The temptation of the toad the the frog

Toad baked some cookies. "These cookies smell very good," said Toad. He ate one. "And they taste even better," he said. Toad ran to Frog's house. "Frog, Frog," cried Toad, "taste these cookies that I have made."

Frog ate one of the cookies, "These are the best cookies I have ever eaten!" said Frog.

Frog and Toad ate many cookies, one after another. "You know, Toad," said Frog, with his mouth full, "I think we should stop eating. We will soon be sick."

"You are right," said Toad. "Let us eat one last cookie, and then we will stop." Frog and Toad ate one last cookie. There were many cookies left in the bowl.

"Frog," said Toad, "let us eat one very last cookie, and then we will stop." Frog and Toad ate one very last cookie.

"We must stop eating!" cried Toad as he ate another.

"Yes," said Frog, reaching for a cookie, "we need willpower."

"What is willpower?" asked Toad.

"Willpower is trying hard not to do something you really want to do," said Frog.

"You mean like trying hard not to eat all these cookies?" asked Toad.

"Right," said Frog.

Frog put the cookies in a box. "There," he said. "Now we will not eat any more cookies."

"But we can open the box," said Toad.

"That is true," said Grog.

Frog tied some string around the box. "There," he said. "Now we will not eat any more cookies."

"But we can cut the string and open the box." said Toad.

"That is true," said Frog. Frog got a ladder. He put the box up on a high shelf.

"There," said Frog. "Now we will not eat any more cookies."

"But we can climb the ladder and take the box down from the shelf and cut the string and open the box," said Toad.

"That is true," said Frog.

Frog climbed the ladder and took the box down from the shelf. He cut the string and opened the box. Frog took the box outside. He shouted in a loud voice. "Hey, birds, here are cookies!" Birds came from everywhere. They picked up all the cookies in their beaks and flew away.

"Now we have no more cookies to eat," said Toad sadly.

"Not even one."

"Yes," said Frog, "but we have lots and lots of willpower."

"You may keep it all, Frog," said Toad. "I am going home now to bake a cake."

Ray & Anne Ortlund, Renewal, Navpress, 1989, p. 73-74.

Women 101

Here are some 'researches' done. Do you have your salt with you?

For the more scientifically inclined.
































For those who like statistics.



















For those who are interested in directions.



















To answer the age old question. Who likes to be in control?

How to live a life centred on Jesus

Notes taken during sermon today. Preached by Pastor Michael.

Centred on Jesus

A church without Jesus as the head will have other things as the head (e.g. the devil.) This church may grow but the growth is due to human ability. There is no God in the church. There are many deceptions in this church. This church will not be strong. The members came to listen to man’s words instead of God’s words.

If a man doesn’t bear his own cross and doesn’t not let the cross change his life, then is the old man. His life is not renewed. The message of the Cross is vital in a Christian life.

Focus on the Unique Identity of Jesus

Mat 16:13-16 耶稣到了该撒利亚腓立比的境内，就问门徒说：「人说我（有古卷没有我字），人子是谁？」 (14) 他们说：「有人说是施洗的约翰；有人说是以利亚；又有人说是耶利米或是先知里的一位。」 (15) 耶稣说：「你们说我是谁？」 (16) 西门彼得回答说：「你是基督，是永生神的儿子。」

Mat 16:13-16 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" (14) And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." (15) He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" (16) Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus has 12 disciples. They were with him for more than three years. Jesus wanted to know what the others say he was. The answers included John the Baptist, the prophet in the NT as well as other prophets from the OT. They did not know who he was. They saw the miracles he performed and took him to be a prophet. They knew John the Baptist was already decapitated. He was a well respected prophet. They speculated Jesus was one of the prophets who came back.

Then Jesus wanted to know what his disciples thought. Of the twelve disciples present, Peter gave the correct answer. Even John who was the closest disciple or James the brother of Jesus didn’t give this answer. We believe Jesus told John a lot of things him being his closest disciple. Why wasn’t John inspired?

How did Peter know?

Focus on the church of Jesus

Mat 16:17-20 耶稣对他说：「西门巴约拿，你是有福的！因为这不是属血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。 (18) 我还告诉你，你是彼得，我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上；阴间的权柄（权柄：原文作门），不能胜过他。 (19) 我要把天国的钥匙给你，凡你在地上所捆绑的，在天上也要捆绑；凡你在地上所释放的，在天上也要释放。」(20) 当下，耶稣嘱咐门徒，不可对人说他是基督。

Mat 16:17-20 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (18) And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (20) Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

This is a revelation from God.

Joh 3:27-28, 31-34 约翰说：「若不是从天上赐的，人就不能得什麽。 (28) 我曾说：『我不是基督，是奉差遣在他前面的』，你们自己可以给我作见证。 … 「从天上来的是在万有之上；从地上来的是属乎地，他所说的也是属乎地。从天上来的是在万有之上。 (32) 他将所见所闻的见证出来，只是没有人领受他的见证。 (33) 那领受他见证的，就印上印，证明神是真的。 (34) 神所差来的就说神的话，因为神赐圣灵给他是没有限量的。

Joh 3:27-28, 31-34 John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. (28) You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. … ' He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. (32) He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. (33) Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. (34) For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

The rock refers to Jesus himself, not Cephas.

1Pe 2:4-9 主乃活石，固然是被人所弃的，却是被神所拣选、所宝贵的。 (5) 你们来到主面前，也就像活石，被建造成为灵宫，作圣洁的祭司，藉著耶稣基督奉献神所悦纳的灵祭。 (6) 因为经上说：看哪，我把所拣选、所宝贵的房角石安放在锡安；信靠他的人必不至於羞愧。 (7) 所以，他在你们信的人就为宝贵，在那不信的人有话说：匠人所弃的石头已作了房角的头块石头。 (8) 又说：作了绊脚的石头，跌人的磐石。他们既不顺从，就在道理上绊跌；（或作：他们绊跌都因不顺从道理）他们这样绊跌也是预定的。(9)惟有你们是被拣选的族类，是有君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属神的子民，要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。

1Pe 2:4-9 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, (5) you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." (7) So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," (8) and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (9) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1Pe 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (KJV)

Jesus is the rock (Petros) while those in the church are the stones (petra.) Jesus is the cornerstone of the church. The church is built according to the cornerstone. A church without this cornerstone will be built wrongly. There are churches in US that don’t preach about Jesus. In contract, there are churches in Chins that love God. The members are willing to suffer together with Jesus. Many Christians today refuse to suffer.

Rom 1:16-17 我不以福音为耻；这福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的，先是犹太人，後是希利尼人。 (17) 因为神的义正在这福音上显明出来；这义是本於信，以致於信。如经上所记：「义人必因信得生。」

Rom 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."

A church that belongs to Jesus and centre on Jesus will preach gospel of Jesus Christ. If we are shamed to share the gospel, we are belittling the power of the gospel.

Focus on the will of Jesus

Mat 16:21-23 从此，耶稣才指示门徒，他必须上耶路撒冷去，受长老、祭司长、文士许多的苦，并且被杀，第三日复活。 (22) 彼得就拉著他，劝他说：「主啊，万不可如此！这事必不临到你身上。」 (23) 耶稣转过来，对彼得说：「撒但，退我後边去吧！你是绊我脚的；因为你不体贴神的意思，只体贴人的意思。」

Mat 16:21-23 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (22) And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you." (23) But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

Jesus just commended Peter moments ago for recognizing his identify as Christ, the Son of God.

“No one has the complete revelation from God.” – Pastor Michael

Loong’s observation: Jesus is clear in what’s right and what’s wrong. He is objective. His praises what was done right and points out what was done wrong. Each is not influenced by the other. (赏罚分明)

If Jesus didn’t die on the Cross, there is no salvation for us. If we cannot accept the death of Jesus on the Cross and the subsequent resurrection, we are not of God.

Focus on the Cross of Jesus

Mat 16:24-28 於是耶稣对门徒说：「若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。 (25) 因为，凡要救自己生命（生命：译灵魂；下同）的，必丧掉生命；凡为我丧掉生命的，必得著生命。 (26) 人若赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有什麽益处呢？人还能拿什麽换生命呢？ (27) 人子要在他父的荣耀里同著众使者降临；那时候，他要照各人的行为报应各人。 (28) 我实在告诉你们，站在这里的，有人在没尝死味以前必看见人子降临在他的国里。」

Mat 16:24-28 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (25) For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (26) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? (27) For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. (28) Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

A Christian must carry his own cross.

Gal 2:20 我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活著的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活著；并且我如今在肉身活著，是因信神的儿子而活；他是爱我，为我舍己。

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

We identify ourselves with Jesus by the cross. No one can save himself. If we lose our lives because of God, we shall have life.

Do not be afraid to suffer for God.

It has been a good day and it's not over

Yo.

It's close to 10 p.m. I just reached home.

I was going to meet my China mission teammates this morning. Due to tight schedule of those involved, this was rescheduled.

I went to the Project Timothy meeting at 1:00 p.m. (I was slightly late but spared the need to explain.) It was a good session. The prayer of the someone dear to my dear BHP sister spoke into my heart. PT is to be a theological safe space. We are to learn together with love. And so far, it's been a very encouraging learning environment. K and I am truly blessed to be part of it, learning from others. Now, if only Jesse would pay attention to the proceedings ... perhaps I am asking too much.

Senior Pastor and Pat had a quick discussion with me on the China trip. I am to take up 2 lessons from MLM Book 2 and to translate the other 4 for them (2 each). I still have not translated the additional material from Pastor Richard. I have to start working on them.

The fellowship afterwards was good. I throughly enjoyed it. I have seldom sat down with them but I didn't feel out of place. (Note to BHP sister: sometimes you play a role in this. You can also influence the outcome of a meeting / gathering.)

I took the time after the tea talk to whip up something for the coming cell group. I did that in the church house. I prepared the notes for the meeting last week which was rescheduled (this first meeting was rescheduled 2 times) but I left it at home. So, I typed out something based on memory and whatever material I had. At about 6, I noticed the English church was open. I joined the group. It was the first meeting and I guess we need time to warm up to each other. We will have more to join us in the future.

We had dinner at a nearby restaurant. K and Jesse joined us.

Today is not as funny (funny = hilarious, not weird) as yesterday when I turn the role playing in the interview skills training into a sitcom in an attempt to wake everyone up (the other role playing sessions were BORING) and to give everyone a chance to pick up the important points in a job interview. I really enjoyed it. My colleagues who interviewed me were speechless many times, they were laughing uncontrollably. It was fun.

But today was wonderful in the sense that I make new friends. The PT and the Facebook played major roles in establishing good relationships.

It was a packed day but also a fulfilling day. I did what little things I could. Perhaps I should focus on the little things more.

My prayer partner, my H&L sister and my 'dry' sister in Perth are right. I should not worry too much about what people think. It's their choice. They chose to be be that way. It should not concern me. I just told my BHP sister not to heed the enemy's whisper too much. So, I should practice what I preach. My prayer partner would often tell me to stop sulking.

Ok, I will. Shortly.

I will see where I can contribute and check with Him. Then I will just obey like a good little lamb. Won't I?

Just what are you talking about?

Read this disturbing news. This is the direction the world is going. Open your eyes and see clearly.While we celebrate the peace enjoyed by the people of different religions in Senagal, it makes you wonder what kind of understanding exists between them.

When you thank someone of a different faith for praying for you, you can have a few choices.

1. You are saying their god is your god
2. You are saying there are two gods
3. You don't believe their god is a god, you are just patronizing
4. You don't believe YOUR god is a god, you are just pretending

God left no room for us to compromise. We either believe in Him alone or not.

Consider the Episcopal 'priestess' who is both a Christian and a Muslim. The national body left her position to the hands of the local bishop, who is exciting at the prospect of interfaith possibilities. Any wonder why the Anglican church has trouble handling the issues of homosexuality?

Stay alert!

Senegal cardinal thanks Muslim cleric for prayers

Senegal's new Roman Catholic cardinal, Theodore-Adrien Sarr, on Thursday thanked an Islamic cleric in the mainly Muslim West African country for praying for his nomination.

Posted: Thursday, October 18, 2007, 21:57 (BST)

Font Scale:A A A

DAKAR - Senegal's new Roman Catholic cardinal, Theodore-Adrien Sarr, on Thursday thanked an Islamic cleric in the mainly Muslim West African country for praying for his nomination.

Sarr, archbishop of Dakar, was among 23 cardinals appointed by Pope Benedict on Wednesday from around the world, in choices the Pontiff said reflected the universal nature of the 1.1-billion-member Church.

The Senegalese prelate disclosed hours after his nomination that Muslim cleric Habibou Tall had predicted publicly he would be made a cardinal before the end of the year.

"He said he was going to pray for that to happen," Sarr told reporters. "I know he has prayed for that to happen and I thank him for that."

Although it has a 95-percent Muslim population, Senegal -- a nation of 12 million people on Africa's western tip -- is renowned for its tolerance among Muslims and Christians. A Christian president, Leopold Senghor, ruled the former French colony for more than 20 years.

Many Christians in Senegal's breezy coastal capital Dakar expressed happiness at Sarr's appointment.

"There are countries where Christians are the biggest majority, but a cardinal was not named there, and we in small Senegal with a tiny population of Christians, we got one! We are simply blessed," said Alioune Ndiaye, 35, a brick maker.

Many Muslims expressed satisfaction at the appointment of the respected prelate.

"The new cardinal, Theodore Sarr, will work hard to strengthen the already good relations between Muslim and Christians," said Abdoulaye Diop, 45, a book-keeper of Muslim faith.

The Golden Compass - where does it lead you?

I have seen the poster of the Golden Compass (that's an upcoming movie, in case you are wondering) a few times and I was attracted by the picture of a young girl with her huge polar bear ally. I am a sucker for children. Anytime a child is in good hands, I am happy.

I told Jesse a few times that I wanted to watch this movie - that's a rarity. I seldom 'want' to watch a movie let alone actually going to watch one.

I did some research on the movie and found more information.

The Golden Compass as it is known in the US is based on the novel Northern Lights by Philip Pullman. Northern Lights is part of a series called His Dark Materials. The novels are said to clearly reject organized religion. It tells of a group of Magisterium, a dominant religious authority which condones the abduction of children for experimentation. The author is reported to have utter disdain for the Chronicles of Narnia (because of it's Christian connotation.) His Dark Materials is supposed to be a head on retaliation.

I have not seen the movie or read the books. But I understand that in His Dark Materials, 'god' is a frail old being whose power is usurped by his 'angels'. He is killed in the 3rd and last book.

This movie (as watered down as it can be) and the books are widely criticized by the Christian (and Catholic) world. The Archbishop of Canterbury however stood up for Philip Pullman. Dr Rowan Williams thinks that the books can be taught as part of religious in school against the dogmatism and religious oppression.

I think we should go back to the root and not just the money-making movie. We should examine the books and the message it is trying to convey. A study of the character of the author is also important. If the man is an open atheist and is known to attack the Christian belief, we should be wary.

Just like if an out of the closet lesbian is part of the team of a particular Bible version, I'd steer far far away from that version, no matter how many people love that version.

We don't even have enough time for the Word of God. Let's stay away from that which can corrupt the mind.

When is the time?

I have discussed this with many people and I get different opinions. The issue at hand is when do you go full time? I am talking about serving God full time. (I have been said to be working 'extra time' or 'part time used as full time'.)

Of course, the premise for this discussion is that you do have the calling.

Some think that when everything you do is not smooth, that's the time. Others (like me) tend to thing that we want everything in place before we submit to the call.

The former argument is based on the idea that God is trying to steer us to the correct direction but we are not sensitive. An example often cited is Noah. You cannot run away. But those too quick to 'heed the call' before we get the call may fall into their own trap.

The latter idea smacks of ego. We think we play a larger role than we actually do. We also display a lack of dependence on / faith in God. This could actually be used as an excuse to delay going into the ministry.

I think God has His perfect timing. He has the best thing in store for us in the best possible time and best possible situation. We sometimes want to rush / delay things. We are stubborn.

I read one article from the BBN (Bible Broadcasting Network) website. A middle age person just lost his job again and asked his pastor if that's a sign for him to go into full time ministry. The wise pastor explained that when a Christian face trials, there are always two kinds of responses he can be like the carrot or the egg.

Carrot is hard. But when it is placed in hot water for a while, it softens. The egg on the other hand is fragile. But once it went through boiling water long enough, it hardens. Those who have faith will come out stronger after trials. Those who have little faith will come out weaker. Which kind of Christians are we?

Back to the issue of when is the time to go full time. I think we need to exercise our faith when we step out. So, the financial position, level of equipping, etc. matter little. The one thing that counts is whether He has called. If He says now, then it's now.

Let's work while there's time. Full time or otherwise. When do you go full time? When He says so. When do you serve God? Now.

I count as loss every moment not spent loving God. We can extrapolate from there that

I count as loss anything not done to honour God
I count as loss every word not said to give glory to God / edify others / testify His wonder
I count as loss every thought not focused on God

You get the idea.

This is not fair

See this. Look at the two options.

I unsubscribe anyway.

Patience I have little bit

I was going to write about how I remained cool, calm and collected through two small incidents to day. In the first one, I was more of a third party enlisted to help. The issue didn't matter to me directly. So, no problem even when emotions run high.

The second one has to do with me. The colleagues from the south reported an error with a report. I asked them to elaborate. I got tired of waiting (hey, if the figures are not correct, who gets chased?) and checked the report thoroughly. No problem. I emailed back and Skyped them. A few minutes later, they confirmed there was no problem. Just 'confirmation' and 'thanks for your information.' There is no remorse. No embarrassment for not doing their part to at least do a check. The panic button is overused.

Either way, I myself almost started to pull off my hair. (Almost is the keyword.) I found that I could not drag emails from one folder to another in Outlook! That is like a given. Yes, I could right click and then choose Move to Folder. But I want to drag and drop! Then I found out there are others who experience this problem, some as far back as NT 4.0, so as recent as XP. Then I found out that I could not even drag my desktop icons! Even the touchpad didn't work.

I rebooted. Drag and Drop came back ... for awhile. I rebooted again. It worked again ... for awhile. Then, after frantically searching for solution to no avail and prayers, it worked again, hopefully this time for good.

This is something so simple. Drag and Drop. It was there since the early days of Windows 3.0 (that's the first version of Windows I used.) It has improved a lot since then. It's easy to take it for granted. Only when I temporarily lost it that I started to appreciate it. Lord, thank you for Drag and Drop. Lord, thank you for the people around me.

What if Google is down? Now that's a catastrophe of very big magnitude to this Learner. I don't even want to think about it. Lord, thank God for Google.