B.O.B

What is B.O.B? :)

Beijing Olympic Bird's Nest (B.O.B) held on 8-24 August 2008. This was spectacular event because each country presented their best athletics. Those winners will be the world best of the best (B.O.B).

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge delivered a speech at Olympic Games closing ceremony yesterday. I was impressed when he said "Keep up the spirit!"

This reminded me of Paul encouraged the Corinthians to keep up the spirit.
"Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."
(1 Corinthians 9: 19-27)

Captain

This morning I went cyclying with my colleagues. The weather was not stable. It was sunny, cloudy and rainy. While cyclying, our bodies' mucles were aching and we met tricky traffics with the joggers, roller-bladers and other cyclists. However the obstacles were nothing compared to the beautiful sea and scenaries our eyes could see! We took 3.5 instead of 2 hours journey from East Coast to Changi Village, surprisingly on our way back we took only 1.5 hours journey. We got a good captain who lead and encouraged us to be persistent through the journey. The captain knew the way very well as he had been there for many times. He even estimated that we could be back to return our rented bicycles in 6 hours including our lunch and snacks during the journey. Bingo! we met the target!

our life in the earth is a journey to our wonderful home in heaven :). In our journey, this life is ups and downs. Happy and sad moments like the weather in the sky, yet we need to continue our journey. We have a life captain whom we can lean on. He has gone through the life in earth and be tempted just like us yet He did not sin. During difficult time, remember this “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” [1 Corinthians 10:13].

Now our life captain is preparing a place for our home sweet home. When Thomas asked Jesus "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [John 14:5-6]

Who is your life captain? If you don’t have one, would you want to consider Jesus Christ?

Ghost Month!

In Chinese tradition, the seventh month (Chinese calendar) is regarded as the "Month of the Hungry Ghosts", in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm. During this dangerous time they suspend all important activities and decisions. At its climax, they celebrate the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts.

The Chinese seventh month, usually August and this year falls on 01st-30th of August 2008.

On the 1st day of August, my colleague warned me,
"Hey! You're not supposed to wear red today!"
"Why?" I asked.
"Don't you know? NO black or red on 1st day!" She responded.
"Not only that! No swimming or going overseas. You must be careful!" She added.
"Don't we have to be careful everyday?" I questioned her.
"Yes! But this month is the critical month!"

In Christian life, this is not new to us. God warns us to be extra careful everyday! In the bible, the evil one is called Devil/ Satan.

[1 Peter 5:8-9] Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

God also gives us the answer to resist that. [Ephesians 6:10-12 - The Armor of God] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

[1 John 3:8] He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

Now we know that everyday is critical day, what can we do?
Submit to God in prayer and refuse to go along with Devil (evil act, talk, thought, etc). You can do it with God’s help! :)