Background: The Context to Right Conversations
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Change the world? Yes please, but first we have to engage our culture.
Engage the culture? First we have to learn to steer clear of destructive
conversa...
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Value of Purity
I was led to read a book on New Year's Eve and finished in 3 days, called "Purity - the second sex revolution" by Kris Valloton.
It is such a great book, I highly recommend it.
In such a day and age where anything goes, teens are encouraged to experiment. Grown-ups are saying, "we can't control them anyway, let them do it and be safe." They even tell us that abstinence education doesn't work because the kids don't listen anyway. It's ironic that we tell kids not to steal, not to murder, but when it comes to sex, we say that they just would not exercise any restrain on this one. Why bother? What a BIG FAT LIE!
The book "Purity" is encouarging because it gives the positive side of keeping purity and the "why"'s and not so much the "why-not"'s.
Purity (sex only within the premise of marriage)is truly something valuable that we should treasure and share with our children... what blessing this is for them. Purity is something so valuable that is worth fighting for!! I haven't heard that before.
God did not give the young teens sex drive to see how much fun to see them struggle, instead it's opportunity that they experience the struggle in order to have the prize. I love the analogy of a trophy. A trophy means NOTHING by itself, if someone were to give you a trophy without working for it, it would mean NOTHING to you. However, a Superbowl trophy is priceless to those that have worked so hard for it, though they own millions. The same thing goes to purity. It's worth it!! God is also a God of restoration and a God of second-chances. He indeed can restore purity.
I recently was at a friend's party and someone said that the pro-life movement is so backward and so wrong in denying a woman's right. I could not believe his words. He went on to explain that the meat that I was eating is a result of a murder, no different from an abortion. As a matter of fact, he said that even the Bible (which he does not believe in) says that all creations were made equal by God, killing a baby is like killing a cow???!! Can you believe my reaction at that very moment? I was in complete shock and disbelief in the lack and twist of information and knowledge this guy had, his girlfriend was in total agreement. What a pair... I told him that God made him special, above every living thing... he would not hear a word I had to say, and he stopped abruptly our conversation by saying that I would not win this argument and walked away.
I pray that God would open his eyes and so many's that do see that they are magnificant masterpieces of God. They did not come from apes. Every life has a God-ordained purpose, even those with disabilities. God does not make mistakes!!
It is such a great book, I highly recommend it.
In such a day and age where anything goes, teens are encouraged to experiment. Grown-ups are saying, "we can't control them anyway, let them do it and be safe." They even tell us that abstinence education doesn't work because the kids don't listen anyway. It's ironic that we tell kids not to steal, not to murder, but when it comes to sex, we say that they just would not exercise any restrain on this one. Why bother? What a BIG FAT LIE!
The book "Purity" is encouarging because it gives the positive side of keeping purity and the "why"'s and not so much the "why-not"'s.
Purity (sex only within the premise of marriage)is truly something valuable that we should treasure and share with our children... what blessing this is for them. Purity is something so valuable that is worth fighting for!! I haven't heard that before.
God did not give the young teens sex drive to see how much fun to see them struggle, instead it's opportunity that they experience the struggle in order to have the prize. I love the analogy of a trophy. A trophy means NOTHING by itself, if someone were to give you a trophy without working for it, it would mean NOTHING to you. However, a Superbowl trophy is priceless to those that have worked so hard for it, though they own millions. The same thing goes to purity. It's worth it!! God is also a God of restoration and a God of second-chances. He indeed can restore purity.
I recently was at a friend's party and someone said that the pro-life movement is so backward and so wrong in denying a woman's right. I could not believe his words. He went on to explain that the meat that I was eating is a result of a murder, no different from an abortion. As a matter of fact, he said that even the Bible (which he does not believe in) says that all creations were made equal by God, killing a baby is like killing a cow???!! Can you believe my reaction at that very moment? I was in complete shock and disbelief in the lack and twist of information and knowledge this guy had, his girlfriend was in total agreement. What a pair... I told him that God made him special, above every living thing... he would not hear a word I had to say, and he stopped abruptly our conversation by saying that I would not win this argument and walked away.
I pray that God would open his eyes and so many's that do see that they are magnificant masterpieces of God. They did not come from apes. Every life has a God-ordained purpose, even those with disabilities. God does not make mistakes!!
Happy Chinese New Year!!!
Wow, where has January gone? Well, February is going to be here in just 4 more days.
Yesterday was the first day of Chinese New Year, so Happy Chinese New Year to you, in case you realize it. For the last 2 Chinese new years, the kids and I spent it in Hong Kong and China, lots of fun. We miss it this year, the fireworks, all the festivities, ... . Yesterday, we went to the Musuem of Asian Arts to see the Lion Dance (a Chinese tradition), where a prop lion held up with 3-4 people inside and parade around with drums and cymbals playing in the background, lots of noise. It was fun because they actually allowed the children to participate, so Matthew got to participate inside the lion, played the cymbal and beat the drum. Mollie also joined her big brother to beat the drum in the end, after having realized how much she missed out by being shy. When she was handed the 2 drum sticks, I was a little nervous that she would miss the beat and mess up the parade of the lion. I guess no one can mess up beating the drum after all. The brother-sister team worked hard and beat that drum with all the might. They did such a good job. I was so proud. It was worth it going down there in a wet day.
Yesterday was the first day of Chinese New Year, so Happy Chinese New Year to you, in case you realize it. For the last 2 Chinese new years, the kids and I spent it in Hong Kong and China, lots of fun. We miss it this year, the fireworks, all the festivities, ... . Yesterday, we went to the Musuem of Asian Arts to see the Lion Dance (a Chinese tradition), where a prop lion held up with 3-4 people inside and parade around with drums and cymbals playing in the background, lots of noise. It was fun because they actually allowed the children to participate, so Matthew got to participate inside the lion, played the cymbal and beat the drum. Mollie also joined her big brother to beat the drum in the end, after having realized how much she missed out by being shy. When she was handed the 2 drum sticks, I was a little nervous that she would miss the beat and mess up the parade of the lion. I guess no one can mess up beating the drum after all. The brother-sister team worked hard and beat that drum with all the might. They did such a good job. I was so proud. It was worth it going down there in a wet day.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!!
Happy New Year to ALL!!
Before midnight on every new year's eve, we can see info-mercials on workout equipment to help lose weight and commercials to invite to join a health club to get the "Dream-body". We can hear everyone's best intention to fulfill their new year's resolution that probably will fail by the second month of the year.
I find that when I have myself to be accountable to, I am less likely to fulfill that promise, but if I am accountable to someone else, I am more likely to hold myself to that promise.
Take library books as an example. If I accidentally draw in my own books, or rip a page, it's not a big deal. But if I have borrowed a library book, I try at all cost to protect it and not to lose it because I am obligated to return the book as it was allowed to be in my possession, in my trust.
I feel the same way about new year's resolution. If we make it for a selfish reason, for my own good, it may not work out very well. But if we make a committment to someone outside ourselves, we feel more obligated to see it fulfilled.
God asked what Solomon what he wanted and he answered, "God's wisdom and knowlege to rule as king whom the Lord made him to be". It's an act of humility, Solomon was made a king and knew that he couldn't do that on his own wisdom, he desperately needed God's wisdom. For that, God gave him not only wisdom and knowledge, but also riches and wealth and honor!!
God sees our hearts, when we sincerely want to know Him and receive the revelation in the knowledge of Him, His blessings pour onto us beyond material things.
I encourage you to draw deeper into the Lord this year, to know Him, not for your own benefit, but enter into genuine worship to know our Creator as He so yearns for a relationship with you. His word says, "Ask, you shall receive; seek, you shall find; knock, the door shall open to you." He is so ready to give as you ask. He is not about religion, but all about having a relationship with you.
I believe when we do, we can look back on January 1st, 2010, and see our Father's hand on our lives and His faithfulness in ways unimaginable.
Before midnight on every new year's eve, we can see info-mercials on workout equipment to help lose weight and commercials to invite to join a health club to get the "Dream-body". We can hear everyone's best intention to fulfill their new year's resolution that probably will fail by the second month of the year.
I find that when I have myself to be accountable to, I am less likely to fulfill that promise, but if I am accountable to someone else, I am more likely to hold myself to that promise.
Take library books as an example. If I accidentally draw in my own books, or rip a page, it's not a big deal. But if I have borrowed a library book, I try at all cost to protect it and not to lose it because I am obligated to return the book as it was allowed to be in my possession, in my trust.
I feel the same way about new year's resolution. If we make it for a selfish reason, for my own good, it may not work out very well. But if we make a committment to someone outside ourselves, we feel more obligated to see it fulfilled.
God asked what Solomon what he wanted and he answered, "God's wisdom and knowlege to rule as king whom the Lord made him to be". It's an act of humility, Solomon was made a king and knew that he couldn't do that on his own wisdom, he desperately needed God's wisdom. For that, God gave him not only wisdom and knowledge, but also riches and wealth and honor!!
God sees our hearts, when we sincerely want to know Him and receive the revelation in the knowledge of Him, His blessings pour onto us beyond material things.
I encourage you to draw deeper into the Lord this year, to know Him, not for your own benefit, but enter into genuine worship to know our Creator as He so yearns for a relationship with you. His word says, "Ask, you shall receive; seek, you shall find; knock, the door shall open to you." He is so ready to give as you ask. He is not about religion, but all about having a relationship with you.
I believe when we do, we can look back on January 1st, 2010, and see our Father's hand on our lives and His faithfulness in ways unimaginable.
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