Recent news have speculated that the Australian state of New South Wales may consider legalising same-sex marriages.
How do you feel about this? Do you welcome such news? Or does it fill you with dread?
Some of my other recent reading calls 'homosexuality' by a much stronger word - 'sodomy'. Apparently, sodomy was considered as a social and religious evil for many centuries. The Bible calls this kind of act as 'sin'.
However, homosexuality has been popularised through media, and people against this concept have been labled as 'homophobic'. They have been considered as narrow-minded, and not inclusive in their thinking.
It seems that rejecting the act of sodomy has been equated with the rejection of the people who practice such behaviour.
Actually, the church has struggled, but seems to have understood that it is to love the people, but to reject the sin. The sin is not to be practiced, but people can be forgiven. Such is my understanding of where the church stands anyway.
What do you think? Where would you stand in this debate? Is homosexuality sodomy? Why are more and more nations accepting of same-sex marriages if sodomy is bad?
Have we been tricked by the 'world's most successful brain-washing'?
How can we change our course if the present course is wrong?
28 July 2013
23 July 2013
The Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-37 is a parable that Jesus told to explain love to a lawyer. In a nutshell, the story is about a man who was beaten up by robbers and left for dead. A priest and a Levite passed by the wounded man but offered no help. They may have been in a hurry and did not want to be contaminated with the blood of the wounded. Then a Samaritan passed by. The Samaritans were considered as racial outcasts by the Jews. Yet this Samaritan took time to bandage the wounds of the man, put him on his donkey, took him to an inn keeper for care, and promised to pay for the man's care - even though he did not know the man. He did it out of pity. Pity that was translated to love.
When I read this story again tonight, I remembered that I had a similar experience to this wounded man, although not quite so bad.
I was crossing the road on foot one day, when an army truck hit me. I fell, then picked myself up and managed to get to the other side of the road. I did not realise I was bleeding until people around told me to stop walking. Most people just continued on their way, just like the priest and the Levite in the Bible story. Then a man stopped his car and offered to take me to hospital. He did not worry that I may mess up his car, as some other people might have. The man was a Muslim, if the clues from the stickers in his car were to be believed.
As I remembered this experience, I thought of the animosity that some Muslims and Christians have against each other. Is this similar to what the Jews used to have towards the Samaritans? Yet, as used by God, kindness does get shown.
In this holy month of Ramaddan, while the Muslims fast during the day, let the Christians pray for them - that there be love and kindness, and that God is seen to be real.
Will you join me to in such prayer? Why or why not? What specifically would you pray for?
May God bless you in your prayers too.
When I read this story again tonight, I remembered that I had a similar experience to this wounded man, although not quite so bad.
I was crossing the road on foot one day, when an army truck hit me. I fell, then picked myself up and managed to get to the other side of the road. I did not realise I was bleeding until people around told me to stop walking. Most people just continued on their way, just like the priest and the Levite in the Bible story. Then a man stopped his car and offered to take me to hospital. He did not worry that I may mess up his car, as some other people might have. The man was a Muslim, if the clues from the stickers in his car were to be believed.
As I remembered this experience, I thought of the animosity that some Muslims and Christians have against each other. Is this similar to what the Jews used to have towards the Samaritans? Yet, as used by God, kindness does get shown.
In this holy month of Ramaddan, while the Muslims fast during the day, let the Christians pray for them - that there be love and kindness, and that God is seen to be real.
Will you join me to in such prayer? Why or why not? What specifically would you pray for?
May God bless you in your prayers too.
21 July 2013
Flattery
"Flattery" is the act of praising someone; often in an insincere way because you wish to gain something from the act. This is the "meaning given by the Cambridge dictionary.
Do you flatter? Do you receive flattery? Why? How do you respond to it?
Joshua Rogers shared about his experience with flattery in his blog. He was out with his friend, Holly, when the conversation led him to give her a list of compliments. Upon receiving these compliments, Holly asked Joshua about his motives. "... are you interested in me?" was her question.
Joshua, in his naivety, explained that he sincerely believed his words when he paid those compliments. Holly, however, did not want to be flattered that way, unless the man was interested in her.
Would you call it flattery in such a situation?
Why wouldn't a woman like to receive compliments?
How can a man express himself without being interested?
I wish I understood the dating game better in my years before getting married. I would befriend people because I like to be friendly ... but never expecting the friendships to develop into anything intimate. Perhaps some women friends might have wished that I was after relationships that were deeper. Perhaps they weren't. Maybe the things that I had said were taken as flattery - sincere ones or otherwise. Maybe not.
What are the rules of the dating game? Does every couple understand those rules the same way? Can one be honest and understood all the time? When should one wish for relationships that are deeper, and when should one not?
What rules or guidelines would you advise the inexperienced?
Please share.
Do you flatter? Do you receive flattery? Why? How do you respond to it?
Joshua Rogers shared about his experience with flattery in his blog. He was out with his friend, Holly, when the conversation led him to give her a list of compliments. Upon receiving these compliments, Holly asked Joshua about his motives. "... are you interested in me?" was her question.
Joshua, in his naivety, explained that he sincerely believed his words when he paid those compliments. Holly, however, did not want to be flattered that way, unless the man was interested in her.
Would you call it flattery in such a situation?
Why wouldn't a woman like to receive compliments?
How can a man express himself without being interested?
I wish I understood the dating game better in my years before getting married. I would befriend people because I like to be friendly ... but never expecting the friendships to develop into anything intimate. Perhaps some women friends might have wished that I was after relationships that were deeper. Perhaps they weren't. Maybe the things that I had said were taken as flattery - sincere ones or otherwise. Maybe not.
What are the rules of the dating game? Does every couple understand those rules the same way? Can one be honest and understood all the time? When should one wish for relationships that are deeper, and when should one not?
What rules or guidelines would you advise the inexperienced?
Please share.
15 July 2013
Table 21
A game show was the vehicle used by the movie 'Table 21' to communicate its message.
Vivaan and Siya are the married couple in this story. Siya wins a competition and is awarded with a trip to Fiji. There, the couple celebrates their fifth wedding anniversary.
Their package included a dinner hosted by a rich Mr Khan. Mr Khan also hosts a reality show that is telecasted on the web. The couple is invited to be the contestants on this programme.
The contestants need to answer eight questions truthfully and perform a dare at the end of each question. They are given huge rewards if they are able to do this. However, they need to play the game to its end. The penalty for lying is death.
At first the questions are easier ones about their relationship, and the dares, though difficult and humiliating, are more harmless. Later, the questions become deeper, and the dares lie in the realm of being criminal.
Mr Khan reveals some of their deeper secrets, as Vivaan's fear of seeing blood and Siya's affair. He also exposes their willingness to commit murder; either because of fear or for the sake of self preservation.
In the end the game turns out to be Mr Khan's retaliation for the way his son was 'ragged' during his school days. The movie carries a strong message against 'ragging' - or bullying, as how I would say it in my country.
However, to me, the movie reveals more than just that. It also speaks loudly about our human nature. We have fears, and we have the ability to manipulate, cheat, lie, and maybe even murder to get over those fears. We want to have a comfortable and easy life and to be seen as strong and popular, and we can prey on the weak to boost our morale. Much to the detriment of those around us. We possibly reap the consequence of our actions also.
Do you think so? Is this what human nature is like? What can we do about it?
Have you seen the movie? Did you like it? Does it concern you the way Mr Khan personified God in the story?
How will you answer for your misdeeds when God calls you to judgement? How do you think the real world can be fixed?
Vivaan and Siya are the married couple in this story. Siya wins a competition and is awarded with a trip to Fiji. There, the couple celebrates their fifth wedding anniversary.
Their package included a dinner hosted by a rich Mr Khan. Mr Khan also hosts a reality show that is telecasted on the web. The couple is invited to be the contestants on this programme.
The contestants need to answer eight questions truthfully and perform a dare at the end of each question. They are given huge rewards if they are able to do this. However, they need to play the game to its end. The penalty for lying is death.
At first the questions are easier ones about their relationship, and the dares, though difficult and humiliating, are more harmless. Later, the questions become deeper, and the dares lie in the realm of being criminal.
Mr Khan reveals some of their deeper secrets, as Vivaan's fear of seeing blood and Siya's affair. He also exposes their willingness to commit murder; either because of fear or for the sake of self preservation.
In the end the game turns out to be Mr Khan's retaliation for the way his son was 'ragged' during his school days. The movie carries a strong message against 'ragging' - or bullying, as how I would say it in my country.
However, to me, the movie reveals more than just that. It also speaks loudly about our human nature. We have fears, and we have the ability to manipulate, cheat, lie, and maybe even murder to get over those fears. We want to have a comfortable and easy life and to be seen as strong and popular, and we can prey on the weak to boost our morale. Much to the detriment of those around us. We possibly reap the consequence of our actions also.
Do you think so? Is this what human nature is like? What can we do about it?
Have you seen the movie? Did you like it? Does it concern you the way Mr Khan personified God in the story?
How will you answer for your misdeeds when God calls you to judgement? How do you think the real world can be fixed?
05 July 2013
Earning money
Where does money come from? How do we get money?
An obvious answer that I expect many of us would think of is "work". However, in order to work, one needs to first find a job. Or have some money (capital) in order to invest in a business ourselves. Finding a job may not be easy in this day and age of high unemployment. Having money to start with in order to earn money may not be easy either. One can borrow, or sell stocks to start up one's business, but even then, it is no guarantee that the effort will pay off.
Martin Wildam's blog said some profound things on this matter, but the issue is not solved by his comments. As large organisations seek to be more efficient with their costs, unemployment results as a consequence and the disparity between rich and poor increases. It is still hard for the unemployed to gain employment.
But even if one is employed, there is no guarantee that one's job will always be there. Even if one is one's own boss, there is no guarantee that one's business will always survive.
So where does money come from? How can we have enough to live? Support ourselves and our dependents? Have enough stored up for a rainy day and for our retirement? What can we be sure of in order to survive today into tomorrow?
What do you think? Please share your insights and your sources of confidence. Thank you.
An obvious answer that I expect many of us would think of is "work". However, in order to work, one needs to first find a job. Or have some money (capital) in order to invest in a business ourselves. Finding a job may not be easy in this day and age of high unemployment. Having money to start with in order to earn money may not be easy either. One can borrow, or sell stocks to start up one's business, but even then, it is no guarantee that the effort will pay off.
Martin Wildam's blog said some profound things on this matter, but the issue is not solved by his comments. As large organisations seek to be more efficient with their costs, unemployment results as a consequence and the disparity between rich and poor increases. It is still hard for the unemployed to gain employment.
But even if one is employed, there is no guarantee that one's job will always be there. Even if one is one's own boss, there is no guarantee that one's business will always survive.
So where does money come from? How can we have enough to live? Support ourselves and our dependents? Have enough stored up for a rainy day and for our retirement? What can we be sure of in order to survive today into tomorrow?
What do you think? Please share your insights and your sources of confidence. Thank you.
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