No running, stand firm

What happens when you are faced with impending problems?

Do you face them head-on or do you want to run away?

Whilst it is tempting to just pack and run, we have been time and again being reminded from Scriptures that we are to be on our guard, stand firm in the faith, be men of courage and be strong (1 Cor 16:13).

And in Ephesians 6, we have the armour of God that we are to put on and again to stand firm, with the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, sandals of readiness from the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

So no running. Stand firm.

pearlie
Photo (c) 2009 lettieb

My everlasting TEE

I have started taking my Masters in Christian Studies under STM's TEE since 2003 and this will be my 7th year, the last year given to complete it. But I am still short of 2 core modules and 3 electives. I will be applying for an extension and I will need to put in more effort so that I will complete it in time.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

By the way, I have just obtained the result of my last paper, where I have done a comparative study on Buddhist and Christian meditation. I have really enjoyed writing the paper, which include two interviews with practicing Buddhists on the topic of meditation. I found that Buddhists must meditate as much as Christians must worship. And I worked it in the paper how we as Christians can relate to Buddhists through this topic. I have begun to understand both Christian meditation and Buddhism a bit more, and that I feel, is a good thing.

pearlie

Life in harmony, life in one song

Harmony is something that is very important to me. I get extremely stressed out when I find myself in disharmony. It is very hard for me to be in disharmony as how it would be difficult to be in a hall filled with musicians and singers each playing and singing their own tunes, their own songs. Can you imagine how jarring that sound can be.

But sad to say, much of this world is in disharmony. Each person is playing their own tune, singing their own songs, at their own beat, at their own volume. They just want to be heard and they just want attention all to themselves, not realising that he is not the only one around. If only everyone of us can listen and play our lives in harmony with one another, wouldn't we be creating beautiful music? You can play a different tune, we all do, but in the right beat, in the right tempo, in the right volume at the right time. Then we will sound like one song and be in harmony and it will be beautiful.

Paul said in Romans: Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. (Rom 12:16-17).

In our family, in our church, in our communities, in our working place, we need to listen to each other and sing in harmony, singing one song.

pearlie

ESV Bible for iPhone

Crossway has just made available an offline ESV Bible for iPhone. Compared to the other bible apps I have used, it has the best user interface. The chapter flows continually without having to click on a "next" button and wait. You'd just scroll and read on. There is also an option to add your own notes to the verses that come with links to their cross reference verses.

The only weaknesses are:
(1) there is no indication on the verse stating that you've added a note
(2) there is no back button after clicking on a cross reference verse

But all in all, I will be using this app during Sunday worship, though I might be still getting frowns from others thinking that I'm texting on my phone when I'm actually following the sermon with my ESV Bible.

Link:
http://www.itunes.com/app/esvbible

pearlie