Other than Paul's rebuke to Peter, some Bible verses:
Psa 141:5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
Pro 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
1Ti 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Finally, some scientists from Oxford have managed to create Transparent Aluminium, via some X-ray laser bombardment.
Lately, when I am merely stating the truth, regarding my weakness (i.e. "My malay is getting worse", "there are better teachers than me in that area", the responses were always "Oh, you are so humble".
Perhaps I should have answered: "If I'm humble, you wouldn't have noticed."
Perhaps hypocrisy has infected the Christian community today that they can't identify the truth. They dare not face humiliation, they ignore criticism, they have confused entertaining comforts with pious joy.
If I have these be my ministry partners, how could I testify my Lord to others with all truth and nothing but the truth?
The purpose of having fellowship Bible studies/discussions is not to repeat historical theological arguments that have been settled, as if no one has actually taken the time to study this history.
That is why it is crucial that the leader of the Bible study group is theologically well-versed.
I usually determine a fellowship is not worth going to not by the people, not by the hospitality, but by the fact that when someone asked an important question, the amazement I suffered listening to so many mouths competing for yapping in response though I've yet to hear an answer even until now.
If the Lai Fen is overcooked, it will be translucent. Unless, it's preferred that way.
Well, I supposed you don't get to be a senior managing editor for nothing.
A good article indeed by Mark Galli. Better put than my 2 entries on Proposition 8 (1) (2).
Favorite Quotes:
"The thrust of the pro-gay-marriage argument rests on the assumption
that the happiness of the individual is paramount, and that the state's
responsibility is to protect the rights of individuals to pursue
whatever they think will make them happy, as long as no one gets hurt.
The irony of radical individualism is that it will eventually hurt
somebody."
"Thus, the exaltation of worship in which the personal experience of the
worshiper so often becomes more important than the object of worship.
Thus, the continual proliferation of churches, parachurches, and
movements because the group we belong to just doesn't do it the way we
think "the Lord is leading me" to do it."
"I'm not arguing for or against contraception here, only pointing to the
reality that contraception has separated sex from procreation. That, in
turn, has prompted most couples, evangelicals included, to think that
sex is first and foremost a fulfilling psychological and physical
experience, that a couple has a right to enjoy themselves for a few
years before they settle down to family life."
"We cannot very well argue for the sanctity of marriage as a crucial
social institution while we blithely go about divorcing and approving
of remarriage at a rate that destabilizes marriage. We cannot say that
an institution, like the state, has a perfect right to insist on
certain values and behavior from its citizens while we refuse to submit
to denominational or local church authority. We cannot tell gay couples
that marriage is about something much larger than self-fulfillment when
we, like the rest of heterosexual culture, delay marriage until we can
experience life, and delay having children until we can enjoy each
other for a few years."
"In short, we have been perfect hypocrites on this issue. Until we admit
that, and take steps to amend our ways, our cries of alarm about gay
marriage will echo off into oblivion."
Amazing. America sending $200 Million to Palestine. I supposed I'm just the only one who doesn't understand how this fabrication of money works in the world.
After coming across more than one erroneous article on comparing today's tithing and that of ancient time. I've been wondering, what compromises have been taken to make people feel good about tithing? Did God have it wrong in the Old Testament?
Just to jot down the quotes:
1. Numbers 18:26
2. Nehemiah 10:38-39
Tithe of the Tithes. Even those in priesthood cannot escape tithing.
"Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves" Jesus said, in Luke 23:28.
In Luke 13:1-9, the tower of Siloam incident and persecution of the Galilaeans were brought up to contrast between human judgment, sympathy and sobriety in repentance.
The people of older times are more inclined to link disasterous fate to the possibility of offending a greater power; Today, these are more inclined to link tragedies to something or someone, even God, other than the victims to blame and using that as the motivation to do charity.
In between these periods, our Lord has taught it differently. Instead of making sympathy and caring as priority as today's priests do or justifying the living upon the destruction of the dead, Christ teaches that we are to examine ourselves in repentance when news of disasters reaches our ears. For there is only one most crucial question on top of other vain inquisitions: Why am I still alive?
One who fears God and then does good is not the same as one who does charity and fears not God.
Luk 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luk 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Luk 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Luk 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
