Paul Long's Ramblings

This is a very interesting and insightful article by Gordon MacDonald. What to Do With a Stranger What's the invitation here: "Pray this prayer" or "Follow me"? Gordon MacDonald  |  posted 7/26/2010 H e came to our church one Sunday morning accompanied by his wife and children. A friend had recommended us, and they'd come for a visit. Since I'd never seen him before, I moved quickly to introduce myself and make sure they met several other people who could make them comfortable.  • First impression: late thirties, a bit reserved, comfortable in his own skin, at ease when meeting new people. • Over the next few weeks, our paths crossed several times. He and his wife not only came to worship services, but they lingered in the Commons where people drank coffee and enjoyed extended conversation. It was clear that they were soon making friends. • Where were they in terms of faith? I had no idea, so I decided to find out by inviting him to breakfast at t...

Just posted up my Pastor's Notes. To read click HERE

A challenge from Nouwen! Overcoming Our Mood Swings Are we condemned to be passive victims of our moods? Must we simply say: "I feel great today" or "I feel awful today," and require others to live with our moods? Although it is very hard to control our moods, we can gradually overcome them by living a well-disciplined spiritual life. This can prevent us from acting out of our moods. We might not "feel" like getting up in the morning because we "feel" that life is not worth living, that nobody loves us, and that our work is boring. But if we get up anyhow, to spend some time reading the Gospels, praying the Psalms, and thanking God for a new day, our moods may lose their power over us.

The T-I-P class with Sok Lan. I had the pleasure of teaching them for  four days. And later special classes for 3 days as well with a select few.  Just realized I still had some pictures in my camera not transfered and deleted to my team member's PC for collation. Brownie the bunny the chewed the wires that caused my electrocution Photo with some of the English class students one ... morning I think Dinner one night at the stalls with some of the local workers. Significant to me that two of them were people I got to know years ago. One of them, whom I taught a few classes when he was doing his Bible and ministry training eight years ago (or longer) is now the local pastor at Takeo. Mixed vegetables. I know it has meat and lotus plant in it .... soups are popular - tasty and sourish - lots of lemon grass too. On the right is a favourite - salt fish, which interestingly is also a little sweet. Another soup dish. Delicious Steven and Nilesh did a lot...

Another much needed gem from Nouwen. We certainly need to cross the street more often and look into people's eyes.  Only statement I question is the last one that says "we are children of the same God". Everyone of us is certainly members of the same human family, wonderfully and fearfully created in God's own image. but I believe we are only become children of God through Christ.  I know I probably am going against the flow of much contemporary thought but I think Christians and the Church are not really helping this fragmented world move towards a real solution if we downplay the essential message that is the core of our faith, that the whole world needs Christ. We cannot truly be family without Christ. Listen and respect the views of others - of course! Care for others irrespective of race, sex, social status or creed - of course!  But we cannot deny the centrality of Christ, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. John 1:5-18:  5 The light sh...

Who Is My Neighbour? "Love your neighbour as yourself" the Gospel says (Matthew 22:38). But who is my neighbor? We often respond to that question by saying: "My neighbours are all the people I am living with on this earth, especially the sick, the hungry, the dying, and all who are in need." But this is not what Jesus says. When Jesus tells the story of the good Samaritan (see Luke 10:29-37) to answer the question "Who is my neighbour?" he ends the by asking: "Which, ... do you think, proved himself a neighbor to the man who fell into the bandits' hands?" The neighbour, Jesus makes clear, is not the poor man laying on the side of the street, stripped, beaten, and half dead, but the Samaritan who crossed the road, "bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them, ... lifted him onto his own mount and took him to an inn and looked after him." My neighbour is the one who crosses the road for me! - Henri Nouwen

While I was back at work last week Thursday, it is only today that I seem to be getting back into work rhythm. And if feels great (despite my nose deciding to take up running this morning). Only drawback is that I feel cold today! So far, worked on my Sunday presentation, done my pastor's notes (and worked out the seeds for the next few weeks), and did spadework for my sermon series on parables. Unfortunately my guest preacher for 1 Aug is not able to make it so it will mean speaking 6 weeks out of 6 instead of 5 out of 6. Good news is that finished the first last Sunday and that response was very good! :-) But I am looking forward to preaching this series so that's a major part of the work done. Even had time for visitation earlier this afternoon and now only realized that I had no time for lunch! Having too much of a good time :-) And it is interesting that my stomach did not growl a reminder (for a change!). Looks like one of the side effects of my Malaysian "run...

Just posted up this Sunday's Pastor's Notes. To read, click HERE

Fort his Sunday's bulletin (18th July 2010) Love or legalism?

Was for the 11 July 2010 bulletin Generosity and Responsibility

Was for the 4 July 2010 bulletin The purpose of miraculous healings

Previous Pastor's notes that I did not post up because I was away ... Was for the 27 June 2010 bulletin Prayer is both Caught and Taught 

Got back yesterday. It's good to be "home". Yeah, looks like NZ is now more "home" to me than Malaysia even when I remove the family factor out of the equation. Am off today to rest and recover and take care of a pile of personal matters that need my attention. Then tomorrow it is back to the office - lots to do, especially writing out my sermon. Good thing I have done most of the preliminary work. Will post more over the next few weeks on my trip to Cambodia and Malaysia. For now two major health related incidents. First was in Cambodia - I had a first hand experience of being electrocuted. Not the most pleasant experience. Felt as if I was shaking for   about10 seconds but from what I was told, I was thrown from across the room. What happened was that the pet rabbit living at the centre where we were staying sneaked into the office and chewed up a number of wires. I was helping reset the office PC and accidentally touched an exposed wire. What was funny ...