In Cana of Galilee

dated 8 May 2007

Jesus' Second Miracle in Cana of Galilee

Once upon a time, there was a rich and important man of the city of Capernaum. He and his family were happy and lived a comfortable life. They had good food to eat, nice clothes to wear, a big comfortable house to live in, they had many friends, and they had many servants to serve them. However, despite all those he was sad. His son was sick and was soon going to die. He was very troubled and disappointed. He loved his son dearly and he had hoped he would inherit all he had and be an important man like himself some day. But if his heir died, then all his hopes and dreams for him would amount to nothing! Besides, he really loved his son and he would surely miss him if he died. He couldn't bear the thought of a life ahead without his son. The rich important man had lost all hope until one day he heard about a man of God by the name of Jesus.

People were telling him that Jesus had been teaching about God, whom he also claimed to be his Father. Jesus was also known to have healed sick people at the feast during the most recent Passover, in Jerusalem. Then he heard that Jesus had come to Galilee, just about a day's journey from his home city of Capernaum. And so, the rich important man decided to meet Jesus in Galilee to persuade him to come along with him to heal his beloved son.

He came to
Cana of Galilee. He told the Lord Jesus, "Have mercy upon your humble servant. My son is severely sick and is soon to die. Please come with me to my home so you may heal him."

But Jesus told him, "You may go back now and I don't have to come along with you. I have already healed your son."

The rich important man believed Jesus and said, "Thank you, my Lord, that I have found mercy in your sight." And so, he headed home.

Before he could reach home, some of his servants met him, and joyfully told him the news: "Your son is alive and well; he's healed!"

When he asked when exactly the child got better, he was told that it was at the seventh hour the day before, that the fever left him.

Then the rich important man remembered that that was the same hour when Jesus told him his son was already healed. Because of that incident, he became a believer of Jesus, he and his whole family.

(Adapted from John 4:46-54, Bible)

Images from:
www.bedandbreakfast.com
www.2camels.com
http://developmentalidealism.org

Uncommon Faith

dated 2 May 2007

The Healing of the Centurion's Servant

One day when Jesus was in Capernaum, the elders of the Jews in that city approached him. They entreated him to come with them to the house of an important Roman soldier, a commander of a hundred soldiers, that is, a centurion. The centurion had a long-time and loyal servant, whom he loved, who was sick and dying. He had requested the elders of the Jews to speak to Jesus in his behalf, so that Jesus would come to heal his servant.

"He loves our nation Israel," one of the elders said. "He even built a synagogue for us," said another. "Oh, he's a good and honest man," further said another.

And so, Jesus was persuaded and went with them to the Centurion's house. However, when they were already near the house a group of friends of the centurion came and met them. His friends told Jesus, "Our friend does not wish to bother you, Master, as he doesn't consider himself worthy for you to visit his house. Nor does he consider himself worthy to meet up with you himself. He said, 'Kindly please just say the word that my servant will be healed. For I myself am a person of authority. If I command one soldier to do something, he would promptly do it. I believe you only have to say the word and it will be fulfilled.' "

Turning to the people with him Jesus said, " I tell you, I have not seen such great faith before, no, not in Israel."

And so, Jesus didn't have to go into the Centurion's house. The elders of Israel and the centurion's friends went back to the centurion who sent them, and found out that the servant was healed indeed.

Adapted from Luke 7:1-10

Centurion image from http://orderofcenturions.org/history.html

Mr. Wise and Mr. Foolish

dated 1 May 2007

The Wise and Foolish Builders

Once upon a time there was a man named Mr. Fool. He wanted to build a house. He loved walking near the beach early in the morning to pick up shells and feel the sand under his feet. He also loved to waddle in the shallow water as the waves come in and go out. So, he said to himself, "I will build my big beautiful house right here in the sand, on the beach! Then I don't have to walk very far when I go for my morning walk." And that's what he did.

There was another man named Mr. Wise. He also liked the beach very much. He would take his dog with him and throw a stick far into the water and his agile dog would chase and retrieve it for him. Sometimes he even took his boat in the evenings and sail a bit further out to sea to feel the evening breeze and admire the setting sun. He thought," I will build my house here on the beach but it has to be high on a rock, so, that if the waves rise up at high tide my house would still be safe." And that's what he did.

Then a great storm struck. The rain poured in torrents. The sea became a big cauldron of waves, stirred up high and roaring loud. The winds blew crisp and hard and broke many palm and gnarled trees along the shore. Lightnings struck and thunders roared.

The tides rose high and came up to the houses of Mr. Fool and Mr. Wise. The tides shifted the shoreline as the sands moved in and out with every onslaught of the waves. And with the shifting sand, the pounding of the waves and pouring of the rain, the great and beautiful house of Mr. Fool shifted as well. It totally crashed! Then it was washed to the sea, almost in an instant. Where as, the house of Mr. Wise towered high above the waves and stood steadily upon the solid foundation of a rock.

In the same way, if you want a life that is strong and solid, so that it can withstand the storms of trials and difficulties, you need to build it on the solid foundation of the word of God, not on the shifting ground of worldly beliefs.

Adapted from Luke 6:47-49 ( Bible).

Dogs in the beach pic from www.sandiegosurfers.com
Storm images from www.picture-newsletter.com
Last pic from http://blogs.bootsnall.com/trisha

What Easter Means to Me This Year

dated 7 April 2007

The Day Lily is a symbol of Easter for some cultures as it connotes new life and freshness.

What Easter Means to Me This Year

Easter is not really about Easter Bunnies or Easter Egg Hunting. I can divert into the topic on how those became associated to Easter, but I don't wish to do that now.

Easter is actually the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus i.e. His rising from the dead. Second only to Christmas, Easter is the most celebrated of all Christian holidays. Modern Christians now call it Resurrection Sunday in an attempt to dissociate it from the kind-of-adulterated practice called Easter.

In actual fact, the resurrection of Jesus remembered at Easter, is the most important event for a Christian. It is because of the resurrection of Jesus that there is Christianity. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, Christians would still be in their sin (unforgiven, unsaved, uncleansed – translated as, can't go to heaven). In the act of rising from the dead Jesus demonstrated for all time that He conquered sin and death and that the sacrifice of his life on the cross is efficacious and sufficient for the forgiveness of every repentant sinner. His rising from the dead also sets him apart from all the other prophets who have ever taught religion, any religion. The resurrection of Jesus sets Christianity apart from all other religions. Also, the resurrection of Jesus speaks of a new life for every repentant sinner. For as Jesus rose from the dead, the repentant sinner, who chooses to believe in Jesus and His resurrection, is also raised to a new life. What a wonderful truth!

It is the hope of the resurrection that gives me hope to go on hoping for the best, for myself, for my family, friends and loved ones. If God can raise people from the dead, and He does, I can certainly believe that any seemingly hopeless situation - an errant child, failing health, failing relationships, failing grades, even dreary jobs, etc. - can be changed by God into something good, joyful, even successful. The possibilities are endless! Now you know why I love Jesus so much!

Cheers and happy Easter to those who celebrate it!

Images from http://www.biochem.szote.u-szeged.hu
http://thefuntimesguide.com/images/
http://www.janbrett.com/images/
http://humormatters.com/

Scientists and Christians

Caterpillar of a Monarch Butterfly on a Swan Tree

dated 7 Dec 2006

The conflict is not between Science and Christianity. It is between Scientists who are very definite (I don't want to use the word dogmatic) about their views, though knowledge on our world is still evolving, and Christians who are also very definite about their understanding of the Bible, though the Bible gives only snippets of information on our world. So there. The bad thing is, it's this "mob" that makes it sound like there is conflict between Science and Christianity. The silent majority feel there is no conflict, but the impression the mob gives to the world is that, there is and it's a big one. So, outsiders may have the impression that Christians "don't think," don't believe in Science or are even afraid of Science. A new book by Dr. Vern Poythress, "Redeeming Science," is a voice for us silent majority. (Info on the book can be found here: http://www.gnpcb.org/product/1581347316. Thanks to a friend for this reference.) On the other hand, Science does give us that feeling of awe over God's creation and His character as the Creator God. In fact, the testimony of the awesome creation around us, for the presence of the Creator God, is enough to send a non-believer to Hell. However, Science - the study of creation around us - cannot bring us to a saving knowledge of God. It is for that purpose that besides nature, God had to send a book called the Bible (the Word) and then make that book into flesh (Jesus Christ) as well, that His message of salvation could be effectively transmitted to us. =) Cheers!

Happy Resurrection Sunday to You!

You can read my Resurrection Sunday blog here.

Ten Degrees Here

dated 2 May 2009 "Yeeee-haaaa!"

It's currently 10 deg C here. Well, it's autumn, the leaves' colours are changing, it's getting cold and damp, really damp. It's been raining continuously and humidity is as high as 89% at times. And right now it's ten minutes past 2 a.m., 3rd of May. I have an electric heater on here in our dining room where I'm typing this on our dining table, but I'm wearing two layers of shirts, a cardigan, cargo pants, socks and a raincoat (not a long one, just a body raincoat, but it's still a raincoat). That's how I try to keep warm here. There's no use for me turning up the heater higher because I'm going to sleep soon and am saving electricity. It's not particularly uncomfortable, I just have to keep shifting my legs once in a while to keep warm, though. On the contrary, Jayne is toasting in her room because her room is small and she's fully awake till I don't know when, so, her heater is on full blast.

So, this is autumn here in Auckland and I really am not complaining. Just after one week of praying things are looking up for me. I don't feel so dragged down by disappointing circumstances and scenarios in my younger daughter's school. I just changed my mind-set. God is good.

Psalm 16: 6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

When I focused on God again, I realized I can actually believe His word, such as the one above, which I have always confessed before, since I started consciously putting my trust in Him for everything in my life.

Also, the service in this new church we're attending, was so good last Sunday, I actually felt the presence of God and experienced the Holy Spirit ministering to me once again. Hmmm, hallelujah!

So, praise the Lord, I am sleeping, smiling in my dreams tonight. ;-)