Man & marriage

"Man was meant to be a bold creative artist who plunges into the unformed mystery of life and shapes it to a greater vision of beauty. At the Fall he became a cowardly, violent protector of nothing more than himself. Intimacy and openness were replaced by hiding and hatred. Marriage is the relationship where depravity is best exposed and where our dignity is best lived out."

-Dan Allender & Trempler Longman

The linen dance

"Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 

As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. 

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” 

David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord ’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 

And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death." 

(2 Samuel 6:14-16, 20-23 NIV)

~

It was a joyous celebration again, after a fatal incident when Uzzah tried to save the ark from falling to ground, the ark was placed in Obed-Edom, David was angry & afraid of God, and in the 3 months God blessed Obed-Edom, till David was convinced and finally brought it back to the City of David.

And he danced with such celebration by wearing the ephod, a simple piece of vest-like clothing usually wore by the priest over their robes. A powerful king stooped down, wearing a symbol of ministry & servanthood, half-naked, dancing with the crowds. He could be leaping from side to side following the rhythms of the trumpets, or to the shouts & cheers from the crowd. The boy who probably once danced & sang to the Lord alone in the wilderness/pastures with the flock is now expressing himself fully with the people.

How many times have I despised those who seem to be so weird at worship during service. The ones whose hands never stop trembling, the extremely jubilant, the avid dancer, the super concentrated, and the clubbing moves.

God never delights just in my style of worship, or just my style of reverence to Him. If He would mind, probably we will have a dispute in heaven someday, and segregate into zones of varying level of preferences.

But He delights in the praises that comes from a pure heart, whether coming from singing reserved to the choir on stage, or the hipsters that turn the pulpit into a dance floor.         

Moonlight

Moon sits, fingers raised
and its melody plays
a secret song for my heart

and it flows like melted chocolate
into liquid gold, into a freed pigeon
stretching its chest wide open
taking in a first deep breath
like a child's first big grasp
or a sudden Jack Frost..
Cold yet warm
A heavier sense of light.

CLCN worship seminar 2013

It is a long but meaningful week after taking 2 days off from work to be a drums instructor for CLCN worship seminar. During the seminar, besides teaching about drums, I get to dwell in God's presence during intimate worship, learned about worship from other musicians, worship leaders, song writers & speakers; and enjoyed the interaction with other people from churches all over. At the last day I brought my girlfriend over for the last session to worship together & pray specifically for different churches, I am glad that she enjoys it thoroughly, to be able to serve & pray together is such a joy beyond the usual dating of movies/hanging around/kite flying.

I like it, although it sounds unusual to be taking 2 precious days off (don't know why a part of my mind is saying why can't it be spent on studies or vacation), getting too tired & fell sick on the Monday back to work, but it is so worth it. Maybe I have caught a glimpse of how is it being like Mary sitting & listening than to be caught up by "all the preparations" (Luke 10:40) of being an assistant accountant who studies & worries about the company affairs.

"You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed only one"
(Luke 10:41-42)

Meaning & relationship

"Meaning in life is not found in fulfilling divine purposes, but in a relationship with God". -Jan Johnson (Living a Purpose-Full Life)

Quiet

“With our whole heart, soul, mind, strength and fortitude; with our whole understanding, powers, effort, affection, and feeling; with every desire and wish, let us love the Lord our God who gives each of us our body, our soul, our life; who creates, redeems, and saves us by mercy alone; who does all good for us, the miserable, wretched, rotten, and ungrateful. Let us desire nothing else, want nothing else, delight in nothing else, except our Creator, Redeemer and Savior who alone is good; who alone is holy. Let nothing hinder, separate, or come between us.” —St. Francis of Assisi