Passion

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Rev 2:4)

The word “passion” in scripture is inundated with negativity; all the verses paint passion in bleak. Only in the Song of Songs is passion hoisted in high acclaim. Yet passion is a necessary grace. We may frown on youthful passion, still it is required in youth, else there would be no affront to stoic conservatism. Passions do inflame but could one consider the loss of our first love to a dousing of the passion, when first we knew the Lord.

Consider all that we do in response to the LORD; how much of them are dominated by passion, and not by routine schedule or duty. Perhaps our efforts are featureless, mundane and stale; because we lack, in our passion. Criticism and failure have latched on, groused and cluttered our hearts. It should not surprise us; that those actively in His service do attract much comment, the snickers or sneering and cast stones. The observed onslaught does whittle away, for quite a few, the enthuse and quell the desire to serve. It is even more obtuse, to see within the populace of the redeemed , some behaving as malcontents or conversely as prima donnas, needing to be pleaded to and dragged into His service. Imagine; that all that we present to our Lord is predicated only by duty, worse yet by routine. Within the assembly, we have so embraced sobriety that our lives and worship is characterized by somber, pensive contemplations; we are wont, not to exhibit exuberance or joy or any emotion with unbridled passion. Even tears are frowned on, if too indulgent. Like Michal, we would despise the contemptible exuberance of David, when he would have danced till he had uncovered himself before the young maidens! How dearly we prefer decorum in the name of orderliness. Consider the words of the LORD spoken to Jeremiah; would we imagine the tone to be mild or severe? Is His language lacking in passion? Why does Jeremiah weep so much? Or would we tolerate the antics and theatrics of Ezekiel? Would we not, also dispatch these prophets as extremists upsetting our sense of decency and orderliness?

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deu 6:5)

Can love be, totally without passion? With passion as a thermometer; how dearly do we love our LORD? As an ingredient in His service, how much permeates? Is it possible for love to be cerebral only? Has our love for the Lord proven habitually emotive? Where has that passion gone?

God bless.



/ckh

Checkpoint

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Php 3:13-14)

It has hardly been a blink, and we are towards the end of January. For all the good intentions and ruminations of December, I am still merely standing at the stocks, not having started the run. Strange, it seems that humans can whistle away so many days without assent; the days just barrel on whilst we are engrossed in nothingness. Stagnation can so imperil and stump us.

The endgame is a life lived well for the LORD. We were made and saved, for and with purpose; our days, definitely numbered, are not to be squandered away. Reality will testify that they have simply seeped through our fingers. We are bogged down, assuaged and pasted by an array of cares and concerns; our fruitfulness is jeopardized by the choking of the weeds. It is a relief, to be jerked to our senses, to avoid repeating this insidious outrage. We are redeemed, not by gold and silver, but by the precious blood of the Lamb. Ought we to surrender our days pursuing the glimmering glitter? Are our days dedicated to the LORD and His purposes? Who really has scuttled our race? Will we offer, a sullied and decrepit account of our days, to the One who paid so high a price for us?

Thankfully we are not left to our own devices. We have His Counselor, His Church, and His word to constantly redirect our attentions, if we would listen. Mercifully, we would be graced to relent, our taut necks in obedience to the One who loved us and gave for us, His life in evidence.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (Psa 90:10-12)


Ready to start continuing the race?

God bless.

Roll Out!

Hey everyone! (yes you)

We've resumed YTM again formerly today. A brief introduction to our programs and activities this year. We're having only Bible Studies on sundays. Saturdays will be the day we plan to have all our meetings and activities. We'll start of with a session of ice-breakers first, followed by praise and worship then group sharing (of quiet time). After that, will be either sermons followed by games (telematch or captain ball) or any special activity that we have.

Activities planned so far for the month of January and Febuary are:
- kayaking (23 Jan)
- film (30 Jan)
- bake-in (6 Feb)
- sleep-in (26 Feb)

Sounds fun? Yes? We've broken everyone into groups to encourage a little more bonding among members. Previous years, there wasn't enough bonding despite us having groups. So this year we will try our best!

How will this work out? This will ONLY work out if you take the initiative to come for YTM meetings. It's after all more than a social gathering yea. We're here to have fun with each other and also to learn more about God. So do give us your utmost co-operation by participating wholeheartedly in the meetings.

Saturday meetings will start at 4pm SHARP (ouch!) in church.
Sunday bible studies will be as usual at 11.15am SHARP in church.

More details will be posted. See you there!!!

The Present

“ And as I close my eyes to sleep,
Lord, I pray, my soul You’ll keep…”

A little child’s bedtime prayer; yet there is still much wisdom in this prayer. Each night, when we fall asleep, we do not know, that we will wake up ever again. We are so used to getting up in the morning , that we think nothing of it.

It is not always remembered that God breathed into Man, his first breath, thereby making him alive. Life-giving breath is given by the LORD. If He stops giving, we simply will expire our last breath. Is it not strange, that people expire and at some point permanently !

… Thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. (Psa 104:29)

So here we are, alive and breathing, in the present. Curiously the word “present” can also mean “a gift”. It can also mean “existing as in a physical presence”. One could wonder if one’s physical existence and presence is inherently also a gift. If so, our daily existence in being alive each morning, would be a thing to treasure and not something to be careless about. A lack of purpose or direction would be a shame. Our days would not be without a thing to do.

Romans 12:1 has a separate interpretation of the word “present”. Whilst the word could mean making a gift, it also describes volition, a tasking, and a command.

We are left to contemplate; what our “present” means. Surely getting up the next morning would not be quite so perfunctory again. Our lives are bequeathed to us with purpose. It is filled with teeming possibilities for His glory. May He live His life in us.


I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom 12:1)

And so we will pray, the little child’s prayer; for another day to live, for His glory.

God bless.



/ckh