Earth Hour

Guess what.....???

It doesn't matter where or who you are.

But it matters which planet you are from.

Earth Hour is tonight from 8:30-9:30pm

(your local time).

Do your part in the worldwide event tonight

to help keep our planet against global warming.

Switch off all uneccessary lights and power

to save electricity and observe earth hour.

Just for 1 hour you have the chance to save our planet!!!

Help to make our planet a cooler, comfortable place, the way it should be.

Be romantic! Light a candle instead...and don't stumble in the dark.

(Oh yes, you may turn on the TV, if you wish)

You may practice it every day...

Just a friendly reminder.

;-P

Bread and Butter

There was this small town baker who bought his butter from a local farmer. One day, this baker weighed the butter he purchased and concluded that the farmer had been reducing the amount of butter in the packages but charging him the same. So the baker accused the farmer of fraud.

In the court, the judge asked the farmer, “Do you have measuring weights?” “No sir,” the farmer replied. “So how then do you manage to weigh the butter that you sell to the baker?” Then the farmer answered, “Sir, when the baker began buying his butter from me, I thought I’d better get my bread from him. Since then, I have been using his 1-pound loaf as the weight for the butter I sell. If the weight of the butter is wrong, he has only himself to blame.”

It is usually true that the traits that bother us in others are often the habits we have ourselves. Our bad habits and behavior patterns are the very ones that we most want to change in others. But why should others get to change first? Why not begin with you or me first? Naturally, it is easier to point fingers at others when it is a fault. But we are challenged when the person we thought could not change eventually gained self-improvement. We find it most difficult to change the bad habits and behavior within us. Therefore, we pass the changing process on others. However, there is always room for improvement. We are just too lazy to do something about it.

Do you find it easy to magnify others’ faults while excusing your own? If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same criticism. Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor. A forgiving spirit demonstrates that a person has received God’s forgiveness. If we are critical rather than compassionate, we will also receive criticism but if we treat others graciously, generously, or compassionately, these qualities will come back to us in full measure. Besides, aren’t we suppose to love others and not judge them?

Making hasty, unjust judgments about others is sin. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day seemed to be especially adept at this practice. They would try to elevate themselves by tearing down and slandering people’s character. Not only is this a sign of pride and self-satisfaction, but also it is certain that we will be judged in a similar manner. Jesus said, “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged. And with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:2 (KJV).

When Christ said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged (Matthew 7:1)” means He is against the judgmental, hypocritical attitude that breaks others apart in order to build one’s self up. It does not mean we should overlook the wrongdoings of others but simply it is a call to be discerning rather than being negative towards the other.

Sometimes, we behave like the baker in this story. We are so blatant and quick enough to point out the wrongdoings of others while we fail to recognize our own misconduct. I’ve known some people who were so quick to criticize and ridicule their church pastor (usually the most easy target). They keep on pointing out their pastor’s mistakes but they fail to do anything about their own shortcomings. They are often too worried on the wrongdoings of others that they have overlooked their own. The worst case, they keep on criticizing but never do anything to help make an improvement. Is there such a thing as good critic? A critic is one who tends to make harsh or carping judgments, a faultfinder. From the Greek word, ‘Kritikos’, means able to discern. So what makes a good critic? It is someone who forms and expresses judgments of the merits, value, and truth of the matter, not only its faults. In addition, wouldn’t it be a better place to live if a critic can point out your spots and help clean them up as well? Meaning, for someone to have a critical eye, should also have a ready-solution. A solution that helps not destructs.

It is clear that people often rationalize their sins by pointing out the same mistakes in others. What kinds of specks in others’ eyes are the easiest for you to remove? When you feel like criticizing, just remember look at your own ‘checklist’ first and you will find you’ve got less to say.

Let us not be too hard on the person who sins. For one day, the yardstick that we lay on another may someday be used as a measure to ours. Let’s not judge, or we’ll be judged in the same manner we did. It's just like looking in the mirror!

Bible passage to read: Matthew 7:1-5

“THE FAULT WE SEE IN ANOTHER
MAY BE THE REFLECTION OF OUR OWN”

Leaning On Jesus

One night I was on my way home, a slow, large crane tractor pulled out from the entrance near the market where I was about to enter. It has a long, heavy, steel arms that lifted a man in a basket all the way to the top where he changed the light bulbs of the street lamps. Then while at work, there were men who walks on bamboo scaffoldings constructed just outside my office window to refurbish and paint the building walls. What do these men have in common? Well, they both work on high places. They both risk their lives by strapping themselves securely and leaning their weight on a thick leather safety belt.

Actually, this is what trusting in the Lord is like. We go about our round of tasks at home and at work doing variety of tasks. It appears that we all work on our own sufficiency, but little we realize that our spiritual success depends on leaning our emotional, spiritual, and volitional weight on the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of our strength and security. We are dependent on Him. Our times are in His hands. Of course, who else do you think holds our future but God! Trusting in the Lord, leaning on His adequacy, is possible as we anchor our confidence in the promises of God. There are some fearful moments in life, times when we doubt. But when circumstances are less than favorable, nothing is more comforting or stabilizing than looking to the Scriptures for support and direction. God’s Word is sure. It never fails – not one word. We fail God. But for sure, He never fails us. His Word ministers to our deepest needs and speaks to our innermost beings. When we place our faith in God’s Word, we accept it as His truth, despite our wavering feelings. We simply believe that God means what He says and that He will fulfill all His promises. We also lean our weight on Christ by affirming the character of God. We can trust in His Word because He is trustworthy. We can count on His help because He is faithful. The attributes of God – such as His holiness, goodness, mercy, justice, and grace – anchor our faith in Him. The better we know Him, the more we trust Him. The more we trust Him, the more we see His hand at work in our midst.

There are times when we find it difficult to continue trusting when there seem to be nothing happening. We demand that we see the big picture in the process. When one person is strong, attractive, famous, rich or talented, it is difficult for him to put his trust in God easily since there is pride, conceit and vanity. Who needs God when I am so strong? Who needs God when I have so many talents? Who needs God when I am the most attractive one? Later you’ll simply discover that all these will fade away realizing your weaknesses and the need to lean on something more dependable and trustworthy.

But once we begin to put our trust in God, we immediately put that trust into expressions. Perhaps one of the most significant ways that we place our full trust in Christ is by praising Him regardless of the circumstances. By praising we shout our faith in God. It exalts Him and declares that we will follow Him and look to Him even when the odds appear against us. This is what Paul and Silas did while in prison. They were stripped, severely beaten and later was thrown into prison. They were placed in the inner prison and their feet clamped with chains. By midnight, the two were singing hymns and praying to God while their inmates listen. Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the prison’s foundations. All the doors flew open and all of the prisoners’ chains were loosed. The jailer was awakened to see the prison doors were widely open thinking the prisoners had escaped. So he drew his sword to kill himself but was stopped by Paul saying they did not escape. (Acts 16:22-27).

When we praise God, we magnify the majesty and greatness of our Father, focusing on who God is, and that is divinely given catalyst for trusting Him even more. Praise drives away fear and builds faith. The person who trusts in the Lord is blessed. He clings to the promises of God, delights in the character of God, and worships God whether in darkness or in light. He leans on the everlasting arms that never fail or forsake him.

Bible passage to read: Acts 16:16-40

“What a fellowship, what a joy divine;
Leaning on the everlasting arms”

Does God Forget?

There was this certain king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owned him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay so the king ordered that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay for his debt. But the man fell down before the king and begged his royal highness, “Sir, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.” Then the king was filled with pity for him, and he released the man who owed him millions and forgave his debt.

But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed the man by the throat and demanded instant payment. His fellow servant fell before him and begged for a little more time. “Please be patient with me and I will pay it,” his fellow servant pleaded. But his creditor couldn’t wait and had the man arrested and jailed until the debt could be paid in full.

The other servants had witnessed the incident, went to the king and report what had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, “Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?” Then the angry king sent the man to prison until he had paid every penny he owed the king.

Many among us are like the servant who owed millions to the king. We were pardoned but always fail to forget the transgressions of others. We are forgiven of our own wrong doings but we fail to do so on others. What if God says today you are forgiven of all your sins. Suddenly one day, He forgot He has pardoned you and declares you unforgiven?

Do you really think God forgets? God longs to forgive sinners! But in the minds of many people, this thought seems too good to be true. Countless sermons have been preached to convince us that it is true – that God really forgives the sinners! Many of these sermons emphasize the idea that God not only forgives the sinner, but He also forgets the sin. I’ve often said it myself without doubting its soundness and meaning.

Until one day, while talking to someone who asked, “If God forgives the sinners and forgets the sin, what if He suddenly remembers it?” Have you ever asked yourself the same question? Oh yeah! He forgets the sin but what happens if He suddenly remembers? In any case, only imperfection can forget, like the way I always forget to turn off the bathroom light in the morning before I leave home for work. And you forget to pray before you have your meal. Sometimes, we even forget friends whom we do not have contacts for quite a while. Or, even forget to pay our bills. These are simply imperfection. So what if one night you are praying to God and ask Him, “Dear God, do you still remember my prayer yesterday….” And God will say, “Oh, I am sorry my child, I forgot all about it.” Our God is perfect! So, it’s just impossible that He will forget! It’s simply a contradiction to His all-knowing character.

Since the Biblical basis of this statement is in question, let us turn our Bibles to Hebrew 8:12, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:16-17, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

God doesn’t say He’ll forget our sins – He says He’ll remember them no more. What does it mean? He’s not forgetting our sin. When He forgives us, He will not bring up our sins against us. His promise not to remember them ever again is stronger than saying He’ll forget them. Now isn’t that much more reassuring? Remember, God promises to forgive and never bring up your sin against you. Confess your sins to Him now. Don’t be like the unforgiving servant. Forgive those who have wronged you and never to bring it up against them by remembering it. This is what the heavenly Father will do to you.

Bible passage to read: Matthew 18: 21-35; Hebrews 8

“TO ENJOY THE FUTURE,
ACCEPT GOD’S FORGIVENESS FOR THE PAST”

The Power House

A few days ago I received a (snail) mail from my Mom in Toronto containing a small booklet, a letter, and copies of two of the articles I wrote more than two years ago. She said she was sorting out old files and came across some of my “Dear Reader” articles and found some of the pages were boldly speaking to her. So she sends back to me a copy so I could hear what it is saying to her loudly.

Upon reading the two articles I wrote, it felt like I was struck by lightning twice. Sometimes, we give advises or encouragements and yet, here we are not taking our own. I felt that I have been much occupied that I have set aside one of the most important tasks I have been practicing for a long time. It’s her way of reminding me something I have been neglecting.

What she does really is encourage others in many ways and sending out my articles to someone in need is one of them. Now it's time I receive my own dose of encouragement. This is something I really admired about my mother, aside from her being most understanding. She keeps us in her thoughts most of the time. She knows if there is something bothering us even if we do not give her a single hint at all. She can read our movements, responses, and probably even our minds! She even used to tell us she’s got sixth sense - yeah, right Mom! But that’s what makes her a super Mom! So there goes the truth in the saying, "Mothers know best!" I know not all moms are like her and each moms are gifted in many different ways. I am really blessed to have her.

My mother was never wrong and this message does speak to me loudly. Here is the first article I wrote in May 2005:

A time came when I was assigned to visit a factory in China with my colleague to see how they can set up our new product development for the coming Back-to-School season. Since it was my first visit to that factory, I was given the privilege to tour its large premises, along with my colleague.

We were shown the various departments and sections of the factory where large machines were making a great deal of noise. These machines feeds and cuts assorted sizes of polypropylene sheets where workers collect them to bring to the next stage of development. Other parts of the tour include the sample room, the dyeing section-where raw materials are mixed with dye stuffs; the die area, embossing, printing, lamination, trimming, folding, packing and the workers’ quarters.

After crossing 3 blocks of the compound, we were led to the back lot area housing nothing but huge generators and control panels. My colleague said, “Hmmm, there is nothing interesting here, nothing much happening. This place is not so important.” Then the guide smiled, “Yes, it seem nothing much happening here and nothing interesting to see. But this is the most important place of all. This is where the power is distributed to the entire factory. And when there is a power failure, the generator here runs and provides power supply to the entire factory.”

Now here is a lesson for all of us to that comment: In our Christian life, the place where we pray is our ‘power house’, a quiet place where we can be alone with God. There we do our quiet time where we can speak to God and reverently allow Him to speak to us as we meditate on His Word, the Bible.

Like the many areas of the factory, our lives also have sections that do various tasks. But all areas of our lives should begin from the ‘power house’. When we rise up in the morning, we switch on our ‘power’ through prayer. It is like a key that unlocks your day. At the end of the day before we retire, we do our quiet time and meditate on God’s Word, works like a lock before retiring at night. What if we fail? When we fail to pray and suddenly experience a storm in our life, we panic when our generator does not provide us power during blackouts. It is only then that we remember to say our prayers.

Remember this: If you want to know how to pray in the bad times, learn to pray in the good times!

In Matthew 6:6, Jesus taught the value of intimate fellowship with heaven, which can be attained only in the sacred solitude of our prayer closet. “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” So why pray in secret? Praying alone in secret allows us to pour ourselves to God. We become intimate with Him. We have our personal encounter with Him. It is our quality time with Him. All these because we have a ‘Father and son’ relationship with God since we are His children. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:14-16. Jesus did not discouraged public prayer, but He did warn us against the evil of seeking attention by parading our piety before others. When we pray, it seems nothing much is happening. It seems unimportant that we pray without ceasing. But prayer does move mountains to those who have faith! It is one of the most important tasks a Christian must do. This is our communication with the heavenly Father.

When was the last time you shut the door on the distractions of life and poured out your heart before the heavenly Father?

Bible passage to read: Psalm 5:1-8

“KNEELING KEEPS YOU IN GOOD STANDING WITH GOD”