Euphoria

Do you walk along the edge of a road and follow it whenever it bends?

This may seem funny but this is how it looks like for someone that has no plans in life.

Where do you think it will lead to? No idea. Wherever and whatever.

So we all need a plan for our life.

Plans that are outright wrong shouldn’t be considered at all. If we plan to walk over a cliff, we will surely fall and die. Some of you here are into drugs, gambling or something. Do you plan to be in it forever? Until whatever comes, comes?

So we all need a plan for our life but we need to plan according to God’s will.

Do you know what God’s will is for you? I wish I can sum it up in a nutshell but I can’t. It is not complicated but at the same time not comfortably easy. There are times and seasons for everything but you need to make a choice to follow them.

Sometimes the situation that we are in and the plans that we make may seem to be very far apart. It may even overwhelm and discourages us. Sometimes people fall into depression and begin to lose hope, giving up on the very plan that supposedly brings them hope. That is why we need to take things one step at a time.

Though it’s just one step, it is still a step closer or one lesser step to persevere in order to reach the goal.

So we all need a plan for our life, a plan that is according to God’s will and the hope that it may one day come to pass as we take one step at a time.

I generally think that all these form of publications are the same as someone sharing about their life with a group of friends. The difference is that with technology, you can share with more people at once compared to sharing at a table of 5.

When we are out ‘yum cha’, we don’t blah out everything or anything that we wanted. Instead, we would talk about things that are more relevant to the people around. We don’t curse at each other because we know that it is not right nor do we want to gossip or slander others. We don’t repeatedly try to get attention by saying stupid things of how we plan to hurt ourselves. This is because when we are out as friends there is a certain respect and accountability that we still observe which is very good. (I know it’s not all the time and we do find some that has no respect or whatsoever for others and still have the face to call themselves friends, but let us ignore such people for the sake of what I’m trying to say now).

Let’s bring this to the online social networking context. With pretense aside and self delusion away, we know that what we post is read by others. In facebook, its read by our hundreds of close friends, not so close friends, family and relatives..etc while blogs are read by the same group, some stalkers, and others who happen to bump into your blog. When we publish a post or update our status, we want them to be read. We might think that we do not want someone to read it but hoping that some people will read it at the same time is just contradicting. If we really want to keep something private, we wouldn’t post it. Don’t believe me? Tell me and I’ll challenge to post some really personal stuff if you are honest with me when I ask you certain questions.

With these establish, let us consider our post and status. When we talk bad about people in our blogs for the sake of it or simply because we do not like that person, isn’t that the same with gossip? If it is an issue we need to share with some people then let it be confined to some people and let it be handled in a Christ-like manner. Likewise for those who curses freely to ‘express’ their emotions or putting up certain status, what are you trying to announce to the world? Have we forgotten that we are supposed to be a light? You might not be bothered much about being a light when you are emotional but allow me tell you that such thinking is very immature.

What then? Should we fake it and wear a mask? Of course NOT. But being real is not telling anyone whatever you feel like saying right in their face without taking responsibility of how the other person may take it. That’s how I used to think but I’ve learnt from my mistake. Just because you did not announce to everyone you met that you’ve did some habitual sexual sin the day before doesn’t mean that you are wearing a mask.

Then how do we be real if our heart is about to burst trying to hold the next spicy story about someone or from wanting to curse those who wronged us? The concern is not so much about being real but of our heart and attitude. We need to renew our mind with the way of God so that the next time someone wronged us, curses won’t be flaring up in our minds nor will we be interested to gossip or slander. When we have changed, being real would also mean that we don’t gossip nor curse. It will be natural and I assure you that it s doable. I used to be a potty mouth, worst than most of you that I know and it took me a month or less to completely stop it. The motivation is God. This may sound like a cliché but it’s true. As Christians, it’s natural for us to be more Christ-like and I encourage you to go towards that direction. End. 

A gentle reminder.



Not everyone have the gift of tongues.

1 Cor 12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing?


So if someone claims that tongues is a sure sign of someone who is filled with the Spirit is not teaching from the word but from their own understanding.

Speaking in tongues shows that someone has receive the gift of tongues which also implies that the Spirit is with them but having the Spirit does not implies the gift of tongues


How gift of tongues is received.

It is a gift, God give it. It is not forced upon; neither will everyone get it just because they desire it. There is a certain group of people who practice repetition of words as a way to acquire the ‘gift of tongues’. There is no basis for such practice; it is psychological and manipulative. Some may claim that it helps in the process, but then again, it is a gift from God, He doesn’t need help. Observe how people receive this gift in the bible (it just came upon them).

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.


It is in control, not auto and not with a possessed-like state.

1 Cor 14:27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

It is possible for it to be contained, it can wait. If it is an uncontrollable thing, this command wouldn’t be given.


Purpose of the gift of tongues? 

1 Cor 14:6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.

It is for the edification of the body but without interpretation, no one will be edified. That is why Paul says that someone who has the gift of tongues should also pray for the gift of interpretation.

*A note on gift of interpretation, it a gift to interpret, not make guesses and assumptions or other imaginary stuff that someone ‘feels’.


How should it be exercise in a group.

1 Cor 14:27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets

Paul says that the gift of tongues is to be used for the edification of the body when Christians gather. Thus it should be done in an orderly manner. This applies to prophecy also. In fact, the practice of everyone whacking in genuine gift of tongues were practiced in the church of Corinth those days and Paul have to sound them through this letter.

I changed my skin and now its acting funny. Really keep skin man.