See this cutesy wedding with a sense of humor? Well, it's not mine.

See this gorgeous one? Not mine either.

Lastly, see this level of happiness and joy? Sigh. Same as above.

"Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Just remember that Jesus rebuked that at his disciple. Not even at the Pharisees. HIS DISCIPLE.

It's just as easy for us to think we're okay. Be warned.
When you're not setting your mind on how to live how God wants you to, when your minds are so busy pleasing yourself and everyone else on earth, you're doing Satan's work. If you care more about what people think than what God thinks, you're helping Satan. If you are living life more committed to your studies, your family, yourself... you might as well be the same as Satan himself. Be ashamed to call yourself a disciple of Jesus. Be completely remorseful at calling yourself a Christian.

It's got us all unexcited now

Making people happy doesn't go anywhere, cos there's always more to make happy and there's no end to wanting happiness. Well, since its necessary, might as well make the best of it. I am determined to make sure that the both of us are happy too. So there. Read all you want out of that.

What Precisely Is the Gospel? - Jeff Purswell, reblogged post

What does the New Testament present as the gospel?

A good place to begin is Mark’s gospel. At the outset of the book, the author immediately alerts us to the significance of what will follow: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). this heading flows directly into the remainder of the prologue (Isaiah’s prophecy, John the Baptist, and Jesus’s baptism/temptations)—indicating that these introductory events are the “beginning of the gospel,” while the balance of Mark’s narrative presents the rest of the gospel.

What’s the point? For Mark, the gospel is the story about Jesus—the good news of all that Jesus did in his life and ministry and death and resurrection.

We see a similar idea in the early preaching of the church. When Peter is summoned to Cornelius’s home and discovers that God is behind this miraculous chain of events, his presentation of the gospel (“proclaiming the good news of peace”—Acts 10:36b) is an outline of Jesus’s ministry, beginning with John the Baptist on through to his resurrection and commissioning of the apostles to proclaim forgiveness through his name (Acts 10:36-41; cf. 2:22-24; 3:13-15).... Once again, the gospel is the news of what God was doing through Jesus in his life, death, and resurrection.

Paul uses the term gospel more than any other NT writer. Of course, one of the most familiar renditions of “gospel” in the NT is Paul’s summary statement in 1 Corinthians 15:1ff: “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you...For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…” Again, the gospel consists of what Jesus did to save us.

So what is the gospel?

Although this brief survey is far from complete, it consistently reveals that the gospel is good news concerning Jesus and what he did to accomplish salvation for sinners. 

In other words, the gospel is objective. It tells us what God has done to save his people. It consists of concrete, historical events, rooted in Old Testament promises, types, and institutions that were fulfilled in Jesus. It promises that all who trust in Christ and his work will receive forgiveness and life. Of course, this isn’t merely a catalogue of events of only historical interest; all of this has massive implications for our lives. But we must not confuse the gospel message itself with the outworking of those implications.

So, for example, although the gospel calls me to respond to what Jesus has done, strictly speaking it doesn’t include my response—repentance is not the gospel. Although the gospel introduces me to a life lived in glad obedience to God, strictly speaking it doesn’t include that life of obedience. Our existence as Christians involves unspeakable privileges, significant responsibilities, and untold promise. But those things themselves are not the gospel.  

End of excerpt by me. Read the rest of the post here. 

Is it too much to ask for...

...to have a smiley happy wedding? A peaceful one? A solemn one? A pretty one? A creatively distinct one? One that's like the one i've been dreaming of?

Yes. Perhaps. I sorely wish it all be done my way or the highway, easy peasy.

Yet Lord, not my will but yours be done.

Give it up already

like any little girl playing dress up with mommy's veil and tee tottering high heels, i harbored dreams of a beautiful wedding. My wedding. It may not have been conventional, or normal, or even close to anything you could possible think of, but it was a dream no less.

I realize that i have to give it up, for the good of the gospel. I've got to seriously think of what my heart is like, whether i just want it cos my dreams are this fantastic certain way or whether its truly for the good of the gospel. In no way does that mean i am giving up the gospel in my wedding or in my life, but i am certainly having to reconsider a lot of things.

On an off tangent, did you know that artists works are most expensive after they die? Just a stray thought.

John Piper : Think Christ

At a recent conference in Germany, John Piper talked about why right thinking is so important for Christians:

1. It is possible to have strong feelings and be lost if the feelings are not based on knowledge (Romans 10:1-2).
2. God has planned that thinking about the Bible is the means he uses to give understanding (2 Timothy 2:7).
3. Paul is given as an example of reasoning with the Bible (Acts 17:2-3).
4. Jesus assumes and requires that we will use logic in understanding both what is natural and what is spiritual (Luke 12:54-57).
5. Jesus refuses to deal with people who use their reason to conceal truth (Matthew 21:23-27).
6. Thirteen times in Paul’s letters, he asks the question, “Do you not know?” Paul assumes that if his readers knew something, they would see things differently, feel differently, and act differently.
7. The Bible tells us that Christ has given pastors and teachers to the church and tells us that they should be apt to teach—because God intends that the Bible be explained to ordinary folks who don’t have the time or ability to go as deep as God wants them to go. Christ would not have given teachers to the church if he thought they were not needed.
8. The Bible declares that we should proclaim the whole council of God (Acts 20:27). That implies that there is a coherent unified whole, a body of doctrine, that should be given to the church. It is not easy to find this whole council in a book with 1,500 pages! It’s mainly mental labor. Finding the unified biblical theology that the people need to know takes hard thinking.
9. The Bible is a book, which means that it must be read.
10. An example of how thinking and valuing and acting relate to each other is Matthew 7:7-12.

Read the rest here.

Reposted from the Resurgenceblog.

Don't confuse the Gospel with religion

Christianity is not doing good things, helping the poor and sick, traditions, morality, philosophy, piety, social justice, or a religious experience. It's not about what people think it is, it's not what people have been doing for many many years. It's not just being good enough, being slightly better than the murderers and rapists out there. It's not a mindless following. It's not just something you fill in the blanks with. It's not something you can just get away with professing to be a Christian.

Christianity IS Jesus and what he did on the Cross for us. It is the Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour, finishing the work of atoning redemption as he hung there, suffered and died. It's the blood, the gore, the gruesome death, the shameful crucifixion. That blood shed for us, washed us clean. The death paid for us, releasing us from the bondage of sin. That crucifixion, meant for the worst criminals, was Jesus taking my place, where i the worst criminal belong. His life, the hope and promise of my redeemed life in the age to come.

And it also means we who are saved ought to live in a certain way:
It is gratefully submitting to the one True God, our whole lives as a living sacrifice. It is putting more importance on pleasing God rather than pleasing man. It's denying ourselves, denying our old sinful nature and clinging to the new creation we are in Christ. It is being committed to the gathering of the redeemed people, committed to the edification of the church. It is proclaiming the Gospel in everything you do, shouting it from the mountain tops or the lowest valleys.

It means we have to be reformed. And to never stop reforming. To cling to tradition is to make it more important than what the Word says, especially after it's lost its meaning. To always keep judging your life on the basis of what Christ demands of a disciple, lest you be judged on the last day and found wanting. It's finding glory and joy in the suffering, for it is only expected if you are a Christian. Anyone who follows Him, follows in the way he walked. In suffering and shame, in joyful obedience to the Lord, in being totally different from the current views and opinions of the time, in proclaiming the truth with power and authority, in rejection and harmful situations, even death. That's what it means to be Christian.

no mo' mojo

I'd hate to offend anyone. I don't like confrontations. I also don't like arguments. I really dislike yelling of any sort or to any person. I really shrink back from doing anything that people wouldn't agree with. I just hate rocking the boat. I'd rather not go against the grain, it's more peaceful that way. I'd rather not be a trouble maker. I'd really just like everything to be nice and calm and friendly.

But i think i love the gospel more.

Cos truth is The Gospel and its implications for the Christian life IS offensive. It confronts people of their sin and helplessness to change anything about that. It argues with people's natural logic to think we can do something to save ourselves. It yells at you that YOU CAN'T SAVE YOURSELF, ONLY JESUS CAN. It means doing lots of things people don't agree with. It definitely rocks the boat. It goes against the grain of everything in this world and it certainly doesn't make things peaceful in your lifetime here on earth (though it brings you peace in reconciliation with God). It sometimes makes trouble for you, or troubles others. There will be situations that will not be nice, calm or friendly.

Wood chips and planks

I've been learning to read Mark. Slowly but surely i hope. It's amazing to read! Understanding Mark properly is so important (well, cos it's God's Word!) cos it shows us who Jesus is and what that means about how we as his disciples are to live. If anyone was second-guessing who Jesus really is, should be stunned to silence with his radiant appearance on the mountain and His Father's command to listen to him. He is the Son of God!!! Knowing who he is, Jesus' invitation is "Deny yourself, take up your cross and come, follow me."

That's what followers of Christ do. Deny themselves, give up house family and everything and take up their cross. Clinging to anything other than Jesus is not following him. Putting people's opinions over the authority of The WORD and his words is not following him. Selfish living and self gratification is not following him. Being unwilling to give up all worldly things is NOT FOLLOWING HIM. Holding on to traditions, rituals and just cos everyone does it is NOT FOLLOWING HIM. That's what the rich man was. Jesus asked him to give up all his possessions and follow him but the rich man walked away, walking away from the kingdom of God and denying Jesus as his Messiah.

Followers of Jesus, listen to HIM. Heed his call to give everything up, everything that's more important to you than Jesus, be it your money, your family, your friends, your house and your possessions or your pride. Give it all up. Nothing is worth more than belonging to the kingdom of God, through Jesus' redeeming blood, which cleanses us from our sin. If you don't, you're walking away from the best thing you could ever possibly own. You're walking away from JESUS.

Truly, i say to you, there is no one who has left everything for Jesus' sake and for the gospel who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time with persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life. Anyone who loses his life for Jesus' sake will save his life! Listen to the warning, for whoever is ashamed of Jesus and his words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes again in glory.

Believers in Christ, do not forsake the gospel. Tell it to the mountains, tell it to anyone who'll hear (and those who refuse to hear). Tell it loud and tell it proud. Do not be afraid of people judging you or criticizing you or hating you or even wanting to harm you. All this is will happen. But go on speaking the truth in love, the gospel must be proclaimed. Be on your guard, false teachers are everywhere. There will be those who profess to be Christian, but will lead you astray. Be ready for all these things, and keep going. Persevere! Endure til the end.

Fireworks are keeping me awake

DIY flowers

I've found some tutorials online to help me make my hair piece so i don't have to buy one *grins* i'm no cheapskate, i'm just creative! And i thought i'd share. Here's one with readymade petals and the other made completely from scratch. Might also make a couple of these to put on my sandals. It's way cheaper than buying sparklies.

So i bought 2 meters (i bought extra just in case i mess up the first few rounds) of cheap green fabric from ever-faithful Kamdar. What a steal. I bought the same fabric in white for the lining of my dress. I'm a genius. (Channelling inner Elvis : Thank you, thank you very much..) I also gathered some gold beads(can't remember how much) and some existing beads i already have and the ribbons i bought earlier.

I just cut the petals into random round shapes with varying sizes and burned the edges. When i tried to sew it all together, this was what happened:

It's not too bad, but it's a little misshapen and floppy. So next i tried a different technique to putting it together:

It looks much better, but still floppy. Maybe some hairspray will work:

Yay! End product : Fantastic! I shall make a few more of these for my bridesmaids and my shoes and maybe even for other decor, since it turned out so well.

Here's another alternative i considered too:

Some tips in case you'd like to try it yourself:

1. When burning the edges, be quick. Depending on your fabric, it may or may not burn real fast and leave you with a curled up bunch of ash. Yes, it happens. 
2. Go slow. Pin the biggest petals together first, sew, pin the next layer, sew on and so forth. It's tedious, but it guarantees the right shape that you want to achieve.
3. If your petals still don't stay right, sew it to 'em! Just sew them together wherever it's loose or floppy. It won't be noticable and nobody looks that close anyway. 
4. If you still can't get it to stay right, glue works too. And the hairspray helps keep them in shape.
   

Blooming thoughts

Knowing how expensive having professional florists doing wedding flowers are, we had decided to DIY our wedding flowers. I've seen and read quite a few brides who've gone the DIY route and survived, with precious dollars saved. I also like the idea of a wedding blooming with freshly plucked garden flowers.

My mum brought home some flowers to try out and this is what we came up with. I just kept wrapping floral tape round the daisy mums until i got a big enough bunch then added the leaves and the little yellow buds. I like it. With a couple of ribbons tied round the end, it'll be complete!

And for me, new skill acquired : flower arranging.

I have been wondering though about the amount of DIY projects i'm racking up, whether i'll have enough time to do them all, whether i'm just putting too many things onto my plate... and to a certain extent i think i am. But the pros definitely outweigh the cons, like hand-crafting our ideal wedding right down to the last detail, having time to get to know family & friends better with all the DIY parties i can throw,we save a lot of money and all the skills i can develop by doing all these crafts and arts.

But i realize this is a personal preference. I understand the convenience of having professional people do it all for you in an easy package and i understand the need to be relaxed and unbothered as the planning goes on and the wedding draws near.

For me, it's just different *shrugs*
Does it take up a lot of my time? Yeah definitely. Does it stress me out more? I think so. But it sure is rewarding =)

Here's one of the darlingest wedding blogs i follow : Peonies & Polaroids.

I'll just leave you some quotes from a post over there...

Once there was a girl, she was planning a wedding. It was to be a relaxed affair but oh so stylish and very intimate. She and the boy would only invite people that they truly loved, that they couldn't image getting married without. It would take place out doors, or so they hoped, and prayed, and hoped some more. But they lived in Scotland you see? And in Scotland it rains, all year round. So although the wedding was to be in August it would be foolish to plan a wedding outside. But the girl was a fool and would not be swayed from her plans of an aisle of the sweetest smelling grass and a summer barbecue in a stone clad courtyard bordered on one side by a rambling old castle and the other by a cottage country garden. The flowers were just too pretty and the air too fresh, she would not be married indoors, oh no.

 The girl was young, 22 when she got engaged and although her friends were so very happy for her they were living lives very different from hers and she felt embarrassed to talk to them about weddings. Shades of ribbon, weights of card and registries of gifts seemed so very odd to her. She was not the kind of girl who had dreamed of her wedding all her life. Perhaps she had hoped that in the future there might be a man she would would love so much that marriage would not seem a terrifying prospect and perhaps she had even thought of what heavenly delights she might wear on such an occasion, but the thoughts were fleeting.

just a stray thought

Somebody coined up the term "Bridezilla". That somebody (i'm guessing) would probably be a person who's real annoyed at how exacting the bride-to-be is being with all her wedding planning, right down to the last detail. Or at how insistent and adamant and pushy she is at wanting things a certain way, her way or the highway. Or at how she goes nuts or stressed at the tiniest sign of something going just fractionally wrong.

But people, don't laugh. Do you know what makes Bridezillas? Bridezillas are made by people who distort her vision of the wedding, unkind comments and lack of true support. Nobody wants to be a Bridezilla, you know.

All ye who laugh, realize that YOU make your own evils.

Be nice.

I'm there now

There is a point where the excitement of being engaged withers away under the pressures and struggles of the planning and everything else that falls in your path. That's where i am, i think.

You know that story from ye olde Sunday School days about Jesus' teaching about seeing the speck in your brother's eye and not noticing the log in your own? I have never felt that more than now. I shall endeavour to repent and keep pushing on. I must remember that the kingdom of heaven is like that : of a man who finds treasure in the ground and sells everything he has to get that treasure. For anyone who forsakes everything he possesses for Jesus' sake and for the sake of his gospel will gain treasure in heaven and anyone who gives up his life for the sake of His gospel will gain life.

May the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, be more important to you than anything else in this world.

my flats are so justified!

Aren't these gorgeously pretty? Maybe i should dazzle my pair up with some brightly colored flowers like these. I can assure you the bride was extremely comfortable the whole day and there were no winces in any wedding photos nor did she need blister plasters. Yay!