Coffee Haiku

coffee
in a paper cup--
a long way from home

- Gary Hotham, "Coffee," in Breath Marks: Haiku to Read in the Dark

(:
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Grace and Peace
Ollie
March 2009

For Such a Time as This?

²⁶And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, ²⁷that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.

- Acts 17:26-27 (ESV)

³²Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command.

- 1 Chronicles 12:32 (ESV)

¹⁴For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

- Esther 4:14 (ESV)

Yes Lord, I shall go serve in Louisville Chinese Christian Church.

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
March 2009

A Heart That Trembles at God's Word is Precious in God's Eyes

But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble
and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
Isaiah 66:2b

I have been reading Jeremiah Burroughs in Gospel Fear. In it he writes:

What is it, then, that will please him [God]? He tells you in this second verse: "But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word.... Here we have three qualifications of one whom God will look at and have regard unto. "Will you know what I [God] respect? Him who is poor, of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My Word. Here is one whom I look to, with whom I delight to dwell, and in whom I take pleasure. First, in a poor spirit, second, in a contrite one, and in him who trembles at God's Word.... Doctrine: A heart that trembles at God's Word is very precious in God's eye.

How often do I tremble in reverence when I hear or read God's Word? How often do we tremble in awed respect to God's Word being preach or taught? I often catch my thoughts drifting off thinking about errands to run and responsibilities to fulfill; or worse still, to critique the teacher or preacher in my pride. Even the times where my thoughts are preoccupied with Ministry is no excuse. Do I recognize that this is God's Word being declared? If so, do I tremble at God's Word?

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
March 2009

Lanterns lighted, we miss the view of the stars

When the prosperous man on a dark but starlit night drives comfortably in his carriage and has the lanterns lighted, aye, then he is safe, he fears no difficulty, he carries his light with him, and it is not dark close around him. But precisely because he has the lanterns lighted, and has a strong light close to him, precisely for this reason, he cannot see the stars. For his lights obscure the stars, which the poor peasant, driving without lights, can see gloriously in the dark but starry night. So those deceived ones live in the temporal existence: either, occupied with the necessities of life, they are too busy to avail themselves of the view, or in their prosperity and good days they have, as it were, lanterns lighted, and close about them everything is so satisfactory, so pleasant, so comfortable -
but the view is lacking, the prospect, the view of the stars.

- Soren Kierkegaard quoted in V. Eller, The Simple Life

But seek first the kingdom of God
and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.

- Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Mar 2009

How Then Shall We Fight for Joy?

Footprints in the Snow - What are we Walking Towards?

Reading John Piper's Desiring God as part of my class assignments was a delightful task. I had read parts of the book and the condensed booklet version The Dangerous Duty of Delight before, and seating down to read and savor the book in its entirety was not an assignment but rather an opportunity. An opportunity to read, think, reflect and pray on what was written and to live it out.

It is sometimes apparent how God in his providence will work as it is in this instance (I believe God will providentially work out all things, just that sometimes it is not so apparent at that point in time). Contrary to what many believe, attending seminary is not escaping to a little slice of heaven on earth. True, it is a privilege and a joy but a joy that have to be fought for. Seminary education takes place in a real world with real people. So we will still encounter stresses, fatigue, disappointment, illness, irritation, discouragement in the midst of the joys and delights. We have bills to pay, deadlines to meet, expectations to live up to, people (both pleasant and unpleasant) to interact with, and fears to overcome. I think this is a universal principle as we still live in a fallen world where God's Kingdom is here and not yet fully here. It applies to my friends in schools, at work and in ministry. How then should we fight for Joy?

In Piper's book, Desiring God, there is an appendix that is helpful. It gives 15 guidelines as to how we can walk towards the goal of Joy in God. The outline of "How Then Shall We Fight for Joy" is as follows:

1. Realize that Authentic Joy in God is a Gift;
2. Realize the Joy must be Fought for Relentlessly;
3. Resolve to Attack all Known Sin in your Life;
4. Learn the Secret of Gutsy Guilt: How to Fight like a Justified Sinner;
5. Realize that the Battle is Primarily a Fight to see God for Who He is;
6. Meditate on the Word of God Day and Night;
7. Pray Earnestly and Continually for Open Heart-eyes and an inclination for God;
8. Learn to Preach to Yourself rather than Listen to Yourself;
9. Spend time with God-Saturated People who help you see God and Fight the Fight;
10. Be Patient in the Night of God's Seeming Absence;
11. Get the Rest, Exercise, and Proper Diet that your Body was Designed by God to have;
12. Make a Proper Use of God's Revelation in Nature;
13. Read Great Books about God and Biographies of Great Saints;
14. Do the Hard and Loving Thing for the Sake of Others - Witness and Mercy; and
15. Get a Global Vision for the Cause of Christ and Pour Yourself out for the Unreached.

- John Piper, Desiring God

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Mar 2009

The Gospel - God's means of saving us totally

Graeme Goldsworthy has written a few good books on Biblical Theology. I've been reading According to Plan, and he wrote about how the Gospel is God's means of saving us totally. Goldsworthy said,

As we begin the Christian life by placing our whole trust in the Christ of the gospel event, so in the same way we continue in the Christian life. The Gospel not only brings us to new birth and faith as Christians; it is God's means of saving us totally. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16), and this means the whole of salvation for the whole person. Thus the gospel converts us, the gospel sustains us in the Christian life and brings us to maturity and the gospel brings us to perfection through our resurrection from the dead.
- Graeme Goldsworthy, According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible.

Again I am reminded of the need to preach and teach the whole Gospel, and not truncate it to mere "decisionism" or an event - getting people to make a commitment or say a prayer to receive Jesus and to leave them at that. The Gospel is God's means of saving us totally; it means we have to communicate the whole Gospel to whole persons for the whole of life.

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Grace and Peace,
Ollie
March 2009

Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. - Romans 12:1 (ESV)

I read Jerry Bridges Discipline of Grace recently, and in the book, he quotes John Calvin's Commentary on Romans 12:1. He writes,

Paul's entreaty teaches us that men will never worship God with a sincere heart, or be roused to fear and obey Him with sufficient zeal, until they properly understand how much they are indebted to His mercy.... Paul,... in order to bind us to God not by servile fear but by a voluntary and cheerful love of righteousness, attracts us by the sweetness of that grace in which our salvation consists.

As the old hymn by John Newton goes, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound." Our worship of God and sacrifice for God should be motivated by the sweet grace of the Gospel of Salvation which Paul laid out in Romans 1-11.

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
March 2009

Resolved -1-

"Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die."
- Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards, the renown 18th Century American preacher, theologian, and pastor, early in his ministry made resolutions as to how he would live his life. He made 70 resolutions which he continued to review as it guided the course of his life and ministry. His 17th resolution states that he resolved to live such that when he dies, he would have no regrets before God (my paraphrase).

On my 37th Birthday, I too resolved to live my life such that when I come before the face of Jesus, I will have no regrets.

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Grace and Peace,
Ollie
March 2009

Medieval Tech Support

Tasted God's Goodness and Thirsty for More

O God, I have tasted Your goodness,

and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more.

I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace.

I am ashamed of my lack of desire.

O God, the Triune God,

I want to want You;

I long to be filled with longing;

I thirst to be made more thirsty still.

Show me Your glory, I pray,

so I may know You indeed.

Begin in mercy a new work of love within me…

Give me grace to rise and follow You up from this misty lowland

where I have wandered so long. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

HT: Grace Community Bible Church

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Feb 2009

What Were We Made For?

What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set for our lives? To know God. What is the "eternal life" that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God... What us the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight, and contentment, than anything else? Knowledge of God.
- J.I. Packer in Knowing God

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Feb 2009

Finally, a sunny day in Louisville

This is my third Sunday in Southern Seminary; and finally - a sunny day with a temperature of 16'C. It feels good to have the sun shining and being able to walk about in the open without layers of warm clothing.

This morning I visited Clifton Baptist Church. I was at the Sunday School class at 9.30 am on the Pastoral Epistles taught by Bob Briggs. It was a good session as we examined the first chapter of Titus. It was well taught and Bob, as a layperson, showed a good understanding of scriptures and a commitment to sound teaching and doctrine. The class had a mixed of old and young with two visually-challenged individuals. What left an impression was the obvious care for one another and the warm welcome Lars and myself received.

During the service which started at 10.45 am, Dr. Tom Schreiner preached from Revelation 7:1-17. He spoke on the theme that as believers we are sealed by God, and though we were endure suffering here on earth, we shall be kept safe forever. I enjoyed the hymns and songs sung as we were lead by Chip Stam, who despite his operation on Friday, facilitated our worship of God in singing.

After the service, I had lunch with Lars at Great Wall - it was a good time of conversation around the Gospel and Missions. After which I had the pleasure of a slow Sunday afternoon spent in reading. One of the readings that impressed me was from my personal study of Jerry Bridge's Book - "The Discipline of Grace". In it he quotes a poem attributed to John Bunyan. It goes:

Run, John, run, The Law commands
But gives neither feet nor hands.
Better news the gospel brings;
It bids me fly and gives me wings.

"Grace disciplines us" as Jerry Bridges said, "So where the law condemns, grace forgives through the Lord Jesus Christ. Where the law commands but gives no power, grace commands but does give power though the Holy Spirit who lives and works within us."

This is a good reminder as I start my seminary education that Grace disciplines and instructs. I pray I remember the Gospel daily and place myself in a position to be trained by Grace.

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Feb 2009

A Summary of The Gospel

I just received a copy of "Gospel Reconciliation - God's marvelous plan of Salvation" that I ordered from Monergism.com. It contains the sermons and writings of Jeremiah Burroughs on the work of Christ which brings reconciliation with God. I eagerly look forward to reading this in between the assigned readings from my classes.

I leave you with a "Summary of The Gospel" as written by Jeremiah Burroughs:

The gospel of Christ in general is this: It is the good tidings that God has revealed concerning Christ. More largely it is this: As all mankind was lost in Adam and became the children of wrath, put under the sentence of death, God, though He left His fallen angels and has reserved them the chains of eternal darkness, yet He has thought upon the children of men and has provided a way of atonement to reconcile them to Himself again.

Namely, the second Person in the Trinity takes man's nature upon Himself, and becomes the Head of a second covenant, standing charged with sin. He answers for it by suffering what the law and divine justice required, and by making satisfaction for keeping the law perfectly, which satisfaction and righteousness He tenders up to the Father as a sweet savor of rest for the souls that are given to Him.

And now this mediation of Christ is, by the appointment of the Father, preached to the children of men, of whatever nation or rank, freely offering this atonement unto sinners for atonement, requiring them to believe in Him and, upon believing, promising not only a discharge of all their former sins, but that they shall not enter into condemnation, that none of their sins or unworthiness shall ever hinder the peace of God with them, but that they shall through Him be received into the number of those who shall have the image of God again to be renewed unto them , and that they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

- Jeremiah Burroughs, Gospel Conversation (1657), reprinted by Soli Deo Gloria Publications

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Feb 2009

Need for Discipline

"We must face the fact that many today are notoriously careless in their living. This attitude finds its way into the church. We have liberty, we have money, we live in comparative luxury. As a result, discipline practically has disappeared. What would a violin solo sound like if the strings on the musician's instrument were all hanging loose, not stretched tight, not 'disciplined' "?
- A W Tozer (Christianity Today, 20 Nov 1987)

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Feb 2009

Snow Storms and a Sovereign God

Pathway under frozen tree limbs coated with ice

Louisville was hit by the recent snow and sleet storm this past Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures dropped to -10'C. Southern Seminary had about 15 cm of ice and snow, and the falling branches and trees knocked out power lines resulting in power outage to most of the seminary buildings. As a result, I had to move to Craver Building where Boyce College - the undergrad wing of Southern Seminary is. Though it is inconvenient and disruptive, I am thankful for the warm room, comfortable bed and free meals. Many homes in Kentucky are in worse conditions. In addition, I am able to make new friends, and share lives, and in the process pray for salvation for Derrick's family and spend time in prayer together with Jonathan. God is still Sovereign and Good in the midst of this cold and adversity.

Icicles forming on walls

This morning, I managed to catch a ride from Brian to Third Avenue Baptist Church where Kurt Heath preached from Psalm 55:21. His meditations on David's betrayal by his close companion was distinctly Gospel centred. His elaborations on where to look when we ourselves are betrayed by friends are:

1. Look Backwards:
Look to the cross. The truth of Christ work on the cross would enable you to forgive as He has forgiven you.

2. Look Inwards:
Examine you own heart for sin and unfaithfulness. This would drive us to humility as we realise too the depths of our sins.

3. Look Upwards:
Trust in a faithful God who gives us hope in the midst of this betrayal by friends. Trust in a God who bears our griefs and sorrows and to look forward to the day when God will make all things right.

After the sermon, we had lunch in the fellowship hall with Donald, Robert and Xiao Hua. We had a good time of conversations and interaction. I would visit two more churches - Sojourn and Clifton Baptist Church, but at this point I'm inclined towards Third Ave Baptist Church. I am in the USA to learn and serve and in the process be equipped for service back in my home church - Grace Baptist Church, in Singapore. I've much to learn! I resolved to redeem my time wisely - keep me in prayer my friends.

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Grace and Peace
Ollie
Feb 2009