Friday, November 25, 2005

Terrorism Threat in Hong Kong? After what happened in France, this latest news does not suprise me. (Attack threat on HK, Chinese hotels probed. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is investigating an anonymous threat to carry out militant attacks against hotels in Hong Kong and China, foreign ministry and security officials said Wednesday. [Moreover Technologies - China news]) Hong Kong has a large community of South Asians (Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, etc.) They are by and large, hard working and make a big contribution to society here. Having said that, however, I must add that many of them have never integrated into Hong Kong society. They are often looked down upon and marginalized. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that, among some, there is a simmering anger against Hong Kong and the Chinese people (and of course, Americans). 4:11:40 AM    comment [] Random Thoughts on Psalm 24 I read Psalm 24 today. It's interesting and scary! It seems to divide into 3 parts: Part 1 - talks about the Ownership of God. He owns everything and everyone; Part 2 - focuses on the kind of person who can go to God's holy mountain, i.e., stand in his presence; Part 3 - is a call to Zion (?) to get ready to welcome the King of Glory. I'm not sure how it all fits together, but here are my random thoughts. (1)  A psalm by David. The earth and everything it contains are the LORD'S. The world and all who live in it are his.  (2)  He laid its foundation on the seas and set it firmly on the rivers.  God owns everything and everyone. He made the world and everything that lives in it. So much for our ideas of freedom. We are created by God and belong to him. It's easy to see why modern man doesn't much care for this idea. This carries with it a tremendous sense of dependency and obligation. If I belong to God then I am accountable to him and dependent on him. This idea is anathema to many people. Even though the idea of "no God" carries with it a horrible sense of meaninglessness, people hate the idea of accountability more than they fear the absolute meaningless-ness of believing there is no God. (3)  Who may go up the LORD'S mountain? Who may stand in his holy place?  (4)  The one who has clean hands and a pure heart and does not long for what is false or lie when he is under oath.  (5)  This person will receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from God, his savior.  (6)  This is the person who seeks him, who searches for the face of the God of Jacob. Selah This section of the Psalm scares me. Who can stand in God's holy place? The person with clean hands and a pure heart. The person who does not long for what is false or lie under oath. David speaks of both affections and behavior; feelings and actions; heart and life. Following the Lord is not about acting good, but rather about "being good". There must be a congruence of heart and life action. Sometimes my heart is far from God and I find myself like the Pharisees "honoring God with my lips" only. Other times I am filled with affection and hunger for God. It would be wonderful if my affections and my actions were always "Christ centered". David goes on to say that this person is a recipient of blessing and righteousness from God. Because verse 5 follows verse 4, we tend to think "causation - this person is good, so he is blessed and accepted by God."  The Pharisees probably assumed that. The trouble is that the minute you begin to think that way, you turn God into Santa Claus and strip him of his Godhood. Salvation and blessing always begin in God. God always acts first and his actions lead to our change of heart and life. We seek him, because He sought us. If you make the mistake of thinking you must have clean hands and a pure heart before you can be blessed and receive righteousness, you'll find it impossible to do. I think a lot of people stop following the Lord because they find it too difficult. They are right. It is not only difficult, it is impossible. I've been a Christian for 35 years now and frankly I find the Christian life - impossible. I can't do it.  Unless God works in me to give me the "want to" and even then, unless he helps to actually "do the right thing" - I won't do it. I am hopeless and helpless without him.  (7)  Lift your heads, you gates. Be lifted, you ancient doors, so that the king of glory may come in.  (8)  Who is this king of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty! The LORD, heroic in battle!  (9)  Lift your heads, you gates. Be lifted, you ancient doors, so that the king of glory may come in.  (10)  Who, then, is this king of glory? The LORD of Armies is the king of glory! Selah The last section of this Psalm is a call to the "gates". I assume David is talking to the gates of Jerusalem. By "lifting up" it sounds like he is saying "open up" "be opened up" so that the king of glory can come in. Reminds me of Jesus saying "hey look, I am standing at the door knocking". The Psalm begins and ends by focusing of God. I like that! I am sick of being "Allan focused"; I want to learn to be "God centered". He is the KING OF GLORY, YAHWEH - STRONG AND MIGHTY, YAHWEH - HEROIC IN BATTLE! YAHWEH OF ARMIES! I love this description - imagine how safe and how blessed a city or a life would be with this God on the inside! Safe - well I guess that would depend on how your relationship with Yahweh is. It reminds me of the CS Lewis' description of Aslan. The children ask "Is he a tame lion?" and they are told (in my words) "No way! He is as wild as can be, BUT he is good." King of Glory, I want to welcome you to my life. You are a mighty warrior and conquering King, yet you ask that we open up the gates to let you in. You demand that heart and hands align with one another. You see my heart and my life! You know how far apart they are at times. Please pour your righteousness and blessing into my life. Work in me that my heart and actions might move as one - in tune with your Holy Spirit. 3:54:27 AM    comment []

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