My Journal

Last year, I rather preached than to attend the church retreat. This year, as some thought/hope I would go, I am sure they will be disappointed.

One simple rule: From their leading of fellowships, pursue of word of God (I target this not at the commoners but the spiritual leaders), I'd say, let them suffer their own fruit that they bear, lest they never learn.

Events like retreats, gatherings, even choirs are not bad. But how to invite or attract people to join, that's the important key.

Do we attract people by God's word and God's word alone? If not, then compromise is the only other solution.

But why not labor in raising our Lord on high? Instead of working on schemes of cunningness and ulterior motives and vain attractions?

The Egyptians enslaved the Israelites and killed their youngs.

The Germans slaugthered the Jews.

The Americans and the English levied laws against immigrants instead of their "sponsors".

The excuse: For the better of their nations.

The common ground here: jealousy.

Perhaps it is wise to sometimes be watchful before mentioning Stephen Tong before some stranger believers, especially the charismatics, if one is to teach some doctrine. Because these have carried their jealousy against Rev. Tong for so long that at the sound of that name, they just cannot absorb any form of lessons from the mouth that speaks it anymore.

Nevertheless, the firm rebuke from true doctrine must not be compromised, but in all truthfulness, ceasing from anger and forsaking wrath. And in the end, if need be, the most uneasy truth must still be told.

There are two types:

1. Those who think they know or have what is love. (Today's westerners & evangelicals)

2. Those who think they are more spiritual than others. (Pentecostals/charismatics)

This conclusion I arrive after several conversation with my aunt.

Apart from God's calling, why do most in the United States want to be pastors or some sort of ministers?

To gain respect. And the bonus is, to be labelled as "humble" at the same time.

This conclusion I arrive after encountering yet again someone at work who loves to interrupt other people's appointment time for his own selfish fulfilment.

One receives Christ not by acceptance but by repentance.

Thinking that Alamak might be AllahMak or "mother of god", I did a little googling and arrived at this interesting and informative site. Though it is still unclear, it would seem that most would conclude that the origin of Alamak has to do with mother and god.

From this, I've learned that Sanskrit, the lingua franca between Hinduism and Buddhism, is said to be the original influence of the Malay language, or what was known to be the Old Malay. how it is said to be started from the Riau Islands.