The Chronicles of Narnia: The Horse and His Boy (1954) by Clive Staples Lewis, Book Review

 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Horse and His Boy (1954) by Clive Staples Lewis

 This story is not as familiar as the famous ones made into movies like The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe or Prince Caspian or The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (by the way, in 2018, Netflix already purchased the rights and will reboot the series. I have high expectations about the production quality. Still, I hope that they will not distort the character of Aslan and kept the stories as original as possible) and that's what makes it an exciting read. The Horse and His Boy is the third book in chronological order but the fifth book in the publication order. There are four main characters in this story. First, a boy named Shasta, who lived in Calormen, discovered that the man he stayed with was not his birth father and would be sold into slavery. It makes sense since Shasta felt that he had "little love" for his guardian. While thinking about what to do, Shasta was surprised to know that the would-be master's horse was a Talking Horse from Narnia. So, the second character is the horse named Bree. Together they planned an escape and heading "For Narnia and the North!" Then early on their journey, they meet another pair of runaways, the third character, a girl named Aravis, and a mare, the fourth character, a Talking Horse too, named Hwin.

Bree and Hwin know for sure where they are going, namely, the land of Narnia, their birthplace, before being captured as dumb animals by the Calormenes. Meanwhile, Aravis, a girl from a noble Calormene family, just wanted to run away as far as possible to avoid being forced into marriage. So she followed wherever Hwin went. Shasta (funny name), on the other hand, is very clueless. He still needs to know his identity. Before the journey, he always "look eagerly to the North" but doesn't know why and he felt very out of place as the 'son' of fisherman in the far south of Calormen. So like any other adventure story, the journey of these four characters is about self-discovery, friendship, conflicts, and especially for Shasta, an exploration of his true identity. Interestingly, the story takes place when Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy were kings and queens of Narnia (although Peter the High King was absent from this story because he was fighting against the giants elsewhere). The four characters encountered with the mysterious Aslan always fascinate me. He was 'there' even before they began the journey and every step of the way. When Shasta first met with Aslan (as "The Voice," then as "The Thing," and as himself), he asked, "Who are you?"

"I was the lion… I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to received you" (page 281). And as you read on - I hope you do - you will discover that Aslan was not 'safe' in a sense that he was the one who puts the children and horses amid danger, and yet he is 'good' because he would make sure that they will be victorious (although wounded along the way) to the end. Remember what Mr. Beaver said to little Lucy years ago about Aslan? "He isn't safe. But he's good." To enter Narnia, you have to be tested by fire! As I closed this book last week, I was inspired and shouted, "For Narnia and the North!" Of course, not too loud as to wake up my neighbors… ✅

 #ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #TheChroniclesOfNarnia #CSLewis #RealmOfImagination #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Romans 2:1-4 God's Kindness Leads To Repentance (#LetterToTheRomans)

Why does God still let the sinners live? Surely it's NOT because they are good but because God IS good. Many of us misunderstand the goodness of God towards the sinners. "God’s kindness [or goodness] is meant to lead you to repentance" (Romans 1:4). The clock is ticking. The offer is now. Today is probably your last breathe. Will you repent? ⏳⌛⚡

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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (1950) by Clive Staples Lewis, Book Review

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (1950)
by Clive Staples Lewis

In my opinion, I don't think we should take Clive Staples Lewis' theology seriously. There are flaws in everyone's theology, I'm especially included, but some are more serious than others. I'm not saying we couldn't or shouldn't learn any good theology and wonderful Christian gems from Lewis. He is a brilliant thinker, a superb scholar of medieval literature, and an imaginative writer, but he is not a theologian in the real sense. Lewis, if you search a little deeper, doesn't believe in the inerrancy of the Scripture, his doctrine of salvation is very inclusive (almost, but not, a universalist), and he has a problematic view on the atonement of Christ (or lack of it) among others.

So, when you read The Chronicle of Narnia series, don't read them as if you're reading theological books and try to decipher every line or scene to find Biblical meanings. Narnia series: 1) is, first and foremost, a children's fantasy literature that is cherished by adults too, 2) written by an author who is, by the way, a Christian (one of my favorite rappers is Nathan John Feuerstein, a.k.a. NF. He said, "I'm a Christian, but I don't make Christian music." Thus when I listened to NF, I don't derive my theology from his lyrics. In the same way, don't treat Narnia as such), and 3) is influenced not just by Biblical themes and allegories but also magic, myths, legends, and fairy tales. From a lighter perspective, Narnia is a place where we can spark our imagination and explore possibility narratives (what a great form of escapism!). From a darker perspective, however, it can be a dangerous place to condition the mind to wild speculations and possibly, witchcraft (this also applies to The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and most novels as a fact). Let the reader apply discernment!

Having said that, I enjoyed reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, the second book based on chronological order but the first book in publication order. The illustrations in the book are very helpful. Although I already know the basic storyline based on my previous reading and the movie, it is important to know that the original book edition is always superior to the cinematic experience. Always! This book is special because C.S. Lewis dedicated it to his goddaughter, Lucy Barfield (her name is the inspiration for Lucy Pevensie, the youngest heroine in the book). "My Dear Lucy," Lewis begins, "I wrote this story for you, but when I began it, I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result, you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound, you will be older still. But someday, you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again..."

My all-time favorite line is this: "Ooh!" said Susan... "Is he [Aslan] - quite safe? I shall feel nervous about meeting a lion." "That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver, "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly." "Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy. "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver, "don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Cause he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King. I tell you" ❤

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #BeChildlike #CSLewis #Narnia #TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Children Are Watching YOU!

I was sitting with a group of mothers in the kitchen during my cousin's wedding. I got to get away from the heavy noises and went for a coffee. I overheard one of the mothers said, "I don't know how to tell my daughter to stop playing with her phone and study for the exam." And then I observe, she always holding her phone while complaining about her daughter. It's like an alcoholic father telling his son to be a good man. How irony.

"There is nothing more influential in a child's life than the moral power of a quiet example," reminds William J. Bennett. "For children to take morality seriously, they must see adults who take morality seriously" ���⚡��� #ServeToLead #LeadingByExample #ChildrenDoWhatChildrenSee

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7 Quote-Lessons from Alita: Battle Angel

Here are Seven (7) Lessons I Learned from watching Alita: Battle Angel. Don't waste RM10.00+ and not learning something, right? For explanations for each quote, CLICK [AT YOUR OWN RISK] HERE

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Angelus' Quote: God Is Good

When I read Genesis 1 I realized there are two words that resurface out of my Bible:

1) God, and

2) Good.

The first pages of the Bible are all about God. No explanation of the origin of God just - God. No complex formula or bizarre languages to explain the beginning, just simple and easy words to understand. No hard-trying just said it and everything came into beings. He said "good" and "very good" about His own creations. God has no beginning or end. God is great but not complex. God is powerful and creative. And above all, "God is good"

Instagram -> Richard_Angelus

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Jesus' Leadership #29 He Believed In His Disciples (from Unstable 'Reed' to Immovable 'Rock')

Jesus looked at a promising young man and said, "You are blessed, Simon son of John… Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church, and all the power of hell will not conquer it…" (Read Matthew 16:16-19, NLT). Simon meant "Reed" (as in a plant that sways when any force pushes it) while Peter meant "stone" or "rock" (Jesus is "the Rock", Peter is a small rock, stone). Surely Jesus must have seen something special in Peter because his record shows that he was rather a reckless guy – hardly the kind of person you would declare to be a leader or pioneer of everything you were doing.

Peter was presumptuous when he trying to keep Jesus from going to Jerusalem because he was afraid, denying even knowing Jesus when He was captured by the Romans soldiers (this was his ultimate failure), and cutting off the Romans guard's ear with a sword after Jesus had preached love and forgiveness to him for about 3 years!

I think Jesus had to believe in His disciples and He was committed to change them. Their backgrounds were not glorious and they did not grasp what He was saying most of the time. They were constantly arguing over who is the greatest among them and they (once) dozed off and forgot Him when He needed them the most. Yet, these were the people He chose to be His apostles not just disciples and He believes the best in each of them – even when there was evidence to the contrary! He continues to give them great-Kingdom responsibilities and ultimately they were able to do it by His power and grace (except, Judas Iscariot).

It was because of His inner knowledge that allowed Jesus to give His disciples authority. He freely shared with them His longings, His Divine purpose, and even His humanity. If He did not believe in them, He would not have called them brothers [and sisters]. He would not have taken them whenever He goes and tells them about the things of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. You see, people tend to rise to the occasion when they have someone who truly believes in them. Perhaps we just need someone to show us who we really are inside. Perhaps that is what we are all so desperately searching for – someone who believes in us and to acknowledge the potential that we each sense about ourselves but are hesitant to show.

Peter went on to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to the formerly shunned Gentiles (see Acts 11:1-18). No other preacher or prophet (although Jonah preached to the Gentiles, he didn't bring Good News) had been called to go to the "unclean" Gentiles before with such Good News. According to church history, Peter eventually was crucified for his good work of preaching Christ and the Cross. In deference to Jesus, his Lord, it is said that he asked to be crucified upside down. This request came from a man whom everyone but Jesus called "Reed." Peter no more easily sway in his faith like a reed, his faith was firm and immovable like a rock!

To have someone we admire believe in us can help set our God-given greatness free. It certainly worked for Peter. Jesus believed in him and all of His disciples.

How can you show those who work with you that you believe in them?

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Timothy, Tell the Women to Be Modest in Their Appearance (1 Timothy 2:9-10, Women Only)

“And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do”
(1 Timothy 2:9-10, NLT)

Here is a passage that women (and men too!) would like to shy away from in this day in which we live. Read these verses over and over again and let God’s Word say exactly what it say to you, and “remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to” (James 1:22). But let the ladies be glad and rejoice for Paul doesn’t mean that a woman is not to be attractive. What he says is that women shouldn’t be seductive (tempting, enticing, and causing someone to sin), instead, they “should make themselves attractive.” Seductive, no; attractive, yes! I believe that there is nothing wrong for a woman to be beautiful outwardly. As a man, I have to admit, my first impression toward a woman is her appearances, decency and appropriateness.

Having said that, let me now point out that a woman – Christian woman, especially – must guard her God-given modesty. God is creation has made the man to be drawn to the woman physically and the woman need to recognize this and dress in such a manner as to guard her modesty. Woman are usually much more fashion-conscious than are men in general. There is nothing wrong with fashion or style. However, as for Paul, it is not a mere matter of fashion or style, but what he wrote here is a definite moral and spiritual issues which is at stake. God says thru Paul that a woman is to be modest. Society today, on the other hand, says a woman is to be liberated, free and self-expressive in their appearances. To some extent, it’s true. But you – woman – have to decide whether you are going to obey God and be right with Him or be conform to the world.

Paul is not saying in this passage, as some mistakenly interpret, that a woman is not to wear any gold, pearl, fix her hair or wear expensive clothing (of course you may, if you can afford it). All he says is that these things are not to be her most attractive side. These are not to be the things that “draw attention” to her. This passage is in the context of worship service… and it would be a disaster if people draw attention to you rather than to God!

So what should make a Christian woman attractive? Her good deeds. “For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.” Attractiveness should begin inside a woman. NLT Life Application Study Bible comment on this passage: “A gentle, modest, loving character gives a light to the face that cannot be duplicated by the best cosmetics and jewellery in the world. A carefully groomed and well-decorated exterior is artificial and cold unless inner beauty is present.”

Women (and men too), think about these things.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

God have No Hidden Agendas (Genesis 3:1-6)

“[The serpent] spoke to the Woman: ‘Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?’ The Woman said to the serpent, ‘Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’’ The serpent told the Woman, ‘You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.’ When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it – she’d know everything! – she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.”

(Genesis 3:1-6, The Message)

The serpent promised Eve new eyes to see what God sees. Adam and Eve got a new perspective after they ate the fruit – yes, they were! – but it wasn’t God’s perspective. The serpent taught them to doubt God’s goodness, to suspect hidden agendas beneath the straightforward commands God gave for their happiness. The serpent taught them, in short, to find misery where God had intended only good from them. For us.

No longer comfortable with their new knowledge and perspective, Adam and Eve hid from God. They believed that the shame they were experiencing must reflect God’s true view of them. The serpent, after all, had told them that eating the forbidden fruit would open their eyes. The terrible irony is that before they ate the fruit, Adam and Eve already had a god-like view of the world they inhabited. The serpent took away the very thing he promised to give.

Since that day in the Garden, our perspective has been shewed. We find it very hard to believe what may be the simplest, most fundamental truth of all: God loves us, and He wants what is best for us. Don’t forget that!

THINK BIG. START SMALL GO DEEP.

It Was the Day When the Man's World Made Good (Genesis 2:18-22)

I use this picture because the almost-real first humans in the internet are not appropriate :P

“God said, ‘It’s not good for the Man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper, a companion.’ So God formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air… but he didn’t find a suitable companion. God put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. God then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man. The Man said, ‘Finally! ...’
(Genesis 2:18, 20-22, The Message)

Throughout the Creation story, a phrase repeats over and over again: “God saw that it was good.” The day was good. The night was good. The seas were good. The dry land was good. The trees, the plants, the mountains, the rivers, the birds, the fishes, the land animals, human beings – God saw all of it and affirmed that it was good (Imagine “like” and “love” bubbles come out through Creation FB page).

So I was a little curious when God declares that something is not right, not good. “‘It’s not good for the Man to be alone,” God says. He healed the Man’s loneliness by creating a companion out of the Man’s very flesh and bone. His rib. “Finally!” the Man said (or in other translation “At last!”). That little exclamation is telling. It is the day when the Man’s world was made good!

This was before the Fall, remember.

The Man had the delights of the Garden of Eden spread out before him. He even had the full presence of God. And yet in the absence of another human being with whom to enjoy it all, the Man couldn’t truly enjoy it! Everything is good, but not enough. Something was missing until… the Woman.

This is the story of humankind that God creates in His own image. Because God is the God of Trinity (or more accurately, (3) Tri- (1) Unity), we are made to display His being, His relationshipness. We are made for relationship, not for self-sufficiency. It’s not good for us to be alone.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

God made Us for Relationship: Not for Self-Sufficiency (Genesis 2:18-23)

“The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’ Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky… But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man’”

(Genesis 2:18-23, NIV).

Throughout the Creation story, a phrase repeated over and over again: “God saw that it was good.” The day was good. The night was good. The seas were good. The dry land was good. The trees, the plants, the mountains, the rivers, the birds, the animals, Adam – God saw all of it and saw that it was good.

So it is a surprised for me when I read God declares that something is not good. “It is not good for the man to be alone,” God says. He was not pleased to see Adam’s loneliness so He created a companion – a helper – for the man out of his very bone and flesh.

“At last!” Adam said (Genesis 2:23, NLT). That little exclamation is telling. The world was freshly made. This was before the Fall, remember. Adam was living in the beautiful Garden. He had the full presence of God. And yet in the absence of another human being with whom to share it all, Adam couldn’t truly enjoy it all. And then, God created another human being like Adam. Thus, Adam exclaimed: “At last!” No more loneliness.

We were made for relationship, not for self-sufficiency.

You’re not alone. You shouldn’t be alone – God wants us to be in fellowship.

It is not good for any of us to be alone.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

God Created Us in His Own Image: No Ordinary People (Genesis 1:26-28; 31)

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground’… God saw all that he had made, and it was very good!”
(Genesis 1:26-27; 31, NIV).

“To err is human,” according to the old saying. Maybe so. But there’s lot more to being human than making mistakes and errors. We have all been made in the image of God. That urge to create, to bring order out of chaos, to make our mark on the world; the anger we feel in the face of the injustice, the pleasure we feel in the face of beauty, the hope we feel for a better future – all of that is the image of God finding expression in us, human beings.

It is true that the image of God we expressed is distorted, even fractured. But there it is nevertheless, glimmering in this interaction, shining in that choice, bursting forth in our longings. God’s image in us forever calls us back to the One who is its original.

That realization changes the way we look at ourselves. It also changes the way we look at others. “There are no ordinary people,” C.S. Lewis wrote. “You have never met a mere mortal.” Once you start seeing the image of God in yourself and others, the world never looks the same again.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus Answers Whatever We Ask For, So Come with Bold Confidence (1 John 3:21-22)

“Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will received from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him”

(1 John 3:21-22, NLT).

A person who has what we call a ‘troubled conscience’ is an unhappy person – feeling guilty about practically everything, rethinking and reliving situations, and hanging on to past hurts. Living the past today. When I was on campus, I know a person like that. No matter where he went, it was like a small cloud was over his head, and it rained only on him. For everyone else, the sky was shiny and bright. So sad.

One of the ways we can grow as Christians are to share these troubles with God – “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7). We can have great peace when our consciences do not continue to trouble us more than they should. As we learn to trust God and take Him at His Word, God’s love continues to change us.  A troubled conscience can become a means to remind us of our need to be close to God and others – and even to ourselves. “If we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.” This is the confidence that not only can we approach God with our needs, but that He will answer our prayers.

Earlier, Jesus Christ had promised: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who seeks finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents – if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:7-11). What a great promise! This is an unlimited answer to prayer. Does Jesus (and John) mean that whatever you ask for you will get? Wouldn’t some people take advantage of this? Personally, I can think of all kinds of things I like to ask for myself!

But let’s put these thoughts in its context. Jesus said elsewhere, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” (John 15:7). In the fifth chapter of this letter, the Apostle John adds an important qualifying phrase: “If we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us” (1 John 5:14, Amplified Bible). In other words, we are not to ask for just anything that appeals to us. We should remain and live in Christ and get to know His will well enough so that what we want becomes what God wants for us. And we know that God wants what is best for us and what makes us truly happy (Besides our needs, it is always God’s will and joy that we ask for justice, mercy, and humility. Pray for these!).

So, as we pray, God may answer “Yes”, “No” or “Wait.” That doesn’t mean that our prayers are not all answered but that God may answer them in His own special way and time. We may be surprised by how much better God’s options are for us than what we pray for at first. God knows best. Keep on praying, and trust Him. Pray like this: “Lord Jesus, help me to want what You want for me. Help me to find out Your will. Right now, it seems that <immediate need> is the best option, but You know what is best for me. Thank You for the promise that You hear and answer my prayers. You know me better than I know myself. Thanks for what has been, and for what is yet to be. Amen.”

Friends, first “obey him and do the things that please him,”

then "we will received from him whatever we ask.”

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus Loves People But Why They Hated Him and the Christians so Much? (1 John 3:11-13)

It's not nail, but love that causes Him to died on the cross for us. Now, He is Alive! 

“This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you”

(1 John 3:11-13, NLT).

The Apostle John begins to summarize all of his teachings again with one key thought: “We should love one another.” I like the Amplified Bible translates this: “We should [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another” [The Greek word for “love” here is agape, it is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another]. Actually, it was Jesus Himself who first made this key teaching when He was on earth. He taught that our attitude should be one of service rather than of superiority. In other words, we should be humble and not just do it out of a sense of obligation or because we think we know more or are better than anyone else. “Just as I have loved you,” said Jesus, “so you too are to love one another” (John 13:34; 15:12).

After making this strong statement, John then warns us “not be like Cain,” who was the oldest son of Adam and Eve (read Genesis 4:1-16). We read that both Cain and his brother, Abel, brought offerings to God, as they were required to do. But evidently only Abel was sincere and showed faith. Abel was “a righteous man” (Hebrews 11:4) and “doing what was righteous.” Cain, however, “had been doing what was evil.” Cain’s worship was unacceptable to God because of the anger, envy, and hatred which he begin to build up within himself toward his brother. Finally, Cain lost control of his temper and he murdered his own blood brother, Abel. To complicated the situation even further, Cain not only become the first murderer, but he also lied to God and pretended as if he did not know what had happened (Genesis 4:9). In a sense, Cain is the supreme example of hatred. Your worship will not be heard and accepted by God if you harbour hatred toward others, especially your brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, “love one another.”

Linked to what John had said about “love one another,” he reminds us that we, however, should not be surprised if some people in the world hate us for no reason, even as we are trying to do what is right and good. “So don’t be surprised… if the world hates you.” Why do you think they get angry? Well, I think, to persons who are evil or not in a right relationship with God, someone else who is doing what is right is a walking reminder of his or her own shortcomings. They are offended. Even we do not mean it this way, others may thought or feel that we are judging them or acting superior, when in fact, they have reacted with resentment, hatred and jealousy to what is right and holy. Darkness hates light. “Don’t be surprised.”

Jesus received the same kind of reaction when He lived on earth. As He showed love to the most marginalized people – such as the sick, the poor and the needy – the religious leaders could hardly contain their anger. Was Jesus doing something evil? Was Jesus taking the advantage of other people? Was Jesus leading a rebellion? No, Jesus was doing good and righteous. They got so mad that they wanted to kill Jesus. So, if this happened to Jesus, we shouldn’t be surprised if people in the world do not always admire what we are trying to do or respond with gratitude for our efforts. Because the world is ruled by the devil, there is much hatred and envy, jealousy and resentment. And because of this, we should not get discouraged when people don’t respond as we hope they would. “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world.” Jesus then concluded: “I chose you to come out of the world, so it hate you” (John 15:18-19).

A reminder: We need to be careful about our motives for showing love. If the reason we care is to feel accepted by others or to gain popularity or to get applause from people, we may be frequently disappointed, because people don’t always appreciate these efforts (Maybe those self-centred actions might get people interested and gain more followers). But if we care because we want to show our love for God by caring for others, then the response of the other person doesn’t really make much difference. We can love no matter what happens. “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:14). Do it! Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus: The Reason for Authentic Fellowship and the Source of Real Joy (1 John 1:3-4)

I am fully convinced that when Jesus eats and drinks, he is happy and joyful to be with.

“We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy” (1 John 1:3-4, NLT).

What Apostle John and his friends “we” saw and experienced was so powerful that they simply could not keep it to themselves. They were bursting to share the Good News about Jesus with other people (Do you have that bursting factor?). Once they had experienced this new life themselves, they wanted to share it with others. Keeping the Good News to ourselves limits the joy we can get compared to the joy we get when we share the News with others! John wants to share his new life in Christ with others. Christian goal is, according to John, “so that you may have fellowship with us.” The word fellowship means “to have in common,” to be close, and to have a group of people who accept and care for us.

Most people, I assume, hate the feeling of being lonely (This is different from being alone or in solitude, which can be a positive thing at times). To be lonely is to feel cut off or rejected or abandoned; it is a sad, depressed feeling. Thus, what is so amazing about this “fellowship” we can have in Christ as believers is that it is not only with each other, which is certainly Good News, but also a fellowship with God and Jesus, His Son – sharing life in common. God promises that we will never be alone in this life or ever. So, even if we feel cut off from other people we know that we are never really lonely. God is with us, no matter what!

Our fellowship, then, has two dimensions – with God (vertical fellowship) and with other believers (horizontal fellowship). As believers, you and I, are united with God forever; and we are also united with each other because of our common faith in Christ. Now let me make it clear that not all of us will have close relationships and fellowship with everyone, but we all have the potential for this fellowship. For some of us, sharing and being open come naturally. For others, being personal (sharing our thoughts and feelings) is kind of scary – so we hide it by being silent or avoiding or keeping others away from us. Don’t be like this.

John writes this matter of fellowship by saying that he is writing this letter to make his joy complete. In other words, he witnessed the Good News: the life, work, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Then he responded to what he had seen by devoting his life to fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. And now he was going to have his joy completed by sharing this joyful fellowship with the church of all believers. God wants us to be joy-filled in the deepest sense of the word – a satisfaction that cannot be found anyplace else but in Jesus Christ. Such joy is not based on how many friends we have on Facebook or Twitter, but on the fact that God loves us as we are. God loves us – nothing more, nothing less. He sees through us with x-ray vision; our innermost thoughts and feelings are known to Him. And despite all of this. God really cares for us, just as we are. And on this basis, as we accept God’s love, we can experience the deepest kind of joy. We are loved, no more lonely – we belong!

Friends, all of us will have times when we will feel discouraged or depressed (At this writing I feel sad because some people misunderstood me). That is part of living. But those downtimes don’t need to shatter us; instead, we are equipped with the strength, love, and joy that God gives us. It is a joy that keeps on growing not only in this life but forever – “no one can rob you of that joy” (John 16:22). And this joy is not a phony-selfie-kind of joy that pastes a smile on people’s faces and makes them ignore their true feelings. Christians can be real people whose joyfulness becomes greater and greater. The aim of being Christian is to enjoy, be joyful in, and by enjoying Him forever. Our God, I believe, does not try to make us miserable or odd; instead, God wants us to be the happiest person in the world. And that’s what the rest of this letter is all about. Read it!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Take Your Concerns to God (Thank You for Asking about Psalm 55:22)

Dear Annie,

            I miss you. Our distances somewhat makes our relationships grow stronger. I really believe that. But then again, I will see you soon. Can’t wait! Yesterday you asked me what Psalm 55:22 mean, well, in short: take your concerns to God. “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you: He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

            Annie, the Bible promises this: tough times are temporary but God’s love is not – God’s love endures forever. So what does that mean to you and me personally? Just this: from time to time, everybody faces disappointments and broken relationships (maybe friendships or with family members) – so will you. And when tough times arrive, God always stands ready to protect you and to heal you. Your task, my dear one, is straightforward: You must share your burdens with Him. What kind of burden? Any burden. But take note as Corrie ten Boom observed, “Any concern that is too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden.” Those are comforting words for me, especially during difficult days. Smile.

            Whatever the size of your challenges, remember Psalm 55:22, God is big enough to handle them. Ask for Him to help you today, with faith and with fervour. Instead of turning things over in your mind, turn them over to God in prayer. Instead of worrying about your next decision, ask God to lead the way. “Cast your burden upon the Lord” the One who cannot be shaken, and rest assured that He always hears your prayers and “He will sustain you.” As for “the righteous,” you must keep your personal relationship with God alive. Keep on believe in the Son, Jesus Christ and sustain your faith with the Word of God every day. And don’t neglect to practise good deeds and love your neighbours. For the righteous are saved by grace through faith, faith that produce godly deeds and actions.

Thank you for asking me about Psalm 55:22. I appreciate it. I learned and encouraged by the Word myself. I commend your thirst to know about the truth. Let us claim all of God’s promises in the Bible such as this one. Our sins, our worries, our lives – we may cast them all on Him. So dear, what’s your response to this verse? Oh ya, read the whole chapter of Psalm 55 for its context, okay? So, I’ll wait for your reply soon.

Aku sayau ka nuan,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Be an Optimist Christian, Don't Give In to Pessimism

Dear Annie,

            I need to share you a story. A not-so-closed-friend of mine, who studied in a theological school, (He said to me once, “I’m a Calvinist-reformed.” I don’t know what that really mean, and I think he’s just repeating his favourite preacher’s sermons) asked me, “Are you a Calvinist or Arminian?” I know he wants to have a theological debate with me. I know about the Calvinist’s 5-points (TULIP) and because I admire David Pawson and John Wesley, I know about basic Arminian’s arguments too. But I don’t want to argue with him. So I answered, “I’m an optimist.” I can tell his eyes widen when I continued, “I think if I labelled myself to either one of that, I’ll become a pessimist Christian” like you, I thought to myself.

Annie, my dear, life is hard. Anyone who want to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Bad things will happened. So if persecution is a sure thing, why we need to add more troubles by being pessimist? I want to be an optimist Christian! Pessimism and Christianity don’t mix. Why? Because Christians have every reason to be optimistic about life here on earth and life eternal. As. C.H. Spurgeon observed, “Our hope in Christ for the future is the mainstream of our joy.” But sometimes, we may fall prey to worry, frustration, anxiety, and our hearts become heavy. What’s needed is a large dose of perspective, God’s healing touch, and the Word of God: “Give your worries to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let good people down” (Psalms 55:22).

Let us make a promise to ourselves today: vow to be a hope-and-joy-filled Christian. Think optimistically about our lives, our families, our future together and our friends. Let us trust in God’s love, hope and don’t fear of the future. Our future is belongs to God. When we filled our hearts with hope and gladness, we can share our God-given optimism with our friends and loved ones.

A very close friend once told me, “If you genuinely believe that God is good and that His Son died for your sins, how you can be pessimistic about your future? The answer, of course, is that you can’t!” I agreed. But Annie, sometime we forget that actually Jesus’ resurrection and ascension (not only his work on the cross) are the biggest reasons why we have to be an optimistic Christians. Jesus is Alive! Jesus the Victorious! Curse are the anxious and sad-face Christians! Optimism is a choice. When we choose to trust God for everything, we can rest in His promises to take care of us the way He sees fit. Knowing that we have a loving heavenly Father who desires to care for us and provide for us should give every child of God a reason for true optimism.

By God’s grace, I pray that you and I will be filled with God’s joy.

Don’t forget to text me today okay. Smile my love.

                                                                                                                                    Miss you very much,

Richard

P.S: I’m also optimistic about marrying you

(Am I sound too preach-y lately? ha2)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.