Off to Nepal

Two types of men stand at the base of Mount Everest.

The first (and most common) type is the man who says, "That's incredible... I could never make it to the top."

The second type is the man who says, "That's incredible... I can't wait to see the view from the top."

- Voddie T. Baucham Jr.

Brasov, Romania (21 Mar 08)... the last time I saw snow-capped mountains

3 years ago, I went backpacking around Europe for 2 weeks with a group of friends from university. For the next 2 weeks, I'll be in Nepal for overseas training with my squadmates. Not quite Mount Everest, but close enough!

"It's not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." - Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man (on record) to reach the summit of Mount Everest

"Life is hard...

...compared to what?" - Voltaire

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

For in this hope we were saved.

But hope that is seen is no hope at all.

Who hopes for what he already has?

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

- Romans 8:18-25 (NIV)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

- 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (NIV)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.

"They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

"There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

- Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)

All I Have is Christ

Sang this song in church today. May we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ!

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" - Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)

True Feedback

I've been attending a number of courses (such as the one on correctional knowledge) recently and one common feature is that all of them emphasise the importance of feedback. Feedback on the trainers, on fellow participants, on the course itself etc.

What kind of feedback should Christians be willing to receive?

From God

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." - Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

From Others

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)

From Ourselves

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test." - 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 (NIV)

From the Word

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." - Hebrews 4:12-13 (NIV)

Of course, even the most constructive feedback is only effective when we act on it.

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." - James 1:22-25 (NIV)

If we should act on feedback from others around us, how much more should we act on feedback from above!