At Kitchen's Fellowship today, apart from the fantastic Sunquick chicken by Karen, the "poop" soup and also the wonderful fellowship, we got a taste on faith. True faith is being obedient to God even if it means sacrificing something precious for God. Rahab was a good example shown in the Bible regarding true faith. She was a Gentile, a prostitute and also a liar but she knew who God was. She knew that He brought out the Israelites from Egypt, parted the Red Sea and right now they are outside Jericho waiting to take over what was promised by God, the Promised Land. She showed true faith by risking her life just to keep the spies in hiding and lowering them through the window so that they could escape. What would you do in a situation like this? Keeping your life out of fear or putting into action the faith that lives within you.
Remember that Rahab does not know anything about God, all the information she got is only through hearing but she praise God and knew that He is the Lord above in heaven and also on the earth beneath. Therefore, as you have listened and have accepted the good news, put this living faith into action for faith without action is dead.
In the end, it was a great night. Thanks to the "poop" soup. Haha.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Being Judgemental
Many at times, it is easy for me to be judgemental towards certain issue and certain things. And right now, it would be about dealing with different culture and also different point of view. If i were to make a poll right now, how many of you who are currently reading this blog thinks that i am prideful, too tied up to my own way of thinking and does not have a listening ear? I would love to hear your honest opinion.
Well, it is tough for me especially when i am in a struggle between what i know i need to do and what i don't want to do but doing it. Paul best expressed it when he cried out, "what a wretched man i am." And i do agree that i am a wretched man, a sinful and unworthy man. I would like to say sorry to any of you if i had hurt you or had been to hard on you. Sometimes, you just don't have the space to give out your honest opinions or sometimes i am not paying attention to you. Praying that you would forgive me. I am not perfect and am learning to do what pleases God. Help me to be slow to speak and quick to listen.
Here's a nice article from Desiring God.
12 Sins We Blame on OthersJune 25, 2008 By: Ben Reaoch Category: Commentary
The following is a guest post by Ben Reaoch, pastor of Three Rivers Grace Church in downtown Pittsburgh, PA.
* * *
It started in the Garden. Adam said to God,
The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate. (Genesis 3:12)
The first man, caught in the first sin, turns to blame his wife. And he extends the blame to God as well! He implies that he would have remained innocent if God hadn’t put Eve in the garden with him.
The blame-shifting in the Garden continues today. Our proud hearts send us desperately looking for someone else to point to every time we’re confronted with our own sin. There must be someone else—our spouse, sibling, parent, boss, co-worker, pastor, friend, or God, himself.
We are so desperate to justify ourselves that we become irrational. Here are 12 examples.
1) Anger
I wouldn’t lose my temper if my co-workers were easier to get along with, or if my kids behaved better, or if my spouse were more considerate.
2) Impatience
I would be a very patient person if it weren’t for traffic jams and long lines in the grocery store. If I didn’t have so many things to do, and if the people around me weren’t so slow, I would never become impatient!
3) Lust
I would have a pure mind if there weren’t so many sensual images in our culture.
4) Anxiety
I wouldn’t worry about the future if my life were just a little more secure—if I had more money, and no health problems.
5) Spiritual Apathy
My spiritual life would be so much more vibrant and I would struggle with sin less if my small group were more encouraging, or if Sunday school were more engaging, or if the music in the worship service were more lively, or if the sermons were better.
6) Insubordination
If my parents/bosses/elders were godly leaders, then I would joyfully follow them. 7) A Critical Spirit
It’s not my fault that the people around me are ignorant and inexperienced.
8) Bitterness
If you knew what that person did to me, you would understand my bitterness. How could I forgive something like that?
9) Gluttony
My wife/husband/roommate/friend is a wonderful cook! The things they make are impossible to resist.
10) Gossip
It’s the people around me who start the conversations. There’s no way to avoid hearing what others happen to say. And when others ask me questions, I can’t avoid sharing what I know.
11) Self-Pity
I’ll never be happy, because my marriage/family/job/ministry is so difficult.
12) Selfishness
I would be more generous if we had more money.
Making excuses like this is arrogant and foolish. It’s a proud way of trying to justify our actions and pacify our guilty consciences. And it keeps us from humbling ourselves before God to repent of our sins and seek his forgiveness.
Consider James 1:13-15, which leaves us with no way of escaping our own sin and guilt. We cannot blame God, for he “cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”
Instead, we have to accept the humbling truth that “each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” This will end the blame game, and it will send us pleading for Christ’s mercy and grace.
Well, it is tough for me especially when i am in a struggle between what i know i need to do and what i don't want to do but doing it. Paul best expressed it when he cried out, "what a wretched man i am." And i do agree that i am a wretched man, a sinful and unworthy man. I would like to say sorry to any of you if i had hurt you or had been to hard on you. Sometimes, you just don't have the space to give out your honest opinions or sometimes i am not paying attention to you. Praying that you would forgive me. I am not perfect and am learning to do what pleases God. Help me to be slow to speak and quick to listen.
Here's a nice article from Desiring God.
12 Sins We Blame on OthersJune 25, 2008 By: Ben Reaoch Category: Commentary
The following is a guest post by Ben Reaoch, pastor of Three Rivers Grace Church in downtown Pittsburgh, PA.
* * *
It started in the Garden. Adam said to God,
The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate. (Genesis 3:12)
The first man, caught in the first sin, turns to blame his wife. And he extends the blame to God as well! He implies that he would have remained innocent if God hadn’t put Eve in the garden with him.
The blame-shifting in the Garden continues today. Our proud hearts send us desperately looking for someone else to point to every time we’re confronted with our own sin. There must be someone else—our spouse, sibling, parent, boss, co-worker, pastor, friend, or God, himself.
We are so desperate to justify ourselves that we become irrational. Here are 12 examples.
1) Anger
I wouldn’t lose my temper if my co-workers were easier to get along with, or if my kids behaved better, or if my spouse were more considerate.
2) Impatience
I would be a very patient person if it weren’t for traffic jams and long lines in the grocery store. If I didn’t have so many things to do, and if the people around me weren’t so slow, I would never become impatient!
3) Lust
I would have a pure mind if there weren’t so many sensual images in our culture.
4) Anxiety
I wouldn’t worry about the future if my life were just a little more secure—if I had more money, and no health problems.
5) Spiritual Apathy
My spiritual life would be so much more vibrant and I would struggle with sin less if my small group were more encouraging, or if Sunday school were more engaging, or if the music in the worship service were more lively, or if the sermons were better.
6) Insubordination
If my parents/bosses/elders were godly leaders, then I would joyfully follow them. 7) A Critical Spirit
It’s not my fault that the people around me are ignorant and inexperienced.
8) Bitterness
If you knew what that person did to me, you would understand my bitterness. How could I forgive something like that?
9) Gluttony
My wife/husband/roommate/friend is a wonderful cook! The things they make are impossible to resist.
10) Gossip
It’s the people around me who start the conversations. There’s no way to avoid hearing what others happen to say. And when others ask me questions, I can’t avoid sharing what I know.
11) Self-Pity
I’ll never be happy, because my marriage/family/job/ministry is so difficult.
12) Selfishness
I would be more generous if we had more money.
Making excuses like this is arrogant and foolish. It’s a proud way of trying to justify our actions and pacify our guilty consciences. And it keeps us from humbling ourselves before God to repent of our sins and seek his forgiveness.
Consider James 1:13-15, which leaves us with no way of escaping our own sin and guilt. We cannot blame God, for he “cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”
Instead, we have to accept the humbling truth that “each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” This will end the blame game, and it will send us pleading for Christ’s mercy and grace.
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