Pilgrim's Ponderings

Joshua… what a guy he was. At the start of the book named after him we find that Moses has died and Joshua is now the point man. A huge nation on his shoulders, and as a young leader/army commander he is obviously aware of the huge task that lies before him. He would have to lead the Israelite people into the land of promise. This was no small thing. This was the dream they had been dreaming off way back from the time of Abraham. Joshua must have been scared, apprehensive, fearful and a lot more. Then God speaks. God comes to him and tells him to be strong and courageous, and that God Himself would be with Joshua and that Joshua need not fear. What a promise to hold on to as a new leader. But we (in churches and study groups) often misquote what God actually told Joshua in that very first chapter. While it is true that God told him to be strong and courageous, the context tells us that god instructs Him to be strong and courageous – IN OBEYING ALL THAT GOD HAD COMMANDE...

Back in the days of camel skin and manna there were a group of people who were waiting for God to come good on his promise of making them a great nation with a land of their own. Moses was their leader and they left their life of captivity in Egypt in such a dramatic style it would impress even the most creative Hollywood stunt directors. We find them in the book of the Exodus storming away into the desert leaving the miracles of Egypt and Red sea behind them. Marching on toward Caanan – the promised land. They were gonna have to fight and take the land, but they wee sure because God was with them. Somewhere in the desert, though, they lost the plot. They forgot their God who brought them up out of captivity and took every opportunity to doubt an question the goodness of the throne of God. After witnessing His mighty power and leading presence they still kept demanding more signs of His faithfulness. This rose as a stench to heaven and so none of them entered the p...

“I lift my eyes up to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from You, maker of heaven, creator of the earth” Psalm 121 :1 – 2 Jerusalem , a city surrounded and well fortified by the mountains (hills) around it. This rocky hilly shield made it much more difficult for invaders to take the city. Strategically, this is a brilliant bonus both from an offensive and a defensive angle. And Israelite could almost be forgiven for feeling secure behind the mountainous shield that ‘nature’ had provided. But from within this city comes a cry and a song… a psalm from the heart of one who walks with God. The Psalmist lifts His eyes to the mountains and looking at the security of them realizes that his help comes from something or someone much greater than these intimidating mountains. What are the securities that you have built up in your life? Take a good look at them, and then take a good look at your life. Does...

Being thin ain’t fun, you get kidded a lot and you get a lot of advice about eating and other lifestyle habits. When I got home this summer break, the initial conversations with anyone I met seemed to be over-run with the topic of my weight. So hey, now am back in Singapore and in God’s own humorous way He has given me a room mate who is very knowledgeable in all these weight issues an has promised to draw up a diet plan toward the end of me putting on a bit of weight. But why am I sharing my anatomical woes out here?? Well as I got reading about weight gain programs and techniques, I learned more and more that it is all about growing the muscles. Not just pure gluttony as I presumed I would have to indulge myself in. One of the articles said “it’s not just about eating a lot, it is about eating enough … enough of the right things that is” Now unfortunately I am an over-excited bible college student so I tend to see a spiritual angle to most things, and faithfully I saw one in th...

Every feel like you are praying to a blank wall? Or maybe that God is teasingly covering His ears and not paying attention? Or just ever sat back and wondered - why pray? I have... (just n case you were feeling alone). I have asked it from a purely human point of view - Whats the point of prayer... God doesnt seem to be answering? I have asked it from a theological point of view - Whats the point of prayer if God already know everything? And as I ran round in circles over the issue of prayer I came up to another question. I found it in a book entitles - Prayer... by Philip Yancey. The question being - Does prayer change God.. or does it change you? I realised humbly that prayer in fact was designed not for me to lift to God my petitions and requests... but more so for me to converse with an almighty God who loves me. When i truly learn to pray for all its worth... prayer begins to change me. Petitions may still go unanswered... but the changed me will not take it to heart... God m...

Bible College is great!! Studying theology is more than what I thought it would be!! And when I came home over the holidays I felt a difference in my confidence to lead worship and even to preach. It was fabulous and releasing. I even got a few compliments after service. Stuff like “It really shows that you have been to bible college” or “Very good man, you must really be studying hard in bible college there” the best was “I’m glad you went to study and we are supporting you, it’s money worth invested and it shows”. I must admit these did get to my head. But God is so faithful, and in the last year and a half He has especially been faithful in His task of teaching me humility. To that end, as I reflected on preaching as gift and whether I have it or not and as I looked back over the last few months God taught me something new and fresh. I had been basking in the light of these compliments and in some tiny way had justified being sent to bible college and verified that I ...

I was roaming with a friend around Singapore yesterday and we decided to go check out the riverfront area. Things were fun, there were lights set against a lovely sunset hue and people buzzing about. A cafe across the river was playing some U2 numbers and since Singapore National day is coming up there were a lot of people running round busy with rehersals. We picked a spot so as to be able to see the practice for the fireworks display and the air show. Was quite awesome helicopters and jets and.... *ouch*.... something went in my left eye. For some weird reason both my eyes shut and my hands immediately reached to rub the foreigner out of the eye. My brain alerted whatever it is behind the eyes to send tears gushing so as to flood the object out and instantly my whole body went into auto pilot mode - "fix the eye mode" A common everyday incident.. should i blog bout it??? Mmm... but is that how i deal with sin as well. God has bought me, saved me, called me His own a...