270109

Verses Read: Proverbs 10:4

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. 

I am on a 25 day per month Bible reading plan, so I have a couple of extra days in a month. Will be using these days to develop a set of devotions for the Boys Brigade based on the book of proverbs. Hence today's reading. 

The long weekend has come to an end, but there are no lessons tomorrow. Honestly, a wise move and a very pleasant surprise. Things this year are indeed very much better. Going to ride to Siglap after school to get my bicycle serviced. Chain is starting to make noise. 

260109

Verses read: Matthew 10:1-20, Psalm 23

It's interesting to read that verse, that the words to say would be given at the needed time. And then to read Psalm 23 to be comforted with the knowledge that almost the same thing. Something to reflect on. 

220109

Verses read: MAtthew 9:1-13, Psalm 21

I remember a dear friend who once messaged me verses from a chapter that was similar to the content of Psalm 21. It was an unexpected SMS but one that really served to encourage me in a very trying time. That really worked wonders during that period of my life and it is good to read such verses again just before I sleep. 

200109

Verses read: Matthew 8:1-13, Psalm 19

Jesus as healer. You think about the song and how all of a sudden it isn't getting any play time on my iTune and you wonder if the story does have something to do with it. Yet, there is truth in that song. And to stop playing it would be a mistake. 

Well, today, I saw the look of horror during Amaths class. Wasn't fun for sure! I think I am going to print the laws of indices and logarithms on huge A3 sheets of paper and display them somewhere in the classrooms. Would make things slightly easier. 

190109

Verses read: Matthew 7:15:29, Psalm 18:26-50

This is one of the longer Psalms in the book. The reading actually broke it into 2 halves. So I read the first half last night and the second this morning. The Matthew reading has been one that has been on my mind for a while now. It's all about foundation, a simple lesson to graphs but one that is not easy to master. That's the paradox of it, simple but not easy.

The weekend was pretty mundane, spent most of the time at home, recovering and resting. Thankfully my cough is almost cleared up to the point where I can start morning cycles.

150109

Verses read: Matthew 6:16-24, Psalm 15

Well, I shan't post a long reflection today. It's been 2 weeks since the start of the year. Things are better this year, but it is a different burden and somehow I am not really enjoying things as I should. Everything is really touch and go this year. I guess that is why I feel this way, the lack of depth. 

Best job in the world?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090113/od_afp/lifestyleaustraliatourismoffbeat_20090113032028

140109

Verses read: Matthew 6:1-15, Psalm 14

You can give, but you just cannot out give God. When I think back on the time I spent in Nepal, we gave, but we gave out of wealth. But the Nepalese gave as well, and they gave us much more than we could give. Truly they gave out of what they did not have and in turn we were more blessed than them.

My cough is finally starting to clear up. Hopefully it would have cleared up to the point where I can start morning cycles next week. There are so many things to do, things that I'd rather give up. But like how I started the year, just be faithful in the little things.

130109

Verses read: Matthew 5:33-48, Psalm 13

Psalm 13, it is a psalm that has appeared on my blog before, but written in prose. It was psalm of comfort to me at a very aweful time in my life. When I was seeking freedom from pain, I guess reading this Psalm today helped for I had a short chat with someone today. Someone who in some way was the source of that pain. 

Finally started my cycling to school. Need to up the ante a little and start cycling in the mornings. Once this cough clears. 

120109

Verses read: Matthew 5:21-32, Psalm 12

When you are older, you read Matthew 5:30 in a very different light. Considering the context, it now makes total sense. I've read the verse so many times, never saw the significance till now!

Was on retail therapy today. Short day for me, left school record early. Therapy, because after today, things are certainly going to revert to last year. Bought the Prince Caspian DVD, it really has so many undertones and lessons that you can draw from just watching it. Even the added battle scene has Biblical roots. 

110109

Verses Read: Matthew 5:13-20, Psalm 11

I missed this morning's prayer meeting; needed some extra rest. Have been sick the whole week, my voice is almost gone, my nose has been bleeding, my throat is sore and my cough isn't exactly recovering. Had the Missioner's Fellowship after service, presented the video that I spent last night doing. Honestly not a very big effort on my part, just getting used to iMovie took some time. 

My nose started bleeding again suddenly just now. Have to be careful not to rub it too hard tomorrow, will be in Day Dress, which is pure white. My toilet resembled a murder scene for a while. Quite scary, just a small nose bleed and there was so much blood, how much more a larger injury!

100109

Verses Read: Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 10

The Beatitudes. I actually memorised them once. Now, my memory fails me. 

Been a long 2 days, hence the missed update yesterday. I'm a little tanned from standing in the hot sun, but it was a good weather. Better than rain anyway. Cough is starting to clear up, but still irritatingly painful to the point my head actually hurts. 

080109

Verses read: Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 8

I am doing my readings in school. Somehow couldn't get out of bed to do it this morning. Perhaps there is some reason behind it. As I read this in school, I remembered that I once did a reflection on this verse many years ago and wrote it down. Indeed, it was in my journal, my first journal, the one that I kept in school! So I opened it up and read what I wrote. While it wasn't a reflection on that passage directly, it was a reflection on the corresponding message in Mark. This was what I wrote, way back in December 2008.

"When the disciples gave up their nets, it was their livelihood. But they did not hesitate to give up their nets. But they knew Jesus was all they needed. And hence they have up everything for him."

I actually wrote that 10 years ago. It's hard to imagine the scene, hardened fisherman simply leaving their nets and following Jesus. We always imagine Jesus as being quite meek, but I feel that this passage shows that Jesus had some presence in order to command such a group.

Anyway, my cough is far from clearing up and to make things worse, my nose is bleeding. It actually bled in class yesterday. That was certainly a first. I think it must have bled sometime during the night as well for I woke up with my throat completely choked with dried blood. Spent a good 5 minutes in the shower clearing it all up. I need to drink more water; the weather has been punishing the last few days.

070109

Verses read: Matthew 4:1-11, Psalm 7

The temptation of Jesus. Well known passage. Well, I was tempted not to come to school this morning. I am actually terribly sick, my cough has not gotten any better and I am developing a very sore throat.

It actually reminds me of the first few months of 2005, that year I was sick from the start of the year till way past Chinese New year. That was an El Nino year and there were plenty of forest fires. I cannot remember how I survived that really dark and gloomy year but it was the year I started reading the Bible consistently. All things do come around after a while and here I am posting my daily readings again.

060109

Verses read: Matthew 3:13 - 17, Psalm 6

A lament and a Psalm of David. I guess he wrote this while he was being pursued by his enemies and was hiding on some cave. What would I be thinking if I were in that situation?

Today is a short day, at least that is the plan. I do not know what other stuff I will get after school! I finally got down to clearing out parts of my room, got rid of the shelf that was in my way and threw away all my old cards. Only kept those that still had some value. Going to try rearrange the furniture soon, but will need a place for my guitars. Got to downsize the collection!

050109

Verses read: Matthew 3:1-12, Psalm 5

When I read this passage, the thing that strikes me is that John the Baptist is actually portrayed as a person who lives in the wild. Almost barbaric in nature. YET, the crowds followed him; there had to be something that attracted these people to him.

Didn't post yesterday as it was a Sunday, but of course I still continued my readings. My teaching load for the day has already ended thanks to the dedication and installation service. My throat is feeling really sore, and I need more sleep!

Been invited to play at another wedding and another reunion with the BCE band. Nice. Fitting since this couple got together at that event. Hard to imagine it was FOUR years ago that we were cooped up at Temasek Hall writing songs and music for Falling Spinning. Yet in some way it is a reminder of "what it could have been for me". Like I wrote so long ago, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

030109

Verses read: Matthew 2:1-12, Psalm 3

This passage recounts the visit of the magi. It has always been depicted that the magi visited Jesus on the night He was born. However a deeper reading to that passage does suggest that the magi visited only 2 years after Jesus was born. Yet again, I was watching the nativity story and they actually took this into consideration and presented the possibility that the magi could have indeed visited on the night Jesus was born. Yet, it is just a small detail, the key is that this passage proclaims God's gift to man.

I'm exhausted, and I have done nothing much today. The orientation day camp has concluded, it's definitely more low key than previous years. I do feel it has served to achieve it's purpose, I have been able to do a lot more administrative preparation due to the orientation being put into term time. Lose a little time in the beginning to save time later on, that's what a wise teacher once told me.

020109

Verses read: Matthew 1:17-25, Psalm 2

The birth of Jesus and in Psalm 2 it is a psalm that talks about Jesus. The Psalm, according to my study Bible, could have possibly been used during the coronation of Israel's kings and it is a call to be a subject of God and even the Son of God. Seems that the ones who printed this material put in a lot of thought into the whole thing.

1st day of school. I'm losing my voice, a pretty standard first day problem. Lots of coughing going on within the staff room, seems like an occupational hazard. Going to be an interesting year, and I pray that it will be a good one.

010109

Verses read: Matthew 1:1-17, Psalm 1

The genealogy of Jesus. One would hardly take much notice of it. But when you inspect it deeper, you find many scandals. Tamar and Judah; David and Bathsheeba for instance. Yet, it was through this line that Jesus came. Something to ponder about actually.

It's a new year and a new push. Last year I was passive, this year it's no hold barred. A part of me is looking forward to the new school year. The other part of me isn't of course! And another part is simply wondering why the term has to start on a Friday.

Well, the return of such posts to my blog herald a new push. The last time such a post appeared was just before practicum, slightly under 2 years ago. They are back to help with a new Bible reading programme that I've decided to spearhead in YMPACT. So, for how long will these posts last? Only God knows.