Inspiring in Suffering by Faith

Before I begin, let me say that suffering is  never caused by God. Suffering is the result of the sinful nature of humans and God will do all that He can to end our suffering permanently. 

Yet, Romans 8:28 tells us that God makes all things, good and bad, work out for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Believe it or not, it is possible to honor God amid suffering.

In my case, I became very sick in April/May his year. The folds on my skin tore and every small movement (eg folding my arms) gave me a burning sensation. I became so sick I had to stop going to school and having GP tuition. It was horrible. During this time my family kept on declaring by faith that "by His stripes I am healed".

Eventually after visiting In Him Church and receiving prayer from the members there, my parents had the prompting to purchase a certain brand of cream and moisturizer that my skin reacted positively to, and eventually my skin was more or less completely healed, even better than I was before I was sick, albeit with a little bit of remnant areas which we are believing by faith to be healed.

Throughout the time I was sick, I felt like giving up. I felt as though God did not want to heal me. Yet, my spirit did not give up, since God has promised healing of chronic illnesses in the Bible. So we kept confessing faith and not fear, trusting that God is faithful in keeping His promise. At the end of it all, after I had my final GP session before the A levels, my GP tutor told me, "You've taught me that it's possible to remain joyful in the midst of suffering."

Keep the faith, don't give up on trusting God, and people will still see God's glory in you, even if you are suffering.

Biblical Friends

Some friends come, some go. Some form more quicker than others, some require a lot more time and intention. Either case, if we are intentional about it, our friendships can last beyond the appointed seasons, and we can have friendships that edify and are not just hi/bye.

Shouldn't we let God do all of the work? Yes. He gives the friendships the progress or antigress they need. Just like how Peter walked on water by stepping out into the water, so will we choosing to be intentional in making biblical friendships allow God to make them last.

Do it by faith through grace!

Stop Skipping Good Songs!

Yo music people at church! I'm thankful y'all play music to induce an appropriate activity for events, but I'd greatly appreciate if ya stop skipping good songs, namely those performed by Israel and New Breed...thanks!

Math Essay

Backstory: I had to submit an essay on 'the most significant theory' that I consider...so here's the Theory of the Study of Calculus on Thinking Skills.

Mathematics is a science unlike most, in the sense that determining whether ideas hold or not purely relies on axioms of choice and logical deductions and theorems that follow. The theory of calculus as a relatively modern discipline proves innovative in discovery, rigorous in refinement and applicable in the more tangible sciences, thus making it not just an important theory in Mathematics but also providing key skills to true education.

The conception of both differential and integral calculus have both been very apparent. By using so-called ‘infinitesimal’ quantities, which are too insignificant to make any substantial change to the theory, Newton and Leibniz considered the gradient of the tangent at a point, allowing instantaneous rates of change to be calculated, leading to differential calculus. This is ingenious, as it breaks the conventional norm that gradients need to be between two points, encouraging creativity in thinking, crucial in the study of any discipline. Areas under the curve representing a function f were likewise calculated using infinitesimal rectangles between the curve and the x–axis, and they discovered that rates of change of areas at a point was the value of f at that point, giving rise to integral calculus. This spirit of thinking out of the box and experimenting new approaches to problem-solving is thus the key to extend one’s knowledge of the topic.

Eventually mathematicians questioned the notion of infinitesimals, that so long as it is nonzero, it creates an error between the actual ‘gradient’ at a point and the ‘measured’ gradient. As much as they wanted to be rigorous, they didn’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, that is, the key idea of calculus. Thus, the concept of limits was introduced to formalise calculus and allow the ideas to be rigorously defined and used to minimise ambiguity. Diligence and attention to detail is displayed here to maximise clarity in communication, highly vital in a world with increasing emphasis on clarity of communication. Critical thinking is also embodied, where what is taught is not necessarily accepted as blind faith but challenged and made better through a better form.

With a solidified theory of calculus, scientists could then model many processes using differential equations, since most processes involve rates of change (differential calculus) and its reverse (integral calculus). A large portion of Physics involve rates of change from estimations (use of Maclaurin’s series to estimate a quantity with minimal error) to kinematics (velocity as rate of change of displacement and acceleration as rate of change of velocity) and waves (the use of Laplace and Fourier transforms to approximate sinusoidal waveforms) that has allowed them to more efficiently make measurements and calculate predictions. The versatility of calculus has encouraged the act of active learning — application of what is learned at the theoretical framework into sciences and technology that has mankind to do what was previously impossible.

Thus, the theory of calculus not only provides development in the technical sense of clear understanding and consensus in study, but also development in the thinking skills that apply to academia as well as outside of academia. It thus is not only a pursuit for content but a honing of skills that we should all keep developing as we learn continuously. 

Only A Miracle

Recently I've been thinking about love again, and was contemplating on beginning one with a bang. Perhaps a spectacular invitation to be my girl. Yet, I realized that would be impossible.

Consider the way I do things and the way everyone else does. They differ. I share little to no common interest with anyone outside of studies, and even then I've graduated, essentially alienating me from everyone else.

Even in church when, beyond the shadow of any doubt I am close to my Life Group, I still find little common topic with them. For some strange, odd reason I enjoy intellectual discussions as opposed to topics closer to entertainment and the like.

In particular, I enjoy talking about Theology and all things pertaining the details in the Bible, such as Old Testament imagery and prophecy, the Hebrew language and even the Greek language, all of which could be found in Hope Seminary. Unfortunately, there are few to none who do enjoy such talks. Not their fault, but perhaps a difference in interests, which I find difficult to change or find new ones.

Thus, it is no surprise that even if I were to take interest in a girl, she would unlikely like the things I like and vice versa.

In conclusion, only a miracle from God will allow me to experience a lifelong marriage and union with a partner. Till then, #teamsingle

God is Proud of You

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” [Matthew 3:17]

I've grown up in church hearing things like, "you are highly favored of the Lord," and that revelation that God's favor is on me regardless of what I've done and all because of what Jesus had done revolutionized my life since 14 years old.

At the end of November of last year, however, as I travelled, I saw a young mom expressing joy for her son as though he was her pride. The son just stood there being adored by his mom. 

It dawned upon me that the word 'highly favored' meant 'proud of', as in just as Jesus is the pride of God the Father, so am I in this world. 

God is proud of me, regardless of what I've done and all because of what Jesus had done and that I am God's child.

It's easy to think that God loves us, and even also to think that God favors us, but so very counter-intuitive, even immoral, to think that God is proud of us, since our actions clearly don't warrant such pride.

Yet, I want you to know this:

GOD IS ALREADY SO VERY PROUD OF YOU, FOR THE VERY FACT THAT YOU ARE HIS CHILD, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!

He may not be pleased with your action all the time but He is most certainly pleased with YOU, because as JESUS is, so are you in this world! Your nature is found in Christ, and God is proud of you in Christ, not based on what you do, and thus you cannot ever be "un-prided" by the Father by what you do either!

God is so very proud of you, O highly favored in the Beloved!

Confusion, Confusion

There are many things I've learnt at church: how to love God and love neighbor. Yet I do feel a compromise on who I am.

I can't express myself freely lest younger believers stumble or the program can't go on, which though valid do chip away this aspect of me in church.

The firm structure in cell forbids me from expressing contrasting views, in hopes that younger believers can learn more effectively.

Church teaches us to be influences, but how can I be an influence without a say?

I know it's not about me, yet one can't help but think—am I losing my mind in trying harder and harder to love?

Why does it feel like I'm trying to please fellow brethren with intentions to bless them but deep down I'm crumbling inside, unable to express without being slammed with words of correction and do's and don'ts?

What exactly is stopping LGs from awe-inspiring unity? Why is there a sense of judgment and condemnation when he Bible clearly declares it gone?

Perhaps, in an attempt to ensure the welfare of others I've compromised on my own—which in turn creates socially unacceptable yet apparent realization that I'm harming more than I'm helping.

Perhaps in an attempt to bless others I've instead become reliant on them and nothing but an attention-seeking nuisance.

Perhaps, my trust is in my effort and not God.

Today, I write this to choose Christ. No more self-improvement. No more striving for the love of others. It's time to rest. Rest. Rest.

Bless when I'm with people, be blessed when I'm not. A life in Christ...alone but not lonely and a blessing when with people.

Yes, my habits will change, but I'll let God change me from the inside out, lest the harder I try the worse my habits.

I receive Your supply amid the many demands that come my way.

I receive.

To the advice "Trust God" I can only reply, "Who else?"