Threads of Destiny

I watch this movie yesterday night and to my surprise it was not the usual 'feel good, romantically sweet' movie that i expected. "Threads of Destiny" have been one of the most distributed online serialised novel in Japan, and one of the most sensational reading material on a Nihon cellphone.

The plot of the story is pretty interesting (something different) and for a teenage love story, it has all the ingredient of youthful ideals about love, friendship, and even discussion about social issues that floods the Japanese youth of today. However I found the dialogues lacks the umph and the movie was moving rather too slowly for me. The ending was also kinda confusing.

Well, it's ok la...for a watch but not what you'll expected if you are hoping for a 'feel good movie' to feed your romantic soul :)

1 Sam 11: Saul - From Timid to Teriffic

Saul as we know him from chp. 9 & 10, was a timid guy who hid himself behind baggage when chosen to be the King of Israel. Despite being told and anointed by Samuel, Saul perhaps felt he was too little for the job. He perhaps felt his background from the smallest tribe of Israel made him unfit to lead the people. On top of that, some troublemakers made it clear that they doubted his ability to save them from their enemies and rejected him as God's chosen king.

But here in chapter 11, Saul emerges to be the warrior-king that rescued the City of Jabesh. The people saw a side of Saul that they never thought was in him; a brave and strong leader and Saul was reaffirmed as the King of Israel in a great celebration.

Vs. 6 tells us the root of his transformation.

"When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger."

Saul was able to be a great leader because of the empowerment of the Spirit of God. It was the Spirit of God that inflamed him with burning passion and righteous anger. And gave him the strength and ability to unite all the people and claimed victory over the Ammonites.

The thing that I've learned from chp. 11 is that we need to be completely dependent on him for resources and strength and that he will miraculously multiply skills and talents in order to use them for his purpose. It is something that I have to constantly remind myself, that I can only live an effective life in and through Him alone.

One of my all time fav video

Since One in a Million and American Idol is coming to its finale soon...it reminds me of one of my favourite video clips..."Ken Lee"

1 Sam 9-10: God at work

The anointing of Saul the first King od Israel reveals how God was actively working behind the scenes. He was the one who miraculously brought Saul to Samuel, revealed His will to Samuel that he should anoint Saul, bringing dozen of people into Saul's life as confirmation of his anointing, and finally changing Saul's character through his Spirit. In all this God's unseen hand was accomplishing His purposes.

Today, God is also still actively at work in our lives. He brings people into our lives miraculously, revealing His will for us bit by bit, confirming them through people and circumstances and finally transforming us by His Spirit.

I thank God for His unseen hand in my life, the wonders He was done in my life and changing me day by day to be who He was made me to be.

1 Sam 7: One man can make a change

Can one person bring a great change? Can one person save the fate of a nation. In this episode, we see how one man Samuel, led the people of God to once again turn back to God and because of this God saved the Israelites from their enemy. And in all the days under the leadership of Samuel, God Himself defended the people and brought back peace.

1 Samuel 7:13-14:
13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to her, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the power of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

What was the secret of this one great man? What is his success story? I believe Samuel was great because while everyone was doing the wrong thing, Samuel knew what was right and choose to speak up and point them back to the right direction, that is to God. One man who dared to go against popular culture, against the value systems of his time.

Today, we need young Samuels who would point to their own generation the right way back to God...who is willing to go against popular belief, make a stand and bring the change.

1 Sam 5: Don't play play...

For the Philistines, the victory over the Israelites was a victory their God, Dagon had over the God of Israel, Yahweh. Having to capture the ark of covenant, they placed the ark next to Dagon as a sign that now even the God of Israel will be on their side. But least that they knew it was God himself who had planned it all along to have His own people defeated in their hands as a sign that God has left them due to their wickedness and sin. God was no weakling. He was not beaten by the Dagon nor the Philistines. No one has authority or power over Him.

So God made this known very clearly to the Philistines. Dagon which was no match to the Living God...laid facedown before the Ark; with it's head and hands broken off. And God continued to inflict disaster on every ground the Philistines placed the Ark. The Philistine now knows who they are dealing with here...and they were terrified!

Our God is the almighty and all powerful God whom all man shall fear. He is no 'Ginny' at manipulation of the Israelites nor he is like a tiger captured by 'Philistines' to be tamed. Our God allowed circumstances to take place that gives the impression that He is weak but really... He is not. He only allows it because they are within his sovereign plan. Jesus was seen defeated by Satan when He was nailed to the cross, but in actual fact Christ gave up willingly His life only to take it up on the 3rd day. Real power belongs to the Real God. So dun play play...

1 Sam 4 (2): God in a Box?

The ark of covenant was a wooden rectangular box, less than four feet long, covered with gold. It is understood in the ancient Israel as the visible sign of the presence of Yahweh. In other words, for the Israelite people, this box symbolizes the very presence of Yahweh. As a symbol of God’s presence, the ark also came to have a significant military function. When Moses led the Israelite nation away from Mount Sinai for the first time, the ark led them through the desert as a means of protection and guidance. On the day when Joshua led the people to capture the city of Jericho in order to enter into the Promise Land, God had the ark to be carried around the city 7 times for 7 days and the wall of the city came tumbling down and the city was successfully taken over. The dramatic success on that day surely must have created vivid images of military triumph, which would have been attached to the ark of covenant.
In chapter 4, the elders and people of Israel long for success against the Philistines. They were hoping that the ark would once again deliver success into their hands just as how victory was achieved in the days of Joshua. They unfortunately view the ark as an infallible talisman or military ‘secret weapon’ that ensures victory. But they failed to realized that if God really wanted defeat for his people, a thousand arks would not bring success. The power is in the living God and not in the Box. The Israelites failed to see it!
Today, we too if we are not careful, can easily place our security in something visible other than God. Let us ask God to help us to place our trust and confidence in Him, and Him alone. Least we too place our security in a ‘wooden box.’

1 Samuel 4: The Funeral

On the same day four in a family all died. A terrible tragedy; a disaster for the family. This was not just any family. The father was an elderly pastor and so was his two sons. The fourth was a pastor's wife, wife to one of the sons. How can such things happen to a religious and pious family? How could God?...

Eli and his sons failed God terribly.Eli was ignorant and spiritually numb while his two sons were wicked and sin greatly against God despite being the very spiritual leaders who should have been the driver to turn the people back to God. So, God fulfilled his words against Eli and his sons and gave all of them over to terrible deaths.

My dad is a pastor, I myself is a full-time church youth worker and my brother in-law is studying to be a pastor which makes my sister a pastor's wife. So reading this passage can be pretty scary. It's a passage to remind me that a life of holiness and obedience to God should never be taken for granted or treated carelessly. May the Lord himself keep us from temptation and strengthen us in times of trials so that we may walk faithfully in Him.

1 Sam 3: 'Speak, for your servant is listening'

For three times, Samuel heard someone calling him and thought that voice was his mentor Eli. He did not recognize the voice until he was told to say, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.' From then onward, things changed. Samuel never failed to hear from God. He became a significant man; God's important mouthpiece in a time where God's words were few.

These 6 words lingers in my thoughts. 'Speak'...if God were to speak to me today, am I interested to hear from Him? Am I concern about what is in God's heart? 'For your servant'...Am I ready at His service or I have become servant to another or even to myself today? 'Is listening'....Am I listening to God with an obedient heart to act immediately upon hearing His words? or 'Am I listening' to do only what is not too costly or inconvenient?

Samuel at that time maybe young and naive but he had an obedient heart that qualifies him for these 6 words. Do I have what it takes to say these 6 words today?

1 Samuel 2: Generation Hope

1 Samuel 2:26
'And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men'.

Samuel was born in a time of social and moral slump where everyone did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). Even religious leadership led by Eli and his sons were so perverse that they provided no hope of renewal. Yet, in the midst of a dark period, this boy, Samuel as mentioned in 1 Sam 2:26 went against the current wave of immorality and instead grew in godliness and righteousness, gaining favour both with God and men. Wow...how on earth can a youth be so different from his own culture and environment?

When we look at both chapter 1& 2, we know that Samuel was born of godly parents; a father whom without fail fulfills his religious obligations (1:3-4) and a godly mother who dedicated him to the Lord even before his birth. A child of God-fearing parents became a much needed spiritual leader for the people of his time.

Likewise today, in our country where we are experiencing our own 'dark age', we need young Samuels to bring hope and change. I pray that God will prepare godly parents or 'spiritual fathers' or 'spiritual mothers' who are willing to dedicate their children or those under their care for the Lord's use. Even if there is only 1, perhaps that all that we need.

1 Samuel 1: To ask for the most precious only to give it back

If I was Hannah, Samuel's mom, would i have made such vow and actually keep it?

1 Samuel: 10-11

In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. 11 And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."

It was totally understandable for Hannah to have felt so miserable that she wept much before God. She was not able to give a son for her husband for so long; a failure as a women of her time, the disgrace and shame to see another women (Peninnah) to bearing children for her husband instead of her and to be constantly reminded of these realities in forms of insults and ridicule from Peninnah.

Hannah could have prayed without promising to give back her son. But she did. Did she truly realised that if God had given her a child, she couldn't keep him anyway? Did she make the vow out of desperation and without considering the consequences? Or did she knew that if only God would answer her prayer after such a long time of barrenness, it will be nothing short of a miraculous gift from God and therefore she vows to return such precious gift to God forever? Well God did granted Hannah a son and Hannah did as she promised and gave him back to the Lord to serve Him all of his life (Samuel 1: 24-28).

Hannah knew that if God would intervene, she would no longer be childless, a state which became unbearable for her. And as an act of gratitude towards God's goodness Hannah decided to give what was the best and most precious for her, which is the son whom she has waited for and pleaded from God. The act of dedicating her first born son was an act of acknowledging that the boy was a gift received from God whom she would willingly gave back so that the boy would honour God and serve Him all of his life. Because of Hannah's act of worship and devotion, this boy who was dedicated before his birth became an instrument of God in leading His people and bringing change to the history of Israel through the anointing of the first two kings.

Coming back to the beginning of this post? If I were to ask for something so precious to me from God and he actually grants it, what would I have done with it? Would I have dedicated solely for the Lord's use or keep it to myself? Would I have offered it as an act of worship and devotion just like Hannah?

I remember when I felt God was calling me to full-time ministry, a thought came to mind. I was 25 years old, at the best time of my youth, full of potential, energy and freedom. And I ask myself, is there any better period of time in my life to give it to the Lord for His full use than this? Perhaps then is when I could relate even in a small fraction of what Hannah felt, being given what was so precious to only joyously give it back to the Giver.

Blogging vs. Quiet Time

For most of my students, their enthusiasm of doing their Quiet Time is very much like mine towards blogging. I often find myself too lazy to blog and it's the last thing I'll do when I have done 'everything' else...which of course happens only once in a blue moon. So having to challenge my youths to do their quiet time and journal daily (1 chp a day on 1 Samuel), I have also decided to take up the challenge of posting a short reflection on that chapter everyday (aiyoyo...what have i gotten myself into...haha). So here we go...