Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Thoughts on Hosea and Leadership.
Well, was doing my daily devotions on Hosea Chapter 5 and this verse stuck me the most out of the whole chapter, Hosea 5:15.
"I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early."
Interesting to note that sometimes God allow afflication in our lives so that we will seek God and seek Him early. May we acknowledge all our offences and come to God presenting our lives as living sacrifices to God.
Then was reading an article on the Battle of Tours (October 10, 732), it is amazing how Charles Martel with just infantry stood up to the calvary charges.
From wikipedia, "In one of the instances where medieval infantry stood up against cavalry charges, the disciplined Frankish soldiers withstood the assaults, though according to Arab sources, the Arab cavalry several times broke into the interior of the Frankish square. "The Moslem horsemen dashed fierce and frequent forward against the battalions of the Franks, who resisted manfully, and many fell dead on either side."
And here was the reason...
From wikipedia, "Though outnumbered and depending on infantry, without stirrups in wide use, Martel had made the best of a bad situation. Though outnumbered and depending on infantry, without stirrups in wide use, Martel had a tough, battle hardened heavy infantry who believed in him implicitly."
You can't really lead people who don't believe in you, but you can't win the people over in just a day. Rome was not build in a day. Same with relationships, they have to be nurtured. The people have to see that what you are fighting for is not for yourself, but for God. Not I, but Christ.
"I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early."
Interesting to note that sometimes God allow afflication in our lives so that we will seek God and seek Him early. May we acknowledge all our offences and come to God presenting our lives as living sacrifices to God.
Then was reading an article on the Battle of Tours (October 10, 732), it is amazing how Charles Martel with just infantry stood up to the calvary charges.
From wikipedia, "In one of the instances where medieval infantry stood up against cavalry charges, the disciplined Frankish soldiers withstood the assaults, though according to Arab sources, the Arab cavalry several times broke into the interior of the Frankish square. "The Moslem horsemen dashed fierce and frequent forward against the battalions of the Franks, who resisted manfully, and many fell dead on either side."
And here was the reason...
From wikipedia, "Though outnumbered and depending on infantry, without stirrups in wide use, Martel had made the best of a bad situation. Though outnumbered and depending on infantry, without stirrups in wide use, Martel had a tough, battle hardened heavy infantry who believed in him implicitly."
You can't really lead people who don't believe in you, but you can't win the people over in just a day. Rome was not build in a day. Same with relationships, they have to be nurtured. The people have to see that what you are fighting for is not for yourself, but for God. Not I, but Christ.
Pity Junk Age Replies! :P
Lishan: Thanks for the kind words! Yeah, nice greenie panda who can be fed! Hope to see you around more often yeah?
dongshuen: Yeah, looks like all my cousins are happy playing with the panda! Should have made him blue than green. Hmmm... Oh well, too late. Link you up already! Thanks for linking me! :P
Marcus: Earl, nice of you to pop along. A little quiet around here these days. Thanks for being a blessing.
Gary: Yo, we REALLY need to meet up soon. How is everything, tried to contact you for the Christmas musical but guess I should have let you known earlier. Let have a gathering soon.
dongshuen: Yeah, looks like all my cousins are happy playing with the panda! Should have made him blue than green. Hmmm... Oh well, too late. Link you up already! Thanks for linking me! :P
Marcus: Earl, nice of you to pop along. A little quiet around here these days. Thanks for being a blessing.
Gary: Yo, we REALLY need to meet up soon. How is everything, tried to contact you for the Christmas musical but guess I should have let you known earlier. Let have a gathering soon.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
The re-start of blogging? Maybe yes, maybe no... Let's see how God leads...
Well, it has indeed been a long while. Thought I am stop reading the Bible? Not so. Still reading the Bible but have not been able to blog as often as I like to as each entry do take time, but thought since I have the time today, I should as least make a note of what have happened thus far.
First to the Bible. Just finished Daniel and moving on to Hosea. A very difficult book for me, I will say. A little introduction about Hosea, Hosea is the first book in the Book of the Twelve Prophets and he is acutally a contemporary of Isaiah and Micah in Judah, and started his career after Amos' brief one in Israel. At this point the kingdom of David have been divided into Judah, which continues David's line and Israel. Hosea adminster to the kingdom of Israel.
I am actally on the 4th Chapter of Hosea now. It never stop to amaze me that when we look at the Israelites, we always wonder, "How can these people stray so far from God, when God is so faithful to them?" Some of us might even say if we are them, we will do a better job. Is it so?
Looking at the church these days, how many have use the name of God but not do his work? More so let us look at ourselves, how many time have WE strayed from God. The answer if we are truthful to ourselves is sadly many, many times. Why do we stray? We stray because we always imagine God is not near, is that not the case? Or we Christians take his grace for granted. However, the Holy Spirit lives in us and can we take the Holy Spirit for granted and continue to grieve Him? We can but we should not.
I pray that we will continue to be a living sacrifice to him. All on the altar will we lay. May we lead each day in dependance on God. Not in our own strength but in God's strength.
Went down to the street evangelism that was organised by the church, it is an AMAZING experience. I did not regret going down, but I will regret not able to go down as my studies catch up. Amazing to see people concern for souls of people who they do not even know personally. How about us? How about those of us who still have love ones who are still not saved? May we continue to reach out to them.
"Listen to the word of the Lord..." Hosea 4:1a Yes, let us listen to His word and be always near and sensitive to God. When God is near, what will you be doing?
First to the Bible. Just finished Daniel and moving on to Hosea. A very difficult book for me, I will say. A little introduction about Hosea, Hosea is the first book in the Book of the Twelve Prophets and he is acutally a contemporary of Isaiah and Micah in Judah, and started his career after Amos' brief one in Israel. At this point the kingdom of David have been divided into Judah, which continues David's line and Israel. Hosea adminster to the kingdom of Israel.
I am actally on the 4th Chapter of Hosea now. It never stop to amaze me that when we look at the Israelites, we always wonder, "How can these people stray so far from God, when God is so faithful to them?" Some of us might even say if we are them, we will do a better job. Is it so?
Looking at the church these days, how many have use the name of God but not do his work? More so let us look at ourselves, how many time have WE strayed from God. The answer if we are truthful to ourselves is sadly many, many times. Why do we stray? We stray because we always imagine God is not near, is that not the case? Or we Christians take his grace for granted. However, the Holy Spirit lives in us and can we take the Holy Spirit for granted and continue to grieve Him? We can but we should not.
I pray that we will continue to be a living sacrifice to him. All on the altar will we lay. May we lead each day in dependance on God. Not in our own strength but in God's strength.
Went down to the street evangelism that was organised by the church, it is an AMAZING experience. I did not regret going down, but I will regret not able to go down as my studies catch up. Amazing to see people concern for souls of people who they do not even know personally. How about us? How about those of us who still have love ones who are still not saved? May we continue to reach out to them.
"Listen to the word of the Lord..." Hosea 4:1a Yes, let us listen to His word and be always near and sensitive to God. When God is near, what will you be doing?
Friday, December 22, 2006
My God is Near
Make me know your presence Lord.
The King of glory be.
You know each thought and action, hope, anxiety and fear.
How can I hide from thee?
Can darkness hide iniquity.
Oh, how can I unfaithful be?
When you are very near to me.
When God is near, all the world seems far away
When God is near, every fear is set aside
When God is near, how can I stray? How can I falter?
I will stay upon the altar; I know my God is near.
Make me know your presence Lord.
When I feel so alone.
You know each trial and testing bring the urge that is unknown.
How can I not see?
Thy hand so firmly guiding me
Oh, how can I untrusting be?
When you are very near to me.
When God is near, all the world seems far away
When God is near, every fear is set aside
When God is near, how can I stray? How can I falter?
I will stay upon the altar; I know my God is near.
When God is near, all the world seems far away
When God is near, every fear is set aside
When God is near, how can I stray? How can I falter?
I will stay upon the altar; I know my God is near.
This song was by the Wilds apparently. Didn't know that. In fact the Herbster Trio sang it. Well, then decided to look for the lyrics but couldn't find, so I thought I listen to the piece myself and get the words out of the song since it couldn't be located in the internet. Must have been a new song.
Hope it will be an encouraging to you as well, it was to me. Thanks to Alarm Curse for the song. He was the one who introduced it to me.
For regular readers (Note to self: Yeah, as if there are still any left! :"P But who knows huh?), there will be a musical over at Gospel Light Christian Church over at Singapore Chinese Girls School on the following dates,
22nd of December 2006 Friday, 20:00 (TODAY!)
23rd of December 2006 Saturday, 20:00
24th of December 2006 Sunday, 10:30
25th of December 2006 Monday, 11:30
Hope to see you turn up, the musical is titled, "The Christmas Stranger" Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
The King of glory be.
You know each thought and action, hope, anxiety and fear.
How can I hide from thee?
Can darkness hide iniquity.
Oh, how can I unfaithful be?
When you are very near to me.
When God is near, all the world seems far away
When God is near, every fear is set aside
When God is near, how can I stray? How can I falter?
I will stay upon the altar; I know my God is near.
Make me know your presence Lord.
When I feel so alone.
You know each trial and testing bring the urge that is unknown.
How can I not see?
Thy hand so firmly guiding me
Oh, how can I untrusting be?
When you are very near to me.
When God is near, all the world seems far away
When God is near, every fear is set aside
When God is near, how can I stray? How can I falter?
I will stay upon the altar; I know my God is near.
When God is near, all the world seems far away
When God is near, every fear is set aside
When God is near, how can I stray? How can I falter?
I will stay upon the altar; I know my God is near.
This song was by the Wilds apparently. Didn't know that. In fact the Herbster Trio sang it. Well, then decided to look for the lyrics but couldn't find, so I thought I listen to the piece myself and get the words out of the song since it couldn't be located in the internet. Must have been a new song.
Hope it will be an encouraging to you as well, it was to me. Thanks to Alarm Curse for the song. He was the one who introduced it to me.
For regular readers (Note to self: Yeah, as if there are still any left! :"P But who knows huh?), there will be a musical over at Gospel Light Christian Church over at Singapore Chinese Girls School on the following dates,
22nd of December 2006 Friday, 20:00 (TODAY!)
23rd of December 2006 Saturday, 20:00
24th of December 2006 Sunday, 10:30
25th of December 2006 Monday, 11:30
Hope to see you turn up, the musical is titled, "The Christmas Stranger" Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
