Reflections on Life and Spirituality 101

Assume that you have been walking with God for many years.

If someone asks you, what's your secret in keeping your relationship with God strong? What would you say are the ‘ingredients’ that have brought you so far in your own journey with the Father?

During the process of compiling my own list, I found the exercise a soul-searching mirror to examine my own journey with the Lord, the past, the present, and a view towards the future.

Here's what I came up with...

1. Reading God’s Word and making it real in our lives
   We often compartmentalize studying the Bible as a separate activity instead of making it part of who we are and what we do in our lives. To make our spiritual walk real, it needs to be in the ‘fibre’ of our beings. Reading the Word of God is not a 'to do', it is more of a 'to be'.



2. Prayer and listening to God
   The Bible calls us to unceasing prayer. This may sound complicated and difficult to do. Instead of thinking about prayer as an activity for God, one can think of prayer as an awareness of God, where we can seek to live in an uninterrupted awareness of God presence everywhere we go.



3. Single-mindedness and abandoning ‘other gods’
   There is something in every one of us that makes us prone to cling to things and people. The issue is not that we stray – we all do – what matters is that we have the awareness and mechanism to keep abandoning ‘other gods’ that have come to sit on the throne of our lives on a regular basis.



4. Determined mindset to grow
   In our journey with God, our spiritual levels grow, then often stagnate and plateau (this is not uncommon). Hence, having a deliberate mindset to grow and ask the Lord, ‘what’s the next phase’ is a good habit to have.



5. Staying free and avoiding places of bondage
   God calls us from darkness to light, into freedom. The Bible has countless stories of people who have been liberated from bondage, healed from illnesses and freed from things that have bound them from living a full life. Those who follow Christ have been freed, but we need to continue to stay free and not look back.



6. Resiliency and overcoming hardships, disappointments and hurt
   It’s all too easy to say that God is good when situations are easy. But sooner or later, life is guaranteed to deal us a bad blow and we will face difficult circumstances or crises situations. The manner we respond to adverse circumstances by standing on the word of God and allowing it to shape us is important, rather than letting the circumstances define who we are.



7. Sensitivity to the voice of the Shepherd and promptings of the Spirit
   This is about our dependence on the promptings of the Holy Spirit, understanding the way we best relate to God, and hear His voice. A ‘spiritual pathway’ has to do with the way we most naturally sense God’s presence and experience spiritual growth. Usually, we all have at least one pathway that comes most easy to us. We also have one or two that are most unnatural to us and require a lot of stretching for us to pursue. The following are various pathways: Intellectual, Relational, Worship, Service, Activist, Contemplative and Creation pathways. Understanding our pathways is crucial.



8. Handling desert periods
   Spiritual deserts – where one feels bored, idle and God seems like He is absent – are not uncommon when one is a Christian. One has to expect it. Sometimes being in the can be due to sin in our lives, other times there can be no apparent reason. The real issue with spiritual deserts is not that every Christian goes through it, but what one learns from being ‘in the desert’.



9. Becoming a blessing and revealing God’s light
   A river is alive only when it is flowing. When the water in a river stagnates, the river will slowly die. This is similar to our walk with God. If we withhold blessing towards others directly through our service for God, or do not share with others His goodness in our lives, then the fire inside may dim.



10. Harnessing the force of relationships
    Being a community together with brothers and sisters in Christ can often be a blessing, yet there are ‘hassles’. Some people think that ‘flying solo’ in life is the way things should be. It avoids the trouble of conflicts and getting hurt from getting ‘too close’. However, the force of relationships and community to shape and build us cannot be underestimated. There is strength in having companions who are ‘nearby’ - fellow sojourners that know us, accept us and will not allow us to be stagnant in our spiritual walk.
    

Labels: Change / Progress, Christian Living, Spiritual Growth

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I was reminded of the Lord's healing available for every child of God last week. That statement is somewhat controversial on its own, I know. But without going into the theological debate of the cause / effect of a healing process, whether we should always expect God to heal when we ask, or how much does faith plays a role in the process - in principle, God's healing is available to every believer if we ask.

The reason why I am reminded of the whole area of healing is because I had a tough sprain in my back during my recent trip to Zurich. And so, during the Sunday service past, as the pastor uttered a prayer for healing for people who needed it, I stood there wondering whether I really wanted it enough to step out to receive. It was a general prayer so I did not need to step out. However, I asked myself: If God really spoke through a prayer in a word of knowledge to ask for a person with a back problem to step out to be healed, would I? Because in every call, there needs to be a response; and in every response, there is a cost to pay:

We must abandon our pride, forgo the fear of what others think and allow others in. That's a cost.

We must put away the posture of the child-ish and adopt the child-like. For some of us, that's a cost.

It disrupts the cocoon of complacency that we are familiar with, into the unknown. That's a cost.

It may mean we have to face things we do not want to face. Facing our fears represents a huge cost for most of us.

Healing. I have seen people refuse help when they need it; push others away when what they need is to receive from them; remain passive when they should step up. This is in every one of us, some aspects more than others of course. Whether we like to think of ourselves this way, we lick our festering sores. We jealously guard the injuries that should be cleaned and bandaged. We learn to passively accept our wounds as 'the way things are'. Sound familiar?

In this instance, I have a physical injury. But many of us carry emotional baggage that we are not willing to give to the Lord to deal with; childhood wounds inflicted on us through our family upbringing, tragedies, sickness and death. It's too easy to stay 'safe' because there is no effort to remain that way. It's all too convenient to stay comfortable in the notion that life has dealt us a bad blow, so we have ready excuses towards being 'this way'.

In the final analysis, liberty isn't gained by being silent, passive or safe - it is bestowed when we actively embrace who God says we are. But that means stepping out into the light where God can work in us to clear the dross and move us forward. I don't have the formula of how it works. Nobody has, except God. But this I know: Our faith in the power and character of God, mixed with a single-minded determination to set a compass toward wholeness, freedom and growth - nothing will be impossible. Perfect love does cast out all fear.

I am reminded of the question Esther asked herself and the others around her: "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Dare we ask the 'who knows whether' questions? Dare we not remain completely silent? Dare we stand and fight? Dare we continue the climb?

For me, in the face of opposition and weariness, akin to the injury I am carrying in my back at present, I have been reminded that I need to answer these questions more decisively in His power. To respond when God calls me to respond. To stand my ground and not run. To infuse faith in the face of fear. Confront giants through the Spirit of the Almighty. To allow others to come scale seemingly impossible heights together. To conquer and subdue mountains that set itself up against the knowledge of God.

From our vantage point, it always seems like our mountains are so high and there is so much more of the mountain to climb. Yet, I am also reminded that I have a God whose ways are higher still. And so we need to ask those God-centered possibility questions:

Who knows whether if I take God at His word, what healing I'll find? Who knows whether if I step out how high I will scale? Who knows whether if I let godly people into my life what blessings I'll find? Who knows whether God has put me here for such a time as this?

Who knows? The Father does. His Word says that perfect love drives out fear. That I know.

Labels: Change / Progress, Spiritual Growth

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During this father's day weekend, I spend time reading this book, "Things We Wish We Had Said: Reflections of A Father and Son". This book is a collection of person letters between Tony Campolo and his adult son, Bart. The themes in this book are appropriate for Father's day. It raises the kind of questions that strikes at the core of who we are (Continue to read at your peril):

When I was growing up, did I feel of value?

Where and who gave me the sense of significance and security?

Why am I who I am?

Who are my greatest supporters and cheerleaders?

In one instance where Bart felt he had completely lost his bearings and lost at sea, he recalls a visit by his family, and a life-changing pep talk from his mum:

"Bart," she said, "you don't have to just stay here and feel helpless and defeated. You are a smart young man and a loving young man. But right now you have stopped looking at the people around you as people to be creatively loved, and you have started to see them only as part of a situation that is hurting you. You've become selfish. That isn't like you. You can certainly come home if you need to, but before you do, I think you need to see what God has brought you here to learn, and who he has brought you here to love and care for. Maybe you won't be a big star to everybody else, after all. But Dad and I believe in you, and we think you can make it here if you remember who you are."

Further on, Bart continues to write in a series of letters to his dad reminiscing as an adult what his dad meant to him and how his dad made a difference in his life:

That visit changed everything for me. The situations did not resolve problems overnight, of course. When you left, I faced the same problems with the same deficiencies I have before (and still have). My attitude, though, was transformed because I knew that even though I might fail sometimes, I still was infinitely valuable. Even though I couldn't solve everything, I had the ability to make a difference wherever I happened to be. Together, you reminded me of my indestructible sense of personal significance.

I know I am infinitely precious because as long as I can remember I have been infinitely precious to you. You see, Dad, the things that mattered most to me when I was a boy, and that still matter the most today, were those times when you let me know I was your highest priority in the world. Over and over again, you said things and did things that made me sure that I was more important to you than your work, your money, your possessions, your adult friends, and even yourself.

The times that I remember best, though, are the times I spent with you. I love those memories best of all, Dad, and they're a big part of who I am. That's the whole point of these letters for me. My childhood is gone, and I will never be able to be with you the way I was with you as a little boy. I will never be that small, and you will never seem that big again. But I have my stories, and they comfort me when I am overwhelmed by the world, when I am too old all of a sudden, when I lose my sense of wonder. They are all I have of my boyhood, and the reason I wish we had spend more time together is that I wish I had more of them now. It isn't that you didn't do enough, you see, for I would always want more. You were the king of the world back then, the imp of fun, the man with all the answers, the one who could always fix what was broken. You made life seem magical to me.

When you die, Dad, I will surely go to pieces for a while, because I still count on you more than anyone knows, but in the end I will be all right. I will have my stories, and in them I will always have part of you, the part that tells me who I am and where I came from. I only wish there was more because what there is means the world to me.

Love,
Bart

It was strange — as I flipped the pages through the lens of someone else's experience with his dad, I felt warmed and heartened. At times, I recognized the closeness which the authors touched on between father and son in my own life. Other times, I yearned that my relationship with my own dad could be more like theirs. Maybe deep inside we all yearn for someone to believe in us, to cheer for us, to honor us, and in certain small way uncover the value that God sees in every single person He's fashioned. We don't always get that in the world we live in.

When you were growing up, did you feel valued? Where and who gave you the sense of significance and security? Why are you who you are? Who are your greatest supporters and cheerleaders?

These questions are ones many of us would rather avoid so that we can 'get on with life'. Because it hurts to ask these questions. It forces us to face wounds that are in every single one of us. I am reminded that yearnings in us raise questions of life - they are windows to our soul and must not be ignored. If we do not seek real answers to our yearnings, we would be playing it safe, but the wounds in us will never heal. For me, God has brought me a long way on this journey. Over the past few weeks, He is challenging me to go further. By His grace, I will have the courage to (I hope you too). Watch this space.

Labels: Change / Progress, Christian Living, Hardship / Struggles / Pain, Relationships, Significance / Life Purpose

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I am currently reading this book, Confessions of a Reformission Rev - a witty yet profound book about church leadership. In it, the author, Mark Driscoll asks and challenges church and fellowship leaders: Do you have the guts to shoot your dogs?

He explains: "Dogs are idiotic ideas, stinky styles, stupid systems, failed facilities, terrible technologies, loser leaders and pathetic people. Most churches and fellowships know who and what their dogs are, but simply lack the courage to pull the trigger and shoot their dogs. Therefore, it is vital to name with brutal candor the people, programs, structures and ministry philosophies that are dogs needing to be shot. Be sure to make it count and shoot them only once so that they don't come back and bite you."

Harsh words, but sensible truths. I was thinking about my own church and fellowship. What are the dogs do we need to shoot? Here are the ones I came up with...

• Situations where the pews that we sit on week after week listening to solid, challenging sermons are warmer than our hearts

• Individuals that do not look to be part of the solution, but never realise that they are part of the problem

• People cliques that are warm towards the 'inner circle ', but cold and neglecting towards strangers and outliers

• Circumstances where individuals burning out, whilst many observers and 'consumer-oriented' folks are sucking the church and fellowship dry

• Passitivity in men who lack the spine and the balls to overcome barriers, take up the mantle, and seize what God has called them to do

• Missing depth and realness in relationships, never getting pass the nicey-nicey chit chats

• Visitors and newcomers walking in and out without properly engaged and without anyone even noticing

The book has certainly made me ponder. I am definitely not excluded from being part of guilty parties that feed one or more of these dogs, or even being that dog.

Shooting our dogs -- doesn't that sound harsh?

Well, I like the following reminder from the book:

Pastors and leaders of fellowships must fight like a soldier, train like an athelete, and work hard like a farmer (2 Tim 2:1-7). As leaders, we must exhibit God's grace, but we must also be tough. May the Father give us the wisdom to strike the right balance, and not err on being weighed down by either extreme.

I wonder if any of these dogs sound familiar to you, or if there are anymore?

Labels: Change / Progress, Christian Living, Church Life

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Labels: Change / Progress, Christian Living, Spiritual Growth

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"If there is one thing about myself that I should change, what do you think it should be?"

As we get older, I realize that it more difficult to ask that question of ourselves and yet, still feel that change comes easy. This question is something we should be asking ourselves periodically anyway, but it is more appropriately answered by people who know and are close to us. The quest to answer this question is akin to holding up a mirror to our soul; if we are to examine ourselves realistically, we have to be sure that we have an accurate reflection to glean from.

If so, do we even possess close enough "mirror to your soul" relationships that we can ask that question to and not be afraid of the answer?

I am reminded over the long Easter weekend how blessed it is to have close enough friends whom you can ask that question and be certain one will get not only a truthful answer, but also a grace-filled one. If you have people like that around you, then you are blessed.

However, going down this avenue also reflects a certain reality of one's desire for change and growth, one that is not necessarily the most comfortable of journeys to make. I was chatting to a friend recently and the conversation flow stumbled over the topic of change. With him being a good mate, I took the chance by posing the question to him, "If there is one thing about myself that I should change, what do you think it should be?" And I am glad I did.

Cause it started a precious exchange of open sharing and encouragement - sometimes touching on the "not so pleasant things"; things about ourselves which are 'painful' to hear. However, this was under girded by a sense that we weren't judging one another for revealing sides of ourselves that are weaknesses.

Throughout the discourse, there was no fear, no shame, and no defensive postures. It was safe territory. Pertaining to myself, I was reminded from this close friend that I needed be careful about my speech. I realize that I do not need to push to "be correct" all the time, especially not at the expense of relationships.

"If there is one thing about myself that I should change, what do you think it should be?"

The discussion with this friend around the above question gave me hope that I have friends looking out for me. It also gave me the desire to encourage and facilitate change in both myself, as well as the friend I was sharing with.

It challenged me to think further: Maybe I should ask that kind of question more often, and build more relationships that have enough depth without being afraid that the foundations will crumble -- for people to 'dig deeper into the ground to let air in'. On our part, what is required is for us to be malleable, and that can be the one of the hardest things in the world to be.

As we get older, inertia drags us down and arguably we may feel we know it all. The ultimate question for each of us to answer is: Do I still want to be changed by the Lord? And if so, are there people in our lives that He has put in our paths to help us change? As I reflect further, I realize I am very far from the true destination of becoming the person I am to be in Christ. I may have traversed far, but I have got many more miles to go. The finishing line is not yet crossed. With this realization, I sense a renewed desire to continue walking on solid ground and have godly companions to travel with. This recent chat gave me further fuel for the journey and I am thankful for that.

Lord, equip us to be on the road to arrive at the right destination.

Labels: Change / Progress, Friendships, Spiritual Direction / Guidance

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by Steve Arterburn, New Life Ministries

I’m convinced that life without risk isn’t much of a life. I’ve known young men who inherited a lot of money, and had all the comforts and securities you could possibly ask for. They had it all, but they lived with no fire in their bellies because there was nothing to burn. Their lives were risk free, and amidst the predictability and comfort that lifestyle bred, they missed becoming the men they could’ve been. We must give up the chains of predictability and the womb of comfort, and we must jump out there and risk if we’re to truly live.

Risk is a choice to heal because it stretches the emotional scar tissue that’s so beneficial after an initial wound, but that threatens to restrict and restrain if not rehabilitated. Just like a burn patient must painfully move scarred limbs to stretch damaged skin, so we must also stretch our souls. Risk is the means by which we do that stretching.


Risk Within Limits
It’s important to understand the difference between reasonable and unreasonable risk. Sometimes we equate all risk with unreasonable risk and it’s not true. No one is asking you to go out on a rotten limb, but rather to pick a strong one and get out on it. If you catastrophize every risk, you’ll never take the ones that are reasonable.

Only you can set the limits between reasonable and unreasonable risk. You might not have set limits and boundaries in the past, and if you have a hard time with risk, that may be one of the reasons why. But a life of reasonable risk could help you find and live the life you’ve been looking for.

Reasons To Risk
There may be many excuses you’ve used to play it safe. They’ve worked well for you in your goal to avoid risk, but they haven’t worked well for you in living a great life. To live a great life you must have risk. You cannot love unless you risk. You cannot even care about someone unless you risk, because there’s always a chance you’ll be rejected when you put yourself out there. You cannot connect without risk. Loving, caring, and connecting—the vital elements of life that give it meaning and purpose are great reasons to risk.

You can’t serve without risk either. But when you serve, you serve Christ. You do to Christ what you do for another. And He’s worth risking for, even if all you get from it is rejection. When you serve and aren’t loved for it, you share in the sufferings of Jesus. You fellowship with Christ through your rejection, since almost all His life was filled with rejection. That fellowship with Christ is a powerful healer that can’t be experienced unless you’re willing to take some risks. You simply can’t make your world small enough to be risk free.

The Healing Power Of Risk
Risk is a healer. It demands faith and trust. It eliminates a lifestyle of self-preservation, because self-preservation ignores the power of God. You can’t allow yourself to be healed if you’re trying to protect yourself from what cannot be prevented—trials and sorrows. You’re going to have them, and when you take a risk and move into them under God’s power rather than try to defend against them under your own power, you’re making the choice to heal.

The great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows but only empties today of its strength.” You can’t lead a healed life in anxiety. It’ll rob you of the strength you need today. It’ll steal the tomorrow you were meant to enjoy. The answer for those who need healing from a risk-adverse life is found in 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Do that right now. You can trust that God cares for you. It’s worth the risk to give God all your fears, and embark upon a future of healing and excited anticipation about what might be around the next turn.

The Big Lie
The lie that you must protect yourself from any more pain is a really big one. If you’ve tried to live your life that way, I have a question for you. How’s it going so far? Don’t be an irresponsible steward of what God has given you by taking unreasonable risks; but by all means, don’t allow fears and hardships to keep you from moving forward.

You’re going to be hurt and you can’t do anything to prevent it, but you can trust God each time a hurt comes along. Trust that while you don’t have the power to protect yourself, He has the power to turn every hurt into something that improves you and glorifies Him. You’ll never protect yourself from all the hurt, but you’ll protect yourself from missing the life God intended when you make the choice to risk.

Healing is a choice. It’s God’s choice, but many times we stand in the way of what God wants for us. There isn’t a choice more difficult than the choice to risk. My hat is off to all of you who’ll make that choice today. May the blessings of God be upon you for your amazing courage.

The above piece is an adaptation from Healing Is A Choice: Ten Decisions That Will Transform Your Life & Ten Lies That Can Prevent You From Making Them, by Steve Arterburn. Nashville: Nelson Books, 2005.Stephen Arterburn is the founder of New Life Clinics, the largest provider of Christian counseling and treatment in North America. As host of the daily New Life Live! radio program, he is heard nationally on over one hundred and eighty stations and at http://www.newlife.com/. Steve is the creator of the Women of Faith® Conferences and is the author/coauthor of over thirty books, including Healing is a Choice, Lose it For Life, The God of Second Chances, Every Man’s Battle, and Avoiding Mr. Wrong.

Labels: Change / Progress, Significance / Life Purpose

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Ever feel like everyone and everything around you is moving on, but you're standing still? This was the sense when I went for a holiday recently in my home country.

During this break, I appreciated the chances for renewing friendships with a number of people from the tapestry of the past: my ex-cell group leader, who has retired and is now serving the Lord full-time; a young person I used to mentor, who has now stepped into working life; friends from university and (dare I say) primary school, who are now daddies & mommies; colleagues from previous workplaces who are getting married, etc. The various meetings with them still brought that precious sense of past cameraderie, which I am thankful for. In contrast, for one old friend from Bristol - our chance meeting on the plane felt like two strangers awkwardly grasping at topics to talk about. The exchange barely made it beyond the cursory conversation warmers. It made me realise that we have to learn to enjoy the present seasons of friendships whilst it is there, and move on when it isn't (Eccl 3:1-14).

Have I been 'standing still'? Maybe I have started this question on the wrong premise. The right one should be: where was I fifteen years back and where am I now? How has God changed and used me for His purposes?

As I ponder further, I realised that I have not been standing still. I have taken a different path from some of my mates... perhaps this path feels unique, but probably isn't. Either way, I have not found another person who can share the same sense of walking along this road.

As I turn my eyes backward in time, I am heartened by the fact that in times when I was weak, God offered His hand of assurance. In times when I thought I would break, the Lord held firm. In times I was standing still, God provides a well-needed nudge. Whatever the case, I realised that in times of darkness and despair, there was always light.

I look back and I am feeling a stronger sense of wonder at the manner to which God has been faithful - the sequence of connected events, the 'coincidences' of people, places and times, and the spectrum of joys, struggles and pain encompassed within this package called life. I have come to a point in my life where I have enough (perhaps too much) to look back on, which I don't want to look back on - at least not in a way that would stop me from being complacent and standing still. I desire to move on into greater things that God has in store. I once heard this said: it is easy when one is young to look ahead because there is so much ahead, but as one progresses in life, perhaps there is more to look back on than to forward to. This statement rings true to a certain degree.

But I also realise that as long as we recognize the times that God is giving us and discern the opportunities to play our part in what matters to God's heart (and not build our own kingdoms), we can be fruitful.

Paul states in some of the final days of his life,

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:22-24)

Sorry to be overly philosophical with this post - maybe it is because when it gets down to the daily grind to make our lives work for the glory of God and the purposes He has for our lives, articulated words matter much in order to solidify intent. We need to start with a clear statement of intent - and I wanted to pen it down so that when things gets complicated, I do not forget.

Oh, back to the original question: Standing still or moving on? My answer is that it does not matter - there will be both along the way, but as long as we are continuing to progress along the path God has set for us, we are alright.

[Related post: Gazing back and marching on]

Labels: Change / Progress, Significance / Life Purpose, Spiritual Growth

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This morning, amongst sheets of papers interleaved within my bible, I found what I wrote three years ago when I lost my job and was in a desert place for more than 6 months. I am reminded how our Father God is faithful, even at times when the feelings overwhelm and words fail within us. These desert places, parched and forsaken, are diffcult places to journey through. In reading these old notes again, I see with new eyes the contrast between despair and hope, weakness and strength, fear and love during separate 'stopping points' through those trying periods.

This was where I was at one point:

Feel a bit down right now. The best way to describe it is for me to use words that come to mind: trapped, bruised, broken, disciplined, fear... All these emotions, I give to You, Lord - and say in the deepest way - "You are my hope and my salvation, and my portion in this life, even when there is no other portion."

I cannot put on a veneer of spiritual bravado, because I am not. Nor do I feel like it. All I can do is trust that Lord, You ultimately know best and that all things work for the good of those who love and trust You. I feel that all the things that are dear to me, all the things that give me security (perhaps false security) You have taken away - achievements, career hopes & prospects, confidence in my own abilities, external spirituality, etc... These are my idols, I have made them my idols. I have used these idols and "adornments" to create an imposter and hide my true self.

And what I heard from God.

Through the dark forests of the night, there is dawn
Through the pain of crucifixion, there is resurrection
Do not despair, hope in Me
Be still and know that I AM God
Look up to the heavens. Your help comes from the Lord,
The Lord of Heaven and earth
I AM near, and I love you.

In both instances, words were not enough. The first where words were not enough to express own fears; the other where words cannot fully express the sense of God's love.

For some reason, I just sensed that I needed to share this. Having come out of that period, I now look back in thanksgiving at the tenacity of God's love contrasted with the frailty of our own hearts, and how, at the crunch times, when our souls and self-sufficiency crumbles, and every false prop we hang on to fails -- the Father's hand remains steadfast.

Perfect love drives out fear... our confidence lies not in our ability to hold on to God - on the contrary, it is in God's ability to hold on to us, even through the most ferocious storms. We need to rest in the fact that the Father's love covers us. Many a time, I know that even rest does not come easy. But it starts by allowing the the Father to come near. When will we learn?

Labels: Change / Progress, God's Love, Spiritual Growth

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It was my birthday last week and I was forced by my friends to eat something not in the conventional realm of my own diet - Crickets!

Even as I was pondering on what I could draw out from this experience, I was reminded of another person in the Bible, possibly because he fed on locusts!

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.' " And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. (Matt 3: 1-6, KJV)

John the Baptist, in my imagination, brings to light the raw and radical fervour, representing a fertile ground that prepares the way for the Lord (to come work in our lives) and making the paths straight for Him. He was unconventional, as the writers of the Bible seem to allude, but more importantly he was at the cutting edge of what God called him to do, and therefore his life reflected this.

In this case, eating something 'bizarre' (in my culture only, at least) has reminded me more profoundly that following the way of Christ is not the nice, easy road that middle-class Christianity sometimes paints it to be. Many a time, Jesus asks of us to go against our natural ways and desires, often in a radical and costly manner. These involve risk to our ghettos of security, reputations and even our lives (in certain parts of the world) - not at all the safe, protected and predictable lifestyle I can too easily see myself settling into. In the present cultural climate where self is the conventional order, John the Baptist's outlook was unconventional: "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)

Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

I am asking myself: When was the last time I stood on the cutting edge of my own comfort zone and allowed God to enlarge it? Too long. How can I stop "playing it safe" to what I know and are familiar with? Perhaps too much of self is in the way. Right now, I don't want to just talk about it. God is challenging me to do something.

I will keep my eyes wide, and more importantly my mind open. Hanging on to the good old days will no longer suffice. Someone once said: "To see things you have never seen before, you have to do things you have never done before." Yes, I agree... but only in God's direction and wisdom.

Labels: Change / Progress, Spiritual Growth

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The Peak District in the UK - "God's garden and playground"

Through the recent trip to the Peaks, God spoke in a variety of ways. It was as much a taxing holiday as a learning experience:

1. Adverse conditions. On the long way to the hostel (and trudging with the burden of my luggage, ahem smart packing), it was raining. It was one of those fine and even drizzles that gets you totally soaked even though it does not seem to do so initially, as water slowly seeps through every crevice, hair and skin. I was of course complaining. The Lord reminded me that even in the rain, we can STILL FIND scenery to appreciate.

2. Looking up and finding beauty. In walking and navigating obstacles (e.g. uneven ground, manure, steep climbs, mud bogs, etc), remember to look up (and beyond) to appreciate the beauty around, otherwise we are prone to miss it.

3. The need for certainty. The modern man tries so hard to "keep focusing on maps" to reduce the uncertainty in the journey. Too much map-reading takes out the sense of exploration.

4. Suffering and meaning. I realize that when we are ascending to higher ground, there needs to be rocks and rough ground in order for us to effectively climb, otherwise it becomes too slippery.

5. Doesn't get easier the higher you go. The more one ascends the hills, the more you are exposed to the elements e.g. strong winds, midst and cold.

6. Keeping on the route. Keep faith until you see clearly the designated signposts (which you are supposed to see based on your map). Do not deviate - follow the path you are heading towards. Continue what you are currently doing until you see the next sign.

7. Fellow sojourners. Do not assume that other travelers are heading towards the same destination as you are. Following indiscriminately can lead you astray.

8. Navigating effectively. As obvious as this may seem, to use a compass, one needs to be accurate about WHERE YOU ARE and WHERE YOU ARE HEADING TOWARDS. Isn't that so much like life?

9. Phases in our journey. We need to learn to recognize which phase of activity we are at. Are we ascending? Descending? Or just plateauing along? Each phase is unique and requires of us a certain response e.g. on steep descends, our priority is to gain a firm footing so we do not fall and tumble head down. Our footwork needs to be very defensive and mindful of sliding.

10. Self-pity. I met a guy named Steven who was born physically handicapped on this hiking holiday. I admired him as he didn't seem to feel any self-pity for his condition and tried to make the best out of what he had. No question of why he was 'inferior' compared to others, or complaints of why life is unfair. He seemed to accept his limitations and lived life the best way he knew how. Not a hint of passive resignation. Good on him.

Labels: Change / Progress, Christian Living, Spiritual Direction / Guidance

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