians, there will be times when we will be called to stand for the truth, but there will also be times when we may prefer to hear the sweet rather than the truth, because the truth is often bitter and accompanied by consequences we do not wish to bear. If we see a friend or a colleague being falsely accused for something he did not do by someone trying to cover up for his mistake, will we leave our friend or colleague to stand accused and let the accuser go scot free, or will we defend the righteous? What if by speaking the truth, we risk finding trouble for ourselves or losing our jobs? Will we still dare to stand up for the truth in representing what is right, or will we stand accused of letting down our faith?

If we are willing to taste the bitter, and stand for the truth in facing insults, false accusations and persecutions because of Jesus, we can rejoice and be glad because the Lord has promised us our reward in heaven will be great (Matthew 5:11-12), and we will with certainty get to taste of its sweetness.

Teach us therefore dear Lord to live our lives worthy of Your calling, to stand up for the truth even if it means to risk inconveniences and possible persecutions. Help us be willing Lord to taste that which is bitter for Your name's sake, that we may experience the sweetness of true happiness. Strengthen us Lord and be our guide to see us through difficult times. Lead us in Your ways Lord so that we may not stray away from You, for we know O God it is during such difficult times that we need You the most, because in You alone can we live meaningful lives.

Lost Without the Light

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." (John 8:12 NAS)

In February 2008, a wide-ranging blackout swept across Florida which affected nearly one million households and businesses, knocking out traffic signals and trapping scores of people in elevators, reported The New York Times. Within a two-hour period, Miami-Dade fire officials received reports of about 40 car accidents; more than triple the daily average. At least eight power plants and 15 major transmission lines were knocked out. Among the affected power plants was the Turkey Point nuclear complex in southern Miami-Dade County, where two reactors shut themselves down within seconds of the initial failure when automatic devices sensed a voltage drop on the incoming power lines, a spokeswoman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington told the press. According to Florida Power & Light, 700,000 to 800,000 of its 4.4 million customers were without electricity at the peak of the blackout.

“It was pitch black and nobody knew what was going on,” said Mr Ulises Orozco who was in a 50-story office building in Miami when the power went out. “It was hot and humid within the stairwell, but most people chose to evacuate the building anyway because there were all these conspiracy theorists talking about terrorism.”

Imagine how much havoc darkness can create for us all when we are without light. Jesus understands what it means for the world to live in darkness when He said to His disciples "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him" (John 11:9-10 NAS). "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light" (John 12:35-36a NAS).

As believers in the Lord, we are all called to become sons of Light. Jesus is the Light of the world, and as His followers, we should not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life (John 8:12). We are to work the works of Him who sent us, as long as it is day, for night is coming when none of us will be able to do the work of God (John 9:4). What our Lord tells us in darkness or in privacy, therefore, we must speak in the light (Matthew 10:27). If we fail to do our part to speak in the light, then all who are still living in darkness will surely perish without any hope of survival when they are thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:13-14).

Our first step in becoming sons of Light therefore is to stay clear from darkness and walk in His light. This means we must first begin by coming clean before God in all areas of our unholy lives, in confession and repentance, to take steps to build a closer relationship with God, to pray, study, and walk in His Word. Once we have laid hold of our lives to live victorious in Christ, we must then decisively take steps to stamp out the darkness in our lives, the bad habits and unhealthy practices, before we can illuminate the world.

Dear Lord, open our eyes and minds to see and remember the havoc darkness can create in our lives and in the lives of those who are yet unsaved. Help us Lord to depart completely from darkness to walk in the Light. Stir in our hearts Lord to understand the consequences the lost will have to bear if we fail to reach out to them. Shine through us O God that the world may receive the Light of the world and be set free from darkness.

Wordle for Frequently Used Words

www.wordle.net ~ June 2, 2009

The image above shows the frequently used words at this blog. The larger the size of the word is displayed, the greater the number of times the word has been used.

Before the New After the Old

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NAS)

Back in those days when I was still being paid a handsome wage monthly, I used to indulge myself with luxury goods to satisfy my own wants. After weathering many trials and going through difficult times, however, I have learnt that living a fruitful life is not all about living in riches, but about living for the Lord in all circumstances. True living is not about accumulating material wealth where moth and rust destroy (Matthew 6:19). It is about living our lives dedicated for the purpose of God, where true satisfaction is derived by serving the Lord whole heartedly, not by the riches of this world, but by the grace of God, fulfilled and content in the fullness of His sufficiency.

Jesus, in the Gospel of Luke, told a parable of a rich man who tore down his barns to build larger ones to lay up enough grain and goods to last him for many years while he relax from labor to eat, drink and be merry. God, however, decided that on that very night his soul would be required of him. Who then would inherit what the rich man had prepared (Luke 12:16-21)?

Some of us, before becoming Christians, are like the rich man in the parable. We lived our lives as if there is no tomorrow or as if it does not matter whether there is a future, because we know we will one day still have to die. Our lives before we have Christ were therefore all about accumulating wealth for ourselves to satisfy our own desires while alive, a process consisting of meaningless daily routine and hard work till the day we breathe our last.

After receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior, however, we ought now to live our lives anew in the Lord, because our old selves have passed away and new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17). As believers, therefore, we should no longer be worried about what we will eat or what we will wear, for life is more than food and the body more than clothes (Luke 12:22-23). Our Father knows our needs; He will take care of us and add to us the things we need. Our lives should therefore be to seek first the kingdom of God (Luke 12:24-31).

Paul, in his epistle to the Ephesians, exhorted the Christians to lay aside their old selves and be renewed in the spirit of their minds to put on the new selves which in the likeness of God, created in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24). We should therefore lay aside our old selves of lusts, deceit and selfishness, and be renewed in our minds in the likeness of Jesus, to live our lives holy and righteous. We should no longer live as though there is no tomorrow, for we know what awaits in the future. Our lives have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20), and we should in return, present our lives as holy and living sacrifice to the Lord, which is our acceptable spiritual act of worship. We should not conform to the ways we have lived in the past, but we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we will be able to stand the test and prove what is the will of God (Romans 12:1-2).

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord ... to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:1-5 NAS)

Dear Lord, thank You for enabling us by Your Spirit to put off our old selves and put on the new. Help us Lord to put aside all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander, and like newborn babies, having tasted of Your kindness, seek to know You more through Your word. Change our hearts Lord that we may not listen to the world, but with willing hearts offer ourselves as spiritual sacrifices acceptable to You, to seek first Your kingdom, and not our own desires. Use us Lord for your work, as we lay aside the old of our past, and live anew for the future, holy unto You.

Oaths and Promises

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but let your yes be yes, and your no, no; so that you may not fall under judgment. (James 5:12 NAS)

During a daily devotion recently, I came across a scriptural passage concerning an oath made by a group of Jews which amused me. The passage was about some forty Jews who conspired with the chief priests and elders, and bound themselves under an oath to kill Paul, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed him (Acts 23:12-16). If these Jews had kept their oath, they would probably be dead long before Paul was beheaded years later after that oath was made.

All of us know what it means to the Jews about keeping oaths. Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew said:

"Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, `YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.' But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, `Yes, yes' or `No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil." (Matthew 5:33-37 NAS)

Oaths or vows, whether good or bad, bear serious consequences. If we make an oath, we are required to fulfill the oath or be held accountable for what we have promised. In our context, this may mean the fulfillment of our marriage vows, our contractual agreement with our employers and business partners, or even our pledge as citizens to serve the country. All these are of course for the greater good, but if we should fail in keeping with what we have vowed or agreed to do, we will certainly be held accountable. Likewise, if we promised God something, we should also seriously consider how we should fulfill our promise. We know God is gracious, but we should never abuse His love for us.

This message concerning the need to keep our oaths is no doubt difficult to accept, and probably the reason why James advised us not to swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but to let our yes be yes and our no be no, so that we may not fall under judgment (James 5:12). This advice is not new; for Jesus Himself had taught these same principle concerning oath, that we should let our statement be 'yes, yes' or 'no, no', for anything beyond these is evil (Matthew 5:33-37).

In the parable of two brothers, Jesus gave the example of a man who had two sons. The second son promised to work in the vineyard, but did not go. The first son on the other hand said he would not go, but afterward regretted and went. Which of these two sons, therefore, fulfilled the will of his father? The first son, of course, and Jesus said to the self-proclaimed righteous people that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before them (Matthew 21:28-31), for they were the ones who had truly repented.

The Lord's teaching concerning oath is not about making sure we do not get caught in the entanglement of fulfilling agreements and commitment in all areas of our lives. It is about fulfilling what we must fulfill, such as our vows to our spouse, our agreements in contracts, our roles as citizens and more, depending on the different circumstances and requirements, but beyond that, we should not tie ourselves down to oaths, or be bound to unnecessary arrangements. We must, above all, never make an oath to do evil.

Dear Lord, teach us not to make unnecessary vows that bind us to fulfill what may not be a part of Your plan for our lives. Help us Lord to discern what is good and what is bad when we are required to make an oath or keep a promise. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for You alone O Lord deserves all glory and power, now and forever. Amen.

Out in the Midst of Wolves

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16 NAS)

All of us have experienced ups and downs in our lives, but few have heard of the in and out of living the Christian life. This hypothesis however is undeniable, because much of Christian living is about in and out.

When we are out of a job, for example, we tend to be very much in the Lord, because our survival depends on Him. As Christians, we have been exhorted to reveal Christ in our lives and to live out the nature of Christ and Christ Himself in us and through us (Ephesians 5:1-2). Although we are in the world, we are not of the world, because Christ has chosen us out of the world (John 15:19). We have been sent out as sheep in the midst of wolves to reach the world for Christ (Matthew 10:16). Jesus told the disciples that signs and wonders will accompany them, and they will be able to cast out demons in His name (Mark 16:15-18). Peter, while in the prison, was woken up by an angel and taken out of the prison to the city (Acts 12:5-12). All these are just a few illustrations of the many examples and events that show how intertwined the concept of in and out is associated with Christian living.

While I was still a young Christian, I was very zealous in reaching out to the pre-believers to bring them to Christ. After a few months, however, I discovered witnessing was not as easy as I thought it to be because there were many obstacles in the way. As a new Christian yet untrained in the word of God, I was easily shaken in the faith because of persecution from friends and family. Like a sheep in the midst of wolves, I was unequipped to fight the battle because I was lacking in the knowledge of God's word, and I was not shrewd enough to handle the many bombardments from people who were atheists, agnostics, anti-Christians and of other faiths.

Zealousness for the Lord and for His work is important, but we must always remember that without the full armor of God, we will not be able to withstand the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16). Living out and knowing the word of God is therefore crucial, because God's word is the sword of the Spirit, which is a part of the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). Our struggle is "not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12 NAS). We, like sheep in the midst of wolves (Matthew 10:16), must therefore be strong in the Lord to face the attacks of the evil one and his allies. We must be equipped as trained disciples of the Lord to grow in wisdom and in the knowledge of God's word so that we can stand firm and stay unshaken. If we therefore hope to bring pre-believers out of darkness, we must first live in the light and walk in the Lord according to the word of God.

Dear Lord, strengthen us in Your word that we may be prepared to defend our faith as we put on the full armor of God. Help us Lord to be shrewd in handling the attacks of the evil one and his allies, so that we may stand strong in the midst of wolves. Draw us close to You Lord more and more every day that we may reveal more of You in us to show to the world Your everlasting love. Empower us Lord by Your Holy Spirit as we continue to study Your word and grow in You.

The Hard or Easy Way

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 NAS)

We have all at one time or other been given a choice to choose between a difficult road or an easy way out. While the soft or easy way out may seem to be the more sensible choice, the outcome of such a choice however usually ends with disappointment or bears little fruits. The hard choice or road on the other hand usually offers better promises and rewards.

While I was still an undergraduate, I used to choose for my written assignments, topics that were difficult and not so popular among other students because common topics seldom get good grades from the teachers. The reason was obvious. Too much of the same thing lacks originality, and without originality a student's hard work cannot be recognized.

Taking the difficult road however is never easy, but if we are ready to fight the good fight to achieve the goal at all cost, then our reward and prize await us. If we choose to take the easy road or the short cut, we may not yield the results we hope to achieve in the end, for what goes with the crowd need not necessary be what is right, and it is usually the narrow way that leads to life. The path of the crowd is not the same as the path of the Cross. The crowd tells us to rely on ourselves and to follow the world, but the Cross tells us to rely on the Lord and follow Jesus. The crowd suggests we bear our own burdens and earn our worth, but the Cross suggests we nail our burdens at the Cross, for Jesus is our worth. The crowd proposes we do much to achieve, but the Cross presents God's completed work through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.*

The Bible clearly states the words of wisdom when the author of Proverbs said "there is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Many of us tend to choose the easy path or the soft route to achieve our goals or desires. However, what seems right to a man following a road that is wide and broad often leads to the way of death and destruction (Proverbs 16:25; Matthew 7:13-14). What appears foolish to a man following a road that is hard, narrow and difficult, on the other hand, leads to life eternal (Matthew 7:13-14). All of us must therefore be ready to take the hard route which leads to life, and give up the soft route which leads to destruction.

Dear Lord, help us not succumb to the pressures of the world to follow the crowd, but to look to the Cross and follow You. Strengthen us Lord as we walk the path that is narrow which leads to life, knowing that we can always rely on You to see us through. Keep us O Lord from straying to the other path which is wide and easy, but leads to destruction and death. Thank You Lord for letting us nail our burdens to the Cross, for You alone is our worth.

* Igniter Media. "The Crowd or the Cross" in Igniter Videos: Sermon Illustrations, Accessed April 26, 2009. Texas: Igniter Media Group.

Beginning to End

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." (Revelation 22:13 NKJ)

All of us at some time or other probably have experienced beginning something and not completing it to the end. Take writing a book, for example. We hope to make it known to the world, but somewhere along the way, something happened that requires us to abandon our writing permanently. How would we feel? What if, as an employee, we have worked extremely hard on a project, and just when we are ready to launch the end product, we are told by our boss that the project has been abandoned? How would we react? Do we blame God for not letting us achieve what we have set out to accomplish, or do we see it as God's way of molding us in preparing us for His purpose?

Over the past few years, God has been teaching me what it means to do my best, and let Him do the rest. Whether as an employee or a freelancer, I have on many occasions experienced incomplete projects fulfillment and business deals falling through. Although through the process of it all, I have gained new insights which in themselves deserve some small celebration, it was the lesson on not expecting things in our lives to go our way that is most precious.

Many of us live our lives believing that ‘what we do is what we will get in return.’ Although there is much truth about reaping what we sow, and being rewarded when we do good or punished when we do evil (2 Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 6:8), it is ultimately God Who will decide what is best for us. Moses' life is a good example of what this means. He went through the wilderness as a shepherd before he was ready to do the work of God, even though long before that he felt up to it to do the task as a prince.

The Bible teaches us not to run a race without aim, but to run in such a way to win the prize, so that we ourselves may not after having preached to others, become disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). We are to "run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1b-2 NKJ).

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last (Revelation 22:13). What we need to understand therefore is our purpose in this journey on earth, not the destiny or the end of the journey, which God must decide for Himself, His will for us to fulfill (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Our part is therefore to play our role, to learn what we need to learn as we are molded for God's purpose, and to leave the result and outcome to Him.

Dear Lord, teach us not to question why certain things in lives do not go the way we want them to go, or why we do not get to reap the rewards we worked so hard to receive while we are here on earth. Stir in our hearts Lord and cause us to understand the role we are to play in Your will, while journeying here on earth. Help us Lord to run the race till the end of days, as we day by day continue to gaze on You, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Neither Hot or Cold

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16 NAS)

All of us can be hot or cold, but never hot and cold, unless we are talking about our attitudes toward different people or toward someone at a different time. As beings made a little lower than angels (Hebrews 2:6-7), we can sometimes like a person for a moment and dislike the same person at other times. We can hate someone, but like everyone else. Our feelings and attitudes toward different people can be dangerously unhealthy, and this is not the way we should be. It is important for us to know how to relate to people no matter how bad or unlovable they may be, because Jesus taught us in His word to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). We are all God's creation and we ought to love one another just as God loves each of us.

In the Book of Revelation, the author in his letter to the church at Laodicea wrote about the dangers of being lukewarm, neither hot nor cold (Revelation 3:15-16). Although the church of Laodicea was not entirely cold to the point of having no spiritual life, it was alive, yet not lively or wholly dedicated to the Lord with unreserved affection and love. No doubt, there must have been some who loved the Lord, but there were, as a whole, much lack in fervency. The church of Laodicea was therefore reprimanded for not being hot in their love for God because they were not ardent, fervent or flaming; neither were they entirely cold because there were still some efforts, though half hearted, and lacking zeal for the truths of the Gospel and of its ordinances.

Being neither hot nor cold is a dangerous attitude because in knowing God and yet not giving our all to Him, God can choose to spit us out of His mouth! We must all therefore regularly check our attitudes toward God and our fellow men, to ensure we are not presumptuous or possessing preconceived prejudices when relating with people. We must be imitators of God as His beloved children, love each and everyone without reserve, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us all (Ephesians 5:1-2).

Help us O Lord to become more and more like You each day. Mold us dear Lord to bear the fruit of Your Holy Spirit, to be more sensitive in our dealings with people who may not be as likeable as we hope them to be. Take us as we are Lord, and change our attitudes toward those whom we may find difficult to love or deal with. Cause us Lord to remember to check our attitudes from time to time to ensure we are not lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. Keep us fervent in spirit, Lord, to love You with all our hearts, strength, mind and soul.

Past and Future

Martha then said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died ... Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he [Lazarus] will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." (John 11:21-24 NAS)

The 'if only' of the past dwells on regrets and the 'what if' of the future dwells on apprehension of the unknown, but between these two is the present. The past and the future are not as important as what needs to be done for the present, for Who is present with us is all that really matters. God is present to help and if we bring God's presence into every situation we face each day, we need not fear because if God is with us, for us, and in us, who or what can prevail against us (Romans 8:31-35)?

When faced with the death of her brother Lazarus, Martha in her grief blamed Jesus for not being there when she said, "if [only] You had been here." When Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again," Martha responded by thinking of the future, of the day her brother Lazarus will rise again, failing to see Who is present, the Giver of life, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is present to help whenever we need help, and we can claim upon this promise so long as we continue to walk in Him. The past are just lessons in our lives we have to learn from and to go through. The future is just what lies ahead, unknown, yet not fearful because the Lord dwells in us, He will never forsake us. Let us all therefore cultivate in our daily lives the presence of God in every situation we face and in whatever we do. Let us not walk the present alone while on earth, for the Lord our God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1-4).

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help [us] in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NAS)

Dear Lord, help us live our lives each day, conscious of Your presence with us in whatever we do, and in every situation we face. Help us not dwell too much on our past regrets but to claim Your forgiveness and the precious lessons learnt. Teach us Lord to live confidently in You without worrying too much about the future, knowing our future is in Your hands. Cause us to remember and never to forget You Lord in times of trouble and in times of peace. Keep us dear Lord in Your grace and lead us in Your ways to live our lives worthy of Your calling.

NOTE: Devotional idea adapted from sermon by Pastor Joseph Prince on "Your Every Blessing Is Found In The Person Of Jesus".

The Crowd or the Cross

HappY EasteR DaY

It's Good Friday

Ascend and Descend

They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11 NAS)

"What goes up must come down," so the saying goes, but this does not apply to all things, and certainly not our age. Our age always goes up and never comes down, and unless we start counting our age all over again when we receive the Lord as Savior, being born again, our age will continue to go up, never to come down. This, however, is not the reason or the lesson for this story.

This story is about going up and coming down, or in the case of our Lord, it is about Jesus first coming down to save us all by His death on the Cross and about His going up to be at the right hand of God the Father to prepare a place for us. It is also about our going up to Him or He coming back for us, when our Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, and the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NAS).

As Christians, we know and have experienced the truth about the story. This is the story about God's love for us even while we were yet sinners and devoid of any worth. Despite our unworthiness, God chose to come down to earth to be born a Child, to live a lowly and humbling life, and to suffer for us all, even death on the Cross, so that we may be saved and be set free from the clutches of the devil.

As we remember our Lord's death on the Cross for us, His resurrection, and His ascension, let us all therefore feel as the psalmist feels when he said:

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there ... If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. (Psalm 139:7-10 NAS)

Knowing therefore that if we go up to heaven or even if we make our beds in Sheol that He is there, we can take comfort to know that our Lord is never too far away to lead us and hold us. Just as our Lord was taken up from the disciples into heaven, our Lord will certainly come again (Acts 1:11), and we shall always be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Teach us therefore, dear Lord, to be forever grateful to You for Your love and Your death on the cross for us. Without You O Lord, we would have been lost without salvation, never to be free from the clutches of the devil. It is You Lord Who deserves all the glory and praise! Thank You, Lord, for loving us so much. We love you Lord and we want to give You our all because You are worthy and deserving of all our heart, soul, strength and mind.

While Waiting for the Harvest

And He was saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows -- how, he himself does not know. The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." (Mark 4:26-29 NAS)

As disciples of God, we have all been tasked to do our part in sharing the Gospel and in bringing the unsaved to the Lord. Fulfilling this task however is not easy, and many of us may falter when it comes to sharing Christ naturally in our daily lives because we easily become discouraged when our efforts to bring our friends, relatives, loved ones and others to Christ seem to bear no fruits.

When a relative of mine was diagnosed with brain tumor recently, I made every effort to reach out to the family to bring them to Christ, but nothing seems to go smoothly. My fervent prayers seem to yield no result and healing did not take place. In fact, it got worst and required a second surgery. Although there was a glimpse of light in the littleness of a partial answered prayed with the tumor turning out to be not as severe as the incurable with the help of chemotherapy, it was to the family disheartening to the point of losing confidence in the Christian faith, resulting in them seeking alternative faiths to try out and see if their gods can do a better job.

All these signs of unanswered prayers are understandably disheartening to the one who cast the seeds upon the soil in the hope of bringing the unsaved to the kingdom of God. But who are we to question God on the way He works or to the reason why He did not answer? God however always answers prayers, and prayers can always be answered differently with a yes, no, wait, or go through it. It is therefore not for us to know when the seed should sprout or grow, for it is God who causes the growth, not us.

I [Paul] planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7 NAS)

We must therefore when reaching out to the unsaved, never to be discouraged, because in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary (Galatians 6:9). The kingdom of God "is like a mustard seed, which when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE” (Mark 4:30-32 NAS).

Our efforts to reach the unsaved for Christ are never wasted. When we sow a seed of faith by caring for someone in the name of the Lord, no matter how small the seed may be, it will accomplish its purpose and not return to the Lord void (Isaiah 55:11), for though the seed may be small, yet it will grow and become larger than all the trees with branches big enough to shelter the birds of the air. Our part therefore is to stay steadfast and not be discouraged in continuing to care for these unsaved pre-believers in living out Christ in our lives, knowing whole heartedly that He who has begun a good work in us will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

Dear Lord, teach us not to despair when we see our friends and loved ones fail to respond to You despite our every effort to bring them Your word and salvation. Help us Lord not to stop praying and caring for them. Mold us Lord to be more and more like You to reveal You in our lives so that the unsaved may know Your love everlasting and return to You.

Church History of Japan and Korea

Many Christians know about church history in the days of the apostles and the Reformation Movement in the days of Martin Luther and John Calvin. Few however know the history of Christianity in Asia, how it began and how it has expanded to what it is today.

This article details how Christianity began in Japan and Korea.


JAPAN

The earliest record of Christianity in Japan dates back to the sixth century. In those days, the people of Japan were already making contact with China, during which time Christianity was embraced by the Tang emperor. Japanese visitors to China in both the Tang (618-906) and Yuan (1260-1368) dynasties were believed to be influenced by Christian teachings while they were there and some missionaries were also believed to have visited Japan.

Francis Xavier, a Jesuit, brought in Christianity to Japan in 1549. His work was continued by both his and other Catholic Orders such as the Franciscans and Dominicans, which brought about 250 churches by 1582. Protestant missionary work in Japan began in 1859 with highly gifted men in various fields who were known for their spiritual depth. These men included James C Hepburn of the Presbyterian, Channing M Williams of the Episcopal, and Samuel R Brown of the Reformed.

At first, the government authorities permitted missionary effort only because they did not want to offend the treaty powers. In 1873, when the Japanese government learnt that religious freedom was a prerequisite to revision of the unequal treaties, a new surge in evangelization spread through Japan.

Today, about one to two million Japanese are Christians, constituting to about only 1% of Japan's population. Most of them live in Western Japan where missionaries' activities were greatest during the sixteenth century.


KOREA

No record of missionaries or organized body of believers in Korea was found before the middle of the seventeenth century, although there were traces of Koreans having contact with Christianity as far back as 1592, many of whom were converted Christian members of the invading Japanese armies of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

In 1784, a young man, Yi Seung-hun, at the requests of some Korean scholars, went to Beijing in search of missionaries to ask them about the strange Catholic doctrines which had been filtering across the border since 1631 through smuggled Christian literatures. On returning to Korea after a few months, he began to spread the faith. By the time the first priest and foreign missionary Chou Wen-Mo arrived ten years later, there were already 4,000 Catholics in Korea.

During the years 1810, 1839, 1846 and 1866, great persecutions took place and many suffered martyrdom. Christianity however could not be stamped out, and many were driven underground and scattered.

In 1832, a Protestant German Carl Gutzlaff distributed Scriptures along the eastern coast of Korea, and in 1866, a Welshman Robert J Thomas lost his life in a similar attempt. He was killed at P'yongyang in the act of offering a Bible to the man who beheaded him, and he is revered as Korea's first Protestant martyr. Two Scots, John Ross and John MacIntyre baptized the first Korean Protestant in Manchuria in 1876, and it was one of the Koreans baptized in Manchuria who established the first worshipping Korean Protestant congregation after winning over a 100 believers to Christ when he returned to Korea in 1883.

Beginning 1895 and continuing about 15 years, there was dramatic explosion in the growth of the Protestant church in Korea. This was spearheaded by the evangelistic work of Samuel A Moffett and his colleagues in the Presbyterian churches northwest of Korea. Christianity was later spread nationally in the Great Revival of 1907. Denominational barriers were broken, and Christians were moved to join together in witness, and in those 15 years, the Protestant community grew from 802 in 1895 to 167,352 in 1910.

During World War II, North Korea was held by the Communists who immediately destroyed the church as an organized body. By 1950, when the Communists attacked South Korea, the church in North had almost ceased to exist. When the United Nation's armies advanced to the Yalu River, 4.5 million North Koreans fled south to freedom.

The exact number of Christians in North Korea today is unknown, and the number of Christians in South Korea appears to vary vastly from different sources of information. According to CIA's World Factbook, Christians and Buddhists comprise 26% of the population of South Korea today, but other sources claim about 49% of the population are Christians.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hoke, Donald. The Church in Asia. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1975.

Japan Guide. Christianity. Accessed 3 Mar 2009.

Kim, Andrew. A History of Christianity in Korea. Accessed on 3 Mar 2009.

Law, Gail. Chinese Churches Handbook. Hong Kong: Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism, 1982.

Ng, Edmond. Church History in Asia (2005). Accessed 3 Mar 2009.

Wikipedia. Christianity in Japan. Accessed 3 Mar 2009.

Wikipedia. Christianity in Korea. Accessed 3 Mar 2009.