the end of the blog

this will be the last entry of my blog on blogger. all blogs will be on http://bachnwill.wordpress.com. I have been reproducing all posts held here there.

Knowing versus Knowing about

Tonight is the first night in ten that I've taken myself off amitriptyline for pain, so I hope to write a little on this theme that has been hovering over my mind of late.

How do you know that you know someone, or know something? This sounds so simple but is so important. Have you ever questioned whether you really knew someone or something. I do, constantly. I just want to be sure, about the big things of course, and about the small things.

I think I know a little about medicine and human physiology, a little with a huge chasm of ignorance to fill. I also learned about pain in my anaesthetic training. But did I really know it? Sure in a sense. I learned about how to manage neuropathic pain in chronic pain-patients at Nepean Hospital in 2009. The knowledge stayed with me such that I was able to reproduce treatment on tens or even hundreds of patients. But I really knew neuropathic pain, when I went through it myself. I am currently having treatment for neuropathic pain of my left ulnar nerve, which has been triggered by a fractured pisiform (small, moveable) bone in my left wrist. I understand just what the quality, intensity, the relief you could get from gabapentin, only in this first-hand sense through going through it. I can say I know what neuropathic pain is like with more certainty now.

The same applies to an extent to any real relationship, not just professional collegiate but something like siblings, or a friendship, or even more personal, a courtship, a marriage! There. Nothing tops marriage in terms of relating to someone not yourself right? (perhaps, but not if you believe in the Trinity) How do you know the other? I could read biographies, emails, texts, watch you tube videos or even talk with those closest to this Other Person of interest. But does any of the fans know who President Obama is? Any follower know who Adele is and what her heart aches of? No. Not unless you have actual relationship with this Other Person, you know really know a thing or know for sure. A conversation, at least a meal, a group function, simple shaking of hands, or walk side-by-side, leads to a knowledge you can gain through mere data retranslation, no matter how detailed that data is.

I detest just knowing about someone AND thinking that I know that person or subject. Data and facts don't matter, in this personal and spiritual sense, as a relationship. That's why I give thanks for people who genuinely reveal themselves. THis is not an advocacy for selfish dumping of emotional burdens, but honest, self-revelation. Because it allows another to know The Other truly, with vulnerability. Friends, Brothers, Sisters, and even acquaintances take on a whole new level of trust when self-revelation does happen. Does it then surprise some of you that I seem open on this ever-evolving social network? It probably makes more sense as I AM revealing my thoughts in this blog.

I am most thankful for God's self-revelation. I could have studied, contemplated, dug deep into the heart of the earth, looked as far back and forward into the Cosmos to search for some truth about Him. Romans chapter 1 speaks of this way of knowing about God. But nothing beats knowing God. He is an awesome guy. A Father, A Friend, A Sympathetic Spirit, A Lord, A so, so and so. We do relate to HIm in many ways. Even as our Judge. Oh, on that Day we will really know HIm. But He's always self-revealing back then as He is now. I know Him by hearing HIm in His Word. I can't even begin to reject His person and personality if I haven't heard Him properly. So I'm kind of saying you can't know HIM enough to reject HIm just by reading about HIm through… say Richard Dawkins. You can't even know HIm throughout the greatest and truest theologians, let alone through this blog.

But if you'll have the grace and justice to hear Him, as He speaks and as is recorded through His Word in the Bible and talk to Him in response by prayer, then that is enough to kindle a real relationship. And that is a relationship no one can afford to ignore.

p.s. I have never found HIm cold, distant or silent. He is welcoming, yes honest, but always willing to relate. Jesus said: "Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened. Ask and it will be given." He refers to the Kingdom of God (God's very own self, presence and best blessings) in Matthew and LUke when He promises this of His Father. And that is exactly how I have found him.

wandering home

I'm writing under a little time pressure. After recently fracturing my left pisiform bone from a bike-stack, I've been having neuropathic (basically burning nerve) pain in the inner part of the left arm, forearm and hand. In short, the night dose of amitriptyline makes me sleepy within 1hour: I took it 45minutes ago. I also need to rest up before a 12 hour drive with stop tomorrow.

We're moving to Melbourne for a year as of tomorrow. For work, for adventure, for learning, for growing, for closer relationships and for challenges, but ultimately for what? Why leave home, friends, family and most of all comforts? Things were, and God-willing, nice, easy and just right.

My family and Danielle's family have been families of wanderers. Not pointlessly, not unwillingly, but certainly big movers. Danielle had spent several years in rural NSW and San Francisco in her childhood; I of course migrated from Hong Kong with my family and have moved homes 4 times since settling in Australia. All the places we had been to were made "homes".

But as a Christian, I honestly never feel at home, not here, not there. Yes, I have a single residential address, I am an Australian citizen, a permanent citizen of Hong Kong. I also enjoy relaxing in a place that lets me put my feet up, like those Victorian husbands. But, I am still looking for home. Home is this collective memory that we hall have but all realise we haven't got. It's forever elusive. If the place you're presently at is home, then, why change, why modify, why move interstate? Why wander?

I'm not really moving in a sense, as we have our home in NSW still. We have plans to return, to rebuild and to provide stability for kids. That's because I want to give the children a sense of home. More than that, by the Grace of God, I wish they will see that the truest home for all people, not just Christians, is Heaven itself. Now that's HOME, a mansion with many rooms for the children of God, all having access through the Lord to the Father of the mansion, the Centre and Life of the party.

Once there, I will, we will, not wish to move out. It'll be a place where all, once made perfect, will enjoy perfection forever. Paradise, who wants in? And who would wish to leave?

For 2012, Melbourne will do just fine, and have I said that it is a better place than Sydney? As objective as I can be, it is better in many ways. But whilst on Earth, I have earthly vestiges, I linger on the idea of home, so Sydney, however imperfect it is, will be home for now. But I'm clear, that my longing lies elsewhere and further than here. I remain, inwardly, a wanderer.

Good night, the amitriptyline and Danielle are calling me to sleep. I can't even stay up to watch Federer lose to Nadal in the Australian Open semifinal.

recollections and collections

I've lost 2 important pens recently. They weren't too expensive, or really beautiful, but they were important because they were gifts.

I'm sure I'm not alone in my value system: that things, in themselves, aren't worth so much to the public or the market, but are invaluable to those who owned them.

I broke the nib of a Parker my Aunty gave me for my graduation from medical school in 2004: it's limited edition, the nib is non-standard, and it'll cost more than a brand new great quality Parker for me to replace it. I searched long and hard and the cheapest replacement is 500 Euros, located in Spain.

The second, was a high school graduation present my mum gave me. I still remember shopping with her at Myer that day. It was a fine silver Parker Sonnet.

I am very sad that I had mishandled and misplaced these possessions. I had dreams that I'd use these enduring tools well for the sake of serving in public health, or in note-taking and reflections. I had always wanted my possessions to last: they had become like personal relations to me.

But then I have a Christian perspective to my missing pens. An eschatological view point, so to speak. Because I am convinced that nothing, however real or treasured, lasts. Not even "true love" lasts. It's clear that at the Resurrection, all things that are to last undergo a radical transformation, like a seed that falls, dies, but rises into a fruitful plant, glorious compared to its previous state. All things, including our bodies, minds, even our innermost selves are perfected by none other than God HImself, who raises the dead to life.

What does this make of my pens or possessions? They certainly have a physical nature that will not last into the next age. I certainly won't "miss" them, neither functionally or relationally: I will have other means of drawing, creating, writing if these ways of thinking and communicating are needed for the next age. I will also be comforted that no death enters into the realm of Heaven, that also means no losing of loved ones or loved things. There is no hint of separation or decay at the great reunion with the Creator, Judge and Saviour. That is great comfort.

For now, I've bought a Lamy, a functional, durable and cheap fountain pen to use as my writing tool of choice. Of course I shall become attached to it: it's the sentiment stuff I was made of and have not much control over. For deep within me, I have a strong sense of being faithful with what I am given, but more importantly, having things, people, goals, aspirations, projects - things material or abstract - that will accompany me into Eternity. I like lasting things, it's a deep yearning which I find concordant with a biblical eschatology. I'd rather be long sighted than not. Now that leads to the danger of me, a mere human, not concentrating on the present. But that can be the subject of another blog.

Johnny Wong's wedding speech

The Man’s Man

I originally named this revelatory speech about our groom Johnny as the “Evolution of Man”, with illustrations on how Johnny exhibits all the features of the Modern Man, but I thought again, what I’m really trying to say is that Johnny’s the “Man’s Man”.

Why? For Johnny is what a Man ought to become and also he is the right Man for Sarah: Johnny is the Man’s Man in all senses of the phrase.

So what are the fine features of the Man’s Man, the Modern Man, the Destination of Man’s Evolution?

Friend

Firstly he’s a friend. Quiet, unassuming, but looking out for the need of others and quick to respond to them. On a recent mission to Bolivia, Johnny won a team award for demonstration of his chivalry, when he sprinted from an ailing, failing trailing vehicle, around treacherous Bolivian mountain roads to alert the leading vehicles of her distress. This is equivalent to a Medieval Rescue Mission of a Damsel in Distress. Of course he’s a friend in the relational aspects of life. You can see it in the way he inquires of those at church, especially those under his care at small groups. Even though I have changed church homes and been busy with work and family in the last couple of years, Johnny has kept a concern for me and my family, updating us with news of the small group. This Man’s Man displays true and thoughtful friendship in the bigger and smaller events in life.

Feeling

Secondly, the Man’s Man is not afraid to reveal Feelings: yes, a Real Man has real feelings, deep affections for good and the beautiful. Johnny is a Poet, did you know? I cannot read you the poem with which he asked Sarah out, nor the one he used to pose the big question, but the Man’s a Poet! Not afraid to be named names, setting the romance bar high for those mere men who come after, the Man’s Man can’t control his affections for and appreciation of true beauty. [As far as I know he hasn’t yet written a song for Sarah, so I’m still “ahead” in this count. But I must be lesser, the Bridegroom greater] The Man’s Man treasures memories of his loved one, so much so that he keeps a photographic log of all the significant dates and events he has shared with Sarah. Nothing crass like pictures of food and fine dines on Facebook, the Man’s Man prefers words, experiences, meaningful events which has shaped his affections for his beautiful subject, he savours and relishes by reminiscing his relationship with Sarah via pictures with stories behind. “Don’t be afraid of affections!”, especially for good and worthy things, the Man’s Man shows us.

Finesse

Johnny is thirdly a man with finesse and fine hands. You are at least familiar with the field of Neurosurgery I guess? It’s not carpentry, it’s more like fine sculpturing, not coarse but refined, not hack and saw but precision and scalpel. The Man’s Man is able to translate his finesse with brain tissue, rat spines, cerebral vessels and delicate membranes, to control, composure and meticulous planning, with Sarah’s comparable talents, that materialised into the Wedding and Banquet we are privy to today and tonight. WIth none of the melodrama of bridezillas or groomorillas, they worked seamlessly in tandem to make this event so enjoyable for us, for me, for you. I suggest you ask the couple, how Johnny devised an Amazing race across the Sydney Harbour from Dawn til Dusk on their epic proposal/engagement day. There was a sunrise watch, champagne breakfast, cruise, jetboating, harbour bridge climb, Circular Quay sunset dinner, and of course as I’ve mentioned, the photobook of memories and the killer poem. As far as a Man could, Johnny nailed it precisely, for Sarah’s heart. The Man’s Man is able to finely navigate through His beauty’s precious Heart. This takes finesse, our young scouts, please take note.

Fun

The Man’s Man must have varied interests and be willing to try new things and adventures. A healthy dose of risk-taking behaviour is required, one where Sarah won’t be too stressed but nevertheless poses challenges and new insights for the head, heart, mind and most of all the body. Henry related to me how from a young age Johnny was keen to try new hobbies. He enjoyed the piano, violin, competition tennis, swimming, then as horizons broadened and pockets widened, new adventures like grand prix, bridge climbs, paint-ball warfares, white-water rafting and oddly, golf. According to Dr C. Wong, budding anaesthetist in SW Sydney, Johnny ain’t half-bad on the greens. Personally, I wouldn’t place golf in the high-risk thrill-seeking fun-activity for a Man in his Prime to the objection of some here. But Sarah, if at anytime Johnny is keen to attempt a triathlon I am willing to stand by or follow your Man’s Man.

Finisher

I was told by Henry and Winnie that Johnny is a finisher: he finishes well. With academics, hobbies, music, with pursuits, medical training, research, he has proved to be a perseverant Man’s Man. They’ve never had to worry about him giving his best efforts and performing well at any task. I see this as a character trait closely linked to the next few, which is infinitely more essential, namely, the Man's Man is...

Firm, Faithful and has Faith

Why are this Three infinitely more essential? For I think it goes into the Heart of Hearts of the Man’s Man. What makes a Man most Manly if not for HIs firmness, faithful reliability and Faith, which is not a blind leap into ignorant foolishness but thought-out, calculated, dependence on something or someone of which He is convinced to be True, Good and Trustworthy? Johnny is firm, in his Christian Principles, derived from hIs Faith in a Truth in God, which he has been convinced of and come to know in person, leading to a Faithfulness or Trustworthiness that is shown in the Man’s Man’s life! Let me illustrate by a trivial example: have you guys seen Johnny’s Mazda 6? Well, he is faithful to it. How so? He would be willing, to ship this car to and back from New Zealand, during his secondment to Christchurch for his training. He loved it and was faithful to it, so much so, he’s willing to pay a great cost, to have it close by him where ever he went. I am sure this trait will come through in Sarah and Johnny’s marriage. The same type of faithfulness. Some laugh at the surface of foolishness of faithfulness but to the Man’s Man, Firmness, Faithfulness lies at the heart of it all.

Father’s Image

For I am convinced that throughout our Man’s Man’s life, which I’ve superficially surveyed, the Father has been at work. That’s how I can compute Johnny’s life so far and predict in his life ahead. All the features of the Man’s Man are actually a gradual work of the Heavenly Father so that Johnny becomes the Father’s Image, through the Son of Man the Lord Jesus. The final state of the Modern Man or Evolution, is the Father’s image. And I ‘m sure that’s what both Sarah and Johnny wish the most for our Man’s Man that one Day he’d become a Fine image of our Father, who loves us and is faithful to us.

I think our Man’s Man is on a good trajectory. Like a good golf drive, Johnny’s started well, the pull-back is just right, the contact with the ball is good, it’s now the time for follow-through. I’m sure you’ll finish well, Johnny, given what I’ve seen so far. If only our brief life was as brief as a par 4, it’d be simple and hassle free. But then where’s the time for refinement? The time to enjoy with Sarah, time to grow in disagreement and in reconciliation, time for the worse and better? I’m glad life isn’t golf and golf isn’t life. It’s even much for fun and satisfying. I’m excited for you both and the path that God has projected for you, Sarah and Johnny.

...

Now I would like to propose a toast to the Bridesmaids, Ming and Sarah. They have been helpful, fun and thoughtful friends to Sarah not just today, in the past but will also the future. To our Bridesmaids.

And a second toast to our happy couple:

To a loving and lasting union, clothed with the grace of God, for your joy and His glory:

To Johnny and Sarah!

the Super-Christian and the Sub-Christian

Luke 18:9-14

It’s a pleasure to read and go through this parable in Luke with you.  I have previously said Luke is a clear narrative of the witnessed Life, Teachings, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, who the believers call the Son of God and God’s chosen King. Luke also clearly claims that the Good News for all human-kind lies in knowing this Jesus, because Salvation and Relationship with God is found through Him.

Let me tell you why I love this parable. Because I find out that

God justifies the Unrighteous, Sub-Christian and the Humbled Sinner

It’s something that’s speaking to my heart lately, and even now as I talk. I know and feel and experience the angst of the Sub-Christian, the Un-Righteous and the Sinner humbled. From hearing God’s verdict and mercy, I can taste this sweetness. It’s also like someone taking away a 10tonne load off my back. I’ll explain more of how this parable applies to me, later.

Parables

Firstly, a short word on Parables. Luke chapters 12-19a is where our theologian-historian places Jesus’ parables. Jesus used these stories, to explain simple but powerful truths about God, about relationship with Him, about the Kingdom of God (yes, God is a Monarch, not a PM), about future events, about human behaviour, about God’s behaviour. All parables teach explore important godly issues; but parables also divide, as you will see. Some will get it, some won’t. Some will agree and some will treat it as rubbish. But that is the very intention of these parables. [reference]

Secondly, why think about Righteousness? This is the more important question. Why do we, upstanding moral citizens, need a parable on Righteousness? We’re alright. We’re okay. We’re fine by God’s standards, in comparison to our peers. We’re decent, common sense human beings, who love and are loved. We’re pretty right, right now and we’ll be alright if we ever had to face God.

As a reader of Luke (and of Scripture), I must disagree. Let’s go to Luke 5:31-32 ³¹ Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus’ analysis of decent, common sense human beings is nothing less than a final medical diagnosis: people are diseased. Not just physical disease, spiritual disease. In God’s eyes, we are sick, helpless to help ourselves or others. We are Un-righteous. We need Righteousness in God’s sight. Righteousness is three-sided: a legal, moral and relational [covenantal] right-standing with God. Rightly related to God and Right in God’s sight. That’s Righteousness. This leads nicely to the first character of our Parable today, who doesn’t see disease in himself, but goodness, morality, uprightness and health in full blossom all-round. He’s “alright.” I’ve called him the Super-Christian.

The Super-Christian

Let me read: ⁹ To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

Let me explain who the Pharisee was in His day. He was alright, in fact more than alright. He is someone with impeccable behaviour. He had community respect amongst the Jews.  He had professional standing and is doing well in the eyes of the public. He is educated, learned in the Law of God. His words are wise. His actions are exemplary. He is very generous, especially in giving money - at least a tenth of what he owns, probably pre-tax, to the synagogue and the poor. Similar Pharisaic figures today would be churchmen, professionals who are environmentally conscious, generous with time and money, well-liked and respected people with lots of adoring friends and fans.

But his problem lies in his confidence, see v. 11. His Righteousness is found within himself, he stands by himself, his wears his life as the medal of Righteousness before God. Well why is this a problem you may ask? Shouldn’t we too feel great in our standing before God? Should we feel confident in what we’ve done so that we can stand justified, right and acceptable before ourselves, our friends, our family, our society, and if there is a judgment, before God Himself? From this Parable, this is a crucial problem to Jesus. Let’s look at the Pharisee’s prayer:

The most obvious thing to say is that by Biblical standards it is NOT a prayer.

-       Firstly, God is not addressed. I know he says in v. 11 “God” but most of his declaration refers to himself: “I, I, I, I”. I thank you that I am better than sinners, that I fast and that I give.

-       It is a public proclamation, not a private, intimate confession to God.

-       His purpose is to boast before men and not to talk to God. His words are phrased for men’s ears and God is an attached, afterthought. God is not his primary audience.

-       But the biggest problem is his blindness. He cannot smell any whiff of arrogance, or imperfection in himself. He doesn’t sense his own ridicule that you and I should find comical.

-       And as a result he shows no mercy to sinners: they are simply not good enough. Not good enough for God and certainly not good enough for him. In fact their existence serves to prop up his own moral strength and makes him even more confident in his own righteousness. When Jesus said he came not for the “righteous”, he’s referring to the Pharisaic figure who is so self-righteous, so blind and so unmerciful.

-       As a result, God is not pleased with a prayer like this and the attitude that lies behind it. You know God has been known to describe Super-Christian prayers and deeds as a stench in His nostrils and burden and a repulsion to Him? [find Isaiah, Ezekiel reference]

The Sub-Christian

Let’s contrast this with Tax-Collector, our Sub-Christian, the one whom I personally relate to and feel like. Let me re-read: ¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ Look at his physical position. He distances himself from the Temple or God, he’s bowed and is very distressed about his own pitiful state. He feels rotten, if you told him “you look awful” he’d agree with you. He feels likes he has a  heart-ripping cancer, tearing away his being.

Why you may ask? What is so sordid and wrong about the Tax-collector? Wasn’t Jesus friends with sorts like this and wasn’t Matthew (Levi) an ex-tax collector? Surely they’re just misunderstood decent, huggable friendlies? No. It’s not like a cartoon, friends. The tax-collector is our moral criminal, he extorts family, countrymen for unjust taxes, he works with the enemy against his own, and is the moral equivalent of a pimp, drug-pusher and not the ATO.

Yet it’s his prayer which delights God and his attitude that receives Righteousness before God. Firstly,

-       It addresses God. God is the only good character in his sight, he turns to him, because he feels and knows he’s wronged and angered God. God knows all that he’s said, thought and done, and he’s ashamed of who he is before God. Yet because of God’s position, the tax-collector has no-one else to turn to. He pleads with God.

-       His prayer is both private and public. Private and honest as it’s an outpouring of truth, the ugly, dirty truth of confession to God. Yet it’s public in that he humbles himself in the public’s view.  This sort of publicity is not a boast, but a reflection of his true grief. To this Sub-Christian, he cares most of all about what God thinks of Him: if God knows he’s Un-righteous, what’s the big deal that his peers declare him as Un-righteous too?

-       But Jesus praises his insight. He sees his condition truly. And that’s why he can ask for mercy. Only the diseased and sick will seek for help. If you don’t know or think there’s anything wrong with your body, you’d shun any doctor that comes to offer help.

-       And oddly, God is pleased. The Sub-Christian walks away “Justified” before God (v.14) It is the lowly who are raised, the humble who is exalted. It’s the Sub-Christian, Un-Righteous and Sinner that God justifies, or declares Righteous.

** So what have we learned, what are we to walk away with after hearing this Parable? **

Jesus flips upside down our moral judgments and equations

For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. You see, God justifies the unjustifiable, God shows mercy to the undeserving and God esteems the humble and lowly. This moral code is out of this world, it is unethical. But it’s clear God does this. You should have questions on why is God allowed to do so? Is He immoral or unjust in doing so? How can He justify the Justification of Sinners? Does it mean that God wants us to sin? Etc. But one thing that is clear is that God can forgive and Justify the sinner, even if he’s a tax-collector, a pimp, a drug-pusher, a Sub-Christian, a Sub-Human!

We are often unknowingly the Super-Christian

Let me take

-       Mainstream Australian attitudes. We hate tall poppies. We hate those who do well, who are rich, who are ahead of the game. We like those who go through hardships, who can battle on, who can cope. They’re not like us, who really know what it means to have it tough. And we, unlike the leaders, the politicians, the mining giants, the corporate leaders, we know what life is like. I see this as a moral superiority, a moral anger against the well-to-do. Of course it works from the top down as well. Those immoral breeds, those uneducated, drunken no gooders, those slackards, those dole-bludgers. It’s the same sort of moral superiority. Both sides think they’re Super-Australian, or true Australian, or better than the other. Even those in the middle, have our own sense of Superiority. But please, in light of this Parable, all forms of unfounded superiority is stupid. It really is.

-       Then take Asian attitudes. Sometimes we take cultural pride in being Asian (for those who are), not in itself a bad thing, unless we really mean it as something superior. Oh those Aussies, those “guei-los”. Oh those Sub-continentals.It’s as if they’ve really got their diets, their dresses, their life-styles, their bank accounts wrong. But we really aren’t that much better than another, and our laughing at other cultures, is very unmerciful in light of this parable.

-       But it’s Our Own attitudes (my attitudes), that must come under God’s word today. For illustration’s sake, I find my own ugly Super-Christian head popping up in the times of arguments: oh I am so right in my line of thinking, I can’t believe he can think otherwise! I don’t need to be gentle or merciful to that douche-bag! Or in the times when I’ve been wronged or hurt, this self-centred justification comes up again. I can’t believe she would say that or do that. He’s always doing this and annoying in his words, he’s just a repeat offender and will never change!

Friends, God knows how we all in our own way are Super-Christians and Super-human beings. I’m right, you’re wrong. I’m better, you’re a loser. That sort of attitude. And it’s not just an attitude. It’s a disease in our inner most beings that affect our whole beings and make us as unacceptable as the Pharisee in an all-night prayer. The worse thing is we are blind to it, by definition. God can see it, our close friends and family can see it. We can’t, I can’t. I need this parable to jolt me into realization.

So we are called to repent humbly

-       We must turn, that is we must repent. God demands that His word is heard and acted upon. But where does Luke suggest we turn to and what direction ought we take? He doesn’t mince his words.

-       To Jesus (Luke 24:46-47) ⁴⁶ [Jesus] told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

-       Repentance is called for and forgiveness is given in His name. There is no other. You must be asking, why is forgiveness only given in Jesus’ name and what does turning your life around look like as well? These are good questions and there’re answers, they lie in the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, God’s Chosen King. But know this: to all who ask [reference in Luke 11:9-10], Righteousness and Forgiveness is given instantaneously and freely and with love from God the Father through the Lord Jesus. That’s how the Sub-Christian, the Un-Righteous, the Sinful but humbled Tax-Collector walked home justified before God.

So I beg you…

Seek righteousness before God

-       I know it’s difficult, but ultimately simple. it’s difficult because of our pride, blindness and doubt. But once you turn you will experience

-       The sweet heavenly relief of acceptance with God, forgiveness from Him and friendship with Him. It feels terrible to admit guilt, or defeat because it says that we are imperfect and that we are covering, something, many things, that are unpresentable, not nice, very shameful within ourselves, like the dirty deeds of the tax-collector. And you’re saying to the world that they know, God knows and you know that you are Un-righteous.

-       But once you’ve made that confession and turned to God for refuge, the relief is so sweet. How sweet is it? More sweet than making up with lost best friends, more sweet that the sweetest romantic love and more sweet than any success because the Righteousness, the guilt-free, shame-free, declaration of “Made Right” in God’s sight and at the Judgment in the whole world’s eyes: that’s worth the laughs and the sniggers of the proud, the Super-humans who’ve got it right by themselves. That’s worth the short-lived humiliation when you’ve received the approval of God and pleasure of God. Walk home righteous before God now.

-       I have the most sincere, heart-felt and sympathetic warning to those who don’t “need”. Don’t be blind. I was blind, many have been blind, but listen to Jesus and see that you haven’t got it right, not according to any man’s standards, not by God’s standards and not even by your own. There is a separation, a gulf between God and all of us who once were Super-Christians, Super-humans, Super-Women, Super-Men, so vast that it’s called Hell. But Hell’s not the end of the story: you too can walk home Righteous now, and receive the warmth and gracious gift of reconciliation and relationship with God, who is our Father. Because He is the:

God, who justifies the Sub-Christian, the Un-Righteous and the humbled Sinner

Confessions of a CostCo. Convert

I'm a follower of the masses. For fun, and deliberately of course. I just wanted to know why every 2nd anaesthetic nurse is telling me to visit the CostCo. at Auburn that opened last week. A friend from Bible Study group said the same thing. It's like Disneyland for adults, the Ikea equivalent for the family-minded.

It was hard just parking, evening on a Friday evening (I thought others would have better places to go than this. There was a lot of agitation, urgency and bated breaths as I joined the queue for membership. The helpers, ushers and membership crew, were all very ordinary people, but all had the common purpose of ushering the masses up a ramp to material heaven. They were genuinely happy, helpful, and probably satisfied with their hardwork and achievements for the common good.

I did not even blink, like I sometimes to when donating to charities in shopping centres, when I paid $AUD60 (valuable dollars) for a Gold-Membership. I wanted to see what people got upto inside that massive warehouse. I first saw families, with trolleys, boxes, squatting and crowding around the cheap eat outlets. (good idea from Ikea) Then I was pushed along the designated flow of new masses "in" to the warehouse.

It was pretty massive. The loft was even higher than a typical Ikea complex. I only had time to venture through electronics and confectionery sections. All I wanted to find were Almond Rocas and Reeses, one a childhood favourite and the latter a late acquired taste in my 24th year of life. My mother would use to lug these lollies 1000 of miles from her San Francisco trips. Well, even with the Traffic CostCo was within 20min from work. I know there's a CostCo in Melbourne too!

At the checkout, people with huge name tags, very friendly, ordinary and unintimidating, all cheerily ushering masses with massive trolleys through a speedy checkout system. 2 servers at each checkout made such a difference. I got weird looks for purchasing so few items (a couple fo bags of confectionery). The ladies behind me had 3 cartoons of instant noodles that I wished I had picked up. Ahhh, the neighbour-envy effect.

Bigger, Cheaper, More, Easier, Tastier - just Bigger. They've really picked the right time and place to titillate our appetites.

It was worth my $60 just to have a look. But in my nature I'm happy with less. I think

often it's more. Godliness with contentment is great gain, Paul said that to Timothy and I have to say this to myself and others. More is always less, in all spheres of living, and not just economics. The more we have the less satisfied we are - if it's the material we find our contentment in and not the Giver of the gifts or the Maker of the materials from Whom we seek our joy and satisfaction. At my best moments, I sweetly and satisfying savour the never failing water of life that comes through a living relationship with God through HIs Son Jesus. So satisfying is this good, that a little refreshes and a little more enrichs. And I don't tend to get bored of it ever. It obeys the Law of Increasing Returns. "To those who have, more will be given, but to those who do not have, even the little that they have will be taken away." Matthew 25.

Don't get me wrong, I need Almond Rocas and Reeses! But I have found something or someone, even more delicious and satisfying.