About disciples

Lu 14:26

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Lu 14:27

And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Lu 14:33

So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Mt 10:24

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

Lu 6:40

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

Journey

Friday evening. On the LRT to:
Plaza Rakyat. Buses underground . Breathing in CO2 and possible CO emissions.

Started late but moving now.
2 women chattering excitedly in the front seat.
An elderly man sits behind me, looking out the window,
In stark contrast with the youngish man in front, jabbering into his cellphone.

Buildings flash by. There's the National Museum, then the Lake Gardens.
I know this road. I've been down here before.
A few rows behind me, a father sits with his son.
Telling him to settle down, that it'll be a while before they arrive at their stop.
I smile and settle farther into my seat. Smiling because I know how the boy feels.
I'm going home.


I'm running late. Unfamiliar station signs flash past.
Though its not my first flight home by myself, I've been flying from Heathrow, not Manchester.
I grab a place in the queue. Realise that bottles filled with water are banned.
Get AAAs for my MP3 player. Get presents. Sorted.
I spot a family I saw during check-in. Going on a holiday, presumably.
Eating at a cafe. For them the journey is just beginning.
For me, I'm halfway home.

I find my seat between 2 people, both young and engrossed in their own thoughts.
The girl on my left nods off intermittently, refusing food and drink.
The guy on my right shifts in his seat, trying to get comfortable.
He asks for beer, I ask for Coke and get Pepsi instead. Both of us are content.
The Muslim gentleman in front strikes up a conversation with the British girl next to him.
Later, when we disembark, he hands her her bag.
'Have a safe journey and a merry Christmas.', he smiles before disappearing into the queue.
I'm smiling too. I'm going home.


A graduate teaching in a medical university.
A new doctor frazzled with responsibility.
A couple who've just taken their first steps together.
Another who are still getting to know each other.
A friend who is still searching for answers.
A sister who takes a step of faith.
We're all going home.

*taken from an idea for a song I had while in IMU.

the grinch

Christmas time. O month of December.

It's a very special month for many of us. It's a time whereby we get to spend with family, friends. Sometimes, it's such a great month because it's a time to get gifts. Also, it's the last year of the month, and the new year is coming. Which means, we get to start fresh, we get to move on, and leave all that's bad behind.

Why do we slog so hard throughout the year, only to hope that's it'll soon be over? For some, we are even to beaten to the point that we JUST want the year to be over. Some of us aren't even looking forward to the new year. So lost. So weathered down. Weighed by tonnes of hurt, anger, disappointment, sadness.

John 10:10 says
The thief comes ONLY to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, have it to the full. TNIV

The thief, the grinch, the enemy comes ONLY to steal, kill and destroy. Steal the important bits that's holding up your life, killing whatever dreams, hopes, faith, love that one has, and finally destroying the person that can do great things.

It's the end of the year, but not the end of the world or your life. Reflect, don't regret, but use what you see as a building block.

Christ came so we could have life to the fullest. Don't let the grinch come to steal whatever God's placed under your christmas tree this year. Finish strong!

Matthew 12:29
...how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions without first tying up the strong man?