Questions

It is interesting how my attention has shifted from the fluffier types of entertainment to ones that are far more educational and enriching. I'd rather listen to the BBC World Series than music, I find myself poring through the newspapers and I've even started to keep an eye out for news papers of an international variety. I am now more prone to turning to the History, Travel or Discovery channels rather than MTV, or any other channel.

I am not sure if it is so much that my tastes have changed rather than it is me sub-consciously searching for something.

Perhaps it is the sub-conscious search that leads me to record certain shows. Shows like "Inside islam".

Alright, do not hold your breath. I am not about to criticise or analyse to death. I am not going to throw stones or pin-the-tail-on. I never have, if that's believable.

I started recording at a point were a Mullah or is it an Imam? He was throwing up his hands to the sky and proclaiming that the Bible failed to record an event which took place and hence was recorded in the Qu'ran.

That God had told Mary to remain silent on the issue of her chastity, instead she pointed/or was to point at her newborn Baby (Jesus) who would then/who then proclaim/proclaimed the virgin status of his mother to the crowds/people who accused her.

For awhile I was taken aback by that.

Till of course, something began to nibble at me.

It nibbled from the middle of my chest where lies my bronch and worked its way down to the pit of my stomach, where it transformed from being an uncomforatble feeling to full-blown realisation.

God would not have done that.

Never have I ever known God to do anything unnecessary.It was always enough, sufficient, just and good.

If you are unfamiliar with the story of the birth of Christ, it is as follows:-

Mary is a good Jewish Girl, she is visited by an angel who tells her she has been impregnated by the spirit of God, and this baby will be the Messiah.She is the chosen vessel for God who was coming to earth in flesh.

She has been betrothed to Joseph the carpenter, who intends to divorce her quietly, when the knowledge of her pregnancy comes to light. Instead one of God's angels visit him in the night and tells him the truth and tells him to marry Mary and take her away to another place.

The King of the land at that time-King Herod, is told of this other King who is to be born and who shall liberate His people, mistakenly believing that this child would dethrone him, he ordered that all the male children of jewish origin be killed.

Now here's why I believe that the Qu'ran may not be accurate on what it is saying.

1.) Mary and Joseph had left their home to go elsewhere, a place where no one knows them. They left as a married couple.There would have been no need to prove her chastity, because everyone would have assumed that she was impregnated as a woman should be- by her husband.

2.) Herod was on a mission to exterminate all male-infants.


Imagine one had spoken.



Jesus would have been tracked down very easily and massacred pre-maturely.

It could have happened. But as far as I know God, He has never been one to unnecessarily draw attention Himself when He was on earth. Sometimes, yes, he drew crowds numbering thousands. But never once did He do anything unnecessary.

If it did happen, it was for a purpose.

In this documentary, over and again, they drew comparisons between Islam, Judaism and Christianity.


Why?

The original notion of course, would be that Judaism and Christianity was the foundation of Islam in some ways. Islam and the Qu'ran was the "great correction" if I may say so, according to the Qu'ran itself.

But the comparisons drawn were to matters such as- the Prophet Mohamed had never allowed his image to be captured in any form, lest he be worshipped as God, and steal the glory of God away from Him.

HOWEVER.

Oh, I love that word.

I wonder about it, what does it mean exactly?- the everlasting how? No matter.


It is not so for Jesus, there are images of him everywhere, and the documentray showed images of Jesus on the crucifix, paintings of Jesus etc.

I wondered in that instant.

Jesus, did not care whether or not his image was captured- He was here to be one of us, God amongst men, He walked amongst us mingled with us, faced the very hardships that we face.

But Mohamed decided to keep his face a mystery, and in so doing, he inadvertently perhaps has caused his people to revere his image. It is sacred, it is holy, it cannot be captured or envisioned. It is a sin to do so.

Has he not elevated himself to a god-status? Perhaps it was unintentional. But not all idols are cast in stone or metal to be worshipped. Some idols exist only in the metaphysical sense.

Mohamed came, the narrator narrated- to clear away the idols who were being worshipped at Mecca, just the way Jesus would drive out the Money-changers and merchants at the temple in Jerusalem.

Yet that very place has become a place of worship. Millions of Muslims making their way to pray at that holy stone draped in golden thread sewn lines from the Qu'ran.

Everyday,five times a day, they bow in the direction of that stone and say out aloud their prayers towards it.

Perhaps. Could it be. That that stone itself has become an idol? How could there ever be a place of holiness on earth, a place so special that it would warrant so much attention? Five times a day? In its direction.

I wonder what the average Muslim would say if I asked him to worship in another direction looking at the sky. I shall ask, and see what i get in reply. This is not a challenge, just a quest for answers.

This earth we are on, is not heaven. We look towards the heavens to pray our prayers.

The good intentions of one man, may not have lived past his time.

He is right about one thing though.

God is ONE and NOT three.

Dhanya Gouresan Nair

There is an occasion described in the bible, when several people wanted to stone a woman for committing adultery. Jesus, however stepped in and said, “Which of you has never committed a sin, let him be the first to cast the stone”. Then he began to write on the ground.

Some speculate that he wrote out the sins of those gathered around, waiting to stone the adulteress, and some reckon he must have listed out the Ten Commandments, and in so doing shamed them into going away.

Ever so often, I visit Dhanya’s blog, and on every occasion I note some one or other actually taking the trouble to tag on her board something condemning, just plain stupid, or both.

These group people, whoever they are, are perfect. They are celestial beings who descend ever-so-often down to earth to kick sand in the faces of the less worthy.

Us.

The ones, who makes mistakes, who sometimes make a less-than-good decision, who have regrets, and who just go on with life making a blunder of it every now and then.

These “beings” surely have never done any sort of wrong. What sort of wrong?

I’m sure we have all at some point hated someone, now in God’s books, hating someone is the equivalent of murdering them.

Hmmm, we’re all murderers.

In God’s books, should any one entertain lustful thoughts of someone else- say someone other than their spouse , or girl/boy friend- then they have already committed adultery.

So, that renders most of us as adulterers.

But of course this only relates to Us. The imperfect.

The celestial beings who come by Dhanya Gouresan Nair’s blog however, belong to another realm of existence.

You know, I really can not tell what peeves them.

Is it that she narrowly escaped a life that would have kept her wondering what could have been, a life that while would not have doomed her to any sort of suffering would have always left some sort of emptiness in her.? Is that it?

That she no longer has to live the mundane life that you judgmental taggers have found yourselves mired in? That she now has a chance of working out life as most 22 year olds can and should?

Or is it that she has breached your sense of morality and ethics, some how screwed up the justice in the world, by annulling her marriage, and because of this imbalance nothing will ever be right in the galaxy ever again?

Mayday! Mayday!

The term is annulled. Trust me, I would know, I file divorce papers everyday. Annulled means the marriage is void, it will be as if the marriage never existed.

She is not a divorcee. Oh, and by the way, this is not in her defence. I, certainly never backed the annulment, for your information.

But I did realise eventually, that her decision was for the benefit of both parties and it was something that took a lot out of her - to inflict hurt on others.

Dhanya, is irresponsibly carefree, perpetually late, heart meltingly kind, and chronically bimbotic, yet stunningly- yes, beautiful, but intelligent, too. Sincere.

Jay? Is responsible, hard-working, diligent, analytical, stern and loyal.

Does anyone else see the mismatch? They were driving each other crazy.

It takes a certain level of stupidity or courage to do what Dhanya has done.

I applaud her for it. Because I’m not sure if I have the strength that she does. The truth is, your tagging does nothing to her.

It really doesn’t. It really is entertaining. It really is stupid too.

But.

What are you really trying to achieve? I’m not asking you to accept this, because it will surely lead to erosion of moral soundness in our society etc or something to that exaggerated effect.

I’m just saying that her intentions for annulling this marriage were far nobler than you think.

Think about it, how easy would it have been to simply marry Jay- who by the way is financially well to do, especially when you belong to a lower middle class family, with not one, not two, not even three, but four daughters?

Very financially viable marriage, don’t you think?

She would have been settled for life.

There is a Sudanese woman who has been arrested for wearing pants. Across the causeway, there’s another woman , who will be caned for drinking beer in public. Every where in the world women are judged so harshly , with no measure of compassion, or any sort of leniency.

Yet, by whom? Equally flawed, imperfect, irrational, and illogical beings like yourselves.

Oops.

I think I accidentally passed judgment on you. Forgive me. It was inevitable.

Let me ladle out some truth, as kindly as I know how:

You are hiding behind the convenient and cowardly cloak of anonymity throwing half-baked pot shots at a young girl who is trying to figure things out.

This really isn’t about Dhanya, because from what I’m seeing she seems to be standing in the light.

This is about, you, cockroaches hiding in the dark.

There I’ve said it.

A SEASON OF ________________.

Sister Barbara Willoughby passed away on 21 August 2009, and in what seems like a double whammy, I've just received news that Zoe Christian passed away in Australia, earlier this month.


Memorial Service ~ Celebration of A Life


Sis Barbara fought a good fight, finished her race and did well. She impacted many lives not only in Singapore but also in the far reaches of the globe.

A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be held in Singapore on 28 August, Friday at 7.00 pm in Tabernacle of Joy, Chinatown Point.

It will not be a time of mourning but rather of celebration and thanksgiving. Worship is a place where we can drown out the voices of sorrow and doubt with floods of adoration and praise. Worship was her passion and worship we will do as we reminisce about a remarkable and courageous woman. We will approach God with a heart of gratitude and thank him for allowing us to know and to love Sis Barbara.


Sis Barbara had requested donations to ‘Missions’ in lieu of flowers and wreaths. Cards maybe sent to Tabernacle of Joy Singapore, 133 New Bridge Road, #05-02 Chinatown Point, Singapore 059413.


Lastly, thank you for the loving and poignant tributes about Sis Barbara. They have ministered to and encouraged the Willoughbys and the Tabernacle of Joy Family.

Please do log on to the Tabernacle of Joy website at www.tabjoy.org for all updates and information. For further information, you may call me at(65)97570075 or (65)6312 7498. We will do our best to address your queries.

Abiding in Him

Sandra Subner

On behalf of Pastor Timothy Lee

Tabernacle of Joy Singapore

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Death is of course inevitable.

But when my turn comes, i hope that it would be said, that my life was lived serving God.

That I finished what I started, and that I made a difference.

My heart goes out to the families.

DEFINING AGGRESSIVE PROSELYTISATION


AGGRESSIVE

ag⋅gres⋅sive  /əˈgrɛsɪv/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [uh-gres-iv] Show IPA
Use aggressive in a Sentence
–adjective 1. characterized by or tending toward unprovoked offensives, attacks, invasions, or the like; militantly forward or menacing: aggressive acts against a neighboring country.
2. making an all-out effort to win or succeed; competitive: an aggressive basketball player.
3. vigorously energetic, esp. in the use of initiative and forcefulness: an aggressive salesperson.
4. boldly assertive and forward; pushy: an aggressive driver.
5. emphasizing maximum growth and capital gains over quality, security, and income: an aggressive mutual fund.
6. Medicine/Medical. a. (of a disease or tumor) spreading rapidly or highly invasive; difficult or impossible to treat successfully.
b. pertaining to a risky surgery or treatment, or to a medication that has grave side effects: aggressive chemotherapy.






PROSELYTISATION


pros·e·ly·tize (prŏs'ə-lĭ-tīz')
v. pros·e·ly·tized, pros·e·ly·tiz·ing, pros·e·ly·tiz·es

v. intr.
1.To induce someone to convert to one's own religious faith.
2.To induce someone to join one's own political party or to espouse one's doctrine.
v. tr.
To convert (a person) from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another.
pros'e·ly·ti·za'tion (-tĭ-zā'shən) n., pros'e·ly·tiz'er n.

WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS...

It's good to listen and read in between the lines of what he is saying.

If you're sensitive enough, that is.

Some people i know would be openly cheering at the strong stance Singapore is taking on religion.

But the Minister's words reveal a whole other dimension.

Let's see if you can sense it.. =)
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COLOUR BASED PERSONALITY TEST

You are 47 % extrovert and 53 % introvert.

Independently of any order of importance :

You are able to have an in-depth thinking, you think before acting, and you know how to communicate your knowledge.

You are also a manager and a structured person, you know how to take into account the needs of each person while leading them towards the set goals.

Finely you are imaginative and creative, you have always new ideas, and you know how to apply them.


Your attitude towards the environment :

facts feelings idees


At first, at 33%, you are focused on the facts and on the reality, and your decisions are determined by your perception of facts.

Then, at a rate of 33%, you are attached to moral values and feelings, and you have an emotional relation with the environment.

Finally, at 32%, you are centered on your thoughts and your actions are determined by your knowledge and your experience.


Your highest qualities today :

At 21 %, you are thoughtful and deep, you think before getting into action and you know how to communicate your knowledge.

At 20 %, you are a manager and a structured person, you know how to take into account the needs of each person while leading them to the fixed goals.

At 19 %, you are thoughtful and capable of listening to others, you take into account the needs of others before setting up the defined objectives.

At 19 %, you are attuned to others and you show a good emotional intelligence, which allow you to give support to people.

At 19 %, you are intellectual and intelligent, you keep wondering and inquiring before setting up your next step or defining your values.

Finely, you are a manager and a leader, and you know how to organize groups of people and how to give them your energy, you are a creative person, with always new ideas, and you know how to apply them.

The Great What Ifs

What if I took a group of girls under my wing and helped them blossom to become the woman God had intended for them to be?

I'm talking about girls, most guys wouldn'nt give a second look at. Real girls with skin problems and weight problems. Problems with self-esteem and issues with the way they look. But on inside, beautiful girls just waiting to blossom.

What if, I helped them find that beauty within, and brought it out?

Helped them establish healthy eating habits and exercise routines?

Good beauty regimes worthy of Queen Esther from biblical times?

Looks arent't everything, I've learnt that much.

But healthwise, esteem wise, confidence wise?

We're here to become God's army, and to fulfil our purpose as His people.

Why should we be sloppy and fat? Why should we be any less then the people out there in the world?

If anything we ought to show'em we can outlook, outrun, out everything'em as much as we can pray.

We're doing it for God, taking pride in maintaining his temple, spiritually, physically, mentally.

Laziness/slothfulness is a sin, so is gluttony and greed.

When society sees a fat person somewhere in their subconscious-that's what they see. Laziness, gluttony and greed- on the flipside they may even see hoarding of wealth and a sort of selfishness. A lack of control.

Food is a resource, fuel for the body. That we have a bountiful source of food is a blessing, to indulge in it beyond what is necessary, is simply pleasuring your senses. We seem to do that constantly.

It's time to bring our flesh under control. S'pose it's why we fast.

But if we're stuffing our gobs with more food than the body needs the rest of the time, we're just harming ourselves.

Afterall, how do you become an elephant? When you've eaten like one - one bite at a time.

Then there is exercise. I like to run. Actually I just keep telling myself that till I believe it.

Same way I tell myself, I love Oats, and I LOVE Vegetables. But do it enough and over time, even your body starts to reject the stuff that's bad for it naturally.

Lead your mind. Lead your heart.

Keep yourself on the sraight and narrow.

Believe it. Become it.

It's interesting how man has perverted even food. The natural, the non-preserved, straight-from the ground, will never be beat by processed, preserved, and over-flavoured junk that fills shelves in the super market.

Stuff that's killing us. I don't think God ever intended for us to eat alot of the stuff that we're putting into ourselves. Synthetic nonsense.

So the devil waits for us to poison ourselves and then he gets us.

We need to be in control of everything, do the hard things now, so that we can pass on a legacy of good health, along with our spiritual inheritance.

It's not alright to be fat and unhealthy.

JUST TOO FUNNY


Elijah is a prophet in the Bible, and he challenges some prophets who worship a "pagan" god to a challenge of setting on fire a sacrifice by calling on their respective god's names. Read to find out what happens.

It's just too hilarious.
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Elijah on Mount Carmel


16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is that you, you troubler of Israel?"

18 "I have not made trouble for Israel," Elijah replied. "But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the LORD's commands and have followed the Baals.

19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.

21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."


But the people said nothing.


22 Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.


23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it.


24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God."


Then all the people said, "What you say is good."



25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire." 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.



Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.


27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened."


28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed.


29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins.

31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel."

32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs [a] of seed.

33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood."

34 "Do it again," he said, and they did it again."Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time.

35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench. (there was about 15 litres of water!!)

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.

37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!"

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WAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

I especially love verse 27. How sarcastic can a biblical prophet get, you tell me.

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