faith.hope.love

Via Dolorosa

Valerie — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 11:21:38 +0000

Down the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day
The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street
But the crowd pressed in to see
A Man condemned to die on Calvary

He was bleeding from a beating, there were stripes upon His back
And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head
And He bore with every step
The scorn of those who cried out for His death

Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King,
But He chose to walk that road out of
His love for you and me.
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.

Por la Via Dolorosa, triste dia en Jerusalem
Los saldados le abrian paso a Jesus
Mas la gente se acercaba
Para ver al que llevaba aquella cruz

Por la Via Dolorosa, que es la via del dolor
Como oveja vino Cristo, Rey, Senor
Y fue El quien quiso ir por su amor por ti y por mi
Por la Via Dolorosa al Calvario y a morir

The blood that would cleanse the souls of all men
Made its way through the heart of Jerusalem.

Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King
But He chose to walk that road out of His love for you and me
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.

Science vs religion

Valerie — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:14:45 +0000

I’m currently majoring in Biological Science, and each time I learn more and more about the various biological pathways, enzyme regulation, the structure of bacteria and viruses, etc, i’m so amazed at how intricate everything is. How different reactions have different functions in the body, and how all these different reactions come together so that our body functions properly. How one compound is able to regulate so many different reactions to bring about the correct response. How things that have made no sense to scientists in the beginning actually have a purpose for their existence, as later discovered by others.

Which just makes me think. Upon seeing all these, why do some people still believe that there’s no God? The Big Bang theory and the evolution theory are theories that most people should have heard of. If those were true, do you think that the organisms on earth would be so complex? How could everything have evolved to such a stage within such a short span of time? Just how would everything fit in? For me, there just has to be an intelligent being up there who created all these things, which is how everything can be so intricately created. How everything on earth can be so nicely balanced, until Man decides to disrupt it.

Let’s take an example of someone designing a machine, and later building it. In order to have a machine, someone has to build it. It’s not going to form spontaneously from different metal ions and other compounds, and start working right away. Even the most brilliant human mind can only come up with a machine that has limited function. Even the most complex machine pales in comparison with the complex machinery that goes on in our cells. If that’s the case, how can it be that the Big Bang theory is true? Just think of the kind of chance it would take for earth to become what it’s like today if that theory stands.

One of my lecturers once said that he was amazed by the sophisticated pathways that operate in our cells, but yet in terms of the human designs, there seems to be some flaws. Like how our eyes aren’t the best ones as compared to some other organisms. To him, if there really was a creator, then no flaws would exist.

But think about it. How would you know that these flaw are really flaws in themselves, and not what appears to be flaws because we don’t understand enough? At this point of time, there’s so much left unknown to us. Perhaps some day, an explanation to the “flaw” may be found? Perhaps there’s a reason behind this when God created us? After all, if we’re so perfect, we might as well be God.

I’m not trying to impose my view on anyone. But just think about it, especially for those who have knowledge in science and have learnt of all these reactions. Of course, at the end of the day, the choice is our own to make. I personally don’t see why science and religion cannot be reconciled.

Feeling bad

Valerie — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 15:14:25 +0000

As a christian, I know that we’ve all sinned against Him. I know that I have done things in the past that have hurt Him. Things that I shouldn’t have done, but somehow I still did it. But most importantly, I know that despite all that, He has forgiven me. And He still loves me despite everything.

Yet sometimes I just feel so sinful as thoughts of these incidents pop back into my mind once again. Why is it that they keep coming back to haunt me from time to time? I know He has cleansed me from my sins, yet why do I feel this way when these thoughts come back?

How much do you mean it?

Valerie — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 16:17:08 +0000

Can you say that you love the fellowship if all you have been to and seen of fellowship so far is one camp? When you officially enter the fellowship and realise that it’s not always fun and laughter, will you still say the same thing? In times when the fellowship goes through rough patches, how many will be there for the fellowship, for each other?

Perhaps in some ways my view sounds pessimistic, but when I go on MSN these few days I see people’s nicks saying that camp rocks, I love fellowship and the like. I’m just hoping that this enthusiasm and love isn’t something that dies down after a while, but keeps going on. It just worries me a little when people only put such nicks (referring to the I love fellowship one) after camps and all that, and most of the time we never see such nicks. The younger ones especially… I’m just concerned that they may have a false impression that fellowship is fun all the time.

I most certainly hope that all of those people with these nicks will prove me wrong, and show their love and enthusiam for the fellowship, its people and its activities for the duration they are in there.

Do you love me?

Valerie — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 15:14:52 +0000

I’m currently using the devotional “Experiencing God Day-By-Day”, and today’s read was on resolutions. In the article there was mention of God asking Peter “Do you love me?”, and that question just caught my eyes. It was the theme for the youth camp that had just ended.

As I read on, the article mentioned about Jesus not needing our resolutions to read the bible more, pray more, and the list goes on. If we had made those resolutions in the previous year but failed to achieve them, we will not succeed this year either if we do not change. Instad, Jesus asks for our love. If we love Him, we will obey Him and our life and service will be one that’s pleasing in His eyes.

For many years, my new year resolutions would include things like reading the bible more often and the like, but every year I just fail to do them. Do I really love God enough? If I really do, why does it seem so difficult for me so sit down for a while every day to read His word? Someone that truly loves God and longes after His word will never have the trouble doing that.

Just 2 days ago, during the youth camp, I had a short conversation with Eugene. He asked me how was my bible reading coming along, and I told him that it was a on-and-off thing. He told me that I could pray to God about it.

Lord, help me to learn to love you more and more each day. To make you the focus of my life. Give me the thirst for your words. The desire to change, to become a child that you can be proud of.