What a Waste! (Mark 14:4-5)

 From one perspective, the Dawn Prayer I attended last week was a waste of time!

This year, the dawn prayer week coincides with a busy period for me. I could only attend one session on the fourth day. By Wednesday night, I was totally exhausted from conducting an executive training course the previous two days. It was also the start of the new academic year, so there were many meetings and important stuff crying out for my attention. Go for Dawn Prayer? Waking up early and reaching church by 6.00 am to pray? No thanks, what I need most was physical rest... sleep! (Even the pastor jested that the last time he woke up so early was a year ago, during last year’s dawn prayer).

But I found myself amongst a gathering of God’s people at the dawn prayer on Thursday (August 4). What happened at the dawn prayer was the same routine you would get in a usual church service or CG meeting… opening prayer, worship, word, and pray… Come to think about it, we didn’t get to pray much… at most 10 mins?

I am sure many have testified how tremendously blessed they were from attending the Dawn Prayer. Well, what I received that morning was nothing out of the extraordinary… In fact, I found the worship normal, the word sharing good and the prayer session short! Well, I did sensed a closeness to God during worship and also felt God speaking to me during the word exhortation, but really this is no different from having a good daily communion time with God.

Let me do a cost-and-benefit analysis of my attending the Dawn Prayer… 2 hours of sleep, ½ hour stuck in the morning heavy traffic after the service, and the feeling of tiredness throughout the day... as they say, walking half asleep, half awake…! So, from one perspective, it is a waste of time!

However, I learnt from the pastor’s sharing from Mark 14:1-11 at the Dawn Prayer that nothing offered to God sacrificially is a waste of time. What men would considered as wasteful, from Jesus’ perspective, it is considered as worship!

Case in point is the incident where Mary broke the alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it lavishly on Jesus. Consider the cost of this act – the perfume was worth a year’s wages… so if you are earning $60,000 a year, imagine spending the whole amount at one go… 

When the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, for what purpose is all this waste? And they rebuked her harshly (Mark 14:4-5). In a way, they are justified to think that Mary was wasteful… imagine what could be done with $60,000? Wouldn’t it be better utilized to feed the poor and hungry? Their reasoning, giving money to the poor & helping people in a more practical way, was certainly reasonable, but an excuse nonetheless… indeed men are good at justifying their actions… working hard to provide for the family, spending time with family, taking care of the next generation, helping others, and taking a rest … they are all good reasons, but they could also be excuses for not ministering to the Lord. 

Our alabaster jar is filled with a precious thing… our whole life. Like Mary, we need to break it and give it ALL to the Lord. To the world, this is a waste, but that is what God wants… that we pour out our life to HIM! To the world giving of oneself to Jesus is a pure waste. They say, why pour it out and waste it on Jesus? Waste simply means giving too much… Waste means you give something too much for something too little… But let us not be waste conscious Christians who give as little as possible to the Lord and yet want to get as much as possible from Him. Often waste gives us an excuse not to do anything…

 

Three more thoughts:

1) “And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (John 12:3)… when we break our alabaster to minister to Jesus in an act of loving extravagance and spontaneous generosity, others around us will be blessed too.
2) “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me…”, said Jesus (Mark 14: 6-9). Just as he rose to Mary’s defense, Jesus is our defender when the world accuses us of being wasteful to the Lord! 

3) “She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial” (Mark 14:8). Christ’s death on the cross is but a costly outpouring of God’s love for the world. For God so love the world that He wasted his one and only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us so that we may have everlasting life. As Christians, we are the recipients of God’s wasteful love.

Exhortation:Let us waste our time and resources in sacrificial service and giving to the Lord. In the eyes of God, worship is never wasteful! The real waste is when we use our life and resources for temporal things. What a waste then! Rather, let’s be wasted for Jesus!

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Monuments & Legacy

LEGACY - What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.... “If I have done any deed worthy of remembrance, that deed will be my
monument. If not, no monument can preserve my memory” - Agesilaus II.

"Monuments! What are they? The very pyramids have forgotten their builders, or to whom they were dedicated. Deeds, not stones, are the true monuments of the great." - John Lothrop Motley.

photo: pryamids of Giza, Egypt (Dec 2010)

The Two Rails Life

We have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.... "I used to think that life was hills and valleys – you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don’t believe that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it’s kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life... No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.... And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for." - Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life.

photo: railway track along Upper Bt. Timah Rd, Singapore

Continue to Climb

Whatever the struggle, continue the climb... "I've learned that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.” (anon).

photo: steps up Mt Faber, S'pore

How Long........? (Psalms 13)

Having sorrow in your heart daily? Your enemies rejoicing over your troubles? Lost the sparkle in your eyes? Lost the song in your heart? Lost the rest in your sleep?

We just came back from a 2-week working and holiday trip to the US and UK. Amongst the many places we visited, we spent four days in State College... the place where we spent our sabbatical more than 3 years ago; where this blog was first initiated. We connected with old friends and visited the church, which was starting a new series on the book Psalms... I was refreshed by the sermon and decided to focus my bible reading over the next few months on Psalms.

This morning, I read and meditated on Psalms 13. It is a short one... containing only 6 verses. The context of the prayer is that of an anguished complaint concerning a prolonged serious problem that threatens death. It begins with a question, "How long, O LORD?"

The feeling of “being forgotten” is addressed in this psalm. King David, the author of this psalm, frequently claimed that God was slow to act on his behalf. Don’t we feel the same impatience? We can identify with the author as he enumerates having sorry in his heart daily; we have been through these situations; we’ve lost the sparkle in our eyes; we’ve lost the song in our heart; we’ve lost the restedness in your sleep; and our enemies are rejoicing and triumphing over our troubles!

BUT…. despite these, King David found hope and confidence in God… He remembered God’s unfailing love. In the last two verses, David affirmed that he would continue to trust God no matter how long he had to wait for God’s justice and deliverance to be realized.

Are you waiting for relief from despair? Like King David, we must continue to trust God even when he doesn’t answer us immediately… Join me in my prayer for today, which is anchored on Psalms 13: 5-6.

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.”

Don't Fuss, Relax!

Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance – but have you ever seen color and design quite like it?
- Luke 12
photo: http://abbylanesphotography.blogspot.com/

It has been a long while since I posted my reflections from the Word of God. Today is Good Friday… I decided to take the time this morning to reflect on my journey as a Christian and to thank God for his goodness all these years. My recent meditations have been on THANKSGIVING... "So, then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strenghtened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7). Jerry Bridges in his class book The Practice of Godliness wrote that "thanksgiving is a normal result of a vital union with Christ, and a direct measure of the extent to which we are experiencing the reality of that union in our daily lives."

From the Message Bible, Luke 12 continues... "What I am trying to do here is to get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and how he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself."

Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo

The most conspicuous and well-known drongo is all the biggest in the region and the most spectacular. Glossy black bird with red eye, large size and somewhat rounded crown.

S'pore Botanic Gardens

Tailed forked not square, the two outer feathers having elongated bare shafts (up to 25 com) and large rounded and twisted racquets. Many birds have one or both racquets broken off, but traces of elongated broken shafts are usually visible, and large size, profile and forked tail without any upturning at tips are then distinctive.

Bt Timah Nature Reserves

Calls frequently, giving a variety of harsh and bubbling, bell-like notes, including good imitations of many other birds. Found in lowland forest, plantations, secondary growth. I have seen this bird in several places in Singapore, notably in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Southern Ridges.

Source:

Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore (2007)
Birds of Malaysia and Singapore (2010)

Black-Naped Oriole

A very common resident and familiar to many Singaporeans as it occurs whereever there are sufficient tall trees in which to perch and feed. It is a most attractive bird of brilliant yellow plumage with a wide black stripe through the eye and round the back of the neck, with a distinctive red bill.
It frequents tree tops and never comes to the ground preferring to feed on fruits, berries, and insects on the foliage. Its fast and direct flight can easily be recognised at a distance due to the unusual manner of freezing its flapping motion at intervals.

A very vocal bird particularly first thing in the morning and has a variety of flufy notes issued in a rapid ascending and descending manner. Call is a melodious four-note whistle, "what the devil!" with much individual variation.

Source:
A Guide to Common Birds of Singapore (2002); Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore (2007)

Olive-Backed Sunbird

The olive-backed sunbird, which is the smallest of sunbirds, is a common resident seen wherever there are suitable flowering shrubs and may occur regularly in parks and gardens very close to buildings. Tiny but very active, often in pairs, with territorial males pursuing each other from treetop to treetop.

The male (above) has an irridescent purple throat contrasting sharply with the bright yellow breast and the latter feature is also present on the female (below). The olive back is a confusing distinction as many other females have this but note that the white tips of the tail feathers which help to separate it from the similar and equally common Brown-throated Sunbird.

The sunbird takes nectar from a wide range of flower species and shapes, including mangrove trees as well as garden flowers, plus many invertebrates, especially spiders. Continuous calls as it feeds with precise clicking noises. Builds a bulbous nest of moss and lichen as shown in the photograph above.

source:
A Guide to Common Birds of Singapore (2002)
Birds of Malaysia and Singapore (2010)

Scaly-Breasted Munia

One of the commoner munias in gardens and towns, this bird can often be seen on overgrown roadside verges. At close quarters, it is a very attractive bird which has white spots on the breast in the shape of scales and a large seed-eating bill typical of its family.

photo: Dairy Farm Nature Park, S'pore

Commonly found in the short or long grass of parks, gardens, golf courses and rural areas, always occuring in small flocks which may comprise other munias. It is a common resident and will nest in low bushes making a structure of domed grass.

Eats many types of grass seed, as well as ripening rice. Often hunted by birds of prey and are constantly on the move in rapid fluctuating flight before gliding into cover to other feeding locations.

Source:

A Guide to the Common Birds of Singapore (2002)
Birds of Malaysia and Singapore (2010)
Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore (1995)

Collared Kingfisher

The Collared Kingfisher is unquestionably Singapore's most commonly sighted kingfisher. Of 24 cm in length, it is an unmistakable bird with bluish-green head, upper parts and wings, and a white collar adjoining white underparts. The white collar is a prominent division between the crown and back and is edged with a thin black line only visible at close quarters.

Photo: The presence of the Collared Kingfisher is unmistakable for its boisterous calls can be heard from afar. These photos were taken in NUS Kent Ridge campus.

Probably the most vocal of all kingfishers, with harsh, loud territorial calls typcially consisting of repeater clusters of 2-4 shrieks. Frequently issues a noisy shriek resembling a saw grinding against metal which sounds like "kree chah kree chah". It is an attractive bird with a loud voice that is best described as harsh loud maniacal laughter, it also has a gentler chup-kree call when at rest.

Also a common resident to be found in parks and gardens and near the seashore or close to reservoirs. Nests in tree holes or earth banks which it may select from a number of prospective sites and defends aggressively from any possible competitors. The sexes generally look alike although females overall appear more with green tones than blue as compared to the males.

They are fond of lizards, frogs, small snakes and fish. Perched on a suitable branch, the kingfishers regularly collect mantids, geckos and tadpoles from the ground as food.

source:

A guide to common birds of Singapore (2002)
Birds of Malaysia and Singapore (2010)

Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker

God spoke: "Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life! Birds, fly through the sky over Earth!" God created the huge whales, all the swarm of life in the waters, And every kind and species of flying birds. God saw that it was good. - Genesis 1:20-21

A tiny bird of the tree tops, the flowerpecker measures just 9 cm long and may weigh as little as four grams. A twenty-cent coin is heavier than this little wonder.

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It is constantly on the move feeding on flower nectar, buds and small insects and is fairly common where these occur. However, due to its very small size, it may be easily missed. It presence may be discerned by the repetitive ticking call "tut tut tut" issued in flight as it moves from tree to tree.

this tiny flowerpecker visited the bamboo plant in our planter box (Hillview, S'pore)

The male is black with a wide red band running from the crown to the rump giving the appearance of a painted stripe. The bill and feet are black while the eyes are dark brown. Its underparts are whitish with grey to the sides of the breast and flanks.

Separated from the sunbirds by their rather squat appearance due to their very short tail and their short bills.

Sources:
A Guide to Common Birds of Singapore (2002)
BIRDS seen at the ISTANA (2005)

Oriental Magpie-Robin

It has been a while since I last blogged. Have been spending my time taking photos of birds in Singapore. Thus, I am restarting my blog by featuring the many variety of birds that I have photographed.

Let me begin with the Magpie Robin - "the robin is a delightful bird to observe as it is active and tends to be found in open areas near human habitation. It is also a well-known song bird possessing a repertoire of calls ranging from a loud melodius song to a mournful rising whistle and even an alarm note best described as a harsh che-ee. When it sings, it is conspicuous, as it loves to exercise its musical talent from exposed perches." (BIRDs seen at the ISTANA, 2005)

photo: male Magpie Robin (Botanic Gardens)

Its habitats range from the mangroves to gardens and parks. It drops to the ground for insects, worms and small vertebrates. I took these two photos at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Both are male - distinguished by a glossy black head, breast and upper parts with a blue tinge. The rest of the underparts are white while the tail is black with white outer feathers. There is a also a prominent bold white wingbar. (Females are more subdued grey and cream with a white wingbar)

A common bird in the past, the population of Oriental Magpie plummeted due to its ease of capture and its attractive singing voice. Popular as pets, its melodius calls are music to the ears. Attempts have been made in recent years to reintroduce birds in certain areas and this appears to be successful.

Heavenly Love

I wish for you my friend
This happiness that I've found;
You can depend on God
It matters not where you're bound,
I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.

My reflection for this Christmas: Two weeks ago on 14 Dec, marks my 25^th year as a Christian. I made a personal decision in 1985 when I was still an undergraduate to invite Jesus into my heart… and that was when I really found the true meaning of Christmas…

Not too long ago, a student in her email to me quoted a verse from a favourite book of mine, Tuesdays with Morrie. The quote reads,
"Love wins, Love always wins". The Bible has a somewhat similar verse, which goes “Love never fails…” I pondered over this statement for some time… how does it gel with people who have fallen in and out of love? Many marriages, even those that started with deep love, have failed and ended up in separation and divorce.

Given the worrying statistics on failed marriages, I am truly thankful to God when my wife and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary earlier this year. I am convinced we were made for each other... in thewords of Regina Hill, "when God made her, I have no doubt He knew exactly the time and place where we would meet. When He made the two of us, God knew what was good for us." Over the years, we have shared many beautiful moments. We've walked many roads together... we have travelled many roads, mostly smooth... thank God; but there were times when the journey was a lit bumpy as well… Whilst I consciously try my best to be a good husband and friend to her, I’ve had on few occasions made her angry; made her sad; and made her cry… So, after all these years, I have came to the conclusion that … although love never fails, people do… even the best of people will not be able to live up to our expectations all the time.

If it is not found in marriages, then where can we find the kind of love that does not fail? In my life, I have only encountered one kind of love that never fails… I refer to it as the Heavenly Love…. Why? Because it begins in heaven… in the throne room of God… John 3:16 proclaims, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...” If you think about it, Christmas is actually a heavenly love story that begins with God's love.. thru' the birth of Jesus, God offers us eternal life…. The best decision I have made is to accept the offer by inviting Jesus to be my personal Savior and Lord.

...Christmas Isn’t Christmas
'till it happens in your heart,Somewhere deep inside you
Is where Christmas really starts;

So give your heart to Jesus,
you'll discover when you do
That it’s Christmas
Really Christmas for you.

Careless Birds

"Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds" - Matt 6:26 (The Message).

Yet another posting on bird photography :). A few weeks ago I had a lucky break... One of my dream shots is to capture a close-up photo of a kingfisher. So far, my efforts at Sg Buloh have not been very successful as the birds are usually too far away... But I had a windfall whilst visiting the zoo. I chanced upon a stork-billed kingfisher on a nice perch which is less than 10 feet away. Hence, I was able to take many close-up shots... and for bonus, the bird caught and ate two live ornamental fishes (which were released earlier by two elderly photographers to bait the bird).

Romance & Courtship: A Bird's Tale

I received several wedding invitations over the past few months. In particular, October 10, 2010 was a very hot date: 10-10-10! My sincere congratulations to those who tie the knots recently or will be doing so over the next few months. As the saying goes,

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" - Eccl 4:9-10 (NIV)

I would like to use some recent photos I took on birds to depict the various stages of romance & courtship. Enjoy!

(1): The story begins with the lonely single, "where are you, my beloved?"

(2) "Here I am, the one that you have been waiting!"

(3) The fun days: courtship & romance; playing and dancing .

(4) The Day: "my beloved is mine and I am his; the banner over us is love!"

(5) The real work begins: "I am watching you... I have high expectations; don't you dissappoint me... & come home early"

(6) The friction starts: "...there, I told you so... why can't you just do what I say?... You never listen to me... You don't love me anymore..."

(7) The cold war: "I am not talking to you anymore..."

(8) Reconciliation: A Happy Family

When I Look at You...

I see a remarkable woman
with a kind and caring heart
who is beautiful in every sense of the word
I see a smile that lights up
the room and laughter
that is truly contagious.

photo: Black Swans (Botanical Garden, Sep 2010)

You are everything wonderful
in this world and if I had
just one wish it would be
that you could see what I see
when I look at you.

author: Elle Mastro

What Drives Professors?

Every morning, I will browse thru the newspaper quickly. I don't have much time to read in detailed all the articles. Today, one particular feature caught my attention... "Two top scientists on what drives them". The two scientists are:

• Prof Emeritus Perry McCarty, a 78-yr old researcher from Stanford University, and
• Prof Rudolph A. Marcus, a 87-yr don from California Institute of Technology.

Both have won numerous research awards in their field, including a Nobel prize for Prof Marcus. Both were in Singapore and had an interview with the Straits Times. Below are extracts from their interview which caught my attention:

Q: "What do you love about your job, doing both research and teaching?"

Prof McCarty : "Research has always been a passion with me. I like the thrill of discovery, ... However, I like teaching very much as well, as it provides the opportunity to pass on new concepts to those who will put them into practice. One of the greatest pleasure is to watch the many successes of former students. There are few greater rewards."

Q: "You are still doing research now at your age?" (87)

Prof Marcus: "Yes, very much so, 24/7. Most of the time, in fact. And even before I fall asleep I'm thinking of some problem, usually."

Q: "Do you view research as work?"

Prof Marcus: "Not as work, but it is work; but I don't view it that way. I view it is as: Here is something I'm trying to get an answer to, I try various ideas, I do a lot more reading... I view it as a challenge, now it turns out it is work."

"You have to go into things deeply, you can't be superficial. And sometimes, you have to go through the details to make sure you get the science right, and keep track of all sorts of things, so that is not very pleasant, but you have to do it, so you do it. Overidding all that is when something comes out, you get an answer that seems reasonable, it could be a tremendous satisfaction."

Q: "What gives you the most satisfaction?"

Prof Marcus: "One is getting successfully to a problem. Another, which is related to it, is getting new insights into a problem that I haven't had before, I finally see it in some way and understand it better."

"Being able to explain to students something which is fairly complicated and try to get the essence of it. And I still teach courses, so that's certainly something. Working with students and doing research, I get tremendous enjoyment out of that."

I couldn't agree more with what both professors had shared. Their sharing echoes the beatings of my heart. I am passionate about my research... I also enjoy teaching tremendously... I put in a lot of efforts for both, 24/7 but I don't see that as work....Nothing gives more satisfaction than being able to explain something complicated and seeing students' eyes opening to appreciate the real value of what they learnt... The true legacy of my time in NUS would be the success of my students (not my research papers & accolades).

If we emulate the two distinguished professors' spirit and passion towards research and teaching, we will never have to work another day. You will find that work, whatever our chosen field, despite the hard labor, can be fun, satisfying and rewarding.

A Drop of Water

Quote & Photo of the Week

"How could drops of water know themselves to be a river? Yet the river flows on" - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

photo: Botanical Garden (Jul 2010)

"Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives. Man's life is independent. He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self" - B.R. Ambedkar

Cherish The Seasons

Yesterday, a friend from church shared a profound statement, "Every moment is beautiful. Treasure it." This afternoon, I took time to reflect and do some study on what it means to cherish the moments.

"We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends, and living our lives.” - Maya Angelou

photo: harvesting apple (State College, 2008)

Below is a tragic poem (by Jason Lehman) on a man who never got what he wanted.

It was spring, but it was summer I wanted,

the warm days, and the great outdoors.

It was summer, but it was fall I wanted,

the colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air.

It was spring, but it was winter I wanted,

the beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season.

I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted,

the freedom, and the respect.

I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted,

to be mature, and sophisticated.

I was middle-aged, but it was 30 I wanted,

the youth and the free spirit.

I was retired, but it was middle age I wanted,

the presence of mind, without limitations.

My life was over, but I never got what I wanted.

The author, John Mason, exposits that God is a God of seasons. Ecclesiates 3:1 proclaims, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven". Distinctively different things happen during different seasons.

There is a wintertime in God. It is a season of preparation, revelation and direction. It is also the time when the roots grow. God wants to establish the right foundation in you during this season. But there is no harvest now.

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There is springtime in God. It is a time of planting, hoeing and nurturing. In other words, hard work. God wants you to work your plan. But there is no harvest in springtime.

There is a summertime in God. Summer is a time of great growth. Nowis the time when activity, interest and people begin to surround your God-given idea. For all the activity of summer, there is only a minimal harvest. But then comes autumn.

This is God's harvest time. It is during this season that the harvest is reaped in much greater proportion than the work, activity or idea expanded. But most people never make it to the fall. Often, they end up quitting along the way because they don't know what season they're in.

When you understand that God is a God of seasons, it prepares you to do the right thing at the right time. It inspires you to persevere to the fall. God's Word is true when it says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal 6:9).

reflection: if you pluck the blossoms, you must do without the fruit.

source: John L. Mason, An Enemy Called Average