Just finished our last mid term in Medicine... So now I feel like I can blog =)
I've already blogged about the Luke 15 (parable of the lost son), talked on about in cell group, been reading the book by Henri Noweun but on sunday we had another sermon on it and just more reminders for things to be thankful about:
The Parable of the Lost Son
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
The speaker's emphasis was on the younger son's actions and the severe disgrace it brought onto the father. The speaker also challenged us to put ourselves in the position of a 1st century jewish audience, and step by step showed us the shock the audience must have experienced as they heard about a young man actions implied wishing his father dead, sqaundering his inheritance on prostitutes in a foreign land. But the most shocking must have been the scene of the father running towards the prodigal son. I think in many ways the Chinese culture is alot like the Jewish one. Integrity and respect are important values but also the principle that the wrong the must be punished. And its probably cos of this background that I usually see the punishing, judging face of God... But i've been reminded again and again of God's compassion, that I deserve to be punished yet His son died for me instead. And yes I'm forgetful, especially forgetful when I'm engrossed in my little dental exam world.... but regardless God's arms are wide open waiting...
The speaker also pointed out how the Father was literally partying when the lost son returned... so time for partying at this Sunday's baptisms.. hehe... =p
Today i'm thankful for:
- the cross
- tammy... i was reading tammy's autobiography last nite. I've asked her permission to post part of it on my blog so you guys can get a glimpse of how amazing this little girl is =)
- health
- time together with friends... milestones wait to welcome OT5....
I've already blogged about the Luke 15 (parable of the lost son), talked on about in cell group, been reading the book by Henri Noweun but on sunday we had another sermon on it and just more reminders for things to be thankful about:
The Parable of the Lost Son
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
The speaker's emphasis was on the younger son's actions and the severe disgrace it brought onto the father. The speaker also challenged us to put ourselves in the position of a 1st century jewish audience, and step by step showed us the shock the audience must have experienced as they heard about a young man actions implied wishing his father dead, sqaundering his inheritance on prostitutes in a foreign land. But the most shocking must have been the scene of the father running towards the prodigal son. I think in many ways the Chinese culture is alot like the Jewish one. Integrity and respect are important values but also the principle that the wrong the must be punished. And its probably cos of this background that I usually see the punishing, judging face of God... But i've been reminded again and again of God's compassion, that I deserve to be punished yet His son died for me instead. And yes I'm forgetful, especially forgetful when I'm engrossed in my little dental exam world.... but regardless God's arms are wide open waiting...
The speaker also pointed out how the Father was literally partying when the lost son returned... so time for partying at this Sunday's baptisms.. hehe... =p
Today i'm thankful for:
- the cross
- tammy... i was reading tammy's autobiography last nite. I've asked her permission to post part of it on my blog so you guys can get a glimpse of how amazing this little girl is =)
- health
- time together with friends... milestones wait to welcome OT5....
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