A Spirit-Filled Life

One hard question is being posed during the 6am Men’s Bible Study last Friday. What are the practical ways which we as Christians can be living a spirit-filled life?

I believe all true Christians know the importance of living a spirit-filled life. A student of The Bible knows many verses which talks about the importance of living a spirit-filled life. One of which is these verses:

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of the sinful man is death but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:5-6

But the question which slapped the men in the faces is HOW?

We see Paul himself struggling with sin in Romans 7:7-25. He concluded by saying, “So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” After which, he opened Romans 8 with “Therefore, there is now no condemnsation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”

Hebrews 12:4 tells us, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 reminds us that “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

In my own personal struggle against sin, I do realize that many times when I sinned against God, I am at a crossroad. This means that I do have a choice to make at the point of either sinning or obeying God’s command. Sad to say, I often make the wrong choice.

In reading Hebrews 12:4, I know that indeed in my struggles against sin, I have never yet resisted to the point of shedding my blood. This literally means that I have not lost even a pint of blood so as to prevent myself from sinning against the God whom I love.

Therefore, I know that the practical ways of living a spirit-filled life is to be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit whom is in us from that day when I believe and place my faith in Jesus Christ, our LORD.

Living a spirit-filled life is definitely not restricted to simply not sinning against God. It however means to be living a life which glorifies God, acknowledging His Amazing Grace of offering His Salvation to us and reconciling us back to Him to a perfect relationship.

There is a choice to make to fear God and obey His commands at all costs. In our struggles against sin, we may be entangled in all kinds of sin for many years to come but ultimately, we want to be seeing progress in our fight against sin till the day Christ returns to give us a brand new glorified body in Him.

And this is the spiritual growth in our souls.

Amen.

Go WEST - Pet Shop Boys

Chee Can Cook, so can YOU!

A Sad News

This story reminds me of the days when I was training to compete in this sport which was about sixteen years ago. I am sadden by the occurence of this incident which has deeply dampen the spirit of this amazing sport back in my home country, Singapore.

I pray that may Jesus has mercy on his soul...

Believe Promise Obey Command

This is one liner which captured my mind during last Tuesday’s prayer meeting when we were studying on the topic of the LAW of the Bible. A short recap was done on the very 1^st law which God gave to us - the forbiddance to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

That is the very first law from God but we still failed to obey it.

Let us go back to the time where God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac in Genesis 22:

Abraham Tested

¹ Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied.

² Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

³ Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. ⁴ On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. ⁵ He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

⁶ Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, ⁷ Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"

"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.

"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

⁸ Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

⁹ When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied.

¹² "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

¹³ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

¹⁵ The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time ¹⁶ and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, ¹⁸ and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

¹⁹ Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

God commended Abraham for his great faith simply because Abraham believed in the promise and obeyed His command without a second thought. I truly need to learn from Abraham in this aspect.

My Self-Cooked Chicken Rice

Find Yourself - Brad Paisley

Who am I in Christ?

I am able. (John 15:5)

I am peaceful. (John 16:33)

I am saved. (Romans 6:23)

I am not condemned. (Romans 8:1)

I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)

I am loved. (Romans 8:38-39)

I am unified with all believers. (Romans 12:5)

I am pure. (1 Corinthians 1:2)

I am spiritual alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22; John 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:1)

I am established. (2 Corinthians 1:21)

I am victorious. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

I am not blinded. (2 Corinthians 3:14)

I am new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21)

I am free. (Galatians 2:4)

I am blessed. (Ephesians 1:3)

I am chosen. (Ephesians 1:4)

I am accepted. (Ephesians 1:6)

I am redeemed. (Ephesians 1:7)

I am God’s heir. (Ephesians 1:11)

I am secure. (Ephesians 1:13)

I am in position-ally seated with Christ in Heaven. (Ephesians 2:4-6)

I am God’s workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10)

I am close to God. (Ephesians 2:13)

I am given access to God. (Ephesians 3:11-12)

I am forgiven. (Colossians 1:13-14)

I am mature. (Colossians 1:28)

I am satisfied. (Colossians 2:9)

I am confident. (1 John 5:14)

I am preserved. (Jude 1)

Amish of Lancaster County, PA

Recently, had a chat with a fellow brother in Christ who is from Pennsylvania and learnt about the Amish community of Lancaster County, PA. Attached are some links for your reading interest on this group of people who lives traditional lives in order to get closer to the God of the bible.

Not exactly my stand in the faith of Christianity but it is good to know that there exists a community like them in our world today.

The Amish and the plain people: http://www.800padutch.com/amish.shtml

Amish: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish

Running with Mr. Gonzales in Provo

A Vintage Car Show

Proverbs 30:7-9

Two things I ask of you, O LORD;

do not refuse me before I die:

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;

give me neither poverty nor riches,

but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and

disown you

and say, 'Who is the LORD?'

Or I may become poor and steal,

and so dishonor the name of my God.

My Story in America

Many movies today are inspired by true stories as every one of us has a story to tell. Some great movies which are some of my personal favorites include “American Gangster”, “The Great Debaters” and “Radio”. True stories do captive their readers or audiences with that mystical curiosity on the story itself.

As for my story in America, it is true but not very captivating. Looking at the counter of my days in US at 479 and still counting, that is indeed some quantifiable amount of time to tell a story although on some days of it, you may find me sleeping through half the hours of the day with the other half watching movies on DVDs. =)

Life is pretty much the same as before like when I first stepped into America, the state of Utah (UT) in particular for my initial six months of training for starting a new production FAB in Singapore. Having transferred to the main FAB in Lehi, UT, the only main difference is you will have to pay your own rent and drive your own car. Besides that, the lifestyle is still the same – an American lifestyle.

Having lived in the United States of America for about over a year now, I confessed that I am now very much connected to this country. I feel connected to Hollywood movies through the settings and places. Places like Grand Canyon, AZ, Las Vegas, NV, Portland, OR, New York City, NY and many more are very familiar to me. Maybe having been personally been there myself, even though the places may be created digitically by Pixar, I can still recognized them and be connected. Co-workers of mine are saying, “Chee, guess you are Americanized now because you can understand our jokes.”

Used to know American simply as USA to me but now however, I am beginning to know this country more each day now. Her history since independence in July 4, 1776 and her culture interests me to find out more.

One interesting question was posed to a pastor, “Why do you think that America prosper as a country?” He answered, “It is because of the blessings of God.” I feel that is not just any modal or “the right” answer (because he is a pastor) but I believe that is just the truth.

As adapted from Wikipedia (History of religion in the United States) - Many of the British North American colonies that eventually formed the United States of America were settled in the seventeenth century by men and women, who, in the face of European religious persecution, refused to compromise passionately-held religious convictions and fled Europe.

The Middle Atlantic colonies of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, were conceived and established "as plantations of religion." Some settlers who arrived in these areas came for secular motives—"to catch fish" as one New Englander put it—but the great majority left Europe to worship in the way they believed to be correct. They supported the efforts of their leaders to create "a City upon a Hill" or a "holy experiment," whose success would prove that God's plan for churches could be successfully realized in the American wilderness. Even colonies like Virginia, which were planned as commercial ventures, were led by entrepreneurs who considered themselves "militant Protestants" and who worked diligently to promote the prosperity of the church.

America could be said to be formed by Protestants who wished to break away from the Catholics at that point in history because they felt the very need to worship God in the way they believed to be correct (Eph 3:8-9). I must say and because of this God blessed them. America started off as a great country which simply seeks to worship God and their early forefathers proudly printed, “In God We Trust” in the American currency.

Amazing, isn’t it?

However, I do agree (with the same pastor who answered the question posed) that America has became a country which often bragged about her glorifying past achievements but is degenerating in their worship of the only true God whom has blessed them.

It is sad but this is work of the sinful nature (lust of flesh) which wages war constantly against our spiritual self (the Spirit).

This week, I wanted to be revived by God for Him to do His Great work which He has started in me and to bring it upon completion. I attended a fellow co-worker’s church which offers mid-week worship / bible study on top of The Truth Project which is also held in the same church. In addition, I signed up for a fourteen week commitment in church for a Man’s bible study on Fridays at 6am to learn about The Man God uses. It is time for me to get even more serious with God.

I do not want to waste my life while waiting for Him to come in His glory to bring His children home. I want to be used by Christ in the place where He has placed me and shout with Paul:

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the LORD Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
- Acts 20:24

Pray with me. Amen.

After my Mustang is banged...

I got this as my rental car for these three days as I wait for the repair of my poor Mustang...

2009 Dodge Ram Pick-Up

Cost me US$43 to fill this baby with three quarters of gas! (18 Gallons in total, no kidding, dude!)

Hampton, VA - May 20 to 25, 2009

Other Photos Taken in both Virginia and Washington D.C.

Virginia Beach, VA

Shenondoah National Park - Skyline Dr

The White House in Washington, D.C.

My humble VA rental car - Toyota Matrix 2009

Visiting Virginia...

Picture taken from Wikipedia Link

Pls help to pray for my safety as I will be visiting Virginia to attend a brother's wedding. Thanks.

Isaiah 44:6-23

The LORD, Not Idols

 ⁶ "This is what the LORD says— 
       Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: 
       I am the first and I am the last; 
       apart from me there is no God.

 ⁷ Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. 
       Let him declare and lay out before me 
       what has happened since I established my ancient people, 
       and what is yet to come— 
       yes, let him foretell what will come.

 ⁸ Do not tremble, do not be afraid. 
       Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? 
       You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? 
       No, there is no other Rock; I know not one."

 ⁹ All who make idols are nothing, 
       and the things they treasure are worthless. 
       Those who would speak up for them are blind; 
       they are ignorant, to their own shame.

 ¹⁰ Who shapes a god and casts an idol, 
       which can profit him nothing?

 ¹¹ He and his kind will be put to shame; 
       craftsmen are nothing but men. 
       Let them all come together and take their stand; 
       they will be brought down to terror and infamy.

 ¹² The blacksmith takes a tool 
       and works with it in the coals; 
       he shapes an idol with hammers, 
       he forges it with the might of his arm. 
       He gets hungry and loses his strength; 
       he drinks no water and grows faint.

 ¹³ The carpenter measures with a line 
       and makes an outline with a marker; 
       he roughs it out with chisels 
       and marks it with compasses. 
       He shapes it in the form of man, 
       of man in all his glory, 
       that it may dwell in a shrine.

 ¹⁴ He cut down cedars, 
       or perhaps took a cypress or oak. 
       He let it grow among the trees of the forest, 
       or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.

 ¹⁵ It is man's fuel for burning; 
       some of it he takes and warms himself, 
       he kindles a fire and bakes bread. 
       But he also fashions a god and worships it; 
       he makes an idol and bows down to it.

 ¹⁶ Half of the wood he burns in the fire; 
       over it he prepares his meal, 
       he roasts his meat and eats his fill. 
       He also warms himself and says, 
       "Ah! I am warm; I see the fire."

 ¹⁷ From the rest he makes a god, his idol; 
       he bows down to it and worships. 
       He prays to it and says, 
       "Save me; you are my god."

 ¹⁸ They know nothing, they understand nothing; 
       their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, 
       and their minds closed so they cannot understand.

 ¹⁹ No one stops to think, 
       no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, 
       "Half of it I used for fuel; 
       I even baked bread over its coals, 
       I roasted meat and I ate. 
       Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? 
       Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"

 ²⁰ He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; 
       he cannot save himself, or say, 
       "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"

 ²¹ "Remember these things, O Jacob, 
       for you are my servant, O Israel. 
       I have made you, you are my servant; 
       O Israel, I will not forget you.

 ²² I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, 
       your sins like the morning mist. 
       Return to me, 
       for I have redeemed you."

 ²³ Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; 
       shout aloud, O earth beneath. 
       Burst into song, you mountains, 
       you forests and all your trees, 
       for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, 
       he displays his glory in Israel.