Do for one...

Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.

~ Andy Stanley

Dear

Love

Can a man be trained to detach his emotions and isolate himself from others? What touches a man and returns his humanity to him?

Have you experienced something ripped out of you, something you chose to give up and wretchedly torn from you?

Can you allow yourself to love?

Saved to save others

Watched Charlie St. Cloud and this thought struck me:

Just as how Charlie the protagonist was given a second chance to live after a horrific crash, aren't we also saved from death and called to live a meaningful life?

Weighed by remorse, Charlie made a pact with his young brother's lingering spirit to meet everyday to learn to play baseball--that was his brother's dream when still alive. Eventually compelled to breach this promised appointment, Charlie rose to head out to sea and save the sailor girl whose shipwrecked person was projecting a plea to be found.

It seems such an apt metaphor for this life: Saved to save others. Don't get hung up on past failures. Do what you gotta do and sail out to the life of adventure awaiting you and those you save.

Thou art released

Catharsis. Mixed thoughts. Uncertainty.

What cause do you live for in life? Given our brief existence, one shot at life, the person you are and could become, our calling, at first elusive, should become clearer, usually at pivotal moments.

Mid-life crisis, you ask? But hey, everybody, at one point or another, would ask this and should: What is my purpose in life?

When realisation comes, do you embrace it and take the first steps into your definite calling, fraught with uncertainty? Do past defeats and memories of former deeds grip you clawtight? Catch this: They let go when you let go. They let go when you let God.

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
~ Isaiah 43:18-19

Heart

What does God look for?

This is no preaching piece. I'm really wondering just what gets His eye and heart and attention.

Is it faithfulness and dependability?

Is it willingness to trust Him and take that step of faith? Well, in short, faith.

Is it fruitfulness, the ability to apply your talents and bear results?

Is it integrity, being faithful even when no one's looking?

Is it courage and standing firm in the face of attacks and danger to self?

Is it persistence when things aren't going how you expected?

Is it knowing God's word, what it reveals, what He's saying to you and your situation?

Is it being obedient?

Is it knowing God's heart and what matters to Him?

What would Jesus do, goes the adage.

So what should you and I do?

Gungor

Know Thyself - The Power Is Yours!

Do you know your strengths? The themes of your life? Your values and philosophy in life?

Reading Tom Rath's Strengths Finder 2.0 and completing the self-revealing questionnaire, it's made me more conscious of who and what I am, as well as who and what others are.

Parts of one body, each comes with different strengths, weaknesses, passions, interests and life experiences.

In an ideal world, we have perfect understanding of each other and seamless collaborative powers. Kinda like Captain Planet, haha.

From here to the ideal world, it's for us to bridge the differences among us and make the most of our relationships. Sounds simple but there's so much more to it than we realise--how we affect one another, how we lead others, how others lead us, the "right" questions to ask or say, the situations and circumstances that energize us or don't energize us etc.

The key is this: Know thyself and take active steps to maximise and better thyself. You will be blessed, others too.

Art works

Art speaks.

Collective ideas. Deep set beliefs. Observations. Aspects of life represented.

Social movements, history, culture, identity...

When you walk away from an exhibit, what gripped? What lingers? What haunts? What continues to ring?

Ideas, words, images, be careful what you let in through the eyes, ears and heart.

An artist's work shows what is in his heart, in his soul. In expression, he seeks sympathy and resonance. So, in gazing, you're really being invited...to accept his message.

"Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." ~ Matthew 12:34

Be savvy for your own sake.

Who do you confess to?

Walking

By Mary Mary

Responsibility

When you're called and appointed, how do you know your responsibility?


How do you know what you are to do?

Do you stand still while figuring it out? Or can you keep moving while working it out? What confirmation would you want?

And when no one's looking, do you still do what's right? What's the price to buy your integrity?

Responsibility's a big word, a heavy load...is it really?

We aren't called to climb the mountain of self-justification by merit and works--a gift is a gift is a gift. Just accept your authority and blessing. Period.

Can you shine where you are placed? To make positive the negative?

Breaking forth to a new level demands a new way, new thoughts, new attitude, new relationships, new knowledge, new commitment...a new you? Well, you're still you. Yet you're also become the you you're meant to be.

So back to this thing called responsibility. If you've started something, surely you're responsible to see it through. If you're given responsibility, then surely you're expected to fulfil what's asked of you.

Thoughts random? Not really. Like a jigsaw, the pieces fall into place little by little. You're not expected to complete it on your own. But really to connect and commune with God who'll guide you along.

Note to self: Connect.

Can you play music?

For the love of music and connecting souls through music... Talent, musicianship, singing through your instrument... Man was made to sing, to find rhythm, to make melody, form harmony, and keep doing it ad infinitum. Ad lib makes it all the more varied and interesting!

What's life if our eardrums are not constantly stirred by good stuff?? Amazing stuff! High energy stuff! Stuff that leaves you bopping and humming the next day and many days more...

It takes passion, hard work and actually a persistence to keep moving even when you trip and fall. No doubt about it. A clear goal, persistent passion, courage to try, openness, mutual chemistry and a lifetime of preparation--ingredients for a life....

Why do some acts dazzle but others just fizzle and drizzle? What makes for excellent showmanship? Energy? Creativity? Sincerity? Being talkative?? A great smile???

Can't live without music. So what should I do? New pursuits beckon!

Don't be a griper

What's kept you going all this while?

What do you do when negative thoughts and feelings begin to surface?

Well, stay positive. Confess the positive. Believe the positive. And do the positive.

Be fruitful and be a peacemaker wherever you are, whenever you are.

Positive strives to beget positive. Being negative and unable to let go surely will only beget more negativity.

What path are you treading on? And where are you headed? Remember this and focus.

Even the act of trying is a kind of focus.

"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

"But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." (Proverbs 4:18-19 NIV 2011)

House rules

When you see a rule, do you break it?

Why do rules exist? What do they serve to do? To protect, to guide, to optimise, to set apart, to try?

Why do people feel uneasy when they break a rule?

Who sets rules? What guides the setting of rules? Why do rules matter?

Should everything in life have rules? After, peace usually only comes after law and order are in place.

Every Erhu needs an audience

Soliciting views and feedback, what's the most effective way? Sharing thoughts and ideas, how to engage others? Building ties and rapport, what's it to you?

Communication is two way or rather multiple way, reiterated and repeating. Is someone helping you to improve your thought process and point out the key areas you ought to consider?

Like a lonesome Erhu in an echo-less valley, dearth of feedback, well it kills--progressively. No city's really an island. No person survives alone, not in this ultra-saturated world of social media and apps galore anyway. Even our eyes and countenance communicate more than we actually say.

Touch base all you want, friends. Don't lose that which is important and necessary for continued growth and advancement.

Springs of life

Heard this at cellgroup last night: "Your circumstances change only when your thinking changes."


We all desire to have good things in life, to do well, to establish well-being in every area. For me, that includes spiritual well-being, to be fruitful and effective in my life.

Last night, I was reminded of how we ought to focus on the eternal, on the things that matter. For one, relationships and friendships matter--encouraging and building up those around me.

Why do we do the things we do? Church, work, cellgroup, family, friends, play... There're so many things demanding our time. What should take priority?

And what's the right attitude to have towards others? Especially our leaders, overseers and elders.

How we think determines how we live. What we say and believe determines what we head towards.

"Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life." ~ Proverbs 4:23 (Amp)

"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world." ~ Matthew 5:8 (Msg)

What is success against the backdrop of eternity? Get it right within and you'll get it right without.

Giant versus Giant

You oughta be careful asking God to speak to you through a book. Because when He does, it can get uncomfortable.

Reading Erwin McManus's Chasing Daylight on taking risk and advancing in the face of uncertainty... Well, it sounds bold and appealing until you actually start to take it seriously.

When do we start living? When did security become a comfort zone? How do I know what to pursue? Well, we don't. He, God, paints a path. Lit only just enough to allow walking, do I follow?

Sing......

Norwegian Wood (2010)

What is materialism?

Having lots of money isn't materialism. Neither is making lots of it or spending it on expensive goods or enjoying the process of shopping.

Since love is a commitment to something at the expense of self, surely it's the same with the love of money and material goods.

How do we know what we pursue isn't vapour? That what occupies us day after day is not frivolous but a worthy pursuit that will bear fruits that remain?

So where the sense of guilt come from when we spend on an unusually expensive item or series of items? Perhaps it's the innate prudence that cries for self-control in the face of future needs and worries.

Well, we know we shouldn't be defined by things--not to let them have us. Yet sometimes we don't even realise we've been had. By our things, that is.

If you were to lose everything you have--absolutely everything--would you still be you?