Sunday, October 19, 2008

Inspiration

I am not planning to blog today but today the pastor did an excellent homily. He gave a lot of analogies which are worth remembering. So I shall eternalise these stories here. Haha..

Story 1
Once there was a pastor who brought 4 bottles at the start of his sermon. Bottle 1 was filled with worms and alcohol. Bottle 2 had worms with cigarette. Bottle 3 had worms in liquid chocolate. Bottle 4 had worms and soil. At the end of his sermon, he pointed out that the worms in bottle 1,2,3 were dead, but not those in bottle 4. He asked the congregation what the meaning of this. Then one frail lady raised up her hand and said "Drink alcohol, smoke, and eat chocolate so that you don't have worms in your body."

I did not really get the message behind the story. So I shall take it as a joke. Haha...

Okay, let's be more serious.

Story 2
In America, once someone sent this editorial to the newspaper: "I have been going to church for 30 years. I have heard about 32000 homilies but there is nothing I can remember. I think I should stop going to church as I get nothing from it. The priests should stop preaching too as there is no use". This letter created a furore for few weeks until someone wrote: "I have been married to my wife for 30 years. I have eaten about 32000 of her meals but I cannot recall the food served for any single meal. But I am sure that whether I remember what I eat or not, her food has sustained me. Otherwise, I will be dead now".

Good isn't it?

The gospel today is about "Give caesar what belongs to caesar and give God what belongs to Him". It never occured to me to interpret 'what belongs to God' in a way that I heard it today. Just like the coin which bears caesar's head, we are God's currency. We are made according to His image, and even more, He resides within us. We are just like money, no matter how crumpled, how dirty, how old it is, a $50 note still worth $50. No matter how sinful, how sad, how useless we may feel, we still worth the same in God's eyes. Hence by giving God what belongs to Him, we are expected to give ourselves. The currency is not love, compassion, patience, etc. It is ourselves, our time, our actions.

Gosh.. I guess I am really depressed. That's why I feel so touched by these kind of stories today. Haha... One last story is from my e-mail.

SCARS OF LIFE



Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.

He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go.'

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.

The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.

~We ask for silver and God sometimes sends his denials wrapped in gold~

No comments: