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.

 

A volcanic ash cloud, a taxi-ride and the job interview

 

This is a true story about how, by God's grace, I arrived at a job interview in Melbourne, Wed 22 Jun 2011.

On 21 Jun, Tuesday evening, I found out 15 minutes before my department meeting that all flights into Melbourne were cancelled due to the ash cloud from a Chilean Volcano. By the time the meeting ended, I was too late in securing train, bus or coach tickets. But with much supernatural help, I got to central station after some wavering; I prayed that some kind soul would sell their ticket to me at a good price.

But because of my wavering, I was too slow to the train, and I also missed the last GreyHound bus that had left for the night. I didn't like the idea of just driving up myself: a 1000 lonely km in the dead of the night, at least with a companion, I had the chance of broken rest in preparation for my job interview. I had found out from a colleague earlier that the going rate for a cab-ride to Melbourne was $1200 (AUD). It was 10pm, I was semi-desperate and I had the next day off so I chose the cab option, over hiring a car and driving solo (I was unwilling to disturb friends at this last minute).

After a few rejections from 3 Subcontinental cab drivers, I was down to a Middle-eastern and an Asian (Indonesian) driver at the taxi-rank. I asked this Indonesian cab driver whether he would take me to Melbourne? He replied "how much", and I said "$1200". Without a pause he agreed and said "Hop in mate". And so the deal was struck. It turns out that his cab had just been tuned up, he had relatives in Melbourne that he had wanted to visit and had always wanted to visit.

The terms were I would take the wheel when he got tired, so after a long, rainy, cold journey - including 3 stops and 2 cans of coke - we got there. He drove 750km and I did about 200km into Melbourne. I was dead tired as it was very hard to sleep: the taxi made much turbulent and high-pitched noise throughout night at high speeds.

He even took me into his relative's place where I was served tea, used their shower, shaved and even got some reading done. They didn't serve lunch, but I had 2 more Cokes and LCM bars.

He was willing to stay the whole day for extra $350, since he had to pay his boss, who incurred losses from a day's worth of cab-rental. But when I got to the hospital, Melbourne flights were back on that afternoon. I paid him, a handsome total of $1550 (AUD) as promised and bade him Godspeed.

I then wandered into the anaesthetics library, looking a bit under-the-weather. I had a friendly yarn with someone there, with whom I had to share the tale of my awesome joyride. I showed him the docket, and he said I was crazy.

Soon, I found out that I was chatting to the director, who was on the interview panel. He shared the story with the Deputy on panel. They were somewhat impressed, but definitely bemused and humoured by this.

A couple of hours after the interview at 4:15pm, whilst I was at the airport, they offered the Fellowship Job in Cardiac Anaesthesia! Thank God!!! I definitely don't deserve it, but I will receive it with a smile.

I talked to my closest and dearest first, mentors, department head and others before I said yes. So Melbourne is the go for 2012 : D. There is a great cost in going, directly for others and so indirectly to me, but hopefully God will provide. A very sad thing will be leaving our present church, which is gospel-centred, loving and our home.

But I thought it was a $1550 well-spent. God even gave me a new friend! Although the next time round, I'd just hire a car, because it's near impossible to sleep in a noisy cab, or I would call-up some bored friends to come down with me.

Anyone for a Joyride?

p.s. It turns out my driver is also a Christian, and he repeatedly asked me to pray for his strength on the way there! He rang me to make sure I did get a job offer, commenting how much we had both sacrificed to get me there. I hope it has encouraged him in his faith.

 

grace, random selection or other?

"Thank God, they passed me",

is what I common say to people when I pass an exam. I actually mean it, and mean it literally. I know language is imprecise, but we can't interpret my meaning that wildly here.

"Thank God." Because He gave me all things, life, breath, body, brain, work, opportunity, support, family, friends, nice examiners, safety from accidents, mental blanks, colleagues, children, wife, freedom, financial security, praying friends, and much more.

"They passed me." I know I did do some study, but I know what I don't know, I know how much I've done, I know what I said and what I wrote.  I know the quality of other candidates, etc. Though I don't deserve to pass, "they passed me." I will take this, with gratitude and thanks.

It really is another small act of graciousness that I experience daily, as a Christian, and have experienced in ways much, much greater than passing my Fellowship today. Just to name the forgiveness of all my sins at the price of God's own Son by a just and all-knowing God for the explicit purpose of enjoying Him and His goodness forever. Some graces are greater than others, but it's all grace and I receive it all with THANKS!!!

p.s. I'm not inebriated, I did have 7 in the course of the afternoon, but I have been boring and stayed in my hotel tonight.

Philippians 2:12-18 "Work out your Salvation"

Recap Philippians 2:1-11

Last week we heard about God’s incredible humility as lived out by Jesus. Though He was fully God, the Son of God, He became a servant, lowering Himself and letting go of HIs own face, and looked after the interest of us humans, above His own. Our majestic God became nothing and even died for us and our sins by crucifixion, so that we may be made right with God, and be given His righteousness, guaranteed God’s life and benefits through Jesus’ sacrifice.

And in the context of the Letter to the Philippians, Jesus’ life of humility and service, is the good news and basis of the Fellowship or Friendship. When God’s Spirit is given to His people - we who believe in our hearts that Jesus has died and rose again during that Easter and confess with our lips that Jesus is now Lord and God’s Exulted King - this Spirit gives unity to the Fellowship of God’s people:

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. “ (Phil 2:1-2)

The Gospel, wins for God a whole new people, united by the Spirit of Jesus, that display and work out a unifying humility, like that of Jesus, within the community, and which is so different, so distinctive that the whole world around the church community are left speechless when they see God’s people living out their Gospel-changed lives. This is the theme of today’s passage and can be split into 3:

1. [God’s People] Working out [our] Salvation
2. [God’s People living] Pure and Blameless lives [marked by humility with grumbling or arguing], and lastly
3. [God’s People] Joy[fully] Serving [each other]

1. Work out your salvation (12-13)

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Phil 2:12-13)

Paul uses “Therefore” because he wants us to know that the reason, the example and the power behind us living Gospel-changed lives is Jesus’ humble service and sacrifice for God’s people, shown in Phil 2 above, and the unifying Spirit that lives in believers. He says, “Therefore”, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. To “work out” is to be active, to produce, to achieve, to labour, to try our best, in order to gain something and in this case, we are working out “our salvation”.

Woh, woh, wait, are you thinking that you have just heard me say that we are saved by our good works? Are your alarm bells ringing? They should be. But listen to me carefully, Andrew has, last week, and I have, earlier, said that it’s all God’s grace when He chose to come in His Son, to humbly die for humans on a cross for our sins, serving us and so wins salvation for us sinners, who are made right with God and receive the full blessings of a restored relationship with God. SO you guys need to work out, what Paul means by “work out your salvation, with fear and trembling.”

You see, Jesus initiates, sustains and guarantees salvation by HIs life, death, resurrection and return as Lord and Christ [aka God’s chosen King]. He starts by turning us, sinful enemies of God into a saved people in God’s community, His death effectively, sufficiently and absolutely guarantees - “on the day of Christ” when God returns to judge the whole world - that we will not die or be condemned for our sins. That’s simple, and it’s a huge part of the Gospel. You must not forget that even on your death bed. Salvation is finished in this way: we know that those in Jesus Christ will be saved from God’s wrath on that day! But salvation is also a journey towards that day, it is a relational process in a life, which shows that someone is saved and changed and is in relationship with the God who saves!

And remember again, who and what is the power behind our working out? It is “God, who works in [us] to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” (Phil 2:13) God initiates, works and sustains our Christian lives to will and act so that He achieves a community that displays HIs power and likeness so that He gains Glory. In fact Jesus did that during the first Easter. He died, in obedience to God, humbled Himself for you and I, and God raised HIm to life again and gave Him a name above all names, so that everyone will acknowledge Him and give Glory to God the Father. (Phil 2:6-11)

We work out because it’s God who works! We are not lazy, compromising, or complacent because we have God Himself, changing our wills - that is our hearts and motivation - and God helping us by grace to act - that is using our bodies, hands and feet, in order to live out godly lives. We no longer live for our selves, seeking our selfish ambitions and interests, but seeking what God wills. Our purpose is to identify God’s good purpose in our lives. And let’s no forget that obedience is the ongoing attitude of God’s people. (Phil 2:12a) Jesus obeyed, we obey. He was obedient to the Cross, i.e. death, we too are obedient with our whole lives to God.

[Fear and Trembling]

2. Blameless and pure (14-16)

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.” (Phil 2:14-16)

Together, we are to look so different in the middle of our world. The world around us is a wee-bit troubled in Paul’s days, it’s not so different today. It’s “warped and crooked”, that’s twisted, perverse and wandering away in disobedience and way from God’s moral, ethical and social standards. How are the people of God to be different, especially in our relationships with each other? Well, as we individually and collectively work out our salvation, we will look out for the interest and humbly serve each other, just as Jesus did, and do “everything without grumbling or arguing.”

Grumbling may be against each other, or against Paul and other leaders in the church, or even against God. Israel, God’s original people and now us, are fabulous grumblers. Grumbling in Egypt, grumbling in the desert, grumbling with Manna from heaven, grumbling with meat, grumbling when thirsty, grumbling before entering the promised Land, grumbling at Moses their leader all the way, grumbling when in the promised land, grumbling when they had no king, grumbling when they had a king, grumbling when prophets told them to obey, grumbling when God punished their disobedience, grumbling when they return from Exile to a diminished Israel, grumbling when God takes HIs time in return to save them, grumbling even when Jesus shows them the way and offers salvation by Grace: grumbling is a major trait of the people in the OT. And it is also in the NT, most likely in the Philippian church, which you’ll see in chapter 4, and we too are a grumbling nation and people, even our Christian churches here.

But serving each other with humility, seeking the other’s interests without bickering or arguing is the mark of a Gospel-community. The goal of this is that we be “blameless, pure and without blemish” against an entirely crooked world.  God’s working out a perfection within this community that even in the unfinished work, the world can tell the difference. “Blameless” is living of a standard that the world can’t fault, “pure” is the state of our inward and outward life, shown in how we use our minds, hearts, eyes, hands feet and most of all tongues and “without blemish” is similar to blameless, that to the outside world the way we behave appears like a perfect community, even though we are being perfected and are not perfect yet as God’s people.

The difference is like the stars, moons and heavenly bodies, standing out in a dark sky. Our world is dark, and we are to look completely different and attractive, in the midst of all this.  What thrives in God’s people is obedience, thankfulness and generosity: lives which are godly and faultless, and most of all, filled with mutual service and giving that’s done willingly, without seeking our own benefit and face. There is no university, work, volunteer or interest group that compares to a living Gospel-community, with God working within each and everyone’s wills and bodies.

Look, I’m not saying we are sinless right now, Paul has said that we are working it out and God is working it out. Our individual lives and collective fellowship is not complete yet. We still depending on God’s forgiveness, His grace, and His Spirit daily. But I am saying that we strive for that goal, which will be complete on the Day of of Christ (2:16). Another thing is that not only do we work and trust in God’s work, we need the Gospel, the constant reminder and teaching and explanation and spiritual digestion of “the word of life”. If we for one week or a day, forget what Jesus the Lord God did for us in His life, death and resurrection, or put another way, if Easter Friday/Sunday is not our holy day every  day, then we can’t work out this Gospel-community. Christ is the power, the example, the standard, the reason for what we do. We have to have the mind of Jesus, we must continually feed on the Good News of Jesus’ humble service for mankind. That safeguards us all from falling into perverse and twisted darkness. That changes us into God’s Gospel-community.

3. Joy in serving God’s People (17-18)

“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” (Phil 2:17-18)

The Philippian pyramid that Andrew used had 3 layers: the context or situation of the Philippians is suffering, that’s the bottom, the reason is the Gospel and the outcome is Joy. And Joy again is the result for Paul’s labour and also the Philippians. Paul serves, having the mind of humble Jesus Christ and so do the Philippians, the result is Joy in each other and because of each other. Paul brought the gospel to the Philippians, and has been lovingly praying for them, teaching them, sending messengers like Timothy to check up on them and even in prison,  He is writing with instruction and encouragement and, of course, prayerfully giving thanks for them. (Phil 1-2)

But their Friendship is not one way. The Philippians have responded to Paul’s work with faith and obedience (Phil 2:12a), they have been generous to Paul in sending Epaphroditus and financial gifts (Phil 4). They have been a source of Joy for Paul in their ongoing faith - trust in God - and even in their suffering for their faith (Phil 1:27-30). Most of all they have been Partners in the Gospel, in supporting Paul, in prayer for Paul’s work and giving toward the work in personnel (Epaphroditus) and money. That is the mark of this Gospel-friendship. So much so, that Paul describes their work as a sacrifice and service, like that of the OT priest or Jesus’ own sacrifice and service for God’s people, and Paul’s own service is like a “drink” poured out, emptied out, again like Jesus, in addition to the Philippians’ work in the Gospel. Paul and the Philippians have been Christ-like to each other in their Gospel-friendship. And the result is mutual Joy in each other and ultimately in God’s glorious grace.

Implications

1. God uses the Gospel to work in our Lives Today
   1. Fear and Trembling. This attitude is not natural. People don’t fear (in their hearts) and despise fear, because it basically means a submission to one in authority. We would rather be feared than to fear. But this is the natural Christian response from the Gospel. God is an awesome judge and our fear of Him draws us closer to Him, not away from Him. So the fear is different to earthly fear. It means a lot for our lives, having a fear of a righteous, loving, generous Father who is behind us and working in us. It actually motivates us to work harder in our lives, because we know the one working in us and what He is like. We also need to treat all our lives as serious projects, where God is the Architect, Engineer, Resource Manager: it is ultimately His work: me, you, the guy you’re sitting next to, we are ultimately God’s work! Thinking like that instills a healthy fear as we relate and serve.
   2. Work Out. It’s clear that we need to work hard at our lives. We often put more effort working in our homes, our university work, our career, our holidays our next meal than we often do in our lives. I think the use of “I can’t change myself, only God can” is a sign of laziness. But why don’t we place the same thought, planning, effort, money, intention, worry, contemplation, reflection and evaluation in our godliness and in our church-friendships? Remember it’s God who’s working in us for His good purpose, we have God-given resources to do that: His Spirit, His people, the Word of Life, Christian Books, Others’ Experiences. All these things help us. And the end goal is Christ-likeness and Christ-like living in our church! It’s going to look really, really impressive, it’s happening and will be complete on the Day of Christ. Hear my encouragement from God Himself, let’s work hard at our Gospel-living Today!
   3. Pure and Blameless. And this of course means privately and publicly. Publicly we usually have no problems, we are not yet so individualistic and often face-saving helps mould the appearance of purity and blamelessness. But I must confess, before everyone else, that innermost purity and blamelessness in the knowledge of God is hard. Again, God’s Gospel, His Spirit of Fellowship and His present help and forgiveness is wonderful in helping me strive for purity.
2. Mutual Service, Generosity makes Church truly attractive
   1. Without grumbling but with filled with Grace. This is the distinguishing mark of our church. May I tell you that at most churches in Sydney that believe and preach the Gospel, I know it happens. When compared to working in even public health, it’s even worse in private health, often what drives relationships is material good, mutual monetary benefit and asking people, even your assistants for assistance, which they are paid to do, is filled with grumbling, retaliation, delay, there is no enthusiasm, no seeking the others’ (i.e. patients’, colleagues’) benefit or generosity. But we are not to be like that. They are often dark, perverse, without God’s love, but we are to be filled with Grace, that is people experiencing God’s grace in HIs full measure in Jesus, so we serve each other, happily, out of our freewill and with creativity and joy! We are all God’s work, together we are in this enterprise of working out our salvation. If we did this, I know, our churches will be filled with those who hear the call of God. We will be marked with love and by this the world will know that we are God’s people and give Him praise.
3. We are Friends in the Gospel
   1. More than Friends. In our churches we have great friendships. In general friendships are not hard to build. Time, fun, food, lots of outings, interesting stunts make good friendships. But Gospel-friendships are more than this. We are in partnership of Gospel-building-lives together. We are building each other’s lives and helping the sending of the gospel to other gospel-communities. That’s the relationship between Paul and the Philippians: it’s one of mutual service. That will be the relationship between your leaders and Andrew and yourselves and between you and me. We are really good at maintaining, spicing up our friendships; let’s be even more adventurous in our gospel-friendships. Pray, with thanksgiving and this frequently for each other, give and raise funds together to help gospel ministries, serve communities, especially needy non-Christian ones, together.
   2. True Joy. We will have this if we are Friends in the Gospel. There is nothing sweeter. Even secular projects or work gives off much satisfaction, as I know when I’ve worked well with my team at say a resuscitation, at a horrible case or something similar. In normal friendships, traveling is often the essential element to some common joy. But I’m talking of True Joy.  The Joy of seeing the Gospel work in lives, completely changing your own, each other and even stranger’s lives with the Gospel of God. If your friendship is based on this and you hold firm to the Gospel yourself, your friendships will be so satisfying, it’s a prelude to our satisfaction and the filling of our appetites when we meet God face to face on the Day of Christ. Make it a point, that your friendships are based on the the Gospel and work for the Gospel.

These are just some ways to work out our salvation with all of God’s heart, mind and strength.