Amazing Spiderman 2: NEED / HOPE?

I love movies that I can relate to. Remembering Amazing Spiderman 2 – the main themes that are depicted so perfectly in the movie, which are NEED and HOPE. Peter Parker is NEEDed by the New Yorkers to feel safe in their community and fighting against bad people. He HOPE to be giver of HOPE to his society. Peter NEED to know the truth of what had happened to his parents and drawing the links of different events. He HOPE the truth is that his parents did not abandoned him and discovering the truth of all the links. Gwen Stacey NEED Peter to fight for her and not him just letting her go because her father made him promise to stay away from her. She HOPE that Peter is willing to risk life with her. MAX, the nerd who wants to feel to be NEEDed in his own community of coworkers and people around him. One statement of, “I NEED YOU” had given a glimpse of HOPE to Max. Because of his great desire of wanting to feel needed, in the scene of the city with flowing electricity and lights, when Spiderman took away his ‘fame’ when people had noticed him, he was furious. Instead of being partners with Spidey, he decided he is going to make people need him like how they need Spidey. He HOPE to be seen by the world and people counting on him. Harry, a rich man’s son NEEDs help with his genetic disease. With only a short time he had and his father’s accomplice that wanted to take over the company, he was pushed to the point of no return. Because of another man’s greed, he suffered the consequences of being in NEED. He NEED his NEED to be fulfilled. He HOPE to be heal and not die a horrible death. At the end, Spiderman lost hope because Gwen had died snapping from his web. It is in Gwen’s speech, that Spiderman begins to see the light of HOPE to fulfill a need.

NEED brings about positive or negative responses. There are many needs in our world today that craves for our attentions. The need to care and to be cared for. The need to give and be given. The need to listen and be listen to. The need to speak up and shut up. The need to take a stand. The need to pray. And the list goes on. I asked, what is then a NEED that I can fulfill in my lifetime? Where then should I focus my attention to? What are the drivers that drive me to the needs I see? With these questions, HOPE comes to mind. HOPE gives life. Hope brings change. Hope gives a positive kind of future.

In our world, everyone wants to feel needed and wants their need to be fulfilled or answered. There’s a saying that goes, ‘No man is an island’. This is because at the end of day, we are in these positions of being needed and fulfilling our needs. However, our former needs should not make us feel indispensable, where as our latter needs should not be the key to how we relate to people (to just take what we want from people to ‘fulfill’ our needs). Also, we want to be HOPEFUL too. We want to be the ones that gives people HOPE to live. However, we cannot sustain by giving people HOPE if our source of hope comes entirely from ourselves. We will eventually come to a point of drying out and needing to find the meaning of HOPE again for ourselves.

In a Christian worldview, Jesus is our source of HOPE which is the giver of life to our being. Tentatively, Jesus will be our ultimate NEED in life. He should be ultimately the one thing that our hearts desire most compared to many things that is in our life. Just like how the song, ‘Jesus be the center of it all’ puts it; he ought to be in the center of everything we do and everything we revolve ourselves by. From our perspectives, to journey on this race of life, we NEED God in anything and everything we do. We can rely on our own strength to run this race. It’s impossible. It’s impossible to say, ‘God, I got this life thing all figured out. I even GOT us figured out! I know I am strong in You no matter what happened…….’ But, the fact is we can never figure who God is ultimately. We only catch a GLIMPSE of who He is. We can never say for sure how strong we will REMAIN in Him. This is because we are human. Our eyes and perspectives will be clouded with disillusionment when we began to rely on our own strength to carry on this faith. We NEED God to grow even more hungry for His WORD. We NEED God to grow our faith in Him. We NEED God to overcome every single temptations that comes our way. We NEED God to help us see His fingerprints in our journey of life. We NEED God to teach us to be patience, to wait, to learn, to unlearn, to relearn, to forgive, to give, to praise, and more…in every aspects of our life, WE NEED HIM! Why? Because He gave us HOPE to venture on this life even how difficult it may seems to travel on. How then do I remained in this HOPE of God? By discovering Him through His Word and experiencing living in Spirit with Him.

That brings me back to the few questions I had asked earlier, “What is then a NEED that I can fulfill in my lifetime? Where then should I focus my attention to? What are the drivers that drive me to the needs I see?” The needs I see to be fulfilled in other people’s life is driven by the compelling HOPE I found in my Saviour. Even in my focus of my attention to it. I yearn to do a lot of things, however to do a lot of things is to go on a road that will not divide my attention to it which do not allowed me to give my best in it. So, I’ll continue to fix my eyes on Jesus Christ no matter what happens and be faithful in the small things He had given in my life.

Where is your HOPE?

What drives your NEED?

Small yet a Ripple Of Change in many lives

On a cold freezing winter evening, someone left an eight-week old male kitten in the outside book drop at the Spencer Public Library. The poor little kitten was being shoved inside the box on the wall with all the other books. The staff found the badly frostbitten and filthy kitten and they thought he was grey. But, after a good wash under the filth, he was a beautiful orange kitten. The library director Vicki Myron decided to take care of this kitten who was then eight week old. The story of Dewey Readmore Books was birthed on November 18, 1987. 

The act of Vicki Myron who took care of the Dewey for a good 18 years is something to be applauded. It begins with a birthed of desire to take care of this kitten. Little Dewey grew as a cat and a public affection to people in Spencer and Iowa and Beyond. His story of being shoved in a the book drop box and how he was determined to live on after that. Vicki Myron had fought for this little kitty to live in the public library. He became the permanent resident of the Spencer Public Library. 

Dewey: The Small-Town Library
Cat Who Touched the World

The title of the book tells it all. How did it happen? He began by winning hearts of the people in Spencer. He began SMALL. 

After reading his story written by Vicki Myron, this is my thoughts.
(if can, you should read the story for yourself)

Dewey in comparable to a human being is small and may not have been able to accomplish "success" in the measure of human beings. In our measurement, he is just like any cat that laze around and demands our attention. Dewey is a different cat, although by just reading from a third party point of view. His story gives light on what matters most is the LOVE FOR OTHERS. Both Vicki and Dewey shared the most intimate relationship of loving one another. Through the toughest time in life for both, they stood by one another. They have shown a LOVE that is not self seeking or self serving. Through the lens of a cat who do have the intellect of a human can love humans to its best. Through the lens of Vicki, she sacrificially give and shared life with Dewey. That MINUTE ACT of LOVE stands out strong which made Dewey endearing to many who have met him or have not met him.

This cat changed the town Spencer in Iowa. Its story reached across the globe: all the way to Japan. What did it do? Love others and living to its purpose by being a cat. That is an inspiration. A small cat who can be lost in the sight of many made a change. 

Bringing it back to our human senses. What then does this all mean? Sometimes, being human, we feel that way, which is being engulfed in the sight of many and feeling small. We feel like nothing in the things we do. It is YOU and I can make a DIFFERENCE by being faithful in the little things. The little things are to love others and living out our purpose.

It may be small and unnoticed but believe me, like Dewey it creates a ripple of change in many lives. Friends, begin small today by loving others and dream big in our PURPOSE in life. 

Narrow door

As I read Luke 13:22-30. A question that is always on in my mind, “Will everyone be saved?” “Will everyone come to know the Lord?” It amazed me that this is something that was even asked during the times of Jesus, when He was living on Earth. How similar we all are, in olden times, or in modern times.

Jesus gave the explanation based on the narrow door. He made it so clear. MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR, because many WILL TRY to enter and WILL NOT be able to. He said MAKE EVERY EFFORT. Meaning the narrow door is really small. Visualization came to my mind, a man who is large and obese tries to enter a small door. He tried to squeeze, but he could not get through. What he needs to do, is to work out and loose the EXTRA weight to get through. That is EFFORT on his part, not just squeezing thru. How then does this apply to me personally? It is then about working out my faith: discovering for self what does my faith means and building a genuine intimate relationship with God (these take TIME and PERSEVERANCE). Look at the visual, a wide door can be enter easily.

There is a time frame for this, as it is said in the passage. The owner will come and CLOSE the door. Once the door is closed, no matter how much effort you put in by calling, knocking, wailing and kicking, it will not be open, because the owner of the house (who is Jesus Christ) will not recognize you at all. Then, it dawned on me, the crucial of living out and working out my faith.my faith. This whole passage refers back to the question post by the person that had asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”

This post as a reminder to me, that if I confess I am a believer today, I cannot just SIT BACK and RELAX. I need to go on a quest to discover God. In this limited time, let's take heart making our days count as we strive to enter the narrow door opened by Jesus Christ  In this limited time, let's take heart making our days count as we strive to enter the narrow door opened by Jesus Christ!

a BETTER of anything.

Often times, when it is the new year, someone's birthday, a person who had just changed job, when you are in a mess, there is one thing we always hope for.

A BETTER __________________________________. 

We desired for a better life, better nation, better working environment, sometimes better friends, better family, better boyfriend/girlfriend, or dare I even say it? A better spouse.

'Better' here is described as a verb. To improve - amend - mend - reform.

To be a better, there's a price to pay. It's not merely just uttering it out with words. The words need to be put into actions. To be a better athlete, there's a need to train. To be a person who watches the language, there's a need to be conscious and to train to hold your tongue when you are about to curse. To be a better boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse, there's a need to learn to be sensitive to the feelings of your closed ones. There's a need to learn to be sensible.

When I was in my University years, I wanted to be a person who have a stronger stamina - a better person at playing sports. I first realized I have a need to do so, when I was playing futsal with my churchmates, only to realize I couldn't keep up with the other players. So, I trained. I woke up earlier, before class, to run few rounds in the court. After class, I ran again in the stadium. Honestly, the first few attempts, I just want to give up and move on with life that I am no good at sports anymore. But, that desire to be better, pushed me to continue my routine. After few weeks, it was not so hard anymore. After a couple of weeks more, I eventually could keep up with the other players when we played futsal. It was a great achievement.

Let's switch our mind to our nation now. We want a BETTER nation. A BETTER MALAYSIA, where peace and harmony roams. But, most of us are being bench warmers. We wait to see a BETTER nation. Friends  it doesn't work that way. If it does, our nation should have already be BETTER. It takes courageous men and women, who would stand and speak for the voiceless. It takes men and women, who are willing to lay aside their pride, ego and self goals. It takes you and me, who are willing to step up and say this is our nation, we are placed here for such a time like this. Wake up, Malaysia need you! (although how cliché it may seems).

My friends stood up for a young girl who were tormented by a group of teenage boys. They were surrounding the poor girl. My friends were in the car, and it was difficult to go down to stop the boys, as there was 15 of them. So, they start making a commotion by pressing the horn of the car. Eventually, the teenage boys left. They walked away laughing and feeling proud (their actions speaks). But, that day, my friends stood up for the girl, though they were strangers. That day, my friends chose to be the helping hand towards a stranger.

If you called yourself a Malaysian, better wake up and live like a malaysian. A true Malaysian is one that do not see colors, hospitable heart and willing to lend a helping hand anywhere. That's a Malaysian. 

Every blocks represents you and I.
Though we are diverse in cultures and languages, we must embrace the diversity to find unity among ourselves.
You and I are different.
It's in this diversity, we find unity!

The Word become FLESH

The starting of the book of John, he entitled his paragraph with that specific title. I never quite understand it entirely, when I was younger.

John 1:14 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 

The incarnation of the Word becoming flesh always is directed back to Jesus Christ. Which this is true. This is another perspective I have come across lately.

How then this applies to my life?

Words are powerful. Words can be used to encourage another or even pull the other person self-esteem. Throughout ages, people had been using words to express their feelings and philosophical ideas. Till today, some of the written ideas are still being read by many. Today, people still used words to communicate their thoughts in many different forms; digital, paper, electronic. It is so important that we are sent to school to learn how to familiarize ourselves to letters ABC. :)

We don't remain at baby stage just learning ABC. We grow to understand what lies behind the words. We take in words that formed sentences that brings truth in it. What does this truth means to us? 

Being raised in a Christian family, my parents taught me the importance of reading the Word (But, I never learned to see the importance till now) The Word you and I read hear from the Bible, is words that is beyond than head knowledge. The Word of God is filled with wonders of truths. This truth given to us first be translated to head knowledge. It has to transformed you from within as well. The Word we read need be to meditate upon and to allow it to transformed into flesh as our being. The Word then it's translated to our Christian faith. 

Let's look at a different example: Cooking from a recipe book. All that is written down as recipe will only remain as words, if we are not daring enough to put our hands in it to try it out. Although how awesome can a dish look on a  picture, we will never be able to taste it because it's just a captured shot of how another person had cooked it. Elisabeth Elliot wrote also in a different perspective, in perspective of relationship as a couple: We are human beings, made of flesh and blood as well as of brains and emotions. The Word had to be made flesh before we could truly understand what God was like. A man prefaces his proposal of marriage with a declaration of love - "In the beginning was the Word." Same goes to knowing and accepting the Word of God. 

If one call itself a Christian, then the Word of God is the truth in their life, translated in action in living the faith. If the truth is not lived out in life, then it is merely just head knowledge. The Word has not been made flesh in our life. Then, my question is how then you call yourself a Christian? 

Notes:

Elisabeth Elliot, Let Me Be A Woman. 1976.

LOOKing BACK, MOVING FORWARD

It's the END already???!!!!!!!! You must be kidding me! The year end so fast! 
My months passed so fast. MY DAYS have gone and passed!

In the midst of our busyness, often time we forget to pause and think what had we done for the year. We are just living in the motion. My friends, before we run ahead of ourselves heading for a new year, hoping for things to be better than this year, let's take a step back to look at this year.

In the year 2012

What had been the most life-giving to you?

What had been the most not life-giving to you?

What is the name you would like to give?

Maybe the year had been a good year for some, while some had gone through difficult times. Despite the ups and downs, the lessons behind it all are far most important.

My year had been a year of learning and reshaping of my mindset. It has stretched me to the extent I never thought I can. That had been the most life-giving to me. While, I do have my moments that I caught myself being too tired leading to being short-tempered and wanted to do so much but only getting little done. It's not life-giving to me or to people around me. The name for 2012 is STRETCHING by my PATIENT FATHER.

Look back, my friends and close this year, for yourself. 

I loved playing visual games (though I may not be good at it, but I enjoyed it). When I was playing Angry Bird Star Wars, the birds moves forward to launch with a mission to kill the piggies in white. Jaws Revenge, moves forward to chomp what's in front. Subway Surfer, to just run forward getting away from the inspector with a goal to collect as many gold coins as possible. All the games played have the same motif:

Moving FORWARD

We all move forward. The days that had come and gone will never ever be lived the SAME. The experience gained were all left as memories and lessons of life. Moving forward brings hope and looking forward on what is in store for us. It is said in Proverbs 6:2, men without vision will perish. 

Making new resolutions for the coming year is important. It sets you to go out to do what you have put as goals. So, as you end your year by looking back, spent some time to also make resolutions for yourself. It may be just being healthy, or sleep early, or even giving your full attention to another person for as long as 3 mins? :) It's the simple things that matters.

Making resolutions are important as keeping to it!

(that's a whole new chapter to it)

Look back and learn

Be simple and moving forward

31st December

The year comes to an END on the 31st Dec, when the clock struck 12. By one minute passing after that, it's the entry of another year. Before I step into the new year, I want to close this year for myself. I asked myself this,

How would I want to end my year, with God or with my friends? Why?

Typical answer of a Christian would be, definitely with God. I could celebrate the new year later with my friends. Having been brought up in a Christian home, going to church on the new year eve is a norm. We have been practicing this every year, why stop now? Have we lost the sense of closing the year and starting the year with God? Just because it's a normal thing for a Christian to do, every Christian should do it. Have we forgotten the reason behind it all? 

I pondered upon the question. I questioned God. Then, I asked few of my friends the same question. One thing that stood out of their answer is 'What is NECESSARY for you?'

God is not a DICTATOR. He doesn't FORCE you to do something. For example, He had not written in His Word that every believer should go to church on new year eve. He didn't write, You, my child, MUST start the year with Me. Rather, He had given us a choice. A choice to do what we think is necessary for us. He would love it, if we would choose to be with Him on new year eve. He would love it, if you have spent the day with your loved ones. 

I remembered my last new year eve. I went to church, with a heart to end and begin my year with God. I remembered a conversation I had. This person asked, 'Eh, why are you not out celebrating the NEW YEAR with your friends?' (It sounded as if like I don't have a life and Church was my last option to go to countdown.) I smiled and said I wanted to end and begin my year with God. 

This year, again my mind was puzzled again. My options are going out with friends and going to church. I realized it was necessary for me to spent time with my friends and also to go to a service in church. Why is this necessary for me? One, I want to really spent quality time with my friends. Second, I want to end and start my year with a community of believers and my LORD. 

It's VITAL to learn the meaning of our actions. The meaning of it all gives us hope.

Now, my question to you: 

How would you WANT to spent your 31st Dec: the end and beginning?

The greatest Gift

Christmas is a time where giving and receiving wholeheartedly. Every corner I looked, I see another person who is more willing to show love in actions. In other words, many are more willing to Love Out Loud (LOL). Yes, we who are called as followers of Christ ought to show love and good will year round. Yet, the greatest gift for Christmas is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is not born on the 25^th Dec, historically. Even in the Bible, it is not written the specific date. However, the important message is that Jesus Christ was born to Earth.

It all began with God.

It is because of Him, we have the festivity called Christmas. It is because of His love, He chose it to do it this, so that we are redeem to have a relationship with Him.

Gifts are really a special thing. I give because I love, not because I’m obliged to. Being brought up in a Christian home, I was taught that every Christmas I would need to prepare gifts for my loved ones. Never wondering or thinking the reason behind it. As the years went by, I learned that gifts are really a special thing. I was taught to express my love through giving reciprocating my Father’s love for us. Addition to that, I celebrate Christmas in remembrance of my Abba Father who chose to draw me near to Him this way, also reminded He is indeed with me!

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

This is the glory of God. He is all powerful and mighty to create this world. It is through him, ALL THINGS were created.

John 1:10-13

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to be children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

But, He chose to take the first step.  He came to the world He had created every bits of it. He was with his own people, yet they did not recognize him. He continues his journey looking out for the ones who had received him and believed him, giving them the right to be children of God.

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us: God is with us.

Because of God, I am able to be call a Child of God.

Because of God, I am able to call him Abba Father.

Because of God, I can have an intimate relationship with Him.

Because of God, I know He is with me.

This Christmas, I wish you Immanuel

Must customers always be right?

CUSTOMERS ARE ALWAYS RIGHT

Have you heard of this saying before? I couldn’t come to term with this saying.

Why? Because in my perspectives, customers are also humans, the seller is also human. Human are not perfect. Human cannot be RIGHT all the time.

I found out:

Meaning

The trading policy that states a company's keenness to be seen to put the customer first.

The Origin

Several retail concern used this as a slogan from the early 20th century onward. In the USA it is particularly associated with Marshall Field's department store, Chicago (established in the late 19th century). The store is an icon of the city, although it is set to lose its name in 2006 when, following a takeover, it becomes renamed as Macy's. In the UK, Harry Gordon Selfridge (1857-1947) the founder of London's Selfridges store (opened in 1909), is credited with championing its use. The Wisconsin born Selfridge worked for Field from 1879 to 1901. Both men were dynamic and creative businessmen and it's highly likely that one of them coined the phrase, although we don't know which.

Of course, these entrepreneurs didn't intend to be taken literally. What they were attempting to do was to make the customer feel special by inculcating into their staff the disposition to behave as if the customer was right, even when they weren't.

[Taken from http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/106700.html.]

Working in my parents’ shop gave me first hand experiences. Of course, not all customers act this way. However, few customers do or think so. They are the ones who get on my nerve. They need not say ‘customer is always right’ policy but rather the way they talk or treat another. Sometimes they are rude and selfish. They used the power of money to belittle another. The vibe of arrogance and cockiness comes from their actions of treating another.  

I think these people had not truly grasped the meaning of the phrase and they had misused the phrase. This is how I look at the phrase 'Customers are always right' – we put customers first. We are service provider who goes out to look at the interest of the customer. We serve the customer at our best, but that doesn’t mean we give you the leeway to treat badly or belittle us. Through observation, I sometimes wondered what complexity this person has to be acting as such? A person who can’t accept to be wrong at times? I don’t know the person as a whole. But, I could sense the insecurity of the person even in a short encounter. 

Especially in the age of IT now, many thinks that the information found in IT is DEFINITELY RIGHT. Some of them come to the shop as a Mr/Ms Know-It-All. What is more valuable? Life experience of another person or the information you get from the internet? Which is tested? My family learned to let the person learnt from his/her mistakes. There’s no point to argue it out because the person is not even willing to listen and learn. We said what we need to say, then we leave it for the person to decide which information he/she deems right. 

Well, it’s not easy to work in the line where we provide service to people, because we meet all SORTS of people from different generations. Many may had lost the understanding what it really means by the phrase. They had taken to the extreme that they are RIGHT all the time and not willing to learn anymore.

When a person reaches that stage, the person is STUCK! Ears, heart and mind are totally closed to incoming information. A stuck person will not grow and learn. 

I am also not saying that we as the seller are ALWAYS RIGHT. We are all humans. We do make rights and wrongs. If we all decide to give each other the space to be right or wrong, then that already make a different. 

This applies to life as well. You and I can’t be RIGHT all the time! We are beings who learn throughout life. Mistakes. Wrong choices. When we made mistakes, we learned from it. We also need to have a listening heart and ears and minds that is open for criticism. The people who are around us see things at a different perspectives that we maybe can’t see. So, why not listen from their perspectives, understand it and learn from it? It’s perfectly fine if you still want to maintain your way. But, at least you made a different. You listen.

If one is right all the time, then there leaves no room for growth.

The climax story of the STRONG MAN

Samson was king over Israel after his victory over the Philistines (http://carolleeweijun.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-arrogance-of-strong-man_10.html )

Won't you want to know more about his life?

His most well-known part of his life: Samson and Delilah

This is taken from the imprints of Judges 16:1 - 16:31.

At the start of the chapter, Samson again did wrong in the eyes of God. He went to Gaza ( Philistine town), and saw a prostitute and spend a night with her. The Philistines wanted to kill him at dawn but remember Samson was a strong man. I think the men would have been terrified when Samson had carried the city gate of Gaza to the top of the hill facing Hebron. (Could you imagine seeing a man carrying the city gates together with the two posts? The city gate is not a small gate. I am sure if I were one of the Philistine I would have run  for my life) 

He fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek named Delilah. When the rulers of Philistine heard this, they went to her and asked her to find the secrets of his strength. In return, she'll be rewarded with eleven hundred shekels of silver from each ruler. At that time, Philistine was ruled by five rulers. Each ruler ruled from a different city - Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, Gath and Gaza. From five rulers, that would be 550 shekels of silvers - now that's a lot of money.

   

Because of greed, Delilah was driven to discover the strength of Samson.

Attempts to make Samson weak as any other men:

- tying him with seven fresh thongs that have not been dried

- tying him securely with new ropes that have never been used

- weaving his seven braids of his head into fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin

Everytime when Delilah had done the one of the above accordingly, she'll shout "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" Samson will break free easily! The Philistines were hiding in the room. 

Samson eyes were disillussioned. He loves her till he could not see the true colours of Delilah. We might be thinking why could he not see that the woman's true colours? Because he is really blinded by LOVE. He chose not to see that side of her and he chose to believe in her lies. 

Delilah was a deceitful woman with honey on her lips and poison in her heart. She toyed with Samson, pretending to love him while looking at personal gain. 

Delilah then was very upset because her 'lover' lied to her. She nagged him day and night. It is imprinted 'he was tired to DEATH' - Could you imagine how persistent she was. 

This was eventually the SECOND time Samson allowed himself to be worn down by persistent nagging. The first time happened between him and his wife. Remember things didn't turn out as well as it should.

Same here! Samson told her everything. Look at verse 17 - he told her everything. "No razor has ever been used on my head,"because I have been Nazirite set apart to God since birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become weak as any other man. 

Delilah did as she was told. She called the Philistine to shave off his hair! The strength left him! The LORD had left him!

Samson was then captured and the Philistine revenged and gouged his eyes out! The Philistine then set him to grinding in the prison in Gaza (ironically, this was the place where Samson had uprooted the city gates). Samson was a weak man.

The rulers of Philistines celebrated on the victory of capturing Samson. They offered sacrifices to their god, Dagon. They praised their god. Dagon was the cheif god of the Philistines, the god of grains and harvest. Also, in the temple, there was the place where they torture and humiliate their prisoners.

Samson was brought out of prison to entertain the people.

Here comes the CLIMAX! Let's read the IMPRINTs of Judges! :D

25 While they were in high spirits, they shouted, "Bring out Samson to entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them.When they stood him among the pillars,26 Samson said to the servant who held his hand, "Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them."27 Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform.28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, "Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes."29 Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other,30 Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. 

Samson prayed. Samson knew he had done wrongs in the eyes of the Lord. In spite of his past, his failures, his disobedience, God still LOVED him. God was willing to hear the prayer of Samson of confession and repentance and use him for the FINAL time.

Samson life could seem like a MESSED UP from the beginning of his 'independance' (when he could make his own decision). He disobeyed God and do things that he desired without considering the consequences. If I may say this, no one wants to BE LIKE HIM! I, myself would not want to be like Samson.

Looking back, I was once like Samson. I lived my life to how I see fit. At that point of time, I was MESSED UP yet I still have not idea. I shut my ears away and did not want to hear. Just like Samson, God had to allow things to happen in my life. I reached my DEAD END, and the only way out is the way UP. Honestly, the guilt feelings was there. Guilt had stopped me to pray! It kept me away from Him. But, the only way out for me was UP! So, I prayed. Lo and behold, He guided me out of my dead end and gave me new beginnings. 

One of the effect of SIN in our lives is to keep us from praying. Perfect moral behavior is NOT a condition to pray. Don't allow your guilt feelings keep you away from your only way of restoration. 

No matter how long you have been away from God, he is ready to HEAR from you and RESTORE you to a right relationship. 

Every situation can be salvaged if you are willing to turn again to Him.  If God could still work in Samson's situation, he can certainly make something worthwhile out of yours. 

(NIV Life Application Study Bible)

Would you have the courage to go on your knees and confess to Him today?

The arrogance of the strong man

This part of the story is found in Judges 14:1 - 15:20. 

He was dedicated to God to be a Nazirite - a person who is set apart for God's service. Samson's parents took a LIFETIME vow for him. As a Nazirite, Samson could not cut his hair, touch a dead body or drink anything containing alcohol.

The story began with Samson who had gone to a city called Timnah. There, his eyes had caught sight of a beautiful young PHILISTINE lady. He was demanding! He went home and told his parents he wanted to marry the young lady. 

Notice what he said to his parents, "I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife." 

In their culture, when the man wants to marry the woman, then the parents have to go in persons and ask from the woman’s parents for their daughter’s hand in marriage. On different note, in our Asian culture, we are taught that if we were to talk to our parents in harsh manner, we are being disrespectful to our parents. 

Samson was stubborn and demanded his father to get her for him as he feels she was the right one for him. Reason the parents objected because it’s against God’s law and the Philistine were the Israelites greatest enemies - it would be like a disgrace to the family name.

His parents were patient. They even asked him to find an acceptable woman in their own Israelites community.

However, everything happens for a reason.

Even the event of the young Philistine lady that caught the attention of Samson and his heart yearns to marry her.

In the imprints of the Bible, it is written that this occasion was from the LORD. He was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines, because they were ruling over the Israelites.

So, they went down to Timnah.

During the journey down to Timnah, a young lion came roaring at Samson. The Spirit of the LORD came upon Samson in power, and then he tore the lion apart with his bare hands, just like how will he tear a young goat. But, he was silence about this. He continued on his journey and went down to talk to the woman. He liked her.

After some time, Samson went back to marry the woman. The lion carcass was there! In it was a swarm of bees and some honey. He scooped and ate. He even gave some to his parents. Remember, he was a Nazirite. He was not supposed to touch a dead body.

He held a feast there. He gave a riddle to the Philistines to show off his strength and wits.

“ Out of the eater, something to eat;

out of the strong, something sweet.”

He knew the people would not be able to answer it. So, he placed a bet where he knew he would win. The Philistines had no idea what would the answer be. So, they resorted in threatening the life of his wife and his wife’s father. So, she was afraid and asked Samson. Samson didn’t tell her the first time she pressured him. He even added ‘I didn’t even tell my parents the answer’ (indicating that he didn’t even tell two persons who was closest to him). After several times that she pressured and cried, Samson gave up before the hour on the seventh day. He told her the ANSWER!

Remember what the Philistines had threatened the wife – so, once the wife knew the answer, she hurried to tell the Philistines.

Before sunset on the seventh day, the Philistines men came and solved the riddle. Samson with his pride didn’t want to be defeated answered that if it wasn’t because of his wife, you (Philistines) will never know.

The story went on that he went down to a city called Ashkelon, struck down 30 men, stripped them of their belongings and gave up their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Samson impulsively used the special gift God gave him for selfish purposes. He was angry then he went to his father’s house.

His wife was given to a friend who had attended his wedding. He only knew during the time of wheat harvest and when he intended to visit the wife. It goes to showed that he was away for a period of time. The woman’s father didn’t allowed Samson to go into his wife’s room. The woman’s father justified his actions by saying that Samson hated her and that’s the reason he gave her to Samson’s friend. Not only that, he even suggested to Samson to take the sister instead because she is more attractive.

Samson was angry. Because of this, he concluded that he wants to get even with the Philistine. Thus, he burnt their standing grain, vineyards and olive groves. The Philistines was angry – their crops were all burnt. They in return burned both the woman and her father to death.

Samson became even angrier – because his first love was burnt to death. Samson attacked them viciously and slaughtered many of them. He was taking his own REVENGE in his own hands. Samson had went to stay in a cave in the rock of Etam (maybe to mourn of the wife and father-in-law death)

Because of what had happened, the Philistines went up and camp in Judah. They had went there because they want to capture Samson as prisoner and do unto him how he had done to the Philistines.

Three thousands men of Judah went to the cave and captured Samson (they probably had heard the strength of Samson and the news of Philistines killed in his hands). They questioned him the reason that he had killed the Philistines. Samson answered that he is only doing what they had done unto him. Samson allowed them to capture him on the condition that the Judah will not kill him. He was tied up with two new ropes and led him from the rock.

As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came towards him shouting (They were angry). Samson’s tied ropes became like charred flax and the bindings dropped from his hands.

On that day, Samson strucked down 1000 men with a fresh donkey’s jawbone.

He said,

“ With a donkey’s jawbone,

I have made donkeys of them.

With a donkey’s jawbone

I have killed a thousand men.”

Notice the PRIDE and claiming the victory for himself.

Let’s continue looking at v18, he was THIRSTY. Samson was exhausted physically and emotionally.

You have given you servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?----> a self pity! God opened a hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. Samson gained back strength after drinking the water.

Emotionally, we are most vulnerable after a great effort or when faced with real physical needs. Severe depression often follows great achievements, so don’t be surprised if you feel drained after a personal victory. During these times of vulnerability, avoid the temptation to think that God owes YOU for YOUR efforts. It was HIS strength that gave us VICTORY.

I would like to draw your attention to the ATTITUDE of Samson. He was a great man with a great purpose. But, he used his gifts for his SELFISH PURPOSE and broke the promise made with God – a Nazirite promise.

We may be where Samson was. Instead of feeling pity for ourselves, there’s still time to U-TURN.

Are you COURAGEOUS to U-TURN your life for HIM?

Let’s concentrate on keeping our attitudes, actions and words 

focused on God instead of ourselves!

the beginning of SAMSON the strong man

This part of the story is imprinted in Judges 13:1 - 13:25. Let's take a walk down memory lane about the beginnings of Samson.

The story started with a couple who stayed under the ruling of the Philistines. At this moment of time, it had already been 40 years under the Philistines ruling. The people then must have already come to the state of mind that Philistine is stronger than them and they may have never thought of over-riding the Philistine. The wife is a sterile woman who could not bear a child. It must have been devastating for her. The angel of the LORD appeared to her and told her she will give birth to a son who will deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines. Because she WILL give birth to the child, she must follow the conditions given by the angel. The woman must be  shocked and surprised - all these years, I can't even have a child and now I WILL have a child.

The woman was overjoyed! She quickly ran to tell her husband what had happened. She also told the husband (Manoah) that she WILL conceive and give birth to a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from birth until the day of his death.

Guess what Manoah did? He prayed and asked God to allow the man of God He sent to come again to teach how to bring up the boy who is to be born. It seems to me Manoah couldn't believe his ears of what the wife had told him. Amazingly, God replied him. God again sent the angel as he requested. So, when the wife was at the field, the man of God reveal himself to her. Then, she quickly rushed to tell her husband. Her husband went out with the wife to meet the 'man'. When he met the 'man', he questioned him.

First question: Are you the one who talked to my wife?
(I felt he was being protective over the wife)

Second question: When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule for the boy's life and work?
(The answer given was exactly what the wife had told him.)

Third request from the man: We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.
The reply was even though you detain me, I'll not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD. As recorded, Manoah still don't have the slightest clue that it was the angel of the LORD he was talking to.

Funny thing, the first encounter the wife knew and addressed the man as the man of God and even said he looked like the angel of God. But, Manoah having a conversation with him don't even have the slightest clue.

Fourth question: What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word come true?
Why asked the name? During their time, it is believed that if you know a person's name, you'll know the person's character and how to control the person.

He replied by saying that his name is beyond understanding.
The angel of the LORD did not give his name so that they will not be able to control him. His name was a mystery beyong understanding and too wonderful to imagine.

Manoah obeyed the angel. Burnt the offering. The LORD did an amazing thing: As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame (Judges 13:20 NIV)

Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell down with their faces to the ground. Then, when the angel of the LORD did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the LORD.

Manoah freaked out! WE ARE DOOMED TO DIE!!!!!! WE HAD SEEN GOD. But, Manoah's wife answered with a level head, "If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this," (Judges 13:23 NIV)

The chapter ended with the birth of the boy named Samson who is dedicated to the LORD as a Nazirite. Not much account of him growing up as a boy. Later on in the chapter, the LORD blessed him and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir in him.

This is just the first part of Samson's life.

Now, let's look at the wife. She is so gullible - my first thought. She believe RIGHT AWAY what the person had said. I can see why Manoah wanted to know for sure. Sometimes, we may also act the way Manoah's wife act - just swallowing what the other person had said. Another way of looking at this, she has a simple faith. When she brought the husband to see the man of God, she heard it the 2nd time - it's like confirmation again to what she heard the first time.

Look at Manoah, Samson's father. I would conclude that he didn't take his wife's words as it is. And he sought to find out whether what the wife had said is true. He prayed and God answered him. Manoah only came to believe that the man is the angel of the LORD when the angel didn't appeared to him after he ascended up in flame. Manoah was scared to death that he had seen the LORD.

Isn't it weird to see a man who went out with a sense of wanting to know then when he knew the truth, he was so so so TERRIFIED. He became irrational.

Many of us (myself included) also act the same way as Manoah. We want to know. We asked questions. Then, when we know the truth, we suddenly take a step back and say 'this can't be it! You must be kidding..'

We need to be like Manoah and also his wife - having the right attitude and response. We need to find out the truth for ourselves and have the courage to face it!

God is good. He knows us well enough. He knew Manoah.  He knew Manoah's wife as well. He placed them side-by-side to keep each other on course. Both of them have the right attitude that is to be truthful and honest to each other. I do act like Manoah sometimes and sometimes I'll act like his wife. Thankfully, God had placed different individuals in my life who is willing to journey with me and be honest with me completely. He was also willing to be patient with my hard-headedness.

So, for those of you reading this, you may think to yourself, I may act like Manoah sometimes,  I may be like the wife of Manoah who is gullible (or not at all as well),  whatever it is, we all need God and people to journey on together with.

It's okay that if there are times you and I be irrational or gullible.  

That's why we need God and people to journey

Di Ambang MERDEKA

What comes to mind when MERDEKA is around the corner? 

Another holiday? Another day to see the national parade? Another day where everywhere in KL would be jam-packed? People would be filling up the megamall to enjoy the not-so-cold-air-conditioned?

What more is this year, MERDEKA 31st Aug 2012 falls on a Friday! Which means a long weekend ahead!  Taking the opportunity to balik kampung/go on a vacation/etc? 

We are the second generation who had gained MERDEKA from our forefathers. I never knew how it felt before we gained INDEPENDENCE. I heard stories from my grandma during the WW2 - she had to hide for safety. Adding to that, she had asthma so she had to find Chinese tradition medicine. So, she swallowed pinky (small little baby mice) to keep her healthy. Her struggles during the days before we gained INDEPENDENCE.

But, have we lost the sense what MERDEKA is all about? 

Maybe MERDEKA brings a more important meaning to the ones that had been involved in it.

To tell you the truth, when I was younger, I hated HISTORY. I DISLIKED it. When I hear HISTORY, I closed my ears to it. 

This year, MERDEKA resonated something different in me. I have been pondering on the thought 'what is MERDEKA all about?'. I came to a point I want to re-look, re-read and re-discover for myself the HISTORY again. So, I googled MERDEKA. I read the words in this website. The names - Tok Janggut, Mat Kilau, Usman Awang (these were the only names I could remembered). Memories of names was all I had. 

Their oppositions first began in guerrilla warfare which were instigated by former members of the Malacca Sultanate (1511) and Johor Sultanate, Raja Haji (1782), Dol Said (1831), Datuk Maharaja Lela, Datuk Sagor (1875), Datuk Bahaman, Mat Kilau (1891), Tok Janggut (1914), Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong (1928), Datu Mat Salleh (1894), Sharif Mashahor (1860), Rentap (1853) and others.

Another form of resistance by the Malays in the pursuit of independence in the early 1900s were initiated by religious groups such as Syed Syeikh al-Hadi, Syeikh Tahir Jalaluddin, Hizbul Muslimin movement, Gunung Semanggol religious centre, followed by Syeikh Abdullah Fahim, a religious teacher in Kepala Batas in the 1930s as well as Malay teachers particularly from Sultan Idris Training College.

The struggle that follows took a new form through the pen and ink. Who comprises of Malay novelists, story writers, poets and reporters particularly from Utusan Melayu that gave much exposure regarding the fight for freedom from colonialists. Among its pioneers were Zainal Abidin Ahmad (Za’ba), A. Rahim Kajai, Ibrahim Yaakob, Ishak Haji Mohamad, Ahmad Boestamam, Usman Awang, Shahnon Ahmad and many more with some becoming fugitives from the British as well as thrown in jail. Indeed when we track over the roots of the fight for independence, it is apparent that it was path with sweat, blood and tears. (http://www.malaysiamerdeka.gov.my/v2/en/history)

I wondered what had happened to the soldiers who fought for the Independence - The tugu negara. Faceless armies and nameless heroes who had went forward to fight for this nation, I never get to hear their story how it was for them to be at the front line. But, they gave this nation a VICTORY! 

Do we cherished the VICTORY?

Today, the definition of being patriotic have taken another road. We no longer need to pick up heavy machinery and fight for this country. Now, we view patriotic as someone who will take a chance for this country and staying back rather than going abroad for better opportunities. Someone who have a vision that this country will change for the better, though there are still disappointments and heartaches. 

Reading Yee Bee Yin story really had stirred something in me. Click her for her story (http://www.yeobeeyin.com/2012/06/entering-into-politics-story-behind.html). She hopes for a better country. She hopes for a better education. She hopes to see a united nation. 

I have the same hope as her. I hope for a country that is filled with people who is willing to speak out and stand up for what is true. I hope to see a society who sees embraces different cultures and yet live together harmoniously not just physically but mentally. 

Without vision, men perish.

But, what can I do for my country Malaysia? I am not like Yee Bee Yin who had taken the role as a politician for this country. I know I can be an advocator to speak out for the voiceless, to pray for this nation, to be a friend to another Malaysian regardless of our colours, to stop making racist jokes and etc. 

Actions and words whether big or small still creates an impact. 

May God help Malaysia. May God bless Malaysia. 

I am only here for a little while. But, I know for sure that God had placed me in this country for a reason. I pray I'll be a patriotic person from the inside out, understanding for myself what it means to be a Malaysian. 

Will you join me in having a vision for this country and doing what counts for this country?

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia!