22 Jul 09 Was Michael Jackson happy?
Was Michael Jackson happy when he was alive? He had all the popularity of a great celebrity. He had large followers of fans. He had lots money (at least before he lost them). He lived is a big mansion. But he could not sleep. Why couldn’t he sleep? Perhaps he had no peace. Was he happy? He was trying so hard to please so many people.
Can you find happiness on earth? Where can you find happiness?
• Not in unbelief — Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.”
• Not in pleasure — Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure, if anyone did. He wrote: “The worm, the canker and the grief are mine alone.”
• Not in money — Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”
• Not in possession and fame — Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: “Youth is a mistake, manhood a struggle, old age regret.”
• Not in military glory — Alexander the Great conquered the known world of his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, because, as he said: “There are no more worlds to conquer.”
Where, then is happiness found?
The answer is simple: “In Christ alone.” He said: “I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” (John 16:22)
Where can we find great JOY? The secret is found in the acronym J.O.Y.
To have joy you must put Jesus first, Others next and then Yourself last.
That’s right! Put Jesus on top of everything else. Put Jesus as your motive for doing anything. Put the needs of other people first before looking at your own needs. If you follow this formula you will find true happiness.
Tags: Happiness, Happy, joy, Rejoice
20 Jul 09 Failure of Christians
An unknown medieval poet, observing the failure of Christians in his day to give Christ His rightful place, wrote these words carved in stone in the cathedral at Lubeck, Germany:-
Thus speaketh Christ , our Lord;
You call Me Master and obey Me not.
You call Me light and seek Me not,
You call Me Way and walk Me not,
You call Me life and desire Me not,
You call Me wise and follow Me not,
You call Me noble and serve Me not,
You call Me just and fear Me not,
If I condemn you – blame Me not.
Tags: Failure of Christians
19 Jul 09 Eat crumbs
Dr. Arnott who has gone to GOD used this illustration in one of his sermon.
The sermon and text have all gone, but that illustration is fresh upon my mind to-night and brings home the truth.
He said: “You have been sometimes out at dinner with a friend, and you have seen the faithful household dog standing watching every mouthful his master takes.
All the crumbs that fall on the floor he picks up, and seems eager for them, but when his master takes a plate of beef and puts it on the floor and says, “Rover, here”s something for you,” he comes up and smells of it, looks at his master, and goes away to a corner of the room.
He was willing to eat the crumbs, but he wouldn”t touch the roast beef–thought it was too good for him.”
That is the way with a good many Christians. They are willing to eat the crumbs, but not willing to take all God wants. Come boldly to the throne of grace and get the help we need; there is an abundance for every man, woman and child in the assemblage.
Tags: Abundance, Christians, crumbs, Dr Arnott, Rover
18 Jul 09 Life is so fragile
I like to read the obituary section of the newspaper. It is a reminder that our life on earth is but a short sojourn. I like to read what people say about their loved ones who have gone before them.
Several years ago, while I was reading the newspaper and munching my breakfast I suddenly saw a very familiar face in the obituary section.
It’s the face of Mdm Lee. I remember this loving mother who had four beautiful children.
What had happened to her?
I found out about the tragedy which took away the life of this lady the next day. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I read the newspaper account of what happened to this lady.
The family was travelling to Malaysia in their family car. They decided to stop the car at the road shoulder of the highway to check if they have brought all their passports. Mdm. Lee went out of the car to look for their passports in the booth.
A van suddenly lost its control and crashed right into the back of the family car. Mdm. Lee was sandwiched between the two vehicles. She was still alive when her husband came out to help her. Her husband held on to her hand while she uttered her last word, telling him to take care of their children.
I was moved to attend the funeral wake. Nothing I said could comfort the husband and these four children whose mother was taken away so suddenly.
I could almost hear the laughter even as I imagine the children talking excitedly about their holiday trip to Malaysia. Then I felt the cold chill running down my spine as I imagined the painful sight of the husband holding helplessly to his wife. Their children were still too shock to realize that their mother would soon be taken away by the tragic accident which came like a bolt in the sky.
What a tragedy? Life is just so unpredictable and so fragile.
Indeed the bible is right. We really do not know what will happen tomorrow. Our life is really like a vapor that appeared for little while and then vanishes away. Whether we live to do this or that all depends entirely upon the mercy of our almighty God, our Creator.
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
James 4: 13-15
Tags: Accident, James 4:14, Life is Fragile, Life is like a vapor
16 Jul 09 The greatest truth in John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
- GOD — The Greatest Lover
- SO LOVED — The Greatest Degree
- THE WORLD — The Greatest Company
- THAT HE GAVE — The Greatest Act
- HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON — The Greatest Gift
- THAT WHOSOEVER — The Greatest Opportunity
- BELIEVETH — The Greatest Simplicity
- IN HIM — The Greatest Attraction
- SHOULD NOT PERISH — The Greatest Promise
- BUT — The Greatest Difference
- HAVE — The Greatest Certainty
- EVERLASTING LIFE. — The Greatest Possesion
Tags: John 3:16
13 Jul 09 Him that honoureth me I will honour
Chariots of Fire
At the Paris Olympics over forty years ago, when an Edinburgh student, Eric Liddell, was chosen to run in the 100 metres, he withdrew because he refused to run in the heats on a Sunday. He switched to the 400 metres, somehow scrapped through to the final and won the Gold Medal.
Some of the very pressmen who had slanged him for his narrow-minded religious scruples said that he had ran “like a man inspired” and asked how he managed it.
He opened his hand and showed a sweaty screw of paper he had been clutching all through the race and said, “Somebody thrust that into my hand just before the start.” On it was written a text:”Him that honoureth me I will honour.”
1 Samuel 2: 30
Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed [that] thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
Tags: 1 Samuel 2: 30, Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell, honour
12 Jul 09 The black door or the firing squad
An Arab Chief tells the story of a spy who had been captured and sentenced to death by a general of the Persian army. The general had fallen upon a strange custom. He permitted the condemned person to make a choice. He could either face a firing squad or pass through the Big Black Door.
As the moment of execution drew near, the general ordered the spy brought before him for a short, final interview, the primary purpose of which was to receive the answer to the query: “Which shall it be… the firing squad or the Big Black Door?”
This was not an easy question, and the prisoner hesitated, but made it known that he much preferred the firing squad. Not long after, a volley of shots in the courtyard announced that the grim sentence had been fullfilled.
The general, staring at his boots, turned to his aide and said, “You see how it is with men: they always prefer the known way to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined. And yet we gave him his choice.”
“What lies beyond the Big Black Door?” asked the aide. “Freedom,” replied the general, “and I’ve known only a few men brave enough to take it.” The blind leading the blind.
Isn’t it true of so many people? Jesus said it clearly that He is the way to God, the way to eternal life, joy and peace. Yet many people clinged on to what they have learnt from their parents, their teachers who were themselves taught by their own parents and teachers. The blind leading the blind.
They rather believe in evolution which claim that man comes from Ape. They would rather believe in the dumb idols made by men who sell them for a living.
They would rather take the path that lead only to eternal condemnation and hell even though someone offered them another path that promised eternal life.
They would not be open minded enough to think that perhaps there is life behind that Black Door.
It does not cost them anything. All they need to do is say “Yes to Jesus” and believe that He is the Son of God and in Him alone is the source of life. Yet, they would rather let their souls leave this world with nothing but the certainty of eternal damnation and judgement.
Only a few have faith enough to say “Jesus I believe, I want the key to eternal life that You alone can give.”
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 3:15
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3: 16
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Tags: Black door, Eternal Life, firing squad, heaven, Hell, John 3:16, Truth
07 Jul 09 Suicide
Why did the man commit suicide at Fuionpolis and end his life on 3 July 2009?
Psychiatrists believe that suicide is the result of untreated clinical depression or mental illness.
But there are factors in our life which may contribute to depression and drive a person to entertain suicidal thoughts. These include financial trouble, job stress, emotional breakdown, relationship problems, midlife crises, postnatal blue, divorce, peer pressure, drug abuse, co-dependency, failures, shame, guilt and other problems.
Suicidal thought may surface when a person is driven to a point where he/she feels that there is no purpose in life or there is no more reason to live on. A person who is in this state may feel that the situation is overwhelming and he or she is helpless to change the situation.
Suicide seems like a reasonable solution to end or avoid emotional pain when the person faces such severe problems. Suicide become a form of escape or release for the person to leave the guilt, shame, grief, confusion or sorrow behind.
But suicide is neither the answer nor the way to solve problems.
A person may show signs of suicide before the final act. The person could become withdrawn or show signs of sudden behavioural changes. The person may even talk about suicide or death. There may be changes in sleeping and eating patterns. The person may start to “tie up loose ends” and start to get ready by giving away personal belongings or making up with loved ones.
If we notice anyone who shows such signs we must take action and guide the person to seek professional help immediately.
When we are at the end of the road and everything seems hopeless, we should turn to our God who made us. Only He can help.
“For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.” Psalms 38:15
“And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope [is] in thee.” Psalms 39:7
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Tags: depression, Fusionopolis, Hope, Stress, Suicidal thought, suicide
03 Jul 09 Man fell and died at Fusionpolis on 3 July 2009
A man (looks like someone in his 40-50s) was found lying dead on the open terrace outside Fusionpolis at around 2pm today.
He was wearing long black pants and a short sleeve shirt which was tucked out. His four limbless were outstretched and without life. His head was deformed and badly smashed. There were blood splashed around him.
There were some guards walking around and looking from a distance. People have also started to gather and watch from a distance because they could not stomach the sight.
The police have not arrived when we drove past at around 2pm today. What could have happened to him? Did the man commit suicide by jumping down from Fusionpolis? He does not look like a construction worker. My colleague who was travelling with me said he could not take his lunch after having seen the horrific sight of such as tragic death.
Why did the man die? What could have driven him to jump down and died in such a tragic manner? I guess I just have to wait to read the newspaper tomorrow to find out more.
Oh how said it is to see a man die so tragically!
Life is indeed like a vapor. It appears for a little while and then vanished away.
For reading.
Tags: dead man, Fusionpolis, suicide
02 Jul 09 Is Michael Jackson in in Heaven now?
Fans of Michael Jackson wish and hope that their idol “king of Pop” is in heaven now. Hey but God being God is not going to respect a person just because he is a very talented super star.
God sets His own terms and He looks at the heart of the person.
The bible says that a person must be born again if he wants to see Heaven.
Read Chapter 3 from the Gospel of John and you can see for yourself.
JOHN 3
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Is Michael Jackson in Heaven now? Has Michael Jackson accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour before he died suddenly?
Tags: heaven, Michael Jackson
