A Journey of Grace

Ben Witherington on "Five Things Not to Say to the Grieving"

2012-01-26T01:05:00.000+08:00

Ben Witherington recently lost his daughter who unexpectedly died of pulmonary embolism at the age of 32. She was found dead in her home in Durham, North Carolina, on January 11. On his blog, he shared his thought on how to deal with such devastating experience with a "good grief." You can read it here. What I find particularly insightful is his thought on "things not to say to the grieving."

Seandainya Setiap Anak Muda Seperti Oma Hafini

2012-01-24T14:06:00.009+08:00

Hari itu adalah jadwal saya untuk ikut serta di dalam pelayanan Perjamuan Kudus di rumah anggota jemaat yang sakit menahun. Kebanyakan dari mereka hanya bisa terbaring di atas tempat tidur. Itulah sebabnya para rohaniwan beserta Majelis Jemaat perlu mendatangi tempat tinggal mereka dan melaksanakan Perjamuan Kudus di sana. Ini adalah kali kedua saya terlibat di dalam pelayanan ini. Menariknya,

At the Cross Is the Real World

2011-04-22T17:47:00.008+08:00

Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Salvador DaliWe contemplate for a time the meaning of Good Friday, and then return to what is called the real world of work and shopping and commuter trains and homes. As we come out of a movie theater and shake our heads to clear our minds of another world where we lived for a time in suspended disbelief, as we reorient ourselves to reality, so we leave our

A "Crazy" Gospel

2011-04-18T10:54:00.006+08:00

"And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given

There Is a Hope

2011-04-11T22:54:00.003+08:00

This is just what I need to hear right now. There is a hope... There is a hope.. There is a hope!THERE IS A HOPEby Stuart Townend and Mark EdwardsCopyright (c) 2007 Thankyou Music.There is a hope that burns within my heart,That gives me strength for ev'ry passing day;a glimpse of glory now revealed in meager part,Yet drives all doubt away:I stand in Christ, with sins forgiv'n;and Christ in me,

God, Theology, Theologian, and Prayer

2011-04-09T11:32:00.004+08:00

Vladimir Lossky'God is not the object of a science, and theology differs radically from the thought of philosophers. The theologian does not search for God as a man seeks an object; he is seized by Him as one is seized by a person. And it is because he has initially been found by God, because God, one might say, has gone forth to find him in the encounter of revelation, that he can then search

A Liberating Understanding of the Kingdom of God

2011-04-05T10:56:00.009+08:00

I recently read an article written by someone who has been serving in a parachurch organization. In the last part of his article, he explains that the vibrancy of this organization in striving to obey God's will more than anything else is what makes him continue to serve with them. He concludes with the hope that the ministry of this organization will be greatly expanded.To me, what is curious is

The Inseparability of Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis

2011-03-18T16:34:00.003+08:00

The way of godliness consists of these two parts, pious doctrines and good works.Neither are the doctrines acceptable to God without good works,nor does God accept works accomplished otherwise than as linked with pious doctrines.Cyril of Jerusalem

To Be Human Is To Live By Faith

2011-03-15T21:07:00.003+08:00

Yesterday a sister sent me this SMS: BBC FLASHNEWS: Japan govt confirms radiation leak at Fukushima nuclear plants. Asian countries should take necessary precautions. If rain comes, remain indoor first 24hrs. Close doors & windows. Swab neck skin with betadine where thyroid area is, radiation hits thyroid first. Take extra precautious. Radiation may hit Philippine at startng 4pm today. Pls send

Where Was God? (I Protest, Therefore I Believe)

2011-03-14T18:32:00.011+08:00

Image from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/110311-tsunami-facts-japan-earthquake-hawaii/The worst is yet to come. This was what came to my mind when I read news about Japan this morning. Massive earthquake, tsunami, nuclear crisis, ... I dare not to continue... I know this is not the time to think about myself, but the question "Where is God?" just continues to disturb and haunt

O LORD, Hear Our Prayer

2011-03-12T02:56:00.004+08:00

I dedicate this song to the people of Japan:O Lord, hear my (our) prayerO Lord, hear my (our) prayerWhen I (we) call answer me (us)O Lord, hear my (our) prayerO Lord, hear my (our) prayerCome and listen to me (us)But if finally even after long waiting our senses cannot learn the benefit received from prayer, or perceive any fruit from it, still our faith will make us sure of what cannot be

An Ash Friday

2011-03-11T18:04:00.005+08:00

Today, two days after the Ash Wednesday of the year 2011, Japan is struck by a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake which has unleashed tsunami. This video is a witness to the massive horrendous disaster: In times like these no one is not compelled to realize that life is more important than food and the body is more important than clothing (cf. Mt 6:25). I really hate to say this. But it seems that

Thank You, LORD...

2011-03-10T01:44:00.008+08:00