Was tidying up one of the latest blog post of my private blog...I thought i had left it stagnant for around two years but it was actually around one year -_-|||... and then when I was typing, and searching for the bible verse on this:

Romans 13

New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Obey Those in Authority

13 All of you must be willing to obey completely those who rule over you. There are no authorities except the ones God has chosen. Those who now rule have been chosen by God. 2 So when you oppose the authorities, you are opposing those whom God has appointed. Those who do that will be judged.

3 If you do what is right, you won’t need to be afraid of your rulers. But watch out if you do what is wrong! You don’t want to be afraid of those in authority, do you? Then do what is right. The one in authority will praise you. 4 He serves God and will do you good. But if you do wrong, watch out! The ruler doesn’t carry a sword for no reason at all. He serves God. And God is carrying out his anger through him. The ruler punishes anyone who does wrong.

5 You must obey the authorities. Then you will not be punished. You must also obey them because you know it is right.

6 That’s also why you pay taxes. The authorities serve God. Ruling takes up all their time. 7 Give to everyone what you owe. Do you owe taxes? Then pay them. Do you owe anything else to the government? Then pay it. Do you owe respect? Then give it. Do you owe honor? Then show it.

I came across this (Romans 13: 8): 

Love, Because the Day Is Near

8 Pay everything you owe. But you can never pay back all the love you owe each other. Those who love others have done everything the law requires. 9 Here are some commandments to think about. “Do not commit adultery.” “Do not commit murder.” “Do not steal.” “Do not want what belongs to others.” (Exodus 20:13–15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17–19,21) These and other commandments are all included in one rule. Here’s what it is. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18)10 Love does not harm its neighbor. So love does everything the law requires.

I knew that love ( the definition of love is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7*) does everything the law requires but apparently all I did was, and is, to just look upon His cross and follow His teachings. O.O When troubles come, and the intensity is high and can't see or think about anything else except for the real dangers and distress, just look towards Him, rely upon Him, and persevere in His ways....

"It’s so easy, isn’t it, to fixate on the very real dangers and distress that come with life’s problems. And yet our loving, gracious, infinitely powerful heavenly Father calls out to us: “Look up here; it’s going to be okay. I’ve got you, and I will bring you in safely.”--Strength for the journey

The full paragraph:

Love, Because the Day Is Near

8 Pay everything you owe. But you can never pay back all the love you owe each other. Those who love others have done everything the law requires. 9 Here are some commandments to think about. “Do not commit adultery.” “Do not commit murder.” “Do not steal.” “Do not want what belongs to others.” (Exodus 20:13–15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17–19,21) These and other commandments are all included in one rule. Here’s what it is. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18)10 Love does not harm its neighbor. So love does everything the law requires.

11 When you do those things, keep in mind the times we are living in. The hour has come for you to wake up from your sleep. Our full salvation is closer now than it was when we first believed in Christ.12 The dark night of evil is nearly over. The day of Christ’s return is almost here. So let us get rid of the works of darkness. Let us put on the armor of light.

13 Let us act as we should, like people living in the daytime. Have nothing to do with wild parties. Don’t get drunk. Don’t take part in sexual sins or evil conduct. Don’t fight with each other. Don’t be jealous of anyone.

14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ as your clothing. Don’t think about how to satisfy what your sinful nature wants.

*1 Corinthians 13:4-7

New International Version (NIV)

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

And hor, weirdly the verses from Romans 13:1-7 seem to hit me in a strange way, that is, how come it seems as though I'm seeing my own reflection...-_-|||..the sword=the sword of the Holy Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17), which is the Bible as it records His words and works..."and the God is carrying out his through him" errr, not perfectly so yet but err...I feel really angered when His words were distorted by those who go against Him and then I try to straight that out using the bible verses etc...err...-_-|||and then when His words are shown, one's wrongdoings become obvious...-_-|||

Romans 13:1-7, as usual for all biblical verses, have to be understood in the biblical terms, from His perspective. Therefore first and foremost, understanding Him is very important, and therefore the apostle's creed is very important, as it explains who the Holy Trinity is in a nutshell. And therefore, usually the first things that we read in the bible is the gospel books, the first four books of the new testament, besides genesis and exodus.

After studying and reading on one of the chapters in syst. theology, a thought just came to mind. I wrote it in my notebook (a combi of biblical version of 随堂笔记 and 习字本) quite a long while ago, and heard the similar, is it called a message(?), thing during a sermon or a sharing (there's a limit to memory capacity...)  (weird I know, to those sceptical ones, and to those who tend to generalize things easily, don't study and read just for the sake of wanting to get spiritual predomination etc, that will be superstition.It's just a fine line between revelation and superstition, when one is bent on getting a revelation but the motive is wrong and becomes superstition, it's very easy to get misled. Instead, study His words for what it is. Whether or not one receive such gifts or grant a deeper level of understandings to this kind of matters is up to Him to give.)...

The truth stands. That's the unchanging fact. Therefore, at times, the truth will be mingled with untruths, such that it seems as though the untruths is the truth, but when the real test comes, only the part that has the truth will stand. And that's when the untruths will be revealed.

Hindsight: seriously, why is there a misunderstanding of things? I know that my prayers, thank God it's now some of them, are being 'heard' (to those who can't grasp it, bear with me. I also find it extremely absurd at the beginning but after I sort of understood it, the mechanisms behind it, the absurdity reduced greatly.), but seriously, I'm very tempted to think that those who 'hear' my thoughts etc. have very little knowledge of Christianity.

Matthew 7

New International Version (NIV)

Ask, Seek, Knock

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

K. There's something wrong with the format...I can't seem to un-bold the extract. But anyways,  therefore it's alright to ask Him, i.e. "grant me the wisdom to discern the way of life from the way of the wayward". But as I mentioned, it is always up to Him when to grant and what to grant, and of cause, if the request is against His attributes, He of cause won't grant the request.

(30/10: to those who trust what those sayings said I prayed: I hear(d) my prayers got twisted, when I'm praying and there's another voice repeating as though it was conveying my prayer to don't know who, but apparently to other ppl, my prayers got twisted especially when it is closer to His will and is poured out in the Holy Spirit. The important things is WHEN I GET TO THE PART 这样祷告是奉我主耶稣基督的圣名祈求啊amen, the words got horribly twisted and changed. According to Him,  John 4:1-3 ESV / " Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already."
So, that's why I strongly get a sense that the empowerment behind those voices, and the ability to hear my thoughts etc. directly from my mind is not from God, and it's a number of times already. I know what I did was dangerous but it was very suspicious. I tried praying the Lord's prayer, and the words got twisted, especially the ending part, I tried reciting the apostle's creed, and the content got twisted, I tried reading the book of Matthews, the voice that was loosely repeating ignored me, and I heard other voices saying ignore that bible, it's fake. That's when I decided to ignore the voices totally (though I'm still able to hear them, at times clearly, at times the voices sounded faded into the background). And that shows that the motive behind these things are very obvious, and there's many layers/level (literature meaning) to it. )

values

If one's moral values are corrupted, there's no way of getting the individual to see the wrong in their doings.

I feel like doing a thesis, a systematic review on the impact of promiscuity, on all aspects( : physical-the wear and tear; psychological-the repressed emotions), using Bronfenner's ecological model i.e. the microsystem, macro system etc....-_-||

Hmm...perhaps I should mention this,  why do one wants a friend's password to any account, be it an online platform such as blogs, fb, twitter? Eh, it looks very familiar. I think I wrote before, either in my private blog or this blog. I was there when someone's friends signed in using password the friend gave them to post comments (scripted ones) etc.  The person might get back at me for this disclosure but still feel that it's important,  the message behind it. Seriously, who would give another the password to an online social networking platform, especially when one of the reason one get an account on these social networking sites is to get in touch with others? It's a risk for you dont know what would happen. And if the reason is to avoid the person's social networking friends from finding out that the comments is by the person, wait, it doesn't even make sense to me. How or why did they accept that reason? All in all, it's dubious.

Anyone can enter an institution as long as they reach the criteria i.e. academic criteria. There are brothers and sisters in Christ in the same institution as me, but at the same time,  it goes the same for those who are envious, or jealous, though they won't be when they know what I have been through, but then again, they'll be snubbing me when they know. Well, they had gone and done that before, under the impression that I'm that person who imitated me and tried to gain other's sympathy.

30/10 I was having a group discussion in the place during the end of 2011 when I saw that facebook password incident happen. If one can and want through legal means, I'm sure evidences can be found. and I know who the fb person is indirectly. and that's why I decided to let it go, mentally, on the basis of her real needs: lack of concern and sincere attention, because I saw her need  but of cause I can't tell her directly because we didn't meet and talk, not even once. She was using materialistic stuff to show that she had a lot. She saw me as her rival. Perhaps probably because of my bochapness towards materialistic stuff and the unwanted attention (from my view but from her point of view, it's wanted attention.) If one have legal access to my private diary, it's not hard to figure out who that person was, and for those who don't have legal access and don't have a pure motive, don't try to speculate and be a hero and spread things around.
And there was, hopefully "was" and not "is", not only her who saw me as a rival.
And to those who think that it's fun, i.e. it's a game (now I sort of understand why they accept that reason--they think that it's just a game, and that they just helping a friend--, and by the way, that reason that I wrote was not the exact reason that I heard: I was trying to not disclose it completely), rivalry suggesting that there's some bits of jealousy and envy and probably pride, which rings a bell--the seven deadly sins, which is widely recognized. And why is it a sin, I won't go any further to explain this, unless He change my mind later. But the consequences of it, it can already be seen...

Stumbling block: two perspective

Depending on the content and which perspective one takes would change the meaning of a word, a term, a phrase or a matter.

And seriously, I know that others would get angry when one's privacy is infringed, but I only get really angry and irritated when one misinterpret things, especially due to wanting to claim credit and then didn't think of the consequences or even try to see if they got their facts right before they start spreading things. Wished that my friend, a certain Samuel, didn't have a hard time because of it. It seemed as though yesterday someone was able to read my comp screen before the person who I've sent an fb message to read the message, like the other time I knew that my comp was hacked--my private blog was leaked, that issue.

Back to the main topic, stumbling block when referring to not to cause others to stumble

 i.e. "

Romans 14:13

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

(there are also other bible verse that speaks of the same thing, just that due to lack of time, I didn't make a list--I need to study for next sem etc.)

is just not to cause others to sin (erm, this term is a bit sensitive to those who were hurt due to others who judged them by their sins)...

This is a site which explains "what it means to be a stumbling block to someone else?"
http://www.gotquestions.org/stumbling-block.html

On the other hand, when stumbling block, and bear with me and finish reading the whole sentence and paragraph, is used to refer to Jesus, my friend, it shows that the consequence of going against the Word of God, which is to err and engage in sinning. As can be seen, the stumbling blocks in the two context are different, and mean the opposite things.

This is the same site but different page, which explains "Why is Jesus called the stumbling stone in Matthew 21:43-44?"
http://www.gotquestions.org/stumbling-stone.html

Matthew 21:43-44

New International Version (NIV)

⁴³ “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. ⁴⁴ Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”^[a]

Referring to this line "I need to study for next sem etc.":
                 do those who think that when I mediate and read/study Grudem's book, I'm slacking because I didn't study as opposed to what I claim I'm doing, in fact there's etc at the end of the phrase, seriously think that the Lord's words needn't require studying and mediating on His words? and in addition, music, drawing/art and poetry also requires studying too. Just that it may not be just reading critiques etc but also practicing...

* Grudem's book: Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine by Wayne Grudem

And seriously, those who still think that they do no wrong by trying to cast spells etc., I know there's at least one, for I happened to walk past that place, and they were referring to me, think again of the mess it made. I had voices in my head after that incident, and thought that I was "go, going, gone" (but strangely enough, I should say thanks for His grace and mercy, a part of me was sure that it was His enemies work, i.e. at the spiritual level, not the physical/psychological level. But it just made me even more confused as to which is the reason behind those strange things),  and I'm sure it's not one of His work, and that He just tolerated it, that is allowed it to happen to one of His people, or rather a number of His people (in hindsight: it snowballed), so that this, for now I can only say the attributes of what His church should have: I'm not all-knowing, would come.

And I'm starting to hear some of those voices again misunderstanding of which phrases were said by His people, which were said by false disciples and teachers...It's sorta a good thing that I'm able to hear, though at the beginning it was so intense that even in the crunching sounds, when I'm eating food, or the sound made by the throat while drinking water I could hear His enemies saying the vulgar words and all those false accusations. That's why at the beginning, after getting out of the intensity of it all, I started to attempt to try to correct those voices i.e. the ten commandments (refer to the post "an example of misunderstandings of biblical metaphors"), and after a few months it got too intense, I got even more false accusations attached to me, and that's when I decided to ignore them.
http://icyelimworld.blogspot.com/2013/10/an-example-of-misunderstandings-of.html

And I'm not Rachel nor Hazel nor jiahui.

And probably this might help a bit, not just hearing those voices saying vulgarities and false accusations and altering His Words (words that are written in the Bible), I also hear the voices repeating my thoughts, what I hear (physically), what I see. And similarly like what happen to my private blog/diary, they are also able to alter the contents of my thoughts, what I hear and see, when they convey it to others, and there's even lesser sources to confirm what they say is true. As in who will record each and every thought that comes to mind, record what I see or hear or do every minute, every second?

Haizz..the voices in my mind started in the beginning of last year lah...and don't push the blame on the fellowships, the voices appeared after I joined fellowships. It's really those things. My music skills got recognized, though interestingly it juz attracted ppl to the places near my house, and of cause I got stressed over it due to my perfectionism. And thus, when I appeared in a certain library--I used to visit a particular library often for a period of time due to the availability of scores there, it seemed as though I'm attracting attention.  And before becoming a piano accompanist in a small group i.e. fellowship, I never performed in front of a large audience, the most was in front of around 6 examiners, and another time, a small scale recital of ard also 6 ppl. And then the jealousy etc. from others became public, as in those public malicious remarks. And then the "witch" labelling, and then the seemingly unwanted attention from the political arena. And then also almost at the same time, the unwanted attention from those attracted. And then the blog thingys (such as the Egypt blog post and the one after--http://icyelimworld.blogspot.com/2011/05/capital-punishment-interrogations-and.html), the imitators...and then the voices. That's roughly the order.

Guess I'm almost saying everything liao...-_-||| it's just that I dun wanna see those things happening again. the spreading of rumors and speculations. Once is enough. and this 'once' is a few years, things just accumulated.

感叹:  apparently, I think it seems to them I'm the 'perfect' attraction due to the naturally attractive features of me i.e. as can be seen frm the unwanted attentions. And is sort of a perfect testing of a particular market. And actually,  I know some, though I don't know whether it's the same grp or different grp, that they are wanting to see, in a challenging and looking-down-upon manner, if I could do anything to remedy the situation, which is to put a halt to their plans/actions. Hee, if He will, He will. Arigato my friends. Hope that it didn't cause a huge headache like how it was to me. But then doing the work of the Lord, how sweet it is.^-^ 

If I seemed to be overreacting, my apologies:

Does low grades/results means that one is confirm "cannot make it"? Excuse me for my words but it really irks me to the core...Does it give anyone a right to look down upon one just because one has a relatively low grades/result? Probably I overreacted because of the old injuries. If one just look at my grades only, I'm just an average or probably slightly below average, except for a few high scores once in a while. But we are human too, we have feelings too. And does it mean that if we have low scores for certain subjects, does it mean that if we score relatively high in other subjects or aspects, does it mean that there's something wrong? True, there are some who probably used underhanded means, but then to those who really scored high or do well in other aspects through sheer hardwork and effort, it's really unfair.

And once again, I probably have to state clearly again. The last sentence the word after 'used' (I don't want to mention the two words again) was referring to cheating, plagiarizing (intentionally) etc...

reflections

All these things make me think of these (by the way, it became a habit, since young, to see things in different perspectives such that it comes easily to me):

If it is so difficult to righten one's previously wrong perspective, how much so for those who had been adopting the wrong perspectives?

If it is so difficult to get out of any mislead judgment of others on one, how much so is it for those who had been stigmatise with negative stereotypes? And how much so for those who had been stigmatised through generations?

Which reminds me of a poem that I wrote in an attempt to increase, at least, awareness of stigmatisation
http://icyelimworld.blogspot.sg/2010/11/why-why-children-ask-and-ask-and-ask-me.html?m=1

And does anybody realises the extent of hurt, and the number of individuals that would be hurt/pulled into the matters, especially for seemingly minor things such as things that were done out of spite, jealousy, fear etc. after all these things that have happened? And once again, thank God that it was me who kenna those things, there'll probably be no remedy for the huge mess if it's just someone who hadn't been attempting to walk in His ways and learning to rely on Him, and probably it's one of the reason why He chose me, or probably the earlier hurts that I suffered in my toodler days and slightly later days was actually preparation for this...

complications

One of the main ' root' complications that I was worried abt in previous posts were abt those who were involved I.e. my friends,  those who were not so kind to me etc...would be under scrutiny. Since my address, real name etc. were somehow known, it wasnt a big leap from knowing who they were. My private blog seemed to have leaked previously a few years ago or probably two years ago--it was during the period where a lot of ppl's blogs, online accounts were hacked. And one of the reasons i knew it was due to getting those malicious comments almost right into my face when I was out with my friends and the contents of the malicious comments were on the contents of my private blog, just that they mistook me for the person that was mentioned in the blog (but I was the one who owned and wrote the private blog--my PRIVATE DAIRY)   But then after that when things got tough, I invited one or two friends onto the private blog. So, those who know the content of the private blog might be from either groups, and some ppl can mislead others into believing the altered content of the private blog because i haven't open the private blog to the online public. Thank God I changed the colours of the names my friends so that the names didn't show but then it allowed others to claimed that they are the person who had those things happened to them and allowed others to malign me (either as the perpetrator or altered the content such that it made me seem like a bad, wicked person ...)

*and I forgot to mention that there's also another group besides the hackers and my friend(s). I got so frustrated that I posted an entry in this blog http://icyelimworld.blogspot.sg/2011/12/to-future-readers-posted-on-october-28.html?m=1
And in the last para: "For those who want to check and see the validity of it , check it through legal means."

(I think I did mention before in a few posts or in the comments section before that I started to  get frustrated with my surroundings when the rumors started and became intense)

And here's another post from my private blog which I reposted it on this blog as I find it meaningful

http://icyelimworld.blogspot.sg/2010/06/lifes-like-that.html?m=1

Frm fb page status  https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E5%86%B0%E6%9C%88/519659968124515:

Looking at the old posts, especially the ones that were posted frm my private blog reminds me of a thought:

Is my posts so 引人注目that it caught the attention of politics such that some of them tried to make my road so tough...and I wasnt even interested in going into that arena...in fact I had always tried to stay away frm it...tried...if it was my wish, I'd had in fact run away frm it, like Jonah in the Bible...

Now I know...-_-|||

just thoughts

It seems that His works are attractive to the world because of its goodness but one's desires are attractive because of its easiness to engage in, as compared to adhering to His teachings, and seeming to satisfy an innate desire/need. And that's when His works become repulsive  because of the obvious difference, and reminder of how "fallen"(biblical meaning of the word "fallen") we are.

To some, it just purely the berates from within us that cause us to have such a huge reaction, as compared to others, such as being very apologetic for subconsciously judging others in mind.

And trials are common things in daily walking with Him. But I'd rather face the trials than to go against Him or stray away from Him, and it's not because of His authority nor His power but purely because of He created me and but yet He's so close to me, like a friend, and His cross.

An example of misunderstandings of biblical metaphors

One irking example of misunderstanding of biblical metaphors is this

1 Corinthians 3:12-15

New International Version (NIV)

¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

哥林多前书 3

Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

¹² 若有人用金、银、宝石、草、木、禾秸在这根基上建造， ¹³ 各人的工程必然显露；因为那日子要将它表明出来，有火发现，这火要试验各人的工程怎样。 ¹⁴ 人在那根基上所建造的工程若存得住，他就要得赏赐； ¹⁵ 人的工程若被烧了，他就要受亏损，自己却要得救，虽然得救，乃像从火里经过的一样。

but then a similar metaphor is found in Malachi 3:2-3
     

Malachi 3:2-3

New International Version (NIV)

² But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,

玛拉基书 3

Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

² “他来的日子，谁能当得起呢？他显现的时候，谁能立得住呢？因为他如炼金之人的火，如漂布之人的碱。 ³ 他必坐下如炼净银子的，必洁净利未人，熬炼他们像金银一样，他们就凭公义献供物给耶和华。

The fire and burning is just a metaphor to show the severity of the trials.

And I have heard ten commandments the do not parts e.g. you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery etc., the do not were missing. Dont know whether there are really such things happening...But finally decided to mention it here...

just for safety's sake here's a copy of the ten commandments taken directly from new international version (NIV ) http://icyelimworld.blogspot.sg/p/exodus-20-new-international-version-niv.html?m=1

Or www.biblegateway.com which is an online bible website.

And the apostle's creed: http://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/creeds/apostles-creed © 1987, CRC Publications, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org.   The website also explained the background of the creed. 

And rbc.org's a helpful website for understanding Christianity...

24/10/13 And seriously what's with the "multiplying [me]"??!! seriously. If that's what you think "multiplying [me]" is having the same habits, having long hair or short hair, having the same abilities etc., wouldn't it be trying to clone? Seriously, I even heard "to imitate me in looks etc.", thank God once again that I happen to be the type that is a little unpredictable in physical appearance in the sense that I don't really care about my looks. The skincare etc.'s juz to reduce the naggings, and at times are for fun. It really make me take a little time off to just do nothing.

And that's being said, the multiplying of 'Christ' (whether there are ppl who misunderstood who Christ is--refer to the new testament or apostle's creed--, or misunderstood what it meant to be Christlike) biblically to be Christlike is

"Believers are to become Christlike

1Co 11:1; Php 2:5 Paul is arguing that believers must allow God to make them Christlike, which is the natural goal of their process of growing in faith. Christlikeness is not achieved by people merely trying to imitate Jesus Christ, but by God making believers more like his Son in sanctification, through the Spirit. See also Jn 13:15; Ro 8:29; Eph 4:11-13; Php 3:8-11,20-21; 1Jn 2:6"

Quotation from http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionary-of-bible-themes/8206-Christlikeness

wrongs

I heard this awhile ago, probably many months ago--didn't take note of when-- but I couldn't answer back due to lack of knowledge and wisdom: hey we faulted so that she could learn from the trials. True, I learned from the trials to "be still" and honed my patience, gentleness etc...and I usually reflect on daily happenings, but still it sounded so wrong to me that they used that as a reason to push away all the responsibilities of their wrongdoings, and that they didn't realized what they did was wrong, they know that it was wrong because of the norms of what is right and wrong, and thank God for that, but they didn't know why it was wrong... and I actually heard this phrase "Let us do evil that good may result" almost word for word.

Actually the answer was already in the passage:

Romans 3

New International Version (NIV)

God’s Faithfulness

3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? ² Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.

³ What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? ⁴ Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:

“So that you may be proved right when you speak
    and prevail when you judge.”^[a]

⁵ But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) ⁶ Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? ⁷ Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” ⁸ Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!

No One Is Righteous

⁹ What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. ¹⁰ As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
¹¹     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
¹² All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”^[b]
13 “Their throats are open graves;
    their tongues practice deceit.”^[c]
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”^[d]
14     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”^[e]
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶     ruin and misery mark their ways,
¹⁷ and the way of peace they do not know.”^[f]
18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”^[g]

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. ²⁰ Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Instead of blaming and finding the faults of others, why not try to understand them instead of cursing and swearing, and saying hurtful things? There's always a reason for one's actions. e.g. snatching other's works: yeah true, it's extremely frustrating, especially when one worked hard for it and then the work got 'stolen' away, and trying to claim one's talent, but keep in mind, that it's probably because of wanting to get praises or attention, which leads to the question of why it is so, and answer to that is which is probably because the person had been ignored or left out previously i.e. envy and jealousy, and also when one is being looked down upon by others (and IT MAY NOT BE THE PERSON WHO IS BETTER; IN MY CASE, IT WAS THE OTHERS (STRANGERS) WHO DID THAT--and the funny, interesting and at times irritating thing is that those strangers and others such as ppl like the person, thought that it was me who did that, though now things are much better. Thank you my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who work with me in our service to the Lord, and thanks to someone who advised me to serve the Lord through fellowships instead of just behind the scene. Finally experienced Isaiah 58:8 , understood fully the bible verse Isaiah 58: 3-12. I had thought that that way the stereotypings, which would get in the way of readers, would be reduced. I didn't want to have readers having thoughts such as "oh it's a Christian of cause he/she would say these things", "don't preach these things to me", or "oh her results is only like that, of cause she said that to show that she is not dumb". And also I'm not preaching, I'm just a normal student.) just because another is better and that's pride which cause the person to use one's own means to get back at the original. Blaming the person would cause the person to have even harsher feelings, and it does no good to anyone.

*Isaiah 58:3-12

Isaiah 58:3-12

New International Version (NIV)

³ ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
    ‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
    and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
    and exploit all your workers.
⁴ Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard on high.
⁵ Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

⁹ Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
¹¹ The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

以赛亚书 58:3-8

Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

辨禁食之真伪

³ “他们说：‘我们禁食，你为何不看见呢？我们刻苦己心，你为何不理会呢？’看哪，你们禁食的日子仍求利益，勒逼人为你们做苦工。 ⁴ 你们禁食，却互相争竞，以凶恶的拳头打人。你们今日禁食，不得使你们的声音听闻于上。 ⁵ 这样禁食，岂是我所拣选，使人刻苦己心的日子吗？岂是叫人垂头像苇子，用麻布和炉灰铺在他以下吗？你这可称为禁食，为耶和华所悦纳的日子吗？ ⁶ 我所拣选的禁食，不是要松开凶恶的绳，解下轭上的索，使被欺压的得自由，折断一切的轭吗？ ⁷ 不是要把你的饼分给饥饿的人，将漂流的穷人接到你家中，见赤身的给他衣服遮体，顾恤自己的骨肉而不掩藏吗?
⁸ 这样，你的光就必发现如早晨的光，你所得的医治要速速发明，你的公义必在你前面行，耶和华的荣光必做你的后盾。⁹ 那时你求告，耶和华必应允；你呼求，他必说：‘我在这里！’
“你若从你中间除掉重轭和指摘人的指头，并发恶言的事， ¹⁰ 你心若向饥饿的人发怜悯，使困苦的人得满足，你的光就必在黑暗中发现，你的幽暗必变如正午。 ¹¹ 耶和华也必时常引导你，在干旱之地使你心满意足，骨头强壮。你必像浇灌的园子，又像水流不绝的泉源。 ¹² 那些出于你的人必修造久已荒废之处，你要建立拆毁累代的根基，你必称为补破口的和重修路径与人居住的。

Salt and light

The definition of salt for this post :
                     

Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

I am like a salt...and there's no going back: there's no reason to go back, and there's no way to go back...which was one of the reason why I stood so far away from those who want to come close to me, especially towards those nice people who are attracted to me. If they are not salt, they'll become salt. But if they reject it, the interpersonal relation would sour, especially when the attraction is not through the Holy Spirit. Jealousy and pride would kick in, and aggression and verbal abuse might follow. Well, apparently it already somehow did happened though as I mentioned in the previous post, I didn't talk much, and to say the truth, those verbal abuse etc., I didn't even talk to them...-_-|||

PS: someone's prayer might be answered, it seems He is already setting things in motion...eh, somehow this post got into a different meaning when I wanted to write this post--I was thinking about the implications of adding fb info--but then well, many things have been set into motion, so well...

And since I'm on this topic, seriously, why do I get all the blames for others' failed relationships! All I did was these posts...I get all sorts of verbal comments while in public places (not so intense now as compared to two/three years ago...) seriously all those unwanted attention, thinking that I enjoyed it...it was totally irritating, intimidating and frustrating, and angering...

And seriously,  if I really did all those things that the human mind think that I did e.g. the things of the flesh (refer to Galatians 5:19-21 or that post http://icyelimworld.blogspot.sg/2013/09/still-uncertain-whether-to-post-this-or.html?m=1 ), would I be able to withstand the trial that those gossips and rumors brought about? The fears of my own personal safety at stake, whether or not they will carry out those threats. Furthermore, knowing exactly well the consequences of the acts of the flesh, though the news etc., I would had already kept far away from those acts of flesh. True, I have my weak times, but I still have Him to rely upon to pull me away from those urges especially of vengeance.

And there above is not just my own talks etc., there's a biblical support "

Ezekiel 33:12

New International Version (NIV)

¹² “Therefore, son of man, say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous."
 

Pardon me for my outright words but when it's regarding His words, I seriously cannot just sit back and do nothing...

Which is more important: quantity or quality?

Matthew 8

The Cost of Following Jesus

18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead".

If it's just quantity,  Jesus wouldn't have added the phrase "and let the dead bury their own dead". But on the other hand, Jesus didn't immediately reject him--Jesus still invited the disciple to follow him, but showed him that his attitude in this matter is wrong. Gentle yet strict.

If the focus is only on quantity without focusing on the spiritual growth, then the foundations, which were supposed to be on His Words, would be shaken and have to be rebuilt again. And by the time, the need to rebuild the foundation is seen, how many had already strayed away from His way?

And then there'll be another issue: since a church is established by Him, then how the foundations of the church be shaken, which implies that means our Lord is not what He claims to be, which is TOTALLY ABSOLUTELY wrong. He is who and how He claims to be. And He will rebuild the foundations when the foundations rots,  through His own means: at times through His servants, at times through the authorities.

To rebuild the foundation, the rotting parts have to be torn down first, before replacing them with new parts.

And don't get me wrong, the rotting parts are behaviors, norms, attitudes that are NOT of the Holy Spirit (refer to the post (should have titled it...) http://icyelimworld.blogspot.sg/2013/09/still-uncertain-whether-to-post-this-or.html?m=1)

Err...my paragraphing :/ >~<;...tried to break down the length of the paragraphs so that it's easier to read...

It seems as though those rumours or gossips, the longer they were spread, the more saturated these false facts are into one's mind. And these rumours or gossips strife on facts that I didn't reveal, and especially in black and white, and it causes some to stumble, especially when these actual facts are claimed to be owned by others. And to say the truth, I don't really like to be in the spotlight...and also the perceived consequences to those so hence the delayed act...and a fellow brother or sister in Christ can say, I lacked faith in this matter too...my introvert weakness...

And just a reminder, when one declare that one is in an organisation etc., remember that one is part of the organisation and whatever one says or does, one is representative of the whole organisation. e.g. others will not see you as an individual but whatever you do, public's perception of the whole organisation will be affected.

Oh, and it's that much I can reveal about myself. Anything more would be an invasion of privacy, for most, it's already almost an invasion of privacy to them. Not gonna reveal which area I'm staying etc, I'm referring to the facebook profile...don't think that trying to guess which area i'm staying at and spreading the speculation would force me to reveal again which area i'm staying, which some strangers had tracked down by themselves, at the beginning of those posts which sort of reflected my frustrations and irritations of my surroundings. and not just where I stayed but the places which I usually go to. And dunno whether it's those strangers or others who got hold of the information somehow, tried some funny stuff, and spread malicious rumours that are not true i.e. somehow I got the blame for all sorts of bad things that happened... k. better stop now before it becomes a complaining post...

Just a slip of mind :But then really have to thank God for the distortion of some facts i.e. my birthday date, it's not 22nd nov nor 24th nov, and the home address, and my ic no. somehow or rather they can't type or say the accurate one, at least at that point in time when everything in against me, and i'm literally on the verge of breaking out in 怨气...thank God for protection.

for some 无心成有心；
for some 有心装无心。
but still for some, it's just simply 有心或无心.

To some, justice and mercy are opposites

When justice is melted out (justice meaning justice that is devoid of biases), don't one feel relief of the burden (especially when one knows what one does is wrong)? Isn't the fear then of being exposed and thus the desire to want to hide it, because they know that it is wrong? O.o

Indulgence begets greed and over reliance. esp. indulgence in materialistic things.

This above thought just reminded me of the post I posted many months back..."人之常情"http://icyelimworld.blogspot.sg/2011/10/blog-post.html?m=1 虽常情却不该. For certain norms, being the norm doesn't mean it's alright to do so...and it'll be great if there are these types of novels but without those elements that aim to attract more readers... (I may not be making sense to those who thinking of increasing sales but yup...no offense)