Mostly Mozart

Mostly Mozart – Guardian UK. Now you can download some of the greatest masterpiece of Mozart for free! This has to be one of the best composers of all time. I love Mozart beside Handel's composition which in my wider spectrum of interest, is the best when listened to during a rainy days and at the silence of the night when there is no one except melodious music without the angsty rock tempo.

Kingdom of Rock

An article on Christianity Today 

What makes music ‘christian’? Is it the singer, the lyrics, the beat, or the tempo, could it be the band name? Over the years, with the emergent of Petra and Whitecross, etc, to the recent years Christian Rock such as Sonicflood, All Stars United, I wonder will this parady of labelling one a christian band ever be resolved with a definitive standard?

For me, i remember those times when i was alot younger, Petra was to me, a devilish band playing music of the devil, and with documentaries such as Hells Bells, etc, i am just a skeptic. When i started listening to Depeche Mode, Guns N Roses, Metallica, the emptiness is real so i thought why not? since i have already listened to the real devil’s music, petra wouldn’t be too bad, so i got hooked to Petra, and to my surprise, it is different. My Christian life grew with Petra, they taught another message, not of emptiness, death, but of life, a relationship with Christ that i could identify and it is about having an active and real relationship, not something people just talked about it. That day i became a proponent of Christian Rock, for the sake of the lost, we bring Christ, the good news of a Saviour who will die for these punks and rockers that they too may have life, and life much more abundance!

Yet, Apostle Paul has always exhorted us to be discerning! Not just from the teachings from the pulpit, but with ALL things, including what comes from the lyrics and songs of the music we listen to. I realised, it is not just about Lyrics, or the tempo, but it is the fruits of such endeavours. Today, Christian Rock industry is rising quickly with Praise N Worship series and then Hillsongs, and with the rise of many christian artistes, i wonder, sometimes, when we have compromise with the Gospel, to about singing about good things, and focusing on other good christianly thing that we forgot the reason why we want to sing – of the gospel of good news and that Jesus is Lord and saviour. Sure, friends are friends forever is a great song, about friendship, but what has it to tell me about Jesus and His love for me, and that I can be whole in trusting Him as my God and Saviour? Nothing. So is this a christian music? No, it fails in the very basic requirement, that what makes it christian and not christian is the central theme in the person of Jesus and His work on the Cross and His redemptive plans for mankind.

Cry of my heart

Have i long to see my Father's face! To do that, i've learnt today, to see Heavens open, we need to remove our pride. Till the day King Uzziah died, visions will not appear, for pride is the chief of all sins as CS Lewis put it (Mere Christianity); second, we need to be holy and pure! For only the pure in heart shall see God, third, we need to train our spiritual senses – our eyes, our nose, our ears, our tongue!

Pride must die so i can truly be a christian.

Still – Reuben Morgan, Hillsongs

Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust

I love this song even tho i am not a big big fan of Hillsongs, but this song like a few of theirs really hit my heart and when i sang "I will soar with you above the storm" and it just lift my spirit up and soar with God above my situation and problems. It is like for that moment, all is shadow in the light of His love and presence. Truly for God is looking for one who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

My dream ride

When can i have this dream Vespa? I need to go and learn my motorbike license abeit my mum's strong protest and of course a couple of friends telling me not to cos it is dangerous. Frankly i think owning and riding a bike is way cheaper than car, and besides i don't really go around very often except from home to work to church to town. How dangerous can that be? hmmmph. I want a Vespa!!

Morning thoughts

As i was crossing the street, i saw this mother with two very young daughters trying to jaywalk on the adjacent streets when the traffic was pretty heavy for it is a morning rush to work. I thought, "Wow, what an irresponsible mother, teaching your daughters how to break the law, setting a bad example, and possibly will one day, and hope not, kill your daughter indirectly if an accident might happen."

Reflecting on that, what makes a good mother, or a good parent? One who merely provided food, shelter and allowances for their children? No, anyone can do that, even a stranger can do that, and that is not the yardstick of a good parent, a good parent is one who imparts godly principles, one who will not spare the rod to teach, one who will not hesitate to guide and to train their children in righteousness, and we have one Father in heaven, who is the perfect 'parent' and He will discipline us, mould us in the person we ought to be, and He loves unconditionally and besides He provides for all our needs.

The Pilgrim’s Progress

The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. One of the great classics of the Christian literature, and this is such a great book, written in such a simple ways and depicting the journey of a Christian from the point he got to know about the good news of eternal life till the day stepped into the gates of heaven. This is a must-read for every christian and a must-have in your library of great christian literature. Some of the literatures i recommend beside the Pilgrim’s Progress, is Mere Christianity by CS Lewis, Free Indeed by Tom Marshall, and Read the bible for all its worth by Gordon and Fee.

Morning thoughts on Covenant Theology

Was reading up on Covenant Theology, and this came to my mind. Ok, for all have sinned and under the Covenant Theology – in the Covenant of Grace where salvation is freely offered to man whom by faith accepts Jesus and therefore be saved and their fellowship with God is restored.

Ok the thought has to do with the doctrine of pre-destination. See, if Man is spiritually dead, devoid of any capacity for faith, for indeed faith is a gift from God that enable Man to have faith and in that faith, to receive Jesus, for we are justified by faith in Christ and in His Work, for without faith, it is impossible to please God. Then in order for God to set a covenant between Himself and Man, a mutually exclusive agreement between both parties, there ought to be first, Man ought to come into the agreement in faith – example being Abraham who believes and God accredited righteousness to him, and that in itself God pre-suppose one to have faith as faith cannot come from within. Therefore we are pre-destined each, where God choose some to be saved, and some not, for Pharoah wasn’t given faith to believe but instead God hardened his heart.

Covenant theology deals mainly in relations to the Church – before the fall of Adam and after the death and resurrection of Christ – Adamic Covenant, Mosaic Covenant, Noahic Covenant, Davidic Covenant, Abrahamic Covenant (Fall of Adam to Christ’s birth), Covenant of Grace and the New Covenant marks the church after the death and resurrection of Christ by which Man is brought back to fellowship and their sins redeemed by Christ’s substitutionary death on the Cross. However, the Church (You and me) are still bound by the covenants God set before His people which is you and me through Abraham, David, Noah and Jesus.

For more on the Covenant Theology, click here

A people to bring healing

A message from Pastor Chong Yew, by Tom.

Dear family, from pastor;.. As we place ourselves in God’s time, He will raise us to be a great people that brings healing to the nation. Psalms 71:19-21 “Your righteousness, O God, teaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again, from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.

I’ve always look to the heavens, when the skies adorned its orangy colours (wish i had a camera) like a master piece painted on the canvas of the sky reflects the character and glory of the master painter. And how does one reconcille an immensely powerful God to myself, totally finite and limited?

Matthew 6:25-34 says, my God cares for us, even our most insignificant details of our lives, to the point of what we will wear, what we will eat, and every worries He wants to cast it on Him.

Jesus and the World Cup

Saw this site Jesus and the World Cup, which is a ministry of the Campus Crusade for Christ, and i thought that's evangelism through every means and culture. I have mixed feeling for such but as long as Jesus is preached! That's good.

Calvinism vs Arminianism

So much has been blogged and said about Calvnism, do you know, Methodist are predominately Arminianistic? Ok, i have come to a conclusion, Presbyterian is mostly Calvinistic, Methodist is Arminianistic, and Pentecostal/Charismatic is probably a mess because they take from Calvinism, Arminianism, and everything else like Ecumenical, Eastern Religion, and all the other stuffs. Interesting.

For more reading up on the Wesleyan Applied Theology – Arminianism. Click here

Random morning rubbish

When i woke up this morning, i said "God, Here i am", but God didn't answer. He must be busy.

A Theological paradox – God is everywhere, which implies His presence is everywhere, where can we hide? But is God's presence in Hell? The spiritual dead is not just dead for they still 'live' on eternally but in hell without the Presence of God and His fellowship, hence spiritually dead, so if those who are in hell, is devoid of the presence and the fellowship of God, so the sentence "God is everywhere" is theologically wrong. Can God remove His presence from one and yet give another the honour of God's presence at the same place, same time, and same space? Hence, to who God choose to have His presence to dwell with, is entirely in His providence and His sovereign will. Have I just answered my own question? I love talking to myself.

Body's in pain, head's in pain, heart's in pain. If pain is the sign of life, i rather be dead – cold, and numb so i won't feel anymore. Is love still worth it? Perhaps it is a matter of a selected few, of which i rather not be that selected few, for it hurts too much to be opened to the possibilities of love, sacrifice, and selfless giving. Ok, now my neck's hurting.

Sometimes Love – Chris Rice

Sometimes love – Chris Rice 

Is our world spinning backwards?
What has brought about this change?
Can’t you see that people aren’t the same…

I wish I were dreamin’, and could wake up from my sleep
And find us all the way we used to be…

‘Cause the love that used to be is dyin’
Is anybody even tryin’?
And I don’t know how, I don’t know why
But somethin’ in my soul is cryin’ (listen)…

Sometimes love has to drive a nail into its own hand
Sometimes love has to drive a nail into its own hand

One pair of hands broke some bread and washed some feet
Opened eyes and soothed an angry sea

Belong to a man who could see our deepest need
And showed us love the way it has to be

‘Cause he knew the price that love requires
And he laid down his own desires…
He stretched out his hands to save his friends
And said "no other love is higher"
(so listen to me now singin’)

Sometimes love has to drive a nail into its own hand
Sometimes love has to drive a nail into its own hand

Love can change us, love can make a way
Only Jesus' love can change us, love can make a way

Sometimes love has to drive a nail into its own hand
Sometimes love has to drive a nail into its own hand

Father’s Day

Psalms 68:5 "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling."

Father's Day is coming, and as everyone is sending well wishes and heart-felt gratitude to their fathers, i do not have any to talk to or even to thank for. As i sat there today and wonder, truly this day is a day that i am bound in curse for my father, a man less than what he ought to be. I am not terribly sad today except later the evening i received a call and then i realised, i am pretty much a nobody, someone whom people can just chucked off like a worthless and meaningless existence.

I can take that, after all, by now, i should have gotten used to that feeling of being trivialized, and dumped. I do not struggle with low self esteem, but i now know i am unloveable. Yea, i cried and i can't get back to work which i am suppose to, and i am tired. I want to put all those aside and sweep everything under the carpet and let God deal with it. If i can run, i will, but i will not, not that i have not the strength to do so, because i can run, and i choose not to. It is over, and let's move on, and i want to have nothing, absolutely nothing to do with whosoever.

I shall curse the day i was born, a wretched day to see that i will lose my father, i have no friends, and kind of hated everything i am doing despite i love sports, but it is meaningless, to put in so much effort and not being commended for it, instead no one knows, and pain of losing someone, and perhaps all these are necessary so i can focus on God? Perhaps so. My heart is old, cold; and numb. I can't feel its beatings anymore than the thumping throbbing pain in my head, and the heaviness of my eyes that threatens to drift off and desperately crying for the release.

I know now, the promise i made to myself in the darker hours of my life, that i will take my life at the age of 35. Perhaps it is true, i shall do what i need to in this five years, before i shall go. Death is perhaps a good release, and God please take my life. I am tired, very. I do not want to dig into the well of my shallow and superficial knowledge, nor scratch the surface of my faith so reflects the dried up river, my service is expended, for i have nothing to give, except my life. I think it is time to make the plans permanence by returning to the familiar nights of the year before, i long for that silence, that seclusion, finally to close off all avenues of attachment to anyone, i have taken up the last straw of channel where my heart can feel no more pain.

Teamgeist

This Adidas 'Teamgeist'  is especially designed for the FIFA World Cup Finals 2006 at Germany and it cost about more than S$260. Okay, i think that's way too expensive for a ball to be kicked around but it's sure a beautifully designed ball.