Paul Long's Ramblings

Had to post this up! Another gem from Henri Nouwen that is so relevant for today! I have highlighted in red what especially resonates with me as it has bothered me for years that there is a fast growing number of Christians who think they can have Christ without the church. Then back to work. I have finalized my magic routine fro this Sunday - now just need to practice and coordinate with "the Weeman" so our acts flow smoothly from one to the other. Forgiving the Church When we have been wounded by the Church, our temptation is to reject it. But when we reject the Church it becomes very hard for us to keep in touch with the living Christ. When we say, "I love Jesus, but I hate the Church," we end up losing not only the Church but Jesus too. The challenge is to forgive the Church. This challenge is especially great because the Church seldom asks us for forgiveness, at least not officially. But the Church as an often fallible human organization needs our forgiven...

I went to my first IBM Ring 160 meeting last night. Been a member for more than 2 years (or is it 3?) but have never been to a meeting apart from a year end special (where the focus was a comedy club owner taking about the comedy club business - was actually interesting and informative) and lectures co-organized with Magic NZ.  Basic reason was they had bi-monthly meetings that fell on Wednesdays and I used to have Wednesday Home group meetings that always happened to clash with meeting times. Then of course certain free Wednesdays I would have "emergencies" or was just to tired (or at times sick). Last night I was sick but as my coughing seems to get bad later in the night ... I made the effort to attend ... since I needed a bit of magical inspiration to get my creative juices flowing (31st October Light Party is just round the corner). Was a wonderful meeting. The President Tony Wilson taught a simple trick that I believe I can modify and use quite easily - one day ... ...

Posted up my Pastor's Notes for 31st October 2010's bulletin To read, click HERE

This is an appalling news report (see below). How can our PM say such things?! He is destroying Malaysia with his words and attitude. Is this what 1Malaysia is supposed to be? As Nurul Izzah puts it, "Is it Malaysia or Malaysaja?" If this is no racism, what is it? Is this what "Malaysia, truly Asia" means? Is this what "Malaysia, a melting pot of various ethnic groups living in harmony" means? More than 50 years and we still haven't grown up?!! God help us! I am going to bury my head in the sand for one week and take a fast from Malaysian news! I can actually feel and hear the acid in my stomach churning! For all its flaws and my concerns over a handful of extremist Maori politics, perhaps Malaysia should take a look at tiny NZ and learn from NZers what real multi-cultural society can look like - and see what acceptance and working and honoring "historical social contracts" for the good of the country really is about!  Last night I had...

Having my lunch and thought I'd watch some videos. This is DISTURBING!!! But personally, and sadly not surprising as I have lots of first hand experience listening to this back in the early to mid 80s. God help us! Can't these people see how wrong it is to sow hatred? And to a child too!

A few days ago I got an email from someone I first met many years ago (when he was a young man). He is older now and married and we were never close or talked that much except when we first met (in a special / exclusive classroom setting). And mainly on the subject matter we were studying. Back then I had a very positive impression of him - very smart yet very humble but most importantly very passionate about God and ministry. But also there was something about him that stood out to me - though I never could pin it down. Later on, a few years later I met his father and mother at a conference (on a totally different subject) and had a better understanding in part of why he gave me such a good impression. His parents were the old fashioned godly and down to earth people who held dear traditional values of hard work, thrift, respect for others etc. His father was a school teacher who was dedicated to his job and the very rare handful that refused to give tuition for money (hence he rema...

It has finally happened. Scary isn't it?  ASSIST News Service (ANS) -  PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at:  www.assistnews.net  -- E-mail:  assistnews@aol.com Monday, October 18, 2010 Crystal Cathedral Files for Bankruptcy Protection By Michael Ireland Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service GARDEN GROVE, CA   (ANS)  --  The famed, all-glass Crystal Cathedral mega-church has filed for bankruptcy protection. The Crystal Cathedral complex.  (Credit: Los Angeles Times) Faced with mounting debts and decreasing donations, the move came as the Garden Grove church was struggling to pay its bills. It has suffered from financial troubles in the last year, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times newspaper. Senior Pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman said in a statement released by the church: "Budgets could not be cut fast enough to keep up with the unprecedented rapid decline in revenue due to the rece...

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

Been busy ... hence not blogging much. Headaches of late so not in the mood for serious blogging. Thought these were funny!

*sigh* But it is okay to make fun of Christianity, especially Jesus Christ even to the extent of being vulgar, demeaning and unjustly- in print, on TV, in the movies all in the name of free speech!  Editors Pass on Comic Strip With ‘Where’s Muhammad?’ Reference http://www.editorandpublisher. com/Headlines/editors-pass-on- comic-strip-with-wheres- muhammad-reference-62849-.aspx By:  E&P Staff Published:  October 04, 2010 NEW YORK Some editors opted not to run Sunday’s “Non Sequitur” comic strip, which included a “Where’s Muhammad?” reference, according to The Washington Post’s “Comic Riffs” blog. Wayne Miller’s strip on Sunday depicted a scene in a park with a variety of characters, with the caption, “Picture book title voted least likely to ever find a publisher: ‘Where’s Muhammad?’” Some 20 papers, including the Portland Press Herald and the Boston Globe — both of which “Non Sequitur” Wiley Miller reads — opted to run a Sunday replacement strip featuring ...

An old Amy Grant song came to my mind today ... Read Don’t Give Up On Me Lyrics here. Dont give up on me, Though I know at times its hard to see; All my many weaknesses Might blind you, I must remind you, Dont give up on me, Even when I act so selfishly, All my views are all I see. Yes, I know theres still so much of me, But God is working constantly, To shape me, Hell remake me. Dont give up on me. Im gonna make it. I know its hard for you to see. Dont give up on me, I couldnt take it. If a part of me should keep you from seeing The part of me that youd start to believe in, Im changin so please dont give up on me. Dont give up on me, Even when I fail so miserably. Time and again I know I stumble, It makes me humble. Dont give up on me. But never let your love to be Hanging on the things you see, Counting all the times I fail to be Everything you want from me; Im trying. Hear me crying. Dont give up on me. Im gonna make it. I know its hard ...

Just posted my Pastor's Notes for the 17th October 2010 bulletin. To read click HERE

My interview  with John Carney has just been posted up at THE MAGIC ANNEXE website. To read, click HERE . John is not just a brilliant magician but a great entertainer as well, PLUS a truly down to earth and friendly person. Below is a video clip of his performance on David Letterman's Magic Week 2010.

Last Sunday was another special Sunday - the FAITH HOME group took over the service, and we had a special celebration - Lye Chye and Siong Twee's 25th Wedding Anniversary. Photos of course by our church photographer Ken B. This was an additional nice surprise. Ben who has been coming to our church for many months now bought himself a really nice Bible as part of his journey of faith and wanted to know if I could present it to him and pray for him. So we did this as part of the announcements. It is amazing really how God works. Ben is still seeking Jesus and his decision to make this public and ask for public prayer, and his commitment to invest in a good Bible and read it is such a huge encouragement! Nice to see GROUP leader Pam agreeing to read Scripture from the pulpit especially since she is most comfortable and gifted as a super behind the scenes servant. Even my wife was not spared! She had to pray for the offering! This was a HUGE highlight. Getting Michael to...

Just posted up this Sunday's Pastor's Notes (10 October 2010).  To read click HERE

It was nice to reconnect with Geoffrey via Facebook (Yes FB has it's positives) earlier this year. I first met him more than 25 years ago! And I got to know him and his heart when we served together in a special SU Camp. That was the year too I first got to know my good friend Allan Yong. Allan Yong became an inspiration for me (a good role model of a man of God on fire for God ... and he still is) especially in the area of youth work (but that is another story) Anyway Geoff (now may be known as Geo?) made a big impression on me as well. Down to earth and to me a bit of an "eccentric"! A "greenie" before being green was "an in-thing". He would cycle practically everywhere on his bike, often turning up sweaty! :-) But he had a passion for Jesus that was very evident (and I hear that this passion has not waned but has kept growing! Praise God!) One major thing I picked up from him that still has remained as a huge impression on me was his deep sense ...