The Simplicity of Love

Love can be very simple!

Yet, its simplicity can be very unorthodox, many times.

Hence, created beings who are created to love usually find it hard to commit to the simplicity of love!

NO GREATER LOVE

Found this amazing true story....

If you ever need a reminder of how much God loves you and that He sacrificed His Son for you, this story will be a great reminder.

After a few hymns, the pastor stood up and introduced a guest speaker.  With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak.

“Three people boarded a boat : a father, his son and the son’s friend.  They were sailing off the Pacific Coast,” he began.  “Then a fast-approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore.  The waves were so high that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept off the boat and into the ocean”.

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who looked somewhat interested in his story.  He continued, “Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life.  Which boy should he throw the other end of the line to?  He only had seconds to make the decision.  The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son’s friend definitely was not.  The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves.  As the father yelled out, “I love you, son!”  he threw the line to his son’s friend.  By the time he pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging swells into the black of night.  His body was never recovered”.

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew, waiting for the next words to come out of the old man’s mouth.

“The father”, he continued, “knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus.  He could not bear the thought of his son’s friend stepping into an eternity in hell.  Therefore, he sacrificed his own son.  How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us”.

With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room.  After the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man’s side.  “That was a nice story”, politely started one of the boys, “but I don’t think it was very realistic for a father to give up his son’s life in hope that the other boy would become a Christian”.

“Well, you’ve got a point there,” the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible.  A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once again looked up at the boys and said, “It sure isn’t very realistic, is it?  But I’m standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me.  You see…..I was the son’s friend to whom the father tossed a rescue line”.

Imagine yourself being in the place of the father in this story and of our heavenly Father in the Bible.  How would you feel if you had to sacrifice your own child so that someone else could live?

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

Here's something my good friend Larry wrote to announce the birth of his first son, baby Joel, which unofficially is my godson (I'm super duper fantabulously joyful!!!). 

I like what he wrote, so with his permission, here it goes....

Hi my name is Joel Jun Kuan LEE.  You may not know me (yet) but you know my parents – Emilia and Larry Lee.
 

 I was due for birth on 12 June 2008 but I guess I like giving surprises. Being 2 weeks early, I decided to pop into your world on 27 May 2008, 1.05pm –
weighing 3.42kg and lying 49.5cm tall.  Hahaha!  
 
At 7am that morning, mummy was having contraction.  My parents were scheduled for a staff meeting @ Canaanland <http://www.canaanland.com.my/>  but had to detour instead to Pantai Hospital.  Upon checking in at 9.30am, the nurse discovered that mummy was already 9cm dilated hence no time for all those pain-killer stuff.  
 
With the aid of some gas, mummy was pushing hard. Daddy was right beside mummy throughout – reading Psalm 139 and also P.U.S.H.-ing (Pray Until Something Happens).  I don’t think you’d ever seen him so pale, which explains why he will not be pictured here.  Haha!
 
Boy, did I make mummy labour hard until her legs were cramping all over .  So at around 12.15pm, Dr Sum Keong WONG advised mummy to enlist the aid of a “vacuuming” device to suck me out.  I happily obliged and part with my comfort zone in the womb and decided to pop into a brand new world at 1.05pm.
 
Although it was hard work yet my parents would testify that the entire delivery process was nonetheless swift – all glory be to God and special thanks to Dr Wong.  In fact, they’ll tell you that it was a Supernatural Childbirth (entitled after a book they have been reading throughout the pregnancy weeks) <http://www.canaanland.com.my/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=2846> .
 
So, what have I been up to over the last few days? I’ve been sleeping, crying, drinking milk and listening to lotsa music – daddy has got music all lined up as though it’s some kinda nutritional plan. Anyway, I’ve gotta catch some sleep now so until I see you some time, some day, some where, here’s me saying thanks for being a part of my parents’ lives and now mine!  
 

Ciao!...JOEL
Pronounced: JOL (English), JO-ul (English)
>From the Hebrew name יוֹאֵל <http://www.behindthename.com/support/transcribe.php?type=HB&target=Ywo%27el> (Yo'el) meaning "YAHWEH <http://www.behindthename.com/name/yahweh> is God". Joel was a minor prophet in the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Joel.
  

Illuminated by "One"

Have you ever thought about living in a day without light? Streets without streetlights? Car without headlights? How about having to need to light the candles daily? Or setting a camp fire in your living room or your office? 

We have been so conveniently using "lights" just like how we breathe air that very often (if not all the time) we have taken it for granted. Perhaps, it didn't even occur in our mind that we are using  "lightbulbs" except when its not working.

Do you know how did the lightbulb come into existence? Well, some of us do. Some, might have forgotten. Few, couldn't even be bothered. 

Yes. it was invented by "one" man. Full of passion, hard work, perseverance, determination, diligence.....and...he was only "one".

Many times, "one" can be so insignificant that we didn't even notice it existed. He was only a boy, "one ordinary" young boy. What can one life do? What can an unschooled boy do? One who only sells newspapers, sweep the floor and throw the trash...for a living? Can any good come out from this "one" boy?

Well.....Thomas Alva Edison. "One" life. Brought Light.

So, what can one life do? Can "one" life makes a difference? How about this "one" life with only 20% hearing ability left since he was 14? And with all that is left he invented the phonograph - which birthed the era of audio technology that mankind can enjoy today - the next time you play a CD/DVD/Hi-Fi/iPod & etc...think about this "one" man! 

 

Wait a minute! I don't get it!

You mean this "one" man gave his best to do something which in the end didn't even have a chance to benefit from the fruits of his hard work? What was he thinking? Did he think about himself when he was inventing the phonograph? Did it ever occur in his mind that he would not have the privilege to enjoy his masterpiece? What or who he had in mind when he gave all his best to invent the phonograph?

Well, I had no idea. All I know, he did it anyway....

Fast-forward >>

5th May 2008. The 4th Day. Sri Nobel School. Character-building program for 120 Secondary School's students. 9 volunteers (Short of 6).

One mission - "Illuminate"

We have been given the privilege to make a difference in the lives of 120 students for 1-hour a week in a school. A passion God impressed upon my heart 2 years ago. A vision inspired by God to see schools, students, teachers, education in our nation transformed by the "Illuminator".

What God started, He will also provide. So, He opened the door. Brought in 8 more willing  volunteers. And on April 14th, 2008 - marked the starting point of an adventurous journey of the unknown. Something that we've never done before, something that would perhaps won't benefit anyone of us - the volunteers, something that perhaps, we might not have the chance to see the fruits in the near future; something that we don't even dare to imagine that we could even achieve anything;  and what about something which may become...1,200 someday; 12,000 someday; 120,000 someday; 1,200,000 and perhaps more someday....something that is bigger than ourselves and perhaps can be bigger than any mind could ever imagine;

Day-dreaming?! Frightening?! Impossible?!....Well, we did it anyway!

But then.....What can "one" life do? What can 9 "one" life do? Will it make any difference?

I've heard of many people saying "cannot", "can't be done", "no use".

I've heard of many people saying "I don't want to", "I don't care", "none of my business".

And usually they are the ones who complained most about the government, the education system, the society and life overall!.....the ones who thinks that the whole world is owing them everything, the ones who thinks this life is all about them and also the ones who do nothing about anything to make a change...

But as for us, we're only hearing the voice of "The One" and we're learning to obey anyhow.....He said, "The greater the Challenge, the greater the Courage. It's a Courage that fueled by a deep Conviction for a worthy Cause! A Cause that Costs! And some"one" must be willing to pay the price! Will you be that some"one"?"

Then I remembered some"one", "one" boy. I remembered "one" boy who was willing to pay the price. "One" boy's sacrificial faith activated "The One's" miraculous power and more than 5000 were fed with only 5 loaves & 2 fish!

One boy. Unnamed. One boy. No skills, perhaps. One boy. Insignificant. One boy. Got nothing to offer....as some perceived so.

Yet, he did it anyway.

He gave his best...ALL! Little it seems but it was his ALL!

Did he have to? Was it by force? An obligation?

Did it ever cross his mind that 5 loaves 2 fish can't feed more than 5000 men & women & children? Why did he do what he did?

Perhaps, he has been following the Teacher together with the crowd and listening to His teachings, experiencing His love & compassion and he caught the heart of giving from Him. Perhaps, some"one" sowed something into him. Perhaps, some"one" believed in him. Perhaps, some"one" made a difference in his life. Perhaps, some"one" illuminated his life. And that helped him understood the meaning of "life is not about me but it's about giving my best, my all, even with only the little I have, so that others can be blessed." 

Never underestimate what one life can do. Never underestimate what one child can do. If only some"one" would give his best & his all, and sow into "one".

But....are you sure this gonna work? Are you sure there will be fruits?

Well, I don't know and I'm not sure.

 Just the moment I ask the same questions, i read about the story of the Chinese Bamboo Tree. Apparently, one will not see any bamboos growing up from the ground no matter how hard or excellently one watered and fertilized the plant....at least for 4-5 years.

But one day - suddenly, overnight, the bamboo will shoot up, grow to at least 3 feet tall. And Encyclopedia recorded that it can grow up to 90 feet tall within 6 weeks.

 

Suddenly! That's right! Read the Text. He loves suddenly(s). In His time. Not ours.

But in the meantime.....we keep sowing, watering, fertilizing, illuminating & don't lose heart! Just like the "one" who invented the lightbulb and the phonograph; just like the one who invested into the boy's life; just like The One who gave His best to the elected 12. 

So, keep sowing & keep sowing & keep sowing & keep sowing.........coz you never know when will the "suddenly" come.....

Just a Lamp,

Jang