What then is the measure of love???

This year, i found out that it is rather meaningful and yet with great joy! I totally could appreciate the story of the Prodigal Son in the Bible. For the past few years, my younger uncle quarrel with my elder uncle and oldest auntie over my grandma. He claim that his mother loves my elder uncle and eldest auntie the most. She did not give him any possessions, house and anything of such. But according to my mum, who is the second of the five children, she said that my grandma loves my youngest uncle the most! For he is the only child in the family to go overseas and study while the rest of the family study and work hard, in order for him to study. The best part was, he said that grandma does not love him at all!

What then is the measure of love?

Four years back, things becomes even more ugly, when at my elder brother's wedding, my two uncles pick a fight with each other, and i have to stand in between them and asked both of them to go back with some more relatives' help. Since then, the younger uncle stop coming for Reunion dinner, Chinese New Year visitation. Even more, he did not allow his wife and two sons to visit us at all!

The first day of Chinese New Year, it has always been a custom that we as Chinese will visit the most elderly in the family, which is why we always visit my mother's grandma. That morning, my elder brother came from his place to pick my mum and me to grandma's place at Clementi. My elder brother receive a call from my younger uncle's wife, saying that they were at my grandma's place! The car was like a rocket for the next 15 mins.

We spend so much time catching up with the family! And we really did! My heart was pumping after 2 hours, knowing that my elder uncle will come home soon after his morning shift. And the nightmare was not over! When I saw my uncles saw each other in the house. Everyone in the family was in fear that a big quarrel was on its way, a fight is going to happen right at the first day of CNY!

Thank God, nothing of such happen. They by-pass each other. And my elder uncle just simply talks to my younger uncle's family. When my younger uncle's family left, my elder uncle did the impossible! He went over and shook hands with my younger uncle! I was like ! Totally speechless, no words could ever describe my heart to know that my uncles reconcile on this day! What a joy to behold!

After shortly my younger uncle's family leave, they called my elder brother, asking whether the whole family wants to visit his home nearby. I was like, YES! We should all go! But nothing came out from my mouth, for this is a decision that is something sensitive that the older generation need to make, but I was just singing praises in my heart and thanking God for the change of heart from the whole family.

The climax of the Prodigal Son came, when I was on my way home, with my elder brother, my 3rd Aunt, her husband and my mum. The reason why my younger uncle and family came, is his wife told my mum and 3rd Aunt, that my elder brother had been asking how is the family, and also how is she when she injure her leg, my elder brother shows concern. The best part was she prayed and ask God, to change my uncle's heart, so that they could go for family visitation this year. She challenge my uncle, saying, "See, your nephew is concerned about me when i injure my leg, and constantly asked me, how is the family doing. Yet we did not show concern and love to your family members, let alone your mum!"

When i heard this in the car, tears uncontrollably came down my cheeks, praising God for convicting my uncle's heart, changing his harden heart and loving my grandma in return! Before my grandma left his place, he gave her 200 dollars more and would increase his monthly giving to his mum. Talking about repentance! This is the best illustration on the Prodigal Son!

What then is the measure of love?

Love is giving everything and not expecting anything in return. That was the love of my grandma to her youngest son. Love is not a matter of convenience, but rather a matter of commitment. Love is not measure by what I have done, but rather what I have endure. I have not love like I should have. Thank you God for teaching me a valuable lesson on love. O Lord, would you help me love like you did on the cross!

2 greatest lies the church believe in...

One of the greatest lie that the church is believing in, is that salvation can only be found in the church. Why do I have this thought? Because I am hearing a lot of people saying, just bring your friends to church, and the pastors and church leaders will share Christ to them. What?! This is not evangelism. Evangelism is not just bringing your friends to church. Evangelism is sharing Christ wherever you are and whoever you are, and salvation is definitely not found only in the church. Bringing a friend is definitely not the Biblical model of what Christ taught. And in fact, this is one of the greatest lie of the church slowly buying into subtlety. But rather, evangelism is the role of every Christians and we are called to share Christ despite of where we are.

The second greatest lie of the church that we are believing in, is that watch my life and do good. Does not all religions tell us to do good and live a good life? So then, what is the difference? No. The church cannot and must not continue to preach this doctrine of just living a good life. Living a good life and not sharing Christ, what a lie! What a truth that is being distorted by the Christian world. If it is so, then we as Christians had got the gospel truth all wrong and definitely it is not what we called - gospel centric. Gospel centric is truth in its totality is when we live a life that glorify God in all we do and sharing Christ. These two must be together and not lacking in either. For Christ and the apostles did both and did not compromise on any of the two. So why should we?

Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving, thanksgiving, thanksgiving... One morning when i was doing quiet time, i was overwhelmed that i just took the grace of God for granted! The air i breath each morning, the bright warm morning sun that reminds me of his great faithfulness. Yet so easily, i forget the grace of God! Why, O man? Would You O Lord teach me what it means to live under Your great grace...