Just got back from my morning errands to the hospital and dropping stuff at campus. Nothing to report really. It was the basic blood pressure test and stethoscope and other basic stuff. No funny questions, no prodding, no gloved hands going places they shouldn’t.
Heck, I’m almost disappointed. It’s not a total loss though– I found out that I’m perfectly healthy and that my blood type is O positive.
I still doubt I’ll ever donate blood though.
Needles… *swoon* 
There have been a few times that I’ve chatted with people concerning the issue that not many churches would prefer to think about– homosexuality. It’s one of those taboo things that many Christians wave off with a disgusted look, a wave of the hand or a dismissive statement about how loathesome they are.
And what gets me is that everytime a Christian does that, it gets me thinking– I wonder how many gay people are actually in church… I have no delusions or denials; I know they’re there. The other question is– how would people react to them if they knew who they were? How would I react?
For any Christians who wonder why “there are so few gay people in our churches” (or don’t even wonder but are glad that there supposedly aren’t any), I’m pretty sure it is because they are afraid of persecution and judgement. And can we say we wouldn’t judge them and persecute them? Can we say we wouldn’t be Pharisees and call them disgusting heathens and pagans and other worse things? Ask yourself– would you spend time with someone who is gay? If the answer is yes, here’s the clincher– would you spend time with someone who’s gay and not judge them?
I heard about an author called Gregory Boyd who wrote a book called The Myth of a Christian Nation. I think Boyd sums it up pretty well by saying–
[W]hen the church sets itself up as the moral police of the culture, we earn the reputation of being self-righteous judgers rather than loving, self-sacrificial servants – the one reputation we are called to have. While tax collectors and prostitutes gravitated to Jesus because of his magnetic kingdom love, these sorts of sinners steer clear of the church, just as they did the Pharisees, and for the exact same reasons: they do not experience unconditional love and acceptance in our midst – they experience judgment.
The brutal fact is that we Christians are not generally known for our love – for the simple reason that we, like the Pharisees of old, generally judge more than we love. Ask any random sampling of pagans in America what first comes to their mind when you say the words evangelical or born again Christian, and chances are close to zero that anything like “outrageous, sacrificial love” will be the first thing out of their mouths. Ask them to list the first ten things that come into their mind, and chances are still close to zero that “outrageous, sacrificial love” will be on any of their lists. Indeed, a recent survey demonstrated that, when asked to rank people groups in terms of their respectability, “evangelical Christians” were ranked one notch above the bottom, just above prostitutes.
I just added a link to my first blog in my links list. Unbeknownst to many, I had a blog before my chameleonic Blogspot existence. Looking at it now, it’s always amazing how much teenage angst one can inject into literary expression. To the adolescent mind, nothing is more blogworthy than a self-absorbed rant. Or if you’re just pissed about something and you don’t care who knows it. You can go read it in all its whiny teenage glory and see what I was like when I was a teenager.
Oh, and tomorrow is my medical fitness appointment. I’ll keep you guys posted on any “adventures” I may endure.
As it happens, my purported year abroad to UK requires me to get a medical fitness check-up. Which means blood and urine analysis (ick!), and of course, needles. Did I mention the blood? I’ve never enjoyed the sight of needles, let alone having one inserted in my arm, be it into a vein or under the skin.
By far the most interesting thing I’ve had to endure was being asked for a stool sample. I won’t go into the details (’cause I’m such a f***in’ gentleman), but suffice to say it involved a whole crapload of tissues (no pun intended) and the breath-holding capabilities of an arctic seal.
I have to go for a medical check-up on the 20th, and I wonder what’s in store for me. The barrage of things on the check-up list includes lots of medical jargon, but I find that the most unsettling thing they’ll be checking for is “any testicular mass”.
I’m not sure whether I should be more concerned about them finding one or about the method they’ll use to check.
I have learnt that those are the three most powerful words in the history of the universe. With those words came an earthquake and the raising of many dead to life. But the most significant event was the tearing of the veil in the temple from top to bottom, because it was the rending of that giant curtain that signified my reconciliation with my Creator. It was that symbol that meant I could come back to God. No fear, no condemnation. Only love.
Because when Jesus accepted the fate of the cross on his shoulders, he took more than three nails and a tree. He took the fate of the sin-drowned world upon himself. He took my fate on Himself… because He loved me so unimaginably much. He shed his blood for me, that I could be clean. He lifted the burden and guilt of my sins from me, that I would not die, but live. He gave it all up for me, that I would remember Him and realize just how He feels about me.
And those three beautiful words, so full of meaning and depth, so immensely powerful… He meant that His work on earth was done. He had finished what He had been sent to do–
He brought me back to Himself.
And for that sacrifice, I am eternally grateful. For those words have the power to change lives because they demonstrate in three labouring aspirations the depth of love of the One who created the heavens and the earth, and yet would give it all for one as lowly as me. What have I done that a God would die for me?
At the cross I bow my knee, where Your blood was shed for me. There’s no greater love than this. You have overcome the grave and Your glory fills the highest place. What can separate me now?
For You tore the veil, and You made a way, when You said that it is done.
And when the earth fades and falls from my eyes, and You stand before me, I know You love me.
I know You love me.
- At The Cross, Hillsong.
Thank You, my Potter and my Carpenter, my Counsellor and my Redeemer…
Thank You, Jesus, my Saviour.
The cavernous halls were abuzz with whispered voices and animated conversations alike. Excited speculation had spread like wildfire as saintly citizens attempted to guess what was in the works, adding their two cents to the various debates scattered throughout the halls.
David listened quietly as he stood with the famous boatman and the great friend of the Almighty and listened to their conversation.
“What do you think Yahweh is planning?” asked Noah.
“Who knows?” replied Abraham, forefinger at his lips. “The Almighty has always had a knack for divine mysteriousness.”
Noah smiled wryly. “Come now, Abe. Do you mean to say that He has not told even you?”
David noticed a twinkle in Abraham’s eye and chuckled. “Oh, don’t tease him, Noah. Whatever the Lord decides to reveal, He will reveal in His own good time. Don’t you worry— when the time comes, we will all know what’s going on. Oh! Look!”
A tall figure with a focused look in his eye walked passed them, seemingly heading straight to a decided destination. He was dressed in white robes that moved and flowed with each stride. The belt around his waist shone and reflected any light it caught. The crowded hall noticed him, and a new flame of discussion burst forth.
“It’s Gabriel!” whispered Noah.
“If one such as he has been called into the Holy of Holies, then there is a divine plot afoot,” said Abraham with a knowing smile.
They watched in silence as the angelic host took resolute strides, ignoring everyone. No one misconstrued it as rudeness but realized that urgency pressed him onward, and made way.
As Abraham returned to his conversation with Noah about what exactly the fuss was all about, David looked on after Gabriel. He felt a stirring within him, as if this news would prove momentous to him in some way. He silently stole away from Noah and Abraham, and walked after Gabriel. The Messenger was a good distance away, and David took large strides to catch up.
“You know that only I have been called, David,” Gabriel called out without stopping or turning around.
David finally caught up and walked beside him. “Yes, Gabriel, I realize that. But when one of the Cherubim is called to the Throne, you can’t blame us for being curious. And not just any host, but you the Messenger, which means the Lord has words for one on Earth. Moreover, I feel a stirring—”
“Ah yes, the stirring. The Spirit touches you too.”
David had walked a few more steps before he realized that the angel had stopped in his tracks. “What do you mean, Gabriel?”
“You are not the only one who has asked those of the host why they have felt a rousing of the Spirit,” the angel said, smiling.
“Oh?”
“If you had pressed him, I am certain Abraham would have told you he senses what you do. As do his sons, of whom you are one if I remember correctly.”
The angel continued walking and David followed. ‘What could this mean?’ he thought. He suddenly realized it seemed that those who felt the stirring were of the same lineage, ancestor and descendant alike. When it involved a plan of the Almighty, significance such as this was no coincidence. He found himself wondering who his current earthly descendants were and whether they felt as he did.
They finally reached the immense door of the Holy Halls leading to the throne room, and Gabriel turned to him. “For now, you can go no further. But do not let curiosity overtake you. You of all people know that Elohim’s plans will be revealed at the right time.”
With that, he entered the holy halls, and David returned to the halls of discussion.
Heaven was deafeningly silent. No one breathed a word as they watched in shocked disbelief at the Son on the crude cross. His battered body hung like a rag doll and even the heavenly host looked on in quiet incredulity.
“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”
It was as if the cry rang out through the heavenly halls, echoing and resounding through every corridor. David shook his head. This couldn’t be happening! The Chosen One, the Messiah, The One sent to save the world, The Christ…
Dead.
He wept. He ran. He knew not where, but he ran as fast as he could, eyes shut, mind disbelieving, confused, incredulous. He knew the Lord to be perfect in His plans as well as His timing. But he did not understand this death.
When he finally stopped and opened his eyes, he found himself outside the doors to the Holy Halls. He pushed them open and walked through the Halls in silence, heading for the throne room doors at the end. When he reached them he stopped. Yahweh definitely knew he was outside, and of course knew why he had come.
With a deep breath, he placed his hands on the colossal doors. They opened, and a brilliant light shone forth. The floor inside was a sea of flawless glass, and angels stood and flew in rows upon rows, filling the throne room with choruses and songs of praise. David shielded his eyes as the tangible presence of the Lord flowed out and the air was filled with the trisagion chant of the Seraphim. He walked into the seemingly boundless room, and as the doors closed behind him, all David could see was the impossibly bright light as it enveloped him. As he raised his eyes to the incandescent Throne, his sight was filled with the majesty and all-encompassing glory of the One upon it.
“WELCOME, DAVID.”
The voice resounded through the immense room and bounced off the walls he could not see. It was like the crashing of giant ocean waves and the roar of a thousand peals of thunder, yet the articulation of his name by the Divine Vox resonated within him like jubilant butterflies in the pit of his stomach and made his heart leap in wonder.
“Adonai,” David whispered breathlessly. At that moment, he felt a wave of pure love and joy wash over him from the Throne, a magnificent ripple of tender reassurance— and something else. A tiny hint of something else. He gasped and laughed. He could hardly contain himself. It was the kind of feeling you had when you were planning something so grand and so incredible for someone that you could not help but smile about it and think how great it would be and how much happiness it would bring.
Except this was on a universal scale. No, an infinite scale. And it centered on the Son. This death was significant not because it was the end, but the beginning. He could almost see the large smile on the Almighty’s face.
Something was happening. Something was in the works. And knowing the Almighty, whatever it was, it was going to be unimaginably good.
There are so many movies set to come out that I'm itching to get my eyes on.
Jack Black's Nacho Libre is one of them, and looks to be hella funny. Heck, the trailer gets me going right there.
These are my recreation clothes. *Clench*
Spiderman 3 is another one to look forward to, if only because Spiderman was the first real superhero movie to be really wicked. All others came after it. PLUS, the rumour mills say that besides Sandman as a confirmed villain, Hobgoblin and Venom might appear as well. Any Spidey fan will know why Venom is cool. He's the definitive Spidey enemy.
One superhero I never really got into, but always thought was kinda cool is Ghost Rider. This new movie with Nicholas Cage looks cool… but I wonder what the plot will be like. But if all else fails, at least we get to see a wicked flaming skull.
I recently watched Cars, and before the movie started they played the trailer for Pixar's next film, called Ratatouille. As usual, it's a must-watch because it's funny, and it looks great. Hell, it's Pixar. Oh, and it's pronounced [rat.ah.too.ee], by the way. People always seem to butcher the French language. Hell, Asians take it to a new level; no language is safe. I had friends saying "Posaydon"!
I've always loved the Fantastic Four, but the movie was weak in plot, and made up for it in cool effects. But the reason I'm hyped about part two is because the 'net is buzzing that none other than the Silver Surfer (and all the plot possibilities that he entails) is going to make an appearance!
But at this point, it's all about Superman. He's an American icon, and everyone knows who he is. The trailer is utterly gorgeous, and it looks like this is gonna be one of those "Wow!" movies. And Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor looks to be quite funny.
But all those movies aside, the one movie that is every 80's child's dream, that every fibre of my being hopes turns out great, and that I really want to watch regardless of whatever critics make of it is THIS ONE.
Got this in an e-mail today. Try it out, it's pretty wicked.
You should have a three digit number. The first digit of this was your original number, i.e. how many times you want to have chocolate each. The next two numbers are YOUR AGE!
THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2006) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS.
OK, so I came back a little over a week ago. Would've posted sooner, but had cousins to entertain.
In any case, my Singapore trip– Got to my room… not bad. Had a bit of time till registration, so went off to Orchard Road and Starbucks. There were quite a few cool tours of places, most notably the NUS Library and the Esplanade (and of course, the ACM), where we went nuts with cameras. After that, we walked to the Merlion area, where there were two.
There was a whole lot of food provided everyday, and one night in particular was cool– We had a 10-course meal! Everyone was great, and there were a few unique characters. One lecturer had this really long braid… made him look kinda Chinese.
And to cap it all off– The AUN Fashion Show (NB: It's a little long, and most of them are "women").
For anyone wanting a glimpse of me in costume, here's one.
I'm having lots of fun in Singapore. Been shopping like mad. And I just finished my part in the Speakers Contest. It was pretty fun. So glad it's over now though. All that's left is the cultural dance tomorrow night…
Look for a full post when I get back!
Update: I came back on Wednesday, but haven't had the time to post anything yet. Plus, my connection has been working up. Will post pics and videos as soon as it allows.
 | Yhanks you on About me |
 | Cody Keasberry on About me |
 | Rob van der Horst on About me |
 | darthzilla on Say “Ahh!” |
 | mr skin on About me |
