“Aku Membangun Umat Perkasa” ?
A song that was sung on Sunday Service last week:
For I’m building a people of power and I’m making a people of praise That will move through this land by My Spirit Build Your church, Lord Make us strong, Lord Through Your Son, Make us one in the kingdom of Your Son
My faith was too small to sing this song. I had little courage and ability to utter the lyric. Because what I see is otherwise.
A generation that lacks of hunger and thirst of the Lord. A generation that talks and forgets promises without execution. A generation that uses mind without heart. A generation that acts without wisdom. A generation that is full of selfishness and self-interest. A generation whose commitment can be easily shaken and distorted. A generation that is ruled by system and self-calculation rather than fear and will of God.
Oh well, the generation I refer isn’t everyone, but Christians. Yes, including myself.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” -Hebrew 11:1
I know my sight is limited. I’m concluded and burdened by my own finite perspective. God isn’t sleeping, He must have been stirring up something somewhere. Yet, I earnestly pray and hope that God proves me wrong. Also, grows my faith and trust in Him, ‘cos He knows what He is doing. 
No Easier Way
A beautiful and deep song, “No Easier Way” performed by Choir of IEC Singapore on Easter Day 2011.
As I listened to this song, as if it told myself “No easier way for you, Dyna” and I was affirmed. At times I wish to be the ordinary, have more normal course of life, and carry lighter cross please. I can’t act or decide anything for my life so easily as I’m fully bound by His call, not as simple as others. But what jealousy I should preserve, when I have found an ultimate calling for my life that is worth-dying for?
And my Lord has no need to say “Sorry” for that, if He wanted to spot me as His. Because every time I catch a sight of His great pain, suffering, and death, I’m so humbled by Jesus’ leading example of not choosing the easier, but surrendered His life to Father’s will.
In contrast. As I was entering to the Good Friday, it’s strange or perhaps so “less holy” to tell you that I watched Jesus Christ Superstar, a high quality musical opera with highly twisted facts (for my Literature class). Jesus was portrayed with full of distortion. Their jesus was not gentle, not slow in anger, and not full of love. He was a man with a high thirst of fame, praise, and attention for self. He was angry and full of reluctance of obeying Father’s will. I can’t recognize if the jesus they were referring to, was the same as the One I adore.
This distorted artistic piece has an impact, surely, bringing people further from the Truth. I’m sure you have a great delight in that, mr satan. Though the Lecturer has clarified that the story was very different from what was written in the Bible. Various differences were highlighted and clarified. The more she spotted the distortions, the more the story of history seemed fictional in totality. In the end, if i were a non-believer, I would start to question if the life of Jesus was a mere story or real history.
As a high appreciator of art’s beauty, I shall admit it was such a well-done artworks. I admired Andrew Llyod Webber’s fantastic creations. But here it is the irony, where worldly people with great talents invested so much effort, time, and money out of their best to please the world, even if Truth shall be perverted (more controversies, more fame?).
While in a great contrast, we, who proclaimed as Christians with just-enough talents and gifts (‘cos we are too lazy to preserve and use what is not ours) invested so little effort, time, and money out of our “can lah” or “so-so” standard to please the Lord. And I doubt if the word “please the Lord” shall be replaced to “grieve the Lord”. He, who dies for us with such a great cost, seriously is not supposed to receive what we are giving currently. What an ungrateful and disgraceful saved soul!
“If you have raced with men on food and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?” - Jeremiah 12: 5 -
I am a fond believer that Christians shall perform their service to the Lord with the highest competency as the world does, not with worldly ambitions but Godly purposes. Unfortunately “not my talent/gift or cup of tea” and “God can use my weakness to bless others as well” were always been excuses for one to ignore the importance of utilizing and improving our expertise in field(s) that God has trusted. The world seeks so much ways to improve themselves, yet we are so stuck with these excuses. God has always done His part, the question is have we done your part faithfully?
Give me the grace to embrace every challenge
And not choose the easier way.
I’ll pick up my cross and I’ll follow each day.
Cross, a foolishness or a power of God?
Rev Albert Rumbo preached today (10 April 2011) on 1 Cor 1:18-25.
He asked, “What is your glory/pride?”. Strange, without intentionally acting holy, I can’t immediately think of any (the prominent ones). Why? Every time I had my mounting up pride, it is crushed ‘nastily’ either by Him or my own act. He just disallows me to take pride in myself, but to humbly learn a complete reliance on Him. For a gifted person with a high self-sufficiency level like me, trust me, it’s not easy! But His harsh discipline on this naughty being is proven worthwhile. I can be naughty and stubborn as most people said, but I fear the Lord.
Two points mentioned in the sermon:
1. Proclaim His Good News and Experience Its Power
I was reminded on a ‘heartache’ that He granted me for His people, since January. I still stay stationary! I would like to experience the power of His Words and the joy of Salvation in others’ lives! Yet, I’m rooted to where I am.
I start to ponder if I’ve swayed from His given vision lately. My chasing schedule are just crazy. I had to catch my breath instantly and was immersed immediately to the water. I walked my days, day by day, and stuffed my ‘holy’ enjoyment in any possible holes. But, tracing back.. Have I been disoriented from Your vision, calling, people? Not even an inch shall be allowed.
2. Cross of Christ is our Glory
This is an absolute beauty, having the Cross of Jesus as our Glory!
A beautiful song, “Ku Percaya di Bukit Kalvari” (“I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary”)
Manusia bagai musafir dalam dunia, tiada suatu tempat yang tetap Meski nama dan kekayaan kuburu, tak akan aku perolehnyaKu percaya Kristus mati bagi dunia dan dapat mengubah hidupku Karna Dia merubahku, bri hidup baru, kini ku mau dekat salib-Nya
Reff: Ku percaya di bukit Kalvari, di situ Tuhan disalib Hidupku serta dunia akan berlalu, ku tetap sandar kan salibNya
I always love this quote from Chambers which reminds me that it costs so much, the blood of Christ, so that I can be saved.
The centre of salvation is the Cross of Jesus, and the reason it is so easy to obtain salvation is because it cost God so much. The Cross is the point where God and sinful man merge with a crash and the way to life is opened – but the crash is on the heart of God. – Oswald Chambers-
A beautiful song that my Mission Team in Thailand loved to sing in 2008, “So You Would Come”.
Good Friday is nearing! Have a great intimate moment before God, remembering His abundant love and mercy to save us, the unworthy sinners.
Nothing Between My Soul and the Savior
Neville Peter – Nothing Between My Soul and Savior
Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
Naught of this world’s delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure;
Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favor,
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.
Nothing between, like worldly pleasure;
Habits of life, though harmless they seem,
Must not my heart from Him e’er sever;
He is my all, there’s nothing between
Nothing between, like pride or station;
Self-life or friends shall not intervene;
Though it may cost me much tribulation,
I am resolved; there’s nothing between.
Nothing between, e’en many hard trials,
Though the whole world against me convene;
Watching with prayer and much self-denial,
I’ll triumph at last, with nothing between.
“There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.” – Oswald Chambers-
And Lord, let nothing between..
