I just don't know what word to use by Christian shouters. u'll c later.
San Francisco. it's just awesome beyond my expectations. Expectations that were moulded by movies and tv shows, landing there is just altogether different.
So yeah, went there as a guided tour by some seniors who volunteered because he likes being a tour guide. At first, he thought taking us shopping is a good idea, but for us... we were there to SEE San Francisco, not a shopping mall in SF. so, together with another friend, we decided to break off and we kinda wandered around and landed in a Contemporary Jewish Museum, which was exhibiting Curious George and other Jewish stuff, which i found it really interesting.
For example, the Torah. I never knew that they had such strict guidelines in copying the Torah for Synagogue use. In order that the Torah is Kosher, the scribe cannot make a single mistake, every stroke, dot down to the intention of the heart must be perfect, but who can be that perfect but God, right? So, of course they have guidelines if the scribe makes a mistake or two, but they are complicated too.
Then there was this guy who compiled all the commandments in the Torah (first 5 books of Bible) and differentiated if they were commandment of abstinence or commandment of commission, applies to which gender, or if it's universal, or if it applies at all Times or a particular time only. THAT was even interesting. Sadly, I wasn't allowed to take photographs.
Anyway, so what are Christian shouters? Well, they are people on the street that carry boards and cards saying "Jesus Christ Loves YOU!" or screaming away like the world is gonna die soon and u gotta be save or giving away pamphlets and stuff like that. I really don't know how to label them, but i'll go with Christian shouters, because shouter is kinda like 'broadcasting' something a message, or commentary. so yeah. Funny thing is, you don't find boards or cards displaying the antithesis, or other religions. I'll have to find out why someday.
Then, I attended a black church. IT was very very interesting. I mean like you see those black church on TV like how they sing praises to God, that was how it is. I take it that this is how black people actually express themselves culturally, like in songs and the way they conduct celebrations, so it was perhaps something they identify themselves with. Their choruses were simple yet Truth-full like "because the Holy Spirit is in me, I'm all souled out".
I was kinda reflecting, if worship is a manner we praise God, and to praise God such that we express that which is in our hearts, the 'manner' we do it has to be malleable to our culture and our preference to express our deepest desire for God. So, the afros really love the way they are doing things right now, so they thoroughly express their love and desire for God (i mean, what on earth is 'souled out'?).
What is the Malaysian way (or whichever culture for that matter)? Sadly, I am too immersed in the Western or traditional baptist manner that I can't imagine what it would be like to worship God the Malaysian way (certainly coming late for service is not desirable, even though it's a culture, but a bad one). So I was thinking, certainly the biggest barrier to worshiping God is when tradition works more importantly rather than the idea that worship service is a vehicle for congregations to express their love, desire and praises to God together. Can't we have like worship songs with very chinese-themed tunes or styles that we identify with our culture?
yeah, so it got me thinking, but i think in malaysia it won't be easy, i mean to have a church service catered for a particular culture would only mean a congregation that are very broken up. i guess we have a lot of figuring out to do.
anyway, the pastor preached on Mark 10:35-45. I think this is the first time i ever heard any pastor preached on this passage. He based it on the interpretation by Martin Luther King Jr. I think it was an eye opener, I never saw that passage that way, but I think that's what Jesus meant to tell the disciples.
So basically, it's James and his brother John who want to be great and decided to do the backdoor way by hinting it to Jesus and hoping He would be able to grant it. but Jesus said "You don't even know what u're asking."
indeed, we ask for so much greatness, but all we think that being great is just all the pomp and glory. Indeed, is that 'greatness'?
So basically, we just don't know what kinda shit we're getting ourselves into, but we want all the grandness about it.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
indeed, position of greatness is not plainly given, but earned out of hardship, focus, endurance. It is a journey of service, just as Christ had came not to be served but to serve.
Our medal is not the nobel prize but pleasing God.
To me, that means, as I do research, it isn't the nobel prize I'm gunning at, but it is the virtue of the practice - discovery, problem solving, investigation, paradigms, etc. I conduct research in a manner that pleases God, I place my profession before God and be a good servant of it. I submit myself to be a living sacrifice that is Holy and pleasing to Him.
So, it was a fruitful experience for me.
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