One Piece is a very popular comic and is very sell-able now in many nations. Many people especially youth are crazy for this comic. And I tell you what, I am one of the fans to this comic, and by God's grace I am not insane for this comic but just really enjoy reading it to see how the main character (Monkey D Luffy), a stupid, good hearted, funny pirate achieve his dream to be the king of pirates. I think there are a few reasons why i enjoy reading this comic.
1) First of all, the story was not began with a characters that soooooooooooo super duper strong. Especially Luffy's ability, i think it's one of the most stupid ability that a pirate can get for fighting.
2) The first 20-30 episodes were just a honey moon for the pirates group, you thought the enemies they met were already so strong for them. Start from somewhere middle of the comic, you will realize the author has been making a lot of impossible tasks for this pirate group. Their enemies were faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar stronger than them.
3) But they somehow make it to push through the difficulty, despite the impossibilities, the mocking of the opponents, and somehow received so many favor to turn the situation at the crucial time, all their hearts were just to defeat the enemy and save the situation and their friends.
I was thinking: Of course! They are the main characters in comic, surely the author will somehow turn their impossibilities to possible then to victory. And in fact the reason the author let them gone through so much difficulty is because everything happening throughout this comic are supposed to be the stage for them to rise above, to shine!! Because they are the VIP. They are predestined to fight until the end and gain the greatest victory.
This is a great metaphor for our life!! The Author of Salvation, Jesus Christ, has already wrote the beginning and the end for our life. The moment we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we have automatically enrol into this great adventure. Last time I kept fearing of problems rises against me and I would choose to remain silence from everything possible in this world. But now it's different. We are now soaring above the systems of the world. All the problems, troubles, sufferings, and attack from demons are now the stages for us to step on, to rise above and to shine!! We are the main actor or actresses, the super star!! Once upon a time, we used to be a puppet of the system of the world and also of Satan. In the world, we didn't have much choices to be made, we are forced to make certain choices that the world told us to. There is no liberty and freedom. And some people they wanted to be liberated so much and they don't know how to. So they choose to do something different from what people around them told them to. And finally many many of them do something really stupid, because they want to be different, "we have freedom to do whatever we want to do what~!"
When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and the Author of Salvation, we are instantly being placed into the comic and to be the VIP. We might seems short, weak, like a sheep before a slaughter, however Jesus had already finished writing this comic and even the ending of the comic. Guess what kind of identity and conclusion of the story He wrote for us? We are the children, the army, the athlete, the light, the prince, and the kings!!! And our destiny is to finished the race, be a champion, and receive the crown of glory when Jesus come back again. And no matter what kind of impossible situation we will face to take us down from reaching the goal, it will just become a chance for us to rise above and to shine even brighter. While we struggling through the tough situation, all the heroes and angels in Heaven are cheering us to push on, like how i cheered the main character in the comic One Piece: Come on, you are the main character and VIP here man! How can you being defeated and died?!! You are the VIP written by the author. Come on, you're not going to lose and died!! Carry on!!
When we accepted Jesus Christ, Jesus had already died for all our failures, weakness and sins. Means the moment we believe in Him, we are totally freed from failures, weaknesses, and sins. Our old imperfect and super sinful nature has already died with Jesus, and we are resurrected with Him with a brand new spotless nature. We are perfected in Jesus through out the whole race!!... When you are not in Jesus, and you dig back your old man corpse and smell the corpse and feel sick about the corpse. Then don't feel like want to continue the race but just keep lamenting on the old corpse on how imperfect and terrible it is. This is the most stupid thing a predestined (to win) hero can do when he is on his journey to victory. And I think God might be crying out that time: OHHHH MY GOODNESS!! What are you doing?! I already make you a forever new man, and you will surely win the race with the destiny I wrote for you. What for you hugging your smelly old sinful nature and lament?!!! My son, WAKE UP!!!
I personally believe the main character in the comic One Piece will never died, in whatever impossible situation. He may be discouraged for a short moment, but he will rise up in the next moment, kill and defeat the impossibilities that stand in his way. When we believe in Jesus, we already died with Him on the cross and now resurrected with Him with a new body. A person who already died once, can never die twice. We are undead now. Come on, remember that we are undead now. Regardless what situation, how big is the enemy, how many powerful skill he can use to kill you, YOU ARE THE UNDEAD IN JESUS CHRIST, YOU WILL NEVER DIE.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Satan, the Fallen Worship Angel
Hi guys, I had been very busy since past few months. i have to stop writing to focus on some other important stuff. Yesterday I found a "chun"(good) article in guitarpraise.blogspot.com, I must share with you guys. Especially those who're serving in worship ministry. Don't miss it!!... ...
Satan, the Fallen Worship Angel
The Bible names three angels - Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer. The last angel is, of course, better known as Satan. Ps 103:20 tells us that angels are "mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word" - each of these angels represent the various ways we serve God.
Michael is known for being an angel of works, putting into action what is needed to help others ("then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me", Dan 10:13). He is also an angel of warfare ("Michael and his angels fought against the dragon", Rev 12:7), and represents the spiritual battles we fight for others in the community. The second angel is Gabriel, who is known for delivering God's Word. Gabriel is most well known for preparing Mary for Jesus' birth (Luke 1:26-38); he was also called to speak to Daniel about a vision (Dan 8:16).
Ezekiel 28:12-14 tells us that Lucifer was a beautiful creature:
"You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.. every precious stone adorned you... Your settings and mountings were made of gold; You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones".
In the same way, musicians can look quite good on stage, and do get quite abit of attention from their friends. I do get abit of 'fame' in church, from people recognising (recognising, not admiring!) me from playing the guitar. When I meet friend's friends in church, I'm always introduced as the guy who plays the guitar on stage, like its something cool.
The attention can get to one's head, as was with the devil:
"Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor" (Eze 28:17).
Satan himself has walked down the path of pride, and tempting people into self-glorification could very well be his most powerful weapon against us. After all, it was what led to the first sin and the separation between man and God. As a result, musicians are very exposed to his temptations. We must guard our hearts and minds, and constantly walk down the path of humility. We must also see ourselves not as musicians, or worse, rock stars, but first and foremost servants of the Lord.
Look forward not to your friends' praises, but to the Lord's delight in you. James 4:10 tells us to "humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you". Imagine finally coming before the throne of God - seeing His glory, we prostrate in unworthiness before Him. Yet, God comes to us, brings us back to our feet, and tells us that He is proud of us, for putting Him before our pride. Just as Ps 84:10 writes that "better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere", better is one word of praise from the Lord than to have fame amongst the multitudes.
On a more practical level, here are two tips:
- The small things matter. There's alot of 'menial' work in the ministry, like hauling amps and mixers around. You might also feel reluctant to serve for smaller services, like prayer meetings. Take up your cross and serve in these areas wholeheartedly.
- Deflect & avoid attention. Sometimes, my friends say I 'perform' on stage. I usually tell them, light-heartedly of course, that I prefer to use the word 'serving'. Also, don't do anything that gets you too much attention on stage, e.g. running to the front during a guitar solo.
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