I think I can understand now why quite a few people like the book "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott... It is a really interesting book on writing... A book that tells stories you can relate to or agree with...
Or maybe, as the bit that I just read... she just picked the right narrator for the book... someone I'd like to spend time with, someone whose opinions I want to listen to... someone who isn't boring... and have a positive outlook in life... or can make see a funny side out of miserable situations...
Maybe there are just aspects of her (as a narrator) that I could relate to... and maybe, that is why I have enjoyed reading the book so far! =)
Don't always get what she said at first go, but when you think through some of the things she wrote, they actually make more sense over time...
I like the book! =)
Friday 26 September 2008
Monday 18 August 2008
!!!! . . . .
Too many news of deaths! And of young people, too! People younger than me. And one of them, someone I know...
News of accidents also! In a place where social security and so livelihood is not guaranteed.
Annoyed greatly that I was lost for words... Annoyed greatly that I was so disturbed that I couldn't think of what to say!!!
Very disturbed! VERY disturbed...
------
A few more years shall roll,
A few more seasons come,
And we shall be with those that rest
Asleep within the tomb;
Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that great day.
O wash me in Thy precious blood,
And take my sins away.
A few more struggles here,
A few more partings o’er,
A few more toils, a few more tears,
And we shall weep no more:
Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that bright day.
O wash me in Thy precious blood,
And take my sins away.
by Horatius Bonar, 1842
News of accidents also! In a place where social security and so livelihood is not guaranteed.
Annoyed greatly that I was lost for words... Annoyed greatly that I was so disturbed that I couldn't think of what to say!!!
Very disturbed! VERY disturbed...
------
A few more years shall roll,
A few more seasons come,
And we shall be with those that rest
Asleep within the tomb;
Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that great day.
O wash me in Thy precious blood,
And take my sins away.
A few more struggles here,
A few more partings o’er,
A few more toils, a few more tears,
And we shall weep no more:
Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that bright day.
O wash me in Thy precious blood,
And take my sins away.
by Horatius Bonar, 1842
Sunday 13 July 2008
A fruitful day...
Thankful to God for a quite fruitful day! =)
Passed on a book that I helped bought for a brother to him.
Gave a good book to another brother - 4th copy of the book I gave away within these three weeks! =)
Passed on two hastily scribbled notes to two brothers (or three brothers and a sister - depending on how one looks at it), which were of slightly different natures - one of encouragement (or so I hoped =)), while the other one of reminder / sharing.
Had a helpful conversation with a sister after lunch in the afternoon - not an easy conversation but thankful to God for her reminders and listening ears.
Altered / shortened two work pants by hands! (i.e. without sewing machine and used my new kitchen scissors to cut the pants =P)
And one thing I'm most happy about - restarting my offline journal!! =) - Looking forward to writing many many more things offline! =)
Planned to actually did a lot more... But I guess I need to keep reminding myself that those limits have been placed by God for own good - and so, I need to work within those limits! =) (and leave those things for tomorrow or another time.......)
Passed on a book that I helped bought for a brother to him.
Gave a good book to another brother - 4th copy of the book I gave away within these three weeks! =)
Passed on two hastily scribbled notes to two brothers (or three brothers and a sister - depending on how one looks at it), which were of slightly different natures - one of encouragement (or so I hoped =)), while the other one of reminder / sharing.
Had a helpful conversation with a sister after lunch in the afternoon - not an easy conversation but thankful to God for her reminders and listening ears.
Altered / shortened two work pants by hands! (i.e. without sewing machine and used my new kitchen scissors to cut the pants =P)
And one thing I'm most happy about - restarting my offline journal!! =) - Looking forward to writing many many more things offline! =)
Planned to actually did a lot more... But I guess I need to keep reminding myself that those limits have been placed by God for own good - and so, I need to work within those limits! =) (and leave those things for tomorrow or another time.......)
Tuesday 1 July 2008
Neither Poverty nor Riches...
As my current status line says, I am looking forward to do a slow reading of Neither Poverty nor Riches...
I know it won't be an easy reading... But I am looking forward to learning about what the whole Bible has to say on the whole issue of responding to the poverty around us...
I am not looking for an easy answer, and so am hoping that what the books says about itself in its back-cover will really be what I will find as I read it...
Why do I want to know more about this?
Partly just wanting to know more about what God has to say on this issue, I guess...
Partly because I feel that Sydney has become more and more like my home-country with more homeless and poor people around...
Partly, because I do want to know how to deal with this... and maybe even help others get a better idea on how they should see and respond to poverty around them - especially if they plan to go back to our home-country and make a difference there - as Christians...
This is what the back of the book says:
"Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. (Proverbs 30:8)
One of the most difficult questions facing Christians today is that of the proper attitude toward possessions. In wealthy nations such as Britain and the USA, individuals accumulate much and yet are daily exposed to the plight of the poor, whether the homeless on their own city streets or starving children on their TV screens. What action should we take on behalf of the poor? What should we do with our own possessions?
In Neither Poverty nor Riches Craig Blomberg asks what the Bible has to say about these issues. Avoiding easy answers, he instead seeks a comprehensive biblical theology of possessions. And so he begins with the groundwork laid by the Old Testament and the ideas developed in the intertestamental period, then draws out what the whole New Testament has to say on the subject, and finally offers conclusions and applications relevant to our contemporary world.
Neither Poverty Nor Riches is one book that all should read who are concerned with issues of poverty and wealth."
I know it won't be an easy reading... But I am looking forward to learning about what the whole Bible has to say on the whole issue of responding to the poverty around us...
I am not looking for an easy answer, and so am hoping that what the books says about itself in its back-cover will really be what I will find as I read it...
Why do I want to know more about this?
Partly just wanting to know more about what God has to say on this issue, I guess...
Partly because I feel that Sydney has become more and more like my home-country with more homeless and poor people around...
Partly, because I do want to know how to deal with this... and maybe even help others get a better idea on how they should see and respond to poverty around them - especially if they plan to go back to our home-country and make a difference there - as Christians...
This is what the back of the book says:
"Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. (Proverbs 30:8)
One of the most difficult questions facing Christians today is that of the proper attitude toward possessions. In wealthy nations such as Britain and the USA, individuals accumulate much and yet are daily exposed to the plight of the poor, whether the homeless on their own city streets or starving children on their TV screens. What action should we take on behalf of the poor? What should we do with our own possessions?
In Neither Poverty nor Riches Craig Blomberg asks what the Bible has to say about these issues. Avoiding easy answers, he instead seeks a comprehensive biblical theology of possessions. And so he begins with the groundwork laid by the Old Testament and the ideas developed in the intertestamental period, then draws out what the whole New Testament has to say on the subject, and finally offers conclusions and applications relevant to our contemporary world.
Neither Poverty Nor Riches is one book that all should read who are concerned with issues of poverty and wealth."
Monday 30 June 2008
the memory that I don't have . . .
Finished reading a good book on the life of a godly 'saint' recently and been challenged in many aspect of my life through it.
One of the things that I was encouraged to do is to be more diligent in keeping my offline journal.
Doesn't mean that I will cease writing and posting things online. I will still post things online. However, I do believe that offline and online journals are of different nature and so they could serve slightly different purposes...
I think, an offline journal - is a journal you keep to yourself (and God)... No one else is an audience to what you are writing... Sure, there are times when you write something and think - maybe one day, someone will be reading this and trying to make sense of things etc. But that day usually happen in the far away future... At a time when the things noted down has become a part of history... or maybe even you yourself, has become a part of history...
And that's why an offline journal encourages honesty.... You get to be more open and honest about what you are actually thinking - knowing that what you write is not subject to anyone's judgement but your own - and God... And it does actually make a big difference whether you are writing "to be seen" - and for an audience - or whether you are writing for yourself/God.
When you know that others won't get to read what you think - you have more freedom to write down your current thoughts and ways of thinking... You say / write things that you would otherwise never say / write in front of other people - for various reasons - and not always bad reasons...
Sometimes, there are just things that it's not wise for you to say out loud or publicly - just because of who you are or who others perceive you to be, for example - or simply because things can be easily taken out of context... or maybe because others don't understand a situation as much as you do - or don't have the background knowledge that you have, or even - not having the Christian maturity and knowledge - that might be required in making judgement over certain things said or done...
And so, there are times when things are better kept to yourself and God...
Of course, there are also times when secrecy safeguards sincerity...
Another thing, I guess... is the fact that "time" is just a unique entity that might change the way we (and others) see things as it passes us by...
There are things that seem to be "black and white" to us at a certain moment in life - maybe because of the situations that we face at that time - or the emotions - or anything else - but as time passes... what we think "we saw clearly" took different forms altogether... and they look slightly or very different now... Time has reinterpret the way that they are seen...
And that's why I think an offline journal has this benefit of things not being made public or known to others, until we have decided that the first interpretation wasn't a wise one after all... It has that benefit of "time"... It keeps things in secret until things have withstood the test of time...
But of course I know all the benefits of an online journal... All the encouragement that you get from people... All the incentives to write as you know that others - at least a few people - are reading what you are writing... And just to feel that you have done something - and something others can see! It is satisfying!
And of course it is true that an online journal can be something that's done with the purpose to encourage and build others up. Or to share something with them... Or just to pour your hearts out... After all, this is an age where things are shared with others over the world wide web... =)
I guess... both offline and online journals have their own benefits... As long as we are clear what it is that we are trying to do when we write them.
Who is our target audience? What's the purpose of my writing? Will anyone be encouraged by this? Am I hoping to challenge someone through this? Am I setting an example? Sharing a struggle? Do I just want to be encouraged at the moment? Or am I just showing my human/personal side to others - so they can have a fuller picture of myself?
Would what I write benefit others? Should I write and post this online? Who would be reading this? Would they benefit from reading this? Or would they be stumbled instead?
We can't, of course, be responsible for the way others respond to everything we decide to post online... but I do think that we should exercise a duty of care...
Anyway, I know, most 'saints of old times' I know keep offline journal only because for them, an online one was simply not an option. =) And in today's world, there are many godly people who are keeping an online journal...
But yeah... just thinking I guess... and reflecting... =)
I think, for me, personally - at the moment - I know that an offline journal is something that I plan to work on a bit more... A journal to write down my personal reflections of the Bible passages I am reading... of the questions I have... of the things about people that came to mind as I read certain Bible passages, etc... So yeah, things that are mainly to do with my own personal communication with God or things that might be related to others, but might be better kept to myself or as a topic of conversation with God only...
I will of course, keep working on my blog... Just because I love writing... But yeah, it's been good for me to be reminded that when I do write a blog post (like this) - I'd better have a clear goal in mind...
I guess, for the "saints" in the past - "blog posts" are more like their letters to the people they ministered to? Like McCheyne's letters, or John Newton's letters... or Ryle's letters... Letters they wrote to either encourage or challenge people's ways of thinking or actions...
Although as I said, acknowledging the time I live in, sharing a bit of life - personal but not important - might also be done... =)
Anyway... the sentence that keeps coming back to me from the book - as I reflect on the things I chose to write/not write and also on the things I choose to say/not to say in my conversations with others now - is this:
"As I look back on life with Mum and Dad, perhaps the one thing I recall most vividly is the memory that I don't have. Try as I might, I cannot recollect one time when either of them spoke negatively about another person. Although Mum was an extremely astute judge of character, her analyses were well seasoned with grace and the latent potential for redemption."
I certainly needed the rebuke and reminder! =)
One of the things that I was encouraged to do is to be more diligent in keeping my offline journal.
Doesn't mean that I will cease writing and posting things online. I will still post things online. However, I do believe that offline and online journals are of different nature and so they could serve slightly different purposes...
I think, an offline journal - is a journal you keep to yourself (and God)... No one else is an audience to what you are writing... Sure, there are times when you write something and think - maybe one day, someone will be reading this and trying to make sense of things etc. But that day usually happen in the far away future... At a time when the things noted down has become a part of history... or maybe even you yourself, has become a part of history...
And that's why an offline journal encourages honesty.... You get to be more open and honest about what you are actually thinking - knowing that what you write is not subject to anyone's judgement but your own - and God... And it does actually make a big difference whether you are writing "to be seen" - and for an audience - or whether you are writing for yourself/God.
When you know that others won't get to read what you think - you have more freedom to write down your current thoughts and ways of thinking... You say / write things that you would otherwise never say / write in front of other people - for various reasons - and not always bad reasons...
Sometimes, there are just things that it's not wise for you to say out loud or publicly - just because of who you are or who others perceive you to be, for example - or simply because things can be easily taken out of context... or maybe because others don't understand a situation as much as you do - or don't have the background knowledge that you have, or even - not having the Christian maturity and knowledge - that might be required in making judgement over certain things said or done...
And so, there are times when things are better kept to yourself and God...
Of course, there are also times when secrecy safeguards sincerity...
Another thing, I guess... is the fact that "time" is just a unique entity that might change the way we (and others) see things as it passes us by...
There are things that seem to be "black and white" to us at a certain moment in life - maybe because of the situations that we face at that time - or the emotions - or anything else - but as time passes... what we think "we saw clearly" took different forms altogether... and they look slightly or very different now... Time has reinterpret the way that they are seen...
And that's why I think an offline journal has this benefit of things not being made public or known to others, until we have decided that the first interpretation wasn't a wise one after all... It has that benefit of "time"... It keeps things in secret until things have withstood the test of time...
But of course I know all the benefits of an online journal... All the encouragement that you get from people... All the incentives to write as you know that others - at least a few people - are reading what you are writing... And just to feel that you have done something - and something others can see! It is satisfying!
And of course it is true that an online journal can be something that's done with the purpose to encourage and build others up. Or to share something with them... Or just to pour your hearts out... After all, this is an age where things are shared with others over the world wide web... =)
I guess... both offline and online journals have their own benefits... As long as we are clear what it is that we are trying to do when we write them.
Who is our target audience? What's the purpose of my writing? Will anyone be encouraged by this? Am I hoping to challenge someone through this? Am I setting an example? Sharing a struggle? Do I just want to be encouraged at the moment? Or am I just showing my human/personal side to others - so they can have a fuller picture of myself?
Would what I write benefit others? Should I write and post this online? Who would be reading this? Would they benefit from reading this? Or would they be stumbled instead?
We can't, of course, be responsible for the way others respond to everything we decide to post online... but I do think that we should exercise a duty of care...
Anyway, I know, most 'saints of old times' I know keep offline journal only because for them, an online one was simply not an option. =) And in today's world, there are many godly people who are keeping an online journal...
But yeah... just thinking I guess... and reflecting... =)
I think, for me, personally - at the moment - I know that an offline journal is something that I plan to work on a bit more... A journal to write down my personal reflections of the Bible passages I am reading... of the questions I have... of the things about people that came to mind as I read certain Bible passages, etc... So yeah, things that are mainly to do with my own personal communication with God or things that might be related to others, but might be better kept to myself or as a topic of conversation with God only...
I will of course, keep working on my blog... Just because I love writing... But yeah, it's been good for me to be reminded that when I do write a blog post (like this) - I'd better have a clear goal in mind...
I guess, for the "saints" in the past - "blog posts" are more like their letters to the people they ministered to? Like McCheyne's letters, or John Newton's letters... or Ryle's letters... Letters they wrote to either encourage or challenge people's ways of thinking or actions...
Although as I said, acknowledging the time I live in, sharing a bit of life - personal but not important - might also be done... =)
Anyway... the sentence that keeps coming back to me from the book - as I reflect on the things I chose to write/not write and also on the things I choose to say/not to say in my conversations with others now - is this:
"As I look back on life with Mum and Dad, perhaps the one thing I recall most vividly is the memory that I don't have. Try as I might, I cannot recollect one time when either of them spoke negatively about another person. Although Mum was an extremely astute judge of character, her analyses were well seasoned with grace and the latent potential for redemption."
I certainly needed the rebuke and reminder! =)
Friday 27 June 2008
Find Us Faithful
Finished reading a book recently, which made a reference to a song, which was introduced to me by a brother sometime ago.
The person in the book - in whose funeral the song was sang though, did live a life that reflects the lyrics of the song...
Also saw a very old couple who came to my workplace to attend friday fellowship and very encouraged by them also... and by the fire of their devotion - even to their old age...
My prayer is that even if my life will be pale compared to these people's lives, the lyrics of the song will still be true of me to a certain extent... =)
Find Us Faithful
(from: http://www.stevegreenministries.org/lyrics/index.php?song=402)
We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness
Passed on through godly lives
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover
And the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them
To the road we each must find
Repeat Chorus Twice
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Words and Music by Jon Mohr
Copyright 1988 Birdwing Music/Jonathan Mark Music (admin. By The Sparrow Corp.) All Rights Reserved. International Copyright secured.
The person in the book - in whose funeral the song was sang though, did live a life that reflects the lyrics of the song...
Also saw a very old couple who came to my workplace to attend friday fellowship and very encouraged by them also... and by the fire of their devotion - even to their old age...
My prayer is that even if my life will be pale compared to these people's lives, the lyrics of the song will still be true of me to a certain extent... =)
Find Us Faithful
(from: http://www.stevegreenministries.org/lyrics/index.php?song=402)
We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness
Passed on through godly lives
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover
And the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them
To the road we each must find
Repeat Chorus Twice
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Words and Music by Jon Mohr
Copyright 1988 Birdwing Music/Jonathan Mark Music (admin. By The Sparrow Corp.) All Rights Reserved. International Copyright secured.
Thursday 26 June 2008
Skills
One of the things I've been thankful to God for during these past few weeks is the fact that as a child, I was given a chance not only to learn how to make simple clothes for my Barbie dolls, but also to make simple furnitures for them - like chairs, bed etc! =)
Some skills do come in handy later on in life! =P
Some skills do come in handy later on in life! =P
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
