It is finished

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It took me 4 years to finish this degree, marrying Lina and having Jet in between.

Too bad my dad passed away before I finished this, as he’s one of the reasons why I chose to "torture" myself with uni. I’d say it’s a torture at times because it was really tough, trying to juggle family commitment, working full time and church commitment.

Thank you to Lina, Jet and families who have supported me directly and indirectly. Thank you to the Australian Government for HECS scheme that helped me a lot financially. Thank you to My Maker for everything.

Graduation 2

Graduation 1

Prize Winner Reception

Prize Winner Reception 2

But I hope I don’t lose focus here, although I still feel like walking in the air. In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing. When I die and meet My Maker, the acronyms after my name will not matter.

The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges

There aren’t that many books that I want to re-read, this is definitely on the my list to read again books (others that I want to read again would be Point Man and Mere Christianity).

I found the chapter on “We died to sin” to be quite enlightening and personally helped me with my struggle with guilt.

I also being reminded that small (he calls it refined) sins are sins nonetheless, that I still need to repent of these sins (and the big ones as well!). After reading this book, I’m being reminded on how sinful I am, in fact I am become convinced that there’s not one of my waking hour that I am not sinning. And yet I was reminded of the grace upon it I should pursue holiness.

Not an easy read, at times I feel the author keep on talking about the same thing again and again, but there are parts of the book that really changed, challenged and corrected my way of thinking and living.

And this is the 5th book finished the year and the 1st book that I would strongly recommend for Christians to read.

Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph

EW has kindly lend me this book. The book is quite light and easy to read, it’s written by an Aussie. It’s not only informative but it also contains quite a few of real life stories (although I found some of them are not easy to relate for someone with Asian background).

Few points that I take from the book:

  • Boys need different role models in different stages of life, for example: in teenage years, boys might seek other role models other than the parents, hence as parents we should be able to find suitable models for the boys otherwise they might seek at the wrong places.
  • As boys develop their motor (or verbal?) skills slower than the girls, sometime it’s wise to delay start of school by a year. Personally, i am not convinced, will wait and see whether this is actually the case.

I was quite shock with the book’s treatment of boy’s sexuality (although I probably should’ve expected something like this from a secular point of view). Things like pre-marital sex, pornography etc2 are encouraged “provided” that they are done correctly (or safely). I am pretty sure that I am not going to recommend this book for friends based on that section alone. Again given the wealth of Christian literature nowadays, I am pretty sure better books with more God centered message can be found.

And that’s the 4th book finished this year, yay!

Where is Jesus now and what’s that got to do with me.

As our group has been looking at Revelation, I was reminded that:

  1. Rev 3:21 – Jesus overcame and sat down with the Father.

    Rev 3:21

    To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

  2. In Revelation 5, we saw an amazing thing happened, the Lamb is worshipped just as the Father is worshipped in Revelation 4 and He’s worthy of because He was slain.

Charles’ church camp talk from Ephesians 2:1-10 reminded me that we have been raised with Christ and seated with Him.

Eph 2:4-7

4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

And today’s sermon from Colossians 3:1-15 also reminding me about the same fact about Christ.

Col 3:1

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

The next question is, so what? So what if Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father? Well, there are a lot of implications of this, but from today sermon’s only, we’re being reminded to set our minds on things above, where He is now, not on earthly things. How is setting minds on things above look like practically? By putting off the earthly nature and putting on virtues. What will help us in doing so? Remembering the peace of Christ and let the word of Christ dwell in you.

Gospel and Revelation by Graeme Goldsworthy

I was reading the book in preparing for the Revelation bible study that I lead on Sundays. The book is really meaty, I found it hard to digest all the richness of information provided by the book. I guess this one of those books that require another read or two.

I did remember that the author mentioned the tension of Jesus being the victorious Lion of Judah and the slain Lamb to be the underlying theme in the book.

3rd book finished this year.