The Royal Path of Reading #LeadersAreReaders March 2022

In the late 1800s, a six hundred pages book entitled, The Royal Path of Life, written by T. L. Haines and L. W. Yaggy, M.S became popular both in the refined East and in the pioneer West (Thank you Pustaka Library for making this book available). It is filled with great maxims, observations, and homespun wisdom. Here are some parts from the chapter entitled Reading:

"There are four classes of readers. The first is like the hourglass; and its reading being on the sand, it runs in and runs out and leaves no vestige behind. A second is like a sponge, which imbibes everything, and returns it in the same state, only a little dirtier. A third is like a jelly bag, allowing all that is pure to pass away, and retaining only the refuse and dregs. The fourth is like the slaves in the diamond mines of Golconda, who, casting aside all that is worthless, obtain only pure gems.

"One's reading is, usually, a fair index of his character... 'A man is known,' it is said, 'by the company he keeps.' It is equally true that a man's character may be, to a great extent, be ascertained by knowing what books he reads.

"Master your reading, and let it never master you. Then it will serve you with ever-increasing fidelity. Only read books aright, and they will charge your mind with the true electric fire. Take them up as among your best friends; and every volume you peruse will join the great company of joyous servitors who will wait around your immortal intellect. Then, too, your daily character will bear the signatures of the great minds you commune with in secret. And, as the years pass on, you will walk in the light of an ever-enlarging multitude of well-chosen, silent, but never-erring guides.

"To read with profit, the books must be of a kind calculated to inform the mind, correct the head, and better the heart. These books should be read with attention, understood, remembered, and their precepts put into practice. It depends less on number than quality. One good book, well understood and remembered, is of more use than to have a superficial knowledge of fifty, equally sound. Books of the right character produce reflection and induce investigation. They are a mirror of the mind, for the mind to look in. Of all the books ever written, no one contains so instructive, so sublime, and so great a variety as the Bible. Resolve to read three chapters each day, for one year, and you will find realities there, more wonderful than any pictures of fiction that have been drawn by the penciling of the most practiced novel writer in the dazzling galaxy of ancient or modern literature."

Here are my sort-of book reviews for this month:

1) The Spirit-Filled Life: Restoring A Biblical Understanding and Experience of the Holy Spirit (1895, 2019) by John MacNeil, CLICK HERE

2) Leadership Language: Using Authentic Communication To Drive Results (2018) by Chris Westfall, CLICK HERE

3) Jesus the Messiah: A Survey of the Life of Christ (1996) by Robert H. Stein, CLICK HERE

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #TheRoyalPathOfLife #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my monthly articles on reading, CLICK HERE  

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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? ⏳⌛⚡

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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10 Things To Remember

 

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The Best Leaders Are Tough But Kind

Let me be frank, most leaders today - especially, men - are weak! Instead of being a man of God, they want to be a nice guy. A nice guy as a leader will always need approval, avoid conflict and self-centered. We need to toughen up! Based on how God confronts Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, let me share with you three (3) ways to be a tough leader. Do these and people will either respect you or dislike you. If you want to be liked, don't be a leader #ServeToLead #GrowingLeader #LeadershipBible

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Jesus Loved Us [First] While We Were Still Sinners (1 John 4:9-10)

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son [Jesus Christ] into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love – not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins”

(1 John 4:9-10, NLT).

The Apostle John reminds us here about the fact that “God is love” (1 John 4:7) is not based on some theory or idea which someone thought up. Instead, God put love into action and demonstrated His love for us by giving us the very best gift of all – the gift of His “one and only Son, Jesus Christ.” Why? “So that we might have eternal life through him.” And the gift was not given because people are so great and deserve such a gift. In fact, God not only held nothing back and gave the best He had but He gave it to a world full of people who really do not deserve such love. The Apostle Paul summarizes it very well: “[God] showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8).

Let’s try to make this truth more practical. Think of something you have that is your most prized possession. Is it a special shirt or blouse? A smartphone? A car? A savings account? Or what? Now think of people you know who are really hard to love or at least hard to like. They are either bullies or obnoxious – the kind who have very few friends. Imagine that you decide to give your prized possession to those persons, even though they do not deserve such a gift. And you really do not have to give it! But you give it anyway and don’t expect anything in return. Now, would that be hard for you to do? I know what might happen to me: I would think too much, I might change my mind a few times, and get angry. I might come up with a less valuable gift and then maybe give it away somewhat reluctantly… and then… expect at least equal value in return.

But God is not like that. God could be mean and angry, One who does nothing but scream and punish. But we know that our God loves and cares, accepts, and listens. God gives love and eternal life. What a difference! God not only loves us but He provides us with a way that we can live with and close to Him, that is through the death of Jesus who gave His life because of our sins. Jesus came “to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath]” (1 John 4:10, Amplified Bible). God is great!

What is even more amazing is that God gives us the free will to decide if we want to be close to Him or not. Again, God could have made us robots who had no minds and could make no choices. But instead, He lets us decide what is most important in our lives, and if we want to accept this great gift from Him. Whatever our choice is, God knows. Jesus knows. Regardless, this truth remains true: not that we love Jesus, but that he loved us first. How do you want to respond to His amazing love? Read 1 John letter one more time.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus Showed that Real Love is Costly: What Kind of Love Do You Have? (1 John 3:16-18)

“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. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion – how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions”

(1 John 3:16-17, NLT).

Love is something that is sung about, talked about, and argued about. There may be disagreement about what love really is. Different people, different cultures, and different beliefs have different and various definitions for love. But the Apostle John reminds us that Jesus Himself showed us (not just said) what “love” is really all about. Jesus gave up His life so that we could have life. “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.” He gave the supreme sacrifice to show us that love is often quite costly, and He did it willingly and voluntarily. Jesus said, “I’m a good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for his sheep” (John 10:11); “I sacrifice my life for the sheep” (10:15); “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded” (10:17-18).

In the same way, Jesus wants us to be prepared to make our love that costly if it is necessary. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Love doesn’t mean that we give to others what is left over or unwanted. It may mean at times that we give the very best we have. To love is to look after the other person’s good and not just our own. The Amplified Bible defines love (the Greek word agape) as 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.

To be realistic, few, if any, of us will ever be called upon to sacrifice our lives for others – unless it should be in a situation such as war. I salute and respect my brothers and sisters in Christ in the Middle East, China, India, and places where Christians are persecuted. They really give up their lives for Christ and others. But as for us in Malaysia and the rest of the world, John reminds us that love is also shown in lesser acts than laying down our lives. “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need” we need to show compassion. We can show our love for God by caring about those around us who have needs. One of the reasons we are given material things and money is to learn to share them with others, with those in need. The Apostle James writes, “Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’ – but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?” (James 2:15-16). Or as John asked, “How can God’s love be in that person?”

Notice that first John uses the plural form and refers to our “brothers and sisters” – a more general term referring to people, anyone. But then John uses the singular word “brother or sister.” Why? I think it seems to mean that we may find it easy to love people in general, but not so easy to love in a personal or individual way. So, when we see a brother or sister in need, let us show loving compassion. We may not be able to help everyone who is in need but we can show compassion to the immediate needs around us. This is what makes our faith so dynamic, even revolutionary! We grow in our faith and love as we get beyond just talking about the needs of others or about the importance of love. “Let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” How much better it is to be real – to show with our actions that we indeed do love other people. Jesus never once said directly, “I love you,” but no doubt as we look and observe His life, we know that He really loves us. This is love.

In a world that has so much “bad news” about murders, robberies, riots, and hatred, we can be a dynamic force to show the “Good News” that our God is indeed a God of love.  And we grow as God’s children as we learn to share this love with other people. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Let's Build a Relationship that Will Last

Dear Annie,

            I’m not as romantic as you thought I’m, but I want to be. People always accused me as insensitive, maybe that’s true in some sense. And definitely I’m one of those who have been in relationship failures for so many times. I’m learning to understand and seek to improve myself from my mistakes. And then I met you… An ordinary beginning, something that would have been forgotten had it been anyone but you, Annie. But as I started a conversation with you that day, I knew before I closed my eyes to sleep that night, you was the one I could spend the rest of my life looking for but never find again. Now I’m started to miss you deeply even as I write this letter.

            So I asked myself this question: Do I want to build a relationship that lasts? Yes, with you! Then a thought came to my mind, I believe it is from the Holy Spirit – a reminder and a command – I (and you too) must start by making Lord Jesus Christ the cornerstone of my (our) relationships. It’s not that we want Him to be Lord, but to acknowledge that He is Lord and He will be the cornerstone, the centre, everything in our relationships. Because in order for us to always be in love we must draw love from its source – God. “Let us love one another, because love come from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God… for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). Love-God kind of love; brother and sister in Christ kind of love; and loving one another kind of love.

            Annie, I understand now that God does not intend for us to experience mediocre relationships; He created us for far greater things. Building lasting relationships, I learned, requires not just love but compassion, wisdom, empathy, kindness, respect, trust and forgiveness – yes – lots of forgiveness. “[God] showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven” (1 John 4:9-10). Because we are redeemed-sinners living in imperfect world, we will sinning against God and each other in the future. Therefore we must ready to repent from our sins and we need lots of forgiveness as shown by God to us. Lotssss of forgiveeeenessss. Love and forgiveness is always together.

Sounds like a lot of work, right? Well my dear, I think God gives us high demand on lasting relationships is because God is in the business of everlasting lives. He wants the best, and we must give our best. Because God knows that we are capable of doing that work, and because He knows that the fruits of our labour of love will enrich our lives in the end.

As for me, I want to live a life that puts Jesus in the centre of everything.

I want to become the man that can lead and influence you to know God more.

Built to last? Let God be the cornerstone in our relationships.

I love you,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Letters to Annie: Love (Not Lust) is the Greatest Way to Build a Lasting Relationship

Dear Annie,

            My most beautiful Annie. I love you. How to explain my love for you? If we try to build a relationship with one another based only on physical attraction, we’ll be disappointed, especially you. Lasting relationships aren’t built upon lust, they are built upon love – real love.

But first, how can I define love? Hmmm… most definitely, I understand that it’s something more than physical attraction (though you’re amazingly beautiful to me, inside-out). Genuine love is patient, understanding, consistent, consideration and commitment. I hope you agree that genuine love doesn’t just sit around and do nothing; it gets translated into acts of caring and kindness – both large and small.

            Love is always a choice. I choose you; you choose me. Initially, of course, we may “fall in love,” but it takes work to stay there. We may be “swept off our feet,” but the “sweeping” is only temporary – sooner or later, if our love is to endure, we must plant our feet firmly on the ground. The decision for us to love one another for a lifetime is much more than the simple process of “falling in” or “being swept up.” It requires “reaching out,” “holding firm,” and “lifting love.” Love, then, becomes a decision to honour, respect, and care for the other person, come what may!

            “Love is a force more formidable than any other,” writes Barbara De Angelis, “It is invisible – it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could.” It’s hard for me to explain my love for you, this quote is the closest one to my heart.

Because I love you this much (see my hands open wide), sex can wait! I’m really serious about us, and we, I hope, are really serious about putting our Lord Jesus Christ first, and it is worth the wait!

 Is that enough for me to explain my love for you?

Well, we’re just getting started. There will be many stories and experiences ahead of us.

God’s love for us is enough and able to sustain our love for one another

– as long as we both love Jesus first. This is the greatest way to build our relationship.

I’m praying for us. Will you pray too?

Your man,

Richard

P.s: I miss you!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus sees Individuals in the Crowd (He Knows You)

He talked personally to a lame man

“Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he begin teaching them many things”

(Mark 6:31-34, NLT).

The passage above describes Jesus, after an exhausting day, going off with the disciples across the lake. Beginning near Capernaum, Jesus and the Twelve sailed “to the far side” of the Sea of Galilee (John 6:1), to a remote area near Bethsaida on the north. Figuring out where Jesus and his party were headed and seeing their boat, the crowd followed them along the shore, hiking the distance on land.

When Jesus saw the huge crowd, he could have herded the disciples back into the boat and sailed away again, or he could have dismissed the people. After all, they were pestering him, crowding out his time alone with disciples (You must understand that Jesus himself as a human being was also need to rest. Imagine how tired he was). Instead, Jesus “had compassion on them” and spent most of the day teaching them and healing their sick.

Jesus saw the “huge crowd” certainly, but he also saw individuals and knew their needs. Jesus is awesome! No one was lost in the crowd. And when Jesus saw these people, he knew each one’s deepest needs and felt with them and for them. He had compassion. Jesus ministered with and to ordinary men and women, just as assorted as people today. Some in the crowd were simply curious about this new teacher; some were needy, desperate for a miracle; many had gnawing questions about Jesus’ identity and supposed power. Despite the self-centred motives of most of the crowd, Jesus took them seriously and met their needs.

Think about this: Jesus sees you in the crowd. He knows you by name. He hurts with you and wants to be with you, to heal your wounded spirit. Don’t let anything keep you from Jesus. He doesn’t expect you to get your act together before approaching him. He made you; he knows you; he knows your strengths, potential, and weaknesses. He just want you to come, to allow him to work in you and through you. When you do come, Jesus meets you where you are. Jesus is awesome and he is seeing you as individual because – He cares.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

So You Want to Be a Calvinist? John Calvin on the Nature of Sacraments

as remembrance of Him

In this section from the 1559 edition of the Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin explores the relation between a sacramental sign and the grace which it signifies. Notice the emphasis placed on God’s deliberate accommodation to human weakness. He writes:

“To start with, we must consider what a sacrament is. It seems to me that a simple and proper definition is that it is an outward sign by which the Lord [Jesus] seals on our consciences the promises of his good will towards us in order to sustain the weakness of our faith; and by which we in turn bear witness to our piety toward him in the presence of the Lord and of his angels, and before human beings. More briefly, it is a testimony of divine grace toward us, confirmed by an outward sign, with mutual attestation of our piety towards him. Whichever of these definitions is preferred, its sense does not differ from that given by Augustine, who teaches that a sacrament is ‘a visible sign of a sacred thing’ or ‘a visible form of an invisible grace’; however, it explains the thing itself better and more clearly…

Now, from this definition we understand that a sacrament is never without a prior promise but is joined to it as a sort of appendix, with the objective of confirming and sealing the promise itself, and of making it clearer to us and, so to speak, ratifying it. God thus makes allowance first for our ignorance and slowness, then for our weakness. Yet, properly speaking, it is not so much needed to strengthen his holy Word as to support out faith in it. For God’s truth is of itself firm and sure enough; nor can it receive better confirmation from any source other than from itself. But as our faith is slight and feeble unless it is supported at every point and sustained by every means, it trembles, wavers, totters, and finally falls down.

So our merciful Lord, by his infinite kindness, adjusts himself to us in such a way that, since we are creatures who always creep on the ground, cleave to the flesh, and, do not think about or even conceive of anything spiritual, uses these earthly elements, and sets before us in the flesh a mirror of spiritual blessings. For if we were incorporeal (as Chrysostom says), he would give us these very things naked and incorporeal. Now, because we have souls inserted into our bodies, he imparts spiritual things under visible ones. This does not mean that the gifts set before us in the sacraments are bestowed with the natures of those things; rather, that they have been given this signification by God.”

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

References:

1) Institutes, IV.xiv.1, 3; in Joannis Calvini: Opera Selecta, ed. P. Barth and W. Niesel, vol.5 (Munich: Kaiser Verlag, 1936), 259.1-261.3

2) The Christian Theology Reader, edited by Alister E. McGrawth (Oxford UK: Blackwell Publishers Inc, 1995), 312-313.

Jesus care (More) about the Quality of Fruit in our Lives, Not Quantity

Good tree bears good fruit

“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgement day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you”
(Matthew 12:33-37, NLT).

Trees are identified by leaf structure and organization, bark, shape, fruit and even DNA. Some trees like walnuts produce seeds without fruit – nuts. So what was Jesus’ first point? He was talking about identifying a type of tree; he was talking about the qualities within a certain type of tree. He wasn’t comparing apple trees and orange trees; he was pointing to the difference between a good apple tree and a bad apple tree, a desirable orange tree and an undesirable orange tree. In that case, the proof is in the fruit.

The kind of fruit (in this context) Jesus had in mind was words. He was directing his comments to the Pharisees who had mocked the healing of the demon-possessed man by accusing Jesus of operating under the influence of Satan (Matthew 12:24). By this point Jesus had demonstrated that the opposite was actually true – his accusers had revealed that they (the Pharisees) were producing the fruit of Satan (blaspheming the Holy Spirit).

In Matthew 12:30-32 (refer to previous post), we read about what happens when we resist the work of the Holy Spirit. But the wider teaching of Scripture gives us good clues about the positive side of that process – what happens when we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and let God bring forth fruit in our lives. Apostle Paul put it very well in Galatians 5:22-23: “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Jesus’ words of confrontation in Scripture portion above may seem harsh to us, but his awareness of the Pharisees’ deep-seated unbelief required a kind of shocking language. The Holy Spirit used his words to crack their internal hardness or they simply rejected what he had said. Either way, they could never say they weren’t sternly warned. Think about this: Fruit quantity is not the same as quality. What a disappointment to bite into a beautiful fruit that is mealy or rotten inside. We must go beyond asking for fruit to ask God to grow good fruit in us. What kind of fruit have you been producing lately? And what is contained in the treasury of your heart?

Jesus, my Master Gardener, please in charge of growing good fruit in my life. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus is Able to Perform Deep Healing (or A Search for Faithful Friends)

“Soon the house where [Jesus] was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus” (Mark 2:2-4, NLT).

It helps to know a little about house architecture in the Middle East. Ralph Gower in his book The New Manners & Customs of Bible Times (2005), writes, “Initially homes were made with sun-dried mud bricks, but technology advanced until it was possible to fire the bricks in a kiln, and until rough stone and rubble houses were being built… the (flat) roof was constructed by laying brushwood across rough sycamore beams and binding them together by using mud.” Thus, face with a wall-to-wall crowd in the house and limited access to the doorways, the friends (“four men”) devised a desperate plan. They would go up on the roof, figure out where Jesus was standing below, “dug a hole through the roof,” and lower their friend in front of the Lord.

Imagine the scene indoors [Pause]. Those listening to Jesus began to notice sound overhead, and then pieces of the ceiling started to rain down. Moments later, an opening appeared and a stretcher was lowered. The crowd, driven back by the debris, had cleared a landing area.

“Seeing their [the four men] faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’ But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, ‘What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!’” (Mark 2:5-7). Looking down at the man clearly (obviously!) in need of one kind of healing, Jesus chose instead to offer him first a deeper healing – the forgiveness of sins. Some religious experts accused him of blasphemy, since if he claimed to be able to forgive sins he claimed to be God. Of course, that is exactly who Jesus is. (Read Mark 2:8-12. Here Jesus added significance to his statement of forgiveness. He knew talk was cheap unless he could back it up with action – which he did by freeing the man to skip home joyfully, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” The paralyzed man was healed!).

Think about this: What caused Jesus to heal the paralyzed man? The faith of the four men (Mark 2:5). Jesus honoured the faith of those friends. Remember, the paralysis of sin is the most deliberating human disease, and people all around us are walking by with the symptoms every day. Many people are spiritually “paralyze,” so the world need more friends like this man – friends that have faith in Jesus. Friends that bring others to Jesus. Moreover, friends that believe in Jesus. How much trouble are you willing to undertake to get your friends to Jesus? Know this: Jesus is all the more ready to forgive our sins and he can perform deep healing in us. Maybe you can be a faithful friend to your friend. And bring him or her to Jesus.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus, God's Fullest Mercy Revealed

“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me’”

(Jonah 1:2, NKJV)

God is a forgiving God. As I read this small Book of Jonah, I’m amazed by a clear picture of a firm but forgiving God. It starts with God ordered Jonah to preach in Nineveh, a foreign town filled with the unusual immorality associated with major cities of Assyrian Empire. “But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD” (1:3). Jonah ran away from God (How funny is that!). Yet Jonah’s disobedience in heading in the opposite direction didn’t result in his death or the end of his service. God’s mercy was upon him.

In fact, God used Jonah to convert the sailors on his escape ship, even when he rebelling and sinning. Before they throw Jonah into the sea, the sailors prayed, “We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You” (Jonah 1:14). And God used Jonah to reach Ninevites even though he hoped that they would be destroyed. “Then God saw their [Ninevites’] works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it” (Jonah 3:10). God’s mercy was upon the sailors and the people of Nineveh.

Of course, Jonah did experience God’s anger – in the form of a storm, being swallowed by a big fish, and suffering intense heat – but these were also signs of God’s mercy because God used them to show Jonah that he had a second, a third, fourth… and so on chances to him. From our human perspective, there can be few people who deserved God’s mercy less than Jonah, the sailors and the Ninevites. Yet God forgave them all.

Throughout the Bible, God’s mercy is directed towards his children, the Jews. But in the Book of Jonah, God is clearly revealed as also the God of non-Jews, of the Gentiles (us!). God is interested in a crew of pagan sailors and He even forgives “more than one hundred and twenty thousand” (4:11) of Israel’s greatest enemies. He gave many chances to Jonah. See! God’s forgiveness is not restricted to the Jews only but to all people who asking for forgiveness and acknowledge their sins toward Him. Now, God even show greater mercy toward us through His Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. In Jesus, God’s great mercy revealed to the fullest.

The Scripture says: “[Whoever] believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:15-17, NKJV). Mercy! Mercy! Mercy! Thank you LORD!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

What Christians Ought to Be Known

I just love this picture, that's all... 

Question: What Christians should be known for in thirty years from now?

Simply put, I thinks Christians ought to be known for loving people outside of their social comfort zones. Today we’ve become pretty good at loving people like ourselves, but the kind of love I hope Christians are known for in thirty years breaks our social love boundaries.

Of course, love is too difficult a word to define. But let me try listing what I think the future of Christian love ought to involve:

§  Loving without putting our acts of kindness on a pedestal. What happened to giving in secret? Glamourous charity is not charity at all.

§  Loving without strings, unconditionally, no bait and switches.

§  Being unconcerned about being unnamed, rewarded, or repaid.

§  Prioritizing the other, even in the midst of personal discomfort.

§  Advocating for the undefended.

§  Being a voice for the voiceless.

§  Being better listeners to those who need to be heard.

§  Being a church without walls – simple church, organic church, megachurch – it’s all good. We’re one church.

§  Seeing the church as a home of the fringe, the misfits, and the marginalized, where these same people lead with real authority.

§  Being willing to die for others, laying our lives down like the first-century Christians did when pandemics struck their cities. They would stay to serve the afflicted while others left.

§  Responding immediately to any global crisis.

§  Thinking of long-term commitment to radical and sacrificial compassion for the poor.

§  Being a gentle conversationalist with the world.

§  Showing love for Christ more than love for Christianity as a culture.

§  Creating a place where all are truly empowered, led and seen. A place where the next generation finally reflects the majority, multicultural world. Jesus really didn’t have blue eyes! (or did he?)

Dave Gibbons

Pastor of New Song Church

Quote from Unchristian by David Kinnaman and Fermi Project (Baker Books, 2007) pg. 228-229

Original title as ‘Love’

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Be a Generation that Wants to Make God Happy

I am hopeful about the future of Christian engagement because I think Christians are merging faith and action more than ever. I’ve been reading a book called What Have You Done for Me Lately? that documents the history of Christian contribution to culture. Anyone who is a serious student of history would have to say that Christianity and its underpinnings have been, in most cases, the fuel in the engine of social revolution.

Even though Christians have historically been at the forefront of these kinds of movements, I believe in these days it is being embraced as much as ever – it’s all about faith plus works. You will show me your faith by your works… it is the merging of these two things together that brings amazing power.

Our organization, Passion, recently hosted a global gathering in Atlanta of over 23,000 college students who consider themselves Christians. Instead of the typical Christian conference with a consumerist appetite for great speakers and music, we made the centrepiece of these four days the “Do Something Now!” campaign. We put eight global opportunities on the table and said to students, “We think you have money in your pockets to change the world.”

And sure enough, they responded.

Those poor college students pledged or gave over one million dollars to build fifty-two wells in Africa, to provide New Testament translations for six people groups of Indonesia, and to combat the human sex trafficking industry.

It is clear to me that something significant has absolutely shifted with this generation. I think it is God’s great kindness stirring our hearts to show his great kindness to the world. With this behind us, the students at Passion aren’t the ones who look good, and this generation doesn’t look like a hands-on, get-involved, do-something generation. God looks good. And God looks like a hands-on, get-involved, do-something God. I think that is what this generation wants – an action-based worship. There is nothing wrong with jumping to a David Crowder tune and telling God he is great – that is worship. But worship is also doing the right thing and sharing with others in need. Those are the things that make God happy, and this is a generation that wants to make God happy. They demonstrate this by moving in action to touch the last and least of these in the world.

Louie Giglio

Pastor, writer and founder, Passion

Quote from Unchristian by David Kinnaman and Fermi Project (Baker Books, 2007) pg. 143-144

Original title as ‘Emerging Faith and Action’

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Invest God-given Time, Energy and Talents in Your Community

“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.

I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home” (Jesus, Matthew 25:35, NLT)

“The best portion of a good man’s life – his little nameless acts of kindness,

unremembered acts of kindness” (William Wordsworth, poet)

One of the comments people most commonly make after a major disaster has hit a community is how it brought people together to help and comfort each other. More often than not, when I read and talk to people who are going through some difficulties and ask them if there is anyone nearby to whom they can turn for support, they cannot think of anyone they know well enough to ask. Admittedly, I only do and join few social community projects in Sarawak, but I understand that this phenomenon is not exclusive to large, city areas only. The need for social community projects is vast and very demanding, especially, today.

Few years ago, I joined FES Malaysia, a student ministry organization, 2-weeks program called S.W.E.E.P. (Social Work Exposure & Embracement Program) and my life changed! Since then, my view on Christian faith broadened and my perspective of the Gospel enlarged. Getting involve in social community projects (definitely not the only means out there!) give joy to me because I get a chance to practise my faith, witnessing Christ both through my work and words, and it is an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives together – even with the students and my non-Christian friends. Offering to volunteer to help with or initiate a community project has been, for me, the most satisfying ways to love God and people.

In my experience, it pays to think and plan before rushing in to help with the first project you encounter or are requested to help with. In order to obtain the best return in terms of helping the community, while at the same time it helps you in your relationship with God and others, you will need to bear several things in mind prayerfully:

Do Personal Research and Respect Local Needs

You can do this by asking neighbours and meeting leaders of local organizations or churches. It also helps to spend time reading the local newspaper, campus or community bulletins, and listening to any local radio station. Do some research before you get involve. Don’t assume needs but offer helps only in the area of needs (not whatever you wants).  

Try to Match a Local Need or Interest to One of Your Talents

If you are good organizer, you could offer to put on trips for residents’ association, or be on the committee of a charity group. If your talent is writing, you could perhaps, offer to start a newsletter or write something like this article in your blog or any social medias. Give encouragements, update needs and be the voice for the voiceless. If you have driving license, offer your help in transportation. If you’re good in English or math, be a volunteer teacher. “If… be…” There are lots of opportunities and ways you can be involve. What are your God-given gifts or talents? Remember this: Playing to your strengths will be much more satisfying for you and make your involvement much more effective.

Under- Rather than Over-Commit

This is much easier said than done (over-commitment is one of my weaknesses. vise versa). Every community and charitable project is never ending and is constantly thirsty for help. It is particularly hard to say “No!” in crises, but remember – these are inevitable and frequent in this world. Don’t overcommitted that you lost your personal, quiet and alone time with Jesus along the way. Jesus is our priority, not men. That’s why the first commandment is the first, not second. Jesus said, “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me” (John 12:8). So you have to be clear about the commitment you can give, and stick within your capability boundaries with super-assertiveness. Remind yourself that over-commitment leads to resentfulness, bitterness and burnout – none of which will benefit anyone if you do.

“[Whether] you eat or drink, or whatever you do (that include social community work),

do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, bracket mine)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Let People See Jesus through Us

Healing touch: Mother Teresa and Sisters with patients at a mobile leprosy clinic in Kolkata

I like what I read from Mother Teresa, she writes:

“Once, someone asked me, ‘Why do you go abroad? Don’t you have enough poor in India?’ So I answered, ‘I think Jesus told us to go and preach to all the nations.’ That is why we go all over the world to preach his love and compassion.

When our Sisters were in Ceylon, a minister of state once told me something very surprising. He said, ‘You know, Mother, I love Jesus Christ but I hate Christians.’ So I asked him how that could be. He answered, ‘Because Christians do not give us Christ; they do not live their Christian lives to the full.’ Mahatma Gandhi said something very similar, ‘If Christians were to live their Christian lives to the full, there would not be one Hindu left in India.’ Isn’t it very true? This love of Christ should urge us to spend ourselves without ceasing.

A Mohammedan Mulvi was standing with Father Gabric and looking at a Sister bandaging the wound of a leper with so much love. She didn’t say anything, but she did something. He turned to Father and said, ‘All these years I believed that Jesus was a prophet, but today I know He is God because He has given so much love into the hands of this Sister.’ Even today, that Sister does not know that her action brought Jesus into the life of that man.”

The light, O Jesus, will be all from you – none of it will be mine.

It will be you shining on others through me.

Shine through me and be so in me

that every soul I come in contact with may feel your presence in my soul.

Let them look up and see Jesus.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.