Michael Jackson?

It seems that it is only after his death that i "know" this man more. I was just telling someone the other day that even though i hear about MJ so much [e.g. moonwalk, plastic surgery...all the "gossip" stuff] from others, and heard umpteen times what a "legend" he was, i have never remembered any of his songs. Well except Thriller (which i remembered the dance / video ecause i thought it was a scary movie i waas watching -.-" ) and Heal the World (which we HAD to sing for Leo Investiture, and which i didnt knwo was from MJ haha). Anyhow, I just watched some dvd on him- his history, and some of his videos... and the first thing that struck me (which was at the very beginning of the 'movie') was the overwhelming question: Why do so many idolise him? to such a seemingly absurd extent?

The movie started off cataloguing his -yes you got it- adoring fans, while playing a solemn, chant-like, cathedral-like, haunting song (im sure its familiar, just that i cant recall the title, some latin[?] song)

And, i was at first bemused, then increasingly shocked by the behaviour of MJ's fans. People screaming-not with fun but with a passion so deep you could see it in every inch of their faces-, people screaming with tears rolling down their cheeks, then [even more bizarre] people in what seemed like estacy, then people left so weak at the sight /sound of MJ that they have to be supported and led out by their friends, then people lying on their BACKS (rendered unconscious by his songs?! Sure takes "swooning" to a new level..) and being carried on a wave by the crowd. The last description was just... bizarre. The first thought that ran through my mind as i saw the crowd carrying the prone figure was "sacrifice....?!!!!" which is a really scary thing to think about, considering the symbolism.

haha. And when he died there was soooo much talk as to whether MJ was a christian when he died, or a muslim, or neither. I was just reading them. The impression i get of him (i mean from the very little ive seen of him through interviews etc) is overall good, though. But then im not saying anything. Haha. Actually my thoughts are just jumbled up now, i had something to say about him but i cant quite recall so this would have t wait. And, its late!

Balancing The Book

its amazing how God is able to use so many different people with varying personalities and backgrounds and the like, isn't it?

((((((((((((((((:

I mean, people tend to think that the Lord only uses a certain kind of personality, and so they compare themselves to that particular person who has the kind of personality they think the Lord will use.

OR on the other hand, they think the Lord only uses THEIR kind of personality, so they, out of genuine kind-heartedness, try to mold everyone into their kind of personality.

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Just randomly,

I think the thing that is the hardest to do is taking God's Word in its whole-ness. Its kinda like learning to balance a book with 1 finger (except that this is very much harder and requires much more practise haha), because the book balances at the very centre of itself. Lean a little to the left, or the right, and its not balanced any longer.

And how do we learn to balance the book?

#1. GET the book.

#2. Know how the book looks like in its totality... how can we estimate the centre of the book if we only see part of the book? Then we might think its a square when its actually a rectangle... and so on!

["Until we all....become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ"]

*i'll leave it to you guys to "get" the meaning in the metaphorical sense, haha.

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Anyway, was reading a book (which my dad left open at home, which means he was reading it) about music, which is something my dad and i have kinda differing views on. I was reminded about Pastor Chunghowe's "Bolstering the confidences of the bible, not feeding the suspicions", haha. But then again, i do also wanna read the opinions of these people and how they are convinced, Not wholly believing anything anyone says and "that we may no longer be as children, tossed to and fro, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming", but instead carefully considering and deciding.

:DDD

Commit to God!

At this stage of my life, i am realising more and more how important it is, or rather- how NECESSARY it is to commit my work and brain and discipline and will into God's hands EVERY TIME before i sit down to a session of studying. Its strange... and cool- how God is using this to teach me to rely more on Him, because I am realising more and more how I am completely unable to fight against "principalities and powers" myself! For i am definitely not fighting against :flesh and blood" this time round. I have, in this last week while trying to study, slept and wasted 2 whole days due to this out-of-the-world sleepiness that came upon me when i wanted to study (no its not myself because i already slept 8hrs! And im not the kind that needs naps in normal circumstances). And i have also simply been unable to concentrate. Until today during dinner-time, i realised "AH! i wasn't able to concentrate because i didn't commit this to God, didn't call out to Him for help when i couldn't study!

Sigh. I remember praying that He would make this whole spiritual battle so real to me, and practical, because i didn't wanna live in that "fuzzy spirituality" world. And. He IS doing it! Man... But do i regret? Not a chance :D Cos i know His Will is the best for me (: And He is teaching me that too... slowly, more-often-than-not painfully, and surely.... (':

I used to think "Why do so many mature adults struggle concerning God's Will? Don't we simply need to give things up to Him? Don't we trust that His Will is the best for us?

THEN He showed me how and why they struggled, by a most effective example- getting ME to experience something like that myself. He asked me to give up something i always thought He wanted me to have, something i never ever doubted He would withhold from me... I kinda felt like Abraham being asked to give up his son to (seemingly) be killed... Honestly!

So now, after days and nights of struggle, im still uncertain of what He is gonna do with it. Is He going to, like with Abraham, return that joy back to me (when He returned Isaac back to Abraham), or will He decide that me living without "Isaac" is better for me?

It was that very thing which i struggled with for so long- not being sure whether the Lord would decide not to give it back to me, and wondering how in the world i could be better of without it. Heart-rending for me, no doubt.

But with surrender comes the stillness; No more struggling and being torn- instead, an ache, but quiet and peace (:

Okay i dunno how i got here, but i have to return back to studying. (Since i didn't study at night -cos i didn't commit it to God-, i am studying now! And my dear mum has come downstairs with me and she is doing her beads while i study. Thank God for mum :D )

G'night!

p.s. Bernita, i blogged ((;

An Interesting Newspaper

Is it just me, or is the newspaper more interesting today?

I was just reading the main section and same across this "One-Dog Policy" just imposed in GuangZhou. And a statement at the end caught my eye.

From one of the pet-owners affected:
"In China, we have a saying:
When the people at the top make a policy,
the people at the bottom find a way to get around it."

Whooooooooo.
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Then, i continued reading, and "Pay, Talent, Government" caught my eye with its interesting title.
Rothkopf is just the kind of writer i'd love to read. His mix of wit, sarcasm and ability to express "touchy" issues in a humorous way is priceless.

And, i didn't know the "President, Prime Minister and ministers took an almost one-fifth pay cut this year" because of the recession. (:
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As i read........
-Beijing to recruit 10,000 volunteers to act as internet censors.
[Sure brings to mind Media & Censorship i.e.GP -.-" ]

-Clinton defends US efforts to..[catch this] Keep Twitter Going In Iran.
[To think i thought Twitter was something new even in 'Technologified' Singapore! Science & Tech, ARGH GP]

A Woman After God's Own Heart

Even, or rather especially so in this time (or the seeming lack of, it seems), the Lord has been teaching me to prioritise. I've always heard people saying "Place the Lord first and everything will fall into place", but it didn't become starkly clear until i realised that Placing the Lord First did not refer to an idea or a shape in which prioritising took place; rather, it means a number on that Priority List- and its place is #1 !

I think its kinda hard to understand what im trying to say here from the heart, haha. But oh, what a release! Now also i begin to understand what Sis Angelyn meant in her letter (((((:

Now, to Do. (: Not to ponder and wrestle and try to prioritise things in the hazy thoughts of "is this what the Lord would have me do first?", BUT to FIRST be still, and spend time with Him- That is the key to placing Him absolute first!

"A Woman After God's Own Heart".

Funny how...

Haha. I was just thinking, its really uncanny and funny how certain things fall into place. The Lord's will is, of course, the best! (:

So, looking forward to see how He will continue to shape me to minister to others, and shape my ministry as well, no matter what "time" it is.

"Even the youths will grow weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; But those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.". Claiming upon that promise, Lord! (:

Etiquette!

I really wanna watch this!

yes, NOT take part, but watch. Does anyone wanna study/lunch/have tea/whatever at Dome in marina Square at any of these timings?

Click the title for more info! :DDDD 

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kay this is the EDITED PORTION. I changed the link so just click on the title again! Hahahaha ;)

Of course im not talking about ACTING in it though, we should just go DOME and study and catch the action. of course, it means that it wouldnt be a very condusive place to mug. but ah well! ;D

GP Tuition: Irwin's Study

Irwin's Study
Blk 474 Tampines Street 43
#02-114

Call: 98333156
E-mail: irwins.study@http://www.facebook.com/l/;gmail.com

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For anyone interested in boosting their GP grades! :DDD

The First Thing To Go

have been wanting to blog about many interesting/lovely/ etc things, but due to a rather severe lack of time, have been unable to do so.

However, i received an email very recently which really struck me and serves to bring out/ make me aware of the possible underlying cause behind my problems (ie. lack of time, lack of....)

A wonderful reminder which was an encouragement (:

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The First Thing To Go

Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. ―Luke 10:42

Everyone has limitations. A person’s schedule can only get so full. A person can only have a small number of intimate friends. A person can only digest so much information. One person can only assume so much responsibility.

So when a person’s capacity to take anything new is reached, what is the first thing to go? What does a person drop when he finds his hands are full? Most likely, the thing that is most expandable. Or, the thing that means the least to him. Or, the thing that brings him the least satisfaction. Unfortunately, it is usually something spiritual. Man generally neglects the spiritual and clings to the material. It usually goes something like this…

-“I’ve had a hard week. I need a break. I’ll skip church today.” (The first thing to go is church attendance so I can rest.)

-“It’s late and I’m so busy. I’ll study my Bible tomorrow.” (The first thing to go is Bible study so I can be busy doing “more important things.”)

-“This is a great television program (or sporting event). I’ll watch it and pray later.” (The first thing to go is personal devotions so I can be carnal.)

-“Friends (or relatives) are coming over. I need to stay home from church and entertain them.” (The first thing to go is spiritual fellowship with the saints so I can enjoy fleshly amusements with others.)

-“I just cannot handle all these responsibilities. I’ll quit working in the nursery (or the choir, or Sunday School, etc.).”

I like the words of Job, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth MORE than my NECESSARY FOOD” (Job 23:12). Job put the spiritual before the material. Job prioritized his spiritual diet over his physical needs. When a person excuses himself from the preaching of God’s Word at church, is he esteeming God’s Word more that his physical needs? I think not.

Jesus said, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which ENDURETH unto everlasting life” (John 6:27). Next time your hands are full and something needs to go, don’t drop the thing that is most needful. Remember the lesson of Mary and Martha. Martha was cumbered about with material things. Mary sat and listened to the words of Jesus. She chose “that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42).

What is the first to go in your life when you cannot take on another thing? Is it the spiritual or material? Are you choosing the GOOD PART?
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Thank God for His very timely reminder.(:

Facing The Giants

I distinctly remember blogging about "Facing The Giants" before when i first watched it, and now im watching it again. Although not like the first time when i watched (cos now im doing my stuff on the comp as well), it is still such a reminder and encouragement and all that.

I vividly remember the Coach blindfolding the guy and making him go further than he would have if he haad not been blindfolded, And it sure tells us a lot about the will, doesn't it? And such a poignant instance of the christian walk with God.

In fact, the whole show is really a portrayal of the christian life. For instance, the last part of the show- in the game. When they won, and the coach asked them again HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD.... such an inspiring show. I just really thank God for granting them the strength, inspiration and grace to make this. (:

I shall add that to my list of to-gets. Hahahaha...