people nature history hurt life money work today play culture death media yesterday technology tomorrow joy mistakes relationship nations redemption everything... absolutely.
Although I was laughing by the end of it, at first, I was slightly annoyed by this video posted on Tim Challies's blog. Tim's thoughts following from the video was fair enough. But the video itself annoyed me because not all our life problems are as trivial as this video shows them to be. I believe the pain and suffering of the most of those who seek professional counselling are real and serious. I believe many people do not seek professional counselling at the first sight of a problem. They try to deal with their problems themselves first, and often for a long time before they knock on a counsellor's door. Tragically, some don't even make that far. Many of these people, I believe, had been struggling valiantly with their real and serious, sometimes even life-threating issues. And for them, even making an appointment and showing up to a counselling session in itself is another step they had to take as part of their fight for survival, a humbling confession that only a desperate person can make, yet it requires tremendous strength within, for without the strength, one cannot humble himself enough to admit he needs help. That is why some of those people who really need help do not seek help. I am not intending to say badly of them, I am simply saying that it is incredibly hard to even seek professional help such as counselling when things get really rough.
Having said that, however, this video did have merit, or usefulness, in my opinion. Just for some, this video might prove to be useful as a check-up. Just promise me you will remember, the advice I give in the following is entirely based on my own limited experience only and not on any proper research at all. So you will do well to take this with a grain of salt.
Watch the video:
1) If you watch this video and can laugh, you are probably healthy enough emotionally. Just make sure you do not dismiss real problems some people have to deal with too easily and be sensitive sensible with them. 2) If you are slightly offended or annoyed like myself, you might be a little depressed, so take care of yourself. Whether you need a professional counselling or not is probably up to you at this point. 3) If you are greatly offended and always offended whenever you think about this video, I'm sorry that it offended you, but it might be wise to talk to a professional counsellor.
I read a blog post of a friend the other day. Apparently her friend, under the influence of alcohol, uttered a profound statement. 'I sswear to drrunk, I'm NOT God!'
At the first glance, it was funny. Then it came across as ironic and even profound.
It is obvious what he was trying to say: "I swear to God, I'm not drunk!" While common, it is a silly thing to say. You are clearly drunk, yet you are denying it. It is silly because nobody's going to believe you, and it is a little more than just silly because you are making a false statement. You are swearing to God (at least that was the intention), which on its own a very serious matter and shouldn't be done lightly as to blaspheme His name, yet you are doing that over a trivial fact, whether you are drunk or not. Much more seriously, since you are drunk, you are already blaspheming His name by using His name for a falsehood. However, the alcohol brought a bitter sweet effect of its own. He mistakenly said 'I swear to (the) drunk, I'm NOT God!' By that, he admitted he wasn't God and he was adamant about it that he even swore to a drunk (possibly another drunk guy next to him or not). Only under the influence of alcohol was he able to make a truthful statement about himself. Tragic.
Now, if this post did not make any sense, I'm sorry, I feel as though I failed miserably with this one.
Michael Spencer at the internetMonk shares his thoughts on sexual sins. I thought it was an excellent post, faithful to the Scriptures, insightful to the issue, and pastorally compassionate to people. He concludes:
I support the teaching of abstinence, but I believe the Christian approach to the subject differs considerably from a “pragmatic” emphasis. I do not believe we can talk about abstinence without talking about the entire Gospel. To fail to do so is to continue the perversion of Christianity into a message of moral reform that is far from the Good News of Jesus.
Warning: Sorry for another warning, but this post requires it. If you follow the link I provided, you'll see a disturbing picture with an equally disturbing story of a transgender. If you think you aren't ready for it, please do not follow the link. If your first impulse at the word, 'transgender' was a personal hatred and despise towards transgenders, don't bother commenting here.
SMH reports: She's pregnant, but she's a man. This is the most bizarre and disturbing news I've read this year so far. After shaking of my head, and looking into an empty space for a moment, I thought about whether I should post a link to it or not. As I said a few posts ago, I prefer not to post something that doesn't seem helpful or unnecessarily provocative. But this time I thought I'd just simply leave a challenge for the readers and myself. After all, Christians aren't meant to simply hide away from the real issues in the society.
What kind of response should I give if I knew this person? Or rather, will I be able to have compassion on him(her?) as much as God is compassionate, while maintaining the pointed edge of the Gospel and show him the need for repentance and even rebuke him? Will I even try to talk to him? A friend of mine from church once told me that the transgenders are the most despised people in our society, and he challenged me if I would be able or willing to reach out to such people with the Gospel.
What do you think?
Update: Fixed typo and reformatted paragraphs slightly.
Update 2 (28-Mar-2008): Now I'm hearing that it might've been a hoax. Yikes.
Warning: This is a personal rant as I continue to struggle with keeping the balance of giving words of encouragement and rebuke to brothers and sisters in Christ, while trying to expand my own understanding of God at the same time.
A friend of mine told me: The Bible is not meant only for scholars, but it's also for people like us. If you just take it as what it is, if you just read it literally, it's simple and easy to understand. Don't over-complicate it, and also, don't you believe in God? Ask, if you don't understand some parts, He will reveal it to you, and at the same time, don't forget that we will never understand God fully.
I know what you are saying. Really, I do. And I totally agree with at least some bits of what you said. But don't think I am trying to make the Bible more complicated that it actually is. I'm simply trying to understand it, and it isn't always easy as you say because not all parts are to be taken literally, and God doesn't simply give me a crystal clear answer when I pray about it. And you accuse me of over-complicating the Bible, but don't you think you are at the risk of trivialising the Scriptures if you really meant what you said? Or, maybe you didn't know what kind of implications it brought when you said it. I'm fine with misunderstandings and misconceptions here and there as a young believer, but shouldn't we be striving to know God more and more? Don't tell me I'm just talking about "head-knowledge" because I'm absolutely not. If you do, I'll tell you that you are "empty-headed" even though you clearly aren't. Yikes!
What is this... I normally don't like posting a link to anti-Christian stuff because I'd rather see them just die down without being noticed too much. But I just couldn't help myself this time when I saw that.
God is patient. His patience and endurance is something I'll never fully grasp. And yet, the Day IS coming when there will be no more time for people to repent. No more second chances. The Heaven's gate will be closed and people will be shut out just like the doors on Noah's Ark was not opened once it was closed. Only judgment and destruction will remain for those outside.
That no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. -- Hebrews 12:16-17
Unfortunately, this judgment doesn't only apply to homosexuals, but all of us who reject God. Don't be like Esau who miscalculated the value of his birthright and sold it. Do not underestimate what is on offer for you by God. If you choose the world and yourself, you will perish with it. If you choose God and His rule, you will find redemption and live. And know this, that there is no middle ground here, you cannot have the best of the both worlds.
Oh, God, I don't love you, I don't even want to love you, but I want to want to love you! -- Teresa of Avila
How do I go on living when all my hopes, as falsely based as they are, fade away from me, and when all my dreams, as selfish as they are, shatter and fall, and when I am left with only despair and terror which, as unreal as they are, petrifies me. Oh, shall I read my way out of this? Shall I sing my way out of this? Will I even see a way out? Will it be the right way out? Woe to me who despair. Woe to me who is entrapped in selfish desires. Woe to me who dislikes a cup from God. Deliver me from fear and regrets for I am tormented, God. When shall I see your face? When shall I find peace? Oh, will you not rescue me? Will you not shorten the days of suffering? How long will you continue ignoring my plea? Praise to God the Righteous One. Praise Him who saw me and woven me in my mother's womb. Praise Him who knows my limits and my rotten heart. Praise Him who faced all temptations as I do and yet was without sin. Praise Him who will not lose a sheep of His own. Praise Him who promised to return and restore. Praise Him who shall one day call me home, but until then will guard me and guide me. Praise God the Righteous One.
