Taking Time

I walk into the office this morning to find a post-it sticker at the air conditioner switches, on which was written: "Think of the Bangladeshis drowning due to global warming". :-)

Here's wishing a blessed new year to all.

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Christmas: the Son of God came

In my previous blog entry, I talked about nations unwilling to put aside their self-interests, and sacrifice for the greater good of the world.

Thankfully, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, was willing to put aside His heavenly glory, and sacrifice for the greater good of the world.

A very blessed Christmas to all!

...Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made Himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled Himself,

and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place

and gave Him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

~Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)~

UN Climate Talks

"Within the next two hours, the compromise that was the Copenhagen accord was born...Obama announced the result to a group of journalists before boarding Air Force One, pleading snow as the reason for leaving early...he left chaos in his slipstream. Many developing countries reacted with fury to what they saw as a deal imposed on them by the most powerful...developed countries insist that the accord, while imperfect, is nevertheless a significant step...the real problem with the accord, however, is that it has not been formally accepted by the Copenhagen conference, which means it can be easily sidelined...that leaves the UN with a further six months of tough & possibly hopeless negotiations to win acceptance, to be followed by the nearly impossible task of turning any such acceptance into a treaty. It also leaves the world without a global framework to tackle climate change."

~Excerpts from "A Foundering Forum In Copenhagen", by Fiona Harvey, Ed Crooks & Andrew Ward (Financial Daily, 22 December 2009)~

Even before the conference began, everyone had given up on the idea that a legally-binding treaty could be established in Copenhagen. However, there were signs that something could still salvaged out of this conference; that, at the very least, a declaration could be reached on key issues such as emissions curbs and financing. During the time leading up to the talks, various countries were making bold plans to cut emissions. But after days of big hoo-haa in the Danish capital, the accord that was cooked up has fallen short.

The larger powerful economies were seeking to minimise their commitment, for fear of the negative impact it would have on their, well, large and powerful economies. Smaller developing nations, obviously driven by the fear that climate change is drowning their countries, questioned procedures and perhaps pushed too hard on certain issues. Can't really blame them...as one negotiator at the talks said, "it's hard to argue with people whose homeland is going to disappear".

The way I see it, unless nations are willing to put aside their self-interest and start cooperating with each other, the world will continue to 'boil'. It's a tall order, no doubt, for many of these countries, but with earth heading towards the red zone, the stakes are too high to ignore. Sacrifices have to be made for the greater good of mankind and the earth.

Larry works in KL Sentral. It would be so much more convenient and comfortable for him to drive to work, but he chooses instead to jam-pack himself into the LRT train in order to reduce his carbon footprint. Larry's willing to sacrifice and do his bit. Will we? Can this be replicated on a global scale?

"The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." ~ Romans 8:19-21 (NIV)

A to Z of Blessings

A

Assurance: God's assurance that it is well with my soul.

Argyle Sweater: A daily one-picture comic that often sends me into a laughing frenzy.

Acropora: Or commonly known as staghorn corals, is one of the many beautiful things that adorn the underwater world.



Aeslinn, Ariadne & Anishea: Three young girls who remind me about child-like faith and of the goodness of the simple things in life.

Aunties: A group of aunties in church, to be specific, who are fervently devoted to prayer and fighting in the battles on their knees.

Which Way?

Personal life hazard: doing it my way, instead of God's way. There's this tendency for us to push our pre-conceived agenda to God and say "here God, bless it", instead of going to Him with a clean slate and saying "Lord, what would You have me do? How would You have me do it?"

I remember it was Ravi Zacharias who said that (I paraphrase, I can't remember the exact quote) many an unbeliever is willing to go God's way if God is willing to go their way. And worse still, many a believer goes their way and make it look as if it's God's way.

I was revisiting the fall of Jericho in Joshua 6. I'm sure Joshua and the Israelites must have been baffled by what they were told to do in order to bring down the walls of Jericho. Now if we were to conquer a fortified city, how would we do it? Some advanced military strategy or tactic perhaps? Full-blown, head-on assault using brute military strength? Or maybe clever deception (ala trojan horse style)? But no, God instructed them to march around the city once every day for six days. While blowing trumpets. Honestly, it was surely a ridiculous sight.

But here was an important lesson to the Israelites: if they were to conquer Jericho, they must do it according to God's terms, not their own.

And so with each passing day, the same repeated routine probably made the situation more and more absurd. But on the seventh day....seven marches around the city, a trumpet blast and a loud shout later, the walls of Jericho came tumbling down and the city was duly conquered.

If we are to be fruitful for God, we must learn to do it His way, not our way....even if it entails difficulties, sufferings, shame or taking a 'longer route'. This means no shortcuts, and very importantly, the end does not justify the means. In a world that preaches that we must take charge and be in control, the challenge is for us to let God dictate the terms and faithfully commit ourselves to complete obedience to God.

Frank sang "I did it my way." Let's sing a new song: "I did it God's wayyyyyyyyyyyy!"

when i was young....

....i wanted to play guitar like Tommy Emmanuel.