Wise men still seek him

Wise men still seek him by John Fischer

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” (Proverbs 25:2 NIV)

I normally don’t like bumper stickers, especially with Christian slogans, because they so often seem to trivialize the message, but one exception stands out. It used to show up around Christmastime, though I haven’t seen it for a while. It is the simple but profound assertion: WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM.

I like this because it says at least two things. First, those who seek God are wise. God affirms the dignity of the searcher and the search. The fact that God has set it up this way – has concealed his matters and invited us to search for him – confirms our nobility. It says we have enough smarts to look for him and recognize him when we find him. In fact, the proverb above puts the searcher in the realm of kings. It’s a noble task to seek after God.

Second, those who seek God are given the benefit of the doubt, that if they seek him, they will find him.This is actually a promise in Scripture: “He rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV) This is why those of us who already know him don’t have to jump all over those who are seeking when they get something wrong or don’t put it in exactly the right words. If they are truly seeking, they will find him, and it will be God who opens their eyes anyway. We need to respect the search of those we know who are seeking and not get impatient with them or think of them as stupid for not seeing what we see. When it’s time, they will.

This may mean you might have to bite your tongue a little bit and not say everything you know all the time. Better to listen for those parts of the truth the seeker has already found and affirm them. Jesus didn’t spill all the beans as soon as he started preaching. He let a little bit out at a time. He talked in code (parables). He asked a lot of questions. He protected the search. He didn’t give what was sacred to dogs or throw out pearls to pigs. He always said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” and then he went on to not say everything. He made them hang on his words and come back for more. All of this protects not only the dignity of the search and the searcher, but also the dignity of the truth.

It really should be this way; otherwise, we could just put it all on a bumper sticker.

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I really like this article, not because I am in the postition of those who already have an in-depth knowledge of God and christianity and how this religion is supposed to "work". I remember one of my FCBC mates telling me that he was still trying to figure how all this was supposed to "work out". I am searching too. Perhaps a relationship with God is meant to be mystery-filled so that each step along the way will feel like a surprise, as we walk closer to Jesus and edge closer to knowing Him better. I am aware of the accute limitations of my theological knowledge; how ignorance can translate into wrong answers when my family members ask me questions.

Dear God, grant me wisdom that transcends boundaries. Open my eyes that I may seek, and find You, even when my theological base is weak, without SOL/LOS and all those formal equipping.

Magnify His Name

You and I
Have been so blessed
For the Father’s love surrounds us
And we are covered by His Grace
He will be there when we pass through the waters
We can walk through the fire and not burn
We will never be afraid to face the floods
For we have Christ within our hearts

So let us mount up with wings as eagles
Let us run and not be weary
With His might we will move every mountain
With His strength calm the stormy seas
With God all things are possible
And nothing ever stays the same
So let us join our hearts as one
And you and I will magnify His Name

You and I
Are meant to conquer
Every fear and every battle
In lands both far and near
We will go forth in love and courage
And claim the victory
To extend His love beyond our shores
For with Christ our hearts will soar

What is Life?

The (in)famous Question 6

What Is Life?
Smiles. Giggles. Looking at yourself in the morning. Happiness. Your mother showing friends your naked baby pictures. Realizing you aren't what you thought you were. Having a license but no car. Falling in love. Falling out of love. Falling in love all over again. Unstoppable laughter. Power. Getting buried in the sand. Fear. Never remembering what you were just talking about. Finishing a crossword all by yourself. Getting an A on a test. Getting your braces off. Never losing focus. Riding your bike for the first time. Baby-sitting your brother. Working hard for what you want. Learning about the bees, but never understanding the birds. Fighting over the remote control. Passion. Realizing Santa is really your father. Realizing the Tooth fairy is also your father. Helping your mother bake a cake. Sticking your finger in the frosting when she isn't looking. Food fights at school. Enjoying silence. Meeting Mickey Mouse. Sitting in awe, staring at fireworks. Scoring the winning goal. Walking in the rain. Dreaming of the future. Losing track of time when in the deepest of converstations. Getting the phone one ring too late. Burning your hand on that damn oven, twice. Learning how to lose. Watching all those stupid infomercials and not understanding why. Telling the teacher the dog ate your homework. Fighting with a friend, then arguing who should apologize first. A fresh cup of coffee in the morning. Running into old friends. Hugging your parents before you leave for college. Sinking a hole in one. Chatting on the Internet. Imagining yourself in a movie. Remembering lines from your favourite movies. Learning to say "mama". Confusion. Thinking about nothing. Making fun of your best friends. Finally getting the answer to a math problem. Super gluing your hands to your desk. Irony. Telling someone what life is, in five hundred words or less.

hello world!

so, this will be my first post here. always thought that blogger had an easier interface to work with. anyway, sardiuswinter and venice_espresso will still remain, for posterity and embarrassment's sake.

Perhaps this is a place not for an audience, but for myself, since writing has always been somewhat a therapeutic activity; loosening up those tightly bound layers within. I've not written much since I entered RJ, save for the few pieces in JC1 and the children's book produced for MDA's programme. I didn't really know what a writer's block was until I started on some essays that require me to encapsulate my entire 18 years in a quasi-prose less than 500 words.

December has come and is going soon, I've enjoyed lazing around the house, wringing my brains dry after writing several versions for the same question, clearing up backlog and spending time together with friends. :) So at 18, this fleeting chapter of my life is yet going to conclude again. What will the future bring? I have no idea, standing at the edge of a cliff and peering over the edge with tremulous hope.

Happy Birthday, Jesus Christ. I know that there will be a day when everyonein the world celebrates Your birth, and second coming.