Shepherds and love

"Shepherding involves knowing your sheep, tending to them, sacrificing for them, and then letting them out to be sheep! If you do your job right, they'll always come back into the gate, because they know you are their Shepherd." ~ an excerpt from a comment.

Just read this, it's part of a comment off someone's blog post. I find this particularly interesting, especially because I have NEVER seen a Shepherd who let's his sheep out of his guidance, out of his care and out of his sight. This sounds eerily like the 'if you love someone, let them go and if they come back to you, they're yours' illustration people give. May I say: THIS IS NOT LOVE. Love doesn't let go, love holds on. 

It just brings to mind the passages in John, especially chapters14-17, where Jesus shows how he is the good shepherd. Verses like John 17:12 "While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled." NOT ONE of them lost. I definitely don't see any hint of letting them out of the pen. Even this verse John 10:27 "27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." If Jesus's sheep follow him, I don't see how there is any separation between them, or any letting go of any sort. Jesus is the good shepherd, which quite obviously suggests to me that all who are his sheep, will be kept safe and sound in the shepherd's care, safe from wolves and other harm. 

No good deed goes unpunished

The moral of the story is that sometimes you close one eye. On days like these, you have to close both eyes, for your own sake. In my case, tightly shut, with both hands pressing over them just to make sure they are very very very shut. 

If i were a heavenly being...

...I would like to be a divine traffic cop. With authority to fine on the spot, just by swiping a credit/debit card on my mobile card machine. I would fine traffic cops who initiate bribes. I would be the Singapore of traffic fines.

Some *gwai* thoughts

I pray & hope that one day, our own local theologians would be as well-equipped, gospel-centred and as capable as the kind *gwai lou* souls that have come to our shores to help, and also that as many people would gather to hear them.

Although with much thanks to the many international theologians i've had the privilege of listening to, there's so much to be said about the benefits of having the local guys equipped: local knowledge is helpful, if not of utmost importance, especially in application of the Word into the local context. The delicate details of culture is just hard to grasp, and who knows the ins and outs better than a born and bred local guy.

Sometimes i wonder also about the *gwai lou* effect on Malaysians. There seems to be some 'pukau' effect that happens when we hear white guys speaking, in comparison to hearing our own local pastors. It's weird, but true.

It's pretty exciting to think on the fact that in my church there are many who are eager to take up this daunting but honorable task. It's a good reminder for me, to keep praying for the growth of faithful pastor-teachers here in Malaysia.

Help my unbelief

A good response to our own unbelief, doubts in God's truth and our many questions about whether it is really true, is this cry: Lord, help my unbelief. Not to keep wondering why, not to sit flat on your bum, but to pray deep and hard, and to keep searching the Word of God for the truth that is sure and solid ground.

Help my unbelief - Red Mountain Church

I know the Lord is nigh,
And would but cannot pray,
For Satan meets me when I try,
And frights my soul away,
And frights my soul away.

I would but can’t repent,
Though I endeavor oft;
This stony heart can never relent
Till Jesus makes it soft,
Till Jesus makes it soft.

Help my unbelief.
Help my unbelief.
Help my unbelief.
My help must come from Thee.

I would but cannot love,
Though wooed by love divine;
No arguments have power to move
A soul as base as mine.
A soul so base as mine.

I would but cannot rest,
In God’s most holy will;
I know what He appoints is best,
And murmur at it still.
I murmur at it still.

Help my unbelief.
Help my unbelief.
Help my unbelief.
My help must come from Thee.

 

An Open Letter To Moms from Kid President

Haha, this kid is hilarious. Happy Belated Mother's Day!