Aunty Cheng See's msg was right on target.
True that many of us urban youth today lack a strong and deep relationship with God.
Rememer the story of the wise and foolish man, who each built the house on rock, and the other on sand. Of course, when the storm came the wise man's house on the solid rock stood while the foolish's fell.
Well, many at times, we have our spiritual life built on emotions, from an emotional high to another. We can so pumped at camps and conferences, then when difficult times come, we fall. We sin. Then, we go to the next camp/conference, get pumped and give ourselves back to God.
Any relationship based on emotions is poised to fall appart - any counsellor or phsycologist (how'd ya spell this?)... would say that.
I really believe our relationship with God has to move futher, beyond feeling good and being "passionate" with emotions. It has to reach conviction, a place where we are convince of the love of God - and are ready to demostrate it to others.
I onced ask. How do I love God more?
Well, how do you love a person more?
By getting to know him or her. And understanding the other.
Well, getting to know God more is the answer.
In our generation, we pride ourselves in not knowing. (e.g. not knowing what's the truth, reasoning God out)...
But as youth with a difference - we should get to know our God, our father...

A simple thought to it. Something I concluded after reading from various authors and people who have experienced pain or unfair circumstances of life...

For an example.
We have a family, let's call them The Chows. (haha)
They love God, serve actively in church, and never failed to give their best support to the church leadership.
They also have been a great blessing to the community, reaching out to many, even brought a number of families to Christ.
They love each other and love God.
Sounds like a perfect holy family right?

Then one day, while their daughter, let's say Heather was driving on the road, back home from youth choir practice. Being a safe and careful driver, she abided by the traffic rules and speed limit.
But... a reckless drunk man drove his newly bought BMW at top speed, slamed into her car from the right, and all life disappeared from her that moment.

An obedient and loving child, her parents were almost dumbfounded at the incident. Questions would raced in their mind. Did they do wrong? Were they sinning againts God? Did they miss out something? Was the death of their child a fair one? Why would God allow this? Wasn't she active serving the Lord in her youth group? Wasn't she the one every leader and pastor praised for character and passion? Why? Why her?

Mr. and Mrs. Chow, unable to understand the sudden death of their loved one broked down in tears 3 months after the incident - while relating the story to a pastor. Three months back, many close friends and relatives who were they to comfort them told them, that God had a reason for things, a purpose for the death of their daughter.
Till now, they found no reason... why would God possibly want their beautiful child with him?

"All things work for the good of those who loved Him"

Today, many people have interpreted this verse as God allows bad things to happen, pain to happen or even God does those things in order to achieve a purpose out of it.

After some thinking, I realise that this worldview has made many turn away from God. How can God be loving and allow or do this?

Well, the verse actually means, no matter what bad circumstances come our way, God CAN CHANGE them into good. The verse never said, God made those things happen. In fact, God is as grieved as the parents to that incident.

"Give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God"

God is asking us to give thanks meaning have an attitude of thanksgiving, NOT thanking God for the problem or the bad situation.

______________________________________________________

God's ways are higher than ours - it is impossible for us to comprehend it. If you read Job, you will begin to understand this at the last chapters as God replies Job.
I like what JoshFP said. "If we understood all things, then we are God." So, yeah, maybe the reason we are told to trust Him is because we DO NOT understand all things.

Ariel


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Anna, this is your fault..haha.. how can I end up ariel???
Pass to:
Leroy Tan
Daniel Teoh
Sarah Khoo
Sarah Khor
Ian Chee
- get a break :D... and ya ian, update ya blog...haha

Time passed so fast...
I remember counting the days to freedom.. like 154, 153...
now, its less than 20....
Im gonna miss school life... im gonna miss studying..
i look at my BM notes and think.. wow, its all no use now... BM is over...

Sejarah and english next....

leaving school life,
leaving my foolish youngblooded youth...

reaching out to an exciting prime time of youth filled with God's power....

i am actually loosing the grip on the fact that spm still isnt over... it feels like its already gone... "Gone like yesterday is gone" switchfoot

goals and wishes in 2006....
1. learn mandarin and advanced hokkien....
2. learn up sequencing with the s90
3. experiment with recording...
4. release an album - work with james and josh, and whoever wants to join in the fun...
5. work on my guitar skills - get a new acoustic...
6. reached "A" note without shouting by middle next year (my bet with ian...:D)
7. go missions into some of the desperate places in this world... and understand the heart of God...
8. youth rally - "irrestitble influence"??
- youth choir??
- high tech video and media...
9. reached out to my closest friends in school...
10. raise funds to get equipment...
11. visit united live... encounterfest 2006
12. see youth grow - give full support to ps cowan...
13. learn swimming...
14. scuba diving at sabah..
15. tour KL with firebrands... who knows..haha