I have opened myself up to a whole new world with dazzling sights I never knew but now from way up here it's crystal clear that now I'm in a whole new world with
or without you.
And in this way, I can give and keep, allow and prevent, give and take, all in a single action.
All the cosmic power of the universe... in an inny bitty little space.
But oh, to be free.
Pray.
Not the busy chatty prayer we often do, but the other kind: prayer as emptiness, prayer as silence, prayer as stillness. Prayer as the absence of wanting and asking. Not the clamoring man waking his neighbor, desperate for bread, but the suckled child curled up, satisfied in the mother's arms
mark b. ~ the holy wild.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Monday, December 13, 2004
Sting me
Who's gonna tell you when it's too late?
Who's gonna tell you things aren't so great?
We've got reality to contend with. But vastly different realities. How do we move when we can't even agree on what we have? Where is the empirical? The Unshakable? The Absolute? The Fundamental that ensures?
Who?
Who's gonna pick you up when you fall?
Who's gonna hang it up when you call?
I cannot understand how one can stand alone. To be broken and not seeking to be mended, to be an island in a sea of sand. Who can bear the burden in solitude?
Who?
Who's gonna pay attention to your dreams?
Who's gonna plug their ears when you scream?
From the innane to the international. Someone's got to make all that matter.
Who?
Who's gonna hold you down when you shake?
Who's gonna come around when you break?
Sometimes, I look forward to the crises in my life (not that I have any). They stand testimony to His faithfulness. In this respect, yes, I fear nothing and I can be anything and in that, I can be me. In fullness.
Who?
You can't go on thinking nothing's wrong
Just look.
Who's gonna drive you home tonight?
Who?
Who's gonna tell you when it's too late?
Who's gonna tell you things aren't so great?
We've got reality to contend with. But vastly different realities. How do we move when we can't even agree on what we have? Where is the empirical? The Unshakable? The Absolute? The Fundamental that ensures?
Who?
Who's gonna pick you up when you fall?
Who's gonna hang it up when you call?
I cannot understand how one can stand alone. To be broken and not seeking to be mended, to be an island in a sea of sand. Who can bear the burden in solitude?
Who?
Who's gonna pay attention to your dreams?
Who's gonna plug their ears when you scream?
From the innane to the international. Someone's got to make all that matter.
Who?
Who's gonna hold you down when you shake?
Who's gonna come around when you break?
Sometimes, I look forward to the crises in my life (not that I have any). They stand testimony to His faithfulness. In this respect, yes, I fear nothing and I can be anything and in that, I can be me. In fullness.
Who?
You can't go on thinking nothing's wrong
Just look.
Who's gonna drive you home tonight?
Who?
Sunday, December 12, 2004
OH BABY YOU'RE SO FINE I'M GONNA MAKE YOU MINE YOUR LIPS THEY TASTE SO SWEET YOU'RE THE ONE FOR ME YOU'RE MY ECSTACY YOU'RE THE ONE I NEED I FEEL IN HEAVEN WHEN I LOOK IN YOUR EYES I KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE ONE FOR ME I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE WHERE YOU'RE FROM DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DID AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME WHO YOU ARE WHERE YOU'RE FROM DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DID AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME BABY ALL YOU PEOPLE CAN YOU SEE CAN YOU SEE HOW YOUR LOVE'S AFFECTING OUR REALITY EVERYTIME WE'RE DOWN YOU CAN MAKE IT RIGHT AND THAT MAKES YOU LARGER THEN LIFE YOU ARE MY FIRE MY ONE DESIRE BELIEVE WHEN I SAY I WANT IT THAT WAY TELL ME WHY AIN'T NOTHING BUT A HEARTACHE TELL ME WHY AIN'T NOTHING LIKE A MISTAKE TELL ME WHY I NEVER WANNA HEAR YOU SAY I WANT IT THAT WAY I'LL NEVER BREAK YOUR HEART I'LL NEVER MAKE YOU CRY I'D RATHER DIE THEN LIVE WITHOUT YOU I'LL GIVE YOU ALL OF ME HONEY THAT'S NO LIE QUIT PLAYING GAMES WITH MY HEART QUIT PLAYING GAMES WITH MY HEART BEFORE YOU TEAR IT APART I SHOULD'VE KNOWN FROM THE START I'D GO ANYWHERE FOR YOU ANYWHERE YOU ASK ME TOO I'D DO ANYTHING FOR YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT ME TO EVERYBODY YEAH ROCK YOUR BODY YEAH EVERYBODY ROCK YOUR BODY RIGHT
BACKSTREETS BACK ALRIGHT
BACKSTREETS BACK ALRIGHT
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Friday, December 10, 2004
Lamb
The Truth never changes, although the experience and manifestation of Truth might vary. So in a postmodern world where cultural relativism reigns, where do we draw the line between culture and sin? Can we?
If there is only one thing I dare say about God it is that I am not enough to know Him. That he is bigger then I and that I am in no position to propose that I know His will and workings for anyone else other then I. Only three things I would say are universal absolutes:
1) God is Holy
2) God is All-powerful
3) God is Good.
These are the logical and experiential outcomes of God being Love and Truth, together and one.
Above all, God isn't defined by any of these things, rather these infinite absolutes are defined by the nature of God. We cannot comprehend pure Holiness, the absolution of Power and empirical Good within humanity. What we have are mere reflections, broken attempts, and disappointing shortfalls of what is unattainably divine. What we have are traditions, religions and cultures.
Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?"
~Matt 15: 3
What matters? What really really matters? What is beyond all priority? What dictates sheer existance?
God himself: Truth and Love.
It doesn't start with me, or with others, but with the Person of God.
I can only thank God that the Person of God is interested in me and in others; in Human hearts.
So how are we to live? In Truth and Love. In the Truth of the Person of God, not in tradition, culture or religion, and with the Love of God, not as dictated by tradition, culture or religion. We're not in any position, are we, to decide who deserves love and who is good. We don't even have the power to control our own lives.
(If you're reading this, you're lucky that you are existing in that slice of society that empowers you, economically, socially and politically (unless you're in Singapore). It's a gift, not a right. Even if it IS a right, 80% of the World has been wronged. So no, you didn't get to where you are by sheer choice, but because you're in a position where your choices are honored.)
We are so darn fallible.
We're not told explictly in the bible how to live in this day and age as differentiated individuals, but we're told who to live by.
The Truth never changes, although the experience and manifestation of Truth might vary. So in a postmodern world where cultural relativism reigns, where do we draw the line between culture and sin? Can we?
If there is only one thing I dare say about God it is that I am not enough to know Him. That he is bigger then I and that I am in no position to propose that I know His will and workings for anyone else other then I. Only three things I would say are universal absolutes:
1) God is Holy
2) God is All-powerful
3) God is Good.
These are the logical and experiential outcomes of God being Love and Truth, together and one.
Above all, God isn't defined by any of these things, rather these infinite absolutes are defined by the nature of God. We cannot comprehend pure Holiness, the absolution of Power and empirical Good within humanity. What we have are mere reflections, broken attempts, and disappointing shortfalls of what is unattainably divine. What we have are traditions, religions and cultures.
Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?"
~Matt 15: 3
What matters? What really really matters? What is beyond all priority? What dictates sheer existance?
God himself: Truth and Love.
It doesn't start with me, or with others, but with the Person of God.
I can only thank God that the Person of God is interested in me and in others; in Human hearts.
So how are we to live? In Truth and Love. In the Truth of the Person of God, not in tradition, culture or religion, and with the Love of God, not as dictated by tradition, culture or religion. We're not in any position, are we, to decide who deserves love and who is good. We don't even have the power to control our own lives.
(If you're reading this, you're lucky that you are existing in that slice of society that empowers you, economically, socially and politically (unless you're in Singapore). It's a gift, not a right. Even if it IS a right, 80% of the World has been wronged. So no, you didn't get to where you are by sheer choice, but because you're in a position where your choices are honored.)
We are so darn fallible.
We're not told explictly in the bible how to live in this day and age as differentiated individuals, but we're told who to live by.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Always.
Can I be here forever? Here with you?
I've been down this road before.
As Zoe in Singapore comes together, I desire to come to a deeper understanding on the defination of eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
John 17:3
I got to get back to where it all began
When I would wait for only You
It's been some journey. Plummeting my mind into my heart and trying to make it flesh. I'm sure that I've failed miserably, that I've fallen desperately short of anything resembling righteousness. But it was worth the ride.
I think I could recognise You. But I daren't be sure. I need to be careful.
Like a child I'll take You at Your word
As these mountains of doubt, they fade away
I'm longing to trust and love You more
So for me this is beautiful
A brand new thought, and a brand new world
Can I stay here forever here with You?
To understand thirst and hunger in this context, to be able to live my life aligned with the Spirit, to be unperturbed by the desire to justify myself, to be me, bring me to my knees.
Can I know what it's like to deeply love You?
And Lord, for the record, I'm willing to do anything.
Just show me.
I thank God that it isn't about me anymore.
Can I be here forever? Here with you?
I've been down this road before.
As Zoe in Singapore comes together, I desire to come to a deeper understanding on the defination of eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
John 17:3
I got to get back to where it all began
When I would wait for only You
It's been some journey. Plummeting my mind into my heart and trying to make it flesh. I'm sure that I've failed miserably, that I've fallen desperately short of anything resembling righteousness. But it was worth the ride.
I think I could recognise You. But I daren't be sure. I need to be careful.
Like a child I'll take You at Your word
As these mountains of doubt, they fade away
I'm longing to trust and love You more
So for me this is beautiful
A brand new thought, and a brand new world
Can I stay here forever here with You?
To understand thirst and hunger in this context, to be able to live my life aligned with the Spirit, to be unperturbed by the desire to justify myself, to be me, bring me to my knees.
Can I know what it's like to deeply love You?
And Lord, for the record, I'm willing to do anything.
Just show me.
I thank God that it isn't about me anymore.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Realize what you are
I walk into this room, all eyes on me now
But I do not know the people inside
The past few months have taken me on a journey, a narrative of some sorts.
Inward,
Outward,
Upward.
To look deeper and further, beyond and above.
Then you lose sight of yourself.
We're all drifting away
Away from you, but I pray for you now
There are no excuese, only reasons.
And when I'm not there to offer them, lost somehwere in a labyrinth.
You're gonna make it all alright.
Don't you know when you give life
Then you become what you are
I walk into this room, all eyes on me now
But I do not know the people inside
The past few months have taken me on a journey, a narrative of some sorts.
Inward,
Outward,
Upward.
To look deeper and further, beyond and above.
Then you lose sight of yourself.
We're all drifting away
Away from you, but I pray for you now
There are no excuese, only reasons.
And when I'm not there to offer them, lost somehwere in a labyrinth.
You're gonna make it all alright.
Don't you know when you give life
Then you become what you are
What you are ~ DMB
