Unequally yoked !

Some things in the world about us just do not mix.  For example, oil and water - their unique and individual molecular structures and properties are such that they simply do not combine naturally into one.
This is also true for other vital relationships in life.

The Scripture in  2 Corinthians 6:14-16 recorded  "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Many will be shocked to learn that this verses is not mainly referring to "marriage" but it can also mean which church one attends; of which clubs one is a member; which establishments one goes to for entertainment; which TV shows become a regular habit; with whom one becomes business partners; Etc.

The word "yoke" means a coupling as when two oxen are coupled or yoked together by a pulling beam to do work such as plowing a field or pulling a wagon.

So Paul is really telling the Corinthians congregation  that they should not be "unequally" yoked with those that practiced paganism or any works of darkness.  They were to avoid: "unbelievers, unrighteousness, darkness, Belial [an epithet of Satan], infidels, and idols."

The principle might be expressed thus : "Do not form any relationship, whether temporary or permanent, with unbelievers that would lead to a compromise of Christian standards or jeopardize consistency of Christian withness" (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 10, p.359)

Our Apple Tree

Touching Story - "Our Apple Tree"

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree.  A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday.  He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples, and took a nap under the shadow.  He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.  Time went by, the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day.

One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad.

"Come and play with me", the tree asked the boy.

"I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more" the boy replied.  "I want toys.  I need money to buy them."

"Sorry, but I do not have money, but you can pick all my apples and sell them.  So you will have money."

The boy was so excited.  He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily.  The boy never came back after he picked the apples.  The tree was sad.


One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was excited.

"Come and play with me" the tree said.

"I do not have time to play.  I have to work for my family.  We need a house for shelter.  Can you help me?"

"Sorry, but I do not have any house.  But you can chop off my branches to build your house." 

So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily.  The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then.  The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted.

"Come and play with me!" the tree said.

"I am getting old, I want to go sailing to relax myself.  Can you give me a boat?" said the man

"Use my trunk to build your boat.  You can sail far away and be happy."

So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat.  He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.

Finally, the man returned after many years.  "Sorry, my boy.  But I do not have anything for you anymore.  No more apples for you" the tree said.  "No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite" the man replied.

"No more trunk for you to climb on."  "I am too old for that now" the man said.  "I really cannot give you anything, the only thing left is my dying roots," the tree said with tears.

"I do not need much now, just a place to rest.  I am tired after all these years," the man replied.

"Good!  Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, come sit down with me and rest."  The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.

This is a story of everyone.  The tree is like our parents.  When we were young, we loved to play with our Mum and Dad.  When we grow up, we leave them; only come to them when we needed something or when we are in trouble.  No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could just to make you happy.

You may think the boy is cruel to the tree, but that is how all of us treat our parents.  We take them for granted; we don't appreciate all they do for us, until it's too late.



~ Moral:
Treat your parents with loving care .... For you will know their value, when you see their empty chair ... We never know the love of our parents for us; till we have become parents.

The Gift of Tongues

The gift of tongues manifests itself in three different ways.  First, it appears as a private prayer language (1 Corinthians 14:14-18).  Second, it appears as a missionary gift (e.g., Pentecost. See Acts 2:1-21).  Third, it appears as a revealatory gift when someone in the church receives a word from God in an unknown language, thus requiring the complementary gift of interpretation (1 Corinthians 12:10; 14: 1-19).  Doubtless, tongues are occassionally abused, but it must also be said that there are godly people who practice these gifts according to Paul's directives (i.e. biblically), and when done so, they are indeed a blessing.   - [Living Life July 2013]

Who brought you up?

Each child born into this world has potential for godliness and even greatness.  The traits today's children need to guide a future society do not come by accident, but through diligent, godly parenting.  They do not learn to love and obey God only by what we say but also by watching what we do. 

Parents are exhorted to "bring [children] up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4)  "To bring up" refers to nourishing children by providing resources for their physical, mental, and spiritual needs.  "Training" includes concern about all aspects of a child's development.  And "admonition" speaks of providing direction by well-chosen words uniquely suited to each children.

Children, honoring our parents is more than an obligations.  It's also a privilege.  As children we honor them by obedience; as adult, by frequent calls or visits and self-sacrificing care.

Deut. 5:16  "Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." (KJV) 

CHILDREN  LET  THEIR  PARENTS  DOWN  IF  THEY  FORGET  WHO  BROUGHT  THEM  UP.

Strength and beauty

I remembered when we are young, we can't wait to grow up, but now that we are old, we look longingly to former years.  How ironic!

God wants us to be joyful in each seasons of our life.  Whatever our age, He asks us to commit our way to Him and accept the struggle He allows along with the strength and grace He provides.

Why does God let us get old and weak then?

J. Robertson McQuilkin, a missionary said "I think God has planned the strength and beauty of youth to be physical but the the strength and beauty of old age as spiritual.  We gradually lose the strength and beauty that is temporary so we will be sure to concentrate on the strength and beauty that is forever.  And so we will be eager to leave the temporary, deteriorating part of us and be truly homesick for our eternal home.  If we stay young and strong and beautiful, we might never want to leave.

Just like what is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" (KJV)


AS  LIFE'S  SHADOWS  LENGTHEN,  THOUGHTS  OF  GOD  SHOULD  DEEPEN

Parents

A Chinese law requiring family members to visit their elderly relatives went into effect to howls of online ridicule, as the country's huge population ages rapidly.  More than 14% of China population, or 194 million people, are aged over 60, according to the most recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.

The regulation "forces" children to visit their parents, the state-run Global Times newspaper said, with concerns growing over increasing numbers of "empty nest" homes. 

[The Star  2July2013]

The law was enacted amid rising concerns that China's rapid development has challenged its traditional extended family unit and created a spiralling number of 'empty nest' homes.
Reports of eldrly people being neglected or mistreated by their children have shocked the country.

It is indeed heart rending to know that for many ageing parents, their last stage of life passes by in loneliness, disappointment and the pain of being ostracised, while others celebrate with much joy and pleasure.  This scenario is not necessarily any indication of the parents' failure to raise, nurture and teach their children the importance of family values, togetherness and traditionals.

However, as the children grow up, they become more self-centred and materialistic, probably due to influence of today's society. Besides, the fear of losing freedom, privacy and comfort could explain why they choose not to care for their elderly parents at home or even visit them in villages or old folks home, including on special ocassions.

It is also important to remember that we too will grow old one day and what we do to our parents can very well happen to us.

Great emphasis is being placed on living longer and living better. Advances in medical science are making it possible for more and more people. Yet in spite of this, none of us can avoid growing old. One day aging will overtake all of us, and our bodies will shut down.

As we grow older, we can dwell on the failures and hardships of our past, or we can remember God's faithfulness, accept His discipline, and keep looking to the future in faith.

WE CANNOT AVOID GROWING OLD; BUT WE CAN AVOID GROWING COLD.

Laughter

For years, it has been acknowledged that "laughter is the best medicine".  The Bible recorded in Proverbs 15:13 - "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken". (KJV)

Laughter is free and anyone can produce it, anywhere and at anytime.

Cheerful people cope with illness better, said Carsten Niemitz, human biologist from Free University of Berlin.  Eckhart von Hirschhausen, a German comedian pointed out that laughter is a protective mechanism against mental illnesses.  Dr Amit Sood of Mayo Clinic in the US said, studies show all kinds of benefits from laughter - from better immunity and coping skills, lower stress, better relationships to improved digestion".

"When you laugh, you're joyful - you're living in the moment"

True happiness begins deep inside and emerges on our faces. So be happy and laugh !!!

Proverbs 17 : 22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Philippians 4 :4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Anxiety ...

One in 20 people is thought to suffer from some form of anxiety disorder at any time.  Anxiety may not be life-threatening, but long term habit of worrying about almost everything, may limits a person's horizons and complicates life.

Anxiety is an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behavior, such as pacing back and forth.  Anxiety is not the same as fear.  It is a feeling of fear, worry, and uneasiness, usually generalized and unfocused as an overreaction to a situation that is only subjectively seen as menacing.  It is often accompanied by restlessness, fatigue, problems in concentration, and muscular tension. [From Wikipedia]

There are two types of anxiety : positive anxiety and negative anxiety.

A positive anxiety is the kind of anxiety that motivate us or prepare us for things we have to face, and sometimes give us energy to take action when we need to.

An anxiety becomes negative when it interferes with our day-to-day activities and we are not able to make good decisions.

Philippians 4:6-7 said  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

1 Peter 5:6-8  "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enermy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

So we need to learn to let go and let God take over our live, for He cares and hold our tomorrow.  

Remember your parents

Jesus replied  "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?  For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'  But you said that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' he is not to 'honor his father' with it.  Thus you nullify the Word of God for the sake of your tradition.  You hypocrites!  Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:  "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  They worship me in vain; their teaching are but rules taught by men."  (Matthews 15:3-9 NIV)

With the emerging social ethos, people are becoming less religious and more secular.  The growing personal quest for self-actualisation and worldly success overrides the importance of relationships and family.

The cultural norms and values of yester years are experiencing a paradigm shift, moving away from the rigidity of traditions and conventions towards practicality and expedience.

So we need to remember what is written in  Exodus 20:12  "Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."
 
If you do not honor your parents your worship is in vain.

The Lonely Life

This thing called life is an awfully long journey.  For some, it seems an endless trip, filled with thankless responsibilities and relentless tasks, disappointments and deadlines, and daily demands.

I think the most painful word in the English language is "alone".  How ' ironic ' - statistically speaking, it should be impossible to be lonely on planet earth.  After all, there are more than 7 billion of us roaming around on this earth.

All of us, at one time or another, have tasted the bitterness of being lonely, being all alone in the world without a companion with whom to share a thought or a part of our life.

We often see lonely people in every city; thousands of them trudging the streets all by themselves and tasting the dregs of loneliness. That is their regular way of life.  It doesn't seem right, but it is a fact.

Well, there is only one solution, of course. Make friends. Friends are the only solution to loneliness. Many people are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.
Jesus is our Friend. Just like to song "What a Friend we have in Jesus"....

LONELINESS  COMES  WHEN  WE  FORGET  ABOUT  THE  ONE  WHO  IS  ALWAYS  WITH  US.