Monday, July 31, 2006

How Sweet

How sweet it is to talk to God above,
Who hears my heart not just my words.
He knows me better than I know myself,
He looks deep within, past my outer shell.
When I have no more words to speak,
To Him yet I will still cling,
For silence with Him though it may seem,
A thousand words have gone between.
How Sweet by The Pilgrim
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Sweet Hour of Prayer
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”
Sweet Hour of Prayer by William Walford

禱告良辰歌
禱告之時甘甜之時,使我離閞煩惱之事,
來到神的座前發表所有意願,所有需要,
當我遇到重壓、憂愁我魂卻常得著自由
不陷惡者所有佈置,因為有你禱告之時。

禱告之時甘甜之時,如有隻翼載我願辭,
到衪寶座向衪求懇,衪是信實衪是全真。
衪既命我尋求衪面,信衪話語靠衪恩典,
我要將我重擔卸釋,在於你前甘甜之時。

禱告之時甘甜之時,每次相逢慰我心思,
直到我在毗斯迦山,發現我家極目一看,
脫下帳棚安靜等候,信心變見盼望成就,
臨行我必大聲告辭,平安平安禱告之時。

Monday, July 17, 2006

Four Legged Animals

I breathed a sigh of relief after penning the last sentence of a story I am working on. Surely, there is another story waiting for me, but nevertheless, I felt that I could take a breather. There were enough planning, meetings plus other stuff that had taxed my brain to the max recently. Mentally I was exhausted.

I took this opportunity to play a sport that I had once loved more dearly than my own physical body. I can remember the times when I would wake up early in the morning to play before the sun was out, and staying on the court till the lights went out. I can remember running drills till my legs and arms and back were sore, yet in my heart was a joy that was rarely felt. I can remember twisting my ankles, both of them, so badly that they were swollen immediately, yet having the desire to continue playing through the pain, through the injuries, and tasting the sweet scent of victory at the end, or even in defeat, knowing that I had given a hundred percent.

This is why I like the quote “The man in the arena”.

And sometimes, I wonder, where has that man gone?
Nowadays, there are many times I just want to be safe, from risks, from hurts, from pain. Like C.S. Lewis said, “Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal.” But deep in my heart I think I would despise myself when I become this man. (Strong words perhaps)

Where is that man who gives everything, his all? Where is the man who has a desire that burns so deeply within him? Where is that passionate man, the imprint of the fierce Lion, who seeks to devour everything that stands within Him and that He Loves? I want to find that man.

Like the overseers said this past weekend, we need to dream, we need to have visions. There are times when we must take care, but there are times when we must take charge.

As I look upon my friend the Horse, the one who started later than me but has since overtook me, I see a glimpse of hope. Through sheer hard work and determination, he has improved to be a front-runner. He is no longer weak, but a force to reckon with on the court. Though not a stallion, he can hold his own among the bigger four legged animals around. From pulling a cargo wagon at the sidelines, now he has become a racehorse applauded for his efforts on and off the court. Thank you Horse. Though you do not yet know Him, but there is a four-legged creature you need to know. He is the Lion and you were made in His image. He is the Lamb too, for He is gentle. And there is the Dove, though not like the other two on the ground, ask of Him and He will lead you to find them.
So in a simple game of basketball, So in life.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Every Day

It had been a great number of days since Pilgrim last updated the book on his right hand. Finding a tree to lean upon, he promptly sat down and wrote…

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Two weeks has passed since the Life Conference, where a thousand pilgrims gathered to learn about this “life” that the Storyteller has for us. A lot of things were shared and imparted. The truths and revelations had definitely stirred hearts to desire more of the Storyteller and the life He offers.

The Son spoke, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

And also, “Narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few finds it.” (Matt 7:14)

King David said, “You have made known to me the path of life.” (Psalm 16:11)

Saint Irenaeus concluded, “The glory of God is man fully alive.”

Then Dove perched itself on a branch of the tree. With a soft gentle voice He sang a verse,

“Come to the Father though your gift is small,
Broken hearts, broken lives, He will take them all…”

And once again, the Dove, also called the Spirit of Truth and Revelation, reveals that this song is not just for the not-yet-pilgrims, but a daily call to every one of us on the journey.

The Storyteller is able to restore everything, just like He restored the Son to glory after the crucifixion. He is the One and Only One that gives life!

-----

The conference is over. Now it is time to live out the teaching, with the Dove as my guide, in every day of my life.

Monday, June 12, 2006

The Right View of the Father

Pilgrim met up with a group of leaders on Thursday, and they were discussing whether the Storyteller of their lives would speak to them when they call upon His name. Whether He would really give us what we want, or only if it is according to His will. Whether we need to ask of Him, whether the asking really matters.

A lot of things were then shared and thought through, alot more prayed through I believe. These quotes and verses are for every one of the leaders, in addition to what had been shared in the book.
----

Go not abroad at every quest or call of an untrained hope or passion.
George Herbert

"Everything is permissible" - but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible" - but not everything is constructive.
1 Cor 10:23

Man finds it hard to get what he wants, because he does not want the best; God finds it hard to give, because he would give the best, but man would not take it.
George Macdonald

There is a communion with God that asks for nothing, yet asks for everything... He who seeks the Father for more than anything He can give, is likely to have what he asks, for he is not likely to ask amiss.
George Macdonald

You ask and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it upon your lusts.
James 4:3 (MKJV)

Test everything. Hold on to the good.
1 Thes 2:21

Beloved, if our heart does not accuse us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. And he who keeps His commandment dwells in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He gave to us.
1 John 3:21-24
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O Sweet Dove, open and guide our eyes to the right view of the Father, the same view as that of the Son, that we will not think of Him as the denying one, but the pleasing and giving One, the One that protects us from the bad, the One that witholds the good lest we destroy it with our untrained hearts and hands, only to give it back to us at the appointed time, the best and right time.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

The Monkey

Initially when the nickname was given,
A sense of amusement in my heart was risen.
Of all the animals why was the monkey chosen? -
The cousin of the Ape who caused the rebellion.

And yet as I ponder upon thy words,
“I only do my Father's works”
I cannot help but think,
perhaps things are not as bad as they seem.

For whatever a Monkey sees,
Will be what a Monkey does.
If it be Him that's all I see,
A Monkey I'll be if anyone asks.

The Monkey by Pilgrim

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Still not Animal Farm

I mentioned earlier in this blog that I am not writing "Animal Farm", that the Storyteller of my life is writing a Big Love Story with me, to me, for me, but it seems that the number of animals has dramatically increased.

From the small humble ant and hamster to the big polar bear, from the sea dwelling sotong and starfish to the high flying eagle, from the domestic cat and rabbit to the wild owl, numbers are being added.

In short, Supper Club is getting bigger. And Supper Club is getting healthier through sports. And most importantly, Supper Club has gathered to spur one another to worship the One who is worthy of worship.

"In God we live every commonplace as well as the most exalted moment of our being. To trust in Him when no need is pressing, when things seem going right of themselves, may be harder than when things seem going wrong. "
George Macdonald

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

My Grace is Sufficient - Delayed Testimony

Pilgrim sat in front of his computer monitor, an anxious look, a furrowed brow. A task (translation for a funeral) had been given and the deadline furiously approaching from the horizon. Limited time was against him. His limited knowledge was against him. But an unlimited Someone was 'for' him. (Romans 8:31b "If God is for us, who can be against us?")

To the soul, the heart and the mind,
The Dove spoke, "Do not be anxious, ask and ye shall receive."
The Son spoke, "My yoke is easy, and my burden light."
The Father spoke, "My grace is sufficient for thee. Place your eyes upon Me."

Creases on the forehead began to be smoothened. Breathing easier. A conscious effort needed still, but only to focus on Him and not the task. Amazingly, time seemed to move faster and slower at the same time, but they matter not.

In the end, the task was completed. However, for Pilgrim, the more important thing was the lesson learned.