where is athens?

Dates, plans ,activities, commitments, travel, play, learning, farewells......

She has lot's of things on.
She is having a lot of fun.
She is doing many things she wants.

Despite all these, she can't help but feel meaningless sometimes.
That's solely because she is a human being who cannot stop wondering.
However she has a HUMAN manual from the Creator.

Look, the Human manual has a lot of emo stuff inside.
If you take a look at Ecclesiastes, the wisest man ever, King Solomon said everything is meaning less!

Look at the first two verse:

1:1		The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
1:2		Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Vain. Everything is in vain.
Meaningless. Why he said so when he had everything?
He was the wisest man.
He had a powerful kingdom!
He had all women he wanted.
He had the riches.
He had everything.

Hey go read that book. See what he had written about things.
When you read till the last chapter, it is some advice for young people.
COOL!

Click here, for
传 道 书
Ecclesiastes

Enjoy^^

Today when I was reading the bible, this was revealed to me.

Exodus 5:22-23
And Moses returned to the LORD and said,"O Lord, why have you brough trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all."

God commanded Moses to go before pharaoh to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. However the Egyptians treated them even badly. Moses was complaining to God.

God, why?
Didn't You promise to rescue?
Why are we still suffering?

This is from this website
http://www.cclw.net/Bible/LAB/index.htm

完成神的工作会经历苦难，但苦难也会带来──
　　5:22-23　法老加重了希伯来人的担子，摩西埋怨神并未拯救百姓。他希望立竿见影，少些麻烦。神动工的时候，我们仍会有痛苦、挫折、艰难临到。新 约的雅各书鼓励我们，当遭遇磨炼的时候要喜乐（参雅1:2-4）。
困难使我们：
（1）全心信靠神，信他为我们所做的尽是美好的，万事都互相效力，叫爱神的 人得益处（参罗8:28）；
（2）让神在我们的境遇中多得荣耀；
（3）想到神必不撇下我们；
（4）留心神对我们的旨意。

In completing God's work we will experience suffering; but it will bring...
The pharaoh put more burden on the Hebrew's shoulder. Moses complaint that God was not rescuing his people. He wanted little trouble and quick deliverance. When God is working, we will still experience suffering, frustration and difficulties. In the New Testament, the book of James encouraged us to rejoice when we are facing trials (ref James 1:2-4).

Trials allow us to:
(i) fully believe in God, believe that he do good things for us, in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (ref Romans 8:28);
(ii) glorify God in our unfavorable circumstances;
(iii) remember that God will not forsake us; (4) pay close attention to his will.

Read Exodus 6 to see how God answer the frustrated Moses.

I am waiting for God to deliver me.
God, I want to praise your name at the end of the day.

On Sabbath.

Every Sunday in camp we observed Sabbath.
Sabbath was commanded by God. We cease from what we are working on and rest before God.

In camp, we tried something special.

We had a short service in the morning. Then from 10am to 5pm, we were not supposed to talk to anyone!

The camp site isn't that big. Everywhere we went we meet people. Not to talk? No activity? Do what?

We were given a few questions to reflect on what we had learned during the week. What God had been speaking to me this week? What we had jot down during talks and no time to ponder.

Every Sabbath when I looked into my notes to examine my relationships, my heart went very heavy.

I opened my note book. When I wanted to look at what I had written during the week regarding my own relationships, I felt the reluctance in my heart. I wanted to close the note book and go to sleep.

But I knew I should not run away anymore.
I need to be honest to myself.
When any problem arose, I just pushed the thoughts aside.

When I needed to look at my relationships with my family members, I wanted to close the notebook.
I prayed hard. GOD!!!!
I got no strength to go on.
I opened the notebook and thought the relationships over, where they need to be mended. Pray and submit to God.

When I needed to look into my relationships with friends, I felt the same reluctance again.
Same went to my relationships.
I always liked to show people as if I had been healed from all pains.
I like to tell my own sad stories without emotion, as if it is not my own.

Now, I am learning to be honest to myself.
It is bad enough not to be fake before other people, it is even worse to tell lies to yourself.

If you are happy, show it. Don't be afraid that people will be offended.
If you are sad, it is OK to cry.
If you love someone, don't show as if you don't care.

I realised I don't allow myself to feel sad, happy, angry and all.
I always tried to be neutral.
Emotionless.

Oh Athens, be true to yourself.

Continue my story on redeeming relationship with my family....

The problem with me is, I know very little about my extended family.
When we were asked to construct our family tree, I realized that I don't even know my grandfather's name.

He died when my dad was 10. It seems to be a painful topic.
There are a lot more taboo names and events in my extended family.
One never present for reunion dinner.
I have not seen one of my cousins before.
Did my grandfather have another family last time?

There are a lot of questions, but I never care to ask.
Or I never dare to ask.
They shunned away from telling, because the stories are too painful.
It disturbs the perceived peaceful mind when the topics are brought up.
But I still want to know.
I am digging into a handful of painful stories, trying to understand more about my extended family.
I pray hard.
Lord, make my conversations with them bring healing, and not more hurts.

The 2nd week, we had "Redeeming relationship with others".

The first two nights were on redeeming relationship with family.

Many of us need God to redeem our relationship with our immediate family members- dad, mum, siblings.

Many fear our parents. Abusive fathers, distant fathers,perfectionist parents etc.
Some might have lost their parents too young.
Some are tortured by the pains brought by favoritism of parents.
Some never reach the expectation of their parents.
Many of us reflect what we witness in our parents' generation and bring forward the same style of hurtful talking.
Some felt like there are some family curses in the family- divorces and diseases.
Some hate their parents for being too strict.
Some hate their parents that never care for them.
Some blame their family for being poor.
Many do not understand why they are always being compared with their siblings.

It is so hard to forgive. We don't even know that we hate them. Maybe that person has already pass away, but that person is still difficult to be forgiven.

The list goes on. Sinful men trying to love. Imperfect families. Men with brokenness walking everywhere.

Everyone has some relationships to allow God to work on them.
The memories are so painful that we often suppress and we don't even know that they pain us so much.
We too often walk away.
We need to talk things out. It is never an easy task. It may end up in quarrel if both sides are not ready.
At least we try?
I believe that talking things out can heal some of the relationship, but there are somethings deep within....
Well, I truly believe that only God can heal.

Talk to men, talk to God.

May we too soon receive God's inner healing.
He is a God we need, for we are sinful.
He is a God who is able to change us and others.
He is a God who is able to do impossible things in our eyes.

More on my family next post.

Here comes the night series
"Redeeming relationships"

The speaker spoke about redeeming relationship with God during the first week of camp.
Then we were given different exercises to do to allow God to reveal what are some brokenness in our relationship with Him.

What were our experiences with the idols/ other gods before we came to know Jesus that might now hinder our relationship with our God?

What are some of the distorted views that we have about God?
(eg, since we call Him Father in heaven, are our views on God distorted because our imperfect fathers on earth influence us to have weird thoughts about our God?)

What hinder us from getting closer to God?
(eg, sins, refusal to forgive)

I found myself struggling with this issue.
I always want something that I don't have.
In other words, I find myself seething with jealousy.

When I look at my friends, I ask God.
God, why do You give her so much?
Good look, good family, talents, money?

Why is she better looking than me? She is so attractive.

Why is she born in a good Christian family? She has all the education she needs. She need not worry about so many things.

Why is she so talented? She sings very well. She plays the piano. She leads. She 's sociable. All eyes are on her.

Why does she have so much money to spend on herself, looking even better.
God, I want a dslr. Why so many of my friends can afford to have one?

Thank God that I always repent very fast and did not do anything disastrous.
I stopped at just thinking.
But I never stopped asking.
As I quietened down myself, I knew that it was God who was speaking to me.
So gently.

Can good look satisfies you?
Sincerely I searched my heart.
I answered, no.

Can a good family satisfies you?
A good family can matter so much! But can it really satisfy me?
No. Reluctantly, I answered.

Can money satisfy you?
With money I can buy so many things. But will I be truly satisfied?
I answered, no.

Not even a DSLR, what you really want since a long time ago, can satisfy you.
Not even by traveling to Prague and Maldives, your dream vacations, can satisfy you.

His voice was so soft and gentle. He wasn't scolding. He wasn't impatient. He was like a father patiently explaining to a young childish kid.

Then I asked, Lord, what then can satisfy me?
Me, He said.

How?
I AM WHO I AM. This is my name. (Exodus 3:14)

?????
????
???
??
?

I didn't understand.
At last, I got it.

Very gently, He told me.

I AM WHO I AM.

I will be your eternal lover.
I will be your friend.
I will give you the security you need.
I will be who you need.

I can't describe the feeling.
It is like you knew exactly that He is there with you.

Is that peace?
I don't know.

Grandpa David, Grandma Lian Chui, small uncle Jay Ren, Aunty Chia Hoey, Papa James, Mama Dechen, Jia Sheng, Jessica, Grace, Rose, Kheng Swee,Hul Ling, Andrew, Chooi Ping, Ruth and Cheryl.
* I miss you guys!*

After "Lectio Divina" and breakfast, we had talks entitled" Chronicles of God and His Kingdom".

We had different speakers every week.
The speakers took us through the bible- from Genesis to Revelation to give us a brief account of what God has been doing and what He is still doing today.

In the first week, what struck me the most is this characteristic of God.
God knew that men is going to betray Him again and again.
First Adam would not follow His instruction and would take the forbidden fruit.
Then again and again the people sin against Him.

Yes, God knew all these are going to happen.
Men will not remember God.
But He still chose to create us, love us and even to pay a very heavy price to save us.
He allowed Himself to be vulnerable to injuries.
When I looked into the bible, indeed.
He is grieving for us, the people who do not know Him.
The people full of sin.
Jesus wept.

My mind was thinking.
An emo God?
A love I can't comprehend.

Second thing that struck me.
Men sinned in paradise.
When they had everything.
In the garden of Eden, there was everything.
The presence of God, abundance of food, a duty given, love between husband and wife.
There was no shame.
Adam and Eve were put to take care of the garden.
If let's say they eat a fruit for each meal, 3 kinds of fruits per day, how many days would they take to finish trying all?

Yet they were tempted, to doubt God's intention.
Why God? I want to be like God. Right Now.

Men sinned in paradise.
Some blamed Adam and Eve to have sinned.
That's why human race suffers since then.
Would you do the same if you were in their shoes?

Most probably. This is my answer. Sigh.

The speaker posted a thought.
The churches now are like Eden.
We have everything.
We have the love of God, the forgiveness of sins, a purpose of life etc.
Watch out!

Men still are able to sin.
Churches are growing, sometimes not because many turn to Christ, but because church splits.
Different opinions, fights, splits.
Christians of course would have different opinions!
But how to resolve the problems and maintain unity is to see the love and wisdom of the leaders.
We often just walk away.

May God bless His church.

10-29 May 2010
Lakeview Lutheren, Cameron Highlands
Fellowship of Evengelical Student

It's so FUN to be with God~

Phew~
Finally I am back from the mountain.
Ibelieve that the experience was more than a mere mountain top experience.
I met God there.
There is no turning back.

The most valuable thing that I found was to expect God to speak personally. Ask, and you shall be given.

Ok......I shall start telling you what on earth the 3 weeks camp was for.
So looooong!
Let's start with the first program every morning.
It's called "Lectio Divina", which means divine reading.
It was actually listening to the scripture (bible).
The Word of God was meant to be listened.
The Jews listened to the Word every Sabbath for they had no written bible.
Now more often we just read and read and feel that the bible is boring or just another ordinary storybook, not getting the power of the Word of God.

This was how it was run.
Mornings at cameron were often super cold.
All gathered at hall. All were asked to quiet down ourselves and see what came into our mind.
When the thoughts enter our mind, we don't push them aside, as many other meditations do.
Instead, we thought them over and submit them to God.

We close our eyes and trying to listen what God wanted to tell us that day.
Then the speaker then read out some versus.
Then silence. We listened and quieten ourselves before God.
The versus were read again.
Then silence. We meditated.
Then again.

Then we would write our responses (prayer, thoughts etc).
Then we shared with each other.

How did I know it was God speaking to me, and not my own thinking?
Let me share my experiences.
One morning I quieten down myself, trying to listen to God.
My mind was quite blank. I was feeling cold.
Suddenly there was a thought entering my mind.

You must humble down yourself. You are too proud.
I realized it was indeed my weakness. He wanted me to realize everything I have is from Him.
I then prayed to God, ask Him to teach me how to be humble.
Then the scripture was read.

It was from 2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The Word struck me.

There were other experiences too. They were not coincidences!
Who am I that You would want to speak to me, my Father in heaven?
Stay tuned for more the next few posts.

Observe the poster closely....what can you see?
this is a letter from erwin on FB

Hi guys and gals!

Are you searching for something more to life? Tired of going through the same boring routine in life all the time? Is there a deeper meaning in life? What are you really living for? Is it even worth living in today's world? INTI Christian Fellowship invites you to search for answers in this grand rally at the MPH on 10th March 2010 at 6.30pm. Both Christians and non-Christians are invited to experience the time of your life with great music from a live band and an inspirational message that offers a deep insight into life's most intriguing questions.

ICF Rally is a musical concert organized by INTI Christian Fellowship. Highlights of the concert include band performances by Psalmist Generation, a drama skit by ICF and a life-changing message by Pastor Christopher Long.

Do help invite all your friends on facebook for this life-changing event! Don't let them miss out on this opportunity!

With gratitude and thanks,
Erwin

Lastly, look at the poster from top left to right.

Is life just these?
There is more to life.
Do come with your friends, and search for the answer.

Love,
Athens

* F.O.C

约翰福音

2:1	第三日，在加利利的迦拿有娶亲的筵席，耶稣的母亲在那里。
2:2	耶稣和他的门徒也被请去赴席。
2:3	酒用尽了，耶稣的母亲对他说：“他们没有酒了。”
2:4	耶稣说：“母亲（注：原文作“妇人”），我与你有什么相干？我的时候还没有到。”
2:5	他母亲对用人说：“他告诉你们什么，你们就做什么。”
2:6	照犹太人洁净的规矩，有六口石缸摆在那里，每口可以盛两三桶水。
2:7	耶稣对用人说：“把缸倒满了水。”他们就倒满了，直到缸口。
2:8	耶稣又说：“现在可以舀出来，送给管筵席的。”他们就送了去。
2:9	管筵席的尝了那水变的酒，并不知道是哪里来的，只有舀水的用人知道。管筵席的便叫新郎来，
2:10	对他说：“人都是先摆上好酒，等客喝足了，才摆上次的；你倒把好酒留到如今！”
2:11	这是耶稣所行的头一件神迹，是在加利利的迦拿行的，显出他的荣耀来，他的门徒就信他了。

http://www.jonahome.net/lxbsj/LAB/index.htm

肩担重负仍关心群众；你肩上的担子可是忙、忙、忙……为谁而忙？
　　2:1-2　耶稣肩负拯救人类的最伟大使命，但仍抽时间赴婚宴，参与庆祝活动。或许我们会认为不应剥夺做“重要”事情的时间去参加社交活动，但可能这 些活动也是我们使命的一部分。耶稣重视这些婚宴，喜欢与人共赴。与人一起庆祝欢乐，也可以履行使命，因此要过均衡生活，将信仰带进你的工作和娱乐里去。

盛会定要有美酒？
　　2:1-3　当时，婚礼庆典持续整个星期，主人家会大宴亲朋。招待众多客人需要有充分的准备工作，而酒用光了是非常尴尬的事，破坏了热情款客的不成文规矩。

马利亚不明白耶稣的意思，可她顺服；若要我顺服，我……
　　2:4-5　马利亚大概不是叫耶稣显神迹，只是叫他找些酒回来，以解困境。耶稣的答复很令人费解，但又很有道理。虽然马利亚并不知道耶稣准备怎样做， 但她信任他。同样我们请求耶稣帮助解决问题时，可能会有自己的想法，但他或许会有截然不同的计划，我们应该效法马利亚，顺服主，让他按其心意处理问题。

花花绿绿的人生，好不吸引；有耶稣在内的生命嘛……
　　2:10　人在神以外到处寻找刺激和意义，总以为神是沉闷不堪，了无生气的。但正如耶稣造的酒是上好的美酒一样，在他里面的生活必比单靠自己而活好得多。为什么要等到走投无路才寻找神？为什么把最好的留待最后一刻才享用？

也许你忘了，也许你忘不了，那天你信耶稣，今天你仍信耶稣是为了什么？
　　2:11　门徒看见耶稣所行的神迹就相信了。神迹不单是人做不到的事情，更是彰显神能力的事情。我们相信神不是因为他有超自然的力量，而是因为他是神，他会继续在我们身上做工，赐我们新生命。