"i knoww i knowww...!"

yeaahh...heheh i know i said i'll cut down last night, but i cannot resist!! just had to tell this story, and perhaps brag a bit lah hehehee~

a couple days ago my darling wasnt feeling too happy. all i can say is that she had been going through some difficult times recently, and had to make many tough decisions especially since she's preparing to come study in Dallas, TX as well. so anyways, i wrote this song to cheer her up and also to reaffirm her that i still very much love her! I LOVE YOU, LYNN!!

so i recorded it playing Jeff's guitar with a simple computer microphone hooked to my tahan lasak "pressin'-on" PC, and the recording software isnt much to shout about. did it in a couple of takes, actually. first take i snapped the 3rd string, haha. so anyways, i think it's a really cool song *grinnnnn* and she liked it too! *yyyaAAaAAAAYY!!*

and i just found out that it fits the mood perfectly when you listen to along with CorrinneMay's Mr Beasley [visit her website to listen to Mr Beasley] hehehe. just fyi.

enjoy, i'll let it play a while in here while i'm "on leave" from blogging! (it's kinda soft, so you guys might wanna turn up the volume to listen to it.)
blessings!!

cut down...

i realised tonight how much i have to do in the next 3 weeks...and how little time i have. and to make things "not so good", i've been spending significant time blogging...*sigh* i love blogging. but i think in the coming 3-8 weeks i will have to control myself and blog wisely. which means i dont intend to do updates daily...perhaps once a week would be sufficient.

this is because of time mismanagement on my part...*sigh* i'm guilty. i know that if i dont buck up i'm gonna let a lot of people down.

but please, if you guys will, do email me and i will do my best to reply!

changing the world a life at a time~ Thomas=)

CorrinneMay

ahhhh...i have some other things i wanted to write on, but i must definitely introduce CorrinneMay on my blog!! i dont know her, never heard of her until i heard her music on Janice's blog. i was immediately lovestruck~* Thanx, Janice!
to listen to more of CorrinneMay, click here...you must have flash installed for the highbandwidth site.

here's a review on her by Indie-music.com

By Jennifer Layton

Corrinne May's crystal river voice and her beautiful songs moved me in such a powerful, spiritual way. Even the most hardened heart doesn't stand a chance. On the very first track, "Fly Away," her voice floats out of the speakers with no musical intro. This is one of her very personal songs, one about leaving her family behind in Singapore so she could pursue a musical career in the States. By the time she was into the second verse, I was sitting at my desk in tears.

May's work makes the soul tremble. The reviews in her press kit compare her to Sarah McLachlan. Please. McLachlan would give anything to sound like this.

This is a rare talent. I'm not the only one captured. When she competed in a songwriting challenge issued by the music industry web site TONOS, she was chosen out of over 200 applicants to co-write a song with Carole King and Carole Bayer Sager. The song, "If You Didn't Love Me," is featured on the CD. It's a gorgeous piano ballad with a classical feel. May's voice makes it downright ethereal. This young woman who began playing the organ at four years old and won her first songwriting competition at fifteen has also seen her music featured on Lifetime TV and the daytime drama "One Life To Live."

Most of this acoustic music is quiet, setting the stage for her voice, casting a swirling mist around it. The voice gives us watercolor images, like the ones in "Fall To Fly," a song about growing up, becoming practical, and forgetting the magic of childhood:

"On winter days the snow would glisten Like a sea of diamonds in the sun.... Arms held out, eyes shut closed I'd lean back and just let go. And I would fall to fly. A snow white angel, I'd spread my wings to the sky How I'd glide..."

May doesn't just croon ballads. "Stay On The Road" is a pop/rock song that rises to something that sounds like a rock spiritual revival. "Mr. Beasley," a very observant study of a sweet and nervous suitor, rings with humor any woman can identify with. "Something About You" is a joyful song about discovering a deeper feeling for someone who's been just a friend.

This is one of those CDs that reinforce my belief in a Higher Power because there's just no other explanation for that voice. It's a Must Have, whether you're male or female. Guys, you may be tough, but she'll reach you. Ladies, two words: waterproof mascara.

wow. what inspiration. i've always wanted to write songs and go indie like so many people have done...but i've never had the opportunity come near. now my dream is just to get a CD produced...and i'll be happy! *bliss*

oh well...i know God has plans for me. he gave me these gifts and i've done my best to develop them. He is and will continue to guide me. =) so meanwhile, i'll get inspired by CorrinneMay's music!!

blessed...

i just had a quick conversation with Jeff about how blessed we are. he just sat down next to me, and looked at our apartment's open door...and said "We're so blessed, man."

i looked at him and looked outside...and i agreed. and really, it got me thinking. i had the song by Watermark i posted yesterday playing...

truly, we were blessed. we live in a comfortable apartment, we have food on our table (and in our larder & refridgerator), we have great friends, we have our jobs, our lives to live, we have our families, he has a car, i get my rides; we have everything we need to live a basic, comfortable and pleasurable life in this country. blessed. and yet, so many times we ask for more. we get discontented with the blessings given to us. we want more.

how blessed we are, really, depends on how we see ourselves. if we compare ourselves with the poorest of the poor, then indeed we're blessed. but if we compare ourselves to those living in abundance, then we can be considered poor. blessing and the definition of "being blessed", rationally, depends on the culture and place we live in.

but really, that blessed feeling does not come in having more possessions than others! it comes in knowing who we are in God, and that he takes good care of us. it comes in being content with all the wealth that we have, and knowing that truly, we do not lack. we dont. think about it, our lack comes because we think we want it. our lack does not come from the Father who has given us everything under the sun!

once again, i'm awed at God's wonderful mercy over my life. that when times i felt like i needed him most, he has always been with me. i have never lacked. i'm blessed, because He blessed me. and this blessing is not of the wealth of this world, but of the riches and glory of He who blessed me - the wealth of my heart. Thank you Lord.

Here i am, Lord...

this song "Knees to the Earth" by Watermark invokes such strong emotions in me...the words, the tune, Christy Nockel's strong voice, powerful BGVs, the soothing piano, compelling drum beats, the driving bass and guitars...the power and ability of this song for that connection i just need with God...shhhooouw! really an awesome song!

wonderful saviour
my heart belongs to thee
I will remember always the blood you shed for me
wonderful saviour
my heart will know your worth
so I will embrace you always as I walk this earth

be blessed be loved be lifted high
be treasured here be glorified
I owe my life to you my lord
here I am

beautiful Jesus
how may I bless your heart?
Knees to the earth I bow down to everything you are
beautiful Jesus
you are my only worth
so let me embrace you always as I walk this earth
~ Nathan & Christy Nockels

"...here I am, Lord....."

Words...

here's a poem i started last night while laying in bed; needless to say, i fell asleep!! YAY!! so i finished the rest just now...and i like it! *grin*


If the age-old saying is true
that a man, for the love of a woman, could do
anything; even if only to prove
that his heart aches with love and yearns to be soothed.

And often it is that flowers sing
about how our hearts are fragile things,
that it would cry if as much as an unspoken sting
or fly if love granted it wings.

And so, if indeed, that first saying is right,
then it would seem unlikely to have stars at night!
For all would have been taken by thought or by might;
even if one be found, chances be slight.

And what of the oceans, the famed Seven Seas?
Would they be spared? I would say not at the least!
For as easy as spoken deeds often may sound,
not every man has crossed all rivers, oceans, nor towns.

Not much more, then, could we say about mountains,
nor rainbows, nor skies, spring rains or fountains.
All and more have merely been used to measure one's loving;
a matter of speech to convey one's true feelings.

So here it is, my two-cents worth
of how beautifully descriptive this thing called love.
And though poetry and speech, with pleasance, is served,
we must be careful and wise of the words we birth.

Be watchful, therefore, to use the tongue
only to build and restore, and not speak like a drunk.
If hearts, indeed, are fragile things be,
then if broken or torn, accountable are we.

the weekend that was...

ahhh...i had a very good weekend. only exception would be that i still am having a hard time getting to sleep...i try to get in bed 12am only to lay down wide awake for about 2 or 3 hours. it's horrible. i think i'm having insomnia...*sigh* they say drink a warm cup of milk, or get up and do something entirely different then plop into bed, or wriggle my toes, or breathe deeply, or have a quick small meal...etc. i've tried all that, and they all dont work. the only 2 things that really worked was, one night at 4am i was so frustrated, i just went for a quick run at the track! i came back and fell right asleep! LoL...and then the other time i was too lazy to go out running, so i did push-ups till i was really sore. it worked. and i was sore a few days too.

anyways, i digressed. i had really wanted to write about how good a weekend i had. Saturday we had our outreach meeting, and we were just talking and sharing about how some of us were discouraged over different issues, but especially in the issues of finance and funds coming in for the outreach, and even myself with my neck injury that's costing me precious sleeptime...while we were praying, man, the Lord led me to Exodus 15:2-21 declaring the victory and deliverance of the Lord over our enemies. wooo hooo...then as he reminded of what the Bible says about what we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever we loose on earth shall be loosed on heaven...and i began to just yell out that declaration! man...i felt that release, and later on, Jeff also confirmed with us that he felt the release in the spirit realm! awesome! then my team came and prayed for me and my back and my lacksleep. i went back after the meeting spiritually recharged and encouraged!! it was awesome.

then on sunday, man i was worship leading in church...and God started to move during the service while the congregation was worshipping, and i believe hearts were restored, lives were recommitted to Christ and overall, just a release in the spirit realm in that church. i'm so glad that the Lord has allowed me to be a part of it!

so there...my good weekend! and i'm looking forward to a great week as well, especially in the area of personal finances as well as outreach finances as well. in three weeks, we need some more funds to come in for the entire team (at least US$9000 more). also, i'll be going for physical therapy for my neck every Mon, Wed and Fri, and it's all paid for by the Texas' workers compensation. The Lord is good!

hmmm...here's something really disgusting: i have this glass bottle that i use to cary drinking water, well, last week (i think it was thursday) i made some iced milo and brought it to work in that bottle. and er...hehehe...i didnt wash it till this morning. YUCKS! i know, it smelled real bad when i washed it. well i got the smell off of the glass bottle, but the bottle cap which has a piece of foam/plastic lining in it...still stinks. I DONT WANT TO...but i'm gonna have to throw it away. nnNNnnoooOOoOOoo...

on grad banquet night...

i dont feel too good about myself this morning. so i read my journal, especially when i wrote of God's assurance to me. the following is one of the recent ones...

------------------------------------------------------

Friday Dec 10, 2004
last night was phenomenal! the anointing of Holy Spirit was so heavy, while Newberry preached i was shaken inside...crying.

he spoke on not settling for what's smaller...why build a rowboat when God's called us to build and ark!? and really, that was it. the entire message! he just kept challenging us through stories, and saying again and again, why do it when all you gonna do is a small thing? which reminded me of a quote from somewhere: it's
not God if it's not impossible!

and sitting at the table, as he spoke, God was just downloading on to me all over again my desire for Malaysia...i saw the peninsula over and over again, i keep seeing it. and i found myself mumbling the words, orang melayu, orang cina, orang india, semua bangsa untukMu Bapa! and he was sharing on not being restricted by anything. God never chastens those who dream bigger, but he chastens when we dream too small, or even not at all.

and when he called for the graduates to the front to be prayed for, i was playing the guitar and just shaking and crying as he prayed over us, laying hands, prophesying, healing...the words he gave were accurate, and he barely knew any of us! called Elizabeth by name! Steve and wife were prophesied that they have the gift of reproduction! Marcelino's wife's lumps under armpits disappeared! a lady with bad neck and back totally healed! Abner and Kelly's calling to the nations! Fabio's resolution for wanting more and getting up again and again after being slain twice! and me...just playing, shaking, crying and being sensitive, wanting my heart to soften, to receive again...

when Jeff took over so i could be prayed for, and Newberry lifted my chin, and just prayed...the things he said...multitudes, and Holy Spirit began to remind me of the vision i saw when i was younger of crowds of people in front of me...he mentioned "evangelist", and i saw the malays, and all the aslis, and the chinese, indians..."do not let others despise your youth", and i was reminded of all the discouragement esp after talking with pr mike about someone in leadership back home, not letting things hinder what i can do in my young age...and as i hit the floor, just his waves of assurance again and again, felt like i didnt deserve anything yet i'm gonna do all these! and felt that God was pleased with me...and accepted, received, and yet knowing that i cant do it on my own; He's gonna do it.

began showing me images of Malaysia, the peninsula...again and again i kept seeing it...and then i felt in my spirit that this team is gonna be the first step towards what he has planned to do in time, that we're going to prepare the way of the Lord. all is not in vain!!

O Lord, give us new hearts and new minds,
For your glory, may Your Name
be lifted higher and higher and higher
we prepare the way! we prepare the way!
we prepare the way of the Lord!
~Rick Pino

Praise the Lord. PRAISE THE LORD!

in transit...

i like that nose picking article i posted earlier today...=) *grin*

anyways, yesterday i wrote some thoughts, and something happened, i guess, to blogger.com's server...and i lost everything. yes. the entire post...all my hard work, squeezing my juices to comeup with something interesting to say, and voila..404...dns server not found etc. OK, OK...maybe not the 404 (not sure if they still use that error msg anymore) but STILL...tried until 2am++ and still unable to recover or at least even load the main page. And earlier on i had seen something about this post recovery thingy up and running...i'm like, "piirraaaa...cannot work wan!" *sigh*

well well...

ahhhh....

so. a couple blogs ago i mentioned something about going through transitions in life. i've been through quite a bit of them and most of them i remember to be bittersweet experiences. i recall i was really young, and i felt really sad knowing that some close friends had to leave. some even left just like that. knowing then, young as i was, that i wasnt gonna see them for a long time or even never, really made me appreciate the gift of friends.

lets see, there were a few friends from church: Sue Ling, Kit, Jin & Jun, and May Lyn who left for KL and New Zealand...and then there's Ah Min who was my neighbour, dunno where she went. and then there were my primary school friends, high school friends, more friends from church (when i was older) who left for further studies, and then i left for Dallas. there's Boss, my youth pastor who left for Nepal with wife and daughter, and some friends here who left already and more leaving, and then i will have to go back to Penang eventually leaving more of my good friends i've met here...life is full of transitions.

making new friends is never easy. there's always something about ourselves that we hold back from new acquaintances, usually our weaknesses, or we dont want them to think of us a certain way...yeah. a strong friendship takes time and effort to develop, and prolonged distance can actually retard it. and really, what's the balance between giving away all or withholding a bit of ourselves? i guess we'll just really never know. some people distance away after they know too much...and sometimes we distance ourselves coz we fear they know too much about us. or when we dont tell enough, some people may think that they'll get nowhere with us, in other words once they figure out that we are of no use to them, relationships plateau, even decline from there.

it takes a lot of effort to maintain any relationship, and even more difficult when you see the best in them, but they dont see the best in you. i'm blessed to know people who saw the best in me, and invested their lives in befriending me. makes me wanna do the same to them and others...

but how much of a difference am i to them? as long as i know i'm being honest, sincere and truthful, i guess the answer depends on them.

here's a classic song by Michael W. Smith, that i think would best describe a strong friendship in transition...just sad that it doesnt always happen like this, if you know what i mean.

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can’t believe the hopes he’s granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we’ll keep you close as always
It won’t even seem you’ve gone
’cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord’s the lord of them
And a friend will not say never
’cause the welcome will not end
Though it’s hard to let you go
In the father’s hands we know
That a lifetime’s not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love God’s given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you’ll live in
Is the strength that now you show
But we’ll keep you close as always
It won’t even seem you’ve gone
’cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

~ Michael W Smith & Deborah D. Smith

To all my friends out there...i love and appreciate you guys. Thank you for enriching my life.

noses..

i have a confession to make:
i ..d ..o ..p ..i ..c ..k ..m ..y ..n ..o ..s ..e ...THERE! i said it! i confessed! i am guilty of this weird but global phenomenon! and i must say that i enjoy the clear passage ~ woohoo.

i didnt write it, but here's a treatise on nose picking, and i dedicate it to all of you rhino-spelunkers - may it reveal the incredible truth of this fantasmo and bizzarre phenomenon,

Nose Picking
We've all caught someone at sometime picking their nose. Some try to do it in secret. Others do it openly without embarrassment. Maybe even you have been caught in the act. Nose-picking is one disgusting habit and is certainly not socially acceptable. So, are these people normal? One would guess that this is not the type of thing researched at our institutions of higher learning. Guess again. The Americans did.

Of course, scientists must give everyday things complicated scientific names. Nose picking is a term for us common folk. Nose-picking should really be referred to as
rhinotillexomania (rhino=nose, tillexis=habit of picking at something, mania=obsession with something). So, the next time that you see a person picking
their nose, tell them that they are a rhinotillexomaniac.

The researchers prepared their "Rhinotillexomania Questionnaire" and randomly
mailed it to 1000 residents in Dane County, Wisconsin. Each survey included a cover letter that stated, "The University of Wisconsin is conducting a survey of a common but understudied habit scientifically known as 'rhinotillexomania'. Its common name is nose-picking." Even better, the letter actually defined what nose-picking is: "Insertion of a finger (or other object) into the nose with the intention of removing dried nasal secretions." I'll bet that you already knew that. Can you imagine getting this survey in the mail? Even with the University's seal on the stationary, one would have to wonder whether this was a joke or not.

Now for the results (assuming that they are reliable): Of the 1000 surveys mailed out, only 254 were completed and returned to the researchers.

· 8.7% claim that they have never picked their nose. (In other words, they are
liars or they can't remember doing it as a kid.)

· 91% stated that they had picked their nose in the past and were still actively practicing this habit. Yet, only 49.2% of the respondents actually thought that nose-picking was common in adults.

· 9.2% rate their pickin' as "more than average."

· 25.6% actually pick their noses daily, 22.3% do it 2 to 5 times each day, and three people admitted to doing it at least hourly.

· 55.5% spent 1-5 minutes, 23.5% spent 5-15 minutes, and 0.8% (2 people) spent 15-30 minutes each day cleaning their nostrils. One lone soul claims to devote over 2 hours each day to this ritual (I'm not a doctor and I can tell you that this guy definitely has rhinotillexomania).

· 18% reported nosebleeds, while 0.8% claimed perforation of the nasal septum from their nose-picking.

· 65.1% use their index finger, 20.2% use their pinky, and 16.4% use their thumb (must have BIG nostrils to fit a thumb in) as their instrument of choice.

· Most people (90.3%) disposed of the goop in a tissue or a handkerchief, while 28.6% used the floor, and 7.6% stuck it to the furniture.

· 8% of the respondents actually ate the end product. In case you are thinking of trying this delicacy, the study claims that the pickings are quite tasty (salty).

So, what have we learned from this groundbreaking study? Basically, boogers apparently taste good, although I can guarantee to you that I will never do the taste testing to find out. And we are wondering why there is no cure for Cancer yet!

When you get rich from striking gold, please tell me.
cheers~

mui rapido!

very quickly, before i go to bed at this ungodly hour (!!)
wanna just post some interesting reads i've come across tonight.

read an interesting portion on loneliness and community here. really brought back memories of transitions points in my life, especially when i had to leave family and friends and come to Dallas, only to make more friends and inevitably, transition again. it's a difficult process...

also led me to this poem on communication. quite ingenious.

alright...time to shut eye.

ZZZzZzzzZZzzzz

Shame, depart!

"But at last I began to consider that that which is highly esteemed among men is had in abomination with God. And i thought again, This Shame tells me what men are, but it tells me nothing what God, or the Word of God, is. And I thought, moreover, that at the day of doom we shall not be doomed to death or life according to the hectoring spirits of the world, but according to the wisdom and law of the Highest. Therefore, thought I, what God says is best -- is best, though all the men in the world are against it. Seeing, then, that God prefers His religion; seeing God prefers a tender conscience; seeing they that make themselves fools for the kingdom of heaven are wisest, and that the poor man that loveth Christ is richer than the greatest man in the world that hates Him; Shame, depart! thou art an enemy to my salvation. Shall I entertain thee against my sovereign Lord? How, then, shall I look Him in the face at His coming? Should I now be ashamed of His way and servants, how can I expect the blessing? But, indeed, this Shame was a bold villain: I could scarce shake him out of my company; yea, he would be haunting of me, and continually whispering me in the ear with some one or other of the infirmities that attend religion. But at last I told him it was but vain to attempt further in this business; for those things that he disdained, in those did I see most glory; and so, at last, I got past this importunate one. And when I had shaken him off, then I began to sing:

The trials that those men do meet withal,
That are obedient to the heavenly call,
Are manifold, and suited to the flesh,
And come, and come, and come again afresh:
That now, or some time else, we by them may
Be taken, overcome, and cast away.
Oh, let the pilgrims, let the pilgrims then,
Be vigilant and quit themselves like men! "

[read The Pilgrim's Progress here, or an excerpt]

Incredible!

i just thought this was sooooo incredibly amusing!


Which Incredibles Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

cheerS ~*grin*

music for money, and other joys

last Thursday, me, Samix, Sidney and Jeff were at downtown Ft Worth. we wanted to go to this section of town called sundance square and see if we could raise some money for our outreach trip. brought our guitar, a djembe, and a saxophone, and we got about $25! off the streets! that was my first time ever playing music for money in the open street...i really enjoyed the experience! Wow! if i had known earlier in my last 2 years, and if i had my own car, i'd get a group of us and play for extra pocket money once a week! LoL!

and today has been such a good day. GOOD DAY, praise the Lord! i had to attend a council meeting to appeal the dismissal on the student that injured my neck...well, i found out after the meeting that the appeal was granted and he was "undismissed", praise God! he has to abide by stricter restrictions, and some work detail etc. but at least he's not getting thrown out of school, and he gets to finish what he came here for. he said himself that he has learned much from this incident, and i have no doubt that he has! i know that God has great things for him...woohoo!!

so anyways, i also found out Friday night that Lynn has got her visa approved! man, i was sooooo happy, i was screaming in the office!! well, fortunately for me, i was working a late shift and no one was around. haha=) hahaha~ but what made me sooo happy was that at first she told me she didnt get it, and what really convinced me was when she said thats the reason why she was at the amusement park. and i'm like, man...what can i say to cheer her up? and of course i was really really disappointed...but then, it was an APRIL FOOL's surprise! man, you shoulda seen me screamin' my lungs out! she really got me there...*grin* ~ Love you darlin'!

my hair's grown long now...and i guess i've really gotten used to having it short, so i'm wondering if i should just get a haircut. but really, long hair would be nice too, but i'm thinking, it's gonna be hot hot HOT in Malaysia when i go in May. and even summer here is gonna be blistering hot...hmmm oh well, we'll see.

Why...sin?

as humans in a fallen world, we sin. period.

and what makes that a lot more complicated is that humans are born with the ability to discern good from bad, right from wrong. and while growing up, we are taught moral values, ethics, manners, good behaviour, etc. But somewhere along the road...we test the waters of temptation, and before we know it, we're already swimming in sin. our conscience tells us it's wrong! but a lot of times, we only dive in deeper, drowning our conscience.

for most of us, life is a struggle. it's a struggle for me. i still struggle with lust, lies, pride, arrogance, hatred, anger, inferiority, and more. it's always a struggle. sometimes i win, sometimes i lose. sometimes i give in, and sometimes i overcome.

and lets not forget those who makes things worse for us: the legalists.
those who scrutinize others to the last hair in the nostril. those with eyes just preying on others, waiting...waiting...waiting..just watching for that exact moment you slip and fall *splat* on your face and just as you are getting up hoping nobody saw you, they come with their talons and dig deep into your flesh, spewing their venomous and painful accusations at you.

and then we're thinkin "OH MY GOODNESS CEMPEDAK DUKU! i know i was wrong! i know i made a mistake! i've already apologised, said sorry, asked for forgiveness...i'm now already at your feet, crying out for love, 'forgive me forgive me, i'm a worm', our face buried into the grown, ashamed, vulnerable, broken...and you kick me in the hiney somemore?!"

thats what happens to a lot of people, and thats also how a lot of people think. and we come to a point where we are just sick of anyone who tries to correct us. we find people like this annoying, irritating and extremely uncomfortable to be with. to the point where even the most gentle remark about how unethical we are, we take offence and fight it. we argue until finally, wrong becomes justified, and right is impossible.

i know. it's not entirely the legalists fault. but i wanna make a point here: it's no longer a world where people just dont like rules...they find no problem in breaking them! if its not already
'talked-out-of' or justified, then we're just gonna find out how. we ask "why cant we do this or that?!" and we get disgusted at those who correct us. and we start to look upon rules, law and order as restrictions and limitations, rather than as protection and freedom.

"Why is God so miserable? Why has he got such a downer on everything we do?" And then, building into a real anti-God kind of rant, she added, "Dont do this and dont do that. dont commit adultery. Its pathetic."
I interupted her with a question. "Does the Bible really say 'Dont commit adultery?' "
"Yes, it does," came her rapier reply.
"Well, I've never read that bit," I said.
"You know very well it's in there," she retorted. "In fact, it's in there twice. It's one of the Ten Commandments."
"Oh, now I know what you're talking about," I exclaimed. "It's just that i didnt recognize it at first because of the tone of voice you were using."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"You're absolutely right," I continued. "God does say that we shouldn't commit adultery, but not in the way you've read it. You see, before he gives any of the Ten Commandments he introduces himself as the God who loves Israel. He lets them know that he is for them not against them. He wants the best for them. God didnt sit in heaven making a list of all the things he knows human beings like to do and then outlaw them all to spoil our fun. Rather he knows the pain and heartache that we will cause others and ourselves if we pursue agendas that are contrary to the way he made us to be. The Ten Commandments is a loving God saying, "Look, I am the God who loves you. I'm on your side. I got you out of slavery. I'm the best deal you've got going for you. Trust me. Dont steal. Dont lie. Dont abandon me. Dont commit adultery, because if you do it will unleash destructive powers that will slowly overshadow you, destroying you, your families and your society. Trust me. Dont be stupid.
She looked at me in astonishment. Quietly she said, "No-one has ever explained it to me in that way. That makes so much sense." ~ excerpt from The Lost Message of Jesus by Steve Chalke and Alan Mann

Yup.


............~*


so...the question is not "Why cant we do it?"
rather...the question we must ask ourselves is..."Why do we do it?"