Dear Readers... this might be another long post but reading further might cause you to think further about this issue....
Have you ever encountered friends or people who does not have basic manners?
OR
Have you ever received sms or msn from friends that didn't even send you their greeting or can't be bothered to say: "Hi so & so" or "Hey so & so"... but instead went ahead and rattled on his or her agenda?
I believe these reply would be an undoubtedly "YES".
I had the opportunity to discuss this with my inner circle of friends...
We had derived some good reasons why people or friends thought that it was fine:
#1- We are good old friends- many years of friendship.
(So it's fine lar... let's overlook such formality... let's forget about each
other's boundary lar)
#2- I am your leader- Spiritual, organisation.
(So let's go straight to the point... forget about formality)
#3- Save time lar
(Can save a bit more on my sms mah)
#4- We are married for so many donkey years...so long...
( It's alright lar... we understand each other well enough)
Some who read this will find these reasons justificable.... BUT
DOES THIS GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO FORGET ABOUT BASIC MANNERS?
DOES THIS HELPS YOU THE TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU?
DOES BEING COURTEOUS BORED YOU DOWN?
WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO BE IMPOLITE TO PEOPLE AROUND YOU?
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN THE PHYSICAL WON'T HAPPEN IN THE SPIRITUAL?
Allow me to share my experience when my son Barnabas was staying a Neo-Natal ward in one of our local hospital.
During that 7 months of visiting him in the hospital, Sum & myself had made establised some good friendship with the nurses, senior consultants, the social worker.
We could have exercise our very rights by expecting care to be given to our son on that period... We give up that right... but we only just keep on loving our son... through that love, we re-channel the love that Barn's received from us to the caregivers in the hospital.
We honour, respect and appreciate them by being courteous and polite to them.
Little did we realised or did we expect that we had so much favours with them. They appreciate us and commented that Barney had a great wonderful parents that loves him...
I know the responsibilty of setting a role model for our friends are vital especially to our younger ones. Neither does Sum nor myself won't dared to take it lightly BUT at times, there were many others who are able to influence neglected this very basic principle- Being Courteous.
Folks, you want to raise up a generations full of potentials? DO NOT NEGLECT THESE BASIC PRINCIPLE
Sum & myself have been married for 7 years, known each other for 12 years... We've have learnt and are still learning not to forsake such basics... cos such basics in life reflects our love for each other, our relation with our Creator God and with others.
We still says "Hi, dear...", we learnt to respect our individual boundary although we are one in body & spirit yet we are still very individual.
Let me share these truths before I end this long post...
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
If being courteous is right, excellent and if being courteous to other is doing good work, what's holding you? Just do it! Make this part of your life.
Let's cultivate this good habits among us.
Let's purpose to do the right things right.
Blessings to you
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
SORRY
Why does saying a sincere SORRY is so difficult.
Dear reader,
This post might be long but as you read, ponder through.
These few months, I’ve been observing and seeing things happening around me after a church camp that I attended in June with my family.
Much had happened, some deserves to be identified while some is just good not to mentioned about it.
New friendships were established, existing ones deepened, while some could simply just cold-turkey it.
It came across to me that when we sort out a misunderstanding due to whatever reasons that one may have.
It is vital for the one just to say: “sorry” and be sincere about it- period. Adding more or trying to reason more DOES NOT justified or MAKE you more righteous. It makes you evenmore unrepentance. Get it?
If this is not done in a proper manner, it will worsen the entire issue. It will cause things to drift apart.
To the extreme, the one who apologized will be deem as a hypocrite, charlatan and a “white wash tomb”.
So what's the main reason behind for diluting the SORRY?
I believe this word called “PRIDE” Spelled P. R. I. D. E.
The middle letter is “I”
Pride starts with I, me.
Let's see what the bible has to say about this…
Leviticus 26:19
I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze.
2 Kings 19:22
Who is it you have insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!
2 Chronicles 26:16
But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
2 Chronicles 32:26
Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.
Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 13:10
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 29:23
A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.
Ecclesiastes 7:8
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
Isaiah 2:11
The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
It very sure that the Lord opposes the pride and give grace to the humble.
(Proverbs 3:34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.
James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.")
I’ve learnt this BIG TIME when I dealt with one of my staff many years back.
I ate humble pie but I experienced the grace of God too. I’ve learnt to say sorry despite my position. I humbled myself to say "sorry". Not easy, but i've learnt.
I am reminded that I need to keep stock of myself.
I can take pride of what I am doing but I must always know that all things come from God.
But when it comes to saying sorry or coming to term with my fault (if it’s really mine) I’ve learnt not to dilute this word “Sorry, I am wrong”. I choose not to use words like “I am regretful for causing…”, “I apologized for…”, “I am remorseful that…” etc… these words seems ok but they fall short of what you wanted to say and convey. It stops short what you want to express from your heart.
When you say “Sorry, I am wrong”, it expresses the real bare condition of yourself candidly. It means you give up your rights to pursue or to fight or to argue back. It means that you are putting your head on the chopping board.
When you say “Sorry”, it shows the maturity of the person and the sincerity of the act.
That’s the reason why we are teaching and educating Joash to say “sorry” with an outward action whenever he misbehaved. Those who seen him do that with the action and say “sorrie” will finds him such an amusing child. (Yes, I can see those smiles on your face when you read this.)
We’ll always hug him and say: “you are forgiven”.
Now back to the one to forgive…
Do you know that more grace and humility is required and needed for that person to render forgiveness?
It’s not easy to forgive and to let go because of our fallen nature.
Our fallen nature tends to withhold but a resurrected nature of a renewed mind will choose to release and forgive.
Forgiveness means I choose not to exercise my rights against you.
Forgiveness means I choose not to take up issue on you.
Forgiveness means I choose to humble myself and submit myself to God.
Forgiveness means I choose to set you free.
Forgiveness means I choose to set myself free.
Forgiveness means I choose to set myself free and applying the grace of God in my life.
Forgiveness means allowing me to be set free and restore by my Healer.
Healer
Words and Music by Mike Guglielmucci
Verse 1:
You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease
I trust in You I trust in You
Chorus
I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need
Bridge:
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands
Friends, let’s learn to say “sorry” when we are wrong. Admit and be sincere about it. Don’t justify your wrong further. (“Don’t say things like although I did no wrong or don’t know why I’m wrong… But I still apologize. Cut that nonsense out! Who will want to admit one’s wrong?)
Friends, learn to forgive because forgiveness set you free from bondage and further health complication.
Till then, will come back for more interesting stuff...
Blessings to you.
Dear reader,
This post might be long but as you read, ponder through.
These few months, I’ve been observing and seeing things happening around me after a church camp that I attended in June with my family.
Much had happened, some deserves to be identified while some is just good not to mentioned about it.
New friendships were established, existing ones deepened, while some could simply just cold-turkey it.
It came across to me that when we sort out a misunderstanding due to whatever reasons that one may have.
It is vital for the one just to say: “sorry” and be sincere about it- period. Adding more or trying to reason more DOES NOT justified or MAKE you more righteous. It makes you evenmore unrepentance. Get it?
If this is not done in a proper manner, it will worsen the entire issue. It will cause things to drift apart.
To the extreme, the one who apologized will be deem as a hypocrite, charlatan and a “white wash tomb”.
So what's the main reason behind for diluting the SORRY?
I believe this word called “PRIDE” Spelled P. R. I. D. E.
The middle letter is “I”
Pride starts with I, me.
Let's see what the bible has to say about this…
Leviticus 26:19
I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze.
2 Kings 19:22
Who is it you have insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!
2 Chronicles 26:16
But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
2 Chronicles 32:26
Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.
Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 13:10
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 29:23
A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.
Ecclesiastes 7:8
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
Isaiah 2:11
The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
It very sure that the Lord opposes the pride and give grace to the humble.
(Proverbs 3:34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.
James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.")
I’ve learnt this BIG TIME when I dealt with one of my staff many years back.
I ate humble pie but I experienced the grace of God too. I’ve learnt to say sorry despite my position. I humbled myself to say "sorry". Not easy, but i've learnt.
I am reminded that I need to keep stock of myself.
I can take pride of what I am doing but I must always know that all things come from God.
But when it comes to saying sorry or coming to term with my fault (if it’s really mine) I’ve learnt not to dilute this word “Sorry, I am wrong”. I choose not to use words like “I am regretful for causing…”, “I apologized for…”, “I am remorseful that…” etc… these words seems ok but they fall short of what you wanted to say and convey. It stops short what you want to express from your heart.
When you say “Sorry, I am wrong”, it expresses the real bare condition of yourself candidly. It means you give up your rights to pursue or to fight or to argue back. It means that you are putting your head on the chopping board.
When you say “Sorry”, it shows the maturity of the person and the sincerity of the act.
That’s the reason why we are teaching and educating Joash to say “sorry” with an outward action whenever he misbehaved. Those who seen him do that with the action and say “sorrie” will finds him such an amusing child. (Yes, I can see those smiles on your face when you read this.)
We’ll always hug him and say: “you are forgiven”.
Now back to the one to forgive…
Do you know that more grace and humility is required and needed for that person to render forgiveness?
It’s not easy to forgive and to let go because of our fallen nature.
Our fallen nature tends to withhold but a resurrected nature of a renewed mind will choose to release and forgive.
Forgiveness means I choose not to exercise my rights against you.
Forgiveness means I choose not to take up issue on you.
Forgiveness means I choose to humble myself and submit myself to God.
Forgiveness means I choose to set you free.
Forgiveness means I choose to set myself free.
Forgiveness means I choose to set myself free and applying the grace of God in my life.
Forgiveness means allowing me to be set free and restore by my Healer.
Healer
Words and Music by Mike Guglielmucci
Verse 1:
You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease
I trust in You I trust in You
Chorus
I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need
Bridge:
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands
Friends, let’s learn to say “sorry” when we are wrong. Admit and be sincere about it. Don’t justify your wrong further. (“Don’t say things like although I did no wrong or don’t know why I’m wrong… But I still apologize. Cut that nonsense out! Who will want to admit one’s wrong?)
Friends, learn to forgive because forgiveness set you free from bondage and further health complication.
Till then, will come back for more interesting stuff...
Blessings to you.
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