Chapter 65: Good VS Bad

When it was the Homiletic class, we were given a work to extract the significance between Old Testament and New Testament: Isaiah 61:1-6 and Luke 4:16-24. I began to find out an interesting fact. Jesus did not read out the last past of Isaiah 61:2:

“and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,”

At that time, Jewish were brought to Babylon to be slaves. They were ill-treated badly. So, it is not surprising that their heart contained full of vengeance. They wanted to take revenge so badly. Though people in Old Testament did repent and mourn to God, it does not mean “all” Jewish. I believe they even curse the Babylonians, by saying something like “Beware! My God will destroy you one day!”

The Jewish did not remember the good things which our God had done for them. That is why God kept on repeating, “I am your God who brought you out of Egypt.”, “I am the God of your forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” However, I truly believe that the Jewish remembered mostly on the hatred of what their enemies had done to them.

I do not understand why Isaiah, the prophet, wrote this sentence “vengeance of our God”. Whether it is of God or of human, this is not my point. I only wanna tell you all one thing: Human remembers “bad” more than “good”.

Why do I say that? Good and bad things, which will you recall more often? Obviously, the answer is “bad things”. After reading this now, I am very sure that some will say, “No. I am not like that.”

Do not claim yourself to be holy.
Gossip and praise, which do you talk more?
Sorrow and Joy, which do you share more?
Rebuke and compliment, which do you recall more?
Love and hatred, which is harder for you to put down?
Your fav star and God, which is easier to remember?

I can ensure that you are on the “bad” side.

My Homiletic Lecturer - Dr Cheng
Our Lord, Jesus Christ, did not read that sentence “vengeance of our God”. I truly believe that He wanted us to learn to let go of our bad memory, and reconcile our enemies. Instead of “vengeance”, he teaches us to love and forgive. That is why many people are changed in the name of Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:9
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."

Chapter 21: Where am I

Written on 12 Jan 2009


On 7 Jan 2009, Jack's Stuff enrolled in a new school – Sabah Theology Seminary (STS). The first day in orientation week, I did not feel like a student. Indeed, I felt that I wasn’t either in school or in church.


My mind is still in ministry state now, yet I am in school studying. I know many people told me to settle down myself and prepare to go for studies. But my ministry for God will never end. I really try my best to calm down. Yet there are still ministries waiting for me to be done. Too many things happened at the same time in the beginning of 2009, I really need God to guide and lead me through. To tell the truth, I found that the beginning of 2009 is a mess for me. It is so messy that I do not even wanna care about it.

God, have mercy.

Nevertheless, I give thanks to God for the opportunity to enhance my knowledge in Bible. I am studying Bachelor of Divinity (BD). Basically in future to come, I will be a shepherd to take care of the church.

Frankly speaking, I do not know a lot of things. I still have a lot to learn. Different people interpret “LIFE” in different ways. I do agree that life is short. Life is a process of learning. Life is a chance to know God. Well, I do agree to all people said. It is because different people have different journey.


As it goes for the same, different people have different journey with God. However, the funny thing is that some people tend to think their life is much richer, more experienced than others. I do want to mention one thing – please understand other people’s life. We have no right to comment or compare our life with others, for example: whose life is better? Whose relationship with God is better?

Meaningless,
Pointless, Senseless

If those people who love to say, “I can do it. Why can’t you do it?”, then they should compare themselves with the people in Bible. The people in Bible (e.g. Peter, Paul, Joshua, Moses, Abraham, King David…etc) are HUMANS too.


Life is a journey of learning. We can only learn the advantages and the disadvantages of people. We only have one person to imitate – Jesus Christ. We can never compare ourselves with others. If people wanna compare with me, then let them compare ALL (e.g. Cwalk, Videography, Music, Multimedia… etc). If not,DON'T compare then!

5 years of ministry in church have passed. Now I need to face 4 years of study. These 4 years will be my chance to study hard and enhance my knowledge about my God. However, I really do not know how to focus the studies fully, yet serve God with full concentration in church. As I said just now, I am still in ministry state. Though I wanna study, I still do not adapt myself into studying life.

James 1: 2 - 3
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

Where am I, God?
A student, yet a ministry worker.
A focus on studies, yet a focus on ministry too.


God, indeed, I prayed this to you that I wanna be extraordinary. I believe I am in the process of molding into a shape that brings favor in the eyes of the potter.

Thank you, Jesus.