The temples don't usually "go out"?

05:55 AM Apr 19, 2010 Today papersSINGAPORE - Religious beliefs must remain private and should not be imposed on others - but it can be used to promote good values that all can agree on, said Law Minister K Shanmugam.....On the roles of temples, Mr Shanmugam said they see themselves as providers of religious service so people come to temples, and the temples don't usually "go out". He said they can perform a wider role, emphasising education, healthy living.



Reflections:

This is one of the most interesting comments made by the Law minister in S'pore. I couldn't help but to think of the role of believers in the light of his comments. And of course the PRIVATE vs the PUBLIC side to our beliefs. The recent environment in fact does not augur well indeed. What is sensitive and what is not? What is imposing and what is encroachment and what is not?



Firstly....

ON TEMPLES!

• Acts 17:24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
  
  Matthew 12:6 6I tell you that one greater than the temple is here
  
  John 2:18Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"
  19Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."
  20The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
  
  1 Cor 3:9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.16Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
  
  1 Cor 6:19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
  
  2 Cor 6:For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."17"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. 18"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
  
  Eph 2:19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
  
  Rev 21: 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple 3"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.

That rests our case. The "temples" don't usually go out??



That brings us to the second point :-

ON PRIVATE VS PUBLIC FAITH!

• Matt 5: Salt and Light
  13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
  14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
  
  Luke 11 The Lamp of the Body
  33"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you."
  
  John 8:12[ The Validity of Jesus' Testimony ] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
  
  John 12:36Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light."


• Acts 13:47For this is what the Lord has commanded us: " 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' "
  
  Acts 26:23that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
  
  Eph 5: 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them..... 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
  1 Thessalonians 5:5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness

There goes again. Rest my case.



Challenging times ahead indeed - being a moving temple where the Holy Spirit dwells and shining forth the light as an influence to others!!

Are we merely living so as to provide a 'religious service' to others?

Are we doing or being?

Are we remembering the Lord of the work or the work of the Lord?

Remember the Lord's declaration " I am the light of the world"
Remember his exortation " You are the light of the world"

Here's a story about the candlelight!
It is about three children and the inheritance. Father decides to set the test of who can fill the large barn in two days with a given sum of money. One buys straw, another bracken but the youngest seems to arrive with nothing. On the morning of the test one corner of the barn is filled with straw, another is filled with bracken. The youngest son stands in the middle. Father questions each...... The youngest asks for the doors to be closed, lights a candle and fills the barn with light... and as it is burning, sings a song. Her father tells her that she has filled the room three times over. She has filled it with light, and light is knowledge. She has filled it with song and song is joy. And knowledge and joy together make wisdom!

'Don't impose beliefs on others'

'Don't impose beliefs on others'
Interactions in society should be secular, says Law Minister

by Alicia Wong
05:55 AM Apr 19, 2010 Today papers
SINGAPORE - Religious beliefs must remain private and should not be imposed on others - but it can be used to promote good values that all can agree on, said Law Minister K Shanmugam.Mr Shanmugam, who is also the Second Minister for Home Affairs, was speaking to reporters after the Sree Maha Mariamman Temple's consecration ceremony yesterday, which saw over 30,000 devotees turning up for prayers from as early as 6am.Interaction in society, he said, should be based on secular values and arguments, as it would be difficult for people to accept arguments based on another person's religious beliefs. But, Mr Shanmugam added, "if you put forward that argument on the basis it is in the best interest of the community and put it forward on a logical secular basis, then people can accept it".His comments came after Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng spoke last week on concerns over how religious groups were increasingly holding worship events at commercial venues, being involved in business and getting more assertive in evangelising. Mr Shanmugam said such concerns do not "quite apply to temples yet", but increasingly, religiosity is a global trend and Singapore was no exception. He added: "What is important is that there remains a personal space, and we create as large a secular space as possible for us to be able to interact with each other."Also touching on the issue of common and private space yesterday, while celebrating the Tamil New Year with residents in Pasir Ris, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said each community must have its own space in order to practise its own culture, traditions and beliefs. "But we must also subscribe to a wider common space among all of us where we come together as Singaporeans ... And these common spaces are precious for all of us, just as each community's own space is precious for that community."On the roles of temples, Mr Shanmugam said they see themselves as providers of religious service so people come to temples, and the temples don't usually "go out". He said they can perform a wider role, emphasising education, healthy living.

A biker's Reflection: Cycling is like church. Many attend but few understand.

Read the accident in the papers of this very young 35year old free lance writer, passionate biker whose PHD studies in the states was cut short by his sudden cycling accident in S'pore. He wrote, Jim Burlant once said, "Cycling is like church. Many attend, but few understand.".

I like his quote. Reminded me of the Narrow door in the bible . Luke 13:22 onwards. 22"Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, 24"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' ...29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."

I used to love to cycle when I was young. In those days, the kampong was a safe place unlike today where the roads are full of cars. Fancy your butt on just 2 wheels and you feel the breeze as you ride along: green -eco friendly and efficient. Yep, it is a nice feeling. Don't know who this Jim Burlant is or was - but his was an interesting quote. Using cycling to be like church! Having glanced through late Ben's blog, he seems to be an intellect apart from being the explorer and adventurer.

Just browsing after reading this email with thoughts on this cycling and church thing. Mark Twain quote :"Get a bicycle. You will not regret it. If you live"

Reflective thoughts:
1. Jesus & the Bike : U know the bicycle is one of the most amazing inventions of the 19th century? Invented by German around 1865. Today, 1 billion around the world. U know the invention of the bike has had enormous impact on society - both in culture and also the advancement of modern industrialisation of automobile? Like Jesus! It brings about transformation of people's lives in the way we live , move and have our being. Acts 17:28

2. The Bike & I : U know that the bicycle is also known as a push- bike? Human powered, pedal -driven. Jesus is like the bicycle. If we have one, we will not regret it , if we live.( interesting how Mark Twain inserted "If we live..." ) Because of this, I am reminded of life's frailty, the sudden death of a young man @ 35 on 24 March 2010 and the frequent quote Phi 1:21"To live is for Christ, to die is gain" . Our 94 year old aunt was called home too on 5/4/2010 and she came to know the Lord only 5 years back. Jesus invites us to ride on & with him to enjoy and experience the wind on our face. (that's life in the SPIRIT!) But we must take the first step of courage & conquering of fear of sitting on it and pedal. Chain-driven. Tension-spoke wheels. It is a partnership - Jesus and Us. Without Him we cannot , without us He will not. Simple as that. Turn the fear to faith that the bike will take us along.

3. My biking Journey : The road for any cyclist is one of an unwinding road of different terrains ,adventure and seasons as seen in late Ben's blog. The life of a believer is the same. Jesus does not promise us smooth roads all the way. There will be bumps that will hurt our ass and ego throughout life's long way. We may faced the rains and thunderstorms & heat as we ride along. So likewise, if we own a bike, we can be transported from pl to pl much more easily and effortlessly esp on level ground better than walking anytime! Matt 11:28:28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" PEDAL ON. PEDAL ON. I hate cycling uphill. Most of the time, I would rather step down and walk with my bike alongside instead. Well, that's quite a good illustration that Jesus walks with me during such difficult times like this!

Summary
So in summary, even though we may not be a passionate cyclist who travel around the world, it is still a good motor skill to acquire. It is never too late to learn to cycle. Get Jesus. You will not regret it. If you are alive today. Don’t' leave home without Him!

Reflections on a chanced late cyclist blog Benjamin Mok

http://pedaldamnit.blogspot.com

2 Kings 9:1 -29: Jehu's annointing and PEACE

This is a funny record of how Elisha summoned another prophet to annoint Jehu the commander. The prophet was seen to be a 'madman' in the eyes of the others in v11.

But what was prophesied later came to pass with Jehu killing all the wicked people - Joram, Ahaziah and Jezebel.

Twice, Jehu was confronted with the question "Do you come in peace" "Have you come in peace?" in v 18 & 22.

But Jehu answered in V22 :" How can there be peace as long as all the idalatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?"

Reflections:

Matt 10:34 " Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword"

Matt 10:33 " Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will discown him before my Father in heaven"