Jesus welcomed children. In Mark 10:13-14, Jesus was upset when his grown-up disciples tried to shove the children away while others were bringing them to Jesus to be blessed.
Johan finds this to be typical of people in our society. If an important public figure were visiting, then we may have a child present flowers, and then children are not seen any more. In some churches, children are put aside in the creche, so they do not interrupt the service. In weddings, etc, unless they are very close to the bride or groom, quite often the children would be assigned a quiet table outside somewhere, or at the back, so they would not interrupt the adults.
Perhaps such behaviour is understandable. After all, the adult talk and long charade of activities are boring to many children, who then fidget and interrupt or get annoying. So what does it mean when Jesus said that we need to receive the kingdom of God like children?
Johan suggested that it is the focus and the relationship. Children look to their parents to provide their needs. They do not worry about money, time, resources, where their food or clothing or education comes from. They just need to know that Mum and Dad are there. Everything else will take care of themselves - or at least, Dad and Mum will take care of their problems.
If they have nightmares, or wounds or problems to deal with, then they go to Mum and Dad for a fix. If they have a need, then they can call out or cry; Dad or Mum would usually attend to them in a jiffy.
If Mum and Dad are not there for them, then they will worry. But when Dad and Mum are around, there is no need. They are generally content.
Perhaps this is the way we need to relate to God - instead of trying to handle our issues ourselves.
I was reading http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21829181.800-old-schooled-you-never-stop-learning-like-a-child.html during the week. The article basically says that adults are not too old to learn. The idea that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is not really true, unless you believe it and behave that way. Adults can learn new things as well as what children can.
A difference is our focus. Adults tend to have too many things to think about than to think about new subject matter.
Another difference is fear of embarrassment. Children have less of this, comparatively speaking.
Yet another difference is experience. To a child, everything is "new", and the world is there to explore. Because they are new, they are interesting. Some things are appealing because they are new and interesting. Other things are forced upon the child to learn so they do it. For many adults, it is as though they have seen it all before. The charm of exploring is not there. New things are a turn-off because it is a challenge they do not need to face, if they choose to settle in the areas that they have already explored instead.
A related issue is health. The less fit among us may have more trouble learning compared to the fitter ones.
In any case, if an adult were to approach learning in the same way as what a child does, then many things can be learnt as easily as what children do.
I think maybe not everything. We do get slower in some ways - because of health, and because neurons do not fire as sharply as what they used to. But I do think that our attitudes can make a difference.
What do you think? In what ways can an adult benefit from being "childish"? In what ways shouldn't an adult act "childish"? How should we live our lives healthily in this regard? How do we approach God as adults and children?
Please share your thoughts. Thank you.
28 June 2013
24 June 2013
Learning to live
What do you think it means to live? What is life all about? How are we to live our lives?
I am sure many, if not all of us, asks these questions as we live our lives. Sometimes, we take for granted that we have life and the way we do what we do are the way we are supposed to. But is that right? What if our culture and what we have learnt is mistaken in what they have taught us?
Max said something that means got me thinking. I don't remember his exact words, but what he said meant this: Deceiving hearts eventually harden. Bad habits develop. These things happen gradually, and we think it is okay. But really, they are not.
Romans 1:18-2:16 says the same thing more strongly. It says that people have substituted truth with unrighteousness; Godliness with other things that we think to be reasonable even if not exactly right. We exchange the truth of God for a lie. Then, as we ignore God, we live out greater and greater depravities until eventually, we heap serious judgement on ourselves.
We have become vile and inexcusable, and God will be our judge.
Ephesians 4:17-5:7 says that we need to live in the truth. We need to live out the things we have learnt from Jesus. We need to speak truthfully gracefully, be kind to our neighbours, live without sexual immorality, impurity or greed.
Are these the things you think of when you think about living? Or do you think about acquiring wealth and prestige, empires and abundances for yourself when you read the opening paragraph?
How are you living your life? How should you live it? What do you need to do to make it right, if you don't already have it right? What do you believe?
I am sure many, if not all of us, asks these questions as we live our lives. Sometimes, we take for granted that we have life and the way we do what we do are the way we are supposed to. But is that right? What if our culture and what we have learnt is mistaken in what they have taught us?
Max said something that means got me thinking. I don't remember his exact words, but what he said meant this: Deceiving hearts eventually harden. Bad habits develop. These things happen gradually, and we think it is okay. But really, they are not.
Romans 1:18-2:16 says the same thing more strongly. It says that people have substituted truth with unrighteousness; Godliness with other things that we think to be reasonable even if not exactly right. We exchange the truth of God for a lie. Then, as we ignore God, we live out greater and greater depravities until eventually, we heap serious judgement on ourselves.
We have become vile and inexcusable, and God will be our judge.
Ephesians 4:17-5:7 says that we need to live in the truth. We need to live out the things we have learnt from Jesus. We need to speak truthfully gracefully, be kind to our neighbours, live without sexual immorality, impurity or greed.
Are these the things you think of when you think about living? Or do you think about acquiring wealth and prestige, empires and abundances for yourself when you read the opening paragraph?
How are you living your life? How should you live it? What do you need to do to make it right, if you don't already have it right? What do you believe?
19 June 2013
Children grow up
"Gang rapes hit global headlines" in Delhi, according to SBS Dateline ... but apparently, more of the same thing happens in Phnom Penh that goes unreported.
According to the article, 5% of men surveyed have reported participating in gang rape, whereas in other parts of the world, only about 1-2% of men respond similarly. Apparently, there is a cultural practice called "bauk" where men consider the act to be a "plus"; to be male-bonding and having fun. They do not see it as rape or as bad behaviour. They do it because they think it to be normal within their society.
Apparently, sex workers are hired, and then forced to have sex with a group. Women, generally, do not fear getting attacked.
The justice system catches and punishes some men, and some people try to "correct" the situation.
The article explains that "In Cambodia like many countries young men are under pressure to appear tough and fit in. There is also a cultural reluctance among the older generation to talk to them about sex and healthy relationships."
It appears that the culture and the older generation are perhaps negligent in educating the younger ones about sex and acceptable, responsible behaviour. This leads to a practice that is perhaps deemed as undesirable in many other societies. To try to correct such behaviour suddenly would leave the young people to question why they are taught differently from what they have grown up believing.
So how do we address such issues?
Apparently, the older generation needs to take responsibility.
In Australia, it has been deemed that girls grow up too quickly, "worrying about weight, looks, boys and fashion at the age of ten" instead of enjoying childhood.
Generally, girls experience puberty while their ages are between 10 and 14 years. At this stage, they understand their bodies are changing, and they wonder what it means to be women. According to essentialkids.com.au, they can learn these things from adults, or from their peers. The opinion of the author is that adults make better mentors compared to peers. Peer influence tend to (generally speaking) be more dangerous.
For this reason, it is recommended that adults make time to spend with their developing children. It is inevitable that kids will learn from peers anyway, but some adult influence can be positive.
Do you think so? What do you think? How do we cure the problems that society will potentially face in the next generation? How much time do we spend with our children? How much do our children look up to us?
Does God have a role in all this?
According to the article, 5% of men surveyed have reported participating in gang rape, whereas in other parts of the world, only about 1-2% of men respond similarly. Apparently, there is a cultural practice called "bauk" where men consider the act to be a "plus"; to be male-bonding and having fun. They do not see it as rape or as bad behaviour. They do it because they think it to be normal within their society.
Apparently, sex workers are hired, and then forced to have sex with a group. Women, generally, do not fear getting attacked.
The justice system catches and punishes some men, and some people try to "correct" the situation.
The article explains that "In Cambodia like many countries young men are under pressure to appear tough and fit in. There is also a cultural reluctance among the older generation to talk to them about sex and healthy relationships."
It appears that the culture and the older generation are perhaps negligent in educating the younger ones about sex and acceptable, responsible behaviour. This leads to a practice that is perhaps deemed as undesirable in many other societies. To try to correct such behaviour suddenly would leave the young people to question why they are taught differently from what they have grown up believing.
So how do we address such issues?
Apparently, the older generation needs to take responsibility.
In Australia, it has been deemed that girls grow up too quickly, "worrying about weight, looks, boys and fashion at the age of ten" instead of enjoying childhood.
Generally, girls experience puberty while their ages are between 10 and 14 years. At this stage, they understand their bodies are changing, and they wonder what it means to be women. According to essentialkids.com.au, they can learn these things from adults, or from their peers. The opinion of the author is that adults make better mentors compared to peers. Peer influence tend to (generally speaking) be more dangerous.
For this reason, it is recommended that adults make time to spend with their developing children. It is inevitable that kids will learn from peers anyway, but some adult influence can be positive.
Do you think so? What do you think? How do we cure the problems that society will potentially face in the next generation? How much time do we spend with our children? How much do our children look up to us?
Does God have a role in all this?
16 June 2013
We need love
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/9637682/Whats-the-difference-between-these-two-brains.html compares the brains of two three-year-old children. One brain was bigger than the other. The bigger brain also showed more connections; ie. less spots and less fuzzy areas.
Apparently, the better brain belongs to a child that receives love. The other brain was that of a neglected child.
While one comparison may not be conclusive, it does suggest that a loved child would tend to develop with better intelligence compared to one who feels unloved.
What do you think? Do people develop the same? Does love make a difference? How? Why?
What can we do to help neglected children?
Where does love for the children come from? Parents? Other relatives? Anybody at all?
Why?
Does God have a role in this? How can God help? Is He obliged to do anything?
Where does prayer come in then?
What do you think? How can you help?
Apparently, the better brain belongs to a child that receives love. The other brain was that of a neglected child.
While one comparison may not be conclusive, it does suggest that a loved child would tend to develop with better intelligence compared to one who feels unloved.
What do you think? Do people develop the same? Does love make a difference? How? Why?
What can we do to help neglected children?
Where does love for the children come from? Parents? Other relatives? Anybody at all?
Why?
Does God have a role in this? How can God help? Is He obliged to do anything?
Where does prayer come in then?
What do you think? How can you help?
06 June 2013
Lies to unlearn
Marc Chernhoff lists the following lies that we should unlearn:
If they are indeed true, then how did we come about to believe such lies? Is it because of our ego? Our culture? Our environment? Would our expectations be different if we grew up somewhere else?
How can we unlearn such lies if indeed they are lies?
What do you think?
- Happiness is getting what you want. (Not really. Happiness is being content with what you have.)
- Success is living up to everybody's expectations, including yours. (Not necessarily. You can feel successful for every positive difference you make, regardless how small, even if they don't meet anyone's expectations.)
- A busy day is a productive day. (No. You can be busy without being productive. You should work smarter, not harder, and you should be diligent as you work.)
- To be brave is to not feel afraid. (Actually, you can be brave and feel afraid at the same time.)
- To be strong is to not feel pain. (Actually, even the strong feel pain.)
- Everyone around you is holding you back. (No. Take responsibility for your own progress, don't blame people or circumstances around you.)
- You are entitled to expect certain things from other people. (No. Expect nothing, and you won't be disappointed.)
- You will feel comfortable when the time is right. (Not necessarily. You can feel comfortable even if the time is wrong. Discomfort can also be a sign of growth and meeting with changes which can be positive.)
- It is already too late. (Probably not. You can keep trying).
If they are indeed true, then how did we come about to believe such lies? Is it because of our ego? Our culture? Our environment? Would our expectations be different if we grew up somewhere else?
How can we unlearn such lies if indeed they are lies?
What do you think?
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